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Interlude I: Tomorrow
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RANGERNET, MAY 31st – 2050
AURA DETECTION SYSTEM
#B-2050-L-02
Final Report: Kyogre threat averted successfully.
Finalizing…Complete
Record Concluded
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June 7th
A lot seemed to have happened within the past two weeks. Life hadn't slowed back to normal at all – in any sense of the word – for our group and particularly, for Ash. After collapsing in Sunnyshore Pokemon Center two weeks before, the next day was packed with a memorable gym battle, with his newly evolved Lucario and Grotle battling out Volker in a double battle, snatching away the eighth and final gym badge.
Never before had he won his last badge just a whisker of time before the League – for the Sinnoh Conference was scheduled to begin just a week after the quartet reached Sunnyshore. Adding to this was a queer coincidence that May 31st also happened to be May's birthday – delighting the young coordinator who got to celebrate the occasion by her endeavors in the League's fine cuisine on the opening day. All said and done, it was also true that the "unbreakable bonds" which Bliss had told them about were holding true to her description – every second spent together only seemed to deepen the sense of connection which Ash, May and Dawn mutually felt. The only thing that did seem different was the nature of this connection – both Ash and May recognized that theirs was more delicate and sparked stronger emotions, and had confided this fact to each other on May's birthday.
However, the two, through unspoken consent, promised not to "make an issue" before they got to know more about what was going on here. Bliss had gone back to Kanto after witnessing Ash's gym battle, but had promised to meet them at the Johto Grand Festival – which would be starting just ten days after the Sinnoh Conference ended.
Because of this, the quartet didn't really have time to unwind or chat over the days that followed the Kyogre fiasco (or formally, #B-02-L-2050); May and Ash were bent on winning their respective championships, with Brock and Dawn intent to help them train. There was a really positive side-effect which was caused due to these events happening so close to each other – the tempo of battle didn't slow down, and this was the best training a trainer could ask for before the League.
And the result had proven it. For today, June 7th, the finals of the Sinnoh League had taken place at the legendary Space-Time arena; the stadium where the toughest competition in the Eastern Hemisphere was held every year – from the Sinnoh Conference to the Champion's Tournament. The arena was designed with ancient-medieval architecture; a perfect rectangle in the ratio 1:1.618. A row of giant diamond-like structures adorned the northern length, with pearl-like orbs mirroring their locations at the southern length.
The innumerable spectators roared with excitement as Meir Aurora and Professor Goodshow handed over a gold plated cup to this year's Sinnoh League champion, the fifteen year-old Ash Ketchum. While Ash and his friends rejoiced in victory, Meir and the Professor simply exchanged two meaningful glances. The time had come to ask the inner council permission to reveal something to the new champion and his friends – all of them fully deserved it.
'Wait Meir, just wait.' He told himself mentally. Only two weeks remained until the Johto Grand Festival came to a close, and he knew he would feel very guilty if the information distracted May from it. Until then, the council had to be convinced – it would be easy enough. Unfazed by the roar of the crowd, he couldn't help but distract himself from Ash's jubilant smile. Looking around at the majestic structure of the Space-Time arena, he struggled, once again, to understand its significance.
Pokemon Council,
The Indigo Plateau
'Point of information?' Meir asked, raising his hand.
'Yes, WC?'
Meir took a moment to redeem his composure. He looked around at the twenty members of the Inner Council; some of the few individuals who had taken part in the Rangernet project. He addressed the Council Chair – the elected head of the Global Forum, a stout yet decisive man who served as the current head of the Pokemon Council.
'In the light of recent events which I gather the Council is aware of,' Meir said, addressing the others. They already knew what was coming, but this had to be done for the sake of formality. 'I would like to propose that four individuals be instructed on the fundamentals of Aura.'
'And those individuals are?'
'May Crestora from Petalburg in Hoenn, Dawn Kamiya from Twinleaf in Sinnoh, Brock Takeshi from Pewter in Kanto and Ash Ketchum from Pallet in Kanto.'
'You are aware that the nature of Aura, as stated by yourself, is highly controversial and is yet under extensive research?'
Meir's arm twitched slightly. 'Yes, but I'm certain that they need to know whatever we do about it. I am also certain that these individuals are responsible enough not to misuse the information.'
'Any objections?' asked the Chairman, looking around at the various members of the council. There was no objection.
Meir nodded. 'I move for approval of Operation Firebird.'
'All those in favor?' asked the Chairman. Every single hand rose up, and stayed there. Luckily for Meir, most members of the inner council really trusted him for the simple fact that hardly any of them understood Aura as well as he did. Bliss, Lance and Cynthia smiled slightly as Meir looked around the council hall.
'This motion unanimously passes.'
However, Meir didn't sit down yet. He had one more question to ask and nothing to lose by asking it. It was his non-secretive self which demanded that he ask the question.
'In the event that Operation Firebird succeeds, I request a reserved time slot for debating the declassification of Aura Technology.'
The Chairman, raised his eyebrows, and many other members gasped. However, the Chairman simply acknowledged, 'Timeslot reserved.'
And so, we come to another page, another story and another monumental undertaking in the history of the Pokemon World.
Right then, we're all done! The Politics of the Pokemon World (yes, I've thought about that too) isn't all that important right now, so don't worry about. Also, I really felt that Ash deserved to win this League, so he did. That's it for this epilogue's comments.
At long last, we come to the conclusion of the Pilot first story – Destiny Bond: Aura Sphere. I'm kind of surprised how current events in the anime itself have made two of my "predictions" come true, except maybe in reverse. After all, May does meet them near Pastoria – and the Valor Lakefront is at the center of the action. Even the Snowpoint City part came to be, although in reverse (May was in Snowpoint instead of the other three).
Anyhow, we move on to DBII: Sacred Fire. I hope to put most of the answers to this fic in the first few chapters, but as you'll be able to predict, new questions will pop up.
As for myself, I'm not satisfied in the shipping aspect of the story, and I'll really try to improve on that in the sequel. Also, I'm going to be moving (from one house to another that is) in about two days, so I won't be able to write for a bit (say a week). See you soon, and thanks to everyone who has been reading!