Let's get started on this short chapter.
Chapter 4: The Don George Battleclub and the Abandoned Tepig
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We join our heroes as they arrive in Accumula Town. The first Town before Striaton City and the site of the first gym battle.
"Man, this Town is huge, much bigger than I thought it would be," Ash says as the group looks around and comes up to what looks like a building of sorts, like a club or something of sorts.
"According to the guidebook, this is the Don George battle club. There are multiple facilities like this all over Unova," Brock says. The group looked at the building as Ash was getting familiar when that name was mentioned.
"So this is the Don George's facility. Never expected to hear that again. Man does it bring back memories of when I last visited Unova as a kid," Ash says, reminiscing everything he heard about this from his mom and dad growing up. Brock is surprised by hearing this, as Misty agrees with Ash.
"I, too, heard about this place, Ash. It's supposed to be a place where new trainers can learn and get stronger. Whether it be training new moves or getting stronger for gym battles, they're always open and welcoming to the public," Misty explains.
"Seems like you both heard about this place, it seems," Brock says, feeling left in the dark. Even his expressions show it. Brock noticed a sizeable muscular guy walking by and overhearing their conversation as the man approached the group.
"Why, hello trainers, you must be new to Unova, it seems, and have heard of this place?" The man asked to which the group nodded, answering his question. "Well, my name's Don George. I'm the owner of this place, and my brothers ran the other battle facilities all over Unova," Don introduced himself. The gang was surprised by this.
"So you're like Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny. You have many siblings all over the regions you're from, huh?" Misty asked with a sweatdrop, to which Don laughed at this.
"You're not wrong there, miss, but I'm the oldest of the bunch and the one you see the most who runs the big events throughout Unova," Don said as the group went inside. The group saw many trainers battling as Ash was getting interested in this, to which Don noticed this and asked, "So Ash, you're interested in these trainers, huh? We welcome even new experienced trainers to our ranks so we can accept you and your friends here."
"Thank you so much, sir," Ash and the gang say politely as the group heads to the area where they can register to be a part of the battle club and any battle tournaments all over Unova.
"And finished, you three are registered in the Don George battle club. Now you can participate in our battle facilities and tournaments," Don explained as the group welcomed this. But before Ash challenged a trainer, he saw one of Don's employees run over to Don George in a rush and panic.
"Sir, the mysterious Pokemon is back at it," The young employee explained to Don George, who sighed and turned to Ash and the gang.
"I see. Maybe you three can help us with something," Don asked Ash and the gang as Don led the group to the security area. "Recently, there's been a string of robberies of someone stealing food by something or someone," Don explains as the group sees the camera footage. The group noticed a small shadow in the footage, moving about frantically while grabbing food.
"Seems like a small Pokemon to me, Don, but what is it? It's too quick to get a read on the Pokedex, for sure?" Ash says to Don George, who agrees with what Ash just said.
"I agree with you there, Ash. That thief was moving so fast that it was hard for even our new trainers to catch it. Maybe you can use your Pokemon to help find who is responsible?" Don tells Ash and the others that Ash is the only group with Pokemon that can walk on land or fast enough.
Ash lets out Oshawott and Sandile and has Pikachu to help out. As they saw the footage, Ash explained what was happening and asked if they could help. The three Pokemon nod and agree to help as they split up to cover more ground. However, Pikachu and Oshawott went in the same direction. Though Oshawott looks like he might have recognized what it was by the size of the image.
"So, Oshawott, you think you might know who's responsible? I mean, you look worried about something or what it was?' Pikachu asked Oshawott, who looked down.
"I think I do know who it is. I heard stories about a fellow starter whose trainer had abandoned them. One starter, in particular, I'm more worried about the fire starter Tepig," Oshawott says to which Pikachu tilts his head at this.
"You mean that Tepig at the lab when we first met Oshawott? I thought he was just chosen to be a starter like you?" Pikachu questioned Oshawott, to which he shook his head at Pikachu's answer.
"No, I'm referring to one of my friends who was chosen before I became a chosen starter. Trainers picked him and another Snivy about a few months ago," Oshawott says, looking down and clenching his paw. "I overheard from Professor Juniper that both of them were released from their trainers, but one got the worst of it compared to the other. I hope that neither of them but," Pikachu cut off Oshawott.
"I've had run-ins with particular trainers who were either abusive or loved to abandon their Pokemon when they don't do things the trainer's way," Pikachu said, perking up Oshawott's ears a bit.
"I hate those trainers who think that Pokemon is either battle tools or see us as tools of war and not caring about our safety or well-being," Oshawott said and looked down after hearing all that. This explains why Pikachu hated Team Rocket for the past few weeks that Oshawott has been on the team.
As the two Pokemon noticed, something ran past them in a flash. "Did you see that Pikachu?" Oshawott said to Pikachu, who nodded. "Let's split up to catch it off guard before it can get away," Oshawott suggested. Pikachu nodded in agreement to this suggestion as Oshawott went in the direction of the shadow as Pikachu went in the other direction of Oshawott to hope and catch it off guard.
Oshawott managed to catch up with the said Pokemon and instantly recognized it as the said Pokemon was scared.
"Please don't hurt me. I was just hungry and needed help," the Pokemon said as Oshawott was surprised and angered by the look of the Pokemon, who happens to be one of his closest friends, Tepig. He had a rope on his snout, which looked like it barely ate in the past few days.
"Tepig is that you don't worry. I won't hurt my closest friend. It's me, Oshawott, from the lab," Oshawott says while coming closer to Tepig, who is surprised and happy despite how he was tied up snout-wise. Oshawott used a razor shell on the rope while not hitting his friend, slicing the rope off Tepigs face, who was now in tears, and ran over to Oshawott.
"Thank you, thank you, Oshawott. I couldn't stand having that on my snout anymore, and I was afraid to ask for help, thinking that they might bring me back to my former trainer or the lab," Tepig was crying on Oshawott's scalchop, who he held Tepig.
"Maybe you can be with a better trainer, one that I've chosen," Oshawott suggested, to which Tepig's ears perked upon hearing this.
"You sure? I mean, you've heard about what I've gone through just by me mentioning about me being abandoned. What makes him any different, no offense?" Tepig says, a bit curious and optimistic about Oshawott's new trainer. Oshawott shakes his head.
"I understand your concern, but from the past few weeks that I've been on the team, he's been kind to me, cares about his Pokemon, and is strong enough to be my...old friend Snivy in battle," Oshawott says as Tepig was surprised by as someone like that would beat someone that Oshawott knew for a while.
"You mean the one you've known before meeting me and our female Snivy friend. Now I'm impressed though I had no problems with your old friend, you know that, Oshawott," Tepig knew what Oshawott went through growing up and knew him personally and let it go. "Well, lead the way, Oshawott. Hopefully, I can walk well. I haven't eaten at all," Tepig said as Oshawott sighed and walked towards the building where Ash was slowly so Tepig could catch up with him just as Ash noticed Oshawott and headed over to where Oshawott was.
"Hey, Oshawott, I see you found the said Pokemon in the camera?" Ash asked Oshawott, and Ash noticed the Tepig struggling to walk towards Ash and Oshawott. "Oh no, hold on," Ash went over to pick Tepig up, seeing the abrasions on his snout and ran him inside.
Just in time, Don noticed that Ash was carrying a Tepig. "I don't think I need explanations as to what happens. Come inside, and we'll help him out, Ash," Don said as Ash brought Tepig inside the building. Don was healing and giving Tepig some food. "I've heard about this. It was all over the trainer's warning news feed to look out for Pokemon that were abandoned or hurt," Don said as Don pulled up a sheet that showed many Pokemon that either had been abandoned or trainers lost their licenses. Tepig fell under the former Ash and noticed that Snivy was listed under that former.
"Say, did a Trainer named Trip to come by? He, too, had a Snivy on his team," Ash asked Don, worried that the same Snivy was Trips. Surprisingly Don nods but adds.
"Yes, I saw him, but he's under the trainers in good standing. He still has his Snivy that, and the Snivy that was abandoned is female, and her trainer is also female," Don said, making Ash sigh in relief upon hearing that.
However, Oshawott and Tepig were shocked by hearing that said Snivy, whom they both knew, was on that list. This caught Ash, Pikachu, and Don's eyes, but Ash let it go.
"Say, Don, is there a way that it's okay for me or others to catch them if they're on good standings with the league?" Ash asked Don, who was surprised but nodded at Ash's question.
"Ash, I hoped you would take Tepig and any abandoned Pokemon. I saw that you're not only in good standing as a trainer, but you were working with the league about this situation, so yes, you and your friends here can if you're interested in them," Don said.
Don would contact the league about this agreement. Surprisingly, the league had already permitted this, given that Ash has helped before with Abandoned Pokemon, not to mention helping with a situation with Damien a few weeks before coming to Unova. This caught Ash by surprise because all he knew of was helping Pokemon in need while on his Journey here in Unova.
"I'll have to talk to Professor Oak about this the next time I go to a Pokemon Center. This was his idea that I agreed to." Ash says. As Don noticed a few things about Ash, he got the whole idea of the deal.
"Either way, Ash, you don't need my permission to take the said Tepig if he wanted to join the team? But keep an eye out for more Pokemon. More needs to be added to this list, either accounted for or with new trainers. Or have gone missing," Don explains to Ash. Tepig looks at Ash and nods at Ash, seeing what Oshawott is talking about, and see's that Ash is a caring trainer. Ash nods back.
"Okay, welcome to the team, Tepig. If you don't like my style of battle or you feel like you don't want to be with it, I'll contact the league and Professor about it," Ash told Tepig, to which he nodded in understanding but also shook his head on the latter part of Ash's offer. Ash pulled out a Pokeball and tapped Tepig as it was caught without issues.
"Ash, what you offered is what a real trainer should do, give the Pokemon options to choose whether they should stay. But given what Tepig went through, I think that he rather be with you than be left in another trainer's hands," Don said to Ash.
"Thank you for saying that, Don, but I'll do my best for all my Pokemon, even the new ones. That's a promise." Ash says as he holds Tepig's Pokeball Don nods and pats Ash's shoulder.
"That's what I like to hear, Ash. If you need any help or anything, the battle clubs are open to you and the group at any time," Don says to Ash, Misty, and Brock. Who nods in agreement; however, Ash must make a phone call before leaving the battle club for the Straiton City gym.
Ash called Professor Oak on the phone near the entrance of the Battle Club.
"Ah! Ash, my boy, I see you've arrived in Unova. Well, it seems," Professor Oak says, happy to see Ash remembers to call him when Ash arrived in Unova.
"Yeah, sorry about that, Professor. " Ash says. "There weren't many phones nearby on the way from the Professor's lab and here in the Don George Battle Club," Ash said to Professor Oak, nodding in understanding.
"However, I learned something from Don about the other offer from the league about them having me as an agent of sorts outside of our agreement?" Ash added, to which the Professor sighed at this.
"Look, Ash, I just got the asking for that after you left Unova. I was hoping to catch you at some point to let you know about that," Oak says. Ash was listening to all this. "It was per Lance's request after you helped him deal with Damien a few weeks before you left for Unova. He did say he owed you for helping him, and having you part of the league representatives would help out," Professor Oak said to Ash, who sighed, knowing that he would be asked something like this, which Oak noticed.
"Ash, I said yes, knowing that you were there for Charizard in the past, and I know there are more in Unova than you think. There's a list of them that you might get while you are there," Oak finished.
"I understand, Professor. I had a run-in with a Pokemon on the list of abandoned Pokemon, Tepig," The Professor cut off Ash.
"Shamus, I figured he would be brought up, or you caught one of his Pokemon he abandoned. His family is notorious for this type of thing." Professor Oak said with his arms crossed.
"You've heard of his family because this is news to me, Professor?" Ash asked as he was more in the dark than ever.
"His family has had their trainer's licenses revoked over the years, and yet they still have found a way to keep their Pokemon or be a trainer, but we never find out how?" Professor Oak says. "You catching Tepig, especially with whatever its condition was when you met it, is just why I agreed to put your name with the league's helpers."
"I know what you'll say, Professor, but why choose me? I thought my beating legendaries were one of the reasons why you gave me these items and sent me here. Even though I was planning on taking on the Unova League anyway? Why me, though?" Ash asked anyway.
"You've seen the amounts of missing Pokemon on that list, right Ash?" Professor Oak asked Ash, who nodded. "Recently, as of the last few months, many Pokemon originally owned or wild have gone missing and are out of the league's expertise and understanding. You, Ash, have helped 2 Pokemon their trainers abandoned in the past. You have the experience to find out what's going on. Any Pokemon you find, if any, can be caught by you, Ash, and your friends."
"I might be able to add something, Professor, during my Journey so far. I found out that Team Rocket is here in Unova," Ash said as that caught Professor Oaks' attention. "And they managed to catch an entire forest of Pokemon without us noticing something was going on." Ash continued.
"Hmmm, this might be a problem. As of late, they've been lying dormant, but there's been activity regarding their leader Giovanni?" Professor Oak says this made Ash curious about what was going on. "Lately, he's been spending money on research or plans the league has investigated. But recently, he fled the region outside of Kanto. So it's up to you to know what is going on?" The Professor asked Ash.
"That's a tall order, Professor, but I will do my best I haven't heard that name in years, but I will do my best to find out what is going on with the Pokemon and Team Rocket," Ash said to the Professor, who smiled at this.
"Don't let this still get in the way of your travels to take on the Unova League Ash. You can use the gifts I've given you to help you in your Journey. I'll be here if you ever need me to talk to you later, Ash," Professor Oak said to Ash.
"Will do talk to you later, Professor," the call hangs up. Ash looks at his Pokedex and the three Pokeballs that have his current Pokemon he caught in Unova. "I'll do anything to help and will do anything to stop those that hurt any Pokemon," Ash vowed.
After saying goodbye to Don George, he met up with Misty and Brock as the group was leaving the Battle Club.
With a new teammate, a new goal, and Ash's Unova gym, Journey has taken a big turn for the best and the worst. What lies ahead for Ash and the others? As the Journey continues.
Stay tuned
Done, man. I expected this to be shorter. I was going to change a few things in this story. Those who've read the story before the rewriting know what items Ash has as gifts from Professor Oak. With that said, the Striaton City gym battle is next. Catch you guys later.