Hello Fanfiction Readers! How is it going? Time for another one of these chapters! Isn't that awesome? Perhaps, but it could be underwhelming. Oh well, people have different opinions. I guess all there is to say is the Ducklett Trio appear.
Disclaimer: The Disclaimer is skiing somewhere in January. I don't know where they went.
Pokémon Black and White
Chapter Eighteen
Normal Point of View
"Man, how long have we been walking!" Ash whined.
"About three hours." Misty said.
"Can we stop soon?" Ash asked. "My feet are killing me."
"Fine Ash." Misty said. "Stop your whining."
"I was not-" Ash began but then thought back to a few seconds ago. "Okay, I guess I was whining."
"Like a little kid." Iris muttered.
"At least you stopped now." Misty said.
"Here should be a good place to rest." Cilan commented as they walking into an open field.
"Yeah!" Ash exclaimed. "Can't wait to rest."
"Actually Ash, I have another idea in mind." Iris said.
"What do you mean Iris?" Ash asked.
"Let's have a battle!" Iris shouted. "Your Scraggy against my Axew."
"A battle?" Ash inquired before becoming determined with the prospect of battling. "Okay, you're on Iris!"
"But Ash, didn't you say you needed to rest?" Cilan asked.
"Oh please." Misty said, rolling her eyes. "Ash always has energy for a Pokémon Battle."
The three other teens sweat-dropped at that as Ash and Iris prepared for battle.
Scraggy and Axew stared each other down as they were on the battlefield.
A flock of nearby Pidove flying overhead caught Cilan's attention.
"Scraggy, use Headbutt!" Ash ordered.
Scraggy then charged forward, ready to attack.
"Quick, Axew, Scratch, let's go!" Iris commanded.
Axew then charged forward as well, ready to attack.
Misty sweat-dropped a little though when she saw them slowly amble towards each other before attacking.
Scraggy Headbutted Axew, which caused the latter to hold their head.
Axew then used his Scratch attack, missing Scraggy but causing the Shedding Pokémon to drop his "pants".
Axew then laughed at that as Scraggy pulled them back up.
Ash and Iris chuckled nervously at that.
"All right, Scraggy, use Leer!" Ash said, becoming determined again.
Axew then reared back a little as Scraggy was staring it down.
"It worked!" Ash said before turning to Pikachu with a sweat-drop. "Right?"
"Okay, Axew!" Iris shouted. "Dragon Rage, let's go!"
This caused Ash and Pikachu to rear back instead, not exactly wanting to see the move explode again.
Axew's stomach then glowed blue and white as he tried to prepare the attack.
Cilan, startled by the Dragon Rage command, covered the food he was preparing so as to hope it wouldn't get harmed.
Axew was then engulfed in a bright blue and white light after he opened his mouth to try and launch the attack.
As before though, Axew closed his mouth, bit down on his Dragon Rage, which caused it to explode.
The result was a huge plume of black smoke.
Axew was left in a small crater, the ground upturned and scorch-esque marks around him.
Scraggy was knocked down but didn't seem to be suffering from any noticeable effects.
Ash then chuckled nervously again.
"Well, we tried!" Iris said, picking up Axew.
"Ew!" ("Yep!")
"Hey, gang!" Cilan called. "Lunch is all ready!"
"Wow, that was awesome work, Scraggy, so I think that's enough training for now." Ash said.
"You must be hungry, right, Axew?" Iris asked.
"Let's go, Scraggy." Ash said.
Oshawott then emerged from his Poké Ball.
"Oshawott!" Ash said with a sweat-drop.
Ash was then struck with an idea. "Hey, why don't we all have lunch together?"
Before Ash could release his Pokémon, he and Pikachu fell down into a hole. The Poké Balls dropping harmlessly on the edge around the hole.
"Ash? Pikachu?" Iris asked, looking down into the hole.
"That's quite a deep hole!" Cilan commented.
"Hang on Ash!" Misty said, jumping down into the hole after Ash. "I'm coming down there!"
"Wait Misty!" Cilan shouted. "You don't know what's down there!"
Misty however, ignored the Pokémon Connoisseur completely.
After she had left though, the hole caved in on itself.
"Now what?" Cilan pondered.
"Let's follow them with Dig!" Cilan said. "Pansage, let's go!"
"I wanna help!" Iris said determinedly, holding up a certain Subterrene Pokémon's Poké Ball.
"Iris, is that..." Cilan began.
"Sure is!" Iris replied. "With this mess, Excadrill's got to listen!"
XXXXXXX
Ash and Pikachu however were screaming as they fell down the whole before landing at its bottom.
"Man, that hurts..." Ash commented as he and Pikachu fell on the ground after launching out of the hole.
Ash would soon amend that statement as someone landed onto him.
"Okay, that hurts a lot now." Ash groaned.
"Sorry Ash." Misty said, blushing with embarrassment before getting up.
"No problem." Ash said, recuperating.
"Are you all right, Pikachu?" Ash asked as Misty looked around their surroundings while he stayed on the ground.
"Pika." ("I'll be fine.")
"Marill, are you okay?" Misty asked.
"Marill ma rill marill." ("Yeah, thanks.")
Their attention would soon be diverted as a Desert Croc Pokémon appeared.
"Sandile sand sand sand Sandile!" ("Well, look at what I have here!")
"Hey...a Sandile." Ash said reflectively. "I know you!"
"You've met this Sandile before?" Misty asked.
"Yeah." Ash replied. "Back when I was at this hot sands spa that turned into a hot spring spa."
"Sounds interesting." Misty said.
"I get it!" Ash said, remembering something. "You dug that hole, didn't you?"
"Sandile Sand." ("That was me.")
"Why'd ya do that?" Ash inquired.
"Sandile Sandile." ("I have unfinished business.") The Desert Croc Pokémon said, moving its left hind leg as if it was about to charge.
"Are you saying..." Ash said. "You want to battle Pikachu?"
"Talk about an out-of-the-way method for a battle." Misty commented with a sweat-drop.
"Sandile, sand Sandile!" ("Yep, I want to battle!")
"So battling it out with Pikachu's the only reason you brought us here?" Ash asked.
"Sandile, Sandile Sandile." ("Yeah, that's the reason.") The Desert Croc Pokémon then turned to Misty. "Sandile, sand sand sandile Sandile." ("Although, I didn't mean to bring her.")
"Pika!" ("Okay!")
"Whaddaya say, bud?" Ash asked.
"Pika pika!" ("I'll do it!")
"'Kay, Sandile, deal!" Ash exclaimed.
"Pikachu!" ("Got that right!")
XXXXXXX
"Excadrill, let's go!" Iris said, releasing the Subterrene Pokémon.
The Pokémon merely emerged and fell to the ground.
"Help, Excadrill!" Iris demanded. "Go after Ash, Pikachu, Misty, and Marill!"
"I'm afraid Excadrill's acting a bit chilly." Cilan commented with a sweat-drop as the Pokémon lied there.
"Never mind!" Iris said, disheartened. "Return, Excadrill."
"Pansage, how about you helping out?" Cilan asked.
"Pansage!" ("No problem!")
"Ducklett!" ("Hello!") The Ducklett said, holding a tin on top of its head.
"Ducklett!" ("Goodbye!") Ducklett said, waving goodbye after getting Cilan's attention.
"Thief!" Cilan shouted. "Come back at once!"
"Pansage!" ("Come back!")
"Duck!" ("I think not!") The Ducklett then shot a Water-type attack at Cilan, which dodged them both. The attack however did land on Oshawott's scalchop and sent it flying into Iris' face.
"Ducklett's using Scald!" Iris said. "And it's hot, hot, hot!"
The blast of Scald however, was too powerful for Oshawott to deflect as he eventually took the full blunt of the attack.
Oshawott then ran around a little, his face red from the attack. When he had recovered, he threw his scalchop down angrily. He then took it, flipped it around once and was content to have it back on. He then glared at the Ducklett who fired the attack.
"Ducklett!" ("Later!") Ducklett said after laughing at what it had done.
"Oshawott!" ("You come back here!") The Sea Otter Pokémon said before following after the retreating Ducklett.
"Hey, wait a second!" Iris said as she followed Axew who was following Scraggy and Oshawott.
"Let's let Iris take care of all that and we'll go look for Ash and Misty!" Cilan said.
"Pan!" ("Okay!")
XXXXXXX
"Ducklett?" ("Hmm?") Another Ducklet said inconspicuously as it watched Ash's Pikachu about to battle the Sunglasses Sandile.
"All right, Sandile, we'll be taking the first move!" Ash said. "Now, Pikachu, Thunderbolt, go!"
"Wait Ash!" Misty yelled.
It was too little too late though as Pikachu fired the Electric-type move and it harmlessly effected Sandile.
"I forgot Sandile's also a Ground-type." Ash said sheepishly as Misty covered her face with her palm. "Electric-types moves won't work!"
Sandile then leaped up, baring its fangs at Pikachu.
"That's Bite!" Ash said. "Quick, Pikachu, Iron Tail, let's go!"
As Sandile went to Bite, Pikachu dodge it effortlessly as he swung his black and silver tail at the Desert Croc Pokémon, knocking it back.
"Huh?" Misty said.
The battle was then interrupted as a Ducklett walked across the field.
"Sand?" ("What?")
"Ducklett!" ("Hello!")
"A Ducklett huh..." Ash said, getting his Pokédex. "Let's see."
"Ducklett, the Water Bird Pokémon. A skilled diver, Ducklett swims underwater in search of its favorite food, peat moss." The Pokédex uttered.
"Wow!" Ash commented.
"Pika!" ("Yep!")
"We're kind of in the middle of a battle..." Ash said.
"Sandile!" ("Excuse me!")
"Ducklett!" ("Hey!") The Ducklett was then knocked over by Sandile. "Ducklett. Ducklett?" ("Hmm. What?")
"Sandile sand!" ("I was battling!")
"Ducklett?" ("A battle?")
"Sandile sand Sandile!" ("Yes a battle!") Sandile then opened its mouth wide as it was talking.
As it was talking however, Ducklett stuck its head in Sandile's mouth. This caused Ash, Misty, Pikachu and Marill to sweat-drop.
"Sandile sand." ("That was vile.") Sandile said as it tried to spit the taste of Ducklett out of its mouth after Ducklett left it.
Ducklett then tickled Sandile's nose, causing it to sneeze and inadvertently sending its sunglasses onto Ducklett.
A little conversation then occurred: Sandile pleading for its glasses and Ducklett enjoying them. Ducklett then offered up the sunglasses, to which Sandile was ecstatic. Ducklett however wasn't serious as it blasted Sandile in the face with Scald. This sent it going into Ash and Pikachu.
Ducklett then laughed at what it had done and flew away.
"What's up with that Ducklett?" Ash wondered.
"Ash, are you okay?" Misty asked, helping Ash up.
"Yeah Misty, I'm fine." Ash replied.
Their gazes then lingered after Misty pulled Ash up and Pikachu checked on Sandile with Marill.
"We, uh, should probably go find that Ducklett." Misty said, looking around.
"I agree!" Ash exclaimed. "Let's, um, go."
"Wonder where it went..." Ash pondered as they looked for the Ducklett. "That Ducklett's wacky!"
"Sandile..." ("Yeah...") Sunglasses Sandile said dejectedly, missing its sunglasses.
Picking up on Sandile's emotion, Ash spoke up. "Sandile, I'll get your sunglasses back." Ash said reassuringly. "I promise you can count on me!"
"Yeah Sandile!" Misty added, placing a hand on Ash's shoulder. "You won't find anyone more willing to help or more reliable than my Ash here."
"Your Ash?" Ash asked, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"
Well, this is a fine mess I've gotten myself into. Misty thought to herself. Okay Misty, just play it cool.
"What I mean to say is, well..." Misty began with a tone of confidence before her nerves got the better of her. "Well, you know."
"I think I have a fairly good idea." Ash whispered knowingly, leaning over to Misty to say it into her ear.
"What?" Misty asked, a bit dazed. Has Ash really changed after all those years?
"Well, to be fair, you're not exactly...what's the word...subtle?" Ash said, remembering the letter he had gotten and the embrace he received after Burgh's Leavanny saved him. Also all the times he caught her blushing at him.
"I'll have you know that I can be quite subtle." Misty said, crossing her arms.
"Right." Ash said. "About as subtle as Pikachu's Thunderbolt."
Before Misty could reply, a group of wild Woobat flew overheard, scaring Sandile. This caused it to jump on Ash's shoulder.
"Come on, Sandile, they're just a bunch of wild Woobat." Ash said, holding Sandile.
"Sandile, sand..." ("Yeah, but...")
"You really feel uneasy without those sunglasses of yours, don't you, Sandile?" Ash sympathized before he noticed something. "I can feel you looking at me like that Misty."
"What?" Misty asked nervously before crossing her arms indignantly. "I have no idea what you're talking about!"
"Right." Ash said knowingly. "I suppose it was just my imagination that thought you were looking at me fondly."
"Yeah, that's it." Misty said.
"Whatever Misty." Ash said, rolling his eyes.
"Sandile..." ("My sunglasses...")
"Cheer up, Sandile, everything's gonna be just fine." Ash said reassuringly before placing Sandile back on the ground.
"You've got Pikachu and me on your side." Ash continued. "And Misty and Marill too."
"Pika pika!" ("Don't worry!") The Mouse Pokémon said, patting Sandile.
"Sandile!" ("Thanks!")
Just then though, another Ducklett appeared and stole Ash's hat.
Of course. Ash thought exasperatedly. Can't go to a single region without that happening.
"Back again, huh?" Ash said, then noticed something. "Now, hold on...another Ducklett?"
Sandile then grabbed onto Ash's leg.
"Hey, give me my hat!" Ash shouted as Ducklett turned to leave.
Ducklett however, had other plans in mind. It fired a Ice Beam attack that formed a block of ice where Ash and Misty were previously standing.
"That's Ice Beam!" Ash commented.
Ducklett then laughed at what it had done before flying away.
"Hey, that's my hat!" Ash exclaimed as he saw Ducklett leaving before picking up Sandile. "C'mon, Pikachu! Misty!"
"Pika!" ("Right!")
"After you." Misty said as they chased after the Ducklett.
"There's the one who took Sandile's sunglasses." Ash said after they found the Ducklett high-fiving each other. "'Kay, Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu then unleashed a furious Electric-type attack, shocking the Ducklett.
"All right, let's get out stuff back!" Ash said as the Ducklett fell forward after the attack.
"Pikachu!" ("Yeah!")
"Yeah, let's do that before they recuperated." Misty added.
However, before they could get there stuff back, a third Ducklett with a tin on its head came in and attacked Ash, Misty, Pikachu and Marill with its wings glowing white as it executed its Wing Attack.
After the teens had recovered themselves, sitting on the ground, the Ducklett were laughing at them.
"Now we've gotta deal with three of 'em." Ash commented.
"As much as I love Water-type Pokémon," Misty began. "even one of these guys was too much."
Pikachu's cheeks then sparked a little with his electricity.
Just then, the Tin Hat Ducklett attacked with Scald. Before it hit Ash, he dropped Sandile back on the ground.
"That Scald's boiling!" Ash shouted.
"Ash!" Misty said, her voice tinged with concern.
Ash's Hat Ducklett then attacked with Ice Beam.
"'Course, that Ice Beam's...not..." Ash mumbled.
The Ducklett then laughed again at their antics.
Sandile then jumped up and broke Ash out of his icy incarceration with its fangs.
Ash then shuddered as he tried to recuperate.
"Man's, that's cold." Ash commented. "Hey, Sandile, thanks."
"Sand Sandile." ("No problem.")
"Pikachu, Pika pi!" ("Yeah, thanks!")
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt, once more!" Ash said, getting angered by the mocking Ducklett.
Before he could launch his Electric-type move, the Ducklett flew away.
"Quick, let's follow them." Misty said as Ash picked up Sandile and they chased after the fleeing Water Bird Pokémon.
The teens then looked on to see a tree the Ducklett ran into. They also had to run back to avoid the stuff the Ducklett were throwing out of their home.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash said.
Before he could though, a Ducklett carrying a soccer ball dropped it on Ash's head and the other two dropped an umbrella on Pikachu.
"Pikachu!" Ash shouted as Pikachu was continuing to attack nothing with Thunderbolt. He than ran over to the umbrella to try to get it off, shocking himself a little in the process. Sandile then jumped up and snatched the umbrella away with its jaws. The umbrella sparking from the electricity.
"Pikachu, you okay?" Ash asked as he picked up the Mouse Pokémon who has excess electricity sparking off him. That excess electricity shocking Ash a little.
The Ducklett then fired their Scald attacks at Sandile, causing it to try and avoid them.
"Quick, Sandile, let's run!" Ash suggested. "You too Misty! Follow me!"
"But Ash, whenever you lead we get lost!" Misty shouted. Regardless though, she and Sandile ran after Ash as the three Ducklett's Scald attack hit nothing.
"Man, look at all the stuff they've got!" Ash commented after they returned to where the Ducklett were.
"They probably stole it all too." Misty added.
"But we're gonna get your sunglasses back Sandile," Ash said reassuringly. "and my hat too."
"Pikachu, something wrong?" Ash asked as Pikachu's cheeks emitted some electricity.
"Pikachu pika pika." ("I don't think so.")
"I don't have my Poké Balls here, so it's up to us!" Ash said.
"Don't be so hasty Ash." Misty said. "Before I jumped down that hole after you, I managed to grab your Poké Balls."
"Thanks Misty!" Ash exclaimed, taking the Poké Balls in Misty's hands.
"Of course," Misty added. "Pikachu and Sandile will probably want to finish this themselves."
"Yeah." Ash said, looking at the determined expressions of Pikachu and Sandile. "But I know we can do it!"
"Pika!" ("Yep!")
"Okay, let's go!" Ash said.
The Ducklett then stood at attention as they noticed the people approaching.
"We don't wanna fight with you guys." Ash said. "Really, we just want our stuff back."
"It isn't nice to steal!" Misty added.
"You've got to try and understand those sunglasses mean a lot to Sandile!" Ash said. "It likes wearing them!"
"You know Ash." Misty said, eyeing the Ducklett suspiciously. "I don't think they care."
"Hmm?" Ash asked before taking a close look at the Ducklett. "Don't be so negative Misty."
"I tried to warn you." Misty said to herself, shrugging.
The Sunglasses Ducklett then walked over, holding the sunglasses.
"Wow!" Ash said. "You're gonna give 'em back?"
Before he could grab them though, Ducklett unleashed another Scald attack which sent Ash, Pikachu, and Sandile reeling back.
"I've had just about enough of you three!" Ash said angrily.
"I couldn't agree with you more." Misty said.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt, now!" Ash shouted.
"Marill, use Water Gun!" Misty said.
The Ducklett merely jumped out of the way of the Water Gun attack.
Well don't these Ducklett seem fast. Misty commented to herself.
"Pikachu, what's the matter?" Ash asked as Pikachu's electricity just surrounded him a little.
Pikachu then tried to attack but to no avail. "Something wrong with your Electric-type moves?" Ash then remembered something earlier. "It could be because you were using your Thunderbolt inside an umbrella."
"Could be." Misty said.
Sandile then faced the three Ducklett determinedly.
"Sandile, it's great that you wanna battle them, but Ducklett is a Water-type Pokémon!" Ash said.
"Sand! ("Your point!")
"All right!" Ash said. "We're all here if you need us, 'kay?"
The Ducklett then threw off the stuff they stole as they prepared for battle.
Sandile then unleashed a barrage of stones in its Stone Edge attack. The Ducklett simply dodged the attack.
"Sandile, dodge it!" Ash ordered as a Ducklett fired an Ice Beam.
"Now, dodge again!" Ash said as a Ducklett fired Scald.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail so you can protect Sandile!" Ash shouted as a Ducklett fired Scald.
Pikachu's tail then glowed black and silver as he jumped up and broke the Scald attack.
The Ducklett then looked to be huddling amongst themselves before charging.
Pikachu, thinking they were attacking him, jumping to charge, but was surprised when they were actually go past him to unleash three Wing Attacks on Sandile.
"Ganging up's no fair, so stop!" Ash shouted, running over to Sandile as Pikachu did the same.
As Ash, Pikachu, Sandile, and the three Ducklett were fighting in a puff of smoke, Misty sweat-dropped.
"Okay then." Misty said before walking casually over to where the three Ducklett dropped their stuff.
"So Ash's Hat, Sandile's Sunglasses, and what I assume is one of Cilan's cooking implements." Misty commented.
She then put Ash's hat on her head, took the sunglasses and added them to her face, and put the tin under her arm as she let down Marill.
"Amazing what can be accomplished once people are distracted." Misty commented.
The three Ducklett then jumped back from the fighting after sending Ash, Pikachu and Sandile flying. They were also oblivious to Misty stealing back their things.
Electric energy then started to arc sporadically off of Pikachu as his whole body was surrounded in the electricity.
The Ducklett then cowered in fear, their annoying selves gone as their bravado melted away.
"Pikachu!" Ash pondered aloud.
The electricity ended up culminating in a ball of electricity on Pikachu's tail.
Pikachu then fired the ball of electricity at the Ducklett, hitting them and sending them flying. They were even accompanied by a twinkle appearing in the sky.
"Speaking of which, where is Team Rocket?" Misty wondered, amused by the memory of...Team Rocket's blasting off again!.
"Pikachu, I think you just learned a new move!" Ash commented, racking his memory for the answer. "Now what was it called...I got it!...Electro Ball!"
"You are indeed correct Ash." Cilan said.
"You know about Electro Ball?" Iris asked.
"Of course I do." Ash said plainly. "He's my Pokémon so by that logic I should know his moves." I also remember seeing Galvantula using the same exact move back when Scraggy hatched.
"It's great Pikachu's learned a zesty move like Electro Ball!" Cilan commented. "Talk about spicy and tasty!"
Scraggy then went over to bash his head against Sandile before being pushed back by Oshawott.
"Hold on!" Iris said, acknowledging Sandile.
"Remember that Sandile from before?" Ash asked. "From the hot sands spa?"
"Yeah, but, what's it doing here?" Iris wondered.
Before anyone could reply, the three Ducklett returned.
"Those three again!" Ash and Misty shouted in unison, definitely not pleased to be seeing those three troublemakers again.
"You mean there are actually three Ducklett?" Cilan asked.
"Now look, Ducklett, I can't let you use Scald on me like that!" Iris shouted.
Ducklett then shot Scald at Iris and Cilan as another shot an Ice Beam at Ash, Misty, Marill and Pikachu. The third Scald, Oshawott tried to deflect with his scalchop but failed to as he suffered the full brunt of the attack and did what he did after the first Scald attack.
"What's wrong with you guys?" Iris shouted as the Ducklett laughed at them.
"Such behavior is hard to understand." Cilan commented.
"You up for it?" Ash asked as he noticed Pikachu's cheeks sparking with electricity.
"Pika pika Pikachu!" ("You know I am!")
The Ducklett then came in for another attack.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Marill, use Water Gun!"
The Electric-type Move then collided with the Water-type move, forming an attack that exploded on the Ducklett in a puff of white smoke as they were sent blasting off. The Ducklett harmonizing slightly and then laughing while they did so. However, the Ducklett merely flew off instead of blasting off again.
"Looking good Misty by the way." Ash commented, looking at Misty as she was wearing his hat and Sandile's sunglasses.
"Thanks Ash." Misty said, blushing faintly. "Here you go Sandile, your sunglasses back."
"Sandile!" ("Thanks!") The Desert Croc Pokémon said as he wore the sunglasses happily.
"And here's your cooking tin back Cilan." Misty said, handing the item in question back to Cilan.
"Thank you." Cilan said. "Oh joy, my lovely serving done, safe and sound!"
So that's what that is. Ash thought to himself.
"Hey, what about my hat." Ash said.
"I don't know, I think I look kind of good wearing it." Misty said jokingly, posing.
"But it's my hat." Ash insisted.
"Okay fine." Misty said, placing the hat on Ash's hat, making sure the flap went down a little before coming back up. "There you go Mr. Hotshot Trainer."
"Thanks Misty." Ash said, offering Misty a grateful smile.
"Well, it was thanks to you distracting those Ducklett long enough." Misty said, winking and holding up her fingers in a "V" symbol for victory.
"I'm starting to understand now." Iris said, commenting on the stolen items. "They took Sandile's sunglasses!"
The teens then headed back to the Pokémon Center to get their Pokémon checked up on.
"Thanks for waiting!" Nurse Joy said. "Here are your Pokémon."
"And all three are in perfect health!" Nurse Joy continued as Audino pushed the cart holding Pikachu, Marill, and Sandile.
"Awesome!" Ash said as Pikachu jumped up happily on Ash's shoulder. "Thanks a lot, Nurse Joy!"
"Yeah, thank you Nurse Joy!" Misty added as Marill jumped joyfully into Misty's arms.
"Those three mischievous Ducklett are well know around here." Nurse Joy said. "They can cause trouble!"
"Mischievous is an understatement." Misty muttered.
"Yeah!" Ash said. "But, it's because of those three Ducklett that Pikachu learned a brand-new move! Right, buddy?"
"Pikachu Pikapi!" ("Sure did Ash!")
"I still can't get over Sandile." Iris said after they went back to the camp.
"Neither can I!" Cilan said. "Following us all this way just to battle with Pikachu here."
"It sure is strange." Misty added.
"Amazing!" Iris said. "Oh, yeah...I know Pikachu's Electro Ball won't have any effect on Sandile because it's a Ground-type. Isn't Pikachu at a disadvantage?"
"Given how he is under Ash's training, I'd say no." Misty said. "And Pikachu can always fight with Quick Attack and Iron Tail."
"Well, we'll just see!" Cilan interjected. "I'm looking forward to see what sort ingredients this battle will be made up of! It should be delicious!"
Misty sweat-dropped at that while Iris just giggled softly to herself.
"Yeah..." Misty said. "Delicious."
"All right, let's start, Sandile!" Ash said.
After talking to each other briefly, Pikachu charged forward to attack Sandile as the Desert Croc Pokémon prepared Stone Edge.
The stones colliding with Pikachu, sending him back.
"Now, Pikachu, counter with Quick Attack!"
Pikachu then charged forward as he was trailed behind by the glowing white aura of his Quick Attack. Pikachu then collided directly with his opponent.
"Well, it looks like Ash's strategy is to avoid Electric-type moves completely!" Cilan commented.
"Pikachu, keep it up!" Iris shouted, cupping her hands like a megaphone.
"You can do it Ash!" Misty shouted, although, not with the same enthusiasm she could've mustered had the battle been with a rival, gym leader, or someone in a Pokémon League.
"Now, use Iron Tail!" Ash shouted after giving a thumbs-up to Misty.
Pikachu's tail then glowed black and silver as it reared back to attack. Before he could though, Sandile burrowed underground.
"Sandile used Dig!" Ash commented. "No telling where it'll come back out! Careful, Pikachu!"
Pikachu was then launched into the air when Sandile came up to attack.
"Sandile used Dig again!" Ash commented after Sandile burrowed underground again.
Pikachu looked around to see where Sandile would be, when he was caught off-guard when Sandile burst through the ground again under him.
"Pikachu, no!" Ash shouted as Pikachu was sent reeling back.
"That looks like it hurt!" Iris noted.
"By adding Dig as a main ingredient to its battle recipe, Sandile has Pikachu in real trouble!" Cilan added.
"Pikachu has been in tougher situations before though." Misty added. "Compared to that this is hardly something to worry about.
"Come on, Pikachu, get back up!" Ash shouted.
Ash's attention was then diverted as Sandile shone a light blue.
"What's with that glow? Iris wondered.
"I think Sandile's evolving." Misty said.
Sandile's body then started to elongate at it stood up, yellow-white line circling Sandile as it evolved. The last of it exploding into a shower of sparkles before the evolution was finished.
"Krokorok!" ("Well look at that!")
"Wow, Sandile evolved!" Iris commented.
"Krokorok, the Desert Croc Pokémon, and the evolved form of Sandile. The special membrane that covers Krokorok's eyes detects heat, which allows it to see in the dark." The Pokédex uttered.
Krokorok then shouted its name before it unleashed a Stone Edge attack.
"Krokorok's using Stone Edge!" Cilan commented.
"Hope Pikachu doesn't get hit!" Iris added.
"Knowing Ash, he'll have a way to counter it." Misty said. "Somehow."
"Pikachu, use Electro Ball!" Ash ordered.
Pikachu then put his electrical power into his tail, creating the Electro Ball as he fired it.
"Ash knows Electric-type moves won't do a thing!" Iris said.
The Electro Ball then hit the Stone Edge attack, sending it backwards to Krokorok.
"Electro Ball deflected the Stone Edge!" Iris said.
The Stone Edge collided directly with Krokorok, sending it flying. Twinkling in the sky as it appeared someplace else.
"Now what did I tell you." Misty said.
"Pikachu's Electro Ball is totally amazing!" Iris commented.
"Right!" Cilan agreed. "And although the battle was a draw, Pikachu's now got a great rival!"
A draw? Misty thought to herself. Seems the battle was more or less won in Pikachu's favor.
"We'll have a battle when we see Krokorok again!" Ash said after Pikachu jumped on Ash's shoulder. "And next time, we're going to win it!"
"Do you know what I noticed about Krokorok though?" Misty said thoughtfully, directing the question towards Ash.
"What is it Misty?" Ash asked.
"Krokorok wore glasses, that's what I noticed." Misty answered.
Ash just stared at her blankly. "And what is so interesting about that?"
Small cross-popping veins appeared on Misty's forehead. "What is interesting is that your Squirtle also wore glasses."
A look of realization then crossed Ash's features. "Oh yeah!" He remembered the little Tiny Turtle Pokémon fondly. "Sometimes, I miss the little guy."
"And I'm sure he misses you too." Misty said.
"Uh, what are you guys talking about?" Iris asked, scratching her head.
"I think they're talking about one of Ash's Pokémon." Cilan said.
"Well, anyway, now let's get back on the road to Castelia City!" Ash exclaimed determinedly as the sun was setting.
"Okay, follow me and we'll be there in no time." Cilan said, pulling out his Town Map.
"So, there's the path." Ash said, running away in its direction. "Then let's go!"
"Wait Ash!" Cilan shouted.
"Don't get yourself lost again!" Iris added.
"Slow down Ketchum!" Misty said, catching up with Ash.
"Sorry, I'm just excited." Ash said sheepishly, scratching his neck.
"I can tell." Misty said as Iris and Cilan came walking up, sweat-drops on their heads.
"Well, let's go to Castelia City!" Ash exclaimed, walking at a much slower pace as the walked on the road leading to Castelia City and Ash's next gym battle.
Author's Notes: And there you have it. Yet another chapter written by yours truly. While I might be biased due to my sometimes fanatical - but not to the point of demonizing any competition, I mean honestly, the person is not competition, but someone who will help the person out - shipping and how I wrote this, I found some of Ash and Misty's interactions to be adorable. I guess I'm just a softie when it comes to anything remotely resembling something teasing the relationship or romance. After all, love is one of the most powerful things in the world.
At least to me anyway. I might be reading too much fiction.
Well, anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter. Goodness knows I'm not able to remain consistent with how well a story is written. But eh, I try. In the meantime, farewell!
And those of you who read this, remember one thing. I. Love. Reviews. Whether they be praise or criticism I always enjoy them. Besides, how else am I suppose to better my writing or feel inspired? A book is as much the writer as it is those who read it.
In all honesty though, what Fanfiction Author doesn't like to receive reviews?