Can we all agree that a Trojan Ponyta sounds like a cool regional variant?
After Ash's impromptu move showcase and vanishing act, he couldn't exactly show his face in the Pokemon center.
Fortunately, given his unique circumstances, he easily had other faces available for usage. He did not however have a form of identification for any other faces he might make use of.
This was a problem, especially since his Pokemon had not yet been treated when they had set off to find him, and Charmander sure could use a check-up as well.
Now a Pokemon Center would hardly throw a Pokemon out on the street, even if they did not have an officially registered trainer.
But if someone with multiple Pokemon came in without any sort of trainer card or other official credentials it would raise some eyebrows, especially right after the whole thing with Damian and the Pokemon Rangers coming through looking for him.
Speaking of whom, Ash was quite happy to hear that he had been taken to the nearest Ranger Union and had his Pokemon confiscated. His trainer license was revoked for the duration of the investigation. If the claims of abuse and mistreatment proved to be true (which they were) then this temporary confiscation would become permanent.
He had gotten this story mostly through rumors in the center. There had been a small article on the Pokemon Ranger website about it, but the situation seemed to have avoided being blown up by the media. Probably because it happened so out of the way of most towns and cities.
But his Pokemon needed some rest and care, there were no serious injuries but there were enough gathered scrapes and bruises that the team really could use a professional looking over them, and Misty helpfully pointed out that Ash needed a checkup as well, considering he had kept himself going on a mix of potions, naps and toughing it out.
Misty could probably try taking Ash and his entire team to the counter herself and let Nurse Joy look them over under her name, but she was a tiny bit reluctant to push her luck.
Considering that Nurse Joy had seen her come into the building with Pokemon who had disappeared from her clinic if she came back with those same Pokemon and tried to have them taken care of, her luck might run out.
So a scheme was hatched.
Ash had a truly unique advantage, while his illusions had technically got him into this mess, he could now use them to get out of it.
First, he came up to the desk as a young female trainer with Pikachu, he picked up the appearance after seeing some ad from Unova. A white hat with a ponytail sticking out the back, a shirt and vest, shorts, and combat boots.
Nurse Joy had taken Pikachu without any real problems, just a quick question or two about whether Pikachu had any specific injuries or not, and then he was being taken care of.
Ash may have dropped a hint that she should check Pikachu to make sure his brain wasn't short-circuiting, all that electricity you know? But he was fairly sure she knew he was joking.
Next came Pidgeotto, for this disguise he chose a male disguise and used something he'd seen from Sinnoh in a magazine. A red cap, another white t-shirt and vest (with more detail on the vest), blue jeans, a scarf, and sneakers.
Still no questions or suspicious looks from the nurse as he asked her to look after Pidgeotto. He mentioned how she had been pushing herself harder and suggested that the Center check for sprains. Nurse Joy had made the mistake of suggesting Pidgeotto might have trouble flying and nearly had her fingers pecked as a reward.
Ash had to apologize to Nurse Joy and give Pidgeotto a light scolding. She puffed up defiantly at his rebuke.
"I can fly just fine! It just hurts when I move my wings, that's all!" She protested. Ash politely declined to point out how that was what the nurse had been talking about. It also had to do with the fact he was currently disguised in public.
With a noticeable amount of caution from the caregiver, Pidgeotto too was sent to the back and Ash quickly darted away to take on his third and final disguise.
This one came to him from a vague recollection from a few years back. He couldn't remember all of the details or even where he saw it specifically but he decided to try and make it work.
A red and black zippered shirt, sneakers, and some black and gray shorts that were slightly longer than normal. The hard part was the hair. He thought that the original had white hair, but thinking about it, he realizes that it also could have been a hat.
Was it white hair with a black headband or a white hat with a black rim? The indecisiveness paralyzed him.
Then he realized that Nurse Joy had probably never seen this boy before and likely never would in the future and it didn't matter whether or not it was a hat.
This time when he went up to the desk he finally got a suspicious look. Not too suspicious mind you, but it was there, along with a healthy dose of confusion. He couldn't particularly blame her, and a part of him felt bad stringing her along like this but he wasn't about to drop his illusion and reveal everything.
Selene was dropped off like the others; he didn't make any jokes at her expense like Pikachu and she didn't get upset when discussing what should be looked at like Pidgeotto, she was perfectly well-behaved. Once she was taken to the back, Ash slunk away and joined Misty and Charmander in her room, where he dropped his illusion and braced himself.
"It's been a long time since I've been to a regular Pokemon Center, well, to use it as a Pokemon anyway." He elaborated.
"I've been before, but Damian didn't have all of us checked sometimes, he'd say we needed to learn from our mistakes." Charmander admitted thoughtfully and Ash felt his anger at Damian somehow grow a little. It was just a small amount but it was an expansion he didn't think was possible.
Misty grabbed Ash and Charmander much the way she had when they had first returned the night before. "This is your chance to be a regular Pokemon, and for me to test out my poker face on Nurse Joy."
It could have gone a lot worse to be fair, it also could have gone better but it all worked out in the end. When Misty came up to the desk with Ash and Charmander, Nurse Joy had given her the stink eye and demanded an explanation for the entire situation.
Misty did not give her the truth but managed to insert some facts to make the tale more believable.
As she told it, after Ash's disappearing act she had gone and gotten his Pokemon to help look for him, that was true and her admission helped lend credence to the rest of the story.
As she continued, however, she claimed that Ash had not come back to the center after being found, for fear of repercussions or causing more problems with the other trainers but he still wanted his Pokemon taken care of.
Of course, Misty being the 'good and wonderful friend' that she was, had been willing to take the Pokemon back to the Center to be looked at alongside her own, including her recently caught Charmander and Zorua who were not big fans of Pokeballs.
She had been a bit worried about getting into trouble though so she had asked some kids she met on the road to drop the other Pokemon off for her.
Whether it was luck, good fortune, or Nurse Joy simply being trustworthy, she accepted the story as Misty told it, but did give her a chewing out for taking someone else's Pokemon from the back even if it was for a good cause.
Honestly, it did sting a little that they probably could have given that story from the start and skipped the whole scheme. But it was more fun this way at least.
After that things moved along quickly, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say they moved along simply. Nurse Joy had permitted Misty to pick up all of Ash's Pokemon alongside 'her' Zorua and Charmander. Then they went through the long and fairly dull process of being cared for by the Pokemon Center.
There wasn't much to say about it really, it was a basic medical checkup with some cool machines and gizmos that helped the healing process. The Zorua had no idea what any of their names even were, never mind how they functioned or what they did.
Eventually, everyone was cared for and Ash had to admit he felt better than he had in a long time. Feeling a bit lighter in step they got on the road once again.
Once travel began again the first big step was figuring out how Charmander was going to fit on Ash.
He wasn't entirely sure he was comfortable being the vehicle for his team, but his legs were longer than everyone else's so it did make some sort of sense. True, Pokeballs were an option but then he'd have to have someone cooped up in the ball. Even if everyone other than Pikachu was technically okay with it he still didn't like the idea of someone being left out. Also, he enjoyed being surrounded by his friends.
The solution they found was functional if a bit unorthodox. Using his head, tail, and claws to both cling on and weigh himself down, he latched himself onto Ash's backpack and rode back there. Ash was worried he might get tired hanging on but the backpack was at enough of a slant that he only needed to catch himself if jostled too much.
Misty had told them they made for an amusing sight. A Pikachu and Pidgeotto on his shoulders, a Clefairy in his arms, and a Charmander on his back. He didn't mind though, he had his friends with him and he was happy with that.
They continued from the Pokemon Center towards Vermillion City, it still baffled Ash that they had somehow missed Saffron but Misty had an idea for how it had happened.
"Remember when we stopped at the Pokemon Technical Institute? We followed the road past there instead of going back to where we split off in the first place. The road we took must have led away from Saffron and around the coast towards Vermillion." She explained.
Ash thought back and came to the conclusion she was probably right, it still would have been nice for someone to put a sign there directing them or something.
As they walked the group made an effort to start getting Charmander involved in their conversations and help make him feel welcome as part of the team.
"What moves do you know Charmander?" Selene asked him, trying to twist back to look at him before realizing they wouldn't be able to see each other given their chosen locations on the S.S. Ash.
"Uhhh…" Charmander started blankly as he thought. "I know Smokescreen, but you already knew that. I also know Rage, Ember, Leer, and Skull Bash."
"Wow!" Selene cheered him. "You know more than I do. Well unless you count Metronome as every move, then I know more moves than anyone else." She considered the implications of the move.
"I don't think that's quite how it works…" Pidgeotto admitted.
"I mean maybe she doesn't know every move right now, but she could use any move." Ash pointed out.
Pikachu chuckled. "Is this the part where Selene realizes she can take over the world?"
"What would I do with the whole world? I have enough trouble figuring out what I do, how could I decide what everyone else does?" The fairy-type questioned.
Charmander picked this time to ask his own question. "I was wondering something, why does everyone call you Selene, I thought you were Clefairy?"
"I am a Clefairy but my name is Selene." She explained to him simply.
No doubt if he could see her from his location on Ash's back he would have been staring. "Okay but how does that work?"
Ash took the opportunity to explain. "It's a nickname, like how I'm a Zorua but my name is Ash. Most Pokemon don't seem all that interested in it but some are, I know Pikachu doesn't care for them. Now that I think of it, Pidgeotto you said you were going to think about it?"
"I'm still thinking about it." The flying type responded. "I decided if I do take a nickname it has to be perfect, so I'm putting a lot of thought into it. If I don't think of one that's good enough then I won't take one, if I do then there we go."
Pikachu groaned. "You're putting way too much time and energy into it if you ask me."
"That's exactly why I didn't ask you."
Even as the conversation began to turn away, Charmander managed to bring it back into focus. "So, I could just pick a name and people would call me that? It does sound kind of neat." He paused for a moment. "I can't think of anything though."
"How about Char?" Selene suggested. "It's already part of your name so it's not too different but it would be yours."
"Too basic." Charmander decided after a moment's thought.
"Flare?" Ash suggested and at Misty's questioning looked explained a bit. "We're trying to help Charmander think of a nickname."
"Oh!" She nodded and thought. "How about Sunny then?"
The fire-type in question took his time as he debated these two names. "I kind of like Sunny but I'm not sure, any other ideas?"
"Red?" Selene put forth another idea.
"Torch?" Pidgeotto suggested.
"The Pokemon Torch?" Selene amended Pidgeotto's idea.
"Charlizard?" Pidgeotto tried again.
"Charlie?" Selene continued her trend.
"Mehrunes Dagon, Lord of Destruction, Ambition, and Revolution!" Pikachu finally put forth his idea. Slowly everyone began to look at the electric type who raised his chin in defiance. "What?"
"I think we can safely put that one to the side," Ash claimed. "Of course, it's up to you, Charmander?"
"Most of them are pretty good." He admitted. "I'd feel bad picking one person's idea over another though…"
Ash quickly worked to assuage his concerns. "No, it's fine really! We're trying to help you pick a name, don't feel bad if you like one name more than the others."
The fire-type considered Ash's words. "I still like Sunny, I mean, I can change my mind later right?"
"I don't see why you couldn't! Sunny it is then!" Ash agreed with the newly named Sunny.
Their conversations turned to other topics, filling Sunny in on the various misadventures they had gotten up to since the start of their journey and how everyone had joined the group thus far.
As the sun began to set Ash explained the series of events that led to him becoming a trainer and got everyone's attention as he elaborated. He felt a bit sheepish as he realized that he hadn't told anyone about it yet, excluding Pikachu who had been there for most of the events.
"Wait, so this whole thing started because you met some guy from Hoenn named Sydney in a park?" Misty confirmed, sounding dubious. Ash nodded in response and she shook her head. "That's kind of crazy to think about, all it takes is one conversation and look at what's happened! You might have never left Pallet Town if you hadn't met him."
"Maybe," Ash admitted. "But I might have gone off eventually, just maybe not as a trainer, I like Pallet Town, it's home and I do miss it sometimes but I want to just explore the world."
"Honestly, yeah that's one of the things that kept me from saying no to this stupid idea from the start," Pikachu said his piece. "I thought it was a bad idea but I never really tried that hard to stop you."
"You told me it was a stupid idea, and that trainers were stupid and that I was stupid." Ash began listing the things that Pikachu thought were stupid.
"Those are all true though!" Pikachu protested.
Pidgeotto cut in, "Have you considered that maybe you're just stupid?"
"Hey!" The electric-type protested the insinuation.
The flying type was unapologetic though. "Don't dish it out if you can't take it."
They ended up forgoing training for the day, they had just been all fixed up at the Pokemon Center and wanted to make as much progress as possible. The Center had some provisions available for passing trainers and travelers but somehow they were even worse than the existing food they had with them.
Everyone turned in for bed and slept well enough considering they had been briefly allowed to experience the comforts of civilization the previous night.
Like clockwork, they set off again the next morning but did not get nearly as far as they would have liked.
About an hour after they had started walking again the ground gave way beneath them suddenly and without warning.
Ash cried out in surprise and lost his grip on Selene and felt the weight on his back and shoulders lift as the rest of his team fell off of him as well.
The fall was not very far thankfully and they hit the ground with a dull thud. Unfortunately for Ash, it was enough to burst his illusion and he staggered to his feet and shook himself.
Misty grounded nearby and sat up rubbing her head. "What the heck just happened?"
Pidgeotto, the lucky one with wings, flapped down and landed on top of Misty's head given she lacked her usual perch with Ash in his true form. "Clearly someone dug a pit trap for us to fall into."
The Gym Leader glared up at the bird Pokemon on her head and tried to shoo her off. "You know I still can't understand you right?"
"It's not my fault you're a slow learner." The flying-type pointed out, apparently unabashed.
"It's a pit trap, but who dug it?" Ash helped explain to Misty who gave up on her attempt to remove Pidgeotto and was taking stock of their surroundings.
Selene gasped in horror. "This is like in the stories! Next thing we know an Incineroar is going to appear and try to wrestle us!"
Ash paused at her words and turned to look at her. "How do you know what an Incineroar is, you didn't even know what a Vulpix was until we told you."
"I don't know what it is, just that it's big, a fire-type and it tries to wrestle people who fall into pits!" She crossed her arms in a huff. "How do you know what it is?"
"I try to learn about every Pokemon, just in case I have to use my illusion to look like them," Ash explained truthfully.
"Back on track," Pikachu ordered as he helped Sunny up. "Who dug this pit and were they aiming for us specifically?"
"That would be us ya, schmucks." A smarmy voice announced from above and they all looked up.
Around the rim of the hole stood a group of Squirtle. Specifically a group of Squirtle who were all wearing sunglasses.
"Just who are you then?" Ash asked them.
"Hey boss, that one talks like a human too!" One of the water-types spoke up.
"So he does Numbah Two, so he does." The one in the center, differentiated from the other by wearing a fancier pair of glasses, agreed with his associate. "I also canna help but notice something. We saw two trainers walking down the road, but I only sees one in the hole. Where'd the other one go?" The voice was grating and was accented, but poorly. The Squirtle seemed to be trying to do a stereotypical gangster accent but had mixed pirate and maybe Galarian into it to create a weird mess.
"Maybe we'll tell you," Pikachu growled and glared up at them. "If you explain to us what's going on first."
"Yous ain't exactly in a place to be demanding anything." The leader laughed at him and his fellows joined in. "But since I'm feeling mighty generous today I'll spell it out to yas. We," He gestured to his team, "are the Squirtle Squad. Today we'll be showin' those trainers why they suck and why we're the best."
Ash stared up at them as Misty looked between him and the Squirtle. "What did he say?"
"He said they're here to show trainers why we suck," Ash said as an aside to her before addressing the leader of the Squirtle. "Why do trainers suck?"
He got a sneer in response. "Are ya joking? Takin' Pokemon away from their homes, using them however they please, and ditching them whenever they feel like we're not cutting it anymore! Do I need to go on or do ya get the point?"
Ash frowned, he really, really, did not like how much of a trend this seemed to be becoming. "You're right." He told the Squirtle and they seemed to be taken aback by his response."
"What? I mean yeah!" The leader dropped his accent for a moment but regained it quickly along with his bravado. "Glad we're clear on that."
"Some trainers do suck." Ash continued, "I've met them, some treat their Pokemon too harshly, some don't seem to care and some are downright malicious." He thought of the trainers they'd met since they left Cerulean City. "But how is digging a hole going to fix anything?"
"I mean ain't it obvious? We trap trainers in the hole and let them have it with Water Gun, the only reason we ain't started blasting ya is because there's only one traina' and a bunch of Pokemon. I can't help but notice ya haven't answered my question though, where is the other trainer?" Squirtle demanded.
Ash took his cue to reapply his illusion. He heard a gasp from one or two of the Squirtle but maintained eye contact with the leader. "I'm both a trainer and a Pokemon. Like I said, some trainers suck, they can be cruel and awful, but I'm going to fix that. If I can get them to be better to their Pokemon I will but if they're too far gone then I'll do whatever it takes to help the Pokemon they're hurting. A hole is just going to make them angry and make things worse."
One of the Squirtle started clapping enthusiastically as he finished but was silenced by a glare from the leader. "Yer passionate I'll give ya that. Let's say I takes your word for it, you'll stop the bad trainers where ya find them, yadda yadda, what about the ones you don't see or the ones you don't find?"
"I'll help who I can," Ash said resolutely. "I can't be everywhere but I'd rather do something. It's better than digging holes at least."
One of the other Squirtle had enough. "Stop insulting our hole-digging! We worked really hard on this!" She shouted down at him.
"It is an impressive hole" Selene admitted while taking a look around.
"Thank you!" The same Squirtle responded with a nod.
The leader just kicked at the rim of the pit and knocked some dirt down into it. "Why do you have to go and say something noble like that? It takes the fun out of this." Whatever gangster-like accent he had been going for before had been dropped. "Fine, we won't blast you guys but we won't help you out either, you're on your own there."
"Oh, boss!" One of the two who hadn't spoken yet got the leader's attention. "Ask them about the thing! They have a Pikachu with them, maybe he knows something!"
"Hmm?" The boss looked at him. "Oh right, that thing. Yo Pikachu!" His awful accent returned. "Ya know anything abouts a Vulpix? Particularly one travlin' with another Pikachu?"
Pikachu still glared at him but his answer was more exasperated than angry. "Why do Pokemon keep asking us about that? Selene was asking about a Vulpix too, what's the story there?"
"Well ya see, we made some new… friends and they had a proposition for us. They have this Spearow friend ya see and they want to know who roughed up him and his friends, they say it was a Pikachu and a black Vulpix."
The gears in Ash's head began turning. Weird that some Spearow had trouble with a Pikachu and a Vulpix, especially since he and Pikachu had that problem with the Spearow flock…
Oh.
Pikachu must have come to a similar conclusion because he heard a sharp intake of breath from his best friend.
"Hold on boss!" The Squirtle who had been angry about the hole complaints pointed out. "Didn't that one look kind of like a Vulpix when he was in his Pokemon form?"
"Ya raise a very good point Numbah Three." The Squirtle turned back to Ash. "Ya wouldn't happen to have any insights would ya?"
Ash launched into a rambling explanation. "This one time at Summer camp there was a Diglett and he attacked us but Pikachu and I beat him. Then we started on our journey and he suddenly pops up out of nowhere and starts yelling about heathen gods or something. Then he launches a rock at some Spearow and runs away and suddenly we have all these Spearow attacking us and we ran away but Pikachu got hurt and we jumped into a river and there was a Gyrados and currents and we met Misty and then the Spearow came back and Pikachu wrecked Misty's bike and blew away a storm and knocked out the Spearow."
The disguised Pokemon felt very self-conscious as everyone stared at him. "Huh. I'm almost willin' to believe that just cuz I don't think ya could have made something like that up so fast." Squirtle admitted.
"Wait a second." Pidgeotto cut in. "Selene had the same question about Vulpix as you guys, and she got it from Team Rocket, and when you first heard Ash, you said he could 'talk like a human too.' Who else have you met that can talk like humans?" Her sharp eyes narrowed on the Squirtle.
Most of the shellfish Pokemon shifted uncomfortably, but their leader remained resolute. "I don't see how that's any of yer business."
"No?" Pidgeotto asked dangerously and went airborne, launching off of Misty's head and landing at the edge of the pit, making the lead Squirtle fall back on his shell. "Those Spearow nearly killed my friends and are apparently still hunting them. I won't let them get hurt because some Spearow don't know how to let go of a grudge."
Squirtle quickly scrambled to his feet and tried to make himself look intimidating. "Now hold on a minute here!"
"I don't think I will." Pidgeotto threatened. As she kept the Squirtle busy Misty took a firm grasp of the opportunity.
"Climb!" She hissed and began working her way up the side of the pit, using rocks and roots as handholds. Ash and his team soon joined her.
They were out of the hole quickly even as the Squirtle began calling in alarm. Soon the Squirtle were the ones on the back foot, surrounded by both Ash and Misty's teams and the trainers themselves.
The Squirtle seemed to have no intention of backing down and both Pikachu and Pidgeotto looked ready to start a fight. Ash closed his eyes and took a deep breath, time to try and calm things down.
"Look, if it's one of the Spearow you heard this from, could you please just tell them we're sorry? We didn't throw the rock but we did knock them out. And seriously, try something other than digging holes, there's got to be a better way than that." He pleaded with them.
"Stop it!" Squirtle pointed at him angrily. "Stop making sense!" He grumbled some more but gave in. "It was one of the Spearow, but there was a whole group with them. They called themselves Team Rocket or something like that, there was a Meowth with them who could talk too."
Pikachu groaned. "Those guys again?"
Misty shot Ash a look, likely hoping for a translation or explanation and he began talking. "Remember when I said some trainers are bad? Team Rocket are some of them, although if it's the ones with the talking Meowth they mostly just seem annoying. But they go around trying to kidnap Pokemon and cause problems. They tried to take the Moonstone from Mount Moon and mess with all the Pokemon there. They also attacked a Pokemon Center in Viridian City and they keep saying I'm a bad trainer because I fought back against the Koffing with them!"
"So what if they attacked a Pokemon Center? That's human stuff!" The final Squirtle spoke up.
"Err, actually Numbah Four a Pokemon Center is a place the humans made to take care of sick and hurt Pokemon. It's probably the only human thing I'm against attacking." One of his teammates spoke up.
"Oh." The one called 'Numbah' Four blinked. "Oh, that's bad."
The lead Squirtle was silent as he processed this information. "Alright. In light of new information, I've come to a decision. Everyone follow me, let's go have a chat with our 'friends.'" He looked at their former prisoners. "That includes you too."
Ash glanced around at his team and shared a look with Misty. They had the advantage here so they were probably safe to risk going with the Squirtle. "Okay, we'll follow you, but don't try anything funny."
"Oh, I'll try something funny." Squirtle said menacingly as his glasses flashed in the morning sun. "But not with you…"
It probably didn't sound as cool as he wanted it to, but it was a nice attempt.
Things had been turning up roses for the illustrious members of Team Rocket. First, they get a flock of Spearow and into the Boss's good graces. Then they find a pair of rare fossils that had Team Rocket scientists swooning and working diligently to revive them. Now they were negotiating with a group of Squirtle, a Pokemon that despite its apparent fame among trainers was fairly rare in the wild.
Sadly they had yet to make real progress on their hunt for that special Vulpix but considering the way things were going they had hope.
To the outside observer, it might not be obvious just how well things were going for them. This might be because they were currently sitting in a cave waiting for the Squirtle Squad to return after their latest outing.
But that was because the outside observer hadn't noticed their plunder!
The Squirtle raided and pillaged from trainers and a nearby town, taking snacks and supplies aplenty and with some smooth talk from Meowth were willing to share their hard-earned goods. Like generic brand soda and snack food!
"Maybe we could pick up a thing or two from these Squirtle, those pit traps of theirs are both effective and impressive." James pointed out as he sipped his can of orange soda.
"Just imagine, some unsuspecting twerps walk down the road when suddenly 'crash!' the ground gives way underneath them and they find themselves at the mercy of Team Rocket!" Jessie cackled and took a drought from her cherry soda.
Meowth just shook his head at the two, "That stuff will rot your teeth you know?" He took a drink of his water.
"Nobody asked you!" Jessie scolded him. "At least we have taste!"
"You have something alright." Meowth agreed. "They're called cavities."
James stayed out of the budding argument and just kept drinking his soda in peace. He was more worried about calories than cavities. He brushed his teeth twice a day and flossed, he had nothing to fear from the sugary sweetness of orange soda.
Instead, his mind wandered to the Squirtle Squad. He had felt bad for them when they first told their story, abandoned by cruel and insensitive trainers. How heartless and ruthless! Soon enough though they would have a new home with Team Rocket! Wreaking havoc throughout the land for the glory of Team Rocket!
As he thought of them though he did consider. "They set out quite a while ago, I thought they would have been back by now." He glanced towards the cave entrance.
His words caught the attention of Meowth and Jessie who paused their argument. "Huh, you're right now that I think about it, they did leave a long time ago."
"They might have run into trouble," Jessie suggested thoughtfully.
"I hope they're okay." James worried.
Jessie waved him off. "They'll be fine and if they're not we'll just find a new group of Pokemon. We're Team Rocket, we have options after all."
"What options?" Meowth asked Jessie. "Because this is the first real break we've had in a couple of weeks."
Before Jessie could detail whatever plans or ideas she had the cave was suddenly filled with a torrent of black smoke.
The villainous trio began coughing and hacking in the darkness. "What is this?" Meowth managed to get out.
"Smokescreen!" James answered, somewhat muffled by his sleeve as he held his arm in front of his mouth and nose. He was acutely familiar with the attack. "But I didn't send out Koffing! This is someone else!"
A row of waterspouts welled out of the gloom and collided with the trio sending them crashing into the back of the cave.
"Pidgeotto Gust! Clear the smoke!" An unfortunately familiar voice directed.
The grounded trio found themselves facing not just the Squirtle Squad, but also the no-good, truly horrible, worst-ever, twerps.
"Squirtle'"The leader stepped forwards and looked them up and down. "Squirt squirtle squirt, urtle."
"Hey, those Pokemon at the Center all belonged to trainers." Meowth was on his feet and working his mouth almost immediately. "We would have been doing them a favor."
The ginger one, Misty, growled at them. "Those Pokemon were being cared for! Kidnapping them before they were healed could have been terrible! What if one was in intensive care and needed twenty-four-hour attention and medical aid?"
James had not thought of that, but it didn't matter anyway. "We didn't even get to those Pokemon because of you! We had to settle for whatever was at the front desk!"
The monster that had hit his poor Koffing glared at him, the audacity! "Would that have been better? I know there are bad trainers but not all of them! Pokemon can join trainers by choice! Not to mention they can break out of balls too! And what good would it do for a Pokemon already taken away from home to be taken farther away?"
"They would be serving a much grander and better cause!" Jessie spoke up now to back James up. "All Pokemon in the world already belong to Team Rocket, they just don't know it yet!" James had said those words back at the Pokemon Center, hadn't he? It wasn't helping their case here though.
The black-haired twerp, who now had a hat covering up that mop of hair, (the new hat suited him at least) looked strangely satisfied at her words and looked down at the Squirtle. "Have you heard enough yet?"
The lead Squirtle tilted his head and considered. After a moment he nodded and said "Squirtle."
Meowth was not a fan of whatever Squirtle just said and shook his paw at them angrily. "Those are fightin' words! You'll regret making enemies out of Team Rocket!"
Despite Meowth's declaration the combined forces of the Squirtle Squad and the twerps seemed completely unimpressed. It looked like they were about to attack! The lead Squirtle began barking more orders.
"Meowth!" James cried out, hoping for a bit of an explanation.
"The Squirtle wants to tie us up, not sure what the twerps are planning though." the talking Pokemon explained in a rush of breath.
"To call the police or the Pokemon Rangers, whoever is closer." The girl said with crossed arms.
That got the Squirtle's attention and the leader turned to the twerps. "Squirtle! Squirtle squirt!"
"Well, what would you suggest we do then?" The girl asked in response and James felt his curiosity grow. It was almost like she could understand them, but that wasn't possible, was it?
Before his line of thought could continue Jessie shifted over to him and hissed in his ear. "This is our chance to get away while they're bickering. Send out Koffing and let's get out of here!"
A part of James wanted to keep listening in as the twerps bickered but Jessie had a very good and valid point. Time to get out of here, Team Rocket wouldn't be able to stay on top if they were behind bars! "Grab the soda and let's go!"
With a twirl and an elegant toss, he sent out his friend. "Go Koffing!"
"Koffing!" The poison-type announced his arrival cheerfully.
"Pika!" The twerp's electric mouse noticed the new Pokemon's arrival and so did his trainer. An abusive dynamic they may have, but they could make it more abusive for other people sometimes.
"Pikachu Thunder Bolt quick! Before they can get away!"
James, in a mad run, grabbed his floating partner out of the way and sent them both crashing to the ground. "Koffing use Smokescreen! We're getting out of here!"
"Koff!" how Pokemon responded and black clouds billowed out of Koffing. James, being right on top of it, unfortunately, got a mouth and face full of the stuff but he just screwed his eyes shut tight, grabbed his Pokemon, and ran for the exit.
He kept running even once they passed the exit and quickly found himself tumbling down a hill, turns out running with your eyes closed was not the best idea. Behind him, he heard the noises of others falling and hoped it was Jessie and Meowth behind him.
Once he stopped tumbling he let go of Koffing and gingerly rubbed at his eyes. Fortunately for him, not everything hurt. He looked around and up at the ridge they had just fallen from, and sure enough, his teammates came to a crash beside him.
Jessie groaned and pulled the bag full of drinks and snacks off her back. She opened it up and a stream of purple liquid sprayed out and washed over her face. Once the stream stopped she took a look inside. "Well, the chips are okay, but the bag is full of soda now…"
Koffing floated next to them. "Koffing…" He said in a comforting tone and James gave him a rub.
"Thanks for the quick escape, my friend! We couldn't have done it without you!" He told him and returned him to his Pokeball to get some rest. "Now what?"
Meowth scrambled to his feet. "Now we get outta here!"
"Right you are Meowth! Let's go, James!" Jessie was back on her feet and took off at a rapid pace that the two boys quickly followed. "Back to the balloon!"
"Those darned twerps!" James complained as they ran. "They just don't know when to give up! Why do they keep ruining our plans?"
"It can't be a coincidence!" Jessie insisted as they fought their way through the trees. "They must be spies or something. International Police maybe? Pokemon Rangers?"
"They said they would call them though?" Meowth pointed out. "If they were, couldn't they have just told us we're under arrest or something?"
Jessie snorted. "Obviously not Meowth! They're undercover!"
James nodded. "That makes sense." His spirits rose as he looked through the trees. "Look there's the balloon!"
"Right!" Jessie expertly leapt over the basket rim using one hand to brace herself. Meowth did a full leap into it and James, unfortunately, mistimed his jump and crashed into the bottom of the basket face-first. "Stop messing around James, we gotta go before they follow us!"
"Are they following us?" He asked, rubbing his bruised skull.
"I don't see them," Meowth claimed as they began to take off.
"Because they're spies!" Jessie snapped at him. "They're too smart to let themselves be seen!"
"What do we do?" James worried as they floated into the sky. "If they're police or rangers then what chance do we have?"
His red-headed counterpart pulled him to his feet. "What chance? Did you forget who we are James? We're Team Rocket! The best of the worst! The most feared criminal organization in the world! We'll regroup and come down upon them with a vengeance! Like- like-" She struggled to find a term and James was happy to help.
"Like a malevolent ninja!" He cheered and she went rigid before sighing.
"You know what? Sure, like a malevolent ninja! We'll be ready for them next time with traps and better equipment!" She insisted, slamming her fist into her palm.
"You know what would be a good place to start?" Meowth suggested. "Let's check the progress on those fossils we sent to the lab, if they're almost ready we'll have some new Pokemon ready to kick it the twerps! Rock-type is strong to electric-type, after all, we'll have that mouse running for the hills."
He was about to start cheering but stopped. "Wait, I don't think rock is strong against electric. Isn't it ground?"
"What?" Meowth shot him a confused look. "No, I'm pretty sure it's ground and rock."
"Focus you two!" Jessie clapped her hands. "We'll head to the lab and then steal some more powerful Pokemon, soon enough the twerps will be begging for mercy!"
With the plan in motion, Team Rocket blasted off toward victory!
Ash was disappointed that Team Rocket had gotten away. He and Pikachu had even seen it coming and hadn't been able to stop it. That blue-haired member, James, had moved Koffing out of the way of the attack before it could land.
Truthfully he was a bit surprised by that, he didn't think Team Rocket cared enough about their Pokemon to protect them.
Then again, Koffing had been their ticket out so maybe he had just been protecting their escape route?
Whatever the case they were gone now and that left them talking to the Squirtle Squad. He didn't want to just leave them trapping and robbing trainers who came by but what could he say? Still, he had to try.
"I know you guys don't normally like trainers, but I don't think dropping people into pits is the way to go about it." He explained to them.
"We don't just drop people into pits." One of the Squirtle, Numbah Two he thinks, admitted. "Sometimes we trash their camp, or just take their stuff, or block the road…" he listed off.
"It's always fun to make them pay!" The one he remembers as Numbah Four claimed.
He shook his head. "I mean I just don't understand why you want to keep doing it. Like I can understand getting back at someone. Sunny's old trainer was a real jerk so we took a bit of revenge on him, but you guys just seem to be attacking everyone!"
"Oh yeah?" The leader who had been silent turned to him. "Then what do ya suggest, wiseguy?"
"Well, there's a place I know called the Pokemon Village that has a bunch of hurt or abandoned Pokemon that live there. But I'm not sure if you guys would fit in, you seem to enjoy causing trouble…" Ash thought.
"Trouble is fun." The one he hadn't heard directly addressed admitted. "But maybe it is time to stop causing trouble…"
The others looked at her. "What are you saying Numbah Five?"
"I'm saying we've done nothing but cause problems and look where that got us! Working with actual human criminals! Maybe this guy has the right of it, fix what we can where we can." She suggested.
The others were silent at the words from one of their own. "Where would we even start?" One of them asked.
"What are they talking about?" Misty asked Ash as the conversation continued.
"They're trying to think of what they could do to make things better for other Pokemon instead of just causing problems for trainers," Ash explained.
"Spreading your ideology then?" Misty asked rhetorically and then hummed in thought. She snapped her fingers. "I might have an idea! Hey Squirtle!"
The water-types turned to look at her and she smiled down at them. "You guys want to help out? I'm not a regular trainer, I'm a Gym Leader, specifically a water-type Gym Leader. We could always use some more Pokemon around the Gym, and if you guys see any trainers mistreating their Pokemon you have my express permission to get their Pokemon to safety and make them miserable."
The Squirtle considered this proposal and the leader called. "Squad Meeting!"
They gathered in a ring and began whispering amongst themselves, occasionally sending a look toward the watching others.
Ash politely did his best not to listen but it was hard, especially when their leader said something that all the others started protesting. But he repeated himself and then elaborated more on it. Ash wasn't quite sure what he'd announced but it didn't seem to make the others angry, just sad.
After a few minutes of deliberation, they turned back to Misty. The leader looked at Ash. "Translate this."
He nodded and Squirtle began, no fake accent this time. "We have decided, the Squirtle Squad has gone down a dark path. We were abandoned and tossed aside by trainers, and now a trainer claims to offer us a place to stay and an opportunity to do what we could not before. It seems too good to be true, which is why I am going to go with you specifically!" He pointed at Misty and Ash translated his words. He allowed this before continuing.
"I want to be able to call the rest of my Squad whenever we have the chance, if they are alright and well taken care of, then I'll know you are trustworthy and a so-called good trainer." He paused. "This goes both ways, if they don't hear from me they will wreak havoc on your Gym until we are reunited in good health."
Ash finished the translation and Misty considered. "Okay, it sounds good to me. Although…" She looked at the rest of the squad. "My sisters are running the gym right now, so if you guys want to go ahead and cause just a tiny bit of chaos, feel free!" She smiled innocently and Ash deadpanned at her.
"Misty please don't ask them to torment your sisters, I can't have that on my conscience." He pleaded.
"Too late the deal is made!" The lead Squirtle declared and spit on his hand and held it out. "Now shake!"
Misty reluctantly looked at the little Squirtle's hand and then at Ash. "Do I have to…?"
He didn't answer verbally, instead just urging her on with a gesture. With a sigh, she hacked up her own loogie and smacked her larger hand onto Squirtle's enveloping his. "It's a deal then."
With the decision made they ended up needing to double back to the Pokemon Center, they didn't know how far they were from the next one after all they needed to transfer most of the Squirtle Squad to the Cerulean Gym. It would cost them almost two days of travel but it needed to be done.
Once they made it back Ash waited outside with his team as Misty worked on the specifics inside.
Figuring they might as well get some training done he put everyone to work except Sunny who he sat down with.
"I don't know how you feel about fighting and training, but I want to make sure you don't feel like you have to because everyone else is doing it. If you just want to travel and spend time with us, that's your choice." He explained to the Charmander.
The fire-type looked at the others training hard and looked down almost ashamed. "It's not that I don't want to train or fight, it's just I'm kind of worried I'm doing it for the wrong reasons?" It came out sounding like a question.
"Well, what are your reasons then?" Ash asked him and he sighed.
"I want to prove Damian wrong. I want to be big and strong and untouchable! I want to prove how wrong he was to leave me there." Sunny snarled and kicked at the ground.
Ash rubbed the fire-type's head comfortingly. "Damian was wrong to leave you there regardless of how strong you are. It would have been wrong if you didn't know a single attack and it would have been wrong if you were the strongest Charmander in the world." He explained. "But I won't tell you it's wrong to feel that you need to prove something. Just know you don't need to prove it to any of us."
By the time Misty came out Ash had Sunny working on his aim, with himself specifically. He'd dropped the illusion and was acting as a moving target for Sunny to try and hit.
"This would be easier if you'd just stop moving!" He complained.
"That's why we're doing this! It's how Pikachu and I learned!" Although Shelldon had been shooting at them for the most part once they worked their way out of the so-called 'basics' he had started dodging their attacks.
The leader of the Squirtle Squad watched their training. "Pretty impressive honestly. I'm starting to believe that you guys aren't so bad."
Ash called for a stop and trod over to Misty and Squirtle. "All set then?"
"The rest of the squad is safe and sound at Cerulean Gym and Squirtle is registered to me, come on let's get a move on, we have a lot of ground to recover!" She urged them as they wound down from training.
They didn't run into any more pit traps as they regained lost ground over the next few days. The one they had fallen into in the first place had been refilled. Squirtle complained that it had taken a night's work to dig that hole and it was rude to go and refill it.
"This is just a thought, but have you considered that maybe it's rude to dig pits in the middle of the road?" Pidgeotto pointed out.
"Details." Squirtle waved off the flying-type's remark.
It was four days after they left the Pokemon Center for the second time that they found themselves drawn off the road again. Thankfully not by a pit trap or criminal this time, but by a lighthouse they saw ahead of them as the sun began to sink.
"Should we be bothering these people?" Ash asked as they approached the door. It was a massive thing, big and intimidating and covered with images of Pokemon that seemed to be carved into it.
"Look, the worst they can do is say no to us. But we have an opportunity to sleep indoors and have some real food, I'm going to take it." His human friend explained her line of thinking. She rings the doorbell and a long tolling bell begins to emanate.
Pikachu looked up at the tower with wide eyes before sharing a glance with Ash. "That was pretty spooky. Are we sure we want to try and spend the night here?"
"What? Don't tell me you're afraid of ghosts?" Pidgeotto teased him
"Oh, maybe ghost-types live here and try to make the place as spooky as possible!" Sunny suggested.
"I hope ghost-types live here!" Selene spoke up. "I've never met one before!"
Before Ash could join the discussion with his team, a voice came out of a speaker near the door. "Who is it? What do you want?"
The trainers glanced at each other and Misty responded. "Uh, hi! We're traveling trainers heading toward Vermillion City. We were wondering if it would be okay for us to spend the night. We've been on the road for a while."
"Oh, ask if we can use the phone!" Ash spoke up. "I didn't get a chance to call mom when we were at the last Pokemon Center."
Misty opened her mouth to begin speaking again but the voice cut her off. "I heard him, let me just…" There were a few moments where they just heard the sounds of struggling coming over the speaker. "…you know what? Come on in, the door is open, you can use the phone, rest, and maybe help me out with something else."
The door seemed to creak open before Misty could even press on it, the whole group glanced at each other, silently debating. Eventually, with a shrug and a bit of caution, they moved into the building.
It was dark inside at first and then the lights came on with a thoom. As they squinted in the newly brightened space a form became clear to them on the other side of the room.
Ash took a moment to realize what he was looking at. "Woah, are you a Kabuto? I thought you were extinct!"
The Kabuto was larger than he thought it would be, taller than him even. It hobbled closer to them a bit strangely, staying on its back-to legs instead of moving across the ground with a skitter. As it walked it spoke, not like a Pokemon but like a human. "No, I'm not a Kabuto, you see my name is Bill and well, this is a costume." He explained somewhat sheepishly and Ash recognized the voice they heard over the intercom.
Misty raised an eyebrow at him. "Do you often hang out in the dark in Pokemon costumes?"
"Sometimes when I get lonely." He admitted. "Look it doesn't matter, I can't seem to reach the zipper, could you please get it for me? I'm kind of stuck."
Misty stepped forwards to help him since Ash currently had his hands full of fairy-type. After a bit of struggling the poor man was free and gasped fresh air with relief
"Thank you so much! I was beginning to panic when I realized I couldn't get out on my own. You kids showed up in the nick of time!" Bill explained as he fanned himself. "Gosh, it was hot in there. Thanks again."
"No problem." Misty shrugged off. "You said it was okay if we spent the night."
"Oh sure." He nodded, "I've got plenty of spare rooms in here. It came like that when I bought the place, I think they used to be used for storage. I've got a few labs set up in some of them but most of them are free."
"Labs?" Ash asked.
"I'm something of a Pokemon researcher,'' he admitted. "You wanted to use the phone right? I've got a video terminal set up over there if you want to use it. I'm going to put this thing away." He turned around and started up a staircase behind him and Ash went over to the computer.
He set down Selene and dialed up his Trainer-Mom. It rang twice before her face blinked into existence on the screen. She looked tense and stared him up and down before she let it bleed out of her.
"Thank goodness you're okay! Just where have you been, mister I haven't heard from you in over a week! Did you just forget to call? Is your team alright? Is Misty there? Are you hurt? Do I need to take Shelldon and come get you?" Delia peppered him with rapid-fire questions.
Ash looked down guiltily. "Sorry, we took a wrong turn a while back and ended up accidentally going around Saffron City. Everyone's okay, we're on our way to Vermillion now, we stopped at a Pokemon Center a few days ago and I would have called you but…" He wasn't sure how to even begin explaining the Damian story.
Oh jeez, he'd need to explain the thing with AJ too, wouldn't he? It would take a few minutes. "It's a bit of a long story."
"I've got time, I'm just glad you're all okay." She sighed. "Let's hear it all, don't leave anything out!"
He began explaining, starting with their run-in with AJ. Then he explained the Pokemon Tech school they'd stopped at and how that had been the start of their wrong turn. He told her about Pokemon Village, Damian and Charmander, and finally the Squirtle Squad.
"Quite an adventure." She rubbed at her face and sighed. "I'm sorry you had to see some of that Ash. The world can be pretty bad and humans can do bad things, I was hoping you would be able to avoid it for the most part."
"In a weird way, I think I'm happy I ran into it and saw it." That got her attention and she gazed at him intently as he explained. "Now I know it's happening, now I know to look for it and to do something about it. I know I need to help now."
Delia sighed at his words. "It's dangerous though, there are some really bad people out there. You're lucky the Team Rocket you've run into seems to be kind of dumb."
"I mean isn't it more dangerous to not do anything? Then it could just get worse." Ash pointed out.
His Trainer-Mom let out a weak chuckle. "You're right I suppose, just promise me you'll get the proper authorities involved if you can help it and let the professionals do their jobs?"
Ash agreed easily and said his goodbyes. She waved goodbye to him and all of his Pokemon, welcoming Sunny to the team before signing off.
"You just told your mom that you were going to be looking for dangerous people." Misty shook her head. "Probably not the best way to let her know you're doing well."
"At least she knows about it now?" Ash pointed out with confusion. "If I didn't tell her then she'd have no idea what I was up to."
The water-type trainer just shook her head. "Nevermind."
Around that time, Bill came back downstairs. "That's put away securely, and with a note that reminds me not to use it. Anyway, welcome to my humble lighthouse!" He gestured grandly around them. "I suppose I should whip us up something to eat, unfortunately, I'm not exactly the best chef so we'll have to settle for microwave dinners."
"That's fine!" Misty quickly told him. "Anything is better than granola, I tried picking up some other flavors the last time we stopped but they didn't have enough supply for me to get much."
They sat down in a small kitchen space as Bill heated the food. He also had Pokemon chow for the Pokemon who dug in eagerly.
Ash snuck himself a piece while the man was focused on the microwave and had to admit, it tasted pretty good. Better than the stuff they'd had on the road for the past while.
With dinner laid out, they began talking. Bill elaborated on what he did, researching Pokemon's habits, diets, and habitats. He was fascinated by the creatures and figured he'd have to take things one region at a time.
"I'll head to Johto next since it's closest, I'll need to check all the Pokemon there. Even the ones that also live in Kanto! Maybe I'll find a new regional variant or maybe they have different diets and habits depending on where they live, maybe they learn different moves? It's all fascinating." He explained his plans.
"Sounds like a lot of work," Ash admitted.
"It will be!" Bill agreed. "At my current rate, I think I'll finish Kanto by the time I'm twenty-nine."
"How old are you now?" Misty asked him.
"Twenty-one!" He answered cheerfully.
The two trainers stared at him. "You plan to spend eight years studying Kanto Pokemon alone?"
"Of course not!" Bill responded. "I plan to study Kanto Pokemon until I've finished my research, the fact it will theoretically take eight more years is purely happenstance. If my rate slows down or speeds up that won't change anything."
They continued eating for another ten minutes before Bill paused and checked the electronic clock on the microwave. "I know you two might be tired… but do you want to see something cool first?" He asked them with an infectious grin.
Misty seemed suspicious but Ash eagerly jumped on the opportunity. "Sure!"
"Your Pokemon can come too! Follow me up to the viewing deck on top of the lighthouse!" He said as he stood up, dumping his tray into the trash on his way out.
Ash and his team scrambled behind him with Misty and hers bringing up the rear.
"This seems a bit suspicious, maybe we should be careful Ash?" She suggested as they followed the winding staircase.
"We'll be fine, what's the worst that could happen?" He asked as he continued. Squirtle's voice drifted after him.
"He's a bit too trusting isn't he?" The shellfish Pokemon questioned.
"I find it endearing personally." Starmie put her own two cents out. He liked Starmie, they didn't talk much but she seemed nice and cared about the other Pokemon. Pidgeotto was still a bit nervous around her but he didn't hold it against her too much.
As they reached the observation deck Bill was already leaning over the railing and looking at the ocean. "I moved here for a specific reason." He began explaining. "I heard stories of a Pokemon, the largest Pokemon in the world. It appears at night and sings. I thought it was just a legend at first but it fit the aesthetic I was going for and then one night I heard it!"
He kept gazing out over the water. "I haven't heard it since but every night I come up here around the same time and hope to catch sight of it or hear it again."
"It sounds like a bit of a tall tale," Misty admitted as she leaned over the railing herself.
Ash joined her. "It does sound cool though."
Pikachu returned to his customary spot on Ash's shoulder, "We probably won't hear it tonight, but I don't mind waiting a few minutes to see."
"I did have the lighthouse on that night," Bill admitted. "I don't do it every night because I was warned sailors might complain, thinking it's Vermillion City they're seeing, but I can get away with it if I only do it once or twice a week. I was going to wait until tomorrow but seeing as I have company might as well see if we get lucky."
He went inside the light room, or whatever it was called, and fiddled around for a few moments. The blazing artificial sun of the lighthouse burst to light and shined out, spinning around and around behind their heads. Bill rejoined them and they stood there listening to the sound of the ocean waves far below.
Pidgeotto flapped her wings a bit. "I'm going for a flight, maybe I'll spot something." She announced and took off.
They stayed there a bit longer, maybe another twenty minutes. As they waited it seemed less and less likely anything was going to happen. Just as Ash's boredom began to reach maximum capacity they heard something.
At first, it just sounded like a larger wave crashing but it kept going as though something was emerging from the water.
The sound began to recede and Ash heard the familiar sound of a certain someone whistling through the air. Pidgeotto landed on the observation deck again, with her feathers puffed out and a wild look in her eyes.
"Dragon!" She squawked in a panic. "Dragonite!" She amended with a shake of her head. "It's huge! Bigger than the lighthouse! Bigger than anything I've ever seen before! It can't be that big, it shouldn't be possible!"
"Is Pidgeotto okay?" Bill asked as Ash picked her up and tried to help her calm down. "Did she see something?"
That's when the song began.
It sounded like a Pokemon, but not one Ash had ever heard before. He'd heard Dragonite before and this didn't sound quite right. It sounded older… sadder.
The song was without words, just a wordless a capella. It sent shivers down Ash's spine, but it was hauntingly beautiful.
It painted a picture of a different world, an older one. Of beautiful seas that stretched on without islands or storms, of white beaches with smooth sand that sat unmarred. It told of green fields that stretched on for miles and forests that reached towards clouds. Of mountains still young and new, never having been scarred by time. It told of skies that went on forever, stars without numbers that you could reach out and touch.
Ash found himself rocking to the song and the other Pokemon listening were doing the same. Pidgeotto calmed down in his arms as they listened to the music.
Then it was gone.
Everyone blinked and rubbed their eyes as though awakening from a dream. Ash looked up and saw the moon sitting in the middle of the night sky, how long had they been out there?
"That was extraordinary." Bill breathed. "Just like last time, but it felt like it lasted longer this time. Maybe it'll be back again. I wonder what Pokemon it was."
"I'm pretty sure Pidgeotto saw it." Ash supplied. "Once we've got some rest maybe she can try and explain it to me." He already had her account of what she saw, but he couldn't just say that and who knows, maybe the next morning she'd have some additional details.
"I'd be grateful if you could figure anything out Ash." Bill thanked him. "Come on, let's head back inside and get some rest. I don't have any spare beds but I do have blankets if you want to use them.
Almost as soon as they had laid down they passed out. They had been on their feet all day traveling and then stayed up well into the night. Ash thought it was worth it though. The song had been beautiful and it let him know there was still something wonderful in the world despite all the bad he'd been seeing recently.
Waking up the next morning everyone gathered around Pidgeotto for a more in-depth explanation.
"I was flying around over the water, low enough I could see it even with the mist and dark when suddenly it began to swell." She began explaining. "I thought it might be some big water Pokemon coming up so I backed off, but it just kept getting bigger and bigger as the water parted around it." She shuddered. "I was terrified, it stood at full height and was just massive, I'd say it was as tall as Mount Moon, but I'm not sure if that's just nerves or if it really was, it stood taller than the lighthouse though, even with the cliff and the ocean."
"That's insane." Pikachu shook his head. "How can a Pokemon even get that big?"
"You heard the song." Selene pointed out. "Whoever that Pokemon was, they're old, older than the hills and mountains. Maybe Dragonite never stop growing and we just saw the oldest one in the world? Maybe the world is a giant Dragonite and we just live on their back as they fly through space?"
"Let's put a stopper on the conspiracy theories," Pikachu suggested appeasingly, even as everyone else stared at her.
Downstairs at breakfast (which was mostly burned toast) Ash explained to Bill what Pidgeotto saw. He tried doing so in a way that didn't make it obvious that he had literally just asked her. Hopefully, he was doing a good job of it.
"A giant Dragonite…" Bill muttered and stared at his toast as though it were the most interesting thing in the world. "It did have a few pitches that sounded similar to a Dragonite cry but other dragons can have those too. Warrants more research I suppose, nevertheless, I thank you, both of you, if it hadn't been for you two coming I wouldn't have turned on the light last night."
"Sometimes luck pays off then huh?" Misty muttered and crunched her burned toast, enjoying the flavor of something that wasn't granola.
"You'd be surprised how often luck pays off in scientific discoveries," Bill admitted and rubbed his chin. "I want to give you something to thank you… ah! Wait a moment before you head out."
Ash looked down at his unfinished toast. He had taken the opportunity to grab one of the last burned pieces and was saving it for last. "We're still finishing breakfast, we'll leave after we're done eating I guess."
"Good enough, if you finish before I get back just wait in the main room by the door." He got up, leaving his unfinished breakfast and they heard his feet running up the stairs.
"Wonder what he's getting?" Pikachu questioned out loud. With Bill out of the room, Ash pushed his chair back to the table near the wall the Pokemon were eating on and grabbed some of Pikachu's Pokemon Chow. "HEY!"
"Chow is better than toast." Ash offered an explanation and his partner pouted. "Don't believe me? You can try some for yourself."
"I believe you, but you still took my food ya jerk!" Pikachu gave him a light zap which was still enough to burst his illusion but Ash easily reapplied it.
"Sorry, not sorry." He admitted and stuck his tongue out at Pikachu.
They finished eating and cleared their plates, leaving them in the sink. Then they stood waiting in the entry hall like Bill asked them to and waited for him to return. They didn't have to wait too long as soon his footsteps came echoing down the stairs and he stood in front of them again.
"If you ever find yourself in the neighborhood again feel free to visit. As for what I'm offering you, well, think of it as a mutually beneficial exchange." He held up an odd-looking Pokeball, black with white rings and a gold button.
"That's a strange-looking ball." Ash said, "What is it?"
"It's called a Luxury Ball, it's more comfortable for the Pokemon inside," Bill explained.
Ash nodded. "I guess that could be useful, but most of my Pokemon don't normally stay in their balls, but maybe I'll run into one who would like one." He reached out to take it but Bill pulled it back with an amused smile.
"Oh I don't think you'll need to think about that, this one's already occupied." He held the ball lightly and said. "Come on out!"
The ball opened with a flash and a form materialized on the ground. A small shape blinked big dark eyes up at the group and tilted their head.
"Hi there." Eevee said a little shyly, shifting her paws. "Bill said you were a trainer and that I could go with you if I wanted. Are you willing to have me?"
Once again I prove I cannot correctly plan out chapter lengths.
Uhhh, what can I say for the later chapter? Yesterday sucked, today was Easter, I'm bad at planning. That's about it. Still I managed to get it done in the end.
To further save time, instead of letting me ramble let's go right to the reviews!
PenguinBandit523: Yeah, I think it's the rehash thing that slows me down a little because I can't just let things go however they flow, I have to check up on the actual episode and figure out how I can translate that. Charmander is sticking around and there will definately be more pranks. As for the cook, they definitely need one, as for who? Who can say!
Rosescientist: I'm happy to hear that you found my story good enough to take the time to review! I'm not sure if mature is the right word but I am tackling more serious issues as it goes on so perhaps that's the correct. It frustrates me in stories when a character either remains completely stagnant or can only grow as a character through trauma or other horrible acts. We see some of that here but instead of becoming jaded it's enforcing an urge to do better. I actually caught myself by surprise with how the Pokemon have come out in this story and how the world treats them as tools. We've seen in the anime, the games and the comics and manga that Pokemon are completely sapient and some of the things I've been coming across have kind of thrown my whole perspective for a loop as I write this. Thank you for the review and I hope you continue to read!
Guest: To be fair, you can have actual god walking around behind you in the games. But realistically I'm sure there is some sort of size rule in place so nobody comes trotting through town with an Onix or Steelix tearing up the road behind them.
MoonLightSkies16: Maybe? We'll need to ask Ash.
Johnathan-Mandrake: Glad you liked the chapter. I will be completely honest, some of the original ideas I had when I first started writing this fic have been lost to time, which tends to happen when you stop writing for a year or two. But that's my own fault, so I'll see what I can piece together. As for a perspective from the Pokemon who is in the midst of evolution, I didn't put much thought into it before but I'll do my best to include it somewhere down the line because it does seem like an interesting thing to try and write.
Battlesny: Uhhhh. (counts 28 soda cans hanging around my desk) I don't think the lack of caffeine and sugar is the problem…
Pecan Crisp: To be one hundred percent honest, I completely forgot that Professor Birch was Brendan's canonical father when I wrote that chapter. I'm not even planning on including that character apart from a reference or two (like the beginning of this chapter) but I suppose the easiest way to do it would be to claim Brendan is a common name in Hoenn. As for your second review about Delia's Pokemon I want to both apologize to you and congratulate you as being the first person to notice (or at least mention) my accidental retcon. For context chapter six was written over a year before chapter eight so I literally just forgot what I wrote about Delia's Pokemon. While rereading after posing chapter eight I realized what a dingus I was and have been debating how to fix the issue, either give Delia some more Pokemon or rewrite chapter six. I'm still debating that now to be honest.
Ultima-owner: Definitely, the rumor has already reached as far as Pewter City.
LEGOBRICK13: We already know who caught Ash in the first place, although I might not have said it in as many words. It was one of the other trainers who set off with Delia on their journey when they were ten. This whole group of episodes really had me rethinking the entire Pokemon world. How they treat their Pokemon and each other. It became a much bigger deal than I thought I was going to be but I like how it turned out in the end.
PokeDan: Giselle will be just fiiiinnnnee. As for Damian, I have been waiting for my chance to rip him apart, with literature. I wouldn't often condone punching a child in the face but yeah. Punch that kid in the face, or use Night Daze on him like Ash!
Oakler: Some trainers are good, some trainers are bad. It's not the Pokemon's fault which they end up with but it is up to them what to do with the situation, if they're with a trainer who treats them poorly they have every right to leave and not look back. But some might want to do their best to help them become a better person and trainer.
7sky: I've been spotting and wincing every time I reread an older chapter. Some of the recent ones I've been doing better with though. But the longer the chapter, the more likely it is that I'll make a mistake. I've actually begun doing some rewrites on chapter one, which is mostly just fixing spelling and grammar mistakes. I still thank you very much, I certainly feel like I'm putting my heart into this sometimes. Also my sanity.
Pokemonever1994: I mean you could make another account and favorite it again. Maybe. *whistles*
Lupercus1944: My door! Better late than never at least! I really do want to make these characters feel alive. I remember I was writing some dialogue for someone and realized I wrote the wrong word. I was about to delete and then thought "wait what if they said that by mistake?" I think I kept that somewhere but yeah. The team is still training hard, will it be enough for what lies ahead? Maybe? Giselle has a lot to learn, hopefully she will! The Hidden Village provided me exactly what I needed for the Pokemon they help. It honestly felt like something I would have had to make up eventually if it didn't already exist. The whole thing with Damian was a delight to write. From Ash realizing what an awful person he is and going to sit with Charmander and talk to him, to their revenge. That was cathartic. I hated him when I watched that episode as a kid and I hate him now! I didn't get into it last time but his english dub voice is like… noticeably hatable. He's got this Australian accent but it sounds kind of snobby and snotty when he talks. The voice actor really sold how much of a jerk this character was. As for the Misty thing at the end, that was actually a last minute addition when I realized that they hadn't taken Charmander's Pokeball from Damian and Charmander hadn't broke it so he was still his Pokemon and I wanted to separate the boy fire lizard from the jerk as quickly as possible. I'll reread it and if it's that jarring I'll see about editing another way to break him free. As always, thanks for the review.
That's all for now. Let's see if I can post the next chapter at a better time next weekend? Probably not but I can dream right?
Discord:
discord gg kESdTfhAwG
R&R
~FriTik