Omega: *shivers*

Gem: You okay, Omega? If your cold, we can-

Omega: Not happening, Gem! And I'm not cold. The chapter's title just brings up bad memories from another world. Wait, where's that music coming-

Seishin: Will We Never Know Of Freedom?!

Ohirume: Na! Na-na-na-na-na! Na! Na-na-naaaa!

Seishin: *Saxophone intensifies*

I don't own Pokémon or Ben 10.

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290998

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Officer Jenny of Vermillion City sighed as she picked up a phone and dialed. She always hated this part of the job.

The screen turned on to reveal a woman with brown hair.

"Hello, this is Delia Ketchum." She blinked when she saw who was calling, "Officer Jenny? Why are you calling?"

Jenny frowned, "Hello Ms. Ketchum, I'm calling about your son, Ash."

Delia frowned, "What happened?"

"There's been an incident." Jenny's expression darkened, "I'm sorry to say, but your son has been presumed deceased."

Delia raised a brow, "What do you mean 'presumed'?"

Jenny's blinked in surprise, "Um, there's been a shipwreck. Your son was on board and witness reports say that he didn't make it off before it sank."

Delia's eyes narrowed, "Then why would you assume he's dead?"

Jenny's eyes widened, "M-ma'am the ship has been completely submerged. I'm sorry for being blunt, but it's very unlikely that anyone could survive that."

Delia rolled her eyes, "This is my son we're talking about. A shipwreck isn't going to put him down that easily. Call me back when you have proof."

Delia hung up.

Jenny stared at the blank screen in shock. She looked out the window towards the sea, 'Maybe I should wait until after we check the wreckage to call the other families.'

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*St. Anne

Ash stirred awake and found himself on the floor. He looked up and found a table and couch directly above him; hanging from the ceiling.

Ash blinked, "What the?" he looked out the window and deadpanned, "Great."

"DAD!" "Ash!"

Ash turned around right as Soot, Pikachu, and Clefairy jumped him.

Soot teared up as she hugged him, "You're awake!"

Ash smiled softly and pet her, "It's okay, Soot. I'm not hurt." He looked around at the Pokémon, "I'm just happy you guys are alright."

Brock and Misty came to and held their heads.

Brock groaned, "What happened?"

Soot looked at them, "The ship started tipping. I phased us through the floor." She looked up, "Or, ceiling now, I guess."

Misty looked around with a sad look on her face, "The St. Anne." She grimaced and looked down.

Ash walked over and put a hand on her shoulder. Misty looked at him with tears in her eyes.

She wiped them away and looked an opened door with a glare, "Let's move. We need to get out of here."

Misty started walking. Everyone followed.

They came to a flooded stairwell.

Ash grimaced, "Crag. The ship's leaking everywhere."

Misty took a deep breath to calm herself, "It's okay. As long as there's air in here, it'll take time to fill up with water."

Brock started sweating, "Sure, but we better not waste any time."

Ash looked around, "It looks like we have two options." He towards the stairs, "Climb up to the hull" he pointed down to the water, "Or swim down to the deck."

Soot frowned, "If we go down and reach a dead end, most of us will risk drowning. If we go up, there's a chance that the hull's already been breached and something's just keeping the water from coming down." She looked at the water, "We can void a lot of risk by having someone go down and check."

Misty nodded and pulled out a pokéball, "Leave it to me. Go, Goldeen!"

The fish emerged and looked at the group.

"Goldeen, I need you to dive down to the deck and try to find a way outside." Misty told her Pokémon, "Be careful."

Goldeen nodded and dove into the water.

After a few minutes, the group became worried.

Ash frowned, "Do you think she's okay?"

Misty looked around at the water, "Maybe, she can't find a way out."

The water started bubbling, catching the groups attention.

Something blue and stringy popped out of the water and Misty flinched, "Ah! It's a mareanie!" she paused and raised an eyebrow, "In Kanto?"

Soot squinted, "No, it's-"

Goldeen bobbed out of the water and flung Jessie, James, and Meowth on to the stairwell.

Brock glared, "You three!"

The trio started coughing up water and noticed the group.

Jessie smirked and pulled out a pokéball, "We've got you cornered now, Twerps!" James pulled out a pokéball, too.

Pikachu and Clefairy stepped forward and got into there fighting stances.

Misty and Soot got in between the two groups, "Stop!"

Misty looked at the trio, "Look, you don't like us and we sure as Yvel don't like you! But this place is already unstable! A battle would only make things worse!"

Soot nodded, "Misty's right! I already checked outside, and this thing is sitting on a spike! Adding weight could send us tumbling into the abyss!"

Meowth blinked, "What?! How could you 'ave checked outside without floodin' da place?!"

Soot rolled her eyes, "I can turn intangible and hold my breath longer than you think, scratchy."

Team Rocket looked at each other and nodded. Jessie and James put away their pokéballs. Soot looked at her teammates. Pikachu and Clefairy frowned but backed down.

Pikachu sighed, "Fine. But if they do anything to hurt us, they're toast."

Clefairy nodded, "Yeah!"

Soot smiled, "Fair enough." She looked at Misty, "They'll cooperated."

Misty nodded, "Good." She looked around, "Look, we're all I trouble here. It'd be best for everyone if we worked together to escape."

Ash nodded, "She's right." He walked over and held out hand to Jessie, "Truce?"

Jessie sighed and shook the hand, "Truce."

"So, what's the plan for getting out of here?" James asked.

Ash pointed a thumb at the Water-type trainer, "We follow Misty."

Jessie glared, "Why her?"

Soot deadpanned, "Do you know anyone else here who built a scale model of this thing?"

The three of Team Rocket members looked at Misty in surprise.

Misty nodded, "I learned all about the structure of the St. Anne. Since the way to the deck is blocked …" Misty looked at Goldeen, "Is it blocked?"

Goldeen nodded, sullenly.

Misty smiled sadly, "It's okay, Goldeen. Thank you for checking." She pulled out a pokéball, "Return." The fish disappeared.

Misty looked back at the group, "As I was saying; we'll have to climb to the bottom of the ship. We can cut a hole in the hull and escape."

James flinched, "But won't the water come pouring in?!"

Ash looked at the man, "It's still our best bet for getting out of this alive." Ash looked at Misty again, "Lead the way."

Misty smiled and led them up the inverted stairwell.

Misty looked around and pointed down a hallway, "This way." She walked down the hall.

They continued following her. They came to a darkened hallway.

Misty frowned, "Crag. The lights must be out."

"On it." Ash said as he tossed a pokéball, "Charmander, come one out!"

Charmander looked at Ash and flinched upon seeing Team Rocket, "Ash, what's the going on?! Why are they here?!"

"We called a truce with them, Charmander." Soot responded. She glared at the trio, "For now."

Ash nodded and pointed down the dark hall, "We need you to light the way."

Charmander smiled and nodded, "Okay! I won't let you down, Ash!"

They continued down the hallway with the Fire-type lighting the way.

Brock looked at Misty, "Where does this hall lead to, anyway?"

Misty looked ahead, "The engine room; where the hull is the thinnest. It's the best spot to try and cut through." She opened a door, "We just need to cross-"

The room they entered was nothing but a fiery inferno down below. The staircase connecting the sides was torn in two.

Misty stared in shock, "-this room."

Soot sweat dropped, "Oh, boy."

Jessie and James looked at each other sorrowfully and held hands.

"Jessica." James started.

"Yes, James?" Jessie responded. Cue the switch-off.

"Whoever said beauty doesn't last, must have been thinking of us."

"I'll always remember what a wonderful dresser you were."

"So will I."

They hugged.

"Will you two knock it off?!" Misty shouted, startling the duo, "There's gotta be some way to get off this ship!" She looked at the door across the room, "There must be some angle we haven't thought of yet."

Brock spoke up, "We could climb onto the staircase and use it as a bridge. We might be able to jump across the tear."

Soot looked closely at the staircase before shaking her head, "I'm afraid not. The gap is too wide. And even if we could jump it, the doorway is still too far away from the stairs."

Misty followed, "What about some of our flying Pokémon? They could carry us across."

Ash looked around and frowned, "The staircase will get in the way and the angle's too awkward. An avian Flying-type as big as Pidgeotto will need more room." He reached forward; over the flames, "Plus the air is too dry for Butterfree, Staryu, or Starmie."

James went next, "What if your Water-types put out the fire? We could climb down and back up."

Ash sniffed the air and shook his head, "Can't. Electrical fire."

Ash pulled out a pokéball, "I may have something, though." He pointed it at the Fire-type, "Thanks for the help, Charmander. Return." He put the pokéball away, pulled out another, and threw it into the hall they came from, "Bulbasaur, you're up!"

Bulbasaur appeared and noticed the Rockets immediately.

He glared, "What are-"

Ash put out a hand, "We called a truce, Bulbasaur." He pointed back, "Right now, we need your help with this."

Bulbasaur raised a brow and walked forward.

He flinched when he saw the blaze, "Woah! What do you expect me to do about this?!"

"We need to use your Vine Whip as a bridge." Ash pointed across the room, "Aim for that door."

Bulbasaur grinned, "Okay, that I can do." He brought out his vines and reached across to the other side.

Misty smiled, "Great idea, Ash!"

Ash nodded, "Thanks, but we should probably go one, if not two, at a time. A Vine Whip can only hold so much." He looked at the Mouse and Fairy Pokémon, "Pikachu, Clefairy, you guys go with Brock and Misty first. No arguing."

The pair frowned but nodded and jumped onto the other humans' heads.

Brock and Misty made their way across the vines. They got to the other side unscathed.

Ash looked at the trio, "You guys, next."

Jessie glared, "How do we know you won't drop us?!"

Ash looked at her, dumbfound, "Do you honestly believe I would do that?" He pinched the bridge of his nose, "Fine. Soot, go with Jessie and Meowth. James, you're with me."

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**Time Skip, short**

The temporary group made it across. Team Rocket was panting from the heat.

Ash held a pokéball out to Bulbasaur, "Thank you for the help. Return." He looked up at the hull. It was creaking loud enough to wake a snorlax.

Ash looked around, "Alright everyone, this is it. Once we cut through, water's going to start pouring in like crazy." He looked at Team Rocket, "Do you guys have a Water-type?"

James perked up upon remembering, "I do!" he brought out a gold pokéball and held it high.

Jessie and Meowth smiled brightly, "We're saved!"

Soot sweat dropped, "Okay?"

Ash pulled out a few ropes out of his backpack, "Everyone take a rope and tie yourself to your Pokémon. If it's a Water 2, wait until this place starts flooding to let it out."

James blinked, "Water 2?"

"A fish." Soot responded, "Like Goldeen."

Ash and Misty each tossed up a Pokéball, "Squirtle!" "Starmie! Staryu!"

The three of them emerged. Squirtle glared at Team Rocket.

Ash put a hand on his head, "Not the time, Squirtle. I need your help getting out of here."

Squirtle frowned but nodded, "Fine."

Meowth blinked, "Wait a sec! Your dat lead Squirtle from da Squirtle Squad!"

Ash ignored them and spoke up, "Get ready, guys! I'm about to punch through this thing." He brought up his left hand and made a finger gun.

Soot's eyes widened, "Wait, dad! Are you sure about that?!" she looked at Team Rocket, "What about them?"

The trio blinked in surprise. "What?" Jessie asked.

Ash sighed, "I know, Soot. But the only other options are to have Charmander weld through it or have Pidgeotto or Pikachu use a Steel-type move. Falling from that height or getting wet is only going to hurt them."

Ash's hand twitched and the remaining two claws appeared on his pointer finger and thumb.

Jessie, James, and Meowth stared in shock.

"What?" Jessie started.

"Da?" Meowth followed.

"Heck?" James finished.

Ash squinted and fired from his pointer finger. The claw dug into the hull and a small stream of water started pouring in.

"Almost." Ash pointed his thumb at the same spot and fired again. The hull burst open and the water shot out like a geyser.

Misty smiled, "Alright!" she pulled out and tossed another pokéball, "Goldeen!"

Misty, Brock, and Ash's Pokémon quickly tied themselves to a Water-type. Misty to Goldeen, Brock to Starmie, Soot to Staryu, and Pikachu and Clefairy to Squirtle.

Misty blinked, "Ash, what about you?"

Ash smiled, "Don't worry, I'll bring up the rear. You guys go ahead."

Brock frowned, "But Ash-"

Soot spoke up, "Guys, trust him. We need to move."

Ash nodded, "Squirtle, Starmie, Staryu, Goldeen, get them out of here!"

The Water-types nodded and started swimming up the waterfall and out the hole.

"Be careful, Ash!" Clefairy called out as they disappeared.

Ash smiled as they left. He turned towards the tRio. They were still staring up at the hole in shock.

Ash rolled his eyes, "You guys better hurry and bring out that Water-type."

He jumped into the center of inverted geyser.

James blinked, "Oh, right." He tossed his pokéball, "Go, Magikarp!"

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*Outside

Squirtle, Staryu, Goldeen, and Starmie continued pulling the others towards the surface. Ash emerged shortly and followed.

Ash heard something crumble. He stopped and turned around. The ship was staring to fall off the rock.

Ash eyes widened and he looked around, 'Where the Yvel are they?!' he looked at the ship again and grimaced, 'Crag!'

He swam back towards the ship.

Misty looked back and her eyes widened. She was about to have Goldeen turn back when Soot put a paw on her shoulder.

Soot shook her head and pointed upwards. Misty kept frowning and looking back.

Soot shook her head again. She touched her throat with a paw, pointed it back at Ash, and nodded.

Misty still frowned but nodded. They continued upwards.

Soot glanced back and frowned, 'You better know what you're doing, dad.'

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*tRio

Jessie, James, and Meowth held each other as they were swept away by the current. Magikarp flailed while still tied to them.

"I'm sorry, guys!" James cried out.

"Forget about da money! We have bigga things ta worry about!" Meowth shouted.

"It's not that!" James shouted, tears in his eyes, "I'm sorry you two had to get paired with someone dumb enough to buy this useless thing! You two wouldn't be in this mess if we had never-" he stopped when Jessie and Meowth hugged him.

"Don't you dare, James." Jessie responded coldly, "Don't you dare think that we'll ever regret having known you."

Meowth followed, "If we have ta go down, we're happy it's with you."

James teared up, "You guys." He hugged them back as the trio was swept away by a wave and forced under.

As he fell unconscious, Meowth noticed something swimming towards them, 'A mermaid?' He fainted alongside the others.

Ash stared at the trio tied to the red fish and sighed.

The vaporeon deadpanned, "They could have mentioned that it was a Magikarp."

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*Brock, Misty, Soot, Pikachu, Clefairy, Squirtle

They group managed to find a makeshift wooden raft. *sigh* Yeah, they don't explain it in the anime either.

Misty already returned Starmie, Staryu and Goldeen.

Misty looked over the edge and frowned, "Where is he?!"

Soot put a paw in her shoulder, "Misty, stay calm. It's only been eight minutes. Dad still has time."

Brock frowned, "Still, what if something happened?!"

Ash burst out the water and tried to catch his breath.

Misty smiled, "Ash, you're okay!"

He looked towards the group, "I need help with this!"

Ash swam towards them while pulling a rope. When he got close enough, everyone grabbed the rope and pulled. Team Rocket laid on the raft; unconscious. Magikarp flopped around on the deck.

Ash pulled himself onto the raft and laid on his back, "Can you guys *huff* please help them?"

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**Time Skip**

James, Meowth, and Jessie were revived a while ago. They hugged each other in joy; having survived. Magikarp was still flopping on the raft.

Squirtle was returned earlier and Pikachu and Clefairy sat by Ash.

Soot sweat dropped, "You just had to lose her pokéball, didn't you?"

"We were drowning!" James shouted. He blinked in surprise, "Wait, Magikarp's a girl?"

Misty rolled her eyes, "Can we worry about that later? Right now, we need to find a way out of this."

Ash nodded, "Misty's right." He looked around, "We're completely surrounded by ocean and I can't see anything that might help."

Soot frowned, "If you're saying it, then we really are in trouble."

Brock spoke up, "Maybe, we could send a Pokémon to look around."

Ash considered this and nodded, "It's worth a shot." He tossed a pokéball into the air and released Pidgeotto.

She reacted to Team Rocket like the others did.

"Ignore them." Ash told her, "We need you to try and find land or a boat; something that will help. We're counting on you." he frowned, "Be careful, girl."

Pidgeotto nodded, "Okay." She flew off.

Ash sat down, "Now we wait."

Meowth frowned, "What if it doesn't find anyt'ing?"

Ash glared, "Pidgeotto's a female. I'd expect a Pokémon to notice something like that."

Jessie glared, "Will you just answer the question?!"

Soot sighed, "If she doesn't find anything, then we try something else. For, now be patient."

Team Rocket sat down and waited with everyone else.

Around an hour later, Ash stood back up, "Pidgeotto's back."

Everyone looked as the bird flew back.

Ash held out an arm for her to land on, "Any luck?"

Pidgeotto frowned, "Sort of. There's island in that direction." She pointed a wing, "But it's far. Also, the Pokémon there are big. Like, freakishly big!"

The Pokémon present all frowned. Soot relayed the message.

Misty looked at the bird, "You mean like Dragonite?"

Pidgeotto stared in surprise, "Were they really that big?!"

Pikachu shrugged, "Maybe."

Ash put a hand to his chin, "Even so, it's probably our only option." He petted the bird, "Thanks, girl." He returned her.

Brock stood up, "Alright. Let's get rowing."

"I'll get some oars." Soot said before she jumped into the water.

Jessie raised a brow, "How is it supposed to find oars out here?"

Ash glared, "Do not call Soot an 'it.' And she didn't mean literally."

Soot returned momentarily with a large section of planks; likely from the ship's deck. They were connected by metal bars.

She pulled herself back onto the deck and shook herself dry. She looked at Ash, "Go ahead, dad."

Ash nodded and pulled the planks closer. He twitched his right hand, bringing out the five claws, and started cutting through the metal.

Team Rocket stared as he did this.

"How are you doing that?" James asked.

Misty glared, "None of your business."

Ash didn't look up, "It's the gloves. My claws are unbreakable and can shoot off. You saw it on the ship."

His friends looked at him in shock.

Ash continued cutting, "They already saw me open the ship's hull. Denying it will only drive a larger wedge in the truce."

Brock and Misty still seemed uneasy.

"Done." Ash held up the planks and handed them out.

Jessie groaned, "Great."

Misty glared, "Shut up and row."

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**Time Skip**

The sun was starting to set. The island was still nowhere to be seen.

Ash frowned, 'Pidgeotto wasn't kidding.' He looked around, "Let's go ahead and break for the night."

"Finally!" Team Rocket called out as they fell to their knees.

Brock and Misty sighed in relief and sat down.

Ash reached into his bag and pulled out a bag of fruit.

He got up and started passing the fruit around, "Eat up. We have a lot more rowing to do in the morning."

Misty smiled, "Thanks." She started eating.

Brock, Pikachu, and Clefairy followed suit. Jessie, James, and Meowth started tearing into the fruit like savages.

Ash looked at Soot and frowned, "Why aren't you eating?"

"Why aren't you?" Soot said with an accusing look, "Don't think I didn't notice." She nudged the berry over to him.

Ash frowned and pushed it back, "Soot, no. You need to eat."

"I'm not the one rowing in the morning." She nudged it back.

"I'll be fine." Ash said as he pushed it again.

Soot sighed and bit the berry in half. She nudged the second half over to him, "There."

Ash frowned, "Soot-"

"Dad, just take it." Soot said in an annoyed tone, "We both know I don't need to eat as often as you."

Ash sighed in defeat, "Fine." He picked up the bit into berry and ate.

Night rolled around and the group slept. Magikarp was still flopping on the deck.

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**Time Skip**

Morning came up and they continued rowing. After a few hours, they had to take another break. Their stomachs were all growling.

Clefairy frowned, "I'm so hungry."

Brock looked at Ash, "Do you have any fruit left?"

Ash shook his head, "We finished it all last night." He looked into the distance, "I was hoping we'd be there by now."

Misty grumbled, "I should have stuffed my face on the St. Anne."

"I want some food." James whined.

Jessie glared, "Stop it! Complaining isn't going to get us anything to eat!"

Meowth looked at Magikarp, "Well … dere is one ting."

Ash, his Pokémon, Misty and Brock stared at him in shock.

"You cannot be serious." Brock responded.

Jessie glared, "Well it's not like we have a lot of other options!"

Ash pinched the bridge of his nose, "Even if that was legal, a magikarp isn't edible."

Misty nodded, "Ash is right. Magikarp are made of almost nothing but scales and bones."

"Freaking Yvel!" James shouted, "First, this thing can barely swim and now we can't even eat it?!" He stood up and walked over to her, "You good for nothing fish! I don't want to be your master anymore!" He kicked it into the water, "Good riddance!"

Magikarp flailed in the water and started glowing. Everyone's eyes widened as Gyarados appeared in front of them.

Soot's eyes widened, "Oh crag."

James smiled and looked up at the serpent, "I'm James, your master. Obey-"

Gyarados roared at him. James flinched and whimpered.

Misty glared at him, "What is wrong with you?! You just criticized and kicked her, and still expected her to listen?!"

Brock grimaced, "We need to get out of here!"

Misty tossed three pokéball, "Staryu! Starmie! Goldeen!" she quickly tied Ash's ropes to them and the raft, "Get us out of here!"

The three Pokémon pulled as Gyarados chased them. She was catching up.

"We need to lose some weight!" Ash called out.

"On it!" Soot shifted her eyes to their inherent state and slammed on the raft. They started picking up speed.

Ash held up a hand and smirked, "Intangibility." he smiled at the canine, "Nice work, Soot."

Jessie shivered, "This feels so weird."

Gyarados stopped chasing them and just … started roaring. They stopped the raft and stared in confusion.

"What's going on?" Ash asked worriedly.

Brock smiled, "Maybe it's tired out. It did just evolve, after all."

Team rocket cheered, "We made it!"

Soot frowned as her eyes returned to normal, "No, it's not roaring in anger. It's calling something."

"Calling something?" Misty's eyes widened, "The stories- It's Dragon Rage!"

Everyone looked at her in shock.

"I got it!" Clefairy jumped out in front of them and spread her arms.

Gyarados continued roaring. Four more Gyarados appeared from the water.

Clefairy blinked, "I-I can still handle this."

Soot grimaced, "No, something's wrong. If this was an energy style Dragon Rage, there'd be some kind of flames."

The gyarados started swimming in circles.

Ash's eyes widened, "Crag! It's vortex style!"

Misty grimaced and held out three pokéballs, "Staryu, Starmie, Goldeen, return!"

James flinched, "What are you doing?! We need to get out of here!"

Misty put the balls away, "We can't! Vortex style Dragon Rage can't be outrun in a body of water!"

The gyarados picked up speed and formed a massive water cyclone.

Soot grimaced, "Brace yourselves!"

The cyclone approached and tore the raft apart. Everyone screamed as they were swept away in the storm.

.

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Faux: It's on fire!

Seishin: Uh, sorry Faux. But it's a bit late to join in the song.

Faux: What song?! The training grounds are on fire!

Ohirume: We don't have training grounds.

Faux: Well something's on fire!

Omega: What the **** happened to my room?!

Seishin: Faux, run.