When a life fades away

"You were strong because you embraced your feelings; you used your emotions to connect with your Pokémon and with that, you were invincible. Never forget that power!" said Mesprit before handing to Dawn a red pearl.

"This will grant you the power to call Dialga. But be careful. Stormy clouds are coming and the future is uncertain. Be prepared" the pink Pokémon told Dawn before disappearing.

Dawn sat down to calm herself down. What a battle. Piplup, Quilava and Togekiss were still recovering, the bright sun entering the cave and projecting its rays to the ponds that dug the floor of the grotto.

They did it. They won. And now she should come back to Goh and Serena to prepare the jewel.

"I should call Goh to know where he and Serena are…" she sighed. She had learned a lesson, that was true, but she was exhausted.

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

That night the trio had a conversation. They told each other about their battles.

Then Serena interrupted the flow of the conversation: "I think you should come here to Celestic Town. I've found an old woman who claims to be able to help us with that."

"Wow, really?!" asked Goh, excited to know more.

"Yes. She told me she knew you Dawn and also Ash" the Honey Blonde performer stated.

"Wait! That's Cynthia's grandma!" exclaimed Dawn, still tired but also amazed by the revelation.

"Yes, she is! So, it's better for me to wait for her for you" the Kalosian girl said with a warm smile.

"Sure thing Serena! We are making quite the improvement!" cheered Goh who then added in a more serious tone: "And what about Clemont, Brock, and Gary?"

"Serena lowered her gaze and her smile faded: "I can't call Clemont. It seems that there is a bad tropical storm in Alola and all communications are shut down. I think we must go on on our ways until he can put a call us back"

"I tried to look for Brock, but he is also unattainable. He was in Johto but I called Professor Oak earlier and he told me that Brock had called him from Alola some days ago. So, I think something happened while he was in Johto. But nothing more" said a little defeated Dawn.

Then Goh added: "The last time Gary's phone was tracked down, he was in the northern part of Johto but now even he is uncallable"

There was a moment of silence as if pondering what to do next.

Serena spoke up: "I still think the best thing to do is go on on our journey and try to clear the path to Dialga. Clemont is with Brock so I'm sure he is okay and for this Gary guy, I'm sure Professor Oak can handle this. We should put all our efforts into our mission and then we will see. It's useless to be preoccupied with something we don't know about" she added with a bright smile.

Only Dawn saw what Serena was trying to do. She wasn't sure as well, she was scared, but she was trying to be a leader and a positive model, as Ash would do.

The blue-haired girl smiled and chimed in:" Yeah! I'm gonna ring off, so I can sleep. And tomorrow I'm gonna start my way to Celestic Town! No need to worry! Right?!" she said with the most excited tone she could muster at that moment.

They exchanged their goon nights and then Dawn put her nightwear on and headed to bed, not before having wished a nice night of sleep to her Pokémon. Piplup jumped on the bed as well and the girl turned off the lights. She sighed: "Ash, your charm never stops influencing people, I guess. Oh, how much I wish I can bring the cloak back to the old days…But also…I wish I could be with you, facing that world…" and while her eyes closed, soft strains of tears flowed through her cheeks.

...…

Serena was sleeping so well but then another nightmare hit her. She saw a Pokémon whose shape reminded her of a star and then all her friends, watching a scene unfolding at the top of a big mountain. Near them, were ruins and debris of what looked like a temple. Suddenly they all collapsed, the Pokémon vanished, and all went black.

She shouted: "NOOOOO!" and now she was awake. She held her chest to catch her breath. She was trembling. Delphox came to her to see what happened and the girl started to cry.

"What's happening with me?!" she asked between sobs.

She stood up and headed to the balcony from where she could see the Mount coronet standing tall and imposing itself over the whole Sinnoh region: "Ash, what all of this means?"

......…..

Brock was waiting patiently. Celebi was badly injured, and the Pokémon center was in complete chaos. The storm was raging outside, and electricity was unavailable, and the emergency generator was working at full potential, helped by Electric Pokémon giving their all to help.

Communication was shut down and no one could exit the now crowded hall.

Clemont was downstairs helping the electricians working on the generators to increase productivity and to also restore electricity for all of the neighborhood.

Kiawe and Lana were recovering in a room. They had suffered head trauma and they needed to rest.

Mallow was helping Nurse Joy and the Pokémon as well were doing their best to help people.

Brock himself had helped in the first hours when people came from everywhere in search of help but now, he was taking a break. He had a shower and then changed his clothes.

Now he was thinking. He was thinking hard about what has happened. That man, why all of that? He needed answers but couldn't muster even one of them.

Who he was? Why did he look familiar?

Why was he threatening Celebi in the first place?

What was the source of that dark aura?

Where that power come from?

What or who was that shadow in the sky?

He needed to brainstorm with Clemont and Kukui. But the first was occupied while Kukui had gone to the Pokémon school to make sure everything was okay.

He sighed. Something was off but, even if he tried, nothing seemed to come in place.

"Mhh, what should I do next?" he thought, massaging his temples.

...…

Professor Oak had sent Tracey to look for Gary. The boy was accompanied by Chloe who had come to Pallet Town to pay a visit to the great researcher. The girl had decided to do something since she hadn't been involved with all the Ash matters but had always talked to Goh and Serena who were giving their best for the cause.

Anyway, they were on the road and Chloe was flabbergasted by the incredible landscapes that this part of Johto could offer. Tracey had told her that they would be near the place where Gary's phone was tracked in a few hours and so she decided to take a nap with Eevee and Yamper. She hadn't chosen what to do in her life yet but, who knows, maybe in this adventure she could find some inspiration.

...........

Gary had passed the doorway completely and so did Lucario. Suddenly a loud rumble was heard, and the walls collapsed. Gary and Lucario felt the floor breaking and suddenly they were falling, screaming at full lungs. What they didn't know was that the entire ruins were collapsing and breaking into a mass of rocks. The beautiful site which had raised questions in the scientific community for years was no more.

......…..

Finally, they were back. Ash and Akari had finally returned to Jubilife.

Upon entering the gate, Ash noticed a thing. Everyone was very cordial with Akari while no one had stopped to greet him and the only thing they did was stare with suspicious eyes.

Pikachu sighed, and so did Ash. While the girl was being embraced by all the people who had stopped her, Ash decided to head to the Galaxy Hall and make his report on the mission. The girl didn't see him going away. She was stunned at such behavior from the villagers. They were treating her like a hero. Like she was the one to stop the turmoil with the volcano and Heatran.

Of course, the village had already received a report from Laventon who had come to see Ash long before Akari's arrival and had left when she had come to meet with Ash, but, if they knew, they would be celebrating Ash, not her.

.........

Ash was walking through the street and his attention was caught by some merchants dressed like the guy who had introduced to him the idea of searching for the plates: "I wonder where he is now" asked the boy to no one.

"Who are you looking for, young boy?" replied one of these merchants, seated on a wooden chair.

Ash was brought back to reality: "Oh, I'm very sorry. I was talking to no one" he quickly dismissed before thinking a little bit more, Pikachu touching his right temple to help his best friend's concentration.

"I found a blonde man with your same suit and I wanted to meet him again. Do you know him?" he suddenly asked, turning back to the man.

"I bet you're speaking about Volo. I'm not sure but I think he was transporting a load to a Wielder on the slopes of Mount Coronet" he said, his hands folded and used to rest his head.

Gears in Ash's mind started to work again until Pikachu had enough of his trainer's dumbness and electrocuted him, shouting the answer the poor guy was looking for.

"Oh, you are right Pikachu! Let's go asking permission to explore that place!" he said, jumping on feet again and cleaning the soot caused by the Thunderbolt.

"Thank you, old man! See ya!" he shouted, leaping into a run. Pikachu sweatdropped, bowed to the man, and started his chase to his trainer. Such an idiot.

The man sweatdropped as well: "At least, he could've bought something…"

.......

Ash was finally in front of the Galaxy Hall doorway. There, Pikachu finally caught up with his partner and proceeded to scold him for his manners.

Ash put his hands behind his head and said: Oh sorry Pikachu, you are right. I should buy something from that man".

Pikachu finally hopped back on Ash's shoulder and Greninja finally arrived. Ash had left him behind to check on Akari but after seeing that she was in no danger, the frog Pokémon came to his trainer.

"That Pokémon. I've seen it, but where?"

Ash turned around and saw a man with a worn and wrinkled coat, a hat which, to Ash, seemed like one he had seen worn by the conductors when he traveled by train.

Looking to the man more carefully, he noticed the familiar features, the goatee and the hair. Her eyes, however, emanated a strange sensation, that of bewilderment that hid an almost erased past, oblivion, confusion but above all pain. Pain from something lost, marked on the eyes and entire face by the signs of the night spent awake, or in the grip of nightmares.

The boy and his Pikachu were stunned to even notice that. It wouldn't be something the cheerful boy from Kanto would usually notice but he was growing. That world was filling gaps in his emotional side and empathic perspectives. And of course, it had to be like that. Hisui was a place for so many mysteries but, the time travelers had found the people there to be the most mysterious thing of them all.

"Are you sure about that? It's not a Pokémon you can find here" said cautiously Ash, as if he was trying to discover more about the person in front of him.

"I don't know, young man" he answered, clearly showing deep thinking. He held a hand on his cap, while the other one was under his back.

He then snapped out from his thinking and added: "Anyway, you are the boy who had fought the frenzied Pokémon, aren't you?"

Ash answered absently but, truth to be told, he was thinking hard to solve the doubt his mind was wandering about. He was sure he had just met this man and was trying his best. Pikachu was trying too, having the same doubt. His paws holding the chin like the best detective but to no avail.

However, Greninja didn't have the same feeling and this made Ash realize a point: "If we have really already met him, it has to be before Kalos, right Pikachu?" the raven-haired trainer thought, raising an eyebrow. Pikachu noticed this too and answered with a blink. It was incredible to what extent, the two of them were able to communicate and understand each other.

Meanwhile, the man was waiting for Ash to focus on him, his hands behind his back. He gazed intensely the boy's eyes. Those auburn eyes, emitting passion and strength. Where could he have already seen him.

The question was torturing him.

Suddenly Cyllene opened the door of the Galaxy HQ, a cold and angry expression on her face: "So? How much time should I wait for you come in and report to me?" she angrily snorted. It was clear that anger was only hiding fear and worry.

Ash snapped out and entered the building, a serious gaze on his face.

….

Akari thought she had finally escaped the crowd celebrating her for no reason when she felt a touch on her shoulder and was startled.

She turned around and found in front of herself a man, tall, with what looked like the suit used by the members of the Gingko Guild, a hat on his head, covering his blonde straight hair and a smirk adorning his features. It was either friendly, yet it sent a chill down her spine.

"Who are you?!" she asked, assuming a defensive pose. The man raised his arms and said: "Chill out young lady. That angry face doesn't suit your delicate and soft countenance".

The girl was hit by this sudden phrase and grew red in the face, abandoning her stance.

The man smirked: "Anyway, the name's Volo, and I'm a friend of your companion, Ash. I was looking for him but couldn't find him and I'd need a favor from you"

Akari thought: "So this is Volo… He seems nice but there's something about him I can't put a finger on"

Volo went on and handed a small piece of paper to the girl still lost in her thoughts: "I'd be glad if you could give him this"

The girl accepted the paper and opened it. She remained flabbergasted. It looked like a map and all the dots on it made her realize it was the map of Hisui.

"How did you do that?! Even Galaxy Team has not explored the region so well to put a map together!" she exclaimed, freaked out.

"Calm down pretty lady" he answered in a resolute yet intriguing tone. Akari once again blushed. She was too sensitive to compliments.

The blonde man explained: "You see, we are merchants. We also travel by ship so we were able to see the outline of the costs and then fill it while exploring to find roads and ways to do our business. But that's not the point. Tell Ash to reach me where there's the red dot as soon as he had explored the region. There are a few of the plates he is gathering that he can find only with more detailed information from a friend of mine".

Akari was sure to have caught him smirking in a mysterious way but put the thought aside.

She nodded to the man and he turned and headed toward the gate. He was leaving the village.

The girl had some thoughts to explore: how could he know about her? And that map? She was used to talk with the merchants but she never saw a map like that from them… Everyone would buy one and especially the Survey Corp would use it and find it precious.

She remembered that there was a cartographer a couple of years ago who had attempted to travel the whole region to draw the whole Hisui. But he never came back.

From what she could remember, he was a strange guy. He was not scared of Pokémon and so the villagers started to think that he died because of a Pokémon's attack. Then they found the corpse some months before, already mauled and eaten in some parts, but the chest was still there. They recognized him from the pendant on his neckbone.

The group who found the dead cartographer threw the Village into chaos for some weeks. They saw that a metallic object had passed through the rib cage and planted itself in the heart of the boy, killing him.

The villagers thought that there were Pokémon capable to shoot metal and freaked out.

Akari was pondering now a lot of things but put them aside. She didn't have any reason to doubt this man if not a gut feeling. And, knowing what her emotions had led her with Ash the last time, she concluded that it was better to keep those thoughts for herself. At least for now.

...

"So an Electrode, huh?" asked Ash.

"Yes, and we are starting to grow restless with all these powerful Pokémon losing control. So it's your turn again" Cyllene simply state, as if Ash was some kind of property of Team Galaxy.

Ash groaned: "Okay. When will the camp be ready for me to head out? Last time you sent me without anything and nearly died in the process, so I want Laventon with me to find a camp," he said, stating the thing as a fact. He intended to bring Akari with him this time so he needed to make her as safe as possible.

"We just sent a group to plant a campsite. You'll be able to leave in a week.

Ash's eyes became brighter than a star and he jumped from his seat, scaring Cyllene.

"Yeah! So I'm going! I want to put some hours of training under my back until I can! Right Pikachu and Greninja?!" Pikachu and Greninja cheered in agreement.

"Ah! And, for the details, you can tell me the day before we leave! Otherwise, I'm gonna forget everything! Ah, another thing. I'm bringing everything back to Akari's house! See ya Oldie!!!" he blurted out shouting from the corridors, running away as fast as he could to avoid any more speaking. Pikachu was shouting goodbye as well while the Ninja frog had only nodded before bolting out of the office.

Cyllene was left dumbfounded and irritated by the "Oldie" comment.

The entire headquarter had heard Ash, even Kamado who had at first snorted saying "Kids…" but then had busted out laughing after Ash's insolence.

The man with the Chief hat had disappeared but Ash quickly left the thought aside. He wanted to train Growlithe and his Pokémon.

….

"Growlithe, try to focus on your fire! Make it spin and then wrap yourself up with it!" Ash was doing his magic, trying to find good coverage for the terrible typing of this Growlithe. He wanted to use his weakness as a shield to slide through and soften water moves.

The Puppy Pokémon was quite receptive, and Ash was very proud. From the sidelines, Pikachu was cheering him on while training his ground coverage. They were a family and Growlithe felt like he was just a part of it.

The sparring session was the next part and the Fire-type was holding the ground against Greninja. Ash saw the great potential inside his newest Pokémon and was really glad to have him.

Finally, they made a swim in the river which crossed the training area, and this was also the occasion to make Growlithe more comfortable with this element: "I know Growlithe you are feeling low on energy when your body is soaked but remember: try to keep the energy for your internal flame and let your body be. It helps" Ash said, thinking back to his old Charizard but also Quilava. Pikachu nodded in approval.

After a while, Pikachu splashed Ash and this caused a snowfall effect with Ash targeting his partner and Greninja joining them. Growlithe sweatdropped but jumped into action. It was a moment of peace and Ash was enjoying it with the most precious things in his life: his friends.

That night Ash came back to Akari's place. He didn't see her while entering and so he thought she was still with the villagers.

The boy had a shower and bathed Pikachu who was still dirty. He had rolled in a swamp only to attack his trainer and dirty him while tackling him in a hug.

"What a day Pikachu!" said the Kantonian trainer while stroking his partner's fur.

"Chaaaa!" cooed gently the mouse.

"I love you buddy!" said the boy out of nowhere to which Pikachu jumped out from the bath only to hug strongly his best friend: "Pika! Pikapi!"

"Hahaha! You're tickling me!" shouted Ash and then was tackled also by Greninja and Growlithe: "I love you too Guys!"

From outside, a girl was listening to this scene watching the sky with Pikachu, Clefairy, and Piplup. She whispered: "I love you… Ash"

.........….

Ash had finished his routine and, followed by his friends, had gone outside only to find Akari.

"Ah! You were here the whole time?!" he asked, slightly confused.

"Yes! And I heard you are a soft-hearted" she added, half smirking.

Ash didn't answer, only sitting next to her on the grass while the Pokémon were talking to each other.

"Here," he said, handing her a cigarette; "Where did you find them?" she asked.

"I made a stop by Ginter, the Gingko Guild guy, and bought these. He greets you" he stated watching the Mount Coronet at a distance.

Akari smiled and took the gift: "Pikachu smokes too?!" she asked incredulously; "Sometimes. When we need some relax…" he added, facing her and giving her his warm smile.

She melted from this sight and got a bit red. She lit the cigarette by Ash's match, now Ash staring directly into her pearly eyes. She was feeling tension growing in her chest.

"You have really pretty eyes," said the boy innocently. He wasn't a guy to know the notion of flirting. He was more a guy who said what he thought, whenever a thing came into his mind.

Akari grew redder and redder. She was boiling. She broke eye contact. She knew she couldn't bear it any longer without trying to kiss him.

So, she changed the topic: "Have you seen the map I left on your bed?" she asked, gazing far away from him.

Ash took a drag on the cigarette and answered: "Yes. Who gave it to you?"

"It was Volo. He told me to tell you that when you finish the tour around the region, you will find more information on the other plates in the place signed as the red dot" she omitted her doubts and everything else.

Ash was in deep thinking:" That's nice. The more help I get, the easier it will be to solve this story once and for all".

Then he added: "I met a man today. I think I know him"

Akari turned again to face him, even if her heart was still pounding like crazy: "How is it possible?" she asked, a bit shocked.

"I still don't know. I think I will know when I meet him again…"

"there's something really odd about this whole story"

"Mmmm"

They were smoking and watching the vortex on Mount Coronet. That summit was the center of the world.

"Tomorrow we will train together. I want you by my side to go to the slopes of Mount Coronet" Ash said.

Akari was ecstatic to hear that but decided to play it cool: "Nice. I wanna help" she simply stated.

They stayed there for a while more. Now in silence, their Pokémon coming near them and getting a round of cuddles.

It was like a family picture. Ash and Pikachu lit another cigarette.

Akari had another thought: "What about all the hate he is getting… Why do people hate him" she thought thinking about her day. Then, she dismissed that thought as well: "I'm protecting you, Ash… I will always be" she smiled at that thought.

At the end, while Ash and his Pokémon were chatting, she woke up hers and stood up, she came near Ash and kneeled to his height. She kissed him again on the cheek, this time longer than a quick peck, and stood again. She put her arms under the back and proceeded to enter the house, not before glancing at him and saying, quoting him with Pikachu before:

"I love you buddy!" and with a snicker, she disappeared inside.

Ash stayed there, shocked a bit, and muttered to Pikachu: "She really had heard everything" before busting in laughter with his Pokémon and sharing another long hug with them.

In a corner of his mind, the image of a Honey blonde girl appeared when he thought about a certain word…

......…

"So you're leading him to Cogita!?"

"Yes, Master. And we will strike him down…"

From the background, a dark figure was laughing: "GYAAA!"