Chapter 33 Back to Kanto Again:
Okay, wasn't sure whether I would do this one or some other fanfic now that I'm doing all of them again. But decided to go with this one since I already had the basic plot written out. Sorry I missed last weeks chapter, I just decided to finish off my Avatar the Last Airbender one and get it out of the way.
Now before I get into the story, I just want to respond to Advanceshipper's review in my other Ash and May story, Love in Hoenn. Just in case he hasn't seen my reply in the reviews. While I appreciate that you review a lot, Advanceshipper (or as your guest name was last time, Pokemon Fan) but continually doing the same message isn't something I like. You keep saying you don't want to see Drew come and flirt with May. I've already told you in the author's notes of one of the earlier chapters in that story that if Drew does appear he and May will be strictly rivals, no need to continue bringing it up, its rather annoying after seeing the same thing three times. Please comment on something else next time in my other advanceshipping story. As for the rest of you, feel free to review this story and the other one, but please don't repeat the same message over and over again. Comment on the current chapter or how you like the story, or dislike it, just don't be too harsh please. Reviews and comments should be used for constructive criticism. Also from one of my previous reviewers for this story, I don't plan on having him meet Roxanne or any of the gym leaders from other regions since they're busy fending off Team Rocket attacks there as well. Maybe Laura Laramie, but we'll see. Aha, I managed to get her! Sorry for the long notes, here we go.
With the rays of light to fly them back, Ash and May headed back to Kanto. They were going fast, so at least they managed to get there before it was dark. They arrived in Vermillion city like they had just over a week ago when they first came back after finishing their journeys in Sinnoh and Johto respectively. They got in close to the shore and walked up the beach hand in hand, Manaphy in May's arms.
"Uh! Good to be back on dry land!" Ash said.
"Yeah," May agreed.
"Mana! Mana!" Manaphy exclaimed as he jumped out of his mother figures arms and onto the beach. "Land! Land!"
Ash and May chuckled as they realized Manaphy hadn't been on land in over a year. They felt the power coursing through them fade as they got further away from the sea.
"So what do we do now Ash?" May asked once she picked Manaphy up again.
"Well we were gone for a few days. We need to find out where the others went. Lets head to the Pokemon Center and call Professor Oak's lab," Ash said.
They did so, finding the Vermillion Pokemon Center unusually crowded. Ash got a video phone and called the lab in Pallet Town. Someone did pick up, but it wasn't human.
"Bulbasaur!" Ash's Bulbasaur exclaimed.
"Bulbasaur!" Ash said in surprise. "Wow, you're able to run a phone yourself?"
"Bulba." Bulbasaur raised a vine whip up and down as if to say more or less.
"There any sign of Professor Oak there?" May asked.
"Bulbasaur," the bulb pokemon shook his head.
"Okay, well I hope everythings okay. You just hang in there and make sure everyone at the lab is okay," Ash said.
Bulbasaur nodded. Ash hung up and looked at May.
"Well, do you know any other numbers that might help?" she asked.
Ash stroked his chin, trying to think.
"Maybe Brock's family in Pewter City or Misty's sisters in Cerulean city."
Before they call either of those though, there was a image on the Pokemon Center TV. To their horror, Ash and May both saw Giovanni on it.
"All remaining cities are reminded to submit to Team Rocket rule. You will hand your pokemon over to me or join Team Rocket and be able to keep them. If you do not… what happened to Saffron will befall other cities as well."
The image then changed to a smoking pile of ruins. Saffron City had been destroyed! Ash and May's eyes widened in surprise and disbelief.
"They destroyed Saffron? How?" May exclaimed.
"A huge battle ship!" a trainer in the center nearby said. "Wait… Ash?"
The woman was several years older but Ash recognized her blue hair and farm like attire with the bandana.
"Laura?" Ash exclaimed. "Been a long time!"
"Sure has!" Laura Laramie said. "I saw you on TV a week ago! You were possessed and forced to do the previous attack!"
"Yeah," Ash admitted sadly.
"It wasn't your fault," Laura said seeing his expression. "I heard you went missing too! Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Ash said. "Do you know what happened to my friends and mom?"
Laura shook her head. "I came here to try and help out defending my region with Rapidash but it looks like a lot of Pokemon Trainers are scared."
Looking around, many trainers were looking at their pokemon in concern. No doubt seeing the attack on Saffron had scared them all, even Ash was shaken from seeing the damage done.
"What do we do Ash?" May asked. "We can't just give up our Pokemon to be used by Team Rocket! Who knows how those crooks would treat them!"
Ash sighed. "Jessie and James cared about their Pokemon, but I don't think all the rest of Team Rocket are the same. Destroying an entire city… they don't deserve another chance. They have no heart! And they have to be stopped."
"You're right about that," a voice said.
Ash looked over his shoulder. "Sabrina!"
The Psychic pokemon trainer's eyes were watering. By her side stood Anthony, Haunter, and Primeape. "My parents were… killed in the attack!"
Ash's mouth fell open. He stepped forward and hugged the gym leader who he'd once considered the meanest of them all.
"Oh I'm sorry Sabrina."
"I was looking for you ever since your friends returned and said you disappeared with my psychic powers," Sabrina said. "But I couldn't sense you until just now so I teleported to you with Anthony."
The fighting type trainer looked at Ash and then to Primeape. "Well you certainly were gone a long time Ash. But I think Primeape still misses you."
Ash looked at Primeape. "Sorry for forgetting you, old friend. I was a pretty bad trainer sometimes huh?"
"Primeape!" Primeape shook his head and extended a fist in friendship.
Ash smiled. "Thanks Primeape! Welcome back to the team!"
He and Primeape bumped fists. Anthony then handed Ash Primeape's pokeball.
"I can take you back to the rest of your friends," Sabrina said.
Her eyes, though sad, glowed with her psychic powers. She teleported them all back to where she'd been before. It was a place Ash hadn't been in a long time. The Cerulean Gym. He saw Pikachu, Brock, Misty, her sisters, and the rest of his and May's friends and family, as well as Jessie, James, and Meowth. They were all safe… at least for the moment.
"Ash!" Delia shouted in relief.
"May!" Caroline exclaimed as well.
"Pika! Pi!" Pikachu ran to his trainer and jumped into his arms.
"Good to see you too buddy!" Ash said before turning to his. "Everyone okay?"
"Yeah… for the moment," Brock said. "But did you hear about Saffron?"
Ash nodded. "I can't believe it!"
Sabrina sniffled. "I was such a terrible daughter to my parents and now they're both gone!"
"Our gym in Saffron was destroyed too!" Rebecca said.
"It's alright Rebecca!" Anthony said as he walked over to his daughter and put a hand on her shoulder. "We'll pull through."
Brock did the same on the other shoulder. "Yeah, home is where the heart is. And family is what matters most. As long as you have each other, you'll be fine."
Rebecca smiled at him with a blush. "Thanks Brock."
"Are you okay May?" Norman asked his daughter as he walked up.
"Yes," May said.
Max noticed the pokemon in her arms. "Is that… Manaphy?"
"Yeah," May said. "Manaphy, meet your grandma and grandpa!"
"Mana! Mana!" the water type said.
"Oh its so cute!" Misty's eldest sister Daisy said.
"Yeah," Dawn agreed.
"Too bad we'll have to give it up to Team Rocket!" Violet said.
"What?" Ash exclaimed.
"You saw what happened to Saffron!" Lily said. "You want that to happen to you too?"
Misty looked sad. "I may not be a fan of taking the easy way like my sisters, but this is really bad Ash!"
Ash looked around and saw all of his friends looked as though they'd lost hope.
Okay… so now everyone's really scared by what Giovanni did. Its up to Ash to rally them! Soon it will be time to face Giovanni. See you again in about three weeks or so. Please review, but don't be repetitive. Also, I have considered having one last other villain from Pokemon be included. Dr. Yung. I thought maybe the pokemon on board the Rocket Battle ship could be mirage Pokemon. What do you guys think? That would probably require a little editing maybe. But we'll see. Later.