Sycamore Pokemon Lab
With everything concerning the Lumiose Gym taken care of, there was no longer a problem with popping in to visit Professor Sycamore.
"So, you've acquired your first Kalos League badge." Sycamore smiled. "Congratulations Ash. Beyond telling you that, I'm glad you stopped in since I was just thinking about leaving a message with all the surrounding pokemon centers for you."
"A message for Ash?" Bonnie asked, interested just like the two older boys were.
"Indeed." Sycamore nodded. "Tell me, where have you decided to head for your next gym badge?"
"The Cyllage Gym was a recommendation from someone who helped me prepare for my rematch with Viola." Ash smiled. "I figured it was as good a place to go as any, so that's where we've decided to go next."
"Excellent, then you will be passing through Ambrette Town." Sycamore smiled. "I won't ruin the surprise, but I've been in talks with people at the Fossil Research Lab. They've asked for trainers good enough for a worthwhile task, and we ended up discussing you."
"What would the Fossil Research Lab want with trainers?" Clemont asked.
"That would be ruining the surprise, but I will confirm it should be worth Ash's time to stop by." Sycamore assured. "Personally, I'd recommend you take me up on this offer; however, I won't force it. Additionally, you would not be forced into anything even after hearing them out."
"If you say it'll be worth my time, tell them I'll be there." Ash declared. "On that note, we should actually get going since we only planned on dropping by."
"Of course, I got to make that call now and have some work that needs my attention." Sycamore smiled. "Though, don't ever let that stop you three from dropping in the next time you return to Lumiose."
"We won't." Bonnie assured.
"It was short, but it's been great seeing you again." Clemont added.
With their quick visit to Sycamore completed, along with a stop added on their journey to Cyllage City, the trio set off from the lab.
Route 5: Later…
Clouds had rolled in while lightning cascaded through the sky, followed by resounding thunder. Moments after, it began to downpour.
"Gah, it's freezing!" Ash called out.
"Let's duck in there." Clemont called out.
In the distance, there was a large mansion just off the main road. The outside of the building was covered in greenery, and it looked worn down. At the very least, the door had an overhanging section of stone which could protect the trio from the rain.
"Ah!" Bonnie was doing her best to shield Dedenne, who wasn't a fan of the rain. "Dedenne, stay still!"
Before the trio arrived at the front, the door creaked open slightly.
Mansion
The trio finally made in underneath the stone archway.
"Man, what a storm." Ash noted.
"It just came up so suddenly." Clemont added.
"I hate thunder." Bonnie voiced
Lightning cracked across the sky, scaring her back into the unopened part of the double doors where she noticed the other half was slightly ajar. This prompted the young girl to open it more and peak inside. The interior of the mansion was in no better shape than the exterior.
"Let's ask if we can stay here until it stops." Ash stated.
"Guys!" Bonnie ran in. "The door is open, yay!"
"Bonnie, you can't just go in there." Clemont chided from the doorway.
"Anybody home!" Bonnie didn't pay him much mind. "Hello!? Can we stay here until it stops raining!?"
"Dedenne!" Dedenne called out.
"Excuse us!" Clemont called out, knocking on the inside of the door.
"Is anybody here!" Ash called out.
"This place is in rough shape, so it could be nobody lives here." Clemont noted.
"Hey, why don't we just stay here for a while?" Bonnie asked.
"I guess so." Clemont replied.
"Well, it's better than getting wet, but…" Ash began.
Suddenly, an Espurr came out of the hallway before standing within the shadows of the second floor. Around his neck he wore a rather stunning piece of jewelry. While none of them could see him, something resulted in Riolu letting himself out.
"Riolu?" Ash asked, looking around for any danger though seeing nothing.
"Rio!" Riolu declared, his gaze turned to the second floor.
Though he could see nothing, the emanation pokemon could certainly sense the presence of something up there. He suddenly took off, to the trio's shock.
"Gah, Riolu at least wait for me!" Ash exclaimed, running after his starter who was just now rushing up the stairs.
"Ash!" Bonnie called out, though the Kanto native was already running after his starter, down a hall on the second floor. "Clemont, we got to follow him."
"Hold on Bonnie." Clemont had immediately moved to a nearby light. "We won't get far if everything is dark."
He felt around the light before all of them within the mansion suddenly turned on, catching the gym leader's attention.
"Great, you got the light working." Bonnie had rushed over and was tugging on his sleeve. "Now come on! Ash and Riolu could be anywhere in…"
"Bonnie!" Clemont exclaimed, stopping her and gaining the young girl's attention. "I didn't turn the lights on…"
"Huh, that's kind of weird." Bonnie noted.
"Ah, it was probably the sensors!" Clemont tried to cover his rising fear with some form of logic. "While this is an old house, it's likely to have been equipped with the latest technology."
"Okay, that's great." Bonnie bought it, now dragging her brother to the stairs. "We have the lights. Now, let's go find Ash and Riolu."
With Ash
Ash ran after his starter, keeping up with him even though there seemed to be thumping coming from above. He ended up following Riolu to the third floor where he stopped at the start of a long hallway with a rather nice carpet down in the middle of it.
"What's going on Riolu?" Ash asked.
Riolu kept his gaze down the hallway before suddenly pointing. "Lu!"
Ash looked down the hallway as what he assumed to be a grey furred pokemon wearing a locket suddenly turned a corner. Judging by the psychic energy he was exerting on what looked like a ball, it was either pure psychic or that was at least part of his typing.
"Who's that pokemon." Ash asked, getting out his pokedex:
Espurr, the Restraint Pokémon. Espurr's Psychic energy can travel hundreds of feet, blasting everything around it.
"Whoa, sounds cool." Ash noted.
"Rio!" Riolu called out.
Ash looked up to see Espurr was sending the ball down their way, though it didn't seem to be moving all that fast like an attack. The psychic type even bounced it along the ground. The Kanto native stepped ahead of his starter and held out his hands, catching the ball.
Espurr motioned for him to throw it back. Ash smiled, knowing the pokemon wanted to play catch. While he certainly had questions, ones Riolu could help him figure out, it would probably be worthwhile to approach Espurr on his level. Besides, a little play never hurt anyone.
"Alright, here it comes Espurr!" Ash called out, tossing the ball back down the hall.
It bounced once on the ground before Espurr caught the ball with his psychic energy and happily tossed it back to the Kanto native. Well, from there, the two of them happily played catch.
With Clemont & Bonnie
On their search for Ash, the siblings came across a room which contained the portrait of an old woman who wore a rather nice looking pendant. The moment they found this portrait, lightning flashed which scared Clemont and sent him to his butt.
"It's just a painting." Bonnie pointed out.
"Heh, your right…It's just a portrait." Clemont noted. "Perhaps she's the owner." Suddenly, there was the sound of thumping which startled the gym leader again. "Oh, must be some old grandfather clock ticking away. Nothing more."
With Ash
Riolu had taken to leaning up again a wall while his trainer played with Espurr. After a bit, the psychic type caught the ball and motioned for Ash to follow.
"Hm, let's go Riolu." Ash voiced.
Riolu merely nodded as he walked alongside his trainer. Eventually, they were led to a room full of toys. There was blocks, cars, bridges, a slide, and a rocking horse. Espurr went over to the slide and motioned for Ash before happily sliding down.
"This seems like such a fun room Espurr, though Riolu is a bit too stoic for it while I'm a too big for the slide!" Ash grinned. "That said, I know someone who might enjoy it." He grabbed one of his other pokeballs. "Litleo, come on out!"
The lion cub appeared. "Lit."
"Hey Litleo, want to have a little fun with Espurr here?" Ash asked.
Litleo looked to the psychic type before looking to the slide. "Leo?"
It seemed this was a different form of play from what Litleo used to do before meeting Ash, but she was willing to try. As she slid down the slide, the lion cub had to admit it was fun. At this point, Riolu just walked up to a nearby wall and leaned against it with his arms crossed.
Espurr smiled at the fire/normal type. "Esp esp urr." He then looked to Ash and pointed at a rocking horse. "Esp esp urr!"
"Yeah, why not?" Ash picked Espurr and Litleo up before depositing them on the back of the rocking horse, to the pairs' absolute joy. "Alright, are you ready?"
"Esp/Lit!" Espurr/Litleo declared.
Ash got on his knees and began rocking the horse, bringing them joy.
With Clemont and Bonnie
"Ash, where are you!?" Clemont called out.
"Riolu, you can come out!" Bonnie added.
Suddenly, the pair heard creaking.
"What is that?" Clemont asked nervously.
"Maybe it's Ash." Bonnie guessed.
Soon enough, the creaking was replaced by a crashing sound.
"I don't like that sound, but it could be Ash." Clemont reasoned before looking at his sister. "Maybe that's them, so let's check it out."
With Ash
"Thanks, Espurr." Ash was relieved as Espurr had used his psychic energy to catch himself and Litleo when the rocking horse fell over. "Heh, guess I got a little too into pushing that thing. Sorry."
Espurr merely picked it up before depositing himself and Litleo on the back. "Esp." He then waved to Ash, assuring him there was no harm. "Urr urr."
"Good, glad there's no harm." Ash voiced sincerely.
Litleo now noticed the pendant and nodded to it curiously. "Lit?"
"Esp." Espurr returned.
"That is a pretty nice looking pendant." Ash noted, figuring this might help him understand what was going on. "Where did you get it?"
Espurr jumped off the rocking horse before pointing. "Espurr esp esp urr."
Riolu left the wall before nodding to his trainer. "Rio."
Litleo also nodded. "Lit."
Ash nodded in turn before he, Riolu, and Litleo ended up following Espurr. They came to a room with the portrait of the old lady wearing the same pendant. Espurr began to tell his tale, with Riolu translating. While he couldn't talk, the bond between him and Ash was enough.
Espurr's Tale
Espurr was a wild pokemon who wandered to the mansion one day.
The woman knelt before the psychic type, offering food with a smile. "For you." Espurr took a piece of the food and ate it. "Good, huh?"
He was shown a great deal of compassion and kindness.
The old woman had invited the psychic type in and tossed a ball. "Here." Espurr caught the ball before moving it around with his psychic energy and was quite happy. "Do you like it?"
She even let him play in that room full of toys.
Espurr happily slid down the slide, making the old woman smile. "I used to play with my children and grandchildren like this too."
They'd play together all the time. Then, one day, the old lady's health was visibly worsening.
"Espurr…" Espurr voiced worriedly before running to her side.
"I'm sorry." The old lady took a seat on the stairs. "I'm alright." She then looked at the pendant around her neck. "My dear pendant, it means so much to me. It was a gift from my late husband."
"urr." Espurr voiced before the lady put the pendant around his neck. "Espurr."
"Do you like it?" The lady could see it as she smiled. "In that case, you can hold onto it for a little while. Make sure you don't lose it, alright?"
As had happened before, the restraint pokemon was going back off into the wild.
With the evening sun, Espurr happily waved to his friend. "Esp Espurr."
The lady waved back. "Visit again any time."
One day, Espurr returned for another visit. His intention beyond that being to return the pendant, and he even brought a gift of his own in the form of a purple flower.
Espurr made it to the tree line, only to stop in absolute dismay as men in white uniforms were wheeling the woman's motionless body out of the mansion. "Esp…" He had seen this in the wild, knew what it meant. "Espurr."
Even then, Espurr was devastated. He dropped the flower and walked off crying into the wilderness. Eventually, he'd start returning in hopes he could do for another what she had done for him.
Mansion
Ash and his group are the only other people he's seen since.
"So, you've been visiting now to give others what she gave you." Ash smiled as he looked at the portrait. "She sounds like a special person." He looked like the psychic type. "While it's a nice thought, you must have been alone for quite some time."
Espurr looked down. "Esp…"
"Well, I'm not sure how you'd feel about what I'm going to offer…" Ash began, drawing the psychic type's attention. "If you're fine with battling, I'd be more than happy to make you one of my pokemon."
"Espurr…" Espurr voiced.
"There's a lot to see." Ash offered. "Not to mention you'd have a lot of great friends around."
Riolu nodded to him. "Rio."
Litleo smiled at the potential new friend. "Litleo!"
Espurr turned to look at the portrait before ultimately smiling and walking up to Ash. "Espurr!"
Ash smiled as he crouched and held out a pokeball. "Welcome to the team."
Espurr touched the center and was sucked inside, where the pokeball immediately dinged to signify an instant capture. Ash then brought out his pokedex:
Espurr, the Restraint Pokémon. Espurr's Psychic energy can travel hundreds of feet, blasting everything around it.
Type: Psychic
Ability: Keen Eye
Sex: Male
Current Moves: Protect, Scratch, Disarming Voice, Confusion
"Alright, I just caught Espurr!" Ash cheered.
Litleo was right there with him. "Lit!"
"There you are Ash!" Clemont exclaimed, he and Bonnie reentering the room as they heard him.
"Are you okay?" Bonnie asked.
"Yeah, I'm great." Ash smiled as he let Espurr out. "In fact, I happened to make a new friend…"
"Espurr!" Espurr declared.
Route 5: Later…
The storm had cleared, resulting in the trio once again setting off. While Ash had returned Litleo and Riolu, Espurr was out tossing the ball, which was something he wanted when Ash asked, back and forth with Bonnie. By now, Ash had told the siblings about what happened.
"Ah, an Espurr explains why the lights came on." Clemont reasoned. "Not to mention you guys playing around with that ball and the rocking horse explaining the sounds we heard while looking for you."
"Yeah, I guess it would." Ash was thinking about it. "Though, I do have one question from all this."
"What would that be?" Clemont asked.
"Well, Riolu typically doesn't react to pokemon in the vicinity unless they're intent on attacking." Ash figured. "Even then, like with Magnemite back at the Lumiose gym, he understood not to pop until you confirmed.
After all, that was your pokemon. Not to mention, he doesn't baby me either. Unless I'm in too much danger or call on him, Riolu won't just appear. Given Espurr had no intention of attacking us, he shouldn't have popped out."
"Perhaps as a pokemon attuned to aura, he understood what Espurr was looking for and knew you could give it." Clemont reasoned.
"Maybe…" Ash figured before smiling and shaking his head. "Well, no matter how it happened, we got a new friend and got out of the rain. I'd call that a win."
Back down the road, the transparent form of the old woman walked out onto Route 5 and smiled after the group. "That boy will take great care of you, Espurr."
She then faded away, the trio none the wiser as they continued their journey.
Let's have a chat about chapter length. I'm going to do my best not to go under 2000 words, though this naturally does mean some chapters are still going to be short even with keeping a chapter above that minimum. While I did contemplate putting the next episode's contents I want in here, something I will likely do with later chapters, I just couldn't here. I think it works best standing alone.
Now about the content of this chapter. It is season 17 episode 14, though with a little tweak to turn Espurr into an Ash capture. I'm not about to go crazy with the captures, but I did see a good opportunity for a Kalos pokemon. Espurr here, I feel, fits remarkable well as a pokemon Ash would capture with the backstory he had. All you'd need to do is tweak the bonding, given in canon Bonnie spent the most time with him.