I realize I didn't post Sunday. Sorry about that. Now for an announcement: After today's post, this story will be going on a short hiatus. My personal life has become rather busy and with Violet and Scarlet coming out, I'll be a bit too busy to continue posting on a regular basis, so I wont be posting at all, at least until the end of December or so.
Ash woke up confused. He was groggy and cranky, and frankly just unhappy. The night before had been an unmitigated disaster, and his face throbbed where he had been struck. Getting out of bed scowling, he stretched and walked to th bathroom. He needed to brush his teeth and his hair before he and Brock left Cerulean City. He briefly considered asking Misty to accompany them, but quickly pushed the thought aside. After what had happened the day before he wasn't sure what was going on with the girl, but he definitely did not want to get caught up in something like that again. And then there was also Serena to consider. Of all people he was most confused about her reaction yesterday. At the same time, every time he thought about Serena he felt something in the pit of his stomach that hs just couldn't place. It wasn't fear, although it was similar enough that he had confused it with such at first. No, part of him was ecstatic to see the honey blonde trainer, but another part was apprehensive. Shrugging, Ash finished in the bathroom and changed into his usual outfit. Grabbing his belt and gloves, he left their shared room at the Pokecenter, closing the door quietly so as to not wake the still snoring gym leader within.
Ever since he had left Kanto all those years ago, Ash and his pokemon trained every morning, and he wasn't keen on breaking that habit now that they were back. Cerulean was oddly peaceful in the mornings, a far cry from the hustle and bustle that had greeted him the day before. A fog had settled in the city, casting about the dim light given out from the street lights. Ash blinked, realizing with a start that the sun hadn't risen yet, if the dull yet dark gray sky was any indication. Wonder why I didn't sleep more… he thought absentmindedly, stretching all the while. He tossed the luxury ball at his belt into the air, calling out. "Gengar, Gliscor, Decidueye, Zoey, Greninja, Serperior, come on out!" The fog was illuminated with a red glow, reflecting and dissipating the flash as the pokemon Ash had chosen appeared before him. He could have brought out all his pokemon, but then Ash wouldn't have been able to coordinate their training, and they would have taken up way too much room. "Training time, everyone! One mile, all the way to the beach to start." he instructed. He was met with c ries of affirmation and nodded heads by all but zoey, who yawned loudly. She turned to Ash, fur standing up in some form of bed head, and grouchily said "Do we havvvve to? What's the point?!" Ash shook his head, exasperated. "Yes, Zoey. This is important, and Kagetomo instructed us to keep up with our training. Now let's go!" he finished, turning and heading in the direction of the beach in a brisk jog. His pokemon fell in alongside him, Greninja and Zoey running along either side, while Decidueye flew silently above him. Serperior followed behind him, and Gengar floated just ahead, grinning and laughing quietly to himself. Gliscor soared behind him and above Serperior, his wings never flapping. They maintained their pace for a few minutes, running over the bridge spanning the stream that ran alongside Cerulean, the water gurgling quietly in silent morning air. Ash and his pokemon came to a stop when they heard a screech up ahead, echoing in the fog.
Where did that come from? Ash thought, crouching into an on guard position. His pokemon followed suite. Gliscor came to float in front of his trainer, his eyes searching the heavy fog before them. Greninja, Serperior, and Zoey formed up on either side of him, vigilant in their defense of Ash. Decidueye landed swiftly at the top of a nearby tree, head swiveling unceasingly back and forth. But Gengar, the trickster, was nowhere to be found. Ash frowned. Where is he?! He thought worriedly. Then the violet ghost type popped into existence right in front of Ash, startling everyone. Ash moved to berate Gengar, but he stopped when he noticed his expression. Where there would usually be a laughing smile was instead a worried scowl, and within seconds Gengar was beckoning Ash forward. "You're worried about something? Do you know what caused that noise?" Ash asked the ghost type. Gengar nodded, before collapsing in on itself and repairing a few yards in the direction of the disturbance. Glancing at the pokemon assembled around him, Ash nodded. "Let's go!". He took off sprinting, and his team followed without hesitation.
It hadn't been long when Ash and company came upon a grotto, hidden from sight by a thicket of trees. It had been especially difficult to find hidden as it was in the fog, but Gengar continued to beckon them forward. Ash, Greninja, and Zoey crouched, covered by the thickened, and peered within. The other pokemon stood guard. Inside the grotto were four people. They wore while uniforms of some kind, each emblazoned with a stylized 'I'. They stood around a net, which contained two small, struggling pokemon. There were other pokemon with the people, namely a Houndoom, a Hypno, and a Golbat. Ash grimaced. "Poachers", he whispered. Beside him Zoey tensed, and Greninja's face took on a sharp look. Ash held up a hand, signaling to his pokemon that they should wait. He wanted nothing more that to rush into the grotto and beat these people senselessly, but caution got the best of him. He turned, whispering to Greninja and Zoey. "We need to learn more before rushing in. Tell the others to take up positions in order to prevent an escape. We'll surround them until we learn more." Both pokemon nodded, turning and vanishing into the fog. Ash turned back around, leaning in so as to listen in on the poachers' conversation.
"Boss will be pleased with these two!" one of the poachers exclaimed, sweeping his arms out in front of him in indication of the two pokemon struggling within the net. Suddenly, Ash realized that the pokemon the poachers had captured looked familiar. What are Dreepy doing in Kanto?! He thought in surprise. He wanted to scan the grotto with his pokedex to be sure, but he couldn't risk alerting the poachers to his presence. "Yes, but we need to get the back to base first. Are you sure they can't get through the net?" one of the poachers, this time a woman, asked another of their number. Why does she look familiar? Ash pondered absently. The woman wasn't very tall, but she had short, violet colored hair. Wait a minute! Wasn't she with Team Flare!? But Brock said they'd become something like a secret service in Kalos, under Malva! What are they doing here?! The next thing he knew, a hulking purple pokemon with many legs and two long arms with pincers on the end walked out from the fog at the far end of the grotto, chittering deeply. That changes things. He thought wryly. The other pokemon would have been no problem, but that Drapion could cause some serious damage, which he had learned the hard way almost seven years ago. "Yes, Commander. The net was made specifically for ghost pokemon; they can't phase through. "Perfect." the now identified commander replied. "Get them ready for transport. We leave as soon as this blasted fog clears up." She replied. Zoey reappeared beside Ash, this time in human form. "What's the plan?" she whispered to him. Ash grinned in response, vhis eyes never leaving the mysterious poachers before him. "Listen closely."