Kanto Chapter 18 - Back to Pallet Town
Amber stood on the deck of a small ferry shivering and teeth chattering. She was dressed in a hoodie, coat, bobble hat and gloves. Pikachu was bungled up inside her coat, his heat peeking out the zipper also chattering his teeth feeling the chill.
"Why-y-y is it so-so cold?" Amber chattered out loud.
"Pi-pi-pi-ka-chu-u-u."
The duo was on their way to Ambers home in Pallet Town. The young trainer was already 5 badges into her gym challenge and decided a surprise visit to her parent's ranch would be a welcome mini break from her progressing journey and more importantly a chance to shake off the ever-persistent Team Rocket.
"I can't wait for you to meet Mum and Dad, Pikachu; they are going to be so surprised to see us! They're just gonna love you."
"Pi ka chu." The electric pokémon closed his eyes and looked up at his trainer with joy.
"And I'll get to sleep in my very own bed for the first time in nearly a year!" Amber clasped her hands together looking forward to her comfy queen size mattress.
As the ferry drew closer to the mainland the temperature started to warm up, and the teenager began to de-layer.
"Ahh that's more like it." Amber exclaimed pulling her hat off and shimming out of her coat. "I thought the southern islands were supposed to be warmer Pikachu."
"Ka Chu."
The ferry soon pulled up to the small harbour at route 21 and the passengers deported. Amber jumped down the last few steps in her excitement and raced down the road leading towards her sleepy hometown. Pikachu cried out, running full pelt behind her struggling to keep up with his energetic trainer.
"Come on Pikachuuuu! I can practically feel the welcome party!"
"Piiiiiiiikaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"
Soon the familiar buildings that landmarked the otherwise desolate Pallet Town came into view. A domed building on top of a hill with a large wind turbine mounted to the back was home to the Oak Foundation, formerly belonging to local legend Professor Samuel Oak.
Professor Oak, the world renowned pokémon researcher, had passed away peacefully some years ago in his old age. He left his entire estate to his only beneficiary, his grandson, the equally famous Gary Oak. Deciding not to tie himself down in Pallet Town, Gary created The Oak Foundation in his grandfather's memory. A group dedicated to the continued research of pokémon to human relationships. Gary donated the estate, lab and corral to the foundation so they could continue their work with little interruption and all the pokémon living on there would keep their homes.
Gary himself whilst being the founder and on the board of directors, took a step back from this project and continued his own research into fossil and legendary pokémon wherever that took him. Not able to give up battling completely, he also held down a position as Gym Leader of the Viridian City Gym. The Gym had a notorious reputation for being extremely difficult to get into, with Gary not even entertaining any trainer that had below 7 badges to attempt to challenge him. Then it was another matter entirely of actually beating Gary Oak to obtain the Earth Badge. This made the Earth Badge quite the distinguishing mark for Champion League Entrances.
I wonder if there has been any cool advances in their research ... Amber thought to herself as they passed the wind turbined building and continued towards the now most impressive man-made sight in all of Kanto.
"This is home Pikachu."
"Chuuuuuuuuuuuu" Pikachu's eyes lit up.
Lying behind towering walls, expanding hedgerows and massive gates embossed with the letter "K", a long and winding drive way lead to a giant sprawling country home. Boasting an impressive number of rooms, indoor Olympic sized swimming pool and work out gym, the mansion stood proudly in the middle of a vast and stretching ranch like estate. The land encompassed all different environments for all different kinds of pokémon, dwarfing the Oak Corral in its size and complexities. A small stream ran through into a loch sized lake, a small coppice surrounded the back of the main building, leading to a rockery and then barren desert like patch. Numerous buildings dotted around serving as housing for the many, many, pokémon Ash and Misty had collected during their lives.
It was an awe inducing sight for any pokéfan, but for Amber it was merely home.
Walking through the grounds and greeting some of her old pokémon friends, Amber punched in the passcode and pulled open the patio doors leading to the large country styled yet still very modern kitchen, decked out with numerous gadgets and latest appliances.
"I'M HOMEEEEE!" Amber called out sliding the door shut behind her. There sat a man at the kitchen counter, back turned, sporting bed head styled jet black hair.
He spun around on the swivel chair, a bowl of cereal in one hand and spoon in the other. Behind him, men in black suits, sunglasses and earpieces lined the hallway behind the kitchen door. Silently standing and keeping guard.
Cole. Amber seethed.
"Oh wow … A pikachu on your shoulder … dishevelled appearance … You really are aiming to be just like Dad." He spoke between mouthfuls of food.
Amber paused; her mouth gaped taken back by the comment. She looked at Pikachu on her shoulder and narrowed her eyes at the offender. Jerk.
"Where's Mom and Dad?"
"There not here." Cole continued to eat his bowl of cereal. "Dad has been called away on some ultra-important Pokémon League business and Mom's in Cerulean."
"What?! Mom never mentioned that when I checked in this morning!" Amber stomped.
Her brother merely shrugged in response. "You didn't tell her you were coming here either."
"Well, no … but I came back to surprise them … I wanted them to meet Pikachu." The tone and volume in the girl's voice dropped with disappointment, her gaze went to the floor. "What are you doing here anyway?" Amber questioned, looking back up at him. Not really in the mood for her obnoxious elder brother.
"I came to visit Mom and Dad. Obviously. But mainly for them to meet my new girlfriend."
"Girlfriend?"
As if on cue a female voice called out. "Cole I'm finished in the shower now."
"In the kitchen babe."
A tall, slender figure came sauntering past the line of suited bodyguards and into the kitchen. Dressed in a modest bathrobe finishing just above her knees, towelling off long luxurious shiny black hair. Captivating bluey/grey eyes peering from her fringed haircut, lying flat against her forehead from the water.
Ambers mouth gaped open "E-Elesa."
The beautiful Nimbasa City Gym Leader cocked her head slightly.
Amber looked from her brother, to the super model and back to her brother.
"You're dating Elesa! Elesa. Electric pokémon trainer, Gym Leader, Super Model, my idol. Elesa." The teen slumped her shoulders. "Of course you are."
Amber could not hide the distain and jealousy. Elesa was one of the people Amber looked up to most, since she burst onto the scene a few years ago. A hip cool, young, electric type expert, not only was Elesa arguably the best publicised female electric trainer out there and a top gym leader in Unova, but also a flawless beauty and world-renowned super model. This lady had it all.
Amber would give anything to be her, or to be her friend or heck just to meet her and but of course Cole had to one up and actually date her.
"Oh! A Pikachu! Oh let me see him!" Elesa sauntered over, oblivious to the tension in the room. Amber stood mouth agape, as Elesa fussed Pikachu perched on Ambers shoulder, before lifting him off and cuddling him into her chest.
"Piiiiii" Pikachu closed his eyes enjoying the attention. Elesa had a natural way with him and the petting felt good.
"How long have you had Pikachu?" Elesa enquired rubbing his head.
"Uhhhhhhhhhh Uh he recently evolved from a Pichu." Amber stuttered trying to get her words out.
"I can tell, he's in his cutest stage, still quite young." Elesa continued.
"I'm an Electric Pokémon just like you Elesa!" Amber blurted out excitedly.
Elesa cocked her head in confusion. Cole snickered from his seat, watching the car crash before him.
"I mean, uhhh, I am an electric pokémon trainer. Just like. You." The teenager corrected herself blushing.
"Oh? And you'd be?"
Ambers face faltered. "I'm Amber, Coles sister, didn't Cole tell you? I'm on a pokémon journey"
"Oh, I'm sorry Cole's never mentioned you." Elesa replied bluntly.
Amber faltered on the spot.
"Hey babe we better head out soon if we're going to catch my movie." Cole butted in, putting his now finished cereal bowl down.
"Oh sure, let me get ready and we'll head out." Her steely yet inviting gaze, fell on the impressionable teenager. "It was really nice meeting you, and especially you Pikachu." Elesa gave the electric mouse one last head rub and handed Pikachu back. "Maybe when we have more time I can meet the rest of your electric pokémon. I'd like that." With that Elesa turned and began to walk away.
Amber stood mouth open.
Cole rested his hand on the small of the gorgeous gym leaders back, and they both headed out the kitchen. Cole turned back and winked at his sister.
The suited men followed silently after them as if they were never there.
Amber sucked in a deep breath and let out a long exhale. That could have gone a lot better.
The teenagers stomach growled once again. In all the excitement she'd forgotten how hungry she was. Without her parents there to cook, Amber decided to go for something quick and easy. Grabbing a bowl and the cereal box from the cupboard she went to empty a portion out, only to be met with crumbs from the finished packet.
"Coleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
After introducing her own pokémon to some of the pokéfriends living on the estate, and of course spending a lot of time in the electric pokémon compound, Amber found herself sat in her bedroom staring out the window to her all so familiar surroundings, Pikachu sat contented on the end of the bed.
What a bust. Dad's off on work, Mom's in Cerulean and all there is to eat is instant ramen. The teen wiped her forehead which was lightly sweating. Wow it is really warm in Pallet Town. Maybe I just got used to how cold it was at Cinnabar. Amber got up and opened her window to let some air in. She looked out of it and in the distance spotted the dome building with the wind turbine. Getting an idea, she pulled out her pokégear and went down the contacts "G"
Gary Oak sits alone in a dark room, illuminated only by the light of a computer monitor. The only sounds that can be heard are frantic tapping of his fingers against the keyboard and the whirring of a desk fan, an attempt in vain at keeping the room cool.
This just can't be right … following the trajectory, these prediction readings are off the chart. I've only seen numbers like this from Grandpa's old files on …
The phone rings out breaking his trail of thought. The pokémon researcher picks it up and hears a welcomed voice.
"Oh hey squirt, how's the league challenge going?" … … "Wow already?" … … "Actually, I'm in Viridian City now." … "Hmmm I don't usually accept challengers with less than 7 badges, but as it's you squirt I'll make an exception." ... … "I know I know, I'm the best. No need to tell me." ... ... "In 3 days huh? Ok sure I'll make sure the gym is open for you." …
The man smirked "Smell ya later."
Gary put the phone down and looked at his desk. He pulled open the thin top draw and pulled out an old photo.
It was a slightly faded picture of Him and Misty when they were 19. His arm looped around her shoulders pulling her in close for the selfie, he was winking and smirking smugly at the camera. Misty was laughing, her eyes sparking holding up a peace sign with her right hand.
****Flashback****
19 year old Gary Oak was walking across the Nugget Bridge. He was on his way back from visiting researcher Bill at his lighthouse home on the Cerulean Cape. The sun was setting creating a pallet of orange, pink and indigo colouring the sky, the moon and stars just barely visible.
Descending from the bridge, he spotted Cerulean Gym Leader Misty sitting along the riverbank looking out towards the Cerulean Cave. The sunset reflecting off the water, illuminating her. Her fiery hair had grown out some and now reached just past her shoulders. Gone was the short side ponytail style, replaced with a low loose hanging ponytail accentuating her new longer hair style. Misty had grown from her childish looks and was developing into a natural beauty.
As Gary approached to say hi, he noticed a deep pensive look across her face. An unusual change from her usual cheerful or passionate raging self.
Gary sucked in a breath and walked up behind her. "Hey Red."
Misty turned and looked up at him, her usual bright cerulean eyes whilst still alluring had lost their spark.
"Oh, hi Gary. What brings you to Cerulean City?"
"I was catching up with Bill over at the Lighthouse on some of his new findings. There's some been some big advancements on fossil pokémon revival technology coming from Galar, really exciting stuff actually …" Gary could see the girl wasn't really taking in what he what saying. "But you don't really care about that do you?"
"Uh, I'm sorry, it's not that I don't care Gary, honestly, I just have something else on my mind is all."
Gary sat down beside the teenager. A silent signal for her that he was ready to listen.
"It's just …" Misty sighed. "Ash won the World Series against Leon. Of course, I'm happy for him, he finally achieved his dream. I'm really proud of him. ... But well it's …" Gary gave her a very slight nudge to continue. She looked into his eyes. It was clear he wasn't going to judge or make fun of her.
"I thought he'd have come home now, you know, to visit, even just to show off his trophy and brag about it." She gave a small laugh to that thought. "I thought he'd come back to see his mom, to see … me."
Misty looked down sadly. Gary's eyes softened with sympathy.
The girl gritted her teeth, squeezing her eyes shut and continued "At the very least he could have been in touch! A phone call, a message, an e-mail! I've heard nothing from him, and it's been weeks! Me and Brock even flew out to Alola to meet up with him whilst he was competing over there so it's not like we've grown apart or anything!" Misty was wavering between anger, frustration and sadness.
"I feel so stupid." She continued. "I'm sat here turning down dates left right and centre, waiting and waiting for a boy, who frankly might not even see me how I see him. Every time, without fail, that I convince myself it will never happen, to move on, that whatever there was between us will never be more than that, he comes back into my life. We share these fleeting moments, moments that mean everything to me and I'm back to square one ... For Mew sake I'm 19 and I've not even had my first kiss!"
"The boy is an idiot, Misty." Gary replied flippantly. "But I've known that kid practically his whole life. He does care about you. You mean a lot to him."
"Well he's got a funny way of showing it!" Misty grumbled.
Ash, you numpty! Gary scolded the boy in question in his mind. Here is a truly beautiful, caring, devoted girl just waiting for you and you're off playing with pokémon! How dense can a person be?! Seriously if I were in your shoes …
Gary smirked as an idea came to him. "Cheer up Red, how about we show Ashy Boy what he's missing."
"Huh?"
He put his arm around the fiery Gym Leader and pulled her in close for selfie. Turning his phone camera around, to get them both in the frame. The sudden unexpected move from Gary, caught Misty off guard but once she got over her initial surprise, laughed out loud, enjoying the goofiness. Gary captured the image and gave it a once over.
Perfect. Gary smirked and sent the picture to Ash's messenger, captioning the image "Fun times in Cerulean with this one. Wish you were here?"
If that doesn't bring Ashy Boy running, nothing will. Gary thought to himself seeing the message pending.
After hanging out and chatting a little more, Gary rose up from his sitting position and stretched. "Well I better make tracks; it's getting pretty late."
"Sure. Hey Gary, thanks." Misty smiled up at him sincerely.
"Anytime Red." Gary winked, saluted the girl and carried on his way. He looked down at his phone and saw Ash had seen the message.
****End Flashback ***
Gary stared at the picture a moment longer before putting it away. I should have kissed her.
The researcher had a sip of his now lukewarm coffee and pulled up at his keyboard, continuing his work in the darkness of his solitary room.
Amber closed the pokégear. Alright! In a few days I'm going to challenge Uncle Gary and get my Earth Badge. Amber lay down on her bed and placed her hands behind her head. Pikachu clambered on her and curled up on her stomach, she lightly petted him as he rested. Guess we may as well chill as there isn't much more to do around here … "We'll have a day of rest, then a day of training, then make our way to Viridian. If we make a beeline for it, I'm sure we can make it there in a days walk."
Ambers pokégear rang out, she looked at it with raised eyebrows. That's weird I just put this thing down. Oh a video call!
"Hello?"
Misty's face appeared on the screen. "Amber! Sweetie are you in Pallet Town?"
Amber bolted up, causing Pikachu to jump off his trainers lap. "Mom! How did you know?"
"I can see you on the tracker."
"Ah right, yeah I came home to surprise you, but you and Dad aren't here. Where are you?"
"I'm" ccrzzzzzkkkkk "Cerulean" ccccrrzzzkkkkk "Stay." ccrrzzzkkk. The screen and audio crackled and fuzzed battling against terrible interference.
"Mom? You're breaking up. What did you say?"
"I said" cccrrrzzzzzkkkkk "There. Ok" ccccrrrzzzkkk
The screen cut out and the call went dead.
"Hmm lousy reception. Wonder what she wanted? Sounded like she's staying in Cerulean. Nice." Amber couldn't help but feel a little dejected. She hadn't been home in how long and her mother decided to stick around in Cerulean instead of coming home to see her.
The teenagers stomach growled loudly.
"Oh yeah, food, what to do about dinner …" Her eyes bolted open. "Grandma DeeDee!"
At the prestigious Indigo Plateau, Pokémon Master Champion Ash Ketchum sat at the head of a long oval table joined by his Elite Four members. A holographic map of the Kanto Region lay before them across the table. This was no meeting of pleasantries, with concern written across all their faces.
From left to right the Masters seated themselves.
Karen the Master of Dark Type pokémon, a tall, slender, middle aged woman with long glossy silver blue hair with piercing eyes to match. She was edgy in her look and exuded confidence in her body language and level voice.
Will, Master of Psychic types. Will was a lean skinny man with chin length lavender hair. He always dressed very formally, with a tailored waist coat ending in tails and kept a portion of his facial features hidden behind a mask as if attending a masquerade ball. There was always an air of mystery with the man, but he'd proven himself to be a strong and loyal teammate.
Koga the Poison Ninja Master. Formally the Fuchsia Gym Leader, he had proven himself worthy of ascending to the Elite Four providing much tactical mastery to the group. He still dressed in formal Ninja attire with his head was now bald and face starting to show the deep wrinkles of age.
Finally, Lance the Dragon Master. Once the Champion of Kanto himself, he'd lost the position to Ash in a fierce and epic 6 on 6 battle. It was close but Ash proved himself victorious. Lance bowed out of his position of Champion gracefully, lending himself to become Ash's top confidant in the Elite Four. Still a fierce and revered Dragon Master, Lance still commanded a tremendous amount of respect and authority.
"Champion Ketchum, the weather is going haywire all over Kanto. The south of the country is now reporting sub-zero temperatures, and the west is in a heat wave." Karen spoke up highlighting the effected areas. Pressures in the atmosphere are rising, usually we'd be seeing some storms but none so far. I can only assume so far looking at these numbers that it's not going to level out any time soon.
"That's not all, we're having numerous reports of pokémon acting strange. Intel is showing of all kinds of species migrating, even ones that don't usually show such a pattern." Lance added.
"It is causing chaos." Will chipped in.
"I have seen this before." Ash conceded. "When a collector trapped the Legendary Kanto Birds. Do we know the current whereabouts of Zapdos, Articuno and Moltres?"
"Articuno was last seen flying over the ocean, north of SeaFoam Island. Moltres and Zapdos have yet to be located but we still believe they are near Cerulean City, based on their last known locations." Koga replied pointing on the hologram map.
Ash nodded "My wife is there now. She'll be in touch if there are any developments. But in the meantime keep working closely with the researchers, they are our best hope at unravelling this mystery." He turned and began to walk out the room.
"Champion Ketchum! Where are you going?" Will called out.
"I'm going to the Orange Archipelago. I have a hunch I'll find answers there. Come on Pikachu."
Pikachu jumped onto his master's shoulder and they left the room. The Elite Four Team looked among themselves, this situation was more serious than they had thought.
"Do we really just leave this up to a hunch?" Karen spoke up, her eyebrow arched.
Lance stood up from his chair and addressed his colleagues. "Champion Ketchum has proved himself time and time over, ever since he was a boy. He has an affinity with pokémon, the likes which I have not seen in my lifetime. In him, we trust."
All three looked at each other and nodded at Lance in agreement.
Amber ran down one the dusty country roads that connected Pallet Towns residents with Pikachu in hot pursuit. It wasn't long before a homely detached house with a russet tiled roof and white picket fence came into view. It was the house that her father had grown up in, the house belonging to her Grandmother, Delia Ketchum or affectionately known and Grandma DeeDee.
"Grandma DeeDee makes the best tempura you'll ever eat; the fluffiest rice meals and her cookies are to die for!" The young red head almost started to drool at the thought as she pictured all the different dishes. It had been too long since she had tasted the delicious cooking of the Ketchum matriarch, but she could still savour the memories.
"Chuuuuuuuuu" Pikachu licked his lips in anticipation.
Delia had aged into a sweet, loving yet strongly independent lady. She was a doting grandmother to her two grandchildren and still the ever proud and adoring mother to her son and daughter-in-law.
When Ash decided to settle for good in Pallet Town, he naturally invited his aging mother to stay with them in their luxurious ranch style home. But Delia had declined insisting she was happier in the comfort of her own home with Mr Mime. But of course, still visited regularly and provided much appreciated and loved home cooked meals.
"Grandma DeeDee!" Amber called out as she casually strode up to the house where her father had grown up. Pikachu jumped up onto her shoulder, eager to meet the lady he had been hearing about.
"Is that my sweet Amber?" A soft voice called out from an open window. "Wait right there!"
The front door swung open and Amber was immediately greeted with sparkling, kind, brown eyes. Delia had aged well, her once Auburn brown hair had long turned white and her face now wrinkled with a few liver spots, but overall she had stayed fit and active in her mature years and was still holding her own against the youth.
"Oh Amber my sweet, sweet baby girl. How are you? How is your pokémon journey going? Are you looking after yourself? Are you drinking enough water? Are you hungry? Do you want me to fix you something? I'll fix you something! Oh Mr Mimeeee we have company."
Amber sweat dropped. Her Grandmother was on her usual top form.
"Oh a Pikachu!" Delia clasped her hands together and held them by her cheek closing her eyes. "How darling!"
Amber grinned. Delia plucked the mouse from off her granddaughters' shoulder and cuddled him. "Hi Pikachu! Oh it's just so wonderful having another Pikachu in the family isn't it." Petting his head.
Pikachu merely looked at the old lady, slightly bewildered by the attention, but soon decided it was welcome and lapped up the fuss.
"Oh how sweet, just like your father, you're the applin of his eye." Delia chimed.
Amber slumped her shoulders. "Doesn't feel like it. He can't even be bothered to be home to see me when I've been away for months."
"Nonsense, he wouldn't be so over protective of you if he didn't care as much as he does. Why I remember the day you were born he was so proud, it was one of the happiest days of his life, almost up there with when he got Pikachu."
Amber looked to the floor and blushed a little. To most people that would have been a back handed compliment, but Amber knew what Pikachu mean to her father, like what her Pikachu meant to her.
"Then why isn't he home to see me?"
"Sweetie, your father is in a position of great responsibility, sometimes the things he has to do takes over from the things he wants to do."
"I guess your right ..."
"Of course I am. Now lets fix you a snack." With that the whirlwind that was Delia Ketchum passed back Pikachu and breezed into the kitchen.
Amber stood holding Pikachu, the pair dumbstruck from the old lady's vigour. But soon smiled at each other. "At least someone is here to see us." They entered the house.
Dishes upon dishes arrived out the kitchen and filled the dining room table, with Mr Mime and Delia racing in and out the rooms.
Amber and Pikachu sat at the dining table, faces paling as more and more food arrived.
"Umm Grandma DeeDee … you really didn't have to go to all this … trouble …" The teenager sweat dropped looking at platefuls of foods lining all the way down the extended dining room table.
"Oh it's no trouble for my little pumpkin! Got to have you eating right now haven't we!"
"Mr Mime Mr Mime!"
Pikachu's eyes lit up; he had never seen such a feast. He licked his lips in anticipation, ready to dig in.
Delia and Mr Mime loved hosting, nothing was ever too much for guests and family. The pair sat down, and the four looked upon the feast before them.
"Time to eat!" They all chorused and began piling food onto their plates.
Dinner passed by with the conversation focused entirely on Amber and her adventures. With no off topics of Ash, Misty or Cole and his love life, Delia's full attention was on her granddaughter. The teenager was relishing being in the spotlight for once, and enjoyed talking about her pokémon and encounters with giant Magikarp, ghosts, renegade voltorb and gym battles. She went into great depth on all her travel stories being careful of course to leave out any Team Rocket encounters. Delia lapped it all up with genuine interest.
After dinner Amber introduced her grandmother and Mr Mime to all her pokémon, including Electrode who was quickly recalled when started to rapidly rock back and forth and glow. Electabuzz was naturally on form, showing off his poses and impressive core strength with handstands and bicep curls. Magnemite bobbed around draining any electrical appliance it could find.
Time ticked by and it was getting late, and although welcomed to spend the night at there, Amber decided she had missed her own bed for far too long and it was time to head out back home. They all shared hugs and goodbyes, with Delia fussing over her granddaughter not getting enough vegetables and fibre in her diet.
"My it's really quite muggy out here isn't it." Delia commented stepping out the front door onto the porch to see the young teenager off.
Amber nodded. "Yet it was freezing on the boat ride over here."
"Strange …" The older woman trailed off looking up at the night sky.
"Well, see ya later Grandma." Aber waved and walked off towards her home. "Pi Ka Chuuu" Pikachu waved from atop his trainers' shoulder.
"Bye byeeeeeeee, you take good care of each other." Delia's eyes welled up as she watched her only granddaughter depart. Pikachu riding on her shoulder. The vision before her moulded into a teenage boy wearing a blue jacket and baseball cap.
Oh, she really is her father's daughter. My Ash.
Ash and Pikachu were flying on Charizard's back, navigating the air currents to reach the Orange Islands in record time. During the journey's duration, Ash recounted the prophecy in his head that he had heard many times over in his youth.
Disturb not the harmony of fire, ice or lightning, lest these titans wreak destruction upon the world in which they clash.
Ash saw Shamouti Island and it's small neighbouring islands and brought Charizard down to land near the Southern Shrine overlooking Fire, Ice and Lightning Islands respectively.
He and Pikachu jumped off the fire pokémon's back and the trio walked up to the steps towards the raised small statue located in the middle of the ancient stone shrine.
"Hmm no sign of a power struggle, or the birds. All seems pretty normal here … what do you think Pikachu?" Ash commented looking around.
"Pi Kaaaaaaaaaaa" Pikachu could sense there was an upset but definitely not around here …
Though the water's great guardian shall arise to quell the fighting, alone its song will fail.
He ran his hand over the stone shrines edge, passing 3 glass balls that lined up with the distant islands. One glowed orange with fire, the next blue with cold ice and lastly the sparking yellow from lightning. "The element orbs are all still lodged here." He mused.
Thus the earth shall turn to Ash.
Ash pulled out a small flute in the shape of an ocean shell and stared out across the ocean.
Oh, Chosen One. Into thine hands bring together all three. Their treasure combined, tame the Beast of the Sea.
He put the instrument to his lips and began to play. It was rusty but he still remembered the tune etched in the subconscious of his mind.
The shrine began to illuminate against the night sky and it wasn't long before a familiar large silhouette appeared just below the ocean's surface, making it's way towards the Pokémon Master.
The sea began to turn violently as a giant whirlpool erupted up from the waves. Ash didn't flinch. Two giant white wings burst forth from the water torrent and Lugia, Legendary Guardian of the Sea emerged.
It rested down by Ash and his pokémon, an aura flaring up around as Ash heard it's voice through telepathy.
You have summoned me, friend.
"Lugia." Ash walked over and placed his hand tenderly on the legendary pokémon's neck. "Some crazy things are going on right now and I fear it's going to get worse. I think the Legendary Birds are connected, but I have no idea how to find them. Can you help me?"
Lugia looked up at the sky and then back at Ash sadly.
I can not feel the energy of my brother Thunder.
"Zapdos?!" Ash cried out with alarm.
Lugia nodded.
"If Zapdos is gone then I'm almost certain that's reason for the upset in balance and all these weird happenings … How can I restore the balance?"
Lugia began to glow.
Authors note: Elesa is in her early twenties and not much older than Ash's kids in this story, taking the creepy factor out. Gym Leaders in the later game generations will younger in this story than their cannon counterparts in later Anime series and Ash likely hasn't battled them.