Author's Note: Hey everyone just wanting to let my peeps know I'm still here and got another riveting chapter here for all my readers. So this one I hope you'll have a good time reading as this one has another character coming in so I hope you guys will like and please let me know what you think. Anyways also please leave your comments to share on your thoughts and I'll be back for the next chapter to be loaded very soon as well as turning to the Ring Around Ashi series on AO3 so please enjoy. Also there's a poll set up on the AO3 to choose some fairy tail male characters to throw into the harem, please vote when you get the chance!
Disclaimer: Blue Kitsune does not own Fairy Tail or Pokemon
Chapter 19 - You Think Cause I'm A Girl, I Won't Knock You Down: THINK AGAIN!
The following morning, the gentle crowing of a Dodrio could be heard outside the Pokémon Center, signaling the start of another day. Leon, Raihan, and Steven were the first to stir and take advantage of the facilities before heading over to Toshi's and Brock's adjacent room. They exchanged pleasantries with them as they emerged from their room, before making their way to the girls' room next door. However, when Steven lightly knocked on their door, there was no response. The group assumed that they must already be awake and down at the cafeteria for breakfast.
As expected, when they arrived at the canteen, their friends and Sherria were already there, enjoying a meal and engaging in lively conversation. The pinkette was deep in conversation with the Water trainer before spotting them and waving excitedly, "Good morning!" The rest of their group also greeted them warmly before heading over to the continental bar to make their plates and pour themselves cups of freshly brewed coffee. Toshi tried to sneak some coffee when he thought no one was looking, but Raihan caught him and replaced his mug with a glass of orange juice.
"Sorry Tosh, can't let you have any of this yet," Raihan joked as he held it out of Toshi's reach, taking a few sips himself before saying, "You need to grow a bit more before you can handle this stuff. Maybe wait until you get some hair on your chin first, then we'll talk." Toshi scowled but had no choice but to return to their table where everyone was already eating. He joined in and began enjoying his own meal as well.
After finishing their meal, Ashi cleared her throat to gather everyone's attention, causing a clatter of utensils and chairs to subside. The Dragonslayer took a deep breath and began to address the topic that involved Sherria, who sat among them, her pink hair standing out in contrast to the group.
"As we all know, Sherria is new here in the Kanto region," Ashi began, "She made the journey from Fiore all on her own, but she's very unfamiliar with the area itself." She paused, glancing around at the curious faces before continuing. "We were discussing how beneficial it would be to have her join us on our journey. What do you all think?"
This topic had been brought up by the three mages the night before and after much discussion, they had decided to leave it up to Ashi to present the idea and gauge their reactions. Misty had already been informed while they were walking to the cafeteria and she had made her opinion clear before they even sat down.
"I think it's a wonderful idea!" Misty exclaimed with enthusiasm, recognizing the potential for balance in adding another female member to their mostly male group. Plus, she enjoyed her earlier conversation with Sherria about Water-type Pokémon and was able to share her own insight and knowledge with her. Seeing how Sherria was genuinely interested in what she had to say, Misty couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. To impress the newcomer further, Misty released four of her five Pokémon onto the table - Moana, Ronan, Momo, and even Poppy (even though Poppy wasn't a Water-type). Sherria's eyes sparkled upon seeing Misty's Pokémon and she couldn't help but gush, "Ohhhh they're so adorable!"
The water trainer smiled at the compliment before Sherria decided to introduce her own as well. As Sherria brought out her own Pokémon - a Natu, an Emolga, and a Beautifly - Misty couldn't help but be in awe. She had never seen these types of Pokémon before and was fascinated by their unique appearances. Despite her aversion toward Bug-types, Misty couldn't deny that the Beautifly was gorgeous with its brightly colored wings and sweet demeanor.
As they watched Sherria's Pokémon flutter over to the table and drink leftover fruit juice through their proboscis, the girls couldn't help but chuckle at the Beautifly's antics. After that was done, Misty and Sherria allowed their Pokémon to join Ashi's and Lisanna's on the far side of the room where bowls of food had been left for them to enjoy.
The Emolga noticed Aratiri and Leida sharing a bowl together and decided to join them. Pikachu was stunned at the sudden appearance of another electric rodent, but Leida quickly vouched for the newcomer, assuring him that they were friendly. The trio then joined forces, happily munching on their shared meal while getting to know each other better.
After considering the words of Parischu, Aratiri decided it was fine for the Emolga to join them for their meal. As a gesture of goodwill, he offered one of his Pecha berries to the Emolga, who gratefully accepted and then surprised him by pressing her nose against his cheek, causing a spark to fly between them. If he wasn't completely covered in fur, Aratiri would have turned red with embarrassment, but instead he just stood there flustered before eventually joining the other two Electric-types in friendly conversation.
Their trainers were happy to see their Pokémon getting along so well without any issues. The girls resumed their breakfast while waiting for the rest of their friends, who joined them half an hour later.
One person expressed their approval, and the others agreed after taking some time to consider it. However, Raihan emphasized that physical contact should be limited - in other words, no glomping without his permission! Sherria had almost leaped out of her seat to do just that before he spoke up, but she caught herself and sat back down with a sheepish look on her face. She couldn't contain her happiness at being part of the team, as evidenced by the wide grin still on her face.
"Okay then! But I owe you a hug sometime, so let me know when I can give it to you!" She then turned to the others and said, "But I'm definitely giving all of you hugs too~!" She threw in a wink for good measure and everyone at the table laughed.
Brock found her behavior endearing and reminded him of his little sisters. He made a mental note to call his family's house later and check in on everyone's wellbeing. Toshi's face turned red as he tried to contain his excitement (this was the second time it happened - first with Lisanna and now with Sherria!).
Meanwhile, Leon and Steven chuckled openly at her enthusiasm and joked about needing to establish an 'hug schedule' to avoid any chaos. However as they glanced over at Ashi, saw her smiling at their newest member over her coffee mug, and felt like they had made the right decision on this matter.
While everyone was updating Sherria on their plans and current progress, Ashi took Toshi to the buffet under the pretense of refilling drinks. However, her true intention was to have a private conversation with him about what she had learned from Sherria. Luckily, no one seemed to notice as Lisanna and even Sherria herself skillfully diverted their attention whenever necessary.
Once they were away from the group, Ashi shared the basics of what she had found out about Sherria - that she was from the same world as Lisanna and possessed a different type of Slayer magic. Toshi's eyes widened in surprise at the revelation, just as Ashi had expected. It was truly incredible to think that there were others like them out there. They had always thought their slayer magic was the only kind, especially since their father had never mentioned anything else before as she was growing up. But perhaps he simply hadn't had the chance to tell her about this yet.
Toshi's curiosity was piqued and he couldn't help but wonder about the extent of Sherria's power compared to his own. Ashi reminded him that she was still new to this world and needed time for her mana to fully recover before they could even consider sparring one-on-one.
(I'll have to keep an eye on those two and make sure they don't get carried away. It would be difficult to explain if anyone stumbled upon the scene of their supposed friendly fight. I'll have to come up with a believable excuse, but there's no telling how much damage they could cause if they really got into it!)
Ashi was confident in her ability to keep things under control with Lisanna's assistance, ensuring that her brother and Sherria didn't get too carried away in the process. After all, Lisanna had mentioned her experience in handling similar confrontations during her time in Fairy Tail, making it easier for them to navigate any potential conflicts.
However, despite their current situation, Ashi couldn't help but feel a nagging curiosity about Sherria's 'Godslayer' powers and how they compared to her own abilities. She was certain that the girl herself was just as eager to learn from them and discuss the concept of Pokémon in this new world she and Lisanna found themselves in.
As they returned to the table, Toshi had joined Sherria and Lisanna in conversation. The two mages were eager to look through his Pokedex, and Toshi was more than willing to oblige. He explained how it worked and even pulled up the saved data from his recent scans, showing them images of various Pokémon they had encountered on their journey so far.
The girls were mesmerized by the vibrant and unusual creatures displayed on the small screen, hanging onto Toshi's every word as he recounted their journey since leaving their hometown. It was clear that both Sherria and Lisanna were captivated by everything Toshi had experienced.
"Wow, you actually got to participate in that ceremony?!" Sherria leaned in, her chin resting on her knuckles as Toshi told them about their encounter with the Clefairies and Clefable clan in Mt. Moon. Even Lisanna found herself amazed, imagining what it must have been like to be a part of such a ritual. She couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy towards Toshi and Ashi for getting to experience it all. (She also couldn't contain her excitement when Toshi mentioned the use of Metronome that had all the Pokémon perform Hyper Beam - what an incredible ability!)
Both girls wished they could have been there, and Misty chimed in to tell them about her and Ashi's putting on a rendition of Sailor Moon for them. They didn't know what that was but as Sherria and Lisanna glanced over at Ashi, they noticed her blushing cheeks and also the guys themselves also having some giddy grins on their faces, couldn't help but guess that it must have been quite a sight to see.
Toshi nodded, "Yep and after the ceremony and we were just about ready to go on towards Cerulean City, the elder and his mate - Rune and Aurora, respectively - decided to 'retire'. My sister suggested that we let them become our mom's Pokémon so they could bond together and mom having company when we're not around. They also gave me an egg to look after, which eventually hatched. Hold on a moment, I'll bring him out so he can say hello!" Toshi reached for the Poke ball containing Cleffa and released the small Pokémon onto his lap. Pip yawned sleepily before looking around and finally settling his gaze on the pink-haired teen who was admiring him.
"Sherria, I'd like you to meet my Cleffa. His full name is Piyovelt Phelpia Pi Alphonse Piyoderika, but we just call him Pip," Toshi introduced, beaming with pride as the little Fairy-type chirped at hearing his name and captured Sherria's heart.
Unable to resist any longer, Sherria immediately scooped up the adorable Pip into her arms, much to the amusement of everyone watching. Hearts seemed to flutter in the background as she showered the little Pokémon with love.
"Aww, you're so precious and cuddly!" Sherria cooed loudly while hugging the giggling Cleffa, who seemed quite content with the attention. Even Lisanna couldn't resist joining in on the action as Pip waved for her to come hug him too. It was a cute moment that everyone enjoyed watching.
Ashi could tell that both mages were completely enamored with her brother's Cleffa. She noticed Leon taking quick pictures of them on his Rotom and he gave her a subtle nod, indicating that he had captured some shots of their adorable encounter. He knew the girls would appreciate having some photos with Pip and he also made sure to keep some for himself as well.
(Not to boast, but he did have a folder with some that consist of Ashi, okay, maybe more than just a few. But it wasn't for any ulterior motive really! He just figured it be nice to capture all the good moments they shared here on this trip. Yeah, that's all it was!)
As the time came for them to leave, they settled their bill before heading down the hall to their rooms to grab their belongings, promising to meet in the lobby once they were done. Ashi and the girls gathered their things, making sure not to leave anything behind. Ashi couldn't help but notice that Sherria's travel carrier was not suitable for such a long journey. Luckily, Ashi had come prepared and offered one of her spare backpacks to her friend.
(Thank you again Papa for your ingenious creation of this bag with inter-dimensional spacing. It always comes in handy during emergencies.)
As Sherria's eyes landed on the knapsack that Ashi was giving her, a wave of excitement bubbled up inside her. The bag was her favorite color, a vibrant shade of pink, and she couldn't help but admire its design - similar to Ashi's own bag, but with enhancements that would allow her to carry an unlimited amount of inventory without it becoming overly bulky or weighing her down.
Sherria was grateful beyond words and thanked Ashi profusely as she transferred her meager belongings into the new pack. She felt a sense of relief knowing that this bag would make her travels much more manageable.
Once everything was settled, the group made their way out into the hallway where Misty and Lisanna were waiting for them. Together, they headed towards the lobby where their friends were gathered near the nurse's station.
Nurse Joy greeted them all cheerfully from behind the counter and some couldn't resist asking about the three Pokémon that had been brought in the day before. To everyone's delight (including Nurse Joy's), she had good news to share - all three Pokémon were doing much better and were on track for a complete full recovery.
"I'm happy to report that they're doing wonderfully now," Nurse Joy beamed. "I checked on them this morning and it's almost as if they were never injured at all. It's a miracle how quickly they've improved! I just spoke to Professor Oak and he said he'll be here later today to pick them up."
Ashi and the two mages exchanged a knowing look while the rest of their friends expressed their joy upon hearing the news. It was heartwarming to know that these injured Pokémon were now well on their way to full health.
Toshi's eyes shone with excitement as he asked, "That's great to hear! And what about Axew? Will the Professor be taking it too?" He hoped that the Professor would agree to take the young Dragon-type, as no one wanted to release it back into the harsh wilderness despite its stabilized condition. The Nurse Joy had anticipated this concern and reassured them that the Professor had indeed agreed to take in Axew as well.
The Professor's eyebrows furrowed in surprise as he heard the news of a non-native Pokémon being found in their area. After double-checking the national Database and consulting with Nurse Joy, they confirmed that there were no reports of any trainers missing a Dragon-type like this one. Upon further testing, they discovered that the Axew was only a week old at most. This discovery left them feeling concerned and unsure of what to do next.
In the end, after much consideration, the Professor decided to bring the Axew back to his lab and keep it there until a proper plan could be made. He would reach out to his contacts and inform them of this unique situation, specifically contacting the Opelucid Gym leader in the Unova region who had expertise in Dragon-types. Surely they would be interested in taking in this little one and raising it as their own. In the meantime, the Pokémon would stay at the ranch with the other two till then.
Filled with gratitude towards Nurse Joy for her help, Leon and the others thanked her before leaving to continue on their journey.
"Thanks again for everything!" The Galar Monarch expressed his genuine appreciation, followed by the rest of the group as they bid farewell to the kind-hearted nurse who wished them well.
"Yes, take care of yourselves kids and best of luck to you!" With those parting words, they exited the building and set off once more towards Vermillion City, their destination looming in the distance.
As they journeyed on for a good half hour, the rhythm of their footsteps blended with the serene chorus of nature surrounding them. Raihan and Brock were deeply engrossed in a discussion about their favorite Pokémon Base teams, their voices carrying through the air and capturing the attention of everyone around them.
"I'm telling you, the Druddigon are unbeatable. The Rhydon wouldn't stand a chance against them," Raihan fervently argued. But Brock, a diehard fan of the Rhydon since childhood, couldn't accept this.
"You're mistaken, Rai Rai! Rhydon has superior hitting power and their team is just as strong as the Electrobuzz's, but with even more skills than the Magikarp – Electrobuzz's longtime rival," he confidently countered. This sparked a heated debate among the group as they passionately defended their chosen teams' strengths while pointing out flaws in their opponents'. Even Misty joined in, bringing up the Cerulean City's Starmies and highlighting their impressive techniques and impeccable team lineup, which mainly consisted of female players and Pokémon that showcased their true capabilities in the field. The lively discussion continued for what felt like hours, without a clear winner in sight.
Ashi and the other two mages opted to stay away from the ongoing debate and instead observed their surroundings as they followed behind the group. They knew this heated discussion could easily go on until they reached Vermillion City.
They all relished the warmth of the sun on their exposed skin, grateful for the opportunity to be outside with clear blue sky stretching above them. Aratiri perched comfortably on Ashi's shoulder while Matcha nestled in her breast pocket, basking in the sunlight and absorbing UV rays just like the rest of them. Sora was walking in front of the trio, the Litten's ears twitching as he listened to the conversation taking place ahead of them. He yearned to join in and argue about how the Internape were undoubtedly the best Pokémon Base team, boasting an impressive track record of past championships and successful seasons.
Unfortunately, he couldn't very well do that and was left to listen and keep his thoughts to himself, though did find it amusing in watching this lively controversy unfold for his sheer entertainment.
Lisanna and Sherria followed Ashi's lead in releasing their Electric-type Pokémon to come outside and enjoy the fresh air alongside them. Leida sat on the Takeover Mage's right shoulder, happily chittering with Aratiri while Ashi and Lisanna walked close together to stay within speaking distance for those two.
Sherria's Emolga flew around, performing various tricks and flips before returning to the group and settling on Sherria's head for a quick rest. The Godslayer had no problem serving as a comfortable perch for the small Pokémon. Sherria felt the gentle vibrations of Emolga purring in her sleep and tried not to disturb her while turning her attention towards Ashi. She noticed that Ashi had a distant look in her eyes and kept glancing back down the road. Lisanna also noticed this and approached Ashi, asking if she was alright.
Despite her claims of being fine, Ashi's companions could see through her facade. "You're thinking about that Axew, aren't you?" Sherria probed, knowing deep down that this was what was truly bothering Ashi. With a heavy sigh and a hand running through her hair, Ashi confirmed Sherria's suspicions.
"Yeah, I know the Professor said he'd come to pick them up soon, but I can't help but wonder if we should have stayed behind to wait for him." However, Pallet Town was quite a distance from where they were currently and it would have been a few hours' wait at least. Plus, she didn't want to hold back her friends and her brother who were eager to hit the trail. But now, she couldn't shake off the guilt that had settled in her stomach.
Ashi couldn't stop thinking about how the Axew must feel waking up and realizing it wasn't with her anymore. She tried to remind herself that it wasn't hers to keep, but memories of cradling the weakened and shaking creature in her arms and singing it to sleep kept flooding back to her. And then those images would shift into memories of another familiar Pokémon she hadn't seen in years, making it hard for Ashi to let go of these feelings. It was difficult for her to focus on the present when her mind kept going back and forth between the past and present. Her friends could sense the weight on her conscience and offered their support.
Lisanna placed a comforting hand on Ashi's shoulder and spoke softly. "It's okay, Ashi. We understand why you're feeling this way, but you did the right thing. I've had a similar experience in my village before and we have to put their well-being first. Think about it, at the ranch they'll have someone monitoring them and giving them all the necessary care they need. You told me that Professor Oak is a reliable person and your mom is his assistant, so she'll be there to help if anything happens. They're in good hands."
Sherria nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with understanding. "Lisa's right. And you clearly have a big heart and are very caring. Those are qualities that every Pokémon wants in a trainer. The Axew will be well taken care of at the ranch, and there will be other Pokémon for it to play with too."
Ashi was comforted by her friends' kind words and smiled gratefully at them. She knew they were right; the ranch was the perfect place for these Pokémon to thrive, and her and Toshi's mother would make sure no harm came to them.
Feeling much better now that her worries had been eased, Ashi thanked her friends for helping her see things clearly again. They returned her smile, happy to have been of assistance.
"Don't mention it, we're always here for you. And remember, don't let those thoughts consume you. As my cousin Sherry used to say, if you're not careful, they can lead you into a dark hole that will swallow you up—"
Sherria was about to finish her thought when a loud noise interrupted them. They all turned around in surprise to see their companions had disappeared into thin air. The sound of their friends' cries echoed through the area, causing everyone to run towards them in a panic. But as they reached the spot where their friends had been standing, they were met with a deep pit that hadn't been there before. The Godslayer whistled in amazement, "Looks like my cousin's warning was spot on. Who would have thought?"
But Ashi and Lisanna were more concerned about their friends, who were now at the bottom of the pit. They seemed just as shocked as everyone else by this sudden turn of events.
Just a few minutes earlier, they had been walking along while still arguing about which team had the most wins in the last seven seasons. Leon was about to speak up for his Boltund (Go Bolts GO) when he suddenly felt something off with the ground beneath them. Raihan noticed his rival stop in turn and was about to ask him what was wrong when everyone else caught up to them and then, without warning, the ground gave way under all of them, sending them tumbling down into the pit below.
The air was filled with shouts and groans as some of the group managed to land relatively unharmed while others were used as cushions for their friends' falls, much to the discomfort of Brock, Raihan, and Misty. "Where did this hole come from?" Brock groaned while Misty's voice rang out in a string of curses at seeing this happen again. The teens' words had some of the guys looking both astonished and impressed, as she swore to get whoever was responsible and her language could make even a seafaring sailor blush.
"Are you all okay down there?" Lisanna leaned over the edge with Ashi and Sherria by her side, their Pokémon also peering down to see what had happened to their friends. Leon was helping Toshi to his feet while the boy rubbed his elbow where he had banged it on the way down. Some had minor scrapes and bumps from the fall, but thankfully no broken bones, as far as anyone could tell. "We're fine, Lisa! Everyone's alright!" Toshi called back.
"Speak for yourself, my tailbone would say otherwise!" grumbled Raihan as he got up, rubbing his sore rear. Others were also feeling a bit bruised, but they realized it would take some time to climb out of the deep hole. The question lingered: who could have dug this and for what purpose? (It definitely had Team Rocket written all over it!) They all thought, some already planning how they would deal with these troublemakers once they get out of this blasted hole!
Ashi and the two mages were already on the move, trying to figure out how to get their friends out of there. "Hang on a second, we'll get you out of there in a jiffy!" Sherria yelled while Ashi went to grab Hinata's Poké ball and Lisanna rifled through her pack for extra rope. Just as they were about ready to toss these down to their friends, Ashi's sensitive ears picked up the sound of approaching footsteps - more than one, in fact. While some might have thought this would be a welcome rescue, Ashi's Dracocian instincts were on high alert, sensing that something was amiss. As the figures drew closer, she could tell there were more than just a few and her gut churned with unease.
"Hold it right there, dollface!" The three mages whipped around, only to find themselves surrounded by a large group of trainers - at least a dozen or so, all wearing cocky grins on their faces. Ashi quickly scanned the group and recognized some of them from the previous night at the Pokémon Center, but also noticed they had brought reinforcements. She could feel an air of hostility emanating from them and knew that this was not going to end well.
"Did you set this trap here?" Sherria asked boldly, her eyes narrowing at the group as she too recognized them and had a good idea of who was responsible for the hole their friends fell in. One trainer stepped forward with an arrogant smirk, causing Ashi to shiver with a sense of foreboding. She could sense the malice radiating from him and knew they were in trouble.
"Of course we did, sweetheart. And now that we've got you right where we want you, we can finally settle this once and for all," the trainer sneered, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light.
Ashi instinctively moved to stand between her two friends and the aggressive group, trying to diffuse the situation. The smell of tension and sweat filled the air as she spoke calmly, though her mind raced with thoughts of how they would get out of this precarious situation.
But the leader just laughed harshly, his voice sharp and commanding. "Oh, I think you're going to find plenty of trouble here whether you want it or not," he sneered. "You see, we have a score to settle with all of you."
Sherria growled in response, moving to stand beside Ashi. Lisanna joined them, sensing that things could turn ugly at any moment and wanting to be on the offense if necessary. "Oh and what sort of reason do you have then huh!"
"Because you guys sent Mike Crotch to jail!" the main leader snarled, his words met with shouts of agreement from his followers. Ashi and the two mages stood there in shock and confusion, wondering if they had heard right. The ones trapped in the pit also listened in, thinking to themselves, (Did that guy really just say that?!)
Ashi managed to regain her composure, though her confusion still lingered. "I'm sorry, what? I don't know what you're talking about," she said hesitantly, not wanting to believe what she was hearing. The two mages also struggled to keep their calm, avoiding looking at the lower region of the trainer in front of them. But he didn't seem bothered by their perplexed state as he repeated himself without filter or care, "You heard me! You sent Mike Crotch to jail last night. Everyone here told me what you did to my cousin and now you're going to pay for it! Especially the guy who broke his nose...he's going to get his too!"
A moment of clarity washed over Ashi as she looked at her fellow mages, now understanding what the trainer was saying. But something seemed off - wasn't the guy who got arrested named Damien? As if reading her thoughts, Sherria spoke up, "But that was Damien, we don't know this Mike person you keep talking about."
Lisanna nodded in agreement, but one of the trainers behind the ringleader interjected, "That's because it's his middle name. His full name is Mike Damìen Crotch!" The others chimed in with confirmation and Ashi and the others were dumbstruck by this revelation. They couldn't help but think how ridiculous and hilarious a name like that sounded when spoken out loud. But now was not the time for laughter as Ashi attempted to play mediator once again.
Turning to the main honcho in charge, she asked, "Look mister um..."
"Jacque! Jacque Strappe!" the trainer yelled proudly, causing Ashi and the girls to once again look stunned by this revelation. One thought crossed their minds: (Were their parents on some kind of bender when they chose those names for their kids?)
Ashi made a mental note to never ever give her future child(ren) anything even remotely humiliating like those names. Because that was just so wrong on so many levels!
But she pushed that thought away and focused on speaking calmly to Jacque. "I understand that what happened to your cousin was unfortunate, but he should have considered the consequences of breaking the laws. No one is exempt from them, especially as trainers. We are taught from a young age not to abuse our Pokémon or discard them because they are not strong enough. It's a basic principle." Lisanna and Sherria nodded in agreement with her words.
"Yeah, and it's not fair for you to hold us accountable for his actions. He got what he deserved," exclaimed The Godslayer, adding unnecessary fuel to the fire.
Jacque's face contorted with anger as he clenched his fists. "You think you can tell us what to do? We don't answer to anyone but ourselves. Thanks to you, my cousin is locked up like some common criminal. You girls will pay for this!" he snarled, his voice dripping with venom.
Ashi could see that reasoning with Jacque was pointless. The situation had escalated beyond their control. She noticed that Jacque had turned to the others standing behind him, each holding a Poke Ball in their hands. It was clear that they had been planning this all along.
"Boys, let's show these bitches what happens when you mess with your superiors!" Jacque commanded, his voice filled with malicious glee. The group of boys unleashed their Pokémon, the creatures bursting forth with fierce energy and ready to unleash a beatdown on their opponents.
Ashi and her two friends braced themselves, knowing that there was no getting around this confrontation. With a determined glance at each other, they prepared to take on their attackers, Aratiri and Sora took up positions in front of her, their battle stances ready for action. Leida hopped down from Lisanna's shoulder to join Aratiri, while Lisanna herself released her Sawsbuck, who eagerly pawed the ground with his front hoof in preparation for the fight.
Meanwhile, Sherria's Emolga woke up from her slumber on top of the Godslayer's head and quickly joined the group of electric-type Pokémon standing together. As they stood close to each other, a strong electrical current pulsed through them, fueling their determination to protect their trainers.
Sherria may have only had a basic understanding of Pokémon battling, but she knew that she had to do everything in her power to help her friends. She released her Beautifly to join the fray as well, determined not to back down despite being outnumbered and outmatched by their opponents' experience.
"All right then, let's do this!" With a determined look on his face, Jacque and his gang prepared to give the signal for their numerous Pokémon to attack. They were ready to strike when suddenly, out of nowhere, a great ball of intense flames came hurtling towards them, halting them in their tracks.
Surprised and confused, one of Jacque's goons exclaimed, "What the heck was that!" As Ashi and her friends turned to see where the attack had come from, they noticed something approaching them at high speed. It was a giant black shape that started to take form before landing right in front of them. Everyone's eyes widened as they took in the sight before them.
Ashi couldn't believe what she was seeing. Standing in front of her was a Charizard - the same fire-type that her brother's starter would one day become and Leon's top ace Pokémon. But this Charizard was different from any she had ever seen before. Its scales were a deep, pitch black, and its eyes shone with an intense red glow. What caught her attention the most were the intricate blue markings all over its body, similar to the ones on Ashi's own face and body, and those reminiscent of her father's.
No one moved or spoke as they gaped at the onyx-colored Charizard. Then, movement caught their attention as a Charmander and Bulbasaur climbed off its back. Sherria and Lisanna recognized them as the Pokémon that they had just left at the Center hours ago. The two starters stood protectively in front of the mages, with rage-filled eyes directed at Jacque and his gang. They had a history with these people, but this time was different - they were ready to exact revenge and protect the females who had saved them.
Ashi looked towards the obsidian Charizard standing in front of her, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. In that instant, a silent understanding passed between them. Then, Ashi turned to her friends and their Pokémon, who also seemed to understand the gravity of the situation.
"Looks like things are about to get even more interesting," she said with a smirk, glancing at her friends. They were all ready to show these punks what happens when they mess with them.
Undeterred by the sudden appearance of those three, Jacque bellowed orders to his underlings without missing a beat. "It doesn't matter how many more Pokémon they have now. Take them out!" His followers swiftly regained their focus and began shouting commands to their own Pokémon, ready for battle.
Ashi and her group mimicked their enemies' actions with equal determination. "Sora, use your Fire Fang on that Tauros! Aratiri, unleash your Thundershock on that Poliwrath! And Charizard, let loose with your most intense Flamethrower to keep them at bay!" Ashi commanded, quickly assessing the situation and directing her team to specific targets. Her trio followed her instructions flawlessly - even the Charizard eagerly obeyed and unleashed a powerful blast of fire towards the leading opponent's Pokémon. Sora and Aratiri moved in to take down the other enemies with their own set of attacks, deflecting strikes and avoiding being hit themselves.
Sherria followed Ashi's lead by commanding her Charmander to use Flamethrower, while her Beautifly and Emolga took flight above the battlefield. The Bug-type spread Stun Spore over their opponents, while Emolga used Discharge to intensify the paralyzing effects. Lisanna had Leida use Quick Attack followed by Spark as she utilized her increased speed to maneuver around the opponents before unleashing an electric attack when she got close. Prancer made sure to protect the smaller Pokémon from being targeted, lunging at Sandslash and Marowak with Take Down to knock them back into another Pokémon. The Bulbasaur assisted by using Razor Leaf and Vine Whip on any approaching enemies. The two Pokémon gave a quick nod of thanks before resuming their battle, fired up by the ongoing intensity.
This was the scene that Leon and everyone else saw as they finally managed to get out of the pit thanks to their Flying-types, who flew them towards the surface just in time to witness the assault happening before their eyes. Surprising enough, it was Jacque's crew who were getting annihilated as Ashi and the two girls pulled out all the stops without showing any mercy towards their opponents. The same could be said for their Pokémon, who went all out against their foes.
"Man, look at them go!" Brock said, watching Lisanna order her Bulbasaur to use Vine Whip on a Nidorino. The Grass-type even lifted the Pokémon in the air and smacked it down repeatedly with another vine right on its posterior, truly wailing on it.
"Bulb! Bulba! Bulbasaur!" (This is for all the crap you guys put us through! How does this feel, huh? So take this and that—and another of this!)
"Yeah, go Ashi! And you too Lisanna! Sherria too! Tear into those jerks! Yeah, that's it! Let them really have it!" Misty cheered them on with vindicated glee as her friends clobbered their opponents. Sherria had her Charmander going after a Machoke, who was on the defensive but couldn't handle the Fire-type's onslaught. It scratched and bit at every part of its body, while Misty and Sherria encouraged it to stomp on the Machoke's groin.
"Isn't Stomp a normal-type move that Charmander can't use?" Toshi questioned out loud, surprised to see the Pokémon using it repeatedly on their opponent's sensitive area.
"Char! Charmander!" (How do you like me now, huh?!) The Charmander clearly had a grudge against this particular Machoke for all the past times it had been put in headlocks and given noogies. Now, it held nothing back and decided to pull out one last stop with a powerful elbow drop that was super effective. Ashi's male friends and Jacque's goons winced at the crushing yet humiliating blow from the Charmander. The Machoke let out a high-pitched squeal before falling unconscious, and the Fire-type moved on to its next unfortunate victim- or prey, as it seemed eager to inflict more pain on their sorry asses.
(I really do feel bad for them, but their trainers deserve a taste of their own medicine for treating those Pokémon so poorly.) Ashi's brother and the others thought this, although it seemed that the girls didn't need their help. They chose to stand back and watch as they continued to rain hell onto their enemies without holding back at all. Everyone was sure Jacque and his pals never expected to get their asses whooped by what they considered "dead weight," and seeing the tables turned meant surprises kept coming for them.
"Wait, what the heck is that?" Raihan said, as he had his Rotom out taking shots of the scene. Suddenly, it turned towards the sky. A Pokémon was using Seismic Toss, spinning rapidly like a black vortex before throwing a Primeape straight down into the ground, leaving a humongous crater in its wake. The Fighting-type had swirls for its eyes and was unable to pull itself out.
But what really caught Raihan's attention was when the Pokémon flew back down and stood beside Ashi, revealing itself.
"HOLY FREAKING MEW IN A CONGA LINE! IS THAT A BLACK CHARIZARD?!" The Hammerlocke Gym Leader shouted, along with everyone else who were astonished by its sight. Even Leon's Charizard and Raihan's Flygon were dumbfounded as they looked at the Pokémon that had shown itself.
As both flying-types watched and marveled at them, Charizard felt his heart thumping fast inside his chest at their fierce battle style and potency. It was clear that these Pokémon were capable of taking on even the strongest opponents and really showing it to everyone there.
He also took a quick whiff in the air and picked up their scent, indicating that they were female and apparently not mated. For the first time in Benimaru's life, he felt the fire in his gut burn hotter than any G-Max Wildfire as he stood transfixed, watching this fiery beauty in action.
"Is it just me or did it suddenly get warmer?" Leon and the others felt a sudden rise in temperature and looked towards the source to see that it was coming from Charizard's flaming tail. It was looking more intense than usual, but Leon guessed that his Pokémon was just caught up in the excitement of the battle.
Ashi and the other two mages watched as Jacque's crew was thoroughly defeated. All of their Pokémon were left unconscious, while the trio's own Pokémon stood strong. They had managed to toss the opposing Pokémon into one giant pile, resembling a miniature mountain made of unconscious bodies. The onyx Charizard grabbed one of the Primeape's legs and dragged them out of the ditch before tossing them onto the mound. Then, she flew over to where Ashi was and stood alongside her, keeping an eye on the remaining opponents.
Nearly two dozen of their strongest Pokémon had been completely decimated by these seemingly weak ones?!
"Are you boys ready to give up, or do you want another smackdown? Because we can do this all day!" The Charizard helped make her point by throwing back her head and unleashing another Flamethrower, indicating that she would be happy to charbroil them if given the word.
Jacque grit his teeth in anger as he saw that every one of his guys' Pokémon had been taken out—with none left—and yet they might have to fall back and retreat. "You ain't seen the last of us; mark my words, you are all gonna get what's coming to you!"
"I highly doubt that will happen, Strappe!" Everyone's attention shifted to the arrival of Officer Jenny and a few cruisers pulling in. A group of police officers stepped out of their vehicles, drawing all eyes to the commanding officer. Her gaze locked onto Jacque's goon, who flinched under her intense stare. "You and your 'friends' will be spending the next decade or two in prison; we have more than enough evidence to prosecute you."
Officer Jenny motioned for her men to assist her in cuffing Jacque's goon while saying, "You're all under arrest for illegal poaching of Pokémon, endangering Pokémon, Pokémon abuse, as well as trafficking rare and endangered species of Pokémon! We have all we need from your 'buddy' at the station; it's time for you all to come with us!"
Jacque realized the jig was up and tried to make a break for it while the police were restraining the others. Officer Jenny spotted him and quickly pulled out her Pokeball, ready to unleash her Growlithe. She shouted, "Freeze!", but someone beat her to it.
Leon had a feeling the ringleader would try to run and secretly brought out Mr. Rime, ordering him to encase Jacque in a block of ice before he could escape.
"Good job, Leon!" Ashi said when she saw his Ice-type had everything under control, and Leon smiled at her while rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, it was nothing really."
But then they both turned to see Officer Jenny handcuffing Jacque and having her Growlithe melt away his icy prison. Although she did it at a slower pace, as if to give him some time to 'chill'. Her fellow officers were busy rounding up the rest of the criminals who had surrendered and were now being read their rights.
"We've been searching for you guys for quite some time now," Officer Jenny said with a sense of satisfaction in her voice, as she listed off each name: Jacque Strappes, Hugh Jass, Amanda Hugandkiss, Oliver Klosoff, Ivana Tinkle... Each name caused Ashi's brother and their friends to stifle their laughter by biting their lips or covering their mouths. The police swiftly shoved the criminals into their cruiser, knowing that they were in big trouble for their illegal activities.
Officer Jenny then turned to Ashi and the two girls who had helped catch the criminals. Unaware of how hard their friends were trying to hold back their laughter - though their shoulders shaking gave away their internal struggle - she thanked them for their assistance.
"We've been keeping our eyes out for these guys for months now," Officer Jenny explained gratefully. "Thanks to you guys, we were able to catch them in the act and put an end to their wrongdoing."
"You're welcome," Ashi replied. "Anything to help put a stop to people like them and ensure that they face consequences for all the harm they've caused Pokémon and their beloved trainers who care about them."
"Yeah!/That's right!" chimed in Lisanna and Sherria. Even Charmander and Bulbasaur joined in with enthusiastic cries of "Char!" and "Bulbasaur!"
After thanking them once again, Officer Jenny led Jacque to her vehicle, shivering and blue-faced from his time in the ice. As Ashi's group bid farewell with waves, some couldn't resist throwing out a few parting words - and jabs - for their new home for the next decade or so.
"Au revoir, Jacquie-boy~! Hope you enjoy your new accommodations - I heard they have some Bubbas waiting to give you a warm welcome!" Raihan chuckled, earning snickers from everyone. Sherria also couldn't resist adding her own jab: "Just don't drop the soap in the showers~!"
As they watched the police car drive away and were left alone in the vicinity, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief now that the situation was taken care of.
Sherria turned her attention to where the Charmander stood, its scraps and bruises on display, yet exuding pride in its victory. The Godslayer couldn't help but admire their newfound confidence, knowing that they had finally gotten payback against those who had looked down on them. Without hesitation, Sherria bent down and surprised the Pokémon by pulling it into a tight embrace. Startled at first, the Charmander soon relaxed into her arms as she praised their impressive performance.
"You were truly amazing back there," Sherria exclaimed with genuine admiration. "I mean, taking down that Machoke with your fiery jabs? He probably never expected that from such a little spitfire like you!"
The Charmander blinked in surprise, but could feel the sincerity in Sherria's words. Overwhelmed with emotion, it threw itself back into her arms and wrapped its small limbs around her neck, purring contentedly. Its tail flames glowed even brighter in the warmth of Sherria's embrace, feeling as though its spirit had been reborn.
But Sherria wasn't the only one doling out praise. Lisanna had also crouched down to the Bulbasaur, placing her hands on its bulb and giving it a gentle pat. "You did great out there too, Bulbasaur," she said with a smile. "You showed those guys what happens when you mess with the wrong Pokémon!"
The Bulbasaur blushed slightly at Lisanna's compliment, leaning into her touch and nuzzling against her hand happily while saying "Bulb!"
Ashi, along with everyone else, watched the four from a distance. The Dragonslayer couldn't help but smile at how comfortable the Pokémon seemed in the company of the two mages. Suddenly, Ashi felt something nudging her from behind. She turned to see the obsidian Charizard, who immediately began rubbing her cheek against hers. The group stepped back, forgetting about her until Ashi reached out to touch her snout and said, "It's good to see you again, after all this time..."
The Charizard closed her eyes and purred softly, showing that she felt the same way. Ashi's words puzzled everyone, but Leon suddenly remembered their conversation in the cave and it dawned on him as he looked over at the two.
"Wait a minute, Ashi," he interrupted. "Is this the one you were telling me about the other day? The one who gave you..." Their friends also turned to look at the Galar Monarch and then back at Ashi, who let the Charizard rest its chin on her shoulder and wrap her arm around her before turning to them with a warm smile and nod.
"Yes, this is her, Leon! She was the one I met eight years ago when she was just a Charmander. But I'm not surprised that she evolved along the way," Ashi chuckled. Although the markings on the Charizard were unusual and identical to her own, she was pleased to see that she had taken good care of herself over the past few years. As the Pokémon nuzzled into her side and breathed warm air into her ear, Ashi couldn't help but giggle and say, "Hey, that tickles!"
Suddenly, the Charizard tensed up and Ashi wondered what was wrong when something collided with her leg. Both she and the Pokémon looked down to see a familiar Axew clinging onto her shin with a look that seemed to say, "I found you!" Everyone was surprised to see him, especially Ashi since he was clinging onto her leg tightly.
"How did he get here?!" Misty was not the only one wondering this since they had last seen him at the Pokémon Center waiting for Professor Oak to pick him up.
Before anyone could figure out why Axew was glomping onto his sister's leg, Toshi's sharp hearing caught the sound of someone running towards them. He turned to see who it was and was surprised to see Professor Oak, huffing and out of breath as he stopped in front of them and placed his hands on his knees. "Oh my goodness, I never thought I'd be doing cardio in my lab coat!" the Professor exclaimed.
The group looked at the sweaty-faced Pallet Researcher, giving him a moment to catch his breath before he straightened up and glanced at them all. He was surprised to run into Ashi and the others, but when he turned to look at the redhead teen and saw the Obsidian Charizard, he had to blink a few times before saying, "Either the heat has finally gotten to my head or I'm seeing a Pokémon that is not of the normal variety."
"Oh no, Professor, she's the real deal!" Ashi assured him, knowing that he would be just as surprised as everyone else. The gang was still confused about why he was here, prompting the Professor to explain himself.
"Well, as you can see, I was on my way to the Pokémon Center to pick up the three that Nurse Joy had over there. But just as I was almost five minutes in from reaching my destination, who should I find coming out of nowhere and nearly scaring the daylights out of me but this little guy here!"
He almost jumped right out of his skin upon seeing the Axew popping out onto the road yet managing to hit the brakes before they could come close to colliding with it. While it took him a moment to calm his hammering heart and the Professor had just been about ready to get out of the vehicle and go check on them when he heard the passenger door being opened and turned his head to find the Pokémon itself sitting in the seat next to him. Confused but without much time to think about it, the Dragon-type gestured with its tiny claws towards the road ahead, urging the Professor to keep driving.
He didn't know why he went along with this, but he put the car into gear and allowed himself to be guided by the Pokémon determinedly leading them down this particular route. As they drove for a few more miles, the Professor caught sight of passing cruisers and noted that the people in the backseat were trainers he had sponsored himself. However, his attention was diverted towards Officer Jenny's cuffed passenger in the back of her cruiser, whose skin was an unusual blue color. Suddenly, without warning, the Axew jumped up and pressed the button to open the car window before hopping out of the moving vehicle!
The Professor felt all the color drain away from his face and swore he felt like ten years of his life had been shaved off in that moment. He immediately stopped the car and got out to see if they were okay, but he didn't find them near where they had fallen out. However, he noticed footprints and turning to look left, he saw that the Axew was running as fast as its stubby legs could carry it down the trail towards where the cruiser had come in from. The Professor wasted no time and gave chase after them, all the while thinking (This is not what I signed up for!). He spent the next ten minutes in hot pursuit before finally finding himself here in their present company.
"...And that's the gist of it. I'm guessing you guys had a crazy day too," he remarked, taking in the disarray around the area and disheveled appearance of the group. He also noticed fresh tire tracks and multiple police cars passing by on his way there, giving him an idea of what Ashi and her friends had gone through. The Professor wanted to hear the story directly from them, and Ashi stepped forward to explain.
As she spoke, the Professor listened attentively, absorbing every detail. She described how Jacque had found out they sent his cousin to be questioned by the police and sought revenge. Some of them fell into a trap while Ashi and two other girls faced off against Jacque and his goons who emerged from their hiding spot. She told them about their intentions for them, causing the guys to scowl and Misty to consider confronting them herself.
But then Ashi revealed that Jacque had underestimated them and they were able to defeat all of their Pokémon without any problems. As they say, the rest is history.
Once she finished speaking, the Professor pressed his fingers to his temple and let out a heavy sigh. "Ugh, I always felt like those two would be up to no good. Jacque and his cousin, I'm not surprised they got involved with criminal activities and dragged others into it."
As he processed the gravity of the situation, he knew that these trainers would likely spend extensive time behind bars once this went to trial. Their licenses would also be immediately revoked, and any former winnings from tournaments would be taken away.
But deep down, he couldn't help feeling a small sense of satisfaction knowing that those who caused harm to innocent Pokémon and trainers would finally face consequences for their actions.
"Well, in any case, I'm just glad to see you kids are alright. And I assume those two over there are from the Center as well?" He gestured to where both the Charmander and Bulbasaur were standing beside the two girls. Upon being looked at, they immediately dove behind Sherria's and Lisanna's legs, gripping onto them tightly for comfort.
The professor noticed their behavior and turned his attention to the two girls, who seemed unfazed by the Pokémon's reaction. Sherria placed a comforting hand on the fire-type's head, gently rubbing its furrowed brow, while Lisanna scratched under the Bulbasaur's chin, soothing its nerves. The Pokémon seemed to mellow in their presence, and the Professor watched curiously before approaching the two teens.
"It seems these two have taken quite a liking to you. And since it came to my attention that you were the ones who helped rescue them, Miss Blendy, I think they feel safe in your company."
He looked at the two Pokémon and then back at the girls, considering what he was about to say carefully. "Normally I wouldn't do this, but would you two be willing to take them in as your own?"
Both Lisanna and Sherria were taken aback by his suggestion, their minds racing as they weighed the gravity of such a responsibility. Yet, deep in their hearts, they both wanted to say 'YES ABSOLUTELY'.
"Are you sure, sir?" Lisanna hesitated, but Ashi stepped forward, eager to contribute her own thoughts. "Actually, I think it's a great idea, Professor. From what I witnessed during today's battle, both Charmander and Bulbasaur not only exhibited incredible skill and determination, but they also followed every command given by Sherria and Lisanna with unwavering trust. This proves that there is a strong connection between them, forged through the bonds we form with our Pokémon. Only a true trainer can understand the importance of these bonds."
Turning back to her mentor, Ashi made a bold proposal that startled some of her friends. "If you don't mind, Professor, I know this might be a bit unorthodox, but would it be possible for me to be their 'Poke-mentor'?"
When it comes to becoming a Pokémon trainer, not everyone has the opportunity to attend school or take traditional exams to obtain a trainer's license. In some cases, there are Poke-mentors who act as tutors and guide trainees in the field until they are ready to take the exams at a certified institute. Ashi had learned about this while spending time at the lab and believed she could do this for her friends.
All eyes were now on Ashi as she spoke about her experiences tutoring and how she believed she could help Lisanna and Sherria become certified trainers. Suddenly, Leon and Steven stepped up beside her, offering their own qualifications to assist Ashi in this endeavor.
The others chimed in as well, all expressing their belief that the two girls had what it takes to become trainers and deserved a chance to obtain their licenses. Lisanna and Sherria were overwhelmed with gratitude and on the verge of tears. After taking into account what had been said, the Professor made his decision.
"Well, if that's truly how all of you feel, then I will make sure to provide you with the necessary paperwork and have them delivered to you later so you can fill it out." He would also make arrangements to send them standardized textbooks on Kanto Pokémon and they would encounter the same information during their official licensing exam at the testing facility.
"I have faith that both of you will excel under Ashi's guidance. She has a lot of knowledge about Pokémon and I'm sure she will help you pass with flying colors. I expect nothing less from both of you!"
"Thank you, Professor Oak!" Lisanna and Sherria couldn't help but express their gratitude before turning to their new Pokémon, who were also happy with this development.
"Isn't this wonderful, Sharlene!" Sherria exclaimed, coming up with a name for her Charmander on the spot. Suddenly, she found herself falling to the ground with the Charmander on top of her, both of them laughing in their position. "Char!" (Sharlene...I love it!)
Lisanna moved to pick up her Bulbasaur and held it in her arms, realizing it weighed as much as Hinata but feeling its happiness in her embrace. "You and I are going to be great friends, right Azalea?" The Bulbasaur nodded its head and nuzzled against the ivory-haired teen, happy to have a trainer and a name that suited it perfectly.
Ashi smiled at the two mages before looking down at Axew still clinging to her. She turned to the professor who was now heading back to where his car was. "Wait, Professor! Aren't you forgetting this one here?"
The Professor stopped and looked at her, then at the Pokémon before scratching his cheek. "Well, I was going to take it with me, but I decided that it might be best for you to take care of it instead. It seems that's what it really wanted all along." He had a feeling that the shiny Charizard wouldn't be the only Pokémon caught today, and he was sure Ashi would send one of her other Pokémon back to her team to make room for Axew. (But let's hope it's not Alucard; my hearing just returned to normal, thank you very much!)
Although he couldn't help but shift his gaze towards the fascinating Fire-type as he wouldn't mind doing further analysis on it. But upon sensing the Charizard's tense demeanor and seeing its blood-red eyes locked onto him, he quickly looked away. Ashi noticed the tension coming off the Pokémon and reached out to stroke its snout, calming it down. However, the Professor could still feel its intense stare on him and had a feeling he knew what it was trying to convey. (Maybe not this one for now since it might try to incinerate me if I'm not careful...)
"You kids take care, and make sure to drop me a line when you reach Vermilion City!" With that, the Professor left, leaving the group in place as they watched him go.
"Well, today turned out to be quite eventful," Toshi remarked with his hands behind his head, looking at Ashi and the cool-looking Charizard who still held onto his sister tightly.
"So what do you plan on calling this one here?" They all knew this Pokémon would become a part of Ashi's team, so they took a moment to consider a suitable name. "Well, if I had to choose, how about Serafina? Sera for short? What do you think?" She turned to the Charizard to see its reaction, and it closed its eyes and gave her a wide grin, showing that it liked the name. Everyone agreed that it was a good choice, and Toshi couldn't resist shouting, "Awesome! Welcome to the group, Sera, Sharlene, Azalea!" He bent down to look at the Axew by Ashi's leg. "And you too, little guy!"
After the girls manage to successfully capture their new Pokémon, they released them from their Pokeballs to join them on their journey. The air was filled with excitement and joy as everyone continued down the path together. Ashi took her time, relishing in the moment and admiring the sky above where Sera flew gracefully alongside Benimaru. She couldn't help but smile at the sight of the two Charizards sharing the same airspace without any hint of territorial behavior.
As she walked, Ashi sensed someone walking up beside her. She recognized Leon's faint cologne and saw that he too was watching the two flying Pokémon. "They seem to be getting along quite well up there, don't you think?" Leon remarked, to which Ashi nodded in agreement. "Yes, they do seem to have formed a bond," Ashi replied, unable to take her eyes off the Obsidian Fire-type. Leon could tell that she was completely mesmerized by her Pokémon and had an idea of what was on her mind. "You know, maybe this was destiny," he said, "finding each other like this."
Ashi turned to look at him and he continued, "You mentioned before about the strong connection between us and our Pokémon. That there is a special bond that forms between a trainer and their Pokémon, and only a true trainer can understand its importance. I believe that your encounter with that Charmander all those years ago was fated, and even though you two were far apart, you have never forgotten about her and Sera must have felt the same way because she came back to you when you needed her most."
Leon saw Ashi turn her head away as he spoke, lost in thought. "I think that's what makes our bond with our Pokémon so special," he went on, gesturing towards their friends and their own unique relationships with their Pokémon. He pointed over to where Sherria had her arm around Sharlene while Emolga perched atop her head, and Lisanna had Leida on her shoulder while Azalea held onto her with a vine wrapped around her wrist.
Just then, Ashi felt a nudge at her ankle and looked down to see both Aratiri and Sora looking up at her. She could almost hear them saying, 'Hey, don't forget about us!' The Dragonslayer couldn't help but smile as she reached down to pat their heads, realizing that Leon was right. Their bond with their Pokémon was something sacred and irreplaceable.
Suddenly, they felt a strong gust of wind and turned to see that both Charizards had landed back down beside them. Leon moved over to pet his Charizard, who was clearly happy to be out and about with the other Charizard. As Ashi gazed at both of them before turning her attention back to the one in front of her, she couldn't help but be captivated by those mesmerizing ruby gemstones.
"The bond we share is a sacred one," she whispered, "and I hope that you will stay by my side. Always and forever." The Charizard smiled in understanding and pressed her brow against Ashi's own, a gesture of trust and loyalty. As Leon and his Pokémon watched this momentous occasion unfold, it truly felt like two individuals who had been separated for so long were finally reunited once more, finding their place where they belong.
Asharia 'Ashi' Ketchum - Age 18, Trainer (Beginner)
Team Ashi -
*Litten (m) - Sora
Pikachu (m)- Aratiri
Clefairy (f) - Arlette
Noibat (m) - Alucard
*Bulbasaur (f) - Hinata
*Charizard (f) - Serafina nickname Sera
*Axew
Tag-along - Unknown Pokémon (?) - Matcha
Satoshi 'Toshi' Ketchum - Age 10, Trainer (Beginner)
Team Toshi -
Charmander (m) - Aelius
Pidgeotto (f) - Makani
Cleffa (m) - Piyovelt Phelpia Pi Alphonse Piyoderika nickname 'Pip'
Bulbasaur (m) - Silas
*Abra (m) - Houdini
Leon Jordan - Age 20, Trainer (Advance) Galar Champion x5
Team Leon -
Charizard (m) - Benimaru
Dragapult (m) - Tatsuo
Rillaboom (m) - Mori
Cinderace (m) - Homura
Inteleon (m) - Kiyomizu
Mr. Rime (m) - Shimo
Raihan Tarsha - Age 23, Trainer (Advance) Hammerlocke Gym Leader
Team Raihan -
Duraludon (m) - Argyros nickname Argo
Sandaconda (m) - Kahli
Goodra (m) - Gale
Flygon (m) - Zephyr
Misty Williams - Age 12, Trainer (Beginner)
Team Misty -
Starmie (?) - Moana
Goldeen (f) - Laguna
Seel (m) - Ronan
~G~ Slowpoke (f) - Momo nickname 'Sweetie'
Oddish (f) - Poppy
Brock Harrison - Age 16, Trainer (Intermediate) Temp Pewter Gym Leader
Team Brock -
Geodude (m) - Rocco
Onix (m) - Callan
Zubat (m) - Zane
Steven Stone - Age 25, Trainer (Advance) Hoenn Champion
Team Steven -
Metagoss (m) - Magne
Skarmory (m) - Silver
Aggron (m) - Slate
Lisanna Strauss - Age 12, Trainer (Beginner) Secret Ability - Takeover Mage
Team Lisanna -
Sawsbuck (m) - Prancer
Flabébé (f) - Fleur
Parischu (f) - Leida
Bulbasaur (f) - Azalea
Sherria Blendy - Age 13, Trainer (Beginner) Secret Ability - Sky Godslayer
Team Sherria -
Natu (f)
Beautifly (f)
Emolga (f)
Charmander (f) - Sharlene
Professor Oak's Ranch
Ashi's Pokémon:
*Litleo (f) - Sekhmet
*Luxio (f) - Yoruichi
Scyther (m) - Masamune
On loan: Beedrill (f) - Suzumebachi
Toshi's Pokémon:
Beedrill (m) - Zorah
Litleo (m) - Simba
Luxio (m) - Thor
Butterfree (m) - Clodius
Transfer ownership to Delia: Clefable x2 (m) Rune, (f) Aurora
Omake - Who's your Daddy?
"Aww you're so cute, yes you are! Yes you are!" Sherria cooed openly as she watched Ashi nursing the Axew in her arms with a bottle. The small dragon-type Pokémon suckled at the mixed juice with open enthusiasm, eagerly gulping down every drop. After managing to get away from the chaos caused by 'Jacque,' and his buddies, they had made great progress and were still going strong despite the fading daylight. As the sun began to set, they decided it was time to stop and call for an early dinner.
Brock took charge of preparing tonight's menu, enlisting the help of the other men to assist in cooking. He wanted to make a special meal in celebration of their newest teammate Sherria and Lisanna's and Ashi's newly caught Pokémon. Toshi was tasked with starting the fire, with Aelius and Sharlene assisting him. The two Charmander worked together to light kindling with their fiery ember attacks, while Toshi fanned the flames to ensure they were nice and hot before placing a huge pot over them to boil (seriously, how did Brock manage to fit that in his pack?!).
Meanwhile, the girls took care of feeding everyone's Pokémon. Sherria had the chance to see all of the others come out for the first time and couldn't contain her excitement. She quickly composed herself to assist Lisanna and Ashi in giving the Pokémon their food portions. With their group now slightly larger, the girls made sure everyone received decent-sized portions.
As Sera dug into her Pokéfood with the others and saw that all the Pokémon were happily eating their dinners, Ashi turned her attention to the Axew who had been right beside her the whole time while she attended to her tasks around the campsite. She picked him up and settled him onto her lap, proceeding to give him a special meal that differed from the others. She had prepared it with Lisanna, loaded with plenty of vitamins and nutrients that he would need for the next couple of days. It would also help him gain some weight, which the little one didn't seem to mind as he eagerly gulped down every morsel from the container. After finishing his meal, Ashi used a wet napkin to clean off any leftover juices on his face, and the Axew smiled in response to her words.
"That's a good boy, you did so well gobbling that down Lex," she praised, using the nickname she had chosen for him - Lexaeus. The Axew seemed to like it very much as he happily burped in response, making Sherria and Lisanna giggle at how adorable he was.
"Even his burping is cute!" Sherria exclaimed, watching as Ashi gently rubbed small circles on his belly to aid with digestion. The girls admired Ashi's expertise in Pokémon care and took note as she explained, "For young Pokémon that are only a couple of weeks old, it's important to get any excess air out of their stomachs. Sometimes they need a little assistance with that, so gently massaging their bellies can help settle the food. We don't want them to have indigestion or stomach trouble, do we?"
Ashi turned to the Pokémon who was enjoying her ministrations, seeing the content look on his face as he relaxed under her touch. Sherria seemed to be hanging onto her every word while not taking her eyes off the Axew, and Lisanna who already knew this information from Melissa still paid attention as Ashi was their Poke-mentor after all. They watched as Ashi pulled her hand away and then saw the Axew stretch his body and arch his spine out like a cat would before sitting up and pressing himself into Ashi's chest.
"He is definitely a sweetie pie, that's for sure," Lisanna said as she reached out to pat his head while Sherria agreed in response, "Ah yes Lex, you sure are lucky to have Ashi as your trainer!" Lex preened under all the attention he was receiving while moving to snuggle into Ashi's chest. The tip of his horn briefly rubbed the bottom of her chin, which was fine since she figured the medicine might make him a bit drowsy. After the long and exciting day they had all had, they could all use a good rest.
Ashi cradled the Axew gently in her arms, and he listened to the sound of her heartbeat as he drifted off to sleep. The other girls watched in awe as Ashi expertly positioned herself to hold the sleeping Dragon-type without waking him up. Misty couldn't help but comment, "You're really good at this."
Ashi tried not to move too much so as not to disturb the napping Axew, but she nodded in Misty's direction. "Back at the lab, I often helped my mom and Professor with taking care of younger Pokémon who needed extra attention. Sometimes we would also foster abandoned Pokémon until they were ready for their new homes. Some could be a handful, but others weren't too bad. Though there were a few that sorta reminded me of Toshi when he was a toddler, though thankfully I didn't have to deal with any dirty diapers."
Ashi playfully scrunched up her nose at the memory, and the girls laughed along with her. She then quickly changed the topic and mentioned her summer job at a nearby Pokémon daycare run by an elderly couple. She had worked there for three years and certainly liked helping care for the Pokémon under their charge. The couple, Mr. and Mrs. Saito, had taught her many valuable lessons in patience and compassion when dealing with various one with unique personalities. Her time at the daycare had been rewarding, as she saw how much love and care could make a positive impact on Pokémon development.
"Eventually some of the folks that were a bunch of regulars gave me the nickname,'Mama Ashi,' which I didn't mind as I was kinda when I was tending to their Pokémon."
The girls could see why she earned that nickname, given how mature and responsible she was and her natural maternal instincts that put any Pokémon at ease. Lisanna chimed in, "It does suit you if you think about it."
Sherria added with a teasing tone, "Yeah, and if Ashi is Lexie's mama, then who would be the dad?" She said this out loud as the Godslayer took notice that the boys were paying attention to what they were discussing and couldn't resist throwing this out there just to see how they react.
Misty seem to catch onto what she was doing as she too notice the boys had taken a temporarily pause at cooking to eavesdrop on their conversation and while mentally making a note to bring Sherria on board with her matchmaking schemes down the line since she was sure the girl would love to help her out in creating different scenarios to nudge Ashi towards one (or multiple) guys and get to watch the sparks fly.
Meanwhile, the guys were listening in on their conversation and Sherria's comment had caused some reactions amongst them. "Heh, we all know who it is!" Raihan said to Leon as they busied themselves chopping up carrots and potatoes while Brock and Steven sliced cooked sausages, preparing to add everything to the bubbling pot. "Yeah, we do for sure."
"It's clear who would be the ideal person, because it's me!" Hearing this from both gym leaders at the same time, Leon and Steven saw the two whirl towards each other before immediately starting an argument.
"What are you talking about? Of course it would be me! It's obvious that I'd be the ideal dad to Lexaeus. Who else would it be?"
"Oh yeah, and how do you figure that?" Raihan glowered at Brock before explaining his reasons by counting them off his fingers.
"One, I'm the Gym Leader with expertise in all Dragon-type Pokémon, so it's evident that I know about this species - their likes, dislikes, etc. Two, since Lexaeus will most likely need serious training to one day evolve into a Fraxure followed by a Haxorus, my team and I will get him there in no time flat. Ergo, I'd be the obvious choice as his father figure!"
But Brock didn't seem convinced as he crossed his arms and scoffed at the taller male. "That may be so, but a Pokémon shouldn't simply focus on battling and evolving. A father should give them proper love and care. And since I'm studying to be a Pokémon breeder, I know the importance of raising them with a balanced structure and full emotional support!"
But Brock wasn't finished yet as he continued with his hands planted on his hips. "And another thing, how do we know you'll have Lexie's best interest in mind? For all we know, you just want to post pictures of him on your social media account and exploit him to all your fans just to get more likes!"
"He's got a point there Rai..." Leon couldn't help but feel that Brock had made a fair argument, given how his rival took lots of photos and videos for his channel. While Raihan sputtered trying to deny it, everyone else was not convinced.
Brock then pointed at himself with his thumb. "It would make more sense for me to fit the paternal role, since I have experience helping my parents raise my brothers and sisters. And seeing how I can handle all the necessary chores shows that I have better qualifications to be Lexie's dad!"
Raihan scoffed before marching towards the teen. "Pfft, yeah right! You're only saying this to score brownie points with Ashi! And let's face the facts, you'd probably not pay too much attention if another chick came by and you instantly went chasing after them, leaving Ashi to handle all the child-um, Pokémon rearing!"
The two were now shooting daggers at each other (although Brock's eyes were closed as they always were) and neither believed that the other would make a better dad for Axew.
Meanwhile, Leon and Steven stood on the sidelines mentally sweatdropping as the two continued their argument, each trying to emphasize their great qualities while dissing the other in the process. "Honestly, I don't think Ashi and Lexie need someone like this. Maybe it would be better if someone else - other than them - was a good role model."
"I agree!" Both men couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy at the thought of anyone else stepping in to assist Ashi. But if she did need help, they would gladly offer their services without hesitation.
Their eyes shifted towards the redhead, and for a moment, they pictured her cradling not a Pokémon, but a little infant with features similar to theirs. The thought brought a smile to their faces, especially when Ashi would look at them with that heartwarming grin and call them 'Honey' (Leon) or 'Darling' (Steven). It made their hearts flutter just thinking about it. The two champions blushed at the thought, their faces heating up instantly. But they quickly refocused on the situation at hand.
Meanwhile, the girls paid no attention to the exchange between the men as they were completely focused on Lex, still curled up in Ashi's arms. His small hand grasped her finger tightly, leaving it slobbered on yet she didn't seem to mind. If the Pokémon could understand human language, he would have scoffed at the idea of needing a 'Papa' when he had the best 'Memma' in the world right here with him.
And anyone who tried to take her away would be sowwy indeed!