Hello readers and welcome to my new chapter. Been a while since I last updated; got to focusing on my other fics, which took attention away from this one for a bit. Sorry about that. Don't worry though, I don't plan to give up on this one anytime soon. There's a lot I want to do in this fic, and plenty of battles I want to create/re-create, so I won't be losing interest anytime soon (Though I'll likely find myself stuck a lot).
Anyways, let's begin this chapter. Here, we're gonna continue with Ash and Misty getting out of the cave, and traveling through the Viridian Forest. I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Pokemon series.
Chapter 7: Dreams of the Past, Preparation for the Future
"So, any idea on where we should go?"
Once they felt certain that no Beedrills were out searching for them, Ash and Misty took the time to look out the cave. The area looked vaguely familiar to Ash, but he couldn't be sure whether they were closer to Viridian or Pewter. Heck, an entire different town could be closer.
"No, I don't." Misty replied, shaking her head. "I try not to go through the Viridian forest much thanks to all the… bugs; so I can't say that I know the area well."
Ash had to hold back a laugh from MIsty's fearful shivering at her mention of bugs. Guess that no matter how many things change, Misty's fear of bug-types will always remain the same. Makes him wonder if she noticed Caterpie yet…
"Well, let's try the GPS on my Pokedex then." The Pallet trainer suggested, pulling out the device. "Hopefully, it can guide us to Viridian or another nearby city."
That feature of the Pokedex was something Professor Oak made sure they all knew about, though Ash felt that the info was specifically for him. Even in an alternate timeline, his lack of direction still plague him.
Though, a part of him can't help but wonder, did the Pokedex have a GPS in the previous timeline?
...He'll just say no, and leave it at that. Just another timeline difference. Yep.
Meanwhile, Pikachu was taking the time catching up with Caterpie and Pidgeotto, after ensuring that none of Misty's pokemon would listen in. At first, the mouse was going to talk about going to tell them about the battle at the ranch, informing them of what happened on his and Ash's ends.
But after thinking about it, he held that off for a later story. After all, the Tauros herd alone would confuse poor Caterpie, while Pidgeotto would likely be interested in the number of flyers Ash has collected over the years. So best to start from the beginning.
"So Charmander managed to fully evolve after I left?" Caterpie asked, slightly surprised.
"Yep." Pikachu nodded. "Though after he evolved into Charmeleon and then Charizard, he ended up with quite a rebellious streak with Ash."
"Really?" Caterpie asked, frowning in confusion. "But I could've sworn that Charmander was pretty loyal to Ash."
"He was. But that power boost got way over his head, and made him unbearably arrogant." Pidgoetto huffed through her beak. "Thought that he didn't need Ash anymore to get stronger, and would just laze around most of the time when he gets called."
Pikachu chuckled at that. "Yeah, there's no denying that Charizard developed a massive ego with his evolutions." He said. "But that was stopped during the Orange Islands."
That got the bird to perk up. "Really?" Pidgeotto inquired. "Ash finally managed to get him to listen?"
"Yep. After a gym match against a pretty strong Poliwrath." Pikachu explained. "The battle ended with Charizard frozen and beaten; after that, Ash spent the entire night de-thawing Charizard, even with how difficult the big guy was being."
That got a huff from Pidgeotto. "That sounds like Ash, alright." The bird pokemon muttered, a hint of fondness in her tone.
"Definitely." Caterpie nodded, pleased that his trainer never lost that sense of compassion. "So did that manage to get through Charma- Charizard's head?"
"Oh, it definitely did." Pikachu confirmed with a firm nod. "To the point where Charizard became one of Ash's most loyal and most powerful Pokemons."
Pidgeotto looked happy at that. "I'm glad that Ash was able to get through that stubborn fire lizard." She chirped.
"Yeah, Ash has definitely grown as a trainer ever since you guys left." Pikachu sighed in reminiscence, recalling the adventures and achievements they've made. "You would be surprised at the number of tricks he picked up during his travels, and the number of pokemon he managed to catch."
"You did say that you guys traveled through several regions." Pidgeotto noted. "So, what other Pokemon did Ash manage to catch?"
"Well, you already know about Kingler and Muk." Pikachu began listing off. "Not to mention our little Tauros herd."
"Wait, Tauros herd?!" Caterpie cut in, shock clear in his voice.
In response, Pikachu chuckled, having expected that reaction. "Yeah. Caught the fellas at the Safari Zone; definitely one of our more interesting days at the time."
Before Caterpie could inquire more about this, their trainer called out to them. "Hey guys! We're gonna head out!" Ash stated, prompting all three pokemon to turn towards him. "Found a route to Pewter City through the Pokedex; so we're gonna go there."
The statements caused the three to look apprehensive, giving one another quick glances. Ash, realizing the reason for the apprehension, sighed and said, "Misty helped me find the route, don't worry."
That gained various looks of relief, earning a dirty look from their trainer. "Return." He grumbled, holding out pokeballs for Caterpie and Pidgeotto.
However, before they could be returned, Caterpie quickly spoke up. "Wait! Before we go, there's something I want to do first…" That caused Ash to pause, a confused look across his face.
That confusion turned into surprise when Caterpie was enveloped in a white light, quickly morphing into his second evolution. Ash watched as his first capture evolved back into a Metapod once again. When the light faded, revealing the cocoon pokemon, a large smile entered the trainer's face.
"Awesome, you evolved Metapod!"
The shout, of course, got the attention of Misty, who had just returned her own pokemon. That also led to her looking directly at the newly evolved Metapod.
Well, at least he knew that Misty didn't notice the bug-type, judging by her frightened scream.
*Hoenn Region*
Thankfully for Taillow, it didn't take too long to find any trace of one of his Hoenn companions. That trace was none other than Sceptile's scent, who has lived in the same forest as he did and is likely around the old tree.
So the Tiny Swallow pokemon flew to the direction of that scent, keeping an eye out for any visible scenes for the likely turned Treecko. It was only when the scent got incredibly stronger that the flying-type decided to land on one of the branches.
"Sceptile! Are you around?!" For a moment, it seemed like Taillow was merely yelling at the trees around him. Several seconds later, something jumped on one of the branches in front of him; that something being a Treecko.
A Treecko with a familiar twig in his mouth; as well as a crossed look across his face.
"I'm guessing you aren't happy with our little arrangement?" Taillow remarked.
"Once we see those Ultra Beasts again, I'm gonna make them regret making us travel back in time." The wood gecko growled. "Now I have to work from square one to gain back my full strength!"
"That's a no, then." Was all Taillow could say to the threat. "Does this mean you're coming with me to find Ash?"
"I am." The former Sceptile nodded firmly. "I've… accepted the fact that my ancestral home is going to die. And Ash will need all the help he can get. I'm not gonna abandon him, and I won't just wait till he gets to Hoenn."
"What about your family?" Taillow inquired, tilting his head.
Treecko sighed. "I plan to say my good-byes, but I was never really close to anyone in particular. I'm not the most social pokemon, remember?"
That was a good point. It did take a bit of time for Treecko to get along with the Hoenn group, after all. "Alright, then." Taillow bopped his head in acceptance. "I'll wait here while you settle things with your family."
Nodding in thanks, Treecko began branch hopping, likely in the direction of the old tree and his clan; leaving Taillow to wait at the tree, the little swallow thinking of where to find the others.
*Viridian Forest*
"There he is!" Up inside the tree lines, were the trio known as Jessie, James, and Meowth. The three were currently taking up their new stalking mission, having finally found the boy, Ash Ketchum. "That's our target, alright!"
"Who's the girl, there?" Meowth asked, looking at the shivering red-head. "Girlfriend?"
"Didn't see her before, so who can say…" James replied with a shrug.
"Just more info we need to gather, so keep quiet and let's follow them." With that command from Jessie, the trio stealthily went from tree to tree.
Meanwhile, Misty was desperately trying to ignore the bug-type presence beside her. "D-Do you really need to keep h-him out?"
Ash smiled apologetically as held Metapod to his person. "Sorry. I just want Metapod to evolve before we go to Pewter, and keeping him out of his pokeball helps in that."
"Yeah, I would really like to not fight Brock's Onix if I don't have to…" Pikachu said, shuddering at the memories of the last time. That was both scary and humiliating for the electric-type.
Not as bad as getting beaten by a fresh-from-the-lab Snivy, but still bad.
Though still shivering, Misty looked at Ash curiously. "Does this mean you're planning to challenge the gym there?"
"You bet!" Ash confirmed, pumping a fist with one hand while keeping a firm grip on Metapod with the other. A determined smile entered his lip. "I plan to enter the Indigo League and win it all!"
While one of his newer goals is to save the world from Team Galactic and the ultra beasts, that won't stop him from competing in Pokemon Leagues nor stop his goal in becoming a Pokemon Master. If anything, these goals co-align with one another, since all three goals require him and his Pokemon getting stronger. So he doesn't plan on skipping anything.
"Then is it really a good idea to challenge a rock-type gym with the pokemon you have; with many of the rock-types also having ground-typings?"
That melted the determined smile into a sheepish chuckled. "It's not like I'm going into the gym unprepared." Ash defended himself. "I got a few ideas I'm thinking of to counter that little hurdle; and if I can help it, I won't be using Pikachu. Though he'll learn a few moves just in case."
"Iron Tail, here I came…" Pikachu said to himself, pumping his paws.
Misty still looked skeptical, but didn't press on the issue. "What are the ideas you have in mind?"
"Well, the first thing I'll do is get Pidgeotto to learn Steel Wing…"
Thus began the discussion of strategies to face the Pewter city gym; and as Ash explained his ideas to Misty, Team Rocket continued to stealthily follow the two, with James writing down anything they deemed important about the boy.
*Pallet Town: Original Timeline*
"Charizard, flamethrower on the buff-looking Pokemon!"
It was chaos at Professor's Oak Ranch. One moment, Ash was introducing three of his Kalos Pokemon to the rest of his ever-growing family; then the next moment, portals started appearing around the ranch.
It wasn't long before strange looking Pokemon started coming through these portals. Next thing Ash knew, several of them shot themselves straight at him, the intent to kill clear. If it wasn't for Muk pushing him down and tanking those attacks, he wasn't that he would've survived.
Now, he and his team were in a large-scale battle, trying to push back the ever-growing numbers of Pokemon coming through the portals. A group of his strongest formed up around him, Snorlax and Muk acting as his shields while Krookodile and Sceptile performed as the spears. Charizard was above him with several of his other flyers, fighting off the flying-types of the attackers.
The rest were scattered everywhere, doing whatever they could to hold off the onslaught.
Torterra acting as a shield to the smaller Pokemon.
Corphish riding on Swellow, shooting Bubble Beam after Bubble Beam.
Infernape, Quilava, and Donphan bouncing off pokemon after pokemon with Rollout or Flame Wheel.
The Tauros herd trampling over whatever's in their path.
It became complete anarchy throughout the entire field. Ash swore he even caught other Pokemon outside of his team, likely some of Gary's, fighting off the attackers; but all of his focus had to be placed on his group.
"Gible, fire Draco Meteor at the thicker groups!" Ash called out as loudly as he could. "Bulbasaur, help keep the smaller Pokemon grouped toge- BOLDORE, BLOCKED THAT ATTACK WITH ROCK BLAST!"
It's only thanks to years of traveling and experience with life-threatening situations that kept Ash from going into a full panic. Where are these Pokemon coming from? Why are they attacking him and his team? Has anyone noticed this battle happening? How many more are going to show up?
All questions had to be pulled into a halt when one of those pokemon, a very muscular bug-type judging by it's physic, rammed into Muk and pushed him back. "Muk!"
"Muuukkkk!" The poison-type groaned out, trying to plant himself firmly onto the ground. Unfortunately, this grapple left a gap in the defense setup for Ash, one that the attackers eagerly went for. A purple, needle-looking pokemon flew at the trainer, the needle part of it glowing purple and aimed straight at him.
However, that attack was put to a stop with a Volt-Tackle to the side, coming from none other than Pikachu. The electric move pushed the (From what Ash can guess) poison-type away, the electric-type landing and letting out an aggressive "Pika-Pika!".
"Thanks, Pikachu!" Ash called out to his buddy. "Been a while since I've seen you use Volt Tackle!"
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded in return, keeping an eye out for any other pokemon aiming for an easy kill.
Muk, meanwhile, managed to push back his opponent with a Sludge Bomb to the face. One moment later, Krookodile came over and struck the bug-type with a Dragon Claw, giving the poison-type the chance to move back in position.
This continued for a long time; the strange-looking Pokemon aiming to kill aim, Ash's whole team defending him, and Ash himself giving out as many commands as he could.
But they are tiring. He can see it. His team are holding out as best they could, and considering the unconscious bodies littered about that's saying a lot; but more and more of these Pokemon are still coming. Eventually, they are going to get overwhelmed.
Just as Ash thought that, as he was thinking about what to do in the midst of this battle… felt his mind clenched. "Huh?!" Already on edge with this battle, the young trainer took the feeling with no positivity. "What was-?!"
"Prepare yourself, Chosen One." A mystical voice, one very familiar, echoed in his mind. "This will be a painful experience."
"Wait, hold on!" Ash exclaimed loudly, becoming even more on guard. "Just who are-?!"
At the moment… Ash felt the entire world spin. And in the midst of that, all he could feel was pain.
"AAAAHHHHH!" His eyes shot wide, the young trainer shot up from his sleeping bag. He let out erratic breaths, as he unconsciously moved his arms to hold his head.
"Ash!" Suffice to say, his shout woke up Pikachu, who jumped up in both alarm and worry. "Are you alright?! What happened?"
The fourteen-year old didn't say anything; merely let out the erratic breaths, his fingers gripped tightly around his cranial. His eyes shook as the phantom pain of the mind-merge echoed through his brain.
"Ash…" Pikachu called out again, worried for his trainer. The electric-type even went over and shook him, trying to get a reaction.
"I'm… I'm fine, Pikachu." Ash eventually managed to speak out. His quick breaths finally started to slow, along with his heart. With one more breath, he continued speaking. "Just a bad dream, that's all."
That earned a sympathetic look from his buddy. "It was about the ultra beasts, wasn't it?"
Ash could only nod, still shaken from the phantom feeling of the merge. That pain… it was unlike anything he ever experienced in his life. He could describe it as having needles piercing his head, or the most unimaginable headache in the world, and it still wouldn't accurately describe what he had felt.
He wasn't even sure if he could call it physical pain. He had felt headaches before, and that fell far from a usual headache.
"Did Misty…?" Ash trailed off, turning to where his friend was sleeping. He sighed in relief when he saw the water-type trainer still sleeping soundly. "Glad I didn't wake her."
"Considering the day we had, I'm not surprised she's knocked out." Pikachu remarked, his head also turned towards her. "You probably would be too, if not for that dream."
"Yeah…" Not feeling tired at the moment, Ash wiggled out of his sleeping bag and sat behind a nearby tree. His back leaned on the trunk as the trainer gazed up at the stars.
As he let his mind wander, his thoughts went to the ultra beasts. In the past, he would probably feel excited about their existence. A new species of Pokemon, coming from another world/dimension? There's no way he wouldn't be eager to see them!
But that entire battle, as well as the knowledge as to what they did, put a complete stop to any excitement he would've felt. Now, he could think as to how he and his team could handle these ultra beasts. Because it won't be as simple as facing the fight with guts and determination.
"What's on your mind?" Pikachu inquired, the yellow mouse curled up beside his trainer.
"Just wondering how we're going to face the ultra beasts, that's all." Ash answered, his eyes still focused on the night sky. "I mean, training is an obvious one. But how can we deal with Pokemon that can teleport anywhere in the world?"
That also put the pokemon in thought. "That's a tough question." Pikachu admitted. "But I think it's one we can save for later. We managed to stop or calm down who knows how many legendaries; what's an army of alien Pokemon for us?"
That got a chuckle from Ash. "Good to see you're still so confident, buddy."
"You bet I'm confident! Those ultra beasts only got the jump on us thanks to Cryus, and the fact that we didn't know about them!" Pikachu stated, his cheeks sparking. "They don't have the element of surprise anymore! And once we take down Cryus and Team Galactic for good, that's another advantage they'll never get!"
Ash's smile got wider, his hand moving to pet the yellow mouse. "You're right." He stated. "Now's not the time to wonder how to deal with the ultra beasts. The only thing we can do is train for that day!"
This'll probably won't get rid of the nightmares, and they'll likely stay for a long while; but he can ease himself of any worries for the future.
XXXX
Turns out, training to get their abilities back was easier than Ash had thought. While it requires plenty of hard work for Pikachu and the others to get back their movesets, they still have the knowledge and memories of those moves.
Thus, they only need the power.
With Pikachu, he's working gathering and maintaining the metallic energy around his tail, while also moving around with the energy in his tail. Once he's able to maintain the white, metallic form, he plans to strengthen it by hitting one of the trees.
With Pidgeotto, instead of re-learning any moves, she moved to learn Steel Wings. Like Pikachu, she's trying to gather metallic energy into her wings while flying around the area. However, since she never learned the move, it's more difficult for the flying-type.
As for Metapod… or rather-
"Free!"
The newly evolved Butterfree; Butterfree is taking the time to regain Psybeam, something he had learned during his time with his mate. Due to being a wild bug-type, he had to learn more heavy-hitting moves to compensate for his rather weak frame; and Psybeam was the perfect move for that end.
And in order to regain that move, the butterfly was focusing on gathering psychic energy around his mouth, condensing it to a more solid form to be used as a beam and keeping it in a stable state.
They were training like this ever since morning. While Ash was unsure whether or not it was okay for them to train, considering they were hit with bombs yesterday, all three of his Pokemon insisted that they were okay. They all wanted to get back to full strength as soon as possible, and then some, for the preparation of the battles to come against Team Galactic, the Ultra Beasts, and whatever else to come.
Seeing that he couldn't disagree or dissuade them, Ash could only encourage and help with their training. Currently, he was helping Pidgeotto, the only pokemon of his three that was learning a new move rather than re-learning a previous one.
"C'mon Pidgeotto, you're doing well!" Ash called out to his first bird, smiling. "You're getting closer to forming that steel wing! Just keep a stronger hold on it!"
"Pidgo!" Was the response from Pidgeotto, as she flew around in wide arcs. A strained look was across her face as she attempted to hold the metallic energy surrounding her wings.
"Your Pokemon are doing really well." Misty mused in observation, standing beside Ash. "But is it really okay for them to be training right now?"
Ash couldn't help but shrug helplessly. "They wanted to train. I'm fine with waiting till they get healed up in a Pokemon Center, but they all insist that they're okay."
"They seem surprisingly loyal, considering how long they've been with you. Didn't you say you just started your journey?"
That got an awkward laugh from the Pallet trainer. "I guess fighting a crazy, aura-hunting Samurai was a great bonding experience…" He'll probably need to come up with good lies in the future, won't he…?
Shaking his head, Ash turned his eyes back towards his Pokemon. A shine entered his eyes as he watched his Pokemon train their hardest.
It's only been a few days since the whole time-travel thing, but he had missed this. He and his Pokemon, training their hearts out, preparing for the next Gym Battle, League, or any other event that comes their way.
Of course, this training is also to prepare for the conflicts to come. But that was a minor detail at the moment. Ash let himself focus on the familiar routine that had been built up through years of traveling.
And that's the end. I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Next up will likely be Ash and Misty arriving at Pewter City, along with Ash's first gym battle in the new timeline. Speaking of, do you guys want Brock to be traveling with them just like in canon? Or do you think he would serve little to no purpose in the long run? Just curious on what you guys think. Review, favorite, and follow and I will see you guys later.
