Chapter 7: The Difference Five Years Makes
"… and then he somehow gets a shot in on my Gyarados, and let me tell you Gyarados was pissed after that." Ash and Misty were sitting in the living room of Ash's house. After being apart for five years the two of them had plenty of catching up to do, Ash with tales of his travels after Misty left to care for the Gym and Misty with stories of her many Gym battles.
"That must have been a frightening situation," Ash commented.
"You don't know the half of it," Misty replied. "If there's one thing Gyarados hates it's getting hit."
"Sounds like hitting Gyarados is the last thing you want to do," Ash assumed.
"It's bad, but it's far from the worst thing you could do to him," Misty corrected.
"There is? What?" Ash inquired.
"The worst thing you can do… is defeat him in battle," Misty said.
"Is it really that bad?" Ash asked, to which Misty nodded.
"The last time he lost a battle I swear I thought he was going to tear the whole damn Gym apart," she recalled. "In fact I'm sure he would have if Daisy hadn't helped me calm him down." When Ash heard that he did a double-take.
"Hold on… is this the same Daisy that ran off with Lily and Violet on a year-long cruise while you were forced to stay behind and look after the Gym?" Ash inquired, wondering if he had heard Misty right. Misty didn't know why he sounded so surprised, but as she thought the reason became clear.
"Oh, that's right. I never told you," she said.
"Told me what?" Ash asked.
"She stepped up and is helping me run the Gym now," Misty said. Once again Ash had to do a double-take.
"She's helping you run the Gym now?" he gasped.
"That's right," Misty confirmed.
"What brought that on?" Ash wondered.
"She told me that she felt bad about leaving me to run the Gym like that and this is her way of trying to make up for it," Misty explained. "She's a huge help. She's almost as good a Gym Leader as me… almost."
"Well it's good to hear that you're finally getting some help with the Gym," Ash stated. "What about Lily and Violet?" As soon as he mentioned them Misty's mood soured.
"This two spend most of their damn time at the beauty salon. I seriously even doubt they know a damn thing about what's going on at the Gym," she spat.
"So they have nothing to do with the Gym anymore?" Ash inquired.
"Oh, they still hang around the Gym, even if it is just to torment the shit out of me," Misty said.
"Torment you? About what?" Ash asked.
"Over you," Misty replied. "They feel the same way everyone in Pallet Town does. They say what happened was your fault and that I should just forget about you." She knew that would be something Ash wouldn't want to hear, made evident by the look on his face.
"I… see," he said. "And… what about Daisy?"
"She doesn't believe any of that crap. Just like me she knows none of that was your fault and that you're just as much a victim as everyone else," Misty said. That seemed to make Ash feel a bit better.
"So the Gym's split down the middle," he assumed.
"Yeah," Misty replied. Before the conversation could progress any further Pikachu and Zorua came running in.
"Hey Ash, have you looked at the time?" Zorua inquired. Wondering what she was talking about Ash glanced at a nearby clock.
"Oh shit! I didn't realize what time it was!" he gasped.
"What's wrong?" Misty wondered.
"It's time to feed the Pokémon," Ash answered. "Some of them can get a bit… moody if they're not fed on time."
"And you do this all by yourself?" Misty inquired.
"Mostly. Usually Zorua and Pikachu help me out," Ash said.
"I can help if you need an extra pair of hands," Misty offered.
"I'd really appreciate it, and I'm sure the old gang will be thrilled to see you again." With that said Ash and Misty got up and headed outside to begin the task of feeding the numerous Pokémon living on the island.
With Misty's help the Pokémon were all fed. As soon as they were done, though, they gathered around the two trainers. Just as Ash said all the Pokémon who knew Misty from the old days were ecstatic to see her once again and were more than eager to show the Cerulean City Gym Leader just how much she was missed. Of course Misty was just as happy to see them as well.
"I'm happy to see all of you too," Misty said as she was swarmed by excited Pokémon. Looking around she saw many of the Pokémon from Ash's days in Kanto, Johto and Hoenn. She even managed to recognize a few he caught in Sinnoh and Unova.
"I had forgotten just how many Pokémon you have, Ash," Misty admitted.
"Believe me, I'm reminded every time I come out her to feed them," Ash said.
"I'm surprised to see some of them, like Charizard. How did you get him back?" Misty asked.
"It was back when I was still traveling through Unova. Me, Iris, Cilan and another trainer came across a festival showing Pokémon from the Kanto region. One of the Pokémon there was a Charmander, and that got me thinking about Charizard and everything we've been through. Eventually I called Professor Oak and asked him to send Charizard over to me, and that's how we were reunited," Ash explained.
"What was he doing at Professor Oak's? I though he was training in the Charisific Valley in Johto still," Misty assumed.
"So did I, but Professor Oak said he had been there for quite some time. Apparently he finished his training a long time ago and decided to wait for me in Pallet Town," Ash said.
"I see," Misty commented. Before she could continue she felt herself being lifted up.
"What the Hell?!" she gasped. Looking up she was shocked to see a Tyranitar looking down at her.
"What's the deal with this Tyranitar?!" she screamed. Ash merely laughed.
"Come on, Misty. Don't tell me you forgot about her already," he commented.
"Forgot about who?!" Misty yelled.
"Think back to our time in Johto," Ash suggested. "She may look different but she's still the same lovable Pokémon we knew back then." Misty was about to ask Ash what he meant, but as she looked at the Tyranitar something began to click. Finally, after a few moments, she realized what Ash was trying to tell her.
"No way! Is that really you, Larvitar?!" she gasped. A happy roar and a tight embrace was all the answer Misty needed.
"Oh wow! I didn't even recognize you at first!" she said. Tyranitar set her back down, letting the Cerulean native get a look at her.
"Oh boy, you've gotten a lot bigger since last time," she commented.
"Yeah, and you know what that means. She's a lot stronger too," Ash added. In light of the praise Tyranitar flexed her muscles.
"How did you run across her again?" Misty inquired.
"I traveled back through some of the places we visited and found that some of the Pokémon we met wanted to come with me. Larvitar was one of them," Ash explained.
"Well I can tell it did her some good," Misty said. Her attention was soon drawn away from Tyranitar when she felt something furry brush up against her leg. Looking down she saw a small Eevee looking up at her.
"Oh, what an adorable Eevee," she cooed. She reached down and picked the Eevee up, much to the delight of the small Pokémon.
"She's the youngest of my Pokémon," Ash told her.
"She is? How long ago did you catch her?" Misty wondered.
"Oh, I didn't catch her. She's the offspring of two of my other Pokémon," Ash explained. At that moment two Pokémon approached them, one a Glaceon and the other a Manectric.
"And speaking of her parents," Ash said. Misty set the Eevee down and watched her run over to the two of them, barking happily as she went.
"I never would have imagined you catching another Electric type," Misty commented.
"I figured it would be good to have another on hand, even if it's only to give Pikachu a break every now and then," Ash replied. The Glaceon then said something. Misty had no idea what the Ice type was saying, but it appeared to her that Ash did.
"Really? She can use that move now? Well, it looks like she'll be ready for battle sooner than we thought, huh," he said. The Glaceon then smiled and nodded, which further confused the Cerulean City Gym Leader.
"Umm, Ash… did you understand a word your Glaceon just said?" Misty asked.
"Absolutely," Ash answered. "She said that Eevee finally got the hang of her Shadow Ball and that thanks to her and Manectric Eevee should be ready for her first battle in no time." Misty wasn't sure that's what was said, but she was shocked when Glaceon nodded in confirmation.
"Told you that's what she said," Ash said.
"Wait… you mean… you can… how… how did you…" Misty was in sure a shocked state she had difficulty speaking. Ash, however, had a good idea of what she was trying to say.
"I take it you want to know how I can understand my Pokémon," he assumed.
"Y-Yeah. I mean… you couldn't before, but now you can… at least I don't think you could before," she stated.
"You're right. I couldn't before, but thanks to my aura I can now," Ash said.
"Your aura?" Misty questioned.
"(Perhaps I should explain from here on out.)" The new voice surprised Misty, but what surprised her even more was who the voice belonged to.
"Ash, that's…"
"Misty, let me introduce you to Lucario," Ash said. "Lucario, this is Misty. She's a close friend of mine."
"(Greetings, young lady,)" the Lucario said with a bow.
"H-Hi there," Misty replied. "Ash, how is it I can understand him?"
"He's using his aura to speak directly into your mind," Ash explained. "He's also the one who helped train me to be able to use my own aura to understand my Pokémon."
"But what is aura? I've heard you mention that a few times but I have no idea what it is," Misty stated.
"(I shall explain,)" Lucario offered. "(Aura is a special power that all living things possess.)"
"A special power?" Misty inquired.
"(That's right,)" Lucario confirmed. "(Humans, Pokémon, even plants possess a certain degree or aura, and there are special individuals that have the ability to tap into their aura.)"
"Lucario have the ability to tap into their aura, so it made perfect sense for him to teach me to tap into mine," Ash added.
"So Lucario helped you use your aura to be able to understand your Pokémon," Misty assumed.
"That he did. It took some time, but in the end it was worth it," Ash said.
"I bet. I wish I could understand my Pokémon," Misty commented.
"(If you want I could assist you with that,)" Lucario offered.
"Thanks, but with me being a Gym Leader I doubt if I would have the time to," Misty said. Right then a strong gust of wind blew through. It only lasted a few seconds, but once it died down Misty noticed that Ash and his Pokémon were looking at something behind her. Turning around she gasped at the sight.
"You!"
"Well now, we weren't expecting you to have company." Misty sent a hateful glare towards the trio that had been a thorn in the side of both her and Ash for years.
"I can't believe you three are still following Ash around!" Misty spat.
"I see your temper is still as explosive as ever," Meowth commented. Misty went for one of her Poké Balls.
"Come on, Ash! We can take them!" she declared. She was prepared for battle, but for some reason Ash, Pikachu and Zorua walked past her towards Jessie, James and Meowth.
"Ash? What are you doing?" she asked.
"It's okay, Misty. I've got this," he told her. She wasn't sure what he meant, but as he and the Pokémon got closer to them she noticed that the Team Rocket trio didn't appear hostile, something that came across as strange.
"What's going on here?" she wondered. Ash stopped right in front of them. What happened next shocked her beyond words.
"Sorry we're late," Jessie apologized.
"It's fine," Ash responded. "So, what did you find out?"
A shocking twist has appeared in the form of Team Rocket, who now seem to be working for Ash. How did this happen, and just what are they helping him with? Find out in the next chapter of Regrets & Redemption!
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