As Ash was walking towards the laboratory, he was amazed how Pallet Town hadn't changed over five years. 'Well it is just a small town, what do you expect.' He thought to himself smiling. He truly felt great being back home.
His legs carried him to the lab as if he were on auto, while he was thinking about several things. He waited there for a few seconds, taking a deep breath, and then he walked up to the door and knocked. He mentally prepared himself while he waited.
Door opened revealing an old man with more gray hair than before. He looked up at Ash, puzzled, and asked "How may help you?" Ash understanding his confusion, chuckled and said "Well you can always start by giving me a welcome back hug, Professor Oak."
As he said that, Pikachu jumped from Ash's shoulder to Professor while squealing in delight, "Pikachu!" Professor Oak was taken aback by the sudden hug but soon recognized the Pikachu. Then he looked back at the stranger then back at the Pikachu, which he continued doing for at least a couple times.
Then without any warning, he hugged the stranger while tearing up. "I guess you figured out who I am, huh Professor?" Ash said as he hugged him back. "It is you, right? Ash?" Professor Oak said while breaking the hug. Ash smiled in response.
"So, tell me Ash where have you been for the last five years?" Professor Oak asked while regaining his composure. "Well it's a long story, that's why I need your help. I need to know what happened to me, while I was in that cave." Ash told Professor. As he said that Ash started looking around and inquired, "Is Gary here? I was hoping to meet him too."
"Yes, Gary just cameback last night, so I guess you're in luck. He will be staying for a week or so." Professor Oak said as he turned around to go find him.
Ash waited while Professor Oak returned with his grandson. He was looking around, observing his surrounding. 'Not much has changed around here either.' Ash thought, as he sighed.
"Grandpa what's the rush! You pulled me away just as I was about to reach its core!" Gary complained as he was being dragged away from his lab. It was a sight for sore eyes. "Gary I promise, this is more important than whatever you were doing in your lab." Professor Oak enthusiastically told his grandson as he literally dragged him to the living space.
"I didn't knew your research was more important than your childhood friend, Gary." Ash teased as they came in view. "Childhood friend? Dude who are you?" Gary asked clearly confused about the situation.
"Take a guess!" Ash said while grinning. As he had said that, Pikachu leaped off of Ash's shoulder and onto Gary, which took him by surprise. Gary's Pokemon, namely Umbreon, got into a fighting stance, ready to protect his trainer.
"Wait Umbreon, don't attack!" Gary said as he picked Pikachu up and looked at it from head to toe, as if examining it. "This Pikachu...I feel like I have seen it before." Gary pondered while staring at it continuously.
"Maybe you have, like five years ago." Ash said with his toothy grin plastered on his face. Then realization hit him like a brick. "Ash?!" Gary exclaimed happily and slightly angrily.
Ash nodded in replied as Pikachu jumped back at its trainer's shoulder and nuzzled him in delight. Happy that their friend figured it out. "Pikachu need to stop doing that." Professor Oak said while chuckling.
"So it's really you, huh Ashy-boy?" Gary teased. They may had their differences in the past, but there is no doubt that he was ecstatic to have his friend back, alive.
It's no secret, out of all the friends, Gary was the only one tirelessly looking for Ash everywhere without stopping or resting.
He couldn't hold himself back as he went into hug his friend, more like brother, whom he thought he had lost. "Don't you ever go missing like that ever, you hear me!" Gary scolded him still not being able to believe that Ash was alive.
"It's not my fault. I planned to return in five months. But after I stopped in that cave and basically made it my home, everything went wrong. When I thought the five months were up, I packed up and left the cave. I arrived in a neighbouring town, there I found out that it had been five years and not months. I approached Nurse Joy, who gave me the name of the cave but didn't know anything about its history. I thought you would be able to help me. So, I hurried back home, and here I am."
Ash explained everything that had happened. As he finished his explanation, he look at them for their reaction. To say they were shocked, would be an understatement.
"Ash how's that possible? Are you saying that it's got something to do with that cave you were in? It doesn't make any sense!" Gary was skeptical and who would blame him. Losing one's sense of time because of a cave.
"Ash what is that cave's name?" Professor Oak asked still haven't fully able to digest what was told. "If I remember correctly, Nurse Joy said its name is Dialve." Ash answered.
Both Professor Oak and Gary started searching for the said cave. First it was Gary who spoke, "It says here that cave was discovered in ancient times. It also mentioned that one day it appeared out of no where." Gary finished as he continued his research.
"I think I have found out something. According to the legends, Dialga used to reside in that cave whenever it was tired after a battle. And that's how that cave end up being influenced by Dialga's powers which caused Temporal distortion. I think that's what messed up your sense of time. Since it was centuries ago, the disturbance had a very limited effect on you. So, it only messed with your sense of time and did not affect you mentally or physically."
Professor Oak explained while looking at Ash, who was somewhat confused by the lengthy explanation.
"To sum it up, that cave messed with your sense of time but did not affect you mentally or physically, which is why you grew older as time went by." Gary explained it briefly and more clearly to Ash.
"I see. I guess I should be happy it was just my sense of time!" Ash exclaimed happily. "I'm beat! I'm heading home now, I'm starving. But before I head out, Professor can you please take care of my Pokemon?" Ash asked.
"Of course Ash. Do you even have to ask! Leave it to me!" Professor Oak said. After handing his Pokemons to the Professor, "See you tomorrow!" Ash said as he raced out the door, waving goodbye.