DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokemon in any way or shape, the work below is a work of fiction only.
Hello Everyone!
Criticism is very much welcome, but please keep it on a friendly level, also feel free to share your ideas here as much as you'd like :D Once I've gotten a little more used to all this, I'll update my profile and post new chapters, so feel free to visit my profile if you wish to learn more about me.
I have a few ideas for future stories that I may also spent some time on so if I don't exactly update the story regularly, then there is a plausible explanation for that :D
Speeches:
"Talking"
'Thinking' - will soon be changed to thinking
Okay I will get on with the story now. Enjoy.
EDIT [28th of July]:
I've done some minor fixing to this chapter, I hope you like it better now :D
"Ash! Wake up!" The voice of an older woman cried out.
'Oh no, not now'
"Ash it's about time for you to wake up."
'Can't this wait'
"Last night you told me to come wake you up no matter how much you would fi-"
"Mom please, I mean it's only.." The new voice interrupted before looking at a nearby clock.
"..6'o clock in the morning. Can't you at least let m-"
"Ash.-"
"Just for another fifteen minutes?.. please?" the voice pleaded with a soft expression now visible in the morning rays of the sun, shining brightly outside the window next to the bed where it's occupant was situated. It was morning, not just any morning but the morning of Ash's big day.
"Okay, Ash. Fifteen minutes." The voice concluded and left the bedroom, closing the door behind itself.
"Finally!" This now proclaimed 'Ash' said aloud in pure relief. Those who knew Ash, knew that Ash was passionate about his sleeping.
After readjusting his position in his bed he laid himself down gently and covered himself with the bedsheets so they reached his neck. This was what made life enjoyable for Ash; the ability to know that you are fully relaxing your body, not in any spiritual sense though, it was something he himself found hard to describe, but what he knew for sure, was that he felt...relaxed.
Five minutes into Ash's fifteen minutes of extra beauty sleep, a sound woke him up, although this time the sound did not come from his mother.
"Beep"
"Beep"
"Beep"
"What now?! My watch? Why would I put myself through such horror?" Questioned Ash himself as he once again readjusted himself in his bed, while he sat up and picked up his watch from the bedside table. The watch was nothing special, it was a relatively cheap watch given to him by his mother one month ago, when the two of them had spent a night out together enjoying their relationship as mother and son, since Ash's journey was coming right around the corner, while it was cheap it carried Ash's memories of his mom when he wasn't with her, and he planned on bringing it with him on his journey.
"Whatever." Said Ash as he proceeded to turn off the alarm. His happiness was short lived however, as he was once again disturbed by an uninvited noise, this time a lot lower in volume but somehow much more irritating.
"Brr."
"Brr."
"Brr."
'What is this now?!' Thought Ash to himself as he sprung up from his bed, his eyes were like a predator's as he used his hearing senses to locate the source of the noise.
A few seconds passed with Ash rummaging through his monstrous amount of clothing which was piling up on his bedroom floor. Here he was 0600 in the morning, tired, angry and truly disappointed in the world and all about it, because it just wouldn't let him sleep.
'There you are!' It was a poketransmitter, a prototype communications tool built by The Coalition of Scientists, a newly founded group consisting of some of the world's most influencing scientists, including all of the professors of the Pokémon world.
This particular poketransmitter was given to Ash as a sort of 'goodbye present' and was personally handed to Ash by the famous Professor Oak himself.
Not caring about who was contacting him, Ash simply picked up the communications device and answered the call in a grumpy voice.
"It's Ash."
A few seconds passed and Ash was about to hang up the call thinking it was a bunch of kids making prank calls, but a voice he knew well prevented him from doing so just in time.
"I-It's L-Leaf, Delia w-wanted me to call y-you, A-A-Ash!" A girl approximately the same age as Ash replied uncertainly, putting much more vocal pressure on the name Ash for each stutter she made. Leaf was usually a quiet girl who kept to herself during her most of her early Pokémonschool days, this was the Leaf everyone knew until she met Ash. Since that fateful encounter the two of them clicked and neither of them had ever experienced so much fun with anyone else.
'Leaf! Why would Leaf call me? She sounded troubled, is it because I answered the call the way I did?'
.
.
"H-Hey Leaf, what can I do for you?" Exclaimed Ash once he had recollected himself.
"Hi Ash, your mom told me to call you this morning, r-right?"
"Why would my mom make you call me this early in the morning, I mean she better than anyone should know I like to sleep, no grudge against you, Leaf...w-wait...mighty mightyena! Thank you Leaf for calling!- I mean, thank you mom, for making Leaf call me." Yelled Ash happily as he hung up the phone. Realisation from his call with Leaf widening his happy grin. "Today's the day!" In a single sweep Ash headed out of his room, sprinted down the stairs leading to an average size kitchen.
In the corner of his eyes he spotted his mother, who sat next to a small kitchen counter with a gigantic stack of pokepancakes in front of her.
"Was that fifteen minutes?" Questioned Ash's mother, Delia, as she shot him a curious look. She had heard him rumbling around upstairs but she had not expected him to be downstairs already, besides Ash was only clad in his boxers and his black hair was all messy, although his state didn't affect his mother whatsoever, she couldn't help but wonder if this was the result of Leaf's help.
"I don't think it was, by the way, did you by any chance wake me up this morning with something in mind?"
"I did, yes. Seems like Leaf held up her part of the deal.." Said Delia aloud as she trailed off.
"What 'Deal'?"
"I made this is for you, Ash. Congratulations my son... a girl 'deal'." Said Delia whispering out the last part of her sentence.
Delia switched the topic of conversation to something she knew would drive away Ash's mind. Preparing herself as good as she could, considering the circumstances, she distanced herself from the pokeball shaped pancakes and took out a videocamera from one of the kitchen's kitchen drawers. Now it was time for her to hold her part of the deal; she was going to record every last bit of Ash's engagement with the pokepancakes as evidence for Ash's attraction towards his favorite meal. She called it extra footage, and she was certain that this was enough to tease Leaf with.
Flashback 10 hours ago (20:00 last night)
"Hi Leaf, it's me, Delia."
"Oh hi Ms. Ketchum. Is there anything I can do for you?- You're calling pretty late."
"Yes, there is actually something I need your help with."
"What do you want me to do?"
"First things first. The offer goes both ways?"
"What?"
"You help me, I help you."
.
.
"I don't need anything in return, so what do you need my help with?"
"Call Ash in the morning, zero-six-hundred."
"Zero-six-what?"
"6'o clock in the morning."
"O-Okay, do I just need to call him or do I..?"
"Just call him, that will be fine."
"Okay sure. Bye Ms. Ketchum."
"Wait!"
"What?"
"I told you I'd give you something in return, right Leaf?"
"O-Oh I don't need anything-"
"Not even the recipe for Ash's favorite food."
"N-N.. I mean.."
"I'll give it to you tomorrow, bye."
"G-Goodbye Ms. Ketchum."
Flashback end.
To say Ash was dumbfounded would be an understatement. So being the gentleman Ash considered himself being, he took his mother's offer to heart as he literally jumped 2 feet into the air, and midflight accelerated to speeds faster than of those, who could break the speed of sound like it was nothing. He pulled out his landing legs as he came to a full stop, arriving at his destination.
"Thanks for the food." Was Ash's last few words before the world around him turned to one of admiration, admiring Ash's supernatural ability; to eat.
"Say orange." Said Ash's mother hiding behind a camera lense, as she pulled the trigger and a white flash proceeded to cover the entire kitchen.
The flashing white light ceased to expose the Ketchum family's household, as Ash shot up from his chair, he had a small tint of fright covering his face due to the sudden white flashing light.
"Mmonm!" Called Ash, with his mouth filled to the brim with his mother's homemade pokepancakes. Ash's mother; Delia Ketchum giggled at Ash like a little kid making fun of a parent. She could hardly contain her laughter, her finger on the camera's trigger still there.
"It's your big day today, Ash. I don't mean any harm, I just want to savour these memories of my little boy." Said Delia teasingly, but was then reminded of the behind her teasing. She stopped her finger from taking taking pictures and just for one moment all sounds were silenced.
.
"Mom, you know, that I know you all too well, I am your 'little boy' after all, and I'm going to be just fine." Said Ash reassuringly while he pumped his right fist into the air.
"I know you will, Ash. I'll be here for you and Leaf all the time, so don't hesitate to call me." Delia could feel her voice weaken and her face grow tired. Today was the day she had wanted to prolong, she wanted Ash to take care of himself and others and simply do, what he felt was the right thing, but in her own selfish mind she had attempted to keep him with her for as long as possible, she couldn't tell Ash any of this of course, and the pain of keeping a straight face when her feelings told her otherwise was crushing down on her.
As if reading each other's minds the two Ketchums ran towards one another and enveloped themselves in what could only be described as a hug of a lifetime.
"Thank you, mom."
"No, thank you, Ash." Said Delia, as her lips curled up into a wide smile.
'I'm so proud of you, little Ashy.'
Meanwhile elsewhere in The town of Pallet
Fields reaching for as far as the eye can see, chirping creatures flying above the tall trees blowing in the light windy weather. Tiny yet calm waves of water streaming down a river in a steady and continuous current, mirroring the magnificent blue sky, stripped of its clouds and lit up by the setting sun.
The contrast of human buildings and the creations of Mother Nature signifying complete balance, was suddenly disturbed by an explosion followed up by a loud humanoid cry.
"Arghh!" Screamed a figure in a now completely dark laboratory, located in the midst of green fields and slightly elevated on top of a small hill. A dirt road leading towards the top of the hill was marked by a wooden sign saying.
[Professor Oak's scientific research outpost - Kanto]
This specific facility was dedicated to the man whose work was changing the Pokémon world at an ever-increasing pace.
Today however, the torch was to be passed over to someone else, it was at this day, that the children of Pallet Town, a small village located just off of route one, one of the major roads connecting similar villages to pallet town to the rest of Kanto, was to receive their first Pokémon.
League information
Each year children at the age of fifteen and sixteen venture out on their own 'expeditions' so to say, in order to bring back potential scientific samples of interest to the Coalition of Scientists.
Of course, in the mind of teenagers this was just the secondary objective of their journey, the primary being 'free', as in free to do as your mind guides you. The Pokémon legislation bans certain activities but other than that the teenagers are free to do as they like. As a bonus, the governments of the Pokémon world have added multiple opportunities for young trainers and coordinaters alike to train themselves and their Pokémon in becoming the very best.
In each major city across all the regions of this world is so called; Gyms located. These 'Gyms' are POI's for trainers and act as entry points for the 'Leagues', given that you complete and pass a gym, you are granted with a 'Gym-badge', these serves as keys for the final tournament/league.
Have you collected all Gym-badges in one region, you are then permitted to enter that said region's League, and should you be strong enough to win a League, you will be paired up against the said region's elite four, containing the four of the five best trainers of that whole region, excluding the best who then acts as 'ruling champion'.
Defeating both the elite four and the champion in official battles, designates you as the next ruling champion, removing the former champion from his or her title as champion, and allowing you to pick a new 'elite of four'.
Each region hosts a league of their own, and each league is held annually, beginning in early May and ending late September.
End of League information
"Are you alright, Professor?" Asked a man within the laboratory.
"P-Professor?.. Hello?"
The sound of research equipment hitting the floor echoed throughout the lab.
"Professor!"
"Yes, yes, I'm right here, Tracy." Said the professor withdrawingly. If it wasn't for the lack of light, Tracy would have been able to see the Lombre-like look on the Professor's face.
"Tracy, give me a hand, will ya." The professor stretched his arm out obviously wanting Tracy to grab his hand and pull him out of the leftovers from what can only be assumed was the destruction heard earlier.
"I can't see you professor, hang on a minute and I'll go get Charmander so she can light up the laboratory fo-" Said Tracy but was interrupted by the professor.
"Charmander is gone, Tracy."
´What is that supposed to mean?'
"She fled out the laboratory the moment I finished the remaining preparations for the upcoming expeditions."
"She fled? But the ceremony is held today. Professor, why would Charmander flee, she has lots of friends here, and-"
"Calm down, Tracy, we'll figure something out. But first, help me will ya?"
"Alright, alright, I hope you have a trick up your sleeve, Professor."
"I don't, actually, but we'll figure something out, we're a world famous pokemon professor and his aspiring, hard-working assistant." Said the Professor in a happy tone, clearly not paying any attention to the burn marks which were covering his entire lab-coat in black soot.
Meanwhile at Leaf's house
'You're welcome, Ash.' Thought Leaf to herself after the call between her and Ash ended. She stood up from her bed and walked towards her closet. It took Leaf a couple of minutes to pick out the clothes she was going to wear, she wanted to surprise Ash by looking great, but she didn't want him to think she was doing it for his sake, besides today she was going to embark on her own journey, so the clothes she was going to pick had to be something suitable for her journey.
With all the different factors in her head, she picked the clothes she thought fit her requirements the best.
"Leaf, was that you?" Asked an older woman, from downstairs in the family of Leaf's house as she heard the sound of a smack coming from Leaf's room.
"Y-Yea, I'm coming down now." Answered Leaf back, as she mentally scolded herself for not being more careful with her closet since she had accidentally smacked it closed.
Leaf wasn't the kind of girl who'd sacrifice everything to be recognised. Yes she sought recognition from her friends and family once in a while, but it wasn't anything permanent.
When she and Ash started to hang out together she found herself craving for his proximity, this eventually led to her craving for his attention. When she first discovered this about herself she had felt disgust and shame. Ash was a human being just like her and he was her friend, she couldn't bear to take him away from others to please her own needs, but after learning more about herself and the reason why she was feeling.. needed by Ash alone.. she accepted those feelings, those cravings and poured it all into a container she called 'my mind'. Every now and then she would lift off the sealing of that container and allow some of her needs to expose themselves. Leaf was fine with this, now that she had her mind in somewhat control.
"Leaf, are you there, you look.. troubled." Said Leaf's mother, while she shook her hands in front of Leaf's face. The two girls, old and young, sat still in the Green's kitchen, when Leaf had suddenly stopped talking and was spacing out, her mother, Miriam Green had become concerned.
"U-Uhm yea." Answered Leaf a little taken back.
"I was just… spacing out..thinking.. but I'm okay"
'About Ash' Thought Leaf's mother as she smirked at Leaf.
"What mom?"
"Nothing." Said Leaf's mother teasingly.
"Stop." Said Leaf in a playful tone.
"Stop what?"
'Yeah, you're so convincing.' Thought Leaf to herself as she rolled her eyes at her mom, before she directed her gaze on the scenery outside through a livingroom window. Leaf had expected to see what she saw every day; the Pokémon ranch, professor Oak's lab and some tall trees in her garden, she did see all the things mentioned but not everything was what it used to be.
"Wow." Said Leaf amazed.
"What is it, dear."
"Look."
Miriam was quick to answer back. "Are you trying to fool me, Leaf? I'm not that easy to fool."
"No seriously, take a look."
"Fine." Said Leaf's mother, her curiosity getting the better of her as she moved her head towards the window.
"Wow, so you were right, you weren't playing with me."
"Aw, mom, you know I'm always right." Said Leaf playfully.
Through the window, pointing towards Pallet town's biggest tourist attraction, was.. smoke?
"Looks like the Professor has encountered a few…problems…" Said Leaf's mom as she just turned away from the window preparing herself a cup of coffee, like this sort of thing was nothing extreme.
"Mom."
"What, dear?"
"Do you want a cup too, you're not that old so you may not like it, you know."
"No, I mean, today is-"
Miriam realised what Leaf was talking about and dropped paused before brewing her coffee. "You're so right, Leaf, I'm not thinking too well; haven't had my cup of coffee yet... are you thinking of doing something about it?"
"I am mom, I'm leaving early, I'm going to meet up with Ash. The Professor might need a hand or two, Ash I can be those hands." Said Leaf as she picked up her white and blue back-pack, swung it on top of her shoulders and walked to her family's home's entrance, picked up and put on her grey trainers. Leaf had prepared herself in advance as she was just too thrilled to contain her excitement and this was the perfect excuse to go meet up with Ash and get a head start on their adventure, she had been awake since five in the morning and even more excited at six in the morning when she called Ash.
"I'll be back in a minute so just let my breakfast be. See you mom!" Yelled Leaf as she went out the front door, blowing a kiss to her mom while she waved goodbye.
'Leaf, aren't you forgetting something?' Thought Miriam as she stood in the front door while she waited for Leaf to realise her mistake.
"Mom!" Yelled Leaf.
"Yes, dear."
"My hat, could you please hand me my hat?" Asked Leaf in a cheerful tone, her happiness enveloping her surroundings. And her I-can't-turn-her-down-when-she-is-like-this-puppy-eyes, was too much for Leaf's mother to handle, so she obliged to Leaf's request went back into the house, got out again and handed Leaf the hat.
The hat was made of straws that she and Ash had collected together months ago, when the two of them were playing around in Pallet's fields, it was her memory of Ash and the finishing touch on her looks.
"Thank you, mom."
"You're welcome dear, now go out and have fun with Ash." Teased Leaf's mother, in an attempt to divert Leaf's curiousness away from more pressing matters; Leaf's mother was holding back her tears as good as she could.
'My little baby girl'
Seeing her mother on the verge to cry Leaf ran towards her mom, enveloping her in a hug. Leaf's mother let her tears flow free and this made Leaf's eyes swell up as she too began sobbing lightly.
"I'll call you mom. Every single day." Said Leaf as her gates burst and tears flowed down her chin before finally crashing towards the ground.
Thank you for taking your time to visit/read my new story. The story above is a "work in progress" story that I have come up with. Please keep that in mind :P
I'll try and keep the chapters at 4-5k words or so.
- Sincerely Lord Meap