Ashes in May Ch. 30 Time 1: Great Fossil Rush
Listen up and listen well. In this fanfic for this chapter. Past Jessie and James are 17. YES, 17, GET OVER IT. Okay, plus it makes things easier, because boi, honestly imagine 25-year-olds following a 10-year-old, honestly, it sounds more rape-y and creepy. So yeah, meaning that in the present time, they are 25 years old while Ash is 18 years old.
Outside of the Team Rocket forest headquarters the trio and their Pokémon waited for Meowth to come out. When the normal type did step out, Gary suggested returning to the Professor's house so he could pack for his trip to Sinnoh while Meowth agreed as he wanted to talk with Professor Kukui and Burnet. Ash on the other hand quickly interrupted saying that they would sightsee the Ruins of Conflict and that Meowth could talk to his parents later. Rotom was most excited wanting to document more information on the legendary pokemon.
Gary tried to argue with that as he was going to leave Alola the next day so he needed to pack. Ash shook his head in disagreement then moved to push Gary away from the beach house and up the hill towards Iki town. Gary shot a sharp look at the other boy but only got a pleading look in return. The redhead growled in frustration while crossing his arms over his chest begrudgingly letting himself be pushed/dragged through the forest, "Fine but if you make me trip, there will be hell to pay!"
Ash chuckled turning his head to May with a wink. May moved to place a peck to the ravenetts cheek before going on a head while laughing, "I'll race ya'll there!"
So, our fantastic trio hiked their way towards Iki town in order to sightsee the ancient ruins of conflict at the highest point on Melemele. However, something more intriguing arose veering them off the beaten path and deep into the jungle. Sure, did Ash jump at the chance for a distraction? Sure? Should he put off the conversation about their fight? No. Was he going to anyway? Yes. Hey, don't judge him. Thankfully, Rotom Dex provided lots of commentaries to help ease the stiff air between the pals; Meowth found Rotom Dex rather annoying telling it multiple time to shut up but was ignored by the ghost type. "Deez twerps ah gonna kill me," Meowth groan following a few steps behind the group. The electric type starter only looked back to the the other pokemon with laughter.
…
"Revi!" cried a little green onion Pokemon as it flew through the forest. A bright smile upon its face as it looked back every so often making sure it was being followed. "Vree, heehee," it giggled when the group came into view. The small grass type waved at them before continuing on its way leading them through the forest. The day was a bright and sunny day with life just teeming with energy. A cool breeze blew up from the sea to shake the trees and rustle their leaves. Many small forest Pokemon looked at the psychic type with confusion as Celebi laughed its way through the forest with a couple of trainers following them. Footsteps became louder and as a blur, the trainers ran past the small forest Pokemon. Cocking their heads they watch them all disappear in the distance.
"Look, there it goes!" May called out pointing in the direction the mythical Pokemon flew in. "Yeah, it's faster than I thought!" Gary exclaimed, running alongside the brunette. Ash looked determined charging through the forest as if it was nothing. "Pikapi Chuuu!" Pikachu announced as they reached a certain clearing. Suffice it to say, that while Gary was fit and shredded there was no beating Ash when it came to his marathon typed stamina. He knew May was similar to Ash, I mean look at those long-toned legs of hers!
Still, her exhaustion would be excused due to her long recovery. Upon entering the clearing, they all looked up in awe at what they saw. Well, May and Gary did only after a while of laying face down on the ground practically dead to the world. "You guys gotta work out more!" teased the young man while Meowth and Pikachu chuckled alongside him. Meowth had been smart enough to catch a ride on Ash's back by digging his claws into the young man's backpack and as for Manaphy, it had been placed back in its pokeballs. Listen, while Manaphy didn't way all that much, three pounds was three pounds. (1.4kg)
Instantly two heads shot up with potent glares, "Shut up, Ash!" Yep, they harmonized in their anger, oh the bond they shared, and their mutual annoyance towards the raven-haired teen. Thankfully with no more than a few grunts from Gary and a few choice words from the young lady they all were up and looked at the sight in the center of the clearing.
Before them were the remains of a large Trevenant covered in vines and moss. The bark looked worn and weathers and chips and crack clearly visible. Rotom Dee quickly pulled up the dex entry for the resting pokemon.
Trevanant, the Elder Tree Pokemon, in the evolved form of Phantump
This Pokemon is said to devour anyone daring to ravage the forest to the creatures dwelling in the forest it offers great kindness. Lumberjacks bring along Fire types when they enter the forest with Trevenant in them.
"Woah, I didn't expect to see this," the young girl said gazing up at the tree bark. Ash nodded, "Actually, this was a Trevenant that was once a Totem Pokemon back when my dad was little." Gary looked from Ash to the tree surprised, "Incredible, in the past this Pokemon must have been revered for its imposing stature." "I'm sure it was," May added thoughtfully wondering what it might have once been like, "Now more like a fossil, since it's all that's left." "I guess you could say that, haha," Gary snorted. "Rrevi!" came a soft voice catching them all to direct their eyes to the top of the Trevenant's head.
While they all conversed about the dead pokemon Meowth noticed a small golden ring fade into existence a few inches above the late Trevenant's head. He quickly got everyone's attention to it as they watched the light materialize into a golden ring which enlarged to about Pikachu's size.
Ash was obviously surprised at what he was seeing, but thinking about it he had a pretty good feeling that the ring was one of Hoopa's rings! You know the rings that created portals to other locations and even other dimensions! He questioned out loud if Hoopa was going to appear like Celebi and that definitely caught Gary's undivided attention and his professor sense was tingling. He was a researcher who specialized in ancient and/or mythical pokemon. Rotom was in a similar state wanting to get first hand documentation on a pokemon that to be a 'myth'; Meowth just rolled his eyes at it.
The ring began to glow and from within its circumference a crystalline blue colored portal generated and for a split second it flickered yet went unnoticed by everyone. From the open portal a small creature popped out of the glowing blue portal was none other than Celebi who plopped down atop Trevenont's wooden head. There, sitting atop the dead Trevenant's head was none other than the grass type of time itself. Dialga's onion child. "Ah, it Celebi!" "Pikachuuu!" both trainer and Pokemon look on in awe. Rotom jumping into action taking as many pictures as possible. How was that even possible?! Celebi, who they had just been chasing through the forest, you know, in person suddenly comes out of Hoopa's portal as if it had not been there moments ago. Gary had tried to think of a logical explanation but was interrupted when Celebi swooped down to Gary's face and placed its hands on his cheeks.
?
"Huh." was all the young adult could say. Alright, that wasn't the most eloquent response he'd ever given but he'd dare anyone who would react to a legendary psychic onion coming up to their face and cupping their face in it's hands. Oh yeah he could hear it now. 'Oh good heavens me, Celebi, my dear, why have you taken my face with your tiny little hands.'
Anyways, the time traveler looked across the man's face before nodding, though Gary felt it was nodding because it was confirming something for itself. Then just as it had done so it zipped over to May doing the exact same thing, and even though they were all curious as to what was going on, Gary thought May looked cute with her cheeks squished like that. Apparently, his best friend thought so too as he took out his phone to snap a pic.
When Celebi was done examining her gentle features it nodded the same as before. Descending down to her waist the psychic pokemon tapped at one of May's pokeballs. The girl tilted her head in confusion before recognizing the ball it had tapped. The ball in question was the white capsule with a vivid red that was painted around the equator of it and the release button. "Oh, you mean Manaphy? Do you want me to call it out?" the girl questioned, already doing the motions while Celebi simply nodded.
So, with the usual flash of sparkling blue an equally blue sea prince appeared. "Maana?" it called looking up at May who held it in her arms then at Celebi with curiosity. Celebi giggled shaking its head proceeding to pat its head as if to say. "Hello, little one, it's nice to meet you." Now, just because they're both mythicals doesn't mean they actually know each other, after all there are multiples of their kind. Usually, only the elders of their kind all know each other like Lugia had mentioned. Regardless, Celebi had a brief conversation with the water type ending with the sea faring pokemon feeling elated. The contents of said convo. would be later told to Ash via pika-translation.
What happened next was unexpected; they watch the time-onion waved at the still floating Hoopa ring and motion to it like when you wave to a friend to come over. Of course, to no one's surprise at this point, the ring followed the instructions, it deactivated momentarily and zoomed down to the group, downsizing as it set itself upon the coordinator's wrist like bracelet. May gasped in fright and understandably so tried to desperately remove the unusual piece of jewelry. Ash being the ever loving friend he jumped into action embracing her until her panic calmed. Once calmed the boys tried to pull the ring off her but to know avail.
Unbeknownst to them, Celebi zipped into the air releasing a celestial green glow and filling the air with energy, moments later the sound of bells rang through the forest. Ash, Pikachu, and May watched wide-eyed as they had seen this before, Celebi was about to time jump. However, what they didn't expect was for Celebi to swoop in close to them allowing for them to be enveloped in the immense emanating light. This caused them all to gasp and rapidly shield their eyes. "Hello, Ash!? May!? Gary!? Pikachuuuu!? Where did you go?!" Rotom yelled frantically, "This is ZZttzz JUST LIKE LAST TIME!" "Well, dat happened…"Meowth grumbled, "Great now I'm stuck with yous! Why didn't ya take me with ya?!"
…
Bells rung from somewhere and the light surrounding them forces them to keep their eyes shut. By the time the sounds and light faded and their eyes could adjust to natural sunlight the were still in the clearing with the massive Trevenant, those it looked less worn and there was much less moss and vines on it then moments ago. Ash looked around but didn't see Rotom Dex or Meowth, and everything around looked relatively the same sound he wasn't sure they went through time forward or back. Of course he knew Celebi was time traveling but did it bring them along too, and why? He didn't get to think much on it because when he heard May scream he literally turned his attention to her.
When his sights set on her he saw that Hoopa's ring had removed itself of May's wrist where it then grow larger in size, large enough for a human to get through…wait. "Wait, May step back!" Ash called out his feet moving towards her. May only managed a surprise looked at Ash before the ring had swallowed her up.
The young pokemon professor called out her watching how the gold ring had spun much like a spinning coin and as it spun around it took May with it, or through it? Though, before he could think on what he had just seen, the ring had come to him and next thing he knew he was fazing through the portal as well. "Ash don't get left behind…" He wasn't sure where he'd end up in but it was better they all sticked together then get separated. Then again how was he supposed to even know if this portal would lead to the same place May was sent or he was being sent. He'll heard of the myths surrounding Hoopa, it was a trickster after all.
Next thing May knew, she was definitely not in the forest anymore and sadly before she could get her barings she felt a large body bump into her from behind, and she had almost toppled over if not for said body wrapping arms around her. One arm wrapped around her waits while the other around her chest, she was been caught but not pulled back leaving her leaned over facing the ground below. "Sorry, May, give me a sec. I need to adjust my footing before I pull you up or we'll both fall," the taller of the two mention. May only nodded taking a breath and looked down at Manaphy in her arms and asked if it if he was alright. Giggling the water type nodded much to May's relief.
As soon as May was pulled up and had stepped away from her best friends the portal flashed and in came Ash and Pikachu slamming head first into Gary's unsuspecting back causing them both to hit the ground with a thumpth. May sweatdropped noting that Ash must have literally nose dived into the portal after them. Granted the sight of the two before her had her bursting into laughter as how Ash landed face first onto Gray's ass.
"Hey, Ashyboy get the hell off my ass ya perv!"
Ash lifted his head shaking his head while sitting up and when he looked up he saw May giggling.
"What?
"Ash, did you enjoy your landing? Did it feel like pillows or a brick wall?" the young woman asked trying not to smort.
Ash looked confused for a moment before speaking, "I guess it felt like a fell on both, soft enough not to hurt but firm enough not to break on me. Not a bad landing. Why?"
May snorted a few time trying and failing to hold her laugh while pointing down. So he followed her signal and found that he was sitting on Gary Oak's legs and his hand on either cheek of the man's ass. Oh no. So that that what Ash had felt his face land on was his best friends ass!
His eyes immediately darted to the other boy's face and Ash jumped off him, a flush quickly raising on his cheeks. Cheeks, oh my gawd! Ash tried to play it cool and act like it was a simple mistake and all, which it was but still. The other man in question simple stood, dusted rust colorred dirt of his designer clothing looking nonchalant, however the light dusting of pink on his cheeks gave it all way to May.
"Ehem, so baring some peoples need to grope as my alluring assets, because I understand its just that great," Gary started knowing his butt was in fact in great shape and attacted many's attention, "Let focus on where and when we are?" While the taller of the three turned away from the three May rolled her eye with slight annoyance as this ego, also the fact that he tented to shift into his professional speaking voice when ever her wanted to avoid something or wanted to high his emotions. The conversation from earlier about need to leave and return to work was a prime example of them. Not to mention what she thought may have been a jab at her. Something, she need to talk to him about, among other things.
For now though they in fact weren't even on Melemele island anymore. "Where are we?" the coordinator questioned looking around finding herself with her friends in a rather arid location where the rocks and ground have an orange and brown hue. Ash rose his head bring a hand to shade his eyes from the strong sunlight to scout the area, surveying the area to see that they were surrounded by large cliffs and up above them a clear dry sky. Ash knew this place was familiar but couldn't remember where they were exactly, "I have no clue where we are because the only place that comes to mind is Vast Poni Canyon, but the colors are off, so this isn't that."
Gary scrunch his eyebrows crossing his arms, yes, this place was familiar, but why? Pikachu hopped off Ash's shoulder thinking that it might be good to give a look around.
The humans were smart but Pokemon had more of a sixth sense for the unknown so he did some looking around himself. He looked up clearly noticing the high cliffs then he looked down noticing that all four of them were very much on a cliff ledge as he looked down, he noticed something that made Pikachu's jaw drop. Quickly, he called over his trainer and friends to look over the ledge. Now they were not all that high up but definitely just out of view. When the trio of friends looked over their own jaws dropped to the ground. "Huuuuh?!" they all exclaimed with utter astonishment before slapping their hands over their mouths. "There's no way!" May yelled into her hands. "I can't believe it," Ash said muffled by his hands, "Pikachu this is insane." Pikachu nodded in agreement.
Gary turned to his friends and bopped his fist into his palm like a judge's gavel whispering, "That's it! We're in Grampa Canyon. Celebi brought us 8 years back in time and Hoopa brought us from Alola to Kanto. During the Great Fossil Rush, many people had found numerous amounts of very valuable fossils in the canyon. Some rich people were even offering thousands of dollars to anyone who found a rare fossil." Before Ash or May could say anything, they heard a rather loud and well known voice.
"Don't you know anything?!"
There in all his younger self glory, stood Gary Oak dressed handsomely in an adventurer's outfit with a cowboy hat and a large pickax.
"Ash, not only late as usual but clueless too," spoked the younger boy with such arrogance in his voice it made the older redhead boy wince and feel rather embarrassed of himself.
That was when a younger version of Ash replied looking surprised to see Gary. "Hey, it's Gary. Uh, why are you dressed like that?" the young trainer asked confused.
Gary rose his hand nonchalantly, "Huh. Don't tell me you never heard about the Pokemon discovery. Even a nerd like you should have heard about The Great Fossil Rush going on."
"The Great Fossil Rush?" the trio replied. May looked upon the group noticing that not only were Ash and Gary present, Misty and Brock were there too, albeit looking a lot younger too. The next thing they hear got Pikachu, May, and Ash all to sweatdrop, while Gary turned uncharacteristically red, shy, and wanted nothing more than to be put out of his misery.
"Gary, Gary, he's our man! If he can't find em' no one can!" "Thank you. Thank you to all my loyal fans." The young brown-haired boy said before gaining a determined look, "I gotta go. I got to find all the fossils quick before anyone else does."
The young Pokemon trainer side glanced at Ash with a smirk as he goaded the boy on, "Can't waste my precious time hanging around with a loser like you."
Ash growled and moved to punch his rival only to be held back by his friends, "Loser!?" "Easy!" "Ash!" Ash shook Misty and Brock off him feeling himself riled up, "That know-it-all. Ah! I'm going to find a Pokemon fossil before Gary even starts digging. That'll show him who the real loser is."
Atop the ledge, Ash and May looked at Gray with puckered lips and eyebrows raised. Gary looked at May and Ash with a desperate desire to be buried alive. "Damn, Gary, you were a jerk," May said bluntly. Ash was happy their young selves were out of range because he burst out laughing with Pikachu right next to him doing the same. May, also couldn't help but place a hand over her mouth trying to suppress a laugh, "It's okay. We know the real you. You'll grow out of it and grow into the Gary we both love. You know…Gary, Gary, he's the man, character development is his plan!"
By now Pikachu and Ash are wheezing while holding their guts from the pain of absolute laughter! Gary on the other hand clenched his fist turning as red as his Scizor's exoskeleton.
Gary pouted before sighing in defeat, "Yeah, though, I can't help the feeling of wanting to smack my younger self upside the head." Ash catching his breath came up to Gary placing a hand on his shoulder with a laugh, "You and me both, Gary." "Haha, laugh it up. Come on, we need to find Celebi," Gary said taking both May's hand and Ash's leading them toward the main dig site. As they made their way through the canyon, they discussed what they need to do. The first thing was finding Celebi, of course, however, there was one thing that had them stumped. How the hell were they supposed to find Celebi when it was a Pokemon who only showed itself wherever there was plant life.
They were in the middle of a very dry canyon with little to no vibrant plant life. Sure, there were plants around and all but not to the point you could call it a garden, you know. "So, Gary who were those giiirls? They seemed to be very, er, energetic," May said looking up at the tallest of the trio. Sweatdropping the brown-haired boy replied, "They were these girls that my granduncle hired to follow me around my Kanto journey. At the time I love the idea because I got to hang out with older girls, though they were like fourteen at the time so not much older than me."
"Wait, really?" Ash asked snapping his head to look slightly up at Gary, "I thought there were actually your girlfriends? Or something more…umff…like that." Gary stopped for a moment blushing at the thought, then looking away, "…about that…" Both Ash and May let go of Gary's hands turning to look at the professor with shock. May had a blank face, "So, the only one who was a virgin when we met up was Ash!" "Hey!" "I knew Gary was too handsome and suave a guy not to have had sex before at least twice." "Well, I never said I was a virgin. Just between us that conversation never came up, so yeah…" Gary said as a matter of fact, "Though I lost my virginity later on when I vacationed on Cinnabar Island." He could remember it clearly, funnily enough, he did see Ash and his friends on the island on said day.
"So, Gary you lost it to one of them. Dude, which of them did you do it with?" Ash asked. "All of them." Ash stopped, blinked, then fell to the ground. While May may not have liked knowing Gary's first was literally with a bunch of girls, She had to admitto herself she was impressed. "So, Ash really is the only one of Us with no experience," she teased with a cheesy grin. "Welp, leave it to Gary," Ash groaned from the ground and grumbled something along the lines of, "I've done sexy stuff before with...Mallow, Go, and Lily…" and, "Stupid, Mister 'I can get into anyone's pants'!" Both human barely made out mentions to Go and Mallow, and very subtle spike of jealously may or may not appeared.
Gary rose an eyebrow glancing at May who shrugged then at Ash with a devious grin, "You'd be surprised Ash, there are a few people who I haven't gotten the chance to get into their pants. At least not yet." The handsome brunette oh so smoothly licked at his upper lip and winked at Ash and May individually. So, just so you know this didn't happen, nope, it was not true that hearing the tone of voice had both trainer and coordinator feeling their heart flutter. Both told themselves they just felt annoyed by Gary's confidence.
In an effort to just keep moving the future children continued on their way trying to see if they could maybe get a ride back to a town or something. They had just made their way to the bottom of the canyon only to see a ball of people and Pokemon rolling down the fricking mountain trail. All four then proceeded to slap their forehead in frustration, right there, were the past versions of Ash, Pikachu, Team Rocket, and their Pokemon. Ash then did a double take with terror clearly on his face that his faithful partner shared making both Gary and May get nervous. "What's wrong? A-Ash…" May whispered feeling her voice shake.
Ash and Pikachu only pointed at the past Pikachu then at the stacks of dynamite and shouted, "It's too late!" The tallest and shortest of the three both turned following Ash's finger only to feel their stomachs sink. Not more than a total of 10 minutes in the past and they get into a heap of trouble. "Shit!" "We're dead…" "Yup!" "Pika!" They exclaimed watching the powerful electric attack hit the dynamite. It was useless to try and run, the ground underneath their feet would give-way before they could make it to safety.
Boom!
"Ahhh!" "Pi kaaaa!" "Why does this always happen to uuuuuusssss!" Gary yelled, feeling the ground beneath his feet. Ash looked around to see that those of the past also were falling in midair alongside them. Thinking quickly Ash and Gary instantly reached for May as did Pikachu. Both boys took hold of her bracing themselves for the impact; Pikachu quickly covered her belly with his small body in an effort to protect her from getting damaged inside. "This is gonna hurt!" Ash said as the bottom of the cave came into view.
Bam!
"Uhh…." came groans from everyone as they slowly became aware of their surroundings. The sounds of dripping water echoed through the caverns and a soft ominous sound hummed through the caves. James rose his head up from the ground asking where they were looking around at the barely visible cave around them. "Looks like we got blown all the way to the moon?" Jessie commented followed by Meowth, "Or down to the center of the eoith. (Earth)."
"Dis is a cave. The dynamite must have blown da roof and we fell ins. We must be buried deep under the eoith's curst."
Both Jessie and James shot up in terror, "BURIED?!"
"This is all your fault, you twerp!" Jessi hissed with venom.
James followed quickly after, "If you hadn't tried to put out that fuse, we would never have fallen down here!"
Ash stood up looking just as angry, "You're the crooks who planted all that dynamite up there-"
"Are you okay?" "Do you feel any pain?" Pika pi chuu?" Ash, Gary, and Pikachu all asked May helping her up from the ground. All three boys were very concerned for May's wellbeing. Ash gently pulled her to him and placing a hand to her cheek, "You sure you don't feel anything broken." Leaning into the warm palm, a reassuring smile on her face, "Nothing's broken though, thanks, guys. Thank you to Pikachu, you kept my healing belly safe!" "Pika!" the yellow mouse cheered. Turning from the Ash to Gray with a wink, "The stress will come and bite me in my sweet ass later, that's for sure!" Gary looked away snorting at her use of ass considering the whole situation not 20mins prior. She didn't really curse much but Arceaus was is funny when she did to play something off.
By this point All of Team Rocket, their Pokemon included, Ash, and Pikachu had stopped arguing and brought their attention to the unknown teens that had apparently fallen into this hole with them. They all quickly deduced that these teens were probably about the same age as Jessie or James. One thing that was clear to the group was that the teens were in their own little bubble. "Are you sure, that was a big fall?" the teen Ash asked, holding her hand securely, "Do you need some healing?" "He's right. What if you hurt yourself badly?" Gary commented in full agreement. May rolled her eyes; both of them were sweet and she loved how much they care, really, she did. The thing was that she wasn't out of commission just healing from her…accident.
"Guys, I'm 100% fine. I'm recovering from abdominal surgery, I'm not crippled." Team Rocket, Ash, and Pikachu all looked on with wide eyes. They had fallen into a hole with strangers where one of them was an injured girl. May shot her friends a sharp look making them shrink into a sheepish state. "I know you're worried and so would I, if you three hadn't taken action to protect me. I literally landed atop of you Ash and the subsequent rolling we did, I might as well have cush Gary and Pikachu with my fat ass." "Hot ass," Gary sait pointedly earning a grin from Ash. Ey, he wasn't wrong.
The brunette's sapphire eyes narrowed at the two men quickly stopping their teasing. "Anyways, I should be asking you if you feel hurt. You took the brunt during the landing, so thank you to the both of you," May said sweetly then took Pikachu from Ash's shoulder pulling him closed, "And thank you again, Pikachu for protecting my belly." Pikachu smiled brightly burying his face into her hair and neck, "Chaaa, pikapika!" Fine, the boys simultaneously dropped the topic content May was fine, though with that being said it gave them the time to process where they were again.
It was at this moment that Gary remembered where they were and more importantly who they were with. Teen Ash turned to the younger kids waving mareepishly at them, "Hi, there. Looks like we're stuck down here with you guys too." Gary, however, didn't wave, instead he sent them a dark glare making team rockets, Ash and Pikachu get closer to each other in fear. The young man stood at his full height, back straight, chest out, and fist clenched making himself look mighty intimidating.
"Who the hell had the bright idea to put dynamite in a heavily populated area!" Gary shouted, holding up his fist as Magmar hot flames flared up behind him, much to the rest's terror. Jessie and James hugged each other in cowardess, while Meowth, Weezing, and Arboc hid behind the two trainers. As for younger Ash and Pikachu, they inched away slightly trembling at the fact that a very tall and obviously buff teen was leering at them with a look that spelled out, 'Whoever did it will die an agonizing death.'
This of course was quickly interrupted by a certain teen black-haired boy who hooked his arms under Gary's arms to hold him back. Electric blue shone in his eyes briefly as teen Ash channeled some of his aura into Gary to calm him, "Easy, there Gar-er, buddy, murder doesn't look good on a Pokemon Professor's resume." "She could have been hurt because of their stupid….(Inhales). Fine. You're right. I shouldn't kill them yet, I'll hold off on that only because you talked me down, my job title be damned." Ash sweatdropped, nodding then releasing Gary from his hold. The younger versions Team R. and young Ash felt shivers when Gary said that. This teen was willing to kill them even though it could cost him his title but stopped just because his friend told him to instead. "This guy is intense," K-Ash whispered softly to his Pikachu who nodded in agreeance. (A/N: K-Ash = kid Ash, as it is too annoying to write every time).
Ash then stepped forward and used his arm to showcase his friends, "Since, we're all stuck here let me introduce us. I'm Tom Ayto. This is my friend Pret Zles and Peper Mintz. In Peper's arms is my buddy, Pikachu!" "Pikachu," the small rodent replied, waving with a sweatdrop. Similarly, Gary and May sheepishly waved wondering where the hell Ash had come up with such ridiculous names. There was no way Team R. and K-Ash were going to believe their names are actually Tom Ayto, Peper Mintz, and Pret Zles. "Mhmm, well it's nice to meetcha!" Meowth replied with a smile. "Yes, Ms. Peper, I do hope you're alright?" James spoke next followed by Jessie who, well, she may have lost it.
Jessie being a 17-year-old girl was not immune to the ways of attraction so when she got a close look at the older boys, she couldn't help but notice just how attractive they both were. "Oh, my, Tom, Pret, aren't you both quite dreamy and handsome!" Jessie declared coming right up to the two boys who flinched away from her advance. Ash looked at Gary for help and saw that Gary was feeling a large sense of deja vu. Neither one of them knew how to get out of this, feeling their skin crawl when Jessie pulled their arms into her chest. The heart-eyed Jessie looked at the cute boys licking her lips, "My name is Jessie, would you please help a humble damsel in distress? I'm sure strong men like you could help me get out of this dreary dingy cavern."
Once more Gary and Ash shivered when Jessie began to squeeze their biceps, hearing an impressed hum coming from her. "Hey, um Jessie was it..." Ash began before he and Gary rapidly pulled their arms out of her grasp and took a few quick steps back, "We should all try to look for a way out. Um, why don't we start by getting some light in here?" Gary remained silent nodding trying his best not to be disturbed. Jessie pout yet agreed since it was way too dark to see past a few meters. May then asked if Gary could have Umbreon use it's Flash and give them a bit of light. Doing so he pulled out his eeveelution's ball releasing it. A brief flash lit up the cavern as the Pokemon materialized and that was all it took for Ash to tense and his eyes narrowed as he remembered one very crucial detail about this specific day. With the light coming from Umbreon's various rings Ash saw the illuminated figures in the corner of his eyes. "BBriii Umb!" it said happily letting light shine from its many rings. Light filled the cave allowing for everyone to see clearly. "Woah, what's that Pokemon?" K-Ash asked pulling out Dexter. "No data. Found."
"You guys got to see this!" Ash called out to bring everyone's sights in the direction Ash was looking and finding many fossil Pokemon. Before them were very angry-looking Pokemon not unknown to the future children, these were living fossil Pokemon! The younger kids are terrified by these unknown Pokemon. "I don't think we're hear alone!" Jessie exclaimed hugging James. K-Ash pulled out his Pokedex which scanned the Pokemon.
"Omanyte, Omastar, Kabuto, and Kabutops. It is believed that these Pokemon became extinct tens of thousands of years ago. The details of their behavior is shrouded in mystery. Though some speculate that they may still exist, none have ever been seen alive."
The brunette quickly noted that they had probably been asleep only to be rudely awakened but the dynamite blast. "Some alarm clock," retorted Meowth. "Okay, let's stay calm. They haven't ever seen humans or modern Pokemon, except for maybe Arboc since serpents have been around for millions of years," Gary said with a steady voice, "Because of that they will react to the slightest of movement and take it as a threat-" "Let's just catch them already," Jessie yelled throwing a few empty pokeballs. "Yeah, dat way we can become the rich owners of a Poke-fossil theme park," Meowth exclaimed with its paws up.
May audibly smacked her forehead while Umbreon shook its head disappointedly. She groaned having forgotten that this Team Rocket was even more ridiculous than their future counterparts. Of course, the fossil Pokemon took this as a deliberate attack, quickly deflecting the balls back at Team Rocket's faces while coming in for the attack themselves. Ash turned to his younger self with a grin, "So, do you want your shot at battling a never before seen fossil Pokemon?" Gary came up grabbing Ash whispering, "Are you insane?" It was too late though as K-Ash called out Charmeleon…who promptly ignored its trainer and laid down to nap. "It still won't obey me," K-Ash cried, very disappointed, "Fine then. Pikachu let em' feel your electric shock!" "Pikachuuu!"
May and Gary facepalmed looking at their Ash with an, "Are you stupid," expression. Boi that wasn't even a move! It was a sheer miracle Pikachu even knew what do even do! Ash laughed only shrugging his response. Hey, he was just starting out as a trainer, can't blame him for not being perfect at it. When the younger Pikachu's attack did nothing to the water type, the future Pikachu felt downright embarrassed knowing fully well that these were all water types meaning his younger self needed a great boat load of training. Ash grinned pulling his hat back, "My turn, Pikachu, I choose you!" [Enter Pokemon winning battle theme] "Pipikachu!" the small electric type cried with a smirk stepping forwards on all fours, tail high up for balance. "Huh?" K-Ash said looking curiously at that older teen's Pikachu. The Pikachu from the past stared with interest as it had never seen another Pikachu battle before.
Kabutops was the first to come running with its scythe raised ready to slice Pikachu in two. "Dodge then use Agility. Keep them all distracted," Ash ordered. Pikachu nodded not even looking back and just as the bone scythe came down, he side-stepped before he began to run around all the fossil Pokemon with a light pink aura around it. The younger kids looked in awe at how much speed the small rodent had gotten. Then both Omastar stuck themselves into their spiky shells and used Roll out. "Pikachu, when they get close use Iron Tail and knock em' back." The two Pokemon rolled at a great speed; they all watch as Pikachu's tail shone and turned into black iron before slamming it down on the two fossils, "Chiaaa, Pi Pika!"
"Yeah, let's keep it up!" Ash said feeling pumped. Jessie, James, and Meowth snuck a bit away to conspire, "That guy's Pikachu is even more powerful than the twerps." Meowth grinned evilly rubbing his paws together, "James is right. Dat Pikachu would be ten times betta for the boss. Imagine how happy da boss will be when we give em' two mega powerful Pikachu!" "Aww, but the tall one's so hot. Maybe I could convince Pret and his friend Tom to join Team Rocket," Jessie absolutely gushed, "Oh, just imagine it. Those two hot boys in Team Rocket beach villa uniforms…"
[Mini fantasy]
"Oh, boys," Jessie sang, watching both of them come to her dressed in special Team Rocket swim uniforms. While she kicked back in a beach chair "Yes, Jessie, would you like us to steal some Pokemon for you?" Tom asked, taking her hand in his. Pret spoke next, flexing his arms, "Or maybe we could give you a show by ruffing up some twerps." "Oh, that would be wonderful, just wonderful, haha! Just remember to take off your shirts before," Jessie sang watching the boy's remove their shirts. "Ooooooh, haha, so wonderful, so wonderful, hahaahhh…"
[Real World]
Slash, Slash. Blink. "Ahhh!" she screamed when she came to feeling a painful sting on her face. While she had been daydreaming the two Kabutos had snuck around from behind where one of the had attached itself to Jessie's face. Jessie was freaking out trying to pull the thing off; its pointed legs dug into her skin, "Help get this thing off me!" May quickly respond to her pleas sending out her frosty Glaceon into the fray, "Glaceon knock it off her with double kick!" "Ace ee on!" exclaimed jumping up and using its hind legs to hit the hard-shelled Pokemon sending it into a cave wall with one kick and the second not so coincidently kicking Jessie across the face. "Are you okay?" May said coming over to where Jessie sat on the ground with anime tears. She looked up then shook her head dizzily, "Do I look okay to you?!" May felt sorry for Jessie because if it had been the other way around, she too would freak out!
"Here, let me help you up," May replied, lending Jessie a hand. Gary then yelled that the ancient Pokemon were combining a Rock Slide attack which shortly was confirmed when the cave wall began to shake and the rocks from the caved-in roof began to fall towards them. "Shit!" all yelled as they scrambled to avoid being crushed by the falling boulders. "Pikachu use Thunder to destroy those boulders!" "Piiiiikaaaaa ChuuuuuuuU!" came the loud cry of the mouse as it discharged such an incredible amount of power. The lightning spread out hitting not only the falling rocks but the water-type Pokemon as well knocking them out. Everyone ducked for cover while Ash and Gary threw themselves over May like shields to protect her from the small pieces of debris. May sighed rolling her eyes ever so dramatically.
When the dust settled everyone looked up with glee upon seeing that the roof was open and sunlight poured into the depths of the cave. "Great job Pikachu!" Ash shouted with glee high fiving his little bud, "Pipikachu Pikapi!" Next, they heard the Rocketeers exclaim with joy about how they were alive! "Thanks, Gary, Ash," May whispered gratefully. "Hey, we promised to keep you safe no matter what," Gary said with a big kind smile, then turned to Ash, "So, to the victor goes the spoils, are you going to catch one, um, Tom?" "Tom? Who's-OH, me. Um yeah," Ash answered then reaching into his bag to pull out four Ultra Balls, "Heh, hehe, it's a good thing I have these in case I find a rare Pokemon! Alright, go Pokeball!" With the hit of the Ultra Ball, the rock types Omanyte was sucked in and after three clicks it was captured. Ash picked the ball up and did his usual pose much to Gary and May's amusement.
However, when the ball didn't disappear Ash and Pikachu looked more than a little confused. A suggestion came for the redhead as he speculated that it was probably due to them being in the past that the Pokeball wouldn't be able to be automatically transported to Aether Paradise.
"Ash!" "Hey, Ash," Misty and Brock call out looking over the edge of the hole. "Ahaha, guys, get us out of here!" K-Ash yelled out happy that his friend where up there. All things went okay until they heard a screeching echo through the cave and out the hole. "What was that?" Brock asked feeling nervous at the sound of that screech. "Oh, no…" Ash muttered with dread. "Aeeeerrrro!" came the screech when the large flying pterosaur appeared swooping down and knocking Charmeleon over with its tail. Oh, boy did the fire type look angry. K-Ash with his wrong timing as always pulled out Dexter and pointed it at the larger flying type, "Aerodactyl, an extinct flying pokemon. Its hard fang suggests that it was a carnivore. Its sharp claws were probably used to capture its prey." "Whats a carnivore?" small Ash asked getting a response from a frightened James. " That means it thinks we're dinner!" "I hope it don't like cat food!"
Ash looked at his friends, "Everyone when we get the chance grab onto its tail. When it flies out of the cave we jump off just as it's passing ground level!" "Right," the all confirmed. However, things went a bit dark when Ash shoves his younger self to the right just as Aeorodactyl swooped down and took the kid in its claws. James crossed his arms with a satisfied looked, "Well, that was eevil. Maybe he would make a great Team Rocket member." K-Ash called out for help but was ignored at least for the time being, while Charmeleon festered in anger. Once more Aeorodactyl swooped down and that was their moment. They all dodge then clamped onto its tail and when it flew out the cave roof, they all landed safely on the ground, all except K-Ash, of course. "Oh no, Ash!" Brock exclaimed. The gang, Team R., and all those who had been trying to dig them out watched as the ancient Pokemon landed on a plateau with Ash firmly in its talons. "Someone. Get. Me. Dooooown!"
Gary looked at Ash as he remembered this part. Or at least what happened in his, "Dream," the first time. 'Shit, things were probably happening differently than the first time. Shoot, we've really screwed up the timeline,' Gary thought when he noticed his younger self looking up at the rock type. Luckily, just like the first time around Charmeleon was taunted by the flying type causing it to evolve out of sheer pride and pettiness. A brief aerial chase ensued with teen Ash hanging his head in shame for Charizard's motivations and driving factor for its evolution. Thankfully, Jigglypuff once more sang its song making everyone in a two-mile radius fall into a deep slumber, all except the future group.
Gary called out his Umbreon and May her Glaceon both calling out, "Quick, use Protect!" Immediately, two protective domes combined into one large soundproof zone in which they were safe from Jigglypuff's song. When Jigglypuff was done noticed all the sleeping humans and pokemon, it puffed up with anger and uncapped its marker ready to vandalize everyone's faces. From within their bubble, our awake trio and pokemon trio watched with heavy guilt. "Is it just me, or do you guys feel like we should be keeping Jigglypuff from doing that?" "Yeeeaah…" "...but do we really need to though…" May's voice stretched out kinda just wanting to stay in their protective dome. Gary shifted his eyes elsewhere, "No, we ah, we're fine where we are at." "Agreed." three voices sounded. "Pika." "Glace." "Umbri." All were in agreement.
After a bit, Jigglypuff finished her work and with a disgruntled huff puffed way back on its own musical journey. Thanking their pokemon the professor and the coordinator thank their pals before returning them to their Pokeballs.
"Welp, with everyone asleep, including Aerodactyl," Ash began while throwing an Ultra ball at the taller man, "I'd say now your chance to catch a prehistory mon." Staring at the ball in his hand Gary thought, 'Should I catch it? Could it alter history? Ah, screw it, I can't miss the chance at catching a literal relic of the past!' Gary threw the ball easily hitting its large target and sucking the pokemon into the Ultra ball. "Look at you! Nice going, Gary, you captured Aerodactyl!" May exclaimed happily tossing herself at the green-eyed boy's back. Gary snorted before shrugging with a lopsided smile, "I didn't even do anything to actually catch it…"
While the coordinator and the professor celebrated the new capture, Ash fondly watched for a moment and then looking back Ash's sights landed over an oval-shaped object with red and blue triangle patterns covering it. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his younger self roll off Charizard and oh so coincidentally embracing a similar oval between his arms. "Well, this certainly happened differently," Ash laughed full-heartedly. It was a laugh so joyful and carefree that it quickly brought Gary and May to tears in laughter.
Join us next time for the second part of this wacky time adventure. AS THE JOURNEY CONTINUES!