Tunnels under Gateon Port, Orre - 2034 hours local time - Day 131 of Ash Ketchum's Pokemon Journey
Robin Ryuto was… elected to be Ash's shadow. Her surrogate grandfather and teacher in the art of war wanted him protected at all times.
Given what they learned a few hours earlier, Ash was literally the most important person on the planet right now. If he died, they all would die slow, lingering deaths because the Tree of Beginning would not accept anyone else.
The former guard mentioned someone tried that. The Tree… basically ate them. Ash shuddered at that reminder for some reason. For further protection, Ash would have to give up his outfit. While he swapped out blue for red, he was still too recognizable. He needed a far more… radical outfit.
It would also give her a chance to understand what these feelings were.
"Would you mind leaving?" Ash asked, still wearing his shirt and jeans, refusing to take anything more off.
"Why?" she asked. She had no idea what his issue was. She'd seen men naked before. Privacy was a luxury they didn't often have. Make due and all that.
"You… you… Gah!" Ash exclaimed in aggravation. "Boys and girls don't change in the same room! It's not done!"
"Pika-pi-pika-chu-chu." Pikachu said, an EVIL smirk on his face. One that actually made her want to back off somewhat. There was something there.
His trainer gave him a look. "Do not start, Pikachu. Please." Ash pleaded. "I have enough problems on my plate. Taking out Cipher, saving the world from Arceus knows what else...my life sucks, no matter what timeline I'm in." Robin still had no idea what that was about, even as Ash looked at her again. "Can you PLEASE leave?! I am not going to strip in your presence!"
Robin shrugged. "Very well." she said. "It's not like I haven't seen everything before." with that, she turned to leave. Maybe she would ask Surge what Ash was talking about.
Arceus be praised, the child soldier was leaving.
"Pika." 'She's into you.' his starter started again. Oh, not this shit AGAIN.
"Pikachu, she probably has no idea what any emotion is like outside of anything involved in fighting a war." Ash said before removing his shirt, tossing it into a corner of the room. "How would she be falling in love with me after less then a DAY of knowing me? It took weeks for Misty, May and everyone else to start that dark tumble into the abyss."
Pikachu gave him a look. Ash was well aware he was being a bit wordy and glanced back in return. He spent too many days reading the works of that Galarian poet on the way to Orre and it was showing. His other self in this timeline was better with written than spoken.
At least he was trying to expand his vocabulary.
"Pika?" 'Abyss?' Pikachu asked, as if insulted. "Pikapi-chu." 'Ash, love is not an abyss. I know you're conflicted with your feelings for them, given you were two steps from confessing in Altomere-'
"That ended up with Latios DYING." Ash cut off, ditching his pants and picking up the cargo pants provided to him by Robin. "I was too excited, too distracted. 'Save the Legendary, get the girl'. Any wonder I didn't feel all that worthy of it after he died."
He was too slow. He thought of confessing to that fiery redhead right after that. Then that greedy BITCH touched the Soul Dew and it all went straight to hell. The only reason they didn't make his list of 'absolutely need to DIE in this timeline' was the fact it was his fault he didn't stop them.
They did make the list of 'beat senseless until they learn never to do anything like that EVER AGAIN'. That one included Trip, Paul and pretty much every jackass he'd met in his life, plus N in this timeline.
"Pikapi-Pikachu-pika-ka." 'Ash, this is kinda the norm. Every region, you meet a girl. Anabel kinda takes the place for Johto, though that Casey girl was kinda into you. And me. Anyway, Misty was the first one you met, then May, then Dawn, Iris and Serena. If Serena counts, given you knew her back before your journey. So this time the white-haired child soldier falls for you in the war-torn region of Orre.' Pikachu said, summing up Ash's situation. Which he hated. A great deal. He had to deal with Misty, Anabel, Iris and Serena, plus he was resigned to Dawn and May joining the party. He didn't want someone new.
Riolu, siting in a corner meditating, cracked an eye open. "Rio." 'Plus she's a latent Aura user.' he added.
Ash and Pikachu looked at the pre-Aura Pokemon. "What." Ash stated. He was too shocked to make it a question.
Riolu jumped to his feet, pacing the artificial cave's floor. "Riolu-ri." 'I spoke with the guard. He's fluent in my line's language, probably because he's a royal guard: he spent time with enough of them.' the jackal started.
"How does that tie into Robin?" Ash asked, his old impatience rearing its' ugly head. He thought he had that hammered down. (In his head, the King and his 'consort' tried taking advantage of this, but Ash's god-level will made that… hard)
"Rio." 'Aura users bond… quickly. Especially if they're of the opposite sex.' the Aura dog stated, Ash staring at him in abject horror. Riolu just eyesmiled. "Riolu." 'Congratulations. You may have an aura consort by the time we go back to Kanto.'
Ash continued to stare. This… this was not happening. It was NOT. He was not going to have someone that used aura constantly… FEELING everything he was! Or worse.
He did not like the idea of worse. It was… perverse and all the things he didn't want to be. (the local parasites latched onto this idea and saw it as their path to freedom) And now she was going to be with him until… Arceus knew when.
"If I survive this, I am going to KILL that blacksmith. Whatever his name is." Ash said as he pulled the long-sleeved shirt over his chest.
Orran Forgeworks - 0628 hours local time - Day 132
It turned out the man abandoned his name on his self-imposed exile. Plus, given he had been given the Chansey treatment that Miror B was given, he had no right to his name, even if he objected to Cipher forcing it on him.
The soot-covered specops man now working as a blacksmith's words, not Ash's.
The man also had intel for them. A courier came in and gave him a package, which had information for them.
"Yesterday's bombing took out the only gate out of Gateon Port." the old man said as he began heating up a piece of metal, likely for a piece of Cipher Peon armor. The only reason they let him live was his skill as a smith, after all. "There are a few places in the retaining wall where people can get through, but…" he looked at the two problems. "You two are going to be an issue."
Rin scoffed, even as she leaned on the Defender suit she used. "How are we going to be an issue? We have a great deal of firepower." she boasted.
"And our latest intel says that Cipher's got their hands on XD-001 again," Robin said, glancing at Ash occasionally. "Tell me, bimbo, how do you intend to successfully fight a Shadow Legendary? The only one that's actually taken one out was some scary former Elite Four woman in Kanto."
Ash chuckled nervously. Prior to meeting Pernon, he… kinda looked into his mom's room, which had an expanded study. She preserved the HEAD of a Ho-Oh, the same one that killed his dad and nearly killed him. "Uh…" he spoke up, getting their attention. "That was my mom. Delia Ketchum. The Shadow Ho-Oh killed my dad and nearly killed me, so…"
Pernon blanched at that, as did Rin and Surge and all those who knew how angry Delia could get when… pissed.
The smith actually looked impressed. And horrified. "Well. Um." he started. "I can see where you got the rage to come here and ruin Cipher's collective lives. May I also say, Your Majesty, that the Queen Regent now scares the shit out of me?"
Ash blinked. "She's… just my mom. And I'm pretty sure she isn't where Aaron's blood comes from." he said, confused.
The royal guard nodded. "You're right." he admitted after a moment's thought. "As an Elite Four, she would have visited Rota and the Duchess, who carries the staff in lieu of the king. No reaction, no blood, as the saying goes in the Royal Guard."
Rin glared at Robin before Pernon decided to be diplomatic. "How are we going to be an issue?" he asked. "You clearly have tunnels all over the city. Don't they go under the walls?"
"No. The walls go down 500 feet below the surface." another cell member explained. "We dig that deep… I presume you know the phrase 'Fletchling in a coal mine'? We'll suffocate even trying to dig that deep."
"Not to mention relocating the dirt in secret, among other problems. Getting your power armor out of the city without the main gate is going to be difficult." the smith explained. "And Espeon can't teleport you. I'm not sure they CAN learn Teleport."
Ash thought about it for a second. "I might have a solution." he said before pulling out his Pokedex.
Oak Ranch, Pallet town - 0520 hours local time
Monferno gathered books in order to begin teaching his comrades how to read. Teaching basic literacy was a pain in the ass to humans when they weren't absurdly young. Pokemon were much harder.
He would know. He only got there shortly before the timeline got erased. He was slowly improving, but the old phrase 'you teach me, I teach you' would help them. But Monferno's foray into teaching would have to wait, as the computer screens were beeping, sending a notice that someone wanted to transfer Pokemon.
It was Ash, asking to transfer Swaddle for Natu. Odd. Obviously, the bug would do better here (maybe even evolve) but why Natu?
"Natu." 'Someone thinking about me?' Monferno looked up to see the round parrot given to him by Anabel on his head. Technically. The female bird gave herself to his trainer, but her loyalties were first to Anabel.
"Mon." 'Yes. Ash is asking for you.' the fire ape replied. "Fern." 'transfering the bug for the bird.'
"Natu." 'Swaddle will do better here. Dragonite will make him into a mantis.' the parrot said before hopping onto the table, Monferno reaching for the keyboard and beginning the transfer sequence.
Poor Swaddle was doomed, because he could hear Dragonite coming back.
Orrean Forgeworks - 0632 hours local time
"Natu." said the bird. Pernon did not like how the Natu was giving him a look. It was like it was going 'I'm better then you… and I'm a round parrot'. "Natu."
"Why… is it manipulating my mind?" Robin asked, the bird looking at her. "I feel like I want to pet it. I haven't had an urge to pet a Pokemon other then my Eeveelutions in years."
Ash's bird jumped onto her head, making a nest of her hair. "Natu," said the bird.
"I figured Natu could teleport them out of town." Ash explained. "She can teleport you out of town without being seen, even if it'll take a few trips."
Natu looked at them smuggly. "Natu," the bird chirped before tilting to one side. "Natu?" The bird began flapping her wings rapidly. "Natu!"
"What do you mean, there are more of you?" Ash asked the bird, as if he could understand the parrot. "Of course there's more of you: lots in Johto-"
"Natu!" the bird said before teleporting away.
"Ok… Your bird needs training." Pernon said, smugly thinking he was in the right.
"Natu." he glanced up, seeing a Natu on his head.
"That's not my Natu." said Ash before another one teleported onto his head. "This one's mine."
"Natu." said the bird before they heard more Natus. Apparently, she found a colony somewhere in Orre, because dozens were teleporting in.
And something big just teleported in behind Ash. "Xatu," said the large totem bird… with a pirate hat on its' head?
"…Why does a Xatu have a pirate hat?" the royal guard asked. Indeed, the evolved form of Natu had the romanized version of a pirate hat on his head, looking both incredibly ridiculous yet very fitting.
The pirate Xatu looked at Ash and spread his wings in… greeting? Why would wild Pokemon be happy to see a trainer?
"Xatu." 'Greetings, Chosen of Arceus. I bid you welcome to the Orre region,' said the hat-wearing Mystic Pokemon as he spread his wings in the line's version of a handshake.
"Natu." 'I told him everything. Fortunately, we're the messengers of Arceus, so we can tell,' explained Ash's Natu.
Ash had bigger concerns. The biggest one being the question on everyone's minds. "How did Natu find you?" he asked. "Better yet, how are you even wild here? I've been told this region's almost lifeless."
The Mystic Pokemon folded his wings, looking almost like a wise being. If it weren't for the hat. "Xatu." 'Almost. There are pockets of life as created by Lady Xerneas. Her brother may rule here, but life is her domain.' the bird explained. "Xatu." 'You need our assistance to leave the city so you can continue your fight against Cipher. Easily done. We hate them more than you do.'
Ash chuckled. "I try not to hate anyone. Get aggravated, sure," he said, Pikachu scoffing. "But some people… they do such evil things that the only option you have is hate. Cipher destroyed civilization for… what?"
"I'm sorry, you can understand the walking totem pole?" Pernon asked, to which he had a Natu on his head begin pecking him. "Ow, ow, FUCK! Stop pecking me, you rotund leg-humping parrot!"
That pissed off ALL of the Natus, who glared at him before swarming him like a school of piranhas and began pecking him like mad. "OW! SHIT! FUCKING ARCEUS! STOP IT! STOP!" he cried.
Ash couldn't help but chuckle. "This is why you never insult Pokemon, Mr. Pernon," he said. "You kinda asked for it." the unwilling prince looked at Xatu. "Don't kill him, please."
If it were possible, Ash would have sworn the totem bird would grin. "Xatu." 'Kill? No,' he said. "Xaaaaatu." 'Humiliate and hurt? Oh, yeeeessss.'
The Natus heard that and swarmed more.
15 minutes later
The businessman/vigilante was covered in bruises. Well deserved bruises.
Robin knew this wasn't supposed to be funny. But it was.
"So…" she started, addressing the Xatu with the pirate hat. "You'll teleport us to wherever you're nesting and allow us to use it as a base?"
"Yeah." Ash answered, translating for the totem bird. She could almost believe he could understand what the bird was saying. "From there we can head to… Pyrite and Phenac? Is that the right name for them?"
Xatu nodded, Robin actually staring. Ash only knew of one places in Orre: Gateon Port. And no one had mentioned the other settlements. Could it be that he could actually understand Pokemon? It was possible, some Unovan claimed he could understand them, too, but she considered it nonsensical drivel.
Maybe there was something to it. Or Xatu was using his psychic powers and cheating. Either way.
"Gather everything up." the smith ordered before approaching Robin, who turned to face him. "Robin, you're in charge. I have to stay here to maintain my cover." he then put his hand on her shoulder. "Keep him safe. Arceus may be a caring god, but she will not restore our world if he dies."
The white-head nodded. "I will." she said before looking back at Ash, who was rubbing Pikachu's head. "There's something about him… I can't figure it out, but I find… he pulls me towards him and I can't explain why."
Her surrogate grandfather then grinned in a way he only saw when he killed Cipher Peons. "You're 'pulled towards him'?" he repeated. "Good. You'd be good for him. And he you."
She didn't get what he meant. 'Good for him and her'?
"You have your great-grandmother's gift. You just haven't used it yet. Lord Ash will show you." he said before bowing his head to Xatu in respect.
"Xatu." said the bird before he teleported away.
"Whoa, where's he going?" Uzumaki demanded, not liking the idea of random teleporting Pokemon.
"He's getting your other armor suits and equipment from the ship." Ash answered, his left arm extended to hold up his Gligar, who slept upside down hanging from his tail while Pikachu was omnipresent on his shoulder and Natu was nesting on his head. "I think we're going to need it."
Both of them stared at Ash. "He was in our heads?!" they exclaimed before Natu spread her wings, the others doing the same.
"Apparently, you weren't exactly hard to read." Ash said, shrugging. Both of them glared at the bird, who just stared back in smug innocence. "Natu." chirped the bird before they all vanished in flashes of light, emerging in the cargo hold of a ship. Which was filled with sand.
"Whoa, that got hot real quick." Ash said before Xatu teleported into the hold, wings folded in front of him, bowing his head somewhat before gesturing to Rin and Kyril to follow him. "Xatu-xa-xatu." said the totem bird.
"Apparently all your stuff's upstairs." Ash translated. "And we're in the middle of the desert. Why is there a ship in the middle of the desert?"
Robin sighed. She knew where they were. Her grandfather came here once. "The SS Libre." she said. "These Natu and the Xatu with the ridiculous hat live in the ship that brought my grandfather Michael into conflict with Cipher. Fate is fickle indeed."
Ash laughed mirthlessly. "Don't I know it." he said, heading for another stairwell. "Don't mind me, I just want to take in the sun."
"Gli…" Gligar said pathetically, wanting to jump off his trainer's arm.
"No, Gligar, we have to train this out of you. You do want to help me in Johto, right?" he asked as they exited earshot, going onto another deck.
Robin wanted to know more. And why her heart picked up its' beat when she was near him.
Xatu watched as the humans worked on the equipment he teleported in. Humans could create the strangest things when they could just train a Pokemon.
Human pride and arrogance, he supposed. One human did betray Arceus' trust in the distant past, only for the One Who Walked Through Time to show them the price of their arrogance.
"Xatu." 'Humans and their machines,' the bird mused openly as some of his flock teleported in, perching on anything perchable to watch.
The redhead with the large chest (what were they called again? Boobs?) looked back at the flock of green birds. "Uh… Kyril?" she said, looking at the birds.
Her mate sighed and looked back at the flock of Natus and Xatus. "Oh, great," he groaned. "The bird brigade."
All of them continued to just stare at the two. It was always fun to weird out humans.
On the top deck of the ship, Ash looked at the deserts of Orre. Apparently Shadow Lugia, or XD-001, whatever they wanted to call it, took the ship into the desert and dropped it there. No one bothered salvaging the ship and just left it there. The Natus and Xatu moved in and the rest is history.
And the Xatu found the hat in the cargo bay, refusing to take it off ever since.
"This region is so screwed up." Ash said to himself, shaking his head. He itched his neck, revealing a gift from the guard: a shirt of chainmail, hidden under his scarf. Mirror B was gunning for him and he liked to hack his enemy's throat open with his bladed boots.
Chainmail was slash-proof. Ash almost felt sorry for the pokeball-afroed man. Almost.
"Pika." 'We're in the middle of a war torn region ruled by a death cult and surrounded by a flock of Natu and a hat-wearing Xatu.' Pikachu said. "Pikapi." 'We'll end their terror, Ash. Just give it time.'
Ash looked at the setting sun. "Time. The one thing we don't have." he said. Sinnoh was waiting. And he had to be ready to stop a madman.