Hello, again, and welcome back to Ash's Unova journey; my version of the chapter was once two episodes in one chapter, so don't be surprised if it's slightly shorter or longer, depending on how it goes.
Chapter 3: Sandile and the hot spring
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We join our heroes as they head to Striaton City, the home of Ash's First gym battle. As a pair of eyes were watching them through shades.
"According to the map, there's a hot spring nearby. Maybe we should stop there and rest before we head into town, especially since we've been on a long flight coming here," Brock said after looking at the map.
"That would be great after all this walking," Misty said enthusiastically.
"Might as well. I mean, Striaton city is a bit ways away," Ash said, agreeing that it would be an excellent way to relax.
Oshawott, who was outside his ball, nods in agreement. "That hot spring is known to be safe for both humans and Pokemon, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to relax for the journey," Oshawott said as Pikachu was curious.
"How do you know about that, Oshawott? Have you been there before?" Pikachu asked. Oshawott shakes his head.
"No, it's what I hear from many trainers after passing through Nuvema Towne. It's supposed to be famous," Oshawott explained to Pikachu, who nodded in understanding.
"So, Oshawott, why did you want to join Ash in the first place? I never got to ask you that?" Pikachu asked. Oshawott sighed at this.
"To be honest with you. I have gotten tired of being passed over by many trainers. The last three trainers chose my two sisters and two of my friends. I always felt left out," Oshawott said to Pikachu, who was now grasping at what he was saying.
"And what about Snivy? I see he was kinda hoping that you would be taken?" Oshawott sighed and looked down.
"I appreciate his willingness to let him be passed up as a starter. I still am mad at him for bad memories, and I instead not want to discuss it with you since we just met, "Oshawott said in a hurt tone but did respect Pikachu and what he was asking.
"I understand, and I won't pry. But if you want to talk, I'm here for you?" Pikachu explained. Oshawott nods in agreement.
"Maybe later on the journey, we can,' Oshawott said, looking around.
"Huh, is something wrong, Oshawott?" Pikachu asked.
"Just feel like we're being watched by something," Oshawott explained.
"I hope that it's not Team Rocket. They said that they're not after me, but I'm not buying it," Pikachu says in annoyance, making Oshawott curious about this.
"How long have they been after you? I mean, I heard about what happened from Pidove," Oshawott asked.
"Nearly five years till today. They've been in every region we visited and never blast off for good. Not even the police do anything as their boss is not only a gym leader but a wealthy person and has some ties in the police force," Pikachu says, annoyed in the first part of his explaining.
"Ugh, even I already hate them just from that explanation," Oshawott says. Pikachu nods in agreement.
"They almost turned me against Ash more than once, but Ash has stopped them," Pikachu said to Oshawott, explaining multiple times that happened during his Journey in short length.
"Man, I hope that won't happen during this journey," Oshawott says after Pikachu finished.
"Given that they already cleared out an entire forest on one route, anything might happen," Pikachu said, sighing.
The Pokemon that was following them was listening to the entire conversation.
"So the rumors about the whole forest back, there was indeed hit by a group of thugs, huh? These humans here don't seem like the bunch to do that and seem nice enough to let those two out of their balls," the young crocodile-looking Pokemon says to himself, wearing what looks like shades of sorts in his eyes. "One of them would be a good trainer for me. I want one, and that boy reminds me so much of an old friend of mine," he said with a smile.
Ash and his friends arrived at the hot springs to be let down by the "Closed until further notice!" The sign said as the group was surprised.
"Did something happen? Because this place, according to the Guidebook, is supposed to be open around this time," Brock says. They noticed that someone was walking over their way.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, but the hot spring is closed due to unforeseen circumstances," the young lady explained to the gang. Brock went to the lady and did his usual stick, quickly shooting him down.
"Sorry, but I'm married, and if you do this again. All three of you won't be allowed in the hot spring when it gets open, especially with what's going on," She says.
"Sorry about that. He's usually like that around pretty women. I have taken that you run the place." Ash asks.
To which she nods, "Yes, my family has run this place for generations for a long time." The young girl answered the question.
"I see, so what is happening? Maybe we can help out?" Ash asked. "
"Sure, it's only fair, given that you are a tourist here," She agreed to the help.
"I guess our outfits gave us a way to not being from here? Huh?" Misty says. The young lady nods to this.
"Well, for one thing, those aren't the clothing that you see here in Unova. That and the Guidebook there gave it away," the girl said. To which the group chuckled and had a sweatdrop on their faces. "Names Mary. Like I said, my family owns this place, huh?" As she noticed a tiny brownish-crocodile-like Pokemon heading their way.
"It's a Sandile. They aren't known around this part of Unova?" Mary says the young Sandile looks like he's trying to ask for help or offer a way to help. Ash looked him up in the Pokedex to see that it was a dark/ground type, but the shades were not part of the Pokedex.
"Follow me, please I can help you. Some bunch of losers contains the water in the area nearby," Sandile says.
"Let me guess, one of them looks like a cat and has weird hairdos," Pikachu questions the Sandile, to which he nods.
"Yep, that's them alright,' Sandile nods at this.
"SERIOUSLY, CAN'T THEY LEAVE THINGS ALONE? UGH?" Pikachu yelled as he was tired of those three ruining their Journey every time.
By hearing Pikachu's tone, Ash can tell it was Team Rocket. 'Remind me not to get you angry, Pikachu?' Oshawott says with a worried look and a sweatdrop.
"Team Rocket has to be the ones who are behind this," Ash explained.
"Well, that explains the loud yelling from Pikachu," Misty said.
"Given that he is tired of them, I don't blame him," Brock says.
"Well, we better find them anyway, and I think Sandile can help us find them, right?' Ash asked Sandile as he nodded and ran in the direction he saw them.
Ash and the others followed him. They noticed that they were running a machine on the water source of the hot spring nearby. "Hey, stop that," Ash commanded Team Rocket as they turned around.
"And what makes you think we will? We're taking a good amount and will return it, but you twerps won't understand," Meowth says. As the machine was finishing up, it dings.
"Finished time to get going," Jessie says. "Sorry to jet, but we got going for the water. You should be getting it back soon enough," James said as the trio was about to leave. "You expect us to believe that fight like the cowards you are," Mary says. Ash and his friends were holding out their pokeballs.
"Not today nor for a while, twerps bosses orders," Meowth said.
"Let's just say we have new Pokemon to deal with; you twerps raring to go that won't be so; how do you put it? Forgiving, nor kind to you three." James said as they grabbed the needed amount and headed out,
"Say you there, want to join us? It's better than being around Twerpo's that is this dumb," Meowth asked Sandile, to which he growled at him.
"Not in your dreams. Did you expect me to join you when you ruined the hot spring like this? Not a chance, not with you clowns," Sandile says.
"What's with these Unova Pokemon calling us clowns," Meowth says after translating Sandile.
"Seems like many Pokemon have good taste in trainers," Misty says, poking at this further.
This was making Team Rocket more furious than ever. "How dare you. Team Rocket is better than before, especially now." James says.
"Don't explain this to them. They'll see what we mean soon enough," Jessie says as they blow up the machine causing an explosion as they fly off. This caused the water source to come back to the hot spring.
"I guess they weren't lying about that," Mary says in shock.
"What is going on? This isn't like them giving up like that, and mainly after Pokemon, not environmental stuff." Ash explains to which the group was contemplating the situation at hand.
Sandile looks like he was going to ask Ash something. "Huh? What is it, Sandile?" Ash asked Sandile.
"Can I join your team? You seem like a good trainer, and I know how to battle," Sandile asked, and from the way he was asking, Ash, got the gist of what he was asking.
"You sure, Sandile? I mean, you turned them down?" Sandile nods. However, he looks at Oshawott, showing that he wants to battle to see how well Ash is competent wise in battle.
"Bring it, Sandile," Oshawott said to which Ash nodded in understanding.
As two Pokemon were in a battle position. "You can go first, Sandile," Ash says, nodding as he used to dig. "Figured, use Water gun." Oshawott used to fire it in the hole, and Sandile was sent flying out of the hole Sandile used Payback hitting Oshawott hard. Oshawott managed to survive.
"Razor Shell," Ash commands. Oshawott's schalchop glowed and charged at the Sandile. Sandile's fangs spark with electricity which catches Ash and Oshawott off guard. "Thunder fang impressive there, Sandile," Ash complements Sandile. Both moves clashed, sending them back.
"Strike back with a Water gun." Ash commands and Oshawott does as told. Sandile used a thunder fang on the water gun as it was used as a conductor. Both of them were hit, and Sandile lost on purpose. Both Oshawott and Sandile were knocked out as Brock healed them.
"Well, Ash, you earned my trust already. I'll let you catch me," Sandile says to Ash.
"I see you were willing to join us, alright," Ash pulled out a Pokeball and tapped him as he was caught without issue.
"I appreciate the help minus the fact that it was just those losers doing. The hot spring is now open and free for you guys for trying to help." Mary says.
"Thank you so much," Ash, Misty, and Brock say as Ash lets out Sandile and his Pokemon to enjoy the hot spring. They deserved it, but many things were still on his mind, like: What is Team Rocket planning? Why are they not going after him and his Pokemon and speaking of Pokemon? What Pokemon have they either taken or stolen for their purposes? And lastly, What were they planning on using that water for?
"Well, I'll have to find out sooner or later, but right now, we earned a rest," Ash thought. The group enjoyed their time in the hot spring before leaving for the next town.
Well, that was an exciting turn of events that led to nowhere. What does Team Rocket store for our heroes as their Journey continues?
Meanwhile, back at the headquarters.
"We should've caught that Sandile just to teach him a lesson on how to respect us," James growls.
"That would reveal how we caught the other Pokemon to the twerps, and I'm sure that they aren't ready for what we have in store," Meowth says.
"Unova Pokemon aren't that friendly towards those who pose a threat, especially to our organization," Giovanni says. Jessie, James, and Meowth turned and bowed to him. "Excellent work on the mission. At the same time, adding another to our arsenal of Pokemon and all would be nice. But we should leave it be for now."
"The water source will help with our project when things come into plan," Meowth says.
"It'll come all to plan once all the necessary items and power sources are finished. Right now, it's in stage 1 still, so don't let your guard down, okay? Everything is low profile until we are ready to let these Pokemon out into the world," Giovanni says.
Stay tuned.
Done took longer than I'd thought. Yes, I did make the chapter a bit longer, but I'm trying to get things going as the first part of chapter 4 of the original is done. The new chapter 4 will be the Tepig episode, precisely how the story was paragraph-wise from the next chapter onwards. See you guys next time.