Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! This will cover the episode "There's No Place Like Hoenn", though it'll be kind of short since most of that episode involves Team Rocket who aren't anywhere close to being in Hoenn. So, without further ado.
I own nothing
Edited: 2/9/21
"Alright Ralts, use Confusion on those rocks and Zorua use Pursuit to destroy them!" Said Naruto.
"Ralts!" Ralts lifted its arms as several large rocks to float in the air, with a blue glow surrounding them.
"Zor-Zor-Zor-rua!" Zorua launched itself at the rocks, surrounded by a dark aura and smashed through them.
"Yes! Way to go you two!" Naruto said as he smiled at his Pokémon, who jumped around happily.
A week has passed since Naruto managed to catch Ralts. Since then, he and May have been travelling to Petalburg City, with Naruto's also encountered other trainers and battled against them along the way. With him winning some battles, while losing others. Though Naruto didn't let the losses get to him, since they just inspired him to get stronger.
He's also started training Zorua and Ralts in increasing their strength, speed, agility, defense, and attack power. While also mastering the moves they already know, using some tips he got from the trainers at the Pokémon Center and on the road. And the training was showing, as Zorua and Ralts have grown much stronger than before.
"Hey Naruto! Come on, we're almost to Petalburg City!" May said, knowing they were close to her home city.
While she'd prefer to hold off on Naruto finding out her father is the Petalburg Gym Leader, she knew he wouldn't be deterred from getting there.
"Really?! Great, come on you two, it's almost time for our first Gym Battle." Naruto said as he returned Zorua and Ralts to their Pokéballs, wanting to get them looked at when they reached a Pokémon Center.
'My first Gym Battle, I can't wait!' Naruto thought excitedly.
*Later-Petalburg City*
Exiting the Pokémon Center, Naruto and May headed to a nearby park, with Naruto taking in the sights of Petalburg City. It was surprising to see how big it was, when compared to Littleroot Town and Oldale Town.
With Zorua and Ralts both back at full strength, Naruto wanted to get to the Petalburg Gym. But he decided to stop for a moment, given the fact that he still didn't know anything about the Petalburg Gym Leader, or even what type of Pokémon he uses.
"Hm, I wonder what the Petalburg Gym Leader is like?" Naruto wondered out loud.
"I'm sure he's a nice guy." Answered May, knowing the kind of person her father is.
"What? May, do you know him?" Naruto asked in surprise, since he didn't even know the Petalburg if the Gym Leader was a guy or a girl.
"M-me?! Well, I don't really know him that well. The word on the street is that he's very kind, but also very strong. And of course, I hear he's very handsome and a really great man." May said as she happily talked about her father, even if Naruto didn't know that's who she's talking about.
"Sounds like you know him pretty well." Naruto stated with narrowed eyes and rubbing his chin.
This solidified Naruto's guess that she knew the Gym Leader personally, given how she stopped him from learning about the guy, back in Oldale Town.
"Well, I don't know him all that well." May said, waving it off with a sheepish chuckle.
"No, no. You definitely know who the Gym Leader is, given the way to talk about him. Along with the fact that you stopped me from learning about him back in Oldale Town. In fact, I think you know the Gym Leader personally!" Naruto said, with May sweating nervously at Naruto figuring out that Norman is her father.
However, Naruto's next words both relieved and mortified May at the same time.
"May, is the Gym Leader your boyfriend?" Naruto asked.
Hearing that, May immediately face faulted before jumping to her feet with her face burning red.
"No, he isn't my boyfriend, you idiot!" May shouted in embarrassment and mortification that Naruto believed that Norman is her boyfriend.
She was nearly tempted just to tell him that the Petalburg Gym Leader is her father!
"Then how do you know him so well?" Questioned Naruto.
"It's just some stuff I heard about him. Anyways, I need to go and… take care of a few things." May said, immediately running to her family's home, both to see her parents and brother again, along with calming her nerves after what Naruto just said.
Watching May leave, Naruto shook his head as he smirked and chuckled to himself.
"He's so her boyfriend." Naruto muttered to himself, before walking off towards the Petalburg Gym.
*Later*
"The Petalburg Gym." Naruto said as he stared at the Gym, which looked a lot like a dojo.
Entering the Gym, Naruto walked down the hall and soon found the room with the battlefield.
"Hello, anyone here?! I'm here to challenge the Gym Leader!" Naruto said as he looked around, but didn't see anyone.
"Hello?" Naruto called out.
"Can you please keep it down! I'm right in the middle of watching a documentary on the Alola Region." Someone said.
"Huh." Said Naruto, looking to see who it was.
It was a small young boy. He has short, black hair and brown eyes, much like his father. He wears a money-green-colored T-shirt with a white collar and button, charcoal-colored shorts and green, black and white slip-on shoes without socks. He also wears black, framed half-moon glasses. He was also carrying a book under his arm.
"Oh, uh sorry kid. I'm here to challenge the Gym Leader." Naruto said, while scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
"Well then you found him." Said the kid, pushing his glasses up and making the light reflect off them.
"Uh, what?" Asked Naruto, sweatdropping at the boy's claim.
"Yep, that's right! I'm Max, the Petalburg Gym Leader!" Said Max as he ran up onto the battlefield.
Naruto sweatdropped again at hearing this. Who was this kid trying to fool? He was a Ninja and a Master Prankster, with him even managing to fool Anbu for Kami's sake!
'But if the kid wants to play, we'll play.' Naruto thought, smirking at the idea of pull a prank of his own after so long.
"Okay then, let's battle." Naruto said, with Max blinking at that.
"Uh, what?" Max asked this time, while starting to sweat a little.
"You said you're the Gym Leader and I came here to battle you. So let's battle." Said Naruto, pulling out an empty Pokéball and pressing the button, causing it to expand, while acting like it contained a Pokémon.
"Like, ri-right now?" Max asked with a stutter, worried at how his prank backfired on him like this.
"Yeah, after all, as a Gym Leader, I'm sure you have your Pokémon with you at all times, right?" Naruto said, smirking at how nicely his counter-prank was coming along, and the effect it was having.
"Ri-right, of course I do!" Said Max, while sweating nervously since he didn't actually have any Pokémon yet.
The two were cut off when they heard giggling outside the window. Looking, they saw May's head pop up as she covered her mouth to contain her laughter.
"Hehehehe! Naruto really got you good Max!" May said in between giggles.
"Uh, hey sis." Max greeted upon seeing his sister.
"Wait? Sister?!" Naruto said, surprised that May and Max were siblings.
"Well then, who do we have here?" A man asked as he appeared besides May.
"Hello!" Said a woman, appearing on May's other side.
"What? Who are you?" Asked Naruto, even more confused at the sight before him.
*Later*
"Naruto, I'd like you to meet my mother and father." May said as she introduced her parents to her friend.
"I'm Norman, pleased to meet you Naruto." Said Norman.
"And I'm Caroline, a pleasure." Caroline greeted.
"And this is my little brother." Said May, as she motioned to Max.
"Yeah, we met, the famed Petalburg Gym Leader." Naruto said as he smirked at Max, who chuckled sheepishly.
"Uh, actually my dad is the real Gym Leader." Max said, with Naruto blinking at that.
"Oh, so I guess the Gym Leader really isn't your boyfriend after all, May." Said Naruto.
May covered her face in embarrassment that he was still on about that, while her parents laughed in good nature, with Max looking at May like she's crazy.
"What kind of mixed signals were sending, that made him come up with that conclusion May?" Max asked with a raised eyebrow; then again this was May he's talking about.
In response May bopped her brother lightly on the head, causing Max to grab his head and look to his parents with tear-filled eyes.
"Mom, dad! May's being mean to me!" Max said crying, only for everyone to see through his crocodile tears.
"No one's buying it, kid." Naruto said, with Max's tears instantly vanishing as he gave a shrug.
"Yeah, that act was getting kind of old anyway." Admitted Max, as he gave a nonchalant shrug.
"Naruto, I'm sorry that I didn't tell you earlier about my father being the Petalburg Gym Leader. But I didn't want you to see me as just the Gym Leader's daughter. Though, it probably would have saved me the humiliation from before." Said May, while muttering the last part to herself.
She's just thankful that no one heard Naruto's earlier accusation, and started any rumors.
'Like Konohamaru.' Naruto thought, remembering how everyone only saw him as the Sandaime's grandson.
"Don't worry May, I wouldn't have cared if the Gym Leader was your grandmother." Naruto told May with a comforting grin.
Though he soon realized how it came out and started stuttering. It only worked with Konohamaru, since he was still a little brat at the time. Thankfully, May and Caroline just giggled, while Norman and Max chuckled lightly.
"It's fine, we get what you mean. And thanks, it really means a lot." May said thankfully, while looking away with a light blush on her face as she said that.
"By the way dear, what happened to your bike?" Caroline asked, having not seen May with it when she came home.
"Uh… Oh no, I must have left it behind!" May said, remembering she had been in such a rush to make sure Torchic was okay, that she completely forgot her bike back on Route 101.
"Oh well, it's okay, bikes are replaceable. By the way May, what Pokémon did you get from Professor Birch?" Norman asked, curious of which Starter his daughter picked.
"Yeah, come one May, which Pokémon did you get?!" Max asked, eager to see the Pokémon his sister picked out.
"You'll see, Torchic come on out!" Said May, letting Torchic out of its Pokéball.
"Torchic!"
"What?! Why'd you pick that? If it were me, I definitely would have picked a Treeko." Max said, feeling disappointed when he saw Torchic.
Feeling its eyes twitch, Torchic jumped up and started scratching Max's faces.
"Tor-Torchic!"
"Wait Torchic, stop that!" May said as she saw Torchic scratching Max up.
"I think Torchic is a fine Pokémon to start out with." Norman said, knowing when Torchic evolves into Combusken and Blaziken it'll become a Fire/Fighting-type, while also having access Flying-type attacks and various other great coverage moves also. Not to mention, that if May manages to get a Key Stone and a Blazikenite Mega Stone, she'll be able to use Mega Evolution.
"And it's as cute as a button, May." Caroline said as she cooed at the sight of her daughter's starter Pokémon.
"Yeah!" May said in agreement, since that was why she picked Torchic.
"Man, I just wish that I could have my own Pokémon. I'd just love to have a Treecko." Max said, ignorant of the glare Torchic was giving him before jumping on top of him and began scratching him again.
"Torchic-chic-chic-chic!"
'Let this be a lesson Max, never insult a Pokémon, no matter how small.' Naruto thought.
"Naruto, why don't you join us for lunch. You must be starved." Caroline offered.
"Thanks, that'd be really great." Said Naruto, accepting their hospitality.
*Later*
"So Naruto, May tells us you just started your journey." Caroline said.
"Yeah, I just registered for the Hoenn League in Oldale Town. I was actually hoping to challenge Norman for my first Gym Battle. If that's alright with you, sir." Naruto said, while looking at Norman.
"Of course, Naruto; and you said this will be your first Gym Battle, right?" Asked Norman, as he accepted the former Shinobi's Challenge.
"Yes. So, what're the Petalburg Gym rules?" Asked Naruto.
"It's a three-on-three elimination battle. First one to defeat all three Pokémon wins." Max answered, with Naruto looking surprised at this.
"What, is that true?" Naruto asked as he turned back towards the Gym Leader.
"Yes." Norman replied.
Naruto's head slumped forward hearing this.
"Ah man, I only have two Pokémon." Naruto said, knowing he couldn't battle Norman, if he didn't have three Pokémon.
"Wait, you only have two Pokémon? Then why were you going to accept my challenge back at the Gym?" Questioned Max.
"Oh, I knew you weren't the Gym Leader. I just wanted to see how far you'd take your prank, while also getting you with a prank of my own." Naruto said with a smirk, as he remembered at how he got Max by turning his own prank on him.
Max slumped forward at this, depressed that Naruto had seen through his prank.
"Hm, well since you came all this way, I could still battle you." Norman offered with a kind smile.
"What, really?" Naruto asked hopefully.
"That's kind of you Norman." Said Caroline, smiling at her husband.
"Of course, it won't be a registered Gym Battle." Said Norman.
"That's okay! Thank you, I really appreciate it." Naruto said, happy that he'll still get to battle the Gym Leader, even if he won't be able to get a badge.
Once they finished lunch the family plus Naruto headed back to the battle arena, where Naruto and Norman stood on opposite sides of the arena.
"Okay I'm ready." Naruto said while pulling out Zorua's Pokéball.
"Alright then. Slakoth, I choose you!" Norman said, throwing the Pokéball to the arena.
Out of the Pokéball came a rather lazy looking Pokémon. It is a brown, quadruped Pokémon with sloth-like qualities. It has coarse, shaggy fur with two dark brown stripes on its back. There is a scruff of fur on top of its head, and it has a large, pig-like pink nose, pink eyelids, and dark rings around its eyes. It has long, lanky arms, but shorter legs. Each paw has two sharp claws, and there are pink paw pads on the back feet. Its underbelly and read are also pink.
Pulling out his Pokédex, Naruto saw what kind of Pokémon it was.
"Slakoth, the Slacker Pokémon. Slakoth is generally found sleeping and very few ever witness it in motion."
Looking at what information was available to him, due to Slakoth not being his Pokémon, Naruto frowned when he saw that Slakoth only has one ability, Truant; meaning it'll only attack every other turn. Naruto would have thought Norman was underestimating him, but remembered Norman is a Gym Leader and would give it his all, even against a rookie trainer and in an unofficial Gym Battle.
"Okay, Zorua I choose you!" Said Naruto while throwing the Pokéball as Zorua came out.
"Zorua!"
Norman was surprised and intrigued at seeing Zorua, since it wasn't a Pokémon that is native to the Hoenn Region.
"Alright Zorua, use Scratch!" Naruto said.
"Zor!" Zorua charged at Slakoth with its claws glowing.
"Slakoth dodge and use Blizzard!" Said Norman.
"Sla." Slakoth jumped into the air with surprising speed, before opening its mouth and unleashed a blizzard that hit Zorua dead on.
"Zorua!" Zorua shivered and grunted in pain from the Ice-attack.
"Zorua!" Naruto exclaimed in worry for his Starter.
Slakoth landed on the ground and began scratching its head.
'Alright Truants kicked in. Now's my chance.' Thought Naruto.
"Okay Zorua use Leer, then use Pursuit!" Said Naruto.
"Zorua." Zorua's eyes glowed red as it glared at Slakoth, who shivered in fear as its defense lowered.
Zorua then charged forward with a dark aura surrounding it, tackling Slakoth.
"Yes, now Zorua use Scratch again!" Naruto said, only to see Slakoth's eyes narrow in concentration.
"Not so fast! Slakoth use Shadow Ball!" Said Norman.
Sla-koth!" Slakoth formed a dark ball of energy at Zorua,
"Zorua quick, dodge it now!" Naruto said.
Zorua immediately jumped to the side, dodging the attack, and continued running towards Slakoth to attack,
"Slakoth now use Hidden Power!" Norman said before Truant kicked in.
"Slakoth!" Slakoth was surrounded by a white energy, before it created a ring of white circles appeared in its hands.
Slakoth threw the ring at Zorua, who was surrounded by the rings, before they closed in on the Tricky Fox Pokémon, causing an explosion.
"Zorua!" Naruto said in worry at seeing his partner get hit again.
Zorua fell to the arena floor with swirls in its eyes.
"Zor-rua."
Running over to his partner, Naruto picked Zorua up.
"Hey Zorua, you alright buddy?" Naruto asked worried.
"Zorua." Zorua looked down, sad that it had lost the match, though Naruto just smiled and patted its head.
"Don't worry about losing, you did your best, okay." Said Naruto.
"You're right Naruto. Your Zorua definitely put up a fight." Norman said, while returning Slakoth to its Pokéball.
"Thank you, Norman, that means a lot." Naruto said while smiling.
He may have lost the match; it was still a fun match and gave Naruto a good idea of what to expect from the other Gym Leaders. Along with motivating Naruto to increase his Pokémon's training for the next Gym Battle.
Along with catching more Pokémon to help him along the way.
*Later*
"I guess it's time for you two to get going. Do you have everything May?" Caroline asked as she and Norman saw May and Naruto off.
"Don't worry mom, I've got everything I need." Said May, before Max suddenly showed up with a backpack.
"Since May doesn't know anything about Pokémon and Naruto's still a new trainer. I should go too." Max said, eager to tag along on their journey and see new places, as well as Pokémon.
"Mm-hm, your brother does know a lot about Pokémon, so it'd be good for him to tag along." Norman said.
"And less worrying for me." Added Caroline, who felt better if both her children were together, rather than separated.
"Naruto, would it be alright if Max traveled along with you and May?" Asked Norman.
"Yeah, it's fine if Max joins us." Naruto answered, smiling at the idea of having another traveling companion.
"Thank you, Naruto." Said May, glad her brother was coming along to help; especially since she didn't really know all that much, when it came to Pokémon.
"This is gonna awesome!" Max cheered, excited that he's going to see more of the Hoenn Region.
"I also have something for you May. A badge case to hold the Gym Badges that you win." Said Norman.
He'd give one to Naruto also, but he'd already gotten his case when he registered for the Hoenn League.
May took the badge case hesitantly, since she wasn't sure if she was even going to challenge any Gym Leaders.
"And Max, this is for you." Norman said, giving Max a PokéNav.
"For me, oh wow!" Max said when he saw what it was.
"What is it?" Naruto asked.
"A Pokémon Navigator! I've been wanting one!" Max said, while turning it on.
"With one of those, you'll always know exactly where you are." Said Norman.
"And I'll take good care of it!" Max stated, before running off with his new PokeNav.
"Naruto, I'd like to suggest that the next Gym that you travel to should be Rustboro City." Norman suggested, knowing that'd be the good place to earn his first badge.
"Okay, thank you! And I'll be back to challenge you in a real Gym Battle!" Naruto said, with Norman nodding in agreement.
"I'll be waiting."
"Bye mom, bye dad!" May said while waving farewell to her parents.
"Goodbye kids, take care!" Caroline said.
"Do your best!" Said Norman.
"Hurry up you slowpokes!" Max said, eager to get on the road.
"We're coming!" Said Naruto and May, as they ran up to catch up with their newest traveling companion.
With that, the three friends headed out of Petalburg City to Rustboro City.
So, what did you think, good. Yep Norman used Slakoth instead of Vigoroth given Naruto's a rookie trainer rather than an experienced one like Ash and while Naruto managed to get a few hits in thanks to Truant, he still lost. Now Naruto and May are joined by Max and heading to Rustboro City. Now the Omake for this chapter will be about Neji, Hinata, and Hanabi heading for Pallet Town to meet with Professor Oak, along with a certain trainer we all know.
Omake: Two Princesses and a Freed Bird
Walking down a path, Hinata, Hanabi, and Neji had arrived in the Server Regions, specifically the Kanto Region, a few days ago and were currently heading for Pallet Town to meet with Professor Oak.
"Hinata-sama, Hanabi-sama, I believe we're almost to Pallet Town." Neji said, seeing a town up ahead that he could tell was Pallet Town, from the descriptions they've gotten. They were currently in the forests outside of Celadon City, they just need to traverse to the Viridian Forest through here and then head south to get to Pallet Town.
"That's good. Hopefully, there's have a place where we can rest, right Neji." Hinata said, with Neji nodding in agreement given they've been walking the entire day, given Hanabi was still too young to learn tree hopping.
Suddenly though, they saw someone running towards them. It was a young boy, who looked to be around the same age as Hinata, with black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a red and white cap with a green symbol, a blue jacket with white sleeves, a black shirt underneath, light blue jeans, and black and white sneakers. He also had a small yellow Pokémon on his shoulder, a Pikachu if they remembered correctly.
"Excuse me!" Neji said, stopping the kid in his tracks.
"Oh hey! Is there something you guys need?" He asked.
"Actually yes, do you know of anywhere we can rest?" Neji asked, with the kid nodding in confirmation.
"Yeah, you can stay at the Pokémon Center, it's over in that direction, you can't miss it. Just look for the building with the red P on the front. By the way, I'm Ash Ketchum and this is my partner Pikachu." Ash said as he introduced himself and his Partner Pokémon, with Pikachu smiling and saluting the three.
"Pikachu!"
"My name is Neji Hyūga, these are my cousins Hinata and Hanabi." Neji introduced.
"Nice to meet you three. And sorry, but I really gotta go, I heard an Entei is nearby here. See ya around!" Ash said before running past the three Hyūgas, who watched him run off.
"Neji, isn't Entei a Legendary Pokémon?" Hanabi asked as she remembered them reading about the different types of Pokémon, when they arrived in Kanto.
"I believe it is." Neji answered.
"He must be a really strong trainer, if he's searching for a Legendary Pokémon, like Entei." Stated Hinata.
Nodding in agreement, the three headed for the Pokémon Center to rest for the night, before continuing on their way to Pallet Town to meet Professor Oak.
So, that's the Omake. Also this version of Ash is the one from the "I Choose You" movie. So, review if you liked go away if you didn't.
Storm out