I don't own Pokemon. I kinda think the companies want us to repeat this crap because they get off on it.

Episode 21

Just a Chat

Xxxxxx

"She's a babe you see. Oh of Prehnite's seed certainly, but-" King chirped and leaped, swiping at the fairy with a Metal Claw. The Pokemon sighed and extended a tiny arm. A pink glow engulfed the Kingler, leaving him hovering in the air. Gore roared and charged Clefable with his Take Down. The fairy made a grabbing motion with her other arm, and a yellow orb flew from a nearby tree into her hand. Gore skidded to a stop with a gasp.

"I can't believe this," Ash groaned, hiding his face in his hands. The swine squealed gleefully as he devoured the Sitrus berry and the fairy rubbed him under his chin. "The sad thing is, he's the strongest we have," the boy muttered, rubbing his forehead. At least we know she's not an enemy. King glared at him from where he was floating. "What? You know it's true!" The Kingler hissed drawing a shrug from the raven-haired trainer.

Willow trotted up to him and quavered. "Let's just see what's gonna come from this?" Ash said with a shrug. Hellfire barked and bared his canine teeth threateningly. That would be more intimidating if he wasn't hiding behind a tree. Points for getting himself a shield though.

"As I was saying, it's very impressive that you managed to defeat this babe," Clefable began gesturing toward the Onix. Ash's right brow twitched. She thinks that's a baby? The trainer tensed when she waved her hand, but relaxed marginally when King was lowered to the ground. The crab Pokemon glared at Gore as though he had been betrayed. Not far off.

"Er, thanks," Ash said, hiding his eyes behind his hat. "We'll, uh, be going now, gotta set up camp and have dinner, c'mon Gore," he said inching down the trail. Clefable smiled.

"You could leave, I certainly won't stop you. But I have more berries and some dried meat in my lair if you're interested!" she chirped, then she turned and skipped back to the mountain. The boy winced when Gore and Willow gave thrilled squeals. Ash squawked as two tiny forms slammed into the back of his knees, throwing him onto his back. Hellfire sped after the girls with an excited yap.

King shot him a look of deep empathy. "Hate them all," the boy gasped. The crab Pokemon gurgled.

Xxxxxxx

Ash stared as the Clefable took a sip from her cup. "If you don't blink your eyes will hurt!" she giggled, making her purple eyes twinkle. The boy leaned back in the seat carved from stone. He knew that many Pokemons had human like mannerisms, but he'd never heard of a creature brewing tea. "When you spend months in a forest, a cup of tea can seem the greatest of gifts," Clefable said her hypnotic purple eyes glazing over as though lost in a memory. Did she have a trainer? It would explain why she was comfortable in the presence of a human. Clefable were supposed to be timid Pokemons. The fairy took another sip and sighed blissfully. "You've been drinking naught but water yes? Have some, it's very good!"

"It's nice," the trainer murmured, his eyes darting around the cavern. Like every other part of the mountain, the walls were completely smooth. Why isn't this better known? Surely the world's largest mountain that had several ground Pokemons in it having completely smooth walls had to attract attention. Then again Ash couldn't find much information on Mt. Moon in any book. Now that he thought about it, his grandfather and sister had always been a bit evasive when the mountain came up. And why don't more people try and climb the mountain? Is it because of Mt. Hideaway's giant Onix? Or maybe the Nidorino and Primeape on the mountain are too fierce? It wouldn't be the first mountain people had been frightened off of by territorial beasts.

"Relax," Clefable insisted. "Surely you don't think your little herd-boar would leave you alone if he thought you were in any form of danger? Even if I did heal his wounds, he would be watching me like a Pidgeot if I were a threat." Ash glanced at his Pokemons. All but Willow (who was sleeping on Gore's head) were devouring the mountain of food Clefable had provided with glee. Gore's ears would twitch occasionally, but his body was completely relaxed. Even Vulpix had forgotten her pride in her haste to devour the high quality food. Guilt left a pang in his chest. They should always eat that way... "It's times like these I appreciate actually having meat," she said glancing at his team.

"Why'd you bring us here?" Ash inquired in a polite tone. Well, it was polite by his standards.

"I'm an old Clefable who could never have babes of my own. Must I truly need a reason to long for the presence of others?" She laughed, a pleasant sound reminiscent of a tinkling bell, when he gave her an unimpressed look. "You managed to evolve a boar who has likely not seen his seventh summer yet, and has no exceptional talent - oh a strong willed one and that doubtless played a role in his progress - but he's certainly no Prehnite." Gore gave the fairy a dry glance before grunting at the praise of his will and turning back to the food. "The little Bulbasaur nears her evolution and the young Krabby has become a Kingler as well. This progress is one of the reasons I wished to speak with you," Clefable admitted setting down her cup.

The fairy's praise sent a surge of pride through him as his grandfather's praise often did. One of them? "Thanks," the trainer said, narrowing his eyes. He couldn't see why a Clefable, even one who once had a trainer, would want to give them precious her food during winter. Pokemons like the Rhydon they'd fought were exceptional, but there were plenty of Pokemons like Machoke or Primeape who could steal her food. Why would she take such a risk? "But why do you even care?"

"I care because I'm a touch fond of humans, and would be saddened if your league was obliterated," Clefable replied taking another sip of tea. As he'd expected, she was unmoved by the nearly aggressive tone he'd used. This is one weird fairy. Ash drew breath to apologize for his rudeness, only to find his apology to die on his tongue.

"Uh, care to repeat that?" he asked, blinking at the Clefable. Gore and Vulpix's ears moved back to allow them to better hear the conversation. King turned to regard the Fairy Pokemon with a glare.

"I would be saddened if your league were obliterated," Clefable repeated as though she were discussing the weather. "It's always a possibility you see, the balance between your charmingly named league and we six is precarious at the best of times, but I fear even my "Miracle" cannot stop what's coming."

"The Great Kangaskhan has left Fuchsia." His sister's words made him swallow. An entire super herd of Pokemons crossing the ocean seemingly without prompting. The Fog had joined up with Team Rocket and Hellfang had disappeared shortly after the battle. The power the two had thrown around was immense, yet Ash had the sinking feeling their battle had only been their warm-up. What does this all mean? "Why are you telling me this?

"You'[re talented. You have his power cloaking you. And you were touched by the Houndoom and that Gengar brat recently, I sense," Clefable said raising a tiny finger with each point.

Ash frowned. His power? The Fog said something like that too! Who's he? Is he the one behind all this crap? A pendant floated into the fairy's outstretched hand. "Fifty years ago another boy with great potential carried this. A thousand years ago I entrusted it to a girl whose legend has now shaped this world," Clefable murmured rubbing the pendant lovingly. Ash swallowed as a pulse not unlike the Fog's might made itself known. Clefable's purple eyes glowed with a silver and the presence was gone. "Please take this gift," she said, offering the necklace.

The boy reached for it before he knew what he was doing. The pendant held a blue crystal in a circular black case. Ash felt a pull to the jewel and moved to take off its case. To his shock, the case didn't budge. "No amount of force will remove that!" Clefable chirped her eyes shining with mirth. "Now, you have somewhere you must be yes? Best if you go now," she advised, smiling at him warmly.

The fairy hopped off her chair and skipped to a tunnel, that Ash assumed led deeper into the mountain. "Wait! Who are you? Who's he? Why's all this happening?" the trainer demanded snapping out of his admiration for the jewel. She came to a stop and turned back to him.

"I will never understand why humans believe ignorance and peace of mind is preferable to knowledge," Clefable murmured her smile fading. "If your league has not told you, perhaps It is not my place to tell you the little I have already divulged. After all, you're under their protection, not mine. As for my name… I'll tell you another time, I feel you'll be in the thick of things." The fairy smiled before sauntering down the trail.

Vulpix gazed at the fairy's back with near worship. She gestured to the pendant with a paw. Ash smiled weakly and put it around his neck. Sometimes, I think I'd rather not be in the middle of things…

Xxxxxx

"Alright, you all know what to do! Give it your all like always!" Ash barked as his team spread out around the training ground. "Remember our next challenge is with Rock and Ground Pokemons!" he added. "King not you!" The Kingler eyed him annoyed and sauntered back to him.

"Today we're gonna work on a new thingy, Slam," Ash announced smothering a yawn. He'd not slept particularly well since their encounter with the mysterious Clefable. When they weren't fighting or talking (he'd talk and they'd do their best to communicate back) or exploring thoughts of the Clefable's warning permeated his mind. Ash'd tried to deny her message, to write her off as a crazy old fairy, but he couldn't (largely because Vulpix wouldn't let him). The Great Kangaskhan moving at the same time Hellfang took off and the Fog joined up with the Rockets? Surely that couldn't be a coincidence.

Lying in a soft bed for the first time in over a month had helped the issue greatly. Ash figured the warmth of the Pewter Pokemon Center would take care of his sleeping problem. It was hard to think too deeply on a fluffy pillow and under a comforter.

Should I tell someone? He bit his lip. But what do I tell 'em? An old fairy told me we're gonna die didn't sound very convincing even to himself. And what is this thing? The jewel had to be hidden if he didn't want others to stare when he passed. A man with a Graveler he had fought stared at the pendant for the entirety of their conversation. It had been unnerving enough for King to threaten the Ground Pokemon. He was fairly certain he'd seen Vulpix lick it too. Ash was honestly a bit jealous at the blatant display of affection. King rumbled and raised his dominant claw that was glowing with Metal Claw.

This could be rough. "I'm glad you brought it up actually," Ash muttered. "Steel and Rock Pokemons tend to not be cut easy. We'll have to smash 'em if we want to win." Over time Rock and some steel Pokemons took on qualities of a diamond, which meant they had to smash their inclusions if they wanted to do genuine damage. The incredible strength that could rival massive Ground-types and the instinctive ability to find the weaknesses in an opponent's form was why Fighting-types had an advantage over Steel and Rock Pokemons.

"Also, the whole going at others with Metal Claw and Vice Grip when they freak you out thing needs to stop," the trainer said turning to his Pokemon. King narrowed his eyes. "You can't go around killing Pokemons or we'll owe people money." Ash paused. There may be something wrong with my logic here. A problem for later. "Worse, you kill a person and you could be killed." A double standard that still made his mother furious. It made him furious too. He had to listen to her complaints. Truthfully, he wouldn't let Gore learn learn Fury Attack or Horn Attack because the boy didn't want to worry about him killing something with a sharper tusk. Sharper tusks with over a ton of pork who didn't seem to realize he was over a ton could never end well.

"Anywaaay to learn Slam you just focus your power on your weapon, and ya know slam it," Ash lectured with a shrug. The crab Pokemon gave his trainer an unimpressed look before moving to one of the training ground's boulders. "What?" King shot him a chiding look. "Don't give me that look! You've never taught anyone to crap!" Ash growled.

King gurgled condescendingly. "Smash the damn boulder!" The crab Pokemon's right claw was quickly consumed by a white glow. King smashed the boulder leaving a small indentation in it. "Yeah, you have to use it on your whole arm to get the full effect," Ash drawled his tone smug. Later he would admit he deserved the Powder Snow to the face.

"This is why dogs are better than crabs! I can always count on Hellfire not to attack me," he muttered with a dramatic sigh. The boy squawked as he ducked under the bubbles shot at him. "W-willow you're next!" Ash cried scrambling away from the Kingler. The saurian glanced at King and her trainer suspiciously before making her way over to them. Thank the gods! A shield! Ash blinked. Maybe she should be suspicious of me.

"Everyone else is going to be mastering their other moves, but I think you could use something new," Ash began glancing back at King. He nearly sighed in relief when he saw the crab hard at work on his Slam. Willow snorted and shot a Seed Bomb at the boulder in front of them. The trainer twitched as the seed yellow exploded in a yellow burst that sent dust and stone flying. "Yeah, Seed Bomb is a good move, but we need something less... taxing that's good on accuracy," Ash explained waving the dust away.

Seed Bomb was one of the strongest moves the unevolved members of the team had in their arsenal. The only possible exception was Hellfire's Flame Burst. Such a strong move would have taken far longer to master were it not for the her species having evolved to specialize in it. As frightening as it was to consider, bull Venusaur were once considered small. The Bulbasaur line were the first land Pokemons to develop poison and the first species to use powder attacks at all to make up for their poor size. The amount of Sleep Powder necessary to effect a stubborn or a large Pokemon and its poor accuracy made it unwieldy for a bulky Venasaur. The majority of ancient Pokemons had a Rock typing as well, so Poison Powder wasn't always a strong option.

The sheer size of their predators forced ancient grass-types to move away from poison and powder attacks. The Meganium line perfected petal manipulation and mastered Synthesis to a degree that had never been seen. Turtwig and Torterra would combine earth manipulation, their incredible size and mastery over draining moves to survive. The Treecko family were insanely fast, and still possessed the strongest Leaf Blade in the world. The Bulbasaur line developed the very first seed techniques. Only downside is their Seed draining attacks can't heal them. Unfortunately, that weakness and their relatively weak poison was why many considered Venasaur to be inferior to Sceptile, Torterra, and Meganium. Ash thought dismissing her kind as lesser for lacking an easy way to heal themselves was nonsense.

I wonder if she can learn Ancient Power? Of course he knew Ancient Power couldn't truly be learned or taught. It was a rite of passage of a sort for many species. He wasn't sure if Bulbasaur was among them though. Ash knew Piloswine could use either Avalanche or Ancient Power immediately after evolution. The other move being "learned" or perhaps he should say earned, meant they were powerful enough, or just old enough to be seen as capable adults. It should be possible for Willow. Like most of the stronger Grass Pokemon's species, the Bulbasaur line was definitely old enough. Either way, it would be some time before she could use it. The saurian had only turned two a few months back after all.

I wonder when Gore'll earn it. Ash caring for him sped up his development and growth dramatically, but Swinub tended to keep growing until they were about ten, and they'd grow considerably after their evolution. For a species that was considered middle-aged at about a two-hundred, it certainly wasn't a slow development. Even so, the trainer couldn't help but hope his partner would earn Ancient Power as soon as possible. I wonder how long Mamoswine could live... Ash blinked as Willow poked his forehead with a vine. He flushed and turned away from his Piloswine.

"Bullet Seed is really just shooting hardened seeds with grass energy," Ash said clearing his throat. "Like the other one, you can spit it or use your bulb, probably should use the bulb to start with though," the trainer said rubbing his chin. Shooting it out of a Pokemon's maw had to have been easier to aim he'd imagine. "Go on and give it a shot!" he encouraged pointing at the boulder.

Willow warbled and turned back to the boulder. Ash crossed his arms over his chest. They had to prepare. Brock was waiting.

Xxxxxx

"Can you do it?" the boy asked wringing his wrist. The paleontologist turned the tooth in her gloved hands slowly. She lifted it up to the light, then nodded.

"If it can be done it'll take time. I don't think it's likely given its state," the paleontologist murmured to herself. "But even if you can't get a Pokemon out of it, we could sell it or the museum could buy it!" the old woman added quickly when his face fell.

"Thank you, ma'am," Ash muttered sighing. "Sucks eh, guys?" the boy muttered as he strode to the herbivore's exhibit. Hellfire crooned sadly. The dog Pokemon had been looking forward to seeing a prehistoric predator. King would be disappointed too. He wanted to fight it. Ash paused and shook his head lightly. "You fell asleep on my head didn't you?" A slightly louder exhale from Willow was his only reply.

"Well, since she's out of it, I guess we'll just skip to prehistoric predators first," Ash decided patting the large dog's side lightly. Any harder and he'd dislodge the sleeping dinosaur. That wouldn't end well for him or Hellfire. The Houndour whimpered and pulled on his leash lightly. "Easy!" the trainer hissed. I'll have to take her here before we leave. She'll be pissed if she doesn't get to see the Venasaur.

A tiny monkey with a round body and entirely white fur strode in front of them and puffed its chest out. Ash blinked. Is... Is that a pink bow on its ear? The Mankey beat its (her he hoped) chest with fists that would be brown furred with time. Hellfire stared at his tiny challenger then turned to his trainer with a helpless look. Ash shrugged lightly. Mankey's eyes narrowed when the dog looked away from her. "Choppy!" a man's relieved voice called from behind him.

Ash frowned when Willow shifted on his head. The man looked to be in his early twenties. He had tanned skin, narrow brown eyes, and spiky brown hair. His dark jeans had large dust marks on their knees, and his thick, green vest looked to have dirt on it as well. "See, she's right there," the man said with a soft smile to the small girl by his side.

The tanned girl, who looked to be about seven, with brown hair in pigtails looked at the monkey with large brown eyes filled with tears. Mankey squeaked happily and raced between Hellfire's legs and threw herself into the girl's chest. "Told ya we'd find her!" the man said, patting the giggling child's head. "Now make sure you keep her on her leash and apologize to this trainer."

"I'm sorry," the girl mumbled burying her face in the monkey's white fur.

"Eh, forget about it," Ash told her waving his hand dismissively. He was forced to keep a close hold on Hellfire when they entered the museum itself. The Houndour was innately curious about the world around him. It was fine when it was with the exhibits, as long as he didn't get too close. Pokemons, especially small Pokemons, tended to take what looked like a small Houndoom approaching them poorly. It didn't matter that he was friendly, he was a predator, and a powerful one in the eyes of a young Pokemon.

A tug on his leash and a quiet yip led him to their next display. Hellfire panted happily and sat on his haunches. Ash raised a brow at the exhibit. Three paintings of what must have been predators stood before him. The right painting, which held Hellfire's attention, was of a yellow bird with brilliant white flames on its wings, on its crest, and it appeared as though it's long tail feathers were feathers. The beast's chest was puffed out and its wings were spread as though in challenge. The look of adoration on the dog Pokemon's face reminded him of Vulpix's admiration of Ninetales. Not quite Hellfang level hero worship. The black plaque beneath the bird called it the Flames of Courage.

The painting in the middle was of a massive bird with yellow feathers shaped like bolts of lightning. The bird stood tall and proud on what appeared to be a pillar of stone. Three bolts of lightning fell from storm clouds and curved toward Ash, reminding him of an arrow. The great bird's eyes were entirely yellow and narrowed angrily as it glared at the foe beneath it. The plaque beneath it called it the Wrath of Lightning.

The painting to the left was the most beautiful by far. This bird was a light blue with a white chest. Its tail feathers that were colored a blue deeper than the sea were nearly as long as the bird itself. Tiny snowflakes fell from its beautiful wings, looking as though it they fell as the bird soared under a full moon. The bird, the Mercy of Winter, had a magnificent crest made of three large feathers that resembled a crown. "I've never even heard of these," Ash admitted, nearly knocking Willow off his head when he tugged on his hat. A tiny vine slapped his cheek lightly. "Sorry," the boy muttered. How'd I get trained?

"Oh, that's in the predator section too," Ash muttered tugging Hellfire away from the phoenix. Piloswine that lived in herds tended to only eat what attacked them though, and this Mamoswine was female according to Blaine. Probably put her here to look cool next to the Tyrantrum and Aerodactyl. Everybody seemed to lose their mind when an apex predator was discovered. Gore definitely eats enough jerky to be considered an apex predator of sorts. Too bad he preys on my wallet. The dog whined and dug his paws in. "I'll give Gore your food." The dog lowered himself and looked up at him with lowered ears. "You know I'll do it," Ash said, staring into the dog's pitiful brown eyes without flinching.

Hellfire shuffled and glanced at the phoenix before falling in behind. The trainer kept his eyes firmly ahead, unwilling to allow the dog to realize how close he was to giving in. "Gore wanted us to check this out for him," Ash told the dog Pokemon when they came to a stop. Gore hadn't been thrilled when he'd learned he couldn't see the Mamoswine. Ash had to offer to take pictures with his Pokedex to pacify the swine. The Mamoswine was as impressive as he remembered. It was bigger than that Donphan matriarch, he'd wager it weighed nearly as much as an Onix. His heart ached when he thought of the Donphan. If Archer could attack a place of mourning, then there was no telling what depths the man would go to achieve his goals.

Hopefully she submitted quickly. Being a ground-type that wasn't likely. He snorted at the thought of the Rockets getting ahold of Gore. They'd go bankrupt feeding him and he'd sooner impale himself on an Icicle Spear then obey them. He could already visualize how Gore would do it too. He'd eat their food, take as many with him as he could, then kill himself to spite them. Hellfire whimpered and tugged him away from the exhibit. "Okay, buddy," Ash murmured eyeing the fearful dog carefully.

Mamoswine looked to have been a ground or ice Pokemon. The dog's instincts were right to tell him to flee. "Whataya say we go get some food?" Hellfire yipped and he felt Willow shift on his head. Ash's lips twitched. All Pokemons can get up and go when dinner's calling.

Xxxxx

Something that might've happened when Gore and Ash were young.

Xxxxx

He-who-was-Swinub scarfed down his food with the enthusiasm a proper Pokemon should show. He squealed happily as he found another piece of his favorite meat. "Gore, do you wanna swim?" Ash-brother inquired, making the piglet narrow his eyes suspiciously. The boy was doing the odd expression that bared his teeth to he-who-was-Swinub. Does he want to battle? Great Alpha told the piglet the expression meant Ash-brother was happy, that many young humans made unknowing threats. His eyes, a deep brown as the swine's were, shone with glee as they had since he-who-was-Swinub hatched. "Gore, you okay?" the boy called again, his brow furrowing. The piglet grunted. He - Gore - he was not he-who-was-Swinub he was Gore.

The Arcanine Queen, who had taken to grooming him had explained that, to humans, accepting a name meant accepting them. Gore… It was a good and fitting name for a herd-boar. One day, he would reach heights boar had not seen since the New Age began. His tusks would be dyed red with the blood of the herd's foes... "Gore?" Ash-brother called again his tone worried.

"Wanna swim?" he asked again as he put the food into one of the human's odd contraptions.

"Mhmm," Gore snorted. He couldn't open the damned thing anyway. The piglet boar had spent the better part of his morning failing to do so. He trotted after his brother to the clear liquid that sustained life. He squealed and leaped back at what he saw. There was another boar! It's in the water! Is it a water boar? "Go away!" Gore squealed pawing at the boar pawed at the ground too in a blatant challenge. Fury filled his chest. Ash brother was saying something, but the Swinub was too focused on this new rival.

Gore growled and displayed his chin. The Rival displayed his chin as well. The Swinub narrowed his eyes, what could the other piglet want? Horror filled him. Was the Rival stronger than Gore? The Swinub squealed and stomped his hooves furiously. Gore would kill that boar! He charged the foe with his Tackle.

Gore squeaked as he ran headfirst into the water. The piglet scoured the water he had tackled. He found only mud in the liquid of life. Did I win? He must have, the other boar was gone. Gore squealed happily. He had won his first battle!

Xxxxxxxxx

I might do one from the others childhoods as well. Hellfire's and King's would be rather fun.

Next chapter: Vs. Brock

Coming up with a specialty for each Pokemon is hard. I'm going to try to make a specialty for all three hundred or so of the first and second generations. Hopefully, I'll be able to display every line in at least one fight.

In order to make them, I had to research the creatures they were based on, their diets, personalities, and habitat. In case any of you were curious.

If you have any ideas for specialties, feel free to share.

It's actually convenient that I hate writing training scenes because that's usually where I can mention the team's special characteristics.