"Fourteen... I have fourteen pokemon starters... when did I get foruteen pokemon starters?!" Ash was shouting as we were getting closer to Striaton City.
"Fourteen?!" Iris was as stunned as Ash by this revelation.
"Wow, he does have that many," Max commented impressed, but not surprised. That's someone who has traveled with Ash for two years and asked to do it again, someone capable of handling Ash's weirdness. He has my highest regard and respect. "Grass-type we have Bulbasaur, Meganium, Sceptile, Grotle, and Rowlet."
"Water-type we have Squirtle, Feraligatr, Oshawott, and Greninja," Riley continued and was followed by his partner, Lucario.
"As for Fire-type, we have Charizard, Typhlosion, Infernape, Tepig, and Torracat," Lucario smiled at me, which I returned with a smirk of my own.
"Maybe you should catch a Water-type starter pokemon next!" Iris exclaimed with excitement. "That way you'll have five of each type!"
"Maybe a Mudpik!" Max, being the Hoenn boy he is, offered.
"What about a Piplup?" Riley had to go and defend his region.
Seeing this I had to chim in for my homeland too: "Popplio is a good choice too."
"No, nop. rien, niet! From now on I swear from this day on I will not catch another starter!" Ash swore.
"The poor guy is an denial," Lucario said, shaking his head in mocked concern. "Following his trend of getting at least one regional starter, Sobble will be the pokemon that follows."
We all laughed as Ash protested and swore that he'll never catch another regional starter ever again.
As if, I scoffed in my head. I then paused and sighed in awe. We had finally arriaved to Striaton City. Beautiful!
We first went to the city's Pokemon Center and requested a room. We took a warm bath and ate good food. Then we finally got ready to walk through the city and find the city's gym. I was surprised by the lack of need of Slowking, no one stopped us or started shouting about The Saint. I knew that Ash's popularity resides on the other side of the world, but he is extremely popular in the Alola Islands. Then again, other than a good spot vacation and for rare pokemon, Unova tends to ignore anything coming from the islands. Pity... for them. Ash was wearing such a huge smile on his face, as he wandered around enjoying the anonymity. Something he'll lack after he starts the publicity campaign in Unova. For now, he'll enjoy it.
"Are you ready?" Pikachu asked me, jumping Ash's shoulder.
"I am," I smiled in excitement. "I am surprised Ash is going through the gym challenge again, after winning the Pokemon League in Sinnoh."
Indeed, Ash told us all that he will be challenging the Eight Gym Challenge of Unova with Max, though he will not enter the Vertress Confference. Aegislash, Rowlet, and I were chosen for the first gym.
"He wants to train the pokemon he catches in this region and the ones with the least experience," Pikachu informed me. "Not to mention, he has gotten used to beating the Eight Gym Challenge of every region. It has become a tradition. Also, did you expect him not to battle outside of ranger missions for a year? He'll go crazy!"
I laughed with him, he was so right!
Axew appeared from within Iris hair, from hearing us laugh so loud, getting fed some fresh fruit from Iris, when a formally-dressed young man with green hair suddenly appeared before us. For a second, I got ready for a fight, my honed reflexes from being an Ace Ranger's pokemon coming to play, but as Pikachu, Ash, Riley, and Lucario did not move a single muscle, I began to rellax. This guy is no danger... at least to us. I can see that underneath his polite and presentable cover, he is a skilled pokemon trainer.
His green eyes took notice of Axew and he recited a short prose, which I did not understand a single thing about, complimenting the baby and then began to talk about how compatible Iris and Axew are. So, this is one of the famous Pokemon Connoisseurs of Unova. They study hard and take various rigorous tests, to become the judges of the compatibility between trainer and pokemon. Before comeing to Unova Ash investigated the pokemon and region throughly, and came across this job that is not very popular outside of the region. Which is quite a pity because Professor Oak's works goes along the same lines of Pokemon Connoisseur's work. I'm sure they study Professor Oak's work for their tests. Talking about Professor Oak, he asked Ash to investigate more about them. Which is making me wonder why is Ash staying so quite? And why is he smiling in amusement as he knows a joke that the rest of us is missing?
"Oh, I apologize, where are my my manners, I am Cilan a Pokemon Connoisseur," the green haired boy bowed to us.
"Also, one of the three Gym Leaders of the Striaton City Gym," Ash chuckled, as the rest of us gasped in surprise. "Now I wonder why would you forget to mention that?"
"It's good to finally meet you face to face Ash," Cilan laughed, hugging Ash.
"You guys know each other?" Max asked them shocked.
"Yes, when Professor Oak asked me to research Pokemon Connoisseurs I came across Cilan, who not only is a S-class Pokemon Connoisseur but a Gym Leader," Ash answered with a smile. "We got in contact and have been talking for over a month now. After the Gym Battle he is joining us in our adventure through Unova. He says that his Pokemon Connoisseur skills need honing and staying in Striation City is not helping."
"Well, welcome to the madness," Lucario greeted him. "It's a one way ticket journey and by the end you will not know if you do not want to leave, or if you are simply unable to leave." We all looked at Lucario in silent shock. "What?"
"Harsh, sempai, that was harsh," Riolu answered, jaw dropped.
Out of the mouth of babes! I exclaimed in my head. Out of the mouth of babes!
"Well the truth is harsh," Lucario shrugged. "All joking aside, welcome to our group and I hope we will all get along."
"Thank you Lucario," Cilan smiled brightly at the aura pokemon, while Riley muttered in desolation about how Ash has infected his precious partner with his ashiness.
Cilan then guided us to a large grand-looking building. Inside there was what seems like a restaurant. Two waiters appeared, guiding our group to an empty table, offering us a Soda Pop and delicious meals.
"What is going on?" Iris asked to no one in particular, as she looked around not understanding what was going on- she was not the only one.
Ash simply smiled and answered: "We've already ate, thank you. We would like a Gym Battle please."
The lights suddenly dim, as Cilan and the two waiters walked synchronously into an empty area, taking their positions. As a spotlight suddenlt shined onto each of them, they reveal themselves to be brothers and the Striaton Gym Leader... which would have been more dramatic if Ash had not already revealed Cilan. Together, they recite 'It's showtime!', and the wall behind them receded to reveal a rocky field for battle.
"I am Chili, the Fire Master, and this is my partner Pansear!" The red haired boy announced, making a dramatic pose.
"I am Cress, the Water Master, and this is my partner Panpour," the blue haired boy said in a more sedated tone.
"And I am Cilan, the Grass Master, and this is my partner Pansage," Cilan bowed to us. "You will each choose to battle one of us and if you win you'll get Trio Badge."
"It will be a three-on-three battle," Cress continued.
"Only the challenger get to recall their pokemon!" Chili exclaimed with the fire only a Fire Master possesses.
"Who will go first?" Cilan inquired.
Max turned to my trainer and took a step forward: "I chose Cress, the Water Master of the Striaton Gym."
Cress smiled and waved his arm, as if presenting the battleground: "Then we better get going."
We moved to the bleachers as Max and Cress took their positions on different sides of the battlefield, with Cilan taking his place as the referee of the battle.
"Let the battle begin!" Cilan announced, making both trainers release their pokemon at the same time.
"Chikorita!/Marill!"
"A Chikorita, aren't they a Johto region starter?" Cress inquired curiously.
"Yes, they are," Max answered. "I did not get a Hoenn starter, as I was given special permission to gain my trainer's licence a year early. Chikorita was left in my care by Ash, Meganium, and Sceptile."
"This is the child of The Saint's two most powerful Grass-type pokemon?!" Cilan exclaimed, looking a little bit envious.
"This is getting more interesting by the minute," Cress smiled eagerly. "Marill, Rollout!" The Water-type pokemon rolled with a speed I would expect from Miltank. Chikorita barely dodged the attack, but that was not enough. It seems that it was all part of Cress' plan, as soon as Chikorita moved right Marill jumped in the air and grabbed the Grass-type pokemon. "Now, use Play Rough!"
I winced as I watched my friends' child being trashed around. Marill threw Chikorita to the ground, only for him to evaporate in a cloud of smoke. It was Substitute!
"Body Slam!" Max ordered, and from behind Marill, Chikorita pounced on the Water-type pokemon, sending her crashing to the ground. That must have hurt! I thought wincing. "Magical Leaf!" Max soon followed. The move was as deadly as it was beautiful, when it landed it created a cloud of dirt. Max and Chikorita waited, ready to attack or defend depending on Marill's following move. However, the attack never came. "What..."
"Lugia..." I heard Ash curse as he facepalmed.
"I blame you," Pikachu told his trainer. "It all began with you, you infected us all."
Marill had fainted. She had been knocked out in two moves. I would expect something like this from one of Ash's pokemon, but Chikorita is young and Max a rookie. Marill is supposed to be a Gym Leader's pokemon.
"What in the name of Aura did you pokemon teach their son?" Lucario gaped, as Riley looked the battlefield in shock.
"I don't know!" Ash moaned, totally done with everything and everyone. "I don't fucking know!"
"Well, that was fast," Cress commented, ignoring Ash's meltdown. "Well done, Max."
"Thank you," Max replied, feeling as stunned as the rest of us. However, he still kneeled down and patted Chikorita's head in congratulation. "Thank you partner, are you up for a another battle?"
"Sure! I hope the next one is better, it was too easy," Chikorita answered.
I would normally think that he was being smug about it, but Chikorita spoke as if he was saying a fact- maybe he was.
"Psyduck, you are next!" Cress announced, releasing his next pokemon.
"Oh, no," Ash finally snapped out and groaned at the pokemon that appeared on the battleground.
"Is he strong? I've never seen one before," I asked, when I saw Pikachu shiver.
He did not look that strong... well, neither did Pikachu for that matter.
"The thing with Psyduck's is not their strength," Ash began to explain, as we watched the Water-type pokemon receive a Razor Leaf on his side. "You see, they get these headaches..."
"I hate those fucking headaches!" Pikachu cursed, shivering.
"Chikorita look out!" Max shouted, making me look down. I saw Psyduck clutching his head in pain and groaning. "Use, Protect!"
A blue shield appeared around Chikorita just in time for a phenomenally powerful psychic wave to crash against it and shatter it, sending Chikorita flying. He crashed behind Max, making a dent on the wall behind him, before he fainted.
"W-what?! How is that possible?!" I shouted in shock, as Max recalled his pokemon. "Chikorita used Protect! It shouldn't have been able to shatter it! What even was that attack?!"
"No one knows, Psyduck simply get these headaches and the only way to calm them is to release it in compressed psychic energy," Ash answered. "This is nothing, you should have seen Misty's Psyduck's headaches! Now, those hurt like a bitch!"
"Shroomish, you are next!" Max called out. "Quickly, use Stun Spore while Psyduck recovers!"
We all watched as Psyduck got paralyzed and rapidly knocked out by a barricade of Bullet Seed.
"Is there something wrong?" Iris asked Ash in confusion. She had been smiling in excitement and cheer as Max defeated Cress' second pokemon, until she realized that Ash was frowning. "Max is winning! Shouldn't you be happy?"
"I am," Ash sighed, not sounding or looking like it. "Honest! I am! I just believe that Max is relaying too much on type advantage. Mightyena could easily take down both pokemon, she is more experienced and has the move pool necessary. Yes, she does not have a type-advantage or super effective moves against Water-types, but if Max thinks about it the right way he could give her the advantage. This will not work for the rest of his journey."
"Well, that's what you are there for," Iris replied, taking us by surprise. "You are our mentor after all, so guide us when we do something stupid like that."
"Well, look at that, you are more mature than I have previously thought," Ash smiled gently at the girl.
"What!" Iris shouted, cheeks reddening in both, embarrassment and anger. "I am not a kid!"
"Look! Cress released his last pokemon!" Riley pointed out, stopping Iris from picking a fight with Ash. "That's a... what pokemon is that again?"
"That a... I've got no idea," Ash admitted, pulling out his Pokedex.
The robotic voice read out: Palpitoad, the Vibration Pokemon. A Water and Ground-type pokemon. They live in the water and on land. They uses its long, sticky tongue to immobilize their opponents and to capture their prey. When they vibrate the bumps on their heads, they can make waves in water or earthquake-like vibrations on land.
"Palpitoad, eh," Pikachu hummed. "I want to battle one!"
"But they are a Ground-type pokemon, you'll be at a disadvantage," Axew crooned from Iris' hair.
"So?" Pikachu replied, uninterested.
"Not everyone is uneffected by type disadvantage," I shook my head in amusement.
"Don't worry, we'll make a Ketchum pokemon out of you soon enough," Pikachu assured me... or did he threaten me?
Palpitoad rapidly wrapped his tongue around Shroomish, paralyzing Max's pokemon... however, soon after he fell asleep.
"What... does your pokemon have the Effect Spore ability?" Cress asked Max, who simply laughed. "Great! I knew I should have taught him Sleep Talk! This is going to be boring... and embarrassing." The rest of the battle was boring, as the Gym Leader Cress had said. Max waited out for the paralysis on Shroomish to leave, before ordering him to use Bullet Seed and Headbutt. "Congratulations on you first win in the Unova Pokemon League," Cress congratlated Max, as he recalled his pokemon with a smile and marched towards him. "Here I present you with the Trio Badge, you've earned it."
"Thank you!" Max was close to tears as he took the badge and placed it in his green badge case.
Of course, he was! I exclaimed in my head. It was his first win and his first badge!
"It seems that I am next!" Ash exclaimed, making us all jump and look at him surprised. "And I choose all of you!"
Silence reigned in the room.
Of course, he does.