Part XXVI: Onward to Vermilion

"Did you get set dates for your next 2 full battle challenges?" Misty asked as she joined Ash on their picknick blanket for lunch. "Because we have to look over our upcoming schedule to make sure everything is doable. It is going to be a hectic few weeks I think."

It was 3 days after Ash's victory over Dawn and they had left Cerulean City behind them as they made their way towards Vermilion City. They had spent one more day with Dawn in Cerulean City than they had intended to do a little extra training while they were all there. Of course after Dawn and Misty dried off from their unplanned swim their war had cooled off a little but Misty knew that it was just the calm before the storm, a storm that would hit her the next time she saw Dawn.

Now, though, they had left Cerulean and Dawn behind, promising that they would see her again soon as possible. Seeing as Dawn was planning on taking some time off to see and maybe compete in the Wallace Cup they knew that they would see her then. However that was on the back of their minds as they made their way to Vermilion City, their next destination.

The reason for this despite it making more sense to hit Saffron first was so that Ash could take Misty on the same path he had traveled when he had first begun his journey years ago. Misty had insisted on it because she wanted to know what Ash's original journey was like as much as possible. It was doable all they had to do was keep to a schedule so that they could hit the Contests they needed to for Misty.

Today saw them ahead of schedule as they were well on their way to Vermilion. As such they were taking a break on the road to have lunch and do a little afternoon training. Misty wanted to use two of her new Pokémon in her next Contest so she needed to work with her Pokémon as much as possible to get ready for it. It was also the best time to go over their schedule seeing as they were near 2 of the gyms that had accepted Ash's full battle challenge.

"No they didn't." Ash said shaking his head as Misty sat next to him, all their Pokémon eating a little ways away to give them a little space while they had lunch. "Both accepted before we left Pallet Town but didn't specify dates. Surge enthusiastically welcomed the challenge saying he had been looking forward to it for years apparently. All he said was for me to hit him up as soon as I reached Vermilion. He promised me the time as soon as I was in town and ready for it."

"That's good, that means we can get that over quickly." Misty said as she pulled out the Contest schedule she'd received before her first Contest and looked over it. "Because there isn't any contests in or around Vermilion for months so we should be moving on quickly once we are done, we can't really stay there long. What about Saffron City's Gym? That is more important given the Contest coming up there."

"Sabrina was also open ended with timing." Ash said thinking back to the polite reply to his challenge that he'd received from the psychic master. "She's really looking forward to it as well. Though that is because I helped her out back when I challenged her during my first journey. Her psychic powers were causing her some serious issues back then and I accidentally fixed it. She said that she occasionally takes a few days off from time to time to reset and control her powers so that is the only real concern. Basically contact her when we are in Saffron and she'll let us know when she's ready."

"Ok good and how long will it take to reach Saffron from Vermilion?" Misty asked as she tried to gage the distances on her poketch's map. "With the open invite we have more flexibility."

"A day or two at most." Ash said with a shrug. "Saffron is the central city of Kanto, as well as its largest. It is easily accessible from Vermilion, Cerulean, Celadon Cities as well as Lavender Town so that is why it is so big. If we were following a logical path we would already be in Saffron by now but we have to loop round it to get to Vermilion in the south and then come back north for Saffron. It will be faster from Vermilion to Saffron then Cerulean to Vermilion."

"Ok good." Misty said as she checked a date on the Contest Calendar against the one on her poketch. "The Saffron Contest is in 10 days' time, is that enough time to hit Vermilion before?"

"It may be a little tight but I think so." Ash said with a nod. "We are about 2-3 days out of Vermilion depending on how fast we travel. When we get there we will want to rest that night so that I am at the top of my game I challenge Surge the next day. It will also hopefully give him a time to block off for me though we may have to wait an extra day. Then we either leave that night or more likely the next day for Saffron. If all goes according to plan, accounting for possible delays, we should get there with a few days to spare before your Contest."

"Great!" Misty said and kissed Ash on the cheek. "I can't wait for all of this even if it is going to be a hectic few days. I remember you saying that you had an interesting experience your first time in Vermilion City. Isn't that where you got that thunderstone you had back in Sinnoh?"

"Yeah it was." Ash said remembering it and glad that that particular item had been stolen, he hated having it around but understood why he needed it. "I was there for my 3rd gym badge ever and Lt. Surge is an electric type master. He mocked Pikachu calling him, and me, babies because he is all about quick evolution and pure power in battle. He showed that the first time round when he beat me easily with his Raichu. Nurse Joy gave me a thunderstone for Pikachu but Pikachu rejected it. I faced Surge again and won because I used my head."

"Huh?" Misty asked a little confused. "You always use your head in battle though."

"True but I have Surge to thank for really teaching me to do that." Ash said. "He was the one who pushed me to overcome a disadvantage in battle. He was the one who showed me that power isn't everything."

"How so?" Misty asked her voice filled with curiosity as she loved finding out about Ash's past and one thing she was looking forward to in Kanto was learning how Ash really became a great trainer. "You never explained how you developed your unorthodox style."

"Evolution isn't everything." Ash said simply. "Yes on paper a Raichu is more powerful than a Pikachu because it is the evolved form. It is stronger, can learn different, more powerful, moves, and packs a punch. However if that evolutions is done too quickly as can happen with stone-based evolutions it comes at a cost, mainly speed and agility that can only be learned at the Pikachu stage."

"That sounds like Brock's advice." Misty said and Ash nodded.

"It was." Ash said. "His knowledge helped me win my rematch with Surge. In it I used Pikachu's speed advantage against Raichu and was able to win. He wore down that Raichu until Surge got desperate and ordered a powerful attack that drained Raichu but didn't affect Pikachu. I won after that and from then on I vowed to try and always be alert in battle and make sure I used every advantage I had. I haven't always don't that and my impatience often gets the better of me at times but when it works it works."

"Wow, I can see how you would have had to overcome that disadvantage." Misty said with a nod. "It's important to be able to do so. Be it type or evolutionary advantage, those are things that can be overcome with proper strategy."

"It's why I have 2 Pokémon with me that are clearly at a disadvantage against Surge." Ash said looking over at the 5 Pokémon he had chosen to accompany him and Pikachu for his battle with Surge. "I know he will test me to come up with a creative solution. Well that and the fact that due to the pool I couldn't really push myself like that against Dawn so I have to double down with Surge."

"Makes sense." Misty said with a nod. "Well I for one can't wait to see you face Surge again and neither can your cheer team."

"Same, I am really excited for this next battle." Ash said with a nod. "After that it will be hopefully be 5 more gyms for me and 4 more contests for you."

"Only if I win them." Misty pointed out. "I expect to lose at least one if not more this season as that is just the nature of Contests. When I was in Johto I had a limited time frame so I had to focus on winning and not challenging myself. Here I can experiment more and grow as a coordinator. If I lose one or two contests to find out what fits best with my team here then so be it."

"You wouldn't be you if you didn't do that." Ash said causing Misty to blush at the complement. "So who is on deck for the Saffron Contest?"

"Pinsir and Oddish." Misty said immediately. "At least currently they are my choices as I've had them longer than Eevee. Pinsir is still a little hesitant to battle so I want to use her in the appeals round and show everyone that a Pinsir can be appealing enough to advance. My concerns are with Oddish in the battle rounds."

"What's wrong, I thought she is a good battler." Ash said. "Our training matches have shown that she enjoys it and is pretty good."

"Oh she is but the problem is that Oddish is still, well an Oddish." Misty said with a sigh. "She's powerful for an Oddish and I have experience battling with first stage evolutions but that is the thing, if I face someone who wants a Battle Off then Oddish may not outlast it. In a traditional Contest Battle I can shine with Oddish but if they go directly for her it will be a lot harder."

"Misty I know you; you will figure it out even if it comes in the middle of the battle." Ash said with a smile as he took her hand in his showing Misty that he meant it. "I have seen you down before, you always pull back to win."

"I love you; you know that right." Misty said as she snuggled up to Ash and rested her head on his shoulder while he put an arm around her waist. "Even if that isn't always true, I have lost before and not recovered but thanks, it means a lot that you support me."

"I do." Ash said and Misty chuckled at the simpleness of Ash's response.

"Anyway, enough about me for now let's get back to you." Misty said, "Have you heard back from the last 2 gyms you have sent formal challenges to."

"Only one." Ash said. "I checked my email before we left Cerulean City for them. I was going to tell you but it is so far off that it doesn't matter yet but Blaine, the Cinnabar Island Gym Leader has accepted my challenge as soon as he got back. He was away for a few weeks traveling to Aloha for an unspecified reason and only just got back. He remembered the battle between my Charizard and his Magmar and is looking forward to a second round with me. As for Viridian, still nothing from that gym leader."

"Ok well at least you know of one." Misty said with a smile.

"Yeah I do that is one hell of a gym location." Ash said remembering the volcanic based gym on Cinnabar Island. "Plus there are a bunch of Contests out on the islands so we can make a cruise of it."

"Oh yes I can wear all my new bathing suits." Misty said happily. "I even have a special private one inspired by Dawn's that I want to wear just for you."

"Yeah I always liked cruising the islands we didn't get to do that in Sinnoh." Ash said not getting what Misty was suggesting at all but Misty didn't mind, she would show him when the time came. "But for now we need to focus. I have strengths against Surge but also disadvantages and I don't want to be too reliant solely on my ace for this battle."

"True and then you will have to send Palpitoad to Dawn." Misty pointed out and Ash nodded. "He's agreed to be trained by her afterwards and she's really looking forward to it."

Palpitoad was Ash's ace and a nasty surprise for Surge. Palpitoad looked like a typical water type, and it was, but it was also a ground type so it was immune to electric type attacks which would give Ash an advantage against Surge when he used it.

Add the fact that Palpitoad was from Unova and not native to, or known in, Kanto and Ash had a clear advantage with him against Surge. However the full battles with gym leaders that Ash was having wasn't just to beat the leaders, they were to test and challenge him against specific types. That was why Ash had brought Pokémon with type disadvantages against Surge so that he could figure out a way around them during their battle.

Palpitoad and the other Pokémon Ash was planning on using against Surge had been sent to Cerulean after Misty and Dawn had, for some unknown reason to him, taken a dip in the pool right after Dawn's wardrobe malfunction that showed Ash something he shouldn't have seen. Once the girls were out and dry, and Ash decided not to make sense of everything he had seen, they had gone to the Pokémon Center to heal their Pokémon and so that Ash could get his new team and show Dawn Palpitoad.

It had been an instant love for Dawn when she finally got to meet and play with Palpitoad. She had seen him back at Ash's birthday but they hadn't actually interacted back then though Ash and Misty didn't know the full reason why. Now there was not heartbroken May for Dawn to deal with so she showed her skills with water types by bonding well with Palpitoad. Ash had then asked Palpitoad if he wanted to train a little with Dawn after their next battle and he had agreed much to Dawn's joy.

"Yeah she will be happy when he joins her for special training." Ash said knowing that Dawn would make him a lot stronger. "I expect that when I recall him for either another gym or the Indigo Conference he will be even better than he already is."

"Yeah but we can deal with that when the time comes." Misty said pushing Ash back to lay on the ground and cuddled up next to him. "We need to digest lunch and I can't think of a better way than like this."

"Yes ma'am." Ash said as Misty gave him a light kiss on the lips before they both began to doze off in the sun.

As the young couple fell asleep in the warm afternoon, neither noticed that they were being watched. Their perpetual antagonists had been tailing them and were almost ready to strike, again.

-break-

"Alright the twerps are asleep together." Meowth said from Team Rocket's vantage point in a nearby bush ignoring the new relationship they had observed between the twerps, it wasn't relevant to their job. "I say we strike now while they are out."

"Their Pokémon are still up though." James pointed out. "We need to wait until they are asleep as well."

"Screw that, we go now." Jessie said in her usual forceful tone. "I am tired of waiting."

"Two to one that's good enough for me." Meowth said as he got out the latest net launcher he'd come up with. "Let's go get some Pokémon for da boss."

James just sighed in resignation as he grabbed his own launcher while Jessie had hers already ready. It was all that they could afford for now as they were still cut off from organizational funds and back at the bottom of the pile. It had taken them a while to recover from that Eevee failure so they had decided to stalk the twerps and wait for the right moment to strike.

It was time to go back to basics and catch that Pikachu the old-fashioned way. If they could also get the Pokémon with Pikachu then they would be back in the boss's good book once they presented him with all these strong Pokémon.

"Charge!" Meowth yelled as he, Jessie and James leapt from their hiding space and ran at the now startled Pokémon. "Fire."

All 3 fired their launchers at the same time, the special nets flying out and snaring the Pokémon that had all gathered for lunch while their trainers napped. The first net got its target in Mamoswine with the addition of Eevee, and Piplup. The second captured Pikachu, Buneary and all Ash's Pokémon except for Palpitoad. The last got Palpitoad and Pinsir though none of them noticed Pinsir shove one of the Pokémon away so that she wouldn't be caught in the nets. She looked at Pinsir and Pinsir nodded, she knew what to do.

"Alright we got them!" Jessie said gleefully as the winch systems, specially designed with Mamoswine in mind, began to pull the Pokémon towards. "Too the balloon!"

"Quick before the twerps wake." James said as the Pokémon loudly protested, none of them noticing the small blue Pokémon running to Misty and Ash.

-break-

"Oddish!" Oddish yelled as she grabbed Misty by the hair and yanked her away from Ash in a forceful motion. "Oddish."

"Huh?" Misty asked before yelling as she was dragged away from the warm body of Ash. "Oddish what's up?"

"Oddish!" Oddish yelled and let go of her trainer as soon as Misty saw what was up.

"Ash, Team Rocket has the Pokémon!" Misty yelled. "Their back."

"What!" Ash said shooting up and looking at the now startled Team Rocket who were still winching in the Pokémon who were now making even more of a ruckus. "Arceus damn it, will you ever stop harassing me."

"Ah I see the twerps are up." Jessie said with a triumphant smirk.

"Well then let's get this over with." James said though he was grinning as he prepared for their motto.

"Prepare for trouble!" Jessie said taking a pose.

"And make it double!" James added his back to her.

"To protect the world from devastation!"

"To unite all peoples within our nation!"

"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"

"To extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth that's right!"

"Wobbuffet!"

"Mime, mime."

"Are you done?" Misty said with exasperation, even with the different motto it was still annoying to hear it. "Good, let's end this quick."

"Agreed." Ash said with a nod looking over to where his partner was in a net. "Pikachu…"

"I wouldn't do that if I was yous twerp." Meowth cackled as he continue to winch in the Pokémon. "Ya see this time instead of spending alls our doe on some mega contraption we spent it on these nets. Any attack will be redirected back at the Pokémon and hurt them. It's as close to unbreakable as possible. Not even that Mamoswine can break it."

"Yeah well there is still one Pokémon out." Misty said and her Oddish jumped forward to take a position in front of her. "And we only need one to beat you."

"Oddish." Oddish said as the Team Rocket Trio laughed at it.

"Really that is it?" Jessie said grasping her sides as she laughed. "An Oddish."

"Ha that has no hope." Meowth added.

"Oddish." Oddish said narrowing her eyes, a move that Misty copied.

"Alright show them that any one of our Pokémon is better than all of theirs Oddish." Misty said. "Stun Spore!"

"Oddish!" Oddish said as she leaned forward and sent out the orange powder.

The trio were still laughing when it hit them. Oddish had yet to really face Team Rocket or understand what they were so her aim had naturally been at the Scratch Cat Pokémon and Wobbuffet not the humans. So when Meowth and Wobbafett went rigid and fell back paralyzed by the attack, Jessie and James knew that they had to fight and before Misty could react had sent out two Poke Balls with attack commands.

"Yanmega." Jessie yelled. "Silver Wind!"

"Yamask, Shadow Ball!" James shouted.

Both Pokémon burst forth and instantly attacked as soon as they could. Oddish didn't have much of chance. First the Silver Wind hit it and because of the angle Oddish was driven into the ground. Then the Shadow Ball hit here, the exploded sending Oddish up in the air with a yell as she spun before crashing down, hurt but not out of the fight just yet.

"Ha see, an Oddish has no hope against us." Jessie cackled. "It is nothing more than a pathetic weakling compared to my Yanmega."

"Yeah it isn't even worth stealing for the boss." James guffawed. "It would be an insult to give him a Pokémon that bad."

"Come on Oddish, I believe in you." Misty pleaded putting her love for Oddish in her voice as Oddish slowly got to her feet. "You can do it I know you can, you are strong and you know it. Your friends need you again. I need you. Come on Oddish. I know that you can do it!"

Oddish heard her trainers words and saw the other Pokémon all looking at her for help and pleading with her from the nets they were caught in. Pinsir was especially vocal and supportive. They were best friends. It was because of the damage that Pinsir had taken that Oddish had found Misty so that she could heal Pinsir. Misty's love and kindness had led them to join Misty her and see the wonders of Contests.

Then there were all the other Pokémon who she had met since she had joined Misty who were all her friends now and counting on her as well. There were the ones who Misty had on hand, the ones Misty's mate kept introducing to her, all new friends. She had learned how they all loved their humans deeply, a love she too shared. Misty was right, Oddish could do this for her human.

That meant that it was time and Oddish knew it. She had the power the experience she had just been holding off until either the right moment or nature took its course. That right moment was now. She had to step up for Misty, Pinsir, Mamoswine, Piplup, Buneary, Eevee, and all the others who had become her family over the last month or so. Oddish felt her body flood with power and energy as she triggered the change within her.

"Oddish!" Oddish yelled one last time as she suddenly began to glow a bright white.

"What?" Jessie and James said in shocked unison.

"No way." Ash said with a smirk.

"Oddish is…" Misty began in amazement but couldn't finish her statement as she watched the change.

Oddish grew taller, the leaves on her head became more like a flower with 4 round balls in the center. Then two stubby arms short out of her side. As the light faded Gloom stood there with a slight drool dangling from the corner of her mouth but evolved and ready to fight. That was when Misty noticed that Gloom's orange leaves and budding flower thing was still glowing with power.

"Um Ash, what is going on?" Misty asked a little confused. "I, er, have never had a grass type before Oddish so all this is new to me."

"I think Gloom is about to use a new move." Ash said with a feeling he knew what the move would be.

"What?" Misty asked but that was the moment Gloom chose to attack.

She lowered her head and out shot a powerful beam of grass type power right at Team Rocket. Her evolution had allowed her to learn a new move, Solar Beam. She had used the distraction of evolving to build up the energy needed for the move. Now that it was ready she unleashed the powerful attack.

The beam hit the trio and exploded on impact. Yanmega and Yamask were both floating and hovering above them were caught in the blast. The result was that they dropped their net guns as Team Rocket was once again flung away and into the sky.

"We're blasting off again!" They wailed as they disappeared with a twinkle on the horizon.

Ash and Misty ignored that as they sprang into action in the wake of their victory. Ash ran forward and began to help pull the nets off the Pokémon. He made sure to get Mamoswine's net off first so that the big guy could help with the others. In short order all the Pokémon were free and happy again.

Misty meanwhile had rushed forward and swept her new Gloom up into her arms. The smell coming from her was strong, almost overpowering, but Misty could handle it, for now at least though she figured it would take some time to get used to.

"Gloom you evolved to save us and you learned a new move." Misty yelled happily spinning around with her Pokémon. "Thank you. You are amazing."

"Gloom!" Gloom said happily before turning, leaping out of Misty's arms and biting her hair as she loved to do, dragging Misty down to the ground in the process.

Misty just laughed as she hit the ground before all her Pokémon piled on top of her, happy to be free and welcome Gloom, Pinsir especially as her best friend had evolved and gotten even stronger. It was a fun moment though it did mean more training for the Saffron Contest so that Misty and Gloom could get used to each other. However, for now they would enjoy this moment because when it was done it was onwards to Vermilion and Ash's next full battle and any other surprises that awaited them along the way.