The Tree of Beginning
Gary woke up to light falling on his face, he woke up slowly opening his eyes and feeling a very comfortable warmth coming from his left. He looked down and saw Ash cuddling with him sound asleep. Gary looked around and saw they were in a garden of some sort filled with flowers of different kind blooming all around them. He yawned and decided to sleep a bit longer as he was feeling too comfortable to get up and it was still early. After he fell asleep however, Mew had rushed over to the two of them looking around and noticed the flowers that were blooming now.
Mew frowned, -These weren't here before.-
Mew shook his head and decided to cuddle with the two kids instead, he was searching for more fruits but decided the amount he collected would have to do. Ash and Gary meanwhile were sleeping peacefully ignorant to Mew's concern. After a while even Mew fell asleep as the two kids moved around a bit and the three of them became comfortable. Mew slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep feeling the loving warmth coming from the two around him.
Ash's mindscape an hour ago:
Ash looked around his core, "Ah! It has become bigger, that tree was not here before."
Death, "Yes it has ~"
Ash turned around, "Death? Welcome back!"
Death accepted the hug they got from Ash and pat his head, "I'm back child. How are you doing?"
Ash launched into an explanation of everything that happened since their last meeting. How they met one of the good Professor's friend, their stay in Cinnabar Island, meeting the Fire legendaries, Moltres and Entei, making new friends, finding out their older siblings had abilities too and the recent adventures in Rota. Death sat listening amused by the reactions of the mortals to their child and Ash moved closer to Death till he was sitting hugging them.
Death spoke after a while, "I see your soul half has woken up."
Ash was puzzled, "Soul half? Don't you mean mate?"
Death shook their head, "Half little one. You are too young for mate and soul mates are different matter I'll explain in the future."
Ash nodded, "Who do you mean by soul half?"
Death explained, "When I reincarnated you in this world with your memories still intact. I had to make do by giving up something else."
Ash looked fascinated, "Oh? What did you give?"
Death looked at their child, "I had to break off some part of your soul and make space for new one so you could be born here without disturbing the balance and the cycle."
Ash looked thoughtful, "And the person who got that part of my soul is someone I know, isn't it? Is it Gary?"
Death shook his head, "No, it's not him."
Now Ash was curious, "Who is it then?"
Death gave a chuckle, "You know them quite well little one!"
Ash pouted, "Please just tell me."
Death tapped his head, "Think child, who is the one that was close to you when you were born? Who do you cling to naturally? Soul halves are not soulmates but they are two parts of a soul. Who is it that you need to see everyday?"
Ash wrinkled his head before he got an understanding look, "Red?"
Death simply nodded and Ash got teary eyed, "You know I always thought Red was the best boon and gift you gave me in this life. And now....now this just makes him even more important to me."
Death wiped his tears, "I apologize little one, I did not intend for you to cry."
Ash shook his head, "No, no, I'm just happy, very happy."
Ash gave Death a bright grin, "Thank you, Death! Thank you! Wait is this why he activated his powers?"
Death shook his head, "He has always had his powers from the start, having parts of your soul just made it easier for him to access his core easier."
Ash looked at Death in awe, "So my big brother was naturally a powerful fighter."
Death nodded, "Mn-hm! He would have become strong on his own even without us coming here. Although whether he would have been able to access his power at all or not was another matter entirely."
Ash, "I'm happy he did. Dad and Professor may not say it but this world is dangerous. The are people here who are cruel and will hurt my family for many reasons. If my brother can get even a small chance to win against them then."
Death nodded before looking outside, "Your friend has sensed my presence and he is returning. I must leave now."
Ash nodded, "Okay! Let's talk again later."
Death decided to leave after giving a parting gift as an apology for scaring Mew. He pulled back his presence from the surrounding area leaving only Life's essence behind making the plants invigorated and start blooming flowers around them. Death nodded and he left the clearing when he sensed Mew's presence just around the corner.
Back to the present:
The three adorable sleepy heads finally woke up to the morning sun streaming through one of the openings above. Ash yawned as he rubbed his eyes, his latest talk with Death still fresh in his mind. He couldn't help but smile wide and happy, Gary yawned as well rubbing Mew's head when he realized Mew had slept in between the two of them sometime after he fell asleep again. Mew woke up and circled around the two observing them in curiosity, before shaking his head and getting their attention.
Mew, -I got breakfast.-
Ash smiled, "Thank you Mew."
Gary grinned, "Yeah! Just let us wash up and then we will eat."
Ash got up and looked around the place, "Uh! I'm guessing we are not in the palace anymore..... Right?"
Gary sweatdropped as well, "Nope! You know this is why Pikachu and Eevee looked like they want to stab you."
Mew giggled, -They can try!-
Ash shook his head, "Let's clean up and eat first."
Gary nodded and Mew led them to a crystal clear stream that had Ash and Gary looked at it in awe. They could see some very familiar stones at the bottom of the stream. Mew looked proud of his living space and took out some of the stones from the river bed once the two cleaned up.
Ash looked at the stones, "This is a water stone."
Gary saw the one in front of him, "And this is an Everstone. Mew are you giving this to us?"
Mew nodded, -Yes! No one uses them here anyway also no one knows they are here.-
Ash's eyes softened, "I guess the Pokemon here feel really safe if they believe they don't need to evolve."
Gary looked contemplative, "You may be a troublemaker Mew but there is no doubt you are a good parent."
Mew blushed, -Thank you!-
Ash grinned, "Let's go eat together."
Gary smiled as well, "We can play and sight see this place after breakfast."
Mew floated around them, -Yes! Let's eat. I'll introduce you to my friends here. They have been wanting to meet you.-
The three of them sat down and Ash noticed the bread that was among the fruits on the table along with a jug of milk. Ash looked at Mew who rubbed his head in embarrassment, he explained how some of the people in the Kingdom offer food for him, mostly bread, milk, jam, cookies and other sweet stuff. Gary smiled and took the bread that he broke into three pieces and opened a jar of what looked like pecha berry jam.
Gary looked around, "Too bad we don't have a spoon."
Mew, -One sec.-
He dived into a corner that was filled with toys and miscellaneous items and came out with what looked like an old wooden spoon, -This was given to me a long time ago. Don't worry it is clean. I never used it.-
Gary smiled, "That's fine Mew."
Ash nodded as well, before he started to pour the milk into some clean cups he had noticed in the pile, 'Red must be worried sick about us. Oh boy! I fear how Litten and Charmander are going to react.'
Ash sweatdropped just thinking about it, he looked over at Gary and from his expression he just knew Gary was thinking about Green. The three of them ate their breakfast of bread and jam, milk and cookies and a simple salad consisting of berries and fruits. Mew was delighted with the food and made a comment on how the bread and jam taste really good together. Ash smiled hearing that and the three of them finished their breakfast before going exploring.
Ash looked around the place, "Wao, look at all those crystals."
Gary was impressed too, "You have one beautiful home Mew."
Mew laughed, -Thank you very much. Come this way, I'll introduce you to my friends here.-
Mew led the two to an open cavern below, where there were many types of Pokemon present. Ash and Gary's eyes were bright with wonder and Mew took pride in surprising the two children the same way they kept surprising him. He introduced them to the Pokemon living there alongside him as well as the three Guardians of the Tree of Beginning. Regirock, Regice and Registeel observed the two humans curiously before calling Mew over.
Regirock, -Young Lord! Where did you meet them?-
Mew, -In a very quaint little human town. There are quite something, aren't they?-
Regice, -Indeed, Young Lord but that's not what we wish to say.-
Mew looked curious, -Is something the matter?-
Registeel, -The boy with the raven hair, he is marked, marked by a being older than this world. And the other boy carries a similar mark on him.-
Mew, -I don't think, I understand.-
Regice spoke, -We don't either. Usually, these old beings never bothered this world especially after the Pokemon legendaries were born. I wonder, what is so special about the two of them.-
Mew had a look of comprehension and worry, -Oh! Oh! So that's what, I think I understand why their families are a little paranoid now.-
The three Regi Guardians nodded as the four of them observed the two kids play with the Pokemon who lived there. The Omanyte and Omastar poked them curiously getting giggles from Ash and a return poke from Gary. The Nidorans were playing around and made motions for Ash and Gary to play with them. The two of them played together with the Pokemon till lunch time when Mew decided to join them in search for food.
Mew, -Do you always search for your own food?-
Gary shook his head, "Not always no. But this way, it is more fun. If we can get vegetables and other items like herbs and spices, we will make curry out of it. It taste awesome with the bread."
Mew's eyes fluttered at the thought of tasty food and he helped them search for food. They found wild carrots, wild potatoes, wild tomatoes, sweet pea, wild onions and ginger. Ash was wondering how to add the taste when one of the Omanyte swam towards the crystal rock and returned with a piece of rock salt.
Ash pat the ancient Pokemon, "Thank you very much."
Omanyte blushed and rubbed against Ash as if to say he was welcome. Ash hummed as he started to prepare the vegetables. Ash spoke to the young Omanyte as she listened to his stories about his family and friends, about the different types of people he and Gary met over the years. Omanyte was fascinated and wondered if she could travel as well one day. Gary meanwhile was preparing the fire and a pot to make the curry, Mew who had disappeared returned with three large baskets of bread.
They showed Mew and the Pokemon how to clean and cut the vegetables and fruits they found before starting to cook them or making a salad. The Pokemon watched as the smell of delicious food filled the air and before you know it the lunch was ready. The older Pokemon were not interested in vegetables much but the younger Pokemon who were curious sat next to the three of them and Ash smiled as he asked Mew to being the toy plates he saw. Mew nodded as he disappeared and reappeared with the whole set making Ash sweatdrop.
Gary laughed as he picked twelve plates for the twelve curious Pokemon and they shared their lunch with them. Some of the Pokemon liked certain vegetables while others ate the whole thing, it was the same for the salad. The bread however was finished easily as it was sweet bread and the Pokemon it turned out had sweet tooth.