The woods spun around Ash and the Pokemon as time flew backwards all around them.
"To." Totodile said in wonder at the swirling colors around him.
"Whoa, what is that?!" Ash exclaimed, seeing a masked figure passing by for a while, before they finally stopped. "Celebi, who was that, is he why we're here?" Ash asked.
'Must protect, be safe.' Celebi said, returning to the GS Ball.
"Wait, Celebi, could you always do that? Celebi?" Ash asked to the GS Ball, before hearing a twig snap in the distance. "Hide." Ash whispered, diving into the bushes with Pikachu.
"Come on out, I know you're here!" The man in a mask said, ash getting a good look at the light blue mask with horns.
"Who is that?" Ash whispered.
"Pika." Pikachu whispered in confusion.
"Wait, where's Totodile?" Ash asked, looking for the water type.
"Toto! Dile!" Totodile exclaimed, biting down on the man's leg.
"Totodile no!" Ash exclaimed, running to help the wild Pokemon.
"Who are you?! Ariados use Spider Web!" The Masked Man called out.
"Charmeleon use Flamethrower!" A boy called out, flames destroying the web. "Come on!"
Ash picked up Totodile and Pikachu in the chaos, running after the other boy and away from The Masked Man.
"Over here, I have a friend that will keep us safe." The boy said, running into a small town.
Ash followed the boy inside a house without questioning.
"Sam, is that you?" A young woman asked. "What have I told you about running in here like that!"
"Sorry Towa, I ran into that stranger in the woods, another traveler had run across him." The boy said.
"I told you to stay out of those woods until we knew it was safe, go just play with Kurtis until we know it's safe for you two." The woman named Towa said, ushering them away.
"Thank you, I'm Ash." Ash said politely with a bow.
"Just go to the cellar until we know it's safe." Towa said.
Ash followed Sam into the house and then the cellar where he saw another boy working at a tool bench.
"Kurtis, another kid saw The Masked Man!" Sam said, going over to him.
"You're lucky Sam was there when he was then." The boy said, turning around. "He's quite the Pokemon Trainer."
"So am I, I just wasn't as prepared as he was." Ash half gloated.
"Really, with two Pokemon out, are you sure?" Kurtis asked.
"Oh, uhm Totodile isn't mine, he just kind of is with me for now." Ash said.
"And what about Pikachu, where is his Pokeball?" Sam asked.
"Oh, Pikachu doesn't like his Pokeball, he never goes in it." Ash said.
"Well you should put the Totodile in one, if The Masked Man finds him again, he'll surely be taken." Kurtis said.
"What is he even doing out there?" Ash asked, setting Pikachu and Totodile down.
"He's collecting rare Pokemon, no one is sure why, but anyone who tries to stop him get's hurt." Sam said. "Except for me that is."
"Here, catch." Kurtis said, tossing a ball to Ash.
"What is this?" Ash asked in confusion, looking at the ball.
"It's a Pokeball I designed." Kurtis said. "I call it a Lure Ball, I make it from Blue Apricorns."
"It doesn't look like any Pokeball I've ever seen." Ash said. "How does it work, where is the button?"
"The button, no it's a dial, you twist it to open, why would you use a button?" Kurtis asked.
"I twist?" Ash asked, twisting the nob, opening the ball as it fell apart.
"Come on, I was working on that all night!" Kurtis said.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it." Ash apologized.
"No, it's not you, I'm still trying to get it working right." Kurtis admitted, picking up the pieces. "I'm nothing like Towa is at this."
"Is Towa your mom?" Ash asked the two.
"More like my big sister, not really, but sort of." Kurtis said. "She took me in and has been teaching me how to make Pokeballs."
"Well, here if you want one to work with, try one of mine, I have a few spares." Ash said, opening his bag to find two empty Pokeballs. "Or not as much as I thought." Ash altered, handing one of them to Kurtis.
"You said it's a button?" Kurtis asked.
"Yeah, like this! Bulbasaur come on out!" Ash said, tapping the button on Bulbasaur's Pokeball.
"Bulba!" Bulbasaur said, in confusion as to where he was.
"Wow, a Bulbasaur, those are really rare!" Sam said.
"Look, as fun as this is, I need to go back there and stop him, I was brought here, and I think he's the reason why." Ash admitted.
"Good luck, Towa won't let us out until tonight at least." Kurtis said.
"Why are you guys so scared of him, he's just one guy." Ash said in confusion.
"Because whoever you fought in the woods, isn't the same Masked Man that's been collecting the Pokemon." Sam said.
"Wait, Sam you saw the boss?!" Kurtis asked.
"The boss?" Ash asked.
"I've heard another man, in a golden helmet like mask, he keeps talking to someone he calls boss, about gathering these Pokemon for him." Sam said. "Whoever is in that blue mask, is a new man, and if Towa found out there's another, she'd never let us into the woods again."
"Look, if these guys are out here taking Pokemon like that, we need to stop them, no matter how dangerous it might get." Ash said. "I'll figure out how to get us back into the woods without Towa noticing, you guys just be ready to go."
Back in the woods
"Are you almost done with those Pokemon!" The blue Masked Man demanded.
"Yeah, yeah, a few more and your requested quota will be met." A man in a golden masked helmet said.
"Good, this work is drawing too much attention, and I'm about run out of patience to keep paying you for this." The blue Masked Man said, limping slightly. "And if you happen to find a boy with a Totodile, I'll pay extra for their permanent removal."
"Gladly." The golden masked helmet man said, activating a collar holding a Tyranitar. "I'll make sure to bring you it's skin."
Authors Notes
Yes, before you flood me saying that I'm messing up locations, and timelines, I am aware, but this is an AU from the original series, so I'm taking creative liberties.