Kalos Queen and Champion dead? Delia started to tear up after reading the front page story. She noticed Ash and Serena were gone, but had woken up late, so she figured that they had gone out for breakfast. That was until she read the newspaper.

"NONONONONO!" She screamed as she slammed the newspaper onto the table, waking everyone up.

"Delia, what's wrong?" Grace mumbled, getting up. Delia just threw the newspaper at her.

When Grace saw the title, her face became white as quartz, and she stiffened up and dropped the paper. When Misty hesitantly went over to pick it up, she didn't know what had happened that would make both Delia and Grace act that way, but when she saw the headline, she just slowly handed it to the rest of the group, and they all went over to the two mothers to comfort them.

After about a half hour of everyone in the same position, Delia finally had the courage to pick up the paper and read the article.

"It was around midnight, and store security cameras caught both the Kalos Queen and Champion taking walks in opposite directions. A few moments later, at about the same time, large explosions took place where they were standing. Because of the angle, the cameras could not get a good view, however it was clear enough that both were in the area of the respective explosions. Neither was seen entering the hotel after that and no remains were found. We have yet contact the families of each one, and we will wait for them to reach out to us when they feel like they can handle this situation." Everyone in the room started to tear up as Delia finished.

They all returned back to their group hug once again, this time for 15 minutes.

Delia eventually got out her holocaster, and called Ash, while Grace did the same with Serena. The holocasters rang, rang, rang, rang, and rang once more before going to their voicemail's. The whole group let out a depressed sigh. The holocasters were made to be able to survive 10 judgement attacks from Arceus, so that left them with no information. Delia and Grace left a voicemail, and then set it down on a table.

After a bit, Delia picked it up and called the Kalos Press.

"Hello?" The woman on the other end of the line said.

"Hi, this is Delia Ketchum speaking." Delia said, her voice shaking.

"Oh, hi Delia, it's Alexa, so have you gotten any word from Ash or Serena?"

"No, they said they were going out to clear their minds, and we haven't heard from them since. We also tried to call their holocasters, but there was no answer."

"Ok, thank you for the information, if you find out anything else, just give us a call, and you can use my personal number, I'll call you later with it." Alexa said, and then hung up.

"Well I guess we need to get ready for the funerals, I'm guessing you want to do a double funeral." Grace spoke, her voice heavy with depression.

"I don't see why not." Delia answered, and the others nodded.

~With Ash~

Ash and Pikachu woke up as the plane jolted to a halt. Ash noticed his hood fell off his hood, so he frantically put it back on, and looked around to make sure no one saw. To his luck, everyone else was just waking up.

When he got off the plane, and into the terminal, his holocaster started ringing, and he took it out. He saw his mom was calling him, but he let it go to voicemail, hoping for her to think it survived the blast.

A moment later he received a notification that showed he got a voicemail, so he listened to it.

"Hi honey, the rest of the gang and I are really worried about you and Serena because of the news story, so please if you are alive, contact us asap, we would love to hear from you." He heard the sadness in her voice, even through the phone.

A single tear rolled down his cheek, and he used the app that important people such as champions get to see the location of other holocasters and block others from finding them if they wanted, to check and see if Alain was by himself.

To Ash's luck, he was, so Ash went out of the airport, and walked out into the streets of Jubilife City and took a deep breath as Pikachu did the same, "Gotta love that Sinnoh air, right Pikachu?"

"Pika!" Pikachu nodded.

"Time to fly to Iron Island, but first, I gotta call Alain."

Ash dialed Alain's number, and was greeted almost immediately by a, "ASH, WHERE ARE YOU AND WHY HAVE YOU NOT SHOWN YOUR FACE?"

"Alain, let me explain..." Ash explained the events of last night, "So you better not tell ANYONE, not even my mom or Serena if you do see her."

"I don't like this Ash, but I understand, but who will become champion?" Alain spoke with regret in his voice.

"You." Came the simple response.

"WHAT, WHY ME OF ALL PEOPLE?" Alain asked, shocked.

"Because you are the closest to my level besides Diantha, but she said she didn't want to become champion again if something happened to me, so I put down your name, I planned to tell you today anyway, but with a longer notice. Sorry about that." Ash admitted.

"It's ok, I have learned from three years ago."

"I trust you Alain, now you should probably get ready for the ceremony." Ash said, and hung up. He turned to Pikachu, "I trust him to not tell, but mark my words, I will be back."

"Pika" His partner said, nodding.

"Charizard, I chose you!" The young trainer yelled, and his abnormally large Charizard came out letting it a massive roar, and his trainer climbed on his back. "To Iron Island"

The massive Charizard then took off, flying rapidly too the secluded island.

"How many are there Lucario?" Riley asked his faithful Pokemon.

"About 50 more, master." Lucario said through aura.

"Ugh, I wish he would get here soon." They were battling a nest of Stelix, which they accidentally angered. Together they had beaten at least 150, but their strength would soon be gone.

After about 10 more wee defeated, birth collapsed on the ground, facing each other, knowing it was the end for both trainer and Pokemon as a Stelix bore down on them, mouth wide open.

Suddenly, the Stelix shrieked in pain while being covered in a sea of flames. A massive orange dragon-like Pokemon landed on the ground, sending up a large cloud of dust, as it's trainer back flipped off its back and rushed over to help Riley and Lucario.

"Well, it has certainly been a while, good to see you again, Charizard and I will take care if the Stelix, come on, let's move, do you have a camp?"

"Good to see you too Ash, and yeah, it's that way." Riley said, pointing north.

"Alright, Garchomp, take him to his camp." Ash released his Garchomp, Riley and Lucario climbed on him, and Garchomp flew then back.

Ash turned his attention back to the battle. "Charizard, Blast Burn!" He yelled, and Charizard slammed his fist into the ground, and flames erupted everywhere, knocking out the rest of the Stelix in one hit.

"Come on, we need to get to Riley's camp." Ash climbed on Charizard's back, and then took off to the north.

While flying, Ash and Charizard scanned the ground for Riley's camp, and eventually saw a small fire, a makeshift tent, Garchomp and Lucario talking, and Riley sitting down on a rock treating his wounds.

When Charizard landed, the others looked up to see him and Ash. "So Ash, now that we aren't in a hostile situation, congrats on becoming the Kalos champ." Riley said.

"Yeah, nice to see you too, but I'm not the Kalos Champ anymore Alain is, and the whole world thinks I'm dead."

"W-what do you mean, did he beat you already?"

"Nah, you see, last night, I went for a walk, and next thing I know, I get jumped by Team Flare grunts, even though I thought they dissipated, they must be reforming. I formed an Aura Sphere in my hands, and the grunts flew off. I'm just worried what Serena will think." Ash said the last part with regret in his voice.

"I see, so you want to become an Aura Guardian, huh?"

"Yeah, I've had two instances with aura before, so I guess after this last one, I think I should learn how to control it so I can make the most out of it."

"If you don't mind my asking, what were the two times before last night?"

Ash then described the events from the movie Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, and DP episodes Pokemon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! Parts One and Two.

"W-w-w-wait, you mean to tell me your aura is similar to the Sir Aaron's and you met his Lucario, and you met a Riolu from the Lucario Kingdom?" Riley yelled in astonishment while his Lucario just stood there, mouth agape, eyes filled with admiration.

"Yeah... I guess that is a lot, isn't it." Ash replied, scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"A lot. That is way more than just a lot. To have aura as similar to Sir Aaron that even his Lucario mistook it for his is amazing, and then coming across and saving a Riolu from the Lucario Kingdom while connecting with its aura just adds to the craziness." Riley was almost angry with Ash for calling it just a lot.

"Well, we should probably get you Pokemon from Professor Oak, but first..." Riley said as he reached into his tent, "I want to give you this."

He pulled out an blue Pokemon egg with two horizontal black stripes and two white circles on either side. "I believe this is a Riolu egg, and if you are going to become a Guardian, you should have a Pokemon that can also use aura. You will learn alongside this Riolu when it hatches, so take care of it."

"Wow, a Riolu egg, thanks Riley, and yeah we should get my Pokemon back, but how?"

"I have an idea, but you won't like it.." Riley then whispered in Ash's ear his plan.

Ash put on a grave face and he nodded, "You're right I don't like the plan, but I don't see another choice, so we might as well do it. Now that I think about it I also need a pseudonym."

"How about Aaron, you know, cause you have similar aura to Sir Aaron, and besides, you do look like a younger version of him, and you might also want some clothes, how about replicas of his." Riley suggested.

"Alright, I wore some similar to his during the tournament at Cameran palace, so I think it will be fine."

"Sounds good, I'll start making them right away, you get set up, I presume you want to train with me?" Riley asked.

"Of course, now let's hope Team Galactic doesn't try to blow up the island again, that was not fun." Ash remarked.

"COME ON, DON'T JINX IT ASH!" Riley face palmed.

"Right..." Ash scratched the back of his neck.

~Two Hours Later~

I admired my new clothes, and I could tell everyone liked my new look.

We then flew to Jubilife City, Pikachu and I on Charizard, and Riley on his Skarmory. When we got to the Airport, we got tickets for the next plane to Viridian City, which was in one hour, I guess people weren't traveling, and not to brag, but I think it was about me. Little did I know I wasn't the whole cause. We sat down in the terminal, near out flight gate, and I glanced up at the TV.

Half of what I saw was expected, the other half made my heart skip a beat.

I started to feel dizzy, and I could feel my body swinging slowly around. I also heard Riley's calls, but they were faint, and sounded so far away, even though he was right next to me. Suddenly, everything went dark.