Dawn's mother, Johanna, was a top-tier Pokémon Coordinator, and she carried herself with the pride of someone who had reached the peak of her field.
But Ash's mother, Delia, held a different kind of pride—one that came from being the mother of a remarkable son.
Ash had already told her about earning money from songs and performances. He would even send her money from time to time during his journey, insisting that she rest and not tire herself out with work.
No matter how much parents might outwardly scold or tease their child, deep in their hearts, they always believed their child was the best in the world.
Delia had traveled all the way here simply to see Ash. Ever since he began his journey through Sinnoh, it had been a long time since she last saw him face-to-face.
When these two proud mothers finally met, it was as if the floodgates opened—they had no shortage of things to talk about.
Meanwhile, outside in the yard, on the soft grassy lawn…
Ash and Gary lay back side by side.
"…You know, Ash, I really envy you," Gary finally broke the silence. "You're living your dream, doing exactly what you want."
Ash turned to reply, but Gary raised a hand to stop him.
"No need to comfort me. Honestly, I wasn't all that interested in Pokémon research at first. But as I dug deeper, I found myself falling in love with it. I've come to terms with everything now. I'm Professor Oak's grandson—the only one who can carry on his legacy."
Gary turned his head to look at Ash, eyes sharp and sincere. "But Ash… not being able to become a Pokémon Master… that's the one thing I'll regret for the rest of my life. So please—carry my dream too. You have to become a Pokémon Master."
There was genuine emotion behind those words.
Ash nodded silently.
Gary, you don't know this yet… but the me standing before you now is no longer the same as before.
Mewtwo. Regigigas. Darkrai. Cresselia. Latias…
His thoughts trailed off before he could say anything aloud.
Instead, all he offered was a quiet, simple "Yeah."
Sometimes, no words are needed.
The two boys laid there, basking under the sun, surrounded by their Pokémon. The breeze was gentle. For a rare moment, there was peace.
In the house behind them were the people who mattered most—family, and friends. And out here were Pokémon who had been with Ash through countless battles. There was even someone special nearby… someone who made his heart stir.
But tranquility never lasts long.
"Whaaaat?! There you are, Ash!"
Barry's voice tore through the peaceful scene like a thunderclap. The energetic blond had arrived in his usual storm-like fashion.
Barry was a native of Twinleaf Town. Not just that—his father happened to be Palmer, the Tower Tycoon of Sinnoh's Battle Tower!
Just like the Battle Frontier in Kanto, Sinnoh's Battle Tower was a place where only the strongest Trainers gathered. Each Frontier Brain—or Tower Tycoon—was at least at the peak of the Pseudo-Elite Four Level, some even on par with Champions Level.
Palmer was one of the strongest, the final guardian of the Battle Tower.
Barry pulled Dawn and Anabel outside with him.
Now, five people stood on the lawn.
After quick introductions, Barry grew a bit secretive.
"Hey, guys… I saw that mysterious Xatu again!" he whispered. "You know, the one they say can see both the past and the future. Want to come with me to check it out?"
His voice carried an excited hush.
Ash and Gary exchanged a glance and nodded.
Dawn and Anabel also agreed—no one wanted to miss this.
In the original storyline, Ash did encounter a mysterious Xatu in this very place. He had been drawn into a surreal dream-like space where everyone shrank into younger versions of themselves. Ash relived the memory of leaving Pallet Town with Pikachu, only to be swarmed by a flock of Spearow.
Was that Xatu showing the past?
But this time… Ash was different. Stronger. Sharper. What would he see now?
Led by Barry, the five of them headed toward a forest near Twinleaf Town.
"Coo… coo…"
A soft, echoing cry broke the stillness.
"It's here! That's the Xatu!" Barry shouted, pointing.
Ash turned his head and, at that very moment, locked eyes with the Xatu hovering above the trees.
He wasn't alone.
Dawn, Anabel, Gary, and Barry had also been noticed—Xatu's piercing gaze met each of theirs.
Its eyes shimmered with a strange, unearthly glow.
Ash could feel it—something beyond his control tugging at his consciousness.
He didn't resist.
He wanted to see what lay ahead—or perhaps, what had come before.
———
Skyscrapers, cars, buses, high-speed trains...
A young man slumped over his computer desk.
After some time, he stirred, slowly waking up and rubbing his forehead.
He had apparently dozed off right at his desk.
From an omniscient, out-of-body viewpoint, Ash watched this scene play out.
The young man rose to leave, not bothering to turn off the screen.
The display showed an old video.
Ash recognized it instantly—it was from the end of the Hoenn League, after he lost to Tyson.
Brock. May. Max. All four of them standing side by side, facing the ocean.
So familiar… so real.
But was this the past?
Or…
…Was it the future?
Ash wanted to look longer, dig deeper.
But the force that had pulled him in was already yanking him back.
Everything faded.
———
Ash's eyes snapped open.
Only he and Pikachu were awake.
The others were still unconscious, lying in the grass.
Gary had dreamed of becoming a famous Pokémon Professor—just like his grandfather.
Dawn had seen herself crowned a Top Coordinator, sharing her life with Ash, Anabel, May, Misty… and some other girls too.
Anabel's dream was much the same, except in hers, she stood proudly as a Champion-level Trainer.
Barry… Barry had seen himself work hard for years and finally, tearfully, achieve his dream of becoming a member of Sinnoh's Elite Four.
One by one, the others began to stir.
Xatu was gone, vanishing into the wind without a trace—only its distant cry echoed through the trees.
Ash quietly pulled up the data from his Scan Eye.
Xatu – the Divine Pokémon.
Classification: Deity-Class Pokémon. Past and future intertwine in its gaze.
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T/N:
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