After getting over Misty being afraid of him despite helping her, he continued his way to Viridian City. At the border of the city, he was stopped by Officer Jenny.
"Excuse me, young one, have you seen any Mindless?", she asked him.
"Only yesterday at my OFTR exam, near Pallet Town.", he answered her.
"Oh, an OFTR trainee, nice. In that case, I let you go.", she said, "Please inform the police of any weird acting people you may cross."
"Of course, Ma'am."
He made a bee line to the first center he found, there he let Rowlet heal from the Gyarados attack. He was about to call his mother, when a man stepped besides him and gave his Pokemon to the nurse to heal.
"Another intense training session, Mr. Sakaki?", she asked.
"Yes. But nothing comes from nothing.", he replied.
Ash realized who he was was, the gym leader from Viridian Gym. Of course, this center is close to the gym.
"Mm, only one Pokemon? What are you, fourteen, why so little?", the gym leader asked.
"Give me some slack, it is my first day as a trainer.", Ash answered. "And specializing into ghost types limits one greatly."
"But the league rule change was only two weeks ago."
"And? Not like my mom is the only overprotective parent in Kanto.", Ash answered. Ash could sense curiosity of Mr. Sakaki. Probably the hair, it is always the hair. "If you're curious about the hair, no dye, just one freak accident and a near death experience."
"I am more curious about your Pokemon. It doesn't look like a ghost type.", he answered.
"Oh! Rowlet's final evolution is a ghost type. As of now, she is a grass and flying type.", explained Ash. "Considering that OFTR's get special starters and I specialize in one of Kanto's rarest typings..."
"Is that why you accepted to become one?", Sakaki asked.
"Yeah..." And because he knew his mother would want him to accept, but Mr. Sakaki does not need to know that part.
"Mm... Surge told me he is tutoring a kid for an OFTR spot, I assume he meant you?"
Lie. Ash senses a lie. But why would Mr. Sakaki lie about this? "I suppose, did he mention white hair?"
"And weird powers.", Sakaki muttered. "I suppose you know who I am?"
"Of course! You're Giovanni Sakaki, the gym leader of Viridian City and the CEO of Gio Corp.", Ash answered, "You are probably one of the most well known people in Kanto."
"Mm, I suppose.", said Giovanni. He wanted to ask something, when the entrance door of the center. "Not these..."
There were two people and a Meowth walking on two feet. The woman had long pink hair and wore a white very skimpy suit with stupidly long black boots to compensate and a red R on the chest. Her blue haired colleague wore a baggy full body variant made from the fabric her uniform didn't use. The two idiots – according to Mr. Giovanni Sakaki – then started to sing. If they are criminals, then some of their lyrics make no sense.
"Meowth, that's right!"
Ash was surprised, a talking Meowth. A Pokemon that he can understand despite it not being a ghost type. Giovanni stepped in front of Ash, seeing that the three criminals froze in their spot. Ash activated his powers, onto a level he rarely uses. His hair even started to float. The three were surrounded in Ash's ghostly aura, before his force pushed them against a wall. Out of it, they ran. Into a few cops. Apparently the nurse used their distracting singing to call them.
Ash saw that Giovanni was eyeing him. He scratched the back of his head. "I assume Lt. Surge told you about my powers."
"He did." Another lie, Ash can sense it. "Now, you're aware of my seven badge rule? I... would like to have a mock battle with you, considering what I heard about you."
Ash was surprised by this. "I... sure!"
"Then come."
They left the center and saw the trio being taken into custody. Ash saw Giovanni rolling his eyes, annoyance radiated from him. Ash got a feeling that accepting this mock battle may be a bad idea.
Walking into the shining and prestigious gym, they were greeted by a plain looking woman.
"Oh sir, who is this?", she asked.
"This, Matori, is an On-Field Trainer and researcher I walked into. I challenged him to a mock battle.", he explained. "Ash, this is my secretary Matori. She is also, most of the time at least, my referee. She probably will when you have all seven badges necessary to challenge me for real."
"Oh, that's why a mock battle, he doesn't have seven badges. How long have you been a trainer, Ash?", she replied, adding a question for Ash.
"I got my starter over a week ago, but until yesterday, I was still training to be an OFTR.", Ash explained, "So depending how you see it, for a week or for a day."
Matori looked at her boss, silently asking why he challenges this newbie for a mock battle. Not that she cares much, but knowing her boss, this is just weird of him. Sure, the kid is an OFTR, but still. What is going on in that mind of yours, Giovanni?
"Matori, would you please go to your referee stage?", Giovanni asked his secretary. She gave him a nod and walked away. She took a stair case to the first level. The second story of the gym was, at least the part over the battle field, more of a terrace like in an old theater over-viewing the field. Straight from the massive stair case is Giovanni's gym office. What is under – as there are two doors on the ground level – no one knows. Maybe a little office for Matori?
Matori was on a rounded balcony near the middle of the field. From there she has the best view of the field. Giovanni walked to the star case and stood on the third. Just then Ash noted the third stair step is bigger than the others. Ash stood on the other end of the gym in front of Giovanni. Despite Giovanni's image as a posh and pompous rich guy that cares about looks – meaning being a cliché rich guy – the battle field was made of earth, dirt and some rocks. Albeit Ash saw some lines hinting at a pool or similar that can open in the ground. Giovanni – the ground type gym leader – sure can afford it. Well, despite him specializing in that type, he has quite a few Pokemon that aren't ground types. In other words, he focuses more so on a type. Something Ash considers to do as his type, at least here in Kanto, isn't what you consider common.
Matori said loudly, but not yelling, "Ash, I assume you only have one Pokemon?"
"Yes.", Ash confirmed.
"In that case. Assuming Mr. Sakaki says otherwise, this battle will follow the official league rules. This battle will be a one v one single battle. The use of Mega stones and similar, as well as potions, substitutions and similar are not allowed.", Matori said. "This battle is between Gym Leader Giovanni Sakaki of Viridian and-what is your full name and tell me where you're from?"
"Asher Farron Ketchum.", he said slightly annoyed. While he prefers to be called Ash, he doesn't mind to be called Asher. He hates being called by his middle name, as it is the name of the man who abandoned him and his mother when he may have died. "I'm from Pallet Town."
"You don't like your name, do you?", Giovanni asked, slightly laughing.
"Mm, only my middle name."
"This battle is between the Viridian City gym leader Giovanni Sakaki and the challenger and On-Field Trainer and Researcher Asher Farron Ketchum from Pallet Town.", she continued, monotone. "Trainers, call out your Pokemon!"
Ash was surprised that his status as an OFTR is announced, but he somewhat likes it. He called out his one and only Pokemon, Rowlet! She Sat on the floor and looked around, including all the way round. "Look Rowlet, our first real battle since the OFTR training!", he said happily to his starter. Rowlet agreed with an excited chirp.
"What a cute ball of feathers."
"Stay focused, Matori.", Giovanni said. He casually threw a ball, Nidoqueen came out of it with a blue flash. "Nidoqueen, Poison Stings."
"Dodge!" Rowlet shot in the air and flew around, up to Matori's height. She then flew close to the Queen, but dodged poison pins coming from her. This was Rowlet's way of mocking. Ash was thinking what move she should do. Leafage may help against the Nido's ground typing, but not for the poison part. Astonish and Tackle aren't native moves and Tackle would require that Rowlet touches her. Not only is this simply a risk for her to be hit, who knows what abilities this Nidoqueen has. The same problem has Peck. And Ash has yet to check what ability – if she has one at all – his Rowlet has. Better do something and hope for the best. "Rowlet! Use Astonish!"
Rowlet flew down and in front of Nidoqueen, she started to glow purple, similar to Ash's power, like a flash. This scared the poison and ground dual type and allowed Rowlet to create some distance between them. The Nidoqueen collected herself from the scare and waited for a new command. "Mm, this aura looks familiar.", said Giovanni, hinting at the incident in the center, which Matori was not aware of. "Nidoqueen, Ice Punch until I say otherwise."
"Rowlet, Peck! Aim for the eyes!", commanded Ash. If Nidoqueen can't see for a bit, Rowlet could try the other moves at lesser risk. But first she has to risk a Peck. "But prioritize to dodge, girl!"
She purred – her way of acknowledging his command – and flew swiftly to the Nidoqueen. She dodged the Nidoqueen's arm and flew high, before rushing down again and pecking her eyes. The Nidoqueen held her eyes in pain, using the ice on her fists to cool the injury. Ash told her to use Leafage now. Leaves came from her body and attacked the Nidoqueen. But Rowlet didn't touch the Nidoqueen, which confused Ash. He was sure Leafage was a physical move. When Nidoqueen let go of her eyes due to the leaves, "Repeat Peck on the eyes!"
Rowlet flew down from the air, only to fly into Nidoqueen's Ice Punch. She dropped on the ground, not dead but Rowlet fainted after one hit. Ash didn't expect to win, but not this. He recalled her.
"Rowlet fainted. This match and so this battle goes to Gym leader Sakaki.", said Matori. She left her spot and walked down.
"You didn't do bad, Asher. But let me give you a pointer. Don't do the same move so close to each other even if it works well. It will be predictable, just like Nidoqueen did without my input.", Giovanni said. "You have potential, keep training, kid."
"Thank you for the advice. Mm, I better go now?", Ash said unsure. He has a feeling something is coming.
"Not yet. I challenged you for this mock battle for a reason, I wanted to test you.", Giovanni explained, while walking closer to Ash.
His secretary chimed in, as she walked down the last stairs, "I knew there was a reason why you challenge a newbie still green behind the ears. Now what was that test for, sir?"
"I wanted to test Ash because I consider to sponsor him. While he didn't win this match, he showed potential.", Giovanni explained. "And – unlike the last kid I considered to sponsor – he isn't a sore looser who throws a temper tantrum afterwards."
"I am surprised you even considered further sponsoring after that spoiled brat.", Matori said.
"That's why I didn't tell Ash upfront why I challenge him.", he told her. Giovanni then turned his attention back to Asher. "What do you say?"
"While I am honored, I won't blindly agree to something.", he answered, remembering Lieutenant Surge's advice, even though he intentionally ignores the part about not accepting offers in his first year. "What would the deal entail for me?"
"Obviously, you would be given Gio Corp products as well as payment and a TM pass, a better one than your first year OFTR pass. "You may be invited to some events and I'll give you a Pokemon. I would like that we stay in contact, I would mentor you to some extent. And before you ask, I will take your OFTR status into consideration, as you have to prioritize the OFTR duties you have."
"I'll draw up a contract.", Matori said. She walked upstairs.
"Now you can go, Asher. Please return tomorrow around the same time to the gym.", Giovanni said, "Then you can sign the contract after reading it and receive your Pokemon. Or reject the offer, your choice."
"O-Okay, thank you.", Ash answered, "I'll see you tomorrow." With that, Ash left the gym.
After he healed Rowlet, he let her out in the room he rents at a hotel. He gets paid and he does not want to involuntarily get a room mate at the center. A potential thing that may happen if you take a free room at a Pokemon center. As soon as Rowlet was out, she roosted on a pillow and made angry noises.
"What is the issue, Rowlet?", Ash asked his Pokemon in worry, "Are you still in pain from the punch?" She shock her head. Ash can't wait for her to be a Decidueye, then he could just understand her like he does his mom. "Oh? Is it about the battle at all?" Rowlet then chirped. "But you aren't in pain. Are you angry we lost?" She chirped again. "Oh, Rowlet. The chance that we won was zero. If anything, I have to apologize to you that I accepted this one sided fight. Now, no need to be angry." Ash explained her the offer. "It didn't matter if we win, so no need to be broody." Rowlet calmed down and flew to his shoulder, cuddling him. "Now, before I decide about the offer, I want to check something." Ash took his dex and scanned Rowlet.
The dex spoke in a robotic, yet happy sounding world, "Silently it glides, drawing near its targets. Before they even notice it, it begins to pelt them with vicious kicks. This wary Pokémon uses photosynthesis to store up energy during the day, while becoming active at night. It feels relaxed in tight, dark places and has been known to use its Trainer's pocket or bag as a nest.
"This specimen is female, is classified as a shiny, has the ability Long Reach and has the moves Tackle, Leafage, Astonish and Peck. Should I clarify something?"
"Clarify the ability.", Ash requested.
"Long Reach is the ability to hit targets with physical moves without contact. It turns physical moves into pseudo-special moves. This Pokemon is unbothered by touch based effects of abilities like Poison Point or Flame Body."
"Flame Body? The opponent gets burned after making physical contact.", said Ash processing what he just learned. He then face palmed. "By Arceus, Rowlet! The whole fight I worried that the Nidoqueen may have such an ability, but it won't bother you! I'm such an egg! Mm, I better scan in the new Pokemon as soon as I... wait, do I accept the deal?" Now Ash was in a pickle. He would want to. It could be wish thinking, but he got a hunch it is a ghost type. "I mean, it would be a great boost to my trainer career... Mm, I decide when I read the contract. For now, we train. You up for it?" Rowlet instantly flapped her wings, a very clear yes. "Then let us go to the center, their training area."
He then stopped. "I have yet to call mom! And I better tell the Professor about the offer if I am at it."
He sat onto a desk and took out his phone. Despite regions like Paldea and Galar just having a dex app, the Indigo League and others persist on the dex being an explicit device separate from phones. Great for trainers who have no good phones if one at all, just annoying for the rest. Alola at least lets their trainers choose if they want the phone app or the separate dex. Unova seems to roll out this as well. To be fair, they are a main producer of phones, so they definitively profit from it.
He called his mother and said before she could say anything, "I am sorry I only call now, but so much happened and I somewhat forgot."
Delia sighed, not annoyed, just surprised with his fast speaking, "It is okay, now what happened?"
"On my way to Viridian City, I met a girl whose bicycle tube I patched. She fished up a Gyarados. I needed to use my powers to hush it away. When I arrived in the city, an officer stopped me and asked if I saw any Mindless. When I healed Rowlet, I met the Viridian Gym leader there. We talked when a few weirdo criminals attacked the center. Again, powers. Um, Mr. Sakaki, the gym leader, than challenged me to a Mock battle. I of course lost, but he offered me a sponsorship deal. I'll read the contract tomorrow, but I already would like to accept."
"Wow! What a first day! Now that girl..."
"Mom! She was afraid of my powers... why again aren't we dying my hair?"
"Black turns gray on your hair, red becomes pink, should I go on?"
"No.", he said. "I still need to inform the professor of the offer. After that I train Rowlet. She is a bit insulted she lost the battle against Mr. Sakaki."
"Do that.", she told him. "Don't forget to call me the next time. Tell me if you accept after calling Samuel."
After he called the professor, he trained Rowlet like he told her to. While on the open air field, he tried to teach Rowlet to hit harder and take hits. But something distracted him. It wasn't even related to the sponsoring, which irritated Ash even more. A little voice yelled help.
"Rowlet, you hear that too?" He then decided, "I am an OFTR, I am supposed to help. Let's check who calls for help."
Rowlet flew high and then flew down, she found the caller. Ash followed her behind a shed, were they found a small Pokemon, none Ash recognizes. He knows it is a ghost type, he understands it after all. The little tree stump noted Ash and Rowlet.
"Hey you, I've heard you crying for help, what happened?", Ash asked.
"You understand me?", he replied.
"Yes, i understand ghost types.", Ash explained, "Now what is the issue?"
"My trainer. I can't find them. For days I've been looking for them.", the little tree ghost explained. He floated closer to Ash. "Mm, could I accompany you? I don't want to be alone."
Despite Rowlet's annoyed purring, Ash allowed the ghost to stay. "Would ypou mind if I scan you? I would like to know what you are."
"Of course."
Ash scanned the tree, his dex spoke, "This Pokemon is a Phantump, a native Pokemon to Kalos. According to old tales, these Pokémon are stumps possessed by the spirits of children who died while lost in the forest. According to legend, medicine to cure any illness can be made by plucking the green leaves on its head, brewing them, and boiling down the liquid. This specimen is male, has the ability of Natural Cure and knows the moves Magical Leaf, Hex, Shadow Claw and Dig. Should I clarify something?"
"No, thank you.", Ash said. "Wow, you're quite the fella, Phantump. I am happy to help you." Rowlet just looked angrily at him. She saw how impressed her trainer was.
They also trained the next day. After he healed her after their last excersise – they left Phantump in the hotel room - he rode his bicycle to the gym. Chaining it to other bikes, he walked into the gym. There he saw Giovanni battle a different trainer. He lost. Even worse than Ash did yesterday and that guy had at least seven badges! But Giovanni Sakaki is the strongest gym leader of Kanto for a reason. This being it.
After the trainer left, Giovanni greeted Ash. They walked to thesecond story office, were Matori was already waiting for them. She gave Ash the contract. After reading it, he saw nothing he had an issue with. Only that he has to use Gio Corp products and can't talk badly of them, but that is just a sponsoring deal like any other. Not that Gio Corp products are bad, they won't sell like hotcake if they were.
"And?", Giovanni asked.
"I accept the sponsorship. Mm, may I borrow a pencil?", he answered. Matori gave him a red ball point pen and he signed the contract.
"Good. Now I introduce you to your new team member.", Giovanni said, giving Ash a Pokeball. A Luxury ball. "I am aware you picked a disadvantaged type – at least here in Kanto – so I wanted to pick a ghost type. But I only managed to get a Pokemon that will later on evolve into a ghost in under a day. Let her out."
Ash did as he was told. He found a little, cone shaped cool feeling Pokemon. Giovanni explained, "This is a female Snorunt. With the help of a Dawn stone – one I will supply you with – she will become a ghost and ice type."
"Wow! Thank you, Mr. Sakaki.", Ash said. Rowlet sat on his shoulder and looked at the Snorunt, she chirped approvingly. Better than that sob story Phantump.
"In that case, have a nice day and train. I said you have potential, but that means you still have to work for it.", Giovanni said. "If you excuse me, I have a meeting to attend."
Giovanni left and Matori accompanied him to the entrance of the gym. He returned to the hotel room and introduced Snorunt to Phantump. In a mirror, Ash saw his OFTR badge on his larnyard was now accompanied by the sponsorship badge. He has a good feeling about this.
AN: This chapter is nearly four thousand words long. I really didn't find a spot to cut the chapter off any sooner.
Ciao for now,
ABSOL_ute
Started: 12th September 2023
Edited: 29th July 2024
Finished: 13th September 2023
Uploaded: 14th October 2024