Hello everyone, current reviewers! Here's my seventh story, it follows the Battle Frontier episodes! Writer's block will not stop me, I'm brainstorming new ideas as I speak! I suggest to the new viewers that you start with 'Suishou Neo Johto' to know about my main character and how she plays a role in the other stories.
Disclaimer…. Sadly, I don't own Pokemon or any of its characters except the ones that I made up: Angelina Murakami, Danielle Styles, Jeremy Cretonne, and others you don't recognize from the show.
Summary: Follows after 'No Place Like Hoenn'. Angelina Murakami and Ash Ketchum take on the Battle Frontier with their friends. What else awaits them on their journeys? Read here to find out more.
Frontier Watching, Angel's Style
Chapter 1: Right Place, Right Time
The sun shown down brightly on the beautiful planet, allowing its inhabitants the warmth of a new day. The vast, salty ocean reflected the rich blue image of the cloudless sky. A gentle breeze blew across the lush blades of green and yellow grass and stopped occasionally by the purple snow-capped mountains. The planet harbored many strange things, but none so strange as the Pokemon.
For centuries, humans and Pokemon have lived together, benefiting from each other through the work of the past. Some use Pokemon in sport-like fights, some study and observe them as a profession, and some dedicate their lives to breeding them. Humans may never know all the answers, but it's interesting to know that there's always something else out there to find!
Now that Angelina Murakami tried her best at Hoenn's Elite Four and placed second in the Evergrande Championships, she and her sister Christina return home to Pallet Town. They are greeted by family and friends, all the while that Ash Ketchum is preparing for his next challenge into the Battle Frontier.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm unbeatable
I'm running down this endless highway
With nothing but my friends beside me
We'll never give in, we'll never rest
Advanced battle is the ultimate test
From the earth of land, the sea, and sky
You can never win, but they sure can try
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm unbeatable
Pokemon
Advanced Battle
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm undefeatable
From the stars and the ancient past
They come to play, but they'll never last
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm unbeatable
Pokemon
Advanced Battle
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm undefeatable
Oh, oh, oh
Advanced Battle
I'm unbeatable
Pokemon
Back in Pallet Town, it's only natural that Angelina and Christina would head straight for Professor Oak's laboratory where there's always lots of excitement. They climbed the long stoned steps, then walked inside and up into a room where they found Misty, Max, and Tracey examining three starter Pokemon for beginner trainers.
"How can you still be hungry?" Misty giggled, pouring out more poke-chow for the starter Pokemon. "Here."
"Wow, their so little and so cute!" Christina said.
"Yeah, they're perfect for a beginning trainer to start out with," Angelina agreed.
"Hey Squirtle," Max reached out he hand to pet the baby turtle, but it began crying. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to scare you. Really." the Squirtle pouted and goes back to eating.
"Oh that Squirtle's just a little bit over sensitive," Tracey said, drawing the Pokemon into his notebook.
"Wow, that's a great drawing, sir," Max said admirably.
"Max, you can call me Tracey, okay?"
"Yeah, Tracey. Just want you to know that I think you're awesome!" Max grinned, while Tracey laughed. "You are! You're Professor Oak's assistant, and you're really an amazing artist too!"
"Thanks, Max," Tracey smiled. "Not sure about the artist part, but learning how to draw Pokemon is sure teaching me a lot about them. Professor Oak used to draw them when he was a kid."
"Yeah? Professor Oak? Just think, making Pokemon art!" Max said, smiling at the thought of himself sketching Pokemon. "Cool, I think I may just try it myself."
The starter Pokemon yawn and look bored. Angelina laughed softly.
"They look tired," Misty noted. "You know, maybe its time to let them have a little bit of a rest, Tracey. What do you think?"
"You're right, okay," Tracey agreed, reaching for the Pokeballs.
"Wait, can I put them back, please?" Max asked.
"Okay Max, they're all yours," Tracey said.
"Can I do one, Max?" Christina asked.
"Sure, you can return Charmander."
So both children grabbed a Pokeball and returned Charmander and Bulbasaur. However, the baby Squirtle looks about in confusion at his friends' disappearance and runs off crying when Max tries to recall the Pokemon.
Angelina stands with Misty and Tracey; they watch Christina and Max chase the Pokemon around the lab, but Squirtle jumps into May's arms, whom just came up the stairs to meet them with Ash's mother.
"Hi May, what's up?" says a very shocked Max.
"What's up? You scaring Pokemon, that's what's up!" May scolded.
"I didn't mean to," Max frowned.
"Hey, wait a minute, what're you doing here in the first place, Max?" May asked, confused.
"It's my doing," Professor Birch said, appearing with Professor Oak and Ash. "I brought Max along with me as my guest."
"Hi there, May," Ash greeted the surprised girl.
"After you left, I started missing ya, so I decided to try and follow you, and then it just so happens that Professor Birch was on his way over to visit Professor Oak." Max explained.
"Wow, talk about a real coincidence." May smiled relievedly. "Thanks for helping Max, Professor Birch."
"Of course, I was the one who invited him along in the first place." Birch replied, just as Muk appeared from behind the Hoenn professor and gives him a slimy hug.
"Muk, stop that right now!" Misty yelled.
"Yeah, come on, Muk!" Ash scolded. "Leave Professor Birch alone, okay?"
"Pika pika chu?" Pikachu asked. (Can you get off him?)
"Muk muuuuk!" Muk shakes its head. (I'm having fun)
After Tracey and Ash pull Professor Birch out from Muk's hold, everyone goes downstairs to enjoy some afternoon tea.
"The Battle Frontier?" May asked.
"Yeah, there are six battle areas set up in the Kanto Region with a Frontier Brain stationed in each one! Each time you beat a Frontier Brain, you earn yourself one Frontier symbol, and once you've earned six of them, you can find out where the seventh battle area is located."
"Hey, I guess that could be fun." May said.
"What do you mean 'could be', it will be," Ash said excitedly.
"Ash dear, May already told me that she'd like to enter the Pokemon contests being held here in the Kanto Region," Mrs. Ketchum informed.
"May, that sounds like a fine idea," Professor Oak said.
"It sure does," Professor Birch agreed. "Kanto has Pokemon rare to the Hoenn Region. Catching those rare Pokemon and entering them in a contest or two could be a lot of fun!" he added just before Muk gives him another hug.
"Entering contests with rare Pokemon? Now I'm really starting to get excited!" May smiles anxiously.
"So May, if that's what you want to do, then would you like to travel with us?" Ash asked.
"Sure Ash," May replied. "I'd love to."
"Great, we'll leave first thing tomorrow morning, okay," Ash said.
"Hey guys, can I come? Please?" Max asked.
"Maybe. But only if Mom and Dad both say its okay with them," May answered.
"Hey Max, don't worry about it. We'll all ask your parents together," Ash assured.
"Yay! You will? That'll be awesome, thanks!"
"Can we go too, Lina?" Christina asked hopefully.
"Well I suppose, Scott did ask me to challenge the Battle Frontier, too," Angelina agreed, remembering the letter she received. "But I'll have to double check my schedule so it won't conflict with the concerts."
Misty looked confused. "Concerts?"
"What do you mean, Angel?" Tracey asked.
"Oh I'm sorry, I never told you that I'm Crystalline," Angelina said, sweatdropping. "It was another goal I accomplished since becoming regional champion."
"That's so cool! I never would've guessed it was you!" Misty exclaimed.
"And awesome, too!" Tracey added.
"Yeah, I know," Angelina smiled.
"Okay, I'm on lunch duty, any special requests, speak up now!" Mrs. Ketchum announced while everyone told her what they wanted.
In Professor Oak's backyard, Angelina sat with Misty and Tracey on a huge rock occupying the starter Pokemon while Ash took May, Max, and Christina to see all of his Pokemon. They heard a loud rumbling and saw a stampede of Tauros, Ash hanging onto one of them.
"Oh no! Ash!" Angelina screamed.
"Quick Marill, use Water Gun!" Tracey said, calling out his water-mouse Pokemon as it sprayed water and knocked back the Tauros. Then Ash's Bayleef extended its long vines and rescued its trainer.
"Ash! Are you okay?" Angelina ran up with Misty and Tracey.
"Yeah, of course. My Tauros are about as powerful as I've ever seen them."
"Ash, Pokemon start to act like their trainers you know." Misty
teased with a wink. "I know a certain trainer who has been running wild."
"Oh you do, huh," Ash said.
"I kinda agree with Misty," Angelina added, receiving a smirk from her red-headed friend.
"Hey Ash!" Max yelled; he ran up with May, Christina, and the rest of Ash's Pokemon.
"Squirtle, Squirtle!" the baby Squirtle jumped into May's arms.
"Hey there you are Squirtle!" May said happily.
"That's sweet!" Misty smiled. "I think Squirtle really likes you, May."
"Hey Ash, Bulbasaur's been running all over the place telling everyone you were coming home today." Tracey informed. "It's obviously excited to see you."
"Wow, that's so cool," Ash smiled down at his first grass-type Pokemon. "I'm glad to see you, too."
"Bulba, bulba-saur," Bulbasaur said with joy. (Aww, anything for you, Ash)
"Pika-ka, pika," Pikachu said. (That was really nice)
"Now its time for you to meet the rest of my Pokemon!" Ash said, releasing all his Pokemon from inside their Pokeballs. "Everyone, I want you to meet all my new friends from Hoenn! Say hi!"
"Awesome, I can't believe you have so many Pokemon, Ash!" Max exclaimed in awe.
"Don't forget about Squirtle and Charizard, too!" May added.
As the group talked amongst themselves, four figures emerge from the bushes. There was a blue-haired man in an orange jacket, a magenta-haired woman wearing a pink dress, a Meowth with a mustache wearing a black dress suit. Angelina stared curiously at the people, but immediately knew it was Team Rocket since she recognized Wobbuffet through its camera-man disguise.
"Greetings youngsters," Jessie said. "Its your lucky day, your our next interview for Pokemon Sunday showcase."
"I love that show!" May said.
"Me too! I wouldn't miss it even if you pay me!" Max agreed.
"Really? It's that good?" Angelina asked while James himself as the professor and Meowth was the lying-scheming agent.
"So, this week's segment, hometown trainer kid makes good, and that would be Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!" Jessie announced.
"You mean me?" Ash asked.
"Right twerp-- uh, excuse me, I mean Ash," Jessie said, which Angelina heard the mistake and scowled. "Sources inside the beltway tell us you performed incredibly well reaching best 8 in the Evergrande Championships!"
"Yeah, but it really wasn't all that great," Ash blushed.
"That's true, it was the best eight, he didn't win the whole tournament or anything." Max agreed, getting a nervous laugh from his sister.
"But I came close, that's if I wasn't defeated by Tyson," Angelina admitted, a ting of red on her face. "So I placed second, and that's better than nothing."
"Dat's still amazing', sweetcheeks!" Meowth said.
Angelina giggled, "Yep, that's right!" she winked, which made the feline Pokemon blush.
"Wobba…." Wobbuffet cried out, but James leaps over and covers its mouth.
"Cut, the professor ain't happy with the camera angle, and uh, wants to change it up, okay?" Meowth waves its arms nervously.
"Uh, okay," Jessie said.
"Right, here's the deal. Why don't we get a shot of all the kid's buddy's and the Pokemon too?" Meowth suggested.
"Wobba, Wobb…" the Wobbuffet was silenced as James covered its mouth again.
"Really? Does this mean we're all gonna be on television?" Max asked excitedly.
"Hope there's a good hair and make-up department," May said, running her fingers through her hair.
"Me too," Misty blushed. "And I can't go on the air looking like this, no way!"
Angelina stared, her eyebrow raised, "Yeee-aaah, I don't know," she said doubtfully, watching her friends and Pokemon line up for a picture.
"It won't be that bad, Lina!" Christina pouted. "Please?"
"No, not THAT!" Angelina groaned, remembering she always pulled that same look when she was little to get what she wanted. "Fine…." she sighed and stood next to Misty and Tracey.
"Now everyone stand back and say cheese," James said.
"CHEESE!" No sooner that Angelina and friends moved backwards, they all fell into a huge hole. Noctowl and Swellow try to fly up, but their path is blocked by a net preventing attacks and their escape.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt now!" Ash ordered. His electric Pokemon jumped up and released its attack that didn't break the net. "Thunderbolt didn't do anything!"
"What's going on here?" Misty asked, standing up.
"Prepare for trouble, you might as well quit!"
"And make it double, you're in a pit!"
"An evil as old as the galaxy!"
"Sent here to fulfill our destiny!"
"Don't forget me!" (Meowth)
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie!"
"And James!"
"And, my name is Meowth!"
"Anywhere there's peace in the universe!"
"Team Rocket!"
"Will be dere!"
"To make everything worse!"
"Wooo--bbuffet/Chime Chime!" Wobbuffet and Chimecho finished.
"Team Rocket!" everyone yelled.
"I can see you three haven't changed a bit!" Misty noted, glaring.
"That's not true at all! You haven't noticed the motto?" Jessie asked angrily.
"Grovyle, use Leaf Blade to cut through that net!" Ash ordered.
The blades on Grovyle's arms glowed white as it jumped up and sliced open the net, allowing Noctowl and Swellow to fly out.
"All right!" Ash cheered.
"That worked?" Jessie asked.
"Maybe they sent us the wrong net?" James suggested.
"Excuse me, but you were supposed to get a net that was resistant to all types of attacks!" Jessie told the feline Pokemon angrily.
"Yeah, but since we usually get hit only with electric ones, I thought you'd be happy to save a little dough." Meowth meekly replied.
While they were arguing, Ash and friends managed to crawl out of the pitfall; Angelina was the last to be helped up by Tracey.
"Team Rocket!" Ash yelled. "Maybe you've fooled us this time."
"But you never will again!" Misty added.
"So leave us alone!" May finished.
"So big and strong, has someone been dipping into their Poke-block supplies?" Jessie taunted.
"Okay Meowth, time for plan B," James said.
"Got it!" Meowth pressed a button on a remote causing the ground to shake. When the dust clears, a huge purple robot with sucking arms stands over the group while Team Rocket laughs inside.
"With the money we've saved on that net, we've invested in this little baby," Meowth informed. "Which we call our sucker for punishment."
They turn on the robot's sucking arms, which generates a huge sucking power that nearly gets Totodile and Charmander.
"Totodile! Charmander!" Angelina cried, grabbing both Pokemon but was also sucked along with them. "Aaaaahhh! Oh no!"
"Bulbasaur, Vine Whip! Go!" Ash ordered.
"Bulba!" Bulbasaur threw out its long green vines and wrapped around Angelina's waist, pulling her back.
"Thanks Ash, Bulbasaur!" Angelina said, while May comforts the distraught Squirtle.
The robot's sucking goes to full power, but Ash ordered Snorlax to attack the robot, knocking that over and sending Team Rocket crashing into the ground.
"Well that didn't work," Jessie said irritably.
"Next plan, Meowth," James said.
"Grab Pikachu and call it a day!" Meowth declared.
"Seviper, let's go/Go Cacnea!" Jessie and James shouted,
summoning out their Pokemon, which Cacnea leaps back and hugs James, whom cries out in pain just when Professor Birch, Professor Oak, and Mrs. Ketchum walk outside to see what the commotion is. Professor Birch wants to help, but Mrs. Ketchum stops him and says that its best to leave the battle to the children.
"Go Seviper, use your Poison Tail!" Jessie ordered.
"Bulbasaur, Vine Whip now!" Ash countered.
Bulbasaur used its vines to knock back Seviper's glowing tail and smashed into the Pokemon.
"Go Cacnea! Pin Missile!" James ordered.
"Now Bulbasaur, use Petal Dance!" May commanded.
May's Bulbasaur fires out sharp pink petals and knocks back the Pin Missile, attacking Cacnea.
"You think that was good, then watch this!" Jessie shouted. "Seviper, Bite Attack!"
"Cacnea, Needle Arm!" James shouted.
"Bulbasaur, Solar Beam! Let's go!" Ash ordered.
The bulb on Bulbasaur's back quickly took in sunlight just as Seviper's tail glowed and Cacnea swung its arms. Then Bulbasaur released a powerful whitish-green beam that smashed into Team Rocket's Pokemon, sending them flying off.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Jessie asked worriedly.
"That we should run for it?" James whimpered.
"Great minds think alike," Meowth agreed, then he and his partners being to slowly walk away.
"Hold it!" Tracey said. "These grounds are an important habitat to the Pokemon!"
"You won't get away with coming here and messing it up," Misty warned.
"Oh, sorry!" the three Rockets said nervously.
"Marill/Azurill! Use water Gun!" Tracey and Misty ordered.
Both Water Pokemon knock Team Rocket into their robot with a double blast of water.
"Stop, my clothes are all wet!" Jessie screamed.
"Combusken! Let's dry'em off!" May yelled, and her fired Pokemon released a powerful flame.
"Stop, we're clean and dry now!" James yelled.
"Pikachu! We're gonna have to charge them for this!" Ash shouted.
Pikachu fired off electricity that exploded the robot and sends Team Rocket soaring after their Pokemon.
"You did it, guys! Way to go!" Angelina praised her friends as they celebrated. Even Mrs. Ketchum knew they'd be all right.
Back inside the lab, Tracey recalls the starter Pokemon to their Pokeballs. At the sight of not seeing Bulbasaur and Charmander, the Squirtle begins to cry again.
"Please don't cry, Squirtle. I only want you to go back into your ball." Tracey said, but the little turtle Pokemon continued crying and jumped into May's arms. "Oh, what do I do?"
"Not a thing," Professor Oak said.
"It looks to me like Squirtle has chosen its new trainer all by itself." Professor Birch stated. "And when that happens, there's really no choice is there?"
"No, there's not." Professor Oak agreed. "What do you think? Does that sound good to you, May?"
"Yes, that sounds really good." May said, then smiles at the baby Pokemon in her arms. "So Squirtle, starting today you'll be apart of my team."
"By the way, would you like to leave your Bulbasaur here with me?" Professor Oak asked.
"Yeah! I'm sure with Ash's Bulbasaur living here, not only will it learn a lot, it'll have fun too!" May said.
"No doubt, I'm certain that Bulbasaur will feel more than welcomed living here," Professor Oak smiled. "And besides that, Ash's Glalie and Torkoal will be joining us too! Things are going to get lively around here."
"You bet!" Tracey agreed.
"Now, Professor Birch and I have something to give both of you, to celebrate your new journey." Professor Oak takes out two square devices, one was cream-colored while the other was red.
"Oh wow!" May said, taking the white one.
"Awesome, a new Pokedex!" Ash exclaimed, taking the red one.
"Thank you so much!" both trainers said happily.
"Of course, and you'll even find information on newly discovered Pokemon as well," Professor Birch informed.
"Professors, could I have one too, please?" Max asked.
"Hey Max. I got something for your journey too." Tracey said, holding out a yellow device. "I've downloaded all of the Battle Frontier data into your PokeNav."
"Wow, you're the best, Tracey," Max said gratefully. "Let's find the closest battle area to where we are." he presses buttons on the PokeNav. "The Battle Factory, and its right near Cerulean City!"
"It is? Really?" Misty asked.
"Hey, then we can all travel for a while," Ash said.
"Great, that sounds good to me, Ash," Misty replied with a wink.
"Cool," Tracey said. "You were going to go back tomorrow anyway, weren't ya, Misty?"
"Yeah, I'm starting to get a little worried about the gym."
"This calls for a poem: Bitter sweet as traveling trainers part ways." Professor Birch recited. "So, what do you think of that little ditty?"
"It wasn't bad at all, but you forgot to put in the name of a Pokemon," Professor Oak revised. "How about: when friends go on their journey, they bring along who? Pikachu, that's who, Pikachu!"
"When it comes to Pokemon poetry, you're still number one," Professor Birch praised. "You brought out the real meaning of what a brand new Pokemon journey should be."
"Well, I do my best, Birch," Professor Oak grins, then turns to Ash and his friends. "Don't forget now, you've all got goals, so work hard to achieve them."
"Right, we will, professor!"
Later that night, Angelina had returned to her relatives' house and was up in her room getting ready for bed. She changed out of her clothes and into a spaghetti-strapped white night dress and sat at her vanity brushing her hair.
"Hey Angelina!" a voice called from outside, which startled the girl as she turned on the balcony's light and stepped out, looking into the backyard.
"N-no way!" Angelina gasped at the familiar sight of her brother's tanned and handsome best friend. "Do you know what time it is, Brock?!"
"Gosh, I'm sorry, Angel. Thought I'd come see you, but if its late, I'll just go to Ash's and-"
"Oh don't go, its okay," Angelina said, her face slightly red. "You must be exhausted from traveling all this way from Pewter City. I'll... uhm, share my bed with you...." she blushed darker, hoping it wasn't too obvious.
"That'll be fine, thanks," Brock said, climbing up the ladder connected to the house and jumped into the balcony. "And from down there, I was looking up at a beautiful angel."
"Well aren't you just the sweetest," Angelina smiled, hugging her friend, whom was also blushing. She led him into her room and they sat down on the bed talking about Max and May leaving with Ash tomorrow for the Battle Frontier.
"I made it here right on time," Brock said, then he yawned. "And if you don't mind, I'd like to get some sleep."
"Oh yeah, sure," Angelina blushed again, pulling down the covers of her bed.
Brock grinned, he gently placed his arm around her waist as he pulled her in slightly towards him, "You know its been a long while since...." they were so close as their lips nearly touched when there was a knock on the door.
"Angel dear, its almost midnight," said Aunt Vicky. "Keep the volume down please."
"Okay, I will, goodnight," Angelina said, moving away from her slightly disappointed friend and slipped under the sheets of her bed. "I'm going to sleep now, see you in the morning."
Many hours later, Angelina awoke with the other side of her bed empty and guessed that Brock was an early riser. She quickly changed clothes and brushed her hair. Then left her room and climbed downstairs, walking through the living room and into the kitchen.
Aunt Vicky was sipping a cup of coffee while Christina and Taylor sat at the table eating cereal. They looked up and saw Angelina standing in the entrance way.
"I had a feeling you had someone stay over last night, Angelina," Aunt Vicky smiled knowingly as her step-niece blushed guiltily. "Now don't feel bad, Brock made breakfast for us well before he left to see your brother."
Angelina pulled out a chair and found a single white rose on her plate. Then on the table were pancakes, cinnamon rolls, one-half pieces of toast, freshly squeezed orange juice, and fresh Miltank Milk (aka Moo Moo Milk). She smelled the aroma and sighed happily. "Yeah, he's wonderful."
While Angelina digs into her breakfast and ponders over starting into the Battle Frontier, Ash and friends depart from Pallet Town the next day towards the new challenge and adventures.
§To Be Continued
* Based from the episode 'The Right Place At The Right Mime'. I've only seen it twice and thought it'd be a good opener for this story.
*Angelina and Christina return to Pallet Town, they visit Ash's mother and are greeted by Misty and her Azurill
*Ash, Angelina, and Christina meet May, Max, and Professor Birch at Professor Oak's Lab
*May gets Squirtle from Professor Oak and leaves behind her Bulbasaur at Oak's Lab
*Ash leaves behind Torkoal and Glalie, Phanpy joins the team
*Brock arrives in Pallet Town and stays with Angelina the night before he rejoins the group
*Ash, May, Max. and Brock begin their journey through Kanto for the Battle Frontier, accompanied by Misty
*Angelina decides whether or not to take on the Battle Frontier
Thanks for reading! All comments are welcomed. I'll return with the next chapter soon!