0
0
0
After two days of traveling, Ash, Misty and Brock finally arrive to the gates of Vermilion City. Covered in dirt and bad odor, the three trainers nearly broke down in tears as they gazed into the large city.
Ash dropped that crinkled map and the three trainers, along with Pikachu, celebrated. "HIP HIP, HOORAY! HIP, HIP, HOORAY!" they shouted with joy.
"I can't wait to take a hot bubble bath!" Misty fantasized.
"I have to hit the laundry mat.." Brock shamelessly added.
"I'm going to find the gym!" Ash exclaimed as he balled up his fists with excitement and marched towards the gates, before being pulled back by Brock. "Hold it!" Brock asserted. He pointed down at Pikachu, who lay desperately tired and hungry on the ground.
"We haven't had a decent meal since yesterday!" Brock reminded.
Ash picked up Pikachu, "You hungry, buddy?" he asked as his own stomach embarrassingly growled. "Ha ha, I guess we should all stop by the Pokemon Center and grab a bite.." the trainer admitted.
Ash and the gang sat around a table at the PokeCenter enjoying a meal. Ash immersed himself into his plate as Misty, Brock and Pikachu ate at a normal pace.
"You eat like a Tepig. You know that?" Misty said to Ash.
"Yeah, whatever. This is good.." Ash replied in between bites.
Misty, Brock and Pikachu all stopped eating and glared behind Ash, who realized what they were doing and stopped, blinking at them with a clueless expression. Just then, someone placed their hand on Ash's shoulder. "Son. You might want to slow down a bit," a voice spoke gently. Ash quickly turned around to realize, much to his surprise, that the voice came from his father, Trent Ketchum.
"Dad. Uhh.. Long time no see," Ash phlegmatically greeted.
Misty swiftly approached Mr. Ketchum and extended her hand out to him. "Wow. Who knew Ash's father could be so handsome? I mean, surely Ash didn't get his looks from you.."
"Hey!" Ash snapped.
"Hi there! I'm Brock, the Pewter City Gym Leader!" Brock said with a smile.
"And I'm Misty! Leader of the Cerulean City Gym!" Misty said with a bubbly tone.
"Good to meet you all. I'm glad to see my son is surrounding himself with competent people. By the way, this is my assistant, Colress," Mr. Ketchum responded.
"So what are you doing here? I haven't seen you in years.." Ash said to his father.
"I know, son. I've had a lot of things going on in my home region. I've come to Kanto on some important business."
"Oh."
"I've been in contact with Professor Oak about your journey, so I figured I'd run into you here. We've been staying at a hotel in the city, doing some research."
Ash couldn't really come up with an appropriate response. He simply tried to piece together why his father expressed sudden interest in what he was doing.
"How about a battle? I want to test my son's strength!" he said, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"Uhh, sure!" the boy from Pallet responded.
Everyone gathered at the back of the PokeCenter on the dirt battlefield.
Mr. Ketchum held up a pokeball, "I'm going to use a Pokemon I recently captured." he said. "Charmander: come on out!" Mr. Ketchum released a somewhat timid Charmander onto the field.
"Aww. It's a Charmander! I love it!" Ash commented. He looked down at Pikachu, "You ready?" he asked.
"Professor Oak told me about another Pokemon of yours I'd like to see," Mr. Ketchum said in a slightly ominous manner.
"I bet you mean Froakie!" Ash responded. Mr. Ketchum smiled. "Yes, that's the one. Show me Froakie." Ash smiled, turned his hat backwards and tossed Froakie's pokeball onto the field.
"Frrooooo," Froakie, eyes closed as usual, calmly opposed Charmander.
"Alright, son. Let's see what you've learned. Charmander: Scratch!"
"Froakie: dodge and use Water Pulse!" Ash replied. Froakie jumped up and launched the attack at Charmander, who received significant damage.
"Fire Spin!" Mr. Ketchum responded. Charmander swung its tail, summoning spiraling fire around Froakie.
"He's testing Froakie. What is his endgame? His planning seems so, unstable and random. Is in control as much as he thinks he is?" Colress thought to himself.
Ash clinched his fists, "Froakie: jump up and use Bubblebeam!" he commanded. The attack emerged from the middle of the spiraling fire and hit Charmander, knocking it out cold.
Colress held up his right hand, "That's it! Ash is the winner!" he declared.
Mr. Ketchum gracefully accepted defeat as he congratulated his son on the battle. He gave Charmander a potion and held it in his arms. Charmander appeared to be very friendly towards Mr. Ketchum.
"That's a fine Pokemon, son."
Ash allowed Froakie to jump on his shoulder and nodded. "Thanks. Froakie has helped me out a lot so far!"
"Your Pokemon will be the lightning rod you need when you're in the middle of a fierce storm.. Don't forget that." Mr. Ketchum said as he patted Charmander on the head. "Son. I want you to have this Pokemon.."
Ash widened his eyes and looked at Charmander. "Me?" he asked.
Colress became particularly intrigued.
Mr. Ketchum continued to pet Charmander while speaking, "I'm not going to pretend to have been the perfect father to you, Ash. Your mother and I have had our problems. I've certainly had problems. But I want to be a part of your life now. I want to see you befriend Pokemon like I wish I could have."
"Why don't you take Charmander?" Ash asked.
"This Pokemon was previously owned by an abusive trainer. It needs someone who can treat it with all of the love and attention in the world."
Ash closely examined Charmander.
"This Charmander may not seem strong now, but I guarantee you it can be. I know potential when I see it. Take the Charmander, son. It needs someone like you, not someone like me.."
Ash smiled and nodded. After a few minutes of playing with Charmander, Ash introduced it to all of his other Pokemon. "Welcome to the group!" he said, releasing Pidgeotto, Bulbasaur and Froakie. Pikachu joined in and the Pokemon played around with each other for a few minutes. Charmander assimilated to the group rather quickly, particularly getting along with Froakie.
"So. Have you challenged the Vermilion Gym yet?" Mr. Ketchum asked.
"Not yet. I'm going there as soon as possible!"
"Ash, Lt. Surge is really strong. I hope you're ready for this." Brock asserted.
"You got lucky with us." Misty said in a conceited tone as she folded her arms.
"Did not!" Ash shot back.
"I'd love to come and be there for you, son."
Ash smiled and nodded. "Sure!"
Accompanied by his father and Colress, Ash and the gang enter the Vermilion City Gym, where Ash hopes to win his third badge.
Lt. Surge stood on the far side of the battle field, almost as if he were awaiting a challenger. "Mr. Ketchum. To what do I owe this honor?" Surge asked.
"Lt. Surge. It's good to see you. My son is here for a gym battle," Mr. Ketchum responded.
"Son?" Surge said as he looked up and down at Ash. "That little squirt is your son?"
Ash fumed with anger. "I wouldn't underestimate him just yet, my friend." Mr. Ketchum replied.
Lt. Surge put his hands on his hips and grinned. "Fine. Let's see what the runt can do.." he laughed.
Ash approached the battle box and prepared for battle. He turned his hat backwards and eagerly awaited.
"He looks confident," Misty observed. Brock simply nodded as he watched.
"The battle between Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town and Lt. Surge will be a three-on-three! Only the challenger may substitute! Begin!" the judge declared, signaling for the battle to begin.
Lt. Surge clutched a pokeball, "Good luck, kid. You're gonna need it." he said with s amirk as he tossed the ball onto the field, releasing Magnemite. "Magnemite," Ash said as he pulled his dex out to scan the pokemon. "Magnemite, a Magnet Pokémon. Its means of floating through the air are not understood. This very mysterious Pokémon is of the electric and steel-type." the pokedex read.
"Charmander: I choose you!" Ash countered by summoning his newly acquired Charmander.
Misty and Brock both gasped. "Ash! Charmander doesn't have experience!" Misty shouted.
"A Charmander, huh? I can't say I'm surprised! What a runt!" Lt. Surge said laughing.
Ash snarled and wasted no time. "Ember!" he commanded. Charmander spat out a tiny flame that hit Magnemite. "Thundershock!" Surge countered. Magnemite shook off the super-effective attack and sent shock waves Charmander's way, making impact and knocking the fire-type on its back.
"Charmander!" Ash shouted in distress.
Lt. Surge confidently grinned, "Magnemite! Get in closer!" he commanded. Magnemite hovered over to Charmander.
"Fire Spin!" Ash commanded.
"CHHAAARRRR," Charmander growled as it summoned a swarming flame from its tail, engulfing Magnemite. "Great job, Charmander!" Ash snapped his finger and congratulated.
"Magnemite: spin the flames off and finish Charmander with Thundershock!" Surge commanded. Magnemite spun around repeatedly until the flames scattered. It proceeded to overwhelm Charmander with a Thundershock attack, defeating the fire-type.
"Charmander is unable to battle!" the judge declared. Ash sighed and called back Charmander. "You were awesome," he said with a smile as he grabbed another pokeball.
"Bulbasaur: I choose you!" he said summoning his grass-type starter.
"So Ash is going with Bulbasaur," Brock noted, scratching his chin.
"Do you think Bulbasaur can pull Ash out of the hole he's in?" Misty asked with concern.
"Bulbasaur has more experience battling with Ash than Charmander does. We'll see if yesterday's training paid off," he responded.
Mr. Ketchum also watched intently as his son continued battle.
"Sonicboom!" Surge commanded. Magnemite sent out the sound-wave attack. "Bulbasaur: didge and use Razor Leaf!" Ash responded. Bulbasaur barely evaded the attack and sent dozens of sharp leaves from its bulb that made impact with Magnemite, knocking the electric/steel-type out.
"Magnemite is no longer able to battle!"
"Huh, not bad. But this is far from over." Surge said, tossing another pokeball onto the field. "Voltorb, lets go!" he exclaimed.
"Voltorb," Ash said under his breath. "Bulbasaur: grab it with Vine Whip!" he commanded. Bulbasaur extended its vines and hit Voltorb twice.
"Spark!" Surge commanded. Voltorb charged Bulbasaur, enveloped in electricity, knocking the grass-type back several feet.
"Use Leech Seed!" Bulbasaur recovered and shot out a small seed that hist Voltorb and sprouted out, covering its pokeball body.
"Ash is trying to preserve Bulbasaur's heath throughout the battle. Smart." Brock commented.
"Thunderbolt!" Surge commanded. Voltorb summoned a strike of lightning that relentlessly hit Bulbasaur.
"Stand your ground, Bulbasaur!" Ash commented as Bulbasaur struggled to withstand the attack. "Extend your vines!" he commanded. Bulbasaur did so, even sustaining the damage, it grabbed onto Voltorb. Bulbasaur's Leech Seed attack form earlier extracted health from Voltorb and sent it to Bulbasaur. "Now, sling it into the walls!"
Bulbasaur swung Voltorb around the battlefield and sent it flying into the walls of the stadium, knocking it out cold.
"Voltorb is no longer able to battle!" the judge declared.
Ash, Pikachu and Bulbasaur celebrated.
Surge closed his eyes as he recalled Voltorb and reached for a third pokeball. "This is where the fun ends, kid." Surge said as he tossed the pokeball onto the field, summoning his Raichu.
"Whoa. Raichu," Ash said in awe as he stared down Pikachu's evolved form.
"This Raichu is strong. I've heard stories about it..." Brock said as he watched anxiously.
"Come on, Ash.." Misty silently pleaded.
"BEGIN!"
"Bulbasaur: Vine Whip!" Ash exclaimed. Bulbasaur extended its vines. "Raichu: grab the vines and swing Bulbasaur around!" Surge commanded, surprising everyone. Raichu gripped Bulbasaur's vines and swung it around the battlefield for 15 seconds. Ash watched in agony as he frantically attempted to think of a way out of it.
"Send Bulbasaur flying and use Thunderbolt!" Surge commanded. Raichu slung Bulbasaur like a rag doll into the stadium walls, accordingly met with a powerful lightning strike. Bulbasaur was out of the match.
"Bulbasaur is no longer able to battle!" the judge declared.
Ash recalled Bulbasaur and snarled. "What ya gonna do now, kid?" Surge arrogantly shouted. Ash looked down at Pikachu. "It's your turn. We can do this," Ash assured as Pikachu nodded firmly and hopped onto the field, staring down Raichu.
"Focus Blast!" Surge commanded, wasting no time. Pikachu jumped up but the blast still threw Pikachu back several feet.
"Quick Attack!" Ash retaliated. Pikachu darted towards Raichu and lunged into its torso region, doing little to know damage. Surge laughed. "Raichu: Thunder Punch!" he commanded. Raichu jabbed Pikachu with the extra force of electricity surrounding Raichu's fist. Pikachu rolled backwards on the ground.
"Pikachu!" Ash shouted.
"It looks like Ash is having quite the difficult time." Colress observed aloud.
"He'll be fine," Mr. Ketchum shot back without taking his eyes off the action.
"Focus Blast!" Surge commanded. Raichu slung the attack towards Pikachu, who could not pick himself up in time to do anything about it. The collision shook the battle field and everyone waited on the dust to settle.
Pikachu desperately tried to pick itself up.
"Give up! The only way you're getting through me and to the Indigo League is evolving that Pikachu with a Thunderstone," Surge said.
"Pikachu..." Ash hopelessly said under his breath as he watched his Pokemon struggle. Pikachu turned back to Ash and shook his head.
Ash was startled. "You.. you don't want to evolve, do you?" he asked. Pikachu again shook his head. "That's what I thought. Don't worry, we're getting that badge!" Ash assured his Pokemon as he clinched his fist and grinned. Pikachu nodded and turned his head back to Raichu.
"How can we beat this thing at a speed and power disadvantage?" Ash said under his breath.
"Slam!" Surge commanded. Raichu charged Pikachu and used its tail for the attack. Ash squinted his eyes and leaned in closer. "The tail. That's it..." he said under his breath.
*Flashback*
"Your Pokemon will be the lightning rod you need when you're in the middle of a fierce storm.. Don't forget that." Mr. Ketchum said as he patted Charmander on the head.
*End flashback*
"Raichu: finish it off with Thunderbolt!" Surge commanded.
"Pikachu: turn around and use your tail as a lightning rod!" Ash commanded. Pikachu's ears perked up. Everyone else was taken back by the command. Pikachu did as commanded as the Thunderbolt attack struck its tail.
"Now, take your tail and slam it into Raichu!" Ash exclaimed. Pikachu, with the attack still surging on its tail, darted over to Raichu and slammed into it with all of its might. The collision vigorously shook the stadium. The dust surrounded the battlefield as both trainers awaited the outcome.
"That's it! Raichu is no longer able to battle! Pikachu is the winner! Ash will receive the Thunder Badge!" the judge declared.
Ash slowly cracked a smile on his face after overcoming the stunned feeling he was experiencing. Pikachu ran up to his trainer and jumped in his arms. "We did it! We really did it!" Ash shouted, gleefully spinning around with Pikachu. Misty and Brock rushed over to join the celebration.
"I stand corrected." Colress said with admiration.
"He did it. My son is the real deal, I just know it.." Mr. Ketchum said with a slight hint of malice in his voice as he proudly watched his son celebrate and receive his badge.
Meanwhile on Route 6, just outside of Vermilion City, Serena explored alongside her shy Eevee.
"Eevee, I've had so much fun with you these past few days! I know we haven't gone far from home, I guess I'm...not ready." Serena said to her normal-type Pokemon.
"Eeeeeeee?"
Serena sighed. "I don't know. It's just a big step, and I -"
Serena was cut off by Officer Jenny and a few of her assistants on motorcycles speeding right past her and Eevee, obviously in a hurry to get back to Vermilion City.
"I wonder what's going on?" Serena said as she anxiously stared in the direction they were headed. She took a deep breath, "Eevee, let's go see if there is something we can do to help!" she said firmly. Eevee hesitantly followed her back into the city.
After following the commotion, Serena arrived at an apartment building with smoke blowing from the windows on the second story. A group of Squirtle, all wearing sunglasses, attempted to put the fire out.
"That brave Squirtle ran in there to save my daughter!" an older woman cried aloud.
Officer Jenny and her fellow officers tried to block off the area and assess and deescalate the situation to the best of their abilities. "Everyone! Please! Remain calm! The fire department is on the way! Please back up!" Officer Jenny asserted as a crowd began to form around the building.
"A little girl and a Squirtle..." Serena said under her breath as she watched the growing fire in horror.
*Flashback*
"No! Serena, you have to relax! Rhyhorn can sense your tension!" Grace, Serena's mother shouted as Serena struggled to gain control of the Rhyhorn she rode on in their front yard.
"Uggghhhh!" Serena shouted. "Mom! I can't do this like you can! I. JUST. CAN'T!" she went on.
"Serena, if you're going to go on a Pokemon journey, you have to push yourself! You can't just accept defeat!" Grace exclaimed.
*End Flashback*
Serena stared intently at the burning part of the building for a few moments and took a deep breath. "Eevee, return," she said, recalling her Eevee.
"Everyone, please hold on! The situation is under control!" Officer Jenny proclaimed to the crowd.
"Hey! That girl just ran inside the building!" a bystander yelled.
"What?! A girl ran inside?" Officer Jenny shouted.
Thanks for reading!
Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about Lillie and Hau on the island of giant pokemon, we'll get back to them soon! See ya next time!
And just as a heads up, I will explain next chapter why Froakie didn't react to or recognize Mr. Ketchum.
Question: What Pokemon of Ash's, if any, that he doesn't get in Kanto or Alola would you like to see in this story?