It is 20 years since we saw the characters of Pokemon having their adventures.
Ash smiled as he held open the door for his wife, whose face cannot be seen.
Wife: Thanks, Ash. Wow, I can't believe we're going to be meeting the old
gang again.
Ash: I know. I can't wait to find out what became of everyone.
They enter a room full of people. All the people are familiar, although some less recognisable than others. Ash's eyes widen in a kind of horror as he sees one of the Officer Jennys with a nose ring and some kind of mohawk.
Ash: Hey Jenny, having a mid-life crisis?
Jenny: Not mid-life Ash, my life is, like, just beginning, baby.
Ash: You're scary.
Ash and his wife walk past Koga in a wheelchair and a balding Lt Surge (now not quite so intimidating) until they see two more recognisable figures.
Ash: Jessie, James! Nice to see you again!
Jessie (suspicious): It is?
Ash: Oh yeah, we were enemies, weren't we. I forgot.
Jessie: Prepare for trouble!
James: Make it double!
Jessie: Ahh, that brings back memories.
James: To unite all peoples within our nation!
Ash: You two are still together, I see.
Jessie: Yes, we got married.
James: To extend our reach to the stars above!
Jessie: James...
James: James!
Jessie: Cut that out! We're not doing the speech!
James: Surrender now or prepare to fight!
Jessie: I'll prepare to fight if you don't shut up!!
James (sweatdrop): I couldn't stop until I'd finished the whole thing.
Old traditions die hard.
Ash: Well, it's nice to see you haven't changed much... (I guess)... your
hair still looks the same.
Jessie: Some things never go out of style!
Ash: And I see James is wearing a dress again. What is with that? I've
just gotta ask.
Ash's wife: You know Ash, I don't think we really want to know.
Ash's wife nervously drags Ash away, with a sweatdrop, before James gets the chance to explain his... unusual habit.
Ash: Misty! Hey, Misty! Long time no see!
Misty turns, with a big smile on her face and teases Ash.
Misty: Hey, you still haven't paid me back for my bike, Mr Pokemon Master.
Ash: You'll never forget that, will you? On your death bed, your last
words will be "give me back my bike"!
Misty: You wish I'd give you the consideration of having my final words!
Ash: Ahh, I know you, you'd -
Ash's wife: Would you two stop flirting?
Misty: I'm not flirting. I am a MARRIED WOMAN.
Ash: How long did that take, Miss Scrawny? I wouldn't have thought it'd
happen in only 20 years!
Misty: That's MRS Scawny to you, Ash Ketchum.
Ash (proudly): Well, I'm married too. See, this is MY wife!
Ash's wife: Must you say that like I'm some sort of prize?
Misty: You learn to get used to Ash...
Ash's wife: Yes, I know... ^_^;;
Misty: But you look familiar.
Ash's wife: I am familiar, but my identity isn't supposed to be revealed
until the end of the fanfic, so as to build up some suspense.
Jessie and James walk past the chatting trio.
James: Hi Duplica!
They walk on.
Ash's wife (sweatdrop): Well, so much for suspense.
Misty: If it's any consolation, I doubt the readers are finding it much
of a thrilling revelation.
Duplica: It's the principle of the thing. It wasn't supposed to be
revealed until the end of the fanfic. I guess the fic needs to end now.
Misty: But we haven't met everyone yet! I'd like you both to meet my
husband.
She pulls forward a man with green hair.
AJ: Hello.
Ash: AJ! Great to see you... I haven't seen you since... boy, it must've
been when I CREAMED your Sandslash! Hahahaha!
AJ: You shut up, you annoying little twerp.
Ash: Ohh, nice use of insults there. I bet I can do better.
AJ: You wish, boy! My Pokemon are naturally much better than yours, and
I'd beat you if we fought again!
Ash: No, YOU wish!
Duplica: Ash, don't create a scene...
Misty: I'm getting deja vu here....
Duplica: And Ash is supposed to be 30 years old...
Misty: Ditto AJ...
Ditto: Ditto!
Duplica (sweatdrop): Not you, Ditto.
Ditto: To?
AJ turns away to mingle with some of the gym trainers. Ash, Misty and Duplica look for more friends.
Gary: Heyyy, loser!
Ash: Where? Oh, I see you.
Gary: Hey, shut up.
Ash: Nice to see you haven't matured.
Gary: You can talk. I saw you almost get into a fistfight with AJ about
ten seconds ago.
Ash (with dignity): I am a responsible adult. I do not engage in
fistfights.
Gary (doubled over with laughter): Responsible... heheh.... adult... oh,
you're killing me Ash...
Ash: Speaking of killing....
Duplica and Misty get sweatdrops as Gary and Ash start fighting. Again.
Misty: So much for being too responsible to engage in fistfights.
Duplica: I think some things never change.... *over sound of Ash/Gary
pounding the living snot out of each other* HEY YOU TWO! Cut it out for a
sec!
*pause*
Duplica (ever the diplomatic wife): So Gary, are YOU married yet?
Misty (thinking): Reaaaal diplomatic.
Gary: Of course I'm married! And my wife is MUCH better than Ash's,
whoever she is.
Duplica (dangerously sweet tone): Hmmm, and may we meet this lovely wife
of yours?
Gary reaches into the crowd, grabs an arm and pulls out a lady.
Gary: This is my wife!
Ash: I don't believe it...
Misty: Isn't she nearly 10 years older than you?
Gary (sweatdrop): Who cares. Isn't she a babe?
Ash: Gee, I dunno. Last time I saw her she was trying to turn me into a
doll.
Misty: *shudder*
Sabrina: Yeah, I really am sorry about that. ^_^;;
Ash: What on EARTH made you marry GARY?
Misty: Hey, that rhymed.
Ash (muttering to self): Marry... Gary... Marry... Gary... hey, it did!
^_^
Sabrina: Uh... you know, I'm not sure I even remember.
Misty: You can't REMEMBER?
Duplica: Try harder.
Sabrina (thinking hard): You know, that's really odd. I really CAN'T
remember what possessed me to marry him.
Gary (muttering): Don't think too hard... Exeggcutor's hypnosis is sure
good for something...
Duplica (remembering Gary's earlier comment): Anyway, I think I am a much
lovelier lady than Sabrina, don't you Ash?
Ash (preoccupied by Sabrina's... er, assets): I dunno Duplica, Sabrina's
pretty cute and -
Duplica (smacking him hard over the head): DON'T YOU AGREE, ASH?!
Ash: Oh! Oh, yeah, of course! You beat her any day!
Gary: YOU'RE Ash's wife?
Duplica (winking): Duplica! That's right!
Gary: Excuse me....
Gary leaves, shoulders heaving with laughter. Duplica gets mad.
Duplica: Ditto, transform.
Ditto: Ditto!
Ditto turns into a large rock, which Duplica picks up and hurls after the Pokemon trainer. It beans Gary right on the head, knocking him unconscious.
Ash: Good shot.
Duplica: Comes with practise. ^_^
Ash: Well, it looks like everyone's done things with their lives...
gotten married... it's weird to find out what's become of everyone.
Misty: Hey look, there's Brock!
Ash: Hey, Brocko!
Misty: Brock, it's great to see you!
Brock turns. He now looks just like his father did when we saw him.
Misty: Still running Pewter Gym?
Brock: Naturellement.
Ash: So, which one of these lovely ladies in here is your wife?
Brock: My wife?
Ash: Yeah...
Wrong question to ask. Brock starts sobbing.
Brock: It's 20 years later.... and I still can't get a girl!
The more things change, the more they stay the same.