Hi, I've been gone for a while for a number of reasons. First, it was because I decided to focus on another story that I hadn't updated for two years, having received quite a shock when a wayward reviewer commented that the story had to be dead since I hadn't updated in so long. Coupled with that, I had writer's block for said story and recently got a full-time job, taking away a majority of my free time and leaving me drained.
Now, while I may occasionally lapse on my updates (what little regularity I possess for them, anyway), I will always come back to finish my stories. I especially wouldn't leave my crown jewel incomplete for any reason besides death. If that were to happen, I would've arranged for my brother to log in under my name and break the news instead of leaving it unknown.
On that note, I also do not like being rushed or badgered for updates. Especially notable are a couple of guest reviews that started leaving lines from "Baby Come Back", and since I cannot PM them and keep this private, I'll say it here: I do not enjoy being mocked or patronized. While I can't block anybody, anonymous or otherwise, from reading my story, I can take down guest reviews, and I found them to be distasteful. I please ask that whichever person(s) are doing this to kindly stop and wait patiently since I, in fact, am a human with limits. The chapters are lengthy, and take time to make, barring all of the other stories I have that I should be updating as well. I've been giving this one admittedly biased treatment since it's my most popular.
In any case, as an apology for the wait, I do have a little treat for my readers. Namely, a preview of the next chapter. I hope you enjoy and that it at least tides you all over while I continue working on the chapter proper.
Gary had turned around in surprise from the sudden burst while Ash grabbed Drowzee's hand before cursing as the Psychic Pokémon's eyes widened in surprise and he relayed something to the boy. He then returned Drowzee to his Poké Ball before exchanging it with another while taking out his Pokédex. Doduo materialized a moment later from the thrown sphere a short distance away before it returned to Ash's hand.
"Sir, you might want to stay here; without Pokémon it's too dangerous," he warned the foreman. As he switched his Pokémon as quick as his thumbs could move, he turned to his fellow Pallet Trainer, "Gary!"
At the urgent call, the brunet glanced at him and found himself pinned under an authoritative gaze from the shorter boy. The look caught him off guard and he didn't speak as Ash continued.
"If that special medicine healed up Arcanine enough, take him and ride in a curve around to where that explosion was." He caught two Poké Balls that materialized, "Doduo will go with you and bring help; I'll fly through the air. There's probably somebody set up to intercept us on the straight path if they waited until now to spring their attack; I'll draw their attention."
"Attack?" Gary questioned before his eyes widened and he took out his own Poké Ball. "My girls!"
"And everyone else; get back there as fast as you can!" Ash urged while calling out another Pokémon that landed before him. Squirtle looked up and accepted a Poké Ball from his Trainer with the instructions his Trainer gave, "Call him out once you get there, he'll be good for crowd control. Bad Breath, Mega Punch and Lasso in Octopus Form. Tell him to use those moves and be careful of any counterattacks. Any captured backpacks go to him so that he can hold them inside his body."
Squirtle nodded and stored the shrunken ball in his shell before hopping on Doduo's back. The Twin Bird Pokémon took off in a curving path through the trees. By this time, Gary had called out Arcanine and climbed aboard before the other portion of Ash's plan caught up with his mind.
"Wait, you said you're going to fly-"
The black-haired Trainer didn't answer and interrupted his question by calling out another Pokémon from his belt, Gary's jaw dropping slightly when the energy formed into a Pidgeot. Ash mounted the bird in a practiced motion and moved his goggles from his neck up to his eyes with the stretchy band of cloth before coaxing Pikachu into his jacket for safety.
The Bird Pokémon spread his wings and took off with a burst of Agility. With his Trainer's added weight, it looked like a semi-swift jump into the air that served to get him off the ground so he could fly freely with his wing beats and gliding alone while focusing on speeding up all the while.