I was never more relieved by an interruption than when Honedge appeared yesterday out of the blue. I feel kind of bad by my relief because there was an Oddish hanging off her cloth, but I could no longer stand Jolteon and Buneary's glaring contests. Also, the only issue with Oddish was the lack of food. After sharing our dinner with her, she was feeling ok. She even decided to join Dawn's team!
I smiled in nostalgia; it was like our first journey. During our first forest, we met and caught our first two members of the family. It's just a pity that no one in the team, other than the original members, have been able to meet Butterfree. Even Primeape and Muk haven't met him! He and his mate could have lived happily at Professor Oak's ranch. Luckily, Ash kept Butterfree's Poke Ball so no one else can catch him. The same with Lapras.
I am happy that we finally had three of our old members back… but I could not help but wish we had them all.
Greedy I know…
I especially miss Larvitar. He was the first egg that we've ever helped hatch on our own. He was like a son to me. But he needed to return to his mother. Being able to help and experience Larvitar's hatching was magical, in a way Donphan could not match. Donphan was Ash's baby, he knows it, Ash knows it, everyone knows it. But Larvitar… he was mine. Ash was his big brother, his amazing uncle. However, I was his father. Which was another reason why I was angry with Umbreon. Taken away my chance of being there for Jolteon was unforgivable.
"Pikachu?" Ash called me out. "Are you ok buddy?" He asked me, worriedly.
"Ah!" I squealed in pleasure, as he rubbed my cheeks the way I like. "I'm fine, Ash. Don't worry." I answered him, feeling bad for lying.
"Don't believe you… but I'll let it go." He whispered back, and I honestly felt better. I love how he always understands me, even if we have a language barrier. Suddenly a Sunny Day was fired close by. "Pikachu."
"On it Ash!" I assured him, jumping off-shoulder and taking a defensive position in front of them. Ash pulled Dawn behind him and called Honedge out. "Show yourself!" I shouted, Jolteon standing on my left as Honedge guarded our trainer and Dawn.
"Oh, our apologizes," a handsome princelike guy appeared from within the trees, with a Budew by his side. The guy even had a goddamn Mew harp. "We were just training."
"Our apologizes," Budew repeated, bowing slightly alongside her trainer.
Ash looked at me, and he relaxed when I nodded my head. They were clear. Jolteon and I returned to his side and he finally let Dawn from behind him, but he kept Honedge hanging on his belt like a real sword.
"No harm, no fool." Ash goofed, but I knew there was an underline of disapproval. "But next time try not to train so close the route's pathway." He scolded lightly, a smile still in place as he puffed his chest a little to delicately show off his Ranger's Badge on his vest.
The prince looked at the Badge for a second before smiling softly and theatrically bowing, Budew following suit, and said: "I understand."
"Good," Ash replied, finally relaxing completely and returning to his usual self.
"My name is Nando and this is my friend and partner Budew." He presented himself, his comforting smile still in place.
"Nice to meet you," Budew greeted us.
He's not such a bad guy. I can clearly see that his Budew is well-taken care of and he seems to truly care about her. Not to mention he has this beautiful scent of roses, not overpowering like Drew but a delicate and light scent. Not to mention anyone who can make my trainer blush, even a light one, cannot be bad.
"Nice to meet you!" Dawn called out happily. "My name is Dawn, and this is Ash!"
"Hi," Ash finally recovered his speech, it made me chuckle. I paid no mind to his glare and continued laughing at my silly trainer. "These are my friends Honedge, Jolteon, and this annoying little rat is Pikachu," he kneeled to ruffle the fur on my head.
"Rat?!" I squeaked astonished. "I am no rat! I am a mouse!" I growled, playfully shocking him slightly.
"It's nice to meet you," Jolteon greeted them, excitedly to meet new people and pokemon.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance," the ever polite Honedge said.
"Nice to meet you all," Nando said with content and comforting smile. "If it is no trouble may I ask for a battle?" He said, directing his gaze towards my trainer.
"A battle? We are always up for one of those!" I exclaimed, excitedly for a battle.
It's been a while since I fought someone outside our family. While many of my brothers and sisters had various mock battles with Gary's team, I simply stayed clear from them. Umbreon's betrayal is still fresh in my memory.
"Sorry buddy, but you won't be fighting this time around." Ash apologized, ruffling my head one more time as I whined. "Look closer, that Budew is close to evolving. That's why you want this battle right? To help her evolve into a Roselia." Ash asked him, Nando looked surprised for a moment before smiling again and nodding his head calmly. "It wouldn't be fair to pit you against her and would rob her of the chance to gain that little push she needs."
"Ok," I sighed. "I understand. But the next time I'll fight!"
"I promise, buddy," Ash replied with a smile, before standing back up. "I would love a fight! I recently caught a pokemon who I would give some experience. However, why don't we move away, we might hurt someone by accident fighting here."
"What a marvelous idea," Nando said, following us into the forest.
"One on one?" Ash asked, just to be sure. When Nando nodded, Ash beamed and threw a Poke Ball. "Starly, I choose you!"
"Budew, if you may," Nando said.
"My pleasure," Budew bowed, taking her place on the makeshift battlefield.
"Starly, Quick Attack!" My trainer called out.
"Dodge my friend." Nando countered, dodging at last moment and when Starly had his back on Budew he called: "Now Bullet Seed."
"Double Team to dodge." Ash rapidly ordered, Starly was too close to dodge normally. The Bullet Seed took out four of the seven clones. "Surround her! Follow up with Gust."
Soon Budew was caught by a small Twister formed by the three Starly around her.
"Counter with Mega Drain my friend," Nando called out when Budew was finally released from the handmade twister.
"Starly, Wing Attack."
A direct hit!
"Ash won this!" Dawn cheered beside me.
"Not yet." I chuckled, seeing the familiar glow appear around our opponent. "If you want your pokemon to evolve, get them to Ash. He'll always do the trick".
"Amazing my friend! Now Solar Beam, Roselia!" Nando ordered, his smile did not change but I could see his eyes glinting with excitement when his pokemon evolved.
"Fast! Aerial Ace!" Ash called out, with Sunny Day in the action of course he would be wary of the attack's speed.
Luckily Aerial Ace did the job to dodge the Solar Beam and deal the last blow. Honestly, only two days with Starly and he already learned Aerial Ace. With so many Flying Types Ash has truly learned how to train them fantastically. Still, Starly needs to up the speed and strength of the attack.
"That was a wonderful battle," Nando said, recalling his Roselia. "Thank you, Ash."
"Thank you, Nando, we had a lot of fun." Ash chuckled, nuzzling Starly, who landed on his shoulder. "What about you my friend? Did you have fun?"
"I did it!" Starly chippered, happily.
"Of course, you did! And you won. Well, done!" Ash congratulated the newest member.
"Thank you!" Starly replied, as excited as Ash for having won the very first battle he's been on.
"Would you like to travel with us to the city?" Dawn asked our new friend.
"I would love to, thank you," Nando answered, smiling at both of them.
Though Ash was the only one who blushed. He has always been a fool for pretty princelike faces. I laughed at my trainer, especially after he stuttered a piece of advice to Nando about following his heart and doing both Contests and Gym Battles.
This journey will be fun, I thought amusedly as my trainer continued to blush and Nando checks Ash out. Too much fun.