Chapter 4: Hero
"Yes, we're finally in Striaton City!" Ash ran up to the entrance of the area with a wide smile on his face.
"You ready to win our gym battle, Pikachu?" Ash gazed at his shoulder where the mouse stood.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu shouted and made a fist pump to show his enthusiasm.
"And that means I also get to have my contest battle, I'm in it to win it," May jumped in show, fire clearly in her eyes.
Iris crossed her arms and smiled slyly, "I hate to burst your bubbles, but this is Accumula Town."
The trio turned to Iris with surprised looks across their faces. "Accumula Town, this isn't Striaton City?" Ash gave the girl a disappointed gaze.
"Nope, sorry," Iris said with a sympathetic look on her face. She and Axew gave the trio sensitive looks that understood they're disappoint. She tried to lighten them up with some good news, "Hey, look at the bright side. We should be arriving in Striaton City tomorrow!" Iris exclaimed.
May lifted her head and made a half-smile, "I guess that's good."
"I can wait one more day, what about you Pikachu?" Ash acknowledged what Iris said and asked his friend.
The mouse nodded and Iris was glad that she cheered her friends up. Suddenly, May's stomach grumbled and the brunette held her tummy while smiling shamefacedly, "Oh, I guess I'm hungry."
Ash looked at May and then felt his stomach grumble as well, the raven-haired boy held his stomach and grinned sheepishly, "Make that two."
All of a sudden, more stomach grumbling was heard and Iris laughed nervously, "Make that all of us." Pikachu, Axew, and the teenagers all laughed, realizing that they had to get something to eat quickly.
"The Pokémon Center here should have food for us and the Pokémon, come on," Iris guided the pair and they got on their way.
When they arrived at the Pokémon Center they saw two strangely dressed people standing in front of the entrance. It was a man and a woman with stern looks. "I wonder who those guys are," May mumbled to herself.
When they arrived at the entrance of the Pokémon Center, they noticed that they couldn't pass because of the people blocking the entrance. "Excuse me, hungry travelers coming through," Ash told the pair as he tried to get through.
The man pushed him back aggressively and glared at the boy. They towered over the group fiercely with their gray and black armor that resembled a knight's armor. They had a coat of arms on their chests and an X on their hoods.
"You children shouldn't be here, go to the center of Accumula Town and listen to what our leader N, has to say. Everyone else has gone and so will you," the female spoke with a serious tone.
May's eyes flared, "I don't care what anyone has to say, I want to eat!" May viciously forced herself through her pair, but was grabbed by the shoulders.
The duo held May by the shoulders and held her still. "Little girl, you should be focusing on going to the center and listen to what N has to say, it certainly is more important than filling yourself with junk food," the male spoke in a tone just as serious as the woman.
"Hey let her go!" Ash yelled at the two and stared at them angrily.
The man and woman launched May at Ash, who caught her. The boy almost tripped to catch her, but kept the girl secured in her arms, "You okay May?" Ash gave May a concern look.
"I'm fine Ash, thank you," May gave the boy an assuring grin.
"Wow," Iris was surprised at how strong the pair was, but glared at them. "What do you guys want from us?" Iris gave the duo a dirty look.
The two laughed and the woman spoke, "We're Team Plasma and we are here to prove something."
"What would that be," May stood up properly after Ash let go of her.
"We're here to prove that the liberation of Pokémon is the answer to the crisis this world faces," the male Team Plasma Grunt stated.
"Team Plasma?" Ash put on a confused look. Not another gang of crooks with an evil goal, the boy thought as he recalled meeting the Team Magma and Team Aqua in Hoenn and Team Galactic in Sinnoh.
"Pika?" Pikachu also put on a baffled look, the mouse knew that this might spell trouble.
Iris had heard of Team Plasma, but she had never met them until now. The girl frowned at them, knowing that these guys meant bad news.
May was the only who showed no concern, food obviously came first. "That's great, can we get some food now?" the brunette glared at them more intensely.
"Go…to…the center of town brat," the male grunt spoke more aggressively now.
Ash grabbed May by the hand, knowing that they would never get anywhere like this. "Come on May, we'll see what's going that is so important," Ash suggested, hopefully they could get some food after that.
The group of five (including Axew) looked at the grunts fiercely as they walked away while Team Plasma gave them sly looks. When they arrived at the center of town they were surprised to see a whole crowd of people there.
"Looks like the entire town is here," Iris examined the area as she heard whispering among the crowd and heard a voice coming from the center.
"Let's go to the front, I want to see what's so special," May stated, still upset over the fact that she didn't get her food.
Ash nodded and they walked through the crowd until they reached the front. There they saw a large group of Team Plasma Grunts dressed in the same fashion as the two from the Pokémon Center and in the middle of them was a boy who looked a bit older than Ash.
He wore khaki pants and a white-collared shirt with a black shirt under it. He also wore a black and gray hap that covered his long, green hair that reached the midsection of his back. The boy also wore a necklace with a hanging black sphere enveloped by a blue design.
"Who's that guy?" Ash asked no one in particular as he looked at the boy.
N got on a platform in the middle so that the whole crowd could see him. The boy held his necklace as he looked at the entire crowd with wandering eyes. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming. I'm here, in Accumula Town today for a very important reason, one that will enlighten the mind and make you realize something you could have never imagined, but first let me introduce myself, I'm N, the leader of Team Plasma."
Ash and his friends listening attentively, curiosity served as their motivation for listening. This better be good, I didn't skip lunch for nothing, May thought.
The leader of Team Plasma closed his eyes momentarily and opened them again, "I'm here to talk about the liberation of Pokémon." When N declared that everyone stared at each other with perplexed gazes, including Ash and the gang. "I'm sure most of you believe that humans and Pokémon are naturally born to become partners correct?" N stared at the crowd, with some giving him nods.
N frowned and spoke with a much more serious tone, "Well, that's incorrect. Pokémon and humans aren't meant to live together because we want and feel like we need each other. Rather, humanity has come to the belief that Pokémon serve us. Pokémon are subject to the indifferent commands given out by their masters, their trainers, coordinators, breeders, etc. I've traveled around the whole and I have seen Pokémon become slaves to people, they are abused to the point where they become just as ruthless as the one who raised it. People give me the excuse that this is not true, but I have seen it with my very own eyes. Organizations like Team Rocket have manipulated Pokémon to such extents that it is inhumane."
The crowd's expression became even more perplexed, they were not sure if what N said is actually true, but all of them gazed at their Pokémon when N spoke. Ash, Iris, and May looked at their Pokeballs, trying to understand what N said.
"Humans disregard Pokémon. They senselessly destroy their homes and capture them for multiple gains. Pokémon have become lab rats and are even used for the development of weapons of mass destruction. Pokémon contain a phenomenal potential that humans just can't wait to harness. In reality, Pokémon are different from humans and we should learn from them. They are the race that has always proven to be gentler, caring, and braver. Such different beings should not be allowed to live in a single space; it is not how the universe was created. I'm sure your Pokémon feel the same deep down, they just don't show it because they fear abuse. They long to be released from those infernal Pokeballs and set free, into the wild. We have to realize that we are only causing harm to our Pokémon and the most noble act would be if you all release your Pokémon, let them return to their natural habitats, like it was meant to be." N smiled as he saw people with angst expressions on their faces.
"Is N right? Is my Pokémon suffering? I can't let it be so miserable," a young man reached for his Pokeball and prepared to release his Pokémon.
A little boy stared sadly at his Pokeball, "But I love my Pokémon…"
"Team Plasma has a point, my Pokémon almost got stolen by those Rocket crooks in Nimbasa City," a woman said and reached for her Pokémon. "Go, be free Tynamo!" The woman released a little Pokémon.
"What are they doing, they just can't let their Pokémon go like that? Don't they love them?" May stared with anxiety all over her face.
"I don't think neither side wants to be separated, just look at their faces," Iris had a sad look on as she watched trainers release their Pokémon with depressing faces. The Pokémon even appeared like they were going to cry, not understanding the reason for their release.
Ash also gazed at the people who released their Pokémon, one by one. He grinded his teeth as he saw many Pokémon and humans alike, beginning to cry.
"That's the way people of Unova, liberate your Pokémon, this is their destiny! Only if we do this, will we finally be considered as equals. This is how we are supposed to live, with Pokémon and humans living separately, in their separate harmonies," N applauded the decisions of most of the crowd until he saw a little boy below him.
"But, but, but I don't want to release my Lillipup. I love it!" The little boy began shedding tears in front of N.
N smiled at him, "If you really love it, then let it go…" The green-haired teen assured that it was the correct path.
As N spoke, the boy began crying even more. Ash and his friends felt a gloomy feeling emerge inside them; they couldn't stand to see the boy. One of the Team Plasma members approached the boy and took his Pokeball, "Give that kid, Pokémon are meant to be free and you are obligated to do so."
The boy tried to reach for his Pokeball, but he was too small while N sighed. "Some humans still have so much to learn," the leader of Team Plasma spoke.
Ash could no longer bear the scene and stepped up. "Hey, give that little boy his Pokeball!" Pikachu also got on the floor and began sparking its cheeks.
"That's right, give it back you bully!" May stepped up as well.
"You have no right to force people to do something they don't want to," Iris also joined them.
N became surprised when he saw the trio defying him. "Or else what?" the Team Plasma Grunt laughed.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded and Pikachu electrocuted the man, causing him to drop the Pokeball. The little boy snatched the Pokeball and ran away, into the crowd.
Ash and May's gazes met N's and the raven-haired boy spoke to him, "What do you think you're doing. You can't just force people to be separated from their Pokémon, they love each other!"
N glared down at Ash, "You must have daydreamt during my whole speech."
"No he wasn't, he was paying as much as I was!" May defended her boyfriend.
"And let me just say, that you're wrong!" Ash yelled at N.
"Oh?" N became disturbed with what he heard. "Really, then how do you prove this?" N looked toward a Plasma member that handed him a steel container. The couple stared at him, wondering what he was doing. The green-haired leader reached for a rope inside the steel box and pulled out a Pokémon covered in soot and muzzle on his face. It was a Tepig.
May and Iris gasped when N showed the Pokémon, "What have you done to that poor thing?" the sapphire-eyed coordinator stared at him with fire blazed in her eyes.
"I found it like this, abandoned by its trainer. Tied to a post with this rope and had a muzzle placed on for further suffering. How do you explain this horrendous act of abuse? You expect me to do nothing and let trainers continue to abuse Pokémon like this simply because they lost in a battle? This proves that humans are plague to Pokémon, this abuse cannot be tolerated!" N exclaimed at them and then gazed at the crowd.
The demonstration further favored N's cause as more people freed their Pokémon. Ash turned to the crowd, "Stop, don't do this! You know you don't want to! You love your Pokémon, so you know that you'd never treat your Pokémon that way. For every bad guy who mistreats Pokémon, there are a 100 who treat their Pokémon right. Look at your Pokémon; they don't want to be released because they love you as much you do. I know from experience." Ash smiled and showed his Pikachu to the crowd.
"Pika pika pi pikachu!" Pikachu introduced himself to the crowd that was astonished by the rare Pokémon. N was the only one that didn't seem to be amazed by the sight.
"A long time ago, I tried to release my Pikachu because we ran into a group of Pikachu that were trying to be captured by criminals. Pikachu saved them and I felt like he should stay with them because he could serve as their protector, but Pikachu refused and continued to stick with me. I also don't keep him in a Pokeball because he doesn't enjoy it, and I'm more than happy to let him hang outside with me. I've done everything in my power to become the best trainer, show Pikachu that I cared about him and it has kept us together till this day," Ash talked about his various moments with Pikachu during his journey.
Everyone in the crowd admired Ash and Pikachu, this time even N was amazed. "A Pokémon that refused to return to the wild and is kept outside of its Pokeball, that's unheard of," N was impressed by the boy, but he looked down at the sad-looking Tepig and remembered why he was fighting for his cause.
May, Iris and Axew smiled at him, they had all known the boy long enough to know that he cared about Pikachu and not just Pikachu, but all Pokémon and people. The gang then turned to N, who grinned at them.
"That is an admirable act, what is your name?" N politely asked the auburn-eyed teen.
"Ash," the boy answered him.
"Ash, you have done well to prove your point, but you are only one out of the millions that harm Pokémon. I cannot let that pass. I have to make sure that no Pokémon is ever treated like this Tepig," N reasoned with Ash regarding their beliefs.
Ash and his friends looked down at the Tepig sympathetically, "Then why don't you try to convince Pokémon to treat their Pokémon better, why don't you raise Tepig yourself and show what a bond can create."
"That's a nice suggestion Ash, but I'm on a crusade to free Pokémon. Not to keep them to myself, that makes me no better than the other crooks roaming Unova and the world," N told the black-haired teen.
Ash responded N, "But you have to see that not everyone is as bad as you think. You saw that little boy from earlier; he loved his Pokémon too much to let it go. I don't like anyone that mistreats Pokémon either and I do everything in my power to stop them, I've traveled many regions, where I met criminals who do bad things to Pokémon and I always helped put a stop to them. That's why they're gone now."
N was shocked and thought is this the boy that saved Hoenn and Sinnoh from the criminals in those regions? "You may done that, but I plan to stop it worldwide and see no other way to do it, but through Pokémon liberation."
Ash grinded his teeth and glared at N, "You can't just take someone's Pokémon like that and release it without thinking about how the Pokémon and trainer love each other! That makes you no better than the criminals you're fighting against!"
At first N was repulsed by the fact that he was compared to the ones he was crusading against, but then chuckled. "Ash, you are a remarkable person, but I'm impressed by the fact that you will drop your belief system so easily. I'd like to test the bond of you and Pikachu as well as your willpower, with a battle."
Ash's friends and the crowd were surprised by the proposal. "I accept," Ash smiled at N slyly, the boy could never turn down a battle.
May smiled at her boyfriend's nature, always ready to fight and defend, the brunette thought in her mind. "You go get him, Ash!" Iris cheered him on and the boy smiled at the pair.
"Ready, Pikachu?" Ash asked the mouse in front of him, who nodded and put on his most confident face.
"Pika!" The mouse cheered excitedly and began sparking his cheeks.
Everyone backed away for the battle as N reached for his Pokémon. "Go, Darmanitan!" N released his Pokémon.
"What's that Pokémon?" May reached for her Pokédex and the machine showed a red gorilla-like Pokémon. The brunette learned that it was a Fire-type that evolved from of a Pokémon known as Darumaka. It also switches from Standard Mode to Zen Mode when it has little energy left.
Ash knew that this was going to be interesting as N smiled. "Pikachu, use Quick Attack!" Ash commanded.
"Darmanitan, use Rollout!" N demanded and the ape curled into a ball that hit Pikachu, sending the mouse flying.
"Alright, use a combination of Agility and Thunderbolt!" the auburn-eyed boy instructed. Pikachu got his composure and ran all over the battlefield, releasing Thunderbolt everywhere. Pikachu moved so fast though, it looked like Thunderbolt was being shot out from all directions and Darmanitan clearly had a hard time dodging it.
Darmanitan was struck once, bringing the Pokémon to its knees for a second. "Impressive," N grinned. "Darmanitan, counter it with Bulldoze!" Darmanitan stomped on the ground and caused a large quake with enough force to send the mouse flying again.
"Finish it with Focus Blast," N smiled calmly with his arms crossed.
Ash began sweating a little, N proved tougher than he thought. "Pikachu, get it together and use Volt Tackle!" Pikachu got his composure back and used Volt Tackle.
The mouse dashed through the Focus Blast, unfazed and causing an explosion in midair, N and Darmanitan were too shocked to react and Darmanitan was sent flying after being hit. "Darmanitan, why let's intensify this with a Flame Typhoon!" N instructed with his arm extended. (Not a move, it's a combination).
Everyone was confused by the command; they were all unfamiliar with the move. Darmanitan began using Rollout in the same stop continuously while shooting out a flame, Darmanitan started moving faster and the flame became a hurricane-like disk formed from Darmanitan's flames. "No, release it!" N shouted out.
The attack seemed incredibly powerful, but Ash knew what countermeasure to take. "Pikachu, use Volt Tail!" Ash retaliated. It was another combination that baffled everyone, except May, remembering the attack that defeated Drew's Roserade, which felt like years ago.
N was further amazed and saw the bounce electrify its tail enough to send the typhoon back at Darmanitan. "Use Protect," N let out a deep breath as Darmanitan protected itself with a barrier.
Ash grinded his teeth, he had hoped that Darmanitan's own attack would have finished him, but something else surprised him and everyone else. "Darmanitan, return!" N returned the Pokémon.
The raven-haired teen raised an eyebrow, "Why did you do that?"
"You were clearly winning Ash, if I had continued Darmanitan would only get hurt and that's not what he battled it for, it was merely a test. You and Pikachu have a deeper connection than I could have imagined," N admitted to his defeat.
Ash and Pikachu smiled at the older male. N's smile vanished and he gave the boy a stern look, "But one loss won't stop my plans. I will continue to follow like belief system as you follow yours. I will continue my quest to stop criminals abusing Pokémon, like my father and his precious allies. By the way, here, you keep him, he'll be raised fine with you because you've proved it to me," N freed Tepig from its rope and muzzle, the green-haired boy told the pig to go ahead.
Tepig ran over to the group with a puzzled look, not sure what to expect from the strangers. Ash kneeled down and smiled at it, "Hey Tepig, do you want to join us, we promise to take good care of you, ok?" the boy welcomed the Fire-type.
At first it was unsure, but after recalling Ash's actions earlier about Pokémon, humans, and his bond with Pikachu, he felt like he could trust his new trainer. "Tepig!" the starter smiled happily as Ash petted him.
"Well ok then, Pokeball go!" Ash threw his Pokeball once Tepig got into and the pig was easily caught. May and Iris smiled at the touching moment when Pokémon and people show love to each other. Now Tepig has a playmate of its own type, May felt the idea cross through her mind and grinned at Ash, who held Tepig's Pokeball while grinning as well.
The boy turned to N, who just stared at him with a half-smile. "We will meet again Ash, next time things won't be so easy," N assured Ash of meeting again and turned around, walking away.
None of them were sure what N was talking about, however, he knew that N would show up again eventually, and they would have another clash of not just Pokémon, but of beliefs. N retreated with Team Plasma as the people of Accumula Town finally calmed down and returned their Pokémon, after seeing Ash battle, the town residents believed that it was best to stick with their Pokémon. Everyone in the center went their separate ways, with only Ash and the gang standing there.
Pikachu and Ash stared into the sky, wondering about N and his intentions; the boy was just as enigmatic as the men in black, despite making his purpose clear. He felt a hand reach for his and turned to see May, with Iris behind her.
"You did it Ash, you proved to N that he is wrong and you got a Tepig!" May congratulated her friend on the victory.
"Yeah, but that won't stop him from reaching his goal. He's probably going to continue to force people to let go of their Pokémon, but when he is, we'll be there to stop him. This isn't the last of him. As for Tepig, he'll make a great teammate, I know it. I'll take good care of him and show N how well Tepig is being raised when we meet again. " Ash told her as he made formed a fist and a smile danced across his face.
"I hate to ruin the moment you two, but N's gone now, let's just go get some food cause I'm hungry," Iris whined and the group laughed, this was the first time someone whined about the lack of food more than Ash and May.
Later that night…
The trio was sleeping at the Pokémon Center, each of them in their own bunk bed, but Ash had trouble sleeping and it was 1:00 pm. "I might as well go get some fresh air," Ash slipped out of his bed, leaving Pikachu. The boy looked at the two girls sleeping and smiled.
"Pika," Pikachu called out and Ash saw that the mouse had awakened.
"Hey pal, you caught me. Do you want to come along?" Ash asked Pikachu and the mouse nodded. Pikachu climbed up his shoulder and the friends grinned at each other.
The pair exited the room and climbed to the roof of the Pokémon Center, which happened to have a nice view of the route Ash and his friends had to take to get to Striaton City. Ash gazed at the moon with his hands on the rail while Pikachu stood on it.
"Pikachu pi?" Pikachu asked his best friend, who had done nothing but stare at the moon since they got up on the roof.
Ash smiled at him, "You're probably curious about why I couldn't sleep and came up here, huh pal?"
"Pi," the mouse nodded.
"I just couldn't stop thinking about what N said. Deep down, I felt like he made a point. During our whole time traveling, half of the time we confronted people with bad intentions. People like Team Rocket; they want to us Pokémon for power and domination." Ash spoke, the boy felt like his whole belief system had been challenged by N, but because of his pride, he hadn't shown it earlier.
"Chuuu," Pikachu lowered his ears. The little mouse knew that N had made a point, but they had to prove that what N said isn't the case. "Pika pika pikachu pi ka chu pi pika pi," the mouse talked to his friend.
"You're right buddy; I shouldn't question what I believe. It's the belief we have that has brought us so close and has kept us together, N's wrong. Pokémon were made to be with people and cooperate with them. I may not know much about history, but I learned once that most of it is built up on the cooperation and friendship between Pokémon and people," Ash recalled an old history lesson from when he was younger than 10.
"Chaaaa!" The Pokémon cooed as he leapt into his trainer's arms and was embraced in a tight hug.
"Pikachu, we've been through so much. We've stopped bad guys and have gotten into so many tournaments because of how close we are. We've shared so many emotions and moments, I don't see how anyone can convince me say that Pokémon and humans are born together only to be segregated," Ash smiled as he ran his fingers through the mouse's fur and rubbed his cheek with the mouse's.
"Thank you so much pal, I don't know what I'd do without you or May," the boy smiled as he held his best friend.
"You won't ever have to know, because Pikachu is never leaving you and I won't either," a voice called out and they turned around to see May in her bright yellow shirt with some her shorts on.
Pikachu climbed up to his shoulder as May walked over. "Did you hear all that?" Ash asked her, a little nervous.
"Most of it, but you don't have to be nervous Ash and admit that you almost let your pride go. To be honest, I almost felt like N had made a point, but then I remembered all the times I've had with my Pokémon and what you taught me and I realized that N was wrong." May placed her hand on top of Ash's, which had been on the rail.
The brunette gazed at him, "I know you're never going to give up everything you believe in Ash, because that just wouldn't be you and because everything you've said is true. Besides, you're the heroic one all the times, heroes are the always who always turn out to be the ones fighting for the right cause," May pointed out to him.
"Really, May?" Ash asked his girlfriend, a little puzzled.
"Yes, like when you helped that little boy who was getting his Pokémon taken by Team Plasma. You and Pikachu were ready to fight for the correct thing and you even beat N. Your attitude is like the hero they always talk about in books or show in movies," the brunette clarified it better.
The black-haired teen smiled at the moon when she said that, "Thank you, May."
"For what, Ash?" the coordinator asked him.
"For coming up here to talk to Pikachu and me and for coming into my life," the boy responded and the girl squeezed his hand as a sign of affection. The two leaned their heads against each other and Pikachu standing on Ash's shoulder. The three gazed at the night.
That was Chapter 4, I hope you enjoyed it and how many of you were actually expecting N. I really enjoyed writing this chapter because it's an interesting twist on how Ash gets Tepig. There will be plenty of more chapters like this one in the future because as we progress, the story will start to separate from the anime more and more, but don't worry. They'll still be some chapters based on significant episodes. Till next time guys!