Greetings, everyone Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to A Promise Kept Ash's, Johto Journey. Before we begin, I do want to address a few things. One is the whole thing with Kangaskhan. I know that I will be getting the same question that being "Is she going to replace Bulbasaur's role in the anime?" The answer is yes, she is. If you read her Pokedex entry, they aren't particularly keen on battling, but more support, which is what her role is than being used in battle. Second I mentioned this before, but I want to see more reviews. I know I've been saying this a lot, but many of my old readers haven't been shown since I took my hiatus in both stories. But the rest is for those who haven't been reading since chapter nine or before. It has ended since October/November of last year. Also, for those who aren't reading both stories. I request that those who aren't reading my Unova story please give it a chance as neither story intertwines nor plans on it. With that said, let's get this chapter going, shall we?

Chapter 26: Rivals

'For Pokespeech

"For Human Speech

We joined our heroes as they enjoyed lunch as many of the other Pokemon Ash and the others had been either resting, eating, or in Murkrow and Pidgeot's care training. Little did Pidgeot know it, but she was being watched by someone silver-colored in the trees.

Pidgeot and Murkrow showed that both were evenly matched in strength, though if it were more than that, Pidgeot would admit that Murkrow had that advantage. 'Alright, Murkrow, we can rest for now,' Pidgeot said to Murkrow, who nodded at this, exhausted from the amount of speed she has put into keeping up with Pidgeot as she went to get some food to eat as Charizard walked over to Pidgeot.

'I must say, Pidgeot, even though you still haven't agreed to teach her, you sure are doing that now? Are you having second thoughts?' Charizard asked Pidgeot, who looked at Murkrow after hearing this from Charizard and sighed.

'I will admit she has grown on me, Charizard. Murkrow has matured a bit since we met, and she has kept her end of the bargain. Maybe, I should ask her how she knows my father and why she wanted to be my apprentice. Since I haven't even thought of having one,' Pidgeot said to Charizard.

'Her beak may run, but she does know how to back what she says up with her attacks,' Charizard says with his claws crossed. 'I've already taken both Houndoom and Cyndaquil in as my young apprentices more than I can ask for. Knowing that I might one day return to the Charizific valley after this is all said and done and knowing you, it might be the same with you and the flock back in Kanto, so why not? I don't think teaching and taking her under your wing won't hurt?' Charizard said to Pidgeot, who thought about this and nodded at this.

'I, I think you are right, Charizard, we won't be staying with Ash for long after this Journey through Johto is done. But we can train them for the long haul one day,' Pidgeot said, turning to Charizard. 'And we aren't done with this Journey anyway, so let's not think about that right now and focus on the present,' Pidgeot said before starting to take off to the sky. 'Unless you want to see how much I've gotten stronger Charizard?' Pidgeot offered a friendly sparing match to Charizard, who shook his head.

'Little later, Pidgeot, I just got done training the younglings, so I'll train with you later on,' Charizard said before taking a nap as Pidgeot sighed at this. 'Also, I think you should rest not to over-stress yourself.'

'You haven't changed Charizard so much for you wanting to get better?' Pidgeot thought though Charizard had a point, she was somewhat tired from her practice battle against Murkrow earlier.

Pidgeot perched herself on a nearby tree, thinking about what Charizard had said about that the two of them would be going their ways after this was over. Pidgeot knew that once she was stronger that way, then the two flocks would merge and move to Oak's ranch for safety reasons, but she couldn't shake the fact that there's more to this adventure than just her traveling with Ash.

Pidgeot was in deep thought, and something knocked her out of the branch that she was sitting on, sending her to the ground hard. She could hear faint laughter in the background that wasn't Murkrow's. She could recognize her laughter even if she wanted to. No, someone was targeting her. Pidgeot could barely hear Ash talking to her. "Pidgeot, are you okay? Come on, wake up?" Ash said faintly as Pidgeot woke up, shaking her head from what hit her. 'Ugh did someone catch the Snorlax that hit me,' Pidgeot noted as she saw Murkrow, and everyone was worried about her.

The group heard another laughter nearby in the trees. 'So much for the infamous flock leader if she couldn't keep her senses keen on her surroundings,' A voice in the forest said as Ash and the others said looked around. "Show yourself whoever you are?" Ash yelled out only to see a silver-like bird perched where Pidgeot was sitting. Ash scanned it, and it was a Steel-type Pokemon called Skarmory who made a burst of laughter.

'Oh, is the human that owns her wants a go at me? I must say I'm impressed that you are willing to fight me, but given my family's history with you particular human, I must say I'm impressed,' Skarmory said to Ash. Judging by how Skarmory talked, it was female and had a mouth like Murkrow but more arrogant.

"What are you talking about? This is the first time we met? Well, I'll get to the bottom of this later," Ash remained calm as Skarmory noticed this but also noticed that he had that look of determination as Murkrow stood in front of Ash, wanting to fight for Pidgeot. "Murkrow, you going to be okay fighting?" Ash asked Murkrow, who looked at Ash with an " I know what I am doing " look on her face.

'Oh, I see the young apprentice wants to battle okay you got it,' Skarmory said, looking at her wing in displeasure like she's bored as Skarmory took to the sky, as did Murkrow. Pidgeot, on the other hand, looked at Skarmory and could swear that she reminded her of Fearow.

"Okay, Murkrow use Shadow ball," Ash commanded Murkrow, who fired a Shadow ball at Skarmory, who used Steel Wing, barely taking a hit but enough to show some damage. "Counter with your Steel Wing as well, Murkrow," Ash said as the two Flying-types clashed in the air one after the other. Only for Skarmory to get the upper hand slamming her wing into Murkrow hard as Skarmory's beak spirals as it was using a Drill peck attack, sending Murkrow to Ash's arms as Skarmory laughed at this.

'If that is the best you got, you don't deserve to call yourself an apprentice not with that much power tootles human maybe bring someone stronger to battle against me,' Skarmory said before taking off.

Ash was tending to Murkrow as it was now Pidgeot's turn to worry about her as she could hear Murkrow faintly say. 'I'm sorry, father.' Pidgoet was stunned by this. This was the first time she had heard about Murkrow's family as Murkrow came to. "Easy, girl, you are in no shape to battle against Skarmory like that pride or not," Ash said to Murkrow, who sighed and nodded. 'I may be stubborn, but I know when I am beaten,' Murkrow said to Ash.

'A good lesson for even the most stubborn of Pokemon. So what's this about your father, I hear?' Pidgeot said to Murkrow but not in a harsh tone but more concerned. That shocked Murkrow as she must've said that when she passed out.

'It's the reason,' Murkrow said to Pidgeot, who was now curious. 'It's the reason why I wanted to train under you? As your father did for mine when his original trainer owned him,' Murkrow said to Pidgeot. "You mean that Pidgeot's father trained yours when he was younger?" Ash said that as Murkrow nodded at this now, Pidgeot was more taken aback and wished she had asked this sooner.

'I was told that he had a daughter, and well when yours was mentioned, I knew that I found you? He told me how much he had learned from your father and all that just not enough to teach me? That is why I asked you?' Murkrow said to Pidgeot, who sighed at this and turned to where Skarmory went.

'Ash, let's handle this. Speaking of family teachings, I think Skarmory might be related to Fearow,' Pidgeot said to Ash, who now was grasping at what Skarmory was saying about their history and nodded at this. "Yes, let's do this, Pidgeot," Ash said to Pidgeot, who took off to where Skarmory went.

Skarmory was tending to her wing as much as she hated to admit it, but Murkrow's attacks did have a bite to them, but she was more self-absorbed to admit it. "Skarmory," Ash said as both Pidgeot and Ash ran towards where she was. 'Well, well, back at it, are we? I must admit you are more stubborn than me when it comes to Pokemon,' Skarmory said, flying to the ground.

"Look, I don't know if you heard about it or not, but the issue between Fearow's flock, Pidgeot's flock, and me has ended peacefully, so there is no need for more bad blood between us," Ash said to Skarmory who laughed at this.

'Who said that I am falling in line with my Uncle's little spat with you?' Skarmory said as Ash and Pidgeot were shocked upon hearing that she was his niece. 'If you say you have made peace with him, show it in battle, human? My Uncle always spoiled me by not only training me but giving me what I wanted a strong challenge.'

'Bring it, we are ready for you,' Pidgeot said to Skarmory as Ash was hoping to end this without battling, but it seems like that won't be the case as the two flying types got into position raring to battle.

Skarmory took to the sky, as did Pidgeot. Skarmory used swift attack at Pidgeot. "Fight back with Razor wind Pidgeot,' Ash commanded Pidgeot, who launched a flurry of sharp wind at the swift attacks. "Now Quick attack Pidgeot and Steel wing," Ash commanded Pidgeot, who charged in with both attacks only to hit a clone as Skarmory used double team as Skarmory used Drill Peck.

"Pidgeot use agility to dodge," Ash said as Pidgeot dodged quickly as Pidgeot used Wing attack on Skarmory, doing a good chunk of damage to her. Pidgeot was impressing Skarmory. No, not just Pidgeot but Ash. This is the type of trainer she wanted, a strong one who can go toe-to-toe with her and give her a challenge as Skamory used Sandstorm.

Ash wasn't expecting this as Ash looked up any move Pidgeot knew or way to counter this as he noticed the move that Falkner had used in their gym battle was in Pidgeot's move pull. "Use Twister try to fight back," Ash commanded Pidgeot, who used said move as it did mix with the Sandstorm and hit Skarmory hard. As Skarmory was sent to the ground hard.

Skarmory turned to Ash and nodded at him, showing that he was worthy of capturing her as Ash tossed a Pokeball at her catching her instantly. Ash let Skarmory out to get her healed.

'Not bad human, and you too, Pidgeot, maybe you'll be enough to be my rival more than a teacher for me,' Skarmory said to Pidgeot, who gave her a serious look on her face. 'But alas, we are teammates, so I can try to get along but only rivals when we are training, agreed Pidgeot,' Skarmory said to Pidgeot.

'Just remember that I am in charge between the three main flyers here and the oldest between us. Remember that whenever your Uncle's flock merges with mine,' Pidgeot said to Skarmory, who humphs at that first part but nods at the last part.

'Just give me good battles, and you won't have trouble with me, Ash, agree?' Skamory said to Ash, who finished healing her up. "Deal but you two, please get along on this team. The only family that matters is here, not in the past between you two, okay?" Ash said to Skarmory, who nodded at this, as did Pidgeot.

Murkrow was impressed but hurt that she had a chance to prove herself to Pidgeot and failed. 'Don't be sad, Murkrow. With a little more training under my wing, you'll get better,' Pidgeot said Murkrow, whose eyes widen by this. 'If you keep you the promise you made to me about cooling the bragging. I might make you my second in command when we return to Kanto, not just my apprentice.'

'Until then, learn as much as you can. I'm not going to give you another chance if you break my trust, agree, and no more trying to fight for my honor, especially in a fight like that,' Pidgeot finished as Murkrow nodded at this and smiled as they did Skarmory as much as she hated to admit it. But Murkrow is a quick study and strong on her own with or without teachings. She doesn't know it yet.

With a new teammate on Ash's team now added, the Journey towards Ecruteak city is only getting better as the Journey continues.

Stay Tuned.

Done and Done this chapter was fun to write. Yes, Skarmory is Fearow's niece. If Pidgeot will get a Rival to join the team, why not tie it to her past. And it is possible as that is how Skarmory can learn Drill Peck for those who aren't aware. Usameer16 requested Skarmory, and I felt like Skarmory was a good fit for Ash's team as well. I know that some of the reviews will say that Pidgeot's father is a stretch but remember, this is fanfiction, and I wanted to tie it with Murkrow in this story, as noted in the story. With that said, the Psychic Sidekicks episode is next, and after that will be the grass-type tournament which will be five to six chapters long, and then it's to Ecruteak City for four chapters. See you all next time.