a/n: So... This took a bit longer than expected to get done, but I was hit by some inspiration, and so figured I'd get this done.
Indigo Episode 1: I Choose You! Every Time
Shortly before history shattered but shortly after the interloper arrived in the past, the lights in Professor Oak's Laboratory as lightning arced across the machinery.
Sparks danced across the cylindrical table in the center of the room. The three Poké Balls marked with a leaf, flame, and water drop respectively were undisturbed.
The mechanisms inside the table, however, whirred to life as the center of the device opened to expel a fourth Poké Ball, this one marked with a bolt of lightning.
It hit the floor, button first, and popped open, releasing the Pikachu occupying it.
Another burst of lightning obliterated the Poké Ball, and the electricity fiddling with the electronics coalesced into the shape of haunted plasma.
"You would not believe the amount of practice that took," the ghost-electric type said in their native tongue.
"Uh…" the Pikachu looked over the Rotom who had released him, unsure of what had just happened.
"C'mon now! Are you just going to sit there and gape?" the Rotom questioned, "I have a Trainer who won't coop you up in one of those cramped Poké Balls! With his help, you'll become the most powerful Pikachu in the world! So, what do you say we go and meet him?"
"How do I know I can trust you?" Pikachu asked.
Rotom chuckled.
"C'mon! I destroyed your Poké Ball, didn't I?" the Rotom pointed out, "If we weren't interested in an equal partnership, we would've just nabbed the ball and ran!"
The naïve Pikachu observed that information.
"Alright! Show the way!"
And that is how Pikachu found himself dodging a Rhyperior's fists on the outskirts of Pallet Town after suddenly regaining his memories of a future that would never be.
Ash jerked awake as his Voltorb clock shattered.
"Okay that was a weird drea-" he froze, realizing that Pikachu and his Rotom phone weren't anywhere to be found, "Oh… Oh no…"
Ash dashed out of his house in his pajamas, in an even more frantic rush than he had been in when he had first realized he had slept in on that fateful day that was both so long ago and unfolding right that moment.
Professor Oak's laboratory and the people gathered around it flickered for a few seconds, though nobody but Ash seemed to notice.
How did this guy stop me and Pikachu from meeting? Ash wondered as he ran across town to Professor Oak's lab, Will Pikachu even still be there?
BOOM!
Lightning burst from the ground and shot into the sky off to the west of town, drawing Ash's attention.
"Wait… Is that…"
"That isn't going to work, you know," Eternal remarked as Pikachu blasted another Thunderbolt at Rhyperior, "You have no means of making it vulnerable to Electric Attacks. Just give in, and I will make you useful."
Rhyperior emphasized this by swatting the Electric Type across the ground.
Pikachu gritted his teeth, rose to his feet, and fired off another Thunderbolt.
"Hang on!" Rotom brought up as Rhyperior struck Pikachu again, "He doesn't even appear to be aiming at Rhyperior!"
"Well what else would it be aim-"
"Pikachu!" a new voice called out.
.
Ash wasn't quite sure what he was expecting when Arceus told him that someone had gone back in time to stop him and Pikachu from meeting, but it certainly wasn't a caped man in a metal mask standing next to a Rhyperior emanating a shadowy aura.
The eyeholes on the mask were surrounded by a red infinity symbol, while the rest of the man's head was concealed under the black hood of his cape.
Most of his outfit was black, with a red infinity symbol on his belt, and matching symbols on the backs of his gloves.
Six Dark Balls were proudly displayed on the man's belt.
"What?" the masked man gasped, his voice heavily disguised by some kind of filter, as Ash dashed for his Pikachu.
"Don't worry Pikachu! I'll get you out of this!" Ash promised.
"Rhyperior! Keep him out of the way!" the masked man ordered.
"Rhy…" The Rhyperior groaned as he stepped over Pikachu and spread out its arms to block out Ash.
"What are you doing here?" the masked man questioned, "You're supposed to be running along to Professor Oak's Lab to receive your starter! What reason could you possibly have to give up your one chance to go on a journey?"
"I'm not about to let you hurt my best friend!" Ash replied as he glared under Rhyperior's arm.
"But I did my research!" the masked man protested, "You didn't even know Pikachu before today! You were supposed to have met it first in Professor Oak's lab! How can you possibly already have a bond with it?"
"Some bonds are powerful enough to transcend time!" Ash answered.
"So… Your memory followed me through time," the masked man growled as he removed a Dark Ball from his belt, clicking the button to expand it to full size, "Rhyperior! Hold him still! I want that meddlesome brat to see this with his own eyes!"
The massive ground type lunged, and Ash darted under its right arm as it grabbed at the empty air under him.
The masked man threw his Dark Ball at Pikachu, and Ash threw his body over the electric mouse.
The Dark Ball harmlessly bounced off of his back, failing to open.
The masked man growled.
"Rhyperior! Break him!"
"What?" a new voice, a Rotom Phone, piped up.
Rhyperior roared as it turned its attention onto Ash, who scooped Pikachu up into his arms and made a mad dash for the town.
"You said we were just going to keep the kid and the mouse from meeting!" Rotom protested.
"That's no longer an option," the masked man replied as Rhyperior charged after the ten-year-old boy, "But if you're so worried about that… Shadow Hold!"
Rhyperior let out another roar and unleashed a shadowy Aura that coiled around the fleeing Ash, holding him in place.
"Now! Use Horn Drill to break his back!" the masked man ordered, "He can't go on a journey if he can't walk!"
Ash struggled against the shadows as he heard the whir of the Rhyperior's horn getting both louder and closer as it charged towards him.
The boy closed his eyes and braced himself for the impact.
"Use Twister now!" a familiar voice called out, followed swiftly by the roar of a Dragonite.
Ash's eyes shot open as a whirlwind swept right past him and struck the Rhyperior in the chest, sending it flying back and into the woods.
"Professor Oak!" Ash exclaimed as the shadows holding him in place let him go.
"How?!" the masked man shouted, "Pikachu was just a throwaway spare! Why are you intervening!"
"Did you really think I wouldn't be at least a little bit suspicious when bolts of lightning started arcing into the sky on a sunny day? After the Electric Type I specifically caught for today went missing?" Professor Oak questioned as he dismounted his Dragonite next to Ash, "I don't know who you think you are, but I don't care! I won't let you terrorize this town!"
The masked man growled as his Rotom Phone hovered next to him.
"What do we do now, boss?" they asked.
"Know this much, I am Eternal," the masked man stated, "Now! Use Flash!"
A flash of light emanated from the Rotom Phone's eyes, forcing Oak and Ash to shield their eyes.
When the light cleared, the masked man and his Rotom were nowhere to be found.
"Why did that guy think he was immortal?" Ash asked as he sat in Professor Oak's lab, the Pokémon Professor tending to Pikachu's injuries.
"I think he was using 'eternal' as a name," Professor Oak answered, and Pikachu made an affirmative sound with a nod in response, "No less pretentious, mind you. But at the very least I doubt we're up against a literally immortal man."
"I mean, I figured, but…" Ash's voice trailed off as Professor Oak handed Pikachu back to him and walked over to a drawer.
"Thankfully, I had a back-up Poké Ball prepared for Pikachu in advance," Professor Oak explained as he rummaged through the drawer, "I understand that Pikachu doesn't like those, but at least keying a Poké Ball to him will keep thieves and other Trainers from catching him."
"Yeah…" Ash's voice trailed off as he remembered what Dawn told him about what had happened when she and Pikachu first met, "Sorry Pik, better safe than sorry."
"Pika…." Pikachu sighed as Professor Oak handed Ash a Poké Ball marked with a lightning symbol, but otherwise didn't protest as the button clicked against his head.
.
Click!
With the Catch registered, Ash let Pikachu out of the Poké Ball and scratched his starter under the chin.
"Feel better?" Ash asked.
"Cha…"
"Of course, it would probably be a good idea to take these along for the ride as well," Professor Oak opened, before handing Ash a Pokédex and five Poké Balls, "You're going to need these for your journey."
"Thanks," Ash replied.
"I'd recommend catching some Pokémon you didn't last time around," Professor Oak continued, "We don't know how much Eternal knows about the Pokémon you caught, so it would be a good idea to throw some curveballs at him."
"That's a great ide- Wait…" Ash turned to face Professor Oak, "What do you mean 'last time around?'"
"In the future, you'll tell Sammy all about how you first met Pikachu, along with the fact that you went back in time," Professor Oak explained, "Of course, you had left me with the impression that-"
"How do you know about Sammy?" Ash interrupted.
Professor Oak gave the boy a long-suffering stare.
"Ash… My first name is Samuel," the Professor answered, "How do you think I know about him?"
Ash stared blankly ahead, before he gasped as realization dawned on his face.
"Sammy was Samson this entire time?"
"NO!"
Ash stepped outside of the lab to find a crowd of his neighbors gathered to celebrate the start of his journey.
He was expecting to see his mother there. She was his mom, of course she'd show up on this special day!
There was one guest he wasn't expecting though.
"Serena?"
"Surprise Ash!" the Kalosian greeted, "I convinced Mom that we should come over to Kanto to celebrate!"
Grace, the mother in question, sighed with a tired smile.
"She's been spending the past six months planning for today," she elaborated, "You clearly mean a lot to her."
"Oh! Is that your starter?" Serena questioned as she leaned in to get a closer look at Pikachu, "It's so cute!"
"Excuse me," Ash's Mom, Delia Ketchum, cut in, "As adorable as you two are, I'd like to speak to my son."
Serena blushed and scurried back to her mother's side, attempting to pull her hat over her eyes in the process.
Ash's face was equally red as he remembered the kiss from the future.
Little late to ask her about it now, he thought as his mother walked right up to him, Or would it be too early? Why does Time Travel have to be so confusing?
"Oh my little boy's growing up!" she weeped, "You're already getting started on your Pokémon journey! Oh where did the years go?"
"Mom…" Ash whined as Serena giggled, "I promise I'll call whenever I can."
"Pika!" Pikachu piped up.
"Oh, who's this little fella?" Delia asked as she inspected the Pikachu in Ash's hands.
"Mom, this is Pikachu!" Ash introduced as he held his starter up closer to her, "He's gonna be my partner from now on!"
"Well not exactly what I expected," Delia commented, "Serena was right though, he's definitely a cutie!"
"Pika!" the electric mouse soaked in the praise.
"Oh, I could just pinch his little cheeks."
"Delia, I don't think that's a good-"
"CHUUUUUUUUUU!"
.
Smoke rose from both Ash and the gathered crowd as Professor Oak looked on.
"I was hoping we'd be able to avoid that…." Ash groaned.
"Pikachu…" Pikachu apologized.
"It's not fair!" Eternal screamed as he punched a tree, "I had everything planned out perfectly! How did that wretched brat's mind follow me through time?"
"Uh… Boss," the Rotom Phone piped up.
"What?!" Eternal snapped, causing Rotom to flinch.
"Erm… The rift closed."
"… What?" Eternal hissed.
"The rift, our gateway to the present, has closed," Rotom replied, "All of the resources we left behind in the warehouse are now lost to us. The past has just become our present."
Eternal clinched his fists and shook.
"S-sir?"
The masked man roared with rage, startling away whatever Pidgey and Rattata still lingered.
Then, he seethed as he caught his breath, before calmly adjusting his cape.
"… Very well," Eternal stated, "We'll just have to adjust our original plan. We'll have a chance to regain control of time later. For now, we must focus on ensuring that those wretched brats aren't there to make a mess of my grand designs!"
"How do we do that, sir?" Rotom asked.
Eternal threw a Dark Ball, and a Fearrow came out.
"We set a course for Pewter City, of course."
Well, that happened, Azelf remarked.
I can't believe Arceus didn't even acknowledge us! Mesprit huffed, Seriously, we were right there!
Informing the mortals with our limited time was far more important, Uxie reminded xem, It is important that we reestablish our connections to our chosen heroes.
That should be easy for Mesprit, since Dawn lives right next to xhir lake, Azelf stated, I need to go on an adventure to track down and link up with Ash again!
Why do I get the feeling you do not see that as a drawback? Uxie questioned.
Because Ash's sheer determination is proof that I picked the best one! Azelf stated.
Dawn's own passion and love is what drew me to her, Mesprit remarked, She has such a beautiful soul!
Regardless, it is best that we do our part to prepare for the future, Uxie reminded them, Once we have linked our minds to our chosen heroes', that will make counteracting the interloper far easier.
And I think I have just the plan to spice things up, Azelf chuckled.
… You worry me sometimes, Azelf, Uxie deadpanned.
Good!
If that's all, I have to go and make contact with my chosen hero, Mesprit announced, I shall see you all once I am done!
The guardian of Lake Verity vanished in a blink of light.
Let's see if I remembered those migratory patterns right, Mesprit stated, before vanishing as well.
Uxie sighed.
Saving the time-space continuum will not be a simple task, the guardian of Lake Acuity noted, But it will take all of us working together to do it.
Uxie departed as well.
a/n: And thus, Ash's Journey has begun once again. We'll be seeing what everyone else is up to over the course of the next few chapters, but the focus is going to be on Ash.
In regards to the Lake Guardians, that last scene was my attempt at a Saving Throw when I realized that they probably would've ALSO gone back in time on account of being right there when Arceus noticed the timeline fracturing, so I hope that wasn't too out of left field.
And yes, Mesprit uses neopronouns. I hope I spelled them all correctly because I hardly ever see those used. I haven't figured out what Uxie's or Azelf's pronouns will be, yet, but I'll figure it out eventually.
And Eternal is up to something, even if a wrench has already been thrown into his plans. It'll be a while before he and Ash cross paths again, but he's going to keep trying to mess up the past now that he's stuck here.
And I already have a bit of the next chapter written, since it was originally going to be part of this one!
And now for the reviews:
SonicKing42: Sorry for the long wait. And yeah, I wanted to set this apart from other time travel fics by having multiple people sent back in time, while also doing something different from "Oh no, Cyrus destroyed the universe". Eternal is going to have to come up with a new plan, since the time paradox he caused has stranded him in the past. And thanks for pointing out that Chloe wasn't involved in the special. That's going to give me the chance to plan things out a bit.
Lukenhaft: Okay... Not really sure how to respond.
Next time, Ash goes on a trip to Viridian while a very important meeting occurs in Sinnoh.
See you then.