"Back here again." Ash said, as the trio reached the outer areas of the Ruins of Alph. "So Schuyler thinks my powers can bring back your Dad?"
"Your powers have reacted previously with the Unown and the ruins, so maybe you can find a way to reopen a portal to their dimension." Molly admitted.
"It's worth a shot, but like I said, I don't even really know how my powers work." Ash said.
"Ash! And Casey! Molly said you two were coming, great to see you both again." Professor Elm said, walking up to the trio of trainers.
"Professor Elm, you're here too?" Ash asked.
"Of course, a mystery and research expedition as big as this on top of getting to work with Professor Oak in the field again is too much to pass up!" Professor Elm said. "Come on you're just in time for lunch!"
"Don't mind if I do." Ash said, rushing ahead.
A bit into lunch
"I have to say these are incredible captures you have." Professor Elm said, looking at Ash's Pokemon. "And this Totodile and Sudowoodo, they sure seem friendly and close."
"Not to mention these three, Houndour, Gligar, and an impressive Scyther, but what happened to Bulbasaur and that Wobbuffet you had?" Professor Oak asked.
"Tracey needed some help and asked for Bulbasaur while I was sending over Wobbuffet." Ash admitted.
"I see, well I'm sure they're enjoying their time at the lab right now." Professor Oak commented.
"Pi?" Pikachu said, his ears perking up as he finished his food.
"What is it Pikachu?" Ash asked.
"Pika Pi!" Pikachu exclaimed running into the ruins.
"Pikachu come back here!" Ash called out.
"Ash, you can't just run in there!" Molly shouted, trying to chase after him but in a flash of light they were gone. "Ash…"
In the Unown Dimension
"Wh-where am I?" Ash asked, trying to look around.
"We warned you! We told you of the masked man, and of his plans, and now he has grown more powerful!" The Unown shouted.
"I didn't know, and you were hurting people! I had to stop you!" Ash argued.
"And now he is one step closer to fulfilling his goal!" The Unown scolded.
"Look I didn't come here to be told what I've apparently done wrong, you've taken people and I want them back!" Ash argued.
"Because of your foolish actions, the Masked Man got a shard of the Eternal Ice! Now he has access to our powers!" The Unown yelled.
"The Eternal Ice? What is that?" Ash asked.
"THIS!" The Unown shouted, the crystals forming around Ash and Pikachu.
"Hey, you created the crystals, not me!" Ash countered. "You were causing more problems than you were fixing! And why is this all my fault right now? I never asked for this!"
"You went back and interfered with his plans!" The Unown said. "You led him to us and then left!"
"I haven't brought anyone here wearing a mask!" Ash countered.
"You did, back in the past!" The Unown yelled.
"I'm telling you, I wasn't here, I was in the Ilex Forest, and sure I might have shown him then, but that was forever ago!" Ash re countered.
"We told you, your power is scattered through time, you will bring him here in your future!" The Unown yelled.
"Wait, you're not angry at me, you've been warning me." Ash realized. "The Masked Man is still alive in the present, and I have to take care of it, or I will have, had taken care of it?"
"OF COURSE WE HAVE!" The Unown shouted.
"Then why the palace, why take Molly's father?" Ash questioned.
"Our power is not ours alone, our intentions were to bring you here, and we needed someone close to you." The Unown said.
"What about the woman? Who is she?!" Ash asked.
"She was an unintentional hostage." The Unown admitted. "However we could not free her without freeing the doctor as well."
"So you'll free them now that I'm here?" Ash asked.
"They have already been freed." The Unown assured.
"Okay, so you need me to fulfill my future self's actions in the past and stop the Masked Man?" Ash asked in confusion.
"Yes, that is correct, he cannot obtain the power he is looking for." The Unown said.
"What power, and who is he?!" Ash questioned. "If this has already happened, you have to know what I need to do!"
"We are not aware of it, only that you and one other hold the keys to obtaining that power." The Unown informed.
"So I bring him here sometime in my future but your past, and its because of the trip that he gets closer to having this strange power and the only way to stop him is with some keys that I along with one other have, but you don't know who they are or where they are for either of these people." Ash said.
"That is correct." The Unown collective informed.
"Now I'm more confused than ever! Can you tell me anything useful?!" Ash exclaimed.
"You must save the beings trapped in Ekruteak." The Unown said. "You will never catch the Masked Man without their help."
"Okay, send us back." Ash said.
"We have not angered you this time." The Unown said.
"I never said you did, but I'm sure people are going crazy in worry about me not coming back yet, and if I'm going to stop the Masked Man I'm going to need to get out of here and find him." Ash pointed out.
"Very well, good luck Ash and Pikachu." The Unown said, releasing them from their dimension.
Back in the real world
"Ash!" Casey exclaimed, catching him as he fell backwards out of the ruins.
"What, how long have I been gone?" Ash asked.
"A couple of hours, where did you go?" Molly asked.
"The Unown Dimension, they wanted to speak with me. How's your dad and that lady?" Ash asked.
"They're fine, but it would've been nice to inform me you were dating!" Molly said, staring daggers at her father.
"Ash, are you alright, what did the Unown want with you?" Professor Oak asked, as his Pokemon gathered around.
"The Masked Man, the one I fought in the Ilex Forest, our fight isn't over for me." Ash said, sitting up.
"Hmm, I see." Professor Oak said curiously.
"What is it?" Ash asked.
"Nothing, just an old researchers musings." Professor Oak said. "Ash, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind lending me Gligar for while I return to Kanto, just for some added protection."
"You want Gligar for that?" Casey questioned.
"It's a rare species and I'd like to learn more about him in the meantime as well, if it's alright with you of course." Professor Oak said.
"Yeah, uhh hold on." Ash said, pushing himself onto his feet. "Here's his Pokeball, we'll call when we're in Ekruteak."
"Ash, you just disappeared into another dimension, are you sure you should be looking to get moving so quickly?" Molly asked.
"Yeah, there's some beings trapped there, and we need to free them." Ash said with confidence. "Apparently, the world depends on it."
Ash's Current Team and their Moves
Pikachu: Thunderbolt - Quick Attack - Thunder Punch - Agility
Houndour: Ember - Bite - Smog - Headbutt
Totodile: Water Gun - Bite - Rain Dance - Scratch
Scyther: Fury Cutter
Sudowoodo: Flail - Mimic - Rock Throw
In Training
Charizard: Flamethrower - Fire Spin - Dragon Rage - Seismic Toss
Squirtle: Water Gun - Withdraw - Skull Bash - Hydro Pump
At Oak's Lab
Bulbasaur: Vine Whip - Razor Leaf - Solar Beam - Leech Seed
Kingler: Bubblebeam - Stomp - Hyper Beam - Crabhammer
Muk: Body Slam - Sludge Bomb
Tauros x29: Take Down - Horn Attack - Fissure - Double Team
Snorlax: Mega Punch - Mega Kick - Body Slam - Hyper Beam
Gligar: Poison Sting - Sand Attack - Double Team - Wing Attack
Wobbuffet: Counter - Mirror Coat - Safeguard - Destiny Bond