Return to Pallet

I looked around the town I grew up in with a warm smile, recalling everyday things that I had experienced for my entire second life up until a few months ago.

I could smell the bread that mr. Ivor was baking, the flowers being tended to by miss Flora, and the dinner that I was sure was coming from the Hawson family.

I could see people walking the streets that I would run into almost every day, some going home from their work, and others closing up their little shops for the night. A few were even heading over to the pub to drink and visit with their neighbors before calling it a night.

I was home...

"So this is where Ace grew up..." Chloe said, as she, Joy and Misty looked around with interest.

"Yep... Ash, Lucario and I spent our childhood running wild around town when we weren't helping professor Oak." I told them, before pointing out some of the more interesting landmarks, including my own house on the other side of town.

"Amazing..." Joy said as she looked around intently, seemingly trying to burn the image of my small hometown into her brain.

"And over there you can see-"

"TOKIPRRRRRRRRRI~!"

"Huh?" I looked over as a pokemon cried out, to see a certain adorable little egg running excitedly towards us from the front doors of the lab.

"Togepi?!" I exclaimed, right as Togepi jumped up into my arms.

"Tokiprrrrrri~!" He trilled happily while nuzzling up against me, as it had been a few days since I sent him to professor Oak's lab.

"I'm happy to see you too." I said while fawning over the little egg.

"Togepi! You have to come back!" Cried out a voice from the lab, before the doors opened to reveal a certain young lady with long blonde hair and a white sundress.

"Hey Lillie!" I called up to her.

"Ace?!" Lillie exclaimed in shock, before hurrying towards us.

"When did you all get here?!" She asked while tackling me in a hug.

"Just now. I was just telling the girls a bit about the town before we all went into the lab." I told her, right as more people came out of the lab.

"Lillie, did you get Togepi?" Professor Oak asked, before noticing us.

"Ace! I wasn't expecting you here for another day or two AT LEAST, even as the Murkrow flies!" He exclaimed while simultaneously relaxing when he saw Togepi in my arms.

"We had some help getting here early." I told him, before glancing pointedly at Mewtwo.

"!!!"

"Oh..." Professor Oak uttered when he saw the Legendary, his eyes going wide in shock.

"Professor Samuel Oak, also known as Sammy in your youth, and former Champion of Kanto before giving your position to Lance. Father of Blue Oak, grandfather to Daisy and Gary Oak. You are most well-known as the world authority on pokemon, to the point that even your fellow professors defer to your expertise over their own, and the authority of Pallet town." Mewtwo stated as he looked professor Oak up and down, as if he were reciting something from a textbook, or an article he had read online.

"Uhhh...?" Professor Oak sputtered, obviously not knowing how to respond.

"What, did you stalk him or something?" I asked Mewtwo.

"Only a little bit. I mostly just pulled that information out of his head, along with the fact that he was the one to receive the data developed from my creation and the research done into my body by Team Rocket." Mewtwo stated while looking at the professor intently.

"Y-yeah, I was." Professor Oak responded, before quickly adding, "Only in case the data was ever needed. If you were to be injured, or any complications arise later down the line, we figured having someone familiar with the data would be necessary."

"..."

For a moment Mewtwo said nothing as he studied the professor, probably reading his mind for any falsehood or malicious intent.

"Very well." He finally said, allowing us to release the breath that we were collectively holding.

"Ace Ketchum trusts you, so I shall as well." Mewtwo stated, which prompted the professor to slowly approach him.

"Thank you for your trust. Truly."

Mewtwo gave the professor a brief jerk of his head for a nod, before I gestured to the lab.

"May we go in? There's some thing we need to talk about."

"Oh? I wonder what earth-shattering revelation you've brought me this time~!" The professor said as he excitedly led us to the lab. I don't know what was worse, the fact that he wasn't being sarcastic in the slightest, or that he was right...

Shaking my head, I followed the group with Mewtwo and Lucario flanking me as we entered the lab, and I suddenly recalled something the professor told me several days before we even boarded the SS. Anne.

"So, what do you think?" Professor Oak asked as he gestured to the lab, which looked completely different from the last time I had been here.

"Its amazing..." I uttered in awe while looking at everything.

The professor I had known growing up had what would be considered a 'rustic' lab, full of outdated machines and equipment that still worked perfectly, with the occasional 'modern' or 'updated' piece somewhere amongst them.

Now however it appeared professor Oak had leapt several decades into the future as all sorts of shiny and pristine machines lined the walls, machines that I couldn't even guess their function or how to properly operate them. The floor was completely re-tiled, the walls re-papered, and the entire lab itself was completely rearranged from how it was before.

"It doesn't even look like the same building..." I added while looking around, from the platform that was obviously used for analyzing pokemon, even ones as large as Snorlax or the Regi's, to even the greenhouse that occupied an entire corner of the lab.

"We basically completely gutted the interior before remodeling it, and adding on a few additions, such as the greenhouse." The professor explained while leading us on a tour, and explaining what each piece was and how it was used.

Finally he led us to a side room that was filled with couches, a couple chairs, and a large monitor that was mounted to the wall.

"And here is the lounge." The professor said while gesturing for us all to sit down. Of course I had Lillie and Daisy sitting on either side of me after the latter joined us on the tour, while Togepi was happily sitting in my lap.

"Now then, what have you brought for us this time?" Professor Oak asked as he sat on the couch opposite us, professor Kukui at his side after he joined the tour as well.

"Actually, I think this discussion needs to happen with Bill." I told the professor, making him cock a brow.

"Really? Then I suppose its a good thing he hasn't actually started the expedition yet."

"He hasn't?"

"No. He's spent the last several weeks making plans, gathering equipment, traveling and putting a team together. On top of all that, he also had to go and find some sponsors for the stuff he couldn't afford. He should be about ready to go in the next few days though, so this happened at the best time since it could be borderline impossible to get a signal out to where they're going." The professor said as he stood and left the lounge while pulling out a device, I assume to give Bill a call.

"While we wait, tell me about your travels, eh?" Professor Kukui requested, so we did just that.

I told him, Lillie and Daisy about our trip to Grampa Canyon to start with, the battle against Regirock, and the discovery of the prehistoric world underneath it. I told them about cycling road, the ferry, delving into the Seafoam Caverns, Regice, Cinnabar Island, One Island, Moltres, and going to Two Island to have my pokemon learn Blast Burn, Hydro Cannon and Frenzy Plant.

The girls eagerly added their own bits to story as we talked, such as the great panty caper on the ferry, their trip into the Safari Zone and their time on Cinnabar Island after we parted ways. It was just as Joy started telling them about the aurora over the Sevii Islands that professor Oak returned.

"Bill said that he has some time before their next meeting." The professor stated, before his former pupil's face appeared on the monitor alongside his companion Vaporeon, both of whom were apparently inside of some board room.

"Hello everyone." Bill said as he looked over all of us. "I see some old faces and new, but I think its safe to asume that everyone knows what's going on?"

"Indeed." The professor said as he returned to his seat beside Kukui as well, before every eye turned towards me.

"Firstly, I discovered a new Legendary pokemon this morning." I announced.

"""..."""

"""EXCUSE ME?!?!?!?!?!?!?!"""

"Technically I discovered it." Mewtwo stated in the face of their incredulation.

"Technically. But if not for me you would have killed him. Besides, I named and caught him." I pointed out, though everyone was no less stunned as we talked.

"How do you know it was a Legendary?!" Bill asked, his eyes shining with excitement.

"Because he was able to fight on par with Mewtwo in his weakened state. And, he was also the one who's battle resulted in Rayquaza's slumber."

"""!!!"""

"Really?!" Bill asked, his tone turning serious. After all, the entire point of this expedition was for them to try and find Rayquaza before Team Aqua and Team Magma woke either Groudon or Kyogre.

"Yes. His name is, Deoxys. He originated as a virus deep in space, and wandered around the universe aimlessly for who knew how long, absorbing cosmic energy the entire time. Eventually Deoxys's drifting brought him to earth, where his power drew the ire of Rayquaza due to his role as the protector of the planet.

"In the resulting battle Deoxys's core suffered catastrophic damage, before it exploded while combining with the force of Rayquaza's Hyper Beam. The explosion was so powerful that Deoxys's core was shattered into four pieces, and spread across the entire planet. Meanwhile Rayquaza suffered severe damage from the combined force of the core exploding and his own Hyper Beam, and fell back down to earth over the North Pole. Where I can assume he has been ever since."

"""..."""

"Amazing..." Lillie uttered in awe.

"I'll say." Professor Oak stated, his head bowed as he thought on everything I told them.

"Not to be a naysayer, but how do you know all of this Ace? Even if Deoxys told you himself, we would still have to take whatever it says with a grain of salt." Bill stated, while both professor Oak and Kukui nodded in agreement.

"Because, each of the core fragments maintained their own consciousness as they fell, and have been trying to signal each other ever since. When we got too close, I apparently began to highjack the signal in my dreams. Everything I told you all is stuff that I witnessed firsthand for several days before I ever saw Deoxys." I explained.

"I see..." The professor said slowly as he returned to his thoughts.

"Can we see him Ace?!" Chloe asked with interest, making everyone else look at me sharply.

"Thats right... You DID say that you caught it!" Bill stated excitedly.

"Yeah. I promised that I would help him locate his other cores as we travel. I mean, I already planned to travel the world anyways." I told them, even as I reached for Deoxys's pokeball.

"Come on out!" I declared, releasing Deoxys into the room with us.

"..."

"Woah...!" Joy exclaimed as she looked up at him in awe, an emotion shared with everyone else it semeed.

"Deoxys, meet everyone. Everyone, this is Deoxys." I said, introducing them while also noting how anxious Deoxys seemed.

"Hmmm."

"What is that?" Misty asked as Deoxys hummed, making the air vibrate a little.

"Its how he communicates. Apparently neither Lucario nor Mewtwo could understand what he says, leaving me as the only real interpretator for him."

"Fascinating!" The professor exclaimed as he looked up at Deoxys with interest.

"That's not even the half of it." I told him, before I began explaining the rest of what I knew about Deoxys, such as how his body was able to regenerate, and how he had been able to use four different forms when fighting against Rayquaza, a defense form, attack form, and a speed form. Yet for some reason he didn't use any of them when fighting Mewtwo...

Perhaps it had something to do with his missing cores?

Anyways, we continued talking for a while as I told them what I knew about Deoxys, right up until the double doors behind Bill opened.

"Oh? It looks as if its time to start our meeting. Until next time Ace." Bill said hurriedly, before shutting off the call.

***

"Alright. I believe that was everything we needed to go over for today. Thank you all for attending, and thank you for your continued support." Bill said, drawing the meeting to a close as everyone else began to rise as they filed out of the room.

Things had gone exceedingly well for Bill in terms of gathering support and sponsors. From Silph co he managed to receive a pack of Capsules, some for housing and others for their labs. Devon co promised him a selection of equipment with which he could conduct his surveys, as well as analyzing the data they collected. The other groups attending had also promised their aid in various means, such as supplies, personnel, funds, ect.

"Pardon me sir, may I have a moment?" Someone called out to Bill before he could leave.

"Of course." Bill answered, before gesturing to the side where they could talk with a bit of privacy.

"I was just wondering who it was that you were talking to when we arrived." The man asked him, making Bill somewhat wary since he had tried to keep anyone from seeing Deoxys.

"May I ask why?" Bill asked him in a polite voice.

"I do not mean to pry. I just thought I recognized someone on the screen, and was curious." The man answered smoothly, making Bill relax, just a little.

"That was professor Oak and one of his proteges, Ace Ketchum, in Pallet town." Bill told him.

"I see! The great Samuel Oak and Ace Ketchum!" The man exclaimed in apparent awe.

"Are you a fan?"

"Of course! Even in our home region, Ace Ketchum has become famous!" The man stated, which completely aleviated Bill's concerns.

"I see. That's too bad. If I had known earlier, I might have introduced you."

"That is fine. I thank you for the offer though." The man replied before turning to leave.

"And I thank the Aether Foundation for their support." Bill told him, letting his own gratitude be known.

The man nodded in affirmation as he left the conference room, but as soon as he was alone his expression turned serious as he pulled out his Rotom phone.

"Yes?" An impatient feminine voice answered his call.

"Madam. I believe I have found miss Lillie, as well as the package she stole from us." He answered in a hushed tone.

"!!!"

"You did?! Where is she?!"

"I only got a split look, but I believe I saw her on a conference call that the man I came to meet, Bill, was having. A call with Professor Samuel Oak and Ace Ketchum, all the way to Pallet Town in the Kanto region."

"Excellent." The voice on the other end drawled, before the call was cut short.

"Chairman, shall I schedule a visit to Hearthome city before we return to Galar? I hear the Amity Square is a true delight."

"I really shouldn't... But then again, I don't come to Sinnoh often."

The man immediately put his phone away as if it would burn him when he heard a pair of voices, belonging to none other than Chairman Rose of Galar, and his beautiful secretary. Without drawing any other attention to himself, the man quietly slipped away as he hurried to return to Alola.

"I am surprised you decided to fund such a venture Chairman. It seems as if there will be little return on this particular investment." The secretary, Oleana, stated as she followed her boss.

"A necessary expense I believe, especially given what we know now." Chairman Rose said in a solemn voice, recalling of what Leon informed him of after their recent visit to Kanto.

Apparently the current Champion of Kanto, Red, had confided in Leon about the impending end of the world! And so naturally Leon informed him, the Chairman of the Galar League.

"I feel so foolish Oleana. I thought that the worst crisis wouldn't come for a thousand years or so... Yet here I learn that it is on our doorstep, and our greatest hope is a young boy from the sticks of Kanto... Ah, if only he had been born in Galar! Then I could have properly groomed him into the great hero the world will need!" He lamented wistfully, before his expression turned stern.

"We will have to settle for doing our best to make sure Ace Ketchum has what he needs to do what he needs to do, starting with the energy crisis. When we return to Galar, we will redouble our efforts. I want Eternatus found and brought to heel. And who knows, its possibe that we find IT instead of this Rayquaza that Bill is looking for on this expedition. That would make this investment more than worth it."

"So is that a yes on Hearthome city?"

"Indeed. I also want to stop by Floaroma town as well, to study the windworks they built there."

"As you will."

...

Standing in the same conference room that they had just departed, a certain figure was standing before the window that looked out over the entirety of Veilstone city, allowing him to watch over his guests as they left his tower.

"I would like to thank you once more for hosting this meeting, sir." Bill suddenly said as he approached him.

"Of course! And I thank you for the opportunity! Its not everyday that such an expedition is undertaken, or that I will have the chance to be a part of it! And of course, as I promised, you shall not want for skilled laborers during your journey. My men will all make sure you and your people are well taken care of."

"Thank you, mister Cyrus." Bill said once more, before turning to leave so he could make the final preparations for his departure.

"Sir..." A voice called out to Cyrus as the last person left the conference room, one belonging to one of his most trusted subordinates.

"What is it Saturn?" Cyrus asked, his eyes narrowing at the other man's approach.

"I think you need to see this sir." Saturn vaguely answered, making Cyrus's brow twitch as he was handed a tablet, which began playing a recording. A copy of the call made by Bill using his network right before the meeting began.

"!!!"

Cyrus was immediately stupified as the boy, Ace Ketchum if he recalled correctly, introduced a new pokemon he had never heard of, and claimed to be a Legendary from deep space. Deoxys.

"Is this authentic?"

"Of course. Ace Ketchum goes into detail regarding this new pokemon as he explained it to Bill. Not only that, but we also learned that the whole reason for this expedition is actually related to this pokemon, along with one they called Rayquaza. It appears they are looking for this Rayquaza, and Ace Ketchum believes that it is in the far north."

"I see..." Cyrus replied absentmindedly, his eyes glued to the figure of the newly discovered Legendary pokemon.

"If this Deoxys truly is from deep space, then it may become crucial for our goals. Have Jupiter take a team to retrieve it for study. I shall also allow her to use 'that'." Cyrus ordered, while pulling a pitch black pokeball from his pocket.

"Of course, sir." Saturn replied, accepting the pokeball before leaving to carry out his orders. Leaving Cyrus alone to continue studying the footage.