Chapter 38, friends! Although I think this qualifies more as a Christmas miracle—yes, I'm back with an update, and will be updating all my active stories this week so we end the year on a high note. Can't guarantee regular updates for the next month or so, but I'll be doing my best to focus on these so we can entertain regular updates once again. :D
Maidengarnet, thanks for the review! Glad you like him—Frenzy seems to be shaping up into a fan-favorite. :D
11JJ11, thanks for the review! Yes, Frenzy has returned! :D I will do my best to meet this demand. Yes, the Paras that has Oblivious as an ability….
HanKanoya, thanks for the review! Yes, nothing can stop Frenzy the juggernaut! :-D
Arkisane, thanks for the review! Yep—it's actually a real number, but disabled in most area codes for the obvious reason.
Dragonkeeper10, thanks for the review! Yes….
Thor94, thanks for the review! Glad you liked the battle!
IceDragonGirl36, thanks for the review! I'll put that on my to-do list then. :)
Jakeroo123, thanks for the review! Thank you, glad you liked it! Koga might be an actual ninja, but that doesn't mean he can't be a movie/TV buff too. I don't know, I just remember bits and pieces of the Koga gym in the anime (hadn't really gotten around to rewatching it for the fic) and I remembered that there was a woman there—Janine shows up by dint of me looking up the gym and seeing her in the information. Maybe there were different teams at work on the games and anime? I don't know. Of course—it's the Pokémon world, they have insurance. I've heard that—and apparently they might be doing the Shamouti Islands again, or something with the Johto legends….
MagicWarriorDragon, thanks for the review! I do too…glad you like him!
InfernalFox, thanks for the review! Glad I could make you laugh. :D
Scarlet Firesong, thanks for the review! Yes…and Paras is part Bug, so Frenzy could definitely send Darkrai running for the hills.
Albertasteinthe21stgenius, thanks for the review! The best Paras….
AveragePichu, thanks for the review! Fair point…and while I don't remember much of that episode, Ash nearly falling to his doom in a rushing river below was not an exaggeration. Aside from that and the Voltorb, some of the traps are in reference to Indiana Jones and The Librarian, so….
Blitza, thanks for the review! There seems to be a lot of love for Frenzy the super-Paras. :D
Mystery-guest-45, thanks for the review! Frenzy is the best 'mon to have in reserve….Thank you, I'm glad you like them! I always have some hesitation in writing battles, so I'm glad they're coming across all right. Thank you, you make me blush—I shall strive to continue to please! :D
JuptileNamudori253, thanks for the review! Yes! Those three don't need a special chapter to do that, but stay tuned for when Lavender Town comes up. :) Konsentis. :)
Duskrider, thanks for the review! Thank you, I'm glad you're liking it so far, and the characterization besides. :D
Thanks for the review, guest! Glad you like the chapter! :D
Yoshistar11, thanks for the review! Thank you, I'm glad you like it! Yes, it gives some variety in the writing and prompts more planning and originality, I think. Haha, I already have chunks of Sabrina and Erika's encounters with Ash, and a general idea of Blaine, so this should be fun. Yes…good question—we shall see. As for Vee—staying as an Eevee for now, since any ideas for which evolution he goes with are tentative at best. But we'll see. :)
Gabagool, thanks for the review! I'm glad you're enjoying the story thus far! Straight man/wise guy is one of my favorite dynamics, so I'm glad I'm writing it in an enjoyable fashion. Ah thank you—I learned that to-the-point descriptions are the best for scriptwriting, but it's always a point of worry for me about how much description to write. Thank you—I'm mostly working on vague memories of the characters and various filtrations in fanfiction before putting my own spin on it. And I'm glad you liked the Clefable cliffhanger. :D Thank you very much, and I hope to continue to please! :D
LuminousMoonRay, thanks for the review! Yes! And now, a moment of silence for Brock's shirts…he needs to get more in Celadon, I think. Ah, thank you, I'm glad you like Frenzy! I apparently need to make a fan club for him…oh I bet. :D Thank you, glad you loved it!
Thanks for the reviews, Bensen! Glad you like Frenzy—he seems to be quite the popular character. Also glad you like the characterization—that's one of the points I always fuss over, so I'm glad it's coming across all right. :D I'm glad you like Lt. Surge and Volt, too, although I have to credit Dragonsrule18 for first writing a version of them that was actually enjoyable. Trust me when I say that their lessons will have lasting effects on our heroes….And thank you! You make me blush. ^^
Pokémon © Game Freak; Nintendo
Star Wars © George Lucas
And now, for something completely different:
In other news, Kyogre has gone back to its resting place in an undisclosed location in the Hoenn Sea. Reports indicate that a pair of trainers were instrumental in returning it to its slumbering state. Any attempts to gain more information has been stymied by Chief Inspector Neelson Klendaniel, who has been arresting reporters on grounds of being annoying. Officer Art Klendaniel is reported to have said that this is a common reason for arrest. Officer Klendaniel is currently in the next cell over from the reporters.
Koga did wake up in the next five minutes, and they were all very effusive with their assurances that Janine had done a bang-up job, despite losing.
"I keep telling you: Double-Edge isn't the best move to be using," Koga told her. "You don't want to do your opponent's work for them."
"Maybe we should work on Zen Headbutt more," Janine said to her Venonat, which chirruped in response.
"Hey, I just caught one not too long ago—a Venonat," Ash said, pointing. "I don't suppose you have any pointers for raising one, do you?"
"Oh please no more bugs," Misty muttered under her breath.
"After seeing your Pokémon battle, I'd say just keep doing whatever it is you're doing," Janine told him. "Although I'd get that Paras looked at—that's just not normal."
"Yeah, well…that's how Frenzy's always been," Ash said, shrugging.
"What Paras?" Koga asked. "Can I see?"
Ash released Frenzy—and then, after prompting, released the rest of his Pokémon as well.
"I'm fairly good at determining the condition of Poison and Bug types," Koga said, kneeling next to Patches and gently shaking his paw. "But these guys look good. Well groomed, healthy pelts…definitely a good diet."
"That would be my doing," Brock said, leaning over.
"Good boy. Probably ought to teach that one how too, unless you intend to follow him for the rest of your life."
"Honestly, one more sibling wouldn't make much of a difference."
Having met Brock's cloud of siblings, Ash could understand how he'd probably not pay much mind to one more joining the fray. Ash wondered what his mom would think of that.
"Now, the Paras," Koga said, looking at Frenzy. Snap his fingers in front of him, check his mushrooms…no reaction.
"Is he always like this?" Koga asked Ash.
"Pretty much," Ash said. "Except when he's in a battle."
"Uh-huh. Demonstrate, please."
"You might want to stand back."
Koga did so, raised his eyebrows at Ash's other Pokémon, who—upon hearing that Frenzy was going to be in a battle—scattered to hide behind their trainer. Ash figured it was probably an exceptionally odd sight, considering one of them was a Gyarados.
"Okay, Frenzy," Ash said, addressing the Paras and pointing. "Attack that straw dummy over there."
Ash was getting used to Frenzy's wild war cry and stance, and managed not to flinch as he charged the straw dummy and tore it into little tiny pieces. And then tore the little tiny pieces into tinier pieces.
"Frenzy, that's enough," Ash called over.
Frenzy immediately left the sawdust and returned to Ash's side, where he sat placidly.
"That's not normal," Koga said finally, once he had recovered.
"See, that's what I said," Misty said.
"I talked to a couple of other people who thought it was," Ash said.
"Like who?" Koga asked.
"Nurse Joy in Cerulean and a friend of mine who's a Pokémon expert."
"I don't know about your friend, but I'm pretty sure Nurse Joy should have noticed something."
"I don't think she was focused on the behavioral issue."
"Right. I'm torn between suggesting training that out of it or asking for a trade or a breeding."
"I think I'd rather Frenzy stay with me, thanks."
"I still want that in my roster. The Soul Badge would be the new Earth Badge."
"That's not a good thing, Dad," Janine said.
"This is true," Brock said, before giving Ash an appraising look. "I know Misty and I have been saying not to focus too far ahead, but you're probably going to have to find a different alternative to the Earth Badge. Giovanni is rarely in the gym, and when people do challenge him, they never beat him."
"Doesn't he train all Ground types?" Ash asked.
"And a few Normal types," Koga said. "I battled him when we were younger. Let me tell you though, he's trained the type weakness right out of those Pokémon—if you do ever have the misfortune to face him, forget typing. Just hit him with the hardest moves you can, as fast as you can, and maybe you'll last through one Pokémon."
Ash felt a chill go up his spine. Wow.
"And Red Satoshi was the only one who beat him," Ash said slowly, resisting the urge to check the room.
"Yes," Koga said, nodding. "Although saying that, it really ought to make Red's case no surprise."
"Yeah, well, on to lighter topics," Janine said, waving them off. "So which gym you off to next? You said this is your fourth badge—you haven't challenged Erika or Sabrina yet?"
"We were kind of blown off course," Ash said.
"Bummer. Well, either one is pretty equidistant from here—or you could try to find Blaine on Cinnabar, but he's a kicker. There's a reason he's the one people generally challenge last."
"I thought Giovanni was last."
"Only because no one can find him."
"You…might have a hard time just finding Blaine," Koga said, scratching his neck. "I heard he had a bit of an episode and is in hiding at the moment."
"In hiding?" Ash echoed.
"I heard that rumor," Brock said.
"It's true," Koga confirmed. "I tried visiting him because we had discussed me getting a Slugma from his Macargo—took me most of the week to find him, and when I did, he said he was going to have to find a better place to hide."
"Okay, I'm going to ask the question," Misty said. "Why is one of the gym leaders in hiding?"
"Cinnabar is technically Kanto's quarantine island," Koga explained. "Holdover from the war. Tourists are shuttled either there or the Seafoam Islands, traditionally, although the Seafoam Islands are off-limits now after being declared a nature preserve. So Blaine had a ton of tourists constantly challenging him for battles to while away their layovers and he just…well, snapped. Burned down his own gym, ran off, and is now only occasionally seen."
"So the Fire specialist went postal," Misty said to Brock.
"It happens to the best of them," Brock said.
"True," Koga said. "A moment of silence." A moment. "Well—if you do decide to challenge him after getting your other two badges, I'd recommend looking in the lava tubes around the volcano. It's a verifiable maze in there, and you'd run the serious risk of getting lost, but that's my bet as to Blaine's new hiding place."
"Unless he decides to come back out," Ash said.
"It doesn't hurt to think optimistically, but I doubt it. You can take the bridge up to Celadon or the waterways over to Saffron—whichever you feel like facing at the moment. Although considering your team, I'd tackle Erika first."
"I'm all for that," Ash said, nodding. "I still need a strategy to beat Sabrina anyway."
"Bugs or Ghosts. From the sounds of it, you have two bugs—why you're not using both, I don't know—"
"Me," Misty said, raising her hand as Ash, Pikachu, and Brock pointed at her.
"And if you don't believe everything you hear, you could pick up a Ghost at Lavender Town. You know, if you don't scare too easily."
"A-hem," Janine coughed. "Safari Zone-cough."
"Oh, right! I'm supposed to be advertising the Safari Zone that opened up," Koga told them. "Although I'm all for letting the population they're protecting build up some more."
"Dad, they've been building up for ten years," Janine said. "They're wanting you to send trainers over to help with the population problem."
"Oh, right."
"What kind of Pokémon?" Ash asked, interest piqued.
"Oh, plenty of Poison and Bug types—"
"Ick," Misty said, shuddering.
"Some Rhyhorn and Chansey and Kangaskhan as well…Tauros and Slowpoke…and if you're really lucky, a Dratini or two."
Ash perked up instantly at Dratini.
"That's what everyone does when they hear there's a Dratini nest in there," Koga said, spotting his reaction. "You have as much chance of catching a Dratini as you do of finding and beating Giovanni."
"It's worth a shot," Ash said, checking his watch. "Where is it from the Pokémon Center? We can check it out tomorrow."
Koga put his hands on Ash's shoulders and turned him around.
"Go east, young trainer," he intoned in a serious-sage voice. "Before you meet the bridges and waterways that will lead you to Saffron, you will see a path. Follow that path, and it will bring you to what you seek."
"Go for Route 15, take the first left," Janine clarified.
Ash tried to keep his expression controlled at the look of sheer exasperation on Koga's face.
And then lost it completely when Koga, in a pretty passible imitation of Darth Vader, intoned: "You have much to learn."