Pokemon : Rewind

Early the next morning, after everyone woke up, Ash and his friends enjoyed a hearty breakfast, said their goodbyes to Mateo and Marissa, and left Sunburst Island. 

Before they departed, Mateo gifted them with three exquisite glass sculptures he had crafted the previous night.

The glass sculptures, shaped like Pikachu, Togepi, and Marill, were small—only three centimeters tall—but incredibly detailed and lifelike, almost as if they were real Pokémon.

Ash, Misty, and Tracey were thrilled by the thoughtful gifts and carefully placed them in their bags, vowing to cherish them always.

After leaving Sunburst Island, the group resumed their journey across the open sea. Over the next ten days, they stopped at various islands to rest and explore. 

Among these, two islands stood out for their uniqueness: Pinkan Island and Doom Fossil Island.

Pinkan Island was a nature reserve in the Orange Archipelago, famous for its harsh surrounding waters, scattered whirlpools, and towering cliffs. Accessing the island was nearly impossible for ordinary travelers.

The group hadn't planned to visit Pinkan Island. Their destination was Navel Island to the east, but it was late in the evening, and they needed a place to rest. Spotting Pinkan Island, they decided to land there despite the challenges.

With Charizard's help, Ash carried everyone over the cliffs and onto the island. Pinkan Island was a special place with only Officer Jenny and a small team of rangers protecting its ecosystem.

Upon learning that Ash and his friends only sought a night's rest, the rangers permitted them to stay, largely due to Ash's reputation.

The island's uniqueness lay in its pink Pokémon population, a phenomenon caused by a local fruit. Eating this fruit temporarily turned Pokémon pink, and prolonged consumption caused permanent changes. 

This trait had drawn poachers, prompting the Orange League to classify the island as a nature reserve to protect its Pokémon.

After a peaceful night, Ash and his friends left Pinkan Island, only to encounter a group of archaeologists and reporters heading to Doom Fossil Island. Intrigued, Tracey convinced the group to join the expedition, which led to an incredible discovery.

Doom Fossil Island turned out to be an island formed by a colony of ancient Kabuto. Believed to be extinct, these Kabuto had long been dormant, but the archaeological team's excavation disturbed them. 

The awakened Kabuto caused the island to collapse in chaos, creating a disaster-like scenario.

Fortunately, the crisis ended without loss of life. The Kabuto relocated to a new resting place, while the reporters destroyed their footage to protect the species. The archaeological team, facing heavy losses, disbanded.

With no inhabited islands nearby, Ash and his friends once again searched for a place to spend the night.

"There's a small island ahead!" Tracey called out, lowering his telescope and pointing southeast. His excitement was evident.

"Finally! If we hadn't found an island soon, we'd be spending another night on Lapras like before," Misty said with relief, recalling the uncomfortable night they had spent floating in the open sea.

Following Tracey's directions, Lapras carried the group toward the island. Though they had spotted it from afar, it took nearly an hour to reach.

The island was uninhabited, with no signs of human civilization. However, for seasoned trainers like Ash and his friends, such a place was ideal for resting.

"It's getting dark. We need to set up camp quickly," Tracey said, glancing at the setting sun. They needed to pitch their tents and prepare the campfire before nightfall.

Thanks to Charizard's fire-breathing abilities, starting the campfire was simple. Misty gathered enough firewood to last the night, Tracey set up the tents, and Ash prepared ingredients for dinner.

"Ash! Tracey! Come here quickly!" Misty's sudden shout broke the quiet rhythm of their tasks. Startled, Ash looked toward her voice and saw her standing near the edge of the dense forest.

Ash and Tracey dropped what they were doing and rushed to her side.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Ash asked, his concern evident.

"No, I'm fine," Misty replied with a slight smile at Ash's worry. She pointed to the sand near the forest. "But look at this!"

Ash, Tracey, and Pikachu turned their attention to where she was pointing. They all froze, their faces reflecting surprise.

In the sand were clear human and Pokémon footprints. While Pokémon tracks were expected on a wild island, the human footprints were out of place.

"This island is supposed to be uninhabited," Tracey said, kneeling to inspect the prints. "These tracks suggest someone has been here recently."

"Do you think it's someone in trouble?" Misty asked.

"No..." Ash and Tracey answered in unison before exchanging a glance. Ash gestured for Tracey to elaborate.

"These human footprints belong to an adult, and the smaller ones next to them are from a Chansey," Tracey explained. 

He pointed to the tracks, which followed a path along the shoreline before disappearing. "There's also this mark here. It looks like they were dragging something heavy."

"Judging by the depth and sharpness of the footprints, they're only a few hours old—maybe three or four," Tracey concluded.

"So... should we check it out?" Misty asked, her gaze shifting between Ash and Tracey.

Ash considered it for a moment. Something about the situation felt familiar, though he couldn't place it. After a brief pause, he nodded. "Let's go investigate. But we'll need to leave some Pokémon here to guard the camp."

With that decision, Ash and his friends prepared to follow the mysterious footprints into the unknown.

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