This is Chapter 23.
So, finally this chapter is out. I had such a hard time writing the scolding scene, you wouldn't believe. That's what took the longest time. I rewrote it, and I'm still not too happy with it, but I think it'll work, and you all deserve a chapter for waiting so long.
Thank you to everyone who added this story/me to their favorites/alerts. And a special thanks for reviewing to anncuban, Kiochii, AyumuMatsuoXIII, randallxcon, lala32903, EeveeKitty, Aniquila, M1551NGN0, Guest, Fanboy157, Bookmaster, fangirl01music, USMCcAnthem, Sandy the Hippopotas, Sagitarscorpion1, Selet, Cersesi, Guest, Kree Minory, remisolleke, , aquarius kills FOZ, Fan, Lightningblade49, Guest, LuminousMoonRay, Nightshade929, deannamd, Zororark571, freddoks, Guest, zoilalove12, kris-dragon, UCCMaster, The Quotable Patella, avidreader-everafter, Guest, merlinfrostG, major wallace, BlazingBlueFire14, Yana5, InsanityPie, Ky Karno, random bug, PokemonKeybladeAlchemistXIII, SuperSonicBros123, Superspartan117, Bptex, xKimsel, Guest, JadeNoRyuu, Teddi 8347, halo0161, Aura Keeper, Adrenalin-Jess, Kiomori, NinjaFang1331, Uranuum235, Pokemon Trainer Tom, and KaliAnn.
So, they get to meet Bill, Ash and his Pokémon have a discussion about battling, and a Pokémon is caught.
Disclaimer: I do own Pokémon. I really, really do. If I repeat it enough, maybe it will become true, because right now it isn't. I don't own it right now.
Anyways, enjoy!
It took Ash forever to sneak away from Brock and Misty. The two seemed determined to tell him what an idiot he'd been, repeatedly, and they refused to let him out of their sight. Misty even clung to his arm to make sure he couldn't run off on them. It was annoying because Ash was fine, and he needed to talk to his Pokémon, but it was nice that they cared so much about him.
It wasn't until late that night that he was able to hightail it into the woods. Misty and Brock were both asleep in their sleeping bags. They'd tried to corner him with theirs, so that he couldn't get out without waking them, but Ash had practice sneaking out of nests without being noticed (although it didn't take long before it was and he was caught and dragged back, usually). Brock and Misty didn't stand a chance.
Ash slipped in between trees until he was far away from the camp, Pikachu snug in his arms. Not too far that he wouldn't know if they got into trouble, but far enough away that he could talk to his Pokémon friends in peace.
Ash released them from their Pokéballs one by one. Butterfree, Pidgeotto, Charmander, and Squirtle. He saved Bulbasaur for last, not relishing the thought of the tongue-lashing he was going to get once the Pokémon found out what he'd been up to.
Charmander glanced around their little group and sniggered. "Go on, Ash. I can't wait to hear what Bulbasaur's gonna say."
Ash winced, but sat down, Pikachu resting next to him, and released Bulbasaur, who all but pounced on him.
"What happened?" the Pokémon demanded, surveying Ash's bruises, the rip in the knee of Ash's pants from his fall, and the scrape on his chin. Then Bulbasaur caught sight of Squirtle. "You? What are you doing here?"
"Squirtle decided to join us." Ash said, before cringing as Bulbasaur's sharp red eyes swiveled back to him.
"What happened after I went back into the Pokéball?"
Ash outlined it as quickly as he could, with Charmander chiming in every time he tried to play down something.
There was silence after he finished, and Ash brace himself.
Bulbasaur did not disappoint.
"What were you thinking?" he exploded. "I go into my Pokéball and a couple hours later you're risking your life? For him?" He waved his paw in Squirtle's direction. Squirtle glared. Bulbasaur paid him no attention. "How could you be so stupid? That was reckless and irresponsible! I can't believe you did something like that! You could have been seriously hurt. And then who would have helped Pikachu, or you?"
"We wouldn't have let Pikachu die." Squirtle objected.
Bulbasaur rounded on him. "Don't you get involved in this! This is mostly your fault anyway, except for this hatchling's uncanny ability to find trouble in everything! He's going to get himself killed one of these days."
During the tirade, Ash had curled in on himself. A low whine slipped between his lips.
Bulbasaur looked back at the boy and sighed.
"This is why I can't leave you alone." He groused, nudging at Ash's leg. Ash whimpered and buried his face in his arms, curling tighter. Bulbasaur nuzzled at the top of his head, knocking his hat askew. "Hatchling, look at me."
Reluctantly, Ash looked up, brown meeting red. "I-I'm sorry." He stuttered, voice trembling, before hid his head in his arms.
"Hatchling."
Ash glanced up again. His brown eyes were red, filled with tears.
"I'm not angry." Bulbasaur ignored the huff of disbelief from Ash and continued. "I'm worried. You're going to get hurt badly one of these days, and then what? I don't want you to get hurt, and you seem to do it often. I'm scared for you."
"I don't mean to scare you." Ash whispered miserably.
"I know." Bulbasaur soothed, releasing a comforting growl and rubbing against Ash's arms until they loosened. "But I care for you, hatchling, and I hate to see you hurt. I'm sorry for yelling. I shouldn't have. But," his voice became stern again, "I don't want you pulling any more stunts like that again. Please be more careful. You scared me, hatchling."
Ash sniffled and nodded. "I will. I'm sorry for scaring you." But then his expression hardened. "But I will do it again if I have to. I won't watch anyone get hurt if I can help them."
Bulbasaur sighed. "I figured as much. Just be more careful."
Ash nodded. He would be more careful, but he wouldn't stop helping his kin in need. He couldn't.
Bulbasaur grumbled under his breath, then leaned up to lick across Ash's face.
The others, seeing that the chewing out was just about finished, rushed in to surround Ash and comfort and lightly scold him themselves. Ash clung to them. Pikachu wormed his way into Ash's lap, forcing Ash's body to uncurl the rest of the way, and licked his cheek, murmuring affectionately. The others, Bulbasaur included, quickly followed his lead until Ash was mostly relaxed and making a clicking-purring noise, only half-awake.
"You should get some sleep, hatchling." Bulbasaur remarked softly. He nodded to Charmander and Squirtle, who shifted to support Ash when he stood.
"No, wait." Ash blurted, stirring. "I needed to talk to you all about something."
"What?" Butterfree asked. Pidgeotto continued preening Ash's hair.
"Battling." Ash answered, sitting up straighter. "Squirtle pointed out that most trainers aren't kin—don't respect—aren't friends, equals," he fumbled, still not as awake as he'd like, "with their Pokémon. He said we should battle and show them that that's how it should be."
"Close." Squirtle corrected gently. "I said we should all battle, and show those other trainers," he said the word scornfully, "how Pokémon and trainers should be. Equals."
"Ash is a unique situation." Charmander pointed out, his paw tightening on Ash's arm.
"Of course he is, but we should still be treated better." Squirtle pointed out. "My trainer abandoned me without a second thought."
"So did mine." Charmander admitted. "He only came back after Ash saved me. I'm in."
"Wha?" Ash mumbled, mostly asleep again, soothed by their presence and their voices.
"I'll battle, Ash." Charmander repeated warmly.
"Me too." Butterfree answered.
"I'm in." Pidgeotto agreed.
"Of course I will. It was my suggestion." Squirtle said, rolling his eyes.
"I'll battle." Pikachu murmured, nuzzling against Ash's chin. Ash cooed sleepily.
"Yeah, yeah. Me too." Bulbasaur grumbled. He pulled at Ash's gloved hand gently. "Now to bed with you."
"Kay." Ash agreed softly. He gestured to his belt in a sloppy move. "You all want…"
"Tomorrow." Pidgeotto answered. "Up with you."
Ash made several noises of protest, but the group of Pokémon managed to coax him back to his sleeping bag, where he burrowed into the fabric, his Pokémon kin snuggled up against him, Butterfree and Pidgeotto actually perching on Ash.
This was the scene Misty woke up to the next morning. She gently kicked Brock awake. He grunted, and Misty pointed at the Pokémon pile that surrounded—and covered—Ash.
"Well, at least we know he didn't get into anything dangerous last night." Brock chuckled softly.
"It's so cute." Misty squealed quietly.
But not quietly enough. Ash stirred at her words, accidentally dislodging Pidgeotto from his perch on Ash's shoulder. "Mhph?" Ash mumbled, squinting at Misty and Brock.
Misty laughed. "Come on Ash. Up and at 'em. We've got a ways to go before we reach Vermillion City."
Brock heated them up some breakfast, and then the three headed off again. They reached a beach later that evening. It was beautiful, with a sparkling ocean.
"Oh, it's so beautiful." Misty gushed. Brock and Ash nodded in agreement.
Ash wandered away from the ground slightly, aware of the eyes on him. Although most of his Pokémon had returned to their Pokéballs, Bulbasaur, Misty, and Brock were keeping a close eye on Ash. Pikachu was on Ash's shoulder, holding onto his head to keep his balance.
"Oh look. A Krabby." Ash whispered to Pikachu. He crouched down next to the tiny Krabby. "Hello Krabby. I'm Ash, and this is Pikachu."
Krabby snapped her claws. "Why is that Bulbasaur watching you like you're an errant hatchling?" she asked idly, not showing much surprise that Ash could speak Pokemon. She also didn't bother to keep her voice low.
"Because he is an errant hatchling." Bulbasaur called back, walking over.
"That explains it." Krabby grinned.
"Hey." Ash grumbled.
"Don't push it hatchling. You're in enough hot water from that last stunt you pulled." Bulbasaur warned. Ash winced.
"You sound interesting." Krabby blew a bubble. "Are you a trainer?"
"I want to prove to the world that Pokémon and humans are equals." Ash explained. "And they're all my kin."
"Except Meowth." Pikachu growled. Ash stroked Pikachu's side.
"Hmph. You can catch me if you want." Krabby said nonchalantly. "But I don't want to battle just yet. Do you have a place I could rest for a while before I have to battle?"
"I could send you to Professor Oak." Ash offered. "Weedle and Zubat are already there. I'm sure you'll all be great friends."
"Fine."
Ash pulled out an extra Pokéball. "Well, I'll see you later, Krabby."
Krabby tapped the Pokéball with her head, and was sucked in. The moment the Pokéball settled, it vanished in a white light.
Ash ran back to Brock and Misty, Bulbasaur hot on his heels. "I got a Krabby!" He shouted joyfully.
"Where is it?" Misty asked.
"She's with Professor Oak." Ash frowned slightly. "I'd like to make sure she's okay, though. Professor Oak can be a little…I'd just like to check."
"We could call him, but I don't know where a phone is." Brock said, peering around in the dimming light.
"Hey! Look!" Pikachu called, bouncing on Ash's shoulder, almost falling off. Ash quickly held up a hand to steady him.
"A lighthouse." Ash said, pointing. They all turned to the large structure in the distance.
"Maybe we could stay the night!" Misty said excitedly. "I'm sick of sleeping bags."
"And maybe they could tell us where we are." Brock pointed out. "We are kind of lost."
Misty raised an eyebrow. "Kind of?" she teased. Brock blushed and started toward the lighthouse without answering.
It was dark by the time they made it to the lighthouse. Misty and Brock were panting lightly. Brock slumped against the wall next to the large wooden door.
"That was farther than it looked." He panted. Misty waved her hand in agreement.
"Hey, look." Ash brought their attention to carvings on the walls and doors. They were of Pokémon.
Misty saw a red button on a control panel next to the door. "Guess we better ring the bell." She said.
"I got it." Brock said, pressing the small red button.
Ash practically jumped out of his skin at the loud gong-like noise of the bell.
"Who's there?" an accented male voice asked.
"We're travelers, and we're lost." Brock called back after a moment. "We were wondering if you could point us in the right direction."
"And maybe give us a room for the night?" Misty chimed in hopefully.
"And I'd like to use your kitchen to make some food." As if on cue, their stomachs growled. "I can make some for you as well, if you want."
"That's great. Can you cook without using tofu?" the man asked.
"Oh, sure. I can cook lots of things without using tofu." Brock answered.
"That's good. I've been eating nothing but tofu since my cook went on vacation. Come on in."
With a creak, the door swung open. The group entered the dark hall. It was huge, but there wasn't much light.
"What's your name?" Ash called into the dark space.
"Bill." The voice yelled back.
"Can I use your phone?" Ash asked, anxious to make sure his friends were okay.
"Sure. It's right next to you."
Bulbasaur tugged at Ash's pantleg. Ash looked to his left.
"Ooh. A videophone." Misty said, pointing.
Ash walked over to it, Brock, Misty, and Bulbasaur following him. He typed in Professor Oak's number and held the Weepinbell-shaped phone close to his mouth.
The phone was answered, and Professor Oak's picture came on the screen. He was adding seaweed to a pot.
"Well, hi Ash. You've caught me cooking dinner."
"Not Krabby?" Ash asked faintly, aware of the Professor's eccentrics.
"Don't worry." Ash breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm taking good care of your Krabby. It's right here."
"She." Ash corrected, waving. Krabby waved a claw back.
Professor Oak smiled, well-used to Ash's corrections. "Yes, she. Anyway, that Krabby of yours is too small to make a good meal. The Krabby that Gary caught would make an excellent dinner, though. It's much bigger."
"Uh." Ash didn't know quite what to say to that.
"Yes, it's quite a catch." Professor Oak slurped up some soup. "Take a look."
He rotated the camera so they could see a massive Krabby. "Him." Ash muttered to himself.
"I want you to know that my grandson Gary has already caught forty-five Pokémon." Professor Oak continued. "He's doing wonderfully, don't you think? A real inspiration to other trainers."
Misty grabbed Ash's free hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Brock rested a comforting hand on Ash's upper arm. Remembering what Ash had told them about Gary, they didn't think this blatant fawning over Gary would make him feel very good.
Ash visibly shook himself. "How are Weedle and Zubat?" he asked.
"They're doing very well. They're a couple odd ones, though."
"Really?" Brock asked.
"Yes, they refuse to be separated unless sleeping. I don't know you Krabby will be the same when they're all put together tomorrow." Professor Oak had never quite worked out why Pokémon who interacted with Ash were so different, but he'd long ago dismissed it as just another oddity of the child.
"Well that's good." Ash said. He was glad to hear that his Pokémon were doing well.
"Yes. Also, your mother wants you to call her when you get the chance." A ding sounded. "Oh! My tofu's done. By the way, where are you?"
"At a lighthouse. The guy said his name was Bill." Misty told the man.
"Oh. That must be Bill's lighthouse. He's a young Pokémon researcher, who knows even more than me. See what you can learn from him."
"This is Bill. It's wonderful to hear from you, Professor Oak." That male voice came again.
"Well, I have to go. Don't forget to call you mother, Ash."
"Yeah. Bye." Ash hung up.
"Well, there's no way I can ignore a request from the great Professor Oak." A light flipped on, illuminating the large room they were standing in. "I'm Bill of the lighthouse."
At the top of a level of stairs, there was a brown shape. At first, Ash thought it was a Pokémon, but then his sharp eyes caught sight of a few zippers and seams, and he realized it was just a costume. The costume was a brownish ball with pink eyes and yellow claws and feet.
"That's a Kaboodle. They're extinct." Brock gasped.
"No it's not." Ash disagreed. "It's just someone in a costume."
"He's right. It's me, Bill." The same voice they'd been hearing came from the costumed man. "I'm stuck inside this costume."
"Do you need help getting out?" Ash asked.
"Yes. Please come up here."
Ash jumped onto the landing. "Tell me what to do?"
"There's a button on the side." Bill said.
Ash felt around until his nimble fingers found a small round button. "This one here?"
"Yes."
Ash pressed it down, and jumped back as the costume fell apart around a man. The man was hunched over, but he straightened as the costume released.
"Thank you so much. I've been stuck in that costume for hours." Bill said, stretching. The group winced at the pops in his joints.
"Did you come from a costume party?" Misty asked.
"No, it's not for a costume party." Bill answered, shaking his head. "It's part of my research. Getting inside it's skin lets me get inside it's head."
Brock and Misty eyed Ash. He noticed. "What?" he demanded.
"Aren't you going to correct him?" Brock asked. "On calling the Pokémon an it?"
"I don't know if the Pokémon's a girl or not." Ash pointed out. "I've never seen a Kaboodle before, and who knows if the costume is accurate. No offence." He added to Bill.
"None taken." Bill said, smiling. "It's as accurate as I can make it, though." Ash nodded thoughtfully. "You're a Pokémon trainer?"
"Yeah. I've got a lot of friends traveling with me." Ash smiled.
Bill thought this through for a moment, and then grinned broadly as he understood what Ash meant. "Well, your work is very important. That is how we find Pokémon that we haven't seen before."
"How many Pokémon do you think are out there?" Ash asked excitedly. "I'd love to meet them all. What have you learned so far?"
Bill launched into an explanation of the extinct Pokémon he was currently trying to learn about, as well as several others he'd studied in the past.
"Ash, maybe you should call your mother." Misty broke in, realizing that they could keep talking all night long.
"Oh yeah. Excuse me." Ash went back over to the phone, the entire group trailing after him. He dialed Delia's number.
An older woman answered the phone. "Hello?"
"Gran!" Ash cried joyfully.
"Oh, Ash! Are you all right? I'm so glad you called." Gran was smiling. Her smile broadened as she took in the people behind her grandson. "And who are these people."
"Mom, who's on the phone?" a woman's voice called.
"Ash."
The clatter of a plate hitting a tile floor was heard, and a slightly younger woman ran into the room, and into view. "Ash? Baby, are you okay? What's been happening? Have you been making friends? Human friends? Who are these people?"
Ash laughed, holding up a hand in surrender. "Okay, okay Mama. Yes, I've been fine. Yes, I've been making friends. This is Brock, and this is Misty. They're my friends." His beaming smile brightened both Brock and Misty's heart. "And this is Bill. It's his phone I'm using."
"Delia, the soup!" Lauren cried out, running to the kitchen.
"You need to call more often, sweetie." Delia informed her son. "I want to hear more about your travels, but I think your Gran needs my help." The sound of a smoke detector shrieked through the air.
Delia blew a kiss at the camera. "I love you Ash. Okay?"
"Love you Mama. Okay." Ash answered before the picture cut out, and the call ended.
"They seem nice." Misty commented.
"That's my Gran and Mama." Ash agreed.
Brock thought it was somewhat sad that Ash's family were so concerned and pleased that he'd made human friends. And the smile on Ash's face really warmed Brock.
"Oh, we've got to get to the top!" Bill said as a faint wailing started. Ash and the others were quick behind him, although Ash had to carry Bulbasaur after the Pokemon yelled that he was being left behind.
"I've been searching for this Pokémon for years. It's probably the biggest Pokémon, but no one's ever seen it before. One night, I heard this very strange sound, coming across the ocean." Bill pressed a button on a recording device he fished out of his pocket as Ash set Bulbasaur down on the stone floor. A soft sound came out.
"He sounds so sad." Pikachu said mournfully.
"I recorded a similar sound later, and I want it to come back so I can meet it again." Bill's face was shining in excitement.
Ash considered the sound. It was an adequate translation, Ash supposed.
Suddenly, a voice sounded out similar croons. But these weren't from a recording. These were real. There was shape coming towards the lighthouse through the fog.
"There it is!" Bill pressed the button again, and the sound he'd made split the air.
The Pokémon crooned back. It was huge, with wings spread on either side of it's giant body. It was floating on the water.
A whistle, and then another groan of sound came from the mysterious Pokémon. Misty and Brock had to hold Ash and Bill from leaning too far over the rail.
"Hatchling." Bulbasaur warned.
"Friends…" the voice crooned again. "Lonely. Friends?…"
Tears streamed down Ash's cheeks. "Yes." He screamed back, his voice half-covered by the wind. "Friends, here." He didn't see Bill's shocked expression aimed his way, or Brock shaking his head at Bill, motioning for him to stay quiet.
Suddenly, the earth began to shake. An earthquake! This was the worst time possible, Ash thought as he listened to the Pokémon's trilling song of love and gratitude of finding friends.
The lighthouse shook again. Ash slipped and almost fell off of the lighthouse. Bulbasaur caught his leg, and a scaly paw shoved him up. Ash straightened and found himself face-to-face with the Pokémon. They stared, the only sound was the harsh breathing of the group on top of the lighthouse.
"Friends." The Pokémon crooned, pressing Ash's cheek with a gentle claw.
Ash hugged the claw. "Yes. Friends." He agreed. He nuzzled the claw before it was removed. The Pokémon turned his eyes on Bill.
"Friend. Come back. I'll see friend again."
Bill." Ash murmured.
"Friend Bill." The Pokémon strayed some water over Bill and they connected eyes too. Bill was practically vibrating with joy. "Come back."
"You're magnificent." Bill whispered. Another spray of water was his response, and then the Pokémon started to swim away.
"Come back!" Bill cried, heart-broken.
Ash laid a gentle hand on Bill's shoulder. "He'll be back. He likes you."
Bill shot Misty and Brock a look before grinning at Ash. "I hope you're right. I'll wait right here for his return!" Bill seemed filled with renewed purpose. "Come on, I'll show you to some beds, and we can all get some sleep."
"And tomorrow, we'll make a good breakfast." Brock added. Misty cheered.
Bill showed Ash to a spare room first. He waited until Ash had climbed into the bed with Pikachu and a grumbling Bulbasaur before bringing the others to the next empty rooms.
"He can speak to them?" Bill was in awe. He saw their frowns and quickly reassured them. "I won't tell anybody. It's simply extraordinary."
"What? No, no, of course not." Misty lied. It would have been more convincing if she'd expected the question.
Bill raised an eyebrow, and Brock winced. It was obvious Bill wasn't going to believe and lie they offered up, and Bill already seemed to both know, and be understanding about the fact that Ash could talk to Pokémon. Brock wouldn't have said anything otherwise.
"It's such a gift." Bill muttered, before shaking his head. "Well, I'll just keep it as a sign that we humans can become even closer to Pokémon then I dreamed. That will help when I have doubts, even though I can't tell anyone."
"You won't, right?" Misty asked anxiously. "Tell anyone, I mean? He doesn't even know we know."
Bill looked insulted. "Of course not! That is a precious gift, and he must be careful with it! Who knows what others would do if they found out? No, I won't be telling anyone, not even Ash, unless he decides to tell me first."
Brock and Misty sighed in relief. "Thank you." Misty said passionately.
"Now, let's all get to bed." Bill said, clapping his hands. "We can all talk more in the morning. I'd love to discuss my theories about that Pokémon with Ash."
Brock nodded enthusiastically. Misty bit back a groan. "Well, at least there's a bed and food." She muttered. She walked into one of the rooms and closed the door, leaving a confused Bill and a laughing Brock behind.
So, I know it's short, but nothing really happens in this episode. I tried to make it longer. Hope it's okay.
Has anyone else noticed that the Pokémon in Professor Oak's lab are female and the ones with Ash are male? How did that happen?
Oh, and I got rid of Team Rocket from this chapter because they do, like, nothing. At all. Worthless. But they'll be back, probably.
Suggestions and ideas are great, reviews are amazing. Even one-word reviews are appreciated. Constructive criticism is good. Flames will be used to keep the lighthouse light lit for Bill's friend (ignoring that it uses an actual bulb. Stop thwarting me with logic!)
Thanks for reading. See you next chapter! And feel free to give suggestions about what you want to see in the story!