After the whole incident with the Team Aqua member at Devon Corporations, the gang was now heading towards Dewford Island where Ashlyn's next gym battle is. At the moment May wanted to visit Rustboro City's famous pasta and she was leading them to it.
"Are you sure this is the right way, May?" Max asked.
"Of course I'm sure." May replied confidently.
"I don't have a good feeling about this." Ashlyn stated.
"Agreed." Alain agreed, "Seeing the neighborhood, I'm guessing there's not much life here."
"Do you think we should tell her?" Ashlyn asked.
"I think she should find out on her own." Alain replied.
When they reached their destination, it was closed and boarded up.
"HUH?!" May exclaimed.
"It's closed." Alain pointed out.
"And it's all boarded up!" Brock added.
"No way! It says right here, this restaurant is on the most in places to eat list!" May retorted.
"Perhaps you want to check the date of that?" Max asked only to get a glare from his sister as she took another look at the map.
"Hey, Max! I did! This article happened to have come out yesterday! See!? Says right here...?" May started to say before she blinked again in surprise, which caught the others' attention as Ashlyn frowned of the expression she was making.
"Something wrong, May?" Ashlyn asked.
"It's... It's... this month... And... this day... from ten years ago." May stammered, earning shocked expressions from the others.
"WHAT!?"
=========================
After learning that May's map of the abandoned town was from ten years ago, the group was irritated by the fact that they came all the way down here for nothing. And not to mention, there wasn't a port to be found anywhere!
"I can't believe that you recklessly printed out the map from ten years ago. No wait, I can." Max grumbled; his tone directed towards May who glared back at him.
"Hey! How was I supposed to know that this would be a map from so long ago!?" May snapped.
"Maybe if you checked the dates more carefully, starting with what year it was?" Ashlyn asked which caused May to sweat drop.
"Oh, right." May realized.
"And also... How do we find a boat if we can't find the port!?" Brock groaned.
"This is so weird..." May commented, looking at the map.
"Hey, guys! I found it! It's the port! Over there! Past the cape!" Max cried out. Immediately, the group ran over to see what Max had found. And soon enough, they did see a port... that seemed rather far from where they were standing.
"What do you know...?" May pointed out silently.
"I guess there's been a lot of change here for the last ten years..." Brock stated.
Alain nodded, "Yeah."
"We might as well wait until the next boat." Ashlyn said.
"How about we sit and relax in the meantime?" Brock suggested.
"Great idea!" Max agreed.
"While you guys relax, I'll find us a boat!" May declared.
The others blinked in confusion at this. Before they could ask her what she meant, she already took off.
=================================
As they waited, Max managed to catch a Wingull. Ashlyn remembered that the Dewford gym is a fighting type. So she would train with Keesha (Shiny Farfetch'd) and Keiko (Mew). She switched Kazuki and Finn to the lab where they can spend some time with her other Pokémon and take some rest from training.
Soon enough, May came back and told the others that she was able to get a boat to get them to Dewford Island. They were mostly confused (except Ashlyn) that May was able to do so. She introduced them to Mr.Briney and his Wingull companion, Peeko. The man didn't mind giving them a ride to the island.
================================
And so, the gang was headed towards Dewford Island. The weather was beautiful with the sun shining on them. It had only been about two hours since they headed out and Mr. Briney spotted an island nearby.
"How about we take a break at this island?" Mr. Briney suggested.
"Sounds like a great idea!" May agreed.
Ashlyn rubbed the back of her head, "I guess we could." She said.
So Mr. Briney drove the boat to the island and docked there. May and Max decided to take a swim while Ashlyn was training with her Pokémon and Alain decided to help Brock cook lunch. The Pokémon were relaxing and playing on the beach. Everything was peaceful until everyone heard May and Max screaming. The others turned to the sound and saw three surrounded by a group of Pokémon that looked similar to a shark.
Ashlyn took out her Rotom phone:
[Sharpedo, the Brutal Pokémon. Sharpedo can shoot out a jet of water, allowing it to swim at 80 miles per hour. Due to their sharp fangs, they're highly feared and known as "The Gangs of the Sea."]
"Help us!" May cried out.
"Charizard, grab May and Max!" Alain ordered as he released his Charizard.
"ROAR!" Charizard roared as he appeared.
"Max hold onto May!" Ashlyn commanded.
Max nodded as he held onto May who wrapped her left arm around him while Charizard flew towards the siblings as May raised her right arm in the air. Charizard grabbed onto it and pulled them out of the water. He flew over to the beach and gently placed them on the sand.
"You guys okay?" Ashlyn asked.
May nodded, "I think so."
"I'll live." Max replied.
The group turned to the Sharpedo's that swarmed the shores of the beach. They looked angry for some reason. Ashlyn took out her flute and played Oracion to calm down the Sharpedo's. Once they were, they looked at the group.
"Is there a reason why you scared our friends?" Ashlyn asked.
"Sharpedo sharp. (You invaded our territory.)" A Sharpedo replied.
"Territory huh?" Ashlyn said.
"Did you say 'territory'?" Max asked.
Ashlyn nodded, "Yeah." Then she turned to the Sharpedo's, "We're sorry we entered your territory, but we just wanted to stop and rest for a little bit before we reach Dewford Island."
The Sharpedo's looked at one another, as if they were trying to make a decision. Suddenly one of the Sharpedo's groaned in pain. Ashlyn recognized that it was the leader of the Sharpedo's.
"What's wrong with that Sharpedo?" Max asked.
"That Sharpedo's been poisoned." Brock observed.
"Poisoned?!" May and Max exclaimed.
Brock nodded, "Yeah."
"We need to help it." Alain announced.
"Sharpedo's, your leader is poisoned. We can help him." Ashlyn called out.
Seeing that their leader is in pain and needs help, the Sharpedo's brought their leader to shore. With no time to waste, the gang began to treat the poisoned Sharpedo. The other Sharpedo's watched the gang as they took care of their leader.
Soon enough, the Sharpedo leader was looking better.
"How ya' feeling?" Brock asked.
"Sharpedo (Much better.)" Sharpedo replied.
"Just get some more rest and you'll be good as new." Brock instructed.
"Sharpedo, how on earth did you get poisoned?" Ashlyn asked.
"Sharp. (It was a Serviper.)" Sharpedo replied.
"Serviper?" Ashlyn asked.
Elena remembered that it was Jessie's Serviper who poisoned the Sharpedo leader.
"Did it have a trainer?" Alain asked.
Sharpedo nodded, "Sharp sharpedo. (It was a woman with long magenta hair.)
"A woman with long magenta hair?" Ashlyn blinked.
"Could he mean Jessie from Team Rocket?" May asked.
"There's no doubt it was Jessie." Brock confirmed.
"Which means that Team Rocket could be nearby." Ashlyn stated.
"Just great." May groaned.
"I'll get Genji and Mystique to watch over. Rory will keep an eye out in the waters." Ashlyn announced.
"I'll keep watch over Sharpedo." Brock decided.
Ashlyn released her three Pokémon and told them of the situation. Genji and Mystique hid in the trees while Rory goes into the water, keeping an eye out for Team Rocket. Brock kept watch over the Sharpedo leader.
=============================
It was soon morning. Brock had woken up when he something nudging him. He opened his eyes and saw Sharpedo staring at him. He slightly stepped back as he looked back at the brutal Pokémon.
"Hey Sharpedo, are feeling better?" Brock asked.
Sharpedo smiled and nodded. Brock smiled as well as he petted Sharpedo's head who seemed to be enjoying his touch.
Suddenly, they heard thumping noises nearby. It sounded more like something hard was hitting against metal. Then something burst out of the water which revealed to be Team Rocket's Gyarados submarine.
"WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!!" The trio screamed before they disappeared from their sight.
Soon enough Rory and Sharpedo popped out of the water. Brock realized that the Shiny Gyarados and group of brutal Pokémon were the ones who sent Team Rocket blasting off.
======================================
The group was heading off to continue on their way to Dewford Island. They wanted to say farewells to the Sharpedo group.
"Take care, Sharpedo." Ashlyn said.
"Hope we see you guys again someday." Alain added.
"Raichu!" Tesla smiled.
"Be careful." Brock stated.
The Sharpedo nodded and soon swam off.
Then Mr.Briney drove his boat with the gang on board towards Dewford Island.
==================================
By sunset, the gang had finally arrived at Dewford Island, much to their relief.
"Thank you so much, Mr.Briney." Ashlyn thanked with a smile.
"I'll be heading on over to Slateport City so I can prepare for my cruise. I hope to see you kids again someday." Mr. Briney explained.
"Gull! Wingull!" Peeko chirped in agreement.
"Yeah!" The gang agreed together.
"Sharpedo!"
The cry caught the group's attention as they all turned to see the Sharpedo leader near the docks.
"Sharpedo, what are you doing here?" Brock asked.
"Sharpedo. (I want to go with you.)" Sharpedo replied.
"Sharpedo wants to go with you, Brock." Ashlyn stated.
Everyone blinked in shock at that.
"Well Sharpedo, do you really wish to come with me?" Brock asked.
Sharpedo nodded with determination. Brock smiled and took out a Pokéball.
"Welcome to the team, Sharpedo." Brock gently tossed the Pokéball on Sharpedo's head and Sharpedo was sucked inside. The Pokéball wiggled for a moment and clicked which meant a successful capture. Brock picked it up and smiled.
"Good job, Brock. You caught a Sharpedo." Max congratulated the Pewter gym leader.
Brock nodded, "Yeah." He said.
"So then, shall we be on our way?" Ashlyn asked.
"To Dewford Town!" May cheered.
==================================
After healing the Sharpedo leader, Brock gained a new Pokémon on his team. And so, the gang are now heading towards Dewford Town where Ashlyn can have her next gym battle.
==================================
Pokémon Caught: Poochyena (Lela)(F), Mudkip (Finn)(M), Shiny Torchic (Hestia)(F), Ralts (Miku)(F), Ralts (Lancelot)(M), Taillow (Percy)(M), Zigzagoon (Ziggy)(M), Treecko (Kazuki)(M), Wurmple (Willow)(F)