Supplements for the Heart

by stringdog

Not all events can make it into the main story. Some just don't fit or add enough to the plot to merit inclusion. This doesn't mean that they shouldn't be told. Here is a collection of events that occur during 'Dreams Come From the Heart' that didn't make the cut but do supplement the series in some way. A fun, lighthearted, pearlshipping collection set during the Hearts Series.

10. A Prize Fighter Comes Back

Here is the tenth Supplement for the Heart, released when promised even if it is out of the chronological order of the series. The events of this Supplement take place immediately after the events of Part XXXV as well as shortly after the events of Part XXXVI. This is an unusual Supplement because it is not released chronologically but rather after the cliffhanger in the main series was revealed in Part XXXVIII. This was done to preserve the surprise and then released to explain what had gone down in the diner when Anthony and Ash spoke. It also answers the question of what has Anthony and Rebecca (even though the latter isn't present) have been up to since they were last seen in the anime that was asked after the 6th Supplement. The only other administrative thing to address here is to see if anyone would be interested in a Sabrina spinoff detailing her journey of recovery that was talked about in the last Supplement. I didn't mention it there for obvious reasons given the nature of that Supplement so it is being mentioned here. Let me know in reviews or PMs what you think of the idea. If there is enough support it will be planned when I have time but the upload won't occur until after Hearts 5 alongside another spinoff idea I have that I will gauge interest in after Part XL. Anyway, there are no outstanding questions to address in regards to the Supplement so that is all for now, please relax and enjoy the latest Supplement for the Heart: A Prize Fighter Comes Back.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.

A Prize Fighter Comes Back

"Actually it is I who can help you Ash." The man said with a wide smile at him. "If you have a moment, there is something I think we should talk about."

"I think I'll head out to the field behind this diner and leave you two alone." Dawn said realizing that this man wanted to have a private word with Ash about something and getting up, Ash opened his mouth but Dawn cut him off before he could speak. "No Ash, I can see that this should be just between you two so there's no need to worry about me staying. Plus I can get some private practice in for the HopHopHop Town Contest, there's a new combo I want to work on on my own."

"Ok, thanks Dawn." Ash said with a smile relieved that she was the one to take the initiative as he did feel like the man wanted to talk alone but didn't know how to broach it to her. "I'll be out when I am done to join you. Love you."

"I know, love you too." Dawn said smiling as she picked up Piplup and gave Ash a chaste kiss before leaving the booth. "Come on Piplup we have training to do. I need to work with Gloom and Pinsir so Eevee will need your guidance for her appeal while I'm working with the others."

"Piplup." Piplup said with a nod, he was the master at appeals so he was vital to his new friend's success in the upcoming Contest. "Pip, Piplup."

Dawn then left the diner, leaving her share of the bill on the counter as she left, and headed a field they'd seen when they'd arrived. She had a special combo she wanted to practice that she didn't want Ash to see, it was designed especially to face his battle style just in case they were matched up in the Contest. This was the perfect time to practice it.

"Your girlfriend?" The man asked once Dawn had left as he sat down in front of Ash and Ash finally got to study the man for a moment.

He was large, muscular and radiated the calm power of a trained martial artist and fighter who lived for the discipline. Other than that he was nondescript with his brown hair, eyes and tanned skin, Ash would have missed him in a crowd if it wasn't for his size and rather pronounced chin. He wore a simple white tank top, and black pants in a look that Ash found slightly familiar. As Ash looked at him he had a gut feeling that he had more than met this man before, he was someone who Ash knew that he should have remembered.

"Yes she is." Ash said deciding to be polite as the waitress came out and refilled the man's coffee mug that he had brought before taking the desert plates away with her. "Dawn and I met when I went to Sinnoh to challenge the Pokémon league out there a few years back. She was one of my two traveling companions while I was in that region and the only one of us who was a Sinnoh native."

"I see and that was when you two started dating?" The man asked curiously. "Because I always thought that you would end up with that redhead you were traveling with when we met, she was clearly into you."

"No Misty and I never ended up together, I only just learned that she has feelings for me because she met Dawn and admitted to them, even if it took me longer than it should have to realize." Ash said shaking his head and now knowing that this man had met him in one of his first three years as a trainer back when Misty was one of his traveling companions. "And also no, Dawn and I didn't get together until several months ago right after the Johto Grand Festival. We went our separate ways after Sinnoh, met up in Unova and after that I realized I liked her."

"I see, well I won't press anymore then I am not known for my skills in that department." The man said with a laugh. "Hell I almost abandoned my own family due to my own ambitions. Had it not been for my daughter tracking me down and persuading me to come home, with your help during the process, I probably would have lost them."

That really tickled a memory deep in Ash's mind. He recalled a powerfully built man in a similar outfit to the man sitting before him and his quiet daughter who just wanted her dad to come home. There was something else about that memory but Ash couldn't quite recall it and it was starting to bug him. He knew that if he got the man's name though he would almost certainly remember who he was.

"I recall something like that many years ago." Ash said rubbing his temple trying to remember the precise details. "But I don't recall your name, I'm sorry."

"Anthony." The man said extending his hand across the table to Ash that Ash instinctively shook. "Sorry, it was rude of me to not tell you who I was the moment I confirmed who you were."

Anthony. That name coupled with the man's appearance snapped everything into place as Ash let go of his hand. True Ash had met a few Anthonys in his many journeys but only one did he recall having a daughter, a daughter who had traveled to find him and to get him to come home because he was a fighting type specialist trying to win a competition that Ash had entered. A specialist who had offered…

"Primeape!" Ash exclaimed in shock and embarrassment as Anthony just smiled and nodded at him. "I remember and I really, really, shouldn't have forgotten about either Primeape or you. You were the fighting type trainer who I met in Kanto during my first year as a trainer and shortly after catching Primeape. I entered that competition, the P1 Grand Prix I think it was called, and won it with Primeape. Then you offered to train Primeape for me and promised to make it into a champion, after we dealt with some scheme of Team Rocket if I recall."

"Correct, glad to see that you remember." Anthony said beaming at Ash confirming everything with that statement. "Fate seems to have decided that we would both be in this diner, at this time, on this day, so I figured we could talk about it. It has been many years and I was wondering why you hadn't called to retrieve Primeape or at least inquire into how it was doing."

"Because I, er, forgot." Ash said his voice filled with shame at his failure. "It was so long ago that it kinda slipped my mind with everything else I've been up too. This isn't the first time this has happened; I ran into my old Pidgeot a few months back and I'd forgotten about it as well. Thankfully it forgave me and let me battle it to recapture it but it was still a massive failure on my end."

"I get that, it happens but know that Primeape hasn't forgotten about you." Anthony said sympathetically. "We watch all the League Conferences every year in hopes to see you in one of them and then focus on that one. Other than once a few years back when we couldn't find you, you are often in one of the League Conferences and Primeape goes nuts as soon as it sees you battling."

"That is good." Ash said with a sigh of relief that Primeape still remembered him before suddenly remembering something. "Wait Anthony, why are you here in the first place? As I recall you live somewhere south of Celadon, that is where we met at least and I think that was north of your home, so why are you on the road between Celadon and Saffron?"

"Oh that, well I am still a fighting type specialist so when the need arises I travel Kanto for training and work." Anthony explained. "One place I often go to is the dojo up in Saffron City as it is the best place in the region for intensive training with fighting types. My Meditite recently evolved into a Medicham so I want to get some special training in for it, plus I hear that Sabrina has a really strong Gallade that I want to face while there. Sabrina's a psychic specialist so she may be of some help with my Medicham."

"That she is and I am sure she will help you out if she's around." Ash said remembering Sabrina's schedule and how she always had classes when she wasn't on her week off. "You just have to check when you get there to see if she is available, she usually takes time off every month. I think it's around that time as it has been a month since my full battle with her and that was during her week off. Still, she was there the other day when we passed back through so she should be around."

"I am aware of Sabrina's struggles and her rather rigid schedule and monthly week off." Anthony said with a nod. "I was good friends with Master Hamm back when he ran the dojo until his retirement a few years ago but Master Terri is also a fine dojo master and one who I have mentored a bit over the years. Terri is friendly with Sabrina and told me about her past when I was last there and wanted to see Sabrina but she was out of town at the time. She seems to be doing great now though."

"She's found her own balance and from my recent interactions with her seems to be doing great." Ash said remembering that he had met Hamm and Terri once while in Saffron for the Contest there back when he was still traveling with May and Max facing the Battle Frontier. "I remember her from before and I can safely say that she's a lot better now compared to back then. Does that mean that you are going to take her class and hit the dojo in Saffron?"

"That is the plan at least." Anthony confirmed. "I'll be there for a few weeks to bond with Medicham and see if there are any potential trainers or Pokémon who use the dojo and would want to come back to my gym for some more specialized training. Terri told me that she recently accepted a new student, a fighting type specialist from Hoenn who's knowledge of Pokémon borders encyclopedic levels about Pokémon, like creepy level according to her but the dude is a dedicated student to the art of battling with fighting types. He also has a Medicham and can give me some pointers. It is basically a full business trip but I need to be back within a month or else Rebecca will come drag me home again."

"How is Rebecca?" Ash asked remembering that that was the name of Anthony's daughter who had sought out her father to try and save their family because he was ignoring them. "I remember she really cared about you back when we met."

"Yeah she is the best thing in my life, really showed me that I could be a father and a fighting specialist at the same time." Anthony said with a proud grin. "Plus she has really come into her own in the last few years since we both met you and your friends. She decided to follow in my footsteps and become a fighting type specialist. She is my protégé now and successor so she runs the gym while I am away to get the experience she will need when I retire. If I am being honest, she will probably surpass me one day."

"That is good." Ash said glad that Anthony had managed to fix his family, his daughter had been really worried when they'd met. "I'm happy to hear that."

"Yeah but other than that I have basically been doing the same thing since we met." Anthony said. "So enough about me, I am here because I realized who you were and wanted to update you on Primeape's progress."

"Yes that, sorry." Ash said embarrassed he still hadn't asked about his own Pokémon yet, he would have to take a moment to think about all of his Pokémon no longer with him, both released and in training, so that he never forgot them again the way he had about Pidgeot and Primeape. "How is it doing?"

"Primeape is doing great, better than great in fact as it's one of my best students ever." Anthony said with a wide grin as he spoke about Primeape. "I promised to make Primeape a P1 Champion and boy did I. in the past 5 years ever since I deemed Primeape good enough for the professional circuit it's become one of the most feared Pokémon on it and has several victories and titles under its belt."

"Really?" Ash asked amazed at how good his Primeape had become, it had been what he'd asked for when he'd left Primeape with Anthony but he hadn't expected it to do so well. "That's great!"

"Oh yes, Primeape has the heart of a true champion." Anthony said with a nod. "I noticed that when you won the P1 Grand Prix with it despite it being a raw and newly caught Pokémon that had some obedience and anger issues."

"Don't forget recently evolved." Ash pointed out to Anthony's surprise. "It evolved shortly after I met it and only a few weeks before the Grand Prix and given its aggression I couldn't use it in the Celadon Gym battle I had shortly before we me. That Grand Prix was my first real use of Primeape in a competition."

"That I didn't know." Anthony said shaking his head. "But that only goes to show just how good Primeape really is if it could win the Grand Prix despite all those factors. Since then I've trained Primeape to temper its aggression and use it to its advantage. Over the years Primeape has won many of the tournaments we have entered together and really grown into a true prize fighter. It trains harder than any Pokémon I have ever seen at my gym and keeps striving to be the best, especially after it loses."

"Sounds just like me." Ash said smiling proudly at Primeape's accomplishments, it was just what he wanted for the Pig Monkey Pokémon when he'd entrusted it to Anthony. "So anything new with Primeape other than the tournaments? Its training must be going well for it to be doing so well in tournaments?"

"Very." Anthony confirmed. "Primeape has learned Close Combat and Fire Punch in the last few years to get stronger and deal with situations where fighting type moves aren't the best in the case of the latter move. Honestly there really isn't much more I can teach it. It's already one of the best fighting types on the P1 circuits in Kanto and Johto and I don't really travel to the other regions. That actually brings me to my other reason for talking to you."

"Really?" Ash asked curiously. "What was the other reason?"

"Well do you want to take Primeape back?" Anthony asked stunning Ash with the question, it wasn't what he had been expecting. "There isn't much more I can teach it from a training standpoint, it's accomplished what I promised it would and I know it misses you from its reactions to seeing you on TV. I think fate meant for us to meet today so that I could tell you about Primeape and ask you if you wanted it back I know Primeape would love to return to your side and I've done what you asked me to do, it really is one of the best fighting types that I know now. It's not unbeatable but when facing other fighting types its almost always got the edge."

"I, I honestly don't know what to say." Ash said finally finding his voice as he processed what Anthony had said to him. "Of course I'd love to take Primeape back, it is my Pokémon and I do miss it even if I forgot about it. Do you have it on you right now? I currently have a full roster so I can't really take it back just yet but I can when I get to either HopHopHop Town or Celadon, whichever is better for you."

"No I don't have Primeape on me." Anthony said shaking his head. "It is back with Rebecca helping her train her own Timburr that she recently caught while visiting Unova a few weeks ago. I can let her know though as soon as I reach Saffron though and have her send Primeape in its Poke Ball to the Celadon Pokémon Center whenever works best for you."

"That works great for me actually." Ash said with a nod after thinking about it for a moment. "I am a little busy preparing for the HopHopHop Contest that I am about to enter but now that I am getting Primeape back I want to use it in Celadon when I face Erika in a full battle. As I said, I didn't last time because of its aggressiveness but I think now I can use it and given my history with that gym it feels fitting to return to it with Primeape on me. Can you have Rebecca sent it in a week's time with a message to the Nurse Joy in Celadon City about it?"

"Of course." Anthony confirmed. "It will be done; I will contact Rebecca as soon as I reach Saffron City. I am sure that Primeape will make you proud when you face Erika."

"I know it." Ash said with certainty in his voice. "I'll send my Tauros back to Professor Oak when I get there but I won't tell Dawn about Primeape just yet, I think this needs to be done alone. I need to bond with Primeape again and it is best done without anyone else given how emotional it will likely be and, er, the high chance of violence on Primeape's part when it sees me again. Plus it will be a big surprise for her when I use it in battle for the first time in years."

"I think that is a good idea." Anthony said stroking his large chin. "Your Primeape is strong and still a little aggressive so a reunion between you two may be a little enthusiastic."

"That's what I was thinking." Ash said. "Thank you Anthony, I didn't realize how much I needed this."

"As I said, fate works in weird ways." Anthony said. "I should get going though, I want to be in Saffron by the end of the day to get some noodles from Hamm's boy Kyle before he closes for the day, that kid makes the best noodles in all of Kanto. A pleasure to meet you again Ash, good luck with everything, we will be watching for you in a League Conference this year."

"Thanks Anthony, for everything." Ash said as they shook again before Anthony got up and left the diner but not before Ash called out one last thing before the man left. "I'll be in the Indigo Conference again this year."

Ash just sat there for a moment thinking about the conversation and smiling at it. He was about to be reunited with a very old friend, again, and he couldn't wait to see how strong Primeape had become thanks to its years of special training. Dawn was in for a shock when he faced Erika. It was going to be interesting for sure.

---

"Nurse Joy, is there a Poke Ball waiting for me?" Ash asked as he approached her desk in the Celadon Pokémon Center. "I am expecting one here today or tomorrow I believe."

"Are you per chance Ash Ketchum?" The Celadon City Nurse Joy asked and Ash nodded pulling out his Pokedex so that she could scan it and confirm his identity, which she did before handing it back to him and continuing. "Alright so you are and you are correct, I do have a Poke Ball for you. It came from a location near Fuchsia City and the registry confirms that it is your Primeape."

"That is what I was expecting." Ash said with a nod as he pulled out the Safari Ball that held one of the 30 Tauros he'd caught in that ill-fated expedition to the Safari Zone and passed it over. "I want to transfer this back to Professor Oak's lab in Pallet Town please and the register Primeape as my 6th Pokémon."

"Of course, one moment." Nurse Joy said with a small nod as she headed back to the room behind the counter and initiated the transfer of Tauros back to Professor Oak.

Ash smiled as he nervously waited. It had been years since he had seen Primeape and he was hoping the meeting went well when he opened the Poke Ball again. He had been both eager for and dreading this moment ever since he and Anthony had talked in that roadside diner and knew that he would soon be reuniting with Primeape.

The HopHopHop Town Contest was a good distraction from this moment, especially because he'd somehow won it by beating Dawn in the final, but now that he was in Celadon and facing Erika in a week's time, her schedule was full until then, Ash couldn't put this off any longer. This was the perfect time to sort this out with only minimal damage as he'd be dealing with Primeape alone.

Dawn was currently sleeping after an intensive training session, something all her Pokémon were doing after she lost to Ash in the Contest, so Ash had the time to deal with Primeape. Dusk was starting to fall and Ash wanted to have this moment alone with Primeape, as well as all the training they would be doing together over the week.

Of course Pikachu was with him and fully onboard with the plan. He could tell that his trainer was worried about this but he would be there to make sure that things didn't get too of hand. Plus Bulbasaur was still one of Ash's choices for his battle with Erika and he also knew Primeape from back in the day and could help any problems should Primeape react like Pidgeot when it saw Ash again.

"All done." Nurse Joy said coming back out and breaking Ash from his thoughts and handing him a normal Poke Ball in return. "Your Primeape is in fine health. Have a good evening and let me know if there is anything else I can do for you."

"Thank you, I will." Ash said as Nurse Joy gave him a small nod before he left and headed to the deserted battlefield out the back of the Pokémon Center.

Once there Pikachu leapt off his shoulder and scampered out to the middle of the ground in front of Ash as Ash paused for a moment. Still holding Primeape's ball in one hand, Ash pulled out and threw Bulbasaur's as well so that both Pokémon were present for this.

"Bulbasaur." Bulbasaur said happily greeting Pikachu with a smile and his version of a handshake by using his vine before turning to look at Ash with Pikachu. "Bulba."

"Yes it is time." Ash said seriously as he approached his starter and longest continuously owned Pokémon that he'd caught. "Time for the return of an old friend. Primeape, come on out and say hello."

Ash held up the Poke Ball and opened it. A moment later the small ball of fur with arms and legs that was made of pure muscle and had odd metal cuffs at the wrists and ankles appeared in front of Ash. Instantly Primeape began hopping up and down in a fighting stance clearly ready for action.

As Ash saw his Primeape for the first time in years tears filled his eyes at the memories he had of it. He remembered it as a Mankey stealing his hat after he threw a rice ball instead of a Poke Ball at it. He recalled it evolving. Of fighting with it until Charmander finally defeated it. OF catching it as a Primeape. Of the Pokémon's rage and sheer power that was untrained. Finally Ash remember bonding with it during the P1 Grand Prix that they won. It all came flooding back to him in that moment, right before the tear became tears of physical pain as well as emotional pain.

Primeape had realized that he was with his trainer Ash again and was ecstatic about it as he hopped up and down chittering wildly in excitement at the sudden and unexpected reunion. Still, he hadn't forgotten how long it had been since Ash had put him in Anthony's care and decided that his trainer needed a reminder to not leave him for 6 whole years again. He had trained hard, become the best Primeape he could possibly be, and he wanted to show that to Ash. That was why he chose that moment to launch a Mega Kick right into the nearest part of Ash that he could reach, the trainer's groan.

Ash gasped and fell to his knees in absolute pain from that attack as he clutched the now swollen area in his hands. Now he had some sympathy for how Brock felt when Croagunk hit him in the boys with a Poison Jab because that hurt like hell and he was pretty sure that Primeape had used an attack and not just a normal kick. At least it showed just how strong Primeape was and if Ash was being honest he deserved the attack for forgetting about Primeape for so long.

"Wait guys." Ash gasped out trying not to retch as he held up a hand to stop Pikachu and Bulbasaur getting involved, the other still holding his now bruised testicles that he was not looking forward to possibly explaining to Dawn if they had some private fun in the next few days, depending on Piplup's mood of course. "I earned that attack and deserve the pain."

Ash then looked to Primeape who was chittering happily in front of him and bouncing on the balls of its feet. Clearly it felt no remorse for its actions, nor should it. Ash had been a bad trainer in forgetting about it and he'd paid the price for that.

"Primeape, I am so sorry for forgetting about you for so long." Ash said as he took in a deep breath, still on his knees on the ground. "Please, forgive me. We're together again and I promise not to send you away to train again, you clearly are well trained and no longer need a specialist, you need your trainer back. I am about to face Erika again and I need you by my side for it, this time I promise to use you. What do you say? Are you ready to battle with me again?"

Ash was crying now from both the physical pain he was in and the regret he had for forgetting about Primeape as he looked his old Pokémon in the eyes. The Pig Monkey Pokémon had calmed down a little but its beady eyes still met Ash's with a fierce determination in them as it held Ash's gaze.

Primeape saw that regret there and knew he couldn't be upset at his trainer any longer. Ash had done what he knew was best for Primeape back then and that decision had been what had driven him to become the best fighting Pokémon possible. Now he was back with Ash and had a chance to prove that Ash had made the right choice, he would make Ash proud.

Primeape chittered and nodded before holding out a fist to Ash. Ash smiled and with pain he fist bumped his newly reunited Pokémon. Primeape was back, it was time to get down to business and see just how good Primeape had become. Erika wouldn't know what hit her when he brought out this Pokémon.

"Alright Primeape." Ash said with a grin through his pain but still not standing up just yet. "We have a week to prepare for our upcoming battle so let's get to work. Why don't you show me…"

So that is what Anthony has been up to in the years since Ash and he met, not much but at least he's healed his family. Ash and Primeape having a touching and painful reunion as expected as well. As Primeape's return in the main series has been seen there really isn't much else to address here. The next Supplement will be out sometime after Part XXXIX and be similar to the 9th Supplement in that it is a post battle chat with a gym leader though it won't be nearly as heavy as the last one. There is also a Spinoff chapter for the luckshipping spinoff I have that will be released soon so I haven't forgotten about that either, it just has few events of note in it as Brock and Lucy are consummate professionals who don't have many adventures these days. Anyway that is all I have for now, please continue favorite and follow both me and this story to keep abreast with new releases and keep the reviews coming. Until next time.

Stringdog