The journey through the Orange Archipelago continued under clear skies. Lapras glided smoothly across the waves while Shiny Gyarados swam powerfully beside her.
Ash and the girls enjoyed the peaceful ride, occasionally chatting and laughing together. Tracey was busy sketching the horizon, and Giselle sat quietly, still getting used to the group's lively dynamic and joining in whenever she got interested.
After several hours of travel, an unfamiliar island came into view. It had rocky cliffs and scattered ancient-looking ruins. What stood out immediately was the large number of archaeologists, researchers, and excavation teams already working on the island. Tents were set up, digging equipment was scattered around, and scholars were carefully brushing sand off various fossils.
"Looks like we stumbled onto an active dig site," Ash noted as they approached the shore.
The group decided to make a quick landing to see what was happening. As they walked closer, one of the lead archaeologists noticed them and waved them over politely.
Before they could even introduce themselves properly, Ash spotted something half-buried in the wet sand near the rocks a perfectly preserved fossilized Kabuto. Its shell was intact, the details remarkably clear.
Tracey's eyes went wide with excitement. "A fossilized Kabuto! This is amazing! With all these archaeologists here, this must be a major discovery site!"
Giselle leaned closer, her usual calm cracking as she stared in shock. "Is… is that real? It looks so well preserved!"
Ash, Misty, Sabrina, and Daisy, however, remained completely unfazed.
Ash scratched the back of his head with a casual shrug. "Yeah, it's a Kabuto fossil. Cool find, but nothing too crazy for us."
Misty nodded casually. "We've seen plenty of these before."
Sabrina's expression stayed serene. "Indeed." Daisy simply smiled warmly, crossing her arms.
"My man and my harem sisters have quite the collection already. No big surprise here."
Tracey and Giselle stared at the four of them in disbelief, while nearby archaeologists overheard and looked equally stunned.
"Wait, what?!" Tracey exclaimed, nearly dropping his sketchbook. "You already have Kabuto fossils? And you're acting like it's just another seashell?!"
Ash smiled and said, "Nope, we have live ones!!"
Giselle's mouth opened and closed a few times before she managed, "Master Ash… you have an entire colony of Kabuto and Kabutops? And Omanyte and Omastar too?"
Ash chuckled lightly. "Yeah. We found a whole colony back in Grandpa Canyon during our journey near Viridian City. They're all living happily in Pallet Town now nice big habitat near the lab. Misty even caught a Kabutops of her own, and Sabrina has one Omastar too."
Misty grinned proudly. "My Kabutops is super strong!"
One of the archaeologists blinked in surprise. "You have a living colony? That's incredible! We've only found fossils so far."
Before the conversation could go further, the sky began to change dramatically. The sun dipped lower, and an eerie red glow started spreading across the horizon.
The moon rose unnaturally fast, turning a deep, blood-red color. A strange, ancient energy filled the air, making everyone on the island tense.
Ash's eyes narrowed. "This feeling… it's just like that time in Kanto with the red moon."
The red moon's light bathed the entire island in crimson rays. Suddenly, all the fossilized Kabuto scattered across the dig site began to react. The sand shifted and glowed as one fossil after another started cracking open. Living Kabuto emerged, blinking under the red moonlight.
"Not just one…" Sabrina whispered, her psychic senses flaring. "Dozens… hundreds."
The revived Kabuto started moving in large numbers, their instincts driving them across the island. Their combined movement caused the ground to tremble violently. Ancient ruins began to crack. Rocks tumbled from the cliffs as the sheer number of awakening Pokémon destabilized the entire area.
"The island is becoming unstable!" one archaeologist shouted in panic.
Tracey was frantically sketching while backing away. "This is unbelievable… a red moon awakening! The fossils are reviving!"
Suddenly, a series of loud rumbling sounds echoed from the mountains. Massive boulders began rolling down the slopes, deliberately aimed toward the excavation camps and the archaeologists. The researchers panicked and scattered, dodging the falling rocks as they crashed into tents and equipment.
"Who's doing that?!" an archaeologist yelled in fear.
Ash and the group quickly looked up toward the source. Standing on a high rocky ledge was an old man with long white hair and a weathered face, dressed in tattered traditional robes. He was using a long staff to lever and push the boulders, sending them tumbling down to scare the intruders away.
The old man shouted in a deep, commanding voice, "Leave this place! You have disturbed what should not be touched!"
Ash raised his hands and called out loudly, "Wait! We're not here to harm anything! Stop the boulders!"
The old man paused, staring down at the group. After a moment, he slowly made his way down the path, his eyes sharp and filled with ancient knowledge. He stopped in front of Ash and the archaeologists, his gaze particularly lingering on the newly revived Kabuto.
"I am the guardian of this island," the old man said gravely. "For generations, my family has protected this sacred ground. There is an old prophecy passed down through my bloodline: When the red moon rises and the ancient ones awaken from their long slumber, the island that disturbs their rest shall be swallowed by the sea. You were warned… but you did not listen."
The archaeologists fell silent, faces pale as they realized the gravity of the situation.
Ash nodded respectfully. "We understand now. We'll help everyone leave safely."
With that, Ash quickly took charge. "Everyone, stay calm but move fast! We need to evacuate the island before it collapses!"
The group sprang into action. Ash and Misty released their own Kabuto and Kabutops to help guide and calm some of the newly revived ones. Misty's Kabutops and Ash's Kabutops moved with familiarity, helping herd the ancient Pokémon toward safer areas near the shore.
Using ropes, psychic support from Ash and Sabrina, and the strength of Shiny Gyarados and Lapras waiting in the water, the group helped the archaeologists and researchers evacuate safely. Giselle stuck close, helping coordinate and making sure no one was left behind despite her nervousness. The old guardian also joined them, ensuring the last of the team escaped.
As the red moon continued to shine, the ground shook more violently. Large sections of Fukuhara Island No. 4 began to crumble and sink into the sea. The mass revival of the Kabuto, combined with the seismic activity and the prophecy coming true, proved too much for the island's structure.
From the safety of the water aboard Lapras and Shiny Gyarados, the group along with the rescued archaeologists and the old guardian watched as the island slowly broke apart and was gradually destroyed.
Tracey was still sketching rapidly. "I can't believe I witnessed this… The red moon brought the ancient Kabuto back to life, and the prophecy was fulfilled!"
Ash stood tall on Lapras's back, looking at the collapsing island with concern but acceptance. "At least the Kabuto are free now. They'll find their own way in the ocean."
Misty leaned against him. "We did what we could to help everyone get out safely."
Sabrina nodded quietly. "The ancient ones have awoken. Nature and prophecy takes its course."
Daisy sighed softly. "Another wild adventure…"
Giselle stared at the scene, still processing everything. "Master Ash… your journeys really are never boring."
Ash gave a small laugh as he gently pulled his girls closer, wrapping an arm around Misty, Sabrina, and Daisy. "Nope. Never a dull moment."
With the destroyed island slowly disappearing behind them under the fading red moonlight, the group continued their voyage through the Orange Archipelago currents, carrying the archaeologists and the old guardian to the nearest safe port.
One more unforgettable and chaotic experience was added to their Orange Islands journey exactly as the old prophecy had predicted.