The world was a terrible place, cruel, pitiless, dark as a bad dream. Not a good place to live. Only in books could you find pity, comfort, happiness - and love. Books loved anyone who opened them, they gave you security and friendship and didn't ask anything in return; they never went away, never, not even when you treated them badly."
- Cornelia Funke, The Inkheart Trilogy: Inkheart, Inkspell, Inkdeath
Hey, guys, I have had some people comment about me saying that Dratini was a water type in one of my chapters. That is because I was writing from Ash's point of view and since he did not know what the Pokemon was it is fair for him to assume that it is a water type. My exact wording was: With a white underside and white, three-pronged fins on the side of its head, it looked like a water type to Ash, but looks can be deceiving. However, if the is another error that mentions Dratini being a water type I apologise and say that you are going to have to be more specific on where that error is.
Also, just because I state that Butterfree is a normal type in a sentence and not mention that it is also a flying type does not mean that I do not know the fact, it just means that I am stating the Pokemon's relevant characteristic at the time. If you go back and read I am sure I have written about Pokemon with dual types in a similar manner.
Finally, I apologise for being so defensive, but I would find it incredibly annoying if I had to continually state that Butterfree was a flying and normal types or Oddish was a poison and grass type all the time when you as the readers most definitely already know that.
Chapter 26
From the direction the Dragon Pokemon was being pulled, a deep unsettling laughter echoed through the air. It rippled through the blue Pokemon's body as the memory of this person stealing it from its home became all too clear. The Pokemon recalled how the man had collapsed the caves that they lived in, trapping its sisters and parents inside. It remembered the hopeless feeling when the large had wrapped around its body and slammed it into the ocean bed. The Pokemon sagged in defeat, it was caught once again.
Standing on top of the wooden fence was a green haired man with pale white skin. He wore dark shades over his eyes and a black trench coat. Nothing about the man was recognised able to Ash, so the boy was sure that he was not someone he had came across before. He also did not have an 'R' anywhere on his uniform meaning that he was not a member of Team Rocket.
"Stop," Ash shouted after the man. "Oddish help me try and get Dratini back."
The purple weed Pokemon tried to break through the metal wire as it hopped onto the Dratini's larger body, even going as far as to chew at the strong cable. However, the grass and poison Pokemon did not have attacks that could slice it open.
"Squirtle, squirt," the tiny turtle Pokemon shouted as it ran behind Ash who was slowly catching up to the Dratini being kidnapped by the green haired Pokemon hunter.
Squirtle attempted to use its water gun, however, the attack fell short due to the distance between the hunter and the turtle Pokemon.
"It's not working," Ash shouted at his Pokemon. "Dratini, try to use one of your attacks on the wire!"
The dragon Pokemon struggled to get free, wriggling as much as it could, not knowing what else to do. The only attacks it knew required being able to open its mouth and that was sealed shut but the thin metal wires.
Ash suddenly gasped as his Oddish, feeling helpless as it was unable to aid the Pokemon, evolved into Gloom. It had orange leaves and a reddish-brown flower growing from its head. The flower has large, rounded petals and white spots. It was great that his Pokemon had evolved, however, this was not the time to be able to scan it with his Pokedex and find out what moves it has.
While Oddish evolved, the Pokemon hunter had managed to get his hands on Dratini and was turning to flee. The dragon Pokemon cried out again as the metal wires were pushed deeper into its skin, breaking through and causing blood to dribble across its body due to the man's rough handling.
Gloom, Ash and Squirtle jumped over the fence, following close behind. The black haired boy now wished that he had kept his five Pokeballs with him instead of giving them to Professor Oak so that they could stay in the lab. However, at the time it seemed like a good idea to keep all his Pokemon (except Pikachu) with the old man.
"Gloom, do you have an attack to slice through the wires," Ash said. "Like sword dance, petal blizzard, anything!"
"Gloom," the weed Pokemon nodded and stopped running. Then from the red flower on top of the grass Pokemon's head, it released pink sakura petals that swirled around Ash's Pokemon before shooting them at the hunter.
To Ash's relief, the wire cable broke away from Dratini, however, it also sliced the Pokemon hunter.
"Ah!" the hunter shouted dropping the rare dragon Pokemon onto the ground as he wrapped his lift hand around his right wrist, which now sported a red slash that had ripped open the man's vein. The hunter's crimson blood coloured the grass beneath his feet as he cradled the wound to his chest. "You damn brat, you have ruined everything," the hunter said.
"I would apologise, but you're not worth it," Ash shouted coldly back at the man.
"This Dratini is mine. I dived into the depths of the Cinnabar Ocean to catch it and then it escaped and you came across it," the hunter sneered.
"So, I won't let you get Dratini," Ash told the green haired man. "Everyone attack!"
Squirtle sent his water gun towards the hunter as Gloom released a cloud of stun spore his way. Even Dratini attacked the green haired man with its ice beam. The result of these attacks froze the man solid and threw him up into the air, getting rid of the hunter Team Rocket style.
With everyone back at Professor Oaks lab, Dratini was getting treated by the grey haired man once again. Thankfully, the dragon Pokemon's injuries were not severe and only required a spray of antibacterial potion and to be covered with a bandage.
"Okay, let's see what Dexter has to say about you," Ash said to Gloom as he pulled out his Pokedex.
"Gloom, the weed Pokemon. The fluid that oozes from its mouth isn't drooling. It is a nectar that is used to attack prey. The Gloom is male and knows the moves absorb, petal dance, stun spore and poison powder."
Dratini watched the Pokemon and its owner longingly. Maybe having a trainer was a good thing? After all, if Ash had not caught it and brought it to the lab then the Pokemon hunter would have found it, and if the boy had not rescued it when it had not been able to save itself then it would be back in that man's clutches.
"Dra, Dratini," the Dragon Pokemon said from the stainless steel bed.
"What is it, Dratini?" Ash asked, but the Pokemon just kept muttering and weaving its snake-like head.
"Why Ash, I think Dratini want you to scan it as well," the old Professor said as he began to pack the potions and bandages away.
"Dratini," the blue Pokemon nodded its head.
"Oh, Okay," the black haired trainer said and then began to approach the Pokemon, Pokedex in hand.
"Dratini," Dexter's robotic voice told the boy. "Long considered a mythical Pokemon until recently when a small colony was found living underwater. This Dratini is male and knows the moves dragon pulse, ice beam and wrap."
"That is awesome," Ash smiled at the Pokemon. "Does that mean you want to stay with us?"
"Dratini," the dragon Pokemon nodded again staring up at Ash with a sparkle in its eyes.
"Well, congratulations Ash," Professor Oak said. "You have yourself a Dratini."
"Thanks, Professor," Ash smiled and patted the Pokemon's head. Although, the black haired boy froze for a moment. Had he just heard the old man giggling about an interesting Pokemon to study?
Back at Ash's house, the Indigo League was once again playing on TV. With Delia Ketchum, Louise and Sam Dimare sat around the screen. Sandwiches rested on the table with a jug of ice water and four glasses.
The black haired boy made it just in time to watch the quarter finals according to the news reporter's announcement. So, after a tiring day the trainer collapsed onto the seat beside Louise and Pikachu jumped onto his lap. Togepi had been left with Espeon for a while and Ash had decided that one more night could not hurt. Anyway, the psychic type Pokemon had quickly picked up its nurturing role towards the baby Pokemon again.
The match against two of the quatre finalists started with the red trainer calling out his Butterfree whilst the green trainer called out his Squirtle. Each Pokemon traded blow after blow, tackling each other, but neither gave in despite the fact that they were becoming even more exhausted with every hit and counter attack.
As Ash watched he scratched Pikachu's ear mindlessly causing the yellow mouse Pokemon to release a 'chaa' of content. The black haired boy then smiled down at his Pokemon and glanced towards Louise . The blonde haired girl flushed bright red at being caught watching the boy.
Ash's attention then turned back to the TV as the red trainer called for his Pokemon to use sleeping powder, causing Squirtle to fall on its back snoring - rather loudly. Butterfree was the winner of the first round.
The green trainer then called out his Raichu, who charged onto the field. It immediately tackled the Butterfree causing the crowd to go wild, screaming and shouting approval of the new Pokemon. Raichu then finished the Butterfree off with a very powerful thundershock.
Calling out his Charmander, the red trainer ordered it to use flameflower. The electric mouse Pokemon soon yielded to exhaustion after dodging the fire types attack repeatedly. So when Charmander tackled Raichu and followed with headbutt the poor Pokemon was out of the match.
The Charmander was soon defeated by the green trainers Sandshrew, another mouse Pokemon.
It was then that the red trainer called out his own Squirtle. Sandshrew started off with Sand-attack, which was negated by the water type Pokemon who drew into his shell. The green trainer and his Pokemon then attacked with poison string which Squirtle dodged and then counteracted with a water gun.
The match grew more and more interesting as each Pokemon fought tooth and nail, both trainers down to their last. Ash watched intently knowing both trainers will be battling for next year.
In the end, it was the red trainer who won, as the type advantage played its role. However, the respect between the two trainers was amazing.
The red trainer then went to fight in the semi-finals where the battles became six on six. The first trainer used a Pikachu, Butterfree, Charmander, Munchlax, Squirtle and Spearow. Whereas the second trainer, the green trainer, used Rhyhorn, Venomoth, Tentacool, Ivysaur, Mankey and Nidoran.
The match was down to one on one, with the male red trainer using his Pikachu and the female green trainer using her Ivysaur. However, this match was very one sided as the grass type was fairly resistant to electric type moves.
It was Ivysaur's solar beam that defeated the Pikachu in the end. The match was over and the semi-finals were between the female green trainer and a male red trainer.
Ash, Louise, Delia and Sam watched as the male trainer completely defeated the female using only one Pokemon, a Magmar. That was the person that the black haired boy aimed to defeat because there was a high probability that Ash would have to battle the man next year.
"Alright, I am so pumped. Starting tomorrow we are going to train harder Pikachu," Ash shouted as he jumped from the sofa.
Everyone around the black haired boy laughed at his enthusiasm, however, had no doubt that Ash would do his very best no matter what odds he was up against. That was the type of person he was.
Sorry for the short chapter, but I will definitely be able to make it up to you in the next update, which will be when Ash starts his journey to challenge all of the gyms.
I would also like to say that since I have written up to chapter 31, I am going to wait for at least 10 reviews before I post up the next chapter. This will give me a publishing schedule (in a way) but also allows for you guys to control when a new chapter comes up ;-) It is also great fun reading what you guys write!