Ash had gone off the path of Route 1, venturing deep into the woods. Pikachu clung tightly to his shoulder, its ears flicking nervously as the dense canopy above blocked out much of the afternoon sun. The deeper they went, the quieter the forest became the usual chirping of Pidgey and rustling of Rattata fading into eerie silence.
Pikachu let out a low whine, gripping Ash's shoulder with its tiny paws. Pika…
"Alright, Pikachu," Ash finally said, his voice hushed yet steady, "I'm going to show you a secret, and absolutely no one can know."
"Pika!" The electrical mouse responds in affirmation.
He stopped in a small clearing, the ground covered in soft moss and fallen leaves. Taking a deep breath, he reached into his jacket and pulled out the mysterious black Pokédex—his real Pokédex. The device flickered to life, its screen displaying a list of Pokémon, items, and something labeled Inventory Access. Pikachu's ears perked up as Ash tapped a few buttons.
Suddenly, with a bright glow, an object materialized before them—a sleek, futuristic-looking Poké Ball unlike anything that existed in the modern world. Pikachu recoiled slightly, electricity crackling in its cheeks.
"Pika?!" "I know it looks weird," Ash said quickly, kneeling down beside it.
"But this… this is something special. Something from before." His fingers hovered over the ball's surface, feeling its smooth yet unfamiliar texture. "I don't know why, but I get the feeling this was meant for me."
"COME ON OUT ATHENA!" Ash shouts as a red beam shoots out of the ball as a shiny Gardiviour appears in the clearing.
Pikachu tensed, its fur standing on end as the red light took shape before them. Within seconds, the glow faded, revealing a stunningly elegant shiny Gardevoir—her silver-white gown-like body shimmering in the dim forest light, and her teal eyes locking onto Ash with an almost knowing gaze.
Pikachu took a cautious step back, eyes darting between Ash and the newly summoned Pokémon. "Pika...?"
Gardevoir blinked before offering a small, knowing smile. "Master… it has been a long time."
"I am so happy my theory was right, and yes yes it. Say Athena, where did you come from?" Ash asks
"Your reserve in the Hoenn region?" Athena asks
Ash looks at the 3Ds and sees he can't summon Athena's brother, "An Ares? He was there until I summoned you right?" Ash asks
"Yes?" Athena answers with a nod.l
"Okay I am gonna send you back to make sure you can get back for a test before I recall you alright?" Ash asks
Athena gave a small nod, understanding his reasoning. "Of course, Master. I shall await your call."
Ash tapped a few buttons on his strange Pokédex, and within moments, Athena was engulfed in a red glow before vanishing back into the sleek Poké Ball. Pikachu, still on edge, slowly relaxed as the eerie, unnatural presence faded from the clearing.
Ash let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. That confirms it. Whatever strange connection he had to this device, it was more than just a game's data—it was real.
"Alright, Pikachu, let's see if she can return." Ash scrolled through the interface, tapping on Athena's name once more. In an instant, her form reappeared in a swirl of red light, standing before them as gracefully as before.
Athena smiled, pleased. "It works."
Ash grinned, fist-pumping. "Hell yeah! This means that you are not separated from everyone else even though I can not summon you all."
Ash summons another pokeball. This one is a special one, through the use of a modded link cable and liberal use of transfering pokemon, it was yellow's pikachu turned Riachu.
"Ria?"
"Hello Riachu, I want you to meet a younger version of your self and eventually a successor. You are my oldest Pokémon going on…" Ash pauses to start literally having to count fingers. "33 years roughly if we count time here. An I know you like retirement so what do you say to training the ultimate heir?" Ash asks
"Pika?"
"Ria!"
Ash nodded, "we have a week or so before I want to move on. So teach him as much as you can… start with iron tail. Be back in two hours!" Ash shouts as the two dissapear into the forest.
"So, Athena wanna help unlock my psychic potential?" Ash asks looking at the shiny gardvivior.
Said pokemon named after the goddess of wisdom nodded before Ash was brought to his knees with a headache.
You have blacked out