The ranch, or at least, Ash's pokemon claimed territory has been quite restless since yesterday. When Professor Oak suddenly called out Primeape, Pidgeot, Sceptile, Meganium, Croconaw, and Espeon. No one knew why Ash would call out for some of the best fighters he had only one week into his journey through Sinnoh... but everyone knew it was for nothing good. Especially since the pokemon that were sent back to the ranch told us our trainer was supposed to attend a meeting at a Ranger Headquarters. We even tried to have the psychic pokemon try and ask Professor Oak for information but got nothing in return. Only finding out that Charizard was called as well.
It had us on edge. Sylvain and Glaceon were especially worried about Espeon. I had my hands full trying to get everyone to calm down and keep order. Even when I myself kept wondering what had happened to make Ash call for Charizard of all pokemon. But Ash had left me in charge, had trusted me to keep everyone safe in his steed and I would not fail him.
I tried to wonder about the topic of conversation to get to know the new members of our family. But I realized nothing could be done when the psychics had found out that Hunter J has been captured by Ash Ketchum. The news kept on repeating the same story: A fight broke on the borders of Jubilife City, a team of Rangers led by Ace Ranger Ash Ketchum had been sent out to deal and capture Hunter J. Ace Ranger Ash Ketchum had been successful and Champion Cynthia and Elite Four Lucian had already procured that the infamous criminal was put behind bars. That would have normally been something to celebrate, but the story was followed by the report of a fire breaking out during the mission and various Rangers had been hurt. So, when no call came from Ash hell broke loose.
Not even I had it in me to keep the guys in check, too worried about my family. The worst is that neither Professor Oak nor Ash's mom could get ahold of Ash. So, we spent the whole day and following morning worried sick, I don't believe anyone slept a wink.
I don't think I can explain the relief we felt when Professor Oak came out of his lab with various Poke Balls in his hands. It never is this bad whenever Ash gets involved in Ranger work… maybe because we've never known beforehand what he has gotten involved with. So, we've never had to wonder if they are safe and sound, we've always found out after the events held place. Waiting is horrible… and I am the one saying that.
I avidly waited as Professor Oak threw the Poke Balls into the air, releasing my family. They all looked the same as they've had when they left. The only change was that Croconaw was now Feraligatr. However, instead of celebrating that I was more focused on the fact that they were all uncharacteristically quiet. That never happens.
"So, Ash tells me to inform you that Meganium will not be participating in any kind of training and to take good care of her. She's expecting. The same goes for Feraligatr, no training until he gets used to his new body and power. Froakie, Bulbasaur, Turtwig, Chimchar, and Quilava will be joining Ash for the continuation of his journey, but he told me to send you to him later." Professor Oak informed us. "Until then mingle and… learn what happened."
With that said he turned around and left. It was as if a spell broke and everyone rushed forward. Sylveon and Glaceon jumped Espeon, Quilava went to Meganium, Sceptile, and Feraligatr, Heracross, and Hitmontop went to Primeape, I decided to approach Pidgeot, who was surrounded by almost every flying type in Ash's team.
"What happened there?" I asked, my words brought silence all around me.
The usual composed and dignified Pidgeot, the one I counted to keep her cool and inform us about the mission in a professional way, suddenly broke into tears. Sobs shaking her whole body, sending shivers down my bulb.
What could have happened to make Pidgeot react like that? I wondered in my head, afraid of the answer. Especially, when everyone in the team that had returned looked away in shame.
Only Feraligatr looked composed and I was not expecting him to be the one to answer: "We were all surprised when Professor Oak suddenly called us yesterday." He began. "When Ash let us out of our Poke Balls, we were surprised to find him wearing his Ranger's outfit and Pikachu wearing a very serious expression on his face. It seems that Jessie, James, and Meowth had contacted him with news of Hunter J coming to Jubilife City to hunt a pack of Luxray." He growled, getting many growls from other members of our family.
If there's anything we all agree on is how much we love Ash and his mom, that we would do anything for them, and that Hunter J had to be brought to justice for all her horrendous crimes. I thank the ex-Team Rocket for their information, as a Luxray pack had been saved and she was put behind bars much earlier than we would have anticipated.
Oh, how much things had changed the last couple of months. Not only in our family but also in those who had accompanied our trainer during his journey. Brock had decided to stop traveling and got back to school, so he could study to become a pokemon doctor. Misty had finally succeeded as the official and only Gym Leader of Cerulean City. May is going on a journey through Johto on her own and Max is studying under his dad, and from what I've heard he is getting special permission to be a trainer early as long as he has a master to keep an eye on his. His dad will fulfill that role. I believe he did so, to be able to catch the various friends, that he met during his journey with Ash, early.
The Team Rocket… well, ex-Team Rocket, have also decided to turn over a new leaf. They had come to the Ranch after finding out of all the new pokemon Ash had in possession to steal them, like always. Only this time Ash proceeded to stop them more maturely, he captured them and then convinced them to stop being part of the Rockets. James had only decided to be a criminal to escape his family and the arranged marriage they've made for him. Jessie is a coordinator, a performer, not a criminal. So, he told them to get married and go live their dreams. James is rich and he'll be able to maintain Jessie and help her go and fulfill her dream, no need for an arranged marriage when there's love and they will no longer need to live in a poor living situation. James could work for his parents, dealing with clients as he travels with Jessie and Meowth, and checking on the different branches of his family's enterprise. Meowth could even start a pokemon translation business. As for them being criminals… well, more than criminals they were a bother. Not once had they stole a pokemon successfully and they've even helped save the world a couple of times. A few calls later, Ash had them off the hook, as long as they no longer tried to steal another pokemon.
So, one wedding later they were a rich couple with plans to conquer the business and contest society of Sinnoh. But they hadn't forgotten about Ash and his help, so when my trainer contacted them to see if any of their contacts from their Rocket time had any clue about Hunter J's whereabouts, they promised to keep an eye on the issue… and they've fulfilled their promise.
"Ash had even summoned Charizard and has been given authority over the mission to capture her." Feraligatr continued. "It was a serious matter. He divided us into teams, we were his captains, and in charge of the pokemon in each team. Meganium was in charge of the Healing Team. Jolteon was part of the Rescue Team under the charge of another Ranger, she's fine." He rapidly added, seeing our worried expressions. "Ash clearly didn't want her joining the mission, but she's fast and small, perfect to get the word around about the danger coming and dodge the trees falling. He also needed eyes and ears in that team to know how things were proceeding there." I didn't like it, no one did, but we also understood. It wasn't like Jolteon wasn't prepared. "Honedge was in charge of the Ghost Team, whose mission was to steal the grunt's Poke Balls. Sceptile and Primeape were in the first line of attack inside the airship under the command of another Ranger. Charizard had to take care of the Salamence. Pidgeot was in charge of the aerial attack and… take Ash in and out of the airship." I winced when Pidgeot's cries became louder. Just what had happened out there?! I screamed in my head. "I was in charge of the Water Team, we had to take care of the fires that occurred as a consequence of the confrontation with Hunter J's group. Espeon stayed with Ash with Pikachu, they were the ones who confronted Hunter J and she had the order to keep us all connected via a telepathic link."
"That's good and all…" I began. "But that still doesn't explain why Pidgeot is crying her heart out or why you all look as if someone had died!" I finally snapped and raised my voice, getting various surprised looks. But I did not care, I had finally reached my limit. "Get to the point and tell us what the hell happened!"
"We-we-well…" He stuttered. "Everything was going according to the plan until Ash went to confront Hunter J." He finally answered, getting to the point. A feeling of foreboding came over me. "She tried to escape by blowing a hole on her ship and using a parachute, but Ash stopped her, and Espeon got apprehended her… however, Ash did fall from the airship."
Just like that, I felt my heart stop for a second. Breathing became hard and I could feel the cold seep in me. Many pokemon jumped up and shouted 'WHAT?!', shocked about the news. Maybe that's why Ash did not contact anyone, until today. The only thing that kept me from breaking down was the fact that Professor Oak had told us Ash has been the one to call for us and that if anything serious had happened to our trainer none of them would have allowed being taken from his side.
"I was supposed to keep him safe!" Pidgeot finally spoke between sobs. "He had left his security to me… and I failed him!"
"Don't speak like that." Espeon sighed. "Master does not like it when you do and he already has enough to worry about, to add your guilt to the mix." She scolded Pidgeot. "Master has already told you that he has forgiven you, that there was nothing to forgive. Even the lizard wasn't able to get to him in time! If anything, the mouse, the sword, and I should be the ones feeling guilty, we were the ones that could not stop him from falling…"
"Enough." Meganium finally spoke, with a severity I've never heard in her voice. "No more talking like that. We all feel guilty, if Feraligatr hadn't evolved and caught Ash before he touched the ground… we all would be without a trainer today." Her words sent shivers down everyone's spine. They made me realize how close we've been to lose Ash… to lose our family. "Charizard went berserker when the Mega Evolution snapped, not being able to be maintained after Ash lost concentration. He let Blaze take control over him and almost killed the Salamence… however, Blaze also meant he wasn't completely in control and Salamence took advantage of it and sliced his open. Charizard is ok now, surgery was successful and the worst he got was blood loss and stitches." I sighed in relief. I had almost lost two of my oldest friends yesterday. Three if we counted Pikachu, he would have never forgiven himself for Ash's death… none of us would. But it would have hit him harder. "But as we all know Charizard would never stay in bed rest and would easily end up opening his stitches the moment he was left alone. So, Ash decided to keep him with him until he regains his strength."
"Yeah, that sounds like Charizard to me." I chuckled. "What happens now?"
"I think there'll be a press conference tomorrow," Espeon answered, cuddling her mate. "People want answers… even though it was supposed to be kept a secret. Hunting down Team Galactic will be much harder for Master now." She sighed. "Master is traveling with a coordinator and she has a contest in Jubilife City the day after the press conference. After that, I believe he'll continue his journey."
"A coordinator?" I asked surprised, more relaxed now that I know everyone is safe... relatively speaking at least. "Anyone, we know?"
"No," Feraligatr replied. "She is a new trainer, just started his journey. But Aipom tells me she is a good person."
"Aipom?" I inquired; I knew Ash had planned to find a new trainer for Aipom, but I'm surprised he would find one so fast.
"Yes, Dawn is Aipom's new trainer," Meganium answered. "She is a good girl and a good coordinator, for a beginner. Aipom will have a good time with her and this way we'll be able to keep in contact with her and travel with her for another year."
"That's good." I sighed, relieved.
We spent the rest of the afternoon talking with each other, getting to know more details of the mission. We found out that neither Professor Oak nor Delia knew about Ash falling from the airship, so we decided to keep quiet about that around them and any psychic pokemon that wasn't part of Ash's group. I also decided to talk with Pidgeot, not only to make her feel better but because I also needed someone to keep an eye on the group until I returned. Meganium was pregnant and Sceptile would be too focused on his mate to do the job properly. I needed her at her top game, especially after all that happened. The team will be much rowdier than usual. It would also be good for Pidgeot, she'll have something else to focus on. Just in case, I also left Espeon and Sylveon to keep an eye on her.
When evening came, Professor Oak finally came to take us to Ash. Even if I trusted my team and knew that Ash was fine, the moment I was released from the Poke Ball I jumped on him. Everyone else had the same idea. Luckily, we were all small and did not worsen the condition of his shoulder. I heard chuckling before coughing and turned around to find Charizard laying on a bed, his whole torso covered with bandages and his arm connected to an IV.
"You are an idiot," I told him, once we settled down. Ash figured out that there was no way we'll let him go, so he stayed on the floor and allowed himself to be Lillipup pilled.
"As if you wouldn't have reacted the same way in my position." He growled/groaned back.
"If I had been in your position, I wouldn't have extended the fight during a mission for my entertainment." I scolded him, I softened when I saw him wince in guilt. "But I can see you understand your mistake."
"Believe me, I do." He replied with a grim frown.
"Good," I said, satisfied. "At least, tell me you no longer blame yourself about the Charizard Valley issue. Because if you had that and this, you'll be insufferable with all the moping."
"Relax." He scoffed. "With the mouse and Ash talking to me back in the Ranch before I left for the Valley, I was able to let go of the guilt…"
"But it won't be the same with this." I continued for him.
"No, not with Ash almost dying because I wanted to have some fun," I growled.
I sighed but kept quiet. Right now, was not the moment to talk with him, not when he is like this. It is also something only Ash will be able to get him to understand and forgive himself. Somethings can only be done by a trainer. So, I kept quiet and cuddled my trainer, happy and relieved that he was alive, lulled into sleep by his healthy and strong heartbeat.
My trainer was alive and there was no greater joy than that. Any pokemon can assure you that.