The gang stood in front of a field on the outskirts of the city. While they did not yet know what the man had planned, Ash seemed eager to begin.

"So," said Ash, "how are we going to get our badge?"

"Well," the man said, "at least you're determined to win. Of course, determination alone won't be enough to win. For that, you're going to need something else."

The man then pulled out a pair of discs. They were both gray in color, and resembled a CD, albeit much smaller than usual. He passed the discs to Ash, who stared at them in confusion.

"What are these?" Meowth asked.

"Technical machines," the man answered. "Or TMs for short. They're used to teach Pokemon new moves.

"Really?" said Meowth. "What move can we learn?"

"They're steel type attacks," the man explained. "Iron Tail and Steel Wing. So they'll give you an advantage when fighting The Brock's rock type team."

"Cool!" Ash said with a smile. "How do we use them?"

"Well," the man said, "you have a Pokedex, right?"

"Yeah," said Ash as he pulled out his Pokedex. "What do I do now?"

"Push the button here," the man said as he pointed at the side of the device. "Then insert the TM there."

Curious, Ash pressed the button the man had indicated. Immediately, a slot opened up in his Pokedex, which he inserted the first disc into. As he did, a message popped up on his Pokedex.

"Booted up a TM. It contains Iron Tail. Teach a Pokemon Iron Tail?"

Ash pressed the button to confirm, before being given a list of his Pokemon. Unsurprisingly, neither Spearow or Caterpie were compatible with the move, but Meowth was.

He selected Meowth, and was quickly given a confirmation message.

"Meowth has learned Iron Tail!"

At the same time, Meowth grabbed his head and cried out, albeit more in shock than pain.

"Meowth!" said Ash. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," said Meowth as he rubbed his temple. "Just felt something weird in my head. Like… I know something."

"That means it worked," the man said. "Now it's time to practice."

He grabbed a pokeball and released a Pokemon, which greatly resembled Geodude. This one, however, was more silver in color, and had several chunks of rock attached to its head, as well as two large chunks above its eyes.

"Whoa!" Mikaela said as she bent down to look at the Pokemon. "That's a weird Geodude!"

"Eevee! Eev!"

"I think I know what it is," said Sam. "It's an Alolan Geodude."

"Alolan?" said Ash.

"Yeah," said Sam. "Apparently, the Geodude in Alola are part electric type instead of ground type. They have a very strong magnetic field around their body, which causes magnetic rocks to stick to it."

"Pika, Pikachu."

"Oh," said Mikaela. "I thought someone just glued on a bunch of rocks to it."

The rest of the group stared at her.

"Anyway," Meowth said as he got down, "I guess you want me to smack your buddy here with my new move?"

"Yeah," the man said, "that's the idea."

"You sure he won't get hurt?"

"He's part electric," the man replied, "he can take it."

Pikachu grunted, indicating that he wouldn't like being hit by a metal tail even if he was an electric type, to which Meowth just shrugged. He then lunged at the strange Geodude and swung his tail forwards. As he did, the tail began to glow.

"Iron Tail!"

Unfortunately, just before he could hit Geodude, the glow fizzled out, and his depowered tail slammed into the rock type's solid body.

"Yaaah!" Meowth cried as he clutched his tail. "Owowowowow!"

"Meowth!" Ash cried as he rushed up to Meowth. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," the normal type replied. "My tail isn't, though."

"As I said," the man said, "we're going to practice."

A short while later, Ash was still training with his team. In addition to Iron Tail, the man had also provided them with a TM for Steel Wing, which he had taught to Spearow. As for Caterpie, there hadn't been anything that they could teach him, so Ash had opted to have him keep practicing String Shot.

"One more time!" Ash called out. "Iron Tail and Steel Wing!"

Meowth cried out as he swung his tail forwards, while Spearow aimed with her wings. As their respective limbs began to glow, the Alolan Geodude lifted a pair of rocks around its body in self defense. The two steel type attacks hit the rocks with great strength, causing the rock shields to crack.

"Yes!" Ash cheered. "One more time!"

His two Pokemon jumped back, then tried to attack again. This time, however, the metallic shine of their attacks vanished just before they could land their hit.

"Agh!" Meowth cried as his tail slammed against the rock. "Not again!"

"Spearow! Spear!"

Caterpie, who had been sticking some rocks together, looked up in surprise, then crawled up to them.

"Piiiie?"

"We're fine, buddy," Meowth said as he clutched his tail. "We just… need more practice, I guess."

"I think it's working pretty well at the beginning," said Sam. "It's just that the move can't be sustained for more than a few seconds."

"So I'd have one shot to take out a rock type," Ash said, clearly worried. "That's gonna be a problem."

"Maybe," said Maria. "But they could probably use their steel type move again once they recharge. As long as they can avoid getting knocked out before that, you should be able to get another chance."

"I get it!" said Meowth. "Like a battery!"

"I guess," Ash said thoughtfully. "So I need to try for more hit-and-run type tactics?"

"Yeah," said Mikaela, "kind of like that weird Rattata."

Surprised by the girl's comment, the rest of the gang turned to see a small black rodent poking at one of their bags.

"Hey!" Ash yelled. "Go away!"

The surprised rodent quickly pulled its head out of the bag, and rushed off. As and the others quickly made their way to their bags, and began to check their belongings. Ash in particular pulled out his Pokedex and scanned the escaping thief.

"Rattata, the Mouse Pokemon. Alolan variant. Rattata's whiskers provide it with a keen sense of smell, enabling it to pick up the scent of hidden food and locate it instantly."

"And try to steal it," Meowth added.

"Luckily, we got here before it could take anything," said Sam.

"Pikachu, Pi."

"Alolan variant?" Ash repeated as he looked at his Pokedex. "Is that why it looks so weird?"

"Yeah," said Sam. "The Rattata in the Alola region became nocturnal in order to avoid being hunted by Yungoos, so they became part dark type."

"Eevee-vee!"

"That is super cool!" said Mikaela. "But if it's from Alola, what is it doing in Kanto?"

"I… don't know," said Sam. "I guess it got here on a plane or a boat somehow. But I don't know how it could have gotten on one to begin."

"Maybe it was looking for food and smelled something tasty on board?" Ash suggested.

As the others tried to figure out how a Pokemon from Alola had gotten to Kanto, Maria looked back at Rattata, who was still staring cautiously in their direction. It didn't look like it was starving, but it did look hungry.

It made her feel bad.

Slowly, she walked towards the mouse Pokemon, careful not to seem threatening. The black rodent tensed up, clearly ready to run away if the girl tried anything suspicious. Meanwhile, Ash and the others realized she had moved away and looked up in surprise.

"Hola," she said as she crouched down to meet it. "Me llamo Maria."

Rattata did not answer.

"Are you hungry?"

The dark type continued to watch her, still waiting for her to make a move. Realizing that she wouldn't be getting an answer, Maria reached into her bag and pulled out a sandwich.

"Here, why don't you have this?"

Rattata looked up in surprise. Why was the human offering it food? Humans always got angry when you stole their food. And yet this one was happily offering food.

Was it a trap?

Perhaps it was. But Rattata had barely eaten since it arrived in this strange land. And the food smelled really good.

Taking a chance, Rattata lunged and took the sandwich. It then began to rush away with its prize.

It was amazed that the human wasn't trying to chase it.

Meanwhile, Maria kept watching as the rodent rushed off. She smiled, then turned to face her friends, who seemed just as surprised as Rattata.

"Why'd you give that Rattata a sandwich?" Mikaela asked.

"I don't know," Maria admitted. "But it felt right."

"Well," the man said as he reached them, "that was certainly a kind thing to do. You must have a great relationship with your Pokemon."

"I suppose," said Maria as she scratched her head. "I don't really have any Pokemon, though."

"Oh my gosh!" said Mikaela. "That's right! We need to get you a Pokemon buddy!"

"Do I really need one?"

"Of course, silly! Everyone needs a Pokemon buddy!"

"Vee!" Eevee said in agreement.

As Maria tried to argue that she didn't need a Pokemon of her own, the Alolan Rattata watched them from afar.

In particular, Rattata was watching the blonde girl with great interest.

Meowth was getting better, no doubt. His Iron Tail was lasting longer, and was able to hit with more force. However, it would still fizzle out rather soon. Spearow was showing similar progress, while Caterpie was doing the best he could with his String Shot.

"You think we'll be able to get that badge?" Ash asked the man.

"Maybe," he replied. "Though, if you remember how badly he beat that other trainer, you'll know that you need to be really strong, or really well prepared. Or both, preferably."

"Well, we got prepared," Meowth said as he flexed his tail. "I dunno about strong, though."

"Still," said Sam, "as long as you stick to hit-and-run tactics and avoid damage, you might just be able to get that win."

"Neat," said Ash. "Then let's keep trying to win!"

He then rushed forwards, determined to become strong enough to beat The Brock. Amused by his enthusiasm, the rest of the group followed him.

Unfortunately, it was at that moment that the ground beneath them suddenly crumbled, causing them to fall in.

"Agh!" Ash cried. "What just happened?!"

"Did we just fall into a hole?" said Meowth.

"How did that happen?!" said Maria.

"The earth is trying to eat us!" said Mikaela.

"I'm pretty sure that's not what's going on," said Sam.

"Pikachu, Pika."

"Eev-Eevee!"

As the gang scrambled to figure out what had happened, Spearow floated down towards them, and Caterpie crawled down the side of the hole.

"Someone must have made a trap for us!" the man said. "But who?"

As if on cue, a familiar pair of voices made themselves known.

"Prepare for trouble!"

"Make it double!"

"To protect the world from devastation!"

"To unite all people within our nation!"

"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"

"To extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"

"Clefairy!"

"You guys again?!" said Meowth.

"What do you guys want this time?!" said Ash.

"Isn't it obvious?" said Jessie. "A talking Pokemon is a prize unlike anything we've ever found!"

"And if we can capture it, Team Rocket will be able to reach heights we had never imagined before!"

"Clef-Clefairy!"

"What?" said Maria. "Who are they?"

"They're a bunch of thieves!" said Mikaela. "They tried to steal our Pokemon back in Viridian City!"

"Can it, twerp!" said Jessie. "We're busy trying to steal your Pokemon!"

"Well you can forget about it!" Ash said as he grabbed Meowth. "There is now way we're letting you take any of our Pokemon!"

"Spearow!"

"Caterpie!"

"Oh really?" said Jessie. "And what do you plan to do? You're trapped in that hole, with no way out."

In response, Spearow flew upwards. Meanwhile, Sam let his Pidgeotto out so she could join in. Team Rocket stared at the two birds blankly, before letting out a sigh.

"Well," said James, "I suppose you could do that."

"Clefairy, fairy."

Despite their disappointment, they quickly grabbed their Pokeballs.

"Let's show them! Ekans!"

"Koffing, attack!"

The two poison types burst from their Pokeballs, ready to attack. Meanwhile, as Ash and his friends tried to lift themselves out of the hole, their Pokemon flew out of reach of their opponents before turning backwards to attack.

"Pidgeotto!" Sam called. "Use Quick Attack!"

"Spearow! Use Fury Attack!" said Ash.

Pidgeotto accelerated towards Ekans, slamming into the snake Pokemon with great force. Meanwhile, Spearow began to Peck at Koffing repeatedly, causing it to cry out in pain.

"Strike back, Ekans!" Jessie yelled. "Use Poison Tail!"

"Don't let them win, Ekans!" said James. "Smog!"

"Ekans!" Ekans yelled as it flung its tail forwards, slamming into Pidgeotto and Spearow. At the same time, Koffing filled the air with toxic gas, causing both flying types to cough as they struggled to breathe.

"Yes!" said James. "Now use Sludge!"

"Ekans, use Wrap!" said Jessie.

Ekans wrapped itself around Spearow and squeezed tight before flinging her away. At the same time, Koffing spewed out a glob of poison at Pidgeotto. The two avians cried in pain as they were sent flying back down into the hole.

"Ha!" Jessie laughed. "Your silly little Pokemon don't stand a chance against us!"

"Soon we'll be leaving with a big haul of Pokemon!" said James.

"Clef-Clefairy!"

Before Team Rocket could savor their victory, a pair of voices called out.

"String Shot!"

The two poison types were suddenly covered in string. Jessie and James stopped celebrating, and glanced down to see a pair of worms spraying their partners with string. More notably, their trainers had managed to escape from the hole.

"What?!" said Jessie. "How dare you attack my dear Ekans?!"

"And Koffing!" James yelled. "He's defenseless now!"

"That's the whole point!" Ash yelled as she shook some loose string from his hands.

"Now we're going to beat you!" said Sam.

With Koffing and Ekans now bound by string, the two bugs rushed forwards and tackled the two away, knocking them into their respective trainers. Before they could finish them off, however, they were hit by a blast of Fairy-type energy.

"Cattt!"

"Weeed!"

Clefairy's Disarming Voice knocked them both backwards, nearly causing them both to fall back into the hole.

"No, Caterpie!" said Ash.

"Hang on, Weedle!" said Mikaela.

"Well done, Clefairy!" said Jessie. "Those twerps and their Pokemon can be so annoying!"

"Now nothing can stop us!" James declared. "Finish it!"

Clefairy opened her mouth and took a breath, ready to unleash one more Disarming Voice.

But before it could use the move, something slammed into her, knocking her into the other two Rocket Pokemon.

"Clefaaaa!" the fairy Pokemon yelped as she crashed into her partners, who both let out a muffled cry of pain.

"What was that?" Meowth said as he looked at the collapsed Pokemon. He didn't need to wait long for an answer, however, as the one responsible rushed up to greet them.

Or rather, rushed up to greet one of them.

"Rattata!"

"You?" Maria said as she looked down at the misplaced rodent. "Why are you here?"

"Ratt!"

"We can figure it out later," said Ash. "For now, String Shot! Full power!"

"You too, Weedle!"

The two grubs shot out a huge stream of string, completely enveloping Clefairy and the rest of Team Rocket.

"Your turn, Meowth!" Ash commanded. "Use Iron Tail!"

"You got it!" Meowth called as he rushed towards the trapped criminals. His tail glowed with metallic energy as he swung it forwards, slamming them with such force that he sent them flying into the air.

"How could we be defeated by a bunch of twerps?!" said James.

"This is so unfair!" said Jessie. "We should be so much stronger than them!"

"Well, looks like we're blasting off agaaaain!" they cried in unison.

"Clefairyyyy!"

As Team Rocket vanished in the distance, Ash shook his head.

"I really hope we don't have to deal with those bozos again."

"Eh, I doubt it," said Meowth. "They'd have to be pretty dumb to follow us all around Kanto."

They then turned downwards to look at the Alolan Rattata who had just saved them. The mouse Pokemon didn't seem too interested in them, however, being focused solely on Maria.

"Uh, hi," the blonde girl said as she bent down to look at the little dark type. "Thanks for saving us."

"Rattata! Rat!" Rattata replied.

"I'm… glad to see you again," Maria said. "But what are you doing here?"

Rattata chirped excitedly as it looked at her intently. Meowth watched in fascination, then grinned.

"Rattata likes you," he said. "You're really nice for giving him food like that. He was real worried after he ended up lost far away from home, and didn't know if he'd be able to find anything to eat. Now that he knows that you got lots of food, he was hoping that he could go with you."

Maria blinked. She had not been expecting this.

"Rattata… wants to join me?" she repeated.

"That's awesome!" Mikaela said as she hugged Maria. "You finally got your own Pokemon buddy, Yellow!"

"My name's not Yellow," said Maria. "And… I don't know if I want to be a trainer."

"I mean, you don't need to battle if you don't want to," said Ash. "But having Pokemon by your side makes your journey way more fun!"

"Yeah!" said Sam. "After all, our Pokemon brought us all together. And they're gonna take us all over the world!"

"Totally!" said Meowth.

"Pikachu, Pika."

"Eevee!"

Maria looked around at her friends, then looked down at Rattata. The mouse Pokemon seemed eager to come with her, and was giving her a toothy grin.

"Well," Maria said as she began to smile, "I guess I wouldn't mind having un amigo Pokemon with me."

"Rat-Rattata!" Rattata said as he happily bounced into his new trainer's arms.

"As!" Maria said happily. "You're so sweet!"

As the two enjoyed each other's company, the man walked up to Ash and Meowth.

"That was a pretty strong Iron Tail," he said, clearly impressed. "I think you might stand a chance against The Brock after all.

"Really?" said Ash.

"Of course," the man said. "It still won't be an easy battle, but I'm positive that you might just be able to get a win!"

Ash and Meowth looked at each other and grinned.

"You better believe we're gonna get that badge!" Meowth said as he jumped onto Ash's shoulder. "Cause we're going to be the best!"

"Yeah, we are!" Ash said, his voice filled with determination. "So let's do our best!"

The two gave each other a high five. It wasn't going to be easy, but they were determined to get their first badge.

They then turned towards their friends, and particularly Maria and Rattata. Between managing to get the hang of a new move, their encounter with Team Rocket, and meeting a new friend, this day had been rather different from what they had imagined, but it had given them everything they needed.

And tomorrow would be even better.

A/N: Well, I thought this would come out sooner. Then again, I've never been good at getting things done quickly.

Anyway, with their newest move, looks like Ash and Meowth are ready to face off against The Brock! But will their preparation be enough?

Also, much like her manga counterpart, Maria's first Pokemon is a Rattata. That being said, I wanted to add a twist of my own. Thus, Alolan Ratty.