I've gotta say, re-watching the Unova portion of the anime is kind of painful. I might end up just following the events of the games with the anime characters. Or muting the anime. Yeah, that could work...
So I'm sorry if I end up missing something important in the anime. But, I'm not really. Sorry. Not.
I'll respond to a couple of reviews, as they are both to do with the Pokémon that are going to be caught. Otherwise I would respond privately.
To stars90: I understand your... I'm not sure if concern is the right word, but I understand where you're coming from when you say you don't want him catching Pidove. But I'm sticking by what I said. Ash will catch every Pokémon he did in canon, but there are ways I can incorporate your thoughts. I can even use a system that you mentioned in your review. Those plans will all hinge on whoever wins the poll on my profile, though.
Oh yeah, there's a poll on my profile. Kind of important stuff. I'd advise you [all] to check it out, as the result impacts the story greatly.
To vijay sewardekar 31 (your name is damn near impossible to remember): Do you understand what you're asking for here? You want Ash to catch a legendary. Not just any legendary, mind you, but a legendary that went toe to toe with Rayquaza? That arrived on Earth from space? Whose offensive power could rival Mewtwo's and defensive power could rival Registeel's? The implications alone for your request are ground breaking, even within the confines of fanfiction. It is completely unreasonable to assume that anything along the lines of your request could ever happen outside of plot contrivance the likes of which nobody has ever seen since Cars 2.
I'm totally doing it. Ash is getting a Deoxys. I've already got a plan for how it's going to happen too. Yes. I mean, this is for fun, right? This is my little corner of the Internet, from where I can bitch about Unova and claim Ash's intellectual equal to be a Rhyhorn. So why the Heckles not?
I better stop now, or else I never will.
Either way, I hope this has been an informative and entertaining ride through these notes. Without further adi...eeiu...ooo(?), on with the story!
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Range, the interminable companion of combat. When in battle against a foe you know nothing about, your choices are to flee or fight. Should fleeing not be a viable option, attacks that can cover expansive range are the best you can possibly start with. Find what your opponent specialises in, and initiate a plan from that point forth.
The words flashed through their minds, the first lesson any trainer beyond the point of beginner could hope to pick up on.
Rings of displaced Earth formed of either side of the field, launching from their wielders to clash. Smoke erupted over the field as Heracross and Conkeldurr locked eyes, awaiting the next command from the human that raised them.
Trip acted first.
"Conkeldurr!" The Muscular Pokémon was already on the move, sprinting towards its opponent with its arms outstretched, the concrete pillars in its grasp remaining parallel to the ground. "Get in close and use Fire Punch!"
"Heracross, dodge it!"
The words had barely left Ash's mouth before a large fist cloaked in fire was thrown towards the Bug type's face, Heracross narrowing his eyes against the heat as he shifted his weight onto his left leg.
Dodging with his body could be difficult, but he wouldn't allow such a small flaw in his biology to stop him.
The surprisingly fast attack sailed past his face, Conkeldurr's fist hitting the ground with enough force to crater it.
Primeape could throw a punch twice as powerful in half the time, but knowing that fact didn't abolish the small part of Ash that was impressed with the attack.
"Brick Break!" He called, his eyes never leaving his opponent's Pokémon. "While it's close!"
White light bursting from his hand, Heracross cried out his name, driving his arm into Conkeldurr's stomach with speed usually unheard of for his species. The flames still surrounding his new burly friend's arm didn't really bother him; almost every single attack he'd taken from a Fire Type Pokémon felt hotter. The punch probably still would have bruised if it landed, though.
The strength of the attack forced Conkeldurr into the air, his feet leaving the ground as he hunched over, his arms across his stomach.
"Conkeldurr!" Trip shouted, his tone betraying his worry as his Pokémon landed before him, managing to remain on his feet as he straightened up.
A large dent had appeared in one of his concrete pillars, cracks spreading up and down in the pattern of an Ariados' web.
"It managed to block?" Ash mumbled to himself, his desire to catch a Conkeldurr of his own rising as the Pokémon in question looked down to its pillar in dismay. Did these people think concrete grew on trees or something?
Trip gulped, his eyes flicking from Conkeldurr to Heracross. He'd known what to expect, but that hit had been powerful. Too powerful.
Had Conkeldurr managed to block the attack on his own, or was that a random stroke of luck on his behalf? Would the answer make a difference in this situation?
"Hyper Beam!" He would have to keep his distance, to create or search for an opening that could be exploited. There hadn't been too many situations that physical strength could be ruled out as an option.
Ash watched as the Pokémon across from him punched his hands together, a rapidly expanding orb forming as they were pulled apart.
"He's keeping his distance, and still attacking. Hey Pikachu, he kind of reminds me of me when I was a couple of years into journeying. Except he's less dumb."
Pikachu nodded, pointing a stubby finger towards a noticeably sweating Heracross.
"Oh, right. Well, if he's changing tactics, so can we. Heracross, you reckon you can take it with Iron Defense?"
With only slight amounts of hesitation, Heracross nodded, his entire body gleaming with a silvery light. As Conkeldurr threw its hands forward, Heracross folded his arms across his face, digging his feet into the ground as best he could.
He'd taken powerful attacks before. But damn, was this beam bright. And kind of painful.
Trip watched, dumbfounded, as the Bug Type took the full brunt of Conkeldurr's attack, barely moving as the beam ripped stones from the ground beneath him.
It was official. As Conkeldurr allowed his pillars to hold him up and Heracross waved his slightly smoking arms, Trip acknowledged his desire to capture a Heracross of his own.
"Hey, Heracross!" Ash called, gaining the attention of everyone present. "How's about we get serious?"
Heracross grinned, turning to face a stupefied Conkeldurr with a glowing orb growing before his mouth.
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Realising reality was beginning to get hard for Trip, as he recalled his fallen Chandelure.
He'd yet to win a single battle. His Conkeldurr had been too busy crying at the loss of his concrete pillars to properly fight back, leaving a tree several meters from the battlefield to catch him as he was sent flying by a Focus Punch.
That had been the first sign.
His Unfezant ("Is that Unfezant with an e or an a?" Ash called, scribbling hastily on a notepad he'd unearthed from his bag.) had performed pitifully in an aerial battle against Ash's Swellow ("I just sound it out, right?" Trip inquired around his pencil.), not managing to land even a single hit before being taken out by one Brave Bird.
The sign had then turned neon and started flashing.
His Vanillish had fared far better, landing attack after attack against what Ash had referred to as Muk. Even he could tell the sludge was sagging to the floor a lot more than when it had first appeared by the time he was withdrawing his Pokémon.
His Chandelure...where the Hell could he get a Garchomp of his own? What had that attack been called? Draco Meteor? The raw power behind just one move...
Trip felt like crying. He couldn't win this!
"Hold up." Ash called, handing his Pokédex to Pikachu as he picked up a pencil. "How did you get Unfe...zant again?"
"I caught him as a Pidove. They're everywhere, you'll come across one eventually." Trip looked up from his notepad, absently circling something as he did so.
"How did you catch that last thing you used?"
"You mean Garchomp?" Ash poked his head over Pikachu's shoulder, the small mouse having searched through his Pokédex at his request. "In the Sinnoh region, as a Gible. Pretty worth it, y'know."
Images flashed through Trip's mind, sharp fangs and stars falling from the sky.
"Y...Yeah, worth it..."
The field once again fell silent, both young trainers turning back to their notepads.
Trip's Jellicent glanced around the clearing from his position in the center of the battlefield, before his attention was once again drawn back to Ash's Kingler. It would be rude to ignore him, after all, what with the beautiful haiku that had been gouged haphazardly into the ground with an over-sized pincer.
Professor Juniper and Delia both reached for the beverages that had been brought outside upon their request, reclining back into the chairs that the Professor's assistants had fetched as an afterthought.
Professor Oak idly whistled, running a tape measure over various parts of Oshawott's body, his black and white flags laying on the ground beside him.
Ash brought his 'pad closer to his face; it was getting difficult to see the words what with the sun having set a while ago and all.
"I think I'm done..." He muttered, turning the pad over for Pikachu, arguably the intellectual of the duo, to check.
XxX
Breakfast the next morning had been delightful. Assortments of cuisine, many of which originated from the Unova region. Ash could have sworn he'd tasted the fancy in the toast.
Professor Juniper had offered a room of her lab to anyone wishing to spend the night indoors, and after the battle had finally been concluded everyone had readily agreed. Trip had been prepared to walk off the as soon as he and his Pokémon had eaten, stopping just as the doors opened to allow him access to the outdoors.
The hand on his shoulder wouldn't have let him move anyway.
"Don't let this loss get you down."
As surprised as he should have been, Trip found himself turning around, meeting the eyes of the slightly older trainer.
"You're going to be participating in the Unova League this season, aren't you? If I don't start now, what chance do I have?"
A smirk spread across Ash's face, the teenager letting go of Trip's shoulder as he crossed his arms.
"And you're just going to run off and train yourself into the ground?" The smirk fell, the look replacing it much more serious. "Take it from someone who knows. We'll probably end up battling again, and when that happens we'll have different teams. Different strategies. We'll be different people, and one loss won't mean anything. I've lost plenty of times before, but I've always beaten that same person when it mattered."
Ash turned to the door that led back into the lab, extending an arm to allow Pikachu to take his usual place upon his shoulder. Raising one hand in farewell, he threw a glance over his shoulder, his face failing to betray any emotion.
"I'll want a good battle when the time comes. Though I suppose knowing that you care for your Pokémon will make me feel a little better."
The door closed behind him, leaving Trip alone with his thoughts.
Pikachu nudged Ash's hat with his head, waving one stumpy arm in the direction of the door.
"He'll be fine. He reminds me so much of myself that it borders on freaky."
"Pika pi?"
"Yeah, being the one giving the advice for once actually felt pretty good. I hope they left thirds for me..."
XxX
Ash took as deep a breath as his lungs would allow, absently checking the sky for any storm clouds. The sun was already high above the horizon, rays of star byproduct blinking in and out of existence as the leaves blew in the wind.
This Route 1 felt much nicer than the one in Kanto. Amazing what a distinct lack of Spearow beak aimed at your eyeball did for the comfort factor.
Ash had been idly chatting with Pikachu, more or less holding a conversation with himself whilst Pikachu filled in the gaps he'd leave for air, when something large fell from the sky, landing a few meters ahead of the duo.
Ash stopped walking, as an enormous purple bush rose from the ground, turning around to... stare at them?
Ash almost breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the human attached to what he assumed his mother hair had looked like at his age.
"Hey!" The...girl smiled, raising a hand in greeting. She looked to be as old, if not slightly older, than Ash, various twigs and leaves protruding from her rather exuberant hair. "My name's Iris."
"Uh, hi. My name's A-" Ash froze, Pikachu becoming still as a statue on his shoulder. Quickly, his attention was drawn to the bushes on the side of the path, his eyes wide as they flicked side to side.
His breath came in shuddering gasps, his throat suddenly feeling far too dry.
"Pikachu, do you see it?"
Pikachu shook his head, his only movement as Ash's shoulder rose in a deep breath.
"It's not over there..." He muttered, before turning sharply towards the girl he'd just met.
"Where is it?" He almost hissed, his eyes once again flicking through the foliage before coming back to her.
Iris, whose hands were heading slowly towards her waist, stopped in her tracks, taking an involuntary at the look on Ash's face. His face held the same look she'd seen so many times on wild Pokémon that had been backed into a corner. "Where is what?"
Ash took a step towards her, his eyes narrowing even further as she took an equal step back. The small mouse on his shoulder had failed to move anything other than his eyes, which had continued to the scan their surrounding from his trainer's shoulder.
Ash's eyes flashed blue, his hands curling into shaking fists.
"Where is the bike!?"
XxX
"Well, we scared off another one."
"Pika."
"Having another friend to travel with would have been nice."
"Chu."
"I'll get over it. I mean, she probably wouldn't have been able to keep up with our training schedule anyway."
Above them, leaves began rustling, the branch connected to them shaking slightly.
Pikachu's ear twitched, tapping against Ash's hat as the small mouse looked up.
Ash copied his movements, a large smile spreading across his face in the process.
"She came back!" Ash shouted gleefully, jumping back as Pikachu abdicated his previous position. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu complied with the order, letting loose a slightly smaller than average arc of lightning.
The electricity danced through the leaves, striking whatever had been lurking beyond their view.
"Nice!" Ash's eyes began to glow blue, before being sealed from the world. Fishing a Poké Ball from his waist, he flung it high into the air, easily sending through the covering foliage.
"Go, Poké Ball!" He shouted, rushing forth as the device fell from the sky, dinging a successful capture on the way down.
Feeling a strange lack of an urge to pose, Ash scratched Pikachu's cheek as the mouse scurried to his shoulder, smiling at the content rodent as he waved his Pokédex over his newest team member's 'Ball.
Pidove, the Tiny Pigeon Pokémon. A Pidove flock's cooing can get extremely noisy. Pidove is not attracted to shiny objects. This Pidove is female and has the Ability Super Luck. She knows the moves Gust, Quick Attack, Leer, and Night Slash. Note: Night Slash is hereditary.
"I guess that means we got...Super Lucky, huh pal?" Ash laughed, even as he began twitching on the ground, courtesy of Pikachu's Thunderbolt. "Stop the...pun-ishment! Ha ha HARGH!"
XxX
High above the Sinnoh region, it is said that the creator resides, within a plane of higher existence atop the tallest mountain of all. He rests, regaining his strength for when the universe shall require him, beyond the grasp of mortal hands.
The scales exist beneath his feet, the balance of all dependent on his actions.
"Do you accept this responsibility?"
Today, he'd requested an audience. The first time in all his eternity he'd asked for another's presence.
The fact that it was the only legendary that had not been crafted by his own hand standing before him was somewhat of a cruel irony.
The feline like creature before him bowed to the ground, crossing an arm across his chest.
"Of course, Father." Mewtwo straightened his back, looking up to the creator before him. "If I may ask, why come to me?"
"You believe yourself unworthy to serve, due to your birth." It wasn't a question, the large shadow shifting comfortably under Mewtwo's gaze. "That does not change a thing. You are the most powerful warrior I can call upon, being sullied by human hands does nothing to alter my decision."
Mewtwo nodded, a faint blue glow beginning to outline his body.
"Mew has spoken quite highly of you." Arceus nudged his large head, a portal opening beneath Mewtwo's feet. "You will require all of your power for this task; do not bother wasting it teleporting."
Mewtwo gulped audibly, averting his eyes as he floated slowly through the doorway created for him, the glow slowly fading from his body.
The ground resealed itself, no evidence of inter-dimensional travel being left in its wake.
"Your heart has been touched by the Chosen." Arceus muttered, folding his legs underneath him. Extremely unbecoming of the highest deity in existence, he yawned, resting his head upon his front leg as he closed his eyes. "Who would think that I would be the one having faith in you?"
XxX
Some more diversion from canon in this chapter. Mewtwo's mission, I pulled completely out of the blue. I wasn't even planning on including it in the story, and I'm not going to spoil what it is. Shouldn't be too difficult to figure it out, though. Mewtwo's power wouldn't be wasted on just anyone.
As you also could have probably figure out, this story will obviously not be entirely serious, as well as slightly quick paced. Humour will have a far superior role here, because I want to write a story that can make people laugh and enjoy reading it. There'll be some serious parts, obviously, but for the most part I'll be shooting for laughs, whilst actually telling a coherent story. Not as easy as it looks, trust me.
Feel free to leave a review. Two major events are already planned, and those were just from reviews on the first chapter. I love the ideas I'm getting from you guys.
Also, I mentioned it earlier but in case you missed it, do feel free to vote on the poll on my profile. Lucky for all of you I'm quite the multi-shipper, and I think I'll keep it up until chapter 5 is posted. Not sure how far Ash will be into his Unova journey by then, but does that really make a difference? BTW Cilan already has a pairing planned out for him. Confirmed, he'll be in this story.
Till next chapter. Don't expect it too soon .o/
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