A/N:
I did change Samurai's name to Kenshin, but only because Kenshin fit slightly better as a name for the story.
allen Vth: XD Yeah, Ash is a bit of a jerk to Venonat and does need to grow to use status moves. But he is slowly learning how to battle and finding his style. I wanted him to start a little weak so that there's actual progression. Anyways, I'm glad you're enjoying the story!
Pokémon Teams:
Giselle – Arcanine [Nickname: Dromi] [Gender: Male], Starter Pokémon [Nickname: Saito] [Gender: Male], and Cubone [Nickname: Ren] [Gender: Male]
Ash – Helioptile [Nickname: Dazai] [Gender: Male] and Venonat [Nickname: Kaguya] [Gender: Female]
Ritchie – Pikachu [Nickname: Sparky] [Gender: Male], Metapod [Nickname: Happy] [Gender: Female], and Bidoof [Nickname: Koro-koro] [Gender: Female]
Chapter 6: The Ninja and the Samurai
Early evening was fast approaching as the trio continued down the well-worn path. The sounds of bug Pokémon echoed through the forest.
Although many interesting Pokémon traveled past their path, Ash had to restrain himself from attempting to catch any. Dazai was walking beside Ash as he looked at the Pokémon who would pass by with wide eyes. At one point, Ash was tempted to try and catch a cool-looking Weedle, but he quickly pushed that thought away. He didn't have time to stop and catch Pokémon since Pichu's life depended on them getting to Pewter City quickly.
Trying to distract himself, Ash looked at Dromi. He was happily trudging along beside him while Giselle was riding on his back. Ritchie was trailing behind the rest of the group, keeping an eye out for danger. There were many dangerous Pokémon in the forest, so they had to remain vigilant. One slip-up could seriously damper their ability to get out of the forest.
"Helio!" Dazai screeched. The harsh tone caught Ash's attention as he turned his focus towards what was ahead of him. The glistening of a blade was enough to make Ash stop dead in his tracks. Fear froze Ash in place as he glanced down at the blade, too afraid to even yell in fear.
Attached to the blade was a young boy dressed up in old samurai garb. His black helmet covered his eyes, and his stance was stiff. Dazai was letting out a low warning growl, and Ash could see that electricity was coursing through his body.
"Are you a trainer from Pallet Town?" the boy asked.
"Yeah, what about it?" Ash responded, getting his bearings back. "Also, isn't it illegal to carry around a sword?"
The boy simply shrugged in response, taking his sword away from Ash's face.
"My name is Kenshin, named after the protector of the Kanto region. And it is illegal, but I'm practicing my sword skills out in the forest. I'm technically not carrying it around others," Kenshin replied smoothly as he sheathed his sword. "I had thought you were a poacher and attacked you on instinct. But, once I saw you were a kid, I preemptively stopped my attack. I'm sorry for the distress I've caused you, but the poaching rate has seemed to have gone up."
Ash could hear Ritchie mutter something under his breath, but it was too quiet to make out from Ash's position. "I see… Anyways, if you could let us through, we're sort of in a hurry–" Ash was cut off from finishing his sentence.
"Wait!" Kenshin shouted. "Before you go, I demand that we battle! As a trainer of Pallet Town, I expect you to have exceptional skills!"
Ash was a little hesitant about accepting a challenge since they needed to get Pichu to Pewter City, but after thinking about it for a moment, he decided it was fine. After all, it shouldn't take up more than a few minutes of their time. Glancing at Giselle and Ritchie, they both shrugged. Obviously, they didn't want to get involved in this and left it up to Ash. With a huff of annoyance, Ash gave a brisk nod.
"Fine, let's have a battle! This will be my first real battle!" Ash exclaimed, unhooking his Kaguya's Poké Ball.
"Good, but let's make it quick. A deity lives in the forest and seems to be keen to cause mischief. No one has quite seen it, but it has gold and white feathers," Kenshin explained as he took his position on the battlefield.
Gold and white feathers? That's the Pokémon from before, Ash realized with a start. Was it a wise idea to battle now, especially if that deity was stalking him? Glancing up nervously at the tree, the sturdy branches of the oaks, Ash could catch sight of the mythical bird. If it was around, it might try to snatch one of his Pokémon.
"Pay attention to the battle! If you don't, you'll lose," Kenshin warned. Ash dragged his attention back to his opponent. He needed to get this over with quickly if he wanted to prevent the loss of his Pokémon. "Alright, let's go, Heracross!"
In a blink of an eye, Heracross was released from its capsule and it was leaning forward, glaring menacingly. Its iridescent elytra - the hardened exoskeleton over the wings - glistened in the sunlight. Ash grimaced. Heracross was a powerful-looking Pokémon, and Ash still had his doubts about Kaguya's battle prowess. If he used his Venonat, he was afraid that her lack of battle experience might cost him the battle. Furrowing his brow, Ash put Kaguya's ball back on his belt and looked down at Dazai.
"You're up for a battle?" Ash asked.
"Helioptile!" Dazai hissed softly before leaping onto the field.
Giselle huffed in annoyance. "This is dumb. Ritchie, how long do you think this will take? We do have to get somewhere."
"About ten minutes," Ritchie replied. "Ash should be able to beat him, no problem."
Kenshin shot them a glare. "Don't underestimate me. Alright, Heracross, Fury Attack!"
Heracross shot forward, its yellow eyes glazed with aggression. Ash barely had time to respond before Heracross's wing-shaped horn was lined up close to Dazai's face. Dazai quickly somersaulted away, charging himself with electricity as he did. Ash knew he was ready for an attack order as he continued to dodge the horn by leaping out of the way.
"Scale Shot into Thunder Shock!" Ash ordered.
Dazai landed on Heracross's long horn and catapulted himself into the sky. Heracross flinched from the impact and scrambled to keep its footing. Dazai flipped around in the air to face Heracross and waved his tail, sending a barrage of green scales raining down on his enemy.
"Dodge it!" Kenshin yelled. Heracross snorted, moving out of the way of the energy scales. It skillfully dodged the first two, before Dazai released a powerful Thunder Shock. The flash of lightning was enough to alarm Heracross, even if it hit the ground next to it, and caused it to halt its movement. The other three scales collied into Heracross, making it yelp in pain as Dazai landed safely on the ground
"Clever, very clever," Kenshin muttered. "Tackle, Heracross!"
As the Heracross lined up an attack, a screech sounded filled the clear skies. Everyone's eyes were drawn to the tree where the sound came from. Atop the thin branch was a golden-brown bird Pokémon with a white mane of feathers. It seemed familiar, but Ash wasn't sure if it was indeed a Rufflet. Just to be sure, Ash took out his Pokédex to check out its information.
Rufflet, the Eaglet Pokémon. Known as a natural-born warrior, soon after its hatching, it will challenge its parent to a fight in order to gain their acceptance. If it spies a strong Pokémon, Rufflet can't resist challenging it to a battle. They pick fights indiscriminately. They grow stronger and more powerful each time they faint or are injured. But if Rufflet loses, it starts bawling. They crush berries with their talons. They bravely stand up to any opponent, no matter how strong it is. This Rufflet is male and its ability is Sheer Force, which raises the power of moves at the cost of any secondary effects. It knows the moves Rock Smash, Peck, Hone Claws, Wing Attack, Dual Wingbeat, Steel Wing, Roost, Shadow Claw, and Bulk Up. Its recommended move set is Steel Wing, Wing Attack, Rock Smash, and Hone Claws. This Rufflet has no trainer yet. This is an extra-large Rufflet, standing at 2'04".
"So it is a Rufflet... Why does it look so different?" Ash squinted. Maybe it was a trick of the light?
"That's because Pokémon this is a Shiny Pokémon. They're highly prized for their unique color and rarity," Giselle explained. The Rufflet turned his eyes to glare at her, but she simply glared back in return. "They're also extremely prideful. Ash, call back Dazai. This one seems like it wants a fight."
Ash nodded. He knew better than to put Dazai in harm's way for the sake of a battle. Besides, Ash had a feeling he was probably going to lose this battle anyways. "Dazai, come back!"
Dazai flapped his closed frills and darted back to the safety of Ash. But, as he did, Rufflet kicked off the branch and divebombed him. Ash was too shocked by the sudden movement to call out either a warning or an attack. And within a second, Rufflet locked his talons around Dazai's midsection and hoisted him into the air.
"Dazai!" Ash shouted as he ran towards the Rufflet. But the small bird was quicker, and he flew out of Ash's reach before he could even get under him. Narrowing his eyes in haughtiness, Rufflet soared deeper into the forest, Dazai dangling from his giant talons.
"Helioptile!" Dazai cried as he was whisked high into the sky, his voice breaking with fear.
Ash watched his friend shrink into the sky, and anger filled his very core. He was not letting Dazai get taken away again! Without waiting for anyone to say anything, Ash bolted after Rufflet, following it on foot. His heart was beginning to beat rapidly as he focused on the white spot in the sky. Ash didn't know why Rufflet was doing this, but he didn't care! There was no way Ash would ever abandon his friends, no matter what!
Rufflet swerved in the sky, diving into a patch of trees. The sharp rustles of leaves could be heard from quite a distance, and the boldly colored bird had disappeared like a phantom. But Ash wasn't about to let that deter him from finding Dazai. Ash continued his mad dash until a soft buzz permeated the surrounding area. Ash skid to a stop, glancing around him with anxiety. He had heard this buzzing before when he went to Summer Camp.
Beedrill! That Rufflet must be using them as cover! Ash realized, his heart leaping into his throat. Thinking better of just blindly rushing in, Ash glanced at the forest floor. Several sticks, stones, and other noisy debris littered the ground. A grim smile crossed Ash's face. Of course, Rufflet was using its natural habitat as an alert system. If Ash ever dreamed of getting Dazai back, he needed to outsmart Rufflet.
Scanning his surroundings, Ash spotted a rotten log that connected to a cleaner spot in the forest. It seemed sturdy enough to support his weight, and it would allow him to avoid the natural trap.
Taking a deep breath, Ash crawled onto the hollow log, the silky moss cushioning his palms from the rough bark. The wood creaked slightly under his weight, but not enough to give his position away. If he could have look around in peace, Ash might be able to find Rufflet on his own. Continuing his steady crawling pace, Ash felt his heart lurch when the wood began to bend under his weight. With a loud crunch, the wood crumbled away and Ash was sent tumbling into the log. He let out a scream of surprise as he landed on his shoulder at an awkward angle. He wasn't in pain, but that wasn't the problem at hand.
A chorus of loud hums swelled from the treetops as the Beedrill came to investigate the disturbance. Ash rolled onto his stomach and pressed himself against the rotting wood. An earthy scent filled his nose as he peered up, terror gripping his heart. A horde of Beedrill had suddenly materialized above him, their attention drawn to the loud noise.
Ash held his breath as the loud whine of hundreds of wings drowned out any thought he had. They didn't seem to notice his presence, but it wouldn't be long before they found him. And when they did, they would probably teach him a rather unpleasant lesson. As they congregated above Ash, another scent reached his nose. This one was a sweet-smelling scent that irritated his nose. It wasn't long before a black cloud began to blanket the skies, blocking out the treetops.
The Beedrill paused and seemed to be discussing something. With a simultaneous nod, the Beedrills fled the area.
Ash watched them leave, the thick haze burning his eyes. He felt a sense of gratitude to the smoke for getting rid of them, but he also felt icy fear grip him. His throat was burning and he didn't know where the fire could possibly be.
Even though there was a lot of smoke, he didn't hear the crackling of the fire. He was pretty sure he was safe for now, but he had no idea how long that would last. Ash could still hear the terrifying drone of wings, so he didn't want to leave his hiding place just yet, even if his throat was beginning to burn. If he left, he knew the odds of him being attacked were high.
Once the buzzing fully died down, Ash pulled himself out of the collapsed log. A piece of bark grazed his skin, and he winched, but he forced himself to keep quiet. Familiar paw steps reverberated on the forest floor; Dromi was here, and by the deep sounds of his paws, so was Giselle.
"Ash! Where are you?!" Giselle called out.
"I'm over here Giselle!" Ash
yelled, before cutting off into a coughing fit.
The first thing Ash saw of the pair was a fervent orange glow that cut through the dark haze. But soon, Dromi and Giselle came into view. Dromi's muzzle was clamped shut over a pine branch, the current source of the smoke.
"Dromi! Giselle!" Ash cried as he pushed himself to his feet. Dromi came to a stop, and he dropped the branch onto the dry ground. With a growl, he pawed dirt over the flame and rolled the branch under his massive paw. The flame that was once roaring with anger died down to small crackles, and the smoke lessened enough for Ash to get a good view of Giselle.
"Ash," Giselle let out a breath. "That was really reckless
. It was obvious the Rufflet was leading you into a trap."
Giselle was giving Ash a stern look, but Ash saw the worry she was trying to hide. She was really bad at hiding her emotion sometimes. Giving a rueful smile, Ash nodded.
"Sorry, but I can't let anyone take Dazai. He's my first Pokémon and my best friend." Ash stood up, feeling the crushing sadness overwhelm him.
"I know. We'll come up with a plan. But, for now, we'll have to fall back," Giselle said as Dromi turned around so Ash could hop onto Dromi. Ash cast one last glance at where Rufflet and Dazai had disappeared. Even if he could see through this thick smoke, he knew he had lost his chance of finding them. Gritting his teeth, Ash leaped onto Dromi. With a howl, Dromi charged back through the forest as the smoke began to dissipate.
The remaining smoke was still burning Ash's throat and eyes, making it difficult for him to breathe. Giselle cast an apologetic look back at Ash.
"Sorry about that. I had wanted to use Dromi to chase the Beedrill off, but Ritchie was against it. He didn't want the Beedrill to be injured because they were defending their home, so he told me to use smoke to chase them off. Apparently, smoke makes it difficult for them to communicate with pheromones." Giselle lowered her voice to a mutter as she continued. "Besides, Ritchie set the fire before I could go off on my own."
Ash chuckled. He didn't know that Giselle was so protective of people or hot-headed for that matter. But he was glad that Ritchie was able to stop her from getting into trouble. As they exited the sooty air, a small log cabin came into view. Thanks to the cleaner air, Ash was beginning to feel a little bit better. His throat and eyes no longer stung as much as before.
Nearby the cabin was Kenshin and Ritchie, whose Pikachu was clinging to his shoulder.
"This is why I hate new trainers!" Giselle yelled as Dromi came to a stop. Normally, Ash would take that comment seriously, but it was Giselle. She had a habit of blowing things out of proportions. "Ritchie, what was that? Dromi could have easily taken that horde!"
Ritchie glowered at her. "Really Giselle?! You know that wild Pokémon don't have a Nurse Joy they can run off to! It's better to do it this way!"
"Even so, it was safer to allow Dromi to handle the Beedrill," Giselle grumbled as she dismounted from Dromi. The Arcanine let out a huff and licked her cheek. "I know it would have been good practice for my little Dromi."
Ash shot Ritchie a thankful look as he stumbled off of Arcanine. Ritchie simply shook his head and sighed. Even though he and Giselle argued, Ash was pretty sure they respected each other. At least he hoped they did. They still had a while to travel together before Giselle decided what she wanted to do.
Turning his head, Ash saw that Kenshin was shaking his head disapprovingly. He knew it was aimed at him, but Ash didn't feel like acknowledging it. He was already feeling prickly about losing Dazai so easily. He didn't need something else to set him off. Unfortunately, Kenshin wasn't going to let this issue go.
"You really are a novice? Only a novice would allow his Pokémon to be swiped by that Rufflet and then fail to get it back!" Kenshin's voice was full of venom. Ash responded in kind, high off his anger and frustration from losing Dazai.
"Don't call me a novice," Ash spat, his pride not allowing him to take any insult, no matter how true or false. "Besides, I was trying to get Dazai back, but the smoke and the Beedrill stopped me."
"Ha!" Kenshin laughed. "Novice is too good of a word for you! None of the other trainers from Pallet Town would have let that stop them! A red-headed boy was successfully able to deflect Rufflet's attacks with his Bulbasaur."
That must be Silver, Ash thought. Before Ash could argue anymore, Ritchie stepped in.
"That's enough. Ash might not have saved Dazai now, but he will. He always pulls through for his friends, no matter what the situation. In the meantime, you haven't battled every new trainer from Pallet Town. If you want to, you can battle me," Ritchie growled, his eyes brimming with anger. "That way, you can leave Ash alone."
"Pi pikachu!" Sparky agreed, his cheeks sparking in anger.
"Hmph, I guess that's fine. If you're a novice like he is, this will be easy. But I don't think there's anyone with less conviction than him," Kenshin taunted.
Ash felt hot shame run through him. He really did want to help Dazai, but it was getting late and there would only be a little bit of daylight. If he went out now, he would certainly fall off a crag and not help anyone. Swallowing his mixed emotions, Ash turned his attention to the ensuing battle.
Kenshin already had a Poké Ball in his hand, as did Ritchie. Sparky was now standing beside Ritchie, his eyes narrowed to show his battle-readiness. Even so, it was obvious that Ritchie wasn't going to rely on Sparky this time. He didn't even glance at his partner as he took one of the Poké Balls from his waist.
"Alright, this will be a two-on-two battle. The first person to lose two Pokémon loses and there are no substitutions!" Kenshin announced.
"Sounds good to me! Alright, let's get this rolling Koro-koro!" Ritchie announced as he released his Bidoof.
"Doof!" She cried.
"Hmph. Impressive. Fine, then let me show you my Pokémon! Come on out, Pinsir!" Kenshin ordered, tossing his Poké Ball. It split open, releasing a large Pinsir. Its vicious pincers were coated in dozen of mini scars and its hard exoskeleton shined in the dying sunlight.
"Alright, Koro-koro, start things off with a Skull Bash!" Koro-koro nodded and lowered her head. A silverish aura began to swirl around her as she dug her claws into the soft, spongy ground. Ash wondered why Ritchie was starting defensively. Although powerful, Skull Bash took a while to perfect. As such, any Pokémon not proficient in it would struggle to use it instantaneously.
"Ha, you've made your Pokémon into a sitting duck! Pinsir, Quick Attack!" Kenshin yelled, an overconfident smile on his face as Pinsir sped forward, kicking up a good amount of dirt. A white aura surrounded it as it raced towards Koro-koro.
"Koro-koro, knock your head upwards!" The Bidoof wasted no time and thrust her head up and slinging Pinsir into the air.
"Sirrr!" Pinsir cried out in surprise as it was suddenly airborne. Ash was surprised by the power Koro-koro had. He never would have imagined that a Bidoof would be able to sweep a Pinsir off its feet. For a little Pokémon, she had a lot of power!
"Right yourself, Pinsir! Then slam into it with a powerful Vise Grip!" Pinsir was just barely able to twist its body midair before it came crashing down to earth. Ash could hear the wind sail past it as it came closer towards Koro-koro.
"Koro-koro, use Rollout!" Ritchie ordered. Koro-koro nodded and rolled herself into a small brown ball. She veered off to the right, effectively dodging Pinsir as its pincer drove into the ground. Ash's eyes widened as he watched the Pinsir struggle in vain to escape the trap it created for itself. All it managed to do was make itself even more stuck as its horns drove deeper into the mud.
Koro-koro sped back around, gaining speed and power, and hurtled towards Pinsir. The Bug-type scrambled to get out of the way, but it was too late. Koro-koro struck the Pinsir, and knocked it flat on its back, freeing it from its self-induced prison. Koro-koro shot away, continuing to roll around while Pinsir laid motionless in the grass. It was clear to everyone that Pinsir had no more will to battle. Kenshin quickly recalled it back into its ball.
"Good strategy. Your Pokémon was able to keep a distance from Pinsir's horns and used its own strength against it. But let's see how your Bidoof deals with this!" Kenshin exclaimed as he unhooked another Poké Ball. Tossing the Poké Ball into the air, the resulting bright red light brought forth a new creature that Ash had never seen.
It was an orange bug with navy blue feet and two whiskers on either side of its face. Brilliant blue eyes peeked out from a yellow shell with navy blue spots. Ash felt his skin begin to jitter with excitement, and he couldn't suppress his joy at seeing a new Pokémon!
"Oh, cool, what's that Pokémon?" Ash asked as he took out his Pokédex.
Dottler, the Radome Pokémon. The evolution of Blipbug and native to Galar. As it grows inside its shell, it uses its psychic abilities to monitor the outside world and prepare for evolution. It barely moves, but it's still alive. Hiding in its shell without food or water seems to have awakened its psychic powers.
"That's a Bug-Psychic Pokémon. It has a lot of weaknesses, such as Dark and Fire," Giselle explained. "But I wouldn't let that typing fool me. Dottler is a lot sturdier than it seems."
Ash watched as the Bug-type glared at Bidoof as it continued to roll around in its ball form. Even though Dottler barely moved and ate, it could probably still put up a good fight. If it couldn't, why did Kenshin call it out?
"Dottler, let's get this rolling! Confusion!" Kenshin ordered.
Before Koro-koro could even vault herself at the new enemy, she was surrounded by a shimmering blue light. Dottler's eyes were also glowing blue, and Ash's joy turned to worry. He had seen this attack on TV. Every time it was used, it was near impossible to prevent or plan against it. As Koro-koro was forced out of her ball, she began to struggle against the devastating effects of Confusion.
"Dottt!" With a sharp cry, Dottler threw her against a tree. The tree shuddered as Koro-koro hit it with tremendous force. She slumped to the ground, her whole body shuddering from the impact.
"Good, now Iron Defense!" Kenshin ordered.
Dottler growled and began to glow a brilliant silver. Koro-koro struggled to her paws, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she fought to get her bearings. Although she winched, she still seemed ready to battle.
"Koro-koro, use Shadow Ball!" Ritchie order. Opening her mouth wide, a black ball of energy formed in front of her.
"Bidoof!" she cried as she launched it towards Dottler. The slow-moving Pokémon seemed surprised and the silver glow dissipated from its body.
"Use Light Screen and stop it!" Dottler nodded and dug its feet into the ground. With a sharp howl from Dottler, a bright yellow pane of glass materialized out of nowhere. The Shadow Ball roared into the screen, causing Dottler to grunt as it struggled to hold back the attack. "Ha, it takes more than one single attack to-" Ritchie cut him off.
"Rollout!"
Ash was floored by how quickly Koro-koro was able to follow Ritchie's orders. This was his first battle, and yet, he was able to effortlessly bond with Koro-koro. If there ever was a prodigy, it would have to be Ritchie.
Koro-koro smacked into Dottler's side, knocking it to the ground effortlessly. Kenshin's eyes went wide in surprise, but he soon returned to a calm look. Pulling out his sword, Kenshin pointed it at Dottler. A battle-hungry fire burned in his eyes and it was enough to make Ash flinch. He had never seen such an intense stare.
"Dottler, we cannot give in! Our comrade has already fallen in battle, so we must repay the favor double fold! Dottler, I order you to defeat this enemy!" Kenshin rallied before resheathing his sword.
"Dottler!" Dottler rolled over in an effortless movement. Digging its blue feet into the ground, it gave Koro-koro the most ferocious stare it could muster before letting out a monstrous howl. The sound was loud enough to make Koro-koro flinch, and miss Dottler entirely, even though it hadn't moved.
"Good! Now Dottler, finish this with a Body Press!" Dottler leaped into the air, following its master's order. It landed on top of Koro-koro, burying her into the squishy earth below. Ash flinched at the sound of the sickening thud.
"Doof!" Koro-koro cried out before she stopped moving altogether. Her eyes stared blankly ahead, a sure sign that she had fainted. Dottler quickly scrambled off of her, pride resonating in its gaze.
"Koro-koro, return!" Ritchie clicked his teeth as he recalled his Pokémon. "Happy, come on out!"
Ash's eyes widened as Ritchie sent out his Metapod. The green cocoon Pokémon was nestled peacefully in the open area, the grass blanketing her sides. Giselle seemed to be biting her lip, resisting the urge to point out the obvious. Sparky flicked his ear in confusion and looked up at his trainer as if Ritchie had lost his mind. But, Ritchie just had a cool smile on his face.
Kenshin folded his arms and tilted his head.
"Metapod? A Metapod has no place in a serious battle. What are you trying to do?" Kenshin questioned, his voice full of skepticism.
"You'll see," Ritchie teased. "Happy, let get things going with an Electroweb!"
A glowing, yellow ball formed at the tip of Happy's cocoon before it exploded into a net. The net launched itself towards Dottler, who tried to jump out of the way but was too slow. The eclectic web wrapped around it and pinned it to the ground. Ash felt his skin itch as he remembered the shock he got from it last time. The Dottler vainly struggled, but that only helped it get shocked repeatedly.
"Dottlerrrrr!" Dottler howled in pain as it began to panic. Kenshin gritted his teeth and thrust his palm forward.
"Confusion, and then follow it up with a Struggle Bug!" beseeched Kenshin as he glared ahead. Dottler braced itself against the pain, narrowing its eyes as it struggled to get its Confusion to work. Its eyes soon turned a bright blue, and the net was covered in a blue outline as it dissipated. Once free, Dottler shook its hide and face Happy with a fierce glare.
Rearing up on its hindlegs, Dottler brought its forefeet down into the soil. From her deep blue feet, a bright red light erupted from the ground and came rushing towards Happy. Ash yelped in surprise as the earth beneath his feet rumbled and threatened to throw him off balance. The red energy sped towards Happy, and Ash could only watch helplessly as she was sent hurtling into the sky.
"Happy!" Ritchie shouted as he watched his Metapod being launched. His face contorted in worry before it smoothed out and he got a knowing smile. "Happy, Tackle!"
Ash couldn't see Metapod's expression, but he watched as she wiggled herself in the air. For a Pokémon who couldn't move well, she was putting up a decent enough battle.
"Metapod," Happy growled as she lined herself up with the Dottler. With the force of a speeding Rhyhorn, she used her aerial velocity and rammed herself into the Dottler's shell, pushing it back. Ash couldn't help but admire Happy as she pushed Dottler back a good distance. Dottler groaned in pain and backed away from Happy. Its head was lowered, and Ash could see that it was heaving with exhaustion.
"Squash that Metapod with a Body Press!" Kenshin roared.
Dottler nodded, charging forward, and springing into the air for another devastating attack. Ritchie didn't have time to give a command before Dottler came crashing down on Metapod. Ash heard a sickening crunch and a wave of anxiety washed over him as he watched Happy being driven downwards.
The somber scene didn't last long as Happy began to glow a pale silver. Everyone's face lit up in surprise as the previously still cacoon began to morph into a being with wings. The long, tapered body soon transformed into the body of a being with long wings and unfurled antenna.
Dottler rolled off the new Butterfree as it flew into the sky, shaking off the silver light to show off its new form. Her wings glittered in the late sunlight, the deep orange sunset casting a beautiful glow on her new form.
"Congratulations, Happy! I'm so, well, er, happy for you! Come on, let's keep the pressure up with a Gust!" Ritchie cheered.
"Free!" Happy agreed as she somersaulted in the air and brought her wings together, creating a high-powered typhoon of wind. Ash and Giselle braced themselves against the chaotic winds that threatened to whisk them away. Even Sparky had to braces himself by using his tail as a counterweight.
Dottler had no such luck as the stream of wind sent it flying into a nearby tree. It soon fell to the floor, unable to move. Ash let out a sigh of relief while Kenshin recalled his Pokémon with a pleased smile.
"That was a most excellent match! I did not expect to see your Pokémon evolve. Did you know that it was close to evolving?" Kenshin inquired.
"I didn't. I just believed that Happy was able to defeat Dottler no matter what form she was in," Ritchie said as Happy landed on his head.
"And even so, you were able to handle your Butterfree so well after it evolved! You even knew what attack it had to defeat Dottler!"
Ritchie sheepishly scratched his cheek. "That was thanks to Giselle. She was telling me all about the new moves Butterfree learned upon evolving."
Giselle seemed pleasantly shocked to hear her name exit Ritchie's mouth. Even though the two seemed diametrically opposed to each other, it was nice to know that they got along sometimes. Dromi let out a low rumbling noise, glad that those two were now getting along.
"Well, you three can stay the night in my cabin if you want. It's getting too late to travel," Kenshin said as he glanced at the sky. Ash followed his gaze and saw that the horizon was beginning to turn a vibrant light purple, mixed with pink and gold.
Even though Ash wanted to decline, he knew it was unwise to go bumping around in the dark. Especially since he planned to find Dazai early in the morning. Taking a deep breath, Ash was going to answer, but Ritchie beat him to it.
"We'd love to. Hey, Ash, do you want to sleep outside tonight? In case Dazai gets away from Rufflet on his own and comes looking for us?" Ritchie offered
. Ash blinked. He hadn't considered that Dazai would be able to escape on his own. Did he have so little faith in his own Pokémon that he thought they would solely need his help?
I need to put more faith in my Pokémon, Ash decided as he looked down at the ground.
"Yeah, I would like that," Ash said shyly. "Hey, Giselle, where are you sleeping?"
She flinched for a moment as she was stolen from her thoughts. "Oh, uh, I guess I'll stay out here until later. I'm mostly worried about Pichu. I don't think she should be sleeping outside just yet."
Ash nodded. It was a valid worry. After all, they didn't know how light would affect a Pichu that was supposed to be underground. "Of course. Hey, Kenshin, do you want to share some of our food?"
He waved him off. "No, I have my own food that I cook. After all, a warrior needs to stay in top shape."
Ash shrugged and turned his attention on Giselle and Ritchie. "Alright, what should we eat?"
"My mom taught me how to cook before I left, and my dad taught me about the edible foods of the wild. I can make us some roasted vegetable," Ritchie offered. "I bought some potatoes and various veggies earlier."
Giselle clasped her hands together in delight. "Sounds delicious! Ash and I will get firewood! Ritchie, do you think you can do the prep work while we're gone?"
Ritchie nodded. "Dromi, can you stay with me? In case the Beedrill come back? If they do, we'll just light the smoke pyre again."
Dromi gave a solemn nod. Sparky sighed and went over to Happy, who
had flown to gnarly root nearby. Her wings fluttered slowly in the dying wind of the cooling evening. The last glint of sunlight was beginning to disappear behind the trees. Ash knew that there wouldn't be much sunlight left. Figuring that he didn't have much time left in the day, Ash headed into the woods to look for firewood.
It was quiet, and the tops of trees whistled due to the winds. Ash felt a sense of comfort as he remembered his wilderness club. Ever since he was five, he wanted to be a trainer, so he joined the club to learn how to live in the wild. Because of that, he knew exactly how to start a fire and the best wood for a fire.
As Ash fell into a steady walking pattern, he heard Giselle's footsteps fall in line with his. Her steps were noisy due to the forest debris. He was glad she was here because he wanted some company. Even though he had only had Helioptile for a few days, it felt lonely not to hear his soothing steps and quiet trills. Besides, Ash had never been truly alone a day in his life yet. As they walked the forest, Giselle piped up, her voice soft against his ears.
"I've never done this. Live out in the wild. I've always had a nice bed to sleep in," Giselle pause, her eyes filling with wonder. "But, I guess I need to do this if I'm to become a proper trainer."
Ash blinked in confusion. He had heard the idea that only 'proper' trainers traveled, but they were usually from people who thought themselves better or different than the average person. Giselle was more than a proper trainer. Although she might be self-absorbed sometimes, she was a good trainer. She loved her Pokémon and took care of them well. Even though he had assumed that traveling wasn't the only path to becoming a good trainer, he was now certain that was the correct answer. Shaking his head, Ash rebutted Giselle.
"I don't think so. You can be a proper trainer just by loving Pokémon. Winning and losing doesn't matter; just having the heart to love your Pokémon is enough. Some people can't make it out in the woods, and that's fine. People manifest their talents differently, and I think that's a wonderful thing!" Ash exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Giselle seemed a bit startled and turned to him with a wide gaze. Her brown eyes were flustered, and her mouth hung open like a Magikarp. "But most Pokémon Trainers says it's necessary to do such things. That without it, your heart can't truly be one with Pokémon."
Ash shrugged. "There's a bunch of Pokémon professions that don't require you to battle, and they seem to do just fine with Pokémon. My grandparents never went on an adventure, and yet, they have this cool Dragonite that helps them around the house with chores. I can bet you my Dragonite loves them just as much as Lance's Dragonite love him. And he's good at battling when he needs to be. He scared away a Weavile that ambushed me when I was playing too close to the forest."
She was quiet for a moment, a blush creeping up on her face. "So, I'm fine as is? Being a girl who only really abstractly knows things?"
"Yup! Without your knowledge, Ritchie would have lost the battle. Your information is invaluable, Giselle. Don't let anyone make you feel down just because you don't do things like them," Ash encouraged, a bright smile on his face. Giselle looked up at him and gave a soft giggle. Ash felt his cheek turn red and he turned his head away. He didn't know how to act when Giselle acted so cute.
"Right. Thanks, Ash," Giselle said as she picked up a random thick branch. It was long, and the bark had long been stripped away by the wear of time. Dry too. And Ash was able to identify it as being from an oak tree from the little bits of remaining bark. "Will this do?"
"It's perfect! Oak is some of the best firewood. Let's also gather some kindle to keep the fire going!" Ash searched around, excited to find more wood for the fire. Soon, he found a whole heap of sticks that were perfect for the fire. Carefully picking up good sticks, Ash created a pile of sticks.
As the sun fully dipped below the horizon, Ash found himself with a large pile of firewood. Giselle had a bundle of a mix of dead and green plants, as well as some bits of pine wood. Deciding that they had enough material for a fire, Ash gave the okay to go back to the camping grounds.
Giselle led the way back this time, but she paused a tree. "Oh, this is an apple tree. It must be one of the ones planted by the Pokémon League to help trainers."
Ash gave her a quizzical stare. "What do you mean? Don't apples grow in the wild? Why would the Pokémon League plant apples?"
"Because the apple we're used to and the ones that grow in the wild are vastly different. Wild ones might taste high sour, while the ones we cultivated are much sweeter. These apple trees were planted to give more food sources to both humans and Pokémon. You can see which trees were planted by the Pokémon League thanks to these pink ribbons." Giselle grazed the light-colored ribbon that was neatly wrapped around the tree trunk with her fingertips.
Ash glanced up at the tree branches. Even though he was tempted to get some, it was getting late. The milky stars peered through the green treetops, reminding him that the later they stayed out, the more dangerous it got. The full moon gave them some light, but not enough to go exploring or pick apples. Shrugging, Ash relented with his desire.
"Alright, let's pick some tomorrow. See, Giselle, the knowledge you have is highly useful," Ash praised. Giselle just stared at him with wide eyes before turning away from him. She mumbled something before actually speaking directly to Ash.
"Come on, let's get back to Ritchie before he dies of worry," Giselle muttered as she walked off. Ash held back a chuckle as he watched her shuffle off. I think that's more your style.
When they got back, Ritchie had already set up a dedicated campfire zone. There was a bucket of water nearby, along with a circle of large stones of various sizes. Ash was surprised by how efficient he was, especially since Sparky seemed to have taken a nap nearby and not even lifting a paw to help. Dromi was patrolling the area, keeping small and weak Pokémon away with his Intimidate ability.
"Oh, hey, welcome back you two," Ritchie greeted as Ash and Giselle dropped their delicate bundle next to the would-be campfire area. Hearing the commotion, Sparky jerked awake and raced over to his trainer. His sharp yellow tail waved to and fro.
"Hey Ritchie," Ash said as he prepared to build the campfire. He hadn't done this in a while, so he needed all his concentration. Seeming to get the message, both Ritchie and Giselle split away from him and began to have a short conversation. Ash couldn't tell what it was about, but he was just glad that they weren't at each other's throats this time.
As he fiddled with correcting the setup, Ash's mind was drawn to Dazai. He felt guilt over losing his partner, but he didn't want that eating him up right now. He needed a plan if he was to rescue Dazai. Endlessly worrying about would only fog his brain with doubt, and prevent him from keeping a calm mind.
Early in the morning, the Beedrill would probably be asleep. He knew that if he could search during that time, he might be able to sneak past them undetected. But even so, he would still need to find Rufflet, which was a big task. The forest was huge, and there were numerous places for small Pokémon to hide. Even if the Rufflet was big for his size, he seemed quite adept at concealing his presence.
Ash glanced at where Giselle and Ritchie were. He didn't want to worry them, so he knew he needed to leave before they woke up and alone. As Ash placed the sticks and kindle in a neat pile, making sure everything was evenly spaced, he stood up and dusted off his hands.
"Dromi, if you would be so kind." Ash pointed to the fire. The large Pokémon understood and huffed out a small spark of Ember. The entire pyre of wood easily caught fire, and soon, the wind aided in creating a roaring orange fire. "Good, we have fire! Alright, Kaguya, come on out!"
Ash tossed his newly caught Venonat out, and she waddled around the area with curiosity. After a minute of casual searching, she turned to Ash and tipped her head.
"What's up, Kaguya?"
"Nat," she replied, using her feelers to point at his empty shoulder. Ash felt a sharp pain of guilt as he realized what she was asking about.
"Oh, Dazai got kidnapped. But I'm going to get him back tomorrow," Ash promised, even though it felt empty.
"Venonat! Veno veno nat nonat!" Kaguya hissed angrily as she hopped up and down. Her displeasure with the situation was clear, but Ash couldn't help but feel she just wanted to prove herself. But, Ash wasn't going to let his Pokémon get involved in something like this, so he shut her down.
"You can't come, and that's final," Ash said bluntly. He didn't think Kaguya would be helpful. She didn't have a good nose like Dazai, and he didn't know if there was any way she could track him down. It was for the best that she stayed here, and out of the way.
Kaguya glared at him but said nothing more. She sat down as if she were a furious toddler and turned her face away from him pointily. Ash suppressed a sigh. Of course, she was mad at him. Even though she barely knew Dazai, they were still comrades. Not to mention, he was the one who beat her and allowed Ash the opportunity to capture her. Deciding to ignore her for now, Ash let Ritchie and Giselle know the fire was ready.
For the rest of the night, Giselle, Ash, and Ritchie cooked their food and fed their Pokémon their food. After they finished eating, Ash took the sleeping Pichu from Giselle's bag and brought her into the dark cabin, along with a zippable, clear plastic bag filled with berries. Giselle carefully watched as he crushed the berries in the bag, and then placed the resulting juice into a cloth napkin.
"Couldn't we just use the plastic bag to feed her?" Giselle asked as she looked over Ash's shoulder. Ash carefully situated Pichu in the crook of his arm and placed the napkin in her mouth. She immediately began to suck the leaking juice from the thin cloth. Making sure that Pichu was comfy, Ash finally answered Giselle.
"Naw, it wouldn't work. She'd probably choke on it since she has a sucking reflex. Besides, this method separates the pulp from the juice. My mom used to do this when she was making homemade jam," Ash explained.
"You seem to be a natural mother," Giselle joked. Ash wasn't exactly sure how he would take it, but for now, he'll take it as a compliment. While Ash continued to feed Pichu, Giselle watched quietly. Ash could tell she was interested in feeding her by the intense stare she was giving him.
"I can try," Giselle offered, holding out both her hands to receive the Pichu. Ash hesitated. He was used to handling baby Pokémon thanks to summer camp, but Giselle wasn't. But, he also knew that people only got experienced by actually doing something. Fighting back his protective tendency for baby Pokémon, Ash decided that it was best to let Giselle help.
Nodding tentatively, Ash handed Giselle Pichu. She gently cradled the fragile Pokémon and took the white cloth that's bottom portion was stained a fruity red. Placing it near the Pichu's mouth, the Electric-type began to feed again.
Giselle watched as it guzzled down the food. "What do you think will happen to Pichu? I don't know if we can keep her. Even if we care for her past Pewter City, the three of us might go our separate ways after Cerulean City."
"You're right. But, let's not forget that she's Sparky's sister, so I don't know if it's best to separate them. I don't know what will happen, but I firmly believe separating her from Sparky is a bad idea," Ash sighed as he rubbed the back of his head.
"I agree. We can decide what to do later though. You should probably get some sleep now," Giselle encouraged. Ash was about to protest, but a yawn suddenly overcame him, and he was quick to cover his mouth.
"Fine. Just make sure that Pichu drinks all the juice." Ash said as he exited the cabin. The forest breeze carried a calming scent, and Ash felt his body tingle. Sometimes, it was nice to sleep outside. The Pokémon were all preparing for nighttime.
Sparky was snuggling close to Ritchie in their sleeping bag while Ren was mimicking Dromi's protective march around the perimeter. For some reason, Ren had opted to stay outside after dinner. Happy was tending to Koro-koro's wounds by binding them in her String Shot, along with a poultice that she had made earlier, under Ritchie's supervision. Apparently, marigold, honey, and moss helped to heal wounds in Pokémon.
Ritchie looked up from cuddling his Pikachu as he heard Ash's footsteps. With a smile, he waved Ash over and Ash gratefully headed towards his own nearby sleeping bag. Kaguya was nearby, keeping watch over the boys as they laid down to sleep.
Ash felt heartened by her diligence. She was a good Pokémon, but he still was unsure of how she would be in battle. And he was reluctant to even try her until he got a win, he could be proud of. Which would be a problem if he didn't get Dazai back.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ash saw Ritchie tracing the stars with his hand. He was smiling to himself, his eyes drawn to the stars. He was having so much fun, that Ash couldn't help but wonder what was he was doing.
"Hey, Ash, connect the stars over here," Ritchie said as he pointed out each star. "What does it look like?"
Ash squinted at the stars. The cluster of stars seemed to form a long serpent with a horn.
"An Onix?" Ash guessed
"Right! And try this constellation!" Ritchie pointed to another cluster of stars. It was easy to connect a circle and a pair of lines from the ears. To Ash, it simply had to be a Pikachu.
"Oh, that one's easy! It's Pikachu!"
"Chuuuu!" Sparky agreed sweetly, licking Ritchie's face.
"That's what I thought! I honestly can't stop thinking about Pokémon. I've dreamed of the day I would finally become a trainer, and now that it's here, I get even more excited to see the next day. I've always had Pokémon in my life, but to go on a journey is like a dream come true." Ritchie's eyes were filled with excitement and Ash couldn't help but catch the same infection of joy.
"Yeah, I get you. I dream about Pokémon as well, and you know what, one day I'm going to become the greatest trainer in the whole world," Ash bragged.
"Only the whole world? I'll be the greatest trainer in the whole galaxy!" Ritchie said, a glimmer of mischievous in his gaze.
"Oh yeah? Well, I'll be the greatest trainer in the whole universe!"
The two boys shared a hearty laugh before they fell asleep.
XOXOXOX
A thin mist wrapped around the early morning sky as Ash awoke. The sky was dyed a Peach Berry pink, and no one stirred under the blanket of fine mist. Dromi and Ren had fallen asleep by the cabin, while Kaguya had slept near the feet of Ash's sleeping bag. Happy had found herself on a branch, while Koro-koro was napping under the same tree.
Taking a deep breath, Ash wormed his way out of the sleeping bag, making sure not to disturb Ritchie or Kaguya. Thankfully, neither one of them woke up as Ash found his way to the edge of the woods. He didn't want anyone to get into trouble because of his recklessness. Not to mention, if Giselle knew he was going off on his own, she'd give him an earful.
Casting one last glance at the camping grounds, Ash made his way back to where he last saw Rufflet. Since it was early morning, the Beedrill were asleep in the tree. Their eyes were a dull red, signifying they were asleep. Ash knew he needed to work quickly. If he didn't, they would wake and cause problems.
As Ash crept through the forest; the soft early morning of Pidgey cooing creating soft ambient music. But, there were no sounds of Rufflet and Helioptile. No matter how hard Ash looked, there was no trace of them. Fear crept up on Ash. What if I never see him again.
"Where are you Dazai?" Ash whispered to himself. Ever since he has gotten Helioptile, the was never a peaceful moment where they could just be together. Feeling stressed and overwhelmed, Ash was about to rush off in a random direction, desperate to find his Pokémon.
"Venonat!" A familiar voice called from behind him.
"Kaguya?" Ash turned around to see his loyal Venonat standing near a slim birch tree. She looked up at him, a green dot flickering in her right eye. "Alright, what gives? I thought I told you not to follow me."
"Veno venonat!" she cried, hopping up and down before darting deeper into the right side of the forest. Confused by her sudden excitement, Ash gave chase. It wasn't like her to get all worked up. She must have found something.
Kaguya stopped at the foot of an ancient tree. The green dot in her eye disappeared, and she puffed out her coarse fur. Ash gazed at the tree in amazement. It seemed to stretch far into the sky, offering a sort of shelter for the other trees. The roots lifted from the ground, providing tiny Pokémon with a place to sleep. Ash touched the sepia trunk, his fingertips cushioned by the plush moss that grew over the bark.
"Vennnoooo," Venonat trailed off, tilting her head.
"Right, I should have guessed they were here," Ash replied, looking up at the treetops. They were shrouded in a thick coat of darkness and mist. But, even though he couldn't see his friend, he knew Helioptile was up there. Something just told him that Kaguya knew what she was doing. "Thanks, Venonat. But how did you find-"
Before he could finish, Kaguya had launched herself at his face, and the next thing he knew, he felt scratchy fur on his face as well as burning pain. Ash yelled as he was knocked down to the ground, surprised by the strength of his Pokémon. A dull, throbbing pain lingered as he held his face. His nose, thankfully, wasn't broken, but it burned.
Kaguya, meanwhile, had landed on her feet and was leaping up and down. It was clear that she was angry, but Ash wasn't sure what was wrong. One minute she was helpful, the next minute, she was acting like an angry puffball.
"Alright, Kaguya. What's wrong?" Ash relented. Kaguya just huffed in response and pointed to his pocket.
Taking out his Pokédex, Ash consulted it on Venonat.
Venonat's eyes act as radars, enabling it to move around in the darkness. This Venonat's emotional state is loneliness, according to its pheromones.
"Huh?" Ash's eyes opened wide. Even Kaguya seemed surprised, but she quickly turned her face around and huffed."Were you sad that I wasn't paying attention to you? Or that I didn't trust that you could help?"
Kaguya gave a stiff nod, her antenna tense with anger.
"Sorry about that, Kaguya. I just don't know how to use you in battle. Your only attacking moves are Struggle Bug, Tackle, and Confusion. You have a bunch of moves that aren't exactly the best for combat. I just… don't know a lot of things," Ash admitted. "I'm sorry if that caused you a lot of strife. I guess I'm not a good Pokémon trainer yet."
Venonat shook her head before closing her eyes to smile. "Nat, veno veno venonat!"
She pointed her face towards the tree and then towards where her heart would be if she were human.
"Alright, if you're willing to forgive me, I'm willing to try my best with you! Even if the other moves aren't attacking moves, they might still prove useful!" Ash was pumped to try and use Venonat now. Even if he was inexperienced, he needed to be like Giselle and at least try new things! He had watched a lot of awesome matches on TV, but that wasn't indicative of all battles. His heroes like Lance and Diantha might have mainly been attackers, but there were other ways to battle, and Ash needed to be adaptable.
Thinking back to how Happy had used her String Shot earlier, a new idea on how to climb the tree came to Ash's mind. If he climbed it normally, he would be liable to wake up a sleeping Beedrill and incur its wrath. But, if he could use Venonat's String Shot to help himself climb up the tree, it might prove useful. Determination flowed through him as his plan solidified.
"Kaguya, I'm going to need your help. You're the only one who can help me get Dazai back right now, so I'm counting on you," Ash said. Venonat turned to him, her eyes sparkling with pride. "For now, it's just you and me, buddy! I want you to jump into the tree and use String Shot so I can pull myself up."
Kaguya gave a simple nod as she leaped into the tree without any more words. Ash was surprised by her agility since Venonat always seemed a little klutzy looking at Ash. But, despite her looks, she was able to get to the top of the large tree within forty seconds. A glossy white strand of silk dropped from the tops of the tree, and Ash wrapped it tightly around his midsection. Once he was secured, Ash tugged the string to make sure it was strong enough.
The normally thin string was bulky, and it became taut with a strong pull. Taking a deep breath, Ash tested how much weight the string would support by putting one foot on the tree trunk and leaning back. The string stretch, but it didn't seem as if there was any danger of it breaking suddenly.
Even though he was determined to save Dazai by himself, Ash knew it would probably be impossible. So, he needed to rely on his Pokémon to help him instead. He felt it was ironic that the Pokémon he had been doubting for so long would end up being the one to help him. Deciding not to delay any longer, Ash began to walk up the side of the tree, pulling himself up with the thread.
Propelling himself up with the rope, Ash made sure to keep an open eye out for danger and Rufflet. But he had a feeling that Rufflet was at the top branch. He was proven right when he reached the top of the trees. A large nest rested in the treetops, but it wasn't as big as a Braviary's nest, which could easily weigh about a ton.
Laying on top of two rather large and sturdy branches was a mass of twigs that seemed haphazardly thrown together, but formed a sturdy nest nonetheless. Rufflet was fast asleep with Dazai leaning against him. Dazai was the first one to wake from the disturbance, and his brilliant blue eyes looked blearily ahead. Once he spotted Ash, his mouth opened into a pink gape of joy.
Quickly, Ash placed his index finger on his lip. "Ssshhh, we're getting you down, Dazai. Come on, hop onto my shoulder."
"Ptile," Dazai hissed softly as he softly hopped onto his shoulder. The comfortable weight on Ash's shoulder made him feel as if the threat of danger was over. All he needed to do was get back safely on the ground. Dazai rubbed his head against Ash's face as Ash began to propel down, but fate wasn't letting him get away so easily.
Rufflet woke up with a loud screech. The small joy Ash was feeling quickly drained from his body as the forest became alive with buzzing. He needed to get out of here and fast!
"Kaguya, hop down and hide! Dazai, climb down quickly!" Ash ordered. Dazai opened his mouth to argue, but quickly shut it and hopped onto the tree, his black claws digging into the gnarly bark. He shot down the tree with the agility of a Purrloin. Now that his Pokémon were out of harm's way, Ash made his way back down the tree as the familiar buzzing came closer. But, a sound made him stop.
"Rufff!" Rufflet cried out in pain. The Beedrill must be swarming its nest! Ash felt his heart leap into his chest. Rufflet was in trouble! Clutching the string, Ash knew he couldn't abandon a Pokémon in need. He needed to help the Pokémon, no matter what.
Climbing back up the tree, Ash saw Rufflet sail out of the nest, flying past him. His eyes were closed and the horde of Beedrill was diving after him. Gritting his teeth, Ash leaped into action without thinking. He swiped the young Pokémon out of the air and pulled him against his chest, allowing the Beedrill to sail right past them.
"Let…?" Rufflet opened his wide eyes. Turning his gaze on Ash, he seemed even more surprised when he saw he was holding him. Ash tried to give Rufflet a soothing smile.
"Sorry about that… I just can't stand to see a Pokémon get hurt. Come on, let's think of a way to get rid of these Beedrill without causing unjust harm," Ash encouraged as he continued making his way back down to Earth by walking down the tree.
The distinct buzzing noise filled Ash's eardrums again as the Beedrill returned up the tree, still looking for a victim. Before Ash had a chance to respond, a Beedrill's forestinger managed to pierce the string, snapping it and sending him into a spiral. Ash didn't have time to do anything but brace Rufflet against himself. It might cost him a few broken bones, but he was determined not to let the Pokémon get hurt.
Ash closed his eyes, waiting for an impact. But it never came. Instead, he felt as if he was suspended in limbo. Did… did something happen?
Ash opened slowly opened his eyes and saw the crown of the tree where he was, and the Beedrill circling above. They were flying around erratically, disturbed by whatever was now below him. Turning his head, he saw that Kaguya's eyes were glowing blue and Dazai was covered in an electrical charge.
Soon, Ash felt the ground beneath his back, and he sat up. Rufflet was still, and he had a wide-eyed look. Putting Rufflet on the ground, Ash turned his attention back to the Beedrill. He needed to get them away, but he didn't want to hurt them. Maybe an attack would be enough to scare them away?
Ash tried to give an order, but Rufflet was faster as he flew in front of his Pokémon.
"Rufff rufflet ruff. Flet flet ruff," Rufflet instructed, flying above the pair. Dazai and Kaguya shared a look before looking back at Ash for permission. Rufflet also looked at Ash, his eyes searching for something. An understanding passed between them, and Ash's eyes hardened.
"Go for it," Ash said. He didn't know what he was planning, but Rufflet had proven himself to be intelligent.
All three Pokémon nodded and Dazai stopped the electricity that was circulating him. Almost at once, the Beedrill charged. Even though the situation was tense, Ash felt oddly calm. He trusted all three of them with his life.
Kaguya's eyes glowed blue, as did the Beedrill. They seemed to freeze in midair, unable to move around freely. But they didn't seem like they were controlled like with Confusion. Ash took out his Pokédex to see what this move was.
This move is Disable. It prevents an opponent from moving or using its current attacking move for a while. Twineedle is currently disabled.
Upon seeing this, Dazai took a deep breath and forced all of the excess electricity in his body to cover him. Ash braced himself as large lightning bolts exploded from his small body. They flew off in all sorts of directions, hitting nearby trees and the ground around him. Feeling small static discharges on his clothes, Ash observed the ground. It was covered with electricity! Thankfully, the Pokédex answered what was going on.
This move is Electric Terrain. It prevents Pokémon from falling asleep and any Electric-type move that is used by a grounded Pokémon is powered up.
Rufflet flapped his wing menacingly as Venonat let the Beedrill go. The large Bug-types gave each other a glance before they fled. Obviously, they didn't want to get hurt and they figured the intruders weren't worth being out of commission and being unable to help the hive.
"Wow, that was so cool!" Ash cheered. "I never thought we would be able to simply chase them away! I was sure this would have had to end in a battle!"
As he stood up, the ground returned to normal now that the charge had dissipated. Dazai was panting with from the strain the move had put on his body, while Kaguya seemed rather proud of her showing. It was Rufflet who seemed like he wanted something. Ash turned to him with a smile.
"Thanks for your help. I don't know why you took Dazai, but it doesn't
matter if you helped us. I'm sure you had your reasons," Ash said as he turned his back on Rufflet. A sharp voice called for Ash's attention.
"Ash, duck!"
Ash didn't have time to see who it was as he covered his head and ducked. The high-pitch hum of a Beedrill's stinger nearly missing him made his body go cold.
"Alright, enough! Dromi, use Flamethrower, and don't move Ash!"
The heat of the flame warmed up his hat, as the Beedrill took off. Glancing at his fleeing opponent, Ash saw that it was uninjured, but spooked by the sudden fire. Once he was sure the danger passed, he turned to see that Giselle, Ritchie, and Kenshin were all standing a little way away.
"That was close, my friend from the town of Pallet. But I didn't expect you to come all this way by yourself to find your friend. Maybe I was wrong about you being a novice. Any trainer who risks his well-being for Pokémon is anything but," Kenshin said, a smile on his face.
Ash shook his head. "No, I am a novice. I thought all Pokémon just needed to be powerful was good attacking moves. I see with Kaguya now that there's more than meets the eye to Pokémon battles. But, even if I am a novice at something, I can still grow."
"Well said," said Kenshin.
As Ash was about to walk over to his friends, he felt the soft felt of his hat leave his head. Looking up in startled surprise, he saw Rufflet sailing through the air with his hat. It landed neatly on a tree branch; Ash's hat quashed under his muscular talons; its eyes full of a fire Ash didn't expect to see. Thankfully, Ritchie decided to blurt out his intentions.
"I think it wants a battle," Ritchie pointed out.
Kenshin tilted his head. "Strange. It has never wanted to battle before. This little trickster usually only causes havoc, and no one could ever get it to battle them. Even when they safely secure their Pokémon, it flies off. Something must have inspired it today. Maybe it wants you to beat it and capture it?"
"Right, then that's what I'll do! Dazai, come on!" Ash ordered. Dazai gave him an unsure look. Ash knew why. Dazai had never landed a Thunder Shock, but Ash already had a plan for that. Giving Dazai a reassuring nod, the little Helioptile sighed and waddled out onto the battlefield. His frills flapped with uncertainty as he looked up at Rufflet. "Kaguya, I'll need your help as well. I want you to act as my advisor."
Rufflet flapped his wing with surprise as he stared down at Ash. Even Giselle's, Ritchie's, and Kenshin's mouths gaped in astonishment.
"I didn't realize until now, but when I first fought Kaguya, she dodged almost all of Dazai's attacks. I just thought he couldn't fully use his moves, but I was wrong. Kaguya was able to sense his movements and could tell where his moves were going to hit before Dazai could." Ash explained. "So, I want her to help me now."
"Veno…" Kaguya seemed moved by the whole affair. She let out a soft chirp of approval as she stood by Ash's side.
Rufflet gave a rough grin as he tossed Ash's hat back to him and took to the sky. Dazai pressed his body to the ground as he glared up at Rufflet.
"Alright, Dazai, Thunder Shock!" Ash knew that Dazai had trouble controlling his electricity ever since the lightning strike, but he felt that this was a good opportunity to try and rectify that. "Venonat, tell him when he should strike."
Rufflet dipped closer to the ground, his eyes locked on Dazai. He was creating large dust clouds from his movements, probably trying to obscure them. But Ash knew that didn't matter to Kaguya. She was great at picking out targets.
"Nat!" Venonat called out, and Dazai wasted no time letting loose a Thunder Shock.
A squeal of pain came from Rufflet as it climbed into the sky. Ash pumped his fist in the air. It was a direct hit! Even Dazai looked shocked by what he had done.
"Come on, Dazai, we've got Rufflet on the run! Let's hit it with another one!"
As Dazai prepared to let loose another Thunder Shock, Rufflet dove straight to the ground, his wings glowing a bright silver. Ash froze. Was he trying to hit Dazai with Steel Wing? He couldn't see since Rufflet dove right into the dust cloud. Gritting his teeth, Ash knew he had to take a risk.
"Nat."
At Kaguya's command, Dazai let loose another Thunder Shock. But, this time, it was eerily quiet. There was no squeak of pain or anything. Did it even hit? Kaguya and Ash shared a nervous glance as the dust began to settle. Through the dissipating smoke cloud, Ash could finally see what happened. The attack hit, but it didn't make a difference. One of its wings was sticking into the ground, acting as a conductor that made the electricity flow harmlessly through his body. When he was like this, he was impervious to electric attacks.
Ash had two choices. Let Rufflet come to him and react or take the offensive. Rufflet would probably stay in that position until Ash made a move, so honestly, there was one option available. The problem with that was Rufflet was an up-close attacker. He needed a non-electric, distance attack to knock him from the position.
"Dazai, use Scale Shot where you stand," Ash ordered.
Dazai nodded before standing in his hind legs and bring his tail forward. Five scales on his tail grew large and began to glow green. With a flourish of his tail, the scales shot forward toward Rufflet. Huffing, Rufflet raised his wings from the ground and took to the skies again with the scales following him.
"Alright, wrap this up with a Thunder Shock!"
Dazai let loose a Thunder Shock straight up. As Rufflet was forced to dodge the projectiles, he didn't notice he was flying straight into the path of a Thunder Shock. But it was too late to fly away, and his path led him into the lightning strike. Ash winched as the poor Pokémon fell to the ground with a soft thud. Preparing a Poké Ball because he thought it was unable to move, Ash was quite surprised to see it hop onto his talons like it was nothing.
"Ash, does Helioptile have a status move? If it does, you can make this battle end quickly before anyone's hurt!" Giselle yelled.
Status… move? I guess I do. Ash pointed at Rufflet.
"Dazai, use Glare!"
Dazai took a deep breath and spread his frills wide. His bright blue eyes became a menacing shade of red and white pupils narrowed to tiny slits. The look he was giving Rufflet sent shivers down Ash's spine. But, for some reason, Rufflet didn't seem affected by the terrible look. He shot forward at a frightening speed. As it got closer, Ash realized that his eyes were closed, and because of that, he was able to land a fierce Wing Attack on Dazai, sending him sprawling on his back.
Rufflet climbed back into the sky, not letting Ash get a chance to think anymore. He was ready to end this battle with just a few more attacks. Dazai was left reeling as he tried to follow Rufflet's movements.
"Veno veno nat!" Kaguya chimed, causing Dazai to stand up. He let loose another Thunder Shock, but this time Rufflet dodged it. But Dazai didn't give up as he shot off Thunder Shocks in a rapid-fire way, forcing Rufflet to risk getting hit by them if he wanted to get closer. Twirling out of the way, Rufflet tried to fly up, but Dazai was waiting for him. He let out a large Thunder Shock, catching him on the ascension.
"Letttttt!" Rufflet cried as the attack scored a direct hit, sending him spiraling towards the ground. Turning his cap around, Ash lobbed his Poké Ball at it. The ball hit the falling bird and withdrew it into its confines. The small device clattered to the floor, but to Ash's surprise, it didn't even shake. As soon as it hit the ground, it gave the notification that Rufflet was caught.
"Uhhh, I caught it?" Ash announced, a little confused. Walking over to the fallen Poké Ball, Ash took it up and released the Pokémon from its confines. Rufflet looked up at him, his chest puffed out proudly. He didn't seem to be hurt at all after the battle. "Uh, hi. Did you want to be caught…? What about the forest? Don't you protect it?"
Rufflet gave a simple nod. "Rufflet. Ruff ruff let flet let let." Even though he was explaining, Ash didn't understand what it was trying to say yet.
"I think he's saying he liked you too much not to go with you," Ritchie said. Rufflet nodded again.
"Oh, I see. So, would you like a nickname?" Ash asked. Rufflet flapped his wings happily, his eyes sparkling with joy.
"Okay, well, how about Akechi? You're rather intelligent, have a sense of justice, and can outsmart people, like Akechi. Not to mention even when he seems defeated, he's not. I say seems because I'm not supposed to read Edogawa Ranpo's books yet," Ash grumbled.
Rufflet chuckled but nodded enthusiastically.
"That was a most spectacular battle. The way you handled your Helioptile was nothing short of amazing. Not to mention, I never thought of asking my Pokémon for help or advice during a battle, but it made sense. After all, Pokémon know each other better than humans do," Kenshin said as he, Ritchie, and Giselle walked over.
"Awww, you're making me blush," Ash simpered as he brushed the hair peeking out from under his hat back. "I figured that since Rufflet was able to command my Pokémon so well that Kaguya could do the same thing. Once that was in my mind, I sort of remember how well Kaguya dodged Dazai's attacks and thought she could use that knowledge in reverse. Kaguya and I are going to be best buds from now on."
"Venonat," Kaguya chimed in agreement.
"But Kenshin, if you don't mind, can we have a battle? A one-on-one." Ash knew that he needed to practice battling with Kaguya. Even though he had accepted that he needed to adapt, he needed to gauge by how much. How well could he use Kaguya and her distinct moveset?
"Of course, my friend from the town of Pallet. Our battle was interrupted by Rufflet, so it's only fair that we finish it. I hope you don't mind, but I want to still use Heracross." Kenshin placed his hands on his hips with a proud and boastful smile. "He's one of my best Pokémon."
"Sure, but I want to use Kaguya," Ash announced.
Giselle let out a soft laugh. "You were going to use her the first time, right? I saw you try to reach for her ball in the first battle. I'm glad you got over your doubts about her."
"Oh, you noticed too? Well, I'm just glad Ash finally realized that Kaguya has her own talents," Ritchie said.
Ash could feel his cheeks becoming hot. He had no idea his friends could so easily see through him. Casting his eyes to the ground, Ash took his place opposite Kenshin. Dazai spang after him while Akechi took his place on a nearby branch. Kenshin took his position opposite Ash, and he already had his red and white ball tightly in his clutches.
"Alright, Kaguya, it's all you," said Ash. Kaguya bounded in front of Ash, her head lowered in anticipation of a battle.
"Heracross, help out!" Kenshin called as he tossed his Poké Ball. It popped open to reveal the same Heracross as before. Its eyes were narrowed in anticipation, and it had a playful smile. "Okay, make the first move with a Horn Attack!"
"Dodge it, Kaguya!" Ash yelled.
As Heracross charged across the field at lightning speed, Kaguya braced herself before jumping into the air at the last moment, missing its horn with ease. Looking down upon Heracross, she glared at it with a fierce look.
"Confusion!"
Kaguya's eyes glowed again as Heracross became outlined in blue. The next thing Ash knew Heracross was sent sailing into a tree, a sharp cough of pain being expelled from its body while Kaguya landed neatly on the ground.
"Heracross! Don't give in! Use Bulldoze to knock it off its feet and then hit it with a Horn Attack!"
"Poison Powder, now!"
Opening its eyes, the Heracross leaped down from the tree and prostrated itself on all four. With a thunderous roar, it punched the ground with everything it had. Kaguya just managed to release a poisonous purple cloud with glittering red dust before the ground began to shake. Ash struggled to stay upright, and even Dazai hopped around on one foot to maintain his balance.
Ash grimaced. If he was struggling, he couldn't imagine what Kaguya was going through, which is why he used the Poison Powder as a smokescreen. Even if the attack did some damage, Kaguya was going to be safe for a while. No trainer would allow their Pokémon to get poisoned for some small advantage.
"Heracross, Horn Attack, into the poison!" Kenshin ordered. Without blinking, the Heracross charged forward at a neck-breaking speed, startling Ash.
"Ash, Heracross can have Guts! It raises the attack of a Pokémon inflicted with a primary status!" Giselle warned.
Ash's eyes opened wide. "Thanks, Giselle! Kaguya, up!"
Kaguya leaped up into the air as the Heracross rammed into her smoke cloud, winching from the Horn Attack that just bearly connected. The purple cloud soon dissipated and Heracross was left wincing in pain with a bright red mark on its face. It was clearly poisoned, but it was still ready to battle.
"Follow it, and don't let it escape your Horn Attack!" Kenshin ordered. "Let's live up to our namesake and win at any costs!"
"Cross!" it growled before shooting into the air with the wings hidden under its thick chitin.
"Kaguya, Disable!"
Kaguya's eyes glowed blue, and Heracross was stopped in its tracks and sent plummeting to the ground.
"Follow up with a Supersonic!" Ash knew that this could be his chance. If Heracross was indeed more powerful, then there was a chance that if it were confused, it could do massive damage to itself.
Kaguya let out a high pitch screech that Ash could see since they were soundwaves but could barely hear. Ash had previously thought it was weird that ninja would use this Pokémon. But, seeing it in action, Ash finally understood why. It wasn't an attacker, but a deadly assassin that played with its opponents. Once she was done, she landed on the ground.
Heracross stood up, its pupils narrow, and it seemed to be in a dream-like state.
"Heracross, strike them with your Fury Attack!" Kenshin ordered.
"Crossss…" Heracross groaned, saluting before charging forward. He passed Kaguya entirely and hit his horn into a tree trunk, digging it deep into the bark. Ash grinned. This was perfect! Now that it was hurt and stuck, Ash only needed to do one more thing!
"Confusion and end this!" Ash dictated loudly.
Venonat raised its antenna as they glowed blue this time, and instead of picking Heracross up this time, a large blue ball of energy formed between them. She soon launched it at the Single Horn Pokémon, landing the attack squarely on its back. The Heracross slumped to the ground, clearly unconscious.
"Heracross, return. Hmph, that was a most impressive match. I think this proves that I was too quick to judge. Your battling skills are just as good as your peers," Kenshin said.
"Of course! I'm going to become a Pokémon Master and show the Pokémon of the world what a real trainer is like!" Ash bragged.
"I wish you well on that endeavor. I'll continue my sword training and strengthening my Pokémon in their natural environment. Perhaps when I go home, I'll even start an unofficial Gym to show off my discoveries," Kenshin mused.
It was Ritchie who interrupted. "Why not just get an official Gym license? All you need to do is set up a Gym in a town or city with a Pokémon Center. Most places have one since Pokémon are an important part of everyday life. Then, if the Nurse Joy of that town or city okays your establishment, you can become an official Gym Leader."
"Uh, I thought there were only eight Gym Leaders," Ash said, scratching his cheek in confusion. "Don't you need to take over their Gyms to be one?"
Ritchie shook his head. "There are way more than eight Gyms. Each Gym is on a recommended route, and the one we're currently on is nicknamed the 'Royal Gyms' route. These Gyms are tied to each other because they're easy to access on the Pokémon League preplanned route system. If Kenshin were to get an official Gym, his would also be put on a preplanned route."
"Oh, I see!" Ash shouted as he hit his fist into his open palm. "So, Kenshin could just open a new Gym, right?"
"That is correct, but it'll be unofficial first. I want to have practice and see if I like being a Gym Leader. My hometown is without a Gym Leader, but I seek to change that. Until we meet next, I bid you all farewell," Kenshin said.
"Alright, let's get going. If we keep going straight, we should reach Pewter City by last light," Giselle said.
Ash gave a brisk nod and returned everyone except for Dazai who found his way onto his shoulder. Sparky waved his tail proudly to show he was ready, and Dromi let out a giant yawn. Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes, Giselle shrugged and led the group towards Pewter City.
A/N: Woo, that was a lot of battles. The next chapter is the tournament, which is four battles in a row since it's an eight-elimination round: Ash v. Trainer A, Ash v. Trainer B, Ritchie v. Giselle, and the finals.
Anyways, Rufflet replaces Noctowl as Ash's only shiny, and instead of it being smaller, it's bigger so it can be his main flier. Rufflet will probably evolve at an earlier point than it should [it would normally evolve after the last Gym, going by the Gym Leaders' levels].
Small side note: I know that confusion doesn't do more damage if Guts is activated, Ash doesn't. This isn't a detail most people in the world would know, only die-hard Pokémon Trainers and people in the Advance Class at Pokémon Tech, hence why Giselle didn't correct him.