Hello readers and welcome to my new chapter. So, apologies for taking a while with this chapter. Was really stuck with how to proceed on this one… then I got distracted by Mass Effect: Legendary Edition.

Had to buckle down with this chapter. And after several rewrites and rearranging, I think I managed to come up with a satisfactory chapter, if a bit short and somewhat lackluster. Nonetheless, I hope you guys enjoy it.

P.S. The main problem is Misty, if I'm being honest. Not sure if I should stick to her canon characterization (At least mostly), or change her up some (With a few ideas coming to mind). What do you guys think?

Disclaimer: I do not own the Pokemon series.

Chapter 5: Reunion with the Released

The trio of Jessie, James, and Meowth are well known as the most incompetent members of Team Rocket.

Ever since they had joined, Giovanni had seen them fail mission after mission, with only so few successful ones. The only reason he hasn't fired or executed the three are mainly due to their abnormally strange loyalty to him. Plus, when they do succeed, they do so in major ways.

He also found humor in the failures. Whenever they come up to report their failures, they often come soaked, burnt, bruised, frozen, or all those things at once. He even made it an idle game as to how they would come in.

However, when the trio (And their pokemon) came into his office, crashing into the roof of the building… he can honestly say that this was a first for the three.

"...This is new." Giovanni remarked dryly. Thankfully, he had a repair budget solely just for accidents caused by these three. "So, did you decide to try and capture a Dragonite? A Gyarados? A mildly pissed off Snorlax?"

"We're sorry boss!" Untangling themselves, as well as returning their pokemon, the incompetent trio bowed their head towards their leader in apology. James was the one to continue speaking. "We got beaten by a beginner trainer at the pokemon center! He-!"

"Really? A rookie?" Giovanni deadpanned in clear disappointment. "The three of you couldn't handle one rookie?"

"It wasn't just a regular rookie Boss!" Meowth protested. "He clearly knew his stuff! And I swear, that Pikachu of his is more powerful than it looked!"

"Meowth's right; it wasn't just a regular rookie." Jessie added. "It was an aura user; one that has training."

That last part caught Giovanni's attention. "An aura user?" He asked with clear interest.

All three of them nodded rapidly. "See for yourself, boss." Meowth suggested. "We fought the kid at the Viridian pokemon center, so you should have access to footage there."

The Team Rocket boss did so, pulling up his laptop and accessed one of the many hidden cams across Viridian (Benefit of setting his base right under this city). And in doing so, he witnessed this rookie trainer playing with his minions like a fiddle, along with said trainer pulling up a barrier.

However, it wasn't just the fact that he's using aura that caught the crime boss' attention. It was also who was doing it.

'So Ash Ketchum, you finally started your journey…' Giovanni mused to himself, smirking. 'Well, it's time to see what mark you will make on this world; and how beneficial or detrimental you can become for Team Rocket.'

"Fortunately for the three of you, your failure still seemed to bear some potential fruit." The boss spoke up, causing the trio in front of them to jolt nervously. "I want you to watch this boy from now on; this will be your primary task, until I say otherwise. Report back to me everything he does; from what pokemon he catches, down to who he dates. Keep me informed of this boy's growth at all times, and don't assume that any detail is too small! Understood?"

"Yes sir!" Jessie, James, and Meowth exclaimed, saluting. Inwardly, the trio wonder why the boss gained an interest in this kid. But, they quickly concluded it's likely due to him being an aura user. The three then left to do their assigned task, leaving Giovanni to muse to himself.

The Team Rocket leader wasn't too worried about the trio. Despite being incompetent much of the time, they are fairly good at reconnaissance. There weren't that many times where those skills were of use to him, but now is the time. 'Time to pay back the debt I owe you, old friend…' Giovanni thought to himself, smirking.

*Kalos Region*

As Goodra got stronger and evolved during his travels with Ash, when he protected his friends from those bully pokemon, the dragon-type thought he would never have to fear anyone ever again.

However, once those strange yet powerful pokemon showed up and attacked… for a moment, he felt like that weak, pitiful Goomy he was in the beginning.

Then he gained the message from Azelf during that fight for his life and the lives of his friends… and ended up back as that very same Goomy.

Only he doesn't feel weak and pitiful. He felt determined and ready to fight. Maybe even slightly pissed off.

'Once I evolve once again and face those beasts, they're gonna face the anger of a dragon!' The Goodra turned Goomy thought angrily. The soft tissue pokemon was currently floating around the pond of his wetland home, waiting for the others to get him.

While he could try to look for himself, he's not a fast pokemon, and rain dance can only get him so far before he's attacked and/or eaten by any wild pokemon out there. So he'll have to wait for his fellow Kalos pokemon to come find him (Hopefully).

"Goodra? Goodra, is that you?" A young, melodic voice called out from above. Goomy looked up to see a little Fletchling flying towards him.

There's only Fletchling that would refer to him as his evolved form. "Talonflame!" Goomy cheered happily, his anger diminishing for the moment. As the little bird landed, the dragon-type continued. "Yes, it's me Goodra! Do you know any other Goomy that came from these wetlands?"

That caused the little robin pokemon to trill and jump around in joy. "Hooray! I knew you would be the first one I found if I just came here! I just knew it!" Calming himself down a little, the Talonflame turned Fletchling tilted his head curiously. "So, what happened to you before we all travelled back in time? Do you face those ultra beasts too?"

Goomy's face darkened at the memories of those… things. "I did." He answered with a slight nod. "They appeared out of nowhere, attacking everyone living here." Goomy's face twisted with a mix of anger and grief. "Some were hurt badly. Some were even killed. And I…" Despite all the strength he had gained, he still couldn't protect his friends.

Fletchling chirped sadly, butting his head against Goomy's slimy cheeks. "There wasn't any more you could've done; that any of us could've done. Those ultra beasts took us by surprise. I doubt anyone had time to prepare."

That didn't make the dragon-type feel any better. Seeing this, Fletching quickly continued. "And besides, we got a second chance! We can prepare to face those pokemon, and keep that from happening again!"

Slowly, Goomy took in Fletching's words. Then, he set his face from one of grief and anger, to one of determination. "Yes, you're right." Goomy said in agreement. "So, does this mean that we'll be heading straight to Ash?"

"Yes." Fletching chirped with a nod. "We could wait here for Ash, maybe even train some, but who knows how long it'll take for him to get here? Besides, we pokemon generally get stronger faster with a trainer. So going to him is our best bet."

Goomy voiced no disagreements. As much as he loves his home here, he wants to evolve back to a Goodra as soon as possible. Plus, he owes Ash everything for getting him where he was previously. If there's ever a time Ash needs him, he would go to him.

"First though, we'll need to find Hawlucha, Noivern, and Greninja." Fletching continued further. "We'll have the best chance at getting to Kanto if we stick together."

Goomy nodded in agreement. "It'll probably be best if you searched without me though. Have everyone meet up here, and then we can all head to Kanto together."

Once again, the robin pokemon tilted his head. "Are you sure? Why not stick together and search?"

"I'm not fast in my Goomy form, even with Rain Dance to soak the soil." Goomy reasoned. "I'll just be slowing you down as you search. Besides… I want to say goodbye to a few friends here."

At that, Fletchling nodded in understanding. "Alright." The flying-type then started flapping his wings, slowly taking off into the air. "I'll be back with the others in two as soon as possible. Just make sure not to get caught or anything while I'm gone!"

"Don't worry!" Goomy called back. "Very few trainers come around this anyways, and the pokemon that attacked us came here years ago. I'll be okay."

Trusting his friend's words, Fletching flew off in search of their other friends. Goomy, meanwhile, turned to where the other pokemon were residing, mentally preparing himself for the talks he's going to have. While he's going to miss everyone, especially Wooper, he needs to do this. To protect them, and assist Ash.

*Pokemon Center: Morning*

When Misty opened her eyes, she was met with an unfamiliar ceiling. At first, she felt confused, wondering where she was, when she fell asleep, and why she wasn't going through the forest.

Soon enough, however, her recent memories came back to her. Seeing that boy jump over a cliff, down the river; a Spearow flock looming over them soon later; being surrounded and clawed at by those murderous birds; the boy pushing them back, revealing himself to be an aura user…

'I'm… alive.' Misty thought in amazement, lifting her hands to her eyes. 'We were surrounded by those Spearows; there was no way out, and that boy… he took them all down. Saved both of us.'

The most amazing part of this was the boy, that aura user, didn't even attempt to run away by himself. He could've done so, and would've had a better chance in living. Yet he stayed there; risked his life to save hers, when anyone else would've just…

She heard stories of aura users; Guardians that were defenders of the innocent, both human and pokemon. But those were just stories, and the boy didn't even look like any sort of Guardian. Just an unassuming rookie.

"Oh, you're awake." Misty turned her head towards the familiar sounding voice, to see a Nurse Joy at the door, a mild look of surprise. "I had guessed that you would wake up a bit later today. Guess I was off in my deduction."

Slowly, Misty sat herself up, in order to better address the nurse. "Nurse Joy? Does this mean I'm at the Pokemon Center?"

The pink-headed nurse nodded. "You had multiple scratch marks around you; none of them deep, but they were numerous enough to risk dying of blood loss. This center was the nearest medical facility, so Officer Jenny took you and Mr. Ketchum here."

The orange-redhead blinked a few times. "Mr. Ketchum?" Is she talking about…?

"The boy that rescued you from those Spearows." Nurse Joy clarified, smiling. "From what I gathered, he carried you halfway to the Pokemon Center before Officer Jenny encountered the both of you."

Hearing that… brought a warm feeling in Misty's chest. "Is he… is he here?" She asked the nurse.

That caused Joy's smile to turn more impish. "Would like to thank your savior, do you?" At the small blush from the water-type trainer, the nurse giggled. "Unfortunately, he isn't right now. He went to the Viridian Forest in search of new pokemon. He said he'll be coming back though."

Misty, who gained a look of disappointment, perked at the last sentence. "He's coming back?"

"Yes. Seems to have taken your health as his responsibility." Nurse Joy stated. "Had to encourage him to go out while he was pacing in the lobby. That boy seemed to have a lot of pent energy inside him…"

Again, the redhead felt her chest go warm, as well her cheeks. Does he really care that much? Enough to be willing to wait for her to wake up, before continuing his journey?

"If you still want to thank him for what he's done, you can wait here." The nurse offered. "It shouldn't take him too long to look around the Viridian Forest, so he should be back by noon at most."

Misty nodded, before gaining a determined look on her face. One she's face to face with that boy again, she is definitely gonna thank him for saving her. Find out what kind of person he is and… possibly even make a friend.

*Viridian Forest*

"You sure it's a good idea to go out while Misty's still asleep?" Pikachu asked Ash. The two were in the Viridian forest, on the search for both Pidgeot and Butterfree. Or rather Pidgeotto and Caterpie. "If she wakes up while we're not at the center, she might leave without us."

"Nurse Joy said that she shouldn't wake up till the afternoon or so." Ash responded back in reassurance. "That should be plenty of time to look for Pidgeot and Butterfree, then come back."

While he would've waited for Misty to wake up, he was getting antsy just waiting around the center. Sure, the free meals and free room was nice (As thanks for driving off Team Rocket); it's just that traveling through six different regions and several various islands had him develop a strong sense of wanderlust.

"If you say so." Pikachu sighed. "Let's just try to be quick about it, just in case she wakes up earlier or something."

"It shouldn't take too long, especially since both of them have their memories."

"Which reminds me, we'll probably have to explain some stuff to them." Pikachu mused. "They probably got the same message as I did, but there's like a few things we'll need to explain to them. We'll also have to call them by their pre-evolved forms, at least until they evolve again."

Ash nodded absentmindedly, his focus more on finding his first two captures than on what Pikachu said.

While he never regret releasing the two of them, one for love while the other to protect, both Butterfree and Pidgeot are still pokemon he missed dearly. To see them again, after so long, is very exciting for the young time traveler.

And thankfully, he didn't have to search for long. "Ash? Ash, up here!"

Immediately, the trainer looked up to the source of the soft-sounding call. And not only did he see his ever captured curled up on one of the branches… but also his second capture, perched up right beside the worm pokemon.

"Butterfree! Pidgeot!" Ash called out excitingly, eyes shining with that same excitement.

The two Pokemon then jumped off the branch, the Butterfree turned Caterpie falling towards Ash, while the Pidgeot turned Pidgeotto merely flew towards him. Both wrapped him in a hug as best they could, with their trainer hugging them back. "It's good to see you two again…" Ash muttered loudly, tearing up. "I miss you…"

"We miss you too." Pidgeotto stated, her wings wrapped around Ash. "It's been so long since we've last seen each other…"

"Yeah. Though I didn't imagine any reunion of ours would involve time travel, of all things." Caterpie mentioned, curled around Ash's shoulder in the form of a hug. He then lifts his head up to stare at Pikachu. "What have you and Ash been up to, to be considered the Chosen One?"

That earned a sheepish laugh from both starter and trainer. "It's a long story, Caterpie…" Pikachu told him.

"We've gone through several other regions after I released you guys..." Ash followed up. His words caused both the bug and flying type to do a double take, registering the fact that he's responding to them.

"Hold a minute…" Caterpie said in shock. "Did he understand us?"

Pikachu nodded. "An ability he got in this timeline. He learned to center his aura around his ears, in order to understand poke-communication."

That earned gobsmack looks from the currently wild pokemons (Though it was harder to tell with Caterpie). "You weren't kidding about the long story, were you...?" Pidgeotto muttered.

"Nope."

So then Ash and Pikachu began summarizing the journey they've been on, after all four of them settled on the forest floor. The two explained their discovery of Ash's aura capabilities in the original timeline, their occurrences with criminal organizations and legendaries, what they went through right before being transferred through time, and the fact they're in an altered timeline.

And due to the fact that they were engrossed in their conversations, as well as Caterpie and Pidgeotto in shock of what they're hearing, none of them notice a hidden figure watching from afar. Not close enough to listen, but far enough to witness things such as Ash performing Aura Ball to prove his aura skills…

"We… really missed a lot since we've been released, haven't we?" Caterpie said in a slightly dazed tone. "I mean, I've seen stuff during my travels with my mate, sure; but this…"

"You really have grown as a trouble magnet, have you Ash?" Pidgeotto deadpanned in wonder. That earned another sheepish chuckle Ash, having no rebuttal to that at the moment…

"What about you guys?" Pikachu inquired, gaining the two pokemons' attention. "Were you fighting the ultra beasts before we all travelled through time?"

That seemed to bring the two out of their shocked state… though the two took a more somber and disturb look.

"My flock and I were fighting against those strange, yet powerful pokemon you're talking about." Pidgeotto was the first to speak. "I tried to defend everyone as best as I could… but many of them were defeated and killed anyway. We probably would've been done for if…" The bird pokemon said no more after that.

"Me and my mate came across those… beasts, as well." Caterpie spoke up, his entire body slumped in sadness. "We tried to run, find a safe place to get away from those things. But they were everywhere, and…" The worm pokemon also went silent, lost in the memories.

Seeing both of his Pokemon in distress, Ash leaned over and gathered the two in a hug. "This won't happen again." He vowed to both of them. "Cyrus won't have the chance to try and alter reality; and I'll stop the ultra beasts from ever attacking this world…"

Pidgeotto and Caterpie leaned into the hug, taking in the comfort of their trainer. "We know." The flying-type of the two said. "And I'll be there with you to stop both of them."

That caused Ash to pull back, eyes wide. "Pidgeotto, you don't have to-"

"I want to." Pidgeotto stated firmly. "Every region is in danger thanks to these ultra beasts, and you were the one chosen to stop it. I can't just stand while you and the others fight!"

Ash, however, shook his head. "You have a flock to protect, Pidgeotto." He reminded her. "I don't want to take you away from that. Plus, I've captured plenty of pokemon during my journey; I'm sure they'll be more than enough to help stop Cyrus and the ultra beasts."

"If I need to, I can convince them to move to Professor Oak's ranch." Pidgeotto argued. "But right now, you need every pokemon available, even if you insist otherwise. The ultra beasts attacked my flock; they aimed to kill you. I won't let them do either."

While she had wanted to be released in order to protect her Pidgey and Pidgeotto flock, the former Pidgeot was as loyal as any other Ash-owned pokemon. Hearing those things attempted to kill her trainer was not something she'll overlook.

Ash can see the resolve in Pidgeotto's eyes; it's clear that he couldn't change his first bird's mind. And seeing that he couldn't convince her otherwise, he relented with a small sigh. "Alright." He gave her a small, yet sincere smile. "Welcome back to the team, Pidgeotto."

That caused the bird pokemon to untense, chirping happily. "I'm happy to be back." She responded back. "Hopefully, before the Spearow flock can become a problem, I can convince my flock to move to Pallet Town…"

"Don't think you'll have to worry about that." Pikachu interjected, gaining the flying-type's attention. "After Ash and I knocked them out, we told Officer Jenny about the flock. Last I heard, she gathered a squad so she could capture the down birds."

That earned an audible sigh of relief from Pidgeotto. "That's definitely a load off my back. Hopefully, that'll be the only problem for my flock…"

Meanwhile, the former Butterfree was notably silent, a look of conflict across his face. Ash, noticing the look from his first capture, was quick to reassure him. "You don't need to stay with me, Caterpie." He told the bug-type, smiling softly at him. "I know you're eager to get back to your mate. Like I said, I have plenty of pokemon out there; so you don't have to feel obligated to fight with me."

"I… thank you, Ash." Caterpie said, with as much sincerity as he could muster. However, the caterpillar pokemon still felt conflicted, though he did his best to hide it.

However, Pikachu managed to notice the discomfort across Caterpie's face. 'Does he feel like he should still help?' The electric mouse wondered. Should he talk to the caterpillar about it later on?

Ash, missing the conflicted look that was still there, grabbed two of his empty pokeball and held them towards his first two pokemon. "So, are you guys ready to restart our journey?" He asked, enlarging both pokeballs in his hands.

In response, both pokemon headbutted the empty balls, letting themselves be enveloped and captured. Even with Caterpie's internal conflict, he still wanted to travel with Ash either way, so he didn't hesitate to get balled.

"Alright!" Pikachu cheered. "Two down, seventy more to go!"

"That's the spirit, buddy!" Ash cheered with him. "Now, let's head back to the pokemon center and-"

"No won't be going anywhere, aura user!"

Alarm bells ranged through Ash's head as he turned towards the source of the voice. He was met with a fast figure charging at him, sword at the ready.

Immediately, he created an aura barrier from his arm and held it up like a shield. Just in time to, as the attacker's sword clashed with his shield, causing sparks.

"What the- Samurai?!" Ash voiced out in shock, getting a good look at his attacker. And indeed, it was none other than the samurai met in the first few days of his journey; however, his samurai garb has gotten an upgrade, with the teen fully decked in armor. He also had a deadly glare that Ash has never seen from the guy before.

"Indeed, I am a samurai!" The Samurai declared, unaware of the familiarity in Ash's tone. "I am also a hunter of aura users! And by my honour, you will be slain!"

And that's the end. Again, I hope you guys found some enjoyment in this chapter. Hopefully, the next one won't be so difficult (Especially if I manage to nail down Misty's character), though I can't promise faster updates or anything. There are other fics I want to focus on.

Next up will be a fight between Ash and the Samurai (Who you can guess is at least somewhat different from the one in canon). Review, favorite, and follow, and I will see you guys later.