Chapter 3.

Ash made his way through a thick forest. He had sent all his pokémon to the lab except Pikachu, Honey, Pidgeotto, Spore, Obsidian and Jade. Pidgeotto soared overhead with obsidian in her talons. The graveler was laughing the whole time while gripping her legs. Spore was in his arms with Jade holding his leg and riding his foot. Both pikachus where running around him playing agility tag. A thick fog seemed to roll in causing Honey and Pikachu to jump on his shoulder. Jade blinked now fully awakened by the chilly moisture.

He slowed down as a strange sound seemed to echo in the fog. As he moved closer to the sound he noticed a light and a few voices. The questions being asked made him roll his eyes. Ash walked up on the sight of the three older teens surrounding a younger preteen on a treadmill.

"At what level does pidgey evolve," the one with the lantern asked.

"Level 18."

"What does it evolve into," The one by the controls asked.

"Pidgeotto."

"What does pidgeotto evolve into," the last asked as he put his foot on the treadmill casing.

"I don't know."

"Pathetic." The one by the controls sneered as he turned up the speed.

"Ahem." Ash cleared his throat. "You know, I don't think this is helping?"

"Who are you?"

"Most people call me Ash."

"Well, Ash. You are on private school property."

"It isn't clearly posted or I wouldn't have walked this close to the school."

"That doesn't matter." Ash blinked at them, as they moved to surround him. "You shouldn't stick you nose into our business. Can't you see we are trying to help out our buddy here."

"Again that is not what it looks like to me."

"Just leave, you do not go to school here."

"Why would I? Pokétech is not a very good school. It's expensive, neglectful, ineffective, fosters lazy attitudes, but it does have a few good programs, I guess." The four looked at him with wide eyed shock and then they got pissed.

"Take it back, or else."

"'Or else.' Or else what?" I could beat you right here and right now."

"Barbaric, as if we would sink to such a level."

"Wait, what?" blinking in confusion as he watched the three turn to leave. "Well. You'll never graduate if you think battling is barbaric." He called after them. Ash had to bite his lip to keep from laughing as the seemed to stumble away. "What a ridiculous outlook for a trainer to have," shacking his head.

"Why did you do that?"

"I don't like seeing anyone bullied."

"They weren't bullying me, they're my friends." The boy said trying to sound sure of that 'fact.' "They were just trying to help."

"If those were your friends, who needs enemies." Ash groaned as he heard Misty's voice, as she stepped out of the fog.

"Are you following me?"

"No, I'm looking for a boy who destroyed my bike."

So you are following me. Ash had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. Brock came out of the slow clearing fog.

"Did you not know the answer to that question?"

"Pidgeotto evolves to Pidgeot at level 36. If I had answered they would have made it harder."

"Well that defeats the purpose of their help." Ash rubbed his face. "Who is in charge of this messed up system." He groaned, "a teacher?"

"No, a student, Giselle."

"Who is that?" Ash looked confused.

"Giselle is the top student in the beginner class." The boy explained, "I have her picture." He pulled it out to show them. Brock started to drool over her looks. Ash gave a slight blush, she was cute just not his type.

I have a type? Ash blinked at his own thoughts. He followed behind them into the school, that had become visible when the fog faded. An announcement for snow training was heard.

"Looks like I'll be made into a snowman again." The boy sighed. As they made there way through the school Ash was impressed with a few things, but the bad habits, pour choices by staff, the lack of actual growth in students, and 'simulators,' really. "How many badges so you have?"

"Huh?" Ash snapped to look at the boy, who was looking a him, "I have two badges."

"Really?" He sounded disappointed.

"What?"

"I have two badges. Everyone in class has the boulder and cascade badge. Giselle has four."

"What are you talking about, does this school have field trips to the gyms?"

"No. Here let me show you." The kid booted up the simulator. Ash wanted to bang his head against the wall as his eye twitched.

"You have got to be kidding me." Ash watched as the kid's bellsprout beat the Cascade Staryu on the screen. He groaned as Misty lost it. The resulting beat down was in Misty's favor much th the kid's confusion and shock.

"Oh, Joe. You need to realize that; while your pokémon have the type advantage; they are a much lower level than hers."

"And the people who graduate go straight to the League?" Ash whined with his head in his hands. "Unbelievable." He ignored the cat-fight behind him as he typed on Dexter. A crash got him to look up as starmie was launched through the window by Giselle's graveler. They ran to the outside pool were starmie landed. "I got to say your parents did a good job on raising that graveler." She blushed.

"Yes Daddy is very protective of me." Ash nodded.

"I challenge you to a two on two."

"I except. How many badges do you have?"

"Two." As rolled his eyes as he waited for her to start in on him.

"How long have you been traveling?"

"As long as you've been in this tech school."

"So two months." Ash nodded only for her to laugh. "You still got your pikachu in its baby stage." Ash sighed as she went on about him being a bad trainer as his pokémon was out of their poké balls.

"Okay lets stop you right there." She blinked at him as he pinched his nose. "I've been traveling for two months on foot. So two badges in two months not so bad. If my pokémon have a fear of something then I am not going to force them. That could end with either of us seriously hurt." Ash blew out his breath. "lets just get the fight going."

"Go Graveler."

"Um," Ash tilted his head to the side in thought.

"Well." She snapped getting a huff.

"Go Spore." Paras jumped out of his arms and glared with her pale purple eyes. Misty went wide eyed. Giselle squealed as she took in the tiny light aqua green body with light purple eyes. The twin mushrooms on its back had deep purple caps with light Aqua green spots and stems.

"It is so adorable."

"She is." Ash nodding in agreement.

"No matter. She will lose." Ash rolled his eyes yet again. "Go graveler, rollout."

"Grassknot." Giselle's eyes widened as Graveler was tripped up, causing it to hit the ground hard.

"Paras." Spore's mushrooms started to shake as a purple powder coated the slowly standing Graveler. It glared at the small little insect.

"Grav," He groaned and took a step forward and passed our as the poison sapped the last of his strength.

"Paras." Spore waved her front legs in the air as she cheered.

"It's not over yet. Bring out your next pokémon. Go cubone."

"Go pikachu."

"Have you lost your mind?" Misty yelled. Paras looked at her causing the girl to duck behind Brock. The battle ended with cubone crying from the scratch, as it was a younger pokémon.

"Well, look who finally lost." A voice called out from behind them. They turned to the voice and saw a boy about Ash's age. He looked similar to Ash, but Ash looked more like his mother.

"Found you Ash Ketchum." Misty pointed at the other boy.

"I am not Ash Ketchum. My name is Ashton, 'Ash Ketchum' is my half brother." He sneered at the mention of him. Ash blinked at his younger brother, he was two hours older than Ashton.

"Your not Ash?"

"No, I'm Ashton. A much cooler name than 'Ash.'" The three other boy's chuckled.

"That is big talk coming from someone with three badges."

"At least I didn't get beat by someone with just two badges."

"But he is a traveling trainer." Giselle smirked as Ashton glared at them. "That is more than you can say. We run the same simulation loops."

"Okay, I'll show up." He turned to Ash. "I challenge you to a two on two battle."

"OK," Ash rolled his eyes as he motioned to the other side. Ashton glared.

"Who are you anyway."

"That is right I never said." Ash giggled. "You may call me Satoshi." He gave a big grin. He may never have met his younger brother, but he heard and seen picture of him from Uncle Red.

"Yeah, what ever." Ashton shrugged. "Let's go, Pikachu." The pikachu had a scar across his right eye and looked mean with the glare and smile on his face.

"Obsidian." He was dropped from the sky and just stopped before touching the ground with magnet rise. Obsidian did a spin before standing up with a cry. "Have fun?" the Graveler nodded.

Obsidian no longer had the grainy black sand from when he was a geodude as his body resembled the black volcanic glass he was named for. Pidgeotto landed by her trainer and tucked her head under her right wing.

"What the hell is that thing?" Ashton pointed at the graveler. Giselle and Joe face plamed. Ash looked at him like he was an idiot.

"A black Graveler."

"I can see that."

"Then don't ask stupid questions." Ash looked at Obsidian who was ignoring the other boy. Well he did have thick skin.

"Pikachu iron-tail."

"Counter." The hit sent pikachu flying and it landed in a heap at Ashton's feet. Pikachu was a little shaky as he stood. "Rollout," so he went flying again . This time he didn't get back up. Red had told him about that pikachu it liked to cause pain and if given a inch it would take a mile. The scar was given to it by Red's pikachu.

"What?" Most of the students looked at one another in shock. That pikachu was a terror around here, but it had the voltage to back it up.

"Obsidian, come over here." The graveler rolled over to Ash with a cheerful cry. "Good job." Jade waved at Obsidian.

"Go geodude."

"Jade." The sandshrew jumped onto the field and was looking around.

"What is wrong with it?" Ashton sneered.

"Um' nothing," Ash said slowly with a tilt of his head that Jade copied.

"It is green." Everyone deadpanned at his explanation.

"Obsidian, Spore and Honey are also different colors. Your point?"

"It's weird."

"Have you ever heard of Professor Ivy from the Orange islands?"

"Why would I care about a professor from those tiny islands?"

"She has a vileplume that looks different than the ones you can find here." Ash stretched.

"Again I care, why?" Ash just shrugged not rally caring about his attitude, but noticed Jade looked more annoyed than before.

"What are you planning?" Jade just looked all innocent and wide eyed. "I'm not buying it." Sandshrew squeaked and waved his little claws around.

"Tackle." Jade glared as it jumped over the geodude using its head as a springboard. When he landed he struck the ground causing the ground to split in a fissure attack. Geodude fell in as it couldn't stop fast enough.

"AJ." Ash groaned as he messaged his temples. "Now, when did you learn that?"

"He has been exploring the move tutoring sites." Dexter said, "and I do believe Pikachu told him about the move AJ taught to his sandshrew." Ash sighed, ignoring the dark glare his brother was giving to him. He picked Jade up and tickled his belly getting a squeaky laugh. Spore was lift up and cuddled. Obsidian almost knocked them over when he leaned against his leg.

Ash and Giselle talk for a bit, finding out she had Joe's picture. Maybe she would be the Alpha to his Omega? Before team rocket attacked. It had been hilarious to see every student pelting them with poké balls. They were sent packing. Ash left the school a less than stellar review with the league about what he witnessed.

With a see you at the league to Giselle and Joe he set off. As Ash made his way away from the school another team set out with another member.

As he made his way through the winding forest he found a nice clearing where he set up camp for the night. after everyone was fed and laying down, when he heard a noise somewhere in the distance. Pikachu jumped on his shoulder as he made his way toward the sound.

It wasn't long before the underbrush thickened and twisted with briar bushes. They snagged at his cloths and scratched his skin. The temperature also seemed to dropped. He stumbled into a smaller clearing as a gnarly briar bush wouldn't let go of his leg. Looking around he noticed the ground was covered in snowdrops. Like freshly fallen snow. In the center was a large pale blue bulb with aqua green leaves. It reminded him of Thorn, his mother's venusaur. "Hello." The bulb gave a slight twitch at the sound of his voice. His fingers slowly brushed the soft loose soil away from the base to show light blue skin and purple eyes blinked up at him. "Hello little one."

"Bulbasaur. " the small pokémon pulled itself from were it had buried itself to look at the trainer.

"I want you to join my team."

"Saur?"

"Pikachu." Bulbasaur tilted it's head and got into a battle stance. Vines shot out quickly causing the duo to jump out of range. Ash landed in a crouch with Pikachu in front of him on his paws.

"Quick attack." Pikachu launched himself forward in a blur of movement only to trip as the ground started to twist under his feet. "Rototiller?"

"Cha." The ground exploded outward sending Pikachu into the air.

"Pikachu." Ash called out to his partner and got a thumbs up as Pikachu stood up. He glared and bared his teeth. Bulbasaur smiled innocently and waved her vine at him. "watch out rototiller raises grass moves." Pikachu nodded. Vines shot up from the ground under pikachu and wrapped around him. "Thundershock" The electric raced down the vines and over her skin. With a snap of his wrist he caught the bulbasaur.

Ash walked over to Pikachu and picked him up. The ball snapped back into his hand as he moved to the entrance. Back at the clearing he put Pikachu on his sleeping bag and released the Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur still had sparks dancing across her skin showing that she was paralyzed. He handed her a cheri berry. As his fingers massaged oran oil into their skin, bulbasaur watched the silly little trainer. Her vines moved some of the food; that was given to her; into her mouth as she though she made the right choice. The silly little trainer whispered about his team, some of which were sleeping curled up together in the corner of the tent. He talked about sending her to a professor for a full check up in the morning and that she would meet the rest of the team there and his mother. Bulbasaur cooed at her silly little trainer as she joined in the poké-pile. Soon the tent had no other noise other than snoring coming from it.

The next morning was a loud affair with all his excited pokémon greeting the newest teammate/pack mate. Ash sat up groggily from his sleeping bag at the noise. After shoving everyone from the tent he went about getting ready. He pulled his long black hair into a French braid with a black beanie with a metal amber flame on the front. His loose black sweater fell to the middle of his thighs over the black leggings with fire around his ankles. The sleeves covered his hands to the knuckle of his middle finger covering the fact he had black fingerless gloves on. Once again his fingers were wrapped in white bandages. Tying his hiking boots tightly he stood and made his way out of the tent.

Ash took a deep breath of cool fresh morning air as he stepped out of his tent. He fell in to the motion of making everyone breakfast. As the stew started to boil the pokémon started to do their stretches. With Pikachu showing bulbasaur her how to do them. Honey was helping Ash with the meal prep. Bulbasaur loved the food that was given to her. Once everyone was done Ash attached a set of weighted bands to her and got a face full of drool for his trouble.

"OK, that is gross." Ash whipped of his face and looked at his innocent looking bulbasaur with her big purple eyes. "Enough of that." He groaned as everyone snickered at him. "Do you want a nickname. You don't have to get one now if you don't want it."

"Bulba." She nodded with a beaming smile.

"How about Snowdrop, like the flowers I found you in?" Bulbasaur seemed to think about it be before nodding with a happy cry. Ash smiled and nodded, "ok then. Welcome to our family." He used the last of his bread to soak up the remainder of his stew and popped it into his mouth. Before moving on to his own morning work out.

When the sun peered over the horizon everyone said their goodbyes as he returned Snowdrop and sent her to the lab. He began to break down the camp. Which didn't take long, but after they where done a message came in from the professor. It was professor Oak freaking out over her color and said he was working with Professor Ivy to go over her blood work. Other than that she had perfect health. With his camp packed up and his bag in place he made his way from the clearing.

It had been a few days since he journeyed from Poké-tech. Honey and Pikachu were the only ones out at the moment. His heavy boots crunched over the leaf covered ground and his backpack jingled with each step he took. The cool nature trail lead through the shady forest to a small natural spring in a small clearing. It was a beautiful calm day with very little clouds in the sky. Stepping into the clearing he spotted a small blue and green pokémon getting a drink from the spring.

Not wanting to chase it off he settled against the tree resting his legs. Both pikachus curled up on his lap. The gentle breeze was soothing so he dozed off with his fingers working their fur. He jerked up jerked awake at the sound of rustling underbrush. Blinking tired eyes he watched as three people stumble out of the tree line and groaned as there stood Misty, Brock, and Ashton. The little pokémon had vanished during his nap. Yawning he pulled himself to his feet, getting their attention.

"What are you doing here?" Misty glared. "Are you following us?"

"I was here first." Ash stretched popping his back. "why are you so loud? You chase any rare pokémon in an area away don't you?"

"Why you little," Misty raised her fist but was stopped by Brock.

"Now is not the time." Brock said. "Satoshi was it? Why are you here?"

"Yes," Ash smirked a little using his first name, "and 'why am I here?' I am traveling to get the badges to enter the Indigo plateau."

"You know, Satoshi is a strange name for a girl." Ash shot Ashton a confused look as he had a smug look on his face. Misty was nodding along, but Brock looked just as confused.

"My mother named me." Ash rolled his eyes as pikachus jumped onto his shoulders.

"You know it is strange for you to have two pikachus."

"First of all. I want to pair my pokémon so they aren't lonely, as some are pack focused. My mother did the same. Second I've had Honey since I was seven and Pikachu was my starter. Third my team are my family," Ash glared at the now glaring Ashton. An eerie silence filled the clearing as the two groups fixed their own quick meals. Ash sipped on a pecha juice. Watching the small stream was calming even if the other amongst themselves. The small oddish was back getting another drink.

"Oh look a pokémon." Ashton and Misty jumped up.

"It is so cute I want to catch it."

"Hey I saw it first."

"Guys your scarring him."

"STAY OUT OF THIS." The both yelled at him and Ash narrowed his eyes.

"It's by the water and I'm the water trainer."

"Just because it's by the water doesn't mean it's a water type." She glared at Ashton. Ash just watched the events unfold and laughed until his sides started to hurt. As Ashton and his butterfree where knocked out by their own sleep powder, while Misty had a busted nose because of a wild bulbasaur.

Ash had to leave as he couldn't look at them and not almost die from laughter. He continued to follow the natural trail and stopped at an old bridge. Using Pidgeotto to fly over it. The winding path led him to a small house by a large crystal clear lake with a stream feeding it from a waterfall. The pokémon he could see all had signs of past abuse. The worst of the bruising was fading quickly so it was unlikely the owner of the house who did this.

"Hello?" a female voice came from behind him.

"Oh hello." Ash turned with a smile, "I am Satoshi Ketchum, but please call me Ash."

"It is nice to met you Ash. My name is Melanie. Welcome to the Hidden village. You can stay for a while, but on the condition that you do not try to capture anyone here."

"I don't steal pokémon."

"What? Oh no. None of these pokémon are mine. You see this is a place of healing for pokémon that have been abused and abandoned."

"I understand. Professor Oak has many pokémon wander or are delivered to the ranch after they where abandoned or rescued. The staff have help many abused and wounded pokémon. While the League deals with the trainers." He scratched the back of his neck. "That being said, if anyone wants to come along with me I will not stop them." She nodded with a small smile.

"Did you help with those abused?"

"Yes. Everyone who works on the ranch has to learn how to work with and around them. Do you mind if I helped out around here until I leave."

"If you don't mind. I need to gather some herbs."

"Then I'll be here." Bulbasaur glared at the trainer as if he waiting for him to backstabbing Melanie and try to capture the healing pokémon. Instead he watched as Ash went around giving all the injured pokémon full checkups, writing down notes for Melanie to go over. He changed bandages, messaged stiff but healing muscles and applying his own salves and ointments to bruises and damaged skin.

Ash was so focused that he didn't noticed he was impressing bulbasaur. Once the 'wild' pokémon he turned to his own. Bulbasaur's eyes widen at the shiny bulbasaur that the boy had on his team. With a slight blush he made his way out of his hiding spot.

"Oh, hello. Wait you're that bulbasaur from the clearing." Ash smiled at him. "Great tackle and what an ingenious way to turn the tables on your opponents." Bulbasaur smirked at the praise. "This is Snowdrop, Rin, pidgeotto, Honey, Pikachu and Black-ice." He pointed to each one as he names them. As the pokémon talked he pulled Pikachu's old poké ball off the clip that held it to his necklace and the storm poké ball off his left thigh. Pikachu hadn't noticed that he had been transferred to the storm painted luxury ball.

Luxury balls were expensive but they were worth it. They came with a special coating that made personalizing them easy. Each ball can have a completely customized environment for the pokémon that is housed within. The best function is that, outside of official league personal, only the trainer can release the pokémon. It keeps thieves from using the pokémon against their trainers. The average life span of a luxury ball is three times greater than the cheaper poké ball.

"Hey buddy, remember this?" Pikachu looked at the poké ball with a lightning bolt on the front in Ash's right hand and glared. "I don't think you realized this, but this isn't your poké ball anymore." With slow movements he turned his left hand over and unfurled his fingers showing Pikachu the storm ball. "This is a luxury ball. Now I transferred your registration tag from the old to the new ball the day after the spearow attack. Your old one was badly damaged in the thunder attack."

"Pikachu."

"I'm getting to that. The reason I transferred to a new one is because 1. Luxury balls are very secure. they only open for the registered trainer and league officials; like Nurse Joy, Officer Jenny, and Professor Oak. 2. All poké balls have a function that put a badly injured into a stasis until they be taken to a center. So for the worst case I will have this on hand. 3. The last is I don't want to lose you." Pikachu deflated a little as he looked at the ball. "Just please give it a try." He gave his trainer a slow nod and a tormented sigh. "Return."

Pikachu vanished in a red light . The luxury ball shook once before clicking once as it settled. Ash released his starter and was shocked by a thunder shock. "Better or worse." Pikachu stopped shaking out his fur and looked thoughtful. Before giving two thumbs up. Ash chuckled as his legs gave out. "For emergency only."

"Pikachu." Pikachu cheered, glad he wasn't going to be forced to the luxury ball. While much better than the other's crummy cramped feeling, he still didn't like it. He tapped Ash's leg, "pikapi, pikachu."

"You want a nickname?" Pikachu nodded. "Okay. How about Outlaw?" Pikachu tilted his head before nodding. He returned to the others. With a smile Ash leaned against the side of the house and pulled open the store function, that was open to all trainers, on Dexter. It could be delivered by Pidgeot. The more experienced the trainer is the more advanced equipment and items that the had access to. He flipped across different sections picking out a few luxury balls and a new painting kit as he almost used all of the one he had, a fully stocked emergency kit, two sets of clothes and a blanket. Next he set a report to the poké-rangers so it would be a registered protected zone and a copy to professor Oak.

He was dozing when Melanie came back with Brock. Bulbasaur was not pleased and glared when Brock went to retrieve his friends. Ash rubbed bulbasaur's head.

Ash ignore the three annoying trainers when they arrived. When Team Rocket attacked he was not pleased. Pidgeotto popped their balloon and sent the pokémon along with the field that held into the lake shore and explosion from the vacuum machines sent them flying.

The next morning Ash was ringing water out of his hair, from his shower, when three Pidgeots showed up. One landed next to him and the other two had Rangers on their back. Their uniform was a deep indigo and black. One ranger spoke to Melanie making Brock jealous. The other talked to Ash as they worked to clean up the stadium. When he felt a bump on his leg. "I think he wants to join your team, kiddo." Ash glared at the Male ranger, who laughed at him.

"Bulbasaur."

"But what about Melanie?"

"We talked about it last night." Melanie said as the two moved to them. "I think it's time for him to move on. That is how it is supposed to be, but no one has left after they heal. They feel safe here." Ash looked at bulbasaur. "He wants to fight you."

"Oh."

"I'll take the challenge." Ashton interrupted.

"Sit down kid, the bulbasaur challenged the kid."

"Do you know who my father is?"

"No and I don't care."

"I except Bulbasaur. Let's go Snowdrop." Bulbasaur blushed.

"What he already has a bulbasaur."

"Sit down kid."

Bulbasaur started with razor. "Vine whip." Snowdrop's vines knocked the leaves away and smashed into Bulbasaur sending him back. He didn't waist time and sent vines at her. The Bulbasaur slammed into Snowdrop. She stumbled and glared. Both raced at each other and slammed into each other. They glared at each other.

"Now," a fine blue powder was released from her bulb. Bulbasaur tired to stumbled away. Ash launched a poké ball and caught Bulbasaur. "Yes, we caught him. Good job, Snowdrop."

"Bulba." Snowdrop leaned against his leg as her eyes closed. Ash leaned down and messaged the tired pokémon.

"Well done, kiddo." The ranger was smiling.

"Oh come on. He has two Bulbasaur, now." Ashton growled.

"What is your problem? He chose to come with me if I could beat him." Both pikachu pulled down their cheek while sticking their tongue out at Ashton.

"Let it go, kid." The Ranger left to go see to the removal of the stadium. "Personally it looked to me that bulbasaur had a crush on Miss. Snowdrop.

"Bulba?" Snowdrop looked at her trainer, but he looked just as confused. She talked to Honey as her lovely trainer began to patch up Bulbasaur. After bulbasaur was healed he was sent to the Professor. Then with a wave they set off on their journey leaving the other group behind.

Days have past Ash made his way through the trees listening to the spearow and pidgey chirping insults at one another under the guise of peaceful a song. Rolling his eyes as he stepped into an open meadow. The sky had a few thick dark clouds on the horizon. When his eyes caught a shape huddled on a lone rock, he rushed forward. As he got closer he could see the exhausted form of a charmander. Quickly pulling an oran berry from his new berry pouch on his right hip and held it to charmander's mouth. The pokémon glared at him. "Hey buddy. Are you waiting on somebody?" the charmander gave a small nod.

"Look you need help." Ash's eyes took in the scars on his back and tail. The charmander was also looked under weight and smaller than he should have been. It didn't sit well with him. "There is a center not far from here."

"Char." Charmander shook his head. Ash sighed, but nodded. Outlaw Started to talk to the charmander. Honey had returned home to spend with his mother and work with the others. He pulled out his first aid kit and some of Nova's food. With steady hands he patched up the charmander. Before he gave him some of the food. Dexter was recording everything.

With the pokémon fed and watered Ash continued toward the center. Ash entered the center with a groan. He was tired and really smelly from the long journey. A storm had began to brew over head. Checking in he dropped off his five pokémon with Nurse Joy. Outlaw lay across his shoulders with his tail across his neck. He almost collapsed into the booth. Outlaw rubbed his cheek against his. Deep relaxed breaths had him almost fell asleep. A noisy group walked in with thunder rolling in after them causing him to jolt awake.

Ash blinked tiredly as he stretched over the table. He ignored the group of 5 as they crowded into the booth behind him. Something said caught his attention. The blue haired trainer had just emptied his pockets of full poké balls onto the table.

"Whoa Damian. That's a lot of pokémon."

"Yeah. I caught a lot of strong pokémon."

"That is a lot." Ash said looking over at the pyramid of poké balls.

"Thanks sweetheart." Ash glared at the other boy.

"Hey Damian, didn't your father get you a charmander?"

"Yeah, but I got rid of that looser." He shrugged causing Ash to freeze and his breath to catch. "Left him on some rock." He chuckled.

"Its going to storm soon," Ash growled out.

"So. I hope it dies. It couldn't even defeat a weak Poliwag." A loud thud rang out causing Nurse Joy to run to see what happened. She gasped at spotting Ash holding Damian face down on the table with his right arm pulled behind his back. "Ow. Let go you little psycho."

"What's your damage." Another boy cried out in shock.

"Outlaw thunder wave them if they move one muscle toward me."

"Chu." Outlaw nodded as sparks danced along his cheeks. Ash grabbed his other arm and tied Damian's arms together through his belt loops.

"What is going on here." Joy demanded shaking off her shock.

"Help, this psycho attacked me."

"He abandoned a wounded fire type after he lost to a water type and in this weather. Keep him here. Officer Jenny would love to hear this."

"Okay. Bounce make sure they don't move from their spots." Her chansey saluted and glared at the group.

"What? You can't do this."

"Yes we can." Nurse Joy said give the group a disapproving look. "As a field research," was the last thing he heard as he made a mad dash out the door. Outlaw jumped off his shoulder and dashed a head of him. With his tail straight up to draw any stay lightning to him instead of his trainer. It wasn't long that he was passing Misty, Brock and Ashton as the rain started to come down. In fact he shoulder checked Ashton knocking down, but Ash didn't care at the moment. In the distance he saw a few spearow circling around the charmander as he tried to hold a large leaf over his head.

"Outlaw." Bolts of lightning shot out at the spearow. Sliding his right arm out of his sleeve and under the sweater. "Hey buddy. Time to go. The bottom is about to fall out. So lets get to the center." He picked up charmander. Charmander sunk his teeth into the bicep of his right arm. Ash felt the tail slip under the opening under his right arm. The heat of the flame radiated through the thin shirt to his skin. Wincing as the flame started burn through the t-shirt, his skin and some of the sweater as he ran. Blood ran down his arm as he ran with Outlaw out in front sending bolts at the swarming spearow. The rush to the center felt quicker.

Ash stumbled through the door causing the charmander to bite down harder and the tail to push against his skin. It hurt as tears filled his eyes. Nurse Joy rushed forward to help him. She lead him to the back and gently coaxed the charmander to let go. Once he was in the bed Ash slumped against the wall and slid to sit on the floor. With shacking hands he pulled the sweater off the rest of the way. Another chansey helped him get the burnt shirt off.

Ash bite down into a roll of gauze as chansey cut through the bandages on his arms. He moaned as she began pulling them off as it stuck to the new wounds. She applied a numbing agent and Antiseptic to the bite causing Ash to black out. Outlaw watched as chansey worked her chansey magic.

As Nurse Joy worked on charmander she would check on the boy. She saw the scars on his arms and shoulders which reaffirmed her decision to give him a check up when she was done. Charmander was watching the boy as chansey worked.

When Ash came to he didn't know how long he had been out as he jerked awake. Nurse Joy was helping a Machop pick him up. He dozed as was carried through the center's back halls to his room. Outlaw was siting on machop's shoulder. Being put into the bed would have been painful if not for the pain medicine. He woke to Bounce the chansey bringing in his backpack. "Thank you."

"Chan." He nodded and made his way back to the front. Nurse Joy did a quick check of his fresh bandages on his right arm. She got a good look at the scars and on his left arms putting the to the talons of spearows. She placed the tray that held his pokémon on the desk. A soft thank you followed her as she left the room.

Nurse Joy made her way through the halls with Bounce right on her heels. The center was officially on lock down until Officer Jenny gets there. People could come in but could not leave.

Damian was tied up in the booth glaring as his 'friends' shifted nervously. Three trainers, Misty, Brock, and Ashton was sitting in their booths confused.

"Nurse Joy. Is everything ok?" An 19 year old trainer asked as he stood up his Furret was draped around his neck.

"A field researcher heard someone claim will full abandonment of their injured pokémon."

"In this weather." A 18 year old woman growled out. Her Vileplume growled beside her as her petals shook.

"Why does a researcher's word mean anything/" Ashton looked confused.

"A field researcher earns their position and are hand picked by Professor Oak. They can travel freely and come in contact with a wide variety of trainers. So they are trained to spot abuse, though Officer Jenny will investigate." Damian paled.

"You got to be kidding me. She is our age." Damian shouted.

"What 'she' is, is the top student of this years starting trainer." Nurse Joy said glaring at the boy. She made her way to the front desk. "I can check you in now, I'm so sorry for the wait. The 6 moved to line up.

As Ash woke up, he noticed that the pain had faded a lot during the night. Noticing the clock that declared it as early in the morning. With a groan he gathered his oran berry and sea salt bath salt and Pecha and chesto body scrub, shampoo and conditional. In the bathroom he fixed a bath for Outlaw in the sink that was made for bathing small/baby pokémon. Outlaw was cooing as he relaxed in his bath, as Ash sunk into his own.

After working the stiffness from his muscles he drained the water. He moved to take a slow shower. Being careful of the stitches and the almost healed burn he scrubbed himself clean. The sent of pecha and chesto calmed his mind as it filled the room. The chesto extract was working its magic as it fully awakened his body and mind. Stepping out he wrapped a towel around his hair as he dried himself off. Then he dried off Outlaw getting a coo from the pikachu.

With careful movements he applied an oran salve to the skin of his arms, shoulders, hands and the bite. Then he messaged a rawst berry salve into the burn. Before rawst berry leaf bandages on the burn. He whimpered when he taped them down. He could almost feel the heat being pulled from the damaged area. Outlaw looked at his trainer in worry as wrapped bandages around his neck, shoulders, arms and then his fingers. He hated that his trainer gained more scars.

"The scar will fade over time." Ash said with a small smile.

Stepping out he grabbed black skinny jeans and a loose blue blouse with its sleeve going to his elbows. He putting on a black jean jacket as he stepped into his sandals. Ash put all his things back into their case and shrunk it down. Outlaw was cooed at his trainer as he jumped onto his left shoulder. Running a brush through his long hair he stepped out of the room and headed to get some food.

"Good morning," he said as he stepped into the main hall of the center. His black hair hung loos around his form in waves from being braided. Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny was talking at the counter so the two chanseys nodded in greeting. Damian was still tied up in the booth, but the others were allowed to return to their rooms. When he got closer Nurse Joy waved with a smile.

"Good Morning, Researcher Ketchum." Officer Jenny greeted. "I need to ask you some questions."

"Ok," Ash's eyes flickered to Nurse Joy, "sure."

"Ash don't worry. Charmander is resting as we speak." Nurse Joy waved him off to go talk to Officer Jenny.

Once they settled in a booth the question over yesterday's events started. He answered honestly. With each question answered and verified by Alakazam the paler Damian got. At something hugging his leg Ash looked down to see charmander looking up at him. Bounce was right behind him glaring at Damian, like he was daring him to make a move to the pokémon.

"Hey buddy." Ash gently picked the charmander up and sat him in the seat to the left of him. Charmander almost flopped on his left side while glaring at his old bound trainer every once in a while. When he smelled both his trainer and his savior, he had been a sneaky little charmander and heard everything. Chansey had told him everything about his condition and how close he had come to dying. He snuggled into the boy's side breathing in the boy's sent mixed with pecha and chesto berries.

Ash's fingers started to message the charmander's neck and back. Officer Jenny smiled at the duo. Outlaw was sitting on the boy's right side. Charmander sniffed the 6 empty poké balls attached to his belt when he was pulled into one catching himself.

"Oh, my. Did that just happen?" Officer Jenny was losing it with laughter.

"I guess he wanted to come with me."

"What he is my pokémon." Ash blinked at the statement that Damian just made.

"You chose to leave me on a rock after he was injured by a water type. You've lost you right on being his trainer."

"You can't."

"He can suspend your license until an investigation can be conducted." Officer Jenny glared at the boy. "With what has been uncovered, you are no longer a trainer. Your pokémon will be evaluated. Newly caught pokémon will be handed to the rangers to be released safely in their natural environment. Those that dealt with you abuse will need to treated and rehabilitated." Nurse Joy walked over to Ash and lead him away for a check up.