Wind of changes

Akari had to act. Her Pokéball in her hand. But first, she had to solve the problem unfolding in the village.

Kamado had been completely crushed by Ash and his confidence broken by a boy in front of everyone.

In her young age she had just seen how power could be appealing to men.

Before Kamado put an end to the fights for controlling the village, there were three factions in the colonizers, and it was only when one of the leaders of said factions died to a Pokémon assault that the remaining two decided to step back and put a super partes commander to organize the colonization of the Hisui region.

But human nature is always there back to strike when the strong ones suddenly become weak.

With that in mind, she took the word:

"Dear villagers. Have you seen what happened? A power who can defeat also the strongest of us. We made him leave. But wouldn't he be an important resource for us? With all those menacing Pokémon out there.

He made them go away. He calmed Infernape here. He saved my and our lives. Commander Kamado knew he is precious and tested him."

She felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned to see Kamado facing the crowd: "It is like she said. I needed to see how valuable that guy can be. He can be foreign, strange, even crazy with his stupid love for Pokémon but… He has a power no one here can have. We have a crisis to face with that crazy rift in the sky over Mount Coronet… He can be the guy to send there when the time comes."

Everyone in the crowd started to think about it… In the end, they knew it was a delicate time and that rift had scared everyone. Surely it would be better sending there an unknown guy than some friends.

They were still skeptical about the boy, distrusting him, but better keep someone as strong as him to their side.

So the mess was finally over. Trust in Kamado restored. The people saw him like the wise man that was fighting to ensure the village a powerful allay.

By that time, it was morning, and the villagers retired from the battlefield to start the day and make errands.

Only Akari and Kamado stayed in the spot.

"So Akari, you really think he is trustworthy?"

"Yes. He saved me. He and his Pokémon saved the village. He is a kind, brave and caring man… He loves his Pokémon so much that he preferred to leave the village instead of abandoning them. Maybe we don't share his thoughts, but he has a kind heart" answered Akari passionately taking again her hand to her chest.

Kamado raised an eyebrow but then went on: "What do you know of him? What did he say?"

"He only said that his Pokémon are the only family he has in this world, and he doesn't remember anything from his life"

"Very well, go and bring him back!"

"What?"

"You want him back. Why on Earth would you take out you Pokéball if it wasn't to go outside the village?"

"Yes… I want to know him better and I don't want him to die."

"Go, Akari. Go get him!" stated the old man with a fatherly smile.

Akari was stunned for a moment and then grinned: "No need to worry!" she shouted and then began to run past the gate.

Commander Kamado smiled, watching the girl disappearing in the distance.

-I can see now what it means the saying "The best way to know a person is by battling him"- thought the man walking back to the Headquarter.

..................…..

"Oh man, where the hell is a river?" groaned a thirsty Ash accompanied by an even thirstier Pikachu.

They were walking for about an hour, but Ash was starting to feel weak. And of course. It was seven days ago his last meal.

When the boy was starting to worry about his state, Greninja spotted something: a chariot pulled by a Rapidash.

Ash sent Pikachu to ask for the chariot owner to come and see him, since he was too weak to move.

The mouse Pokémon was eager to help and dashed to intercept the convoy.

Ash and Greninja watched as the chariot began to follow Pikachu.

The owner hopped off his driving position and went to Ash:

"We have some trouble young man, haven't we?"

"Yeahh, Sort of!" panted Ash gesturing to his stomach.

The man took the hint and went to the back of his chariot to bring some food and water.

Ash ate like he had never eaten in his life. The man stood in horror watching his supplies devoured by a kid who looked like a complete foreigner.

He saved his questions for when the boy and his Pokémon stopped their banquet.

Finally, the trio exuded a sigh with full stomach and fell on the ground.

"So, now that you finished my supplies for the week, can you tell me who are you? And what that Pokémon with you should be? I never saw clothes like those, and that Pokémon doesn't exist here."

"Yep, sure. First of all, thank you very much. I was starving. I haven't eaten in a week. Second: I'm Ash Ketchum, these are Pikachu and Greninja, my family. See, I met Pikachu as my first partner while Greninja comes from the Kalos region. Apart from this, I don't know what I did in my past life, neither why I'm here." Ash answered with determination. He started to hate to have to lie but Arceus told so.

Speaking of Arceus, it seemed to him that he had disappeared from his mind, probably he got weaker. Ash knew he had to move quickly.

He got up: "Sorry mister. I promise that one day I will pay your favor. But now, I'm in a hurry and I must get going." he said.

The man was surprised: "Where are you going all alone kid? Here, you are not someone common to see. A youngster friend with two Pokémon?"

"Well, I know, but they are my life. I must go to Mt Coronet. I want to discover what is happening there"

The man stood and Ash took a gaze at him. He wore a blue and yellow travelling suit, with, in the middle a white drape and a symbol in the middle. A cap contained his long blonde hair and he had a giant rucksack on his back.

His face looked familiar to Ash, but he couldn't put a finger on why.

The man, on his side, took the word: "So you are interested in the mystery of Hisui? Let me introduce myself: I'm Volo, a Ginkgo guild member. We are merchants that works all around the region. For me, I can say I'm a man of culture. I love the legends and traditions of this region and I'm sure that if we can collaborate, we can solve the case."

"So, you wanna help me?" Ash answered, jumping the introduction stuff and going straight to the point.

"Well, we have the same goal in different way. I'm sure that a fearless guy like you wants to solve the problem, while I only want to be close to the legends of this country."

Ash thought for a bit, but Volo went on: "You know. There is no way for you to solve this by going there now. If you want the power to face everything up there, you need something else. You need the plates"

"Plates?"

"Yes, In Hisui there are 18 plates that seemed full of mythical energy. Of course, this is my hypothesis, but maybe, they are related to the God of the region, Arceus. He can solve the problem!"

"So this guy knows Arceus… That's good. Maybe these plates will help Arceus regain his energy."

"Well, I guess I'm in!" exclaimed Ash, Pikachu and Greninja cheering with him, even if Greninja could sense that something was not right.

"That's wonderful. When you find something let me know, Okay?"

"What, you are not coming with me?"

"I'm sorry but I have a job to do. But I promise you to come and find you if I find something!"

With that, the strange man Volo, took the reins and set off to wherever his destination was.

"Well guys, we finally have a lead. We find the plates, Arceus get his strength back and then we will be back to our goal in the PWC!" said Ash raising his fist.

"Pikapi…"

"Tell me, Pikachu"

"Pi pi kaka pika?"

Greninja nodded, "Where do we start, huh?", Ash scratched his chin: "No idea!"

Pikachu and Greninja collapsed on the ground while Ash nervously put a hand behind his head and let out a laugh.

"Come on, don't be like that. Something will come up. Always move on, right guys!"

The Pokémon quickly recovered and joined Ash in a freeing laugh.

"But, for now, we have to set up a camp to start our exploration!"

...............….

Ludicolo was swimming at a fast pace but now the sun was setting, and Brock hasn't arrived yet to Newbark Town.

The boat service of Tojho falls was closed somehow, so the granite determination doctor had to choose the hard way in order to save time.

Croagunk was perching from his shoulder, to keep him company. Ludicolo was swimming under water and only his sombrero was out to be like a raft.

Eventually, the duo saw something in the distance: land.

"That's Newbark!" exclaimed the ex- Gym Leader.

Finally, the city they had first visited all those years ago was in sight.

"You know, Croagunk, Ludicolo, me and Ash started here our Johto journey long ago. I felt a wave of nostalgia."

The man was still emotional about Ash being disappeared and, even if everyone was looking for helping him, he felt a sense of urgency and peril.

"Come on, let's find Elm's lab and then we will start our quest:"

The meeting with the professor was quite brief. The young researcher listened to Brock's story and concluded that it was certainly a Pokémon to do that.

He stated that Celebi couldn't be the one to make Ash disappear in another time like this but maybe he could help Brock in his search.

With all that said, the Pokémon doctor left for the hotel room he had booked with in mind his next destination: Ilex Forest.

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

Night was falling over Hisui again when Ash had finally settled his camp.

Greninja, aided by Pikachu, had collected a big pile of leaves, and had built a tent made by intertwined branches with leaves covering the skeleton to have some protection for the night.

The floor was made by another layer of intertwined branches to keep them warm from the humidity of the ground.

Ash had collected woods for the bonfire.

After all the work, Ash headed in the forest to collect food. He found berries of course, but also a dead Miltank.

The sight made Ash's stomach twist but, in this time technology couldn't provide synthetic meat like in his times. It sure was something he would have avoided but he couldn't rely only on berries and water to live.

Also, either Greninja and Pikachu needed some fuel to be in top shape to face the challenges ahead them.

So, Ash decided to cook the poor Pokémon. Of course, he would never kill to eat but he couldn't pass the opportunity.

In the wild, it was all about being alive.

With all set, it was now nighttime, and the boy was cooking his dinner.

They observed a moment of silence and a little prayer to thank the Miltank for the food.

The trio sat in silence, observing their meal, being one with the nature, closing the circle of life of the Cow Pokémon.

Someone was spying them from a bush.

They started their dinner in silence, eating with much more respect than they ever showed.

.........….

Volo was ecstatic: "Finally someone to help me. In no time, I will meet you, Father." he thought with a serious face before finally arriving to his destination.

.........….

Arceus was panting, from the Hall of Origin: "So the boy met Volo… Destiny is coming to me… If only I could prevent all of this… Why all of this to our beautiful world, Son?"

.........

In a house in the nowhere of Hisui, a mysterious woman was sipping a tea, watching the sun setting.

"Time and space… Here in Hisui are concepts so separate…The day when they will reunite once more is approaching… Am I right, my dear?"

"Meeeee" the Pokémon cried before disappearing.

"You are right dear." She concluded before sipping her tea again.

"Hard times are coming in Hisui. I wonder why here and now of all times."

.........…..

"So, Volo finally found something to help him?"

A cloaked figure was talking in the dark of Ilex Forest to what was like a dark hole.

"Ash Ketchum? So that bastard wasn't weak enough to not be able to call for help. Well, we must be careful. That damned kid is a pain in the ass."

"Gah"

"Yes, you are right, my dear friend. Better there than here. Once we are over there, he won't be able to come back here and interfere with us."

They shared a laugh before the dark hole disappeared.

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

Ash, Pikachu and Greninja were now gazing the sky after their silent dinner.

"Look at those stars there, guys, they look like a Butterfree!" Pikachu laughed and pointed to another group of stars: "Pika pipika!"

Greninja retorted pointing to the moon and the group of stars around it.

Ash laughed: "Aww man, this is wonderful! It is like the old times. With all that training we were doing for the PWC, I almost forgot how I loved camping outside. The only thing that would make this evening even better would be a glass of bourbon and some other friends, am I right?"

"Pika chu pika!", pikachu was glad that his trainer was relaxing a bit. During the last three years, since his Alolan journey, Ash had learnt to take a step back and relax. This had allowed him to enjoy the little things of life and Pikachu was proud of him for that.

"Ninja, Gren!"

"So guys, why don't we sing our Lullaby to thank this beautiful night?"

"Pika pika!"

"Ninja!"

Greninja took a leaf and sat closer to Ash, Pikachu sat on Ash's lap and finally they started their song.

From the bushes, Akari watched the scene before turning her eyes to her Pokéball.

With a kind smile and shining eyes, she got up and decided to reveal herself.

Hearing steps and noise from the bushes, the trio turned to see Akari walking to them.

"Is there room for me and my Pokémon between you and your family?"