Greetings, everyone; Mgunnels3 here, and welcome to Ash's Unova Journey My Version. Let's get this chapter started, shall we?
Chapter 64: Heart of a Dragon
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We join our heroes as they head their way through the tunnels of Twist Mountain. Luckily they haven't run into any Pokemon affected by the dark ball. Little did they know it, but they were being watched.
"Wow, we just started going into this place, and nothing seems out of the ordinary," Ash said as Zorua, Servine, and Pikachu were basically on the lookout just in case but nodded.
"Yeah, a bit too quiet. We are halfway through the area already, yet no sign of what Zoroark said. Maybe she was bluffing?" Pikachu said to Ash as Servine sighed.
"Possibly, I've only known her through Zorua and my mom, but from what I've seen from Team Rocket, they aren't the types to bluff," Servine said to Pikachu, who rubbed his head.
"Yeah, point taken," Pikachu said as he sensed someone was watching the group, as did Zorua and Servine.
"You guys sensed that as well?" Zorua said to Servine and Pikachu, who nodded as Ash felt that, as well as Misty and Brock.
"Come on, out, we know that you are watching us," Ash said aloud as it was a darker Pokemon the group had seen before a Deino came out of the shadows.
"No need to shout. I'm not going to harm you guys, just curious about all of you," Deino said to Ash and the others, walking over to the group.
"Why were you watching us there," Ash asked the Deino, who sounded like a male one who looked at Ash.
"I was curious about you, human. There is something about you that makes me like you?" Deino said to Ash, who was curious about this Deino was about to say something but was interrupted by another voice.
"That's enough, Deino. You don't need to bother these humans as much, even as a human. This guy is strong, as we heard," a Pokemon with an Orange and blue coloring that looks like a dragon-type approached Deino. Ash scanned the Pokemon and is a Druddigon. "Isn't that right, Ash?" Druddigon said to Ash, who was surprised that he knew his name.
Druddigon walked with the group, checking on many Pokemon in the cave. He was the one who kept them from attacking the group. "Say, how do you know my name?" Ash asked him, who turned around.
"Surprisingly, many of the dragon-types I know talked about you in the past regions you've been in," Druddigon said to Ash, who was surprised that Druddigon noticed that. "You see, there, I have connections amongst most dragon-types outside of my home called the dragon-type counsel, which includes legendaries, including Altamare," Druddigon said.
"You mean Latias and Latios," Ash said, translating this to Misty and Brock. Deino was surprised that Ash had a way of understanding them.
"Deino, I told you about that as word of you helping Pokemon here in the region even reaches my knowledge. I may sound old, but I'm no older than you are, Ash. If we go by human ages, by a year which Pokemon don't age differently from humans," Druddigon said, which Ash was surprised again.
"As for knowing Latias and Latios, my family is friends of theirs, and I knew them since all three of us were young, and yes, I heard about what happened to her brother and parents," Druddigon said. He was tending to many injured Pokemon who were still recovering from battling him to snap out of it.
"Wow, you must be powerful to do that?" Misty said, seeing Pokemon like Gurdurr and Bearatic were still recovering.
"Druddigon is as strong as his heart is," Deino said, admiring his power.
"Huh? Heart as in a condition or just an expression?" Ash asked him, who sighed.
"Just an expression; I'm a gentle Pokemon minus what my species is known for being ruthless and strong, similar to Deino's. But it's only when I'm battling, not when around others. It's something my family has regarding the ways of the law. You can say," Druddigon said to Ash and the others.
"Are any other Pokemon in the tunnels affected by what is happening?" Brock asked, and Druddigon shook his head.
"Not that I know this area is my territory along with Deino. But I hadn't seen any more affected Pokemon before you arrived in this area," Druddigon said to the group, who sighed in relief.
"Still, thank you for helping us even though we didn't do anything," Ash thanked the dragon Pokemon who chuckled.
"Look, I know what is going on with this Team Rocket. I have a few friends who have been watching the entire thing since it all started since you came here to Unova," Druddigon said to Ash and the others, just as the other Pokemon recovered fully.
"Say, Druddigon, you think we should join them? We still have a long way to go when it comes to getting stronger, and you want to see more dragon types," Deino suggested to Druddigon, who sighed.
"'I was about to ask that, Deino," Druddigon said to Deino, patting his head. "Sorry about that. While he may be an airhead at times, he is smarter when it comes to battle, and while I said that, I know many dragon types. There's still more I don't know, only from this region and the other four regions," Druddigon said as Ash nodded in understanding.
"No argument there," Ash said to Druddigon, who was surprised by Ash saying that. "I have family outside of Unova like Galar, and there is Kalos and a few other regions that I've heard of but never been to, so Ash said you aren't wrong," Ash said. "As for dragon types, I do have a Garchomp and Charizard who are willing to train you and a Fraxure and Scraggy," Ash said, which Druddigon smirked.
"I think I might know your Garchomp, but that will be seen if you are okay with us joining you," Druddigon said to Ash.
"What do you two want in return, or anything I should know about you?" Ash asked.
"Nothing much on my end. Just be patient and treat me nicely, and I won't go ruthless," Deino said. "Raised properly, my evolutionary line is nice when a proper trainer trains us. Just a fair warning that my evolutionary line can be a bit the type to argue with you," Deino said as Ash nodded.
"Deino isn't wrong there, Ash, as his evolutionary line is similar to the Doduo line in Kanto. As for me, I want to learn from your Pokemon and at least get a few good battles under my claws, and you won't have issues with me," Druddigon said to Ash crossing his claws. Ash wasn't surprised by what Druddigon meant for Deino as he has faced a few members of his evolutionary line before. "I'm not as picky or pushy as he is so that you won't have trouble with me," Druddigon said. Brock noticed something about Druddigon, similar to how a human-trained Pokemon should act.
"Did you have a trainer before Druddigon? From the way you sounded there? You look like you've had a trainer before?" Brock asked him, who shook his head.
"No, but my family has been with trainers before. The gym leader's Druddigon is my father," Drudddigon said.
"Well, given that Drayden is my step-uncle, that makes sense that someone from his Pokemon family might join mine," Ash said to Druddigon, who smiled and nodded. "So deal on both demands," Ash said as he pulled out two Pokeballs. "I'm expecting great things from you two, and if it's not to your liking, just tell me, and I will release you without hassle," Ash explained to the two dragon Pokemon, who nodded but shook their heads.
"You don't need that for us. Ash will find a way to work things around," Druddigon said as Ash nodded. Ash tapped them, and both dragon Pokemon were caught without hassle. Both Pokeballs were sent to Professor Oaks' lab. Ash sighed and stood up.
"Well, that was unexpected. Especially since many Pokemon were talking about me like that," Ash said to Misty and Brock, who shrugged.
"Think about it, Ash. You've saved the world and made friends with other Pokemon before," Misty said to Ash, who nodded. "Also, I thought that Druddigon was also human trained as well, especially from what Emolga told me that one of her former teammates is here in the mountain," Misty said to Brock.
"That's why I asked Misty. He just had that aura of power that a human-trained Pokemon would," Brock explained to Misty.
"Maybe we should ask Emolga what Pokemon it is, so we don't have to get mix-ups?" Ash asked Misty, who nodded and let out Emolga.
"You need something, you guys?" Emolga asked as Misty and Ash explained what happened and wanted to know what her friend was in this place.
"I see; you thought Druddigon was an old friend of mine, I've met him before, but he's not my friend on my team, and it's a female, not male," Emolga said. "The reason I suggested my former teammate is that she is a water type, and that is what you specialize in," Emolga said, piquing Misty's interest.
"You mind staying out of your ball, so if you see her, would you say that?" Misty asked Emolga, who nodded.
"This is my way of apologizing for what happened, and she would love you anyway, Misty," Emolga said. "Plus, I remember that she is further down the mountain," Emolga said. The group started to make their way further down the mountain.
That is one way to introduce a Pokemon to the team with two new captures on Ash's team. Ash and his friends are heading deeper into the mountain and en route to Icirrus City and the site of the next gym battle. What else is in store for our heroes? As the Journey continues.
Stay Tuned.
Done and done. There is not much to say for this chapter other than two captures requested a very long time ago during the early years of writing also requested Cotonnee, Deerling, and Braviary, and another one much later. And another request is subsequent for Misty as we are going through this arc which isn't an arc anymore quickly, as for my opinion about the two Pokemon. Deino, I wished that either Ash or Iris had caught it in the anime. At least Ash, given that, would give him a Pokemon pseudo opposite to Iris's Axew or if you are watching Journey's Haxorous. As for Druddigon? This Pokemon is underappreciated, especially compared to the other dragon types in the region. Especially given how they were shown in the anime. Especially its massive move pulls. Yeah, it's smaller than Emboar, but at least it's reliable. And he needed some mysterious backstory with ties to the other dragon types. See you next time as another request, this time for Misty.