Salatune Forrest is known for its pokemon and peacefulness. Any trainer walking through this forest would sometimes stay the night in the forest to enjoy its serenity. However, a gust of wind and blinding light, followed by the crunch of broken tree limbs and a deafening roar disturbed even the bravest of pokemon roused even the deepest of sleepers in Lumiose city.
Stumbling from her wrecked pod, Alicia stumbled out; and promptly tripped over a rock. Still a little weak from the crash Alicia just rolled over and stared at the sky.
"So, where and, when am I?" Alicia asked herself.
A pair of fletchlings soared overhead. The sound of a nearby stream lulled her to the verge of sleep. "Can't sleep now. Need to get moving." check of herself and the Pokemon she brought, she pulled herself out. The sun felt warm on her face as she looked up to see Fletchlings swooping and diving among the tree tops. "Still in Kalos and I think I'm in Salatune Forrest, and if I'm in Salatuen Forrest, then Grandma's house isn't too far." Another quick glance at the sun to see which direction South was, and Alicia was on her way. A sudden pop and a flash of light revealed her Jolteon she named Sparks. Alicia sighed. Sparks didn't like staying in his Pokeball. "Well, at least you save me the trouble of calling you out." Alicia told the yellow and white quadruped. The two walked on towards Aquacorde town.
Time Jump
"How is Jeremy?" Asked Serena. Jeremy had been unconscious since the accident. Now clothed in a hospital gown, an old hospital bed and some "donated" equipment, Jeremy lie nearly motionless. His breathing and heart monitors the only signs of life. Jessie stirred from her train of thought. Dark circles from sleepless nights, and disheveled clothing betrayed her small smile.
"He's alive and that's all that matters to me. I've lost a lot over the years and have a past I would do nearly anything to forget or change, but so long as he's alive, that's all that I care about." Coming from a vain person like Jessie, Serena knew the magenta hair mother before her was worried.
"What about you? That explosion sent all sorts of things flying." Though this was true, Serena thought this would be the best way to get Jessie to come to grips with the recent events.
"Why are you asking me?" said Jessie in a defensive matter "You and I both know I've been through worse. Just a few cuts and bruises, and the familiar smell of being partially roasted." As she said this, her voice rose in volume. As she finished her last sentence, she winced as a sharp pain shot through her head.
"Looks like all those past scrapes, are coming back to bite you. Go lie down for a while, I'll stay by Jeremy. If he wakes up while you're away, I'll send Wobbuffett to get you." Serena offered.
Upon hearing his name, the blue blob appeared; promptly knocking over a IV stand.
"Look at what you did! Just go. Get out! Just be anywhere that isn't hear!" Jessie shouted.
"Wobba, Wob Wobbuffett." Wobbuffet apologized.
"Just get out! I've got enough to worry about without you adding to it!"
"Wobba", The patient pokemon mumbled and wobbled out the room after he picked up the IV stand.
Serena watched on. She knew better than to get in front of one of Jessie's rants but felt sorry for Wobbuffett.
Minutes past in as Jessie pulled herself together as best she could.
"No. I'll stay. This headache will pass. If anyone needs rest it's James and Clemont. Those two have been at it around the clock trying to either send someone back to find Alicia or bring her back remotely."
The mentioning of Alicia's name brought a brief look of worry on Serena's face. Next, to living her dream (albeit distorted a little bit) of being with Ash, Alicia made it all the more real and filled that missing piece in their family. Now with her little girl (it didn't matter what age she was) stranded in the past, the terminus felt a little empty with her or her violin to fill the void.
Jessie sighed "I get why you're worried. I mean your kid is not in the same time as us let alone the same room, but she's yours and Ash's daughter. Nothing will get in her way to come back to the present. If anything, lady luck will shine on her like she did for you and Ash, and if not then I feel sorry for anyone who gets in her way."
Before Serena could voice a response of any kind, a loud blast could be heard followed by a few curse words and the unmistakable sound of a Helioptile voicing his objections.
"Should I look or you?" offered Serena. Both had seen their fair share of failed inventions, and this wasn't that much difference.
"I'll do it, I need the short walk," Jessie replied. The short walk from the bed to the makeshift door sent pins and needles through her feet. After sliding the makeshift door a crack, she saw Clemont covered in soot, James' hair on end, and Helioptile, holding back a falling computer tower with the help of Chimeco. With the not so mystery as to what happened solved, she walked back to her chair. Serena sat on the desk opposite to her.
"At this rate, we'll not only have half a home to live out of but the amount of noise will bring Giovanii's goons down here," Jessie said in a huff. "But I doubt they would come down here. The only known paths are covered in early warning sensors and a few were purposefully collapsed."
"They need to sleep and both know it. I think I'll get Skitty to sing them to sleep once they take a moment to stop for food." Said Serena.
"Might not be a bad idea. Both are slowly being unbearable to be around and that's saying something since we moved down here."
"Pika!" called Pikachu. The yellow mouse squeezed himself through the still open door. As old as he was, he still held his own in battle, and just as resourceful when ketchup was involved.
"Pikachu?" Serena was surprised. He and Ash had left to gather supplies and news from the foreboding streets above.
"Found you," Ash said as he opened the door a little wider. "Come out for a minute. There's something I want you to see." He left without a reply.
A questioning glace between the two moms flashed between them before Serena made her way to the door. She paused before she left "Everything will be alright. Jeremy is yours and James' son. It'll take much more than a few burns and a missing arm to stop him."
She closed the door and looked for Ash. Her eyes glanced from tunnel to tunnel. Each one marked by its occupants as a way to call it home. The last tunnel she looked at was the only one without an owner but with the only other exit (the other being in Clemont's tunnel/room). Wobbuffett sat next to the medical room. He knew Jessie meant well and that Jeremy's condition, as well as everything else going on, was taking its toll, but he still couldn't help feeling down for what he did. Serena knelt in front of the blob and gave him a reassuring hug.
"She's not mad at you. She's just stressed out and took it out on you. Give her a few minutes then carefully make your way inside. Maybe even bring a blanket and pillow for her." Serena assured the pokemon.
Wobbuffet looked at Serena. He wanted to help. He had tried to help many times over, but he was afraid to help out again.
"Wobb." Was all he could muster.
Serena looked one last time at the downhearted pokemon before looking for Ash once more. Ash was leaned next to the exit tunnel. Wearing a black overcoat, a blue flat cap, black pants and a red shirt, he looked dashing to Serena. His eyes lit up when he saw her. She smiled in return and walked over to him, being mindful of the debris and cables on the floor. She noticed that the room was silent for the first time too since the accident. The shape of a small floating ball and pink tail behind a now toppled computer tower left the honey blonde that Chimeco had a similar idea to hers.
"About time they fell asleep," Ash commented. "Care to take a walk with me?"
He held his hand out. Normally Serena would be all for a walk with Ash, but with Clement and James asleep, Bonnie back in her gym, and Jessie keeping watch over Jeremy's room, she wasn't so sure.
"What about here? What if something happens? What if—" her worrying was cut off by a quick kiss.
"They'll be fine. We have our pokemon and our wild pokemon friends to keep us safe. Besides, some fresh air might help you sleep." Ash said in an attempt to set aside any fears the honey blonde had. With that, the two headed for the surface with a bit of hope that the fresh air will clear their heads.
Time Jump (backwards)
Alicia knew the woods were full of wild pokemon but the amount she ran into made her wish she had a few repels on her. With an exit in sight, Alicia smile at the thought of a warm Pokemon Center bed that awaited her.
The sounds of a music and laughter greeted the time traveler outside of Aquacord town. Alicia looked down at Sparks. "Is it me or is there music in the air?"
"Jolt" was all the Electric eevee could respond, before a loud electric guitar and a scream filled their ears.
"Ouch. Someone needs to give that guy some lessons." Alicia said as she walked through the fair. There were stalls of all shapes, sizes, and wears.
"Ma'm" Called a stall selling cookies. "Would you like to try our lava cookies? They're homemade with special ingredients from Hoenn.
Alicia looked over to the stall. The sight of food brought a sudden awareness to how hungry she was. She tried the sample and did her level best to not eat it in one bite.
"Would your Jolteon like one too?" The vendor offered. Before Alicia could give a response, Sparks jumped and took the offered cookie. The vendor gave a startled yelp.
"Sorry about that, he gets that way when sweets are offered." Alicia apologized. "How much for dozen cookies though. They were fantastic."
The chance of a sale brought the vendor out of her shock. "Oh, a dozen you say, well that would be 800 pokedollars. Two Dozen is 1500 with a bonus ticket for the raffle stand over there."
"Well.." Alicia mused. She hadn't brought much money with her, and she didn't want to sell the gold nugget and star pieces her mom gave her as emergency funds just yet.
"Jolteon Jo." Sparks nudged her. His mind was on the sweets. Unlike his dad who had an urge to put ketchup on nearly everything, Sparks found his food of choice to be anything sweet.
Alicia looked down at the sweet crazed electric type. "Alright, but this is the last treat until we earn some more money." With that, she handed over the 1500 for the cookies and raffle ticket. She bribed the electric type to behave with another cookie and walked down the line of stalls. There was a stall will different pokeballs, one with pokeball covers, one that sold music from all the different regions, one that took pictures of pokemon and their trainers. It felt like the line of stalls would never end unlike the money in her pocket. Despite her efforts, she was swept away in all the fun, trying chocolate from Joto, grabbing a few pokeblocs for Sparks and a few extra for her Taillow, Alolan Vulpix, and Persian (Johto not Alolan). As she bounced from stall to stall, she didn't notice growing looks of surprise, awe, and a little confusion, from the people around her. As she walked away from a stall that sold hand-drawn pictures of places from around the world, another loud screech from a guitar and Pikachu from the stage taking up the center of the town.
"Jeez, that guy needs a lesson or two on how to play or he needs a new gig." Alicia said to no one in particular.
Jimmy was on the stage rocking with his Pikachu, Spike. He looked out to the crowd before him. Most didn't pay him any attention but the stage they built was for anyone willing to sing, play, and/or dance. This was just another stop on his journey to be a trainer with a rocking battle style, and a Pikachu master. Through the sea of people, he saw a honey blonde girl he thought had left for Hoenn nearly a year ago.
"Serena!" He screamed, or was it a shout with his guitar was screaming. The honey blond hair didn't hear him. She was looking at a picture she just bought. Wow, she looks better than ever. She let her hair grow out. Better yet, Ash isn't here either. Jimmy thought to himself.
"Serena!" He shouted again. This time instead of gaining her attention, he gained the attention of nearly everyone else. The mention of Kalos' future Kalos Queen and Palamero's favorite, had everyone looking for Serena.
It didn't take long. Alicia found herself being dragged to the stage with many asking her to perform. She was always told she looked a lot like her mother, but she didn't think she looked like her that much. "I'm not Serena! She's my mo-" Alicia caught herself. "She's just someone I get mistaken for." But her words were drowned in the shouts from her mom's fans. With a final push, she found herself on the stage. She wasn't one to perform. Especially since Team Rocket was always looking out for her and her family. That didn't stop her from joining in every now and then. She'd perform, stay long enough for the results, then disappear before the exits could be screened. Of course, her parents didn't know about it, at least she didn't think they did.
"So Serena, where's Ash? Better question, I thought you were in Hoenn, why are you back so soon?" Jimmy ratted off his questions. Before he could go on, a thunderbolt hit him hard.
"Jo Jolteon Jolt, Jolteon." Sparks jumped on to the stage.
"Where were you?" Alicia half scolded.
"Jolt" Sparks replied nodding over to a pokepuff stall.
Alicia shook her head in amusement.
"Hey!" Jimmy shouted; still smoldering " That wasn't funny A-" He stopped at the sight of Sparks instead of Ash's Pikachu.
"I'll prove that I'm not Serena," Alicia shouted.
"Why? Is there something about me that wants you to change your name? I'm better than Ash. At least I'm not dense like him." Jimmy replied.
Uhg, now I know why mom didn't want to be around this guy without her friends. Alicia thought to herself. "For the hundredth time, I'm not Serena. My name is Alicia."
"Fine. Battle me. If you win then I'll accept that you're not Serena, but if I win, you and I have dinner tonight." Jimmy wagered.
AN - I do not own pokemon. I probably should have put that on the first page but oh well. Common sense does exist, right? I hope to keep regular weekend updates but life can and will change that. Also, Alicia is Ash and Serena's daughter. Not the same Alicia from The Rise of Darkrai (in case anyone remembers and wants to fire a few flames at me for that)