Chapter 4 A Rival named Fern
Ash and Pikachu are now out of the Pokemon Center after healing up, they notice a garden with wild Pokemon roaming around. The only problem is that the garden has its owner, who is named Seacrest. So he asks if he can enter the garden inside his house.
Seacrest: So, you wish to enter my garden? No, now get out.
Ash: (Confused) But why?
Seacrest: Once, I let just anyone in. But then the careless people of this city ruined it. Are you different than them? Can you prove to me that you are of a higher caliber?
Ash: I can, how do I prove it to you?
Seacrest: (Sends out Caterpie) Then show me your dedication by a battle.
Ash nods as he sends out Rowlet to battle, with its help, he manages to defeat Caterpie, Weedle, and Wurmple in a row.
Seacrest: I've seen enough. Please treat my garden with respect.
Ash smiles and thanks to the man, and a lot of wild Pokemon are also amazed at how Ash battled and decided to join his team. Once he is done, he also finds another house with a pool of clean water filled with wild Water Type Pokemon, so he decides to also go there and check it out.
Fisherman: What do you need? I don't have anything to offer you, except a fight. Unless that's what you're here for.
Ash: (Decides to fight) I'm here for a fight all right.
Fisherman: Suit yourself.
The fisherman only has a Goldeen, and it is one-shotted by Pikachu with ease.
Fisherman: I like you. Tell you what! I'll let you into the back. Hope you have a fishing rod.
Ash nods as he goes towards the lake to capture some new Pokemon, but nothing much is inside because of the low area.
Ash's New Pokemon in Lower Peridot Ward: Burmy, Swablu (Headbutt), Caterpie, Ledyba, Sunkern, Trubbish, Wurmple (Grass), Finneon, Goldeen (Fishing)
As he heads north, they finally get to the Peridot Ward.
Ash: So this is Peridot Ward...just like Lower Peridot Ward, this place is a mess...
They manage to capture a Grubbin inside one of the houses that has an electrical power shortage, turns out that the bug Pokemon is sucking the electricity. And inside of the Alleyway, he also finds a Purrloin inside.
Ash's New Pokemon in Peridot Ward: Grubbin (Event), Purrloin (Alleyway)
After that's done, he goes west until he finds a green-haired boy facing a man in some sort of uniform.
?: Listen, I'm only gonna ask one more time. What do you know about the- (Notices Ash and Pikachu approaching) Hey, back off! Unless you're with this loser-
Suited Man: Excuse me! (Runs away as fast as he can)
?: Hey, what the hell? Get back here!
But the suited man is nowhere in sight, causing the boy with glasses to be angry.
?: ...Tch. Faster than he looks. So what's your problem, huh? You with that guy? In cahoots? Cuz I don't think you know just who you're messing with.
Ash: Are you accusing me? I was just passing by until you start to talk to me about something.
Fern: (Adjust his glasses) Name's Fern. I'm the cool cat and the top dog. Got it memorized? I don't appreciate you interfering with my business.
Ash just stares at the boy, not knowing what is this about.
Fern: You look utterly clueless, so I'll explain. As the one sitting at the top of the social hierarchy, it's my responsibility to make a difference. Clean up others' messes, make a difference, and give people a reason to smile. You get it? So how am I supposed to do that if some lowlife loser like you comes along bumbling into my way and jacks everything up?!
Ash: (Snaps) A loser? Me?
Fern: That was the culprit responsible for the accident at Grandview Station- no mistake! And thanks to you interrupting, he got away! Get the picture now? Cuz I don't think you do. Not well enough.
Ash widens his eyes, as he can't believe he just let the culprit who bombed the train escape just like that.
Fern: Get ready to take notes, cuz you're about to get schooled. (Sends out Budew)
Ash: Bring it on! Heracross, I choose you!
Ash sends out the Bug Type Pokemon to battle the Budew. It goes for a Horn Attack on Budew, but Fern just smirks and has Budew go for Sleep Powder.
Ash: That's fine. You can use Sleep Talk!
Fern is caught off guard by the attack, and with the Horn Attack, it manages to knock out Budew even though it damages Heracross with an Absorb attack.
Fern: Go, Sandile.
The second Pokemon is Sandile, and Ash decides to return Heracross for Grubbin, the new Pokemon that he captured. Sandile goes for the Bite attack, wanting to make it flinch, but Grubbin goes with the Bug Bite, which damages Sandile a lot. And in the end, it defeats Sandile with another Bug Bite.
Fern: Your luck is about to run out! Rowlet!
The final Pokemon is Rowlet, and Ash decides to go with Pikachu for the battle. Rowlet goes for Leafage, but Pikachu dodges the attack and lands an Electro Web, causing the leaves to be destroyed into ashes.
Ash: Thunderbolt, now!
Pikachu fires the attack at Rowlet, even though it is part Grass, but the attack is effective and Rowlet faints in one shot.
Fern: Hah! Way to get lucky. (Recalls Rowlet) Tch. Whatever. I don't have time for this. I've gotta go find that guy and cover for your mistake now.
?: No need.
They turn to see a boy with a Torkoal approaching them.
Fern: Excuse me?
?: While you two were busy horsing around, I already caught the perp. Reborn City Official Inspector, at your service. You all can move along now.
Fern: What, that's it? Just "move along?" You gonna sweep this under the rug like the rest of the shady business that's been going down here? Everyone knows the police don't do a damn thing.
Inspector: (Shakes his head) Tsk, tsk, tsk...
Fern: You got somethin' to say?
Inspector: Children should listen before they speak. Torkoal and I already took the liberty of having a little chat with our perp. We've learned quite a few things that will be of use to the main force. The culprit's in custody, and we'll be arranging a raid on their little gang's hideout just as soon as the paperwork clears. I'm afraid there's no room for kids like you to be playing vigilante. You should go home before someone gets hurt.
Ash: Excuse me, I'm already 18. I am not a child.
Fern: (Cuts Ash off) So they're not working alone? What's this hideout?
Inspector: Classified information, pipsqueak. Obviously, I'm not going to leak information on a nearby criminal den to whelps like you. Ask your mommy once it's on the news. (Leaves)
Ash doesn't really like the inspector, maybe that's the reason why the Reborn Region is a mess.
Fern: ...Dumbass. He just said it's nearby. And I know for a fact I heard that shady guy mention something about a facility. If it's not this building, I bet it's the other one. Smaller than this, and fenced off. You probably passed it on the way here. Bet you that's the place.
Ash: Maybe I did pass the place, so what?
Fern: So here's the plan. Obviously, that "paperwork" is gonna take way too long. So I'm gonna go do something about it, and you're gonna help. It's your fault I didn't get that information from the guy directly. The least you can do is fix your mistake. Got it? I'll meet you there. Try not to be too late. (Leaves)
Ash: (Sighs) He is rude, I don't like him a lot.
Pikachu nods in agreement, but Ash sighs.
Ash: I bet the Gym Leader has returned to the gym, I don't think I would be that bold to go into the base of some criminals. Let's go.
Before getting back to the gym, they decide to stop by and check into the abandoned Underground Railway, there, they find a Pansear and a Woobat, both of them are captured in the end.
Ash's New Pokemon in Opal Ward: Pansear (Event)
Ash's New Pokemon in Underground Railway: Woobat (Cave)
After getting back to the gym, they see Julia who is about to leave the gym.
Julia: Oh, hihi, Ash! Were you coming to challenge my Gym? I'd love to battle you, but it's gonna have to wait; we've got trouble!
Ash: Trouble?
Julia: I just got a report from Ame about the bombing at Grandview Station! They caught the perp, and apparently, they've got a team planning a second attack! And you'll never guess where...
Ash: (Rolls his eyes) Your gym?
Julia: (Jumps with anger) MY Gym! Nobody blows up my Gym except for me! Only I can be responsible for comically ludicrous amounts of property damage, you hear me?! So, I'm going to hippity-hop over to their hideout off the record and teach them a lesson! One of my friends is going to come help, too, so I've gotta run~
Before Julia is about to leave, she realizes something and rushes back to Ash.
Julia: I know! Why don't you come, too? The more muscle the merrier, and it'll be a good way to level up so you stand even a shorted spark's chance at my challenge! Meet us at Mosswater Industrial. It's right by the train tracks! See you there!~ (Rushes away)
Ash: I must say she runs really fast...even though she is wearing a skirt... (Blushes a little)
Pikachu notices Ash's face and snickers.
Ash: (Groans) Not you too, Pikachu. First Victoria, and Mom...even you as well?
After heading to Mosswater Industrial, he doesn't see Julia but rather a face he doesn't want to see: Fern.
Fern: Well, look at that. You actually came. And here I was worried you'd be too busy wetting yourself or something.
Ash: I think you are the kid rather than I. You just hate to admit it.
Fern: (Ignores Ash and slams at the door) The place is shut tight, but that figures. We'll just have to find some other way in.
Julia: Flashbang entrance! Dynamite throw! Gooooo, Electrode! Ka-booooooom!
Out of nowhere, Julia appears and has her Electrode use Explosion, breaking the door into pieces.
Julia: Hocus kaboken, the door is now broken~!
Fern: What the hell, woman?! Where did you even come from?!
Julia: (Mocks) Ask your sister to tell you when you're older!
Fern: I'd rather not, thank you. But speak of the devil...
Ash notices that behind them, another girl appears. She looks just like Fern, but she is a female instead of a male.
Fern: What are you two doing here exactly?
Julia: Stopping the bad guys! Duh!
Fern's sister: Recent police intelligence suggests multiple large-scale destructive operations are being coordinated from within the given industrial facility.
Ash: What's with the robot-like talking?
Fern: So, unfortunately, that's my sister, Florinia. As you can see, she's allergic to words with less than three syllables.
Florinia: No such allergen exists. This speaker simply understands the importance of maximizing the precision and efficiency of language through whatever vernacular is deemed most efficacious.
Fern: (Sighs) Like I said. Some people call her 'Flobot' cuz of that.
Julia: Well, I call her Rini, because she's not a Flobot! She's a Rini through and through! And like she said- we got a report saying a group here is plotting to blow more stuff up than just Grandview Station! Like the Gym! MY Gym! The only one who's allowed to blow up my Gym is me!
Fern: So I was on the money. As it happens, we were also just coming here to clean up the police's mess. Well, me and Ash's.
Florinia: Despite traditionally "good" intentions, breaking and entering property without a proper warrant and procedure remains punishable by law.
Fern: Hey, Flobot. You ever heard of this thing? It's called "not being a wet blanket"?
Julia: I am not saying this to Ash, but Rini is right! As average citizens, you could get in serious trouble for trying to barge in on private property unauthorized!... Luckily, we're both Gym Leaders, so consider yourselves authorized! Now let's get in there and get to business! According to super top secret ultra ninja intel, this building belongs to a group called "Team Meteor".
Ash: That is a weird name...why does everyone have to be "Team" something? Isn't that just broadcasting to the world that they're bad news?
Julia: Sounds like you have a lot of experience. But they're totally the same ones that blew up Grandview Station! And if we don't get in here and boom their faces off, they're gonna cause havoc! ...A practice I normally approve of, but not like this. Sooooo, all troops, move out!
After Julia and Florinia rush into the facility, Fern can only sigh.
Fern: Leave it to the Electric Leader to steal our thunder. Whatever. Just try not to slow us down, Ash. And if you can figure out how to be slightly helpful on the way, that'd be great.
Ash: (Mutters) No need to tell me that, I'm older than you. (Rushes inside with Fern)
Here is a new chapter, and the rival that everyone who played Reborn hates, Fern, is here. I admit I dislike Fern at the beginning, but something happened that causes me to feel a little sympathy for him during the Post Game. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be the raid.
