Magmatic conclusion

The strange grotto opened somehow scared Gary and Lucario as hell. How in the world was possible for the ancient populations of this remote place deep in the northern part of the Johto region to elaborate such a complex system like that?

The older version of the Sinjoh Ruins was a miracle as they were. But now, it was simply crazy.

"What do you say Lucario? Should we get in?" asked Gary in a serious, calm, yet a little worried way.

Lucario felt his heart trembling and the pulse of aura. He nodded.

Gary looked in front of him. It was their non-returning point. But they didn't know.

... ......... ......... .........….

Ash was excited to ride such an amazing Pokémon like Basculegion. And the same feeling was held by Pikachu as well.

"You are really awesome Basculegion!" shouted Ash, while Pikachu was clapping at Basculegion's ability to make spectacular jumps to avoid rocks and wild Pokémon.

The "Big Fish" Pokémon felt pleased by all the compliments and love he was getting and communicated to Pikachu to give Ash the plate he had on his front fin. Of course, Ash had seen it but he wasn't a person to take what he wanted without permission.

"Really Basculegion?! Thank you so much!" Ash told holding the Splash Plate which had of course something written behind: The rightful bearer of a Plate draws from the Plate it holds."

"Wow, that's so great! Hey, can I ask you if you would like to help me when I need in my exploration?" asked the boy while Greninja was explaining the whole story to the surfing creature.

"BAAA!" answered making an even higher jump Bascuegion to accept the offer.

"That's great! I will call you with the flute! Proposed Ash playing it for a bit for Basculegion to learn the sound.

"What do you say guys? We have a new friend and now the three thieves won't stand a chance!" cheered Ash, pulling his fist high in the air.

"Pi Pikachu!" chimed in Pikachu, followed by Greninja's and Basculegion's excited cries of approval.

... ......... ......... .........….

"EEEET-CIUUUU!!" A blonde girl was having a bad morning that day.

Said girl, Serena, had had a bath in Lake Valor last night and now was paying the consequences for her actions.

To worsen things, she had just finished a conversation with a good friend of hers, Chloe, who was in berserk mode after the news that Goh had gone to Lake Acuity to face Uxie.

Serena had tried to calm her down but was in vain.

Lastly, she had had a very bad dream last night, probably because of the fever she caught of Ash on top of a tall mountain with a giant black all from which dark bloodstains were appearing and a man ready to kill. She didn't know how that dream had ended but it had left a deep anguish in her.

A shitty morning for a wonderful night.

... ......... ......... .........….

"Cinderace, Pyro ball!"

"Heracross, Aerial ace!"

Uxie was not impressed. Goh was using all his strategies, but the "Knowledge" Pokémon was keeping faith in his name, using his skills to always have a good counter.

While Goh's strategy wasn't working and his Pokémon were getting more tired, he was also planning the next steps, but Uxie seemed invincible at that point.

"Darn it!" thought Goh aloud; "How can it be possible?" Goh was a man to always be sure of the next step and have a plan, something that right now was falling apart.

He couldn't stand a chance by strength alone and Cinderace was waiting for his trainer to invent something.

Suddenly Uxie shot a powerful Psychic to poor Grokey who was too weak to counter it and got blown away, falling to the ground in a cloud of smoke with swirly eyes.

Uxie had all the momentum and things were getting more difficult at every second passing.

"What would Ash do right now?" thought Goh, gritting his teeth and sweating.

... ......... ......... .........….

"Fufufu!" laughed the blue-haired bandit Coin.

"We really did it!" shouted excitedly her sister with brown hair tied in two braidings, Clover.

"Shut up! It's not over yet!" replied in an aggressive tone the older sister, Charm.

The trio was in the middle of an old, abandoned arena on Firespit Island.

The arena was made of a small route with bifurcations in the center of a lake of lava on the slopes of the volcano that gave the island its name.

"Come on, we must give the sacrifice to the Champion of the Lava to get into the depths of its cave" she concluded.

"I can't wait to grab some gold and live like a princess!" exclaimed Coin, followed by a burst of maniacal laughter by Clover.

Suddenly, a loud roar was heard and, from the same cave the trio was heading, came out the sounds of metallic steps, stopping the three girls from moving any further.

That lasted only the time to finally reveal the figure coming out. It was a large quadrupedal Pokémon accompanied by a massive heat aura. Its body, very stocky and irregular, was glowing with a dark red emanation, slightly opposed to his metallic face, paws, and spikes on the back.

"Holy shit! The champion is coming here?!" asked a slightly terrorized Clover.

Coin, out of pure fear and lack of breath, probably caused by the complete annihilation of Oxygen in contact with the great heat of the Pokémon approaching the group, threw the cage with the poor Growlithe towards it.

"Why did you do that?!" exclaimed indignantly the older sister.

The deal was done. The cage broke at the contact with the ground, freeing the scared Puppy Pokémon, which was now staring at the massive God coming in front of him.

Charm was quick to react and spoke like this: "Here, marvelous champion. You wanted the heritage of the old Noble which defeated you long times ago and we found it. Now, can we have the free passage?"

Heatran looked in her direction for only a brief second before directing its gaze towards the little Growlithe once more, starting to sniff him like he wasn't sure that the Pokémon in front of him was in reality the one he was wishing to have its revenge with.

Finally, Growlithe took the courage in his heart and fired his Ember at the metallic lord.

At that moment, Heatran felt the fire from the Pokémon and instantly knew that the Growlithe in front of it was not the heir of the hated Arcanine who had prevented him to dominate with its power the island, relegating him to the volcano.

And it didn't like to be made fun of.

In an act of pure rage, its aura grew even wider, the air became suffocating, the three bandits retreating, their hearts full of pure threat.

From behind it, a pool of lava raised in a massive wave ready to crush everyone on the field.

"RAAAAAHHH" Cried Heatran in a way as to say "You're fucked!"

Growlithe stood there, probably thinking about his friend, the son of the great Arcanine; the women, crouched on the floor, hugging each other as to celebrate their bond.

Heatran was ready… and suddenly a strong rush of wind cut the air until it smashed on Heatran's body, followed by a glowing silver tail.

From the point, under the Magma Pokémon's chin where the wind had hit it, a large, massive, bigger than ever water vortex emerged and exploded, engulfing Heatran and solidifying the lava wave.

A massive cloud of vapor was created, until another strong gush of wind blew it away.

Heatran got up only to be struck by a small body engulfed in yellow light, zapping it and making him fall on its knees.

From the shadows of the vapor, a frog-like Pokémon with a giant water shuriken on his back was standing with crossed arms while from the yellow light a little mouse with red cheeks emerged as well.

The women who had witnessed the scene were completely amazed.

"Pikachu! Greninja! Such a good job!" shouted the voice of a boy running from the route which led from the beach to the heart of the island.

The two Pokémon ran towards their trainer and were welcomed by a big hug.

Ash was there. Clover sighed: "I guess we will soon blast off again, aren't we?"

... ......... ......... .........….

Akari was on verge of a breakdown. She had found this strange girl, Vessa, who had asked her if she wanted to see what the man she cared for was doing. In a moment of weakness, the girl had followed her and now she was looking in a small pearly sphere at a scene of Ash with Pikachu and Greninja facing a giant monster that controlled magma in the middle of a pool of lava on an island with a giant volcano on it.

Pikachu, Clefairy, and Piplup were watching as well, preoccupied with this young boy.

"Ash…" she gently breathed out, holding a hand on her chest.

Vessa just merely smiled, as if reminding her past.

... ......... ......... .........….

"BRAAAM!" A loud explosion was heard coming from Firespit Island, causing waves to get bigger on the sea.

"Shit!" shouted a scared Iscan, freaking out a bit.

"Oh come on, don't make me be the man!" retorted with a bit of sarcasm Palina.

She really loved that man but sometimes he was a big child.

Anyway, they were on Bascuegion's back right now, with the little Growlithe, on their way to reach for Ash.

When they saw him making his fast way to the island they got inspired by that young man and of course, they wouldn't have left the other Growlithe alone. Now, feeling strong gusts of heat, they knew that the King of the Island was awake, and Ash was probably alone facing it.

So, they needed to hurry.

At that loud explosion, Growlithe stood up, his eyes glowing gold, looking to the source of that.

Neither Iscan nor Palina noticed that strange behavior and the starting glowing light emerging from his fur.

... ......... ......... .........….

"Water Shuriken! Make a barrier! Pikachu, zap the barrier with a thunderbolt and then Quick Attack! Go through it in Volt Tacke!"

Pikachu, by doing that, found himself covered in glowing water- thunder armor and then he leaped on a rock, giving himself the momentum he needed to hit Heatran who was surrounded by flames and lapilli.

The magma Pokémon suddenly collected all his might to shoot his powerful Lava Plume.

Greninja acted quicker and jumped ahead of Pikachu firing another barrage of Water Shuriken to contrast his opponent's fierce.

Another cloud of vapor was created, and Pikachu was eager to use the advantage he had by Aura.

He avoided every lapillus coming from everywhere, his connection with Ash helping him in dodging the closest and Greninja cleaning his way.

Finally, the mouse collided with the flames surrounding the beast, the water shield dissipating it and the electricity stored in it shocking and stopping Heatran from finding a way out of the imminent collision.

Pikachu hit Heatran with a strong "Fake Volt Tackle", sending shockwaves through the air, dissipating once again the vapor with a powerful gust of wind. The attack affected the magma Pokémon, shocking the hell out of him and sending him to the ground with a tremendous bang.

Pikachu, Greninja and Ash were all breathing heavily, in part for the fierce battle and in part for the tremendous heat they were facing which was sucking all their stamina.

Heatran got up again, severely damaged but clearly thirsty for revenge.

In a moment, he saw the Growlithe. He wasn't the one he wanted but he would take revenge on everyone.

So, he summoned his energy and fired another Lava Plume.

The stamina loss made impossible for Ash to do something but incredibly the little Puppy Pokémon took the attack and fired his Flamethrower at the beast making him only angrier.

In a burst of rage, he jumped forward and stroke Growlithe with his metal Claw, sending him against the Bandits who were now panicking and got blasted off again in the sky.

... ......... ......... .........….

Meowth sneezed… What was wrong with him those days? Maybe he wasn't meant to study in a library for days.

... ......... ......... .........….

With another rampage of pure hate, Heatran fired another Lava Plume at the poor, beaten puppy.

Ash and Pikachu were too far away to do something again and it seemed it was the doom for the Fire-Rock type.

Suddenly a glowing gold light opposed itself to the attack, protecting Growlithe, only to glow brighter and get bigger.

"AAAAARCAAAAA!" was the loud roar that surrounded the area.

Ash, Pikachu, and Greninja watched the scene mouth agape while Heatran knew that the time had come.

He merely smiled in a sadistic way.

... ......... ......... .........….

Goh was now in massive trouble. Uxie had all the momentum and was firing his Ancient Power with all his might, directing with extreme precision and knowledge the trajectory of his attack to uncover Cinderace and Pinsir and isolate Heracross.

The poor young trainer was being outsmarted and outplayed. His plan should have been foolproof but, when in his retreat, he found himself against the wall with his Pokémon shielding him and Grookey from the attacks with all their left strength, he knew he had failed and fell to his knees.

Outsmarting the Pokèmon of Knowledge… what an egocentric belief.

From the back of his mind re-emerged the thought he just had: "What would Ash do right now?"

"When your knowledge does not stand a chance against the opponent, you can't leave. You will push your knowledge through sheer passion. I won't give up!" he said, standing up and running right behind his friends.

Uxie stopped the attack and Goh got the chance to see that he didn't have much more time. It was now or never.

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

Serena felt stupid. She had spent time with Ash but didn't catch any useful information to help him and now she had to inform her friends but also her mother. From Lake Acuity's Pokémon Center, she dialed the Ketchum Household's number which she got from Goh.

"Hello?" said a voice from the other end.

"Mrs Ketchum?" answered Serena.

"Serena? Are you really you!? Wow, Look at you. You are wonderful! How have you been lately? Did you get to see Goh?"

A lot of questions filled Serena's head: why was she so upbeat? How did she know about Goh?

But nothing was really important now.

"Ash is alive." She stated, firm and calm, like a stoic queen.

Delia stuttered; the honey blonde girl went on: "I met him. I spoke with him. He is in the past for real. He's fine and he is doing his part in a mission to come back"

Delia stood there, not really believing the girl. She felt tears in her eyes but suppressed them.

"I know. It's strange and I know you won't believe me. But I felt the urge to inform you. Because, if there is a person in this world who wants to know about him more than me, it should be his mother. I know how much Ash does love you, so I had to do it." Saying this, a wide smile appeared on her face, her eyes shining, thinking about the boy that changed her life.

Delia noticed it and also the watering eyes of the girl who was standing there, holding her emotions with all she got.

A little smile appeared on the mother's face: "I believe you honey" she said.

... ......... ......... .........….

The light got even brighter until it vanished, rejecting the attack.

A tall, quadrupedal Pokémon materialized in front of Heatran: "AAARCAAAA!" he roared.

"The heir has finally evolved!" shouted the voice of Palina, running in Ash's direction.

The boy stood there, his eyes wide, amazed like the first time at the wonder of evolution.

But suddenly Arcanine roared again, seemingly losing control of his strength or overcharged with firepower.

That was at least Iscan's hypothesis when he finally reached Ash and the girl he loved.

Heatran did not waste time and attacked the enemy he wanted with a Lava Plume which was countered easily.

In the next brief exchange of attacks, it was clear that Arcanine was much much stronger than the Magma Pokémon.

Heatran's rage grew even more, and this shook Ash off his state of observance.

Feeling the peril coming, Pikachu and Greninja were alerted while Heatran collected his strongest attack: Magma Storm.

They needed to act quickly, and Ash rapidly agreed with the plan elaborated by Pikachu and Greninja and shared to him through Aura communication.

He rapidly made signs for Iscan and Palina to not intervene and then he said with a hard tone: "Time to end all of this!"

... ......... ......... .........….

"Cinderace! Break through with your Double Kicks! You must cover Heracross!"

Cinderace pulled through with all his might against the fierce Ancient Power. Uxie knew that he had to take all the advantages possible while he had momentum, otherwise, when he got tired, he would uncover his guard. He was a Legendary Pokémon, not some sort of beast.

He felt his strength lowering when suddenly Goh had called the counterattack and recognized this as a great hazard.

Pinsir was collecting all his energy and Heracross as well. For her, it was time to show him how strong she could be and get his attention once and for all. No Lilligant could steal Heracross from her.

Cinderace was starting to lose breath and it was a matter of time until he collapsed.

"Cinderace! Phase Two! Pinsir! Rock Tomb! Tire Uxie with all you've got!"

Pinsir jumped forward and started throwing rocks at Uxie, countering the Knowledge Pokémon.

Uxie wanted to switch move for the last assault, but the sheer determination of Goh and his Pokémon had overcome and covered every possible breach in their defense.

He couldn't risk anything. Suddenly the destiny of the clash had been brought back to fifty-fifty.

Pinsir was standing still, countering with efficacy, Heracross had finished charging for the next phase and Cinderace had collected all his remaining firepower into his leg.

Although Uxie knew what they had in mind, he couldn't do anything. He was tired and his only hope was a bet, a hazard like the one Goh had taken with his determination and faith in his Pokémon

He stopped Ancient Power and in the less time he could possibly use, he switched into Psychic.

But it was late. A wave of rocks crushed his body and left him still floating but fatigued, opening a breach.

Goh knew it. It was the moment he was waiting for.

At full lungs, he shouted: "CINDERACE BLAZE KICK! THROW HIM TO THE GROUND! HERACROSS! MEGA MEGA MEGAHORN!!!"

Cinderace leaped in the air, his leg glowing, and, after a twist, smashed it on Uxie's head, sending him towards the floor. At the same moment, Heracross's horn started to glow, and he ran forward, meeting Uxie's body midair, impacting it and sending him at impressive speed to the wall. Rocks fell from it.

The Knowledge Pokémon was immobile for a few seconds and swirly eyes appeared.

It was over. He had won.

... ......... ......... .........….

Even the air seemed to boil from the heat coming from Heatran. All his body was glowing red, magma flowing through his body. More a beast than a normal Pokémon.

Arcanine was too haughty to notice the danger but Ash wasn't. The plan was clear, but it was a risky one.

Greninja started to move, closing the gap within him and the Magma Pokémon. Then he made a jump, shooting a barrage of Water Shuriken all around Heatran who was aware of his surroundings but now that he had started to gather energy couldn't move.

The Shurikens didn't blow up but stayed stick in the ground. A cloud of vapor was forming and Greninja went on. He needed to cool the soil a bit and he was managing to do so.

Pikachu moved next and started to hit the ground with Iron Tail, raising a thin layer of soil. The entire area was covered in a mist made of the vapor and the dust, blurring the view of the field and enveloping Heatran, Ash, his friends and Arcanine.

Palina and Iscan, from behind a rock a bit away, watched helplessly.

... ......... ......... .........….

Someone could see through it. And it was Akari who was watching from the sphere which Vessa had showed her.

She was a mess. Her eyes were teary but she wouldn't allow herself to look miserable in front of anyone.

Her fists were clenched, her fingers sunk in her skin. She was watching something frightening and suddenly all the words Ash said to her made sense. She wasn't ready for a challenge like that.

What she saw next made her heart jump and made her quite break. Ash was running in that hell towards Arcanine.

... ......... ......... .........….

The plan was going smoothly. Now it was his turn. Ash ran to Arcanine, hoping that he could help.

The little Growlithe followed him, hoping that his old friend could recognize him.

Ash approached him, who was an angry for all the dust which was dirtying his fur. Growlithe approached him as well, speaking to him, and Ash held his hand to him. His gaze was gentle and caring but somehow the newly Noble Pokémon felt offended and a pulse of rage took possess of his body.

In a second Ash found himself bitten slightly under the neck, between his left shoulder and clavicle. Blood started to flow, and the boy felt a tremendous pain, letting out a prolonged shout.

Arcanine regained his mental health and noticed what he had done. He backed away and was scratched by Growlithe who was crying. Ash fell on his knees, Pikachu and Greninja coming to him, alerted by the pain they felt.

But time was up. Even if they had gained time with all the water and sand used to lower Heatran's heat, the Magma Pokémon was ready.

It was a long second. A game of gazes. Ash's eyes were communicating that he was fine and Arcanine was on their side. Pikachu and Greninja nodded to each other and Arcanine joined in.

Growlithe helped Ash standing up while the trio jumped forward. The Noble Pokémon charged at full speed towards Heatran and was engulfed by the Magma Storm, Greninja collected an oversized Water Shuriken which dissipated all the sand. The scene was viewable again. Pikachu dashed forward, engulfing himself in a jolt of electricity.

Ash shouted with all he had left: "NOOOW!"

The shuriken was launched and hit Heatran who couldn't see it coming, his view covered by Arcanine who had absorbed the majority of the hit. He swiftly made a move to take himself away from the Shuriken trajectory. Heatran was hit again, thrown away with all his 430 kilos, only to be reached by a glowing, tiny mouse who struck him, emanating electricity through all his body.

With a massive crash, he was sent against a wall and his body fell into a pool of lava, with a massive splash.

It was over.

... ......... ......... .........….

From a corner in Vessa's house, a man with a Gingko Guild suit watched the scene in the sphere, his hands folded until a shadow embraced him and he vanished.

Akari jumped from the chair and headed towards the Galaxy Hall, not saying a word, followed by her Pokémon.

Vessa, again, smiled and with that faded, her house undergoing the same faith.

... ......... ......... .........….

Pikachu, Greninja and Arcanine were panting heavily while coming back to Ash.

Heatran had been defeated.

Arcanine watched the pool and noticed a fragment of rock. He went there and collected it.

Meanwhile Pikachu and Greninja were alarmed seeing their trainer breathing heavily, a little pool of blood on the floor and his jacket drenched by it.

Arcanine came with two plates, the Flames Plates, which was a gift he had received from her mother and the Iron Plate, from the pool.

"That should be a present to say sorry from Heatran" stated Iscan coming closer.

Ash saw the plates and read what they said on the back: "The power of defeated giants infuses this Plate" said the first one, while the other had written: "That which fills the other side of the world can shape the rage and mold it."

Then Palina came and Iscan lowered his gaze to Ash, finally seeing what had happened: "Oh my Lord!" shouted the girl.

"Eh eh! We did it again guys, didn't we?" Ash weakly said.

While his vision was blurring, he saw Arcanine and said: "Thank you Arcanine! Without you, we would have lost!" and with that his eyes closed and his body fell on the ground.

A similar destiny occurred to Arcanine who was touched by that boy until the tiredness took over his body.

Palina and Iscan made a quick bandage to Ash and the man took his body on his shoulder and headed towards the beach to reach Basculegion and have a quick way home where Ash could be helped.

Palina stayed behind with Arcanine and Growlithe. After all, he needed only some rest and some medicaments she just had in her pocket.

Pikachu and Greninja followed Iscan and they soon after reached the tanned man's house. Ash was helped and his wound medicated before the sun settled.

He administered a natural pain reliever, extracted from the hair of the Chanseys because the poor boy was wincing in pain even from his deep slumber.

The man finally made his body lay down on his bed. By seeing their trainer finally at peace, Pikachu and Greninja exhaled and released all the tension they had, fainting from all the stress and fatigue.

... ......... ......... .........….

Goh was embracing his friends when Uxie got up and made a scarlet jewel appear in front of the boy: "Here your piece. Combine it with the other two and you will be able to call Dialga. You won not only by knowledge but also by passion, determination and trust in your friends. Your greater knowledge comes from everyone cause, if you follow truth and justice, everyone can teach you. No one conquers great science without great people and Pokémon. Your travels will make you wiser and your friends stronger. I'm rooting for you"

Goh listened carefully and nodded. With that, Uxie vanished, leaving all the cave to Goh.

For Dawn, it was time for the challenge. All her emotions were on the field with her.

"Ash. No need to worry. I'm doing this for you!"