"When legends fall, myths rise to carry their names."
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Scene 1 – The Funeral of a God
Ash stood before the cracked altar deep within the ruins of Celestic Town. Auron lay still—not dead, but in a coma so deep that even Mewtwo's psychic touch couldn't reach him.
Pikachu's old scarf had been wrapped around his son's hand, static gently humming through the fabric. Not just a token. A connection.
Cynthia stood to the side, cloak torn, hair bloodied but regal. She held the broken remains of ARES's sigil core—crimson metal, still warm.
The Champions of every region were present—Misty, Brock, Lance, Steven, even Leon. None spoke. Because what do you say when a ten-year-old boy defeats a god, and pays the price with silence?
> Cynthia (whispers): "He saved the world. But who will save him?"
> Ash (barely audible): "He'll come back. He has to."
The wind stirred, and with it, a whisper echoed through the cracked sky:
> "The Last Spark remains… and the Last War begins."
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Scene 2 – Serena's Return
Meanwhile, on the edge of Sinnoh's ruined forest, a portal sparked into life.
Out walked Serena, older, sharper, and clad in armor kissed by Ho-Oh's flames. Behind her trailed a Pokémon none had seen in years:
Mega Delphox, flames blue and silver, carrying a scroll written in Unown text.
Her eyes scanned the horizon—toward Mt. Coronet, toward Auron.
> Serena: "He's not supposed to exist."
Her voice was heavy—not cruel. Not jealous. Just broken.
She reached into her cloak and pulled out a photo: Ash, Cynthia, and Auron together… laughing. A moment she never got.
> Serena (softly): "But if he's real… then so is the future."
The scroll in Delphox's hands unraveled:
THE PROPHECY OF THE SECOND SUN
> One born from the Spark of Sacrifice shall face the Remnants of God.
Only through death shall time remember.
Only through love shall the world restart.
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Scene 3 – In the Shadows of Eternity
Far beneath the Cradle of Eternity, deeper than any had dared to go… something stirred.
The ashes of ARES began to swirl, reforming—but not into him.
This was something darker.
> ??? (voice rumbling): "You failed. But your rage… was divine."
From the shadows stepped a figure clad in obsidian armor. A relic from before Arceus. A forgotten Primordial. Its name had been erased even from the minds of the Legendaries.
> ??? (cont'd): "Auron will burn. Not because he is wrong… but because he is hope."
Lightning crackled across the blackened earth. A storm that hadn't touched Sinnoh in millennia brewed once more.
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Scene 4 – The Awakening
Back at the ruins, Ash sat at Auron's bedside, talking to him like he was awake.
> "You remember when you tried to ride Charizard and crashed into the lake?"
He laughed. It hurt.
> "You called yourself the Thunder King that day. You said you'd make Pikachu proud."
Suddenly… Auron's fingers twitched.
Ash froze.
Cynthia gasped.
Then—
Auron's eyes snapped open. But they weren't just his. For a single second, Ash saw something ancient looking through them.
A glowing thunderbolt flickered in his left eye.
A blue flame in his right.
> Auron (groggy): "Dad… did I win?"
Ash choked on a sob. Cynthia rushed forward, hugging them both.
> Ash (laughing through tears): "Yeah, champ. You won."
But outside, the storm rolled in.
And far away, in Kalos… Serena watched, clutching the scroll.
> Serena: "You'll need all of us soon, Ash. This time… we all fight."
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