Route 19 South - 0558 hours local time - Day 71 of Ash Ketchum's Journey
Kyoji had learned many things about Ash Ketchum in the last five days.
One of which was that he placed absolute trust in his Pokemon, to the point where his Pikachu was allowed to supervise training of his team, which spoke volumes as Pikachu was a confirmed Shadow Pokemon.
Another was that he REALLY understood Pokespeech, having a conversation with Pikachu, his Natu, Kyoji's Charizard and Gible… you name it, there was an actual conversation.
Another was that he kept… secrets. Not his royal ancestry, something… different. Elusive.
But the most annoying thing was that he had two girls with him (and someone that had sworn the Absolute Vow, which was a minor alteration of the Golden Vow in Ransei, no less, effectively making it a one-sided marriage if he so chose) that were interested in him romantically and he wasn't acting on any of it! In fact, he was trying to matchmake one of them with HIM.
Fortunately for Kyoji, neither of them were interested, but didn't begrudge Ash this for some unsaid reason.
But as he got up, he snuck out of bed, finding Ash up and about early as sin as usual.
"How does he do this?" Kyoji muttered in Ranseian before following him without being noticed.
"-don't see why you didn't just teleport them here." the prince muttered at something in front of him.
"Bi." said whatever it was. Kyoji realized it was a Pokemon and was hit with a mild pang of jealousy at not understanding Pokespeech.
'What kind of Pokemon is it?' he wondered, as he snuck in closer - putting his Shinobi training to the test. He poked his head out of a hedge… and his eyes bugged out.
Ash Ketchum… was talking to Celebi.
Fucking. CELEBI - A LEGENDARY. No, not a legendary, a MYTHICAL. Even Legendaries were seen more often!
His mouth dropped open, but remained quiet as he watched the two talk… even though he was only getting half of the conversation.
"You said they're with Serena; couldn't you just teleport them here?" Ash asked. "I mean, you are a psychic-type."
"Celebi, bi." replied the Time Travel Pokemon, crossing her arms.
"An abuse of your powers?" Ash asked incredulously. "I'm in this situation partly because of you to begin with!"
"Bi!" snapped Celebi.
"Ok, it's mostly Cyrus' fault, but seriously, I would like to have everyone here so I can get to work at, you know, SAVING THE UNIVERSE from that emo bastard?" Ash said sarcastically.
"Pikapi, Pika." said Ash's Pikachu, nodding with his trainer.
Kyoji tilted his head. Cyrus? As in the Team Galactic leader? And saving the universe? '…the fuck did I stumble into?'
Du-dun. "Gab."
Kyoji looked down, and noticed a shark-like head poke out of the ground under him. "Oh, sup Gabite." He nodded. "So… you know what's going on here?"
"Bite."
"…I really need to learn Poke-speech…"
"Kyoji?" He glanced up, and of course Ash had heard him - as he and Celebi turned in his direction.
"Sup," He waved, glancing between them and Celibi. "So uh… you… know Celebi?"
Ash sighed. "I can't have a conversation with you without someone finding out, can I?" he asked Celebi.
"Bi." said the Mythical, seemingly sufferingly.
"…to be fair, I only heard half since I can't talk to Pokemon," He reminded him "Unfortunately… only that somehow the… Team Galactic leader is responsible for… ending the universe? Or did I miss something?"
Ash sighed "Well… basically, yeah…" he shook his head, "Well, if you're traveling with us, you'd find out eventually… the others have… long story short: the universe died in an original timeline because Cyrus killed Giratina by getting Palkia and Dialga to kill him… he had some stupid plan about recreating the universe or some dumb bullshit, and it ended the universe… but thanks to Celebi, me and my Pokemon were sent back in time to prevent it from happening again… but things are… different…"
"…like?"
"Everything here is so much more… violent," Ash shook his head. "The world was simpler, pokemon were far more friendly, this whole… shadow thing wasn't nearly as big a problem as they are here, politics wasn't all that worrisome…"
"…normally, I'd call a person crazy for saying that," Kyoji muttered, "But the fact Celebi is nodding her head is telling me you are being truthful…" he sighed as he rubbed his forehead. "…holy shit…"
"Yeah. And I have to keep him from doing it AGAIN." Ash said. "She just came along to tell me that the girl I'm now engaged to has all my Pokemon from Kalos and Alola, except for Lycanroc and Fletching, but won't teleport them here."
"Celebi." said Celebi.
"What? How do you not know teleport?! You teleport around all the time!" Ash cried.
"Bi."
"What in the name of Arceus is 'selective time dilation'?!"
Kyoji decided it would be best if he waited this out.
90 minutes later
Misty and Anabel were awake and Janine had seemingly been up all night, but kept her distance.
"He will try again." Janine said, referring to Ash's refusal to find love with a partner. Kyoji groaned as he remembered that disaster two days ago. His other outfit STILL smelled like clams.
"Haven't you told him that he's the best choice for them?" he groused.
"My place is to ensure his safety and, if he so desires and needs, the continuation of his family line." Janine said with a mild blush. "And telling him this would be beyond counterproductive."
Kyoji fixed her with a stare. "What," he stated.
"I am of the opinion he is… mildly insane," she said. "His experiences in the other timeline, combined with the way he came back, would simply drive many to suicide."
"…that actually explains a bit," Kyoji nodded, "I mean… he's not a maniac, for sure… but if what he's told me is true, he must have a MAJOR case of PTSD at the very least… watching your whole universe literally end like that… I know I wouldn't be a ray of sunshine after that…"
"He does not feel worthy of love as a result of this and his abandonment by his father," she added. "He fears becoming his father and thus… the disaster that was 48 hours ago." Kyoji groaned at that, muttering his outfit was ruined. "Entertain his attempts. They keep him stable and focused on the job at hand: to end this fool Cyrus. Once he is dead… we will discuss his worth afterward."
"And what do the girls say about this?" Kyoji asked, curious about these 'fake dates' he would be forced into.
"They consider you mildly amusing, but Misty has a psychological need for Ash's presence that you cannot fulfill and you cannot give Anabel the shield she requires from invasive telepaths to recover and grow." the kunoichi said. "They are willing to play along, so long as you know your place."
"…Was that supposed to be intimidating?" Kyoji said with a raised eyebrow.
"It is a family trait." Janine said with a bit of indifference.
Kyoji shrugged "Sure, I'll play ball," he said, "I knew that it's all pretend to begin with… it's obvious you girls like him - unlike me, he has a chance for a legitimate love life… I'm kinda jealous if I'm being honest."
Oak Ranch - 1003 hours local time
"Bulba." 'The gecko doesn't give up, does he?' Bulbasaur said as Treecko was under attack by EVERY flying-type Ash had and fighting them off relentlessly, Swellow getting a concussion from a particularly hard Pound and Noctowl having to tagteam with Pidgeot just to keep from getting his head caved in.
All to Bulbasaur's benefit: he was planning on shipping them together anyways.
Regardless, Treecko was battered, bruised and exhausted. Yet the little bastard just WOULDN'T lay down.
The source of this was, of course, Charizard, who, despite being hurt, sore and in need of a massive slab of meat, was exceedingly smug over finally getting back to normal and was actually on the mend to the point where he was practicing with his new body.
Treecko was not happy with this. Thus, the all-flying corps were basically recruited into beating the shit out of him, not that they weren't doing their fair share of beating.
"Bulba!" 'That's enough, Treecko. I'm calling this off now!' Bulbsaur declared.
"Treecko!" 'Fuck you, Bulbasaur!' the gecko retorted, unwilling to stop as Pidgeot and Noctowl used Steel Wing on him while he was distracted in an effort to knock him down.
As this was Treecko, that only made him more mad.
"Tree!" 'I beat Darkrai, I helped save Hoenn from the idiocy of Teams Aqua and Magma, I WILL NOT BE THIS WAY!' he yelled before spores fell on him, his nerves no longer responding.
"Bulbasaur." 'I'll blame that one on an adrenaline high. But you're going to rest now.' Bulbasaur said gently as his Stun Spore worked its' magic and paralyzed Treecko.
Treecko's bloodshot eyes echoed his anger and refusal to give in as he broke free.
Ash didn't need a tiny tree gecko licking his eyeballs: he needed a towering powerhouse! He needed him as a Sceptile.
A vine wrapped around him before he was slammed head first into the ground, making him blind to everything.
"Bay!" 'That's enough, Grovyle!' Bayleef said, being the one to slam him into the ground.
He got his head free of the dirt, only to see large blade-like leaves sticking out of his arms and a long flume on his head, not to mention he was much larger.
He evolved?
Well, it was a pathetic way, but it would do, as he prepared for round two, only for his body to fail him. But as his spirit was unconquered, it was no loss.
"Bulba!" "Bay!" 'MEDIC!' both grass-types called, the Shiny Chansey sighing as she got over to the moronic Hoennic grass-type.
Route 19 - near the Pacific coast - 1121 hours local time
Ash had to explain rather clearly the reasons they didn't go to Maiden's Peak and had to ask his Gible to make him see reason.
Apparently, bribing with a friendly belly rub was enough.
"Traitor…" Kyoji muttered while hanging off Gabite's back.
Regardless, they were going straight to Cinnabar. Or as straight as they could, given the ocean and Ash not wanting to leave anyone behind. If he really wanted to, he would have transferred in Pidgeot and just flew to the damned volcano.
His Pokedex beeped the beep Ash recognized as a new capture.
"This better not be some Ratatta smacking another Safari Ball I left behind." he muttered as he pulled out the Pokedex.
He didn't mind as much anymore, given everyone was safe, but still, he would like to capture Pokemon the traditional way of encounter, battle and capture.
He flipped it open, only to get a nice surprise.
Cinnabar Island - 1013 hours local time
Ghetsis rubbed his eyepatch, bemoaning the loss of his eye to that bitch Delia over 25 years ago.
He was an old man, forced to rely on a powered exoskeleton… borrowed from the Unovan military just to keep himself mobile. Now the damn thing had a built in life support system for the 78 year old megalomaniac.
Anything to secure his rule.
The Genesect were being implanted with their cannons, each one twitching in pain as they had the weapons grafted into their bodies. Not that Ghetsis cared for their well-being: only their power.
Which brought him to the other subject: Project M2. The Rockets applied their name 'Mewtwo' to the damn thing, which fit well enough. The Plasma crews were injecting the clone with a large amount of stony material clearly meant for Mega Evolution with the creature into it, the feline flinching as they did.
"This is unwise, Dennis," said Ghetsis' host.
"Don't call me that. Your sister does that too much," the older man spat. "And so? With a Mega Mewtwo, our plans for conquest are simpler. No Pokemon is a match for this being at our beck and call."
Giovanni rained on the parade with one word. "Arceus," Ghetsis turned to the 51 year old man.
"The Creator has long since abandoned this world, Giovanni!" the leader of Team Plasma yelled. "It is man's turn to be the master."
"Do not be surprised if Arceus actually dains to show up and ruin your grand plans of conquest," Giovanni snarked. "I know better than to tempt fate. How many times have you had to rebuild Team Plasma? Four? Five?"
"Two and both were your sister's fault! You owe me, you Kantoan fool," Ghetsis spat.
"That is the only reason you were even allowed here. Once your work is done, return to Unova." Giovanni ordered, Ghetsis' remaining eye boring on the Rocket Boss. "Don't bother. My sister is more intimidating then you could ever be," With that, Giovanni left the lab.
Ghetsis huffed, looking back at his weapons.
His. No one elses'. He would use them to take over Unova, then the Decolores, then the Ranger States, then Kalos… and for last, Kanto and the former URN. Let Giovanni know he was coming.
He wouldn't be able to stop him.
RMS Aquitania - 0825 hours local time
"Goo." 'Fuck this.' Goomy declared before sliming his way over to Serena, who was grooming Fennekin before tapping her leg with a squishy antenna.
Serena looked down to see Goomy. "Oh, hello, Goomy." she said with some interest. "What is it?"
Goomy jabbed a floppy antenna like a finger at a drawer. One that happened to have Pokeballs in it.
"Goo." 'Ball me. I can't stay here,' Goomy said, knowing she wouldn't understand the speech, but the intent.
It took her a moment to get the message as she pondered it. "Oh! You want me to send you to Ash!" she said, her voice happily cracking somewhat at the mention of his trainer's name.
"Froak." 'You couldn't wait?' Froakie asked as he and Litten played a game of Go. Naturally, Froakie was winning.
"Goomy." 'I've gotten as far as I can here! I NEED Ash to evolve!' Goomy declared as Fennekin jumped off her trainer's lap, Serena going for the Pokeball drawer, withdrawing a device to put in Ash's trainer code.
"Let's see… Four… One…" she said, trying to remember before her expression turned from perplexed to annoyed to melancholy to pondering fast enough that they barely noticed it and had they not had experience in the matter, they wouldn't've. "Zero… Zero… Zero… One… Nine… Nine… Seven."
After that, she input the code on the device, then slid the Pokeball into it, registering it to Ash before just dropping it to the floor without a care.
Goomy blamed that on one of her… moods before just making his way over by leaping to it.
"Goo?" 'Want to come?' Goomy asked, Froakie shaking his head as Litten made a move, thinking he beat the frog.
"Froak." 'I will only accept Ash being the one to use the ball,' Froakie said before making a move that counteracted Litten's victory. "Kie." 'It's a cultural thing.'
Goomy shrugged before tapping the ball and getting sucked in as energy, then teleporting away.
Route 19 Coast - 1122 hours local time
"What in the name of the Creator is a Goomy?" Kyoji asked, still on Gabite's back (Ash said Gabite called it practice) as Ash held a Pokeball that usually held Natu or Pidgeot.
"This!" Ash said happily before tossing the ball up, unleashing a small, blob-like Pokemon with four antennae, green spots on his cheeks, beady eyes and a weird mouth.
"Goo!" said the purple blob as it fully materialized, happily climbing on Ash and latching to his head.
"Goomy, I know you like doing that, but seriously!" Ash said happily.
"Gooooooo!" The Goomy said happily, nuzzling itself upon Ash's head.
"…Adorable, but my head's reserved for two," Kyoji said - as he glanced up, as a green bird was currently sitting on his head like it was a nest.
"Natu."
Goomy sat happily on Ash's head, Kyoji still wondering what the hell it WAS. There was nothing like it in Ransei.
"Goo!" cried the Goomy before making it rain. Literally, using Rain Dance.
"…I didn't need that." Ash deadpanned as he was rained on.
"So… what is he?" Kyoji asked. It had to be a water-type or something. It was the only thing that made sense.
"Goomy's a dragon-type." Ash said. Kyoji stared at the blob. Then he looked at Gabite. Then back at Goomy. This cycle continued as he tried to process this.
"HOW?!" he finally yelled. "How is that blob a dragon?! It's a BLOB! Dragons are big, powerful...Like Charizard!"
"You know that's not a dragon-type, right?" Ash asked, Goomy looking somewhat annoyed as his trainer pulled out the Pokedex.
"Goomy, the Soft Tissue Pokemon. A dragon-type." the machine said. "Regarded as the weakest of all dragons, though fellow Kalosian dragon Noibat contends for that title with having the flying-type as well. Goomy's body is 90% water, designed to absorb body blows."
Kyoji continued to stare. "He's a BLOB!" he repeated.
Ash then pulled out the entry for the next two stages. "Sliggoo, the Soft Tissue Pokemon and evolved form of Goomy. Dragon-type." the Pokedex said, Kyoji seeing a much larger snail-like Pokemon before changing to a bipedal Pokemon with the general look of a dragon, but all the looks of a Goomy. "Goodra, the Dragon Pokemon and final form of Goomy. Dragon-type classified as 'pseudo-legendary'."
"...okay, Goodra at least looks Dragon-like," Kyoji relents, shaking his head. "Fuck, the rest of the world is weird…"
Goomy then made it rain over Kyoji, making him wet before Goomy had an evil look in his eyes that only… Gible…
"Oh crap." he said before Goomy used Thunder on him, zapping him heavily.
"Goo," said Goomy, Kyoji getting the feeling he really needed to learn about all the weird shit in the world.
Half an hour later, Goomy was fighting with Gabite, Kyoji laying on the ground as the two fought.
He learned a few things about this strange Pokemon: one, it was from Kalos. Two, it liked being wet. And three DAMN could it take a hit.
Gabite used Dual Chop on the blob, but he did not faint. He was Draco Meteored of all things and all that came of it was Goomy coming out of the crater in one piece.
"I am beginning to think that thing can take a nuke to the face and come out smiling." Kyoji muttered, still sore over the Thunder.
"Only the Creation Trio can do that." Janine said as she watched the Goomy. "It knows poison attacks. A countermeasure against fairy-types, no doubt."
Kyoji noted that, but dragons were known to be super-flexible anyways.
Goomy then unleashed the Bide from hell on Gabite, sending him flying into a tree and destroying it, making the land shark regret going on the offensive.
"Goo!" cheered the Goomy before it started glowing and growing, evolving.
"That Goomy is going to have a hard time." Janine muttered. "At this stage, it's blind."
"What? That's a horrible handicap for a second-stage Pokemon!" Kyoji said as Goomy finished evolving into Sliggoo.
"Sli!" cheered the larger Soft Tissue Pokemon, though he didn't move before Ash's Pokedex (left in Janine's care) put out an entry.
"Sliggoo, the Soft Tissue Pokemon and evolved form of Goomy." it said. "Sliggoo are blind, using a sonar sense to navigate. Sliggoo are known to be loners in the wild, as their mucus slowly digests anything coated in it. Regardless, they are still friendly creatures."
"TMI." Kyoji said, not wanting to know that. Where the hell was Ash, anyways? He left Natu to watch over the training session.
45 minutes later
Apparently, Ash was trying to secure passage to the Seafoam Islands and had to argue with someone to avoid getting caught in some surfing competition.
"Sli!" cried the Sliggoo, Gabite still sobbing over losing.
"Come on, Gabite, you won't evolve that quickly." Ash admonished, correcting Kyoji's mistaken thought as he returned. "I wasn't expecting you to evolve so soon, Sliggoo. Were you training the entire time?"
"Goo!" said the snail dragon.
"Well, you should head to the Ranch. Say hi to everyone," Ash said, Sliggoo nodding in agreement before Ash returned him to his ball and used the Pokedex to transfer him out.
"You have a weird life, Ash." Kyoji said, his Natu seemingly nodding in agreement.
"Better than being bored." Ash said.
Kyoji could not disagree. He thought this mission would be boring.
Now? It was just getting interesting.
RMS Queen Victoria - En Route from Unova to Kanto - 2314 hours local time
She stared out at the blackened sea, sitting on the boat deck.
She knew why she was here. Just a token representative from Opelucid, to 'show the unity of Unova'.
In reality, she was told to stay put and keep her mouth shut while on the ship and to be nice and public otherwise.
Why, oh why, did she have to have dark skin? Why did she have to have the blood of Orre in her veins?
"Ax," said a green, tusked little dragon as he nudged her.
"Are you cold?" she asked the little dragon-type, her effective starter.
"Axew," said Axew, snuggling into her baggy shirt to steal some warmth from her.
Her dark red eyes looked down at the dragon as she gave in to his demand, keeping him in her shirt to keep him out of the elements.
"Well, never let it be said that Iris Arajar didn't take care of her Pokemon," she said as she prepared to go back to her cabin.
Her Emolga and Drilbur were probably worried sick.