Chapter 15 Malchous Forest Park
Ash and Pikachu enter the Malchous Forest Park, and he can see a lot of vines blocking some paths just like in Obsidia Park, and the vines are coming from the giant building in the middle.
Ash's New Pokemon in Malchous Forest Park: Fomantis, Pansage, Paras (Grass)
As he move forward, he suddenly finds himself out of the park and on the other side of the Jasper Ward. When he enters a building, he finds an officer being surrounded by a Team Meteor Grunt.
Grunt: Hey, back off! (Recognizes Ash) Wait a sec. I remember you, you're the twerp from Peridot! It's payback time!
The grunt goes for Alolan Raticate, but he is no match for Ash as it is defeated by Pancham's Arm Thrust.
Grunt: Not again! You're infuriating! Get out of my way! (Retreats)
Ash rushes toward the Police Officer, who doesn't seem to be injured.
Ash: Are you okay?
Officer: You beat that guy...Ah, thanks! He had caught me off guard and cornered me here. I'd better get back to work, the others must be worried. Be seeing you!
After destroying more vines in the park, he finds Heather again.
Heather: Hey, stay back! (Pushes him down)
Ash: Hey, what gives? (Annoyed)
Heather shushes him up as they notice two Meteor Grunts nearby, they didn't seem to notice Ash and Heather since Heather manages to push themselves out of the sight.
Heather: That was close! You gotta be more careful! They've got a Pokemon hooked up to some kind of big machine in there! Whatever it is, it can't be good! Let's sneak around the area and take out their guards before they notice anything's up! Take this to help!
Ash received a Super Potion from Heather, and he is confused as to where she gets it.
Heather: I stole it from one of them, but don't worry about that! Let's kick their butts good!
The girl flies off with her Salamence once again, and Ash decides to continue to destroy the plants on his way. Some Meteor grunts spot him as they try to stop him but in vain. On the way, Ash also finds a white egg, remembering that the last egg hatched into Drowzee when exploring in Obsidia Slums, he hopes that the egg is a Pokemon that he doesn't have or else it will be a problem. And on the ground, they find another Pulse Dex Read Out.
Pulse 05B Tangrowth: Grass- and Ground-type. Ability: Arena Trap. Hybridized for erratic growth. Its function is to empower nature to reclaim stolen land. After absorbing the latent corruption, it begins to purify the damage by petrifying and breaking down the toxic components.
After reaching the center, Heather is already waiting for them.
Heather: I've got most of the others taken care of. Anyway, time to charge in there. This tower looks like it could be a good jungle gym for you.
Ash: I can tell. How are we going to get in?
Heather: (Looks up at the window) I see a way in, you did, too?
Ash: (Notices the window) Okay. Charizard, bring me there!
Charizard nods as he brings Ash to the window, when they jump inside, they can see the floor having a giant hole. Ash, Pikachu, and Charizard jump into the hole and see another Tangrowth with the PULSE Machine, and a man around Ash's age standing in front of it. He has brown hair and he doesn't seem to be impressed by Ash entering the place.
Taka: Oh? I wasn't expecting anyone to actually come here. But that's fine, I guess. My name's Taka. What's yours?
Ash: I'm Ash and this is my Pikachu and Charizard. Are you with Team Meteor?
Taka: You could say so. I assume you're looking for this thing, right? This Tangrowth has caused a lot of damage. All the destruction in Jasper is because of it. The PULSE it's linked to has made this Tangrowth take lives, homes, and much more than that. But, you know... I'm sure it never wanted this either. Mutated, morphed, and altogether mangled, this is just the life that was chosen for it.
Ash: Then why don't you stop the PULSE?
Taka: To be honest, I just want to let it go. Tell it, "You've done enough, you're free to do whatever you please now." Unfortunately, I can't do that. After all, I'm with Team Meteor. (Yells) Surround him!
Just then, a lot of Meteor Grunts surround Ash and his group.
Taka: Sorry about this. By the way, one of my orders is to eliminate you, so don't take it personally or anything, all right?
Heather: I don't think so!
Heather rushes in and stands in front of the grunts, Ash is delighted to have some help because he knows he can't face every one of them alone.
Heather: Now that I'm here, you better believe you're in for a world of pain!
Taka: (Narrowed his eyes) Sorry, who are you?
Heather: The name's Heather, magical maiden of the wind and hero to all!
Taka: (Sighs) Right...
Grunt: (Mocks) As if a little girl's gonna do anything about it!
Heather: (Smirks) Wanna bet? I can beat up all three of you at once!
Grunt: We'd like to see you try!
Heather: Well, okay! Don't say I didn't warn you! (Throws a Pokeball and reveals a Salamence)
Grunt: (Shocked) Wh-what the hell kind of kid has a Salamence?!
Heather: (Taunts back) What's the matter? You aren't suddenly afraid of a little girl, are you?! (Turns to Ash) Hey, Ash, these guys have really ticked me off, so I'll deal with them! I'm leaving the Tangrowth to you!
Taka: (Shrugs) Well, I guess this is fine. Let's see what you can do. (Sends out Exeggcute)
Ash: If you won't shut down the machine, I'll force it to shut down! Unfezant! I choose you!
Ash sends out the Unova Pokemon, Exeggcute goes for Bullet Seed, and Unfezant dodges and goes for Aerial Ace, slamming the Pokemon. Exeggcute uses Leech Seed, much to Ash's annoyance, but Unfezant uses Steel Wing and Heat Wave, finally knocking the Exeggcute out.
Taka: Chatot, go! (Sends out the second Pokemon)
Chatot goes for Chatter, causing Unfezant to be confused, and then it goes for Chatter again, defeating Unfezant with ease. Ash goes for Pikachu this time, and Chatot goes for Nasty Plot and Sing, causing Pikachu to be asleep and the attack continues to hit. But Pikachu eventually wakes up and defeats Chatot with Thunderbolt.
Taka: (Turns to Tangrowth) It's a shame it has to come to this, but you're up, Tangrowth.
Ash: (Thinks) If I beat this Pokemon, it will also get killed in the end. However, it will be better if I switch Pokemon.
Taka: Trying to switch Pokemon? I don't think so, after all, its ability is now Arena Trap. Sand Tomb!
Pikachu is stuck in the sand, much to Ash's horror, and then it goes for Rock Tomb, knocking out the mouse Pokemon.
Ash: I'm sorry, Pikachu. (Turns to Charizard) Charizard, help me out.
Charizard roars as it goes for Heat Wave, but Tangrowth goes for Rock Tomb, which is super effective.
Ash: Charizard, don't worry about it, use Flamethrower again!
Charizard shoots out the fire attack on the Tangrowth, causing it to roar in pain. And Charizard goes for Air Slash, also slashing at the rocks coming after it.
Ash: Charizard, let's finish it off and show why Team Meteor can't mess with us! (Takes out Z Ring)
Taka: Wait, is that...
Ash: (Does the pose) Use Inferno Overdrive!
Charizard goes for a strong Fire attack, and it causes the Tangrowth to explode into ashes of the fire. Taka jumps behind the ledge as he tries not to get himself burned, and so are the others.
Taka: (Sighs) Well, I've tried. So that's it, is it... What a shame. Perhaps I shouldn't say this, but there's one last Tangrowth up in the Beryl Ward. It would be even more of a shame if something were to happen to that one too.
Just then, the floor is shaking and some of the Meteor Grunts all flee immediately.
Taka: Ah, and there's that.
Heather: Ash! I think this whole place is going to collapse! Quick, hop on! I'll get us out of here!
Ash quickly recalls Charizard and jumps onto Heather's Salamence.
Heather: Salamence, it's take-off time!
As both Ash and Heather leave, some of the grunts rush toward Taka.
Grunt: Sir, did you notice?! That girl- she was wearing a Ruby Ring!
Taka: (Widens his eyes) Oh, really? Well, whatever. Pack it up; we're due to move up to Rhodochrine.
The grunts nod as they all leave the place.
After Ash and Heather go out of the abandoned gym, they find that the shaking stopped and nothing collapsed.
Heather: Wait, that's it? It didn't collapse? But the enemy base is always supposed to collapse after you beat the bad guys! This is a rip!
Ash: I don't think it would be that easy...
Heather: Well, whatever. We made a pretty good team! And did you see me?! Those grunts were easy-peasy. I swear, half the time it took to beat them was just waiting for their Pokémon to finish falling over! What kind of challenge is that?!
Corey: HEATHER!
Ash and Heather notice Corey rushing toward them, and they both gulp as they know what is going to happen.
Corey: Heather, what in the wretched world are you doing here?! I've been looking for you everywhere! Do you have any idea how worried I've been?
Heather: (Mutters) I have a pretty good idea, yeah.
Corey: What in the blazes were you thinking, running off like that?! Have I not made it perfectly clear time and time again how utterly unsafe it is for you to be running about on your own!? A girl at your age- Even your mother wasn't- (Notices the Ruby Ring on her hand) You're... carrying her ring around again.
Heather: (Glares and yells at him) No, dad, why don't you go ahead and finish that sentence? My mother wasn't WHAT? Do you wanna actually talk about that?
Corey: ...Please, Heather, not right now- not here.
Heather: (Demands) Then WHEN, huh?! You ALWAYS refuse to tell me ANYTHING about her! Or why this STUPID ring is the only thing she left behind?! If you cared about her so much, why are you so afraid of talking about her?!
Ash kind of understands how Heather is feeling, he is also mad at how his mother never talked anything about his father, but he thinks that Corey might have a reason, just like his mother.
Corey: ENOUGH! You are untimely in pressing far too hard into matters which you do not and cannot comprehend! I have done all that I do for the sake of keeping you safe-
Heather: And you won't even tell me what from?! I don't NEED your protection- just ask Ash! I just took out three bad guys without breaking a sweat! I think you just wanna keep me caged up!
Corey: (Widens his eyes in horror) ...I beg your pardon, you did what?
Heather: Three of the evil people in black hoods, in the time it took Ash to beat one! So think about that!
Corey: (Trembles) Did they see the ring?
Heather: What?
Corey: Your mother's ring- did they or did they not see it?!
Heather: What the heck are you talking about?! Actually, you know what? Forget it. I'm sick of you always yelling at me over stupid things. Salamence, let's get out of here! (Flies off with Salamence)
Corey: Heather, wait- (After Heather is gone, he turns angry towards Ash) Leave this place. Do not speak to me or my daughter ever again. This is non-negotiable. Am I clearly understood?
Ash: (Decides not to argue with him after what just happened) Fine.
Corey: Good. (Leaves)
Ash: As if I am going to listen to him. He shouldn't cage Heather like that. (Wonders) But the Ruby Ring...why is it so familiar? (Leaves Malchous Forest Park)
Here is a new chapter, and as you can see, this part is really different from the E18 because in that story Heather was arguing with the player about not being able to beat Meteor grunts. And in E19 she finally does it and teams up with Ash. I hope you like this chapter and we'll be getting to Beryl Ward in the next chapter.
