S.R: Sorry it's taking so long to get all these updates out….
Ash: Stop apologizing and get on with it already!
S.R: I GET DISTRACTED EASILY SO STOP YELLING AT ME!
M.R: Oh hush dear, quit talking to yourself and start the story already.
S.R: fake cries Everybody is so mean to me…
M.R: Well since he's clearly not going to start the story I will.
ASH'S POV
After suffering my first loss, rather than being devastated I decided I needed to push myself even harder than before. Yes it was a setback in my plans but there's no such thing as a perfect plan. It just meant I needed to work harder. With those thoughts in mind I took Haunter back to the Pokémon Center and decided to let everyone take the day to rest and start training again the next day.
But after two and a half weeks of training I could tell we still weren't ready and the growth that everyone had displayed was starting to drop off. Racking my brain for anything that could help my Pokémon continue to grow was starting to frustrate me. Finally on the third Monday since my loss I gave in and called the professor with the video phone at the Pokémon Center.
"Hey professor, I need some advice."
"Let me guess, you still don't feel like your ready to challenge Sabrina for a rematch?"
"Bingo. We've worked exceptionally hard and for a while everyone was growing stronger, but that growth has just fallen to the point it's almost stopped completely. Pikachu still doesn't feel ready to evolve, Haunter knows she's still missing something before she can evolve, and little Conan has yet to experience a proper battle. Beedrill and Gyarados are fully evolved as it is…. I just… I can't think of anything that will help them continue to grow."
"That's understandable, especially seeing as how you've been training on your own. I know Brock is with you but he has his own training to do and you focus better without people around. But that is part of the problem. After a while the only way to improve is through experience."
"So what your saying is I need to have more battles."
"Yup. Also don't forget about those here at the ranch."
"Right… It's just so hard to keep up with all of them. That swapping them around makes it hard to know where everyone's at in their training. If only I could carry more than six Pokémon..."
"Well…. I honestly wasn't sure if you'd be ready for this before earning your fourth badge but... I can give you Trainee Field Researcher status. That'd allow you to carry nine Pokémon."
"Are you sure professor? I mean I may have been an assistant to you at the lab but that was unofficial."
"That's only because you were too young. Right now though you've already completed all the required training for an assistant position so you've technically already earned it. I just wanted to make sure you were responsible enough for it. But remember in official league matches your title means nothing and you'll be limited to six Pokémon."
"… Thanks professor. Um once that is cleared would you send me Nidorino, Zubat, and Charmander. I haven't spent enough time with Nidorino or Zubat and I bet Charmander is ready to get some serious training in."
"You've got that right, Charmander's been working with my Arcanine one strengthening his fire type attacks. Anyway I'll have your new title cleared and those three sent over to you in about half an hour. Why don't you go see if you can find Brock and set up some battle training with him."
"Will do. And thanks again professor. I appreciate the help."
"Not a problem Ash my boy. Just continue doing your best that's all I ask."
I nodded my head with a smile and then the call ended. Standing up I stretched a bit, before reaching to my shoulder and scratching Pikachu behind his ear. Mentally I asked him if he was ready to get back to work, getting an excited cry in response. With my new insight I headed towards the Poke Mart where Brock left to earlier.
I found him walking out and waved.
"Hey I just spoke with professor Oak about what to do in regards to improving my training. He suggested we get some battle experience."
"That's a great idea. I know my Pokémon and I haven't been working as hard as you but it should still be enough."
"He's also granting me Trainee Field Researcher status. Any time now I should be getting the notification from my National Pokedex." As I said this it dinged and in the transfer slot a Pokeball suddenly appeared, I gripped it only for another one to take its place. Grabbing that one as well a third and final one appeared that I also clutched up.
"Well that's great news, and if I know you you're raring to go and get back to training. Let's head over to that clearing you've been training in."
I smiled at Brock and nodded happily before we began walking to the clearing. As we walked I used my aura bond to explain to everyone in my team that was resting up in their Pokeball the new training regiment. Most of the responses I got were happy that things were changing as they were getting bored of the same thing over and over.
Two weeks later
It has been five weeks since my loss to Sabrina, and two since Brock and I started battling while training. Everyone seemed much happier and the growth they displayed before had come back tenfold. At the rate they were training I figured it'd be any time now for Zubat and Charmander to evolve. Haunter was also fairly close to evolving but she felt that the push she needed would happen during our rematch with Sabrina.
Not only had my team grown stronger but our bonds grew to the point that Beedrill asked if he could tell me about his past. My assumptions that he was released was correct. He had been caught as a Weedle and was trained by his former trainer to be the strongest bug type in his team. His former trainer wanted to eventually open a gym that specialized in Bug type Pokémon but grew gravely ill. In the end his trainer released every member of his team, telling them that he cherished his time with them but that he couldn't bear to have them trapped in Pokeballs forever after he died. Beedrill said he was glad to have met me as I reminded him of his former trainer.
Other than that not much else had happened. But I felt that after going through it all we were finally ready to have our rematch. Walking into the gym I made my way straight to the battlefield, knowing that Sabrina would feel my intent and be prepared.
"Welcome back Ash, I must say I didn't expect you to be ready for this rematch so quickly. But the difference I feel is enough for me to say you're ready to make this an interesting match."
"We've worked hard for the last month. It's time to see our efforts pay off."
"This will be a one on one battle. The gym leader Sabrina will unleash her Pokémon first. Since this is only a one on one battle there will be no substitutions from either side. The challenger Ash Ketchum of Pallet town will be allowed to have the first move."
Sabrina reached to the wall beside her and hit a button opening up a secret compartment that housed her Pokémon. She grabbed a Pokeball and released it only to reveal an Alakazam this time.
"Normally I only use Alakazam here on trainers who have five or more badges when they challenge me, but with the difference I felt in your team I can tell my Kadabra wouldn't cut it. After all it is my duty as a Gym Leader to give you a true challenge."
"Well thank you for the praise. Let's go Haunter!" I called out as I unleashed Haunter from her Pokeball.
"We've got the first move so let's use Lick!" Haunter moved fast enough that Alakazam had just started to raise it's arm to block when she reappeared. She had moved just fast enough to lick Alakazam's face.
I smiled as I saw the shaking body knowing that we successfully paralyzed Alakazam. Pressing the advantage I ordered Haunter to use Shadow Claw twice in rapid succession. I hoped we'd chunk enough health away that Alakazam would be slower due to fatigue.
But only one Shadow Claw, hit as before the second one landed Alakazam recovered and Teleported away, launching a quick Psybeam at Haunter.
"Dodge it and use Shadow Ball!"
Alakazam just raised an arm and used Psycho Cutter to block the shadow ball, kicking up a dust cloud and blocking our view. Luckily Haunter had gotten used to surprise attacks once Brock and I starting putting our entire teams out in free for all battles. She dodged Alakazam as it swiped a Psycho Cutter through where she used to be.
"Mean Look now!" I called out as Haunter turned around to face Alakazam once more.
Sabrina chuckled from her spot, a huge smile gracing her face matched by one on my own.
"This is one of the more enjoyable battles I've had in a while!" Sabrina called to me as Alakazam quickly outlined Haunter with a Confusion attack and threw her into a wall causing dust to kick up once more. But we could see a white glow emanating from Haunter as the dust slowly settled.
Haunter's form slowly changed as the white glow grew brighter before fading entirely revealing that she had evolved mid battle.
"Nice job! You evolved into Gengar!" I praised with a smile, getting an excited laugh from my Pokémon.
It was only then I noticed that Mean Look was still affecting Alakazam. Deciding to try and finish the battle I had Gengar use Lick one more time followed by a Shadow Punch. Both attacks landed but Alakazam was still standing. But it was close to falling over as I could tell from the hunched shoulders and the slight forward lean.
"You've almost got it! Lets go! Shadow Claw" I cried out watching Gengar follow my command. Alakazam just stood there not moving at all, and it wasn't until it was too late that I realized the trap as it just moved to the side dodging the attack before hitting Gengar with a point blank Psybeam that was quickly followed up by a Psycho Cutter.
Gengar was thrown back a bit after that last hit, but was still ready to fight, sending a slight glare to Alakazam. I looked to Sabrina and saw that she was just as excited by the battle as me. Nodding to me I could tell we both were ready for one last attack.
"Gengar Shadow Claw one last time!"
Gengar and Alakazam raced towards each other arms back one with Psycho Cutter and the other with Shadow Claw at the ready. They clashed and unleashed a huge shock wave that threw them both into the wall and caused a huge dust cloud preventing anything from being seen.
When the cloud finally dissipated Alakazam was unconscious and Gengar was just barely standing. The match referee just looked on in silent shock for a moment before shaking his head.
"Alakazam is unable to battle. Gengar Wins. The winner of this battle is Ash of Pallet Town!"
I ran over to Gengar wrapping my arms around her in a huge hug, repeatedly telling her I was proud.
Eventually though I stood up and was greeted by Sabrina standing right next to me.
"That was a most enjoyable battle. I happily present you with the Marsh Badge."
"Thank you… It was an amazing battle."
"You and your Pokémon grew a lot stronger than I thought. Keep that drive and determiation, it'll help you go far. I look forward to seeing just how far. Though if I may make a suggestion. So long as you have a few strong Fire or Flying type Pokémon you should be fine to battle Erika next. But take your time between her and whoever you fight next. Koga is a master of Poison type Pokémon and will draw the battle out as long as needed, and has been scouted to join the Jhoto Elite Four. As for Blaine, well there's a reason he and Giovanni are considered the two strongest Gym Leaders of Kanto."
"I see… Honestly the biggest thing I learned from my loss to you before is that I was rushing things. As of this point I've only been a trainer for about two and a half months, so your advice to take my time is something I'm already planning to do, but I thank you for it anyway"
"I wish you good luck on your travels."
With that I turned around and made my way to the Pokémon Center getting Gengar healed up. While she was recovering I called mom and told her about the battle, she was happy for me but instantly started to nag me about wearing clean clothes so I endured it for a few minutes before quickly saying goodbye.
On my way to the counter to get Gengar back I heard a few people talking about the P1 Grand Prix being held in Celadon this year. Deciding to look into it more I asked Nurse Joy about it.
"It's a yearly tournament, for fighting type Pokémon only. This year it's being held in Celadon, but you can register for it at any Pokémon Center. Would you like to enter?"
"Um… Not right now at least. For Fighting Type Pokémon I only have Riolu, and he's still young and inexperienced."
"Okay. Is there anything else you would like to know?"
"No, but thank you. Have a good day"
"You too"
After leaving the Pokémon Center I made a quick run over to the Poke Mart to make sure I had enough supplies, before meeting Brock at the West exit of town.
"Congrats on the win Ash. Not even a trainer for three months and you've already earned four badges. You're doing extremely well."
S.R: Okay I went back to leaving the names off during the conversations, though I will do that when more than two people are talking so as to limit confusion on who's speaking. Also I previously mentioned we'd be adding the events from the anime between Celadon and Fuchsia. That was partially correct. A lot of the anime only events actually happen between Fuchsia and Cinnibar. We'll be moving most of those events to happen before Fuchsia because after that we'll be doing a few chapters exploring the Seafoam Islands. Side note, once we get through to the Indigo Plateau we will be uploading a separate story that is a list of all the Pokémon Ash has.
ON HAND:
1. Pikachu (m) 2. Riolu (m) 3. Gyarados (f) 4. Beedrill (m) 5. Gengar (f) 6. Nidorino
TRAINEE FIELD RESEARCHER SLOT ADDITIONS:
(m) 7. Zubat (m) 8. Charmander (m)
AT THE RANCH:
1. Bulbasaur (f) 2. Squirtle (f) 3. Pidgeot (f)