Pokemon : Rewind

"We're almost there, Blastoise! Just hold on!" Ash called out, his voice firm yet encouraging.

The distant Shamouti Island loomed closer, its altar visible even through the stormy chaos.

Blastoise had activated its Hydro Pump Propulsion, a technique Ash had refined during his research on the Mimic four-wheel drive system. The powerful jets of water propelled them backward across the turbulent sea with impressive speed.

Ash silently thanked his younger self for developing the maneuver. Without it, they might still have been far from the island. Though Blastoise remained silent, Ash could feel its determination.

The constant output of Hydro Pump took a massive toll on its body, but Blastoise pressed on, unwilling to falter. Its iron resolve was admirable, but no Pokémon could sustain such intense exertion indefinitely.

When they were still a thousand meters from Shamouti Island, Blastoise's Hydro Pump sputtered. Exhausted beyond its limits, Blastoise collapsed into unconsciousness.

"Oh no!" Ash gasped.

Wasting no time, he recalled Blastoise to its Poké Ball and immediately released Lapras.

"Lapras, it's up to you now! Blastoise, thank you for everything," Ash said, his gratitude genuine despite the mounting tension.

Lapras entered the fray with a determined cry, but Ash knew it wasn't as strong as Blastoise. Their pace slowed considerably.

---

A sudden thunderous roar erupted from Lightning Island, the sound carrying across the sea. The force of the resulting shockwave created towering waves that nearly capsized Lapras.

Ash steadied himself, clutching tightly to Melody and Pikachu, who lay weakly in his jacket. Looking back, Ash's heart sank.

The Three Legendary Birds were now in pursuit, their combined aura radiating malice and fury. Marshadow was nowhere to be seen.

"Marshadow… please be safe," Ash muttered under his breath.

He tightened his grip on the Thunder Orb, knowing they had to trust Marshadow's plan. Starting the ceremony was their only hope.

---

"Lapras, use Ice Beam ahead of us! We'll slide on the ice road!" Ash commanded, his tone urgent but steady. Lapras let out a melodic cry, understanding Ash's intent.

It fired a concentrated Ice Beam, creating a frozen highway across the turbulent waves. As they glided across the icy surface, their speed increased dramatically.

The maneuver worked, but maintaining the ice path under the relentless pounding of the waves quickly drained Lapras's energy.

The moment they reached the shallow waters near the beach, Lapras began to falter. Ash acted swiftly, recalling Lapras to its Poké Ball and summoning Venusaur.

"Venusaur, we need your help! Use Vine Whip to pull us ashore!"

With a deep rumble, Venusaur extended its powerful vines, wrapping them securely around Ash and Melody. It yanked them onto the snowy beach with a single, fluid motion.

---

"Where's the altar?" Ash asked urgently as he scanned their surroundings. Melody pointed toward a towering cliff in the distance.

"Up there!" she shouted, her voice barely audible over the roar of the approaching storm.

Ash's mind raced. Time was running out. The legendary birds were closing in fast.

"Venusaur, can you throw us up there with your Vine Whip?" Ash asked, looking directly into Venusaur's eyes. Venusaur hesitated, unsure if it could safely launch them such a distance.

"I believe in you," Ash said firmly, his tone resolute.

Encouraged by Ash's unwavering trust, Venusaur gave a determined nod.

Taking a deep breath, it wrapped its vines around Ash and Melody, hurling them skyward with all its might.

---

As they soared toward the cliff face, Ash felt the momentum begin to fade. Stretching out his arm, he managed to grab hold of a protruding rock, his fingers digging into the icy surface.

Melody clung to him tightly, her weight sending a sharp pain through his arm. Ash ignored the discomfort, his focus solely on their survival.

---

Disaster struck when the foothold crumbled beneath them. Ash's grip faltered as loose rocks gave way, leaving them dangling precariously.

Melody bit her lip, stifling a scream as she felt them slip. Ash gritted his teeth, his muscles straining as he desperately searched for another handhold.

Just as his strength began to fail, a gentle psychic force enveloped them both. Weightlessness replaced the crushing strain, and they floated upward, landing safely atop the cliff.

---

Standing before them was a Slowking, its eyes glowing with psychic energy. The Pokémon's serene expression belied the chaos surrounding them.

"Welcome, Chosen One," Slowking said, its voice calm yet commanding.

Ash blinked in surprise. "You can talk?"

"There is no time for questions," Slowking replied, gesturing toward the altar.

The sacred structure stood at the cliff's edge, its stone carvings glowing faintly as if resonating with the orbs Ash carried.

---

Behind them, the legendary birds drew closer, their roars echoing across the island. As the altar's energy began to surge, Ash tightened his grip on Pikachu, preparing for whatever came next.

Time was running out, and the world hung in the balance.

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