Ash Ketchum, now beginning his Pokémon journey, had to momentarily stop it to confirm what had happened no sooner than he took one step out of town.
After gaping in disbelief for a good few seconds, and after some dirt flew into his mouth and made him choke and cough like a fool, the new trainer pointed to his new partner. "You can talk!?"
The newborn Riolu nodded his head despite looking a bit baffled. 'Yes, I can. You've been talking to me for a year, haven't you? Can I not do it?" He asked innocently.
"N-No! No! I mean, you can talk—it's just that I wasn't expecting you to talk in a language I can understand! How are you doing that!?"
Riolu raised his left palm and a small blue glow was seen. 'I guess I know by genetics, but our species have this thing called Aura, and basically some of my evolutionary line are so in tuned with this spiritual power, we can communicate with other species.'
Ash absorbed all that information like a sponge. "Soooo it's like magic?" Okay, he was still having trouble with big words. It's not his fault he was one of the slower students among his friends.
Riolu thought about it for a bit. 'I guess it is. All it does though is allow me to sense emotions and maybe in the future increase my physical powers. Other than that, I don't think Aura can summon cheese at will.'
"Cheese?" Ash repeated with confusion. He hears Pokémon talking for the first time and one of the first thing he explains is a dairy product?
Riolu's eyes seemed to light up. 'Yes! I have always been fascinated with the food item, cheese! Especially when your mother gave us that heavenly meal!'
Oh wait, Ash recalled his mother preparing a late breakfast/lunch and ordering some of his favorite cheese pizza in the feast yesterday after he got Riolu. The raven-haired boy thought back to when Riolu took a slice and then stopped eating after his first bite. So that didn't mean he disliked it?
"Oh? You mean Pizza?" Ash began before he noticed Riolu looking at him with this trance-like look. Was he going to be okay?
'Pizza… such an exotic word!' Okay, maybe Ash had accidentally made Riolu addicted to pizza. Ehh, it shouldn't matter too much. According to Professor Oak, Pokémon can eat human food.
"Well okay." The trainer scratched his head. Talking to Pokémon was actually pretty cool after his initial shock died. "You know, I just remembered, what moves do you know? I heard from Professor Oak that Pokémon can learn four to eight moves. He said more and more Pokémon seemed to be breaking the cap of how many moves they could learn or something, and I wanna see if you're one of them."
As he said this, Ash picked up his Poké Dex. The device scanned Riolu and showed that the fighting type only knew four moves: Quick Attack, Force Palm, Foresight, and…
The raven-haired boy raised his brow. "I've never heard of Vacuum Wave before."
Riolu, in response to the attack name, snapped out of his imaginary bliss and tensed into a fighting stance. He raised one palm and curled it into a fist. His sights locked to one tree in a distance and then he suddenly punched the air in a fast motion. Ash saw something move in the air before he heard a cracking noise coming from the tree. As he turned, the new trainer noticed the tree had a fist shape indentation on its main trunk.
"Wow! The move shoots a pressurized punch of air? And it's super fast too!" Ash gushed at the super cool move his new friend could pull off—
'Who dares attack a member of the Fearow Clan!?' A shrill voice pierced the air as out of the tree Riolu attacked, an angry Spearow flew out with a look of murder in its eyes.
Ash blinked as he realized he could hear Fearow speaking like a human. "Wait, why can I hear him talk?"
Riolu pointed to his head. 'I sorta activated your mind to do that.'
Ash realized why his head felt a little funny when Riolu first rode on his shoulders. The boy looked to the smaller Pokémon in surprise and asked, "How did you do that?"
The emanation Pokémon seemed just as lost as his trainer since he shrugged his shoulders. 'Instinct told me to.' Unfortunately for Ash, he had no time to really question that.
For a few seconds, the duo had forgotten they had pissed of a proud, self-proclaimed warrior. And then those eyes of murder turned to Riolu and Ash. 'Know your error, outsiders! You fight one with the power of storms!'
Before the duo could even apologize, the flying type flew with impressive speeds right for the two, forcing Ash and his Pokémon to split up to avoid the hit.
Spearow flew back up, getting ready to retaliate to those it thought were originally attacking it.
Ash tried to scream out that it was an honest mistake, but the Spearow was having none of it as it swooped down for Riolu a second time. The fighting type wasn't fast enough to avoid the speed of the flying type and was hit dead on by flying Pokémon. The impact of the blow caused the newborn to skip like a thrown rock before slamming into another tree.
"Riolu!" Ash panicked before he ran up to the little guy and tried to help him back up. The trainer looked back up to see any sign of the flying type and incase it attacked again. "He's not listening!"
'Ash, I don't think we have a choice, we're going to have to battle!' Riolu then got back up, went forward away from Ash, and then entered into a fighting stance against the wild Pokémon.
The raven haired boy really wanted to have his first battle, and now he was having it. He just wished it wasn't in these conditions where he was accused of attacking someone blindly. "Alright!" Ash stood up, then he looked to his opponent above.
His experience back with Professor Oak started to kick in as the raven haired trainer focused squarely on the battle in front of them. "Riolu, listen. Avoid every attack as much as possible and try to knock Spearow down from the sky with Vacuum Wave!"
The fighting type did so, launching around several waves of pure vacuum at the avian opponent. However, the flying type seemed to move even faster and avoided all attempts to knock him down.
Ash then recognized the increasing speed of the Pokémon. That wild Spearow was using Agility to continually increase its speed!
This would have been a problem, but Ash recalled one of the moves his new partner had would be really useful here. "Foresight!" Ash cried out and Riolu's eyes started to glow white. Then, Riolu fired another Vacuum Wave that instantly hit its mark and made the Spearow lose balance. However, the loss of balance was momentary as their opponent was quick to regain composure midair.
Riolu was now pressing the attack. The flying opponent could no longer avoid his opponent's hits, but at the same time the attacks really didn't seem to slow down the flying type. Instead it just seemed to get angrier and angrier.
Suddenly, the Spearow started to ascend high, before seemingly turning over at its highest point and start to descend—did it just disappear!?
'Gah!' Riolu cried out as Spearow suddenly rammed into his stomach and smashed the fighting type back into the tree that was originally attacked. Pieces of wood fell on the fighting type when he bounced off the trunk.
"Riolu!" Ash cried out before he suddenly recognized that move. One of the higher level flying types in Professor Oak's lab used it as a signature move: Aerial Ace, a move that allows a flying type to move so fast that it's impossible to avoid and packs a wallop. He didn't know the wild Pokémon could learn such a powerful move!
Spearow flew back up high, obviously priming to use the attack again. Riolu seemed to be holding on, but that hit had brought the fighting type to his brink because of how super effective it was against him.
Ash started to panic. What could he do? Riolu was too imbalanced to launch an attack fast enough to stop the Spearow before the fighting type would be knocked out. The trainer was too far from his Pokémon to run up and use a potion, and lastly, their opponent was about to pull off another Aerial Ace.
The young boy didn't want Riolu to get hurt! There had to be something—wait. There was something left Riolu could pull off, but the problem was that it was a complex order it Ash couldn't be able to explain it fast enough for the fighting type to pull off!
However, to Ash's surprise, Riolu was already moving. He covered his fist with dust and sand and then prepared himself in another fighting stance despite how worn out he was.
The second before Spearow hit his maximum speed, Riolu then punched the air right in front of the path of Spearow's attack, signaling that he was using Vacuum Wave. After the attack was launched, Spearow disappeared, but half an instant later, Vacuum Wave hit something some distance away from Riolu—it was Spearow. It was still moving fast, but now it could be seen and its eyes were closed and teary because it looked like the dirt Riolu covered his fist with was also launched with the pressure of air.
Ash acted quickly and ordered, "Now! Force Palm!"
Even though Spearow was moving fast, it could be seen now, and it was obviously distracted with its eyes forcibly closed. This gave Riolu the opportunity to shoot his open palm right for the incoming flying type and squarely hit it down to the ground.
Dust flew from the impact, but Ash didn't care as he ran up towards his Pokémon. "Riolu! Are you alright?!"
As the dust settled, Riolu was seen coughing and banged up a lot, but still standing. A little ways from him was an obviously knocked out and paralyzed Spearow.
'I-I'm fine…' The fighting type then groaned as he put one of his paws near his ribs. 'He was super tough though.'
The raven haired boy was baffled at the move Riolu did to slow down the Aerial Ace move, not because it was elaborate, but it was the same idea in his mind that he was unable to explain to his Pokémon on time! "Riolu, how did you know what to do when Spearow was about to use his Aerial Ace move a second time?"
'Y-You told me.' The emanation Pokémon gasped. Ash remembered that his starter got injured during the fight and fished for a potion in his bag.
"I told you?" Ash started spraying his partner with healing medicine. "How? That order I was thinking was too complex to explain it to you in time."
'I… sensed it from you.' Riolu began as he eased up a little more. 'I heard it from you? I guess?'
Ash tilted his head. "Is this more of that Aura thing?"
'Yeah… yeah! I think… I feel as if that the stronger the bond between a Riolu Evolution line and a trainer, the more they are 'linked'—or can practically know what the other is thinking. It's why… I felt you giving orders before I was defeated.'
Ash thought back to that moment. He was so afraid for Riolu and wanted to do almost anything to get him out of that situation. Did that empathy connect them?
…
How was he going to explain all this to Professor Oak?
'Guh…' Ash and Riolu looked down at the Spearow that seemed to be gaining consciousness again.
The raven haired trainer seemed to brighten up and fished his bag pack again. He took out an empty Poké Ball and pointed it at Spearow. "Riolu, we won our first Pokémon battle with wild Pokémon! We can catch this guy and add him to the team!"
'Uuuuhhhh, do we have too? He's kinda scary?' The small fighting type groaned at the thought of being with this guy for a long time.
'Pleas…'
The duo turned to Spearow who seemed to be struggling hard to talk. So hard in fact, it looked like he was… crying?
'Please… don't capture me… I… I can't leave now. I… musn't… my… people… my…' The Spearow gasped in pain as it tried to move, but it's weakened and paralysis stated made even the smallest of movements very painful.
Ash was surprised. From proud and warrior like to now crying and begging not to be caught? It was strange, but Ash felt bad for the guy and curious as to why he seemed so desperate.
The raven haired boy sighed and put away the empty Poké Ball. He fished for his bag and took out his only Full Heal and another Potion.
He used both medicines on the fallen flying type. Almost instantly, the Spearow could now move and had his energy returned.
The fierce flying type looked at himself in disbelief and then looked up to Ash Ketchum. 'You healed me?' His voice was cautious but he seemed far more relaxed now.
The young teen rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah well, we're sorry for disturbing you in the first place. It was more or less an accident."
Fearow stared at Ash in an unreadable manner. 'Strange, I just realized I can understand you clearly. I find it much better than the usual gibberish that comes out of your mouths.' It seemed like that the flying type was not at all surprised at the thought of a human speaking to him fluently. 'Perhaps, I was wrong. Perhaps, we were wrong.' He began before to the surprise of the two, the proud warrior seemed to bow his head.
'Fleshy thing! Blue Guy! Please, allow me to beg for your assistance!'
'Fleshy Thing' and 'Blue Guy' turned to each other with obvious bafflement on the names. However, the Spearow was basically asking for help.
"First of all, my name is Ash and this is Riolu," Riolu nodded his head furiously at Ash's real introduction. "Second, what help are you looking for?"
Spearow got back up, looking determined now more than ever to the duo. 'Our leader is fallen ill and grows worse by the days! Your human gadgets have healed me, so can they do the same to him!?'
Ash thought back. He had just used the only Full Heal Professor let him have. He did have some berries that helped with status ailments but…
"Can you bring us to him?" Ash was not going to let a cry for help go unheard while he was there.
Spearow nodded thankfully and then spread out his wings. "Follow me!"
The flying Pokémon led the two towards a thick forest area. However, the bird Pokémon didn't stop there. He led them deeper into the forest until they had reached a very large and old tree. The tree had giants roots that spread across a large area, and had holes all across its trunk that seemed to range from big to small, new to ancient, functional to useless, and it was filled with a large flock of Spearow that were now all focusing their glares at both Ash and Riolu.
The Spearow that was leading the two landed on top of one of the roots and shouted. 'I have returned! And this Flesh Bag before you has a chance to heal our Chieftain!' The proud bird pointed his wings towards Ash as this was declared.
"Again with flesh thing?" Ash raised his brow and whispered to Riolu.
'I think it's better than being swarmed by all of these guys.' The Emanation Pokémon countered while standing closer to his trainer.
The duo then slightly panicked when a large group of Spearow started flying from their spots. However, they soon realized that the flock wasn't moving towards them, but towards the bottom of the giant tree. Many of the Spearow seemed to hook their talons on small grooves across a certain area and then they all started to fly while holding on to the groove into the tree. Ash and Riolu stared as it looked like the group of Spearow was opening a large door that was cleverly hidden in the massive trunk of the tree.
The original Spearow that fought them turned to the outsiders and pointed a wing towards the inside. 'They have allowed us passage. Now make haste!' It said as it started to fly ahead of the two.
Riolu and Ash shared a look before they both decided to walk after the Spearow they beat. As they entered, the two were surprised at how much bigger the tree seemed like on the inside. There were even more hollow nests inside, along with numerous Spearow watching them all intently. As they kept walking, they reached the center of the tree and boy was it a sight to behold!
The tree was for some reason hollow in the center and seemed to go up for like a mile or so. Around the walls was something like indentations that looked like a complete spiral slope/stairs that led to the very top of the tree.
The Original Spearow motioned a wing above, which meant that Riolu and Ash would have to start their climb. The two continued their ascent up to the top of the tree and as they kept climbing they noticed that more and more of the Spearows… looked kinder, smaller… and there were more nests filled with eggs and berries.
"Whoa," Ash said as he looked at one nest that held like a dozen Spearow Eggs that was being guarded by two tough looking flying types. "This place is like its own society. Professor Oak and Mary would have loved to see this!"
Very soon, Ash and Riolu finally reached the top of the tree. If everything surprised them before, the knowledge that the top of the tree looked like some giant stadium with a specialized spot at the very top with a talon-drawn marking of a powerful bird.
Beneath that marking, there was a Pokémon that stood out among all the others. It was far more massive than even the bigger Spearow here. If Ash recalled, it was a Fearow, the evolved version of the Spearow here, and it had a presence that could practically defeat anyone it would look at.
Then the original Spearow bowed, prompting the newcomers to do the same—especially if one wrong move could lead them trapped among countless flying types.
However, the two heard the Fearow screech a mighty screech that silenced not only the top, but the rest of the tree.
'Spearow! What is the meaning of bringing outsiders to our home land!?' The Fearow barked with a voice of sheer command and power.
'Chieftain!' The one who brought the two exclaimed back and raised his head. 'These outsiders, they have the ability to heal! I have brought them in order to help your condition!'
Riolu and Ash shared a look. That Fearow was the chieftain that Spearow said was growing weaker by the day?! He sure as heck did not give off that impression!
The Fearow growled then descended down in front of the trio. Only the Spearow didn't flinch as the big bird Pokémon glared at one of his clan.
'Healer!?' The Fearow squawked like a demon from the fiery pits of hell. 'Do I—the Great Fearow—seem weak to you?!'
Riolu and Ash were practically frozen as the two birds glared at each other, neither showing a sign of moving.
However…
'Cough! Cough! Hack!'
Fearow was first to break the stare down as he looked away, coughing in a sound that even the two outsiders could tell was not healthy.
'Yes, Chieftan,' The original Spearow said as the Fearow continued to cough. 'You need help!'
The leader seemed to tense at the last word the smaller one said. 'Help!? If anyone, especially those gutless Pidgeys, hears of us being weak, they will attack our home for sure! I do not need it!'
However, to the surprise of the duo, it seemed like it was the first Spearow who was crying. 'You grow worse by the day, father! At the rate we are going, you will be lost for sure and there will be no one to protect our clan!'
Another unexpected surprise popped out. Riolu and Ash had met the child of the Chieftain himself!? Wait, was that why it was begging not to be caught? It was worried for his people?
'You ungrateful!' The Fearow began before he started coughing violently once more. After that fit, he turned back to the serious, yet teary-eyed face of his offspring. '… Human, are you truly a healer?'
Ash started to feel tense as all focus suddenly shifted to him. "I-I took lessons in first aid and Pokémon first aid." He blurted out. Oh thank whatever being up there that his time in Professor Oak's lab was nothing like how he would sleep in normal school.
'Then make your move. I am too weak to care.' The Fearow said as he relaxed—slumped even. All image of fear was now gone from the boy. His compassion started to rise as he saw the strong and proud Pokémon seem weak like when they first beat up his child… err... not really a good string of words to blurt out without context.
Ash felt a hand on the head of evolved Pokémon and instantly removed it. "Whoa! You're almost hot to the touch! You have a fever that deep and you've been trying to shrug it off!?" It spoke volumes at how strong Fearow really was… and how stubborn he was to fight it like that.
The young boy got to work on what he knew in case a Pokémon were to ever have a fever. He made sure the Fearow actually rested and was made sure to stay warm, not too cold or too hot. Even some of the other Fearows started to help as they made a blanket of leaves for their Chieftain to be comfortable.
Ash worked with what medicine he had, and whatever Pecha Berries were around the tree, seeing as he was taught Pecha Berries help stave off symptoms of fevers besides instantly curing Pokémon poison. With everyone's help, the Fearow seemed to finally be better off.
When there was a break allowed, Ash called for Riolu and the offspring of the Chieftain to meet privately.
'I cannot even begin to thank you! My father looks better than he did in the days before!' The Spearow gladly smiled.
However, to the Spearow's surprise, Ash wasn't as hopeful. "Look, Spearow, I need to tell you something and you have to promise that you won't… overreact."
The raven haired boy noticed the bird Pokémon seemingly steeling himself. 'Speak, Ash. I shall listen.'
Well if he was finally saying his name, it was really serious. Ash gathered the same strength and said, "There isn't enough medicine."
'What?'
The young teen elaborated. "Spearow, I was only given a limited amount of medicine when I started my journey. In one day—my very first day actually, I've practically gave it all to your father. And here comes the next problem, even if I were to leave and get more, there's a chance that the medicine will run out faster than me and Riolu can come back."
'W-We can wait!' Even Fearow was unsure if they considered anything could happen while Ash was gone. Perhaps even the attack they feared would happen the moment the medicine ran out.
'Is there anything else we can do?' Riolu asked his trainer.
Ash seemed to think before he seemed to realize something. "There is one thing, but it's a stretch."
'What is it?!' The child practically jumped on it after hearing another option.
The young trainer took out his Poké Dex and made it open up a picture of a Chansey. "These Pokémon are you best bet at healing your dad even better than me. They're known to be natural healers and can help ease the most serious of sicknesses of Pokémon. It's why they're almost always with a Nurse Joy in my society."
'Then we shall find one!' Spearow began.
It seemed like Ash was expecting a different answer to that as he then said, "So you don't know where one is?"
'With everyone working together, we can!' Spearow seemed determined, but who could blame the flying type? His father's life and the safety of his people were at stake.
'I thought you guys said that you didn't want any of your enemies to find out about your Chieftain being sick?' Riolu pointed out. 'If the Spearow Clan were to search en masse for a single Chansey, it would alert how vulnerable they actually are without their leader and strongest member.'
Spearow seemed to understand how bad this situation was getting.
However, Riolu cleared his throat. 'Actually, it would be bad if you guys could get one. But not for me and Ash.'
Spearow looked to the fighting type with confusion. Then the blue Pokémon elaborated more, 'I have the ability to sense living energy. I've never met a Chansey before, but with the description Ash just gave, I think I've sensed a healing-like aura not too far from where we are.'
"Healing-like aura?" Ash repeated the weird choices of words while Spearow had a more urgent reaction.
'You have!?' Spearow shouted out loud.
'Yeah, but we have to move now and with few numbers if we have any chance at convincing her.'
That didn't seem to deter Spearow, in fact it seemed to only pump the dual type's blood up after hearing that. 'I see! Then we must make haste!'
The three of them agreed that it would only be them that would go, as to not attract too much attention. Not long after, Riolu did spot the Chansey picking up berries from a nearby Oran Tree.
"Hey! You there!" Ash was the first to call out to her. It seemed to surprise the Chansey, but with how Ash was waving at her, it seemed like she calmed down just as fast.
However, her calmness seemed to go away when she saw Spearow with Ash and Riolu. The Normal type seemed frightened by the flying type, to the confusion of the other two.
"Whoa! Hey calm down, we're not here to hurt you!" The teen cried out as he showed both of his hands to the pink Pokémon.
'Y-You're not?' Chansey then turned back to Spearow.
"We're all not going to hurt you, right?" Ash turned back to the flying and normal type who nodded their head.
'But isn't that one of the Spearow Clan? That group of Pokémon take whatever they want from other Pokémon?' Riolu and Ash were somewhat surprised by that statement, yet at the back of their mind that did explain why it looked like they had so much food. The clan of Spearows was actually a gang though?
But still, Riolu and Ash did their best to calm her down and say that they weren't going to hurt her.
Instead of seemingly trying to tell her she was wrong, Spearow then did something no one was expecting: the flying type planted his head into the dirt and prostrated himself in front of the normal type. 'Please! I beg off you! We've only done things for our survival, and while we're not always on the right, I do not want to see my Chieftain die!'
Chansey and the others seemed impressed by the act of humility that Spearow was willing to go for his father. It really resonated with Ash most of all as he deeply wished he could have… no, it wasn't the time for those memories.
The Chansey was silently moved by the act of humility from the flying and normal type and eventually relented. 'Alright, take me to your father. I can't really say no to someone in need.'
The trio was overjoyed that they were able to succeed in their miniature but important quest. They didn't hesitate to lead the normal type back to the tree.
However… none of them noticed—and Riolu was too distracted to use his scanning ability—that there was a nearby Pidgey who had heard everything, especially how the 'great' Fearow was ill.
Ash and Riolu felt proud that they were able to help out those in need, even if they were described to be somewhat of a gang… but hey! It always felt good to help! The Chansey was now looking after Fearow and with her here, the boss of the flying Pokémon was sure to get better.
"Hey, Spearow," Ash began as they looked to the one who had brought them here. (Riolu thankfully could track specific essences and was able to point to him out of all the other ones here.) "I think it's time Riolu and I left. We have our own things to do as well."
Spearow flew from his perch. 'Wait! Don't leave yet! We must celebrate for your help! My father may have had worse fate if you were not here!'
Unfortunately for the offspring of the Chieftain, before anything else could be done, there was a shrill cry coming from one rather shaken Spearow who flew to the top of the tree.
Everyone stared at the horrified flying type as he blurted out, 'Chieftain! It's Pidgeot and her gang! They're coming at us with all their members!'
Those words made Fearow forsake any form of rest as he flew up back as if he was never sick or weak at any point of his life. 'Prepare for battle! Evacuate those that cannot fight! Fill the skies!'
The child of the Chieftain quickly flew towards their leader. 'Wait, father! You haven't been fully healed yet!'
'It is more than enough to protect our people!' The Fearow said nothing more as he spread his large wings and with one flap, practically shot out of the top of the tree, prompting a large majority of fighting Spearow out as well.
'Father!' The First Spearow cried as he then flew after the rest of them.
The two outsiders looked to each other looking for some kind of answer. 'Ash, what do we do!?'
The trainer was at a complete loss of words. He had only heard about war in the history books, and he didn't want the chance to see one in action now. However, both of them then noticed Chansey at the opposite side of the stadium. She seemed to be doing much worse than they were.
'Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!' She repeated those words frantically as she ran in circles.
The duo ran up to her with worried look on their faces. "What's wrong!?"
She looked at them with tears in her eyes and a look of despair the two didn't notice before. 'If the Pidgey and Spearow gang fight, they're all going to fight to the death! Y-You have to stop them!'
The weight of those words hit the outsiders like that of being hit by a falling meteor. This wasn't the same old fights that were regulated and looked like a lot of fun. This was a fight to the death… a war.
That was something to be avoided at all costs.
Even though it was impossible, if there was one chance… Ash and Riolu had to stop the fight before it could even begin!
It was a cloudy night. It had to be. There was a chance even the higher beings dared not to witness the bloodshed that was about to be unleashed when two large clans of bird Pokémon filled the sky over the forest.
On one side: a clan of Pidgeys and Pidgeottos that were led by a powerful looking Pidegeot with a scar across her right eye.
On the other: a flock of Spearows of varying sizes and their still ill leader, Fearow.
'Pidgeot! Leave, before I scar your other good eye!' Fearow roared with a voice that didn't even show his weakness.
'Your words are as sharp as ever, Fearow!' Pidgeot returned with equal gusto. 'However, even now I see your movements are sluggish! Your tyranny over this forest ends today!'
'Spare me your grandstanding, Pidgeot! Your clan was far more ruthless and uncaring before I came to power and threw them out! And do not think that I even need my full strength to defeat you!'
The two seemed to be done talking, which only meant that the two miniature armies were about to clash.
"STOOOPPP!"
A loud voice cried out, making everyone look back towards the highest point of the tree where two familiar people were doing their best to be seen by everyone.
'Ash? Riolu?' The Chieftan's child looked in surprise as to why they had not left yet. Moreover, why were they trying to get everyone's attention!?
'Who are you, fleshy?' Pidegeot asked with confusion.
The young teen had caught everyone's attention. This was his chance to somehow stop this madness before it could even begin. "You can't fight! None of you guys should be fighting!"
Despite his well meaning words, they had no effect on the ones he was using them on. 'Excuse you!? You do not even know how deep this hatred goes! How can you just so plainly say that we shouldn't do battle!?'
"Because the reason why you both are fighting is also the same reason none of you should fight!" That paradoxical statement got everyone's attention and brought up only confusion until Ash shouted out and continued on. "I'm talking about your families! You're friends! Is this really what they want of all of you!? To fight and never return!?"
That idea seemed to make even the most hateful on both sides second guess themselves. Ash knew from Chansey that the Pidgey gang was surprisingly just like the Spearow gang when it came to their kind. He only hoped it would be enough to stop everyone from fighting each other.
'Our families can never be safe!' It seemed like it might have not been enough as Pidgeot glared back at Fearow. 'Not while our mortal enemies live and breathe!'
'For once, I agree!' Fearow countered back. The fighting spirit of both sides were coming back up, probably stronger than before if they now believed they were going to fight for their loved ones.
'Ash, get down!' Riolu cried out.
"No! We can't let them fight!" Ash desperately said as he tried to think of anything else that would get them to stop.
'Attack!' Pidgeot cried out as she began to move, her people ready to meet with that of Fearow's.
'Charge!' Fearow cried out in retaliation, no doubt moving ahead of his clan.
Ash looked on desperately. They were going to do it, they were going to fight to the death… and he could do nothing but watch?
No! No please! Anything but that! He didn't want to see other people hurt! He didn't want people to die!
He didn't want—
(Ash was two years old when he and his mother stood in front of a black coffin. There was a picture of a kind and loving man with a bright smile, but for some reason, looking at it made his mother cry and made a very young Ash feel like crying too.)
("Dad?" "Dada?")
"PLEASE! STOP!" Ash yelled with all his lungs, but despite all he could muster, Fearow and Pidgeot were about to meet each other with talons drawn.
Yet…
FSHOOOM!
Suddenly, the skies parted instantly, revealing the moon in all its glory… and…
Riolu looked at the sky in awe, as did everyone else. For the sky to suddenly part clouds and be clear was one thing, but for there to be a giant Pokémon seen above them all? It was unimaginable. Especially since Riolu thought he could sense Pokémon, but didn't even have the faintest clue that a Pokémon of that magnitude was hiding just above the clouds.
Ash blinked first out of everyone there. As he thought back, there was…he recalled the professor saying.
Something about Legendary Pokémon? These Pokémon were so rare, that most people had gone their whole lives without even seeing them. Some were even considered gods.
Yet… his mind could do nothing but call the magnificent Pokémon before them as such.
A Legendary Pokémon… here?
The Legendary Pokémon cried out in a glorious voice then started glowing with all the intensity of the sun.
Everyone looked away and shielded their eyes from the light. And soon then, they felt that the light had vanished.
However, Ash had felt a strange glow coming near him and opened his eyes. To his surprise, there was a beautiful rainbow colored feather floating gently towards him. The teen had this odd sensation to reach out and catch the gently falling item.
The feather radiated with a strange rainbow light that glowed even in the night. However, Ash then remembered the fight and quickly looked back up to see both Fearow and Pidgeot just… glaring at each other.
'It seems… even the gods find our hatred despicable.' Fearow stated plainly.
For the longest of seconds, Pidgeot did nothing but scowl at Fearow while keeping herself up in the air. After a tense few seconds, she finally spoke up. 'Let us get one thing straight, Fearow: I despise you. I always will.' Pidgeot began but seemed to not act on her words. 'But even I admit that I grow tired of hating you. Maybe one day our clans might not hate each other and that does not seems like such a bad idea." The female leader said with closed eyes before opening up again. 'However, if we have any chance of real peace, we're going to have to make some changes.'
Fearow nodded. He didn't let up his glare but he did nod his head in agreement. 'I know your clan sometimes lack food. We are more than willing to share if you stop… loosen your hold on the river territory.' He rephrased his wordings.
'A treaty of sorts then? Or Ceasefire? I agree then.'
The two evolved leaders… then turned their backs on each other. This signaled the end of a fight that didn't even start.
Ash sighed in utter relief, but then looked back at the feather he had.
A thought occurred to him as he took in the beautiful item: what was a legendary Pokémon doing all the way out here in the boonies?
"Wow. The Spearows really know how to throw a party." The raven haired teen said in utter disbelief as all around him the Spearows were either flying around erratically, doing their interpretation of dancing on the stadium floor, or drinking what seemed like stolen alcohol.
Chansey was in a different area, mixing up her own concoction that would help Fearow grow better, so only Riolu and Ash were up there with the Spearow that brought them in there the first place.
'I know,' Riolu agreed as the two of them were some ways in the corner. 'I didn't even know Pokémon could party like this.'
"I mean still, they do have the right to party now." Ash pointed out as the Spearow Gang is now going to try to be more peaceful to their enemies. Hatred like that wasn't going to go away anytime soon, but it was a good start.
'Hear! Hear!' Fearow's voice boomed which instantly stopped the festivities. Everyone turned towards the Chieftain as he cleared his throat.
'I would like to begin by saying it is odd. This is the first time in years where I have felt relaxed… even hopeful. Tonight, we end our feud with the Pidgey Clan!' There was resounding applause—or in the case of the flying types, cries of agreement—in response to the Chieftain's exclamation. 'However, I am not the cause of this peaceful end. No, in fact, the true hero of this day… the one that has even gone against our traditions to ensure we would be safe to see another day… is none other than my child!'
Again, another resounding cry for the Spearow that fought against Ash and Riolu.
'And let us not forget, the outsiders that have helped in saving our home and lives as well!'
Ash and Riolu didn't know how to react to the cries of joy.
'As such, let us thank our heroes! The food is ready and they shall be the first to eat!'
Now that he mentioned it, Ash hadn't eaten since lunch, and it was already getting late at night. The sound of food greatly appealed to him and to Riolu.
Three different Spearow came in with twig baskets that carried food.
Fearow continued to talk before they were served, 'I cannot even begin to thank you all for your contribution to we who do not even know of you. You shall forever have our gratitude.'
"It's only natural for us to help those in need." Ash returned before the basket was placed in front of him. "Thank you for the food—huh?"
Inside the basket was… a Weedle? Now that Ash had a better look, it wasn't just a Weedle, it was also a Caterpie as well. He just had trouble identifying it since they were both killed and had their bodies and guts mixed up together like bad mashed potatoes.
… Well that was disturbing imagery he didn't expect to see.
Riolu fought the urge to barf the instant he saw that the same two dead bug Pokémon were inside his basket.
'It is the very least we could do for you!' Fearow threw out his wings with animated vigor. 'We have also prepared our finest meals, the guts of bug Pokémon!'
Oh no, so much for praying and hoping that this was all some kind of mistake.
'Yum! These things are delicacies!' Spearow was so chipper, it almost sang that sentence. It then looked over towards the other two. 'Come on! Let's eat! The others are bound by honor to not eat until all three of us do!'
Riolu carefully raised his paw. 'Uhh what are the off chances of us… not eating this?'
Spearow and every other flying type just stared in frozen silence at the fighting type. Riolu instantly regretted asking until every flying type around them burst into laughter as if someone had told them the funniest joke they had ever heard.
This act did not help the two bipeds in the slightest.
'An excellent jest, Riolu! I mean, to refuse our food would be like insulting us and our hospitality! And you all have proven by now that none of you are stupid enough to anger everyone here!' Spearow laughed again, as did the rest of the clan. In essence, there was a chance that they would forget about them being heroes the moment they didn't eat the food.
Not a single flying type noticed the duo swallow their spit harder than they ever did in their life with looks of horror and realization written on their faces.
After being done laughing a second time, Spearow looked at the three of them. 'Now come on, let's eat!'
Ash and Riolu looked back at their food of dead bugs. It was either to eat that or be their hosts' next meal.
…
Ash was the first to bravely reach his hand out. "Well, maybe it tastes good?" He said as he scooped a hand full of Bug type guts and ate it.
No, it did not taste good at all.
It was a beautiful morning! The Sun was shining! The wind breeze was pleasant!
Ash and Riolu were slugging around like zombies and groaning like they were about to die—wait what?
"Uhhhhh, I feel sick…" Ash said early in the morning as he and Riolu struggled to walk in a straight line out of the forest.
'Please don't remind me. Just thinking about last night was… horrible.' The sickly emanation Pokémon put a paw over his mouth.
'Maybe you two should go visit Chansey instead of trying to leave.'
The sound of the familiar voice made the two look up to see Fearow and his child perched up on a tree looking down on both of them.
"Oh. What are you two doing here?" Ash made a little more effort to stand up straight even though it was much harder than he imagined.
'I came to say one last goodbye and thank you for all that you've done.' The two were intrigued by the word choice of the Chieftain. He only emphasized himself, so what was Spearow doing with him?
"Us? But wasn't it the legendary Pokémon who stopped the war between you and your enemies?" Ash decided to point out instead. He didn't say this earlier last night because there really was no chance to tell the leader of the Spearow Clan otherwise. If he knew what meal was planned for him; however, the teen would have done far more to get to him sooner.
'The gods may have told us to stop, but you were the first to help us when I was too stubborn, and for that, I thank you once more.' Fearow then lifted a wing to wrap around Spearow, 'My child on the other hand, has something else to say.'
Spearow cleared his throat when the leader referenced them. 'Ash and Riolu, I wish to properly join you the two of you. Our battle has taught me more than I ever could imagine. And if I were to one day become Chieftain, I would prefer to learn more about the world beyond my home in the tree. Would you let me come with you in this human journey of yours?'
The duo looked at each other before smiling wide. "Sure thing, Spearow! Welcome to the team!"
Spearow looked absolutely thrilled to be accepted, but then he turned towards his father, and his father turned to him.
The smaller flying type flew into a deep embrace of his father and it was quite the sight to see a Fearow, known for their aggressive power, and hostile behavior, show unconditional love and tenderness to their child.
And then, he said, 'Goodbye, my daughter, my true pride.'
Ash felt tears coming near his eyes. "Oh this is soSPEAROW IS A GIRL!?" He shouted as the word, daughter processed in his mind.
'Why yes? I am female?' Spearow, who was apparently a girl the entire time, turned to the two confused after breaking the hug with her father.
It was now Riolu's turn to point and shout in disbelief. 'What!? But your voice is so deep!'
Fearow boomed with powerful laughter. 'And she should be proud! The more powerful the voice, the stronger the warrior!'
"That is not how it works…" Ash meekly tried to argue. Now that he thought back, there was never a real way he could tell the difference between female and male Spearow… all of them sounded nearly the same!
Fearow turned to Spearow with an are-you-sure-about-this look. 'Your future allies seem rather… incompetent… if I do say so myself.'
'Not to worry father, as my vassals, they will shine on through after I'm through with them!' The female Spearow beamed with pride.
'Vassals?!' The fighting type repeated in disbelief. He was obviously still stunned at the fact Spearow was a girl this entire time!?
'Very well,' Fearow extended his wings and started flying into the air. 'Farewell! And may you become stronger each passing day!' He cried out before he flew out of sight.
Spearow flew towards the two with a rather stern look. 'Now hear me, Ash and Riolu! You are in the presence of the great Chieftain Fearow's only child! I will not stand for anything less than the presence of a commanding warrior to stand by! As such, it is time that I put you all in your place!'
"What!? But you said you wanted to join us! Not the other way around—"
Spearow used (very scary) Leer! Opponent Ash and Riolu were horrified! Opponent Ash and Riolu started running!
'Yes! Yes! Build your muscles! If you cannot fly like a proud Spearow, then you must be able to keep up with one!' Spearow cried out as the two continued to run in fear of their new teammate.
'Ash, is our entire journey going to be like this the whole time!?' Riolu asked as he ran to keep pace with his trainer's long strides.
The raven haired boy looked back, only to see that intimidating Leer once more that chilled his blood and then quickly turned back ahead and started running faster. "No, I hope not!"
Unfortunately for the boy… that was not his decision to make.
+Author Notes+
DAYUM! I was not expecting all the support this story would actually get. You guys are crazy!
But, I would to call to attention to one very overlooked detail here: did anyone notice that this all happened in one day?
That's right! Except for the last section of this chapter, in day one of Ash's journey, he met with a tribe of warrior Spearows, took care of a sick Fearow, had to go hunting for a Chansey, tried to stop a war, witnessed a legendary Pokémon, and eat dead bug type Pokémon all in one day!
The title is literally named Ash's Bizarre Misadventures for a reason. I hope you all enjoyed this story.
Well, this is a small taste of what is to come for this story, interested? If so here's a little challenge: look for the time I called Spearow a 'Son'. (Spoiler: I didn't! I made sure that she was always called Offspring or Child, it was never mentioned she was a son!)
Anyway, thanks you all so much! But please, continue supporting this fic with Reviews, Favorites, and Follows! See ya soon!