PARAGON
Remnants of the Great War Arc [41]
Chapter 50 : Aftermath
----------------------------------------
Kanto Region - Mount Moon
As Ash peeled himself off the ground, the first thing he realized was that he was still alive. This is getting way too common for comfort, even for me, he thought, though a dull ache rippled through his body as he moved, cutting off any further thoughts. Finding the Electric Plate seemed to have granted him a certain level of confidence in his survivability in life-threatening situations, but the past few hours had thoroughly humbled him. In the end, someone else had needed to save him. A wave of nausea filtered through his body as he stood up.
Right in front of him, Sir Aaron’s Mega Lucario groaned softly, padding away from him. Ash took a step closer, but Lucario’s body soon began to glow. Azure mist wafted off his body like ash, and he turned his head to Ash, meeting his gaze.
“No,” Ash breathed, stepping forward again.
Right before his eyes, Lucario’s body began to dissolve, flaking into glowing azure wisps that quickly dissipated in the wind. Before long, Lucario was gone.
Ash stood stunned, his hand still outstretched.
Before the stones, people achieved Mega Evolution by forging an unbreakable bond with their pokémon, so tight that their very souls seemed to meld together, Sir Aaron had said. But that meant the fate of one decided the fate of the other. One could not live without the other.
“Sir Aaron…” Ash said aloud. His eyes widened and ran forward toward the edge of the cliff he found himself on. When he arrived and gazed out at the expanse before him, his stomach dropped in utter shock and horror.
Rota, or what was left of it, lie before him as a desolate wasteland. Far below, not a single tree still stood. There wasn’t even a speck of color; stretched out before him was simply a vast plane of rock, burned white. Cameran Palace was nowhere in sight. The lake it’d sat within was now just a depression in the earth, utterly devoid of water. There was no fire, no smoke, and no ash. There was nothing. The entire country had simply been reset.
Even more numbing was the complete disappearance of the Tree of Beginning. It had once towered over mountains and clouds alike. Yet there was absolutely no trace it had ever existed at all. Not even a stump remained. Ash couldn’t even tell where he should’ve been looking. That’s how utterly empty the entire landscape was. He opened his mouth and his limbs twitched, subconsciously urging him to move, but what was there to do? The damage had been done. He could feel his blood run through him like molasses.
Rota was gone.
He turned around, clinging to the hope that maybe he was just terribly turned around, and that Rota and the Tree of Beginning were actually behind him, but he gasped at the sight he saw.
Currently, he was on a giant stone plateau that overlooked Rota. But, littering the rocky floor as far as he could see, were the unmoving bodies of Guardians and AZ’s acolytes alike, all mixed together with no rhyme or reason as to their layout.
His body started to move on its own as he surged toward them. It was only now that he noticed Riley slumbering on the ground, slightly separated from the rest near the edge, like he’d been. Lucario must have taken them here, but how did everyone else get here?
His stomach started to turn at the thought, until he realized with great relief that many, if not all of the gathered bodies were still alive. Upon closer inspection, he could see them breathing, Guardians and acolytes both.
A horrific buzzing roared in Ash’s ears and black spots began to waver in his eyes. Feeling another wave of nausea, he sat down, then laid back onto the stone floor, arms and legs spread apart. His eyes stared aimlessly at the sky above, now clear and sunny as it’d been when the battle first began, yet for some reason, it looked dark. With no other purpose to devote itself to, he could feel his body turning numb as the reality of what had happened sunk in. He wanted nothing more than to release Pikachu right now, so that he wouldn’t be so alone in the horror, but remembering how injured his friend was, he decided against it. Instead, his hand snaked its way into his pocket and somehow pulled out his phone. But before he could lift it and make a call, his arm simply collapsed onto his chest.
Who would he call right now that could fix this?
There was no one. The time would eventually come when he’d need to pick himself up and readdress the world. Eventually, the others would begin to wake, and the world would begin to move again. Surely, pandemonium would break out across this plateau as the others witnessed what had happened to Rota. He also had his duty as a Paragon member to carry out.
But, with the world seemingly stopped at this moment, Ash decided he’d stop with it.
He simply stared up at the sky. With each breath he took, he felt his chest rise and fall. Before he knew it, he’d passed out again from complete physical and mental exhaustion.
----------------------------------------
One day later
Riley slumped in his chair as the drone of human voices buzzed around him. He sat at a long wooden table and was flanked on both sides by other Guardians, but he didn’t even feel like he was present. Compared to the rest, he alone had witnessed King Aaron’s final moments. So while the others prattled on about what the Guardians should do next, he simply stewed in his own fate, as personally dictated by his king.
You’ll help him, won’t you?
It may have been a question, but Riley clung to it like it’d been a command. After all, it was all King Aaron had left behind.
“We need to find the others who escaped and hunt them down before they can rebuild their forces!” one Guardian shouted.
“No, the safety of the Queen is our highest priority!”
“First, we should talk with the Kanto government and reestablish a new home for the Guardians!”
These words and more darted across the table in a frenzy. They were gathered within a large tent erected late yesterday as a makeshift command center for the Guardian leadership, but decisions about their next step were delayed due to Queen Ilene spending all night assisting the medical personnel that had arrived from the International Police.
Interpol assets had arrived shortly after Rota’s decimation. They came with food and humanitarian supplies, and trainers to secure the area and distribute aid. Yet despite their immense help, it was difficult for Riley not to feel at least a twinge of spite. If they’d arrived sooner, things may have turned out differently.
In any case, AZ’s fallen acolytes had already been rounded up and shipped off, and Interpol agents had descended into Rota’s remains to survey the damage.
But up here on Mount Moon, just outside the tent, doctors and nurses continued to administer treatment to the injured, sprawled across the stone floor. The worst cases had already been flown out to the nearby Pewter and Cerulean Cities, but with the sheer volume of the injured, those that could remain here did. And since Queen Ilene had absolutely refused to abandon her people in favor of more comfortable or dignified accommodations, here they were, chattering about within a tent amidst the chaos.
“Enough,” Ilene’s tired voice cut through the din and immediately silenced all of them. No one knew how long she’d slept, or if she had at all, as she’d flat out denied any suggestion of rest. She sat at the head of the table, and though dark circles shadowed her eyes, she still brimmed with royal determination. “Before we spare one thought about the future, we must first contend with the present. Many of our brothers and sisters are still hurt from the battle. With Rota and Cameran Palace gone, now is the time when we must look out for one another the most.”
The other Guardians nodded in agreement. Clearly, they’d all been affected by what happened to Rota, and with emotions running high, logic found little refuge here. But, Ilene’s presence and wisdom were as luminous as always, and her words calmed them for the moment.
“My Queen, if I may,” Captain Magnus said, raising his hand. He sat toward the head of the table, closest to Ilene. His head was wrapped in bandages stained with blood, and though he’d missed yesterday’s affairs, he’d refused to allow his absence to persist another day. “I was speaking to an Interpol representative just earlier. They want to set up a meeting with you to decide how best to proceed. We’ve also received a notice of intention to help from the Pokémon League as well.”
Queen Ilene closed her eyes. After some thought, she opened them again. “I’ll meet with both. I’d like your counsel in deciding what would be best for the Guardians. All of you.” She glanced around the table. “As far as retaliation is concerned, the Guardians are not a punitive force. Just as in the Great War, we will delegate the administration of justice to the appropriate authority.”
Though there seemed to be a bit of discontent about her decision, ultimately, the gathered Guardians nodded solemnly. They were in no position now to continue fighting, and vengeance would set them down an even darker path.
“Forgive me, my Queen,” one Guardian said, breaking the silence, “but I believe the destruction of the Tree of Beginning is of paramount importance.” The other Guardians glanced his way. “The Tree was like the heart of our order. Now that it has been destroyed, can we truly even call ourselves Guardians anymore?”
Uneasy murmurings rippled across the table.
“Damned AZ,” another Guardian cursed, and some others shook their heads in anger. The Tree’s destruction was even more disgraceful than Rota’s. Clearly, the others had tried to mask their shame by taking on the present, but it was undeniable. The destruction of the Tree of Beginning was an abject failure of the Guardians in their holy duty.
“It wasn’t AZ.”
All heads turned down the table. Riley didn’t meet anyone’s gaze, still slouched in his chair.
“What did you say, Sir Riley?” the Guardian asked, disbelief wrinkling his face.
“It wasn’t AZ,” he said, not a decibel louder. “It was King Aaron who destroyed the Tree of Beginning.”
“What did you say?!” The Guardian next to him seized his collar, though he still didn’t move. “You will recall those blasphemous words right now!”
Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
Similar demands echoed across the table in tones laced with fury. But Riley remained unfazed through the uproar.
“King Aaron destroyed the Tree of Beginning. I saw it with my own eyes,” he said coldly.
“Riley! You bastard!” The Guardian tightened his grip on Riley’s collar.
“Unhand him,” Ilene said. “And please explain, Sir Riley.”
As the Guardian sat back down, still glaring at him, Riley smoothed his clothes and sat up to address the gathered. “I was there at Sir Aaron’s side, shortly before Rota was destroyed. It was his own Lucario who saved my life. But before it did, he imparted some final words. From what he said, it’s clear he fully intended on doing what he did, in hindsight.”
“Why would he do such a thing?” one Guardian spat.
“I don’t know,” Riley quickly said. “He didn’t have the time to say. But, at the very least, he wanted us to trust his reasons for doing what he did.” Before anyone could interrupt again, he stood up abruptly and faced Queen Ilene. “My Queen. And distinguished Sirs. I was joined in those final moments by the former World Champion Ash Ketchum. And it was King Aaron’s belief…no, his conviction, that Ash Ketchum is the Origin Child.”
Shocked murmurs spread across the table, and even Ilene’s brows were knit in a frown.
“He charged me personally with aiding the Origin Child on his quest to unite Arceus’ Plates, and extended that duty to the Guardians as a collective.” He bowed. “Queen Ilene. By your blessing, please allow me to join Ash on his journey. I cannot ask that the Guardians devote themselves to a stranger merely off of my word, especially in such a devastating time for us, but if you permit me, I swear I will help Ash show you the proof of his potential.” He raised his head. “I know Ash personally, and if my word means anything, then I will say I also possess the same unwavering faith in him as King Aaron did. I too believe he is the destined one.”
The Guardians stayed silent, speechless and stunned. Ilene herself seemed to be weighing his words carefully as if assessing their believability.
“I trust you, Sir Riley,” she eventually said. “If that is the path you believe to be right, then you have my blessing to walk it. In return, this should come as no surprise but I and the others will be scrutinizing your claim about the Tree’s destruction. I cannot see why King Aaron would do such a thing, but rest assured, we will have our answers as he intended.”
Riley closed his eyes and dipped his head once more. “Thank you, my Queen.”
----------------------------------------
Kanto Region - Saffron City
Ash leaned against the brick wall of the Saffron City Gym. Bunches of flowers sprouted from a flowerbed placed atop the wall about a foot above him. His hat was pulled low over his face, and even with Pikachu on his shoulder, no one paid him any mind. This city was bustling as it was, but add to that the news about Rota, and it was certain he would not be recognized. Pikachu’s nose twitched at the flowers, but otherwise, he seemed nearly as dejected as his trainer. Now that it was late afternoon, the city seemed bathed in fire as the setting sun cast an orange glow over them, despite their attempts to keep in the shadows.
“World Champion Aaron Albrecht was among those who perished in the horrific attack on Rota yesterday. Initial reports say he directly engaged the man who escaped from the World Prison over a month ago, but the exact details are still unclear. The World Pokémon League has not yet issued a statement.”
Zinnia stood beside him, similarly silent, but she held her phone up next to her face, listening to the news. With her other hand, she held an ice pack to her stomach. She’d broken a few ribs during her battle in Kalos, and though she’d accepted some painkillers, she’d refused any further treatment. Waiting out here with him was an escape from the others’ worrying, Ash surmised.
Before long, a car rolled up in front of them, and after it parked, the driver’s seat swung open and Sylvester got out, dressed as usual, sans his apron. Upon seeing Ash and Zinnia, he gave a curt nod.
“Finally,” Zinnia mumbled, stepping off the wall.
“Unlike you all, I’m not crazy enough to fly across the ocean,” he said as he joined them. “I take a plane and then a car like a normal person.”
All three walked toward the entrance and the doors slid open for them. Their pass through the reception area was slowed by Zinnia’s gait, but a minute later, they arrived on the gym’s battlefield.
“Thanks again,” Ash said as they passed Gym Leader Rosen, who stood nervously by the stands.
The young man smiled awkwardly and shuffled past them. It seemed he’d just delivered some refreshments, but wasn’t eager to stay any longer than he had to.
After reuniting with Cynthia, Anabel, and Sabrina yesterday, Ash had posited the Saffron Gym as a place where they could lay low and reconvene, away from the chaos on Mount Moon. Sabrina had contacted Rosen, and he’d graciously accommodated them after hearing Ash’s name in the mix. Then, it was as easy as Cynthia’s Spiritomb whisking them away. And despite both Sabrina and Cynthia’s needling, Anabel had assured them a visit to the hospital was unnecessary. She’d only requested some help taking her first real shower after her injury, a fresh set of bandages, and some assistance in wrapping her arm back up. Ash had sent his pokémon to the store to pick up a few things, and by the time they’d returned, she was already dressed in a standard-issue black tank top, from the lockers of one of Rosen’s gym trainers most likely. And later that night, N and Zinnia had arrived.
Ash saw Zinnia bristle as she caught sight of Anabel, sitting with her back to them on a chair in the center of the arena. N was sitting across from her, talking in a low voice, but he broke off the conversation when he saw the others arrive. Sabrina was sitting next to Anabel, though she seemed to be munching on one of the sandwiches Ash had picked up, not contributing to the conversation at all.
And at the head of the small circle of chairs sat Cynthia, her Spiritomb swirling behind her. Though it was quiet and peaceful enough in here right now, the intent was clear.
She knew what was about to happen. And she had no intentions of backing down.
Sylvester settled into the seat across from her and gave her a curt smile, Ash settled in next to him, and Zinnia eased herself into the final chair.
“First, I’d like to say how glad I am that you’re all okay,” Cynthia began. “Though not unscathed, this was the most dangerous force we’ve ever tackled.”
“Can say that again,” Zinnia muttered. Ash had half expected her to explode at Cynthia, but it seemed she had no fight left for that.
“But now that that’s out of the way,” she met all of their gazes, “It doesn’t need to be said, but this was not the ideal outcome.”
All of the gathered members shifted uncomfortably, save for Sylvester. They all each felt a certain responsibility for what had happened.
“It was my fault,” N said flatly. “I let the boy who activated the weapon get away.”
“No,” Cynthia cut in. “This was a failure in leadership on my part.” She met Sylvester’s eyes and didn’t look away. “I know you all have had concerns about my judgment. And the truth is that I have been playing multiple angles at once, or at least trying to.” She took a deep breath and leaned back in her seat. “As I told Ash and Sabrina, the Paragon Organization, at its inception, was intended to be a group composed of trainers who could help me achieve my own dream. Of learning about the secrets of this world, its true history. Over the span of this AZ ordeal, that dream has effectively been realized. At the very least, it is undeniable at this point that Arceus’ Plates have been inextricably tied to the ebb and flow of both the history of humans and of pokémon. How the Platebearers have shaped said history is still an open-ended question, but their influence cannot be overstated. This most recent battle has made that clear. However, this is the first time since the Great War that their influence penetrated into the public eye. That is the true significance of Rota’s destruction.”
“Is that why you wanted us out?” Anabel asked. “So we wouldn’t get mixed up in that?”
“Partly. I had an inkling that the clash between AZ and the Guardians would be far beyond anything we’ve handled thus far. And I didn’t think Paragon was ready for such a force of nature. But, you all proved me wrong.”
“Not really,” Ash said quietly. “Rota is gone, and Sir Aaron is dead.”
A silence settled over the group.
“The Guardians survived,” Cynthia eventually said. “AZ wanted to end them. He failed. Only four Guardians lost their lives. With the force he sent in, that number is astronomically low. And because of N and Zinnia’s warning, Sabrina was able to move everyone out of Rota before it was too late.” She folded her hands together and looked down. “But, here’s where I get to say I told you so.”
Spiritomb cackled silently behind her.
“I wanted to have this discussion a month ago. I think, with a little more…unity, we may have been able to save Rota. But, I understand why things turned out the way they did. As I said, it was a failure in leadership on my part.” She sighed and sat up. “Sylvester accused me of working for someone else. That my actions and decisions were at the behest of a third party.” She glanced between them all. “That was true to a certain extent, up until a month ago.”
Sylvester’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t speak up. Ash, Zinnia, and Anabel glanced between each other and Sabrina took a noticeable increased interest, leaning away from her sandwich. N’s brows furrowed.
“The night before I requested your return to Paragon Island, I received a message from that person, asking me to do just that. I decided, at that moment, to begin running Paragon on my own terms.”
“Who are you talking about?” Sylvester asked.
“Her name isn’t important. You wouldn’t recognize it anyway. It’s the same reason that I didn’t tell you about her to begin with. All you need to know now is that she’s someone I’ve known since I first began my journey as a pokémon trainer, many years ago.”
“What has she been making you do?” N asked. Even more than the others, he seemed to be most concerned at what Cynthia may have done per another’s direction.
“She hasn’t been making me do anything. I receive intelligence from the International Police and direct our missions accordingly. But, every so often, I go to Alola to meet with that person. And sometimes, we discuss whatever Paragon is up to. It only makes sense. It was with her help that I was able to create the Paragon Organization to begin with. Last month was the first time I’d ever received an explicit command from her.”
“If there’s a benefactor, or some secret member of Paragon, shouldn’t we know about them?” Anabel asked.
Cynthia closed her eyes. “No,” she said after a moment. “Because as of a month ago, that person no longer has anything to do with the Paragon Organization.”
“You said they commanded you to pull Paragon out of Rota. But that’s exactly what you did” Sylvester said. “Or, at least tried to.”
“Yes. But not at her behest. I returned to Rota like I promised, after all. But, I wanted us to have this conversation back then so we could pivot in a new direction, free of oversight.”
“But you said your dream was basically fulfilled. So what would that new direction have been?” Ash asked.
A thin smile crossed Cynthia’s mouth. “I said at Paragon’s inception, its purpose was based on my own dreams. However, it didn’t stay that way for long. As I met you all, and grew closer to you…as each one of you beat me down in battle, it became clear to me that Paragon was not just a vehicle through which I could achieve my own dreams. I realized I wanted us to help each other achieve all our dreams, together. By severing ties with my old friend, I intended to fully prepare Paragon for the battles ahead. And after learning so much about the Plates, it seems that, in the end, they will be unavoidable entities on our paths toward that end. ”
For Ash, that was obvious enough. His pursuit in becoming a pokémon master would inevitably put him against the Platebearers. It was probably the same for Zinnia and her quest for the Great Dragon. N and Anabel were both seeking a dream, but it was clear that neither would be satisfied by anything too basic, after everything they’d experienced. And Sabrina…what was her dream?
“That sounds quite nice and all, but I can’t imagine this friend of yours will be pleased about this,” Sylvester said, still looking slightly unconvinced. “Are they the type who would help you create something like the Paragon Organization without expecting anything in return?”
“Well,” Cynthia said. “I have you all to think about as well. I can’t simply prioritize her wants over yours. I’ll talk to her soon enough.” She looked down at her phone and frowned. “Though it may have to wait. Interpol and the League both want to see me. So I’ll be heading out shortly.” She glanced around the circle. “I hope you all can trust me from now on. Please believe me when I say I want what’s best for the world, and for you all.”
A silence settled over them. Beyond their lingering exhaustion from yesterday, they had nothing more to say.
“Sorry about before,” Sabrina blurted out.
Cynthia smiled and leaned over to look her in the eyes. Then, she extended a hand and rested it on her head. “No need.” With that, she stood. “Leader Rosen has prepared rooms for us on the second floor, so I’d get to bed soon. Especially you, Anabel and Zinnia. I’ll be in touch.” She pulled out a pokéball and recalled Spiritomb.
As she went on ahead, Sylvester got up and hurried after her. She turned to him, but as he started yapping at her, she simply gazed back at Paragon wistfully with a proud smile. He seemed to get even more incensed after realizing she was ignoring him.
Ash got up, ready to oblige and crash immediately, but after checking his phone, he saw a message. “Hey, Cynthia,” he called. “Riley wants to know where we are. Is it okay if I let him know?”
Cynthia paused, then smiled. “I’ll defer that to you. I trust your judgment.”
Next — Chapter 51 : Aaron’s Gift
----------------------------------------