Totally just wrote this between writing two exams and working on my sixth hour of homework, so sorry if it isn't that good, I just wanted to get something out for yall. And to some people, Ash is going to have to face challenges. I mean this dude has DIED already. Don't worry. I have a plot already planned out. I just need to get to that point.

Trudging his feet along the sandy road Ash rubs his eyes tiredly. Today had been long and exhausting for everyone. With their gym battle against Surge, spending even more time at the Pokemon Center so Pikachu could get looked over again, not that Ash was complaining he knew his little buddy needed it, restocking all of their items, and finally walking for several hours towards Lavender Town Ash was admittedly tired. Though one good thing was Nurse Joy had given Ash an incubator to keep the large light blue egg in. Ash had been getting worried that something could happen to it on their journey. Unconsciously gliding his tanned hand over the pokeballs of his sleeping pokemon, Ash smiles warmly. Eevee, Wartortle, Charmeleon and Bulbasaur were resting safely in their pokeballs, all the walking was exhausting for the short legged creatures. Though the little traitors liked to make jokes towards him that after they all reached their final evolutions they would be taller than him.

Pikachu wiggles around restlessly from his spot atop the silky black head of his trainer. "Pikapi, the sun is starting to set, we might want to find a place to sit up camp. We don't need you accidently passing out on us."

Stretching his arms above his head and letting out a soft sigh when he feels his joints pop, Ash nods sleepily. "I agree. Get off the main road a bit and set up camp in the trees."

Nuzzling his red electric pouch against his trainer's cheek Pikachu lazily wags his zigzag tail. "It is a good idea. That way no wondering Pokemon or humans can spot us easily while we sleep and attack us."

Gently patting his starter between the ears, Ash walks off of the sandy road and into the darkening woods. Slightly squinting, the sun has begun its slow descent across the skies, the duo attempt to find a place to rest.

"There really isn't a lot of places to choose from, is there?"

Yellow and black tipped ears perk up, trying to listen for any approaching pokemon while remaining alert for a good campsite.

"I think I see a small clearing between those trees."

Taking Pikachu's advice Ash advances through the woods, being mindful about where he stepped. It would do them no good if he someone managed to twist his ankle. Finally after a five minute walk the petite trainer stepped through the thick set of trees and into a small open clearing.

"Good eyesight Pikachu." Ash complimented his starter, only to frown in confusion when he notices Pikachu's alert expression. "What is it buddy?"

Pointing a small yellow paw towards a gigantic rock setting at the far end of the clearing, Pikachu frowns. "I hear whimpering and crying coming from over there."

Not having any reason to doubt his starter, the young aura guardian walks towards the rock. The closer he gets causes him to mirror Pikachu's frown. He could hear small cries coming from behind the boulder also.

Making his way around the boulder, Ash comes to a stop in complete shock. Sitting in front of him was a baby Cubone crying over the burnt form of a Marowak.

Snapping out of his shock, the trainer rushes towards the duo.

"Oh my Arceus! What happened? Is she okay?"

The small Cubone that had previously been ignorant to their approach jumps up in fright. Seeing the human in front of her, she holds out her small bone in front of her. "I won't let you hurt my mommy anymore. Go away or I'll hurt you!"

Ash's lips tug downwards. This baby shouldn't have to defend its' mother. Heck, he didn't know why the mother was hurt in the first place. The shallow labored breathing coming from the bigger pokemon, coupled with the burns, was worrisome though.

"It is okay little one, I am only here to help." Ash holds his hands up in front of him in a universal none threating sign; Pikachu copying his movements.

"Liar, the two humans did this to my mommy with their zappy stick. Now I have to protect her so she can get better."

"I promise I am not like those humans, plus I don't have a zappy stick. I honestly just want to help." Ash uncurls his aura from around his body allowing it to wash over the young pokemon in a show of trust.

Cubone cocks her head to the side. The strange tiny human was answering her questions like he could understand. The feeling that washed over her also put her at ease. "The bad men came and hurt mommy when she tried to protect me. Now she won't wake up and she is hurt. I don't know what to do." Feeling tears well in her blue eyes again, the tiny creature turns back towards her mother, resting her small cheek against a spot that hadn't been harmed in some way.

Approaching the duo, Ash kneels into the dewy grass. Reaching out a small tanned hand he places it against the mammal's side. Allowing his aura to rush into the other creature, Ash is astounded when he learns of her wounds. It is truly a miracle the Marowak is still alive. She must truly be a fighter. Her body was completely covered in bleeding and peeling burns. Infection had already sank in and was doing its best job of ravaging the ground Pokémon's immune system. That didn't account for the internal damage already done and the numerous broken bones.

Ash had only learned how to heal minor scrapes and wounds so far with his aura. This was way out of his experience range. Plus the Pokemon Center was too far away for him to make it in time to save this Pokémon's life. Feeling tears fill his amber eyes, Ash bows his head in defeat. He wished to Arceus that there was something he could do. It didn't seem right to leave this powerful creature to die. Especially when she still had a young one to rise.

"My Chosen."

Ash's head snaps up in shock at the voice echoing inside of his head. "A-arceus?!"

"Yes, my Chosen. I felt your sadness and pleas in my realm. What is it you wish?"

"This Marowak has been tortured by two men and left to die all because she was trying to protect her baby. I don't currently have the power to save her. It's not fair." Ash's hands curl into fists before he slams it onto his thigh. This causes the, until then, silent Pikachu to nuzzle his trainer worryingly.

"Ah yes. Team Rocket. They have proven themselves quit the nuisance in the past couple of years."

"Team Rocket?"

"Yes, the people that have almost caused this young Cubone to be an orphan. Tell me Ash. If I promised to full heal this Marowak, would you in exchange attempt to disband or destroy Team Rocket?"

Amber eyes shine in determination. "Of course! I would do it even if you didn't. This is inhumane and cannot go on! It is sick and disgusting! I will kill them for this!"

"Very well then. We have a deal. I will save this Marowak's life and in return you will put an end to Team Rocket… Do not fail me my Chosen."

Ash Arceus' voice fades from Ash's head, a soft green light encompasses the ground Pokémon's form.

When the light fades, Marowak opens her soft brown eyes, taking in the scene before her. A young trainer with his Pikachu sit kneeling at her side and her baby is staring at her in shock.

"Mommy?" Cubone asks in shock.

"Yes my beloved?" Marowak questions her baby, a slight cloud still covering her mind.

"Mommy you almost went with Yveltal."

Marowak feels her eyes widen in shock at her daughter's softly spoken words before her memories come back to her. She had defended her child from a couple of nasty humans who was kidnapping pokemon in the area before they had hit her with an electric stick causing her to become paralyzed. Instantly jumping to her feet, the ground pokemon brandishes her bone in front of her, unknowingly mimicking her daughter's moves from earlier. "I will not allow you to harm my child!"

Internally sighing, but understanding where the mother pokemon was coming from, Ash once again holds his hands up; Pikachu following suit. "I did not come to hurt you, Marowak. I actually helped save you."

Brown eyes narrow before the skull pokemon turns a questioning eye towards her youngling.

"It's true mommy. He saved you. Plus he can understand what we are saying!"

Turning back to the petite trainer, Marowak lifts an eyebrow. "Is this true?"

Ash shrugs. "For the most part. Arceus actually saved you. But he did so because I promised to destroy Team Rocket who was actually the ones that had did this to you."

Both Marowak and Cubone's jaw drops. This is nothing new to Pikachu however.

"The god of all Pokemon. That Arceus?"

Nodding again, Ash tilts his head to the side allowing his bangs to fall out of his eyes. "Yes ma'am."

Mother and daughter both fall on their butts in shock. This human was in contact with Arceus! And had made a deal with the god pokemon to save the bone Pokémon's life. This was astounding to the two pokemon.

Quickly regaining her footing, Marowak bows low to the trainer in front of her, Cubone following her lead. "Is there anything we can ever do to repay you, young one?"

Ash cocks his head to the side. Saving the Marowak was just instinct to him. His mother always taught him to do the right thing. Though thinking of his mother made Ash slightly sad. He knew that she was getting lonely by herself lately. Without him and Pikachu there to keep her on her toes, she only had Professor Oak to keep her company when he wasn't too busy. Wait… that could work.

"After what happened here today, will you stay here?"

Marowak shakes her head. "No young one. It would not be safe to stay here any longer."

Ash suspected as much. "How about this, you go back to Pallet Town and keep my mom company. I know she would love to have you two around the house. Especially since having Cubone there would give her someone to spoil while I am out on my journey."

Marowak weighs this idea in her head. "Fine, but you have to catch me and my daughter. It will prevent future trainers from capturing us and it will allow us to stay together."

Ash nods in agreement. "That is reasonable. I will have to wait though until we get to the Pokemon Center in Lavender Town though because I already have five pokemon in my party and Professor Oak said that the forms for me to carry more than six wouldn't be processed till the end of the week."

Marowak and Cubone nod in agreement. "This is acceptable. For now let's rest. It is a couple hours walk to the Town of the Dead."

"Town of the Dead?" Pikachu questions. He had been quiet before then hoping to give Ash his space to explain to the two new pokemon what had happened. But he did not like the sound of this town.

"Yes, we call it this because of all of the ghost pokemon living there. Also because of the Pokemon Tower. It is where trainers go to bury and pay respect to their deceased pokemon."

Pikachu shivers. He didn't like ghosts.

The four arrive in Lavender Town around noon that next day. Walking into the Pokemon Center, Ash hands all of his pokemon, and the two bone types, to Nurse Joy to look over.

While he waited for her to get back with his friends, Ash took a seat at the phone booth. Dialing Professor Oak's number Ash patiently waited for him to answer.

"Oh! Good afternoon Ash! How is your journey going?"

"Hello Professor. It is going good. I have a Cubone and Marowak that are being checked up by Nurse Joy right now. They were attacked by Team Rocket. I helped nurse Marowak back to health so they agreed to become my pokemon. But because Cubone is so young and still needs her mother, I was planning on sending the two to my mom to look after for the time being. I called to see if I could transfer the two to her before one of them gets sent to you?" While Ash hated bending the truth towards the kindly professor, he knew that he couldn't yet reveal his secret. So far only Bill knew about his aura training, but even he didn't know the full extent.

"Yes of course Ash that is perfectly fine."

Beaming at the older professor, the two chat for a while before Nurse Joy calls Ash over the intercom letting him know his pokemon are ready. Bidding goodbye to the professor, Ash hangs up the call.

Walking across the homely center, Ash approaches the front desk.

"Here are your pokemon young man. They all look great."

Smiling in thanks, Ash allows Pikachu to jump onto his shoulder while he clips his pokeballs to his belt. Picking up Cubone and motioning for Marowak to follow him, Ash walks back over to the phone booth.

"Okay guys. Are you ready?"

Receiving twin nods, Ash gently tosses two pokeballs. At the instant 'ding' he picks both balls up and quickly calls his mom.

"Ash honey! It's good to see you! Have you been changing your underwear every day? Is Pikachu doing okay?"

Blushing at his mom's enthusiastic greeting, Ash nods before quickly moving on so Delia doesn't have the chance to ask anymore embarrsing questions. "I just caught a Cubone and Marowak. They were attacked by Team Rocket and I found them last night. I wanted to know if it was alright to send them to you so that they could keep you company while I am on my journey."

Delia beams brightly at her son. That was her Ash, always looking out for others. "Of course honey."

Placing the two pokeballs in the transporter, Ash sighs in relief when his mom holds them up from her end of the line. "I have them Ash. And I promise to take good care of them."

Smiling, the two talk for a couple more minutes before Delia has to get back to her cooking. Plus she informs Ash that she has to get to know her two new house guests. "I love you honey. Please don't get to call whenever you can. I love you too Pikachu, take care of our Ash for me."

"I love you too mom."

"Of course! He wouldn't know what to do without me!"

Grinning and waving goodbye to the two, Delia signs off.

"Well Pikachu. I guess it is just you and me. I hear that there is supposed to be some Team Rocket members in the Pokemon Tower. I think that we need to check it out."

The electric mouse shivers. Great. Ghost pokemon.

So Team Rocket finally enters the picture! I wrote this and originally I was going to have Marowak die but the story is just so depressing but having her live gives Ash the reason to have to go after Team Rocket, sooo... Anways, yall know the drill by now! Love ya, lovelies!