So here's my new story. It should be about five or six parts. I hope you all enjoy reading it.


"Let's eat!"

Ash Ketchum, a travelling Pokémon Trainer from Pallet Town was hungrily devouring the sandwich that had been placed before him. Ash was travelling across the Kalos Region, challenging Gyms and the Kalos League to reach his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master. His partner, Pikachu, was delightfully chowing down on a bowl of Pokémon Food that had been sat before him.

Sitting next to Ash, trying to eat with just a bit more grace and poise was Serena, a young girl from Vaniville Town who had come on a journey to see Ash after meeting him in their childhood. Her partner Pokémon was Fennekin, who was also trying to eat with grace and poise next to another of Ash's Pokémon, Froakie. Froakie kept talking with his mouth full and speaking to Fennekin, and although Fennekin liked his company, she thought Froakie could use a little more manners.

Sitting across from Serena was Clemont, a young inventor who just happened to be the Gym Leader of Lumiose City. He cut his sandwich into angles, attempting to scientifically deduce the best way to eat his sandwich. Clemont was travelling with Ash because he found Ash's selflessness and heroism inspiring and wanted to gain that sort of confidence for himself. Clemont's Chespin, seated near Ash's Fletchling and Clemont's other Pokémon, Bunnelby, didn't need science to tell him how to eat. He would much rather just stuff himself full of food than think about how to eat it. Fletchling and Bunnelby thought him a bit crass, so in return, Chespin snuck bites from their bowls while they were distracted by each other.

Next to Clemont and across from Ash at the table was Bonnie, Clemont's little sister. She was an energetic girl who hated being left out, and so joined her brother on his journey so she wouldn't be left behind. Sitting next to her plate and nibbling off of her food was Dedenne, a Pokémon Clemont had captured for her so that she could take care of him. Bonnie loved Pokémon more than anything, and she loved Dedenne most of all.

Ash swallowed a glassful of water, having finished his sandwich. "That was great! Thanks for lunch, Clemont!"

Clemont laughed. "Don't thank me. It was Serena who found the berries that I put on them."

The honey-blonde girl shrugged. "It was nothing, really. Just checking the map here and there to see where berries grow, is all."

"Well, I'm psyched up and ready for some training!" Ash said, standing up. He turned to face his Pokémon. "Our Cyllage Gym Battle's coming up, so we gotta get some training in. You guys ready?"

Pikachu, Froakie, and Fletchling, all with mouths full, raised an arm (or wing, in Fletchling's case) and shouted an affirmation.

The bushes nearby started to shake. Bonnie and Dedenne turned, being closest to the bushes. "Hey, guys? What's that?"

Clemont and Serena walked closer as Ash turned in curiosity as well. From the bushes, two small Pokémon approached. They were brown, cat-like Pokémon with small tufts of red fur between their ears. "Who's that Pokémon?" Ash asked, opening his Pokédex and pointing it at the visitors.

The Pokédex targeted the Pokémon, and then a picture of it appeared on the screen. "Litleo, the Lion Cub Pokémon. The stronger the opponent it faces, the more heat surges from its mane and the more power flows through its body."

"Oh, they're so cute!" Bonnie raced over to them.

"Lit! Litleo!" the first one said. The second one growled at Bonnie.

"Aww, it's okay, little guy," Bonnie said with a smile. "I just wanna play."

"Bonnie, be careful," her brother said, taking a few steps towards her. "Those are wild Pokémon, and they're not always friendly."

"Aww, these cuties?" she gave him a big grin. "They wouldn't hurt a Scatterbug."

Ash took a look at them. "They are pretty cute…" he said. He took notice of their eyes. "They are a little afraid, though. Maybe our Pokémon should talk to them." He looked over his shoulder. "Wanna break the ice, buddy?"

Pikachu stood up and quickly ran over to the two newcomers. He was quickly followed by Chespin, Froakie, and Bunnelby. "Pika, Pikachu!"

"Froa Kie!"

"Chespin Ches!"

"Bunnelby!"

The Litleo looked at each other for a moment. "Leo, Litleo."

Serena put a finger to her cheek. "I think they're friendly. They're certainly cute enough."

Fennekin slowly walked over to the Litleo. "Fenne kin?"

One of them took great interest in Fennekin. "Lit? Lit Le Oh!"

Froakie frowned. "Froakie Froakie," he warned.

The other Litleo looked at Froakie. "Litleo?"

Pikachu jumped in the middle. "Pika… Pika Pikachu?"

Chespin laughed, waving his arms, trying to ease the tension. "Ches Chespin! Chespin!"

Froakie turned his head. "Froakie!" He leapt up and away, back towards the food bowls where Fletchling was.

Pikachu scratched the back of his head. "Pikapika…" His ears twitched, and he turned to Ash. "Pikapi, Pika Pikachu!"

Ash frowned. "Something's coming?"

"Pika!"

The gang's Pokémon all fell back from the bushes just as they started to shake. A large feline Pokémon stepped into the clearing. It had a long, red and orange mane that flowed behind it.

"What's this one?" Serena asked, holding up her Pokédex.

The Pokédex showed a picture of the Pokémon. "Pyroar, the Royal Pokémon. With fiery breath of more than 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit, they viciously threaten any challenger. The females protect the pride's cubs."

"So that's a female Pyroar?" Clemont asked, backing up,

Bonnie also backed up. "You don't think she thinks we were hurting the Litleo, do you?"

As if an answer, the Pyroar let out an ear-splitting roar that shakes the table and the chairs. The plates rattle against the table as one of the chairs and Serena fall down. Ash and Clemont rushed over to her and help her up. The group's Pokémon all took a few steps back as Pyroar took a few more steps into the clearing. "Py-ROAR!" she yells, shaking the furniture again.

"Pikachu, can you talk to Pyroar?" Ash asked.

His partner took a step towards Pyroar. "Pika, Pika Pikachu!"

"ROAR! Pyroar!"

Pikachu took a step back. "Pika…" his cheeks sparked.

"I don't think that went very well," Clemont said.

"We don't want to battle you Pyroar," Ash said, taking a step forward. "Take the Litleo and go. We'll leave and everything'll be okay."

Pyroar roared once more, and launched a jet of flames from her mouth towards Ash. Before the flames could come in contact with him, an orb of water zoomed past him and smashed into the flames, creating a cloud of steam.

Froakie jumped forward, in front of Ash. "Froakie Froakie!"

Ash nodded. "I didn't want it to come to this, Froakie, but if she wants to battle, we'll give her one!"

"Froakie!"

Pyroar took a crouched stance, as if she was ready to pounce. A rotating aura appeared around her, and she leapt at Froakie, who jumped out of the way.

"Watch out, Ash!" Clemont advised. "That was Double-Edge!"

"Froakie, use Double Team!"

Froakie shimmered for a moment, and then a huge number of Froakie duplicates appeared in the clearing. The illusory Froakie ran around Pyroar in a circle. The wild Pyroar exhaled a stream of fire through several of the copies, but the Flamethrower passed through them.

"Use Water Pulse!"

Froakie and its doubles leapt into the air again, and several orbs of water formed in their paws. All of the Froakie lobbed the Water Pulses at Pyroar. The Royal Pokémon leapt into the air to avoid them, but the one Water Pulse that was real hit Pyroar in the back of her head, sending her spiraling towards the ground.

"Awesome!" Serena cheered. "Froakie landed a critical hit!"

Bonnie smiled. "It must be because Ash and Froakie are so in sync!"

"Use Pound, Froakie!"

Froakie's paw began to glow and he charged toward Pyroar, who was struggling to her feet. Froakie pounded his paw into the side of Pyroar's head, sending her skidding across the ground.

Pyroar rose to her feet and yelped at the Litleo. The Litleo nodded and darted into the bushes. After staring down Froakie, Pyroar turned and fled as well.

Everyone stood there for a moment before letting out a sigh of relief. Bonnie was the first to speak as she rubbed her forehead. "That was a close one."

"Dedenne..."

"We should get moving," Clemont said, turning his attention to the collapsible table and chairs.

"I'll help," Serena said, moving to help. She froze, and looked at Ash. He was still looking at the bushes where Pyroar had disappeared. "Ash? Is something the matter?"

Ash shook whatever he was thinking off. "I'm fine, sorry Serena. I guess I was just thinkin' about Pyroar, and why she wouldn't listen to us."

"We can talk about that mystery when we're on the road," Clemont said. "Can you hand me the Pokémon food bowls, Ash?"

He nodded. "Right, I'm on it."

As their trainers cleaned up the campsite, Pikachu walked over to Froakie. "Pika, Pikachu."

Froakie nodded. "Froake…"

Pikachu looked at the bushes. "Pika pika?"

"Froakie."


The campsite was packed up in about twenty minutes. Pikachu still seemed uneasy, looking at the bushes where Pyroar had vanished, but he had put it out of his mind as the rest of the Pokémon were recalled into their Poké Balls. Pikachu climbed onto Ash's shoulder as the youth pulled his cap straight. "Alright, we should get going."

Serena pulled out her Town Map and opened it up. "Well, there's a Pokémon Center on the way to the next town, but it's still about a day away. But we can make plenty of progress towards it if we head that way." She pointed through the trees. Pikachu's ears twitched. It wasn't the same direction Pyroar had gone in. Pikachu tilted his head and blinked.

"Well, we better get going, then," Clemont said, putting his heavy backpack back on.

Bonnie slipped the sleeping Dedenne back into her pouch. "I hope we can see some cute Pokémon on the way."

"As long as we don't get too distracted," Ash said. "My next Gym Badge is waitin' for me in Cyllage City."

"Pikapika."

The group began walking through the forest before it opened to an open savannah. Tall grass grew alongside the dirt path as the afternoon sun hung in the air.

Bonnie looked in the grass. "Hey! Cute Pokémon! Where are you?"

Clemont laughed. "Bonnie, Pokémon aren't going to just come out because you ask them to."

She frowned. "You don't know if you don't try," she said, pouting.

Ash laughed. "Hey, it works sometimes, I'm sure." He began looking into the tall grass himself. "Hey, Pokémon! Anyone out there?"

"Piii-ka-chu!"

Clemont stopped in his tracks. "Hey, Serena, you've been quiet for a while."

Ash and Bonnie turned around to look at her. Serena was still fiddling with her Town Map. She looked up at them. "Well, I might be able to answer a few questions now."

Ash blinked. "Questions about what?"

"About the Pyroar, why she wouldn't listen to us," she explained. "And why there don't seem to be any other Pokémon around here."

Ash, Clemont and Bonnie gathered around her as she held out the map. "See? We're in this area, and it's marked off as the Pyroar Pride. This area is sort of a nature preserve for Litleo and Pyroar. People aren't allowed this deep into the territory, so the Pokémon here aren't familiar with humans."

"That explains why the Pyroar didn't listen to us," Ash said with a nod.

Clemont was hung up on the other part of what Serena said. "Wait, people aren't supposed to be back here?"

Serena blinked, reread the map, and giggled nervously. "Y-Yeah, that's right. I guess we must have just wandered in this direction. We're still headed for Cyllage City, we're just a little off course."

Ash shrugged. "This isn't the first time I've been a little lost. Sometimes the best adventures are just a little off course."

"Pika!"

Bonnie grinned. "Oh boy! I wonder what great adventure we're going to walk into?"

The grass around them shook. Everyone froze.

"If there are no other Pokémon around here…" Clemont said, swallowing a fearful lump in his throat.

"…then that must be a wild Pyroar," Serena said, taking a few steps back.

The four travelers took a step back towards each other. The shaking in the grass intensified, and three female Pyroar leapt out, surrounding them.

"Three?" Ash was surprised. "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu leapt off of Ash's shoulder and launched a thunderbolt at the wild Pyroar that stood in front of his partner. The Pyroar howled in pain and stumbled backwards as Pikachu landed between them on all fours, cheeks sparking and ready to launch another attack.

"Bunnelby, we need your help!" Clemont tossed the Poké Ball containing the Normal-Type into the air.

"Fennekin, we need you, too!" Serena said, throwing her own Poké Ball.

The two Poké Balls snapped open and Clemont's Digging Pokémon and Serena's Fox Pokémon appeared in a flash of light.

"Bunnelby, use Mud Shot!"

"Fennekin, use Ember!"

Bunnelby formed wads of mud on his ears and launched them at the Pyroar closest to Clemont. The wads of mud smashed into the Pyroar, making her roar. Fennekin landed between her trainer and the Pyroar and took a deep breath before spraying a cloud of embers at the wild Pyroar that threatened Serena.

"I know!" Bonnie said in a flash of inspiration. "Dedenne, we need your help, too!"

She opened the pack to find Dedenne fast asleep. He turned over, leaving his back exposed to the air.

She sighed. "Can't you find a better time to sleep?"

"Pikachu, Quick Attack!"

Pikachu began glowing as he charged at the Pyroar. The Pyroar charged back with her head stuck out.

"Pikachu! Jump over the Headbutt and use Iron Tail!" Ash called out.

Pikachu leaped into the air over Pyroar, who skid to a stop beneath him. His tail began to glow and in a spin, he slammed his tail into her, knocking the Pyroar onto her side.

"Bunnelby, use Dig and attack Pyroar from beneath!"

"Bun!" Bunnelby leapt into the air and began spinning, twirling into the ground in an instant. The Pyroar looked confused for only a second before she turned, flashing her fangs at Clemont. Her mouth became engulfed in flames as she lunged toward the inventor, only for Bunnelby to come right back up in the nick of time, catching Pyroar in the stomach when he emerged from the hole.

Serena clenched her fists. The enemy Pyroar braced herself on the ground and began spewing a jet of flames at Fennekin. "Fennekin, block that Flamethrower with your own Flamethrower!"

"Fe Ne Kiiin!" Fennekin fired her own spray of flames at the wild Pyroar. The flames collided, and the two Pokémon struggled for superiority. Just as Fennekin's flames began to be pushed back, the small Pokémon found a reserve of inner strength and pushed back. The intermingling flames exploded, launching Fennekin and Pyroar back.

"Fennekin!" Serena began running up to her Pokémon, but Fennekin quickly jumped back to her feet. "Can you keep going?"

"Fennekin!" she turned and gave her trainer a smile.

"Great! Use Flamethrower again!"

Fennekin launched another Flamethrower at the Pyroar in front of her when a fourth Pyroar came crashing through the grass. Ash saw the Pyroar come in "There's more of them?"

"We're in the middle of their territory," Clemont said. The Pyroar he had been fighting backed off, but another one took her place. "We're probably surrounded by more than just these Pyroar,"

Fennekin's flames scorched the first Pyroar that attacked her. "We can't keep this up forever," Serena said. "Fennekin's already taken a lot of damage!"

Ash looked around. "If we can't win, we'll just have to run," he muttered to himself. "There has to be something we can use."

He looked down. The dirt that made the path was loose and loamy. He got an idea. "Everyone, get ready to run!"

Clemont and Serena nodded. "Bunnelby, return!"

"Fennekin, return!"

"Fletchling, I choose you!"

Ash tossed Fletchling's Poké Ball straight into the air. In a flash, Ash's Tiny Robin Pokémon appeared just as Fennekin and Bunnelby were being pulled back into their own Poké Balls. "Use Razor Wind on the dirt to kick up a dust cloud!"

"Fletchlingling!" Fletchling began spinning in the air, and blades of wind shot from it directly into the dirt. The Razor Wind kicked up a dust cloud that covered the area, clouding everyone's vision.

"Pikachu, c'mon!" Ash said. As soon as he felt his partner land on his shoulder, Ash reached toward where Serena was standing. He grabbed her hand and pulled her, bolting away from the area and into the tall grass.

Clemont grabbed Bonnie's hand and began pulling her along, too. The blonde siblings ran into the tall grass past the Pyroar to safety.

Clemont was running faster than he had ever ran before in his life, but protecting his little sister was one of the few things that could motivate him into being anything resembling athletic. They two ran through the grass until they found themselves in another clearing.

Clemont was panting heavily. "I…I…"

Bonnie was also panting. "…think we lost them?"

He nodded. "Y… yeah," he said, still trying to catch his breath.

Bonnie looked around. "Hey, Clemont, I don't think the Pyroar were the only thing we lost."

Clemont looked around.

Ash, Serena, and Pikachu were nowhere to be seen.