Disclaimer: Pokemon do/does not belong to me, never has, and never will. (At least not yet.) (Mwahahaha!) This is an AAMRN (sort of). If you have a really weak tummy, and can't stand mushy stuff, don't read this. Don't say I didn't warn you. <> If you want to ask me questions, or just chat with me about Pokemon, you can e-mail me at pamcam@sprint.ca "Dear wife, when our son is old enough...on the tenth year of his birth, give him this stone: The Fire Gem. He must protect it. Swear to me." "I swear..." "Good...I must go now..." "Helios! Wait!" "I must go, before they come...to keep you out of harms way...good-bye, my love..." "Good-bye, my sweet husband..." The woman looked down at the infant in her arms."My little one, my sweet dove...I will do as your father wishes... Ash" Present... "Tracey, are you sure this is the way to Hazel town?" Ash asked, skepticly."There's nothing but forest for miles!" "Of course I am!" Tracey argued."It's right here on the map!" "You mean, the map that you are holding upside-down?" Misty snapped. "Oops! I guess I was kinda...holding the map upside-down...for a minute there...heh-heh..." Tracey mumbled.*Sometimes I can be a little dense, but is there a law against that?* He thought dejectedly. Ash studdied the map for a minute, before crumpling it up into a ball and tossing it back to Tracey. "Must be broken." He sighed. Tracey stared at what had once been his map. "Ack! That was a brand new map!" Tracey yelled."And it's not the only thing that's going to be broken around here!" Tracey started to chase Ash around the clearing they were in. Misty, Togepy, and Pikachu watched this before Misty asked Pikachu to stop them. Pikachu grinned evily for minute before joining in the chase. "PI-KA-CHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!" It yelled as it shocked both Ash and Tracey. "Yeaaghhhhhh!" They yelled as the thunder shock went through them. "Good! Now stop acting like two year olds!" Misty yelled at them. "Okay! Now we're in Hazel town!" Tracey anounced."And Ash is going to buy us a new map, aren't you Ash?" "Okay, Okay!" "You happy now?" Ash grumbled, as he handed Tracey the new map. "Very." he replied. Ash un-conciously put his hand to his chest, against the Fire Gem he wore on a chain under his t-shirt. "Ash? What are you doing? Are you okay?" Misty asked, looking at him strangly. Ash stared for a moment, and relized exactly what he was doing. Blushing, Ash put his hand down again. "Yeah, I'm fine..." He muttered, looking down at his sneakers. Misty, Tracey, Togepy, and Pikachu exchanged looks that said: 'He's acting odd!' Ash didn't notice, and walked ahead, again grasping at the Fire Gem. Now at a cross-walk, they stopped and waited for the light to change. When it did, Ash and Pikachu were the first ones to cross. Then Tracey, and finally Misty and Togepy. An out of control truck came careening around the corner, headed straight for Misty. She froze and let out a scream. Ash heard, and dove at Misty, and pushed her out of the way. Tracey, Pikachu, and Misty watched heplessly as the truck hit Ash, sending his limp body flying across the intersection. Ash saw everything going black, an agonizing whistle in his head. The last thing Ash did see, before the blackness claimed him, was Misty and Tracey running at him, and the last thing he heard was Misty's screams. When Ash opened his eyes, he was laying on a soft bed of some sorts, with a cold cloth on his head. When he sat up, he heard a clink. Looking down, Ash realized that the clink was from the black and gold armor he now wore. A figuire gluided towards him: A fairy like teenage girl with sparkling dove gray and pale blue fairy wings, who had a Gem like his, only it was blue. Strangely enough, Ash knew the name of the stone. The Ocean Gem. And he knew who this person was, too: Princess Mistylena. And he knew that his age was now 18. And even stranger, he knew that his name wasn't Ash anymore. It was Prince Ashling. Pince of Dreams. "Praise the Gods, Ashling! You've awakened! We thought we had lost you!" Princess Mistylena cried embracing him in a tight grip."Prince Trace! Sir Broc! He's awake!" Two familiar figuires ran into the room, silver, and metalic green armour flashing and clinking with every step. Ashling, looking towards his 'friends', was siezed by a dizzy spell, and toppled forewards, gasping and holding his head. "Prince Ashling! Don't try to sit up so soon! Your father will throw a fit, if anything happens to you!" Sir Broc hissed, keeping his voice down low. He forced Ashling back down. "Now get some rest, and we'll talk to you in the morning." Princess Mistylena, Prince Trace, and Sir Broc left the room, and Ashling lay there, in the darkened room, on the bed, wondering what was going on, and where he was, and , most importantly, how he knew all this information. Misty was sitting in the waiting room at the hospital, sobbing into Tracey's chest. Tracey, Pikachu, and Togepy tried to comfort their distraught friend, but all in vain. She was beyond their help, and unless a doctor came up to them and said that Ash was going to be okay, Misty might never calm down again. The minutes ticked by, turning into hours. Finally, a black-haired nurse came up to the sad little group. "Are you friends of the boy who was brought in this morning?" "Yes, That's us." Tracey answered."Is he going to be okay?" "Well...So far we've determined the following things about your friends condition...5 broken ribs, a broken wrist, partialy colapsed lung, a 5 cm gash on his forehead, and he's comatose." Misty let out a wail, and burried her face in tracey's chest again. "When can we see him?" Tracey asked bluntly. "Well, he's in I.C.U right now, but..." The nurse seemed to be making up her mind."Come with me." She led them to a room, and motioned over to the far wall, where there was a glass window. Tracey walked cautiously up to it, and looked into the next room, then let out a frightened gasp. Ash was laying in the next room, in a bed, hooked up to a heart monitor, respirator, I.V lines, and other gruesome things. A cast on his left wrist, bandages around his bare chest, and a bandage around his head, made Ash look small and frail, for an eleven and a half year old. "Oh, we also found this around his neck." the nurse said, handing them the Fire Gem necklace. As Misty took it from the nurse, it glowed a soft red. Misty couldn't think of anywhere to put it, so she slipped it into her pocket, and joined Tracey and Pikachu at the window. Ashling looked up at the ceiling, dejectedly. He had barely slept all night, and was scared, without really knowing why. His heart and mind were a jumble of emotions: Fear, anger, wonder, and...something else. *Confusion, maybe?* Ashling thought, reaching out to pet the persian lounging on his bed.*Good old Pursiana...* "Purrr..." it responded. "Good morning, Ashling!" A voice rang out happily. It was Princess Mistylena. "Good morning, Mistylena." He responded. "Did you sleep well , Ashling?" "No...I slept like a Jolteon was underneath me." "Oh! My poor baby!" Mistylena cried."Shall I rub your back, for you?" Ashling blushed slightly, and felt something...like pleasure. "N-no, thank you, anyway." Misty refused to move from the room. No matter how much Tracey and the nurse pleaded, reasoned, or commanded, it was all in vain. She was staying. Tracey took Pikachu and Togepy to the cafeteria for their dinner, and when they returned, Misty was fast asleep in a chair. Tracey pulled a blanket out of his back pack, and covered his friend with it. *Good night, Misty.* He thought, as he put the sleeping Togepy on Misty's lap.*Things will look up, soon. I know they will. I think...* "Now, Prince Ashling. You must tell us why the Fire Gem is missing. You pushed Princess Mistylena out of the way of Sir Gary's Rhydon, then what do you remember?" Sir Broc interogated. Ashling thought hard. *Hmmm! Major De-ja vu!* "Nothing really." "Oh? Nothing?" "Well...No." "Not even a fragment of a memory?" Prince Trace inquired. "No...Nothing...I think." Ashling replied, getting hostile, punching the arm of the chair he was sitting in. "Maybe...You just need more time." Mistylena soothed. Tracey phoned Mrs.Ketchum. She didn't seem concerned. "The necklace he was wearing, do you have it?" She asked. "Yes, Misty does." "Good. Put it back around Ash's neck, if you can." "We can't. He's in ICU, and they won't let us see him." "Then do this as soon as you can. It'll help him, I promise you." "Okay..." Tracey answered slowly."Good bye, Mrs.Ketchum." "Good bye, Tracey." *Something fishy is going on around here...* Tracey thought as he hung up the phone. Then he had an idea. Tracey ran back to Misty, and asked for Professor Ivy's phone number. Dailing quickly, Tracey waited for someone to pick up on the other line. "Hello? Professor Ivy's pokemon lab. May I help you?" A voice asked as the voice only command shut off. A boy was on the other line. "Um, Hello. I, uh,...Is Brock there?" "This is he. How may I help you?" "Well, my name is Tracey. I'm a friend of Ash and Misty." "Oh? Is something wrong?" Brock frowned. "Well, yes. There was an accident, and Ash got hit by a truck." "Oh, My God!" "Misty may need your moral support. Will you come?" "Of course I will! Just tell me where you are!" "Hazel town." "I'm on my way!" "Ashling?" Princess Mistylena asked. Ashling turned to face her. "Yes, Mistylena?" "What's on your mind, Ashling?" "What makes you think there's something wrong?" Ashling lied. "Don't think you can fool me, Darling. I know you a lot better than you think!" *Uh-oh!* Ashling thought. "Now spit it out!" "Okay! Okay! I'm just wondering...Where's Pikachu?" "Pikachu? Oh, he's out playing with Trace and Marril. Oh, you silly thing! You worry too much!" "Gee! Misty?" Tracey asked. "Y-yes...?" "I've got a surprise for you. "What is it?" "Hi, Misty. Didja miss me?" "Brock!" Misty launched herself at Brock."Oh B-Brock!" Misty was crying too hard to get anything else out. Brock wrapped his arms around his friend, his almost sister. "Shh-shh-shh. It's alright, Misty." Brock soothed. Ashling stared out the window in his room. It was a beautiful day, but he was terribly afraid to go outside. He felt...wary. "Ashling." A deep voice boomed behind him. Ashling turned slowly. It was King Helios. *Father...* He thought faintly. "Son, we need to talk." Ash's hand twiched slightly, curling his fingers into a 'V'. His eyes opened, and stared across the room. Yet, they saw nothing. "I think it is time to talk about your past, my son." "What?" "I mean, the truth about your birth, Ash. Yours was not a normal one. I saw your mother one day, a little more than 18 years ago, and fell madly in love with her. I courted her, because she was the one. A pure heart and soul. I told her who I was, and yet, she did not run away. She was not frightened. We were married a week later. And 9 months after that..." Helios gestured with his hands, indicatind Ash."...You were born. You are of royal blood, the strength of fire runs in your veins, my son. And many people wish to be rid of you, leaving no heir to my throne. That is why I left. To protect you. I gave your mother the Fire gem, with instructions for her to give it to you on your tenth birthday. As I can sense, your friend Misty has it. She is keeping it safe for you." "Then why am I here? How can I be both Ash Ketchum, and Prince Ashling?" Ashling asked. "You are in the future, my son. In your time, you are comatose. Your soul is what is here. And you cannot leave, until you recover the Fire gem, in this time." "You mean, the accident in Hazel town, and here on New Avalon, really happened?" "Yes. Somehow, three years ago, you became amnesiatic due to a major head trauma, and had forgoten everything that happened. But Sir Gary's Rhydon really hit you. It was like De ja vu. A repetition. And now the Fire Gem is missing." "Hmmm. Very strange." The doctor muttered. Misty overheard. "What's strange?" "Ash isn't in a deep coma, like we thought before. Now, he's catatonic." "Is that good or bad?" Misty quavered. "It depends. There's nothing we can do now. With a case of catatonia this severe, Ash must be strong enough to pull through on his own." "So, just where is the Fire Gem, Father?" "It is rumored that Sir Gary has it. And please, knock off the 'Father' bit. Just call me 'Dad'." "Alright, Dad. I'll find the Fire Gem, and bring it back!" "Remember, son. 'What the mind can concieve, and the heart believe, you will achieve.' Good luck, and be careful. Mistylena, Sir Brock, and Prince Trace will acompany you." "Yes Dad." Ashling saluted King Helios, and strode from the room. "May we see him? Please?" "Well..." The doctor screwed up his face in thought."Alright..." Ashling mounted his Ponyta, 'Prance', and Pikachu hopped up on its head. Mistylena, Trace, and Broc mounted their Ponta's as well. "Where do we head first, my friend?" Brock inquired. "First, we go to Sir Gary's." Ashling replied. "But, my friend! My prince! We can't!" Mistylena wailed. "And why not?" Ashling snarled. "Well...He'll see us coming from a mile away! He has powerful Pokemon! He'll kill us!" Trace said, horrified. "We used to be friends."Ashling said quietly."If he sees us? We'll sneek in. If his so-called 'Powerful Pokemon' attack us? We'll counter attack. If he tries to kill us, we'll kill him first. Or at least disable him." "Ohh! His hand is so cold!" Misty moaned. Tracey and brock looked on helplessly. Then Tracey remembered what Mrs.Ketchum had said... "The necklace he was wearing, do you have it?" She had asked. "Yes, Misty does." He had answered. "Good. Put it back around Ash's neck, if you can." "We can't. He's in ICU, and they won't let us see him." "Then do this as soon as you can. It'll help him, I promise you." "Misty? Do you still have Ash's necklace?" "Of course I do!" "Put it back around Ash's neck." "But why?-" "Just do it!" Tracey cut in. Misty pulled the necklace from her pocket, and held it closer to Ash. The Fire Gem's glow increased. Misty gasped, and slipped it back around Ash's neck. The red glow covered Ash for a moment, and died down. Ash's colour had improvered, his dull eyes seemed to sparkle with a healthy glow, and his skin felt warmer to Misty's touch. Ashling suddenly doubled over, gasping, as red light surounded him. He fell off Prance, and landed on his knees. Searing pain ran through his body, and Ashling opened his mouth in a silent scream of pain. The others crowded around him in concern. "I-I'm al-alright..." He gasped."I just feel drained all of a sudden..." "Pika-Pika?" (Want a recharge?) "No thanks, little buddy." Brock, Tracey, Misty, Pikachu, and Togepy stared in frightened amazement. Then Brock grabbed a handful of Tracey's shirt and stared him in the eye. "Alright! Spit it out! How'd you know about that necklace?!" "Uhhh! Mrs.Ketchum told me to! Uh! Have you been eating Loco Weed?!" Tracey seethed through gritted teeth, tearing his shirt from Brock's grasp."She sounded so secretive! I didn't know what was going to happen!" "Ashling, maybe we should turn back..."Mistylena said nervously. "No-oo..."Ashling answered slowly,"You can turn back, if you want to, but I'm going to find the Fire gem." A quick glance at the others."With, or without your help." with that, Ashling urged Prance on, galloping away with a tremendous speed. Misty was studying Ash's face. Pale. Eyes un-moving, un-blinking. It broke her heart to see him like that. It broke Tracey's and Brock's to see Misty growing sick and pale with heart-ache. "Misty." Brock said quietly."You need to get some sleep." Misty didn't answer. Brock sat in a chair, and pulled Misty into his lap, as if she were a doll. Exausted, she gave into sleep. "There it is!" Sir Broc whispered. They were laying pressed onto a hill top, spying on Sir Gary's Fortress. *The walls are too high to scale...and with no foot holds.*Ashling thought almost angrily,*Mounted gaurds! Archers! He must have it! Or else, why would he go to all this trouble?* Ash's hand twitched slightly, and he blinked slightly. Then, he was still. "Jessie, James, Meowth. There's something I want you to get me..." "What is it, Sir?" "The Fire Gem. Take these." Giovani tossed the Grass Gem, the Ocean Gem, and The Rock Gem to Team Rocket, and dismissed them. Meanwhile, the foursome had penetrated Sir Gary's fortress, and were trying to fight their way to Sir Gary's armoury, the central chamber. "Grass Blast!" Prince Trace shouted, blasting six gaurds with his Grass Gem. "Ocean Deep Freeze." Misty screamed, hitting twice as many gaurds, freezing them, and shattering their bodies with her Ocean Gem. "Rock Petrifier!" Sir Broc yelled, doing the most damage with his Rock Gem. Prince Ashling felt like he was letting his friends down, because he couldn't fight, but the feeling soon passed, as he saw the Fire Gem around his enemies neck. Tackling Sir Gary, Ashling gabbed the Fire Gem, and was gone in a brilliant flash of light. Crash! "What was that?!" Misty screamed. She, Brock, and Tracey ran out of Ash's room, and into the lobby, where they found the weirdo's that had plagued them for years, with Gem necklaces like Ash's. The lobby had been blown to bits, and gree-yellow acrid smoke hung in the air. "To protect the world from devestation!" "To unite-" But that was as far as they got, before they were scilenced. "Oh, shut up already!" Brock shouted. "We know the stupid motto already!" Tracey yelled. "Just get out of here!" "Huh! We need the motto! Our fans have come to expect it!" Jessie replied. "What fans?" Jessie pointed behind her, and there were three bikers waving 'We Love Team Rocket' flags. "Yay. Go Team Rocket." they said in bored tones. Brock, Misty, and Tracey sweat-dropped. "Umm. Nice fans. You must be very proud." "Yes, but onto business. Hand over Pikachu, and the twirp's Fire Gem!" "Can't have 'em!" Brock snarled. While his friends were occupied, an odd thing was happening to Ash. A dull red glow filled the room, as Ash's eyes opened, and he sat up. His hair grew longer, held back by a jeweled-gold clip, his body clad in black and gold armour, as he became Ashling, a step below Prince Ashling. Lively jumping from the bed, Ashling ran out to find his friends. He could sense they were in grave danger, and that the enemy had the Grass Gem, Ocean Gem, and Rock Gem. "Well, if you won't give them up, we'll just take them!" James laughed. "Hold!" Ashling shouted, stepping into the room, His body outlined by the smoke, armour shining, Fire Blade gleaming. "Who are you?" Jessie snickered,"Sir Lancellot? King Arthur?" "I am the warrior of fire. The sworn protector of Misty, Brock, and Tracey. I am Ashling, Prince of fire." Ashling pulled out his Fire Blade,"And your worst nightmare!" taking a swipe at Team Rocket, Ashling severed the chains of the Gem necklaces from their necks. Leaping up, he caught them, and tossed them to his friends. "Put them on!" Ashling shouted."They'll help you!" Then, turning to Team Rocket, he attacked, only to find himself wrapped in the coils of Jessie's Arbok. "C'mon...Cm'on!" He gasped, looking imploringly at his friends. "Let's do as he says." Brock said pulling the chain, which had somehow fixed itself, over his head. A flash of white light surounded him, and in his place was Broc. Misty, and Tracey followed suit. After the blue and green light died down, Mistylena and Trace stood there. "Thank you!" Ashling grunted, biting down on Arbok's tail."You know what you have to do." They nodded. "Grass Blast!" "Ocean Deep Freeze!" "Rock Pretrifier!" Ashling joined in, too. "Fire Storm Spiral!" Team Rocket dutifuly resigned, and were 'Blasting off again!' Ashling turned to the others, and smiled. "You have done well, for your first real battle, my friends." He said, letting the transformation drop. In a blinding flash of golden and black light, Ash was kneeling where Ashling had been, fully dressed in his jeans, t-shirt, jacket, cap, and gloves. The Fire Gem glowed a plesent red. Ash was grinning from ear to ear. Broc, Mistylena, and Trace were so startled, that they lost the transformation in a great whoosh. Shaken they, too, kneeled. Misty wrapped her arms around Ash's neck, and kissed him passionately, as the two of them toppled over. "Mis-mmphhhhhhhh!" Ash tried to say, but ended up enjoying the kiss. Brock and Tracey applauded and cheered. Ash pulled away, which was difficult since he was under Misty. "Let's get out of here." He said, using his powerful Kinesis to bring their back packs to them. "Yeah." They agreed."But you've got some explaining to do." "Alright. Now, join hands." Ash shrugged. As they did so, Misty noticed they weren't in the Pokemon center anymore, but more in a temple, like that of ancient greece. "Welcome!" King Helios greeted them, as Ash stood, and bowed to his father. "Where are we?" Misty asked, quaking with fear. "You are on New Avalon." Ash answered. "Where's that?" "New Avalon is the resurected city, and country of Avalon. A beautiful city, home to the gods and various royalty, like yourself." King Helios turned to Misty."Now, I'll be blunt, and get to the point. Do you love my son?" "Oh! With all my heart!" Misty cried. "Do you wish a life's bondage with him?" Helios continued. "Yes..."Misty answered slowly."If he wishes it so..." "Do you, Ash?" "Indeed!" Ash exclaimed, trying to keep his excitement hidden. "Then step forewards, and extend your left hands towards each other." They did as they were bid. King Helios wrapped their hands together with a gold ribbon. Instantly, the ribbon shrunk and formed two wedding bands around their fingers. They began to glow, and, like a Pokemon, Ash and Misty 'evolved' into their older forms. Brock and tracey followed suit. "You are now bonded together for life." Helios announced, turning. "Father, tell me. What happened during the last battle, before I left?" "You shall see for yourself, when it happens. Until then, Enjoy your youth." Mistylena grabbed Ashling and pulled him close to her. Without wasting a second, she had him in a lip lock, and had folded her glossomar wings around them to keep prying eyes out. Prince Trace and Sir Broc smiled, and turned away. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hmmm...I must say, I'm displeased with the way this turned out. It WAS supossed to be longer, but their were some parts I didn't want anyone to know about. (Well, DUH! That means they ain't appropriate, kiddies!) Merow! This story was written december '99, and I never wanted to get it posted, but I had a request for an AAMRN, so, here it is.