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I am so sorry that I cannot offer any help beyond saying that**

Omega: *flips page before eyes widen in shock* No ******* way is that his real name.

I don't own Pokémon or Ben 10.

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PokÉ R

(Omega: You just keep dishing out the flop titles, don't you.

Ohirume: *Glares at Omega* References aren't easy!)

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"Krabby?" Ash asked in surprise, "You wanna go?"

The River Crab nodded, "Yeah. You've gotta keep up your team's diversity." He gestured to his Water-type teammate, "And you've already got Squirtle who I know doesn't wanna go."

Squirtle blinked in surprise before looking at the other Water-type sadly, "Krabby…"

The male Dark-type frowned and walked closer to the Water-type, "Hey, I don't care about that stuff that much. I don't want that to be the whole reason for you to volunteer."

"I know that. You're just that nice of a person." Krabby said kindly before looking Ash in the eye, "But I made the decision a while back." He looked around at everyone happily, "Don't get me wrong, I like traveling with you all and I have a lot of fun. I've seen and experienced so much and learned all kinds of moves that I didn't even know I could learn."

His expression became somber, "But I also knew that something like this could come up. With a trainer like Ash, more Pokémon would be bound to wanna join him, and this decision would have to be made. So, I decided that I'd be the first to leave when it happens."

Everyone just stared at the River Crab Pokémon in awestruck shock. Except Aerodactyl who was looking around in confusion.

"Krabby …" Ash muttered, "I- I don't know what to say."

Krabby looked up at his trainer, "My minds made up, Ash. I'm sure of it." He took on a happier expression, "Besides, it's not like this is really a goodbye. I'll see you all again when you come to the ranch."

Ash smiled sadly, "Of course." He crouched down and nudged up against the Water-type, "But we're still gonna miss you. Thank you for this."

"It's no problem." Krabby said before sweat dropping, "Though, I do have one question."

Ash stood back up and looked at him in confusion, "What is it?"

Krabby looked up at Ash somberly, "Does this mean I have to leave immediately?"

Ash perked up before frowning and looking at Aerodactyl, "Actually, no. When a Pokémon is caught by a trainer who already has a full party, that new Pokémon will be locked into their pokéball in stasis until the party count is back to a reasonable number."

Aerodactyl raised a brow, "What that mean?"

Soot looked at him and smiled sadly, "It means you won't be able to talk to anyone or do much of anything until Krabby leaves. We're about two days away from the next town."

Aerodactyl frowned, "I wait long time?"

Charizard shook his head, "Not exactly. You'll be in stasis, so it'll probably feel like less than a day."

Brock and Misty perked up and looked at the Flame Pokémon in confusion, "Huh?"

Aerodactyl looked at Charizard in surprise, "Not long time?" He smiled, looked back at Ash, and nodded, "I okay with that."

Ash smiled and pawed at the symbol on his chest. Aerodactyl flinched slightly as the trainer flashed green and emerged in human form.

Ash noticed Aerodactyl's expression and chuckled, "I promise I'll explain later." He reached around and pulled out an empty pokéball.

Aerodactyl's eyes widened, "That rock. Same others come out of, right?"

Clefairy looked at him in surprise, "You don't know what a pokéball is?"

Aerodactyl looked at her in confusion, "Poking ball?"

Pikachu looked at Ash in translated for Aerodactyl.

Ash nodded, "This is how you'll officially join my team." He pointed at the button on the ball, "All you have to do to go inside is press down on this round white part in the middle. Afterwards, you'll feel a kind of pressure." He held out the ball to the Rock/Flying-type, "I need to ask that you not resist it or else this won't work. Do you understand?"

Aerodactyl nodded, "Think so." He reached out a digit and pressed down on the button. He flinched slightly as his entire body glowed red and dematerialized.

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*Pallet Town

Trainer Ash Ketchum has captured a new Pokémon.

Professor Oak perked up and looked over at the computer in surprise. He smiled before getting up and started walking over to it, 'So Ash finally went over his limit. Guess I should be expecting a call soon.' He smiled excitedly, 'Which means I'll finally be able to ask about those new forms!'

His smile saddened, 'Maybe I can also see if he's getting close on the Change Len-' He frowned and shook his head, 'No. He might've given up again. Best stay on the safe side and not bring it up at all.'

He stopped in front of the computer and pressed a button on it. His eyes widened in surprise as an image of an aerodactyl appeared on the monitor.

Samuel blinked in surprise, "An aerodactyl?" He smiled and put a hand to his chin, "Very impressive. Ash and Soot must've come across one of their fossils or an Old Amber."

He glanced at the Pokémon's move set and nodded contently before looking at the picture again. After about three seconds, he flinched and looked back at the list in shock. The moves listed were Wing Attack, Iron Head, Hyper Beam, and Giga Impact.

Oak blinked; still staring in shock, "I really hope they call soon."

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*Back with the group

Ash stared at the compressed, non-moving pokéball in awe, "I just caught an aerodactyl. A non-revived aerodactyl." He smiled, "woah…"

Brock raised a brow, "Didn't he ask to join you?"

Misty deadpanned and sweat dropped, "Like everyone else on your team?"

Krabby looked at her and sweat dropped, "Uh, Misty?"

"Almost everyone." Misty corrected.

Ash looked back and down at them, and scratched his cheek sheepishly, "Well, sure. But catching a fossil Pokémon without reviving them first? This kind of thing doesn't happen to everyone."

Pikachu smirked and pointed at the Fairy-type, "Says the trainer with 10 slots, who had a clefairy join him."

Squirtle smirked, "And the trainer/meema to the world's only inherent Pokémon."

Clefairy giggled before translating.

Bulbasaur smirked as well, "And probably one of the only people to have one of every Kanto starter join him without getting one as his actual starter."

Soot held back a laugh and translated as well.

Charizard chuckled and pointed a claw at Ash's right wrist, "And we can't forget about the watch that lets you-"

Ash chuckled and waved his hands, "Alright, alright. I get it. A lot of out-of-the-ordinary stuff happens to me." He perked up and smiled normally, "Still," He held up and looked down at the pokéball, "I can't help but feel kind of awestruck by it." He smiled softly, "To think that his species, kabuto, and omanyte didn't actually go extinct. He's living proof of that and decided to join me of all people."

Muk chuckled softly and crossed his arms, "Yeah. I guess you have a point there."

"Anyway," Soot said; catching the others attention, "now that that's settled," She looked at the Bubble Jet Pokémon, "mind telling us what's in your bag?"

Misty flinched and looked at her in shock, "Huh?!"

Ash looked at Misty curiously, "Yeah. I've been wondering that too."

Misty looked at Ash in shock, "H- how did you know?"

Ash crossed his arms, "Well, the only time I've ever seen you take your bag off before transforming was when we were about to Lockdown." He tapped his nose, "But, mostly, I could smell something."

Soot sniffed the air, "Yeah. It kind of smells like a-"

"Okay, okay!" Misty called out while waving her forepaws. She sighed, "I'll show you. Just let me let my team out, so I don't have to explain again later."

Brock perked up, "Oh. Good idea."

The Gym Leaders hit the Lenses on their chests, lit up green, and emerged in their natural forms. Both tossed the Lenses back to Ash before pulling the pokéballs off their belts and tossing them into the air. The nine pokéballs burst open and the Pokémon materialized on the ground.

Zubat tensed up before looking into the sky. He sighed in relief when they saw it was evening. Horsea fell forward onto his stomach and whined. Goldeen started flopping aimlessly.

Misty frowned, "Oh, right. Sorry guys. I'll get the pool."

Ash smirked, "Actually, I don't think that'll be necessary." He looked at the flailing Goldfish Pokémon.

Goldeen smiled before flopping off the ground forcefully, moving herself upright, and flapping her fins slightly. Three thick rings of water formed around her as she fell back to the ground. The Water-type remained upright as the rings held her in place.

Misty stared in shock, "What the?! Goldeen, when did you learn how to do that?!"

Ash looked at Misty and smiled, "It's actually a pretty simple technique for the stationary-style of Aqua Ring. It naturally levitates around the user and -with the right placement and sized control- can even hold them." He crossed his arms, "She is stuck in place, so it's no real substitute for a body of water or levitating naturally. But it does keep her from flopping around."

Goldeen smiled up at Misty, "I wanted to surprise you."

Soot translated.

Misty smiled, crouched down, and pet the Water-type; minding the horn, "Well, mission accomplished. Nice Work."

Horsea looked at Goldeen in surprise before looking at Soot, "Can I learn that too?"

Soot looked at him with a sad smile as her ears drooped, "Sorry. 'Fraid not. Goldeen's the only one on Misty's team who can learn Aqua Ring."

Horsea laid on the ground sadly and whined, "seaaaa."

Misty looked at her Dragon Pokémon sadly before perking up, "Wait a sec. What about this?" She picked up Horsea and placed him in the highest of the floating rings around Goldeen.

Horsea blinked in surprise and looked down at the Water-type move, "Huh?"

Ash put a hand to his chin with a smirk, "Oh yeah. Stationary-style doesn't flow. He can move around freely in the rings."

Horsea looked at Ash in surprise, "Really?" He moved around the ring a bit before taking on an overjoyed expression and swimming around excitedly, "Alright! Thank you, Goldeen!"

Goldeen smiled at him, "You're welcome." She looked at Misty with a raised brow, "Though, why are we out this late? Last minute training?"

Soot looked at Misty with a sly smirk, "Yeah, Mist. Why are they out?"

Misty sighed, "I get it." She looked at Ash, "Can I get another Lens?"

After Ash passed two active Lenses to the Gym Leaders and the humans all shifted back to the forms they were in a moment ago, Psyduck fainted. Everyone looked at him and deadpanned.

Horsea looked at Ash, "You are getting close to cracking Calm Mind, right?"

Ash looked at him and nodded, "Yup. Committed a tutorial to memory and already started on the personal training."

Starmie sighed in relief, "Oh, thank Arceus."

"Yeah. No kidding." Misty said in relief. She walked over to her bag, sat next to it, and looked at everyone, "Okay. The reason you're all out right now is because I need to show you something. Please don't overreact."

The Bubble Jet Pokémon managed to open her bag and stepped aside. Everyone's eyes widened in shock at the sight of a white egg with red and blue triangles littered around it.

Horsea and Electra squealed happily.

Soot raised a paw immediately, "I call godmother!"

Vulpix looked at Soot in surprise before pouting with her ears drooping, "Aw man."

Squirtle ran up to Misty and nudged her with an elbow as he grinned, "Look who went and found themselves a mate."

Misty flinched and looked at him in shock, "huh?"

Goldeen frowned, "I can't believe you get to be a meema before me."

Pidgeotto looked at the Goldfish Pokémon with a smile, "Hey, come on. Be happy for her. This is a big step."

Goldeen sighed, "Yeah, I guess."

Onix frowned; feeling unsure, "Though, isn't it kind of a weird color for an eevee egg?"

Geodude crossed his arms and raised a brow, "Maybe she was in a different form?"

"So," Staryu said in a sly tone, "who's the proud papa?"

Misty blushed heavily before shouting, "I DID NOT LAY THIS! And I am way too young to actually be a-" She perked up, looked at Ash, and sweat dropped, "right…" She sighed and looked back at them, "Look, I found this egg back in the Canyon." She looked at it sadly and her ears drooped, "They were all alone on the ground and it didn't look like there was a nest anywhere. I couldn't just leave them there."

Soot smiled softly, "Well then, I guess you're a meema now, Misty."

Misty glared at the Dark-type, "I just told you-"

"Meema doesn't always have to mean biological hatchling." Soot said; still smiling softly, "Pokémon adopt too."

Misty's glare faded before she looked at the egg again. She frowned and her ears drooped, "Still … I've never taken care of an egg before. Heck, I've never even babysat." She walked closer and placed a paw on the egg, "What if-"

"Let me stop you right there." Ash said in a serious tone; catching everyone's' attention, "Misty. No one in this situation is ready right off the bat." He smiled sadly and looked at Soot, "I mean, did you really think I was?"

Soot chuckled softly and shook her head.

The male Dark-type smiled softly at the Water-type, "I had my mom and Professor Oak to help me when I didn't know what to do for Soot."

Soot smiled at Misty, "Just like how you'll have us."

Misty perked up in surprise, "W- what?"

Goldeen smirked and raised a brow, "Well, yeah. You didn't really think you'd be on your own, did you?"

Starmie nodded, "While none of us may actually be meemas-" They perked up and looked at Ash, "okay, most of us." They shook it off and looked at Misty again, "anyway, we'll still do whatever we can to help."

Brock nodded and crossed his forepaws, "Right. Like how I read up on this topic a long time ago. Afterall, egg care is part of being a breeder."

Vulpix smiled as well, "And I have helped Suzie take care of a few hatchlings."

Soot grinned, "Babysitter."

Ash perked up in realization, "Oh!" He smiled as his tail started wagging, "And my ponyta form has Heat Body. You can use it to help incubate."

Soot looked at Ash in surprise, "Aw, what?" She pouted, "Wish I could've gotten that when I was an egg."

Ash chuckled nervously and sweat dropped, "Sorry sweetie."

Soot glared at Ash, "Hey. I said you only get a pass on that once."

Misty stared around the group in awestruck shock. She started tearing up a bit and smiled softly, "Everyone…" She wiped the tears out of her eyes, "Sometimes I forget how lucky I was to have met you all."

Geodude raised a brow and smirked, "You mean you didn't realize that the first time you turned into a pikachu?"

Misty chuckled, "Okay, fair." She looked around the massive group with a soft smile, "But I mean it. You've always been there for me in a way that even my sisters sometimes weren't." She lightly placed a forepaw on the Lens, "I can't thank you all enough. For everything."

"Of course." Ash said softly, "We're your friends."

"And your team." Staryu followed.

"Nothing's gonna change that." Brock finished.

Misty chuckled softly, "Thanks."

Soot smirked slyly, "And, y'know, that whole idea of your own little eevee baby isn't off the table."

Misty flinched and blushed heavily before glaring at the female Bite Pokémon, "Will you cut that out?"

Soot pouted, "Aww. But why?" She started using baby talk, "Just imagine cwadlin' dat fwuffy widdle bundle of joy in your arms. Your own cuddly wuddly vee-vee aw swaddewed up and snuggawy in a baby bwankie."

Mizuro: *shivers* Felt a little cringe, there.

Ohirume: *nods* Understandable.

"Stop it!" Misty shouted.

Everyone else started laughing.

"Now you know how I feel when she does that." Ash said with a smirk.

Krabby flinched upon realizing something and drooped sorrowfully, "Aw man. I just realized I won't get to see the egg hatch."

Clefairy frowned and patted the River Crab Pokémon sympathetically, "Sorry."

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*A little later that day

The group continued down the trail leaving Grandpa Canyon. After about two hours, the sun set, and they set up camp on a clear area next to the trail. Unfortunately, random trainers would pass by down the trail, so they couldn't risk using the Lenses or the watch.

Brock was cooking with help from Geodude and Electra while Ash and Soot helped Misty with the egg. Onix, zubat, and all of Misty's Pokémon were waiting in their pokéballs.

The rest of Ash's Pokémon were grouped up off to the side as they decided to go ahead and say their goodbyes to Krabby.

Pikachu, Muk, and Pidgeotto had already done so by this point and Clefairy was currently hugging the Water-type.

"Thanks for helping out with Hidden Power training." Krabby said.

Clefairy smiled, "I was happy to. Thanks for having a Dragon-type Hidden Power. It was fun."

Krabby chuckled, "Hey. I'm just happy I was able to learn the move at all."

They separated and Clefairy smiled before walking away.

Bulbasaur walked up and held out a vine as he smiled softly, "Take care, Krabby."

Krabby nodded and shook the vine, "Thanks."

The Seed Pokémon walked off as the Pig Monkey Pokémon approached.

Primeape held out a fist and glared, "Don't go slacking off back at that ranch, pipsqueak. I've seen a lot of potential and don't want you getting soft."

Krabby chuckled softly and placed a claw against the fist, "Same to you, furball."

Primeape chuckled a bit before walking to the side.

Charizard walked over to Krabby, kneeled down, and smiled at him, "See ya when we get to Pallet Town. I'm gonna miss you."

Krabby glared determinedly, "Well don't miss me too much. I'll be a lot stronger by then. I plan to pay you back for our first battle."

Charizard blinked in surprise before chuckling lightly. He shifted to a cocky grin, "We'll see about that." He smiled softly and held out a claw, "Until then."

Krabby's expression softened as he shook the claw, "Until then."

Charizard stood up and took a step back.

Squirtle walked up to the other Water-type and smiled sadly, "Hey. Thanks for going through with this. I really appreciate it."

Krabby looked at him with a kind, somber expression, "It's no problem. Like I said, someone had to switch out eventually and it'd be better to keep up the diversity. I knew that you sure as Yvel didn't wanna go."

Squirtle stared in mild surprise before smiling sadly again, "Thanks. It's been an honor to team up with a dude as cool as you." He held out a fist, "Team Water-boys."

Krabby looked at Squirtle in confusion, "I thought you hated that name."

The Tiny Turtle Pokémon's eye twitched, "Please just go along with it before I change my mind."

The River Crab Pokémon chuckled softly before putting a claw to the fist, "Team Water-boys."

.

*Ash, Misty, and Soot

Misty slowly and carefully wrapped a blanket around the egg as it sat on the table. She finished and stepped back, "Like that?"

Ash smiled with a hand to his chin while looking at the egg, "Yeah. Nice job." He looked at Misty, "This'll definitely be a good substitute until we get an egg case in the next town. And, depending on the Pokémon, it might even help after they hatch."

Misty sighed in relief before smiling softly, "Good."

Soot's eyes narrowed as she stared at the egg intently, "Y'know, I could swear I've seen that design before. It looks a lot like-"

Misty grab Soot by the muzzle; making her flinch, "Nope. Don't spoil it for me. I wanna wait for them to hatch." She let go of the Dark-type.

Soot looked at her; deadpanned, "Okay, you do have an egg, so I'll let you off with a warning this time. But please don't do that again." She raised a brow, "And are you sure you don't wanna know?"

Misty looked back at the egg again and nodded, "I'm sure." She placed a hand on the egg and rubbed it gently, "I don't care what they are. I'll take care of them all the same."

Soot smirked slyly, "Even if they're a Bug-type?"

"Even if they're a-" Misty stopped and perked up before looking back at the pair warily, "They're not a Bug-type, right?"

Ash chuckled slightly, "No. I can tell they're not a Bug-type."

.

**Time Skip**

Continuing on their journey, the group found themselves in the park of a large town. Before this, they stopped by the local Pokémart to stock up on supplies, get the egg case, get some supplies for the hatchling to be, and subsequently let Electra explore for a bit. The human obsessed Electric-type got a few confused and curious stares from the other shoppers when she started hopping in place and joy-squealing in front of the tents on display.

Afterwards they decided to take a break at the park they were in now. Most of them sat on a few benches that were under a large apple tree and just enjoyed the quiet.

Misty held the egg in the case in her lap. Soot was lying across Ash's lap as he petted her calmly. Clefairy was looking up at the clouds while lying against Ash's side. Electra was dressed up in her light pink shirt and baby blue belt and curled up in Brock's lap with her backpack still on. And Pikachu was up in the tree getting a snack.

Everyone sat in comfortable silence for a while. Right up until they heard a pained squeak and looked back as Pikachu fell into a bush.

Soot got off Ash before the boy jumped off the bench and hurried over to the bush. Brock picked up Electra and Misty held the egg as they, Clefairy, and Soot hurried over as well.

Ash picked Pikachu up out of the bush and looked at him worriedly, "Pikachu! What's wrong?!"

Pikachu gave a high-pitched squeak before he flinched and put a paw over his throat; ears drooping.

Electra frowned worriedly, "What's wrong with him?"

Brock grimaced, "There might be something caught in his throat."

Clefairy looked at Brock before looking at Pikachu with a worried frown.

Misty glared determinedly, "We've gotta get him to a Pokémon Center, quick!"

"Hold on." Soot said before shifting her eyes to the banette design.

She moved closer and bit down around and through Pikachu's neck. The Mouse Pokémon inhaled deeply before Soot pulled a full-sized apple out of his throat. She handed it to Ash.

Pikachu put a paw to his chest and coughed before looking at Soot with a sad smile, "Thanks."

Clefairy looked at the male Electric-type worriedly, "Are you okay?"

Pikachu looked at her and nodded with a smile, "I am now. But I'm never doing that again."

Ash looked at his Mouse Pokémon with a raised brow as he held up the apple, "Speaking of, why did you swallow this whole?"

Pikachu chuckled nervously as his ears drooped, "I didn't think it all the way through."

Ash looked at Brock and Misty and translated. He brought out the four remaining claws on his left hand and started cutting up the apple.

Misty sweat dropped, "But, still, how did you swallow it whole? It's bigger than your mouth."

Pikachu looked at her with a raised brow, "Maybe. But not by that much." He opened his mouth as wide as he could. Brock and Misty flinch slightly when they saw it was just over the size of one of their fists. He closed his mouth again and smiled, "See?"

Ash handed Pikachu an apple slice, "Here you go."

Pikachu took it immediately, "Thanks." He bit into it and started chewing happily.

Soot looked back at the Gym Leaders with a smirk and a raised brow, "You guys never tested that when you were pikachu?"

Brock sweat dropped, "I guess not."

Misty chuckled nervously; still looking at Pikachu, "Well, on the upside, we don't have to rush you to a Pokémon Center, now." She looked at Ash curiously, "Speaking of which, where is it in this town?"

Ash and Soot flinched slightly and shared a look.

"Um…" Soot mumbled.

Ash looked at Brock, "Can I see the map?"

Brock brought out and handed him the folded sheet, "Here."

Ash unfolded the map and looked over it for a moment before frowning, "Well, this stinks. There's no Pokémon Center in this town."

Soot's ears drooped as she deadpanned, "Great…" She sighed, "I guess we'll just have to try the next one."

Ash raised a brow while still looking over the map, "Well, there is something else we could try first." He pointed off into the distance, "There's a hospital a few blocks that way. They might have a Transfer Machine."

Electra blinked in surprise, "Hospital?"

Pikachu looked at her and nodded, "You can think of it like a Pokémon Center for humans … or 'Human Center,' I guess."

Soot looked up at Electra, "Except with more floors and without the healing machines."

Brock frowned, "Going to a hospital just to transfer a Pokémon? I'm not sure I like the sound of that. What if we interrupt something important?"

Ash shrugged, "Well we can head that way and check it out. If they seem busy, then we don't even ask and head to the nearest Center. If it looks like a slow day, we can at least ask."

Misty and Brock shared a look and shrugged. They looked back and Misty smiled, "I guess that wouldn't hurt."

Soot smiled up at Ash, "Lead the way, dad."

With that, Pikachu, Clefairy, and Electra took their places on their trainers' shoulders, everyone gathered up their stuff, and the group followed Ash down the road.

"Anyone else think it's kind of weird that this town has a Pokémart but no Pokémon Center?" Misty asked.

Ash frowned and looked up thoughtfully, "Actually, yeah, now that you mention it."

.

*Hospital

"Woooooooah." Electra and Clefairy said as they stared at the building in bright-eyed awe.

Pikachu blinked in surprise, "Huh. It looks a lot like the one in Pewter City."

Brock looked at the vehicle in the parking lot, "Well, there's an ambulance here."

Ash put his hands to his ears, "And I don't hear any sirens from other ones."

Misty smiled and clenched a fist, "Sweet! Maybe they really aren't busy."

Soot looked at the door and blinked in surprise, "Or they're closed."

Ash looked at her with a raised brow, "Soot, you know that emergency hospitals don't have closing hours."

Soot pointed a paw ahead, "Yeah, I thought the same thing until now."

Everyone else looked where she was pointing and perked up in surprise at the sight of the small 'closed' sign on the door.

Brock stared in confusion, "Huh." He scratched his head with an unsure expression, "Maybe this one closed down recently. My map could be outdated."

Clefairy noticed something and pointed ahead, "If it's closed, should that human be in there?"

Everyone else looked again as a brown-haired man in a lab coat walked past the door and yawned into his hand. The group shared a confused look before walking up to the door.

Ash knocked on the 'closed' sign, "Excuse me!"

The man stopped walking and looked over at the door. He frowned before walking over and hitting a switch on the wall. The doors slid open a moment later.

Electra perked up and smiled happily, "Automatic doors!"

The man yawned again and mumbled, "Just getting to sleep." He looked at the group again, "What do you want?"

Ash chuckled nervously, "Sorry, but, uh, I was wondering if you had a Transfer Machine here. I went over my party limit recently."

The man raised a brow, "You came to a hospital for a Transfer Machine?"

Brock waved his hands defensively, "We know. We're sorry. We at least wanted to check."

Misty smiled sadly, "The nearest Pokémon Center's really far away and we were hoping to make a quick call. We'll leave if you're busy."

The man looked at her. After a moment, he smiled kindly, "Not at all. I'd be happy to let you use it. Afterall, how could I turn down such a pretty face?"

Illavera: I'm sorry, what?

Misty blinked in surprise, "Huh?"

Ash and Brock perked up and shared a look. Soot sweat dropped and deadpanned.

.

*Hospital back room

The man -Doctor Proctor as he said- opened a door to reveal a video phone and the Transfer Machine. He smiled at Misty, "Here you are. Take all the time you need, miss."

Misty smiled nervously and sweat dropped, "Um … thanks."

The group made their way inside.

Ash looked at the doctor, "Thanks again for letting us use this."

Proctor frowned, "Yeah, sure. I'll be on break if you need me." He closed the door behind them.

Soot sweat dropped, "That guy gives me the creeps."

Misty frowned and adjusted her hold on the egg, "Yeah. Me too."

Clefairy smiled, "I thought he seemed nice."

Pikachu sweat dropped, "Yeah. To Misty."

"Insane…" Electra muttered as she looked over the video phone in bright eyed awe.

Soot looked up at her and smiled, "Oh, yeah. This is your first time seeing a phone, isn't it?"

Electra nodded excitedly, "How does it work?!"

Brock smiled and sat down in the chair in front of the computer, "Just watch." He hit a button on the side.

Electra's jaw dropped in shock as the screen lit up. Ash, Brock, Misty, and Soot frowned when a lock symbol appeared over a word bar. Pikachu and Clefairy tilted in confusion.

"Oh." Brock said in disappointment, "It looks like we need a password."

Misty sweat dropped, "Of course we do." She sighed, "I guess we need to go get Proctor."

"Or not." Ash said; catching the others attention, "You're about to see another reason for why I wore those sunglasses back in Neon City."

Brock moved out of the chair as Ash sat down. The trainer stared at the locked computer intently for about five seconds before he started typing. Everyone else's -except Soot's- eyes widened when he unlocked the computer on the first try.

Misty stared in shock, "Okay. If you were anyone else, I'd be more than a little scared."

Ash sweat dropped, "I honestly don't blame you." He started dialing up Professor Oak's number, turned on the speaker, and tensed up before rapidly lowering the volume.

Soot looked at Ash, "Volume too high?"

Ash nodded, "Yup."

The phone continued ringing before Professor Oak appeared on the monitor. He looked at them and smiled excitedly, "Ash! Soot! It's good to see you again! I've been meaning to ask about-" He stopped and tensed up slightly when he saw the Gym Leaders. He smiled nervously, "O- oh. Hello Brock. Hello Misty."

Misty smiled and waved, "Hi Professor. It's been a while."

Brock smiled, "Nice to see you again."

"Likewise." Oak said.

Soot smirked, "I'm guessing you wanted to ask about Aerodactyl."

Oak sweat dropped, 'I'd hoped for a little more than just that.' He sighed before smiling sadly, "Well, yes. That is something I was hoping to ask about." He focused on Ash, "But I assume you wanted to send over one of your Pokémon first?"

Ash nodded with a sad smile, "Yeah. We can talk about Aerodactyl in a bit." He pulled out Krabby's pokéball, placed it on the device, and started typing again.

The machine whirred to life before the ball lit up and disappeared. Electra stared at the Transfer Machine in slack jawed, awestruck shock. Pikachu and Clefairy looked at the machine in surprise.

"So, that's what it looks like." Pikachu said.

Oak took the pokéball from the stand and held it in front of the camera; still smiling, "Here we are. They made it here safe and sound."

Electra started looking back and forth between the monitor and the Transfer Machine in shock.

Ash smiled, "Good to know. But could you let him out real fast?"

Samuel nodded, "Very well." He held out the pokéball before it burst open.

Krabby materialized on the counter, looked around the room, and flinched, "What the?!"

Ash waved, "Krabby. Over here."

The Water-type looked at the monitor and blinked in surprise, "Ash?" He looked up at the professor, "Oh, right. The transfer." He looked around again, "So this is the place, huh? Seems kinda cramped."

Soot snickered, "You're in the lab, right now. The ranch is outside."

Krabby looked at her before looking around again, "That makes a lot more sense."

"Krabby." Ash said with a sad smile; catching the River Crab Pokémon's attention, "I wanted to say thank you, again, for volunteering like that. That couldn't have been an easy decision and I really appreciate it."

Krabby looked at him with kind a yet somber expression, "It was no problem. Still, I'd be lying if I said I won't miss you all."

Soot smiled softly, "Well, I can guarantee you won't be bored. The lake there is huge, and you'll meet a lot of Pokémon from regions you've probably never heard of."

"Take care, Krabby." Ash continued; still with the sad smile, "I'll see you next time I call."

Krabby nodded, "Until then." He looked back at the professor.

Samuel nodded before returning the Water-type and placing the pokéball in his coat pocket.

Ash looked at Oak, "Take good care of him, Professor."

Professor Oak nodded with a smile, "I promise I will." He raised a finger and smiled nervously, "Now, sorry to change subjects so suddenly, but …"

Soot snickered, "Yeah, yeah. Aerodactyl."

.

*One explanation later

"An entire civilization?!" Oak blurted out in shock.

Ash smiled nervously and sweat dropped, "I'm not sure if I'd go that far. I only saw nine in total. Two of each for kabutops, kabuto, omastar, and omanyte, and the only aerodactyl I saw was the one who joined me."

The old professor calmed down and smiled, "Still, discovering that many ancient Pokémon in one place? It's an incredible find, Ash. And not to mention your Charmeleon evolving and Aerodactyl willingly joining you. It almost sounds too good to be true."

Misty smiled and held up the egg, "And that's not all that happened."

Oak blinked in confusion, "An egg?" His eyes widened in shock before he leaned closer, "Wait! Are you saying you got that egg from Grandpa Canyon?! That it holds an ancient Pokémon?!"

Misty smiled sadly, "I don't think so. I found it above ground a little after Aerodactyl decided to join Ash. I have no idea what's in it."

Soot smiled, "I've got a pretty good idea, but she doesn't want me to spoil it."

Oak moved back and smiled normally, "Regardless, it sounds as though you all had an incredibly progressive trip." He looked at the Pewter Gym Leader, "And what about you, Brock?" He pointed at Electra, "Is it safe to assume that pikachu came from Grandpa Canyon as well?"

Brock smiled but shook his head, "Actually no." He gestured to the Electric-type on his shoulder, "This is Electra. She joined me after we-"

"After we left Matcha City." Soot jumped in with a smile, "She's actually a really big human fanatic. So much so that she gave herself her name and lived in a tent back in her tribe."

Electra nodded excitedly.

Professor Oak looked at Soot in surprise, "Really?" He looked at the female Mouse Pokémon and smiled happily, "Well it's a pleasure to meet you, Electra. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them."

Electra smiled excitedly before she jumped down to the counter and put her paws on the screen as her tail started wagging wildly, "This thing is called a phone right?! How does it work?! Are you somewhere else or actually inside this one?! If it's the first one, how far away are you?! How does this machine let us see and hear each other?! If it's the second, how'd you get inside?! Was it like a really advanced human machine that makes stuff smaller?! And what about that thing that sent Krabby from here to-"

"Electra!" Ash interrupted loudly. Electra looked up at the trainer as he smiled sadly, "You know he can't understand you, right?"

Electra perked up and looked at the screen again to find the old man staring at her in confusion. She frowned and her ears drooped, "Oh, right." She took a few steps back from the phone, "Sorry."

Soot translated.

Oak smiled, "It's quite alright. I'd be lying if I said I've never gotten a little over excited about something. How about we start from the top?" He looked at the Bite Pokémon, "Soot, would you mind translating?"

Soot smirked, "Can do." She looked at Electra, "Though, please take it a bit slower or summarize your questions to like two sentences at a time. I'm not sure I could keep up with you at full speed."

Electra nodded and looked back at the professor with a smile, "How does the phone work? Are you somewhere else or actually inside this one?"

Soot translated.

Samuel smiled, "The first one. Take a look." He looked down and started typing for a moment. The image shifted to the back of the professor's head and he stepped aside to reveal his phone with an image of Electra staring back.

Electra's jaw dropped as her eyes widened in shock. She started moving around as the image of her did the same, "What the Yvel?"

Oak walked back into view and fixed the camera to point at him, "That was the secondary camera that I put behind me. As you saw, the phone you're using is actually calling my phone. One doesn't work without another to call." He held up the receiver and pointed to it; lowering his voice in the process, "Regular phones work with this component called a receiver. Though, it's also known as a handset." He put the handset back to his ear, "It's equipped with a speaker and concealed microphone that allows you to talk to and listen to whoever you're calling."

Electra smiled brightly as her eyes lit up, "Insane!" She sat down and stared at the man intently; tail wagging again, "What else?! How does it do all of-"

Everyone flinched and looked over when a banging sounded from the door.

"Hey!" Dr. Proctor's voice called out, "Hurry up in there! I don't have all day!"

Ash sweat dropped, "I guess we're out of time."

Electra looked at Ash in shock, "What?!" She looked at Oak sadly as her ears drooped, "But I had so much more I wanted to ask you!"

Soot frowned and translated.

Oak smiled sadly, "I'm sorry, Electra. Perhaps another time." He looked around the group, "Take care, everyone."

Ash smiled and waved, "Bye, Professor."

Soot grinned, "See ya, Oak."

Misty smiled, "Bye."

Brock smiled, "Until next time."

Pikachu and Clefairy raised a paw while smiling, "Pika/Fairy!"

Electra waved while frowning, "pi…"

Oak waved back while smiling, "So long!" He placed the handset down and the screen went black a moment later.

Electra looked down sadly and whimpered, "chu…"

Brock looked at her with a frown before smiling sadly and petting her, "It'll be alright, Electra. We can always call again another time."

The female Electric-type looked up at her trainer before smiling sadly, "Thanks." She held up her paws to him.

Brock smiled softly before picking her up and moving her back to his backpack. Everyone flinched again when the banging continued.

Misty glared at the door, "We get it!"

The group made their way back over to the door and opened it to reveal Proctor standing there with his arms crossed.

"About time." Proctor said before pointing a thumb to the side, "Now go on home." He started walking away and mumbled, "I knew I should've become a lawyer."

"Maybe he's not that nice." Clefairy said.

"No, really?" Soot said sarcastically.

Brock frowned, "He seemed a lot nicer to Misty than any of the rest of us."

Misty glanced at Brock and smirked slyly, "It almost sounds like a certain someone else we know."

Brock tensed up and chuckled nervously, "I, uh … well-"

Soot snickered, "Let's just get out of here. We did what we came to do."

The group made their way back out of the room and back toward the front desk. Upon reaching it-

Ring, ring, ring. Phone call, phone call. Ring, ring, ring. Phone call, phone call.

The phone at the counter started ringing.

Nuevo: What the **** kind of ringtone is that?!

Omega: *skims pages before smirking* One that gives the episode a minun every time it's used.

Gem: *raised brow* What? Why?

Faux: *scratches head* Yeah. I don't hear anything wrong with it.

Mizuro and Illavera: *look at Faux and Gem and deadpan while sweat dropping*

Proctor walked right past the phone.

Misty looked at the doctor, "Um, your phone is ringing."

Proctor just continued walking, "I'm not gonna answer it. I'm off duty."

Misty's eye twitched, "Seriously?"

Brock frowned, "But what if it's an emergency?"

Soot sighed and walked around the counter, "Come on."

Proctor stopped walking and perked up when he heard the new voice. He looked back right as the group answered the phone.

Nurse Joy appeared on the other end, "Hello! Hello!"

Brock blushed and smiled goofily, "Hello, Nurse Joy!" Electra glanced at her trainer and sweat dropped.

The nurse's eyes narrowed, "Who are you?! This is supposed to be an emergency hospital!"

Ash stepped aside and pointed a thumb at Proctor, "It is."

The doctor frowned and waved a hand as he leaned against the counter, "Gimme a break. I'm off duty."

Joy glared at him, "Doctor, this is a critical situation! A truck that was carrying Pokémon was involved in a traffic accident!"

The image changed to show the crashed truck on the side of the road and a large number of Pokémon scattered all around. An ambulance was already present with an Officer Jenny directing a handful of chansey as they all pushed around stretchers.

The Nurse continued; off screen, "Many Pokémon were injured, and my Center can't handle all the victims."

Brock frowned, "Uh oh."

Misty frowned as well, "No kidding."

Ash raised a brow, "Wait a second. Couldn't you transport them to another Pokémon Center? And why was a truck transporting Pokémon like that?"

The nurse reappeared on the screen and shook her head, "None of the Pokémon were in any pokéballs and none of them appear to be wild. Officer Jenny's still investigating what happened, but these Pokémon need help, first and foremost." She looked at the doctor, "We need your hospital to help care for some of these patients temporarily."

Soot glared back at Proctor, "You have to help them!"

The nurse and doctor jerked and looked at Soot in surprise.

"What the-" Proctor muttered before shaking his head and looking at Joy, "Alright. Bring them down this way." He smiled, "By the way, Nurse Joy, would you be interested in going out for pizza Saturday night?"

Joy glared at him, "You can talk to me about pizza after our work is done." She hung up.

Proctor shrugged, "Well, can't blame a guy for trying." He walked over to a supply closet.

Soot sweat dropped and mumbled, "In this situation, yes you can."

Brock frowned, "You might've been right about me being like him, Misty."

"No, he's worse than you." Misty said; deadpanned.

Electra frowned, "Way worse."

Proctor walked back over with a few lab coats in hand, "Alright, all of you had better get into these."

Misty flinched and her eyes widened, "Excuse me?"

Proctor nodded, "We don't have any other doctors and nurses in today. So, you'll all have to be my assistants." He smiled kindly, "You'll do fine as long as you do exactly as I tell you."

Omega: *pushes button as a minun videogame cry sounds*

Faux: … where-

Omega: Yukiro.

Seishin: 😋

Ohirume: *points at Omega* You know you don't get to use that whenever you want, right?

Omega: Yes, but can you really blame me for doing it right then and there?

Ohirume: … fair enough.

Everyone sweat dropped.

"I mean," Pikachu muttered, "it is the right thing to do."

Clefairy smiled and clenched a fist determinedly, "Yeah! We can do it!"

Electra nodded with a smile as well.

The humans and Soot all shared a looked and nodded while smiling.

Soot looked up at Proctor, "We're in."

The doctor looked at her again before looking around at the trainers, "Hey. How did you get a-"

Ambulance sirens started sounding outside; cutting off Proctor and catching everyone's attention.

Ash blinked in surprise, "That was fast."

.

**Short Skip**

A handful of ambulances drove up to the hospital momentarily. Immediately after they stopped out front, a large number of chansey started wheeling the Pokémon into the building on stretchers.

Ash and Brock had been given a typical lab coat to put over their regular clothes and Misty was … given an entire nurse's outfit. Pikachu, Clefairy, Electra, and Soot weren't given any outfits; much to Electra's disappointment. Everyone's bags were propped up in the corner of the room and the egg was in Misty's bag.

Proctor ran into the room with a pair of chansey pushing a stretcher that had a crying cubone on it. The Ground-type's skull was littered with scuffs and cracks.

"Move Cubone to the treatment table!" Proctor instructed, "Stat!"

Brock and the chansey nodded before grabbing the pad from the stretcher and moving it over to the table. Cubone started crying even harder. Brock and Misty tensed up in response. One of the chansey hurried out of the room.

Proctor stepped forward, "You've got to keep the patient under control."

Ash nodded, "On it." He pointed to Cubone, "Pikachu, Thunderbolt."

Pikachu complied and unleashed a large bolt of electricity on the Lonely Pokémon.

Proctor stared in shock before glaring at Ash, "What do you think you're doing?! You can't just attack a patient!"

Ash smiled, "Calm down. Cubone's not hurt."

Proctor blinked in surprise and looked again. Cubone's crying had slowed down to some sniffling as they looked around in confusion; tears still in their eyes.

Soot smirked, "Cubone are Ground-types. Electricity has no effect on them. But given how young he is, he can still notice that it happened. It was more surprising than anything."

Proctor blinked in surprise again, "Huh…"

The chansey from before returned and held up an X-ray, "Here you go."

The doctor snapped out of it before looking at the Egg Pokémon, "Oh, right. Thanks, Chansey." He took the sheet and held it up, "It's head is okay thanks to that thick skull." He smiled, "Repair the fractures with superglue and apply a bandage."

Soot sweat dropped, "Uh…"

"That won't be necessary." Ash stated before he looked at the two Egg Pokémon, "We need some healing moves. Raise your right arm if you know Soft-Boiled and left for Heal Pulse."

One of the chansey raised her left arm. The other frowned sorrowfully, "The only healing move I know is Refresh."

Soot translated for the second one.

Ash smiled softly, "Hey, don't worry about it. That'll come in handy for another patient." He looked at his hatchling, "Soot, go find a chansey that knows Soft-Boiled."

Soot nodded, "On it." She turned and ran out the door.

Ash looked at Brock, "We have Cubone handled. Go treat the rhyhorn that came in."

Brock smiled and nodded, "Alright." He looked at the chansey with Refresh, "Mind lending me a hand?"

Chansey perked up in surprise and looked at him before smiling and nodding, "Sure."

The Pewter Gym Leader nodded and walked out of the room with the chansey following him. Electra ran after them.

Ash looked at the Water trainer, "Misty, I need you to comfort Cubone until Soot gets back."

Misty tensed up slightly and looked at Ash in surprise, "Huh? I'm not sure I'm the best choice for this."

Ash smiled softly, "You'll do fine, Misty. Besides, this'll be a good experience."

Misty perked up in realization before taking a deep breath and nodding with a smile. She started moving closer to Cubone. Cubone looked at her and flinched before holding up his bone defensively.

Misty stopped and smiled softly before kneeling down to his level, "It's alright, Cubone. I'm not gonna hurt you." She held out a hand to the Ground-type; making him tense up slightly, "I promise."

Cubone blinked in surprise and looked at the hand warily. He slowly held out a paw to touch it. He flinched slightly and pulled back upon doing so before placing his paw on her palm. Cubone looked up at Misty curiously.

Misty smiled kindly, "See? Everything's fine." She brought up her other hand into the Ground-type's line of sight, "Would it be alright if I picked you up?"

Cubone glanced at her hand before looking up at Misty again and nodding slowly, "S- sure."

The Cerulean trainer calmly moved to pick up the Lonely Pokémon and cradled him. Cubone looked up at her curiously before leaning closer and nuzzling against her. Misty started petting him.

Proctor stared in mild surprise.

Ash smiled softly, "See? You're a natural, Misty."

Misty glanced at her bag before smiling softly, "Thanks."

Everyone heard a clacking from the doorway and looked over to find Soot standing next to a chansey.

The Dark-type smirked, "Someone order a Soft-Boiled chansey?"

Ash rolled his eyes while smiling. He looked at the Egg Pokémon, "Thanks for getting here so fast. I'm guessing Soot filled you in?"

Chansey nodded before moving over to Cubone. The one with Heal Pulse moved closer as well. Cubone looked at them warily and nudged closer to Misty; grabbing her sleeve.

The Water trainer smiled and pet him, "It's okay. They're here to help."

Cubone looked up at her before looking at the chansey again. He loosened his grip on Misty.

Soot looked at the Normal-types, "Go ahead."

Both Chansey looked back and nodded before turning to face Cubone again.

One of them had the egg in her pouch glow bright orange before placing her arms on it. She raised her arms up forcefully as an egg-shaped ball of energy rose from the egg and into the air.

The other chansey took a deep breath before unleashing a calm wave of green light from her mouth.

Cubone tensed up and closed his eyes as the moves approached. The moves connected and Cubone began to glow a clustered mixture of bright orange and green. The scuffs on his outer skull began fading immediately and the cracks started sealing. By the time the moves stopped, only two short cracks were left extending from the eye sockets; neither more than an inch in length.

Cubone perked up and blinked in surprise, "Huh?"

Misty smiled down at him, "Feel better?"

The Ground-type looked up at her again before nuzzling closer to her, "Yeah!"

Misty nuzzled him back, "Good. You're a tough little guy, aren't you, Cubone?"

Ash smiled and looked at the chansey, "Nice work." He looked at Misty, "You too. Now see if you can get him down for a nap. The rest of us will move on to another patient."

Misty nodded while smiling, "Got it."

Clefairy raised a hand while smiling happily, "I'll help her out!"

Proctor frowned and held out a hand, "Wait a second. We're not done here. There are still a few cracks left on Cubone's skull."

Ash smiled, "It's fine. Outer cracks on a cubone skull are cosmetic. When he evolves, the minor ones will fade completely with the rest becoming minor scars. We don't need to seal all of the cracks completely. We just need to fix the ones we can and make sure none of them get any worse."

The chansey both looked at Ash in surprise before sharing a look.

.

*Team Rocket; lobby

Arbok and Raticate glared at each other angrily as each stood/laid on a stretcher; the former with their tail tied in a knot and the latter with their teeth shattered.

"Can someone please remove this raticate?!" Jessie cried out, "It insists on trying to take a bite out of my arbok!"

James tried to shoo the Kantonian Normal-type away, "Beat it, Raticate. Amscray."

Proctor walked up with a chansey beside him, "This raticate's teeth are broken. It couldn't bite anything if it tried." He looked at the chansey, "Just glue its teeth back in with super glue."

Chansey frowned, "I'm not sure that sounds r-"

Another chansey ran over and placed an arm on her shoulder; catching her attention, "Don't argue. He can't understand us." She pointed back, "Get Raticate to the male trainer with a hat on. From what I've seen, he'll be a lot more helpful."

The first chansey nodded, "Got it." She picked up Raticate and started walking to another room.

.

*Raticate, Ash, Pikachu, Chansey

Pikachu frowned as he looked at the Mouse Pokémon's incisors, "Ouch. That has got to hurt."

Raticate glared at him, "Ya think?!"

Pikachu flinched before chuckling nervously, "Sorry."

Ash kneeled down in front of Raticate, "I can help with this, but I need you to hold as still as you can for a few seconds. Okay?"

Raticate sighed before nodding, "Yeah, sure."

Ash smiled, "Thank you." He quickly brought out his claws and slashed at the Normal-type's teeth before they could do anything.

Chansey's jaw dropped as the jagged portions all fell off and clattered on the ground. The only thing left were straight-cut portions less than an eighth of the usual length.

Raticate flinched and looked down frightenedly, "My teeth!" He glared up at Ash, "Why the Yvel did you do that?!"

Pikachu looked up at Ash and translated. Raticate and Chansey looked at the other Mouse Pokémon in confusion as he did so.

Ash smiled at Raticate, "Don't worry. This is actually a well-practiced method." Raticate and Chansey looked at the human in surprise as he raised a finger, "Your kind's teeth grow perpetually and can actually become overgrown if you're not wearing them down on your own. Clipping them is completely harmless so long as there's still something to grow from." He scratched the side of his head and smiled sheepishly, "Though, given the circumstances, you're gonna wanna lay off solid foods until they grow back to an appropriate length."

Chansey blinked in surprise before looking at Pikachu, "You can speak human too?"

Pikachu shook his head and pointed to his trainer, "Actually Ash can understand my kind."

Ash looked at Chansey and shrugged, "And a few others. Though, your species isn't on that list." He looked at Raticate, "And neither is yours. Sorry."

Raticate stared in surprise, "Still, that's … pretty incredible." He shook it off, "And I guess I should actually be thanking you for doing that. Thinking about it now, I'm really not sure I wanted my teeth glued back on like that other human said."

Pikachu sweat dropped before translating.

Ash deadpanned, "Seriously? That was what he said to do?" He pinched the bridge of his nose, "Freaking Yvel. That's not even an option when a human has a broken tooth."

Chansey blinked in surprise, 'My sibling was right about him."

Ash looked at Raticate again and smiled sadly, "Also, you really shouldn't thank me just yet. There is one more thing we need to do for your teeth."

Raticate raised a brow, "What is it?"

Ash chuckled sheepishly; guessing the question, "You may not like it."

.

*Soot, Brock, Electra, Vulpix, and Refresh Chansey

The quintet looked over as Proctor wheeled in an arbok with their body tied in a knot. Four of them recognized him immediately.

Electra flinched, "Wait! That's-"

"AH!" A pair of shouts rang out.

They all looked over to find Jessie and James staring at them in shock.

"The twerps?!" Jessie cried out.

James pointed, "What are you doing here?!"

Soot sweat dropped, "What does it look like? We're helping out."

Electra jumped onto Brock and hid behind his head. Vulpix crouched down and glared angrily. Chansey blinked in confusion.

Brock glared at them, "What are you up to this time?!"

Jessie glared back, "Later!" She looked up at Proctor and smiled softly, "Doctor, I'll be so grateful if you help my arbok."

Soot nodded, "On it." She started walking towards the cabinets.

Electra looked at her in surprise, "You're helping them?"

Soot continued walking, "Hurt Pokémon's a hurt Pokémon. I don't like this a whole lot either, but we promised to help." The Bite Pokémon shifted her eyes before phasing her head into a ground-level cabinet and pulled back out with a syringe in her mouth. She walked over to Proctor and held it up.

Proctor took the needle and stared down at it in confusion. He looked at Soot, "How did you know where this was?"

Soot looked up at him, "I ran around while intangible and took stock."

The doctor blinked in surprise. He shook it off before injecting Arbok. The Poison-type flinched, sat up, and shrieked before flattening on the stretcher.

"Arbok!" Jessie shouted fearfully before glaring at Soot, "I knew I couldn't trust you, you gl-"

"Oh, calm down." Soot interrupted while looking at her; deadpanned, "That was anesthetic. It just knocked him unconscious."

Proctor looked at Soot in surprise, "That's, uh … that's right." He started messing with the knot on Arbok's tail, "Anyway. Now I can perform the procedure."

Vulpix deadpanned, "Does he always have to seem so surprise whenever Soot does something even remotely intelligent?"

Electra frowned and crossed her forepaws, "Yeah. It's kind of annoying."

After about a minute, the knot was undone and Arbok seemed to relax.

The doctor smiled, "Now to cure it's poison."

Brock perked up and looked at the man with a raised brow, "Cure their poison? A Poison-type can't be poisoned."

"Unless there's a rogue salandit in the building." Soot commented.

Jessie glared at them, "Hey! Doctor Proctor said that Arbok's own poison was circulating through his veins! I trust the doctor a Yvel of a lot more than any of you!"

Soot rolled her eyes, "Fine." She looked at Chansey, "Go ahead and give him a Refresh."

Chansey smiled and nodded, "On it!"

She walked closer to Arbok and placed an arm on his tail before closing her eyes. She started glowing light blue before the energy spread across Arbok. The glow faded and Chansey stepped back.

"All done." Chansey said happily.

Brock smiled, "Good job."

Soot, Electra, and Vulpix's ears twitched before they looked over to find a pair of chansey each wheeling a stretcher down the hallway. One had a poliwhirl on it and the other had a weepinbell with a voltorb stuck in their mouth. Everyone else noticed and followed their gaze.

Brock frowned, "There are still more coming in."

Proctor frowned as well, "Yeah." He looked at Jessie with a smile, "But maybe I could convince this beautiful young woman to lend us a hand."

Brock, Soot, Electra, and Vulpix glanced at him; deadpanned, 'Seriously?'

Jessie perked up in surprise, "Huh?" She smiled and pointed to herself while blushing, "I presume you're referring to me?"

"Why, yes." Proctor responded.

Jessie smiled happily while nodding, "I'll do my best."

James raised a hand, "And I'll help too."

Everyone flinched when a loud screeching and a harsh metal scraping sound came from down the hall.

"I HATE THIS!"

"I know! I'm sorry!"

Brock stared in confusion, "Was that Ash and a raticate?"

Jessie and James blinked in surprise before sharing a look.

"Like that one with the broken teeth?" James asked.

Soot sweat dropped, "Ah. That's what's going on. Dad must be filing down the poor guy's teeth."

Proctor looked at her in shock, "What?! I told a chansey to super glue them back on!"

Soot, Brock, and Vulpix flinched before looking at him; deadpanned. Electra noticed and did the same.

Proctor noticed and looked at them in confusion, "What?"

.

*Soot

After filling in Ash, Pikachu, Misty, and Clefairy on the whole 'Team Rocket helping' thing, the Dark-type made her way back down the hall.

"I said price, not rice!"

She stopped and perked up before looking towards one of the rooms. She groaned, walked over to the room, and looked inside to find Meowth struggling to stand up with a gameboard on his head.

"I don't wanna play." The Scratch Cat whined, "Find my charm, please!"

Soot sighed before walking in, "I'll take it from here, Chansey."

The pair of Normal-types looked over at her before the feline flinched.

Chansey smiled and raised an arm, "Okay!" She walked past Soot and out of the room.

Seishin: Wait a sec! *looks at Ohirume sourly* That just voided the best part!

Ohirume: *sweat drops while looking down shamefully* I know, I know. I'm sorry.

Pike: *raises brow* What are you talking about?

Seishin: *pulls up video of Chansey smiling blankly and slapping Meowth for four straight seconds*

Everyone: *stares in shock before bursting out into laughter*

Mizuro: *calms down and looks at Ohirume* Why the **** would you cut that?!

Ohirume: I'm sorry, okay?!

Meowth removed the board, placed it to the side, and looked at Soot sadly; revealing nothing where his charm should be, "What are you doin' here?"

Soot sweat dropped, "Like I told your partners, helping." She raised a brow, "What happened to your head charm?"

"It musta fallen off in da crash." Meowth sniffled as he started tearing up, "I couldn't find it anywhere."

Soot stared at him blankly before groaning, "Dear Arc, you are dumb."

Meowth looked at her angrily; tears still in his eyes, "Hey! A meowth's charm means a lot to 'em! How would you feel if ya lost somethin' important ta you?!"

Soot tensed up before glancing away somberly.

Meowth blinked in surprise, "Hey, what's-"

"It's nothing that concerns you." Soot said sternly before taking a deep breath and looking at Meowth, "Your charm isn't gone, doofus. That thing is a part of your skull. If it were gone like you say, you'd be the luckiest son of a glitch alive for surviving the frontal portion of your skull being destroyed."

The Normal-type glared, jumped to his hind paws, and pointed at the spot where his charm was supposed to be, "Oh yeah?! Well, if you're such a genius, tell me where it is now!"

The inherent Dark-type shifted her eyes and placed a claw on his forehead, "Right there."

About a second later, Meowth's charm popped out of his head; right through his skin. Soot pulled her paw back.

Meowth's eyes widened before he looked up. He smiled and placed a paw on his head, "My charm!"

Soot smirked, "It got tucked in between your skin and skull. Gotta tell ya, that is not easy to make happen." She gestured back, "Now go find Jessie and James and get to work. They're helping out, so you have to too." She turned and walked out the door.

Meowth flinched and looked at the door in shock, "Wait, what?!"

.

*Misty and Jessie

The pair had been assigned to the voltorb and weepinbell. Misty held Weepinbell in place while Jessie -who had also been given an entire nurse's outfit- tried pulling Voltorb out. A chansey stood by them and Proctor was behind them tending to an ivysaur.

Misty looked at Jessie, "We have to do this carefully."

Jessie glared at Misty, "I don't need you to tell me how to do things, thank you." She focused back on the Ball Pokémon and started pulling again, "Easy does it."

Voltorb's eyes narrowed before they started sparking wildly. The girls flinched, let go, and stepped back cautiously.

Proctor looked back at them, "Be careful back there, ladies. Voltorb can use Self-Destruct, y'know."

Jessie flinched and looked back at him in shock, "Self-Destruct?!" She raised a finger and chuckled nervously, "I- I just remembered that I have to go find-"

"Hey, Jess." Meowth said as he walked up to the doorway; making Jessie tense up, "The twoip's mutt said ta come find-" He stopped and flinched when Jessie picked him up and slapped a hand over his mouth.

"Sorry about that." Jessie said nervously as she started backing up towards the door, "Meowth's obviously not feeling well. So, if you'll excuse me-" She turned and ran down the hallway.

Misty's eye twitched, "Typical."

Proctor sighed and looked at the Egg Pokémon, "Chansey, take over."

Chansey raised an arm while smiling, "Can do." She moved around the table and grabbed Voltorb.

The Electric-type glared and started sparking again as the Normal-type started tugging.

Misty glared at them while holding on to Weepinbell, "Don't you dare, Voltorb. We can't get you out if you attack."

Voltorb grumbled and stopped sparking, "Just hurry it up."

After nearly a minute's worth of tugging, Chansey and Misty finally managed to pull Weepinbell and Voltorb apart. Chansey held Voltorb up triumphantly and Weepinbell started panting heavily.

Misty smiled, "Nice work." She looked down at the Grass/Poison-type happily, "Feel better, Weepinbell?"

"Y- yeah." Weepinbell panted, "Thanks."

.

*Brock and James

The pair had been working with a pinsir whose left horn had completely broken off. Proctor instructed them to super glue it back on.

"Hold them steady." Brock said as he moved to reattach the horn.

"I'm trying." James said while he had his arms wrapped around the Stag Beetle Pokémon.

Brock put the horn back into place before stepping back and smiling, "Alright. Looks good. Try not to move around too much until the glue hardens."

"Got it." Pinsir said happily, "Thanks for putting it back on."

James grimaced, "Hey! Take it easy!"

Brock smiled, "I'm pretty sure they're saying, 'thank you', James."

Pinsir nodded happily.

"Pinsir horns grow back." Soot said without looking as she walked past the door.

Brock, James, and Pinsir flinched and looked at the door in shock.

Brock looked at the Stag Beetle Pokémon, "Did you know it grew back?"

Pinsir shook in disagreement, "I've never broken it off before." She perked up and pointed at the door, "Wait. That mightyena speaks human?"

James grabbed the glued horn, "We should probably get this off, now." He started tugging. He frowned when it wouldn't budge, "Uh oh."

Brock sweat dropped, "I'll go find a solvent."

"Room 3-A, third to last upper cabinet on the right!" Soot's voiced called out.

"Thanks, Soot!" Brock called back.

.

*Ash

The trainer had moved to a nidoking who was currently laying on a stretcher. Clefairy and the chansey who brought Raticate were with him.

The Drill Pokémon tensed up and grimaced when Ash spritzed one of his spines with a Max Potion, "Yup! That's the right spot, alright!"

Clefairy translated.

Ash nodded, "Thanks. I'll try to make it fast." He continued spraying; much to Nidoking's discomfort.

Chansey looked at Clefairy curiously, "So your trainer can understand your kind too?"

Clefairy nodded with a smile, "Yup. It's cool, right?"

Ash chuckled softly and rolled his eyes.

Nidoking looked at Clefairy with a smile, "Yeah, no kidding. I never thought I'd get treated by a human who I could tell where it-" He flinched again and cried out, "Hurts! Hurts!"

The Fairy Pokémon looked up at Ash and translated for the others.

Ash chuckled nervously, "Sorry. I'm almost done." He continued spraying and finished up in a matter of seconds. He stepped back and smiled, "There."

Nidoking moved to sit up and smiled at Ash, "Thanks." He looked back towards his spines, "I think it's already feeling better."

Clefairy smiled and translated.

Ash smiled at Nidoking, "I was happy to help. Just don't lay on your side for a day or two."

Nidoking nodded, "No problem."

Chansey looked at Ash and raised a brow, "Hey. If you don't mind me asking, how are you able to understand them but not the rest of us?"

Nidoking perked up before looking at Ash in confusion, "Yeah, she has a point. I thought language was an 'all or nothing' kind of thing."

Clefairy smiled, "Oh. It's because of Ash's Power Integration."

Ash tensed up as the Poison/Ground-type and Normal-type looked at the Fairy-type in confusion, "Power Integration?"

Clefairy nodded; still smiling, "Yeah. It's when …" She frowned and scratched the side of her head, "Um… Well I don't really know how it works, completely. I just know that Ash can understand a Pokémon species a little while after one of them touches his watch."

Ash looked at his Fairy Pokémon with a frown, "Clefairy, you didn't have to tell them all of-"

"You mean this thing?" Nidoking asked before poking the face on the device.

The trainer flinched when he heard the watch spring up and brought it up to see it spinning and glowing yellow. It stopped and returned to green as a nidoking silhouette appeared on the face.

Nidoking stared in surprise, "Woah."

Ash sweat dropped, "great…" He let his arm drop and gave Clefairy a deadpanned look.

Clefairy chuckled nervously and sweat dropped, "Sorry."

Ash sighed, "It's fine. Just please be a little more carefu-" He flinched, and his eyes widened when he heard the watch spring up again. He looked over to find Chansey staring at the spinning device curiously with her arm out.

"Chansey?!" Ash blurted out before pulling his arm away, "Why the Yvel did you do that?!"

Chansey frowned, "What's wrong? Isn't understanding us a good thing?"

Clefairy translated; causing Nidoking and Chansey to look at her in confusion.

Ash frowned, "Well, sure. But that isn't all that-"

Everyone flinched when a loud shout rang out from another room. Everyone except Nidoking recognized it as Proctor's voice.

"What was that?!" Clefairy cried out in alarm.

Ash groaned, 'It's just one thing after another.' He ran out the door while calling out, "Chansey, finish up with Nidoking! Any damage healing move will do!"

Clefairy ran after Ash. Chansey and Nidoking watched in confusion.

Clefairy looked at Nidoking, "Does Heal Pulse sound alright?"

"As long as it doesn't sting like that spray." Nidoking responded.

.

*Proctor

Ash, Brock, Misty, Soot, Clefairy, and the tRio ran into the room and appropriately flinched. Proctor was standing in front of a dodrio with their necks all tangled together. Pikachu, Electra, and a chansey stood by and stared at the man frightenedly. The alarming thing was the fact that the doctor had a freaking needle in his shoulder.

Jessie ran up and looked at him worriedly, "Doctor Proctor! Are you alright?!"

The man looked at her and smiled, "Oh, I'll be fine." He pulled the needle out and frowned, "But I'd say this'll put me out for at least" His eye lids started drooping, "six … hours."

James grimaced, "But you can't go to sleep! We need your help!"

"We really don't." Soot muttered under her breath.

Proctor started walking over to a bench while rubbing his eye, "You guys take over." He laid down on it, "Good night."

The tRio ran over and James started nudging him, "Come on, Doc. Wake up." He frowned and looked at his teammates, "Well, he's out."

Meowth frowned, "great…"

"Bulbasaur, come on out."

Team Rocket looked back as Ash released his Grass/Poison-type. The Seed Pokémon noticed the tRio and glared at them.

"Not now, Bulbasaur." Ash said before pointing a thumb at the Triple Bird Pokémon, "I need you to use Sleep Powder on Dodrio, here."

Bulbasaur looked at Ash and nodded, "Alright." He turned to face Dodrio before releasing a large puff of blue powder at their faces.

Dodrio fell forward from the blue cloud and started snoring.

Ash smiled, "Nice job." He looked at the Gym Leaders, "You guys mind untangling him? I'm thinking about getting a head start on that parasect."

Soot looked at them as well, "And I'm gonna go check on Tauros."

Brock smiled and nodded, "Go for it. We'll be done here in no time."

Misty sweat dropped and smiled nervously, "Yeah. Parasect's all yours."

Ash nodded, "Thanks." He looked at Bulbasaur, "Mind staying with them?"

Bulbasaur smiled, "No problem."

Electra raised a paw, "I'll stay too."

Ash looked at the female Rocket, "Jessie, stay in here and watch over Proctor. We don't want anything to happen to him by accident."

Jessie looked at Ash in surprise before smiling and saluting, "Can do, twerp!" She looked at her teammates harshly, "James! Meowth! You're staying too!"

Meowth flinched slightly, "Yes ma'am."

James frowned, "But, what about Weezing? He's still hurt."

Soot looked at the male Rocket, "I'll get him patched up and then bring him to you. Arbok too."

James frowned worriedly and Meowth's eyes narrowed apprehensively.

Jessie smiled happily as she pulled a blanket over the sleeping doctor, "Yes, yes. Sounds good. Good luck."

The group sweat dropped. They shook it off before Brock, Misty, Electra, Bulbasaur, and Chansey got to work untangling the sleeping Dodrio. Pikachu jumped onto Ash's shoulder and Clefairy jumped onto Soot's back before the four of them left the room.

.

**Time Skip**

A few hours had passed as everyone took care of the Pokémon in the hospital.

Misty had tended to a hitmonlee with Bulbasaur's help, Brock patched up a sandslash with a potion, and Soot tended to Weezing with Clefairy's assistance.

The tRio had already gotten Arbok and Weezing back but remained in Dodrio's room with Proctor. Every time James or Meowth tried to say something, Jessie would shut them up with a glare. They didn't dare try to leave the room.

Ash had gone all around to more or less supervise but mostly translate for the Pokémon with the help of Pikachu and the chansey. Speaking of which, it only took about an hour for that translator to take effect. The nidoking one wasn't ready, last he checked.

Right now, the group, the Refresh chansey, the chansey Ash scanned, and the scanned chansey's sibling were gathered in an empty room as Ash showed them all the new form. Everyone figured it out pretty fast and they wouldn't stop bugging him over it.

Everyone stared in surprise at the chansey with a familiar green symbol on his chest. The natural chansey in the room stared blankly.

Pikachu blinked in surprise, "Wow."

Clefairy smiled happily, "Cool!"

Misty blinked, "A male chansey. I … really shouldn't be surprise at this point."

Brock smiled and crossed his arms, "Though this will be a lot of help in the long run. A healer form like this can really help in an emergency."

Ash smiled, "Plus, this form apparently knows Light Screen." The chanseys' eyes widened even further upon hearing his voice as he looked up at Misty, "I can teach it to Staryu, Starmie, or even Psyduck."

Soot translated.

Misty smiled brightly, "Sweet! I can't wait to tell them!"

"Y-"

Ash, Soot, Pikachu, Clefairy, Bulbasaur, and Electra perked up and looked at the chansey. Brock and Misty looked as well soon after.

The Chansey with Refresh stared at Ash in pure shock, "You- You're male. You're actually a male."

The Chansey he scanned stared as well, "I-It's unbelievable. Our kind are only ever supposed to be girls. But, this … wow."

Her sibling looked back and forth between her and Ash, "And you look freakishly similar to my sibling. I just … I'm not even sure what to say about that."

Soot snickered, "If you think this is nuts, you should see the kangaskhan form. Both of him break all kinds of logic rules."

The siblings looked at Soot in shock, "Kangaskhan?!"

Refresh Chansey blinked in shock, "Both?"

"Hey! Anyone here?!" Someone called out from the lobby.

Brock immediately stood up and smiled upon recognizing the voice, "Officer Jenny!"

Misty, Soot, Electra, and Pikachu glanced at him while sweat dropping. Ash hit the symbol on his chest and shifted back to human before everyone made their way to the lobby.

They found Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy there. The nurse was looking over Sandslash, Raticate, and the sleeping Cubone in mild awe while Jenny sat in a chair by the door.

Jenny noticed them and smiled before standing up, "There you are."

Joy looked over as well before raising a brow, "Where's the doctor in charge?"

Misty sighed and pointed back, "He took an anesthetic to the shoulder and has been asleep for the last four hours."

Joy's eyes widened in shock, "Wha- Four hours?! You've been on your own for that long?!"

Soot sweat dropped, "We were kind of on our own before that, too." Jenny looked at her in surprise.

Ash sweat dropped with a nervous smile, "Doctor Proctor kept trying to get us to use superglue to help the Pokémon. Obviously, we didn't do that."

Brock scratched his head while chuckling nervously, "W- well … at least not without fixing it soon after."

Joy blinked in surprise before looking back at the Normal-type and Ground-types, "So he didn't treat these Pokémon?"

Soot shook her head, "Oh Yvel no."

Brock smiled, "I took care of Sandslash with a few potions."

Misty smiled, "And I helped calm Cubone down so the chansey could heal him."

Ash raised a hand, "And I clipped Raticate's teeth." He looked at Raticate with a sad smile, "And sorry again about the metal file. There really wasn't another option."

Raticate sighed, "It's fine. It stopped hurting about a minute after you finished."

Soot smiled and translated.

Ash smiled, "Good to hear."

Joy smiled softly, "Well I can tell that you've all done a great job. Thank you so much for all your help."

Jenny blinked in surprise and mumbled; still looking at Soot, "Talking mightyena…" She perked up and smiled at Ash, "Oh, now I get it. You're that trainer my third cousin, twice removed was talking about. You helped her out at the preservation area."

Everyone in the group -except Electra- tensed up upon hearing that. Electra noticed and looked around in confusion.

Ash sweat dropped with a nervous smile, "Sh- she told you about me?"

The officer nodded with a smile, "Yeah. She said you helped save the kangaskhan herd twice and even managed to reunite Tomo with his real family. I have to admit, I'm impressed."

Soot cleared her throat, "Is, uh … is that all she told you?"

Jenny raised a brow, "Pretty sure, yeah. Is there something I missed?"

Misty waved her hands, "No, no. That sounds right."

Pikachu and Clefairy sighed in relief. Electra was still looking around at the others in confusion.

Brock stepped forward, "By the way, did you find out how this all happened in the first place? The crash, I mean."

Jenny looked at him, "Oh yeah. Turns out the Pokémon were all stolen from there trainers and the thieves were trying to use that truck to move them." She smiled, "On the bright side, they didn't take any of the pokéballs." She pointed a thumb to the entrance, "We already found the trainers and got them on a bus. They're on their way here now."

Everyone perked up before sharing a deadpanned look.

Misty groaned, "Of course."

Jenny blinked in confusion, "What?"

Ash sighed, "We know who and where the thieves are. Their Pokémon were being treated, too." He pointed back down the hall, "Six rooms down on the left."

Jenny looked at him in shock before looking down the hall Ash was pointing to. She glared and broke into a sprint, "They're not getting away!"

Everyone except Joy and the treated Pokémon ran after her.

Jenny came up to the room momentarily and pointed into it while glaring, "Hold it right-" She stopped and blinked in surprise, "Huh?"

Everyone else came up to the room and stared in surprise when they found Proctor still sleeping. Dodrio's right head was lightly pecking at him curiously. The man frowned and turned away.

Misty blinked, "Where did they go?"

.

*Team Rocket and Proctor; moments before

Jessie continued watching over Proctor as he slept on the bench. The only thing on her mind was the pizza dinner later. James and Meowth sat on a pair of chairs behind her. Both sat in a slump as they were essentially forced to keep watch.

James sighed before he stood up and held out a hand to his teammate, "Jessie, shouldn't we be trying to get-"

Jessie glared back at him; effectively shutting him up. James sat back down.

Meowth grumbled, "At dis rate we'll neva get those Pokémon back."

"Hey! Anyone here?!" Someone called out from the lobby.

The tRio flinched upon recognizing the voice and looked at the door in shock.

Meowth jump off the chair, "It's da fuzz!"

James stood up again and looked at Jessie with a determined glare, "Jess, we need to leave!"

Jessie looked at James in shock. She started looking back and forth between the door and Proctor.

"Jessie!" James and Meowth said harshly; trying not to be heard by the others in the building.

Jessie stood back up and grumbled, "Fine."

The tRio ran out the door and down a hallway. All three of Dodrio's heads watched curiously as they did. After a moment, he hopped down from the table and walked over to Proctor.

.

**Short Skip**

The bus pulled up shortly and the trainers piled in immediately. The group got to work in reuniting everyone with their Pokémon.

Ash noticed Nidoking walking through the hall and looking around worriedly.

He hurried over and looked up at him, "Nidoking. You alright?"

The Drill Pokémon perked up and looked down at Ash before smiling, "Oh, hey. It's you again. Did that inte-whatever translator happen yet?"

Ash smiled, "Yeah. Apparently." He frowned, "Is everything alright? You looked worried for a moment."

Nidoking frowned, "I'm trying to find my trainer." He started looking around again, "I haven't had much luck yet. I'm starting to worry that-"

"MEEMA!"

Ash and Nidoking perked up and looked over to find an eevee looking at them happily with his tail wagging extatically. The Evolution Pokémon charged forward.

Nidoking smiled happily, "Hatchling!" He kneeled down with his arms out before Eevee jumped into his arms. Nidoking hugged him happily, "I missed you so much."

"Nidoking!/Meema!"

They looked again to find a female espeon and a male flareon running over to them.

Espeon nuzzled up against Nidoking with a sad smile, "I was so worried."

Nidoking smiled softly and put a claw on her back, "I'm okay, dear. There's nothing to worry about." He looked at Ash, "I actually have ..." He blinked in confusion, "Uh..."

The Trainer smiled, "Ash."

"Ash, here, to thank for helping me." Nidoking continued with a smile, "He patched me up and everything."

Espeon smiled and stared up at Ash.

After a few seconds, Ash frowned uncomfortably, "Why are you staring at me like that?"

Espeon perked up and blinked in surprise. Her eyes narrowed as she stared intently.

Ash sweat dropped, "Seriously, what are you doing?"

Espeon flinched and blinked in shock, "My telepathy isn't working?" She looked down worriedly, "Maybe the stress was getting to me more than I thought?"

Ash smiled, "Oh. Don't worry, that's not the case." He put a finger to his temple, "I have a resistance to psychic influence and a few mental barriers set up." He chuckled nervously, "Your telepathy won't work on me. Sorry."

Eevee, Flareon, and Espeon stared at Ash in shock.

Nidoking blinked in surprise, "You can understand there species too?"

Ash smiled and nodded, "Yeah. I scanned an eevee a long time ago and it gave me a translator for all the eeveelutions."

Flareon raised a brow, "What?"

Nidoking pet his evolved hatchling, "I'll explain later."

Espeon continued staring at Ash in shock for a moment before shaking it off. She smiled, "I was trying to say thank you for taking care of my mate. We were really worried about him."

Ash smiled and kneeled down in front of her, "It was no trouble. You'll be happy to know that he wasn't even that hurt when he got here. Just a few bruises that we fixed really easily with a Hyper Potion."

Espeon sighed in relief.

Flareon smirked, "Well, of course he was barely hurt. No way something as simple as a car crash is gonna really hurt him."

Eevee glared determinedly with a smile, "Our male meema's super tough."

Nidoking chuckled nervously and sweat dropped, "R- right."

Espeon noticed and smirked slyly. She walked up to Ash and whispered, "He whined like a hatchling when you used the potion, didn't he?"

Ash blinked in surprise before glancing at Nidoking. He looked at the Sun Pokémon again and whispered back, "Just a little bit."

Espeon snickered before looking at her family, "Come on, Dan's been looking for you."

Nidoking smiled, put Eevee down, and stood back up, "Then, let's not keep him waiting."

Ash stood back up as well and Espeon led all of them down the hall.

Soon enough, they found a male trainer -presumably Dan- kneeling down in front of Soot and talking to her with a worried expression on his face. Soot's nose twitched before she looked at the five of them and smiled.

Dan followed her gaze before running over and hugging the Poison/Ground-type, "Nidoking! Thank Arceus you're okay!"

The Drill Pokémon smiled and hugged his trainer back. Espeon looked up at the man happily and nudged her head towards Ash.

Dan looked down at her in surprise, "Really?" He looked at Ash and smiled, "Thank you for taking care of Nidoking. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to him."

Ash smiled, "It was no trouble."

Soot walked over and looked up at the Drill Pokémon with a smile, "So you're the ace this guy won't stop talking about."

Ash looked at Soot and blinked in surprise, "Ace?"

Dan smiled, "I guess that's one word for it." He put a hand on Nidoking's back and looked up at him with a smile, "I've had Nidoking since he was a nidoran and he's become one of my strongest Pokémon. He and I have been through everything together." He looked at Ash and grinned, "We even finished in the top four at the last Indigo League. Right now, we're working on the Battle Frontier and just earned our third symbol when …" He sweat dropped, "this happened."

Ash smiled nervously and sweat dropped, "You don't say…"

Soot raised a brow, "Speaking of, how did this happen? It sure as Yvel doesn't sound like they overpowered any of you."

Nidoking chuckled nervously and scratched his cheek, "They tricked us by saying it was some spa deal. I talked Dan into it."

Espeon sighed as her ears drooped, "And I helped by translating. Not our finest moment."

Eevee blinked in surprise, "Wait. Meema wasn't at a spa?"

Flareon tensed up slightly before glancing at his younger sibling apprehensively.

Soot sweat dropped, "Ah." 'Even when those three manage to outsmart someone, they mess it up.'

"Uh, Dan, right?" Ash asked.

The other trainer looked at him, "Yeah?"

Ash smiled nervously, "This may sound weird, but … can I ask what Nidoking's move set is?"

The five present Pokémon all perked up and looked at Ash in confusion. After a few seconds, Soot's eyes widened in realization before looking up at Nidoking and then at the watch.

Dan blinked in surprise, "Sure, I guess."

.

*Later that day; forest clearing

After saying their goodbyes to Proctor, Officer Jenny, Nurse Joy, and all of the chansey, the group continued on their journey. After a while, they set up camp for the night and let out everyone. Which now included Aerodactyl.

Right now, everyone stared in stunned silence and/or awe at the nidoking towering over all but two of them. The Drill Pokémon with the symbol on his chest was frowning with his arms crossed. As per the usual, Brock was in pikachu form and Misty was a vaporeon.

"SWEET!" Squirtle cried out excitedly; shattering the silence, "What does this one know?!"

Ash grumbled, "Poison Jab, Earthquake, Fire Blast, and Thunder Punch."

Primeape started trembling from the excitement, Aerodactyl grinned excitedly, and everyone else stared in shock.

Bulbasaur blinked in surprise, "That gives us a lot of options."

Misty raised a brow, "And you're upset about that, why?"

Ash sighed, "Because that Dan guy put a lot of work and time into training Nidoking and I feel like I just out right took that."

Brock raised a brow, "But didn't you say that Nidoking touched the watch willingly? It's not like you did it intentionally."

"Yeah, but still." Ash said, "It just feels … cheap."

Primeape stepped forward excitedly, "So what if it is?! You're still teaching me that Thunder Punch!"

Aerodactyl grinned, "And teach Fire Blast!"

Muk glanced at the battle maniacs while sweat dropping, "You do realize you'll each have to forget a move to learn those, right?"

Primeape tensed up before looking down thoughtfully, "Hm…" He looked at Ash, "I'll think it over."

Aerodactyl continued grinning, "Not worry. Just forget weak move like Wing Attack."

Ash pointed at Aerodactyl, "And I'll explain what's wrong with that later."

"Well, now that that's settled," Soot said casually; catching everyone else's attention, "to officially welcome Aerodactyl to the team." She grinned, "I think a nice break for the rest of the day is in order."

The Pokémon all perked up and looked at Ash.

Ash chuckled softly before smiling, "Sure. Why not?"

"YEAH!" All of the other Pokémon -except Aerodactyl and Primeape- cried out excitedly.

Primeape grumbled and crossed his arms.

Aerodactyl looked at Charizard, "What we breaking?"

Charizard sweat dropped, "Um…"

.

.

Omega: *looks at Faux and Gem* So how much of that doctor's instruction did you follow?

Gem: *tenses up* Um...

Faux: *scratches side of head sheepishly* W- well. It wasn't that much, r-

Pike and Shadow Pearl: All of it.

Faux and Gem: *flinch* GUYS!

Mizuro: HAH!

Nuevo: *smirks* Shown up by Trix, yet again.

Faux and Gem: *groan*