Disclaimer:- I don't own Pokémon or any of the characters or places.

Note:- Gary's parents are mentioned in this chapter. And I am sorry in advance for the names I chose for them. I am bad at coming up with names.


Chapter 7- The News

Younger Gary:-

Eight year old Gary Oak was pacing about in his room angrily. He didn't understood why Professor Oak's new assistant had taken such an interest in him.

He hadn't liked it when that Harry Greenwood had looked at the picture he had drawn for Ash. No one other than Ash was supposed to look at it. And now he didn't wanted to show it to Ash either.

He and Ash always used to hang out together. So much that it had came as a nasty shock to Gary to see Ash with dozens of new friends on his birthday. It had became worse when Ash had called one of those kids his best friend. He wondered whether Ash would ditch him now that he had obtained lots of better friends.

With a jolt he realized that he had left his book outside. He needed to hide that sketch before anyone else saw it.

He was about to leave his room, when he saw the door of his room open up and Ash Ketchum stepped inside with a wide smile on his face.

"Hey Gary!" he greeted him happily.

"Ash, what are you doing here?" Gary asked feeling confused.

"I wanted to thank you for this amazing birthday present! This is such a beautiful sketch!" Ash said in a cheery voice.

Gary saw with a surprise that Ash was holding the sketch which he had drawn for his birthday. He couldn't understand how that drawing had reached Ash.

"Why didn't you gave this to me on my birthday, Gary? And why were you avoiding me for the past few days?" Ash asked him.

"You were the one avoiding me!" Gary said angrily, "You had called so many new people on your birthday. I thought you didn't wanted to be my friend anymore."

"That's not true, you are my best friend and you know that," Ash said and pulled him into a big hug. Gary didn't knew what to do for a moment before he awkwardly hugged Ash back.

"You remember that day when you were upset about not having any friends," Ash asked him as he pulled back, " Well, I thought that since we both don't have a lot of friends, I'll call other kids in the town to my birthday party. So that both of us can make new friends!"

"But you called one of them your best friend," Gary muttered still feeling a little angry.

"That was just a joke Gary, I thought you would understand," Ash explained to him.

Gary looked into his eyes and saw Ash staring right back at him. They always used to do this thing of staring into each other's eyes which used to help them to understand each other in a better way.

"Sorry Ashy," Gary finally muttered.

"It's okay Gary!" Ash replied with a wide smile.

"Aren't you mad at me?" Gary asked , feeling a little confused.

"No! My mom always says that we should forgive other people if they say sorry. And you are my best friend so I can never get mad at you," Ash replied.

Gary smiled upon hearing that. Ash was his best-friend and he would never let anything come between their friendship again. However, he had no idea how soon another huge obstacle was going to make its way between their friendship.

Later, as they were playing with little toy models of Pikachu and Squirtle, Gary asked, "Ash, how did you find that sketch? I had hidden it inside a book."

"Oh, Professor Oak's new assistant gave it to me when I was coming towards your house," Ash replied.

'What?!' Gary thought to himself. Harry Greenwood had touched his book without his permission and handed over that sketch to Ash! Gary felt that he needed to do something about this new assistant immediately.

"I'll be back in a moment Ashy," he muttered and left the room in a hurry.

He found the new assistant going through a bunch of notes in the living-room. Gary confronted him immediately,

"Why did you touch my book without my permission? I am going to complain about you to gramps!" he said angrily.

"Calm down buddy, I just wanted to help you," Harry said gently.

"How were you helping me?!" Gary asked him feeling angry and confused at the same time.

"I thought you looked sad because you were missing your friend. So I decided to give him the sketch. I just wanted to restore your friendship, that's all," Harry told him.

"What has my friendship got to do with you? And how did you recognized Ash anyways?" he asked him.

"I asked him whether he is Ash and he said yes. Plus, your sketch is good, I was able to recognize him from it instantly," Harry explained.

Gary felt better after hearing the compliment but he was still mad at Harry, so he asked insistently, "But why is my and Ash's friendship so important for you? Why did you had to interfere?"

Harry Greenwood sighed deeply and spoke, "When I was a kid, I had a best-friend too. But I had lots of silly fights with him which affected our friendship. I am still not sure whether he has really forgiven me for all those fights and rivalry or not," he paused for a moment and then continued, "I saw myself in you Gary. I didn't wanted you to lose your best-friend just because of some silly fight. So I had to interfere and help you. I only did it to repair yours and Ash's friendship."

"Oh," Gary said softly, "So you showed the sketch to Ash just because you wanted to mend our friendship?"

"That's right Gary," Harry told him, "You and Ash remind me a lot about me and my best friend. So I thought I should help."

"How was your best-friend?" Gary asked curiously.

"A lot like Ash actually," Harry replied, "Kind, optimistic and helpful towards everyone."

"That does sound like Ash," Gary agreed, and then commented, "Wow, we are really quite similar aren't we? I had noticed that you look like me during breakfast this morning and now it looks like we have similar best-friends."

He saw Harry get a little uncomfortable upon hearing that, but he said in reply, "Yeah, I had noticed that too. We are really quite similar. That's why I said that I saw myself in you."

Gary nodded slowly and then muttered, "Thanks, you helped to solve the misunderstanding between me and Ash."

"No problem Gary, I am glad I could help you," Harry replied with a smile.

Gary smiled and then turned around to go and play with Ash in his room. 'Maybe gramp's new assistant isn't that bad,' he thought to himself.


Older Gary:-

Gary sighed with relief as he saw his younger-version go back to his room. This was no time to be modest, he had to admit he had been quite smart and curious as a kid. His past-self had almost caught him twice now.

Although he was glad of the fact that younger Gary didn't hated him anymore. He pushed the bunch of notes aside and went upstairs and paused just outside his past-self's room, or rather his old room.

He could hear the happy voices of younger Ash and Gary as they played together. They were probably imitating to be Pokemon. A faint smile tugged at Gary's lips as he heard the sounds which he used to enjoy a lot in his childhood.

He walked towards the lab to tell Professor Oak that he had finished going through the notes when he heard him talk to someone on the phone.

"I think it's great that the two of you are returning in a couple of days Spencer," Professor Oak spoke in a gleeful tone to someone on the other end.

Gary paused upon hearing the name Spencer. His grandfather was talking to his dad. It looked like his parents were returning back in a couple of days. Gary leaned forward to hear more.

"Yes, I'll tell May and Gary during dinner. They'll definitely be overjoyed to hear this," Professor Oak said warmly.

Gary couldn't hear the reply on the other side of the phone but he heard his grandfather say, "No don't worry Spencer, I don't overexert myself. In fact just yesterday I found a new assistant for myself and he seems to be quite capable."

There was a slight pause and then Professor Oak said, "In fact, I worry about you and Beth at times. I am sure that Castor makes the two of you overwork."

Gary couldn't help but notice that his grandfather sounded quite cold and angry while mentioning the name of this Castor person. It was quite in contrast to his grandfather's behavior just a few minutes earlier and Gary couldn't understand what could be the reason for such a sudden change. He guessed his grandfather really hated whoever this Castor person was.

After a few more exchanges Professor Oak finally ended the conversation and Gary scampered towards his own room, all the while feeling worried about what was to happen a few days later. He needed to stop it at all costs. He was also feeling a little anxious at the thought of seeing his parents alive and well after so many years, when he had trained his mind to forget about them. Returning to that dark past would mean opening the door to a bunch of miseries that deserved to be forgotten. Gary wasn't sure how he was going to handle all of this.


Ash:-

Ash looked at his friends Misty, Brock and May who were all seated around in his and Ash's room. They needed to do some serious planning.

"So basically, we have to stay here until Gary finds a way to save his parents. And then all of us can return home together?" Misty asked the questions that were on everyone's mind.

"Yeah, but we have to also make sure that no one recognizes us. Or it could be a serious threat to whatever Gary is planning," Brock said in response.

"Why can't we help Gary in saving his parents?" Ash asked. He thought it wasn't fair on Gary's part to have to do all of this alone. Someone ought to help him and Ash would love to do that.

"Because he doesn't want our help," Misty spoke with a sigh, "I would love to help him too but it looks like he can manage on his own."

"Yes, we should probably just stay here until he does whatever he has planned to do," Brock suggested.

"But how are we going to pay Ash's mom until we stay here?" May asked, "We have only got very little money with us, and it is depleting fast."

"I don't mind staying for free," Ash muttered lazily. He felt that it was odd to pay his own mother to stay in his own house.

"Ash, it is rude to stay just like that without paying. Mrs. Ketchum is your mom but right now she doesn't recognize you. We would come across as spoilt kids if we asked to stay for free," Misty scolded him.

"I can always do a few Pokemon battles, that might earn us enough money," Ash suggested.

"Who are you going to battle with, in this small town? Your only opponent is busy with his own plans," Misty pointed out to him.

"I have a sort of idea, maybe it'll work," Brock said looking really thoughtful about something.

"What are you planning Brock?" May asked him.

But before Brock could answer, there was a knock on their door and Delia Ketchum's head poked inside, "Dinner is ready!" she announced.

"Thanks, we'll come in just a moment," Ash said.

But Brock stopped her and asked, "Mrs. Ketchum, can I ask you something?"

"Yes, Brett what is it?" she asked him. It took a moment for Ash to realize that she was calling him by his fake-name. He had still not wrapped his head around everyone's fake names.

"We need to stay for a few more days in Pallet town. But we don't have enough money to pay you. Would it be okay if I worked at your restaurant in exchange of being allowed to stay here?" Brock put forth his proposal.

"Oh, the money is not a problem Brett. My restaurant is working very well. You all can stay for free," Delia told them.

"But it feels wrong to stay just like that," May muttered.

"We don't want to be a trouble," Misty told Ash's mother.

"Please Mrs Ketchum, it really feels rude to stay for free and cause you trouble," Brock insisted.

"Oh very well, you can come to the restaurant tomorrow. And then we'll see which work suits you, although you have already proven to be an excellent chef," Mrs Ketchum remarked with a smile and left.

"Why does only Brock has to help though?" Ash asked once his mother had left, "I think all of us should help at the restaurant."

"Ash, I am the only one over here who can cook properly. You guys might create more trouble instead of helping," Brock pointed out.

"Yeah, that's true too," Ash replied in a small voice. He was starting to feel restless and agitated at the thought of having to spend a few days locked up in this peaceful house in an equally calm neighborhood. Ash Ketchum couldn't and didn't liked the idea of sitting still for a long time.


Gary:-

Gary was just rushing out of his room for dinner when he almost ran into his younger version who was hurrying towards him.

"Take these!" his past-self said and handed over a bunch of notes to Gary. With a groan Gary realized that those were the notes he had been going through and had forgotten in the living room. He had been so caught up in making plans to save his parents after overhearing the phone-call, that he had forgotten all about his work.

"Thanks," he said to his younger self, feeling pleasantly surprised about the fact that he had handed him the notes instead of going and complaining to his grandfather.

"No problem, I had gone in the living-room to pick my book when I saw these notes. Don't do such mistakes often or else my gramps would fire you," he spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I'll remember that," older Gary replied and then asked, "You don't want him to fire me?"

"That depends," younger Gary answered mysteriously and went towards the dining room.

Gary followed him in the dining-room and told the already seated Professor Oak that he had finished going through the notes. He saw his younger self smirk at him from behind his grandfather. Gary resisted the urge to roll his eyes. It was highly amusing when your own past-version smirked at you.

Once they were settled at the table, Professor Oak said to May and younger-Gary, "I received a call from your father. He said that he and your mother are returning to Pallet in a couple of days."

Gary saw his younger-counterpart positively beam upon hearing that news. "That's great gramps!" he exclaimed, "I'll be able to show them how much I have learned about Pokemon."

"Finally," May Oak muttered, "I had thought they had forgotten us or something."

"May you know that's not true," Professor Oak said gently, "Both of them are just busy."

"Busy for one whole year? They didn't had time to talk to us for more than a year now," she said angrily.

"But they send us cards on Christmas and New Year though," younger-Gary mumbled looking confused.

Gary bit his lip and prevented himself from saying anything in the discussion that was going on. Sometimes, he used to forget that they don't know that he is a part of their family, and he is simply being an assistant over here.

He knew that May was mad at their parents but he also knew that she was going to feel immense grief in the upcoming weeks if he didn't acted sooner.

"Professor, I think I'll go to my room now," Gary spoke in a polite tone.

"Huh, why Harry?" Professor Oak asked.

"I have noticed that you eat very less. Is this normal for you or are you just feeling awkward around us?" May asked kindly and after many years Gary saw the old warmth return in her eyes while looking at him.

"You should eat more," younger Gary commented with a smile and pushed a bowl of rice-balls in his direction.

Gary felt touched by their kind gestures, which only furthered his resolve to act faster.

"Sorry Professor, but I am not feeling hungry today. And I have some work to do," he muttered hoping his excuse hadn't sounded too lame.

"Ah, alright Gary. But I'll be sure to check that you are eating properly from tomorrow onwards," the Professor replied in a warm tone which didn't suspected anything.

"Definitely Professor," he answered and quickly left the room.

The moment he entered his room he switched on his laptop and got to work. It took him about five minutes of research to realize that something was seriously off.

Almost the entire news section was flashing an important alert message about an oncoming earthquake in the Johto region. Gary remembered reading somewhere that the scientists in Johto region used ground-type Pokemon to detect any sign of an upcoming earthquake. It was a highly successful technique which had always worked and now other regions were following their footsteps too.

Gary saw that the area near Goldenrod city, where the earthquake was going to happen had been mostly evacuated and all sorts of necessary precautions were being taken. He just couldn't understand how his parents could have missed such an important news and decided to dig fossils in that area when such a high-alert was issued.

He wondered for a moment whether his parents had voluntarily gone to dig fossils despite having full knowledge about the oncoming earthquake. Why had his parents undertaken such a suicidal mission? What was so important about those fossils that it couldn't wait until the earthquake was over? He could understand wanting to remove those fossils before they got damaged in the earthquake but at the cost of their own life? And hadn't anyone tried to stop them or asked them to evacuate that place? How did they got permission to dig fossils in such a high-alert zone in the first place?

The list of Gary's questions went on increasing and he felt like he needed to do something before his mind started spinning with the load of the questions. He quickly took printouts of all the articles providing information about the earthquake and decided to show it to his parents when they returned to Pallet.

He was also planning on having a talk with Professor Oak. Gary knew that he was the one person who would be able to put a stop to his son and daughter-in-law's foolishness.

Gary didn't care if he had to use the force of all of his Pokemon to stop his parents on going for the suicide mission, he would do anything to stop them. For the first time in years he felt a different emotion towards his parents's death other than sadness at losing them, he felt angry towards them for choosing to go on this mission. And now he wanted to change it.


Author Note:- Hope you all enjoyed it! :)

Tell me if you have any suggestions or questions about the fanfic.