A/N: Mix of games and anime. More realistic Pokemon Universe.
P.S I don't own Pokemon.
"What a glorious evening for crime, Am I right boys?" A man with swept back green hair announced.
He was wearing the standard Team Rocket uniform with a large red R emblazoned in the middle highlighting who the crime syndicate.
"We shouldn't have any problems on board, this vessel is for tourists and pokeballs have to be handed in before they board. Our objective is to infiltrate the storage units, grab the pokeballs and escape! Do not let me down! There will be consequences for failure!"
"Yes, Executive Proton!" the team of ten grunts cried out in unison. They all looked at each other nervously, knowing full well what failure meant for them. Proton was not a man to cross.
"Then let's begin" Proton announced, the group began to file out and begin work.
Five grunts went to the rear were access to the storage units and released there Pokemon. A host of Koffing, Weezing, Ekans and Arbok appeared in a flash of scarlet ready to knock out any threats.
They made light work of the solitary guard on duty, tying and gagging him up in the process before stepping back and having one of the Koffing use Selfdestruct on the mechanism.
The Unit instantly dismantled and the grunts began stealing as many pokeballs and assorted items as possible before getting into position for phase two.
The remaining five grunts and Proton meanwhile were tasked with taking over the ship and making sure the crew couldn't release their own Pokemon in retaliation.
The act of surprise quickly overwhelmed the crew and they were soon vulnerable and defenceless. After the crew were tied up Proton took to the microphone and issued his threat.
"This is Team Rocket, please remain seated or we will have to resort to violence. Do not test us. We have the crew captured and we need you all to behave. If you do not follow these instructions then you will die, do you understand?"
Panic streamed through the vessel as the passengers tried to flee for the exit only to be thwarted by the initial group of grunts who guarded the exits with their Pokemon in tow.
"Did you not understand my warning!" Proton yelled manically. "There is no escape from Team Rocket!"
Further commotion commenced in the vessel as the passengers tried in vain to escape, punching and kicking at the grunts and their Pokemon. It soon became apparent that the man on the microphone was speaking a harsh truth.
"Do not test me!" Proton cried out. "I will have no regrets in blowing this ship up with all of you in it!"
Most passengers soon calmed down a level that was not hysteria. A couple of individuals didn't heed Proton's commands and he began to snap.
"Bring them to me!" Proton screamed out. "I want to set an example of what Team Rocket does to those that don't obey!"
Three of the grunts manhandled the two individuals, a young man and woman and pushed them firmly against the wall with force. Two Weezing stood menacingly behind their trainers waiting for instructions.
"Now ladies and gentlemen, you are in for a show tonight. Weezing use Explosion!" Proton yelled out in a maniacal cackle, clearly enjoying the crime he was about to commit.
The three grunts quickly fled to a safer distance when they heard their leaders command, surprise covering their faces at the length Proton was going to go to.
The Weezing as instructed closed in on the man and woman, ignoring the screams of the passengers pleading for mercy and the sobs of a young boy with ruffled blonde hair. They inched closer to the targets before being engulfed in a bright white light of pure power and blowing up!
The Explosions caused an earth shattering noise and the spot where the two adults previously laid was gone. What was left was a crater size hole in the ship and the two Weezing clearly knocked out on the floor!
The ship began to creak, and water started flooding in through the massive hole that was created by the twin Weezing.
A new level of hysteria set upon the ship with everyone, Team Rocket included panicking. Escape the only thing on their minds.
"Executive Proton, how do we escape?" One of the grunts exclaimed, looking at his leader for guidance where simultaneously hordes of passengers were screaming insults at the murderous Rockets.
Proton looked to his team with a small smirk "Smith you're with me, grab what you can. The rest of you can fend for yourselves!" he announced comically laughing at what he had caused before fleeing to the top deck. Once he reached the deck he released a large flying type before grabbing Smith and flying off.
Inside the vessel more panic ensued with people jumping off the boat as it slowly started sinking to the abyss. Flames started to spread from the Explosion and smoke was billowing making it impossible to breath.
Another explosion erupted, this time from the engine room and caused what felt like an earthquake. Everyone now was jumping overboard and into the freezing sea.
The ship quickly started sinking at an accelerated rate and finally a wildfire of flames burst from the inside. Oil started leaking from the ship and the flames quickly reached the adjacent sea.
Destruction was all that was left, and survivors looked to be minimal. At the edge of the destruction a young boy was left looking on, struggling to float as the world he knew left him. He began to pass out and everything went black.
xXxXx
"Janine, you will have to be quieter than that to catch me out on today of all days." a young man stated softly.
He was around 15 years old, the now minimum age to become a Pokémon trainer, 6-foot-tall with red eyes and medium ruffled black hair. He had a lean muscular frame with an angular face and was dressed in the traditional clan Koga uniform with four pokeballs attached to a tight belt. He had been told numerous times that he was a good-looking young man. He was sat cross-legged on the hard floor with his back straight and opened his eyes to meet those of the now named Janine.
"Now now Ash, who says I was trying to catch you out." Janine, Daughter of Koga said, smiling as she spoke. "But yes, today is a big day, for both of us." she continued in a more formal matter. She joined the now young man named John in sitting cross-legged on the flooring and began meditating.
There was silence in the gym as the teens contemplated what today brought when the doors swung open and revealed the form of Koga, the newest member of the Indigo Elite Four and their mentor. Both John and Janine rose from there position to greet their teacher.
"Indeed!" he said gently "You have both known from a young age that your paths were not aligned, however I believe you will both become stronger for it. Today is the start of something new for you both. I have trained you well and you won't let me or the clan of Koga down. You have trained all your lives for this. You may be young, but you have more experience than most. Remember that."
Both teens looked towards Koga with nothing but admiration in their eyes. Silence again filled the room. Ash regarded Janine and sent a reassuring smile her way. She was the spitting image of her father and the man they both hoped to emulate and surpass one day.
Ash decided now was the time to say his goodbyes. "I will miss you both, thank you for pushing me to my limits and giving me the opportunity to become the man I have. I would never have come so far without you, both of you."
Ash dipped his head in acknowledgement which was shortly followed by both Koga and Janine.
"Ah don't be so formal my boy, your family now, even if not by blood, besides if you didn't show the potential and dedication that you possess then I wouldn't have invested so much time in you and that Togetic of yours." Koga said proudly. He stepped forward and shook the younger mans hand firmly.
"Before you go, I have a gift for you, one I'm sure you'll like. I'll be at my training ground waiting for you." Koga continued before looking towards Janine with a serious expression "I have preparations to make before I depart, I will be home later to say my goodbyes!" and with a curt nod he swiftly left the gym and silence remained again.
Janine looked towards Ash before embracing him in a bone-crushing hug.
"I'm going to miss you too, I could really do with the extra pair hands once father leaves as well. I really don't know how I'm going to cope with all this responsibility."
"Don't be so hard on yourself, you're a powerful trainer now, with a powerful team to boot, trained by a member of the Elite Four, your really not doing yourself justice." Ash replied trying to keep her upbeat and returning the hug. "Besides I'm just a phone call away, as is your father, and I'm pretty sure you have clearance for an Alakazam to teleport either of us if you need help, not that you will." he added on at the end.
"I guess…." Janine said quietly releasing John from the hug and looking to the floor. "I just don't know if I'm ready yet. You get to go find yourself, travel Kanto and beyond, whereas I'm going to be scrutinised right off the bat. There's always going to be that self-doubt there. You can make mistakes, I can't."
Ash lifted Janine's head and then put both of his hands onto her shoulders before carefully choosing his next words. "Janine, get a grip of yourself, you're a ninja for Arceus sake, capable of putting down men twice your size, capable of going toe to toe with your Pokémon and if your father thinks you're ready then you're ready. you've got this, just believe in yourself, anyway its hardly like you'll get into trouble what with people like Erika still in jobs".
That was the right words Ash thought to himself. He could see Janine perk up and she started to smirk.
"Okay okay, your right. I'm an ass-kicking gym leader. Now my pep talk for you. We both know your stronger out of the two of us, even if I do have more Pokémon, and a gym for that matter…. but I expect big things from you. You have the talent and the discipline. There's a reason my dad picked you out and anyone who can handle a Pokemon at the age of 5 is going places. You better be holding top prize at the Indigo Conference; my shoulders will be getting sore from carrying the name of Fuschia on my back by the time it comes around!"
"Don't you worry about that" Ash said laughing now! "Not only will I win the conference, but I'll beat Lance too. I'll be Champion of Indigo before you know it, can you imagine how badly that would go?"
Janine, now also in a fit of giggles. "I actually could, the whole of Kanto would be on fire, crime would be rife and there would riots in the streets".
"Ha Ha" Ash shot back "So are we good? You're not going to be too depressed while I'm away. I'll be back to win the Soul Badge in a few months so don't miss me too much."
He smiled as he said that last part and looked up to Janine to tell her he was teasing.
"Were good, just don't let your other goal consume you, we both know what I'm talking about. Let it drive you but don't dwell on it" She replied looking him straight in the eyes. "Now run along to Father, and I expect you to keep in touch".
"Yeah yeah!" he retorted waving his hand nonchalantly. "Don't you worry about that, you are my eyes and ears regarding scouting out the opposition, I need details if I'm going to win gold".
"You got it. I guess ill see you in a few months then." Janine said.
"Till then." Ash replied with a final nod before he turned around and exited the gym for what felt like the final time.
xXxXx
As he walked towards Koga's training ground, Ash was deep in thought about what he knew about himself, his Pokémon and what the next year entailed. He knew he had a head start on most of the other new trainers, not only did he have four experienced Pokémon under his apprenticeship with Koga, but he had also learned everything he could under one of Indigo's great masters and had chosen the specialty which was most vulnerable against his mentor, Fairy.
It had been a no-brainer really, what with his first friend being part fairy. He was initially worried about the lack of fairy types in Kanto, but it had worked out so far for him. Having a prospective Elite Four member as your mentor had a lot of perks. Training your body and mind in ninjutsu helped a lot too. The fairy type couldn't cripple your opponent like a poison type could, but his friends were strong defensively and Ash learnt a lot about strategy and that striking at the most opportune moment was imperative. All of this in his mind made Ash a formidable opponent. His other three Pokémon were not quite at the same standard as his first friend, but he thought that they would be more than a match for even experienced trainers.
As he continued down the beaten path he started thinking about where he stood in line with the rest of Kanto and beyond. The Pokemon League had evolved drastically over the years Ash. There was far more structure and resources to the governing body now than there ever was in the past. Information on trainers was abundant and there was even a rankings system in place to keep battles close. Everything was synced to trainer ID and for the world to see.
Regarding `newbies' like himself you could become a trainer at the age of 15 and usually started with the trainer class F. Long gone were the days when children of the age of 10 got sent into the wild with nothing but a single Pokemon. He could never imagine his former self delving into the Fuschia wilds, armed with his then limited knowledge on survival and living to tell the tale. It was no wonder that the governing bodies changed the rules. Once you become a trainer, you are an adult in the eyes of the law and there was even tales that loved-up kids were marrying up. How their hormones were even tuned up at that age, he would never know. He was losing focus now, where was he… Pokémon, that was it.
In place was schooling, from the age of 5 all the way to 15 where students prepared for their journey in a safe environment and it culminated in sitting the trainer exams. If you failed, you had to wait a further six months before reapplying. Nobody wanted to fail. Once you passed the exams a trainer could pick up their first Pokemon from the nearest gym to them, for instance if you were from Vermillion City most likely you would be walking away with some sort of electric type There was special cases were a larger variety was available from a league sponsor such as a regional professor or in Ash's case under an apprenticeship.
You could have your own Pokémon prior to turning 15 if you were serving an apprenticeship in a league associated gym or had a sponsor who was deemed adequate in the eyes of the league. With sponsors such as Professor Oak, the individual would work under them as a junior researcher or another Pokémon related title.
The amount of Pokémon under someone's ownership was again down to person's master or sponsor. There were ways to bend the rules of course, with having the ownership of a Pokémon under a parent or guardian but again that was at the discretion of the family and had to be kept a secret or their would-be punishments handed out. For a lot of people, it wasn't worth the risk.
Of course, not every teenager wanted to be a traveling trainer, some went into research, others went into higher education and a few went to find a job in the big cities. Obviously Pokemon were such a large and integrated part of society and as such you could apply for a domestic Pokemon license where they could go into such careers. Those exams were less strenuous.
Most people these days got their 1st Pokémon at 15 unless they were either lucky, talented or knew someone of importance. Thankfully for Ash he had all three and he counted his blessings every day since tragedy struck eleven years prior. He could think back to those thoughts another time, they were his main motivator after all but for now he had to see Koga one last time before he started his own adventure.
xXxXx
"No ambush I see." Ash said smiling as he approached Koga on his hallowed training ground with his bag pack on his shoulders.
He had changed in to a more practical attire. Black running shoes and matching tight combat trousers on his feet and legs with a white muscle t-shirt covering his body. It was still summer, so he wouldn't be needing a jacket for a while yet. On his right wrist was a silver bracelet with his mother's names etched into it. A reminder to keep pushing when he felt he could give no more.
"Now is not the time." Koga responded to his student. "Besides you would have likely seen my trap, I have taught you well you know."
"I know, and I will forever be in your debt for taking me under your tutelage. You have gone above and beyond." Ash replied solemnly looking up to his master with keen eyes.
The master shook his head in response. "Nonsense, anybody would have done the same if they were in my situation, the fact that you have exceeded my expectations is what I am proud of. I still remember the day I found you, that Togetic of yours somehow kept you alive long enough until you washed up on my shores, from there you too bonded like no other pair I have ever seen. You two have been inseparable ever since and have taken to your training with vigour and determination that I see in the mirror every day."
Ash didn't know where to look at such praise so settled on the ground and kicked a loose pebble as he waited for Koga to continue.
"Like I said before, you have been an excellent student Ash, you can take care of yourself, your Pokémon are treated with kindness and they go the extra mile for you. One of your ambitions is to become a Fairy Master is it not? There are not many across all the regions, never mind Kanto but you are well on your way to that goal. Togekiss is probably just about at master level and your other three Pokemon will no doubt catch up if you continue what you're doing".
"If I have one last piece of advice to pass on, it would be this. Keep pushing, don't accept it when you hit a wall, smash it down. Your Pokémon are at a level now where physical progress will slow. You need to be more creative in finding new ways to grow, new techniques and you need to expand your mind. Don't take the easy route. Find challenges and when you make mistakes learn from them".
Ash nodded throughout the passionate speech made by his master, taking a mental note of everything Koga said but one thing stuck out. "You really think Togekiss is at master level?" he asked bewildered by the statement.
"I do". Koga responded smiling at his apprentice's expression. "He gives a lot of my friends a hard time and pushes them to their limits. He may not have beaten any of them, but he is not far away. I couldn't lose to my pupil after all, that would be embarrassing."
"Now we couldn't be having that." Ash responded laughing now. "That wouldn't help your newly required reputation now would it."
Koga now looking a little sheepish. "It would most certainly not, thankfully your time as an apprentice is at an end, if you do beat me, and you will one day, it will be on even terms."
Ash again surprised by these comments didn't know what to say and was left flabbergasted by Koga's statement. Thankfully Koga's voice perked up again.
"I didn't just bring you hear to be praised, I do have a gift for you. It will help you on your course to be a fairy master and will hopefully bring your team even closer."
As Koga finished his sentence he turned around and opened his rucksack before finally revealing an egg. A large light blue and white egg. Koga presented the egg to Ash and he grabbed it with his two rough hands, feeling the warmth of the egg when it came in to contact.
"As you know raising an egg is a big responsibility, however I feel your ready. This little guy will be a great addition to your team."
Ash nodded, trying to guess what would hatch from this egg. It didn't help that most fairy types were light in colour, but he had a couple of ideas.
He then started thanking Koga, but he dismissed him with a wave of his hand.
"Ash think nothing of it. A last parting gift before you go. If I could do more then I would. Now we need to wrap this up. An Alakazam will be with you in the hour to take you to Vermillion and I need to attend to Janine before I take my own leave. This is goodbye, at least for now."
Ash, trying to keep his emotions in check silently nodded to Koga before the latter departed from sight. Now he was all alone for the time being before an Alakazam turned up.
He idly brushed across his belt, touching each of the metal balls before settling on the one closest to him and releasing his first friend for company. From the capsule a white light engulfed the area briefly before a round bipedal creature manifested with broad triangular wings. Togekiss fluttered above the ground casually before landing on the soft dirt and seeking Ash's touch.
"It's good to see you too Togekiss!" he told his friend. "I just wanted some company before we get teleported to Vermillion."
Togekiss smiled at the prospect of starting their adventure and flew high into the sky before reappearing in front of Ash.
He eyed Togekiss again thinking about how powerful and dangerous his friend was. In the battles he had with Togekiss he was lightning quick, smart, could take a hit and could pack a punch. He couldn't wait to take on the world with his partner in crime. Best of all was that people underestimated him because he looked cute, harmless almost.
"Togekiss!" Ash said. "You wouldn't believe what Koga just said. He thinks you are a master level Pokemon. You've come along way don't you think?"
Ash didn't think Togekiss's smile could get any bigger, but he was wrong. After all it wasn't just him that wanted to be the best he could. Togekiss had the same drive and determination.
Ash continued. "This is just the beginning you understand, don't rest on your laurels and don't let this get to your head. I don't think I could take it getting any bigger now."
Togekiss snorted at that last part before flying off in a blur, apparently in a show of speed and that he was not in fact resting on his laurels.
"I GET IT!" Ash started yelling, moving towards Togekiss. "Now let's save some of that energy for our journey okay. It is going to be a long road with little breaks so I'm going to need you at your best."
Togekiss stopped his show and returned towards his trainer expectantly.
"I'm going to return you now. Alakazam will be here shortly and I don't want a hold up while you size it up. We will be in Vermillion City next time you are released, and I promise to keep you out of your ball for as long as possible. Okay."
Togekiss nodded before Ash returned him in a flash of scarlet energy back onto his belt.
Moments later an Alakazam seamlessly teleported to Ash's right-hand side and looked at the soon to be trainer expectantly. Ash nodded to the psychic Pokemon who crossed its spoons and moments later the two were facing ocean blue.
xXxXx
Vermillion City, he decided was nice. It was airy and spacious, or it would have been if not for the congregation of people that were lining the street. People meant Pokemon and Pokemon meant battles. Plenty to do at least. There must be some sort of occasion coming up. It would have been surprising if there was. The season couldn't have been more than 2 months old.
He wandered aimlessly, occasionally looking at what the vendors where offering, but nothing screamed out at the teen until he seen the red roof that was even universal across the world. The Pokemon Centre. A good place as any to start.
He entered the air-conditioned centre that was bursting with trainers of all ages, shapes and sizes and made his way to the front desk were Nurse Joy attentively waited.
"Good afternoon sir and welcome to the Pokemon Centre, how may I help you?" The nurse asked politely.
"Just a room please!" Ash returned flashing her a dashing smile of his own.
"Of course, sir, I just need your trainer ID and then your all set!"
Ash passed over his newly mint red Pokedex which every new trainer received by mail. It acted both as his trainer ID, wallet and as a Pokemon encyclopaedia. This helped trainers of all levels in matters from diets to move pool to scouting your opponent via the league database.
The nurse scanned the device muttering that everything was in check before passing it back to Ash.
"So… about that room then nurse?" Ash asked once he had pocketed his new toy.
"Yes, here you are. I've booked you in for an extra night. I think you'll be here longer than you think." She finished with a wink after handing him the key to room 212.
"Thank you, nurse, enjoy your evening." John concluded as he left for his room. A big smile on his blushing face.
Looking at the time Ash had decided to check out the city a bit more before calling it a night. He dumped his bag in his room and re-entered the lobby. There was plenty of time to wander. He looked at the fliers decorated across the centre which helped him grasp what was going on in the city and why there was such an influx of people.
They were no help. Strange. He looked back across the lobby and eyed which trainer to speak with, deciding on a twosome, a boy and girl that looked about his age. Wandering over he waved, signalling that he wanted to grab their attention.
"Hi there!" he began sheepishly, never being good at starting a conversation. "What's the craic with all the people, I've just arrived and even I can tell this isn't normal for a city like Vermillion?"
He stood there for a moment, waiting for one of the two to reply.
"You really don't know?" The boy replied incredulously. He had brown hair underneath his black hat, was a couple inches shorter than Ash and slimmer. His face was uniquely unremarkable as was his all black outfit. John noticed that he was carrying three pokeballs. "You must be a proper newbie then… how you even make it to Vermillion!" He finished with a smug sneer, clearly trying to impress his friend and the surrounding lobby.
Ash eyed the smaller teen with a raised eyebrow, wondering what his deal was. Before he could bite back a retort, the girl piped up. She also had brown hair, although a lot longer with piercing blue eyes. She was slim also and stood around 6 or 7 inches shorter than Ash. She was rather pretty. Wearing a blue skirt over black leggings and a plain white tee only added to it.
"Sorry about Jake, he can get rather defensive… and condescending!" She added rather flippantly to the now named Jake. "The SS. Anne is docking here in a few days, it's a luxury cruise liner that sails across the world annually and it will be in Vermillion City for a week before departing for another region. But that's only part of the reason why Vermillion is so busy. Lieutenant Surge, the Gym Leader, is handing out tickets for those that beat him to stay on the cruise all week! And you definitely want to be on that cruise!" The girl finished rather passionately.
Ash was actually surprised, not that he should have been come to think of it, that she acted so passionately. There was bound to be rich and powerful trainers on board with exotic Pokemon just like his own. Even a glimpse of them would be a boon going into the conference.
"So, have any of you manged to acquire a ticket yet? I here Lieutenant Surge is tough!" Ash asked the twosome, feeling slightly more comfortable with his surroundings. He could see that Jake was still annoyed at him for some reason. He probably felt threatened Ash mused.
"Not yet!" The pretty brunette answered a bit despondingly. "We've both battled him once and got smoked. I heard he has been going all out with one of his main team on orders from the league. Everyone our age is max only a couple months into their journey so it's going to be an uphill task but both of us have faith we can do it. With a bit of luck at least." She finished, the fire he previously seen returning to her.
Ash nodded at that. An admirable attitude. It made sense as well. Lieutenant Surge was probably on orders to make sure nobody who couldn't hold their own got on board that vessel.
"So how strong is he and this Pokemon of his?" Ash asked the pair, expecting the brunette girl to answer, he really needed to catch her name… and maybe offer his as well, it was very rude. Ash of course knew fine well how strong Lieutenant Surge was.
Instead it was Jake that bit back. "Super strong! We both have two badges from Pewter and Cerulean City and we didn't stand a chance. There is no way that you would either, you probably don't have any badges going by what you said earlier." He finished with a sneer. Man, what was this guy's deal.
"I don't have any badges, but he seems like an admirable foe. Maybe I could teach you a lesson or two Jake. You might pick something up!" Ash bit back added to fuel the pettiness. The girl rolled her eyes at where this was going, and Ash felt a bit of guilt for biting.
"Enough you two! If you think you're so great, then why don't you show us what you've got? What's even your name?" The girl asked. Ash had clearly ruffled some feathers with his last comment.
"My name is Ash. I never caught yours? And sorry, I'm usually not so mouthy."
"Janet! Okay truce, I just don't like it when people say negative things about Jake. He is my twin after all!" The now named Janet said. "Come on. Let's que for Surge. We might be there for a while" She finished, clearly still a bit annoyed at the whole situation while grabbing Ash's hand and dragging him out of the Pokemon Centre, leaving a trailing Jake shouting and running to catch up.
xXxXx
Janet was right, the que for Lieutenant Surge was long, but to Ash's amusement it moved rather swiftly. Before they knew it, they were at the front of the que and a bit of excitement was bubbling in Ash's stomach. His first gym battle awaited. He had already synced his trainer ID to the system via the reception which indicated that his battle would be official and for the Thunder Badge. In the back of his head he thought his first gym battle would have been under completely different circumstances and certainly not in rushing matter like right now.
"Well good luck Ash. Let's see if you can really teach us a lesson or two. Who knows you might be worth keeping around!" Janet finished with a smile, eyelashes fluffing. Girls were confusing. One minute they were annoyed the next they were flirting with. At least Ash thought it was flirting. He could see Jake arguing with his twin as they took a left to find their seats. That brought more of a smile to his face than anything else.
He entered the gym and his jaw dropped. It was huge, albeit plain with plenty of room for flyers to manoeuvre. There was a dirt battlefield which was in something akin to a warehouse. There were wooden stands on either end that were surprisingly full. It must be fellow trainers trying to find any weakness in Surge's Pokemon.
Ash went to his side of the battlefield and he could see the feint outlines of a psychic barrier around the field and the stands. Safety was important after all. The door at the far side swung open and out stepped a gigantic man. He must have been at least 7-foot-tall and had the build to back it up. Ash knew that this was Lieutenant Surge. He was wearing matching cargo trousers and shirt with a short blond buzzcut hair do. All in all, he was an intimidating character, but Ash didn't dare show weakness. Koga would be disappointed if he did.
"Look, another baby!" The Lieutenant boomed out. "This will be short work, ready the next challenger!" He commanded to one of his team who were arrayed around the gym.
Ash smiled at that. Lieutenant Surge was cocky. He definitely take him by surprise.
He thrummed the pokeballs on his belt, resting on Togekiss. He felt it fitting that his first official battle be with his best friend. Although not totally foreign to the Kanto region, it should at least take Lieutenant Surge by surprise. He released the fairy/flying type a moment later.
"Were in a gym battle Togekiss, give it your all. Let's show everyone what were made of!" Ash said to his partner.
"A Togekiss, it's not often I come across one of then, especially by a newbie. You're still a brat and brat's get stomped on." The Lieutenant stated matter-of-factly before releasing a powerful Raichu onto the field.
Ash eyed the Raichu carefully. He noted it was male due to length of its tail and it certainly looked strong. A worthy opponent.
A referee appeared from nowhere before making his announcement. "This will be a one on one battle between Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town and Lieutenant Surge of the Vermillion Gym. The winner will be declared once the opponent's Pokemon is either forfeited or knocked out."
"Let the battle begin!"
Raichu immediately let off a weak Thundershock to keep the distance between himself and Togekiss, more of a warning than anything else which the Jubilee Pokemon dodged with ease. Togekiss was a strictly special attacker with superb defence and she knew that to win it was imperative to keep his distance.
"Okay Raichu, let's see what the baby is all about. Thunderbolt! No holding back." The Lieutenant barked out. It seemed that he was a little warier of the fairy type than he initially made out.
Raichu obeyed the order immediately before releasing a fast and potent bolt of lightning that scorched the hard earth, Togekiss again deftly dodging the move and waited on instruction.
"Dazzling Gleam!" John said with authority. He wanted to test Raichu's defences. Togekiss let out thin and powerful beam of energy that connected with Raichu's face and sending the electric type a few feet back.
Happy with his work he waited for Lieutenant Surge to make the next move. Hopefully the large man would start taking him seriously. The crowd had certainly quietened down.
Lieutenant Surge commanded that Raichu sporadically fire off Thunderbolts which Togekiss deftly dodged by using a combination of Tailwind and Extreme Speed. This game continued until suddenly Raichu stopped at the Lieutenants whistle and waited.
"Maybe you aren't a baby after all!" The large man boomed. "Raichu and I haven't had a good battle in ages and this is getting BORING! Hopefully you'll stand up to this. Volt Tackle!"
Ash arched his eyebrow at that, bemused that the Lieutenant would be so bold, unless of course he was underestimating his Raichu's power. The electric mouse was enveloped in a bright light and began towards Togekiss at a frightening speed.
"Protect!" Ash said to his Pokemon, confident that Togekiss and the protective shield was durable enough to take such a hit. "Follow it up with Aura Sphere and if he's still standing a final Dazzling Gleam!"
Lieutenant Surge frowned at that but didn't utter another command, instead he silently watched the proceedings.
Raichu barrelled into Togekiss who put up the Protect at the last second. There was a sick thud and a distinct smell of burned fur and ozone. Togekiss, to her credit followed through with a bright Aura Sphere which sent Raichu flying into the psychic barrier, flattened on the ground in a heap. Clouts of dirt marred the electric types body as it struggled to its feet, battered and bruised after its kamikaze effort.
Togekiss was also far from perfect. That Volt Tackle packed more than a punch and he was clearly drained by using Protect, breathing heavily and sagging slightly. His job was done though. Raichu was at his mercy.
"Finish this with Dazzling Gleam!" Ash said loudly to Togekiss. Before he could hit the poor Raichu it was enveloped in a red light and sucked into its pokeball to rest.
"Lieutenant Surge has forfeited this battle which means Ash from Pallet Town is the winner!" The referee announced from the centre of the field. The crowd was again silent, not a pin drop could be heard until the claps slowly grew as the shock wore off from the spectators.
The smile on his face grew tenfold. Realising that he had won his first badge against a formidable foe.
"You did it! I didn't doubt you for a second!" Ash praised Togekiss as he hovered over to his side, basking in the praise. He affectionately rubbed Togekiss below the neck, just where he liked it before returning him to rest.
He walked to the centre of the field where he met the large form of Lieutenant Surge. The man was beaming. That wasn't the reaction Ash expected.
"You're not a baby after all kid! Here's the Thunder Badge as recognition of defeating me. Not many can claim to that. Come in to my office around 8pm once you've healed your Pokemon. I have a gift for you!" The Lieutenant said. Ash nodded at the massive man in understanding.
"Thanks for the battle Lieutenant Surge! Hopefully we can battle again, next time, take me seriously!" Ash replied knowingly, beaming from ear to ear despite feeling like the Lieutenant wouldn't normally make such a mistake.
"Just Surge kid! You've earned that much anyway. And you're on! Now scram, I've got a few calls to make and I still got plenty of challengers to get through!"
Ash nodded and made his way to the exit where he was greeted by a disgruntled Jake and smiling Janet.
"So, you really can teach us a thing or two. And here was me thinking you were just trying to one up my brother!" Janet said, impressed by Ash's showing.
"I guess it came out as arrogance, and I'm not arrogant by the way. Just confident," He smiled back at both of them, trying to get that look off Jake's face.
"How you get so strong?" Jake asked, a massive chip still on his shoulder. Clearly the smile didn't work. "You look about our age. You must be cheating or something!"
"Wow. That's quite the accusation Jake!" Ash replied looking to Janet for help. He was trying to keep his cool, but this guy was making it incredibly difficult. What was his deal.
"Enough Jake!" Janet exclaimed to her twin, making sure there was no argument in her statement. "But he does have a point. How did you get so strong? There's no way you could do that in a few months."
Ash exhaled, realising that this conversation would likely come up a lot in his first year as a trainer.
"Look I'll tell you everything over dinner, my treat?" He said more to Janet than Jake. "You can third wheel if you want?" This time he couldn't resist the jab, even if it made Janet feel uncomfortable.
"Like I leave a stranger alone with my sister!" Jake replied. "Let's hear what bullshit story you come up with before we ditch you."
"Didn't I say enough Jake!" Janet replied looking like she lose her cool. "Let's go to the cafeteria at the Pokemon Centre. You need to heal your Pokemon anyway!"
Ash nodded at that. He was surprisingly enjoying riling up Jake. That guy needed to chill out.
xXxXx
After returning to the Pokemon Centre and passing over Togekiss's pokeball to Nurse Joy, Ash explained how he apparently became so strong, divulging that he was actually an apprentice of Koga (it wasn't a closed secret) and how had been training his Pokemon for a few years now, so long as he was supervised. He didn't bother going into his special training. To Janet and Jake, it just sounded like he had a head start and it looked like they were accepting it, even Jake which was remarkable considering what he said a mere hour ago.
"So, what's your team, we've seen Togekiss… or whatever it is of yours but not much else.?" Janet asked, eager to milk as much information out of Ash. He sensed no harm in telling them. For all he knew his Pokemon would be on the league database anyway what with the way technology was these days.
"I'll tell you mine if you guys tell me yours. Seems a fair trade?" Ash replied. He wanted to get a sense of where the rookie trainer would be positioned. From what he had garnered so far, they seemed distinctly average. Hopefully they would prove him wrong.
Janet, by far the more talkative of the two begun. "Well we are both from Cerulean City and as you probably know the gym you are closest to hands out your starter Pokemon along with your Pokedex and trainer ID. Since the Cerulean Gym specialises in water Pokemon we both received one as our starter. Jake got a Psyduck and I got a Poliwag. Pretty cool right? Poli's already evolved too. She's super strong." Janet gushed. Ash could tell that she loved Pokemon as much as he did and despite his obnoxiousness Ash didn't doubt Jake did as well.
"I've also got an Abra and a Nidorina whereas Jake's got a Ponyta and Nidorino."
Ash nodded to the excited girl. He was a little more impressed now. Both teams, with the right training, possessed the strength to go far.
"What about you?" Jake piped up. He was itching to know what he was up against which Ash smiled at.
"Well you probably haven't heard of a couple of them going by your reaction to Togekiss. He's my starter by the way. My second is Gardevoir. I've also got a Florges and a Slurpuff. There more foreign than the rest of my team."
Ash laughed at the confused faces of the duo who sat across from him. He guessed that they hadn't heard of the last two.
"Right, well I specialise in fairy types if you haven't of gathered. Togekiss is a Fairy / Flying type, Gardevoir is a psychic / Fairy type, and both Florges and Slurpuff are pure Fairy types." Ash said, out of breath after the short speech.
Seeing that they still weren't satisfied. "Look I can show you them tomorrow if your still about. If not I'm sure you could gather at least some information from the Pokedex. Maybe we could train together in the morning or something?"
"That sounds fair, I mean without us you would still be on zero badges and wandering the city aimlessly!" Janet said in jest, sticking her tongue out in the process.
"It's a deal then!" Ash said smiling, happy that he had struck up some sort of friendship. "I need to go and see Surge, but we can meet here bright and early? Sound like a plan?"
"Yeah!" Jake said. "Bright and Early!" Janet nodded along as well to the agreement.
"well I'll see you then!" Ash finished before preparing to meet Surge.
xXxXx
"Kid!" Surge boomed from behind his desk at the back of the Vermillion Gym. The room was rather plain, much like the gym itself. Practical was a better word for it. Surge didn't care much for style. There was a massive wooden table with a computer on the left-hand side and a stack of papers assorted on the right. Ash took the seat facing Surge and seen that he was toying with a particular file.
"I said earlier that I had a gift for you. I also said I would be making a few calls. Not many trainers can say they bested Raichu one on one, especially one as freshly hatched as you. So, I made a few calls, told them what I knew and before you know it this file appears. Technology is beautiful at times."
That put Ash on edge. He didn't think that he was in trouble, but he wasn't sure what with the way Surge was eyeing him.
"Here, have a look for yourself." Surge said while passing the file he was toying with over the table to Ash. "Its sensitive information and the league would probably frown that I'm physically showing you this but since it's about you I thought no harm done!"
Ash opened the file before his eyes bugged. How in the hell did they get all of this so quickly? He skimmed the file over before placing it back on the desk, still open.
Full Name:
Ash Ketchum
Level:
B
Age:
15 (PIL 983 -)
Height:
6'0" (approx.)
Weight:
185lbs (approx.)
Eyes:
Red
Hair:
Black
Place of Origin:
Pallet Town, Kanto
Family:
Delia Ketchum – Mother (deceased)
Personality
Independent rookie after extensive training under Koga. Has gone on several supervised ACE missions (poaching). Generally friendly and passionate individual who helps others when afforded to.
Bio:
Noticed as promising young trainer before career started due to apprenticeship under Koga.
Placed on potential future list of recruits for Indigo League after visiting Vermillion Gym in 998 after impressing Lieutenant Surge.
Team consists of Togekiss, Gardevoir, Florges, Slurpuff and egg with speciality in defence and long ranged combat.
"I got to say kid, a lot of that took me by surprise too. Now the league has told me to go over a few things with you first, bring you up to speed and all that." Surge said.
"Wait what do you mean get me up to speed? How did you get all of this information? And what's with this B ranking? Shouldn't I be F? And, and I'm getting recruited?" Ash spouted off the questions so quickly that his breathing became unregulated. Koga would be furious he absentmindedly thought.
"Breath kid!" Surge exclaimed not unkindly, but more out of annoyance. "First of all, you're not in any sort of trouble okay, so relax. Secondly it only took a couple of calls to piece this together. Most of it was already on file. Koga, has obviously been an associate of the league for many years." Surge stated.
Ash nodded trying to comprehend the situation. He really needed to calm down. It wasn't a big deal. He nodded again showing Surge that he could continue.
"As for the rankings, as you should be aware all trainers, gym leaders and Elite Four included, are given a ranking from F through to AAA. Status, win-loss record, conference appearances and who you have battled against are all factored into this. Newbie trainer starts at the bottom with a ranking of F as you already declared, and you work your way up. Most gym leaders are typically at Ranking level A, although some of those such as Sabrina, Blaine and I are AA." Surge Boasted at that last part, clearly proud of his status before continuing on like he was reading from a manual.
"Given what you have been up to on missions, the fact that your clearly trusted by Koga and the show you put on earlier against Raichu and the fact that you specialise in a rare type has given you the B ranking."
"Your trainer ID and Pokedex will be updated with your status after this meeting. The Pokemon League believes in transparency unless of course you are a field agent, more commonly known as ACE trainers, which vary in rankings from B to A. The reason I am telling you all of this is because yes, the league wants to recruit you! I'll rephrase that. Rely on you if necessary and I was the closest person to telling you. You're in the big leagues now kid!" Surge finished his spiel and allowed the teenager to digest and comprehend what had been said.
Ash mulled everything over for a minute or two. He hadn't expected this that's for sure. Janine had this responsibility already, he guessed that he should too. At the moment he wasn't overly interested in being tied down to anything. He just wanted to explore with his friends and grow.
"What's this offer then? I appreciate you being candid with me Surge but I don't really know what else to say." Ash replied after mulling things over, being perfectly blunt.
"Just doing my job kid!" Surge replied. "look I respect you! Kids your age might not see it and they certainly don't know about the work required to get to where you are, but Indigo does. We're just trying to snap you up before someone else does. As for the offer, it's pretty basic. What with your skill level and unusual typeIndigo would like your assistance in 'league' matters that you are in close proximity to? The league in return will open up material you will find interesting, as well as rewarding you with monetary sums for each matter. You will also get league privileges in Pokemon Centres and other league facilities as well autonomy when you are first onto a 'scene'. I'm surprised Koga didn't tell you to expect this straight off the bat if I'm being honest"
"Do I get a title, you mentioned ACE trainers, and I'm within their category so I was wondering what mine would be?" Ash asked. A title would be cool after.
"Afraid not kid, you would need to go through extensive league training to gain such a title. Like I said you would be back-up mostly, but the league fells comfortable that you could handle yourself if things went south. What you will get is the league insignia updated to your trainer ID which officials will recognise."
"So, what do you say? You in brat! We can celebrate your inauguration with a battle. Electivire has been itching to battle one of your team ever since he heard Raichu lost!" Surge finished with a fire every trainer had in their eyes.
"Well I can't say no to that, can I?" Ash replied. "Do I need to sign anything and make it official?"
"After Kid, the paperwork can wait until after the battle!" Surge Boomed. "Now let's go, it's getting late!"
xXxXx
Ash awoke the next morning bright and early and exited to the back of the Pokemon Centre where the training facility was currently deserted! His team was ready to work having witnessed the full power of Surge's strongest Pokemon. Ash had pitted Gardevoir against Electivire and she got smoked. He thought Togekiss could take him, maybe, but he doubted that any other member of his team would have fared better against the electric type.
He had learnt a lot about the big man and enjoyed his company. Surge looked down at the weak but respected the strong. Ash didn't necessarily agree with that approach, but he wasn't one to judge. He asked if the Surge was actually a Lieutenant and all he got in response was a faraway look, so he let that particular conversation go. Surge was probably instrumental in the last war against the Unovan's and Kalosian's.
He also received his pass for the S.S Anne. Thoroughly enough with his new position he would have been allowed on board anyway, and in a better class but he traded it for two extra tickets in the bottom rung. I'm sure his two new acquaintances would be happy with that. Hopefully it would act as an olive branch with Jake at least.
As he waited for said acquaintances, he began getting his team set up for their morning routine which consisted of meditation, sparring and exertion. How it all worked was pretty simple. Fairy types where pretty mischievous souls but once they were focused, they were easy to train. Meditation focused them for the day, allowed his team to be at one and zone in on their goals. Sparring honed their current skills and techniques which was imperative. Usually he gave out instructions to only use certain moves but occasionally they went all out. Finally, to improve growth and get the most out of them they needed to exert as much stamina and strain as possible. The best way to do this would be to repetitively work on the most draining moves, such as Hyper Beam as they worked all the muscles groups.
He planned on having a pretty rigid set up going forward. In the past the afternoon consisted of battles against members of Koga's and the other gym members teams, but he guess travelling trainers would do for now, or wild Pokemon. In the evening he would look up new moves and techniques to work on. All in all, pretty straight forward.
He released his team at once to a chorus of growls and mental nudges. They knew the drill, but he felt he needed to speak to each of them individually, especially his protector Gardevoir after her defeat.
"Okay guys and gals we are still at the Pokemon Centre so keep it light, you know the drill by now. Meditation followed by sparring. Togekiss with Slurpuff, and Gardevoir with Florges. Obviously keep your eyes peeled, I'll be throwing a curve ball or two." Ash said to his team. "Gardevoir with me before you settle in!" He directed to the psychic on his team.
Ash steered of to the left with Gardevoir hot on his tail. The Embrace Pokemon clearly knew what this was about.
"Hey girl, how you feeling?" Ash directed to Gardevoir. He could see the frustration in his Pokemon's face as the psychic looked squarely down at the dirt. "Not good huh? Everyone loses once in a while, that's the whole reason we went on our journey?"
He got a disgruntled nod in return from his Pokemon.
"Look at me!" Ash said a little more sternly to Gardevoir with the psychic obeying immediately. "This was a good thing. Now I know you've got enough to look up to here but striving to beat Electivire only helps too girl. You want to be the best, and to be the best you have to beat the best. That Electivire you took on is up there. Now go think on this and search for improvement okay?"
Gardevoir nodded at that, focused and determined again. More importantly back to herself.
Ash was observing sparring when sure enough, Jake and Janet appeared. It was only 7:30am, but Ash had the feeling that the duo weren't used to such times, especially when they were in the luxury of a city.
"How long have you been up for dude?" Jake said as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
"Roughly just over an hour! The team were itching to get back to work after all." Ash replied, acting like it was perfectly normal, which to him it was.
"You must be really dedicated Ash, almost all the trainers we've come across tend to switch off when they enter the city." Janet replied, impressed by the teen.
Ash laughed at that. "This is me switching off Janet! Usually the team would be hitting each other a lot harder than right now. It's difficult to go all out in a city."
"Anyway, I met up with Surge last night, and other than getting my ass handed to me by his Electivire I managed to waggle a couple extra tickets out of the big man!" Ash continued, a smug smile on his face as he branded two gold plated tickets and waved them invitingly at the pair.
The look on Jake and Janet's faces were priceless. Ash had to actually physically give them their tickets as they were too stunned to move.
"One condition though!" Ash said, a mischievous smile on his face. He couldn't pass up an opportunity on this. "Janet, you have to go for dinner with me on the S.S Anne once, and without Jake with you!"
The reactions were mixed to say the least. Ash actually burst out laughing at Jake's. The smaller teen did not like this condition in the least and looked like he was about to throw his ticket away. Janet however blushed a little bit and tugged at the bottom of her skirt. It made Ash somewhat warm inside.
She whispered something to Jake who gave Ash a short look before leaving the field immediately, clearly not happy.
Janet walked towards Ash, a shy smile across her face.
"I agree to your condition. Jake didn't take to kindly to it, but he'll come around, he always does. Thank you by the way, you didn't need to do that!" Janet replied. She spoke fondly off her brother and Ash felt a little bad for winding the boy up.
"It was no problem at all. It was the least I could do. You two must be very close then by the sounds of things anyway! Jake's very protective of you." Ash replied earnestly.
"Yeah, I suppose he is." Janet said trailing off. "I'll tell you all about it over dinner, but you will need to divulge some secrets of your own." She finished, staring at Ash curiously.
"Oh, is that so!" Ash replied a ghost of a smile appearing on his features and a hint of apprehension.
"Definitely. I looked you up last night, and regardless of the head start you got there is no way you could be this strong without some sort of secret. You went from a ranking of F to B after that meeting of yours with Lieutenant Surge and it's because of more than just the Thunder Badge!" Janet replied, looking offlay smug all of a sudden.
Ash decided that he should probably make good use of his Pokedex sooner rather than later. The least he could do was look up his own profile on the league database.
He decided not to ask what all was on the profile in case he added further suspicions. Most likely it would be just his team and number of badges.
"I don't see any harm in that!" Ash replied coolly, trying to disguise his actual feelings of nervousness.
"Uh huh. We'll see!" Janet replied. "by the way I didn't tell Jake, not that I'll have to anyway!" She finished rolling her eyes.
"Wait, what do you mean, won't have to?" Ash replied confused. He obviously knew that Jake could look up the league database like anyone else, but it seemed like there was something more to her comment.
"I mean that your 15 years old Ash!" Jannat said rolling her eyes again, Ash idly wondered with the amount of times she did that it would surely start to hurt at some point. "I mean that a 15-year-old has a B ranking not 6 hours after having a big fat F plastered on their profile. The media are going to be all over this, by the look of things you'll master in a 100 years! A lot of people follow this shit pretty closely." She finished, looking at Ash like he was dumb.
"Oh!" The only word Ash could muster back.
"Oh, indeed. Now I don't really know you all that much yet, but you're going to blow up Ash, and in a big way. Best to keep a low profile and all that!" Janet responded trying to impart some advice on Ash.
"So, it is avoidable then." Ash replied relaxing slightly. "I'm good at keeping a low profile so this should be fine."
"That's not what I said, jeez." Janet replied exasperated. Ash chuckled at that. What had gotten into her? Maybe she was worried that he would pie her if became some sort of star. He chuckled again at that. He could never imagine becoming some sort of personality.
"Calm down Janet!" Ash said casually. "What's really the worst that can happen? If I 'blow up' it will only be for a week or so anyway. With the media there is always something new to hang on to."
"I suppose!" She responded quietly.
"Why don't you release your team and start training. Maybe it will take your mind off things. I can help your if you like, being a master and all?" Ash proposed sincerely, although he did add that last part in jest.
"That actually sounds like a good plan. Thank you, Ash! My Pokemon will be creaming the competition in no time ha-ha!" She responded, a smile back on her face.
"Good, get your team ready. I'm going to put you through your paces. I expect you to be leaving the S.S Anne with at least some silverware!" Ash said as he went to change the team into doing their exertion exercise.
"You too! What with your big bad reputation, losing isn't an option!" Janet replied releasing her team.
"It never is."
xXxXx
A/N: And scene. This is a re-write of the first chapter I have ever written so please be kind with your reviews. I have read a lot of fanfiction stories over the last few years and I have taken inspiration from a few of them. If you haven't read Traveler by The Straight Elf, then I would seriously recommend it. It is by far the best story on this website and I have taken much of my inspiration from it. I also based took inspiration from supa-dupa-lemonade's Journeyman. Although only one chapter, I think it is the best opening I have read regarding Pokemon. I wanted to highlight the Pokemon Universe in a more mature manner, that is why the minimum age is 15. Ash OP, but not overly so. He will make mistakes and he is not as level headed as he thinks. Again, please review and PM me if you have any questions. Hopefully my vocabulary was Okay, but again this is all new to me.
