Fusion dance? *Googles term* oooh, well that brings back memories... but not... exactly, it's a little different, there'll be no dancing unless it's for comedic effect. And to E, I give you a smiley face :)

Ash found himself once more in the place he was in before. Not near the river, but that other place where he met the strange Ditto who needed his help.

But for now he found himself alone, the events of his previous encounter shrouded in a thick haze that allowed only the most important of events of their conversation to be remembered by his battered mind.

Ash was lost and confused in this strange non-place, remembering, briefly something that had happened regarding Sceptile… and a river?

No no, that had already come and gone, this was something different, something important. If only he could remember!

He screamed, pulling at his hair. The surroundings spinning around him until they became a blur of dizzying colour, spinning and spinning and driving him to collapse on the floor from the sheer sense of displacement.

He opened his eyes and saw that the colours had gone, and that there was now a purple river all around him, rushing in one direction and making a sound like a tap that had been opened to its fullest.

He went to his knees, still dizzy from the aftereffects of the spinning colour and discovered that he was on some sort of boulder in the middle of the river. A rush of familiarity whispering to him that this scene should look very familiar.

He wondered what was going on and if there was anyone else here.

That was when he saw it. The Ditto standing on the far bank of the foul purple liquid. The Pokémon looked different from what snapshots he could remember of it from their last encounter, the brief fact about Ditto being genderless fluttering through his mind. Ditto didn't look sad, or joyful, he looked… disappointed.

Its mouth was pursed into a frown, its body was set in a sort of confrontational rigidity and its eyes stared into his, no, drilled into his own. And the Pokémon was shaking, faintly, and there, it was almost impossible to see but it was there, a tear. Ditto was crying.

Ditto was angry, but A little sad at the same time, in such a way that it reminded him of himself when he was younger and angry at Gary for breaking their friendship. Disappointed was the only description that Ash could give to the Pokémon's expression. Truly deeply disappointed.

So Ash, on his knees looked down and said "I'm sorry" knowing that that he had done something to the Pokémon to hurt its feelings.

"You broke your promise!" came the high pitched wail from the other side of the river. Ash briefly looked up with sad eyes. "You Broke it!"

"I'm sorry" Ash continued, still not knowing what he was sorry about.

"I thought you wanted to be my friend" Ditto muttered, "But you lied... you lied."

Ash looked up to Ditto, curious and asked "What makes you think that?"

Ditto looked up, its angry expression returning "Because you were scared of me."

"Scared of you?"

Sniffle "When you saw me on your head, and got scared... I knew that you didn't want to be my friend, because I don't want to be friends with the bad people who made me scared."

Ditto's form slumped in a manner that reminded Ash of a person who had given up on life "and I really wanted to be your friend" tears fell from its eyes. "You looked... nice, and, and I thought that... maybe..." the Pokémon trailed off. Turning to the side and looking off into the distance.

Ash cautiously chose his next words, "do you mean at the river?" and got a nod from Ditto in return. "But" Ash felt shocked, "That was my hair, it was all... you?" Ditto nodded "And then my hat turned into" a beat... "my HAT!"

Ditto oblivious to the trainers panic replied, "yeah, I threw your hat away because I thought I could go with you and get away from the bad people" snapping Ash back into reality.

"What bad people?"

Ditto sighed and told Ash "they took me away from where I was and put me into a small place, I can't really remember much before... it... all." Ditto stopped as if trying to sort out its thoughts. "But they put bad things in me, and did, they did... they hurt me." Ash looked on as the Pokémon finished its patchwork story. "Hurt... me, with the... bad..."

Ash broke Ditto out of the loop it seemed to be in with a "hey. Don't worry, I may have gotten scared earlier, but I won't let anyone bad get you." I'll keep you safe.

Ditto gave off a weak smile than shook its head, as if to forget whatever hopes that had taken a hold inside of him.

"I mean it!" Ash shouted, once he saw the Pokémon's doubt creep up. "I'll stop them from hurting you!"

Ditto looked sceptical, "I thought you hated me?"

"I never said I hated you."

"but you were scared of me!"

"No"

"NO! I saw you! You screamed like Smoochum that saw a Scaftry in a dark alleyway. I saw it."

"But"

"Well?" Ditto screamed, not wanting to have its hart crushed. "Didn't you scream! Didn't you want to run away!"

Ash paused for a moment to think before he answered "It's not because I was scared of you, it's just that I... it's not everyday that you wake up as a new species"

He paused, just realising the nature of the Pokémon that he was talking too, "Well, it's unusual for a human, you know?" Ditto nodded, "So when I saw my hair and my... hat. It was just a little"

He inhaled and decided to try again, "I just. Lots of things had happened. I was worried about Pikachu, and Sceptile and everything... I was scared, yeah. But, I'm not... not scared of you."

"Oh" Ditto sighed in understanding.

"Yeah, so... um, we cool?"

"Huh?" the Ditto replied, slightly confused, "But I'm not an Ice type right now."

"I mean..." he sighed "are we still friends?"

"D-do you want to be?" Ditto asked nervously.

"Of course!" Ash punched the air in excitement, "I'd love to have you as a friend, I mean the stuff you did, that's awesome" Ditto blushed, "and, well I don't know if you know, but I'm a trainer and I'd like it if you joined me on my journey."

But before Ash had even finished his sentence Ditto was jumping up and down squealing "Yes yes yes!" Then promptly leaping towards Ash to bring him into a hug, saying "Thank you" into his chest over and over again.

The river that once separated them had vanished.

Ash took a good look at the Pokémon and noticed that there was something strange about its appearance, something odd that he just couldn't put his finger on.

"Well" Ash began, lifting the Pokémon out of the hug and upwards so they were both face to face, "now that we got that sorted out. Do you know where we are?"

Ditto looked as if it was thinking intently "Nope, not idea."

Ash dumbfounded asked "I though you bought us here?"

"Nope" came the instant response, "I turned into your hat, and then it all went weird"

"Hmm?"

"It was like... I was transforming, even though I wasn't transforming, but... you know like, like I wanted to transform for a long time and I did, but then something else happened when I was on your head that made everything go Whisssh"

Ash blinked.

"and then you got poisoned!" Ditto shouted, pointing its stubby arm at Ash, "we got poisoned, and then I had to save you from going down the river, and I was sad because I thought you hated me and-"

"OK" Ash interrupted, "So I think I understand now... sorta" Then took a good look at the Pokémon in his arms, "you look a little see through."

"See through?"

"Yeah like..." Ash watched in morbid fascination as the Pokémon in his arms became more and more transparent, the mass seeming to slip through his fingers as Ditto looked over itself with a childlike curiosity.

"This is cool" then turned towards Ash, the Pokémon's eyes having changed from small black pinpricks into a pair of lustrous blue that looked at him intently.

"The world" it said, the tone of the creatures voice having changed to something a little more feminine, "it's so" bells began to chime in the distance. "Big, I didn't know that it was so big."

"Ditto?" Ash asked cautiously as the chimes grew louder and louder.

The blue eyed Ditto looked at him and said "Thank you" before he blinked and woke up to the sight of a worried Sceptile kneeling before him.

Holding him and asking it's trainer "Tile, Scep tile?" as Ash tried his best to regain control of his faculties.

Blinking, wondering where the Ditto had gone, how he had arrived at the river from that non-place he was in before. The possibility that it was just a dream... it wasn't a dream he was sure, it definitely wasn't a dream. It couldn't.

"Tile?"

but then again...

Ash shrugged and tried to get up, Sceptile helping him along the way. Until he was sitting position, able to see that he was still beside the river that seemed to encompass his world as of late.

He looked at his arms and hands to find that they looked like they should, like they were human.

Then he felt his Pokémon prodding him and looked up to see Sceptile's worried expression.

"Hey Sceptile" was his weak response. He gave off a brief, forced smile and asked "Are you all right?"

Sceptile let off a snort before nodding his head in confirmation.

"You don't feel poisoned or anything?" continued Ash, leading Sceptile to raise an eyebrow in curiosity before shaking his head to show that he felt completely healthy.

"Oh" Ash sighed, looking into the distance, "Because" He looked at his hands, moving his fingers one after another, "I think I might be."

Sceptile stared on in shock as his trainer said, "I came here to try, to drink some water, but I think that the poison might have gotten to me a little." Ash's eyes went to his Pokémon, "I feel a little better now, the burning's gone. But it'd be best to get some help, those berries that Brock said we could use, what were they? Oh yeah, Pecha, yeah. We should get some Pecha berries for both of us just to make sure we're completely fine."

Sceptile nodded at his trainers sound planning, a trait that contrasted with his usual headstrong attitude (the false memory of Brock taking care of his hundred siblings ignited his mind) and wondered if there was more to his trainer than he had first thought.

The Pokémon turned his head downstream, hoping to convey with his actions a question that his words couldn't form.

Ash saw where his Pokémon was looking and sighed, "I'm worried about Pikachu too. But he can handle himself" a smirk "Team Rocket's give us tons of practice." he shook his head and groggily pushed himself up, Sceptile rushing to support him, "Besides, if Pikachu's poisoned as well, we won't be much help without any berries and we won't be much help to ourselves if we're... on the ground either."

So they began to move, but before they could make any significant ground Sceptile stumbled. Ash turned back, worried, waiting to see if Sceptile was hurt. But when Sceptile tried to get back up he stumbled once more, and was caught by his trainer who had rushed in a position to help him.

Ash smiled, and without a word passing between the two, they walked onwards, the trainer supporting the Pokemon's every step.

Their attempt at probing deep into the forest was met by the need to stay relatively close to the river, in case Pikachu had thought to move upstream.

But as they walker further and further along they found that the forest greeted them with an eerie silence, an absence of the usual daytime activities of Pokémon going about their business or Pidgey singing in the branches. Just the sound of the river in the distance.

Eventually they saw the first of the wounded. A Beedrill laying on the forest floor, its wings occasionally buzzing to suggest that it was still alive, but knocked out on the forest floor, and that first one was soon joined by another two, than three, then scenes of massacre where entire floors that were plastered with small swarms of Beedrill.

Ash and Sceptile tried their best to stomach the sight, and move on.

They didn't want to ask what sort of creature could do such a great amount of harm to a swarm that had managed to force them off the edge of a cliff.

So they continued their trek until they finally found a grove with a Pecha berry bush bordered by small, fruit bearing Plum trees.

They sighed in relief, both not having felt the tell tale signs of poison for a long time now, but knowing that such feelings didn't mean an absence of the life threatening substance.

They ate the berries and Ash, putting Sceptile on the ground, due to his injury made his way to the Plum tree, feeling a strange urge build within him.

He jumped, wrapping his arms around the trunk and like an expert began to climb, moving up the trunk to the branches as if he had always done it. Before he could blink he was already high above the forest floor, eyes darting to each of the plums, looking for a good one.

He spotted some ripe ones on a branch that would have required him to climb around, but before that thought finished his legs sprang as if they contained springs and threw him to the branch which he grabbed with his arms and lifted himself up onto.

His mind panicked, wondering what was going on, but his body had already gotten his hands to pick the Plums, and throw them straight to Sceptile who caught them with ease.

He grabbed another pair, and dropped off the branch, gripping it to slow his fall before letting go once more to meet the ground.

Before he knew it he was sitting down next to his shocked Pokémon, calmly eating one of the Plums in his hands.

"You gonna eat some? They're good" were the words that came out of his mouth, but despite that he was shocked, completely and utterly, knowing that he had never done anything remotely like that before. At least not without falling and getting some type of injury.

He felt different, as if there was something inside of him that knew how to move, how to use the trees and the branches and the whole of the forest to his advantage. How to stay hidden and how to find others. A part of him that screamed joy at being in this bountiful paradise.

When Sceptile shook off his shock Ash took another bite of the plum and felt completely sick.

But he quickly tried to forget about it, forget completely and concentrate. Concentrate on the important thing, finding his friend. His partner and getting somewhere safe where Sceptile could heal his leg. Because Ash knew, deep down that he would willingly melt into a puddle of goo again, if only it meant that his friends and family were kept safe.

So he braved the fruit that tasted like dirt, and sat in silence with his Pokémon after they had finished, just waiting, resting before they had to move out once more.

Eventually they did, Ash once more supporting a part of Sceptile's weight as they began to walk, but before they even made two steps, Sceptile caught his free leg in a rock, tripping onto his trainer and falling on top of him.

They groaned, the larger of the two rolling off of his trainer, who spat out the dirt he had bitten on during the fall. He was glad that the fall didn't hurt as much as he had expected it to.

"You o.k. Sceptile?" was his first question when he found that he could speak, but he heard no response, turning his head to his Pokémon "Sceptile?"

The grass type was looking straight ahead at something with determined eyes, and when Ash turned his gaze caught the sight of a Scyther standing tall in between two trees, a fallen Beedrill by his side. Blades covered at the edges in blood.

Looking at them with unyielding eyes.

The Beedrill twitched, and the Scyther responded with a Slash, silencing the wounded Pokémon.

Ash knew that this was the Pokémon that had hurt all the Beedrill. Beedrill who, regardless of what they did, he couldn't bring it within himself to hate.

He felt a coldness develop inside of him at the sight of the bug. This was a warrior, his eyes were like steel, piercing straight through him.

Ash felt scared, but chose to put of a brave face, shaking himself out of his thoughts to stand up against his opponent, wondering if he should distract it and let Sceptile run to safety.

He felt Sceptile move to stand behind him, with his bad leg giving him trouble. Making the trainer wonder if it would be better to make a last stand of sorts.

The Scyther rubbed its blades together in a motion that suggested that he was sharpening them "shiing."

They would lose in any attempt at a last stand.

"Shiing"

Ash's eyes spotted the Scyther's wings, as a flash of inspiration ran through his mind. Pikachu had the advantage against the flying type. Plan upon plan ran through Ash's head.

"Sceptile." He whispered. "Can you walk on your own?"

Sceptile growled as if to reject any ideas his trainer had of sacrificing himself.

"No, I have a plan, but I need to know if you can walk on your own for a bit, because you probably can't run."

Comprehension alongside memories of a hundred amazingly unusual strategies rushed through Sceptile head as he nodded in conformation. "Tile"

"Good. Listen, I'll distract him and meet you at the river, where we'll walk down stream to find Pikachu, got that?" Ash explained as the glow of understanding took a hold of him, knowing that his trainers crazy plans hadn't failed them yet, and would still probably succeed.

Hopefully.

Scyther began moving towards the two with measured steps as Ash let out a quick, "Get moving" to his Pokémon before circling the bug type from the side.

Sceptile shuffled backwards slowly, knowing that the Scyther's eyes were on him, and not on his advancing trainer. Knowing that a show of his injured leg would give the opponent all the opportunity he needed to move in for the final blow.

But then Ash shouted, "Oi ugly." From his position at the edge of the trees at Scyther's side. And Sceptile moved away.

Ash grinned his biggest grin as he saw his goading work, "I hear you've been working out your anger on innocent Beedrill eh?" the bug type raised an eyebrow, "Well, then you have to be the weakest Scyther I've ever met" Scyther advanced at the trainer who was now within a thicker part of the forest.

"I mean," Ash tried his best to think up of an insult, "I've seen Butterfree that do a better job than you" The Scyther growled to Ash's pleasure, "Heck, I have a Pikachu that could drill you into the ground with a thunderbolt" Scyther began advancing, as Ash continued his way backwards.

"But hey, you have those cool blades on your hands." The Scyther froze at the complement, "what are they made out of, plastic?"

"SCYYY!" The Pokémon roared, his wings bursting to life as Ash turned and ran, hearing the crash of wood snapping; briefly turned around to see the Scyther in mid-air caught in the branches it had attempted to fly through.

The boys heart cried out in victory, "Well, look at you, weak and stupid."

"SCY-THER SCY" The Pokémon roared, lifting it's blades and slashing through the branches in one clean sweep.

"Uh oh" Ash said as he quickly began to run away. Knowing now why his mom always told him to not curse. It made angry Scyther's angrier.

He dodged bushes and vines and rocks that threatened to trip him over, slowly circling towards the river. Hearing "Swish- Thunk" whenever Scyther decided to level the forest instead of getting caught in it. Not willing anything to get in between it and its quarry.

"Swish- thunk" went the sound again, and again and again as Ash continued to run, until he noticed the sound was getting more and more distant, and then disappeared. Eventually he stopped, panting for breath, happy beyond words that his plan worked. That plan born from the knowledge that flying types never moved well in the forest, alongside knowledge that Scyther were amazingly slow when they didn't have any use of their wings.

His breathing levelled out, and he knew that he had to make the meeting point at the river. The Scyther looked angry… it sounded angry and wouldn't be held back for long. Ash knew he had to move fast.

He began to make his way until the urge from earlier gripped him once more, whispering to him, ordering him to make use of the forest. It moved him towards a tree, which he climbed in an efficient manner, reaching the top before he could even contemplate the urge that had taken hold of him.

But by then it was too late, he was jumping along the branches, balancing upon them as if on a tight rope, moving ever gracefully above the forest floor. It felt like flying, soaring. The wind was in his hair... the rush.

Was this how his flying types felt? He wondered.

Was this how Sceptile felt whenever he moved amongst the trees?

Then in a burst of light he was on the ground again, the forest having given way for the side of the river. The flow of motions that guided his dance amongst the treetops fading away into background noise.

He woke up as if from a dream and looked around to find his Pokémon struggle his way out of the forest some ten meters away from him.

Ash instantly rushed to Sceptile in order to support him, and to help him make his way downstream where they would hopefully find backup in the form of Pikachu.

Not asking himself how it was that he had gotten to the river first, even though he had taken the circular route.

But his moment was broke with a sharp sound, "Swish- Thunk" as a tree fell behind them. Cut clean. A frustrated Scyther, walking out of the forest to look upon his prey with deep frustration.

"Uh oh" Was the only thing Ash could say before the Scyther's wings began to buzz, lifting it into the air, and rushing towards the trainer, blade out wide for the slash.

"Ching" The world froze. Ash realised that he had his arms held defensively in front of his face.

The moment he lowered them he heard a roar "TILE!", and witnessed a flurry of green lights.

His breath was taken away, and in front of him stood Sceptile, arms extended with the bright green light of his Leaf Blade, Scyther on the ground in front of him.

Sceptile knelt on the ground, to take the weight off of his bad leg and fired off a Bullet Seed at Scyther, who rolled out of the way. Smashed the ground with its blade and used the force to find its way back onto its feet.

A flicker of its wings were the only warning that was given for its next attack, as the Scyther lifted itself upwards and sped forward through the air.

"Ching" Sceptile blocked the slash with another Leaf Blade, and Scyther flew off to the side, circling around to prepare another attack.

The Bug type rushed forward, and "Ching." came Sceptile's block.

Ash realised the desperate situation they were now in with Scyther capable of battering Sceptile until he broke through. "Sceptile Bullet seed." was his order, as Sceptile obeyed by reflex, striking the airborne bug.

Scyther moved quickly to get away from the attack and rushed once more, "Leaf Blade to defend!"

"Ching." Scyther flew away.

"Bullet seed, aim for where he's going, anticipate his movements!" Was the order as Sceptile peppered Scyther over and over again, the flying bug, weaving to avoid that attack that seemed to stick to him like glue.

Scyther turned, weathering the golden seeds that struck him and flew into the unending attack and crashed into Sceptile, sending the two rolling on the ground as a result of the surprise strike.

They rolled, until Sceptile found himself on his back, Scyther saw his opportunity and lifted his blades, charging them with energy.

"Boof!" Ash crashed into the Pokémon throwing him off of Sceptile.

But Scyther panicked and launched himself into the air before Ash could pin him.

Then a shout cut through the cacophony of battle "PIKA- CHUUU!" Ash saw white light, then he was flying, and his arms flailed, gripping onto the first thing he could grab, then it all stopped.

His vision stopped spinning and his hearing cleared up. He heard the buzz, felt the wind being shoved onto his face and the pale green chitin before him.

He was holding on to the Scyther.

He looked upwards to find that they were on a small ledge beside the river, dangling helplessly over the roaring current with the Pokémon's blades embedded into the edge.

Scyther turned around and saw the dead weight attached to him and began to kick Ash in his gut, forcing the air out of the boy and making his grip even tighter.

But Scyther began to kick even more, and the earth his blades were embedded in began to crumble until it broke apart, throwing them both into the river, Ash never letting go for even a moment.

"SPLASH" the river dragged them along, Ash clinging furiously to the struggling Scyther, as a burning sensation began to spread throughout his body, flickering him out of consciousness every time his head was forced under the waves.

The last thing that Ash heard was the distant cry of his Pokémon, "PikaPi!"

Ash woke up on the shore of the river for what was the second time this day, third if you counted waking up in the morning. The water lapping at his feet.

He groaned, trying to roll to his side and failing from the sheer amount of effort it seemed to take. But after he had spent his time recuperating he chose to try and do a check list on himself.

Toes? He tried wiggling them, only to find that they only moved as one, either clenching or not... and they were a little stiffer. But then again, he consoled himself that he was still half submerged in the river.

Legs, he shook them to find that they still worked, although they seemed to be numb to the sensation of the water. But that was expected. He shook his shoulders, noticing how heavy they felt and then his rear, feeling an extra weight there also. But finished off with his arms (which were fine) and fingers, which seemed strangely absent.

Ash didn't panic, after all it was just his fingers...

He began to panic a little, but knew that he had just had the trip of a lifetime... again. He made a mental promise not to tell his mum about any of his adventures today, no way. Nu-uh.

But still, he had to get back to his Pokémon, and with a groan he lifted himself up with his arms. Arms pushing down on the shingle below him with a "Shink!" as his eyes closed in determination to complete this herculean task.

He gasped when he finally managed to get up, and looked around to see a sight he hoped that he wouldn't be waking up to any time soon. He turned behind him and spotted an odd object. Some sort of clear foil like thing, hanging rigidly in the air.

He bought his hand to it, and noticed that his hand wasn't really a hand any more. More silver... and pointy, and missing fingers, yeah...

He brought up his other arm to see if. Yup, pointy thing here too... funny, they matched. But despite his calm demeanour, his subconscious was working at overdrive to try and find out what sort of situation he had dumped himself into this time.

He looked at his legs to see them covered in pale green, and ending in some sort of claws, his rear to find that it had become elongated. Then to his back to see the sight of a pair of magnificent wings. Shimmering a rainbow hue in the sunlight. Translucent and weightless, like the most beautiful flower petals he had ever seen.

There was no doubt about it. He was a Scyther, but still he didn't panic, not in the slightest. Convincing himself that it could be worse, that it could always be worse.

Look at the positives, was the call that rang through his mind. Positives like... being able to cut fruit with out any trouble?

No, he admonished himself for such a weak excuse. But looking at his new blades he resigned himself to the fact that if he had to transform into something... at least it was something awesome.

Besides, after his prior experience with turning into a pile of goo this was- no, no. Can't think things like that, the Ditto might hear.

But still, at least he wasn't melting or something equally ridiculous as if he was the living descendant of the Wicked Witch of the West.

He sighed.

These things were small mercies... but he wanted, he wanted...

The little boy inside of him screamed. "I just want to go home" and he closed his eyes, heart sinking from the weight he felt from days upon days of travelling.

He hoped to change, just change. Change back into himself. Rationalising that he had to have some control over this... whatever it was. To turn back the clock when he and Pikachu were just around the corner from the end of their glorious adventure and when they could return home and spend the mornings resting in his bed, and the evenings watching utter rubbish on the T.V.

He saw in his mind the image of himself when he was younger, and felt a warmth caress his body. Squeeze him all over as he kept on wishing, kept on hoping, kept on...

He stopped, and walked over to the river to see his reflection, but was sad beyond words when he saw that nothing had changed.

He was still a Scyther.

What was wrong with him?

He resigned himself to the reality he was in and wondered what now?

He had to get back, that much was true.

Back to his friends, maybe then he could...

He stopped his train of thought. Something felt strange. Were the trees always this big. Speaking of which the river wasn't this big when he first looked at it either.

Like a flash of lightning the thought reared itself. He had shrunken himself...

Well that... that sucks.

But if he had managed to shrink himself, then he should be able to-

"Ther" came the weak groan from along the beach, causing the boy to jump.

But there upstream from him, latched onto the shore by only its head was the body of the Scyther that had dragged them here. The river swallowing the rest of its body, threatening to take it back within its tide.

Then the Scyther opened its eyes, immediately fixing its gaze upon Ash.

It looked angry.

Ugh, too much filler, needs more TF, but that's for the next chappie. Well less TF, more staying in TF and... well it doesn't look too pleasant for Ash.