Trainers, Pokémon

Chapter 1: And things begin, again

XXX
"Now Ashley, you have eight options before you. You may only choose one."

"Only one?!"

"Yes, only one, but there is a catch to it. But more on that later. And once it hatches I need you to contact me at your earliest convenience."

"Okay…"

There were eight eggs. A blue and white, a dark green, a blue and grey, a solid blue, a blue and red, a black and blue, a light purple, and a dark purple.

"So just one?"

"Yes."

"What will…"

"Sis just pick one, I'm sure he will tell you everything you need to know after you pick."

Dumbstruck by Ash's outburst, Ashley looks at Oak looking for an answer but he simply smiles shrugs and nods.

"Fine."

"I'll pick…"

XXX

Ashley leans forward to pick up the blue and white egg.

"Wonderful, now that the two of you have selected your starter, I suggest you get moving on to Viridian City."

"Professor was there anything else we needed to be told before we go?"

"Oh yes, now I know you are wondering, why have eight eggs that Ashley will have a choice form but only get one. The answer to that is she will get them, just at various points in your journey. So for example once the two of you collectively have all eight badges, she will get to choose another egg."

"So Professor, Ashley has her first eight Pokémon chosen for her?"

"Technically yes, physically no. if she fails to meet a standard or some goal we have set for her, she will miss out on an egg. By the time you two have finished the league. We project she will have all eight in her possession."

"Wow…"

XXX

Many years back in the Sinnoh region…

"Must escape, if I can just make it to the town. I can get aboard the ship and escape from this Arceus forsaken region…"

The dark figure continues to sneak through the dark forest, wading through the snow until she reaches the edge of town from Route 217 just outside Lake Acuity.

Unfortunately, several Lucario guard the entrance into town.

"Damn, I figured I had gotten ahead of them and they know of my illusions. It would seem suspicious if I just appeared out of nowhere as someone else. Especially if I didn't have any Pokémon allies…"

"Saria."

"Gah! Luke?"

"Yes, why did you flee?"

"I…"

"Is it the…"

"No, its just I was looking through some of the scrolls and how they frown upon any relationships with other species of Pokémon."

"But, as long as things remain the same between us…"

"Luke, you know damn well things cannot remain like that between us."

"Then I'll go with you, and we can…"

"You know as good as I do that we cannot do that, the clan living out here would fall apart, and everything we fought to protect will have been lost."

"I'm sorry love…"

"Shh… everything will be fine. But I must go, I can't remain here any longer."

"Why?"

"I… can't say, for it would place you in danger."

"Alright, just wait for my signal, I'll draw away the guards and you can clear the town safely."

"Thank you…"

Luke disappears from sight and she see him running up stage right up to the two Lucario guards standing next to the gate to Snowpoint city. Some words are spoken between them and the two nod and follow Luke. After waiting a few minutes, she slips her disguise on and slips into town. Before anyone knows anything she sneaks on the ferry and vanishes from Sinnoh headed as far away from her birthplace as she could go.

Several weeks later she awakens to the early morning sun and a few workers making preparations to make landfall. After the ship docs she departs the ship just as she entered and sneaks into a nearby alley to reapply his illusion.

"I have to come up with something new, I can't rely on my old techniques in this new region. If I read the shipping information right, we should be in the Kanto region where Oak can help me. I just hope I can get to his town and locate him before these two decide to come out."

Looking around, Saria spots a couple headed to the park nearby. She drops to all fours and applies her illusion to that of an Eevee and using a bit of a gallop she pursues them. She spots them stop and sit at a bench and disappears into the forest across from them to observe them. After verifying they would not be a threat she decides to bait.

"If I can just touch them I can make a perfect disguise."

Using her bit of animal curiosity, she baits them, to try and call her forward. Bait the curious cat, was the name of her game and she was going to play the shy one. The male spots her and she steps out, seeing the female stand causes her to disappear back into the forest. She would have a backup illusion ready in case of trouble. Saria was always never to careful especially around people.

The male moves closer and pulls a berry from a nearby tree and holds it down for her. She eyes it curiously before slowly approaching him. Taking a brief sniff she grabs the berry from his hands, making sure her some part of her body at least touches his hand, and makes a dart back to the safety of the forest for cover.

"One down one to go."

She modified her illusion to put off the idea that she was eating the berry and the male calls the female forward. They both slowly approach, and as her illusion is still eating she stands strait up to allow the female to pet her. She allows the pet and purrs a bit in satisfaction. It had been so long since anyone had treated her with such kindness. But never the less she had what she came for. It was time to move quickly before something went wrong.

With a brief modification to her illusion she showed a few additional eeveelutions to the couple and disappeared with the berry in her mouth back into the forest and stood and watched as the couple left the park.

"Perfect, now to just get a map of this region and it won't be long til I can get a nest set up."

After night falls she uses the bit of information she had gathered from the couple and created her own new illusion of herself. Creeping off into the night she finds the way out of town and the Pokémon center. Steeling up her resolve she walks in and using the sign language Luke had taught her tried to communicate with the Nurse at the desk.

Hopefully she would understand.

Fortunately, Joy may not have but someone nearby did. It was a young trainer that was walking to dinner with his Vaporeon.

After getting a map as well as a general location of wear to find her person of interest, she thanks them both and disappears into the night. Using the guidance given to her she makes a break for Diglett cave and crosses through it in, what she believes is, record time. Emerging out the other side and slipping through Viridian Forest. She passes through Viridian city and is forced to stop on Route 1. She had gone into labor as the twins she had been carrying had decided to come out.

Luckily she finds a cave and using every ounce of her will she tries not to scream in pain. As that would reveal her presence and probably cause the end to her and her unborn kits. Over the next several hours she is in pure agony, trying to push the two eggs that had been growing within her for the last month. Finally, by dawn the two eggs are sitting beside her and she wakes up in paranoia.

"Who's there?"

Quickly, but painfully she applies her illusion and she secures her eggs and begins to run towards Pallet. She may have still been in slight pain, but knowing her gut feeling if she didn't get into town soon, her little ones may never see the outside world. As she enters Pallet, a flying type Pokémon flies over head. Gazing at its beauty her brain clicks into gear.

"Ho-oh."

Ho-oh had just passed over her. It didn't matter if you were human or Pokémon if you even so much as saw Ho-oh that was a sign of good luck.

Smiling at the legendary, and grateful for her presence Saria quickly reapplies her illusion and walks into town.

XXX

Using the directions, she had received about a week ago, she arrives at the Lab on the only human that the time she could trust.

In the past she had met the Professor while he was but a teenager. He had been exploring the Sinnoh region and stumbled across her when she was but a Zorua. He was the one human who didn't immediately try to catch her when he saw her. They talked, well he talked and she listened but they had become friends and he had given her a bow to try and differ others from trying to catch her. She kept it with her at all times. He would recognize it almost immediately.

Placing the ribbon into her illusions hair, she waits patiently at the door. Moments later the door opens to reveal a middle aged man in a white over coat.

"Yes, can I help you?"

She tries to speak, but before she does Oak cuts her off.

"Wait, is it you? Is it really you?"

Saria nods and he quickly pulls her inside.

During their time together she had told him about what had happened over the course of the last few decades.

"Well you definitely have had some interesting adventures since we last talked. So why…"

Saria stops him before he can ask more.

"I was looking through Luke's clan scrolls for anything I might be able to find on any Zoroark that might have been encountered. Unfortunately, I came across many written incidents that involved Lucario that had gotten into relationships with other species of Pokémon. Not only where those Lucario exiled from their clan, but the Pokémon they got into a relationship with where removed from this world…"

"What?"

"The Lucario there didn't mind Pokémon that came and went but when it came to others that tried to remain and blend in. Well… lets just say they didn't remain for very long. I took the first chance I could to escape before things escalated."

"Why?"

"Luke and I were unaware of this apparent unspoken rule. We kept our relationship between us but then…"

"Then?"

"Well I began to show…"

"You mean?"

"Yes, I found out I was with child mere days before I left. As soon as I found out I immediately knew I had to leave. If either of us were found out, we would surely be executed."

"How did you escape?"

"To be honest, he helped because I had a feeling they might come to question me. And within hours they were at my hut. The entire clan was put on alert and I fled for my life. Within moments the entire clan of Lucario where out for me."

"What are you planning to do now?"

"Well I was hoping that…"

"Say no more, I'm certain that you will fit in perfectly here. Just keep your disguise and everything should be fine."

"But where…"

"I know of a friend who should be able to help, and not only that I could most certainly use your assistance around here. Considering your expertise, I think we should have no issue getting you and your kits to blend in here in Pallet."

"Okay…"

"But first things first. Your disguise, is it something that those Lucario have seen?"

"No, I created it when I arrived in Kanto."

"Good, now the only other thing is we need a surname for you."

"Surname?"

"Yes, this way the only remnants of you will be if you are in your Pokémon form."

"Saria thinks for a bit and after a few minutes has an idea."

"Delia. Delia Ketchum."

"Interesting, simple yet complex."

"Its what I do best, if you need to hide a tree use a forest."

Oak nods and the two stand up, Oak leads Delia to his office and the two work on some paperwork.

Over the next few months, Delia works around Oaks lab assisting in the care and study of the Pokémon Oak has living on the ranch.

Delia has also moved into a small house about a mile from Oak's Lab. She would place both eggs in a carrier and carry them on her back as she worked.

After about 6 months of time in Pallet, she was sparring with Oak's Charizard in the ranch out back and over by a nearby tree providing shade to the two eggs.

"Sigh, shall we go again Sam?"

"Sure, if that was enough of a warm up for you."

"Yes, it…"

The Zoroark is swiftly cut off by a glow coming from the pair of eggs. All current matters aside she vanishes and is swiftly kneeling by her eggs.

Oak's Charizard Sam, flies to her side and the eggs glow begins to increase. One glows a solid white and emerges to be a Riolu, but something is off about it…

Its fur as well as its tail.

He has light grey fur that covers his body with red highlight sprouting in various areas, has black fur that covers the area around his eyes, the top of his nose, his aura detectors, chest and feet. A small tuft of black hair sits in-between his two small ears on top of his head. Has red eyes and a small poofy tail.

The two look at the other egg, and slowly it stops glowing.

"Well thats not good…"

"Delia, picks up the egg and slowly caresses it."

"Come on baby, don't give up sweetie…"

The first kit continues to sleep soundly as Delia nurtures the egg that has not hatched yet.

"Come on sweetie, momma wont give up on you so don't you give up on her."

The egg begins to flash more rapidly and quickly glows solid white. The egg is revealed to be another Riolu.

"That's it sweetie."

The two Riolu sleep soundly in their mothers arms as she walks with both of them over her shoulders…

"So what are their names?"

"Well I did get one boy and one girl though the reason they are mixed versions of a Riolu and Zorua…"

"I cant help you there Delia… though I guess it's a good thing both hatched as you daughter didn't look like she wanted to…"

"Yeah, but she is a tough one. And she will prove it in time."

As the two arrive back at Delia's home, she puts them both down on her bed and cover's them with her blankets.

As she steps out the two begin to whine, and Delia moves back into the room. They were wanting something to hug. Like they wanted something to cuddle with. Thinking for a moment, Delia pushes the two closer to one another until they were hugging one another.

Their whining stops and the two drift off back to sleep. Delia smiles as she walks back out into the living room. She quickly writes a note and hands it to Charizard.

"Take that and give it to the Professor. I'll see him tomorrow so he can take a look at the kits."

Sam nods and accepts the note. He flies off and Delia closes the door. She returns to her room, still in her Pokémon form, and lies down curling up around the two of them still cuddling one another.

"So grey fur, a Zorua's tail and a Riolu's body. It will be interesting to see you two grow up. Ash and Ashley. Yeah… that fits you two perfectly. Simple, yet they fit who you are. Sleep tight little ones momma will always be here for you…"

The young Zoroark falls asleep with her two kits cuddling one another up against their mothers chest.

Several months later…

The twins had a problem. It was a sunny day and it wasn't raining outside. Momma was out somewhere, but yet they wanted to go play outside. Together they were six feet tall but had no balance, individually they were three feet tall. The door knob was four feet from the ground, just outside their reach. They could change their shape, but they couldnt make it solid enough to turn the door knob and open the door.

"Sis?"

"What?"

"Do you want to try lifting up one another again?"

"No, I don't wanna get hurt…"

"Okay…"

Their thought process was quickly interrupted by their mother returning groceries in hand. After their mother had set the groceries down they decided to pop a question.

"Momma?"

"Hello my little sweet peas. Are we ready to go to the park today?"

The twin Pokémon nod.

"Okay then, let mommy get ready for a moment and then we can go."

"Yay!"

The two go sit on the couch and wait patiently for their mother to finish.

"Okay sweet peas, come to mommy!"

The two excitedly leap into the disguised Zoroarks arms. Delia takes a seat for a moment and pulls something out of her purse.

"What is it momma?"

"Momma has a present for you two. But first mommy needs you to change how you look"

"But why?"

"This little charm will help keep your illusion from breaking so long as you are wearing it, but it will only work if you are in the form mommy helped you make."

"Okay!"

"The two change into approximately three-year-old children at about three feet tall with Ashley wearing a cute pink dress, and Ash wearing a blue t-shirt with blue jeans. Ashley has neck length black hair while Ash has short black hair."

"Delia takes both items out and of the small black box, and ring and a pair of earrings. She slides the ring on Ash's finger and the earrings into Ashley's ears."

"Now, mommy wants the two of you anytime you wake up to put these on, and when you go to sleep put them back in the box on your night stand. Is that understood?"

"Yes, momma!"

"Now if you come downstairs without this on, momma will spank you. Okay?"

The twins look at one another; they knew exactly what a spanking was. When the two were a bit younger Ash had broken something and Ashley had tried to help hide it from their mother. In the end the two were not entirely able to sit properly for a few weeks.

The two vowed to each other not to ever make their mother do that to them ever again.

"Now, come on you two lets go to the park and have some fun."

The moment their mother says that, the bad times pushed into the back of their minds.

XXX

The day the two leave Pallet town for their journeys…

"So, the day has finally come when my two sweet peas will leave the nest and get into their own adventures and mischief. May Lord Arceus, and Lady Ho-oh watch over them and keep them safe…"

Just then Delia hears Ash barreling down the stairs and the twins run into one another.

"Oww!"

Ash and his new moving wall fall to the ground and cover their new sensitive spot with their hands. But something is different about this picture.

"Ash! What the hell?!"

"I'm…"

The young boy looks up and getting a good look at his now very upset arrival. Not only is she taller than him, but he is very much shorter.

The young girl quickly moves inside and closes the door.

"Ash I still can't see how you are the older of the two of us, you act like the younger but yet you are not."

"What are you…"

"First you are late, by over 2 hours! Second you are not looking where you are going and last you forget to put on the one thing mother drilled into us to put on the moment we wake up til the moment we go to sleep."

Ash's eyes widen in panic and he looks into the mirror to the immediate left. Not only is he not the five-foot-tall boy he always was but he is not even human anymore.

"Gah! I forget to put on my ring!"

"Sigh… if the two weren't leaving I would be giving such a spanking…"

Ash disappears upstairs and he slams his door shut.

"And get dressed! I doubt the Professor will want to see you, even though you are late, in your pajamas!"

"So Ashley, how did things go at the Lab?"

"Well mom, I saw all three of the other kids get their first Pokémon including Gary Oak, while I sat there and waited for Ash to sleep his way through getting our first Pokémon. Professor Oak wouldn't even give me a hint until both of us where present."

"Well then sweetie, I know you two are growing up and you don't always like to be the one to have to step up and be the grown up. But take it from me. Just helping your brother, even though he is older may save you some agony in the long run. I won't able to be there for the two of you every step of the way, so you are going to have to rely on one another."

"Okay… I don't like it, but I will try mom…"

"Thank you sweetie, now let me get a good look at you. It makes my heart flutter to see my baby girl growing up right before my own eyes. It feels like just yesterday that I held both of your eggs in my arms."

Before Delia can finish a door slams upstairs and Ash can be heard barreling down the stairs once again.

He flies through the kitchen with the speed of a Suicune, and almost literally inhales his breakfast before kissing his mother goodbye and grabbing his sister by the hand. Delia can hear the two charging down the road with Ashley still in her brother's firm grasp.

"Well, there they go… I guess I can finish up my coffee and meet them at the gate to the lab so I can say goodbye one last time…"

XXX

End of Chapter 1