Looking down at the entrance to mount moon, Ash stayed quiet for a few seconds before nodding to himself, turning and hopping down a small ditch to the side. Sliding down the dirt as Pikachu clung to his shoulder, shooting Ash a small glare when he stopped, the mouses face now having mud splattered over it: Shrugging to the electric rodent, who just huffed and jumped of his shoulder and ran over to a small pond a few feat away from where Ash stood as said trainer looked around the area he stood in.
It was large sized field, with large tree's surrounding the edges, shielding it form view: Boulders of all different sizes were scattered around the area, as well their being a small body of water to the side, the secluded spot wasn't far from the entrance to the mountain, down a side ditch that was hidden under the bushes and down a narrow slop.
Setting his bag down, Ash reached inside and grabbed his poke'balls, releasing each pokemon respectively: smiling as the group of pokemon stretched their arms/wings/legs, Ash coughed, making the pokemon turn to their trainer, "Listen guys, were going to be here for the next week or so whilst we train" Ash was rewarded with a cry of excitment, but quickly held his hand up to keep their attention before they all ran off, "First though, i have someone i want you guys to meet, Pikachu and Pidgeot have already met this guy before, but before any of you react bad, allow me to explain" Ash stated, showing them the worn out poke'ball, making the pokemon in front of him except Pikachu, who was still washing his face whilst grumbling in annoyance, look to their trainer in curiosity.
Smiling sadly, Ash explain to the group about Steelix, and how Brock had basically abandoned him, "...As we were about to leave, Brock threw the poke'ball at me and told me to keep "it", calling it a traitor...hypocrite..." Ash finished, his last words earning him a few sympathetic glances from the group, but Ash smiled to reassure them, "I'm fine guys, its Steelix that needs your understanding, not me...remember guys, Steelix didn't know about what Brock did to me, so go easy on him..." Ash continued, giving a pointed look towards Charizard, Infernape and Rhyperior, who were all stood together, arms crossed and slightly angry faces.
Rolling his eyes at the three pokemon, Ash pressed the poke'ball's center gently, watching as Steelix materialized in front of the pokemon, towering over the group below him -nonetheless, Steelix had a somber look on his face as he appeared, briefly glancing at Ash before moving away from the group, curling up in the corner farthest away from Ash and the others.
Frowning slightly, Ash looked to his pokemon, who all shared a worried look (With the exception of the previously mention trio and Pikachu) "Don't push him guys, his trainer only abandoned him a few days ago, he needs time...just like we did, right buddy?" Ash spoke gently, leaning down to rub Pikachu's head as he ran back over to the group as Steelix slivered away.
When his pokemon nodded in understanding, Ash watched as they all wondered off, exploring the area around them as the young boy grabbed his bag, placing the poke'balls back inside before walking over Steelix. Raising his head to look at the approaching boy, Steelix bore a sad expression as Ash settled his bag on the floor, placing a hand on the steel snakes body gently, a sad smile on his own face, "I'm sorry" Was all that Ash said he did his best to wrap his arms around Steelix, who's eyes began to fill with tears. Uncurling himself, Steelix curled his tail around Ash's waist, picking the raven-haired boy and lifting him up to his face, which Ash hugged once he could reach, "I know it hurts right now, a-and that hurt will never 100% go away, but one day you will prove to Brock that he's an idiot for throwing you away..."
With tears now streaking down his face, Steelix nodded sadly, doing his best to nuzzle back against the boy, earning a small chuckle from Ash who stopped hugging the giant pokemon, instead running a hand down his body as Steelix lowered the boy to the ground: "Steelix...i know your not in the mood to train or anything, so you can sit over here as long as you want, were going to be staying here for at least the next week" Smiling and patting his tail gently, Ash pulled his pokedex out of his pocket before looking back to Steelix, "Would it be alright if i scanned you? i'd like to know what moves you know...that way if you want to join us in training, we knwo what moves you know, and can learn"
After Steelix nodded, Ash pointed the pokedex at Steelix and listened carefully: Steelix, the Iron Snake Pokemon - Steelix's body is much harder than any metal as it is tempered underground under high pressure and heat.
This Steelix's ability is Rock Head, and knows the following moves: Iron Tail, Dragon Breath, Mud Sport and Dig
Blinking at the small move-pool Steelix had, Ash looked up at the Iron Snake Pokemon with a confused frown, "Didn't Brock teach you anything else? Did he just have you use these four attacks?" he asked, to which Steelix nodded, curiosity crossing his face at Ash's questions. Noticing the look, Ash showed Steelix some of his other Pokemon's pokedex entries, making Steelix's eyes widen t the amount of moves they each knew, "The minimum amount of moves a pokemon can learn is one, and four is usually the limit, but it is possible to learn more than just the standard 4 attacks...its a little difficult at first but once a pokemon has mastered a 5 attack, the rest come much more easily" Ash explained, returning to Steelix's pokedex page, scrolling through the different moves he could learn.
"Wow, you can learn a lot of amazing moves Steelix!" Ash exclaimed, making Steelix beam a little with pride, "Crunch, Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Fire Fang, Screech, Sandstorm, Earthquake, Rock Slide, Dragon Tail, even Dark Pulse..." Ash spoke with amazement, looking up at Steelix who just shrugged his upper body, making Ash smile, patting the snake pokemon's tail gently once again, "Like i said, its good to know...anyway, you relax here for a bit pal, I'm going to go train with the other's for a while okay?"
Closing the pokedex, Ash placed it back inside his pocket, nodded at Steelix who curled back up, resting his head on his tail, watching with wonder as Ash walked over to his other pokemon who were waiting by the small pond.
Looking at each of his pokemon slowly, Ash nodded whilst in though and knelt down besides the group, "Alright guys, here's the plan, Scrafty - Id like you to show Zangoose how to use Drain Punch,whilst Charizard, I'd like you to take Houndoom and teach her Smokescreen okay?" the four pokemon nodded, each going off into their respective pairs. Looking towards his other pokemon, Ash thought silently for a second before speaking up, "Rhyperior - Could you show Hitmontop how to focus all of his weight into one area, then show him the rest in performing Earthquake? Then Sceptile, take Infernape and show him you foot technique when using Quick Attack,"
Watching the pokemon nod and walk off, Ash turned to the remaining pokemon and smiled, "As for you guys - Donphan, i want you to practice your Giga Impact against the larger rocks and trees in this area: Remember, focus your energy in front of yourself" Donphan shouted happily, running of practice his newest learnt move. Looking to the remaining 4 pokemon, Ash clapped his hands, "You guys are going to battle each other: Umbreon against Pidgeot, and Pikachu against Bayleef - Umbreon, use your Double Team and Quick Attack,to try and hit Pidgeot as much as you can, whilst Pidgeot, i want you to dodge as many as possible without using any attacks, you speed is fantastic already, but so is Umbreon's, so try as hard as you can alright?"
Turning his attention to Bayleef and Pikachu as the previous two walked off to begin their battle, "Pikachu, i want you to use your Double Team in a similar fashion, but don't attack Bayleef - I want her to use her Vine Whip to try and grab you - if she manages to catch you, add Agility to your Double Team, okay?"
Watching as the two pokemon ran off to battle, Ash stood up, walking back over to Steelix, who raised its head and looked at Ash with a questioning look, "Don't mind me pal, is it alright if i sit with you for a bit? Its been a little hectic the past few days and i could use some rest..." Ash asked, holding his hands up in defense, making Steelix nod silently, resting his head on his tail once again as Ash sat down, leaning back against his tail.
Grabbing his bag, Ash placed it next to Steelix before laying his on the bag, yawning and tipping his hat back, "Wake me in an hour okay?" When Steelix grunted in reply, Ash smiled before slowly drifting of to sleep.
- 25 Minutes Later -
Ash groaned when he felt something hard push against the back of his head: reaching a hand up, Ash swatted at the object trying to wake him, "5 more minutes..." He mumbled, nuzzling his face into his bag, drifting back to sleep.
Steelix frowned and shouted Pikachu over, who scampered over quickly: Rolling his eyes at his sometimes-lazy trainer, Pikachu shook the trainer, frowneing when he didn't wake up. Thinking for a second, Pikachu grinned almost evilly, his cheeks sparking as he charged a Thunderbolt.
"Arr!" Ash exclaimed as Pikachu released the Thunderbolt: opening his moth and letting out a small white puff of smoke, Ash sat up and glared at Pikachu, "Pikachu! i told you to stop doing that!" Ash yelled in annoyance, rubbing his eyes and shaking the electricity off. Pikachu snickered slightly before his face turned serious, grabbing onto Ash's leg and tugging, pointing in the other direction, "Pikapii! Pikachu-chuchu-Pika!"
Blinking in confusion and tiredness, Ash followed Pikachu's finger: "What the-?!" Ash started, Jumping to his feet, eyes widened when he sore his pokemon had surrounded something: quickly walking over to the group, Ash maneuvered his way through the pokemon, "What is going on-?" Ash started, only to stop halfway through his sentence at the thing his pokemon had surrounded:
"A.J? Richie?"
