In response to one reviewer: No, Harry will definitely not be an Ash clone. In fact, Ron and Hermione won't even be clones of Brock and Misty, as you will see when we get further into the story. Thanks for the great reviews so far, and enjoy chapter Three.
Chapter Three: Experience Points
That evening Harry spent the night in the bunk beside Ron's bed. Normally Ron's brother Percy would be in the top bunk, but since he was in Letcherfield it was just the two of them.
"Your family is really nice," Harry said, pulling back the soft covers.
"Yeah, they're all right," Ron said warmly. "Only-"
Harry sensed the hesitancy. He chose not to prod out of respect.
"It's going to be hard out there on your own." Ron continued, apparently deciding to change the subject.
"Only at first. Though I probably haven't made the best start out. Only a day into the journey and I lost the trail all ready."
"Well, if you'd like…that is, if you'll let me come with you…I can show you the bridge back to the path. I mean, I'll show you either way, so I don't want you to feel like I'm blackmailing you but if you'd let me join you we might have a better chance."
Alone was definitely the harder way to go, Harry realized that the hard way. Ron and his family had been very generous and it would be nice to have someone to talk to. They agreed that night that Ron would announce his plans to the family in the morning.
* * *
"Potter…." A strained, decrepit voice called out in the darkness. "The league will be mine."
Harry was walking down a long path, surrounded by darkness, the only light coming from an unknown source but not bright enough to show him where he was going.
"Who's there?" He called uncertainly.
"Harry Potter. Join me…together we will take the Hogwarts League and rule the world."
Harry stopped and looked around. He was in a room of some kind, like a ballroom in a castle. Large windows were on either side of him, and in the center of the room was a large round circle. "Show yourself."
In the center of the circle a dark figure approached. Harry could barely make it out that is until the torches on the sides of the room lit up. It was a Gengar, a Ghost type pokemon that stood erect on two legs.
"Soon Potter," The Gengar spoke in that same voice. "You and I will meet. And it will not be like last time."
Thunder struck, smashing the windows in the room. The electricity nearly struck Harry, and he woke up in a startled sweat. The clock on the wall read seven thirty AM.
Ron was still sound asleep but Harry couldn't follow suit. Instead he threw off the covers and went to the bathroom to use the shower. The Clefairy popped back in, placing his dried clothes on the toilet seat, and then teleported back out.
"I'm glad humans can't do that," Harry mused as he went for the shampoo.
When he was finished, Harry found his way downstairs where a Vulpix was lighting the fire while the same Clefairy tended it.
"Ah, you must be Harry."
Harry looked over towards a worktable beside the fireplace. A much older man with red hair sat there examining the Firebolt Pokegear. He stood up to greet Harry.
"I'm Ron's father."
"Nice to meet you," Harry shook his hand. "I didn't notice the Vulpix last night."
"Oh, we've had her for a while now. Ever since her trainer gave her up when he grew tired of caring for it." Mr. Weasley gleamed with pride as the fox-like Fire type Pokemon cuddled up against his leg. "I work in the Department of Mistreated Pokemon. Whenever a Pokemon is treated badly by its trainer, we revoke their licenses and care for them until we can find people who will love and care for them."
"Can't you just release them back to the wild?"
"In theory yes, some of them can live quite happily in their native environments. But a captive Pokemon develops a keen sense of dependence on their trainers. Food, water, and all of the Pokemon's basic needs are taken care of by the trainer, and these are only a few of the things that a trainer must do to keep its Pokemon's loyalty. Once a trainer raised Pokemon is abandoned it can be difficult for them to make the adjustment to being alone, that's where we come in."
Harry considered this as he sat down in the couch to enjoy the fire. It made a lot of sense. Pikachu pounced out of the recovery room and hopped into his lap.
"Your Pikachu was quite drained by your trip through the river. But he seems fine now, try to be a little more careful in the future."
The rest of the Weasley's woke up, and soon breakfast was on the table, and everyone human and Pokemon alike ate heartily.
"A real pity Percy and Bill couldn't get time away from the gym," Mrs. Weasley commented, pouring orange juice into the boys' glasses. "It's amazing how many young trainers pass through there every day."
"It's not just the trainers mum," George reminded her. "Bill's been pushing to get a place in the Elite Four and Percy wants to take over the Gym afterwards."
"Well the Elite Four won't mind him taking a day off to have breakfast with his family now, won't they?"
"Excuse me," Harry piped up. "But who are the Elite Four?"
"Only the finest masters in the Pokemon League," Mr. Weasley answered with pride. "You see, Harry, on your Journey you must collect badges from the seven gyms in the Hogwarts League. Then when you're ready, you will face the Hogwarts League House Leaders. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."
"Each leader uses different Pokemon," Fred explained. "Bill and Charlie both went through the Elite Four and won the title of champions, but not without a lot of hard work. And not everyone who faces them wins."
Harry never thought about it that way before. In idealistic fantasies his pokemon were the strongest ever because he was the greatest trainer alive, but the training exams never covered the Elite Four or the gym badges. Perhaps that was because trainers needed to decide for themselves if that was the path they wished to go down.
"I have an announcement to make." Ron said suddenly, breaking the silence. He stood up so as to get everyone's attention. "I spoke with Harry last night. I've agreed to show him the way to Weasley's Bridge, the one that goes over the river."
"Excellent son." Mr. Weasley praised him. "You always did have such a kind hearted spirit."
"That's not all though. I'll be crossing the bridge with him…and I'll be going with him on my own journey."
With that everyone looked up at Ron, awestruck. Mr. Weasley put his fork down and patted his youngest son on the back. Mrs. Weasley seemed to be holding back tears, and got up to give Ron a hug.
"Oh my little baby is going away," she cried, happily. "Come along, we'll get you all set to go."
While Mrs. Weasley and the twins helped Ron get his stuff ready, Mr. Weasley presented Harry with the map card.
"This should make things a little easier on your journey," he said as Harry inserted the card into its appropriate slot. "I see Hagrid's even made some modifications to the mapping system too."
"You know Professor Hagrid?"
"Everyone in my department knows Hagrid. He's adopted more mistreated Pokemon than any other person in the league. In fact there's even a plaque dedicated to him in the Faultline City Pokemon Adoption Network."
"I've seen most of his pokemon," Harry said. "They seem much happier with him. Of course he also seems to be happier with the extremely dangerous ones."
"That's our Hagrid for you, hehe."
The peaceful silence was shattered suddenly, when a collective screech from outside found its way to Harry's ears. He and Mr. Weasley rushed to the door to see what happened, Pikachu and Vulpix at their sides. Out in the forest where Harry had been only hours before, a flock of four or five familiar pokemon were in the yard, swooping and diving on anything in sight.
"Help!" Ginny cried. She had been outside tending to the Miltanks and the Oddishes when the Hoothoots began their attack.
"Oh no, Vulpix help her!" Mr. Weasley commanded. He ran out to the barn to get to his daughter along side the fox-like pokemon. When Vulpix was a safe distance it took aim and unleashed Ember.
A few of the Hoothoots backed off, but regrouped for another attack. George, Fred, Ron and Harry rushed out to help.
"Clefairy," George yelled. "Body slam!"
Clefairy turned its nose up and refused to attack.
"You stupid pokemon, I said body slam!" George snapped. "I don't care if you're Percy's pokemon Ginny's in trouble."
That got Clefairy's attention, and it took off on its fairy-like wings to Body Slam the nearest Hoothoot.
Ron and Fred found their Oddishes and took up separate positions.
"Oddish, Sleep Powder!" Fred commanded, when a Hoothoot came closer. The tiny Grass pokemon stared the Hoothoot down as the bird swooped. When it was close enough it shook itself and a thick white powder shot out from its grassy top.
The Hoothoot breathed in the powder and fell asleep before hitting the ground like a rock. Fred then used an empty pokeball to catch the sleeping Hoothoot.
"Oddish, tackle!" Ron ordered his own Oddish. Another Hoothoot dodged the tackle attack, and pecked at the Oddish viciously. "No, Oddish don't let it defeat you! Come on, Tackle!"
Ron's Oddish spun around to try and shake off the Hoothoot. Then, with the bird pokemon close enough to hit, he jumped up and slammed his body into the Hoothoot. Though it wasn't a powerful enough blow to weaken it, the Hoothoot got the idea that it didn't want to peck at something that could fight back and flew off.
"Pikachu, we have to help them." Harry said, rushing out to the field to try and lead more of the Hoothoots to them. But when they were far enough away from the house, only one pokemon swooped in to attack them. Noctowl slammed Pikachu across the grass.
"Noctoooowl!" It screeched angrily. Harry realized that Noctowl was the one who rounded up a new gang of Hoothoots, and was now trying to settle its grudge.
Pikachu recovered quickly and awaited Harry's command.
"Pikachu, quick attack!"
The electric pokemon nodded and ran full speed, leaping headfirst into the air as Noctowl swooped in for its second attack. The blow stopped Noctowl in mid air, and it crumpled to the ground beside its opponent.
Both pokemon got to their feet, and Noctowl crowed to the remaining Hoothoots. Leaving the Weasley's alone, the last three Hoothoots formed up and started to dive on Harry and Pikachu.
"You may have come to settle a grudge with me," Harry spoke to the Noctowl. "But you'll never bring us down. The world is going to throw challenges like this at us every step of the way, but so long as Pikachu and I never succumb to the fear no one or nothing can stop us. Pikachu, Thundershock!"
Pikachu concentrated as the Noctowl took to the air again. The Hoothoot's were closing in. Bolts of electricity formed around Pikachu's body as it charged up its attack. Noctowl called to its brethren, and together, dived along with the Hoothoots.
"Pikaaaaachuuuuu!" Pikachu cried as the electricity built up to its peak. Focusing on Noctowl, Pikachu sent out a powerful Thundershock attack. Electricity connected with its target, once again stopping it in its tracks, only a lot more effectively.
The other Hoothoots veered off in time, and sensing the downfall of their leader, took off for the safety of the woods. Noctowl slammed into, weak and defeated.
"Pokeball, go!" Harry hurled his pokeball. It opened up on contact with the Noctowl and pulled it in, converting the matter to energy. The ball shook as Noctowl attempted to force its way out and Harry watched and waited to see what would happen. After a few moments, Noctowl gave up, and the shiny white button glowed yellow to signal the capture. "Yes!"
"All right!" Ron shouted, having watched the entire battle.
"Way to go!"
"Nice work!" George and Fred said at once.
Harry picked up the pokeball and attached it to his belt. When he and Pikachu returned to the Burrow the Weasley's patted him on the back and gave an assortment of praises.
"That was one of the best captures I've ever seen," Mr. Weasley said, patting Harry on the shoulder. "One of these days when you're a great Pokemon master, you'll have to teach me your method."
"You got it," Harry promised, overwhelmed by the excitement of catching his first pokemon. "I can't believe I caught a Noctowl on my second day. It's unbelievable."
To celebrate Harry's first victory and Ron's inevitable departure, there was a huge cookout. Ginny helped Mrs. Weasley to heal both Harry and Fred's new pokemon, and before they sat down to eat Mr. Weasley presented Ron with a shiny green pokeball.
"What is it dad?" He asked curiously.
"Well son, I figure you'll need something other than your Oddish to help you catch other Pokemon." Mr. Weasley explained. "We picked this Pokemon up after its trainer died long ago. It's ready for a new trainer now, and I think he'll be of some use to you."
Ron opened the pokeball and out popped a large purple rat-like creature.
"A Rattata?" He noted with considerable hesitation. The Pokemon leapt up onto the table and munched on Ron's food. "Hey, that's mine! You eat your own food."
"Rattata." The Rattata looked at its new trainer confused. Then, it went back to eating.
Mr. Weasley scratched his head. "Well, perhaps it'll need a little work. But I'm sure it won't take long-"
Ron was too busy fighting Rattata for his food to hear. "Give me that chicken leg, before I use you as Gyradose bait!"
Once Ron had the Rattata back in its pokeball they sat down and filled up as much as they could. Mrs. Weasley sent the boys off with plenty of food and medicine for the trip, and with one last tearful good-bye they were on their way.
Weasley' bridge went right over the Windward River. Before going to the other side however, Ron, Harry and Pikachu leaned on the side rail and looked south, towards the future.
"You know," Ron said thoughtfully, "for the first time in my life, I feel like nothing can stop me from fulfilling my destiny."
"I know what you mean." Harry responded. "I know exactly what you mean."
Chapter Three: Experience Points
That evening Harry spent the night in the bunk beside Ron's bed. Normally Ron's brother Percy would be in the top bunk, but since he was in Letcherfield it was just the two of them.
"Your family is really nice," Harry said, pulling back the soft covers.
"Yeah, they're all right," Ron said warmly. "Only-"
Harry sensed the hesitancy. He chose not to prod out of respect.
"It's going to be hard out there on your own." Ron continued, apparently deciding to change the subject.
"Only at first. Though I probably haven't made the best start out. Only a day into the journey and I lost the trail all ready."
"Well, if you'd like…that is, if you'll let me come with you…I can show you the bridge back to the path. I mean, I'll show you either way, so I don't want you to feel like I'm blackmailing you but if you'd let me join you we might have a better chance."
Alone was definitely the harder way to go, Harry realized that the hard way. Ron and his family had been very generous and it would be nice to have someone to talk to. They agreed that night that Ron would announce his plans to the family in the morning.
* * *
"Potter…." A strained, decrepit voice called out in the darkness. "The league will be mine."
Harry was walking down a long path, surrounded by darkness, the only light coming from an unknown source but not bright enough to show him where he was going.
"Who's there?" He called uncertainly.
"Harry Potter. Join me…together we will take the Hogwarts League and rule the world."
Harry stopped and looked around. He was in a room of some kind, like a ballroom in a castle. Large windows were on either side of him, and in the center of the room was a large round circle. "Show yourself."
In the center of the circle a dark figure approached. Harry could barely make it out that is until the torches on the sides of the room lit up. It was a Gengar, a Ghost type pokemon that stood erect on two legs.
"Soon Potter," The Gengar spoke in that same voice. "You and I will meet. And it will not be like last time."
Thunder struck, smashing the windows in the room. The electricity nearly struck Harry, and he woke up in a startled sweat. The clock on the wall read seven thirty AM.
Ron was still sound asleep but Harry couldn't follow suit. Instead he threw off the covers and went to the bathroom to use the shower. The Clefairy popped back in, placing his dried clothes on the toilet seat, and then teleported back out.
"I'm glad humans can't do that," Harry mused as he went for the shampoo.
When he was finished, Harry found his way downstairs where a Vulpix was lighting the fire while the same Clefairy tended it.
"Ah, you must be Harry."
Harry looked over towards a worktable beside the fireplace. A much older man with red hair sat there examining the Firebolt Pokegear. He stood up to greet Harry.
"I'm Ron's father."
"Nice to meet you," Harry shook his hand. "I didn't notice the Vulpix last night."
"Oh, we've had her for a while now. Ever since her trainer gave her up when he grew tired of caring for it." Mr. Weasley gleamed with pride as the fox-like Fire type Pokemon cuddled up against his leg. "I work in the Department of Mistreated Pokemon. Whenever a Pokemon is treated badly by its trainer, we revoke their licenses and care for them until we can find people who will love and care for them."
"Can't you just release them back to the wild?"
"In theory yes, some of them can live quite happily in their native environments. But a captive Pokemon develops a keen sense of dependence on their trainers. Food, water, and all of the Pokemon's basic needs are taken care of by the trainer, and these are only a few of the things that a trainer must do to keep its Pokemon's loyalty. Once a trainer raised Pokemon is abandoned it can be difficult for them to make the adjustment to being alone, that's where we come in."
Harry considered this as he sat down in the couch to enjoy the fire. It made a lot of sense. Pikachu pounced out of the recovery room and hopped into his lap.
"Your Pikachu was quite drained by your trip through the river. But he seems fine now, try to be a little more careful in the future."
The rest of the Weasley's woke up, and soon breakfast was on the table, and everyone human and Pokemon alike ate heartily.
"A real pity Percy and Bill couldn't get time away from the gym," Mrs. Weasley commented, pouring orange juice into the boys' glasses. "It's amazing how many young trainers pass through there every day."
"It's not just the trainers mum," George reminded her. "Bill's been pushing to get a place in the Elite Four and Percy wants to take over the Gym afterwards."
"Well the Elite Four won't mind him taking a day off to have breakfast with his family now, won't they?"
"Excuse me," Harry piped up. "But who are the Elite Four?"
"Only the finest masters in the Pokemon League," Mr. Weasley answered with pride. "You see, Harry, on your Journey you must collect badges from the seven gyms in the Hogwarts League. Then when you're ready, you will face the Hogwarts League House Leaders. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."
"Each leader uses different Pokemon," Fred explained. "Bill and Charlie both went through the Elite Four and won the title of champions, but not without a lot of hard work. And not everyone who faces them wins."
Harry never thought about it that way before. In idealistic fantasies his pokemon were the strongest ever because he was the greatest trainer alive, but the training exams never covered the Elite Four or the gym badges. Perhaps that was because trainers needed to decide for themselves if that was the path they wished to go down.
"I have an announcement to make." Ron said suddenly, breaking the silence. He stood up so as to get everyone's attention. "I spoke with Harry last night. I've agreed to show him the way to Weasley's Bridge, the one that goes over the river."
"Excellent son." Mr. Weasley praised him. "You always did have such a kind hearted spirit."
"That's not all though. I'll be crossing the bridge with him…and I'll be going with him on my own journey."
With that everyone looked up at Ron, awestruck. Mr. Weasley put his fork down and patted his youngest son on the back. Mrs. Weasley seemed to be holding back tears, and got up to give Ron a hug.
"Oh my little baby is going away," she cried, happily. "Come along, we'll get you all set to go."
While Mrs. Weasley and the twins helped Ron get his stuff ready, Mr. Weasley presented Harry with the map card.
"This should make things a little easier on your journey," he said as Harry inserted the card into its appropriate slot. "I see Hagrid's even made some modifications to the mapping system too."
"You know Professor Hagrid?"
"Everyone in my department knows Hagrid. He's adopted more mistreated Pokemon than any other person in the league. In fact there's even a plaque dedicated to him in the Faultline City Pokemon Adoption Network."
"I've seen most of his pokemon," Harry said. "They seem much happier with him. Of course he also seems to be happier with the extremely dangerous ones."
"That's our Hagrid for you, hehe."
The peaceful silence was shattered suddenly, when a collective screech from outside found its way to Harry's ears. He and Mr. Weasley rushed to the door to see what happened, Pikachu and Vulpix at their sides. Out in the forest where Harry had been only hours before, a flock of four or five familiar pokemon were in the yard, swooping and diving on anything in sight.
"Help!" Ginny cried. She had been outside tending to the Miltanks and the Oddishes when the Hoothoots began their attack.
"Oh no, Vulpix help her!" Mr. Weasley commanded. He ran out to the barn to get to his daughter along side the fox-like pokemon. When Vulpix was a safe distance it took aim and unleashed Ember.
A few of the Hoothoots backed off, but regrouped for another attack. George, Fred, Ron and Harry rushed out to help.
"Clefairy," George yelled. "Body slam!"
Clefairy turned its nose up and refused to attack.
"You stupid pokemon, I said body slam!" George snapped. "I don't care if you're Percy's pokemon Ginny's in trouble."
That got Clefairy's attention, and it took off on its fairy-like wings to Body Slam the nearest Hoothoot.
Ron and Fred found their Oddishes and took up separate positions.
"Oddish, Sleep Powder!" Fred commanded, when a Hoothoot came closer. The tiny Grass pokemon stared the Hoothoot down as the bird swooped. When it was close enough it shook itself and a thick white powder shot out from its grassy top.
The Hoothoot breathed in the powder and fell asleep before hitting the ground like a rock. Fred then used an empty pokeball to catch the sleeping Hoothoot.
"Oddish, tackle!" Ron ordered his own Oddish. Another Hoothoot dodged the tackle attack, and pecked at the Oddish viciously. "No, Oddish don't let it defeat you! Come on, Tackle!"
Ron's Oddish spun around to try and shake off the Hoothoot. Then, with the bird pokemon close enough to hit, he jumped up and slammed his body into the Hoothoot. Though it wasn't a powerful enough blow to weaken it, the Hoothoot got the idea that it didn't want to peck at something that could fight back and flew off.
"Pikachu, we have to help them." Harry said, rushing out to the field to try and lead more of the Hoothoots to them. But when they were far enough away from the house, only one pokemon swooped in to attack them. Noctowl slammed Pikachu across the grass.
"Noctoooowl!" It screeched angrily. Harry realized that Noctowl was the one who rounded up a new gang of Hoothoots, and was now trying to settle its grudge.
Pikachu recovered quickly and awaited Harry's command.
"Pikachu, quick attack!"
The electric pokemon nodded and ran full speed, leaping headfirst into the air as Noctowl swooped in for its second attack. The blow stopped Noctowl in mid air, and it crumpled to the ground beside its opponent.
Both pokemon got to their feet, and Noctowl crowed to the remaining Hoothoots. Leaving the Weasley's alone, the last three Hoothoots formed up and started to dive on Harry and Pikachu.
"You may have come to settle a grudge with me," Harry spoke to the Noctowl. "But you'll never bring us down. The world is going to throw challenges like this at us every step of the way, but so long as Pikachu and I never succumb to the fear no one or nothing can stop us. Pikachu, Thundershock!"
Pikachu concentrated as the Noctowl took to the air again. The Hoothoot's were closing in. Bolts of electricity formed around Pikachu's body as it charged up its attack. Noctowl called to its brethren, and together, dived along with the Hoothoots.
"Pikaaaaachuuuuu!" Pikachu cried as the electricity built up to its peak. Focusing on Noctowl, Pikachu sent out a powerful Thundershock attack. Electricity connected with its target, once again stopping it in its tracks, only a lot more effectively.
The other Hoothoots veered off in time, and sensing the downfall of their leader, took off for the safety of the woods. Noctowl slammed into, weak and defeated.
"Pokeball, go!" Harry hurled his pokeball. It opened up on contact with the Noctowl and pulled it in, converting the matter to energy. The ball shook as Noctowl attempted to force its way out and Harry watched and waited to see what would happen. After a few moments, Noctowl gave up, and the shiny white button glowed yellow to signal the capture. "Yes!"
"All right!" Ron shouted, having watched the entire battle.
"Way to go!"
"Nice work!" George and Fred said at once.
Harry picked up the pokeball and attached it to his belt. When he and Pikachu returned to the Burrow the Weasley's patted him on the back and gave an assortment of praises.
"That was one of the best captures I've ever seen," Mr. Weasley said, patting Harry on the shoulder. "One of these days when you're a great Pokemon master, you'll have to teach me your method."
"You got it," Harry promised, overwhelmed by the excitement of catching his first pokemon. "I can't believe I caught a Noctowl on my second day. It's unbelievable."
To celebrate Harry's first victory and Ron's inevitable departure, there was a huge cookout. Ginny helped Mrs. Weasley to heal both Harry and Fred's new pokemon, and before they sat down to eat Mr. Weasley presented Ron with a shiny green pokeball.
"What is it dad?" He asked curiously.
"Well son, I figure you'll need something other than your Oddish to help you catch other Pokemon." Mr. Weasley explained. "We picked this Pokemon up after its trainer died long ago. It's ready for a new trainer now, and I think he'll be of some use to you."
Ron opened the pokeball and out popped a large purple rat-like creature.
"A Rattata?" He noted with considerable hesitation. The Pokemon leapt up onto the table and munched on Ron's food. "Hey, that's mine! You eat your own food."
"Rattata." The Rattata looked at its new trainer confused. Then, it went back to eating.
Mr. Weasley scratched his head. "Well, perhaps it'll need a little work. But I'm sure it won't take long-"
Ron was too busy fighting Rattata for his food to hear. "Give me that chicken leg, before I use you as Gyradose bait!"
Once Ron had the Rattata back in its pokeball they sat down and filled up as much as they could. Mrs. Weasley sent the boys off with plenty of food and medicine for the trip, and with one last tearful good-bye they were on their way.
Weasley' bridge went right over the Windward River. Before going to the other side however, Ron, Harry and Pikachu leaned on the side rail and looked south, towards the future.
"You know," Ron said thoughtfully, "for the first time in my life, I feel like nothing can stop me from fulfilling my destiny."
"I know what you mean." Harry responded. "I know exactly what you mean."