Disclaimer: What? You want me to put that darn thing back on? We all know that Pokemon was created by the great Satoshi Tajiri, so get off my case! Shoo, git, vamoose, amscray, and I have no idea what I'm saying anymore? Anyways, this chapter's up and I hope you enjoy it. By the way, this will apply to every chapter. Why? Too lazy to write something new ¬.¬ This is where the sex references and violence will start to apply so get ready, cuz this chapter will explain why it's rated T, starting on Chapter 6 for the violence.
A/N: -laughs- I don't even know why I put that sex ref. warning. Okay so one of my OCs is womanly in mind and body but it's not like it's M-rated here. Eh, screw it, I'm leaving it here. Some changes here and there…
Viridian Fall
Chapter 5: Lunch with the Slates
Day 3, Week 1
"Alright, we're almost there ya guys!"
Tracey sighed. "How many days have passed since we left Viridian City, Misty?"
"I think it was…oh I didn't keep track of it!"
Raven turned to Ash. "It's only been two days since we left. Why?"
"Because we have three weeks to get to Saffron City!" Tracey shouted at him, remembering when he spoke to Prof. Oak. Emi waved him off.
"Oh don't worry, it shouldn't take too long, we'll be there before ya know it!" she said cheerily.
Misty gave her a narrow look. "Great, she really is a ditz!"
Emi then turned to Ash. "By the way, one of your friends lives in town right?"
"Uh…"
She grabbed his hand, much to Misty's dismay. "Let's go see him then!"
"W-W-Wait a sec--"
She dragged him along as Misty was left seething with jealousy.
"HEY!"
Tracey wiped his forehead. "Wow, it really is hot? Huh, aren't you kinda hot wearing that?" he asked Raven, pointing at the man's black cloak that covered nearly every part of him. The man now had the cloak cover up to his nose so you couldn't tell if he was smiling, grinning, or smirking. He turned to the Watcher with a monotone voice.
"No."
Forrest sat on the couch, watching the recorded tape of the Sinnoh League. He didn't hear the doorbell ring as an older boy, his brother walked to the door and opened it. He was surprised to find Ash, Misty, Tracey and two others he did not know.
"Ash, Misty, and Tracey? What're you doing here?"
"Afternoon, Brock!"
"Actually, it's not afternoon but approaching noon. Anyways who're you two?" Brock asked. Emi smiled as Raven did not acknowledge his own existence.
"I'm Emi!"
"…Raven."
Brock held out his hand to them. "Brock Slate, former Gym Leader of Pewter City, presently a Pokemon Breeder." as Emi shook it. Raven did not hold out his hand.
"A Breeder?" asked Emi.
"It's someone who raises Pokemon and cares for them, like a daycare center." Tracey explained.
"So, Brock, you gonna let us in or what?" Ash asked as Brock laughed nervously.
"Ahahahahaha, yeah, I forgot about that?"
They walked into the house, which was not that far from the Gym itself when two adults, Flint and Brock's mother, Lola walked out to greet them. "Oh, Brock, you didn't tell us we had visitors?"
Brock turned to her. "You already know Ash, Mom. Oh yeah, this is Misty, Tracey, Emi, and Raven!" he said. Raven gave the boy a cold look. The older boy gave a nervous laugh.
"Ahaha…n-nice to meet you."
Raven turned to Ash. "We'd best head back to heal our Pokemon. I need to get Krow checked up."
Ash nodded. Emi nodded along. "Yeah, my Pokemon could use a rest too."
Misty and Tracey looked at each other then at Ash. "Yeah, we should go check up on them, right Pikachu?" she asked. The mouse nodded as she picked him up in her arms. Pikachu made himself comfortable in her arms.
"Alright, then. Come by for lunch when you can!" Lola called out.
As the five left the house, the same mysterious figure from the Viridian Forest watched them from a tree. He saw Raven and Emi and fell silent. "……"
Ash and his friends began to walk to the Pokémon Center when Brock called out to him.
"Ash, can I talk to you for a bit? Don't worry guys, go on ahead!"
"Oh but I wanna stay with you, Ashy!" Emi said. A hand reached out and grabbed the back of her shirt.
"Come on, it's boy talk, leave them be!" Raven said, dragging her away.
When they were gone, Ash turned to Brock. "So what is it Brock?"
"He can't figure it out? Man, Misty was right all along! Well, I see that Misty's back. Been a long time since I last saw her?"
"C'mon Brock, we saw her back in Sinnoh several months back, remember?"
"Yeah, but… "You still can't figure it out, can you Ash?"
"But what, Brock?"
Brock took a moment to register what he was going to say. "What do you really think of Misty, and tell me the truth!"
Ash flinched. Brock could see he got some kind of reaction. "U-Uh…w-well, she's m-my b-best friend, then comes you!"
"Is that all? C'mon Ash, I know there's more to it…" Ash gave him a confused look.
"Whaddya mean?"
Brock sighed. How could he NOT figure it out? Oh wait, this is Ash we're talking about! Other than that, never let the map fall into his hands. "Never mind. You'll figure it out someday, hopefully soon… Besides, you're a lucky guy."
Ash nodded. "Uh-huh… Well, gotta get back to the guys." he said, running to the Center. Brock watched his friend run off.
"Really Ash, you're a lucky guy…"
"Here ya go, Nurse Joy."
Nurse Joy took the Pokeballs, but then everyone saw that Raven did not hand his Pokeballs to the nurse. "Kind sir, don't you need your other Pokemon checked in too?"
Raven gave an unreadable look and shook his head. "That won't be necessary."
Ash turned to him. "Whaddya mean? Why won't you?"
Raven smirked, his back to them. "I can't let you know what Pokemon I have, Ketchum." he said. Ash looked at him.
"Why not?"
"Because it wouldn't be amusing."
"?"
"……"
"H-Hey! That's not fair!" he finally shouted. Raven merely ignored him.
Ash gave him 'the look' before walking over to where Misty, Tracey, and Emi were. Had he seen where he was going, he'd have not bumped into a rather beautiful woman. Beautiful would not have summed her. She was a goddess, absolutely beautiful with her curvaceous body. She had red hair like Lorelei a.k.a. Prima though cut short down to her neck. She wore a beige colored jacket with a lemon-colored tank top underneath that made a good show of her ample chest. While it is hard to tell is she had such smooth legs under her blue jeans, it is safe to say that they are. Ash was stunned beyond words upon meeting this woman.
"Oh my, I'm sorry? Do you need a hand?"
Ash was still staring, not noticing the demonic glare from Misty, aimed at the woman. Tracey looked at Misty whom was looking at the woman. Before Tracey could ask, Emi called out, "Iria!"
The woman turned to the girl with a smile. "Well, if it isn't Emi?"
Emi smiled back. "What brings you to Kanto? I thought you were going to be in Hoenn?"
"Oh, family matters. You?"
Emi pulled out her badge case that had yet to be seen and the woman saw seven Kanto Badges: the Thunder Badge, the Rainbow Badge, the Marsh Badge, the Soul Badge, the Volcano Badge, the Boulderbadge and to Misty's surprise, the Cascade Badge! "Am I amazing or what?" she asked them as Raven turned towards them and nearly did a double take upon seeing the woman.
"Wh…What is she doing here!?"
Misty was standing before the girl, obviously angry that she had the Cascade Badge. "No way!"
"No way what?"
"Th-Then that means y-you're the one that--!"
"That defeated you several months back? Gee, you didn't even remember me?"
"I never even got your name! You left as soon as I handed you the badge!"
"Well, somehow I guess I forgot to mention it?" she said, a smirk present. "Anyways, let's not fight, I'm not in the mood!" she said. Misty made an effort to retort but the woman put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Emi's right. By the way, I have not introduced myself." as she looked at them all and nodded her head. "I'm Iria."
"Hi, Iria. I'm Misty."
"Oh, aren't you the Cerulean City Gym Leader?"
"Y-Yeah, how'd you know?"
"Oh…" as the woman smiled and winked at her. "I've heard things about you…"
"Huh?"
"Hello, I'm Tracey." he said, though he was ogling her…chest.
As for Ash…well, he couldn't say a thing. When he felt a jab from Tracey's elbow, he snapped out of the trance. "U-Uh, I-I'm A-Ash K-Ketchup- I mean K-Keptun- I mean- Meet to pleased you!"
"That's Ash." Misty pointed out as she narrowly glared at the boy. No doubt about it, Ash was seemingly infatuated with the woman! Iria nodded. Then Raven walked by. Apparently, he was not phased at all by her figure.
"…Iria."
The woman caught onto his tone. She smiled. "…Raven." she spoke his name amusingly.
"What brings you here?" he asked, keeping his cool as usual.
"As I've told Emi, family business." as she turned to him. "More importantly, what brings you here, Raven…?" she asked amusingly.
"…Always quick to point things out, aren't you?"
"If I'm correct, I'm a few years older than you, Raven!"
The man looked directly at her. "Age does not matter in my case. Be it you're the Johto Champion, the leader of the Sinnoh Elite or the God of Pokemon, I won't back down from a challenge." he said, with a hint of seriousness in his voice.
"N-Now, I didn't mean it like that!" she said, waving her hands at him nervously. The man just dismissed it as he turned to Ash. "Always so serious." she muttered.
"What time is it?"
"Huh? Well, it's…"
"It's noon. Hey, didn't Brock say that he and his family were going to have lunch at 12?"
A low growl was heard. "Uh…?"
"Apparently, a certain someone's hungry?" Misty said as Ash gave her a look. "Well, guys, what say we go and dine with the Slates?"
"I'd love to meet Brock's family."
"Who's Brock?"
"He's one of our closest friends that was with me and Mist when we traveled through Kanto and Johto together. You met him a while ago." Ash explained. Misty felt a blush on her cheeks when he had called her by her nickname.
"You mean that guy that appeared to have no eyes?" Emi asked uneasily.
"Uh…well, I dunno bout the eyes?"
Misty turned to him. "Come to think of it, it's hard to tell if Brock can see at all?"
"Regardless, we must all be hungry." as everyone looked at Raven. "Is there a problem?"
"Uh…no, there isn't!" Ash said nervously.
Everyone excluding Iria whom had to move on through Mt. Moon sat at the dining table, which was not surprising to them to find that it was huge considering the many children of Flint and Lola. Brock and his family rounded out most of the table while Ash & co were left at the very bottom though they all sat on either side: Ash, Tracey, and Raven to the left while Misty and Emi to the right. While normally everyone would just eat, Lola was quite curious to learn more about Misty, being a fan of Water Pokemon herself.
"So, Misty dear, Brock tells me that you're the Cerulean City Gym Leader, is that correct?"
Misty nodded and made sure to swallow her food before replying, "Yes."
"Oh, you're so lucky dear…" as the woman began to get dramatic and tell her about the time Brock came back home and about the fateful battle that decided the Pewter City Gym. At the end, Misty wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and turned to Brock.
"Is that true?"
Brock sadly nodded. Then Ash turned to Lola. "But why would you do that, Ms. Slate? There's already one Water Pokemon Gym in Kanto," as he glanced over at Misty. "And of the only Rock Gym, Pewter's it, right?"
"No."
Everyone quickly turned to Raven, whom didn't mind the attention. "While there are the eight official Pokemon League Gyms of Kanto: Viridian, Pewter, Cerulean, Vermillion, Celadon, Saffron, Fuchsia, and Cinnabar, there are more Pokemon League Gyms in the Kanto region. I'm not entirely sure what they are but I do know they exist."
"What's your point?" Brock asked.
"My point: There are plenty of other Rock Pokemon Gyms even if they are unofficial throughout the region."
"I wonder if there's an Ice Pokemon Gym here?" Emi said out loud. She had a dreamy look on her face. "I wonder if the Leader's a cutey too?"
Everyone excluding Raven gave her a 'What's she talking about look?' while the man himself remained silent. Lola turned to Flint. "Someday, I'm going to have my own Water Pokemon Gym!"
She then looked at Tracey, whom was busy staring blankly across the table. "How about you dear?" she asked the Watcher. Tracey pointed at himself.
"M-Me?"
"Yes, dear, you."
"W-Well…I was born on the ???? Islands in the Orange Islands. My parents names are ???? Sketchit and ???? Sketchit--"
Emi gave a puzzled look. "Eh, I don't think I got it, did you?" she asked Ash, who shook his head. Misty did the same. Flint laughed nervously, as did everyone else. Raven shook his head.
"I don't think any of us will remember that?"
"Uh…well, let's put it this way: I met Ash and Misty a while after Brock was supposedly on Valencia Island with Professor, was it Ivy?"
"Uh-oh?"
"Uh-oh what?" Emi asked Misty. The ginger haired girl pointed at Brock, whom was sulking in a dark corner in the room.
"Oh…that name…"
Raven turned his head to Brock. "What's up with him?"
"Oh, he's uh…" as Ash and Misty took turns telling the Slates and their companions about the time they came back from the Orange Islands and found him in Pallet Town and at the mere mention of Professor Ivy… "…And that's what happened. So far," as he along with everyone else turned to look at Brock. "We don't know what might've happened during that time?"
Emi clasped her hands together and turned to the Breeder/flirt. "Aww, poor Brock…"
Raven scowled. "What's past is past, move on."
Misty turned to him. Ash too, along with Tracey who too, did not find that comment pleasant for his good friend. "How can you say that?"
"Yeah, how would you know!?"
"Tell us why you think so?"
Raven remained silent for a while. Then he gave them a blank, though no-smile look before looking back up at the ceiling. "……"
Lola, wishing to move on, decided to focus on Ash, as she did not get to hear much about him during the last visit. "What about you dear? Tell me a bit about yourself?"
"Me? Uh, well, I started my Pokemon journey when I was 10, I got Pikachu as my first Pokemon on the first day and also met Misty on the first day too," as Emi looked questioningly at the said girl, whom was doing her best to keep from blushing. "A little while later, Brock joined up with us." Then Ash went through countless tales of his, Misty, and Brock's adventures throughout Kanto, then the Orange Islands, then Johto, then Hoenn, then the Kanto Battle Frontier, and last the Sinnoh, ending with why they were stopping by in Pewter City. It was nearly five by the time he had finished recounting the years as everyone looked either dead tired or wanted to strangle him or tape his mouth shut, tie him up and throw him into the nearest lake, mostly the latter.
"Jeez, Ash, could you just tell it a whole LOT shorter next time?" Misty asked. Everyone nodded in unison though Raven seemed not phased.
"Well…that was…very interesting?" Lola said with a nervous smile.
She then turned to Emi. "How about you dear," as the woman took a quick glance at Raven, whom lowered his cloak a bit to drink the glass of water. Emi nodded.
"Well, I started my journey from my hometown of Celestic Town when I was ten. I've always had a fondness for Ice Pokemon, including Spheal which despite it being a Water type too, is my favorite and Pokémon I began with and is so cuuuuuuute!" she emphasized. While nearly everyone was dead tired of the stories, Misty remained focused so as to learn about the girl, Raven occasionally looked at the Ice Blue while Lola seemed rather pleased though not as pleased when she found out that Emi liked Ice not Water Pokemon. "…I have two reasons for journeying: One is to become an Ice Pokemon Master, like Prima!"
"WHAT!?"
"Well, I guess you're not the only one that admires Lorelei, Misty?" Tracey added. Misty pointed threateningly at the girl.
"Prima is my idol too!"
Emi grinned. "Well, it just so happens that she prefers Ice Pokemon OVER Water Pokemon!"
"Wouldn't it be better to look up to Pryce of Mahogany Town in Johto or Glacia of the Hoenn Elite Four?" Raven asked.
"Well, for one thing, Pryce is old and I don't like old. The other, Glacia isn't nearly popular enough but I still admire her, though not as much as Prima!!" she said with heart-shaped eyes.
"Have you ever met Prima!?" Misty retorted. Emi looked at her, a grin appearing on her face.
"Of course I have! I happened to have run into her on her home island of Four Island!"
This apparently made Misty more jealous. But then, Emi suddenly fell quiet. "And the other…is to find my Big Brother…"
Everyone including Misty began to feel sorry for her. The only one that wasn't sappy was Raven.
Lola quickly tried to move onto the man. "And what is your reason for being here?" she asked. Everyone quickly turned their attention to the enigma. Raven was indeed an enigma. No one knew much about him except that he joined Ash and Misty after saving them from Cassidy and Butch. The man heard the question being directed towards him.
He placed his elbows on the table as everyone looked at him intently. "I am in Kanto because I am searching for certain people: an old friend I hadn't heard from in six years, a powerful Trainer to test myself and said Trainer," as everyone gave a presumable look to Ash. "And…" as for some reason, a chilling feeling struck the room. "To avenge my mentor and to kill a certain man." as his eyes gave away the dark intent of killing the two people he mentioned.
No one uttered a word after he spoke.
"Well…that was…I hadn't expected that?" Lola said nervously. Ash turned to Emi.
"So, you say that you're here to search for your brother?" he asked.
"Mmhmm, I got my sources from Quentin, that nerd! Anyways, he told me that he remembered hearing bout him going to the Kanto region, six years ago."
"Then, how come you didn't come sooner?"
"Well…I had other things to attend to! But that'd be too much to explain and in the end, I got a call from that nerd and he told me about Ed being in Kanto. I figured that since he and my Big Brother were the best of friends, I might as well ask him for any leads. Also, I remember that he was the last one to see him, after Tari."
"Tari?"
Emi smiled sweetly at him. "Oh, she's like a big sister to me, even though I have a big sister, Sari. Anyways, the reason I say so is because Big Brother used to have a thing for her."
"A thing…for her?" Ash asked, still adapting to the mechanics of love, not that he knows can't. While everyone wondered about who these two Emi was talking about, Raven remained quiet, eyeing the girl.
"Mmhm but I'm talking too much, so I'll stop here."
Suddenly, Ash had that look on his face, a look that usually means he's made up his mind. "Hey, how bout we help you look for your brother? I mean, after we deliver the package to Prof. Flowen then we can help you look for him."
"Ash?"
"Y-You mean it!?" Emi asked. Never has anyone been so kind to her. Ash was so nice to take time to help her.
"Sure! Misty, Tracey, ya in?"
Misty, only wanting to be with Ash, nodded. "S-Sure!"
"Of course, there's nothing more important than searching for a sibling!" the Watcher exclaimed. Ash then turned to Brock.
"What bout you, Brock?"
"Huh?" he asked, back in his seat. "Oh, uh…"
"C'mon Brock, please?" Misty asked, secretly hoping he does. Brock saw her eyes and nodded.
"Sure."
Everyone turned to Raven, as he answered with a shrug. "Do you have to ask?"
"Thanks so much everyone!"
"No need to!" Ash said, waving a hand.
When lunch and dinner ended, as they had finished it by seven, Forrest managed to stop Ash & co from leaving. "Ash, wait!"
"Huh, what is it, Forrest?"
"Uh…c-can we b-battle, y-you and m-me?" he asked nervously. Ash smiled and nodded.
"Sure, I always wanted to battle a sibling of Brock's, especially one that's taking care of the gym in his place now!"
"G-Great, let's have a one-on-one Pokemon battle, no time limit!" as suddenly, someone walked in front of Ash as Emi surprised the boy. "H-Huh?"
"Hey! What are you doing!?" Misty shouted. Emi stuck her tongue out at her before turning to Ash.
"Ash, can I battle him?"
"Uh…yeah but don't you--"
"Okay! Let's go with the rules that you decided, kid!" she said, already full of ego. Forrest looked down at the floor in disappointment.
"Already have the Boulderbadge?" he asked though not loud enough for her to hear.
"But I wanted to battle Ash…"
---
I've decided to not write too long of a chapter; gets me tired and lazy and I don't want Ma and Pa to force me to bed. Originally, guys, this was meant to be a long chapter but I found a way to chop it up into two. The next chapter is gonna be a little, how should I say, violent? To be honest, I had wanted this fict to be M but after considering MANY things, such as how I can have the characters cuss, if I wanted them to, without ruining their personality, which is inevitable or the other mature content but I won't. That doesn't necessarily mean that I WON'T do any M ficts or scenes; I just don't have the right energy at that time. Believe me, I got some good ficts to pull out of the storage room but for now, enjoy VF. Okay, I blab too much, review please?
A/N: Wow…this chapter sure made me realize how I pulled off another plot after the current is over. It's not a bad thing since it gives me a basis on where to go from here so in actuality, it's a good thing! Revision again. Changed some stuff in the scene with Iria, tried to make the conversations like conversations. Hmm, this chapter seems fine to me?