The list of the teams should be up on my profile now.

I don't own Pokemon.

Episode 33

A New Seed?

Xxxxxx

Turn Back the Clock Part 1:

Samuel Oak had a bit of a dilemma on his hands.

Wave was Sam's best friend, his irreplaceable partner. He'd lost cost of the number of times the Gyarados had saved his life throughout their years together. If Sam was ever down, he could count on Wave to do all he could to cheer him up, and Sam would do the same for his beloved partner. It was hard for the gray-eyed boy to even imagine a world that didn't have his faithful sea serpent. His mother considered Wave to be the only friend he'd had in his childhood, which was probably true.

It was also true that Sam wanted to live long enough to see any nieces and nephews his sister would give him.

Sam winced when Wave was sent careening into the trunk of a tree before sinking to the hard ground. The sea serpent gurgled miserably as he twitched on the ground. The Gyarados female his partner had been courting threw her head back and roared before blasting a white beam at Wave.

The male Gyarados squawked as he yanked his head away from the Hyper Beam. The beam promptly melted through the tree's trunk.

Yes, Sam reflected while he watched his partner slither for his life, he'd not been in such a situation since Fearia tried to hunt a Rattata in front of its mother. "Should we wait for the mood to pass or?" he left the question hanging. The Spearow atop his shoulder ceased her grooming. Arcia's narrow amber eyes glared at him. Amphadora cooed in reluctant agreement. "Yeah, we'll just wait for it to pass. He's doing fine." It wasn't like it was their fault Wave was into older Gyarados. They'd step in if he couldn't handle her.

Wave cowered as the female cornered him between a cluster of trees. "He's doing fine," Sam said. Arcia barked in agreement. Dora, his sweet little Mareep, hid her head behind a leg.

After thirty minutes, the rage ended and the female collapsed wheezing. Sam eyed her like the volatile creature she was while they strolled past her. "You okay, buddy?" Arcia puffed soot and Fearia flapped it into the young Gyarados's face while Dora nuzzled Wave's cheek. The sea serpent's red eye opened.

Wave whined like a dying dog.

"Yeah," Sam agreed while pulling out a potion," you're not okay."

Blood rages were such unfortunate things.

Xxxxxx

"Who the hell are you?"

"Um, it's me, Ritchie," the blond boy told him. "You were supposed to help me get to Viridian, remember?"

Ash blinked. "Oh, Ritchie. Did you get shorter?" The blond flushed. Ash raised a brow when the Pikachu by the boy's side bristled. It may have been more intimidating were it not for the large red cheeks the mouse Pokemon had. The fact that he had an Ivysaur and a Houndoom sitting at his feet wasn't helping its cause. Pikachu's eyes widened when Willow turned to peer up at him. The mouse's confidence returned once he realized how small the Ivysaur was. "Hi, Wave!" Ash called.

The trainer laughed when Pikachu shrieked and hid behind one of Ritchie's legs. Its attitude reminded him of that gutsy little Pikachu his grandfather found about five years ago. He'd wager his hat it wasn't half as gifted as that Pikachu. That chubby mouse was an Aria level talent. It really was a shame it had escaped. "What's the name?" Ash inquired, grinning at the mouse who had just figured out he'd been tricked.

"Sparky," Ritchie mumbled while bending down to lift his partner onto his shoulder. Ash hummed before turning back to Kakuna. He offered the bug the Tanga berry. Kakuna tried to wiggle out of his grip. Ash scowled. They'd been doing this for the better part of half an hour. Holder-type berries like Tangas held the energy of a single element within them. Giving a Pokemon a holder-type of their element helped to strengthen their hide and promote growth. For Pokemon at his team's level they were truly a boon.

Ash held the Tanga berry out. Kakuna covered his maw with his mandibles. The trainer scowled while the bug's dark eyes narrowed. "You aren't getting any other snacks till this is gone!" Kakuna looked at Ash disbelievingly. "Do you want to sit out of all our battles?" the trainer demanded, narrowing his eyes. The bug whined and wiggled. "I thought not." Ash placed the berry into the bug's mandibles. He turned to Ritchie, "What do you want, kid?" The moment the trainer moved, Kakuna rolled the berry into Willow's maw.

Ritchie coughed into his fist, "I'm having a hard time with my Rhyhorn, and since you have a Swinub I was thinking you might be able to help me out?" he blurted, making Ash wince.

Dear god, do I scare him that much? Is it Gore? I bet it's Gore. The giant hungry pig for a partner thing tended to freak people out. "Yeah, I'll help," the trainer shrugged. "Gore will be here in a couple minutes." Ash turned back to Kakuna and was delighted to see the Tanga berry gone. "See not so bad!" Kakuna buzzed in agreement. "Oi, sit down," he patted the seat next to him. Ash smiled once Ritchie did. The blond and Sparky blinked. Seriously? You travel with a knife happy ninja!

He sighed before propping his cheek up on the plastic table with a palm. Ash found he wasn't dreading the feast as he had yesterday. Watching the citizens of Pallet go about the work of preparing the food was making him feel oddly nostalgic. Round white tables were scattered about the green field in a design meant to allow a gigantic Gyarados to wind through without issue. The spicy ramen stand Mr. James owned made his belly grumble and Mr. and Mrs. Edwards barbeque stand nearly made him drool. It felt like home.

Pidgey and Spearow chirped and sang alongside their parents. Ash smiled. This was the only time of year the Pidgey and Spearow flocks were willing to tolerate one another. All the Pokemon of the corral would be in good moods. Wave would be bringing a literal ton of fish, Dora and Plains had been collecting berries for over a week, and Granyte and Fearia would be bringing several of the wild pigs that lived outside of the corral. Only the bird Pokemon would be eating near the citizens of Pallet, but every Pokemon at the corral would be getting a special meal. Ash grimaced when he remembered the one time they let the birds eat without supervision. Only Spearow could bring out the worst in the Pidgey when they were so well fed.

Ash stiffened as a sense of foreboding hit him. He placed Kakuna on the table before backing away from the table slowly. The bug would only slow them down. Sorry buddy. Ritchie and Sparky looked at him like he was doing something odd, but he didn't care. Ash had only just gestured for Willow and Hellfire to follow him when he heard the joyful bark to his left. Shit.

A gigantic orange dog with a cream colored mane bounded down the street with her long pink tongue sticking out of the side of her maw. Ash's eyes widened. Acaya's eyes lit up happily when she saw him. He hadn't a chance to flee before the Arcanine pinned him beneath her paws. The trainer squawked indignantly when Acaya began licking his face enthusiastically. "Get off gyak-" She got my tongue! He turned his cheek to the ground. "Willow, Hellfire helllllp- gyuah!" She did it again! I swear this should be an attack...

"That's enough, girl, let him up," his mother's almost eternally bubbly voice called. Ash groaned before moving to push himself to his feet on shaky legs. Why do you always let her do that? He wanted to demand. Ash knew it would be pointless. His mother's amused smile said that clearly enough. "If you called home more often, I might stop her next time," Delia told him as she stroked Acaya's mane.

"No, you won't," Ash replied immediately.

"No, I wouldn't!" his mother chirped. The trainer sighed.

He turned to glare at his Pokemon. "Why didn't you help?" Hellfire whined, then he hid his eyes behind a paw. Willow was holding a wriggling Kakuna in front of her with her vines. "You're all awful," Ash growled. Delia laughed while Acaya padded up to his team. Willow and Kakuna stiffened so quickly Ash was certain the action hurt them. The Arcanine smiled at them, accidently displaying her more than two-inch long canine teeth. Kakuna's eyes bulged. Willow collapsed with her legs splayed out to each side and her tongue sticking out of her mouth. Ash facepalmed so hard he knew his forehead would be going red.

Acaya licked Kakuna, making the bug go blank-eyed before falling onto his side. Ash sighed. Even Hellfire had rolled onto his back with his legs in the air. Well, at least he didn't hit the table. That was something. Ash blinked. How was not knocking over a table a victory? My god, I've fallen hard. "Is this your Ivysaur?" his mother asked, her lips quirked up as they watched the tiny dinosaur continue her act.

"Yeah, that's Willow," Ash answered while resisting the urge to sigh again.

"She's adorable!" Delia cooed. "Acaya, please step back, dear," the auburn haired woman requested. Acaya blinked, then turned from inspecting Hellfire to trot to Ash. Even with his latest growth spurt the dog Pokemon towered over him at six feet without counting her mane. It was odd to think she was considered short for an Arcanine who had earned all nine of her stripes. Ash glanced down at Acaya's cream colored chest. She was rather broad for her kind though, so he supposed she wouldn't be lacking in power even when compared to the biggest of her kind.

His mother and her Arcanine's relationship was an odd one. Most Pokemon viewed their partners as something between a best friend and an alpha. Powerful Pokemon like Sabrina's Glace or a member of Erika's team would never submit to any human who they didn't respect. Why would they? They were more than capable of controlling herds of over a hundred easily on their own. Those they respected could command them, but they would not kneel. Acaya was as powerful as the Nidoking they'd fought and far more experienced. There weren't any Pokemon other than Dria, Pins, and his grandfather's team that stood above her between Pallet and Pewter.

Yet she listened to an average trainer who would've never battled seriously if Acaya hadn't begged for it. Oak told him the Arcanine respected his mother's work ethic enough to obey her. "There's more to life than strength Ash." Ash still couldn't make sense of their relationship fully, but it didn't baffle him anymore.

Though he'd known the Arcanine since his birth it still struck him how beautiful and majestic the Growlithe line was once they reached their full potential. Acaya's creamy mane flowed down the full length of her muscular neck. Her similarly colored fluffy tail was softer than any pillow, yet was a formidable weapon in battle. The long black stripes that wrapped across her back, legs, served to further accentuate the great dog's might. She was every bit the monarch Arcia would have wanted her to be. The slight pang in his chest was duller than it might've been before his talk with his grandfather. Wherever she is, I bet she's proud of you, girl. Ash smiled and reached out to rub her behind an ear.

Then Acaya rolled on her back and displayed her belly. The dog grinned as she panted happily at him. Ash laughed before kneeling and rubbing her belly. He grinned at Willow and Kakuna. The Ivysaur stared from his mother's arms as though she was witnessing something that changed her world. The trainer's grin widened further when Hellfire cocked his head to the side. "Don't let this fool you!" Ash called. "She's a ruthless predator! You're an awful bloodthirsty beast, aren't you girl?" Acaya yipped and licked his cheek. Ash grimaced, but his smile returned as quickly as it came.

Acaya's grin faded and her ears shot up as she turned to their right. A giant pig with shaggy brown fur trotted out from the lab's right side. Gore froze when he entered the clearing and began to sniff the air. Acaya's dark eyes lit up. The licking again! "Gore, run!" Ash cried. Acaya flipped to her feet as quick as lightning. Gore squealed before turning and bolting at a speed Ash doubted any Piloswine had ever reached before. The trainer knew it wouldn't save him as he watched the Arcanine blast after his partner.

Xxxxxx

"About your Rhyhorn," Ash coughed lightly into his fist, "What did you want to know?"

"Well, uh, how long will she be like that?" Ritchie pointed at the rhinoceros. Gore was showing the tiny ground-type the proper technique for maximizing horn penetration from a charge. Of course, a Rhyhorn's horn was just a large nub for the first three years of its life, but he supposed it was better to get a start on this while she was young.

"You mean dopey looking? She'll always be like that, if you wanted a smart one you should've gotten a Geodude or a Phanpy." For the life of him, he couldn't think of another ground-type that had sense outside of battle that wasn't completely out of a rookie's range. Or foreign. Or both.

"She's not dopey!" the blond snapped. Ash raised a brow. He does have a spine. "What I meant was-"

"Oi, Gore! Make sure you tell her she can't do that in an official battle! Show her how to mold her energy around the horn so it's a blunt object!" Ash interrupted. "Oh, and make sure she knows why it's bad!" he added. One of Gore's ears twitched before the boar turned to snort at the comparatively tiny Pokemon. The Piloswine's tusks were consumed by a white energy that extended slightly beyond his tusks and curved into an oval shape. Charging with tusks or horns enhanced by a piercing attack in an official battle was a crime that could have your license stripped away at worst.

Rhyhorn tilted her head to the side and blinked at the warning. She would learn. He just hoped she'd learn in a gentler way than Gore and Ash did. Rhyhorn stared for another moment before turning and catching sight of a rather large puddle King had created. "So, what's the problem?"

"It's-" Rhyhorn rammed her reflection the puddle, which made her flop on her back. "It's that. She-she keeps doing that," Ritchie explained with a wince as Rhyhorn began squealing and flailing. Gore raced over to Rhyhorn with such speed that Sparky went wide-eyed. Dramatic thing isn't she? King's water energy should have long since left that puddle by now. The Piloswine stomped to a stop next to Rhyhorn. He sniffed her urgently before turning to her left. His eyes widened when he saw the large puddle next to them. The Piloswine stared for a moment before roaring and ramming the puddle.

God damn it Gore... We were almost cool. "I think that kind of answered itself," Ash uttered, his eye twitching. Gore grunted in confusion when he realized his reflection was gone. Rhyhorn chuffed at the boar and the Piloswine huffed back. They stared at the water for another moment, before squealing and butting their tusk and horn together. Oh gods, they think they won something.

"If it makes you feel any better, he's better when he fights. Or when he's hungry." The trainer paused. "Especially when he's hungry. You should, uh, make sure she doesn't have to choose between you and food until you trust her completely," Ash added. He wouldn't put it beyond Gore to eat Gary if he thought he needed to.

"Er- okay. I won't," Ritchie responded. He and Sparky were eyeing him like he was utterly insane. Ash snorted. They'd learn what it was like to be with a hungry ground-type soon enough. Ash turned back to watch the ground-types inspect the puddle. I should probably tell him about that too.

"One more thing, Ritchie. In fact, I'd say this is the most important thing when it comes to a Pokemon like her," the trainer said pointing at Rhyhorn. The image of a Meowth with a tusk buried in his belly flashed through his mind. "Ground-types will stick by you no matter that comes your way. Someday, Rhyhorn might do something to protect you, something so terrible you'll wonder if she's any different than any wild beast…" Ritchie swallowed when Ash turned to give him a severe look. "Never abandon her, or any other Pokemon, for what she is willing to do for your sake," Ash finished his eyes boring into the younger boy's timid orbs.

More than a few trainers lost their spines after seeing what their Pokemon were capable of. Those weaklings didn't deserve to call themselves trainers. If Ritchie was one of them, Ash would make him regret it. "I-I won't," the blonde assured him while lowering his eyes.

"Good," Ash said in a gruff tone. "Now, anything else?" The food would be served soon. He could tell by the way Gore would glance in the laboratory's direction every so often and snort at Rhyhorn. He's trying to make a mini glutton. Judging by the way Rhyhorn drooled, he was succeeding. First Willow, now this poor little cow. Ash needed to have a serious talk with the boar about Gore's influence on younger Pokemon at some point.

A thrilled howl sounded, making him smile and Gore snap toward the lab. The Piloswine squealed before racing away with Rhyhorn on his heels. "I didn't know she was that fast," Ritchie said, his eyes widening.

"Again, don't make her choose between you and food for a long time," Ash uttered in a dry tone. He wondered if Gore was reaching max speed for a Piloswine.

Xxxxx

A yawn by his feet caught his attention. Willow rubbed her eyes with a vine as she crawled down King's dominant arm. She slipped, but caught herself on the Kingler's hammer and stepping down carefully. One of King's narrow dark eyes snapped open. He eyed the dinosaur with mild irritation as he pushed himself up. The crab glanced at the lab. Ash nodded and smiled.

King grunted before turning around. Hellfire was lying on his back with all of his feet in the air and his tail wagging slightly. King spat a burst of bubbles into the dog's face. Hellfire's eyes snapped open as he rolled to stand. Unfortunately, there was a small tree next to him, which meant he was quickly reacquainted with the ground. Hellfire stared at the tree as though it was a dear friend that had betrayed him horribly. "Food's ready," Ash said while rolling his eyes and turning to march away. Where'd Ritchie and Pikachu run off to? The trainer shrugged when he couldn't find them. He was old enough to train a Pikachu, then he was old enough to find his own meal.

Willow cooed after scouring the small clearing. "Gore went on ahead," Ash answered. Hellfire padded up to his side and butted the trainer's hand lightly until Ash began to rub him between his curved horns. "Guys, make sure you look out for Kakuna. We need him to be calmer around birds if we want him to have the food fresh." And if we want him to fight in the conference. Kakuna's Pokeball shook in response. Willow gave the Pokeball a worried look. "It's like your big groups thing or King's temper. He's got to do this to move forward," Ash explained. King hissed.

The trainer rolled his eyes. The only way to control King's temper was making sure he wasn't in a position to lose it completely. He'd asked Ron and Daisy for advice, surfed the web, went through a few of his grandfather's books on water-types, and found nothing he didn't already know. Water-types that lived alone preferred to smash first and investigate whatever startled or irritated them later. The horrible temper solitary water-types were known for was strong in him too. The solution they found for King's situation was a simple one.

Hellfire was now the crab guard.

King wasn't thrilled, but Ash knew he could count on Hellfire to watch the crab Pokemon and diffuse any situation. The trainer stared as the dog began to bite at own arrow shaped tail. I may need a backup plan. Ash sighed. Hellfire was far more capable when they needed him to be, and had a feeling for when he needed to be serious. Ash would have to gamble on that instinct. The trainer and Willow winced when the dog clamped onto his tail and yelped.

"Sometimes I wonder how he survived this long," Ash confessed while tugging on the bill of his hat. King rumbled in agreement before giving his trainer a wry look that Ash ignored. Willow looked between Hellfire and the lab before crooning and trotting to the Houndoom. She shot two seeds from her bulb. One landed on her forehead, the other she wrapped in a vine and placed on Hellfire's forehead. A Leech Seed? King's eyes widened once the seeds began to emit a green hue. Ash's breath froze as he watched the angry red marks on Hellfire's tail seal shut. The trainer looked to his Kingler. King looked as baffled as Ash felt.

Willow sighed after the hue faded. The dinosaur wobbled slightly, but Hellfire caught her with a paw. The Houndoom whuffed cheerfully and Willow squeaked back quietly. "How'd she do that? Did you know she could do that?" Ash inquired glancing at King. The crab offered him a confused gurgle. Since when can grass-types heal? And when did she even learn this? Hellfire howled and took off in a sprint to the lab with Willow on his back. "Wait! I have so many questions!"

Xxxxxxxx

We learned more about Hellfire and King lately, so I thought it was time to introduce you to more info about Willow's species.

I may write a sequel that is set in Unova, depending on how things go in other fandoms. Ash probably won't be the main character. I think it's pretty obvious he'd own more or less everything by that point. I do like the idea of him as a mentor figure though.