Hey, guys, I'm back, and all I can say is, wow! I know people seem to like Ash's Journey Rewrites, but I wasn't expecting this to be so popular, especially since his main traveling partner is an OC rather then one of the main girls, but hey, who am I to look the gift Rapidash in the mouth? Ah Poke-Puns, gotta love 'em all lol!
Anyways, review address time!
foxchick1: Bengino is bae, simply put. Butterfree was my favorite and still is as far as Ash's bugs go and I cried my heart out during 'Bye Bye Butterfree' :( I wish they'd bring him back!
Joda-Eragonsson: For when you get to this part; it wasn't so much as Nicola was struggling from a lack of good moves; its more...its been a long time since she last battled so she's a little rusty and the flock happened so fast, not the best explanation but that's all I have to offer.
John2851: Aw shucks! I'm blushing here!
nick: When you get to here Nick, in order; aside from growing close to Esme and catching new Pokemon, the plot will be closely following the anime for the most part; maybe mention some game events like Red's exploits. Again, since we're closely following the anime; all anime locations will be featured, maybe I'll mention some in game locations; maybe even the regions from the Ranger series. When? Hmmm, well not long after all the rookie trainers had turned a more apporiate age then ten; so it starts ten days after his fourteenth birthday; everyone is in this story; all the cannon characters, Ash, the leaders, his mother, the professors, the whole shebang, plus of course Esme and her cousin. All the trainers who are just starting out are fourteen; Ash, Esme, Gary, Annabelle and Lucy, unless I state otherwise.
: Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Esme groaned as she stirred awake, stretching out like a cat, only to pause at a startled squeak and felt something tumble down her legs. She sat up to see Bengino sprawled at her feet, looking a bit dazed and realized the poor green bug must've been sleeping on her. Sitting up, she picked up her newest Pokemon and hugged him in apology, "Sorry Bengi, you okay?" The caterpie gave a coo, accepting her apology and nuzzled her happily in a morning greeting, making her giggle as the rest of her Pokemon began to stir, "Morning girls."
Diana, Regina and Nicola all stretched with wide open mouthed yawns, eager for a new day. Poor Marina, however, was never a morning Pokemon, she grumbled as she rolled and caterpillar-inched her way further into Esme's vibrant purple sleeping bag for warmth using her tail to push herself forwards. This just made Esme giggle, "Come on Mari," She gently shook the lump that was her Water Type, "You want breakfast hot and fresh don't you?" That did the trick as Marina quickly backpedalled herself out of the bag, making Esme and the other Pokemon giggle at her.
Esme unzipped her tent and was immediately greeted by the sound of cooing and something hopping through the grass. Curious and confused, she stuck her head out, long, messy blonde tresses falling around her head as she looked side to side before spying the the source of the noise. Just a little distance away was a raptor-like bird roughly a little over three feet and five inches tall with brown feathers and a cream colored face, underside and flight feathers. Its crest was pinkish-red color and had angular black markings on its face starting at its eyes. Its beak and legs were pink and its claws were three-toed, two pointing forwards and one back. Its long tail feathers fanned out like a fan and alternated between red and yellow, and its eyes were a dark steely grey.
Ash yawned as he unzipped his tent and was starting to climb out as he began to greet, "Hey Es-"
But Esme quickly shushed him, hissing, "Ash, look!" She pointed and Ash looked and gasped softly at the sight of the magnificent bird Pokemon. All the Pokemon poked their heads out to see what the commotion was about, but Bengino paled at the sight of the predator, as far as he was concerned, and quickly booked it back inside the tent. "It's a pidgeotto!" Ash exclaimed softly as not to scare the bird away or provoke it into attacking before he was ready, he quickly went to grab Dextor, only to realize he was still in his pajamas and he had put Dextor in his bag for safe keeping as he slept.
"Pika pi," Zeus chirped tapping Ash, prompting him to look down to see his pokedex in Rex's mouth being held up to him. "Nido," The male Poison Point Pokemon chirped around the metal, having went to get it when he saw the bird, tense at the unknown Pokemon so close to him and Regina and their new mischief*.
"Thanks Rex," Ash whispered gratefully, patting the poison-type's head, minding the spikes, which helped him relax a little before Ash held up the pokedex to scan the flying type ahead of them. With a soft ding, Dexter popped open and began to relay data;
Pidgeotto, the Bird Pokemon
The evolved form of Pidgey
The claws on its feet are well developed. It can carry prey, such as exeggcute, to its nest over sixty miles away.
Note: Approach this Pokemon with extreme caution; unlike pidgey, pidgeotto are much more aggressive.
"A flying type this early would be a huge boon for later gyms like Celadon," Ash said his mind already spinning with how useful a Pokemon like the pidgeotto would be, now fully awake, before getting out of his tent fully, an eager grin on his face, "I'm gonna try and catch it!"
"Pidgo?" The Bird Pokemon looked up in surprise at the sudden noise, thinking the humans wouldn't be up this early, before narrowing her eyes as Pokemon began to come out of the tent and tensed, preparing for a fight, "Goet!"
"Who are you going to send against Pidgeotto?" Esme asked with a yawn, not completely awake as she crawled out of her tent, trying to smooth down her hair. "Cha charmander," Diana said holding up a pearly-blue hairbrush she had pulled out of her trainer's bag up to said trainer. "Thanks Di," Esme said as she accepted it in exchange for a sweet kiss atop her official starter's head, making the poor shy lizard blush a little before she began to brush out her hair.
"I'm using Aurora," Ash answered immediately, much to everyone's surprise, eyes on the Flying Type, "I'd be an idiot to send out Vivina, poison though she maybe, she's still a Bug, and that's just asking for trouble; and sorry Rex, you're just not a good match-up for this one, you can have the next one; and Aurora needs actual battle experience before the first gym, and her Ice-Typing is a perfect choice."
Vivina continued to pout, having been eager to battle, but could concede her Master's point, as much as she would've loved to show off, this wasn't the opponent to do it. Rex had to concede the same; his Poison Sting could only do so much damage and his Peck was also Flying Type, so it wouldn't do much at all. Zeus just shrugged, he didn't mind at all, and Ash had a point; as the type advantage, Aurora needed the experience.
Esme simply nodded, silently impressed with Ash's strategy. Most trainers would immediately go for an Electric Type when facing a Flying Type, sometimes a Rock Type if they had one, completely forgetting Flying was also weak to Ice Types. She had to give him credit for thinking outside the box, and equal battle opportunity.
Aurora jumped excitedly as she realized she was the one battling, making Pidgeotto raise a brow as she watched the odd little shell Pokemon bounce with excitement and couldn't help a chuckle, being oddly reminded of a freshly hatched chick excited to learn a move or how to fly. Shaking it off, Pidgeotto stretched out her wings and cawed in warning, giving the little one a chance to back down. Aurora wasn't about to be cowed though, she hopped forwards in front of her trainer, eager to show she had taken to the training well, that was worthy of the trust put in her.
"Ready Aurora?" Ash asked making her chirp in affirmative. "Pikachu pi," Nicola tapped her trainer's leg, a hairband in her mouth. Giving her faithful yellow mouse a pat in gratitude, Esme took the band and tied her hair up in her usual bun before adjusting herself into a more comfortable position to watch, pulling Regina onto her lap. Ash was doing his best to relax, but his heart felt like it was about to explode from his chest from the excitement; this may have been his second battle with a wild Pokemon, but the thrill of the situation was still there, would probably be until his fourth attempted catch, maybe the fifth; his grandfather, aunt and cousin always said it differed from trainer to trainer.
"Okay Aurora!" Ash began the battle, not wanting to give the Bird Pokemon the chance to attack first or so much as get into the air, "Icicle Spear!" Pidgeotto was momentarily thrown, not sure what the move was, as she never met an Ice Type before. Aurora immediately pounced, producing the icicles in record time, she managed to get three of them. Pidgeotto gasped in surprise and used her wings in effort to shield herself, not expecting the pain that came as the ice made contact, she only ever experience the cold as a season, never in battle.
Pidgeotto immediately knew she was in trouble and knew she had to get into the air, spreading her mighty wings wide and flapping hard and fast in effort to get up quickly. "Again, quick!" Ash ordered, "Before it can get into the air!" Aurora chirped as she quickly tried to hit the bird once more, but this time missed as Pidgeotto got enough lift to swiftly glide out of the way and get into the air.
"Pidgeo!" The incensed bird cried as she began to rapidly beat her wings, conjuring a strong wind, knowing she had to be quick with the battle and on guard with the strange little Pokemon. Esme squeaked in alarm and quickly held down her nightgown as the stray winds of the Gust attack started to pick it up, cheeks staining pink, prompting her Pokemon to lay themselves on the edges of her nightgown to help keep it down.
"Shelll!" Aurora cried as she tried to weather the wind before yelping as she felt her shell leave the ground. "Ah! Aurora, Withdraw before you hit that tree!" Ash yelped prompting Aurora to quickly snap her shell shut and glowed blue just as she hit the tree in question, toppling down to the ground harmlessly before popping pop to show she was unharmed, just a little dazed. "Sheeeel..." Aurora uttered dizzy.
"Aurora!" Ash and Esme cried. "Pikachu!/ Nidoraan!/Charrrr!/Venonaaa!/Poli-li-li!" The other Pokemon yelped out, prompting Bengino to poke his head out of the tent to see what was going on. "Are you okay?" Ash asked his dizzy Pokemon. "Shell! Aurora nodded as she shook it off, hopping right on back into the fray, still having lots of fight left in her and wasn't about to be daunted just cause her target was in the air.
"Alright, Aurora!" Ash cheered. "Come on Aurora!" Esme called in encouragement, "You can do it!" The other Pokemon cheered their friend on as well, especially Marina. Bengino stared with big eyes, admiration for the Bivalve Pokemon growing and gave him a little courage to inch out of the tent to watch the battle proper.
"Use Icicle Spear once more!" Ash ordered pointing to Pidgeotto. Aurora obliged managing five spears of ice and spitting them at the Bird Pokemon, who glowed white along her edges, using Quick Attack to avoid the attack. "It's no good Ash, pidgeottoes may not be as fast as a pidgeot, but they're pretty darn close!" Esme called.
"Right," Ash nodded, more to himself then to her, before getting an idea, "Aurora, stay in place! Wait until Pidgeotto gets close!"
Aurora nodded in response and stayed put, lowering her shell in case she needed to go defensive. Pidgeotto raised a brow ridge, wondering what the odd shell Pokemon and human were planning as she circled them, but knew she had to finish this quick, before the Pokemon could use that cold attack again, so she dived straight at the Bivalve Pokemon, letting gravity do all the work to increase the impact she planned. The watching Pokemon and Esme all tensed with worry. "Prieeee!" Bengino panicked and jumped in fear of his new friend getting hurt.
"Just a little longer Aurora!" Ash told her and Aurora tensed only slightly, but held still, despite the Worm Pokemon's concern, trusting her trainer's judgement and keeping her stare locked firmly on the Bird Pokemon. Pidgeotto had to give the little one pluck for not looking even a little scared. Then, just as Pidgeotto was just inches away, Ash made his move with an order, "Aurora! Jump on Pidgeotto's back!"
"Dellll!" Aurora squeaked before obeying immediately, jumping up, avoiding Pidgeotto's beak and landed on her back with a flip. Pidgeotto squawked in shock as she quickly lifted to avoid ramming into the ground and began to try to shake the little shell off, but Aurora had clamped onto some of Pidgeotto's back feathers to hang on. "Pi-Pi-Pidgoooo!" Pidgeotto squawked in panic when she couldn't shake the Pokemon off.
"Go for it Aurora!" Ash called, "Icicle Spear!" Aurora waited until Pidgeotto righted herself before letting go and delivered four point black Icicle Spears straight to the middle-staged evolution's back, making the Pokemon below wince. "Pidgeoooooo!" Pidgeotto screeched in pain, plummeting to the ground and Aurora hopped off just as the Bird Pokemon hit the ground.
Ash rushed over and caught Aurora with a wide grin on his face, spinning her above his head, praising, "You were amazing!" Aurora smiled happily and cooed at her trainer, the fact that she won setting in, and she was exhilarated. The fact she beat an evolved Pokemon just made her want to hop around. "Pi pika, pikachu-chu!" Zeus praised as well as he, Vivina and Rex rushed over to congratulate their teammate and friend. Bengino practically wilted with relief that his friend was fine, prompting a giggle from Esme as she picked him up and cuddled him to her chest, petting his head as she said, "Poor Benji, you weren't ready for this kind of excitement so early, were you?" Bengino wilted a little with a coo.
Ash reached for a spare pokeball, only to realize he was still in his pajamas and slapped his face. "Ven-ven-o," Vivina tugged his pant leg, prompting him to look down to see she was levitating a pokeball she must've gotten from his bag, likely using Confusion to do it, "Venonat!"
"Thanks, Vina," He chuckled as he took the ball, making her preen, he then grinned as he made the ball in-large. The ball was grass green with a lighter, leafy green ring instead of the usual red upper half of a normal pokeball. He then threw it, exclaiming, "Nest Ball, go!" Everyone watched with baited breath as the ball sailed through the air, making direct contact with its target, sucking the pidgeotto inside with a crimson light, before bouncing onto the ground and began to shake violently; an evolved Pokemon like a pidgeotto putting more fight then Aurora did. After a few seconds of rocking back and forth in the grass, the Nest Ball finally stilled and gave a soft ding, signaling a successful capture.
"Yes!" Ash cried in joy, feeling on a roll of another successful battle capture, "We caught a pidgeotto! An actual pidgeotto!" This time, Aurora did start hopping up and down with joy at her trainer's joy, she helped him achieve this new step towards his goals and dreams! Her! And she helped them gain a new friend too! She was tempted to try a backflip.
"Pika, pi-pika!" Nicola congratulated the smaller female. "Char, charmander char," Diana complimented as well, impressed with the smaller Pokemon's win, not sure she would've been able to had their positions been switched. "Poliiii-liiii-liii wag!" Marina beamed nuzzling her fellow Water Type. "Priee," Bengino added from Esme's arms. "Shellder-der, shelll~!" Aurora squealed happily.
"That was great Ash!" Esme praised as she got up and rushed over, throwing her arms around him in a celebratory hug, "You actually took down an evolved Pokemon with an unevolved one!" She never thought she'd ever see the day when that would happen; evolved Pokemon naturally have a few points in their favor; usually being bigger and having more experience and moves at their disposal.
"Thanks Esme!" Ash laughed happily, holding the pokeball tight as he held her, practically preening himself at her approval, but then blushed as he remembered she was still in nothing but her nightgown and him in his loose pajamas. Esme seemed to remember this as well as she quickly pulled away, cheeks a deep red, much to their Pokemon's amusement as she stammered, "W-We sh-should pr-pro-probably change...for breakfast!" She practically scampered for her tent, "Yeah, breakfast! We'll freeze if we stay in like this!"
Not catching onto her embarrassment, but accepting the excuse to change, Ash nodded in agreement, "Yeah, no one likes a sick and cranky trainer!" He laughed nervously as he hurried back into his tent. The nine Pokemon all shared a look, before they burst into almost manic laughter.
When their trainers emerged again, Ash in his training clothes and Esme in her ballet outfit, they started breakfast; setting down nine bowls that had each of their Pokemon's names written on them in permanent black marker. Ash then let out his new Flying Type, prompting Bengino to yelp and hide behind Esme as she began to cook breakfast over the new fire in their little pit. The pidgeotto was still pretty sore from the constant hits of ice, but was rather calm and tame, allowing her new trainer close.
"Its nice to have you in the family, Pidgeotto," Ash said as he gently stroked her back feathers, making her coo pleasantly as he was very light and gentle as not to aggravate where she had been hit by the ice, he then grabbed a potion from his bag, "Here, this should make you feel a little better," He carefully sprayed her and Pidgeotto was feeling a bit better, "How does that feel?"
"Pi-Pidge, pidgeoo," She replied before turning and began to preen Ash's hair, carelessly knocking his hat off to show her gratiude. "Ah shucks Pidgeotto, that tickles!" Ash laughed making Esme giggle. "I think Pidgeotto's accepted you as her trainer," Esme chuckled as she fried some eggs. "What makes you so sure Pidgeotto's female?" Ash asked in surprise. "Her tail and crest, males tend to have longer ones as a means to attract mates, being about roughly eight cms, hers are about five," Esme replied easily and simply, making Ash blink before looking at his pidgeotto's tail feathers and they were quite short, and he was very impressed with how easily Esme was able to tell and her eye for these sorts of details most trainers wouldn't deem important.
"Are you going to name her?" Esme asked pulling him out of his thoughts. "Well, if she'd like one," Ash admitted, before pulling away from his Flying Type's affection to ask, "Would you like a name Pidgeotto? I'm not going to force one on you if you don't, but I feel its important to ask."
"Pidgeo?" Pidgeotto cocked her head in surprise, before thinking it over, she then eventually nodded, looking at her new trainer in curiosity, "Pidge pidgeoo."
"Hmmm," Ash hummed as he stroked his pidgeotto's back feathers in thought, "How about Ava?"
"That's actually really pretty," Esme complimented, making Pidgeotto's cheeks tinge pink. "Pika pikachu pi-pi!" Both pikachu chirped in agreement earning similar agreements from the others. "What do you think?" Ash asked and Ava immediately nodded with an excited trill, before nuzzling her new trainer, making him laugh again, "Ava it is! Welcome to the family Ava!"
After writing Ava's new name on another bowl, Esme and Ash opened the bags of pokechow and began to fill them. "Sorry if this isn't to your tastes Ava," Ash apologized in advance, petting the inquisitive Bird Pokemon, "But we'll be able to make more specialized PokeChow once we get to the next city." Ava nodded her understanding and happily pecked at her food, it was a little on the bland side, but she knew better then to complain.
"Ca-prieee?" Bengino cooed at his trainer, looking up at her as she filled his bowl with imploring eyes. "I know, I know, hold on," She laughed as she got the jar of honey, she poured some on his food, "I'm gonna have to buy some more jars, maybe I can find a recipe that incorporates honey into the PokeChow..." Bengino hopped excitedly at the idea of honey flavored food before showing his face into his shiny green bowl, Diana jumped as the bowl clanked against hers in his enthusiasm and sighed as she plopped another piece of food into her mouth.
Ash and Esme chuckled fondly at their Pokemon before focusing on their own breakfast; a simple sunny-side up egg, some sausages, Ash had an apple and Esme was enjoying a banana and a glass of juice between them. It was a beautiful and peaceful morning once the excitement of Ava's capture died down and they were eager to get another day of training in. They put aside their dirty dishes to wash later and approached their Pokemon as they polished their bowls off.
"Hey, Ava," Ash began gaining his Flying Type's attention as she finished the last of the food pallets, "Before we can start training, I need to scan you with my Pokedex, so I know where you are so we can start getting ready for the Pewter City gym, cause they specialized in Rock Types." Ava's eyes steeled in response at the promise of potential battle, and challenging battles at that, and she nodded in response, staying still as her trainer took out a little red device and pointed it at her. Dexter's voice rang out;
This pidgeotto is female
Ability: Keen Eye
Hidden Ability: Big Pecks
This Pigeotto knows the moves Tackle, Sand Attack, Gust, Quick Attack, Wildwind and Brave Bird*
Note*: Brave Bird is an Egg Move and is unlocked
Esme and Ash's mouths were hanging open in shock at Ava's egg move; Diana, Zeus, Nicola, Regina and Rex were also stunned. Brave Bird was one of the most powerful moves a Flying Type could have, it wasn't just powerful in damage dealing terms, but also accuracy, it rarely ever missed. You'd have to severely lower the Pokemon's natural accuracy to have a chance. So for Ava to not only have it as an egg move, but also already have it unlocked and useable in her arsenal, made her a force to be reckoned with.
"That's amazing Ava!" Ash praised with an excited grin. "Ash, if you don't use Ava in Celadon," Esme said once she found her voice, "And I'm saying this with all possible respect, but you'd be an idiot."
Ava just smirked proudly and preened. Her father had been a proud staraptor that had migrated from Sinnoh for the winter, she got a couple of bruises and scraps in her attempts to master the move, but it was forth it to see the pride on her father's face when he saw her master the move before she evolved and set off to build her own nest. The only reason she hadn't used it during her battle with Aurora was because she hadn't felt the need and wasn't sure if it would've been effective against the strange shelled Pokemon.
(PokeTranslator On)
"I take it one of your parents wasn't from Kanto," Nicola remarked to their new feathered ally. "No, my father was from Sinnoh, a staraptor actually," Ava* replied with a chuckle as she preened her wings, "I got the move from him."
"Staraptor?" Diana, Marina and Aurora asked curiously. "The flying type of Sinnoh, a distant and very cold region to the north of here," Ava explained with a patient smile at the younger Pokemon, remembering how her father had described his homeland, dreaming of seeing it one day and the forest he had hatched and grew up in, she then noticed how nervous Bengino was and arched a brow, cocking her head at the green bug, "What's with the green morsel?"
Ava had meant it as a joke, but clearly it was the wrong choice of words, as Bengino let out a frightened squeak and immediately ducked behind the closest Pokemon, which was Rex, "Don't eat me!" Ava recoiled in surprise, beforing understanding dawned and she had the decency to look sheepish. "Oh yeah, a lot of avian Pokemon eat bugs, don't they?" Regina winced as she realized the reason for the reaction.
"Ah, I'm not going to eat you, Little Green," Ava assured, or tried to, as she hopped closer, lowering her head to appear less threatening to Bengino, but only succeeded in scaring him more with her beck so close to his face. "Bird! Big Bird! Back! Back! Back! Angeeeeeel!" Bengino panicked having not heard the reassurance over his panic attack, crawling as fast as possible away from Ava and towards his trainer. "Hey, wait! I mean it! I don't eat bugs!" Ava yelped, following him, making the other Pokemon sweatdrop as they watched on, save Vivina and Aurora who were giggling, "Never did! I've been strictly on a plant diet since I hatched! Little Green, come on! All I eat all day is fruit and berries, maybe some grass if I'm feeling lazy or I'm just that hungry and herbs when I find them! Little Green!"
"Well...that could've gone better," Zeus remarked dryly. "They look like they're gonna be great friends to me!" Vivina giggled earning incredulous looks from the others, save Aurora. "...have you been eating anything other then the chow and flowers?" Rex asked bluntly. "Benji and Ava are already playing!" Aurora cheered, before hopping after them, "I wanna play too!"
"This is gonna be a long journey, isn't it?" Zeus asked rhetorically. "Looks like it," Nicola shrugged. "Most likely," Diana and Regina nodded, making Zeus sigh.
"Leave me alone! Leave me alone! I don't wanna get eaten!" Begino was almost literally crying at this point, now crawling around their trainers with Ava right behind him and Aurora right behind her. "I'm not going to eat you! The closest living thing I eat are seeds!" Ava cried in protest. "This is fun! Can I be chased next?" Aurora asked innocently.
(PokeTranslator Off)
Ash and Esme burst into a fit of laughter and giggles as Bengino, Ava and Aurora started chasing each other in circles. "Poor Bengi, guess he's just not used to a friendly avian," Esme said before taking mercy and picking up her frightened Bug Type, prompting Ava to quickly skid to a stop, causing Aurora to bump into her from behind. "Sorry, Ava, Bengino just needs to get used to you," Ash comforted his new friend, offering his arm as a perch, which Ava immediately took up, making sure to be mindful of her talons. Ash made a mental note with an internal wince to get a leather guard so she could perch without having to worry about her talons.
"Hey Esme, do you have the TM for any Steel Moves?" Ash asked as he scratched Ava's chin, making her coo, "Like Iron Tail or Steel Wings?"
"Yes to both actually," Esme looked up in surprise, "Did you want to teach Zeus Iron Tail and Ava Steel Wing?"
"Yeah, Ava's only real advantage is that one Steel move," Ash nodded, "Other then learning Rain Dance and challenging the Pewter City Gym Leader to a Double Battle and pair her with Aurora to power up her Water Gun."
"The only problem with that second plan is that Gym Battles are one on one only unless the Leader agrees to it and they only agree to it rarely on special circumstances, which you don't qualify for yet," Esme informed him with a tilt of her head, she could see both plans as ingenious where the Flying Type was concerned as it did cover her weakness to Rock, "And you do know you can only use two Pokemon until the fourth gym, right? Gym Leaders can only use two Pokemon until the challengers have three badges, and can only use four until the challenger has six and only after you have the sixth badge can the Gym Leaders use a full team."
"I know," Ash nodded in understanding, knowing she wasn't trying to patronize him, just making sure he understood the Gym Battle System, "I just haven't made up my mind which two I'm going to use, so I'm just making sure everyone's prepared for when I make up my mind."
Esme could understand and appreciate the reasoning, she herself had yet to make up her own mind who she's going to use at her first Showcase aside from her faithful pikachu. She was about to reach for her TM case, her collection wasn't perfect or complete, but she was proud of it, when she noticed both PikaPals had their ears up, as did the NidoTwins, "What's wrong guys?"
It was then she heard familiar voices that made her freeze up in alarm.
"We've been wandering around this forest for days!" The male voice complained loudly now close enough for the whole group to hear and the NidoTwins, Bengino and Ava were confused, all four looking at the frightened blonde in concern, a whine to the once confident and ruthless voice, "I want out! I'm starving and if I see one more weedle I'm going to go nuts!"
"Oh stop complaining!" The familiar shrill of the female voice made the entire group wince, "Its not like I'm enjoying this either! We were supposed to be catching powerful bug Pokemon and we're not finding squat!"
"Meooooooowth!" A third voice howled with pure annoyance, "Will you two just shut up? We're not getting anywhere with you two gripping all day!"
"Not again..." Esme whimpered. "Come on, maybe if we pretend the camp's deserted, they'll keep moving..." Ash said softly to her, making her nod.
"Hey! Did you guys just hear a voice?" One of the voices asked, "Someone else is out here!"
"That means they might know the way!" Another cried joyously.
The group tried to hurry out of sight and into one of the tents, but weren't fast enough. The same Team Rocket agents from Viridian came stumbling out of the bushes, all three a bit bruised and very dirty. Jessie and James' uniforms were even a little ripped in a few places, likely from getting snagged on branches, and clearly tired.
"Thank Arceus we found somebody out here!" James began, "Can you tell us..." But he stopped as they saw it was two of the three trainers who had sent them packing back in Viridian City's Pokemon Center. They quickly regained their composure as James tried to save face, "I mean, of course we found you here!" They then did their motto, the new Pokemon just staring all the while.
"A-A-Are y-yo-you t-th-three l-l-lost...?" Esme asked trying to avoid confrontation and another frightening battle, pointing to the trail that would take them straight out, "C-Ca-Cause the e-e-exit i-is t-th-that way..."
"We are not lost and we don't want your mousy help!" Jessie all but screeched like a persian, making Esme flinch back. None of the Pokemon took this kindly, not even Vivina or Bengino, all glaring angrily at her, teeth bared, Rex looked particularly murderous. Jessie didn't seem to notice nor care as she continued, "We were only in this forest anyways because you two and that grape-haired twerpette sent us flying all the way from the Pokemon Center!"
"...you've been in this forest for weeks?" Esme asked feeling a bit guilty. "Look, we're sorry you guys were stuck out here and we don't want to fight anyone," Ash said hoping to disfuse the growing situation and avoid another Team Rocket fight, "Can't we just go our separate ways and hope we never see each other again?"
While James seemed to be considering it, Jessie just scoffed, "Normally we don't bother ourselves with kids like you two, but you and that other girl humiliated us and that's not going to just slide," That snapped James out of it as they both reached for a pokeball, "We're going to beat you both to a pulp and then we'll be taking all your Pokemon!" She then threw her pokeball, "Go Ekans!"
James threw his as well, "Go Koffing!" Both Poison Pokemon emerged with bright white lights as Meowth hopped forwards, claws extended.
"Guess there's no choice, is there?" Ash sighed rhetorically making Esme stiffen, her fear starting to rear its head as she realized another battle was about to happen. Bengino looked up at his trainer as he felt her tense up, cooing in confused concern before seeing the frightened, far away look on her face, as if she were lost in a less then pleasant memory.
Nicola jumped forward, used to Esme's freeze ups, and her cheeks sparked with electricity as she prepared to defend her best friend and sister in all but blood and species, crying out, "Pika!"
Esme blinked a little out of her mental place at her pikachu's cry, her eyes were still distant, but not as distant as before, "N-Nicola?"
"You're up Zeus!" Ash called without missing a beat, glancing at the blonde with concern, "You too Vivina!"
"Pikachu!" Zeus gave a battle cry as he leapt after his female counterpart. "Venonat!" Vivina chirped jumping in after him.
"You think you're little Pokemon can beat ours?" James scoffed, "We're prepared this time!" He then ordered, "Koffing, use Sludge attack!" Koffing obeyed, shooting a thick, black sludge from its mouth straight at Zeus and Nicola, who weren't expecting it, Nicola managed to avoid it but Zeus was too slow and got hit right in the face. "Chaaa!" Zeus cried as he tried to wipe the sludge off.
This drew Esme's attention as she called softly in surprised concerned, "Z-Zeus...?"
"Zeus!" Ash cried in alarm and anger, snapping at Team Rocket as he scooped up Zeus to get him away from the fight, "Whatever happened to honor among thieves? That was low even for you three!"
"We don't play fair, twerp," James replied with a smirk. "And who needs honor when you can win?" Jessie added with a laugh making Ash growl. Despite Rex feeling better enough to train, Ash didn't feel the nidoran were healed enough to properly battle, same with Ava, who he could tell was still feeling sore from being caught and needed more rest, Regina was out as well for the same reasons as Rex and it would've been suicide to send Bengino at a snake and a floating ball of gass, and poor Diana looked just as frightened as her trainer. "Its all on you Vivina!" Ash told his venonat, who nodded expression shifting into something more serious.
"One down," Jessie smirked not at all threatened by the remaining pikachu and purple bug, "Two to go."
"Koffing, use Sludge again!" James ordered once more, "This time, on that purple bug!" The floating Pokemon obeyed, aiming for Vivina.
"Like I'm falling for that again!" Ash snapped making Esme flinch slightly, "Vivina, use Confusion to stop the sludge and dissolve it!"
"Venooooo..." Vivina crooned sinisterly as she tapped into her psychic powers, not happy with the distress the villains were causing to her friends, especially the low blow to Zeus, her eyes glowing a cold icy blue. The sludge froze in place as it got caught in her psychic grip, much to the trio of thieves and Poison Pokemon's shocks, "Whaaaa?" They watched as the sludge was shaken into little tiny bits which faded away into nothing as it was psychically broken down.
Nicola shot forward to take her chance of attack, cheeks and body glowing a violent yellow as she prepared a Thunderbolt, wanting to get it over with as quick as possible before flashbacks could grasp Esme's mind. Seeing what was probably coming, Jessie shouted, "Ekans dig underground!"
Guessing as well, James added, "Follow it Koffing!"
Ekans immedialy began to borrow underground and Koffing quickly following the snake inside the tunnel just as Nicola screeched angrily, "PIKAAAA...CHUUUUU!" A large, powerful bolt of electricity arched over the hole and would've hit Team Rocket had they not moved, completely frying the resulting tree, charring the bark black and turning every leaf to ashes on the breeze. Even Ash's jaw was hanging at the power displayed, though Team Rocket was a few shades paler as they stared at the dead and smoking tree then at Nicola who was glaring with rage, the other Pokemon were also shocked, save Zeus who still couldn't see.
Esme, however, got even more distant looking as she stared at the dead tree. Her legs felt weak as she gave a soft whimper before she felt them hit the ground, but didn't care. Her mind was filled with similar images of trees and logs in similar states and equally smoky Pokemon crackling with electricity and in clear pain, unable to move or make even the softest sounds. It all haunted her.
Bengino cooed a little louder, trying to draw his angel of a trainer out of the clearly not good place her mind had gone too and get her focus off the tree. Regina, Rex, Aurora, Ava and Marina's attention was drawn to this and were also concerned as they realized the look on her face. Both nidoran put their front paws on her legs, trying to get her attention, same with Aurora, Marina and Ava as they called to her, but Esme remained unresponsive.
"Esme?" Ash asked startled but very concerned at the look on her face and her lack of response to the Pokemon, "Esme, what's wrong?" This drew Nicola's attention away from the battle, worried for her trainer.
This was a mistake, as Ekans and Koffing sprung up from under the female pikachu, making her cry out in shock and pain as she was sent tumbling head over tail. Ash's attention snapped back to the battle with horror, "Nicola!"
This drew a reaction from Esme as her best friend's cries reached her ears, some light returning to her eyes, "Nikki...?" She looked in time to see Ekans and Koffing poised over her partner, ready to strike again and something in her chest seemed to zap with energy as she seemed to snap out of it and all but scream with fear in her voice, the order instinctive, "Nicola! Hidden Power!"
Nicola's ears perked up at her voice as she pushed herself up onto her feet, several balls of light formed in a ring around her body, spinning as they shrunk into Nicola's body, making it glow, before it changed from pure white to light brown. "What kind of a move is that?" Jessie asked in a panic at the unfamiliar move. "If I knew I'd tell you!" James replied. "Meowth!" Meowth shouted at his Pokemon allies, "Don't let that mouse finish dat move!"
"Oh no you don't!" Ash turned back to the battle and ordered, "Vivina, Secret Power!" Vivina crooned as she formed a ball of green energy which then shot back into herself, making her glow as well like Nicola's move. The light then focused into one of her stubby arms, forming glowing green needles like a cactus, the venonat launched herself at the two Poison-Types, swinging her not lethal arm, making Ekans hiss and Koffing to cry out as they were knocked back by the unexpected move, but clearly weren't badly hurt.
"Piii...kaaaaa!" Nicola cried releasing her move, shooting out the light brown energy forwards in a shockwave, her cry giving Vivina the cue to get out of the way.
"Ekanssssss!" Ekans screeched in pain as it was hit by the Ground-Type Hidden Power. "Koffing!" Koffing cried out as it was sent bouncing back at James who yelped as he was knocked back by the force. "That was Needle Arm..." Esme muttered distractedly at Vivina's move as she remembered Secret Power and Hidden Power were both randomized moves.
"That Venonat is really starting to bug me," Jessie gritted out, lips twisted in a scowl at how badly their Pokemon were beat up, before glancing at James as Koffing got up, "Let's attack the purple pest together, James."
"Koffing!" James said, "Use Sludge attack again!"
"Yeah, that's not going to work this time either!" Ash huffed before ordering, "Confusion!"
"Venoooo~" Vivina cooed sinisterly again as her eyes glowed once more, catching the toxic attack once more in telepathic grip, but she wasn't expecting Ekans and Koffing to both launch at her as the sludge was reduced to nothing. Nicola saw this and used Quick Attack to try and aid her purple friend, but was too late as both the Snake and Poison Gas Pokemon rammed full force into the startled venonat, who screeched, "Naaaaat!"
"Vivina!" Ash shouted in alarm as Esme flinched with a whimper.
The blonde trainer was trying to get a hold of herself, but it was hard as she watched Vivina skid across the ground, taking breaths. She felt her grip around Bengino tighten a little more despite his attempts to help her by nuzzles and soft coos. She felt the ground with one hand until her hand found the rough skin of, judging by the amount of spikes, had to be Rex, who had almost climbed into her lap. She hated this feeling; complete uselessness and helplessness as she watched the battle go on as Nicola rammed into the two Poison Types with her Quick Attack and was turning around for another one, charging but was knocked back unexpectedly by a quick whip of Ekans' tail.
"Vivina!" Ash called to his Bug/Poison type, who was struggling to get up, her small body not being built to take blunt damage like that, "Can you get up?" Vivina crooned in response as she tried to push herself up, wishing her Secret Power-Needle Arm had been successful with its secondary effect. "Hurry Ekans!" Jessie ordered, "Use Poison Sting!"
"Koffing use Sludge!" James added just as quick.
Both Pokemon obeyed, Koffing spitting out the spludge again and Ekans releasing a barrage of poisonous purple needles. Vivina had just gotten to her feet when she saw the attacks coming but was too slow to react. "Veeee!" She yelled in pain as she was hit, while she was unable to be poisoned herself due to her typing, but the double attack head on was strong, especially with her lack of guard, sending her further back to the group.
"Vivina!" Ash cried in horror and worry, rushing to his childhood friend and used one arm to scoop her up, keeping Zeus in the other. Cradled her to his chest, uncaring for the dirt that had collected onto her pretty purple fur, asking worriedly, "Are you okay?"
"Venoo..." Vivina crooned out, body shuddering against her trainer from being knocked around, feeling useless; all that training with her previous master and mother for nothing...Ash gave her a little smile and assured her, "Hey, you did great." He hugged her close as gingerly as possible, minding her bruises. "Shellll!" Aurora shouted angered at the state her friend was in, hopping forward to join the battle, despite her inexperience and the Poison Types clearly older and having more experience, "Der, shellll!"
Meowth laughed, "If youse think a little clam can beat Team Rocket, yousr welcome tah try..." He extended his claws, "I've been cravin' seafood anyways."
Ash quickly put a leg in Aurora's path to stop her, saying, "Aurora, no!" She looked up him with a croon of protest, "Aurora those two are too experienced for you right now...and Ice and Water don't have them much of an effect on Poison," Aurora didn't seem to care until he said, "Don't make me have to see you like this too!" Aurora wilted as she looked at Zeus, who was still blinded, the sludge sticking to his fur good despite how much he tried, and Vivina.
Marina was just as guilty, not knowing what to do as she watched her fearless electric ally stare down the two big and intimidating Poison Pokemon. She wanted to join the fight, but she didn't want to leave Esme's side. Not while she was like this, it gave her a bad feeling. Diana also felt bad, clawed feet rooted her to the spot as she watched on with worry and fright. She felt just as useless, remembering her Typing lessons with her father, Fire didn't do much against Poison Types like Ekans and Koffing, and her Ember wasn't that strong anyways. It made her wish she was evolved, maybe she'd be stronger then, braver.
Esme looked over at Ash and felt her heart clench. She wanted to do something, but she didn't want to cause pain. She didn't want to be like...like...
"That's two down, one to go," Jessie smirked figuring the other Pokemon weren't taking the venonat and male pikachu's place because they were either injured prior to their arrival or was too frightened to move, "All that's left if that pint-sized electric pest; the prize for winning this battle shall be all your Pokemon!"
Ash grimaced at the situation, three Pokemon out on the count of lingering battle injure and he wasn't going to force Diana to battle when she was clearly just as scared as Esme was and more concerned about her trainer to leave her side anyways and trying to coax Bengino in was suicide. He gritted his teeth in frustration, for once not sure what to do. Esme quivered, that gaping, numbing sensation of uselessness seemed to get bigger, spreading to her legs and made them feel heavier then normal, like big rocks were weighing them down. She didn't know what to do, she didn't want to lose her new friends and the first friend she ever made.
Zeus, able to sense and guess the dire situation, startled to struggle in Ash's arm. Nicola was alone out there and those two thieves weren't going to play fair and for all her power, Nicola was still one pikachu. He hated this feeling of uselessness. "I know you wanna help Zeus," Ash consoled as he held the Electric Mouse Pokemon tight, "But you can't fight now, not until I can get the sludge out of your eyes."
"We'll tell youse what," Meowth began to bargin with a wide grin, "Go ahead and hand over all your Pokemon right now, and we might let youse two go without any injuries." But he lost his grin a little with a brow ridge arching as he noticed how the twerpette's eyes seemed to turn a dark blue with fear and flinch at the mention of injuries, looking like she's seen a gastly. He wasn't actually being serious about hurting either human, big part of thieving was being able to bluff, it was actually a major part of his, Jessie and James' MO, but most trainers weren't that afraid or react so viscerally.
"Never!" Ash snapped with a glare, completely not afraid despite remembering all the stories his grandfather and aunt would tell him of the Team Rocket of their time, "I'll keep fighting, even if I have to do it myself!" All the Pokemon gave cries of shock and protest, Regina immediately rushing to push her front feet onto his feet in vain hopes of preventing him from trying; Pokemon had naturally thicker skin then humans, protecting their fragile insides from even the most devastating attacks like a Hyper Beam; her Savior didn't have that, one pierce of that Ekans' fangs on the wrong place could kill him, assuming its venom didn't first. Ava joined her, flying up in front of him to block his way despite the wince at her still sore muscles crying in protest to the exercise.
Esme's head snapped at Ash with shock and horror written across her face at his declaration. "Ash, that's crazy! Those two Poison Types could kill you!" She protested as well fear evident. "I'd rather die trying then just give up!" Ash rebuffed without hesitance or fear, eyes set in a firm, unrelenting glare at the trio of thieves who looked just as shocked, being reminded of the trainer who had taken down their organization single-handedly over twenty years ago and scattered what was left across the continent, "Because no one threatens my family!"
In that moment; Jessie and James were seeing the picture that they only saw once in the Admins' conference room; the Crimson Beast; Red.
Esme's eyes ligthned a little, a strange warmth growing in her chest as she felt her cheeks warm at his words. 'Family', that's how he saw his rag-tag team and she wasn't sure, but it felt like he implied her and her team in it and the idea made that warmth grow. Bengino felt a warmth grow throughout his entire body as well at Ash's words, a family, he really liked that word, and looking back up at the threats to that new family, the little green insect suddenly didn't feel afraid, instead, he felt very mad; mad at the strange humans and talking meowth and purple Pokemon; mad at them for making his trainer so afraid, for hurting his new friends.
Jessie was the first to shake the shock off, sneering, "Hah! Foolish boy; no human can take on a Pokemon; especially a Poison Type!"
James added fuel to the little Bug Type's flaming ire as he laughed, granted with a slight nervousness, "What an idiot."
"Prrrriiiiiiiiieeeee!" Bengino yelled out shocking everyone as he jumped out of Esme's arms and rushed out onto the battle field before anyone could stop him, literally hopping made as he yelled, "Prriiie! Prriiiieeee! Caterpriiiiiiieeee!" Rex and Zeus' jaws fell open in shock at Bengino's volume and what he actually said, while the younger Pokemon; Diana, Marina and Aurora were looking at the little bug in surprised awe and Nicola, while stunned, couldn't help a little grin as she sniggered at the gobsmacked and almost scandalous looks on the meowth, ekans and koffing's face.
"Hey!" Meowth shouted, "No need tah go bringing dat kinda language intah this; the author's keepin' this PG!" That last part threw the little Bug Type for a small loop for only a split second.
"What did it say Meowth?" James asked as he and Jessie looked at the Scratch Cat Pokemon. "Trust me, youse don't wanna know..." The oddly paler then normal feline replied.
"Bengino come back!" Esme cried not completely snapped out of it; her fear for her new friend gave her enough strength to push herself to her feet, but was still quivering, "I don't want you to get hurt!"
"Prie!" Bengino looked back at her and shook his head, eyes filled with determination and a fire to fight and defend. Something Ash sensed and it made him give a little smile despite himself and the situation, he had to admire the little caterpillar's bravery at the very least, he looked at his blonde friend, telling her gently, but firm and assured, "Esme, you have to believe in Bengino; believe he can do this and he can take down anything."
Esme looked at him with wide blue eyes, her body no longer quivering as she whispered, "Believe...?"
Jessie and James, on the other hand, took one look at the determined Worm Pokemon...and burst out laughing hysterically in spite of Meowth's reaction to whatever Bengino had apparently said. "You're actually serious?" James guffawed loudly between his wheezes and chuckles. "Like that measly bug will make any difference!" Jessie chortled as well, clutching her stomach unware of their Pokemon looking over at Meowth, while amused was still disturbed by the foul yelling from the little bug, Meowth gave an uneasy shrug.
However, the human enemies' words just mad Bengino madder to the point puff of air was visibly being puffed out of his mouth as he looked ready to charge at the two horrible humans, cheeks a russet brownish-red color with anger. Even Nicola looked a little wary at her own comrade's state and sudden demeanor and behavior change.
"Well, if the little thing insists," Jessie shrugged once she and James recovered from their laughing fit, she then ordered, "Ekans! Go get your dinner!" Ekans only hesitated a split second before remembering it was just a caterpie and lunged at Benigno, mouth wide open and fangs glistening.
Esme could only stare in abject horror as the snake got closer and closer. Nicola rushed in a Quick Attack to intercet the snake, but was tackled away from a momentarily forgotten Koffing before she could get close. 'No...no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!' Her thoughts were like a broken record, only able to scream, "BENGI!"
"Caaat...!" Bengino took a deep breath as the snake drew near, "Priee!" He launched a String Shot straight, point black at Ekans' face before the snake could react, wrapping it around the purple snake's upper half. Ekans halted with a startled hiss, immediately struggling to get out of the sticky silk strands, but they held fast, Bengino had been practicing hard for when it would get caught and had eaten good so its silk would be good and strong.
Feeling more encouraged as his friends began to cheer, Bengino shot more at Ekans and soon, the snake's entire head was covered in a sizable mass to the point it couldn't keep its head up. Jessie could only stare in shock and disbelief as her Pokemon was defeated by a small caterpillar, "Are you kidding me?"
"I got it Jessie!" James said, "Koffing, Tackle!"
Koffing obediently flung itself at the fragile green bug, but Nicola intercepted as long tendrils of grass wrapped themselves around Koffing and yanked it down to the ground, tying itself in a knot. "Nice Grass Knot, Nicola!" Ash complimented as Esme stared on in shock. "He did it..." She said before her eyes lit up with joy and the rush of impending victory as she smiled, "Bengino, String Shot again, but on Koffing before the Grass Knot wears off!" Bengino looked back at her briefly with a happy coo before nodding and obeyed, shooting more silk strings at the dazed Pokemon as it got out of the grass, soon covering it as well until it fell to the ground again, defeated with a groan.
"I don't believe it!" James cried in shock.
"Meowth! Let's see youse handle me!" Meowth said stealing himself as he extended his claws and lunged at Bengino, "Fury Swipes!"
Bengino just cooed a chuckle as it eye-smiled at him before shooting more String Shot at the reckless cat, and soon enough, Meowth fell on top of Ekans and Koffing, practically a ball of the sticky silk and mouth glued shut with the stuff with a clever aim from Bengino, much to Nicola and the other's amusement. But Bengino wasn't done, far from; he was still ticked off at Team Rocket and raced up at the downed trio of Pokemon who all panicked, thinking the caterpie was going to tackle them, but instead the Worm Pokemon jumped...
Esme's smile slipped into a surprised 'o' shape as she stared, "Did you know caterpies could do that when angered...?"
"You're the one who reads Pokemon research books," Ash replied looking just as stunned as he also stared, "You tell me..."
The Pokemon and Team Rocket stared as well as Bengino jumped on top of the pile of sticky tied up Pokemon and started to jump and down, literally hopping with anger and still shouting angrily. All three Team Rocket Pokemon looked a little pale, not getting much damage physically from Bengino's virtual tanturm on top of them, more disturbed and a bit frightened by the tiny Bug Type.
"This is ridiculous!" Jessie finally shouted as she snapped out of her shock, "We better blast off while we can!"
James nodded in agreement as they returned their Pokemon to their pokeballs just as Bengino jumped up for another stomp, realizing some of its pile was missing and was falling farther and faster then he was expecting too, Bengino quickly shot a String Shot and snagged onto a branch, swingng away and lowering himself to the ground safely.
"This is the second time you twerps have you humiliated! At least this time wasn't publicly!" James snapped in frustration at the second loss to the two in a row, "You two can consider yourselves enemies of the new Team Rocket!"
Ash threw a dark smirk-like smile at them that made both humans and meowth shiver as his mind took a moment to wonder; his mind went back to when he was just a clueless innocent toddler who was confused when men in Ranger uniforms came to the door and the man had to catch his mother when she nearly collapsed to the floor with wails that had him torn between running to his room or rushing to comfort her and make the Rangers that made his mother cry go away, only to be confused when his mother told his father wasn't coming home and screaming and crying when they closed the strange wooden bed on his 'sleeping' dad and put him in the ground and started to put dirt on top of him, crying himself to sleep as his mom told him his father wasn't waking up.
"Good," Ash grinned widely like a hungry sharpedo, eyes glinting with something no one in the clearing could place, something dark and foreboding, and for a moment, his eyes flickered blue, "My dad made a career being a thorn in your sides and I get to get back for his death and find his murderer; win-win for me."
This made both James and Jessie pale with wide terrified eyes at the fourteen-year-old boy, legs quivering before rushing over to grab meowth, sticky silk and all. "Y-Y-Yo-You'll be sorry you crossed Team Rocket!" James tried to intimidate and warn as they began to run off into the woods, "You better pray you never cross our paths again!"
The group watched as the trio became a dot in the foilage, only to see them stop and heard Jessie question, "Didn't the twerpette say the exit was the other way?" The group watched as Team Rocket came running back and bypassed them to run in the other direction.
Esme could only continue to stare, even as the speck that was the villainous team thugs disappeared from view, her brain unable to process what just happened. She just...beat Team Rocket...the villainous team that had terrorized Kanto and Johto for years before their apparent not so effective disbandment by the hands of the late Kanto Champion, and she did it with the most unlikely member of her team.
"We did it..." She finally breathed, a smile slowly forming on her face as her heart finally calmed, "We really beat them!"
"I knew you were a fighter Esme," Ash said as he also calmed down, face relaxing into a more natural and genuine smile, gently setting Vivina and Zeus down, letting the Pokemon crowd around their downed friends, "You're stronger then you know." He pulled her into a celebratory hug, making her give a soft surprised squeak and blush.
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"Are you two going to be okay?" Diana asked Zeus and Vivina in worry. "I'll be better once I get this gunk off my face," Zeus replied still blinded, "Someone guide me to the nearest stream," He squawked in surprise as Marina sprayed him in the face, washing the sludge off, he shook the water off and blinked before giving the older Water Type a withering look, questioning, "And you couldn't do this before because...?"
Marina gave a sheepish expression, "Panicked and forgot...?" Zeus faceplanted in disbelief. Ava watched the interaction curiously, before asking the female pikachu, "Is this sort of thing normal?"
"It's starting to be," Nicola chuckled before assuring the sole Flying Type, "You'll get used to it, don't worry about it." Ava wasn't sure why, but that didn't entirely make her feel better on the situation.
"I'll be okay once I get an oran berry or a sitrus berry," Vivina assured trying to use her usual energetic tone, but it came across as tired instead. "Angel has all the medicine and berries in her bag," Regina said before turning and hurrying over to the pink cave, "I'll get them."
"That was amazing Bengi!" Aurora congratulated the slightly panting green Worm Pokemon, hopping up and down with her excitement and joy at her friend's win against the horrible Pokemon and their humans, "You kicked those meanies behinds to the riverbend! Right Marina?"
"Yeah..." The young poliwag said with a strained expression and tone, looking a little pale and disturbed, "Just...was such language really necessary?"
"If someone threatens Angel and makes her that upset again, then its was the least they deserved," Rex snorted in the Worm Pokemon's defense, "They were lucky I couldn't charge in; right Ben?" But the caterpie didn't respond, much to everyone's concern, "Bengino?"
Bengino suddenly shot more String Shot straight into the air, making everyone jump in shock. "Bengi?" Aurora questioned. "Bengino, they're gone, you can stop n..." Whatever Nicola was going to say died in her throat as she realized Bengino was covering himself in the sticky silk and was starting to glow white.
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Esme jumped in shock as she watched this as well, "Bengino..." Her breath was caught as she realized what was happening.
Ash, however, was wide-eyed and smiled with awed-excitement with the same realization, "He's evolving...!"
They watched as the once circular body of Bengino began to shift and change as the silk settled. Once the light died down, in the place of the Worm Pokemon, was a green chrysalis curved in a segmented crescent, a face of sorts on the front of the shell with heavy-lidded yellow eyes and a sharply pointed nose. "Metapod..." The new Pokemon intoned monotonously as it sat perfectly still, barely blinking.
"Ben!" Esme cried happily as she hurried over and scooped up her newly evolved Bug-Type just as Regina exited her tent, her zipplock of oran berries in her mouth, but the female nidoran dropped it at the sight of the new Pokemon, "You evolved! You look amazing!"
"Congratulations Bengino!" Ash smiled as he stood next to them, "You're a Metapod now." He held up his Pokedex and let Dexter scan the lax bug;
Metapod the Cocoon Pokemon
The evolved form of Caterpie
A steel-hard shell protects its tender body. It quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolvtion
"You won't be facing any hardships by yourself Bengi, I promise," Esme assured him after hearing what Dexter had to say about her new Cocoon Pokemon, hugging him close, "Just think, you're just one step closer to becoming a butterfree." Bengino gave a little groan and wiggle of his new body in excited agreement, eagerly awaiting to burst from his cocoon and spread his long-awaited wings and make sure that smile stays on his Angel's face...
...and Giratina help whoever makes her that upset again, especially once he learned the powder moves.