When Ash and the others left Azalea Town, they went to the north of it, through the Ilex forest, toward their next destination, which is Goldenrod City, where the next gym in Johto Region is.
As they were walking through the forest, they passed near some mid-sized lake, and then Misty suddenly stopped and looked at something, which made others stop and also look.
"Is that," Leaf asked, while looking toward the Pokémon standing near the lake?
"Oh, yeah it is," Misty said with a grin on her face, and took one of her Poke Ball's. "It's Golduck, and I'm going to catch it."
Then, Misty run toward the Golduck, while the others looked at her and sighed.
"By the way she runs toward it, you would think it's some Legendary Pokémon." Leaf commented.
"Well, it's not Legendary, but it is Water Pokémon, and she likes them more than anything," Ash said.
"Let's go and see if she will capture it," Serena suggested, and they followed after Misty, who has just arrived in front of Golduck.
"Golduck, I challenge you to a battle," Misty said, and then called her Pokémon! "Come out, Starmie!"
Golduck looked at Misty after he herd her challenge him, and then jumped in a battle stance, as soon as he saw her call Starmie.
"Ok, Starmie, let's do this," Misty said. "Start this off with Bubble Beam!"
Starmie quickly released blue bubbles from the jewel on its body.
Golduck saw the attack coming, and jumped up in the air and backwards, to avoid the attack, but Misty expected that.
"Now use Tackle!" Misty said.
Starmie started spinning around, and went at Golduck, who just stood on the ground, and slammed into him, which sent it flying backwards.
"Great job Starmie," Misty said. "Now use Confuse Ray!"
Starmie's crystal glowed purple, then it fired a purple beam from the crystal at Golduck, which then hit him, and ended up confusing him, as he started toppling over his feet, and fell down.
"Now, Poke Ball, go," Misty said, and threw her empty Poke Ball, which hit Golduck in the head, and sucked him in.
After few moments during which the ball rolled over left and right, as Golduck was trying to break out, it finally stopped, and Misty caught herself another water Pokémon.
Misty took the Poke Ball from the ground, and yelled out. "All right! I just caught myself another Water Type!"
"Is it really so important that you have to yell like that," Ash said from behind her, and Misty jumped away from her as he startled her.
"W-When did you get here?" Misty asked, while breathing hard from the scare.
"Right after you ran away to battle Golduck," Ash replied, and Misty glared at him, but Ash only smirked. "You need to relax, Misty. Or someday, you will end up with a heart attack."
"If I ever suffer from heart attack, it's going to be because of you," Misty said with a huff, and put her newly caught Pokémon on her Poke belt with the others.
"Ah, you wound me so much, Misty," Ash said, while holding his arm over his chest, and falling down theatrically. "I don't deserve this."
Misty glared at Ash even harder, while the others laughed at the show, and after few moments, Ash stood up, and laughed as well, which made Misty huff again, returned her Starmie, and started walking away.
"Let's just continue." Misty said while walking, and the others followed after her, while Ash was wiping few tears that started flowing from his laugh.
For the next few days the group traveled slowly, not hurrying at all, but also not wasting time on unnecessary thing's, as they only stopped to eat, and train, but the rest of the time, they were walking toward Goldenrod City, which, Serena, Leaf and Misty can't wait to get to, as they plan to go on a shopping trip in the biggest city in Johto Region, and one of the biggest in the Pokémon World.
On the way to Goldenrod City, Ash and the others stopped in a small Town where they run into their old friends, Officer Jenny and her Squirtle Squad, as well as Captain Aiden and his Team Wartortle.
The group found out about the annual Fire and Rescue Grand Prix that is being held in the Town, and decide to watch, while Officer Jenny and Captain Aiden compete with their teams.
Ash had to bring his Blastoise to pull his former squad back together, as they were nervous because of the competition, and couldn't do shit.
Blastoise gave them a pep talk, and with his coaching, Squirtle Squad ended up winning the Fire and Rescue Grand Prix.
After the tournament, it was decided by Ash that Blastoise should go with his former squad, and help them with their training, and build their courage, and when they are ready, he will return. Blastoise agreed, after he said good bye to Ash and his Pokémon, he left with Officer Jenny, while Ash and the others continued their journey.
"Hey guys, we are approaching Onix Tunnel." Brock said to the others as he was reading the guide book, while walking next to Ash, with the three girls behind them.
"Isn't it dangerous to go through there," Misty asked a little scared from all those Onix's?
"Don't worry, Misty, with all of your water Pokémon, those Onix's shouldn't be any problem," Ash said, and Misty nodded, as she realized he was right, but then he added. "But in this case, I think I'll deal with them."
"What do you mean?" Leaf asked, and all looked at him.
"I'm going to battle all of them, and catch them all." Ash said, with a wide grin on his face.
"What," Misty yelled? "Are you insane? Why?"
"First of all, I'm not insane," Ash said with a pout, and Misty scowled at him. "Second, I think all those Onix will be just what Shelgon needs to evolve. He got even more annoying since he evolved from Bagon to Shelgon as he is now one step from his dream, and also doesn't like his current form, and third, I want to have several Pokémon of the same species, so if I ever get a chance for a trade, I will have a Pokémon to do it."
This surprised everyone. "I didn't think you are into trading." Brock commented.
"Well, usually I'm not, because I don't like to trade Pokémon, I spent a lot of time with, and who are close to me," Ash said. "But if I catch some, and then just keep them at Oak's Ranch until I might need them for trade, then I have no problem."
"I see," Brock said. "Well, I guess it's not a bad idea if you put it that way. I wander if we can find some Pokémon to trade?"
"We probably will," Ash said. "There is still a lot to journey through Johto, and I know just the place and time for trading."
"And when is that time?" Serena asked.
"Several months from now, in Palmpona Town." Ash said.
"Didn't we pass through there when we left Azalea Town?" Misty asked.
"Yes, we did," Ash confirmed. "There is a Pokémon Swap Meet held there every year, and the next is supposed to be in four months, and is going to be the biggest one in over a decade, as there will be trainers from almost every Region there to trade their Pokémon."
"Wow, that's amazing," Leaf said excited. "Could you imagine all those Pokémon there just waiting to be traded? If we are lucky, we might get some powerful Pokémon."
"Yes, we could get some powerful Pokémon," Ash said. "Which is why we will need Pokémon to trade with, and I'm going to start with those Onix from Onix Tunnel."
They arrived in front of the Tunnel about 20 minutes later, and walked inside, with Ash leading them.
The group walked through the cave for a few minutes, without any trouble, as everything seemed still and quiet, until suddenly, three Onix, which were bigger than normal, appeared in front of the group from the ground, and roared at them.
"They sure are big," Ash said easily, like it was nothing, while the others were panicking. Ash then took a Poke ball from the belt. "Of course, they are noting compared to my old Onix. Come to battle, Shelgon!"
Shelgon came out of his Poke Ball, and stood in front of Ash, across from three Onix, and when he saw them, he grinned as much as he could.
Not that anyone was able to see him grinning, as there was barely anything seen of his face.
"Let's do this, Shelgon." Ash said, and Shelgon was ready to start, but it was three Onix's that started the battle, when all three charged at Shelgon, trying to tackle him.
"Iron Defense!" Ash said, and Shelgon immediately shined, and when the three Onix's collided with him, they did nothing but push him back few meters, which Shelgon slide on the ground.
"Now use Dragon Breath!" Ash said.
Shelgon released a green beam from the opening in front of his face, and one of the three Onix was hit hard, and sent flying backwards, where he collided with the cave wall, and almost completely got buried under the rubble that fell on it.
"Damn it Ash, watch out, we are inside of the cave," Misty yelled!
"Sorry about that," Ash said sheepishly, while rubbing the back of his head, which made his friends shake their heads.
Just then, one of the two remaining Onix used Iron Tail, and hit Shelgon, hard, which sent him in the wall, where he then fell on the floor, but he didn't look injured as Iron Defense is still in effect.
Then the second Onix charged at Shelgon to tackle him, but Ash reacted.
"Jump and use Dragon Claw on that Onix!"
Just before he was about to be tackled by Onix, Shelgon jumped up above Onix, and then his front legs glowed bright green, and he then slashed at Onix's head with both of them, and Onix fell on the ground passed out, which only left one Onix.
"Great job, Shelgon." Ash said, and then Shelgon started to glow, and started to change form, as he grew bigger.
"Ha, I knew it." Ash said with a smile, while the others looked with wide eyes as Shelgon glowed and grew bigger for a few seconds, until the glow disappeared, and instead of Shelgon, there stood a big blue-green Dragon with four legs, and two giant red wings on his back.
"Damn that's one tough looking Pokémon," Brock said, and the others only nodded.
"Finish the last Onix with Dragon Pulse!" Ash said, and Salamance opened his mouth, and formed a turquoise ball in front of it, and then fired it at the remaining Onix, who couldn't escape, and got hit hard, and collided with the wall close to where the first Onix was still unconscious.
Ash then took three empty Poke Ball's from his backpack, and captured the three Onix, and left them in the backpack to send them to Oak's Ranch later.
He then approached to his Salamance, and patted him on the head. "Well, Salamance, it seems you have finally achieved your dream. Now you can fly as much as you like."
Salamance leaned into Ash's touch a little, smiled, and roared at him slowly.
"Sure, why not." Ash said, and Salamance rose from the ground, and flew outside of the Tunnel, luckily toward the way where they were heading, and not back.
"I guess you were right," Serena said, as she and the others approached Ash. "This battle is what Shelgon needed to evolve."
Ash looked at Serena, and smirked. "I'm always right."
This made the others groan again, and started heading toward the exit of the Onix Tunnel which might need to change its name now, since there were no Onix left there.
Ash followed behind the others with a smirk on his face.
After traveling for a few more days, the group is now in another Town, and are approaching the Pokémon Center, when they saw a bunch of small dark dog-like Pokémon run past them with great speed, and disappeared in the forest.
"What was that?" Serena asked, while looking at where four Pokémon disappeared in the forest.
"That was Houndour," Ash said. "All of them."
"Well, they seem to be in a hurry." Leaf said, and the others nodded, while Ash just continued looking at the forest.
Just then, their thoughts were interrupted by a voice they all recognized.
"Hey kids, have you seen some Pokemon run here just now?" Nurse Joy asked, after she run in front of the group, along with her Chansey.
"Yeah, we saw four Houndour run past us, and into the forest," Misty asked. "Why, what happened?"
Nurse Joy calmed her hard breathing because of the run, and replied. "That pack of Houndour has been stealing food from everyone in the Town for over a week, and we can't catch them, or figure out why they are doing that."
"That's strange," Brock said. "Pokémon rarely steal food like that, so there must be a reason they are doing this."
"Most likely," Nurse Joy said. "But like I said, we can't catch them, or figure out what the reason is."
"Then I'll do it for you." Ash suddenly said, and everyone looked at him, surprised.
"What do you mean, Ash?" Leaf asked.
"I'll go and follow the trail those Houndour probably left, and then when I find them, I'll be able to figure out why they are stealing," Ash explained his plan. "Of course, you are free to come with me if you want, or you can go and wait in the Pokémon Center."
"I don't think you should go there, Ash," Serena said. "It close to the sun setting down, and it's not safe to be in the forest at night."
"You know me well enough, Serena," Ash said. "So, you know I can take care of myself."
"How about this," Brock suddenly said. "I'll go with Ash, and the three of you go in the Pokémon Center with Nurse Joy, and wait for us there."
Even though they were a little reluctant, Misty, Leaf and Serena, along with Nurse Joy accepted Ash's and Brock's decision, and went to the Pokémon Center, while Ash and Brock went to the forest to try and find the pack of Houndour.
/
Sometime after they entered the forest, Ash and Brock found themselves in the clearing, surrounded by dense forest on all sides, and also noticed that the sun has set, and the night is soon to fall.
"Can you still sense them?" Brock asked
"Yes," Ash replied. "They have stopped not far from here. Maybe about 200 meters."
"Ok then, let's hurry, so we might be able to get back in the Pokemon Center and not spend the night here in the forest." Brock said, and they continued walking for over hundred meters, and then Ash said.
"Be careful, there is trouble up ahead."
"What do you mean?" Brock asked, while his right hand went for one of his Poke Balls.
"You'll see." Is all Ash said, and continued to walk for a little longer, until they came close to a cave, where they saw four Houndour standing in front of another Houndour, who was lying on the entrance to the cave, and there was half eaten food all around it.
Across from four Houndour, there was a strange looking Golem, and four Graveler, who were standing behind Golem.
"What's going on here, Ash," Brock asked? "And what's up with that Golem? I have never seen one like that."
"I think that one Houndour is injured and sick, and that's why the rest were stealing," Ash said, and Brock replied that's most likely the reason. "As for what's up with the stare down between the two groups, I don't know. And that Golem, is Alolan Golem, which brings the question, as to what the hell is it doing here in Johto Region?"
"What are we going to do?" Brock asked.
Ash though for a minute, and when it looked like the battle between the two groups is going to start, Ash said. "Follow me."
Ash then moved from behind the bushes, with Brock following after him, and right as they came out, Ash stood in between a pack of Houndour and a group of Graveler led by Alolan Golem, much to the surprise of all of them, as they weren't expecting some humans to show up.
"What is going on here?" Ash asked as soon as he stood in between warring groups, not paying attention to their surprise.
His question made all Pokémon look at him, and while Houndour pack growled at him, as they thought he is a threat, Golem and Graveler scowled at him.
"That's none of your business, human," Alolan Golem said, while saying human with as much distaste as possible, and that brought some ideas in Ash's head. "Now, beat it, before we hurt you!"
"I don't think you can hurt me." Ash said with a smirk, and the eyes of all Pokémon widened as Ash understood exactly what Golem said.
Golem and Graveler quickly got over their surprise, and Golem said. "We'll see about that!" And then he ordered the four Graveler to prepare for battle.
"Ash, what is going on?" Brock asked, nervous because of the Golem and Graveler who were about to attack.
Ash took one of his Poke Ball, and asked Brock before he released his Pokémon. "Hey Brock, are you interested in some Graveler?"
Brock realized what Ash means and his eyes widened. "Are you going to do what I think you will?" Brock asked, and Ash nodded, which made Brock sigh, and shake his head, as he is not that interested in those Graveler, even though they could be useful for his gym, or the trading.
Ash shrugged, and released his Eevee from his Poke Ball, and Eevee stood ready for battle, but Ash looked at the pack of Houndour before he started to fight against Golem and Graveler.
"Hey Houndour, my friend here is a Pokémon Breeder, and knows a lot about healing Pokémon, so how about you let him check your friend, I promise he will not hurt him." Ash said to the pack leader who was standing in front of the others.
The leader, and the other Houndour looked at Ash with narrowed eyes, as they didn't want to believe him, but for some reason, he seemed trustworthy, and the leader nodded, so Brock went to check the sick and injured Houndour, while the others were looking at him, and the leader was looking at the battle that's about to commence between Ash and the Golem and Graveler.
The battle started soon after that, and all four Graveler attacked Eevee, but Eevee was no slouch, and they soon found that out, as Eevee first put one Graveler down with Iron Tail, and then another with Shadow Ball.
"Use Protect, Eevee," Ash said, as the remaining two Graveler used Rollout on Eevee, but they quickly bounced back from the barrier that Eevee created.
"Now use Swift on both of them, and then finish with Shadow Ball and Tackle!" Ash said.
Eevee jumped in the air, and swished his tail, which released a storm of yellow stars that started hitting two Graveler, who fell down under the assault.
Then, Eevee created another Shadow Ball in front of his mouth, and fired it at one Graveler, and right away, run at another, tackling it.
Both Graveler were hit one after the other, and they both passed out.
"Great job, Eevee," Ash said to his Pokémon, and patted him on the head.
Eevee was happy at the praise, and then suddenly, he started glowing, and after few moments, Eevee evolved into Umbreon.
"Well done, Umbreon," Ash said. "Congratulations on the win, and for evolving."
Umbreon nodded, and then looked at Golem who had his eyes narrowed as he was looking at Ash and Eevee.
"You are going to pay for what you did to my team." Golem said.
"Ok, let's see what you've got." Ash said.
Golem started the battle by using Thunder Shock at Umbreon.
"Dodge, Umbreon, and then use Iron Tail!" Ash said.
Umbreon jumped in the air before electric attack can hit him, and then his tail glowed, and he started spinning in the air, and landed back down, with his tail hitting right on top of Golem's head, which pushed him down into the ground head first.
Golem then released another electric attack so he can get his head and upper body from the ground, and then looked at Umbreon, with anger ion his face.
"You'll pay for that," and then he created several rocks around his body, and then sent them at Umbreon, who continued to dodge all of Golem's attack's, making him get even more angry as he can't hit anything.
"Now use Dark Pulse!" Ash said.
Umbreon created a dark and purple ball in his mouth, and then fired a beam of dark and purple circles at Golem, which hit him, and threw him backwards, causing him a lot of damage.
"Use Iron Tail, again, and then finish him off with Shadow Ball!" Ash said.
Umbreon again jumped, and again hit Golem on the head with his tail, and then while Golem was trying to stand back up, even though he took a lot of damage, Umbreon fired another Shadow Ball, at him, which hit Golem straight on, and he fell down passed out.
"Great job, Umbreon," Ash said, and took Umbreon's Poke Ball to return him. "Now take a nice rest until we get to the Pokémon Center so Nurse Joy can make sure you are ok."
After he returned Umbreon, Ash took five empty Poke Balls from his back pack, and caught Golem and all four Graveler, after which, he went to Brock.
"Hey Brock, how is Houndour doing?" Ash asked after he approached Brock, and the pack, while the pack leader was looking at Ash, with some glint in his eyes, as he seems to have some admiration for Ash because of how he handled Golem and four Graveler with one Pokémon.
"She's not good, Ash," Brock said, and Ash and the pack looked at him and the Houndour worried. "She was sick for a while, and then she got injured I'm assuming by those Graveler and Golem, so she needs to be taken to the Pokémon Center right away."
Ash looked at the pack leader, and asked. "Do you understand that," Houndour nodded, and then Ash continued? "Then you need to let me take your friend to the Pokémon Center. All of you are welcome to come and make sure she will be ok."
The leader nodded, as he trusted Ash because of how he handled Golem and Graveler, but also something else was telling him to trust him.
Ash then picked the injured Houndour, and said. "We are going to have to run, are you all ready?"
Everyone nodded, and Ash and Brock started running toward Pokémon Center, while the pack was running right after them.
XXX
Ash, Brock and the pack arrived at the Pokémon Center over an hour later. I would have taken longer, but since they ran without stopping, it only took that long.
Once they entered into the Pokémon center, with Ash entering first with sick Houndour in his arms, he carried her to the reception desk, where Nurse Joy and Chansey were standing.
"What happened?" Nurse Joy asked, when she saw Ash and the others, along with Houndour in Ash's arms, and four more behind him.
"Nurse Joy, this Houndour is sick, and also has injured leg, so she needs immediate care," Ash said, and Nurse Joy nodded, and Chansey then came with a stretcher, on which Ash placed the sick Houndour, and Nurse Joy and Chansey went to the emergency room to take care of it.
The others stayed back to wait for the news after Joy and Chansey finish.
"Don't worry, Houndour," Ash said to the pack, and they all looked at him. "Your friend will be ok."
"I hope so." The leader barked, and Ash patted him on the head, which then calmed him down a little, and seeing their leader calm, the others also set down on the floor, in a single group, and waited.
While they waited, Brock went and found the girls in the cafeteria, and they all came back in the hall, to hear from Ash and Brock what happened, and to see if Houndour will be ok, since Brock already told them about sick Houndour.
Ash then explained what happened, and then they all waited for Nurse Joy to finish healing Houndour.
They waited for a while, until finally Nurse Joy and Chansey came out of the infirmary, and were immediately surrounded by Ash, and the pack, while Ash's friends waited in the back.
"How is Houndour, Nurse Joy?" Ash asked.
"She will be fine, so don't worry," Nurse Joy said, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and relaxed after hearing good news. "She only needs to rest for the night, and tomorrow she will be as good as new."
"That's good news, Nurse Joy," Ash said. "Thank you."
"It's no problem." Joy said.
He then looked at the pack of Houndour, and saw them all in the group, and they seemed to be discussing something, but he couldn't hear them, so he didn't know what.
"Is there a problem, Houndour?" Ash asked after he waited for a few minutes for them to finish their discussion, but they seemed to not be close to finishing it.
The leader turned and looked at Ash, and then the rest looked at him as well, and after a few moments of stare down, the pack leader came in front of Ash, with the others behind him, and said. "I want to fight you and your Pokémon!"
Ash said nothing for a few moments, not knowing how to respond to a sudden challenge, but then asked. "Ok, but why?"
"We fight one-on-one, and if I win, then we all will come with you." Houndour barked, and Ash raised his eyebrows.
"You know," Ash started to say. "If you all want to come with me, you are free to do so, there is no need to fight. But I do want to know, why?"
"We have been struggling to live in the wild for a while now," the leader said. "This place is not good for us, and we have been thinking about moving to someplace else for a while now, but to just go into the unknown, worries us. But, if we come with you, then we are sure to have a good place to live at when we are not with you, and we won't have problems like this one, again."
"Ok, if that's what you all want, then you can come," Ash said, and all Houndour's barked happily at him, and he smiled. "But, would any of you be interested in joining my friend's teams? They are all very good trainers, and will take care of you just as good as I would."
The pack looked at one another, and after few barks between each other, the leader said. "That's acceptable. But each one of us, will chose with who they will want to go."
"I can live with that," Ash said, and the leader approached him.
"I'm coming with you." the leader said, and Ash smiled, and patted him on the head.
The other three each approached Misty, Leaf and Brock, and the only one without Houndour left was Serena, but there is the one in the infirmary, and that one will go with her.
"Houndour have chosen to come with us, and join our teams," Ash said to his confused friends, who didn't know why the Houndour suddenly came next to them, and stood there. "Serena, you shouldn't worry, because the one in the infirmary will join you when she gets released tomorrow."
He then went and explained to them what Houndour asked him, and after he was finished, the others pulled out their Poke Ball's, and each caught Houndour next to them, and Serena will catch hers tomorrow. The Poke Ball's shrank because all of them but Ash are at the limits, but that's fine by them, as they will just switch some Pokémon tomorrow morning, as now it was already late.
After that, they all went to their rooms to rest, and Houndour stayed in their Poke Ball's to also rest for the night.
XXX
The next morning, when the sick Houndour was released from the Pokémon Center, it was briefed in on what happened last night, and she happily joined Serena's team after she heard the news that all of the others of her friends joined one of the kids.
Using his Pokedex, Ash sent all Graveler at Oak's Ranch and kept Golem, and the others also switched some Pokémon
Then, they said a goodbye to the Nurse Joy, and continued their journey.