(Guest: OK so any plans on having Ash prove his innocence? Also, poor Delia can't be bailed out she was being a good mother.)
To answer your question, I haven't fully decided yet, I'm still thinking it through.
The group spent the next week travelling to the Stralia Region. The journey had been longer than anticipated, because by the end of the week, Brock estimated they weren't even halfway there. By this point they decided they could travel by air, as they were far away from the mainland. Air travel would be faster, and they felt it was unlikely people would spot Charizard's fire tail. They also decided it was safe to travel through the day again, as they had not seen a single sea traveller since they started their journey. Problem was they still had to take long breaks between travelling so the pokémon could rest. In addition to this, the group only had about three or four flying pokémon that were big enough to carry passengers, which was a difficult task considering there were six of them.
By the end of the week, they decided they needed to rest for a full twenty-four hours. Not just to give the pokemon an extended rest, but because everyone was tired from the constant travel. They managed to find an island that while unpopulated, had plenty of trees for shade, some of which even had edible fruit. This was the biggest benefit, because while they were rationing their food, they were running out quickly, which gave them the chance to restock for the journey ahead.
They spent much of the next day resting and enjoying the water around the island. For a moment they were able to forget they were on the run and just enjoy themselves. They knew it wouldn't last forever, as the longer they stayed where they were the more vulnerable they were. They knew they needed to start moving again soon.
The next day, they were about to set off when Pikachu noticed something flying towards them.
"Pika, pikachu."
"What's up Pikachu?" asked Ash.
Pikachu pointed to the horizon where they spotted a large bird pokémon flying towards them. It was a pigeot. Ash couldn't explain why, but he just knew he'd seen this pigeot before.
"Be careful guys, this pigeot might have been sent by one of the traitors," said Gary.
"No, it wasn't," said Ash.
"How can you be so sure?" asked Clemont.
"Because it's mine," said Ash, as the pigeot landed before him.
The pigeot caressed Ash's head with its own, so happy to see its trainer again.
"What are you doing here?" asked Ash but knowing Pigeot couldn't talk he asked another question. "Did you hear about the accusations made against me?"
"Pigeot," said Pigeot.
Although Ash couldn't understand what the pokémon was saying he knew that meant yes.
"Do you want to help me clear my name?" asked Ash.
"Pigeot."
"Thanks buddy it's good to see you again," said Ash, giving the pokémon a hug.
"Yeah, not to mention we now have another pokémon big enough to carry passengers," said Brock happily.
The surprises however weren't over, suddenly Pigeot took flight and pointed one of its wings towards the ocean.
"Pika," said Pikachu who could see what Pigeot was pointing at.
The gang looked back to the ocean and saw a large blue dinosaur like pokémon swimming towards them. What was most surprising however was that it was carrying passengers. On its back was a light purple snail-like dragon pokémon, along with a pig monkey pokémon. These were none other than a lapras, goodra and primeape. They could also see a frog-like ninja pokémon known as a geninja. They all approached the beach and stopped in front of Ash.
"Ash, are these also your pokémon?" asked Dawn.
"Yeah," said Ash, who couldn't believe his eyes.
"Woah, I didn't know you had a lapras Ashy-Boy," said Gary impressed.
"Yeah, I caught it while I was travelling through the Orange Islands, but I released it so it could be with its family," said Ash, giving his lapras a hug.
"What are they all doing here?" asked Bonnie.
Ash had a feeling he knew why.
"You've all heard what they've said about me haven't you?" asked Ash.
The pokémon nodded.
"But you don't believe it right?" asked Ash hopefully.
The pokémon shook their heads. Ash felt close to tears upon seeing how loyal his pokémon were.
"I wish everyone else had as much faith in me," said Ash.
"Pigeot," said Pigeot who took flight again.
Greninja pointed at Pigeot's leg, revealing there was a letter attached to it. Curious, Ash took the letter.
"Huh, it's from Professor Sycamore," said Ash.
"Professor Sycamore?" asked Dawn.
"He's the main Pokémon Researcher in the Kalos Region," said Clemont.
"What's the letter say?" asked Brock.
Ash removed the letter and read it aloud.
Dear Ash,
I hope this letter finds you, but I have many doubts that it will. Current news is you're missing, and your location is unknown. At any rate, I'm sure it comes as no surprise to you that I've been informed of the allegations made against you. I want you to know I don't believe any of them. I was always suspicious, but my doubts were confirmed shortly after you were accused. Your goodra and greninja found me, because I believe they wanted to prove the accusations were false. I did some tests on them and found zero traces of performance enhancing drugs. This was all the proof I needed to know the accusations were false.
I'm not sure how, but your lapras, primeape and pigeot also found me. I did the same tests on them, and the results were again negative, further proving that Professor Oak was lying. Unfortunately, I don't think this will be enough to clear your name. I may be a respected Pokémon Researcher, but I'm only one person and I have a feeling I'll be accused of conspiring with you if I try and publish my findings. I'm sorry Ash, but I think the best thing we can do is lay low until we can find a way to prove your innocence.
I don't know where you are or where you're going. Truth be told I think this is for the best, I think the less I know for now the safer you and your friends will be. Nevertheless, if there's anything you need feel free to send your pidgeot back with another letter and I'll try and help you in any way I can. For the sake of security though don't use your real name. If your gonna send a letter, please sign it using the name 'Red'.
I wish you well and if there's anything you need don't hesitate to ask.
Yours sincerely
Professor Augustine Sycamore.
P.S. Your butterfree also stopped by in an attempt to prove your innocence, but unfortunately, he felt he needed to keep his family safe and has decided to return to Kanto. I'm sure you can understand why Butterfree felt he needed to stay with his family.
"Oh, I can don't worry," said Ash.
"Well, it's good to see there are others out there who know you're innocent," said Dawn.
"Having Professor Sycamore on our side could be very helpful in the long term. His letter might also help us with gaining asylum from Professor Gidyea," said Clemont.
"To bad your butterfree couldn't come, he would've been a great asset to travelling through the Stralia Region," said Gary.
"Yeah, but he has a family to think about. I think we can all respect his decision," said Brock.
These comments about family made Ash realise something.
"Brock, maybe you should head back to Kanto," said Ash.
"What why?" asked Brock confused.
"You have ten brothers and sisters back home. By coming with me they might feel like you've abandoned them," said Ash.
Brock sighed.
"Believe me Ash, I've thought about that a lot. Like Gary, I made my decision the moment I decided to side with you. Furthermore, we can't know whether my family's believed the lies or not and even if they haven't, I fear that if I go back people might blackmail me about your whereabouts by threatening them. And I just don't know what I would do if I was put in that situation. I'd want to keep my family safe, but at the same time I couldn't betray you because I think of you as one of my brothers."
"I appreciate that Brock," said Ash.
"In the end I decided it would be safer if I went with you. Even if I claimed that the accusations were true, I don't think many people would believe me, because I travelled with you longer than anyone else, making me the least likely to betray you," said Brock.
"But what about your family?" asked Dawn.
"They still have my father to look after them and besides we all have additional reasons for wanting to prove Ash's innocence and mine is to see my family again," said Brock proudly.
"I won't let you down Brock. I'll prove to the entire world I'm innocent. I promise," said Ash.
They packed up the rest of their gear and continued their journey towards the Stralia Region. With more pokémon to help them travel, they were making much better time. Not only were they able to travel all day, but they could also travel all night. Most of them could ride on Ash's lapras as they slept, while the rest would ride on Gary's blastoise. They would then use flying pokémon to help them travel during the day.
Even with this added traveling time, it was still another two weeks before they reached their destination. During this time, they noticed it was getting hotter and hotter the further they travelled. They had a feeling the Stralia Region would be amongst the hottest places they'd ever been, but that only made them more eager to see the types of pokémon that lived in such a place. After three long and tiring weeks of traveling, they finally saw an enormous piece of land, they believed had to be the Stralia Region.
It was late afternoon by this point. They decided it might be better to wait till nightfall before they went to shore, just in case there were people there ready to send back people entering the region illegally. If they waited till night fall it would make it easier for them to sneak in, after which they could track down Professor Gidyea and plead their case for asylum. Once night hit, the group headed for the shore riding on Lapras and Blastoise, knowing these would be the best pokémon to use to sneak into the region unnoticed. Once on shore Ash and Gary returned their pokémon. They were about to head off and find a place to camp for the night, when suddenly a large search light switched on illuminating the entire beach and revealing their locations.
"Halt," called a voice. "You are under arrest for illegally entering the Stralia Region.
Ash and his friends struggled to see through the bright light but managed to spot numerous police cars with their lights flashing waiting for them at the top of the beach. They didn't know how, but these police had known they were coming. The police also had pokémon with them. They looked a lot like Kangaskhan that Ash had seen back in the Kanto Region, but they were much larger in size and were a dark reddish-brown colour. Amongst the police they could also see a tall, bespectacled man with dark brown hair in his early thirties wearing a lab coat. To their surprise this man was the next person to speak.
"Bloody hell guys would you turn down those lights? You're gonna make these poor kids blind."
The police did as they were told and dimmed the lights. The man then approached them, while being followed by an odd looking pokémon that looked like a cross between a psyduck, oshawott and bibarel.
"Well, well, well, looks like we have a couple of fugitives trying to sneak into the lovely Stralia Region," said the man. "Ash Ketchum isn't it?
He spoke in a broad nasally accent that made him difficult to understand.
"How'd you know we were coming?" asked Ash, a little scared about what might happen.
"Ah, well you see this region has a lot of great and loyal pokémon if ya can train em right," said the man as an odd bird like pokémon landed on his arm. "This little beauty is a kookoberra. A little native flying pokémon from this part of the world. We use these little guys to patrol the seas around our region. We've known you've been coming for the last few days."
"What's that thing behind you? It looks weird, but also adorable," stated Bonnie pointing at the odd looking pokémon that had followed the man to the beach.
"Ah, this is a platipes the water starter we offer to new trainers. And one of me personal favourites," said the man giving the pokémon a pat. "He followed ya through the ocean."
Gary however felt he should ask the question they were all dreading.
"We're gonna be denied entry, aren't we?"
The man looked at them and said, "Not necessarily. I'll admit I've heard of the allegations made against Ash. And if I'm honest it sickens me that anyone would do that to their poor pokémon."
"I swear to you I never drugged my pokémon. Please you gotta believe me," pleaded Ash.
"I don't have to believe nothing. The only thing I'm gonna believe is cold hard facts. And if the facts say ya haven't drugged ya pokemon, you might just have a place here," said the man. "The name's Professor Gidyea. Welcome to the Stralia Region."
Thanks for reading. Please let me know what you think in the comments. Furthermore, a reviewer by the username of Northstar Pokeshipper expressed the desire for Max to escape his current situation. I wasn't planning to do this till much later, but I also have a way he can escape and join everyone else in the Stralia Region. I'm going to leave it up to a vote. Please let me know if you'd like Max to escape and join everyone else, or if you'd prefer him to remain in his current situation until Ash can confront the traitors. Whichever option gets the most votes is the one I'll go with.
