Hey the next Chapter is up. I have never got some many favorites or watches from a fanfic before. Thanks for the support!
Ash and Marnie had been traveling for about an hour when a Starly flew down. Marnie decided this was going to be her first Pokemon and got ready to battle it. Ash stood to the side and got ready to give advice when it was needed. She stood before the small bird and drew her Poke'ball.
"Alright! Lets go, TURTWIG!" She yelled as she threw her ball.
Out popped the tiny grass turtle Turtwig. Ash was a bit amazed at this as Piplup seemed to be the most popular starter. However this worked to his favor as he had trained one and knew what to do. Marnie quickly got the battle started.
"Alright Turtwig! Tackle attack!"
Turtwig quickly rushed at it. However the Starly flew off quickly. Marnie seemed to missed when it flew off and started looking around. However the Starly had used Quick Attack and flew out of sight. Soon Turtwig was hit as it swooped in.
"Marnie you need to watch your opponent also!" Ash yelled out. "You need to give it the proper heads up for in case it cant see it."
"Right! Got it!" She looked back to the battle. "Try again!"
Turtwig started to charge it again just for it to fly off once more. It swooped around and got ready to use Quick Attack. She knew she had to give a command fast but there was no way it could dodge in time. She got an idea.
"Withdraw! Fast!"
Turtwig quickly went into its shell. The Starly rammed into the shell reducing the damage it did. The Pokemon started to circle around waiting for the right time to strike.
"Umm Ash... I need help!"
"Marnie you got this! Look Turtwig's are fast but the speed stops after they evolve. I would suggest using its defenses more!" He wanted her to figure out what to do and opted just to give her a nudge.
It looked like it clicked.
"Turtwig! Stay strong and keep your defenses high! Just trust me!"
Turtwig stayed on the defensive as the little bird kept its assault going. Its shell was reducing the damage done but Turtwig was wearing down. Soon Marnie saw it. The opening she needed. Now was the time to strike.
"NOW! Tackle it! Make it as strong as you can muster!"
Turtwig quickly leaped out of its shell and charged the small bird. It was caught off guard and was not able to put up and kind of a defense. It was rammed hard and slammed into a tree. The poor thing was now dazed and trying to figure out up from down. This was the time to catch it.
"GO! POKE'BALL!"
The Orb flew out and bumped into it. A red light engulfed it and sucked it in. The ball started vibrating as it tried to free itself. After a few the light went out indicating it was caught. Marnie's look of fear turned to joy.
"YEAH! I did it! My first Pokemon!" She ran up and grabbed it. "Good work Turtwig!"
Turtwig let out a happy cry. She turned to Ash. A large smile was on her face. It was thanks to his advice that she was able to find the right strategy to win.
"Thank you so much!"
"Heh I just gave you a push in the right direction." Ash said. "You did the rest on your own."
"Oh take a little credit. Anyway I think they need some TLC." She said. "Let me set up off the path."
"Oh right! You must have learned a lot from your mother."
"Indeed! I think I can get them both feeling better."
It did not take her long to set up. She had what felt like a mini Pokemon Center in one of her packs. She started treating them both working on them both while talking to them. She seemed to have bonded fast with Turtwig and was well on her way with Starly.
"So Turtwig huh?" Ash asked.
"Yeah. I was thinking Piplup but I just felt... A connection." * She petted him. "I just had to choose him."
He nodded. "I see. I can understand that feeling."
"Did you feel that with Pikachu?"
Both he and Pikachu looked nervous. Ash laughed a little.
"It umm... Was complicated." Pikachu let out an affirmative Pika. "Anyway how are they doing?"
"Very well!" she said. "We can return to the trail after we eat I think."
"Sounds like a plan! Come on out you two!"
Ash let out Muk and Snivy. Muk gave his normal hello to Ash much to Marnie and her Pokemons shock. Lucky Muk is very good at keeping its smell and slime to itself so things ended quickly. They all sat down and started eating. Pikachu Started to talk among the two new Pokemon trying to get everyone to get to know one another. He was doing very well and while Snivy wasn't one to chat much Muk got very social.
"Heh good work Pikachu!"
"Your Pikachu is pretty amazing. I also like your Snivy, shes so pretty. Muk is... Friendly." She chuckled.
"Yeah. I want to give him a little more time out of the lab. He is always so friendly with me."
"I see. That's good."
The two ate together Talking about what they have been up to. Marnie continued to help out at the Valley Windworks. Suicune showed up one more time a few weeks later but he seemed to leave after a while. Paige was not happy about this and insisted he was there. Marnie had a feeling that he went to go do business elsewhere. It was another reason she left.
Right when they were about to pack up to go they heard a sound. Everyone looked up to see a flock of panicking Starly. Behind them was a Skarmory. Marnie's Starly looked scared and hid behind Muk as soon as it saw it. The Skarmory caught up with the flock and started to attack them. During its Assault a Murkrow flew up and started to attack it. The flock took the opportunity to escape. While it was brave and put up a good fight the Murkrow was overpowered and sent to the ground. The Skarmory started to dive at it.
"Pikachu! Thunder Bolt!"
Pikachu ran up and unleashed its Thunder Bolt on it. The yellow bolt flew to the Skarmory and hit it. While a bit dazed by the supper effective attack it shook it off and gave a nasty look. However seeing that it would be out matched it flew off into the distance.
"Are you okay?" Ash asked as he ran up to the Murkrow.
It started to stand and tried to take off.
"Stop! Your hurt!" Marnie yelled. The Murkrow tried to lift off but just fell to the ground. "Ash help me out! It needs healing!"
"Right!"
Luckily it seemed to fall unconscious making treatment easier. Marnie was able to help guide Ash as the two worked together. It seemed to have multiple injuries, perhaps from fighting nonstop for days. After a long time giving it treatment Marnie decided they did everything they could and it would be fine after it rested. The two went back to their Pokemon to see Pikachu talking with the Starly.
"So Pikachu, able to figure out whats going on?"
Pikachu gave a few Pika's and made some motions.
"... I don't get it..." Marnie said.
"Your saying that Skarmory is a bully and frequently attacks any flying type in the sky and that Murkrow is the only one that stands up to it?" Pikachu gave a delighted nod as Starly kicked the ground a bit in shame.
"H-how did you understand all that?" Marnie asked in shock
"Me and Pikachu have been through a lot together, in time you will find it easy to understand your Pokemon."
"I guess that's true. I got the gist of what my Drifloon were trying to tell me."
"Anyway we have to do something about that Skarmory."
"Lets just have Pikachu zap it a few more times!"
Ash shook his head. "That will only work till we are gone. Then it will just come back."
"A good point."
Ash sat down to think. Deciding they would be staying Marnie suggested they set up camp, something he agreed with. After they both set up he went back to thinking. He looked back to Murkrow and decided he would help train it to fight the Skarmory.
Murkrow woke up at the middle of the night. Luckily Pikachu was still up and woke Ash before it flew off. Ash quickly stopped it.
"Hey listen I see you want to protect your friends right?" it gave an affirmative Krow. "Well how about I help train you to fight it? I will help you be ready to take it out next time it shows its face!"
The Murkrow looked to the ground for a bit. It was clearly deep in thought about if it should accept help or not. It heard a sound and looked up to see a flock of Starly walking across the ground looking scared. It had a fire in its eye when it saw this and nodded to Ash willing to take his training.
"Alright! First thing tomorrow we train!"
The next day Ash was up bright and early. Marnie was still asleep so he had a quick breakfast and guided Murkrow and Pikachu to a spot away from the camp so not to wake her. He started to do some stretches with the two then got them ready to face one another.
"Alright Murkrow, I think the best thing to do is to out speed it. Its big and its strong but your smaller and more nimble. you need to use that and attack its blind spots!" the Murkrow agreed with this. "Pikachu is very fast so if you can keep up with him then the Skarmory should be no problem."
The three of then practiced for hours. Marnie came by to watch after she woke up. After a bit she let her Starly out. She felt it was important it saw what was going on.
"Starly, I saw how scared you looked. That Skarmory is scary, yes, but look at Murkrow. He is willing to fight to protect you all."
Starly watched Murkrow train as hard as it could. It was having a hard time keeping up with the speedy mouse but it was still trying. Starly and its flock was always running from the steel bird. But Murkrow was always there to challenge it and help everyone escape. He was a real hero and the only one willing to stand up to this bully.
After training Murkrow was able to keep up well with Pikachu. They decided to start and have a rest. Marnie cooked up a meal for everyone. Murkrow was happy to join them and get a good bite to eat.
"You three are looking good out there. Murkrow your so fast now! I think that bully is going to be in trouble."
Ash nodded. "I agree. It will be in for a big surprise."
The Murkrow seemed flattered. However its praise was interupted when they heard a cry. They all looked up to see a flock of migrating Pidgey being attacked. They were just passing through and did not expect the Skarmory to attack them. Murkrow looked to Ash and nodded at him before taking off.
"Alright! Lets see if that training did the job!"
Murkrow quickly blindsided it with a Wing Attack. The Skarmory did not take the attack kindly and tried to attack it with a Steel Wing. However the speed training paid off and it flew behind it and hit it with another Wing Attack. Right when it spun around to try to use Drill Peck it used Feint Attack and quickly flew under it. This assault kept going for a bit.
"Alright! It's working!" Ash said, however he noticed the Skarmory use Agility. Now it was able to keep up with the Murkrow and it was ready to use Steel Wing. "Look out! Dodge!"
The warning came just in time. It was able to just barely dodge the attack. Now the fight wasn't so one sided. The Skarmory used another Agility and now was out speeding Murkrow. Murkrow's training had helped a bit and with the help of Ash Murkrow was still dodge attacks but it was getting harder and now he couldn't land his own.
"Hang in there you two!" Marnie said.
Her Starly looked on as the one Pokemon that would stand up to this bully put up the best fight he could. She was done now, this Skarmory would just win again and then go back to doing what it did. Starly wanted it to stop, she was with Marnie now and needed to know its friends were going to be safe so this needed to be where it stopped.
She quickly flew to a near by tree. In it was her flock watching the fight in fear. She quickly got their attention and gave what sounded like a speech to them. They watched her and seemed to be listening to her every word.
"Murkrow! Look out!" Ash yelled, but this warning came too late as a powerful drill peck hit him. "Murkrow!"
The Skarmory hit him hard and followed up with a few more hits. Murkrow was able to recover but was now hurt from the attack. He wasn't going to loose here. He needed to stop this. He got ready to use a Feint Attack and flew at the Skarmory. The Skarmory wasn't going to fall for that attack again and got ready to just drill peck him. However right when it was to attack, something happened.
Five Starly tackled into it at once. It was knocked off guard as Murkrow flew in and hit it with its attack. Before it could recover a few more Starly flew in and rammed it. Murkrow came in and Wing Attacked it. Right when Skarmory was going to use an Agility the winds round it started to spin. The Pidgey now joined all using gust on it.
"Alright! They are all working together!" Ash said in joy.
"Starly? Did you do this?" She asked as she watched hers lead the attack.
The Skarmory was now in a bad situation. They were all attacking it now. The Murkrow it could fight off but all the flying types attacking it at once? This was not something it could handle. It was now scared and it started to flee. Deciding to make it very clear that this was not happening anymore Marnie's Starly and the Murkrow gave it a parting shot. Murkrow used Pursuit and Starly used Wing attack. This seemed to have made the point as it flew off faster.
"ALRIGHT! Good job everyone!" He yelled out. "See? If you all work together you don't need to be scared of any bully's like that!"
The Pokemon started to congratulate one another. Manrie's Starly flew down and landed on her shoulder.
"Starly, you were so amazing!"
"So were you Marnie." Ash said.
"Me? But I didn't really do anything. I just told it how Murkrow was willing to fight."
"It is the trainers job to bring out the best in their Pokemon. I know it might not seem like much but you still managed to teach it courage. Good work!"
Marnie couldn't help but to feel a bit of pride hearing that. "Alright then!"
Later the three were heading down the path. They expected to reach the next town tomorrow morning. The two started to chat some more when something stopped them. Right in the path before them was the Murkrow. It stood there looking at Ash.
"Murkrow? Whats up?"
The Murkrow gave a Krow and motioned to a Poke'ball.
"Ash, I think it wants you to catch it."
Pikachu hopped down and ran up to it. It seemed to talk with it some before running back to Ash. He climbed up and gave a few Pikas and motioned to his Poke'balls.
"So you want to come with me Murkrow?" It nodded at him. "Well, alright! If you want to join, welcome to the team!"
He threw the ball at it and was able to catch it. The red light came on for a brief second before going out instantly. He walked over and picked up the Poke'ball.
"Alright! I think things will go very well for us Marnie!"
"I agree Ash, I agree."