4 days later, Galar Region
Ash P.O.V
For the last 4 days I've felt like something bad may be happening back home. I don't know why really. Call it a feeling I guess and it's been bothering me... especially now after receiving some bad news 4 days ago
You see me and my friend Gou were supposed to have returned back to Kanto 4 days ago, however that wasn't the case and as such we were forced to stay for longer in Galar after we had gotten word from the train station receptionist that no one was allowed in Vermillion City or any other city in Kanto... which made no sense to me at the time and sounded suspicious. I mean why has nobody said anything about this here or on TV, after all this isn't something that happens over night... right?
I don't know maybe I might try and call mom or Professor Oak to see how they are doing this time around since I hadn't thought of doing that. I hope they know something about this whole ordeal of not letting people can into Kanto
Anyway onto what's going on right now, me and Gou were walking through the busy streets of Galar, but I couldn't help thinking about what could have happened... so many ideas ran through my head that I barely heard Gou talking
"Ash... Ash... ASH!" he finally yelled as I snapped out of my thoughts to see the worried faces of Gou, Pikachu and Scorbunny "Are you alright? You've been acting weird the last 4 days since we heard we weren't allow back in Kanto" he asked as I sighed and smiled a little as Pikachu nuzzled my cheek in an attempt to make me happy again
"Well I've just been thinking about what could have caused the whole 'No entry into Kanto' thing... And I mean aren't you worried about what could be happening back home?" I asked him after answering his question
Gou seemed to be thinking about what I asked him, until he nodded his head "Yeah I'm curious to know what's going on, but I'm sure it's nothing to worry about and we'll be back in Kanto in no time" he said optimistically, but that didn't really calm me down as much as it usually did
I sighed to myself as I looked to the ground "Why is this bothering me so much... lots of things happen after all and sure I've saved the world lots of times... except this time it's different, almost like-"
"Hey Ash, if you want I was wondering if I should call Professor Cerise once we get back to the Pokemon Center and see if he can tell us anything that might be happening... what do you think? I mean we haven't exactly told him we were stuck here" Gou asked/told me, as I was cut off from my thoughts.
I thought over what he said and nodded at that. It wasn't a bad idea since Professor Cerise lived in Vermillion City and may have a better answer than Professor Oak might "I think it's worth a shot really. You know I'd like to know what could be causing this one way or another" I said and Gou looked a little hesitantly at Scorbunny, but nodded after a short while. "I guess he doesn't feel as suspicious about the whole ordeal, like I do" I said to myself as we continued back towards the Pokemon Center
Finally we made it back to the Pokemon Center, just in time too since it had started to rain and unfortunately we had gotten slightly wet. Once inside, we both handed our Pokemon over to Nurse Joy and made our way towards the videophones
Gou typed in the number for the lab and waited, while I stood right beside him. However no one seemed to answer as Gou tried four more times, but each time it went straight to unavailable. He shook his head and looked at me. I now had even more reason to suspect something very bad is going on. After all the Professor barely leaves his lab and if he wasn't available then one of the assistants would answer instead or even Chloe
"This is getting weird" Gou whispered to himself and I had to agree with him
"I'll try calling Professor Oak... maybe he'll be available" I said and switched places with Gou. I typed in the number for the lab back in Pallet Town and waited
"Hello?" answered a familiar voice as I sighed in relief "Professor Oak!" I said happily as Gou moved closer towards the screen to see the professor looking like a mess
"Ash? Where are you?! Are you alright?!" he asked in a panicked tone causing me and Gou to look confused "Me and Gou are alright and we're in the Galar region right now... We would have been back in Kanto 4 days ago, but the train station receptionist told us no one was allowed entire in Kanto" I told him and saw the look of relief appear on his face
"Thank goodness your both are alright. It's better that you aren't in Kanto" he said
"Why is it a good thing we aren't in Kanto?" Gou asked as I could see he was beginning to get suspicious too... 'About time anyway' I thought
"... Maybe it's best I don't tell you" he said and that was the last straw for me as I finally snapped
"Professor Oak! I'm sick and tired of not knowing what's going back home! First we get told we aren't allowed back in Kanto, and then we're told that no one here knows why and now you, who actually does know what's happening won't tell us a thing! No I won't take no for an answer... please Professor tell us what's happening" I said as both Gou and Professor Oak look at me in shock for my outburst, but I couldn't bring myself to care... all I wanted was answers
Professor Oak was silent for a while and I was about to give up hope, when I suddenly heard him talk "I won't tell you everything, cause even I don't know the full story... but something happened in Cerulean City. It looks as if it's been at war with another city, everything is destroyed and there have no reports of any survivors yet" he started to say and I flinched when he said the words 'no survivors'
"Some people who passed by Cerulean before this happened said they heard weird noises coming from one of the buildings, while others heard screaming instead... and worst part is, that it's happening in both Pewter and Vermillion City as well. Due to this, Lance and the Elite Four thought it would be better if no one were to come in or out of Kanto... or else it may spread to the other regions"
Both me and Gou were silent as we took in what Professor Oak had said "Does anyone know what started this whole ordeal?" Gou asked trying to hold back his emotions and not make a scene. Professor Oak shook his head "Sadly no one has been able to find any evidence on how it all began. That's why no one outside of Kanto knows about this except, that Cerulean City has been destroyed. It only just got more serious due to Pewter and Vermillion suffering as well and because of that no one outside of Kanto is to know of Vermillion or Pewter since that will create panic"
"But what if whatever started this, decides to spread outside of Kanto, then the other regions wouldn't be prepared to handle it and will only cause more cities and people to fall victim. All because no one wants to share information or cause a panic! People will panic either way" I said in a serious tone and noticed some passing trainers look over at us confused, but went back to doing whatever they were doing
Professor Oak sighed "I know it is frustrating Ash, but there is nothing we can do. I'm sure that the government and the League will be able to stop it soon enough" he said, but I found that hard to believe since it seemed the so called 'government' and the League had no idea on what to even look for
"I wish I could have given you better news Ash, but now I've got to go and help Tracy out with the Pokemon. They've started acting uneasy and that's making me wonder if that thing will reach Pallet Town soon"
"Professor... please be careful and take care of my mom" I said in a worried tone and saw the Professor nod as he turned off the video phone. I just sat there in complete silence, Gou also not saying a word
"Ash... I'm sorry for blowing of your suspicion when you voiced it before... You were right, something bad is happening and... I don't know there is any way out of this" Gou told me and I didn't know what to even say, since I didn't have an answer either
For now I could only now wish that Brock, Misty and their family weren't caught up in that mess and that they were able to get out safely and are in a secure area. I looked over at Gou and knew he must be thinking the same about his parents, Chloe and Professor Cerise
...
I only hope that this doesn't get any worse than it already is and stops from spreading towards the other regions... or else it might be the end...
Meanwhile in Sinnoh, Hearthome City
A girl around the age of 16 in a battle against a boy who looked to be slightly older than her. She had a Glaceon on her side of the field, which her opponent had a Flareon. Having the disadvantage, it was tough, but like her mentor Ash Ketchum... she wasn't going to let type advantage stop her from winning
"Times up!" a female voice called out as both the girl and boy turned towards the big screen. It held a picture of both competitors and their Pokemon "And the winner of the Hearthome City Contest is... May Maple of Petalburg City!" said the same female voice as before. The girl; May smiled as she had now won her second ribbon in Sinnoh region, 3 more and she'll be able to compete in the Grand Festival
May stood with the judges in front of her as they presented her the violet ribbon. May thanked the judge and slowly took a hold of the ribbon "Alright, I just won the Hearthome City Ribbon and it's all mine!" she declared while doing her signature pose, with Glaceon posing beside her trainer
After awhile, May walked out of the Contest hall happily staring at her ribbon case as she placed the new ribbon inside the violet case and closed it. She made her way towards the Pokemon Center where she was staying and gave her pokeballs to Nurse Joy, while she walked over to the video phones and tell her parents about her recent victory
"Maple residence speaking, how may I help you?" asked a female voice, which May recognized immediately as her mother; Caroline Maple
"Mom! It's me May" the Hoenn Coordinator said as the screen showed the image of her mother
"May! It's so great to hear from you again"
"I wanted to show you this" May said as she took out her ribbon case and placed it on a good angle for her mother to see "I won the contest here in Hearthome City today"
"That's wonderful news May. I'm sure your father and Max would also be proud. I'll be looking forwards to your next win and I'm sorry to cut this conversation short sweetie, but I have to go do something's I promised your father I would do" she said with a smile as May nodded in understanding
May smiled as she knew her father was probably in a gym battle and as such wasn't able to congratulate her, while her younger brother Max was out on his own journey in Johto after deciding he wanted to begin in a different region having already traveled through Hoenn and Kanto with herself, Brock and Ash
'Ash... I wonder how he's doing... I haven't spoken to him since we last saw each other when he was still traveling in Sinnoh' thought the brunette as remembered the days with the raven haired teen
"Congratulations on winning the ribbon May" said a familiar voice that the Hoenn native knew very well; none other than Drew stood behind her holding one of his many rose 'Where he gets so many I'll never know' May thought as she got of off the chair and walked up to the green haired teen
"Thank you Drew and let me guess that rose is for my Glaceon right?" she asked in a teasing tone and accepted the rose
"You're catching on quickly. I heard this is your second contest win right... you're going to have to do better if you want to catch up to me and Solidad" Drew said as he took out his green ribbon case, showing of three ribbons inside
May looked surprised, but at the same time she expected Drew to be ahead of her since he basically always was "You'll see. I'll get my third ribbon in no time" she declared and Drew held out a hand
"Then may the best coordinator win" he said and May nodded determinately as she shook hands with her rival 'He may still be the same Drew I met, but he's changed at the same time'
"I'll see you in the Grand Festival Drew. That's a promise" she said as the green haired teen nodded and walked out of the Pokemon Center with a wave
Once he was gone, May took out a half ribbon from her fanny pack and held it close 'Ash, wherever you are I hope you're out their cheering me on and I wish to meet up again if possible too' she told herself and little did she know her wish would be granted one way or another... just not the way she planned on
So May has finally appeared! Yes I decided to have her travel through Sinnoh since it was never confirmed where she went to after her Johto journey. I won't reveal anything to important, but May will see Ash again; whether by him going to Sinnoh or her going to Galar... you'll just have to stay tuned if you want to know more ;)