The top Cerlobos

Most of the time, Ash and his traveling friends were yet asleep this early in the morning. Yes, the sun was yet to come out. But not this time. For some reason the three and Pikachu could not help but wake up. Hard to explain why, but they just felt like getting up. So they got out of their sleeping bags, got up on their legs and stretched.

"Buenos dias, niňos." Nate greeted, ruffling his messy hair. Like him, Serena and Ash still had the sleepy expressions. The blond girl was rubbing her eye while Ash scratched himself. Then they realized what the older teen said to them.

"Good morning..." Serena greeted back, while Ash yawned. The boy looked around, suddenly noticing someone missing.

"Where's Pikachu?" Ash asked. His two friends took a look around and found, to their confusion and surprise, that indeed, the Mouse Pokemon was nowhere to be found.

"Can't say I've seen him." Serena replied.

"Maybe the little guy saw something curious in the bushes and ran off." Nate thought loudly.

"I don't think so." Ash spoke, moving towards the bushes. "I mean... he's not the type to do that." Still, considering the possibility, Ash moved towards the small bush. Maybe Pikachu was behind them after all? So he peeked behind the bush, looking for his friend. But he found no sign of it being there. Maybe he ran off further into the distance?

But why would Pikachu even do that? Why would he run off? What if Team Rocket captured him in his sleep? "PIKACHU!" Ash called. "WHERE ARE YOU, BUDDY?!"

In response, the bush on the other side of the route rustled. This got everyone's attention. Something was coming, but what?

"Pikachu?..." Ash questioned, hoping it was his Pokemon. Unfortunately, it was not. It was a big, muscular canine Pokemon with a black fur, with an armor-like back and tail, which was very long yet muscular. Also, on its back, on the shoulder length, it had a metallic arc. Additionally, it had three heads with strong jaws. It growled at the trio.

"W-what is this Pokemon?" Serena asked nervously. This Pokemon looked hostile. Ash was reaching for his Pokedex, while Nate answered her question.

"It's a Cerlobos." Finally Ash aimed his Pokedex.

"Cerlobos; the Cerberus Wolf Pokemon; The middle head is its real one while the two by its sides are actually limbs. Its power can easily intimidate much larger predators."

"Careful. They're territorial creatures and get real aggressive towards intruders." The older teen warned.

"Man. I send my Pokemon to Professor Oak before leaving for Eulantis." Ash pouted. Why he did something so foolish? He does that whenever he travels to a new region- to start from basics, catch new Pokemon and befriend them. Call it whatever you want, but that's Ash. At any rate, he wished Pikachu was around by now. That or that he had actually kept one other Pokemon on him.

"I'll handle this." Serena declared. "Go, Pancham!' she threw her Pokemon, releasing a small, panda-like Pokemon holding a leaf in its mouth and with a pair of sunglasses on top its head. "Pancham! Use Arm Thrust!"

"¡Serena! ¡No!" Nate called.

But it was too late. Pancham Charged forward, ready to execute the attack. However, the Playful Pokemon ran through the bigger Pokemon, much its and Serena's surprise.

"W-what?!" Serena was so caught off guard she could not put 2 and 2 together.

"It's a ghost-type." Nate explained. "It's immune to fighting-type moves."

Serena's eyes widened. She did not realized that it was Ghost-type. Pokedex did not mention that. Pancham collected itself, but it was too late. Cerlobos already caught it with its head-like limbs, while gathering energy in its mouth. Then it shot a Shadow Ball, sending Pancham flying. The little Pokemon barely found its footing, when Cerlobos appeared before it, using Dream Eater, which was super effective, unfortunately. Pancham fell unconscious after the attack, looking very pale, which horrified Serena. She gasped seeing her fighting-type Pokémon in such a condition.

"Pancham!" she cried, wanting to check on the little guy, only to have Cerlobos turn its attention to her. As Serena stopped, the Cerberus Wolf Pokemon snarled savagely, letting some drool drip out from its mouth. Serena took a step back, while Ash got right in front of her in a defensive manner.

"I don't have the patience for this." Nate proclaimed, pulling out his Pokeball. "I choose you, Charmeleon!" he called, releasing his Flame Pokemon. "¡Vamos! ¡Lanzallamas!" he called.

And Charmeleon took a deep breath before unleashing its Flamethrower. Cerlobos managed to dodge the attack, however and charged at the reptilian Pokemon, ready to grab a hold on it.

"Quick! Use Fire Blast to stop it in its tracks!" Nate commanded. Charmeleon did not disappoint and reacted amazingly fast, unleashing its attack. Hitting right in front of the wild Pokemon, it stopped it in its tracks. More, it retreated back into the bushes.

"Serena? You okay?" Ash asked. While grateful for his concern, the blond girl was at the moment more concerned for her Pancham. She ran to it while Nate called back Charmeleon.

"Pancham? How do you feel?" she asked. Pancham managed to open one of its eyes, weakly replying. "I'm so sorry, Pancham." She felt bad. Pancham was in a really poor condition as a result of this fight. She reached for its Pokeball. "Please, take a rest." She called it back.

"Wow, I've never seen a Pokemon so ferocious before." Ash commented.

"Cerlobos are extremely territorial, but not to this extend." Nate replied. "Something is not right."

"You think something provoked it?" Serena asked.

"Let's find out." Ash suggested, running towards the bushes.

"Wait, Ash! What about Pikachu?!" the Pokemon Performer asked.

"This might be related!" the young Pokemon trainer replied, disappearing behind the bushes.

Nate could only sigh at Ash's antics. "How do you keep up with that attitude of his?" he asked. Serena giggled before responding.

"It's just who he is." She then followed Ash, leaving the older teen in slight annoyance.

"Loco..." Nate murmured under his breath, before following.

Not too far away, a certain trio was actually camping. They were lucky to find lots of berries and other fruits around to satisfy their appetites.

"Ah, that hit the spot." James said, clapping his now oversized belly.

"You can say that again." Jessie agreed. "I haven't had such a good breakfast in a long time."

"Now that we're filled, I'm feeling like a having a cage with Pikachu stuffing' for dessert." Meowth smiled, finishing with a loud burp. ""scuse me."

"That sounds rather delicious." James got up. "All we need do is find the twerps. After all..."

"Wherever the twerps are, there's our favorite Pikachu." Jessie snickered.

"So let's go and find our priced rodent, so we can deliver it to th' boss." Meowth called out.

That's when Jessie's Pokeball opened, releasing Wobuffet. "Woooobuffet!" it cried, saluting.

Then a rustle in the bushes caught their attention. The trio looked in the direction the rustling was coming from. In a manner of seconds, what looked like a three-headed canine came out, snarling at the three.

"W-what is that thing?" the magenta haired woman asked.

"I believe it's a Cerlobos." Her partner answered. "My family considers its appearance to be a sign of bad luck."

"You think th' boss would like it for its collection?" the talking Pokemon of the group asked, pale so much it was beyond description.

"Well... it is worth catching, I believe." The blue haired man replied.

Unfortunately, the Cerberus Wolf Pokemon seemed to understand what they up to and released a powerful howl, that turned them pale in fear. Then it charged a Shadow Ball attack and launched it at them, easily...

"Team Rocket blasts off too early! (Woooobuffet.)" Team Rocket cried, disappearing into the distance, as usual. Then it turned around to find something approaching. Its growls never calming down.

"Pikachu! Where are you?!" Ash called, searching through bushes. He and his friends have been searching for an hour now, but found no sign of him.

"Where could he be?" Serena spoke out her mind. "I hope he is okay."

Ash then growled and punched the tree next to him, startling her. "I bet Team Rocket took him in his sleep. I wouldn't be surprised."

"Too bad we don't have a Pokemon that could track him by the scent." Nate commented.

Serena froze at the sound of that and smacked her head. "I am so silly." She said, getting the boys' attention. "I choose you, Delphox." She called out her fox-like Pokemon. "Delphox. Think you can track Pikachu down?" she asked.

Delphox seemed a bit displeased at the idea. Just like Serena, it disliked dirt and smelly things. But, if it was to look for a lost friend, Delphox was willing get over it. It started to sniff the air, trying to pick Pikachu's scent. Ash looked at Serena's Pokemon with hope. He really hoped Delphox would pick on something.

"Del!" it cried, pointing towards general direction, leading the humans.

"Pikachu!" Ash cried, looking brighter than before. "We're coming!"

They could already hear something in the distance. A growl. A savage growl. Then they entered a big field where they found Pikachu pressed against a rock. He looked rather bad. Beaten up. It took a moment for the humans to notice another Pokemon. It was Cerlobos. And it had something red coming out of its mouth.

"I-is that... blood?" Serena asked horrified.

Ash was petrified as well, until he looked down. On the ground, he noticed, a bit further from them, a bottle of ketchup. It was destroyed, but Ash, despite what many would think, was actually bright enough to put two-and-two together.

"It's ketchup." He explained. "Cerlobos must've taken it from Pikachu." He explained. Pikachu turned to see his trainer and friends and was glad to see them. Cerlobos, however, was less thrilled. It turned to them and got ready to attack.

Pikachu quickly jumped in between, as if stopping both sides, not just one. This confused the group.

"Pikachu? Aren't you the one being attacked?" Ash asked.

"Pi pika chu pi." The Mouse Pokemon spoke.

"Maybe there's more to this story than we think?" Serena wondered, making Ash consider.

"Pikachu. Mind starting from the beginning?" he asked. And here's how it started.

Flashback...

Pikachu woke up very early. Something had had it wake up. Not feeling like waking Ash up, all things considered, he walked out of the tent, rubbing his eyes. The small Electric-type Pokemon yawned before pulling out the bottle of ketchup. Then he started licking it. Pikachu just loved it. To the point he was addicted. Then he heard a cry. 'What was that?' he wondered. After another howl, he made his way towards where the cry came from. After a long time of walking, Pikachu found a beaten Cerlobos lying on the ground, struggling to get up. Pikachu wondered what was wrong. That's when another Cerlobos appeared, foam running from its mouth and snarling. It was about to attack, charging a Shadow Ball. Before it launched it, Pikachu unleashed its Thunder Shock, hitting the hostile Pokemon, much to the surprise of the other. The Cerberus Wolf Pokemon was furious, but ran away anyway. Pikachu than approached the other Cerlobos and started a conversation with it.

It turns out that this Cerlobos just moved here and just marked its territory, when the other one appeared and tried to take it for its own. Since it only just recently evolved, It was less experienced than the savage one. Pikachu then decided to help it train for the likely rematch coming. And during the training, Cerlobos was so hungry it bit the whole bottle of Pikachu's ketchup. Pikachu did not take this lightly and... well, things got a bit messy.

Flashback end...

"So that's what happened." Ash said, after he explained to his friends.

"That's it?" Nate looked at them with a displeased look. "All this mess because of ketchup? Not to mention us getting involved? ¡Te chiflados!" he was poking his temple.

"At any rate, Cerlobos, we can help you prepare, if you're willing to accept our help." Ash offered, walking towards the Cerberus Wolf Pokemon. The canine Pokemon growled at Ash, much to Serena and Nate's concern for Ash's safety.

"Ash!" Serena tried to get Ash to stop, but her crush just kept getting closer to the wild Pokemon. Then, just a foot or two away, he stopped, kneeled before it and offered his hand. The Cerberus Wolf Pokemon kept growling, but quickly showed surprise. Ash was smiling, confidently. This human seemed willing to help? What was wrong with it? It turned its head to Pikachu, who nodded, encouraging it to take the offer. Cerlobos looked back at Ash again. Then at his hand.

And, surprising Serena and Nate, it pressed its head against the Pokemon trainer's hand.

Ash laughed cheerfully. "Alright. Let us start the training session."

Hours later

Finally, it was past noon. Cerlobos jumped away from Pikachu, leaving a trail of dust. Pikachu has also landed. The electricity marked it was ready to unleash another attack. Then the two Pokemon relaxed.

"Well, I think that's all we can do for now, Cerlobos." Ash said. Pikachu nodded in agreement.

"And just in time." Serena commented, pointing at the bushes. From them, a familiar, foaming Pokemon came out. It was that aggressive Cerlobos again. Likely to finish the job.

"Alright Cerlobos. Let's teach this guy a lesson." Ash encouraged. The wild Cerlobos nodded with his 'side-heads'. And took a battle stance. "Let's do this!" Ash cried.

"Use Confuse Ray!" Ash commanded. Even though Cerlobos was a wild Pokemon, it obeyed Ash and charged. The Savage Cerlobos dodged easily, preparing a Shadow Ball. "Dodge it!" came another command, which Cerlobos obeyed, avoiding the attack just in time. "Now use Night Shade!" Cerlobos eyes started to glow ominously, as a dark aura surrounded its body. Soon enough, the attack launched at the Savage Cerlobos, who jumped to the side.

Serena and Nate saw were watching the whole fight. "You think Ash and Cerlobos will actually win?" Serena believed Ash would pull this through, but she'd be lying saying she didn't had some doubt.

Nate scoffed at that. "After whole that training they did? They should have a chance."

Savage Cerlobos charged towards Cerlobos, ready to use Shadow Claw.

"Tackle using Night Shade!" he ordered. His strategy was to use tackle to get close to the Savage Cerlobos and hit it with Night Shade at the very last second. Cerlobos charged at the opponent. It knew there was the risk to it. If it unleashed Night Shade too early, the Savage Cerlobos might dodge it. It too late it will land a blow. Cerlobos had to time it right.

The two were closing the distance very fast. Soon they'd be clashing. Time seemed to slow down for everyone. Two Cerberus Wolf Pokemon just a foot away from each other. There was tension between them.

"NOW!" Ash commended. And there was an explosion. The two Pokemon were now facing away from each other motionless. Now only time would tell which one dealt more damage. Cerlobos was clearly, however, losing its balance. Did it suffer more damage after all. Was it too late?

Savage Cerlobos turned around and charged Shadow Ball in its fake side-heads, ready to deliver the finishing blow.

"No!" Ash panicked. Pikachu too. Cerlobos looked behind, gritting its teeth. Was it over?

The attack seized to charge, as Savage Cerlobos suddenly seemed stunned. It suddenly waved back and forth, before having to change its pose. Ash quickly caught up.

"Its body did take more damage than it realized!" He cheered.

"No way!" Nate was wide eyed.

"You go Ash, Cerlobos! You make a great team!" Serena cheered along with Delphox.

"Now, Cerlobos, let's finish this! Astonish!" Ash commanded.

The inside of Cerlobos mouth started to glow. Then it unleashed a powerful cry. The light and shockwave shot out of its mouth, hitting its opponent directly. Savage Cerlobos skidded a few feet away from its opponent. Afterwards it struggled to get up, but soon fell. After a few seconds it tried again.

Even though it succeeded, it had a different look in its eyes. There was no aggression. No ill intend even. After looking at its smaller opponent for a few seconds, it flinched. It was now taking its leave.

It recognized defeat.

"Alright, Cerlobos! You did it!" Ash cheered, followed by Pikachu. The young Cerberus Wolf Pokemon was also cheering.

"Congratulations, Ash! Cerlobos, you were awesome!" Serena congratulated the team, while Nate, folding his arms, just nodded in approval.

Ash approached Cerlobos. "Congratulations. I think you'll handle on your own from now on." The young Pokemon trainer said. Cerlobos' smile now vanished. "Even when you get stronger and more experienced, I'm sure you'll still be coming up with better strategies of your own."

"Ash is right." Serena said. "So stay safe."

With that, the group decided to continue their way. Ash was already fired up for a gym battle. They waved their goodbye to the Cerberus Wolf Pokemon, which was still standing there, looking at them.

"So, Nate, you said the nearest Gym is in Machiari Town, right? What can you say about it?" Serena asked.

"Nothing pleasant, I'm afraid." He said. Then he looked on ahead. Hey, is that...?" he said, pointing ahead. There, in the middle of the road, Cerlobos stood before them. The group was surprised to see the Ghost-type Pokemon seemingly waiting for them.

"Hey, what's the matter, Cerlobos?" Ash asked. The Cerberus Wolf Pokemon sniffed the boy and placed its paw on his pokeballs. Ash was a bit confused.

"Could it be it wants to come along?" Serena wondered. Ash heard here and was surprised as well as a bit excited.

"Is it true, Cerlobos? You wanna join us?" he asked. Cerlobos barked happily, waving its tail. "Alright then..." Ash pulled out his Pokeball and threw it at Cerlobos, who caught it in its side-head's teeth and pressed the button in its very center. Then its whole body turned into a form of red energy and was absorbed into the Pokeball. It shook about three times before actually stopping.

"Yes!" Ash cheered. "I've caught Cerlobos!" Ash just made a new friend. His first Pokemon from Eulantis. And a big bonus, his first official Ghost-type.

With the new member of the team, Ash and his friends could now continue their adventure towards the first Gym battle in Machiari Town. But who knows what new adventure awaits them before getting there?

Elsewhere

Team Rocket was all aching. They groaned, while hanging on the branch of a tree who knows where.

"That's not fair." Jessie complained. "We didn't even get to do anything in this chapter."

"Well, unfortunately, this is the fate of villains." Meowth commented.

"Um... guys..." James spoke, his voice full of fear. Meowth and Jessie looked at him. He was all pale in fear, trembling. And he was pointing down. Below them, there was lots of Cerlobos, all snarling and foaming at them. They did not like having these intruders. Now the Rocket Trio were all sweating in fear.

"This is..." Jessie started.

"...a really..." James added.

"...bad joke..." Meowth finished.

"Team Rocket's begging for blasting off!" they all cried.

To be continued...