AN: This chapter was hard to write. I wasn't sure how much detail to include since there were not very many training sessions in the show. But threw in some updates on how the injured pokemon were doing!
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or any of the characters. Just the random plot bunnies that my mind creates.
Chapter Warnings: Language, hints of abuse
Chapter 10 - Training
Gary woke the next morning to a dull ache throughout his body. Who knew that being possessed would tire him out so much?
Noticing the empty bed next to him, he gets dressed and leaves to search for his missing partner. He finds him a few minutes later in the large open cafeteria surrounded by his pokemon. Tables still pushed out of the way to accommodate the influx of injured townspeople from the day before, there is plenty of room for the multiple pokemon already eating.
Pikachu, Krabby, Pidgeotto and Tauros are happily munching away at some pokemon food next to the table Ash is sitting at. Gary warily glances at the Haunter floating around nearby softly giggling as it hops from shadow to shadow.
He reaches down to release his pokemon but pauses. I still haven't collared Scyther, Pinsir and Nidorino yet. They are too strong to be without a collar. But I can't risk causing Haunter to report back to Gengar either…
"Hey Ash. Can I borrow Pikachu for a minute?"
At the confused nod from his trainer, the yellow rodent trots over to his feet as Gary hands the raven a few extra bowls. Gary lets out Squirtle, Fearow and Doduo to get a head start on their breakfast. He then leads Pikachu outside behind the Pokemon Center.
"Hey Pikachu. I am going to need your help to collar the rest of the pokemon I got at the Safari Zone. Can you help me? Two of them attacked me before I captured them so I just want to make sure everyone is safe."
The electric mouse squeaks in response and begins charging power in its cheeks. One by one, Gary releases each of his new pokemon. After a brief shock, they are collared and forced to submit to their new trainer. They watch him warily.
"Who is ready for some food?" Gary asks cheerfully.
Gary leads the pokemon back inside to the cafeteria. Gary smirks at Ash's wide eyes as he takes in the pokemon behind him.
"When did you get a Scyther, Pinsir and Nidorino?!"
"Back at the Safari Zone. You were upset so I didn't want to rub it in. Plus Scyther and Pinsir attacked me so I didn't want them out to battle until they got some training first." He glances back at the two violent bug pokemon behind him.
Ash wanders over to look over the new pokemon. He smiles and introduces himself to them but still keeps a good distance away.
Well at least he hasn't tried to pet them yet. Pretty sure they would cut off his hand, collar or no collar.
Gary pours out food for the newly collared pokemon before sitting down to eat his own meal.
"So we are going to start training them today?" His partner asks as he joins him back at their table.
"I would like to. We have to stay for a few more days anyway to make sure that the construction is going smoothly." Gary responds as he watches their pokemon causally interact with each other.
All good so far.
The raven nods his heads in agreement before turning to look out a side window. Gary follows his gaze to see Lapras lazily swimming in a small pond out back. An empty bowl sits on the shore.
"Sounds good to me. That will give Lapras, Pidgeotto and Charmander some time to recover as well."
Face scrunching up in confusion, Gary just stares at his partner. Seeing the look on his face, Ash quickly explains how they found an injured Charmander back at the Tower and is thinking about asking it to join his team if it truly was abandoned.
Brown orbs flick back to Pidgeotto and Lapras, full of sadness and regret. Gary watches his partner look at his injured pokemon.
He really is too kind of a soul to be a dog of the military.
xxx-War of the Dragon Riders-xxx
After breakfast, the duo lead the pokemon behind the Pokemon Center. Various pieces of rehabilitation equipment are scattered about the small lawn. Ash heads over the the edge of the pond and calls out to Lapras. She slowly swims over and presents her injured fin to her worried trainer. Ash slowly peels back the gauze to check the wound.
No leaking fluids or swelling. The stitches are all in place. It's healing well.
Ash smiles at the young pokemon and pats her long neck after he puts the waterproof gauze back in place. She hums happily at his touch. Pidgeotto hops over to get her wing checked out as well before hopping onto Lapras' shell for a ride.
Ash moves over next to his partner as he glances over the pokemon lined up before him.
"Hey guys. We are going to start training today. Pikachu and Squirtle know the regimen by heart so they will lead you through the drills. We will be over here in case extra direction is needed. Ready for some exercise?!" Ash calls out happily, arm raised in the air in enthusiasm.
A few pokemon call out in agreement while most stare impassively back at him and the brunet. Pikachu and Squirtle quickly take over as they gurgle and squeak out what are hopefully directions in their language.
Ash watches as various groups are formed around pieces of equipment as the drills begin.
The duo observe each drill carefully. Evaluating each of their pokemon's strengths and weaknesses. Pikachu and Squirtle lead the pokemon through a complex agility drill. They dart around hitting targets and jumping over obstacles with apparent ease as the untrained, previous wild pokemon struggle to keep up. One of the starters occasionally fall back towards the rest giving encouragement and pushing the stragglers on while the other continues at the front of the pack demonstrating each new part of that set of skills.
The next few hours continue in the same way as the starters lead the pokemon in drill after drill. Gary disappears at some point to retrieve some food and bowls for a well deserved meal.
Allowed a break after lunch, the pokemon enjoying the respite lounging in the sun. Ash turns as he sees his partner walking away from the group.
"I'm going to go check out the construction site. I'll be right back." The brunet calls back. Not wanting to leave their new pokemon alone, Ash watches Gary walk away alone.
xxx-War of the Dragon Riders-xxx
He walks down the main street towards the Tower. Gary can already see various townspeople hard at work solidifying the Tower's foundation.
He walks around to the other side of the Tower. Squatting down in the rubble, he sifts through debris looking for any clues as to how the Tower was destroyed.
"You will not find what you seek young warrior."
Gary spins around at the raspy voice echoing in his mind. Green orbs lock onto a pair of glowing red eyes hidden in the Tower's shadow. Gary's heart jumps in his throat as he freezes in place. His skins pales at the sight before him.
Red eyes. Dragons.
"Relax warrior. I am no dragon."
Gary stares as Gengar's purple body appears around its eyes. His body relaxes slightly, recognizing the Lord of the Tower. He mentally curses himself for not bringing any iron with him.
I'll have to stay in the sunlight just in case.
His face scrunches in confusion as the ghost type's words replay in his head. "How did you know what I was thinking? You're not a psychic type." He asks slowly.
A low chuckling emerges from the shadow. "I was a part of you, Gary Oak from Pallet Town. I know your past. I can tell just by the look on your face which thoughts have entered that tortured mind of yours."
The brunet stills in shock at the shadow pokemon's words. Is this because it possessed me?
"The answers you seek reside in the young fire creature. I have already searched my home and found nothing." The voice echoes once more.
Gary nods and begins to quickly walk away. The sooner he gets away from the thing that can see past his walls so easily, the better.
"A word of caution, warrior. If you continue on this path, you will lose what you hold most dear. For I also decided to seek revenge at all costs many years ago. Once that precious thing is lost, it cannot be returned."
The haunting words freeze the brunet in place. He chances a glance back but Gengar had already disappeared.
What is that supposed to mean? Nothing is more dear to him than his revenge.
xxx-War of the Dragon Riders-xxx
The next few days pass uneventfully. The pokemon train and skirmish together as Ash and Gary go through their own daily workouts.
Pidgeotto's wing recovers enough to allow her to fly for short periods of time. She and Fearow practice aerial battles with weighted bags strapped onto their backs to mimic their trainers.
Nidorino, Tauros and Doduo run around with weights to increase their agility and strength. Scyther and Pinsir, as well as Pikachu and Squirtle, engage in quick skirmishes all over the yard. Krabby has even made a quick friend out of Lapras as they race around the small pond squirting water and bubbles at each other.
There has still been no response from Nurse Joy about Charmander's condition. Ash was allowed to look in on him briefly, but the small lizard was still curled up in a ball asleep in a glass incubator. Its entire body was wrapped in bandages. At the least the flame on its tail was slightly bigger.
Ash didn't know what to make of Gengar's parting words. After learning of a similar word of advice given to Gary, the duo had a lengthy discussion about Team Rocket, the attack on the Tower and what information Charmander could possibly know.
"I don't know Ash. It's highly unlikely that this gang could have starters at their disposal. They are extremely rare in the wild now if there are any. However, there is absolutely no way the League is behind this either. We've been trained to protect, not destroy."
"But they wouldn't even send anyone to check this out! And you heard what that one civilian said Gary. Something isn't right here."
In the end, they could only train and wait for Charmander to recover, hoping the little guy can shed some light on this mystery.
xxx-War of the Dragon Riders-xxx
Two days later, Nurse Joy finally approaches the soldiers with news that Charmander has woken up. Gary follows behind Ash and Pikachu who rush into the recovery ward.
The lizard pokemon is sitting on a gurney. The bandages had been removed to show the blotchy orange skin covered in half healed bruises and cuts. However, thick gauze still covers the horrendous burn on the creature's neck.
Gary watches in fascination at the look of recognition that flashes in the fire type's eyes. Was it still conscious when Ash checked in on him earlier?
It lets out a quiet, hoarse cry at the raven. Gary watches in silence as Pikachu hops up to chat with the injured pokemon. Green eyes widen as Charmander flinches away from the yellow mouse and tries to crawl away.
Ash quickly picks up Pikachu and attempts to soothe the distraught Charmander.
No. Fucking. Way.
"Ash...this is Jessie's Charmander…" Gary whispers quietly. Wide green eyes locked on the pokemon in front of him. With all the bandages gone, he can see the small tell tale scar at the top of its head that he remembers from their days using the pokemon during Simulations at the Academy.
"Gary, that's imposs-" Ash begins to retort but quickly cuts himself off at the sad look on the lizard's face.
"But the collar…" Ash quietly mumbles. The duo watch in quiet fascination as Charmander slowly brings his tail up to the front of his neck. The small pokemon squints in concentration as his previously orange flaming tail to bursts into a small raging blue flame.
He must've heated the metal up so quickly to such a high temperature that the collar reached its melting point in mere seconds. I thought that was impossible...No wonder the burns are so bad though. Between the high heat and the shock the collar must've been releasing, it's a miracle he is even alive.
Gary is jolted by his thoughts by his partner squatting down in front of the Charmander.
"Charmander...where is Jesse?" The lizard shivers and cowers in place at the mention of its trainer. A hard glint enters his partner's brown eyes.
"Did she do this to you? All these cuts and bruises?" The creature doesn't answer which seems to be proof enough for his partner. Ash turns towards him and levels him the look. Gary sighs.
The last time he gave me that defiant look, we ended up cleaning the barracks for two weeks. This isn't going to end well.
"Hey Charmander...how would you like to join up with us? Raising and training a pokemon is the best part of being a pokemon trainer. You deserve to be with a trainer who won't abuse and abandon you. I won't send you back to her."
Gary watches in amazement at the glimmer of hope that appears in the small fire pokemon's eyes. Amazing. Just a few words and he is able to soothe a pokemon who has been abused, abandoned and left to die. How can he do that?
The lizard glances quickly at Pikachu standing a safe distance away. The rodent's head cocks to the side in confusion as it lets out a small squeak. Ash catches the glance and is quick to reassure the small fire type.
"Pikachu won't hurt you either. He just really wanted to choose me at the Graduation Ceremony didn't you buddy?" The yellow mouse squeaks in agreement before speaking a few words to the nervous Charmander.
A smile graces the pokemon's face as leaps into the raven's arms. Ash holds the fire lizard close to him as he chuckles in amusement. He carefully pets the injured pokemon on its head as it nuzzles closer to him.
"Looks like I just caught a Charmander."
xxx-War of the Dragon Riders-xxx
AN: Poor Charmander. He needs to be hugged everyday forever.
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Next up: Chapter 11 - Surprise
