When a life fades away

Lucario felt Ash's aura moving. He was right now crossing Horseshoe Plains.

He sighed. All this long road and it looked like Ash was moving toward the mountain.

However, he also felt a strange aura, one that was similar to the strange eerie presence he had felt on top of Spear Pillar. He took a decision: he would hide for now and he'd follow Ash in order to understand if his trainer was in danger.

...…

"Where am I?" asked Gary, groggily.

He was in a forest, and around him stood a family of Vulpix. "I was at the Ruins…" he recollected, taking out his Rotom phone to check the map.

The device showed that he was in the middle of a wood near Celadon City: "What, did you see it, Blastoise? We are back in Kanto."

"Yes, my son," a voice said, "the world kept rotating while you were missing."

"Arceus? What does that mean?"

"It's too early to say but for now I can only tell you that the whole reason for this is that the future is unstable. What's happening with Ash is still to be determined, an entirely brand-new timeline is being rewritten. It's like you are living in two different universes and only when the threat is stopped, it will be possible to establish continuity and cause-effect relationships again across time and space."

"Until Ash completes his task, it is impossible to predict what will happen..." thought the researcher.

"Indeed, it is like that" answered the deity.

"Well, at last, I've got some more pieces of information. Ash is fine, he has a task, and only if he can pull through, the Universe will be safe, otherwise…"

"Otherwise, I will disappear, and it will be the kingdom for the Titans. Chaos will be…" completed the sentence God.

"Why Ashy-boi among everyone?"

"I needed someone young, strong, and kind-hearted to show an ancient population how Pokémon could be friends. The world already had a guy whose heritage would lead people to befriend Pokémon. However, someone changed the past and killed that guy before he could accomplish his destiny…" explained Arceus.

"Dammit… I need to inform the others. The plan has to be changed. We are the ones to go back in time and help Ash!" he proclaimed.

"I'm afraid it will be useless. fate will come true, whether you like it or not…"

"What does that mean?" asked Gary but this time no answer came back. He was confused and angry.

"Arceus is hiding something... Why bring me there if he only wanted Lucario to help Ash?! I must contact the others and find more help. They should be in danger without my news" said Gary apprehensively, trying to reach for his phone again when suddenly a swarm of Unowns appeared, running over Gary and knocking him out. Blastoise underwent the same end and the swarm of mysterious Pokémons, appearing out of nowhere, carried, in its fury, the two lifeless bodies through the woods and up to a more internal area, where a building with a gigantic R stood out, in front of a waterfall. The bodies fell into a bush and the Unown, as they had appeared, disappeared into thin air.

The phone, now abandoned in the middle of the forest was ultimately stomped by an Arcanine in his track, freeing the Rotom who inhabited it. The screen turned off for the last time.

....

The dark office, the giant monitors behind the desk, the purr of the Persian, sitting on the lap of the man.

Team Rocket's boss, Giovanni, was staring at Jessie, James and Meowth intensely:

"Something is going on… And it started when the boy you are following disappeared"

The trio gulped: "We were trying to understand what happened since it seemed strange. We wanted to report to you before, but we spent time researching for a hint. We thought that Team Rocket could take advantage of knowing this" tried to justify themselves James.

Giovanni smirked: "Sometimes I think you three are dead weight for us", this scared the three;

"However, this time you were the first to realize the importance of the matter" he commented satisfied.

"Something is going on and It has to be about the legendary Pokémon from Sinnoh. Our technology was able to correlate the energy coming down to Lumiouse City that night to the same source that appeared on the summit of Mount Coronet some years ago when that boy was struggling with Team Galactic."

Jessie, James and Meowth were sweating, waiting for Giovanni to reveal the objective of this meeting.

"Since you are the only three to actually know about the facts I'm speaking about, plus you have also started a Team Rocket division in Alola, I want you two to go and find something there to open a wormhole" Giovanni added. Matori entered the room with a suitcase.

"In the handbag, there's a machine able to replicate the frequencies of the Sun Flute. It took us years to finally obtain one. I'm entrusting you to capture the legendary Pokémon Solgaleo and track down the source of this event. I'm sure you can pull it off. Everything is clear?"

A unanimous "Yes, sir!" was uttered by all three.

"You can go now" concluded the ominous boss.

After Jessie, James and Meowth left the room, Matori asked: "Are you really sure they can be trusted?"

Giovanni smirked: "I don't know if that prototype works, actually, I don't know if they are capable of coming back. Since it's more like a suicide mission, I thought they could be the best choice" he commented, petting the Persian, sitting beside him.

Matori let out a small smile.

...…

Leon couldn't understand. The feeling of something strange had consumed most of his time. He was getting good at acting. At that meeting, he had to stand behind. Chairman Rose and other personalities and authorities of the Pokémon League circuit had decided that the Maters 8 should continue although Cynthia herself had protested and then suddenly silenced. It was horrible. Never in his life had imagined that even Cynthia could be shut. The most frustrating part was that no one could say otherwise.

The decision had been already made and they were only communicating it with competitors.

Among them stood a young girl, the new champion of the Unova Region who had stayed silent all the time. Even a dumb guy like Leon could see how she was fighting back tears from escaping her youthful eyes.

He had come down to the realization that after all, they were all pawns in a money machine that fed on the passion of the participants and spectators, but which was certainly not interested in the well-being of those who participated in its upper floors.

"Charizard…" said the undefeatable champion, his gaze still low on his legs, "Let's get some training. Maybe we can clear our minds."

With that, he got up from the bench of the locker room and headed towards the training field, thinking of the energy of that boy and his Pikachu who in such a short time had managed to climb the rankings and rank among the best 8 in the world.

...

"We will get a promotion" was the chanting coming from the Team Rocket trio while they were walking proudly out of the HQ.

"Finally, the Boss noticed us!" exclaimed at full lungs Jessie, her ego being rewarded by the meeting with the Boss.

They were passing near a bush when they heard a rustle coming from it and James jumped, scared.

From it, a young boy with spiky brown hair had got up, trembling, and went out from the bush only to fall again on the floor immediately.

"What? Isn't that the rival of the twerp?" commented Jessie.

"Meowth, Dat's right!" chimed Meowth.

"What in the world was he doing here!?" asked James, before noticing blood on his body, scratches, and wounds all over his body.

A panicked James exclaimed, "He's wounded!" We need to get him help.

"Ya, I go get da balloon!" decided Meowth.

Jessie was about to tell them to leave him there and that probably he was trying to spy on Team Rocket but was stopped by his mind. After all, even she couldn't witness a young boy damaged and incapable of getting up.

James tied the arms of the boy around his neck and lifted him. Gary only whispered: "Thank… you" still panting, his eyes shut and unable to see the faces of his saviors.

...…

"So, that's the place!" commented enthusiastically Ash once arrived in a quaint meadow with a small cottage that stood above it.

"Yes" commented Volo with a small smile, "Here lives a woman who had inspired me to seek for the ancient mysteries of this region. Come on, let's knock on the door!" proclaimed the man.

Ash helped Akari get down from Wyrdeer and the girl started to observe the scenery.

The cottage, a small table with two chairs, a fireplace. Nothing else. Near the meadow was a small river that the girl thought flowed from Mount Coronet. The river could be crossed over by a wooden bridge tied together by strong ropes.

The place sent weird vibes to the girl. It was in the middle of nowhere, no one had ever seen this house but Volo, and no wild Pokémon could be seen. It was odd.

She shrugged the feeling off when she heard a voice from behind the door: "Coming!" it said.

The door opened and revealed a tall lady, with grey hair collected under a big hat, adorned with white flowers. Her eyes were grey as well. She was wearing a black, elegant dress, an incredibly well-made piece of fabric if you asked Akari and long white gloves with an elegant hem.

"Hi young ones: I'm Cogita"

...…..

"Now listen, lost one. Here is what you must do. His holds three lakes of great importance–Lake Verity, Lake Valor, and Lake Acuity. At each dwells a Pokémon said to embody one aspect of the mind. Complete the trials each one will set you, and bear their gifts to the Shrouded Ruins. There you may receive the Red Chain. With it, perhaps you can bind the world together."

"Kindly spare me your doubts, young man. I know the old words and what they bid us do. How true they are isn't mine to know. And regardless of their truth, I am bound to pass them on. How callous of my ancestors–to leave their legends to their children without a single thought for the hardship it would cause them! But...here we are. You know your duty, and you'll do it. Won't you?"

Those were the words Cogita shared with Ash. The boy had agreed but one thing was off. So, the whole "plate quest" was useless if the rift could have been repaired with only the red chain.

He remembered the times when Cyrus had tried to destroy the world using a red chain, maybe the plates could be a way to guarantee that it was used only for good things.

"So, Ash? Are you ready for the task?" commented Volo, happily.

"Yes! I can't find a way to solve this mess!" proclaimed the boy.

"Now, I have some errands to do. I hope you can forgive me, Mrs. Cogita"

"As I've already said, just Cogita. And there is no problem for me, Volo"; with that Volo left the house.

"But, Mrs. Cogita, why did Volo tell me to gather the plates?"

"Ahh, the plates of the universal Deity… Mysteries are on those ones. It is told that the Father made them…"

"I'm sorry, but we are in a hurry!" interrupted Ash, who was getting nervous at all this speaking: "The only thing I want to know is if I can trust Volo!" exclaimed the boy, feeling something off.

"I can't say… At first, he grew curious and curious, speaking with me and wanting nothing more than knowledge. I thought he could be the one to save the world but then you arrived… and I can't know…"

Tension built up in the air. "Well, the more logical thing to do is wait and see. Volo is well known in the village. I asked Cyllene and director Kamado and they all said he's a nice guy, a bit over the moon, but a nice person nonetheless" pointed out Akari.

"Your path will guide you to the truth, lost one. Follow the path your heart tells you is right. This event is something no one actually has ever seen. If it is how I think, the great Deity is the one responsible for your arrival. So, he knows better than any mortal can" concluded the elegant woman.

The duo made of Akari and Ash left the house and outside the girl said: "So that woman told us to bring those pieces from the Lake's Pokémon. Why don't we send a sample to Prof Laventon? He may help us if something goes wrong with Volo and the Red chain!"

The boy thought about it for a bit and nodded happily. After all, if anyone could be trusted at Jubilife, it was Laventon.

Akari wrote a little note containing all the news and sent a Starly to deliver it to Laventon.

"All right then! Let's get ourselves moving! First stop: Lake Verity!" proclaimed Ash, Pikachu cheering on.

.....

"Finally, Celestic Town!" exclaimed Dawn, completely drained of any energy. She had done her best to catch up fast with Serena and had spent only three days on the road to come there. It would have been faster to come there with a flying Pokémon or with another vehicle but the skies were off-limits since Sinnoh didn't have a flying taxi service and she didn't have a large enough Pokémon.

Public transport wasn't this efficient in the Sinnoh region because of its geography, so it was limited to big cities.

"Piplup, here we are!" she exclaimed happily, her gaze scanning the rural town. She remembered coming here with Ash and Brock during their travel around her home region.

"I wonder if Brock is up to something…" she thought. She had tried to call his tanned friend but had no luck since his voicemail would always answer her. She had also thought that something bad could have happened but dismissed it since she knew how careful and capable he was.

And Ash? Lost in ancient Sinnoh, who knows why… So many mysteries still to uncover but no clear path.

Lost in her travel between memories, worries, and memories, she didn't notice that she was passing after the Pokémon Centre, and it was up to Piplup to warn her.

She recovered from her inner process and looked toward the little Eudyptula Pokémon on her shoulder: "Thank you, Piplup; sorry for spacing out like this…" she said, scratching the perfectly rounded shaped face of her partner.

….

Serena was coming down from her room, Sylveon following her. She had just returned from exploring the routes near Celestic Town yesterday. She had decided not to passively wait for Goh and Dawn to show up by doing nothing but instead, she had used this time to discover more about Sinnoh. However, Goh arrived faster than she thought so she had come back to wait for Dawn with him.

She knew that the challenge ahead of them was going to be hard, but she felt they had a chance. That moment with Ash was two days ago but the girl could still feel his hands intertwined with hers while dancing, her lips so close to his, his soft breathing on her skin, their Pokémon watching them reunite. She wanted more. Of course, she knew she had her own journey, and Ash would probably come back and try to make his way again up to the Masters Eight but first of all, she wanted him back.

She had also seen his traits in his newest companion, Goh, getting to know him more during those hard times.

Although his personality was quite the opposite of Ash, she recognized some traits of him in his friend.

Her trail of thoughts was suddenly disturbed by the Pokémon Centre's door opening revealing non-other than Dawn.

"Dawn!" exclaimed the young lady, "You are finally here!"

"Serena! I'm so glad to see you!" The duo high-fived to celebrate their reunion but most importantly, the good outcome of their missions at the lakes.

Dawn felt so much of Ash in this simple gesture. After all, this was their habit.

"What about Goh?" asked Dawn to shrug that feeling off.

"He's upstairs. He's trying to get in touch with Brock in Johto and Clemont in the Alola region but to no avail. He stated that he found that they are in some places with very bad reception, and he discovered that in these past few weeks, the entire Alola has been struck by a bad storm which apparently has shut down all communications."

"Well, but this explains why Clemont didn't answer but not Brock…" commented worried Dawn.

"I called Professor Oak this morning and he said that he sent Chloe and a guy named Tracey to look for both Brock and his grandson who had also disappeared in Johto. Police were also informed. For all they told him, Brock was seen near Azalea Town venturing through Ilex Forest but then no one saw him. Not in Johto at least" explained carefully Serena, "However, the professor also told me not to worry too much and that he would take care of this by collaborating with the other Professors and authorities" she concluded.

Dawn seemed relieved and hugged Serena surprising the girl: "You are incredible Serena…" commented the girl, "You are just like Ash"

Serena's eyes widened and started to glimmer as a few droplets of tears made their way through her smooth skin.

Dawn smiled softly and then added: "But you don't need to hide your emotions to appear strong. You are strong just by what you are doing. We are together in this."

Serena nodded while hugging back her friend when Goh's voice was heard calling for her: "Serena! Professor Oak sent me the Pokémon we asked for!" the boy exclaimed with excitement.

Dawn broke the hug: "Which Pokémon?"

Goh saw Dawn: "Oh, hey Dawn! Glad you're finally here! Now we can go to Cynthia's grandma! Anyway, three of Ash's Pokémon heard Serena speaking about the upcoming challenge with Dialga and wanted to help out! The boy excitedly grabbed a Poké Ball and handed it to her.

Her eyes widened; she knew which Pokémon that sphere contained.

….

"Wow, so that's the red chain!" commented Goh. They were at the shrine in the middle of Celestic Town.

The old lady was crafting the Red Chains through the gems Dawn, Serena and Goh had received from the Lake Trio.

"I still don't understand why you decided to help us out so quickly" said Serena to the woman.

"Oh, young lady. First of all, I still know that beautiful young lady there" she said, referring to Dawn, "but then, when I told my granddaughter who you were, she told me to help you. And most importantly, you have received the blessing of the Lake Trio so it makes the most sense to give you my help".

Serena nodded and thought back at her first meeting with Cynthia. So, maybe, there was something under the poor excuses she had made that day when they were told that the Masters Eight tournament had been held without Ash.

She wanted to ask more but decided against it. Her only focus now had to be the challenge against Dialga, she thought, fidgeting with a Poké Ball in her hand: "I will help you, Ash" she whispered, but not so quietly as not to be heard by the old woman who smiled.

...…

Team Rocket were surely able to disguise themselves quite well but Gary sure had a sixth sense.

They had brought the guy to the hospital and were waiting for a doctor to tell them to go away. They were eager to start their trip to Alola but then James checked the weather on the islands and saw that there was a huge storm.

"This makes things quite difficult" sighed the blue-haired man.

"But we can't let the boss down!" stated proudly Jessie.

"Ya! This is da chance we were hoping for, Meowth!" commented the Cat Pokémon

"Woobbuffet!" chirped Wobbuffet as he popped out of his Poké Ball.

"Team… Rocket. So you actually saved me" said a third voice which startled the Trio.

Gary stretched a bit through his bandages, and started to speak again: "I was awake while you were bringing me here… First of all, thank you for saving me…"

"Twerp, how did you get there in the first place?" intruded Jessie.

"I got assaulted by a swarm of Unowns… I still don't know why they attacked… I've also lost my phone, but right now there's something morere urgent I want to ask you" he went on.

The Trio looked at him suspiciously, waiting for what he wanted to say.

"I've heard you talking about an Ultra Wormhole with Solgaleo and use it to detect Ash and the reason why he had been sent back in time… Well, I wanna come with you" proclaimed the young researcher.

"No way, Brat boi!" hastily shouted Meowth, "Da mission is for da boss!"

"I honestly don't care about you or your boss, but I know I can help to rescue Ash. That's all I care about" his tone was severe as he was trying to hold the truth that he also wanted them to not mess around with different realities and timelines. Those buffoons were hopeless, but Team Rocket was dangerous and It was better to keep an eye out for them, especially in dangerous times like these.

"Give us a second" exclaimed James and with that, the Trio went into a corner of the room to discuss.

That gave Gary a little time to think: "Right now, it's better if I take care of this by myself. I don't have the phone to reach for the others. I can only send a message to grandpa so he knows I'm safe" he thought, checking on his items and finding his Poké Balls.

The boy got up, struggling a bit to keep balance, and wore his usual attire: "So, what did you decide?" asked Gary while putting on his shirt and zipping his jacket.

"You can come!" proclaimed James coming closer to the boy and holding out his hand.

Gary accepted the gesture and the two shook hands.

Jessie grinned, after all, they had decided to bring the guy with them to help them out and let him face whatever danger they would come across.

...….

Brock and Clemont were worried. They had spent the best bast of these last two weeks inside a Pokémon Centre. If the weather in Alola was always good, when it was bad, it sure was one hell of a storm.

Even the genius wasn't able to establish a way to communicate with the others during this storm and this was bad. Brock had a gut feeling that something horrible was about to happen so their plan soon shifted to find a way to escape the island during the storm. Not the safest move, but the only one they could give a try.

After a while, they knew there wasn't any kind of project they could try to escape safely.

Brock was about to go out on his own one day but Clemont stopped him in his tracks. He knew better than this.

"Brock, I know when we can leave, and right now I have all the motivation needed," he said with a serious gaze, showing him his phone, which had incredibly received a single text from Serena in a moment of a better connection.

The text said: "Me, Goh, and Dawn are out to face Dialga"

....

Ash and Akari were back at Jubilife.

They informed better Laventon about what they were up to.

"Are you sure about this woman, right?" asked the Galarian scientist.

It's impossible to know for sure, but that's the only way we have" answered Ash;

"So, with this item forged at the Shrouded Ruins, you can do whatever is necessary to end that rift…" he commented.

"Very well, I trust you" he then added, "I already have an idea for a Pokéball if that Red Chain works as you told me. You know? During my time on the Coronet Highlands waiting for you, I found myself in a cavern where I found this," he said holding in his hands a piece of rock.

Akari and Ash watched carefully.

The professor went on: "There's a strange energy which I think is related to some sort of ancient power contained in this. So, maybe, I can use it for a Poké ball."

"That's great!" shouted Ash.

"Be careful, however…" added in a more serious tone Laventon. "There is still danger out there… I came to think about the boy who died two years ago, Rei…"

Akari remembered him, "I think it wasn't a Pokémon… I think he was murdered." Stated the man.

"WHAT?!" Shouted Akari in disbelief.

"Yes, sadly. In all your reports, I didn't find a single Pokémon capable of shooting small pieces of so well-made metallic material… I think it is a weapon, unknown to us…"

Ash stood there, silent. He had an idea of what weapon it could be.

...

"Wow! Lake verity is so beautiful!" commented Akari when she finally arrived at the shore.

It was sunset, orange light illuminating the sky and its reflection on the crispy waters made it for suggestive scenery.

Ash was already setting the camp and saw the girl, lost in the panorama. He smiled but couldn't shake off the feeling of something wrong. Pikachu came closer as if saying "I feel that too".

Unbeknownst to them, a cloaked figure was spying on them from a bush.