"Sure enough, he can use Aura, just like Lucario. Let me check Lucario's data," Ash murmured to himself, eyes widening with interest as he raised his Pokédex.

When I first met Lucario back in the castle, I didn't really understand much about Aura… I only knew from Queen Ilene that Lucario was known as an Aura Pokémon.

Pokédex: "Lucario, the Aura Pokémon. The evolved form of Riolu. Lucario can read the thoughts and movements of others by sensing the Aura waves they emit."

Ash's eyes sparkled. "That's amazing! I want to catch a Lucario too!"

He clenched his fists in excitement, Pikachu perched on his shoulder mimicking the gesture.

"Pika pika! (Lucario sounds really cool!)"

"I know, right? He's strong and mysterious! C'mon, Pikachu, imagine having one on our team!"

"Pika~! Chu pika! (Yeah! Let's go find one!)"

For Ash, catching Pokémon was never about numbers or statistics—it was always about feeling fate's pull. But seeing Lucario and Riolu's data together, his imagination ran wild.

He laughed sheepishly afterward, scratching the back of his head. "Guess I'm still a bit of a kid sometimes, huh?"

Gary gave a small grin. "Heh. You? That's a given. But don't get ahead of yourself. Lucario's a tough catch. You'll need more experience before you get one."

Ash nodded, a bit deflated. "Yeah, maybe you're right… Someday though!"

Many Pokémon fans felt regret over Lucario's tragic fate in the movie version—the brave Lucario that gave his life to save others. Even Ash, whenever he remembered that story, grew solemn.

Years later, when he finally caught his own Riolu, it felt like the completion of a long wish.

"By the way," Gary said suddenly, "why don't you check out the Infernape I mentioned earlier?"

"Oh right, the one you were thinking of catching! Let's see…" Ash scrolled through the Pokédex again.

Pokédex: "Infernape, the Flame Pokémon. The evolution of Monferno. Its fiery spirit burns on its head, and its incredible agility allows it to battle with lightning speed."

Ash's eyes gleamed. "Whoa, Infernape looks awesome! So fierce, and so cool!"

"Pika! Pikachuuu! (Those flames look crazy hot!)" Pikachu's ears flicked nervously, imagining being in a battle against something like that.

Gary smirked. "Looks like the kind of Pokémon that suits you, Ash. Always fiery, always charging in."

"Heh, well, maybe…" Ash admitted.

Gary thought knowingly. "Paul's."

Gary tilted his head, his scientist's curiosity glowing behind his eyes. Especially Ash's Infernape—it had an incredible Blaze ability. No wonder it caught everyone's attention during the Lily of the Valley Conference...

He smirked slightly. "Seems like Infernape's still with Paul now," Gary thought aloud.

Calculating the timing, Gary reasoned that Paul had likely already returned to the Sinnoh Region after his travels in Kanto, training and preparing for their eventual League match there.

That meant one thing: Paul had already captured Chimchar, and if anyone wanted that Pokémon now, they'd have to wait until Paul released it—which, as we know, he did after deeming it unable to control its Blaze.

Gary frowned. "The reason Paul abandoned Chimchar wasn't only its failure to control Blaze. Ash's actions during that time also affected the result, without them, Paul might not have let Chimchar go."

He sighed. "Forget it. Better go after something less emotionally messy… like that shiny Metagross ."

A fierce Shiny Metagross had reportedly been sighted near Route 217, Windvale Town(fictional) in the Sinnoh Region—a Pokémon known for its brutal survival instincts.

Metagross wasn't just smart; it was a predator. A dangerous one.

Pokédex: "Metagross, the Iron Leg Pokémon. A Steel and Psychic type that analyzes opponents in battle using four brains that combine as one. It is said to calculate the most efficient way to win instantaneously."

But the Shiny Metagross the locals described was different—more feral.

Rather than simply defeating its prey, it immobilized foes beneath its massive body and drained their strength before consuming them, leaving behind only scars of desperation.

Even though it was terrifying, Gary saw an opportunity. "For the safety of the region," he muttered to himself, "I'll go investigate and catch that Metagross."

Suddenly, a cheerful announcement echoed across the cruise ship.

"Ding-dong! Dear passengers, the ship has arrived at Sandgem Town. Please disembark before 4 PM. Don't forget your luggage and personal belongings!"

Ash's eyes lit up immediately. "Ha! We're finally here!"

"Pika-pi!" Pikachu cried, sparks popping excitedly from its cheeks.

Sinnoh at last—the beginning of a new journey!

Ash and Gary hurried back to their cabin to grab their bags.

"Let's go, Gary! First stop: Professor Rowan's Lab!" Ash said, grinning.

Gary looked thoughtful for a moment before shaking his head. "You go ahead. I've got other plans."

Ash blinked. "What? You're not coming to see Professor Rowan? He's one of the top Pokémon researchers!"

"I'll visit him later," Gary said nonchalantly, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "There's something I need to do first."

Ash frowned, puzzled. "You're always like this! So mysterious!"

Gary just waved his hand dismissively and walked off down another street. "You'll understand later."

Ash sighed but smiled. "Heh, that's Gary for you. Always one step ahead."

He turned to Pikachu. "Come on, let's go say hi to Professor Rowan."

"Pika!" Pikachu chirped and hopped to his usual place on Ash's shoulder.

As they made their way through Sandgem Town's cobbled paths, bright sunlight gleamed off the sea, and flocks of Wingull called overhead.

Meanwhile, Gary walked the opposite direction. There was a reason behind his actions—one that not even Ash could guess.

He muttered under his breath, "If I'm with him, the whole flow of events could change… and that's not something I'm willing to risk."

He remembered the original series of events clearly. When Ash first arrived in Sinnoh, Team Rocket had captured Pikachu moments after disembarking. Pikachu escaped midair, ultimately meeting Dawn and beginning Ash's Sinnoh story.

If Gary interfered, that encounter might never happen—and that would change everything.

At Professor Rowan's lab, Ash eagerly introduced himself again, and Rowan, with his distinguished gray beard, smiled warmly. "Ah, so you're the young Trainer from Pallet Town. I've heard much about you from Professor Oak."

But as they talked, disaster struck outside—the familiar sinister laughter of Team Rocket echoed.

"Prepare for trouble!"

"And make it double!"

Ash gasped. "Not again!"

"Pika pikaaa!" Pikachu shouted, sparks crackling angrily.

As history repeated itself, Team Rocket snatched Pikachu with one of their usual nets. But Ash was older, faster, more confident. "Hang in there, buddy! Use Thunderbolt!"

"Piii—KA-CHUUU!"

The net exploded in sparks, but the blast sent Pikachu flying far into the forest once again…

The cycle had begun. Ash knew what came next—his reunion with Pikachu, the meeting with Dawn, and the eventual capture of his first Sinnoh Pokémon, Starly.

Gary, from afar, watched the smoke in the distance. "He's right on track," he muttered with satisfaction. "If he didn't catch that Starly, the whole balance of events could be ruined."

Gary had a different mission now—preserving the continuity of Sinnoh's events and avoiding interference.

Gary gazed toward the mountains in the distance, his thoughts darkening.

Sinnoh wasn't just any region—it was the stage for some of the most terrifying legendary conflicts. Dialga, the ruler of time, and Palkia, the master of space... their clash could unravel reality itself, just as it had nearly done over Alamos Town in movie before.

Then there was Arceus—the Creator Pokémon, bearing righteous fury toward humankind after being betrayed by those of Michina Town.

Gary shuddered slightly. "If Arceus truly let that anger run wild… this world wouldn't stand a chance."

He clenched his backpack straps. "We have to make sure Ash's story unfolds the same way—so that Arceus forgives them. We can't afford any changes."

But the darkness of Sinnoh's looming calamity didn't end there.

Soon after Dialga and Palkia's clash, another entity would rise—Giratina, emerging from the Reverse World to confront them both.

Somewhere deep in those caverns, Gary thought, someone dangerous man—Zero—was already studying that power. With Giratina's stolen abilities, he could cross dimensions… and nearly destroy the icy wilderness of Sinnoh in the process.

Gary exhaled slowly. "The Sinnoh movies really were something else. Time distortion, parallel worlds, legendary wrath… No wonder it's terrifying."

Even compared to calamities in other regions, Sinnoh's disasters—ruptured timelines, collapsing glaciers, the potential destruction of reality—were on another level. He had to keep his distance from Ash during this leg of the journey.

"Let him fight fate," Gary said softly, watching as wild Staravia soared over the cliffs. "My job is just to make sure everything stay perfect."

High above, a gentle, ring-like cry echoed across the wind.

"Shay~min…"

A small, green Pokémon fluttered past on a warm breeze, its flower petals glimmering faintly.

Gary smiled faintly. "A Shaymin, huh? The season's just right for them to migrate."

He recalled Oak's research on the phenomenon: groups of Shaymin flying toward Gracidea fields, transforming into their Sky Forme when enveloped in Gracidea pollen.