"So you're telling me that you went into a place made entirely of dreams, saw the ghost of Revan, and escaped?" Cassie asked skeptically.
"I know it sounds crazy, but I'm telling you it's true." Ash said. "And now I have no idea where Articuno is, or if she's even safe."
"And Megan?" Cassie asked.
"Same thing, I was hoping Articuno would be able to let me know." Ash said, poking at his eggs.
"Ash, there's a phone call for you." The Nurse Joy said.
"A call for me?" Ash asked, walking to the open video phone and pressing accept.
"Ash!" Megan screamed.
"Megan, ow, hi." Ash said, rubbing his ear.
"Sorry, I've been calling Pokemon Centers all over trying to see if you were okay." Megan admitted.
"Yeah I'm fine, Articuno got us out just in time, where'd you end up?" Ash asked.
"I ended up at New Cinnabar Island." Megan said.
"Beats wherever I'm at." Ash commented.
"Teardrop Village." Megan said bluntly.
"How do you? You called, that's how." Ash realized.
A while later
"So what's the plan?" Cassie asked, leaning over the table.
"I'm trying to figure out where we are, but the more I use the map, the more I realize it's not very accurate." Ash said. "I have no idea where Teardrop Village is in relation to anything."
"If you're looking for directions, maybe I can help." A Nurse Joy said.
"I have no idea which way I'm going, I don't even know which way I came from." Ash sighed.
"Let me get a better map, those maps only show recommended stops, nowhere like this." The Nurse Joy said. A few minutes later she returned with a less advanced map, rolling it out. "Do any of these islands look familiar to you?"
"There, that's Seafoam!" Ash exclaimed. "We've been heading away from there, trying to get to the gym in the archipelago."
"Well, the good news is that you're on the right path." The Nurse Joy said. "We're currently here, and the island you're looking to get too, is just north of here."
"That's great! That means I can have my next gym badge tomorrow!" Ash exclaimed. Just as soon as a siren went off. "What is going on?!" Ash shouted.
"We're being hit by a storm, it's the warning siren, no one in or out of the building until it's clear!" A Nurse Joy at the main station announced.
"Wait, what." Ash said, realizing this meant he wouldn't be leaving.
"I'm sorry Ash." The first Nurse Joy said as the siren died down. "But being at Sea Level means these things will happen."
It was a few hours later when Ash saw a man in a yellow vest talking to one of the Nurse Joys.
"I'm telling you I'm sure of it." The man said.
"How, we're so far off the coast." The Nurse Joy said.
"I've heard that it's able to live in water, it must have swam." The man said.
"But here of all places, it usually goes after cities." The Nurse Joy said.
"What usually goes after cities?" Ash asked, walking up.
"Kid this doesn't involve you." The man said.
"Kevin, this is the child I was telling you about, the one that rescued Articuno, maybe he can help." The Nurse Joy said.
"Okay, there's a Muk that I'm pretty sure has taken up home in our main drainage system, if it isn't cleared out it could cause trouble for flood water." The man named Kevin said.
"I can take a look, maybe remove the problem altogether." Ash said.
"If you could that would be great, I'll show you the way." Kevin said, handing Ash a poncho.
"Stay." Ash said to Cassie as he walked past their table and into the storm.
Outside the flow gates
"Okay here we are, got everything you need?" Kevin asked.
"Uhh, yeah." Ash said double-checking his bag.
"Good luck, and stay safe. Worst comes to worst we just need to make sure it's not blocking anything." Kevin said.
"Copy that." Ash said with a faux salute. "I just hope I know what I'm doing."
"Pi." Pikachu said in agreement.
After a bit of exploring and following their noses, Ash and Pikachu managed to find the Muk.
"Muuuk!" Muk screamed, seeing the two there.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu released a blast of electricity that was seemingly absorbed by the Muk's form. It quickly countered firing a barrage of Sludges.
"Pikachu dodge it with a Quick Attack! Seel come and help out with Ice Beam!"
Pikachu dodged left and right closing in the distance as See froze any further attacks.
"Nice one Ash." Cassie said.
"Thanks Cassie, CASSIE!" Ash exclaimed seeing his sister there. "I told you to stay put."
"And what? Hope you come back this time!" Cassie argued.
"What happens if you get hurt?" Ash asked.
"You'll be here for me, but what happens if you get hurt now? You always do this?" Cassie said. "What happens to me if you can't make it back? This is dangerous and you knew it going in."
"You're right, just stay close okay." Ash said.
"Okay, and no more leaving me behind." Cassie said.
"Yep." Ash said. "Now Pikachu use Thunderbolt! Seel use Ice Beam!"
Seel and Pikachu's attacks combined just before hitting the wild Muk, causing it to recoil.
"It's coming in!" Cassie screamed seeing the Muk rush forward.
"Primeape use Mega Punch!"
"Kazor?!" Ash called out into the darkness.
"Ash? You're down here, why didn't I see your location?" Kazor asked, still a ways off.
"Long story." Ash said. "Glad to have the reinforcements."
"Glad to help, Primeape use Mega Punch! Pikachu use Thunder!" Kazor said.
"Pikachu you use your Thunder, and Seel use Headbutt!" Ash called out.
Kazor looked over at Ash, no longer the scared child he met in Viridian Forest, Ash was a trainer in his own rights, he even made it to Muk purposely before him.
'Sploosh!'
"Ash, we're out of time." Kazor said. "Ultra Ball go!"
The Pokeball finally stopped shaking, when Ash could see the crashing waves coming.
"Not good." Ash said, backing up against the wall with Cassie, Kazor and their Pokémon.
"Ash, it's time you meet my team." Kazor said, tapping on the wall. "Rocket Tunnel, entrance 57, code level Omega, Admin Kazor."
The wall behind them spun, taking them elsewhere as the waves crashed against the now empty wall.
Character of the Day: Muk
In the main universe Ash caught this Muk, now while his other Pokémon were territorial, I feel like Muk was far more likely to keep moving to bigger and better places whenever someone would find him.