Chapter 4
A tall man in a pinstriped black suit came out from behind the rhydon, hands behind his back. A fierce scowl was plastered on his face as his eyes roved over the damage, narrowing as they passed Team Rocket.
Meowth stuttered, "You-you-you're -"
"Giovanni, and you're under arrest." Six trainers in feather-branded jackets marched in, one with an ariados. "You will be taken to the police station and interrogated for all information regarding your criminal organisation and its activities," he said while watching them being tied up and handcuffed.
Ignoring their pleas of mercy, the broad-shouldered man returned his rhydon. He moved aside for the medics with a blissey to hurry inside, carrying stretchers and first-aid kits with them.
Ash's head spun as he lay there, flitting in and out of consciousness, all while trying to figure out what just happened. Did Team Rocket win? Or did that man - Giovanni - beat them off?
Come to think of it, the name Giovanni rang a bell in his head. Wasn't he some royalty?
Wait! He is the Viridian gym leader!
Ash lay there for a bit before the medics came to him. He was drifting off. It felt as if his body had been sapped from its energy and the ringing was only getting louder. His eyelids started to close, not registering Giovanni's odd stare as they shut themselves.
Ash woke up in an almost entirely white room.
The bedsheets, the blinds, the wall, the bed, the chairs. It dawned on him that he was in the hospital, and slowly his memories all came back and fit together again.
Team Rocket had busted in. Ash had fought against them, and did pretty well until their Koffing used Self-Destruct. They had almost escaped until Giovanni stepped in. With his power and authoritative voice, it had provided Ash with a relieved and safe feeling. He had spent two days cooped up in the hospital, being served bland, healthy food.
Ash got up, yawning.
Eventually a nurse came in and gave Ash a final evaluation, stating that he was fully recovered. He quickly got changed with the clothes that someone had brought over from his room in the centre, as well as his bag, which had been quite messy.
A knock on the open door interrupted his surprise, getting Ash to look up, only for his mouth to open at his visitor.
Even in a leather brown suit with a green tie and a bandaged hand, Giovanni looked no less intimidating. In fact, with a massive persian at his heel, he was even more scary when people noted the predatory glint in Persian's eyes, or its large paws that hid large razor-sharp claws.
Ash stumbled around with his words, "Hello sir."
Giovanni smirked, "Greetings Ash Ketchum, are you feeling better from your concussion?"
Ash's eyes widened. "Oh yes!" He cringed, that came out way too enthusiastically.
"I'm glad to hear it. I am just here since I would like to compliment you for doing such a good job." Ash blushed. "The Team Rockets," Giovanni's entire face contorted into hate and disgust, "are at the Police Station, and from the information we've got out of them, you were the one who delayed their escape and even almost defeated them."
"Thanks-Thank you but I couldn't have done it without my friends."
"Friends? There were other trainers who helped you fight?"
"Oh, I mean like my pokemon," Giovanni's left eyebrow arched upwards, "and I guess Pidgey and Geodude."
"Nevertheless, you led your pokemon against those scum. Not a lot of people can do that, with their minds so wrapped up with fear and selfishness," Ash thought of the Feather but just nodded along. "You are a brave trainer, we need that now more than ever.
"I would like to offer you a deal. Would you like to be one of my gym trainers?"
"What-what?"
"I understand your hesitance, but being a gym trainer is more advantageous as a trainer, and-"
"What about the gym challenge?"
"You may seek that later on in your life if you become a gym trainer. A gym trainer works directly under their gym leader, and their job is to carry out various tasks, such as city patrol and missions.
"As a gym trainer, you are a part of the League and would be privy to classified information, you're able to access training equipment and more advanced healing equipment. Finally, as a gym trainer, you're directly trained by your gym leader, which in this case is me. So, do you accept the offer?"
Ash sat down. That was a lot to take in!
He thought about it. On one hand, becoming a gym trainer had so many benefits. He would have a teacher to guide him, and a bunch of teammates to support him. He would be relatively close to his mother and she could visit! She would be glad to know that he had a comfortable roof to sleep under and an adult to teach him.
But was that what he wanted? He had started his journey to join the Indigo Conference, to feel the rush described by many of the trainers that had passed by Pallet Town. Sure Giovanni said he could do it later, but Ash felt oddly against it. Maybe it was Gary, who he so wanted to crush in front of a live audience, or maybe Ritchie who he had promised to prove wrong.
Maybe it was all his friends. Ash wanted to show those that believed in him that he could do it and also prove the non-believers and bullies wrong.
"Thank you so much for the offer, I'm honoured and really surprised." Ash met Giovanni's eyes. "But I will have to decline it." It was Giovanni's turn to look surprised. "It's just-It's just that I became a trainer to join the challenge and get into the Indigo Conference. Maybe in the future if the offer still stands but for now, no."
"Very well then," Giovanni fixed his suit, "I won't lie when I say that I am a bit disappointed, but I do understand where you're coming from. I am a busy person, so I will be on my way now."
He reached into his pocket, grabbing something and placing it on Ash's bed. When his hands came away, Ash was surprised to see three shrunken blue balls with two red stripes.
"Wait…these are great balls!"
"Consider it a back up gift, in case you declined the first one. Put them to good use, Ash Ketchum." With that, he walked away with his Persian in tow, who had been watching him with an unnervingly curious interest.
Ash watched Giovanni's retreating back before changing his object of reverence from the gym leader to the three great balls in front of him. To a new trainer like him, they might as well have been a shiny pokemon. After all, their increased capture rate thanks to the strengthened energy-reflection mirrors and capsule durability was something crucial for any new trainer who wanted to catch something slightly more powerful.
Ash felt a lot more excited, fantasising what powerful pokemons he would catch. Maybe a dragonite! Or even a tyranitar!
Sprinting to the Pokemon Centre, which had opened up again, Ash was greeted by a worrying Nurse Joy. She gave him a warm hug and checked him all over, thanking him over and over. This heartwarming yet slightly embarrassing episode ended with a kiss on his forehead, causing Ash to blush faintly as other trainers watched, some in amusement, some in jealousy.
Ash waited at the counter for Nurse Joy to get Froakie and Sera. While doing so, a lot of trainers came over and thanked him. Apparently a lot of the trainers that night had suffered similar injuries, so they had been released around the same time.
Ash nodded dazedly as trainer after trainer introduced themselves and when they left, he smiled to himself. Seeing these guys, not much older than himself, smiling as they were grateful for not getting their pokemon stolen made it all worth it.
One particular trainer was not as happy.
A redhead, a bit older than Ash at around 13 and half years old, found Ash and bemoaned about her favourite bike, which had been unfortunately very close to Team Rocket at the time. When Ash suggested that walking was a good exercise, she blew up, accusing Ash of calling her fat and ugly.
Ash, not one to stand down from accusations, got mad and they immediately started butting heads, almost straight up brawling in the Centre.
Thankfully, for both of their health, Ash's pokegear started vibrating, interrupting their stare down. Misty walked off, muttering 'idiot' while Ash grabbed out his pokegear, only to almost drop it in shock and fear.
Mum! Ash thought in terror.
He quickly went upstairs to his booked room, frantically thinking of excuses. Closing the door behind him, he sat down on the unused bed and answered the call.
"Five days!" Delia's voice seemingly reverberated through the room.
"Uh, hi mum?"
"Don't you 'hi mum' me. Not only did you not call me when you got to Viridian City, you got a concussion from fighting Team Rocket! I had a feeling that you would forget our promise but not that you would butt heads with a crime syndicate!"
"I'm sorry-wait! How did you know about my concussion?"
"I'm your mother Ash, I can sense these things," Ash looked unconvinced, "I'm also listed as your primary emergency contact Ashy." She let out a long sigh, as Ash felt her calm down.
"Now that I'm done, how was your journey to Viridian? What pokemon did you catch? I know Gary has caught a lot, I had Samuel and Daisy over for dinner a couple nights ago." Ash scowled, his mood significantly soured. "Now now Ashy, you shouldn't scowl like that," Ash stared wide-eyed at the pokegear.
"How-"
"Did I know you were scowling? You're my son, I know who you like and don't like," Ash could almost see her teasing smile, "but that's such a shame. I remember you and Gary being tied to the hip when you two were younger."
Ash ignored that comment. "Route 1 was really fun! I saw so many wild pokemon, there was this herd of nidos and dodrios! Also I caught a vulpix!"
"Oh, I didn't know there were vulpixes in Route 1?"
"Me neither actually. I was actually going to ask Professor Oak about it later. Also I named Froakie Froakie and Vulpix Seraphine, or Sera for short."
"They're beautiful names, though I thought Froakie was a boy?"
Ash rubbed his head, "He chose the name."
They talked a bit more, from the Viridian Wall to Giovanni's offer. Ash skipped some bits, like being attacked by a flock of spearows or being saved by a mysterious bird pokemon, but he immensely enjoyed chatting with his mother. A feeling of homesickness crept up.
"Please Ash, let this be the last time I'll have to hear from the hospital about you, promise?" Delia sounded tired.
Ash wanted to say yes so much, but something inside him felt that this would only be the beginning.
"I'll-I'll try mum."
"Thank you, that's all I ask for sweetie." The call ended.
His stomach grumbled as he climbed down the stairs. It was a bit past midday, and he still hadn't eaten anything. Ash retrieved Froakie and Sera, thanking Nurse Joy before heading off to the cafeteria on the right side of the Centre.
He ordered three burgers with fries, and pokechow for Froakie and Sera. Ash released the two, Sera immediately licked Ash's cheek and curled in his arms while Froakie did an eye-smile. He seemed strangely hesitant before gesturing at Sera and Ash's shoulder.
Ash smiled as he realised what was going on, "Hop on!"
Froakie nodded and awkwardly clambered up Ash's arm and onto his shoulder, adjusting himself until he found a nice spot.
Ash relaxed. This was a simple bliss, that he had never really thought of before. He had always thought that he was the kind of person to enjoy action and the thrill of adventure. Yet things like this felt strangely right. Maybe the road of a pokemon trainer journey wasn't all about battling and catching.
Food, shelter, and his pokemon, what more could he ask for?
When the food was ready, Ash practically flew to the counter, thanking the cook and with an insane feat of balance, carried his food and his pokemons' food back. Ash's mouth moistened and his eyes lit up. Froakie and Sera were about to get on the floor to eat from their pokebowls when Ash bent down and grabbed the bowls, putting them on the table instead.
Ash hardly registered anything except how scrumptious the meat patty was, how perfect the ketchup was mixed with BBQ sauce, and how delicious the crispy fries were.
When Ritchie and Leaf came over, they were greeted to the disgusting sight of Ash eating. They, along with Froakie and Sera, wanted to look away, but it was so fascinating, the way the three XL burgers disappeared within a minute and the way the fries were scarfed down with wild abandon. It was like a train wreck, you wanted to look away but you couldn't.
After a bit, Ash gulped a final time, chugging down soda to wash down the food. He laid back, incredibly satisfied before noticing his audience.
"Hey Leaf, hey Ritchie!"
Leaf, a bit more used to Ash's deplorable eating habits, greeted Ash back while Ritchie seemed to still be digesting what he saw.
"We just wanted to say that we're glad you're alright Ash." Leaf smiled, placing a hand on Ash's shoulder.
Ritchie nodded, "It was very brave, fighting back. Most of us were too shocked and a bit scared when they said they were from Team Rocket." His words came out a bit harder than Leafs'.
The two sat down as Ash thanked them, and they started chatting.
Eventually, the topic changed to their pokemon, to which Leaf and Ritchie released their pokemon. Ritchie's pokemon, Charmander and Spearow, had a quick stare down with Froakie and Sera before moving away.
Leaf had two pokeballs in her hand, but only released her Bulbasaur. When asked of the second pokeball, Leaf clarified, "It's actually a magikarp. I saw a redhead with a fishing rod and she helped me catch a Magikarp."
"Does Bulbasaur have a name?" Ash asked, glancing at Ritchie as he did so.
"Yeah, his name is Forest, pretty cool right?" Ash smirked triumphantly while Ritchie rolled his eyes. "And Magikarp's name is Misty, though I haven't been able to have her out of her pokeball a lot."
Forest was much more friendly, extending two vines at Ash, who reached his hand out and shook them. The vines then crept up to Froakie, who batted them away, while Sera licked them.
Ash chuckled, before remembering something. "Do you guys know who the trainers of the pidgey and geodude I battled with are?"
"No, they left yesterday."
Ash nodded, "I see."
He was a bit disappointed. Pidgey and Geodude were really helpful in the fight. The least he could have done was say thanks. Ash's mind drifted off to his battle with Ritchie, and the powerful Dragon Breath that Charmander had utilised.
"So Ritchie, you must be a really good trainer if Charmander already knows Dragon Breath! I heard that dragon-type moves are really hard to learn."
Ritchie looked pleased, "I just had a lot of time to prepare Charmander's training." His face darkened slightly, "My father made sure of that."
Ash eyed Ritchie in the end but didn't comment. Maybe they did have a connection after all.
They spent the next couple minutes talking, learning things about each other. Ash didn't talk much about his adventure, instead listening to the other two. While Leaf had fished up Magikarp, Ritchie had caught Spearow, who had spotted him as it was with its flock.
When he finished, Ash excused himself as he went to the phone booth. It was time to call Professor Oak.
"Ah Ash, I'm glad you're feeling better." Professor Oak appeared on the screen, lab coat ruffled and a notebook in his hands.
"Thanks Professor Oak." Ash smiled, the image of the usually orderly professor now messy curling his lips.
"And how was your journey? A vulpix, correct?"
"Yes sir. And the journey was amazing, there were so many wild pokemon and camping in the actual wild was awesome! I found Sera, my vulpix chasing after a rattata and -"
"Ah, it's working then." Professor Oak murmured.
Ash was intrigued. "What is?"
Professor Oak looked startled, "Oh, just a small project the League has been doing." He elaborated at Ash's questioning look. "I won't bore you with the details but to reduce the rattata infestation near Pallet's crops and to raise the population of an endangered species, the League decided to introduce the vulpix line not too long ago in Route 1. Of course, they're being monitored carefully to see how they affect the environment but so far everything has been going along smoothly."
"Oh right, this is Sera." Ash held his arms out to her, who leaped into them enthusiastically.
Professor Oak complimented her, earning her favour but noticed something. "Sera's tails do look a bit scruffy though, have you been brushing them regularly like in the pokedex?"
Ash blushed, he had kind of neglected the pokedex in favour of eating and playing with his friends, which was much more appealing.
Professor Oak smiled faintly, "Like I said before, the pokedex is filled with knowledge that's just waiting to be read. For the pokemon that trainers have already captured. It provides even more in-depth knowledge and tips for caring and training those pokemon. You shouldn't take it for granted and use it to its fullest extent." Ash nodded, having learnt his lesson. First thing he was going to do was buy a brush from the pokemart and then read everything to know about Froakie and Sera."
Ash remembered what he had really wanted to talk about, the thing that had been weighing on his mind, and his bag. He looked around before leaning into the booth."Professor, when I was attacked by the spearow flock, something -"
"Wait, what! You were attacked?" Professor Oak looked alarmed.
"I wasn't hurt too bad, but anyways. It was raining at the time, and the spearow were pecking at me when this…shriek sounded in the sky and a - a beam of rainbow shined down on me," the professor stared attentively, "and scared off the birds and healed my injuries completely!
"Then this huge…bird flew by and it dropped a feather. The thing is, both the bird and its feather were glowing a rainbow colour and -" Ash gulped as he looked around, "I saw stuff sir." Ash breathed out. "Visions sir, some were really beautiful while others, well they were a bit scary."
Professor Oak watched Ash carefully before answering. "If you don't mind me asking, can you tell me what you saw?"
Ash stood there for a bit, contemplating. Maybe Professor Oak could help him understand what he saw. He was a world-renowned professor, so he must have some kind of idea.
So Ash told Professor Oak.
It seemed they had been standing there for a while, and the people lined up were getting impatient. Until finally, the professor said something.
"I need some time to think about this, my boy. This is entering an area that I'm not familiar with." Oak beckoned Ash closer. "Don't tell anyone about this, you hear me. If this is what I think it is, and you still have that Feather, then the impact of this would be massive."
Ash promised to keep quiet and waved bye before hanging up. The purple-haired guy behind him muttered 'finally' as Ash jogged off to the pokemart.
Hi guys, sorry I haven't uploaded in a while. I have 5 tests next week, all of them core. Also have you guys seen the new S/V trailer? It's pretty promising and a certain pokemon in one of the trailers has had me rearrange Ash's team. Also as usual, please comment so i can know what I did well in and what i could improve in. Bye:)