Pokémon Kanto Adventures
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, nor other content that you recognize. I am receiving no money for my work.
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Jurassicdinodrew:
Ash's competence, I imagine ten year old ash as being about on par with me at ten years old. Having played all the Pokémon games and watched the anime religiously. So he's going to know a fair bit of common stuff. But there's a lot of stuff he won't know.
I'm going to be going with a general, if I have to look it up, Ash doesn't know it approach.
He will be conducting a Gym battle with each Gym. (I'll explain the element's in more detail in story at the first gym.)
The League is still a while away, so I don't have a definite plan yet. But expect all the trainer's to have the strength to beat eight gyms.
As for Mew, no I won't have him catch it, nor any other Legendary's. there win cards that destroy the narrative.
Chapter Two: The Perfect Crime
I wanna be the very best
Like no one ever was
To catch them is my real test
to train them is my cause
I will travel across the land
searching far and wide
Each Pokémon, to understand
The Power that's inside
Its You and Me,
I know its my Destiny
Pokémon!
Your my best friend
In a world we must defend
Pokémon
A heart so true
Our Courage Will pull us through
You teach me and I'll teach you
Pokémon!
Yeah
Every challenge along the way
With Courage I will face
I will battle every day
To claim my rightful place
Come with me the time is right
There's no better team
Arm and arm well win the fight
Its always been our dream
Pokémon
Its you and me
I know it's my destiny
Pokémon!
Oh, your my best friend
In a world we must defend
Pokémon
A heart so true
Our Courage will pull us through
You teach me and I'll teach you
Pokémon!
Yeah
The sun rose over the trail that Ash found himself waking on, a Pikachu that looked as wounded as he felt. Ash groaned, as a heady rush of disbelief swamped him.
"We," Ash croaked, as Pikachu warbled, "We beat em."
And then they were smiling, a gurgling laughter filling his mouth when Pikachu gave a slight nod. Ash turned over to look upon the morning sky.
The cloud's from last night's storm were clearing, parting in the middle, and the rain had settled down to a little drizzle. Ash's clothes were soaked and muddy, his shoes clogged with water. In the gap between clouds, a Pokémon flew.
It flew with a golden hue that hundred around the red body and wings that spanned from one edge of cloud to the other as they parted for it's Path. Silver crested from it's tail in wisps of light and numbered in such a scale that bonfire's fumed smoke.
"What's that," Ash murmured with awe.
Awkwardly Ash moved his good arm down for his Pokedex. To thrust it up at the Pokémon. Part way, as his arm was unsteadily raising towards the phoenix Ash realized his Pokedex would have no data on any Pokémon.
"Capture Image," he stuttered when his arm had raised. "Record. Unknown flying type. Huge wingspan. It… It— It looks like a Legendary."
Then his arm thumped down, and the device scattered into the dirt.
It was minutes spent in silence before Ash summoned up the will to do anything, the rain had made the ground soft, and he was too numb from exhaustion to feel any bumps.
With a groan, and a sound like a croaking orchestra he rolled back onto his side, facing Pikachu again.
"We need to get you to a Pokémon Center," Ash decided, looking at the Pokémon.
It was bumped and bruised, and Ash thought about how little he knew about Pokémon. Could he even move Pikachu? Looking over at the Pokedex, he vaguely recalled field researcher's having access to a medical scanner.
Stumbling onto his knees, and slowly, as Ash found where he had hurt himself the night previous, he crawled over to the Pokedex. Shaking the mud off it and wiping the small scanner/camera at its back clear. Ash pointed it at Pikachu.
"Medical Scanner," Ash intoned, as firmly and clearly as he could.
"Medical function," Ash tried.
"Scan Pokémon," Ash said, scared.
The device beeped, and a generic picture of a Pikachu appeared on the screen. Underneath it, was the label, "Please Input Data."
Further down, at the bottom of the page, there was another option.
"Medical Scan," Ash said, and the Pokedex beeped again.
"Species: Pikachu,"
"Energy: at 0%, numerous small wounds. Exhaustion."
"Diagnosis: Severe Energy exhaustion, battle fatigue, Electrical burnout"
"Please head to your nearest Pokémon Center for further assistance."
"Does that mean I can move Pikachu," Ash called to the machine.
"Pokémon is safe for transport."
"Please head to your nearest Pokémon Center for further assistance."
"Okay," Ash nodded, "Okay," he said, as approached the Pokémon, slipping the Pokedex into his pocket.
Carefully, so as not to hurt him further, Ash took Pikachu into a cradle of arms and made a decisive step up onto his feet. Moaning as he discovered that his thigh was bruised, Ash began moving steadily down the trail towards Viridian City.
The first of Viridian City that Ash saw was sprawled out, the many disconnected suburbs and green parks sprawled out over rising hills. Circling around a center of skyline that reached upwards into the air. In the distance a siren wailed, but in his exhaustion Ash did not pay it any attention. With a renewed vigor Ash made his way down the trail path, towards the nearest suburb.
What struck Ash about his entrance to the city was the suddenness. In Pallet homes had a tendency to blend into the landscape, and a person could come across scattered homes miles outside of town. It was not so for Viridian, the city, although Ash did not really think he had actually entered the city portion yet. Here the suburb began was a long, endless wooden fence that Ash had seen in far to many shows. The kind that lined streets, meter and a half long pieces of wood overlapping onwards into the sunset.
The path he walked seemed to be the only entrance to the closed off world of Viridian, and entering the suburb, Ash was caught off guard by the lack of Pokémon. In Pallet could not go a single stretch of ground without seeing some form of life. Here the street's where empty, and Ash all Ash saw of life was the occasional person, or on rare occasion person and Pokémon out for a walk.
The only thing he could see were the Pidgey's, which were if anything, more prolific than they're on the Route. Although Ash would only ever see one or two of them at once. It was walking around, aimlessly searching for a Pokémon center, when Ash finally came across two police officer's.
They were in a public park, one of a rarity inside the city, and they were both hovering around a signboard, discussing something quietly.
"Excuse me," Ash said, stepping towards them, as they turned round. Ripping once of the pieces of paper from the wall.
"Yes little boy," one answered, a female, with extravagantly made hair. "What can we do for you?"
Ash swallowed, shuffling awkwardly on his better leg. It did not sound like they would be particularly please to help him.
"I'm looking for the Pokémon Center," Ash said, "my Pikachu's badly hurt–"
"Oh yes," the other said, a man dressed as neatly as he could manage, "look at that."
And then he approached Ash. Looking carefully at his Pikachu.
"He look's quiet badly hurt," the officer said, and Ash thought he looked far more worried than Ash did. When he turned to his partner, "how badly do you think he's hurt?"
"Huh," the woman said, looking at the man with annoyance.
"Do you think the Pokémon Center could heal him?" he asked the other.
"I–" the female glared at her partner, who by this point had adopted the most pitiful face Ash had ever seen.
Then she walked over to Ash, looking down at his Pikachu.
"Umm…" she said, looking uncertain, "maybe a day, longer maybe? I think it's suffering from electrical burnout."
"Oh dear," the other Officer shouted, "electrical burnout. He'd have to spend a day in the Pokémon Center."
"A day in the Pokémon Center," the Officer said again.
"I– Yes," the female repeated. More sure of herself, "an entire day in the Pokémon Center."
As one they turned to Ash.
"Oh dear," the male said again, far more shrilly. "Say how long have you been a trainer young man?"
"Umm…" said Ash, and his heart shrunk as he realized he was in trouble.
"Oh, look at him, he's so new," the female continued, as she roped her hand's roughly around him. "Jameson we can't let him stay the entire day inside their alone."
"Your right Jessabelle!" exclaimed Jameson. "It's practically our civic duty to keep this young man company."
"What was your name again," Jameson asked.
"Ash," Ash murmured, as he tried to step back.
"Oh, no, no, no. Ash," Jameson started, as he began herding Ash towards the entrance to the park. "You don't worry about a thing! Pikachu's going to be just fine."
"In fact, it's extremely lucky you happened to run in to us!" Jessabelle said.
"Imagine. You might have been wandering around these suburbs for ages."
"Now where's Meowth wandered off too," asked Jessabelle, looking round, as she idly prodded the young boy onwards.
"He's up there bullying the Pidgey's," Jameson said, as he pointed at a nearby tree.
In it, sat a Pidgey, a small little thing that seemed happiest on the highest branch in the park. Where it was as far away from the Meowth climbing the tree below as it could be.
"Meowth," Jessabelle shouted, "stop annoying the poor Pidgey up there. We're escorting this trainer to the Pokémon Center."
The Meowth jumped down, landing on all four on the on the grass. Before getting up onto it's two legs."
"Me – owth?" it asked, looking at the two officer's in confusion.
"This poor new trainer's Pokémon has been injured," Jameson said, as he bustled Ash hurriedly down the street. "And it's our civic duty as police officer's to stay with him while he wait's for the Chancey to heal it."
"It might take a day," Jessabelle said, "But it's our civic duty to ensure this young trainer doesn't wait alone, in the Pokémon center. For an entire day."
And before he knew it Ash was forced down a string of streets, and to the front of the Viridian Pokémon Centre.
"There we go," Jameson said, entering the Pokémon Center, pushing Ash out in front of him. "Nurse Joy, this Pikachu's been hurt! It's a medical emergency! Help!"
The counter nurse looked at the odd group of humans, and a single Meowth in her entrance room. Ash didn't know what she saw when she looked at them, because an odd look came over her face, eventually though. She began speaking into the buzzer on her desk.
"I need a stretcher for a small, Electric Pokémon, ASAP please," she said, and then too the officer's, "Thank you for taking the time out of patrol to escort this trainer. I understand your rather busy at the moment."
"Oh, we're just doing our civic duty," Jessabelle tittered, "really, we can't let a couple of thieves stop us from performing our other duties."
A team of two Chancey's arrived, bursting out of a pair of swinging doors chanting in time, between a mobile stretcher was pushed. As they entered the nurse stood up, taking Pikachu gently from Ash's arms.
"it'll be okay," the Nurse said, as Pikachu was placed on the gurney.
"Get this Pokémon to the critical care unit," Nurse Joy said, as she turned to Ash, "and you look like you need medical treatment as well."
Ash blinked, then looked down at himself.
"Well, I don't really feel –"
"That's the adrenaline talking," the Nurse commented, as she ushered him over to a pair of hospital doors. Inside was a bare room, couches lining the space in rows. Behind them, the two officers followed. Jameson looked rather pitying for him.
"Now," said Nurse Joy, as he was manhandled into a seat in the front row. "There's also some questions I'm supposed to ask."
"What –"
Ash realized he was being rather rude. Reddening as the Nurse continued.
"But I figure that can wait until after I make sure you're not going to roll over on me," she said, gesturing for his shirt and jacket to be removed.
With a quick, what Ash thought of as surreptitious but the other's thought cute, look around. Ash slowly began extracting himself from his jacket. Discovering entirely new sore places in the process. After, when he went to repeat the lengthy process with his shirt the nurse's hands found their way onto the material. Applying practiced hands and lifting it over his head.
"Umm, questions?" Ash asked, as the Nurse busied herself with the half dozen most obvious lumps on his midsection. As she took command of a passing Chancey, shooing her away to find supplies.
"What happened, who your supervision is." The Nurse looked him over critically, "how long you've been a trainer."
"But I can guess most of those from your clothing."
"You can tell that by looking at my clothing?" Ash said, as the police officer's nodded rather seriously.
"And the fact that you thought trying to capture a Pokémon against its will was a good idea," the Nurse said, "now I'll need you name and Trainer ID."
"Ash Ketchum," he replied, "I don't know my ID, but's it's in my Pokedex," Ash said, as he went to his jean pocket.
The device was pulled free, and question was asked of it. A set of numbers were repeated.
"It didn't really happen like that," Ash mumbled, as the Nurse inscribed his ID onto the back of her hand.
"I'm sure," the Nurse said, "but nonetheless I give this talk to every new trainer who walks in here. I find a bit of basic information helps a lot in the long run."
"You're pant's?" she said next, and Ash felt rather betrayed.
"But–"
"I saw you favoring one leg," Nurse Joy interrupted, "take them off."
"But, but," he looked at the two officer's.
"Well just be outside, then" Jessabelle looking rather amused.
"Well guard the door," the other said.
The Meowth had wandered off some time ago.
"Now," the Nurse said, as she began prodding his thigh, "Usually I'm able to catch new trainer's before they do to much damage to themselves.
"But hopefully it will simply make what I say all the more important," she continued. Leveling a look onto him.
"During your Journey you are going to come across all kinds of Pokémon, and in my experience, rarely is it a good idea to capture any of them without their permission."
"What?"
"You will find," she continued, "that there is a certain etiquette to capturing a Pokémon."
"A trainer finds a Pokémon, the trainer sends out their own Pokémon, the Pokémon battle for a time," then she looked at him, "and if it seems both parties are willing you may throw a Pokeball at the wild Pokémon."
"This formula has been used for centuries for a reason," Nurse Joy said, "it allows both the wild Pokémon and you to examine each other. The Pokémon is allowed a glimpse of what being this trainer's Pokémon is like, and the trainer get's a general idea of the Pokémon's abilities."
"You will find," and here the Nurse again looked at him pointedly, "that some Pokémon don't react that well to a deviation from the formula."
"Most wild species have their own ways of deterring trainer's, you were unlucky enough to stumble across a species with a rather aggressive defensive mechanism."
"Now," the Nurse said, "the league has added their own stipulations to this."
"Every Pokeball is designed to prevent the capture of unwilling Pokémon," Nurse Joy stated, and then she told him he could put his jeans back on.
Once he was fully clothed, carefully pulling his clothes back up over his bruises, Ash asked a question.
"But a Pokeball's supposed to be made for capturing Pokémon?"
Nurse Joy nodded, "Yes, but the League also designs them with the intention of preventing harm between Pokémon and trainer. The best way to do this, is to prevent trainer's from capturing uncooperative Pokémon."
"They do," Ash said, "is that why sometimes Pokémon break out."
"yes," Nurse Joy answered, "If you ever find yourself failing to capture a Pokémon after multiple attempts. It's best to simply leave the area."
The Nurse took one more look at a rather nasty bruise on his back. Ash wanted to ask her what it meant if a Pokémon refused to go inside it's Pokeball at all. But the League was known to confiscate Pokémon from trainers. And it looked rather bad of him coming into a Pokémon Center on his second day, with a heavily injured Pokémon that refused to enter it's Pokeball.
The Nurse told him he could put the rest of his clothes back on.
Looking over him once he was dressed, Nurse Joy said, "Hopefully in the future the Pokémon will be kind enough to let you go in peace."
That was when the Chancey was returned. Waddling inside, chanting a cheerful little jingle that most Pokémon employee's seemed to favor. In her arms was a tray of several different types of bandages. And a First Aid bag.
"Now," the Nurse began, "fortunately you're well enough to heal."
"What do you–"
"Chancey Heal Pulse."
Chancey waddled over, struck up its hand, glowing, and let out a pink aura of light. Striking Ash in the Chest. Absorbed inwards the wave of energy attacked accumulated aches and pains. Soothing bruises an easing a weight on hie eyes he hadn't felt.
Ash blinked once it was over, and the Nurse appeared in his eyes, taking his chin in hand. Studying his face briefly before letting go.
"Your clear," she concluded after a moment of further prodding, "but here, Bandages. You'll be surprised how much little scrapes and bumps trainers accumulate."
In addition Ash was handed a first aid bag, and the Nurse spent the next several minutes teaching how to apply each of the components and what they were for.
"Now normally the Center offer's 5P$ for heal pulses," Nurse Joy said, "but I'll just include it with the surgery bill for your Pikachu."
"Surgery Bill?" Ash said, rather alarmed.
"Don't worry," Nurse Joy tinkled, "You should have a Pokémon and Human Healthcare Coverage as part of your Beginner License."
Ash sighed.
"We only really charge Heal pulses for people to undermine the trainer's market," she said, "and make sure trainer's actually tell us when their injured."
Ash didn't know what to say to that. He hadn't actually heard of a trainer's market before.
"We offer a number of other service's for trainer's as well," Nurse Joy continued, "It'll be several hours before Pikachu's healed, so why don't you take the time to look around the facilities. We've even got access to the Pokedex Database for common Species in the area."
She looked at him pointedly.
"Okay," Ash said, "I'll go and have a look at it."
"Good," she said, "Call if you need anything or have a question. Oh, and we also offer free single night boarding accommodations."
"Thanks."
Then Nurse Joy exited the room, talking to the two officer's quietly, before leaving for her counter.
"We had a discussion with our Boss," Jameson started, "He thought it would be a good idea to have someone stationed permanently at the Pokémon Center while they look for the thieves."
"Mm-hm," Jessabelle said, "So we'll have to move out into the general lounge with the other trainers, but we'll be able to stay with you."
"You guys don –"
"Yes, we do" cheered Jameson, as he took Ash around the shoulders, "It's just your first day as a trainer."
"You need support!" Jessabelle said.
"Role models!" Jameson said.
Ash sighed, these were the strangest police officer's he had ever met.
After taking five minutes to find some clothes that hadn't been decimated by the Rattata, and utilizing the Pokémon Center's facilities to dry them. Ash and the two police officer's entered the general lunge was crowded, Ash found, with forty different people of all shapes and sizes all disappearing within an hour of the three of them arriving. But Ash thought it was slightly stupid how many of them were still left.
"There you are!" a girl said, as Ash turned, startled by the voice that had echoed it way over the general noise levels.
It was the girl, the one whose bike he had borrowed, and Ash realized, with mounting horror, that she currently had it hefted over her shoulder.
It was shattered.
"I knew I'd find you here."
"Ah…" Ash stuttered, thinking of the first lie that he could. "What happened to your bike?"
"What happened to my bike?" the girl shouted. "You happened to my bike you little loser."
"This is what's left after you stole it to save your Pokémon!"
"Now I can see why your Pokémon is in the–" and she wobbled, and the bike wobbled. Which made her wobble more, before she finally fell into a pile with her bike. Making it worse.
"Woah," Ash said, "let me help you."
"I don't need your help," she said, smacking away at his hand. "And your gonna pay for what you did to my bike."
The two police officer's where staring.
"But I don't have that kind of money," Ash answered, "I'll make up for it, I promise. I promise I will, really. But I can't do anything about your bike until –"
"I don't want any of your lame excuses," the girl said, "I just want a new bike right now."
Ash looked distinctly queasy.
"What's with that look," she spat.
Ash swallowed, he hated to lie, but bikes cost a lot, and at the moment he barely had any to his name.
"It's my Pikachu, my Pikachu's not too good."
The male officer gave him a surreptitious thumbs up.
"Oh," she said, quieter, "is it very serious?"
It egged him on.
"I think so, and there's nothing I can do to help now."
"Aww." She said, and afterwards Ash felt distinctly bad about himself.
She sat down next to him. before looking at the two police officers, who were trying very hard, not to be extremely interested.
"I'm Misty," she said, after a moment, "I'm travelling around to capture water type Pokémon."
She looked a bit uncertain for a moment, before she stuck her chest out proudly and declared, "I'm a water Pokémon specialist."
"You are," Jameson said, rather stupidly, "How'd you manage to qualify for that?"
Jessabelle groaned.
"This useless male lump is Officer Jameson," Jessabelle said, "and I'm Officer Jessabelle." Then she looked around. "Our Meowth is somewhere around here, but it's nice to meet you Misty."
"I'm Ash," he said, "I began my Pokémon Journey a few days ago. How many badges do you have?"
"None," Misty answered, going bright pink, "I studied at the Cerulean Gym for my first year, I want to be a Gym Leader."
"You did!" Ash shouted, going slightly red as well, people had turned. In a much smaller voice "I'm jealous, Gym's usually only take the best students on. How'd you manage it."
"Well I–" Misty sucked in a breath. "It's a secret."
"What," Ash said, "no, that's unfair, tell me."
"No," Misty said, as imperiously as an eleven-year-old could. "but what about you, Ash. What do you want to do."
"I'm going to be a Pokémon Master," Ash said, mindful of the noise. Which he thought made the declaration sound slightly ridiculous.
"You do," Misty said, looking at Ash, "but doesn't that mean you have to qualify for the World Championship?"
"Yep," Ash said, ignoring Misty's disbelief, "I'll completing the Gym challenge and then win Regional's."
Ash was rather excited about that part.
"You'll give up halfway through," Misty said, quite decisively, "challenging the Gym's is hard. Most people need to train their Pokémon for years before they attempt it."
"What–" Ash started, "No I will, I'll compete the Gym challenge and then win the League Regionals, you'll see."
"No, you won't." Misty refuted.
"Yes, I will!"
In the background Jameson sighed.
"It's impossible, all you have is a Pikachu," Misty stated, by this time, the two of them were getting quite sick of each other.
"As soon as my Pikachu's healthy again," Ash muttered, "I'm going to kick your ass."
"Pfft," Misty said, "I'm sure."
No one talked after Ash's statement, the air growing stale with the aftermath of Ash and Misty's spit. In the growing awkwardness Ash pulled out his Pokedex to escape. Opening up the Species Library, Ash pulled up his entry.
"Pidgey," the machine said, "A flying type Pokémon, would rather flee than stay and fight. They travel in flocks of thirty."
Ash read the blurb once more. Before he began to add an addition.
"Pidgey is a flying type Pokémon and would rather flee than stay and fight. In the wild they travel in flocks of thirty. While in cities they often congregate in numbers up to five."
Ignoring Misty, who had by now edged over to see what he was doing, Ash deleted his first entry, before saving the second. Then he moved on to Rattata.
"Rattata will often steal food from unsuspecting or new trainers," Ash said, ignoring Misty's snort, and then he closed the entry. Glaring at Misty, he took out the entry of Spearow.
"Spearow is a very aggressive Pokémon and will attack you in flocks if you anger them," Ash began, as Misty looked guilty, and began to move away. "They will follow you until they have–"
Ash swallowed, "defeated you."
He skipped Pikachu's entry. He could do that one later, and then he scrolled down the entire Species Library. Before he made his way back up to the top. Technically he hadn't encountered one, or studied it.
"Bulbasaur," Ash intoned, "Has a bulb on it's back that will flower with evolution."
"Eats mostly compost," Ash remembered, from the Documentary an age ago. "And enjoys bathing in sunlight. Very friendly, they are known for growing small grotto's. They are picky of Pokémon and people they let into their gardens. Picking both inhabitants and plants for their grotto's from the basis of Companion plants."
"Oi," asked Jameson, as he peered over his shoulder. "What are you doing?"
"My mum signed me up for field research."
"Oh," Jameson grimaced, "my parents did that too. I hated it."
"Yeah," Ash said, "Charmander –" he continued, as Jameson leaned back away.
"Known for travelling in great packs in the desert, in recent years they have seen a decrease in numbers because of –"
"Jameson," Jessabelle called, "do you have any food?"
"Hmm," Jameson asked, looking at her strangely. "Food?"
"Yes food," she said, "like some sandwiches, or cake. Maybe you packed some berries to eat!"
"What—" Jameson said, "oh, yes. I have berries, a box of them."
And then Ash's stomach growled.
A Rattata had eaten all his food.
Jameson looked at him, back at his berries, then at Jessabelle. Who had a blank look on her face.
"Do you want some Ash?" he looked at Misty, then looked at the box, frowning, before finally declaring, "why don't we all share?"
"Umm," Ash said, "sure?"
"Good," Jessabelle said, "we can all share them! Meowth get over here."
The box of Pink, white dotted berries were brought out, and divided them all up into groups of four. After the groups were sorted, James gave Ash the remaining one.
"Give it to your Pikachu when he get's out of surgery," Jameson said, as they all began eating.
After a sweet lunch, Ash said he was going to explore for a while, the officer's calling to simply ask them if he needed anything. Wandering over to where it said where the overnight rooms, Ash found out why all the stories trainer's told never involved the Pokémon Center accommodation. It sucked; twelve beds all stuffed together in a single brick wall room. it was the very image of what happened when you left teenagers alone for too long.
Wandering back into the entrance room, Ash steeled his nerves, he wanted more to know why Pikachu didn't want to enter his Pokeball more than he cared about the League's rules. Going over to the Nurse, Ash realized he had forgotten her name.
"Nurse -, I'm sorry I didn't catch your name?"
"Joy, honey," she answered, as pleasant as always, "Now, what did you want."
"Well, when you said Pokeball's can't capture Pokémon that don't want to be, does that mean that if a Pokémon decides it wants to leave the Pokeball will release it."
"No," the nurse answered, "the empathy circuitry in the Pokeball's isn't that sophisticated, you'll need to go to your supervisor, in your case Professor Oak, if you're having trouble with your Pokémon."
"Oh, okay," Ash said, as the nurse asked.
"Why do you ask?"
"My Pikachu doesn't like going in it's Pokeball," Ash said, "I thought that might mean–"
"Oh no," Nurse Joy said, shaking her head emphatically, "that's got nothing to do with it, Ash. If your Pokémon doesn't like going inside it's Pokeball, it usually mean's exactly that."
"But," Ash hesitated a moment, "Pikachu refused to go in even when all of those Spearow were attacking him."
"Ash," the Nurse began, "Not a lot is known about how the Pokémon and Pokeball interact with each other. Some Pokémon don't mind spending month's inside them, some Pokémon hate spending more than a few days inside. And some, like yours, won't go in even when they're in mortal danger."
"Oh," Ash said, nodding happily. and then he saw the mosaic hung above.
"What's that?" he asked stupidly.
Ash moved back, moving so his eyes could look at the entire wall stretching stone painting at once. There were three birds, depicted in a primitive, beautiful light. Reverent, was the word Ash was looking for. They were depicted in a reverent light. Gold, Molten and Crystal in color. Ash recognized them easily. The fourth, the fourth looked like something he had seen this very day. Depicted right there. Alongside Moltres, Zapdos and Articuno. But it was blue, and now that Ash was studying it, it only looked extremely similar to what he had witnessed this morning.
"Wow."
Ash took out his Pokedex. A photo was taken and put right next to the photo he had of the other.
Then he moved both to his private folders. Legendary sightings weren't something you shared. There were horror stories told about people who had been blessed by a legendary disappearing. Ash rather hoped the national image recognition databases weren't interested in his second day as a trainer.
When he was done, he noticed Nurse Joy was smiling.
"These are depictions of the Legendary Bird Trio," the Nurse said, still smiling, "The tribe that carved this believes they were created to contain the Monster Beneath the Sea."
"Monster, beneath the sea?"
"Yes," she said, pointing to the darker of the blue paintings, "Lugia, the ancient tribes of Kanto believed Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos were made to impression him from the world above."
"Our ancestor's believed that if Lugia were to escape the ocean would rise," the Nurse said. "That the land would be covered in water in a never ending flood."
"Although modern research shows there isn't any connection between the Pokémon, and we now know Kyogre is responsible for the sudden shifts of the sea level in the past."
After staring at the painting some more, and getting Nurse Joy to repeat the legend for his Pokedex, Ash returned to the general lounge. Finding an open computer booth on one wall.
Ash took a deep breath, before entering his trainer ID into the computer. Then he chickened out and went to his emails. Where he was met by a slew of what he thought were acceptance and congratulations emails.
They were, the first one was his acceptance into a Private School. An academy called Celadon College, and underneath that email was his next month's work. Two assignment's from each of his seven subjects. It seemed he would be taking Math, Japanese, Information Technology, Science and Religion for the next year. Ash was told that in a semester he would swap Music for Art and English for Drama. Finally he wasn't allowed to take Sport or Manual Arts.
Homework would be arriving in a week.
The nest email was from Professor Oak, and was a general outline of the functions of the Pokedex. Alongside the expectations for his field study. He was expected to submit a report on three Pokémon every week, which was shorter than what Ash remembered the Professor saying.
Exiting his emails, he let the button hover nervously over the Skype logo. Then he drew the blinds in his little cubicle. Then making checking over the Chancey's work, opened up Skype. Moment's later, he heard his mum's voice crackle back in the distance as she rushed to the computer. Slamming the door closed to her study as she sat down in front of the Computer.
After moment's of silence staring at each other, Ash spoke.
"Umm, Mum?"
"Hello honey," she said, worrying at him from Pallet, "is everything okay."
Then she seemed to remember to ask where he was.
"The Pokémon Center in Viridian City."
"You're already in Viridian City!" she said, and her previous nervousness instantly turned into happiness, "it took your father four days to get their when he started Pokémon training."
Ash's face grew red.
"Oh, he'll be so proud, you were the apple of his eye."
"Ah, yeah," he said, awkwardly, he hadn't actually ever known his father. Just stories of him.
"Oh, Ash," She said, sensing something in his tone, "you shouldn't get discouraged. You're doing fine."
"Oh," she intoned with a deep heady breath, "Honey your growing up right before my eyes."
"Spreading your wings and soaring like a Spearow."
"Ah, ha, ha," Ash returned, "Well I don't really feel that great."
"Ash don't be like that," she said, firmly, "Now dear, what's wrong."
"Pikachu got injured."
"OH no," she said, "that poor Pokémon. Is he going to be okay."
"Yeah," Ash said, "Nurse Joy said he'll be healed by the end of the day."
"See, he'll be fine," Delia said, "now Ash, I don't want to see you looking so despondent. Pokémon get injured. It's part of being a trainer."
"Yes mum," he answered.
"You're father used to have a saying about this," she said, "A Pokémon's battle scars are like their badges, they will never be sad about it so you should never be sad about it."
"Oh," Ash said, as he realized rather guiltily that his mum thought Pikachu had been injured in a Pokémon battle.
"Now, I want to here from the two of you as soon as Pikachu's well again," she demanded. "Understand."
"Yes mum."
"Goodnight son, I love You."
"Me to mum, bye."
It was twenty minutes by the clock later that Nurse Joy called for him, Pikachu had exited surgery. The four Human's all made their way down to a smaller waiting room, where Nurse Joy was waiting for them. Ash didn't understand most of it, but apparently Pikachu needed to let his batteries recharge, and so wouldn't be able to battle for a day.
The Nurse was very firm about this, and she made sure to tell Ash that if he returned to the Pokémon Center with a injured Pikachu before the week was out she was going to have some very firm words for him.
That was when the three Chancey's emerged from the operating room, pushing a gurney with Pikachu on it between them. Attached to Pikachu was a Static battery, and the Nurse spent the next minutes giving him his final check up. Before she took off the static battery and returned Ash to his Pokémon.
"Hey," Ash said, extremely awkward, "I hope your alright," and then he fished the berry Jameson had given him earlier out of his pocket. "I know it's not much, but here's a berry to eat."
"I'll go find us both some food soon," Ash said, "Okay."
"Cha," Pikachu said, as it began nibbling on the berry. Before it disappeared down it's gullet.
"Thank you," Ash said, looking at the Chancey's and Nurse Joy with joy.
"Now your Pokémon need's a good rest in the recovery room."
"You should go in with it Ash," Misty said.
"Okay," Ash said, nodding. Then his good mood got the better of him. "Listen, I'm sorry about your bike. But I'm going to need some time to make things right. If you give me your number I'll transfer the money to you for a new bike."
"No way," Misty returned, "The last time you disappeared on me I found my bike destroyed."
"I'm not letting you out of my sight until you pay me back."
"Umm," Ash said, looking rather helplessly at the officer's. But they were useless and Jameson seemed to think it was a good thing she would be following him around.
An hour later the group of two where in the recovery room, the Officer's had left when they had assured Pikachu and Ash were going to be fine. Pikachu was feasting on the numerous unhealthy packets of food he had pointed out for Ash to buy. When a purple gas started to billow through the air vent's too them.
"What's happening," Ash said, as Misty stood up, moving closer to the gas.
"It look's like a Poison Gas," Misty answered, "but how's it coming through the vent's."
"Do you think maybe someone's battling out in the lounge," Ash said.
"No," Misty said, "Poison Gas usually dissipates fairly quickly," then she looked at the door, "let's go get the nurses."
Outside of the recovery room, the gas was a lot worse, covering the entire floor in a foot-deep ocean in places. In the middle of it, were the two officer's.
"Jameson, Jessabelle," Ash said, "what's going on?"
"Oh, just a little robbery," replied Jameson.
"Nothing you kids should be concerned about," Jessabelle said, "Go back to the waiting room like good little children while the grown up's play."
"But," Ash struggled with what he was seeing. "I, what's–"
"They're the Pokémon thieves," Misty breathed, as she began to step slowly, nervously, backwards.
"That's right," Jessabelle said, as she pulled off her police uniform.
"Now," Jameson said, "allow us to introduce ourselves."
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all people's within our nation"
"To denounce the evil's of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the star's above."
"Jessie!"
"James."
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now or prepare to fight."
"Meowth, That's right?"
"It talks!" shouted Ash.
"That's all you got from that," shouted the Meowth, "Ekans, snuff'em!"
"OI!" yelled Jessie, as she used her heal to grind Meowth's head into the floor. "That's my Pokémon your commanding there."
"We should go," muttered Misty, as the three villains began fighting amongst themselves.
"Oh, look James," Jessie said, "aren't kids just the cutest."
"They want to run away," Meowth said, from his position beneath her heal. "I can't stand weak things."
"Don't you have any Pokémon you can use," Ash asked Misty.
Misty shook her head, "I'm a water type trainer, all my Pokémon need to swim in water."
"Well," James said, "isn't that wonderful."
"What about you," Misty shot, "what about your Pokémon–"
"I only have Pikachu," Ash answered, "and Nurse Joy just–"
"Smashing," said Meowth, "So neither's of you two can fight us. Now, why don't you two kid's wait quietly over their while we relieve all these trainers of their Pokémon."
That was when, rather comically, Nurse Joy and four Chancey arrived into the lounge. Huffing with exhaustion.
"You two," Nurse Joy said. Taking a glance around the room. "Your responsible for this."
"Oh look," Jessie drawled, "It's Nurse Joy. And she's brought victim's."
"Great," James said, "we can steal all the Chancey as well."
"You won't be stealing any Pokémon," Nurse Joy declared, "their all being transferred to the Pewter City Pokémon Center."
Team Rocket scowled at her.
"There's still all the Pokémon the trainer's didn't need to heal," James said.
"And I've confiscated them all," Nurse Joy returned, "at the moment the rest of the Chancey are running around collecting them for transfer."
"Erggh," Jessie scowled, "this is why I hate goody-too-shoes."
"Koffing," James shouted, "you can stop the smog now, come down and say hello!"
And then a Koffing smashed through the roof.
"Koffing!"
"Koffing, Smog those Chancey," James shouted.
Koffing sucked in deep lung of air, then spat out a great black smoke of cloud at the Chancey.
"Chancey," Nurse Joy cried, "use Pound!"
At the same time, Jessie cried, "Ekans, Acid!"
"Chancey," they cried, as all four charged at the Team Rocket Pokémon.
Smog hit three of them, and Ekans made sure to hit the last one with its Acid. It didn't stop the four Chancey, and each of them rammed into Koffing and Ekans. Sending Team Rocket's Pokémon hurtling backwards.
But Chancey suffered greatly, for with a single attack to each Chancey Team Rocket had inflicted as much damage as two Chancey had inflicted on each of their Pokémon.
"What–" said Nurse Joy, as she looked at her Pokémon, who were panting in exhaustion. "What have you done to my Pokémon?"
"We had Koffing in the vent system all day," Jessie said.
"We've been doping the air supply with Koffing the entire day," James finished.
"I–" Nurse Joy said, looking terrified, "Overexposure to a Koffing's gases can lead to a general weakening of a Pokémon."
"Oh, settle down," Jessie said, scoffing in superiority, "Koffing's have the best compound control in all of Kanto. We just had him throw together a general weakening mixture for you all."
"We let it build up in everyone's systems over the day," James said, "then half an hour ago we poured it on, and then sent Ekans round to deal with any stragglers."
"How many times did your Chancey have to perform Recover to get to this level," Jessie asked, "Five, eight?"
"Ekans had a rather lot of fun," Jessie said. "All those small little terrified Pokémon."
"Now, Koffing, can you please knock her Pokémon unconscious," James said. "Smog!"
"Acid!"
"Chancey," Nurse Joy shouted, as Acid and poison gas hurtled at her Pokémon, "Recover, please."
Even as Nurse Joy's Chancey's glowed with light, a thick cloud of Smog was able to envelop all four of the stationary Pokémon. Doing damage to all four of the Pokémon. Seconds later Acid slammed into one, knocking it into a general faint.
The Chancey were worse off then they were before the recover, and Nurse Joy seemed to realize that. since moments later she shouted.
"Chancey, you've got to use pound, dodge their attacks and hit them."
"Ha," shouted Jessie, "Let's go again Ekans, Acid!"
"Koffing Smog!"
But, dodging a Smog attack was easier said then done, as the three remaining Chancey's found out as they attempted too. Falling down unconscious inside the cloud.
"Pikachu," Ash intoned under his breath, watching as Team Rocket celebrated, "I know you don't like me. But these two are going to steal all the Pokémon here. So, if you would listen to me, use Thundershock on that Koffing."
"Pi," Pikachu said, looking at Ash, before nodding once, and then crouching on all fours, and letting loose a mighty bolt.
It rammed into Koffing, crawling over it's body even as it pushed it back in the air. Knocking the Koffing into a general state as it floated in the air, suspended from it's strings.
"No fair," shouted James, pointing at the puffing Pikachu, "foul, he's not allowed to do –"
"Thundershock again," ordered Ash, ignoring the Rocket.
"Ekans Acid," shouted Jessie, moments later.
But it was too late, Pikachu already had half a bolt formed by the time Jessie shouted, and the lightning quick attack struck out at Ekans as energy for Acid was gathered. Smashing into and washing over the Pokémon. Hurling the snake comically backwards. Triumphant, Pikachu huffed in place.
"That Brat," cried Jessie, as all their success came undone.
"Get him," James shouted at Meowth.
"OI!" cried Meowth, "I ain't your Pokémon. You get him."
"But, but, but –"
"Pikachu, thunderbolt," Ash retaliated.
A third time Pikachu launched its attack. Meowth was thrust back, into the ground, as it spasmed from electricity crawling over it. In victory Pikachu groaned, and Ash could see the damage he was doing to his Pokémon. He wished the Meowth would stay down.
"I'm gonna get you," Meowth shouted a moment later, springing to its feet, "Feel a lick of my Scratch attack."
Moment's later, it was running at the Pikachu, as Pikachu puffed in exhaustion from it's three bolt expenditure.
"Thundershock again," Ash called, even as he knew Pikachu would be hurt.
Pikachu fired off a fourth Thundershock, striking out and hitting Meowth. The force of the bolt knocking Meowth backwards. Ash didn't see how much damage the Meowth had taken, for his attention was on his steadily worsening Pikachu.
"You no good, dirty cheating –"
"Meowth use Scratch again!" Jessie shouted in glee, as she realized Pikachu was on it's last legs.
"Don't you tell me what to do!" Meowth shouted, turning round and pointing at Jessie and James. "I ain't –"
"Pikachu Thundershock," Ash intoned in quiet awe to his Pokémon. (Ash)
As with a mighty cry of "PIKACHU," that battle ended as a yellow lightning bolt descended on Meowth. As it hit, the Pokémon fell over in a general faint. As it did, Pikachu let itself slump to the ground, tired, but exhausted.
"Do they have anymore," Misty asked after a moment of silence.
"I don't know," Ash replied, not moving his eyes from the duo.
"Jessie," James said, "what do we do?"
"I don't know, James," Jessie murmured back, looking at Meowth.
"Let's grab Meowth and leg it," she said. "There's no way well be able to beat a Pokémon alone. Even an injured one."
"One," she intoned.
"Two," he said, as they both returned their Pokémon.
"Three," they said, as they ran forward.
Using the only moment of movement they had to grab Meowth. And then they legged it.
It took days for Pikachu to recover and heal from the Spearow and the impromptu revelation afterwards that Gary decided to show up. Ash was sitting in the Pokémon Center's Garden terrace, watch Pikachu as he, for the first time since entering the hospital. Was free to explore and roam to his liking.
"So this is where you are Ash," Gary said, as he stepped out of his car. "I was wondering when you would finally show up."
"Gary," Ash grumbled, he was sat in front of the Pokémon Center. Idly watching the electrical Pokémon out in front.
"What do you want."
"Oh, I just thought since we've both had some time to catch and train our Pokémon that we could battle them," Gary said, looking at his Pikachu.
"What?"
"Yeah, a two on two battle sound good too you."
"Ah," Ash rubbed that back of his head.
"What," Gary said, and in the distance the six misbegotten teenager's Ash would have thought would be in Pallet started chanting.
"Don't tell me your afraid to get your but handed to you."
"No," Ash said, with a heated gaze, before he sighed, "I just haven't captured a second Pokémon."
"bahahahahaha."
"…"
"Alright, alright, since your clearly aren't good enough to catch a second Pokémon," Gary said, as a pleased smirk overcame his face, "then it'll be a single battle."
"fine,"
"Great!"
"Uh, wait."
"what."
"Pikachu, do you want to battle Gary with me."
"PI," Pikachu nodded. Coming over to stand on the concrete.
"Great," Ash said, as he leapt up, walking over to the Training fields in the corner of the Garden terrace.
"okay then, Pikachu, lets go," Ash said, as Pikachu dashed out in front of him and onto the field. "let's cream him like we creamed those goons days ago."
"Pika" the POkemon said, buzzing with electricity.
"Right then," Gary said, much more calmly, "I'll choose Pidgey then."
Pidgey appeared on the field, large, and looking far more powerful than the one Ash had tried to capture days ago outside of Pallet.
"Pikachu use Thundershock," Ash cried, as Gary shouted his own orders.
"Pidgey Dodge."
"Pidgey," it shouted dodging Thundershock, taking to the air.
"Pidgey, use Sand Attack," Gary shouted.
"Pikachu, use thunderbolt again," shouted Ash.
Pidgey kicked up a cloud of dust as Pikachu struck out with a bolt of lightning. Lost within the swirling cloud, the attack never hit. Pidgey was three to move out of it's way. The small cloud of dust enveloping the field as Pidgey fled up into the air.
"Argh," Ash said, becoming blinded. "Pikachu can you see."
"Pi," Pikachu returned in a negative.
"Okay then, try to escape the storm," Ash said, as he wiped sand from his eyes.
"Not gonna let you do that Ash," Gary said, "Pidgey use tackle."
"Pidgey!" it shouted, as it swooped into the dust cloud, hitting the shadow of Pikachu.
"Pikachu," Ash shouted, seeing the faint trail of dust the plumed when Pikachu was knocked to the ground.
"Tackle again Pidgey."
"Pikachu, you've got to hit it with Thundershock!" Ash shouted in retaliation.
"Ha, it'll take more than that to hit my Pidgey," Gary said as Pidgey struck Pikachu again. Knocking it back and over the ground. As Pikachu rose, he was huffing, with scratches marring his coat.
"You see Ash, while you were wondering around on Route 1," Gary said, "I was training my Pidgey. So now it can dodge any attack you throw at it!"
Ash scowled at Gary. "Pikachu, hit it with your Thundershock attack!"
"Ha," Gary laughed, "Pidgey gust."
Pidgey dodged the well-used attack, and then with mighty roar of it's wings a swirling vortex of air swept across the battlefield. Pikachu was swept up and away. Before landing back on the ground, in a general faint.
Pikachu," Ash shouted, as Pikachu was brought back down to Earth.
Pikachu had fainted.
"Pikachu are you okay," Ash said, running over to his Pokémon.
"He should be fine young man," said a tall, well-dressed man in a suit. Who had approached them in the wake of the battle.
Ash looked at him and the man continued, "Pokémon are a lot tougher than Human's, battling usually only infers superficial damage. Such that a Chancey in the Pokémon center or the administration of a potion in the field will likely be sufficient to heal it up."
Gary gasped, as he walked over, his Pidgey returned to its ball. "Your Giovanni, the Gatekeeper."
"Yes, I am," the man answered, "I see you've heard of me."
"Are you kidding," Ash uttered, in awe, "everyone's heard of you."
"Well, I do have a reputation for coming out victorious. But it is somewhat mis-crewed."
"What do you mean."
"Well, each Gym in the region is supposed to test trainers for a number of things."
"You test strategy." Answered Gary.
"Yes, I do," the legend replied, "you would be surprised by how many trainer's walk into my Gym expecting the toughest Pokémon all in Kanto and Johto. Only to lose because a Ground Type outmaneuvers them."
"So you test how well trainers can command their Pokémon," Ash said.
The Gym Leader looked at him in study, and after a while, he began speaking.
"That is correct," Giovanni said, "A good trainer is one whose commands in battle is able to facilitate the biggest advantages. In one, two and three Pokémon matches; a well commanded will often lead to the advantage being lent to their Pokémon."
Gary nodded, and Ash did too, if for no other reason then to agree with Gary.
"However what I truly strive to test, and where strategy begins to shine is when you can bring to bare the versatility of six Pokémon inside a battle."
"Which is why I don't accept challenges from people without seven badges."
"And then you crush their hopes and dreams of entering the Indigo League," Gary finished.
Giovanni snorted in what might have been a rough laugh on a less dignified man.
"Yes, I am quiet famous for doing that."
"Umm," Ash said, with a hesitant voice, as Gary and Giovanni turned their eyes to him.
Ash scratched his back. Laughing a little. The thought had really only occurred to him in his younger day dreams, but being in front of one them had a certain affect on him. Ash swallowed. When he was younger, and he dreamed about being in front of his hero's, there were several things he had wanted to do. Not many of them were applicable a week inside his journey. But there was one that was.
"Why are you here," Ash asked instead, "I know it's your city –"
"It's hardly my city," Giovanni replied, before clearing his throat for a moment. "But I wanted to visit the center after the resent break in, assure myself that everything was fine."
His eyes turned to Ash's Pikachu.
"I understand I have you too thank for stopping the thieves."
"Well," Ash said, reddening, as Gary stared. "I didn't really do much, Pikachu did most of the work."
"Still," the man said, "you have my thanks for intervening. You put yourself in harms way to prevent criminals from stealing the entire stock of the Pokémon Center's Pokémon's."
Gary was staring at him.
"So," Giovanni said, "On behalf of Viridian City, thank you."
"What order would you do the Gym Challenge in?" Ash blurted.
And then snapped his mouth shut. It had been something children did, or maybe just him and Gary, hundreds of scrap books had been filled with the detailed plans of what Pokémon they were going to catch where. And in what order they were going to do those Gym's, and what Pokémon they were going to use, and –
"Pewter, Cerulean, Vermillion, Celadon, Fuchsia, Saffron, Cinnabar and Viridian," Giovanni answered. Immediately.
The two young trainers stared at him.
"Every Trainer who has the badge's in that order has presented a challenge to me," Giovanni said. "I don't know what it is, but something about that order of challenge brings the best challenges to my door."
"I," Ash said, "Okay."
"Pewter, Cerulean –"
"Pewter, Cerulean, Vermillion," Giovannia said, now with a great deal of patience, as both boys scrambled to find a pen. Inscribing the order on the back of their hands.
"Celadon, Fuchsia, Saffron, Cinnabar and Viridian."
"Saffron six," muttered Gary.
The Gym Leader nodded.
"Now, I just wanted to pop by to say my thanks," he said, "I'll just leave you two too it."
He began walking away.
"How did you manage to stop a robbery," Gary said, after Giovanni had disappeared around a corner.