PARAGON
Origin Child Arc [3]
Chapter 3 : Homecoming
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They left the party immediately. Ash had fancied Cynthia a bit of a social butterfly, with how easily she seemed to converse with the blueblood in attendance, but maybe that was another aspect of her ‘TV’ persona. He was beginning to see a new side of her, as she snoozed away in the limo back to the airport without a care. No longer necessary to keep up the act, he supposed.
They peeled onto the tarmac of Wyndon International an hour later. Clearly airport security knew who she was, because they didn’t stop at all until they arrived at a yawning hangar beside the runway. Ash got out, duffel bag in hand. All it carried was his tuxedo, which he’d changed out of when they stopped back at Wyndon Stadium to collect his belongings.
Cynthia stepped out as well, her driver carrying her luggage, and they walked toward a private jet. On any other day, this would probably be very impressive, but Ash had been driving around in limousines all day, and had reporters practically on their knees just to talk to him.
Have my tastes changed so fast? Gotta be careful about that… he thought. Albrecht had said he’d become a monster just like the others. Maybe he meant it in more ways than one.
The plane door opened from the inside, dropping to reveal a set of stairs leading in. The pilot stood at the top of the stairs, and he frowned upon seeing Ash. He turned to Cynthia and thumbed the young man.
“Not a word,” she called up at him. “Head inside, Ash. I’ll be up in a minute after I explain what’s going on to these guys.”
Ash nodded and started up the steep steps. The pilot motioned for his bag and Ash handed it to him, before clambering up and into the jet. It was dark and moody, similar to the limousine. The seats were spaced out, unlike the commercial vessels he was used to. He found a seat next to one of the windows and slung his backpack down onto the seat next to it. Pikachu scampered off his shoulder, nose twitching, already exploring his new surroundings.
Ash settled into his seat and pulled out his phone. His lock screen was covered in a wall of notifications, missed calls and messages of congratulation from his friends. He smiled. He definitely wouldn’t have made it this far without all of them, coming and going as they did throughout his journey across the world. As he scrolled through them, unable to reply to all of them, he noticed a message from his mother at the very bottom. She had been the first to send him a message, but unlike the blocks of text he’d received from the others, hers was short and sweet.
Congratulations, honey! I’m so proud of you!! Attached was a picture of her, Mimey, Professor Oak, and his many pokémon kept at Oak’s ranch. Her eyes were clearly puffy and red from crying. He smiled.
“Looks like you’re settled in,” Cynthia said, pulling herself into the jet. “We’re taking off now.”
The pilot followed her in and hit a button to close the door, then headed into the cockpit.
Cynthia strode over to the seat opposite to Ash. This placed her right up against the mahogany bar at the very back of the cabin. She eyed it for a few seconds, but seemed to decide against indulging. She sat down across from him.
A moment later, the engines roared to life outside, and Ash felt them taxi onto the runway. A minute later, they began their takeoff, and he felt his stomach grow weightless as they left the ground behind. Outside the window, Wyndon gradually shrunk into nothing more than a kaleidoscope of lights, like sparkling pinpricks.
“So where are we going?” Ash asked once they seemed to reach altitude.
“I was going to ask you that,” Cynthia replied. “I know you said you were ready to leave Wyndon, but after abandoning your title, it will be… difficult for you to just reappear in the public eye again. If you have anywhere else to visit, any goodbyes you want to say before you join Paragon, now is the time.”
That was a good point. Goodbyes. Ash had many of them. It occurred to him now that he hadn’t even said goodbye to Iris or Alain. Part of it was Cynthia’s insistence on discretion, but admittedly, part of it was also his own tunnel vision after learning about the tantalizing possibility of another level to pokémon training she had dangled before him.
He glanced back down at his phone. At his mother’s awkward tear-stained smile, and his pokémon companions.
“Pallet Town,” he said.
“Alright. I’ll go tell the pilot. Kanto is a long way from Wyndon. We’ll be in the air all night and all day tomorrow.” She got up and walked back toward the front of the plane.
As she did, he began to think about what would happen next. Presumably they’d land in Viridian. By that time, surely the League would have realized he was gone. Would they start a manhunt? He hoped not. How long would they give him to return? Would Leon reclaim his crown? Would they hold the Championships again? Or would they leave the throne empty for the next five years?
And what exactly did Cynthia have in mind for him? Of course he trusted her. But joining Paragon… what exactly did that entail? She’d said they ‘contain threats and prevent catastrophes,’ but he could tell she was being intentionally vague. Perhaps that was something he should’ve clarified back at Rose Manor.
Pikachu jumped into his lap, disrupting his thoughts. The mouse wore an annoyed frown. Jumping again, he somersaulted, smacking Ash in the face with his tail. A weak jolt of electricity ran through him.
“Ha ha, sorry Pikachu,” Ash said. “Don’t worry, I’m alright. Just doing some thinking.”
Pikachu raised an unconvinced eyebrow, as if to say, Really? You? Thinking?
Ash chuckled and flicked him in the forehead, and Pikachu yelped, clapping his stubby paws over the spot.
“I know it’s a little out of character, but this time, it feels different from the start of our other adventures.” Before Pikachu could smack him again, held his hands up. “I know, I know! Cynthia said I could die, but it’s not like our adventures thus far have been so safe! I’m just saying… I really feel like this path will take us to the next level. I’m just going with my gut, as usual.”
Pikachu grinned and leapt onto the table in front of Ash’s seat. He assumed an offensive stance, hunched over and ready to pounce at a nonexistent enemy.
“Get some rest, buddy. C’mon, you’ve been fighting all day. I promise we’ll be back to training soon.”
Pikachu snickered and jumped into the seat beside Ash, curling into a ball. Ash smiled and stroked his head.
Behind him, Cynthia returned from the cockpit, but sat herself down in one of the seats closer to the front. She pulled out a laptop and began typing away, the blue glow of the screen shining on her face.
The Pokémon League and the Paragon Organization… Guess her work never ends.
Ash turned back around and closed his eyes, leaning back in his seat. Sleep took him quickly and easily.
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Ash awoke the next morning to find Cynthia already up and typing away on that laptop again while snacking on a muffin. He joined her for breakfast, and while they did talk, Cynthia refused to divulge anything further about Paragon, or his role in it.
“I’ll tell you everything once we get to headquarters,” she said, though where exactly that was, she didn’t say either.
Later, Ash brought the rest of his team up to speed. Or, at least the ones who could come out on the plane. Lucario, Sceptile, and Greninja listened carefully to their master’s change of plans, and all accepted soberly. That was to be expected, though. They always were the mature ones of the group. Charizard and Dragonite would have to get briefed with the others once they got to Pallet.
Since the jet had internet, the rest of the day was spent replying to and messaging with his friends on his phone. Several had wanted to call him, but he came up with various excuses for declining them. It’s super loud at this party I’m at or Gotta go, I just saw so-and-so walk by or The League needs to talk to me now. Nevertheless, he gave a heartfelt response to each and every one of them, though never revealing his true whereabouts or what he was up to.
That rule had been made very clear by Cynthia.
They arrived in Viridian around ten that evening and left their luggage on the plane. After Ash said his goodbyes, they’d be heading back here and flying out again.
“So, do you think the League has noticed that we disappeared yet?” Ash asked as they walked through the hangar.
“Not likely. You just became the World Champion. I’d say it’d raise more alarms if you didn’t disappear the night of your great victory. No, I expect they’ll give you a few days of privacy before they realize something’s up.”
“Right, I guess that makes sense.” Now that she’d said it out loud, he felt a little embarrassed that he hadn’t celebrated more than he did. Clearly, his doubts had taken root earlier than he’d thought.
They came out of the hangar onto the tarmac and Cynthia stopped.
“Here should be fine.” She pulled a pokéball off her belt and tossed it onto the ground. Garchomp materialized in front of them, and Cynthia climbed onto its back. “Try and keep up, yeah?”
“I know these skies better than you do,” Ash retorted, releasing Charizard next to them and climbing onto his back.
Cynthia smirked and clapped her dragon’s neck, and they launched into the sky.
Ash did the same and joined her, and the pair raced toward Pallet. The wind beat against them as they flew, but neither faltered. They’d flown before, and their dragons were more than capable. As high as they were, only the city lights illuminated their way forward, and once they were beyond the city limits, it was up to Ash to guide them the rest of the way.
Twenty minutes later, faint street lamps cruised into view in a wide clearing in the dark forest below. Ash urged Charizard down, and they began their descent.
They touched down on the grass just outside of town, both offering thanks to and recalling their partners.
“No TV cameras around here, what’s the excuse this time?” Ash teased.
“You knew where to go,” Cynthia countered, scrunching her lips up.
Luckily, Pallet was asleep at this hour, and they walked through the slumbering town in silence. Here, without all the light pollution, the stars screamed their brilliance across the heavens. They passed closed up shops with creaking metal signs and quaint houses lined with flowerbeds, until eventually, Ash led them to a nondescript house beside the dirt path. His home.
“I’ll wait for you out here,” Cynthia said, and Ash nodded.
He knocked on the door softly, twice. To make sure he was heard.
Slowly, the doorknob turned and the door cracked open. Further into the house, a Mr. Mime stood on guard, hands outstretched. It’d used its psychic powers to open the door from a distance.
“It’s me, Mimey!” Ash whispered, waving.
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Upon seeing him, Mimey shuddered in surprise and bounded up to the door, opening it the rest of the way. A huge smile plastered across his clownish face. He spread his arms open for a hug, beaming.
Ash didn’t take the bait. “Really? Nice try.” He knocked against the empty air beneath the door frame, but a dull, glasslike sound clocked from his knuckles. “C’mon, let me in.”
Mimey sniggered silently, and the faint tinges of psychic energy around his fingertips that Ash had noticed faded. Now he was free to come inside, and that he did, embracing his old pokémon warmly. Pikachu cooed in delight, and Mimey lifted him off Ash’s shoulder with his powers, spinning him in the air playfully.
“Sorry, Mimey, do you think you could go wake Mom up?” Ash asked. “I know it’s late, but I need to talk to her.”
Mimey snapped a salute, unceremoniously dropping Pikachu, but the mouse landed deftly on his feet. As Mimey stomped upstairs, Ash came inside and shut the door behind him. Although his mother was as tidy as could be, he could tell she’d held a party recently. One of their nice serving platters was drying on a rack beside the sink, and bags of half empty celebratory streamers sat atop a short bookshelf in the living room. Ash smiled to himself.
Pikachu scampered over to the kitchen in search of food, but it seemed like Mrs. Ketchum was a little too thorough, because everything had already been put away. He circled around in place several times, trying to catch a scent of something, but to no avail.
“Goodness, what is it, Mimey? It’s so late…,” a voice came from the stairs. Dressed in a lemon nightgown and reading glasses, Delia Ketchum appeared, being practically pulled down the steps by an eager Mimey. As her head passed beneath the ceiling, her eyes swept the first floor and immediately fell on her son. “Oh! Ash— I… what…?”
At the sight of him, she surged forward and wrapped him in a hug.
“I’m home, Mom,” Ash said.
“I can see that! I—oh, congratulations, dear!” she said, planting a kiss on his forehead. Pikachu bounded over and jumped into her arms, and she squeezed him in a tight hug too. Her face wavered between joy and confusion, and Ash had to stop himself from smirking in amusement.
“Sorry for waking you up,” he said.
“Oh, I was still up reading. But…what are you doing here? I thought you were in Galar. How in the world did you get here?”
“I took a plane. Perks of being the World Champion and all,” Technically, that was true.
“Right. Of course. You’re the World Champion now.” She seemed to be trying to stifle her excitement since the hour was late. Her lips were pursed, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her. She couldn’t stop smiling.
“I’m the World Champion, for now,” Ash said, and he noticed his mother frown. Nothing got past her.
“What do you mean? The next tournament isn’t for another five years, right?”
Taking a deep breath, he looked her in the eyes. “I’m leaving, Mom.”
At first, she didn’t seem to know what to say. She shook her head in disbelief. “Why? What’s the matter, honey?”
“Nothing’s the matter,” Ash reassured her, smiling. “I’m just continuing on my adventure, as I always have.”
“But your dream…”
“Hasn’t changed,” he confirmed. “I’m still aiming to become a Pokémon Master. It’s just… I have to follow a different path to get there now that I’m the World Champion.”
Delia smiled in endearment at her son. “Oh, Ash, you’re living in a world I no longer understand. You’ve become such a wonderful man!”
“C’mon Mom, I’m still only seventeen.” He rubbed the back of his head and blushed. Pikachu pulled his cheeks down, mimicking an old man, from his perch on Delia’s head.
“You’re already seventeen,” she corrected. “You were only ten when you first set out to become a pokémon trainer. Now you’re old enough to be sneaking in and out of the house!”
“Mom…”
“Oh, c’mon, let me have a little fun! Plus, I’m sure you’ll be leaving again just as soon, aren’t I right?” Seriously. Nothing got past Delia Ketchum.
Ash looked away.
“Isn’t that right, Pikachu?” Delia said, lifting him off her head. Pikachu tried to squirm away, but he was always defenseless against her, and he nodded feebly.
“Where to next, then?” she asked. “Alola? Back to Galar? Or maybe over to Paldea?”
“I can’t say,” Ash replied. At least that was the truth. He literally had no idea where Cynthia was planning on taking him.
“Hmph. That means you’re going somewhere dangerous,” she pouted, hands on her hips. “Well, it’s not like I could ever stop you before, and I guess you are the World Champion now… or are you? Though it’s not like that makes me worry about you any less…” She murmured away, resigned to her fate as an anxious mother.
“Yeah, about that,” Ash said. “After the League has realized I’ve abandoned my position, I’m sure some people may come by and ask you about me. Could you tell them I’m just fine?”
Delia nodded, always ready to acquiesce to whatever off the wall request he had for her. “I’ve dealt with some of your ‘followers’ before. Luckily, Professor Oak always helps me drive them away.”
“Really? People have come here asking about me?” Ash had never heard that before.
“Oh yes, a few young fans have come by in conference seasons past as a sort of pilgrimage. They’re just so adorable, but it can be a little overbearing,” she explained. She seemed to be amused by it more than bothered, which put Ash at ease.
He exhaled, glad to have gotten that squared away. Though his mother had never been too inquisitive about his journeys before, he was still a little worried she might start prying for details this time. Maybe he was just extra conscious of it, given the secrecy Cynthia had sworn him to.
“Well, I’m sure you have some packing to do, right?” Delia said. “And you’ll want to see your other pokémon too, though I don’t think Professor Oak will be all too happy about being woken up.”
“Yeah, I was thinking maybe I shouldn’t bother him. Can I ask you to let him know I came by? I don’t want him waking up tomorrow and thinking someone stole all my pokémon.”
“Sure, sure,” Delia nodded along. “Anything else for my World Champion?”
Ash thought for a few moments, then lit up. “How ‘bout a midnight snack?”
She smiled and pointed upstairs. “Get going. I’ll have it ready in fifteen minutes.”
“You’re the best, Mom!” He kissed her on her cheek, then ran upstairs to his room, Pikachu in tow, while Mimey joined her in the kitchen.
Once in his room, he wasted no time pulling another duffel bag from his closet and opening every drawer of his dresser. Cynthia hadn’t been generous with the details, but she had told him that this would be nothing like traveling through the regions while challenging gyms, where packing light was the way to go. She made it sound more like he’d be uprooting himself and staying somewhere a little more permanent, so more than two changes of clothes were expected. As he stuffed his bag full of his clothes, he ran through a mental list of anything else he might need.
Once we’ve arrived, there’s no turning back. Bring everything you need to become a Pokémon Master.
His toiletries were in his backpack, as were an assortment of potions, pokéballs, and the like.
What do I need to become a Pokémon Master?
Yesterday, he may have said gym badges, and upon thinking so, he paused his packing and walked over to the shelf where he kept his collection. They were all still in their original badge cases, propped up and open so he could see them all. The Kanto, Orange Islands, and Johto ones which didn’t have a case were organized carefully atop a cheap velvet mat. Ash hadn’t wanted to display them like medals in some fancy glass case or anything. He preferred them as they were, as he’d earned them. His mother came in and polished them from time to time, so there wasn’t a speck of dust on a single one.
He ran his gaze across them, starting from his most recent— the Iceberg Badge from Wulfric in Kalos— and traced all the way back to the start— the Boulder Badge from Brock. It seemed like a lifetime ago. It was a different Ash that’d earned those first eight badges. Steeling his gaze, he gathered all eight of his Kanto badges in a handful, and emptied them into one of the zippered side pockets on his duffel.
So I never forget where I started.
After that, he finished packing and headed downstairs to eat. As expected of Pikachu, he hadn’t helped out even a little, dashing in and out of the room as he re-explored his old haunt. And as expected of his mother, a plate of fried rice was waiting for him on the dining room table when he got down. He talked with her in between gargantuan bites about the World Championships, and the Masters Eight, and the party that followed, but left out the details of his conversation with Cynthia. Delia seemed to think he kissed some girl or something since he was being more secretive than usual, which was simultaneously a relief and a headache.
Eventually, he was all ready to go. He’d felt a little bad about leaving Cynthia waiting outside for so long, so around one in the morning, he really started to urge his mother to let him go.
“And you packed several toothbrushes? You’re only supposed to use them for three months.”
“Yes, Mom.”
“And you have your wallet? It wouldn’t be the first time you’ve had to turn back around for that.”
“Yes, Mom.”
“And you have some snacks for the road. I don't know where you're going but I know you’ll get hungry.”
“Yes, Mom.”
“And you have a change of underwear?”
He paused, thinking. “Yes. Yes, I do,” he eventually said.
Delia sighed. “Oh dear. You didn’t even snap at me for asking that. Now I’m really going to start crying.”
Ash smiled. “Don’t cry, Mom. I’ll be back again soon, like I always am.”
“Okay.” She embraced him one last time before he opened the front door. Mimey waved from behind her with both hands.
Ash separated from her and picked up his duffel. “See you later, Mom.” Pikachu waved from his shoulder.
“Bye, bye, Ash. See you, Pikachu. Watch over him for me, ‘kay?”
Pikachu nodded, and they were off. Delia closed the door behind them, and they were once again plunged into the quiet night of Pallet.
Ash had never left for one of his adventures at night, and though he’d given his mother a bit of grief for it, he kind of did feel like he was sneaking out like some hormonal teenager.
Cynthia seemed to peel away from the shadows of his house, reappearing beside him as he walked down the path. She was tapping away on her phone.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting,” he said.
“Not at all. I didn’t want to rush you. I was just getting some work done.”
Ash nodded, and kept walking. They had one more stop.
Around ten minutes later, they arrived at Oak’s ranch. His lab was the only building in town that didn’t appear to be made of wood, but in the dark, its metallic walls were just as black as the others. But they weren’t here for the lab. Ash walked over the fence beside the gravel path that led up to it, and swung himself over. Then, he released his five pokémon.
“Gather the others for me. And do it quietly.”
They all nodded, and raced off in different directions. Some were close and immediately ran toward him the moment they heard the slightest disturbance. Krookodile, Gible, and Infernape bounded over, alight with energy at the sudden and unexpected reappearance of their master. The nocturnal ones were already awake, and hadn’t taken long to detect his presence. Noctowl and Noivern swooped down from above, and Gengar bubbled in from beneath him, cackling.
Before long, Pikachu was dashing back across the grass, with Bulbasaur, Scraggy, Totodile, Snivy, and Oshawott. Charizard brought the flyers with him: Butterfree, Pidgeot, Swellow, Gliscor, Glalie, Unfezant, and Talonflame. Greninja was slick with moisture when he returned, having dived into the lake to wake up Corphish, Kingler, Palpitoad, and Lapras. Sceptile came from the mountains with Boldore, Torterra, Muk, Heracross, Quilava, and Pignite in tow. Lucario guided his comrades back patiently, Snorlax, Bayleef, Leavanny, Donphan, Torkoal, and Goodra trotting beside him slowly. Finally, it was up to Dragonite to herd all thirty Tauros quickly and quietly, alongside the help of Hawlucha, Staraptor, and Buizel, as well as Squirtle and Primeape, who’d recently returned from training to watch Ash’s battle against Leon with the rest.
Cynthia’s eyes were full moons at the sight of all of Ash’s gathered pokémon. She’d known he was well traveled, but not like this. She didn’t own half as many pokémon as he did, even removing all the Tauros, and she’d been a trainer for over twice as long!
“Uhhhh…”
“Impressed?” Ash smirked, and a number of his pokémon almost started to cheer, but he quickly shut them up with a wave of his hand. Gary had told him horror stories of what happened when he’d woken his grandfather from his sleep by accident. Surely executing a quasi-heist in his literal backyard wouldn’t do anything to improve his mood.
“I hope you have room in your duffel.”
“Of course,” Ash grinned, “I planned for this.” He turned back to his pokémon. “Hey, everyone!” he said in a half whisper, half shout. “It’s good to see all of you again! Sorry for waking you up, but I’m going on another adventure, right now!”
A wave of confusion and excitement washed over the amassed crowd. Some pumped their fists, others seemed to think he was pulling a prank on them or something, and reacted more cautiously.
“I know you all just saw me become World Champion, but my journey isn’t stopping here. Our journey isn't stopping here! It’s time for us to reach a whole new level, together! This time, I’m taking all of you with me!”
As they started to hoot and holler, Ash silenced them again, so instead, they turned to each other and jittered, giddy with excitement.
“I’ll explain more later on, but for now… Gengar, can you go and get everyone’s pokéballs, please?”
Gengar grinned and disappeared into the ground. Two minutes later, he reappeared, a tray of pokéballs in each hand, all neatly labeled.
Then, with Cynthia’s help, Ash recalled every single one of his pokémon partners, tossing them in his duffel as they did. Soon, only his World Championship team was left, and he returned all of them but Charizard, before zipping his duffel back up.
“I hope Professor Oak doesn’t have a heart attack when he wakes up,” Ash said.
“That is a lot of research material you just swiped from him,” Cynthia agreed. “Ready to go?”
Ash took one last look around his home. Oak’s lab was situated at the top of a hill, so he had a good vantage point from which to survey the entire town. Deep in his bones, he knew the journey he was about to embark on would be far different from the others. It would be awhile until he’d be back. Burning the sight into his mind, he turned back to Cynthia.
“Yeah. I’m ready.”
Cynthia smiled. “Well then. Off to Sinnoh we go.”
Next — Chapter 4 : The Paragon Organization
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In case it wasn’t already clear, this story diverges from the canon toward the end of the Kalos storyline. That means Ash did not travel around Alola or Galar, or meet any of the people or pokémon in said regions. However, as I alluded to in Chapter 1, he did catch/evolve several more pokémon after defeating Alain, such as Lucario, Dragonite, and Gengar. It’s safe to assume that all of the pokémon listed in this chapter are the ones he actually has, and anyone left out, he does not.