Chapter 104: Out of Time

The next morning, things weren't much better. No one really talked as they ate breakfast, too busy worrying about their missing friends. After breakfast, Goh called Project Mew, hoping they may have heard something.

"You say your friends disappeared in the middle of the night?"

Goh nodded.

"No one broke into the house. We think it might have been a Pokemon, possibly a legendary. We've already called the police, but…"

Quillon nodded.

"I'm sorry Goh, but that's not a lot to go off of."

"I understand, but if you see or hear anything…"

"We'll let you know. I hope you find him."

"Thank you."

With that, Goh hung up the phone, flopping down onto the couch beside Chloe.

"Any luck?"

"They said they'll keep me updated. Man, this sucks!"

"Pika."

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Lillie, can you get that please?"

"Of course."

Lillie got up and opened the door to see…

"Brock?"

"Pika-Chu!"

Brock laughed as Pikachu jumped to his shoulder, petting his fur as the electric type nuzzled against him.

"Hey guys, I'm glad to see you too."

"What're you doing here?"

"Johanna called me last night and told me all about it. I figured I should stop by."

He gave Lillie a gentle hug.

"Ash is the toughest guy I know. Wherever he is, he's safe."

"I know, it's just…"

"Shh."

Lillie took a deep breath, and smiled.

"Thanks, Brock. How's medical school going?"

"I've already graduated. I just need to complete my residency at the Pokemon Center in Sandgem Town!"

"That's great! How are things with Olivia?"

Brock grinned, and held up his hand, revealing an engagement ring.

"Oh my gosh, congratulations!"

"Thanks, I just proposed last week. I wanted to Ask Ash to be the best man, but…yeah."

Lillie nodded.

"You can ask him when we find him."

"That's the spirit!"

Just then, Johanna came to meet them.

"Thanks for coming, Brock."

"Of course, Johanna. Dawn and Ash are my best friends."

"There's something on the news that you guys have to see."

Curious, Brock and Dawn quickly ran into the living room, where a news broadcast was being shown. On the screen were various Pokemon that they were familiar with, but they looked vastly different.

The first was Growlithe, whose fur was more rocky, almost as if its whole body was made out of stone. Then there was a Voltorb, but instead of a metallic body, his spherical shape seemed to be made out of was a Zorua, but instead of black with red tints, their fur was white as snow. Lastly was a Basculegion, who looked mostly normal aside from its fins and eyes, which were pure white.

But it wasn't just old Pokemon looking different, there were also Pokemon they had never seen before. One looked like a Qwillfish, but with several large spikes protruding from his body, while another looked like a Sneasel, but its fur was gray, and its posture was more upright. Lastly, there was what appeared to be a Scyther, whose body was made out of rocks and had to axes for hands.

"That's right folks, Pokemon long thought extinct are now popping up all around the Sinnoh region! We take you now to Professor Rowan, live."

The camera then cut to Professor Rowan at a news conference, surrounded by reporters.

"Professor Rowan, where do these strange Pokemon come from? Are they real?"

"Indeed, these Pokemon are real. They come from before Sinnoh was a united region, when it was called Hisui. Over time, these forms were believed to go extinct, but it appears that is not the case."

"How are they here? Time travel?"

"Certainly not! The most likely answer is that they were only thought to have gone extinct, when in reality a few of them have been able to survive somewhere remote without human interference."

"If that's so, why reveal themselves now?"

"Clearly, they weren't as well hidden as they believed. Poachers probably stumbled upon their dens and tried to take them, but they escaped. I assure you, the Pokemon Ranger Union is working tirelessly to recover them."

"What about the Pokemon that only look similar to known Pokemon?"

"Those are evolutions thought lost to time. For example, the Scyther you see here is really a Pokemon called Kleavor, an alternative evolution of Scyther."

"Are there any other strange Pokemon we should expect to see?"

"I'm sorry, but that is pure speculation, and I am a man of science. Good day!"

"We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming."

Goh turned off the TV, the group taking in the strange news.

"Well, that was something."

"So Pokemon looked different in the past?"

"Some of them."

"But none of those Pokemon are native to Sinnoh. Did they migrate?"

"Guys, can we focus on the main issue? None of this tells us where Ash and Dawn are."

The group fell silent, realizing Goh was right. Then Brock had an idea.

"Professor Rowan said these Pokemon were from Sinnnoh's past, right? Who knows more about Sinnoh's history than anyone else?"

"Cynthia, of course! Maybe she knows something we don't!"

Brock nodded, but Chloe wasn't so sure.

"I don't know guys, will she even be able to see us? She's a champion, I'm sure she's busy."

"I don't know," Lillie admitted. "But we have to try!"

"Pika!"

"Don't worry, I'm sure she'll be willing to," Brock said. "We've helped each other out plenty of times when Ash, Dawn, and I were traveling in Sinnoh. She'll be willing to, I'm sure of it."

And so, with a plan in mind, the group of four left for Celestic Town, but not before saying goodbye to Johanna.

"Thank you for everything, Miss Johanna."

"Of course, dears. Any friend of Dawn's is welcome here. And if you find her…"

"Stop. We'll bring her home, and Ash."

"Yeah, no need to worry!"

Johanna chuckled, and nodded.

"Just stay safe."

With that, the four left, hope in their hearts as they set off.

"Don't worry guys, we're coming!"