Ron the True Fan: And now a double. Granted, this is more filler then proper chapter. But I decided a long time ago that even when I make filler, it is never really JUST filler.
Takeshi Yamato: Fair enough. Even filler advances the plot, or worldbuilds. Like here, for example.
Ron the True Fan: I also have enough vid backlog that I can actually, you know, WRITE THIS.
Viridian City, Kanto Region, 0824 hours local time, Day 201 of Ash Ketchum's Pokemon Journey
The building was condemned.
Even Pokemon specialized in construction and repair shook their heads and walked away.
Lance was sobbing. All that work for NOTHING.
They'd have to move his match against Ash to somewhere more… durable. And there was nowhere in Kanto that would be able to deal with… well, him.
He was master of dragons, working his way up to the top trainer in TWO regions, even overtaking Agatha, his senior. If he went all-out against someone, which he would HAVE to against Ash…
Damn his time travelling bullshit! And damn the fact that they knew what to do without having to figure it out again!
…Well, except for his new captures in this timeline. Lance almost thought he had something. Just challenge his new Pokemon.
…Then he remembered that the VETERANS were schooling them in the art of kicking ass, avoiding all the mistakes they made with the new people.
He was going to have to take this to Blackthorn. It was the only place that COULD handle him.
And it might just prove to be a show of force to make everyone near Blackthorn just… give in. There was nothing like classic demonstrations of force. It was how nuclear weapons were supposed to be: political statements of power…until grass-types made their use less intimating as the long-term consequences were outright negated.
Ash was not exactly HAPPY about being stuck in bed, but… well, he fell into Giratina's 'arms' from a massive height and while he was tough (Aura had its' benefits) he wasn't THAT tough and he knew it. So he couldn't fault the doctors for being cautious.
In fact, after so many near-death experiences - and actual death experiences - he grew to value medical personnel and their abilities, even if he found some of their concerns overblown.
No, his unhappiness stemmed primarily from his nurses. Who were NOT trained medical professionals.
They were his quote-unquote harem who were all wearing VERY non-regulation nurse outfits that were more about sex appeal then medical care!
Robin, at least, was clueless. Everyone else WASN'T! …He blamed the ghosts. When in doubt, blame Giratina and his ilk.
"Enjoying your first-class medical care?" Kyoji asked as he came into the room, smirking.
Correction: blame Giratina, THEN the matchmaking soldier. Just because he'd given up on being forced into marrying them did not mean he wasn't going to find someone better.
He wouldn't force the girls into doing anything they didn't want to. He was pretty sure the only one that wanted his kids was Serena.
Misty, Iris, Anabel? About as likely as Arceus letting him go.
"I wouldn't say it's first-class." Ash said dryly. "I'm going to assume you had something to do with their outfits?"
Kyoji's smirk widened. "I had NOTHING to do with it." he insisted. Ash didn't believe him one bit. Call him paranoid if you want, history showed him otherwise. "Leavanny was actually responsible for this."
…Well, THAT actually sounded plausible. The mantis Pokemon WAS a clothier. Leaves were preferred, but he could sew cloth, too.
Gible was on a mission. He had an IDEA.
It was evil and wouldn't come to term for a while. But…
"Gible?" 'Leavanny, I require your… services.' Ash's land shark said to the sewing mantid Pokemon.
The mantis got a gleam in his eye. "Le?" 'Oh? And what do you want of a simple tailor?' asked aforementioned tailor.
"I seriously doubt you didn't have a hand in it." Ash said.
"Ok, THAT hurts." Kyoji retorted. "I might've approved of it, but it wasn't my idea."
"It was mine." came the voice of… his own mother. Oh, Arceus, WHY did his MOTHER have to be the one responsible?
And furthermore, WHY WAS SHE WEARING THE SAME OUTFIT?!
He didn't even need to VOICE the question. "I got a LITTLE carried away." she admitted. Low cut skirt, a size too small to be decent and exposing a bit more cleavage then he'd like and in pink?
Yeah, this was not going to be good.
Serena poked her head in, wearing a red version of the same outfit with that little nurse's hat. He was sure Kyoji was LAUGHING. There was more skin showing then he'd like.
Ash might've been more then slightly interested - he WAS human, after all, anyone claiming not to be curious is a lying bastard - but he knew his fate and he wasn't dragging anyone else down with him.
He was not that cruel.
"So, Ash, do you want me to take your temperature~?" Serena asked, now clearly influenced by that Jade personality. "Or do you need to be washed?"
Ash saw Kyoji LAUGHING at him, hiding it under his mouth. That son of a bitch!
"Kyo-ji~" sang the voice of Sabrina, who was…in a purple version of the same outfit. The laughter stopped.
Misery loves company.
Though Ash wasn't actually miserable, just kinda annoyed. He didn't need them in sexy nurse outfits. He just needed them to…be themselves.
Iris was not a happy camper. Mostly because her outfit was a bit too small.
Which didn't make much sense: she gave one of her spare sets to Leaveny, which was embarrassing, and the mantid made her outfit.
Astral Iris wasn't making the matter easier as she was trying to figure out what was wrong, as well. It was a good thing she was incorporeal, or else there might have been…problems.
"The button won't go in." Iris repeated for the umptenth time to Robin, who was trying to help.
"Levanny would not have messed up the measurements on purpose…" Robin said before performing an examination of the dark-skinned Unovan.
'I don't like this…' Astral Iris said. 'I think that Kalosian whore did something to her that she can't remember…'
'I don't think Serena's perverted personality would do that to her without permission.' Iris offered mentally. It made some sense. The personality calling itself Jade was very, VERY sexually inclined, but also all about consent.
Ash, at the moment, did not consent. And in spite of… well, WANTING it, the hyper-perverted personality did not push it.
"I think I found the problem." Robin said as she pulled out a tape measure, wrapping it around Iris' chest, specifically her bust… or lack thereof.
She was tiny in that department and she wasn't going to be improving on it any time soon.
"Your chest got bigger." Robin said, snapping the unovan out of it. "Are you putting on weight?"
'What.' Astral Iris said before both she and her corporeal self compared sizes.
And lo and behold, Iris was…bigger.
'You have GOT to be shitting me.' Astral Iris said. 'Your boobs are bigger!'
Not by MUCH, but… it was noticeable.
"Should we increase your physical regime?" Robin asked, confused. "You shouldn't be gaining any weight at all."
"No, this is… natural. Just… well, delayed." she said. Her usual physical activities prevented too much in the way of… growth… but recently, she hadn't been doing any upper body exercises.
"Is there a problem?" asked that asshole Royal Guardsman, who looked at Iris with some disdain.
"She seems to have gained weight." Robin explained. "Around her upper chest. Should we prepare a physical training regime for her?"
Taggard pinched the bridge of his nose. "Those are her breasts." he said. "You've been wondering why Misty seems to be packing ballistic armor in her shirts-"
Astral and corporeal Iris said "What." as one.
"And when I try to explain, I have to fend off a fucking Natu." he finished, looking out for a parrot. "Nothing. Good. There is nothing unnatural about the size of her chest. In fact, they are necessary for…"
He grabbed Iris and pushed her out of the door before closing it. And locking it. And judging from the sound of things being dragged, a large heavy object was shoved in front of the door.
'Why do I get the feeling he's going to explain how to seduce Ash?' Astral Iris asked.
"Because he's got Ash's children on the brain? He's a royal guardsman: his priority's securing the royal bloodline." Iris replied before looking at her chest. "You know-"
'Bigger is always better. To a point.' Astral Iris cut off. 'Misty's got back pains thanks to hers.'
"Which are being fixed." Iris retorted. "Swimming's good for conditioning, but there's nothing like weight lifting."
'You'd know.'
Pallet Town - Ketchum residence - 0849 hours local time
Misty was good at swimming.
But her back was never in the best shape thanks to her… growth spurts.
Astral Misty was STILL pissed about that. But enjoying her new pain in the form of strength training.
"I. Hate. You." the corporeal girl said.
"You can do it, Misty." Red encouraged as Misty squatted, a barbell over her shoulders. "Don't worry, I'll catch the bar if you lose your grip."
"Why." she said between kneeling and rising. "Do I. Need to. Deal with. THIS CRAP?"
'Well, you DO have those massive things hanging from your chest.' Astral Misty said, while glaring at her own flatness. 'Lucky bitch. If I had those, me and Ash-'
"Keep. It. Child. Friendly." the redhead snapped at her ghost, Red well aware of who she was talking to.
"Is Misty talking to herself again?" Yellow asked, Misty pausing in her squats.
"Zard." 'So, is everyone clear on what needs to happen?' Charizard asked, now in defact command of what Kyoji had jokingly called 'Ash's Army'. "Zard!" 'Pikachu wants all of us ready for ANYTHING in Johto! Greenfield might be WORSE!'
"Bay!" 'Fuck Greenfield, what about Ilex Forest?!' Bayleef demanded. "Bay!" 'That was bad enough last time!'
Ivysaur sighed. "Saur!" 'Alright, mons, keep your heads! Sabrina told us that the whole expedition thing wouldn't be launched for another six months! We're gonna be ready for Molly's shitfit!' he insisted. Seriously, Giratina needed to get a better handle on the Unown. Molly nearly killed people back in the other timeline.
And on average, things were WORSE in this one.
By the bank of a river, class was in session for the new timeline captures as Infernape was setting up a chalkboard.
Fearow stared while Sirfetch'd, Natu and Vulpix shared looks, the Alolan Meowth and Grubbin were gathering snackage and Dragonair practiced attempting to fly.
THUD!
…Attempting being the key word.
"Ape." 'Alrighty, people. Some of you are aware of the stories we've been telling.' Inferape started, before making a crude but intelligible drawing of the Hale mansion in Greenfield. "Infernape." 'In a few months, we're going to be in the middle of a shitstorm involving the Unown. And we need to be prepared for it.'
"Vul?" 'Aren't the Unown Giratina's servants?' the red fox asked. "Pix-vul?" 'The police of the dead?'
Fearow nodded. "Fear." 'Aye, they are. And in massive numbers, they can create a pocket of the Distortion realm in our world.' Fearow explained. "Row." 'But they are children in a way. They require a guiding mind, a consciousness.'
"Ape." 'And they got summoned here like Pinhead and his posse in those freaky-ass movies by a six-year old girl that just lost her dad.' the fire-type explained, getting a look from all of them at the reference. "Ape." 'We REALLY need to get movie night going again.'
"Vulpix?" 'Who's Pinhead?' she asked.
…They weren't starting up with those, though.
"Ape…" 'Anyway…' he continued, explaining the Greenfield debacle to the best of his ability.
Viridian City Hospital - 0959 hours local time
So Iris wasn't getting fat. …Ok, she was, just in an… attractive way.
Robin was processing this new information. The resistance in Orre had men and women, but… they never had… what did grandfather call them?
Boobs?
A strange word.
Robin looked at her chest again. Flat as a piece of shale. …For now, at least, as her grandfather promised to get methods to improve on her assets.
But Misty had back problems. Weight was an issue.
Not if she had any say in it.
She quickly got out of her unbearably tight outfit, unaware she was being spied on.
Mei overheard everything, thanks to her skills in climbing buildings.
Shrine maiden or not, she was still a trained warrior of their supreme god.
And utterly unaware of the tastes of men. Her goal was to heal the soul of Arceus' Chosen. And as he was a generally nice guy, it was easy to see how so many fell in love for him. Mei herself couldn't keep away from that edge.
So how to…well, seduce him?
Perhaps the same tactic as that bastard guard? Just making herself…well, bustier?
…She'd have to work on her back muscles. Misty had pains.
Ash got out of bed, deciding to check himself out of the damn hospital before he did something everyone would regret.
Mostly him. Serena's sexy personality was breaking him down.
For now, he had other problems.
'I know you two can hear me.' he shouted internally to his 'houseguests'. 'Talk!'
'…Well, well, well.' came the venomous tone of the voice that had been plaguing him for months about his failures. The King of Pokelantis. 'I wondered when you'd call, child.'
Ash put his gloves on. 'I think you should be more civil, 'your majesty'. You're in MY head.' he sent back. 'Where's the other one? The thing that pretended to be Sabrina?'
'She's occupied.' the King replied. 'So, Chosen of Arceus, you know we're here. What are you going to do about it?'
Ash slipped his jacket on, going for his shoes next. 'You're going to tell me how to deal with the Unown.' he said. 'So I can send them back to the Distortion Realm and prevent Molly's… outburst.'
The King snorted. 'And why should I help you at all?' he demanded. 'I have nothing to gain.'
Ash paused. He had a point. Then he remembered this man was a tyrant that the GODS personally locked up for being a monumental, egotistical bastard. WHY should he bother playing nice?
'Because I can make your stay in my head nice or VERY hellish.' Ash said, the King sending a feeling of doubt. 'Don't believe me?' Ash then imagined an iron maiden closing on the bastard, resulting in a scream of pain. 'Believe THAT, asshole!'
'MOTHERFUCKER!' the King screamed.
Ash scowled, then imagined a very nasty-looking bonesaw slamming into the man's head. 'First rule, 'your majesty': NEVER talk about my mother like that.' he declared. 'Second? If you're lying and I know it, you suffer. We're not friends. You took control of me and planned to restart your empire in MY body. Until Arceus decides to show up and remove you two from my head, you're going to help me make sure what happened doesn't get worse. Do you understand me?'
Silence followed. 'I said, do you understand me?!' Ash bellowed into his mind.
'YES!' The king spat. 'Fine! You will regret your impertence-'
'Spare me the evil gloating.' Ash cut off. 'I get enough of that from people like Giovanni, Cyrus and Dennis.'
Ash would not trust everything this bastard said, but he was an expert in the field. The only way he could trip Ash up was mixing lies with truth.
And half-truths were still useful.
Kingdom of Rota - Cameran Castle - 1350 hours local time
Lightning struck one of the towers of the castle, but it was the season for that sort of thing in Rota.
That and there was an electric regi around that was awake and… well, doing his electrical thing.
Still, it set the mood perfectly as the perhaps now-thoroughly INSANE head of the Rotan Royal Guard as he prepared to do something that hadn't been done in nearly a century. Mostly because the primary source of the material for it came from a country stuck in the grasp of idiots.
"The one thing I can say about Ransei, at least they're dealing with Ferrum's stupidity." Taggard said, looking at newly…acquired (they were stolen from the now-thoroughly burned Ferran capital) sets of chemical agents.
The old bastard decided that he was going about it the wrong way. He thought Ash would fall easily for Robin's advances. It was only after putting his opinions of the rest of the royal brides aside that…well, he thought he had the answer. Mostly in how Ash interacted with Misty and Serena.
Who had extra…bounce in their step, as it were.
So, after ensuring Robin was doing her job as a member of not only Ash's harem - she'd fallen in love with him, she was just too emotionally stunted to realize it - and the royal guard, he took a Pidgeot back to Rota.
And began making an age old formula to increase a lady's 'bounce'.
Most of the materials came from Ferrum, so until NOW, no one could make it outside of that Arceus-forsaken shithole.
"He's up to something." Kyoji said, having been . "Lightning doesn't randomly strike around here."
Kyoji arrived back in Rota with Sabrina after Taggard flew back, having teased Ash enough.
He was still being stupid about romance, but he DID have a lot of issues. Greenfield sounded like a shitshow.
Taggard, of course, didn't care. This was well-known. His end goal was to ensure the continuation of the Rotan royal family. Koyji supposed his motivations were better then at first glance.
In a way, he was just trying to save the world. But he wasn't willing to WAIT.
"You're right that he's up to something, but I don't know what." Sabrina said. "He's VERY well-versed in anti-psychic tactics. Nascour would've figured out he was in charge of the Orrean resistance movements a LONG time ago if he wasn't."
Kyoji and his yellow shark gave his girlfriend a look. "Can't you just…" he started, trying to find the right word. "Drill into his mind?"
"Without turning him into a vegetable or killing him?" Sabrina asked dryly. "No. And we can't break in."
"Why not?!" Kyoji demanded.
"Because I've got orders from Lance to not rock the boat." the greenette said. "And that means BOTH of us. I have to keep you from doing anything, so…"
"Gible!" 'Am I exempt?' the yellow shark asked, Kyoji petting the land shark.
"I don't think so." he said before sighing. "Is there anything we can do to keep him from…well, making things worse?"
"Maybe." Sabrina said before her eyes turned upward. "Great. Lance."
Gible perked up and looked at Sabrina. It was a universal Gible thing. It had to be done.
Lance scowled as he approached the capital of Rota. He had to talk to Ash. And as far as he knew, he'd returned to Cameran Castle because that's where Taggard was. Where he was, Ash wasn't far away because he NEVER strayed far from his liege lord.
It was at this moment, on Dragonite's back, that he noticed something fast, yellow and… the size of his head.
Other then the yellow, it looked very familiar… Oh.
Oh HELL.
CHOMP!
"Gible!" cried the Ranseian land shark, as he latched onto Lance's skull with the force of a missile and the gentleness of a hug.
It was SO hard to get mad at a Gible…
WHY did they have to be affectionate and cute?! They were dragons! Worse, they were land sharks!
Sharks were scary! Terrifying! Not… cuddly!
But Gible was. So he did the only thing he could… and pet the shark.
"He's still in Viridian." Sabrina said, Lance standing before her, Gible still latched to his head. It was a VERY silly sight, but… well, Gible could not be denied.
"Taggard's here. I was told he was," he said. "I mean, all of Ash's extended family-"
"Extended is a word." Kyoji said with a smirk.
"All spread throughout the area, I figured Ash was here. Viridian Hospital shows him being discharged." Lance continued.
"Oh, that's great." Kyoji groaned. "So no one knows where he is."
Sabrina coughed into her hand. "He produces a psychic void, remember? He's in Viridian, sitting in a park." she said. "Probably thinking about how he destroyed the facilities at Indigo."
"PLEASE tell me one of the girls is with him." Kyoji pleaded. "The sooner he gets over himself, the better off he is."
Viridian City - 1424 hours local time
People kept a distance from Ash as he sat on a bench. It wasn't because he was creepy or threats of violence.
They knew what happened at Indigo and Orre and knew to leave the highly stressed young man be, thinking that he was thinking on what happened.
They were only half-wrong.
'Willpower.' Ash said. 'That's the answer?'
'Obviously. Force your will on the Unown and you will overwhelm that pathetic girl's control.' the king confirmed, annoyed. Then again, being shown your place and being forced to endure intense pain would do that.
(Of course, the King was still hard at work at overwhelming the foundations of Ash's sanity, but now that Ash KNEW he was there, it was just going to take longer. Instead of the six or nine months, coinciding with Altomere, it would take at least two years)
'That simple. So why didn't it work last time?' Ash asked.
'Because, fool, you believed everything was REAL.' the king snapped, Ash retailating with a barbed whip to the back. 'STOP THAT! Your subconscious told you that everything you saw and felt was real!'
'So if I keep telling myself none of it's real, I can control it.' Ash said. 'Thanks.'
'You can thank me by-'
'Not going straight to Sinnoh and climbing Mount Coronet to have an audience with Arceus.' Ash cut off. 'Look, you're not my friend. I'm pretty sure you'll NEVER want to change and be a nicer person. All you want is revenge.'
'And you don't?' the king shot back. 'Cyrus murdered everything you hold dear-'
'He'll get what's coming to him. But not because I want revenge.' Ash stood up. 'Because I have an entire timeline demanding justice from him and another timeline at risk of his insanity.'
"Ash!" came the voice of Serena, who was still in that nurse's outfit, rushing towards him.
And he had to keep his eyes on hers and not her chest. At least he knew WHY those thoughts crept in at times.
'You're not going to break me.' Ash said to his unwanted 'guests'.
'We shall see.' the voice of Sabrina said as Serena lept at him, wrapping her arms behind his neck, kissing him as Ash, instinctually, grabbed onto her, spinning with the momentum to keep from falling to the ground.
Serena broke the liplock, smiling at him. "Tu m'as rendu inquiet, mon amour." she said in Kalosian. "Pourquoi tu t'es enfui?"
Ash sighed. "J'ai réfléchi." he replied in perfect Kalosian. "Et... tu testais vraiment ma détermination…"
Serena giggled before they got a flash of light to their left, dumping Kyoji, Sabrina and Lance of all people a few meters away.
"Natu, you need to work on your delivery." Kyoji said before seeing Ash and Serena…well… "And I thought I was worried about you…"
Ash sighed. "I was thinking. And everyone was being… distracting." he said.
All four of Ash's regular companions (though Sabrina wouldn't be there for long) rolled their eyes before Lance actually brought something up.
"Where is your starter?" he asked. "He's never far from where you are."
"The Pokemon Center. Against our combined wishes." Ash said. "And I was too caught up in thinking to check."
Pikachu was not a happy mouse. Not because he was in the Pokemon Center.
But because they wouldn't let him LEAVE and go back to his trainer.
His only consolation was ketchup. And that wasn't much.
"Hey." Pikachu perked up at the sound of Ash's voice, discovering his trainer at the entrance to the care ward he was in, fully dressed and ready to walk. "How are you?"
"Pika." 'Pissed. I'm FINE. They just won't let me leave.' Pikachu answered. "Pikapi?" 'They let you out?'
Ash rubbed the back of his head. "I… checked myself out." he admitted sheepishly. "Had some time to think."
Pikachu would have felt betrayed, but he really DID have a lot to think about.
Mostly how Johto was going to go. In the short term, Greenfield. Which sucked the first time. And as the timeline had constantly made matters WORSE… well.
Ash had a LOT to consider.
"Pika?" 'Had a nice conversation with the things in your head?' Pikachu asked.
"Nice. There's a word for it." Ash said, removing all the little monitoring things from Pikachu, the mouse climbing onto his shoulder once he was free. "You know those two are probably the worst people to ever exist, right?"
Pikachu twitched an ear. "Pikapi?" 'Ash, what did you do to them?' he asked.
"Nothing we both know they don't deserve." Ash said. "Besides, Giratina will probably do worse."
Pikachu didn't argue with that logic. The King was a monster to be sure and the thing that possessed Sabrina did it to countless others and would've done it to Anabel.
He didn't agree with it, but arguing about it was pointless. Ash had a point: it wasn't as though they didn't deserve it.
"Come on, let's get you out of here." his trainer said, just as the local Joy barged in, scared out of her mind.
This was going to be fun to explain away.
Viridian City Mayor's Office - 1845 hours local time
"You're dragging him to Blackthorn?" Taggard demanded over the video link in the office Lance was… borrowing. "This is in direct violation of your own goddamn rules, Lance! He can't step one FOOT in Johto until he registers for the Johto League and I KNOW that that's not possible for another four MONTHS!"
Lance couldn't exactly blame him for that. His job was to protect the royal family. Belladonna was securely in Rota, Red and Yellow were in Pallet under their mother's watchful eye and Ash… was Ash.
"I realize that. But there are circumstances to take into account." Lance retorted. "Indigo's facilities are beyond repair and the gym leaders are refusing to give me access to their gyms in fear of me destroying them. I don't blame them, to be honest."
"And that changes nothing, boy." the old man returned. "I might not be able to keep him safe in Cameran Castle, but I CAN keep him out of Johto for the next five months."
Enough time for him to hatch whatever plan he was up to.
Well, time to crash that.
"Well, I suppose you should be informed because I have chosen Ash to be my champion in the reconquest of Johto, he is exempt from those regulations." Lance said, reminding the asshole that Ash was going to be winning Johto over for him. "He can go to Johto whenever he wants."
"YOU SON OF A HELIXIAN-" Lance hung up on him, smirking. There WAS a transport issue, as Blackthorn had teleport dampeners out the ass. They'd have to fly in.
And none of them had heavy-duty flying-types.
Pallet Town - Day 202 - 0841 hours local
So much teleporting.
Misty was looking forward to actually travelling by somewhat normal means. She was tired of being teleported around so much. Serena seemed less disorientated, but her and Anabel were the only exceptions. Everyone else preferred the long way.
Ash himself preferred doing it on foot, but that was not an option. Vetoed by EVERYONE due to the simple fact that they had enough of that crap in the last timeline.
Now they were doing it in another way.
Which, of course, made a sad Gible, as Ash's had his evolite clip removed, turning him back into a Garchomp.
"Ok, everyone line up and prepare for a flight on Ketchum Airways!" Kyoji declared, wearing what was effectively an airline captain's uniform. Leavanny must've had a field day sewing. "Today we're going to be heading to Johto's eastern capital of Blackthorn for a battle between Ash and Lance, so I hope everyone's ready to go flying!"
The fliers included Ash's Charizard, who Ash himself would be riding alongside Serena, Kyoji's Charizard, who would be taking Kyoji and Neesha, Pidgeot, Garchomp, Dragonair and Swellow.
Pidgeot could carry three people (Robin, Mei and Iris) Garchomp, two (Anabel and Max) Dragonair was going to take Misty…
And the TRio were going to be carried.
"You just have it out for us." James complained.
Well, you're not wrong, but I WON'T kill y'all.
"Small consolation." Butch groused.
You can't suffer if you're dead.
"Sadistic bastard." Meowth moaned before they noticed the newcomer.
Serena's new Goomy. The one with the yellow spots. It was weird.
"You got plans, don't you?" Jessie demanded of the uncaring god that was the author. Well, uncaring about their well-being at least.
Always. And only those who paid attention in chemistry class will know why the spots are yellow.
"Doubt it. Chemistry's a subject for madmen." Cassidy said. "Have you ever met a SANE chemist?"
Plenty. They just like to play up the madness thing for kicks.
While they were dealing with the uncaring god, Ash climbed up on Charizard's back. "You ok with this?" he asked his most troublesome Kanto capture. Only because until he got frozen solid, he didn't listen to a goddamn thing he said.
"Zar." 'What, flying you to Blackthorn?' Charizard asked. "Char." 'I don't have a problem with that. It's an extra workout before I join the fight.'
He was fighting. This was a given.
"No, I meant Serena." he said as the Kalosian girl secured her hat with a ribbon under her chin. "You never met her."
Charizard scoffed. "Charizar." 'Ash, you love her - don't even deny it, you love her as much as you love Misty and Iris - and that is all I need to know.' the dragonic Pokemon said, surprising Ash. "Zard." 'It's a given, Ash, that anyone you fall in love with is a good person. Perhaps a bit annoying personality-wise-' he gave a glance to Iris at that. 'But good in spirit.'
With that, Charizard bent his tail to allow Serena to climb onto his back behind Ash.
"Thank you, Charizard." she said, sounding like a combination of Jade and the princess personality… which showed as she wrapped her arms around Ash's chest and pressed her assets into his back, making sure he KNEW.
"Je te le rappelle, mon amour… ne t'inquiète pas." Serena said, resting her head on Ash's left shoulder as he froze. "Je ne ferai rien que tu ne veuilles pas que je fasse…"
Pikachu cackled at his reaction. "Pika!" 'I didn't even UNDERSTAND that and I know it was only good news for you!'
Well, he DID understand it and as far as he was concerned, that was the LAST thing he needed to hear.
"Zard!" 'Hold on!' Charizard said before taking to the air, followed by Pidgeot and Kyoji's Charizard - poor thing didn't even know he was already taken - as they headed towards Johto's eastern capital.
"WHOA!" Misty said as Dragonair took off, unsteady and unstable, struggling to hold onto him.
The Rockets ran away, but it only made it easier for Swellow, Pidgeot and Garchomp to swoop them up.
"YOU SADISTIC BASTARD!" Jessie screamed.
You'll live.
"THAT'S THE PROBLEM!" Meowth snapped.
I know. It's glorious.
Entry 93: Clair Wataru
The eldest cousin of Lance, Clair is the leader of Blackthorn City's gym. She specializes, for the most part, in Dragonair and Kingdra, though other dragon-types are also in her care.
Her duties include patrolling the eastern reaches of the massive Ilex Forest, where, according to reports, she saved Pokemon that would soon be in Ash Ketchum's service.
She is also rather fond of high explosives, as the first thing she made when she was 8 was a pump-action grenade launcher.
Arceus help whoever she decides to date…
Entry 94: Ulysses Taggard
Head of the Rotan Royal Guard and a dyed-in-the-wool zealot obsessed with ensuring the continuation and security of the royal family, along with making them strong leaders and warriors, Taggard is in fact 106 years old, leader and last remaining member of Jamon's Royal Guard, who died, along with, seemingly, his son, in Unova. As penance for his failure, he exiled himself to Orre, where Cipher used his smithing skills - which was how he joined the guard in the first place - to rebuild their armory.
While doing so, he founded every resistance movement to their rule, including the last, which included Robin Ryuto and led to the downfall of Cipher with the assistance of Ash Ketchum, his new prince.
He will stop at NOTHING to ensure Ash's safety, but more over to ensure he continues the Royal Family line, using unsavory and underhanded tactics to do so.
Ron the True Fan: Well, someone's got a plan. And it involves a word that is both funny and fitting. Boing.
Takeshi Yamato: Very Boing. Gainaxing is a trope for a reason. And it's not just because Studio Gainax was known so well for the phenomenon in question that their name was attached to it.
Ron the True Fan: Shame Taggard is almost completely wrong about Ash's type. I mean, he's into long haired girls. Any amount of boing is just a bonus. It's a funny word.
Takeshi Yamato: Yes, it is. That said, the girls will all have differing amounts of boing. If they all had maximum boing, it would get very boring very quickly. Variety. That is what is key.
Ron the True Fan: I thought memory was the key.
Takeshi Yamato: Don't start Red vs Bluing!
Ron the True Fan: You were asking for it!
Takeshi Yamato: …Whatever. Anyway, the stage is being set for the Lance fight, as well. Blackthorn City has no idea what manner of shitstorm is about to hit it.
Ron the True Fan: Or does it?
Ja Ne!