A/N: This is the Saffire Persian aka Persian Mistress (or Belle as you may call me). This is my first work of fanfiction, and flames are welcome as long as certain conditions are met. If you want to view an extended summary of With the Wind at My Back, please see my Bio also. A few things I must bring to your attention are that Ash is Sixteen years of age in this Fic, Misty is also 16, and Brock is 20 (Yes, that part has been changed.. he is no longer 18). As long as things go as planned, and Ash doesn't die on us –snickers- there will be an Ash/Misty pairing. Other pairings may be included upon suggestion (But I won't do Yaoi, or Yuri pairings, so don't ask.)
Please keep in mind that most of the movies, because of this Fic, no longer exist, or have been warped to fit the plot in some way. The only ones that without a doubt taken place is Mewtwo Strikes Back, and some elements of Pokemon 2000, and Maybe Pokemon 3. Granted, all of the new Pokemon will exist in this fic, (and perhaps some new ones) as well as characters that have featured in the show from time to time (Richie, Gary, etc).
Suggestions are welcome, and if you enjoyed this story, I recommend you check out "The Legend and the Prophocy" that used to be this story's prologue. However, I moved it to be a type of one shot. It eludes to the Legend and Prophocy this story does center one.. and it also tells of the event of Ash releasing the three beasts from Ecruteak.
But I've jabbered on enough. Please Read and enjoy this story.
Disclaimer: Hellooo. What would I be doing here if I owned Pokemon. Meh. I do own this story though. The plot, made up Pokemon – stuff like that.
With the Wind at My Back
By: Saffire Persian
Part 1: The Ties that Bind
"Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart. "– Lynda Berry
Chapter 1: Lazy Days
"Ah, happy years, once more who would not be a boy!" -John Byrom
(Takes place two years after the last event in 'The Legend and the Prophecy' If you don't want to read, Ash released the Three Legendary Beasts from their rocky tomb.)
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It was a beautiful June day in the hospitable region of Hoenn. And in the mind of Ashton Ketchum, it was the perfect day to do one thing, train. The young Sixteen-year-old Pokemon Trainer was almost as tall as Brock, his slant-eyed traveling companion, and he now bore a slightly muscular tone from years of training with is Pokemon. His boyish, laid back features had not changed much however. His unruly black hair was as tussled as ever, and he still wore with pride his Pokemon League had he had owned since childhood.
"Pikaa pi!"
Ash laughed as a small mouse Pokemon with a lightning shaped tail jumped gracefully onto his shoulder, paws wet from an evident tramp in the stream that ran beside them. The small mouse Pokemon, Pikachu, had been his friend ever since he had started on his Pokemon journey nearly six years ago.
Behind him, Brock was looking contemplatively around the Serenity Forest, which was located not far off from Petalburg city. He didn't say a word, and Ash could only suspect what Brock, the once gym-leader of Pewter City Gym, was thinking about. And perhaps he was right in thinking it was about the countless girls they had run into in the past few weeks. Ash shook his head, thinking about girls – nonsense.
Well, he thought, face flushing for a moment, Maybe not total nonsense, just only when it comes to Brock.
A terrified scream broke through the silence of the Serenity Forest. Ash spun around, then seeing what the terror was really about, laughed. He turned to Misty, also sixteen, who was looking fixedly at a strange, blue Pokemon with eight spindly legs. Her face was pale, and a perfect picture of utmost terror. He grinned.
That Surskit looks just as terrified of her and she is of it, he thought, amused.
"Get – get – make it go away!"
Ash laughed again, and received a hearty glare from Misty as she hastily backed away towards a large tree, her small Togepi in her arms. She was taller, too, now. Her red hair was no longer tied in a casual pigtail; instead, it went down to the beginning of her shoulders. Ash smiled softly, and the Togepi is Misty's gave a happy trill, then tried to quite literally tumble out of Misty's arms. He was no doubt wishing to investigate the blue oddity was standing on the water, trembling with fear. And Ash couldn't blame it. Misty could be very scary when it came down to it.
The Surskit suddenly squeaked, and toppled headfirst into the water with a small plop. Pikachu immediately jumped off Ash's shoulder, now staring into the blue water, where the small form of the Surskit lay, nearly motionless, save for the occasional jitter.
"It's not going to hurt you, Mist," said Ash, trying with little success to keep from chuckling, as he kneeled down by the stream bank.
Misty, meanwhile, looked highly unconvinced.
Some things will never change.
Ash could see the Surskit moving nervously from side to side in the water. He immediately took out his Pokedex, pointing the device at the spider-like Pokemon. Dexter, the Pokedex voice persona, spoke immediately afterward, and a picture of a Surskit flashed onto the screen.
"Piiikahhh!"
"Surskit, a Bug/Water Pokemon. From the tips of its feet, Surskit secrets an oil that enables it to walk on water as if it were skating. This Pokemon feeds on microscopic organisms in ponds and lakes."
Brock, pulling out The Travelers guide to Hoenn and its Pokemon, nodded his head, flipping throughthe books numerous pages. "Hmm... a Surskit. Those things are rare; it says you don't often find them in these parts of Hoenn. And don't worry, they're supposed to be quite docile, Misty."
"How do you know," she replied in a tone that suggested the Surskit was going to make a watery leap into her face at any moment. Much to her dismay, Togepi suddenly slipped out of her arms, rolling into a characteristic egg shape as he landed upon the ground. "Togepi, wait! Please?"
The egg Pokemon trilled in response, already toddling as fast as its small legs would allow over to the stream bank. Togepi tottered dangerously close to the side, but was pulled back by Pikachu, who let out a characteristic "chaaa."
Misty, began to edge slowly, very slowly, over to the stream bank. And Ash fought the urge to laugh at her again. He caught her arm, as she made a reach for Togepi. "You can't stay scared of Pokemon who aren't going to hurt ya, Mist."
"Let go of me this instant, Ash Ketchum!"Anger flared into her voice, but it was soon lost, as her gaze fell on Togepi's form. "Come to Misty, Togepi. Come on – Ash!"
He pulled her gently downward, until she was knelling unwillingly beside him. "Let me show you something, Misty. Pikachu, see if you can get the Surskit up here."
Misty seemed at a loss to say anything, as Pikachu yelled something to the Surskit, who was now peeking its head curiously above the water. Ash reached out his right hand towards the bug type, and it swam a few paces forward. Misty squeaked in terror, and tried to move away, but Ash's grip held firm.
"Besides, Mist, Surskit's a Water type. I thought you liked Water types. "
"I do! Just . . . not that one. But why do you care?" squeaked Misty in a high pitched voice.
"Well, how can you be a Water Pokemon Master if you're afraid of a Surskit?"
"I think Ash actually has a point this time, Misty."
Misty glared back at him and Brock, but didn't say anything as she continued to try and pull away from him as the Surskit eyed them nervously. Ash grinned. He knew she knew he was right.
The Surskit, at Pikachu's prompting, slid forward toward Ash's hand, and Ash could see Brock watching them with an almost contemplative look. The small spider-like Pokemon skittered onto Ash's submerged right hand. He then lifted the small Surskit up, setting it lightly on the ground. It stared at them, and Misty was already trying furtively to pull away from him.
"Mist, it's not doing a thing. Does it look like it's going to attack –"
"Prrrriiiii!" Togepi, face wide with delight, was toddling toward the Surskit. But on his merry way, he tripped. A small pebble (though a rock to Togepi) was the culprit that sent the egg Pokemon tumbling forward. And on his way, he unfortunately ran into the Surskit.
Even more unfortunate was the fact that as the Surskit skid backward into the water, it decided to retaliate with a flurry of rainbow colored bubbles, before skidding off in such haste that Ash declared sometime later "Fast enough to earn a Pikachu's envy."
Brock had at least the courtesy not to laugh at the appearance of the pair, while the remnants of the onslaught disappeared with almost inaudible pops.
"You were saying, Ash."
Ash eyed Misty nervously. "Well . . ."
"This is all your fault!"
She broke free of his grasp, and automatically reached out and picked up Togepi, who had been chasing what was left of the bubbles.
"My fault? Togepi was the one who –"
Misty, whose temper never ceased to amaze Ash, glared back at him. "Don't you even think about blaming this on Togepi."
"Well he was the one who bumped into Surskit in the first place, or did that fact not reach that narrow mind of yours?"
"Well that wouldn't have happened if you hadn't –"
Brock let out a very loud, audible sigh, before stepping between the two, as he had countless times before. "You'll forgive me if I don't exactly feel like playing referee between the two of you right now. So could you please quit it?"
"Only if he apologizes."
"I'm not apologizing to you!"
Misty huffed and moved away from him, nearer to the waterside, sending what Ash deemed to be evil glances.
Brock shook his head, before clapping a hand on Ash's shoulder. "Just apologize, Ash. You'll probably be apologizing her for the rest of your life. So . . ." he said in an almost sickening cheery tone, that reminded Ash of the someone who told had dying man to cheer up, "you might as well get some practice."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ash demanded.
Brock sighed. "Interpret however you want. Just apologize."
"Fine!" yelled Ash, though very far from feeling the least bit sorry, and Pikachu jumped. "Hear that, Misty? I'm sorry!"
Misty scowled, and walked passed them in the most dignified way she could. Perhaps she was intending to give him the silent treatment. Of course, that was fine with him. To think he had tried to be nice to her, and she just blamed him for doing it in his face. He stomped along after both Misty and Brock. Girls.
"Pichupi, chuuuu," said Pikachu, in an exasperated tone, before taking his usual place by his Trainer's side.
"I know how you feel, buddy," said Ash. "You try to do something nice to them and they over react."
"Chaaa," the mouse Pokemon replied, shaking its head, and Misty's voice yelled back angrily at him.
"I heard that, Ash!"
Pikachu and Brock sighed. Pikachu glanced up at Brock and both looked at each other, sharing a rather knowing look. Brock then spoke to Pikachu in what seemed like a sagely tone. "Don't worry. They'll forget about, they always do."
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As much as Ash hated to admit it, both he and Misty were on as good of terms as they had been before the incident. It hadn't taken them long to arrive at the camping spot Ash had pre-chosen days ago. It was a secluded place. The thick Serenity Forest surrounded them on every side of the large clearing. But Ash had chosen the spot specifically for its very large lake, known as the Lake of Tranquility. Nearly all the rivers and streams were connected to the Lake, but the only way that water ever got out was via the Tranquility Falls, not more three fourths of a mile away. The other reason Ash had chose it was because of its large area. So the chances of them being bothered by someone other then wild Pokemon, was scarce.
Misty had loved it upon first sight. And that had been Ash's intent, as this was where he was planning to hold Misty's seventeenth birthday. Of course, this was unbeknownst to her and Brock. After all, she never would expect the "thick headed Ash" to actually think ahead, or Brock either. Ash smirked at the thought. She would be surprised indeed.
Brock, his large crock-pot over the fire, was sitting just across from him, adding whatever necessary ingredients he saw fit. Though selfish the thought may have been, Brock's cooking was one of the things Ash valued most about his dependable friend. If it hadn't been for him, Ash guessed he would have spent most of his sixteen years eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and his Pokemon off wild berries.
Misty was over by the lake only a few yards away accompanied by her Togepi, Vaporeon, Politoad, Corsola, and yes, Psyduck. Her Pokemon seemed to be having quite an enjoyable time swimming (or floundering in Psyduck's case) in the water. Currently they were engaged in a game of water tag. Streams of Water Guns and brightly colored Bubblebeams were plentiful. And, to Ash's resentment, he didn't see Misty once getting mad at her Pokemon when a low powered Water Gun or Bubble went astray.
Misty herself was, as Ash had expected, fishing. And with her famous "Misty Lure," to top it off. It was the very lure that had caused Ash to burst into laughing fits - or stares of odd disbelief in some when she actually caught something - many times during their journey.
The most prominent of these memories, was when she had actually caught a Totodile with it. Of course, it had been he, Ash, who had ended up capturing the Totodile. But doubt had always gnawed at him at who had really caught the Pokemon that day. So often times he could be found convincing himself that he was the one who truly caught Totodile. Misty had only flushed the Totodile out. Another bit of key evidence to support this theory: Totodile would bite onto anything that happened to be dangled in front of his face.
Speaking of Totodile . . .
Ash looked around, finally locating the small blue crocodile. He smiled, as he watched Totodile leap into the air, shouting out some loud and important word in Pokelanguage, before landing gracefully on his feet. The Pokemon clapped at the entertainment, shouting for more. And the optimistic Totodile was more then glad to oblige. The water type waved its arms wildly, and began to animatedly tell some sort of story.
The Pokemon listening to the Pokemon's antics were mainly Brock's Pokemon. However, the seemingly most attentive of all of them, was his Quilava. The friendship that existed between Quilava and the Totodile was something that Ash marveled at. Both Pokemon had almost opposite personalities. Totodile was an optimistic, Happy-go-lucky Water type, Quilava, on the other hand, was a very serious, down to earth Fire type.
But, after a particularly traumatic experience involving Team Rocket, it was rare to find one without the other. Strange as it was, it gladdened Ash to know such a friendship could come between his Pokemon.
A Flareon was also sitting in the large circle around Totodile. She was one of the newest additions to Brock's team, and was Brock's pride and joy. He had won her (in egg stage) during a Breeding Contest that he had participated in with Suzy. Vulpix had been the contestant that day, and she had easily won. (According to Brock, the Ninetails was absolutely no contest.)
Vulpix, who had once been Brock's Pokemon, was returned to Suzy, Vulpix's original owner. In return for helping her win the Breeding Contest, he had acquired the main prize, an Eevee egg. And so, Flareon entered his team.
Flareon was not the only creature to grace Brock's team. The Onix he had ever since the beginning was still with him, as well as his Crobat and a new creature that was called Mudkip. All three of them, he noticed, were also sitting around Totodile, listening to his story. Ash felt a pang of longing in his chest. If only he could understand them as they understood him. The barrier of communication seemed astounding to him. To think that such sentient creatures could understand every word their Trainer said, yet were unable to respond in an language humans could understand. Unless, that is, you counted Jessie and James's Meowth, and a few other Pokemon that had acquired human speech.
"Leeeef!"
A strange looking dinosauresque figure was running quickly across the grass, before jumping up and hitting Ash hard in the chest. The impact easily sent him tumbling backwards over the log he had been sitting on. He groaned, but he couldn't help but smile at the look a familiar grass type was giving him.
Bayleef had always been fond of him – very fond, since she was a Chikorita. And when it came down to it, if there was one Pokemon that had the most human-like characteristics, it was Bayleef herself. Brock had often compared her to some teenage fan girl. Well, Ash's fan girl to be more exact. And, though Ash hadn't understood what Brock had meant before, he understood it perfectly now.
"What 'cha got there, Bayleef?" said Ash.
Bayleef looked guiltily back at him, noticing what she had done, and quickly got off him, before giving him a large, green seed that was clutched in her vines. "Bayeff!"
"What the . . .?"
The seed was strange, and it was like no seen Ash had ever seen before. It was large, and covered in a protective green casing. But there was a certain sparkle to it that made Ash wonder.
"What did she find, Ash?"
He turned to Brock, and obligingly handed him the seed. He immediately threw it back to him, and laughed. "It seems Bayleef found a Miracle Seed."
"Oh!" Ash exclaimed, before looking confused. "Well . . . does it do anything?"
"For being such an avid Pokemon trainer, you can be so dense sometimes," answered Brock, adding an odd leafy herb into the crock-pot. "It's supposed to enhance the power of Grass type moves."
"Wow . . ." said Ash, impressed. To think a seed could be this helpful. "Well done, Bayleef. With this, you and I'll be unstoppable!"
"Bay bay!"
The Grass Pokemon was clearly overjoyed at her Trainer's praise. A sweet and spicy scent began to fill the clearing. "I'll tell you what, we'll make a necklace out of this for you."
"BAY!" Another astounding leap knocked Ash flat again.
"I know you're happy, but get off."
Bayleef smiled sheepishly, and blushed. Ash laughed and pushed her off. She looked a bit indignant at the sudden movement.
"Done!" said Brock, with an air of satisfaction. "Chef Brock has once again cooked a master piece. I shall call it 'Stew a la Serenity!'"
"Awesome!" exclaimed Ash. "About time, too."
The Pokemon, after hearing Brock's exclamation, moved eagerly forward, and Ash had to stop Totodile from diving headlong into the stew, at which the Totodile protested.
"C'mon, Misty!" Ash called. "I don't want to be waiting here all day."
"I'm coming," she said, and Ash finally noticed that she appeared to have caught something. Well, she was trying to anyway.
There was a splash, and a brown fish burst out of the water, and Misty let out a call of joy. Immediately forgetting about the food, Ash rushed over to see what exactly Misty had reeled in. Nothing great, surely.
Ash was once again right. It had to be the ugliest thing that had ever flopped upon the ground. Brown and scaly with a face not even a mother could love, it bore a resemblance not to a live fish, but a dead one. In fact, if it hadn't flopped around, gasping for air, Ash would have thought it dead.
Though Ash was unsure if he even wanted to remember this thing in times to come, he took out Dexter anyway.
"Feebas, a Fish Pokemon of the Water type. While Feebas's body is in tatters, it has a hardy and tenacious life force that enables it to live anywhere. However, this Pokemon is also slow and dimwitted, making it an easy catch."
"Well, that's a surprise," Ash muttered under his breath. "It's like some kind of radioactive Magikarp."
A mummer of accent rose from the Pokemon gathered around them.
Misty, however, seemed thrilled – no, ecstatic – and Ash could not even begin to figure out why. To his horror, Misty took a Lure Ball out of her bag. In the moments that followed (equaling somewhere around four seconds) the ball hit, wiggled once, then dinged. Ash could bet that even Caterpie had put up a better fight, and that was saying something.
"I caught it!" Misty exclaimed, and Ash continued to stare at her in disbelief.
"That has got to be the ugliest thing I have ever seen . . ."
"Now, yes," said Brock. "But a Feebas is the Ugly Duckling of the Pokemon world."
"What? It turns into a swan?"
Both Misty and Brock looked incredulously back at him. "What?"
"It evolves into Milotic, Ash," said Misty, and Ash could swear he saw stars in her eyes. He opened his Pokedex, and a Milotic appeared on the screen, and Dexter began to speak.
"Milotic, a Water type Pokemon. Milotic is said to be the most beautiful of all the Pokemon. It has the power to becalm such emotions as anger and hostility to quell bitter feuding."
It was beautiful – even Ash had to admit it. Although, flipping back to the Feebas screen, he couldn't help but wonder if the Pokedex was working properly. How could something like that . . ."You have got to be kidding – that ugly thing evolves into this?"
"Yep, through Beauty," said Brock.
"That's insane."
"Insane, but true," said Brock.
"How are you going to manage that?" asked Ash to Misty. "Anything's better looking then that thing."
Misty was stumped, and Ash grinned in victory. How indeed were they going to do it? Stick a bow on it or something?
"Don't worry, for Brock is here, Pokemon Breeder extraordinaire. I'll have Feebas looking great in no time."
Ash highly doubted that. A boost in the fish's self-esteem was what it needed, more likely.
"Really, Brock!" exclaimed Misty.
"Of course. Consider it your birthday present."
"Thank you!" Misty exclaimed, throwing her arms around Brock in a quick hug. Ash felt a strange emotion rise within him as he saw Misty embrace him. Was this . . . jealousy?
"It's no problem at all," Brock replied as Misty released him.
Ash didn't know why, but he had the sudden urge to yell aloud to Misty that if there was one person who could make even that ugly thing look pretty, it was he, Ash.
"I'm glad somebody remembered that my birthday was coming up," said Misty, sending glare Ash's way. Ash wanted to yell out that he had remembered, and that he had the perfect present that anybody could ever give her. But the secret had to be kept. Not even Brock knew what he was planning. He settled on grinning sheepishly. She would be getting the best gift ever . . .
Brock suddenly chuckled, and Ash shot a questioning glance over to him. "What?"
"I was just thinking, we really could have really used one of those - Milotic, I mean."
There was something in the way Brock said it, that mad Ash's eyes narrow. "What do you mean 'we could have really used one of those'?"
"Well, it says that Milotic has the power to calm bitter feelings. And you and Misty do fight a lot. Don't give both give me that look – you both know perfectly well it's true."
"Brock-"growled Ash, clenching his teeth. And he was about to say something more, in his own defense, when Quilava's voice startled him.
"Quil! Lava!"
The warning voice of Quilava, and the crashing of pans brought Ash back to his senses. Only then, did he realize, a certain crocodile Pokemon was not with them. Ash groaned.
Back by the campfire, Totodile's head was inside the tipped crock-pot, lapping up its contents greedily. The excess that had escaped Totodile's jaws was now ruined, spilled all over the brown earth. Ash had the sudden suspicion that dinner would now consist of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
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A/n: Any comments, criticism, suggestions are welcome. I'd be glad to have any reviews. It keeps one going.
Now, onto Reviewer Replies.
Reviewer Replies:
Hazy Aurora: Thanks so much. grins I like Suicune, too.
Blood Vampire: Thanks for your review! Yeah, I love Espeon. I already have her planned into the story. So, just wait.
Danoh1989: Glad you liked it. Hope this chapter didn't disappoint.
Ash Ketchum, Pokemon Master: Philosophical? Really? Thanks. Beware the money hungry lawyers? Well, if those Money Hungry Lawyers stop by, I shall have to introduce them to my Persian, then we'll see if they want to take what little money I have. Raikou as a Sabre Tooth tiger? Yeah, I could kinda see that. Except for the fact Raikou has stripes and a long tail, and kinda lacks those super-long fangs of theirs. Suicune? A deer. That's an interesting interpretation. Personally, I always have believed Suicune to be female, on account of the fact her "Antlers" as you call them, are shaped in the sign that they use to identify female Pokemon, if you look closely.
Lugia, yes, if everything goes as planned, he will be in the fic. So will a few others, in fact. Who's stronger? Hmm . . . Lugia, I think, is stronger strength wise (heck, he's HUGE) but Ho-oh has that mysterious quality about him, plus he's so awesome looking. (He is also a TM God among Pokemon.) Plus, he has Sacred Fire. Also, he has that ultra cool (in my opinion) "job" about being the one who watches over human and Pokemon to oversee their relationships and what not. But Lugia is still awesome in his own right. Who's the 'Apathy of Shadow?' Well, you'll find out. And thanks a ton for your e-mail, it meant a lot.
Alex Warlorn: No, Absol is not the forth. (Though I love the thing dearly) Good guess though. And thanks for the "Rocket" advice. You're right of course, I didn't see that. I'll go back and edit it so it makes more sense. Yeah, I recall when Ash had that Larvitar, too bad he couldn't keep it. I agree about Ash having an Espeon, and don't worry, I think you'll be seeing it soon enough. (Arguably, Espeon is one of my personal favorites, next to Persian.) And Richie met Celebi? Awesome. Richie and Gary are my favorite "non-main" characters.
Nuclear Kitty: Togepi? Of course. Misty would never be Misty without Togepi! And Vaporeon's awesome, so, she has one now.
Dannichu: Evil! I agree. And Pidgeot, while we may see him in the future, right now he wont be in it. But thanks very much for your compliments. I appreciate it.
Ri2: Hey! Thanks. And yeah, Bayleef's in it. She's awesome (with her little crush on Ash an all) Hope to hear more from you!
Act: Man! Grammar mistakes. Bleh! I tend to do that a lot. Thanks for pointing them out. Afeared? It /is/ a word, it means afraid (yeah, you probably guessed it) for some reason I used it while writing, it sounded cool to me, so it stuck. Thanks for your advice!
Surfingpikachu05: Thanks for your review!