Hi Everyone, apologies for the slight delay. This was meant to be up on the 1st, but I've been unwell for the past week and haven't had time to sit down and edit this chapter before I upload it.

Anyway, Enjoy!


Chapter 18 – The Power of One Part 2

Night fell on Shamouti Island, and the banquet had begun. Inside a large hut that was kept up by columns that ringed the roof, people laughed, ate, and drank to the festivities. Pyres lit the room, radiating an inviting heat that warmed the cool outside air.

The tables and chairs, which were carved from large tree stumps, were placed sporadically underneath the leaf-covered roof. People smiled as the music continued to play in the background. Unsurprisingly, Ash, Misty, and Tracey had found themselves seated together at a round table near the stage. Pikachu sat on the table, partaking in the food given to him by Tracey, never losing the worried feeling he had.

"It's ridiculous," Misty muttered as she angrily ate her food. "Me, Ash's girlfriend." Since the incident on the beach, she hadn't calmed down, her anger seething just below the surface. "It's totally ridiculous," she added with a piece of food in her mouth.

Tracey couldn't tell who she was trying to convince, them or herself. She'd been muttering the same sentence for a couple of hours, but neither Tracey nor Ash had reacted. Truthfully, Tracey didn't know how to respond. He was used to Ash's jealous outbursts and Misty's bickering, but he'd never encountered a situation where Misty was the one filled with jealousy. He didn't know if it were Melody's teasing or the kiss she'd planted on Ash's cheek, but Misty had reacted in the worst possible way.

"I can't wait to see what my part in the legend ceremony is going to be," Ash excitedly admitted. In contrast to Misty, he had been jumping for joy for the past couple of hours, which explained why he'd failed to notice Misty's anger.

Misty reacted by taking another angry bite of her food; she didn't care about the ceremony. She only wanted to continue on their journey to Kumquat Island as quickly as possible.

Suddenly, the festive music stopped, and all eyes fell onto the stage. There, wearing a silky cream-coloured white dress that was embroidered with a red hem, was Melody. She wore a flower braided headscarf that tied down a thin veil that covered most of her auburn hair.

She brought the shell-shaped ocarina she held in her hands to her lips and blew into it. The harmonious song she played soothed the crowd, save for one fiery redhead near the stage. The melody continued to play as she twisted a second shell-shaped piece of the ocarina with her right hand.

With her right hand working in combination with her left hand, which blocked several air holes with her fingers, she reached notes across the spectrum. For a brief moment, Ash closed his eyes, allowing the soothing notes to wash over him. He had no idea why, but the song had quelled the strange feeling he'd had for the last few hours.

Swaying to the gentle melody, Melody captivated the audience, who didn't take their eyes off her. Ash, who had reopened his eyes after only momentarily closing them, became entranced by the young girl, never taking his eyes off her.

But behind him, Misty's rage was quietly bubbling to the surface. "Hmm, she's a big show off," she annoyingly muttered, just loud enough for Ash to hear her.

But the boy didn't respond, too mesmerised by the song and Melody's movements to respond.

Slowly, the song came to its conclusion, the final notes of the song fading as Melody stood at the front of the stage, facing the audience. The crowd clapped and cheered, but she wasted no time thanking them; instead, she placed the ocarina in her satchel and ran off the stage.

"Hear ye, All," she continued her little play as she stopped at Ash's table. "From the trio of islands, ancient spheres shall you take, for between life and death, all the difference you'll make." She kneeled next to Ash and looked directly into his eyes. "Oh, Chosen One, you must climb to the shrine to right what is wrong. And the world will be healed by the guardian's song," she added, grabbing Ash's arm.

Misty gasped at Melody's action, then angrily pouted as Ash looked at Melody confused. "Then, what do I do?" he questioned.

"I just told you, Ash," Melody explained in an almost flirty, teasing voice.

"Yeah, I heard all that stuff, but what do I have to do?"

"Oh, it won't be very hard, Ash. Not for you," Melody continued, taking the only free seat at their table. "And besides, almost all the Chosen Ones come back alive."

"Melody!" Carol scolded from the table next to them.

Melody turned towards her older sister, waving her hand dismissively as she winked at her, before turning back to face Ash. "All you have to do is get these glass balls from three islands," Melody explained, reaching for an orange from the fruit platter on the table. "One from Fire Island," she continued, handing the young boy the orange. "One from Ice Island and one from Lightning Island."

Melody grabbed a lemon and a pear in succession, handing them to Ash to represent the three glass balls. "And you bring them to the shrine back here," she added, pulling the ocarina from her satchel. "And then," she continued, jumping up. "I celebrate by playing this song."

She twirled in front of them before placing the ocarina between her lips. She proceeded to play a short snippet of a slightly different melody to the one she'd played earlier. "And then it's over, oh Chosen One," she finished, bowing towards him.

"Do I get to wear a cool costume?" Ash excitedly questioned, but his hopes were dashed when Melody shook her head.

"Sorry, it's just come as you are," she explained, grabbing the pear from Ash's hands and taking a bite. "Besides, you look perfect to me," she added, flirtingly winking at him. "The most handsome Chosen One in years!"

"Okay!" Ash excitedly rose to his feet, stunning Melody. "Get me a boat, and I'm ready!"

"Oh, there's no hurry," Melody dismissed. "You have all day tomorrow. Tonight's just for the party! Stay, have some fun!" she added, pushing Ash back into his seat.

"Well, some things are more important than fun!" Ash replied, stubbornly rising to his feet. "I'm Ash, the Chosen One! This is serious! I've got to be responsible!"

Melody didn't respond. If she were stunned by Ash's initial response, she was even more shocked by his refusal to back down. She'd never known anyone to act on such a strong impulse.

"That's a switch," Misty grumbled from her seat, grabbing a grape and throwing it into her mouth.

"You know what, I like your attitude!" Maren interrupted, approaching the table. "We can take my boat, Ash."

"Then let's go!" Ash happily declared, turning back to his friends. "You coming? Misty?"

Tracey didn't react to not receiving the invitation; he was rather used to it by now. Of the three of them, he knew he was the outlier, but he couldn't help but wonder if it were the same for Brock as it was for him.

"No thanks!" Misty, shocked at having received the invitation but still angry with everything that had happened, declined. "If you want someone to do whatever you want, whenever you want, you should find yourself a girlfriend."

Having been blind to the tense situation of the last couple of hours, Ash was confused by Misty's outburst. She'd never declined an offer of adventure before; why would she begin now?

Realising this was going nowhere, Pikachu grabbed Ash's hat by his teeth and raced off. Both Ash and Misty were shocked, but only Ash took off after his Pokémon.

"Pikachu!" Ash called, following him.

Pikachu raced to the steps of the large hut before turning towards his trainer. "Pika, Pika!" he called before running down the steps.

"Hey, give me back my hat!" He chased his Pokémon, Maren following not far behind.

Melody came to a stop at the top of the steps, completely stunned as she watched the Pokémon and two humans run down the track towards the beach.


Having wasted no time catching up to the Pokémon, Ash and Maren decided to continue when they realised Pikachu had led them to her small ship. Now, Pikachu stood at the front of the boat as he had done hours earlier, watching the three islands grow larger in front of him as the boat raced towards Fire Island.

But, as with hours earlier, the storm had returned.


Silently, Slowking sat inside his solemn cave, watching worryingly as the storm took hold. "Disturb not the harmony of fire, ice, and lightning," he slowly muttered, his eyelids droopily covering half his eyes. Yawning as a large flash of lightning illuminated his grey shell crown, he continued to watch the storm. "What a mess."

He'd waited for this day, and finally, it had come.


Making their way across the small ocean that split Fire Island from Shamouti Island became extremely difficult as the storm blew in. Rain poured down, drenching them, but it was the waves that repeatedly crashed into the boat with an ever-increasing force that made it tricky to navigate.

Maren, realising there was no chance of turning back in such a storm, pressed on, hoping they could make it to Fire Island before the boat capsized.

"I hope the legend ceremony doesn't include a funeral," Ash stated, flinching as another large wave hit the ship.

"It'll be alright," Maren tried to reassure. "We just need to reach the islands before the larger waves hit." But she didn't believe her statement. Silently, she was scolding herself for making such a rash decision. Sure, there hadn't been a hint of the storm when they had departed from the island's pier, but she should have turned back around when she first noticed the lightning in the distance; she was the adult, after all.


At the hut, the wild winds blew out several of the pyres that illuminated the area, adding the dreary effect the storm had brought. Melody watched the storm wash over the island with her sister, both concerned with the ferociousness of the storm.

"This storm's bad," Melody said. She had since replaced her veil with an orange bandana covering her head. "What if those two can't make it to the island?"

Melody continued to stare out at the storm before an idea popped into her head. "Carol, I have to take your boat."

"But, Melody," Carol concerningly replied. "Maren has been travelling these seas for years. I'm sure she knows what she's doing. What can you do?"

"They're caught out in the storm because of our stupid ritual," Melody admitted. "And I'm the one who picked Ash for it. I've been living on this island my entire life, and I have never seen such a storm before."

"More of a reason not to go," Carol argued. "I'm sure Maren will make sure nothing happens to them."

"No." Melody shook her head. "I have to make sure." She turned back towards the Fire Island. "I just hope they're alright."


Racing down to the pier where Carol's boat was anchored, Melody found herself followed by Misty and Tracey, who had figured out what she was doing when she had taken off. Equally concerned for their Friend, Misty and Tracey decided to follow her.

"What are you coming for?" Melody irritatingly questioned Misty as she ran along the pier.

"To find Ash," Misty stubbornly replied. The freezing temperatures brought by the storm had caused her to wear a pink jacket over her yellow tank top. "And before you start saying it is because I secretly like him, don't! Cause I don't!"

"Hey, chill out!" Melody replied. She'd grown impatient by Misty's continued grievances with her. But deep inside, she couldn't help herself but tease the young girl. "You sure are sensitive about somebody that's not your boyfriend!"

"He's not my boyfriend!" Misty angrily rebutted. "He's a boy, and he's a friend, but he's not a boyfriend!"

"Whatever you say, Misty," Melody teased, coming to a halt next to her sister's boat. "Now hop in; this will get us there pretty quickly."


As Misty, Melody, and Tracey raced across the ocean in Carol's boat, the boat easily navigated the wild waves compared to Maren's far smaller boat she used to ferry people across the Orange Islands.

"Wait! How do you know they'd head to Fire Island first?" Misty questioned, realising they were heading for Fire Island.

"Fire Island is the closest to Shamouti Island's dock," Melody reasoned. "In the time it'd taken the storm to blow over the island, I doubt they would have been able to reach either of the other two. Besides, if they're not there, then we head for the next one."


Up in the sky, just above the storm, Lawrence the Third watched the events unfold inside his floating fortress. He had anticipated the storm, studying the three holographic chess pieces in front of him. "Disturb not the harmony of fire, ice, and lightning," he recounted as the piece that resembled Moltres disappeared.

"There seems there has been a shift in the balance of power," he added, watching as the yellow illuminated squares underneath Zapdos' piece began to spread out across the board.

"Pokémon, Zapdos, detected," the computer's monotone voice informed.


Around the world, people gathered in front of televisions as the storm quickly spread across the globe. The news explained what the experts believed was causing the strange phenomenon. They explained that they believed that the deep-sea ocean currents that travelled the globe had been disrupted, preventing heat transfer from the planets equator to the polls.

"I wonder if this is what has been upsetting all the Pokémon," Professor Oak mused as the broadcast continued.

"An event this big!" Delia agreed. "No wonder I was able to feel it. It's the first time I've been this in tune with nature in a decade."

Suddenly, one of Professor Oak's lab windows shattered, startling the two occupants that had taken shelter inside the building.

"The cause of the disruption appears to be located at the north-central region of the Orange Islands," the broadcast explained, drawing the Oak's and Delia's attention back to the screen.

"The Orange Islands!" Professor Oak gasped.

"But that's where Ash and his friends are right now," Delia worriedly explained.

Suddenly, the screen shifted as Professor Oak received an incoming call. Answering it, a young woman with purple hair and wearing a lab coat appeared on the screen.

"Professor, we're having problems," the woman explained, wasting no time with idle chatter.

"What is it, Professor Ivy?" Oak questioned, realising it was one of his former proteges.

"The Pokémon here are behaving very strangely," Ivy explained. "I request you come to the Orange Islands immediately."

"I'll organise the first helicopter available," Professor Oak agreed. He needed to know what was going on; he needed to be out there. "I'll pick you up on route."

"No worries, Professor," Ivy replied. "I'll await your arrival."

As the call ended, Professor Oak immediately looked up the number to dial to book a chartered flight, but Delia cut him off before he could enter the numbers.

"If you're heading into the Orange Islands, then I'm coming with you," she demanded.

"Delia, we don't have time for this!" He didn't want to argue with the woman, but the last time she'd been put in such a perilous situation, it didn't end well.

"Ash is out there!" she exclaimed. "And if there is anything I can do to help, I want to be there. I want to protect my son!"

"Fine!" Oak wished Red had been here; he would have been able to talk his wife down. Hell, he probably would have convinced her that he would help instead. But he was currently atop Mount Silver, awaiting his challenger's arrival. There was no way to contact him, and he wouldn't have been able to sense any changes in the weather patterns, especially up so high.

No, he would have to figure this out on his own. He didn't know if it were the right choice to bring Delia along, but he prayed that nothing would happen when they arrived.


Ash and Maren continued on their risky journey to Fire Island as the vicious downpour of rain disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

"It looks like the storm is over," Ash noted, looking up at the sky.

"But the sea keeps getting rougher," Maren countered as another harsh wave battered into the ship.

Slowly, the boat edged its way closer to Fire Island, dangerously navigating the large waves. As they neared, Maren piloted the boat around several rocks that ringed the island. Finally, they were close to land, but just when they thought they were safe, a large wave threw them into the air.

Unable to control the airborne ship, Maren watched helplessly as her boat flew over a large rock, the rudder snapping off as the rear of the ship collided with it.

"The rudder!" Maren exclaimed, realising she was no longer able to steer the boat. Uncontrollably, the ship was thrown by the harsh waves onto the island, coming to a scrapping halt.

As the ship came to a stop, Ash clutched onto Pikachu as he grabbed hold of a nearby poll for dear life. Sighing, Ash looked up at the island, noticing a winding staircase in front of him.

While Ash jumped off the ship, Maren climbed down from the cockpit to inspect the damage. "Well, at least we made it," Maren stated. "But-" Before Maren could continue, Pikachu cut her off by jumping off the boat and racing up the stairs.

"Pikachu!" Ash cried, following his Pokémon. "Where are you going?"

"Ash! We shouldn't split up!" Maren yelled. "The storm might pick up again!"

But Ash decided to follow his Pokémon, stopping at the entrance to the stairs. "Pikachu has been acting really weird!" he explained his reasoning. "I've got to find out why!" he added as he charged up the stairs.


Meanwhile, not far behind, Melody, Misty, and Tracey flew across the ocean in Carol's boat. Suddenly, a large rogue wave appeared off the boat's port. "Okey, hold on, guys," Melody instructed as she attempted to navigate the wave.

Realising the was no other way to counter it, Melody had no choice but to attempt to surf the wave, narrowly avoiding being tipped over as she began the manoeuvre.

"Cool move!" Misty swooned, momentarily forgetting her anger as she watched the towering wave above them.

"I've been around boats all my life; you don't need to be scared," Melody reassured.

"Oh, I never get scared out in the ocean," Misty explained. "I come from a water Pokémon gym."

Melody was about to reply when the wave towering above them started crashing down upon them. Reacting, Melody pushed the throttle as far forward as it would go, narrowly avoiding the water tunnel behind them.

As they escaped the rogue wave, another large wave appeared in front of them. Having increased in speed, Melody could not get the ship to avoid the wave, launching them into the air. At such a speed, they nearly flipped but avoided such a catastrophe as they crashed back down onto the ocean.

Eventually, they made it to the island, finding Maren's boat washed ashore in a massive wreck. Feeling the final wave that pushed Melody's boat onto the island, Maren came rushing out of her cabin to inspect the damage. Surprisingly, she found Melody, Misty, and Tracey staring at her from atop a large rock that their boat had landed on.

"Hey!" Tracey called out. "Are you guys okay?"

"Yeah, we're fine," Maron explained, happily waving. "But the boat's in pretty bad shape!"

"Where's Ash?" Melody asked.

"Up there!" Maren pointed towards the top of the island.

Melody, Misty, and Tracey followed her hand, their gaze landing on the top of the island. But before any of them could say anything, a massive gust of wind smashed into the boat, quickly tipping it over the edge.

Melody quickly thought of a counter, launching the ship's sails to correct it. But the wind was too strong; instead, launching the ship over the rocks and up the steps.

"How is this even possible?" Misty questioned as the wind pushed the boat along.

"I have no idea," Melody admitted, pulling the windsail leavers to keep the ship on the correct path. "But at this time, I would take any stroke of luck we can get."

"Let's find Ash," Misty stated, turning back to look up at the top of the island.

"Yeah!" Melody agreed in a teasing tone. "And if he needs any help, his girlfriend's here!"

"But I'm not-"

"Well, as you said, Misty," Melody cut her off, controlling the ship. "You are a girl, and you are his friend." She turned towards the younger girl with a small smile on her lips. "Isn't that right?"

"Uh," Misty nervously muttered, embarrassed, before looking back at the top of the island. The expression in her eyes changed to one of determination as she nodded.


Lawrence the Third smugly watched Moltres aguishly cawed and struggled to try and escape its ringed cage. "Pour Moltres, you seem so miserable," he stated. He turned towards his computer as an image of Zapdos appeared. "But as they say, 'misery loves company.'"

"Zapdos is approaching Fire Island," the computer explained.


"Pikachu!" Ash called as he followed his Pokémon higher and higher up the mountain. Silently, he was happy this island had a staircase, compared to the difficult climb he'd made on Navel Island.

Eventually, they reached the peak of the mountain, Ash following his Pokémon as he descended the final stairs. Looking, he found a strange shrine near the edge of a cliff that looked down into the caldera for a volcano.

Approaching the small shrine, Pikachu pointed to the red glass orb held in the beak of a bird statue that distinctly looked like Moltres. Stunned, Ash studied the statue for a brief moment. "The ancient sphere," he said before clutching the glass orb and wrestling it from the beak.

Initially, he had found it difficult to pull from the beak, but with enough force, he could pull it free. Looking at the orb, he was speechless as it lit up in his hand, a red flame flaring inside it.

"Pika!" Pikachu called, telling him to follow. Ash placed the orb in his vest pocket, but before they could ascend the stairs to begin the journey back down, the boat carrying Melody, Misty, and Tracey flew over the top of the stairs.

"What the hell is going on?" Ash exclaimed, diving out of the way as the boat came crashing down on top of him.

"Well, I hope your happy, Mister Hero," Melody scolded as they came to a stop, retracting the ship's sails. "If you'd just listened to me in the first place and stayed at the party like I'd told you to, we wouldn't be stranded out here on this island."

"Welcome to my world," Misty explained, sighing. "I have to deal with his stubborn attitude every single day."

Tracey nearly snorted at the remark but narrowly managed to hold it in. You're just as stubborn as he is! He thought to himself.

"Oh, you'll get used to it. It's just something the two of you are going to have to work on when the two of you get married," Melody teased.

Misty jumped back at the statement with embarrassment. "You take that back!" she yelled in anger, glaring at the girl. But before their argument could continue, a burst of yellow lightning rained down on the area. Looking at the source, they watched as the yellow form of Zapdos flew over the cliff face.

Ash shielded himself underneath the boat as Zapdos rained electricity down on the area it circled. "Pikachu, it's Zapdos," he concerningly said. They watched as Zapdos came to a stop, hovering above Moltres' shrine.


What will Zapdos Do? How will Ash and his friends escape the Island? Find Out Next Time!

This chapter was basically the same as the movie, but there will be subtle differences from the next chapter on.

Any questions, Pokémon suggestions, ideas for the story, or OC's you have that you would like to see in the story, just PM me or send it in a review! All are welcome!

Ash's Pokémon:

On Hand:

Pikachu (Electric) (Male)
Lapras (Water/Ice) (Female)

Ivysaur (Grass/Poison) (Male)
Charizard (Fire/Flying) (Male)
Blastoise (Water) (Male)
Rhydon (Ground/Rock) (Female)
Riolu (Fighting) (Male)
Snorlax (Normal) (Male)
Ralts (Psychic/Fairy) (Male) (Shiny)
Grubbin (Bug) (Female) (Shiny)

At Oak's Ranch:

Pidgeot (Normal/Flying) (Male)
Arcanine (Fire) (Male)
Nidorino (Poison) (Male) (Shiny)
Umbreon (Dark) (Male) (Shiny)
Raticate (Normal) (Female)
Butterfree (Bug/Flying) (Male)
Kingler (Water) (Female)
Absol (Dark) (Male)
Gengar (Ghost/Poison) (Male)
Primeape (Fighting) (Female)
Muk (Poison) (Male)
Tauros (Normal) (Male) (x23)
Sandslash (Ground) (Male)
Gyarados (Water/Flying) (Male)
Dragonair (Dragon) (Female)
Beldum (Steel/Psychic) (Shiny)

Departed:

Mew

Misty's Pokémon:

On Hand:

Starmie (Water/Psychic)
Seel (Water) (Male)
Feebas (Water) (Female)
Vaporeon (Water) (Female)
Psyduck (Water) (Male)
Togepi (Fairy) (Male)
Egg

At Oak's Ranch:

Kabutops (Rock/Water) (Male) (Shiny)
Seaking (Water) (Female)
Staryu (Water/Psychic)
Tentacruel (Water/Poison) (Male)
Pelipper (Water/Flying) (Female)
Seadra (Water) (Female)
Froakie (Water) (Female)

Please Follow, Favourite and Review!

Until Next Time, AshleyH30 Out!