Last Time:
Ash watched the badge falling and grinned leaving his hands out. The badge fell right into his hands. Ash smiled, "Yes! I did it! I got my final badge!" He shouted turning to his team which they were roaring in glee. Just then the building shook. Gary ran towards them, "The building's collapsing! Run for it!" Everyone got horrified and ran for it.
They all made it out of the destroyed Viridian gym and watched the wreckage in silence. Gary turned to Ash, "That was some battle Ashy-boy. Maybe there is a good trainer in you after all. Well smell you later…" Gary remarked and walked away with his fangirls behind him. The group watched his departure.
Brock frowned while Gary was gone, "I wonder if we'll ever see the pokemon Gary was talking about?" Ash shrugged, "Right now I'm more excited about my final win. I can now get into the pokemon league!" His friends nodded, "Yeah!" Ash smiled, "I think it's high time to go home. The professor can tell me more for the league and I know my mother is going nuts to see me again!" He laughed out. Tomo looked at the ground sadly and Ash saw this and smiled, "Also she can't wait to meet my new little brother as well." Tomo looked up sharply at that. Ash smiled and patted Tomo's head.
Present:
Chapter 1 Rewritten: Mr. Mime and the Po-ké Corral
After obtaining his 8th and final Gym Badge to compete in the Pokémon League, Ash and his friends were on their way to where Ash's journey began, Pallet Town.
On the way there, the kids stopped and sees a phone booth nearby. This gave Ash an idea to call his mother and tell her that they're on their way. And he could introduce the newest member of their family.
Mustering up the courage, Tomo was ready to meet his newest "Mama". Ash dials the number and they waited until Delia's face came on screen. "Hi mom, it's me. I'm coming home and-"
"Thank you for calling the Ketchum residence." Delia says, not listening to what he says. "No one is here to take your call at the moment. So please leave a message after the beep and we'll get back to you as soon as we can."
"What was that?" Tomo asks the taller boy.
"That was just the answering machine." Ash figured out. "Looks like she's not home, so now we gotta leave her a message." They then heard the beep on the line. "Mom it's Ash and I got a surprise, you're gonna have a visitor and it's me!" Ash said with a smile. "And someone else is here to speak with you." He picked up Tomo so he can be onscreen. "Go on." He whispers.
"H-Hi there. My name is Tomo and I'm..I'm Ash's newest brother." Tomo said finally getting it off his chest.
"You're probably gonna be asking alot of questions, but don't worry, all will be answered when we get there. We'll see you later." Ash said ending the call.
"Are you sure she'll really love me?" Tomo asked concerned as Ash gave him a reassuring nod.
"You have nothing to worry Tomo, she's gonna love you. I promise you, she'll take you in as her own." He smiled.
"Vui." Ebon hopped from his daddy's arms and onto Tomo's shoulder and nuzzle's his cheek, making him giggle. This made him feel a little more better.
Brock asked if they were ready to move on, in which they agreed and went on their way.
Continuing on the path, Ash was telling Tomo alot about his mother, including how she owns a restaurant called "Pallet House" and how the food there is so good. That made Tomo's mouth drool, just thinking about it. "Well let's go! I wanna see it!" He said running off first.
"Hey Tomo, slow down!" Brock tried calling out.
"The food isn't going anywhere Tomo!" Misty said as they ran after the wild boy. Ash couldn't help but laugh, seeing he was acting just like himself when he was younger. That's when Tomo suddenly froze, and fell over. "Tomo?!" Ash gasped and picked him up. "Are you OK?"
"I think so.." He groans holding his head. "I think I ran into a wall."
"I don't see a wall?" Misty said not seeing anything until Brock tapped his hand on the open surface.
"Hey I feel it." So did the others. For a glimpse, they see the wall was invisible. Misty wondered how it got here in the first place.
Ash looks up and sees something from above. "Hey, what's that thing?" Alerting the others they see a Pokémon that resembles a mime and a clown wearing pink and blue clothing, climbing up the wall. He pulled out his PokéDex for info.
"Mr. Mime, the Barrier Pokémon. It uses pantomime to make actual walls appear. Because it is rarely discovered, information about this Pokémon is extremely limited."
"Limited information? Kinda makes you want to catch it huh Ash?" Misty asks.
"Yeah." Ash nodded. "But how can I get it from all the way down here?" he asks.
"I know use a flying type to knock it down to us and you can catch it." Tomo said.
Ash smiles. "Great idea Tomo." As he takes out a Pokeball.
"PLEASE STOP!"
They turned to a girl with blue hair in a red jacket. She had a pokeball in her hand and had on a worried face. "Won't you please let me capture that Mr. Mime?" she asks Ash.
Brock blushes. "But of course we'll let capture that Mr. Mime you don't mind do you Ash?" Making Ash look at Brock like he was crazy.
"What? Brock, I found it first. "You just want me to not catch it because of a pretty wo-!",Brock covered his mouth quickly.
"Don't mind him!" Brock chuckles nervously. "He says stuff completely random. Please be my guest and capture that Mr. Mime," he said.
But they were too late. Mr. Mime jumped off of the invisible wall. The woman quickly threw her Pokéball, but it bounced off and Mr. Mime runs away. "Oh, now what am I gonna do?" She sighed. Brock, being the "ladies man", apologizes and promises to do anything to make it up to her.
The girl's name was Stella, and she was a Ring Master. She brings the group to the circus, where she has her Pokémon perform tricks for the show. Some of her coworkers came up to her. "Hey Stella, how did it go?"
"Did you find a new Mr. Mime for the circus?"
"Almost." Stella said sadly, making the co-workers look nervous.
"What are we gonna do? Our Mr. Mime won't go on." She said, getting curious looks from the group. Stella leads them to a trailer where inside was another Mr. Mime lying around, lazily and eating snacks.
"Talk about a couch potato," Ash said looking at the psychic type. Ebon agreed on his shoulder.
"And a total slob." Misty said disgusted by its mess.
"I'm afraid it's my fault that it's like this. I wanted it to be perfect. So I trained it hard night and day. Yesterday, it quit right in the middle of a show. Now it won't listen to me at all," Stella explains. This sounded familiar.
"You know Stella. I had the same problem like you," Ash said walking up to her.
"You did?" She asks surprised.
Ash nods. "My Charizard, Torch wouldn't listen to a single thing I would say whenever I tried calling him oir
"It happed right after he evolved into Chameleon,"Tomo joined in. "He thought he was too good to be trained. If wasn't until we were at Grandpa Canyon, where my big bro was in trouble."
"So what changed? What made your Pokemon get up and help?" Stella asks
"Well an Aerodactyl grabbed me and was about to kill me." Ash said which made Stella gasp. He continued, "Tomo let out Torch and told him about the situation I was in. He then evolved into Charizard to save me."
"That's quite a story." Stella looks over to Mr. Mime. "Now I just need to figure out how to get him to listen."
Ash asked, "So why did needed that wild Mr. Mime?"
"I was gonna capture it so it can make my Mr. Mime jealous," Stella said.
"I get it, Mr. Mime would be jealous at the thought of being replaced that it doesn't want anyone else taking its place as the star." Misty realized the situation.
"Stella," Brock said. "I promise to get you a new Mr. Mime." He declared.
"Really Brock? You will?" Stella asked with joy.
"They don't call me 'Brock the Rock' for nothing!" Brock said with a hearty laugh. Ash, Misty and Tomo just give him a blank stare.
"Who calls you that?" Tomo said.
"Must be talking about the rocks in his head." Misty said dryly.
"Brock, it's gonna be tough on getting that Mr. Mime you know," Ash said making Brock do a creepy laugh.
"Oh I don't need to catch one, just need to make one." He said with a clean in his eye.
"Make one? How" Ash asked as Ebon tilts his head, confused as he was. Brock clamps his hands on his shoulders. "I'm glad you asked Ash, because you're going to be a big part of my plan." He said with a grin. This scared Ash and Ebon, not knowing what creepy plans Brock had in store.
Inside the circus, every one was amazed seeing a new Mr. Mime in front of them. Ash was nowhere to be seen as Ebon was with Brock. That was because..."Brock THIS has got to be the most dumbest and humiliating thing you have to do!" The "Mr. Mime" pulled off his head to reveal Ash with a pissed look on his face, glaring at Brock. It was just a costume. "Why do I have to dress like Mr. Mime?!"
Brock said he was too big, Tomo was too little, and Misty didn't want her cute face to be hidden. Those weren't helping in Ash's case.
"Come on big bro, it's just to help Stella." Tomo said. The others agreed with him. Ash says, he didn't knew how to act like a real Mr. Mime. Brock said that Stella and her "sweet" and "calm methods" will help him out. Stella begged him, as well her co-workers.
"Well I guess for one day..and at least people won't be creeped by my face." Ash muttered as he finally agreed to it. But as soon as he puts the mask back on, Stella's sweet attitude transformed into a strict, harsh and cruel one as she then pulls out her whip and puts Ash into training before the show.
'And I thought James' old fiance was into this crazy stuff!' Ash yelped in his mind as Stella had him doing pandemonium. "That Mr. Mime better come back or I'll have to drag it. Out with my own two hands.." He cursed, hating this even more.
LINE BREAK
About an hour later, the circus show began has officially began. "Ladies and gentlemen of all ages!" Stella announced, dressed like a clown. "Here are the stars of the Pokémon Circus!" The crowd cheered as performers along with their Pokemon came out to greet the audience. Last was "Mr. Mime" with Stella.
But just as they were about to begin; the lights and music came out, leaving every one confused until two spotlights appeared at the very top. Revealing the ones responsible.
Jessie: Prepare for trouble!
James: Make it double!
Jessie: To protect the world from devastation!
James: To unite all people within our nation!
Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love!
James: To extend our reach to the stars above!
Jessie: Jessie!
James: James!
Meowth: Meowth! That's right!
Ash growled annoyed seeing the moronic trio, "Just when I DON'T need them around."
Jessie announced they only came for the Mr. Mime in question, pointing down at Ash and Stella. "Hey, wait a minute, I'm not a-" Ash tried to rebuttal, but Stella covers his mouth to not blow his cover.
"Oh don't worry, we wouldn't want a circus Pokémon to work without a net!" James smirks while firing a net at them.
"Look out Stella!" Brock said pushing Stella out of the way, but not for Ash as he was captured and Team Rocket made a getaway.
"They got Ash!" Brock shouts as they were too late to make it to the stage.
"Why didn't you save him?!" Tomo said enraged at Brock for not saving Ash as well.
"Vee!" Ebon snapped as well, having his father taking away. Brock stepped back, now feeling guilt that he didn't saved Ash as well in the process.
"Misty? Brock?" Looking over, they see Ash's mother in front of them.
"M-Mrs. Ketchum?" They asked. Tomo's eyes widened, this was her.
"That wasn't a Mr. Mime, it was Ash. Wasn't it?" Delia guessed, seeing that he wasn't with them.
They couldn't lie to her, and answered yes, fearing she may cry in despair. "Well then there's nothing to worry about." She said, confusing them.
"But Mrs. Ketchum, Team Rocket kidnapped your son." Misty said.
"Don't worry, Team Rocket thought they kidnapped a Mr. Mime. Once they realize they took Ash instead, I'm sure they'll let them go." She optimistically said. Misty and Brock realized she maybe right, and wished they could to see their looks on how they screwed up.
Delia then noticed behind Brock was a child. "Oh, are you little Tommy?" She bends down to him. Tomo poked his head out to face her.
"M-My name is T-Tomo and I'm.." "Ash's little brother?" Delia guessed again, making him nod. He didn't knew what to say about her facial expressions. Was she angered? Saddened? Disappointed...no. Instead she rubbed his head.
"Prof. Oak told me about you and I was really shocked Ash decided to adopt someone without my persimmon." She said. "But once he told me your past..how could I say no to a cute little face like this?" Delia smiles.
"Y-you mean it?!" Tomo said looking at her with big eyes. Delia nodded with a kind smile.
"Of course. And you look just like how Ash was like when he was younger, so having you around would make the both of us glad even more." Hearing this, Tomo had a big smile and tears of joy came out as he hugged her, who did back. Delia then invited everyone back to Pallet Town for a nice homecooked meal.
Meanwhile in a wood cabin, Team Rocket sits around a meal and talks about how they are going to present their catch to the boss. Meanwhile, Ash unties and unmasks himself, shocking Team Rocket. They thought he was a Mr. Mime and human at the same time. Ash gave them a deadpan look at their stupidity. "It's a costume you morons. Man you guys can't be THIS dumb." He shakes his head, walking out the cabin.
Infuriated, Team Rocket went after Ash, but he stole their hot air balloon and flew back home, further enraging the trio.
Back in Pallet Town, Delia waves Brock, Misty, and Stella goodbye after having lunch. Tomo decided to stay with Delia to get to know her more. As they talked, Delia was worried about Ash.
"Don't worry Mama." Tomo said calling her that. "I know my bro, and he can handle anything those guys throw at him. He'll be back." He smiled.
"Oh I hope so." Delia replies before Ebon tries cheering her up by nuzzling her. She giggled and pets him, "Oh you're such a cutie."
Then a rustle came from outside, looking out the window they see a Mr. Mime. "He's home!" Delia opens the window and greets the Mr. Mime. "Oh honey, it's good to have you back home!" Mr. Mime looked perplexed, so did Tomo. Ebon sniffed the air and something wasn't right.
As Delia prepared food for Mr. Mime, it enjoyed it so much. However Ebon sniffs Mr. Mime, and suddenly he growled. "Ee! Vee!"
"M-Mime!" Mr. Mime flinched.
"Ebon, down boy!" Tomo said pulling him back. "I know, it's weird. I don't think that's Ash either." He whispered, his keen smelling could smell anything and right now that isn't what Ash smells like.
Suddenly the front door opened up, "I'm home!" A familiar voice said, revealing it to be from another Mr. Mime.
Tomo and Ebon looked in his direction. "Guys, there you are." He walked in and sees Mr. Mime. "Hey what are you doing in my house?"
"Mr. Mime!" The clown gotten up and ran behind Delia.
"What's going on in he-" She stopped seeing the another mime in the room. "W-what in the?"
"Mom!" The Mr. Mime said coming up to her. "That's a real Mr. Mime."
"I knew it!" Tomo shot up and takes off the helmet to reveal Ash in the room. "It is you!"
"You are my Ash!" Delia said overjoyed. "I was wondering how you ate so nicely." She said making Ash stumble over.
"Vee!" Ebon jumped onto his shoulder and licked his face.
Ash laughs. "Ok, Ok Ebon. I'm here don't worry." He turns to Mr. Mime. "You're the Mr. Mime Stella tried to catch. I have slme friends at the Pokémon that could really use your help," He begged.
Mr. Mime was skeptical, but Delia offered it dessert if it did help them and happily agreed with her. "Oh thank you Mr. Mime!"
"Uh did I miss anything here..?" Ash said with a puzzled look, seeing their bond.
Heading back to the circus with the hot air balloon, they saw some kind of commotion happening below. It was Team Rocket with a tank, in which they were trapping the circus employees and Pokémon with nets.
They soon spot Stella running away with her old Mr. Mime and went after them.
Mr. Mime tripped and fell, "Mr. Mime!" Stella stopped and picked him up. "We have to hurry and get out of here." She offers to carry him on her back. Mr. Mime was touched at how caring she was to him even though her strict training methods was the reason he quit in the first place.
Just as the Rockets were about to home in and fire, Ash dropped from the hot air balloon and in front of the tank. "Hold it!"
"It's that brat again!" Meowth exclaimed.
"Ash you're back!" Stella turns around as the others were relieved to see him alright.
"Like these guys could hold me against my even will," Ash gave them a smirk as the TRio were seething.
"Why you annoying little pest!" Jessie growled. "Get out of our way!"
"Make me bitch." Ash challenged taking a Pokéball out. "Marine, I Choose You!" He throws out his Dragonair. "Use Iron Tail on that tank!"
"Nair!" Marine's tail was englufed in water as she swung it onto their tank, knocking it backwards.
"Now use Twister!" The orbs on Marine's tail glow and creates a tornado from it, making Team Rocket circle round and around and finally spiraling back like they were in a dryer.
"It'll take more than a wash trick to stop us.." Jessie said stopping himself from puking.
"Well try this, Marine us-" "Mr. Mime!" The wild Mr. Mime suddenly appeared in front of them.
"Another Mr. Mime!" James points.
"Capture missles, fire!" Meowth pushed a button, firing missles at Mr. Mime. Mr. Mime blocks it by using Barrier.
"Keep it up Mr. Mime!" Delia shouts. Mr. Mime makes more invisible walls, that Team Rocket can't get through by charging.
"If we can't break it down.." James snarled.
"We'll have to go around!" Jessie said as Meowth put the tank in reverse where Brock, Misty, Stella and her Mr. Mime are.
"They're heading this way!" Brock panicked. Stella's Mr. Mime ran up to them, surprising Stella as it helped out by using Barrier, blocking their back route. The two Mr. Mimes eventually surround Team Rocket with a tower of walls. The trio tries to blow the walls out with their missiles, but end up blasting themselves off again.
"Wow that was pretty cool." Tomo said.
"Yeah way to go." Ash said praising the psychic type.
"That's my little Mimey." Delia said hugging it.
"Mimey?" Ash asked.
"That's his nickname." Delia asked. Just like him, she nicknamed her own Pokémon.
"Mr. Mime, I was so wrong on being so hard on you. And I'm sorry." Stella apologizes to hers. "Won't you please perform in the circus again?" She asked.
"Mime!" Mr. Mime nods, as they two embraced each other. The circus can go on once more.
"And it's great to have you home," Delia says hugging her son for real this time. "And welcoming the newest of our family." She brings Tomo in as well. The boys smiled and hugged her along with Mimey.
Once they got back to Pallet Town, Delia taught Mimey how to cook and everyone had the best welcome home dinner of their lives.
The very next day..
The sun was shining bright below Pallet Town as Ash and Tomo were shown sleeping in different beds. Ebon was snoozing on his daddy's chest while Tomo was moving in his dream, moving his boomerang around acting like he was hitting something with it.
In his bed, Ash was fast asleep dreaming about finally being in the Pokemon League.
In his dream, Ash was standing in an arena ready for battle.
And the crowd was cheering him on.
"I can't believe I finally made it to the Pokémon League." He said to himself before a big confident smile appeared on his face. "And now..it's time to win it all!"
He plucked a Pokéball form his belt. "Pokéball, Go!" He throws it as it didn't stop flying until it was shown into the sky. "What the?" He asks before the ball finally opened up revealing a high bright light that made him cringe and look away. When the light died down, Ash saw a humongous yellow figure in front of him.
"Pikachu." It bellows.
"You?!" Ash exclaimed. "I didn't choose you!"
"Pika.." The gigantic Pikachu sparked up and released a huge electric blast. "CHU!" It roared.
Ash screamed as he felt defenseless as the lightning bolt was aiming his way. Then a flash of light appeared.
"Aah!" Outside of his dream, Ash sprung up from his bed and pants heavily.
"Mime?" Mimey said startled as he was inches from vacuuming his face.
"Mr. Mime? Ugh what did we talk about? If someone is still sleeping, no cleaning." Ash groans.
"Ash are you okay? You were pretty loud." Tomo said rubbing his eyes.
"Vui?" Ebon groaned with a little cry as he rubs his eye wirh his paw from being woke up.
"Sorry guys, just a bad dream." Ash said sitting up.
"What happened?" Tomo asked.
"I uh, I don't wanna talk about it." Ash said as he looks down in a thinking look. 'Pikachu. It's been almost a full year since that day happened.' He thought before his eyes narrowed. 'I hope you're happy about what you done.'
Putting Ebon down Ash made his way to the bathroom to wash up.
"Mime?" Mimey asks.
"I don't Mr. Mime, sometimes Ash likes to keep things to himself." Tomo sighs.
Half an hour, the boy's gotten dressed and headed downstairs to have breakfast.
"Morning boys." Delia said in the kitchen.
"Morning mom." Ash said.
"Morning mama." Tomo said still getting used to saying that word.
"I hope you slept well for your first night here Tomo." Delia said rubbing his head.
"It was pretty nice. I like sharing a room with Ash." Tomo said loving this feeling.
"Well you know what they say, brothers gotta stick together." Misty said with a little laugh.
"Yet apparently doesn't apply to you and your sisters." Ash smirks.
"H-hey!" She snapped. Now it was Ash's turn to laugh.
"OK guys let's relax and eat huh?" Brock said starring boiling pot of stew. "Besides we gotta go talk with Prof. Oak today remember?"
"Oh yeah you're right." Ash said. "I gotta know about the Pokémon League from him."
"What's to know? You enter, beat everyone else and walk away with the trophy." Tomo said causing Ash to smile.
"If only it was that easy Tomo." Ash said.
"The Pokémon League is said to be filled with really strong Pokémon Trainers. Only the best of the best can enter it." Misty tells Tomo.
This is not gonna be easy." Ash said.
"And they all want to win it just as bad as Ash does." Brock said handing out plates.
"Wow, so who knows what could happen?" Tomo said.
Ash feeds Ebon. "But I'll tell you this Tomo, when that day comes, I'm not leaving that place without a fight." He stated.
"You don't wanna have Ash lose in round 1 do you Tomo?" Misty asked.
"No way!" Tomo shakes his head. "I wanna see him win it all!" He said.
"Then we better get to Prof. Oak as soon as we finish." Brock said as they continued eating.
Meanwhile, the Team Rocket goofballs were moping walking in the woods. "Well, there's no use pretending anymore." Jessie moped.
"We haven't successfully stolen a single Pokémon for the boss." James whined.
"We're just victims of CFS: Chronic Failure Syndrome." Meowth sighs.
James saw a building up ahead. "Well, there's Team Rocket HQ."
Jessie stopped. "Hang on. What's the worst he can do to us?"
"Fire us?" James guesses.
"Demote us?" Meowth guesses.
"True, true..but what if we quit first before he could do those things to us?" Jessie hints.
"Not a bad idea Jessie but what other job would hire us?" James asks.
"Probably anythin' that beats getting berated from the big guy himself." Meowth said taking Jessie's side.
"So all in favor say I." Jessie said raising her arm.
"I." James and Meowth said theirs up too.
"WE QUIT!" they said in unison and were about to run away until, the building behind them exploded all of a sudden.
Confused, the three of them look to the building to see some kind of figure flying out of it.
"W-what was that thing?" Jessie asks.
"I don't know.." James answers. They all checked the burning damage of the once was building.
"D-do you think the boss is..?" Jessie asks horrified for the worst until they heard groaning from nearby.
The leader of Team Rocket and real Viridian City Gym Leader, Giovanni and his Persian were were climbing out the wreckage and was not happy. "That ungrateful thing." He growls.
"Sir! Are you ok?!" Jessie said as they walk up to them.
"Oh great more bad news.." Giovanni mutters seeing his lackeys. "What are you three doing here?!" He said in an icy tone, making them flinch. Jessie and Meowth hid behind James as Persian was eyeing them like they were its next prey.
James, trying to be the man he was trying to be, stepped up. "We were just here to say.." However his sentence was cut off when a helicopter appeared.
"Wait sir, is there anything we can do for you?" Jessie says as Giovanni boarded the helicopter.
"Just do your jobs for a change." He spat before he and his Pokémon flew off into the air.
"I...don't think we're fired." James pauses.
"Did you hear that, he wants us to just do our jobs." Meowth said.
"Then do our jobs is what we will do! And that's getting powerful Pokémon for the boss!" Jessie declares.
"And I know the perfect Pokemon to start with!" Meowth declares.
"Well what what are we waiting for?! We have a reputation to build up!" James declared.
"Team Rocket!" All three of them said more pumped up and determined than ever.
Back with the group...
They reached Professor Oak's lab. Ash rung the doorbell. "Come in!"
"Prof. Oak, hey it's us!" Ash said opening the door.
"Ash it's great to see you." Prof. Oak said walking out to greet them.
"It's been awhile Prof. Oak." Brock smiles.
"Good to see you again." Misty smiles.
"The same with you too as well. The two of you look wonderful today." Prof. Oak before looking down to Tomo, who was hiding behind Ash. "Ah so you're little Tommy? It's nice to finally meet you in person."
"Y-you too sir." He pipped out.
"It's OK Tomo. Prof. Oak is very kind like mom is." Ash reassures him.
"Yes, and I've been taking care of all of the Pokémon your brother helped you catch. And might I say, you've caught a quite handful for someone your age." Prof. Oak smiles.
"Ash taught me a few things on the road." Tomo smiles.
"My Ash, at this rate by the time he turns 10 you'll have turned him into quite the trainer." Prof. Oak smiles.
"Just 2 more years and he'll be up and running in no time." Ash grins ruffling Tomo's head.
"Eievui!" Tomo was nuzzled also by Ebon in comparison with his father.
"Aw shucks you guys." Tomo laughs.
"Oh my!" Prof. Oak gasped. "A different colored Eevee?!" He stepped back in surprised. "Where'd this come from?"
"He's mine Prof. Oak." Ash held Ebon. "Remember that Egg I showed you a couple of months back? This is him. This is Ebon, Ebon say hi to Prof. Oak."
"Vee." He said with a cute smile, waving.
"I must say Ash, finding a normal Eevee is rare but this is unbelievable." Prof. Oak said.
"What can I say, I'm unpredictable." Ash takes it as a compliment. "And that's Misty's Togepi." Ash points to the small egg Pokémon in Misty's arms.
"A Togepi, my it looks rather happy and healthy." Prof. Oak eyes it as the baby Pokémon chirped happily. "Misty you must've really raised it well. I hope it'll become a strong partner for you in the future."
"Thank you Professor Oak." Misty smiles.
"You kids are actually the second people to visit me today." Prof. Oak said leading them to the living room.
"Second? Who's the first?" Ash asks.
Who else, no one other than Mr. Big Shot himself, Gary Oak. "Hm, well now. I'm not surprised you showed up late, I'm just surprised you showed up at all." He began his mocking already.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!" Ash said with an angry snarl at him.
"Alright, calm down you two. Why can't Pallet's two top trainers get along?" Prof. Oak said reasoning to them, making both Ash and Gary look in shock.
"Top Trainers?" The two said before pointing to the other. "Not him?!"
"That's right. You're both such fine trainers that you may be able to learn a thing or 2 from each other." Prof. Oak says, blinded to see the blazing and sparking rage both rivals were putting in the others eye.
Bringing them tea was Crush.
"Heya Crush, how are you?" Ash waves
"Kookie!" The small crabs's eyes lifted smiling, saying he's happy to see him.
"That's his huh?" Gary muttered.
"You said these two were top trainers earlier," Brock said. "How did that happened?"
"4 trainers left Pallet Town at the same time but Ash and Gary were the only ones who were able to earn enough badges to enter the Pokemon League." Prof. Oak explains.
"What happened to the other two?" Ash asks.
"They both got off to a good start, but they just couldn't pull it off near the end." Prof. Oak said.
"They just whimped out." Gary scoffed.
"But Gary has 10 Badges and you Ash have acquired 8, the right amount. A very impressive job." Prof. Oak said.
Ash smiles. "Thanks, but I didn't do it all on my own." He said petting Ebon, making him purr.
"And now that you're both here, the Pokémon League is just right around the corner for you to compete in." Prof. Oak said.
"So how much time do we have before the league starts?" Ash asks.
"It will be held at the Indigo Plateau in exactly two months from today and there will be more than 200 trainers competing." Prof. Oak explained.
"2-200?" Ash gasped.
"What's wrong Ash, scared of a little competition?" Gary teased.
"As if!" Ash countered back. "The more I hear about this, the more I can't wait till I get there to the stadium."
"That's what I like to hear." Prof. Oak smiles. "So I suggest the two of you use this time wisely to train your Pokémon so they'll be ready for the competition."
"He can try, but even if Ash had a year to train I'd beat'im with both hands tied behind my back." Gary said, causing Ash to turn with a glare.
'How about no hands at all?' He thought. "And just what do you mean by that?"
"Look I'm not saying you're a bad trainer Ash, but you just don't have what it takes to beat me." Gary said getting up from his seat.
"Hmph, Talk's cheap Oak. But sooner or later all that talk is gonna be crumbling down when you face me." Ash turned with a crossed armed scoff.
"Keep telling yourself that Ash, meanwhile I'll be walking out of there with the trophy." Gary said.
"Only if I ask you to hold it for me." Ash counters.
"You gotta stop this Professor, there's gonna be a fight." Brock whispered to Oak who was eating.
"It's quite fine Brock. These two been at it since they were young." Prof. Oak reassured him.
"That does not reassure me.." Brock sweatdropped.
"Let me ask you something Ash, are you planning on using Pokemon like that Krabby?" Gary said pointing to Crush.
"And what's wrong with my Krabby?" Ash asks.
"Oh nothing. But.." Gary pulls out a Pokéball. "Check out mine." Opening it, Gary releases his Krabby, which was twice the size of Ash's!
"What the?!" Tomo gasps.
"That is WAY over the normal maximum height for a normal Krabby." Brock said.
Gary went on saying how he rotates all of his Pokémon so that they all can get the right kind of experience they need in battles.
"Hey I do that too pal," Ash said crossing his arms. "I may not use Crush or some of my other Pokémon in alot of battles, but I always train them so when the time is right, I do bring them with me."
"Hm, A nice statement," Prof. Oak commented while Crush looks pleased that Ash defended him.
"Yeah well how will you handle each of your Pokémon in a gym battle?" Gary asks.
"Easy, I look up their typing before I battle and like I said earlier get the right team to get the job done," Ash said smugly. "So if you knew half the things I've been through you'd shut your mouth right now." Ash said.
"Oh I know all, besides this about you." Gary pointed to the scarred eye making Ash tick. "But that's not important right now. What IS important is you are a good Pokémon trainer or not."
"You bet I am." Ash said.
"Is that right? So how many Pokémon were you able to find?" Gary challenges.
"Like I need to tell you exactly how many there are. All I know is that they seem way better than yours." Ash stated. "Especially this one." He shows Ebon.
The brown haired grandson looked jealous that Ash gotten a Shiny Pokémon before him. "Hmph, y-yeah well I bet not all of are as rare as mine." He turns away.
"I see. Both are impressive." They heard Prof. Oak say at his computer as he received both of Ash and Gary's PokéDex's. "I just scanned both of your PokéDex's and the results show that Gary has seen 60 different Pokémon, while Ash has seen over 100."
"Huh?" Gary said sweatdropping.
"How'd you like that?" Ash grins.
"However, Gary own more than 200 Pokémon while Ash owns 41." Prof. Oak said making Ash almost fall over.
"More than 200?! Are you kidding me?!" Ash exclaimed.
"Heh, you only use your PokéDex every time you see a Pokémon. But I know so much about them, I capture them first and ask questions later." Gary said back to smirking.
"By that you mean you catch everything you see.." Ash muttered with a deadpan look.
"However.." Prof. Oak said again.
"However what?" Gary asked again.
"Out of all the Pokémon Trainers I've had as students, Ash's Pokémon captures are different than them." Prof. Oak says checking Ash's PokéDex numbers. "Even as to capturing Shiny Pokémon, extinct Pokémon, along with capturing Pokémon form distant regions."
"Different regions?" Gary asks.
"Hmm so how many of those 200 Pokemon are the same ones?" Ash asks causing Gary to flinch.
"He got him there." Misty giggled, seeing Ash had the upper hand.
"I bet Gary kept capturing the same Pokémon until he found a really good version of it." Brock said.
"That's something called pity right?" Tomo said.
"Vui." Ebon agreed.
"Guess I'm a little better than you thought Gary." Ash said. Gary blushed embarrassed and grumbles to himself.
"Hey Professor, where do you keep everyone's Pokéballs when they get here in Pallet Town?" Brock asks.
"Same place I keep all of Ash and Gary's Pokeballs." Prof. Oak said leading them to the room in the back of the lab closest to the back entrance.
Opening the door they saw the entire room was filled with shelves upon shelves of Pokeballs.
"These are the Pokéballs that holds all of the Pallet Town trainer's Pokémon."
"I've never been in a room like this before. It's incredible." Tomo said blown away by all of the Pokéballs in a single room.
"Yeah there's gotta hundreds of Pokémon in here." Ash agreed.
"Ash." Prof. Oak gotten his attention. "Over here is where I keep all of your Pokéballs stored." Ash sees his face over trays of over 50 Pokéballs inside.
Ash smiles at his collection. How he loved them all.
"And Tomo, I've gotten your starter set right here." Prof. Oak motions to the young boy to show him his own tray with only 5 Pokéballs inside. These were 3 Safari Balls and 2 regular Pokéballs.
"You made one for me?" Tomo said surprised.
"Of course I did. I make sure all Pallet Pokemon are looked after. And that includes you." Prof. Oak smiles. This made the young boy happy, seeing he was fitting in already.
"And over here is the Pokémon that Gary caught." Prof. Oak says showing the 200 Pokéballs on display.
"That's alot." Tomo gasped.
"You can never have too many Pokémon, that's my motto." Gary said.
"It doesn't matter how many you have if none of them are your friends." Ash said.
"Friends?" Gary asked
"Having lots of Pokémon isn't important, it's what you learn from them. That's MY motto." Ash said.
"Hey you got alot too, so I don't know what you're getting at," Gary points out, calling Ash a hypocrite.
"Yeah I may have caught alot, but every Pokémon I catch I make sure I have special bond with them." Ash said proving it to be true by Ebon near his side with a cheerful smile.
"I'd guess I'd say that too if I had as few Pokemon as you. Just admit it Ash, you'll never be as good as me." Gary said.
"I'd rather eat worms." Ash said eyes narrowed.
"Hmm, you both have very different, but very valid views on training Pokémon." Prof. Oak said getting their attention. "On your journeys, you each captured different Pokémon. With your different personalities, you learned to care for and understand them in many different ways. And while neither of you wants to admit it, you both excel and or lack in areas the other doesn't focus much on." Prof. Oak said.
"What do you mean?" Gary asks.
"Let me put it like this." Prof. Oak said walking up to Ebon. "You two are like Pokemon, the same but different. Both of you are unique and like the Pokémon you have your own views and opinions on how to do things. In my studies I find that Pokémon and have humans have more in common than we realize and that we can often see ourselves in them and sometimes Pokémon can even surprise us."
He said while petting the baby shiny, making him purr.
"Is that why you take care of so many Pokemon?" Brock asks.
"Yes I do, and each Pokémon I watch over not only becomes part of my research but part of myself as well." Prof. Oak said.
"Apart of yourself?" Ash and Gary asked wondering about that.
On the hill on the outskirts of the lab, Team Rocket was walking down the path.
"My paws are killing me." Meowth groans.
"Who's idea was it to sneak in the back way?" James groans.
"Wasn't mine." Meowth said.
"Oh stop complaining. Prof. Oak's research area is gigantic and filled to the brim with Pokémon." Jessie said.
"But I'm exhausted." James said.
"Yeah can't we take a break?" Meowth asks.
"Oh shut up." Jessie said kicking a rock into a tree. Unfortunately that tree was full of Kakuna.
Making the three flinch in flinch. "K-Kakuna.." James gulped.
"Where there's Kakuna then that means.." Jessie gulps.
"Beedrill are nearby!" Meowth panics as Beedrill came out of the trees.
The trio screamed as they were being chased by the Beedrill. "Great plan Jessie!" James screamed.
"How was I supposed to know?!" Jessie asks.
"He's a Pokemon Researcher! He must have a ton of Pokemon!" Meowth screams when they found the path was blocked by a sleeping Snorlax.
"Not a Snorlax!" They shouted before seeing the Beedrill caught up to them. All could they do was scream as their fates was not to be seen..
Back at the lab, Prof. Oak leads them out back.
"Now everyday I start by checking up on all the Pokemon and then I let them out of their Pokeballs so they can move around and get exercise in the special habitats I've made for them. Of course I never know when a trainer might request a Pokemon to be switched out so I need to make sure all of them are ready and taken care of for when they do." Prof. Oak explains.
"Wow Professor Oak, all that sounds like too much to handle." Tomo said.
"Not at all Tomo, in fact doing this every single day fills me with excitement because I never know what interesting new things I might learn about the Pokemon." Prof. Oak smiles.
A Doduo walks by and meets everyone. "Hi Doduo. How's everything going?" Gary asks confirming it was his.
"Amazing. And all the Pokemon look so happy." Brock said.
"By being out in a place similar to their natural habitat it's easier to study them in fact I even learned a very interesting discovery. Pokemon take on the behavior traits of whoever their trainer is." Prof. Oak said.
Ash and Ebon looked at the other and smiled. "I guess that makes sense."
"I can believe that." Ash smiles looking at Rune and Ebon.
"So do I!" Brock said having his Vulpix out in his arms. "Suzy loved her Vulpix and gave her to me. Now if Vulpix is like me, and she still loves her then that means she loves me.." Brock said having a goofy smile and a blush on his face.
"What's up with this guy?" Gary asked weirdly.
"He's off on a trip to fantasy land." Misty rolls her eyes.
"And what about that?" Gary points.
"Sometimes I do it." Misty said casually.
"And it occurs when a trainer keeps in regular contact with his or her Pokémon," Prof. Oak says. "Because some of Ash's Pokémon hasn't been used for quite sometime, they become very attached to me as well." Prof. Oak said when suddenly Ash's Muk tackled him into a hug.
"Some more than others. Hey Grim." Ash smiles.
"Muk!" Muk smiles.
"See I told you." Prof. Oak groaned trying to pry the poison type off.
"Cha!" Slithering over was Naga as she hissed at Grim.
Muk..." Grim grimaced, which made him get off of Prof. Oak.
"This one here has been very helpful." Prof Oak said.
"Naga, it's good to see you again," Ash smiled stroking her head. The cobra smiles sweetly seeing her trainer and softly coiled her body around his waist to embrace him. "Oh you haven't changed abit!" He laughed she licked Ash's face.
"He caught an Arbok?" Gary whispered to his father.
"Indeed, and one of his early captures after the incident," He whispered, reminding Gary.
"I see.." Gary said seeing how Ash was enjoying the snake's company. Even with those scars, Ash was still trying to be happy. 'Maybe I have been being too much of a heartless ass..'
Later, Team Rocket, having escaped the Beedrill, climbs rocks to get to Oak's lab.
"We can't go through the forest so this we'll have to go the hard way." Jessie said.
"Define hard way, for all I know this could be a detour to a cliff." James pants.
"Yeah why couldn't we have just gone around it?" Meowth asks.
"Stop whining and keep climbing! We have to get those Pokémon!" Jessie said when she grabbed something. "Huh?"
Turning around Jessie saw she had grabbed onto a Geodude. Geodude blushes, making her creeped out. "Beat it stone head!" Jessie chucks it away, before feeling something and pulls out a Sandshrew.
"Sandshrew!" Sandshrew started scratching Jessie's face and kicked her backwards.
"My face!" Jessie screams in pain when an Onix along with a Steelix (must be Ash's) burst out of the ground nearby.
"RUN FOR IT!" They yelled running for their lives again.
Back with the others...
"Wow! Look at all the Water Pokémon!" Misty was in delight in seeing alot of them in the water area.
"You put a lot of effort into your habitats, Prof. Oak." Tomo said.
"Well Tomo, different Pokémon have different needs and I need to be prepared for all types." Prof. Oak said.
Looking ahead to see if any of his water Pokémon were anywhere, Ash saw his two Gyarados swimming near the other, his Krabby scuttling nearby, his Slowpoke was resting on a bolder above the water, his Cloyster was put into the deep blue sea, his Poliwrath was sitting on a lilypad looking to the Tomo's Poliwag who was playing around, his Kingdra was speeding through the rapid waters with his Golduck, looking like they were racing. And his Kabutops and Omastar was resting near the sea stone area with Tomo's Kabuto and Omanyte.
"Hey you guys!" Ash waved to them all.
All of Ash's Pokémon smiled and waved back to him.
"All of those are yours too?" Gary said astonished from the Water Pokémon Ash obtained, 2 freaking Gyarados? One of the most dangerous Pokémon to man?! And a Kabutops and Omastar? Those are one of the most rarest Pokémon that to be living to this day!
"Like I said, alot of bonds with alot of Pokémon," Ash said flashing a pleased smile.
"You two have indeed gathered many Pokémon but after seeing the kind of Pokemon Ash found from out of region I realize that there are still so many out there that haven't been fully discovered yet." Prof. Oak said.
"Yeah we all thought there were only 150 Pokémon. Then we discovered Eevee had another evolution, Espeon." Brock recalls Evlon different evolution.
"Among others too," Misty recalls. "One of them was Togepi." She said holding the baby.
"It's still a mystery," Prof. Oak said fascinated. "While we may not know how many Pokémon there are in the world, the never ending quest to learn about each of them is what makes it exiciting."
"I feel the exact same way Professor," Ash said. "I'm gonna find many new Pokémon I can and make alot of bonds with then," he declared.
"Me too, and I'm gonna train them to be as strong as they can be." Gary announced too as the two rivals look to one another. Filled with determination, excitement and strong hearts.
Brock smiled, "Guess they can get along."
"Now if only it would it would stay that way," Misty said as Tomo agreed with a nod.
"What do you say Ash? How about a battle to practice for the league?" Gary proposed to him.
"Sure, I've been wanting to battle you for a long time." Ash smiled, rairing to the two of them face off eager to prove the other wrong Prof. Oak smiles at this.
Suddenly an explosion went off snapping all of them out of it.
"Woah what's that over there?!" Misty gasped seeing smoke off in the distance.
"That smoke is coming from the Electric Pokémon preserve!" Prof. Oak gasps.
From a giant crater filled with Voltorb and Electrode Team Rocket pop their heads out.
"Who's..(zzt) dumb..(zzt)..idea was it to go through..(zzt)..here?" Jessie stutters feeling the aftershocks.
"Yours..(zzt) I wanna go home." James groans.
"VolEctrode.." Meowth groaned.
"HEY!" They snapped out of their shock to see the group. "I had a feeling it was you 3 again!" Ash's eyes narrowed. "Now what are you doing here?!"
The Trio jumped out of the hole. "Ha! What does it look like?!" Jessie said.
"We followed you here to get all of your Pokémon!" James said.
"No quit pussy-footin' around and hand'em over!" Meowth said pointing to Rune and Ebon.
Gary and Prof. Oak jumped. "It's that talking Meowth!"
"A talking Meowth? Do you think you could say a few more words please?" Prof. Oak asked curious.
"Certainly, so dig the wax out of your ears and listen up pops." Meowth said.
Jessie: Prepare for trouble!
James: Make it double!
Jessie: To protect the world from devastation!
James: To unite all people within our nation!
Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love!
James: To extend our reach to the stars above!
Jessie: Jessie!
James: James!
Meowth: Meowth! That's right!
"Now hand over all the Pokémon you got in this dump or we'll just take'im!" Meowth ordered as well as his comrades.
"You won't be getting anything from us!" Ash glares as both and Gary stood against them.
"You want these Pokémon, you gotta get through us!" Gary challenges bringing a Pokéball out.
"Arbok/Weezing!" The rockets released their Pokémon.
"Wanna go Naga?" Ash asked. She nodded and pits off against Jessie's Arbok.
"I Choose You Nidoking!" Gary said throwing his own Poison type out.
"Arbok, use Poison Sting!" Jessie said.
"Naga, Haze!" Ash said. Naga opens her mouth and thick, black smoke comes out of it before Arbok fired. Making them unable to see.
"Weezing try and find them flying up!" James said. Weezing floats to the top of the smoke, until to see that Nidoking jumped from that height as well.
"Use Mega Punch!" Gary yelled. With a glowing fist, Nidoking punches Weezing down to the ground. "Now use Horn Attack!"
"Weezing, Counter it!" James said. Weezing recovers and knocks himself into Nidoking.
"My Arbok is more superior than yours boy!" Jessie challenges as her Arbok goes in for Bite.
"In your dreams," Ash scoffs. "Naga, show her! Fire Fang!"
"Chabok!" Naga hissed and dodges Arbok. She slithered her body around to incapacitate him and bites down onto its chest with flaming fangs, making it holler in pain.
"Now Poison Tail!" Her tail glow purple and striked Arbok. Making Jessie seethe.
"Weezing use Sludge Attack!" Weezing fired a ball of sludge onto Nidoking, who wasn't fazed at all.
"Nidoking, Horn Drill!" Nidoking's head horn spins like a drill and it hits the Weezing easily knocking it into James.
"Naga, use Headbutt!" Naga smashes her head into Arbok easily, right into Jessie.
"Ee!" Ebon stepped ahead, surprising Ash. "You wanna finish them off?" He asked, making the shiny turn with a nod. "Alright boy, use Take Down and send them flying!"
"Eevee!" Ebon charges at the at a very high speed and slams into Team Rocket, sending them blasting off once more.
As the boys were congratulating their Pokémon, the others were watching from the sidelines.
"Even if they ever stopped their crazy competition I think those two could be very good friends." Brock said.
"It's because of this crazy competition they're like this." Prof. Oak as Brock and Misty look at him. "I wasn't just telling Ash about Gary's progress, I also told Gary about Ash's as well. The reason those two were able to make it this far was because I kept them in competition with one another to help both of them sharpen their skills to be the best trainers they could be."
"So all of this rivalry is to make them be better trainers?" Misty asks.
"Yep, don't tell Ash I said this but when I told Gary that Ash found the Cinnabar Gym while he was on vacation and when Ash beat him to the Earth Badge, he was just as angry as Ash gets when I brag about it. Friendship is good, but a rivalry is what can really motivate a trainer. That's what the other two trainers didn't have, proper motivation." Prof. Oak said.
"Wow Professor, that's deep." Brock said amazed.
"Both getting better by just butting heads with each other? If that was the case, I kinda wished I had a rival." Misty said.
"So Gary, you still up for that battle?" Ash asks.
"Not here, I have some training to do. We'll settle this at the Pokemon League." Gary smiles.
Ash smiles too. "Sounds good to me. You're in for a big surprise on what I got in store for you and everyone there."
"Heh you just better make sure you train as hard as I am. See you in 2 months Ash." Gary said his goodbyes and departs.
"They may not want to admit it but those two are the best of friends." Prof. Oak smiles.
"Can rivals like them be friends?" Tomo asked.
"In a way.." Brock said.
Ash looks to his snake and evolution Pokémon. "Well guys, are you both ready for some hard training to get ready for the Pokémon League?" Both nodded with determined looks, both wanting to get stronger.
"We're here to help too." Misty said.
"We may not be League trainers but we can still help you guys train." Brock said.
"Don't forget about me." Tomo said. "I'm ready to help you win the whole league Big Bro."
Ash turns them and smiles. 'Two months. Let's see how much we can do in that amount of time.'
Home once again, Ash prepares for the hardship of 2 months of training his Pokémon for the upcoming Pokémon League event. What could happen in that timeframe? Well, we'll just have to wait and see. But what was that flying figure Team Rocket saw earlier?
To Be Continued...
Well I hope you guys liked the first chapter rewrite. I'll be going through all of the other chapters and redoing them. So don't worry, I'm not quiting this story.