Welcome to the Reverse World. Anything about the Pokémon World was the polar opposite of this world. For Ash and Pikachu just arriving, that world held a princess and an enemy. Who knows what Zero was planning to do with Salvia. Seeing the majesties of the Reverse World was nice to see but for Ash, sight seeing was far from his mind. "We'd better be careful in this world," he warned Pikachu. "We don't have Newton to help up where the altered gravity zones are located."
("I can help with that,") Pikachu reassured. They began to run through sets of buildings when another Pokémon decided to check in on the situation. It was Dialga. The Pokémon of Space entered through a rip it created. Zero, on his hovering scooter, spotted Dialga, scoffing at what troubles awaited.
"Hm," he hummed. "This could be interesting. I'm sure Giratina will have a heck of a time with a few intruders." Ash raced around the awkward structures in the hunt to find Salvia. He and Pikachu hit a tunnel and felt light.
("Light gravity!") Hearing Pikachu, Ash slowed his pace. He didn't want to wait but he had to calm his pace down. Hopping through the section, Ash used the near-zero gravity and bounced to the other side. There, Pikachu felt pounds pulling him down. ("Normal gravity!") Ash landed and realized he couldn't move so freely anymore. Back on "normal" ground, Ash raced downstairs...or upstairs... Hey, the Reverse World can be so disorienting. He hoped to find Salvia soon but so far, there wasn't a soul to see, not even a Pokémon. ("Get Staraptor out! We can split up and search this world for the princess.") It sounded like a good idea until Ash remembered all those chases with Zero's Pokémon.
"Not a good plan," he denied. "Zero has the evolution set of Magnemite which includes Magneton and Magnezone. They'll make mincemeat out of Staraptor." Pikachu didn't think that Ash had a counter. Those two occasionally agreed to plans. The past had Ash backtracking to come up with a strategy. Pikachu thought Ash failed to acknowledge a trait it had.
("I can help minimize Staraptor's damage with my body. I am an Electric Pokémon, after all.") No denying that. Ash was worried about Princess Salvia, but he was more worried about his Pokémon. He wasn't completely aware of Dialga who also entered the Reverse World. Now wasn't the time to argue with his best friend. Now was the time to find the heir.
"Alright. You and Staraptor be careful." He opened Staraptor's Pokéball and released him. Pikachu wasted little time boarding the Predator Pokémon. "Keep your eyes out for the princess. Staraptor, the princess looks a heck of a lot like Dawn so keep that in mind as you two look. And be careful. Zero can be tricky to plot something." Staraptor and Pikachu knew what to do and they took off...where Zero camped nearby.
"Nice work on your hide-and-seek," he cockily complimented. "Just not good enough." Entering the tunnel the opposite of where the Pokémon exited from, Zero was ready to confront Ash...but he was just as elusive. "Hm. Never thought he would be the hiding type. He's here somewhere." Before he could enter, a black cloud entered the tunnel. Past experience forced Zero to back out. Ash was seen holding his breath as he raced from the cavernous tunnel. Out of the tunnel, Ash gasped to get fresh air in his lungs.
"Nearly forgot about the poisonous clouds." Suddenly, Ash started to believe that Zero may have exposed Salvia to the clouds. Knowing that those poisonous clouds could knock someone out for good, he hoped that she didn't breathe in that toxic black puff. Rounding the corner and his worst dream had just become a nightmare. BAM! He barreled right into Jessie and knocking both of them down. Recovering, Team Rocket seethed at the carelessness of the trainer.
"Did your mother ever tell you to watch where you're going?" James snapped. It wasn't that Ash didn't know where he was going, it was a blind corner. Jessie bounced back onto his feet, upset at Ash's run-in.
"Excuse me! I'm in the middle of something!" Jessie released Seviper, advising Ash to stay put.
"I don't care if you're having a heart attack," she scowled. "You'll present Pikachu or else!" Could this be why Pikachu wanted to split up from Ash? He knew Team Rocket was on the prowl?
"Pikachu's not with me!" This would be a tell for Team Rocket to leave Ash alone. However, they were a stubborn bunch.
"I know you're hiding that prized Pokémon somewhere in this world!" Ash didn't want to argue. He wanted to save Salvia.
"I've got more important matters to deal with!" Jessie wasn't willing to let him go.
"That's what you think! Seviper, Wrap the twerp!" Seviper lunged at Ash but he juked his way to where Seviper got his Wrap...on Meowth!
"Hey!" Meowth screeched. "Get your scaly scales off a-me!" As Jessie and James tried to untangle their Pokémon, Ash was off and running. Now, Ash had Zero and Team Rocket to deal with. He now wished he had some extra help. Meanwhile, Ash's Pokémon searched high and low for the princess. That's when the guardian of the Reverse World showed up: Giratina. Giratina roared at his trespassers but Pikachu and Staraptor explained the issue at hand, including Salvia and Zero. Giratina's roar was quieted at the note of Zero's reentry. It was a big issue that was about to get even bigger as Dialga spotted Giratina. The Pokémon of Time overheard the conversation with the Electric Mouse, sensing problems. Giratina and Dialga glared at each other, the guardian not liking all these intrusions. Talk about complications. The giant Pokémon were wasting Pikachu's time. That's when Dialga spotted the trainer. It remembered this boy helping him and Palkia out of Team Galactic's snare. A tiny roar told Pikachu and Staraptor to get moving. Staraptor flew off, continuing the search of the royal female. All hoped they weren't too late. Giratina flew down to meet with Ash who saw him coming.
"Giratina!" he called up. Meeting up, Ash had something to tell the guardian. "Have you seen a girl in here?" A lowly growl told Ash that it hadn't seen any girl in the vicinity. Was it safe to say that it was going on right in front of Zero as he zipped in? No, safe wouldn't be the word.
"Congratulations, Ash!" he yelled as he swooped to greet his foe and Pokémon. "You're a lot smarter than I anticipated from you. You managed to round up Giratina for me to capture. Besides, with these clouds forming all over and no Shaymin to absorb and use Seed Flare, how are you gonna survive?" A taunt.
"Look, tell me where the princess is!" Ash was in no mood for games. Zero's laugh said otherwise.
"You seem to have forgotten that the matter fits just the- huh?" Ash and Zero turned to see Team Rocket ready to brawl.
"This is your last warning!" Jessie hollered. "Surrender Pikachu or surrender your health!" Ash could grab another Pokémon but Zero flew past him.
"Excuse me but we're having a conversation here." It took a click or two to remember Team Rocket's involvement with Newton. "Of course, you're assisting Newton Graceland as well." Jessie growled, steamed at being blocked. Man, all this tension going around. Pikachu and Staraptor have been going to just about every place but no sign of Salvia anywhere. If Zero hid her, he did an excellent job. Of course, that's giving him too much credit.
("We have a better chance finding Team Rocket than the princess,") Pikachu growled. They've already found Ash and he's got his hands and feet full with them and Zero. That's when the Predator Pokémon spotted tufts of blue hair.
("I see hair!") it cawed. ("Check?") Pikachu saw where Staraptor found the discovery, confident that they found the royal heir.
("Only one way to know! Full Speed with Aerial Ace!") Staraptor flew down with impressive speed, breaking the window. The two spun and much to their delight...but concern, there was Salvia. She was bound by rope but unconscious. Pikachu jumped off and got to the princess' side to see if he could wake her up. ("Hey, Princess! Time to wake up!") That didn't work. He could use Thunderbolt. It usually wakes Ash up when he oversleeps. However, this was a princess who wouldn't deserve such a rude gesture from a Pokémon. It made Pikachu cringe in panic. What if Salvia inhaled some of the toxic cloud? She couldn't be alive but she was breathing though very shallow.
("Pikachu, any plan?") Staraptor figured that she cannot save herself in this horrifying mysterious condition.
("Go get Ash here. He'll know what to do.") Pikachu seemed confident with the attack plan. Staraptor exited and flew to find Ash. He was stuck in the middle of a squabble with Zero and Team Rocket and Zero had a swarm of Magnemite about to hover around the others.
"You think your Magnemite Army will whisk us away?" Jessie scoffed. "Surely, we've improved in fending off big fleets of Pokémon." Zero wasn't phased. This argument was taking too long and Ash needed to bail.
"Unless you guys are gonna battle, I think I'll step aside," Ash yawned. "Giratina, let's go!" Ash clasped onto Giratina's tusk and began to fly off from the two. Not on Zero's watch.
"That's what you think," he groaned before starting to chase. Jessie turned to James to see if he could stop Zero.
"James, reel him back!" James had his Pokéball ready to go.
"Let's go, Carnivine!" he summoned. The ball opened and the light clasped him as the Bug Catcher emerged with the jaw clamped hard on his neck, practically engulfing his head. "Must you latch onto my head every time? Use Vine Whip!" Carnivine fired a vine and hooked onto Zero's ride. However, instead of slowing the ride down, James and Carnivine were lifted from the ground with James' head still stuck in Carnivine's mouth. That's some strong jaw. Jessie and Meowth couldn't react in time to help their partner out. It happened so fast so you couldn't blame them for their lack of response. Ash's Staraptor found Ash on the guardian's tusk and flew toward him. Seeing no Pikachu, Ash believed they accomplished their mission.
"Did you find the princess?" Ash wondered. Staraptor cawed to confirm Ash's concern. Ash was proud of his Pokémon's fast work but now had to deal with two problems: Zero and James. Well, maybe Zero. James had gone limp with his head still wedged inside Carnivine's flytrap mouth. 'I gotta do something to get Zero off our tail.' Spotting the vine clung onto the hovering vehicle. Maybe Ash could use Team Rocket's Grass Pokémon to his advantage...but how. It can't use his mouth with James occupying it. Could it use Vine Whip again. "Carnivine, throw a Vine Whip up here!" Carnivine was getting worried about James and in it's thoughts, so was Ash. Giratina turned around as Carnivine fired another Vine Whip, Ash catching it. "Bulls-eye!" The overgrown Venus Flytrap released the vine on the scooter and fell right onto Giratina, finally releasing James who was lights out.
"Carnivine, you now know why I despise you clamping on my head," he unconsciously murmured. Did it bother Carnivine? Ash didn't see the Pokéball for Carnivine so Ash had to use it to survive when a fleet of Magnemite and a lone Magnezone showed up Salvia was his mission but Giratina had to be protected. Staraptor couldn't last too long since Magnemite and Magnezone were both Electric and Steel types. He wouldn't need to worry. A navy blue barrel of light scattered the orbiting steel orbs with magnets and the UFO shaped Pokémon. Ash, Staraptor and Carnivine spun heads to see Dialga swooping in and covering Giratina. Zero throttled down, trying not to get caught in Dialga's Roar of Time. This Pokémon helping Pokémon caught Zero by surprise.
"This is an interesting turn," he muttered. "Dialga and Giratina working together?" Ash had an idea: Dialga could stall Zero while Giratina carried Ash to Salvia. It was worth a shot.
"Thanks, Dialga!" he praised. "We need that screen!" The two giant Pokémon raced forward and left Zero in the dust.
"A two-for-one deal. Take those two, absorb their powers and be god. My day keeps getting better. All forces, surround and neutralize with Thunder Wave!" The Magnemite and Magnezone chased Dialga and Giratina. Ash had to thin out the assault. Carnivine could help but it's James' Pokémon.
"You wanna help James out?" Carnivine nodded. "You and Infernape can work together! Infernape, I choose you!" Ash released Infernape. "You'll have to excuse me if I borrow Carnivine, James. Carnivine, use Bullet Seed! And Infernape, use Flamethrower!" Carnivine spat multiple seeds at rapid velocity at the Magnemite while Infernape spewed fire into the fray. The Magnemite were being knocked away, plenty being knocked out with the seeds and/or the flames. More Magnemite fired blue lightning but Dialga defended the others by coating itself in a blue veil. This bought enough time for Staraptor to descend down to where Pikachu waived up with his tail. Spotting the door, Dialga landed, ready to provide protection for Ash. Regaining consciousness, James got back on his feet and gazed at the Pokémon fending off the Magnemite parade. "Keep it up, everyone!" The Pokémon continued to battle while Ash entered Pikachu's location. James trusted Ash's commands and followed his enemy into the building. "Princess!" Getting to Salvia's side, Ash feared he came too late to save her life.
("Staraptor and I found her like this!") Pikachu explained. ("I didn't want to shock her!") Ash knew that Pikachu wouldn't hurt her intentionally.
"Come on, Princess! Wake up!" He tried rubbing his bare hand after removing his glove. No reaction. "No...don't tell me..." James tossed unused smelling salts to Ash. Picking one miniature bag, he turned to the Rocket.
"Well, how else do we constantly have our machines ready to use on you, twerp?" he illustrated. Ash had a quick mental picture of Jessie, James and Meowth weaving smelling salts across their noses. He waived the red blotch stain across Salvia's nose...but it failed to react. Ash had the salts so close, it nearly tapped her nose. This was serious and Ash's fears seem more truthful. His sadness was exposed. Salvia was way too young to go. James was a criminal for trying to take Pokémon from trainers but he would never think of going so far as murdering said trainer for a rare creature. Jessie, maybe. Heck, she wouldn't care if the trainer she's stealing from was dying from stab wounds to the chest. James realized that Ash was doing all he could for the right thing. For some odd reason as he was crying for her apparent loss, Ash reached down and gave Salvia a kiss on the lips like she did to him back in Arrowroot Town. Ash was never known to have kissed anyone so this was a surprise. Maybe Ash wanted to let her know how grateful he was for her to help her training. Suddenly, a moan. Salvia was alive. Her eyes opened as Ash broke from her.
"Sir...Ash?" she murmured. Ash nodded but was concern with Salvia's condition.
"Just relax, okay?" he requested. He rose up to acknowledge James to keep an eye on Pikachu and Salvia. He may not like leaving his prized Pokémon in the hands of a Team Rocket member but with the princess on tap, he was guaranteed in his mind that James won't make a stupid mistake. Of course, if James made a move to snatch Pikachu, he could counter by taking Carnivine. Stepping out, he saw fatigue in the Pokémon including all the defeated Magnemite. All that was left were a few of the said Magnemite and the Magnezone. Even the giant Pokémon were badly winded.
"Even the great powers of Time and Space are proving inadequate when hundreds of Magnemite are summoned," Zero goaded. "I can do without those inferior Pokémon. They don't have the dimensional bending powers that Dialga and Palkia possess." Ash ignored Zero and made his way to the Pokémon.
"Relax for a second," he told the Pokémon as he began to emit a blue veil. Carnivine and Infernape stood back to watch Ash perform his duty. Touching Dialga and Giratina, both Pokémon started to glow a blue, a more vibrant blue than the blue decorating Dialga. Both giants roared with power building on Ash's donation. It was as if they were recharged. Zero wasn't worried in the least.
"How comforting. You care about those two when they do not belong to a trainer? You're just wasting that energy in vain." The remaining Magnemite and Magnezone shielded Zero from any oncoming attacks.
"Really? I just gave up my anger to these titans. The last thing you did was put someone in between you and me for some cowardly reason."
"Cowardly? You wouldn't mean the fact that I inadvertently passed a few clouds along the way, right?" He laughed like he didn't care what happened to the princess. It was an obstacle to him. Even the Pokémon were enraged. "Be mad all you want. I'll still win by dusk!" Magnezone came forth and fired blue volts of lightning at the Pokémon on the ground but Ash stood in front and absorbed the strike. However, he wasn't the only one taking the wave of blue thunder. Carnivine wrapped its vines around Ash's waist and took the shock as well...but both were seemingly fine. Giratina and Dialga vanished and reappeared behind Zero, firing the Roar of Time and blue spheres at the villain. Zero flew back and away from the attacks in which Ash hopped on board and grappled his arms. The two struggled as the scooter flew out of control. "Get off me!" Zero flailed to knock Ash off his ride, nearly succeeding as Ash fell, only to grab the platform. Giratina and Staraptor gave chase if only to save Ash. He grabbed a Pokéball and release Gible. Draco Meteor time?
"Gible, lunchtime!" Gible bit off the zero-gravity motors which caused the scooter to fall from the sky. Ash snagged Gible as they began to fall with Zero. Staraptor clawed onto Zero and carried him over to the other Pokémon which Carnivine used the Vine Whip to snare him. Infernape helped hold Zero down. Meantime, Giratina caught Ash and began to float him back to the rest. Zero's captured and Salvia's safe. Thanks to some helpful Pokémon and including James' Carnivine, Ash has saved everyone...well, all but Jessie and Meowth as they arrived to return to their teammate. Salvia came out and saw Ash in good shape. She and Pikachu reunited with Ash where Salvia embraced her knight in shining armor with a hug.
"Thank you for protecting me, my prince!" she cried happily. Well, let's not get too excited. They still needed a way out. For certain, a figure came out from out of nowhere. Could this be good or bad for them? The ending, next time...