Chapter 16: Enter Burgh and Sewaddle
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We join our heroes as they just arrived in Pinnwheel forest. Ash seemed excited to visit Castellia City, Ash's following gym battle site. On the other hand, Misty was as scared about being in the forest as always.
"Are we done with this forest yet? I hate this place already?" Misty complained to Ash, as Snivy was already getting annoyed by this.
"Can she stop complaining already? My ears are already hurting the more she screams. I may be a grass type, but I'm still fine with bug Pokemon," Snivy now was the one who was complaining but was more needed than Misty was, which Ash didn't translate, but her expression was evident.
"That's Misty for you, Snivy? Ever since she joined us as a traveling companion, she's been scared at the sight of any bug types or being in the forests," Pikachu tries to calm Snivy down, which works.
"We begin to go into the forest, Misty. It's a long forest, and Castellia city is past the bridge at the end of the forest. So please stop complaining about this, Misty, as this forest isn't the only thing that is related to bug types here in Unova, as the gym leader is a Bug-type user as well," Ash told Misty, who sighed at this as she remembered something that Ash mentioned back in Nacrene city.
"Say, Ash? How do you know about the Castellia city gym and the leader being a bug-type user?" Misty asked Ash, who looked at Misty when she asked Ash that question.
"Yeah, I thought that you were from Kanto Ash? How do you know that as well?" Snivy asked Ash. As Ash stopped walking, Brock was curious about this. Ash sighed at this.
"Back when I was a kid, my family used to travel during the late summertime here in Unova," Ash explained before closing his eyes and said. "We visited three different cities in Unova: Udella town, Nimbasa City, and Castellia City, along with seeing my friends there. I used to visit the art museum in Castellia city, which was owned and run by the city's gym leader," Ash explains.
"Wow, that is dedicated for a gym leader to have hobbies outside of challenging trainers," Brock said to Ash while surprised by this.
"Yeah, I met Burgh a few times at the Museum. I was always interested in so many Bug Pokemon, as Unova is known for having some excellent Bug-Pokemon. Burgh usually visits here in Pinnwheel forest to inspire his paintings," Ash mentioned.
"Say, Ash? Why haven't you ever mentioned your father before? This is the first time we are hearing this. We only met your mom?" Misty asked Ash, who shook at this.
"That's because he lives here in Unova now? I don't want to talk about it, but let's say there is a reason why the league wanted me to help Pokemon like Snivy and Tepig, that is all. I will say I just wished that they asked me than just using my ties to this region's champion's advisor to help them out," Ash said, not wanting to talk about it anymore though what Ash just said surprised the group not realizing that Ash has ties to the league and this region's champion.
"Say, let's just drop it and have lunch, as we will be in these woods for a few weeks, and we can't continue on an empty stomach?" Brock suggested as Ash and Misty nodded in agreement. Brock was making lunch as Ash thought about what Pokemon he should use in this gym battle.
"Well, Snivy is at a massive disadvantage against Burgh as he has more than one typing Pokemon?" Ash was saying out loud.
"Well, I think Tepig should deserve some gym battle wins, and there is Blitzle. She might have a move to beat Burghs Pokemon. And there is also Sandile, depending on what Pokemon he has?" Misty suggested to Ash for help.
"I admit that I'm at a huge disadvantage in this gym battle as I know there are many different bug Pokemon during my Journey before joining the team. But this gym is unknown territory for me as I have only been through two gyms before leaving Ash's team," Snivy said to the team, who was also thinking about who should be used in this gym battle.
"I am barred from being used in gym battles as Ash felt like you all should have the gym wins more given that I am the most experienced, with Snivy being the close second amongst us," Pikachu said to his teammates as Snivy nodded in agreement at this.
"That is fair, Pikachu, and I want an official gym to win outside of being the one who gave Ash one of his wins," Tepig said to Pikachu, who nodded in agreement, knowing that Tepig would have some advantage in this battle.
"I, too, want to battle as well. I may be fawn, but I have enough experience to use my moves, and I know the flame charge, so that should help," Blitzle offered to be a part of the battle.
"Sadly, I think that I'll sit this one out. I know all about the bug types here in Unova, and as one of them is also a grass type, I am also a dark type that doesn't mix well in battle," Sandile passed on the battle offers given that Dark types have a terrible disadvantage against Bug types.
"That's fine, Sandile. I think the Nimbasa gym after this one is an electric-type gym, so that'll be up your alley," Ash told Sandile, who nodded at this. "I also wanted Axew and Scraggy to get more experience before they can have a chance in a gym battle, maybe in the Nimbasa gym battle, but not this early," Ash told Misty and Brock as he saw Axew and Scraggy eating together in peace. Ash heard a voice in the tree line.
"Perfect, just hold still, little one, as I wanted to paint a nice photo of you," a male voice said. Ash recognized that voice and looked up to see someone painting a picture of one of Unova's bug Pokemon. A Sewaddle, that is, as it didn't mind as the guy wasn't harming it nor seemed like he wanted to catch the little guy.
"Burgh, is that you?" Ash yelled out to the adult male who was done painting the Sewaddle, who looked down, seeing that he was being watched.
"Yes, my name is Burgh. I take it that you are a challenger. Sorry, but I won't be back at the gym until the end of the month," Burgh apologized to Ash and the others.
"I figured that much, Burgh. But yes, I am a challenger, but that is not the only way I know you. I'm not sure you remember me, but a few years back, I visited your art museum as a kid interested in bug Pokemon, "Ash tries to help Burgh remember who he was even though it was almost six years since Ash had been in Unova.
"Ah, Ash. I was wondering when you would be revisiting Unova, but you didn't visit here in the last few summers," Burgh said to Ash, who chuckled at this.
"Yeah, sorry, I became a trainer during that Summer vacation, and my parents had different plans that summer. I just arrived here in Unova a few months ago for my fifth region in my Journey as a trainer," Ash told Burgh.
"Ah, I see; you must've beaten Lenora recently. Had I expected you to be in Castellia City by now? But I won't pry," Burgh questioned, leaving it alone. "And who are your friends here? I take that they aren't the same friends you used to visit my art museum as a kid?" Burgh asked Ash.
"Hi, my name is Brock. Nice to meet you," Brock introduced himself. "
And my name is Misty. Nice to meet you as well," Misty introduced herself to Burgh.
"They are the gym leaders in Kanto who are also traveling with me here in Unova while on their vacation," Ash told Burgh. Who was surprised by this?
"I thought those names sounded familiar. It's nice to meet fellow gym leaders outside of Unova and see that you are interested in Unova," Burgh said happily. "Ash here as a kid was very interested in my most famous painting about Butterfree and wanted to learn more about it," Burgh explained to Misty and Brock.
"That would explain why you were interested in Butterfree back when he first caught Caterpie as his first Pokemon," Misty said to Ash, who rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Ah, I see you caught one of your own on your Journey, Ash?" Burgh asked Ash, who nodded at this.
"Yeah, however, he was released to be mates with a pink one during their mating season," Ash said to Burgh, who was rubbing his chin upon hearing this and remembered seeing what Ash just said.
"I remember running to one that was a pink one with a bow around its neck. I'm sure that one was your Butterfree Ash?" Burgh said to Ash, who was surprised by this.
"Yes, that is mine. How was Butterfee when you saw him and where he is at?" Ash asked Burgh.
"I must say, Ash. You raised him perfectly. I have a painting of his family in my Museum if you want to stop by there when you arrive in Castellia city. But as for where he was at? It was in another region that isn't in Unova or Shinnoh, or Hoenn or Johto but another area with the bug gym leader," Burgh said to Ash.
"I think I might know what region Butterfree is in Burgh. I have family in the Kalos region if that is the region you've them in, but I will have to look it up later, but I do have family there," Ash said to Burgh, who nodded.
"Funny enough, you say that, Ash; that was where I found them, but you might want to look just in case," Burgh said to Ash, who nodded and noticed the Sewaddle was watching the group.
"Say, Burgh, what were you doing with that Sewaddle?" Ash asked Burgh as Ash noticed that Sewaddle was coming down to where Ash was very interested in Ash.
"I was interested in this youngling as something about his was calling me to draw him," Burgh explained to everyone. 'I don't mind it, as I like humans, and as long as they don't invade my personal space, he can do whatever he wants,' Sewaddle said to Ash.
"Well, aren't you a cutie? I'm sure you heard me talking about my first Pokemon being a bug Pokemon like you, and you remind me of him," Ash said to the young bug/grass type, who smiled at this and happily jumped up and down.
"Thank you. I always try to be as welcoming to the humans interested in me, and I want to get stronger with one day," Sewaddle said cutely.
"I see that you are using that translator the league gave you to full use, Ash?" Burgh said to Ash, who was surprised by this, as did Sewaddle, who didn't know that Ash understood him. "I was told that a trainer who was visiting here would have one, and I figured that was you, and I also heard that an evil organization is here causing trouble with a rare Pokeball," Burgh said as that was right on the mark as of what is going on.
"Wow, you are well informed about all of this, Burgh? I take that is why you are also out here to make sure that nothing happens out here to the Pokemon of the forest?" Brock asked Burgh, who nodded.
"One of the reasons. There was an attack on a bug Pokemon reservation in the forest protected by the league and a rare Bug Pokemon that is also near extinct," Burgh explained to Ash and the others curious about this. "It's a bug/fire type known as Volcarona. There is only a small handful of them out there given that they are so hard to raise and all that most trainers don't breed them, and most are only female, rarely are males. The only wild male has gone missing from its mate just a few days ago," Burgh said to Ash and the others.
"I met one before. They are nice but can be scary if around longer than normal given that they have flame body ability," Sewaddle said to Ash, which made Snivy nod in an understanding of this situation.
"Fitting given that we both are grass types and fire types most of the time doesn't work well with them," Snivy said to Sewaddle, who nodded at this as it walked over to Ash and nuzzled Ash's leg happily as he was interested in Ash.
"Wow, that's a first as most Sewaddle are shy around humans at this stage of evolution," Burgh said to Ash, who picked up the young Sewaddle, who was wiggling his little arms cutely though its leaf on its head seen better day at another angle which Burgh noticed who pulled out a Pokeball and let out his Pokemon a Leavanny which Sewaddle was eyeing in amazement seeing one and ran over to it.
"Leavanny, can you help the little guy with his damaged leaf? I mean, it is one of your evolutionary lines?" Burgh told Levanny, who nodded and turned to Sewaddle, who was amazed to see one of its evolutionary lines before him.
"Come here, little one. I'll be happy to help you. Just tell me what had happened?" Leavanny asked Sewaddle while making a new leaf for its head.
"It was a Galvantula. I barely escaped it; that leaf was just a small wound to almost who knows what it wanted with me. All I know is that it's different from a normal one," Sewaddle told Leavanny. Ash translated this to Burgh, mentioning that they recently ran into one.
"Strange indeed because they aren't known for being in this forest closer to Driftville city where they are known to live. And how strange are we talking about aside from it out of where it usually lives?" Burgh asked as Leavanny was finishing up his leaf around its head as it was hugging and comforting the little guy.
"It was more serious and threatening, and I barely got away from its bug bite attack that caused my leaf's damage," Sewaddle told Burgh, now resting in Leavanny's arms.
"We just had a run-in with one like that recently. It took four of my Pokemon to take down an electro ball?" Ash told Burgh, who was in deep thought.
"I wonder if it has to do with that Pokeball mentioned before, but we won't know until further investigation," Burgh told Ash.
"Right now, I should take my leave, Ash. I'll be in the forest for a bit longer. I'll contact the reservation to let you three visit. You can help them out. Also, once I return, I want to battle with you, Ash. A promise that we made the last time you and I saw each other," Burgh told Ash and the others. Ash was excited by this as he noticed Sewaddle nuzzling Ash's leg.
"Please don't leave me, Ash," Sewaddle asked Ash, who kneeled to Sewaddle, who looked up at Ash smiling.
"I guess you want me to catch you in case we run into that Galvantula again. Sure, I'll be happy to take you in, but if it's too much for you? You can ask me to set you free without any hassle?" Ash told Sewaddle, who joyfully jumped into Ash's arms and nuzzled his body as Ash pulled out a Pokeball and tapped the little guy, and it was sucked in the Pokeball and was an instant catch without a hassle.
"Nicely done, young man, and you caught a healthy Sewaddle regardless of what had transpired earlier. Take good care of it; it'll be a Leavanny like mine someday. Until then, I'll be waiting for you at the gym once I am done here in the forest. That's a promise," Burgh told Ash, who nodded at this as Burgh took his leave.
With a new team member on Ash's team and a promised gym battle already planned ahead of time, Ash's Journey will be better than he thought as the Journey continues.
Stay tuned.