KONICHIWA FOLKS!
KAMENCJ HERE ONCE AGAIN WITH REVAMPED!
NOW BEFORE I BEGIN SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THAT I HAVE SEEN SOME PEOPLE SEND ME MESSAGES ABOUT … THINGS THEY WANT TO SEE IN THIS STORY.
LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING THAT I DON'T WRITE TO THE MATURE AUDIENCE.
I HAVE SEEN SOME GOOD ONES, BUT THEY TEND TO AVOID THE S WORD, AND SOUR FRUITS.
I CANNOT STAND THOSE, I PREFER CHARACTER INTERACTIONS, I AIN'T WRITING THAT STUFF!
SECOND, SOME PEOPLE HAVE MESSAGED ME ABOUT WHO I SHIP ASH WITH.
YOU REALLY HATE AMOURSHIPPING THAT MUCH?
DON'T READ THE STORY THEN.
IF YOU PREFER TO SHIP HIM WITH DAWN, LILLIE, OR MISTY, MORE POWER TO YOU!
I USED TO BE A PEARLSHIPPER MYSELF, UNTIL THE COMMUNITY I WAS IN BECAME TOO TOXIC FOR MY LIKING WHEN I SAID I SUPPORT AMOURSHIPPING!
NOT TO SAY I HAVEN'T MET TOXIC AMOURSHIPPERS, IN WHICH CASE, TO THOSE WHO ARE, BE POLITE TO OTHERS WHO DON'T HAVE THE SAME SHIP AS YOU.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO ACT ALL CRAZY ABOUT IT OR SAY THAT BECAUSE YOUR SHIP HAS SHOWN UP IN THE SHOW THAT YOURS IS THE BEST.
WHAT EVERYONE HAS IS AN OPINION AND A PREFERENCE.
I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE SERENA AND PREFER MISTY OR DAWN.
I CAN ALSO UNDERSTAND SOME LIKE MELODY AND LATIAS.
I MERELY PREFER AMOURSHIPPING AS IT MAKES THE MOST SENSE TO ME, THE ONES I'VE BEEN AROUND ARE NOT TOXIC AND RESPECT OTHER SHIPS, AND WE DON'T SAY OURS IS THE BEST.
AND TO SOME CERTAIN PEOPLE WHO ASK FOR CHARACTER BASHING, GROW UP.
THERE WILL BE NO BASHING, THERE WILL BE NO BETRAYALS AT ALL FROM ME, AND ESPECIALLY NO MULTIPLE GIRLFRIENDS!
I CANNOT STAND THOSE STORIES.
NOW, SOME OF YOU HAVE FIGURED OUT THAT THE RED, GREEN AND BLUE AND YELLOW CHARACTERS ARE FROM POKÉMON ADVENTURES.
SOME OF YOU HAVE ASKED WHY I WROTE YELLOW MORE AS A FRIEND THAN A LOVE INTEREST WHEN THE WRITER OF ADVENTURES HAS SAID THEY ARE IN A RELATIONSHIP.
ONE, I WAS INTRODUCED TO GREEN FIRST BEFORE YELLOW, AND I FEEL ADVENTURES RED AND YELLOW HAVE MORE OF A SIBLING LIKE RELATIONSHIP THAN ROMANTIC FEELINGS.
TWO, LUCKYSHIPPING (RED X GREEN) FEELS MORE NATURAL THAN SPECIALSHIPPING (RED X YELLOW) TO ME.
I AM NOT SAYING YELLOW IS A BAD CHARACTER BY ANY MEANS, SHE WAS A GOOD CHARACTER.
IT'S JUST MY PREFERENCE.
NOW THAT BEING SAID, IF YOU'RE READING THIS AND ARE A FANFIC WRITER YOURSELF, FEEL FREE TO TAKE INSPIRATION FROM THIS FOR YOUR OWN.
THIS STORY IS INSPIRED BY ASHES OF THE PAST FROM SAPHRONETH.
BUT I AM NOT DIRECTLY COPYING HIM, I'M JUST GOING IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION WITH ONE SPECIFIC QUESTION.
"IF ASH WAS GIVEN THE CHOICE. IF HE WENT BACK IN TIME TO THE BEGINNING OF HIS JOURNEY AND ARCEUS OFFERED, WHO WOULD HE TAKE WITH HIM?"
I'M EAGER FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THAT STORY WHRN IT COMES OUT.
I DON'T CARE THERE IS NO SHIPPING OR EVEN A HINT OF MY FAVORITE IN HIS STORY.
IT'S WELL WRITTEN, IT MAKES SENSE IN THE STORY AND IT MAKES SOME THINGS BETTER.
GO READ IT, IT'S GREAT.
I WILL NEVER SAY MINE IS BETTER, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HAD THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE HE HAS IN WRITING THIS STUFF.
I JUST TAKE INSPIRATION FROM IT AND WRITE MY OWN THING.
IF YOU'RE A WRITER AND YOUR INSPIRED BY MY STORIES, WRITE IT DOWN, BUT DO NOT DIRECTLY COPY.
AS LONG AS IT'S WELL WRITTEN AND YOUR NOT A JERK, I WILL READ IT.
OK LONG TANGENT OVER INTO READER REVIEW RESPONSES!
ROYALFIGHTER95: THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR THE COMBO ATTACKS! ON MISTY'S GOLDEEN, I LITERALLY USED IT ONCE WHEN ASH GOT CONFIDENT AND MISTY BROUGHT HIM BACK DOWN TO EARTH AND LITERALLY FORGOT SHE HAD IT! LOL! THEN AGAIN, LIKE WHAT HAPPENED WITH PALAFIN, SHE'S NOT AS GOOD ON LAND AS IN THE SEA. I WILL FIND A WAY TO INCLUDE HER THOUGH!
ON MY SPELLING, HERE'S HOW I WRITE THESE THINGS OUT.
I USE MICROSOFT WORD TO MAKE THE DOCUMENT FOR FANFIC, HOWEVER, MOST WRITING DOESN'T HAPPEN AT MY PC. IT HAPPENS ON MY IPAD AND PHONE, AND THE PHONE HAS A NASTY HABIT OF USING THE PHONE'S AUTOCORRECT TO CHANGE IT TO WHAT IT THINKS THE PROPER WORDS ARE.
WHEN I GET HOME AND I DO SPELL CHECKS WHEN THE DOCUMENTS ARE DONE, IT DOESN'T DETECT THIS AND I OFTEN MISS THEM, SO SORRY ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT'S WHY THERE ARE SOME WEIRD SPELLING MISTAKES.
ALSO, WHEN I DO CAPS LOCK, IT DOESN'T DO ANY CORRECTIONS SO SOME WORDS LIKE WHEN ASH SENT OUT GENGAR TO FIGHT SABRINA, IT BECAME GEBGAR.
REDFLARE RANGER: DON'T WORRY, I MADE SURE TO UPDATE THE PROFILE ON THE DESKTOP AND NOT THE MOBILE APP THIS TIME! AND AGAIN THANKS FOR THE MOVES!
CIPHERDRAGONITE: NEAT IDEA! I THINK I WILL ALTER THAT THOUGH TO BE WHERE TWO OF THEM TAKE TURNS TRAINING SINCE ANOTHER BREEDER HAS A STEEL TYPE AND CAN HELP IT PROTECT ITSELF FROM ITS 4X GROUNDNESS WEAKNESS.
WITH ALL THAT OUT OF THE WAY, LET'S GET THIS SEEMINGLY LONG AWAITED CHAPTER GOING, AND SET UP THE NEXT 2 CHAPTERS BEFORE WE REACH TENSEI!
HENSHIN!
(As a trumpet section starts playing, we see Dialga roaring as time seems to rewind, where we see Mewtwo flying into space while Mew flies in the other direction)
I WANNA BE THE VERY BEST!
(Ash is seen as he looks up, regressing back to what he looked like at the beginning of his journey.)
LIKE NO ONE EVER WAS!
(As we pan out, where once there was a crowd, there is only emptiness.)
TO CATCH THEM IS MY REAL TEST!
(A Pokéball is shown hitting a Sandslash, as Serena celebrates.)
TO TRAIN THEM IS MY CAAAUUUSSSE!
(Ash, Serena, Greninja and a Delphox are shown in a makeshift battle, where the Delphox gets licked by Greninja, causing her to turn to us shaking and blushing.)
I WILL TRAVEL ACROSS THE LAND!
(Ash, Serena, Pikachu and Sylveon are shown running alongside an Arcanine, when a Rapidash appears in front of us.)
SEARCHING FAAARRR AND WIIIIDDE!
(It leaps into the air as Zapdos appears, with Articuno flying behind it, and Moltres flying at us.)
EACH POKÉMON …
(Ash and Pikachu are riding on a Lapras while Serena is on a Gyarados with Sylveon, watching Dragonair and Kingdra swimming around them.)
TO UNDERSTAND …
(A Pokéball is shown to be releasing something.)
THE POWER THAT'S INSIIIIIIIIDE!
(Ash and Greninja go into battle bond form!)
POKÉMON! GOTTA CATCH THEM ALL!
(Sylveon is shown avoiding a Body Slam by a Snorlax, while Pikachu is dodging Raichu.)
IT'S YOU AND ME!
(Ash and Pikachu are hugging when Serena and Sylveon join it.)
I KNOW ITS MY DESTINY!
(Ash and Serena are each holding a Pokéball as the camera spins around them.)
POKÉMON!
(A Steelix suddenly roars in our faces.)
OOOH, YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND …
(Brock, Misty, Miette, and Gary are shown appearing behind Ash and Serena, who are getting very squished now …)
IN A WORLD WE MUST DEFEEENNND!
(When they are wiped away from a vision of Cyrus and Lysander, and the Rocket Executives holding a Pokéball appear in front of us.)
POKÉMON! GOTTA CATCH THEM ALLL!
(We run past a Charizard and Delphox breathing fire, a Blastoise and Greninja firing a Hydro Pump into the sky, and a Venasaur and Chesnaught firing off Solar Beam as Pikachu comes into view with Ash juggling a Pokéball in the air.)
A HEART SO TRUE!
(Pikachu then runs in-between Serena's legs as Sylveon joins him in leaping into the air, when an Image of Professor Oak, Delia Ketchum, Giovanni, Grace, and Domino appear in front of us, but for a brief moment, Giovanni is replaced by Pokémon Adventures Red, Delia with Pokémon Adventures Green, Grace with Pokémon Adventures Y, and Domino with Pokémon adventures Yellow, with Pokémon Adventures Blue in the background with his back turned to us.)
OUR COURAGE WILL PULL US THROUGH!
(A Mega Charizard X is shown firing a Flamethrower at everyone, who ducks out of the way.)
YOU TEACH ME AND I'LL TEACH YOU!
(Popplio is running towards Serena, who has her arms outstretched as she catches her in her arms and is shown smiling as Sylveon and Braixen are shown to be very happy.)
POOOOKÉMOOOOOON!
(Greninja is shown standing on the back of Charizard, as Braixen is on Charla, while Pikachu is on Butterfree, Sylveon is on a Pink Butterfree, and a bunch of others.)
GOTTA CATCH THEM ALL!
(Ash and Serena are winding up a Pokéball which they throw.)
GOTTA CATCH THEM ALLL!
(The Pokéballs envelope the screen.)
POKÉMON!
(The title is shown with the Pokéball still spinning.)
POKÉMON: THE REVAMPED TIMELINE: DUCKIES, FOXIES AND CHAMPIONS GALORE!
(While the Lyrics sing a part of the Pokémon Theme, we see the title again, but with different Pokéballs appearing behind it, such as a Love Ball, Beast Ball, Timer Ball and Repeat Ball.)
AFTER A QUICK TALK WITH SABRINA, SERENA JOINED HER FRIENDS IN WATCHING ASH CHALLENGE ALAIN, WHERE ALAIN'S CHARIZARD WAS PUT ON THE ROPES BY ASH'S!
THIS UNFORTUNATELY CAUSED A BUTTING OF HEADS BETWEEN GRENINJA AND CHARIZARD WHEN CHARIZARD DEFEATED ALAIN'S, WHERE ASH WAS WORRIED ABOUT HIS BOND WITH GRENINJA AND CHARIZARD AFTER BOTH BEGAN TO INSULT AND ATTACK ONE ANOTHER.
AFTER THAT BRIEF KERFUFFLE, ASH AND COMPANY WENT TO CELADON CITY, WHERE ASH DEFEATED ERIKA AND EARNED THE RAINBOW BADGE AFTER SOME SLIGHT MISHAPS.
THEN, THEY AIDED SABRINA IN INVESTIGATING A CASINO THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A FRONT FOR TEAM ROCKET.
DURING THE BATTLE, BLUE APPEARED AND AIDED THEM AFTER ASH AND SERENA'S EVOLVED POISON TYPES WERE DEFEATED.
AFTER THAT, SERENA HAD A SUPRISING INTRODUCTION TO HER FATHER'S OLD CHARIZARD, SALAMÈ.
AND NOW, THEY ARRIVE IN A CITY WHERE A SLEEP CRISIS WAS OCCURING WITH CHILDREN …
AND ASH IS NOT HAPPY.
"Why is it most scientists have no common sense or think that they're way is better without consultation?" Ash asked after he and Abra left the room with sleeping scientists.
"Seems to come from being told you're special over and over again with no one to say no." Abra replied as they headed back to the Center.
Abra and Ash had broken off from their friends in order to take care of the scientists having trouble sleeping by using Drowzee.
Both Ash and Abra were … irritated when they heard the excuses the scientists gave, and them outright IGNORING the children acting like Pokémon because WORK HOURS.
Ash himself used Dexter to point out OTHER sleeping moves such as Jigglypuff using Sing or MOST Grass Types that learn GRASS WHISTLE.
"And even then, why specifically Drowzee? Don't they feed on dreams?"
"Complicated but it's not the move Dream Eater. Drowzee are like Munna, they can make dreams appear, but Drowzee tend to not EAT them as a source of sustenance. It's more the psychic energy from dreaming they eat.
They also aren't as good at FOCUSING their psychic abilities like the Alakazam line." Abra commented as they entered the Center.
"Hey, Misty. How's it going with Psyduck?" Ash asked …
Before seeing Psyduck with that thousand-yard stare.
"He's at least as skilled as he was when the restart occurred, so he can use Water Gun, but he's still as dopey as ever." She replied as Psyduck just looked … well … Psyducky.
"Would medication help?" He asked as Brock shook his head.
"Nope, if anything it would be counterintuitive for him. He needs a constant headache to be able to use his Psychic attacks." He answered as he put away the stethoscope.
"Wait. Abra, can you retrieve the TM that Sabrina gave us?" Abra teleported over to his bag and retrieved the disc.
"OK, does anyone know how to actually use one of these things?" He asked, as Brock, Misty and Serena looked at each other in confusion.
"EITHER USE A DISC PLAYER AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO … OR DO THE THING THAT MIGHT MAKE IT WORSE FOR PSYDUCK."
"And that is?"
"YOU EVER SEEN THE HEAD ON COMMERCIALS?"
"URRR. Those things were definitely working. Only way to get you to buy something for a headache is to GIVE you a headache." Misty moaned as they applied it to the forehead.
"Um, is it supposed to be spinning or anything?" Serena asked, as Ash took the disc off his head.
"Anything?"
Psyduck just continued to stare.
"OK, new plan. Misty, open his mouth." Misty grabbed the front of Psyduck's bill and made him open his mouth.
"Brock, gently put his tongue through the disc hole." Brock thread the thin tongue through it as Ash laid the disc flat on the lower half of the mouth.
"Now close the top and hold it, Misty." Misty then clamped Psyduck's mouth shut …
As everyone heard an old school disc reader activating.
And it came from Psyduck.
*RRR! RR RRR RRRRRRRR! *
A progress bar suddenly appeared on Psyduck's eyes as it took a minute, but it said "DOWNLOAD COMPLETE. INSTALLING."
Then, without help from Misty, Psyduck opened his mouth and pulled the disc out.
"BLECK! DISGUSTING, but helpful." He was heard thinking as he cleaned the disc off with a towel.
"So, you're ok now?" Misty asked in confusion as Psyduck put the towel into a hamper near the desk.
"For the most part. The headaches will come back when I use ANY psychic attack, but it's more like I have a switch in my head from being a normal Psyduck and an attack mode." Psyduck explained as Misty patted him on the head.
"Glad to hear that! Now for the next lesson!" She declared as she grabbed Psyduck …
And dragged him to a pool outside.
"Teaching you how to swim properly." Clearly Psyduck wasn't too keen on it …
Given how scratch marks appeared on the ground as he tried to stop her from dragging him to it.
"NOT THE WATER! ANYTHING BUT THE WATER!"
(TWO HOURS LATER!)
"I believe the next stop is Scissor Street?" Ash asked as Brock got excited.
"Yup! We're getting Vulpix back! The definition of cute but deadly!" Brock declared as he almost began to run for the street.
"Eh, I'd say Braixen and Sylveon fit that description more." Serena said as Freya then popped out.
"Do I not count?"
"You're more Beauty with teeth."
"Fair point."
"You OK, Freya? You've been a lot more aggressive since you evolved." Serena mentioned as she had tried to pick up Freya like she used to …
Only to suddenly get poisoned by her.
"Sorry. Several reasons.
One, Nidorina tend to be more aggressive than Nidoran.
Two, we are getting close to the Safari Zone. My old home.
And given all that has happened, I really, REALLY want to beat my sister for the torment she put me through.
Still a dancer, but I am more open to battles now." Serena smiled and scratched her ears.
"We'll show them, Freya. We will also look about finding good opponents for you, and then see what we can do when you decide to use the Moon Stone." She said as Freya smiled.
And then accidentally poked one of her spines into Serena's hand.
"I feel a sudden chill." She groaned as Ash put a Pecha Berry in her mouth as Freya looked embarrassed.
"SO, what Is everyone else doing?" Misty then shrugged.
"I'm just going to wander around, since last time, Team Rocket was running a salon or something." She said as she walked off.
"Serena?"
"Hitting the Boutiques to see if I can at least START recreating my two oldest friends' performance outfits. And create new ones."
"Don't go too crazy. The check from dad might be a bit delayed given what happened in Celadon." Ash said as Serena giggled, and she walked to the city centers.
"Well, I'm off to explore Brock. Good luck with Vulpix." Ash called out as Brock gave a two-finger salute.
"Oh my! I have never seen Vulpix be so friendly with anyone or eat any food besides mine!" Suzy the Breeder said, as Vulpix was scarfing down the food Brock had prepared in advance.
It also helped that when Brock was getting her favorite spot, he reminded Vulpix himself, so she knew everything right now.
"You just have to take the time to get to know them. Also, Fire Types tend to really love Spicy food." Brock told her as she smiled.
"Given how she is so comfortable with you, what would you say to taking her on your journey?" Brock smiled and scratched Vulpix behind the ears.
"If you're ok with it and she's ok with it, sure." Vulpix playfully slapped Brock on the cheek with her tails.
"Oop, that's her saying that she is insulted you would think anything else. But it's still nice to take her opinion into consideration." Suzy said as she gave Vulpix's Pokéball to Brock.
"Thanks! And I think she'll be going great with my girlfriend." Brock said as Suzy nodded.
"Absolutely! Send me plenty of pictures!" Suzy called out as Brock left with Vulpix.
"So, you were talking about Evolving?"
"Not yet. Let's wait at least until after Mt. Tensei before I evolve." Vulpix answered as they went back to the meetup.
"Well, it's not the full costumes, but we got the jewels and beads from last time." Serena said as she brushed Braixen's tail and put the blue beads she liked to have in it to get a feeling again for them.
"Hey, Serena!" Serena looked up and saw Brock with Vulpix.
"Ah, the less cute Fennekin of Kanto!" She jokingly said as Brock and Vulpix laughed.
"And I see you're making the Kalos knockoff of Ninetails less ugly." Serena and Braixen gave him a smug look, knowing he was just joking.
"We shall see which is better soon." She said as Brock and Vulpix just smirked.
"I see you guys had a more fulfilling trip here." Misty said as she arrived back.
"Anything you wanted?"
"Ugh, 1,000,000 Poké for a Hydro Pump TM. Reusable version only, they don't sell the regular ones Dexter or Eve can hack." Both of them grimaced at that.
"So, you guys find everything?" Ash asked as he arrived on the scene.
"Yeah, you?" Misty asked as Ash shrugged.
"Didn't see anything. Let's get going to the next city." Ash replied …
Before he walked right into someone and fell flat on his butt.
"Still have no situational awareness, eh?" Misty said as Ash glared at her.
"Hey, my body is going by muscle memory here, ya got that Misty!?"
"Ash?" A female voice said, as Ash, Misty and Brock froze.
Slowly turning their heads to see WHO Ash had bumped into, they saw a twin braided platinum blonde haired girl with green eyes, a large white hat, a white dress with transparent outlines on it, a blue ribbon around her hat, a pair of white socks and light blue shoes resembling ballet flats looking at them.
"Lillie?" Ash asked as they then heard a yip coming from her arms …
As a white Vulpix poked her head out.
"And Snowy?" Brock said as Vulpix then ran toward her Alolan Counterpart.
"What are you doing in Kanto?" Misty asked as Lillie looked around.
"Last thing I remember is me and my family getting ready to try and head TO Kanto to celebrate with you guys on Ash becoming the World Monarch when this black blob suddenly appeared and sucked us all in!" She replied as Snowy nodded her head.
"Strange. I was wondering why our classmates hadn't arrived during the party." Ash said, as Lillie nodded.
"Hey, Lillie!" A male voice called out …
As Ash and everyone saw Lillie's family running towards them.
"This might take a while." Brock moaned.
"Well, would explain why you weren't as freaked as most others when encountering Ultra Beasts." Lusamine said as Gladion was looking over Silvally alongside Brock.
"Not AS far-fetched as the norm, but definitely wasn't expecting more than one." Ash replied.
Lusamine checked over Mohn to make sure that he hadn't gotten as much of a whiplash like when they reunited the last time.
She was also wearing the blue dress that Ash had seen them depart in when his adventures in Alola ended.
"Still, having this research back should keep us from getting pulled in like the last time." She said as she held the thumb drive with all the research.
Lillie had started a conversation with Serena since they hadn't met before.
"So, you knew Ash from a summer camp? And he had traveled through 6 regions with yours being the last before Alola?" Lillie asked in amazement as Serena nodded.
"Yeah. Why he was a STUDENT instead of a teacher confuses me a bit." Serena replied as Brock's Vulpix and her Sylveon were talking with Snowy.
"True, then again, he didn't know anything about Alola before then." Lillie said, as she then decided to have more girl talk with Serena.
"So, how has he been with you?"
"Eh, waiting to save his dad from Team Rocket and hopefully win the Indigo League this time. And I'm planning on becoming the Kalos Queen this time." She winked at Lillie who nodded.
"Fashion question, Lillie. Don't you get hot in that outfit in Alola?" She asked, gesturing at Lillie's outfit.
"Eh, the materials help cool down my body temperature. Also, never go that far in Alola without a hat this size. You'll be blinded by the sun." She advised, pointing at her hat.
"It also doesn't help she wants to at least maintain SOME cuteness." Gladion called, as Lillie looked at him annoyed.
"Says the one wearing sweatpants and a sweater in a tropical environment." She called back, which Serena giggled at.
"Not as good as mine, but like you said, tropical environments. Still, nice to see another fellow blonde." She said as they got ready to leave.
"Silvally is in good shape, nothing to worry about now." Brock said as he walked back over.
"I do miss Lilliehelgo." Mohn stated sadly as they looked at him in confusion.
"Who?"
"It's the Nihelgo that took on my appearance that we met in the Crown Tundra, Ash. She became a second Pokémon sister to us." Lillie explained as her family stood together.
"Good luck with the Indigo League, getting your father back, and freeing Dawn and Serena's fathers, Ash. You have your work cut out for you." Gladion said, as he made location notes in his map of Alola to visit to get his team back.
"Given how Arceus himself trusts you, I have faith. And don't worry, that Nihelgo isn't taking me over this time and Mohn isn't going to be lost." Lusamine replied as they turned around.
Ash was smiling at that …
Until he noticed something on Lusamine and Lillie's backs.
"Hold it!" He said as everyone stopped.
Lusamine and Lillie were beginning to turn when Ash stopped them.
"Don't move. Something's on your backs." Ash said as he held up a mirror for Gladion and Mohn to see.
As he turned himself sideways, alongside Serena, Misty and Brock.
As they began to make strangling noises.
"What's wrong?" Gladion asked as he brought out his own mirror and Lillie and Lusamine saw on their backs a crude drawing.
"Uh, that wasn't there when we arrived." Lusamine said as the pictures flipped over to reveal that it was a crude upside-down drawing of a Ghastly with its tongue out.
"Bring him out, NOW." Ash growled as Serena released her Ghastly.
Ghastly looked at them in annoyance, clearly not being threatened.
"What?" Ash then pointed at Lillie and Lusamine's backs.
"Did YOU draw those!?" He demanded as Ghastly looked over and nodded.
"Yeah? So? They look good enough to drop down trapdoors." He nonchalantly said as THAT got Lusamine and Lillie to jump.
"Drop us down WHAT now!?" They both shouted, understanding through both Butterfree who had been released for them to translate.
"Hey that's my sister and mom you're talking about, ghost boy!" Gladion shouted, getting in front of Lillie.
"Yeah, and besides there's no haunted houses or any of the like in Alola!" Lillie said. With a confident expression.
"What about that time with Acerola?" Ghastly asked with a smirk, as Ash and Lillie froze and turned white.
"How the Reverse World do you know that?" He asked, and Ghastly took on a devilishly grin.
"I may or may not have read about it from the files you left with Cerise when I dropped Chrysa and Chloe down trapdoors in their lab."
(TWO DAYS AFTER CAPTURING GHASTLY AND GENGAR!)
Ash had got on the phone at the PokéCenter he and his friends were staying at, and Cerise had told him that they wanted to study Ghastly for a bit, to compare him to Gengar, who was welcome back with open arms mostly.
"Hey Cerise, how is it with-"
"ASH! SEND OVER GENGAR NOW! GHASTLY DID SOMETHING TO CHLOE AMD CHRYSA AND WE CAN'T FIND THEM!" Ash wasted no time sending Gengar over as he zoomed away and brought Ghastly back by his tail.
Gengar then pointed to a section of the wall as he pushed it, and it revealed a door.
"Chloe! Chrysa! Are you down here!?" Cerise called as Chloe came up in the contest outfit she and Serena had made back in Hoenn and Chrysa looking angry.
"Was there a trapdoor the whole time on the stairs!?" Chloe and Chrysa growled as Gengar nodded and stuffed Ghastly back in his Pokéball.
"Gengar is going to stay for a little while longer to make sure we know where all the traps are in this building." Cerise said as Ash nodded and picked up Ghastly's Pokéball.
"So, you know about all the times I went into haunted houses and the like?" Ash growled as Ghastly smirked.
"Yup. And what's stopping me from carrying it out?" He asked smugly.
That was the straw that brought the Numel's back.
"GET THAT GHOST!" Ash ordered as everyone dove for Ghastly.
"YA CAN'T CATCH ME!" He called as everyone collided with each other.
And the chase was on.
(BRIEF RED INTERLUDE.)
"Thanks for letting me borrow your Onix, Flint." Red said as he handed his borrowed Mon back to his rightful trainer.
"He knows how to look menacing, but not obvious enough to where people know he's holding back." Flint said as he took the ball back.
"All Ash has to do is let the last two know where I am, then beat them and fight me." Red replied as he swiftly put his mask back on before it raised an alarm.
"Good luck with MewTwo, Red. Don't forget how dangerous the one was when Blaine made his." Red grimaced, remembering what Blue had told him of what happened in Kalos when he and Green went to the Hoenn Region to stop the Delta incident.
"Don't worry. I remember what I said in the original timeline, and I am going to make SURE the MewTwo that's created doesn't have as sad a story this time." He swore as he left the gym.
"Seriously, do we have to go through this city?" Serena couldn't help but ask.
The reason?
They were about to go on a road to a city called Gringey City.
"Unfortunately. As I am NOT missing another friend here. As much as I didn't use him, Muk was a great friend. I just need to get some more TMs for him to get a better move roster." Ash said.
Sure he didn't use the Poison type that much, but he did still come in clutch and was a great family member.
Now if only he could stop acting like that blue puppet on the Pokéstreet TV show when it came to round objects.
"Gotta admit, I do miss the big blob. Though, he really needs to know the difference between Plates and Pizza." Pikachu piped in, though as per usual right now, only Ash got the full sentence.
The others were getting better, especially Serena with her Psychic powers helping her read her friends thoughts, but it was different from reading their minds on what they were saying vs hearing their voices.
"Isn't this also the place where that Magnemite was attracted to Pikachu?" Misty asked, which got Sylveon worried.
"How does a Magnemite get a crush on my Darling Pika Pika!?" She angrily demanded but got hugged by Pikachu.
"You know I only have my eyes on those lovely blue ones of you, Sylvie. Besides, it wasn't a romantic attraction Misty was talking about. Last time, I got a major fever, and I became magnetically charged. A Magnemite who lived around here basically was of the opposite polarity, so my charges were very appealing to him. Thankfully, you kept the fever from happening this time."
That placated Sylveon as she kissed Pikachu's cheek.
"So, what's the plan, Ash?" Misty asked as Ash was running his head through ideas.
"Well, how bad is the Pollution in this city?" Oddish, who was out of her Pokéball to try and get some sun, coughed at that exact moment.
"Well, guess it's a good thing that I got Pidgeot." Ash said as he released her.
"RAAAARRGH! That was a nice nap and a good rest. What do you need, Ash?" She asked as Ash turned to his friends.
"OK, first, Pikachu, you're staying here. You remember Muk, so I'm confident you'll be able to talk to him." Pikachu looked shocked at that.
"And if I DID take you, I'd have to contend with an angry Sylveon." He said as he got on Pidgeot's back.
"How long till we get to Sinnoh?" Ash asked as Pidgeot seemed to be thinking.
"About half an hour if I know the specific area you're talking about."
"In the northeast section of Sinnoh, there's a secret area called Gracidea Gardens or the Secret Garden. There we can find Shaymin, a Pokémon that I think can fix things here in a hurry." He said as Pidgeot splayed out her wings.
"Oh, I get it. By bringing a Shaymin over here, they can suck up the pollution, and then when they use the resulting Seed Flare, it will help the ecosystem get restored!" Brock said as Ash nodded.
"Can I trust you and Misty to make sure that Muk is ready when I et back in an hour?" Misty and Brock gave a thumbs up.
Ash then jumped on the back of Pidgeot as she took to the skies.
Brock and Misty watched as he disappeared from the smog horizon before turning around.
"Now, where's that power plant? Muk should be in the sewers, and we should be able to get in that way." Misty said …
Before seeing a Magnemite floating towards them with a panicked expression.
Serena listened to Sylveon's thoughts, and then paled.
"Something's happening to the lead Muk! Does he usually throw people against the wall?" Brock and Misty went rigid at that.
"Hopefully Ash doesn't take that long!"
Ash saw the mountains of Sinnoh on the horizon as Pidgeot banked.
"So, how do you think things will go? I don't know if I'll be able to tell a Shaymin from a pack of flowers." Ash said, as Pidgeot shrugged while maintaining her speed.
"Look for something moving? Surely a Shaymin can't camouflage itself when moving."
"No but they are known to not show themselves if they want to blend in." Pidgeot then turned her head to smirk at Ash.
"Should I blow the area around?"
"No, we don't want to harm the environment and that DEFINITLY wouldn't convince them that we aren't poachers or the like."
"True, otherwise you would have Charizard for this." They both laughed until Ash saw something coming up.
"PIDGEOT, LOOK OUT!" Pidgeot had just enough time to see what Ash was talking about …
And then collide with about 9 figures, causing everyone to stumble into the valley below.
"Well, that's one way to panic a Shaymin and have them hide." Ash said as he and Pidgeot shook their heads from the collision.
"Ash?" A woman's voice rang out …
As Ash saw a blonde-haired woman with black clothes looking at him with a Garchomp, Gastrodon, Togekiss, Spiritomb, Milotic, Roserade, Glaceon and Lucario.
"Uh, sorry, Cynthia?" He said.
"OK, what is Magnemite saying now?" Brock asked Serena, since she had to play the role of shaky translator.
"Apparently, he's hearing pained screams coming down this section. Which means the Muk shouldn't be too far away." She said nervously as Magnemite rounded a corner …
And immediately he rushed back and pressed himself against the wall.
"MAG! MAGNEMITE!" Serena paled when Sylveon told her what Magnemite just said.
"It's right around the corner, and it has someone." She whispered as everyone peered out.
They saw a large Muk holding a Rocket Grunt against the wall, with a death glare that made Pikachu shiver.
5 Grimer flanked it with each holding a Pokémon hostage.
"This CANNOT BE the same Muk who loves giving people a hug all the damn time, and sleeps with a stuffed Togepi doll!"
"MUK! MUK MUUUUKKK!" He shouted as the Grunt got even more terrified.
"PLEASE! THEY DIDN'T TELL ME WHERE THEY TOOK THAT STRANGE GRIMER! I PROMISE I'LL HELP BUT-"
*CRACK! *
"AAAUUUUURGGH!"
Everyone was taken aback by Muk's usual personality when he snapped one of the Grunt's legs around.
"We have to stop him!" Serena shouted as she and Sylveon took off from the hiding spot.
"WAIT, SERENA!" Misty called out in worry as Muk turned his head and growled at her.
"MUUUUUKKK! MUK MUKK MUUUUUUUUUKKKKKK!" He roared as he then put a slimy hand around the Grunt's neck.
"NO, PLEASE, DON'T!" The Grunt begged as Serena looked at him.
"I get that you're worried about Grimerina! But right now, he is our best way of getting in, and if you kill him, we might set off a chain that gets her killed!" Muk stared back, lessening his grip on the neck, but not letting the Grunt go.
Muk then motioned his head as they headed for a ladder.
"Hey, Brock. Does the number of Grimer seem off to you?" Misty asked as Brock nodded.
"Given the dialogue, it sounds like in this timeline, one of the Grimer were either a Shiny or Alolan, which most in Kanto haven't seen before." Brock replied as they arrived at a ladder.
"Hopefully Ash is on his way back now. Things might be very touch and go with this version of Muk." Misty replied as the Grunt gulped as Muk shoved him up.
Ash was indeed on his way back, but with backup.
After getting Cynthia up to speed, they found a Shaymin who was willing to travel to Kanto and clear that pollution.
On the condition that Cynthia flew her back once the job was done and she decided she didn't want to stay.
Given that Cynthia was the regional champion of Sinnoh, she had the authority to take the Pokémon back to its natural habitat.
"So that is the short version that I can do right now." Cynthia nodded as she held the Shaymin tightly.
"Guess that you're a magnet for the stuff I WANT to research. Still, Arceus trusting you after you saved his life makes a ton of sense." She replied as they saw Gringey City.
"Where should we put Shaymin?" Ash asked as Cynthia began to look around.
"Seed Flare doesn't work as well when Shaymin is in Sky Form, unfortunately. She'll have to go down low where the pollution is the thickest." She replied as they landed near a power plant.
"Hopefully my friends and girlfriend have gotten-"
*KRAKOOOOOOOOOM! *
Both Cynthia and Ash just barely dodged a Hyper Beam coming out of the wall.
"Or Team Rocket is putting up one Reverse World of a fight!" He said as he leapt into the hole.
Cynthia hid in an alley and put the Shaymin on the ground.
"Do it at your discretion." She told her as she ran back to the hole.
The infiltration … didn't go so good.
On account of Muk Charging in and wrecking havoc trying to find this Grimerina.
And now, everyone was trying to fight off a massive horde of angry Houndour and Aerodactyl.
Where they managed to not only get this many of those, but also be able to know HYPER BEAM was anyone's guess.
Not important when you and your Pokémon are dancing, ducking, bobbing, and weaving to avoid getting blasted in the face.
"MAGIKARP, LOOK OUT!" Serena's Magikarp barely Splashed out of the way of a Houndour trying to use ThunderFang on him.
"MAGNEMITE! MAGNE!"
"TON! MAGNETON MAGNETONTON!"
Magnemite had managed to get to his evolved friends who were trying to help out with the intruders.
Not going so well when half of them were natural Fire Types and had access to Flamethrower.
Magikarp managed to outmaneuver a Houndour and used Flail to throw him into another.
But they both got up immediately afterwards and pressed the attack.
"WATCH IT, MAGI!" Rattata called out as he spat a Water Gun at the two, forcing them to swerve and crash into 3 more Houndour.
"WHAT, DO THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF WONDER GUARD OR STURDY ABILITY, HOW DO THEY KEEP GETTING BACK UP!?" Magi shouted as the 5 began running around in circles around them.
Thankfully, Freya used Stomping Tantrum to disorient them and force them away.
"These guys seem to be more geared towards Defense. I can't do anything about those flyers, though! And Popplio can't nail her shots!" She called, as Popplio kept trying to nail Water Pulse on the Aerodactyl, but despite the limited flying room, they were able to turn those attacks into glancing blows.
Pikachu was using Countershield to protect from Flamethrower and Rock Throw.
Misty's Gyarados was using Aqua Tail on as many Aerodactyl as he could.
(WITH THE HUMANS!)
Brock, Misty and Serena were chasing after Muk and the 5 Grimer who were slithering like crazy down a hall.
"Serena! What's Muk doing!?" Misty asked worriedly as Palafin was in the alternate form that he took in Celadon.
Several Houndoom had tried to bite them, but Palafin had managed to use Surf on them to get them away.
"Apparently, this Grimerina is just down this corridor! He can sense her energy, somehow." She told them as they then found a cage …
With a green Grimer that had yellow lining around its mouth.
"MUUK!"
"GRIME? GRIMER GRIME!"
Both were happy to see one another as Muk took off for the cage.
"Muk, wait! There might be-!"
*B-ZAAP! *
"MUUUUUUKKKK!"
The moment he grabbed the bars, electricity poured from them as Grimerina straightened and shied away from the bars.
"Figures. They may not be weak to it, but the electricity isn't healthy for them since the sludge can still conduct electricity." Brock said as Muk growled.
"Muk. Mu Muk?"
"He asked if any of us had a Pokémon that could help in this situation." Serena translated as Brock grimaced.
"All I have is Steelix and Geodude is helping keep the main horde off our backs. If I used Steelix, Grimerina could get hurt." Muk growled, as everyone wondered how to turn off the cage.
*WHOOOSH! *
"What was-!?"
*SHNICK! *
A black and red blur had appeared, zoomed around the cage and the cage was sliced up.
"Grime?" Grimerina said as she saw her prison fall apart.
"MUK!"
"GRIME GRIME!" The horde was elated to see their member free as they all hugged.
"Well, that worked." Misty said as she stared.
"But what cut the cage?" Serena asked, still staring at the remains of Grimerina's prison.
"GAR!" Everyone turned to see a dragon like Pokémon staring at them.
"A Garchomp?" Misty asked as the Muk horde slithered over.
"Well, Ash did say he had a Gible." Serena said, thinking it was Ash's.
"Exactly, a GIBLE. He never evolved. So, whose is this?" Brock said, until Croagunk pointed at himself.
"Yes, you also come from the … Sinnoh Region." Brock's voice trailed off as he finally put the pieces together.
"I think Ash has come with some backup. Back to the main room!" He ordered as everyone followed the Garchomp.
"KEEP YOUR BALANCE, YOUNG LUCARIO! AND FOCUS ON THE HOUNDOUR! THEY'RE MORE A DANGER TO US THAN THE ROCK FLYERS!"
"YES, MASTER!"
Cynthia's Lucario was teaching Ash's on the proper use of BoneRush against several of the Houndour while Charizard was busy putting 5 Aerodactyl on the backfoot.
"Bakuretsu kyoryu gatta!"
Squirtle was also helping with the Aerodactyl by usually landing on one, putting some kind of disc on their back and producing a pair of water Taiko drumsticks.
"ONGEKKI! RYDENZAN!"
Then began to act like he was playing a Taiko drum with the Soundwave creating an area of affect that hit other Aerodactyl.
Popplio was helping by shooting down the ones on a crash course for the main power source.
Butterfree had been aiding Sakura as they released Sleep Powder and Stun Spore on the unsuspecting Fossils.
Gastrodon was using Muddy Water and Psychic to give Roserade a vantage point as she leapt from it and began to use Drain Punch on the flyers while the Muddy Water kept the Houndour at bay.
Glaceon was helping out Sylveon with providing support from anything else and protecting the injured Magneton.
Spiritomb ….
Was doing whatever he wanted, plain and simple.
"That's it you five! Keep up the pressure!" Cynthia called out as Ash had returned from a hallway.
"They aren't down there, and the Rocket Grunts seem to have abandoned this place!" He reported as Cynthia nodded.
"Ash!" They turned and saw his friends running out.
"We found Muk!" Ash began to run towards them as he slid underneath an Aerodactyl that tried to chomp him and managed to touch Muk.
Muk shook himself, as his memories returned …
Before leaping at an Aerodactyl and slammed it to the ground.
Landing on a Houndour in the process, Muk whirled his head around, spitting out Gunk Shots left and right, forcing the dogs back into the center.
Then he shot several Gunk shots in the air as Greninja then hit each one turning it orange and hitting all the Aerodactyl out of the air.
Cynthia's Garchomp then suddenly appeared out of the air and stomped his foot hard as an Earthquake attack hit all of the attacking Pokémon.
Despite that, they ALL got up and growled.
"What, do they all know ENDURE!?" Ash groaned as Cynthia was smiling …
Until she saw something in the distance.
Ash saw a glowing orb in the sky and knew that something was up.
"Did they do something?" Ash asked as Cynthia began to shake.
"No. That's the beginning of a Seed Flare buildup!" Cynthia said, which got him and Brock to panic.
And then Ash saw it get bigger and bigger.
Then it pulsed green.
"HIT THE DECK!"
No one was standing on their side the moment they heard Cynthia shout that.
The Aerodactyl and Houndour hordes didn't see what was going on and they were ready to move in …
Until a huge amount of grass energy passed through and sent them flying.
(A FEW MINUTES EARLIER!)
"SO … MUCH … POLLUTION!" Shaymin groaned as she was at the top of the highest building in Gringey City.
The amount of pollution this place had accumulated was so bad she doubted she would even be conscious if she hadn't taken the power of that Gracidea Flower Cynthia had gave her.
"ALMOST … ALMOST … GOT IT ALL!" She just had to wait a few more seconds.
But the power of Seed Flare was wanting to leave as soon as it finished cleansing it from the air.
As such, she almost looked like a mini sun with the amount of power she was holding back right now.
Finally, she felt no more pollution in the air.
"CAN'T … CAN'T … HOLD IT … IN!" She moaned as she stepped off the roof.
She then saw how the battle had been going and knew that the Champion of Sinnoh had seen her and knew what was about to happen.
Thankfully, she told everyone to duck and cover.
"SEEEEEED FLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARE!"
*KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! *
A young boy had been taking care of the ONE garden that existed in Gringey City.
It was the only place in the city where the air was BREATHABLE for the most part.
He often sold flowers there, but no one seemed interested in them.
Granted it was also in a place that didn't exactly look like a garden, but he managed since his family outright owned that piece of land.
"Maybe we should just close up shop. The only way anyone is going to be interested is if the entire thing became a garden." He sighed as he got ready to close up shop.
Suddenly, a wave of green energy came as he almost got knocked over.
Then, flowers began to pop up all over the place, some from different regions.
Quickly, he added several prices as people began to flock to his store.
"Um, is it OK if I hide out here?" A tiny voice came out as he saw a green and white Pokémon poking out of the flower patch.
Quickly he hid the Pokémon from view.
"Don't make a sound and try to disguise yourself as part of the flowers. Don't want some random jerk to try and kidnap you."
(BACK AT THE POWER PLANT!)
Everyone waited a few more seconds to make sure that the Seed Flare had passed them before they risked getting up.
Thankfully, the Seed Flare knocked out all the enemy Pokémon and shorted out the systems, preventing Team Rocket from doing whatever it was they were doing.
"Well, that's one way to clear the mat." Cynthia groaned as she got up.
"Yeah, and one way to get Officer Jenny's attention." Brock said as said policewoman showed up with a ton of officers.
"OK, those grunts are gone and … aren't you Cynthia, the Sinnoh Champion?" Cynthia chuckled as a young boy then came in …
With a green Pokémon that resembled flowers.
"Um, are you Cynthia?" He asked as Cynthia walked over to him.
"I see that someone managed to help her. Are you wanting to go home now, Shaymin?" The officers then began nodding.
"Um, why are you all nodding?" Serena asked.
"The reason the Champion of Sinnoh is in here. If a Pokémon like that is taken out of its habitat, a member of the police force from that region must accompany it. Given she is the champion, she basically is the highest authority." Jenny replied as the boy was about to hand Shaymin over.
"No." Everyone looked at Shaymin in surprise.
"I would like to stay. This boy helped me when I needed it, and this city might fall back into its previous state. As such, I shall stay in Kanto until this city no longer needs me around, or this boy decides not to have me around."
Cynthia smiled and nodded as she knelt to the boy.
"Take good care of her. And make sure she gets lots of water after that massive Seed Flare she did. And if something happens, let me know." She said with a wink as the boy nodded and ran off.
"Thank you, Champion Cynthia. And rest assured, we'll help with keeping her safe!" With that, the squad and Jenny left as Cynthia then looked at the others.
"Well. It was worth it to test out some new moves we had been perfecting." Cynthia said, as Ash then looked confused.
"Quick question. When did you have a Lucario?" Suddenly, Togekiss began to move around Cynthia's Lucario's body before she made a trilling sound.
Then Garchomp reached in and plucked something out.
"Ah, good. Lost you last timeline, Luci. I'm not losing you again." Luci was surprised by that.
"I lost Luci due to an ingrown Steel shard in his chest puncturing a lung. Thankfully, with Spiritomb and Roserade, I'm not losing him this time!" With that, all of her Pokémon tackled Luci to the ground.
"Ah, I see. Anyway, I need to talk to Muk and the Grimer." Ash said as he headed over to the Grimer pack.
Serena was about to walk away when Cynthia tapped her shoulder.
"I recall you from your time in Kalos. You were a model and Performer, right?" Serena quirked an eyebrow at that.
"Yeah. Why?"
"Have you ever designed a wedding dress?"
"So, that's how bad it is, Muk. If this fails, all that we know may be lost." Ash told his Pure Poison Type.
Muk stared at Ash, along with the 6 Grimer.
"As such, I promise to help you get stronger, unlike where I often forgot about you. I can use you in the next Gym if you want." Muk continued to stare …
Until his eyes became less slanted, rounder and the pupils became like those goggly eye stickers.
And Ash swore he heard a "CUCKOO!" Sound as the eyes moved downward.
"MEAN MAN MADE IT TO WHERE NO PIZZA EXISTED! ME AGREE TO HELP AND AGREE TO BECOME STRONGER AND SAVE PIZZA!"
Ash and Pikachu stared at Muk, remembering how he acted.
"GRIME GRIME!" One of the Grimer called out …
While wearing an orange cloth headband that covered his eye area.
"Uuuuuummmmm … this one's talking like a surfer dude and saying that he shall join their leader in defending the pizza makers."
"Grime. Gri Grimer Grime."
"WATCH IT, YOU RED BANDANA JERK!"
"Grimer! Gri Grimer!" A Grimer with a blue bandana told the two as another with a purple bandana then fixed up the power systems.
Then, one that had a brown tint to it came forth.
"Grrrrriiiime. Grimer Grime Grimerrrrrr."
"YES, GRIMER SPLINTER! WE MUST PROTECT THE PIZZA MAKERS! ME ALSO HAPPY THAT HORD SMALLER IN THIS TIMELINE! THEY WANT TO COME WITH US AND PUNCH THOSE WHO ATTACK PIZZA MAKERS!" With that, the five regular Grimer took some of Ash's Level Balls.
"Can't help but feel like that was a waste of good Level Balls." Pikachu commented when the balls dinged immediately.
"I think they just randomly grabbed the nearest Pokéballs, not caring what they were." Ash said as he tossed a regular Pokéball and Muk went in.
Ash looked around, but noticed the Alolan Grimer was gone.
"And then, with the shoes we could make them black with some straps designed after Giratina's wings, and on the toe region gold, and with a line down the middle to represent Giratina's foot claws." Serena said as she finished the drawing.
Cynthia looked it over and smiled.
"This should be perfect! I'll bring it with me back to Sinnoh and ask my tailor about this!" She said excitedly.
Serena smiled, happy her fashion advice helped with a champion.
"GRIME!" Both jumped when they saw Grimerina just sitting there, looking at Serena.
"Uh, hello? Grimerina, right?" The Alolan Grimer nodded as she then pointed at one of the Balls on Serena.
"Ah, that's where she went to." Ash then came out with Muk slithering over to Grimerina.
"Grimerina, from what Muk told me, left Alola because she was tired of seeing the tropical environment outfits of her home region, and had dreams of helping tailors. She can change her shape and color to match clothing." Serena looked at Grimerina with an interested look as Muk then came up.
"MUUUUUUUUUUUK!"
"Muk just said you have to pass a test first." Serena looked nervous at this.
"What test?" She asked …
Before realizing that there were fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, pizza dough and the necessary equipment appearing RIGHT THE REVERSE WORLD OUT OF NOWHERE, and Muk pointing at it.
"Make a pizza and he'll judge your worthiness." Grimerina rolled her eyes as Serena stared at Muk.
"Preference?"
"Just a regular cheese pizza." With that, Serena got out her apron and hung up her hat on Sylveon's feelers as they began to make a pizza.
"Ash, may I ask for a request if you're able to complete it?" Ash turned to Cynthia as Serena continued her challenge from Muk.
"If I can, sure. What is it?" Cynthia then took on one of her signature smirks.
"You can give people back memories of the original timeline like me, right?"
"To a certain extent, yes."
"If you can remind him, tell Lance something and make sure he knows I sent it." Ash nodded and listened.
"My answer is yes, and he better be ready as I won't wait this time."
With that, Cynthia summoned her Togekiss and flew back for Sinnoh.
"What was that about?" Ash asked as Muk began chowing down on the pizza Serena made.
Grimerina quickly hit a Pokéball Serena had and vanished inside.
Muk nodded and he then returned to his ball, as the four-headband wearing Grimer finished up the pizza rather messily before returning to the Bag Box PC.
"Should probably start thinking about just sending some to Professor Oak, since he probably hasn't had anyone to study in this timeline." Ash said as Serena then picked up her bag.
"So, I think Brock and Misty are waiting for us to head out of this city. I'll help Grimerina get cleaned at Fuchsia City." She said as they then ran out …
Unaware of a first stage Electric type watching them go.
"Guess Ash must be taking a little longer with Muk." Misty groaned as she was leaning against the gate of the city.
"Well, Muk DOES need a bit of a cleaning, and might be saying goodbye to his horde." Brock replied as he finished scrubbing the Egg he had been given.
Misty nodded before she brought out her egg and began to clean the dirt off of it.
"OK! WE'RE HERE!" Ash called out as he and Serena caught up with them.
Brock then noticed something behind Ash.
"Um, Ash? Did you catch him?" Ash turned around …
And saw the Magnemite from last time looking at him.
"MAGNE. MAGNEMITE MITE!"
"Apparently, he was impressed by how powerful I was when trying to help free the power plant and wants to see if he can get stronger with you." Ash thought about that for a moment, then turned to Brock.
"Hey Brock, what do you say to us sharing Magnemite for now?" Serena and Misty looked in surprise at Ash.
"Why are you asking Brock for help!? What does he know about Electric Types!?" Misty shouted before Brock then shook Ash's hand.
"Covering his weakness to Ground types. Good thinking Ash."
"What weakness!? It can float!"
"Not really, Misty. Magnemite is only floating off the ground due to reversing his magnetism from the polarity underneath him. The Magnemite line DOESN'T have the Ability Levitate like the Gengar line does. They're still very susceptible to Ground attacks, and since it's an Electric/Steel type, it can be quite devastating for them." Magnemite nodded as Ash and Brock held a Pokéball together and caught it.
"Plus, it's a gender neutral and unnatural Pokémon. I'm not going to miss my chance to practice my doctoring skills on it!"
With that, Brock and Misty put their eggs away and the group was off again.
(SKIES ABOVE PALLET TOWN!)
Nighttime travel is always a headache for flyers.
Especially when you're not a natural bird type.
Which was the case when a Pidgeot crash landed in the ground and changed back to his natural Ditto form.
"Well, that's one way my old training has failed." He grumbled out as he shook the dirt off of himself.
Ash had told him of a girl with a Ditto who needed help actually copying the faces of Pokémon.
Bit below his pay grade, but he did know more about this than him.
He had provided a picture of his Pidgeot so that he could Transform and fly to Pallet Town.
Hopefully he could now find either his two friends Ash had already found, or his old trainer.
Soon, he found the house that Ash had told him about as he remembered this house had been one his Trainer and the boy she fell in love with had mentioned that they wanted to buy when they had enough money.
And then he saw a woman come out, and immediately recognized her despite the years she gained and her new choice of fashion.
It was Green, no doubt about it.
Forgetting about everything else, he took off like a rocket towards her, hoping she would see him.
"GREEN! GREEN IT'S ME! DIT-!"
*GRAB! *
"WAA!"
Green looked around thinking she had heard something as she shrugged and went back inside.
Ditty struggled and struggled to get out and reunite with her until …
"Trust me, Ditty! Not yet!" Ditty whirled around and saw a Clefable had him pinned down.
Normally, he would be confused as to what a Clefable was doing here.
Then he realized the only answer possible.
"Cleffy?"
"Yup, been a while, mask maker." The Clefable replied as he brought Ditty to a tied up Wigglytuff.
"I see Jiggly forgot all about stealth."
"More like she forgot we have to make sure our trainer isn't targeted again. Still, do you know where our last three members are?" Ditty shook his head.
"Last I heard, Nido had found a family in the Safari Zone and became depressed when one of her daughters ran away because her eldest had beaten her youngest to a pulp. And you can BET she did her usual there. Blasty and Bulu? Last I heard of Blasty, he founded an island full of young Squirtle and Wartortle."
Cleffy sighed as he then leaned up against the tree that Jiggly was tied up to.
"Well, it's better than nothing. Maybe that kid will find them if we're lucky. Till then, can you still?"
One understanding later, Jiggly was unconscious and tied up much better after Ditty had her beat herself up.
And they slept peacefully that night.
(NEXT MORNING NEAR FUCHSIA!)
Ash walked out to the gathering while popping his back with Pikachu stretching out.
"OK, today's the day!" Ash told Brock who was busy getting breakfast ready.
"Gym battle?"
"You bet, Brock! Also, breakfast!" Brock just shook his head as he got the pancakes ready.
"Hey, have Serena and Misty gotten up-"
"WHERE IS HE!?"
Ash and Brock jumped at that sudden shout as Serena and Misty appeared …
In their Performance Dress and Goldeen outfits, that is.
"WHERE IS GHASTLY!? I KNOW HE IS BEHIND THIS!" Serena shouted as she held an empty Pokéball.
Ash just stared at this and shook his head.
He immediately brought out Gengar, who just stared ahead angrily.
"Hunt down the gas ball. Do something horrific to him." Gengar then robotically turned and ran off.
"Good thing I wasn't planning on using him in this fight, but still, we need to figure out a way to keep Ghastly from doing this." Ash said as everyone quickly ate their breakfast and headed off.
"How far do we have to go? I don't want to walk through a forest wearing this!" Serena told him, as Ash then pointed to a house that was past a log bridge.
"There. That's the Fuchsia City Gym, and I'm willing to bet that Ghastly is inside, soooooo …" Serena sighed as they headed onto a dirt path.
As soon as they got to the plank that acted as a bridge, Ash picked up Serena bridal style as he went first and made it across as he placed Serena on the doorstep.
Brock crossed next as everyone waited for Misty to cross.
Who was going as slow as a Slowpoke across it.
"Misty, we can't wait for you all day! Get a move on!" Ash shouted as Misty glared at him.
"Thanks to Ghastly, I'm stuck crossing this thing in heels! So shut it!"
"Why not use Gyarados?" Brock pointed out as Misty blushed at that.
"I HAD SENT GYARADOS BACK TO CERULEAN WHEN MY SISTERS TOLD ME AN OLD POKÉMON WAS RAMPAGING BACK IN CERULEAN! SO, I DON'T HAVE HIM!" She shouted as she took another step …
And slipped.
"YIPE!"
Thankfully she grabbed the plank and was hanging over the deep chasm moat as she had a terrifying look down.
"AND THIS IS WHY I WAS TRYING TO BE CAREFUL! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT ASH!" Brock shook his head as he casually strolled onto the bridge and grabbed Misty's wrists as he carried her over to the other side.
"There, happy?" He asked as he walked to the front door.
Misty growled as she ran to catch up.
He saw the four enter into his Gym, and smirked as he saw the new Brock and the new Misty Waterflower enter through the hidden camera security system.
Then his eyes then turned to the other two.
One girl that was griping about being in a dress in a ninja dojo ("Very wise and understandable if a Pokémon caused this, young one.") and the boy she was clinging to.
He quirked an eyebrow at who he reminded him of.
He had fought the son of the one he teamed up with and fought during the original attack on Silph Company and he had his father's ingenuity with types and a lot of humility.
He smirked as he saw a Pikachu on his shoulder.
If this was the son of who he thought was the father, this would be very interesting.
Then lightly landing behind him, he sensed his daughter bowing behind him.
"Apologies for bothering your studying, father, but we have an interloper." He quirkily whirled around.
"Who is it?"
"It appears to be a Ghastly, and he has screwed around with several doors. None on the main challenge path, thankfully, but several unused trapdoors appear to be ready for some reason." He brought up a hand to his chin and went into deep thought.
Before then he turned around and looked at a Gengar.
"I take it you know this Ghastly?" He asked, holding up a hand to keep Janine from throwing any shuriken at it.
"Gen." He said as he pointed to the red dressed girl.
"Ah. I take it he's responsible for her being in it?" The Gengar then made a bottom-opening door motion with his arms.
"AAAHHH. Is obsessed with dropping girls like them down trapdoors. That's why he's sulking around and messing with them. Rest assured, they will be safe. Would you like help from my daughter to reign him in?"
The Gengar smirked and vanished alongside Janine.
"Now to give the challenge."
"OK, so what do we need to do here?" Serena asked as she just saw a regular house when they opened the door.
"Well last time, Misty leaned against a spinning door."
"I'M NOT DOING THAT AGAIN!"
"Yeah whatever. But basically, this place is a maze since Koga is a ninja, so I think the main idea is getting to the center."
"Indeed."
Everyone nearly jumped in fright when a man in purple ninja garb appeared right the heck out of nowhere.
"JEEZ! I knew you were a ninja, but appearing without smoke or anything, that's impressive!" The ninja smirked at that and pointed to Misty.
"She also helped when she shouted. It masked my approach through the hidden door. Still, impressive what you have done to my friends, Surge and Sabrina." Ash didn't react as he then narrowed his eyes at him.
"What's your point, Koga?" The ninja smirked at that.
"Trying to see if, like Gary was to Blue, your as skilled as your father Red was when he defeated my Arbok." Ash quirked an eyebrow at that as he then crossed his arms.
"And how do you know any of that? For all I know, you could be trying to misdirect me." Koga chuckled at that.
"You're an Aura User, aren't you? Shouldn't you be able to tell if I'm lying?"
"One, that's a psychic, which you clearly have built up a resistance to. Two, I TRIED doing that outside, but I couldn't see any Aura Signatures at all, so you obviously have some sort of technique to block us from seeing it."
Koga smirked, and then Ash saw a brief flash of some sort of glass.
"This glass is made of a special material, similar to Ghost types, which can hide their Aura a bit. And I had gotten some calls from my old friends detailing you. So, I know who your father is, what has happened, and how hard I should push." With that, Koga threw down a smoke pellet and vanished.
"So, what now?" Serena asked as she held onto Ash.
"Now, we navigate a maze, unfortunately." Ash said as they began to walk through the Gym, purposefully kicking dirt up.
Whenever he did, he would watch and see if it connected with anything.
Goes fully forward?
Clean way forward.
Stops in midair?
Check left and right.
And why wasn't he just blasting his way through with his Pokémon?
One, this specific material was EXTREMELY expensive and hard to get your hands on, and he would rather not drum up a tab for this.
Two, where's the challenge in just brute forcing your way through?
"Alright, let's head to the right first." Ash said as they slowly began to make their way through the maze.
Koga was watching through the security system again, as the 4 slowly made their way through the invisible wall maze, smirking at Ash's technique of using the dirt to his advantage.
Quickly pausing that, he saw Janine jumping around a separate part of the Gym, as she clearly had found her prey.
"Janine, how goes the apprehension of the intruder?"
"Me and Gengar have been trying to track him down, but we cannot figure out what he intends to do. None of the trapdoors he has unlocked are on the main path those 4 are taking." Koga said …
Just before the two girls vanished.
"Janine?" He asked before noticing she was gone.
"Good. Now, to make sure he has a clear head for the center." He said to himself as he got to the position.
"AH, FOR THE LOVE OF DIALGA, HOW ARE WE NOT AT THE CENTER ALREADY!?" Misty shouted impatiently as they had gotten out of the dirt floor and onto some regular floors.
"Well, he is a ninja, and maybe a part of his test is having patience." Ash replied as Misty shook her head.
"And why are you not being impatient this time, A-MMPH!" Misty was hand gagged by Ash before she had a chance to say his name.
"DON'T FINISH THAT! He might be listening in, and I don't want to answer his name question until after the battle!" He whispered at her as she forced his hands off her mouth.
"He already seems to know!" She whisper-shouted back as Serena shook her head.
"He's still trying to see what Koga will do, Misty." She whispered back …
Before everyone jumped out of the way of sudden Shuriken impacting the wall near them.
"ARCEUS! THAT WAS WAY TOO-"
*THWACK! *
"CLOOOOOOOOSSSSSE!" Misty shouted as the floor gave way underneath her feet.
"Misty!" Serena shouted as she ran over to her friend before …
*THWUMP! *
"WAAAH!" She too fell down a trapdoor.
"Serena!" Ash shouted as he almost busted the floor.
Until a note tied to a string just descended out of nowhere.
Quickly grabbing it, he read it and let out a sigh of relief.
"OK, let's get going, Brock." He said as he gave the note to Brock.
"HAHA! GOTEM!" Ghastly celebrated as he saw his trainer and Misty fall down the trapdoors he had readied.
Course, it hadn't been easy, what with Gengar and that Ninja Chick hunting him down like crazy.
"Now to just get the next setup and – WHOEY!"
He then felt two arms grab him from behind the back of his head and yank him back.
And found himself staring at a very disturbing smile as the teeth parted.
"snNNOOOOOZZZEEEAAA!" And with that, something clobbered Ghastly in the head as the Ninja House lived up to its name and vanished.
"GHASTLY, WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU, I WILL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET PAST YOUR TYPE!" Serena shouted as she slid down some sort of slide.
She was not exactly happy that Ghastly had pulled the same trick from the Tower again.
She would have continued to gripe if the slide hadn't ended right then and there, and she was in free fall.
And then she felt something grab her wrist.
"Well, that was a close one." A voice said as Serena then saw that Misty also hanging in the air as they then saw a ninja hanging upside down while holding them.
"A few more feet and I wouldn't have been able to catch you two from the ejection system." The Ninja said, with the two now hearing the female voice more clearly.
"Alright, Crobat! Pull us back!"
"CROBAT!"
Ash and Brock had finally found a door to the center of the building, after they had checked for ninja.
"OK, this door is clean. Let's go, Brock." With that, they opened the door.
The room was bigger, but Ash and Brock recognized it as the same one they had first fought …
Greninja then jumped out of his Pokéball and caught 3 shuriken that had tried to go to the right side of Ash's head then pulled a reverse throw back to the sender.
"Impressive." A female voice called out as a girl in pink and red ninja garb dropped from the ceiling.
"This is my first time seeing a Greninja outside of Kalos. And well trained by that." As she stood, she took on a cocky smirk.
"But how well will it face against my brother? He has studied ninjitsu for far much longer than your little frog." Ash then smirked back at her.
"So, has he been to the Ninja Village of Kalos? I've been there once, and that is where my Frogadier evolved." Aya quirked an eyebrow at that.
"I find that very hard to believe given how secretive that village is. And I will not tolerate lying in my brother's-!"
"AYA! STOP THIS AT ONCE!" A voice shouted as Koga appeared from smoke, with Aya shocked.
"He does not lie." Aya nearly lost her balance at that.
"What!? But he has only just begun his journey! How could he have already been-!"
"Look closely at the stance of his Greninja. It is that of the secret technique that can only be found in the Ninja Village. And even then, Red would tell the truth if he was cornered like this."
Ash didn't move …
Until he nearly got bowled over by a hugging Serena.
"Well, I see that Koga was a man of his word." He choked out, as Koga smirked.
"And you do not have to worry about your Gengar, he has just finished restraining her Ghastly." Ash looked behind Koga and saw Gengar with Ghastly tied up and a towel filled with anti-ghost charms in his mouth.
"Well done, Janine." He praised a ninja girl who had just appeared.
"Thank you, father. And I see Aunty Aya has tried to do her usual greeting." She said, as Aya looked embarrassed.
"I asked you nicely to never call me that in front of anyone!"
"I believe the actual quote was 'call me that in front of anyone except Koga and you'll find yourself hanging from the ceiling by my ninja stars' and you said that in front of father." Aya growled at that, when Koga gave her a stern look.
"This shall be a 5v5 fight. Is the Greninja and Gengar any of the ones you'll be using?" Ash shook his head as he pulled out a Pokéball.
"Nope, I already formulated my plan, Koga, and Pikachu is also not going to be one I use. Muk!" He called out as his Poison friend came out and looked ready to hug or eat.
"Countering my Poison moves. Clever. MUK!" Everyone was surprised by that since last time, he used a Golbat and Venemoth.
When his Muk came out, it didn't make a sound, just staring at Ash's.
"Ash's Muk vs Koga's Muk. BEGIN!" With that, Ash's Muk started off with a Gunk Shot.
"Minimize!" Suddenly, Koga's Muk seemed to shrink right out of the way and disappeared.
"Muk, stay ready! A ninja trained Muk might be as tricky as us!" Muk quieted down and began to listen.
Being the head of a horde meant that he was used to keeping an eye on tricky areas.
And just in time, he threw up a Protect when Koga's Muk tried to strike with a Zen Headbutt.
"Not bad. Use Haze!" Koga's Muk spewed out a white stream as everything seemed to disappear.
"Muk! Get ready, we can't use Protect too often or its reliability is destroyed!" Muk nodded as he again began to try and sense out his opponent.
And got surprised by a Thunder Punch from Koga's Muk, who then vanished again and Ash's Muk again got socked in the head, this time with Ice Punch.
Muk was starting to get annoyed. He then threw a random punch behind him in an attempt to strike his opponent, only to get air and got whacked in the back of the head again with Fire Punch.
Muk threw his own and felt his hand slipped off the back of Koga's …
And a reminder of how backed up he had gotten when it collided with the wall.
And then Koga's Muk again hit him with Thunder Punch, and Muk felt himself suddenly get charged with electricity.
The Haze disappeared as Koga's Muk was smirking at him as he then went in for a Zen Headbutt.
Ash quickly thought of a way to get Muk out of the way, given a small problem in general with Paralysis is that it reduces speed.
Suddenly, Ash's Muk seemed to dissolve into a puddle as the Zen Headbutt flew right over him, before he came back up and an orange ball appeared when he cupped his hands together.
He took a deep breath and fired it right at Koga's Muk, who had just turned around and saw what was coming for him.
The Hyper Beam collided with him as he smashed right into a wall.
"Been … been wanting to use that move ever since Snorlax and Kingler showed me how to use it." He wanted out as his body had an electrical surge.
Despite the massive amount of energy, Koga's Muk slithered back in, albeit almost like jelly.
"That … that not … take you out? For the love of pizza and tomatoes, STAY DOWN!" Ash's Muk screeched as Koga's began to suddenly to glow blue.
Ash stared until he realized what was happening.
"FOCUS PUNCH!" Ash's Muk's eyes went wide as he tried to move, but he suddenly jolted with electricity as Paralysis froze him.
Koga's Muk put the blue energy into one of his fists as he charged for Ash's Muk.
He thought quickly, before he put up his arms in front of him as the punch connected.
Koga's Muk smirked, thinking he had beaten Ash's.
Ash thought the same until grey energy came off of his Muk as it threw off Koga's.
"ALERT. MUK HAS LEARNED ENDURE. AND IS PREPARING ANOTHER NEW ATTACK."
As Dexter reported that, Ash's Muk glowed orange as he slammed into his opponent's gut, sending him hurtling into the other end of the arena.
When the dust cleared from the crater sight, Koga's Muk had swirls in his eyes.
Koga stared before smirking and returning his fallen comrade.
"We weren't expecting a powered-up Façade strike. Well played, but let's see how you deal with this. TOXICROAK!" With that, the evolved form of Croagunk appeared and took a martial arts stance, awaiting his opponent.
Ash looked back at Muk, and saw that he was on his last leg, panting heavily.
"Muk, you've fought hard enough! Return!" Muk put up no resistance, only muttering something about anchovies being no good on a pizza as he went back to the ball.
"LUCARIO! I CHOOSE YOU!" With that, his faithful Aura partner roared as it appeared on the battlefield.
"Again, you make it to where my Poison typing isn't viable. Still, with Toxicroak's Fighting Type, let's see how your Steel beast ranks against mine! BRICK BREAK!" Toxicroak's fists turned orange as he nearly got the drop on Lucario.
As he just vanished and appeared behind him, Lucario only dodging by using his Extreme Speed.
"Ninjas. Always with the misdirection and trickery."
"Hey, just because you're annoyed by us doesn't mean you get to talk DOWN to us, honor boy."
Lucario's choice of Thunder Punch may or may not have been influenced a bit by the insult, as Toxicroak let himself get hit by it.
'Strange. Toxicroak's abilities are Poison Point, Anticipation or … OH NO!' Ash's suspicions were confirmed when Toxicroak's mouth produced a small blue orb that shot into the ceiling.
"LUCARIO, HIS ABILITY IS DRY SKIN! HE'S TRYING TO OUTLAST YOU!" He shouted as Lucario jumped out of the way of a Cross Chop and ducked a Dynamic Punch.
"What, was one of your parents a Lucario!?"
"Mother, actually. And she taught me more than just that." Koga smirked, seemingly knowing what Toxicroak said.
"VACUUM WAVE!" A Tornado seemed to be summoned from Toxicroak's hand as Lucario found himself skidding across the wooden floor as splinters were sent everywhere.
Lucario panted, as while Vacuum Wave wasn't as good as Aura Sphere, being faster than him in the rain was going to be a problem as the rain healed up some of the injuries Toxicroak had taken.
"Lucario, try using Blaze Kick!" Ash called out, hoping the special trait of Dry Skin could work in their favor.
The kick had been severely weakened by the rain to where Lucario had to try the foot sweep 3 times in order to get a spark going to ignite his leg.
When he did, Toxicroak didn't even budge as he got hit.
Strangely, the flames seemed to get bigger when the kick connected for two seconds before getting snuffed out by the rain.
Toxicroak caught Lucario's leg as he pulled a brutal Reversal on him …
Before zipping in front of him and using Close Combat to pull a Pokéstreet Fighter move.
Lucario face-planted into the ground, dazed and bruised, but still able to fight.
Toxicroak came rushing forward, with a Brick Break aimed straight at Lucario's chest.
Lucario used Thunder Punch to try and fight back, but due to Rain Dance, Toxicroak was able to start overpowering the punch and come closer and closer …
Only to suddenly freeze, lose all strength out of nowhere, electricity sparking around him, and getting flung back.
Toxicroak froze as more electricity coursed through him, as Lucario smirked.
"Combine Thunderpunch and Blaze Kick! Keep him on the defensive!" Quickly alternating as the Raind Dance came to an end, Toxicroak was pushed back and growled.
Lucario came in for another Blaze Kick when Toxicroak caught it, and used another Rain Dance, beginning to heal.
With the rain continuing again, Lucario quickly ducked another Brick Break coming for his head, trying to throw another Thunder Punch, only to have it restrained as Toxicroak twisted his wrist.
Lucario then tried to knee his opponent while powering it up with Blaze Kick, but Toxicroak made it collided with his own hand.
Lucario felt the burn and electricity coursed right through him, as he grimaced in agony.
"Brock, why did Ash have Lucario use Blaze Kick, and why is he still letting Lucario try and use it in the rain?" Serena asked as Brock just grimaced.
"DRY SKIN has the ability to take any Water type attack and use it to heal themselves, however, Fire Attacks are a lot harder to roll with because of that." Misty then grimaced when Lucario's punch got caught and his arm twisted.
"And a special perk when combined with Rain Dance is that it heals as the rain hits it, meaning alongside Lucario's Blaze Kick getting depowered, Toxicroak is healing faster, despite the Paralysis." And then Lucario's leg got caught as he tried to force it through, only to have it forced against his electrified hand.
"If only Ash could somehow put that fire into an orb, or fire it like an Aura Sphere."
Ash had heard them, but couldn't figure out how to help Lucario in this situation.
"I don't get it, how is Lucario going to use an orb? If only Ivysaur was out so he could … use … LUCARIO! FOCUS THE ELCTRICITY AND FIRE INTO AN AURA SPHERE!" Lucario grimaced, but he took some of the fire energy he felt in his leg and put it in the palm that was crackling with electricity.
Quickly beginning to spin it around with Aura, Lucario grimaced as he felt the heat get stronger and stronger as his hand burned.
"NOW THROW IT INTO THE AIR!" The instant Lucario threw it, it ignored Toxicroak as he moved his head out of the way …
Only to suddenly go into the heart of the rain and explode outward, as intense sunlight suddenly came, and Toxicroak screeched in pain.
"Now I see what happened. Electricity is a very sharp form of fire, so Ash combined it with the Blaze Kick encompassed by the Aura Sphere to basically do the equivalent of a Sunny Day." Brock said, as Serena saw Toxicroak patting himself for some reason.
"I know Blaze Kick will be powered up, but what's going on with Toxicroak?"
"Unlike what happens when Rain Dance is used, harsh sunlight actually aggravates Dry Skin Pokémon, meaning they get hurt a lot in the sunlight. And now that Blaze Kick is more powerful right now, I don't see Toxicroak surviving."
"THROW UP ANOTHER RAIN DANCE, TOXICROAK!" Toxicroak began to pour the energy into the water sphere, until he jerked and stopped when the Paralysis took hold again.
And that left him wide open to a Blaze Kick from Lucario.
Toxicroak screeched as he again felt his DRY SKIN screw him over as Lucario combined an Extreme Speed into a Blaze Kick.
"TOXICROAK! USE TOXIC SPIKES!" Toxicroak leaped into the air as his wrist spikes shot off several spikes into the ground that glowed purple, as Lucario nailed him again with Blaze Kick, he glowed red again …
And crashed to the ground with swirly eyes.
"Toxicroak is unable to battle! Lucario wins!"
Ash took a deep breath to calm himself as Lucario fell to one knee.
"Lucario! That's enough! Come back!" With that, Lucario went back to his Pokéball.
"Very impressive, Ash Ketchum. I must admit, Toxicroak is one of my lesser used Pokémon, as I tend to use Kanto natives when doing my gym fights." Ash just shrugged, not seeing what Koga was getting at.
"Now, let's see how you do within a different element." With that, Koga snapped his fingers …
And the wooden planks slid to the side as a huge water pool emerged.
"TENTACRUEL!" Ash and Misty looked in shock as the familiar jellyfish Pokémon appeared.
Ash stood there, trying to think of who to send out, before throwing his choice out, not saying a word.
When 4 tiny turtles appeared with classic Kantonian instruments.
(PLAY IZNAGI FROM KAMEN RIDER SHINOBI!)
"Henshin!"
His Squirtle emerged, as the Toxic SPIKES poisoned him, with him glowing purple.
However, the water began to form around him as he gained an armored look to him based off a ninja.
"Shinobi is written with heart and blade. Squirtle Rider SHINOBI!"
Ash walked over to a door and headbutted it, as a crater appeared on the door.
"Apologies, Koga. My Squirtle has watched – are you kidding me?"
"Sadly, no, I am not kidding you with what my Tentacruel is doing. He too has an … unhealthy obsession with the franchise as well."
Ash looked at Tentacruel …
And the water surrounding him had turned gold.
"Tenta. TENTACRUEL. CRUEL TENTACRU!"
"Highly unlikely that you can beat me in five seconds, so that has to be a bluff."
"JUST START THE BATTLE ALREADY!" Aya shouted as she ducked in the stands.
"Tentacruel, Shock with Veno!" SPIKES shot off of Tentacruel's tentacles like a hive of bees as they shot off for Squirtle.
"RAPID SPIN!"
"SQUIRTLE ARTS! WIND TORNADO!"
Soon, the wind began to pick up as Squirtle spun around, and the purple spikes in the water disappeared as Squirtle avoided the VenoShock attack and impacted on Tentacruel's forehead.
"SQUIRTLE ARTS! PUNCH OF ICE!"
"TENTACRUEL! TENTA TENTACRUEL!"
A Poison Jab and an Ice Punch collided with each other as the Ice Punch was cancelled when Poison activated.
As Squirtle shook off the effects, Tentacruel had sent a Blizzard attack at him, freezing him in a block of ice.
"TENTA! TENTACRUEL CRUEL TENTA!" Tentacruel then began to laugh as Squirtle was unable to move …
At least until the ice began to crack.
"TE-TENTACRUEL!"
"Before your Blizzard connected, I used a Scald attack on my body to heat it up, now let's see if you can handle both earth and water!" Squirtle declared as he backflipped out of the water and onto a Muddy Water.
Tentacruel tried to break the wave with a Poison Jab, but Squirtle jumped in front slightly as he activated a Mirror Move and sent it back at him.
"GOING FORTH!" As the muddy wave connected, Squirtle spun something on his waist and leapt into the air.
"ZEN NIN ARTS! HEADBUTT STYLE!" He declared as he used a Zen Headbutt on Tentacruel sending him crashing near Koga.
Tentacruel shakily floated over, about to try and jab Squirtle …
Only for an explosion to occur right out of nowhere and he fell face first in the water.
(STOP PLAYING THE MUSIC.)
"Despite how ridiculous that was, Squirtle has won. Please wait a moment while we put the original field back, challenger." Janine said as Ash returned Squirtle, having no interest in hearing his after-battle speech.
"Crobat! Aerial Combat time!" Koga said as the fully evolved Zubat line appeared and hovered.
"OK, let's see how well we do! HITMONCHAN!" Ash's newest Fighting Type appeared, punching the air several times as he smirked at Crobat.
"Hitmonchan VS Crobat! BEGIN!"
"Let's start off with Ice Punch!" Hitmonchan rushed forward, as his right fist became enveloped in water that quickly froze over.
"Wait for it, Crobat." Crobat hovered as he kept an eye on Hitmonchan's fist, as he threw it …
"POISON FANG!" Crobat widened his mouth and slammed the teeth into Hitmonchan's glove, piercing his skin as he felt his own mouth freeze over.
Hitmonchan shoved Crobat off his hand as he checked it over.
Ash quickly made sure Hitmonchan wasn't Poisoned, then nodded.
"Thunder Punch!" Ducking another Poison Fang, Hitmonchan spun around and connected his fist with the back of Crobat, as the bat backflipped and struck his back with an Air Slash.
"Poison Wing Technique!" Koga ordered as Crobat bit his own wing and secreted Poison all over it.
Ash was really thankful Hitmonchan had this as an egg moves.
"RAPID SPIN!" Quickly holding his arms to his chest, Hitmonchan spun around the attack as Crobat impacted the ground.
"Arial Ace into Poison Fang!" Crobat flipped out of the ground and took off for Hitmonchan.
Ash and Hitmonchan looked at each other for a split second before nodding.
"Thundice clap!" Just as Crobat got in front of Hitmonchan, he brought his hands together in an open palm clap as his hands were covered in electricity and ice.
The shockwave that erupted from it hit Crobat right in the face as he was flung backwards, barely righting himself in time to avoid the ground …
And found himself charged with electricity.
"Bullet Punch, fast!" Ash called out as Crobat tried to get a Poison Fang ready, until the electricity froze him.
When Hitmonchan's fist collided with Crobat, he reared his other fist back and struck with Ice Punch as, finally, Crobat bit the dust and was knocked out on the ground.
"CROBAT IS UNABLE TO BATTLE! HITMONCHAN WINS!" Janine announced as Koga smiled and returned Crobat.
"May I ask what that technique you did was? It feels like something a Ninja would come up with." Ash chuckled in an embarrassed tone as he returned Hitmonchan.
"Well, it's a triple combination of Ice Punch, Thunder Punch and Fake Out. Since Fake Out usually can't be used at the beginning of the fight, me and Hitmonchan have been looking about different ways of using the movement in other moves." He then grimaced as he brought out his last Pokéball.
"It doesn't always work the right way, though. With Thundice Clap in general, there's a risk of it backlashing on his arms such as getting Paralyzed or hurting the hand that used Ice Punch since it gets frozen over."
"Hmm, I'll have to see what I can do for my own friends. For now, let us finish up the Gym Battle. ARBOK!" Koga shouted, as the Kanto Poison Snake appeared, bigger than Jessie's and looking much fiercer.
"CHABOK!"
Ash stared before he smirked as he then revealed his last choice.
"ABRA! LET'S DO IT PSYCHIC AND AURA STYLE!" With that, Ash released his new Psychic type …
Who appeared to be napping.
"ABRABRABRAZZZZZABRABRABRABRA."
"Well, Abra vs Arbok I guess. Begin." Janine said as Arbok waited for Koga's signal.
"Drat. Of course he would know about Sleep Talk. The moment I give that order, Abra will be a sitting duck!" Ash cursed as he tried to figure out a way for Abra to use moves without the ninja snake getting him.
"You do know we are Psychic right?" Abra pointed out as he communicated with Ash.
"Oh, yeah. But aren't you asleep?"
"Not quite, this is just my body's natural reaction when I need to sleep 18 hours straight to catch up. Anyway, yes, I'll need to use Sleep Talk for now, but it will be better than just waiting!"
Ash nodded as he mentally sent the command.
Arbok just closed his eyes when Abra used Teleport via Sleep Talk.
He reared back, trying to bite him …
Only to bite his midsection as Abra teleported away again.
"Hmph. The psychic talks won't protect you forever."
"Yeah well, now your Arbok has his teeth stuck in his own body! I would LOVE to see him pull out his teeth from that!" Ash answered back …
And immediately shirked back when Koga gave a haunting smile.
"Very well. BITE THROUGH YOUR BODY!" Ash cleaned his ears out, hoping he had misheard what Koga had ordered.
Arbok did so as his entire tail half flopped onto the ground as Arbok again lunged for Abra.
Abra again used Teleport, still Sleep Talking as he prepared a Psychic to hit the back of Arbok …
Only to then get wrapped up by a new tail shooting out of the stump where Arbok had torn through himself.
Not to mention his old tail had begun moving around on its own as it wrapped around Abra's neck.
"I guess you could say this is my Arbok's personal special. He can regenerate any lost limb or organ that gets severed. It is so good, he once regenerated from only the top of his neck and head. Best part is that he can still manipulate the severed appendages to aid him."
Abra had teleported as the attacks had woken him up, but he could barely dodge either Arbok or the tail.
"Ash, I can't figure out how he is sending his tail to attack us! It's not some form of telepathy! It's almost like the muscles inside the tail are still working and are connected to his brain!"
Ash quickly racked his mind for what other moves Abra had when he had checked Dexter.
Then he remembered 2 special TMs that Abra had been given.
"Abra, let yourself get caught!" Abra almost broke his closed eye look when Ash called that out …
Until he looked into his thoughts.
Nodding, Arbok wrapped his tail around Abra's lower half as the severed tail made another attempt at wrapping around his neck.
However, Abra's arms were completely free, as Arbok wasn't thinking Abra could do anything with them.
So imagine the utter confusion when Abra caught the tail with one hand, beginning to freeze it, and then slamming it it Arbok.
Arbok shot back up, readying a Poison Fang before realizing his body was freezing up from the severed tail.
"Clever. I see Sabrina had gotten her friend some extra moves via TM with Ice Punch. Still that won't hold us back for long." Koga declared as Arbok then got flames in his mouth before he froze over.
"Abra. Get a ThunderPunch ready. I'm willing to bet that Fire Fang is going to release Arbok soon!"
"And then what? Koga probably taught this guy REST! I don't know if I can recall Dream Eater correctly!"
"Yes, but that wasn't what I was planning. All we need to do is figure out a way to stall him."
The Fire Fang did its job as Arbok smashed his way out of the ice and flung the old tail at Abra.
The other tail was still frozen so he could no longer use it as a distraction by controlling it.
Abra teleported as Arbok figured where he would teleport to …
And got socked in the face with Thunder Punch and got all tingly.
"Now use Psychic!" Abra's eye slits began to have a form of blue energy in them, before sending it out towards Arbok …
Who suddenly zoomed out of the way and the attack impacted on a clear left behind skin.
"Drat! Shed Skin when it works at the in opportune time!" Koga just smirked.
"Quite opportune for us, though. WRAP!" Arbok then appeared right behind Abra and made sure to get his arms this time, as Abra couldn't get any breaths to teleport away.
Ash again tried to think of a good way to help Abra get out, before he heard Abra yawn and fall asleep.
"Rest? Why would Abra use rest!? Sure, it heals him, but Sleep Talk won't do that much good! And I don't know if he can hear me … over … the …!"
"ABRA, USE SNORE!" Abra then used his seldom used vocal cords and Arbok reeled in pain as he covered up his ear holes, given how close to the epicenter he was.
"NOW SLEEP TALK!" Abra's eyes glowed blue as the Psychic finally connected with Arbok's head.
Arbok flew right behind Koga and a new Arbok indentation appeared.
As Koga looked over his fallen ally, he smiled and got a scroll.
Janine understood what that meant as she saw Arbok fall out of the wall with swirly eyes.
"Arbok is unable to battle! Abra is the winner! And with that, Ash has won the Soul Badge!" She declared, as Koga walked over to Ash.
"Very well done. And yes, I know you are Red's son, Ash. There is no need to hide it." Ash looked a bit uneasy at that.
"Still, better safe than sorry when it comes to old Team Rocket members."
"True, I was an old lieutenant of Team Rocket. However, when the original Giovanni disappeared, the Admins began to change the organization into something … something that I no longer wanted to be a part of. And when the Attack on the GoldenRod City Radio Station occurred, I left before they even commenced it." Ash saw the anger in Koga's eyes, guessing that Koga really regretted whatever happened that day.
"Since then, I have split my time form being the Kanto Poison Gym Leader and the Johto Elite Four member. So that I could make up for what happened." With that, Koga motioned his head over to a more open battlefield.
"Enough of my story. I know about your Greninja's little secret." Ash shook his head at that.
"Yeah, but I can't use it right now. Unless you have a Gengar or a Beedrill." Koga then smirked as he went to the other side.
"Nope, I have the next best thing. GEKKOUGA!" Ash remembered what Aya had said as he placed the ancient name for Greninja and swapped his Pokéballs around for Greninja to be officially out.
Ash and Greninja when he was officially out for battle stood for a bit.
This was a first.
"Indeed, one often doesn't encounter Shiny Starters, even in the wild. But I was lucky when I was given an egg during my studies in the Ninja Village of Kalos." The Greninja in front of them, instead of a pink tongue scarf and blue hue was completely black minus the blood red tongue acting as the scarf.
He also stood tall with his hands behind his back, almost like he was waiting impatiently for his opponent while trying to hide it.
"Alright then, Greninja, start off with Ice Shuriken!" Greninja threw the Ice combo attack at Gekkouga, and as they both expected he dodged out of the way.
"Now Ice Liquidation!" Bringing out the familiar water katana, Greninja was right behind Gekkouga, who was unaware of the impending horizontal slash.
Greninja spun around to get the momentum going, as he came rearing up to mark …
And then found himself jerking in a car stop as Gekkouga, with two fingers, caught the blade and stopped it.
"Poison Kunai." Gekkouga then used his free hand to slap his star on the thigh, but instead of a water shuriken appearing, a purple liquid Kunai appeared as he made an attempt to slash at Greninja.
Greninja spun around, but the Kunai had scratched his right cheek as he landed on the floor.
"Greninja!" Greninja glowed purple, right before he suddenly glowed blue and the glowing stopped.
"Seems you and Greninja have been able to outpower the Poison. Very good. Gekkouga, Poison Slash!" Gekkouga acted like he was holding a sword in its scabbard as he rushed across the battlefield, before pulling out a Night Slash that looked covered in liquid.
Greninja barely rolled out of the way as he got a pair of Ice Kunai ready.
Gekkouga noticed and put his hands on his thighs.
As Greninja charged at Gekkouga, he found himself having to parry several tiny irritants out of the way.
Said irritants being tiny purple shurikens that were Poison Charged.
Greninja then sensed something behind him …
And both he and Gekkouga were locked in place, Ice Kunai against Poison Kunai.
"Hydro Pump!"
"Gunk Shot!"
Greninja summoned the familiar blue orb in front of his mouth area, as Gekkouga had a purple orb in front of his.
As both attacks connected, they used the blowback to skid back to their respective trainers.
"Indeed, this Greninja is well trained. We haven't had a good fight like this in years." Koga praised as Gekkouga bowed in respect.
"Yeah, I haven't really had the chance to push Greninja to our fullest against another one, and the only one I'm aware of is in Kalos." Ash replied as Greninja stood tall, ready to continue …
As they suddenly began to see purple liquid begin swirling around Gekkouga.
"I agree wholeheartedly with not being able to fight at full power. Me and Gekkouga have gone through so much to get this far." Koga replied …
As Gekkouga copied his movements.
Ash and Greninja felt the limiter come off as they began to feel the power.
"Guess you also haven't had many opportunities to actually use this form, have you?" Ash asked as Greninja felt their Bond.
"Indeed, now then, show me how far your Bond Phenomenon is, Ash Ketchum!" Koga declared as he began to make various martial arts poses with Gekkouga copying him.
"With Discipline and Patience, we fight together! The way of the Ninja! The way of the warrior! Gekkouga and I will fight all opposition together! Now let that power coalesce and forge our path! GEKKOUGA, LET'S FIIIIGHT!"
With that, the purple liquid showed an illusionary Koga and Gekkouga coming together in a scream as the liquid tornado subsided.
Ash and Greninja had gotten into their Battle Bond form, expecting something to look like a Shiny Version of their form.
However, they both felt something give in them when they gazed upon it.
THIS Battle Bond looked nothing like theirs.
Gekkouga looked more Ninja Like than Greninja already did, but on his wrists appeared to be some kind of either stinger or hidden blade that was secreting a purple liquid, his feet had talons on them that just dug into the ground.
The head looked downright terrifying, covered by a hood that had a purple glow that around the mouth, the frubbles seemed to be melting or looked dangerous if ingested, and the eyes were blank white slates.
What may have been the most terrifying was what happened to the tongue.
After being wrapped around like a scarf, the long end went down the back of the spine and curled around once it reached the end, and the curled end had a spike on the tip of the tongue, akin to that of a Skorupi stinger.
The stance didn't help as it made Gekkouga look more feral as he scratched the ground and began to slither around.
"GO!" Koga shouted as Gekkouga shot his tongue tail at Greninja, who barely got out of the way as a crater formed where he had stood.
Greninja barely dug underground in time when Gekkouga shot off a gunk shot at him, but Koga just smirked.
"Start Clawing!" Gekkouga began to scratch the ground with his taloned feet as he closed his eyes.
And when Greninja tried to uppercut him when he came out of the ground, Gekkouga jumped back, rebounded, and kicked Greninja hard in the gut.
That was NOTHING compared to him running his claws on his stomach, as purple liquid oozed into the wounds.
Greninja and Ash began coughing as they both began gagging when they felt the poison going through them.
"Geh! Greninja! Double Team!" Greninja followed the order as about 25 copies of him appeared.
"Like we would fall for that old trick. SEND YOUR STINGER INTO THE GROUND!" With that, Gekkouga shot the tongue Stinger behind him …
And 2 seconds later Greninja was launched into the air as the Stinger pierced his stomach.
"Gah! Mega Shuriken!" All the copies were drawn into Greninja's shuriken as he then tried to throw it at Gekkouga to do SOMETHING to damage him.
Gekkouga just slapped his thighs and caught the mega shuriken and spread the Poison goop all over it.
"Mega Poison Shuriken!" With that, Gekkouga tossed the gigantic poison star at Greninja as he slammed into the ground.
Ash staggered to his knee, feeling the pain Greninja just went through, and the Poison burning them.
Gekkouga pinned Greninja under his foot as they stared at one another …
Before Gekkouga jabbed his Stinger tongue into Greninja's neck, Ash winced as he felt the sensation, expecting to black out like he usually does when this happens.
Instead, both he and Greninja felt the poison leaving their bodies as Gekkouga got off of him and force fed him a Sitrus Berry.
"Quite immature, but that is to be expected. That form is still quite powerful." Koga told them as the Bond Phenomenon of Gekkouga vanished.
Ash and Greninja exited the Battle Bond as well as they shakily stood, just thankful it ended for right now.
"What exactly was that Koga? How did your Greninja have a different form than mine?" He asked as Serena helped him to steady.
"What you're Greninja's current form is right now is a larval stage of the Bond Phenomenon young Ash." Koga began as he then whipped out a scroll that had several Pokémon on it, one of course being a Battle Bond Greninja.
"However, while that form is powerful, that is not the end of it." As he then began raising it up, the Pokémon suddenly changed, the Greninja from before looked like it had been crossed with a Charizard and had a flame look to it, a Serperior looked like a grass fairy, an Emboar lost its bulk and looked to be similar to a gymnast.
"As you spend more time with the Battle Bond and perfect it, it will become more attuned to who you are and how you fight together. Given my propensity for Poison Types, Gekkouga no longer had his Dark Typing when he went into the Bond Phenomenon. It changed to Poison Type and his body adapted to a combination of a Ninja and the many looks of the Poison Types. That is all I can figure out as it changes with every Trainer." He told him as a side door opened, revealing a city in the distance.
"For now, you have more pressing concerns than figuring out your true power. I shall begin my own road to stopping Team Rocket now, while Janine and Aya stay to run the Gym." Aya looked shocked while Janine bowed in respect.
"Thank you, Koga. And I will fight you again one day with a perfected Battle Bond." Koga smiled as he then jumped into the trees and vanished.
(IN THE ALOLA REGION!)
"That's it, Silvally! Keep up the pressure!" Gladion called out as some Ultra Beasts had tried sneaking into their dimension.
Mohn had finally figured out where the Shiny Nihelgo was, and had opened up the portal.
With the knowledge Faba and Wicke had when they got the flashdrive and safety precautions.
Unfortunately, while Mohn was at no risk of being lost, that didn't mean that the other Nihelgo hadn't objected when he found her and tried to both take HIM and invade their dimension.
Silvally had taken down 5 and forced them back.
Unfortunately, that was only 1/4th of the ones trying to get in.
And Lillie had rushed in for some reason instead of aiding him in holding them back.
"Silvally, Disc Change!" He called as Silvally ejected the Steel Disc he had put in originally.
"Change to Ground and use Multi Attack!" Quickly taking on a brown hue, Silvally glowed brown and slammed into one Nihelgo after the other, trying to either knock them out or force them back.
Until he got wrapped up by their tentacles.
Silvally glared angrily as the Nihelgo ripped the Memory out of his head and threw it away, ready to crack him …
Until another portal opened and a Solgaleo slammed into them all and forced them back into their portal, and used a Flare Blitz to knock them back.
"Nice work, Nebby!" Lillie called out as she landed next to it.
"Wait, this was the one Ash found, right?" Solgaleo nodded as they finally closed the portal.
"How were you able to remind him? I thought only Ash could do that." Lillie shrugged, and then pulled out Snowy.
"Seems me and Snowy were enough to remind him, which is good since I would have been in a bad spot." Lusamine then walked over with a stern look.
"And why did you charge in? You could have become the one lost!" Lillie then revealed her bag …
And a new Cosmog floated out, looking around confused.
"Seems this little guy was calling out to me for some reason. As soon as I approached its area, Nebby found me and then, after becoming a Solgaleo again, led me to this little one, who just flew into my bag." Cosmog then began floating about, looking around in curiosity at the lab.
Solgaleo suddenly nudged Lillie, like he wanted to tell her something.
Snowy then used ice to show the name Nebby with an X on it.
"Are you saying you don't want to be called Nebby anymore?" She asked, as Solgaleo nodded at the new Cosmog.
"Oh, you'll figure out your own name later and that the young one can use it?" The Ex-Nebby nodded, as he then grabbed a Beast Ball with his mouth and leapt out of the wall.
Taking a wall souvenir with him.
"Could he really not have waited until he was OUTSIDE!?" Faba shouted at seeing the gaping hole of the lab.
"Well, he probably didn't want to wait with his reunion with Ash. Still, I better see if that search has finished." Lillie said as she began to head for a door.
"Need to get back downstairs to my room, let me know if this Cosmog is anything different." She told them …
Before she fell down a hole.
With the Cosmog laughing.
"HEY! WATCH IT YOU LITTLE -!"
"It's ok, Gladion. Lillie just fell into her room. And hopefully, Solgaleo comes back in order to teach this little one how to use its teleportation ability correctly." Lusamine told him, as Snowy leapt down the hole after her trainer with the new Cosmog following suit.
As the hole closed up, Wicke came over with a confused look on her face.
"Lusamine, Faba. You have that data on Ash's Cosmog right?" Lusamine pulled it up, and then looked at the new data with interest.
"Strange, this Cosmog doesn't have the same cells as Ash's. This looks more night based than sun based." She said as she then got a notification again as the Cosmog again fashioned a dimensional hole underneath Lillie and dropped her off somewhere.
(IN THE ACTUAL FUSCHIA CITY!)
The group had just arrived at the Fuschia City Pokécenter with Ash handing over the Team that had fought against Koga, with special treatment given to Greninja.
Serena decided to walk around a bit, checking out some clothing stores, and getting more materials to make the outfits Braixen and Sylveon had, as well as making more traditional Kanto style inspired outfits for Contests.
She had also finally gotten her regular travel outfit after Janine and Gengar got Ghastly to cough up where he had hidden her and Misty's clothes
She was on her way back to the Center when she heard the tell-tale sign battle being waged.
As she headed towards the sounds, she thought for a moment it had been Ash, who was just making sure his other friends were getting some practice.
Instead, she and Sylveon growled at seeing Cross again, who was laughing with his Pokémon at defeating a young child.
Let's just say she couldn't take it anymore.
She stormed through the crowd as she made her presence known.
"Getting a lot of joy out of this, Cross!?" Cross sighed as he lazily looked at Serena.
"Yes. This kid is trash, like you and that feather stealer. Which means he must be here now." He said as he was about to get off the stage.
"No, I challenge you to a battle." Cross raised an eyebrow at that.
He looked at his Incineroar, Lycanroc and Tyranitar, who also looked bored, but shrugged.
"Very well. Since you are the one Ho-Oh apparently wants to fight, I accept." He said as he motioned for Lycanroc to step forward.
"Let's do it Sylveon!" Sylveon ran forward as a very nervous looking Referee stepped onto the stool.
"Ly-Lycanroc vs Sylveon. BEGIN!" Lycanroc didn't even wait for a second when he fired off an Accelrock at Sylveon, who just danced out of the way.
Which left her open to an Ironhead which made her back up.
"Use Fairy Wind!" Quickly shaking off the flinch results, Sylveon spun around as she made Lycanroc dodge to the left …
As she then zipped over and got an Iron Tail ready.
"Reversal!" Lycanroc then grabbed her tail and then slammed her into the dirt.
Lycanroc grinned evily as he then repeatedly stomped on Sylveon, which horrified Serena.
"Stone Edge!" Keeping Sylveon pinned down, sharp rocks suddenly pierced her as she was sent flying.
"Sylveon, Moon Blast!" Sylveon flipped over and charged her attack …
Only to then have Lycanroc appear right in front of her with another Iron Head.
"Now break her!" Grabbing Sylveon as she was dazed from the Iron Head with Crunch, Lycanroc flipped over and used Giga Impact to hasten their journey back to the ground …
With Sylveon crashing back first into it, and a sickening snap was heard.
Serena stared in horror as Lycanroc just jumped back with a cold look, and Sylveon was out cold in the crater.
"Sylveon is unable to battle. Lycanroc wins." He said sadly as Serena returned Sylveon to her Pokéball, something she hadn't done since they had come back in time at Pallet Town.
"Sakura! Bug Dance!" She called out as her newest Pink Bug Type appeared and looked ready to fight.
"Tyranitar, Pest Control." Tyranitar walked forward, almost looking like he was going to enjoy this fight.
"Sunny Day!" Sakura shot off an orb into the sky as she then began to fly around, avoiding the rocks thrown at her from Tyranitar.
'NOW SOLAR BEAM!" Sakura felt the energy almost immediately come to her as she prepared to fire the ultimate Grass beam attack …
Before she felt her head get clobbered and her face having a nice talk with the ground.
"Sandstorm!" The sun suddenly disappeared as a sandstorm kicked up and Tyranitar disappeared.
Sakura was trying to figure out how to get back in the air when Tyranitar socked her in the back of the head with a Rock Throw.
"FINISH THIS STUPID BUG!" Suddenly Tyranitar pinned Sakura down on the back …
And then proceeded to do a little tap dance on her spine.
Sakura could barely even move her head at that before she had a final vision of Tyranitar's foot.
"Hmph. Ho-Oh wanted to fight YOU? You can't even stand a candle to my power!" Cross said as Incineroar walked forward, cracking his neck as he did.
"Braixen!" Serena called out as she released her faithful Fire Starter, who growled as Incineroar gave her a taunting grin.
"Fire Blast!" Cross just shook his head as Incineroar just let himself get hit.
"Use Cross Chop." Incineroar shoved his arms in front of himself and forced the Fire Blast around his arms.
"Protect!" Braixen shoved his arms forward as the fire connected with Braixen's shield first, dispelling it as he then shoved his arms across Braixen's chest.
Braixen staggered backwards as she growled and tried to spew a Flamethrower in Incineroar's face.
Incineroar just charged right through the fire and proceeded to clock her in the face with a THunderpunch and sent her into the air.
"Darkest Lariat!" Incineroar began spinning around like a top, as he slammed DIRECTLY into Braixen's face.
Braixen slammed into the ground, as Serena became terrified as she saw Braixen wasn't breathing …
Before Incineroar stomped onto Braixen's spine.
Serena barely activated the return function before Incineroar stomped Braixen's head in.
"YOU are not worthy of Ho-Oh's attention! This battle has proven it! Where's that dumb boy you're traveling with!? THAT FEATHER IS MINE!" Cross boasted as Serena fell to her knees, unable to believe how brutal Cross had been.
"Look behind you, BAKA."
Ash had seen the entire thing, alongside Pikachu, Butterfree and Greninja.
And if Cross had pretended not to be scared before, given the stuttering he did when Ash glared right into his eyes contradicted his previous implications, Ash guessed the guy wasn't used to having his over bloated sense of power questioned.
"You, us, Battle, NOW." Was all Ash said as Brock and Misty helped Serena get to the Pokémon Center.
Cross quickly shook himself and got his ego back in ten seconds flat.
"Ah well, thank you for recognizing how weak you are. Once I win, that feather will recognize me as the true chosen one!" He said, as Lycanroc strutted forward, thinking that Pikachu was going to be just as easy as Sylveon.
"Pikachu vs Lycanroc. Begin." The ref sighed out.
"Lycanroc, use-!"
"EXTREME TAIL!" IN the span of 5 seconds, Lycanroc soon learned how weird Zero G Gravity could be as he found himself spinning around and then seeing just the ground in his vision.
"What the- Use-!"
"Extreme Punch!" Lycanroc then felt 50,000 volts course through his body as Pikachu landed an Extreme Speed powered Thunderpunch directly into his digestive system as he staggered back.
"How can this be!? USE ACCELROCK!" Lycanroc quickly began the buildup of rocks, as Pikachu built up a punch …
Before Lycanroc jerked in place.
"Focus Speed." If Lycanroc didn't have a broken collarbone before Pikachu hit him with the Thunderpunch, he definitely had a dislocated jaw from the deck he got dealt with as he spun around in the air.
When he landed on his backside, he began to flail around on the ground.
"Lycanroc, what's wrong with you!? It's just a weak little Pikachu! It got lucky with the Thunderpunch Paralyzing you!" Cross ordered as Lycanroc shakily got up …
And revealed his jaw was just hanging open and swinging back and forth.
Cross just stood dumbfounded at seeing Lycanroc's jaw getting dislocated, and then …
Nearly losing his control when he saw the death glare Pikachu was giving.
"Permission to break this dog's reality?" Pikachu asked, as he began to charge the same ball when he fought Alain's Tyranitar.
"Sylveon." Ash said, which gave Pikachu all the answers he needed.
Pikachu shot an Electro Ball at Lycanroc, who punched the ball back …
And he then swallowed the whole thing as the giant Iron Tail appeared once again.
Lycanroc could only whimper as he became a new mold shape.
The ref looked at Lycanroc for a good 15 seconds before sniggering and happily raising his arm in Ash's direction.
"Lycanroc is unable to battle! Pikachu wins!" Cross just stood numb as everyone cheered for Ash, as he just continued to not say a word.
Cross grit his teeth as he returned Lycanroc, as Tyranitar lumbered forward.
"Your little rat isn't going to stand a chance against the Psuedo Legendary of Johto, trash heap!" Ash motioned for Pikachu to come back as he threw a ball forward.
Cross almost had to slap himself in the face when Butterfree came onto the field.
"You're kidding me. You think that THE LITTLE BUG can take down my Psuedo? Tyranitar, Hyper Beam." Tyranitar had just gotten the orange orb ready to fire …
When Butterfree slammed onto the top of his head, forcing his mouth shut as the beam fire through his teeth and nose.
Cross watched bewildered as that Tackle seemed to do double the damage it was supposed to.
"Did you know Butterfree's Ability is Tinted Lense?" Ash asked as Cross nearly broke his teeth.
"Air Slash." Ash said as Tyranitar just stumbled about from the Hyper Beam that had been in his mouth, before getting painfully cut up from the Air Slash.
"Sandstorm!" Tyranitar tried to get the sandstorm going, but he soon felt himself heating up as the sun suddenly seemed to beat down on him.
"Energy Ball!" That soon made Tyranitar begin throwing rocks in random directions as Butterfree seemed to be moving too fast for him to connect and constantly hit the back of his head and his face.
"End it." Ash ordered, as the last thing Tyranitar saw …
Was a very demonic looking Butterfree firing a fully charged Sunny Day empowered Solar Beam of Agony right into his face as he made a massive trench in the ground from the beam.
"And Tyranitar is unable to battle! Cross, send out your last victim – I mean Pokémon." The ref cockily said as he just gave Cross the biggest grin possible.
Cross was frothing at the mouth, at how Ash was beating him.
He beat the one Ho-Oh wanted to fight, yet he was losing to THIS moron!?
Incineroar stomped forward, with the same expression as his trainer as Butterfree was returned.
"Greninja?" Ash asked, as he looked uninterested in continuing the fight.
"Hmph. Fools can't even give us a good fight despite how badly they beat Serena's family. I vote we leave these weaklings behind and help Braixen."
"Eh, can't fault your logic, big guy. Braixen, Sylveon and Sakura's well being should probably take priority over those dopes." Ash replied as he and Greninja turned around, heading in the direction of the Center.
"Hey! This fight isn't over, trash!" Cross angrily yelled as Incineroar nearly broke his teeth from grinding them.
"You DARE to insult me with that!? I have trained with Cross since I was a Litten! And I can beat any weakling Pokémon with ease!"
"You just rushed Braixen and think that because your physical powers can hold a candle to someone who has INDIRECT attacks. You couldn't possibly give me a challenge like that."
To say Incineroar was angry would be … rather inaccurate as he combined a Flare Blitz focusing the energy into a Fire-Thunderpunch.
"LET'S SEE YOU INSULT ME WHEN I DO THIS!" Greninja just looked behind himself with a slight eyebrow as Incineroar looked at him like he was some kind of weak helpless prey.
Then, in the span of 10 seconds …
Greninja somehow appeared right in front of Incineroar …
Grabbed his fist without getting hurt …
And just twisted it slightly to where Incineroar screamed in pain as his attack was canceled and Greninja fired a point-blank Hydro Pump in his face.
Cross stared dumbfounded at the fact that Incineroar's special attack had been taken care of with no ill effects on Greninja.
"Incineroar! You OK!?"
"If anything, I'm the farthest from OK right now. OW!"
Incineroar shook his head from the crash landing he had and twisting his wrist back into place.
"OK, let's try that again, he can't surprise us when we work together!" Cross said in arrogance, as he viewed giving orders to be a waste of time, only doing it when he needed to with Incineroar.
"Yeah, that dumb frog isn't going to get us this ti-"
*ZIP! *
Whatever arrogant comment Incineroar was going to make was cut off when Greninja kicked his head.
Then got punched in the stomach …
Then Greninja grabbed him by the throat as he shot off jets of water from his feet, sending himself and Incineroar into the air.
Incineroar desperately tried punching Greninja's arm to get him to let go, but Greninja either refused to acknowledge the punches or he found them annoying as he never stopped glaring into Incineroar's eyes.
Suddenly, Incineroar felt himself flying for a bit as Greninja had finally let go and jetted farther …
Only to reverse and grab his neck again after reorienting himself to face the ground and jetted down.
The battlefield was completely cracked as Incineroar tried to stand up again.
"OK, maybe it was a bad idea to go THAT hard on the girls. I'll need to face plant on it." Incineroar choked out, before he face planted into the ground, as Greninja just glared at him and Cross.
"Pack of arrogant weakling idiots." Greninja growled out as he returned to Ash's side.
Cross could only stand in bewilderment and horror at what had just happened.
Yes, he had purposefully gone hard on Serena, but that was to break Ash's spirit!
He was Ho-Oh's Chosen One!
But Ho-Oh had given the blasted feather to this monster who had just single handedly given him a beatdown after he had just taken down Serena!
Cross panicked and summoned his Shiny Fearow and jumped on the back.
Ash and a certain Flyer Serena had WEREN'T about to let him off so easily after what he had stupidly done.
Ash released his Pidgeot while Fearow revealed himself and they both charged forward and tried to slam Cross's Fearow. It dodged and turned, barely avoiding a Drill Peck from Serena's Fearow and dodged a rather brutal Sky Attack from Pidgeot.
Ash glared as the retreating form of Cross disappeared over the sky as Fearow growled and flew back to the Pokémon Center.
Serena was just watching Chansey and Blissey helping to bandage up the injured Braixen, Sakura and Sylveon, who weren't moving.
Serena was wondering what the Reverse World was she thinking?
She had tried to take on Cross with no plan, headfirst, she just blundered in!
And Braixen, Sakura and Sylveon paid the price.
Nurse joy walked out, with a saddened look on her face.
"They will fully recover, but it will take 2 weeks of not fighting, and just relaxing or light exercise before they return to what they once were." Serena just stared at her three friends in horror.
That meant they might also lose their skills a bit as Performers, since they can't practice.
Ash finally arrived as he held her hand, looking saddened.
Pikachu was staring intently at Sylveon, while Butterfree was shedding tears for Sakura.
Greninja?
He very nearly tore a post that was supporting the roof out of the ground at seeing Braixen.
Nurse Joy then prepared an emergency transfer for Serena, to Professor Oak's lab.
Pikachu, Butterfree and Greninja looked at each other and then walked up to Ash.
"Send us with them." Pikachu bluntly said, as Ash looked in surprise.
"But to do that, you have to go back in your Pokéball, Pikachu."
"Yeah, so? If we're with them, we can help them on the road to recovery. I'm sure you can last for two whole weeks without us. NOW SEND US BACK WITH THE GIRLS." Pikachu angrily repeated as Ash found the Pokéball that Pikachu had been in as he stared at the dusty ball.
He had never used the thing ever since he first began his journey, only becoming worried when someone managed to get their hands on the ball beside him.
In all that time, Pikachu had never once asked to go back in, nor had he just forced Pikachu.
Ash, nodding, held the Pokéball forward, and the return beam struck Pikachu, as he glowed and was pulled into the Pokéball.
Nurse Joy saw the entire process and added the three balls to Serena's pile, and they transported them away.
Serena and Ash retrieved three Pokéballs from the terminal and put them on their holders.
With that, the group just headed off, towards their next adventure as Misty and Brock did their best to comfort Serena.
Cross had arrived at the alter on Mount Tensei, as he tried to summon HO-Oh.
He either ignored him or couldn't hear him without the Rainbow Feather.
Cross growled and began nursing his injured Pokémon.
He would fight right here, for the feather, when they arrived.
He wanted to take the feather right then and there, when he saw the girl act like that.
He was about to give her a nightmare to try and set her back on the path.
But Lord Ho-Oh stopped him.
"It is not yet necessary. Watch them and you shall see, Marshadow."
He questioned his lord's thinking a bit, but Lord Ho-Oh may have been old, and he may have been a bit old fashioned, but rarely was he wrong on a catastrophic level.
He would obey.
And he was happy to see how worried the girl was for her three injured friends.
All he had to do was make sure she stayed on the path.
FOLKS, I APOLOGIZE FOR HOW LONG IT HAS TAKEN TO RELEASE THIS CHAPTER.
SEVERAL THINGS HAVE HAPPENED RECENTLY, FOR INSTANCE, I AM TAKING AN ENG COMP CLASS NOW SO MOST OF MY WRITING TALENTS ARE ON THAT.
I HAVE ALREADY STARTED WRITING THE NEXT CHAPTER, AND HOPEFULLY I CAN FINISH IT BEFORE MY FAMILY'S MOVE IN MAY, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN.
TILL THEN, I WILL DO MY BEST TO WRITE AND PASS MY CLASS, BUT PLEASE BE UNDERSTANDING.
TILL THEN, REMEMBER …
THE SABER IN YOUR HAAAAAAAANNNNNDDDD IS A PEN TO WRITE IT DOOOOOWWWWWNNNN! WORDS TO SAVE THIS WOOOOOOORRRRLLLLLDDDDDD!