Pokémon Anime Remix Special: The Remix of One

[SparklingBlue]

(rated E10+ for fantasy violence, comic mischief, and frightening images)

After watching movie 2 for the first time, I was inspired to try and adapt it to the remixed animeverse--mainly to explore the question of "What would the movie look like if Brock had come along on the adventure to begin with?" So aside from Tracey being gone and Team Rocket being deleted for the most part (save for one specific part that was just too funny not to cut), there are a few other changes--so this is not quite the same movie you remember!

As to where this takes place in the remix timeline, this takes place not long after the OG Kanto arc ends.

Prologue: A Prophecy of Hope and Danger

"It was a great idea to explore the Sevii Islands south of Pallet..." Ash smiled as he, Misty, and Brock drifted along the sea aboard Misty's faithful Lapras, Aurora. "Ritchie told me that Bill is down there, helping one of his researcher friends build a trade machine that will allow Kanto to trade with people across Waku, and beyond!"

"I've wondered what Bill has been up to since we saw that weird dragon bird Pokemon at the lighthouse..." Misty remembered as she gently guided the beautiful plesiosaur-like Pokemon through the waves. "Did he ever find out what that Pokemon was named?"

"Yes, he did, according to his dispatch inviting us to Knot Island." Brock replied as he read an e-mail on his PokeNav. "Its name is Lugia--and it is apparently who Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres report to."

He went on "In fact, if you believe a local legend on Shamouti Island, an island not far from Knot Island, Lugia is key to an ancient prophecy..."

"A prophecy?" Ash looked over, images of scenes from RPGs and "The Legend of Zelda" dancing in his mind.

"It goes something like this..." Brock began, taking his guitar to give himself some accompaniment. "Disturb not the harmony of fire, ice or lightning, lest these titans wreak destruction upon the world in which they clash." he began, playing a mystical melody as he spoke. "Though the water's great guardian shall arise to quell the fighting, alone its song will fail, lest the earth shall turn to ash."

Ash swallowed hard at the thought of the end of the world before Brock's next call made him jump. "O Chosen One! Into thine hands, bring together all three. Their treasures combined tame the Beast of the Sea."

"Spooky..." Misty replied as Brock finished the song. Aurora trilled an uneasy note in agreement.

"I'd totally play that game!" Ash smiled, daydreaming of Nintendo 64 cartridges before Tintri gave him a static jolt, snapping him back to the present. "Just how far away are we from Knot Island or Shamouti Island? Now I kinda want to learn more about Lugia's legend..."

Misty motioned for Aurora to stop, then dug out a sea chart of the area from her bag as a rotund blue mouse Pokemon joined her on her shoulder. "Not now, Ami..." she gently coaxed away the mouse Pokemon.

After studying the chart for a moment, she reported to the boys "If we keep going due port from here, we should reach Shamouti Island in a few hours. Then after we've had our fill lore hunting, we can go on to Knot Island from there!"

She motioned for Aurora to turn left. "And try to keep Ami out of trouble on our little excursion!"

"Who knew Marill could be so curious?" Ash mused as he gently shooed the rotund blue mouse Pokemon out of the cooler Brock had packed.

Little did the three companions know, they were about to embark on their biggest adventure yet...

 

[SparklingBlue]

Episode 1: The Capture of the Phoenix


Meanwhile, in the skies above a volcanic island, a massive plane circled above a volcanic island, seemingly without a pilot. The plane's lone passenger, a man with dull blonde hair, looked down on the fiery island filled with volcanoes of various sizes with a smile. "Yes...this is Fire Island, all right...and with it, the first piece of my ultimate collection. Once I have Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, will I receive my ultimate prize--the halcyon, Lugia."

He addressed the plane's navigation AI. "Polaris, is Moltres in the area?"

"Moltres has been spotted in the area of this island, as Fire Island is her domain." a female voice replied.

The man smiled as he confirmed a few options on another screen. "Since we are chasing a phoenix, the best way to lure it out would be to freeze the fire."

"Ice cannons ready!" Polaris reported.

The man smiled as he pressed a large red button, sending a hail of ice bombs from the plane. The glowing blue orbs froze what lava they impacted, cooling them and freezing solid anything they touched, never mind that fire was supposed to melt ice.

There she is... the man sneered as a familiar phoenix Pokemon peeked from a cave, intrigued as to why ice was in its fiery home. You're mine!

With that, he loaded nets into the cannons, firing them at Moltres as she took flight to survey the now iced over island. The phoenix Pokemon's furious cries filled the air as she tried to elude the nets coming at her. But just as she circled around in an attempt to attack the plane, a net successfully captured her, sending the net falling down to the iced over lava below....

---------

Back in Pallet Town, a jester Pokemon sang to itself as it swept the front walk of the Ketchum house. [Roar, Splash, Fly, Tri Attack, Mega Punch!...]

"Good day, Delia!" Prof. Oak smiled as he strolled by the house, where Delia was tending a Berry garden. "Where might Taran be?"

"He's in the garage, fixing the grill so we can have a cookout once Ash and the gang return from the Sevii Islands." Delia replied as she carefully pulled a weed.

She motioned to the jester Pokemon. "Mimey, if the front walk's clean, you can sweep the back door too..."

[Okay!] the jester Pokemon replied as it picked up its broom and hurried to the house's back entrance. [Good day, Professor.] it smiled at Prof. Oak before returning to its work.

"Is Ash okay?" Delia asked as she carefully set a Leppa plant in the prepared soil.

"Last I heard, he was very excited about meeting Bill and Celio at Knot Island." Prof. Oak began before a snowflake fell on his hand. "That's odd...it shouldn't be snowing in the middle of May..."

[Sing, Rest, Psychic, Skull Bash, Thunderbolt! Win or lose, I'll celebrate!] The jester Pokemon continued its song before a snowflake landed on its charming pink face. [Delia, look! It's snowing!]

"Honey, are you seeing snow outside, or is it just..." Taran began as he emerged from the garage, a screwdriver still in his hand. When he noticed that it really was snowing outside, he hurried to put the screwdriver away. "Let me get the tarps so your Berry plants survive this unusual cold snap..."

"It had long been held that Pokemon can sense abnormalities in nature better than we can..." Prof Oak mused as Taran arrived with some blue tarps to help Delia cover her Berry plants.

Delia, meanwhile, looked towards the ominously gray horizon to the south. Ash, my baby...I hope you're okay out there on the sea...

---------

"Whoa!" Ash gasped as a thunderbolt streaked through the sky.

After calming Aurora, Misty instructed the jittery Lapras "Keep heading port--we're almost to Shamouti Island."

"Once we get there, we can take shelter from this odd storm." Brock began as he studied WeatherNav. "Weird--it was supposed to be sunny all day..."

"Maybe it's just one of those surprise pop up storms that appear in the summer." Ash suggested, trying to keep his mind off of the stormy sky and swirling currents.

Much to his relief, Aurora swam into what looked like a town festively decorated for a celebration as the skies cleared as quickly as they clouded up. "Looks like we arrived just in time for a party of some kind!"

"You have, in fact arrived for a celebration, travelers." the town's mayor smiled as more of the island's residents arrived to inspect the Lapras and its three passengers. "It is the time of the Festival of Harmony, where a chosen hero was able to unite the powers of the three great birds, and awaken the halcyon Pokemon, Lugia."

"Interesting...is there anyone willing to teach me the tale?" Brock asked as he found his story notebook in his bag.

"I wouldn't be able to do the tale justice...so I will allow this year's festival maiden, Melody, to tell you all the story." the mayor replied, allowing a girl with long maroon hair in what Ash assumed to be traditional clothes to address the group.

"Okay--there are several different versions of what I'm about to tell you, but this is the version that we of Shamouti Island know best." the girl explained. "The story goes that long ago, a great cataclysm struck the islands, causing Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres to rage in their fury. In an attempt to calm the three birds, a hero set forth to visit each of their home islands--Fire Island, Ice Island, and Thunder Island, armed with only a sword to protect himself, and a flute to calm the birds..."

 

[SparklingBlue]

Episode 2: The Chosen One Reborn


"...as the hero emerged from the Shimmerice Cavern, he saw the three birds in all their fury." Melody continued the tale of the three birds and the hero some time later. "His desire to stop the fighting was more than mere words--and pleas to stop would not end the battle that raged."

"This is getting interesting...then what happened?" Brock asked as he copied down the last sentence of what Melody had told.

Melody retrieved an ocarina carved from a piece of coral out of her costume's pocket. "Remembering his flute, the hero then played the following to the warring birds..."

The group listened as Melody played a haunting tune that more or less resembled the cry of a bird. As Misty discretely passed Brock a piece of musical staff paper to write down the tune, Melody continued the story. "As the last notes of the hero's song echoed over the waves, the ocean began to churn, and the halcyon Lugia awakened! Its cry calmed the anger of the three birds, and the harmony of fire, ice, and lightning was so restored."

She next addressed Ash. "Ever since then, we have held the Festival of Harmony to commemorate this hero and his journey. As part of the festivities, someone--it can even be a visitor--is chosen to follow the hero's footsteps. Since everyone seems to think you should be this year's Chosen One--would you be okay with that?"

"Well...if my friends are allowed to go with me on this quest, then I'd be happy to do it." Ash replied.

"Sure, sure--people are allowed to have support if they want!" Melody assured Ash before grabbing three melons. "As the Chosen One, what you must do is venture out to the islands of the legendary birds, brave the three trials--Redflame Cavern, Goldenstorm Cavern, and Shimmerice Cavern--and collect the three orbs that represent the elements of fire, ice, and lightning."

"So, we're questing for three melons?" Misty sighed, unimpressed.

"Oh no--I just used these melons as a visual aid because they were about the same size as the orbs in the caverns." Melody explained. "Once you have the orbs, bring them back to the Shrine of Harmony, where I will play the song said to awaken Lugia."

Ash was excited. "Wow...we're going on a real Zelda adventure!"

"Before we go any further, you need to at least look the part of a hero for this..." Brock suggested, unfurling a costume Link hat as Ash put away his cap in his bag.

Even Misty couldn't resist smiling as Ash pantomimed some heroic poses as Link with the costume hat on and brandishing a prop sword. "Okay, then, hero...where do you suggest we go first on our quest?"

Ash waited as Melody unfolded a map of the area, including the three islands. "There is no set order you have to find the orbs. The traditional route is Fire Island, Lightning Island, and Ice Island."

"Where do you think we should go first, Link?" Misty playfully smirked. "Just say the word, and I'll chart our course for this little adventure."

"I see no harm in following the traditional route." Ash smiled. "So tell Aurora to head for Fire Island first!"

------

Meanwhile, off the coast of Fire Island, Team Rocket approached from what was left of their Magikarp sub. "Good ting Proton had the idear to have the sub toin into a boat in an emoigency." Meowth mused as James rowed toward the island, which had melting ice in addition to the fire.

"What I want to know is where that storm came from that caused us to crash..." Jessie mused. "The weatherman said it was supposed to be sunny today..."

James was about to answer when a large wave generated from Aurora's huge fins crashed into the boat, sending the three Rockets flying back into the water.

Ash, meanwhile, noticed the collector's plane in the sky. "Weird...I don't like the looks of that plane up there...that, and why are there melting ice floes on a fiery island?"

"Focus, hero. Your quest for the orbs is priority number one." Misty assured Ash as Aurora came ashore. "We might find some answers to those other questions along the way."

Brock noticed the yawning entrance to a cave glowing with lava floes snaking through the rock. "This must be our first goal--Redflame Cavern."

"Lead the way, hero!" Misty smiled as Ash excitedly charged inside...

---------

"Flash, a spate of wild weather has the Wakunese Weather Authority concerned!" a newscaster announced on the TV in the living room of the Ketchum house, getting Taran's attention. He motioned for Delia to watch as the newscaster continued "People have reported seeing rain on sunny days, snow in the summer months..."

The phone ringing in Prof. Oak's lab snapped both Prof. Oak and Gary to attention. "Gary, please see who that is..." Prof. Oak requested.

Gary looked over at the caller ID on Prof. Oak's phone. "It's Bill--maybe he's calling to say Ash and pals made it to Knot Island?"

"Hello?" Prof. Oak answered the call.

"Hi, professor, it's Bill." Bill began. "I don't know if you and Gary are watching the news right now, but lately Celio and I have been receiving reports that the Pokémon here are behaving strangely...so if Ash and the gang are on their way, they may want to divert course..."

 

[SparklingBlue]

Episode 3: Exploring the Phoenix's Domain (part 1)


"Whew, it's hot..." Ash admitted as he removed the Link hat long enough to fan himself, and cool Tintri.

"Well, you were the one that wanted to do this, so let's get the Fire Orb and go!" Misty called.

"Okay..." Ash put the Link hat back on, then studied the wide open cavern bubbling with lava. "Thank Arceus the walkways are made out of rock..."

"Yes, let's not run into any rickety rope bridges..." Misty nervously giggled as Ash made a note of two exits in the large cavern.

"We can start by going up first, or we can go right first...so where should we go?" Ash suggested.

The fwing of a coin flipping got Ash's and Misty's attention, followed by the clatter of it landing on the rocky floor. "It's heads...we go up first." Brock replied as he pocketed the coin.

But when the group arrived in the upper room, Misty looked up at the large earthen blocks blocking the way. "Can we...push those, by any chance?"

"HNNNNNNNGH!!!!" Ash pushed against a block with all his strength. "No dice..."

Brock attempted pushing another block. "This one's not moving, either...maybe we should try the other exit."

After retracing their steps back to the cavern, Misty led the way into the room on the right, where glowing lava rocks gave the room an ethereal red sheen. A weak wall at the north end gave her an idea. "Say...you don't think these glowing rocks could work like bombs, could they?"

"Only one way to find out! Trista, I choose you!" Ash called, summoning a familiar gold and brown fox-like Pokemon with a red star on its head.

You called, young hero? Trista's question resonated in Ash's mind.

"See if any of these glowing rocks could explode if we threw them at that cracked wall to the north." Ash requested.

The Kadabra's star glowed for a moment as she analyzed the lava rock. If thrown or dropped with enough force, these could in fact function like an explosive. But handle them carefully if you choose to take them with you.

She telepathically picked up a lava rock. Observe. she told the group before using her psychic power to fling the lava rock at the weak wall, creating a explosion just large enough to break open the weakened wall to reveal a path ahead.

"It worked!" Misty smiled before carefully picking up as many lava rocks as she could find, carefully depositing them in an insulated bag Brock held.

"Can you see what's up ahead, Trista?" Brock asked as he finished tying their makeshift bomb bag closed.

Trista focused for a moment. I see two Kabuto guarding the way forward. If you do not wish to fight them, try finding a way to flip them onto their shell.

Inspired, Ash found a bent rock that somewhat resembled a boomerang as he followed his companions into the next room, where two Kabuto patrolled the area. Maybe, if I threw this just right...

Tintri watched Ash make a mighty heave, singlehandedly flipping both Kabuto onto their backs in one shot! [Nice going!] he smiled as the door leading forward rumbled open.

"If you were expecting something helpful to materialize here, I think that only works in Zelda." Misty grinned before leading the way to the next room.

She recognized the room as the northern exit from the entrance cavern. "I know where we are!" she called when she recognized the earthen blocks she and the boys had tried to push before. "There's another exit going north!"

Brock examined the new exit, and noticed stairs going farther down into the cavern. "Looks like the way forward is down..."

He smiled as he unearthed a flashlight from his bag. "But we won't have to worry about a torch when we have a flashlight--and plenty of extra batteries."

"Lead on, hero." Misty smiled as Brock flicked on the flashlight, then led the group and their Pokemon down into the cavern depths...

To Be Continued...

 

[SparklingBlue]

Episode 4: Exploring the Phoenix's Domain (part 2)


As the group emerged in the second level of Redflame Cavern, an eerie red glow spurred Brock to turn off the flashlight. "Lot of lava in here..."

"How are we supposed to go any farther when there's lava as far as the eye can see?" Misty asked as she looked out at the huge lake of lava that seemed to go on forever in all directions. "We'd be burnt to a crisp!"

The Poke Balls at her side gave her an idea. "Unless..."

She heaved a Poke Ball skyward. "Pearl! Make us a platform out of this lava we can ride on!"

[HAAAAAHHHH!] Pearl created a sapphire from her core, which splashed down in the lava, but not hard enough to make the lava splatter and burn the group.

"Well, that's one way to use Power Gem..." Ash commented as he and his companions climbed on the new slab of rock--which surprisingly didn't burn in the liquid fire all around them.

There is only one way forward from here--east leads to a long tunnel of lava. Pearl reported as she began using psychic waves to gently push the rock along the lava.

"Good thinking, Pearl--using a pole to row in lava would burn the pole in minutes." Brock smiled as the group drifted across the lava lake towards a tunnel that glowed with eerie red light...

---------

"Some adventure this is..." Ash sighed. "Are we going to be drifting down this lava tunnel forever?"

He noticed Pearl dramatically slowing her psychic wave output. "Uh, Pearl? Why are you slowing us down?"

I think you're going to be getting the adventure you requested right about....now! Pearl called before the rock-boat went careening down a hill!

"Of all the times to go on a roller coaster, why now???" Misty screamed as the rock boat caught a lava swell, rounded a turn, then went down another dip into the lava, creating another swell of lava that carried the group upward again.

"I think I know what's causing--!" Brock ducked to avoid a stalactite, then continued "...the lava to function like a roller coaster. The ebb and flow of the lava in the tunnel work like hills and dips."

"That makes sense--whoa!" Ash scrambled to duck under a stalactite as the rock-boat continued careening down the long lava filled tunnel filled with lava created lifts, turns, and dips...

---------

Some time later, the rock-boat finally came to a stop nearby a dry surface--the pathway down to the third level of the cavern. "Some ride that was..." Misty finally commented as the rockboat finally stopped against dry land.

"Let's go on that ride again!" Ash smiled, giddy from the harrowing ride the group had just completed.

"The only roller coaster I ever want to go on after this is one at an amusement park..." Brock sighed. "One with PROPER safety features."

"Look at it this way, we know things can't get any worse..." Misty sighed before leading the boys towards the rocky stairwell leading further down...

They did not expect Team Rocket to meet them on a rocky outcropping that looked like a pedestal near the stairwell! "Prepare for more trouble than you've ever seen..." Jessie began.

"...and make it double, because we're on the big screen!" James went on.

Ash just smirked before Team Rocket could continue the Rocket motto for the millionth time. "I'll have to catch this on video! Later, Rockets!"

With that, he led Misty and Brock down the stairs, leaving Team Rocket to gawk in confusion...

 

[SparklingBlue]

Episode 5: The Captured Thunderbird and the Prophecy

Let's finally continue this adventure...



"Took long enough to get here..." Ash sighed as the group finally arrived on the cavern's third floor some time later, where a large red orb glittered on a pedestal.

"I'll say--the only puzzles I ever want to see again are in Zelda." Misty agreed as Ash carefully took the red orb, and stashed it in a bag Melody had given him.

A blue aura appeared, seemingly warping the group out of the cavern. But the group gasped in horror when they saw that the aura deposited them in cages aboard the collector's ship. "This isn't how Zelda portals work!" Ash gasped. "We should've gone somewhere safe!"

"Lawrence, there were others captured along with Zapdos." they heard the AI Polaris report.

From his cage, Brock noticed the weakened Zapdos and Moltres. "The weird weather makes sense now! This guy--whoever he is--captured Zapdos and Moltres. This would disturb the harmony of fire, ice and lightning!"

"An astute observation, storyteller..." the collector sneered as he came in the room where the trio were being held. "I am Lawrence III, and I am seeking to obtain the three birds in order to unlock my ultimate goal--the halcyon Lugia."

"I don't know what you're planning to do with the three birds and Lugia, but is a collection worth destroying the world over?" Misty snapped, shaking the bars of her cage to prove her point.

"But as you three are not part of my plan, you three are free to go." Lawrence smiled as he unlocked the Trio's cages. "Polaris, take these three to a safe location--they'll have a front row seat to watch me collect Lugia!"

"Sending the travelers to somewhere safe..." The group felt a blue aura around them as they were warped away from Lawrence's ship...

---------

The group materialized on Aurora's back, just in time to watch Articuno use Ice Beam on a nearby island, freezing it and the water around the island. [I was worried when you three didn't come out of Redflame Cavern...] Aurora purred as she swam away from the frozen island. [Where's our next course?]

"One sec, NewsNav has breaking news, and it could be relevant to our adventure..." Misty replied as she hit PLAY on a video accompanying a breaking news report.

"Flash! A massive amount of Pokémon are making their way to Gaia Island, including those that cannot normally cross water!" a reporter began.

Ash noticed Prof. Oak and Bill with the reporter. "Wonder why they had to bring on Prof. Oak and Bill?"

"...my going theory for the odd weather is that that the legendary birds--Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres--are involved." Prof. Oak explained as Bill looked on. "Bill and I are looking into what could've provoked them..."

Ash shuddered as Misty clicked away from the news report. "That Lawrence guy gives me the heebie-jeebies--so we're going to stop him from completing his collection!"

Misty and Brock nodded in agreement as Lawrence III's ship flew overhead. "Aurora, follow that ship!" Misty instructed the Lapras.

As the ship fired a blast of flames at the beautiful ice bird, the group didn't notice a fourth being approaching the surface...

---------

"I see them!" Ash called as he heaved some Poke Balls skyward. "Blaze, use Flamethrower! Tintri, Thundershock! Brenna, Water Gun!, Saria, Vine Whip!"

As the wave of attacks went flying at the helpless phoenix and thunderbird, Brenna's water spray broke the locks holding Moltres!" [Got one!] Brenna smiled.

"Looks like Moltres broke Zapdos free..." Misty noted as Moltres shattered Zapdos' locks.

But Brock noticed the three birds charging powerful attacks. "I don't like the looks of this..."

"Aurora, we need to get out of here, fast!" Misty called, just as Lawrence III's ship went falling towards Lightning Island in rainbow fire, thunderbolts, and ice crystals.

Blaze arrived with a familiar golden orb in his claws. [Here's the orb of Goldenstorm Cavern. The collector might be a while getting out of there...]

"Thanks, Blaze." Ash smiled. "Let's regroup somewhere safe and think about what to do next."

"I think we already know what we have to do..." Misty interjected. "Head to Shimmerice Cavern and find the final orb!"

 

[SparklingBlue]

Interlude: The Awakening of the Halcyon


As Aurora approached an elaborate building away from the chaos, the group were met by Melody and a large pink Pokemon with a shell-like "crown" on its head. "Welcome back, heroes...this is the Shamouti Shrine, where the hero of old placed the three orbs to quell the raging birds."

She gestured to the pink Pokemon. "And this is Slowking, the shrine's guardian."

Slowking inspected Ash's bag for a moment. Welcome, hero--you have done well to bring two of the three orbs here. You may place the Orb of Fire and Orb of Lightning on the pedestals inside, and I will keep them safe. Once you have the Orb of Ice, bring it here.

"Okay!" Ash smiled as he elegantly jumped from Aurora's back onto the ground, then followed Slowking inside the shrine with Misty, Brock, and Melody looking on.

After gently setting the Orb of Fire on the east pedestal, and the Orb of Lightning on the west pedestal, Ash felt the floor begin to rumble. "Uh oh..."

[I have a bad feeling about this...] Tintri shuddered as Ash reunited with the others minutes before the three birds unleashed an explosion of flames, thunder, and ice! "Not a Tri-Attack I want to see!" Misty gasped as she and Brock braced themselves for the end...

A familiar song like cry filled the air, snapping Ash to attention. "Is that..."

"Lugia! It's Lugia!" Misty cried, watching as the familiar silver dragon bird flew to meet the angry Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres.

Lawrence watched in awe as Lugia veered around the various fire blasts, thunderbolts, and ice crystals raining down from above. "Yes...yes! My prize has appeared at last!"

Gatrandis favel... Lugia attempted to start the Swanna Song, but veered away from an ice crystal blast from Articuno. Gatrandis--! He tried again, but veered away from a thunderbolt from Zapdos. Gatrandis--!

"NOOOOOO!!!!" Ash screamed as a fire blast from Moltres hit Lugia point blank, sending the majestic silver dragon bird falling to the ground...

"If Lugia isn't dead already from that vicious attack, hitting the ground probably will kill him!" Brock gasped, hurrying to spread out a large blanket on the ground in a desperate effort to cushion Lugia's fall.

Misty heaved a sigh of relief and sadness as Lugia landed on the huge blanket with a soft "POOMPH." "I hope he's still alive..."

An ocarina playing a familiar melody made Ash's tears turn to joy. "The song from the festival ceremony!"

The group watched in relief and amazement as many colors of light surrounded the wounded Lugia, healing his wounds. Thank you, Melody. it replied telepathically, his majestic voice echoing in the group's minds. And thank you three, for saving my life.

He next addressed Ash. Hero of harmony, your goal is in sight. Go now to Shimmerice Cavern, retrieve the orb inside, and bring it back here. Only then will I be able to restore my full strength, and fulfill the prophecy.

"But how?" Ash protested. "The prophecy says, quote, 'Though the water's great guardian shall arise to quell the fighting, alone its song will fail, lest the earth shall turn to ash'. So how can I still save the world when you were almost killed?"

Something dawned on Misty. "Wait a second--what if the 'lest the earth shall turn to ash' part doesn't so much as refer to the end of the world....but instead refers to the world relying on someone named Ash as the Chosen One to save it?"

"Worth letting our Ash give it a try." Brock agreed.

[You've come this far, sport--we can't give up now.] Blaze purred.

[The real Link wouldn't give up in a time like this!] Saria agreed. [He would keep trying to save the world, no matter what!]

Ash weakly smiled as he looked out at his friends and his team smiling back at him in support. "This is no time for a pity party! We need to get to Shimmerice Cavern, for Lugia's sake!"

"That's the spirit!" Misty smiled as Ash clambored back aboard Aurora, his spirits renewed. "I'll chart a safe course there right away!"

We'll protect the two orbs here and Lugia for as long as we can. Slowking agreed. Good luck, hero.

 

[SparklingBlue]

Episode 6: The Bells of Shimmerice (part 1)


As the group made their way inside Shimmerice Cavern, Misty noticed a giant bell in the large central chamber. "Wow...wonder how we could ring something like that?"

"There's five other indentations here...which means there are probably five other bells hidden in the cavern." Brock explained, flicking the giant bell with his finger, making a soft low B note resonate through the room.

Even Ash was surprised as a door leading north rumbled open, granting the group access to further in the cavern. "That's it! The bells are the key to finding the Ice Orb!"

"Maybe all six of them make a melody, or something?" Misty mused as she followed Ash down the path. "We'll keep that in mind as we explore."

---------

Misty groaned as she noticed the floor in the next area was made of ice. "Bad memories of Seafoam Cavern..."

Ash noticed a box in a convenient position near the western edge of the room. "Maybe we don't have to slide all over the ice to go further--we can jump across the gap!"

With that, he made an elegant jump on top of the box, and then another jump onto another path. "See? Easy as pie!"

"Well! Maybe you are smarter than you look." Misty grinned before she too made the jump across the gap.

"Hop, step, jump!" Brock smiled as he too made the jump. "Okay...the next question is how to get across this bigger gap." he mused, looking down at the icy cold water that waited for them down below.

Ash noticed a small globular switch on an ice floe, and heaved a Poke Ball skyward. "Mina! Use Gust to hit that switch!"

[HAH!] Mina called as she heaved a gust of wind at the switch, turning it blue and causing a bridge to connect the two ice floes. [There--now you can safely cross.]

"Thanks!" Ash smiled, making sure to keep his Pidgeotto in view as the group crossed the bridge and went downstairs to the next floor of the cavern...

---------

"Aurora! Come take us across this icy water!" Misty summoned her Lapras as the group arrived in a large cavern filled with water.

Mina noticed what looked like a fan in a corner of the cavern. [Let's see what happens if we get this fan running...] she mused as she flapped up a gentle gust, making the fan spin and opening a door sitting in the water.

"Wonder how doors in water work..." Ash mused as Aurora drifted down a long water filled hallway into another room.

"You still have that boomerang rock from earlier?" Brock asked. "I see a gap and two more of those switches...so would it be possible to hit them both at the same time?"

"I do still have my rock boomerang!" Ash smiled as he dug out the boomerang shaped rock from before. "So let's see if this classic Zelda puzzle works in real life!"

The group held their breaths as Ash heaved the boomerang rock, making it hit both crystal switches! "It worked!" Misty smiled as the group crossed a small bridge down to the next floor of the cavern...