Chapter 4: Flying
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NOW – ALOLA
While Ash rushed off to have a quick shower, Kukui called Principal Oak – he didn't bother explaining the full story but managed to get Oak to agree to pop in and distract his class until he'd have time to get there. He only told him there had been an emergency – which wasn't a lie – and he had forgotten to call in. But everything was fine now, don't worry about it Samson, they would be there in a hot minute.
Everything was fine.
Kukui put down the phone, sighed deeply and locked his eyes with Burnet's. Her gaze was hard, torn between emotions, and Kukui knew the scientist in her was going mental right then. This was a problem, an inexplicable equation, and she wanted to solve it. But this was also Ash, and they would have to approach this very carefully.
"What are you going to say to your class?" Burnet asked quietly. "You know they're gonna flip their shit about this, Kukui. And they won't take just anything as an explanation. Poor Ash will be… He must be shaken as it is, and he won't recognize any of these people and they're going to demand answers from him."
"I'm aware", snapped Kukui, throwing his hands up. "I realize this is bad- This is a huge mess and I really have no idea how to… But we don't have time! We just need to go and do it and sort it out later."
He let out a breath, a desperate huff of air, and rubbed a hand across his eyes.
"They… They're good kids", he added gruffly, and Burnet dipped her chin, her face softening. "I'm sure they'll understand if I tell them to stay calm about it and give Ash his space."
"I hope so", she replied plainly.
She sighed as well, then, her shoulders drooping. "I'll call work, take some time off to deal with this…"
"That's good. But…" Kukui hesitated for a moment. "Let's keep the details of this between… only the people who need to know, right? At least for now."
Burnet gave him a look. "You mean: don't tell Lusamine, don't you", she drawled, mildly offended. "You really think I would, Kukui? Tattle everything to her, just like that?"
Kukui cursed silently. "No, not Lusamine, specifically!" It sounded weak, even to his own ears. "I won't tell Hala, that nosy bastard, either, but what I meant was… Most importantly, no one will tell the media."
Burnet's eyes widened a fraction. "Oh shit, you're right. That'd be a disaster! If they realize something is wrong with Ash… with their Champion…"
"Yeah."
Through the heavy silence hanging in the air, Ash bounced back into the living room, full of energy, Pikachu on his heels.
"I'm ready, Professor!" he exclaimed. Moisture was still dragging down the ends of his hair, making the black strands glisten in the sunlight streaming in. His grin was wide and bright. "We're going to the pokemon school, right? Is it far away? Hey, come back everyone!"
He took out his poke balls, and Kukui jumped, his distracted mind and reflexes taking over common sense.
"No, don't!" he yelped, too loudly, too sharply, his hand reaching towards the boy. Instantly Ash froze, shoulders raised, and eyed him suspiciously. He didn't take a step back, but he was tense in a way that suggested he was thinking about it.
Kukui pulled back, his stomach twisting uncomfortably. The look on his face really hammered home the fact that, however much this kid looked and acted like Ash, he wasn't him. Not really.
"Ah, I'm sorry, I just meant…" Kukui waved his hand around like he was trying to clear the air physically, to shoo away the cold feeling of mistrust his reaction had left behind. "You shouldn't… Your pokemon like to stay outside their balls. You usually ask them first if they want to go inside."
Burnet placed her hand on his chest, pushing him back ever so gently. She smiled down at Ash, and Kukui could see his shoulders relaxing, bit by bit.
"Melmetal likes to be in the poke ball while you travel", she explained gently. "The same with Incineroar. It's gotten so big and it's not as agile as it used to be, so it prefers to run and work out only when you're properly training. Lycanroc, however, it loves to run with you. Rowlet always sleeps in your backpack and is comforted by the fact that it can get out and fly anytime it wants to. And Naganadel… well, it hasn't lived with us for that long as a naganadel, but I think it prefers to stay outside, too."
"Right", said Ash, and his eyes flicked from Burnet to Kukui to his pokemon. He went to pick up his backpack from the corner of the room and turned around, holding it open invitingly. "You wanna sleep here, Rowlet?" he asked, and the owl, still half asleep, flew up to him and rolled into the pack. Ash grinned, throwing it over his shoulders.
In awe, Kukui watched as he resumed guiding his team like they belonged beside him – like he had always belonged.
"Alright, the rest of you, just tell me if you wanna go inside, okay? Melmetal and Incineroar, what'd you think?"
The two large pokemon nodded, and Incineroar went as far as sitting down on the floor, crossing its arms and yawning widely. Kukui knew it was only putting up a show, but it made Ash giggle, so it was good.
Ash recalled the two and beckoned the rest of his team to follow.
"Let's go, gang! To the pokemon school!"
Without further ado he sprinted through the open front door, trailed by the rest of his team and a very startled Kukui.
"I'll… see you later", Kukui called over his shoulder to Burnet, who smiled thinly at him, an intense look in her eyes.
"Keep him safe", was all she replied.
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Sun was beating down on them, and Kukui felt drops of sweat building on his forehead as they climbed the hillside road up towards the city. Lycanroc had run ahead, tail wagging excitedly, and Kukui cleared his throat before Ash could take off running after it.
"So… Brock mentioned you won the Orange league, right?" he queried gently, curious to know more about which time frame this Ash was from. "How long have you been a trainer?"
"Eh, not super long", replied Ash, but his tone was distracted and his eye were far away, taking in the beautiful views of Alola. He turned his head and looked at Pikachu on his shoulder, his gaze searching. "After Kanto and the Orange Islands I traveled through Johto and Hoenn, but that's it. I was gonna take part in the Battle Frontier next but…" He shrugged, waving his and around with a huff. "This happened. I hope I can still do it after I get back."
He sounded almost disappointed, but Kukui felt stunned for a moment, not entirely sure how to take in all that information.
"Kanto, Johto and Hoenn…. I think that's a lot, for someone your age", he ended up saying, attempting to tone down the intrigue in his voice. He knew Ash had been around – just the sheer amount of pokemon he had on Professor Oak's farm was enough to tell him that – but it still surprised him, every time.
"You think so?" grinned Ash, his lips curling up into a smug smile. "Yeah, I guess it is!"
He crossed his hands behind his head and walked on. Suddenly, he caught sight of Naganadel flying above him. His eyes lit up, still in awe of the ultra-beast, and he craned his neck to take a proper look. Noticing his eyes on it, Naganadel twirled in the air, letting out a thrilled squeal. Pikachu chirped back at it, and they shared a brief exchange of electricity, making Ash jump and yelp indignantly when he got his share of the shock as well. Kukui let out a chuckle – he couldn't help it – and Ash grumbled for a moment before slowing down his pace to walk beside him.
"What's the pokemon school like?" he asked after a brief silence. "Man, I knew they were a thing, but I didn't think I'd ever wanna stay and study in one."
Kukui grinned at him. "Pokemon school? You'll see. It's even more fun than it sounds. And your classmates-"
He paused, gnawing on his lips for a second. "Your classmates are your great friends, Ash. So they'll be confused, and curious, and maybe a little bit… well, let's just say that it'd probably be better if I go in first, explain them the basics of your situation and only then you come into the classroom." He glanced at Ash. "That sound okay?"
Ash nodded nonchalantly. "Yeah, sure. I can wait for a bit!"
"Good!" Kukui smiled. "And look at that, we are there already!" He pointed ahead, where they could see the school building at the end of the path. "Let's go!"
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Kukui took a deep breath before rounding the corner into the classroom.
He needed to keep control. And he, himself, needed to stay calm.
He could do that. Easy peasy.
He walked in and saw Principal Oak standing in the middle of the room with a rhyhorn, colorfully explaining about its habitat. The class seemed to mostly pay attention, though Lana certainly was on her phone under her desk, and Sophocles was "secretly" scrolling through something on his laptop, while nodding along exaggeratedly as he pretended to follow what Oak was saying.
And when they saw Kukui then, everyone dropped their act.
"Ah Professor!" exclaimed Oak. "You're finally here! How great!"
Lillie's hand shot up, though she didn't wait to ask, "Where were you, Professor? You are usually never late!"
"Are you okay?" asked Mallow. She frowned. "Is Ash okay? Where's he?"
Kiawe grumbled, sounding worried, "He didn't stop going to school after he won the league, did he?"
Sophocles slammed his soft fist on the table, yelping, "I know! You saw the headline, right? About how they want to interview Ash for Alolan News. Are the reporters surrounding your house already? I bet that's why you stayed in hiding!"
Lana rolled her eyes at that. "Ash probably suffered a horrible injury and the Professor had to take him to a hospital", she suggested casually.
Lille gasped, covering her mouth with her palm.
"Don't say things like that, Lana!" Mallow scolded. "Ash's fine, right Professor?"
Everyone turned to stare at him expectantly. And Kukui, of course, had forgotten everything he'd planned to say.
"Uh, yeah", he stuttered, "He's fine, and… what are you even saying Sophocles? We were not hiding from reporters! Kiawe, he hasn't stopped coming to school because of his victory. Lana-" He gave her a firm look. "He did not suffer any injury."
They kept staring, and Kukui kept fidgeting.
"Then what's the deal?" asked Lana bluntly.
"Yeah, clearly something's going on", agreed Mallow, eyeing Kukui with suspicion.
Kiawe crossed his arms, and his glare was burning. "You are hiding something, Professor."
Kukui sighed, leaning against his desk. "It's… complicated. I know you are curious, and what I'm about to say will probably sound totally insane, but I need you to stay calm while I explain. Alright?"
"As long as you do explain, then fine", said Lillie, and everyone nodded along.
"Good." Slowly, Kukui breathed in, and out, and said, "We're not quite sure what happened exactly, but most likely it has something to do with Mew, and time travel. Brock explained to me- well, that's not important. But the point is… Ash's not entirely himself, right now."
Silence had fallen over the group, and he could see the confusion and concern rapidly forming on their faces.
"Not entirely himself?" repeated Kiawe slowly. "What do you mean?"
Kukui waved his hand around vaguely, struggling for words. "He… Do not freak out, but the situation is that he doesn't remember anything from the past couple of years. Not me, not you, nothing about Alola. But-"
They did freak out.
It took a while before Kukui got his voice heard again.
"I told you to stay calm!" he loudly exclaimed, effectively quieting down the class. "Ash is fine, Brock said he'll be fine. But temporarily, he'll be… a bit different. He's still Ash, and you'll see that he's not so far from the kid you know. But the thing you need to understand is that he will not recognize you. No matter how many times you ask, or how many inside jokes you tell him… he won't know you."
The students glanced worriedly at each other, suddenly very quiet.
"It'll be tough. Believe me, I know. But try not to push all your own negative emotions onto him. Be friendly and asks questions in moderation. Do not push. This is harder for him than it's for us, I promise you."
"We understand", said Mallow somberly.
Kukui made eye contact with all of them, lastly with a very serious Principal Oak, and asked, "You ready to meet him?"
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THEN - ?
It was so loud. The wind.
.
He was–
.
The sun caught his eyes, blinding him. Bright, bright, blindingly so.
.
He was falling.
Falling– falling–
Plunging through the sky, the roar of the wind an all-consuming noise in his ears, his eyes watering as he struggled to keep his body balanced – his fingers white around the edges of the container's base, squeezing tight.
He stared up, at the plane that was rapidly turning into a small dot above him.
It was terrifying,
nauseating, exhilarating.
He would've screamed (with triumph? with fear?), had all the breath not been stolen from his lungs. His brain was in overdrive, and all he could register was the brilliant sky stretching above him; wide, blue, endless–
Air caught the edge of platform and flipped him over. Kanto was down there, he thought, his home. Or… maybe they had reached another region already?
Whatever. It was quite pretty down there either way.
The ground was far away still. He gazed the horizon, admiring it. For a second, it was almost peaceful. Like flying, with no care in the world.
Free…
He looked back down.
The clouds had parted.
And he – well, he wasn't good at math or anything, but even he could calculate that it was only a matter of minutes, if not mere seconds, before he'd hit the ground.
His stomach flipped, and bile rose to his throat, and he thought about Pikachu.
Suddenly, he knew it – this was it.
He was gonna die.
But how could he die before saving Pikachu?
That didn't make any sense.
Hearing a shrill sound, he turned his head and… Further away, he could see that Swellow had caught Lucario, and the two pokemon were heading his way, panic in their eyes, in their frantic movements.
Ash! Ash!
It was Lucario's voice, drilling into his head through the overwhelming roar of the wind in his ears.
He couldn't answer. He could hardly form a coherent thought.
We will catch you!
Ash stared at them. Swellow dipped into a nosedive, its dark eyes determined, and Ash shook his head violently.
No no no–
"NO!" he gasped, frantic, as Swellow's claws brushed the fabric of his hoodie.
It wouldn't be strong enough, not with the added weight of the pedestal Ash was still holding against his chest, and Lucario sitting on its back. It was gonna get dragged down with him–
Swellow's claws wrapped tightly around his left upper arm, the sharp ends digging in and piercing his skin, but he hardly felt it. The pokemon fell with him for a moment before opening its wings and pulling up–
It was nowhere near enough.
Swellow screamed in pain as the sudden weight strained its wings, Ash screamed in pain as its claws dug deeper into his arm. Lucario was yelling with them, even its mental voice near incoherent.
Still, Swellow fought. It kept its wings open, a whine coming through its beak, swallowed by the rush of the wind. Ash was curled around the container base, teeth gritted, and eyes fixed on the rapidly approaching ground.
They wouldn't make it. They had slowed down minutely, thanks to Swellow's efforts, but they wouldn't make it.
"Let go! Let go, Swellow!" Ash shouted, near hysterical now. "Let go now!"
They were about to hit the ground. Maybe, just maybe Ash could call Swellow back just in time, and land under Lucario, softening its landing? But even that was a sketchy plan at best.
Aura! Ash, let's use our aura!
It took a moment for Lucario's words to register. It took another for him to realize how absurd they were.
"I can't!" he yelled. His throat was tight, and the words came out chocked. I don't know how to; I literally cannot–
The ground was right there. It was right there, they were gonna crash–
We can do it! I will help you!
They were over a pond. The water was glimmering in the sun, fresh and inviting, but Ash knew it'd be like landing on concrete.
"No I can't I can't–!"
Aura will protect us. Believe in it.
Lucario's soft paw touched Ash's neck, and he felt a jolt inside, like a shock of electricity, but warmer.
Who do you want to save?
Ash's chest constricted, and his eyes filled with tears, and he thought, Pikachu. You. Swellow. Mew.
The warmth expanded. He thought, I gotta be alive to help them.
Lucario's paw was burning hot against the base of his skull. Ash stared at their reflections on the dead calm surface of the pond, and he thought he could see a faint blue barrier forming around them.
He blinked, and they were underwater.
They weren't dead.
.
.
They separated in the water.
Ash struggled to swim up, the shock of the cold water flowing into his eyes and nose overwhelming him for a moment. Luckily, the pond wasn't deep, and he broke the surface after few frantic seconds, and he dragged himself to the shore and looked for the pokemon.
Swellow shot through the surface next and landed on the shore close by. Instantly, it fainted, into heap of wet, soggy, damaged feathers. Ash crawled next to it and dragged its head onto his lap. He brushed a hand along the long feathers on its head, smoothing them down.
"You did good", he murmured, bracing his trembling hand against its heaving chest. "So good. So good."
Lucario's head poked through the surface, and it looked at their direction. It swam up to them and Ash helped it climb up to the wild grass.
It slumped down, face to the ground, and shook in its place, an odd noise coming from its throat.
We did it, Ash…!
"Yeah."
Lucario turned its head and looked at him. And Ash realized what the sound had been.
Lucario was laughing.
Manic glint in its eyes, teeth bared, animalistic laugh. It rolled onto its back and howled, weakly clutching its stomach.
Ash stared at it for a moment before he started to laugh, too.
They were alive.
They were actually alive.
After all that. After all the ridiculous crap he'd pulled back there, and the skydive into nothingness, and aura…
It was painful to laugh. His stomach cramped, and the noise that came out of his mouth sounded like he was chocking, and he felt like he was about to pass out.
Tears came next, and he sat there and sobbed, and Lucario sobbed with him, curled against his side.
After that passed, he flopped onto the grass and stared up, puffy red eyes fixed on the slow-moving clouds.
The sky was still blue, and the birds were still singing, and the world hadn't stopped, not even for a second. He laid there, just breathing, until Swellow woke back up and poked him gently with its beak.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm alive", he grumbled softly, moving his arms to get up. But as he put down weight on his arms, his left one suddenly lit up with pure agony and he fell back down, groaning.
Swellow whined in a low voice, and Lucario sat up and peered down onto his arm, and Ash could see its eyes widening.
You are bleeding, Ash!
Ash laughed tiredly. "Yeah."
He glanced at his upper arm where Swellow had harshly grabbed him. The sleeve was shredded to pieces and his arm was torn with eight deep gashes, still steadily dripping blood. The grass under him was wet with it, and he stared with some interest as the rivulets traveled down the slope towards the pond.
Ah, we need to stop the bleeding, somehow! I- I don't know anything about medicine, Aaron never taught me–
"Just… calm down", Ash said, pushing himself up with just his right arm, this time successfully. He looked around for something helpful but saw nothing.
Yeah, they were in a forest. He knew that. Of course.
Where was Brock when he needed him?
He looked back down at his soaked jeans.
"Can you tear off my pant leg, Lucario?" he suggested then, feeling quite clever. "And wrap it tightly around my arm."
Lucario did so, and the pressure around the wounds felt relieving and uncomfortable at the same time. Ash tested the arm, moving it around in the air, and it hurt, and the fabric was instantly soaked through with blood, but it was a little bit better anyway.
He hoped.
That will only help us for a short time, observed Lucario. We need to get you to a healer.
"Healer?" asked Ash, "Don't you mean a poke center?"
Lucario cocked its head.
What is a poke center?
"You don't know?" blurted Ash, before remembering that Lucario was from a totally different time. "Eh, I mean, it's a place where you can get your pokemon healed after a battle, and usually you can sleep there for the night. And Nurse Joy always helps me when I've gotten hurt, too!"
He glanced at Swellow – it still looked nearly fainted and was gazing sadly at his wrapped arm. Ash petted its neck and it cooed softly, its head lowering in shame.
"You were so brave", he said to it. "We'd have never made it without you, you know? You slowed us down just enough, so we had time to…" He trailed off. He had no idea how to continue.
"You deserve a good rest", he said instead. He took out Swellow's poke ball, holding it between his fingers. "I'll find a poke center, and the next time you get out, you'll be as good as new, I promise!"
"Lloww", it whined, pressing its head down onto Ash's thigh, and Ash recalled it back into its poke ball.
Those things, said Lucario, its eyes fixed on the ball, where do they take us?
Ash laughed, startled. "Huh? You mean poke balls?"
Yes. Do they transport us somewhere? Because how could Swellow… How could any pokemon fit into a tiny thing like that?
Ash stared at Lucario, dumbfounded.
"I… I dunno, actually…"
They looked at each other, silently, for a moment. There was sincere concern in Lucario's eyes, and for some reason that amused Ash, so much that he nearly started giggling right there and then.
But then, Lucario grabbed his good arm and pulled him up, roughing him out of his stupor.
We need to go. We need to find shelter, and a heale- and a pokemon center. Quickly. You will not last much longer.
Ash staggered onto his feet, following blindly after Lucario as it headed for the tree line.
"It's just a scratch", he insisted, as the forest spun around him. Green, green, all around him. Beautiful. "I'm fine. I just gotta eat something, and sleep, and I'll be fine."
You are slurring your words. Come on.
"'M not", slurred Ash. "'M just fine."
Lucario pulled him along, its pace relentless. And if Ash stumbled and tripped over every small obstacle, that was just because Lucario was going too quickly.
"Slow down…"
Lucario glanced at him over its shoulder.
Did you say something?
"Can ya go… jus' a lil' bit slow'r…?"
Lucario was standing still now. It grabbed his shoulders, shaking him gently. Its paw pressed on one of the wounds, and tears prickled in the corners of Ash's eyes.
"Ow…"
Stay with me, Ash. Just a little bit longer.
The world spun faster, his vision narrowing into a pinprick of blue fur, before darkness overwhelmed him.
.
.
Awareness came to him in bits and pieces.
Someone was carrying him in their arms.
Had he fallen asleep training again?
Professor Kukui always carried him inside, onto the sofa when he did. He would warm up hot cocoa and make him something to eat before bed. Take care of his pokemon for him, and even fluff up his pillow sometimes.
He was so nice. Ash was so lucky to live with him...
.
.
He woke up just as he felt himself being laid down gently onto something.
Soft voices spoke over him, pokemon voices. Grovyle, and Lucario.
"Grov, grovy-le grov."
"Cari- ca, ca rica."
"Vyle, le- Grovyle."
It went on and on, and Ash was way too exhausted to try to understand them. Once he felt awake enough, he rubbed a hand across his face, cleaning up worst of the soot from his eyes and peeked through his heavy eyelids.
"Hey", he said, hoarsely. "What… happened?"
Both pokemon quieted down instantly and leaned over him, scrutinizing looks on their faces.
"Vyle…"
You passed out. As I knew you would.
Ash frowned. That snark was uncalled for.
Though he did pass out. Lucario wasn't wrong on that.
"Sorry", he grumbled, and his attempt to sit up was quickly stopped by Grovyle's heavy palm on his chest.
You need to stay still, ordered Lucario sternly. It turned to address Grovyle. Raise him up, just a fraction. Maybe he could rest against your legs.
Grovyle did as it was told, and soon Ash was halfway on its lap, blinking tiredly. Lucario brought an empty shell filled with water to his lips, letting him drink it down. The cold water was amazing for his parched throat and Ash felt a little less awful after that.
"Thanks, guys", he mumbled, and Grovyle let out a soft rumble from its chest.
He turned his head around carefully, noting his surroundings. They were in a cave of some sort, but light was still streaming through the entrance. His head felt muddy and his entire body sore, though the worst was his arm, throbbing painfully with each beat of his heart.
He looked at Lucario, brushing his still-moist hair away from his face, and asked, "Uh, how long was I out?"
Not for long, it replied, settling down to sit beside him. I was not able to carry you on my own, so I summoned Grovyle from the pokemon ball you had on your belt. Together we managed to get you into this nearby cavern.
"Oh… Okay."
He shivered, his cold and damp clothes sticking to his skin uncomfortably. There was something nagging him in the back of his mind, something important he was sure he'd forgotten. But his stomach was rumbling, and suddenly the most urgent thing on his mind was food.
"Did you see any berries around?" he asked eagerly. Then, he moaned, "Man, I'm so hungry I could eat a bewear!"
Lucario looked like it wanted to ask what a bewear was, before shaking its head.
No, it replied, but I sent your other pokemon companions to find us something to eat, and to look for a village or a healer. Corphish and Phanpy were their names.
Ash blinked at it incredulously. "H-hold on, you released all my pokemon while I was unconscious? And sent two off them into the forest alone?"
Lucario nodded, not looking the least apologetic.
They seemed perfectly capable of taking care of themselves.
"That's not the point!"
Do not worry so much, Ash. I am sure they will soon return with abundant amounts of food for us.
Ash shared a look with Grovyle, who whined quietly. They were not as sure.
Ash huffed, feeling helpless and frustrated with the situation. "Let me sit up", he ordered, in his best trainer voice. "I promise I'll be careful."
Grovyle eyed him suspiciously before allowing him to haul himself into a sitting position. He poked his injured arm with his finger, and for one responsible moment, wondered if he should maybe rip off his other pant leg and change the dirty binding over the wounds.
To be honest, he didn't really remember how these kinda things were meant to be treated.
Eh, it could probably wait.
"Right", he said then, "As soon as Phanpy and Corphish return, we gotta start moving and find a poke center. Swellow is really hurt, and you don't look too good either, Lucario."
It is not me you should be concerned about, Ash.
Ash shrugged lopsidedly. "Yeah, we also really gotta find a way to contact Brock and the others. I miss Pikachu so-"
He cut off suddenly, his stomach bottoming out.
Pikachu!
It was still petrified, and the only reason Ash had risked everything and stolen the container from J was to restore Pikachu with it.
He had fallen from the sky still holding it.
But where was it now? He looked around frantically, but it was nowhere in sight.
After all that, he had still lost it?
Somehow, Lucario understood the reason for his shock, and it placed a supporting paw on his good shoulder.
Pikachu is going to be okay. The container must still be in the bottom of that pond we fell into.
Ash's anxiety eased a little. That was true, it had to be in the pond. And the water hadn't been deep or that muddy, so they could probably find it easily enough. Maybe Corphish could do it.
Ash took a few deep breaths, calming himself down.
He stared at his shaking palms – at his blood-stained gloves and at his wrist with no Z-ring.
He set his jaw and balled his hands into fists.
They were still okay.
And they would save Mew, whatever it took.