By Moonlight
A Pokemon Fanfic.
Written by RogueMoon
"…But in a far away city, stories are told of a mysterious pokemon who roams freely. But always, by moonlight." – Pokemon: Mewtwo Returns
Chapter Three: Mysterious Pokemon
The voice chuckled dryly, resonating through Ash's' head, "So you do remember me."
The black haired boy spun around, scanning the trees and buildings near him, "Where are you? And why are you here?"
"I am above you, on the edge of the tallest building around this square. You still won't see me. As for why I'm here… I came to see if my… 'work' last night did any good. And I… I sensed you near. You… I… felt… compelled to 'say hello', so to speak…"
Ash glanced up at the building to his right, and as the voice had stated, he did not see it's owner, but at least he had a direction to talk to. "What do you mean work? Did you do this to the trainer?"
"Trainer? Is that what you would call a person who abuses their pokemon? Who uses threats and punches and starvation to get their pokemon stronger, to evolve, to win battles? Just so they can take all the glory and fame and not have to work for themselves? Is THAT a trainer?"
Ash took an involuntary step back at the force and spite behind the thought. He opened his mouth to reply but found he couldn't. The voice was right, that wasn't a trainer…
Silence for a moment or two, then:
"So… I'm assuming you're the 'Moonlight Pokemon'?"
"Is that what they call me?"
"That's the rumor going around. That there's this really rare pokemon that only comes out at night and is more frequently seen flying in the light of the moon." Pikachu hopped onto Ash's' shoulder and tugged on his hair, "Pika? Pi-ka! Pikachu!"
"No, Pikachu, it's alright. You don't have to go get Misty or Brock. They'll find us soon enough. They always do."
"Ka-chu. Pi." The electric mouse nodded his head decisively and started inspecting his paws for any out of place hairs.
The voice came again, "How do you understand your pikachu so well? You weren't nearly as able to talk with him last time our paths crossed."
Ash laughed and scratched the back of his head, "Well, it kinda happens when you've traveled together as much as we have. And I really can't understand him, I just get this feeling of what he wants and answer the best I can. Small things like asking if he should get Misty or Brock happen so often that I've learned to recognize when he's asking them." Ash reached a hand up and scratched his best friend behind one ear, earning a quiet purr in return. "You seem in good spirits. This is the first time I've heard you laugh. Well, actually, I've never heard you laugh. I've never once heard you speak out loud."
The voice snorted, "And you never will either. My genetic voice is not the voice I wish others to remember me as having."
Ash grinned, "That bad huh?"
"That 'squeaky' I believe the term is."
"This is fun, you know that."
"Fun?"
"Yeah. Talking to you. Just having a conversation. No fighting or discussing moral points. No having to worry about the fate of the world. Just… talking."
There wasn't a response for several minutes and finally Ash gave up on getting one. Just in time for Brock and Misty to find him and start berating him for leaving them like that, making them get all worried, etc., etc…
"Aw guys... I just thought I saw something and you two were busy talking about Nurse Joy…"
"That's 'Joi', "Brock interrupted and was followed up by Misty's exasperated sigh.
"That's what he said, Rock-for-brains!"
"No, he said, 'Joy', not 'Joi', Water-between-the-ears!"
Ash hunched down, caught between the two and laughed nervously, "Um? Guys? Can it wait? We should really try to find out more about these weird incidents… Right?"
The two gave each other one last glare then went back to their normal selves. Misty was the first to speak.
"For once, Ash, you're right. Well, we talked to Officer Jenny real quick before coming to look for you and she said the trainer was about as well off as the others who've been through this."
"That's the second time you've said that today, Misty."
"Said what?"
"That for once I'm right."
Misty narrowed her eyes, "As I was saying… We talked to Officer Jenny…"
Brock nodded in agreement, "Yeah. This one isn't the worst, but had been getting there pretty quickly. Her pokemon are at the Center being treated for malnutrition more often that not. Apparently her motto is 'If they can't win, then what's the point of feeding them?' And she was so cute too…"
Ash and misty ignored the boy's last comment.
"So Ash? What did you see over here that caught your attention?" Misty asked, glancing around the trees and giving a shiver, "Not some bug Pokemon I hope…"
"Nope! It wasn't any bugs. It was a pokemon, though. You won't believe who is was either!"
That caught both of his friends attention and Brock started to get excited in a manner that only he could.
"Was it an electrabuzz? I heard they're common around here. Or was it a Pinsir? No, wait, you said it wasn't a bug pokemon…"
Misty's eyes got big and filled with hearts, "Was it a water pokemon? I bet it was a real cutie! Did you catch it? Can we see it? Please?"
Ash backed up a couple steps and laughed, "None of the above! You're no where near close!" He turned and started back towards the Pokemon Center. "You guys'll never guess! Not in a million years!"
As the laughing boy led his curious and complaining companions off, a lone soul watched them from a rooftop. ~Fun? Is that why I felt compelled to talk with you? Because it would be… fun? Perhaps… perhaps it was… fun.~
******
By the time the trio got back to the Center, Brock and Misty had thrown out just about two hundred guesses as to what pokemon Ash had seen. None were correct and Ash just kept laughing 'Nope' after every guess.
Misty was tired of the game and Brock was desperate to know. So Ash stopped just before entering and gestured for them to lean close, as if he was going to whisper it to them. He didn't get a chance as he was knocked onto his friends from behind. They landed in heap, Ash more on top of Misty than on Brock. Luckily for the two blushing teens, their friend was too busy trying to figure out what happened to notice. That is until Misty punched Ash in the face and screamed for him to keep his mitts off of her.
"Misty! What'd I do?"
"You know exactly what you did buster! That was low!"
Brock, catching sight of the retreating back of the guy who had so rudely bombed into them, decided to risk Misty's wrath, "Misty, calm down! He didn't do it on purpose. That jerk over there pushed him into us."
Misty stopped her tirade long enough to look where the rock expert was pointing. Luckily for Ash, she was able to catch sight of the guy just before he careened around a corner and out of sight. "…oh."
"STOP! THEIF!" Nurse Joi yelled from the doorway, looking a little worse for wear. "Oh dear… He's getting away… And no officer Jenny's in the area either…"
Brock was up and in his element. A second after Joi stopped speaking, her hands were being held by his as he knelt down before her, "I'll help you, Nurse Joi. Brock's the name and Thief Catching's the game! Now why don't I take you for a cup of hot coco and you can tell me all about what happened…"
Misty grabbed Brocks' ear and pulled him away, "Come on, Romeo. We have more important things to do."
Ash approached the slightly confused nurse, "What happened, Nurse Joy?"
"Oh! Well, that young man who had his pokemon confiscated earlier just came in and stole them back. Well, I guess it really wasn't stealing, as they are his pokemon, but Officer Jennie said that he couldn't get them back until tomorrow… And now he could be anywhere…."
"It's alright Nurse Joi!" Brock popped up again, having escaped Misty's grasp. "We'll track down the thief! And when we get back, perhaps you and I could discuss the care of confiscated pokemon over dinner?"
Misty once again had to reign in the foolish heart.
Ash sighed and then turned back to the woman, "We'll find the guy. I want to challenge him to a match anyway. And I'll make the stakes that when he loses, he has bring back all his pokemon to have them held for an abuse inspection."
"That would be wonderful. You all are such nice children."
(Brock: 0_0 She thinks I'm a child! Misty: -.- That's 'cause you act like one…)
"See you later, Nurse Joy!" Ash yelled as he ran off after the 'thief'.
It took only a moment for his friends to catch up with him as he rounded the corner the boy had only moments before. The two ended up slamming into Ash's' back as he stopped. There on street in front of them was a full-on pokemon battle. More than that, it seemed to be part of a local contest.
The Doduo in the makeshift ring had just been called out to finish off a Grimer who looked to have been fighting for a while. Ash mentally noted that the Doduo was a poor choice, and the guy would have been better off with an electric pokemon, but then shrugged to himself. The guy might not have one and with the Grimer so tired out, the Doduo did have a fair chance of winning.
Without giving a second glance to his companions, Ash headed off for the information booth at the back of the crowd. Misty and Brock followed silently, observing the crowd and looking for their quarry.
When Ash finally got to the booth, his first words were: "Sign me up!"
The attendant peered at him over the rim of his glasses, "Of course, young man. Name?"
"Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town."
"Favored Pokemon?"
"What do you mean?"
"Which pokemon or type do you use the most?"
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"It's just some general information that we can put in tomorrows paper about all the participants in today's contest."
"Oh. Well… Um… I use Pikachu a lot."
"Right. Favored pokemon: Pikachu. Number of Badges?"
"Which league?"
The attendants' eyebrow actually raised at this, "The Johto league is the one most others who are participating today are in. I assume you have badges from Kanto…"
"And the Orange Islands."
"Really? How many badges from Kanto?"
"Eight."
"That so? How far did you get in the championships? Or haven't you been in those yet?"
"I was ranked 16th in finals."
"And you say you have also participated in the Orange League? How many badges?"
"All four."
"And your ranking in their league?"
"League Champion."
Now the attendant was staring, "And how many badges from Johto?"
"Only six so far, but I've been taking my time getting them. Why do need to know all that?"
"Well I have to figure out where in the competition to place you. And that depends on your experience level which is rated by how many badges you have. And seeing as how you have the most badges combined of all today's entrants, you will be going up against only one other person."
"Oh. Okay. So… what's this competition for?"
The attendant blinked. "You don't know what it's for?"
Ash shook his head.
"But you wanted to participate…?"
Ash nodded.
"Without even knowing what it's for?"
Ash nodded.
The attendant sweat-dropped. "I… see. Well this city is becoming famous for the rumors of the 'Moonlight pokemon', you have heard those rumors haven't you?"
Ash nodded.
"Right. Well, in honor of the all the attention the Mysterious Moonlight Pokemon is bringing us, the city has decided to put on a Pokemon Match and Contest. The winners of each division will receive a 'Moonlight Badge'. It is not a recognized badge in the League, but the bearers of such will get special treatment within the city at certain hotels and restaurants, as well as at the Pokemon Center. These bearers will also be able to roam the city at night without being subject to their age orientated curfews."
"Wow! That sounds great! I can't wait to win!"
"I'm sure you can't, but you will have to. Your official match is the last one of the day. We start with the least experienced and work our way up the levels, ensuring that all spectators and trainers alike will be subjected to a wonderful show all throughout the day. However, trainers are allowed to battle one another before and after their matches if they so choose. These extra battles do not count towards the official contest."
"Sounds great. What time is my battle at?"
"Roughly 9 pm. All children under the age of 16 have permission to stay out past curfew provided they stay within the Contest Area boundary or are on their way home or to the Pokemon Center."
"Great! Thanks for the info. See you at nine!" Ash ran off to find Misty and Brock once more.
"… What a strange child…"
******
He flew over the rooftops, shielding himself from the prying eyes of those below. He only let them see him when he was out at night and the shadows did most of the work for him. He had only stayed in this city for as long as he had because of the problem with the trainers. Otherwise he would have already moved on to another town. He didn't really enjoy his time here. Insofar as any pokemon could enjoy themselves in city filled with humans who only cared about advancing their own lives and occasionally caring for a pokemon that needed their help.
He didn't even like humans. They were notorious for taking what wasn't theirs to take and laying claims of domination over other like themselves as well as the pokemon that inhabited the world.
All but one human. And possibly the two others he explored the land with.
Ash Ketchum was different. Unlike the other humans he had encountered and even Ash's 'friends', the boy had something in him that was different. Something that made him willing to look past a pokemons' exterior and see the individual 'person' within. Something that made him willing to sacrifice himself for his pokemon and even for strange ones he had never met until such time as he was risking his life.
~Is that why I feel compelled to seek him out once more? Why I got his attention and spoke with him? Because he is willing to sacrifice himself so quickly? Or is it something else? I have often found myself thinking about him and his companions at the strangest of times. Before today, just last week… I thought of him and wondered what he would think of how I was dealing with the cruel, so-called trainers. As if his opinion truly mattered….~
He looked down and saw that he had landed on a building above the latest Pokemon competition and found himself actively seeking out the boy's mind, like he had just an hour before.
~Why do I seek him out? Why do I feel drawn to… There he is. At one of the stands that sell the highly sweetened food favored by humans. What's this? Why is he upset?… Why do I feel angry that something has upset him?
~That boy to the left of him. He is familiar as well… He is one of Team Rockets' lackeys! Do they know I am here? No.
~The boy, James is only here so that his partner may try and win one of the special badges~
He chuckled slightly, ~Haven't gotten decent food in weeks. Well, they won't be a problem… But that is not what has upset the boy. No it is the trainer he is now talking to. He hasn't even seen the Rocket lackey.~
******
Ash growled under his breath then challenged the guy, "I say we battle right now! If I win you have to take your pokemon back to the center to be held for an abuse inspection."
The guy laughed back, "Alright pipsqueak! You're on! If you win, I'll do that. IF you win. But if I win, you have to give me your most powerful pokemon. Deal?"
Ash smirked and turned his hat backward, "Deal."
The crowd opened up a rough circle around the combatants and the brown haired boy yelled out, "Three on three. The first to have all his pokemon faint loses."
Ash nodded.
The boy threw out his first Poke-ball, "I choose you! Alabama!"
"Go! Pikachu!"
******
He watched the battle, a strange feeling of worry gathering in his stomach as Ash's opponent took out Pikachu with minimal effort. The Alakazam was too strong for any of the Pokemon Ash had on him. Ash knew it too. What he didn't know was that the Alakazam was only fighting because it was bored. Its trainer wasn't even the one who raised it. He was just the trainer that it had been sold to because his original trainer had to get rid of him so some debt-collectors wouldn't take it away. The trainer he was with was supposed to sell the Alakazam back to him two months ago. The Alakazam didn't know that. All it knew was that it had spent way too much time in its Poke-ball and needed something to do. So it would fight.
Ash sent out Quilava. The fire pokemon faired better, but would still go down in the end.
For some reason, the observer could not allow Ash to loose this battle. It wasn't that Ash was in over his head, it was that he had been tricked into an unfair battle with the worst stakes possible. And Ash did not want to lose his best friend. The observer didn't want him to, either…
The Alakazam took out Quilava and a moment later the only thing moving on top of the building, was the wind.
******
Ash gritted his teeth. The Alakazam had taken out two of his pokemon already and he didn't have a single pokemon that would do well against it. And its trainer wasn't even very good. The guy gave orders, but the Alakazam did what it wanted. Unfortunately for Ash, that meant it bombarded his pokemon with Psychic attacks. ~Aw, man… the only pokemon I have that might do even a bit of damage is Chicorita and even she'll end up going down… I guess I have no choice, though…~
"That's right, you don't." The voice filled Ash's' mind again as the entire crowd let out a collective gasp. The pokemon's intense violet eyes locked with Ash's brown ones as it landed in the field in front of him, "Well? Aren't you going to announce me? That is the normal tradition, is it not?"
Ash's' mouth worked for a moment before a huge grin spread across his face and he pulled out his Poke-Dex.
The computerized voice searched its registry, but found no match for the pokemon before it, "Pokemon unknown. New entry being made. Start recording."
Ash smiled never breaking eye contact, "New entry. Type: Psychic. Height: around seven-foot Weight: unknown at this time. Commonality: one of a kind, legendary." Ash's grin was the biggest he had ever had.
"Name:
"Mewtwo."