Disclaimer: I do not own any Pokémon characters! I only own my OCs!
Chapter 11: Good 'Quil Hunting
I was still feeling down after Ash and I had left Firered and Charizard in the Charicific Valley. It felt like a hole had been formed in my heart now that Firered was no longer with me. It was tough to tell Cedric, Trica and Hikaru the news. I ended up shedding a few tears, so they cuddled with me to comfort me.
Ash was also down for some time, but he took the circumstances better than me because he recovered faster from the ordeal. It took a little longer for me until I felt better, but that gap in my heart still hurt.
However, right now, I had enough distraction from that hurtful gap because we were back on one of the main routes, Route 33. According to the PokéGear map, we weren't so far away from Azalea Town, but we were still lost in the middle of a forest.
"I can't find the main road on the map", I told my brother and friends as I minimized the map to find said road.
Brock double-checked the map in his Johto guidebook. "Hmm… It's hard to determine where we are", he pointed out.
Misty sighed tiredly. "I guess we're the experts of getting lost."
"Togiprii."
"Maybe if we send our Pokémon to check the area from the air, they can find the road", Ash suggested.
"That's what I thought about just now", I commented in genuine surprise as I pocketed the PokéGear.
"Looks like Ash's getting smarter now", Misty giggled teasingly.
"Hey! I know I may be slow at times, but I can still get great ideas", Ash retorted.
"Pika pika."
"Let's call out Heracross and Zubat to look for the road", I suggested as I reached for one of my Poké Balls. "I can call out Trica to climb up the trees and see if there's civilization nearby."
I was the fastest to call out my Pokémon. Ash and Brock were about to call out their selected Pokémon when a rude voice interrupted us. "Hey!"
A boy a little older than me and Ash approached us with a frown on his face. Trica immediately felt a little intimidated by him and climbed up on my shoulders. I too didn't feel good by that boy's aura. His demeanor kind of reminded me of Damian. I cradled the egg incubator close to my chest, protecting it if something were to happen.
"Have you four seen any Cyndaquils around here?" the boy asked.
"Cyndaquils?" Ash's eyes lit up excitedly and strapped Heracross's Poké Ball back on the belt. "There are wild Cyndaquils here?"
The unknown Trainer frowned loudly with a glare. "Clearly you guys don't know about the Cyndaquils", he spat. "Listen here! I will catch the Cyndaquils, so don't even think about catching one!"
"Well, now I want to catch one to balance my team!" Ash smiled widely as he started looking around in the bushes. "Cyndaquil! Where are you~?"
"Hey! Don't ignore me!" the Trainer yelled at my brother. "I, Koji, will find and catch every Cyndaquil on Route 33, so don't get in my way!"
I noticed how Ash got so distracted by the thoughts of finding a Cyndaquil that he walked away from us. I decided to follow him, thinking we would still be close to Misty and Brock.
"-you can't tell us what to do…!" Brock's voice got weaker the further we walked away from our friends.
"Cyndaquil, come out wherever you are~!" Ash called as he checked another bush.
"Ash, wait!" I called after I lost sight of our friends. "We can't walk that far away from Misty and Brock."
"What?" Ash looked up and finally realized we had been separated from our friends. "Um… Where did we come from?"
I sighed loudly and face palmed myself, dragging the hand down my face. "Ash, you need to pay more attention to your surroundings", I scolded him.
"Pika pi…"
"Sentret tret…"
"Yeah, sorry…", Ash chuckled sheepishly. "But when I heard there are Cyndaquils around, my brain went into auto-mode. I've already caught a Chikorita, so if I can catch one more wild Starter Pokémon, especially a fire-type, my team will be well-balanced."
"You get eager easily when you have the chance to catch a new Pokémon…", I mumbled to myself.
"Hey, you're the same when you find a dragon Pokémon, Ashley", Ash countered.
"Fair…", I nodded in defeat. "But we should go back to Misty and Brock before we really get lost."
"Yeah, maybe we'll stumble upon a Cyndaquil on the way."
"Look what we stumbled upon!" a familiar voice echoed from some kind of machine in the midst of the woods.
"The twin twerps all by themselves!" another voice echoed.
The next thing we saw, a giant robot that looked like a Meowth wearing a superhero costume jumped down in front of us. The giant R on the chest told us immediately who were behind of it.
"Team Rocket!" Ash and I exclaimed simultaneously.
"Pika pika!"
"Sentreeet!"
"It's been a while, twerps!" Meowth's voice cackled from the robot.
"What do you three want?!" Ash yelled.
"Isn't it obvious by now?" Jessie sighed nonchalantly. "We want your Pokémon! Especially your Pikachu!"
"We won't give our Pokémon to you!" I shouted back angrily.
"C'mon, let's run!" Ash shouted before he grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the robot. Pikachu and Trica sat on our shoulders as we ran deeper into the forest to shake Team Rocket off our tail. I used my other hand to hold the incubator and make sure to not drop it. I just hoped the Pokémon in the Egg wasn't going to get any medical problems after it hatches.
"You cannot escape Meowth-anator Impersonator!" James yelled behind us as we heard the robot run after us. "Have a taste of the bubble gum bomb!"
I looked over my shoulder and saw how the robot fired pink gum bombs from the fake palm. One flew right past our heads and blew up on the ground, creating a pool of gum. We jumped over it as more gum bombs flew around us and hit the ground and trees.
"Don't let those bombs hit you, guys!" Ash shouted.
"Easier said than done!" I panted.
"Piiika!"
"Seeen!"
We tried hiding in the thick bushes, but Team Rocket's robot had x-ray, so they found us in seconds. When that plan failed, we kept running where the forest was too thick for them to go through. That gave us some time to shake them off and get some rest. We reached a clearing and finally collapsed on our knees after the sprint.
"W-We did it…", I panted coarsely.
"Y-Yeah…", Ash sat down on his backside and leaned on one hand. "You okay, Pikachu?"
"Pika", Pikachu nodded.
"Are you okay too, Trica?" I asked my partner.
"Sentreet!" Trica nodded after she had jumped down from my shoulder.
"Pika?" Pikachu looked up at this giant rock wall we had stumbled upon. "Pika pika!"
"Huh?" Ash turned around and noticed the wall. "Wow! Ashley, look! This rock wall has lots of caves!"
I wiped my mouth clean from the drool and looked up to see the wall. "Maybe this is…a nest for Pokémon?" I asked.
"Sentret tret!" Trica pointed at something that crawled outside of a cave.
"Quil!" a Cyndaquil chirped as it breathed in fresh air.
"That's a Cyndaquil!" Ash exclaimed happily and jumped up on his feet while grabbing his Pokédex to check the data.
Cyndaquil, the fire mouse Pokémon. Fire-type. It is timid, and always curls itself up in a ball. If it is angry or surprised, it shoots flames out of its back.
"Then this must be the area where the Cyndaquils live", I concluded before I looked around. "And that rude Trainer from before is not here."
"Who cares about him? We found a Cyndaquil and I'm gonna catch it!" Ash declared. "Let's go get it, Pikachu!"
"Pika pi!" Pikachu nodded before he climbed onto Ash's shoulder.
"You're going to climb after it?" I asked while I got my answer at the same time when Ash started climbing up the wall.
"Of course I am!" Ash nodded. "I could use Heracross to fly after Cyndaquil, but he's weak against fire-types, so I've got to get closer to it and use Wartortle to weaken it. You coming, sis?"
"Well…", I hesitated as I looked over my shoulder, not feeling comfortable to stay alone in case Team Rocket would find us. "I'll go with you. Trica, get on."
"Tret!" Trica climbed up onto my shoulder before I started climbing up the wall next to my brother so he wouldn't accidently fall down on me if he lost his grip.
Cyndaquil remained outside of the cave as it studied us curiously. I blinked once when I heard a Poké Ball noise and looked to the side. My eyes widened when I saw that Koji boy. He had called out his Sandslash that now ran up the cliff. I did hear Koji tell it to use Sand Attack on us, so I knew I had to act fast.
"Trica, use Quick Attack on Sandslash!" I shouted.
"Sentreet!" Trica jumped up from my shoulders and dashed quickly across the cliff before tackling Sandslash.
"Slaash!" Sandslash shrieked in pain as it rolled down the wall and crashed onto the ground.
"Hey! That's cheating!" Koji yelled at us.
"I heard you telling your Sandslash to use Sand Attack on us, so of course we're gonna defend ourselves!" I yelled back. "Ash, climb faster!"
"Gotcha, sis!" Ash responded. "Thanks for covering us, Trica!"
"Pika pika!"
"Meet us by the cave with the Cyndaquil, Trica!" I shouted.
"Sentreet!" Trica chirped before she easily climbed up the wall.
Ash made it to the cliff first and then helped me get up for the last part. I brushed the dust off my pants when I realized three things. One; Cyndaquil had run back inside the cave. Two; Koji and his Sandslash were climbing up the wall to give chase.
And three… Team Rocket had found us!
"Found you~!" Jessie sang. "You're not getting away this time!"
"Buzz off! We're busy here!" Ash yelled back at the trio. "Let's go!"
I ran after Ash and Pikachu with Trica and got a surprise for sure. The cave inside the cliff was much bigger and looked like a giant maze. The weird part, though, was there was no other Cyndaquil except for the one my brother was chasing after.
"Come back, Cyndaquil!" Ash shouted as he ran after the wild Pokémon.
"Wait for me!" I shouted as I followed my brother.
I did my best to keep my eyes on him because I didn't want to get lost in the natural maze.
"Hey! Where are you, you thieves?!" Koji's voice echoed behind us, even though he wasn't following us. "Sandslash, track them down, you idiot!"
That last sentence was proof enough that Koji was, indeed, the kind of Trainer like that Damian. Ash had to find and catch Cyndaquil first before it could end up in the wrong hands.
Somehow, we managed to corner Cyndaquil so it had nowhere to run. I leaned against the wall to catch my breath while Ash prepared himself to catch Cyndaquil. "Cyndaquil, I know this is a weird situation, but I want to catch you before that other Trainer can", my brother talked to the wild Pokémon. "Or… I can catch you real quick so he gives up on you and…I'll release you."
"What?" I gasped in pure surprise.
"Pika?" Pikachu sounded just as surprised as me.
"But, Ash, I thought you said-"
"I know what I said before", Ash interrupted me. "But after hearing that boy insult his Pokémon like that, I don't want Cyndaquil to end up with him."
"Cynda?" Cyndaquil tilted its head to the side, which made it look adorable.
"Tret…?" Trica moved her big ears before she started panicking. "Sentret sentret!"
"What's wrong, Trica?" I asked before I heard a weird noise coming from one of the tunnels.
"Huh?" Ash looked up just as a large orange gummy ball rolled down the tunnel. "Oh no! Run before it crushes us!"
In the middle of the haste, Ash picked up Cyndaquil before we ran the opposite direction to dodge the ball. I knew that gummy ball must be one of Team Rocket's weapons and who knew if it was an explosive one.
We ran past another tunnel where I saw Koji and Sandslash running toward us. We dodged a Poison Sting attack from Sandslash, but the needles ended up striking the gummy ball instead. The attack forced the gummy ball to explode and the force of it threw us out of the caves and outside to the fresh air. I managed to grab Trica and cradle her to my chest with the incubator as I twisted my body so I wouldn't fall down on my stomach. I yelped in pain when my back struck the ground, but I didn't feel any injuries to my spine, so I was safe. Ash had done the same thing to protect Pikachu and Cyndaquil from getting hurt.
"I-Is…everyone okay…?" I panted as I felt a small shock surge through me.
"Y-Yeah, I think so", Ash responded as he sat up on his knees. "You two okay, Pikachu, Cyndaquil?"
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded.
"Cynda…", Cyndaquil chirped softly.
I checked Trica and saw she had used her own body to cover the incubator. "Are you okay, Trica?"
"Sentret", Trica nodded as she got off me. I inspected the Pokémon Egg and sighed in relief that it didn't have a crack on the shell.
"Well! Looks like the Meowth dragged out a couple of Rattatas!" Jessie laughed just as the giant Meowth robot stepped over to us.
"Can't you guys ever leave us alone?!" Ash snarled at the trio.
"Nope! 'Cause we've got you now!" Meowth laughed.
The Meowth robot raised one of its paws and fired two gummy bombs at us. I threw Trica before I got caught by one of the bombs and got glued onto the cliff. I was stuck and couldn't move my arms that were wrapped around the incubator. Ash got hit by the other gummy bomb and got stuck on the cliff as well. Pikachu was stuck in the glue, but Ash's other arm carrying Cyndaquil was free.
"Cyndaquil, go!" Ash encouraged the wild Pokémon and threw it up to the cliff. "Run before Team Rocket gets you!"
"Quil…?" Cyndaquil hesitated as it stared at my brother.
"Don't worry; we'll be fine", Ash assured the fire-type Pokémon.
I fought against the gum, but I couldn't pull myself free. Trica tried scratching the gum off of me, but her claws got sticky by the glue. "Tret!" she chirped in disgust and moved her paw to shake the glue off.
"Look! That's a Cyndaquil!" Meowth exclaimed, now aware of the wild Starter Pokémon.
"Let's catch that for the boss and we'll get a big bonus!" Jessie suggested.
"Time to prepare a double triple gummy bomb!" James sang while the Meowth robot raised its paw again in preparation.
"Run, Cyndaquil!" Ash yelled.
"Cynda!" Cyndaquil chirped in response. Its next move surprised us. Instead of running away, it turned to the giant robot while the flames erupted from its back.
"Cyndaquil is going to attack the robot?!" I gasped in horror.
"No, Cyndaquil! Don't do it!" Ash yelled. "You'll only get caught by Team Rocket! And they're worse than that Trainer with the Sandslash!"
"Sentreet!"
Trica ran to Cyndaquil and began doing some kind of dance. She even clapped her hands next to the wild Pokémon while her body got enveloped by a yellow aura. That aura transferred to Cyndaquil and affected it so the flames on its back burned intense.
"Trica just used Helping Hand!" I realized. "Helping Hand increases the other Pokémon's strength!"
"Cynda…QUIIIL!" Cyndaquil breathed a massive Flamethrower that engulfed the whole robot. Ash, Pikachu and I watched until the move was over. The whole frame of the robot was scorched and it didn't take long before it erupted sparkles, meaning it was about to blow up.
And both Trica and Cyndaquil were in the danger zone!
"Run you two!" I panicked.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt to get rid of the gum!" Ash exclaimed.
"Pika?!" Pikachu yelped in surprise by the command.
"Ash, you'll get electrocuted!" I reminded my brother.
"I'll be fine!" Ash insisted. "Hurry, Pikachu!"
"Pika…CHUUU!" Pikachu used as little strength as possible to not hurt my brother, but the Thunderbolt was still strong enough to scorch the gum off.
Ash nearly stumbled on his feet when he was free, but he quickly caught himself. "Pikachu, do the same to Ashley!" he yelled as he grabbed a Poké Ball from his belt and threw it toward Cyndaquil.
I braced myself and gritted my teeth as Pikachu used Thunderbolt on me. I couldn't resist shrieking as I got electrocuted, but I endured it until I was finally free. The next seconds were chaotic as Team Rocket's robot exploded into an inferno. The force of the explosion threw us all back so we crashed to the ground with the remains of the robot flying all around us. I could barely hear Team Rocket screaming their usual catchphrase as they got thrown up to the sky.
I ended up crashing down on my side as I held the incubator tight in my arms. Ash held Pikachu close to himself until the explosion and smoke had settled down. I coughed once to get rid of the smell of the smoke from my lungs before I pushed myself up on my knees. My whole body was aching by the impact so I knew I was going to have a fresh set of bruises the next day.
"Is everybody okay?" I asked.
"Yeah, Pikachu and I are safe", Ash called as he quickly got up from the ground. "But what about Cyndaquil and Trica?!"
"Furreeet!"
I blinked when I saw a Furret run toward us with its tail curled as it carried a Poké Ball. At first I didn't recognize it until I saw the torn blue ribbon by the base of the tail. "Trica…?"
"Furreet!" Trica smiled as she held the Poké Ball to Ash.
"Wow! Trica evolved and protected Cyndaquil at the same time!" Ash smiled as he took the Poké Ball. "Thanks, buddy!"
"Pika pika!" Pikachu smiled widely.
I almost dropped the incubator when I crawled to Trica and embraced her tight. "I'm so glad you're okay, Trica…", I mumbled against her dirty fur. "I thought…you got seriously injured."
"Fuuurrr…", Trica purred as she nuzzled her head against the nape of my neck.
Furret, the long body Pokémon. Normal-type. The evolved form of Sentret. There is no telling where the tail begins. Despite its short legs, it is quick and likes to chase Rattata.
I glanced up and saw Ash had grabbed his Pokédex to check the data for the Furret Pokémon. He then pocketed it and paid attention to the Poké Ball containing Cyndaquil. "Come out, Cyndaquil!"
The Poké Ball opened and let out an unharmed Cyndaquil. "Cyndaquil? Cynda?" it chirped as it checked its surroundings.
Ash crouched down in front of his new Pokémon. "I'm so glad you're okay, Cyndaquil", he spoke to the Pokémon. "That Poké Ball literally saved you."
"Quill."
"And you were amazing with the Helping Hand Flamethrower attack", Ash added. "Your Flamethrower must be really powerful without support too. Thanks for saving us from Team Rocket."
"Pika pikachu."
"Ash! Ashley!"
Misty and Brock ran out from the forest to the clearing where the broken frame of the Meowth robot rested with some smoke steaming from the rubble.
"Hey, guys!" Ash waved his arm while our friends reached us.
"We heard that explosion and thought you were in danger", Brock said as he wiped his sweaty forehead.
"We were attacked by Team Rocket, but we're safe", I replied as I stood up from the ground with the incubator safe in my arms.
Misty looked down and noticed Cyndaquil. "Hey! Did you catch this Cyndaquil, Ash?" she asked.
"Togiprii."
"Not exactly", Ash confessed. "I was just trying to save it from the explosion of Team Rocket's robot. I didn't think much and just threw a Poké Ball at it to save it."
"Cynda."
"But, still, you technically caught it", Misty pointed out.
"Furret."
"Oh? Trica evolved?" Brock asked. "Congrats, you two."
"Thanks, Brock", I smiled before my smile dropped a little. "But I'm worried about the Egg. It got thrown around in the incubator by everything that happened now."
"Let me see", Brock offered.
I was about hand the incubator to Brock when a familiar voice yelled out. "HEY!"
I nearly dropped the incubator, but I caught it just as Koji stomped toward us with his Sandslash following him. Koji looked just as angry as an Ursaring.
"I told you to stay out of my way!" Koji pointed his finger at my twin brother. "I'm the one meant to catch Cyndaquil!"
Ash and Pikachu stood in front of Cyndaquil to protect it from the rude Trainer. "I caught this Cyndaquil, so leave it alone!"
"Piiika!" Pikachu growled threateningly.
"You caught it?!" Koji gasped in shock before he swiftly replaced his surprised expression into a smirk. "Well… How about we battle for it?"
"What?" I gaped softly.
"Furr?"
"Hey, kid! Ash caught the Cyndaquil already, so he doesn't have to battle you for it!" Brock stepped in.
"I see…", Koji smirked. "Your friend's a chicken who hides behind his friends when things get a little too heated for him."
"Ash is a courageous Trainer who always put the Pokémon first before himself!" Misty shouted irritably at Koji. "Cyndaquil can't have a better Trainer than him!"
"Misty…", Ash mumbled in awe before he got serious. "Alright, let's battle!"
"What?!" Misty, Brock and I exclaimed in surprise.
"Pika?!" Pikachu was just as shocked as the rest of us by that declaration.
"The winner takes Cyndaquil", Ash added the condition.
"Hah! That's more like it!" Koji laughed. "I'm gonna go with Sandslash!"
"Slash!" Sandslash growled as it sharpened its claws against each other.
Ash picked up Cyndaquil and handed it to Brock while he grabbed another Poké Ball. "Then I'll choose Wartortle!" he shouted as he threw the capture device.
"Waartor!" Wartortle roared once he was out.
Koji began laughing amusingly. "Your Wartortle may have the type advantage, but my Sandslash is stronger! Sandslash, use Poison Sting!"
"Slaaash!" Sandslash spat poisonous needles from its mouth that flew toward Wartortle.
"Wartortle, use Withdraw!" Ash shouted.
"Waar!" Wartortle pulled his head, limbs and tail inside the shell before the needles bounced against the hard surface.
"Now, use Hydro Pump!" Ash yelled.
"Waaaaar!" Wartortle popped out from the shell and sent a massive water beam from its mouth. Sandslash didn't have time to dodge it and got caught by the water. It flew past Koji and crashed against the cliff of the Cyndaquil nest.
"Sandslash!" Koji yelled.
"Saaan…", Sandslash whimpered as its body was drenched by the water. It was too weak to move after that single Hydro Pump.
"H-How…?" Koji stuttered in shock. "How did I lose to a pathetic Trainer?!"
Ash smirked proudly while Wartortle crossed his arms, feeling proud that he had defeated an opponent with one move. "I made it to the Top 8 of the Indigo Plateau Conference last year!" my brother bragged. "So I have tons of experience and love for Pokémon than you!"
Koji growled loudly as he silently recalled Sandslash to its Poké Ball. "I refuse to accept this! I will have that Cyndaquil!" he yelled as he ran towards Brock. He was very persistent to get Cyndaquil in one way or another.
"Hey!" Brock yelled, but before he could say more Cyndaquil jumped out of his arms and breathed a Flamethrower right next to Koji. It stopped the rude Trainer in his tracks in fear.
"Cynda!" Cyndaquil growled as its back was on fire.
"Cyndaquil said no too, so beat it!" Ash yelled at Koji. "You lost, so get over it!"
Koji held back a furious grimace before he gave in and ran away. "I'll get you next time!" he yelled before he disappeared from our sight.
"Come back when you fixed your attitude!" Misty shouted at the retiring Trainer.
"And don't treat your Pokémon as if they're trash!" Brock yelled to Koji.
I sighed in relief now that the battle was over and Koji left us alone. "I hope we don't meet him in the Johto League", I commented softly.
"Furr!" Trica nodded.
Ash smiled happily and crouched down to Cyndaquil. "You showed him, Cyndaquil", he said.
"Cynda!" Cyndaquil smiled before it jumped into Ash's arms to cuddle.
Ash laughed and nuzzled Cyndaquil before straightening up. "Alright! I caught a Cyndaquil!"
"Pika pika!"
"Quill!"
"And just before the second Gym", Brock nodded with a proud smile. "Great job, Ash."
"Yeah, now you have a complete party and another Starter Pokémon", Misty added.
"Yep!" Ash nodded. "I'm counting on you for the next Gym battle, Cyndaquil."
"Quil!"
I looked down at the Egg and gently caressed the incubator. "I hope you will hatch soon, little one."
A gentle wobble from the Egg was my only answer.
XXXXXXXXXX
Ashley's party:
Cedric the Larvitar (male)
Trica the Furret (female)
Hikaru the Flaaffy (male)
Pokémon Egg
XXXXXXXXXX
Ash's party:
Ivysaur (male)
Pikachu (male)
Wartortle (male)
Heracross (male)
Chikorita (female)
Cyndaquil (male)
XXXXXXXXXX
Misty's party:
Goldeen (female)
Staryu (genderless)
Psyduck (male)
Togepi (female)
Poliwag (male)
XXXXXXXXXX
Brock's party:
Geodude (male)
Onix (male)
Zubat (male)
Vulpix (female)
