M04: Difference between revisions

A young [[Pokémon Trainer]] named [[Sam]] is traveling through the woods. A young woman named [[Towa]] gives Sam a piece of bread and a warning that there is a rare and powerful Pokémon living in the forest. Sam thanks her for the bread and continues into the deep woods, where he begins sketching some {{p|Bellossom}}, unaware that elsewhere in the same forest, a {{OBP|Celebi|M04}} is being chased down by a {{OBP|Pokémon poacher|M04}} who wishes to capture it using his {{p|Scyther}} and his {{p|Houndoom}}. Celebi, the poacher, and Sam soon come in contact with one another, and Sam protects the Celebi from the man, who reveals himself to be a poacher of rare Pokémon. Celebi is still worried and in pain, however, and transports both itself and Sam into the future.

Forty years later, in a caravan by the forest the same Pokémon poacher, now aged, is being interrogated by the [[Iron-Masked Marauder]], a member of [[Team Rocket]], who wants to know where he saw Celebi. The poacher refuses, and therefore the Iron-Masked Marauder demonstrates a [[Dark Ball]], using it on one of the Pokémon the poacher has caged up, a {{p|Tyranitar}}. Using the now {{TCG|Dark Pokémon|Dark}} Tyranitar's {{m|Hyper Beam}}, the Iron-Masked Marauder destroys the ranch, and the cages, of the poacher. Finally convinced of the Rocket member's power, the poacher agrees to tell him everything he knows about Celebi.

At the same time, in a nearby town, {{an|Brock}} and {{an|Misty}} are waiting for {{Ash}} to arrive at the dock of one of the many ferries they've taken across the waterways of the regions. Brock sends out his {{TP|Brock|Crobat}} to find Ash and tell him that it's just about time for them to leave, just as Ash starts a [[Pokémon battle]] with another Trainer named [[Dundee]], using his {{AP|Pikachu}} against Dundee's {{p|Croconaw}}. Pikachu defeats Croconaw easily, just as Crobat shows up, and Ash and Pikachu make a run for the dock, arriving just in time to see the ferry begin to pull away. Ash runs for a dock nearer to where the ferry is, jumping for it and being caught by [[Mr. White]], the boat's owner. After Ash has been dragged on board, the Trainers and the owner talk about Pokémon, until Pikachu spots another Pokémon in the forest. As soon as they arrive at their next destination, Ash makes a call to {{an|Professor Oak}}, who explains to them from Ash's description that it was the [[Legendary Pokémon]] {{p|Suicune}}. From the description Professor Oak gives the young Trainers, it seems that Oak himself knows more about Suicune specifically than the experts, leading Ash to ask if he ever has seen one. The Professor replies affirmatively, and Ash asks where he did. Before Oak can reply, the ferry's owner calls for Ash, telling him that they must leave. Ash says goodbye quickly and goes with him. At his lab, Professor Oak wonders if he should've told Ash something before he hung up.

Ash and {{ashfr}} continue their travel, this time in a different boat, through a deep forest. As always, [[Jessie]], [[James]], and {{MTR}} are following them, observing them from a pedal-powered small plane. However, Jessie stops pedaling for a moment, leaving the contraption underpowered and susceptible to the wind, which is exactly what catches it, sending the [[Team Rocket trio]] blasting off again into the distance.

Meanwhile, Ash, as well as the others, have reached a waterfall along the river. Unable to climb it, Misty asks what they'll do. Mr. White responds with a quick transformation of his craft, turning it from a boat into a small blimp in a matter of seconds, and floating up, over the waterfall, and into [[Arborville]], which a small town comprising entirely of tree-houses, where he lets the Trainers off. They continue on, arriving at the same place that Sam did forty years before, and are asked by Towa, who has now aged considerably if they're going to be going into the forest to look for Pokémon. Ash replies that he will and soon the old woman's granddaughter, {{OBP|Diana|M04}}, shows up, who Brock promptly hits on. Ash ignores Towa's advice, running headlong into the forest, leaving Misty to pull Brock away from Diana, as she always does. As soon as the trio has gotten into the deep woods, the trees begin to glow blue, something that happened just before Celebi vanished into the future with Sam. At the same place he vanished from, in front of Celebi's shrine, Sam reappears just as Ash, Misty, and Brock run up, with Celebi in his arms. Celebi floats away before the three can see it. Sam is unconscious and Ash, worried about him, decides to take him back to Towa's house.

As soon as the four return, Sam wakes up, pushing Ash away and demanding where Celebi has gone. Before there can be a fight between Ash and Sam, Brock is able to break it up. Towa suddenly recognizes Sam, and she brings everyone inside to explain what happened. Since Sam disappeared 40 years before, she had been keeping his sketchbook and returned it to him, explaining to him just how long he'd been gone. Sam vows to return to where he reappeared and find Celebi to help it, and Ash, Misty, and Brock agree to go with him.

Soon, traveling in the forest, the four see the destruction wreaked by the Iron-Masked Marauder's giant mech, and Sam and Ash find where Celebi is hiding. However, the {{pkmn|category|Time Travel Pokémon}} appears not to want their help, sending out vines to get them away. Pikachu, taking Celebi's defensiveness for hostility, prepares to {{m|Thunder Shock}} it, but Sam prevents it from doing so, and explains that the Pokémon is only scared. Soon, Ash and Sam are able to, together, soothe Celebi and bring it with them. Team Rocket, not yet having given up, are waiting for them, and block their path back. Saying their {{motto}}, as they always do, causes {{TP|Jessie|Wobbuffet}} to fall onto the already-unstable branch they stand on, though, and causes it to break, sending them to the ground, and allowing the four Trainers to continue, unconcerned by that bumbling trio's appearance.

Just as Ash are getting closer to Arborville, the Iron-Masked Marauder attacks, sending out his Dark Tyranitar against the Trainers. Using its Hyper Beam again, he very nearly hits them, however, they are able to escape, partly due to the intervention of {{TP|James|Weezing}}'s {{m|Smokescreen}}, the trio thinking he's trying to steak "their" Pikachu. However, upon recognizing the Iron-Masked Marauder as a member of their own organization, the Team Rocket trio quickly apologizes, and the Iron-Masked Marauder sends out a Dark {{p|Scizor}} and a Dark {{p|Sneasel}} to chase after the children.

Misty causes the group to stop due to twisting her knee, and both of the Dark Pokémon catch up. Ash prepares to battle, taking out one of his {{i|Poké Ball}}s, and Sam does as well. Sam's [[Poké Ball]] is different, though; instead of being a red-and-white color like Ash's, it has a grayish color to it and must be unscrewed on the top before sending out his Pokémon of choice, a {{p|Charmeleon}}. Ash, now over the surprise of Sam's strange Poké Ball, throws his own, sending out {{AP|Bayleef}}. Bayleef takes on Scizor, whose {{m|Double Team}} proves troublesome, until Bayleef manages to locate the real one and swiftly defeats it. Charmeleon, meanwhile, fares well against Sneasel before defeating it with a {{m|Headbutt}}. The group leaves the two Dark Pokémon tied up to rocks, though the Iron-Masked Marauder merely chuckles when he and the Team Rocket trio find them, saying that the children's resistance is making things interesting.

Ash and the group continue in the forest, which grows foggy. Leading them through are several {{type|Normal}} Pokémon, who bring them to a lake, called the [[Lake of Life]]. Sam brings Celebi in, and it dives underwater, using {{m|Recover}}. Now fully healed, the Pokémon plays with the group a bit, and Ash turns his hat backward and jumps in, followed by Sam. The three of them swim for a bit, then fly through the air with the help of Celebi's {{t|Psychic}} powers. Celebi soon leads all four of them to a berry tree, and everything seems well for the time being as they enjoy the berries.

Meanwhile, Jessie, James, and Meowth, bored on the Iron-Masked Marauder's mech, try to grab a fruit of their own, however, in doing so, they end up falling out, even losing the fruit itself to a {{p|Pidgeotto}}, before hastily chasing after the mech.

Back with Ash's group, he and Sam are discussing Pokémon, and Sam shows Ash his sketchbook, containing several excellent drawings including the one that Sam is working on now; one of Pikachu and Celebi sleeping together. Ash remarks on the quality of Sam's pictures, which Ash compares to a [[Pokédex]]. The two talk about how, especially for Sam, their mothers must worry about them. Pikachu and Celebi wake up and runoff, causing Sam and Ash to follow them. Climbing a tree, they watch a group of {{p|Metapod}} evolve into {{p|Butterfree}} and fly off creating a magnificently colorful display. The two friends watch this together with the Pokémon, and marvel at the unforgettable sight.

The next morning, the four Trainers continue their journey back to the village when the Iron-Masked Marauder arrives on his mech. With Jessie, James, and Meowth cutting off their escape, the group is forced to try to fight their way out. Pikachu's attacks are stopped by the mech's force field, and the Iron-Masked Marauder {{pkmn2|Caught|captures}} Celebi in his Dark Ball, much to the shock of the group. Ash attempts to attack the Marauder himself and climbs the mech's leg, while a flock of {{p|Pidgey}} surrounds the Marauder, allowing Ash to make it up. However, even though his efforts are able to topple the mech and are able to get the Dark Ball containing Celebi away, the evil Team Rocket member is able to get it back by stomping on Ash's fingers until he loses consciousness. He shows the group, as well as the Pokémon who have gathered to help Celebi, just what has happened: Celebi has become a mindless monster who instantly attacks with its psychic powers easily defeating all the Pokémon. The Iron-Masked Marauder demands Celebi displays more of its power, and the Pokémon responds by picking up a good amount of debris, and Jessie, to create a monstrous ball. Suicune is watching this, and Diana and her grandmother know as well and go to rescue Ash and the others in Mr. White's blimp.

Ash and Sam are rescued by Suicune, who had arrived just in time. Suicune confirms it's there to help, and Ash and Sam prepare to get Celebi back. The Iron-Masked Marauder notices Suicune's arrival and decides to capture it too, and sends out his Dark Tyranitar and orders a Hyper Beam. Brock knows Tyranitar has to be stopped and sends out {{TP|Brock|Onix}} against it. The two Pokémon begin to fight, but Onix, despite its size advantage, finds itself to be no match against Tyranitar's strength. Meanwhile, Suicune attempts to find an opening to get Ash and Sam to Celebi but cannot get past the Celebi-monster's defenses. Eventually, Tyranitar heads towards Suicune who unleashes a powerful {{m|Bubble Beam}} that knocks it back, allowing Onix to use its tail to send Tyranitar flying into the Lake, taking it out of the fight. However, the battle has taken its toll on Onix, who faints. Brock congratulates Onix on a job well done and returns it to its Poké Ball.

Meanwhile, Suicune is finally able to make a run for Celebi up the monster's arm but is caught by the creature's tendril which starts to sap the energy out of it. Ash and Sam are sent flying but are caught by Jessie who informs them of Celebi's location. Ash and Sam climb the monster and find Celebi at its heart. Ash and Sam start to climb through, withstanding Celebi's attacks and trying to remind it of its previous gentle nature. Eventually, Celebi starts to regain its memories of Ash, Sam, and Pikachu and the tendrils holding Suicune release it. Celebi soon breaks free of its brainwashing, destroying its Dark Ball in the process.

Now that Celebi is free from the Iron-Masked Marauder's control, the Celebi-monster is left to crumble into the lake along with the Iron-Masked Marauder and Jessie. Celebi flies Ash and Sam out of the disintegrating creature however it starts to lose strength. By the time Ash's friends and Suicune meet Ash and Sam at the lakeside Celebi is unconscious, something is seriously wrong. Just then Celebi withers in Ash's arms, to everyone's horror. Brock suggests putting Celebi into the water, however, it has no effect as the lake's water has been tainted by the attack on it. Suicune, however, has the power to save the lake and jumps across the water purifying and restoring it with every step.

Suddenly, a bright light appears in the sky enveloping the lake causing everyone to look up. The light vibrates for a few seconds before a portal opens through which multiple other {{p|Celebi}} appear. They cause the Celebi lying dead in Ash's arms to rise up and take it to the middle of a circle and start to give it energy. Towa explains that the spirits of the past and the future can [[Time travel|travel through time]] too, and so they've all come to help their fallen friend. Celebi's body returns to its previous state and the tiny Pokémon suddenly wakes up completely revived to everyone's joy. The Celebi spirits travel back through the portal, which closes in a magnificent display of light. Celebi is now full of life and starts to fly across the lake, happily returning to everyone on the shore.

The reunion is cut short when the Iron-Masked Marauder suddenly emerges from the lake grabbing Celebi. Determined to get away with Celebi one way or another, two rockets emerge from a jet pack on his back and he flies away. Ash is desperate to not let him get away and grabs the Iron-Masked Marauder's leg as he rises and holds on tight, despite rising very high very fast, and with the Marauder trying to kick him off. Ash climbs up his legs orders Pikachu to use {{m|Thunderbolt}} on the evil man, causing the jet pack to explode, and he, Ash, and Pikachu to fall back to Earth. Ash and Pikachu are immediately rescued by Celebi, who helps them fly and return to their friends. The Iron-Masked Marauder falls through the trees, eventually reaching the ground, losing his helmet, and having to face the wrath of the Arborville citizens and several {{type|Bug}} Pokémon. He goes to send out his Scizor and Sneasel, but the Dark Balls are missing, and all of the Bug types use {{m|String Shot}} to tie him up.

Soon afterward Ash, Misty, and Brock find themselves back where they started, calling Professor Oak once again to confirm that it indeed was a Suicune they saw, and Misty adds that they also were able to see Celebi. Oak notices Ash's disheartened face and asks him what exactly is bringing him down, as he hasn't said a word since they began talking. Ash replies that it's because he made a really good friend, but now it seems they'll never see each other again. Professor Oak responds that true friendships can withstand the test of time and he's sure that he'll see Sam again and that even though they're separated, they'll be friends forever. Ash feels better from Oak's kind words and promises to tell him the full story when he returns to [[Pallet Town]], and Oak remarks that he's looking forward to it. After hanging up, Misty suddenly realizes that Professor Oak somehow knew Sam's name, despite them not having mentioned it to him. Before the group can think about it too much, the next ferry they're taking is prepared to leave, and they have to go catch it. Brock can only simply chalk it up to being that Professor Oak is a brilliant man who knows everything as they run off to more adventures. Back in Oak's lab, the Professor is looking through a sketchbook. Talking to himself, he says that it's all as if it happened yesterday, revealing the drawing of Celebi and Pikachu together that he drew as Sam 40 years ago.

In the end, Jessie is swimming in the lake and relishing in its comfort when James and Meowth find her on a raft. Before she can climb aboard, though, the now-freed Tyranitar appears and breaks the raft. As it swims away, the Iron-Masked Marauder's Scizor and Sneasel also return to their wildlife after being freed from the Dark Balls. Team Rocket, having their raft destroyed, decides to relax in the lake instead.