In the Unknown World (Advance, M)

[midnightjewelz]

Chapter Fourteen: The Unlikely Gathering

"Friendship isn't about whom you have known the longest... It's about who came, and never left your side" -Unknown

After making their way back home in the heavy rain and after a heated argument between his parents Saturn decided to make himself comfortable in his permanent home. After years studying in the military in Unova, Saturn had made a surprise trip back home to only discover his younger sister was in charge of the military Unit in Kanto but knowing that Team Plasma had joined into the Kanto Military Unit did not surprise him. In fact that was the very reason he suddenly returned home.

With a single flick his room lit up. Revealing a simply single bed placed on the far left corner of the room with a desk, bookcase filled with books and a laptop on its far left. The curtains were clean told him his mother still cleaned his sheets and curtain while he was gone. By his bed was a pin board filled with notes and references rather than photos of his friends, family or hot females with very little clothing on. He knew from an early age he was different from the boys of his age.

Dropping his belongings near the entrance of his room he went straight to the pin board and removed all of his old notes. Each one that was removed didn't seem to him bother him too much to make him look at them, except for one old photo that was pinned behind other many of his notes. It was an old photo of him, Mars and Jupiter in their early days in Team Galactic. He remembered those days so well.

Knowing the past wasn't going to change the situation he was in he simply flicked the photo onto the ground, with no concern where the photo laid. Soon another pair of fingers came across the photo.

"Are you just going to throw all your memories away just like that?"

Pretending he had not heard her words Saturn continued to remove all his old notes from the board. Knowing he had heard her she made her way into his room.

"So you don't care. Just the way you left me and mother that day."

Coming to a halt Saturn sighed. "Father needed me. I needed him."

"I expected that." The woman sighed as she slipped the photo onto her brother's desk. "That's why when we met again after so many years you didn't bother to say I was your sister."

Dawn could hear her brother returning to pin more notes onto his board. Knowing her brother's habit she didn't bother to turn to see what was on the board. She just simply glanced at Saturn's books and notes scattered everywhere on his desk.

"After not seeing you for five years I was shocked that we would meet under those kinds of circumstances. What did you want me to do?" Saturn turned to see his sister was not facing him. Saturn pressed on. "Did you want me to hug you? Scream out your name?" Annoyed. "Well sorry, I'm not kind of brother." Saturn soon returned to his work.

"I just didn't want to end up fighting you. I sent my own brother to jail." Embracing herself, "So I thought if I signed myself into the military I could get our name clean and then find a way to set you free."

"And you did." Saturn made his way off his bed and reached over to his sister and saw she still had her back facing him. He tugged on her arm to make her face his way and it worked.

The first things her sapphire eyes laid on was the pin board filled with not notes about time or space or machines. It had become a public photo album. There were photos of his travels and the new people he met and even a few photos from his times in Team Galactic but in the middle was a photo back in their home town on Twinleaf before they split up.

"So you did care."

Saturn turned around and crossed his arms, embarrassed to show that his younger sister that she was right. Dawn turned back to the photo she has slipped onto Saturn's desk after he attempted to throw it away. Without her brother watching she quickly pinned the object wherever she found fit.

"Anyway I need to tell you that I'm going to join Ash. I'm going to help him track down NTR, Team Plasma and hope to get that bill removed."

"I see. I was right once again." Saturn turned to see her sister was on her way out of his room. As they brushed shoulder the teen grabbed her sister by her wrist. "You're going to fight. Just like Ash and his friends." Pausing, "You remind me of two people I saved from a detention centre a few years back." Saturn released his grip on his sister, nearly causing her to fall off her feet. "Don't kill yourself though."

Dawn twirled in the spot and smiled at her brother in a cheeky manner. With a salute, "Yes Commander Saturn!"

Saturn smirked and tried to cover it with his hand but no matter how hard the boy tried Dawn knew he was happy that they had met again and was back on good terms. Dawn smiled afterwards before heading to her room. A warm feeling overwhelmed her. It was nice to have her brother back.

But that feeling was quickly erased three days later with a sense of grief and disbelief.

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Confusion ran through May's mind as she lay silently on her bed in the silence of her apartment. Her eyes half lit she reached over for her phone only to knock it off her bed side table. Too lazy to reach down and grab it May turned around and tried to return herself back to sleep. The rain had subsided and the air had the scent that it had just finished raining. May embraced her pillow tighter hoping the softness would drift her back to sleep. But nothing worked.

She remembered seeing how concerned Ash was when their hands were slipping due to the rain and how desperate his voice became when she fell until a strange pokemon lifted her back into his arms with a strange mystic power. She couldn't run and hit Ash as they both stayed there until his parents came. As soon they were inside she ran from their sight. The echo of Ash calling her name and admitting his was a pokemon master made it more unbearable for her to accept.

News of the Pokemon Masters was a common daily topic in Republic City. Everyone hated them and despised them. Some blamed their parents while others blamed society. Nobody understood their attacks or their messages they left. If a house was robbed the Pokemon Masters were automatically a suspect. But due how clean their crime scenes were they were impossible to be tracked.

Sitting up and with her pillow still in her arms May walked over to her window and stared at the city. Her train of thought was interrupted when a same jingle was heard from her phone. Reaching over she saw it was other than her brother that had sent her a text message.

Max Maple

"How long do you plan to ignore him? It's been three days."

Replying quickly and simply May placed her phone back onto her side table and sat the the edge of the mattress. She buried her head deep into her pillow and remembered that incident on the roof of Team Rocket Corporations was three days ago. She had not spoken to Ash or to even his brother Silver. She couldn't handle any more information from Ash so soon. After hearing he had met her father and knowing he was also a Pokemon Master left May in such confusion that she refused to speak to anyone.

May's phone started to light up again with another familiar jingle. Reaching over May read the message.

Max Maple

"Their worried you know, even me. If you're still upset about not telling that our parents were still around then I'm sorry. Tell me a way to make it up to you."

Replying back May sent her brother her reply.

"Your to blame a little to what is happening to me know. It's Ash. I'm finding it hard to accept the things he told me."

With her phones still in her hands another message followed.

Max Maple

"About Ash...Sis, the police are after him. Drew and his team found enough evidence to arrest him. Sis, Ash has been rumoured to be missing for three days by his family. Nobody has been able to enter into their mansion since. With no word from Ash the police believe his been kidnapped."

And her phone crashed onto the ground without a single sound. May embraced her pillow as her tears flooded in and her head buried. Looking skyward she saw her curtains move, nearly making her mistaken them for Ash.

Did he go after her or did he run away unable to accept all the things he had done in his past? Did she say too much or too little? Wiping her tears she made her way to her cupboard where her clothes were. All nicely folded and were organised from PJ's to out of town attire and many more. May stretched for her usual attire or orange and green and slipped them on.

"I have to say sorry, even if I'm not the blame for his disappearance."

Putting her sneakers on May couldn't help but to stare at her phone still lying on the carpet. After putting one pair on her mind slipped to automatic mode and her mind guided her to her gallery and there in the newest folder were photos of herself and Ash, from their first day together at the park to the days leading up to that rainy night three days ago.

"I should have believed in you." May spoke while staring at the photo. "But I let the views of other people made me judge you in a harsh way." Her voice began to drop. "I'm sorry Ash. Wherever you are, please be safe until I find you."

Slipping her phone into her pocket May finished putting her other shoe on and made it to her feet quickly while looking at a box placed alone in a dark corner of her bedroom. It was an old box to others but to her it was the only box that she knew that whatever was inside belonged to her old self. Walking over and opening it she saw cases of ribbons that she guessed she got in contests.

A red shirt, black bike pants, gloves, sneakers and a red bandana was also found and a single photo was inside, a photo of herself with her younger brother Max and Ash and a tanned man together in one photo. It seemed Pikachu had just jumped into the photo causing Ash to lose his pose while the rest remained theirs. May remembered when she woke up not knowing who the other two men were or the life she had left behind.

With her fingers tracing over the many ribbons in her case she couldn't help but feel glad she had got so many, as if a sense of complement came. May could remember how long she would sit in front of his box, wondering why she had so many ribbons. Was she a collector? A fashion designer? May never knew and felt she would never remember the reason why. But deep within her she couldn't wait to hear the stories each ribbon held behind them after everything around her was solved.

Reaching deeper into the box were six pokeballs all dusty and old. Without any more delays May grabbed them and rushed out of her room in the hope that everything was going to be alright.

But the mid afternoon traffic made it nearly impossible to start her search at a fast pace. May quickly rushed to places where she hoped she could find the boy such as the park and fast food shops but no one seen the boy. This was a surprise to May due to the fact that Ash belonged to a well known business man and was seen on television many times advertising his family's business or was on business like talk shows talking about businesses.

It had been hours since May had started her search and she had only search very little of the city. Coming to a bus shelter the brunette decided to take a small break and sat down. And within a few seconds later she heard somebody walking towards her and took a seat beside her. Convinced it was no other than a bus passenger she did not bother to look at them.

"You're searching for him, aren't you?"

Confused May looked towards her right and saw it was that strange man she saw Ash talk to the other night. May scooted more to her left as the creepy man stayed where he was.

"I can hear your heart screaming for his safely. But that is to be expected from people that care about him."

"What did you do to him?" May gritted her teeth. "I saw you talk to Ash three nights ago. What did you tell him to do?"

"I asked if you could help me take down Neo Team Rocket and Team Plasma." N looked at the city building across the road. "But sadly they got to him first as if they knew he was going to expose them."

"Your father shot him in his own home; they knew Ash was bound to take you guys down eventually. It was the matter of who made the first step first." May stood up from her seat. "You're a part of them; now tell me where Ash is!"

N crossed his legs and sighed. "I have no more connections with my adoptive father. I only come with him to his meetings for the media." Standing up, "I can assure you that Ash fought to his very last second."

May rushed to the lime hair boy and grabbed him by his shirt, dragging him down to her height with one fist ready to punch him. "You better give me one damn reason not to hit you right now." May spoke in a threatening manner. "Because I'm in no f**king mood to play games with you."

N held up his hands into the air, causing May to release her grip on him. N reached deep into his pockets and showed her a number of notes and photos. Photos of Ash's room all messed up as signs of a struggle were clearly seen.

"I took these photos three nights ago when I saw Ash being taken by my father's men."

Taking the photo from the man, "You saw them? The why didn't you stop them?" May continued on her idea to punch the man but N caught her fist and prevented her attack.

"If I did my father would know I'm no longer interested in his plans therefore causing him to move causing us to lose Ash."

Taking a moment to accept N's words May spoke up. "So what do you me to do with these photos?"

"Spread them around like a pokerus virus. On the internet, the media and to the police. Once my father knows him and NTR are being hunted he will have to be more careful, making him less likely to kidnap the other people part of Ash's group."

Agreeing with N, May nodded as N parted from her as she did the same. Rushing towards the police station May looked down at the photos in her hands. What were rumours of Ash being kidnapped had become more real.

"I'll save you this time Ash."

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"Where am I. How did things get this far?"

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"I'm in no mood for fabricated bulls**t Drew!"

With anger notes were thrown off the meeting desk. Slamming her hands on the desk Zoey stood from her chair and softly placed her hands on the woman's shoulders only for them to be shrugged off later on. Saturn watched on as his sister shrugged away the newest information about the Pokemon Master. Being away from Kanto for so long, news about the Pokemon Master was very new to him. Due to this Saturn spoke very little and watched on.

Across from a laid an empty seat, a seat that was always filled by the name of Silver Ketchum. There was no doubt he was searching for his younger brother. With him already lost a sister during the war losing another sibling would be more traumatic then the last.

"I'm not making this up. The police records and the CCTV have and witness statements say that it was Ash Ketchum on top of that roof of Team Rocket Corporations two nights ago with Pokemon!" Drew slammed his hands onto his desk. "Stop defending him! If his guilty, then so be it!"

"Ash is missing right now and you want to talk about this? You and your skill on bad timing!"

"I've sent the police after him. They are helping the search but I'm not going to grantee he will be brought back home after this much evidence."

Dawn clutched her fists and cussed under her breathe. She knew well enough that Ash would be go to trial as soon he was found. Soon Bianca and Stephan would go into question then her name will be dragged into her crime. Her family's name would be brought back into shame.

"And if I see you had any part to hide this crime from the Kanto Police Unit I swear I will bring you down back to the shame your family belongs into!" Drew yelled.

"How dare you!" Dawn yelled as her brother and Zoey held her into her place. But they were only able to hold the teen back for a few seconds before Drew was greeted with a powerful slap. "My family may have mistakes but who doesn't? You a damn father now Drew and wouldn't you do everything you can to clean your child's name if you can? Well guess what, that is what I did with mine and I'm going to do the same for Ash!"

"Get a grip Dawn." Saturn rushed and pulled his sister from the boy. "If you continue to be more defensive it will only prove that you do have some relation with Ash and his crimes!"

Saturn's words made the teen to stop in her violent rampage and shrugged off her brother's grip on her arm. She went back to her chair only to grab her handbag before leaving the room in a quick yet violent manner.

Drew sat back on his chair with his hands covering his face. Finding trouble to believe the words he had spoken. Taking a sigh. "F**k."

"Was that really necessary Drew?" Zoey spoke up. "You know damn too well how important Dawn's family's reputation is to her."

Saturn left the two in their conversation as he reached over for the notes that Dawn had thrown off the table with her anger. Reading over them quickly he saw photos, notes and essays of possible reasons why Ash would be the Pokemon Master. The reasoning was too out of character for Saturn to believe. There was even a timeline starting since he became a pokemon trainer at the age of ten and all he had done for the Pokemon world. As the timeline continued more question marks were written above the line. Asking why would the boy save a certain town, friend or pokemon without having anything in return.

"They obviously don't know the boy too well." Saturn smirked as he placed the papers back into a neat order.

"Ash has never had a grudge against you despite what you have done to May. Now that you know that Ash didn't kill May two years ago I see no reason why you have to be harsh towards him."

"I'm just stating the facts here Zoey." Drew looked up to the red head. "I'm just doing my job."

"The job of the police is not only to find the criminals and punish them." Saturn interrupted the two. "But to help protect the innocent and find anybody missing and bring them back home safely."

Zoey crossed her arms and gave a questioning look at Drew. "His right, you know."

Pausing for a minute to take some time to think to himself he stood up to his feet. "Well I won't have a case to give to the court if we can't find Ash." Looking at the other two in the room. "I'll send my best men to find him. I promise we'll find him alive and safe. Don't blame me whatever happens next. After all, I'm just doing my job."

Zoey smiled, "Innocent until proven guilty Drew, innocent until proven guilty."

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"I chased after her and then when I lost her everything hit me all at once."

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As clear the calm the evening sky stayed on the ground chaos erupted. A young bluenette was rushing down the streets pushing anyone that was in her way. Her common sense was not working as she had no lead, no idea where Ash was. Was he truly kidnapped or was he away for some time to think after what N had told him? As the city traffic started to build and the streets started to clear up Dawn came to a halt and sighed.

"This if foolish, what if Ash isn't in trouble at all?"

"Nope, his in trouble alright."

Turning around were two teenagers that went by the names of Stephan and Bianca. Bianca rushed to Dawn and gave her a comforting embrace before another boy walk pass Stephan. Dawn's eyes lit with joy and ran up to embrace him. Bianca giggled as Stephan off a small smile. Dawn broke their embrace as the man rubbed her tears away.

"Since when did you join up with these two?"

"I spoke to Ash awhile ago saying I would help him to bring NTR down and in that same night we were going to investigate with his Glaceon but before we all knew it they got to him first." Paul explained.

"I believe NTR or Team Plasma were at my place another night. I could hear somebody trying to open the locks on my window until Professor Fennel woke up and caused a big sound with one of her dream machines." Bianca explained. "NTR and Team Plasma are after each and every one of us."

"Just to make sure that the bill that stands today won't get removed." Stephan added.

"But where is the proof that Ash was taken? He is the only one out of us that has more than one pokemon." Dawn asked.

"A note was left in Ash's room. Also traces of blood and a struggle were seen. It was said that more than two people were in the room. A group of men more like it." Paul explained. "The new is about to publish this in the morning."

Blood, struggle and violence. Dawn couldn't understand why his Pikachu or his Glaceon did not stop them. Perhaps they did but did not survive or Ash told them to run rather then get hurt. The idea of Ash bleeding to his death at an unknown destination sent fear through her veins. This only gave Dawn and the others more reasons to save Ash as soon as possible.

"But knowing these two groups Ash might not live up to the morning." Bianca spoke with slight fear in her voice. "W-we can't l-let Ash d-die!" Bianca panicked.

With a comforting hand from Stephan on her shoulder Bianca got herself back together. Paul looked up to the sky and saw the glow of the setting sun was coming down on them. Reaching over for Dawn's hand he held it tight, causing Dawn to blush softly. She looked up and saw the determined and confident smirk Paul would have on his face when he was about to win in a battle.

"Let's go. I have a battle with Ash on the line."

Smiling back in a determined manner back to him, Dawn held onto Paul's hand tighter and made their way with Bianca and Stephan tagging right behind them.

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"They won't save me. All I left them was a trail of blood leading to a destination that does not exist. I'll simply die from blood lost. Classic."

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"I don't understand you Saturn. Why are you interested to save the boy that put you in jail so many years ago?" The man's father spoke. He soon poured more alcohol into his glass. Looking over to see his son did not reply Cyrus continued to speak. "Saturn I demand an answer from you."

Both men were on the balcony that was filled with pot pants by the fence railing and a small outdoor table that was enough to seat for four. The sun was nearly hidden behind the city causing the automatic lights on the balcony to light up.

Drinking what was remaining in his glass Saturn placed his empty glass down. "I have no interest to save the boy. Saving him would simply be a bonus." Saturn poured himself another glass and moved his glass around to cause the alcohol in his glass to swirl. "My personal agenda lies with NTR and Team Plasma alone."

"So you didn't come back for your family then?"

Looking back at his father, "That as well as my personal agenda. After years stuck in a jail cell I've learnt the meaning of family once again." Saturn drank what was in his glass before putting it down again.

"Well if you're going after them I suggest you take some of my pokemon." Cyrus reached for a bag underneath the table and threw it towards his son. Inside laid a few pokeballs.

Closing the bag Saturn threw it over his shoulder and rose to his feet. "I thought you hated me using your pokemon?"

"Things have changed my son." Cyrus held the bottle of alcohol and read the blur on the back of the bottle. He took a quick glance at his son before back to the bottle. "Before you go could you tell me what this personal agenda of yours is about?"

Cyrus looked back at his son after not hearing a reply from him. He saw his son was looking at the city with his hands tightly gripped on the railing. Cyrus looked away having a fair idea of his personal agenda.

"Right...Mars." The man paused. "I knew you two had something special."

"Not right now Dad." Saturn sighed.

"Just make her proud, alright?" Cyrus dropped the bottle back on the table as he heard his son jump over the railing and to a nearby tree.

As he heard the rustle of the leaves behind him Cyrus looked back onto the footpath and watched Saturn run down the path and onto the streets. Soon a bright flash of red came to his sight and a cry of a certain pokemon filled his ears. With his glass in his hands the man stood up and reached for the bottle once more and filled his glass up once again.

"The times are changing." The man spoke as he took a drink from his glass. "An unlikely gathering is unfolding for the sake of one boy." Cyrus smiled. "He always did have a way with people."

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"Knowing my friends they'll come but if they die for my sake then I rather die. They have all lost so much because of me."

[midnightjewelz]

Chapter Fifteen: One's destination

"He is my most beloved friend and my bitterest rival, my confidant and my betrayer, my sustainer and my dependent, and scariest of all, my equal."
~ Gregg Levoy

Ash's eyes stung in darkness. His body laid cold and still. With his blank eyes he stared down and saw the bloody marks on his hand had dried and the blood had stopped. Leaning his head to the other direction he saw nothing but pitch and utter darkness. He had lost count how long he was being kept and now was reaching to the point where he no longer cared. Light was poured into his room which caused his eyes to sting. Given him a few seconds to recognize his new surroundings, there in front of him stood men that chased him down like a rat.

Their grins made him cringe, their laughter deafen him. Their intentions wanted him to hit them, but taking one glance at his current condition Ash's hope sunk deeper. Nobody in the right mind would go against a whole army in his current condition. But a army would not take a second chance to get rid of their foe if they saw them in his state.

One of them bowed down to his height and grabbed him by his chin, "Enjoying this you little prick?" The man teased.

"Sadly no, you guys sure know how to hold one s**t party."

This caused the man to be filled with anger as he replied to the boy with a punch, causing Ash to fall onto the cell's cold rocky ground.

"Why don't we kill him now?!" He yelled, he spat on Ash afterwards.

"No, we had a deal with his father. We are not going to kill him...yet." The other man in the room spoke before bursting into a evil like laugh.

"My...father?" With one eye half lit open, Ash stared up to the two older men. "Tell...me."

With only a evil grin on their faces, the men laughed even more. "Wasn't it your father's idea that made Pallet Town into the city it is now? If he wasn't so world obsessed he wouldn't have you in the situation you are in, your brother's life wouldn't be on the line and your sister wouldn't be dead." Pausing, "Now you father will pay for all the sins his done with your life Ash. You're the debt that will end all of this."

And with those words, one single bullet echoed in the cell. Soon laughter was heard for hours to come.

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"Cameron, listen, Mummy has to go for a few hours. I'll be back soon."

"Ma?" the little child asked his mother in confusion. His mother smiled warmly as she kissed him softly on his forehead with a few tears tagging along. "Ma?" The child questioned again. His face was covered in concern when he mother repeated her actions from before.

"Iris."

"I know, I know." The mother of one muttered. "Ash's life is on the line." With one tight embrace Iris left her child with a neighbour of hers as she made her way.

"Ma, ma, ma!"

Her child's cry caused Iris to turn and cry as she watched her only child cry in agony. Cameron's arms waved franticly, desperately reaching for his mother. Staying strong she turned away and walked over to the man that told her Ash's life was on the line. She avoided his gaze at first before eventually looking up at him. "Silver, let's go."

Silver crossed his arms as he looked down at the woman with a general concern for her. "You don't have to do this if it really hurts you."

Shaking her head while avoiding his gaze, "No, Ash needs me. Ash needs us."

Knowing her mind was clear with the intention of saving her brother Silver knew staying any longer would not help Ash. Taking their leave called for a nearby taxi to arrive. Hearing their call it arrived and both entered. Silver leaned forward to the cab driver from the back seat and spoke words where to head. Iris saw the fear the cab driver had as Silver spoke the destination into his ears. With a shudder the driver agreed and he made his way.

The buzzing city lights were simply beautiful from her side of the window. Cars zoomed by and the lights from the city building didn't seem the move the more further away the building was. The longer she would stare at them the more she felt at ease, as if Ash's kidnapping wasn't real and nothing but a horrible made up story. But it was not. Ash was dying as she admired silly city lights.

"If looking at the lights will make your mind at ease, its ok."

Iris turned to Silver and saw he to was looking pass his windows at the the city sights. His arms were crossed and one leg was crossed over the other. "I don't think I can handle to lose another sibling. Blue's death was tragic enough."

Pausing for a brief moment, "Ash is strong. He won't die."

"Even the strong fall Iris, nobody is God. People die."

"How can you say that to your own brother?!" Iris pouted. "Ash will make it. I know!"

Silver turned towards her with a judging glare. "You are Ash's business teacher, correct? Then you should know Ash well enough that he is not that same ten year old that is filled with joy and an endless amount of hope." Silver's tone deepen. "He was lost all sense of hope and faith. If he is given the chance to die, he would. He still believes that all of this is karma and all his fault."

Iris looked away and focused her attention back to the glowing city. "But isn't it? If Ash never sided with his father, faked his death in order to destroy Pallet and all neighboring cities to build one over it wouldn't things stay the same?"

Taking in a moment to accept Iris's words into his system, Silver replied. "My entire brother wanted was a love from a father. Something Ash or I never had."

"Ash told me once he got kidnapped as a child." Iris introduced a new topic into the conversation. "To this day he can't remember how he escaped."

"I helped him to escape."

Iris didn't delay her shocked expression as she turned to Silver. Silver's expression did not change or even looked back at her. His eyes were looking dead straight ahead. Iris knew Silver was serious despite their short meeting.

"I never told Ash because he would never believe me." Silver closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again. "We were meant to go and do a simple round of stealing items from a shop. I remember the night before on how much Ash missed his mother and he would not stop crying. In fact throughout our mission he would space out or cry. I couldn't take it anymore and started to run down a thick forest path. Eventually I led Ash to a woman in the forest who happened to be my mother. But of course, I couldn't show myself to her so I climbed up a tree as Ash ran towards her, catching her off guard as his mother."

"But his real mother is dead. She died from a horrible illness."

The male companion nodded. "I watched from above and was happy Ash had escaped the group. I was ok staying behind because I had my sister with me."

With a impressed smile Iris crossed her arms and legs. "You know, you're not that bad of a brother Ash keeps telling me about."

Silver leaned in closer to Iris, annoyed. "What has he been telling you about me?"

The teacher had no time to reply due to the sudden halt the cab made, causing Silver to tumble on top of the mother of one. the driver moved his steering wheel to do a sharp turn and seconds later the car came to a halt. Iris screamed as soon gun bullets were heard at the front seat as scattered glass was scattered over the seats and the shot driver. Iris could see the man's hand drop from the back seat as Silver shielded her from the horrific sight.

The doors flew open as men dressed in back rushed into the back seats, ripping Silver apart from Iris. Iris was tossed out of the vehicle like a rag doll as Silver was taken and cuffed. A gun was pointed at the woman's head when she was seen to help Silver. The man placed his finger on the trigger, warning Iris that saving Silver would cost both of their lives.

"Cameron already lost his father. Losing his mother will not make his life any easier."

Guilt poured over her as Iris ran the other way as Silver looked from afar as he felt his whole body shoved and squeezed into a van. Iris continued to run without thinking to look back. As much it hurt her to do nothing even though she was once a strong Dragon master and champion Iris ran as she heard the motor of the van echo and faded into the night sky. Falling to her knees, Iris cried and hated her weak self. But after seeing the man she loved died because of her stubborn self she couldn't risk it again with Silver.

She hardly knew the man but he didn't deserve to die. She promised herself she was going to save Ash. Nothing was going to stop her. She turned as saw the van far from her sights. Running back, she screamed. "Silver! Silver!"

A window was opened and gun bullets flew her way. Lucky she didn't receive any. She covered her whole face as her body shook in fear. She only took them away once she could no longer see the van. Iris hated herself even more.

Racing over to the destroyed taxi she raced to the back seat and looked for the note Silver used to tell the man where to go. Under the front passenger seat a small folder note laid there as Iris reached over and skimmed read over the directions. Iris couldn't believe where Silver was taking her as she knew exactly where the place they were heading.

"The abandoned subway?" She muttered under her breath. Looking over tall buildings and roads of Republic City lied the Ruins of Pallet. A empty desert filled with rubble and memories of the war that changed the whole pokemon world as they knew it. She stared at the empty plain with a sense of sadness as she brought the note closer to her chest. "No, it can't end here!" She screamed as she raced down the long highway before sending out her dearest Dragonite out of his ball.

The dragon looked around and was nearly shock to see how different his trainer had become in the last two years. Iris hoped onto his back with a brief explanation the dragon agreed to let Iris ride him. With a a gentle pat, "Thank you Dragonite." Iris soon pointed up towards the night sky. "Let's go! We have no more time to waste!"

---------------------------------

"Get you damn hands off me!"

Silver struggled in the arms of the two men trying to keep him still on his seat. But like a child Silver continued to move and try to wriggle his way out. Soon one of the men had enough of Silver's silly game and punched the boy in the stomach. Silver fell still as he embraced his stomach. hissing in pain.

"There we go." The man laughed. "We can finally get some sleep now."

Silver leaned back and closed his eyes as he felt the men hand finally let him go. He was given the chance to run but due to the pain he could only do was stay still. He imagined the scared look on Iris's face when the gun was pointed at her when she tried to save him. She had the same look on his face on the night Ghetsis shot Ash in his shoulder.

In fact May had the same expression when his father carried Ash out of his room. Fear made people stutter in fear, cry and even scream. Nothing makes sense expect for the thought but to run. Run to save their own life but there are few who would stand and save others, ignoring theirs.

"And to believe she use to be the Unova champ." Silver rolled his eyes. "But anybody who had a gun pointed of them would do nothing but to run." Pausing, "But if she is willing to save Ash, I'm sure she'll come after me anyway."

"So did you hear the news boy?" The driver teased. "Your brother is dying."

Eye widened in shock, Silver tired to sit up but was pushed back down by one of the grunts. "You f**ks!"

The driver laughed as the grunts smiled. "And we thought it would be good if you could join your brother before he dies."

"Shut up!" Silver screamed. "He isn't dying. Your lying!"

Silver could hear a small snicker from the driver. "We'll see."

---------------------------------

From the safe embrace of the city Iris flew from the heavens of Republic City and to the hell of the Ruins of Pallet. No lights shined over the ruins, no life could be seen and looking ahead only painted the same picture in her mind. The war in Unova was only very short and did not share the same destruction compared to Kanto, Johto of Hoenn. Somehow Sinnoh was able to lose a few cities compared to the whole of Kanto which the only main city known was Republic city. Any neighboring cities were considered villages are rarely heard on the news.

Iris continued to fly over the ruins with her Dragonite guiding her over. Small black dots from the ground caught her attention, patting her Dragonite to be on his guard. She watched hoping they were not people planning to take her down but with luck, they did not notice her. A speeding car with a few more following it crashed past the old wired fence gate and slid as it slowed down near the entrance of the abandoned subway.

A boy was pushed out of the car with hands tied and his mouth gagged. Iris could not tell any more features besides his long red hair. Flashlights suddenly flashed her way up, causing her to avoid the beams to keep her cover hidden. As she continued to look down she felt as if Silver was looking back her way before seeing him being pushed into the subway. The flash lights they were holding were turned off and withdrawn from the sky.

And then there was silence once more. Silver was out of her sights once again.

Iris continued to stroke her dragon, keep him at ease. She worried that what her pokemon saw would cause him to send a powerful Ice beam of flame thrower attack from the air. Minutes later more black ants crossed into her sights. They did not seem to be part of the earlier group as none of them arrived by any sort of transportation besides their feet. Both pokemon and trainer flew down closer to get a closer glimpse.

Seeing one of the 'ants' were Dawn, Iris confidently landed in front of them, catching them all of guard and embraced the woman tightly.

"They kidnapped Silver Dawn!" Iris panicked. "We were planning to come here but strange men killed out taxi driver, kicked me out and took Silver." Iris was too much in a panic state to give Dawn time to respond. "And they're in there, in the abandoned subway!"

"Shh." Dawn calmed the woman down by placing her hands on her shoulders. "We were invited by Silver to meet here. But I guess he got here a little earlier than we all expected."

"Let's go." Paul spoke as he reached over for Dawn's hand. "Ash is dying on us."

The trainer looked over his shoulder and saw Bianca and Stephan nodded, agreeing completely with him. Paul soon looked back at Dawn when he felt his hand being held by hers. he watched as Dawn comforted the shaking mother of one by holding her hand. Taking in a few minutes Iris got herself back together. Paul smirked as he led the way with Dawn by his side.

Reaching into his pocket he pulled out one of his many pokemon. It sent flames high into the air as soon he was released from his ball.

"We can't win this war alone." Paul spoke, holding Dawn's hand tighter "If there is anything Ash ever taught me back in Sinnoh it was that you can never win a battle alone."

And everyone around him, agreed.

---------------------------------

Tossed into the room like he was nothing like a doll, Silver looked up the men with nothing but utter disgust. Their laughter echoed in the cell before the slam of the door reminded him that death had now become a possibility The moaning from a familiar person caused Silver to look around the room in hope to find the voice. With the faint sent of blood heavy in the room it didn't take long to see that the person sharing the same cell as him was no other than his brother, Ash.

There he was, lying face down with his arms around his waist. Faint mutters filled with pain could be heard from him.

"Ash!" Silver screamed. "Ash!" He repeated.

With eyes half lit open, Ash could barely recognize his own brother. With his arms around his waist Ash slowly leaned his back onto one of the cell's wall.

"Hey." Ash added a warm smile. "How's life?" He grinned in a teasing manner.

"Idiot," Silver felt like hitting his brother but after what he had been through, another few hits could cost his brother's life. "How did you even get yourself into this situation?!"

"Easy. I chased after the girl of my dreams and before I could catch her, somebody caught me instead."

"Your were just foolish. You should of given her time." Silver rolled his eyes before looking at the wound Ash was holding over so tightly. Stains of blood were evident over his hands and even though the bleeding had stopped, the pain did not. "You can't just stay here and let yourself bleed to death."

Ash shifted his eyes from his brother and towards the corner were nothing could be seen expect darkness. "After what I've done to this town and to my friends, I see no reason why they should save me."

"Are your going to doubt your friends? Now of all times?"

Ash gazed at his older brother with doubt before turning away once again. It was easy to see Ash had lost all faith in his friends but mainly to himself. As if the wound he had was nothing but a clock ticking away his life and he had accepted that death was going to return everything the way it once was. Ash had now accepted death and refused to do anything or even fight.

"Everyone is coming after you because they want you alive. If they come here to see you dead they might end up getting dead themselves." Silver dragged his brother closer without causing more injury to him. "Do you want them to die as well with the others just for you? You want that!?"

Silence filled the cell before Silver heard Ash speak, "Tell them to stop the pursuit."

Silver's mind was empty. Shock covered his whole face as he scooted further from his brother. He felt nothing but disgust towards him. Wrapping his arms around his knees Silver buried his face behind them, in hope that what he was feeling was nothing but a dream. But the sound of a creaking door opening reminded that it was not. Men walked in and with brown paper bags lunch was served.

With a loud thud, darkness returned. Peeking over Silver reached over for the bag and saw a number of tissues were placed on top of their horrible served meals. Pulling them he crawled over and started to place the tissues over Ash's wound. Ash noticed and wanted to fight him off but he was running out of energy so he let him pass.

"You can die once we are out of here if you're that desperate." Silver reached for the remaining tissues. "But while I'm here, you're dying on no one. Not even yourself."

Closing his eyes, Ash felt at ease. With Ash's pale yellow scarf and a ripped shirt, Silver placed it over the wound and used the scarf to keep everything in place. With eyes half lit open Ash gaze at his covered wound before at his brother. Despite what they shared his brother was willing to save him. Even times where he did not want it or expected it, his brother would always be looking out for him. Sometimes more than their own father would do.

Heat suddenly rushed throughout his body, making moving or speaking near to impossible.

"I'm sorry." Ash muttered. "I've been such a jerk to you for the last past few years."

"We both were." Silver sat beside his brother, causing Ash's body to tip onto his. Making his head rest on his shoulder.

"Those men said that we are father's debt and he is nearly close to paying them off...with our lives." Ash paused near his sentence. "What did father really do to Team Plasma and NTR?"

"Stole pokemon, killed a few of their men, inter fear with their plans. The list is endless Ash."

"To bad life isn't." Ash chuckled softly as he closed his eyes. "I'm...Sorry."

Silver could feel a hand suddenly drop and Ash's body felt heavy on his shoulder. Turning around he could see Ash's chest having a hard time to breathe, in fact he was nearly caught off guard that it was no longer moving. He couldn't stop staring - he needed to make sure that Ash was not gone. Moving him closer to the corner of the room to lean against, Silver sat by his side. Ash, without know slid his brother shoulder and rested his head on his shoulder once again.

He was reminded back to the nights in the Mask of Ice were there were endlessly nights of sleeping together in the forest. Ash would always sleep on his shoulder and Silver would rest on top of his head lightly. Now years later they had returned back to the same scene. Resting his head on top of Ash's lightly Silver closed his eyes.

"Don't you dare die on me." Silver warned. "Hold on a little longer, I'll get you out of this, just like before."

After that the older brother drifted to sleep as another one awoken slightly for a brief moment. He smiled.

"So it was you after all." Pausing, "...thank you."

[aloasa]

well I wanted to go to sleep but apparetly now I have to remain awake and read your story, WELL THANK YOU MIDNIGHT

[midnightjewelz]

well I wanted to go to sleep but apparetly now I have to remain awake and read your story, WELL THANK YOU MIDNIGHT

Um, your welcome? I never asked you to stay up all night to read this. That was purely your choice. So um, thanks?

[midnightjewelz]

Hi everyone. Just saying, this story is coming to a close. So that is why their a little longer than usual. But please don't cry! I have another story planned up. This is a flashback chapter but since there isn't much left to write about there isn't much to talk about. But if you think I missed anything or you want to know more about, mention it in your review. Thanks guys!

~midnight

.XxX.

Chapter sixteen: Two Steps From Hell

"Ambition is the path to success, persistence is the vehicle you arrive in." William Eardley IV

The rain doesn't ease as Saturn looks towards it with grief. Looking down at the subway's entrance he sees nothing but darkness. He could see no hope shining back at him. The more he looked towards the darkness the more he wanted to return back towards it but then a scream for a woman reminded him of all the pain it had caused on him.

How long has it been? When did it all happen? He chose not to remember her final words to him as his body took one step closer to the pitch dark area. He remembered that there was blood, pain, death. Even her face that was once clear was now blurred. Only her words remained clear to him.

"Go, run!"

Taking another step felt like he was returning to that scene, as more of her words play in his mind.

"If you get caught who will report back to the Boss? You will Saturn!"

And another only proved just as painful as his vision turns to black. Saturn quickened the pace when the sound of footsteps and drunken laughter could be heard all over. Diving deeper into the darkness Saturn pressed his whole body to a nearby wall and prayed the men would not head his way. With lucky, his prayer was answered.

"Thank you Saturn, for everything."

Reaching over for an ear piece in his right ear, he pressed it with his eyes looking in all possible directions.

"Go. Get Ash out of here."

Some static appeared before the response, "Yes, were heading there." The other person on the other end paused before speaking once again. "What are you going to do?"

The man thinks to himself as a smile came across his face, "I'm going to make Mars proud."

As the connection ends a woman looks up and towards the next hallway. She and another ally pushed back as a flood of men ran down the path, running pass them both without any suspicion. She could feel her ribcage coming closer to breaking the longer she saw the line of men running them pass continuously. She continued to take many steps backwards because of it until bumping into her friend behind her lightly; reminding her losing control would only make all their efforts wasted.

Making a sharp turn out both hasten their pace and took each turn with care. There were minutes where no men could be sighted and others were flooded with them. There was not enough light to make quick judgements through vision and instead counted on the voice they were hearing through their ear pieces. They counted on the others scattered around the area that they saw as their eyes. The continued on as a voice entered.

"Keep going. Don't stop." Bianca spoke through her end as she and Stephan hide from another wave of men.

Despite not knowing half the people she was with or listening to she knew they shared the same intension as her – to save Ash. They might have met him at different points of his life but their friendship was no different.

"It's amazing how much lives, his touched over the years lives."

Her ally looked over her shoulder and nodded. "Yeah, it really is." Stephan looks at the brightest point in the whole subway; the entrance. Taking many looks back and forward the trainer dashed towards the entrance with Bianca on the lookout.

He leaned on his knees as he took a moment on catch his breath before looking up at the woman ahead of him. Her arms were crossed with a whip in her hand that the media always saw her with. Her military outfit was on her, something Stephan was not use to looking at once more. Looking past her stood her men, all formal; all disciplined and all nearly shared the same face features. Pulling himself together he saluted the woman.

"The entrance is clear maim. You can enter."

He watched Dawn nod as she cracks her whip high into the night sky as her men, rushed into the subway with their weapons on the ready. She stood in her place until not a single man from her army was seen outside with her. She placed her hand over her ear and pulls the corner of her collar to her lips where a microphone laid.

"When you pass his cell, reveal yourself."

Dawn heard a faint mumbled indicating she agreed. Dawn ended the transmission and with Stephan by her side, both race back into the underground subway with long body length black hoods covering their whole body figure and face.

In a group of men a woman tightened the coverage of her hood covering her face as she travelled with a group of NTR and Team Plasma members all walk in total unison. Only did they start talking when they reached his cell as she watches them swipe the key card through the machine and on queue the door opened, showing two weak brothers relying on each other for strength and balance.

A smile appears on her face as she took off her hood and long ivy purple hair follows. Throwing a pokeball in the air a small flying squirrel took shape and sent wild bolt of electricity everywhere; some hitting the men and others only to scare them away. As the men scatter Iris waited until two people she knew rushed passed her, one of them handing a key card into her hands swiftly as Iris locked the door behind them and hide her pokemon back to their ball.

Putting her hood over her face, the card into her pocket she stood guarding the door with her hands behind her back. Slipping back into the illusion and playing the role of just another grunt just as quick as she escaped from it.

Whispers of faded voices, warm soft touches made his heart feel at home then a rush of blood came and soon followed pain as he fell onto the ground with a thud. He shivered as he felt the same warm hands coming to him and embracing him tightly. He panicked thinking that maybe they would drop him because of his blood staining against their own clothes but when they held him for a long amount of time he knew it was okay.

Opening his eyes Ash sees pale fingers wrapped around his body with a long sleeve cover in splatters of his own blood. A soft hand helped him to move his head skyward, his eyes widen with shock as tears started to run down his face without warning. He could feel his own body urging to hold her back but he couldn't.

"Misty." He mumbled. "Out of all people, it had to be you." Looking to his left he saw another person so unlikely to come to his aid. "Paul?"

The lavender hair boy placed a familiar smirk on his face as he offered his hand to him, which Ash accepted as Misty guided him to his feet. Afterwards she turned to Silver and helped him to his feet. Lucky he was not as injured as Ash and didn't need to lean on anybody when he was on his two feet. Looking back Misty saw Ash couldn't stop smiling or believing it was really them.

"So who did all of this? You two aren't smart enough to do this on your own." Ash teased. He felt Paul letting him go for a few seconds before catching him again. "Hey that's not funny!"

Silver smiled. "It was me."

Blinking for a few moments, Ash was left stunned. "Wha?"

"Alright little brother, Let me explain it to you in your language." Pausing, "I meant to get caught by NTR and Team Plasma so the others could track me. Even though I and Iris were already heading to this place we needed to make sure. I needed to make sure you were alive when I get here."

Year Eight: Current Year

"Our plan is to save Ash. But we to make sure we follow and act when it is our time."

"But half the people you need are not even here." Dawn spoke up. She was worried and doubted his idea.

"But isn't that why your all here?" The red head questioned. "You have to get the word out, by tonight!"

"And me?" Silver turned to Drew and saw him sitting alone on a chair, arms crossed, waiting for his involvement in the whole assignment. "I'm still not going to drop my whole idea that Ash is a Pokemon Master but he doesn't have to be treated like this, his...been through enough."

Smiling, Silver crossed his arms. "You're going to find May for me."

"Why?"

"Ash and May didn't leave on a good path. I want her to know what is happening."

Pausing for a moment or two to reply, Drew nodded. "Yeah, alright."

"But what about you? What if the people kill you before you get to even see your own brother?!" Dawn panicked.

"Knowing how these people play their game. They will let Ash and I suffer before introducing death to us both."

"You play one hell of a risky game Ketchum." Drew looked generally worried about Silver's role in the plan.

Silver smiled once more, "I've always been a risk taker Drew."


"As soon I finished picking up Iris from her place we both took a ride in a cab to this place. Sadly the driver was shot and I was taken in. There, was I driven here and treated like s**t." Silver spat in disgust.

"What the hell are you doing Silver?" Iris muttered from the air. "I can't believe I even agreed to this." Pouting for a moment and dodging flash beams of light her way she quickly landed on the ground to Dawn and greeted them both, panicking and first before calming herself down to explain the plan to them both.

"We know." Paul interrupted. "Silver was the one that got us all here."

"Right." Looking around, "Where is May?" Iris questioned. "She needs to hurry."

Dawn placed her hand on the mother's shoulders. "That's Drew job." Releasing her grip Dawn pulled ear pieces and small microphones from her bag. All looked high tech and all were being used to communicate with one another. "We all need to scout the area and and do our job. Ash has saved us many times and others; it's about time we do the same."

Bianca walked up towards the doubtful mother, Iris, and tossed her a black hooded coat. "Wear this. It works well in the darkness."

Iris held up her black hooded coat and looked at it deeply before pulling it down from her sights, looking back at Dawn and soon the others. "What are we going to call ourselves then?" She asked teasingly.

Dawn smiled. "Pokemon Masters."


"And after that I'm guessing you all did as I asked. I'm surprised you made it in time Misty."

Misty winked, "After what this moron has done to me, no way."

"But Misty, I thought – your trauma." Ash paused and stopped. He didn't want to trigger any emotions at the moment.

"I'm fine. After your calls I'm well enough to leave the place for awhile before heading back. Brock cleared me out." Walking over Misty embraced Ash tightly, ignored the blood over his body. "I have enough time to save you."

The door opened wide, sending chills to the four in the room, but as soon Iris winked and let some of her long ivy hair pass her face and drop down, their hearts relaxed. Pushing the door open with her back, "Come-on, Let's go!"

Letting Silver and Misty through first, Ash and Paul soon followed as Iris tossed in fainted men from one of her Pokémon's attack from earlier in to play as puppets making everyone think they were Ash and Silver. Locking the door behind Iris tagged along and ducked down behind the wall with the others as the leaders started to head their way. There stood Ghetsis and his adopted son, N who hated himself helping his father in all of this. Behind him chained was Ash and Silver's father, Giovanni with two grunts from both parties beside him. Misty held Silver in place as he watched him walk passed them.

N locked eyes with them and smiled lightly before looking back as he walked passed. As he stood beside his father as he unlocked the door, he took a few steps back and from his pocket was showing a small red and white machine. Pressing the button twice it enlarged and a pokemon was released.

Ghetsis looked over his shoulder and dropped the key card and didn't seem interested in picking it up as he turned to face his son. He remained calm about the whole situation.

"I see. I should have known." And with the click of his fingers, one of the men grabbed his hands as another raced for the pokemon set free from the pokeball.

But the pokemon jumped high into the air and sent wild thunderbolts all over the area, making everyone except Giovanni and N paralysed. Ash couldn't believe who was using the attack or commanding it to attack. Turning around to face his brother in total shock, "Who told you could steal Pikachu from me?"

"Well on the night you were talking to N up on the roof of our father's building you happened to leave Pikachu and Glaceon home, thinking it would just be another cold spring night In Republic city." He faced his brother. "Then you chased after your dear love," Silver placed his hands over his heart, acting. "Then out of the blue, strange men hit you over the head and took you captive."

Rolling his eyes over the bad acting, Ash asked more. "What does N have to do with all of this?"

"Easy, since he started this whole idea of helping him, I asked for his help."

"Take this."

A red and white pokemon flew high in the air before landing into a palm of another trainer. Looking at the object he caught, N was surprised to see it was no other than a pokeball. Even he was against keeping innocent pokemon in such tight machines he understood why many trainers would keep their loved ones in the only safe place they knew.

Looking down N was quickly reminded he was on top of the Team Rocket Corporations building, days before he was asking for Ash's help to stop his father. Little did he knew that he would send him two steps closer to hell and into his father's arms.

"My brother's trusted pokemon lays in there. Please look after him."

Looking up N gazed at Silver for a short amount of time before returning to the ball.

"I've heard stories that he never kept him in his ball. What has changed?"

"Society changed." Silver quickly replied. "Now will you help? Will you act out your part on the night?"

Nodding, "Of course, I asked for Ash's help and I won't refuse any ideas to save him and to stop my father." N pressed the button once to enlarge the ball. Speaking to it, "We'll save your friend. Count on that, Pikachu."


"All of this, for me?"

Nodding, "Yea." Misty replied. "That is what friends are for, right?"

Ash replied with a simple grateful smile.

As much Iris wanted to share in the joist moment between Misty and Ash the blood dripping from his wound started to make his way out of the area they were hiding in and into N and Pikachu's view. One by one they pulled out and reunited with N as Pikachu jumped into his trainer's arms.

"Welcome back Ash." N greeted.

"Thanks."

From a few meters away, calls from groups of men echoed in the subway, "Over here. I heard screams from this direction!"

"Quick, get going. I'll explain what has happened to them."

"But what if they don't believe you?" Ash panicked as he held Pikachu tightly in his arms.

"We all have to take risks Ash."

With Paul pulling him to make his move the four continued to rush to a nearby entrance or somewhere to hide safely for the night. They continued to run as they heard N being pinned down and caught by his father's men as they tried to walk their leader up. As if an alarm went off, men from both parties flooded in. Leaving no choice but to hide or either ask Pikachu to sent a powerful thunderbolt their way to stop them in their tracks.

All walked in closer to one another when both entrances were blocked with men and their guns pointing at them. Ash pressed on his wound to add pressure and slow down the bleeding as Pikachu perched on his shoulder. A voice came through the ear piece and on cue, Pikachu lit up his tail and sent a powerful iron tail to the roof, causing it to fall down on the NTR men and seconds later another part of the roof fell, crashing into the other, and from the dust appeared a man.

"Saturn." Paul muttered. "Like before, hm?"

"You guys can't seem to control yourselves, always after adventure and trouble."

"You know him?" Ash spoke.

"Yeah, he saved me and Paul from the detention centre a few years back."

"Long story short, I broke in, smashed a few alarms. Caused a fire somewhere along the track and freed whoever was in the place. It was part of a mission we-I had to do." Saturn stuttered towards the end, his face slightly more pink that before. Sadness covered Misty and Paul's face slightly.

But their moment was cut short when a gun bullet was heard. Nobody was injured but caused the five of them to be more alert as Pikachu sent a thunderbolt toward the man to keep him quiet. Saturn rushed over and pulled on Misty's hand to hurry and follow his lead.

She looked up to him and noticed his eyes were getting watery as they raced down paths and halls of what use to be part of Kanto's finest railway. "It was her, that girl Mars that the gun was pointed at, wasn't it?" She felt Saturn tighten his grip on her hand, either a sign to tell her to be quiet or she was speaking the truth. "I'm I didn't stand there and freeze up-"

"She didn't want to live a life seeing somebody she save die. She lived out her mistakes dying. She died a hero."

"But I was so foolish to just stand there with a gun pointed at me."

Looking back at her briefly, "Anybody would stand in fear when a gun is pointed at them. Even the strong and bravest fall, we are not God."

Looking away from the boy, she couldn't help agree.

From the back Paul heard every word they spoke. He couldn't help but drag himself in. "If she didn't have any regrets dying, then you shouldn't Misty."

"I want to thank her, for saving me."

"I'm sure, she knows that." Saturn muttered. "I'm sure she does."

.XxX.

"No, s**t."

He couldn't stop running, no, not now. He could feel his legs burning as his lungs desperately begging for air as he leaned on the handrails to pull himself up the stairs. Looking down on the path were shattered glass and pieces of the wall at his feet. It took no scientist to know that the building he was in was going to fall. This only told him to hurry as he continued to run up another flight to stairs before lunging towards the door down the hallway.

He couldn't stop shaking the doorknob as he placed the key inside and turned and inside laid the two most important people in his life – his wife and his only daughter. Coming up from behind the sofa, his wife lunged forward into his arm with their child in one arm and their belongings in another. He looked around and saw the apartment was in flames and so was the rest of the building. Husband and wife embraced one another as they felt another missile launch into the building.

They had no time for words as Drew slipped his hand into Brianna's as both ran down the stairs and rushed down only to be blocked half way by tower height flames. Pushing his wife and child back, Drew looked through a giant hole in the wall. He saw people scattered everywhere as missiles and other powerful weapons were being shot at the buildings and at anybody or anything that moved.

Placing his spare hand over his right ear, "Dawn, taking Ash out there isn't any safer here."

Due to distance it took some time to hear a response. "W-What do you mean?"

"It's complete chaos here. Buildings are falling apart, people dying and missiles are being fired everywhere." Pausing, "It's the Great Kanto War all over again."

Drew could hear Dawn swear at the other end before remaining her composure. He had nearly forgotten that she wasn't that safe either. "I'll tell that to the others. I'll tell my men to clear this area so at least the victims have a place to run to."

"My men are on that but I'm not sure if I'll get all back. You need to take Ash out of there and tell that..." Drew paused for a moment. "...tell the world that we need the Pokemon Masters."

Dawn could nearly felt like choking up and shedding a tear. "Thank you."

Drew nodded and ended his call and returned to the fact he still needed to save his wife and child from the new war. Walking over to the wall he saw an old fire escape down below, not too far down. He looked at Brianna as she returned the look back.

"Is it even safe down there?" Brianna asked as she held her child tightly to her.

"I'll make sure it will be."

Trusting in her husband she lent her hand to him as he guided her down to the fire escape. A minute later he followed and both made their way down be walking down the stairs or hoping down slowly. As the mother and child hoped down to another platform it quickly lost its strength and dropped down. With careful timing Drew was able to catch her and pull his wife and child back up to him. He could see how badly shaken up she was.

"Drew, I'm so scared."

"We all are." He waited until Brianna looked back up to him. "But you need to be strong for Lily. She doesn't have anyone else out there to look after her except you and I."

Drew looked down and noticed a pile of rubble high enough for them to reach by foot and land safely on the ground. This time he took foot on it before inviting the other two. Soon they were back down on solid ground but it didn't make Brianna feel any less uncomfortable.

His wife looked up to him and noticed he had his eyes stuck towards the main part of the city. She held his hand tighter which caused him to look back at her.

"Don't tell me you're going to go in?"

Holding her hand tighter, "I have too; there are people that need my help."

"Then please take care."

She reached over and pressed her lips onto his very tightly as a few tears ran down her face. What she didn't know that he was crying the same amount of tears back to her. They stopped as soon they heard their child speak. Looking down they smiled lightly as Drew kissed Lily's forehead lightly before kissing his wife lightly.

"I have to go."

Brianna nodded. "I understand."

Drew began taking long painful steps from his dearest wife and child and headed deeper into the city where the war was stronger at. He forced himself not too look back as he knew that if he did he would stop and run back towards them. But if he did, one life would be lost and then another.

"I can't go. I can't leave until I find May. This war needs her."

.XxX.

"There. You should be just fine now."

Ash watched as Bianca tied up the final bandage around his chest and waist as he lay on the seats of one of the abandoned trains in the subway. The young assistant placed a damp cloth as he cleaned the blood stains off his skin gently; worried that she would press too hard on any of his bruises. She afterwards placed Ash on his back as she rushed over to Silver who was just opposite Ash and had no injuries but was covered in bruises and blood stains.

With her eyes on his arms she gazed at his bruise, "What happened in there?"

Avoiding her gaze, "Hell happened."

"She is just worried about you Silver." Iris spoke as she patted Pikachu who was sitting on her lap, enjoying her scratching him behind his ears. "We all are. You two could have died."

"What, you worried I was going to die like your husband all those many years ago?" Silver rolled his eyes. "Please."

The blond tensed up at his name and pressed the cloth on one of Silver's bruises too much, causing him to pull his arm back due to the pain. "Hey!"

Looking up, irritated. "Learn to respect the dead you little spoiled brat." Bianca pushed her glasses up to the bridge of her nose. "Even if you don't know them."

Silver once again, rolled his eyes as Iris silently stood up to her own two feet and walked out of the train without speaking a word. With her arms crossed her leaned her back against the jammed door of the train and kept an eye out for any more Neo Team Rocket or Team Plasma grunts. Pikachu tilted his head and confusion and made his way to Misty who was sitting right beside Ash, keeping her eyes stuck only on him. He had fallen asleep.

"You know, he isn't yours to stare at Misty."

Ignoring his words Misty kept her eyes on him. "I know. I'm just wondering what would happen if I never got caught that day in Pallet town. Would I survive in that forest? Would I die there? So many possibilities."

"But you need to face reality and stop dreaming in wonderland." Paul pulled himself from the floor and dusted his coat. "He isn't yours."

Turning to face the man, "Tell me, when you abandoned Dawn, Zoey and her father to help them escape did you lose hope that you would return to Dawn? I'm sure you did at one point. I bet you dreamed that once you escaped she would welcome you with open arms."

"I had no such expectation." Paul crossed his arms. "I just wanted her safe. Even if she wasn't mine anymore at least she would be safe and happy with another man." Misty saw how quickly he tensed up about talking about losing Dawn to another person. "Plus when I saw how much Dawn cried when she was reunited with her father that day in Sinnoh, I knew leaving them was the right thing, even if it wasn't at first."

Paul's mind returned to that day where they remember watching Kenny losing his life from a deadly explosion. Rushing over they dragged his weak body and leaned him against the trunk of a tree. He was bloody all over and it was hard not to look at him. He couldn't understand why he was still smiling, even at his death he died with a smile. It reminded him so much of Ash.

As he and Zoey reached over for fallen leaves to place over the boy's fallen body the ground shook harshly for a second of two and meters from them stood a puzzled man.

"Father?" He could hear Dawn mutter.

Dropping the leaves on Kenny both chased after Dawn who ran after the man before greeting him with a horrible slap. Paul and Zoey watched in shock.

"How dare you!" Paul reached over for her hand and pulled the troubled teen towards him. "How dare you show yourself after all these years!"

The father was so lost that even speaking became so foreign after begin trapped in an unknown realm for thousands of years. He placed his hand on his head and closed his eyes for a moment. "I-I'm ss-sorry."

With her emotions out of control Dawn escaped out of Paul's grasp and slapped him once again, sending him down onto the ground this time around. "I don't give a s**t."

The ground shook once more as explosion and the smell of gunpowder was strong in the air. Fire soon stretched pass the tallest trees in the forest and started to surround them all. He could feel Dawn close into him and hold tightly on his arm. That fear, that anger he just saw earlier quickly faded and now was showing the fragile side of Dawn. Looking over her shoulder he could see her father coming towards them.

"Don't come near me!" Dawn screamed. Her back was facing her father while her body was shaking up badly. "Don't!"

Seeing all the rejection Dawn was showing to her father he slipped his grasp from Dawn and bent down to her height, giving her no choice but to look at him straight in the eye. "Dawn." Paul spoke softly.

"No, don't say it. I'm not going to like it." Looking up at him, "I'll hate you if you say it!"

"You're acting like a child now. Grow up." Standing up straight, "I'm guessing you Dawn's father." Cyrus nodded. "Then please take her and her friend and run. This place is covered with explosives. But if you take that path you should all be fine. Just stay on the dirt road." Paul pointed at the dirt road behind them.

The teen pushed Dawn towards her father and Cyrus quickly held her tight. He watched as his daughter kicked and scream while in his presence. "Thank you, but what about you?"

"Team Rocket grunts are coming. If we all leave, all of us will get caught. I'm going to stay and fight them off long enough for you guys to escape."

"No Paul!" Dawn screamed.

Paul smirked as the footsteps of grunts started to come their way. "Be strong while I'm away, alright?"

Have finally calmed down, Dawn nodded as tears started to run down her face.

"You know, I really hate you right now."

And those same footsteps woke him up from his trip down memory lane as a few men from the Kanto Military Unity entered themselves into the carriage with guns pointing at them all. All of them could see they had Iris captured with handcuffs around her wrists.

"Pokemon Masters, we've should of known. This is your entire damn fault!" The men yelled at the group.

"Bulls**t this is our fault." Saturn spat. One of the men responded by hitting Saturn in the stomach with his gun. He quickly fell on his knees with his hands covering his stomach.

"You may have guns but we have monsters most men fear to even speak of." Stephan reached over to his waist where a few of his pokemon rested at. But before he could even release one, a person in a black coat, the same one they all wore suddenly fell down the hole in the roof of the carriage. It was standing in front of them all.

"Hit my brother once again and I shall remove you all from service!" Removing her hood revealed it was no other than Dawn – the leader of the military unit in Kanto. "I have received information from Drew Blackthorn who is currently alone with only a few men trying to save as much residents in Republic city that the city is at the brink of war. Instead of wasting your bullets on people who have done nothing but paint walls with crayons on public property you should be over there and save people like it says in your profiles!" Cracking her whip in the air, "I did not hire fools to join my army!"

"Why the sudden change now Mrs Berlitz?" One of her men asked.

"Republic City is under attack by grunts from both parties of NTR and Team Plasma. Move your asses there or you won't have a leader to return too!"

"But the Pokemon Masters!"

Dawn flicked her hair over her shoulder before revealing a pokeball from underneath her coat. It flicked open and a medium size blue penguin appeared as he stretched his fins high up in the air. Some of the men pushed back as others stood in their place.

"We are not fiends you should fear of. Guns have killed more people than all pokemon combined." Silver stood up from his seat. "Detective Silver Ketchum reporting maim." Silver teased slightly.

Dawn placed a quick smile back towards then man before turning back to face her men. "I'm not going to repeat myself or Detective Ketchum's words. Leave at once!"

With one more crack of her whip her men quickly left the scene without asking any more questions as Dawn walked over and released Iris from the cuffs. When the area was gone the woman turned to face her friends with a smile. She smiled at Paul the longest. Prinplup ran towards Pikachu as the two high fived one another and laughed.

"Dawn." Ash spoke softly as he started to wake up from his short nap. "Since when?"

"Long story Ash." Dawn spoke. "But Drew has told me Republic City is falling. It's a complete war zone out there."

"So this was nothing but a distraction?" Misty spoke.

"Most likely," Silver replied. "NTR and Team Plasma most likely wanted to send the most strongest Pokemon Masters out here while they start a party back home." Silver reported.

"We all have to go; Drew doesn't have many men to run with over there." Bianca closed her backpack and threw it over her shoulders. "There are lot of people that needs first aid."

Ash smiled as he looked at each person that had come in order to save him with the risk of losing Republic city. "Thanks guys. I didn't expect all of you to come and get me and my brother."

With a cheeky grin Misty patted Ash's head before standing up. "Of course you jerk. We might not all know each other but that doesn't give us the reason to leave you here to die."

"So cheer up, won't you?" Stephan held a thumb ups to the trainer.

"And if you think you were the reason why this war started, then don't. If we don't blame you then you shouldn't." Silver spoke up towards his brother.

"So pull yourself together. Republic City needs you!" Iris argued.

"So princess, you ready for the final destination?" Paul teased.

Looking back at Misty, Ash noticed she was holding out a hand to him. Without a second thought he reached over and he was soon on his two feet. With a smile he nodded as he looked through one of the train windows and through the subway exit. From afar he could see thick tall pillars of smoke from above the city. As he held Misty's hand tight he swallowed hard.

"Hold on everyone, hold on May, We're coming – I'm coming." Pausing. "Even if you don't want me."

[midnightjewelz]

Chapter seventeen: In The Unknown World

"Darkness scares us. We yearn for the comfort of light as it provides shape and form allowing us to recognize, to define what's before us. But what is it we're afraid of, really? Not the darkness itself, but the truth we know hides within."

Emily Thorne - Revenge

Dark yet the room was lit up. Cold yet the warmth surrounded her. Covered, but it was now getting uncomfortable. There her eyes stared at letters, number and lines pointing at two people - her parents. Norman. A well known gym leader of his time that soon changed into politics to keep his family alive and Caroline, a woman that was able to hide herself from the media her husband was stirring.

Her hands gently running down the photos of her parents before her own tears covered their face. Now the photos made sense to her - they were just as blurry as she remembered them to be. Now looking down at the papers it was clear that her parents were no longer together. It was a death of a certain child that drifted them apart. It was her death.

She remembers a story of a certain boy telling her of the woman he loved so much dying beside her. What was painful that he could not hold her, kiss her and treasure her so dearly. Fallen rumble that had turned into a wall blocked them apart. Air was thin and room was tight. She remembers him telling a confession. She never knew that girl was her.

Her name and her brother, those were the only things she woke up that she knew was true. Then the lies began, one after the other. Soon she was living and basing her life under a lie. Then, that boy came into her life. Despite their rude greetings she guided her back to the life she 'apparently' lived.

The flames came in closer and the smoke was now heavy. Resting beside the profiles of the people she called her parents, May was now accepting to die for the second time. She was now making sure she was going to get it right this time.

But a scream came.

"May!"

May could feel her own body being dragged from the flames with the papers in her arms as well, dragged along with her. Opening her eyes she couldn't believe it was no other than Drew. The last man she ever expected to see.

She watched him silently as he brushed her fringe from her face. Drew watched May mouth his name towards him before carrying her out of her room and closing the door behind him. As long the room was receiving no air the flames would not be able to spread.

Placing her gently against a wall Drew stared at her, waiting for her to speak. Gazing at the papers she held tightly in her arms Drew sat beside the brunette. Looking above he noticed there was a hole in the roof. Despite the guns and screams outside the sky remained clear. Drew couldn't make up his mind if that was a good sign or plain disturbing.

"They split up because of me." May broke the silence. Turning to face her, Drew could see her empty eyes staring at the carpet they sat on. "It was my death that caused Ash to turn so cold. All of this is my fault!" The woman started to break into tears.

"No it's not May." Drew comforted her. "You are not blamed for the war."

"But I don't understand. If Ash's story is true how did I live?" May changed the topic.

May could hear Drew sigh deeply. "Easy. I found you." He turned to look up at the stars. "After Ash saved us you went with him and I went my own path. Soon I ended up under your father's care."

"I see Max lied to me once again."

Drew shook his head. "Max didn't know that your father was looking after me during the war. Anyway we both heard you were alive with a group of thieves which ended up to be Ash and his siblings. We raided the forest you guys were hiding and planned to take you back home with us until we heard a giant sound of a city building falling down."

Blinking in shock, "So what Ash said was true."

"Yes." He nodded. "We rushed over after the men had left and saw your body badly bruised but Ash's body was gone. We thought he was dead."

"Then I woke up in that hospital and then our story began." May drifted her attention from Drew towards the end of her sentence. Hearing a shuffle or two May looked up and saw Drew had made up to his feet. All alerted. "Their here." He muttered.

Turning around he quickly rushed over for May's hand and dragged her onto her feet, both quietly walking down the stairs alerted. May was caught more in confusion as Drew continued to guide her down the stairs. "They're here, NTR and Team Plasma." Reaching for his pocket he pulled out a small gun. "If only Roserade was here..." His voice dropped before becoming alert once more after hearing a gunshot nearby.

Reaching down into her fanny pack, "Not all of us are at a lost." But she was interrupted when Drew placed his hand onto hers.

"Don't." He whispered. "They could be arm. You'll just lose them."

Sighing given Drew was right she hide behind Drew since she couldn't fight without losing something dear in return. The footsteps became crisper each step they took towards it, both wondering if their next step would be their last. They could feel like they could hear and feel death itself as they could hear breaths of a person coming nearby. Taking a deep breath and holding onto May's hand tightly he appeared from the wall both were hiding as Drew pointed his gun at the sound that haunted him and May badly. To his surprise the other man had done the same thing and was now pointing his gun at them both.

Stuck at gunpoint,

It was no other than Ash pointing the barrel at him.

Shocked to see who it was, the weapon slipped through his fingers, crashing it towards the ground. "Drew?!"

"How on earth? I thought Team Plasma captured you!?" Drew screamed, still pointed the gun at Ash.

"I thought you ran away with Brianna and your kid by now?!" Ash pointed at the father of one.

"What the hell?!" Both boys spoke synchronised.

"This is no time to complain." Drew loaded the barrel. "We need to get this over."

Shaking and holding up his hands defensively, "Don't tell me you still have that grudge over me Drew?"

With a smirk, Drew replied. "Perhaps."

Taking a few steps back in shock Ash watched in horror as Drew pointed the deadly weapon right at him. May shook in fear and held onto Drew's hand tighter. She exchanged glances from the gun at to the man she loved to dearly. Her mind was in a complete mess to even begin to wonder what made Drew turn so cold all of a sudden.

Shaking his hand tirelessly, "Drew please, I don't want anybody else dying in this war!"

Taking aim. "Stay still." May could hear him mutter.

Soon the sound a gunshot echoed as May closed her eyes even before impact. It was so quiet she could even hear the gun shell drop to the ground. The sound of a body could be heard as it crashed onto the ground. Trembling May opened her eyes and saw a body on the floor. Beside that body a boy stood in shock, his eyes wide open. Looking back up Drew sighed and released his grip on May.

With a smile, Drew rolls the gun in his hand. "Got ya." Soon he felt an empty pokeball crash into his face. It was no other than Ash who had thrown it.

"Give me a damn ****ing warning next time!" Ash's face was covered in anger. "Don't make me point the gun at you next!" Ash could hear Drew break into laughter.

"Well there wasn't really any time. A grunt was right behind you with a gun of his own. I had to start acting to convince him so he wouldn't shoot any of us."

Looking down at the dead body beside him Ash could see the gun Drew had just spoken about. "I guess war give you little options to work on." Kicking the body lightly Ash looked back at the two. "Remind me to point a gun at you at some point in your life." The teen smirked.

"I'll remind you to not."

Drew looked to the person that was shaking in either fear in in shock. Looking around she placed the papers by her feet and drifted her eyes back to him. She couldn't stop staring at him as he looked back at her the same way he did on that night on top of the Team Rocket Corporations roof. She had slipped and he had rushed over to save her before being saved totally by Dawn's older brother, Saturn.

After that she ran from his grasp and could hear him calling her name endlessly. She ran pass cars, people and ran into any tight alleyway she could squeeze her body into. Then she took notice of one call of her name more than the last. It was a call of desperation and of fear. Catching up to her he pushed her aside and took the attack for her – one nasty knock to the gut. She screamed only to be greeted with a gun pointing at her. Rushing recklessly Ash grabbed on both fighting for control before feeling yet another bullet going into him.

With his word barely understandable she took what she could understand from him and ran.

With tears building May rushed down and right into Ash's arms. Without words she continued to cry, burying her head into his chest and clutching on his coat tightly. With a smile Ash wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. He looked up to Drew and saw nothing but a simple smile.

"I'll leave her in your care, like always."

Nodding back, "Thank you Drew, for everything." Ash saw Drew reply with a simple nod and made his way out. Looking down in his arms still laid May still shedding her tears.

"I'm so sorry. So, so sorry. Ash please forgive me." May muttered. Only did when she felt Ash place his hand on her head did she look up. Despite what she had done towards him he was happy and...smiling. "Why...are you so happy?"

Pushing her long brunette hair behind her right ear, Ash continued to smile as he placed his hand under her chin and pulled her face towards his lips. Both let their emotions go as both stood in their kiss for a minute or two. It felt so bitter sweet; a reward both didn't feel like they deserved after what they had done to others and to one another, both shedding a tear or two while their kiss lasted.

Pulling apart, "Answer me Ash, why are you so happy despite what happened to us?"

Running his fingers through her hair, Ash continued to smile. "Because I've finally found you, for whom you truly are."

She couldn't stop smiling. May had never felt such joy, such happiness. As if Ash had forgiven her for the many sins she had done through their journey. Running back into his arms May smiled – smiled for the longest time in a she could ever remember.

All the screams, the explosions and all the death, as much it scared her being around Ash made everything alright. Words came into her mind saying that everything was going to be alright. He was the pillar that kept her strong. She was the support he never knew he needed.

"Thank you." May muttered into his chest. "Thank you for always being there for me, even when it nearly cost your own life."

"I told myself that if I was going to enter into one more war, I'll make sure I wasn't going to lose anyone or you again." Reaching out for May's hand, the trainer held it tight. With his other hand he dragged his hood over his face. "Ready for one last battle?"

With a determined smile, the coordinator nodded.

---------------------------------

What were once fireworks that people looked up to amazement became signs of war and hell. Pieces flew over them and all prayed none would hit them. Dawn watched on in horror as the battlefield was like a game – there could be only a few winners. She could feel the fear of the people as they all rushed pass her. Some that she watched run towards her never did make up to her as she watch them fall.

Staying strong she could feel Paul place a firm hand on her shoulder to keep her emotions controlled. She smiled as the people passing her were guided to shelters where no more sounds of screams and bombs explosions could be heard.

"Let's go."

Agreeing with Paul both pulled their hoods over their faces once no more people were around. With their ear pieces still in check their communication stayed strong. Covering their faces with their hoods to block the smoke Dawn couldn't help but notice how high the smoke had risen to. It was they had become sky pillars of their own and the flames behind them provided them light. Pushing forward they encountered Ash and May who was now in a black coat of her own. Saying no words they all nodded and headed out.

All froze once the four heard clicks of guns coming together. Holding onto each other tight both waited until they could see the guns with their own eyes. Ash smirked as he threw a pokeball in his hand before catching it again. As the triggers were pushed a flash of red light was released from the foreign machine, showing a fox completely made out of ice. With a roar it summoned a transparent barrier around them all; all in a dome shape and the bullets fell. Both Dawn and Paul were shocked at how Ash was able to change the physical appearance of the move, Barrier.

"You impress me Ash." Paul teased. "I guess that is why we are rivals, right?"

With little time to respond Ash nodded as Paul released his own pokemon from their slumber. As it landed the ground shook, causing some grunts to lose grip of their gun or lose their aim on them all. Torterra raised his feet and stomps once again, causing the grunts to lose balance. With the signal from Paul to continue Dawn threw her own pokeball in the air to release a Prinplup in all of his glory.

He placed his fins near his beck and with the most concentration released thin neon beams of ice wildly. As if he was using Discharge. Every grunt was frozen into place as the penguin landed on top of Torterra with ease. As much they had stopped one death treat another came as the flames engulfed them all. Even the men in ice started to melt. Everyone came in closer as May held onto one of the pokemon she grabbed from her apartment. Without warning she rushed over to Torterra and climbed onto its tree. She threw her pokeball into the flames and the red light escaped. A pokemon with cannons in its shell raised its hand and like magic, water appeared underneath its feet.

The water rose and was under its full command. The pokemon pointed his arms forward and the water headed straight for them. Ash soon understood the message May was speaking.

"Barrier now Glaceon, stronger than ever!"

The ice fox roared its name high into the sky and surrounded them all behind a pink transparent barrier. All held boldly in their place as they watched the water head and crash right into them. For a few seconds they all seemed to be underwater as the barrier all kept them safe and dry. Ash watched at his Glaceon as it continued on to keep them safe. But cracks became evident as the mystic field broke sending them meters underwater.

Or so they thought.

Opening their eyes was a Beautiful with its eyes glowing. It was using the move Psychic, a move created by the mind. Jumping down from Torterra's back May reached to the others and pulled them onto their feet. An old fire escape was nearby and without any hesitation all rushed and climbed up. Looking behind an army of grunts from both criminal organisations pointed their guns at them. As Blastoise appeared from the frozen wave of water May reached out to both her empty pokeballs and returned them both. Causing the suspended wall of water to crash down on the grunts below them and flames to be wiped out instantly.

Watching with sadness May watched as the men screamed as meters of water crashed onto them, leaving the chance of them living very slim. The four watched until they no longer could hear the screams of the grunts in the air.

"There wasn't much I could do." May muttered softly. "The fire, the grunts – they were all after us."

With Glaceon still in his arms, Ash stood beside her. "War doesn't give us much options May."

Dawn and Paul watched on in silence as the river continue to pass them by and within minutes the water had died down and on the road were scattered men that looked like when ants when water had touched them. "I never knew your pokemon held such power." Dawn spoke as she kept her eyes stuck on the dead bodies.

"I don't know what came over me. I felt like telling what my Pokemon to do was something I've done before." May gazed at the pokeballs in her hands.

"You have. You use to be a coordinator." Dawn replied. "I use to look up to you so much and I still do." Dawn smiled. "You haven't lost your touch. Not one bit."

Walking out of the fire escape and through a window, "Thanks." Rubbing her arms together with her hands, "But let's sleep here for the night. It's getting rather cold."

The others agreed as they all made their way in through an apartment window. Looking around they all saw things were still placed as if there was no war happening. Paul walked over to the switches and noticed the power was out. Looking around he noticed Dawn had gathered blankets and Blaziken was started a small fire with whatever materials May could use to burn. Ash and Pikachu were looking through cupboards for quicks snacks.

"It's amazing what power war can do to us. It makes people value each other more." Paul spoke as Dawn made her way over to him handing over a blanket of his own.

"Yeah." She nodded. "Anyway I told the others where we are. They are taking a break of their own and will be here around midnight. We make our move then."

Accepting the blanket Dawn had given him, Paul nodded. "Alright but first," He reached out for her arm. "I want you to stay with me. Even for a few hours. Don't leave my side. Just stay."

With a smile the blunette pinched his cheeks lightly with both of her hands. "Alright, just promise you'll do the same for me."

---------------------------------

The whole street was silent. There were no gun shots, no screams, and no yelling - pure silence. May wondered if this was right to have such peace in a middle of a new war or maybe an ambush was heading their way and within seconds they would all be dead. She couldn't rest as well as the others. Looking to the dark corner slept all their pokemon combined, she was glad they were able to sleep in a well structured building.

Her eyes turn back to the papers she was getting depressed over. Opening up the manila folder once again were more photos of her parents and her brother, their old home and gym, newspaper articles and magazine shots. Paper filled with notes about their whole family was neatly written with arrows pointing at one sentence and one at another. It was never ending.

Each newspaper article was stapled together in order as her eyes read the first one. It was when all gym leaders were now forced to join the army and hunt down the 'pokemon masters'. Next her father was accepted at Minster of Transportation, and then came many articles about her parents split and the disappearance of her younger brother and her. There was hardly anything about her mother as she had all read these articles and like one of them had wrote, her mother knew how to avoid the media her father was creating, on purpose or not.

A blanket soon fell over her shoulders causing her to look up. She noticed it was no other than Ash. With a blanket of his own he sat by May's side and near the fire they all made earlier. She didn't have to say a word for Ash to understand her reason of waking up early.

"It's about your father, isn't it?"

Nodding, May agreed. "His really popular here, isn't he?"

"Just a little," Both paused. "I really don't know what happened to him after saving him in his mansion about a month ago." Looking into the late night sky, "I'm sure his looking for us – for you."

Wrapping her arms around her knees, May joined Ash by looking up through the window and into the starry night. "Even though I have no recollection of my father, I'm sure he is. Any father who has a child missing would look for them, no matter what."

Ash's mind drifted back to the abandoned subway where he was only able to take a few seconds of his father being dragged by both NTR and Team Plasma. He was weak, and beaten to the point he found it hard to believe that was his own father. He nearly cried at the scene as he could do nothing but run as he wasn't in the greatest shape. He pressed his hand on his wound. It was still warm and fresh. But the pain he was feeling now was nothing to be compared when he was in that cell with his older brother.

"And so would any child if any of their parents went missing." Ash felt a soft fragile hand on top of his.

"I'm sure we'll be able to solve whatever your problem is and end this war for good." Moving in closer to Ash. "And then you can show me that world you love so much. You know where people can show their pokemon openly and become trainers and coordinators." Her eyes were filled with happiness but were also filled with a sense of sadness. "And maybe then, you can teach me how to be a coordinator again."

May raced into Ash's arm and there she let her quiet tears slide down her cheeks. Ash held her tightly and pulled her blanket back over her shoulders and held her until she finally fell asleep. Ash continued to pat her long brown hair as he gently laid her onto her back and watched her sleep. Lying on his side Ash continued to watch her.

"You're not going to remember anything, are you?"

Holding back his emotions he sat back up again with his arms around his knees and his blanket loosely over his shoulders. His precious times with May back when they first travelled now seem nothing but fiction. Those days where he would save her from pits and utter despair from losing a contest seem nothing but from a dream. Their relationship could no longer be based on their childhood memories but on the memories they were sharing now together and with their friends.

There was no backup; there were no more inside jokes that could be based on his early days as a pokemon trainer. Their past was nothing but a memory that would have meaning to him, not to May.

To May, they were as foreign as a language she couldn't understand, and never will.

Closing his eyes for the second time Ash snuggled beside May and waited for the others to meet up with them at midnight, like they all planned.

---------------------------------

"Ash! Ash! Get up!"

Responding quickly Ash looked around and saw the others had made it to their destination but did not carry smiles all around. Some kept looking back and forward from the window as the familiar sounds of war echoed into the late night street. Their pokemon keeping an eye on the street while staying hidden. Glaceon made her way over to her trainer and snuggled in closer to keep him warm and to wake him up more slightly. Ash patted the ice fox back before making up to his feet.

"What's up?" Ash asked to Silver.

"I saw father with the NTR and Team Plasma. They are planning to set him a light on top of Team Corporations building as soon sunrise hits with the bill as well."

"What?" Ash's shock was delayed after hearing the plan NTR and Team Plasma planned to do with his father. "How cruel can these guys get?"

"Bad." Saturn replied. "If they could kill Mars and the others with ease and without any guilt I'm sure your father is no exception."

"We need to move Ash." Dawn appeared out of the group. "Or else you'll have no more father to look up to."

Taking in a moment to take control of his emotions, Ash blurted. "But how's mother and your dad Cyrus?"

"Both are fine. Father is helping everyone leave the city. His trusting us and whatever is left of the military to take down NTR and Plasma."

Without any delay Ash agreed with the plan her brother, Dawn and Saturn had come up as they made their way to them. With shadows of the early morning all of them released their best pokemon by their side and the others back into their balls. Jumping on rooftops it did not take long for them to be only a few blocks away from the building.

Looking down the presence was huge. Grunts with citizens they had captured by their side, not bothering to struggle as a pot filled with fire was seen at the top. It seemed they had moved Ash's father death earlier than expected.

"May, tell Beautifly to use psychic to remove the rope around the people's wrists then Stephan tell Zebstrika to use Discharge and aim it at the grunts. That should causer enough panic to let us slip by."

Agreeing to Saturn's words both followed. Beautifly's eyes glowed bright and quietly the ropes slipped off the captured victims and seconds later, thunder that looked like it came from the skies shocked all the grunts, making most faint while others unable to move. The ones unaffected chased after the escaped victims as Ash and the others slipped through the chaos.

As they entered they all didn't speak as anybody released an attack on whoever they saw and classed their enemy. Glaceon set up her barrier when gun bullets were shot as Misty's Starmie released powerful hot water at the grunts as they fell and hissed at their burns. All rushed past and a few floors higher more grunts blocked their paths. As it all pained them to hurt more blinded grunts Dawn commanded her Prinplup to push them aside with powerful attacks of Steel Wing and Silver's Sneasel froze their feet in place with Ice beam.

More and more came and Iris was now forced to attack. Haxorus roared as he picked up fallen pieces of rubble and threw it at the men, causing half of them to faint and sadly, die from one hit and Bianca's Cinccino shot Bullet seed at any men she saw held any guns. Torterra released waves of Razor leaf and men that headed their way at high speeds. The sharp edges of the leaves left scars on both the grunts outfits and skin.

But Team Plasma didn't give in as the stair case they all were running on suddenly split into two, leaving only Silver, May and Ash to press onwards. Reaching their hands over they were able to bring Misty and Iris from their near deaths and pulled them up towards them.

"Go!" Stephan yelled. "We'll find another way up. Just keep going!"

Having no choice but to agree all pressed forward and Ash and Silver were soon reminded of the night they saw the flames coming out their father's office. Rushing over Silver knocked the door down only to see nobody was there. There were no flames, no body or scream, only the sound of a gun getting ready to shoot. Certain yellow ears rose up and from the Ash's hood Pikachu destroyed the bullet with a powerful thunderbolt. All were amazed with the speed Pikachu had despite years without a proper battle.

"Impressive." A voice echoed as two grunts jumped from the dark and pinned down Misty and Iris with ease. Silver nor May or Ash could move as Ash felt one gun pointed right behind his skull and another pointed right at them where a man stood where a desk once stood. "You truly deserve the title of Pokemon Master." The voice teased. It was no surprise to see the voice belonged to Ghetsis.

"Where is my father?!" Ash blurted. As Ash was going to yell more the man behind him poked the barrel of the gun down his neck to remind him that any word of his could be his last.

"Gentle Corless," Ghetsis spoke. "I don't want the party to stop just when we got all our guests together."

"So was it your idea to invite Mr. Bad hair day here?" Misty teased only to receive a warning shot from the professor. The bullet just missed her feet. Corless just gave a devil-like smile to the ex-gym leader. Misty shuddered.

"So Ash," Everyone's attention was brought back to the mad man. "How does it feel to be losing your father for the second time now?" Ghetsis began to mock the young teen. "Finally, I can have revenge on the people that ruined my plans." The crazy man waved his gun in his hands as he made his way up to him. "You see, I was the one who had the idea of changing the whole world first but your ******** father stole it from me!"

"Well our father was the one who started the whole criminal organisation thing before you guys came in." Ash teased.

"Shut up!" Ghetsis shot one bullet into the roof. "I have no time with your petty teasing. Your father is going to die in one hour and you children can't do anything about it!"

His anger rose as Ash tried to stay in his place to avoid yet another bullet going through him. May withdrew closer to Ash and Silver stood in his place. They all knew Ghetsis was right. Any move, right or wrong would cost the life of their father and even anyone of them in the room. Too many lives had been lost. Any more would prove hard for them to accept.

"****." Ash muttered. "I can't lose now. Not after what I've lost and sacrifice to get here. I'm bringing this all to an end."

Playing risk taker Ash lunged at the old man, causing all the other guns to point and shoot towards Ash but the others got ahead and knocked the deadly weapons out of their hands and May pushing Corless out of the room and slamming the door behind her. Iris and Misty both used their own pokemon to throw the grunts out of the building, hearing their screams of help before hearing nothing but silence.

But it was not over as Ghetsis was able to reach over for the gun Ash had thrown out of his hands. Pointing it blank range Ash could hear the trigger being pushed hearing a scream. As if a God had answered his prayers a man riding a white dragon leaped towards his father through a window and knocking the gun out of his hands once more.

"Stop this father!" N screamed. "Enough!"

"Get off me you useless child!" The old man screamed.

N looked up to the group of five. "Run, save your father Ash! Go!"

Without a second doubt, all ran without taking another glance back. Reaching the roof seemed too easy as no grunts, no guns headed their way. On the roof stood 'proudly' was Ash and Silver's father. Hanging over a barrel of oil with a long rope alit; acting like a ticking clock. With Misty and Iris to guard the door Ash and his brother and May rushed over.

"There is oil all over!" May panicked.

"Water isn't going to cut it. Not only oil and water don't mix but if the water pressure isn't strong enough it will only add more fuel to the fire." Silver explained as climbed up the wooden frame and to the knot that held his father over the barrels of oil.

"All we can do is delay it, and then leg it once father is out." Ash explained as he to, reached over to where his father was hanging and attempted to release his father.

"Or you can both be little good children and let the man die." Corless spoke over with pokemon by his side. Their eyes glow red as if he controlled their minds.

"If one man's life is the cost of power, why won't you let him die?" Ghetsis's voice sent fear right down their spines.

Ash couldn't find the words to even ask how he had escaped N. Did he kill him, did he shoot N and ran up here with his just arrived friend, Corless with him. Ghetsis smiled. "You must be wondering how I got here. Easy." Both men threw Iris and Misty towards them. "Your girls here didn't put much of a fight."

"It's because you got your grunts to knock our pokemon and us out when you guys were losing!" Iris screamed only to be quietly silent when a glare of a pokemon sent fear right into her.

"Now now little girl." Ghetsis teased. "I have to tell you, this whole NTR and Team Plasma joining together was nothing but a show. There is no Neo Team Rocket. It's been us all this time. A nice little joke don't you think?" the two man men laughed.

"Now tell me boy," Corless spoke up. "Why save this man when you can control and have unlimited power over this region and the others despite his horrid past?"

"Because he is my father!" Ash snapped. "So what if his done bad things in the past? What matters are now and the future. It's not too late to change your path!"

Corless's pokemon came in closer. "And what path do you suggest?"

Ash took quick glances and saw Silver was making good progress in saving their father. He soon took a look down at the rope that continued to burn. There was not much time left.

"Any path can change. If you can't leave the one you're on at least try to change it! There's nothing wrong with that!"

The man mad laughed at Ash's words. "Well I'm on the path of power and successes and right now I believe I'm changing it for the better." Corless raised his hand, pointed at Ash as a crazy yet powerful Beartic launched many spikes of ice towards Ash until a small mouse jumped from his hood and smashed them all with a powerful Iron tail. Pikachu soon landed down at his master's feet.

"I refuse to let anyone else change this world for their own desperate need of power!" Pointing at Beartic, "Iron tail Pikachu!"

Pikachu rushed over to the bear with quick speed and jumped up to its height and released a powerful iron attack right into his face and then another in his chest. The bear continued to take one step closer to the edge. The attacks kept coming giving him no time to escape yet alone, attack. With one final blow ice type fell. Pikachu closed his eyes to save him from the image of a pokemon dying without its consent.

Soon bright light headed towards him from behind, with the right timing the mouse was able to jump over the beam of fire that a Ninetails had aimed towards him.

"No, Ninetails, a simple flamethrower is not going to cut it. Use Fire Blast to cover more range." Ghetsis commanded.

Giving no choice the nine tailed beast released a powerful fire attack, burst into different directions after being released. The flames were so high it just touched Pikachu's tail, leaving a horrible burn mark on his tail. The little mouse screamed in pain. The area of impact from the fire blast caused the rope to burn more, giving little time for Silver to save his father.

As Ash and Corless and Ghetsis battled May looked over to Glaceon. Upset that Ash was not using her to battle but understood why. He didn't want to end up the way the fallen Beartic did. Not understanding why, May lips began to move. "Water Pulse, let's go!"

Catching everyone off guard, rings of water crashed into the fox. May took a few steps back as the anger the fire fox was showing both to her and Glaceon. Not backing down, May pressed on. "And again!"

The ice fox jumped high into the air and did a quick front summersault and released even bigger rings of water at the fox. Ninetails jumped backwards and released a powerful Fire Blast attack. The heat was so hot the rings of water evaporated within seconds of the attack. Ghetsis looked at the newbie trainer. "Nice try little girl but this game is already over!"

Beartic suddenly appeared as if he came from the dead and had already prepared a Hyper Beam just for her. At their eyes met the beam was released. Seconds from impact, Glaceon jumped up to her trainer's back for height and jumped into the air once more. Glaceon's body was glowing pink as she took the attack for her. Rays of light were scattered everywhere as the hyper beam was over and the fox of ice returned the attack, twice the power and the bear was once again pushed over the roof.

Afterwards Ninetails appeared with great speed and with all its nine tails lit up; it began to slam each of her nine tails at the ice fox. After a few hits Glaceon released her barrier and her defence started to rise. But even after increasing her stats, she was badly injured. There did Pikachu run at high speed at the nine tailed beast covered in electricity and headed straight into Ninetails, causing another pokemon to fall overboard.

"It's over Corless and Ghetsis!" Ash yelled.

"Oh no its not," The man pointed behind Ash's shoulder to the rope that was nearly burnt out. "There isn't time for all you to escape. That battle was only a distraction." The professor watched as Silver and Giovanni escaped and were only a few meters from Ash. "Even if you saved the mad man you'll all die here." He broke into manically laughter. "Sacrifice is a small price to pay for power."

"You're insane, you both are!" Ash spat. He saw Silver reaching over to May who he was dragging her up with his other free arm to escape the roof. Looking at the other side he saw Glaceon and Pikachu making their way over.

His eyes glanced at the rope as it had little to go before reaching its end. Looking over to Glaceon, "Glaceon, use Barrier, now!" Ash screamed. "Protect them!"

"But Ash what about you!?" May panicked. The tone of desperation and sadness was evident in her voice.

Ash looked back at the woman he loved and gave her a soft warm smile as he reached over for Corless and Ghetsis and dragged them by their coats. He dragged the crazy men closer to the barrels of oil. "What are you doing?!" Both tried to escape Ash's grasp but it too late as the rope was only seconds from reaching the barrels.

"Bringing you, Ghetsis and this unknown world to an end!" Pulling them closer he took a quick glance at May, his friends and his pokemon. "Do it, Glaceon and remember, I love you all!"

The ice fox shook her head before looking up, hearing her master spoke words to her.

"Do it."

With tears building in her eyes May watched as Glaceon put up a powerful barrier and Mirror Coat combined as she watched Ash fall with Corless and Ghetsis in his arms. As the rope ran out a huge explosion followed. Leaving nothing for the imagination as smoke covered their view. As they stood under the dome not even the sound of the explosion could be heard. But for a second, May could hear his voice, speaking out to her.

"I love you."

It was nothing but painful silence and as the smoke and debris subsided the dome faded as Glaceon fainted and Pikachu broke the fall by catching her.

Looking around May saw the major busy street of Republic City had been wiped out due to the explosion. All of Ash's friends stood in shock, unable to understand or cope with what had just happened. The others that could not reach them earlier rushed over and smiled for a moment that everyone was safe but then worry came over them all.

"I'm sorry. So sorry I couldn't show you to that place I loved so much."

His words sounded so clear as May fell to her knees, now unleaseing all her tears. Anger came over her as she picked up a piece of the fallen building and threw it recklessly.

"They say grief occurs in five stages. First, there's denial followed by anger, then comes bargaining and depression then finally acceptance."

Nobody could make a step as they tried to fix their own emotions. May continued to throw piece by piece like a child on a tantrum with each throw, came a scream of pure anger. A certain bluenette could not take any longer as she rushed over and embraced May tightly as she continued to cry tears of her own.

May's hands continued to shake as she tried to pick up another piece but her hands failed to deliver. Soon she couldn't help but wrap those arms around Dawn. For a brief moment she felt time has stop and she was embracing Ash. And she was, just for a short amount of time.

"Sacrifice demands the surrender of things we cherish the most above all else."

Pulling back May took in a glimpse of his face and that smile she longed to see. His eyes were filled with such happiness and joy, seeing her safe seem to bring a smile to his face. For once in May's life, she was looking forward of forgetting who she was just to be with him. She was willing to lose herself in his love and begin anew.

"Only out of the agony of those losses can a new resolution be born."

She knew he was looking forward to those happy days with her and his family by his side. Returning into her arms May felt a tear of his crash into her before seeing him fade from his sight and soon reality returned and it was Dawn that was holding her.

"An undying devotion more than one's self and a moral duty to see a journey through..."

As May broke her embrace with Dawn she stood up onto her two feet. Trembling at first she started to walk a few steps before stopping and looking up to the night sky.

She couldn't smile, she couldn't be happy now knowing he was gone, but living up to his name, his glory and his dreams. This was something she felt right to do. Something she felt like her second life was made to live...

"...to its absolute completion."

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In this unknown world, pokemon are not mystic beasts from fairy tales. In this unknown world, you can begin a battle without losing a life or starting a war. In this unknown world you can challenge somebody to a fight without making an enemy. In this unknown world, pokemon masters are not criminals but people who people have now come to respect once more.

In this world, pokemon run free and now can enjoy the air once more. They can roam around, have fun and train to get stronger. They can be free without being hunted, only if they were getting caught by a trainer to train and befriend.

In this city pokemon centres have returned. The famous pink nurse and her Audino's returned with their cheerful smiles as children come to her. Here everybody is welcome without a fee. Police Jenny comes and patrols the street not with guns but with her faithful pokemon by her side.

In the street where the war ended, a boy with a Salamence by his side gazed at the empty block where stories of one boy risked his life to not only stop a new treat but end an old one. He patted his dragon as the vision of that boy came into his mind, a scene that happened decades ago. Saving him from an abandoned subway from soldiers that were after people that were treated as criminals and rebels of their time.

Placing an empty bottle of the same hyper potion that he had given to his Bagon all those decades ago the boy smiled as he continued to make his way to his destination. Entering a building and up the stairs he sees the woman that had changed Pallet town for the better, sitting outside on a rocking chair, with the view of the whole city for her to look at.

Walking outside he stood by her side, waiting for her to say anything at all. With her snow like hair dancing in the breeze she looked up and smiled. She sees Salamance by the balcony, flying high nearby.

"A lot has changed, hasn't it?"

With his arms crossed, the boy nodded. "Yeah, to believe I was only a child hiding in those abandoned subway when he came along."

She didn't mind hearing his stories to her. In fact she loved it. He was now treated as a hero and not like the criminal of a business tycoon in her youth all those years ago. He looked her in his eyes and could see that happiness that his name would always bring to her. But it would quickly fade away when his death would flash back into her mind.

"It's okay now May. You can go."

She giggles. "You know me too well Ashe."

Smiling, "Well you did raise me like your own son." He looks back at her. "Go, his waiting."

May looked back at her adopted son with a warm smile. Her eyes were filled with such joy. Thank you. She whispered. And as the boy closed his eyes to hide his own emotions he knew she had been holding back for way too many years. Holding her hand he sees her eyes were finally closed. Placing his head on her hand he cried a tear or two.

In this chair sat a wonderful woman who brought a once dead and unknown world back from the dead and gave it a new life and a new meaning. She had shared her love and passion for the city and pokemon like no mayor could ever meet. That woman was named May.

But as much happiness she would share to her people Ashe knew too well where her true happiness was. Looking up to the bright summer sky, he smiled.

It was in that unknown world that no skyscraper could ever reach, no flying type can fly up to. It was only a place where people like heroes could live and where lovers could spend eternity in happiness with the people they care for.

And that unknown world was no other then Heaven.

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A/N: So is everyone still intact? I was up 1am writing this, haha, if only I did the same for school work. I think this is my longest chapter yet - 26 pages.

I didn't want to make this chapter into two parts because I believe you'll just lose the feel and the build up so I've stuck with it. I hope the ending made any sense. I wanted to talk about everyones lives at the end but it would just get all cluttered and messy and I was running out of ideas. So I thought to keep it simple but I guess I'll explain a little here since the story is finished.

Silver and Iris hooked up. Bianca and Stephan went their own ways. Paul and Dawn got married. Saturn ran a new business with Silver. Misty returned to being a gym leader and Drew and Brianna moved to Johto to raise their family. I believe that answers that. And well May? I think we all know what happened to her.

Anyway I want to thank everyone that has supported this story to the very end. I'm so glad to get such praise and reviews about this story. I'll be writing my other story which has a completely different feel to this story. I hope to see you all there. Bye guys!

~midnight