Chapter 2: Electric Shock on a Rocket!?

Last time on "Pokémon Hoenn Journey", a boy who was about to become a trainer named Minato Yukimura was mourning for his deceased parents, who had been killed by some organization.

Five years had passed as the lonely boy stayed silent, keeping himself distanced from Pokémon and Trainers. As he stayed at his room, he discovered for that it was useless staying in one spot.

So, he took a short walk to the Littleroot Port, where a ship had arrived from the Kanto region. As he got there, he saw a boy named Ash, from Pallet Town, with his sick Pokémon partner named Pikachu.

Prof. Birch had arrived, seeing Pikachu's status as he took the two boys to his lab to check on the Electric Type's problem for it to recover. However, the method failed as Pikachu escaped out of the window.

That resulted Prof. Birch and Ash chasing after him, with Minato deciding to come along, until he found the Hoenn Professor stranded by a group of angry Poochyenas, as he used a Torchic to defeat them.

May was there to watch, amazed with the power Torchic had. Now, the three must find Ash and Pikachu before it's too late. Otherwise, there could be problems for both the Kanto trainer and his Electric Type partner.

As May, Minato, and Prof. Birch searched for Ash and Pikachu, they heard a loud yell, a yell that sounded like the one yelling was in pain. Everyone looked to see of what was happening.

An orange looking lightning bolt shot out from the forest, with another cry of Pikachu's voice. "Was that... Pikachu's voice?" Minato asked, not concerned for some reason as he frowned.

"Wait... What was that? What's going on?" May asked. "Pikachu's electrical discharge is reaching critical mass!... Pikachu... It might explode..." Prof. Birch stated as he ran forward.

"HUH!?" May shrieked. "Wh..." Minato whispered in shock, widening his eyes. A Pokémon that is about to explode!? The lonely boy gritted his teeth, keeping them hidden under his lips.

He followed the Hoenn Professor as the girl yelped, trying to keep up with her bike. "Wait! Hold on!" May called, trying to go after the Professor and the lonely boy.

Later, they were getting closer as they discovered something shocking. Ash was conscious, as he tried to get near his Electric Type Pokémon. But, being so sick, the Electric Type shot electricity at him!

Ash almost got shocked, but luckily, the electricity barely missed him, but it still managed to keep him away. "Ash! Get away! Pikachu could explode at any moment!" Prof. Birch called out.

Ash frowned, feeling worried for his friend. "But... I've got to help him!" Ash exclaimed. Suddenly, as he said his words, Pikachu blindly ran off as the Kanto trainer turned in surprise.

"Huh!? Pikachu, no!" Ash yelled, trying to stop his friend. Ignoring his trainer, Pikachu grunted as it jumped off the cliff, not knowing what it actually did! "Oh no! Pikachu!" Ash screamed.

He dove after his Electric Type, jumping off the cliff as well. May, Minato, and Prof. Birch could only watch in shock as the Kanto trainer dove after his friend, ignoring the fact that he was in danger, too.

As Ash grabbed Pikachu, he managed to grab the branch on the rocks of the ledge. "I'm going to help you, Pikachu! Don't worry!" Ash assured, holding onto his Electric Type friend tight.

Pikachu shocked the Kanto trainer, trying to get out of his grip. "Everything's going to be okay, Pikachu!" Ash promised, hanging onto the branch tight. Suddenly, a rope fell right in front of him.

He looked up, seeing the Hoenn Professor, Minato, and May holding onto the rope. "Quick, Ash! Grab onto the rope!" Prof. Birch called. "Okay!" Ash exclaimed as he caught the rope.

He then began to climb up, as the others pulled him up. As they were pulling, the lonely boy closed his eyes, remembering the time when he was in danger, from accidentally falling off the cliff.

His father managed to catch him, as his mother and their Pokémon; Swampert and Blaziken helped them up. But, those memories faded away as he heard another electricity sparking.

"Wait... What's... Ah!" Minato started, then blinked in shock. Pikachu was again shocking Ash with another Thunderbolt! And this time, it was biting on his trainer's arm, thinking that Ash was the enemy.

But, the shocking stopped, as the Electric Type finally recognized his trainer, as it blinked in surprise. "I promise... You're going to be okay!" Ash promised as he kept climbing on the rope.

As the three pulled, Minato gritted his teeth. "That Electric Type attacked him... and yet, their trust remains strong?..." Minato thought, as he narrowed his eyes, pulling on the rope hard.

As the Kanto trainer kept going up, Pikachu seemed concerned as Minato, May, and Prof. Birch pulled him up to safety. Once the two were saved, Ash panted, sitting on the ground, breathing hard.

The others breathed hard as well, except Minato. "That was really close..." May panted. "Thanks a lot, you guys..." Ash thanked, before he looked at his Electric Type Pokémon.

"Pika Pi?" Pikachu asked, feeling sorry and worried for Ash. "Pikachu. What do you say when we get back to the Lab and get you all better?" Ash asked, smiling at his best friend.

At that question, the Electric Type licked the mark on Ash's arm that he had made, trying to make the mark go away. "I'm fine. I know you really didn't mean it, buddy!" Ash chuckled.

Minato bit his lips as his face darkened, turning away. "We... should get going... Otherwise, what else might happen at this rate?" Minato suggested, glancing at everyone else.

"Okay..." Ash replied, giving a nod as he got up. Prof. Birch and May agreed to the idea as they all got ready to head back. But, just as everyone was about to head back to the lab, there was a familiar voice that only Ash knew at first.

"Prepare for trouble...? Hm, what's the point?... Oh well..." The woman's voice sighed. Suddenly, a giant robot leg slammed on the ground as everyone turned to see what it was.

"What... What's that!?" Prof. Birch gasped. May gulped as Minato looked up, not surprised or interested with the giant machine. Ash glared up at the robot, knowing of who it might be.

"Prepare for trouble for the umpteenth time!"

"Make it double, and I'll make it rhyme!"

"To protect the world from devastation!"

"To unite all peoples within our nation!"

"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"

"To extend our reaches to the stars above!"

"Jessie!"

"And James!"

"Team Rocket, blasting off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now, or prepare for an out of this world fight!"

"Um... What's the point?" Jessie asked James, who yelped in shock. "Meowth, that's right!" Meowth sneered, finishing up the Team Rocket motto. Ash gritted his teeth as he glared at the evil trio.

"Prof. Birch! That's Team Rocket! And they always try to capture Pikachu!" Ash explained, holding his Electric Type tight. "Team Rocket? Who are they?" May asked, confused still.

"I've never heard of them. Have you, Minato?" Prof. Birch asked. "No... But, they look like complete losers to make up a stupid motto like that." Minato commented, turning his head away, uninterested.

"Losers is one thing. They always try to steal other people's Pokémon and they're no good!" Ash agreed. The evil trio landed on their seats inside the robot as Meowth glared down at the sick Electric Type.

"So, Pikachu! Where's all your Thunderbolt?" Meowth taunted, glaring down at his Electric enemy. "My my, aren't we confident?" James inquired, seemingly confused with the Normal Type.

"Ha ha ha! I, for one had been doing my homework, by doing this! I made this machine that could beat Pikachu at its own pesky game! No matter how high these volts go, the machine will absorb them!" Meowth cackled.

Pikachu growled, sounding like he wanted to battle the evil trio. But, his trainer held him back, knowing what would happen if he were to get into a battle right now.

"Don't do anything, Pikachu!" Ash called, holding him back. But, Meowth was beginning to show no mercy. "That's how you want to play? Fine!" Meowth sneered as he launched a metal arm.

The arm snatched Pikachu out of Ash's hands! "No!" "What in the!?" Ash and Minato gasped as the arm raised Pikachu high into the air. Then, Meowth pressed buttons for some volt absorbers!

It was stuck on Pikachu's red cheeks as James and Meowth were ready. "Wait, what are they going to do with your friend!?" Minato demanded. "I don't know! But I know that it's bad!" Ash grunted.

"Absorption, James!" Meowth called out. "Yes, sir! Absorption, right away!" James sneered pulling on the lever to activate the volt absorber. The absorption started to absorb Pikachu's electricity!

The meter for the volts rose up, as Minato breathed hard. He thought Pokémon were cruel beings at first, and now he was seeing that the Meowth was one of the cruel ones as he gritted his teeth.

The lonely boy clenched his fists, but then, he widened his eyes. "Actually... This is a good thing for Pikachu." Minato reminded the others. "Hey! What do you mean!?" Ash snapped.

Meowth cackled and laughed out loud, seeing his enemy being powerless. "Ha ha ha ha! What an electrifying moment for Team Rocket!" Meowth laughed. "Shocking!" James teased.

"No! Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed as the meter started to go higher. "Don't worry, Ash. Pikachu will be just fine." Minato assured. Everyone looked at the lonely boy in concern and confusion.

"What are you talking about?" May asked. "Ha ha ha ha! Took a while, but I'm pleased to announce the winner!" Meowth cackled. Jessie sighed, sounding like she already knew the results.

"If it could actually work..." Jessie muttered. Then, both Meowth and James gasped as the electricity started to become more overflown and powerful. It spread everywhere, but missing the heroes.

"Prof. Birch!?" Ash called out. "Now, that's power!" May admitted. "Pikachu's output is incredible!" Prof. Birch exclaimed. "They're absorbing all of Pikachu's trapped electricity, making it easier for him." Minato explained.

"I see... So, that's what you meant when you said that Pikachu will be fine!" Prof. Birch exclaimed, finally understanding the lonely boy's calmness. Team Rocket all started to panic with this.

"Ha ha... Don't worry!" Meowth panicked. "Do I really look worried!?" James snapped. "Oh well... Another blast-off?" Jessie guessed. The volt absorber then reached its limits.

Once the absorption was done, Pikachu blinked before it grinned. It used Thunderbolt, shocking the robot and the evil trio. Everyone watched in amazement until part of Thunderbolt shocked May's bike.

"Ah! My bike's been barbecued!" May shrieked, seeing her now burnt bike. Team Rocket screamed as they were being shocked by the powerful electricity from the Electric Type.

Jessie seemed to be enjoying it for some reason. "We haven't been wasting our time after all! This amazing Pikachu is the only thing of what the boss would want!" Jessie giggled.

"But, haven't we captured..." "Too much of a good thing!?" James and Meowth said as they screamed of being shocked. "Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet agreed, appearing out of Jessie's Pokéball.

"Do you smell something burning!?" Jessie asked the others. Then, they quickly knew of what the burning scent seemed to be. "I think... We're smelling us!" Team Rocket screamed.

The machine then exploded, sending the evil trio high up into the sky! Team Rocket screamed as they were blasted off. "Quite a Thunderbolt..." Meowth groaned, secretly impressed by it.

"It renewed my energy and passion!" Jessie exclaimed. "Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet agreed, as it seemed to be feeling the same. "Here we go..." James sighed, knowing of what's coming.

"LOOKS LIKE TEAM ROCKET IS BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" Team Rocket screamed as they were soon out of sight. Once they were gone, the smoke cleared as Pikachu was back on his feet.

"Pika!... Pika..." Pikachu started, but then, he fell to the ground, exhausted. Ash widened his eyes as he ran to his partner. "Pikachu! Pikachu, are you okay!?" Ash called out, running to his Electric Type.

May and Prof. Birch ran over too, as Minato only looked up. "I doubt that this will be the last time those losers will come around..." Minato sighed, before he ran over as well.

Later...

Soon, everyone was back at the lab as Joshua explained the status again. "Professor... It seems that Pikachu's electric pressure has reached its normal level again." Joshua explained.

"Good... It's just like Minato said. That machine of Team Rocket must've absorbed all of Pikachu's unneeded electricity..." Prof. Birch replied, nodding. "Pikachu..." Ash whispered, smiling in relief.

"A good night sleep ought to do the trick." Prof. Birch replied, assuring to the Kanto trainer. "So... This is meaning that Pikachu will be fine?" Minato asked, walking over with an uninterested face.

"Hm... Yes." Prof. Birch agreed with a nod. Suddenly, everyone heard a yelp as they all turned, seeing May catch the flower pot just in time before it smashed to the ground.

"Um... Hi! I'd thought I'd introduce myself! I'm May!" May explained. "And I'm Ash! From Pallet Town!" Ash explained, smiling. "I'm Minato..." Minato replied, turning away, not interested with the two all of a sudden.

"So, how is Pikachu?" May asked, concerned. "Just sleeping fine!" Ash answered, grinning at his sleeping Electric Type Pokémon. "By tomorrow, Pikachu should be in good health!" Prof. Birch assured.

"That's good news!" May giggled. "Now then, May. Are you ready to choose your first Pokémon?" Prof. Birch asked. Immediately, Ash grew amazed and excited at the statement.

"What? Your first Pokémon?" Ash asked, excited. "Right. These three Pokéballs contains the three beginning Pokémon. First up... Treecko!" Prof. Birch pointed out, presenting the Grass Type.

"Oh wow! Is it a Water Type?" Ash asked. "No, Ash. This one is a Grass Type!" Prof. Birch explained. "Cool!" Ash exclaimed, amazed with the cool looking Grass Type starter Pokémon.

Suddenly, May shrieked as the Grass Type glanced at her. "Eek! It's creepy!" May exclaimed. "No, it's not, May! I think it's a pretty cool Pokémon!" Ash exclaimed, grinning at Treecko.

"Next up... is Mudkip!" Prof. Birch explained, summoning the Water Type starter. "Now, that's a Water Type! What do you think, Minato?" Ash asked, looking at the lonely boy who scoffed.

"I really don't care." Minato claimed as he turned his head away. "What's with the attitude of yours?" Ash asked, frowning. Prof. Birch laughed nervously before sending out the familiar Pokémon.

"Finally, we have Torchic!" Prof. Birch called out, summoning the familiar Fire Type. Torchic chirped, before blinking at the lonely boy, who widened his eyes a little in surprise of seeing the Fire Type.

"Is this..." Minato started as the Hoenn Professor chuckled, agreeing. "Right! This is the same Torchic that you've met when you fought off the Poochyenas!" Prof. Birch answered, chuckling.

The Chick Pokémon hopped over to Minato, before it rubbed its warm cheeks at the lonely boy's right leg. "Aw... That's so cute! Torchic likes you, Minato!" May squealed with happiness.

"Um..." Minato started as May sighed, looking at the Professor. "Professor... Do you have another Torchic that I might be able to use? I think I would want to have the little one like the one here!" May giggled.

The Hoenn Professor smiled as he took out another Pokéball. "I was planning to give this one to Minato. But, since this Torchic likes him, I think it would be best if you have it, May." Prof. Birch explained.

"Oh wow! Thank you!" May exclaimed as she summoned the other Torchic. The Fire Type seemed to be a bit younger than the one that taken the shine of Minato. It looked up at May as it cuddled on her leg.

"Well then! That's that! I choose Torchic, which seems pretty obvious." May giggled as she held her new Fire Type. The Hoenn Professor nodded as he presented May the five Pokéballs and a Pokédex.

"Be sure to take this Pokédex. And take the Pokéballs with you! If you work hard enough, you could be a better trainer than your father!" Prof. Birch chuckled, assuring to the female trainer.

"Ha ha ha ha! Thanks!..." May thanked, as she mumbled something which caused the lonely boy to blink in suspicion. "What did you say, May?" Minato asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Who, me? I said... I wouldn't trade it for the world!" May giggled nervously, causing everyone else to be confused. The Hoenn Professor turned to the lonely boy, who was still nervous about Torchic.

The Fire Type was still cuddling onto his leg, which caused the lonely boy sweat drop. "Minato... Are you starting on a journey?" Ash asked curiously, smiling at the lonely boy, who looked up.

Immediately, after hearing journey, Minato bit his lips. "I have no reason to have a journey... or to travel... So, no." Minato answered, surprising everyone in the experiment room.

"But... why? Why no reason?" May asked. Minato ignored the question as he left the room, leaving the Torchic confused and a bit sad as it saw its human friend leave the room without warning.

"Minato..." Prof. Birch sighed, realizing the reason for Minato declining the request to travel around Hoenn.

The next morning...

Minato opened his eyes, only to find himself lying on a couch, in a living room. "This is... the research Lab's living room? Why am I here?..." Minato asked, as he frowned, looking around.

"Ah! You're awake, Minato!" Prof. Birch chuckled as he came into the living room. The lonely boy narrowed his eyes, looking at the Hoenn Professor. "Professor... What happened to me?" Minato asked.

"You were just on your way to your house, when you suddenly fell unconscious. So... I thought I would bring you here, since you're still a bit far from home." Prof. Birch answered.

The lonely boy bit his lips as he shook his head. "Unconscious?... That's nonsense..." Minato whispered to himself, gritting his teeth. "Minato, I understand on why you wouldn't prefer going on a journey." Prof. Birch assured.

Minato glanced at the Hoenn Professor as he explained. "I know that it's because you don't want to end up just like your parents. But, if you want to make them happy at least, wouldn't you become a trainer like they did?" Professor Birch asked.

The lonely boy widened his eyes as he looked out at the window, seeing Ash and May talking to each other with Pikachu on Ash's shoulder. The Electric Type Pokémon seemed to have recovered from yesterday.

"..." Minato grew silent as he got up from the couch as he stood at the exit of the living room. "Professor... I take back what I said yesterday. I'll... go on a journey." Minato decided.

The Hoenn Professor smiled with a nod. "Alright! Your parents would be proud of you to make this choice, Minato." Prof. Birch chuckled. The lonely boy's face suddenly darkened as he made his other words.

"But, don't think for a fact that I'll be getting along with those two, just because I agreed to go on the journey. I still have doubts about those two, especially with their Pokémon." Minato reminded.

Prof. Birch's smile stopped a little as he gave a sigh. "Alright then. Wait for me outside, and I'll give you the things you might need for your journey." Prof. Birch agreed as he left the living room and to his lab room.

Later...

Ash and May were talking when they saw the lab door open, revealing Minato coming out as he was carrying his Trainer's Bag. His attire were the same, but he had black fingerless gloves on his hands.

"Hey, Minato. What's with the new look?" Ash asked, confused. "Pika?" Pikachu asked along. "I decided... that I'm going to travel around Hoenn... to find a reason for me to have the journey in the first place." Minato answered.

"A reason? Isn't it to become the best trainers?" Ash asked, confused. "That's what a fool would dream of." Minato scoffed, turning away with annoyance in his face. "What!?" Ash snapped.

"Come on, you two... There is no need for you two to fight!" May exclaimed, trying to calm the tension down. Before anyone else could react, Prof. Birch and Joshua came out of the lab.

"Oh! Minato! You forgot some things that you might need!" Prof. Birch chuckled as he and Joshua walked over the lonely boy, handing him some important items.

There was the Hoenn Pokédex, four Pokéballs, Torchic's Pokéball, and another Pokéball that seemed unfamiliar. "That's Torchic's Pokeball, I bet... But, who's in that one?" Ash asked, looking at the second ball.

"This is the Pokémon that Minato accidentally caught when he and May were trying to save me from the Poochyenas!" Prof. Birch explained as he handed the two Pokéballs to the lonely boy.

Minato narrowed his eyes as he summoned Torchic from the Pokéball, and a familiar wolf pup looking Pokémon. "Poochyena? But, how..." Minato gasped, surprised to see the Dark Type.

"You accidentally caught Poochyena, like the Professor said, when you were trying to save him, remember?" Joshua reminded, smiling. Minato then sighed, recalling of the first Pokémon he caught.

"I see..." Minato sighed. "Poochy!" "Tor!" Poochyena and Torchic called out to their new trainer as Minato looked down at them. Torchic was cuddling on his new trainer's leg.

Poochyena sniffed at Minato for a bit, before grinning and barking happily. "That's so sweet! They already like you, Minato!" May giggled. "I guess... that's fine." Minato sighed, shrugging.

"Now, Ash? You and May, and maybe Minato would need to register for the Hoenn League at the nearest Pokémon Center." Prof. Birch reminded. "And the closest town you might be able to find is in Oldale Town." Joshua explained.

"Okay! Thanks!" Ash thanked with a nod. "Oh... Walking all alone makes me nervous. And my bike is destroyed, thanks to your Pikachu, mister." May scolded the Kanto trainer.

Ash flinched as the Hoenn girl sighed. "There must be a way to get to Oldale Town... safely on foot." May wondered, thinking it over. Ash and Pikachu flinched again, before May came up with a suggestion.

"Hey! I got it! Ash! Minato! Why don't we all travel there together! I just happen to know the way!" May suggested. "Uh..." "..." Ash stuttered a little as the lonely boy grew silent.

Torchic and Poochyena were both running around him happily, as the two played tag with each other. "It's really no big deal! Really! Can we?" May asked, rubbing Pikachu's cheek with her hand.

"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed happily. "O-Okay! We can travel there together!" Ash agreed. "Yes!" May whispered, much to Ash's confusion and Minato's suspicion.

"That's a good idea! You can look after one another!" Prof. Birch agreed. "Be careful out there, you three. Okay?" Joshua warned. "Don't worry. We all will!" "Pika!" Ash and Pikachu assured.

"See you soon!" May called out as the three trainers began to leave the lab. Minato remained silent as he returned his two Pokémon back to their Pokéballs, secretly keeping them safe.

With Minato's reluctant decision to go on a journey, he is now traveling with Ash and May, despite of him not trusting them, since they were trainers. But, how will the travel to Oldale Town get underway?

Stay tuned for some actions that's coming up!

To be continued...

Minato's Team:

Torchic: (M): (Ember, Peck, Focus Energy, Quick Attack)

Poochyena: (M): (Bite, Tackle, Howl, Dig)

Next Chapters:

Chapter 3: A Journey With No Trust

Chapter 4: The Oldale Ruins Discovery!

Chapter 5: A Family to Remember By

Chapter 6: To Retrieve with a Family!

Chapter 7: A Taillow Flock Makes Problems!

Next chapter preview:

Ash: Hey, May! Minato! Now that we're traveling with each other, shouldn't we get to know each other more?

Minato: What could you be possibly want to know about me? I have no reason for going on this journey anyway...

May: You know, that's just plain rude! Aren't companions supposed to help and interact with each other out!?

Minato: Since when did I say we were companions!? I don't trust anybody... Especially you two.

Ash: Why not!? You helped me and Pikachu out when Team Rocket had attacked us!

May: Eek! Oh no! My poor, little Torchic!