I'm going to say little. Let's get this chapter started, shall we?
Chapter 7: The get to know's, Ash's secrete gifts, and two hurt pasts
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
Ash lets Snivy out shortly after, and he returns to camp. "Welcome to the team Snivy. I know that you went through a lot, but I'll do my best to be the best trainer for you as much as I can," Ash said to Snivy, who nodded at this, understanding that Ash was willing to do his best for her in return for Snivy doing her own best for the team as an individual and not just for him.
As Pikachu ran over to Snivy to greet her, the rest did as Oshawott and Tepig recognized Snivy immediately. "No way, Snivy, is that you? It's me, Oshawott. We were friends back at the lab, same with Tepig over there as well," Oshawott said to Snivy happily, surprised by this, seeing her two best friends on the same team no less, which caught Ash's attention as his starters knew each other.
"Oshawott, Tepig, I wasn't expecting to see both of you here, Oshawott, maybe, but Tepig, weren't you with your trainer the last time I saw you?" Snivy said to the two starters. Tepig looked down, looking like he didn't want to talk about it, which Snivy noticed, but before she could say anything.
Ash was fiddling with his Pokedex and putting something in his ear. "Alright, I think it's time for me to reveal the gift I was given before I came here to Unova," Ash said as he turned on a specific feature on his Pokedex that works with what looks to be a device of sorts in his ear. "Now I can finally understand all of you without issue," Ash said to his Pokemon, which caught Snivy and every one of Ash's Pokemon off guard by this but in a good way. They can finally speak to Ash without any hassle or need for translation from someone else.
"This is one of two new things, including an expanded carrying of the Pokemon from six to twelve, and the translator doubles as a recording if need be," Ash explained to the six Pokemon, who were amazed by all this.
"Ash, I think they should get to know you first before we get them to them," Pikachu said to Ash, who nodded at this, as did the rest of his team.
Ash turns to his team and says, "As you all know, my name is Ash Ketchem. I'm from the Kanto region alongside Pikachu here and my friends Misty and Brock, who were gym leaders of that region on time off for my journey here," Ash said while pausing his explanation to his Pokemon could understand what he was saying.
Upon hearing this, everyone wanted more, as Snivy was curious about her new trainer. "It's not every day that a trainer has a translator. Ash. You must've done something for those?" Snivy asked Ash, who nodded in understanding at her question.
"Well, one of the couple reasons why Snivy the first was because of me beating legendaries in the last league I was at in the Shinnoh region that was the reward for the expanded team," Ash explained to the team.
"And the other Ash? I taken that it's not just winning against some legendaries that got the league to give you that?" Snivy said with her arms crossed though part of her knew what Ash was about to say and was ready.
"There were two other reason's one was cause I helped the league with a nasty trainer in the past who was abusive to his Pokemon. One of them was a Pokemon that would belong to the team," Ash said, taking a breath as this caught Snivy's attention.
"The other I found out when Tepig joined the team about the abandoned Pokemon and a list of them. Your name was at the top of the list, Snivy, along with Tepig and your former trainers. So, I'm working with the league about this. If you two don't mind me asking about that later on, that is," Ash asked both Snivy and Tepig, who nodded in agreement about this.
"I've been through five regions before coming here: Kanto, Orange Islands, Johto, Hoenn, and Shinnoh. While I've won the Orange Island league, the rest were between the top sixteen to the top four, so I have experience, but I still have much to learn as a trainer. So if you have different battling methods or want to teach me how you battle, don't hesitate to ask. I want to get to know how my team works. As you are more than just my Pokemon but my family in my eyes," Ash said to his Pokemon, who was wide-eyed at that last statement.
"As for the rest of the team. Those who weren't training with me will be training with my older Pokemon, and they know how to train in my ways of battle as well," Ash said to his team, who were interested in his older Pokemon.
"Thanks, Ash, but I'll pass on that I would rather be with you than be trained by other grass types. Nothing against that. I've had more experience on my own, so I'll be fine with you," Snivy said politely, turning Ash's other means of training down, to which Ash nodded in agreement.
"I understand, Snivy. If you all wanted to do that, you don't have to leave like that but will be back here. I know that I will catch a lot of Pokemon in this region and know that not all will be used in gym battles or other means," Ash said to which Snivy smiled at that, reasoning it was fair. "Now I guess we should go by the first capture on the team onwards," Ash said to which the others agreed. Even Snivy did as well.
"What about Pikachu here?" Oshawott said out loud, to which Pikachu shook his head.
"Ash already knows much about me, and if you want to get to know me, you can do that on your off time. I'm always open to talking and asking for concerns about stuff, but all you need to know is that I'm Ash's starter, his first Pokemon," Pikachu explained, which made Snivy interested in him. He was a leader other than Ash, willing to listen and be there for everyone.
"With that out of the way, Oshawott, why don't you talk about yourself? Given that you are the first to join the team, I guess we can go in order of joining," Ash asked Oshawott, who nodded at this.
"Well, not much is about me. I'm the middle sibling of three, and the other two are my sisters, and as you can tell, Tepig and Snivy here knew me a long time," Oshawott explained.
"Back at the lab, you were desperate to have a trainer. Professor Juniper said that you were passed over many times," Ash said to Oshawott, who looked down and sighed.
"Yeah, I figured she would say that. After my oldest sister, Snivy and Tepig, left with their trainers. I was passed over for a starter for a human at least five times where it is the way I looked, or just they weren't interested in me," Oshawott said to Ash, who understood what Oshawott was saying.
"So that's why you wanted me as your trainer?" Ash asked Oshawott, who nodded.
"After seeing you beat Snivy in battle at the lab, I knew you were the one,' Oshawott said, which caught Snivy's eye upon hearing that.
"The same one you called your friend a long time ago, Oshawott," Tepig said to Oshawott, who nodded at this.
Ash lets Oshawott finish as he wants to talk about Trip's Snivy less than he wants to. As Pidove knew that she was next as Ash turned to her.
"My past was pretty rough. I was born in the flying-type preservation here in Unova. My flock abandoned me when I was trying to master flying, and when I finally thought I caught up was when Team Rocket was taking Pokemon in the route that I met you," Pidove explained with a tear down her feathers. Ash wiped it from her cheek.
"Thank you, Ash. When you told me that you believed in me, that was when I knew that you cared more than my flock did anything wrong to them. It's just I would rather be with an actual family, so you were saying that you saw all of us as a family means a lot to me," Pidove explained.
"I understand, Pidove, and I'm here for you whenever," Ash said to Pidove, to which Pidove smiled happily at this and was more determined than ever to be the best for Ash.
"That's all, Ash; I have not much to say. I'm still young and want to get stronger and better, and sorry for thinking that you were behind the attack at the forest a few weeks ago?" Pidove said to which Ash nodded in understanding and won't press further.
"Okay, I won't, Pidove, and I never suspected you of trying to pin the blame of what happened there on us, given that Pikachu probably explained it all to you," Ash said to Pidove, who nodded as Ash turned to Sandile. "So Sandile, your next I'm pretty curious about you, that is?" Ash said to Sandile, who was happy.
"I guess I'm more of the lesser sad of the group while my backstory is sad. It's not on the lines of the rest of you,' Sandile said to everyone, trying not to sound mean as the group nodded, showing they understood. "Back when I was younger, I was raised by a boy planning to become a trainer one day. He and another Pokemon and I had big plans on exploring Unova and taking on a league similar to yours, Ash,' Sandile said as he suddenly looked down.
"Did something bad happen to your friend or something, Sandile?" Ash questioned Sandile as Sandile shook his head.
"No, nothing terrible happens. His parents had other plans for him. They wanted him to be a doctor or breeder or something, given that he did help raise two Pokemon, and there wasn't any talking out of it. He couldn't just run away or say no as they would find out about the former of the two options, and they were leaving for some part of this region. Sadly we couldn't go with,' Sandile said to Ash.
"Parent always thinks that they know best for their kids, but I don't blame him or his parents. This is one of the few good excuses to let go of a Pokemon," Snivy said to which Ash agreed so did Sandile.
"No arguments there. Yes, we were hurt by this, but he promised we would meet again one day. Before you ask Ash, I'm living his dream with you. Even if I had a run-in with him again, I would still be with your team," Sandile said to Ash, who was taken aback by what Sandile had just said.
"I took that those Sunglasses were given to you by him? They look unique and different," Ash Asked Sandile, who nodded at this.
"Yes, apparently, this was made specifically for me, not that my eyes had sunlight problems or anything, as that machine in your pocket would say. It was a goodbye gift to remember him by gift, and if I lost or damaged it or it gets destroyed, it would be like hurting my friendship with my friend," Sandile said tearfully.
"I understand, and I hope we run into either your former teammate or friend one day during our journey. Also, that Thunder Fang caught me off guard when I met you. He must've taught you that?" Ash asked to which Sandile shook his head.
"No, I knew that move my entire life and had been mastering it since we went our separate ways," Sandile explained.
"Not an easy move; I can say okay. I guess you're done explaining your story, huh, Sandile?" Ash said, wondering if he had more to say to which Sandile happily nodded his head at Ash, who understood that it was time to get to the two he wanted to talk to since he caught them, Tepig and Snivy. Tepig knew he was next to speak and looked at Ash sadly.
"You already know most of my story. Shamus abandoned me because I couldn't even win an easy battle, according to him. I was chosen as a starter, while Snivy was chosen to be one as well," Tepig said.
"I've had my fair share of abandoned Pokemon in my days who had similar reasons for being released. Two fire starters of mine went through the same one was a jerk, and the other just wanted to get his blaze ability which was different from any other blaze ability," Ash said as this caught both Snivy and Tepig's attention. "Go on, Tepig. You can continue."
"Sadly, that's it. Shamus just left me there to starve to death without a care. I felt like no one would help someone who couldn't even win a battle like me until I ran into Oshawott and you, Ash. Don't worry, and I won't let you down," Tepig said, upset, as Ash nodded at Tepig.
"Give it, you're all. That's all that matters if you win. You win if you lose, you lose. It's just a battle in my eye. There's always room to improve and grow. No one gets released on my team unless they feel like they don't work with my methods and choose to ask me to release them, or it's something personal like family or mating season," Ash explained, as this made Snivy smile at this, as those were fair reasons to be released.
Snivy was prepared to tell Ash everything, which turned to her, who had her arms crossed the entire time. "Okay, Snivy, it's your turn to speak as everyone else has done."
Snivy looked down in sadness. "Before I tell you, do you think that you'll be a better trainer to me than Amelia was? I mean, I've seen many trainers say that in my times as a wild Pokemon, and they usually disappoint me by battling me," Snivy said to Ash, who understood what Snivy meant.
"I'm not making any promises, Snivy. I make mistakes and, at times, will lose battles, but I don't take it out on my Pokemon, nor do I try to punish them. I said if you don't like how I train or want to stay with me, you can leave without questions." Ash said to Snivy, who nodded in understanding. This was what she wanted to hear a trainer who not only puts his Pokemon's needs before his but cares as well.
"Okay, Ash, you made your point. I'll tell you everything, but you won't like where this is going as I don't think your years as a trainer would prepare you for what I've been through," Snivy said while a tear ran down her face.
"If it's too much, Snivy, you don't have to tell me, but I do want to help you and get closure for you, not to mention Tepig too," Ash comforted Snivy, as Ash noticed that Snivy's arm was bleeding on the right side just now.
"Snivy, if you don't mind, I would like to look at your arm if you don't mind?" Ash asked as this caught the attention of Misty and Brock. As Snivy nodded at this and showed it to Ash and the others, it was a long gash across her right arm that looked old but hadn't healed.
Ash turned on his recorder for his Pokedex. This was way too serious about being a battle scar. "Snivy, what did Amelia do to you that's a deep gash in your arm?" Ash said as Brock looked at it as a Doctor in training. This was part of the job.
"Ash, this is bad. This wound is too much, even for a Pokemon her size. As stubborn as you are, Snivy, you were looking for help, weren't you? During those travels, right?" Brock asked Snivy, who surprisingly nodded at this was crying.
"That was one of my intentions, but I wanted a trainer like Ash, one who doesn't take it seriously to the point that he takes it out on his Pokemon," Snivy was saying through her tears as Brock was bandaging it up to keep the pain off her arm. "Amelia, she was made because I've taken an Everstone, I just wanted to look at it, and I've heard what it could do, but suddenly it accepted me as a holder for the stone. Amelia had it specifically for Pokemon who wanted to evolve that she didn't want to evolve and the same the other way around."
"This isn't right. Forcing a Pokemon to choose to evolve or not isn't the right thing, and then take it out on you. That must be a sharp knife or something that made that gash in your arm, Snivy?" Ash asked Snivy, who shook her head at the part about the knife.
"Look up the Pokemon known as Pawnard Ash," Snivy asked Ash, who was confused and typed the name in his Unova Pokedex, and it came up and saw the said knife that he thought caused Pawnard's hands were razor-sharp. "Pawnard is one of her most faithful companions. I thought he was kind to me, and he had no choice but to do that to me or face the consequences," Snivy said while shivering at the name of Pawnard.
"Sounds like he didn't consider you a friend, especially if he's willing to do that to you," Ash said to Snivy while holding her in his arms, as did Oshawott. "I promise you, Snivy, I'll get back at Amelia and get you the respect you deserve and closure," Ash said to Snivy. She cried in his arms, agreed to this, and would do anything to help. Ash turned off the recorder as he got enough for the league to do an investigation and thought.
"I've been a trainer so long and seen abuse and abandonment but never to this degree," Ash had tears running down his cheek on Snivy's scales which Snivy noticed and knew that he would be the one, and maybe one day she might be more assertive with Ash.
Stay Tuned.
Done. I don't want to ruin this with a closing announcer, but yeah next chapter is the 6v6 battle against Trip. Catch you guys next time.