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I'm taking some liberties with the verse. Pretty sure you guys knew that, but I wanted to put it out there. Other stuff like questions will be at the bottom.
Episode 2
Of Boar and Vixen
Xxxxxxxxx
"All unauthorized trainers found off the designated paths will be fined ten-thousand dollars," Ash muttered incredulously. Beneath the message was the official symbol of Pewter, a round stone with the Onix King carved onto it. He blinked and read the sign again. "No going up. I guess," he said scratching the back of his head. If he remembered correctly, Daisy had gone up the mountain about three years ago to find a Moon Stone for Pins and she hadn't mentioned anything about restrictions. The rule must be recent, but why even have it, the boy wondered with narrowed eyes. It didn't matter he decided with a disappointed sigh, they would have to come back to explore the upper levels. "Come on y'all! We gotta hurry if want to be outta here before noon!"
His Pokemon voiced their understanding tiredly. Krabby's drooping claws and Bulbasaur's shaky legs sent a surge of guilt through him. Ash ignored the ache in his chest and scoured his surroundings for his closest friend. He sighed having his friend in his ball was something he would probably never get used to. Unfortunately, the trainer didn't have a clue how he was supposed to solve the tension. Gramps and Daisy would know, he thought rubbing his chin. Ash scowled, he refused to rely on his family every time he had a problem.
A dark appendage poked his forehead gently snapping him out of his thoughts and making him flinch. Bulbasaur crooned and Krabby gurgled worriedly. "Just thinking!" Ash said with a reassuring smile. His smile seemed to satisfy them as they turned back to the cavern's entrance. "Let's go!"
Xxxxxxx
Ash ran his hands along the unnaturally smooth stonewall. The wall and floor had few cracks. The cracks they did have were tiny. The difference between the interior of the mountain and the entrance was breathtaking. Bulbasaur lowered her head and snorted dislodging dust. She must have already guessed, he thought watching the saurian snort again. Mt. Moon was best known for its vast fairy-type population but many other Pokémon made it their home. Powerful Pokemon such as Golem, Nidoqueen, and Donphan had been seen repeatedly.
So why are you so smooth, the trainer wondered with narrowed eyes? Most ground-type monarchs were overprotective at best and fell into a rage easily at worst. The cavern's fantastic state could mean only one thing. Something in the mountain can control them, he thought with a grin. It could be aggressive and there's a huge fine, he reminded himself taking a deep breath. The fine won't matter if I don't get caught, Ash thought. "Don't make a sound and stick close to me," he told his partners quietly.
Bulbasaur glanced around the clearing nervously before trotting after him. Krabby ignored him in favor of running his claws along the wall. His claws had taken on a silver sheen and his eyes were glazed over. Ash's brow furrowed. That's Metal Claw but when did he? "The boulders!" he cried suddenly making Bulbasaur flinch. "Sorry," he apologized with a grimace.
Surprisingly, Krabby ignored his cry again. Ash narrowed his eyes "Stay here," he told Bulbasaur quietly as he approached the crab Pokemon cautiously. "Buddy?" He said kneeling next to the water-type. To his dismay, Krabby continued to stare at the wall blankly. Ash reached toward the crab's extended limb hesitantly, half expecting him to be hypnotized, and grabbed the claw. The trainer blinked nothing happened. Ash eyed the crab carefully then moved his claw with a quick jerk.
The water-type flinched and backpedaled out of his trainer's grip. "You alright?" Ash asked glancing between the crab and the wall. He had never heard of a Pokemon reacting this way to a mountain. The stories of a treasure hidden in Mt. Moon, might they be connected to this, he thought rubbing his chin. Krabby gurgled quietly glaring at the wall as though it had offended him horribly. Ash rose quickly, "We're leaving!" he said gesturing for his Pokemon to follow.
His team followed him hurriedly. Bulbasaur was crouched low and glanced suspiciously, as she followed him. Krabby wasn't any better; he was glaring at their surroundings and clenching his pincers tightly. The team didn't know what was wrong with this mountain but they weren't sticking around to find out.
Xxxxxxxx
"Think that's the last mountain we're goin' under for a while," Ash snarled as he pulled his hat out of his bag. Krabby hissed irritably shielding his eyes with a claw. The sun might not have been so terrible if it weren't for the fact that there was nearly a mile of trees around the mountain. At least Bulbasaur is happy, he thought with a sigh. The green saurian had used her vines to climb onto a boulder and was sunbathing with a blissful look on her face. He'd let her enjoy herself for a bit. "I'm going to let him out," Ash told Krabby quietly.
The crab tensed and regarded Gore's Pokeball as though it were diseased. "None of that," the boy sighed as he released his oldest partner. The swine squealed happily upon release and butted his knee hard enough to make him wince. He grunted a greeting at Bulbasaur then froze. Gore snapped his head toward Krabby with a snarl. Krabby's dark eyes narrowed as he raised his right claw. "No!" Ash commanded grabbing the boar's ear harshly.
"I told you, no fighting!" he barked sending his Pokemon a stern look. Krabby glared back but relented when his trainer's gaze didn't falter. Gore stomped his hooves petulantly and tugged to free himself. "Gore," Ash warned. The ice-type gave him an innocent look that he returned with an unimpressed stare. The swine huffed and turned his back on them. "No dinner," the trainer said with a casual shrug. Gore snapped toward him so quickly that Krabby jumped. The boar snorted urgently then nuzzled and licked his trainer's hand sloppily.
"You're gonna train together aren't you?" Ash asked with a grin. Krabby eyed him respectfully and Gore grunted vigorously. "Bulbasaur c'mere!" She wailed and flattened herself on the boulder as far as she could. "You can nap later!" he said rolling his eyes. The dinosaur moaned but crawled down the boulder slowly.
"I want you two to go work on your Mud Shot and Water Gun on that," he said pointing to the large boulder Bulbasaur had been resting on. He waited for the males to begin training before turning to the lone female, "And you will be working on something special with me," Ash whispered conspiratorially.
Bulbasaur trilled excitedly her pink eyes lighting up with her happiness. "I want to teach you….. Energy Ball!" Ash declared with a dramatic wave of his arm. The saurian cow narrowed her eyes and tilted her head to the side. Does she not know what it is, the trainer panicked. According to a book he'd read a year back all grass-types instinctively knew how to gather energy from nature. Damn you Erika, he thought with a scowl. He should have known better than to take advice from someone who spent so much time near a gloom.
"I uh….." Ash gaped when a small green ball formed in the grass-type's mouth. Bulbasaur's eyes narrowed further and it expanded slightly then it fizzled and dispersed into green streams. She blinked staring at the strands of energy as they rejoined the surrounding trees. "Everyone who says grass Pokemon are for girls are idiots," Ash said his eyes wide. Bulbasaur cooed her agreement. "You did great, keep going and you'll master it in no time!" he told her happily. She crooned and took a few steps away from him, eager to resume her training.
The trainer smiled then turned to check on Gore and Krabby. The two seemed to be ignoring each other but there weren't any signs of aggression. Seeing his Pokemon treat their fellows so coldly was irritating. I guess at this stage not fighting is progress, Ash thought with a shrug. The raven-haired boy settled beneath a large tree laying his pack beside him groaning with relief when the pack slipped off his shoulders. He glanced around the clearing one last time then took out his map and Pokedex. It was farther from Bulbasaur than he would have preferred but he was more concerned with the males fighting than her wandering off. Mainly because there probably aren't any fruit trees near her, he admitted with a snort.
As the boy studied the map, he found himself immensely grateful his mother talked him into buying it. He also felt incredibly stupid for thinking he wouldn't need it. Apparently, some of the tunnels in Mt. Moon ran all the way to Cerulean and even Mt. Hideaway, which somewhat explained the presence of the gigantic Onix. Ash shuddered at the thought of fighting such a behemoth so soon.
If they continued south, they would reach Celadon. The only difficult part of the journey would be staying hydrated and on track in Grandpa Canyon. He tugged on his hat thoughtfully; Krabby would dry out in the heat so having him out constantly was impossible. Gore would be limited as well; the last of the boar's kind dwelled in the Icy path for a reason after all. As a grass-type, Bulbasaur would be a bit vulnerable to the heat as well but as long as she drank enough her powers wouldn't be limited, other than Energy Ball.
Good thing we have these, Ash thought slipping his hand into his pocket. The food and water capsules were arguably the greatest aid a trainer could have. With one food capsule, he could feed his young team easily and one water capsule was more than they could drink. Knowing Gore's evolution was approaching Ms. Jane had offered them to him at half price. Little wonder his frugal grandfather seemed so fond of her, he must have done his shopping at the Pewter center. He grinned. Definitely, why the old man thought she was the best in Kanto.
It was already twelve, which meant only an hour of training then lunch and they would have to set out again. Ash frowned they wouldn't be able to train in the desert even if supplies weren't an issue; the journey was a precious month long. If they were to stand a chance against Erika, they needed Gore to evolve. Even the woman known as the gentlest of the eight would obliterate them otherwise.
He flinched when a wail came from Bulbasaur's direction. Ash threw his map aside and pocketed his Pokedex. The trainer swerved around a tree barely managing to duck beneath a low branch and scoured the area for his Pokémon. Bulbasaur had climbed up a tall tree and was clinging to the trunk tightly. Her face was fearful and when he looked beneath the tree, Ash understood why. There were brown foxes circling the tree and glaring up at her. The foxes had reddish brown with red tails that varied in number from two to five. They were Vulpix, fire breathing pack hunters that seemed to have decided to make his Pokemon their next meal.
Ash clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles began turning white. He bent down and grabbed a thick stick and a large rock, "Back off!" he roared throwing the rock into the pack. His aim was true; the five-tailed vixen was hit on the side of her head and knocked onto her side. The other Vulpix turned to him with their teeth bared and barked a warning. The trainer bent quickly procuring another rock and stomped his feet doing his best to hide any trepidation. He puffed his chest out and stood at his full height, hoping his size would be enough to dissuade the vixen. However, the pack was not so easily intimidated and charged him with only a moment's hesitation.
He had just wound his makeshift weapon back when a spray of bubbles crashed into the leading vixen. The trainer smirked when Krabby sprang from the forest and blasted the pack again this time in the middle. A heartbeat later and Gore burst from the woods as well. The swine snarled and fired his Mud Shot into the pack sweeping many of them off their feet. Ash's smirk widened into a grin at the feat. It looked like the experience with the bug catchers wasn't a complete waste of time. Krabby and Gore took positions in front of him waving their claws and pawing the ground respectively.
The leading Vulpix righted herself and barked at her pack. The fire-type's snarled as one and moved to surround them. "Bubble and Powder Snow!" Ash cried gritting his teeth. Vulpix and Growlithe are well known for this tactic, surrounding difficult prey then setting them alight.
Before his Pokemon's attacks hit pink wall appeared in front of the vixen, they had targeted. Ash gaped the wall didn't even seem strained by his team's attacks; it had to have been Reflect. Using Psychic energy to create a barrier wasn't extraordinary but it was still well beyond most Vulpix. Something cold clenched the boy's innards as he came to a realization. The matriarch had joined the fray, but where, he wondered with narrowed eyes. There, he thought, even when striding toward them with murderous intent the boy found the Ninetales was graceful.
Her slender golden form shone in the sun and her tails beautiful tails were alight with the purple flames of Will-O-Wisp. With great effort, the boy looked away from the vixen's tails and avoided her eyes. If he looked into her eyes they were already dead, he knew. "Don't look her in the eyes!" Ash hissed to Krabby as he moved to hide Gore's brown eyes with his thick fur. Ground-types tended to be simple and his friend wasn't an exception. Gore wouldn't be able to resist the experienced matriarch. His sense of smell, hearing, and sensitive hooves were far better methods of fighting than his weak vision anyway.
The walls lowered yet the Vulpix chose not to push their advantage. Instead, they stared at the Ninetales with a reverence that bordered on worship. The matriarch cooed to the smaller vixen that instantly broke formation and retreated several yards. Ninetales turned her snout down on them and sat on her haunches. Krabby hissed waving a glowing claw and Gore snarled exhaling a frosty breath as he did. The vixen yawned.
Ash's jaw clenched and he forced down the fire that coursed through him with difficulty. The trainer grabbed the choleric crab's pincer and the swine's ear gently before the males lost themselves to their temper. He exhaled slowly keeping his eyes trainer on the vixen. "Don't use ice and make the fight physical," Ash whispered. While the males voiced their understanding, the vixen's long ears twitched.
Even when Ash's Pokemon charged, the Ninetales maintained her nonchalant air. They neared yet the vixen still refused to move. Only after they had activated their Vice Grip and Tackle did she react. Ninetales leaped over the duo effortlessly. The Vulpix howled in a manner that reminded him of cheering and Ash gaped. Krabby turned and stared at the matriarch with wary eyes. The crab Pokemon must have realized how powerful his opponent likely was. Gore whined confusedly and moved to sniff the ground. "She jumped!" Ash snapped.
The Ninetales barked haughtily then she crouched with the closest thing to a serious look he had seen on her face. Ash's eyes widened in fear, Flame Burst. "Mud Shot, Bubble!" he shouted desperately. Sensing his urgency, the males poured every ounce of power into their attacks. The vixen fired her shot exploding on impact with Gore and Krabby's. "Gore! Krabby!" the trainer cried uncovering his eyes.
His heart sank at the sight of the matriarch. Though the ground in front of the Ninetales was blackened, her fur was as prim as it had been before the fight and her tails no longer burned with Will-O-Wisp. Ash swallowed harshly, the only reason she would have turned her flames off was that she believed the team was no longer a threat. To his relief, yards away Gore and Krabby still stood albeit on shaky legs. The look in the crab's eyes was one of determination but the shaking of his arms wasn't from exhaustion, the trainer knew. Gore may not have been frightened but the uncharacteristic tension in the swine's form spoke volumes.
Ash inhaled sharply. There was only one way he could help his team. The trainer drew Gore and Krabby's Pokeballs shakily. He licked his lips and aimed the capsules. The Vulpix barked excitedly as Ninetales crouched low and took a deep breath. Ash returned his Pokemon just a moment before she discharged a thick stream of flame at them. The trainer turned quickly and threw his friend's capsules into the forest with all of his strength. Pokeballs were designed to endure nearly everything; he had to hope the Ninetales' flames were included.
He sent a cursory glance in Bulbasaur's direction. She was obscured from his view by the trees branches but the fact that she wasn't making any noise was a good sign. Her instincts must have taken over. As long as she listens to them she'll be fine, he assured himself. Especially since they're about to be full, he thought with a shudder.
Ash took a deep breath and steeled himself. There wasn't any point in dying a coward. Even with that thought, the matriarch turning her ruby gaze on him made him want nothing more than to flee. She looked between him and the blackened area where his Pokemon's had stood. Then she sauntered toward him. We're a game; he realized shutting his eyes tightly. The grass in front of him crunched and his breathing grew rapid and harsh. To his shame, even knowing what was coming he couldn't bring himself to look at his killer.
Instead of ghostly flames torching him or sharp canines tearing into his neck he heard a startled yip. The sight that greeted his eyes was one Ash was certain he would remember for the rest of his life. Bulbasaur was clinging to the vixen's head and had her vines wrapped around her snout effectively muzzling the fire-type. Ninetales thrashed dislodging the tiny dinosaur and sending her crashing into her trainer's chest. The vixen snarled her tails burning with Will-O-Wisp again.
Ash spun quickly and hugged Bulbasaur to his chest tightly. The heat increased to the point he felt as though his neck was on fire then the vixen fired. He heard the Flame Burst explode yet the boy didn't feel any pain. A furious shriek and the heat moved away. His brow furrowed and he peeked over his shoulder. The Vulpix were barking furiously at a round ape like Pokemon with white fur that was blasting stones bigger than he was at the matriarch.
The Primeape shrieked again and charged the Ninetales dodging the purple streams of flame thrown its way with ease. The matriarch snarled and the ghostly fire grew until it covered her body from view and met the monkey's charge. The Primeape slammed its glowing fist into the vixen's forehead sending her tumbling into a tree.
Heedless of its burned hand the Primeape shrieked triumphantly and beat its chest. The Ninetales rose slowly eyeing the pig monkey warily. She barked and the pack charged the fighting-type as one. Ash stared in a stunned silence until Bulbasaur hissed at him. "Right," he mumbled standing. They needed to run. They would only be in the way. Ash took a step away and hesitated. The trainer looked beyond his shoulder.
Even with the full force of the pack coming down on it, the Primeape refused to back down. The monkey was covered in small burns and had blood trickling down its leg. The fighting-type had come to help them and they were about to abandon it to certain death. Never, he swore to himself gathering his resolve. "You know how to release the others right?" Ash asked looking into his Bulbasaur's pink eyes. She whimpered glancing between the fight and her trainer. "Go!" he barked.
She flinched then jumped and sped off into the woods with her nose to the ground. I didn't mean to scare you. Ash ignored the gnawing in his belly and knelt grabbing as many stones as his pockets could hold. The monkey shrieked this time in pain and he flinched. The trainer cursed his lack of foresight. If he had his knife, he wouldn't have needed to find a stick. Scoffing he leaped and pulled the lowest branch he could. With his weapon in hand, he turned back to the fight.
The fighting-type had two Vulpix hanging on to its muscular arms and a massive blackened spot on its chest. The matriarch was favoring her right side but was otherwise unharmed. The monkey was fighting valiantly but the struggle would be over soon. Ash took aim and cocked his arm back. The monkey fell to knee and Ash threw the rock with all his might. The Vulpix hanging off its left arm fell with a squeak the right followed a moment later.
The dislodged vixen turned to him with snarls. They made to charge him but were stopped when the monkey grabbing their tails. The fighting-type snarled and threw the Vulpix at the matriarch, who rolled out of the way with ease. Three members of the pack snapped to him and spat tiny bursts of flame.
He squawked and dove behind the nearest tree. Ash peeked beyond the tree before ducking back when a stream of fire nearly ended him. The trainer grinned when a familiar squealing Swinub sprinted into his view. "Primeape is on our side!" he declared as the boar charged into the battle. Gore spat a widespread glob of mud at the Vulpix attacking him and a gust of freezing wind a second later. The swine sent another Powder Snow at the downed vixen then he charged into the middle of the battle without hesitation.
Krabby ran into the fight with a battle cry and bubbles surrounding him. "Use your claws without restraint!" Ash commanded stepping out from behind the tree. The crab gurgled his understanding and blasted his Water Gun at a five-tailed Vulpix. With his team, busying the pack the Primeape and matriarch squared off. They glared at one another displaying Flame Charge and glowing fists in an attempt to intimidate their opponent. Even with the trainer distracting the Vulpix, Gore and Krabby couldn't win. Whether they survived or not depended on the Primeape being the victor.
The Primeape lost its patience first. With a wave of its arm, it sent three blades of stone larger than Ash at the matriarch. The Ninetales darted around the attack with ease. She shot several Flame Bursts at her opponent barely slowing her charge.
Three moves at the same time so casually, Ash choked. He'd heard the Vulpix line was great at combining moves but he'd never realized they could do it so casually. The Primeape leaped out of the clearing and onto a tree. It leaped into a tree when the matriarch fired another shot. It's no good, the trainer realized with a sinking heart. The fighting-type had already taken at least a Flamethrower to the chest and its opponent was relatively fresh. It didn't help that the Ninetales could fight at a distance and Primeape were close range Pokemon.
They had to help it. A soft snort near his feet made him stiffen. He relaxed almost instantly when a vine tapped his hand. Bulbasaur was trying to make herself look as small as possible and glancing between him and the Vulpix fearfully. "You don't have to fight," Ash murmured. "But I need a Leech Seed, okay?" He asked as gently as he could. She stared at him uncomprehending but closed her eyes and produced a seed. The trainer smiled at the exhausted dinosaur before turning back to the fight.
The seed would be worthless if the Ninetales' ghostly armor activated. He grit his teeth, their only opening would be when the Primeape was nearly defeated. Gore and Krabby were holding up well but the crab's claws were drooping and Gore had several small burns. Several of the Vulpix had been wounded and carried off by members of their pack but there were still at least six vixens in fighting shape.
"On my mark," he whispered to Bulbasaur. The Primeape's stones were only about half the size they'd been at the beginning of the fight and they lacked the edge. The matriarch had taken a hit when he had looked away as well and had a large dark patch on its right side. Her Will-O-Wisp had been deactivated leaving her wreathed in ordinary if intense fire.
Finally, Primeape sank to a knee and the matriarch's Flame Charge turned off. She panted heavily the full strain of her battle settling in. The Vulpix barked triumphantly, unintentionally opening themselves to Gore's Mud Slap and Krabby's Bubble. He smirked proudly when one of the Vulpix limped away dragging her fallen sister with her.
The Primeape squeaked defiantly when the Ninetales turned its attention back to it. Ash and Bulbasaur tensed, not yet. He licked his lips and the grass-type crouched. The matriarch fell into a crouch and Ash threw the Leech Seed with all his might. For the first time his aim was off, it hit the ground in front of the vixen. Ash inhaled sharply when she turned to him angrily. She took a menacing step forward then vines burst from the seed. The matriarch yipped and flailed attempting to free herself.
A large stone slammed into the vixen from behind. The Primeape shrieked and charged its downed opponent. The Ninetales scrambled to her feet and reactivated her Flame Charge. The Primeape's glowing foot smashed into the vixen's face sending her soaring through the air and crashing through a tree. The Primeape shrieked triumphantly as the pack ran to their leader. "Yeah!" Ash cheered pumping his fist.
Bulbasaur and Krabby echoed his cry happily. Ash grinned so widely his face hurt rubbing Bulbasaur and Krabby. "Gore, come back!" He shouted when the swine made to chase the pack. The trainer hugged his Krabby tightly telling him how proud he was and how brave the crab had been. As he ran his hands along the crab's shell Ash noticed small nubs that he couldn't remember. He shook his head; it didn't matter now. Gore inserted himself into the hug with a squeal and licked the team sloppily. To Ash's delight, Krabby only flinched at the affectionate gesture.
Leaves crunching close to them made the team jump. Before he could react, Gore shoved himself in front of his herd and snarled at the new arrival. The Primeape snorted at his friend, unimpressed with the overprotective swine. Ash stepped forwards - much to Gore's displeasure - and placed a calming hand on the ice-type's head.
"Thank you," he said softly. The trainer lowered his hand into one of his lower pockets slowly. The fighting-type tensed slightly but relaxed instantly when he drew a potion. Ash bent at his knees and lowered his eyes. Primeape hate being looked in the eye, he thought. It hissed when the potion made contact.
Once he finished applying, the medicine Ash backed away slowly his eyes still avoiding the monkey's gaze. The monkey grunted in what he assumed to be gratitude. "Tiny!" A deep voice boomed relief clear in its tone. Ash flinched and his team jumped. They turned as one and regarded the newcomer carefully. The voice belonged to a muscular man with heavily tanned skin, black hair tied into a ponytail, and at least seven and a half feet tall. Oddly, the man was shirtless but what caught Ash's eye was the black belt tied around his waist, a fighting-type master then. The Primeape shoved past them with a squeal and leaped at the man. The man spread his arms with a laugh and hugged the monkey tightly.
"You can't last a few hours without a fight can you?" he said with a smirk. The monkey squeaked indignantly making the man laugh again. "So, did she get you in some trouble?" the man asked.
"No, uh, she actually saved us," Ash admitted a bit sheepishly.
"Did she?" he asked with playful skepticism. The man made a show of looking between the monkey and Ash's team and tapping his chin. Tiny shrieked and tugged on her trainer's hair harshly. "Okay! You saved 'em!" the giant cried. Ash stared at the duo. He wasn't sure what to make of them.
"We're gonna go now," Ash said awkwardly. He backed away and directed his team to do the same with gentle nudges.
"Wait! Please tell me your name!" the man called.
"Tell me yours!" Ash yelled back annoyed.
"I'm Bruno of Pewter!" he said striding to him. Ash stiffened and turned slowly.
"Elite-Four Bruno," the raven-haired boy choked. A giant tanned martial artist that walked around without a shirt. How had he not seen it?
"That's me, who are you?" he said extending a hand to shake.
"Ash," the boy said breathlessly. Bulbasaur and Krabby stared at him as though he'd just committed murder. Gore just snorted and flopped onto his side. The swine had seen this side of his brother countless times.
"Great to meet you Ash! I hope Tiny didn't give you too much trouble," Bruno said grabbing his hand and then shaking his hand vigorously.
"She didn't," Ash said dazedly. Bruno had shaken his hand. One of the most powerful men in the world and one of the greatest heroes of the last century had shaken his hand. "Make me your apprentice!" he blurted.
"Okay," the man said nodding.
"I promise to train day and to prove myself worthy of you-", Ash blinked. "Huh?" he squeaked. In the back of his mind, the boy was slightly disgusted with himself. The majority was too overjoyed to care. "Really?"
"Well, actually, I would but I'm busy right now," Bruno said sheepishly.
"Oh," he mumbled his heart sinking, "Well, it was nice to meet you then," Ash finished with an insincere smile. The brown-eyed boy turned away but Bruno grabbed his arm gently before he could get far. Gore sprang up immediately and snarled at the giant man. Tiny snarled at the swine that pawed the ground in return. "It's okay!" Ash snapped when Krabby tried to step in front of him.
"Rather protective aren't they," Bruno said chuckling. The fighting-type master released him and backed away slowly. "I apologize for getting your hopes up, but I can help your training," he said rubbing the Primeape in soothing circles.
"Really?" Ash asked cautiously. Against his will, he felt something warm rise in his chest at the possibility.
"You were attacked by Vulpix while training weren't you?" the martial-artist asked as he walked to a small tree to Ash's left.
"Yeah, how'd you know?" the boy asked in a daze. The man knelt and lifted something with reddish brown fur.
"Because of this," Bruno said holding out an unconscious Vulpix. Ash took it hesitantly, ignoring his team's growls and hisses. The two-tailed vixen was slightly heavier than Bulbasaur and ten inches tall. Less than half the size of most Vulpix, the boy noted. "You shouldn't train with destructive attacks in the wilderness" the man lectured seriously, "until you're stronger anyway," he added.
"Then how am I supposed to train?" Ash demanded. "Sir," he added with a wince.
"There are plenty of techniques you can practice while you move," the master said simply, "And it's actually better to get the Pokémon used to using their moves on the move."
"Right," Ash said pulling the bill of his hat to cover his eyes. He was certain his grandfather had told him something similar at one point. He had been so caught up in finally leaving home he forgot the basics.
"Nothing to be ashamed of young man! At least you're actually training," Bruno said with a warm smile. "More than can be said of most this generation," the man mumbled to himself. Tiny tugged on her trainer's hair gently and squeaked. "Titan and Ever are probably worried out of their mind," Bruno muttered. "I hope to meet you again Ash!" The man called over his shoulder.
"Bye!" Ash called back. He turned to his team and noticed his newest members staring at him oddly. "Err- time to go!"
Xxxxxxxxxx
Unsurprisingly, the desert was a miserable place. They had been walking for seventeen days and only come across a mother Sandslash and her children. That had not been a pleasant experience, Ash reflected with a wince. Poor Gore and Krabby were still limping and Bulbasaur insisted on being carried for the rest of the day. Hard to blame her when even I didn't get out of that situation unharmed, he reflected rubbing the bandage on his forehead absently. The trainer laid his head onto his pillow with a relieved sigh.
The only member of the team that would have enjoyed the weather had woken only long enough to eat and drink. Ash wasn't sure if the vixen was even aware of her actions. Probably for the best that she would not remember, the team wasn't being particularly friendly. Krabby stared at her with open suspicion and Gore tried charging every chance he had. To his surprise, even Bulbasaur didn't like the vixen. Though it shouldn't have after the vixen's former pack had tried to eat her. She hid behind him and glared every time the vixen woke.
Ash frowned at the sleeping vixen. At times, he felt as though his Pokemon sensed something about her he couldn't. She was shy and at times winced when he patted her, but was affectionate enough. Then again, the Pokedex entry did say Vulpix could be extremely difficult to raise and were known to hold horrible grudges. Was it possible the vixen blamed them for her beating? His frown deepened at the thought. He didn't like being suspicious of his own Pokemon, especially when they hadn't done anything to deserve it, but for now he should keep a close eye on fire-type.
At least their training was going well. As Ash predicted, Gore had managed to form a tiny Ice Shard on his first try. The only problem was that the only ice the boar could use came from his own body. The desert was so dry that drawing water out of the air was impossible for the inexperienced boar. Ash would have preferred practicing Mud Bomb but if the, Pokedex was right, it would be a waste of their time.
Every species had their specialty, but something less known was those specialties varied from where the Pokemon lived to the individual themselves. Gore, who had been born on the first day of winter and lived the majority of his life away from the mountains would be an ice oriented Swinub without a doubt. Slightly inconvenient at the moment, but it would pay off when they fought Erika.
The trainer glanced at the youngest members of his team. Bulbasaur's Energy Ball was coming along as well as could be expected. She probably wouldn't be able to make any progress in the desert, the raven-haired boy knew. Krabby was showing the most improvement. His Vice Grip was a move he had a firm hold on before they'd entered the desert, so Ash wasn't surprised by his progress.
The question is what next, the tired boy wondered as he yawned. It turned out the nubs he had felt were the signs Krabby was nearly ready for evolution as well. Ash was elated with the news, but it did throw his training schedule off. Harden wasn't a move that would be of any worth for a Kingler after all. Guess it's just more offense, he thought with a shrug.
Ash yawned again, this time much louder. I can plan in the morning.
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Something small slamming into his belly jolted Ash into consciousness. Bulbasaur hissed urgently and nudged his hand urgently. The boy groaned and rolled over, "Go to sleep!" He groaned. She wailed and nudged his hand more insistently. "Alright, I'm up! I'm up!" He said annoyed as he exited his tent. The trainer yawned and looked around the campsite with bleary eyes. Everything seemed perfectly normal. The fire was crackling, the boys and Vulpix were gone, and the tree near the camp was on fire.
Wait a minute, he thought snapping his head to where the team should have been resting. The cow warbled worriedly before dashing to his right with speed he wouldn't have believed a Bulbasaur could possess a couple months ago. Ash cursed and took off after her. He leaped over a small cactus and swerved around another. Finally, he found himself in an area with at least a hundred cacti.
Some of the cacti had been knocked over and others were burning with purple fire. Will-O-Wisp his tired mind supplied. Vulpix, he thought worriedly. Bulbasaur was staring into the cluster with apprehension. When Ash heard a familiar pained squeal, he understood why. Gore, Krabby and Vulpix were fighting something in the field. "Damn," he muttered. They would have to go through the cacti.
"C'mere," Ash told Bulbasaur kneeling. She hopped onto his shoulder quickly, immediately the trainer noted that the saurian's tiny form was taut with tension and her eyes were drooping. "It'll be okay," he said in a soothing voice. When she relaxed slightly and cooed the trainer turned back to the cacti. He needed to find a way to get through without being turned into a Sandslash's fur less cousin. Another squeal of agony made the boy flinch. He couldn't afford to find a safer path his team needed him. So, covering his Pokemon, the boy charged into the cluster of cacti.
Spines pierced his arm and his side but he continued doggedly. Luckily, he reached the end of the cluster quickly. Bulbasaur stared at his right arm with worry before crooning and nuzzling her trainer. "I'm okay, just a scratch," Ash muttered wincing. Mercifully, the spines were the type that didn't break off easily. As long as he cleaned himself off, he wouldn't get an infection.
More importantly, Gore, Krabby, and Vulpix were fighting beyond a hill about fifty yards from them, judging by the muffled barks. A weak gurgle to his right made the duo flinch. Ash sighed when he realized it was his water-type. The crab must have been trapped in the cacti cluster. "You okay?" the trainer asked, falling to a knee. To his relief, Krabby wasn't hurt; the water-type was simply exhausted. The boy shut his eyes tightly, he had overworked his friend to the point the crab could barely hiss. Now wasn't the time. "Rest in your ball and no training for the next couple days," Ash said sternly. For once, the crab was happy to rest.
Ash set Bulbasaur down gently, "You need to go in your ball too," he told her quietly. The cow gave a distressed warble and lowered herself to the ground. "I'm sorry," Ash said quietly recalling the dinosaur. She's probably going to hold this one against me, the boy thought with a wince. Maybe he should give her a treat tomorrow. He shook his head. It didn't matter, he needed to get to his other Pokemon. With that thought, the boy sprinted to the hill.
The trainer came to a stop behind the hill and gasped. His vision was beginning to blur again and his head felt as though Butterfree were flying in it. Maybe Krabby's not the only one who overdoes things, Ash thought dryly. Vulpix's hisses and Gore's snarls spurred the boy into action. He peered around the hill expecting a Donphan or another Sandslash. None of the classes he'd sat through or the books he had read prepared him for the sight that greeted his eyes.
His Vulpix slashed at one of Gore's legs with Scratch then darted away in a Quick Attack before the swine could respond. "Vulpix," Ash muttered, his heart sinking. She must have decided to rebel while he slept. No, he corrected shaking his head. This had been her plan from the moment she had woken. She ate their food, drank their precious water, used his potions, and acted as though she were willing to be a member of their team for over two weeks. She had used them and he had been too dumb to see it.
Hot fury bubbled in his chest and he gritted his teeth. Ash flinched when his oldest friend gave another pained squeal. The swine was surrounded by a thin circle of fire - Fire Spin, he realized - and Vulpix was peppering him with tiny balls of flame when he tried to move. "Do a spin and Mud Slap!" Ash barked. Gore whined and spewed a small stream of snowy wind at the fire-type.
Ash gaped, what was wrong with him? "Gore, you need to use mud!" He cried. The stubborn Swinub ignored his trainer and shot another stream of snow at his opponent. Vulpix shot a tiny purple ball of flame that tore through Gore's attack with ease and hit the swine's nose. The boar recoiled with a squeal and backed into the Fire Spin. He wailed and dragged himself back into the middle of the circle. The swine growled weakly before his legs failed him. Ash paled, "Vulpix, stop right now!"
She gave him a condescending look and sauntered toward him. "What are you doing?" he asked shakily taking a step back. The vixen opened her mouth slightly and then the ghostly flame of Will-O-Wisp formed in her maw. Ash swallowed harshly, his legs frozen, and his heart pounding so loudly he could hear it.
Something small and clear crashed into Vulpix's side eliciting a pained yelp and sending her tumbling away from him. Ash blinked blankly, uncomprehending. A furious roar and then a brown and white blur raced toward the vixen. Vulpix rolled out of its path with a fearful yip. She scampered away when the blur charged her again. Finally, it came to a stop in front of the trainer. The raven-haired boy flinched again, then the intense glow began to fade, its white, giving way to a familiar deep brown.
"Gore," he breathed. His Pokemon bellowed his acknowledgement, coating the ground in frost and making the trainer shiver. Just like with Samurai, he realized. Vulpix was staring at the Swinub with trepidation, but stood her ground and snarled. Gore snarled back so fiercely that the vixen's cry seemed like a whimper in comparison.
"Powder Snow!" Ash ordered. The boar snorted, then blasted the fiercest gust of wind, he had ever created at the vixen. She squeaked and rolled away, only just avoiding the stream of wind. The vixen righted herself before rushing them with Quick Attack. Vulpix avoided the next two snowy streams with envious ease, hardly slowing in her charge.
"Mud Shot!" the trainer ordered with a wave of his hand. They had to restrict her movement; Gore couldn't compete with that kind of speed. She sped away from the attack easily, but this time the swine was ready. He discharged another Mud Shot sweeping the fire-type off her feet and lowering her body temperature. She rose on shaky legs before being hit by another glob of mud. "Stop it!" Ash commanded when the boar's body stiffened in preparation for a charge.
The swine glared and pushed past him. "Just this once, listen to me!" the boy pleaded stepping in front of his Swinub. "She's still a member of the herd," Ash stated peering into his closest friend's brown eyes. The reminder gave Gore pause. He glared at the whimpering fire-type, and for a moment, Ash was afraid the boar was going to kill her. Then he slumped and hobbled back a few steps. The ice-type jerked his head toward Vulpix and sat on his haunches.
"Are you hurt?" the trainer asked, wiping sweat from his brow. Gore grunted irritably and pointed to the fire-type with his hoof. Ash nodded with a sigh. He approached the vixen carefully, if she were cunning enough to bide her time for so long, then pretending to be helpless would be up her alley he -figured. Ash lowered himself next to the Pokemon slowly. She glared, but was too exhausted to put up any more of a fight.
The trainer drew a potion from one of his pockets slowly and allowed her to see it. Vulpix squirmed and whimpered when the medicine made contact. Usually seeing one of the team uncomfortable would have distressed Ash but he found he didn't pity the vixen even slightly. He shivered when a slight chill began to emanate from behind him. "I'm okay, buddy!"
Ash and Vulpix shivered as the cold deepened. The trainer cradled the fire-type to his chest - the only way he was sure Gore wouldn't attack her - and turned toward the boar slowly. His friend's form was hunched and he was panting rapidly. His brown eyes were unseeing and his every exhale released small bursts of ice.
The swine reared back with a snarl and spat a freezing gust of wind. Ice formed beneath his hooves and crept up his body. Gore roared and the ice and mud he had discharged raced back to its master. It clung to the boar and for a moment, the world around Ash stilled. Then his friend's upper body descended.
Ash stared awed, at his friend. Gore stood at least two feet taller and more than twice as wide. His shaggy fur now covered his short legs and nearly obscured his narrow brown eyes from view. The boar's tusk were no longer tiny, likely six inches long in fact, and his lower canines jutted out from his jaw impressively. Ash grinned widely.
His friend was a Piloswine now.
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If you have any pokemon you think are cool or underutilized please share it with me! I can't say they'll be on Ash's team but I will try my best to give them a chance to shine.