Journey of Strength
Chapter 1
"This last week has been too stressful", Samuel Oak says to himself as he rubs his back, "and of course, of all the times for there to be a tie for the starter selections, I have no way of giving out a fourth." Of course what he is referring to is the yearly selection of rookie trainers who decided to wait a little longer to get league sponsored for their journey. Each potential trainer, when they turn 13, are allowed the option of beginning their journey's immediately with no initial help from the league for them to attain a starter, or they can choose to spend an extra year where the regional league will teach them how to cook, how to care for Pokémon in general, allow them to learn from under some of the greatest professors in the world, and the top 3 students will be given a formal starter Pokémon. With those who score under the top 3 being taken out to a route near their home with an ace trainer and catching a weaker Pokémon that the ace trainer believes can be trained by a rookie or being given an egg for a random Pokémon to raise after it hatches. Now with this incentive obviously young trainers will do their best to get the best scores and, because of this, there have been times where 4 students, and a very rare 5, have all tied in the rankings. Now normally each regional professor keeps a pair of each starter in case of something like this happening. However, with the recent discovery of Mega Evolution, mainly the Mega Evolutions of the Kanto starting trio, Professor Sycamore of Kalos asked his Kanto-based colleague, Professor Oak, if he could raise one of each Kanto starter until they evolve to their final forms and can utilize the mega stones power. And if a Pokémon is trained for the mega evolution, and near the mega stone energies for most of their lives, if it would affect the mega evolution. Intrigued by this idea Professor Oak agreed. Because of this, when Professor Oak was informed that there was another 4 way tie for the league sponsored students he began searching for any way in which he could get a fourth starter. Only to be met with disappointment in each turn, whether it be the breeders telling him the eggs and newborns couldn't be separated from their mothers for a number of months more, or the older Pokémon being too experienced and too close to evolution for a new trainer to have. Reaching the end of his ideas he calls Professor Sycamore to ask him for one of the starters back for a new trainer. However…
"What do you mean, they've evolved already¬? They've only been in your care for a month! And I know when they left me they had no experience at all! They were newborns, even." Professor Oak was in for more disappointment, it seems.
"It appears that when a Pokémon is near the mega stone energy for their final form to evolve," Sycamore began, "their natural energies react in a way that makes the Pokémon want to do nothing more than reach a peak where the mega stone would help them. The charmander you gave to me took one look at the stone and trained for a week straight, barely stopping for food and water, not even wanting to rest until it evolved. And while the Squirtle and Bulbasaur gained a large desire to grow more powerful quickly, we were able to slow them down enough to sleep. Those two evolved about 4 days ago, and all of them are still intensely training."
"Well, do you have any suggestions on what I can do? Because every breeder I ask tells me that they don't have any they can give me. I'm guessing this is why you asked me in the first place?" Oak asks, "I really can't just tell one of the trainers 'oh, sorry, but all the extra starters I had are being used to see how mega stone energy works with their growth', most ace trainers aren't even aware of what mega evolution is with how tight lipped the league wants it to be, so there is no way that the children would even begin to understand why they aren't getting a starter."
"Hmm…" Sycamore took a minute to think on the problem. "I, may, have a solution. It might not work, but I have a Froakie here that after a few battles with a new trainer refuses to battle with them anymore. To the point that he has run away from them when called out and returns back here, maybe one of your trainers could use him? I think it's because the rookie trainers of Kalos don't get as much practical battle experience with our school as the other regions."
"Well," Oak began, "If Froakie is looking for battle experience we are in luck. Two of the trainers do have some experience from the mock battles I would allow them to do with my Pokémon. When the hopefuls would visit I would allow some of them do some mock battles with some of my team, using their weaker attacks only of course. No need to reshape Pallet on the whim of youngsters. But, two of the trainers showed a high level of understanding battle, much more than other hopefuls tend to have. If I have the two battle for Froakie, he should be fine with them."
"Perfect! I'll go collect Froakie and send him to you in an hour." Sycamore says as he ends the call.
Professor Oak leans back in his chair and sighs. "I really hope you two have a good showing, if not one of you won't have a starter for a few months, and that really isn't something I want for either of you."
3 Days Later
"Ok, everyone, I hope you are prepared!" Oak exclaims happily toward the four young trainers, two of which are still looking around the lab excitedly. "Now, before we begin I should warn you of something. Due to circumstances regarding some research I was able to assist in, we do not have the typical extra set of starters like I normally do."
One of the children, Leaf, was dressed in a blue shirt and red skirt with knee-length socks pushed halfway down her legs with a white hat with red trim around the inner rim of the hat and had brown, waist-length hair. Another, Yellow, wore a yellow cap to cover her dark blue hair with pigtails that somehow stuck up once it reached shoulder length and wore a white jacket over a red shirt and yellow shorts. The two children focused on Professor Oak, Gary and Ash wore clothes a little less colorful. Gary was wearing a purple long sleeved shirt with jeans and basic brown boots. Ash meanwhile, wore a red cap with a white front and Indigo League symbol, with a black t-shirt with a blue and shite short sleeve jacket and jeans. They were all surprised by Professor Oak and he could see hints of worry on their faces. "Not to worry," Oak said quickly. "Not to worry, you all did request different starters, aside from Gary and Ash, so there isn't any real worry for you two, Leaf and Yellow." At this he handed them both the Bulbasaur and Charmander pokéballs, respectively. After which, they thanked Professor Oak, wished the others luck and left, too excited to start their journeys to wait.
"I was able to get a possible replacement that might work for one of you," Oak continued, "however every breeder I talked to was unable to get me a Squirtle. Either they are too old to be a starter and are close to evolving, or too young and can't leave their mothers yet. Instead, one of you will receive the Water-type starter of Kalos, Froakie. Be warned, however, this Froakie has already proven that he will not abide by rookie mistakes with his trainers. Apparently this Froakie has run away from his trainer multiple times after finding them unsatisfactory in battles. Fortunately for you two, I believe that either of you have enough experience from practice battles for him to deem you acceptable." Professor Oak finishes his warning by releasing both Squirtle and Froakie, who immediately focused on the two prospective trainers.
Both Ash and Gary look a bit surprised and excited at the idea of possibly training a Pokémon from Kalos. Froakie, however sees something both of them. After looking back at Oak, he looks back at both of them and seemingly can't decide who to go with. Gary looks at Ash and has an idea on how to solve who should train Froakie.
"Hey Gramps, why not have Froakie watch Ash and I battle? Then he can see how good we actually are and decide who to go with."
Ash smiles at this idea and exclaims, "Yea! That sounds great! It's been a while since we were able to battle anyway." Froakie looks back at Professor Oak and nods enough to almost fall over, which he responds by laughing at.
"That sounds like a great idea, actually. And it seems as though Froakie agrees. Let's head to the battlefield."
Ten minutes later, Ash and Gary are on opposite sides of a battlefield, both holding a pokéballs, ready battle. Froakie and Squirtle excitedly watching alongside Professor Oak, who is acting as a referee for the match.
"This will be a 1-on-1 Pokémon battle, which will end when one side is unable to battle, are both trainers ready?" They both nodded, "Begin!"
Ash and Gary both threw their pokéballs, with Ash releasing a Poliwrath and Gary a Golduck. Both of them agreeing to use a water type to prove to Froakie and Squirtle that they could use either one well in battle.
Ash was the first one to give a command, "Poliwrath use Rock Slide!" Poliwrath jumps high with his fists glowing a dark brown color
"Golduck, counter them with Brick Break, if you get a clear shot, use Psychic." Gary said, sounding fairly calm despite looking worried about the incoming attack.
As Poliwrath's attack reached an apex he began punching the air, only for large rocks to come from his fists. Golduck responded by raising her arms with them glowing the maroon color of fighting energy and breaking any rocks that came close. Despite missing a few rocks, and wincing from a few small bruises, Golduck got a clear shot at Poliwrath and the jewel on her head glowing. Poliwrath instantly dropped to the ground near Golduck, yelling in pain as the psychic attack started putting pressure on his mind.
It took Ash a moment to remember how to counter Psychic attacks. "Poliwrath, use Payback!" Typically for a Pokémon to be able to fight a Psychic-type, it needs to be able to focus Bug-, Ghost-, or Dark-type energy to interfere with the Psychic-type energy, and Poliwrath, thankfully, had one such move. Payback being a Dark-type attack that increased in power if there was something hurting the user. Poliwrath jumped up, fists glowing a dark black and punched Golduck before she could react, thrown completely off balance and doubled over in pain.
"Dynamic Punch, Poliwrath! Keep up the pressure!" Ash yelled, happy that he was able to remember the counter to Psychic. Poliwrath responded with a simple grunt and his fist glowing the same color as Golduck's did with Brick Break, but a much deeper and brighter color.
Gary panics a little and yells, "Golduck, get away with Aqua Jet!" But before Golduck can actually form the energy for Aqua Jet, Poliwrath's attack connected and sends Golduck flying backward.
Ash grins, "Alright Poliwrath, one more Rock Slide should be all you need!"
"Golduck, use Calm Mind and then blast everything back with Synchronoise!" Gary yelled hoping that Golduck would be able to stop the Rock Slide with the powerful Psychic attack. Synchronoise is different than other psychic attacks by needing trace amounts of the same energy of the user, along with raw Psychic-type power to hurt opponents, but rather than attacking the mind like other psychic attacks, Synchronoise is actually a sound-based attack.
A moment after Golduck closed her eyes, they snapped open and her jewel glowing brighter than before, launching an attack silent to the humans watching but making Squirtle and Froakie wince slightly at the apparent noise they were hearing. Their response was much more mild than Poliwrath's who yelled again and stopped his attack.
"Payback Poliwrath!" Ash yelled. Poliwrath immediately molded dark energy around his fists and used gravity to launch a devastating punch at Golduck as he fell, knocking her back before she fell unconscious a moment later.
"Golduck is unable to battle!" Professor Oak called, startling both Gary and Ash who forgot that they had an audience. "The winners are Ash and Poliwrath. That was an exceptional battle you two, I am proud of how you both performed." Froakie decided to hop over to Gary and pat his leg for a moment before hopping over to Ash and sitting on his shoulder.
Ash smiled and rubbed Froakie's head, "So you're choosing me buddy?" Froakie simply nodded in response.
Gary smirked and looked at Squirtle, "So, do you want to come with me Squirtle? That match was just a taste of what we'll be able to accomplish." Squirtle nodded back and flexed his little arm in response. Gary then turned to Ash, "That was a nice battle, I thought for sure I had you with Synchronoise.
"I am very proud of how you two battled with your Pokémon." Professor Oak said, "You were both able to use your Pokémon to a high level, despite them not being yours, nor having trained them." With that Oak got the pokéballs from them and gave them their starter's pokéballs in return.
After another moment of rubbing Froakie, Ash speaks up, "Well, I say we head out already. We only have 8 months until the next Conference, after all. I'm going to the Forest soon. A Pikachu or Butterfree would be great help for Froakie."
With the Kanto Gym Circuit starting in just a few days and only lasting 8 months so the winner has time to challenge the Elite Four in the remaining 4, Ash didn't want to waste any time. It also gives Gym Leaders the ability to train any of their Pokémon and decide which 6 they will allow rookies to fight for their first 4 badges. Typically, until a rookie has 4 badges, their team is too weak to handle a Leader's fully trained Pokémon. So a Leader will have a team of Pokémon that are about the skill level of a rookie trainer's that they must register with their regional league to make sure there is a fair chance for new trainers to begin their journey. Once a rookie has 5 badges, they will get to fight a Leader's real team, but in a handicap match in their favor, 2-on-4, and then 3-on-5 for a rookie with 6 badges. Once a rookie trainer has 7 badges, however, he is deemed to have sufficient skill to fight a Leader's real team and fight in the normal 4-on-4, unless the leader wishes to have a smaller or larger battle, able to decide on a 1-on-1, or 6-on-6, depending on if they have any other pressing responsibilities at that time.
"Actually, Ash," Gary said, "I think I'm going to stay here for a few days and train Squirtle with some of the other water types, if it's alright with Gramps."
Professor Oak practically beamed at that. "That is a splendid idea. I've always wished more trainers would take advantage of their sponsor's help, more than just getting a rare Pokémon for a starter. Please remember that if either of you need help during your journey. If more people did, there wouldn't be so many trainers that stop training after their first few Conferences."
Both of them agreed, thankful that they would be able to call someone if they forgot something about a rare Pokémon, or needed a tip for training. Ash thanked Professor Oak one more time and said his goodbyes, excited to finally start his journey. Froakie meanwhile was excited about finally having a trainer that doesn't hesitate on every command and knows how to battle. Ash hurried home for a nice lunch and to collect his supplies before heading out on his journey.
When he gets home however, his mother, Delia, has a few questions on why he doesn't have the Squirtle he was very excited about starting with. After explaining how his morning went, she was just as excited as he was about Froakie.
"Well that is certainly an unusual way to get your starter." Delia said, "Are you sure you're not upset about not getting to raise squirtle? I know you were excited about training one."
Ash smiled and pet Froakie a bit as he responded, "I was at first, but I have a feeling Froakie is going to help me more than Squirtle could. He's going to stay out of his pokéball until we get to Viridian so we can bond before we get our first catch."
Delia smiled at Ash's response, glad that he wasn't heartbroken at not being able to raise the one he wanted. "You have all of your gear right? Nothing is missing? I would hate for you to get ready to set up camp, only to realize you left the tent here." Delia chuckles at the memory of Ash being so excited for the League School that he actually left his whole backpack at home the first day.
Ash blushes, thinking of the same day, "Don't worry mom, I triple checked it all before I went to the Lab, nothing is missing. But I should head out soon if I want to reach Viridian in the next few days." After that, Ash said goodbye to his mom one last time, promising to call when he got to the Viridian Pokémon Center, and made it to the entrance to route 1. He takes on last look at Pallet Town, and turns around with a smile on his face, excited to take on the world.