Chapter 5

The forest was still covered with a glimmering layer of morning dew when Ash stood outside the North Gate of Viridian. While checking his belongings one last time, Ash pulled out Sera and Froakie's pokeball, releasing them. Sera's eyes shined at the expansive forest beside them while Froakie stared at Ash curiously, almost looking for something.

"Hey guys, ready to get going?"

Sera squealed in excitement, eying parts of the forest where random noises came from. Froakie continued to stare as he nodded. It was getting a bit weird. Did Froakie want something, or did -

"Wait up Ash!"

Ash broke his gaze with Froakie as Leaf and Ritchie ran up to him, bags bouncing behind him.

Ash smiled, "Hey you two! Want to join us?"

Leaf's face beamed in excitement as Ritchie yawned, rubbing his eyes.

"We were going to ask that! Funny how things work," Leaf's eyes glimmered, "right Ritchie?"

Ritchie grunted some incomprehensible words as he fixed his cap.

Ash grinned, travelling with the two would be really fun. He could have people who talked back in conversations and could also learn from.

"Let's go then!" Ash closed his bag and gestured to his team.

Thin beams of light breached the dense canopy, casting light on previous shadowy areas. Ash, Ritchie and Leaf stayed on the worn-out path, casting apprehensive glances at the unlit parts of the forest. Sounds of leaves rustled. The three gulped and moved a bit quicker. The rustling came closer, and closer until something jumped out.

"Run!" The three screamed, scrambling away.

A friendly bark greeted them as they turned back. Sera sat on her haunches, grooming herself while chirping in a manner eerily similar to laughing.

"Oh thank Mew! Sera, you scared us." Ash laughed as he knelt down, scratching her neck.

Sera leaned into the scratches as Froakie hopped over. They exchanged a series of barks and croaks before Sera's ears perked up. Her eyes narrowed before darting off. Ash smiled gently. Sera had been really active, streaking off through the forest as soon as they had gotten near it.

Others weren't as amenable to Sera's little prank.

Ritchie sighed exasperatedly, "Why is it even out Ash? You do know what pokeballs are for right?"

Ash stared back. " 'Her' name is Sera, and she, and Froakie, are out because they shouldn't have to be cooped up in those balls."

"Well, 'those balls' turn them to energy so they don't feel discomfort for your information." Ritchie air-quoted mockingly.

"Oh yeah, well that doesn't -"

"Stop fighting you two! This is the third time." Leaf groaned, blocking her ears.

"Sorry."

"Sorry," Ash repeated a second later.

Leaf lowered her hands. "That's better. Also, that's a good idea Ash!" She grabbed out Forest's pokeball, releasing the young bulbasaur with the press of a button.

She bent down, slowly petting Forest's bulbs. In response, Forest extended his vines, stroking Leaf's hair. She giggled, before lightly tugging Forest along.

As they continued on, a shuffling sound came from the canopy, prompting them to look up, to see a plump caterpie. Ritchie's eyes lit up and motioned to the others to be silent. He primed a pokeball before releasing Spearow.

Spearow screeched as he materialised, eyes zeroing in on caterpie. A hungry look appeared in his eyes as he swooped at the caterpie. Caterpie's eyes widened as it spat out a String Shot. Spearow dived out of the way and used Peck.

The caterpie was knocked off the tree and Spearow dived down, talons outstretched. Grabbing the caterpie's flailing body, he brought it to the ground. Ritchie smirked in success, which turned to horror as Spearow's beak glowed a lethal white, ready to finish it off.

"No!" Ritchie hurled the pokeball at the caterpie, who was thankfully absorbed inside with little resistance.

Spearow's previously triumphant look turned to irritation, flying up to a thick branch and preening himself. The trio's horrified look settled on Spearow, who ignored it in favour of realigning his feathers.

"That was horrible! He almost killed that poor caterpie." Leaf looked disturbed, unconsciously releasing her tight hold on Forest's vine.

"Why didn't you tell Spearow not to try and eat it!" Ash's scandalised expression intensified as his eyes met Ritchie's.

Ritchie stepped back, hands up placatingly. "I didn't mean for- I- I forgot that spearows ate caterpies…" He trailed off, suddenly quiet.

The other two also fell silent and looked pensive, even when Sera darted back. Ash's attention snapped back when Sera licked his hand; he smiled uneasily at his two pokemon, who had been staring at him concernedly.

"I'm hungry guys, let's just find a place to eat." Ash smiled sheepishly, rubbing his stomach. The other two also snapped back, following Ash as he looked for a suitable spot.

They soon found a rather beat up clearing, plopping themselves down. Shrugging off their backpacks, they unloaded various items. Ritchie set up his camping kettle and mini stove, unfolding its legs while Leaf and Ash took out their meal packs.

Ash pulled out his brand-new pokebowl from the Pokemart and filled it with the standard pokemon food, placing it down as Froakie and Sera rested beside him. As Ash ate the bland meal, he grimaced at the mush in his mouth. His eyes drifted over to his pokemon's food, which was being taken in at a rapid pace. He sat there for a moment before grabbing one of the pellets.

Kinda rough, and it smells weird as well, he thought before throwing them into his mouth.

He was chewing for one second before gagging and grimacing in the next second, heaving out everything in his stomach. Everyone quickly whipped their heads towards Ash and his curled-up figure, expressing concern.

"Ash! Are you alright? What happened?" Leaf asked, slightly panicked.

Ritchie also came over and eyed him in concern while Froakie grabbed Ash's bottle. Ash snatched the bottle frantically and guzzled the water inside, pointing to his pokemon's food while he did so.

"Oh my god you're so stupid," Ritchie rolled his eyes while Leaf quickly calmed down, stroking Ash's back.

"Jeez, that tasted horrible!" Ash gasped out in disgust, "I'm gonna stick to my own meals from now on."

Leaf giggled and Ritchie shook his head, shifting back to his original spot.

"I challenge you to a pokemon battle!"

A scrawny trainer with a straw hat and a butterfly net blocked their path, stabbing his finger at them.

Leaf eyed the boy's small frame and confident grin suspiciously. "Are you even old enough to be battling?"

The boy's grin wavered for a moment but answered that he was, earning a round of doubtful glances from the trio.

"Sure," Ritchie snorted, "and who exactly are you challenging?"

The boy's eyes ran across the trio and glinted when they landed on Ash's cap.

"You!" He pointed at Ash. "I challenge you to a formal battle! If I win, I get your League Expo hat!"

Ash grinned with confidence, "Deal! And if I win, I'll get 100 pokedollars!"

"Uh, 72. And in cash."

"Sure, just be ready to hand it over!" Ash smirked, he was going to get some money and a chance to show off his friends.

As they hurried to the nearest battlefield, the two challengers registered their challenge, the bug catcher's fingers fumbling on the screen. They reached a small battlefield, grass overgrown yet reasonably well maintained. There were a couple pidgey on it, and some rattata lurking nearby, but they all scattered when they saw the four humans. A nest of pikachu eyed the humans warily and moved further out of sight. Ritchie watched them in interest and quickly excused himself.

"I Leaf Underhill will be the referee. Is trainer Ash and trainer Rick ready?"

"Yes miss!"

"Heck yeah Leaf!"

"Release your pokemon!"

A weedle and Froakie were released. Rick eyed Froakie warily. Ash smirked confidently.

"Begin!" Leaf stepped back away from the field with Forest.

Weedle spat out strings of a silk-like substance at Froakie. Froakie leaped up and fired back with bubbles that popped as they hit a foe who awkwardly squirmed away.

"Pound!" Ash grinned proudly.

Froakie dropped from the sky, slamming Weedle with his foreleg. The weedle squealed before fainting. Ash blinked for a moment, bewildered, before cheering loudly the moment after. Rick bemoaned, eyes wide as he watched the weedle being sucked back into the pokeball.

"Trainer Ash has won the first round. If you would like to switch pokemon, please do so now!"

Ash nodded and after praising Froakie for a final time, he returned him and sent out Sera, who yipped as she readied herself.

"Trainer Rick, please send out your second pokemon now!"

Rick gulped as he sent out a scrawny caterpie, who squealed at the sight of Sera and her interested gaze.

"And begin!"

"Quick Attack!"

"Tackle!"

The caterpie flopped forwards with a brave face, missing entirely. Sera glowed white as she leaped out the way and darted back at the caterpillar, striking Caterpie in its midsection. The caterpie rolled away but was hit by a barrage of Ember.

"Stop! I forfeit!"

The screaming caterpie was returned to the hands of its trainer, who's eyes started shimmering and lips trembling.

"I forfeit…" The boy whispered, eyes widened in shock.

Ash mentally cheered for his first win but stopped himself at the boy's look. "Good battle Rick."

"Good-good battle Ash, here's the money. I have to heal up my pokemon." Rick handed over the prize money and bolted off.

"Congrats Ash!" Ash turned to Leaf, who high-fived him.

He nodded, "Thanks, I just wish his caterpie wasn't burned so badly- not that it's your fault Sera! You did amazing! We won our first match!" Ash backtracked as he stroked Sera's head.

Ash kneeled on the ground, releasing Froakie so he could tend to any scrapes they might have gotten. The two trainers sat there for a while, chatting away until Ritchie came back with his clothes dirty and nicked, hat knocked off and with leaves in his hair.

"Where did you go?" Ash looked at Ritchie's state curiously.

Ritchie held up a shiny pokeball that he had been gripping on to. "Pikachu. You win?"

Ash smirked. "Yeah I won. My first win in a line of many!"

Leaf stretched as she got up and turned to the two, "Alright! Ash won his battle and Ritchie caught his pokemon. Let's find a place to camp now, it's almost evening."

The darkened sky stretched over Viridian Forest, as the trio found a place to camp and rest.

"Very good, try again!"

Ash and Leaf, who had been playing with their teams, turned their heads to the source of the noise, an excited Ritchie with a panting Charmander beside a cracked boulder. Spearow and Caterpie (who was far away from Spearow) watched with interest nearby while Pikachu was nowhere to be found.

Ash got up and approached the group, watching Charmander's glowing arm quickly fade. "What's going on?"

Ritchie glanced at him and returned Charmander, "I'm testing out the Brick Break TM my father gave me for Charmander. It'll be useful for the Pewter Gym."

Ash's eyes widened, impressed. "That's pretty smart, you're planning everything out."

"It's important to. If you don't plan out and prepare for our dream, then you're just wasting your time and your dreams will remain that, a dream."

Ash thought back to the times in Trainer Course classes where he had dozed off, or didn't show up at all. "Yeah… you're right." He paused for a moment, and unclenched his fist. "So how are you training?"

Ritchie snapped a picture of the cracked boulder with a small camera. "Well, I improve their basics first: Speed, stamina and strength. Then I make sure they are familiar with their attacks and I plan out what they learn next. The pokedex has descriptions of the moves they can learn."

"Oh Mew! Have you been planning for this your entire life or something!" Ash stared incredulously at Ritchie. His own 'planning' was so negligible compared to Ritchie's! The most he had done was imagine what moves his imaginary Charizard would have had.

Ritchie pursed his lips. "Something like that," and walked off.

What's his deal? Ash stared at the preteen in confusion. Whatever, let's do this!

Ash gathered Froakie and Sera away from the camp, in an area with towering trees.

"Welcome to our first team training guys!" Froakie stared at Ash while Sera started cleaning her coat. Ash changed to a more serious tone. "We've lost to Gary and Ritchie, people who have started at the same time as us. Gary is just a stupid prodigy and Ritchie has been working hard for a long time.

"If we want to catch up to them and kick their asses -" Ash glanced behind, half expecting his mum to show up, "we're going to have to work extra hard! And smart!" Froakie nodded while Sera rolled over, staring at Ash with her large brown eyes. "Well let's do this!"

Ash started the session off with physical training for the two. He focused on getting Froakie's jumps to be higher by having him leap up a tree, tag it with Frubble, and try to jump higher than that. For Sera, he trained her agility by having her sprint laps through the dense forest.

He quickly encountered a problem however. He had no idea what moves to prepare, let alone train. The rest of the training session was spent on reviewing Sera and Froakie's moves as he started to research their pokedex entries.

After a while, Ash groaned as he felt his stomach grumble. He looked up at the rapidly darkening sky and called out to his team, both hard at work.

"It's time to eat, guys!" Sera's eyes widened and raced off back to camp, while Froakie leaped onto Ash's head, causing him to stumble.

As Ash poured the last drops of food from his second pack down his throat, he combed Sera's fur, who purred slowly as she arched her back. Leaf and Forest were playing with Misty - Leaf's magikarp - who was in the river. Froakie lounged around in the river while Ritchie sat by the fire alone, reading his pokedex and pokegear.

"Ritchie, do you have any idea how to teach a move?"

Ritchie looked up at Ash, "Depends, what move?"

Ash checked his pokedex again. "Uh, any. If we don't have the powers of pokemon, how are we supposed to teach them?"

Ritchie narrowed his eyes and absentmindedly tapped his finger. "Well, we do have human psychics - and psychic types on that note - that can communicate with pokemon to help us understand how they attack. That's actually how TM's are made you know," Ritchie glanced at Ash's surprised expression. "Yeah, they have a psychic type that 'pulls' the memory of a move from a pokemon and then they compress it into a disc.

"I have this textbook," Ritchie reached into his bag to grab out a large book with a brown cover and a wheel of 18 symbols, "it's called The Beginner's Guide to Pokemon Moves, by some professor in Alola called Professor Kukui. You can borrow it for the time being. As long as the move you're trying to teach isn't too complicated, it should be there."

Ash's eyes widened as he held the surprisingly heavy textbook. He flipped through the pages and noticed that moves were separated into chapters for each type. There were pictures of each move, a list of pokemon that could learn each specific move, as well as a comprehensive explanation of the theory of each move and how they worked.

"This - this is amazing! Thank you so much Ritchie!"

"Just put it to good use, Ash." Ritchie turned over into his sleeping bag, but not before Ash spotted a faint smile.

Three days went by as the trio continued on through Viridian Forest, battling trainers, each other and training. They all grew stronger, Ash in particular, thanks to Ritchie and his unusually detailed knowledge.

The others were not doing so good however. Ritchie was struggling with managing his team of four. While Charmander and Spearow were obedient, Caterpie was timid with Ritchie and downright frightful in the proximity of Spearow. Pikachu on the other hand was a constant nuisance to Ritchie. From stealing food to ignoring Ritchie, the boy in question had gotten sick of it and had locked Pikachu inside his pokeball.

While Leaf's team of two brought little to no trouble, her own problems lay within. She had been having a hard time in battles with trainers due to their typings and had become more quiet and isolated more often.

Even the trio's cooperation and friendship became strained, from a decision of Ritchie's.

"What do you mean you're releasing Pikachu!" Ash's eyes widened in shock.

"It's been a liability and disobedient. There's no use in keeping and wasting resources on it if it won't listen." Ritchie idly scrolled through the pokedex.

"Yeah, maybe because 'he' realises what an ass you are!" Ash snarked, annoyed with Ritchie's dismissive attitude.

Ritchie glared and stood up. "What did you say!"

"You heard me." Ash stepped closer to Ritchie. "What kind of person treats pokemon like they're lesser and that they don't have feelings. Pikachu is just like us, he has his own personality and quirks. Besides, are you forgetting you basically kidnapped him! You need to be patient with Pikachu and befriend him. If you show kindness to him, he will be kind to you back." Ash was suddenly reminded of the talk he had with Professor Oak.

Ritchie scoffed, "Get it through your thick head! Pokemon aren't like us! Otherwise, they wouldn't be ours to command. Leaf back me up!" They both looked at her, who's eyes had widened in shock and fear.

"I…I…I don't -"

"Ow!"

Something jumped from the trees at Ash, landed on him and blurred away. The trio jumped, and jerked their heads at that thing. It was a mankey. With Ash's hat.

"My hat!" Ash pointed at the mankey. "Give it back!"

The mankey responded by sticking its tongue out, and leaped away.

"You thief!" Ash chased it, releasing his two pokemon. "Sera, Froakie, let's get it!" Sera snarled and sprinted after Ash while Froakie chased from the treetops.

Ash didn't know how long he spent chasing Mankey, who raced through the forest. Whenever Mankey couldn't be seen, Sera's sense of smell quickly pointed them to the right way, and her sense of hearing picked up Mankey's jeering laughs.

Mankey abruptly stopped and stuck out its tongue once again. Ash scowled and Froakie came up from behind, Quick Attacking it off the tree. Sera followed up with a round of Ember, hitting Mankey, and burning bits of its fur. The simian got back up and snarled, baring its teeth as it Low Kicked Sera, knocking her down on the dirt and getting her coat dirty.

"Bubble!" Froakie blew rounds of Bubble, popping as they came in contact with Mankey and forcing it away.

"Give back my hat now and we'll let you go."

It screeched, its call echoing through the forest and up the mountain. Ash narrowed his eyes, that hat was limited edition and it had taken about a million postcards to get it! There was no way he was going to lose it to some pig-snouted furball!

"Sera, Quick Attack! Froakie, cut off its escape route!"

They went to work. Sera snarled viciously at the state of her pelt and zipped forwards with a dangerous gleam. As Mankey dodged, it was nailed by Frubble on the tail, anchoring it to the ground.

"Froakie, let's try that Water Pulse!" Ash called out to Froakie, slightly hesitant. He hasn't fully mastered the control yet.

Froakie concentrated, palms to his side. Water quickly started forming, small droplets that rapidly condensed into an invisible centre. It bulged as more water was added, it swirled, it -

Sera slipped forwards, lips bared. The Water Pulse bulged despite its user's command, and burst. Her claws swiped forwards at Mankey. Her jaws began to clamp on Mankey's arm. Mankey wasn't idle and broke free of the foam, and swung at Sera. The two quickly became a blur of claws and fangs. They separated, both bruised and bloody.

Despite being in it's weakened state, Mankey was still formidable in close quarters, thanks to being a fighting type. Maybe I should catch it?

Ash sighed in relief as he saw the hat laying on the ground. "Froakie, get my hat!" Froakie grabbed it and leaped to Ash, placing the hat safely on Ash's head.

Ash grinned at Froakie and made up his mind. "Go! Pokeball!" He threw his pokeball, not noticing the incoming troop.

The ball hit Mankey and beamed an unseen wave at Mankey. As Mankey's body glowed red and started being sucked by the ball, its eyes met the faraway eyes of its leader and called out a silent cry.

The ball closed. It shook once. Twice. Thrice, more violently. Dinged.

"Nice! Good job guys!" Ash stepped forwards to grab the ball, which was being snarled at by Sera. He rolled his eyes at that, Guess she's angry at Mankey getting her dirty.

Ash picked up the pokeball and grinned. "We got our third teammate! And it's a fighting type, we're all - what's wrong Sera, Froakie?" The two pokemon were tense, facing the mountains.

A loud screech rang through the forest. The forest went silent. A cacophony of howls and screeches became louder and louder, and as it got louder, Ash realised that the noise was actually getting closer. Branches started to shake and the unmistakable forms of a primeape and mankeys came into view.

"R-Run!" He turned around and ran, making sure his team was following.

He shuddered at the roars from behind, and picked up the pace. He had to somehow distract them somehow, or slow them down.

"Frubble everywhere! Slow them down!" From the trees, Froakie flung Frubble everywhere behind him, which slowed them down a bit.

"We need to get -" Ash spotted two people, "Ritchie! Leaf! Run!" The two in question jerked their heads to Ash's direction, and dropped their jaws in shock.

They turned around and bolted with Ash. "How the hell did you get in this mess!" Ritchie yelled, grabbing out his pokedex.

"It was an accident!" Ash panted.

"Oh yeah, sure!" Ritchie frantically fiddled with his pokedex.

"Stop it you two!" Leaf glared at them both, who's eyes widened at her intensity. "I'm sick with you two arguing all the time. In case you've forgotten, now's not the time!" The two looked sheepish, and apologised to Leaf and each other.

Ritchie's eyes widened at something on the pokedex, "Guys, I know what to do!" Ash and Leaf looked at Ritchie expectantly. "Mankeys and primeapes are extremely aggressive and ill-tempered and only respect power. The leader of the troop is the strongest primeape and usually the only primeape -"

"What's your point Ritchie!" Ash looked back at the snarling faces and bared teeth and gulped.

"My point is that there is only one primeape. Usually others are driven off or killed because of paranoia, sometimes the troop itself is split into a civil war. If we just beat that leader, then the others will fracture off, maybe even fight among themselves, so we can escape!" Ritchie looked back and quickly counted 11 of them.

"Alright! Let's do this!" Leaf and Ash yelled, quickly eying each other, before the trio suddenly jerked around and faced the incoming apes.

"Go Forest!" Leaf released her pokeball, who's vines were outstretched.

"Be prepared Charmander, Spearow, Caterpie!" The three pokemon appeared and readied themselves.

10 mankeys charged forwards, leaping from tree to tree with a large, scarred primeape in the front. The primeape was huge, larger than Ash himself. Its arms were thick with bulging muscles with jagged lines across its hands. A patch of hair near its eyes were missing as well while its metal weights seemed chipped and damaged.

They had to separate the troop from their leader long enough to defeat it. "Froakie, Frubble the mankeys!" Froakie nodded from the treetop and started chucking the foam at the mankeys.

"Caterpie! Do the same thing with String Shot." Caterpie went to work and spat out weaves of string as barriers and traps.

"Leech Seed as many as you can!" Forest's bulb expanded and contracted multiple times as seeds were fired from his back multiple times.

Primeape's blood-shot eyes bulged in anger and leaped at Froakie, it closed in and - "Razor Leaf its face!" - spinning leaves by Forest were sent at Primeape's face, distracting it and letting Froakie escape.

"Hey Muscles!" Ash pointed at 'Muscles'. "Your battle is with us! Ember!" Barrages of small flames flew at 'Muscles', who snarled and dodged the flames.

"Dragon Breath! Focus Energy!" A beam of multicoloured energy travelled to Muscles while Spearow took a deep breath and watched Muscles carefully.

Leech Seed!"

At the same time, Razor Leaves and Embers flew at Muscles. The primeape ripped off a tree branch and swung it at the incoming attacks, which collided with the branch and exploded. At least all the attacks but Leech Seed, which latched onto Muscles.

Meanwhile with the mankeys, Caterpie continued tying down any approaching mankeys, while Froakie opted to distract the mankeys instead, his back and chest noticeably bare of its foam.

Ash pursed his lips. Froakie had used up a lot of his water reserves making the sticky foam. He would have to use water attacks sparingly.

"Spearow, use Peck!" Ritchie commanded, eying the distance that Muscles was closing.

"No! Don't!"

It was too late. Spearow reared his beak and zipped from the left side, directing his sharp beak at Muscles' nose. Muscles' eyes darted at Spearow. It crossed its arms briefly. They glowed. And he swung his left arm. It hit.

Spearow rocketed at a tree with barely a sound, too surprised. His eyes widened in fear at the second glowing chop coming closer, like a guillotine.

It got closer, and closer, Spearow brought up his wings for protection and - "Return!" - he disappeared in a red light to his shaken trainer. "It was a flying type, yet…"

"Muscles is too strong! We have to stay away from it! As long as we do that, its physical attacks can't hurt us." Ash had a certain fire in his eyes, "We need to keep it down long enough to escape! There's no way to beat this thing."

Ash eyed his teammates, who were all trying to keep Muscles at a distance.

He tried to recall if they had anything to help. Sera's ability is Flash Fire, but that's no good against these fighting types - Wait! - unless…

"Charmander! Ember on Sera!" Charmander looked at Ash in surprise and then at Ritchie for confirmation while Sera eyed Ash in confusion, who returned the look with a reassuring nod.

"What do you mean hit - Oh!" Ritchie's eyes lightened up and grinned at Ash in excitement. "That's brilliant! That's so - right! - do it Charmander!"

Charmander stared at the two doubtfully before rearing her head back and breathed the small flames at Sera. Sera flinched, expecting pain, but to Ash's relief, she looked invigorated. Her body glowed a bright red aura as small embers flew off her not-yet-matured four tails.

She yowled in excitement and bared her fangs, letting out small flames near the sides.

Leaf smiled at Ash in excitement and admiration."That's genius Ash! Flash Fire is comparable to Blaze in power but easier to access with another fire type around. Don't worry about - watch out!"

The warning came in the nick of time as Ash and the rest leaped out of the way of Forest swung from his vines by Muscles like some morning star.

"Forest!" Leaf's eyes shimmered as she called out.

But it was no use. Muscles had grabbed onto Forest's Vine Whip and had used him like a whip. Muscles roared as it continued thrashing Forest around. As the others got back up, Muscles carelessly tossed Forest away, who's unconscious form was safely returned to his pokeball.

"You ugly furball! I'll thrash you for what you did" Leaf snarled, nose flaring as she stepped forwards, before being pulled back by Ash.

"Leaf, insulting it isn't a good idea. We have to move away now! It's too clo - Ah!" Ash tackled Leaf out of the way as Muscles leaped over them to a startled Sera, Charmander and Ritchie.

Muscles kicked - a strong powerful one - at Sera, who it deemed to be the biggest threat. Ash screamed as the attack was launched and he could only watch as - the attack hit Charmander instead!

She screeched in pain as she was launched back, digging a trench. Muscles snorted, flaring its nose before it raised its arms and swiped down.

"Quick Attack yourself and Ritchie away!" Ash yelled and thankfully he was quick enough as Sera bit into Ritchie's clothes and dragged him under Muscles to Ash and Leaf.

"Disable! Then Ember!" Sera and then Muscles glowed for a second before Embers that were larger and more numerous were fired at Muscles.

Muscles took the hit. Screeched. It raised its arm again, and charged forwards, heading closer and swiped down. Or at least tried to. The primeape roared as it found itself unable to attack and tripped itself tumbling to the trio's left.

A roar came from Charmander's direction and the trio quickly glanced there, only to widen their eyes in shock, in elation, in relief.

Charmander's body was glowing brightly, a blue-white light that almost blinded everyone. Her tail grew longer and thicker as her flame grew larger. Her face became more angular and a small stub that had emerged from her head elongated to form a horn. Meanwhile her arms became more muscular as her claws lengthened and sharpened. When the light faded, her final change: red scales was revealed and she roared into the sky, spouting a flame much larger than before.

As Muscles got up, the trio and Sera quickly ran over to Charmeleon's side and faced Muscles together.

"Vulpix! Ember!"

"Charmeleon! You too!"

The two pokemon followed orders, but Charmeleon instead spat out a singular jet of flame that emitted heat felt by the trio behind her.

"That's Flamethrower! It's an attack that Charmeleon's can easily learn due to their new anatomy!" Ritchie grinned, his eyes soaking up every inch of Charmeleon.

A screech quickly took the trio's attention as they saw three of the eight mankeys that Caterpie and Froakie had tied down start to escape.

"We need more help! Ritchie, can you get Pikachu to help!" Ash stared at Ritchie seriously.

"What? We were just fighting over how it never listened!" Ritchie stared incredulously at Ash.

"Yeah well now's the time to convince him."

"Agh, fine!" Ritchie backed away from the fighting and released Pikachu, who glanced at Ritchie before turning away, scratching his ears. "Look Pikachu," Pikachu ignored him, "Hey! Pay attention! This is important." Pikachu still ignored him, scratching his nose.

Ritchie sighed, "I'll release you after this." That got Pikachu's attention, who stared at Ritchie excitedly and a bit warily as well. "If you promise to fight, I will release you as soon as you're done." Pikachu stared for a moment, before nodding and darting at Muscles.

"Nice one Ritchie! Let's do - duck!" Ash yelled at the others as he saw a mankey leaping at them from the corner of his eyes.

He raised his arms in defence but was saved when Froakie hurdled into the mankey with Quick Attack. Froakie looked worse for wear, with many small bruises and cuts.

Wait! What happened to the other mankeys! Ash jerked his head up to the trees and sighed in relief as he saw seven mankeys either tied up or unconscious. But that still leaves two, not counting the one that Froakie just knocked out.

A screech from above alerted Ash to a mankey that leaped at Pikachu who was knocked into a tree by Muscles. Ash called out for help but all the other pokemon were too busy. His eyes landed on Ritchie, who noticed the mankey, and had thrown aside his bag.

"Ritchie, don't -'' Ash's warning went ignored as Ritchie darted at Pikachu, and tackled the mankey to the ground, before grabbing its tail and swinging it away.

"Pikachu! Are you alright!" Ritchie bit his lip at his weakened pikachu. He wasn't trained like the others so he was far weaker than the others.

Pikachu stared at Ritchie with surprise, and something else. He had seen this human - who had been quite detached and frustrated previously - protect him from a pokemon, which could'v easily broken the human's bones.

Pikachu noticed something else, a second mankey leaping at the human's neck, who was unaware. The other humans were too far away and the other pokemon were fighting. Pikachu got up shakily and bared his tiny fangs.

Ritchie blinked confusedly at the sight and stepped back warily, flinching as Pikachu leaped forwards, cloaked in a white light. What he didn't expect was for Pikachu to rocket past him and tackle the other mankey headed for him that he didn't even see!

The mankey lost momentum and crashed to the ground. Pikachu on the other hand while still airborne rubbed his cheeks, producing a charge and letting loose a powerful Thunderbolt from his body. The bolt hit the mankey, blasting it further away and leaving its body smoking and singed.

Ritchie stared with his mouth open, "You saved me Pikachu!" The mouse in question squeaked in response and faced Muscles, the only enemy still fighting.

Ash pumped his fist, grinning at the pokemon still up and fighting. "Let's hit with all we've got before we run! Froakie, can you still launch a Water Pulse?" Froakie nodded. "Great, remember to concentrate and compress on that centre! And to swirl it."

Sera reared her head back and spat out large balls of flames, a powered-up version of Ember. Charmeleon breathed out a large jet of flame which flickered with a bright light. Pikachu unleashed a bolt of lightning from hisbody. Froakie threw a swirling ball of water that had every last drop of his power poured into it.

Muscles bared its teeth, flared its nostrils and rushed in with a Cross Chop. The attacks connected and the resulting explosion blasted everyone away.

Ash winced as he slowly propped himself up against a tree. Ritchie and Leaf were also getting up while their pokemon were already up, eying Muscles warily.

Muscles itself seem dazed. It's fur was badly burnt and a small collection of burn marks were found on its body. Most important of all, it was stumbling around in circles, punching and kicking trees with a ferocity even greater than before. Ash exhaled a sigh of relief as he realised Froakie's Water Pulse head confused Muscles.

Ash pushed himself up and called out to the others to go. Needless to say they nodded, returning their pokemon and half-running, half-limping away.

"Hey Ritchie?" Ash stared into the fire, breaking the silence that had held the group.

"Yeah?" Ritchie yawned as he closed his book.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you. And for calling you names. It was…" Ash rubbed the back of his head, "immature of me."

Ritchie smiled softly, "I forgive you." His face turned more somber. "And I have some apologies to make as well," Ritchie released Pikachu out, who blinked in confusion. "I should've been more patient and understanding with you. I didn't think about how you lost your family and how that would've made you more resistant against me. I…don't know how to feel about pokemon, my dad - I was taught differently when I grew up and I don't quite know what to feel.

"What I do know is that what I did only pushed you away and made you want to leave, yet you still saved me. I made a promise to you and I will keep that promise. I'll release you and you can go back to your family. Thank you very much for teach - what?" Ritchie exclaimed in surprise as Pikachu climbed Ritchie's arm, resting on his shoulder.

"Uh…don't you want to leave?" Ritchie furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, staring at Pikachu strangely.

"I think Pikachu wants to stay Ritchie," Ash smiled at the scene.

"Aww! That's so adorable!" Leaf clasped her hands together.

Ritchie continued to stare at Pikachu in surprise. "You…you want to stay?" When Pikachu nodded and licked Ritchie's face, his eyes widened and stood up abruptly, causing Pikachu to jump off. "That's amazing! It's…it's going to be great to have you on the squad, you're really strong you know! Your Thunderbolt has a really good aim, we just have to improve your speed and maybe increase your power…" Ritchie rambled off while the others laughed. Pikachu giggled and climbed up Ritchie again.

It was the fifth day they were in Viridian Forest, a day away from Pewter City, the trio had rested beside a river and had split up to do training. Ash and Leaf trained on opposite sides of the river for their water types while Ritchie was more in land. Ash, Sera and Froakie gathered in a semicircle, sitting around a pokeball.

"Are we ready guys? He might be a bit aggressive." Ash warned the other two, who nodded. "Alright then," he said as he pressed the button.

The capsule opened and a second later, the mankey that had stolen Ash's hat appeared. When he realised where he was, he snarled and backed away.

Ash raised his hands up placatingly, and warned Sera and Froakie not to be aggressive. "Hello, I'm Ash, the guy who's hat you stole." Mankey eyed Ash's hat, causing Ash to grit his teeth. "This is Froakie and Sera," Froakie nodded at Mankey while Sera growled at him, who growled back.

Mankey glared at Sera and turned to face her. Sera got up and bared her teeth, tensing her body.

Ash cursed, "Whoa whoa, enough guys!" Ash got between them and stared at Sera. "Behave Sera, the past is the past, let it go." Ash turned to Mankey, grabbing out an oran berry. "Mankey, calm down. Here's a berry." Mankey's eyes flickered between the oran berry and Ash, switching from greed to wariness.

Ash smiled as Mankey snatched the berry. "Better?" Mankey continued eating, "Good, I have a deal for you." Mankey continued to eat, "Do you want to grow stronger?" Mankey's ears perked up, causing Ash to smirk. "While you're in the wild, you have to forage for food, and I imagine it gets pretty dangerous in your troop. You want to grow stronger but it's hard to. You're constantly ordered around, yelled at because you're weak and they're strong."

Mankey was staring attentively now. Ash stared back at Mankey, barely flinching as he registered the words that he somehow…knew to be true.

"If you come with me, you'll have quick access to food. You will be safe with the team. You will grow stronger, much faster than in the wild." Mankey put down his food. "Would you like to join us? Or do you want to go back to your troop, who we beat?" Mankey's eyes widened at that and stared at Ash, then Froakie, then Sera.

He nodded and Ash smiled, extending his fist. Mankey frowned at the gesture and Ash hastily showed Mankey what to do. Mankey grunted in delight and bumped Ash's fist with his head, causing the trainer to laugh.

"Would you like a name for us to call you Mankey?" Mankey stared at Ash confusedly. "Like a name that's unique and special to you." Mankey shrieked in excitement and Ash smirked. "Well, let's see…Bruno? Muscles?" Mankey shook his head. "Uh…I don't really have a name right now. But don't worry," Ash reassured the disappointed mankey, "I'll find a name that fits you perfectly!" Loud, energetic, a fighter, and a thief.

Mankey nodded. "Perfect! Let's get to training right away!" An excited gleam shimmered in Mankey's eyes as he started hopping on the spot. "Show me what you got Mankey!"

Damn this chapter really got me. Gym battles are one thing but for something like tag team battles against a variety of pokemon is challenging. Hope y'all are healthy and happy. Please leave a review telling me how i did? What did I do well on? What could I have improved on?