"So I think you took a wrong turn." Cassie said. "We're in the middle of nowhere."
"We're not in the middle of nowhere, we're in the middle of the woods." Ash commented. "As long as we keep heading West, I'll be fine."
"And which way is West?" Cassie questioned.
"Umm, that way." Ash said, pointing towards some mountains.
"Well, I don't know my directions either, can't hurt." Cassie said.
At a cavernous area, surrounded by tall cliffs and thick woods
"Okay, so maybe it's not this way." Ash commented. "But if we go up there with Jigglypuff, maybe I can see the town."
"You sent Jigglypuff back to Professor Oaks, remember." Cassie commented.
"Right, right." Ash said. "Wait, what about you? Couldn't you float up there and see the town?"
"Umm, up and down aren't easy for me." Cassie admitted.
"It's okay if you aren't comfortable with that, then we can find another way." Ash said.
"No, I didn't say impossible, just hard." Cassie said. "I find it easy when you're nearby as a way to keep in a line."
"What if I sent Dragonair up there?" Ash asked.
"Dragonair can't see me." Cassie reminded.
"Right, right." Ash said.
"Don't worry, I'll be back eventually, just please don't go running like you did the last time we were lost in woods." Cassie begged.
"Didn't I fall in a river that time?" Ash asked, thinking back to their earliest adventures.
Ash watched as Cassie floated up into the air, looking for a nearby town.
"GROARH!"
"I really hope that is a friendly roar." Ash said, turning to see a large brown Pokemon, breaking a tree into splinters. "What is that thing!?"
'Ursaring, the Hibernator Pokemon, a'
Ash's Pokedex didn't have a chance to finish as Ash had to leap out of the way of an attack, his Pokedex going flying.
"Okay, no Pokedex, no problem." Ash said. "Vileplume come on out!"
"RANG!" The Ursaring roared as it slashed at Vileplume.
"Vileplume use Petal Dance!"
Petal's spun around Vileplume before launching at the wild Ursaring.
"Vileplume look out!" Ash called out, seeing a Hyper Beam charging up from Ursaring's mouth.
"Charizard use Flamethrower!"
A burst stream of flames shot at Ursaring, stopping the attack.
"No." Ash said, recognizing the voice.
"Ash." Kazor said, walking up calmly. "Don't worry, I'm not here to fight you."
"I won't let you get that Ursaring!" Ash said. "You've taken enough Pokemon."
"A wild Pokemon is up for grabs by any trainer until it has been captured." Kazor said, gently tossing a Pokeball.
"Pikachu stop it!" Ash called out.
Pikachu launched a Thunderbolt, only for Kazor's Pikachu to absorb the attack, allowing the Pokeball to bounce on Ursaring with ease. As the final ding went off, Ash took an offensive stance.
"As I said, I'm not here to fight you." Kazor said. "You have nothing that interests me."
"Other than control of your only remaining pet project." Ash said angrily.
"Really, where is Mewtwo." Kazor commented. "Even we haven't been able to track him lately."
"If you did anything to him!" Ash argued.
"You'd already know." Kazor said, picking up Ursaring's Pokeball. "Just a word of warning, there is something out there that is causing problems even I may not be strong enough to face. I will not protect you any longer."
"I didn't ask for your help this time." Ash said angrily. "Just go already."
"Consider me gone." Kazor said, grabbing onto Charizard as it took off into the air.
"Ash, was that Kazor?" Cassie asked as she finally floated down.
"Yeah." Ash said.
"Did he hurt you?" Cassie asked.
"No, but I think he knows more about Mewtwo then he's letting on." Ash said.
"Well, Mewtwo should be fine. No one knows where he even went now." Cassie said. "He's plenty strong to handle himself."
"You're right." Ash said. "He was probably hoping that I knew where Mewtwo was."
"Oh, before I forget, there's a town just a bit that way." Cassie said, pointing off in another direction.
"Great, maybe they can take a look at this." Ash said, picking up his Pokedex, whose screen was currently filled with static.
"Teddi? Ursa?" A small voice called out.
"Did you say something Cassie?" Ash asked.
"No, not me." Cassie said.
"Teddi?" The voice said again.
Ash turned around to see a small bear Pokemon, their eyes filled with tears, looking around worridley.
"No, it couldn't be." Ash realized.
"Couldn't be what?" Cassie asked.
"While you were gone, a wild Pokemon attacked me. It was called an Ursaring, a large bear Pokemon." Ash said. "I wonder if this might be their child."
"What happened to the Ursaring?" Cassie asked.
"Kazor happened." Ash said angrily. "But right now we need to worry about this little guy." Ash said, setting down his bag. "Hey there, are you looking for your mom?" Ash asked, pulling out some Pokemon food.
"Teddi?" The small Pokemon asked, not moving from behind the trees.
"Vile, Vileplume." Vileplume said, calmly approaching the Pokemon, a scent wafting from his flower.
"Teddi? Ursa!" The small Pokemon said, hopping on top of Vileplume's flower, and licking the center where there was some nectar.
"Vi!" Vileplume said, it's body shivering and freezing up.
"Teddi!" The Pokemon said, enjoying the snack at the dismay of Vileplume.
"WHat should you do Ash? We can't just leave him here." Cassie said.
"I know, I'm already down Dewgong and Jigglypuff, leaving Vileplume here is a bad idea." Ash commented.
"The wild Pokemon, not Vileplume!" Cassie scolded.
"I know, I know." Ash said, grabbing a Pokeball. "I don't want to hurt them, they seem young, almost like Egguardo."
"So you're going to just try catching it?" Cassie asked.
"With their guard down, hopefully that will work." Ash said, before tossing the Pokeball as it curved around Vileplume and the wild Pokemon, hitting the bear cub from behind.
'Ding Ding Ding.'
'Teddi-ursa, added.' The Pokedex sputtered.
"I guess it's name is Teddiursa." Ash said, picking up the Pokeball. "Welcome to the family. Both of you." Ash said, putting it next to Tyrogue's Pokeball. "Now come on, we still have to find our way to Cherrygrove."
"Other way!" Cassie shouted.
"I knew that." Ash said.
High up in the sky, a golden portal opened, as two figures fell out of it.
"Oh come on! Not again!" A voice screamed.