Edited 11/27/22
Uhhh, I don't know? Something, something Pokemon.
Ash had not felt this excited since he started his journey. Although given the twin facts that Ash was an excitable Pokemon and that he had started his journey only a few days previous this did not mean much.
Regardless, he now had his first new team member!
After healing Pidgeotto with one of the potions he'd bought in Viridian City, he'd properly introduced Misty and the flying-type.
"This is Misty! She tried catching me because she thought I was a Buizel. After she realized I wasn't one though she helped us get away from some Spearow. We did mess up her bike a bit though so she's coming with us at least until I can replace it!" He explained.
"Nice to meet you." Pidgeotto extended her wing and Misty, not understanding the words but recognizing the gesture, took the wing and shook.
"Likewise I guess, sorry I can't understand you so if we talk Ash will have to play a bit of telephone." The girl admitted.
"How does one play telephone?" Pidgeotto asked her new trainer.
"A telephone is a device humans use to talk to each other from far away, one of the few things they've done that I'm actually impressed by," Pikachu answered instead. "The game telephone I vaguely remember. Isn't it the one where you whisper to each other?"
"That's one way to play I think." There had been a few kids who played variations of the game at camp a few years back. "I think it mostly just means passing the message along."
"That's what I meant," Misty confirmed once again using the few context clues she had. "I might not get the language down anytime soon but hopefully I'll pick up on body language a bit more."
"I guess that'll help." Ash nodded. It made sense at least, he had picked up on a few tips about body language in his research.
Mostly, he deciphered that he needed to adopt typical traits of the Pokemon he transformed into. A Caterpie would be more likely to cower or flee from larger Pokemon, an Ursaring on the other hand, would rear up and make itself look more intimidating.
It was pretty typical stuff, there was more to it but he never did a deep dive into it.
With introductions out of the way, the group continued onwards through the forest and Pidgeotto began integrating herself with her new teammates.
"So Pidgeotto, what's your opinion on Pokeballs now that you've been in one?" Pikachu asked the flying type that was flapping alongside them, sometimes pausing to hover in place if she pulled too far ahead of the group.
"You mean the ball thing?" She checked. "I wasn't in it for very long, why?"
"I think they're annoying, cramped, and uncomfortable, Ash doesn't seem to mind them though so we need a tiebreaker."
"I'm gonna need more time to figure it out." The flying type told him. "I'll get back to you on it. Speaking of, most trainers keep their Pokemon in them, right? Are you gonna do that?" Pideotto questioned her new trainer.
"Only if you want to," Ash answered. "I'm not going to force you into one if you don't want to be. I never used mine much, but it was never uncomfortable." He recalled. "It was kind of the timeout ball when I was a lot younger but I guess it was more like when a human kid gets sent to their room. I think it feels kind of cozy."
Misty picked up what the conversation was about and thought aloud to herself, partially to voice an outsider's opinion on the matter. "I never really thought about it that much, none of my Pokemon seem to have a problem with it. Although at the gym they have plenty of room to move around. Goldeen probably prefers her Pokeball most of the time, all things considered."
"She needs water right." Ash nodded. "It seems to just be about whether the Pokemon likes it or not."
The group continued for a while longer that day before making camp for the first time. Misty had ended up leaving her original supplies behind during their initial escape from the Spearow but she had the money to get a replacement sleeping bag in Viridian City.
"I'm going to miss my old one." She still said as she laid it out. "I did need a new one anyway I guess, but I think the old one was softer."
"Softer than the ground at least," Pikachu complained, prodding at the dirt. "Tell me you brought something Ash?"
The Zorua in question had gotten his backpack off and was poking through it. "I think I've got a blanket in here… there it is!" He dragged a rather plane blanket out of his bag. What it lacked in color though, it more than made up for in softness.
The two ground-locked Pokemon rolled it out. While it was the only blanket they had, it would serve their purposes. It wasn't that cold tonight and they had enough fur of their own to stay warm.
"I probably should look into getting another blanket for colder nights." Ash mused out loud as Pikachu simply flopped over on this side of their sleeping mat. "Or a tent. A tent would be nice."
"You'd have to carry it." Misty reminded him as she kicked off her shoes and zipped herself up in her sleeping bag. "Pros and cons to everything."
"Hmm, I'll think about it." He looked at Pidgeotto who had perched herself on a nearby branch. "What do you normally do for sleep? Do you have a nest or…" He wasn't quite sure how birds normally rested.
"I had a nest," Pidgeotto confirmed. "Although I wouldn't be surprised if some Pidgey or something has taken it over." She paused and thought, "On second thought, that might take a few days, they'd want to make sure I was gone before risking it."
"Shoot." Ash winced. "Sorry about that… is it too far away? How long does it take to make a new one?"
"It's a bit farther than I'd like to fly right now and it's only going to get further." Pidgeotto reasoned. "And it would take me a lot longer to make one than it takes to roll out a blanket."
"What do you want to do then?" Ash asked her and she considered.
"Might as well get a feel for that Pokeball thing." She finally accepted. "Will I be trapped in there until you get up in the morning?"
"No, you should be able to leave it whenever you want." the trainer replied. "I think that there's a way to lock them so the Pokemon inside can't get out. For when it's dangerous to itself or others but I don't know how to do that and why would I need to?" He was able to talk to any Pokemon he met or captured. There should never be a situation where he would need to lock one in a ball for safety.
Pidgeotto sighed. "Why am I not surprised that there's a catch? Still, so far you've kept to your word and you seem like a good Pokemon. I think I can trust you not to lock me in?"
"Of course!" Ash agreed immediately. "I'd never do something like that. And if I tried Pikachu would just shock me!"
"I would!" Pikachu confirmed. Momentarily sticking a paw up as he lay face down on the blanket.
With that allotment made Pidgeotto entered the Pokeball for the night and Ash lay down on the blanket. Before he drifted off though, a thought occurred to him.
"I wonder what happened to those Team Rocket guys after we blasted them away." He murmured, glancing up at the sky.
"I dunno." Misty's half-asleep voice was faded and quiet. "Maybe we sent them to space…"
"Good for them." Ash decided as he closed his eyes and did his best to drift off into dreamland.
As it stood, Team Rocket had not quite achieved their dreams and gone into space as was obviously the goal of their organization. After all, why would they be called Team Rocket otherwise?
No instead they had found themselves (thankfully) still floating, over the woods outside of Viridian City. Now bemoaning their failures at successfully capturing any Pokemon during their assault on the Center.
"It's all those twerps' fault! Ruining everything! It was all going according to plan and then this little runt and his Pikachu and his ginger girlfriend just showed up and- grrr…" Jessie made strangling motions in the air, no doubt picturing a neck trapped between her fingers.
"They were monsters!" James agreed, still cradling poor Koffing who had gotten the worst of the whole mess. "Trainers hitting Pokemon! What has the world come to? If they had just let us steal other people's Pokemon none of this would have happened!" It should be mentioned that the word hypocrisy does not exist within James's vocabulary.
Meowth was curiously silent and staring out over the edge of the balloon. It was as though he were keeping watch. His teammates however were too involved in their rants to pay much attention to the silent guardian.
Their complaints continued in the same vein for some time. Occasionally they would circle to the other's complaints and agree that the other was correct, then they would vividly plan out how to take revenge on the two literal children who had defeated them.
"And then we drop them into a tub full of Carvanha…" James rubbed his hands together maniacally.
"No!" Jessie disagreed for a moment. "A tank full of Sharpedo!"
"Oh! That's better!" James immediately acknowledged. "But where would we get them?"
"That's of little concern." The young diva stood up straighter. "With Team Rocket's resources, there's nothing outside of our reach!"
"In that case, we better start planning. Which way is Hoenn, that's where Sharpedo lives, right?" The blue-haired young man considered.
Whatever plans might have followed were quickly cut off by a panicked cry from Meowth who leaped away from the side of the balloon before tossing sandbags over the basket's rim and trying to turn down the heat.
"What's gotten into you?" Jessie asked the cat-like Pokemon.
Panicked eyes met hers. "Spearow! I just see one for now but I'm not going to risk it! We get on the ground and wait until the Rangers or whoever deals with this stuff clears those menaces out!"
Like a memory from a far-off time the other two-thirds of the trio remembered the warning of Spearow and began to work with Meowth. But alas, the sighted flying-type reached the balloon before they could lower themselves wholly to the ground.
The bird did not however attack, instead, it landed on the rim of the basket and surveyed the three inside with a sharp eye. The criminals backed away, fearing a call to the flock. But the bird simply cawed at them, "Spearow! Spear! Spear!" Nowhere near loud enough to alert an entire flock.
James swallowed his fear for a moment. "Translation Meowth?"
Meowth shook himself out of his stupor. "Right, uh, he's askin' if we've seen a Pikachu and another Pokemon he don't recognize. I'm sorry, what did it look like?"
"Row! Spearow!"
"Huh." Meowth sounded dumbfounded. "Well it sounds a bit like a Vulpix but I've never seen a black one before."
"A black Vulpix?" Jessie confirmed. "Isn't that just shiny?"
"I don't think so," James muttered. "I think a shiny Vulpix is supposed to be yellow."
"Somethin' like that." Meowth agreed before answering the Spearow. "We's saw a Pikachu but none of that other one."
Jessie quickly picked up on something. "Wait, did they have a human with them? A short one with stupid black hair?"
Spearow answered again and Meowth provided his services. "No, just the two Pokemon."
"Hmm." Jessie hummed. "Team meeting!" She called quickly.
The three huddled together. "Okay, so what if this black Vulpix is something completely new? Like a new type of shiny or a new variant?"
"That's rare!" Meowth's voice let some excitement creep in.
"Exactly!" Jessie agreed and held up a finger. "So let's forget about our annoying twerpy friends for now and make some bank first! We find and catch this new type of Vulpix and we'll be the talk to the criminal community!"
"I mean we don't have much to go on, just a Spearow asking for them." James pointed out.
"Well, then we take him with us and find us some fame and fortune! We may be down but we're not out!"
"You're right!" Meowth agreed and leaped up. "To fame and fortune!"
"To fame and fortune!" James repeated. "Alright, Spearow! Team Rocket will aid you on your quest! We'll help you find these two miscreants!"
Spearow who had heard everything they said but did not have a problem with any of it, just stared at them. All three just stood there, dramatically pointing at him. Well, beggars can't be choosers…
Meowth was the first to break formation. "Err, wait, wasn't there a whole flock of Spearow?"
Spearow confirmed this for Meowth who now took his turn to crackle. "Well boy howdy do I have an idea for you! Ya see Team Rocket is always looking for new eager Pokemon who want to cause mayhem and madness. You and your flock seem eager so why not do so on a scale beyond what your bird brains ever thought possible?"
The flying-type's eyes narrowed at the phrase "bird brains" but then again, mayhem and madness were pretty fun…
A few days later a Pokemon Ranger and their partner arrived to deal with the Spearow flock. They found plenty of evidence of one having been disturbed and even trying to assault passersby and other wild Pokemon but of the Spearow themselves there was no trace…
After waking up, the group of mostly Pokemon and one human continued on their way. Ash, having one final stretch, had applied his human illusion once more.
At Misty's curious look Ash simply shrugged. "I do need to get more used to using it for longer. What happens if we stay in town for a few days? I've done it before but I need to be able to do it without getting tired or uncomfortable.
With that explanation out of the way, the point of questioning had turned to Pidgeotto.
"So?" Pikachu pressed once she came out of her ball.
Pidgeotto blinked at him with no understanding initially "So?" She repeated.
"The ball!" Pikachu expounded. "What did you think of it?"
"Ah." Pidgeotto realized, then looked thoughtful for a moment. "I liked it. It was kind of weird but surprisingly comfortable."
"Madness." Pikachu sighed. "It spreads like a plague. Soon I will be the only sane 'mon in the world."
The group traveled onwards a short way further into Viridian Forest. But now a day in Ash had decided it was time to get some training in with their new teammate.
When they stopped for lunch, Misty munching on a granola bar and the Pokemon nibbling at the prepacked chow Ash had brought, the Zorua laid out his plans.
"Alright, so Pewter City has a gym." He started.
"Viridian City does too." Misty pointed out, still chewing her bar and sitting on a nearby tree stump. She was content simply watching the events play out.
Ash's eye twitched but he continued. "So Pewter City has a gym and from what I remembered it's a rock-type gym. That's not exactly a good matchup for us."
"Rocks are annoying." Pidgeotto agreed.
"They're not so bad. The ground is worse." Pikachu was more than a little annoyed by the fact there was an entire typing that he could not shock.
"Alright, Pikachu's attacks can hurt rock-types as long as they're not also ground types. I know that there are a few rock and ground-type Pokemon though. We'll have to be ready for that. Pidgeotto, it's a really bad matchup for you but I have an idea or two to help you get ready for it." Ash explained.
"Is this the part where I get stronger?" Pidgeotto's voice was beyond eager. From what they'd learned about the other Pokemon she was more than a little prideful. Being so soundly beaten by Pikachu and Ash though had humbled her a bit. She was longing to get stronger so that she wouldn't be embarrassed like that again.
"I'm not sure stronger is the word for what we're doing first. I do have an idea for a new move but first, we need to work on your evasion training like what Pikachu and I did."
"Evasion training?" Pidgeotto repeated, she didn't sound reluctant but she did sound wary.
"You can't do exactly what we did," Ash admitted, Shelldon was back in Pallet Town. "But we can do something similar with you. Put simply, if you can dodge a Thunder Shock, you can dodge a rock!" Pikachu's evil grin gleamed and seemed to darken the sun itself.
An hour later Pidgeotto was out of breath but had made progress. When they had started she was getting hit by nearly every shock. Even with Pikachu doing his best to go easy on her (easy for him anyways), the damage was still evident. Ash had called her down after the first ten minutes and used a potion, asking if she wanted to break but had gotten a resolute 'no' in response.
"You said you went through this too?" She confirmed.
"It was a Blastoise with Water Gun but it was the same concept," Ash explained.
"Then I'll keep going. Besides, I think I'm starting to get used to the shocks." Not exactly the best way to look at it but if she was willing.
After that first break, she started doing better at dodging. She still got hit more times than not but by the end of the session, she was about 50/50 for the ones she dodged and the ones that hit her.
"You're doing good." Ash encouraged her. "We'll take a rest for now and talk about the new move later. I don't know how to use it so it will be a bunch of guesswork," he warned.
The flying-type just shook herself and started preening her feathers a bit. Letting her rest Ash turned to Pikachu.
"Honestly, Brock will probably have at least one ground-rock type. I'd probably be a better matchup for this gym than you." Ash thought out loud.
"Too bad you can't battle." Pikachu accepted. "But this is what we signed up for, do you have a plan?"
"An idea," Ash admitted. "Iron Tail, it would be a good move to hit rock types with but I have no idea how to even start training it."
"Hmm." Pikachu thought about the problem. "Maybe if I keep hitting stuff with my tail?"
Twenty minutes of hitting trees with his tail later and he hadn't made any progress on Iron Tail. He did have a sore tail though.
"We're going to need to come up with a new strategy." Ash sighed. "And this means we might have to hold off on your move too, Pidgeotto."
"How come?" The flying type asked, now breathing easily after resting for a bit. "Was it going to be steel-type too?"
"Yeah, Steel Wing. But I don't think just slamming your wings into stuff until it works is a good idea. I wasn't sure with Pikachu either but at least he doesn't need his tail to move around."
"It helps me balance!" Pikachu pointed out but acknowledged the point.
As they had been training Misty had taken some time with her Pokemon to do the same. Goldeen had to remain in her Pokeball but Staryu and Starmie were out and about shooting water at each other. The training came in when instead of just taking the attack they would use Psychic to catch it and throw the water back at the other Pokemon.
Ash decided to ask the gym leader if she had any ideas on steel-type attacks.
"Not really." She sighed. "Some of the gym Pokemon know an attack or two but I never had to try and teach it to them. It probably has something to do with focusing their defense or energy or something on whatever they're attacking with."
It wasn't much help but it was a start. It was something they would work on later in any case. For now, they continued on their way for the rest of the day.
When they made camp that night they decided to give the steel attacks another go before going to sleep.
Ash didn't have them just attacking poor trees again, instead, he had them just using the attacks in the air.
"Misty said that it might have something to do with treating it like a defensive move but then attacking with it?" Ash suggested. "I know Hone Claws which does something similar but that's just increasing my attack rather than my defense."
Whatever the case his teammates still tried it as Ash watched, asking questions and making suggestions. Just as they were about to call it a night. Pidgeotto's wings glowed as she made a slicing maneuver in the air.
Ash cried out in excitement. "That's it! I think you did it!"
Pidgeotto flapped to the ground slowly, evidently tired but looking pleased with herself. "I definitely felt something there. I'm going to try it one more time."
"Okay, just don't exhaust yourself," Ash warned her.
She nodded in acknowledgment and took off again. This time as she made the attack she aimed at a lower-hanging tree branch. It wasn't too thick, maybe about ten centimeters (or four inches) in diameter. Her wings began glowing again and she spun in the air letting her right-wing clip the branch as she flew by.
The strike knocked her off balance and she struggled to right herself before she lost altitude but regardless the effort paid off! The branch creaked as it fell and hit the ground and her two teammates cheered.
"Awesome work Pidgeotto!" Ash's excitement was contagious.
"Looks like you were right before." She said as she flew back around. She landed on Ash's shoulder, opposite Pikachu's normal resting place when he used his disguise. "Having a trainer does help you get stronger."
"Maybe it's just this trainer," Pikachu suggested climbing up onto a shoulder himself. "I have yet to see proof that any other trainer can help Pokemon in battle."
"Didn't me and my trainer beat you the first time we battled?" Ash coyly asked his oldest friend.
"That doesn't count," Pikachu told him. "Because I said so."
That night went much the same as the previous one and the day started the same as well, with them doing training at lunchtime. After doing her evasion training Pidgeotto began helping to instruct Pikachu on Iron Tail as she rested on Ash's shoulder.
"I feel like I've almost got it." The Electric Mouse complained as they moved on. "It feels like I'm missing something though, maybe I need a proper battle to test it."
"Where are we going to find a battle out here?" Ash asked, Misty, glanced at him, waiting for him to realize and ask her to do a mock battle with him so they could practice. But before Ash came to this inevitable conclusion someone else interceded.
"You!" A young voice declared ahead of them. A boy who looked about the age of Ash's disguise (and technically Ash himself) stepped towards them on the path. "Are either of you from Pallet Town?"
"I am." Ash raised his hand, thankful that he was using his disguise again today. The boy in front of them was wearing the garb of a samurai. It was slightly offset, however, by the butterfly net on his back.
"At last! A worthy opponent!" He drew a sword from a sheath at his side. "Our battle shall be legendary!"
Ash blinked before smiling. "A battle! Sure! We were just looking for one!"
Misty sighed. "I'll get my chance sooner or later."
"I have faced all the Pallet Town trainers who have passed through my forest thus far. Honor demands that I face you as well!" He pointed the sword at Ash.
"You fought Leaf and Gary?" Ash checked. "And, uhh, Chou I think her name was?"
"There are no names in this path of life." The Samurai announced dramatically with a closed fist. "There is only the battle and the blade." He paused for a minute for the effect. "But yeah, those were their names."
"Alright, let's do this then! Who wants to go first?" He checked with his two Pokemon.
"Let him have a go at it." Pidgeotto decided graciously. "If he can get Iron Tail working like he thinks then he'll finally be back on my level."
"I'm still shocking you pretty frequently," Pikachu warned but jumped down and stood ready for battle.
"Let battle be joined!" Samurai declared and sent out his first Pokemon. "Go Pinsir!"
"A Pinsir?" Ash blinked. He hadn't even known that Pokemon lived around here.
"Go forth Pinsir! Use Tackle!" The Bug-type rushed forward as his trainer directed.
"Quick Attack Pikachu and if you can, Iron Tail!" Ash called his attack.
Pikachu rushed forward and collided with the Pinsir, the mix of speed and strength dominating the Pinsir's slower charge and knocking the bigger Pokemon off balance. With the momentary stumble, Pikachu leaped up and swung his tail at the bigger Pokemon to no effect.
"Darn!" Pikachu muttered as Pinsir recovered and made a grab at his smaller opponent.
"Remember to treat it like you are preparing to take a hit when you use it!" Ash called as his friend darted away from the Pinsir grabbing claws.
"Pinsir! When that Pikachu comes back for another attack, get him in Vice Grip!"
"Thunder Shock to slow him down!" Ash directed, "And finish him off with Iron Tail!"
The lightning flashed across the clearing and caught the Pinsir dead on. The Bug-type hissed in pain as Pikachu rushed in again. He took to the air and somersaulted. As he did so a bright glow joined the spin and when he collided with Pinsir it was with a silvery tail that sent the bug tumbling over!
"Pinsir no!" The opposing trainer cried.
"Alright, Pikachu!" Ash cheered. "I knew you could do it."
"Was there ever any doubt?" Pikachu asked, sounding immensely pleased with himself and he had every right to be.
"You may have defeated my Pinsir but this battle is not over yet!" Samurai warned, returning his defeated Pokemon and taking out his second Pokeball.
"Come on back Pikachu, let Pidgeotto have her turn." Ash decided and Pikachu ran back, a smile on his face.
"Yeah, she needs a chance to get 'back on my level.'" He mocked the flying type.
Pidgeotto squawked something unintelligible and flew out, beating her wings to stay in midair, waiting for her opponent to appear.
He did so a moment later, a shape appeared on the ground in the form of a…
"Metapod." The cocoon-wrapped Pokemon announced themself.
Pidgeotto landed and stared at her opponent. Then turned back to Ash and Pikachu. Ash shrugged at her as Pikachu laughed at her misfortune.
"See if I let you go first again." She muttered and faced her enemy again with a sigh. "Peck Ash?"
"Peck." He agreed.
Her beak shone and the attack lanced downwards even as the Samurai called. "Harden!"
Instead of her attack instantly defeating the Metapod as she had planned it instead bounced off the gleaming surface. Pidgeotto jerked back in evident surprise but her eyes narrowed. "So that's how you want to play it huh?"
"Metapod." The Metapod confirmed.
"YOU DARE MOCK ME?!" Pidgeotto's beak lit again and she repeatedly began Pecking Metapod as quickly as she could.
Even as she did so the Samurai kept calling for Metapod to Harden over and over again.
"Do all flying types have a temper?" Pikachu wondered, remembering their run-in with the Spearow.
"You're one to talk," Ash whispered out of the side of his mouth.
It took five whole minutes but eventually, Pidgeotto's ability to Peck paid off and Metapod was defeated.
"Alas." Samurai's head hung low. "From Bugs I came, to Bugs I shall return. No dreams before or after."
Ash felt a little bad but the Samurai perked right back up. "Good battle! My quest is now complete. I have faced the four trainers of Pallet and been defeated by all of them! Go forth now on your journey worthy opponent! Farewell!"
With that, he walked straight off the path and into the woods. Ash watched as he walked through a bush and then threw himself to the ground, probably trying to make it look as though he had just vanished into the woods.
He shared a glance with Pikachu and nodded. His friend was right, humans were weird.
"All's well that ends well." He decided. Pikachu had figured out Iron Tail and so had Pidgeotto; they just had to train a bit more and they'd be ready for their first gym battle. "Ready to go Misty?" He looked around. "Misty?"
"Is the bug catcher gone?" She asked from behind a fallen tree.
"Yeah, he's gone." He told her and she pulled herself over and picked up her crutches where they leaned against it.
"Oh good." She sighed in relief. "That Pinsir was just… yeesh." She shivered.
"Right!" Ash remembered. "You had an issue with bug-types. Wait, is that why you let me go in front of you? I thought it was because you were still on crutches."
"That was part of it," Misty admitted. "The other part is that you make a convenient meatshield between me and any bug-type Pokemon looking to tie me up in a Stringshot and leave me hanging from a tree all night because my stupid big sisters are too busy doing makeup, or sleeping over, or doing their hair, to make sure I made it home okay."
The three Pokemon shared a look. "Do… you want to talk about it?" Ash asked hesitantly.
"Nope!" Misty smiled a bit too widely. "Come on, if we hurry we can make it to Pewter by sunset!"
They made it sure enough. Stomachs rumbled as they had skipped dinner to make sure they made it before the sun fell before the horizon but at long last Pewter City stood before them.
"It's smaller than Viridian." Ash noticed as they walked out of the forest.
"Yeah, it was a mining and quarrying town once. But I don't think they do any exports anymore. I know there's a museum though." Misty explained.
"Sounds boring," Pikachu concluded as they continued.
The road began to slope down and Misty handed Ash her crutches as they carefully made their way down.
"Gotta be careful." She muttered keeping an eye on where she put her feet. "Don't want to have Nurse Joy tear into me for opening my cut up again."
"Huh, yeah I guess her sister would be Nurse Joy too." Ash realized. "I thought Joy was her first name though."
"It's their family name. At least, I'm pretty sure it is," Misty told him. "Just about every Pokemon center I've been to has a Nurse Joy working there."
"Big family," Ash noted as they pause for a moment on some flat terrain.
A sudden coughing caught their attention and they looked to see a man with a truly impressive-looking beard and a hat.
"Are you alright sir?" Misty asked as he took some deep breaths.
"Fine, little lady, thanks. It's… I'm sorry what were you saying there, I thought I heard something that caught me by surprise." The man explained in a gravelly voice.
"We were talking about how the Joy family seems pretty big," Ash explained.
"Oh, that's what you meant, I thought… you know what never mind, what brings you youngins to Pewter City?"
"I'm a trainer and I'm here for the Gym, these are my friends Pikachu, Misty, and Pidgeotto." he introduced them in the order he had met them.
The man's hum was like grinding rocks. "How curious most trainers wouldn't introduce their Pokemon as their friends."
"Well why wouldn't I?" Ash's confusion filled his tone.
Coarse laughter met his question. "Fair enough, well Brock's the Gym Leader around here and he does a pretty good job of it. So don't count it as a win just yet."
"I mean I haven't won yet so why would I?" Ash questioned the strange man.
Before he could answer, Misty inserted a question of her own. "Sir, what are you doing out here? It's a little ways from the city and the forest is right there." Suspicion was evident in her tone and posture. Already she had a hand on one of her Pokeballs.
"Isn't it obvious?" The man asked, standing up. His tall frame stood menacingly over them and the two trainers backed away a little. "I'm waiting for tourists!" He waved his hand towards a small shack surrounded by rocks. "Here at Flint's Fetching Finds you can find all the amazing souvenir rocks your heart could ever desire!"
Misty's hands fell to her side and Pikachu stared at the man. "Why? Why is every human crazy? How is Misty the only sane human we have ever found?" He paused. "And that's debatable."
Ash, however, was interested. "Oh, can I take a look?"
Several minutes later and smiling Ash carried his purchase alongside his backpack, and Misty's crutches. Pikachu had decided to move to the ground to make things easier on him. Pidgeotto did likewise but bemoaned the loss of her perch.
"I cannot believe you bought a rock," Misty complained as they moved down.
"It was only 500 poke dollars!" Ash defended. "That's a steal! He said he got it all the way from Sinnoh! And look at it! It's got this round thing in the middle and these shapes here! It's so cool looking!"
"Maybe the humans don't start crazy?" Pidgeotto suggested to Pikachu. "Maybe they're normal until Ash gets to them?"
"That doesn't explain me though!" Pikachu pointed out. "I've been around him longer than nearly anyone else and I'm normal."
"Define normal." Pidgeotto badgered him and nimbly dodged a Thunder Shock. "You're going to need to speed up there. These are moving at a snail's pace."
Pikachu just grumbled. "The next time we train I'm using Thunder BOLT then we'll see who's laughing."
They found the Pokemon Center easily enough and checked in the night, picking up some food from the vending machines there before calling it in. Misty got her room again while Ash and his team got theirs.
Ash made sure to lock the door and then dropped his illusion for the night. Pikachu and he simply rolled out on the bed and drifted off. Pidgeotto on the other hand, feeling perhaps a tad homesick and gathered every pillow in the room and made herself a nest of them.
The next morning they met up with Misty again and decided to eat before doing anything else.
"You're going to challenge the gym today?" Misty checked with Ash as they ate breakfast at a small diner nearby the center.
He swallowed the pancake he was eating. How he was able to eat while in his illusion he wasn't sure but he wasn't going to question what worked. "That's my plan, mostly. I'm going to call home first and send my rock back to Pallet Town in a package. It'll be a bit of a pain to lug it around with us as we travel."
"At least you're not completely devoid of sense." Misty prodded at her waffles. "I guess I'll watch the match and make some calls myself. How long do you want to stay for?"
Ash thought as he chewed. "Even if I win the first challenge, it will probably be a few days at least. Look around town a bit and everything. Why? Do you want to leave sooner?"
"Not really. I'm fine sticking around. You owe me a bike after all." She waved her fork at him with a sly smirk.
"I know…" he sighed and glanced at Pikachu who had a smirk of his own. "Oh knock it off, you're the one who broke it."
"I don't have any money though so there's nothing I can do, oh well." Pikachu sighed overdramatically.
"Don't say that, I'm sure there are some jobs a Pokemon can do and get paid for…" Ash considered.
Pikachu wisely chose to keep quiet about the bike after that.
The rock was sent and Ash talked to Delia, introducing Misty to her as well.
"Nice to meet you Misty, thanks for keeping an eye on him." She told his new friend. "Believe me, I know the kind of trouble he can get into."
"I'm beginning to learn." Misty agreed, glancing at the pouting Zorua. She looked around the Center and made sure it was just them at the phones right now. Keeping her voice down she asked. "So he's called you both his trainer and Mom, I'm just wondering are you…"
Delia laughed at the unfinished question. "I'm not a Pokemon, no I'm as human as you. But I have taken care of Ash for most of his life though and, well, he's my baby."
"Moooom." Ash's hands covered his face. Misty giggled next to him and Pikachu cackled and poked at Ash's cheek.
"Little baby Zorua." The electric-type teased.
"I am sorry to hear about your bike though." The trainer-mom added. "I could probably cover the cost if you need it soon."
"Don't worry about it." Misty waved her off. "It's not vital to my survival right now and this lug seems trustworthy enough that he'll pay me back."
They chatted for a bit more before signing off, Delia had to get back to work, and Ash and his team had a gym to challenge.
After saying their goodbyes, Ash and his friends made their way to the gym. A stone pathway led to the gym itself which had a massive stone facade with the words 'Pewter Gym' Carved into it. Despite the stone, wooden doors served as the entrance.
Ash glanced at his two teammates. "Are you two ready for this?"
"Let's do this." Pikachu tried and failed to crack his knuckles.
"They won't touch me." Pidgeotto puffed out her chest again.
With that, Ash pushed the doors open and faced his first gym challenge.
Does this count as a cliffhanger? I mean, Ash faces the gym, that is what is going to happen in the next chapter. The question is what happens in the battle?
Whatever the case, that's the end of the chapter! I was a bit worried I wouldn't finish in time as I have work tonight but it is done!
Not much to talk about this time.
So… reviews!
Bluepigment: Hopefully you're asleep as I post this one. Sleep is needed in order to function. Also it's really comfy. As for the translation, yeah that was a very good translation so whatever program you were using works!
Only a Guest In Disguise: I'm leaving them be for now, as I said above. I hope you enjoy the update!
storyreader21: Illusions do make disguise easy, regardless of gender! It's the voice that might give him away if he's not careful. (ignoring the fact that he is and has been voiced by a woman his entire existence)
PenguinBandit21: I was already aware of the context. The issue is if he lied about her age that would be the only thing she lied about because she also used her real name and the occupation of "diva" on the same form. Whatever the case I'm keeping it as 17 because again, I find it hilarious. Team Rocket will return, after all there's a new type of Vulpix to find somewhere out there!
Oakler: I'm more worried about the technical stuff than anything else. As for your name I have been spelling it correctly, the issue is that after I spell it and hit space it autocorrects to Oakley I tested it on a fresh document after I read your review and double checked as I wrote this response. I actually fixed it in the last chapter because I also had to fix Jessie's name.
PokeDan: They have an interest in a Pikachu, but obviously not that one. It's a completely different Pikachu clearly.
7sky: and so it has!
Patch6782: This review confuses me. Like, moves aren't limited to regions they are limited to games. As new regions are introduced the generation introduces some new moves and pokemon from older ones may be able to use those moves. So they will.
Nightfiredragon: Well if this chapter doesn't make it obvious he's not catching all the same Pokemon he caught in the anime. Where will this lead? That remains to be seen…
Walpurgisnacht: I like it too!
Lupercus1994: I was getting worried you wouldn't review before I got this chapter out! That is how I've been writing Misty at this point, the world is insane and she's living in it. And made friends with it. Where will her learning to speak Pokemon go? Confusing ways! I have ideas for it but I'm still working out the bugs in it. Yeah in this case she still wants a new bike but well she got herself involved in it and Ash didn't just steal her bike. Zorua, what's that? They want Vulpix. No Caterpie, nothing against him but I don't just want to use all the same Pokemon. There aren't many flying types this early in Kanto and rather than drag one in from a different region I decided to let him get Pidgeotto. Some faces will be familiar, some less so. I have an idea for several Pokemon Ash will get but we shall see.
That's all for this time folks!
Reminder I have a discord now if you want to join! The link does not work on this website though so you'll have to type that confusing string of digits. I apologize. But you can find the address here and on my profile page!
discord gg kESdTfhAwG
Until the next time we meet!
~FriTik
R&R