A Legend's Journey
And so the second chapter has come! Thanks to all my fans, who have sent their support. But wow, you guys sent A LOT of support. Seriously, I got almost 23 reviews and more than 100 Favorites and 100 Followers just for one single episode. You people were really desperate for this sequel. Luckily for you, I am a caring author so I brought the second chapter. And with extra details as many wanted if almost 10,000 words are plenty to go. Maybe the next chapters will take longer because of their length but hopefully I can manage with my job.
On a side note, Dragon Ball Super revealed a very good battle scene with Goku against Kefla. About damn time they did something right. Although, by the way how things have developed and the newest Vegeta 'Dark Blue', I'm again feeling disappointed.
Check out my profile and my poll for Ash's starter Legendary in a brand new story of Pokemon. So far Mew is winning with Darkrai close second. So please keep the votes coming so to finally settle the deal. The poll will remain until December 5th.
Oh and possible SPOILERS for the NEXT chapter: Lemon scene. But that's still not guaranteed. Let me know what you think. Maybe I won't because I already have the ladies for the harem decided.
As always, leave a review, it helps a lot in motivating me. So, enjoy!
Chapter 2: No Place Like Hoenn
For the following day, the experienced trainer from Kanto kept his way towards Petalburg City. While there was a Gym in that particular city, Ash knew that according to the Hoenn league rules, he needed four badges before challenging the leader there. But the seasoned trainer didn't mind having to fight his way through others to reach a stronger foe. It made his future victory all that more exciting.
Spending time with the rookie trainer May Mapple wasn't a bad student if Ash had to say so. But been someone's teacher was a bit annoying. The rookie trainer had some knowledge about types and their advantages but she was no expert in the practice. She obviously went by all the information she could get from TV live performances of Leagues and Contests. This meant roughly nothing unless you knew how to make the information your own and apply it into the practice.
And so Ash found himself walking towards his destination alongside his evolved Electric starter Raichu. May slacked behind him panting a lot and sometimes bending over touching her knees. It was obvious she didn't have that much physical stamina. They had been on their way after leaving the Pokemon Centre of Oldale Town just a few hours ago in the early morning and they still had a rather long trek to reach Petalburg on foot by the following day.
"Ash, slow down a bit," The brunette lady pleaded feeling her legs sore. And not in a good way. Her companion sure knew a lot about Pokemon. After watching some of his fights in his official trainer's profile, which included a battle with HIS three Legendaries, the rookie knew that Ash was at the top of the game. But he seemed to have little patience when it came to waiting for her to catch up.
"I'm going slow. But you keep getting slower." Ash casually responded, his hands resting behind his head. It was true. Ash, even carrying his backpack with supplies for some of his Pokemon was easily two meters ahead of the new trainer. And that gap kept widening inch by inch as May grew tired.
"Hey that wasn't nice!" The brunette said pouting. Ash smiled. He loved teasing ladies so much. As long as they didn't punch him or kick him in the groin.
"I wasn't trying to be nice in the first place." The Aura trainer answered his pace still forward. As he detected May had stopped her walk thinking she could rant at him, Ash decided otherwise. May now had to jog to finally meet her travelling companion with an angry expression plastered across her face.
"You know, I had a bike." The brunette stated a bit of an edge in her tune.
"How is that my problem? The Poochyena attacked you, not me." Ash answered again, his tone way too soothed despite having an angry woman, the most dangerous being breathing down his neck. Raichu treading next to him snickered.
"You are so exasperating!" May cried out. Her nerves were sky-high while she wanted to rip her hair out.
She didn't see Ash's grin of mischief. If he had tried this teasing with Misty years ago, his answer would have been a mallet to the head. And with Lory... well, she would answer back with a very snarky remark. And then the two would make out.
However, the back of Ash's mind was more focused on other events unrelated to May or even the future Gym battles he had ahead. After leaving Oldale Town, the Aura trainer had caught wind of a robbery taking place in the nearby ruins. An Archaeologist named Alden had been forced to lead a group of red-dressed men inside the derelict place in hopes of finding an ancient Pokemon. Ash doubted that they were looking for some revived Fossil Pokemon native of Hoenn like Anorith or Cradily. Although they didn't get what they were apparently looking for, the archaeologist was ecstatic with his discovery of a shallow pack of the even older Pokemon Relicanths.
Ash sighed to his insides. Knowing his Arceus-damn fate, he was bound to not only encounter those groups but also get in the crossfire of whatever they were after. Especially if they were hunting a unique kind of Pokemon.
A sudden blue thing jumped from the bushes startling May right on the spot back-stepping in fear. Ash and Raichu merely reacted to the new comer after already knowing of its presence thanks to his Aura and accurate senses respectively.
"Hey, a Pokemon!" May scanned it with her Pokedex thrilled to the core, while Ash already knew which Pokemon was. It was an Azurill, the Water Mouse Pokemon with a long tail to hop on and a cute small mouse appearance. "Azurill, the Polka Dot Pokemon. Although Azurill are normally docile, an angry one will swing around the big ball on its tail and try to smash its opponents." May had hearts for eyes as she instantly fell head over heels for the cute baby Pokemon. The brunette turned her head to look at Ash with a smug look on her face. "See what I can do, Mister Champion. Pokeball go!" She threw the engorged empty Pokeball and swallowed the Normal/Fairy Pokemon inside.
Ash tried not to burst out in laughter. This lady would have to learn the hard way how to properly catch a wild Pokemon. The capture object bursted open again and the angry Azurill kicked the red-and-white Pokeball back to its owner.
"Hey what gives?" May asked looking at her returned empty Pokeball. She was pretty sure that her aim had been spot on. That's how it usually went, didn't it?
"You know that to catch a Pokemon you have to soften it with a battle, right?" The expert trainer stated now towards his protégé already knowing the answer.
"Of course I do know that!" May responded. With an obvious sweat drop at the back of her head. The newbie grabbed her starter's Pokeball and threw it forward. The Fire starter of Hoenn, a bipedal orange-feathered chicken with a small beak bursted in white light into the arena. "Torchic, use Ember!" The Fire starter appeared and obeyed the command. It let loose the volley of miniature fire balls from the back of its throat.
However, Azurill seemed to have quite some experience on its own doing a rapid jump to the left easily eluding the flimsy Fire-type move. The baby Pokemon took a very deep breath, preparing an attack. May was scared while Ash paid close attention to two new Auras coming their way.
It was at that moment when two other Pokemon jumped getting next to the Dual-type Pokemon. The one on the left was slightly taller and chubbier than Azurill with stubby arms and a more white coloured plump body. It was Marill, the evolution of Azurill. On the right stood a very much taller than the previous forms with longer rabbit ears and a thinner body compared to its pre-evolution. This was Azumarill. The complete evolutionary family was deeply inhaling until letting loose a triple Water Gun attack.
"Torchic, look out!" The brunette screamed towards her starter warningly. Yet the confused starter had no way to follow the command. The three blasts of super-dense water were already upon its small frame. May had no illusions. If her Pokemon, one who had no real battle experience or had taken attacks before, would literally die in the spot by the thrice supper effective move.
"Charizard, I choose you!" Ash's Pokeball was tossed following his unwavering command. The massive Fire/Flying Pokemon of Kanto stood in front of the also Fire starter, his massive weight making Torchic fall flat on its back. The Dragon-esque Pokemon merely stood in the path of the attack, taking the three Water Guns to the chest, merely drenching his cream-coloured scales. T Fully-evolved Pokemon yawned in boredom as he had a comforting shower.
The attack ended and one could see the terror brimming in the Azurill family line's eyes.
"Finish them with an Iron Tail." Ash casually ordered. The dual-type Pokemon spun around at blurring high speed that befuddled its size, his glowing tail slashing left to right with great force. The three Water evolutions were hit like a ton of bricks and crashed against trees, completely knocked out.
May and Torchic had their mouth and beak respectively on the ground. Charizard had survived a triple Water Gun to the chest unscathed. And even knocked out three Pokemon with one attack. And it looked like Ash hadn't ordered Charizard to be full serious.
"Ash, that...you..." May stammered for a proper response. Her eyes were going back and forth from the knocked out wild Pokemon, to the badass Charizard to its badass trainer.
"You are going to stutter or catch one of the three Pokemon?" The Aura trainer commented recalling his Fire Pokemon. May shook her head throwing her empty Pokeball towards her original intent. Azurill's new ball trembled for a few dreadful seconds. Until the famous 'ding' sound happened.
"Ash, it was incredible!" The new trainer of Hoenn said completely flabbergasted clipping her newest catch to her waist. This went beyond anything she had watched on TV. "Charizard survived three Water moves without been scratched!"
"May, that's called training," Ash replied with a confident smirk folding his arms across his chest. "All of my Pokemon have trained to take moves they would normally be weak against," Ash looked at the two remaining wild Pokemon getting back up and scurrying away despite their lacerations. "Considering these three weren't very strong to start with and that Charizard used a move they were weak against then Charizard didn't need a tenth of his true strength to beat them." May ignored the fact Ash had had outright stated that his Charizard could pretty much burn a person or a Pokemon down to ashes.
"Weak against? The Azurill line is composed of Water-types. How can they be weak against a Steel-type move?" May asked scratching her head. Only to be responded with a round of laughter courtesy of Ash. And even a snigger from Raichu.
"You sure have a long way to go," The League Champion commented with mirth. Not to make it sound insulting, Ash pressed on. "First of all, Azurill is a Normal type. It gains Water type after evolving into Marill," May nodded paying close attention to every new detail. "And second, they all have the secondary Fairy type, which is weak against Steel type moves," Ash walked forward returning to their original road. He turned his head looking at the still stunned trainer, "Oh and female Azurill sometimes evolve into male Marill. Remember that when you train it."
May looked like a Magikarp out of water. Her mouth was wide in shock. Ash was right. She had a very long way to go.
For the next hours, Ash spent his time showing May the inside out of her Pokedex. How it was used to scan wild Pokemon, their habits, and how it also showed the moves and abilities for each member of her current team. And not to forget the list of moves her Pokemon could eventually learn. Of course, it didn't take into account moves that a Pokemon could learn by training with another member of the team.
And now Ash was going over the basic of training. And how it hopefully could be added to coordinating. May was writing on a notepad with her pen, trying to mostly look at Ash's face or her paper sheets. As he had let go of his blue blazer due to the warm noon Sun, the brunette could see how nicely the shirt underneath surrounded his developed body, showcasing his pecs with his rather bulky arms. And May could hazard a guess that there was a six pack he was hiding. The blush in her face seemed to be permanently itched to her cheeks as she wrote everything her teacher indicated.
Next to her, her two Pokemon, the starter Torchic and the newest Azurill played around. Ash was glad that the baby Pokemon wasn't a stubborn one like his Charmeleon had been. May was still not ready to handle that kind of Pokemon.
"Okay May, listen," The Aura trainer said towards his student completely unaware of her mental drama. Sure her aura and emotions fluttered from one to the other but Ash wasn't a mind reader. They had half a day to shape her up. And that's exactly what he was going to do to the best of his ability. A two-months crash course in less than twelve hours, no pressure there. "As far as I've gathered, the average Coordinators always starts with flashing moves. For example ordering an attack like Magical Leaf. However, many forget that the use of this move will leave the Pokemon confused afterwards," May nodded very much understanding already having witnessed the very elegant attack, "As such many moves that have the more chances to appeal to the people and judges are the ones that have to be used the most sparingly."
"Also, many coordinators severely lack in power," Ash's comment was met with May's look of shock. She had watched many contests and they all seemed powerful to her. Sensing her doubts, the auburn-eyed teen was hasty to calm her doubts. "I am not saying seasoned coordinators are weak. If anything, the more veteran ones can give a challenge to League winners while also looking very good in doing so," The seasoned trainer kept on with his teaching. "Remember that combining two moves in one can deal double damage on a Pokemon, which can definitely guarantee you an almost instant win," Ash smiled crossing his arms across his chest. That was something he would have to start practicing with his own team for league battles. "But sadly that requires a lot of time to practice. Luckily, if that's what you want, then you have a whole career ahead of you to create your own move variations."
"What do you think of Contests?" May asked her temporal teacher very intrigued. "Many trainers just dismiss them." Ash rubbed his chin in thought. Truth was Ash still didn't have any concrete picture of them.
"Well, as soon as I compete on my first Contest, I'll let you know," The older teenager stated with mirth at his student. His laughter, however, ended rather abruptly, a stern look viewing at May. The rookie trainer felt both scared by the hard look but also, a bit turned on. "But be warned, your Pokemon must all go through proper training sessions, not only to enhance their strong points but to strengthen their weak spots as well," His eyesight firmly lodged on her, making her to remain looking at him. "And never forget that just because a Pokemon doesn't seem to be visually appealing, its performance should be the one to do the talking," Her face displayed her sheer confusion. Ash chose his words carefully for what he was about to say. "When Torchic eventually evolves into Blaziken, will you send him home and keep going through contest with a more elegant Pokemon that you may have caught in your journey?"
"What? Never!" She had her starter in her arms hugging the life out of him making it go blue in the face by lack of oxygen. "I will never toss my Pokemon aside like if they are a broken Skitty doll!"
"That is the correct answer," Ash said with a broad smile of pride. This surprised May as she had only been honest. The seasoned trainer was quick to add "Having your Pokemon's trust is one of the first things all trainers and coordinators should strive towards, especially if you raise them from their baby stages," Ash kept on, "You must work together to reach as far as you want. One never becomes an Elite by just looking pretty and flashing some cleavage."
Her cheeks hit red again while looking down at her tight bosom, slightly jiggling with each of her silent breaths. Curse her early puberty! Why was she the one to get back pains this early in her life?
Digression over, May looked up at Ash again with a very hopeful expression.
"How far do you think I can go?" The rookie trainer/future coordinator asked doubtfully. Ash smiled. Everyone made that question at some point of their journey.
"That is something you decide," The seasoned trainer replied sagely, which surprised the brunette. "The sky is the literal limit," Ash rubbed his chin frowning for a moment. "No, that's wrong. There are no limits. You go as far as you want to go."
May was thunderstruck. Only now the fact she was a literal adult in the eyes of the world was falling down like a Blizzard attack. She could do anything and be whatever she wanted. A trainer, a breeder, a coordinator. Even a doctor or a fashion designer for both humans and Pokemon. She had so many possibilities ahead of her.
For the time being, however, she would focus on making her Pokemon stronger, faster and learn new moves. She would later tune down those moves to make them look very extravagant but also packing a deadly punch. Her career as a coordinator may have a starting edge, thanks to the wisdom of a seasoned teacher. A hot stud of a teacher.
"Now we need to work on your Pokemon's future resistance training schedule," Ash said now breaking May's visual buffet on him. The brunette shook her head and nodded. "Just like my Charizard and all of my Pokemon, they went through hours of taking head on moves they were weak against," The League Champion rubbed his chin in deep thought. "Your Torchic should benefit from Azurill's moves. And hopefully after it evolves and you manage to catch a Grass or Electric types, Azurill should benefit."
May wondered why she had to wait until her cute Pokemon evolved to use those particular types against her. Until she remembered that Azurill had the Normal and Fairy types. Meaning Ghost moves were completely ineffective, Fighting and Dark moves did half damage, and Dragon moves did nothing at all. And because it'd later gain Water type then Grass and Electric were going to always be a hindrance.
"Why don't some of your Pokemon help Azurill with that?" The brunette questioned her professor. To be fair, she was also very eager to see the rest of Ash's team. As he carried almost three times the average set of Pokeballs then she knew that he had very powerful members at his beck and call. Legendary Pokemon could wait. Just a baby Pokemon of his could defeat her own team of two without breaking a sweat.
"Not to insult you, May," Ash said scratching his head over his cap "But my Pokemon are literally leagues above you," He turned his head towards his starter chewing down on a bottle of ketchup. "Raichu as you see him now is one of my strongest and he didn't use ten percent to scare the Poochyenas away," May was really shocked and the tiniest bit of terrified about that no-so-little fact. "And he could be considered the second strongest Electric-type Pokemon I have."
Raichu snorted by that comment. Zapdos just wait.
May looked a bit crestfallen. She didn't want to admit it but his teacher was right. She had not even gone through a real one-on-one battle against a trainer. Merely a battle to catch a wild Pokemon. A battle she would have lost and probably would have left her Torchic near death.
The League winner, sensing May's dispirited mood decided to show her exactly what she would one day have to deal with.
"How about I show you a glimpse of how far you can reach?" Ash asked to his student gripping two of his red-and-white Pokeballs. After engorging them, Ash tossed them into the nearby clearing. "Venasaur, Heracross, I choose you!" Standing on four pillar-like legs the fully-evolved Grass/Poison starter of Kanto appeared. In front of it, a bipedal Bug-Fighting Pokemon stood showing its two-digit hands.
He then proceeded to show her a mock battle gazing at two of his powerful Pokemon. "Okay you two, I want you to show May here how you would stand against another trainer in a one-on-one battle." Of course, the two seasoned combatants knew to not overdo it. They weren't in a League or in a Gym arena, meaning the ground wasn't cushioned to avoid damage to the whole area and those nearby, be it people or Pokemon.
"You got it." The two Pokemon said towards their trainer. But May only heard them cry out their names.
Despite one having advantage over the other, May was proved completely wrong about her assumption of type advantage being the be-all and end-all that settled the fate of the match. The Grass type hastily started it with a shower of Razor Leaf. Only for the Bug Pokemon to not only deftly counter with Sword Dance, as the vacuum cleared the incoming leaves away but also amplified its strength by a great margin. That combination sure could be both a help for her and a severe loss of points for her opponent in a contest.
Heracross proceeded to attack head on, spreading its brilliant wings and shooting forward with a charged up Megahorn. The brunette's brain was yet again left utterly fried by the fact Venasaur, a Pokemon that looked like a tank and would in turn be very cumbersome in speedy battles, had actually used two of his Vine whips to propel itself upwards into the sky, efficiently eluding the attack. And if that hadn't been enough, his falling amplified a very devastating Double Edge Ash had commanded. Once again, the dual Pokemon from Johto showed the natural strength of its kin, by standing his ground and letting the almost half ton of weight to plummet on top of him.
May was about to cry out to Heracross to move when Ash ordered the whole opposite. Heracross didn't need much encouragement to obey. When the impact came, the whole area trembled. The newbie trainer from Hoenn and her two Pokemon found themselves rolling backwards forced five meters away from the epicentre of the collision. Many trees had lost their branches by the nuke-like shock wave. Yet Ash and Raichu stood in their original place, unmoved. They didn't even have dust on them.
If her mind could handle even more mind blown, Heracross had not only survived the attack. In fact, he was lifting the starter from Kanto standing on a three-meter deep crater with scorched borders. After receiving the command from Ash to use his newest move Superpower, Heracross cried out with vigour summoning a red aura around his body, his armored arms with inhuman strength tossing the bulk of Venasaur into the forest, making it go through half a dozen of trees, all shattering down to splinters.
May fell to her knees with eyes widening almost out of her sockets. This was insane! This was the power she had to reach? Her cute Torchic and Azurill could become beasts of strength that looked alluring and yet capable of knocking all of its opponents down in one blow?
May found herself with her mouth on the floor and lower yet again. This time due to the fact Venasaur was returning to the battlefield, barely scrapped and looking more annoyed than injured.
"Frenzy Plant!" Ash ordered. An eerie green aura covered Venasaur's tank body. Rearing on its hinder legs, the dual-type from Kanto slammed its front pillar-like legs in the soft soil. The rumble of the earth begun anew. Massive and long lime-coloured vines coming down on the friendly opponent like the Judgment of Arceus. Using Harden, The Bug-Fighting Pokemon stood its ground, the lashing of a hundred thorny vines pushing him backwards with the strength to push cars and trucks with ease. Yet the Bug Pokemon was more than scraps of metal. His feet left trenches in its path as he went backwards grunting to not show weakness by the very painful attack.
After a few seconds of a stalemate, the offence ended, the two wrestling Pokemon now five meters away from each other. Both Venasaur and Heracross were now panting a bit. It was to be expected after the use of the strongest Grass-type move and taking it head on despite having type advantage. Ash looking at the shaking trainer native of Hoenn knew it was enough of a demonstration.
"Okay guys, that's all. As always you were great," The two Pokemon sighed and let down their guards, their trainer standing in front of them, "Venasaur, we need to keep working on your Poison-types moves. Heracross, we need to learn a Dark-type move to better compliment your Bug type moves. That way, no Psychic Pokemon will catch you off guard." The two veteran Pokemon nodded and were sucked back into their Pokeballs for a rest.
"I-I can be as strong as you?" May stammered to form sentences, her gloved hands clutching to the grassy soil. This brief show had to equal those Elite Four matches she had heard off whenever a new Champion was looking to climb up to the top. An ultimate challenge that made the earth rumble as only Legendary Pokemon that shaped the world could.
Ash's hands touched May's chin making her look into his auburn eyes.
"If you set your mind on your goal, you can actually surpass me." Ash's comment settled the deal. He could see the spark that had kindled the fire. Just like Ho-Oh had ignited his drive and Lorelei had added fuel into it.
The rest of the day was spent with the brunette making training schedules for her Pokemon, which were due to start after leaving Petalburg. May also planned on her own what other Pokemon to catch. While she would prefer a beautiful one to help in contests, the brunette acknowledged that she also had to keep a variety of types, looks aside. As she had promised, any Pokemon she were to capture would get to show its beauty in contest no matter how many people could consider them ugly. If she was only going with the average six then it was the best for her. Although she could go for Ash's path and travel with more than six Pokemon with her. That way, none of her Pokemon would be forgotten back at her home.
Besides, the brunette trainer definitely didn't want to leave any of her Pokemon with her little brother. He could be a bad influence over them. And also a pesky annoyance if her Pokemon wanted to just relax. She was pretty sure that her Torchic would learn Flamethrower just to shut him up.
The part May hated the most, however, was Ash training schedule…for her!
She still remembered his words after her pout of indignation following her finding out she was to start with a light jogging plus a few calisthenic exercises like squats and push ups.
"May, if you want your Pokemon to be the best, then 'you' should also strive to be the best," Ash commented handing her the written timetable. May wanted to retort but the raven-haired teenager cut her off. "Being healthy isn't a right. It's a responsibility. And going around fighting against creatures that may shoot you with fire balls or thousands of volts of electricity just because they want to or are after a quick meal, then been at your top condition is a must. Your Pokemon might not always save you and you must be ready for the best and for the worst situations." A blushing teenage girl had to nod sheepishly that her teacher was, again, right. With her Pokemon been so low in battle and experience, then a lot of things would fall back to her. Mostly, her own safety.
By nightfall, she was very thankful that Ash had lent her his sleeping bag. Due to her bike travelling, the brunette had only planned to depart her house early in the morning and return close to sundown. But those pesky Dark-type puppies had to ruin her day. Luckily her knight in shining armor had arrived. Not only was he compassionate but was also a great chef. Who could have guessed that Pokemon food could be spiced up with powdered Berries to make the Pokemon feel fuller without needing to have a full stomach? That sure could save her a lot of money.
At first the new trainer of Hoenn thought that Ash would sleep uncomfortably without his sleeping bag. That was until he dazzled her by calling out his massive Snorlax, who was already snoring. Ash, Raichu and the also-released Fire-type Typhlosion casually laid on top of the plump belly of the Normal-type, who just kept dosing off completely undisturbed. And with his Fire Pokemon from Johto lying close to him, Ash spent a warmer night than May did.
May's dreams that night were plagued with smart ass trainers proving how cool they were.
May had to admit, spending these last day with Ash had been quite refreshing from her usual routine back home. Getting to see some of her father's gym battles was always nice, even if her dad only lost two or three battles per month while barely breaking a sweat against others. Although hearing her brother rant all day and all night about the newest Pokemon fact of the day that the radio or TV showed or latest winner at some local competition was really something she could live without.
As for her own future, she already knew that she would not follow on her father's footsteps to become a trainer. Becoming a coordinator sounded far more like her style. And thanks to Ash's pointers, the brunette now knew how to make her Pokemon grow in power. Although that was going to require for her to catch a lot more Pokemon. And on her own as she knew that her travelling partner would soon leave for the next city in his journey to challenge the Gym circuit. That pessimistic thought made her mood go instant downhill.
However, she wasn't going to sulk. It was not becoming of a future Elite Coordinator to mop over a measly teenage crush she had. For now, the brunette was focusing in her Pokedex.
"So you are telling me that by winning battles, I get rich?" May asked checking her Pokedex in amazement.
"Not rich 'per say'," Ash answered rubbing his chin. He was trying to explain his companion about the way currency worked for trainers. It had taken him a regional Professor and his two Elite lovers hours of explanation of something that was rather easy to understand. "But whenever a trainer gets their license, they all start with a certain amount of money. Depending on the battle at hand, an amount of money is calculated to be subtracted from you if you lose, or added to you if you win."
"Your Pokedex is the one who makes the math," The Aura trainer kept on pointing at the regional electronic device. "If you were to beat me in a battle, you would win a small fortune. If I defeat you, however, I only win pocket change." The brunette looked quite angry by that remark. Something the League Champion noted by the swift flare of her Aura.
"It's not to insult you or your Pokemon, May," The League winner said trying to calm his temporal protégé down, "But that's how it goes. The experienced trainers aren't legally allowed to snatch all the money from new trainers. That's why this system has worked so well. And as far as I can guess, coordinator battles should work under the same rules." May scratched her head. This was going to get her a long time to get used to.
"Oh and one last piece of advice," Ash said looking around hoping no one would hear him. He drew closer to his apprentice, something she started blushing for, "Despite their looks, all nurse Joys and Officer Jennys aren't the same." He said tersely.
"Hold on!" The newbie coordinator said shaking her head. "They all look alike and even have the same voice, but they aren't the same?!" She blurted out a bit thrown for a loop by that unique piece of information. "Are they related?"
"Well, all Nurse Joys are sisters and cousins like Jennys." Ash explained still walking onward.
"What kind of family do they have?" The brunette commented to herself in a whisper. May didn't have any cousins. But even if she did, they wouldn't look like an exact replica of her.
"Trust me on this one May," Ash replied with a tired sigh and a very serious look. "Don't even bother to find out. If no one asks, then no one needs to answer the awkward question."
Ash still wondered how the hell Brock could identify each and every one of them with pin-point accuracy. Seriously, did he have the nose of a Growlithe? If Ash didn't have his Aura, he would definitely be as clueless as the next trainer.
May would have said something if the path of the Route hadn't suddenly ended. From atop of the small hill the two trainers stood on, they could see one of the many metropolises of the Hoenn region. Which coincidentally was May's hometown.
"Here we are. Petalburg City." Ash commented, looking at the city bustling with activity with a smile.
"Um yeah, you know…I have to run some errands," May said suddenly changing her mood one hundred and eighty. She looked quite nervous if the sudden sweat on her furrow brow were any indication. "So…see you later!" The newbie had already sped off to Arceus knew where before Ash could have reacted.
"That was weird." Raichu stated honestly looking up at his trainer. Ash shrugged his shoulders to that. He knew that May was hiding something but it wasn't his place to investigate it. But this situation certainly looked familiar. Like that time when he had visited Cerulean City for the first time and Misty was trying to stop him from getting to the Gym and meet her sisters.
After a few minutes of sight-seeing the splendorous city and sadly not finding any Pokemart open, the sixteen-year-old trainer was standing inside the local gym, one of the eight belonging to the regional League Circuit. The one he couldn't challenge as of yet. But it didn't mean he couldn't do a reconnaissance visit just to see what duels he had ahead. Apparently the gym was attached to a house, meaning the leader lived, very literally, next door.
"Hello, anyone here?" The Aura trainer asked out loud hoping someone would hear him. There were presences inside the building so someone had to answer the teenager eventually. A few seconds later, a grumpy voice answered from behind a door.
"I'm coming, no need to be an Exploud!" A kid's voice said rather moody rubbing his sleepy eyes from behind his glasses. He was carrying a laptop in his hands. His slumberous sight widen behind his thick lenses when he recognised the tall raven-haired teenager standing a few feet in front of him with his fully-evolved Electric starter next to him. "You! It's really you!" The kid said pointing at the league champion with no kind of decorum whatsoever.
"As far as I know, yes." Ash replied with a grin. Just three weeks of being the winner of the Silver Conference and a fanboy was gushing down on him? Yes, it was Ash's definition of Tuesday. Or at least what everyday would be if more people started to identify him with such ease. Which Ash really pray upon Arceus they did not.
"No, I mean…you are him. Ash Ketchum!" The ten-year old kid said going full fanboy mode. "Winner of the Silver Conference of Johto!"
"You watched all of my battles?" The trainer from Kanto asked now.
"Watched? I loved your battles!" The obvious young fan blurted out, "Your tactic to switch Pokemon before they take a lot of damage was impeccable. And your last match against Harrison...and he thought he could have an advantage...and he ended up shooting at his own foot because he called out Articuno," The ten-year old was going at high speed making Ash a bit dizzy by so many words spammed together in less than a minute. "And then he tried to switch your Pokemon again but only got shocked by Zapdos and then burnt down by Moltres!" Ash was getting worried by the lack of breath. "But he still put quite a battle and even knocked out a legendary Pokemon!"
"Yeah, that was my final match." Ash said sheepishly rubbing his head. That was a summary of his entire Johto trek in a very fast-paced way.
"Hey, A Raichu!" Max got close to the tall Electric Pokemon looking all over him like scanning for any blemish in its fur, which unnerved the Electric Pokemon. "This must be your starter Pikachu. But it evolved thanks to a Thunder Stone," Max looked at the long rear limb. "And because of the shape of its tail, it's a male Raichu."
"You sure know a lot." The Aura trainer commented with curiosity. When he had been ten, Ash barely knew about Pokemon types. Mentioning evolving methods like trading or stones would have given him a migraine back on those days.
Max smiled quite smugly. "As soon as I turn fourteen, I'm going to become the strongest trainer of Hoenn!" The ten-year old kid said pointing at his chest with his thumb. "And one day, I'll surpass Steven and become the Champion!"
"That's quite the goal to work for," The Aura trainer commented with a broad smile of approval. This youngster sure reminded him of the old days when he witnessed front row the sheer speed of a Rapidash race. Or during the Oak's summer camp where he had found a Poliwag after it had scared his friend from Kalos Serena Yvonne. "But as long as you have a steady mind set on your goals then you will accomplish anything you want."
Before Max could say anything or pass out after being pep-talked by his idol, an older man appeared on the threshold of the doors. He had black hair and a broad complexity. He was accompanied by two ladies. One was starting on her thirties with auburn hair and blue eyes and a nice hourglass figure that made Ash think of Lorelei.
The other girl made Ash smile as she tried to hide a very obvious vermillion blush.
"Hey May," Ash casually talked to the teenage girl, whose cheeks were now iridescent red. "So this is your house?"
After a short introduction and explaining what had transpired with May's bike, the family was very grateful towards Ash for looking after May. May's father turned out to be no other than Petalburg's Gym leader Norman. The Aura trainer already knew that he specialised in Normal-types. But that also added to a certain level of uncertainty. After all, Normal-type Pokemon were considered the most varied type when it came to move pools. So Ash knew that he would have to prepare accordingly.
"Hey Ash, I know that the rules state that you must have four badges before challenging me," The Normal-type leader said towards the seasoned teenager. "But maybe I can make an exception. It's not every day I have a League winner for a competitor." Ash smiled meekly.
"Thanks Norman but I don't want any special treatment," The League winner replied surprising the whole family by his decision. "Just because I won a League doesn't put me above other trainers with or without badges."
Norman, despite his initial surprise, smiled. Not many trainers could go through what Ash did and come out so humble.
Max decided to change the topic. Hopefully, all the time he had spent talking about Treecko had made her sister choose that Pokemon.
"Hey May what Pokemon did you got from Professor Birch?" The kid with glasses asked his sister looking very excited.
"Come on out!" May tossed her starter's Pokeball, revealing the cute Fire Pokemon. Ash sensed how Max's excitement turned into puzzlement.
"A Torchic?!" He whined. "But Treecko is way better!" Apparently Torchic didn't like to be compared to other Pokemon. Max soon found himself crying out forgiveness under Torchic's Peck attack. The other four laughed at Max's expenses.
Ash checked out the clock on the wall in surprise. It was already five. While he wasn't in a rush to gather all of his badges, the League winner still had a schedule to keep. Not only his team had to train but so did he. As much fun as he had had with May, it was time to take things on his own.
"Apologies, but I have to cut our meeting short," Ash said standing up. "Norman, Caroline, thank you for you hospitality," The teenager made a small head bow to show his respect. Ash turned his sight towards the apparently sadden kid. "Max, keep learning. A good foundation is always a good way to start as a trainer," That seemed to instantly perk up the prepubescent kid. Meanwhile Ash's sight landed on his temporal protégé soon to be coordinator. "May, one last piece of advice," He placed his hand on her shoulder, her blush intensifying several degrees as his eyes bore on her. "When you get to the arena, focus solely on your Pokemon and your performance. When you reach the battle stage, pay attention only to your Pokemon, your strategy and how to counter your opponent. Ignore the crowd and the judges. I know it will be a bit overwhelming for your first time, but trust me, it will get easier." Ash had no doubts that May was going to triumph. Only her drive to achieve her goals would be the one that took her to the top or pushed her down the cliff.
"Tha-thank you." May responded, her cheeks again blushing up a storm. Next to her Norman and Caroline chuckled to themselves. Teenage crush.
"Um Ash," The brunette from Hoenn asked a bit hesitantly scratching her right arm with her left. "Will I get to, you know, see you again?"
Ash smiled kindly at her. He could sense her emotions shifting towards him in more ways than a teacher-student. Sadly, Ash didn't want to lead her on. Yes, she was hot for her age and definitely well-endowed. But the League Champion wasn't interested in her that way. Maybe because a few ladies already spoiled him for the older kind.
"I am going to challenge this gym after I collect four badges so I guess that's a yes," The black-haired teenager answered. His smile broadened. "And who knows, maybe we'll meet in a contest." Now May shuddered. His short-time teacher didn't have Pokemon. He had beasts. And she, a newbie trainer and coordinator would have to stand against them and challenge a far more experienced trainer even if he had previously admitted to have never set foot in a contest Stadium before.
The Mapple family accompanied their guest to the front door. The flapping of wings landed in front of the Mapple family. A black-feathered bird with white belly and red feathers across his neck seemed to be looking for something to eat. Maybe a Wurmple or a Silcoon.
"Hey it's a Taillow!" Max stated sprightly. He knew pretty much every Pokemon from his home region but meeting them was a different thing. His mother was definitely not letting go of him until he had turned fourteen and was officially emancipated as an adult.
Ash checked his Pokedex although he also knew his fair share of things about Pokemon thanks to Professor Oak and the newest updates in his Pokedex. "Taillow, the tiny swallow Pokemon. Taillow courageously stands its ground against foes, however strong they may be. This gutsy Pokemon will remain defiant even after a loss. On the other hand, it cries loudly if it becomes hungry." Taillows were the equivalent of Pidgeys in Hoenn. Although it was said that Taillows were not so easily caught due to their far more aggressive attitude. However, this one was alone, whereas Taillows travelled in packs. The sheer number of them added to their moody attitude made them quite a nasty threat resembling of Spearrows you did not want to cross unless your Pokemon were strong enough to save your ass. There were reported cases where newbie trainer and Pokemon didn't make it through an encounter after angering a whole flock.
"It isn't yours, is it?" The Aura trainer asked Norman, who shooked his head in response. The auburn-eyed trainer smirked, twisting his cap. This would be easy picking. While Ash loved Pokemon, he wanted to see if the Pokemon he captures had the drive to want to become stronger.
"Raichu, use Swift!" Ash ordered his Pokemon's rather low-power move. The evolved starter shrugged his shoulders before stepping forward. With a swiping motion of his long lightning-edged tail, the fully-evolved starter unleashed the common shower of golden stars. The Taillow leader had no time to move away, taking the attack barrage head on. After the sparkles of dust settled down, Taillow was struggling to get up. The little bird was attempting use its wings to push itself up. Ash could see that it was angry. Good. It had the pride of a fighter that would make it fit in his team with no problem.
After a few seconds of futile struggle, Taillow's body dropped utterly unconscious with swirls for eyes. Ash casually tossed an empty Pokeball, swallowing the regional bird of Hoenn.
"Holy shit!" The bespectacled kid cursed out by the brief but astonishing display of power. One attack. And that was all that she wrote for the wild Taillow.
"Max, language!" Caroline reprimanded her son. Although to be fair, she herself was just as shocked. As the wife of a gym leader, she had encountered many powerful Pokemon. Some belonging to her husband and others from challenging trainers. But something in her guts told her that cute Mouse Pokemon held far more of a punch than a Gym could produce.
"Even Swift is strong enough to knock out a wild Pokemon," Norman thought to himself quite shocked but also a bit concerned. His sight landed on Ash's back his stance firm and unwavering from his target. "I better be ready to fight him." He wanted to fight Ash and see what he was truly capable off. As a gym leader considered as one of the few that could become Elite Four in the upcoming years, the Normal-type expert was not going to pull his punches once Ash were to eventually return for his badge.
Many gym leaders could dial back their true power despite the League orders specifically stating that no trainer was allowed to have his badge unless battling for it. But Norman wasn't going to. If anything, he would have to step up his game to be a proper challenge to the League winner.
"Well guys, see you later!" Ash waved goodbye the Mapple family, his newest shaking Pokeball still in his hand until the sound of a brand-new caught Pokemon resounded. The League Champion clipped his new addition while removing another one and tossing it. The fully-evolved Pidgeot appeared with a shrill cry expanding its gallant wings.
"Wow a Pidgeot!" The ten-year-old kid blurted, his eyes glossing behind his lenses by the beauty and magnificence of the fully-evolved Avian Pokemon. Maybe because it looked like none of the pictures he had seen of the species Professor Oak showed in his show. "It's massive and glows like a shiny!"
"Max, could you stop fanboying over every Pokemon?" May muttered feeling really exasperated by her sibling. Although to her insides she was gushing even more than Max did. To finally found one of Ash's most beautiful Pokemon and not be able to see it again.
May shook her head. She would see it again. Her teacher was going to make good use of that Pokemon's looks for contests. And she would have to battle it to obtain the ribbon.
"Why, so you can fanboy over Ash?" The bespectacled kid retorted.
"Shut up!" May answered back starting a sibling bickering.
Ash didn't hear any further discussion as he drifted away sitting on his Pidgeot's back.
The sixteen-year old trainer stepped into the Pokemon Centre, a few hours after his departure from the Mapple household. After a short shopping spree to collect supplies for his Pokemon and himself, and still not getting any luck with the accursed Pokenav, Ash decided to call it a day. His team was comfortably resting in their Pokeballs, Raichu still walking next to his friend and trainer.
Standing behind the reception booth was Nurse Joy, a pink-haired beautiful lady in charge of taking care of all the injured Pokemon that came through the door. Next to her, her faithful plump-looking Wigglytuff with a matching nurse hat happily smiled.
"Hello, Nurse Joy." Ash said to the nurse, offering a charming smile. While he had already booked a room in the Centre, it was better to always be on the good side of the Nurses. One wrong word and you could find yourself kicked out of the Centre by the cheerful Wigglytuff. Don't let its cute looks distract you. That Pokemon could easily turn into humans and Pokemon's worst nightmare just by removing its hat. And so would Nurse Joy.
Not many knew but all of the nurses were previously trained in battle as any gym leader was. It was a fundamental requirement before taking charge of a Pokemon Centre. How was a nurse to otherwise handle smoothly the comes and goes of dozens of trainers per day?
"Hello Ash," The beautiful Pinkette Nurse welcomed the seasoned trainer, who was staying for the night. She crouched behind the counter and placed a box in front of the League champion surprising him a bit. "This package's just arrived for you."
"For me?" The Aura trainer asked rather surprised. The parcel was a rectangular box wrapped up in brown tissue. Nothing that made it stand out. Using his Aura, Ash detected nothing organic inside. So it had to be some kind of object. If it were from his mum or Professor Oak, then they would have priorly tried to sent him a call. It didn't have any destination only Ash's name. Usually when delivering packets that didn't have an established city to be sent at, the packages were passed around from one Pokemon Centre to the other, residing for a few days while the local Nurse Joys tried to find out the receiver of the mail.
After signing for the arrival of the package and getting inside his room, the League Champion opened the wrapping to find to his shock the small note at the top. The box was addressed as coming from Kalos. Unlike other regions, Kalos was widely regarded as the fashion centre of the world. Mostly because a few years ago, a competition called Performance had been tried to put through with League's authorisation. However, due to its very flamboyant and very evident sexualization of the female gender, it got quickly putted down. But with the appearance of Contests in the region, maybe the performance could be assimilated by them and keep the very good-looking outfits.
Ash smiled. He knew of two beautiful lady trainers currently running amok over that region attempting to locate a Mythical Pokemon.
"Oh Lory, what is inside that devious mind this time?" Ash commented wanting to roll his eyes. Knowing his lover like he did, the present could be anything. He removed the top.
"Hey, new clothes!" Ash commented happily. This was what he had been looking for. Importing things from Kalos was expensive. This outfit as a whole could easily cost three to five thousand Pokedollars. Even Evolutionary Stones were cheaper in that region than clothes were.
Ash snorted. That amount of money was pocket change for his two Elite lovers. Ash picked the small note attached to the underside of the case. By the pristine handwriting, it was Lory's. Ash knew the inside out of that gorgeous woman. Even her handwriting wasn't so easily copied.
"I thought you would want a change of looks to fit your...rebelliousness," Ash snickered as he read. "Good thing I didn't send over what Cynthia had picked for you. Let's say that if you want to dress as a Machoke for us, we still have it wrapped up for you." Ash laughed. It would still be a while since he could see his two girlfriends again. Although as soon as he managed to get his hands on a Pokenav Plus, he would give them a call.
The League Champion carried the box into the bathroom to get dressed.
Ash stepped into the bedroom in a new get up. He was now dressed in a dark crimson red sleeveless jacket with an also sleeveless black wife beater underneath it. He had dark blue pants with a new pair of white snickers in black laces. He had to admit, this new look did fit his more developed frame like a glove. Which by the way he now had black leather finger less ones.
"Well, it certainly isn't very common," Ash said to himself while enjoying his reflection on the mirror. He flexed his arm, the muscles bulging but the clothes not straining too much. "But I can't complain. It totally suits me." And the silk felt like a soothing sensation washing over him. Using costly materials like Galvantula' spider silk added to Mareep's wool sure paid off. No wonder the other regions felt like they had fallen short in the clothe department. This outfit would not only fit but would also be resilient to his unique training style. And maybe survive one or two Pokemon moves unscathed. The box also came with a winter coat and also a swimming trunk. Ash could guess that neither Lory or Cyn wanted him to choose clothes himself. Maybe because his fashion senses were dismal at the best.
"Are those clothes even canon to the series?" The Lightning mouse asked sarcastically.
"Did you say something, buddy?" Ash asked, apparently not hearing his starter's comment.
Notes from Chapter 2:
Ash already caught his Taillow. It shows the difference in training as it took Pikachu a long time to properly weaken it.
Ash was only teasing May at the beginning. He doesn't hate her.
I know the training course was really hasty. But Ash is a straight-to-the-point trainer. And May knows he is a serious knowledgeable man and his Pokemon back that up. In the Anime, Ash trained May in how to catch a Pokemon and later on forgot that he had to weaken them. That WON'T happen here. Ever.
Pokemon do eat Pokemon. And humans eat some Pokemon. And some Pokemon also eat humans. You better get used to read some foods that NEVER appeared in the Anime because of censorship.
Ash will obtain a Pokenav later on so he will chat with his lovers. But they won't be 'physical' again until much later. Maybe after the Hoenn League is over.
If you are wondering, yes. Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny will be among Ash's lovers. And that's actually the easiest, once one Joy or Jenny fall for Ash the others will want a piece of the action as well. This will definitely be great in Unova, where the Jennys are the most stuck-up. A good old shag would definitely help the lighten up.
The Gym battle against Norman will hopefully be a bit more equal as Norman has witnessed a glimpse of Ash's power. And with Max there, the gym leader will know that Ash has Pokemon to match Elites and even his own set of legendary that could take down any Pokemon.
Okay Ash has a new outfit from the season that shows a non-legal League. For the fans, who don't get it yet is the Orange League's Champion Drake. I always liked his outfit and now Ash has it. Why not?
A list of Ash's Pokemon will appear in the next chapter. Because Ash will capture plenty.
A small fourth-wall break at the end.
And so Ash is getting ready to pick up his training again. Not that he didn't while May was with him but you get my point. See you in the next chapter!