Pallet Town, Morning…
It was time for the gang to set off for the Indigo League. With the last week before it began, Ash budgeted his remaining time. Since trainers could check in, with the required badges, any time the week before the start date, the gang settled on departing two days prior to the start date.
With one day of rest feeling like a must, this gave Ash and his pokemon four days. Four days to pick up from where they left off in training for the Orange League back on Fula Island. Even though such little time has passed, Ash picked up a lot and multiple pokemon evolved.
It was only natural that he and his team would spend these last four days finalizing all that valuable knowledge from that time. With the day of rest that followed, Ash merely spent it hanging around his pokemon. Now, there was no time left.
Yvonne House
Serena came down the stairs, dressed in her travel clothes, and found her mother waiting for her.
"Morning sweetie." Grace greeted. "Breakfast is on the table.
"Thanks mom." Serena stated with a grateful smile.
She took a seat with her mother joining her. "So, I know Ash still has the Indigo League to go, but has your group thought of what you'll do after?"
"Well, we decided we'd take a small break, roughly two weeks, after all is said and done." Serena explained. "Then, Ash has expressed interest in going to another region. Since he says he can just take on whatever league is out there, he's left the decision to me."
"Do you have an idea what region you'd like to go to and what you'd do there?" Grace asked.
"I have a general idea at this point, but I'm still mulling over my options." Serena smiled. "With every day, I get a concrete idea of what I want to do next, and that'll help me solidify what region we'll be going to."
"Well, I'm glad you have ideas." Grace smiled. "Now, you should eat up." Her smile turned mischievous. "After all, you agreed to meet up with the other two at the exit of Pallet Town, and I know you'd certainly not want to keep Ash waiting."
Serena groaned at her mother's teasing as she knew what was implied. "MOM!"
Grace giggled as her daughter's reactions to these kinds of things were just too cute.
Ketchum Residence
Blake had stuck around as long as possible, putting off returning to Johto, but he eventually had to. After all, gym season was drawing to close in every region, save the Orange League given that's already passed, and every champion simply had to be there.
Still, Ash had appreciated his grandpa sticking around for as long as he did. Currently, He returned to his room to grab his stuff after breakfast with Delia and James, who had been staying with them upon coming home from Viridian City.
Once Ash was certain he had everything, the Pallet native turned to Pikachu. "Ready to go, buddy?"
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed as he jumped onto his trainer's shoulder.
With that confirmation, Ash left his room and proceeded downstairs. There he found James, who had naturally been pseudo adopted into the family by Delia during that time before the Orange League, ready to go.
They'd already said their goodbyes last night, she'd informed them she was needed at the restaurant the moment breakfast was done, so they were ready to go now. With nothing left to do in the house, exiting it was exactly what they did now.
Pallet Town
Ash, Pikachu, James, and Togepi were soon walking along the path to the exit where they'd agreed to meet Serena. As they arrived, Serena was already there waiting for them. It was hard to believe it's been nearly a year since Ash asked Serena to accompany him on this journey.
"Morning guys." Serena greeted happily. "Are you ready to go?"
"You bet." Ash replied excitedly.
"Remember Ash, Serena and I will be there to cheer you on." James voiced in support. "So, let's go get you another league trophy."
"I'll certainly be doing my best to earn a second in a row." Ash chuckled. "Plus, it's two league trophies in a year if I pull it off, so I'm especially motivated to give my all."
With those words said, the gang set off from Pallet Town for the Indigo League.
On the Road, Later…
Considering Ash would soon be competing in the Indigo League, Serena decided to find out what they could expect. "So Ash, how do the battles in the Indigo League work?"
Despite the numerous avenues Serena contemplated as a trainer, she never looked too hard into any one of them. At least, she hadn't learned what each end goal was, to those professions that had them. This is the one Ash always wanted, so he knew exactly what was coming.
"It depends on how many trainers make it into the league, but there are typically enough for four preliminary rounds which are three on three battles." Ash began. "Any trainer that makes it at least to that fourth round will have also battled on a rock, water, grass, and ice field.
Through these rounds, the number of competitors are whittled down to the Top 16 or Top 8 depending, again, on the number that managed to make it to the league. If there's a Top 16, it's another three-on-three round like the prior preliminary rounds.
No matter how you get to the Top 8, it's six-on-six battles form then on. If you lose at any point during the league, you're out. The winner of the Indigo League then gets a card giving you the right to challenge that region's Elite Four and champion once a year."
"Wow, that's a lot of battling." Serena uttered.
"I'll say." James agreed. "Between the eight badged just to get there and the league itself, it's clear each region only wants the best to have a shot at their respective Elite Fours and champion."
At that moment, Serena heard Ash's stomach growl making her laugh a little. "Looks like it's around the time Ash gets hungry."
"You can say that again." A familiar voice rang out as they came up behind the group.
James, Serena, and Ash all grinned as they turned to see exactly who they were expecting. "Brock!"
The former Pewter City gym leader turned Elite Four in training was standing right there. "I was planning on meeting you guys at the league, but it seems I ended up running into you here. Not only that, but I seem to have arrived at the perfect time as well."
Later…
Back during their time on Kabuto Island, in the Orange Archipelago where they last saw each other, the gang couldn't really set up to take a break, so it's been a long time since they'd had lunch together. Despite all this time, it came naturally with Brock and Serena cooking together.
Getting the chance to display all the skills she's refined since he left felt great. Considering breakfast was always a highlight of their time together, Brock and Serena settled on making a true breakfast for lunch consisting of hash browns, scrambled eggs, and bacon.
"Oh man, Serena's cooking is amazing, but having the two of you back on it together just brings back memories." Ash declared as he ate.
"It sure does." Brock stated nostalgically.
Despite having no reservations about their diverging paths, Brock still fondly looked back on the time he spent with this group, so it was wonderful to do this again. As the group ate, the gang's current pokemon were eating with Brock's current team.
Ash's pokemon were: Pikachu, Croconaw, Umbreon, Cofagrigus, Pidgeot, and Venusaur. Serena had Sylveon, Bellossom, Marowak, Alcremie, Caterpie, and Rhyhorn. James' team consisted of: Growlie, Togepi, Spheal, Croagunk, Ditto, and Electivire.
Brock's team had only five pokemon at this time considering that was the size an Elite Four member was expected to use. It consisted of: Kabutops, Tyrantrum, Coalossal, Rhyperior, and Aerodactyl. Suddenly, Pikachu's ears perked up and he looked off into the distance.
"Pikachu?" Ash questioned.
"Pika Pi." Pikachu stated as he looked towards the tree line.
Everyone looked that way as a guy came stumbling into clear view and fell to his knees. He had long, dark purple hair in a purple high pony tail, brown eyes, and wore traditional robes that seemed more fitting for someone potentially from Johto.
"Damn it…" The guy lamented.
The group immediately approached since he seemed rather in distress over whatever happened to him. James and Ash both moved to help him up, which he didn't resist.
"Thank you for your concern." The guy whispered.
"It's no problem." James stated. "My name is James, she's Serena, that's Ash, and the last guy is Brock."
"I'm Otoshi." The guy replied weakly.
"Otoshi, could you tell us what's wrong?" Serena asked.
"It's my Marowak." Otoshi's eyes watered slightly upon saying that. "He left me."
"Your Marowak left you!?" Ash exclaimed in shock. "Why would he do that?"
"My father gifted him to me when I started my journey, and we've been through everything together." Otoshi responded. "In the end, he left because I lost."
"He left because you lost a battle?" Brock questioned.
"No, not a battle as we've lost those before." Otoshi responded. "We managed to beat eight gyms around Kanto meaning we'd earned out place at the Indigo League. On our way there, I lost our badges, so he left me."
"Don't worry, we can help you find them." Ash offered with a friendly smile.
"I don't mean lost in that way." Otoshi informed. "I lost a one-on-one battle to this man and was told my badges were the price to be paid after. I obviously agreed to no such deal, but he lunged at me. My badge case fell out, so he scooped them up and sprinted into the tree line."
"That's horrible." Serena gasped.
"I should have been more on guard." Otoshi lamented. "He even got the jump on us initially giving no chance to really defend. I should have known something was up."
"Who would someone do such a thing?" Ash asked angrily.
He knew better than anyone in his group how much work went into earning gym badges. To learn that some no-good punk stole the proof of someone else's hard work really got to him.
"He said his name was Snattle." Otoshi replied. "He was a tall man wearing a large white coat over a white suit and with a matching hat. He used exclusively bug types."
"Snattle." Brock growled as he remembered that man who disrespected everything he worked for and was working for now. "Considering he was barred from every trainer installation; he must have figured this as his chance to garner the power he thinks is his."
The man had shown he only wanted high positions for what he could do with them. He'd wanted to be a gym leader who would then go onto work his way up to an Elite Four member. With those avenues being closed off to him, this must be a desperate bid to try for champion.
"This doesn't sound connected to that team we met in the Orange Archipelago." Ash commented.
Getting someone into a league just didn't sound quite right when put up against everything else Snagem did. With Team Rocket out of the picture, there didn't seem to be a group backing this. Even if there were, who would reasonably try to prop up someone like this?
"If he's really been going it alone, then Snattle has been one slippery individual." James commented. "I don't think I'd have been as successful at evading the police if I'd gone it alone before."
"Pardon me, but how do you know this Snattle?" Otoshi asked.
"Snattle was involved in a turf war to decide who would be the gym leader of Dark City." Brock explained. "Unlike the other three people involved, his reasons were wholly selfish, and he managed to escape. Otoshi, I promise I'll do everything to get your badges back."
The other three nodded with Ash speaking up. "We'll help to."
"Really?" Otoshi asked hopefully.
"When we say we'll do something, we do it." Brock stated. "It helps that someone like Snattle shouldn't be on the streets, let alone given a chance to compete. Ash, we will search by air together. Serena and James, stick with Otoshi to search by land."
"We got it." James agreed.
"Don't go near the league because I've made a few friends who'd like to look for Snattle anyways, so I'll contact them to fan out from that direction." Brock added.
With the plan set, all but Aerodactyl and Pidgeot were returned. After Brock called his contacts he climbed onto his Aerodactyl and Ash did the same with Pidgeot. From there, the whole group broke off to get searching.
With Ash & Brock
The pair were soaring atop their respective pokemon on the lookout for any signs of Snattle. After about ten minutes of searching, Pikachu saw what looked like Snattle standing with a Scizor, and the pair were before a defeated Marowak.
"Pika!" Pikachu called out.
"Good job Pikachu." Ash looked at Brock. "We've found them!"
"Let's get down there." Brock voiced.
The guys brought their pokemon down and lept off drawing the attention of the bug specialist whose eyes were particularly drawn to the rock specialist.
"You're that stubborn fool who got me of all people in trouble with the police." Snattle voiced.
"You got yourself into trouble, Snattle." Brock voiced firmly. "You broke the law and went on the run of your own volition."
"If you had simply surrendered to me, then none of this would have ever happened." Snattle took a deep breath. "But now that you're here, I can beat you within an inch of your life and show everyone what happens when they dare stand against me."
"There is your problem Snattle." Brock voiced firmly. "You're too self-centered for any line of work you coveted. Gym leaders, elite four, and champions are supposed to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the station, but all you care about is the power that comes with it."
"When you have the power, you're the one who defines what's right in this world." Snattle declared. "I'll prove that by decimating anyone who stands in my way and ascend to the rank of champion. Once there, I'll shape this region in the right direction."
"Kanto is already heading in the right direction." Brock moved across from him. "As a future Elite Four member, I'll protect that." He looked at Ash. "Let me handle this."
Ash nodded. "Right."
Brock vs Snattle (P. I)
Not caring about a fair fight, Snattle decided to take this opportunity. "Scizor, get this worthless pest out of my sight with X-Scissor."
See, Brock might appear defenseless; however, that wasn't really accounting for the ancient pokemon which he knew would protect him and was more than strong enough to do it. Aerodactyl used flamethrower which immediately fainted Scizor.
Field
By this point, Otoshi's Marowak awoke and quickly took in the current situation. It wasn't hard to recognize that Brock and Ash were the good guys in this with the former now handling the thief. As such, he moved next to Ash to watch.
"You got lucky." Snattle spat.
"No, the simple fact is you're just not strong enough for any of this." Brock responded. "I've grown well past our last battle while you've barely improved." He nodded to Ash. "I'm certain he has pokemon that could have withstood that attack."
"My own Scizor has taken on some fairly strong fire type attacks and managed to instead faint the opposing pokemon." Ash voiced.
"I think that proves my point." Brock stated.
"That proves nothing." Snattle growled.
He simply returned his fallen pokemon without a care or really acknowledging that his strongest pokemon was now out for the count. In his mind, it was still all luck on Brock's end, so why should he worry?
"I'll cut that worthless pokemon of yours down." Snattle declared as he chose his former ace. "Swarm, Pinsir."
Aerodactyl took all insults in one ear and out the other. He knew his worth to himself, his current trainer, and the team. Beyond them, he needed no one else's approval and would let them think whatever they wished.
Brock vs Snattle (P. II)
"Submission." Snattle commanded.
"Aerodactyl, end this with stone edge." Brock ordered.
Pinsir rushed forward only for sharp spikes of earth to hit him dolling out a super effective blow. While that earlier attack on Scizor had been a devastating one, this one was still enough to faint Pinsir as well effectively meaning Brock just beat both of Snattle's aces with one move each.
Field
Snattle managed to return his pokemon; however, before anything more could be said or done, there was a familiar, yet different, cry. "Char!"
Everyone looked to the sky as a Pidgeot, Fearow, and shiny Charizard descended in a triangle formation. On their backs were the three other people who'd competed with Snattle in the Dark City turf war, Joe, Kruger, and Wendy, along with Wes.
"Well, fancy running into you here of all places Snattle." Joe fixed his bowtie as he wore his gameshow esc smile. "Seems we either got a lucky hand or a bad hand depending on how you look at things."
"You three should be in prison." Snattle growled.
The bug specialist may detest Brock more, but he couldn't forget the fact that these three dared to oppose him all that time.
"We had to serve a little time, but Wes saw fit to give us proper chances." Kruger responded as he crossed his arms. "Given the things you've been up to, you wouldn't get that same chance."
"Even I must agree." Wendy stated plainly.
"Samurai was declared the bug type gym leader of Dark City while these three have joined Brock in Elite Four training." Wes spoke up. "All that's waiting for you is a cell."
"I get a cell while those three get rewarded?" Snattle questioned angrily.
"They showed remorse, willingly turned themselves in, and worked with us to better themselves." Wes informed. "You showed no remorse, evaded and have been evading the police, multiple counts of thievery beyond today, and assaulting people with pokemon."
"I refuse to…" Snattle began.
Due to all of them arriving, Snattle never really noticed Marowak sneakily saddling up behind him until it was too late. The ground type smashed his club hard enough into the back of the man's head that he was rendered unconscious and hit the ground with a thud.
"I take it this Marowak belongs to the trainer whose badges were stolen?" Wes inquired.
"That's right." Ash replied.
"I see." Wes stated.
The champion then approached the downed individual and straight up took his belt of pokemon. Even if unconscious, it was standard protocol to take them. He tossed the belt to Kruger, who caught it, for safe keeping. Wes then searched his bag and found the case of Otoshi's badges.
"You did a good job Brock." Wes slung Snattle's body over his shoulder. "Wendy, Kruger, and Joe will accompany me to lock him up." He gave the case to Brock. "Otoshi will be with Charles Goodshow, so I'll entrust you to get his badges and pokemon back to him."
"Right." Brock agreed as he accepted the badges.
Marowak joined the rock specialist as he understood the guy could bring him back to his trainer. With that, Wes, Kruger, Wendy, and Joe all remounted Wendy's flying pokemon before leaving Ash, Brock, and Marowak to make their way where they were told to go.
Down the Road
"Look, Ash and Brock are coming back!" Serena exclaimed.
Just as Wes said, Serena, James, and Otoshi were standing with Charles Goodshow just down the road. He was a short man wearing shorts, a stripped t-shirt, and a backwards red cap. He also had a bushy, white beard.
They rejoined the group with Brock approaching Otoshi. "I believe these belong to you." He presented Otoshi his badge case before stepping aside to reveal Marowak. "He didn't abandon you. Your pokemon left to try and get those badges back."
"Marowak, is this true?" Otoshi asked as he approached his starter.
Marowak nodded. "Maro."
In that moment, Otoshi hugged his ground type. "Oh Marowak, I'm sorry I ever doubted you."
Marowak didn't seem to hold it against his trainer, probably because he had just taken off rather suddenly, since he fully embraced him as well.
As they had their moment, Goodshow approached Brock. "I take it by you returning these items you're the one who effectively got them back, Brock?"
Considering Brock was officially in training to one day soon take over as an Elite Four member, it was only natural that he knew Goodshow.
"That's not entirely the case, sir." Brock answered honestly. "I did beat the trainer, but I had help locating him while those with you did search as well. Marowak also knocked the guy out while Champion Wes found the badge case among his belongings."
"Well then, to some extent all of you are responsible for correcting this incident, so the least I could do is offer you all a ride to the stadium." Charles stated.
"I don't know about them sir, but I believe I need some time alone with my pokemon." Otoshi stated. "Rest assured, I will be staying on the path there just in case."
"Completely understandable my boy, but what about the rest of you?" Charles asked.
No one was against the idea with Ash being particularly for it prompting him to speak up. "It would be an honor to ride with the president of the P.L.A."
"Please my boy, there's no need for that." Charles smiled. "I'm no more important than the next person who has a love for all pokemon in their heart." The gang left Otoshi and began walking with Charles. "Pray tell, you look like you might just be the same."
"Yeah, I love pokemon as well." Ash declared proudly. "I've loved them since I was young."
"Well, the way you express yourself is just like your father at your age." Charles commented.
"You know my father?" Ash asked.
"I could never forget him, and I'm seeing a lot of him within you." Charles chuckled and gave a wink. "I'm certain someone like you won't disappoint in the coming battles."
From there, the gang clambered into a black car with Charles and were off. The others were glad to let Ash do most of the talking considering how excited he seemed to have this opportunity.
There wasn't really a way I could see doing a full chapter of training without it feeling like padding. The simple truth is that I am close to the Indigo League, so pressed onto this chapter bringing Brock back into the fold for at least the league. Currently, I have been working on the Indigo League and have two of the five battles I want for the preliminaries typed. Once I am done with all five, I will divide it into proper chapters.
I am hoping to have the battles and chapters done by Wednesday. Just in case I don't upload a chapter that day, understand that I did not leave this story like I did at the Orange League. I am determined to finish this story out and be ready to begin the next region stretch of this series. I promise, I will keep working on this. Hopefully, you will have to wait no longer than one to two days after Wednesday, for the next chapter, at most.
Vital Info: Just keep in mind for this chapter that there is a reason Snattle in underwhelming. There are likely natural training talents out there that don't need trainer institutions, but I don't see Snattle as one. If anything, he's been grossly eclipsed in strength as a traine. I'm planning on Ash, Serena, and James bringing three pokemon with them to their next region. That's not to say they won't cal in older pokemon, but at the start it will just be those three pokemon.
For Serena and James, they'll be bringing pokemon that haven't really flourished with the time constraints in which they caught them. For Serena she will bring: Sylveon, Rhyhorn, and Caterpie. For James he'll brin: Croagunk, Spheal, and Togepi. As for Ash whose pokemon have all had at least some level of flourish in their time with him, I'm cooking up two pokemon for him, but they'll have to wait until the next story to arrive. As for Johto being that next region...no comment.
Nightshadegirl: I will neither confirm nor deny Johto. As for how many pokeathlons there are in Johto, I'd say it'd more or less match the typical number of contest halls there are in a given region,
volcasiron30: thank you.
