Lash- Hello, Lash here! First thing first- Thank you to all those who have reviewed, and to those who have given input. It's all appreciated. Now here goes chapter 2, where a new friend in introduced. cheers
Disclaimer- Lash does not own Pokemon in any way, shape, or form, nor is he at all profiting from this piece. That being said, let the story begin!
" "People talking
'Quoted Italics' Thoughts
Pokemon- The Emerald Journey
A Fanfic by Lash 2.0
Dedicated to Artemis Wolfang
Prof.Birche drove up in front of his lab. "Are you all ready to go to Oldale?" he shouted. Ash and Misty were sitting on the porch steps.
Ash shook his head. "May and Brendan are still upstairs…"
"She's probably still bugging him about her bike…" Misty added.
"They are?" Birche sighed. "Those two have been at it since yesterday." Almost immediately, Brendan came out of the house, yawned and put his arms behind his head.
"Good morning, everyone!"
"About time." Prof.Birche said. "Is May coming down yet?"
"May?" Brendan blinked as the door opened and May appeared, frowning. "Darn. You're still here? I was hoping you've already gone home…"
"I wasn't about to walk all the way there!" May yelled.
"You're pretty lazy then…"
"I wouldn't have to catch a ride if someone hadn't blasted my bike to who-knows-where!"
"Would you just drop it?" Misty cut in. "In a few days it won't matter… You'll chase him around and you'll act like you just want your bike back when all you want is to just stick around with him"
May scoffed. "Yeah right… I wouldn't stoop that low…"
"And" Ash continued. "Eventually you'll both forget all about the bike and travel around together and become the best of friends. It happened to me and Misty."
Brendan faked a laugh. "Like that'll happen… You couldn't pay me to travel with her!"
"I won't have to, Brendan." Prof.Birche said simply. "Since you lost her bike, then you'll have to make sure she gets safely back home…"
"Hah!" May stuck her tongue out a t Brendan.
"What! But that's all the way in Petalburg!" He whined.
"Stop complaining… You're lucky I'm taking you all as far as Oldale!"
"Professor, don't you think you should slow down!" Misty yelled. She, Ash, Pikachu, Togepi and May were all in the backseat of Prof.Birche's jeep, which was currently blazing down the dirt road at high speeds, leaving behind a giant sandstorm.
"I told you guys to buckle up!" Brendan shouted, clearly enjoying the ride as he sat next to his dad.
"I wasn't expecting something like this!" Ash groaned as the car bounced up.
"I don't see why you're all getting worked up!" Birche shouted. "I've barely even got started!" The car sped up again, and everyone was thrown back over their seats.
"Professor!" May screamed. "There a cliff up ahead."
"Don't worry, May!" Brendan said. "Just hang on tight!"
"What that's supposed to MEAN?" May got her answer as Birche drive right off the cliff and into the air. The jeep floated over a few trees, then crashed onto a rocky road.
"What was that!" Ash shouted. "You could've killed us all!"
Prof.Birche ignored him. "That wasn't as far as before… Guess I'm losing my touch…"
"No matter." Brendan said, pointing up ahead. "You'll get another chance here! Floor it!"
"No! Don't floor it! Don't floor it!" Ash, Misty and May shouted as the jeep speeded up again.
"Yahoo!" Brendan laughed, throwing his arms in the air. The jeep flew over another cliff, this time dashing straight up into the air.
"I think this was my best jump yet!" Birche said, as the jeep dived back down.
"Please let this be the last one!" May whispered as the car slammed back onto firm ground.
"You guys are all punks!" Brendan said. "Dad's one of the best drivers around!"
"Watch out!" Misty yelled.
"Huh?" Prof.Birche snapped to attention, just in time to see what stood in their way. A boy about Brendan and May's age was running away from them, and seemed to be cradling something in his arms.
"You're gonna run him over!" May cried
"I've never run anyone over, and I'm not gonna start now!" The Professor made the jeep veered around the trainer, before screeching to a halt in the boy's way, leaving everything engulfed in a cloud of sand.
"What happened?" Ash wondered out loud, as they all got out he jeep.
The dust finally settled down. The boy was curled into a ball. He was wearing a white dress shirt, green jeans the same color as his hair and a large blue backpack. Everyone ran over to him. He was trembling, and looked like the smallest impact would have sent him flying.
"Are you ok?" Misty knelt in front of him.
"Yeah… I think so…" He said, his voice shaky, getting up.
May walked over. "Sorry about that… Prof.Birche can be a risky driver sometimes…
He looked up at them turned bright red. "Wow…" He giggled like an idiot, and he began shaking again. "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have gotten in the way!" he started, talking very rapidly. "Sure I was in a hurry and everything but I should still make sure I'm not getting in anyone's way. That could've turned ugly and it would've been all my fault. But it didn't and that's good cause now I can get the to Oldale without getting you guys in trouble."
"Riiight…" Misty backed away. May just blinked.
"It's not your fault… dad's just a crappy driver…" Brendan said. He looked at his arms. "Is your Pokemon alright?"
"Huh? Oh right!" The kid shifted his arms so everyone could see. In his arms was a small white Pokemon with a green head and a red horn protruding out its forehead. It looked as if it had been knocked around very badly. " I have to get it to a center!"
"It's a Ralts!" The professor said. "Come on!" He gently lead the boy to the jeep. "We'll take you straight to the Pokemon Center in Oldale, come!"
"Nurse Joy! This Ralts needs attention right now!"
A young woman, apparently 'Nurse Joy', quickly rushed over with a small rolling table. Ralts was placed on the small bed. "My goodness… I'll be right back!" she said, as she rushed Ralts to a room in the back.
"Thank you so much, sir" The boy said. "I'm not sure I would have gotten here fast enough on my own."
Birche nodded. "You're welcome… By the way, I'm Prof. Birche."
"I'm Ash Ketchum."
"I'm Misty"
"I'm Brendan."
"And my name's May"
"I'm Wally… nice to meet you…"
"Wally, what happened to your Ralts?" Ash asked.
"It isn't my Ralts, and I'm not sure what happened… I found it under this bike…" he didn't notice their surprised looks. "I think somebody hit it and ran off."
"That was all Brendan's-" May began, but Brendan clapped his hand over her mouth.
"So… You're saying Ralts isn't your Pokemon?" Misty asked.
Wally shook his head. "I'm not even a trainer yet… That's the only reason I found it. I was going to Littleroot to get my first Pokemon..."
"I see… Would you like to choose a starter now?" Birche asked.
"That's alright… I haven't decided yet on one… I'm not even sure if I would be a good trainer."
"Are you kidding?" Ash said. "You were going to bring Ralts all the way here because you saw it was hurt, and it wasn't even your own Pokemon!"
"That's a good trainer in my book!" Misty agreed. Wally turned red again, but was saved from answering when Nurse Joy walked back in.
"Excuse me… Which one of you is Ralt's trainer?" she asked. A confused silence followed but Brendan pointed at Wally.
"If Ralts belongs with anyone, its Wally here…"
"Well, your Ralts will be alright in a while. Its already recovered a bit already." Nurse Joy curtsied and returned to the back.
"That's…great."
"Pick up…Pick up…"
Elsewhere in Oldale, cramped in a small telephone booth, was Team Rocket. They were currently trying to get connected to their boss in Viridian City.
The picture of a wealthy, powerful looking man appeared on the screen. He was sitting back in a chair, sipping a glass of wine from one hand.
"Now what do you two want!" He asked impatiently.
"Good morning, Sir!" Jessie smiled.
"You're certainly looking sharp today!" said Meowth.
"Let's get straight to the point!" he barked. "What are you two up to know?"
"Well, we're currently in Oldale town…" Jessie explained. "You see, we've been chasing this very rare Pokemon that we think you might be interested in…"
"I see… A legendary Pokemon?" He stroked his chin. "And all these years I thought you two were wasting my time…"
"Well… It's not so much a legendary Pokemon, as it is amazingly powerful!" James said.
"Well, if you have told me this before on your previous calls… I would have been much easier on you!" He swirled the wine in his cup. "So tell me… What Pokemon have you been chasing all this time?"
"Oh it's a very powerful one!" Jessie began excitedly.
"One attack from it is enough to destroy our toughest of robots!" James squealed.
"I see…" The boss was barely able to suppress a smile. "Tell me more…" He took another swig of his wine.
"And its amazing fast and agile!" Jessie continued.
"It makes a Rapidash look like a sitting Psyduck!" Meowth added.
"Intriguing… And what is this Pokemon called?"
"It's a Pikachu!" All three shouted. They half-expected the boss to jump for joy. Giovanni did jump, but not for joy.
"WHAT WAS THAT!" He demanded, getting up so quickly his chair was knocked backwards.
"A…a Pikachu?"
"A PIKACHU! Do you not remember what Pokemon I happen to specialize in?" All three shook their heads shyly.
"Ground types!" he bellowed. "Why would I want a tiny little mouse who's attacks wouldn't even make a dent in any of my own Pokemon!"
"We just thought…"
"What were you thinking!" He demanded.
Meowth came up with a quick answer. "Since you've got ground Pokemon, somebody might try to use Water against you!"
"Oh!" Jessie caught on. "And if that happens, you just pull out Pikachu and blast them away!"
Giovanni laughed. "Good idea… If you had been a little faster it would have amounted to something…. Unfortunately, I happen to have a new mascot! Come out you two!"
From the darkness behind him came out two Pokemon. A large beige cat appeared at his right and stuck its tongue out at them.
"It's that stupid Persian…" Meowth muttered.
"Rai Rai!" The second Pokemon appeared. A large orange mouse with huge ears, a long lightning bolt tail, it was Pikachu's evolved form-Raichu. It waddled over and stood at Giovanni's right
"A Raichu!" Team Rocket shouted in horror.
"Yes, a little gift from Butch and Cassidy… You see why I won't need a Pikachu anymore… But I'll let you redeem your years of uselessness…"
"Please sir! We'll do anything!" James begged.
"You say you're in Hoenn, right? You two happen to be the only Rocket members in that area. The Hoenn region is loaded with many Pokemon not found in Kanto or Johto."
"Ah! And you want us to capture you some!" Jessie realized.
"Precisely. And I want you to establish a base in Hoenn. Do that and you will be rewarded most handsomely."
"Don't you worry about it boss!" Meowth saluted. "We'll get you your base just you wait!"
"Good! Now I'm counting on you all to widen the Team Rocket's arsenal!"
"We won't fail you this time! We promise! Team Rocket Out!" Team Rocket hung up and the screen black out.
Back in his office, Giovanni sat back into his chair and began petting Persian and Raichu.
"Well that'll get them out of my hair for a while…Chasing a Pikachu all these years… I honestly don't know why I put up with those two…" He gently began rubbing Persian between the ears.
"Persian…"
He began petting Raichu as well. "At least Butch and Cassidy were smart enough to bring me this Raichu!"
"Rai Rai!"
Nurse Joy walked in with Ralts in her arms. "Here's your Ralts!"
"Hello Ralts!" Wally said. "Are you feeling any better?"
Ralts stared at him for a moment (Or at least it seemed to be; It's eyes weren't visible). It seemed to take him in for a moment. Its horn began trembling.
"What's it doing?" May asked. Brendan pointed his Pokedex at Ralts.
"Ralts, the Feeling Pokemon. A Ralts uses the horn on its head to sense the emotion of others. In danger, a Ralts will block its Trainer with its small body. Its loyalty is so strong, it will follow its trainer all its life"
"It must be checking if we're any good."
"Ralts!" Ralts horn stopped vibrating and it jumped straight into Wally's arms.
"Hello there, Ralts! My name's Wally! And that's Prof.Birche, Brendan, May, Ash, Pikachu, Misty and Togepi!"
It waved at them. "Ralts!"
"It looks all better now. It must not have been too hurt." said Ash.
"I guess I gotta take you back to the woods now, Ralts."
May walked up. "Wally, can you show me where you found Ralts?"
"Sure… but why?"
"I think… that bike that hit Ralts… It might've been mine…"
"You ran Ralts over!
"No! Brendan's Mudkip did that!"
Wally blinked. "Mudkip ran Ralts over with a bike?"
"We were in a battle, and my Togepi used Metronome." Misty explained. "It turned into Helping Hand and made Mudkip's Water Gun super strong!"
"And it ended up washing May's bike away." Prof.Birche finished.
Brendan smiled as sincerely as he could. "So you see; it was all just a big accident. I'm sorry…"
"Don't apologize to me." Wally pulled Ralts off him and held it in front of Brendan. "Tell that to Ralts."
"I'm sorry Ralts…"
"Ral!"
"I think it was somewhere around here…" Wally was cradling Ralts in his arms and leading everyone through the woods. They trudged through a few bushes and reached a tiny clearing. Some branches and leaves were scattered suspiciously about, and in the middle of it…
May cheered. "Yay! My bike!" She ran toward it.
"Stop right there!" May stopped short as Misty's iron grip grabbed her by the shirt.
"What's going on?"
"Doesn't that look a little familiar, Ash?" Misty asked.
"It feels like a Team Rocket trap." he agreed. "The old 'Put the bait over the trap hole and hope we fall in' trick!"
"Team Rocket?" Wally asked.
"Their a bunch of lousy thieves who keep bugging us… Everyone just step back…" Ash said. Everyone took a step back but Wally, who just looked back at the bike, confused.
"I told you they wouldn't fall for the same thing!" Jessie screamed. Above them, Team Rocket's balloon was slowly making a landing.
"Guess we'll have to switch to Plan B!" Meowth sneered.
"Prepare for trouble- Trap holes won't work in this season!"
"Make it double- You've made me dig a hole for no reason!"
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all people within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie!"
"James"
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!" The two formed an R with their bodies.
"Surrender now or prepare to fight, fight, and fight!"
"Meowth! That's right!"
"Wobuffet!"
"Team Rocket!" Ash and Misty shouted. (Pi Pikapi!)
"Twerps!" Jessie, James and Meowth snapped back, hopping out of the balloon.
"You guys again?" May wondered aloud. "What are the chances?"
"I told you they're always following us." Misty shouted. "What do you guys want now?"
"Not your Pikachu, that's for sure!" Jessie snapped.
"We're done chasing that electric rat!" Meowth added.
"We're going after something new! Go, Victrebel, Weezing!" James threw his pokeballs and Jessie followed. "Go, Arbok and Wobuffet!"
"Pikachu, I choose you!"
"Come on out, Mudkip!"
"Let's go, Torchic!"
Misty's Togepi hopped out of her arms. "Be careful out there, Togepi"
Torchic, Mudkip and Pikachu, stood forward, Togepi behind way. Team Rocket's Pokemon moved into an opposite formation, Wobuffet in front with the other three behind them.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!
"Mudkip, Water Gun!"
"Torchic, Ember!"
"Arbok, Acid!"
"Weezing, Sludge, Victrebel, Razor Leaf!"
The attacks collided in mid-air canceling each other out.
"Wow…" Wally stood off to the side with Prof.Birche. "Those are some strong moves…"
The eight Pokemon and six trainers faced off for a moment… than all hell broke loose.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!
"Mudkip, Tackle!"
"Torchic, Ember!"
"Arbok, Poison Sting!"
"Weezing, Tackle, Victrebel, Razor Leaf!"
Mudkip and Weezing slammed into each other, equally matched, the force sending them both rebounding backwards. Torchic's Ember struggled against the Razor Leaf and Poison Sting. It's Ember finally failed, and the pins and leaves headed straight towards it.
"Togepi, Safe Guard!" Togepi jumped in front of Torchic just in time to block the onslaught of attacks. Pikachu took the moment to dash forward leaving a white trail behind itself.
"Wobuffet Counter!" Wobuffet mimicked Togepi's technique and hopped in Pikachu's path, sending it flying backwards. Torchic made a move to try and catch, and only succeeded in knocking itself and Pikachu down. James and Jessie took advantage of the commotion to attack once more.
"Victrebel, Vine Whip!" Victrebel's vine wrapped around Mudkip and swung it into Torchic and Pikachu, all three landing in a crumpled heap.
"Togepi, try a Metronome again!" Togepi's eyes began glowing, surrounding itself ing a deep purple aura.
"To…ge…piiii!" Togepi surrounded all four of its opponents in the same aura, slamming them into the ground.
"Is that Psychic?" Misty wondered aloud.
"Even better, that's a Psycho Boost!" Wally said excitedly.
Togepi continued to slam them on the ground. After a few more attacks it sent them flying back towards its trainers.
"How'd you know what attack that was?" Brendan asked.
"Psychic Pokemon are my favorite! " Wally answered. Ralts looked up at him and smiled.
"That was amazing, Togepi!" Misty cheered. Togepi smiled and waved at her.
"We'll see how amazing it is after this!" Jessie jumped up and pushed Arbok forward. "Give Togepi a Headbutt Attack!" Arbok began slithering over. It leapt in the air, coiled up ready to knock Togepi into submission…
"Pikachu, Iron Tail!" Pikachu ran over just in time, slamming its tail forward. Arbok shifted out of the way, then butted Pikachu aside.
James caught on to Jessie's technique. None of the Pokemon were willing to let little Togepi get hurt. "Weezing, Tackle, Victrebel, Slam!"
Weezing threw itself in Togepi's direction, followed by Victrebel's long vine.
"Torchic, Peck!"
"Mudkip, Tackle!"
Both starters dashed in front of Togepi, pushing against the attacks. Torchic was slapped back by the vine. Mudkip and Weezing met head on once more.
"Weezing Sludge Bomb!" Weezing backed up and blasted Mudkip with a surge of toxic sludge.
"This isn't looking good…" Prof.Birche whispered. Pikachu, Torchic and Mudkip had landed
"There's got to be something else the can do…" Wally said. He looked down at Ralts…
"Arbok, Poison Sting!"
"Weezing, Sludge Bomb! Victrebel, Razor Leaf!" The attacks cascaded forward as one.
"Togepi, no!" Misty grabbed Togepi in her arms, and curled up for the impact… Just as Wally had done with Ralts.
"Ralts, Confusion!" Wally screamed. Ralts horn began glowing and the attacks stopped in mid-air, then re-directed themselves into the air.
"This stops now!" "Ralts!" Wally stood between Team Rocket and Misty and the Pokemon, still cradling Ralts in his arms.
"Move it!" Jessie shouted. "I swear, these twerps multiply over night!"
"You're going to leave now, got it?" Wally said.
"And who's gonna make us? Your little Ralts?" Meowth's claws snapped out. "I can beat it myself! Try out a Fury Swipes attack!"
"I hate bullies like you guys! Ralts, Confusion again!" Wally commanded. Ralts shot it out as a beam, slamming Meowth into Arbok into Weezing into Wobuffet into Jessie into James...
"Wow, Wally even better at this than you, Brendan!" May said as Team rocket landed in heap around their balloon.
"I wouldn't say that…" he answered dryly. "But he IS doing pretty well…"
Misty walked over with a shivering Togepi in her arms. "Don't you mean great?"
"Come on Ralts! Let's finish them off!"
"Arbok, Acid!"
"Weezing, Sludge Bomb! Victrebel, Razor Leaf!"
The three attacks directed towards Wally.
"Ralts… use Confusion!"
Lash- Haha! Cliff hanger! Happy Holidays everyone!