A/N:
Wee, episode 1 is finally over, and that means that the story can finally begin with the main cast.
I don't know
why some people jumped to the conclusion that this was a "fix" fanfiction. It's not. It's a character-driven story that has subtle characterization/ look at other character's POV. This includes Helioptile, Gary, Giselle, and Ritchie. If that's not your cup of tea, okay. This is more of a "what if" story, looking at the anime, and while some moments are the same, others are vastly different. For one point, Ash finds his life purpose around Johto, but will probably still travel around to get more experience. Something akin to what the I Choose You! movie did. I want to have fun with this story, but I'll gladly accept critiques that are helpful and if you have any suggestions, I'm all ears.
Guest: Yeah, Ash can get Froakie for Johto. He was supposed to get another trio of starters, but I like the idea that he gets a Kalos set since that's where he was born. And Giselle X Ash might happen. It depends on how the story goes. There are a few twists and turns with each character, and I'm not sure where Giselle and Ash will end up.
Chapter 3: A Stormy Friendship
"It was really nice of you to let me stay the night, Mrs. Ketchum! I could have just gotten a room at the inn, you know," Ritchie said as he took a bite of his breakfast. Pikachu was sitting on the wooden floor nearby, scarfing down his Poké Food. Ash was wolfing down his food, his body tingling with excitement. Today was the day he would catch his first Pokémon! If he did, he didn't need to wait a week for Professor Oak to get a new batch of Pokémon!
"Oh, it was no trouble at all, Ritchie-dear. I'm just so happy that Ash has friends with who he gets along. Besides, Ash needs someone to babysit him. After all, he tends to get into a lot of trouble," Ash's mom said half-jokingly.
"Mom!" Ash protested, causing Pikachu to giggle to himself. "I don't get into trouble." Shooting Pikachu, a glare, the electric mouse just popped another piece of Poké Food in his mouth. His tail twitched with delight as he held the empty bowl above his head and licked its clean.
His mom rolled her eyes.
"Yes, you do, Ash. Anytime Pokémon are involved, you rush off without thinking. There was the time a Rattata was drowning, and you jumped into the lake, forgetting that you couldn't swim alone yet! There was another time a Pidgey was attacking a Pichu, and you rushed in to save the Pichu, only to get shocked by it. And another time when–," Ash cut her off before she could continue on her tirade.
"Okay, maybe I do get into a little trouble when it comes to Pokémon… But not that much. Besides, I've been to Route 1 tons of times. What trouble could I possibly get into catching a Pokémon with Ritchie?" Ash queried.
Delia sighed and rubbed her temples as if she were nursing a headache. There was a minute silence, but she eventually crossed her arms and relented. "Alright, but please be careful. And take your bag with you, just in case. I packed everything you'll in it. Even though I expect you back home, I know that you might just run off to Viridian City as soon as you catch a Pokémon. If you do, please call me."
Ash's cheeks began to heat up and turn bright pink. He knew that she was telling the truth. He had a habit of getting consumed by whatever task he was doing. Whether it was homework, video games, or anything related to Pokémon, he tended to be single-minded.
"Well, you don't need to worry Mrs. Ketchum! I'll make sure nothing happens to him!" Ritchie promised as he finished the last of his food.
Once everyone finished their food, Ash grabbed his bag and ran out the front door. A soft breeze tugged at Ash's jacket as he glanced up at the cloud-free sky. The golden sun was shining brightly in the early morning cerulean sky. The only sight to be seen for miles was a flock of Pidgey flying in a V-formation. A spark of joy bubbled in Ash's stomach as they landed somewhere in Route 1. Perhaps, that would be his first Pokémon!
Ritchie joined up with him, Pikachu padding close by on all fours. When Ash glanced at the little electric mouse, Pikachu huffed and quickly turned his head around. Even though he was following both Ritchie and Ash, he was being stubborn as usual.
"What Pokémon are you hoping to catch?" Riche asked.
"Hmm, I was hoping for a Sandshrew, truthfully. They're relatively easy to train and can be powerful if nurtured correctly! One year, I saw Bruno and the Champion hopeful battle, and the Champion hopeful had a Sandshew. It was strong enough to take down Bruno's Infernape by itself! If a Sandshrew was that strong, just imagine how strong a Sandslash is!" Ash exclaimed. He didn't even care when Pikachu let out a sigh and shook his head. He was too fired up to care about his cynicism.
"Yeah, I saw that battle as well! He was the winner of last year's Pokémon League Conference. I wonder if we'll get to the Pokémon League this year," Ritchie exclaimed. "If we do, perhaps we'll battle last year's champion since he lost to Agatha."
"Anything is possible! We just need to work hard and believe! And it all starts with becoming friends with our Pokémon. Isn't that right, Pikachu?" Ash turned towards the tiny Pokémon, but he was simply yawning and scratching one of his long, pointy ears with his hind leg. "Y-yup, I can see a friendship blossoming already with you and Pikachu."
Ritchie gave a drawn-out sigh. "Pikachu isn't going to listen to me yet. He doesn't even want to get in the Poké Ball. Watch."
Ritchie unhooked his Poké Ball and tossed it at Pikachu. The electric Pokémon's cheeks flared with electricity, and he used his tail to strike the ball back at Ritchie. Catching it with ease, the brown-haired boy frowned. Pikachu snorted in disdain and went back to grooming.
"See," Ritchie murmured. "He hates it. When I asked Professor Oak about it, he said that some Pokémon prefer to stay outside their ball. It's only a problem if they reach a certain size though."
"Don't worry," Ash encouraged, a smile on his face. "I'm sure Pikachu will listen to you soon. After all, he is following us, so that's a positive change."
Pikachu paused his grooming and gave the pair a haughty glare. But he was distracted by a far-off noise that only he could hear. Twitching his yellow and black ears, Pikachu turned his face towards the noise. Ash and Ritchie also looked down the empty road. Ash could barely make out the fiery-colored shadow on the horizon at first. But, within a few seconds, the shape became clearer. He could make out the shape of an Arcanine with a human riding on its back. A girl, by the looks of it. Before Ash knew, the Arcanine was careening closer and didn't look like it would stop before it ran into them.
"Look out," Ash exclaimed as he jumped out the way. Ritchie let out a surprised gasp and followed Ash's movement. Pikachu turned to face the Arcanine and puffed the fur along his back up, clenching his teeth in a threatening manner. Sparks were dancing on his rosy cheeks as he narrowed his eyes, threatening the Arcanine to continue.
The Arcanine let out a sharp howl and came to a hasty stop, skidding on the road slightly. The girl was jolted forward slightly, but she didn't fly off thanks to Arcanine's careful stopping. For a moment, the girl seemed confused before she glanced over her Arcanine's head to see what caused it to stop. Pikachu was still sparking, seemingly angered by Arcanine. But, as soon as his black eyes rested on the girl, his fur began to lie flat. Pikachu gave a bold smile, and Ash was shocked. It was the first time he had smiled.
"Aw, what a cute Pokémon! Are you lost little cutie?" the girl chirped as she hopped off her Arcanine, a glass container in her arms. Finally getting a good look at the girl, Ash only now noticed how stunning she looked. He felt his heart flutter for a bit, and he could only stare out her with a dumbfounded look on his face. Even when he tried to speak, it felt like something was impairing his voice. Even Ritchie seemed stunned into silence, and Ash could see his cheeks were becoming flushed as well. But he soon recovered and spoke to her.
"A-actually, he's my Pokémon," Ritchie announced, pointing to himself. "You see, he's my starter Pokémon. Professor Oak gave him to me. My name is Ritchie, by the way."
"Oh, I see, " she said, nodding her head. "My name is Gisselle, and I didn't know Professor Oak gave out wild Pokémon. It takes a good trainer to train a wild Pokémon off the bat. If they aren't caught in a battle, they tend to be disobedient because they find it impossible to gauge their owner's strength. So, is it listening to you already?" the girl asked as she turned her soft brown eyes on the pair. Pikachu covered his mouth and sniggered. Ritchie shot him a warning look, which he returned with a sharp tooth grin. Ignoring Pikachu's insubordination, Ritchie turned his attention back to Giselle.
"Not yet. But I want to show him how good of a trainer I can be by catching a Pokémon. Besides, Ash here is also looking to get his starter!" Ritchie exclaimed. Ash nodded enthusiastically. Even just the thought of getting of getting a Pokémon brought Ash back to Earth.
Gisselle gave a disapproving look as she tucked her case closer to her chest. What was inside the case caught Ash's attention. It was a Pokémon egg. The egg was a deep, earthy brown with a cream bottom. When Ash got a closer look at the egg, he noticed that it was squirming. The glass container rattled as the tip of the egg knocked against it. Ash stared at it, his curiosity peaked.
"I think your egg is going to hatch soon," Ash noted.
"I think not," Gisselle scoffed. "This egg has been dormant for more than a year now and–"
She immediately shut up when she gazed down at the egg. Her eyes were wide with shock as the egg continued to shake vigorously. "That's impossible. It didn't respond to any stimulus, no matter what. The only difference is that you two were here... It's so strange…. Why would an egg dormant for four years suddenly begin the hatching process?"
Ash looked at it with a wonder-filled smile. He didn't know what it would hatch into, but he would love to see what would hatch from it. Perhaps a Ghost-type? Ash had heard that Ghost-types sometimes went dormant for long periods of time.
"Do you think it's a Ghost-type?" Ash asked as he glanced at her. Giselle hummed as she thought before shaking her head.
"I don't know a Ghost-type with a brown, cream coloring. It's not impossible, but I highly doubt that's what's preventing it from hatching. I'm going to have Professor Oak check it out," Giselle said before giving the boys a charming smile. "Best of luck you two! Maybe we'll see each other later."
"Oh, goodbye," Ash said, feeling slightly crestfallen. He wanted to stay and talk to her some more. But Ash knew that she had to get somewhere, and he had to go somewhere as well. He tried his best not to show his sorrow and waved goodbye to Giselle. Pikachu called his goodbye as well as the boys left down to Route 1.
As they entered Route 1, Ash could hear the soft trills of Pidgey. The scent of dew-laden grass filled the air as the sun climbed into the sky. The soft sounds of the wind whistling through the trees could be heard as they passed underneath the study branches of the oaks that populated the route. Rattata chittered nearby, flicking their tail uneasily before they scampered into the deeper undergrowth. Even though Ash was used to this scene, he couldn't help but feel a jolt of joy. Ritchie giggled as he watched Ash's facial expression light up.
"Alright, let's get to work catching a new Pokémon. What do you say, Pikachu?" Ritchie prompted, keeling down to get to Pikachu's eye level.
"Chu," he said sharply, turning his back on Ritchie.
"Thought so," Ritchie sighed, getting back up. "You want me to prove my skills so you can see that I can be a good trainer, right?"
"Pikachu," Pikachu muttered before darting up a nearby tree and turning his head away from the pair. Ash resisted the urge to snap at the obstinate creature and instead tried for a different tactic. He was not going to the little creature get the better of him.
"Aw, come on Pikachu!" Ash pleaded. "We need a Pokémon to capture a Pokémon! If you don't come down, how are we supposed to weaken it?"
"Chu? Pi pika chu!" Pikachu cheered, pointing at Ash's pocket which held his Pokédex. Grumbling, Ash reluctantly took it out, and seeming to understand what he wanted, the device spoke up.
"Pokémon usually needs to be weakened in a Pokémon Battle. The exception to this rule is professional Pokémon Capturers who use trick shots to capture their targets," the Pokédex announced. At the sound of the Pokédex's advice, Ash got a confident smile as he placed the device back in his pocket.
"Oh, I see! If I can pull off a trick shot, then I can have a better chance of catching a Pokémon!" Ash decided as he unhooked a Poké Ball from his belt. He scanned the tall grass for signs of life.
A brisk movement of tawny and cream caught his eyes. Soon, the Pidgey stopped at the edge of a tree. Twitching its head to the right, it cooed and pecked at the ground. Finding a seed, the Pidgey turned its head upward and scarfed it down. Ash took aim with his Poké Ball as the tiny bird switched to preening its feathers. Ash wanted this to be perfect. If he was lucky, he would be able to capture it with no incident. As the bird twitched its feathers, Ash chucked the ball towards the Pidgey.
"Pidgey?!" it cried before being hit directly on the head with the red and white orb. It opened and withdrew the Pidgey into its cavity. But, as soon as the shiny ball hit the ground, a red light exploded from the middle and the Pidgey wasted no time flying away. Ash groaned in disappointment, but he quickly became irritated when he heard the uproarious laughter of Pikachu.
"Pi pi pika!" Pikachu cried, rolling on his sides, taking great pains not to fall off the branch. Ash glared at it but stayed silent. Of course, he would laugh. It thought that he was just wasting his time trying to capture Pokémon. But Ash was about to show Pikachu.
Looking around for another Pokémon, Ritchie's voice alerted him to another problem.
"Ash, a Rattata is eating the food from our bag!" Ritchie exclaimed as he shooed the Rattata away with a wave of his hand. The Rattata flattened its ears and bolted a few meters away. Turning around once it was a safe distance, the Rattata threw a wary glance towards the boys. Sniffing the air, it twitched its tail and scuttled away into the long grass before the two trainers could come after it. Pikachu mocking laughter now filled the whole forest, probably chasing away whatever Pokémon was nearby. "Let's go back, Ash. It seems like it's about to pour."
Ash paused. Ritchie was right. The air had become hotter and stickier than when they first came out. The moister in the air had changed, and when Ash glanced up at the sky, dark clouds were beginning to form. Even though the forecasters promised there would be no rain, it wasn't unheard of for a mysterious Pokémon to change the weather patterns. Even so, he didn't want to miss an opportunity to catch a Pokémon. Especially if one was around that could control the weather.
"You go back with Pikachu, Ritchie, "Ash declared as he picked up a pebbled. "I'm going to get myself a Pokémon."
"Are you crazy?" Ritchie yelled. "You'll get sick if you stay out in the rain, or worse! Listen, we need to head back! If you don't catch anything on this next attempt, we are going home. Also, what are you doing–"
Before Ritchie could ask Ash, lobbed a pebble at a shadowy figure in the long grass. Even from far away, Ash could tell it was a Flying-type Pokémon. And since he had seen a flock of them land around here, it only made sense for it to be another Pidgey. The pebble made a direct hit on the bird Pokémon and Ash felt joy ripple through him. He was going to capture a Pidgey!
"Ritchie, I think I got a Pidgey!" Ash exclaimed.
"Uh, are you sure you should be throwing rocks at Pokémon…?" Ritchie questioned.
"The Safari Zone Live Cam shows people throwing rocks at Pokémon to weaken them, so I'm sure this will be fine."
But Ash's blood ran cold as he heard the shrill call of a Spearow. Taking his Pokédex out, it read off the Pokémon's profile.
Spearow, the Tiny Bird Pokémon. Its reckless nature leads it to stand up to others—even large Pokémon—if it has to protect its territory. Spearow has a very loud cry that can be heard over half a mile away. If its high, keening cry is heard echoing all around, it is a sign that they are warning each other of danger. Due to its short wings, it can't fly long distances. It wanders about restlessly and pecks at bug Pokémon. This Spearow is female and its ability is Keen Eye, which prevents it from losing accuracy and allows it to see through evasive moves. It knows the moves Peck, Growl, Leer, Pursuit, Drill Run, Heat Wave, Quick Attack, Tri Attack, Uproar, Razor Wind, and Steel Wing. This Spearow has no trainer yet.
Ash put the Pokédex away as he watched another shadow come bustling towards him. He couldn't make it out, but he could tell by the blur that it was yellow with a black head. As it leaped into the air, Ash instinctively reached his hands out to catch it. Familiar blue eyes stared into Ash's brown, and Ash felt a shock of surprise register.
"Helioptile…?" Ash gasped, his heart leaping into his throat. This was the Pokémon who left him, right? This wasn't a dream? Looking over Helioptile, Ash noticed he was terribly wounded, and heaps of dirt covered his usual clean scales. And around his neck was a red satchel with a golden string. Ash could see that there was an object inside, probably its Poké Ball.
A sharp shrike reminded Ash that Spearow was still angry about something. Pulling Helioptile closer, Ash watched as the Spearow wheeled around, let out fierce cries. Her cries were sharp, and her eyes were murderous.
Then, a sound very close to thunder filled the sky. From a lone, nearby tree, a hoard of Spearow flew closer to their comrade. Fear flooded Ash as they covered the sky and nearly blocked out the sun. There were so many! A few broke away from the group and began to peck mob Pikachu.
"Pikachu!" Richie yelled as he tried to get at the electric Pokémon.
"Cha..." Pikachu cried as covered himself with electricity and zapped the Spearow away. The scent of singed feathers caught flooded Ash's nose, and he wrinkled it in disgust. The Spearow let out a soft growl before joining the mob once more. Ash was about to bound towards Ritchie when a group of five Spearow mobbed him and began to peck at Helioptile.
"Hey, leave them alone! They didn't throw the rock!" Ash yelled as he used his body to protect his Pokémon.
Hot pain surged through his back as the Spearow jabbed their beaks into him. Panic seized Ash, and his mind went blank. He didn't know what to do, but he wasn't going to let Spearow take Helioptile.
"Helio… Helioptile…" Helioptile gasped as he leaped into the air and knocked one Spearow away with his tail. It squawked in surprise and the others crowed with joy at having found their target. But Helioptile wasn't playing games this time. Helioptile covered itself in a brilliant array of electricity as it shot a Thunder Shock at the group. The Spearow easily dodged it, but they paused for a moment. They shared a look of apprehension before they wheeled back to their flock.
As soon as Ash was sure they were gone for now, he sprinted towards Ritchie. Fallen leaves crackled under his foot as he watched a Spearow knock Pikachu off the branch. Without missing a beat, Ritchie dove and caught Pikachu. Ash winched as Ritchie slid on the ground, keeping Pikachu safe. That had got to hurt. The Spearow cackled loudly from new perch on the branch, seemingly injuring Pikachu's pride. Wrestling out of Ritchie's grasp, the electric Pokémon stood his ground and zapped the Spearow. The force and power knocked the tawny-cream bird out of the tree and it hit the ground with a soft thump.
As it hit the ground, the singed bird quickly recovered and let out a startling his. It hopped into the air and squealed. At the sound, the air began to be filled with the howling of hundreds of wings flapping. The giant swarm of Spearow was heading straight towards Ash and Ritchie.
Ash felt his heart stop. He was prepared to take any punishment for his lack of foresight, but he didn't want Ritchie getting involved. Ritchie and Pikachu seemed frozen in reverence at the awesome sight.
"Ritchie, go back to Pallet Town. I'll draw their attention. Helioptile, you get going with Ritchie!" Ash ordered, glowering at the Spearow.
"No way, Ash. I'm not leaving you alone to get pecked into a coma by a bunch of Spearow!" Ritchie exclaimed as he pulled himself to his feet. "Pikachu, I'm going to need you to listen to me, just this one time, please. Ash, we can't go back to Pallet Town since the birds are blocking the passage. We only have one way to go, and that's to the river. Can you swim?"
Ash nodded. He was a pretty good swimmer, despite what his mom said earlier. And this time of year the river around here was pretty calm and the Pokémon were docile. A bunch of Poliwag and Magikarp usually inhabited the steady currents.
"Should we start running?" Ash asked Helioptile.
"Ptile," he nodded and sprinted deep into the tall grass. Ash followed him, with Ritchie able to run beside him. Pikachu kept close to Ritchie as the haunting sound of the flapping wings. Sharp winds blew in their face, but Ash knew he couldn't slow down. Helioptile ran beside him, not even bothering to check behind them. The sparse trees that had surrounded them before had disappeared entirely and the ground now sloped into an expansive grassland. The river was just beyond the bearly visible treeline at the end of the clearing.
"Pikachu, stay beside me. I'll protect you," Ritchie cried. Almost as if he wanted to be contrary to everything Ritchie asked of him, Pikachu sprinted ahead. Squawking in delight, a small group of Spearow broke off and began to mob Pikachu.
"Chu!" Pikachu cried, causing Helioptile to slow down. Helioptile scrambled around and kicked up dirt as he turned to face the Pokémon who were attacking his friends. But, before Helioptile could do anything, a Spearow blindsided him and struck him in the side with its sharp beak. The small, yellow creature laid flat on his side and the lack of motion drew an uncountable amount of Spearow close to him. Their eyes brightened with a terrifying amount of cruelty.
Ash wasted no time diving for the injured Pokémon as the Spearow began their assault. Ash's adrenaline masked the pain of the harry of attacks.
"Leave him alone!" Ash roared as he scooped Helioptile into his arms, knocking some Spearow away from him. Cradling his injured Pokémon, Ash checked back to see what Ritchie was doing. Ritchie had managed to procure a badly wounded Pikachu in his arms and was trying to keep it safe from the hoard. Ash bit his lip. He knew that they wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for him. But he couldn't dwell on that now. He had to save Ritchie, Pikachu, and Helioptile.
"Ritchie! The river is just a little bit further! If we can get there, we might be able to lose the Spearow!" Ash encouraged as he darted through the tall grass and dense undergrowth. Ash could feel his Pokémon's breaths become shallower and his anxieties fought with him to slow him down. Shaking his head, he ignored them. Ash could hear the Spearow still following him, but he refused to look back. Ritchie was nearby, his breath was haggard.
Fatigue made his legs ache and Ash's heart heaved with exhaustion. Mentally, he knew the water was nearby. The overwhelming thundering of running water filled his ears and the treeline was getting closer with each step. Closing his eyes, Ash made it into the trees and stumbled on a root. But he was quick to catch himself. Gritting his teeth, he couldn't help but wonder if they could even make it to the river in time.
No, I can't think that way. I have to protect Helioptile. He can rest up in the next town and recover, Ash scolded himself. As he finally exited the safety of the trees, Ash found himself next to a ravine. Wind buffed Ash, and for a split second, he wasn't so sure this was a good idea. But the noisy racket the Spearow were making and the slowing breaths of Helioptile made him decide there was no other choice.
As Ritchie stopped next to him, they exchanged a glance. The fire and determination in Ritchie's eyes quashed any doubts Ash might have. They had to protect their Pokémon, no matter the cost. Taking a deep breath and clinging on tightly to Helioptile, Ash vaulted himself over the rocky precipice. The next thing Ash knew, the ice-cold water opened up, and the dark, murky water swallowed him.
XOXOXOXO
Giselle sat down at a round table as she took a sip from the porcelain teacup. She watched intensely as Professor Oak was hunched over some piece of machinery. It was a cylindrical machine with a red top and clear glass that allowed anyone to see inside of it. Inside of it was the egg that Giselle had brought over.
Giselle brought the smooth cup to her mouth, and the aromatic scent filled her nostrils. She smiled as a flood of nostalgic memories flooded her head. Giselle hadn't had a good cup of tea like this for a year, since before she joined Pokémon Tech. Taking a sip, she enjoyed the complex flavor of the jasmine tea.
She allowed herself time to process the flavors in her mouth and savor the sweet taste. As she did, a low growl drew her attention. Reluctantly, she looked over at her Arcanine who had his lip draw into a snarl. Following his steady gaze, Giselle noticed that the sky was getting darker. Placing the cup back on the table with a soft clink, Giselle furrowed her eyebrows.
Weird. The news didn't say anything about rain today. In fact, they promised there would be no rain, Giselle thought. Her mind drifted to the boys from earlier. They had gone out to catch some wild Pokémon. Were they okay? Hesitantly, she tried to go back to drinking her tea. It wasn't really any of her business what happened to them.
As Giselle took another sip, Arcanine let out a full-throated bark. Shaken out of her indifference, Giselle placed the cup back on the table. Arcanine continued to bark as she stood up from the table and walked over to the window. Underneath the darkening sky was a giant mass of cloud. Except, this black cloud looked like it was moving. A shudder spread through her body as she realized that it wasn't a cloud; it was a mass of flying Pokémon!
Arcanine continued to bark and growl, his loud voice shaking the air and the lab around him. But Giselle could hardly hear him. Anxiety had consumed her body as she put two and two together. The boys she saw from before were probably in danger! Turning around Giselle took a deep breath to keep her voice calm. She had no proof that the flying Pokémon was attacking anyone, much less the boys from before.
"Professor Oak," Giselle started, her voice squeaker than she would like, "do you know if two boys who went looking for Pokémon returned?"
Professor looked up from examining the egg, seemingly not even paying attention to racket earlier, and shot her a perplexed look.
"Actually, no. Ritchie and Ash were supposed to go out today, but I didn't hear from Delia that they came home. I'll call her now," Professor Oak said as he walked away from the incubator, his voice full of worry.
Giselle had half a mind to take Arcanine out and get them herself. But she knew that would be reckless. Especially since she needed to be around for this egg hatching. Cubone were notorious for imprinting on the first thing they see. If she missed the egg hatching, Cubone might not develop a bond with her, and she didn't want to go through that pain again. Sighing, she decided against the impulsive choice and decided that she would just trust in her Arcanine.
The minutes seemed to stretch out for hours as she waited, but Professor Oak soon came back. His eyes betrayed his worry, and an uneasy feeling filled the air.
"Delia said that they didn't come back yet. She suspects that they went to Viridian City. It would take all day to get to Viridian City on foot though…" Professor Oak gave a worried glance outside the window. "I don't think they'll make it there before the storm."
There's more than just the storm that worries me. Giselle decided to hold back her words. They wouldn't help ease the situation at all. Instead, she would work on fixing the problem at hand.
"Professor Oak, my Arcanine can get to them! Even though he's young, he's fast. Not to mention, he is a natural tracker. He can make sure that they get to Viridian City!" Giselle declared. Arcanine nodded in agreement.
Professor Oak seemed a little hesitant, but a glance at the growing storm clouds convinced him. Giving a simple, reserved nod, he headed to the area under his loft.
"Well, I'll write a message for them to let them know what to do when they get Viridian City," Professor Oak called as he fumbled around at his desk.
Giselle nodded and rubbed her Arcanine's head. His soft fur intertwined with her fingers as he nuzzled her hand. His gray eyes were filled with fierce determination. Giselle flinched under the steady gaze and wondered if this was the same fun-loving Pokémon that she felt exasperated with at times. In her two weeks of raising him, she had never thought he could be so serious.
"You might earn your nickname just yet. Let's see what you've got Arcanine," Giselle praised.
"Ca nine!" Arcanine barked, licking Giselle's face. She let out a giggle, before pushing Arcanine's giant face away. It made her shudder slightly that Arcanine might get even bigger due to being just a puppy, but she pushed that thought to the back of her mind. Right now, she needed to worry about saving those boys. Arcanine was pretty set, but he needed two baskets. She knew there was a pretty good chance that one of the boys might have caught another disobedient Pokémon like their Pikachu.
"Professor," Giselle called, "do you have a Mudbray basket?"
"Yes, they should be up in the loft!" Professor Oak answered. "My personal room should have it."
Giselle ran up the stair, her harsh footsteps echoing throughout the lab. As she reached the top of the stairs, she noticed the dark wooden door. The top of the door had a plack that read "Professor Oak's Study." Taking a deep breath, Giselle turned the golden door handle and entered the room. It was a rather spacious room. There was a blue and gray carpet that lined the floor, and two long white sofas that were separated by a study birch coffee table. As she entered, she could hear the soft buzz of machines working. The walls were covered with delicate machinery.
All the way in the back of the room was a desk and shelves made from birch wood that lined the wall behind it. The shelves were full of various knickknacks and trophies. The uppermost shelf held what Giselle was looking for: two large wicker baskets attached to a worn-down strap. Giselle frowned. She had no idea how she was supposed to get up there. Taking a closer look around the room, her eyes rested on a folded metallic ladder that leaned against a wall in the back of the room.
Giselle set up the ladder and climbed onto the metal stairs. The stairs creaked as she stepped on them, which unnerved her at first, but she forced herself to relax. She wasn't going to fall. As she neared the top of the ladder, her eyes caught an unusual sight. There was a picture frame with six ancient coins that were rested beside it.
The six coins each had a square hole in the middle, and they were stacked on top of each other. Giselle recognized the coins as old Ransei currency. The picture frame held a photo of a man, two women, and what seemed to be their child. The man was large and had wild red hair, a beard of the same color, and light blue eyes. The woman closest to the man was holding the child, and she had a loving gaze as she looked up at the man. She had bright pink hair and red eyes. The other woman leaned forward, giving a playful wink, and sticking her tongue out towards the camera was easy to recognize. She was Lorelei of the Elite Four. The child seemed to be about three and he had messy red hair with bright red eyes.
A thousand questions buzzed in Giselle's head. Why was Lorelei in the photo? And who were the people she was with? Why did the mysterious woman look so similar to her? Was she Lorelei's sister? But the most important question to her was why was this in Professor Oak's room? Shaking her head clear, Giselle continued to ascend. Once she was at the top of the ladder, she quickly grabbed the baskets she was looking for and headed downstairs.
Downstairs, Professor Oak was tying a tube with a note around Arcanine's neck. Giselle could see that Arcanine was stiff, and his usual playful gaze was replaced with a seriousness that had never graced him. She couldn't help but wonder what brought this new attitude on. Giselle carefully placed the strap on his back and secured it in place. She shook the baskets slightly to make sure they were securely attached before giving her partner Pokémon a reassuring smile.
"Alright, you're all set Arcanine. Do be careful though. I saw that cloud of bird Pokémon, and if I remember, a swarm of Spearow can be nasty," Giselle reminded.
"Nine," Arcanine agreed as he padded over to the door. Giselle pushed the door open for him, and a sudden chilly breeze entered the room. Resisting the urge to shiver, Giselle nodded at her Arcanine. Arcanine let out a fierce howl as he sprang out of the lab and dashed down the stairs. Once he was fully down the stairs, he used Extreme Speed to charge into Route 1. Thunder rumbled in the sky, and the sky darkened even more. Biting her lip, Giselle closed the door and walked over to Professor Oak. She couldn't help but think that something bad might happen.
"Don't worry, Arcanine and the boys will be fine. Arcanine is a strong Pokémon and he'll protect the boys no matter what. Now, let's get to the topic of the egg," Professor Oak said as he wandered back to the incubator. "You said it hasn't hatched in four years, yet it began to shake as soon as you met those boys?"
"Yes, Professor."
"Well, I don't know if Ritchie or Ash had anything to do with it, but the egg went into something called embryonic diapause. That's when an embryo pauses development until certain conditions are met. Cubone and some Ghost-types like Yamask are notorious for hatching late. For Ghost-types, researchers assume that something is wrong with the soul attaching to the fetus. For Cubone, researchers think that the development of the skull is what causes delays. I've always dreamed of writing a research paper on Cubone and their skulls. The fact that..." Professor Oak began to prattle on and on into increasingly drier topics.
Stifling a yawn, Giselle thought back to the picture frame. She could risk being intrusive and ask point-blank, or she could just snoop around later. Weighing her options, Giselle decided that it was best to just ask now.
"Professor Oak, sorry to interrupt, but I saw a picture in your room that I can't stop thinking about. It's the one with Lorelei," Giselle said.
Professor Oak stopped his rambling and looked at her with a wistful look.
"Oh, you saw that old picture, huh? Well, that was when Lorelei came to visit me with her half-sister and her half-sister's husband! Lorelei wanted to show off her cute nephew. I think that was taken the day before Lorelei got engaged. That would be about thirteen years ago," Professor Oak explained.
Giselle nodded. It wasn't a secret that Lorelei and Giovanni were happily married. But Giselle was in the dark about Lorelei's half-sister. The child must have belonged to Lorelei's sister, making him her nephew.
"So, who was the kid?" Giselle asked.
"Oh, his name was Ren. He's Silver's - Giovanni's son - cousin."
Lightning flashed overhead and Giselle couldn't help but peer out of the frosted window. Precipitation slid against the fogged glass as it began to obscure the dark clouds that seemed ready to burst. Looking up at the sky, Giselle sent a silent prayer that the boys would be okay and that Arcanine would make it in time.
XOXOXOXOXO
The murky black water churned overhead as Ash fought to straighten himself. The swift currents pulled him away from the surface and further down the river. Ash spotted a Gyrados that he just narrowly avoided as it swerved to avoid him. The massive sea serpent was able to interrupt the strong current, and Ash used this momentum to break through the surface of the water. Ash gulped the cool air of the darkening sky, soothing his aching throat.
Looking around, Ash spotted Ritchie as he surfaced at the same time. He was keeping Pikachu's head above water. The poor Pokémon seemed to be drifting in and out of consciousness. Glancing around the rugged bank, Ash spotted a slope that they could use to climb out of the water. It was a short swim, but Ash could feel fatigue setting in again. Ritchie probably felt the same way, so Ash didn't want to push him unnecessarily.
"Ritchie, can you swim to shore? There's a slope the leads to land," Ash called. He didn't have much time. Helioptile needed to get out of the water and fast.
"Yeah, I can follow you," Ritchie coughed as he tried to keep his head above water. Ash nodded and made sure to keep Helioptile's head above the swift water. The cold water clung to him, making his chest burn as he struggled to breathe. With a deep breath, Ash kicked his way over to the slope in the bank. Ash's vision was becoming hazy, but he kept fighting until he felt his feet just scrape the bottom of the river floor. A sense of relief flooded him as he moved out of the way.
"You first, Ritchie," Ash encouraged. Ritchie seemed like he was about to argue, but a rapid burst of coughs made that impossible. Giving a feeble nod, Ritchie swam ahead of Ash. His head bobbed up and down in the foamy water as he gave one final push to make it to shore. Once on the slope, he placed Pikachu on a nearby flat rock that jutted out nearby and hauled himself onto the shore. Crawling a little bit further up the slope, Ritchie reached out his hand for Ash to grab.
Without a second thought, Ash handed him Helioptile. Ash ignored the surprised look on Ritchie's face. Ash knew that Helioptile was more important right now. He was shaking uncontrollably, and he was severely injured. While normal attacks like Peck chipped away at HP, physical attacks with a Pokémon's body were no joke. Ash remembered the bite he suffered as a young child from his mother's friend's Houndoom and how it had hurt worse than Houndoom's Flamethrower attack.
Water tugged at Ash, threatening to drag him further down the river. Grabbing onto a loose root that was poking out of the layered soil, Ash steadied himself. Gritting his teeth, he fought to stay stable as Ritchie placed Helioptile next to Pikachu on the rock. Rivets of water were streaming off their bodies and forming shallow pools beneath them.
They need to be put back in their Poké Balls. If we don't... I don't know if we can protect them. Ash glanced around Helioptile neck, and it was then that he noticed the red satchel that was resting around his neck was gone. Ash's heart began to bump against his rib cage. Where had it gone?! Frantically searching up and down the river, Ash finally caught sight of the tip of the golden string bobbing up and down. It had caught on the edge of a tree that had slid into the stream. Its roots were tangled, and Ash knew that he was risking getting trapped in them if he went near them.
Not wanting to risk fear overtaking him and delaying his chance, Ash took a deep breath and shot after it. He could hear Ritchie shouting, but he didn't hear what he was saying due to the roar of the river. Shards of woods hurtled towards Ash, but he did his best to ignore them as they grazed his clothes and skin.
Even though his whole body ached, he knew he couldn't just give up on Helioptile like that! Ash finally reached the tangle of roots. He bearly managed to grab ahold of a root before the foaming river swept him past the tree entirely. The red pouch dipped deeper into the water before surfacing again. Ash knew that this was his last chance. If the bag was swept away, there was very little hope of getting it back.
Taking a deep, calming breath, Ash reached for the pouch as it was jerked around. Between the bitter winds and the tugging waves, Ash was beginning to lose his grip on the branch. Ash tried to snatch the pouch, but it was pulled just out of reach. Ash watched as the root dipped even further under the stress of the storm-strengthen river and saw the pouch begin to slide off. A spray from the raging river caught Ash in the face and caused the pouch to finally slip off.
Coughing and spluttering, Ash knew that he didn't have a choice. If he wanted Helioptile to live, he needed to go after the Poké Ball. Steeling his nerves, Ash used the branch to give him momentum and dove after the now free-roaming bag. Roots smacked his face as he descended upon it, and miraculously, he felt the pouch bump against his chest. Ash quickly grabbed it and pulled it closer. But, just as Ash was celebrating, a particularly strong current sucked him under.
The inky water surrounded Ash's whole body, but Ash clung to the precious item even tighter. He was going to make it! He had to believe that. Water stung his eyes as he tried to make his way back to the surface. But the crashing and spinning water impeded him and pushed him further downstream. Tumbling around with no sense of direction, Ash tried to find a way to at least breach the surface. But the current was too strong to fight against. Running out of breath, Ash wondered if there was anything he could do to save himself. Just as he was about to give up, Ash snagged against something large and soft, almost like a paw. A sharp set of teeth sunk into his jacket, and in a graceful movement, Ash was quickly hauled out of the water.
He was soon back on the soft, grassy floor of the forest. Ash's body felt weak and numb, and his vision was beginning to haze. His body convulsed as he coughed up the slimy water. As he did, he caught sight that he was still holding the pouch. Giving a weak smile, Ash fell back and was caught by the soft, fluffy creature that had saved him.
"Nine..." he whined, licking his face sorrowfully.
"Hey, buddy. Thanks for saving my life," Ash muttered as he curled up into the giant Pokémon's fur. It felt super soft, like the silk his mother wore whenever she went out to a party, and warm. So warm in fact, Ash could just imagine that he was relaxing next to a crackling fire. His drench clothes weighed him down, and even if he had to run, Ash wasn't so certain that he could in this condition. The sound of footsteps drew Ash's attention to where he had left Ritchie.
"Ash, there you are! Arcanine ran past me and saved you from being swept away in the rapids. Why did you dive into the river? What happened?" Ritchie asked, worry creasing his face. Ash silently raised the red pouch that had slipped from Helioptile's neck. In an instant, Ritchie began to scold Ash. "All that for a bag?! Ash, you could have gotten put into a coma or worse! I hope you know that was the stupidest, craziest thing you could have possibly done!"
"Sorry… It had Helioptile's Poké Ball. If I didn't get it, Helioptile's condition would become worse," Ash managed to croak out. The distant chatter of Spearow drew Ash out of his stupor. He didn't have the luxury to wait to recover. As he tried to stand, he only succeeded in stumbling and crashing back onto Arcanine. Ritchie gave him a look that was full of pity.
"Ash, I'll get the Pokémon. You stay here and rest for now. Arcanine, can you warm him up?" Ritchie asked. Arcanine gave a curt nod and wrapped his warm body around Ash's wet, sodden body. Ash vaguely heard Ritchie run off, but he was too tired to move for now. He curled up close to Arcanine. The extra heat was beginning to dry his soaked clothes and warm him up. Feeling slowly began to return to him and he glanced up at the sky. It looked like it was about to burst at the seams.
After a few moments, Ritchie was back with Pikachu and Helioptile tucked under both his arms. Ash straightened himself and opened up the crimson satchel. Taking out the Poké Ball, there was still the same wonder as to when he first held it. But, instead of getting his first Pokémon, he was fulfilling the secret oath he gave to protect it at all costs.
"Helioptile, return!" Ash ordered, pointing the ball at the Pokémon. A red light shot out from the Poké Ball and encircled Helioptile. But, instead of drawing it back in, the red light shattered when it hit Helioptile. Ash looked at Helioptile, a dumbfounded expression on his face. Did the Poké Ball malfunction? Even if a Pokémon refused, shouldn't it be withdrawn for a short time anyway?
"P…tile…" Helioptile muttered as it hung limply and shook his head. Even though Helioptile was weakened, he had refused to be returned. Why? Ash knew he would be safe in the Poké Ball, so why? A look of terror and anxiety lit up Ash's face as he looked down at the injured Pokémon.
"Helioptile…" Ash gulped, his hands feeling abnormally tingly. "Please get in the Poké Ball…"
Helioptile shook his head, panting with tiredness and pain. Ash stared at him, dumbfounded by his perseverance. Even if his eyes were dull, they still sparkled with emotions that were too complex to read. But Ash could see that he wasn't going to leave him alone.
"Ash, we've got to go now! The Spearow are coming!" Ritchie yelled as he placed the Pokémon in the baskets. Shaking his head, Ash got rid of his remaining dizziness and took off his jacket. Since they were going to be riding on Arcanine, he knew that Ritchie and he would be fine. But Helioptile was freezing from his trip down the river. Ash gently wrapped Helioptile in his jacket in a desperate attempt to keep him warm. Even though goosebumps were forming on Ash's skin, he didn't care. All that matter was taking care of Helioptile!
"Ash, we can go to the Pokémon Center! There's one not far from here in Viridian City. Once we cross into the city, the Spearow will go away because there are Pokémon guards there," Ritchie exclaimed as he hopped on Arcanine.
"A Pokémon Center?" Ash questioned as he climbed behind Ritchie. Once Ash and Ritchie were securely on Arcanine's back, the canine let out a deep howl before darting into the forest at top speed. Ash flinched from the sudden movement, but he also tightened his grip on Arcanine's fur.
"Yeah, like a Pokémon hospital! Where I come from, it at the center of my city. I used to go to attend their summer camps every year to learn about Pokémon!" Ritchie exclaimed. Ash ducked his head in embarrassment. Even though he attended Professor Oak's summer camp, he had never heard of a Pokémon Center. Professor Oak had usually taken care of any sick or injured Pokémon. Although he knew a lot, there were still more things to learn. Even simple things, apparently.
As they flew through the route, the clouds let out a fierce roar, and sharp pinpricks of water began to descend from the sky. They were sharp, almost needle-like, and numbingly cold. Ash groaned in discomfort as some pelted off his face. This was his least favorite kind of rain. Ash could stand fat, warm droplets, but ones that were chilly and thin always made him winched. Even though they were moving at breathtaking speeds, a shrill choir of squawks and screeches could be heard.
"Oh no, not them again!" Ash exclaimed as he whipped his head around to glare at them. Their voices echoed their vicious goal of revenge. If Ash ever got out of this, he promised never to throw any more rocks at Pokémon outside of the Safari Zone! Clearly, the Safari Zone was a special place where the Pokémon there didn't seem to mind that!
"Arcanine," Arcanine growled in irritation as he began to pick up speed. Even though Arcanine was running at top speed, one of the Spearow managed to divebomb Ash's head.
"Ow! These Spearow sure are tenacious! Arcanine, are you holding up?" Ash asked. The fire Pokémon was probably only used to carrying Giselle so far. He couldn't imagine that it was just flying through the expansive plains of Route 1 in the rain was easy.
"He's getting tired... Ash, what will we do if we have to fight that flock? There's easily 100 or more Spearow! There's no way we can escape this without a miracle," Ritchie whispered, his voice tinged with fear. Ash dug his fingers into Arcanine's soft fur and examined the options. Ritchie wasn't wrong. They would need a miracle. But he didn't want to agree with him out loud.
As Arcanine prepared to leap off a ledge, a group of around five Spearow broke away and quickly began to harry his hindlegs. Arcanine howled with surprise and reared up to shake them off, but as he did, the lead Spearow rose high into the sky and spun its whole body around. At blinding speed, the Spearow knocked into his chest. Ash felt Arcanine lurch as he lost his footing and tumbled onto his side. Helioptile and Pikachu were thrown from the basket and skidded across the muddy floor. Ash felt the hard impact as he skid across the grassless path. Ritchie groaned in pain as he clawed the muddy path, his hands digging deeper into it as he forced himself to sit up. If Ash didn't think of something quick, everyone would be in danger.
"Ritchie," Ash groaned, beginning to stand up, "can you walk?"
"Yeah. I didn't land that badly," Ritchie said reassuringly. "But I don't know how we're going to get out of this."
Ash glowered at the flock of Spearow. They were waiting to attack them. Their loud jeering and crying buzzed in Ash's ears and he growled under his breath. He just wanted them to stop.
"This can't be happening..." Ash whispered to himself.
Without warning, one of the Spearow broke away from the group and divebombed Ash! Too stunned to move, Ash just watched helplessly as the Flying-type hurtled its body closer towards him, its wings tucked, making it look like a missile. A bright flash of yellow from behind him connected with the bird Pokémon, sending it flying back with a sharp cry of pain.
Ash turned his head to see Helioptile, as beat up as he was, protecting him still. A sense of pride shot through Ash as he watched Helioptile do his best. But, at the same time, a wave of fear crashed over Ash as well. He was supposed to be protecting Helioptile! Not the other way around! Unhooking his Poké Ball from his belt, Ash pointed it at Helioptile.
"Helioptile, get in the ball. I know you're afraid, but if you're inside, maybe I can save you. Ritchie and Pikachu can carry you to safety while I take down these Spearow. It's your best bet, Helioptile. Please, Helioptile, trust me and return, " Ash said, trying to coax Helioptile to get in the ball. Ash could feel tears wheeling up in his eyes, but he ignored them. Helioptile watched him carefully, the rain making him shiver as he thought about what to do. There was no time to contemplated, so Ash pointed the ball at him. "Helioptile, return!"
A red light shot out from the center of the Poké Ball and engulfed Helioptile. But it broke its connection like last time, and Helioptile crawled over to Ash. His usually bright blue eyes were hazy and unfocused, but he wasn't going to abandoned Ash. A lump caught in Ash's throat as he gazed at Helioptile's determination.
"Pikachu," Ritchie's voice caught the stubborn mouse's attention as his ears perked slightly. "You need to get in your Poké Ball. I'm not sure if we'll get out of this together, but I will try my best to protect you. I just need you to trust me."
Ritchie rolled the red-and-white orb towards Pikachu, and it clattered slightly against the terrain. The rain pelted Ash hard as he glanced up at the Spearow who were circling. Thunder rumbled loudly and the sky lit up almost immediately. As if things couldn't get any worse, the lightning was close by. If they didn't get a move on, there was a high chance that the lightning might strike them or start a fire. Making a last-ditch effort, Ash scrambled to his feet and placed his body between his friends and the source of danger.
"Ritchie! Get Pikachu and Helioptile and run! I can hold them off by myself!" Ash shouted, but his voice cracked. His body was shaking, but he could only hope Ritchie assumed it wasn't out of fear, but the frigid downpour.
"Spearow, do you know who I am? I'm Ash, from the town of Pallet! I am destined to be the world's number one Pokémon Master! I can't be defeated by the likes of you! I'm going to capture and defeat you all! You hear me? Guys, start running now!"
The Spearow were circling, listening intensely. One Spearow separated, but it was still not attacking. It narrowed its eyes, seemingly waiting for the perfect opportunity.
"Ash, you and I both know that isn't true. Pikachu, Helioptile, do you think you two can stand?" Ritchie asked softly. Ash heard the Pokémon let out soft trills of agreement. "Then run with Arcanine. The plan I have is way too risky…. We don't know what could happen, but it's up to the trainer to protect their Pokémon. So, Spearow, if you think you can take us, come and get us."
The Spearow seemed to take this as a sign, and as a unified flock, they lunged straight for the boys. Their feathers glistened in their rain, and their eyes seemed to shine with a sadistic glint. Ash felt his heartbeat slow, and he wondered what would happen next. How badly would this end? As they prepared their talons to strike at the boys, Helioptile clammer up his clothes and onto his outstretched arm. He leaped into the air with a fierce cry and his body crackling with electricity. Pikachu followed, his cheeks sparking more than Ash had ever seen before. In a split second, a bolt of lightning hit the pair of Pokémon just as they prepared to attack. An orb of lustrous radiance expanded from both Helioptile and Pikachu and engulfed Ash. His vision went from a sharp white to a mellow black within seconds.
XOXOXOXO
"Well, we beat 'em," Ash said, pain flooding his whole body as he was sprawled out on the road. Helioptile was staring at him, his bright blue eyes were still clouded over and his whole body was giving off yellow sparks, but they were alive. Turning his head, Ash saw that Ritchie and Pikachu were also waking up. Pikachu's cheeks were sparking slightly, but other than that, it seemed to be in okay health.
A sharp melodic cry from above drew Ash's and Ritchie's attention to the sky. Two birds crossed paths: one was a red bird with a cream belly and green wingtips, and the other was a bird with a red underbelly, black back, a wispy gray mane of feathers, and a wing and tail shaped like a 'Y.' Even though the red bird's appearance screamed that it was a majestic being full of beauty, the other one seemed to say the opposite. It was beautiful, yes, but it also looked deadly. Its horns reminded Ash of demonic paintings from ancient times and the long, jagged claws at the tips of its wings and tails didn't make the Pokémon seem cuddly at all.
A shudder passed through Ash as he watched the black fly deeper into Kanto. The other bird continued to sail, the slight breeze ruffling its feathers as it flew underneath an archway of light. Ash couldn't help but wonder if those two had just come back from a meeting of sorts. A crooked smile played on Ash's face at the thought of Pokémon have a meeting. It was almost too magical to believe creatures like that would have anything to talk about. As Ash watched the bird glide out of view, two feathers floated down.
One was a feather that changed colors to reflect the rainbow and had a soft, white glow. There was a ball of downy at the part where the feather and shaft connected. The other feather was a vivid red with black edges. It was glowing vermillion red. The rainbow feather landed in front of Ritchie, while the black wing landed in front of Ash.
Sitting up, Ash gently picked the feather up and examined it. Helioptile seemed memorized, almost as if he was in awe at its majesty. Ritchie also seemed to be captivated by the feather he received. Pikachu's black eyes were wide with reverence. Once Ritchie was done, he put his feather away and called out to Ash.
"Ash let's get to Viridian City. Our Pokémon are pretty beat up, and Arcanine should also be looked at. Giselle will kill us if anything happens to him," Ritchie reminded. Ash groaned in agreement. Once they were in Viridian City, they could worry about the birds. Perhaps, he could even ask Professor Oak about it. Stashing his feather in his inside jacket pocket, Ash couldn't help but begin to feel hopeful.
XOXOXOXO
"I can't believe our capo sent us on this dumb mission! You'd think Archer would be nicer too since we received sake directly from the boss, but no, he sends us to intern at the local Pokémon Center," Meowth complained.
James had to agree with his conclusion. Their caporegime – or the person who organized the foot soldiers so as not to leave a paper trail to the real boss – was being unusually unfair with his missions for them. Receiving sake from the boss marked them as important, but yet Archer still had them doing grunt work. Now, the head Nurse Joy had them out investigating some lightning strike. At the very least, they could take whatever Pokémon was injured in the strike or resulting fire. But, Route 1 didn't have a lot of prized Pokémon. So, it wasn't as if they would be taking in a worthwhile haul.
"Ugh, that Archer! He thinks he can boss us around, but when we make capo, I'll show him just how great we can be!" James exclaimed.
"Well, he might have done us a favor. Look over there," Jessie said, pointing to a mass of fallen Spearow. Their feathers were singed, and the ground they were laying on seemed to be slightly blackened and electrified still.
"Big whoop. What's a measly little Spearow going to do for us? Selling it on the Kanto black market barely gets us enough for a bento box," Meowth grumbled, shrugging in dismissal. "We should be chasing the big bucks. Like, Sandshrew or something."
"Well, if we sell Spearow to the Sinnoh black market we can make a lot of money. They're rare there and perfect for the collector. Or we can sell them in bulk to an underground fighting ring. They're always looking for more fodder to test their Pokémon out on," James pointed out.
As the two were discussing the finer points of selling Spearow, Jessie had wandered over to the burnt ground and Spearow. She ran her hand over the soot, inspecting it and rubbing it through her fingers.
"James, how does that thing Nurse Joy was talking about work? You know, the thing with electric Pokémon and what a sudden surge of electricity can do to them?" Jessie questioned.
"Hm, let's see. Well, when an electric Pokémon is hit by a high voltage of electricity three things can happen: the Pokémon is hurt, the Pokémon gets more powerful, or the receiver gets overcharged and must release the power immediately or risk getting deathly sick. The last one is easiest to identify because a Pokémon will spark uncontrollably. Why do you ask?"
Jessie bent down to scoop up a fistful of soot. "This is why. The charge had to have been powerful, and I think we're wrong to assume it was just a stroke of lightning. It might have been a Pokémon that was hit by lightning."
Reaching into her pocket, Jessie took out a small container and placed the soot into it. She took a small grey device out of her other pocket. It had a green-tinted screen with a handgrip section that had buttons. Underneath the screen portion was a clear tube that could flawlessly identify energy within whatever sample it had. Team Rocket always used it to see what kind of Pokémon might be lurking around a route, especially if it was powerful enough to meaningly damage its surroundings.
"The energy residue is consistent of that of a Raikou. Informing Team Rocket HQ directly of time, location, and soil composition…" the device announced.
Meowth let out a squeak of surprise. "Raikou?! Isn't the science division looking for that Pokémon? If we meet that Pokémon, we're toast…"
"Don't get your tail in a twist, Meowth. Raikou probably left a while ago. Come on, let's survey the damages for Nurse Joy and take any of the goods that just happen to be left behind from this wreak. If they're weak Pokémon, they can always be used as cheap entertainment for the strong Pokémon of Team Rocket," Jessie said confidently as she rose to her feet.
"Spear..."
A groan of indignity caught James's attention and turned to see one of the injured Spearow struggling to its feet. Scratching its talons along the ground, it struggled to get a foothold but failed miserably. Even as it did, the unlucky Pokémon seemed to be muttering something under its breath. Thankfully, Meowth could hear it.
"She says, 'Hey, you bozos! If you think I'm weak, why don't you come say that to my face? I'll take down all three of you. With one wing tied behind my back!'. Well, Spearow, that's the way the cookie crumbles. Fearow aren't exactly top tier in terms of power," Meowth mewled, before giving a deceptive, friendly smile. "Although James over here can change that if you help us with one tiny thing. If you convince your other fall breather to join Team Rocket, you can come with some of the highest-ranking members of all of Team Rocket! Your name will be known throughout the land as a Pokémon to be feared! Route 1 Pokémon will cower in fear at your devastating power!"
"Spear? Spearow! Spear spear spearow row!" Spearow chimed as she nodded her head, her eyes sparkling.
"She says that it's a done deal, as long as she gets to beat up a specific Pikachu and Helioptile. She'll even help lead her teammates to our HQ personally if it means becoming a trainer's Pokémon," Meowth translated as he flicked his ear. "James, do you want it? It's your call."
James glanced at the Spearow, whose eyes were burning with a fierce desire to get her revenge. But something about them sent shivers down his spine. Was she really going to allow harm to come to her friends just to get stronger? She had heard what Jessie had said, and even so, she was willing to sell her colleagues out for the promise of becoming stronger? If that were the case, she would fit in perfectly with Team Rocket. But could he trust her not to suddenly turn on them when someone else more powerful came along? James wavered for a moment, but after thinking about it, he made his decision.
"Yes, I will train Spearow to be one of the best Team Rocket Pokémon in the history of Team Rocket!" James declared.
A/N: Whew, it's finally over! Chapter 4 will be much shorter. The shorter a chapter is, the easier the editing process becomes. This one was 11,000 words after editing. I'm still trying to get a groove with writing, but I hope my skills have improved a little. This easily doubles the word count.
Anywho, here's the basic outline for the next five chapters:
Chapter 4 – Ash's second battle/ Ritchie catches his first Pokémon
Chapter 5 – Ash catches his first Pokémon/ Ritchie catches his second Pokémon
Chapter 6 – Helioptile gets kidnapped by a mysterious Pokémon
Chapter 7 – Ash, Giselle, and Ritchie enter a tournament that has a Pokémon Egg as a prize
Chapter 8 – Ash and Ritchie both battle Brock