Chapter 6: Road to Burole
Ash, Serena, and Aurora are healing their Pokemon in the Pokemon Center, and they see Theo also approaching the Pokemon Center. "Hey, Theo." Ash greets him as he smirks, "Heh...I thought I'd run into you. Still feeling all high an' mighty just 'cause you got the stronger starter?"
"Well, I am not..." Ash sweat drops at Theo's words, Theo just says, "I bet you tried to beat the Gym Leader an' she crushed you."
"Well, I won and I got the badge." Ash says as he shows him the badge, he is surprised and he says, "What? You won?! No way! I was s'posed to beat her first! It isn't fair!"
Serena sighs, "Here we go again..."
"Well, it doesn't matter! Because when I beat you, it'll prove that I am stronger than both you and the Gym Leader! Don't expect to win just because your starter's got the advantage!" Theo says.
The two of them go to the battlefield and Aurora says, "The match between Theo and Ash is about to begin, each trainer will be using two Pokemon. Now send out your Pokemon."
"Go, Cubblfly!" Theo sends out his Pokemon and Ash says, "Barewl, I choose you."
As the two Pokemon stare at each other, Aurora says, "Let the battle begin."
"Use String Shot!" Cubblfly uses its silk to trap Barewl, but Ash says, "Harden."
The hardening causes the string shot to break apart, then he says, "Use Metal Claw." The bug Pokemon is slashed by the attack and it flies backward.
"We can't give up, use Fairy Wind." As the wind blows, Barewl doesn't seem to get a lot of damage. Ash says, "Well, let's finish with Headbutt." Then Cubblfly is defeated by the attack.
"I still have one more Pokemon, go, Raptorch." As the Fire type Pokemon appears, he says, "Use Mud Slap." The four-time super-effective move hits the Pokemon hard and it faints, Ash says, "Well done, Theo, but I have another Pokemon as well. Go, Eletux."
As he sends back the starter Pokemon, he says, "You send out your starter again, but it is part Electric Type, so use Mud Shot again."
"Block it with your Water Gun." Both attacks clash with each other as they both send backward. "Use Scratch." Theo says as the Raptor Pokemon starts to charge at the Pokemon.
"Use Tackle to knock it back." Eletux uses the power of its body to send the Raptor back, and Ash says, "Finish with the Water Gun."
As the water attack hits, Theo's Raptorch is defeated once more. "No! Not even my new Pokemon could help me win...?"
Aurora smiles and says, "The match goes to Ash as Theo has no more Pokemon to battle."
After both of them recall their Pokemon, Theo is about to cry again, "N-No fair, Ash...Pickin' on me like that...You're a meanie! *sniffle*"
"Excuse me?" Ash raises his eyebrow, and Theo shoves a letter to Ash while continuing, "Well, whatever. I am gonna go challenge the Gym. Next time we battle, I'll beat you! Don't think you'll get lucky!"
After they watch Theo leaves, Serena says, "Well, he is younger than both of us after all."
Ash then notices a letter in his hand and says, "Huh? When did I have a letter on my hand?"
"What does it say?" Aurora asks.
"Dear Ash, Serena, Aurora, Theo was lingering around town after you left and I realized I want to give you this letter. I was wondering if you could come back to Moki Town after you get your first badge? I want to see how your Pokémon has grown." - Professor Bamb'o."
"Oh, so the Professor wants to see us." Ash says.
"Let's not make him wait and go there." Serena says as they leave the City.
As they are heading back to Route 1, they decide to go fishing. Serena says, "I wonder what we will fish out of the lake."
"Well, I bet there will be great Pokemon." Aurora says as he notices his rod is shaking. As he pulls it out, all that appears is a Magikarp. "A Magikarp? That is quite common, don't you think?" Serena asks.
"But come to think of it, I really want to have a Gyarados, as it can mega evolve, and just think of how strong it is." Aurora says as he captures the Pokemon.
Ash says, "That sure is true."
Magikarp: The Fish Pokemon: Water Type. Its swimming muscles are weak, so it is easily washed away by currents. In places where water pools, you can see many Magikarp deposited there by flow.
Serena's fishing rod is also moving as she tries to fish it out, and the Pokemon she gets is a frog Pokemon. "What is this?"
"This might be the Fortog, and it sure is chubby when you see it in close..." Aurora says.
"But I think it is cute, don't you think? Ash?" Serena asks.
"Well, to be honest, it is cute, but you are much cuter." This causes Serena to blush at Ash's words. Serena then decides to capture the Pokemon for herself by throwing the Pokeball.
Fortog: The Round Toad Pokemon: Water and Poison Type. This Pokémon is rarely seen walking because of its weight. Rather, it rolls to get anywhere. They are often found at the bottoms of lakes.
Once they are back at Moki Town, they see Professor Bamb'o. "Ah, there you are. Why don't you follow me back to the Lab? We have a lot to discuss!" Bamb'o says.
As they get into the lab, they are surprised to see a person there. And the person is no other than Professor Oak himself. "Professor Oak? Is that you?"
Professor Oak is surprised to see Ash there, which means that he must have known the news of what happened to Delia. Professor Oak says, "Ash, my boy, it is great to see you again, but I wasn't expecting to see you here."
"Yeah, but I didn't see you back at Kanto, so I was wondering where you went." Ash says as they laugh. Professor Oak says, "Aurora, it is nice to meet you as well, and I see you are traveling with your brother?"
"Why yes, Professor. Ever since Mother disappeared, Dad wants me to take care of my brother." Aurora says.
"And you are?" Professor Oak looks at Serena, Serena says, "I am Serena, Do you remember? I attended your Summer Camp back when I was seven years old."
Professor Oak thinks for a while and he says, "Ah, now I remember, you are the straw hat girl from before right? I remember you and Ash are that close back then."
Ash says, "Well, we met each other again back in Kalos and we have been traveling together since then."
Aurora adds, "And Professor, they actually confess to each other and they are a couple."
"Aurora!" Both Ash and Serena yell with blushes on their faces, Oak says, "Well, congratulations to you two. If the situation isn't appropriate now, I would want to know the details."
Bamb'o says, "Indeed, Professor Oak. Well, first of all, we want to congratulate you on getting your first Gym Badge, Ash. I think it is a great idea to take the Tandor Gym Challenge."
"Thanks." Ash says.
"Indeed, who knows how many sights you'll see and new kinds of Pokemon you will meet along the way?" Oak says.
Bamb'o says, "If you plan to get all 8 badges, the next Gym is in Burole Town."
"It is a town in the east, right?" Ash asks.
"Of course. But that's not why you want us back here, right?" Aurora asks the two professors.
"Of course, tell me, how is your Pokedex coming along?" Bamb'o asks. "It is important for my research on Pokemon elements that you try and fill it as much as possible."
"Well, it sure is great." Ash shows them the Pokedex and they are surprised to see how many are in it. "That sure is a lot, you are doing great. I hope you will keep collecting Pokemon and filling out your Pokedex."
"Thanks." Ash and Serena say in union. "Well, I need to go back to work, so I'll leave the talking to you and Professor Oak."
Once he leaves, Ash turns to Professor Oak, "So what are you doing here? Professor?"
Oak says, "Ever since Delia disappeared after the Nuclear Power Plant was destroyed, I was asked by your father to help him investigate it. But still, we have no idea where she went."
Aurora says, "I hope Mom is okay..."
Professor Oak then sits down on the sofa and says, "So Ash, I know that it has been a long time since you met your father and sister. But do you know why they leave your life in the first place?"
Ash says, "I don't know, and Aurora didn't tell me either."
"You never asked. But I should have mentioned it to you." Aurora says back.
Oak says, "As you can see, you are not from the Kanto Region, but rather, the Tandor Region. Moki Town is where you were born, not Pallet Town."
"Wait, I am not from Pallet Town? Are you serious?" This causes him to be stunned at the news, and Serena is worried about Ash's outburst.
"Yeah, at that time, your father is already a Ranger and your mother is a scientist that works on the fuel of energy in this region. Both of them are successful, until that day..."
"That day?" Ash asks.
"Besides Jessie, James and Meowth, do you know other Team Rocket members?" Professor Oak asks.
"Well, I met their boss and their scientist Dr. Zager back at the Unova Region. What's wrong with them?" Ash says.
"They are eviler than those three and they somehow get into this region without the Champion's notice. They tried to steal the Nuclear fuel so that they can make weapons to conquer the world, and both Delia and Adam have to stop them." Oak says.
"I was there as well." Aurora says, "At that time, Mother is still not the Champion, and she is pregnant with you. They are able to fight back with the help of the rangers, but Team Rocket found a way to threaten Mom and Dad...that is holding me hostage."
"What?" Ash and Serena widen their eyes at the revelation. "If they don't surrender the fuel, then I will be killed. They are about to surrender the fuel, but I told them not to and let them kill me. I thought that as long as the world is safe, my life is nothing."
"So...you were dead?" Ash asks in horror.
"I thought so, but after Mom and Dad fend them off with rage, they pray and then Arceus come to them, she becomes me and thus revives me at the same time." Aurora says.
"So you were not an Arceus, but you become one after that?" Serena asks.
Oak says, "I was surprised at first, but I am used to it now. Adam and Delia are afraid that the same thing might happen again, so he asks Delia to go to Kanto so that she can raise you until you can travel on your own. And after that, she comes back to the Tandor Region and takes on the league."
"Wow...I never knew you would hide all of this from me." Ash says as they all laugh at his response.
And that is how Aurora becomes an Arceus. I hope you like this chapter and the next one will wrap up Route 3 and new Pokemon.
Ash's Pokemon: Pikachu, Eletux, Birbie, Barewl, Dunsparce, Primeape
Serena's Pokemon: Sylveon, Orchynx, Chyinmunk, Tonemy, Fortog, Owten
Aurora's Pokemon: Spiritomb, Raptorch, Cubbug, Grozard, Magikarp