Chapter 4: Galar Capture, Ketchum Style!
Authors Note:
Just want to apologize for this chapter not coming out sooner. Just needed a little break after writing 3 Chapters in a row and posting them back to back. But I hope you still enjoy this regardless!
Ash and his friends were walking down the pathway, down towards Wedgehurst. "So Sonia. How do we enter into the Gym Challenge?" Gloria asks. Sonia smiles as she begins to explain. "See, we have to take the train at the Wedgehurst Station to the Wild Area. From there, we arrive in Motostoke and enter Motostoke Stadium and get you guys signed in!" Sonia explains. Ash's eyes light up. "Man, I am so psyched!, Pika! Pika!" Ash and Pikachu said happily. Sonia giggled, liking Ash's enthusiasm. "Hey guys, wait!" A voice said. The group turns around to see Leon running up to them. "I almost forgot. Here!" Leon said before giving Ash, Gloria, and Hop a letter each. "Hm? What are these?" Ash asked. "These are my endorsement letters. It will allow you to enter the Gym Challenge." Leon explained. "Thank you, Leon! I almost forgot about that." Sonia said.
"You almost forgot one more thing." Another voice said. The group turns once more to see Professor Magnolia. "You two," Magnolia said to Gloria and Hop. "you're going to need these." She said, before handing them, two Dynamax Bands. "A few more Wishing Stars landed earlier and I made them into Dynamax Bands." Gloria and Hop's eyes widened as they take them and put them on their wrists. "Thank you so much, Professor Magnolia!" Hop said. The Professor smiled at them. Suddenly, there was a loud whistle, indicating that the train was going to go soon. "Oops! We got to go! Thank you, grandma!" Sonia said as the group rushes to get on to the train. "Those four seem to have a great bond already, don't you think?" Magnolia said. "Yes, they do." Leon replied.
The funds themselves a seat and sit down. "Man. I'm so excited!" Gloria said. "Hey, Gloria. I never asked this, but what is your goal?" Ash asked. Gloria looked a little taken aback. "Umm, I don't know. My goal right now is to challenge Leon. Which in a way, I guess that makes you my rival." Gloria said happily. Ash smiled at her before saying, "Alright! I declare us, as rivals!" He said. The two smile as they then shake hands. "You know Ash, you are surprisingly mature." Sonia said. "Hm? You think so?" Ash asked. Sonia nods as she then continues. "Yeah! I mean, you managed to connect with Scorbunny. Something that most other trainers haven't been able to do." She said. Ash looked down at Pikachu and Scorbunny talking and playing. "I guess you have a point." He said, smiling at her. "Hey, Ash. We don't know much about you. Can you tell us about any of your previous adventures?" Hop requested. Ash smirked as he began to talk.
"Yeah! Back in my home Region Kanto, I was joined by two friends of mine, Brock, and Misty. I took on all eight Gyms and made it to the Pokémon League. But unfortunately, I only made it to the Top 16." Gloria and Hop were in awe. "I'll admit after that loss, I lost a lot of motivation. Not to mention around half of my badges were given out of pity. But then I went to the Orange Islands and I learned a lot and bonded with my Pokémon. And I collected the four badges through our struggles and determination." Ash continued. "And then, I made it to the Orange League and took on the Supreme Gym Leader Drake. And I won!" Gloria and Hop were surprised even more. "Wow! That's awesome!" Gloria said. "That whole journey in the Orange Islands is what inspired me to travel the world. And I couldn't have done it without Pikachu and my other Pokémon." Ash said. Sonia was a little shocked. "Wow. You have a lot to experience under your belt." Sonia said. "Yeah, but I know I can improve. I want to learn from others, as well as develop my techniques and strategies as a Pokémon Trainer." Ash replied. "Well, I believe in you!" Gloria said. She and Hop raised their hands in the air and Sonia followed suit. Ash smiled as he finally raised his and the group high-fived.
Wild Area
The train had finally arrived in Motostoke, the group walking out and taking in the air. "Woah! Look at this view!" Gloria said as the group looked off in the distance to all the different locations and areas. "Galar sure looks amazing." Ash said a huge grin on his face. "You know, maybe we should take it a little slow. There's no rush right?" Ash said. "Well, I guess not. It doesn't start for another day." Sonia replied. "Alright then. Let's just have some fun and meet some new Pokémon!" Ash ran off with Pikachu to look at all the new Pokémon. "H-Hey Ash! Wait up!" Gloria said, running after him. "Don't forget about us!" Sonia and Hop said, following behind. The group walked around the area, looking at all the different Pokemon. There were some Pokémon Ash remembered, such as Onix and Butterfree, but there were also other Pokémon he hadn't seen, such as Grubbin and Skwovet. "Wow! So Grubbin comes from the Alola Region and Skwovet comes from the Galar Region!" Ash said, reading their information on his Rotom Phone. "Hey, guys! Look over here!" Sonia said. The group looked over at the water, seeing multiple water Pokemon, like Gyarados, Lotad, and many more.
Ash scanned the Lotad, getting the information about it. However, as he was looking through it, he heard a little ruckus nearby. He splits up from the group and goes to look at what it was. Looking over a bush, he saw a group of bird Pokémon. It seemed to be multiple Corvisquire, laughing at a little Rookidee. "Pika Pikachu? Scor?" Pikachu and Scorbunny looked over confused. "What are those Pokémon?" Ash said to himself. He scanned them with his Rotom Phone, getting the information about them. "Corv! Corvisquire!" One of them laughed. It got into a fighting stance, along with the Rookidee. The Rookidee charged at its evolution, trying to attack it with Peck, but the Corvisquire just laughed and hit it away into the bush using Pluck. "R-Rookidee..." The little bird said in pain. The multitude of Corvisquire's laughed at it. Scorbunny looked furious, as she jumped out and fired multiples Embers at the group. "Scor! Scorbunny!! SCOR!" She shouted at them. "Woah! Scorbunny!" Ash said, trying to calm her down. The Corvisquire proved to be cowards, however, as they flew away.
Pikachu went over and picked up the little Rookidee off the ground, with Scorbunny coming over as well. "Scor... Scorbunny..." She said, petting the little one's head. "R-Rook..." The little Rookidee looked sad. Ash bent down and picked it up. "I think I get it. Those Corvisquire's were making fun of you because they think you're weak?" Ash asked. Rookidee looked up and nodded. "Well, how about we fix that?" Ash suggested. Rookidee looked confused, but Ash continued. "How about I train you? We can get stronger together and take on those bullies again!" He said. Rookidee's face of sadness turned into a face of happiness as it nodded at him. "Ash!" Gloria said running over. "We were looking for you." Hop said. The group looked down and saw the Rookidee. "Aww, the little one looks beat up. What happened?" Sonia asked. Ash stands up and says, "This little Rookidee got bullied by some Corvisquire. So, I'm gonna train it!" Ash said, very determined. "That's so nice of you Ash!" Gloria said happily. "Alright, no time to waste! Let's go and train!" Ash said as he, his Pokemon, and Rookidee take off over to another part of the Wild Area. "H-Hey! Wait up!" The group said, running back to him.
Ash stood in front of Pikachu, Scorbunny, and Rookidee. "Alright, the first thing we should do is increase your battling skill and learn new moves. Let's start with the latter first" Ash said. He looked at the data on Rookidee, seeing what moves it can learn. "Hmm. Alright, let's start from the bottom and make our way to the top." Ash said. They then began to train. After a little while later Ash said, "Alright Rookidee, fly up and high and slam down at Pikachu! Use your wings to attack!" He then began to record it. Rookidee did just that, as it clapped its wings rapidly, flying down at the electric mouse. "Pikachu, try and dodge it!" Ash said. Pikachu jumped and Rookidee missed, but it turned around quickly and slammed Pikachu with its wings. Ash stopped the recording and scanned it to see which move this was. "Rookidee had learned Dual Wingbeat." The Rotom Phone said. "Alright! Great work Rookidee!" Ash said proudly. The Rookidee happily flew over to Ash and hugged him, with Ash hugging him back.
As their training continued, Pikachu and Scorbunny got some gains from it as well. "Alright, Pikachu! Let's try that again! Scorbunny, Ember!" Ash said. The Scorbunny rubbed her nose confidently, as she shoots an Ember from her mouth and towards Pikachu. "Alright Pikachu, let's try this again! Swing your tail and use Iron Tail!" Ash said. Pikachu concentrated, trying to build up the power inside him. At the last second, he swung his tail, now in a coat of iron, hitting the Ember away and into a nearby lake. "Great job Pikachu!" Ash said. Scorbunny smiled, as she ran in at Pikachu using Quick Attack. Pikachu smirked as he used Iron Tail once more to counter it. At the last second, Scorbunny attempted to counter with the sudden and newly learned Double Kick. "Wow! You learned Double Kick! You guys are awesome!" Ash said. He was proud of all this work. Rookidee's training didn't stop yet, however. "Alright Rookidee, try again!" Ash shouted happily. Rookidee nodded, as it concentrated and built up the power inside him. It then spins and spreads its wings, as a large orange aura surrounded it. "You did it!" Ash said. He scanned the Rookidee as the Rotom Phone said, "Rookidee has just learned Hone Claws."
All-day they trained harder and harder. Gloria and Hop later joined in with Grookey and Sobble respectively, while Sonia studied how Ash's Pokémon acted, getting some research done to send to Professor Magnolia. But eventually, it was time for everyone to go to sleep. Gloria and Ash set up the campsite, Gloria spoke. "You know Ash, you are confident when training your Pokémon." She said. Ash smiled and said, "Thanks. I just know if I place my trust in them and they trust me, I can do it." Ash said. "Yeah. It kinda makes me jealous." She said with a slightly sad tone, but it caught Ash's attention. "What do you mean?" Ash replied. "Well, you're just so good. I'll never be as good as you if I'm going to be a trainer." She said. Ash then put a hand on her shoulder. "You just started your Pokémon journey. You won't always be the best at the beginning. But with enough time, you can be just as good as me. Heck, I still have a long way to go." Ash said. Gloria looked at Ash before Ash spoke again. "All you have to do is to trust your Pokémon, have your Pokémon trust you, and most importantly, trust yourself just as much." Gloria paused, before smiling. "Thank you, Ash... That means a lot." She said.
As the two finished up the tents, Rookidee came over to Ash. "Hm? What is it?" Ash asked. Rookidee bumped into Ash, causing a Pokeball to fall out. Rookidee then looked at Ash, before smiling, taping the Pokeball, and going inside of it. The ball then shook three times before clicking, signally the capture. "Wow! I guess Rookidee wants to stay with you, even after it fights those Corvisquire bullies." Gloria said. Ash smirked as he picked up the Pokeball. "Alright, come on out!" Ash said as he threw the Pokeball. It opened and came out Rookidee. "Rook! Rookidee!" It flew down to Ash and hugged him, with Ash hugging and petting it. "Hey, guys! Come and have something to eat!" Sonia said, with Hop already chowing down on his meal. Ash and Gloria giggled as Ash ran over to Sonia and Hop, as they then began to eat. Pikachu, Scorbunny, Sobble, Grookey, and Rookidee all began to eat as well. After dinner, the group then headed off to their tents. Sonia and Hop in one and Ash and Gloria in the other. They all then fell asleep, after a very successful day.
The next day had rolled around. "Rook! Rookidee!" Ash's Rookidee had pecked him a little bit, trying to get him to wake up. "Hehe, so you're excited huh?" Ash said. He yawns as he gets up. "Morning Ash!" Gloria said. "Oh hey, Gloria. I guess we should get going." Ash said. Gloria nodded as the two get out of the tent and pack everything up. "Alright, let's go and teach those bullies a lesson!" Hop said. "It's just going to be a friendly battle. We aren't going to completely pummel them." Ash replied. He looks at Rookidee before saying, "Hey Rookidee. Can you take us to where those Corvisquire are?" Rookidee nodded, as it begins to fly. Ash and the group follow after it.
"Do you think Rookidee's training will be enough?" Sonia asked Ash. "Yeah, I think he'll fine." He replied. As the group gets worried, Rookidee flies faster. Ash noticed he looked distraught. The closer they followed him, they noticed a damaged Corvisquire. "Rook! Rookidee!" Rookidee talked to the Corvisquire. It replied to him, saying something rather long. "What do you think they are talking about?" Gloria asked. Ash felt a weird knot feeling in his stomach. This sort of situation seems all too familiar.
Suddenly, they heard an explosion. "What was that?!" Sonia said surprised. Ash had an angry expression on his face. "Sonia! Gloria! Please take care of that Corvisquire." He said as he quickly ran off, with Pikachu and Scorbunny following behind him. Rookidee saw Ash leaving and quickly flew after him. "I'll come with you, Ash!" Hop said, running after him. "Gloria! Do you have any healing potions?" Sonia asked. "Yep! Right here!" Gloria replied.
Ash and Hop arrive at the sound of the explosion, seeing a net of multiple Pokémon inside. "What the?! Who would dare do this?!" Hop shouted. "That would be us!" A feminine voice said. "I knew it." Ash said. A total of two people and a Pokémon could be seen, a female figure with long pink hair, a male figure with short purple hair, and a Kantonion Meowth. "Who are you?!" Hop shouted, demanding an answer.
"Prepare for Trouble, we have returned!"
"And make it double, the tables have turned!"
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie!" The female figure said.
"James!" The male figure said.
"Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"
"Meowth! That's right!" The Meowth said.
"Team Rocket?" Hop asked. "Yeah. They are a group of bad guys who always try to steal wild and other people's Pokémon. Especially my Pikachu." Ash replied. Hop's look of confusion turned into a face of rage. "Well, in that case, I won't let them take these wild Pokémon!" Hop said as he threw a Pokeball, sending out his Sobble. Ash's Rookidee looked at the net and saw a group of Corvisquire. "ROOK! ROOKI!" He flew over to the net but Jessie threw a Pokeball and sent out her Arbok, which went and attempted to attack Rookidee. "Pikachu! Use Quick Attack!" Ash shouted. Pikachu took off at blitzing speeds and smacked right into Arbock, knocking it back. "Weezing! Go!" James sent out his Weezing, along with Meowth joining alongside them. "That Meowth looks a lot different from the usual ones in Galar. Whatever Sobble use Water Gun!" Hop shouted. A blue glow appeared in front of Sobble's mouth, before firing it at Meowth. "GAH! You're going to pay for spraying in my face"! Meowth said, as he charges in and prepared a Fury Swipes. "Scorbunny! Use Double Kick!" Ash shouts. Scorbunny charges in and lands two swift kicks to Meowth's face, knocking him out for the time being.
"Weezing! Use Sludge!" James calls out. Weezing closes its mouth, before releasing a ton of poison from its mouth and at the Pokémon. "Dodge it!" Ash and Hop said. Pikachu and Scorbunny dodge, but Rookidee and Sobble were hit. And unfortunately for Rookidee, he was poisoned. "Oh no!" Ash said. "Now Arbok! Use Poison Sting!" Jessie calls out. Arbok charges at Ash's Pikachu, but Rookidee still makes an effort and takes the hit to protect Pikachu. "Rookidee!" Ash said. Rookidee looks at Ash and nods. Ash pauses but nods back. "Alright! Use Hone Claws!" Ash shouted. Rookidee surrounded itself in an orange aura, increasing its attack and accuracy. "Hmph. Now Weezing, use Sludge once more! And Arbok use Headbutt!" James and Jessie called out respectively. "Pikachu and Scorbunny, Iron Tail and Quick Attack on Arbok! And Rookidee, use Dual Wingbeat on Weezing!" Ash calls out. Pikachu and Scorbunny use their attacks and hit Arbok away and into Jessie, making her very angry, and Rookidee dodges the Sludge and lands two clean hits on Weezing with his wings, but falls due to being hurt by the poison.
"Now's our chance! Use Water Gun and cut the net!" Hop said. Sobble nodded as it fired a large water spray from its mouth, cutting the rope and releasing the Pokémon. However, the Corvisquire and some other wild Pokémon were still very weak from being attacked before. "Arbok! Don't let them get away!" Jessie called out. Arbok jumps at the wild Pokémon, before being hit away by Rookidee's Peck. "Grrr! Stupid bird! Arbok! Attack with all you got!" Jessie said. Arbok once again charges, this time at Rookidee. "Alright! Take high into the sky!" Ash shouted. Rookidee flew up and dodges the attack. "As you fly, use Hone Claws, over and over!" Ash said. "I won't let you! Weezing, fly up and use Sludge!" James said. Weezing begins to fly up but was then hit by Scorbunny's Ember and Pikachu's Thunderbolt, managing to knock out Weezing. "Keep it up Rookidee!" Ash shouted. Rookidee was growing immensely powerful every usage, although having some trouble because of the poison. "Now! Swoop down and use Dual Wingbeat!" Ash said. Rookidee's eyes were filled with determination as he swooped down at the Arbok. "Jump and had Double-Edge!" Jessie called out. Arbok bounced high at Rookidee, attempting to do massive damage, but Rookidee dodges to the side and hits Arbok twice with his wings and into the ground, making the Pokémon faint.
"It's time to end this! Use Thunderbolt/Water Gun!" Ash and Hop shouted in unison. Pikachu and Sobble fired their attacks at the villainous trio, sending the three blasting off. "What an awful feeling!!" Team Rocket said as they disappear into the sky. "We did it!" Ash and Hop said, high-fiving one another. Ash quickly ran over to Rookidee and picked him up. "You did very good." He said, giving the bird Pokémon a Pecha Berry to heal the poison. "Rook... Rookidee!" Rookidee instantly flew over to the group of Corvisquire. Ash went into his bag and grabbed a Super Potion and bent down to the bird Pokémon and spraying them with it, along with the other injured wild Pokémon. "There you guys go. You should be somewhat better now." Ash said. The wild Pokémon went off, with the Corvisquire looking at Rookidee. The one that Rookidee battled yesterday went up to him. "Corvi... Corvisquire." It said. Rookidee smiled proudly, before shaking wings with him. The Corvisquire smiled back as they became rivals.
"Ash! Hop!" Sonia and Gloria shouted. "You two were amazing! You did such a good job!" Gloria said. "What she said. I'm impressed you two!" Sonia said. Ash and Hop blushed a little from the compliments. "It wasn't much." Ash said. "Yeah! What Ash said!" Hop replied. "But anyway, I think it's about time we go and apply for the Gym Challenge!" Ash said. "Agreed!" Gloria and Hop replied. "I'm rooting for you guys. I'll be here all the way!" Sonia said. The group smiled, as Ash's Scorbunny went by his side and Pikachu and Rookidee went on his shoulders. Hop's Sobble and Gloria's Grookey went on their shoulders respectively as well. After all of that, the group finally heads for Motostoke.
And so, Ash had made and caught a new Pokémonfriend. With a new upcoming powerful Pokémon on his side, he is feeling confident about taking on the Gym Challenge, along with his other friends. What will happen in this next chapter? How will Gloria and Hop do? And is there something special that Sonia can research? Find out the answers in the upcoming chapters.
To be continued...