CHAPTER 14: Training Montage 3!

SERENA

So, ultimately, we decided on the following plan;

Ash and Brock would venture on together, letting Ash lead the way, and try to get as far as possible.

Hilary and Misty decided to go on together, as Misty has a type advantage but doesnt want to be alone in the caves.

And i got the short straw. I got a whole bunch of supplies, and a flare gun (That Brock brought) and am sent out on my own.

Great.

I release all four of my pokemon, flick on my flashlight, and away we go...

ASH & BROCK

"... so, then i was like, of course you wouldnt want a Krabby in your pants! Like, who would want that?" Ash laughs, and Brock smiles and laughs.

"Not me, thats for sure!" He pats the kid on the shoulder, smiling.

"Anyways, so, like, then the- ZUBAT!" He takes off, Pikachu in tow, after the shadow he saw flitting against the cave wall.

Brock, still chuckling from the joke, jogs after him.

Ash reminded him of his siblings, too energetic and head strong for their own good.

He comes around the next corner, and sees Pikachu send a bright Thunder Bolt at a small group of Zubat.

It chains off of the one it hits, knocking the whole group out.

"Yah!" Ash high fives Pikachu's tail, and struts back to Brock.

"Ya know, Ash, you are eventually going to need to catch more pokemon." Brock points out, high fiving him.

Ash's face goes noticeably pale.

"Um... i... yeah... uh..."

"You don't know how to catch a pokemon, do you?" Brock realizes, and Ash's face goes bright red.

"Hey, thats not true! I know how! You just... um... throw a um..."

"Hey, hey! Its not a bad thing!"

"It's not? But it means i'm an uncapable trainer..." He pouts, looking like hes about to cry.

"HEY!" Brock thunders, sending Ash flailing back in fear, and causing rocks to fall from the ceiling.

"Dont you EVER say that again, or ill slap you so hard you'll never train again, and thats a promise. Your are not an UNCAPABLE trainer, just an UNEXPERIENCED one, okay?"

"Okay!" Ash's face picks up again, and Brock grabs him by the shoulders.

"You are an awesome trainer! Look at how strong Pikachu is! And stick with me, my boy, and you'll learn a few of my trade secrets!" He pats Ash's hat, and stands up.

"Whoa!" Ash sighs in wonder and amazement, and the two start down the path again, discussing how to catch a pokemon...

MISTY & HILARY

"Goldeen, Horsea, use Water Gun!"

Both water pokemon send jets of water flying towards the Graveller, who was minding his own business when the two girls came across him.

They hit him head on, and he huffs and Dig's away.

"Darn! I almost had him!" Misty sighs, but hugs her pokemon all the same.

"Good job, Mist! Your doing so well!" Hilary pats her on the shoulder, and she beams up.

"Ya think that there are any water pokemon in here?" Misty asks, but Hilary shakes her head.

"Unless we find a lake or pool, i wouldn't think so. But! Lets hold on to that hope!" She ruffles Misty's ponytail, and keep going through the cavern.

"We've been going around this cavern forever, you know..." Misty sighs.

"I know, girl. Trust me, i know."

"I wish there was someway to light it all up! The we could just find the exit!" Misty complains, and Hilary stops her.

"Wait! Thats a good idea!" Releasing Sunshine, she points up.

"Sunny Day!"

Sunshine sends a large ball of literal Sunshine into the air, where it attaches it self to the top of the cavern, way above them.

"Wow!" Misty gasps in amazement.

They could now see the entire cavern, which is massive. The far wall was just out of eyesight.

Laughing, both girls take off towards the nearest opening in the wall.

SERENA

"I hate this."

All four birds nod their agreement, as we walk down the tunnel.

So far, both chicks have been knocked out at least twice, Alto is to scared to fly in the cave, and Ace's wings are to big for this particular tunnel, which we've been walking down for what feels like days.

Alto chirps a lively tune, and we keep going.

It takes a long while, but we finally come out of the cave, and into a large cavern.

All four birds take off, and i use my flashlight to follow them, making lazy circles in the area.

Using my hand, i follow the wall of the cavern, until i find another opening.

Whistling sharply, i quickly measure the opening with my arms, and find i can touch both sides at once.

Smiling, I whistle twice, sharply.

One whistle means i found a path or tunnel entrance.

Two whistles means that Ace can fly through it, as its larger than his wingspan.

Three whistles means it's too small for Ace to fly through.

And four whistles means that there is a trainer or pokemon ahead.

Ace lands beside me, and i hop on his back, then we take off.

Using the flashlight as a strobe, i quickly swing it from left to right, giving Ace a good over view of how long and how wide it is, then i shut it off to save the batteries.

We fly quickly and efficiently, with Bane and Belle giving Ace basic instructions, as they can see perfectly fine in the dark.

Turn here, slow down, up a bit, they are basic enough that even i can understand them.

This tunnel is awesome in that Ace barely needs to slow down at all, and its relatively straightforward.

We come to a turn, and as soon as we get around it, Ace speeds up tenfold.

"ACE! SLOW-" My voice catches as i see what he saw.

Light?

Light.

LIGHT!

I lean forward, and we burst into the sunlight.

ASH & BROCK

"Like this!"

Brock throws the GreatBall at the weakened Graveller, and it envelops him in a bright red flash, as he is sucked into the ball.

It shakes once...

Twice...

Three times!

CLICK!

"WOW!" Ash stares in amazement as Brock walks over, releases the Graveller, and smashes the GreatBall.

"Thank you friend, you can go now." The Graveller bows, then disappears down the tunnel.

"My turn now?!" Ash exclaims, grabbing an empty pokeball from his belt, but Brock stops him.

"Make sure, that the pokemon you catch is one your prepared to train and welcome to your team." Brock explains.

"Huh? But arent you just releasing them?" Ash looks confused.

"I've also caught hundreds of pokemon. This is your first actual catch, it needs to be special, not like mine." Brock explains, and Ash nods.

"I understand. Well, lets look for a new team member!" And with that, they start off down the tunnel again.

MISTY & HILARY

"I'm so haaaaaappy!" Misty squeals, booking it for the exit.

"Stop talking and RUN!" Hilary gasps, running with her.

They both burst into the fresh air, and sunlight.

Finding a tree to lean against, the two exhausted girls plop on the ground, laughing.

"We did it, girl! We got out first!" Hilary wheezes, trying to catch her breath.

After high fiving, they both lean back, soaking in the sunlight.

"How long were we in there?" Misty whispers.

"Judging on how the sun has just risen, about a full day." Hilary coughs.

"Should we go back for the others?" Misty asks, and Hilary turns to her.

They both start to laugh.

"Yeah, OKAY." Hilary laughs.

"I feel bad, like maybe-" Misty is cut off by a low sound, coming from the cave entrance.

"Stand back!" Hilary throws her arm out, standing up.

The noise grows louder and louder...

Until a large, brown blur shoots out of the entrance, and into the sky.

"WHOOOHOOOOO!" Serena cheers, on Aces back.

SERENA

"What kind of person uses a Sunny Day in a cave? A jerk, thats who..." I sigh, as we exit the cavern on the far side.

All of the tunnels are now more than big enough for Ace, so he's insisted on me riding him for the rest of the journey.

We shoot around a couple turns, moving quickly, when i hear a familiar sound ahead...

A voice?

"OH! Ace, go quick! Hilary's ahead!" Ace gains a huge speed boost, and soon, we can see sunlight filtered through the opening ahead of us.

We shoot out, and into the sky, all my birds flying around happily.

"WOOOOHOOOO!" I shout, excited to be outside again.

I spot a glimpse of familiar orange hair below, and signal for Ace to land.

"Serena!" Hilary hugs me when i land, and i hug her back.

"How are you guys?" I ask, and Misty answers.

"It took for EVER, but we are finally done." She sighs.

"How long were we in there?" I ask, brushing dust off my shirt.

"At least a day, maybe more." Hilary says, and i whip around.

"A DAY?!" I almost squeal, and they laugh.

"Calm down sis, for now lets worry about starting a fire, and staying warm, until the boy's get out." She beckons me over to their little area, where there are already blankets and sleeping bags, that haven't been rolled out yet.

I help them pull up rocks for a fireplace, as my birds finally settle down, after being so excited about the fresh air.

We finally get a fire started, thanks to Spritzer's Ember, and we start cooking food.

ASH & BROCK

"... so remember, it's all in the wrist." Brock finishes, Ash demonstrating the technique with a rock.

"Good shot, kid! Your a natural!" Brock ruffles his hair, and he laughs.

The tunnel they had been walking down had gotten wider, and Brock knew they were nearing the exit, but he kept his mouth shut, letting Ash lead.

"So, anyways Brock, who was YOUR starter?" Ash asks, throwing rocks with eagle-eyed precision at random points in the walls.

"My starter? Oh my god, i haven't been asked that in forever!" He laughs, but continues.

"My starter was a Rhyhorn, named Lucille." He goes suddenly quiet, but Ash presses on.

"Was? Where is she?" He asks, and Brock flinches.

"She's... well..." Finally Ash catches on, and backpedals.

"Nevermind, Brock! I'm sorry to have asked!" He pats Brocks arm.

"Thats okay, Ash. She was... killed in an accident at the gym. It's no ones fault, it was just that. An accident." Brock explains.

"I'm... so sorry. I didn't know." Ash sulks, but Brock smiles at him.

"Its fine, Ash. Really, it is. And now, i can go visit her in Lavender Town, so its not like i don't see her!" He laughs, trying to brighten the mood.

Before Ash can respond, he catches sight of something ahead...

Sunlight!

"COME ON BROCK LETS GOOOO!" Ash takes off, a chuckling Brock close behind him.

SERENA

"So, we found a cavern, and some idiot had used a Sunny Day! Like, how rude!" I see Hilary start to laugh, when i hear the shout.

"... LETS GOOOO!" Ash's voice rings out of the tunnel entrance, and we all laugh.

In no time, Ash literally crashes out, face first in the dirt, but he gets up, laughing.

Brock jogs out, laughing.

"Hey boys! Just in time for food!" Misty laughs.

"FOOD?!" Ash exclaims.

We quickly eat, then pack up and head for Cerulean.