Ash stuck his hat in his back pocket, tossed his blue vest aside. Standing in his white shirt and black t-shirt underneath he tried to keep his face lowered. If they realized he was Ash, they would think he was the dead Ash of this world.
How would he explain he was from another world rather than back from the dead. He grabbed James by the arm and pulled him aside. James was asking what was wrong but, he couldn't say it in front of Nero and his sister.
"James tell Meowth to stay inside the cave no matter what! We need to get away from these people quick! Let them set out as soon as possible. Get me a Ace's hat and I hope you have one for yourself because we can't let them recognize us!" James looked puzzled. "Just do it! Don't let them get a close look at you."
"Hey! Ash come meet Misty and Gary!" Nero shouted.
"Your name is Ash?" Misty was staring at him but, from a distance.
"Well people call me Ash but, that's my last name really." Ash acted like he was collecting firewood. "We should go our separate ways soon! A big group is caught easier than smaller ones!"
"Agreed! And I suggest we keep going our separate ways!" Gary huffed.
James came back over to Ash. Ash quickly put the hat on. James was wearing a similar hat except it lacked the pokémon league pin Ace's had. He had to admit it was comfortable.
"Is that who I think it is?" James whispered.
"Yes, understand now?" He walked back toward the cave.
"I would think you would be glad to see your friends."
"I'm dead in this world James." Ash quickly explained to Meowth what was going on as they checked Ace.
"Ash? Is everyone coming out for breakfast?" Nero inquired.
"I'm afraid Meowth will be staying with Ace." Ash rummaged through the pack of stolen goods James brought.
"Hey I want to eat outside!" Ace stood.
"Not now!" Ash tried to plan.
"Hey, Ash the others are leaving!" Nero shouted.
Ash threw on a new shirt and vest before he went out. The others were gone.
"Uh, Ash if it's alright with you I'm going to catch up with them." Nero seemed to be looking for premission.
"Nero you decide what's best for yourself." Ash shook his hand as he went to catch up with his sister.
Relieved Ash returned the hat to Ace. He saw he was wearing a dark blue shirt and a long black vest over it. He had to think it over because he never thought of wearing a leather vest before.
Ace swaggered out the cave. He felt the sun burn his eyes, blocking it partially with his hand he put his hat back on. James took off his and tossed it aside. Meowth trotted over to them Pikachu right behind him.
"How long was I out?" Ace shook the dirt from his cloak.
"Quite a while!" James remerked. "Better take that vest off!"
Ace mumbled as he removed the bullet-proof vest. He was spotted wearing his trusty green cloak. Grunting he traded it for another. Ash picked up James' discarded hat.
"Ace, does the Pokémon League still exist?"
"Here in Emerald no. Johto, Amber, any where else it's still thriving." He drank from the stream.
"Why wear the symbol then?" Ash pointed to his hat.
"Here it's been reduced to nothing more than a status symbol. If you wear this pin all it means is that you are allowed to own pokémon."
Ash took his old hat from his jean pocket. He removed the pin from it and attached it to the new hat.
"It's going to mean something again after this day!" Ash shouted as he placed the hat on his head.
Gary was bored of hiding in his hotel room. Ash was having all kinds of adventures in the future and he was stuck here hiding from his double. He knew his part was the more important role. He had to find out what started the war here in Emerald, it had to be the same factor Will was sensing in Kanto.
He went out with a new set of clothes. He would do some spying around then some training with his new pokémon. He put a cap on with a large bill that would help hide his face.
It had been two days since he or Ash had heard anything from Kanto. He was worried because when he tried to contact Sabrina like before the crystal would glow but, no images appeared.
Outside people hurried about, Gary wondered about his future. He hated the idea of being stuck here forever. It was like Kanto but, it wasn't the same thing. He wasn't worried about bumping into himself this time unless his Emerald version decided to hang around Indigo until the tournament.
Gary halted, across the street the gym Leader Giovanni was studying the whole stadium layout. Gary kept wondering why Giovanni left the gym to him. And why he was here in Indigo? He was wanted man now that his secret connection to Team Rocket was uncovered.
Gary thought this over, Giovanni was up to something but what! He decided to tag along, of course in the background. He casually crossed the street.
Brock was enraged! It had been two days since he arrived in Mahogany and Pryce was yet again asking him to take another test to prove his purity of heart.
"Why? Why do you keep testing me! We have very little time Pryce! We have to help Ash and the others!" Brock was being held back by Whitney and Todd with a little help from Bugsy.
"Young man the secrets you wish to know are ones that can be only trusted to the purest of hearts." Pryce glared. "You have proven your purity of Water and of Nature. Now comes Fire."
Brock had proven water by catching a Magicarp bare handed, nature by catching a stanler with no pokéball or help from his pokémon. What did he gain from all this? A cold, cuts and bruises in places he rather not mention.
"Go to the south you will find a colony of cyndaquil, catch one like you have done with the others. You may use nothing else but your bare hands!" Pryce closed the gym doors.
"What do we do now?" Bugsy grumbled.
"I guess a few third degree burns will go nicely with my other wounds!" Brock shouted as he banged violently at the gym doors.
"Brock you better get started." Whitney sighed. "You still have Ice, Wind, Earth, Lightning, and Soul to get through."
Brock moaned as he set off alone like before. The others sat down preparing the first aide kit and lunch. Brock began to run, if he could get two out of the way today his troubles would be over sooner.
He found the colony as Pryce said he would. Now how to catch one? He decided to do this like before, he would wing it. Jumping in the middle of the group he tried to pretend he was a cyndaquil too.
The leader a bull cyndaquil eyed him with curious sniffs from it's snout as well. It became still as Brock kept up his act. Then throwing back his head he roared and charged Brock. Brock remained still.
The bull came to a stop before Brock. Sniffing and staring it walked around Brock. He then began to lick up some ants from a nearby mound. The bull cyndaquil thumped the ground near the mound several times before licking up more. Then Brock realized what the bull wanted him to do.
This is not happening! Brock thought. Well follow the leader! He licked up a couple of ants. He was about to swallow them when they went for his tongue. Screaming Brock tried to pull the bugs off his tongue but, that made them bite harder.
Brock pulled off the last one, his tongue was swelling already. He saw that all the little anteater like pokémon where gone. Wait, he saw one watching him with a gleam in it's eye. The bull roared as it sent flames spiraling toward Brock.
"What is that smell!" Bugsy held a hand to his nose.
"Tha's minuh hur burnung." Brock felt like he was talking with a tongue made of pure cement. "Hars a cyunduhqil."
Whitney took the baby pokémon from Brock. He lucked out that he landed on an abandoned nest. He found the egg hatching. He after all did catch the young cyndaquil bare handed. Todd put gauze over his hands where the baby bit Brock repeatly.
"Pryce! Pryce!" Whitney bellowed. "Brock has passed!"
"And passed out!" Bugsy reported.
The doors opened as the old man examined the pokémon.
"This is what you call passing! This is an infant!" He handed the creature back.
"It's a cyndaquil and Brock caught it single handedly Pryce! He passed!"
"Well tomorrow will be Ice!" He began to close the doors.
"Brock wanted to get to Ice today!" She had daggers for eyes.
"Only one challenged allowed a day Miss." He was sweating from the look Whitney was giving him.
It was the worst two days for Brock and Ash. Ever attempt he made to call Sabrina or Misty failed. Mewtwo had become silent as well. He was only able to speak with Gary who hadn't recieved any contact either. That wasn't his only problem. Team Rocket was moving further into the woods to invade Greenfield. The Raiders succeeded in delaying invasion plans by a few days.
Ace was becoming a big help but, he wasn't willing to hide from the Rockets any longer. He was a trained agent and he had to fight the Rockets. In some ways Ash felt Ace was slightly reluctant to go against the TRs again. His houndour warned them several times before they ran head on into Rockets.
James seemed to be an unending resource of knowledge about which plants were safe to eat and which to avoid. He said years as Jessie's partner taught him what to eat in the woods. Meowth was hardly any help as always. He almost got them caught twice as he had a tendancy to sing in his sleep.
Will was worried, Sabrina has fallen ill. Her Mentor is trying to help her recover. Misty has been distracted by several errands she has to run to keep the gym open. As for me well I found out that Pryce is testing Brock to see if he is worthy of the knowledge he hides.
I can't even begin to explain how infuriating it is! Pryce is hiding something and we need to know what it is to save our country from war and he is playing games with Brock! Melanie is very upset! Though she doesn't say it pver the phone I can tell by her voice.
Will is calling me I must put this down for now.-Tracey
On an upnote! Mew and Will have contacted Ash! He called me to tell me that they are fine. Although they lost a member of their team and gained another. This Ace guy sounds familiar? I think he is in this world too. There is some hotshot trainer going by Ace. I didn't even mention that May has come to help in the attempts to find her brother.
She is helping me keep my temper whenever I feel like grabbing the next train to Mahogany to trample Pryce! Mrs. Ketchum is getting worried about Ash. To be honest I thought we would have brought him back already. Four days in a different world must be very frightening for him and the others. Dinner time I must go. Mrs. Ketchum is such an excellent cook! I can't wait to see what we're having today.-Tracey
From his cell Donavinni watches the sky. There is hope now. This kid had to be the one to stop the Queen. She would pay for her crimes against his family.
The slave looks from his cell, the tiny crack of light allows little to look at but, his hopes are soaring. The boy must be the one to free him, and to let the Rockets perish! He would be with Cassandra once more. He's fears fell prey upon his mind.
He must face the Queens ultimate weapon. Years of cloning and perfecting. Discarding rejects, and rebuilding have built the most powerful of pokémon. Even a Mewtwo would be challenged to defeat this monster. Misphisto thought of Cassandra. She had named him.
"Why call me after a devil?" He asked her.
"Because you are devilishly handsome." Misphisto had his hopes but, the Queen's monster threatened that future.
If the boy was to save Emerald he would face evil of unspoken origins. Misphisto feared the beast, yet if he was called upon he would battle the Queen's champion. The sake of the kingdom and Cassandra depended on UltraMew's defeat.
To be continued.....
-JLB