Pokémon Rewritten Memories: Kanto

"How is there still no signs of civilization?"

"Pika pi..."

Pikachu and its trainer sighed. After a week of long and arduous treading through forests they longed for something more appealing to the eye then the greens of shrubs and leaves.

"And we're almost two weeks of walking distance away from Vermillion City." Brock was examining the map.

"It's a good thing we've found enough food on the way." Misty had a tired expression.

"Geot." The flying pokémon flew down from the sky.

"There's something close to us?" Pidgeotto nodded at Ash's inquiry.

"Maybe it's the lighthouse." Brock remarked.

"Do you think they have a hot shower?"

"Only one way to find out, Misty."

With new found energy the trio ran down the trail. What greeted them after leaving the forest line was the view of the sea.

"Look at that, over there on the cliff!" Misty exclaimed.

A lighthouse tower was standing at the edge of the rock formation. The cliff was at least 30 meters above sea level.

"That's rather grand for a lightkeeper." Brock commented after noticing the mansion before the lighthouse.

"Not surprising. That's Bill's place after all." Ash chimned in.

"Who's Bill?" Misty asked.

A flash of understanding showed on Brock's face. "If it's Bill, the creator of the Storage System, then everything checks out."

"Bingo." Ash posed with Pikachu.

"Kuki?"

The group stopped as a small crab suddenly blocked their path. It looked at them with an unreadable expression.

"Look, it's a Krabby." Misty said.

"What's snapping, buddy?" Ash patted the little water critter on its head.

"Kuki." It started releasing small bubbles.

"Pika?" It turned its head in confusion.

Ash shrugged and placed a pokeball on the pokémon's head, catching it without any problems. "He did tell me to catch more."

"That was unexpected." Misty blinked. "And who's he?"

"Professor Oak. He's been nagging me to catch something. Apparently he thinks I care about my supposed rivalry with Gary."

"You don't?"

"Why would I, Misty? I'm training to become the Pokémon Champion, not a Pokémon Collector."

"By the way." Brock interjected. "Why didn't the pokéball disappear?"

"Now that you mention it. Ash, wasn't Squirtle your seventh pokémon?"

"Yep, what about it?" Ash put his pokéball on his belt.

"Trainers aren't allowed more than 6 pokémon on them at all times. It should've been sent automatically back to Professor Oak." Misty explained.

"And I told the Professor that if he does that then I'll send him Fearow." Ash smirked mischievously. "Nothing a little threat can't solve."

Sweat drops formed on his friends' faces.

"Pika chu." It giggled.

After a gruesome walk up hill night welcomed the trio as they finally had reached the doors of the mansion they'd seen from below.

"Is this the bell?" Misty pushed a strange shell looking button.

A loud bell sound rang out. The group stood quietly not knowing what to expect.

"Oh, they're opening." Brock said as the enormous gate was slowly revealing the darkness within.

"Charmander, give us some light."

"Char." The flame on its tail grew stronger, illuminating a small corner of the seemingly never ending hall.

"It's odd."

"What is Mist?"

"Why did nobody come to greet us?"

"Maybe they're eccentric." Ash shrugged.

They've entered a corridor filled with paintings. Many different pokémon were meticulously sketched and portrayed.

"At least we know that they love the finer things in life." Misty's eyes shined with every depiction of a water pokémon.

"Look, there's another door." Brock remarked.

As they got closer the gap between the two wings of the door widened.

"This almost looks like a throne room." The girl's voice echoed inside.

"Is there anybody here?" Brock asked loudly.

What answered was a pin-drop silence. Confused by the situation they were in they continued walking until they reached a platform at the end of the room.

"That's an odd choice for furniture." Misty commented on the unique mound placed on top of the stairs.

Suddenly the boulder like structure started to tremble.

"What's it doing?" She took cover behind Ash.

As the strange object was trying to stand up two baleful red spots could be seen.

"And it has eyes, how peculiar." Brock readied a pokéball in his hand.

"It looks like an overgrown Kabuto if anything." Ash stood calmly with his hands crossed.

"Kabuto?" His friends asked.

"How insightful of you, young man." A man's voice could be heard coming from the Kabuto.

"Are we speaking with Bill?" The boy asked.

"Indeed you are. I'd appreciate if you could help me with taking this costume down. I'm a little bit stuck, I'm afraid."

After finding a small button on the back a tired man plopped out of the contraption.

"Next time I'm installing a cooling mechanism. You could boil an Exeggcute in there."

"And maybe a safe switch that isn't outside." Misty added.

"Er, yes." The young man chuckled. "Anyway, what brings you all here to my humble abode?"

"Good old childish curiosity. And you can't exactly call this humble." Ash pointed at the frescoes and murals on the high walls.

"Why were you wearing this?" Brock asked after knocking on the contraption.

"I wanted to experience how does a Kabuto live. I believe I've got rather too enthusiastic in my approach."

"That's for sure. You'd better just find one then try to be one yourself."

"Don't be ridiculous, Ash. Kabuto are an extinct species of pokémon." Misty said.

"Do you want to bet on it?" The boy winked mischievously.

Misty eyed his stretched out hand with suspicion. "Now I don't want to."

"If you manage to find one I'd be grateful if you sent it my way so I could study it." Bill interjected.

"Sure, but you'll have to wait for while. Anyway can I use your phone? I need to call Professor Oak."

"Oh, so you know the man, the legend himself." Bill said. "The phone is in the lobby."

"What's so legendary about that old man?"

"Ash, don't be so disrespectful." Misty berated him.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm going for a call."

Ash and the group walked out of the main hall and reached the lounging area. He noticed the phone in the right corner of the room. He sat down on a reddish brown pouffe and made the call.

"Hello."

"Well hello, Ash. It's been a while since you've called."

"Yeah, its been nothing but trees and berries for us. And we're not even halfway through to Vermillion."

"It seems nothing has changed from my youth." Oak chuckled. "Have you caught any pokémon?"

"You have an one track mind, Professor."

"Pika Pi."

"You've been doing such a great job in the beginning. Even Gary has caught 45 pokémon since his journey had started."

"Unless he catches every legendary pokémon he won't be able to complete his Pokédex anyway." Ash smirked.

"Er, yes." Oak coughed. "However that doesn't mean the both of you shouldn't try."

"By the way, I'll send you my newest catch." Ash placed his pokéball on the transfer pad. With a push of a button the ball disappeared in a blue flash.

"Oh. You've got a Krabby. Gary also sent one not to long ago." The screen changed and showed an aquarium with a lone Krabby in it.

The professor released Ash's pokémon into the water.

"Kuki?" The pokémon looked around.

"That's rather small." Misty tried to hold back her laughter.

Ash's Krabby wasn't even half the size of the other one.

"Are you sure thats not an Kingler?" Brock scratched his chin in thought.

"Leaving the peanut gallery aside, I'm at Bill's lighthouse right now."

"Hello, Professor. It's been quite a while." Bill greeted.

"Ah yes. Almost half a year went by from the last Pokémon League Seminar. How's your research nowadays?"

"Fulfilling to day the least. Your protégé has saved my bacon today during one of my experiments."

"Still trying to experience life as a pokémon. The Clefairy fiasco didn't teach you anything."

"Well, yes." Bill blushed. "But I've learned from my mistakes.

"Clefairy? Did you actually merge with one?" Ash scrutinized the man.

"Moving on." Bill dodged the topic. "Ash said he'll help me with one of my projects. I hope you don't mind."

"As long as it's nothing I'll have to explain to his mother. She's quite the fighter when she wants to." Oak shivered.

"Go Mrs. Ketchum." Misty cheered.

"Chu chu, Pikachu."

"If that's all then I'll hang up, Professor. I'll probably call when we at least reach Vermillion City."

"Make sure that you do, Ash.Take care of yourselves. Until next time." The screen turned black.

"So what now?" Misty asked.

"Oh, sorry for being a bad host. Would you like some dinner?" Bill offered.

"If that's alright with you." Brock replied.

-------

"Why are we here again?"

Three figures could be seen climbing up a cliff. Their clothes fluttered back and forth from the bouts of wind.

"Because this is Bill's house. He's got to have rare pokemon frolicking without care in his super mansion." Meowth punctured the rock wall with its claws.

"That's not what I was asking." James shivered when he looked down. "Why do we have to get in this way?"

"It's an element of surprise, bird brain." Jessie shouted from below them.

"Then we should've just tried to break in under the veil of night."

"You..." Meowth couldn't come up with anything to shot back.

"And you couldn't have had that bright idea before we started climbing like monkeys!?" James sweated hearing his partner's in crime hissing.

Meanwhile far above them on the mansion's balcony Ash and his friends were taking in the phenomenal night view of the sea being illuminated by the lighthouse. Bill's maid brought in a cart with a varity of dishes and beverages for them to snack on.

"Would that be all, sir?"

"That'd be enough. Thank you, Mitchell." The maid nodded and left.

"You've found one picturesque place to stay, Bill." Ash dosed a small amount of ketchup that Pikachu would be getting.

"Pika pi." Its begging for more was fruitless.

"I find solace in being far away from civilization. Less mingling with crass upstarts and privileged know-it-alls does wonders for my research."

"Was it that bad?" Misty asked.

"Let's just say that there's a limit to how much attention someone could bear."

"I think I understand. My sisters also stopped favoring the press after a while."

"Everything in moderation is key." Brock nodded.

"There's nothing special with this place besides that?" Ash inquired further.

"Well, not exactly." Bill looked at the ocean wistfully. "There's a secret in this small bay."

"Secret? Is it about a water pokémon?" Misty's eyes shined brightly.

"It's most likely a pokémon. But even that's not completely certain."

"Chu?"

"During one of my traveling days I've heard a strange voice coming from the ocean here at night." Bill walked up to the railing. "My curiosity to find out the truth made me build this lighthouse so that one day I'd uncover the veil of mystery that eluded me."

"Any luck?" Brock asked intrigued.

"None what so ever I'm afraid. It's been years since that fateful day. When I saw that huge shadow of a pokémon in the foggy night sky. It was a night not much different from today."

"That's some dedication." Ash remarked. "Did you ever doubt yourself that maybe it was only passing here by chance?"

"Every day." He sighed in regret.

With the atmosphere now somber it was hard to continue eating the delicacies before them.

"If there's a way we can help, we're all ears." Misty offered.

"A big pokémon, huh? Might as well solve this mystery."

"Pika Pi." Pikachu brought out its small detective kit comprised of a hat and big looking glass.

"That's very nice of you." Bill was moved by their sincerity.

Suddenly the booming of the sirens roared through the night, making the guests look around them.

"Could it be?" Bill's maid returned with a large briefcase in tow.

With fluent movements he quickly opened it, revealing a small computer within. Numerous lights flashed on the screen, their meaning only known to the man himself.

"Is it coming?" Excitement was showing in Ash's eyes.

Although Bill didn't reply you could tell by his focused expression that this was it, the moment he has been waiting all this time. His obsession will be finally over after tonight.

"Here goes nothing." A strange sound was released from the nearby speakers.

"What was that?" Misty almost had to close her ears.

"Ever since that day, during each foggy night I've been sending messages. Hoping that the pokémon will receive my invitation to become friends."

"Will you try to catch it?" Brock asked.

"Catch it? No, meeting with it will be enough for me." Bill explained.

From behind the fog a shadow emerged as if from air. It seemed to have heard the inviting call as it released its own response.

"Its coming our way." Misty couldn't believe what she was seeing. A figure of monstrous stature was heading towards them.

"That can't possibly be a pokémon can it?" Brock shielded his eyes from the brewing wind.

"How I wish I've had a masterball right now." Ash watched the moving giant with wanting.

Unfortunately for him it seemed a couple of someones also had the same thought. The group on the balcony saw lines of smoke heading towards the mysterious creature. As they reached their target small clouds of explosions rumbled.

"Who's attacking!?" Bill's face contorted as he heard mourning calls from the unknown pokémon.

"Fearow, Pidgeotto find those annoying shits, now!"

"Row!"

"Geot!" The flying pokémon dived down the cliff.

"It's them isn't it." Fire swirled in Misty's eyes.

"I'm really trying not to send them to the Distortion World right now." Ash squeezed the handrail in disappointment. He should've remembered why in the original show they've never uncovered the mystery to begin with.

Meanwhile, below on the cliff two trigger happy teens were blasting away at the shadow.

"Come on you morons, hit it!" Meowth cheered from a small rock platform.

"Easy for you to say." Another missile launched from James's bazooka.

"How are we going to even catch it." Jessie was reloading.

"Meowth. I can't wait to see our boss's face." It started drooling.

"We'll be richer than anyone before." The blue teen's eyes sparkled.

"No more camping and cold showers from the sky. Only the best for me, Jessie." She giggled.

"Row?"

"Yes, no more beans for us three." Meowth nodded.

"Geot?"

"Hopefully some far away from those twerps. What's with all of these ques-tions?!" James almost lost his grip of the rope he was hanging on.

"What are you doing here?" Meowth gulped under the glares of the flying pokémon.

"Pidg?" It looked at his friend.

A glint flashed in the avian's eye. "Row."

"Run! Everyone for himself!" Meowth tried to jump down but was caught in a whirlwind.

With two pecks from Fearow the ropes keeping Jessie and James snapped, making them fall into the twister made by Pidgeotto. With the trouble makers wrapped up in the wind they quickly arrived at the balcony.

"Who are you people?" Bill was puzzled by the new not so welcomed guests.

"They're Team Rocket rejects. And that's beside the point. Are you able to say an apology with your machine?" Ash asked.

"I can try." Bill with renewed energy typed something on his computer. "Let's see if this works."

A wave of sound spread once again from the speakers. This time it contained a hint of sorrow for the hurt the pokémon has suffered. The shadow responded with a call of its own.

"What is it saying?" Misty asked.

"Pika pika, Pikachu!"

"That it felt betrayed." Ash replied. "Can I have that mic? Thank you. Now tell it that we've caught the culprits and that we're sorry. Plus tell it that we have cake or something."

"That's not going to work, Ash." The girl said exasperated.

"Watch and learn."

"Pikachu, Pika." Its voice echoed in the bay.

"Wuu?" The shadow called back.

"Chu."

"Wuuuuuu."

The massive figure once again neared the lighthouse.

"This is stupid." Misty wanted to pinch her friend who was showing his tongue at her.

"This is what happens when you don't believe me." He said triumphantly.

Amidst all of this Bill couldn't believe that his dream was slowly becoming a reality.

"Wuu." Suddenly the shadow disappeared from the fog.

"Where did it go?" Brock exclaimed.

"Wuu." The call came from behind the group.

They jumped from the unexpected closeness of the mysterious pokémon.

"It's a Dragonite!" Ash was excited.

"The mythical dragon pokémon of legend!?" Misty exclaimed

"So it was you I've been waiting for." Bill approached the newcomer. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Wuu."

Dragonite looked into the man's eyes. It was silently judging him.

"Pika pi."

"Yeah, I didn't know they could reach that size."

"Char, chaaar."

"Squirtle."

After a moment of silence Dragonite reached towards the man's stretched out hand and shook it.

"Wuu."

"Thank you for believing me, Dragonite. Would you like to stay for a late night supper?"

The pokémon could smell the delectable fragrances of the food. It turned its head and made the humans sweat with its depiction of puppy eyes.

"Can l?"

"No Ash, this one is of limits."

"You're no fun, Mom." He teased.

After tying up the trio of wannabe gangsters, the group once more sat down at the table. The maid brought two additional carts of food for the new addition.

"Say Dragonite, what exactly brings you here to this forgotten piece of shore."

"Wuu? Wuu wuu."

"Pikachu?"

"Wuu."

"What did it say, Ash?" Brock asked.

"It searches the world for lonely and vulnerable dragon pokemon and takes them back to a dragon sanctuary. And this was his last stop."

"So a pokémon rescuer. How admirable. You're such a sweet heart."

"Wuu." Red tainted Dragonite's cheeks.

"A sanctuary... I'd love to visit it one day." Bill sighed. "But don't worry I won't push the issue."

"Wuuu."

"Yeah, the less people know about it the better. Isn't it right, Team Rocket?" Ash asked.

The trio was spared from looking as the rest of them ate, by giving them blindfolds.

"I can smell it, it's so close." Meowth was drooling.

"You don't even have a nose." Jessie's stomach grumbled, making her slump on the floor.

"You're too cruel." Lines of tears poured down Jame's face.

"Then you shouldn't have almost destroyed this beautiful moment. Where did you even get firearms, for Pete's sake." Misty huffed.

As much as they're were having fun by spending time with Dragonite, it still had to leave. After the meal Bill once more apologized for the unexpected assault.

"There's always a place for you here, if you would like to come by sometimes."

"Wuu." Dragonite took off a scale from its stomach and gifted it to the man.

"For me?" He inspected the iridescent scale in his palm. "Thank you. I hope I can call you my friend."

"Wuu." It nodded and smiled.

"Oh, before you go." Ash walked up to the towering pokémon. "I have a favor to ask."

"Wuu?"

"See them there?" He pointed to Team Rocket. "Would you be so kind to drop them somewhere that isn't remotely close to Vermillion City?"

Dragonite's stare scared the Jigglypuffs of off the trio.

"Wuu." It smirked.

It took the loose end of the line that Team Rocket was binded with. It then stretched out it's wings and shot to the sky, towing behind it three screaming individuals.

"It's too fast!" James gritted his teeth.

"I just wanted a soft bed and room service!" Jessie's hair kept hitting her two teammates.

"I'd rather blast off again!" Meowth yelled for his dear life.

Meanwhile at the mansion the crew was watching with sadness as the cheerful pokémon left in haste, like a shooting star leaving a trail on the horizon.

"And I wanted to fight with it at least once."

"Maybe there'll be another day, Ash." Brock patted his shoulder.

"How about you, Bill? Are you happy?" Misty asked.

The man stood before the handrails. His gaze tracing the trajectory of his new friend.

"It wasn't a goodbye." He looked at the scale. "So I'm glad. Thanks for being today with me. It made the occasion much more memorable."

"Anything for a friend." Ash gave a thumbs up.

"Pikachu." It copied its partner.

"Oddish." The grass pokémon yawned.

"Oh, you all must be tired. I'll let you stay here for tonight, unless you have any objections?" Bill offered.

"And deny myself the joy of a jacuzzi. Not happening bucko. Last one in it is a rotten Exeggcute." Ash left the balcony.

"Oh no you don't, you stay in more then I do." Misty ran after the boy.

Brock and Bill were left laughing on the balcony.

"Should I tell them that every room has their own bathtub?"

"Nah, let it be our sweet secret."

The next day the trio left the mansion after saying goodbye to Bill. With everyone freshened up and having had a very good rounf of sleep the road didn't seem as dauntless as before.

"It was pretty nice of Bill to give us these tickets." Misty was holding three tickets for a cruise on St. Anne.

"Yeah. But we have to hurry to reach Vermillion City." Brock remarked.

"We can always just use my flying pokémon to cut down the tedious parts of the journey." Ash offered.

"That sounds nice. Good thinking, Ash."

"Aw shucks, you're just saying that because I let you go first."

"Only because you somehow knew there were more bathrooms."

"I'd call that an educated guess, Mist. We were in a villa after all."

"Hmph, you always have something to say."

"Pika." It put on ear muffs on its ears as it chilled in Ash's backpack.

"Just another day." Brock smiled, watching his two friends banter.

Meanwhile somewhere unknown.

"Still no connection?"

"You've asked that thirty seconds ago." Meowth snapped back. It was trying to call 2-0-0 Rocket Helpline.

"Ah, this coconut was so good."

Meowth and James turned around and saw Jessie licking the shell of an opened coconut.

"You ate it all!? There was only one on this island!" Meowth shrieked.

Their was one palm tree on the island which was the size of a medium sized room.

"Well someone had to eat it. You wouldn't deny a woman her treat?"

"I'll deny you your life, Sister!" It scratched the girl's face.

"You little shrimp!"

"The tide is coming back." James called as he climbed the tree.

"Make room, buster." Jessie pushed.

"Meowth, I hate the water." It cried as its tail dodged the water by a hair.

Because of the trio's fighting the tree snapped, making them fall in the water. The top part of the tree re-emerged from the ocean. A couple of hands broke through the mirror of water and grabbed onto the log.

"We're safe." James spat out water.

"We're doomed." Jessie cried.

"At least we have each other." Meowth plopped on top of the log.

"Team Rocket is being washed again." They yelled as they were slowly drifting away with the waves.