"How exactly did you manage this, Ash?" Professor Oak asked. "You've got another Legendary Pokémon?"
Ash shrugged. "Well, uh… I guess I haven't really battled many Pokémon to catch them. I make friends instead, so that could be part of it."
He looked at Shaymintwo, sitting on the analysis bed. "Is he healthy?"
"I don't exactly have any data on Shaymin to go from, but…" Professor Oak looked at the screen, then threw up his hands. "Probably?"
"I'm fine," Shaymintwo insisted. "Now, come on, we've got some training to do."
"Right!" Ash agreed. "Let's see what moves you can do!"
As they left, Professor Oak shook his head.
"I'm really going to have to get that new Pokédex module finished," he said. "I'm tired of not having information on what Ash has caught until they arrive back here."
"Let's see…" Pikachu mused, looking at Shaymintwo. "So, you're Grass type, that's obvious. Know any Grass moves?"
"There's Seed Flare, but that means I need to charge up first," Shaymintwo replied. "I think. It can be any kind of smoke or poison or whatever, but without that I just don't have the strength for it."
"That sounds like something for teamwork with Charizard!" Ash suggested. "He can throw out a smokescreen, then you can charge up with it?"
"Tch," Shaymintwo snorted. "Sure, but I'd like something that doesn't need that kind of teamwork as well."
I know! Mew volunteered, blipping in with a flash.
"Oh, hi, Mew!" Ash waved. "You're not shapeshifted today?"
Yeah, still trying to work out what to be, Mew answered, then flipped upside down. I mean, um, why would I do that? What are you suggesting?
She peered closely at Shaymintwo. Ooh, so, I know what you need! Some Gracidea, obviously, but apart from that, you need something to move quick and something to give you a way to resist ice! I've got just the-
Charizard took Mew's tail in his hand.
"I'd like a word," he requested.
Meanie, Mew pouted, as Charizard dragged her off like a dissatisfied balloon.
Shaymintwo blinked, then looked at Ash.
"So, uh… right," he decided. "She had a point though, and poison just charges up Seed Flare, but as a Grass type I've also got problems with Fire, Flying and Bug. Any ideas?"
"Yeah!" Ash replied. "So there's usually not moves which deal with all of them at once, but a Rock move would do great with all of them… you'd need it to be a ranged one to attack them, but what about a melee one as well for defence?"
"Plus it could help with speed as well," Pikachu suggested. "And then you've got a form change where you can fly…"
His ears twitched. "I think we need to go get Geodude, that should let us get started."
Owwww… Mew whined, coiling his tail around and blowing on it. What was that for?
"I wanted to ask you something," Charizard replied. "And it's a serious issue."
Mew tilted his head to the side. Oh?
"Back when we first met, you were pretending to be Butterfree," Charizard pointed out. "And you said that Pokéballs couldn't catch a Pokémon who hadn't been released. Correct?"
Oh, yeah, I did say that! Mew agreed.
"So," Charizard went on. "Explain Dracozolt. I wasn't paying attention when you were Mankey, but with Dracozolt I was sure that was a different Pokéball."
Mew giggled. It's too much fun to properly explain!
He shook his head. But seriously though. That wasn't a Pokéball I messed around with, that's why I could use it on Pikachu first to demonstrate. Your jerk of an original trainer really did release you… I just thought that if he hadn't released you then we'd have to find him and give you back!
The Psychic-type paused. After teaching you Return though. Actually, while we're here, want me to teach you Dragonbreath?
Charizard looked dubious, and his tail thumped the ground.
"…oh, go on, then," he said. "That does sound cool."
"You see?" Jessie hissed. "This is the perfect time!"
"Are you sure about that?" James asked. "He does have a Pokémon with him."
"Yes, and it's one of the Dratini," Jessie countered. "Just one of them. That's practically the perfect Pokémon of his to steal!"
She counted off. "The Pikachu is difficult, but it's teaching the Zorua how to do some electric thing. The Zapdos is awkward, but it's teaching the Charizard how to use Steel Wing. And the new Grass one is trying to learn something or other from the Entei. See?"
"And we're sure the Butterfree isn't around?" Meowth checked. "I don't wanna get fire in places I didn't know had places."
"Summation: surveillance footage indicates no sign of the Butterfree," Porygon declared. "Addendum: hurry up before the Entei is finished."
"You guys again!" Ash said. "I won't let you steal any Pokémon, not this time and not any other time!"
"Well, it's not up to you for once!" Jessie replied.
"Exactly!" James agreed. "You've got just one Pokémon and a big sack of Pokémon chow! That's not going to stop any of our Pokémon!"
"It might distract Muk," Meowth pointed out.
"It's only going to stop one of our Pokémon," James amended. "What do you have to say to that?"
Ash adjusted his grip on the sack.
"Hey, guys!" he called, and opened it. "Ready?"
Jessie, James and Meowth looked down the muzzles of over two dozen Dratini.
"Resigned conclusion," Porygon began. "Playing blastoff dot wav."
"Dragon Rage!" Ash ordered.
"The fire and the speed kind of build off one another?" Entei tried. "Your feet are meant to be on fire because you're moving fast, and you're moving fast because your feet are on fire."
"So… sort of like skating," Shaymintwo said, considering. "I'll give it a try."
He began trundling along again, and little curls of flame rose up around his feet.
Then there was an explosion in the distance.
"Wonder what that one was," Entei asked, then shrugged it off. "That's a good start, but faster – let's get a good top speed, then work on cornering more quickly and starting up faster!"
"I sort of wonder what it's going to be like, when we go to the Pokémon League," Zapdos said, over dinner one day. "What do you think, Pikachu?"
"Well, I think we're going to do our best?" Pikachu replied. "I'd love to win! But if we don't win, that doesn't matter because the point is doing as well as we can. Right?"
"I meant more… publicity? Being on TV?" Zapdos tried. "Obviously I've been with Ash almost as long as you, and the Beasts have been around for months, but you heard those Gym Leaders. They don't even necessarily think our trainer's real."
She shrugged. "Probably because the idea that Legendary Pokémon are a lot like normal Pokémon is something humans have trouble with?"
"I'll be fair to them and say that I had trouble with it before," Pikachu told her. "But really, the pressure's on Charizard, Dratini, Zorua and myself, more than anything."
Zapdos quirked her head.
"We need to show that Ash is winning because he's Ash and he's ridiculous, not because you're winning it for him," Pikachu explained. "Because you and I know how much Ash has helped all of us, but…"
"Good point," Zapdos agreed.
There was a flash off in the near distance.
"Oh, where am I now?" a voice asked. "This is not the Decolore Islands."
"Evening, Keldeo!" Pikachu called. "Over here!"
"Pikachu?" Keldeo checked, trotting into view. "Oh, you're having dinner! Mind if I have some?"
"...don't really know what's wrong with it," Keldeo said, after having most of a plate of sushi rolls. "Whenever I go a long distance I just… don't end up where I'm aiming."
"Huh," Ash said. "That makes it more useful for getting away than getting to somewhere."
Yeah, I'll have to work on that, Mew observed, making them all jump.
He ate one of the leftover sushi rolls. I'm teaching Shaymintwo but maybe I'll have to make it only a short range version! That's good enough for getting around fast in combat and it'll make sure he doesn't end up in Orre or whatever.
"Any idea what's wrong with mine?" Keldeo checked.
Not really, Mew admitted. It's ages since I taught you, can't remember what I might have got wrong. I guess just do more practice?
"I'm starting to think I should set up a restaurant or something," Brock chuckled. "Legendary Pokémon approved!"
"It is really good," Keldeo said.
He frowned. "Oh, yeah! Thanks for that idea from last time, Brock, I got this Reshiram I met to carry a message for Cobalion and the others."
The Fighting-type paused. I've got no idea if it actually arrived, but if it did then they know I'm okay."
"That's good," Brock told him. "Families can worry about that sort of thing."
"Yeah, I should have thought of that before," Keldeo confessed. "I have been getting better at stuff, though – hey, Pikachu, want to see?"
"You bet!" Pikachu agreed, jumping up. "Let's do this!"
Professor Oak took a photograph.
"There's so much research I could do these days, the only problem is getting enough data to make sure that people will actually believe me!" he said.
"Yeah," Gary snorted. "Didn't Samson think you were making things up last time we met?"
"And after I accepted his research on Z crystals without complaint," the Pokémon Professor sighed. "You'd think he could be a bit more trusting."
Gary shook his head, smirking. "Gramps, sometimes I don't believe the things I see around here. I mean, look."
Professor Oak leaned to see what his grandson meant, and had to do a double-take.
That Mr. Mime that was hanging around Delia's house now was waving a broom at a reluctant Dialga, who turned to stomp away before flashing blue and vanishing.
"...point taken," he admitted.
"All right," Ash said, picking himself up and brushing the rock dust away. "So, I guess that worked!"
He gave Brock and his Bulbasaur a grin. "Thanks for the help!"
"I agree," Shaymintwo said. "That made it much easier to use Seed Flare."
Bulbasaur glanced up at his trainer.
"What have we done?" he asked. "Who'd have thought teaching Poisonpowder to a Grass-type would be so potentially devastating."
Brock shrugged. "I don't know what you mean, but at the same time… yeah."
Pikachu was already clambering up to inspect the damage.
"Hey!" he called down. "I think you must have made something collapse, Shaymintwo! There's ruins and stuff up here!"
"Oh, I didn't know there were any ruins near Pallet," Ash said. "Let's go and see!"
He broke into a run, and Shaymintwo followed – using Flame Charge to speed himself up, quickly getting up to speed and joining Ash at the top of the small hillock.
"Yep, those are ruins all right," Ash agreed. "Brock? I know you do rock stuff, do you know any archaeologists?"
"Generally they don't actually deal with rock," Brock called back. "And when they do, geologists aren't interested in it as much. But I might know someone… I can see if Professor Oak knows anyone first, though."
"Great!" Ash called. "I'm going to see if there's anything down here, if there's any Unown then we don't want to disturb them too much!"
Hmm… Mew pondered, floating along behind Ash and Pikachu as they explored the ruins. Something about this place is kind of familiar…
They shrugged. Oh well. I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually!
Approximately eight hours later, a gigantic Alakazam and an enormous Gengar were firing streams of energy at one another.
Neither could gain the upper hand, but the stray power was hitting the ground and raising brilliant sparks.
Oh, now I remember! Mew said, slapping their forehead. This is Pokémonopolis!
They stuck their tongue out. Bunch of doofuses.
"Okay, that's enough!" Ash called. "Zapdos, see what you can do about these giant Pokémon!"
Zapdos burst out of her Pokéball, then Pikachu sent a flash of lightning snapping skywards.
"I'm coming along too," he said.
Zapdos only had to think about it for a moment, and swooped down to head height. Pikachu used Ash as a ladder and jumped for her foot, catching hold as she went past, then clambered over her feathers to get on her back.
"Thunderbolt!" Ash called.
Pikachu and Zapdos wove their lightning together, sending a single double-thickness bolt out, and it hammered into the Gengar. That sent the Ghost-type staggering back slightly, but the next attack it launched was aimed for Ash's Pokémon instead of its opponent and sent Zapdos dodging wildly.
Alakazam hammered Gengar for the moment of distraction, and the two giant Pokémon returned to fighting one another.
"Shaymintwo, uh," Ash began. "Wait, it's night time, you couldn't transform… think you can do a Seed Flare anyway?"
"I can give it a go!" Shaymintwo insisted.
Or! Mew said, flying back over. We could use these!
They flourished a pair of enormous novelty Pokéballs. Extra sized!
"I don't think that's going to work," Ash said, a bit dubiously.
Why not? Mew demanded.
"They already have Pokéball sort of things," Ash explained.
Hmph! Mew replied, crossing their arms, and the 'balls floated there without their doing anything. Well, watch this!
They threw one of the giant Pokéballs, and it bounced off the super-sized Alakazam with a faint twik.
In reply, Alakazam sent a surge of psychic energy that drove Mew into the soil.
Fine, Mew said, their psychic voice a bit indistinct. Have it your way.
They teleported out of the crater, grabbed one of the Pokéballs at Ash's waist, and sent out Zorua.
"Hey, Zorua!" they said. "You're going to solve a problem tonight!"
Mew used Fling.
"Woo hoo!" Zorua yipped. "I'm helping!"
"Great work, guys," Ash said. "All of you. That was kind of tricky, but we dealt with it!"
Yeah, Pokémonopolis stuff is stupid, Mew sighed. There's all sorts of things it'd be sensible to do that they didn't, like a normal off switch.
Ash gave his tired Pikachu a pat, then reached up to the spot on Zapdos' neck that he knew she liked. "And you two worked together really well. It's kind of a pity we can't do that in Pokémon leagues, huh?"
"Hopefully we won't have to deal with giant Pokémon in the Pokémon League," Shaymintwo said.
"Actually, we might!" Zorua replied, frowning. "Don't you ever watch TV? They sometimes show really enormous Pokémon on TV league matches."
"That's why we train for speed and agility," Charizard commented. "Doesn't matter how big it is if it can't hit you anyway, right?"
"That's the spirit," Ash smiled.
Then a little glitter of golden light appeared, and expanded to about eight feet across.
Two lupine Pokémon stepped through.
"...told you we should have booked through Hoopa Holidays from the start," the blue one said. "I know it took a bit longer to contact them, but look how quickly it worked out."
"How could I have known?" the red one asked. "It's not like we've used them before."
"Don't be so defensive," the blue one advised, then noticed Ash and his Pokémon. "Oh, hello. Have any of you seen an enormous Pokémon around here?"
She shook her mane out. "We heard that there might be Dynamaxing taking place outside Galar, and that is something up with which we shall not put."
"Sis here was so eager to deal with it she wouldn't even wait long enough to pick up our weapons," the red Warrior Pokémon contributed.
About three weeks before they had to leave for the Pokémon League, Gary sought Ash out to deliver a message.
"Hey, Ashy-boy!" he said. "I've got something I want to show you! And to show off!"
Ash frowned. "Is this like that time you wanted to show off that car you got?"
Gary shook his head. "No, this is a Pokémon thing!"
That was enough to get Ash interested. "Sure! What kind of thing?"
"Bring one of your Pokémon," Gary advised. "We'll show you."
A few minutes later, and Ash was outside (along with Entei, who'd insisted).
Gary had his own Pokéball ready, and he sent out his Nidoking with a flash of light.
"That actually works out pretty well," he said. "Watch this! Okay, Nidoking, ready an Ice Punch!"
Entei tilted his head, tongue lolling out, then his interest sharpened abruptly as Gary crossed his arms and Nidoking did the same.
"Interesting!" he said. "Also, and in advance: ow."
Ash watched as Gary and Nidoking struck three more poses in quick succession, a light shining out from under Gary's sleeve, then Gary pointed. "Subzero Slammer!"
Nidoking darted forwards with a visible aura of cold around him, strong enough that ice rimed the ground around his feet. He covered the distance to Entei in a moment, and punched the Fire-type full force hard enough to create an explosion of cold energy that hid both Pokémon from sight.
"What do you think of that?" Gary asked, as the glittering snow-dust settled out – revealing Nidoking, panting with effort, and an ice sculpture hiding where Entei had been.
An orange light lit up the area, and after several long seconds the ice sculpture disintegrated.
"I was right," Entei said, shaking meltwater out of his fur. "That was impressive."
"Entei's right, that was really cool!" Ash agreed. "Was that a move you and Nidoking had to work together on?"
"It's called a Z move," Gary told him. "I visited Gramps' cousin a couple of months ago, and this weird yellow Pokémon took one look at me and gave me a ring and about eight of the things."
He shrugged. "Not really sure why…"
"Tapu Koko told you that you'd need them," Nidoking said, still breathing deeply.
"But if you got them a couple of months ago, how come it's a new thing?" Ash asked.
Gary looked slightly shifty. "...that's how long it took me to make sense of the instructions? It was one of my cheerleaders who actually worked it out…"
"Still, that's great!" Ash told him. "A move where a trainer can help out a Pokémon! I wonder if Pikachu and I could learn one!"
At that, Gary blinked.
"Suddenly, I have a new fear," he muttered.
"All right!" Ash cheered, the week before they left. "That's another new Pokémon, and I've got my first Fairy type!"
Pikachu let out a sigh of relief.
Then examined the Moon Ball.
"Can you send her back out?" he asked.
Ash obliged, and the Clefairy materialized.
"So, to be clear," he began. "You're from space."
"Oui," Clefairy agreed.
"And you're definitely not secretly a Mew."
Clefairy just looked confused.
"You don't know every move in the world?" Pikachu tried.
"Ahh," Clefairy brightened. "Metronome?"
"No, I don't mean through Metronome," Pikachu said, then shook his head. "...well, whatever. If you are Mew then it'll last maybe two months until you get bored, but if not then welcome to the team. And if you are, welcome to the team regardless."
He rubbed his tail. "Just be careful where you aim that Psychic Fangs attack next time."
"Non, non, n'est possible," Clefairy shook her head. "Metronome, c'est random."
Bulbasaur roused out of sleep at a quiet thump sound.
He looked around, blinking, ready to drop right back to sleep if it was nothing, but now he was awake he could hear other faint noises outside. Whispers, and the sound of something clacking against the ground.
"Bulbasaur," Eevee whispered. "Are you awake?"
"I'm awake," he answered, as quietly as he could manage.
"Do you think it's Team Rocket?" Eevee added.
That was what Bulbasaur had been worrying about as well.
"It might be," he said. "If it's them, we'll need to raise the alarm."
One of his vines reached up, and quietly opened the door.
Eevee slipped out first, her paws almost silent on the carpet, and Bulbasaur followed her across the landing and down the stairs.
What they saw made Bulbasaur first gasp, then stuff his vines in his mouth to stop himself laughing.
It was Ash and Zapdos, both of them outside despite how late it was, and Zapdos was wearing a harness. And Ash had somehow got his foot tangled up in the harness, so he was holding it awkwardly to stop himself falling over.
"...I guess it's not Team Rocket, then," Eevee said.
"Probably not," Bulbasaur agreed, then trotted up to the door. "Do you need help?"
"Oh, hey, Bulbasaur," Ash waved, nearly overbalancing. "Yeah, my foot's stuck and I'm not sure how…"
"What's with the harness?" Eevee asked, as Bulbasaur's vines reached up and the Grass-type started undoing the problem straps.
"Well, Mom suggested it for when we go flying," Ash explained. "Especially when it's dark or the weather's bad. But the problem is that it's hard to see what I'm doing in the dark."
"It's a good idea," Zapdos added. "Just… Ash has happened to it."
"Hey," Ash protested, still whispering.
"There," Bulbasaur added, as the strap came free. "That should do it."
"Thanks!" Ash told him.
"What were you doing up in the first place?" the Grass-type added.
"Well, you know that evolution stone place my Mom mentioned?" Ash asked, then seemed to realize something. "...oh, actually, since you're here, I can just give you…"
Rummaging in his pocket, Ash took out a box.
"I thought of it after we got rid of Team Rocket, but never found the time," Ash explained. "I know Bulbasaur doesn't want to evolve, and Eevee is going to want to not evolve until she's worked out what to be, so I decided to get you two some Everstones."
He put the box down, opening it, then rubbed the back of his neck. "And, uh… I guess I didn't remember until the night before we left? So I thought I'd better do it while I remembered…"
Bulbasaur exchanged a glance with his teammate, then reached up a vine to take Ash's arm as the trainer started undoing Zapdos' harness.
"Ash?" he said, seriously. "You're a good friend."
"Thanks," Ash smiled back. "Okay, uh, I think it's this clip first..."
AN:
The nonsense continues unabated... right to the Pokemon League.
And yes, Tapu Koku did basically just give Gary an entire lapful of Z-Crystals.
Legendary of Conflict, and all that...