On the Road: Early Evening…
The group had been travelling for hours before evening started to set in. As they walked, Jimmy had been speaking with Ash. As Danielle didn't want to take this opportunity from him, she fell back to speak with James leaving Marina to speak with Serena.
It wasn't long before the group decided to stop for the night. Almost immediately, the new trainers assumed this meant they would go straight into another training session. They all even released their pokemon in anticipation; however, they were all wrong.
"What do you mean we have other jobs which need doing?" Jimmy asked with a clueless expression.
"We have to set up the camp." Ash informed. "We need a fire place to cook and to light the way when it grows dark. We also need to set up our tents to sleep tonight. Only once the camp is set can we train again, provided there is time."
Jimmy and Marina groaned as they felt like idiots for forgetting camp set up. While this is their first-time camping as trainers, dad would always take them camping as kids, so they should've realized what needed doing.
"Even though you are not training, having your pokemon out can still be invaluable." James informed.
"What do you mean?" Danielle asked.
"By working with your pokemon, they at least get even a little training in." Serena voiced. "Not to mention sharing in the chores with them helps to strengthen bonds."
"I didn't think of that." Jimmy noted. "Alright, how are we doing this? Do we all work on the same task or is there another way?"
"Normally, we split up to do different jobs." Ash informed. "What we found works for us is that someone handles everything needed to ensure the cook can make our meal, that person usually sets up the tents in the meantime, and the last looks after the pokemon."
"Since there's six of us, two people can be assigned to each task, and we'll likely get it done quicker." James noted.
"I handle cooking the majority of the time." Serena voiced.
"I can help, Serena." Jimmy offered. "I don't have a lot of experience cooking myself, but I've helped mom in the kitchen on occasions."
"That means it'll be up to us to pitch the tents as well." Serena added.
"Since Danielle has practice looking after pokemon with Professor Elm, she can help me with them." James declared.
"Sounds good to me." Daielle stated.
"Alright, that leaves preparing everything for the chefs to Marina and I." Ash voiced.
With jobs sorted out, the rest of the trainers released their pokemon and got to work.
Later…
Between six people being present, even with more that had to be accounted for, setting up camp was rather easy. This left plenty of time to train before and after dinner. As Ash and Serena got the new trainers working with their pokemon, James called Ash over.
"Hey James, what do you need?" Ash asked.
"I've waited a bit for Teddiursa to get settled in as one of your pokemon and figured now would be the right time to bring something to your attention about her." James voiced.
"Is something wrong?" Ash asked concerned.
"No, nothing of the sort." James assured with a smile. "In fact, I'd say it's the opposite. Ever since we met Marley and her Hisuian Arcanine, I've acquired and read up on the reintroduction of Hisuian pokemon to modern times.
While Teddiursa and Ursaring aren't, there exists a final evolution, that only happened back then, known as Ursaluna. All this time, I've carefully run down the list of genetic features tied to which Teddiursa and Ursaring have that potential. Things like claws, fur, teeth, and so on.
I've ran down the list multiple times now, and your Teddiursa checks every mark for that potential. When the time comes, should Ursaluna be an evolution she desires, all you'll need is to use a Peat Block, as you would an evolution stone, under the light of a full moon."
"That's amazing." Ash smiled. "I'll have to look more into Ursaluna and discuss it with Teddiursa. Considering her interest in evolution, I don't think she'd have much issue with it. Still, that's when she thought Ursaring was all she could become. Thanks for this."
"No problem." James smiled. "There'd be no point to everything I'm learning if I simply kept it to myself."
While Ash would certainly investigate Ursaluna further to understand what he'd potentially be getting into, he could speak with Teddiursa about her final evolution right now. The unevolved normal type was interested, to say the least.
Of course, Ash made sure his pokemon understood that rushing into said final form wouldn't be wise as they'd potentially lose out on all that her now second stage could offer. Ash promised he would secure a peat block and help her evolve when the time was right.
Forest: Morning…
It wasn't long into the morning before the group were back on the road. After a few good hours, the group started to notice a disturbing fact. Many of the trees were destroyed, withered, frozen, and/or had claw marks in the wood. It appears there is something off in these woods.
"What could have made these marks?" Marina asked.
"These claw marks look like a pokemon made them." James had out his book. "According to the guide book, no pokemon in the area would have claws that could leave the marks we're seeing."
Suddenly, Pikachu's ears perked up as he heard something curious. It sounded like something was eating.
"What's wrong Pikachu?" Ash asked.
Pikachu nodded in a direction. "Pika."
"Okay, we'll go and have a look." Ash responded.
As Ash led the way, the new trainers had one question on their minds.
"Not to sound rude, Ash, but it seems like you was just talking with Pikachu?" Jimmy questioned.
"While I only got Pikachu as my starter last year, he's been in my life for years before that." Ash smiled nostalgically. "Even though he doesn't speak as we do, I've always understood exactly what he's said every time, and it's been plenty helpful."
"That's so cool." Marina marveled.
"Any chance you could teach us?" Danielle asked.
"It just sort of happened." Ash shrugged. "Don't think it's something I could hope to teach."
"Aww, I wish you could." Jimmy groaned. "It would be awesome to know what Cyndaquil was saying."
"You don't need to understand your pokemon how Ash does Pikachu to know what they're saying." James assured. "As you grow and develop a bond, you'll come to understand each other."
"Thanks James." Jimmy responded with a smile.
The group continued to walk in the direction Pikachu indicated while deciding to cut out the small talk in case it drew the attention of whatever made those claw marks. Soon, Pikachu stopped and called them all to look forward.
"Guys, look over there!" Serena called out.
She was pointing to a large tree with several blue bug pokemon on it. Upon slowly approaching, they could see these pokemon were sucking on some sort of tree sap.
"What are they?" Serena asked no one in particular.
"They're Heracross." Jimmy answered. "I know because dad has one. They're strong but prefer not to confront others; however, that doesn't mean they can't fight. The one my dad has is one of his heaviest hitters."
"I've been thinking of getting a bug pokemon of my own lately." James noted. "This one sounds perfect for me." He stepped forward while preparing to grab Croagunk's pokeball. "I'll get a new team member and stop them from hurting the trees."
"Hold it young man." A new voice spoke up from behind the group.
Everyone gasped at once, shocked by the sudden voice. They turned to see a man in his mid-twenties dressed in some sort of mountain rescuer gear.
"Your free to catch the Heracross, but you might cause more harm to the forest than you know." The man explained.
"Who are you?" Ash asked.
"My name is Woodruff." The man identified himself. "I am a ranger with my department being the Forest and Wildlife Bureau."
"My name's Ash, and this is my girlfriend, Serena." Ash introduced himself and Serena.
"My name's James." James added.
"I'm Danielle." Daniell continued.
"I'm Marina, and that's my brother Jimmy." Marina introduced herself and Jimmy.
"Right." Woodruff nodded. "Look, I am sure you are all eager to catch as many Heracross as you can, but doing so might cause more damage to the forest than you think."
"Really?" James asked.
"It is important to understand how delicate the balance of nature can be." Woodruff continued as he turned his attention to the tree. "To survive in this forest, Butterfree need Heracross to live with them side by side." A group of Butterfree started to approach the tree.
"The Butterfree aren't strong enough to crack the tree bark on their own, so the Heracross break it for them. The Heracross also help us rangers as when they stop feeding on certain trees, it means those are the ones closest to dying."
"I see what you mean." Serena replied with a wide smile.
The others followed suit as they understood to.
"You assumed the Heracross were hurting the trees because of the one destroyed not far from here, but you need to remember that correlation doesn't mean causation." Woodruff explained. "No, those trees were taken down by an invader to this forest."
"What kind of invader are they?" Danielle questioned.
"Not they, but a single invader." Woodruff explained. "A Sneasel which lived in the mountains north of here. Its way of getting sap leaves the trees to die early. We have tried to capture it but were unprepared."
"Pika!" Pikachu screamed out.
He turned around with the others following suit. Suddenly, a dust cloud appeared in the direction the electric type turned, and the group could make out a small pokemon in the middle of it. This pokemon was out to attack anything for himself.
"We can't stay here; quick kids follow me." Woodruff instructed.
Not needing to be told twice, the group followed Woodruff as he hid them behind a bush. Luckily, the dark/ice type was more interested in the food in front of him rather than them. Understandably, the Heracross and Butterfree moved out of the way.
Upon reaching the tree, Sneasel used icy wind to freeze part of it before gouging the trunk with his claws causing more sap to flow than the smaller pokemon could eat. This left a lot to splatter on the ground. Eventually, a lone Heracross at the top of it grabbed everyone's attention.
"Oh no, that Heracross is in danger!" Woodruff exclaimed.
Not happy about having his lunch interrupted, the Sneasel lept up slamming home a successive triple axel whose growing power with each kick sent the bug/fighting type flying straight into the ground. Sneasel then landed and approached with metal claw.
"We've got to help Heracross!" James bolted out of hiding, with Ash mere steps behind him, while grabbing a pokeball and throwing it out. "Croagunk, use bullet punch."
Not expecting more victims, as well as the speed at which a priority move could be used, the sharp claw pokemon was unprepared for the iron fist which nailed him across the face. Sneasel managed to turn midair and land on his feet.
Croagunk moved to stand across from the opposing pokemon while James dove in front of the single horn pokemon protectively, and Ash stopped a few feet away ready to lend a hand should his friend need it.
"Whoa, those two are awesome." Jimmy gasped in amazement.
Danielle nodded. "Yeah."
Marina was quick to cover their mouths as she didn't want Sneasel to learn they were also here. She too was amazed at their bravery, but she didn't want to become a scratching post even more.
James vs Sneasel
Sneasel wasn't too happy with the attack, so he prepared metal claw before charging the pokemon that attacked him.
"Croagunk, use sucker punch." James commanded.
A shadowy fist slammed into Sneasel's face knocking him away and interrupting the coming attack.
"Now, follow it up with poison jab." James ordered.
Croagunk sped forward before slamming home a poison coated hand right into Sneasel's stomach sending him tumbling along the ground. As Sneasel came to a stop, and got to his feet, he decided this battle just was not worth it.
On the Road
Sneasel shot a glare at Croagunk before speeding off in retreat. Seeing as the sharp claw pokemon was gone, the poison/fighting type returned to his trainer.
"How are you feeling Heracross?" James asked concerned as he shifted focus to the bug/fighting.
"Hera." Heracross managed.
James could tell the single horn pokemon was certainly hurting, and he looked like he needed some good meals as well. "It'll be okay, Heracross."
"I wouldn't be so sure, James." Woodruff interjected. "You may have scared Sneasel away, but he will still be in the forest. I don't doubt he has already found another tree and is feeding off it as we speak."
"Sorry another tree will die, but I couldn't let it attack Heracross." James argued back. "Who knows what Sneasel would've done to him."
As he heard the words leave James' mouth, Heracross looked at him in amazement. They hadn't even really met, yet he risked his life for him.
"I know, and I thank you personally for that." Woodruff replied. "But just because you've won a battle, it doesn't mean you've won the war. Come on, let's get Heracross to my cabin. I have a first aid kit I can use to check him over."
With no reason not to, the group followed Woodruff back to his cabin with James helping Heracross stand. Luckily, the bug could walk by himself, but as they walked, he stuck close to the purple haired breeder.
Woodruff's Cabin
"There, you should be fine in a few days." Woodruff told Heracross as he finished wrapping the single horn pokemon's torso. "Come tomorrow, you should be able to remove those bandages to."
"It's great you'll be okay, Heracross." James smiled. "Now, we just need to figure out a way to stop that Sneasel."
"Ash, you won the Orange League." Jimmy stated. "Shouldn't your Pikachu be strong enough to beat Sneasel?"
"Yeah, once you beat him, capture him." Marina added. "Then, he'd be out of the forest."
"While that could work, we already have one trainer attempting to catch it." Woodruff explained. "Not to mention, as you saw, Sneasel has a habit of retreating when in a losing battle so doing that would just tire Ash's pokemon."
"Who's this other trainer?" Serena asked.
"He's a kid about the age of Jimmy and Marina." Woodruff explained. "If you ask me, he is the one who caused this whole mess."
"How come?" Danielle asked.
"He freely admitted to attempting to catch Sneasel up in the mountain, but like here, the sharp claw pokemon retreated which is why he appeared out of no-where." Woodruff explained.
"He sounds like a jerk." Marina declared.
"Yeah, why even ask for his help?" Jimmy asked.
"My bosses don't really care that he's behind this." Woodruff explained. "The kid's offering a free solution to the problem by trying to catch it."
As if speaking about him summoned the trainer, there was a knocking on the door, and Woodruff answered it. Jimmy, Marina, and Danielle all gasped at who they saw. It was a tall, slender boy, the same age as Jimmy and Marina.
He had crimson red hair, pale skin, and dark eyes. His attire consisted of a high-collared navy coat with red trim, dark violet pants, a black belt around his waist, and navy shoes with red trim that matched the colors of his coat.
"I heard you encountered that Sneasel." The boy stated. "Where is he?"
This boy clearly didn't like relying on anyone for even so much as an answer to a question. Anyone there could see that to ask this must mean he hated wasting time more.
Danielle stepped forward. "Silver, do you even know what you've done?"
"I went after a pokemon I want." Silver answered simply before ignoring her in favor of Ash. "You. You're Ash Ketchum."
"Yeah, what's it to you?" Ash asked.
The Kanto native wasn't liking this boy's disregard for the damage he caused, and he didn't think it was out of any form of ignorance to what his actions did either.
"Once I've captured Sneasel, I will find and battle you." Silver declared. "Despite your skill, I will defeat you." Just like that, his attention was off Ash and onto Woodruff. "Now, where is that Sneasel."
"It attacked a tree Northwest of here, but James scared it off." Woodruff answered with a sigh.
"Hm, the champion didn't do it." Silver noted to himself before turning. "I'm leaving to capture it."
"Silver, why are you acting like this?" Danielle knew the Silver from the games wasn't the best person, putting it mildly, at the start, but she knew this Silver. "This isn't you. This isn't the Silver I know."
"Just what do you really know about me?" Silver asked without turning to face her. "Anything you thought I did out of 'the kindness of my heart' was to simply reach the end of goal of being able to undertake this journey without having to rely on handouts like every other trainer."
Images of Giovani flashed through his mind making Silver clench his fists. "I don't need anyone." He walked away having wasted enough of his time here. "What I need is a Sneasel for my team."
Ash stared after Silver's back firmly until he was truly gone. "Man, that guy is a jerk."
"No, he's not." Danielle defended. "A jerk wouldn't have spent hours helping me truly understand type match ups. Silver hates wasting time, yet he gave up hours, over multiple days, helping me understand type match ups."
"Well, some nice deeds does not automatically mean someone isn't a jerk." James reasoned.
Danielle grunted at that, and Serena clearly noticed her frustration on this topic. "Why don't we just go back to focusing on Sneasel?"
"Good call." Ash voiced. "I say we should catch Sneasel first. Then, we can drop him off back at his original home, if that's what he wants, or keep him on."
"I couldn't ask you to do such a thing." Woodruff interrupted. "No matter where you are in your journey, I wouldn't want to run the risk of you injuring your pokemon on our behalf."
"Given Silver's track record, as well as him being an inexperienced trainer, there's no guarantee he will achieve this." Ash voiced. "At the rate he's going, the guy's likely to drive Sneasel to around New Bark Town where he'll just bully the pokemon there. So, I'm going."
Not waiting another moment, Ash shot off into the forest. Serena, James, Jimmy, Danielle, and Marina were quick to follow. Woodruff sighed before also going after them. Heracross watched as James disappeared. The breeder had helped and defended him; Heracross nervously followed.
On the Road
The group were searching in the direction Sneasel had run off in only to find Silver mid battle with it. He had his own Teddiursa out and was using him to relentlessly barrage the dark/ice type with metal claw. Just as Sneasel was about to take off, the crimson haired guy threw a pokeball.
It sucked the dark/ice type in. Sneasel tried to break free, but the ball eventually stopped before dinging. Without a word, Silver returned his normal type before making his way over to his latest capture. The crimson haired trainer scanned his new pokemon:
Sneasel, the Sharp Claw Pokémon. Its paws conceal sharp claws. If attacked, it suddenly extends the claws and startles its enemy.
Type: Dark/Ice
Ability: Inner Focus
Gender: Male
Current Moves: Leer, Scratch, Taunt, Triple Axel, Quick Attack, Metal Claw, Icy Wind
"You were a hard pokemon to find, but a good ice type will serve me well." Silver muttered.
With that over, Ash made his presence known to the Johto native.
Silver stared him down. "This makes things easier than they would have been."
"You didn't say anything to Teddiursa." Ash declared angrily. "He battled hard for you, yet there was not a 'well done' or 'thank you'."
Even Cross, whose method of training just didn't see him become close with his pokemon like most anyone else Ash had met, knew to at least appreciate the work his pokemon put in.
"Of course, I wouldn't." Silver replied honestly. "The fact that they grow stronger due to me catching and training them is all the thanks they need."
"That's wrong." Ash declared angry. "That's so very wrong."
"Claim whatever you like." Silver retorted. "In the end, the words of someone who clearly relies on others as you do matter not to me."
"If my words mean nothing, then my pokemon will help me through action." Ash declared firmly. "I challenge you to a battle, right now."
"I already said we would battle once I'd captured Sneasel." Silver replied. "I will defeat you in a best of two battle and prove your fancy tittle means nothing through the way you acquired it."
"Silver…" Danielle thought sadly.
"I'll be the referee." Woodruff stepped forward.
Ash and Silver took their spots on the makeshift battlefield while the others stood behind Woodruff, and a certain blue bug came to stand next to James. Given the current situation, the breeder merely smiled at the single horn pokemon before focusing on the battle.
"This will be a best of two battles between Ash and Silver." Woodruff declared. "There will be no substitutions or time limit. The first to win two rounds will be declared victorious. Silver will choose his pokemon first."
"Go, Abra!" Silver called as he threw the psychic type out.
Jimmy and Marina scanned it with their pokedexes:
Abra, the Psi Pokémon. When Abra senses an imminent attack, it escapes by teleporting.
Ash didn't catch his first psychic type as an Abra, but he still had a grasp on this line all the same from raising his Alakazam. Beyond that, he had ample experience against this line from his battles with Luana and rematch with Arcana.
"I choose you, Wimpod!" Ash shouted as he threw his own pokeball.
Upon entering the field, Wimpod observed his opponent with a critical eye. While unfamiliar with this pokemon, he trusted his trainer, at this point, to know when to bring him out.
"Abra vs Wimpod, let the battle begin!" Woodruff declared.
Ash vs Silver (P. I)
"Shock wave." Silver ordered.
"Wimpod, stop him with aqua jet." Ash commanded.
Abra never got a chance to generate electricity as Wimpod cloaked himself in water and soared right into the psychic type knocking him back.
"Abra, use confusion." Silver commanded.
Wimpod, skitter smack." Ash ordered.
As Abra attempted to use his psychic energy, Wimpod was already out of range moving behind the psi pokemon and slamming into him coated in bug type energy. If the fact that this was a super effective blow wasn't enough, the move decreased Abra's special attack by one stage.
"Now, follow it up with screech." Ash commanded.
"Abra, teleport and use shock wave." Silver instructed.
Abra teleported out of the way of the incoming status move and appeared behind Wimpod charging his electricity.
"Wimpod, use metal claw and dig them into the ground." Ash instructed.
Wimpod's claws sheened with steel type energy as he embedded them into the ground just before the beam of electricity went off. While it certainly hurt, a great deal of that damage was neutralized throughout the ground.
"Now, time to wrap this up." This next move was a new one, atop a new strategy, but Ash was confident in Wimpod pulling it off. "Keep your claws in the ground and use rollout."
"Not a chance." Silver declared. "Abra, use shock wave."
Wimpod rolled forward. With his claws in the ground, they managed to tear up a section of it. The turn tail pokemon managed to roll on with the ground and pointed it towards the psychic type as he fired off a beam of electricity.
The electric move hit the ground attached to Wimpod completely nullifying the opposing attack. The bug/water type simply pressed on smashing the ground into Abra hard enough that it shattered on impact. The psi pokemon collapsed with swirls in his eyes.
Forest
"Abra is unable to battle, Wimpod is the winner." Woodruff declared. "This means the first round goes to Ash."
"Return Wimpod." Ash recalled his bug/water type with a smile. "You did great out there, so take a good rest."
Silver merely returned his pokemon and put the ball on his belt.
"Whoa, that was cool." Jimmy declared. "I didn't even know you could utilize the terrain like that."
"Ash is even further along in skills than I thought at this point." Danielle thought. "What has been happening to bring him to this point compared to the show I saw?"
"Ash is a genius of adaptability with elements of unpredictability." James voiced. "It's not always enough to clinch the win in every circumstance, but it does elevate Ash well beyond the skill level his opponents might expect."
"As victor in the last round, Ash shall choose first this time." Woodruff declared.
"I choose you, Teddiursa!" Ash declared as he threw out his second pokemon.
Silver was not petty enough to attempt a mirror match, especially since his own normal type had just gotten through battling that Sneasel. Considering Sneasel was just caught, that ruled him out as well which left Silver with two choices.
He decided to go with what he felt was a sure thing. "Go, Totodile!"
The starter Silver ended up earning from Elm appeared, and unlike Ash's now Feraligatr, this one was serious. Jimmy and Marina pulled out their pokedexes to scan it:
Totodile, the Big Jaw Pokémon. Totodile has a habit of using its highly developed jaws to chomp on anything in sight, so trainers beware.
"Totodile vs Teddiursa, let the battle begin!" Woodruff declared.
Ash vs Silver (P. II)
"Totodile, use leer." Silver commanded.
"Teddiursa, counteract it with bulk up." Ash ordered.
Wimpod already had an outstanding stat altering move when Ash got him, so they focused their efforts on a new attack. With Teddiursa, she lacked such a move prompting the Kanto native to hone in on that as the first move he taught her.
Seems that was the right call. While Totodile's leer did lower her defense by one stage, bulk up raised her defense back to normal with the bonus of increasing her attack by one full stage effectively putting Silver on the back foot.
"Totodile, water gun." Silver growled. "Constant stream until that pokemon faints."
"Teddiursa, constant fury cutters to cut through the water and march forward while you're at it." Ash instructed.
Teddiursa took those orders as she slowly marched forward using her claws, imbued with bug type energy, to constantly cut through the oncoming water to the point it could not halt her progress. With each consecutive water burst cut through, the next fury cutter became stronger.
Eventually, Teddiursa was right before Totodile staring him down with her whole arm wrapped with bug type energy. It was only in this moment, with his pokemon staring this move down, that Silver realized what had happened. By this point, it was much too late.
"Fury cutter doubles in strength every successive, consecutive hit." The crimson haired trainer thought. "He used my attack to fuel his pokemon's attack resulting in this."
Teddiursa slashed her bug empowered claws into Totodile sending him flying right into the trunk of a tree. The water type's back slammed into it with a thud before his body slid to the ground. Swirls were evident in his eyes indicating he'd fainted.
Forest
"Totodile is unable to battle, Teddiursa is the winner." Woodruff declared. "This means the second round, and match goes to Ash."
"You did great Teddiursa." Ash declared as he returned his pokemon. "Thank you."
Silver returned his pokemon without a word proving he hadn't learned what Ash hoped he would; however, that's not to say the crimson haired trainer hadn't learned anything. He now knew Ash's title wasn't there for flavor.
"You are genuinely strong, Ash." Silver turned away from him while paying no one else any mind. "This loss you handed me simply puts you at the top of my lists of trainers I will defeat."
Not wanting to spend another moment in the presence of this annoying group, Silver started to walk away. Ash watched the harsh boy leave without speaking up. Despite how different Silver was from Cross, there was one area where they intersected.
It's the fact that being too forceful with him wouldn't end in a good outcome. As things stood, Ash beat Silver here, and he didn't doubt that would stick with the crimson haired trainer. He also figured they'd likely meet again which would be a better time to push this.
Danielle wasn't as eager to simply let him go. "Silver!" The trainer ignored her as he moved into the brush leaving the area. "Silver…"
Serena patted the girl's shoulder.
"Come on back to my cabin, we can check you team over there." Woodruff offered.
Thankful for the offer, the group followed the ranger back to his cabin. After checking over Wimpod and Teddiursa, who were relatively fine, it was time for the group to set off once more. They would only have a few hours to travel before evening, but any progress was good progress.
Soon, the group stood at the tree where they originally encountered Woodruff and Sneasel. It was nice to see that the Butterfree were able to use string shot as a make-shift bandage and save the tree after Sneasel's attack on it.
"Well, at least the trees are safe now." Jimmy smiled.
"It also means the Butterfree and Heracross can live in peace again." Marina added.
"That's right Marina." Woodruff smiled. "These bugs won't need to leave their home, and the balance of nature has been restored."
"Well, it's time we left." James voiced.
The group agreed with the breeder, and they shared one last goodbye with Woodruff before setting off. Before they could truly depart, a nervous looking bug with bandages around its body walked out from behind a tree.
"Hey, what's Heracross up to?" Ash asked, surprised he isn't enjoying some of the sap.
"What's the matter Heracross, don't want to stay with your friends?" Serena asked.
Heracross replied shyly with a shake of the head. He wants to join the boy who saved him from the Sneasel earlier. The breeder proved himself strong, and the group he was with had done the same. He feels like by going with James, he'd become stronger and braver.
"Ya know." Woodruff chuckled lightly, noticing how the single horn pokemon's eyes were locked directly on James. "I think Heracross would like to go with you, James."
"Really?" James questioned before turning towards the pokemon. "Is that right Heracross? Would you like to join my team?"
The bug/fighting type blushed at the outright response but slowly nodded his head. Due to his lack of confidence, being the center of attention is the last thing he wants, but he also knows the boy is leaving. That meant this was his only chance to get what he wanted.
"But Woodruff, wouldn't taking Heracross away harm the balance with nature?" James asked.
"I think nature would be fine if you catch one Heracross." Woodruff smiled. "Besides, this is what Heracross wants."
"Well, if you're sure, then welcome to the team Heracross." James declared with a smile.
He took out an empty pokeball and threw it at the single horn pokemon. Heracross was sucked in, and it instantly dinged. James now collected the pokeball containing his newest capture with a smile. With a new team member in hand, the group set off once more towards Cherrygrove.
As I've said before, I'm not particularly worried about ensuring James has a balanced team like I would be for Ash and Serena. Even then, I kind of failed on Ash last story since he ended up collecting three pokemon with two types each, and one of those was flying. Granted, their second typings were all different, but the fact still stands. I won't say too much, but with three of the captures I have in mind for Ash, which haven't happened yet, they will share one of their typings again.
Nightshadegirl: Just as Serena found one new rival last chapter, Ash picked up one of his own this chapter.
Vital Info: Despite how unorganized he might be, as well as the chip on his shoulder when it comes to Oak, Elm is still a good guy. Not only do they have some form of legacy to live up to, but at this point, it almost seems like destiny is all about pushing Ash into these eventual battles of legacy. Given that I have confirmed Red and Gold had their battle atop Mt. Silver. As for Danielle, I actually address at least he thoughts on that come next chapter.
Yeah, Ash learned a lot from his prior journey that he could then pass onto these new trainers. As for Larvitar remember her, we'll see if it happens or not. Of course, Metapod appeared here because Serena is more focused on her training. That's not to say she neglected her Caterpie, but at the time she had to zero in more on her other pokemon. Now that they're in a new region, it's the perfect time for these pokemon who had less time to shine.
The trio's on hand pokemon-
Ash's Pokemon
1. Pikachu
2. Wimpod
3. Teddiursa
4. Larvitar
Serena's Pokemon
1. Sylveon
2. Rhyhorn *Pink
3. Metapod *Pink
James' Pokemon
1. Croagunk
2. Togepi
3. Spheal
4. Heracross