A Not-So-Flying Start

Alec's POV

It's been a day since leaving Speaker Valley, and the group was heading towards Anistar City and Dendemille Town, where Serena's next showcase would be. They were currently taking a break before continuing on their way with their Pokémon out. Arco and Rhino (Rhyperior) were spending time with the other Pokémon while Blade (Bisharp) was doing some mock training with Jaws (Krookodile). Stricker (Zebstrika) was uncomfortable with all the new faces to him and was sticking very close to Alec that he was starting to feel a bit awkward while Inferno and Ethan were sitting by Serena, both hoping from some grooming because apparently Alec's terrible at it, but he'd let Serena have her small victory.

"All good, Braixen?" Serena asked her.

[Yep. That's great,] Braixen answered.

"Can I brush too?" Bonnie asked suddenly. Bonnie's sudden rise in voice startled Stricker a bit, causing him to hide behind his trainer. "What's up with that?" Bonnie asked.

"Striker just gets startled easily, especially since there are so many new faces," Alec explained, petting Striker's muzzle to calm him down.

"Can't he be less scared?" Bonnie asked.

"Gee. I never could have thought of that," Alec said sarcastically.

A short while later, they were getting ready to leave and Alec returned everyone but Ethan. "Um, where's Hawlucha?" Ash asked. The group looked around and Hawlucha was still gone.

"It's been a while since I've seen him," Clemont said.

[There he is!] Pikachu suddenly shouted.

"There you are…" Ash started but stopped when the group noticed the egg Hawlucha was carrying.

[I found this just lying around. Don't know how it got there,] Hawlucha said as he gave Ash the egg.

"Wow! I've never seen a Pokémon egg," Bonnie commented. "So what kind of Pokémon egg is it?"

"I don't know. I don't recognize the markings," Alec said.

"And you can't tell by just looking at it," Clemont added.

"So Hawlucha, where did you get this?" Ash asked.

[I'll show you,] Hawlucha said. The group followed Hawlucha to an old and damaged tree.

"So, this is where it was?" Ash asked. Hawlucha nodded. "Maybe we can find the nest," Ash said. The egg then started glowing in his hands.

"Uh, Ash," Alec warned, pointing at the egg.

"It's glowing?!" Ash asked in shock as the light died down.

"It might be close to hatching," Clemont theorized.

"Arco's egg acted like that before he hatched, so probably," Alec agreed.

"What am I going to do?" Ash asked in a panic. While Bonnie, Pancham, and Chespin were cheering around.

"You gotta keep it warm," Alec told him.

"Alright. Leave it to me," Ash said, setting the egg on the ground. He and Pikachu then wrapped their bodies around the egg. Hawlucha, Chespin, and Pancham then joined in.

"Yay! I'll help keep it warm too!" Bonnie shouted, diving into the pile around the egg.

"Bonnie, be careful!" Clemont warned.

"I know. I know," she protested.

[I can help speed it up a bit,] Fletchinder said, flying down to the egg and using his Flame Body ability to warm the egg.

"Thanks, Fletchinder," Ash said to him.

"How soon do you think it will hatch?" Serena asked with excitement. The egg answered her question by starting a steady glow and shaking a bit.

"Any moment now," Alec said in anticipation.

The egg glowed even brighter causing everyone but Ash to jump back. The egg's glow turned a whitish-blue and when it cleared, a Noibat was sitting in its place. "It hatched!" Bonnie said in excitement.

"Is that a Noibat?" Serena asked.

"Yeah," Alec answered.

[Is it alright?] Hawlucha asked in concern, as Noibat hadn't moved in the slightest since hatching.

"I don't know. Most Pokémon move right after hatching," Alec answered him.

"Hello Noibat," Ash said to it. Noibat then opened its eyes and looked up at Ash. "Hi," Ash said to it.

[Nice to meet you Noibat,] Pikachu said, hopping onto Ash's shoulder. Everyone introduced themselves and Noibat looked at each of them.

[Hu- Hu- HUNGRY!] Noibat screamed, letting out a Supersonic from his ears while crying. Everyone covered their ears at the loud screeching.

"Noibat! It's alright!" Bonnie shouted, trying to calm him down, but Noibat only cried even louder.

"You don't have to cry. Everything's fine," Ash told Noibat, petting the back of his large ears. The Supersonic stopped as Noibat stopped crying.

"Hey, it stopped," Bonnie noticed.

"You think petting it helped?" Serena asked.

"It appears so," Alec said.

"I'll bet it's hungry," Ash suggested.

"He," Alec corrected. Ash looked at Alec like he grew an extra head. "What? It has a boy's voice," Alec stated.

"Anyway…" Serena started, pulling out her Pokédex. "It says that Noibat's eat berries and the ones they like are in this area."

They looked around for a bit and found a berry tree. "Well, this looks good," Ash said.

"Dedenne, would you pick one?" Bonnie asked.

[Sure,] Dedenne answered. He then climbed up the tree and picked a berry. Dedenne then threw it down and Bonnie caught it.

"Here you go," Bonnie said, offering Noibat the berry.

Noibat did something before shaking his head. [That bad. That bad,] he said.

"What's that meant to mean?" Serena asked.

"The words or the action?" Clemont asked.

"Both," Alec answered.

"Look. Yummy berry," Bonnie told Noibat then took a bit. "Yuck! Sour!" she complained.

"Right…" Alec said as he remembered something. "Noibat can use sound waves to determine how ripe a berry is," he stated.

"So you're a foodie, huh?" Ash asked Noibat jokingly.

[Well, let's get some berries,] Fletchinder said. He, Hawlucha, Pancham, and Chespin all climbed up the tree and pulled out a bunch of berries.

Noibat did the same thing with the first berry Bonnie got and shook his head again. [They bad. They're bad,] Noibat said, starting to speak in full sentences.

"Guess they're sour," Ash said, petting Noibat's ears.

"So, he doesn't like any of these?" Bonnie asked, holding up two separate berries.

[Those are good! Want!] Noibat suddenly shouted, putting his arms forward towards the ones Bonnie had. Bonnie looked confused but Noibat kept repeating [Want!].

"Here you go," Bonnie said a bit reluctantly, giving Noibat one of the berries. Noibat immediately took a bite and Bonnie did so on the other one. "It's sweet!" Bonnie declared.

"It is?" Ash asked, before taking a bit himself. "It is!" he shouted.

[These are good?] Chespin asked, holding up one of the ones Noibat had rejected and taking a bite. [Sour!] he groaned out.

[What were you expecting?] Ethan asked Chespin sarcastically.

Ash then gave Noibat some water and when Noibat was done, he started walking away. "Where are you going?" Ash asked him. Noibat then started flapping his wings, trying to get into the air. Noibat then tired out and fell to the ground and let out a Supersonic while crying. Ash immediately ran up to Noibat and said something to him and the noise stopped.

"It stopped?" Bonnie asked.

"Maybe Noibat thinks Ash is his caregiver," Serena said.

"Well, Pokémon tend to assume the first being they see as a parental figure. When Arco was born, he immediately thought I was his father," Alec stated.

"Now, let's try that again," Ash told Noibat. Noibat nodded and tried to fly again, but tired out and lost balance. Ash caught Noibat before he could hit the ground. "There. I got you," Ash told him.

[Thank you,] Noibat said.

"Maybe it can't fly because he's so little?" Bonnie wondered.

"It looks more like he doesn't have the endurance to maintain stable flight from where I was standing," Alec said.

"Well, Noibat are normally able to fly as soon as they hatch," Clemont said.

"Maybe there's a trick to it or something," Serena suggested.

"Well, let's get started," Ash said. He and Noibat got set up and Ash stood up with his arm outstretched to his side. "Ready Noibat? Time to fly!" Ash told him.

[Alright then, so it'd be best to-] Hawlucha started.

[Let me. I'm more what Noibat is going to have to do,] Fletchinder told him. Fletchinder then turned around. [Follow and watch,] Fletchinder told Noibat.

[Okay,] Noibat said. Fletchinder started flying up and Noibat started mimicking Fletchinder's movements.

"Yeah! You two teaching Noibat is a great idea," Ash realized.

Noibat started to fly. [You're doing great,] Fletchinder told him. He spoke too soon though, as Noibat started to drop from the sky but Ash caught him.

"What's Noibat doing wrong?" Ash asked Fletchinder.

[Nothing really. Looks more like he gets tired too quickly,] Fletchinder said.

"Hey Ash, maybe Noibat should learn how to glide first while using the wind," Clemont suggested.

"Sounds like a good idea," Alec said.

"Hawlucha, think you can teach Noibat?" Ash asked him.

[Definitely,] Hawlucha answered. Hawlucha did a small glide to show Noibat. [Ready?] Hawlucha asked Noibat. Noibat nodded and started running. [Now jump!] Noibat jumped into the air and spread his wings as far as he could and was able to glide. Everyone else followed. Noibat then began to struggle and Hawlucha swooped beneath Noibat and caught him.

"Thank's Hawlucha," Ash said. Noibat looked disappointed. "Flying's not that easy, huh? Any other ideas, Hawlucha and Fletchinder?" Ash asked.

[I've got one,] Hawlucha said. He led everyone to a cliff that had a stable updraft. Hawlucha jumped into the current and stabilized himself. [Come on Noibat!] he called out.

"Let's give it a shot," Ash told Noibat. Noibat took off and started flying with Fletchinder right behind him. A net then appeared and Hawlucha grabbed Noibat to protect him but both were caught. The net then attached itself to an all too familiar balloon.

"Are you serious? How many times do we need to send these guys to outer space?" Alec asked as Team Rocket said their motto.

"Giving up this Noibat will make it much easier for you," Jessie said.

"After all, being Twerp is hard enough," James added.

"We're happy to lighten your load," Meowth stated.

"Give both of them back!" Ash demanded.

"Noibat's still a little Pokémon!" Bonnie added.

"You're little too. No excuses," Meowth said.

"You're not getting away with this. Rhino, take down that balloon!" Alec shouted as he threw a Great Ball. Rhyperior appeared and let out a roar. "Rock Wrecker!" Alec commanded. Rhino fired, but Team Rocket managed to dodge at the last moment.

"Fletchinder, Steel Wing!" Ash commanded. As Fletchinder closed in, James let out Inkay, who squirted ink in Fletchinder's face. Fletchinder fell to the ground but Ash caught him. Team Rocket then threw a smoke bomb, covering their retreat.

They found a nearby river and cleaned Fletchinder's face and Alec returned Rhino. "We'd better find Noibat soon. Who knows what Team Rocket will do," Alec said.

"Agreed. You good to go Fletchinder?" Ash asked.

[Ready,] Fletchinder said before flying off in Team Rocket's last known direction. The group started searching and Fletchinder reported back in no time. Fletchinder led them to a cave where Team Rocket looked a bit unraveled while Inkay and Pumpkaboo were apologizing repeatedly.

"Team Rocket! Give Hawlucha and Noibat back now!" Ash demanded.

"Even if we wanted to, we don't know where they are," Jessie stated.

"Cut the crap and let's battle! Blade, let's go!" Alec shouted, letting out the Bisharp.

"Quick Pumpkaboo, use Dark Pulse!" Jessie shouted.

"Deflect it!" Alec demanded. Blade used the metal on his arms to send the attack into the rocks near them. "Now Night Slash!" Alec demanded. Blade charged in and slashed at Pumpkaboo.

"Inkay, Psybeam!" James ordered. Alec didn't say anything and Blade let the attack bounce off him.

"Iron Head!" Alec ordered. Blade rammed his head into Inkay, sending him into Pumpkaboo. "Finish with Guillotine!" Blade's arm blades glowed white-blue and he slashed at Team Rocket's Pokémon, knocking them out.

"Now Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded. Pikachu fired, sending Team Rocket into a blast off. Once they were gone, Hawlucha and Noibat exited the cave. "Are you two okay?" Ash asked them.

[We're fine. Noibat managed to blast Team Rocket with a Supersonic which made them run with their tail between their legs,] Hawlucha said.

[I thought only the Meowth had a tail,] Noibat said seriously. Alec and Serena both had to hold back their laughter.

"What's so funny?" Bonnie asked.

"We'll tell you later," Alec promised.

"Thanks for looking after Noibat, Hawlucha," Ash thanked.

As the sun began to set, Noibat was chowing down on some fruit the group managed to find, and as promised, Alec and Serena told Bonnie what was funny, at which only Clemont chuckled while Bonnie and Ash looked confused. "Now I really wish I could understand Pokémon. Where's my Pokémon crisis to understand them!" Bonnie demanded to the heavens.

"She does realize that isn't how it works right?" Alec asked Serena, whispering.

"Let her have her moment," Serena said. Ash then caught Noibat and the group continued on their way to Dendemille Town.