"Thank you," said Officer Goh, "for helping deal with that pesky Kricketune Squad. It even seems you managed to capture their leader."

Ash scratched his head. "Well…uh…it wasn't so much I captured him as he asked to come with me, and…I didn't want to say no…"

"Calm down, it's no problem," said Officer Goh. "I'm glad, actually. Those Kricketune were just tricksters - they were annoying, but they never actually did anything really harmful."

"I do believe I injured my leg falling into that pit they dug," Cyrus pointed out.

"I hope that feels better soon," said Officer Goh. "Anyway, I should go. Come along, Crawdaunt." He turned and walked away, accompanied by the Water/Dark-type.

"So," said Clay, "ready to head onwards, Bug Catcher Ash?"

Ash rounded on Clay. "Hey!"

"He does have a point," Cyrus admitted. "Scizor, Genesect, and now Kricketune - you're building up quite the bundle of bugs."

"I am not a Bug Catcher!" Ash protested. "You know what? I'm going to go out and catch another Pokemon right now, and it's not going to be a bug!"

Clay chuckled. "Go right ahead, Bug Catcher Ash."

Ash let out a loud grumble as he whirled and stalked off, disappearing into the trees. Cyrus glanced over at Clay. "Do you think you might have taken that a bit too far?"

"Nah," said Clay. "He was fighting a smile - I could see it. And besides, it's not like him catching yet another Pokemon is gonna hurt. How about we set up camp and wait for him…and while we wait, we can get in some training with our Pokemon?"

"Good idea," said Cyrus.

And so it was that, five minutes later, Cyrus and Clay's teams were training together.

Houndour was not participating due to his Fire-typing not matching up well against Clay's Ground-types; instead, he was standing on a nearby rock, scanning the forest for any approaching threats or Ash's return, whichever came first. Murkrow was practicing flying through Sandile's Sandstorm and dodging Sand-Attacks that the Ground/Dark-type hurled at him, an exercise meant to increase Sandile's accuracy and Murkrow's agility. Sneasel and Drilbur were sparring in a fast-paced duel, Drilbur's Rock Tombs and Metal Claws enabling him to hold up against Sneasel's natural type advantage. And Tympole was matched up with Zubat; Clay had ordered him to try and turn Bubble into the stronger Bubblebeam, while also practicing his noise-based moves alongside the Poison/Flying-type.

It should have been an ordinary practice session. Something Tympole had done many times before. But he just felt slow today. His Bubbles flew forth at lethargic speeds, and Zubat was able to easily dodge each one. And though Tympole knew he was expected to fire those Bubbles in streams - that was how Bubblebeam was formed, after all - he just couldn't string any of his Bubbles together in anything resembling a beam.

As he fired another useless Bubble, Zubat unexpectedly dipped and came in for a landing, skidding to a halt beside Tympole. "You know," he said, "maybe we should work on sound-based moves instead. Do you think I might be able to learn Echoed Voice?"

"Yeah, fine," Tympole muttered.

Zubat paused. "Okay, look, I can tell your heart's not in this. Are you feeling all right?"

"I am," Tympole said defensively. "It's just…I'd rather work on Mud-Shot. It'll be my first Ground-type move, and…I dunno. I just think it might help me feel like I belong."

"Leaving aside the fact that I'm a Flying-type," said Zubat, "and as such Mud-Shot won't work on me…you do belong, Tympole. That's obvious."

"Is it?" Tympole asked. "Could've fooled me."

"Just because you're a Water-type," said Zubat, "doesn't mean you're out of place. Look at me - I'm a Poison/Flying-type on the team of a Dark-type Gym Leader. Do you hear me complaining?"

"No…" Tympole murmured.

"So there's no reason for you to complain," said Zubat. "Look, you're clearly a vital component of Clay's team-"

"Then why didn't he use me?" Tympole's abruptly raised voice drew the eyes of every Pokemon in the clearing, but he didn't care who heard him. "In his Gym Battle with Ash, he used Sandile and Drilbur, just because they were Ground-types and I wasn't!"

"It was a two-on-two battle, Tympole," said Zubat. "One of you was going to not battle anyway-"

"Cyrus did a three-on-three," Tympole pointed out bitterly.

"Tympole," said Drilbur, stepping over, "listen. We've been over this-"

"Stop saying that!" Tympole rounded on Drilbur. "You don't know what it's like to not belong! You don't know what it's like to know that the only reason you're on the team is because someone else forced you to be! Daisy only gave me to Clay because she wanted him to not be a Ground-type Gym Leader! I was specifically put on the team to be out of place, and everyone knows that! So stop trying to make me feel better! Stop trying to make me think that I belong when I don't!"

Tympole twisted and stalked towards Clay - though it was more of a slow scoot, seeing as he was a Water-type and didn't have legs. This resulted in a few barely-held-back involuntary chuckles, which Tympole's incredible hearing picked up on. "AND STOP LAUGHING AT ME!" he yelled as Clay, recognizing Tympole's intent, recalled him into his Pokeball.

"'Bug Catcher Ash'," Ash growled. "Oh, I'll show them. I'll catch something that's so un-bug-like that there's no way that they can call me that ever again."

The Fire/Rock-type Hisuian Growlithe blinked at Ash's statement - or maybe it was the sudden influx of sunlight as the two emerged onto a beach.

"Hmmm…" Ash glanced around. His eyes swiftly fell on a large Gyarados swimming through the water near the shore. "A Gyarados! That's Water/Flying! I'll catch that! Okay…" He hesitated. "I'm not sure I can get close enough to throw a Pokeball without getting my feet wet…so I'll need to throw something into the water to attract its attention." Ash looked down and spotted what looked like a stick protruding from the ground about fifteen feet away. "Perfect!" Not considering that he could just call out Genesect to blast the Gyarados, so married was he to his great 'stick' idea, Ash knelt down and grasped the stick.

Which turned out not to be a stick at all.

"GWAH!" Ash screamed.

"SLASH!" An identical scream emanated from the not-stick as it exploded out of the sand, revealing itself to be a giant floating sword of all things, and promptly slashed at Ash. Hisuian Growlithe leaped into action immediately, unleashing a Flamethrower at the sword, only for it to disappear in what had to be a Shadow Sneak and reappear, aiming straight for Hisuian Growlithe. The Fire/Rock-type had no time to dodge; the blade slammed into him and sent him flying away across the beach.

Oh, crap, I have to stop this thing! Ash threw out Litleo, Scizor, Kubfu, Kricketune, and Genesect one after the other. Scizor darted in first, lashing out with a Bullet Punch, but was met by a barrier of energy - Protect, but it seemed different from usual, because Scizor inexplicably stumbled as if his strength was abruptly failing him. The sword disappeared again, reappearing in front of Kricketune, and hurled itself forwards with a powerful energy-fueled strike that blasted Kricketune away. The Bug-type was flung into the sea and sank below the waves.

"Genesect, get him out!" Ash cried as Kubfu threw a punch, only for it to phase right through the sword, which was definitely a Ghost-type of some sort. Genesect promptly took off towards the surf as the sword swatted Kubfu straight into Scizor, knocking them both sprawling to the sand.

"LEO!" Litleo cried, opening fire with, well, fire. The sword disappeared again, and Litleo's flames promptly set part of the beach on fire. "Lit?" Litleo asked in puzzlement, just before the sword struck him with what had to be a Fighting-type attack and knocked him out as well.

Genesect burst out of the waves, carrying the unconscious Kricketune in both hands. As he beheld the entire rest of the team down, he threw Kricketune onto the sand beside him and slammed down to the ground, his eyes glowing red with power. "YOU - WILL - STOP - THIS - AT - ONCE," the Legendary droned.

"Slash?" The sword's voice was a raspy snarl. "Slash. Slash, Slash. Slash?"

Genesect blurred forwards, slamming a Metal Claw into the sword before he could even put up a barrier. Hauling back, he slammed the sword into the ground hard enough to send up a spray of sand. The sword promptly teleported away again, reappearing above Genesect with energy glowing across its blade-

And was struck by Hisuian Growlithe's rapidly-fired Flamethrower as the Fire/Rock-type sprang back into view.

"SLASH!" The sword howled in pain as it tumbled to the ground. Ash swiftly grasped a Pokeball from his side and hurled it at the blade. The Pokeball sucked the sword inside, dropped to the ground, and began to shake.

And shake.

And shake.

Hisuian Growlithe readied another Flamethrower. Kubfu and Scizor stood and raised their fists in preparation to fight. Genesect quickly kicked some sand to the side, dousing the fire Litleo had (somehow) caused, and then readied himself as well, crouching in preparation to throw himself at the sword the instant it burst out of the Pokeball.

But it didn't. Instead, the shaking finally stopped, and a full minute after the sword had been sucked in, the Pokeball dinged.

Ash and all of his still-conscious Pokemon sagged. Ash quickly pulled out his Pokedex to examine his new acquisition. "Aegislash, the Royal Sword Pokemon," said the Pokedex. "This Pokemon can detect the innate qualities of leadership. According to legend, whoever it recognizes is destined to become king. This Pokemon is a Steel/Ghost-type."

"You…have got to be kidding me," Ash growled. "I go hunting for anything other than another Bug-type, and I get another Steel-type? Oh, forget it. There's no way I'm using this."

"And," the Pokedex finished, "knows the moves Fury Cutter, Pursuit, Autotomize, Shadow Sneak, Slash, Iron Defense, Night Slash, Power Trick, Iron Head, Head Smash, Swords Dance, Aerial Ace, King's Shield, and Sacred Sword."

Ash blinked. "Wait, what?"

Then the Pokeball disappeared.

"Wait, what?"

Professor Archie was working happily, humming a sea shanty to himself, when he heard the telltale sound of a materializing Pokeball.

"Ah!" he cried, glancing up. "That be one of Ash's! So he finally be catching more than six! I shall have to congratulate him when I get the chance!"

He stepped over to the Pokeball. "Now, let me see what this great new catch be!"

Ash came back to camp, talking rapidly and loudly about his new catch and about how it had disappeared into thin air. This had led to Clay informing Ash about the six-Pokemon limit and about how Ash's new Aegislash (and wasn't that a fascinating catch) was now at Professor Archie's laboratory, which then led to Ash remembering he'd seen a lighthouse near the beach he'd gone to and deciding that might have a phone to call Professor Archie, which then led to the trio heading up to the lighthouse only to encounter some guy named Bill who had apparently transformed himself into a Kabuto.

It was all very strange, but the end result was a very grateful researcher who (A) wanted to do a few tests on Genesect and (B) was happy to let Ash use his video phone to call Professor Archie. Ash quickly headed down a corridor that Bill said led to the room with his video phone, and the researcher himself went back to his work (which involved binoculars and looking around at various parts of the sky, apparently), which left Clay and Cyrus by themselves.

"So," Clay murmured, "another Steel-type, huh? Guess we'd best start callin' him Steelworker Ash."

"I have a feeling he would dislike that," said Cyrus. "I believe the joke has gone far enough."

Clay sighed. "Yeah, you're right. Still funny, though. Say…he's got so many Bug and Steel-types. I gotta wonder…what happens when he makes it to-"

"Shh!" Cyrus's sharp hushing noise silenced Clay completely. Clay immediately realized why; there was a large amount of roaring coming from outside that Clay suspected would have been a lot louder if it hadn't been fairly far away.

"That sounds like a Dragonite," Clay murmured.

"Indeed," said Cyrus. "And there is one group in particular I have recently found to associate with the species quite a bit."

"Team Rocket." Clay sighed. "They do have a nasty habit of showin' up at the worst possible times."

"That they do," Cyrus admitted. "Though usually they are a little more stealthy than this. All the same, though, I have a feeling that they might be upon us soon, if that roaring is any indication."

"WHY IS DAT DRAGONITE TEN TIMES AS BIG AS YOURS?"

"I don't know!" Drake cried. "Fly faster, Dragonite!"

Liza said nothing, merely holding on tight and biting her lip as behind them the giant Dragonite roared and blasted another Hyper Beam at the Team Rocket trio.

"Dis is da worst day of my entire life!" Aron cried, clinging to Drake's coat as his Dragonite soared at breakneck speed away from the titanic Dragonite pursuing them through the skies.

"Yes, they are likely planning some new nefarious plot right now," Cyrus affirmed. "It is sad that I must keep watch for these shallow characters. I was hoping to possibly utilize Bill's research to further my cause of creating a perfect world."

"Aw, Cyrus, you always say the strangest things," Clay murmured, clearly only having half-heard Cyrus's statement. "Anyway…Sandile, why don't you head over to the door and keep watch there? Drilbur, you can take that window, and Tympole…"

Clay glanced around, a puzzled look forming on his face. "Where's Tympole?"

Tympole, as it happened, was following Ash, for no real reason aside from the fact that he wanted to be away from Clay for the moment, but didn't want to be alone inside this rather creepy-feeling lighthouse. And considering the only other options for company were Ash, Cyrus (who was in the same room as Clay), or the skywatching-obsessed scientist who had managed to turn himself into a Kabuto somehow, Tympole had decided to go with Ash.

Not openly, of course. If Ash saw him, there would be questions. Questions about why he was not with Clay. Questions he did not want to answer at present.

So, while Ash stepped through a door at the very end of the corridor, Tympole only just poked his head around the doorway. He watched as Ash typed something on a keypad below a medium-sized video screen, then stood with a little bit more stiffness than usual, Hisuan Growlithe at his side, as the screen flickered to life, revealing a dark-skinned man dressed in a blue bandanna and a white lab coat, both of which looked surprisingly tattered, which along with the multiple cuts blemishing the man's face made him look quite unkempt.

"Ahoy, Ash," the man greeted, his voice somewhat subdued.

"Hi, Professor Archie!" Ash cried; his eyes promptly widened. "Whoa, what happened?"
"Your new Pokemon be what happened," said the very disheveled-looking Professor Archie. "My Sharpedo be having to calm it down - with his teeth! See, this what be happening when you be catching filthy landlubbers like that Aegislash. Now, what other Pokemon be ye having?"

"I've caught a Scizor, a Kubfu, a Litleo, a Genesect, and a Kricketune!" Ash proclaimed proudly.

"What?" Professor Archie yelled. "Not a single Water-type? Miette be having one already - and a fine Water-type it be. And be ye trying to become a Bug Catcher?"

"I am not a Bug Catcher!" Ash cried. "And I'll bet Miette's Water-type is the Starter you gave her!"

"Um…yes," said Professor Archie. "But it still be one more Water-type than ye be having!"

"Okay, fine, I'll try and get a Water-type," Ash grumbled.

"Good!" yelled Professor Archie. "Although…be that a Water-type trying and miserably failing to hide around that corner over there?"

Tympole froze as Ash turned. "Oh, hi, Tympole!" he cried, a greeting echoed by Hisuian Growlithe. "Professor, that Tympole belongs to my friend Clay. He's a Gym Leader - we've been traveling together!"

"Clay?" Professor Archie asked. "I be hearing of him. Now there be a filthy landlubber. Turnin' his back on Water-types to become a Ground-type Trainer…shameful!"

Ash frowned. "You know, Clay's actually a really good friend of mine…"

"Hmph," Professor Archie grumbled. "So that be Clay's Tympole…now that be a fine specimen. I be curious, though…what be a Water-type doing on the team of a landlubbing Ground-type Gym Leader?"

Tympole felt a wetness streak down his face that had absolutely nothing to do with either Bubble or Bubblebeam. Twisting, he fled down the corridor behind him before Ash, Professor Archie, or anyone else could say anything.

Even a complete stranger knows I'm out of place.

Tympole didn't stop running, even though he realized about halfway down the corridor that he had no idea which of the multiple doors he could see led back to Clay. He vaguely recalled he needed to turn left; it was only after turning left, then turning right again, and going down a flight of stairs that he realized he'd turned left to go into the corridor, and was supposed to go right.

So Tympole turned around and promptly realized there was no way he could get back up the stairs with his lack of legs.

Damn it! Tympole felt like screaming. He shot a Bubble at a nearby wooden…something…to try and vent his anger. It didn't work, so he slammed into it with his tail, only succeeding in hurting the appendage in the process. Tympole screamed in mingled rage, pain, and humiliation, lunging at the wooden thing headfirst. He slammed into it so hard that he heard wood crumple under the impact of his body. Tympole slumped to the ground, his enraged screams turning into ugly sobbing.

How pathetic am I? Defeated by a flight of stairs. Drilbur or Sandile could make it up these stairs easily, because they've actually got legs, but I'm a Water-type! Most Water-types don't even have legs! Just…just something else telling me I don't belong.

He heard the door at the top of the stairs slide open, but didn't care as the storm of unwanted thoughts overwhelmed him. Clay…I feel like I'm failing you just by not being what I'm supposed to be. I know you want me to be a Ground-type. I know you see me as the weak link, just like everyone else.

I know I'm worthless.

"Tympole?"

Tympole looked up. He'd expected Sandile, Drilbur, or Clay, but it was Hisuian Growlithe who was trotting down the stairs, looking worried. Tympole swiftly turned away; he didn't want Hisuian Growlithe to see him crying. "What are you doing here?" the Water-type asked.

"I saw you going in the complete wrong direction and figured I'd make sure you didn't get too lost." Hisuian Growlithe stepped down the last of the stairs; Tympole could hear his paws touching down on the wooden floorboards behind him. "Tympole…I'd ask if you were all right, but I can tell you're not."

"You don't know me," Tympole growled, still not looking at Hisuian Growlithe. "You don't know what it's like! At least your Trainer isn't a type specialist who's stuck with a Pokemon of the wrong type!"

"Clay isn't 'stuck' with you-"

"Yes, he is!" Tympole finally rounded on Hisuian Growlithe. "And everyone knows it! Everyone can tell I'm out of place! Everyone can tell I'm useless! Clay doesn't even use me anymore because even he knows that I don't belong on his team!" Tympole glared straight into Hisuian Growlithe's eyes. "Because what kind of Ground-type Trainer uses a Water-type?"

"Tympole, I'm sorry about what Professor Archie said," Hisuian Growlithe tried, "but that doesn't mean you have to listen to him."

"He's just the latest in a long line," Tympole growled. "I hear it everywhere I go. 'What's with the Tympole?' 'Why the Water-type?' 'I figured you were a Ground specialist.' I've heard it all. And I've tried to ignore it, but I just can't anymore!" Tympole glanced away again. "Go away, Growlithe. I've had enough of everyone constantly trying to make me feel better when they can't possibly understand how I actually feel."

"But I understand-"

"NO, YOU DON'T!" Tympole twisted towards Hisuian Growlithe once more; a Bubble flew from his mouth, one that Hisuian Growlithe didn't manage to dodge in time. The Fire/Rock-type howled in pain as he was thrown backwards; his body slammed into the opposite wall and bounced off, landing on the ground with a loud crack.

"I said go away!" Tympole raged at the fallen Fire/Rock-type. "I'm not even on your team! So go away, quit trying to tell me I matter and I'm valued and crap like that, and just tell the truth! Just say I'm useless like everyone else does!"

Hisuian Growlithe struggled to his feet, his coat dripping. After the powerful four-times super effective move, combined with the damage he'd endured earlier today, he was barely standing. But he still stared unhesitatingly at Tympole. "What if your Trainer wasn't a type specialist? Would you still feel out of place then?"

"Well…" Tympole hesitated. "I guess not. But that doesn't change the fact that-"

"Then why haven't you left Clay?" Hisuian Growlithe asked. "If you feel like a fifth wheel with him, and you wouldn't with a non-specialist Trainer, then why have you stuck with him all this time?"

"Because I…" Tympole hesitated again, and this time he didn't speak again.

Hisuian Growlithe finally turned away. "There's a ramp in the corner," he said, "for small Pokemon who can't climb stairs. Take that up to the door. Once out, it's a left, then a right, then another left two doors down to get to Clay." He began to trot towards the ramp in question, which Tympole could only vaguely see through the darkness and his tear-blurred eyes. "You aren't worthless, Tympole. I've watched you fight against Team Rocket multiple times. You sent them flying out of that Pokemon Center, and you more than pulled your weight in Mount Moon." He reached the top of the stairs. "I'll see you around, Tympole," Hisuian Growlithe said, and then he was gone, leaving Tympole alone once again.

Tympole heaved a shaky sigh, feeling tears glistening at the corners of his eyes once again. He still doesn't understand. That's not the point. It's not that I'm useless, it's that I'm useless to Clay. But…then why have I stuck with him all this time? The thought ran through his head again and again as he sat back against the wooden object. Why? Why? Why?

Because I was scared.

The realization hit him like a Hyper Beam from Drake's Dragonite. Clay gave me safety. Security. And even when I felt as if I was useless to him…I still didn't want to leave him, because I was scared I wouldn't find anyone else who could provide that kind of safety.

But now…

An image of Ash flashed in Tympole's mind, and his eyes widened and he immediately began moving rapidly towards the ramp.

This is wrong.

Once more Tympole's mind was awhirl with a single thought as he made his way down the lighthouse corridors.

This is wrong.

He saw doorways passing by on either side, some dark, some light.

This is wrong.

He reached the door Clay was through. It was closed, but he could hear the faint sound of his Trainer's voice. Tympole continued onwards, moving past the door and heading further down the corridor.

This is wrong.

He reached the end. Rounded the corner. Saw Ash, sitting in a chair and fiddling with his Pokedex, and Hisuian Growlithe standing below him.

This is wrong…

But it's what I want.

Hisuian Growlithe and Ash's eyes both fell on Tympole as the Water-type rounded the corner and approached swiftly. "Tympole?" the Fire/Rock-type asked. "What is it?"

Tympole looked up at Hisuian Growlithe with determination in his eyes. "I want to join Ash's team."

Hey, at least he isn't yet another Bug-type, Steel-type, or Bug/Steel-type!

The Kricketune Squad adventure went pretty much the same way as the canon Squirtle Squad adventure, with the totally not-obvious difference of them being Kricketune instead of Squirtle, and also no Team Rocket. Anyway, I felt showing it would be unecessary and somewhat boring, which are two things I definitely don't want this fic to be.

Next time: the further adventures of Bug Catcher Ash!