AN: Hello, and welcome back to the next chapter of Fire Before Ashes! This chapter promises exciting new developme- *breaks off coughing*
TC: You're still sick?
(censored) you! I still have a shotgun!
TC: You know, that threat would be a lot more credible if you didn't look like you were dying.
... I know. And since this is making me not able to eat, drink, or sleep...
TC: Yes, yes, the world should pity you. Just get on with the chapter.
I hate you. So *cough* much. But you're right, so this chapter promises many more exciting developments. I'm just thankful that I don't have to rewrite some 2,000 odd words like last chapter.
TC: Explanation for the readers!
Yeah, sure. Paul was originally very OOC. As we can tell, OOC is bad for realism, similar to unfounded bashing and not looking at character-in-canon. To summarize, Paul was a good, reasonable, kind person who was thoughtful, told Ash and Red about his brother's loss to Brandon, and was a good person. So I ended up having three choices for his character, 1. Reasonable, unrecognizable character. Not Paul, just has the same name/team/appearance as him. 2. Heartless bastard. Fanon view, but it strays from canon, making him OOC, and I happen to not hate Paul. 3. What I did. He's changing, so now he's not a heartless bastard, just a bastard. No, he's not 'good' yet, since he's only met Red and Ash once. It takes more than that to change him.
TC: So, why did you go with that, instead of option 1?
Look above, and also I realized that what I had written would result in Ash not receiving Chimchar. Yeah... So I did what I did, and that's that.
TC: Okay. There were better ways, but this wasn't the worst one you could have gone.
That makes me feel *cough* so much better. But yup! This is the next chapter, with the posse being finalized, and Ash learning that he now owes even more money for Pikachu's bike destroying spree! What fun! Let's dive into the world of Pokemon!
Answers to Reviews: Lightningblade49: They are not very intelligent, but what they meant was that they had to find Pikachu and get out of there before Red and Ash found him, so they wouldn't run as much of a risk. But yeah, they aren't known for being bright.
Swagnilla-Ice-1985: Let me put it to you this way, level one is that a plan has failed badly, level two is that a plan has failed and people have been captured, level three is the death of an executive or more than one grunt, four is that the police are going after every base that they have and they're likely to win, five is that legendary pokemon are attacking. Ten would be that Red has captured Arceus, made ARCEUS-9000, is using it to destroy them and the world, and is planning to do the same in every world that they exist. And then he's going to roast their bones and eat them. But yeah, Ash is starting to learn, but so far he's only learned how to move his aura inside his body. He hasn't started to use it yet.
JonX21: Mewtwo does not try to be funny, it comes naturally. Inverted for Ash. But if Dawn will be a part of Ash's group, yeah. She is important, and I'm not at the level where I can pull an ARCEUS-master and put her as a side character.
littleking9512: Oh, very much so. She just saw a charizard blast off half of a machine that a powerful pikachu couldn't even dent, then saw two people, one oddly dressed, run up the arms of the machine, and one of them attack the arms with glowing balls of blue energy. Her brain is like her bike.
Disclaimer: *cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough*
TC: ...Done?
*cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough* *cough*. Okay no-*cough**cough**cough**cough* *cough**cough*
TC: What'll make you feel better?
*cough* Say the disclaimer. *cough**cough**cough**cough*
TC: Are you sure that you're sick? Wait while I get a doctor.
*cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough*
*cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough*
*cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough**cough*
Doctor: Vell, ve haf tvoo uptions. Vun! Yu can take peels, ved, bloo, und green! Tvoo! Yu can sai desclaima.
HELL N- *cough**cough**cough**cough**cough*
TC: What was that?
Fine. I- *cough* Don't own pokemon!
TC: ...
Hey, I'm- *cough* *cough**cough**cough* *cough*
A Group of Flares
or How to Form a Posse by Ash Ketchum
Unspecified location
Unspecified time
"Sir! We have another request!"
"Well? What is it!"
"Sir, it requests that you capture a person named... Red."
"...Who. Sent. It!"
"S-sir! I-it was f-f-from a per-person na-named G-g-giovanni!"
"Send back a message saying that I will kill him if he sends any further messages to me!"
"Y-yes, S-sir!"
"Now get out of my sight!"
"Gone!"
"I want that message traced, and I want a line to my sister! Now!"
"R-right away, Sir!"
"Show some spine, you fool! Are you or are you not my executive officer?"
"Sir!"
...
"Well, sis? What do you want?"
"What can you tell me about a certain Giovanni?"
"Oh, him? He's the leader of Team Rocket. Trainer class 5, not a treat at all, had a bad run-in with Red about ten years ago that resulted in the first disbanding of Team Rocket, and they've never gotten their previous power back... This is interesting! He's called for all Team Rocket operations to cease, citing a 'level six' apparently."
"And that is?"
"Hold on a second... Six, six, six... Ah! 'Level Six emergencies are only to be called if a previous threat to our organization has shown that they may do the same to our organization again soon, threats include powerful legendary pokemon and threatening trainers, i.e. Red...' Well, I'd guess that Reddie decided that TR was a problem!"
"... Explains why he sent me that request. Now I almost regret sending that assassin after him."
"Ooh, big sis is getting violent! Great! But about that request...?"
"The one about north in the Kanto continent? Found three things, Sinjoh ruins, Aurian Shrine, and the ruins of Silence Hall."
"Silence Hall?"
"I'll send you the file. I have a job to do, so I have to go."
"Bye J!"
Route 202
Ash let go of Pikachu as he reached for his belt. "Yeah, Pikachu, while you were gone a few things happened. First off, I caught Star!"
Ash sent out the starly, who chirped tiredly, still hurt from his battle. Pikachu gave Star a nod, "Hello. Hey Ash? Why the sudden nickname?"
Ash grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, Red suggested it, said that it would be a good way to talk to Star." Then Star fell over, knocked out. "Yeah, should have thought about that... But we also had a battle with this guy named Paul-"
"Look, tell me later, after I introduce you to the girl over there. We can talk about this any time," Pikachu said as he held his tail over Ash's mouth. Ash hungrily bit at it as he replied.
"Sure. Just let me-"
Ash was cut off bit a cuff to the head from Red, who's owner was twitching. "You idiot! What did I tell you about using aura yet!"
"Not to," Ash grimaced, holding his head. Red gave a tight nod before breathing in deeply and turning to face the stunned Dawn, hitting Ash again as he did so. He gave a small incline of his head before Ash recovered and walked over to her.
"You saved Pikachu from those three, didn't you? Thanks so much," Ash said to Dawn, "My name's Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, and it's really great to meet ya!"
Brock slid up fast enough for it to be considered a human quick attack. "Hi, I'm Brock."
"Hi guys! My name's Dawn, and this is my partner, Piplup!" Dawn said cheerily, but her voice shook a little as she spoke. Piplup gave a chirp in response to his name.
As Mewtwo floated over to Red and Ash, Ash pulled out his pokedex, scanning Piplup. "So that's a Piplup, huh?"
Red and the pokedex spoke in perfect unison. "Piplup, the penguin pokemon. It's very proud, and it's thick down protects it from the cold."
Ash put away the pokedex as Dawn smiled at Piplup and bent down to the penguin pokemon's level. "Wow, you're a tough pokemon to take those hits and still be fine."
Piplup took a proud stance as his eyes shrank and he fell back. Dawn shrieked, "Oh no! Piplup!"
Red restrained Brock. "Let me handle this. Ash, we might as well see if you have any talent for healing with aura now." Ash clenched his gloved fist and knelt beside Red. One of Red's hands glowed blue, while Ash focused, and his hand glowed with a similar azure color. Red put his hand directly on Piplup, Ash laying his hand on top of Red's at his master's direction, and energy started to flow into Piplup.
An azure glow flowed over Piplup's body, while a bluer one flickered and was absorbed. Red raised his hand, sighing, and Ash did the same. "Absolutely no talent as a healer. Although..." He took a glance at Piplup, who was still enshrouded in azure, "It does seem that you can boost their abilities with aura."
Dawn silently raised her hand, drawing Red's attention. "Yes?"
"Um... Can I ask a question?"
"You already did. But, yes. First, can we deal with Pikachu's injuries and move away from this junk heap, Miss Dawn?" Red replied, already gesturing to Pikachu.
"So there were no major problems? I'm glad that you seem to have found your pikachu, Ash, even after you ran out like that," Professor Rowan said from the screen, and aide getting attacked by a starly behind him. The screams of pain were ignored by all present.
"Yeah, the only things was that robot, and there wasn't too much trouble," Ash answered, sweatdropping after the description of his mad dash to Pikachu.
"Very good. Ash, I should tell you that your mother sent me a package for you. I can get it to you, if you wish...?"
Red nodded, and after the group said their farewells, he closed off the connection. He then looked at Dawn as they exited the booth. "Ask your questions as we walk, please."
On the road, Dawn started. "So, what's your name and his?" said Dawn, pointing to Red and Mewtwo.
"My name is Mewtwo," said the pokemon.
"Red."
"Okay. So, what was with that weird stuff you did about the robot, the blasting off the arms, the running up it to get to Pikachu, and that strange shield thing? What was that about? And what about what you did to Piplup?"
Red sighed. "That is called aura, one of the three known human abilities. Both Ash and I have the ability to manipulate it to a certain degree, however I am his better, at the Adept level, while he barely qualifies for Novice."
"Hey! I did a force palm well enough!"
"You pulsed out some aura that exploded on contact with the arm! That is not force palm!"
"Well, I managed to walk up the side of the arm!"
"Great, you managed to do one of the most basic tricks taught to aura-users. Brilliant," Red deadpanned, gaining a snicker from Mewtwo. Ash puffed up with indignation, and was about to respond with a scathing remark that would teach Red not to mess with him ever again when Brock interrupted.
"Did you say aura? I know that Ash has used it before, but you say that you're teaching him?"
"Yes. He's currently at a hopeless level, and will remain that way unless he starts to use it more often!" Red confirmed, receiving a glare from Ash.
"What the hell do you want me to do!"
"You could work on your control by having aura sight activated!"
"Excuse me!"
"Do it!"
The fierce glares were white-hot in intensity, and you could have started a fire by putting something between the looks. Slowly a vein started to twitch in Ash's temple, and after while Ash started to back down. Soon enough Red had brought his apprentice to his knees, and could be declared the winner.
"Um, one last question. What's with those strange clothes?" Dawn asked after the group was back on the road.
"These? They aren't that strange, are they?" Ash said, looking at himself. Red ignored him as he answered.
"Those are the clothes of Sir Aaron, one of the last great Aura Guardians of the past, and as such have the typical tools of a aura adept on them, namely help for channeling aura in the gloves and training for the body in the clothes."
Brock nodded, realizing where he had seen the clothes before. Dawn, realizing that he was there and seemed normal, started to ask Brock about his life as they walked, leaving an aura sight using, paranoid about his outfit, dense Ash trying to make the sight stop showing Red as a burning beacon of blue light and Mewtwo as the strange purple-blue thing that made him want to run away screaming.
"...So you're a breeder? Wow, that's so cool!" Dawn exclaimed as they continued to walk. "This is the first time I've met a real pokemon breeder ever!"
"Really? Well, as soon as we get back to the lab, I'll make some special pokemon food that's perfect for water-types!" Brock said, a hand against his head.
Piplup started to jump in excitement, cheering. Dawn laughed at her pokemon, remembering why he had gotten lost earlier, but was interrupted in her reminiscing by a horn.
"Hey! I found you!" shouted the woman on the motorcycle. "How's Pikachu? I heard you found him."
Ash grinned and said, "Fine! Thanks for your help earlier-"
Brock jumped up, hearts in his eyes, "And your beauty!"
Somehow, Brock managed to grab both of Officer Jenny's hands and go down on one knee. "Your thoughtfulness knows no bounds! Thanks for helping my friend Ash in his hour of need!" Jenny sweatdropped with a disturbed look. "And now I'm asking you to help out in my hour of need! 'Cause I need you!"
Suddenly, everyone except for Jenny, Red, and Mewtwo was gone. Red pinched his nose as he apologized to Jenny, "I'm sorry about Brock there. It seems that he doesn't understand the concept of moving slowly... But be glad that this isn't Unova, if what I've heard about Alder is correct."
Jenny nodded, before heading back to her motorcycle. "Oh, before you go? What do you recommend that I do about Team Rocket?"
Red gave her a hard look. "They're my prerogative. I'll deal with them."
And with those words, he was off to where Mewtwo had dumped the others, Rowan's lab.
"Wow, new clothes? Hey, Red, can I-" Ash said as he opened the package. Red shot him down.
"No."
"But-"
"No, and that's final. I'll explain, so call her."
"Fine..."
On the phone, Delia was looking at Ash, who was wearing clothes that she knew she hadn't packed for him, and that strange individual that had taken him as an apprentice. "Ash? Why aren't you wearing the clothes that I packed for you?"
Ash looked sheepish. "Sorry mom, but-"
Red cut him off. "I'll tell her. Mrs. Ketchum, Ash needs to wear those clothes until we complete his training."
Delia frowned. "May I ask why? And after you took him as an apprentice, I decided to look into the laws surrounding getting a Mastery. You do know the penalties for pretending to have one? So may I ask what position you have in the Pokemon League?"
"You son needs to learn to use aura, and those clothes will do quite well in helping that. They were made to channel aura, after all," Red answered, as he waved the others away, and moved closer to the phone. "And as for my position, I am the Kanto Champion, Mrs. Ketchum. I am also a member of the Prodigal Three, as I may have seen you after I won my first league...?"
Delia fainted. Red waited a few minutes, before hanging up, and waving Ash over. "Ash? Did you ever tell Oak what happened to Pikachu, and that he's okay?"
Ash guiltily jumped. "Wah!"
The five left Professors Rowan and Oak to their conversation as they walked further back into the lab.
Dawn spoke first. "So, what're you three doing in Sinnoh anyway?"
"I'm going to compete in the Sinnoh league!" Ash shouted, before wilting under Red's look. "And train with Master Red..." He hastily added.
"I came for... different reasons, but I'm going to be helping Ash with his challenge," Brock replied, taking out his guidebook.
"A request from the International Police," Red said, clearly indicating that no more would be spoken.
Brock spoke, reading the guide, "It looks like the closest gym to Sandgem is Oreburgh City. Jublife City's right on the way."
"That's awesome! Can I go too?" Dawn all but shouted, drawing confused looks from Ash, Brock, and Red. Mewtwo just sipped his tea in indifference. Dawn kind of explained, "I want to be the number one contest coordinator! And the first contest I want to compete in is in Jublife City!"
"That's great! Sure, you should come along!" Ash said excitedly, Brock nodding too.
"She has my vote. I was planning to have you do a few things with contests too, Ash," Red said.
Before they left, Ash put Aipom, Star, Latias, and Sceptile back in their pokeballs, Dawn doing the same with Piplup. Latias had caused quite a commotion earlier with the two Professors, needless to say, and had been quite interesting to Dawn. But that's another story.
Dawn gave Ash a quizzical look as he made to head out. "Aren't you going to put Pikachu back in his pokeball too?"
"Nah, Pikachu has a phobia of pokeballs, and I'm not sure if I even still have his, so I let him stay out. And he says that my shoulder's much more fun!" Ash responded.
"Right! Those little things give me a wheel. I'm not a hamster!" Pikachu affirmed.
Professor Rowan walked up. "You'll find that there are as many pokemon personalities as there are pokemon!"
"We should go now, guys. Thank you for your help, Rowan," Red said, subtly grabbing everyone with aura and making them move towards the door. Mewtwo lost his grip on his tea, but grabbed it just in time.
Outside the lab, the group had a surprise waiting. Paul was leaning against a tree, arms crossed and a dark look on his face.
"Yes? Who are you, and what do you want?" Rowan said to Paul.
"My name's Paul. And I'm waiting for him," he said, looking at Ash.
Red frowned. "Don't be disrespectful, Paul. If you act like that... Reminds me of Silver..."
Paul rolled his eyes. "Sooorry! I just wanted to see if he had found Pikachu."
"Well, I did. See?" Ash said as he pointed to Pikachu on his shoulder.
"Yes. I can see that. I also wanted to offer a challenge to you," Paul said. Ash blinked.
"Yeah?"
Paul smirked. "As you know, the Sinnoh League happens every year. I want to challenge you to get into the top sixteen, and fight me there. After all, that is where trainers fight their hardest."
"Okay, but we can still battle along the way, right?" Ash said, grinning at Paul. At his nod, Ash grinned even wider.
"Well, this so very nice and nostalagistic, but we do have to go, Ash. Paul, good luck, and maybe you'll end up battling me in an official match one day," Red said as he hurried the other three on their way. Paul blinked as they hustled off.
"I didn't even get to ask about his clothes..."
It was to be the match of a century. On one side of the field was a pokemon of an indomitable fighting spirit, a normal type that could be said to be more than meets the eye. It held power, more than one would expect. It deserved the title of "The wild one", rightly.
It was a buneary.
On the other side was a rookie, but still a powerful foe. There was no reason to underestimate this contestant, although it would be easy to. She was full of potential, and would grow if given the chance. She was the clear crowd favorite.
Dawn was her name, and pokemon was her game.
Of course, the showdcown would not be complete without a soundtrack, so here we go!
"Pokeball! Go!" Dawn shouted as she threw the ball, sending it flying. It flew straight on its course, and hit Ash on the head, causing the tricky bit of aura that he was molding to explode in his face. Red sighed, seeing the coming storm.
"Dawn, you cannot catch humans. I know that Ash might be useful, but it doesn't work that way," Red deadpanned as the buneary ran away.
Ash pulled himself off the ground, glaring at Dawn. "Watch where you throw that! I was doing something kind of difficult!"
Dawn yelled back, "It was an accident!"
"Well, accidents don't happen if you do it right!"
"Don't snap at me if you can't get what you were doing right!"
"It's difficult when pokeballs fly out of nowhere and hit you in the face!"
Piplup tried to get Dawn's attention, pointing to the spot where buneary used to be. Dawn shouted at Ash, "Buneary! Well, I hope you're happy now!"
"Don't look at me!"
"Why not? It's your fault!"
"What! I was over there!"
"If you hadn't made that explosion, buneary wouldn't have run away!"
And the argument continued, even as the group traveled.
"I could have had a buneary, if it wasn't for a certain person!"
"Oh yeah? I could be an aura master if it wasn't for a certain person!"
Red snorted. "Keep dreaming kid. There's no way that you'll be even an Adept for three years at least."
Ash winced as Dawn laughed. "Sorry Master."
The argument, although interrupted, continued, although it was stopped by the sudden intensifying of the sun.
"What's that?" Dawn asked, looking to Red and Brock.
"It's sunny day, a fire type move that fire types use to intensify the power of fire moves for a while," Brock answered.
"Although grass types and certain other types are not exempt from it, since it has the useful side effect of giving near-instant use of solarbeam," Red added. As he finished, a small grass type pokemon walked out in front of them.
"Who's that?" Dawn asked, getting an answer from Ash. After Red had gotten tired of Ash's need to scan every new pokemon they came across, he had started to make Ash read through the pokemon on his pokedex so he could recognize them on sight.
"Budew. It's a grass type that closes its bud in the winter, but becomes active in the spring," Ash said, earning a nod from his master.
"Probably the source of sunny day," Mewtwo said as he drained his tea cup and pulled out his tea leaves, almost traumatizing the budew.
"It was indeed," A voice came from the side of the road, as a man holding a harp rose from the ground. "It softens the hardest of hearts, let it soften yours. For when your heart is light, your mood is happy and bright. Tell me, don't you feel better now?"
Dawn and Ash shared a look before they answered.
"Yeah."
"Yeah."
"Sure."
"Not in the slightest."
"I'm never happy."
The man with the harp gave a surprised glance to the two who had answered in the negative. "Oh? You do not feel the slightest bit better?"
Mewtwo grumbled, "Last time I saw a sunny day it was followed by a solarbeam at my face. Doesn't exactly make my mood improve." Red gave no response.
"It should..." The man seemed a bit perturbed.
Ash quickly said, "Well, my name's Ash."
"Pikachu, glad to meet you!" Pikachu said.
"My name's Dawn!" Dawn said.
Brock spoke from behind, "I'm Brock."
"And I am the pokemon bard, Nando. This is my budew."
After a few more pleasantries, Dawn perked up. "I've got it! Ash, I can show you how strong I've gotten."
"How?" Ash asked, eyebrow raised. Red thought to himself, 'I'm rubbing off on that kid, and I'm not sure if that's going to cause the world to run and hide or to thank Arceus.'
"Nando? Would you mind having a battle with me?" Dawn asked. Nando gave a nod.
"If that pleases you."
As the six(!) moved to the clearing up ahead, three familiar faces sprang from the bushes. "Hey, that's the new twerp!"
"She's the punk that sprang Pikachu and set Red on us!" said Meowth. Quietly.
"Thinking she can win contests takes some nerve," said Jessie, drawing a look from James.
"Like you?"
"Snap out of it!" Meowth said.
"Hey! I'll snap you!" Jessie exclaimed. Quietly. "Only one diva wins the next contest."
"Diva's right." said James and Meowth as one, sighing as Jessie laughed like a madwoman. Quietly.
At the clearing where the battle would take place, Dawn took Piplup pokeball and spoke to herself, "First things first, my pokemon has to make a gorgeous entrance! Piplup..." she said as she span around, "Spotlight!"
Piplup stood on the field in an open stance. Nando offered the first attack, not standing at the ready.
"Piplup, use peck, let's go!" Dawn shouted, Red and Ash settling down to watch.
Piplup ran at budew with a glowing beak, but at Nando's command, budew dodged by jumping, eliciting a startled, "What happened?" from Dawn.
Ash couldn't help commenting, "It moved out of the way!" Red bonked him over the head.
"Bullet seed, if you please," Nando said gracefully. The small pokemon shot a stream of glowing golden seeds at Piplup, which could cause big problems.
"Bullet seed's a grass type move, so it could give a grass type like Piplup big problems!" Brock shouted helpfully. Yeah.
Dawn wasn't stupid, however, and had Piplup jump out of the way of the attack, calling out, "Alright, my turn! Piplup, use bubblebeam!"
The water type shot a stream of glowing bubbles that managed to land a direct hit on budew, Nando not looking worried in the slightest. Ash frowned. "There's something wrong here. Sure, the attack won't do full damage, but..." He looked at his master, who nodded, proving Ash's hypothesis correct. "The sunny day! It weakens it even more!"
"Exactly, and if I'm right, he'll use the other advantage that he can too," Red said, Mewtwo wincing.
Back on the field, budew had landed again, nearly no damage having been taken from the bubblebeam. Twirling, budew opened its bud to the sun, and awaited Nando command, which arrived shortly. "Solarbeam, if you please."
The sunlight formed quickly into a glowing ball above budew's head, but was not fired, Nando waiting. Dawn, still inexpirenced, didn't see what was about to happen, and ordered, "Piplup! Use peck, now!"
Piplup charged forward, his beak glowing, as her trainer's friends facepalmed, knowing what was heading Piplup's way. Piplup got within a few feet, before Nando said quickly and quietly, "Please fire now."
The point-blank attack sent Piplup flying, Dawn shouting, "No! Piplup!" as he went. He collided with the ground, knocked out.
From budew's side, Nando commented, "It appears our battle is over."
Dawn, her face a mask of confusion, said, "But... How did they do solarbeam so fast?"
Red rolled his eyes and answered, "A we said earlier, sunny day allows the user of solarbeam to create it a multitude of different ways, all of which much faster. In fact, a skilled user can use the attack to create a solarbeam from anywhere on the field, focusing the sunlight into the attack quickly."
"I see... I'm so sorry Piplup..." Dawn murmured to Piplup, held in her arms.
"Won't happen again," Piplup replied weakly. Ash had found that he had started to bond with Piplup, so he was able to understand Piplup. Red credited it to the fact that Ash had started to train with aura.
"Dawn?" Nando said, approaching. Dawn looked up from her position on her knees, seeing Nando standing there. Nando continued, "I wouldn't have guessed it was your first battle. You were so good."
"Wow, that's such a nice thing to say! Thanks!" Dawn said as she rose from the ground, holding Piplup.
Nando started to leave, but turned to Ash suddenly. "Forgive me, but I notice that you seem to wear the garb of an aura guardian. Are you one?" Ash rubbed the back of his head.
"No, not yet. I'm just training, but I can use aura."
Nando nodded. "So you plan to travel Sinnoh with your friend Dawn, supporting her as you train?"
"No! I'm going to compete in the Sinnoh league while I get better!" Ash shouted, his eyes filling with determination.
"I see. I'm off. Best of luck," Nando said as he left, budew at his heels.
Later that day, the group was traveling. Ash and Red were working on their training while Dawn and Mewtwo talked. Brock was just reading something, nobody knew what.
"So, how would you counter a ghost/flying type with Sceptile?" Red said as they walked, aura over for the day. Ash mulled the question over for a few seconds.
"Conditions?" he said, knowing that Red sometimes would disrupt what he said by putting in insane rules. Of course, this time was no different.
"No energy ball boost, you can't rely on overgrow, you're at three quarters full strength, rock field, you have to win one more battle with Sceptile, and you have the element of surprise other than the fact that your foe knows that you have leaf blade."
"What does the pokemon look like?"
"...Drifloon."
"Okay, give me a little bit," Ash said. Red nodded and snuck a look at Brock's book, his face changing color slightly. About five minutes later, Ash said, "Finished."
"Let's hear it."
"I'll start with quick attack, getting close by jumping off a rock, maybe hitting him-"
"You go through him."
"Good. From the other side, Sceptile uses bullet seed to knock him down into the ground. I have Sceptile follow up with leaf blade."
"Drifloon counters with ominous wind."
"Backflip away, and start to throw rocks of a good size in the air."
"Shadow ball on Sceptile."
"Jump off each rock, heading towards Drifloon, moving faster slowly."
"Shadow ball shot at the next rock you're going for."
"Quick attack to move faster, leaf storm as I jump off, and go with the leaf storm as leaf blade."
"Inside the attack?"
"Exactly."
"Okay," Red said, blowing out. He paused for a few seconds before he concluded. "So Drifloon counters with gust, but the attack doesn't stop leaf storm, just weakens it. Sceptile makes it with the attack, lands one hit, before Drifloon continues with destiny bond. What next?"
Ash though for a couple seconds before he came up with an idea. "Double team, use the confusion to charge a stronger leaf blade behind a rock."
"Two ominous winds take out the double team, and the second one gives him a boost. Shadow ball."
"Attack from behind as he fires, hitting him with both blades."
Red blinked. "Double team to get behind him?" At Ash's nod, Red smirked and finished the mock battle. "The attack definitely takes out drifloon, and you've only lost about an eighth of your energy. And, as the best part, he has a psychic type as his next pokemon, so you have x-scissor to deal with that. Good job!"
Ash slumped back, relieved. Every time he failed a battle in some way, he had to have a full sparring session the next day. With Red. Using aura.
At that moment, Brock said, "Guys! There's a pokemon center up nearby! How about we go there?"
Dawn cheered. "Really! Hooray! A real bed and a real room? I can join civilization again!"
Red and Mewtwo glowered at her discreetly, the former having lived on a mountain that was forbidden (well the part he lived on) from having travelers, and the latter having had no contact with civilization before the past month. Dawn, oblivious, didn't notice.
Brock got a strange look on his face. He threw a pokeball up, shouting, "Bonsly! Come out!" He caught the pokemon, and said in a way-too-happy tone of voice, "Bonsly, we're going to a pokemon center and you're going to get checked out by Nurse Joy!"
"So that's a bonsly," Dawn said, pulling out her pokedex. It said the same thing that Ash said, at the same time. "Bonsly, the bonsai pokemon. Being a rock type, it can get weak if its body contains too much water, so it secrets that water from both sides of its body to regulate it."
"So, Brock, did ya bring any of your other pokemon?" Ash asked, just now noticing the absence of pokeballs.
"Nope. I left them with my brothers and sisters back at the Pewter City gym," Brock answered.
"Gym?"
Ash answered Dawn. "Oh, that's right. You didn't know. Brock's family lives at the Pewter City gym, and Brock was the gym leader."
Dawn's face lit up. "You were? Awesome!"
Red turned to Brock, a stern look on his face as the group continued to the pokemon center. "You did leave a gym leader as the new one, correct?"
"Of course!"
"Good. I've been hearing that something's been wrong with gym inspections, and that worries me. Ash said that when he went to Saffron, the situation was so bad that it was dangerous to go to the gym because of Sabrina's insanity. That reflects badly on the champions, even though we don't have to go ourselves and inspect..."
After a humorous scene at the pokemon center, involving a picture, hearts in eyes, a great line from Ash, namely, "Yeah. That's a question? With no answer.", and Brock's face meeting the floor, the group was talking to Dawn's mother on the phone.
"I certainly appreciate you looking after my Dawn. I realize, of course, that she can sometimes be a handful."
"Huh?"
"Oh, no..."
"Come on, Mom, there's nothing to worry about."
"When you tell me there's nothing to worry about, that's when I worry the most. Don't forget that I'm counting on your four, including you, Mr?"
"Red. And Mewtwo."
"Including you, Red!"
"Yeah. We won't."
"Then you all have a great time. Ash, lots of luck in all your gym battles and in your apprenticeship!"
The screen when blank, and before Dawn made a disparaging comment, Nurse Joy came over. "Oh, Ash, by the way, have you registered for the Sinnoh league? You'll need to."
As Ash's eyes went wide, and he was about to reply no, Red stepped in. "I already registered him, Miss Joy. Thank you."
Nurse Joy frowned. "You do realize that that is a serious crime, correct?"
"I'm his master. I have the authority to do that, here in Sinnoh. Not in Orre, perhaps, but I can here."
Nurse Joy started, apologized, and walked away. Red gestured to Ash, who had Dawn follow him on his way. Near the front desk, they heard the tail end of a question as Nando walked out.
"-pondering?"
"I heard that he divides his time between battles and contests. Perhaps he's trying to decided between the two?" Nurse Joy answered.
Ash grinned as they walked out of the center. "With a strong budew like that, he should focus more on gym battles, not contests!"
Dawn glared at Ash. "Contests!"
"Gyms!"
"Contests!"
"Gyms!"
"Contests!"
"Gyms!"
"Contests!"
"Gyms!"
Red hit Ash over the head. "Let him decide, Ash! Contests are just as difficult to do, and battling is an important aspect of that too!"
Ash muttered, "Sorry..." as Red sighed. Dawn smiled in the back, as Red turned to his apprentice again.
"Ash, I am going to make you compete in contests occasionally, you know. That's where you learn combination attacks better, since a 'pretty' attack doesn't make it to center stage without having some power behind it. Granted, some are passed up because they don't look as good as they could, but you can get ideas from contests."
Ash groaned, as Red hit him over the head again. "Now, get ready. We're going to spar."
Dawn laughed, having seen one such spar before, and headed back inside, as yelps of pain started behind her. Ash would come in in a few hours, covered in bruises.
At the room, Ash stumbled in, disturbing Pikachu.
"Hey. So how'd the tor-training go?" Pikachu said, awake. Ash smiled a wry grin as he rubbed Pikachu's head.
"It was interesting. We were only training for a few minutes before I accidentally blew myself up, and went flying off into the forest," Ash said, and then groaned as Pikachu started to laugh. "Really? I'm not that bad! But anyways, Red found me after a while, and these two weirdos came out of nowhere and offered to let us stay the night in their inn place. Their pokemon came out, and offered a case to keep Red's pokeballs in while we slept."
Pikachu rolled his eyes. "Let me guess. Team Rocket?" At Ash's nod, he groaned. "I can see how you were fooled. I mean, we get tricked all the time, and in hindsight it's so obvious."
"Actually, Red started to shoot aura spheres at them. I joined in after a while, when he had taken off their disguises. Then they sent out their pokemon, tried to fight, tried to run away, and then got blasted off. Again."
"That's it? Then you got back to having your butt kicked by Master Red?" Pikachu said. Ash growled lowly at his best friend, who laughed.
"No, we saw Nando. I asked him about gym battles against contests, and he said that he saw no way to really choose between the two. Red said that, although he would be grooming me for battles, he was planning to have me do a few contests," Ash said. Pikachu flinched.
"Not with me, I hope!"
"Nah. But after that, we decided to have a battle tomorrow."
"And then you got your butt kicked."
"...If I didn't have bruises everywhere imaginable, I would hurt you," Ash groaned. Pikachu laughed at his trainer.
The next day, as the sun shone brilliantly, Ash led the way to the battlefield where Nando had agreed to meet them. Sure enough, Nando was there, waiting.
After a few minutes, greetings shared, the battle between Pikachu and budew began.
"Bullet seed." The seeds fired at Pikachu, who showed no fear at the attack.
"Okay, Pikachu, let's try that maneuver! Lightning equals!" Ash shouted. Pikachu smirked, showing some teeth, before he shot a thunderbolt at budew, narrowly missing both pokemon and seeds. Dawn was about to shout in disappointment, before suddenly both seeds and budew caught fire.
As Nando shouted in surprise and budew ran about trying to put itself out, Red explained the principle to Brock and Dawn. "Lightning is incredible hot, although it is weak against grass types. So I figured out how to make it so that the attack doesn't focus on power in the attack, just heat around it, so it becomes an improvised heat wave around a thundershock."
"So it overcomes the weakness of electric attacks!" Brock said, getting a nod from Red.
Back on the field, budew was no longer on fire. Nando tried to regain an advantage. "Mega drain."
The wave of green-blue energy rushed at Pikachu, who was no longer there, and instead much closer to budew. At the nod from Ash, Pikachu's tail glowed silver, and he slammed the iron tail into budew. Budew flew back, and started to glow when he landed.
"What's this?" Nando said, as Red and Ash ground their teeth.
"Budew's evolving!" Brock shouted, as budew's body reformed into a roselia.
Ash shouted the instant he saw it. "Roselia! Budew evolves into roselia?"
Nando remained calm, although he was also interested. "An interesting development, wouldn't you say? Roselia, use sunny day."
The sunlight became harsh!
"Now, solarbeam."
Roselia charged up the attack incredibly quickly. As soon as Nando ordered it, Roselia fired, but Ash remained steady. "Jump!"
Pikachu leaped up, using the force of the explosion to go higher. "Now come down with iron tail!" The attack came down with all the force of a steel object that fell from about fifty feet up at high speeds. Roselia didn't stand a chance.
"Roselia!" Nando cried(? Can't tell because of his voice.). Roselia lay on the ground, clearly knocked out.
"Good job, Pikachu! We won!" Ash shouted, as Pikachu gave his 'V for victory' sign.
Nando called back his roselia, walking towards Ash and Dawn. "Thank you for your battle, Ash. I now know what I will do with my choice."
Ash clenched his fist, and Dawn perked up. "You're going to compete in the Sinnoh League, right?"
"No, the Grand Festival!"
"I have decided to do both." That got a blink from Dawn, and a slow smile from Ash. "I enjoyed both battles so much, that I could not possibly decide between the two! I, however, wish you luck in your individual goals, and to you Ash, that you do not suffer to many bruises!"
Ash hung his head as Dawn giggled and Pikachu laughed uproariously at him.
'It had been a good conversation.' Ash mused as he ran with Dawn and Brock at his side, 'And it would have stayed that way if Team Rocket hadn't decided to put Pikachu in a cage...' On that note, he took another potshot at the balloon with aura sphere. It really was funny to see the balloon try to dodge. Behind him, Red and Mewtwo were working on something, probably dangerous. Ash laughed like a maniac.
Up in the sky, Pikachu sighed. "It's happened. It was only a matter of time. ASH HAS GONE MAD. We're all doomed."
Meowth shouted down, "Quiet wit da prisoners!"
His reply? "Well, maybe if you weren't-"
The incredibly witty reply was cut short by two things. First, Ash hit the support that held his cage, sending it falling. Second, Red launched a really big aura attack at the balloon, sending it flying. Third, he fell. At a lake. With three thirds of Team Rocket.
"This really could have been planned better!" Ash heard Pikachu yell as he fell with Team Rocket. Red grabbing his arm, the posse hurried to the place where Team Rocket had landed.
There, they saw Team Rocket launched off by a territorial turtwig, Pikachu no longer confined by his cage, and a nice lake. "Pikachu! You're okay!" Ash shouted, before he saw turtwig. "Did turtwig help you?"
"Yeah. Got me outta the cage. And Ash? Next time you shoot, try to open the cage when you send it falling?" Pikachu responded.
"I was going to ask if you were okay, but the way I see it is if you can be sarcastic, you're fine!" Ash shouted back, heading towards his friend, stopping when the turtwig took a defensive stance in front of Pikachu. "What?"
Dawn held her hand in front of Ash. "Don't scare it off! This is my chance! Piplup, use peck!" Dawn yelled as she threw her pokeball. Piplup burst out, his beak glowing white, and ran at turtwig, hoping for a good hit.
Turtwig didn't respond peacefully, instead sending waves of razor leaf at Piplup, shouting, "You won't capture this pikachu!" Piplup ducked and rolled, not wanting to be hit by the attack, and it instead flew into a bush, and an oddish, who wandered out. It stumbled to Ash, and sprayed sleep powder. As Ash crumpled to the ground and turtwig ran off with Pikachu, Red facepalmed, now remembering that he had to teach Ash how to avoid powder attacks.
As Dawn and Brock ran after turtwig, an old lady walked out of the bush and called them back, saying, "Mercy me... Children!"
She invited the group back to her house, and Brock accepted on their behalf, Red too busy trying to wake Ash up, with various techniques, ranging from aura healing, to wake-up slap. At her house, the old woman offered Red an herbal blend. "This can help your friend, if you want."
Red looked at the tea for a few seconds. "So the tea's bitter, correct?" The old woman nodded. "So, we have the choice of giving him your bitter tea, or giving him this much better tasting Chesto berry... Tea, please!"
Dawn and Brock facefaulted, giving Red time to pour the drink down Ash's throat. Ash woke with a start, looking into Red's eyes.
"What! Red, get offa me! Where's Pikachu!" Ash shouted, shoving Red away, onto the floor.
The old woman commented on the sight, which she certainly didn't see every day, "Looks like my herb tea sure did its job." At Ash's bewildered look, she continued, "Forgive me. My name's Clara."
"Hi. I'm Ash. Nice to... meet you. Okay, does anybody else hear guitars?"
"This is Clara's house!" Dawn said from her chair.
"I hope you had a nice nap," Brock said, also from a chair. Red groaned on the floor, his pride injured. Mewtwo grabbed him and put him in a chair.
Clara said, "You have nothing to fear. Turtwig's a good pokemon. I'm sure your Pikachu's fine."
"Not turtwig that we're worried about. There's a few Team Rocket members who want Pikachu, so they might find him, and then I'd be forced to storm Viridian," Red said from his chair. Everybody ignored him.
"I don't get it. You know that turtwig?" Dawn said.
"No, she's just guessing," Red said, once again ignored.
"Heavens, yes! Turtwig and I are old friends!" Clara exclaimed.
"So you can speak to him?" Red said. He was promptly ignored.
"Turtwig's quite the little helper, you see. He's always coming to the aid of people and pokemon, and has been for quite some time," Clara explained.
"So he wasn't attacking that oddish earlier. No, he was helping him!" Red said. Nobody paid attention.
"So is turtwig your pokemon, Clara?" Dawn asked.
Clara sharply answered, "No, dear. I'm busy enough in my herb garden, and I don't have the time to be a trainer or coordinator. Truth is, he just showed up one day, and since he seemed hungry, I gave him some food and a place to sleep. Turtwig's been here ever since, helping people and pokemon."
After a story about turtwig being the leader of the forest, and getting carried away, a naive remark from Dawn, and wisdom from Brock, Ash couldn't stand it any longer. "Okay, I need to go find Pikachu! Thanks, Clara! Although I do wish I knew why turtwig stopped us from getting Pikachu..."
Before Clara could answer, Red made his presence known. "Think about what he said. From what he said, I assume he thought we were trying to attack Pikachu, and wanted to protect him."
Clara nodded. "Yes, that sounds like him." Ash didn't hear it, already running off.
Red sighed. "One day, my apprentice is going to be the death of me... Thank you Clara, but I do have to make sure he doesn't fall in the lake and drown." With that, Red strolled out, Mewtwo at his side. Mewtwo was silent, mostly because he had tried some of her tea, and it was inferior to his tea.
Dawn and Brock also thanked Clara, and followed Ash and his master.
In the clearing where Pikachu was taken after being kidnapped, Ash and co. had arrived. Turtwig, misinterpreting everything, stood in front of Pikachu, ready to defend him to the death.
So, by that logic, when Ash walked forward, the protective turtwig charged. Ash had no time to think, only to react, and so spun to the side and shot a blast of aura that caught turtwig on the side and sent him flying into a tree. "Thought you were going to talk it over!" Red shouted, getting a glare from Ash in return.
Turtwig got up, and pawed at the ground, ready to charge again. Pikachu rushed to his "savior's" side, and tried to reason with him. "Hey, turtwig! Look, that's my trainer, and I want to go with him! So can you lay off the tackle?"
Turtwig shouted back, the translation harsh for Ash, "Sure! Attack tackle boy funny clothes!"
Pikachu slapped turtwig. "Listen to me, foo! I'll speak slowly, and simply. Me friend with boy. Yes, boy wear stupid clothes. Me friend. He me friend. You friend. Lay off the tackles before I thunderbolt you!" Turtwig's eyes widened.
"Wha?"
Ash spoke up from his relaxed position, "Yeah, Pikachu's my best friend!"
Turtwig gained a cloud of depression and shock(™) and jumped backwards, muttering, "Sorry, sorry, sorry! I mean any! Never, ever do again! Bad turtwig! BAD. Listen yourself. Talking third person. Bad, very bad. Insane, maybe?" Now turtwig was in the fetal position, crying.
Everyone who could understand sweatdropped. Ash walked to turtwig, a look on his face. He bent down next to the grass type, and said, "Hey, it's not your fault! I'm really grateful to you for saving Pikachu!"
"Yeah, everyone makes mistakes! Some, like Ash, often!" Pikachu added. Turtwig looked up, tears in his eyes.
"No hate? You're not?" Turtwig said. Ash shook his head, and stood up.
Of course, at that crowing moment of heartwarming, something had to interrupt it. A linoone stumbled out of the bushes, bruises everywhere.
"Great. Sure, Ash, don't even ask. I'll heal him! I have unlimited aura, don't worry!" Red said with false cheer. Ash looked to his master with shining eyes.
"Really, Master? You would do that?"
"Yeah, so move."
After linoone had been healed by Red's Mystic Aura Powers(TM), Ash responded to the time in an Ash-like fashion. His stomach growled.
After Red had his moment of mourning for his lost wallet, Brock started some stew, making it for the group and for the pokemon there, namely linoone, turtwig, and Pikachu.
Seeing that turtwig had given his food to linoone, Ash filled another bowl with stew, and brought it over. "Here, you need to eat too!"
Turtwig smiled at Ash, before he jumped, shouting, "Yup!" He latched onto Ash's head, who screamed.
"Ah! Turtwig, get off of my head!" Ash shouted, making Red chuckle. That caused all activity within the camp to stop flat, except for Pikachu and linoone's eating, turtwig's attempt to eat Ash, and Ash's expressed desire to stop that. Dawn, Mewtwo, and Brock hadn't heard Red chuckle before, and knew within their very being that it was wrong, like Giovanni adopting a poochyena or Cyrus falling in love.
At that instant, as if the universe, or Arceus, was trying to make Red stop, two pink suction cups snatched turtwig and Pikachu, sending them flying towards the lake. "For the love of... Hold on you two!" Red shouted, grabbing Dawn and Brock. Ash nodded, and they manipulated their aura to shoot towards the lake. Ash overshot, and ended up with his head in a tree.
From the water, a giant magikarp appeared, and three familiar people emerged, Pikachu and turtwig in a bottle... thing. They laughed like the idiots they were, attacking while Red was there.
"Listen, is that a voice I hear? James, your turn," Jessie said. James took his turn.
"It speaks to me, loud and clear."
"On the wind!"
"Past the stars!"
"In yer ear!"
"Bringing crisis at a breakneck pace."
"Dashing hope, putting fear in its place."
"A rose by any other name's just as sweet."
"When everything's worse, our work is complete!"
"SWEET!"
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Meowth, dat's a name!"
"Putting the good-doers in their place!"
"Team Rocket!"
"In your face!" Meowth concluded. Ash growled from his tree.
"Say, that's some catch! You can't get any fresher than this!" James said from his place in the magikarp.
"Why don't you just give up!" Dawn shouted from the shore.
Jessie sighed. "That hat of yours is too tight. Otherwise you would remember that we said that we'd get Pikachu. Remember this: What's mine is mine, and what's yours is too."
The magikarp closed, and sank beneath the waves, starting to head off. Ash got his head out of the tree, and jumped onto the water, startling Dawn and Brock. Red took a second to throw out a pokeball before he followed.
The two aura users shared a brief grin as they ran on the water. It took only a few seconds before they managed to catch up to the bottle thing, and Ash grabbed on, about to break it open with aura. Red held him back. "Master?"
"Wait a few seconds. I have a distraction coming."
And what a distraction it was. The magikarp started to move faster, before it stopped short. It then headed for shore, where it showed that magikarp was a better flyer than its evolution, which was a flying type. How did it do so, you may ask? It hovered five feet in the air, held there by a blastiose.
"Ah, good job Blasty. Now, could you crush it?" Red said as he and his apprentice arrived on shore. The now named Blasty nodded, and squeezed the metal, crushing it like a tin can. It was unable to take the stress, and exploded. Oddly enough, it didn't send Team Rocket blasting off, just flying to the other side of the clearing, where Clara, who had seen what was going on, and the rest of the group joined them.
"You make me sick!" Jessie shouted.
Meowth stood up, his paws in fists. "If you twerps dink that we're gonna let you off easy, den think again!"
"Right! We'll lose when I say so!" James shouted. The three stood in battle formation on their side of the field while Clara gasped.
Ash gritted his teeth and glared at the three. "Enough is enough!"
"Okay, let's do this thing!" Pikachu shouted, going down to all fours.
"More intolerance? Go, Seviper!" Jessie shouted, throwing down her snakelike pokemon. Her partner sent out his carnivine, which again tried to get at his brains.
"You forgot Blasty, so... Hydro cannon, Blasty," Red said. The stream of blue water shot forth with tremendous force, blasting both pokemon back into their pokeballs. "Blasty! You were supposed to send their trainers flying too!"
The blastoise rubbed his head, sweatdropping. Red facepalmed, and waved to Ash, who took the hint. "Volt tackle!" Pikachu shot forward, sending the three troublemakers flying.
"I thought we weren't going to lose until you said so!" Jessie spat at James.
"Well, Red said so!"
"Were you talking out of yer mouth again?" Meowth shouted as Mimey shrugged.
"We're blasting off again!"
On the ground, Dawn cheered as the three went away for a little while, while turtwig jumped to bite Ash on the head again. Clara started. "Oh! Turtwig only does that if he likes somebody a lot! You must have really earned his respect, young man!"
Ash rubbed his head, which meant that he rubbed turtwig. "Well... I like you two turtwig, but this is nuts!"
Back at Clara's house, they were saying good-bye to Clara and turtwig. "Thanks for everything, Clara!" Dawn said.
"Thanks Clara, and you take it easy, turtwig!" Ash called, bending down to turtwig's level. He straightened up, and the posse walked away, leaving Clara and turtwig behind.
They had more adventures to go to, after all!
So that's that! That's the end of this chapter! Yeah, you know, I really just don't like turtwig, so he's staying behind.
You believe me,right?
Right?
I am the author!
Fine. You want turtwig? Here's the rest. Pushy. *Cough*
As they walked, turtwig suddenly stood in front of Ash. "What? Turtwig?"
Clara walked up behind them. "Turtwig wants to go with you." At Ash's expression of confusion, she went on. "You shouldn't be so surprised. Turtwig likes you!"
Looking at turtwig, Ash gave a thumbs up. "Of course you can come along!"
Turtwig rose up and pounded his feet. "First. You. Me. Battle now!"
Red held out his hand to Ash, gesturing. "Wha? Oh."
Ash tossed his master his cape, and flared his aura. "Let's go, turtwig!"
Where they decided to have their battle, Ash stood on one side, adjusting his gloves and tightening his belt. On the other side, turtwig pawed the ground, not about to make the same mistake he had before, when he just charged. On Red's signal, both sides squared off, waiting for an opening.
Ash saw one, and charged, firing an aura sphere at turtwig's left side. Turtwig leaped left, and was met with Ash's fist, which sent him flying back.
Turtwig spun in midair, struck the ground, and as he spun to face Ash, he threw a razor leaf. Ash jumped aside, not yet trusting his shields, but turtwig was there, slamming his head in Ash's gut. Ash went flying towards a tree, and managed to twist so that he was standing in it safely.
Seeing Ash standing in the tree, turtwig charged and slammed into the tree, sending it shaking wildly. Ash flailed, and started to fall, but turned in midair so that he was able to grab the tree with his feet.
Turtwig blinked at seeing Ash sideways, but jumped up to use bite. Ash made a move, and it happened so quickly that the spectators could only have one response, except for Mewtwo and Red: blink and ask "What happened?" a few times. It was that fast.
In slow motion, Ash made a half-turn, so he was sideways when turtwig came close. When turtwig was in front of Ash, having missed, Ash shot a palm forward and blasted his aura outwards, having succeeded in using force palm at long last. The attack sent turtwig straight into the ground, creating his own personal crater.
Turtwig hesitantly got up, before he moved with blinding speed and latched onto Ash's arm in bite. Ash winced before he walked over to a tree, made aura spin over his arm, and knocked turtwig into the tree, also causing an azure glow to erupt before exploding.
Ash was sent flying, but kept purchase on the ground, reaching into his bag to pull out a pokeball. Seemingly throwing randomly, he tossed it into the dust cloud. One's hopes would either be raised or lowered to dismal heights at seeing Ash's eyes closed, depending on how well they knew about aura.
A red flash signified the hit, and after a few seconds, the dust cloud dispersed. On the ground was the shaking pokeball, which, as they watched, stopped shaking and the red light on the front went out.
A slow smile spread over Ash's face, before he suddenly jumped up in the air. "Alright! I just caught a turtwig!" Pikachu jumped up as well, giving his signature v.
He reached out for turtwig's pokeball, his friends running up to him, before he winced in pain and fell to the ground. Red walked over and handed him his cape.
"Let them heal on their own. That was your first battle, and I have to say that you did well, against a pokemon that was no pushover. Feel proud," Red said as he helped Ash up.
Dawn spoke next, "I'm guessing that people don't normally catch pokemon like that?"
Ash shook his head. "Nah, except for the-ugh- part where you throw the pokeball. Normally you don't battle yourself!"
"Promise me that you'll take good care of turtwig now, won't you dear? It's really important to me," Clara said. Ash grinned.
"You know it!"
After that bit of excitement, it was time to really leave, Ash leading the way along the lake that reflected the setting sun (or was it his determination that was lighting it red?), with his friends and master following. He couldn't wait for the next adventure!