If you haven't figured by now I do not own Pokemon, then there's nothing that I can do to make it clear to you.
Looks like the Pallet Arc is longer than the Lavender one already. Kind of surprising. I've not yet received any reviews telling me it's too long, so I'm patting myself on the back.
Episode 34
The Feast
Xxxxx
A conversation between King and Hellfire in the Viridian Forest... Alternatively titled King is kind of a jerk
King watched as Gore ran his tusk along a rock he'd hardened. Resting was boring. If there weren't any games to be played, any techniques to be honed, foes to be slain, or females to charm, then what else was a boar do? King could empathize. But resting had to be done. They had to stick to the paths, which meant they rarely had shade while traveling this accursed forest. The lack of shade was part of why King kept to his little pond. The other reason was that the other ponds were controlled by larger and more evolved Pokemon.
King grunted, his other eye opening as Hellfire padded up to him with his head held high. The dog sat on his haunches. King stared at him. Really? He's going to make me do it? "What's your deal?"
"Ash says I'm about ninety percent of how strong Gore was before he evolved," Hellfire whuffed, his small tail wagging at a speed a human could only process as a blur. The dog Pokemon thought on it. "He said about ninety percent of his strength if puberty wasn't kicking his woolly pig a-" The Houndoom's tail froze and King stiffened when they heard a hiss from behind them. They'd forgotten about Willow's nap. "You get the point," Hellfire finished more quietly.
"Ninety percent huh?" King grunted. Hellfire yipped. "So that means you're a third of my strength right now? Or maybe forty percent at the very best?" Hellfire's ears fell. "And maybe ten percent of that Nidoking, I'd wager." The Houndoom flopped onto his side. King petted him lightly with his dominant claw, "Good dog."
Willow trotted up to the Houndour's side and wrapped her vines around his head. King froze when she glared at him. "What?"
Mere days later…
King regarded Hellfire with mild interest as the dog all but strutted toward him. He waited until the Houndoom neared him. "So, now you're seventy percent of my strength?" the crab Pokemon called in a nonchalant tone. Hellfire stiffened and turned toward him. "My elemental strength of course. Physically you'd be lucky to be half as strong as I am," King added, earning a whine.
The Houndoom slumped and the Kingler nudged him lightly. He fell onto his side without resistance. King petted him with his dominant claw. "Good dog."
Xxxxxxx
The light vibrations under his feet was beginning to unsettle Ash. Wave should have been at the lab by now. Something must have gone wrong. Did he get in a fight? Is he wounded? Ash blinked before rubbing his temple. The trainer took in a deep, slow breath. Ash smiled and patted King behind his crown. I'm acting like a mother hen.
The sight of another small flock soaring toward Viridian killed the smile as quickly as it sprang to life. Ash glanced down at the open back of his gloved hand. I'm sweating, why am I sweating? It was a September morning. Kanto wasn't anywhere near as hot as Hoenn or the Orange Islands. My heart's speeding up too.
King rumbled as he watched the Pidgey flee like a furious Fearow was chasing them. The Kingler's eyes darted around them as though he expected a predator to burst from the tree line or charge down the dirt path at any moment.
Then a giant furious Fearow did shriek, making King and Ash jump and the flock change course. "You know, when we were younger, we wondered if the corral's population was low because of her," Ash said with a sigh, "Course we also thought she was possessed by a Pokemon that had escaped the realm of Giratina," he muttered. The wary look King was sending the corral had Ash thinking the Kingler was wondering the same.
There's that rumor about her wiping out a flock to celebrate her first clutch's hatching, but I think it's best I avoid that topic. It was probably just a rumor anyway. Ash found he could picture her wiping out a flock in irritation easily enough. He shuddered.
A black and white form raced into the edge of his vision. "Willow and Hellfire are almost here!" Ash hissed. King rumbled before turning to face them. The trainer took a few deep breaths. There wasn't any point in worrying the youngest members of the team. Not yet anyway.
There were other things he needed to figure out now. Like why a grass and poison mix could heal. Only fairies, grass Pokemon with fairy moves, and the Flames of Courage, Moltres, should be able to heal. If grass-types could heal, then why did Pokemon Centers need to spend so much money to get fairies? Maybe I haven't heard of this because of how rare the Bulbasaur line is? The number of Venusaur in the Indigo League's territory was under ten at his most generous estimate. The only ones who knew much about the species he was willing to speak to were Janine's family, and they guarded their secrets carefully. Her healing definitely isn't as good as a fairy's. All she did was seal a small wound and she was tired out.
His grandfather and Master Ace were old friends, Oak would know a fair amount about Willow's species. Which means I just need to bribe him a bit and I'm set.
"That was, uh, that was new," Ash said once Hellfire padded to a stop in front of him. King glared at them. Hellfire tilted his head to the side at the crab's hostility. The Kingler's dominant arm drooped. Hard to stay mad at him, isn't it? "S~o, you heal now. Anything else I should know?" the trainer inquired. He was still so stunned by her new ability felt like the ground was trembling. Ash furrowed his brow. Something about that last part doesn't sound right.
"Oho? She's learned to transfer energy has she?" King spun and swung only to have his sword parried by something that created a crack on impact.
"Grandpa!" Ash sighed in relief as his heart slowed. "You almost gave me a heart attack!" he scolded.
"Hmm, I'd say that has more to do with your eating habits," Oak responded as he tapped his chin.
"I'm not hearing that crap from you of all people," Ash scoffed. "Mom learned to cook because you nearly killed Uncle."
"My food is healthy!"
"Your food is toxic!"
"You see the way he treats me, Willow?" Oak asked as he looked beyond Ash. "You'd never treat your grandpa like that, would you?" The Ivysaur glanced between the two of them as though deciding which Charizard would eat her.
"Remember who feeds you, Willow," Ash said, giving the dinosaur a sharp look. Willow made herself as small as possible as she hid behind Hellfire's horns. Huh, if they were a bit bigger I wouldn't be able to see her at all.
"Threatening a calf now, are we? What a low, low human being you have become Ash," Oak observed, clicking his tongue and shaking his head.
"Shouldn't you be tripping over your coat, or studying, or at least doing something a little bit productive?" Ash demanded with a huff.
"I am doing something productive. I'm bonding with my grandson," Oak told him in a tone one would use when explaining something to an idiot. The edge of Ash's vision was beginning to turn red. "Okay, okay, I'm heading to the feast," the professor explained, holding his hands up in surrender.
"The food isn't ready yet, that's why they came back," the trainer sighed and pointed at Hellfire. The Houndoom kicked at a pebble. "What? You wanted to look like a loyal Pokemon following my order to come back? After ditching me for food?" Ash snorted. Hellfire whined, prompting Willow to glare at him before hopping off his neck. The trainer rolled his eyes when she pulled herself onto his shoulder and licked his cheek. You're both suck ups.
"How'd you block King's claw?" he asked, turning to his grandfather with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Why, with my cane, of course," Oak said, holding the brown cane that came up to his chin up. Ash's eyes narrowed. There was a silver material beneath the chipped wood. Metal huh. Hellfire whined again and Ash turned to him. What? His Houndoom was openly trembling while King had gripped his dominant arm with his smaller claw to stop it's subtle shaking. Ash nearly jumped when another wave of tremors racked them. They were becoming more powerful at a disturbing rate.
Ash found his breathing growing faster. His hand was falling to Gore's Pokeball when a large hand clapped down on his shoulder. He looked up at his grandfather's grave, lined face. "It's been quite a while since you felt this, hasn't it?" Oak said as he turned to face the bay.
Be neat if you weren't so casual about it, old man. A Champion's Gyarados losing his temper could easily lead to the utter destruction of Pallet Town. "Why's he so bothered?" Ash asked after glancing in the direction the vibrations were coming from again. Wave was generally a very laid back Pokemon. The last time he saw the Gyarados this agitated was when Gary and Aria nearly died.
"There was an oil spill in Porta Vista about a month back. A mere two hours later, a sailor claimed to have seen a Tentacruel longer than a ten story building." King snapped to them with a peculiar light shining in his dark eyes. "Ten minutes after that, a terrible storm fell upon the city with waves too fierce for our sailors to brave," Oak explained.
"A Tentacruel can't be that big! Even Champion Macy's only made it to thirty-two feet!" the trainer protested. The notion of a Tentacruel so massive existing, let alone going unnoticed as it grew was preposterous. Ash froze. No, there was one that was that large and it did hide itself effectively. If it happened once, then what was stopping it from happening again? "This is another one of those," Ash rubbed his forehead. "Like Hellfang," he added when his grandfather gave him a blank look. Oak winced. "It's worse," Ash's shoulders sank.
King made an odd squealing noise. "And you're not fighting it!" King glared at him. "Damn bloodthirsty crabs," the trainer muttered. Isn't Gore supposed to be the crazy one?
"Reminds me of Arcia," Oak huffed and elbowed him lightly in the ribs.
"Just finish the story," Ash grumbled. Are the birds really leaving because of something that happened a month ago?
"Oh, fine. Being the responsible former Champion I am, I had Wave talk him down before Porta Vista became dangerously below sea level," the professor snickered at his own joke. Ash groaned, then stiffened when the implications of the statement sank in.
"Wait a minute! You're telling me you sent Wave to talk to him alone?" Ash stared at his grandfather like he'd lost all sense.
"I may have," the professor responded while averting his eyes.
"I'm gonna talk to mom about you going in a home. Or an institution," the trainer decided after a moment.
Oak's eyes narrowed, "You wouldn't dare." They both knew he wasn't going in a home, but an institutionalization wasn't impossible. His team might even approve of it if they explained it to them. Especially after the incident with the Dragonite.
"I might do it," Ash drawled. The professor rolled his eyes like a petulant child.
"I've not snapped yet, brat!" Oak retorted with a scowl.
"Pretty sure you've been avoiding psychiatrists since before Uncle Garrett was born," Ash responded with a shrug.
"I'll have you know he's not hurt and I sent Plains with him!" The vibrations had become weaker yet Ash felt they were coming from something nearer to them. "See for yourself!" Instead of Wave, a brown bull with a dark brown mane wrapped around his neck and curved white horns trotted out of the tree line. Three long scars stretched crossed his chest and another scar from a horn slashing him across the side of his throat. Plains' three black whip like tails slapped his side lightly as he bellowed a greeting.
"Hey big guy!" Ash shouted while grinning and waving at the three thousand-pound bull. "Great isn't he, guys?" the trainer asked as he turned back to his team. His jaw slackened. Hellfire was lying on his side with his long tongue hanging out of his maw. Ash stared for another moment before turning to Willow and King. "Thank you for having a bit of sense," the trainer told them in the sincerest tone he'd used since Gore began his campaign against Ash's sanity. King saluted while Willow gave Hellfire an exasperated look.
"You really do have an interesting bunch," Oak said with a gray brow raised.
"Don't need to tell me that," the trainer retorted.
Plains stopped a few feet in front of them and shook his great head. "This'll be the first time you're team has met him right?" the professor inquired in a light tone.
"Yeah," Ash answered, his eyes still locked on Hellfire.
"Well, then," the professor coughed into his fist, "King! Willow! This is the bull who has been the world's strongest Tauros for over forty years," Oak told them while pointing at the Tauros. Plains bellowed and stomped a great hoof with enough force to make the earth beneath it to take on the hoof's shape. "Ah, you're right, I apologize. World's strongest bovine for over forty years." The Tauros stared at him for a beat. "That includes Alder's buffalo," the professor added. Plains snorted in satisfaction.
Ash gave the Tauros a deadpan look. Plains hadn't even seen Alder's Bouffalant in over thirty public match was a decisive victory in his favor, so the trainer hadn't a clue why the Tauros insisted on making his superiority known. Willow cooed and tilted her head to the side. She's not afraid of him? Could it be because Plains was a herbivore and an older bull?
King was eyeing Plains as one might a gift from the heavens, then his dominant arm took on a white hue. "I'll cook you in a hot tub!" Ash hissed. The Kingler glared at him. The trainer glared back. Messing with a member of his grandfather's team meant messing with Dora, and he didn't feel like carrying a paralyzed crab around for a few hours.
Ash smiled and waved when Wave's head became visible over the trees. The Gyarados gave a rumble in return making the earth vibrate and King and Hellfire fall into battle ready positions. "Thought he was gone because the vibrations got lighter?" Ash smirked.
His brow creased when they ignored him in favor of continuing to watch the approaching Gyarados in a manner reminiscent of someone expecting an Electrode to go off a foot in front of them. They weren't blinking, even when Willow waved a vine in front of them. "Relax, boys," Oak said in a soothing tone. "He's not attacked unprovoked in all of his life." Hellfire glanced at Ash and whined before rising from his crouch when the trainer smiled. King maintained a crouched position with his larger claw in front of him like a shield.
Is it because of his species? Though they functioned well on land, the vast majority of the sea serpents hunted in the water. It made sense for a water-type to be especially weary of a Gyarados. He glanced at Willow, only to be greeted by a patch of dirt. Oak tapped his shoulder.
His Ivysaur had seated herself on her haunches in front of Wave. She trilled up at him and Wave snorted back. Wait, what? Wasn't she afraid of him when we left? If she wasn't scared of him, then what was it? Ash smirked. Never mind. I can use this. "Never thought I'd see the day she's braver than you," he said, giving the Kingler a sly glance. King gargled like something was in his throat before glaring at Ash like he'd lost all sense. "What?" he snorted. "She's out there, you're hiding behind me. Seems like she's braver to me."
King hissed, his dark eyes flashing ominously. "Prove me wrong," Ash offered, shrugging. The Kingler glanced at the ground before marching toward the sea serpent. A silver orb smacked into Wave's neck, enveloping the serpent's head in smoke. Willow squeaked and King activated Harden while Hellfire began to sniff insistently with Odor Sleuth.
A sense of foreboding growing in his belly, Ash turned around. His partner stood not twenty yards down the trail. Gore bellowed and pawed at the ground in challenge
"Oh? That was his Ancient Power wasn't it?" Oak inquired, glancing at Plains.
"Y-yeah," the trainer answered. Another bellow of challenge and stomping of Gore's front hooves made Ash facepalm. Wave dispersed the smoke with a huff, his blood red eyes glinting dangerously. The Piloswine pawed at the ground again before blasting a stream of howling wind at the Gyarados. Wave snorted a burst of water that smothered the Gore's attack with ease before it engulfed Gore himself and trapped him in a whirling orb. Only his snout and his flailing legs were free to wiggle while he fought to free himself.
"That was… even more one sided than usual," Ash muttered, his cheeks heating up. He pulled this crap yesterday! Why did he think it would end any differently?
"I'd give him an a for effort," Oak said, chuckling, "But his sense is still definitely getting a failing grade."
As they watched Gore try to freeze the water the trainer knew Wave had commanded to remain in its liquid form, Ash had to admit his grandfather was correct.
Xxxxx
"Hey, Dora! How've you been?" The Ampharos just stared at him. Ash's smile faded a bit. The kangaroo leaned down to sniff at his hat. "We don't have to do this every single time I leave Pallet," the trainer grumbled. Hellfire shot him a scandalized look. "What? We don't! Doesn't this ever get old for you two? The feast is right around the corner," Ash said, pointing at the lab his grandfather and Wave had disappeared around. Jerks, left us. Took my pig too.
The Ampharos ignored him in favor of continuing her inspection while Hellfire barked in an affronted manner. Ash's eye twitched. She even did this the last time he and his mother went to the Viridian Pokemart. They'd been gone for less than an hour, but the Ampharos was convinced something may have changed. So she sniffed. After another long moment, Dora snorted lightly in a satisfied manner and leaned back. Ash had to crane his neck back a bit to look into the kangaroo's dark eyes.
Amphadora's fur was a deep yellow fur that always reminded him of falling lightning, her underbelly was white while her long neck, powerful tail, and conical ears each had three black stripes wrapped around them. The red orbs atop her tail's tip and her forehead were what made the Mareep family truly unique among Electric-types. Through these orbs, they could channel electric, draconic, bug, and even rock energy. Their versatility and destructive potential made the Mareep line one of the most powerful electric-types species in the world.
It was odd to imagine a fluffy Flaaffy or a Mareep assisting an officer in arrest, but their gentle disposition, natural protective instincts, and the ease with which they could be trained made them a mainstay for the police force in every region they were common in.
Ash scratched the part of Dora's thin neck that her flipper like arms couldn't reach and was rewarded with a purr. They also made nice pets, girls were especially fond of the family. Pretty popular with trainers looking to meet girls. That was something he suspected Willow and Grace could do even better than the sheep and kangaroo mix. Ash was looking forward to seeing what would happen if he won a round using them. He smiled. The Conference is going to be great for us.
A familiar hiss and a dainty paw poking his leg made him freeze. Grace gave him a glare fierce enough to make him gulp. "Got away from Acaya, I see," Ash laughed nervously, his eyes darting around for some form of shield. Throwing her at Acaya to distract the Arcanine wasn't the most honorable of actions, but Acaya had seemed convinced Kakuna needed to be groomed. Ash couldn't picture that ending without something being horribly poisoned or burned, so a sacrifice had to be made for the good of the team. "At least you had the chance to bond with a powerful fire-type? A-and you look great!" he offered.
Hellfire inched away from Ash. The little traitor. The dog had been all too happy to escape when the Arcanine was distracted. And where the hell did Dora hop off to? "We should be getting to the table now," the trainer decided, "It can't start without the returning Rookies." Ash promptly lifted Kakuna onto one shoulder and made sure Willow was secure on the other before strolling around the lab. Grace yipped indignantly and scurried after him, prompting him to fall into a near run.
Grace stumbled to a stop when they were halfway around the lab. Her eyes widened as a joyful bark sounded. Ash rushed to flatten himself against the wall of the lab, making Willow squeak and nearly dislodging Kakuna. Grace flipped around and entered Quick Attack. Acaya bounded around the lab after her. "I swear I felt wind when she passed me," Ash muttered, shaking his head lightly. He would never get used to a four hundred pound dog acting like an attention starved puppy.
He stepped the around the lab with a relieved smile. Those Spearow getting her hip was a blessing. Definitely wouldn't have gotten away otherwise. "Thanks for the help back there pal!" Hellfire didn't even bother offering him an apology as he raced to the food. "He can be a jerk sometimes," Ash muttered as he followed after the Houndoom. Kakuna clicked in agreement while he was being lowered to the ground. "Whatever, let's eat ," Ash backpedaled clutching his aching nose. A pink wall had materialized in front of him.
"Oh, you made it! Mom was about to call Acaya," Daisy said, breathing a sigh of relief.
"G-good thing she didn't," the trainer uttered with a nervous laugh. He understood the Arcanine was on edge after not seeing them and her Growlithe in over a year, but why did his mother just watch when they were caught? The barrier faded and a large purple feline with a red gem on the center of her forehead sauntered to Daisy's side. Ash glared at the Espeon. Eia's white eyes shone as a full moon might when she saw him. Ash's hand was falling to King's Pokeball when Willow hopped off his shoulder. The dinosaur swallowed as the Espeon's milky gaze fell to her.
Daisy sighed, "I thought you two were past this."
"Why'd you think that?" Ash asked, his eyes locked on Eia's orbs.
"Don't you remember? We had a long talk about it, and you two hugged!"
That made Eia and Ash turn to her. "No we did not," the trainer corrected. He distinctly remembered Gore getting thrown through a branch, then Aria jumped in and blasted Eia and Gore because she couldn't stand being left out.
"Are you sure? I was certain you made up," Daisy responded, her forehead creasing in thought. Eia shot her trainer a flat, unimpressed look.
This another one of those, remember what she wants to remember things isn't it? "Shouldn't you be-" A loud bark and the sound of flippers slapping together gave him a reason. "Keeping Dewi from trying to balance a Metapod on his nose?"
"What?" She turned around. "Again? Really? You'd think he'd of learned after the first three times!" Daisy grumbled before striding toward the Dewgong. Eia shot him a final dirty look and trotted after her trainer.
"Willow, remember that talk we had about your fighting over berries," Ash began, eyeing the Espeon's back. "It doesn't apply to her." Willow shifted in place before cooing uncertainly. "Forget about it, let's just enjoy the food," the trainer sighed.
Ash could feel gazes burning into him as they made their way to the platform Pins and the other ground-types had built. The four stairs were smooth enough to make one think they'd been crafted by hand and were at a height he found neither too tall or too short. Willow had to hop to climb them. Kakuna was left at the bottom, glaring at the steps as though they were the lowest of individuals. Willow offered him her vines, only to receive a glare.
The bug Pokemon rolled back, then shot a string at the highest of the steps. He tugged, crashed into the step, and bounced several feet back. Ash felt his cheeks burn when hoots, laughter, and squeaks sounded. A red orb flew over the trainer's head and exploded into the earth yards behind Kakuna. He turned to find Hellfire baring his canines at Sparky, Aria, and Gary.
Willow snorted quietly before sending her vines out to grab Kakuna. The bug squeaked indignantly as the Ivysaur lifted him to the top step. Ash picked Kakuna up before the bug could try something they'd all regret. "Let it go. They didn't mean it like that," he told his Houndoom. Hellfire shut his maw slowly while maintaining his glare. Ash tugged him by his nape as the trainer made his way to the end of the table. Sparky glared at Hellfire as Ash took the seat next to Ritchie.
Ash placed Kakuna on the table as he took his seat. "Your Pikachu is a jerk," he said, glancing at the blond. Sparky hissed, his red cheeks giving off small sparks.
"Sometimes, yeah," Ritchie replied with an apologetic smile. Sparky glared at his partner.
"Hellfire, where's Gore?" The Houndoom blinked and turned from glaring at an unimpressed Aria. Hellfire stared at Ash blankly. "Just use Sniff," he deadpanned. He still couldn't believe the oldest known fossils of Houndoom were believed to be around ninety-five thousand years old. How the hell did this species last a millennia without humans? He didn't care what the legends said, the First Tamer had to have lived more than ten thousand years ago.
Hellfire whuffed at him to get his attention, then he pointed to a table about ten yards to their left. He found Gore lying on his side next to Rhyhorn with a large watermelon in front of him. "Of course he found some food," Ash muttered to himself, sighing.
After his annoyance faded, Ash felt a nostalgic feeling wash over him. Rhyhorn was a little over two and a half feet tall and was about as broad as an average sized man. She was slightly smaller than Gore was before he evolved. Nah, he was way chubbier. The trainer smirked. If she had tiny tusks and shaggy brown fur she'd fit right in a herd of Swinub. Ash blinked. Next to Gore as a Piloswine she appeared a child. She is a child. The realization made his back stiffen. They were children when they left. Ash ran a hand through his hair. The trainer still didn't know what to think of the picture his mother had taken the week before they left on their journey.
Gore chuffed before pushing a melon toward the smaller ground-type. Rhyhorn squealed enthusiastically as she beheld the treat. The small Donphan cow two tables over gave Gore an appraising look. The Piloswine offered Ash an inconspicuous grin, then he turned to teach Rhyhorn how to better scoop the food up.
"Say what you will about him, but you can't deny the pig has game," Ash muttered while propping his cheek up on a palm. Willow huffed before lying by her trainer's feet.
"... Ya know, that might actually work on me," Janine admitted with a blink. Gary froze with his hand inches above Eevee's back. Not even trying to hide it anymore, are you? It was a step, he supposed.
"First time you've seen him like this, eh?" Ash asked with a smile. Hellfire gave a slightly subdued whuff as he watched his friend. The raven-haired trainer snickered. Ash found himself regretting they'd only met two Pokemon that Gore had taken an interest throughout all their journey. Hellfire's tilted head and baffled blink would never get old.
At the same time, I'm kind of glad we didn't run into too many ground-type females close to Gore's age. Trainers could get a bit overprotective when it came to their female Pokemon. Ash frowned. Even explaining Gore couldn't get them pregnant didn't help.
Ash raised a brow when Donphan huffed in a manner similar to Gore's laughter. The trainer wished he could get the Piloswine to use his mind like this on matters other than food, fighting, and finding more food. Ash turned around to glare at Wave. I blame you for this. The Gyarados who had curled up between the lab and the table of honor grinned. Absently, he noted the horrified squeak Sparky vocalized at the grin.
"Ash take your hat off!" his mother's voice snapped from the right.
"It's in my lap!" Ash retorted, turning to face the auburn-haired woman. He wasn't sure how to react when he realized he couldn't even see her head behind the giant pot she was carrying. Delia sat the pot down on a table a few feet in front of Ash with a relieved groan. What the hell does she have in there? His brow creased. That couldn't be the noodles, could it? Three women and two men made their way to his mother's side before placing the large pots they carried next to his mother's giant pot.
"Ash you know you have to-" His mother paused, her mouth forming an oh as she stared up at him. "Huh, it actually is off," Delia observed in a stunned tone. Willow peeked out from under the table and made an amazed coo. Ash shot them both dry looks. Delia cleared her throat and scoured the various stands set up. She found what she wanted. "All right, everybody! It's time to get your plates!" she declared, clapping her hands.
The trainer blinked, and there was a small line at each of the stands. Ritchie made to stand, prompting Ash to place a hand on his shoulder. The blond turned to him with a quizzical look. The older trainer pointed at the men and women standing beside his mother. "They work for my mom. Just ask, they'll get anything you want," he said. "And your team too," he added as he released King. The Kingler grunted upon release before moving to stretch. Hellfire whuffed a cheerful greeting the crab returned with a gurgle.
"How do I know what's out-" One of the women, a brunette with brown eyes and a winning smile, handed Ritchie a menu. "Oh," the blond said as she placed menus in front of the other trainers. Ash wanted to get their measure, but he knew his mother would find out. He knew their respective partners were from the Oddish, Poliwag, and Houndour families. All very capable families that grew into their second forms quickly with support. Which made him wonder how they managed to lose to Vinya after a year's worth of training. Oh god, I'm analyzing them. I just said I wouldn't do that!
A throat cleared. "I, uh, I'll have this," he said, pointing at the fourth dish on the menu. Ash sincerely hoped they didn't switch anything around on the menu this year. He felt his mother's eyes on him as the waiter left to get his food.
"Ash, you need to do something about Gore," his sister's voice called in a nervous tone. Ash almost rolled his eyes. Surely, she wasn't worried about Gore flirting a bit? He glanced to the third table off his right. Daisy swallowed as she stared in his Piloswine's direction. Ash turned with a sinking feeling in his belly.
Plains loomed over Gore with the tip of his suddenly wicked looking curved horns pointing toward the Piloswine. She's in his herd? He gnashed his teeth. Of course, she's with Plains! Pins doesn't have the pull to make a herbivore follow him yet! Plains rumbled deep in his throat. Ash snapped up and strode in a near jog.
Donphan and her partner stood behind the Tauros. Plains chuffed and pawed at the ground, making Donphan croon nervously and nudge her trainer back.
Mercifully, even Gore had the sense to realize he couldn't possibly win this fight. The boar inched backward in a crouch while his tusks and chin was kept level to make clear he didn't intend to charge. The sight was almost enough to have him on his knees thanking the heavens in the middle of the feast.
Plains growled again and huffed with such force dirt flew into the air. Ash's pace slowed mid step. Something's wrong. Plains could be overprotective when it came to his granddaughters, adopted or by blood, but he wasn't the sort to pick fights needlessly. The scars along his body taught him to better control his temper than a young bull could ever be expected to.
A pulse of power invisible to the eye washed over him. The moment he registered it the hair on the back of his neck stood and he noticed Plains had become as still as a statue. His breathing quickened while his eyes darted to the right and the left. Pins sat with his giant head propped up on a three-fingered claw, impatient yet at ease. Amphadora was cooing something to one of her grandchildren who looked to have recently evolved. Ash's eyes darted to his partner. Gore had straightened to stand at his full height, seemingly brimming with confidence, but he had his ears twitching at every chirp or cry a Pokemon would give.
Is it just us? No, Plains feels it too! He felt like a Rattata that knew it was being watched by a powerful Noctowl or Pidgeot. It left, no, it's not gone just receded. Should I tell someone? Should I warn- A hand clapped onto his shoulder lightly. Ash flinched. "Sorry about this," Oak said, smiling sheepishly, "The rut just passed, and he's still on edge."
That explains everything. "It's okay," the trainer murmured. He believed Donphan and Tauros had their rut at the same time as well. Ash couldn't help but give a wince of sympathy. Plains had probably been dealing with young bulls from both species who didn't meet his standards would band together to defeat the patriarch. Gore was too obsessed with the peculiar honor many ground-types possessed to try to kill an alpha in anything less than a direct duel if he could avoid it. He didn't doubt other young males wouldn't think twice about it if it meant having children of their own.
He took a step toward his partner and wobbled. The hand that was on his shoulder steadied him. "Is something wrong?" his grandfather asked, his gray eyes sharp as they looked Ash up and down.
"Yeah, I just felt weird, that's all," he said, glancing at Plains. The bull grunted something at Donphan, who cooed in return. Plains snorted before turning to trot back to where Dora's herd sat. Sure enough, there were two new scars along the old bull's back and ribs, and even a small puncture wound on his broad chest.
"Felt something weird? Just now?" Oak said, eyeing him in a manner that reminded him of the look the professor gave Ritchie when they met. His grandfather leaned down so he was nearly level with Ash's ear. "We'll talk about this later, Ash. Believe me when I say there's nothing malicious in what you felt," he murmured. "Everyone's about ready to eat now, and I don't want to be the one responsible for delaying the ground-types' meal," the professor said, giving Pins and the assortment of predatory ground Pokemon around the Nidoking a wary look. Pins' giant ear twitched as he turned to them with narrowed eyes.
Ash turned and marched to the main table. Gore was at his heels a moment later. No one else felt it? He could understand nobody noticing Gore's situation with Plains while they were getting food, but how could they not feel that strange power? It lasted for the length of a heart beat, yet it was enough to have him still on edge minutes later.
The trainer lowered himself into his seat slowly. Grandpa felt it. He says there's nothing bad to it, and it doesn't feel bad, so I should let it go and enjoy the party… As terrifying as it felt, it was familiar too. I've felt it before. I know I have. Which made his inability to identify the source of the power even more irritating.
A quaver from beneath the table drew his attention. Willow hopped into his lap and buried her face in his chest the moment Ash looked down. She feels it? Can the others feel it too? Hellfire was eyeing the rather impressive pile of shellfish a black-haired waiter was placing in front of King. The Kingler hissed at Hellfire and waved his claw. Kakuna was glaring at Gore with suspicion as the Piloswine sat in a pensive silence. Okay, they definitely don't. "Hellfire," Ash growled, making the Houndoom whine. "Yours is coming." He pointed at the waiter approaching them with three bowls balanced on a single hand, and another far larger bowl balanced on his other hand.
Hellfire's light brown eyes lit up as he barked joyfully. The waiter placed his bowl in front of him with a laugh, and the dog attacked it in a fervor he rarely reached in battle. Ash snorted and rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help the fond smile he gave. He found it hard to stay upset when his Houndoom was around. Gore huffed a laugh and bared his underbite in a grin while King gargled and lowered his claw.
Two small appendages wrapped around his right wrist, making Ash freeze. He looked down, to his relief it was Willow. Ash ran his hand between Willow's ears. "Mom got you lots of berries you know." I was so caught up in my mystery I forgot her when she needed me.
He frowned as he watched his grandfather end a dispute between Tunnels and Rhyhorn with a single stern look. As always, his grandfather sat in the middle of the main table with Ash's mother to his right and Robert to his left. Even sitting the man held an air of serenity and power. We're strong now, I'm sure of it, but I have a long road ahead before I can be like him.
A plate was placed in front of him, and the trainer's free hand inched toward his fork. It was then Ron Roberts rose from his seat. "Everyone!" he called in a voice that easily carried throughout the clearing. "Let's eat till our bellies burst!" Ash joined the deafening roar of approval with a grin.
The food prepared for the feast was something every resident of Pallet looked forward to. It was always freshly cooked when served, and it always left you full and satisfied. Ash would swear until his dying day this feast it was carved into his memory in a deeper way than any feast that had come before it, or would come after it.
As great a meal as it was, it was far from his happiest. He was usually satisfied. His childhood was over the moment he had made his resolve to leave at thirteen instead of fifteen, Ash had thought he'd long since accepted that he was an adult. As he stared at the joyful faces around him, he realized he never considered himself an adult. The trainer always thought himself a boy even after the battles he'd fought, the Pokemon he had befriended, and the sights he'd seen. Ash knew he should have been proud, he knew he should have felt that he had finally reached a key milestone in his life.
I should feel different. I should feel stronger, I don't. I just feel like me. Ash sighed. He supposed it was naive to expect some big change over a meal. "Do you wanna eat something, girl?" Willow, who had kept her face planted in his chest throughout the feast, made a grumbling noise in response. "Come on now," Ash said, shifting her slightly so her front was facing his right. "Gore protected your berries." A pink eye eased open before shutting again. Ash motioned for his Piloswine to hand the bowl of assorted berries to him. The trainer frowned when he heard heavy breathing.
Ash turned. He was greeted with the sight of his partner having stuffed his nose with hardened mud. "Really? That's what it took for you not to eat it?" Ash demanded in a tone laced with disbelief. It was then he noticed Hellfire and Kakuna eyeing the small bowl in his hand. "Better eat quick before they jump us," Ash muttered, placing the bowl on the table.
"Come on, open up." The trainer held a blue Oran berry in front of Willow's face. She sniffed it for a moment, then her eyes snapped open. Ash paled slightly as he watched the Ivysaur bite the berry in half with a single bite. Biting straight through it would be a difficult feat for many regular dogs. It was disturbingly easy to forget what those canines could do. After she finished the Oran he trainer grabbed the bowl and tilted it to the side. He wasn't letting her near his fingers.
In the end, she only ate half of the berries in the bowl. Ash had only just placed it on the floor when Hellfire leaped at it like a man who hadn't seen food in two weeks. "Oh, come on! I know you can't be that hungry!" Ash snapped, glaring at the Houndoom. A string of silk hit the bowl's side before it was yanked off the ground, sending several berries into the air. Hellfire barked furiously before realizing there were treats on the ground.
A thrilled hoot made the Houndoom stiffen in horror. Aria appeared in front of the berries in a pink flash. Her arms blurred as she snatched the berries. Hellfire squeaked, then leaped into the fray. Vines extended like lightning falling to the earth and grabbed at as many berries as they could hold before retracting in a blur. "I swear there must have been battlefields less intense than this crap," Ash muttered to himself.
"I think I'd rather take my chances with the Black Fog again over getting in there," Gary said as they watched Aria and Hellfire wrestle over the last couple berries. Tunnels yipped in agreement while Janine laughed. Delia gave Ash and Gary a look sharp enough to cut before rising and marching to help gather the dirty dishes. The two flinched.
"Probably shouldn't be saying anything about that. At least not for another couple months," Ash said while putting his hat back on. Hopper cooed in agreement as she eyed Delia's back. The trainer blinked. Did… did mom scare a Kangaskhan? Janine had gone slightly paler too. "We missed something big eh, Gore?" He received no response. "Gore?" Ash scoured the clearing. Only the employees of the Pallet House, Acaya's pack, and a few gossiping residents remained. Even the other former rookies, Plains, the birds, and Amphadora's herds had gone back to their homes.
"Ash," Janine called. She pointed behind him. Gore and Wave were lying on their backs with a pile of grapes in front of them. Ash's eyes widened when he saw Gore's tongue hanging out and his eyes half lidded. Wave made an odd rumbling sound before scooping another batch of grapes on his red tongue.
"Gore? Wave?" Ash glanced to his right to find Ritchie, Janine, and Gary as baffled as he was. It was then he noticed the two remaining berries beginning to roll toward the end of the platform they sat on. Grace made her way up the stairs slowly. "Grace! I thought you were with Acaya?" The vixen glared at him. "What? It's not like you were abused!" Grace hissed at him before turning to watch Aria and Hellfire wrestle over berries they would never have. Aria pinned Hellfire beneath her flame colored body, and the Vulpix popped a berry into her mouth.
Willow poked Ash's belly. "Uh, you look great," the trainer offered. A long reddish brown ear twitched in response. "Could really use your help here." Grace glanced at Wave and Gore. "Please?" The five-tailed Vulpix finished her last berry before turning toward him. She pointed at Oak's cup, then back to the grapes. What does grandpa's drink have to do with this? "Gary, what was the old man drinking?"
"Wine or something," his brother replied with a shrug. Wine? And grapes? He turned back to face Gore and Wave.
"Oh god, they're drunk," Ash groaned and hid his face in his hands. Wave you are the worst role model ever. Janine laughed while Gary blinked.
"Drunk? How could they be-" Gary froze. "Fermented grapes?" he groaned. Aria froze with her fist cocked back and her foot on Hellfire's tail. The Magmar teleported to the grapes and began scooping them into her beak. Gary and Wedge could only stare at her, then the magnet Pokemon whistled in a manner reminiscent of sighing.
"Fermented grapes? Like what makes wine?" Ritchie inquired, trying and failing to hide his twitching lips behind his hand. Rhyhorn grunted and made to stand. "You can't have any yet," the blond said, placing a hand on his Pokemon's nose. Rhyhorn whined, but quickly laid back down when Ritchie's Psyduck gave her a quelling look.
The trainer stared at his Piloswine and his grandfather's Gyarados for a moment. "King, should I know anything about those mushrooms you've been eating?" Ash asked as he turned back toward the crab Pokemon. His eyes widened, the crab was gone. Grace yipped, then pointed at behind her with a tail. "King!" The Kingler froze mid step like a Stantler that realized it was being watched by a starving Ursaring.
Gary laughed. "I can't believe you didn't know what your Pokemon was eating!" The trainer glared at his brother. Tunnels gave Gary a nervous look before turning to groom his paws a bit too enthusiastically.
"Hey Gary, what's Tunnels been eating?" Ash inquired in a light tone. Gary's forehead creased. Tunnels froze with his tongue out.
"I know what my Dugtrio eats!" Gary snapped, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Oh, do you? Why don't you ask him?" Ash suggested. His smile grew as Tunnels eyes darted about in search of an escape route. Tunnels began to inch toward the edge of the platform. Gary snapped down to the mole Pokemon. The trainer snickered as the Dugtrio hid behind Hopper. Gary turned to Ash with a snarl. Ash grinned back.
"Ash, don't goad him." The tone Daisy used sounded so much like their mother that he froze and Janine paled.
"A year and half later, and they've not matured at all," his mother muttered after coming to stop next to Daisy. Janine sank so low in her seat only her black ponytail was visible. I really need to have a talk with her later. The suspense was killing him.
"They've gotten much stronger," Daisy offered in a half-hearted tone.
"That's your defense? Really?" Ash glared at his sister. She shrugged.
Acaya came up behind his mother and whuffed. She pointed to the trees to their left. Delia hummed. "Daisy, can I borrow Pins? We need to take the tables back, and some of the Zubat are acting up. You know how they get when they smell the meat." The giant Nidoking's eyes darted around the clearing as he searched for an out.
"Of course," Daisy responded, earning her a glare from Pins. Unfortunately, the Nidoking hadn't been able to even make her flinch in years. "Dewi could you have a chat with Wave?" she requested before turning to follow their mother.
The Dewgong barked happily, then blasted a beam made up of as many colors as a rainbow at the earth. A layer of ice formed in front of Dewi. Wave's eyes sharpened and he rolled over. Dewi clapped his flippers together excitedly as he swung his neck around, making the beam create a path around the platform.
Ash's eyes narrowed. Have a chat with Wave? While the Zubat and Golbat are waiting for the leftovers of one of the few meals Grandpa gives them a year? The only Pokemon his grandfather fed were the birds. The only reason the Pidgey and Spearow were fed was because they were in the corral's borders, and ended up in picking fights when they had a hard week hunting. Having an abundance of food dropped in front of them made this of the best times of year for the Zubat who lived out of the corral. Their excitement brought them to a near frenzy at times.
Pins presence was generally enough to control the bats, but Daisy liked to have the Dewgong when the bat Pokemon were fed. Dewi's Aurora Beam could restrict a flying type's wing with ease. His and Pins presence would make it certain the Golbat wouldn't act up.
Dewi slid passed Aria's unmoving form to stop next to Wave. The Dewgong leaned in as Wave leaned down. Dewi made a sound so quiet Ash couldn't tell if it could even be called a murmur. Whatever it was made his grandfather's Gyarados narrow eyes larger than Ash's head. Gore twitched and rolled to face the older Pokemon. Did he hear it? Gore snorted up at Wave.
Wave hissed back and Aria flipped to her feet. The Magmar glared at the giant Gyarados who chuffed back before winding toward the road. Aria stepped toward him, but Gore cut her off with a grunt. The Piloswine roared at Wave's back and received a rumble akin to a waterfall falling upon rocks.
Aria howled as flames consumed her body. She inhaled and spat a flare of flame in Wave's direction, making Ash and Gary flinch. The fire hit the sea serpent's armor and exploded. Wave glanced back at them, and Ash understood. It must be another challenger. The trainer swallowed a sigh while Gary huffed. "They've not seen him in a year and a half, and he's going after two days?"
"You know it can't wait," Ash said, taking a deep breath and cupping his hands next to his mouth. "Put 'em in their place, big guy!" Wave roared back as he wound from view. The trainer smiled sheepishly when Willow hissed. Gary scoffed and ran his fingers along his necklace. Aria flopped onto her back with an irritated hoot.
"So, Janine, what rank are you in the Fuschia Gym?" Ritchie inquired as he cleared his throat.
"I'm Yellow, but I took the test before I left Fuschia. I could definitely make Silver now," Janine boasted. Ash stiffened while Willow and Grace gave Saur, Crowie, and Hopper a shocked look. Crowie puffed her chest out. The Golbat was already a couple inches above the average height for a Golbat, which was around five feet and two inches if a Golbat wanted to stand up straight. The bloodsucking Pokemon's fangs were easily over an inch and a half long, and she had a wingspan comparable to a Fearow's. She was every bit as fierce looking as the Golbat Willow, Hellfire, and Grace fought in Lavender.
"You think you could make Silver-level? And in one of the Eight Gyms? Are you sure?" Ash demanded. King came to a stop next gurgled in agreement
"Yup! I have more than two Pokemon, I beat a Silver from one of the Dark Town Gyms a few months back, and I'm the Gym Leader's favorite niece!" she said, raising a finger with each point.
Gary raised a brow. "Aren't you her only niece?"
"Beside the point!" the ninja declared with a dismissive wave of her hand.
"You could at least hide the blatant favoritism," Ritchie grumbled.
"It's called nepotism when it's toward family," Gary added in an absent tone.
The nerd just has to do that crap. "There's huge gap between a Silver in a regular Gym and one of the Eight. A Silver in a weaker Gym would be a Yellow in your Aunt Aya's Gym," Ash pointed out as he tugged on the bill of his hat.
"Saur swept one guy's team," Janine responded with a beam. Ritchie regarded her with admiration, while the Psyduck gave the ninja's Ivysaur an assessing look. "Hopper beat two members of another Silver's team, and Crowie did too!" she boasted, making Hopper hide her face behind her claws and Crowie puff out her chest.
"Really? Why didn't you tell me! Could you give us some tips?" Ritchie asked
"Sure! It's my duty as a Silver from Fuschia," Janine replied.
"You don't have the promotion yet," Gary sighed.
"I'm gonna get it!"
"Thanks for the help!" Ritchie cried as he snatched up his stoic Psyduck. The blond grabbed Sparky by his nape and tugged the yelping Pikachu from his ketchup.
"That's really something-" Ash blinked. The ninja was already in the middle of an exaggerated story, judging by her wild gestures, and Gary's deadpan look. They're not even paying me any attention. Whatever. He turned to stare at Crowie.
I'd wager my hat she's not further along than King, if she's his level at all. He'd discovered recently that King was now three inches taller and slightly broader than most adult Kingler. It wasn't huge, but it would be a notable difference if he were to stand next to them. More noticeable than Crowie's size over the average Golbat would be.
Are we already at Silver Level? Or did the gap between us and her team get even bigger? Ash gave Saur a measuring look. Like Willow, his green skin seemed to shine as he soaked in the evening sun's rays. The Ivysaur had grown considerably since Lavender. His thick legs could have been small tree trunks and the red flower on his back had risen at least three inches. Ash estimated he now stood at four feet tall at his shoulders and weighed a little over three hundred and fifty pounds. Good enough to be the partner of a Silver Level in the Fuschia Gym, huh?
Mrs. Mitchell said Corey, Neesha, and Fergus were Level Two Silvers from Vermillion who had been assigned to the Viridian Gym. The three of them were all capable of pushing Sabrina. Mrs. Mitchell had laughed when he'd asked if she was including Glace. She said that Hypno would fit in with Brock or even Surge's team. Which makes her owning us less embarrassing.
We beat Vivi, an Onix, and Fergus's Golem. Admittedly, Onix and Vivi still would have won had their arrogance not gotten the better of them, and they were all holding back to avoid killing his Pokemon by mistake. But we did it. In under two years, they'd defeated an Onix and a Golem. It was hard for him to wrap his mind around. I've been thinking of Silvers as Daisy or Sabrina all this time. There was a gap there, he realized. A very large one at that.
Grace poked his leg. He started, then relaxed when he realized it was her. She pointed between him and Janine. Ash furrowed his brow.
"Hm? What's wrong?" The Vulpix shot him an unimpressed look. "Why else would you be here when you could be torturing some poor soul?" Grace narrowed her eyes, but didn't protest further. Willow made a squeaking sound that reminded her trainer of laughter. Ash smirked while the Vulpix glared at the Ivysaur.
"You see? Even Willow's not defending you," he said in a smug tone. "Now, now, no pouting. What's wrong?" Grace huffed before pointing between Gore and Saur. The Piloswine was still lying on his back and was trying to push grapes onto his tongue with a block of ice he created. Saur was grooming Eevee's back. "Yeah, he's much cooler, but Gore's ours, so we have to accept and support him. Even if it'd be nice if he was less eccentric," Ash offered with a tug of his hat. Gore glared at them in a manner that might have been intimidating if the boar's tongue wasn't still hanging out. "You know it's true," Ash uttered as he shrugged.
Grace swatted his leg again. "What?" A ball of fire appeared on two of her tails. The smaller of the balls floated in front of her. She pointed to it, then to Saur. Then she pointed to the larger ball before pointing to Gore. "He's bigger?" Grace's eyes shone as she sent the orbs soaring at his face, making Ash's eyes widen. To his relief, the fire stopped in front of his face. Then the larger orb hit the smaller orb. Gore hits harder? "You think he's stronger than Saur," Ash said.
The Vulpix yipped before rubbing her temple with a paw. Ash frowned. He couldn't remember the last time they lost a match. Hellfire lost one round to the Vileplume in Viridian, but Willow put it down quickly. King beat a Pinsir with decent experience under his belt while they were all dehydrated.
Ash looked down at his Ivysaur. The pink flower on her back seemed like it should have been a green bulb. An Ivysaur. My Ivysaur. And my Piloswine, and Kingler, and Houndoom, and five-tailed Vulpix. We're strong now. His heart surged in his ears. They might even be able to win the Indigo League if they kept growing at this rate. He wouldn't beat Master Ace's record, but he'd still be one of three trainers to beat the League in his first season. Grace yipped in a self-satisfied manner. You were trying to boost my confidence. Or she wanted to brag about her strength. It was probably a bit of both.
"Grace… I never imagined you'd be so in tune with my thoughts. You're a true friend." Her eyes bulged while Willow chirped. Ash smiled as a cat might at a cornered mouse. "When we win the League, I'll make sure everyone knows how generous and loving a Pokemon you are." She inched backward. "Give me a hug!" Ash beamed and extended his arms. She bolted with a startled yelp.
He snickered. Researching the Vulpix line's fears had been a wonderful usage of the precious time he had on this earth. Willow warbled quietly. The rounded side of a claw poked his side. "Hm?" King pointed down toward Gore and Aria. Kakuna grabbed as many grapes as his mandibles could hold before rolling toward a large white ball of silk. The bug Pokemon unloaded his food into the opening in the ball, then rolled back toward the grapes.
"I guess we should tell him he doesn't need to do that anymore," Ash said, his lips quirking up. King gurgled. "Let's let him finish first," the trainer murmured. King hissed in amusement. Ash stretched and leaned back in his chair. He spent thirty minutes just watching Kakuna go about his task and half listening to the other trainer's story before sitting up straight.
"I need to talk to both of you about our next challenge," the trainer announced while stroking Willow between her ears. Hellfire lifted his head and Gore's ear twitched. "And you two too." King popped a dark eye open. "The next couple Gyms are going to be much stronger than any we've fought until now. If we fought them now, we wouldn't stand a chance." King's other eye opened.
Ash winced a bit. This would be the ugly part. "Gore, King, I can't promise you'll get a shot. Not even in the trial round." They stared at him. "You'll definitely be able to fight in one of the last three, but that's all I can promise." King gargled while Gore grunted and turned to watch Aria, Wedge, and Tunnels wrestle with Dewi. Well, they were trying to wrestle with the Dewgong. Dewi had trapped Aria under one flipper and Tunnels under the other as he held Wedge off with his tail. Ash had to give Wedge credit, the magnet Pokemon didn't give up.
"So, Vermillion is-" Ash shuddered. Eyes as red as blood and a sly smile flashed through his mind's eye. His breathing quickened while sweat developed on his brow. The trainer registered Willow's alarmed squeak before his lap became eight pounds lighter. His mind sharpened quicker than he would have believed possible in response.
"Gary!" a voice cried, but he couldn't identify it in his haze.
Once his vision focused again, he was greeted by the sight of King's glowing hammer slamming next to his leg. Ash stared wide-eyed as pebbles and dust were sent flying from the platform. King lifted his hammer into a defensive position. Move, idiot! Grunting, he shoved himself to his feet.
Dewi bellowed and slapped his flippers together in challenge. Ash scoured the field twice, yet found nothing. Then the Dewgong shot a beam with as many colors as a rainbow at Janine and Saur. It flew between them, and struck a purple face that was emerging from the ground. Saur spun, wrapping his vines around the ghost and yanked with all his might. The Gengar yelped as it was thrown into the air. A silver orb, a gust of snowy wind, a rainbow-colored beam, a flare fire, a stream of purple fire, and several glowing seeds assaulted the specter and exploded.
Ash panted lightly as he stared at the cloud of smoke that sank to the earth. Dewi inhaled deeply, then he blasted a howling gust powdery snow. Gengar burst from the smoke, forcing Dewi to arch his neck after it. A whirling orb from King and another from Psyduck slammed into its face, sending it crashing to the earth. Another barrage of attacks fell upon the ghost relentlessly until Dewi barked.
"Where the hell did that come from?" Gary demanded, taking a deep breath.
"Gengar are attracted to parties and gatherings," the ninja said with a sigh, "They like to pick off people separate from groups. He must have been waiting for us to lower our guard," Janine continued as she rubbed Saur's side. "We're lucky it didn't look at Dewi seriously, if it did a couple of us would be dead." The ninja released a tremulous sigh. "I never thought I'd be grateful to the Fog," she murmured. Gary stiffened while Aria turned to level a cold look at her that made Janine wince. She turned to Gary. "Not for what happened to you-"
"He gets it!" Ash snapped. He turned from the other trainers. Janine figured it out too. Ash tightened his jaw. Gengar still might have killed a couple of us humans or even Eevee if Dewi didn't realize something was wrong with me or Gary in time.
Ash shut his eyes. Gary had the problem too? It took a year for the dreams alone to end. Could his brother still have some of the Fog's residual energy within him? Is that why his Abra was gone? It couldn't have been dead, Daisy would have told me if there was a death in the family, so it must have been given away because of the mark left the Fog. Thanks to the other books in his grandfather's library he'd taken a peak in, he now knew interacting with an incredibly strong Pokemon left a mark on a person's energy. The mark could affect the person in a number of ways, his grandfather's book had said. Ghosts possessed incredibly negative feeling energy, and the power in their mark was believed to have driven men to madness if it wasn't removed.
Grace began to remove the Fog's residual energy from him the moment the nightmares started, but a three-tailed Vulpix's power could only go so far. Could a Magmar even do that much? Aria could produce a Confuse Ray and Will-O-Wisps, which was about as much as Grace was capable of when she was a three-tailed Vulpix. Ash froze as something cold flowed down his spine like a river in winter. What if I'm not rid of the Fog's power? I froze after feeling Gengar...
No, the flashback he'd experienced before the Gengar attacked was different from the nightmares. Ash had been in an oddly cheerful mood after the dream he'd had of Grace's whip destroying the Fog. The trainer was certain the mark was gone. It has to be. Something as thick as a finger poked him between the eyes.
Willow peered up at him. His back straightened. "Sniff. Check for anymore unwanted guests," Ash ordered, crossing his arms over his chest. Hellfire whuffed before his snout took on a white glow. "Willow and Kakuna, go get Grace. I don't care what she's doing or how she fights you. Do it. Tell her I made you, if you like." The Ivysaur chirped happily, grabbed Kakuna between her vines, then jogged in the direction Grace disappeared in with the squealing bug overhead. "Guys," he said, drawing the attention of the three he'd yet to command. "Gengar like that one have gangs of weaker ghosts with them," Ash told them while pointing at the ghost Pokemon, which had been frozen to the ground.
"We're going to find them." King's eyes lit up while Hellfire whuffed happily. Gore merely stared at Gengar with something dark lurking in his gaze. "You guys want in?"
"No, we're going to get Dais, Ron, and Acaya," Gary said with a sigh. The brown-haired young man was still pale. A surge of satisfaction went through him. I'm stronger. Ash grimaced at the thought, and nodded.
"I'll tell the old man about this before I go," the trainer uttered, gesturing toward the trapped ghost. Dewi waved at King with a flipper while the crab raised his dominant claw. Gore snorted at Aria before the Magmar and the rest of Gary's team was consumed by a red flash.
Janine and Gary hopped on Hopper and Tunnels respectively, while Ritchie took Saur. Kakuna buzzed in confusion as he watched Sparky take to Crowie's back. The bug squeaked at King, who gurgled. "Some Pokemon don't really like Pokeballs," Ash explained. "See? Psyduck's on Saur too." The Ivysaur grunted in annoyance while Eevee climbed up his back. Not easy being the boss.
When they'd left their sight, Hellfire whined and pawed at the ground. "I know, I know. We'll get them in a minute," Ash told the wild dog. He turned to the lab when a hiss from his Piloswine sounded.
Ash shot Gore an inquisitive look. The Piloswine stomped insistently, making King turn to scour the area. Vibrations? The Kingler stiffened and turned toward the harbor "Hellfire, Sniff!" he ordered. The Houndoom's ear shot up when he heard the alarm in his trainer's tone.
The trainer watched silently as Hellfire sniffed at the air. The Houndoom snapped to the sky. Gore was already squinting up at something by the time Ash registered the action. Then King's dominant claw wrapped Ash around his middle before the crab Pokemon spun and threw him. Ash squawked like a bitten Rattata as he flew. The trainer braced himself before he crashed into the earth on his chest and rolled.
He gasped, reaching for his sternum. I think I felt my stomach switch places with my heart. Ash rolled to his side, and saw a white and red ball falling to the earth in a spin. The ball began to glow white, then Gore snapped to him and blasted a silver orb. King leaped into the air with a glowing arm cocked back before the Ancient Power crashed into the earth in front of Ash and wrenched a chunk of earth into a wall. A deafening boom and a flash so bright that his vision became white.
His ears ringing, his vision spots of white and nothingness, the trainer pushed himself to his feet. Ash was forced a step back after hitting a stone taller than he was. A boulder? Blinking rapidly, he guided himself around the boulder. "Guys," Ash called, swallowing harshly.
The trainer received no reply, so he stumbled beyond his shield. Ash squawked when he fell over a soft furry body. He inhaled through his mouth, and coughed. I think I ate fur! The furry creature snorted something cold. "Gore!" Ash breathed with a smile. "Are the others okay?" the trainer asked, looking up. His vision still wasn't clear, but he could make out two familiar shadows wobbling toward him.
Once his vision cleared enough to make out his Pokemon he asked, "King, is your arm okay?" The crab raised his hammer arm and shook it. "Good," Ash said with a smile. He looked down to his partner. Gore had covered his eyes with hardened mud. The mud he'd used to plug his nose was now lodged in his ears. Um, what? Blinking rapidly, he turned to King and Hellfire to find the Houndoom pawing at mud over his eyes.
King, who had no mud blindfold, glared at Gore between blinks. The clueless Piloswine yawned. Ash snickered. The Kingler glared at him, which only made his snickers grow. "Come on, he made a shield for you. I'm sure he would have tried to make a blindfold too if he could," the trainer offered with a smirk. King hissed. Hellfire whined as he pawed at the blindfold. "Gore take the mud off Hellfire, will you?" The swine Pokemon stayed in his position.
"I don't think they worked great," Ash told King as he pointed at the earplugs. The Kingler rolled his eyes at Gore. At least he can walk. If he didn't have them, Ash doubted Gore would be standing. The trainer glanced between King and Hellfire.
King turned to the dog before wrapping a claw around Hellfire and activating Metal Claw. Ash grimaced. This wouldn't be pretty for anyone involved. It was then he caught sight of someone slightly taller than the average woman moving through the trees. Ron? He stiffened. Ron was at the harbor with his grandfather. Blinking, he leaned in, and saw a capital R on the shirt of a blue-haired man next to a youth with deep red hair. A tall woman with red-hair joined them.
Hellfire and King followed his vision. The crab froze when he saw the R. The fur on the back of Hellfire's fur rose and he bared his flaming fangs. Gore removed his blindfold after the temperature around them heated. The Piloswine's nostrils flared as his eyes became slits. A chill falling on one side and heat rising on the other, Ash took a step forward.
Xxxxxx
A.N.
If you don't know what the rut is, then I'll make it simple. It's hell for a zebra, bison, or buffalo daddy. Might be even worse for elephant matriarchs. Pretty sure you can guess from there.
It'll be relevant in the future. I can't wait for the carnage.
You ever really loved something, and wanted it to end at the same time? That's where I am right now.
It took me 32 chapters to introduce Silver. I planned him from the beginning and Lance hasn't even made an appearance!
The next two parts will probably top at 150,000. The Unova one, if it happens, will probably be closer to this in length. Somehow, I get the feeling the next two parts will be more than 150,000. I just can't help myself.