Inside a very technological building, Meowth snuck inside air vents, trying to remember the layout to the storage room whilst his companions walked the halls.
"I'm sure it was this way." The woman said.
"They could have changed the layout." The man suggested. "They may be on a different floor."
The woman shook her head. "They wouldn't change the storage room location on a whim. Besides, I doubt the boss would change the layout after all this time."
"Unless he knows someone would steal from him." A woman's voice interrupted.
The two turned around, seeing a woman with short red hair and a definitive aura of authority. "Ariana?"
"That's Admin Ariana. Thank you." She smirked back. "Now then. Jessie, James. Our boss would like a meeting with you."
Meanwhile, Meowth had seen Jessie and James be taken away by Ariana. He took a small gulp and continued on his way, knowing that due to Ariana's small act of gloating, she had revealed that the storage room had indeed been moved.
He felt a small stirring in the attached satchel and tapped it twice. "Not yet." He whispered. He continued to crawl through the vents, turning left and right, having to backtrack when he found a few dead ends.
Eventually, he found a door being guarded by two grunts. He reached his paw inside the satchel, casting his glances down at the three Poké balls, making sure he picked the right one.
"Ok, we need to Leech Seed those guards straight away." Meowth whispered to the ball. "Best to layer it up so they fall unconscious quicker." Meowth held the ball to the grate. "Go."
The ball opened, releasing the white light that changed into Gourgeist. Quickly, she launched several Leech Seed attacks on the two grunts. Slumping against the wall, the grunts entered a forced sleep. Gourgeist floated to the grate where Meowth was and removed it.
Meowth jumped down and walked to the door. "It need a key card." He looked to the grunts. "Can you check that guy for a card while I check this one?"
After searching pockets, Gourgeist pulled out a card and showed it to Meowth. Meowth smiled and Gourgeist swiped the card, opening the door.
Meowth and Gourgeist entered the storage room, closing the door behind them. He took out the remaining Poké balls and opened them, releasing Inkay and Wobbuffet.
"Find Jessie and James' Poké balls." Meowth instructed. "They mark the balls with pictures of the trainer that caught them."
The Pokémon nodded while Meowth headed to a nearby computer. He began typing away, looking through folders for something.
Wobbuffet scared Meowth by shouting. Meowth turned his head and looked at the blue Pokémon. "Be quiet. We can't draw any attention."
Wobbuffet pointed to the computer, showing Meowth what he was looking for. Meowth smirked and inserted a small stick into the computer.
He opened a new window on the computer and selected the folders he wanted. He moved the folders over, copying them and deleting them from the main computer.
He took out the stick and saw Inkay and Gourgeist holding several Poké balls. "You're sure they're the ones we want?"
Inkay and Gourgeist nodded firmly and handed Meowth the balls so they could be put in the satchel.
Opening the large double doors, Admin Ariana led Jessie and James into the main office. She gestured for them to approach the desk as she left the room.
Jessie and James eyed the large cat eyeing them up and taking its place by its trainers side. Despite their experience with legendary Pokémon and the few end of the world scenarios they've faced, their boss' Persian still managed to instil fear in their hearts.
The chair spun around, revealing their boss; Giovanni. He placed a hand on Persian's head and gently rubbed.
Giovanni looked Jessie and James directly in their eyes. They both flinched as he moved his arm back to the desk. "Welcome." They both gasped at the sudden sound. "Now I understand, thanks to your report, that you defeated the threat to the Kalos Region with just your, and correct me if I'm wrong, Gourgeist; a Grass and Ghost Type. And an Inkay? Which I believe, is a Psychic and Dark Type."
"Yes sir." They said, trying to be confident.
Giovanni nodded slowly, then pressed a button on his desk, causing a picture behind him to slowly descend, showing a television. He picked up a remote control and pressed a button. A video began playing, bringing back memories of the battle with Team Flare.
At one point, Giovanni paused the footage and looked back at Jessie and James, as if waiting for an answer. When none came, he raised his voice. "If that was the case, then what is that Pokémon, because it is in no way Gourgeist, nor Inkay."
Jessie and James recognised the large green Pokémon, but could not recall its name. "Sorry sir. We can't remember its name." Jessie volunteered.
"Its name is Zygarde." Giovanni told them. "It was instrumental in Team Flare's defeat. As were several other trainers and the Kalos Gym Leaders. Not you!" the two Team Rocket members looked at each other from the corner of their eyes. Giovanni let his mouth curve into a smirk. "But I do commend you on your editing skills. It was only thanks to Agent Domino that we noticed this slight amount of footage."
"Agent Domino?" James asked, slightly nervous.
"Indeed." Giovanni confirmed. "And it was only with a passing glance."
Jessie moved her foot slightly, ready to leave in an emergency. James did the same, but felt that his foot had slightly pushed something. He looked down, seeing a thin brown vine with a yellow tip. He moved his eyes, seeing that the vine was attached to a yellow and green Pokémon that James instantly knew as a Victreebel.
"Now I know you wouldn't want to leave so suddenly." Giovanni taunted. "Not before Victreebel has done its purpose."
James gulped, knowing exactly what a Victreebel could do. He looked at Jessie, and seeing she was looking at him, he shook his head. Jessie moved her foot back to a comfortable position and looked at Giovanni.
"How about we move to a more…suitable location?" Giovanni asked, knowing full well that Jessie and James knew that he wasn't giving them a choice.
On the train carriages, Pikachu used all the strength he could summon to fend off the attacks coming towards his friends.
"Pikachu, keep it up!" Ash encouraged. "We just need a few more minutes." He quickly turned to his friends. "Any idea what Type those attacks are?"
"It's hard to say without seeing what Pokémon is using it." Brock replied. "Right now, we need to get down from here."
"And how do we that?" Misty called, after being knocked into a chair. "We don't have any Pokémon that can save us!"
Tracey rocked from another stray attack and looked out of the window. He squinted his eyes. "What's that?"
Ash and Misty looked out of the same window, seeing a white Pokémon flying towards them. Misty felt a sense of nostalgia and warmth in her heart. "It can't be, can it?"
Ash shook his head. "Sorry Misty. It's not Togetic."
"Then who is it?" Tracey asked.
"Togekiss." Ash smiled. "Get down!"
Ash, Misty and Tracey all ducked as a ball ripped through the carriage. Ash looked up, seeing a determined Togekiss nod at him. He looked down, seeing a large stream of water and a bright blue beam head for him. As the two reached the carriage, they combined and fell back to wherever they came from, creating a slide down to their source.
Togekiss pointed to the slide and then to Ash, who instantly knew what Togekiss was saying. "We have to slide down. Now!"
"What?" Misty asked. "Are you crazy?"
"Compared to everything else we've done?" Brock asked. "This is child's play."
Misty looked at Tracey. She sighed when she saw him nod, clearly agreeing with Brock. She called out when she saw Ash grab Pikachu and jump down the slide. Brock and Tracey quickly followed Ash down the slide. Misty saw a large ball of energy fly towards her.
She turned her attention to Togekiss. "Can you help me down?"
Togekiss smiled and offered a wing. Misty gladly took the offer and held her breath as she took the jump onto the slide.
The wind ripped through Misty's hair as she felt the cold icy chill rip up her back. She couldn't reach the bottom quick enough for her liking.
Togekiss used all her strength to fly and slow Misty down for her to get off the slide. Misty jumped to her feet and looked back at the slide.
"I don't want to go down that again." Misty shivered. "Did you bring a Fire Type Ash?"
"Only Charizard." He replied.
Misty shook her head. "Never mind. Who saved us anyway?"
Ash looked at Togekiss. "You are the Togekiss I know, aren't you?"
Togekiss cheered and spun in the air very gracefully. Once again on the ground, Togekiss bowed and winked at Ash.
Ash nodded and turned to his friends. "We can trust Togekiss." He turned back to the Jubilee Pokémon. "Now, where's Dawn?"
"Dawn?" Brock asked. Then he clicked his fingers. "Of course. The Hydro Pump and Ice Beam. Piplup and Buneary."
Two sweet voices sounded and emerged from the nearby trees. Everyone turned to see a small brown rabbit with cream tufts of fur and a small blue penguin-like Pokémon. Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder and greeted the two Pokémon.
It was easily noticeable that Buneary was acting very shy around Pikachu but still brave enough to go to him and affectionately rub her head against his.
Ash laughed slightly. "That is definitely Dawn's Buneary."
"What gave it away?" asked a cheery voice.
Looking beyond the Pokémon, Ash smiled brightly as he recognised his companion from the Sinnoh Region.
"Hi Dawn, what's happening?"
"That's what I was going to ask you." Dawn countered, losing her smile to a face of concern. "I recognised Pikachu's Thunderbolt. That green Pokémon was attacking you."
"Green Pokémon?" Tracey asked.
Dawn turned to Tracey. "Yeah. It was weird. It looked like a large snake-thing. Then it evolved."
"Into what?" Brock asked.
Dawn returned Buneary and Togekiss as she sighed. "That's the thing. It was a weird evolution. It glowed green and shot beams from its body as it shrunk down into a dog."
"A dog?" Brock asked. "Like a Houndoom?"
Dawn shook her head. "Definitely not a Houndoom."
"So what then?" Misty asked.
Dawn thought about how to describe when a call drew her attention. She turned her head, seeing her new acquaintance. Once she saw his panicked look, she became concerned. "Brendan, what's wrong?"
"I called a few friends about the Pokémon." He answered. "And I was able to get a name from one in Kalos."
"Kalos?" Ash muttered, something triggering his memory.
"Yeah, it's this far off region. Really nice. I wouldn't mind going there and catching a few Kalos Pokémon." Brendan trailed off before snapping back thanks to Dawn. "Anyway, Calem told me that only one Pokémon came to mind when I described it. A legendary Dragon Type called…"
"Zygarde." Ash interrupted.
Brendan looked at Ash. "How did you know?"
"I met a Zygarde. Two actually." Ash answered. "And one almost destroyed a region."
"That's not good." Brendan said. "What happened?"
"The other Zygarde, along with a few helpers, managed to stop it and together, we saved the region." Ash answered.
"You were there?" Brendan asked.
"Yes." Ash answered. "I always seem to be around when things go crazy."
"Why is that anyway?" Dawn asked.
Ash shrugged his shoulders. "Dumb luck."
Padding filled the air, causing Brendan and Dawn to fearfully turn their heads. Zygarde stood there, in its dog-form. It growled at the humans, Pikachu and Piplup. Ash took a bold step forward.
"Squishy?" he asked. Zygarde called out into the air, glowing green. Ash quickly took charge. "Everyone! Run! We can't win this now!"
"Ash, you always say we can fight." Brock said, already starting to run.
"Not this time!" He insisted. "It took everything to stop one. Even the Gym Leaders and Champion had to help out."
Brendan grabbed a Poké ball and stopped running. "I can hold it off."
"No!" Ash said. "You can't beat a Legendary Pokémon."
Brendan smirked. "Maybe, maybe not. But we can try." He threw the Poké ball, releasing his starter Pokémon; Swampert. "Now go. Swampert and I can handle this."
"Brendan." Dawn tried, placing an arm on his shoulder. "Don't do this."
Brendan lowered his head and pulled out a Repeat ball. He opened it, causing his Shiftry to appear. "Dawn, stand with the others." Reluctantly, Dawn moved back and stood with the others. "I'm sorry. Shiftry, Whirlwind them away."
The calls of protest fell on deaf ears as Shiftry used his leafy hands to whip up strong winds that sent Ash, Misty, Brock, Dawn and Tracey through the air.
Brendan turned back around, seeing Zygarde assume the form he had first seen. Shiftry turned back around and looked at the massive Zygarde. He looked back at Brendan.
"I was going to have Swampert handle this, but he may need help." Brendan pulled out a black ball called a Luxury Ball and threw it in the air, letting out his second strongest Pokémon; Aggron.
"Okay guys and girl." Brendan started. "We need to buy time. Just this once; use all the power you have against that Pokémon."
Swampert and Aggron fired an Ice Beam each at Zygarde's face area whilst Shiftry fired Bullet Seed at the ground to try to stop Zygarde's starting movements.
After introductions were made, May, Max and Serena went to the Pokémon Centre to give their Pokémon a small check-up.
After that, they rushed to the airport but since Zinzolin's attack, everything was grounded. May screamed in frustration.
"It's alright May." Serena soothed. "We'll get to Pewter City."
"It's not just that." May said. "The Gym Leader is a friend of ours. And since he's not answering, we need to see if he's alright."
"If he's a Gym Leader, he'll be fine." Serena smiled. "Trust me. Gym Leaders are strong."
Max nodded. "She's right May. Besides, look what we've been through."
May smiled. "Kyogre and Groudon fighting, almost tearing Hoenn apart. I almost drowned in a sea temple."
"What?" Serena gasped.
Max nodded. "Yeah. And all because of our friends knack of running into any and all Legendary Pokémon."
"Why is that anyway?" May asked. "Of all the people we could have travelled with, it happened to be the one who found all Legendary Pokémon."
"That sounds like someone I know." Serena said. "There's not many Legendary Pokémon back in Kalos but he always found them."
"He?" Max asked.
Serena nodded, her eyes glistening over. "Yes. He was so brave. Reckless, but brave. Always doing anything he can to help Pokémon. Even if it means jumping off a large tower just to save his Pikachu." May and Max went wide-eyed and both looked at each other. Serena noticed this. "What? Did I say something?"
"It's just…our friend was like that." May answered. "Even down to the Pikachu."
"Quite a coincidence." Max agreed.
"Anyway, how are we going to get to Kanto?" May asked. "Especially if we can't go by phone or ferry."
"Do you have any water Pokémon that could carry us?" Serena asked.
"I only have a Wailmer and I don't think he's strong enough to carry us all across to Kanto." Max answered.
Serena sighed. "So what so we do now?"
"Hey, did you hear?" someone nearby asked their friend. "Cerulean City was taken over by Team Rocket." This caught all of their attention. "Apparently, the Gym Leader had only just managed to send all of the Pokémon to safety before she escaped."
"Where did she go?" the friend asked.
"No-one knows yet. She's still missing." Was the reply. "But there is a rumour that she wasn't alone. The Pewter City Gym Leader and Professor Oak's assistant were also with her. And some other kid."
May and Max looked at each other and excused themselves from Serena for a brief conversation.
"There's no doubt about it." May said. "Brock, Misty and Tracey are involved in something."
Max nodded. "And I'll bet that Ash is in the middle of it." He saw his sister agreed wholeheartedly. "We need to get to Kanto. Now."
"And how can we do that?" May asked. "It's not like we can ask Rayquaza or Deoxys for a lift."
"Maybe I can help." Serena interrupted. "Sorry for listening in, but if the Ash you're talking about is the Ash I know, then there's no time to waste. Follow me."
Serena led the Maple siblings out of Slateport City and to a secluded section of Route 110. Which admittedly wasn't easy since the Cycling Path gave all cyclists a good view. She pulled out a small bottle with a unique design.
"This is a very special bottle." Serena explained. "While this isn't the original, it was gifted to me to use in an emergency. While regional travel doesn't fall under the category, going to help save a region in trouble, definitely does."
"How does it work?" Max asked.
"We need to use three elemental attacks on it." Serena answered. "Fire, Water and Ground. I can only provide the Fire element."
"Well, I could use my Wartortle for the Water." May volunteered.
"Would using Dig work?" Max asked. "It is a Ground Type move."
"I'm not sure." Serena admitted. "Last time, we used Sand Attack."
"Let's give it a try." May said, releasing Wartortle.
Max threw a ball and let Shedinja out as Serena set the bottle on the ground and walked back to let her Fire Type, Braixen out.
"Shedinja, besides using Dig, do you have any other Ground Type moves?" Max asked. "Like Sand Attack?"
Shedinja turned away from the group and whipped up a small sandstorm and fired it a short distance. Despite its expressionless body, Max could sense the smugness from his Pokémon.
"Alright Shedinja, don't be smug." Max smiled. "Let's just do this."
"We need to hit the bottle at the same time." Serena said. "Everyone ready?" Braixen, Wartortle and Shedinja all made noises of approval and awaited instructions. "Braixen, use Flamethrower!"
"Water Gun!" May called.
"Shedinja, aim Sand Attack at the bottle." Max added.
The three Pokémon launched their attacks, all hitting the bottle and causing it to rise into the air. Sparks of light began to shoot from the bottle.
"Stop the attacks!" Serena called.
The Pokémon stopped firing and moved to their trainers side. The bottle broke apart, creating a dark circle. May, Max and Serena returned their Pokémon to their balls and watched as a small pink and violet Pokémon that shared certain attributes with the bottle float from the hole as it closed.
Seeing May and Max's faces, the Pokémon floated to them and smiled. "Were you surprised?"
"A little." May answered. "But after our adventures, there's nothing much that can surprise us."
Serena approached the Pokémon. "Hoopa, we need your help." The Pokémon, now known as Hoopa, looked at Serena. "May and Max here, have friends in Kanto who are in trouble. I was hoping you'd be able to use your rings to take us there."
"I'll try." Hoopa said. "Here goes nothing. Alléhooparing!"
Hoopa took a ring from its head and threw it into the air. The ring grew enough to let May and Serena through comfortably.
"And this ring will take us to Kanto?" May checked.
Hoopa nodded. "Yes. Straight to Kanto."
"Thank you Hoopa." Serena smiled as she stepped through the portal.
May and Max followed through the portal as Hoopa waved them away. As Max looked around, he knew instantly that something had gone wrong. Instead of being somewhere that would be easily recognisable or somewhere where anyone would be of any help, he found himself in what would be described as a holding cell.
He spun around, seeing the portal close. "Where are we?"
"Something's gone wrong." Serena said.
"That's obvious." May stated. "What went wrong?"
"I don't know." Serena slowly shook her head. "Hoopa's portals always open exactly where he wants."
"Which means he wanted to open the portal here." Max added. "The question is, why?"
"That's thanks to me." Said a slightly high-pitched voice.
The three, now prisoners, looked to the door to see a man with light green hair and a pristine white suit grinning with an unnerving edge to it. He held up a small device with only a switch and a red light. He flipped the switch, changing the red light to a green light.
"This device has just activated a simulation of an incident that occurred in LaRousse City in Hoenn." The man informed them. "Your Poké balls have been disabled. You won't be able to let out any of your Pokémon."
Serena quickly reached for a Poké ball, but found she couldn't activate it to let out her Pancham. She looked at the door to see the man laughing as he walked away.
She screamed and banged on the door. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see May looking concerned. "Serena, that isn't going to help anything or anyone."
Serena looked May in the eyes. "Well, I don't know what I can do now. I've never been in a situation like this."
"Did that guy say LaRousse City?" Max asked.
"Yeah." May answered. "Why?"
"Isn't that where Deoxys and Rayquaza fought?" Max asked his sister.
May suddenly remembered the adventure where the entire city was locked down when the Mythical Pokémon Deoxys was searching for its friend. "Oh no. We have to get the field shut off as soon as we can."
"Good luck with that." murmured a depressed voice.
May walked to the door and stood on her toes and looked into the cell opposite. Her eyes widened as she recognised the long, red-haired woman looking back at her. "What are you doing here?"