After Gary distracted Ash from the fact that he didn't tell him what 'friends with benefits' means, they did what Gary came for. A battle. On their way to a suitable battle field, Asher asked his friend, "Gary, have you challenged Lieutenant Surge already?"
"Yes. In fact he was the first one I challenged, well, after a minor gym to warm up my Squirtle and Growlithe to battles.", answered Gary, "And before you think that this was crazy, you have to consider, as a newbie with no badges, I got to battle his most weakest team."
"You took advantage of the badge adaption!", realized Ash, "You smart cookie, you."
"Yeah, I am smart! If he won't have that seven badge rule, I would have done the Viridian gym first.", added Gary, basking in the fact Ash called him smart. "I get it, he is busy, but couldn't he just task his gym trainers to battle lower challengers? None of them are weak. Or get a co-leader, he won't be as busy if he had one! Albeit."
"Albeit?", asked Ash.
"According to a girl I was with, there are rumors that he is looking for a trainee to take on as his co-leader, and later successor to get off some work load.", told him Gary, "The rumors aren't sure if he wants to focus on his companies or takes on Lance or tries to become an Elite. He could do either, but who knows what that recluse plans to... okay, maybe you know it, as his sponsee."
"Eh, I don't know neither, actually.", admitted Ash. "We aren't that close... and thinking about it, I don't do much sponsor stuff, besides being a walking ad for his products. Kinda like the OFTR stuff. But from what you told me, that is more Oak's paranoia's fault."
"He isn't-if anything it is your mom's paranoia.", said Gary insulted on behalf of his grandfather. "And no, I will not explain what 'friends with benefits' means. If anyone explains this to you, it is Tracey. Now let's go battle." They arrived at a battle field. Gary was instantly ready, "Go, Wartortle!"
"Holy Giratina, your Squirtle already evolved?", said Ash surprised. "I choose you, Rowlet!" He called out his moody starter. As soon as she saw that Gary's starter was evolved, in addition to Trevenant, she decided she had to evolve soon!
"Wait, Rowlet didn't? Oh well, Ice Beam!"
"Dodge!", commanded Ash, "But try to get a Leafage in!" Unbeknownst to him, his starter decided to screw Leafage for now and just tire out the Wartortle. She could fly high, totally out of reach of Wartortle, but then he won't try to hit her. Wartortle would just rest and wait for her to get down. She flew close around Wartortle and dodged ice cold shots. As Wartortle circled around, as Rowlet flew around him, he got dizzy, until he fell onto his butt. Ash had an idea, "Astonish, then do it!"
Rowlet gave a hoot in agreement, and gave Wartortle a ghostly scare, before using Leafage. This knocked the dizzy water type out. Gary tried not to show that he was impressed that Ash managed to defeat his starter with Rowlet, who is still in her base form. She flew in idle, chirping happily about his loss. "You had a type advantage! Don't be proud!" He then decided to be a hypocrite and called out his Growlithe. "Thunder Fang!"
Sparks came from Growlithe's maw. He leaped into the air, and bit Rowlet, who was still basking in beating an evolved Pokemon. She felt electricity rushing though her body, before she felt how she was dropping to the ground, paralyzed. Before Ash could react, Growlithe finished her off with Fire Fang. Ash sighed, unsure what to think of this. She was just in the air, flying idle. Sure, she was proud of beating Wartortle, but that was no reason to not being vigilant.
Ash recalled his starter and called out Frillish. He is somewhat excited to use her in a real battle. "Frillish, Water Gun!"
"Thunder Fang!", commanded Gary his Growlithe. He ran up to Frillish who just floated up as he reached her. She shot him with a Water Gun, which motivated the Growlithe to jump into the air and attack her like Rowlet. Ash saw a purple aura engulf Frillish's body. "Thunder Fang again!" But it didn't work again.
Ash realized this aura was her ability, Cursed Body. The confused Growlithe let go of Frillish, who then shot him with water. Growlithe tried to use the move again, but still nothing. Frillish floated to him and wrapped him in her frilly tentacles, before using Poison Sting. Growlithe yelped and Ash got the feeling this must have heard. More than when Frillish had been male if Ash remembered the Dex correctly.
"Damnit! Growlithe, try Bite!", demanded Gary, frustrated that Thunder Fang had been disabled. Growlithe bit into her tentacles, only to realize that he bit into poison stings directly. He let of her and whined. "By Arceus, Growlithe!", said Gary worried about his Pokemon, "What happened to you?" Growlithe then got dizzy he tried to walk to his trainer, but he couldn't keep his balance, like a drunk person. He then fainted in front of Gary, succumbing to the poison he ingested directly. Gary recalled Growlithe and replaced him with a Pidgeotto. Pidgeotto flew high over Frillish, keeping a keen eye on her.
"He seems to have ingested some of her poison stings directly when using Bite, accelerating being poisoned. Female Frillish's are more poisonous than their male counterparts according to the Dex.", explained Ash.
"And the Thunder Fang?", inquired Gary.
"Her ability Cursed Body."
"I should have seen that coming, abilities!", said Gary, facepalming. "Well, Pidgeotto, Thief!" Pidgeotto flew down and grabbed after Frillish. Normally, a Pokemon would try to take something from the opponent, but Frillish carried nothing, so she just got damaged by the Pidgeotto's claws. Enough to knock Frillish out, forcing Ash to call out his last Pokemon. Ash hesitated to make his last pick, which Gary called out, "Pick already!"
"It is just, I would like to call out Snorunt, but I don't think she has much of a chance.", admitted Ash. "I haven't trained her enough – her move set is pretty crap - I focused on the others. Not to mention Team Rocket is after my butt and the OFTR stuff."
"Please, you hardly get jobs! And who cares about Team Spaceship! Just call her out, I want to see a Snorunt in person."
"Okay, Okay." Ash called out Snorunt. "Powder Snow." Ash saw Snorunt summoning her ice power, as Snow appeared. He also saw both Pidgeotto and Gary freezing a bit. Gary then commanded his bird, who then flew to Snorunt. "Use Headbutt, but wait for my sign.", said Ash. Pidgeotto came closer and closer and closer. "Now!"
"Steel Wing!", yelled Gary. As Snorunt was jumping into Pidgeotto, their wings became steel and smacked into Snorunt, knocking her out in one go. "Looks like I won, Ashy-Boy! But hey, this wasn't bad and you said you need to train more."
"Would you help me train my team?", asked Ash. "I don't think I can challenge the lieutenant just yet."
"Sure! It is Friday anyway."
Ash asked confused, "Why does it matter that it is Friday?"
"When I challenged him, he told me he is extremely busy on the weekend as more people have time off. Like students who can't wait for their breaks or to start a full blown journey's, or workers who want to blow off some steam in battle as a hobby.", explained Gary to Ash.
The duo healed their team and took a lunch break – Ash paid as he lost their battle – after that they walked to the training fields being the center and just did that, training! Rowlet was again very moody that she lost. Gary's Pidgeotto helped her with her flight, so it happened that she hooted annoyed while flying cycles over their field. Ash asked Frillish what she hoots about. She translated, "Rowlet wants to be used against the lieutenant to make up for her losses."
"Mm, okay.", agreed Ash.
As Rowlet was the most motivated for betterment, she was the first to learn a new move, she learned Razor Leaf. But she was still hooting angrily and Frillish – again – translated why, "She is angry she just learned a new move and didn't evolve."
"Oh, Rowlet! That you learned a new move is great. Plus, most Pokemon need to learn a few moves before they evolve, so see it as a step to this goal.", he told his starter.
Gary just commented, "Man, I wish I could understand Pokemon, be it just a type."
"What type would you choose?"
"Water types? I dunno, actually.", answered Gary. He then stopped in his tracks when he saw Ash's badges. "Oh, both of your badges are golden? Pretty impressive that you got them first try. I needed two or even three tries for some badges.", he admitted and showed Ash his badges. Gary kept his in a case, opposed to on his clothes. Ash saw Gary's Vermillion badge was silver.
The next one to learn a move was little Snorunt, as she was who Ash focused the most on. She got a hang on Ice Shard... and knocked Rowlet out as she did. Gary tried his best not to laugh at this. "That reminds me when I just caught Pidgeotto as a Pidgey. Growlithe made it a tradition to knock him out. I am sure Pidgeotto just evolved to get his revenge on Growlithe."
"Poor Pidgeotto. I hope Snorunt doesn't make this a habit.", answered Ash.
Later on this Saturday, Frillish mastered the move Water Pulse.
On Sunday, it was Dreepy's turn to progress. (Pranking Gary's Wartortle not counting as a viable training.) He unlocked Dragon Tail, his egg move. Ash praised him, but Gary said he doesn't sound as excited as he should. Ash told him, "It is just, I am not sure if I get to keep Dreepy. What if Champion Lance demands him back while I am too weak?"
"I doubt that would happen! Besides that it is rude to take back gifts, I don't think he thinks you're too weak.", said Gary, "Sure, you're nowhere close his level, but who is? Maybe he gave Dreepy to you so you can grow with Dreepy."
"That's a smart thing to say.", replied Ash. "Did you have that from the professor?"
Gary sighed, "Yes. That's what he told me about the starters. Trainers grow along their starters, yada yada yada. Now, your team's move sets aren't much different... do you have some TMs?"
"No?", answered Ash. He hadn't used it and he somewhat forgot he has two TM passes.
"Dude, are you seriously telling me you have access to a superior TM pass and you didn't take advantage of it since you got it?", asked Gary in disbelief. "Mine is always used up!"
Ash was now the one sighing, "You see... I... with everything happening... I."
"You forgot you have one, let alone two?", guessed Gary. "No, I think there is more to it. Spill the beans, Ash."
"I... I doesn't feel right using it. Both, I mean. I don't think I deserve the sponsorship nor the OFTR spot.", explained Ash. "I hardly do anything for both jobs – you said yourself I am hardly given any tasks – all my Pokemon got handed to me, I was so helpless when Team Rocket tried to kidnap me. I-I."
Gary interrupted him, "I get it, I get it. But Ash, you have to consider, most people would feel helpless dealing with that group. Now stop crying and follow me." Gary dragged Ash off the field, the out the center.
"Where are we going?", asked Ash his friend.
"We use your passes, Ashy-boy.", answered Gary, "No wonder you feel so weak if you reject tools like these. Maybe gramps and Delia would treat you less like an egg if you stop being such a wuss."
"Hey! Fine..."
Rowlet was nestled in Ash's backpack as they walked into Vermilion's shopping center. While Ash wanted to just use one pass up, if at all until it recharges in two weeks, Rowlet made it clear she at lest wants two moves to add. If he chooses two reusable TMs for his diva starter, his OFTR pass would be empty for two weeks. Just for his diva starter. So both it is. While Gary emptied his pass for the next week, he has some money, to buy one reusable or two one time use TMs.
Both trainers stood in front of a wall, covered by shelves displaying TMs. There was a second wall, covered in reusable TMs, all double the price, some even triple of what one would pay for a one time use TM. Rowlet was the first to pick her two moves, she picked Brave Bird – even after Ash telling her he doesn't want her to learn a recoiling move just yet – but she demanded it. Gary asked him, "Isn't her ability Long Reach?"
"Yes, but I am not sure if Recoiling moves are included with her ability.", answered Ash. "Rowlet, pick a second flying type move, okay?" She choose Aerial Ace. A reusable. "Okay, the OFTR pass can still buy two one time uses.", stated Ash.
The next one to pick a move was Snorunt. He was considering letting her choose two as well, but he still had to let Dreepy and Frillish at least make a pick. Trevenant was till in his own league, so Ash didn't feel the need to get him a TM just yet. He saw Snorunt eyeing a reusable, Shadow Ball. She pretended to be more interested in Crunch.
"Mm, fine, you get Crunch and Shadow Ball.", decided Ash. Shadow Ball will be so useful in the future."
While Dreepy was supposed to get something, they didn't find anything he could learn. Besides one stupidly expensive reusable TM for Dragon Tail, but that one won't be needed anymore. Frillish simply was not interested in any move. So Ash decided he will get Trevenant a move. He choose Bullet Seed.
"Are you sure you want that move? Your Magical Leaf is more powerful than that.", inquired Ash into his Pokemon's decision.
"Oh, you will see, Ash.", he replied. With that, Ash's OFTR pass was emptied out for the next two weeks.
They returned to the center and trained the moves to their teams. While Ash was focusing on Snorunt, Trevenant and Rowlet were under themselves. Trevenant told her, "Listen, I know you don't like me, but I want to help you getting stronger, Rowlet."
"Really?, she answered, slight disbelief. "I am pretty rude to you, so..."
"We both have the same typing, or will be one day, but you're more the physical type, Rowlet." Trevenant sneaked to Ash and snatched the TM for Bullet Seed. He returned to her, "I have no use for it, but you do. I know you can reach long, but I think you'll profit from a move that doesn't require it. You fly around a lot, use it. On the other hand, that Growlithe got you with ease."
"What is that supposed to mean?", she said insulted. Gary and Ash just heard an angry hoot coming from her.
"You basked in pride, just staying on one spot, you made yourself an easy target.", explained Trevenant. "Make yourself a difficult target, we both know you can't take much before fainting. You're a flying type, fly around before you can turn intangible."
"Mm..." Rowlet was thinking. She may not like it, but he was right. She won't be a Decidueye anytime soon. She should take advantage of being a flying type until then. She should stop just idling on a spot. "Fine. Now help me with the move."
A few hours later, Ash was done with Frillish and wasted to train Rowlet. Going there, he saw how she used Bullet Seed on a tree. He also saw Trevenant watching.
"Trevenant? Did you give Bullet Seed to her?", he asked his traded Pokemon. Trevenant confirmed. "Well, I think she'll get a better use out of it, so... good job? Both of you."
Started: 17th September 2023
Edited: 29th July 2024
Finished: 24th September 2023
Uploaded: 13th November 2024