Nacrene City was Ash's next destination, the site of his next Gym Battle. The leader Lenora uses Normal types and all of them hit hard, that was what Cilan had told Ash before he left Striaton City.
But for now, Ash and his Pokemon were taking a well-deserved break from their travels to train. Pikachu and Oshawott had paired up once more, Pikachu helping Oshawott with his scallop-wielding skills. Deerling and Pidove had paired up, each fighting the other with a variety of moves, polishing and bettering their arsenal. Sandile and Tepig were the two remaining, and Sandile had taken it upon himself to help Tepig power up, having the Pokemon use Ember over and over until he could properly deflect Sandile's Stone Edge.
But from time to time Tepig's concentration would break and he'd steal glances at Deerling. Sandile would reprimand him for that, taking on the role of the leader in this training session.
It wasn't a surprise to Ash that Tepig would get nervous around Deerling. His previous trainer had abandoned him after he'd lost to a Deerling. That memory probably affected Tepig in a different way than it should. He had yet to even interact with Deerling, who had tried to make friends with the Pokemon.
A problem that Ash was hoping he'd tackle the right way. Tepig needed to get over that loss properly.
Ash stood from the place he'd sat and observed his Pokemon train and let out a sharp whistle. His Pokemon all stopped and came over to him. They knew what the whistle meant.
It was lunchtime.
Ash put down food for his Pokemon before he took out a box from his bag. He'd been feasting on things he'd buy from the stores that he'd buy with the funds Professor Oak would send him (a new experience for him considering he had Brock to feed him and could invest the money in other things). But before he'd left Striaton City, Cilan had given him the bento box as a thank-you for the battle and a personal reward.
Ash took one bite and felt himself melt at the taste of the food inside. Cilan was a brilliant cook. If only he'd come with Ash…
Ash picked up a piece of cake and was about to bite into it when he felt something snatch it away. He got up quickly and turned, seeing the cake vanish into the grass and something rush away from him. Ash gave chase to it. The chase led Ash to an empty clearing, where he saw what had stolen the piece of cake from him.
A Snivy!
It was the same species as the one that insufferable Trip had started his journey with. Ash wondered if this one was a wild one.
To test his thoughts he pulled out an empty Pokeball and threw it. The Snivy was hit in the back and sucked into it immediately. The Pokeball shook once, then twice, before Snivy broke free. Snivy swept the Pokeball back at Ash before making its escape.
A wild Pokemon… Ash was going to capture it.
Ash quickly rushed back to his Pokemon. His Pokemon were done eating, so Ash had Pidove take to the skies and track the Snivy down. So while Pidove searched for the Pokemon, Ash cleaned up after his Pokemon. By the time he was done, Pidove had found the Pokemon.
Snivy was almost done with the cake It had stolen when Ash and his Pokemon found it. At his trainer's command, Pikachu attacked using Quick Attack, which Snivy easily dodged. Pikachu prepared a Thunderbolt to follow up on his missed attack, only to be thwarted when he suddenly began swooning and cooing.
"What the-" Ash frowned. "Pikachu Thunderbolt!"
But Pikachu did not attack, too busy swooning and cooing. What had that Snivy done to Pikachu?! Ash quickly pulled out his Pokedex.
Attract: If it is the opposite gender of the user, the target becomes infatuated and less likely to attack.
"Of all things" Ash groaned. This Snivy had to be a female and have that of all moves.
Snivy smiled brightly before she lashed out at Pikachu with Vine Whip. Snivy managed to hit the electric mouse twice before Ash jumped in and protected Pikachu with his body as a shield.
Snivy was shocked by the act momentarily before she made a sleek escape using Leaf Storm.
Pikachu snapped out of the effects of Attract and promptly looked embarrassed.
-x-
Snivy lay on top of the rock formation out of breath. First that odd trainer and his weird yellow mouse and then those two and their talking cat, everyone wanted her now!
Yet it was the first trainer that Snivy couldn't help but think about, about how he'd put himself between her and his Pokemon. She had never seen a trainer do that.
Especially the one who had chosen her as a partner…
"Snivy!"
The Pokemon looked down and made a noise of disgruntlement. The weird boy was back.
"I challenge you to a battle!"
Snivy snorted but stood up and looked down at him. If he wanted to battle, he'd have to come get her.
The trainer did not come to face her personally, but his Pidove did.
Snivy used Vine Whip but the flying type dodged with ease, landing a clean hit with Quick Attack. Snivy made another noise of disgruntlement before jumping in the air and doing a spin as she used Attract.
But it did not work on the Pidove.
Another female… she should have known.
Snivy used Leaf Storm and Pidove used Gust. The two attacks clashed, before Pidove with overpowered and hit by the wave of leaves. Snivy took the opportunity and ran off.
Snivy ran through the trees over a muddy swamp and came out on the other side by the side of a river. She approached it, behind over to grab a drink.
And immediately had to jump out of the way to dodge an incoming attack.
She turned sharply and watched a Woobat fly at her. She jumped out of the way again.
"You're a strong Pokemon" the woman from before had come forward, "Team Rocket needs Pokemon of your strength."
Snivy did not know what this Team Rocket was, but she knew she didn't want to get mixed up with them.
The Pokemon used Leaf Storm, while the woman's Woobat countered with Air Slash. The slashes cut through the leaves with ease and Snivy flew back from being hit by them and into the river. She struggled back to her feet, before unleashing an Attract.
The Woobat countered with Heart Stamp, the move breaking through the Attract and slamming into Snivy.
She flinched.
Woobat used Air Slash once more.
The blades hit her directly and she was sent flying once more.
This time she landed on the stones, unable to get up. Her eyes fell on the tree line where she could see the silhouette of a person. But before she could make out who it was, she felt her body shiver and break.
The Pokeball shook once, then once more. A long pause passed before it shook a third time and confirmed the capture.
The silhouette from the tree lines stepped out and picked up the Pokeball.
"Now we have two strong Pokemon on the team," James said with a smirk, throwing the Pokeball to Jessie.