Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon. And thank goodness for that. Or you'd all be really jealous.

Thanks for the reviews! It looks like my reviewers have come back in full force… for which I'm glad. Staying at home today, so I'll probably have lots of time to write this. I've gotta make it good!

R'N'Rer… I did receive the email, but I forgot where it is already. Could you PM the details again…?

The battle… looks like everyone's pretty much anticipating it. I'll try my best not to disappoint! Loading Windows Media Player now. For those who don't like the sudden shifts, I'll be displaying my playlist here.

Rowdy Rumble (Kingdom Hearts 2)

One-Winged Angel (FFVII: Advent Children)

The Immaculate (Dirge of Cerberus)

Dragon God (Chrono Cross)

The Legendary Beast (FFVIII)

The Extreme (FFVIII)

Ignited (GSD)

Pride (GSD)

Bokutachi no Yukue (GSD)

Vestige (GSD)

And that's about it. Just to warm up for the fight scene, after all. Rowdy Rumble really fits this one.

And, without further ado, I guess I'll begin! Chapter 33 of Pokémon Go! is here!

The battlefield was immediately a field of chaos. Ditto-Hitmontop countered the flying tackle from the Poochyena, only to be set upon by a Zigzagoon from the side. Hoppip's Leech Seed came too late, missing the Pokémon by a yard.

The Fire and Lightning Pokémon provided the only substantial light in the place; one kept to each side as they fended off their attacks. Erynn watched as another Ember attack sputtered ineffectually against the elusive Digletts.

"Get into the air, now!"

Griven jumped, releasing a stream of flame which illuminated the battlefield below him, dodging the Digletts, but not the Noctowl who swooped down out of the darkness of the night.

"Espeon! Psybeam and get Griven down! Mudross… the Digletts!"

Griven's fall slowed, as the jewel on Espeon's head glowed brightly. The Digletts squealed as the grip of the soil around them tightened. Mudross barely had time to release them before they unleashed a Magnitude attack, sending everyone but the fliers off-kilter. Griven fell to the ground, Espeon's concentration broken.

"Ugh… Leon…!"

The Ground Attack had shaken the Electric-type, but he was stronger than that. As a Hoothoot swooped down on him, he released a burst of sparks, sending it flying backwards.

Slowly the trainers and Pokémon got to their feet; the Wild Pokémon were up first.

"They're coming for us; too!"

Ash dodged as a Poochyena charged at him, falling to a side, almost into the Gastly. He choked as the miasma enveloped him.

"Espeon! Psybeam!"

The Gastly was sent flying back by the fierce psychic shock.

"This isn't working…"

Dave hadn't had time to finish speaking before a Zigzagoon flew at him from behind. Turning, he watched as Houndour slammed it to a side.

"You're welcome," Michelle added as Leon got to its feet. The two of them stepped forward to face a Hoothoot and a Diglett.

"Hoppip; Leech Seed!"

The Pokémon shot another seed, and this time its aim was true, wrapping itself around a Poochyena. Its two brothers growled, turning to face them.

"Ditto; Counter the left one!" he shouted, running forward to meet their attack.

Ditto nodded, the Hitmontop form slamming its jaw shut with a swift kick to its chin, then sending it flying with another blow. Ash threw a punch at the Poochyena, feeling the blow connect only to be hit back by a tackle to his side.

"That… didn't go exactly how I'd expected it to."

"Griven…! Aura…!"

The call was unexpected as the Growlithe ran forward at the Poochyena harassing Ash, the aura of flame building up around itself.

"Take Down!"

It was over in seconds as the Pokémon slammed directly into the Poochyena, making that four down for the count.

"Ditto; Bubblebeam!"

The Hoothoot flew back, surprised, as Erynn turned to see how narrowly the attack had been averted. Erynn thanked them with her eyes even as Ditto transformed back into the pink blob. Ash got to his feet as more Pokémon crept into view.

"Is there no end to this…?"

The other trainers were kept from using their most powerful attacks because of the small confines; there was no chance to Overheat, to Thunder; let alone a Magnablast…

"Mudross; Mud Slap!"

The Pokémon sliced through the soil, engulfing its adversary in a tide of earth. That also meant it was grounded against Electric attacks. Michelle found that out a little too late as Leon was sent flying back by the Zigzagoon's Flailing.

"Ugh… didn't mean for that to happen; sorry."

Michelle shrugged, spraying Potion on the injured Pokémon.

"It's fine… you ready, Leon?"

Dispatching a third Hoothoot, Houndour rushed back to join them.

"We're taking this in two steps then…"

The Pokémon were still coming. They were flanked on both sides by an increasing number of Pokémon, even as the defeated slunk away. Ash sighed.

"Did you have to call all the Pokémon in Elem to this little gathering…?"

Erynn shot him a withering glare as Griven released a burst of flame his way.

"Whaa! Fine… sheesh…"

But she pointed, and he turned to see a blackened Gastly joining its comrades.

"Now I don't owe you… Idyll! Stun Spore!"

The yellow spores floated through the air, paralyzing an entire group of five hapless Pokémon. The two of them looked at each other before nodding.

"Ditto!"

"Griven!"

"Overheat!"

The last command they spoke together, sending the group of paralyzed Pokémon flying. Their respite was short-lived, for there were still plenty more to go. Hoppip shot another Leech Seed at a Hoothoot, bringing it to the ground.

"We've got to think of some other way…"

Espeon dodged another claw, releasing a bolt of psychic energy its way. The Noctowl staggered back, undefeated, and still more than ready to fight.

"At least we're getting good training here…"

Michelle stood between her two Pokémon as they dispatched enemies on either side.

"And it's also getting pretty tiring."

Espeon's energy was flagging as she returned to Dave, watching the Pokémon around them. Looking Mudross's way, she helped dispatch the Diglett it was fighting. The Earth Shaker Pokémon looked at the multitude of Pokémon around them, its eyes glowing a bright white as…

Dave rushed up to stop it.

"Not here… there're too many people you might hurt."

It relaxed, the light fading from its eyes. As another Pokémon; a Houndour this time; approached, it melted into the ground, leaving its trainer's grasp.

"They can't be attacking just because of you that Sweet Scent, can they…?"

Michelle rolled her eyes.

"There's also the fact that we're slaughtering dozens of their kin in cold blood for no apparent reason whatsoever; but yes, there's a possibility that some secret evil conspiracy has caused the Pokémon to lose any trace of sanity they have and relentlessly attack us."

Ash glanced around; Michelle was getting tired of this battle as much as they were.

"I'd say we finish this fast…"

Erynn turned to him even as Griven and Idyll stunned and burned the Pokémon around them.

"And how do you suggest we do that…? Ugh; Griven, return!"

She recalled the dog Pokémon, who was being assaulted by three Noctowls.

"Hoppip, return… lend me the use of your Oddish for a while…"

The two other trainers retreated until the four of them were back-to-back.

"What's the plan…?"

Michelle looked at Idyll.

"You're… going to…?"

Ash nodded at her unspoken question.

"Ditto! Throw Oddish in that direction with a Seismic Toss!"

Before Erynn could protest, Machop-Ditto flung Oddish into the wind.

"Idyll! Sweet Scent!"

Even as the Oddish flew, it released an overpowering scent across the scattered groups of Pokémon. As one they followed.

"You know this could end up getting that Oddish killed, right…?"

Ash groaned; more pessimism was the one thing he didn't need at a time like this.

"Now… Erynn; recall Idyll!"

As the pink effervescence fell slowly to the ground, Erynn caught Idyll in mid-flight. Ash turned to Ditto, now.

"Agility… and Flash!"

The pink Pokémon nodded as it disappeared in a flash of light. At the same time, Ash nodded to Dave.

"Ready for that attack…?"

Dave nodded, giving the command even as he covered his eyes. A short distance away, a bright flash of light illuminated the night sky. Erynn calmly removed her shades.

"A few seconds more…" Ash whispered as he waited for Ditto to return.

And then it happened. The Magnablast shook the ground, slamming into the stunned Pokémon and sending most of them flying. Ash watched in dismay; the attack had come too early.

And then he noticed the two spires which had erupted from the ground; the twin craters.

"You don't mean to say…?"

The four of them approached the hole, looking at the multitude of unconscious Pokémon around them. Ditto climbed up onto Ash's shoulder as he looked sheepishly at the Pokémon around them.

"I'm only taking one…"

The rest of them shrugged.

"Fine. Choose your Pokémon."

Ash stared at the field of Pokémon in front of him. In the darkness, he tried to identify a speck of colour in the field of black, gray and white around him. Dave put a Pokéball to the Poochyena at his feet, claiming it for his own.

And then he saw a flash of movement in the distance; of white and green. Before he could think, he'd thrown the ball. It spun through the air, curving to slam into the Pokémon from a side.

"Wow… you should play baseball or something…"

Rushing forward, Ash picked the Pokéball up. It was still warm from the capture. He aimed the sensor of his PokéNav at the ball and brought up the PokéDex function.

Ralts; the Feeling Pokémon. This Pokémon has the ability to sense the emotions of its trainer, and responds likewise.

"It's a rare Pokémon!" Dave exclaimed.

Ash looked at the picture on the PokéDex screen.

"Well… it doesn't look very impressive…"

Erynn slapped Ash's forehead.

"Ow… what was that for…?"

Erynn looked at him innocently.

"I'm not exactly sure; must have been a muscle twitch…"

Michelle looked between the two of them, and then laughed.

"Now that that's over…"

Dave and Ash's room was much like that of Erynn and Michelle's, only without the smell of Sweet Scent. Ditto was gone again; Ash wondered just why it liked Erynn so much.

Dave lay on his bed, reading from a Pokémon Trainer's magazine which the hotel had many old copies of. Ash sat cross-legged on his bed, reading the latest email his mother had sent him.

Dear Ash,

Congratulations on your second badge! Thanks for replying to the last mail. I heard there was something going on near Fluoride; hope you're alright. I'm glad to hear you're travelling in a group; I've a lot less to worry about, that way.

Your father's busy with another project now; it's getting pretty busy around here. The Organization's decided to build another Gym in this area! No, your father's not going to be a Gym Leader, but he's designing it, and it'll be big, just wait and see.

But it'll be a few months before the Gym is done, so I'm not sure how long it'll be before we might see you again. And I've done a little check-up on Aluminate…

The next few lines of her message read like something out of a tourist brochure. Places to go to relax, eat, native Pokémon… all packed into a single email. Ash finished typing the reply and sent it.

Closing the PokéNav, he looked at the two Pokémon who were sitting on his bed with him. Hoppip was sleeping, as usual, but the Ralts was looking directly at him. Feeling vaguely uncomfortable, Ash waved hello.

The Ralts made a slight sound, one that might have been friendly or hostile. Ash sighed.

"Another Pokémon… you know, I wasn't very thrilled about catching you, either. But since we're partners now… we might as well make the best of it."

The Ralts watched him, unmoving.

"You might as well know my name… I'm Ash."

The Ralts looked at him for a moment, tilting its head to a side.

"Ralts," it said.

Dave turned to look at him.

"Well; there's a breakthrough…"

Ash shrugged helplessly as the boy turned back to his magazine.

"And this… this is Hoppip."

The pink Cottonweed Pokémon just lay there, asleep. Ralts looked between it and Ash without saying a thing. Ash turned to Dave.

"You think this is meant to be my new partner then…?"

Dave looked between the two and shrugged amusedly. Espeon leapt off the window sill and turned to her fellow psychic Pokémon.

"You are…?"

Ralts turned at the telekinetic question. She looked uncertainly at Espeon a moment, then responded.

"Ralts."

There was a moment of silence, which meant more to both than the short conversation. It was after that that Ralts finally broke the silence.

"How do you stand being around humans…? There's so much… destruction and chaos…"

Espeon recalled the fight from a while back, empathizing with the Ralts. She hadn't enjoyed that one bit.

"It's not anyone's fault, you know… your trainer means well."

Ralts nodded.

"I know; but that doesn't change anything, does it…?"

A/N: And so Ash gets a Ralts, a third member of his team… and an unwilling one at that. Ditto and Hoppip are simple case studies, this Ralts less so. Will she actually come to be a part of the team…?

And also, sorry if the battle wasn't as cool as you all anticipated it to be, because it was meant to be all over the place and stuff; you can't expect two sides, straight on battling, because that's not how it's meant to be.

But other than that, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It's the first time I've been done so early, so I'm happy. I hope you lot are, too. Please review!