Chapter 25: Separated Once Again

Okay, so was gone a little longer then I intended to be from this story. Had a bunch of other ideas just pop up in my head and I had to go through with them. Most of them were one shots at least. But a couple will be a few chapters at least. I don't know if I will be working on those the same as my other stories right now. We'll see. But my other story has seen some good progress and should hopefully be done in a month or so. That will allow me to get back to this one soon and I'll be able to do it weekly once again while rotating the others. Might even do two chapters a week on this.

Ash awoke in bed with a groan. He looked around and saw he was in a small room. The walls were white and undecorated. His bed and a few chairs nearby were the only furniture. These things certainly told Ash that he was in a hospital room. But where was-

Then Ash remembered. He and May had been attacked by Duke Harley and a Celebi! They'd been defeated with so many of Ash's Pokemon being weak from the battle with Juan.

Ash struggled to get out of bed. He had to help May! The last thing Ash remembered was being defeated and stabbed. All his and May's Pokemon rendered useless. Ash was able to walk without any problem, there was only a slight pain in his stomach. He'd been stabbed hadn't he? He raised the hospital gown and looked at his abdomen, there was a mark there but strangely no bandages or even blood. He made his way to the door and opened it.

Outside he found a pair of nurses wandering the hall. They weren't Nurse Joys being in a human hospital. But they both grew wide eyes at the sight of him.

"He's awake!" one of them said.

"Oh, thank goodness!" the other one said with a smile before approaching him.

Ash clenched his teeth nervously. "May, where's May? And Pikachu!"

The nurse's smile faltered but she remained calm. "Please, relax Mr. Ketchum. Panicking and getting worked up won't solve anything."

Ash frowned, but he knew she was right. The nurses lead him back into the room where a doctor named Foster began asking him questions.

"You are quite a curious case young man," Dr. Foster said. "You were found by a couple out walking with a Pikachu and a Swellow as well a yellow fanny pack near you."

Ash took a moment to take in the words. The fanny pack was obviously May's.

"That belonged to my fiancé!" he exclaimed. "Where is she?"

He had a sinking feeling, but he had to be sure. Maybe May had gotten lucky.

"I'm afraid we don't know," Dr. Foster said. "We only know that you were found there with her pack, two Pokemon we found out were yours and quite a bit of blood around you staining your clothes. Yet when we examined you, you didn't have an open stab wound. There was one in the spot where it seemed all the blood came from but it was already closed somehow. There was also some weakened traces of poison in your system."

Ash's eyes widened in surprise. Then he remembered something from a long time ago when he'd met a boy named Sam who'd travelled through time back in the Johto Region. Misty had twisted her knee and the Celebi that Sam had been traveling with had healed her. That must have been the cause. The Celebi must have healed him of his stab wound and the poison, it must have been on the dagger. But why? If it had been with Harley? Unless it was merely a friend and not a Pokemon that actually belonged to him?

"Do you know how you could have possibly been healed? And what attacked you?" Dr. Foster asked. "This obviously wasn't a friendly Pokemon battle by the stabwound and the fact your fiancé is missing."

"No," Ash said. "We were attacked by someone who's been tracking us for a while. He attacked us two times before and got arrested last time!"

Dr. Foster looked shocked. "Well I'm sorry to hear that. What was he after you for?"

"Stealing his… girlfriend," Ash lied. He couldn't risk anyone finding out May or Harley was from the future.

Foster sighed. "Jealousy can lead to people doing terrible things."

Ash nodded in agreement, though that was only the case for people that were… terrible themselves. He often tended to be rash but he couldn't see himself trying to kill someone if May had chosen them over him.

"Do you have any idea how you were healed of the apparent stab wound."

Ash hesitated, wondering if he should reveal Celebi. But he decided it was best to not take any chances with that.

"None," Ash said. "Maybe he had a Pokémon use refresh on me or something. Maybe he didn't want to actually kill me?"

"I suppose that makes sense," Dr. Foster said. "But he probably took your fiancé then."

Ash nodded, knowing it was true already. May had stronger since he'd first known her but she was able bodied to defend herself without her Pokémon.

"Where are my Pokemon?" Ash asked.

"We sent them to the Pokemon Center," Foster told him. "You appear to be okay to leave but we will need you to give a statement to Officer Jenny so we can get a missing person report out for your fiancé."

That took a wasted hour and a half. Ash knew they'd never find May or Harley as they had likely returned to their own time with Celebi's time travel ability. He emerged from the hospital in his clothes, which now had a tear in it from Harley's dagger. Ash was alive, so he would have to try and get May back. But how? He didn't have any way to travel through time? Unless… it was a long shot… but maybe… Dialga? Or another Celebi?

Ash sighed. Finding one of them might take years. He didn't know how Harley had found one so quickly to get to this time, but he doubted he'd be so lucky. All he could do right now was go to the Pokemon Center and retrieve his Pokemon.

He got there and was greated by Nurse Joy who had a pair of Poké Balls trays as well as May's fanny pack. Pikachu sat on the tray containing Ash's Poké Balls

"I'm so sorry to hear what happened with your fiancé Ash," Nurse Joy said. "I hope they find her."

"Thanks," Ash said as he put his balls on his belt and May's in her fanny pack which he took.

…

In the past, or rather, her original time May had been dragged back to her castle which was occupied by Harley's forces now. The flag being the crest of her family had been torn down, being replaced with Harley's sigil of a cactus, and parts of the castle were broken from the attack sometime ago. May didn't know how much time had passed here. But she felt her heart take another stab as she saw her home in such a state. Celebi flew by them silently.

"Welcome home Princess!" Harley said as they stopped before the front doors.

May shook her head. "This may have been home once upon a time but now my home is with Sir Ash!"

Harley ignored her.

"We'll get you some proper clothes and then do something about that thief's brainwashing," he stated.

May grit her teeth. "He didn't brainwash me! I love him!"

Harley frowned. "No, you don't! Why would you ever love a lowly peasant such as him?"

"He is not a lowly peasant!" May shouted furiously. "He is a highly skilled Pokemon Trainer that has earned his way to tournaments around the world!"

Harley scoffed. "Pef. Is he rich?"

May didn't answer. From what she'd seen at his house in Pallet Town during their brief time there he didn't look like a particularly rich man, but it seemed like a comfortable setting at least.

Harley scoffed again, taking her silence as confirmation. "You must remember you are of the elite Princess May! Your destiny is not to scrape around in the dirt with those beneath you, but to rule over them at my side."

May shook her head once again. "I will not have anything to do with you, Duke Harley!"

Harley finally had enough of her defiance and slapped her across the face. She yelped.

"You will do as I command. Your parents have managed to evade capture so far for the past or so but I will soon have them! And if you cooperate, I will not harm them or your little brother."

Well, that answered how long it had been in this time since she'd been gone. And her family was still out there. She also knew something Harley didn't, that they had returned to overthrow him only to find him gone. But that had changed. Now maybe he would be able to hold her castle now that he was back. Things could be different this time.

She only hoped that that would not be the case. Somehow, her beloved Sir Ash, her father Norman, maybe even Dialga would come for her. The former two loved her and would fight for her freedom. Dialga didn't love her, but maybe… he could bring Ash to her? He surely would have sensed Duke Harley just as he had sensed her.

…

In his home dimension, Dialga watched intently as the fabric of time was unfolding. He growled.

"It seems that unlike with the Princess, this new being from out of time is a genuine threat," the Time Pokemon said.

He examined the disturbance and saw the cause.

"He has taken Princess May back to her time!" Dialga exclaimed. "Just what I did which ended up causing more damage! I must move swiftly before this change has the chance to become permanent!"

And he opened a portal to a period in time. He knew what he had to do. But he couldn't go too far.

…

Back in her original time, May was taken into her family castle as Harley dragged her by the hand inside. Celebi watched her with a bit of remorse, thinking that perhaps it had not done good helping Harley bring her back.

Harley, it spoke in the Duke's head through use of telepathy. Did you really have to hit her?

Harley turned to his helper. "Sorry you had to see that Celebi darling. I had to assert myself. Once she is home and I have a nice long time with her she'll see she better off back here."

May gritted her teeth. She wanted to break free and run, but knew it would likely be useless and he'd do worse then slap her. For now she'd just have to play along, then maybe escape when the opportunity presented itself.

"Duke Harley! You've returned!" a knight in black armor said. He was a huge man with a greatsword over his back.

"Yes Sir Gregory," Harley said. "I trust things have faired well in my absence?"

"Yes my Lord," the knight said. "Though I have some bad news. King Norman has managed gather much support for retaking his kingdom."

This surprised Harley. "Oh, no matter. We shall simply crush this rebellion."

"Your grace, there are many," Gregory cautioned. "We've sent word out searching for support but many families are still loyal to the king."

"The former king," Harley corrected them. "How dare they still follow a king that went back on his word! They must be made an example of! No matter, we will prevail! Have you made more of those devices to enslave magical creatures?"

"Bi!" This caused Celebi to exclaim in surprise.

"Yes," Gregory said.

"Good," Harley said before turning to a nearby maid. "Escort the princess to her chambers!"

The maid stepped forward. May's eyes widened as she recognized her.

"Akari!" May exclaimed.

"Princess!" her former lady in waiting and best friend said. "I thought I'd never see you again!"

"Nor did I!" May said managing a smile.

Akari however, cast a look at Sir Gregory that was filled with fear.

"The Duke gave you an order," Gregory growled.

"Right away, Sir," Akari said submissively before turning to May. "Best do what he says."

May looked into her friends eyes and could see pain and sadness within them. What sort of horrors had she endured here? The two woman walked off toward May's old chambers. The princess didn't look back.

…

Harley turned to Celebi.

"Thank you for your help darling," Harley said.

You're welcome, Celebi said in his head. I will be going now since my favor to your family is done.

The legendary forest guardian had a feeling it did not want to associate with this particular member anymore. Harley's family had saved it long ago, but he lacked the nobility of his ancestor.

"Wait," Harley said. "I could use your help one more time."

My favor is done. Celebi stated.

"Oh but I need you now more then ever!" Harley said as Gregory handed him a piece of metal. "So I'm afraid I can't allow that!"

He threw the metal at Celebi and it activated, latching onto the legendary Pokemon and causing it immense pain. Celebi cried out.

"Biiii!"

Then it looked at Harley obediently.

"Now with a Legendary Magical Creature on my side I am sure to triumph against Norman!" Harley grinned.