Hello... Is anyone still reading this? I'm sorry it took me long enough to come back. Truth be told, I lost my drive to write my stories when my laptop died and had to be reformatted twice. I hadn't backed my files up and so I lost the outlines and plans and all that jazz. I couldn't make time to sit down and get back on track too because I still have my academics and personal life to attend to.
As it happens, I have a week-long semestral break and I found the time to update. I don't know when's the next update (it's on the mercy of my undiagnosed ADHD and my hyperfixation.) But here you go. :)))
The four of them decided to walk back to Striaton Gym.
"Say, Ash, any chance we can meet Butterfree and Pidgeot?" asked Cilan, his eyes shining in excitement and enthusiasm.
Ash chuckled before putting his hand on his chin, his face scrunched in deep thought. Cilan looked at Ash confused then turned to Misty. Misty just shrugged, communicating that she has no idea why Ash just made that face.
N was equally excited at the prospect of meeting Pokemon, especially Ash's, not native to this region; just not as showy and exuberant as Cilan was. He hadn't had the chance to meet non-native Pokemon and if he had, it would always be a passing happenstance.
"I know!" Ash suddenly exclaimed, surprising his four companions. "Cilan, you have those computer transceivers in your gym, right?"
Cilan only managed to look confused, tilting his head to the side, before drawing out, "Yeeeees?"
"Awesome!" exclaimed Ash before running towards the direction of the restaurant.
The newer companions just looked confused and blank for a second but Misty had already gone on a sprint, her face morphed into annoyance.
"ASH KETCHUM!"
The three Unova natives stood to the side of the transceiver computer, sweatdropping as they watched Misty berate Ash for running off without telling them.
"How many times will I have to tell you not to get overexcited and run off on your own without telling us?" asked Misty, exasperated. N caught a dash of worry there – was this a common thing? He remembered how worried Misty sounded confronting Ash at the Pokemon center.
Pikachu was on Misty's side this time, snuggly holding on to Misty's shoulders, shaking his head.
"Pikaa pikachu pi pi Pikapi, Pikachupi." Ash never listens, Misty. Trust me, I've tried.
This only served to anger Misty.
"Pikachu!" said Ash, feeling betrayed that Pikachu would say that. Pikachu only stuck his tongue out at Ash.
"But why did you dash off after asking me that question, Ash?" asked Cilan, wanting to steer away from an argument that will inevitably follow. He had not even started his journey with them and he already had an idea of their daily occurrence. This brought a mental smile to Cilan.
"Oh yeah!" said Ash, apparently remembering. "I was hoping to give more encouragement to Tepig after the fight so I'll bring in two of my fire types so that they could talk!"
"Oh!" Misty made a sound of realization together with Pikachu. "Those two!"
Ash nodded excitedly, making his way towards the transceiver computer and typed in credentials.
Ash frowned, before saying, "Huh, this call is taking longer than usual."
"Who are you calling?"
"Professor Oak."
Misty rolled her eyes before retorting, "Ash, it's 4 PM in Unova, which means the day would have just started in Kanto."
(Meanwhile, Cilan was gushing in the background with Iris just staring blankly at him.
"Professor Oak?! THE Professor Oak?! He's the world's foremost and leading Pokemon professor! I can't believe I'll get to see him even if it's a video call.")
Ash's eyes widened at this but before he could say anything, the screen flashed into life and showed a man yawning. Tracey blinked, belatedly realized that the people on the other side of the screen probably saw that and smiled sheepishly.
"Hey, Ash!" said Tracey. "You sure picked a time to call."
Ash winced, before sheepishly saying, "Sorry, Tracey. I forgot about the time zone differences."
"Nah, it's alright. We're about to start the day, anyway!" said Tracey, before calling out at someone off-screen, "Professor, Ash is on the line!"
Ash was about to introduce his new friends to Tracey before a purple sludge swallowed Tracey on the camera. The three Unova natives expressed their alarm, Iris being the loudest, before Ash and Misty laughed. It was then that the natives noticed the jolly eyes of this Kanto Pokemon as it looked at the screen with joy.
"Hey, Muk!"
"Muuuuuuk!" Ash!
The sludge got off Tracey, but still was hugging him, smiling at the video screen. N heard the friendliness and affection on Muk's voice.
"That's Muk, another one of my Pokemon that I caught during my first gym circuit. He smelled so nasty when I captured him on that waste city but over time, he doesn't stink anymore. There's still a weird smell, mind you, but not as strong as it was before.
"According to Professor Oak, the putrid smell is one of Muk's defense mechanism. Apparently, the more friendly the Pokemon gets and the more comfortable it is in its environment, the less hostile it becomes, reining in its defense mechanisms."
The Unovans listened, enraptured with Ash's tidbit of information. N was fascinated by this. He knew that Pokemon are friendly and good by nature, but he had always been faced with apprehension over and over again. Meanwhile, Cilan nodded to Ash's explanation.
Misty, still in her fit of giggles, blurted, "So, Muk's still affectionate and a hugger, huh? Good to know. Sucks to be you, Tracey."
Tracey just rolled his eyes, exasperated. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, Misty. I'll send the ranch's Beedrills after you once you get home from Unova, right Muk?"
"Muuuuk!" Sure!
Misty froze. "You wouldn't dare."
"Try me," said Tracey, smirking.
Ash turned to the Unovans. "That's Tracey Sketchit. Overall, he's the third person I traveled with, having met him in the Orange Islands. He's a Pokemon watcher – people who studies Pokemon both that are in their natural habitat and those owned by trainers. Now, he's an assistant to Professor Oak.
"Tracey, here are my new friends. The one with the big, bushy hair is Iris; the one with the long tea green hair is N; and this one is one of this city's gym leader, Cilan. He's also a Pokemon conno-something too."
"A Pokemon connoisseur, Ash," Tracey gently corrected before exchanging greetings with the Unovans.
"Yeah, that's what I said!"
Tracey decidedly ignored that.
"So, new recruits, huh?" quipped Tracey, teasingly. Ash scowled at Tracey, while the latter laughed. Misty heaved a sigh before giggling. The Unovans were confused.
"Recruits?" questioned N, his apprehension slowly building up. What did he sign up for traveling with Ash?
Tracey answered exuberantly, "To Ash's crazy life, of course! It's a lifetime commitment, you're not gonna be able to escape. I wasn't in Unova for long but man, with that short time, we apparently encountered two Legendary Pokemon. I was confronted by the truth of Ash's life again – it's crazy."
"Hey! You're making it sound so ominous! It's not that bad!" protested Ash, missing the shared confused and alarmed look of Cilan and N. Legendary Pokemon? Two of them? N, once again, remembered Pikachu and Misty's words that were now proven completely true because of Tracey Sketchit.
"It's that bad," chorused Tracey and Misty.
"Well, okay, it isn't terrible, but still, your life is crazy!" Tracey shot back.
"Wait, you were in Unova?" asked Cilan.
"Yes, for less than a day. Professor Oak had business with Professor Juniper and asked us to tag along. Speaking of which, hey Ash, Brock would be heartbroken you replaced him with yet another gym leader," jested Tracey.
Ash and Misty gaped, while Cilan supplied, "I'm… sorry?"
Tracey chuckled and waved Cilan's apology off. "I was just joking. Seriously, I'm glad Ash and Misty have someone responsible to temper them off."
"I don't need a babysitter!" the both of them exclaimed.
Tracey just deadpanned and looked at the Unovans. The Unovans immediately understood as they sweatdropped.
"But seriously, it's great traveling with Ash! Just call if something cataclysmic happens for the debriefing. I'll make sure to call Brock. Then May and Max. Dawn, too."
The three native Unovans exchanged worried glances but before they could further elaborate on the topic, an old man wearing a lab coat suddenly was visible on-screen.
"Professor!"
"Ah, Ash! Good morning! Though I suppose, it's a good afternoon there in Unova."
"True, Professor! Anyway, please meet my new friends! This is Iris, Cilan, and N!"
"Good morning, Professor!" chirps Iris brightly, her Axew also chiming in.
"Good morning to you, too, Iris! Ah, an Axew! Quite a strong dragon-type from what I read."
"It is an honor to meet THE Professor Oak!" exclaimed Cilan.
"The honor is mine, Cilan. I heard you're a Pokemon connoisseur, if it isn't too much of a hassle, you could evaluate me and my Pokemon!"
Cilan was dumbstruck. Ash's eyes bulged out before saying, "Hey, no fair! I wanted to meet your Charizard and Arcanine before!"
Professor Oak's eyes shone in his mirth. "Well, should you decide to visit with Cilan, you will."
Apparently, Cilan was broken out of his trance and said, "I WILL BE GOING THERE, PRONTO!"
"Hold your horses, Cilan. I think you're being too excitable, take it down a notch," said Misty, her hands clutching the scruff of Cilan's uniform as Cilan struggled to get out of Misty's hold.
"I'm surrounded by a bunch of kids," muttered Iris, while Ash and N sweatdropped.
N turned to the screen and bowed his head respectfully to Professor Oak. Despite his suspicions and apprehension towards Pokemon professors, N was taught to respect elders be it the Sages of Plasma or those not affiliated with them.
Professor Oak also inclined his head to N, before exclaiming, "My, my. A Zorua!"
Zorua barked a greeting to the old professor. Good morning, Professor!
Professor Oak chuckled, "Good morning to you too, Zorua!"
N froze. Did the Professor just understand Zorua?
"Well, if you're in a profession like mine for more than five decades, you'd pick up a thing or two on Pokemon communication, otherwise colloquially known as, Pokespeak."
"I said that out loud, didn't I?" mumbled N shyly, while Zorua giggled at his embarrassment.
"It's okay, dear boy," laughed Professor Oak. "Now, is there something else you wanna ask?"
N stared at Professor Oak for quite a while to which the professor was starting to get unnerved and prickly but N asked, "What does your profession actually do?"
"Hmm, well, I'd like to think my profession helps people understand the mysteries of our Pokemon friends. Gaining understanding helps people not only in quelling their fears, but also to provide a safe environment and spaces for Pokemon and people to coexist."
Ash watched this exchange and saw millions of conflicting emotions rushed by on N's eyes. But he seemed to have gotten satisfaction from Professor Oak's answer, thanking the professor for his honest reply. Professor Oak seemed bewildered but otherwise nodded to N.
"Ah, Ash, my boy, I'm sorry the conversation got quite derailed there. What made you call home this morning?" quipped Professor Oak.
"It's no problem, Professor. I just wanted to have Charizard and Infernape for just the rest of the day, that is, if Charizard is already back home."
"Certainly, my boy. Liza from the Charicific Valley has attested that Charizard had finished his training and sent him back to the ranch two days ago. He, Bulbasaur, Butterfree, and Pidgeot were inseparable. Primeape also came home and immediately bonded with Kingler, Muk, Snorlax, and the Tauros before challenging Heracross to a fight.
"Squirtle is not coming home yet but is eager to come back to your roster if you need him, and as for Lapras, I asked helped for Professors Elm and Ivy to help me locate the pod."
"That's great, Professor!" Ash said excitedly together with Pikachu. The Unovans interest rose up as Professor Oak mentioned Ash's Pokemon to which Misty brought out her phone and showed them pictures of those Pokemon.
The first photo was of Primeape winning the P1 Grand Prix; Kingler being hugged by Ash in a battlefield; the Tauros they caught behind the fence with Ash, Misty, and Brock posing in front while Pikachu was perched on Ash's shoulder and Togepi being wrapped in Misty's arm; the last photo was of Heracross and Bulbasaur posing for a photo.
"So, would you send Pokemon back?"
Ash nodded before sending out Rufflet and Gible. The former let out a squawk before landing on Ash's shoulder.
"Hey, Gible. I know I said that I will bring you throughout my Unova circuit and I intend to fulfill that. But I want you to go to Professor Oak's lab and introduce Rufflet to Staraptor. I know Staraptor had been adopted to the my bird family there now, he can introduce Rufflet to others but I need you to introduce the two of them first, that okay with you?"
"Gible!" Okay!
Turning his head to the shoulder where Rufflet is at, he said, "Hey, boy. As you heard, I'm sending you to the ranch too. I want you to meet my other bird Pokemon. You've met Pidgeot, right?" asked Ash, wincing in his mind as he remembered Rufflet challenging Pidgeot when they first met and Pidgeot absolutely crushing the eaglet with just Whirlwind.
Pidgeot immediately tended to Rufflet though, her maternal instincts kicking in, telling Ash and Pikachu about her basically mothering her whole flock. Rufflet, surprisingly, took the loss well and was obedient to Pidgeot, stopping the pestering he did the first time.
Rufflet nodded. Ash continued, "Well, I've got three more. They're all very strong like Pidgeot and I know you want to get stronger, so would you go?" asked Ash, before bringing out his Pokedex.
"Here's Noctowl—" a picture of Noctowl defeating Morty's Haunter "—and here's Swellow—" showing Swellow wearing Thunder Armor, "—and this one's Staraptor," Ash stated as he showed the last picture depicting Staraptor performing Brave Bird.
Rufflet's eyes immediately shone in his hunger to battle to which N still was confused of. The eaglet let out a battle screech and flew off from Ash's shoulder to face his trainer properly.
Rufflet smirked, "Rufflet!" Let me at 'em!
"That's the spirit!"
Alright, so I'd like to remind everyone that this fic is throwing canon on the bus so I'm conveniently just forgetting Ash's maximum Pokemon he can carry. Seeing as how Pikachu's never in his Pokeball, I figured his wouldn't count and so is Giratina for that matter. Their Pokeballs are back in the lab, so Ash has free reign on the maximum six Pokeball he can carry.
Ash Ketchum
Out of their Pokeball: Pikachu, Giratina
Team: Gible, Larvitar, Rufflet, Oshawott, Tepig
Misty Waterflower
Team: Psyduck, Corsola, Staryu, Seadra, Gyarados
Iris
Team: Axew, Excadrill
Cilan
Team: Pansage
Natural Harmonia Gropius
Companion: Zorua