Ash and Misty were sitting next to each other on a bench in Pewter City.
"I lost…" Ash muttered with his head down. Pikachu tried to comfort him by patting his head.
"Don't let it set you back so much. It was your first time in a gym battle." Consoled Misty.
Since the first meeting with Misty, the two somehow managed to become traveling companions and experienced quite a bit together in a few days. The first meeting with the Rocket Trio, Ash capturing Caterpie, which evolved into a Butterfree, and Pidgeotto.
Filled with confidence in his success so far, Ash strode towards the Pewter City Gym to earn his first Gym Badge. But in a close battle, Ash ended up being the loser of the match and was slightly disheartened by his inability to bring out his Pokemon's potential.
Ash raised his head. "Yeah…I shouldn't stay here moping. I have to come up with a way to win next time!"
"Well…" Misty held a considerate expression. "Why don't I lend you my Pokemon? They'd definitely help you win the badge." She offered.
Ash snapped his head to her in surprise. "You'd do that for me?" He then vigorously shook his head. "I'm grateful for the offer, but my Pokemon will be the ones who'll earn that badge. It has to be that way."
His answer satisfied Misty and she looked at him with warmth. "That's what I like to hear from the boy who fearlessly broke a katana with his bare hands."
"That samurai guy was coo coo in the head. He just pointed a katana directly to my face. Who does that?" Ash complained
The two burst out into laughter at the memory. Ash stood up in a more cheerful mood this time.
"Time to train my Pokemon to counter Brock's Rock-types." Ash declared.
"Do you have any plans on how?" Misty asked.
"Yeah, that battle with Brock was a good learning experience." Ash assumed a contemplative look. "His Pokemon have solid defenses and powerful attacks, but they are slow and earthbound. And they don't respond well to indirect damage."
Misty blinked, surprised by the change in his demeanor and his analysis.
"Geodude I believe Pidgeotto or Butterfree can handle. It's his Onix that's a problem. Its large size gives it a wide range of motion and limits the room for my Pokemon to maneuver. And almost none of my attacks could scratch it."
Ash then walked away towards a vacant field to put his plans to practice. Unbeknownst to the group, a man was watching them from a distance.
The next day
"I see you've returned for my badge again." Brock greeted Ash as he stood from across the battlefield. "Allow me to see if you've grown some since yesterday."
"A lot can change in one day!" Ash smiled. "I'll give you a battle you won't forget!"
"That's what I like to hear." Brock returned the smile, admiring Ash's confidence and mental fortitude to pick himself up from a loss.
"I've got one question for you though." Ash suddenly changed the topic. "Have you met any other Trainers from Pallet Town before me?"
Brock nodded. "I sure did. All three of them were wonderful rookies with solidly trained Pokemon and won their first badges."
"The ones with a Squirtle and Bulbasaur are my friends and rivals. That means I'm off to a late start compared to them…" Ash muttered to himself. He steeled his nerves with unwavering determination in his eyes.
"I get it. You want to catch up to them. Then let's not waste any more time. Go, Geodude!" Brock called for his Pokemon to the field.
"It's up to you, Butterfree!" Ash threw his Poke Ball.
Geodude and Butterfree stared across from each other and gave out battle cries.
"Rock Throw!"
"Stay in the air and keep your distance!"
Geodude hurled heavy masses of rocks at Butterfree who gracefully avoided them. The incoming projectiles made loud crashing noises after missing their target.
"Spread your Poison Powder to the field!"
"So you want to buy time until my Geodude is knocked out from poison. A nice strategy, but it's also obvious! Geodude, Dig!"
Geodude obeyed the command and burrowed into the ground. Watching it hide underground, a smile crawled up Ash's lips.
"I remember this one from summer camp! Butterfree, use Confusion on your Poison Powder and drive it inside the hole!"
"Oh no, Geodude, quickly come out!"
Brock called his Pokemon urgently, but it could not escape in time and was poisoned, grunting from pain as it flushed a purple blush.
"No way can we let him take the momentum. Use Rock Polish to speed up and catch Butterfree!"
Geodude glowed white and had its speed sharply raised. Then it made a dash and jumped into the air towards a surprised Butterfree who hurriedly avoided the Rock Pokemon.
"I didn't see this before!" Ash exclaimed. He was unaware of Geodude having that move.
"Not bad, right?" Brock confidently smiled. "Do it again and this time use Seismic Toss!"
Geodude hurled up into the air again and grappled Butterfree, then it brought Butterfree down with its weight on top and crashed into the center of the stage. Butterfree weakly cried and twitched from the damage.
"Push away Geodude with Confusion!" Butterfree's eyes glowed and manipulated Geodude's body to throw it away. "Use String Shot!" Understanding his Trainer's command, Butterfree spewed ropes of strings from his mouth to pin Geodude to the ground.
"Grab a hold of that rope!" Geodude did as ordered and grabbed the rope coming for it. "Pull Butterfree closer!"
It became a tug of war where Butterfree was losing as he was slowly pulled closer towards Geodude.
"Flap your wings and use Gust!" Butterfree desperately flapped his wings and formed strong winds at Geodude who remained steady on the ground in the face of it. However, the force of flapping its wings harder kept the struggle between the two even.
"Without letting go of the rope, use one arm to Rock Throw!" Geodude picked up a rock and hurled it at Butterfree.
"Use Confusion on the rock and send it back!" The rock's outline glowed purple and was stopped in midair, then changed directions to be sent blasting towards Geodude, dealing a good amount of damage. That's when the poison kicked in again and Geodude groaned before fainting.
"Alright, you did it, Butterfree!" Ash cheered for his Pokemon and it cried ecstatically from the victory.
"Thank you, Geodude." Brock thanked his recalled Pokemon and sent out his next one. "Go, Onix!" His Rock Snake Pokemon roared and intimidated Butterfree with its huge size.
"Return, Butterfree!" Ash recalled his Pokemon back to his Poke Ball. "It's your turn, Pikachu!" The mouse nodded and entered the stage.
"Let's see how well your Pikachu will fare this time." Brock crossed his arms and assumed an imposing stance. "Bind!"
"Hop on Onix's body!" Pikachu climbed Onix's body and avoided the areas where it intended to wrap its body around him by detecting its subtle movements.
"Let's give it our hidden ace and use Rock Smash!" Ash's powerful call seemed to invigorate Pikachu and the Pokemon landed a powerful punch with its clenched fist glowing white.
"Onix!" Brock called worriedly when a crack formed on its body.
Pikachu hopped off Onix and landed on the stage. "We trained all day yesterday to learn that move just for this moment!" Ash proudly said.
"I admire the idea, but it came with a heavy cost." Brock stated as Pikachu held his right wrist in pain. "I guess your Pikachu doesn't have a lot of experience using those limbs for attacking. With those weak muscles, it couldn't come out unscathed from punching my Onix's sturdy body. Now your Pikachu's speed has been cut down with the loss of its right arm."
Ash grit his teeth, but the resolve in him and Pikachu did not waver in the slightest, impressing Brock once again.
"Use Bind!" Brock's Onix roared and caught Pikachu, wrapping its solid serpentine body around him and crushing the mouse.
"Endure it, Pikachu!" Ash watched nervously as Pikachu struggled to withstand the pressure.
Misty and Brock's siblings all watched from the second floor and behind the railings. Misty gripped the railings with worry. "Ash…"
Brock observed as the seconds went by with no visible change occurring on the field. He closed his already narrowed eyes and came to a decision. "Pikachu is unable to…" He was about to tell Ash to recall Pikachu until he snapped his eyes open to the sound of electricity crackling.
Onix twitched and groaned as arcs of electricity raced across its body. The paralysis dulled its muscles and Pikachu escaped from its hold.
"But how!?" Realization dawned on Brock. "It's Pikachu's Static ability! You had two hidden aces prepared!"
Ash and Pikachu smirked simultaneously. "Don't get too hasty and think me and Pikachu are finished. The battle has only just begun!"
"Pikapi!"
Brock's shock quickly morphed into excitement as he was swept along with the passion of battle igniting his fighting spirit. "This is the most fun I've had in a battle! Let's do this, Onix!" His Pokemon roared affirmatively.
"We've sweetened up Onix's defense, let's strike while the iron is hot! Quick Attack at where the crack is, Pikachu!"
"Protect your weak spot, Onix!"
Pikachu rushed forward at blinding speeds wrapped in a white light. But he missed the spot with Onix blocking it out of sight by shifting its body.
"Slam!"
"Double Team!"
Pikachu created afterimages of himself before Onix made contact with the ground. He made a headlong rush at the exposed crack with Quick Attack again, causing Onix to reel in pain.
"Dragon Breath!" Onix exhaled purplish blue fire, but Pikachu created more afterimages and appeared on top of Onix.
"Rock Smash with your left hand!"
Pikachu's left hand glowed white and was brought down to the cracked part of Onix's body, further spreading it like spiderwebs and severely damaging Onix. Pikachu flipped back from another incoming Dragon Breath.
"We've made all the preparations. Let's see how well Onix can survive your Thundershock!" Electricity surged from Pikachu's cheeks and he launched a bolt straight towards the large cracks. From the sweet spot, electricity flowed throughout Onix's body. Its typing normally would've allowed for it to tank Thundershock, but repeated impacts to a single point created a window for a strong Electric move to deal visible damage.
Enduring the electrocution, Onix finally slumped down and fainted.
"We won…" Ash muttered before his face broke into a grin. With childish glee, he celebrated. "We won! That means the badge is ours!"
Pikachu danced with joy at the results.
"Good job, Ash…" Misty said with a small smile at her friend's hard earned victory.
Brock walked up to Ash to congratulate him. "Well fought, Ash. I lost not only to the strength of your Pokemon, but to the bond you share too. Your love for them is an inspiration." He smiled and presented the badge to him. "Take it, the Boulder Badge is yours."
Ash graciously took the badge and clipped it to the interior of his jacket with pride. "I got the Boulder Badge!"
"I also have a request to make to you." Said Brock which attracted Ash's attention. "More than making Pokemon fight, I feel I want to live by raising them. I don't want to become the world's best Trainer, but the world's best Breeder. But I have my family I love in this city to look after, so I want you to follow your dream in my place, Ash."
"Brock…"
"You should follow your dreams too, Brock." That's when an unknown man's voice interjected. Everyone turned to him as he entered the scene. He removed his disguise and Brock and his siblings gasped.
"D-Dad…" Brock stuttered.
"This guy is your father?" Ash was shocked.
"Yes. My name is Flint." Flint answered for Brock. "You needn't worry about your siblings. I will take your place." He looked down ashamed. "I left home to become the world's best Trainer, but I could not fulfill that dream and meandered over returning home out of shame. That's why you should achieve your dream in my place, Brock."
"In that case…" Brock handed his father a notebook. "Here are the family's favorite recipes and the tasks you have to do to take care of them." Brock turned to Ash. "It seems things have changed in my plans. Ash, would it be alright with you if I become your traveling companion? Watching you battle with the bonds you forged with your Pokemon is something I couldn't get enough of."
Ash answered with a firm nod. "Of course, you're free to travel with me! Welcome aboard!"
"Then I'll have to trouble you for some time." Brock said.
"It's no problem!" Ash replied.
"Before you go, I want to give this to you, Ash." Flint interjected and presented an orb with electricity surging inside it.
"What's that?"
"It's a Light Ball, an item precious to Pikachu. I wanted to give this to you before you took your rematch with Brock, but now you deserve this more than ever." Flint handed it over with a smile.
"Thank you, sir." Ash gave it to Pikachu who gleefully held it with unmasked joy.
A little later
"Hey Brock, who exactly is this statute supposed to be?" Ash spotted a statue of a man with spiky hair, holding a staff and wearing a triangular hat.
"Wait wait, you don't know who that is!?" Misty exclaimed in surprise.
"Um, should I?" Ash dully said.
"Of course you should!" Misty practically screeched. "That's the Hero of legend, Aaron! He who traveled across many regions and was hailed as a savior subverting innumerous disasters, the greatest Hadou-practitioner, a Master!"
Brock nodded in agreement and continued after her. "Aaron is from the Kingdom of Rota and his adventures have been recorded as far back as 800 years ago, an era before Poke Balls were invented."
"Okay…he sounds like an amazing person." Ash concluded, not fully understanding how famous Aaron is.
Misty sighed and facepalmed. "His stories are so common and widespread across the Kanto and Johto Regions and there were records of him even reaching the Sinnoh Region and becoming a cultural icon over there much like here."
"I regularly tell my siblings bed time stories of him, his deeds, how his kindness and strength serve as an inspiration for countless people that left so many impacts to the history of our world." Brock added. "You seriously don't know anything about him?" He said incredulously.
"I was too busy studying and watching Pokemon battles on TV to pay attention to anything else." Ash nervously laughed.
"We need to get you up to speed on who Aaron is pronto." Misty stated without any room for arguments. "It'd be embarrassing to be associated with someone this culturally ignorant of their own region when Aaron comes up in conversations."
Ash grumbled while Pikachu titled his head cutely.
Brock checked the map in thought and the date. "Here's an idea, why don't we make a stop to the Kingdom of Rota before Cerulean City. They're holding their annual festival to name a Hero of Hadou for this year to commemorate Aaron, the Hero of Hadou, saving the world."
"Aaron saved the world before?" Ash widened his eyes, causing Misty and Brock to sigh. "Also, what's a Hadou?"
"Well Ash…I don't know much about it either." Misty sheepishly rubbed her head with Ash blankly looking at her.
"You'll have all of your questions answered when we visit Rota." Brock simply said.
And thus the three ventured together for the first time, their main destination for the Kingdom of Rota.
Afterword:
The next chapter we'll be coming to Rota and Ash will learn to unlock and wield his Aura. By the way, in this fic, once a Pokemon has learned a move, it always remembers it but can only keep four moves active for use in battle while keeping the rest in reserve. Like in Legends of Arceus and Scarlet and Violet, Pokemon can relearn and swap around their movesets. As for Pikachu's Thundershock hurting Onix, in the Mystery Dungeon games, Darkness/Time/Sky, moves that would normally do no damage to Pokemon immune to them due to their typing will deal "hardly effective damage." This meant Electric moves could hurt Ground-types, Psychic moves could hurt Dark-types, Ground moves could hurt Flying-types, and so on. For this fic, the immunity aspect stays but a powerful enough attack will break through that defense and cause damage.
Oh, and before I forget, Sir Aaron in this fic is treated as the equivalent of Himmel the Hero from Frieren. Gives you an idea of how much respect he's going to be treated with. Then, when you relate it back to Ash having Aura that is completely identical to his...
RKF22:
Thank you, your enthusiasm for my fic really motivates me.
Sammy-1000:
I have ideas for Giselle, but Misty's sisters, not so much. They'd at most tease Ash and get Misty to act jealous.
thanhmacu:
Oh don't worry, I have plans to include some of the movies as arcs too. He'll definitely own some Legendaries in his adventure due to his heroism and strength. Oh man, I can't wait to introduce Arceus and what it has in store for Ash. As for incorporating the game script with the anime script, you bet I'm already doing that. In the Hoenn arc for example, I'm using ORAS elements and bringing Zinnia into the fic to become Ash's main rival throughout the region and in the league like with Paul in Sinnoh. And there's going to be an overhaul to the Unova arc taking even more elements from the Black and White and Black 2 and White 2 games with the addition of Hilda and Rosa to be recurring characters. I just hope I can somehow fit a Legends of Arceus and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Sky arcs into the story naturally when it reaches that point.
Hamel Dynas:
Happy to have you stick around for the fic.
UltimateCCC:
PokeShipping, AdvanceShipping, PearlShipping, NegaiShipping, AmourShipping, AureliaShipping, AlolaShipping, BlueAngelShipping, and BloomBoltShipping, right?
DGJabberwocky:
I'd like to include Paldean Pokemon, but not this early. I wasn't thinking of bringing Risa into the fic, but now that you mentioned her it gave me an idea of how to bring her and Verity in. I don't have any firm ideas on how to bring them into the harem and mostly thought of skirting around it with teases.
If you have questions, be sure to include them in the reviews or PM me.