Episode 26: Viridian Surprise!
Episode 26 in my Fan Fiction series about the Pokémon journey of Ash and Angie. Involves some MorpheusShipping (Ash and Angie liking each other) so if you don't like that idea, stop reading here. The rest, I hope you enjoy this fan-fiction.
"Hey Ash, can you finally get out off the bathroom now!? You've been in there for half an hour already," Tracey shouted, as he banged on the door.
"Just a minute... almost ready!" Ash yelled back, as Tracey still heard the water of the shower running.
It was nice to have access to the common luxury of a shower, and a real bed again, and Ash was making sure he enjoyed every aspect of those. The Pokémon Center in Viridian City didn't have it's own guest rooms, but to provide a place to stay for traveling trainers, the building next door had been acquired, and it was changed into a sort of hotel. It didn't have separate rooms, but was more set up like a dormitory, just like the accommodation you would usually find inside a Pokémon Center. Our friends were sleeping late today and after finally waking up, going to the bathroom to freshen up after all their ordeals in Viridian Forest was the next logical stop.
"I know they say girls can spend ages in the bathroom, but after this I am beginning to doubt it is true," Tracey replied.
"Alright, alright, take it easy..." Ash said as he closed the tap of the shower and took a towel.
"I mean, Angie already left for the Pokémon Center, and she was awake about as late as you," Tracey stated.
"Huh!?" Ash said, and he came running out off the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.
"Hey, I should have told you that earlier, then the bathroom would have been free for me so much sooner," Tracey teased Ash.
"Did she say what she was going to do?" Ash informed.
"No, not really, but maybe she just wanted to phone home, or check on her Pokémon," Tracey suggested.
Ash got dressed quickly, while Tracey took possession of the bathroom. After getting ready, Ash raced downstairs, since he was curious to learn why Angie had left the dormitory before them. He entered the Pokémon center, and saw Angie sitting by the phone, just like Tracey had mentioned as a possible place where to find her.
"Hi Ash," Angie said as she heard him walking towards her, and turned around, "did you sleep well?"
"Like a log," Ash answered, while smiling, "how about you?"
"Very well, thank you," she answered, "it was sure nice to be sleeping in a real bed again."
"Who are you calling?" Ash informed, as he put his arm around Angie.
"Hello dear!" Ash suddenly heard Angie's mother say, as her picture appeared on the view screen, "oh, and hello Ash!" she added as she saw him sitting cozy next to her daughter.
"Uh...eh... hello Angie's mom," Ash stuttered, feeling a little embarrassed, as he tried to removed his arm from Angie without attracting too much attention.
"You don't have to do that Ash, "Angie's mother laughed, "I already know you like my daughter, remember?"
Ash started to blush and slowly put his arm back where it was before.
"And I also know Angie likes you a lot," Angie's mom continued, "so I'm fine with you two getting along so nicely."
Now Angie started to blush as well. She was getting used to being around Ash a lot with others around, like Tracey, and it usually didn't stop her from showing her affection for him, "but it still felt somewhat uncomfortable when parents start talking about your feelings", she thought.
"Is Ash there as well?" Ash heard a very familiar voice say through the phone, "can I talk to him for a moment?"
"Mom?" Ash asked, "what are you doing there?"
"Well good morning to you too, my boy," his mom greeted Ash, "I phoned Angie's parents a few days ago and they invited me to come over to their place for a few days. Mimey takes care of the house while I'm gone. Since you two are getting along so nice, it would be nice if Angie's parents and me got to know each other better, when you two in the future, well... you know..."
Ash became even more red on his cheeks now then before, and Angie did the same, as she realized what Ash's mom was hinting at.
"Oh, how cute..." they heard Ash's mom say, as she turned her head to the right, so she was probably talking to Angie's mom for a moment, before looking forward to Ash and Angie again, "anyway, I'm glad you all got through Viridian Forest safe and sound."
"Yeah, we agree, right Angie?" Ash said, much relieved because of this change of subject.
"Are you going to challenge the Viridian Gym today Ash?" his mother asked.
"Well, I was going to, yes," Ash answered, "I wonder if Gary is still running the gym, I haven't seen him in a while, or heard of him."
"Then I think you're in for a surprise..." Ash's mother said with a mysterious smile on her face.
"What do you mean?" Ash wondered.
"Oh, you'll see soon enough," his mother replied, "but I believe Angie's mother has something to say now, so I'm off again. Take good care of each other and good luck in the gym Ash!"
"Bye mom, you have a good time as well!" Ash said.
Angie's mother appeared again on the screen, and also wished Ash good luck with his upcoming battle. Then she said goodbye to Ash and Angie, and the connection was terminated. For a moment Ash just stared at Angie, thinking about what his mother had said, hinting at their possible future. Angie seemed to be reading his thoughts, as she also looked quite serious as she looked back at him. "How will it be when we grow up and are still together...?" she wondered.
"How's your Zigzagoon doing?" Ash said, as he tried to break the silence.
"Nurse Joy said it will be fine in no time," Angie answered, on the one hand feeling a little sad this special moment was over already, but at the same time as relieved as Ash was, since talking about their future together, is not something she wanted to do in public.
"That's nice," Ash commented.
"What's nice?" Tracey asked.
"Oh, Angie was telling me her Zigzagoon is recovering nicely," Ash explained, "but I didn't expect you here so soon."
"Not everyone has to hog the bathroom for as long as you, Ash," Tracey teased him.
"Hmmm, well okay, shall we go to the gym?" Ash quickly suggested, to change the subject.
"Sounds okay to me," Angie replied, "if we go early, we can use the afternoon to get some supplies again."
"To the gym then!" Tracey added.
Viridian City's Gym had been through some changes in the past. First Giovanni was the Gym Leader, but when it became clear he merely used the gym as a disguise for his plans as leader of Team Rocket, and was only after strong Pokémon, Gary had taken over the role of Gym Leader since. So Ash was extra pumped for this battle. Gary used to mock him when they both started their Pokémon journey, and although the last time Ash met him, he seemed to have grown more friendly towards Ash, and less cocky in general, Ash was still looking forward to showing him he had learned a trick or two, and beating Gary would be the icing on the cake. A few streets further they reached the Gym.
"Hello there! I am Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, and I've come to challenge this Gym!" Ash shouted as he knocked on the door.
There was no response at all. Ash was about to knock on the door again, a little louder this time, but then the it slowly opened. It wasn't Gary, instead a young woman appeared in the opening.
"Daisy...? Daisy Oak?" Ash said, very surprised.
"Hi Ash, so you've come to challenge the gym?" Daisy informed
"That's right!" Ash replied, eager to battle.
"Gary already told me he had heard you were traveling Kanto again, so we were expecting you," Daisy continued, "and the Gym Leader will accept your challenge."
"Okay, so let's go see him then," Ash answered, now getting a bit impatient.
"That will be impossible," Daisy said.
"Oh, is Gary afraid of me or what?" Ash wondered.
"That's not it," Daisy answered, "Gary isn't here at the moment," she continued, leaving Ash even more clueless.
"But if Gary isn't here, how can the Gym Leader accept my challenge?" Ash asked.
"Oh, but the Gym Leader is here..." Daisy said, as she smiled at Ash.
"I don't understand..." was all Ash could say.
"I think Daisy is trying to say..." Tracey started.
"Your friend has guessed it right, I am the Gym Leader, Ash," Daisy stated.
After Ash had recovered of this surprise, Daisy explained that her grandfather, professor Oak, had asked Gary to do something for him. In turn, Gary asked his older sister to look after the Gym while he was away on his mission. Then she invited our friends to have some tea, since she had just been making that as they came knocking on her door. Ash wasn't happy about the extra delay, but he was polite enough to give in, and came along too.
"So, Ashy boy, are you ready for that battle now?" Daisy suddenly said.
"Don't you start calling me that also..." Ash sighed.
"I'm sorry Ash, but my brother insisted I'd call you that way if you would show up," Daisy explained, "but I won't do it again from now on, I promise."
"Okay, then let's battle!" Ash said, all enthusiastic again.
Daisy led them to the Battle Ground. It was still mostly composed of rocks, revealing it once was a Ground-type Gym. However, the coloring on the walls was so much brighter than in the days when Giovanni was still in control. Daisy showed Ash his side of the field, and then she walked to the other side. A door opened in the side of the wall, opposite to where they had entered the Battle Ground, and a referee appeared.
"Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town challenges Daisy, acting Gym Leader of Viridian Gym," the referee introduced the combatants, "each trainer will use three Pokémon, and only the challenger can switch during battle. The first trainer to be out off usable Pokémon loses."
Ash and Daisy both nodded to indicate they agreed to the rules.
"Trainers ready? Go!" the referee shouted.
"Golem, Come out!" Daisy shouted as she sent out her first Pokémon.
"Huh, I didn't know you had a Golem?" Ash asked surprised.
"Gary left some of his Pokémon here, since he has so many, he doesn't need them all when he goes away," Daisy cleared this thing up.
"Uh...right..." Ash said, not very happy to be reminded of how many Pokémon Gary has caught, "Buizel, I choose you!"
"Gary said you would choose Pikachu as your first Pokémon, regardless of it's type, but it seems he was wrong. Good choice Ash," Daisy praised him.
"Gee, thanks, but I haven't won yet," Ash replied, "Buizel, Aqua Jet!"
"Golem, counter it with Rollout!" Daisy reacted.
Buizel's Aqua Jet collided with Golem's Rollout at full speed. An explosion occurred, and Buizel was seen flying backwards through the air. It managed to turn over while in flight, and landed on it's hind legs, with one paw on the ground as well, to break it's fall, and slow it down. The smoke cleared, and Golem was knocked out.
"That Buizel is really something!" Daisy remarked, "Gary told me his Golem once even withstood a direct hit from a Blastoise's Hydro Pump."
"Good job, Buizel!" Ash praised his Water-type Pokémon, which did however seem to have taken some damage as well.
"Way to go Ash!" Angie cheered.
"Speaking of Blastoise," Daisy said, "come out!" and to everyone's surprise she send out a Blastoise.
"Now where did you get that...? Wait, let me guess, it also belongs to Gary, right?" Ash reasoned.
"You got that right," Daisy answered, "Blastoise, show us your Hydro Pump!"
"Buizel, do Water Pulse!" Ash commanded.
Both water attacks crashed into each other in midair, but the Hydro Pump was so powerful it just shattered Buizel's Water Pulse, and raced on towards Buizel.
"Dodge it Buizel!" Ash warned his Pokémon, but Buizel wasn't fit enough anymore to get away in time, and was partially hit, smashing it into the wall with much force.
Buizel fainted, and Ash called it back to it's Poké Ball
"You did really well, Buizel. Pikachu, are you ready for some action, buddy?" Ash asked, as he looked to the side.
"Pika!" Ash's electric Pokémon jumped forward, it's cheeks sparkling with electricity.
"Pikachu, do Thunderbolt!" Ash ordered.
"Withdraw!" Daisy responded.
Blastoise disappeared into it's shell, and Pikachu's Thunderbolt was reflected by it's large shield. Then Blastoise came out again, and Daisy ordered it to do a quick Water Gun, blasting Pikachu against a wall, before disappearing back in it's shell again.
"Oh... Pikachu!" Ash yelled, concerned about his little buddy.
"Pikaaa!" it sounded as Pikachu got up again, shaking the drops of water off it's back.
"That's the spirit! Just hang in there!" Ash encouraged Pikachu.
"Now how are we going to get that Blastoise out off it's shell...?" Ash pondered. Then he suddenly came up with an idea.
"Pikachu, jump up and do Iron Tail on Blastoise's shell!" Ash commanded.
"Huh? Don't think that this will hurt Blastoise at all, Ash!" Daisy warned him as Pikachu did it's first attack.
"Just wait... Pikachu, keep doing your Iron Tail like that," Ash instructed his Pokémon buddy.
"Chu! Chuu!" they heard Pikachu cry as it kept hitting Blastoise, seemingly without any result.
"Ash, it's no use!" Angie shouted, "why don't you try one of your other Pokémon?"
"Trust me," Ash answered, "it should happen any moment now..."
"What do you mean...?" Angie wondered, but then her question was suddenly answered.
Blastoise slowly came out off it's shell. All the banging on it's protective natural shield had driven it out, and it seemed a bit confused by it all. "So that's what Ash was trying to do... clever..." Angie thought.
"Pikachu, do Thunderbolt!" Ash quickly commanded, trying to take advantage of Blastoise's dazed state.
"Oh no!" Daisy yelled, as she saw how her Pokémon was hit by Pikachu's electricity, and was unable to avoid it.
"Now finish it with Volt Tackle!" Ash shouted.
Ash's Pikachu raced towards Blastoise, totally engulfed in the electric energy it had been gathering around itself, getting fully charged for the Volt Tackle attack. Pikachu hit Blastoise at full speed, causing a big explosion, hurling Pikachu backwards through the sky, but it was fully in control during it's flight, and landed safely on it's four paws. As Blastoise became visible again, it appeared to be still standing. Ash looked at Pikachu, which was apparently quite exhausted of all it's efforts trying to bring Blastoise down, and then clenched his fists, staring at Blastoise.
"Blas...toise...!" was the last thing Blastoise uttered before it fell over, and fainted.
"Oh! Blastoise!" Daisy yelled, as she lost her second Pokémon, "come back!"
"Okay Ash, keep it up!" Angie and Tracey cheered simultaneously.
"Nice strategy, but you haven't won yet..." Daisy stated, "Clefairy, show yourself!"
"A Clefairy, right?" Ash reacted, "Pikachu, you were fantastic, now get some rest. Chimchar, it's your turn!"
"Do Wake-up Slap!" Daisy commanded.
"Dodge it and do Flamethrower!" Ash countered Daisy's move.
Chimchar's Flamethrower hit Clefairy right on, pushing it back a few meters.
"Clefairy, do Moonlight!" Daisy suddenly commanded.
"What is that for kind of move?" Ash thought out loud.
"With Moonlight the user regains about half of it's health" Tracey explained.
"And when the weather is very sunny, a Pokémon that uses Moonlight is fully healed," Angie added.
"Okay...that is not good..." Ash said, with a bit of fear in his voice, "Chimchar, do scratch!"
"Double Slap!" was Daisy's reaction to this new attack.
Chimchar and Clefairy hit each other pretty hard, but then Daisy made her Pokémon do Moonlight again. Ash looked down for a moment, pondering about his next move. "If this keeps going this way, we can never win. Chimchar is taking damage, and Daisy's Clefairy keeps on healing itself..." Then Ash seemed to have found the solution, and he looked up again, with his eyes bright and optimistic.
"Chimchar, make a shield around Clefairy with your Flame Wheel!" he commanded, much to everyone's surprise.
Ash's Fire-type Pokémon did as it's trainer asked, and created a fiery cage around Daisy's Pokémon, leaving Clefairy trapped inside it.
"Try to get out off there!" Daisy yelled, but Clefairy was unable to break through the flames, and only got hurt while trying to.
"Now, do Flame Wheel on Clefairy!" Ash ordered, making a gesture with his arm as if he was giving Chimchar an extra push ahead.
Chimchar's speed enabled it to enter the cage of flames without getting really hurt, and it bashed into Clefairy with a loud bang. Then Chimchar stopped rotating, and landed on the ground again. "Did we get it...?" Ash wondered silently.
"Clefairy is no longer able to battle! The Challenger, Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, wins!" the referee called out.
"Nice job Ash, you have really shown you earned this," Daisy praised Ash as she handed him the Earth Badge.
Angie fell around his neck and kissed him briefly, and then Tracey congratulated him as well.
"I can see your Pokémon all like you a lot Ash, even before I noticed how you handle them in battle, and help them perform even better," Daisy stated, "too bad Gary wasn't here to see it, he would have been positively surprised."
"Maybe we'll run into him some other time," Ash suggested, "I'm looking forward to it."
"You all care for another cup of tea with some sandwiches before you leave?" Daisy invited them.
Since the thought of those sandwiches really appealed to our friends, they quickly accepted the offer. After a delicious lunch, Ash, Angie and Tracey said goodbye to Daisy, and went to town, to stock up for their upcoming journey, trying to be as well prepared as possible for the adventures that undoubtedly lied ahead.
My 33rd fan-fiction story. I apologize for any typing errors, or grammatically not 100% correct sentences. Remember, I am not a native English speaker or writer. I tried to make this story as close to the Pokémon series as possible, so that the characters will react roughly the same in this fictional story as they do in the series. Comments are always welcome, you can use the review function on this FanFiction site for that.
Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own any trademarks of Pokémon. Any similarities to the works of others is purely accidental, and not meant as an infringement on anyone's achievements.
