"That's the most uneventful trip we've ever had." Ash said, stretching, as they walked down the ramp of their airship to Valencia Island.

"It's better than your suggestion last time, that's for sure." Brock said. "Didn't you want to walk? To an island?"

Ash shrugged. "We can walk from Kanto to Shikoku or Hokkaido."

"An island chain in the Pacific is a little harder." Brock trailed off, musing. "But then, if we used an Ice type to create sheet ice on the surface…"

"I wouldn't mind an Ice type." Misty muttered. "I forgot how hot it was here."

"Not long now." Ash said, remembering Lapras. "Well, we'd better get going. Anyone remember the way to Professor Ivy's lab?"

"I do." Brock volunteered, before visibly steeling himself. "Alright, here we go."


After the pleasantries were out of the way, Professor Ivy revealed (for the second time, for Ash) the GS ball.

"It can't be transported by the Akihabara sysyem, and we've tried everything to open it." The researcher said, sighing. "Even a laser."

"How powerful?" Brock asked. "I mean, I've seen people using laser pointers on blackboards."

"Rather more powerful than that, I assure you." Felina smiled. "About fifty kilowatts." She shook her head. "But nothing makes any sort of impression on it."

"Strange." Ash said. "Well, we'll see if Professor Oak can do anything with it." He couldn't, of course – at least, not last time. He'd eventually sent it on to Kurt for further analysis.

Struck with sudden curiosity, Ash closed an eye to have a look. The GS ball was suffused with aura, surprisingly - an even spread that he couldn't distinguish any detail in.

So much for that idea.

"That sounds good." Ivy said. "Are you heading straight back?"

"Er, no, actually." Misty answered. "We thought we'd have a look around the Orange Islands first, especially since there's a local minor League."

"Don't let them hear you call it that." Faith said, waving her finger.

Ash shrugged. "I'm the one who's going to compete, and I don't particularly mind."

"Hope you'll have luck without me, then." Brock said. "I'll watch you on the TV."

"Sorry?" Ivy asked. "Where are you going, then?"

"Well," Brock looked embarrassed. "I was hoping to stay here for a while. I mean, I've noticed the mess in your kitchen, and I can cook, and-"

"SOLD!" all four scientists chorused.

"Alright, then." Ash said. "I suppose we'll manage."

"I'm sure you will, Ash." Brock said. "Keep in touch."


"It's never nice leaving someone behind." Ash said, as he and Misty left the laboratory area.

"Yeah, I can imagine." Misty replied. "Ah well, if things go to schedule he'll be back for Johto. Now, where next?"

"Lapras, I think." Ash said. "Dexter?"

Correct. You must head to the next island to the northeast, Tangelo Island.

Ash and Misty exchanged glances. "Pidgeot and Charizard?"

"Seems the best choice."


"Hey!" Ash shouted, running into the clearing where several trainers were abusing Lapras. "Why are you beating him like that? Stop it!

The man near the battered Lapras's head rested the bamboo stick on his shoe and turned towards Ash. "He won't learn Earthquake, the wretch, that's why. And I did feed him enough beet."

"Earthquake? What the… since when is Lapras an earth type?" Ash asked, thrown.

"Since always, dumbass - see that shell? It's solid rock!"

"How does that even…"

"Besides, the book says so, and tough break winning in a league match without earthquake."

"What book?" Ash said, shaking his head to try and recover. "I just… I've never heard so much stupid in one place."

Tell me about it. Many Pokémon learn Earthquake, but Lapras has never been one of them.

Another one of the trainers stopped shouting at Lapras and turned. "Shove off, newbie, we're trying to train this slacker to take on the Orange Crew."

Misty rolled her eyes. "Do none of you watch television?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Another one of them said, loudly. "Come on, guys. Let's teach these morons not to mess with us!"

Ash gestured Pikachu forward, and the two of them moved to defend Lapras. One by one, a Hitmonchan, Spearow and Beedrill emerged to fight them.

"Well?"

"Discharge." Ash said, winking.

Two loud seconds later, all three opposing Pokémon were knocked out.

"That's kind of satisfying." Ash grinned. "Yeah, just… go. And next time actually pay attention when League finals are on TV."

Turning his back on the hurriedly retreating trio, Ash reached out to caress Lapras' neck. "Hello again, old friend."

Lapras twitched, then bent his neck to rub against Ash. "It's nice to see you. Now, what just happened? Why am I young again?"

"Time travel. Speaking of which…" Ash turned. "Hello, Tracey Sketchit!"

After a pause, the other teen emerged from the brush. "How did you know I was there?"

"I have my ways." Ash said, trying to be mysterious.

"No, come on."

"Alright, alright. I saw you while those idiots were posturing." Technically true. "Nice to meet you."

He extended a hand, and after a moment the still bewildered Tracey shook it.

"What the- oh. Hang on, what just happened?"

"Time travel." Misty answered, nonchalantly. "We came back about a year ago, Ash reminds people of their old memories, you're back when you first met him. He didn't win the Indigo league last time around, in case you're having trouble remembering."

"I did this time!" Ash said, rounding on Misty.

"And it only took three years' head start on everyone else." The water trainer waved a hand dismissively.

"I happen to think that an effective mid teenager winning a League tournament is still fairly impressive, thank you very much!"

Tracey watched their back and forth for a few minutes, then bent down to Pikachu. "Not much has changed, right?"

Pikachu shrugged. "He's new."

The artist blinked, noticing Riolu. "Where'd you come from?"

The little fighting type waved a paw. "That's… complicated."

"Actually, how can I understand you? I'm used to using the Professor's translators, but they aren't invented yet, right? Unless Ash brought those back too."

He did something similar. But this, I believe, is an Aura trick. Pikachu's diversified since you last met him.

Tracey sat down hard. "I'm starting to be overwhelmed. Who was that?"

Me. Dexter materialized. Now, you may as well check on your Pokémon – the memory transfer should have included them as well.


"So, where do we go now?" Misty asked. "I barely remember."

"Mikan island." Tracey volunteered. "That's the nearest Gym, at any rate, and as I recall Ash got a bit… obsessed… at times."

"I resemble that!" Ash said.

"Isn't it resent?"

"Not with Ash." Pikachu said firmly. "For that particular remark, it is definitely 'resemble'."

"Anyway," Ash said loudly. "Let's go! Tracey, Misty, either of you can borrow one of my Flying types if you want – I feel like getting to know Lapras again."

Pidgeot's Poké ball erupted in light. "Actually, I feel like getting to know him for the first time. If anyone wants to ride on me, they're free to do so, but I'm not exactly going very high."

"Oh, is that the Pidgeot that left near Pallet?" Tracey asked. "Er, I mean, last time."

"Yes, she is." Ash said. "But this time the Fearow that caused all the problems got caught by Gary, and more power to him."

"I think I might join you on Lapras, Ash." The artist said, already getting out his sketchbook. "I don't think I ever had a chance to get a good look at her."

"You won't be disappointed." Pidgeot preened, then flared her wings.

"Hang on a minute, Pidgeot." Misty said. "I'd rather fly this time, I think."

"Climb on."


"She really is a marvellous specimen." Tracey said, pencil flying across the paper. "Very good converts on the inside of the wing."

"Glad you think so." Pidgeot caught a small gust of wind from a wave, and rode it to about ten feet directly above Lapras. "I do try to stay in shape."

"Now that I think about it, I do remember your performance in the League. Very impressive."

Ash rubbed Lapras' neck. "So, how is it, being not in charge any more?"

"A bit relaxing, to be honest. I didn't mind leading the herd… school? What's the correct term?"

Don't ask me.

"Well, anyway. I didn't mind, because I could help other Lapras, but it did get a little stressful."

"Think you're ready for the Orange league?"

"Yeah. A lot of them are more sports challenges, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Should be fun."


"Right!" Cissy said, releasing her Seadra. "The first challenge is-"

"Oh, you have a Seadra?" Misty asked. "Any tips on how to encourage a Horsea to evolve?"

The Gym Leader frowned, thrown. "We're having a Gym challenge here."

"I don't mind." Ash waved off, examining three Poké balls. "Hm. Lapras, Squirtle or Kingler?"

Pikachu shrugged. "Lapras is fairly solid, Kingler prefers physical attacks, and if Squirtle missed the target would move itself to where he'd aimed."

"Okay, look. Horsea tend to evolve to Seadra when they have a lot of open water to work with. If you're in the Orange Islands for a while, just let him – or her?"

"Him." Misty supplied.

"Okay. Let him spend a lot of time in the open ocean. That should help."

"Thanks." Misty sat back down.

"As I was saying before I was interrupted," Cissy stressed, "The first challenge is accuracy. You have to use Water Gun to hit various targets."

"Er…" Ash raised a hand. "Isn't this a bit cruel for those who don't have Water types?"

"Not my problem. It's this sort of thing that's why the Orange League hasn't got full certification, though."

"Ah, that explains a lot. Right, Squirtle!"

"This mouth of mine is dripping wet! Its' loud slosh tells me to-"

"Yeah, just go ahead and release the targets." Ash said, sighing. "He's going to keep this up for hours."

"What's he saying?" Cissy asked.

"Mainly blather about anime."

"Ouch." Cissy shuddered. "It must sound like my little brother. Anyway, let's go!"

Water bubbled around Squirtle, but he didn't fire any shots. First one, then four, then a dozen targets fell to Cissy's Seadra.

"Hurry up!" Ash shouted.

"Oh ye of little faith. Attenboro-style water gun!"

Fifteen lances of water shot out at the exact same moment, knocking over the remaining half of the targets in a fraction of a second.

"Show off." Ash muttered.

"Oh. I was sort of expecting to win there." Cissy said, frowning. "That was fast."

"Thanks!"

"Well, it looks like we'll have to use the race as a tie-breaker. One person and one Pokémon, first around the flag and back to the beach wins."

"Sounds good." Ash began sorting through Poké balls. "Any other restrictions?"

"Yeah, you have to ride on your Pokémon's back. That's about it."

Ash paused, and grinned.


"Where's your Pokémon, Ash?" Cissy asked.

"I'll release her once the race starts." Ash waved off.

"Oh, daring. I like it. Right, count us in, Senta!"

The boy waved a flag. "Three, two, one, go!"

Ash released Pidgeot, leapt on her back, and a thunderous explosion heralded her going transsonic as they completed the entire race in twelve seconds flat.

Senta gaped. "That's got to be cheating!"

"Didn't say it had to be a Water type in the rules." Ash grinned.


"Yeah, yeah, alright. Here's the Coral Eye badge, and I'll make sure to restrict people to non-Flying types in future."

"It's discrimination…" Tracey joked.


"Ah, this place." Ash said, frowning. "I seem to remember things going a bit strangely here…"

"I can't remember either." Misty said. "Mandarin Island… hm… it's unusually built up for the Orange Islands."

Tracey suddenly snapped his fingers. "That was it! The two Rockets with the Drowzee!"

Without breaking stride, Ash returned Riolu and passed his hat to Pikachu. "Right. Now, let's go stop 'em."


Butch and Cassidy whirled as the door to their base exploded. "What-"

"Thunder wave." Ash said, pointing.

The two Rockets dove for cover. "Drowzee, Hypnosis!"

I'm trying! That surprisingly dapper Pikachu feels like a Dark type!

"Oh, and blast the amplifier machine." Ash continued.

"How do you even know about that?" Butch shouted, before ducking back again as another blast of electricity raked the wall.

"Er, hello?" Ash asked. "Pokémon all over the town are showing up mind controlled and your Psychic type is wearing a helmet connected to a machine bigger than a car."

Cassidy hummed. "He has got a point."

Further conversation was cut off as the machine finally exploded.


"Afternoon, officer." Ash said, stepping aside as Ivysaur and Charizard carried the two Rockets and their thoroughly unconscious Pokémon into the station. "These two were behind the crazy Pokémon incidents. Might be a good idea to have a Houndour or two on the force in future, though – Dark types are immune to Psychic attacks."

Jenny nodded absently, directing her Gastly forward. "Fair point. I've taken a bit of flak from the rest of the clan for not having a good canine Fire type."

"I feel like we wasted our time here." Cassidy said, sighing. "What's the food like here?"

"We do a nice oyster casserole." Jenny replied, brightly.

Butch turned green. "Why would you ruin good seafood like that?"

"This is the lockup you're talking about. Comfort runs second."


"Ah, Sunburst Island. I wonder if we should have let Brock know…" Tracey said, stepping off Lapras onto the beach.

"Why?"

"He's a Rock type trainer, right?" Tracey checked. "And this is where that bizarre Onix was – the one that could swim and was transparent."

"Honestly, I don't know if that was even a proper Rock type." Ash replied. "I'll have to check, but it seemed a lot like an Ice type to me. Maybe it's sort of like Steelix, but Ice instead of Steel."

That sounds possible. Dexter's projector flickered, producing an image of the strange Pokémon. Certainly I am unaware of another Onix capable of swimming.

"Well, let's go find out."


"You'll really help me?" Mateo asked, smiling. "I'm so glad! Everyone else I speak to about this kind of thing thinks I'm mad for believing in it!"

Ash rolled his eyes. "Compared to some of what we've seen, this is small stuff."

"Really?"

"I got possessed once. That should be enough of an example to be going on with."

"Wow…" Mateo breathed. "Is that what it's like on the mainland?"

"No, mostly it's just what it's like around Ash." Misty shrugged. "We've seen so many Legendary Pokémon, I've lost count."

"Were you at the Indigo league this year?" the glass-blower said, suddenly frowning. "Because you seem familiar, and I remember they said a Moltres turned up there suddenly."

"More than that!" Misty said, grabbing Ash's lapel and revealing his Indigo pin. "He won it!"

"Misty, at least let me do my own bragging." Ash grumbled.

"Well, that's certainly impressive." Mateo's smile was a little awkward. "I'm starting to think that accepting your help was a bad idea…"

"Everyone feels like that for a while." Tracey said, shrugging. "The feeling usually goes away around the time Ash saves the day."

"Good… I think…"


"Why are your Pokémon walking around with blindfolds on?" Mateo finally asked, after spending several minutes staring.

"Aura sight." Riolu said tersely, sweeping the area. "Hmmm… you say it can swim?"

"Aura sight." Ash translated. "It's basically the ability to see life force. With it, Pikachu and Riolu can see through solid rock."

"That's kind of neat. So they have to wear the blindfolds?"

"It stops normal light from distracting them." Ash answered. "It's not exactly necessary, but it's certainly useful."

"There." Riolu pointed, walking towards the spot of light in his Aura Sight.

"Watch out-" Mateo shouted, noticing where Riolu was. Too late, as the little Fighting type stepped off the edge of the path into the water.

And, of course, walked across it.

"Yeah, he does that too." Ash said casually. "Aura users are pretty neat."

Tracey and Misty shared a knowing glance. "Well, he did say he wanted to do his own bragging…" the water trainer muttered.


"That doesn't make sense." Tracey said, consulting his notes. "If it's a new Pokémon, it evolved from Onix… but it's resistant to Water type attacks, and vulnerable to Fire. That makes it sound like it has neither of Onix' types."

"Could it have evolved from Steelix?" Ash asked. "So it replaces the Ground type when it evolves for the second time?"

"It's possible… but I can't seem to manage both the Fire weakness and the Water resistance! It seems almost like a Grass-type!"

Or an Ice/Ground with Water Absorb. Dexter suggested, humming. I should have Traced its' ability to find out.

"Well, too late now." Ash shrugged. "At least Mateo got his inspiration."


"Should we even bother with Pinkan island?" Misty asked.

"Nah." Ash shrugged. "Nothing much actually happened there, except Togepi messing around with Metronome – and we already know she can do that."

"Along with a lot else." Misty smiled.

"So that's a skip?" Tracey said. "I'm certainly not objecting."


"Welcome to the island." A palaeontologist said, addressing all three of the friends. "Do watch out, some of the areas around here are unsafe. Stay with us and you should be fine."

"Sure." Ash said. "Hey, did you hear about Grampa Canyon? I was there when they found the fossil Pokémon."

"You were? That was an interesting discovery they made there, certainly, though if I recall correctly the paper was co written by a rather young researcher… Gary Oak?"

"Yeah." Ash shrugged. "He's always been a bit mature for his age… of course, that only means he acts like a teenager."

"You know him, then?"

"Grew up with him." Ash said, before frowning. "Though that makes it sound like he grew up as well…"

"You mean it makes you sound like you grew up as well." Misty said. "That's why it sounds off."

"Misty, that's not fair…"

The palaeontologist leant towards Tracey, who was flipping to a new section of his sketchbook. "Is this normal?"

"For them, yes."


The ground shook slightly. Ash and the others wobbled, too used to earthquakes to fall over completely.

"That was strange…" someone said. "This island is poorly consolidated, yes, but it shouldn't be having earthquakes."

"Could it be a big one, far away?" Misty asked, worried. "I mean, if there's a tsunami…"

No chance of that. Dexter reported. There are no other seismic signals of similar or greater magnitude showing up within hundreds of miles. It was here.

"Hey, is that a… computer?"

"Pokédex." Ash filled in. "But he's become kind of a multifunction computer, yes."

"Neat. Good to know that it's not a big earthquake, but this is still worrying."


"How are things going?" One of the assistants walking with Ash said, as they got to the current main dig site.

"Very well, actually!" A man with a hard hat jumped up. "We've got more Kabuto than we've ever seen before in this part of the world, which will be very helpful for dating, and there's even some Craidilly! Excellently developed Palaeozoic fauna!"

The ground shook, much more violently this time, and the geologist fell onto his discarded jacket.

Ash… this could be a problem.

"What?"

The island is becoming unstable. More to the point, though, that Kabuto over there is starting to reanimate. And this island is limestone.

"Limestone?" Misty asked. "Brock's the rock expert, not any of us."

"Limestone – well, this island is heavily fossiliferous limestone – is made up of fossils, in this case." The nearest assistant said.

Yep, this is bad. The island is about to turn into… calculating… a few million Kabuto and Craidilly.

Ash reached for three Poké balls. "Charizard can take two people at least, Pidgeot one, and Lapras three. Anyone else with water-capable Pokémon, be ready to release them. We'll have to run for the coast, unless the island sinks before falling apart."

Misty went for her own. "I can ride on Starmie in a pinch, and Gyarados can take a few. The geologists have boats, though, right?"

"We have a boat. Joy took the other one to meet the press on the next island over, because we wanted to demonstrate the importance of this discovery."

"Right. Well, feel free to catch a ride." The ground shook again, and listed. "Time to go!"


"That escalated quickly." Ash said, from Pidgeot. "There are a lot of Kabuto there."

"Yes. I wonder how often reawakenings like that happen."

"Can't be too often."

Pikachu pointed. "Hey, look."

Ash followed where Pikachu was pointing. There was a Starmie, and Misty swimming alongside…

"That's a Seadra." Ash said. "He finally evolved?"

"Looks like. And she's holding up a Net Ball. Wonder what she caught?"

Pidgeot banked lower, and Misty's shouts became audible.

"Yes! Nice work, Seadra! Hey, Ash! I caught a Kabuto!"

"Huh." Ash said. "Nice to see she's diversifying a bit."

"It's still a Water type."


"Ah, Navel Island." Tracey said. "That's the second gym, right?"

"Yeah." Ash nodded. "This is probably the strangest one. It's basically a series of fitness challenges."

"Like what?"

"They're to test how well you cooperate with your Pokémon." Ash said, before frowning. "Not that Charizard actually did last time…"

Stepping up to the gate, he pushed it open and read the sign. "Ah, there we are. The qualification test is to climb the mountain without aid of any Pokémon. Hey, Misty, Tracey? Mind taking Pikachu and Riolu up?"

"Sure." Misty said. "But why?"

Ash tightened his boots. "Well, the rules specifically disqualify Pokémon and only Pokémon. They don't say anything about Sir Aaron's Boots. I'm basically going to jump up. I don't want the others getting cold."

"Okay." Tracey said. "Wasn't the leader down here last time, actually?"

"He was." Ash nodded. "But it looks like he's waiting up at the top today. Either that or he's not there at all."

"It doesn't make much sense, actually…" Misty said. "What does being able to climb a mountain have to do with being a skilled Pokémon trainer?"

Ash shrugged. "Beats me. At least this time I'm doing it with advantages to counterbalance how I'm, you know, not even a teenager yet."

"True."

Ash pushed Aura into his boots, lightened his effective weight to about ten pounds, and shot off in a series of leaps that sent him soaring up the mountain.

"We'd better hurry." Tracey said, opening the door to the gondola. "Or we'll be late."


"Whew." Ash muttered, jumping through the chilly air. "Cold up here." It was. In fact, there was snow – something unusual on a subtropical island. "Must be Articuno's part of the local ocean currents…"

One final leap sent him over the lip of the mountain and up onto the flat. Ash renormalized his weight, and panted for a moment. "Not sure what that had to do with Pokémon, but it was nice exercise."

"Hello!" Darren shouted. "I saw someone was coming up the gondola. Are you the challenger?"

"Yes!" Ash called back. "You're the Gym Leader, right? What does that climb have to do with Pokémon?"

"Nothing, really." Darren shrugged. "I just like extreme sports. Right, three challenges, the first challenge is to freeze a geyser. One Pokémon each, fastest wins."

Ash pulled out two Poké balls, and released Squirtle and Lapras. "Which of you two is better at Ice attacks?"

Squirtle shrugged. "I prefer burning heat to icy cold."

"I'm better than before. I'll do it." Lapras said, and skated forward on the snow.

"Right. I'm ready!" Ash said, and Darren nodded.

"Three, two, one, go!"

Lapras built up a Blizzard, and fired with a wide focus to cool the entire geyser at once.

"Why aren't you freezing it from the top down or the bottom up?" Ash asked.

"If I did, it'd be shot out by the water pressure."

Ash glanced sideways, to where Darren's Nidoqueen was, in fact, freezing the geyser from the bottom up. "Are you sure?"

"Well… I was. She must have frozen the hole."

"Ah well." Ash shrugged.

"And… there!"

The geyser froze, all at once, as the temperature finally went to zero. Darren's one had been finished at the same moment.

"What does that count as?"

"I don't actually know, I didn't think it could happen." Darren answered. "Draw?"

"What does that mean?"

"It's basically like if I won, but it means that if you get a win and another draw it goes to you – I win ties, but nothing more."

Ash shrugged. "Fair enough."

"It does mean you can't afford a loss, though."

"That's fine. Now, what's the second challenge?"

"You have to make the frozen geyser into a sledge with the aid of your Pokémon. I'm using my Scyther and Machoke to join Nidoqueen."

"Right." Ash frowned. "Hmm… Now, where are Misty and Tracey?"

"Over here!"

Misty hurried up with Pikachu, and looked accusingly at the two trainers. "You started without us!"

"I beat the cable car up here, I think I'm allowed!"

"That's just like you, Ash!"

Riolu padded over, not feeling the cold thanks to another application of his Airslip trick. "They'll be at this for a while."

Agreed. Set up. Dexter formed, and fired laser scans at the pillar. I see. Analysis indicates we may be able to do this one without Ash's direction. Riolu, I will mark points for you to strike.

"You're going to have a go without your trainer?" Darren said. "Alright. Three, two, one, go!"

Dexter marked two points. Force Palm.

Charging Aura into his hands, Riolu struck them in quick succession. Large splinters of ice went flying.

Recalculating… here. Mach Punch.

The faster, more focused blow shivered more ice off, and the basic shape began to form.

Fire Punch. Force Palm. Aura Sphere. Mach Punch.

Dexter broke off for a moment, and used a Charge Beam to sculpt the sides and underneath of the sledge.

Right. Now, bring a Fire Punch along this line and that should finish it.

Riolu did so, completing the melting out of the inside for seating. "And done!"

Ash broke off his argument with Misty, which for some reason was about pies by now anyway. "You are?"

"Yes. Didn't even take three Pokémon."

"Well done." Darren said. "I can see you trained your Pokémon very well. Once my sled is finished, the third and final challenge is a race down the mountain. Steering must be done by the Pokémon."

"Right." Ash said. "Dexter? What's the best approach?"

Analyzing. The primary cause of drag will be wind resistance, and is the main limiting factor on speed here. I suggest Charizard – his wings will be excellent air scoops for steering, and he is the largest you have as of now. Good weight for the ice contact area helps.

"Besides, jet propulsion would be cool." Ash said. "What about having Squirtle make a path of water in front of the sled?"

That would reduce the effects of friction – good idea.

"And I'll have Pikachu come along as well to blast any obstacles. That's all three."


"Count us in, miss." Darren asked Misty. His own sled was much less crowded than Ash's – heavy and good for manoeuvring Charizard may have been, but he was also very large.

"Right. Three, two, one, go!"

Tracey ran for the gondola and Riolu kicked off an ice-board he'd made in the intervening time. Misty, courtesy of Pidgeot, was flying alongside the racers.

Ash pointed ahead, with some difficulty. "Pikachu, Squirtle, you know what to do. Charizard… left!"

Charizard thought for a split second, and partially opened his right wing. This stuck out the left side of the sled, slowing them marginally, and tilting the trajectory of the vehicle away from the first icy spire.

"Now, flamethrower!"

Furling the wing again, Charizard blasted a powerful fire attack out the back of the sled.

"You're going a bit over the top, aren't you…" Darren asked. "I mean, we're in very similar sleds."

"Right! Okay, now left!"

"It's kind of hard to do steering very precisely, Ash!" Charizard roared. "I'm facing backwards and trying not to fall out!"

"Then we'll just make steering not matter!" Squirtle launched a larger than normal blob of water ahead, making a kind of icy hill, and then created a ramp leading up it. "Jump ahead!"

"What do you mea-whoaaaa!"

Charizard had the rare experience of taking off… backwards.

Thanks to the irregularity of the ramp, the sled went spinning through the air, rolling and pitching wildly.


Riolu completed a left roll on his snowboard, then looked over at the sledge.

"There's no way I'll be able to beat that… that's a triple twisted lime already…"


"Charizard! Stabilize us!" Ash yelled, gripping the sled with his feet and his two smaller Pokémon with his hands.

"I'm trying!" Charizard flapped his wings frantically, trying to cancel the pitch first. "I'm spinning backwards through the air attached to a heavy weight! That's number one in the Charizard flight training manual!"

"What, really?"

"Yes! It's got a caption – 'Don't!'"

Squirtle launched a Water Gun, using his attack to help Charizard gain control of the pitch. Once that was done and they were only rolling through the air, he pointed dramatically forward. "Maximum speed, men! We shall cross the finish line as fast as possible!"

Ash gulped. "I don't like the sound of this…"

Pikachu used Levitate, just to make sure any potential crash was at least somewhat blunted.


"Pidgeot…" Misty said, curious. "Is that normal?"

"I didn't know it was possible, Misty."

The two of them watched, fascinated, as a water-tipped rocket with fire shooting out the back span crazily near to the side of the mountain, bounced without actually hitting the ground, and shot along the surface at a distance of less than a foot.

About a hundred metres past the finish line (and over the bay), the ice sled finally melted completely. Ash and his three Pokémon went flying in wildly separate directions.

Ash managed to return Charizard before the fire-type hit the water, at least.


"That went well." Ash said, as they left the island. "Where next?"

"You call that going well?" Misty asked.

Ash shrugged. "I got the badge, didn't I?"

Tracey sighed. "Doesn't surprise me that that's his main measure of success."

"Right. Let's see…" Ash frowned. "Snorlax next, right? I think I can just go and get him straight off with Pidgeot."

Correct. After that is another thing we can probably skip – ghosts again. Then Tracey gets his Scyther.

"Good. I've missed him." The trainer said.

"Right. To the grapefruit islands!"

As Lapras set off, Ash sighed. "Who names entire archipelagos after fruit?"

"It's not actually all that bad, as names go… I mean, there are the South Sandwich Islands…"


Pidgeot stooped over one of the islands. As she flared her wings and stopped just above ground level, Ash jumped to the ground. He hit Snorlax with one blue-glowing palm, and caught him before the Pokémon had properly woken up.

"There we go. Though I don't know why people don't just catch a Snorlax when it's sleeping somewhere inconvenient."

"Beats me." Pikachu replied. "At least Snorlax is back. He was a good guy, if a bit lazy."

"You mean he defined the term… at least the people who run the plantations here won't have any more trouble with him."


Tracey's Scyther went nowhere nearly as smoothly. While he was indeed restored just as fast as Snorlax had been, he'd forgotten about the fairly severe injuries from which he was suffering when they'd first met him.

Accordingly, he tried to fly off to settle accounts with the swarm… and promptly fell over.

"You know, this would go a lot easier if we carried around Full Restores." Ash mused. "Might be a good idea."

"Given what we get into, yeah." Misty agreed. "In the meantime, we'll get going again in a few days once Scyther is properly better."

"I'd rather settle that score first." Scyther muttered.

"Any of them know Air Slash?" Ash asked. "Pidgeot does."

"No, none of them do. Would he teach me?"

"She!" Ash said, to forestall Pidgeot getting angry. "I know you never met her, but my Pidgeot is female."

"My apologies."

After a moment, Ash, Pikachu and Riolu exhaled. "It seems like you apologized in time."

"Is she especially touchy over this?"

"It's only come up once, but she Sky Attacked a crater lined with fused glass into the ground."

"I… see. Then I shall endeavour to avoid annoying her, for reasons of self preservation as well as simple courtesy."

"That's probably safest." Riolu said.


"Looks like he's almost better." Tracey said. "He's just old, is the main problem. Age creeping up on him."

"Right." Ash said, determinedly. "Dexter, call Brock."

Not even a please? Alright.

The projector flashed to life, creating a screen on which a startled Brock could be seen.

Ash squinted. "Brock, are you holding a crowbar?"

"No." Brock said, unconvincingly. "Look, what is it?"

"Where could I find a metal coat? Like the one your Onix used to evolve?"

"Actually, the lab has one." Brock disappeared out of shot for a moment, and came back holding the metallic item. "You can borrow it, if you're quick."

"Five minutes, no more." Ash promised, and took it as it materialized. "Right!"

"Wait, are you-" Tracey called, as Ash ran towards the Pokémon centre.


Ash skidded to a halt in the convalescence room. "Want to become a Steel type?"

"How?" Scyther asked.

"Your species can evolve into Scizor with a metal coat. It should help counteract your advanced age."

"Very well, then." Scyther struggled out of bed, and Ash passed the item to him.

There was a flash of silver light, and when it cleared the Bug type was now a Scizor.

"Congratulations!" Ash said, then dove out the window.

"Er… thank you?"


"I'm back!"

Four minutes, twelve seconds.

"You actually kept track?" Somehow, the screen glared at him. "Right, AI, silly question. Anyway, here's the metal coat."

Transferring.

"Did you just evolve my Scyther to Scizor in five minutes flat?" Tracey asked, a little amazed.

"Yeah?" Ash shrugged. "Fairly normal for me. Remind me to tell you about the time a Pokémon evolved while I was riding her."


"Only a few weeks more…" Lawrence III mused. "The ship is ready, the weapons primed. We have only to wait until the prophesied date and the beast of the sea shall be mine."

"Brother, I don't understand why you believe in all those prophecies." His sister said, walking into the command room. "They're nonsense. The scribblings of primitives desperately trying to understand Pokémon. We do understand, and we have the power to control them."

"Those ancient writings were what led me to the site of Pokeatlantis, sister. From an ancient depiction of Mew, all this resulted – and your own ship's reliance on new technology proved its' downfall, did it not?"

"I didn't expect the Porygon." Hunter J said. "But you aren't well prepared either. You had no supporting vessels and no additional crew. You could easily be attacked the same way as mine was, by a boarding party."

"But that is a problem no longer." Lawrence said, serenely. "You have been delivered unto me. And while your new ship is to be completed soon, you shall be onboard to witness as I come into my destiny as the chosen one and tame the beast of the sea. Lugia!"


"What."

Sir Aaron stared at the ridiculous creation in front of him.

"This is the great and powerful head of Xavi!" Sorin Otome said, standing atop an eight foot high wooden head with cannons for eyes. "I built it from a very powerful cannon, so fear it!"

"Arceus?" Aaron addressed the air. "This guy is nuts. More nuts than usual, I mean."

Sorry. I was trying to make a comment about the Portugese mission, and I think I missed.

"Badly." Aaron muttered. "This is just ridiculous."

Sorin gestured, and two more identical heads creaked into the square. "Let's go Xavi!"

To the south, Dialga examined a person-shaped crater in the ground. I think he's been defeated.

Ieyasu bowed to the crater, and to the samurai within. "Your bond with your lord is strong. But the bonds which will be forged this day are stronger still!"

"My wife said there'd be days like this..." Muneshige Tachibana muttered.

Something exploded as Palkia fired Spatial Rend into one of the Xavi-tanks.


AN:

Sorry it's been so long. I have other fics too.

Yes, J's brother is Lawrence III, the "collector" from the second movie. He has a woeful lack of backstory in the film, so I'm making him an archaeologist with access to a number of sites which have the same ludicrously high technology as Pokemonopolis and Pokeatlantis et cetera have.

I'll try to update more frequently - I do know single chapters are a bit unusual for me.