Grace was frozen in fear as the three Shadow Balls came rushing towards them. But Ash was a quicker thinker, and quickly grabbed a Pokeball, opening it with a flash of light.
A very large, sleeping, Snorlax came out. Its bulk blocked the attacks, and being a Normal-Type, it took no damage from the Ghost-Type moves. Unfortunately it was fast asleep, and Ash had no choice but to recall it before they used a non Ghost-Type move.
As soon as the Snorlax was recalled the three Liepard came charging out of the woods, claws glowing white from Slash. Ash stepped in front of Grace, holding his hands out in front of him.
The Liepards kept coming.
A moment before the ran into Ash they hit a blue barrier of light. Ash grunted, but then formed a sphere of aura and launched it towards the Liepards, forcing them to scatter.
"Grace," Ash said, "Take Pikachu and get out of here, now. Energy Ball!"
Shaymin leapt out of Grace's hands, forming a sphere of green light in front of it, launching it towards the Liepards. Far above Celebi, still invisible, did the same thing. But unlike her, the attack was visible.
There were several men at the edge of the forest, the Liepard's Trainers. One of them pointed towards Celebi's Energy Ball. "There," He commanded the Liepards. The three Liepards launched Shadow Balls towards Celebi.
Meloetta materialized next to Ash, "Etta!" She cried, she rose up, blocking the Shadow Balls. She looked at Ash, and he nodded. Then Meloetta began to sing. It was beautiful, and very uplifting. Even the Liepards stopped to listen. Soon Meloetta was encased in light that swirled around her.
When the light faded Meloetta looked different. Her green coloring was replaced with orange. Her long flowing hair was pinned up, and her dress-like body seemed to have a different flow. She stopped singing, and brought her hands together, and launch a Focus Blast.
"Charizard!" Ash threw a Pokeball. Charizard came out with a roar, "Charizard, they're here, get ready to fight!"
Charizard's eyes blazed with anger as Ash spoke, as if he knew who Ash was talking about. The two Liepards turned and attacked him. Charizard used Steel Wing, and brought the metallic wings down in front of him like shields. The Liepard's claws harmlessly were deflected.
Wait, two Liepards? Ash had thought there was three. Charizard roared and let out a Flamethrower. Ash turned around, looking for the third Liepard.
The Liepard was behind Pikachu, readying a Shadow Ball. Ash launched an aura attack, stopping the Shadow Ball. Pikachu, who was still hurt, turned around and saw the Liepard baring down on him, claws out.
Pikachu was too weak to run, so he closed his eyes. Instead of feeling the impact, he heard someone give a shout of pain.
Pikachu opened his eyes to see...
...To see...
...Ash crouching in front of him, taking the Slash attack.
"Pikapi!"
Ash punched the Liepard, throwing it off him. Then he turned back towards Pikachu, with an unreadable expression, "I'm okay, but you need to get out of here bud."
Pikachu stared up at Ash, he didn't see the Ash that wanted him gone, but one that wanted him safe. Is this... Is this how Ash had felt the whole time?
"Pikapi?"
Ash stood up and jogged towards Charizard, Pikachu stared in horror at the shredded shirt on Ash's back, mixed with his blood. Ash showed no sign of feeling the pain. Ash and Charizard stood back to back, now with all three Liepards on them.
"Charizard, Seismic Toss!" Ash cried. Charizard rose up into the air, grabbed a Liepard in each hand, and flew up into the air, then dove down, dropping them at the last moment, and he landed on top of them, knocking both of them out.
Not far Ash was fighting with the third Liepard, fighting physically and with his aura. A final aura attack rendered the Liepard unable to fight.
The men at the edge of the forest recalled the Liepards, saying nothing. They each reached for another Pokeball, releasing three more Pokemon. A Seviper, a Watchog, and another Liepard.
Ash looked over at the Pokemon, they couldn't keep this up. But if they got any of the Legendaries, or Pikachu... That would be horrible.
"Seviper, Screech!"
The Seviper coiled up like a cobra and opened its mouth, letting out a high pitched screech. The Pokemon and the people covered their ears, and Celebi and Victini flickered into view.
"Good, now after them!"
The Seviper sprang forward, using Wrap to bind Charizard's arms and wings. Ash charged towards the Watchog, who used protect. Watchog let out a Thunderbolt. Ash smirked as he was enveloped in the yellow light. Pikachu's Thunderbolt was stronger, and he could handle that.
Ash brought his hands together and let out an aura attack, but instead of the usually blue, it looked similar to an Electro Ball attack. Ash frowned, a similar thing had happened when he was battling back with Ridley, except his Aura had looked like fire. Ash shook his head and refocused on fighting.
The Liepard charge towards Pikachu. Pikachu stumbled out of the way, barely dodging the attack. Grace ran over and scooped him up, and the Liepard turned to face her.
"Cyan!" Grace cried, letting out Azurill, "Bubble, now!"
The Azurill let out the attack, but the Liepard kept charging. It struck Cyan in the chest, sending it flying.
"It will take more than that little runt to stop my Liepard, now, I have no need for you. So hand over the Pikachu, and we will leave you alone." One of the men came over, staring down at Grace.
"Cyan!" Grace cried, but the small Pokemon was to weak to fight against the stronger Liepard.
Victini swooped over Cyan, looking down at her in concern. Victini swooped in closer and laid her hands on Polka Dot Pokemon. The air started to glow yellow. When the glow faded Cyan looked fully healed. Victini flew away, turning invisible.
Cyan sat up, blinking.
Then the Azurill started to glow white.
"Cyan...?" Grace stared at her Pokemon. The small Pokemon, still glowing, started to swell in size. When the glow faded a new Pokemon was standing in its place, "Marill," Grace breathed, "Awesome."
Grace got out her Pokedex and scanned her newly evolved Pokemon.
"Marill: The Aqua Mouse Pokemon, and the evolved form of Azurill. The tip of Marill's tail is filled with oil that is lighter than water, so it acts as a float. Marill are very playful, and enjoy playing near water."
The man snorted, "Like that will help, Liepard, Shadow Claw!"
The Liepard leapt forward.
"Cyan, Bubble!" The newly evolved Marill hopped up and obeyed. But Grace noticed something different about the attack, the bubbles were bigger and faster, and landed with a more explosive hits. Grace recognized the new attack, "Now use Bubble Beam again!"
The Liepard gracefully leaped out of the way, and then struck with Shadow Claw. Evolved or not, the Liepard was still stronger. The Liepard came around again but it was stopped with V-shaped flames. Victini dove down and attacked with V-Create again.
"V-shaped fire," Grace muttered, "It was Victini that attacked us earlier."
"Pika!" Pikachu tried to get free of Grace's grip, wanting to battle.
"No Pikachu, you're still hurt. Now Marill, Water Gun!"
/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
Ash defeated the Watchog. It's trainer returned it. Ash knew that the people did not care, they were just trying to wear them down. And it was working, he didn't know how much longer they could keep fighting.
The man, the leader, stared at Ash, "Are you going to keep this up? You know you can not win this. Surrender yourself and the Pokemon in the prophecy, and we'll spare the girl and the other Pokemon."
The man was right, they couldn't keep this up. But he wasn't about to give up. Ash looked around. The Seviper had completely binded Charizard, and was viciously biting him. Pikachu was hurt, and Grace was holding him. A Marill, probably Grace's, and Victini were fighting the last Liepard.
Meloetta was trying to help Charizard, and Shaymin was trying to heal them. Celebi flew around above, unsure of what to do. Even if they won the fight, the men would just have back up. If they ran the men would catch up. Ash swore to himself, he just needed a bit more time.
More Time.
Ash looked up at Celebi. More Time.
"Celebi! Are you strong enough to do the Time Lapse?" Ash cried. She look down at him like he was crazy.
'M...maybe,' She stuttered.
"Celebi!" It was their only hope.
Celebi looked unsure, "Yes?"
"Then do it!"
"Stop the Celebi, do not let it complete the Time Lapse, we need it!" The man said. Seviper uncoiled itself from Charizard, springing towards Celebi. Liepard prepared a Shadow Ball. Charizard roared and leapt in front of the enemy Pokemon, temporarily blocking their path.
Celebi flew above Grace, Marill, Pikachu, and Victini. She began to radiate blue light. Charizard let out a roar as the Pokemon attack them.
"Meloetta, Shaymin, get over there. Charizard and I will hold them off!" Ash said.
'Ash, what are you talking about!?' Victini cried. Meloetta picked up Shaymin and went over by Grace, completely trusting Ash's decisions.
"Someone has to keep them from following you guys, that will be me. Celebi, make sure go to the right place. Victini, give her strength!"
'But... But we need you!'
"After them!" The man yelled. The Pokemon leapt forward, and Charizard stepped in front of Ash, taking the attacks once more.
"What's going on?" Grace asked, watching as Celebi's light began to envelop them.
'Celebi is time traveling,' Shaymin said, 'It will take all of her strength.'
Ash looked over at Charizard. His was breathing heavily, and covered with injuries. Charizard kept blocking attacks, but he was hurting himself. Charizard could keep fighting like that.
Ash also knew he had little hope of escaping capture. They would all be captured if they stayed, so it was the best choice if he held off the attack while Celebi completed the Time Lapse. But Charizard didn't have to be captured, neither did his other Pokemon.
Ash took off his belt, it had six Pokeballs attached to it. "Charizard, take this and get out here."
The Dragon-like Pokemon looked over at Ash, and Ash tossed his other Pokeballs. Charizard caught them, and looked at them, then back at Ash. Charizard shook his head, he wasn't leaving.
"Go."
Charizard refused.
"GO!"
Charizard didn't want to leave its Trainer, but he threw himself into the air, flying away. Ash turned back towards the enemies. The Liepard and Seviper leapt at Ash.
"Pikapi!"
Ash held his hands up, creating a force shield of aura. He glanced back at the legendaries, Grace, and Pikachu. They were all in the light of Celebi as she gathered energy.
"Pikachu! Remember Lucario?" Ash cried to him. Pikachu blinked, he and Ash had met several Lucarios on their journey, who did he mean? "You need to find him! He might be able to help! And find the M- arg!" The Seviper's tail hit Ash, "-ew that took you! You need to protect Grace!" Ash turned back to the force shield, but the Liepard's Iron Tail broke through it, and it hit Ash in the chest.
Ash was flung onto his back, and the Liepard leapt onto his chest. The Seviper circled around him.
"Pikapi! Pikachu chu pi Pikapi!" Cried Pikachu, lashing out against Grace, but Grace didn't let him go.
"Bi!" Celebi said, the light glowing brighter. The Liepard leapt off of Ash and fired a Dark Pulse right towards Celebi. Victini flew up in front of Celebi, taking the super-effective Dark Pulse for her.
Pikachu only had eyes for Ash.
Celebi began to rise into the air, and so did Grace and the legendaires. Grace let out a small surprised cry. They seemed to be in a bubble of light. Celebi lifted her arms up, and they all rose higher into the air.
The Seviper tripped Ash, and the men came out of the woods. Ash threw a punch at one of them, but he grabbed Ash's hands and shoved him down.
"Pikapi! PIKAPI!" Pikachu screamed, leaping out of Grace's hands, but could not get out of the wall of energy. His hands were pressed against the wall, and he had no choice but to watch Ash was mercilessly pounded by the people and the Pokemon. The Liepard brought an Iron Tail down on Ash's head, knocking him out. The men picked him up.
"Your orders sir?" One of them asked the leader.
"There's no hope for going after the others, for now. We have the Aura Guardian, so that'll please Zan. Make sure he is secure."
"Yes sir!"
"Pikapi! Pika pichu pika!" Pikachu threw himself against the energy wall as the men carried Ash away. "PIKA!"
"Cel... A... BI!" Celebi let out another pulse of light. Grace's vision went white, and she got the same feeling she got at the Pokemon Center, back when she was approaching Ash. If felt like she was being pulled behind on a rollercoaster, one with quick sharp turns. She felt like she was falling through an endless sky.
Then the sensation stopped suddenly, like it had never happened. Her vision cleared, and Grace found herself laying on her back, staring up at a dark blue sky, like the sun was setting. But it had been high noon minutes ago, so that wasn't possible
Grace sat up, rubbing her head, she looked around. They were in a lush forest, very green and rich, but not quite tropical. There was no sign of Ash, or the men. Or of the battle. It didn't even seem like the same place.
She looked over at the other Pokemon. Victini was on the ground, shaking, still recovering from the Dark Pulse. Meloetta, still holding Shaymin, looked around uncertainly. Marill went over to Grace, completely confused on what just happened.
Celebi collapsed on the ground, completely drained of energy. And Pikachu... Pikachu was staring at the ground, breathing hard. He was shaking in fear and in rage.
"Wh... Where are we?" Grace asked in a shaky voice.
Shaymin took a deep breath, 'The question's not where, but when.'
A/N: Yeah, its finally done! (Chapter Nine, not the story!) I started writing it, but then I messed up, so I had to start over. I hope you enjoy it, I hope to get the next chapter up soon. Any guesses to where (or when) Grace, Pikachu, and the legendaries traveled too?