Ash followed Misty through a side-street in Cerulean, taking in the crowds. After battling the Gym Leader in Cerulean Cave and earning the Cascade Badge (a great battle, Misty's strategy had been solid and more difficult to overcome than Ash had expected), she'd asked where to find those ocarinas that Misty had mentioned. So now the other girl was leading her to an apparently well-known shop closer to the beach. Brock had gone off to buy some more supplies, so it was just the girls going.
Ash studied her companion as they walked, noting how relaxed Misty was, how bubbly her speech became and how even her body movements grew more fluid in the familiar streets of her hometown. Bundles of shells were strung up, their pinks and yellows and silvers holding gazes when the sound of them clattering together and swaying in the sea breeze drew attention. Misty was in her element, this close to the ocean, and Ash simply followed with slight fascination.
Pikachu was clambering across her shoulders restlessly, eager to see the sights. She didn't blame him; Cerulean City was beautiful, colorful, and smelled wonderful (there were spices at pretty much every stand in the market and someone was cooking something nearby that smelled amazing). Alto was enjoying the breeze, too, although she remained perched on top of Ash's hat; she'd battled Misty's Starmie and was still a little tired.
"Here it is!" Misty chirped, pulling Ash's focus away from the rest of the street and towards a modest little shop made of sandstone and painted a pale blue. A bell jingled as Misty led the way inside, and Ash slowed as she looked around its interior. Most of the wooden floor was empty save for some chairs and tables, and a few displays of instruments. The walls were covered in shelves and racks, ocarinas, flutes, drums, and various guitars organized by size.
Offering an expectant Misty a grateful smile, Ash began wandering the store, although she quickly turned to the shelves with the instruments she was interested in. Her Pokemon both hopped (or fluttered) to the floor, looking at the lower shelves but knowing not to touch.
"Pika pi?" Pikachu pointed at one a little below her range of vision, and she obligingly crouched down to see what he'd found. The electric mouse was gesturing to a twelve-hole ocarina that looked to be made out of a pale, iridescent material. It was shaped much like a conch shell, complete with natural-looking spikes and ridges, while still keeping the appearance of a standard ocarina.
Ash gingerly lifted it off its little stand. It was just a bit bigger than her hand, lightweight without seeming fragile. She turned over the tag danging from on the the ridges and winced; 15000 Poke with an included lanyard and case, a hefty price but still doable. She would only be put about 7000 Poke behind on repaying Misty for her ruined bike, but that could be easily earned back in a couple of battles, which she could probably find out on the beach. Stroking Pikachu's fur in thanks, she stood and approached the counter.
"Can I test the sound before buying it?" She asked the elderly man, whose height meant that even sitting down he was still a foot taller than she was. He nodded, eyes glittering oddly at the sight of the ocarina in her hands.
"Of course, lass. Do ya' know how ta play?"
She shook her head. "I want to learn, though."
"Then let me show ya' what this lil' one sounds like with experience," he chuckled, "'cause if ya' know what ya' doin', anythin' can sound like a pro."
Ash handed over the ocarina when prompted, and the old man set the mouthpiece against his lips. Immediately, a lively tune began to echo through the empty shop, the notes smooth and clear as nimble fingers danced across the holes in the shell's surface. She watched, enchanted, as he played, the music the story of splashing fins and bright laughter. Her sharp eyes worked hard to memorize the notes and finger placements as he drew the song to its close.
She clapped when the shop keeper placed the ocarina onto the counter with a smile, her Pokemon giving happy little trills and coos, joined by Misty, who'd been waiting close to the counter. The man smiled, giving a little bow, before reaching for an antibacterial spray and cloth to clean off the ocarina, focusing on its mouthpiece. Ash appreciated that, having not considered the fact that the instrument required mouth contact.
"And there ya' have it," he said lightly. "A twelve-hole in the C-key. So what ya' think, lass? A good sound?"
Ash nodded enthusiastically, already imagining how Oracion would sound on it. And the other song, one she didn't play as often but still loved just as much…
"It's beautiful. I'd like to buy it, please!"
Just a few minutes later, the iridescent ocarina was hers, and she gently secured it inside its case, and then in her bag. She also bought a beginner's book on playing ocarinas, although she really would only need it to learn the notes and finger placements. After that it was just playing her songs by ear.
She thanked Misty as they stepped back out into the afternoon sun, excited about her purchase. The redhead waved it off with a smile, and looked towards the beach.
"You up to seeing if anyone wants to battle? It's been a while since I've been able to set Goldeen loose in the ocean," she admitted. "She needs to stretch her fins."
"I need to get back the money I just dropped on my ocarina," Ash agreed, only a little sheepish. But she did want to give Alto some more experience, maybe find someone strong enough to give Oberon and Titania a challenge or who could keep up with Pikachu, and maybe later she could find somewhere away from the crowds to practice the ocarina.
After agreeing to meet back at the Pokemon Center that evening, Ash set off, making her way towards the areas she could already seeing people battling. Over the next two hours, she won all the battles she was challenged to, earning back the money she'd spent and then some. Alto had done well, not taking much damage but since her stamina wasn't that good yet, she was only able to keep going for one of those hours. Pikachu took care of most of the others, although there had been two older trainers who forced Ash to bring out Titania and Oberon, but she managed to win those battles in the end.
Houndour wasn't at a level she felt comfortable pitting him against Water types, so he just sat next to her and watched, enjoying the heat if not their proximity to the sea. Observing would be good for him anyways, Ash was sure; Houndour had good eyes, and watching his teammates battle got him pumped up for training.
Once she'd extracted herself from the group of trainers' casual 'tournament', Ash wandered towards Cerulean Cave. At this time, most everyone had gone back to the city to take a break from the heat and to eat, so it wasn't that long until she found a secluded cove that she had all to herself. Calling out all her Pokemon, she cleared her throat.
"Alright, guys, let's get some training in. Pikachu, I want you to alternate jogging and running laps around the sand. It'll build your stamina, and help prepare you to fight on unstable ground. Throw in sustaining Agility once you get a feel for the terrain. I'll let you know when to start working on Thunderbolt. Oberon, I want you to practice using Psychic on the water and the sand, making it constantly move around you, like a shield. Experiment with it however you want, you just need to work on being flexible on the battlefield in case you're ever up against a Dark or Bug type that your psychic powers won't work against. Psychic attacks won't work directly, but you can work around the disadvantage. I'll tell you when to start working on Shadow Ball again.
"Titania, I want you working on Protect. You've made pretty great progress, you just need to perfect it and speed it up. Then you can work on refining it, and whatever variations you want to make. Alto, you'll be working on perfecting the accuracy and speed of your attacks. I'll have Oberon set up sand into targets for you. And Houndour, sweetheart, you and I are going to be building our stamina with Pikachu by running on the sand, okay?"
Her team voiced their agreements, and set to work as soon as Ash was satisfied that Alto had enough targets (fifty was a good start, right? And it went hand in hand with Oberon's training too, so she figured it was fine). They spread out along the beach, each focused on their tasks and determined to make significant improvement by the time Ash called for a break.
The young trainer was proud of her team's determination. Even if Oberon and Pikachu joined forces in the second half of training with mischief in their eyes (a psychic-controlled Thundershock was great for double battles, not so much for sending towards the nearby Krabby who Ash really did not want to have to battle right now), all five Pokemon were working hard.
Ash was working hard, too, training her body and building up her strength and endurance. She even practiced climbing the rocky cliffs closer to Cerulean Cave, with only Oberon to catch her if she fell. She only fell twice, but got higher each time she attempted the climb, appreciating the small cheer-squad of Pokemon at the foot of the cliff.
Closer to sunset, Ash told her Pokemon to cool down and rest a bit while she read through the instructional book she'd bought. The gentle breeze was relaxing, and she dug her feet into the wet sand where the waves just barely washed over her toes when they broke onto the shore. After memorizing the finger placements, she pulled out the ocarina.
Ash took a moment to wonder at it's beauty, its smooth, shimmering surface semi-reflective and soothing. Then, she put it to her lips, arranged her fingers, and tested each note the ocarina was capable of. Her mind quickly ran through the two songs she knew, making the connection of where to put her fingers for each note.
And then she played.
The notes wavered with her inexperience, but the nameless song she often hummed to herself carried over the waves. She lost herself to it, repeating parts of the melody where it felt right, letting the sound of the water mingle with the melody. Like Oracion, it felt of power, but this was slower, older. This was a song that spoke of an ancient power, a role to play, and the great mystery of the sea.
As she let the final note fade, she could have sworn she saw something large far out from the beach, a pale form concealed beneath the rolling waves before retreating to deeper water. Slowly lowering the ocarina, she gazed out at the ocean, getting to her feet. The short glimpse she'd caught was enough.
"That was your song, wasn't it?" She whispered, distantly hoping her voice could somehow reach it. "Lugia."
A deep, reverberating hum, just barely audible over the waves, was her only answer. But it was enough.
XxXxX
Ash set an envelope down by Misty's hand as she dropped into a chair across from the other girl, ready to dig in to the meal provided by the Pokemon Center. She'd already set up food for her Pokemon and released them so they could eat. They were hungrier than normal, from all the training and battling they'd fit into the day.
"What is this?"
"For your bike," Ash replied after swallowing a mouthful of rice. "I don't know how much it cost exactly, but that's the amount that the shop's website had listed for the model you said it was. Let me know if it isn't enough, I can get the rest to you soon."
Brock glanced between them, confused. "Did something happen?"
"Yeah, I borrowed her bike to get Pikachu to the Pokemon Center after a Spearow attack when I was just starting out, and it ended up getting fried by Pikachu's electricity. So I'm paying her back," Ash explained before Misty could even blink.
The teen nodded in understanding. Bikes were expensive, and to lose one would set any average trainer well back in finances. If he was surprised that Ash was able to provide enough money to replace Misty's, he didn't mention it, instead looking back to the map spread out in front of him. The younger girl eyed it, recognizing it; it was a slightly more detailed version of the map Daisy had given her before she started her journey.
"Got any locations in mind?" She asked.
Brock shrugged. "Not really. Most of the experience I need will be in raising my own Pokemon, which can be done anywhere. Kanto doesn't have any specific locations for breeders to practice or learn the trade since the pros take on students by recommendation. There's conferences and such held throughout the region all year long, so I'll just have to drop by some when I find them, and until then work on my studies."
Ash frowned. That sounded rather unfair to people who wanted to pursue the career; it gave the advantage to the people who already had an 'in' to the community. Seeing the look on her face, Brock smiled ruefully.
"It's just how it is. Anyways, I was actually marking out some stuff I heard from other trainers; there's been some large-scale seasonal migrations from Johto and Hoenn seen passing through or scheduled to pass through different parts of Kanto this year," he explained with enthusiasm. "We should come across several of them no matter where we end up going."
She nodded in response, pleased with the information. Trainer gossip was good for that much, at least, and could be cross-referenced with a number of online forums that liked to keep track of migratory patterns－it was a useful skill, whether you were hoping for a new capture or looking to trade information.
Eyeing the paths he'd already mapped out, Ash forced down the discomfort at still being around humans. Instead, she finished her meal, and then sent an email to Daisy, asking her if she could find out if Serena had an email or phone number Ash could use now that she was on the road. If anyone could find out, it would be Daisy; the Contest Champion had connections in almost all the regions, and helped babysit the youngsters during the summer camp all those years ago.
Holding back a sigh, Ash shared a tired glanced with Pikachu before sending a subtle hand motion Oberon's way. Time to head to bed.
XxXxX
"Hey, what's that over there?" Misty frowned, pointing farther up the path. A small orange figure was curled up on a rock, shivering in the cold wind the oncoming storm was kicking up. As they group approached, the figure got clearer.
Ash's eyes widened in horror.
Breaking out into a sprint, she rushed to the tiny Charmander's side, taking in the bruising, cuts, and weakened tail flame. Pikachu hopped to the ground, cooing gently at the Charmander. It struggled to open its eyes. With great effort, it focused on Pikachu's worried face, croaking out something. Pikachu slowly shook his head, coaxing the small Fire type to speak a bit more. After a minute or so, during which time Misty and Brock reached them and gasped at the scene, Pikachu turned to Ash.
"Pika pika pi, chu pikachu!" He gestured wildly to her, trying to explain the situation.
"Its trainer told it to wait here?" She repeated, fury simmering in her chest. It was going to rain soon, probably within the hour, and only the Pokemon Center up ahead was within running distance. There was no reason for a trainer to leave their Pokemon out here in such conditions.
Pikachu nodded, eyeing the Charmander's battered appearance. Something in Ash keened, high and piercing, mournful and angry and determined all at once. She knelt down in front of the rock, catching and holding the Pokemon's gaze.
"Little one," she said softly. "It's going to rain soon. Any good trainer would be worried if their Pokemon got sick from this weather; won't you come with us to the Pokemon Center? That's where trainers would look first if their Pokemon weren't here when they got back. You can come back as soon as the storm passes," she added, seeing that the undersized Charmander was about to protest. "No trainer would be traveling during the storm, anyways."
Charmander warbled uncertainly, taking a long look around, as if expecting its trainer to show up at any moment. When the minutes ticked on and there was no sign of anyone, it slumped in defeat. Raising its head to meet her eyes, it nodded, struggling to get to its feet.
"Its okay, I'll carry you," Ash reassured the obviously weakened Pokemon. "The Pokemon Center is close by, we'll be quick."
"Char," it sighed, and allowed her to pick it up carefully. Pikachu jumped back onto her shoulder, and she turned a bit to glance at her companions. They looked as uneasy as Ash felt about the situation, suspicious about this little Charmander's trainer and the condition it was in. But since it had agreed to come with them, the best thing to do was take it to Nurse Joy.
Later, Ash would think it was lucky she was able to convince Charmander to come with her without much trouble. The following afternoon and evening would be painful, but in the end it was for the best.
The small group had just run inside the Pokemon Center when it began to pour, a torrent of rain that would definitely have killed the poor Charmander had it remained outside. Ash handed Charmander over to Nurse Joy, explaining what Pikachu had translated for her. After Chansey talked to Charmander and confirmed it, Joy thanked the trio for helping out, and sent the little Fire type to the back for emergency treatment. Once it was out of earshot, Ash quietly voiced their suspicions of Charmander being abandoned by an abusive trainer.
The woman's eyes hardened; as someone dedicated to caring for Pokemon, abusing a Pokemon was one of the greatest sins a trainer could commit. There wasn't a Joy in Kanto that would hesitate to report abuse, or call in Officer Jenny to investigate. Which was why when Charmander was released, the little Fire type trotting away to stare out the front door anxiously, and one of the trainers in the lobby pointed out to their companion just walking down from the room areas that it was there, Nurse Joy was watching them like a Pidgeot.
"Hey, Damien, isn't that your Charmander?"
"That weak thing? Hah, it couldn't even follow orders and stay where it was! Useless beast," Damien snorted, obnoxious voice carrying over a suddenly silent lobby.
"Char…? Charmander!" It perked up upon seeing Damien, apparently not having heard or understood what its 'trainer' had said about it. With a happy trill, it scampered over to the sneering teen.
Ash snarled in fury when a booted foot lashed out, kicking Charmander clear across the lobby, and she lunged to catch the poor baby. Skidding to a stop amid shocked cries from the surrounding trainers, she whirled to glare at the monster in human skin.
"How dare you?!" She growled dangerously, cradling a stunned and confused Charmander close.
"How dare I?" Damien had the gall to laugh at her, at Charmander. "That thing's pathetic, why should I bother with it? I told it to wait for me on that rock just to get it to stop following me. What a stupid Pokemon, it actually did for a while. Not long enough though, clearly."
"Are you saying you wanted Charmander to be out in the rain?" Brock demanded, entire body rigid with barely-controlled anger. Murmurs broke out among the other trainers, save for Damien's group, the tension rising. Distantly, Ash hoped he would punch Damien. He certainly had the physical strength to make it count. "Charmander would have died if we hadn't convinced it to come here!"
Shrugging callously, Damien turned up his nose. "You should have left the dumb thing out there, its too weak to be of any use."
"... Char…?"
Ash glanced down, heart clenching as she saw the first tears trickle from Charmander's wide eyes. She noted the little scars that lined its dulled scales, its visible ribs and cloudy irises that spoke of a minimum of months of abuse. Lifting a hand, she gently rubbed Charmander's head.
"I've heard enough!" Nurse Joy shouted, livid. Every trainer in the room jumped at the sound, shocked into silence by the normally soft-voiced woman's outburst. "Chansey, if you would?"
With a dark sort of satisfaction, Chansey laid Damien out flat with a well-placed Pound attack, dragging the now-unconscious teen through the doors to the back of the Pokemon Center. In the moment that followed, Joy drew herself up and narrowed her eyes at Damien's group.
"You there, who were with that trainer. You will not leave unless Officer Jenny permits it, after she's finished dealing with Damien and inspecting your Pokemon for signs of abuse. No one is above the law. Miss Ketchum, please look after Charmander while I escort these 'trainers' towards the holding room with Damien."
"I'll help you, Nurse Joy," Misty said immediately, shooting a dark look towards the nervous group. The pink-haired woman nodded in thanks, and set off to herd the group in the direction Chansey had gone.
That dealt with, Ash sank into a nearby chair, still petting a now-sobbing Charmander. She cuddled it close, whispering soft reassurances even as the rest of the trainers began to gossip about what just happened, sending pitying looks the little Fire type's way.
"You're not weak or stupid," she crooned, swallowing past the lump in her throat when Charmander twisted to bury its face in her chest. It was so small, it couldn't have been more than a few months old! How dare that monster hurt a Pokemon, especially such a young and impressionable one as Charmander! Hell, it might have imprinted on that bastard… "You deserve better than Damien. You are a good Pokemon, you did nothing wrong, okay?"
"Char," it warbled despairingly, and Pikachu slid down from Ash's shoulder to nuzzle the Fire type. After a moment's thought, she released Titania and Alto. Both girls took one look at the scene and immediately set to comforting the crying Charmander, with gentle humming and soothing ribbons that embraced it.
It took almost an hour for Charmander to cry itself to sleep, while Nurse Joy called Officer Jenny and gave a somber lecture to all the trainers in the Pokemon Center about taking care of their Pokemon. Brock, for once not chasing after Joy, made some special food for Charmander to help it recover. It managed to eat a small bowlful before finally slipping back into an exhausted and much-needed nap.
He was shaken and angry from seeing Pokemon abuse up close and personal, and the same went for Misty. Both took the time to cuddle and soothe Charmander, who allowed it from either desperation or apathy. But at the end of it, Charmander made its way back to Ash, curling up in the girl's lap and whimpering until Pikachu, Titania, and Alto snuggled up to it and lavished it with affection.
That was how Officer Jenny found them when she arrived, after the storm had died down. After gently but firmly telling Ash and Charmander that she needed to take photographs of Charmander's state for evidence, the woman offered Charmander a Poffin before squaring her shoulders and following Joy to where Damien and his group were being held. Everyone present knew that they'd be in deep trouble, from the look in the policewoman's eyes.
Ash took the time to call Professor Oak, subdued as she explained what happened and carefully showed him the sleeping Charmander. Samuel's anger was obvious, and so was his grief. Mid-way through the call, Officer Jenny approached, and asked if he would take charge of Charmander's care.
"Charmander is still very young, and has likely already attached itself to Ash and her Pokemon after such a traumatic experience," he explained, "and as I know her very well, I will authorize Ash to carry it as a non-battling Pokemon to rehabilitate. She's very well-educated and I taught her quite a bit myself, so I have confidence she can provide and care for Charmander properly."
"No protests here," Jenny inclined her head in respect. "I'll make sure you get a copy of the medical report. Miss Ketchum, thank you for helping Charmander. Well, as I have some criminals to lock up, I'll be off. Take care."
With that, she left, and Ash turned back to the screen.
"I'll take good care of Charmander," she vowed.
"I know you will. Now then, I'll need you to write up a report of what happened and what you've noticed about Charmander's health and mannerisms so far, and we'll need to develop a special diet to help its recovery－"
XxXxX
"I'm afraid that the accumulated damage Charmander has suffered from Damien's abuse is permanent. Charmander will be unable to battle for the rest of his life, and he won't be able to evolve. The complications would kill him at best, and make life torture at worst. I'll give you an Everstone pendant, please make sure he wears it. As for his dietary needs, he will require a significant increase in protein, vitamins－"