Ash smiled brightly at his party members. Meganium, Scrafty, Talonflame, Gabite, Seismitoad, and Servine stood in front of him, covered in cuts and bruises with some panting heavily.
"Good job you guys! You all did great and I'm proud. Take a good rest!"
They all agreed by collapsing and taking a nap. Ash sweatdropped as Vanillite floated on top of his head and Pikachu jumped on his shoulder. Ash was brimming with pride as his members were all getting stronger. He looked over and saw Claydol floating solemnly. He walked up to the ground type.
"Hey buddy, how're you holding up?"
Claydol gave a sad look. It was days like today where the wind was blowing and it wasn't too hot and everything seemed right that made him miss his old trainer. Ash gave Claydol some treats made especially for ground types.
"I know it's hard buddy, but things will be alright."
Claydol gave a sad nod and turned towards the horizon. Ash sat there with him, some of his other Pokémon and a few wild ones joining in. They all sat together, not a word or sound made as they watched the wind blow through the trees. Ash could feel himself swell in power as energy from the world around him filled his being.
He ran his hands through the blades of grass around him, feeling their energy move about as his hand disrupted their still stature. The two Eevees came up to him yapping and playing with each other. Ash smiled and managed to corral the two hyper normal types.
"Hey you two, what do you say we figure out what you want to evolve into?"
They got very excited and sat still as Ash pulled out Dexter. They began looking through all the possibilities, when he got a phone call on the video phone. He answered it, and Professor Oak's face came on the screen.
"Hey Professor Oak! How is everything!"
"Good Ash! I've finished conducting my tests on your Seviper, and may I say things are not so good." His face got a little dark.
"Well how do you mean?"
Oak sighed. "It seems someone has injected this Seviper with some sort of steroid to make it bigger, stronger, a better battler." Oak shook his head.
Ash was stunned. Nobody could have done that, except Team Rocket. Ash clenched his fists, he hated them. He knew it deep within him that he held an anger towards them that he held towards no one else.
"Yes, it has been through a lot. Is it okay to send it to you?"
"Please Professor." Ash had a pleading look in his eyes. He wanted to help Seviper.
Professor Oak nodded and disappeared from the screen. After a few minutes, a Pokeball formed on the transporter.
"There you go Ash. Be careful though, it is still a little wild." Professor Oak warned.
Ash nodded and picked up the Pokeball. "I will Professor thank you so much."
The two bid farewell and Ash sighed while closing his eyes. His fingers tightened on the Pokeball, his anger flaring up. He despised Team Rocket more and more every day. There were reports of increased activity, especially in Celadon City.
"Seviper, I choose you!"
The poison snake materialized in front of him. It looked, different. It wasn't happy, no, but emotionless. No anger in its eyes or malice, if anything they held sorrow. The poison snake didn't understand what happened to its body and wanted help. The old man that looked after it gave some answer me and tried to make things better. Seviper wanted to see how the boy would do.
The snake coiled itself and raised its head at Ash.
"Hey buddy, try one of these," Ash pulled out a Sitrus berry from his bag and fed it to Seviper. The poison type gingerly ate the berry. Ash then began to rub its large head. "Hey buddy, you feeling okay?" Seviper gave him a bit of a sad look. It didn't understand the emotions it was feeling, the random mood swings, it's new size and strength.
Ash felt sorry for Seviper, it didn't need to go through this. His blood began to boil, he knew he just knew that Team Rocket was behind it. He sighed and looked at Seviper. "We're gonna figure out who did this to you and make things right, okay?"
Seviper gave a grin and nodded. Ash patted its head. "Let's get training now huh buddy?"
Seviper nodded and followed Ash. Ash noticed that even tho they were fifteen feet away, Seviper's tail still sat in the spot where they had talked. Ash figured he'd need to measure his poison type to figure out how much bigger he is. He pulled out Dexter and began looking at Seviper's details.
"Dexter says that Seviper normally measure a few inches above eight feet, but you are… almost twenty feet long," Ash said a little solemnly. Seviper didn't understand numbers, but it knew that he was over double the length of his normal kin.
Ash rubbed its head again. "Don't worry buddy, we'll make do with it, alright? Nothing to be ashamed about."
Seviper nodded its head as they neared the Battle Palace. Most of his Pokémon were training and battling, while a few were watching or sleeping. Ash smiled as Seviper sheepishly poked its head out from behind him, even though the rest of Sevipers body was showing.
"I want someone to train with Seviper. Shiftry, would you do the honors?"
The woodland warrior nodded and approached the poison type, who had appeared from behind Ash, and the two talked for a bit and then began battling.
Ash looked over and saw Vanillite blowing some Icy Winds on a tree, smiling as the leaves turns frosty. He walked over and scooped up the ice type. "What am I gonna do with you?" Ash smiled as Vanillite grabbed his hat.
The two went inside, Pikachu was napping on the counter. Ash decided to give an old friend a call.
"Hey Ashy-Boy, long time no see!"
"Hey, Garrison, how have you been?"
Gary gave a glare at Ash for using his full name. "I'm doing just fine, I'm close to getting my certification for becoming a Pokémon professor!"
Ash smiled wide at that, he knew Gary was smart. "Good Job Gary! I knew you always had it in you!"
Gary flashed a smirk, "What can I say, as someone so good at battling and as someone as smart as me, it isn't hard at all!"
Ash roles his eyes.
"What're you up to these days Ashy boy?"
Vanillite jumped into frame to look at Gary with a quizzical look. "Wel, this is Vanillite! I hatched him from an egg that Brandon gave to me."
"Brandon? As in Pyramid King Brandon? How did that happen?"
Ash grimaced a bit, "Well, Spenser passes away a little over a month ago, and Scott called me to ask if I wanted to take his position. Since I've already conquered the Battle Frontier and was already asked once, plus out of respect for Spenser, I took up the offer. I'm in training now to be the new Palace Maven."
"Whoa-ho-ho! Ashy-boy is moving up in the world!"
Ash grinned even though Gary couldn't see. "Definitely! I was wondering if you could make time to come visit?"
Gary sighed and crossed his arms. "I can't make any promises Ash, but I will try my best."
Ash knew Gary was right. He's training to be a professor now, he was going to be busier than he used to be.
"That's okay Gary! I understand you got things to do."
Gary flashed a smirk on the screen. "But don't you think for a second we won't have a battle, because I'll be the first challenger you have to face!"
Ash gave a grin back at Gary. "You're on Gary!"
"Thought so Ashy-boy, I'll see ya around!"
"See ya Gary. I'll be ready for you!"
Gary ended the call. Ash put the phone back on the ringer and pondered.
"Hey buddy, lets go train!"
Pikachu nodded excitedly and the two ran outside. Ash began pairing off his Pokémon and he worked with Vanillite some more to focus on Icy Wind. He had Ditto work with Vanillite on a moving target too.
Ash's attention was caught by several Pidgey coming out of the trees, and soon more Pokémon were too.
"Oh no, not again," he said as he remembered when the rogue Trevenant had trespassed. However, a Sentret was talking to Pikachu, who was doing his best to translate to Ash.
"Really?" He said to his electric type. "Pika!"
Ash gave a cold look. "Pignite, Machamp, Buizel, Heracross, and both of you Eevee's come with me."
The six Pokémon came up to Ash. "You six are coming with me. We have intruders."
His Pokémon nodded and he turned to Pikachu, "tell him we'll follow him." Ash then turned to the rest of his Pokémon. "You all stay here and protect the Battle Palace. We'll be back soon!"
Pikachu nodded and communicated to the Sentret about the plan. The normal type nodded and the group took off into the woods. Ash noticed Vanillite following them. He turned to the baby ice type and picked him up.
"Hey buddy, I know you want to come and help, but this is dangerous and scary," Ash scooped up the ice type. Vanillite have a sad look as Ash took out its Pokéball. "I'm sorry buddy, but as soon as we finish I'll let you back out I promise." Vanillite have a sad nod as Ash returned it to its Pokéball for the first time.
He turned to his group. "Let's get a move on." They all nodded and continued on their way.
Eventually, the wild Sentret told them to stop. A clearing was up ahead, and Ash could hear voices talking.
"Boss man said to get as much as we can. Besides, these are just low level, pathetic Pokémon. No one will even notice."
Ash began to get angry. He peeked out through the bush and could see three Team Rocket members, a Houndoom, and an Ursaring around a cage. There were several Sentret and Pidgey in it, but there was a couple Spinarak, even a couple Deerling and a Swoobat. Ash felt his blood pump in anger at the sight of the trapped Pokémon.
"This isn't right," he whispered. Ash motioned for his Pokémon to come nearer. He began to devise a plan. "Alright, so here's the plan: Buizel and Heracross you two have a mock battle in front of them so they think you're wild. Machamp while they're distracted I need you to take care of the Ursaring, Pignite you'll have to take on Houndoom by yourself. Eevees you both are with me, got it?"
His group nodded. Ash and the four of his Pokémon moved in the bushes closer to the truck. Ash quickly got nervous as he saw the Houndoom sniff, but Heracross and Buizel emerged rolling around.
"Aye, look at that! Those two look really powerful!" One of the Team Rocket members said, nudging the one of the other ones. "Yeah! Let's grab em!"
One reached for his Pokeball and released a Tyranitar, who had a callous smile and began making a move on Heracross and Buizel.
"Go, go!" Ash whispered to Machamp and Pignite. Machamp and Pignite quickly emerged from the woods, with Machamp quickly launched a Close Combat attack on the back of Ursaring and Pignite landing a Brick Break on Houndooms back.
Ash had both Eevees resting on his shoulders, the three ran up to the cage and he began to mess with the locks.
The three Team Rocket members were all tied up in the commotion. Heracross and Buizel easily defeated the Tyranitar and made their way to Ash. Machamp has Ursaring on the ropes, but Pignite was struggling against Houndoom.
"Come on, stupid lock," Ash muttered.
"Come on, get everyone out here to battle!" The leader of them said. They had unleashed all their Pokémon, some Zubat, a Houndour, a couple Grimers, a Muk, and surprisingly a powerful looking Exeggutor.
Heracross and Buizel were making quick work of the weaker Pokémon, while Machamp battled the Gruner and Muk.
Pignite was still struggling with Houndoom, who had used a Hidden Power which looked to be Psychic.
"Come on Pignite I know you can do it!" Ash pleaded. The Eevees grew worried, they saw Ash was struggling and his Pokémon all just busy, not over powered but busy.
The two Eevees decided to join in the fight against the Zubat and Houndour. Heracross and Buizel were beginning to lose track of them all.
"Got it!" Ash said as the lock opened and the captured Pokémon all tumbled out. "Go on! Go back to your homes!" He pleaded as they all ran in fright.
Ash turned and looked. The four Pokémon were finishing the last of the Zubat and Houndour. Machamp, who looked to be poisoned, stood y'all over the defeated Grimers and Muk. Pignite was looking exhausted and Houndoom looked better, but was beginning to get tired.
"Come on Houndoom! Use a Crunch attack!"
Houndooms jaws glowed black as it lunged at Pignite. "Use Arm Thrust!" Ash said in a panic.
"Machamp, grab two of the Rockets and Heracross you grab another!" Ash said. The three tried to run but Ash's Pokémon were faster. Soon they were wrapped up.
Houndoom looked worriedly at it's defeated brethren. "Houndoom keep fighting!" One of the Rockets in Machamp's arms barked. Machamp put a hand over their mouths to keep them quiet.
Houndoom nodded and launched a Fire Blast at Pignite who was unable to dodge.
"Pignite!" Ash said worriedly, going to his partner. Both Eevee's ran up next to him. One of them felt the outpouring love and feeling between Ash and Pignite, who jumped in front of them glowing white. The harsh sun caused Eevee to morph, with a long Y-shaped tail and pointy cat like ears. Her fur was pink and she looked much more agile.
She cried out her name, "Espeon!"
Ash smiled in awe. "Pignite you take a rest. Espeon and I will handle this."
Pignite, dejected and beaten, laid there and nodded.
"Espeon, has Hidden Power!"
Espeon nodded and small orbs in the shape of water came out of her jewel in her forehead. Eevee was in awe, now atop Ash's head watching. His other Pokémon were in awe too at the power boost.
The small orbs barraged Houndoom who cried in misery. "Use Return!" Espeon in a pink mist lunged and tackled Houndoom with feeling. "Finish it with another Hidden Power!"
Espeon launches another barrage of orbs in the shape of water, which quickly knocked out the Houndoom.
Ash sighed in relief. All the enemy Pokémon were fainted, he freed the captured ones, and Team Rocket was all wrapped up.
"You think you're saving them?"
Ash snapped his head to the one Heracross had wrapped up. He walked over to him.
"What do you mean?"
The Rocket spat in Ash's face. "You're nothing. Boss will handle you quickly." Ash's face contorted in anger as he wiped away the spit. He pulled out his Pokégear and called Office Jenny.
"They'll be under our control eventually. What you've seen is just the beginning." Ash ignored the man's words.
"Here Pignite, heal up," Ash said gingerly as he gave Pignite a Sitrus berry. "Espeon, I'm so proud of you for evolving. You look stronger than before."
Espeon smiled and nuzzled against his leg. Ash smiled and pet her head.
"You're nothing, you're absolutely nothing. Our plan is bigger than you kid."
The other two rockets nodded in agreement. Ash said nothing as he sat with his Pokémon, waiting for law enforcement to arrive.
AN: Mega oof I'm sorry this took almost...a year. I'm so sorry. I did not plan that. With COVID-19 and school and work and an internship, it's all been hectic. But hopefully I will get more of this story and my other two fics out this year. Hopefully everyone is doing their best to stay happy and unstressed and healthy. Any questions or comments leave them in a review or pm me! Thank you all and I'll see you all again (hopefully) shortly.