The sun was rather warm this particular day in Vermillion City. It was odd, as the season was Winter but there was no cloud to be seen in the sky. Hence, the warmer than usual weather.
Occasionally, the ocean breeze would gently appear since Vermillion City was placed near the water, which in a way, made the weather a perfect balance of hot and cold.
The trio sat on the many docks stationed around the city, dipping their feet into the salty water and slowly eating away at the popsicles Brock bought them. Well, in Serena's case, she was only able to dip one of her feet in the water.
"It's such a nice day." Serena commented. "It feels like Spring already."
"Spring is in a few weeks." Brock said. "Which means allergies are gonna be rolling in."
"Oh Arceus. Allergies." Ash made a face as if allergies were the worst thing in the world. "At least we can enjoy ourselves for a few more weeks."
"Yeah." Serena said as she basked in the sun.
It has only been a few hours since Ash's loss against Lt. Surge so most of his pokemon were being examined by Nurse Joy.
"When do you hope to challenge Lt. Surge again?" Serena asked.
"Hm… Maybe in a few days? I don't know yet." Ash said, taking his time to answer. "I want to take my time a little with Dusty. I feel like if I was able to use him more effectively, we could have won."
"Yeah, not to be rude, but if Dusty was able to contain his anger better, I'd say you would have definitely won. No doubt about it Ash." Brock said. "Just keep in mind that the rematch won't be the same. Lt. Surge might be harder now that he knows the way you fight."
"Yeah that's true." Ash said, seemingly content with the challenge.
"You seem to be taking this a lot better than I expected Ash." Serena remarked. "I remember my first loss against my rival in a performance. I felt devastated. Couldn't focus on training for the next few days just because I thought I had given it my all."
"You think so? I think it's a pretty normal reaction." Ash said. "Say, when're you planning on doing your next performance? I don't want to take too much of your time also."
"Because of my foot, I will be missing a few performances, but the one in Celadon is still possible to make." Serena planned out. "If things go smoothly, which it seems to be for now, I have about one more week to recover and another two weeks left to prepare."
"That's good. How is your foot feeling by the way?" Brock chimed in.
"Oh, it's okay. I think? Definitely better than before. Nurse Joy said I'll be okay soon." Serena said.
The group sat in silence as they enjoyed watching the various boats in the water. Periodically, they could make out some aquatic pokemons playing and splashing about. The school of Magikarps jumping out of the water or the group of Tentacools floating, it was a nice view.
"Say Ash, let me know if I'm going too far but uh… How are you feeling about Team Rocket?" Serena questioned. "You seemed a bit out of touch ever since the S.S. Anne."
The peaceful atmosphere became slightly disturbed as Serena asked her question. Even Brock, who seemed extremely calm, was listening closely to what Ash had to say.
Awkward seconds passed as Ash took a moment to answer. He did not feel like he was acting any different to his friends and family. But he would be lying if he said Team Rocket did not change his perspective or feel a certain way.
To Ash, he never understood why Team Rocket acted on such an evil agenda. And like everyone else, he did not know Team Rocket's goals either. Due to this, there has always been a stigmatized fear revolving around Team Rocket. An organization of criminals that terrorized people for no clear reason.
But after the events of the S.S. Anne, the fear of Team Rocket within Ash only increased as he experienced first hand how it felt to be a helpless victim in the face of danger. What if Paul never came? Did it even matter that Gary and him tried to help Paul stop Giovanni? Would the outcome have been any different if they did not offer to help? It seemed they were so powerless against Team Rocket.
"To be honest… After the S.S. Anne, I guess the best way to describe it is how much more afraid I have become of Team Rocket." Ash began his explanation.
"Well that's okay Ash. We're all afraid of Team Rocket here. I mean who isn't?" Brock immediately comforted.
"Yeah… I mean, I don't think I ever felt that scared in my life. When Cassidy and Butch had us cornered and Giovanni had the chance to hurt Gary and I. I… it's just a bit worrisome." Ash confessed. "What happens if we encounter them again? I mean, I am willing to put myself out there and do what's right. But, we might not get so lucky next time. If only I could… see things better, maybe I'll be able to… do things better."
"So, in a way, you're afraid that you're weak and can't protect yourself or those around you?" Brock summarized. There was more Brock wanted to add but he did not want to bring up much heavier topics such as his blind eye into the conversation. The last thing Brock wanted to do was bring up more insecure topics for Ash to dwell upon.
"I mea— Er… y-you could—… Yeah." Ash fumbled with his words.
"Try to look at it this way Ash. How long has it been since you started your journey? A month? Something like that?" Brock asked.
"Yeah, a month and a half. Maybe a bit less." Ash confirmed.
"And let's see, you've already collected two gym badges and came really close to getting your third. At the rate you're going, you'll have all eight by about five months into your journey." Brock estimated. "You do know you have until the end of the year to get all eight badges right Ash?"
"Yeah… but what does getting badges have to do with Team Rocket?" Ash asked in confusion. He could not see a correlation between the two completely different topics.
"Because the more badges, the stronger you are. It shows that you're growing into a stronger trainer." Brock said. "So don't worry about being too 'weak'. You're still a rookie that's inexperienced. Give yourself some time and I bet you'll be knocking these grunts down left and right."
"Yeah Ash, don't feel bad about it. You'll be a really strong trainer, I can just feel it. At that point, Brock and I will be depending on you for some extra protection!" Serena jubilantly smiled, successfully lightening the mood. "Plus, who's to say we'll see them anytime soon or at all really. We're just normal trainers at the end of the day."
"Thanks guys, I won't let you down." Ash said.
The group silently continued to sit at the docks, enjoying the view. Despite their silence, they were still comfortable with each other's company. It was quite odd when thinking about their relationship. You would not think they were friends that met only just a month ago. They seemed more like old friends who were travelling the country together for the tenth time.
And their chosen paths in the pokemon world were all very different. How is it that a rookie trainer, a seasoned performer and a student studying pokemon breeding, all became friends? The convergence in their paths in life was truly one in a million that will not last very long. Not because they hate each other, but because gradually, over the span of years into their careers, they will drift apart. That is what makes their bond one in a million after all.
But as bittersweet as it sounds, they still had their youth to enjoy and unknowingly, they were doing just that.
"Your pokemon all seem to be doing well. Just give them a few days to rest, they're all relatively sore and tired." Nurse Joy reported.
"Thank you Nurse Joy. I'll make sure they rest up. By the way, how are Pikachu's legs?" Ash asked.
"They are in perfect condition to walk but any overexertion or longer periods of time in training will be putting a lot of stress on them." Nurse Joy said.
"Okay, I'll continue to have Pikachu out of his pokeball so he can recover faster." Ash replied.
After the retrieval of his pokemon, Ash returned to the lobby where Serena was patiently waiting. Brock would have also waited but he had to take a mock exam on one of the pokemon center's community computers.
"How are they?" Serena noticed as Ash approached her.
"I just spoke to Nurse Joy and she said they're okay." Ash answered while releasing Pikachu from his pokeball.
"Pika?" Pikachu looked around, a bit confused as to where he was. He looked around to see the setting sun out the windows of the pokemon center and Ash towering over him. Allowing himself to be picked up, Ash gingerly placed him on his shoulder, making sure Pikachu did not have to take a single step for the rest of the night.
"Hi Pikachu. How are you feeling?" Serena greeted.
"Pi...kaaa." Pikachu drowsily yawned.
"I guess a bit tired huh?" Serena smiled.
Ash took a seat beside her, not really knowing what to do for the next hour. Usually, they would all go to Brock's room and mess around. Whether it would be studying or playing games, it was always in Brock's room.
"Say Ash, you don't mind me asking about your eye do you?" Serena asked. "I was curious about a few things but didn't know if it was okay to ask."
"Oh no worries, if you have any questions, just ask me. I won't mind." Ash somewhat lied. The reality of it was, Ash was afraid his blind eye would be used to invalidate his privilege to go on a journey. But speaking to Serena, it felt like an unlikely topic that would arise within their conversation.
"You've had that blind eye for how long now? Six years?" Serena asked her first question.
"Seven years. Actually, almost eight when I think about it." Ash answered.
"I'm assuming you're pretty well adapted to the lifestyle then?" Serena continued.
"Um, it depends. I've gotten used to walking and the basic necessities in life." Ash said. "But when it comes to running or anything fast-paced, I tend to lose my sense of depth."
"Oh, was it because you never got used to it?" Serena expanded on her question.
"In a way, sort of…? I don't like blaming my mom because in her perspective she's right. But before, my mom never really let me do any more outdoor activities for the next few years." Ash explained.
"Oh, that sucks." Serena sympathized.
"Yeah, once I turned ten, I managed to convince my mom to volunteer at Professor Oak's Reserve but at that point, learning new things just… took longer. Plus at that point, I was so used to playing it safe after the attack, I was being overcautious with everything." Ash carefully chose his words. "Which is why I never really got used to my blind eye."
"Have you ever thought of maybe taking off your eyepatch?" Serena asked out of curiosity. "Er… sorry if I'm asking too much, but it's just we never really get to see you without your eyepatch often. We just kind of accepted that you have one and moved on with life."
"Uhm, well, I prefer to keep my eyepatch on. I just think I look cooler." Ash cheekily grinned at Serena.
"Oh really now. Heh, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Serena teased.
"Oh come on. I don't look that bad." Ash exclaimed. "My mom says I look quite dashing!"
"Pffftt, haha!" Serena laughed. "I mean, I have no comment."
"What do you mean! Haha!" Ash laughed alongside Serena's contagious laughter. "Be honest, how would I do in a pokemon performance? Or look in a performance."
After a few more giggles, Serena gave more thought to Ash's question than what was needed. She began taking into consideration the possible outfits Ash would wear and how his eyepatch could be altered to complement his potential performance attire.
"Well… actually…" Serena's brain began going out of control as Ash became more attractive in her head. For some odd reason, she really wanted to see Ash put effort into his outfit for once. Maybe a nice suit and haircut would satisfy her imagination. In her opinion, when Ash was on the S.S. Anne, he did not look ugly. A bit of fine tuning and Ash would be good to go.
"You know… maybe if you grew a few more inches, you might just scrape by." Serena said, making sure to emphasize on his height as to not inflate his ego.
"Oh that again! I'm telling you, I'm in the middle of puberty. In a few months, things may change." Ash stated his truth. To be fair, Ash was not wrong. Boys are known to reach puberty later than girls.
"Mhm, puberty, the only thing I hear are squeaky voice cracks." Serena said.
"Okay, whatever, Ms. Beauty Queen. Just you wait, this late bloomer is gonna glow up." Ash jokingly announced.
"Who's going to glow up?" A booming voice shocked the pair. Out of instinct, both Ash and Serena simultaneously jerked their heads to face the source of the voice.
"Oh, erm, me. I guess." Ash managed to say once he realized it was Lt. Surge.
"You? Glow up?" Lt. Surge looked at Ash, obviously judging the rookie trainer's appearance. "Anyways."
Serena covered her mouth as she attempted to contain herself. Poor Ash, his appearance was not unappealing. He was rather average in terms of looks and even height. But he was such an easy target, Lt. Surge could not help but tease him a little.
"Did you need something, Lt. Surge?" Ash nonchalantly asked while taking a moment to glare at a giddy Serena.
"Yes, I wanted to speak to you, Ash. In private." Lt. Surge went straight to the point. "Come walk with me for a bit."
"Uhm, sure of course." Ash gently passed the now sleeping Pikachu to Serena. "Watch him for me real quick."
"No problem." Serena laid Pikachu on her lap. Ash looked at her with a confused expression but she only answered back with a shrug of her own.
Following Lt. Surge out of the pokemon center and into the chilly night, Ash could not help but feel a bit nervous. If there was one thing Ash took away from their battle, it was that Lt. Surge was not his biggest fan.
"Tell me Ash. Are all your pokemon… how do I say this? Handicapped?" Lt. Surge did not hold back.
"No. Dusty and Homura are perfectly normal." Ash said.
"I'm assuming Dusty is your Sandshrew and Homura is your Charmander?" Lt. Surge said.
"Uhm, yes that would be correct." Ash stiffly answered.
"I would not be so sure about you Sandshrew." Lt. Surge accidentally thought out loud.
"What was that? I didn't quite catch what you said." Ash said.
"Don't worry about it. But let me set this straight Ash. Your pokemon are not normal." Lt. Surge bluntly stated. "Maybe Dusty and Homura are not physically handicapped but one look at them and I already know they are mentally dealing with things."
"I understand and I am working with them so they will be the best they can be." Ash responded.
"That's good to hear." Lt. Surge nodded in approval. This came as a surprise for Ash but if it meant one less argument in his life, Ash would take it. "I took you out here because I wanted to apologize."
"Apologize?" Ash looked at the lieutenant with a bizarre look.
"Yes, I unfairly judged you during our battle. I blamed the fact that Giovanni escaped and the casualty on the S.S. Anne on you." Lt. Surge admitted. "Sorry for that. After our battle, I realized that a trainer like you who fought with a lot of heart would not have given up that easily. Giovanni and Team Rocket were just stronger."
"Wait, casua—" Ash was about to question but he was cut off.
"If I fulfilled my duty as a gym leader and gave you an actual three badge battle, then I know for a fact that you would have won." Lt Surge interrupted. "I'd like you to take this badge. It should have been my defeat."
A bit starstruck, Ash watched as Lt. Surge fished out a yellow badge from his pocket. Despite it being called the Thunder Badge, its appearance looked more like the sun than the expected lightning bolt.
"Congratulations. I look forward to seeing what you do from here on out." Lt. Surge warmly offered.
"T-thanks." Ash managed to stutter out. But before he could celebrate accepting the Thunder Badge, Ash had to ask about the casualty in the S.S. Anne. "What do you mean about casualty? I thought there were no casualties in the S.S. Anne?"
"Oh… Gary or Professor Oak did not tell you?" Lt. Surge asked. He took a moment to contemplate if he should be the one to tell Ash. "Well, there was one casualty. It has not been released to the media yet but the League has kept an updated record on it."
"Who was it?" Ash asked aggressively. "Is it someone I know? Someone near me at the time? Who?"
"Relax, Ash… keep a level head. Ever heard of stoicism? It's a good thing to understand and practice." Lt. Surge tried to change the subject but it was too late. Once Ash wanted to know something, he could not keep his mind off of it.
"If you're not going to tell me, I'm going to ask Professor Oak or Gary. And if they won't tell me, then I'll just go through League records once it goes public. I'm going to find out." Ash said the inevitable.
Suddenly realizing the reason why Professor Oak did not tell Ash, Lt. Surge bit his own tongue. He hated how stupid he could be sometimes.
"Listen here Ash." Lt. Surge slowly began. He figured if he was going to tell Ash, there would not be any beating around the bush. Just straight to the point. "The casualty was not a person. It was a pokemon. Gary's Raticate to be more specific."
An awkward silence forced itself between the rookie and veteran trainer as Ash suddenly stopped walking. It was so quietly abrupt, Lt. Surge did not notice and kept walking until he heard the audible clink of Ash dropping the Thunder Badge.
Obviously disturbed by the sudden metallic clang, Lt. Surge looked back at Ash as he blankly stared into space.
"Ash. Can you hear me?" Lt. Surge asked.
"Y-yeah. I can… hear you loud and clear." Ash forcefully said. He got on his knees to pick up his badge but it seemed he was having trouble.
"I know it's hard to take in. You need a minute?" Lt. Surge asked.
Ash only nodded his head as he was trying to process the new information. Right when he felt like things were getting better with Brock and Serena's encouragement, it seemed he was back to square one.
Lt. Surge decided to take a seat beside Ash on the cold ground. He felt remorseful for Ash. From what he had heard from Paul, it was Ash and Gary who attempted to stop Giovanni. The things Giovanni must have shown the Pallet boys must have been traumatizing, especially now knowing the result of them.
"You know kid. It's okay to cry. I've cried plenty while serving my time." Lt. Surge tried to soothe Ash.
"I don't want to cry." Ash sadly said but the tears were already streamlining his cheeks. "I feel like I've cried enough just to get where I am now."
"Well… you're crying anyways, so just let it out and wipe yourself with this." Lt. Surge tossed Ash his handkerchief. "You don't want your girlfriend finding out you were crying."
"Serena's not my girlfriend but whatever." Ash accepted the handkerchief and wiped away his tears.
"It may sound like I'm just talking about myself but I can relate to what you're feeling. You're angry at Team Rocket. Why are they doing this? You want to chase after them and make them pay. Right?" Lt. Surge recalled from his past. Ash did not immediately respond, which Lt. Surge mistakenly took it as him being correct.
"Is it weird that I don't feel those things?" Ash wiped away his remaining tears.
"Then what do you feel?" Lt. Surge asked. "Don't tell me you don't feel anything."
"No. I feel… I feel sad. And worried. If only there were things I could have done differently back then." Ash tried to describe his emotions and thought process. "And yes, I want Team Rocket to stop, but I also want to make sure Gary is okay. I know he probably partially blames me for his pokemon's passing."
"So you're sad because of actions you could have done to change the outcome." Lt. Surge finally hit the nail. He was a bit concerned about how unhealthy that line of logic was but he withheld his opinions."And going forward you want to make sure your friends are okay."
"Yeah…" Ash agreed.
This time, it was Lt. Surge who was quiet. He took a moment to think about every time he fought with Team Rocket after departing from the very same organization. How gullible he was, thinking that a few years in the military and in war would be enough to take down Team Rocket. This was before he knew that fighting Team Rocket was another war in itself.
"You know Ash, you Pallet boys remind me of people I know. You in particular, remind me of Sam. I guess you call him Professor Oak." Lt. Surge said. "He also had a friend who lost their pokemon in some incident. Afraid his maniac of a friend would get himself killed, Sam made sure his friend did not lose another pokemon. Kept an eye out for him."
"What happened to his friend now?" Ash asked.
"Well, last I heard, he went off to some far off region and became champion. But I also heard he was coming back to the Kanto region." Lt. Surge answered.
"Wait… you can't be talking about Alder, are you?" Ash connected the dots.
"That's the one. Alder. In his prime, he was the strongest trainer I knew. I'd say he was better than Sam. I don't know about now." Lt. Surge smiled as if he was reminiscing on old memories.
"It's common knowledge that Alder's first pokemon died but do you know how it died?" Ash questioned.
"No, I do not. It has always been a touchy subject for Alder and he never opened up about it." Lt. Surge said. "Say, how do you know him?"
"I'm in his Ranger program. Apparently, I'm his first trainee." Ash said with a bit of pride.
"Ohh, that's nifty." Lt. Surge acknowledged. "I know you're probably feeling like crap right now. But take it easy. Be there for your friends but also yourself. You hear me Ash?"
"Yeah." Ash mumbled.
"I can't hear you, Private! Are you going to take care of yourself?" Lt. Surge's voice changed into one you would hear in the military.
"H-huh? Uhm. Yes. Sir!" Ash straightened his back and looked back at Lt. Surge. His eyes were puffy but he gave it his best shot.
"Good. Now c'mon. Don't forget your badge." Lt. Surge reminded. "I'll walk you back to the pokemon center."
The stroll back to the pokemon center was a welcoming silence. From former opponents to two trainers that respect one another.
It was an hour before nine and the pokemon center was mostly vacated. Aside from Serena, there was the occasional straggler present but for the most part, the lobby was completely empty.
"Ash! You're back. Brock finished his test a few minutes ago but he said he was tired and went to sleep first." Serena greeted her friend's return. She immediately noticed his one puffy eye but decided to put it off until she was alone with Ash.
"It was good talking to you Ash. I have a feeling I'm going to see you sometime in the future, so see you around." The electric gym leader departed from the pair.
Once Lt. Surge was out of sight, Serena directed her attention to Ash.
"What happened Ash? You look bummed out. Is it Team Rocket again?" Serena asked.
Ash opened up to Serena, highlighting the important information in the talk he just had with Lt. Surge. Starting from receiving the Thunder Badge to Gary's tragedy, Ash relayed everything he could remember.
"So, Gary's Raticate…" Serena rhetorically asked. Pain was riddled in her voice and quite frankly, she could not believe what she was hearing. She knew Ash and Gary were completely wiped out but she did not expect the outcome to be so severe. But what Serena was finally starting to realize was fighting Team Rocket was not just a simple pokemon battle. It is a battle where you put your life on the line. You are up against criminals who would do anything they want to you if you lost to them.
"Please don't say it." Ash cut Serena's statement short.
There was an ominous pause as Serena and Ash sat there in silence. It was confusing how to handle such conflicting emotions. They understood the negative feelings they were harboring but they were in shambles as to how to act upon them.
The lights began to dim and Nurse Joy was walking towards them. A sign that the clock finally hit nine.
"I see you two are still up. I recommend both of you to go back to your rooms and rest but you are more than welcome to stay in the lobby for as long as you like." Nurse Joy walked past the two teenagers. Her words were a good reminder to Ash and Serena as it seemed they were both lost in thought. After Nurse Joy exited the building, the two looked at each other, understanding that they needed rest.
"I'll see you tomorrow then." Serena called out to Ash.
"Yeah. Goodnight." Ash replied.
"Goodnight."
Brock sighed as he walked down the bridge to Cerulean City. It has been a few days since they have returned and the overall mood has plummeted. With Ash being consumed with his training and Serena stuck recovering, Brock was left with an enigmatic mess known as teenagers. To be fair, Brock was also a teenager but he was also the adult of the group.
"Hopefully they will be in a better mood seeing my new Aerodactyl." Brock said under his breath. He was hoping the appearance of his new, extraordinary pokemon would push away some of the negative energy that has been present as of lately.
Aside from his friends, even Brock had his own problems. His studying has not been going as well as he had hoped. Evident in the last practice test he took in Vermillion City, he barely managed to pass.
But not everything is as terrible as it seems. Along with the new addition to the party, Aerodactyl, Brock managed to receive the phone number of a certain Frontier Brain from the Hoenn region. Maybe it was a stroke of luck or his 'heavenly charm' but Brock was in a rather optimistic mood from his streak of good fortune. With nothing but positivity in mind, Brock hoped to spread it to his sulking juniors.
Not knowing where Ash was training, Brock made his way to the pokemon center where he intended to find Serena first. He found her in one of the pokemon center's battlegrounds that were open for all trainers. It was not hard to spot Serena, she was the only person with an oversized cast on afterall.
But there was someone with Serena. Brock recognized his fiery hair and white garb from the Cerulean City's Pokemon Showcase. It was Alder, the former champion of the Unova region.
"I see. So your plan is to reach Lavender Town and use the tunnel there to reach Celadon City. It might take some time. Rock Tunnel is one of the largest caves in Kanto and much less forgiving than Mt. Moon." Alder cautiously warned.
"I'll keep that in mind but I think with Ash and Brock, we'll be okay." Serena said. "Plus, we won't be going until my ankle is all healed."
"Hey Serena. Nice to see you again, Former Champion Alder." Brock politely greeted.
"Oh! You must be Brock. Nice to meet you." Alder held out his hand to which Brock firmly shook. "Were you also at the showcase that day, Brock?"
"Yes, I was with Ash during the showcase." Brock answered.
"By the way, where is Ash?" Alder asked.
"He told me he was going to train near the Daycare again." Serena answered.
"Oh! I was just about to visit the couple!" Alder spoke out. "Two Pidgeys one Rock Throw."
"I was actually looking for Ash also, I just received my Aerodactyl and was hoping to show it off a bit." Brock said pridefully.
"Perfect! You can just tag along with me then Brock. Would you like to join us, Serena?" Alder asked the performer.
Serena looked back at her tired Pancham and Sylveon and weighed her options.
"Why not. I want to see Brock's new pokemon also." Serena made her decision as she recalled her pokemon.
With Alder leading the younglings, they made their way to the Daycare Center.
"So… an Aerodactyl? Quite the find Brock." Alder complemented. "They are quite the ferocious pokemon but surprisingly loyal and obedient when raised correctly."
"Yeah I heard. I'm really excited to start training one." Brock said.
"And Serena, I heard about the S.S. Anne incident from a colleague in Vermillion City. A shame really." Alder shared his condolences. "I hope you make a speedy recovery."
"Thank you Alder, but don't worry about me, I'm nearly done recovering." Serena replied.
"That's good to hear! Has Ash told you about the program he is in?" Alder asked. "I'm not trying to convince you to join but I want to hear how he feels about being in the program."
"Hm… he's never really spoken about it to me." Serena answered. "I know he's taking it seriously though. Going to Diglett Cave and studying with Brock."
"Okay, I'm glad to hear he's working to be a Ranger." Alder smiled.
"Ash doesn't talk about it much but he looks like he is enjoying his trainee life at the moment." Brock half lied. The amount of times Ash spent studying with Brock and complaining about scooping pokemon dung was borderline unhealthy.
"That's good, that's good." Alder took in.
The group proceeded to a clearing just outside the borders of Cerulean City. The landscape was full of grass that camouflaged the small hills throughout the area. The land was not ideal for training but if lucky, there were hidden spots where the plain was flat.
"Ash!" Alder called out.
Ash was in the middle of overwatching a struggling Luna trying to catch up with Aura. At the sound of his name, he took a few seconds to focus on his surroundings only to finally see Alder and his friends waving at him.
"Alder!" Ash reciprocated the wave. "What're you doing here? You even brought Serena and Brock."
"Ah, well, I was on my way to the Daycare and they just so happened to be going to see you." Alder said. "Now come on Brock. Show us your Aerodactyl. It's been years since I've seen one."
"It already came?!" Ash's eyes widened in excitement.
"Oh. Yeah." Brock mischievously held up a pokeball in his hands.
"Oh yeah?" Ash said, pointing at the pokeball in Brock's hands.
"Oh yeah!" Serena bubbly cheered.
"What is wrong with you three?" Alder looked at the three trainers in confusion.
Not wasting any more time, Brock tapped the white button. A glamorous glow sprouted from the now opened pokeball. The malleable light waned and bended from side to side before finally taking the shape of a prehistoric predator.
The extinct pokemon was a dark gray with purple leather for wings. It was smaller than an adult Aerodactyl but it was expected as it was considered a juvenile. But despite its smaller size, its eight and a half feet wingspan and four feet height was still formidable.
"Aerodactyl! Meet the team!" Brock introduced. A bit shy from the sudden appearance of unknown faces, Aerodactyl timidly circled and sniffed the group.
"Hm… a male." Alder noticed. "He seems to be gauging us. Determining if we are friend or foe."
"Wow, he has such a fierce look. He would be great in showcases." Serena commented.
"He's going to be a strong pokemon. Can't wait to see what he can do." Ash said.
"He's just a bit shy. He has already imprinted on me so if he sees me getting along with you guys, he'll probably warm up to you in no time." Brock said. "C'mon Aerodactyl, see, they're friends."
Brock patted Serena's back and high fived Ash. "Nothing to worry here!" Brock attempted to portray positive actions to his friends. "See this? I'm shaking hands. Look at my hand. Right here. Yes. I'm shaking hands with Alder."
"Yes, you see this? Frieeeeends okay? Friends Aerodactyl." Alder emphasized. The prehistoric pokemon simply tilted his head, seemingly perplexed at what was happening.
"Why are they speaking like babies?" Serena asked Ash as she was as confused as Aerodactyl by all the coddling.
"They're trying to introduce Aerodactyl to us." Ash said.
"Yeah, but… do they have to sound like that?" Serena pointed out.
"Well yeah, it's been proven that extinct pokemons have deadlier instincts and it's best to exaggerate positive gestures so they can be more docile around people and other pokemon." Ash explained. "Don't want them eating up other people or pokemons."
"Oh, I can see that." Serena said but deep down inside, she was feeling second hand embarrassment for Brock and Alder.
"Oh Aerodactyl! You're such a good boy! We're all friends here! All friends!" Brock cooed as he got in a group hug with the uncomfortable Aerodactyl and equally embarrassing Alder.
"C'mere Ash. Group hug. Aerodactyl, see! We mean no harm. We're all friends here!" Alder said.
"Wait, Ash— Oh Arceus." Serena facepalmed. Before she could say anything else, Ash also joined in the group hug, trapping Aerodactyl in the middle.
"Don't worry Aerodactyl, we're all good buds." Ash joined along.
"Come join us Serena!" Brock said.
"No, I'm good. I'll just wait until your bromance is over." Serena said.
"Okay, just make sure you get along with Aerodactyl so he doesn't mistake you for lunch." Ash said.
"Mhm, no worries, I'll make him a nice meal before he can do that." Serena nonchalantly answered. She was more intrigued at the weird mess of testosterone in front of her. And oddly enough, it seemed as though Aerodactyl was slowly accepting his fate and enjoying the physical contact.
Even Alder was smiling and giggling like a little kid. The group hug was more contagious and effective than what Serena had originally thought.
"Boys…" Serena grumbled.
"Well, I should check up on the Daycare couple. I'll be back in a few minutes." Alder notified. Releasing himself from the group hug, he walked away and towards the nearby house.
"What do you guys think?" Brock asked as the group hug ended. "I plan on getting some hands-on studying now so I'll be somewhat prepared when I have to do my residency in the future."
"Isn't residency something you do much later?" Ash questioned.
"Never a bad thing to practice early." Brock said.
"Fair enough." Ash agreed.
"I think he's amazing, Brock." Serena stared in awe at the majestic predator. "Now I really want one. The possibilities in performances would be endless."
"I'm hoping to get him used to battling and have him help out with the gym." Brock said. "The gym back at Pewter struggles to give battles that are seven or eight badges unless my dad is around. Hopefully Aerodactyl could fix the problem."
"So you plan on having him battle?" Ash clarified.
"Yep! Which means you got a new sparring partner, Ash." Brock grinned.
"Alright!" Ash turned to face his pokemon who were all resting from a heavy training session. It seems as of lately, Ash has been ramping up his training regime. "You hear that guys! A new pokemon to battle with!"
Ash's enthusiasm was matched with a chorus of groans and disappointment.
"Rioluuu."
"Piiiika."
"Rinaaa."
"C-char…"
"Saaaaand."
"Oh come on guys! It'll be fun." Ash tried to persuade but was falling short. Even after his persistent bombardment of potential benefits, his pokemon's groans seem to sound more dramatic.
As the group discussed the new addition to Brock's team and their plans for Lavender Town, the looming bitter taste of Team Rocket was slowly receding. Of course, something as shocking as the passing of Gary's Raticate may never fully heal but the scars of pain were better than the fresh cuts of pain.
Unfortunately, things were not so simple, especially for Ash. The process of healing may have begun, but the time it will take was lengthy. Unknowingly witnessing the death of his childhood friend's pokemon, the road ahead of Ash would be harrowing when he fully grasped Team Rocket's imposing presence in Kanto. This is only the beginning of something very terrible.
"Hm, so Lavender Town." Alder announced his sudden appearance.
The group noticeably jumped as they all realized they had been talking to each other without recognizing the champion.
"You didn't see him, Serena?" Brock asked incredulously.
"Yeah what gives?" Ash chimed in.
"No, I didn't see him. Why does it matter that I didn't see him? Why didn't you see him?" Serena threw the question back.
"I'm half blind." Ash pointed at his eyepatch.
"I don't have eyes." Brock said.
There was a moment of silence for the ridiculous things just said.
"Ahem, anyways, back to the topic. Lavender Town is quite far from here. Since you are also trying to go to Celadon City, Lavender Town seems very out of the way and counterintuitive to go to." Alder noted the flaw in their travel plans.
"With Saffron City being closed until further notice, it's hard to travel at the moment." Brock said. "The only way to get to Celadon City is through the underground tunnels. And the only tunnel that leads there is Lavender Town."
"Hm. That is true." Alder agreed. "But what if I could help you out? With your Aerodactyl and my Braviary, we could Fly to Celadon City in no time."
"You would do that for us?" Ash asked.
"Well, it would come at a price though." Alder brought to light his ulterior motive.
"A price? Do you want money or something? We're pretty broke, just saying." Serena said.
"No, not money silly!" Alder smirked. "Instead! Come join me and my grandson on an extravaganza camping trip in Viridian Forest!"
Sorry for any mistakes I made in this chapter. I will commit seppuku to pay for my sins. (Sorry not really)
With that out of the way, this is chapter 17. I'm still continuing with my trend if you have not noticed. After a big fight chapter, I go back to boring mundane, character building chapters. Though I will say, these are much easier to write. Usually, when I write fights, I do a lot of mental visualizing that's really taxing. With these chapters, it's just easier.
But yeah, so you might notice that this chapter is a bit darker with Raticate and whatnot but this is the route I want to take. I believe it adds more realism to the realistic approach I am taking with this story. With a terrorist group running around the country and stuff, death is not uncommon, especially when out in the field.
But on a lighter note, the next bonus chapter is coming up and I am very excited to write those. I really enjoyed writing the last one and had a blast. I'm hoping to make the next bonus chapter a lot longer but I feel like I don't really have too many ideas for it. Oh well. I'll worry about it when it comes.
Lastly, as always, thank you for reading. I have a lot of crap going on right now and to see people reading my story, it just, I don't know. It hits different you know? So thank you. And stay out of the heat. Summer is hot. Drink lots of water! And stay fresh.