Pokemon: Ace's Adventures!

Many men dressed in black suits adorned with a white J, and black masks descended from the ropes hanging from the flying ship. The mechanical whirring of their equipment blended with the roaring sound of the ship's engines. Without hesitation, the grunts spread out across the canyon, some carrying devices while others commanded their Pokémon. Some captured the people who were running away from the canyon by shooting nets at them.

Suddenly, more of the canyon was blasted apart. The ship's laser cannons rained destruction upon the rocky terrain, sending debris flying in every direction. As the dust settled, a hidden cave system was revealed beneath the newly destroyed rock formations.

The moment the grunts saw the cave system, they turned toward it, but before they could move any closer—

ROOOOAAARRR!!

A series of deep, guttural roars echoed through the canyon.

From the darkness of the cave, eight Pokémon emerged—two Kabutops, two Kabuto, two Omanyte, and two Omastar. Their ancient eyes gleamed with primal rage, their bodies still covered in bits of rock and sediment from their long hibernation. They glared at the grunts with hostility before letting out another furious roar.

Then, they attacked.

"What the hell!? There are more Fossil Pokémon!? I thought only target Amber was here!" one of the grunts yelled in shock.

The ancient Pokémon lunged at the grunts' Pokémon, using their sharp claws, tentacles, and shells to launch powerful attacks. The battle quickly turned into a massacre as the Fossil Pokémon overwhelmed the grunts with sheer ferocity.

Meanwhile, hidden behind some large rocks, Ace, Dawn, Serena, May, Ash, Misty, Brock, Gary, and Officer Jenny observed the scene.

"T-Those are real Fossil Pokémon..." Misty muttered, her eyes wide in disbelief.

"Incredible..." Brock whispered, adjusting his vest. "I never thought I'd see them alive like this."

Ash clenched his fists, grinning. "This is awesome!"

Gary, however, narrowed his eyes in thought. "But how did those people know these Pokémon were here?"

Ace's expression darkened. He had the same question.

'This... wasn't in the original anime.'

His mind raced. This event shouldn't be happening. Hunter J never targeted these Fossil Pokémon in the anime. 'Is this another change? Just like how May, Serena, and Dawn started their journey without Ash? Just like some Pokémon learning new moves? Just like the ages of everyone being different?'

Ace exhaled slowly. 'I have to stop relying on the anime completely. The butterfly effect has already changed too much. This is my journey now.'

He snapped out of his thoughts when Officer Jenny suddenly spoke.

"I can't reach the police headquarters!" she said, frowning as she tapped her radio. "The poachers must've set up a jamming barrier to cut off all communications. That's their usual tactic—trapping people, stealing Pokémon, and getting away before authorities arrive."

Ash gritted his teeth. "So that's why nobody's coming to help..."

"Wait. You said poachers, right?" Gary pointed at the grunts. "Are they part of some organization?"

Jenny nodded, her face serious. "They belong to the largest poaching syndicate in the world. Their leader is Hunter J, a ruthless Pokémon hunter wanted in all regions. She's one of the most notorious criminals in the world."

"She's ranked just below the infamous assassin... Sin." Jenny added grimly.

Ace's eyes flickered for a second. 'Sin, huh... That bastard!'

Gary crossed his arms. "We can't just stand here." He looked at the ancient Pokémon still fighting. "They're strong, but they look exhausted."

Brock analyzed them with a sharp gaze. "They're malnourished. They must've been in hibernation for centuries, and now they don't have enough energy to sustain themselves."

Jenny turned to the group. "We need to stop these poachers before they capture those Pokémon! I need your help."

Ace met her gaze and nodded. "We're in."

"Good." Jenny glanced at the sky. "That ship is their main airship from what the Interpol had gathered. If we take it down, we take down their entire operation here."

She then pointed at the grunts below. "We need to split up. One team will hold off these grunts, while the other will raid the ship."

"I'm going to the airship." Ace said immediately.

Ash and Gary stepped forward at the same time.

"Me too!" Ash declared, eyes burning with determination.

"Tch. You think I'd let you two get ahead of me? I'm coming too." Gary added.

Jenny nodded. "Then it's decided. Ash, Ace, Gary, and I will infiltrate the airship." She turned to the others. "Serena, Misty, Brock, Dawn, and May—you five will keep these grunts occupied. Make sure they don't capture the ancient Pokémon."

The girls exchanged looks before nodding.

Serena stepped forward, pulling out a Pokéball. "Leave it to us."

Misty cracked her knuckles. "We'll handle them."

Brock grinned. "They won't get past us."

Dawn and May also nodded with determined expressions.

"Then let's go!"

With a synchronized motion, the five trainers sent out their Pokémon.

Serena released Fennekin and Rhyhorn.

May sent out Torchic and Meowth.

Dawn released Piplup and Growlithe.

Misty called out Starmie and Staryu.

And Brock sent out Onix and Geodude.

The battlefield exploded into chaos as the trainers' Pokémon rushed into the fray, overwhelming the grunts even more.

Serena, May, and Dawn quickly turned to Ace.

"Good luck!" they called out in unison.

Ace gave them a confident smirk. "You too."

Then, he turned toward the massive airship looming above them. His eyes narrowed.

"Let's go."

Ace quickly released his Fearow, while Ash called out his Pidgeot. The massive birds spread their wings, their eyes locking onto the airship.

As Ace and Jenny climbed onto Fearow, Ash and Gary hopped onto Pidgeot.

Ace spared a glance at Ash's Pokémon. 'Wait… Pidgeot? Already?'

In the anime, Ash's Pidgeotto only evolved much later, but here… it was already a Pidgeot.

Ace exhaled. 'Yeah… Definitely the butterfly effect.'

"Fearow, take off!"

"Pidgeot, let's go!"

The two massive birds soared into the sky, cutting through the wind as they headed straight for Hunter J's airship.

Ace's grip tightened on Fearow's feathers. 'Hunter J, I will make sure you will be behind bars unlike what happened in the Anime!'

His eyes burned with determination.

'Your reign of terror ends today.'