Chapter 2: A reunion for the ages
Over at Mesagoza Academy of the Paldea region, Ash was sitting back in his chair while Prof. Jacq was giving a lecture about Pokémon biology. Ash didn't really pay that much attention given how accomplished of a trainer he was, going through many regions and winning his two most recent leagues.
His trusty Pikachu was seen sitting on the desk while he was daydreaming about his next ketchup bottle from the Cafeteria, he may be an all powerful electric mouse, but he still had his quirks so to speak.
Surrounding Ash were his fellow classmates and travel companions for Paldea, first was the battle hungry Nemona, whom was a champion level trainer like him, and as a result, made for an excellent battle partner, often using powerful Pokémon like her Pawmo and Lycanroc.
There was Liko, with her starter Sprigatito, and Roy, with his starter Fuecoco. They both were taking the Terastallization test and were currently coming up with an idea to make a battle club to help make their and their friends' Pokémon stronger. Roy was searching for treasure, with the first one he got being a Clear Amulet that he got from the Titan Dondozo, while Liko has a charm that was passed down from her grandmother.
Then there was Penny, whom was perhaps the shyest of the group, often keeping to herself and her Eeveelutions. There was also Dot, who aspires to be a successful streamer, using the guise of Nidothing to do so.
And finally, there was Arven, an expert cook who was looking for the Herba Mystica to heal his oldest partner: Mabosstiff, who was attacked by a mechanical serpent-like creature.
However, the new friends weren't the only things he encountered, as he also caught new Pokemon as well. First was Lokix, who he caught as a Nymble after accidentally running over him. The grasshopper didn't appreciate that and challenged him to a battle. After a surprisingly tense fight, he managed to catch the tiny bug, and he proved to me an avid battler. After a mock battle with Nemona and her Dartrix, he ended up evolving into Lokix, who also has the current goal of mastering his Showdown Mode.
Then there is Charlos the Charcadet, a fire type he met during a session where everyone had to use rental Pokémon. Ash soon learned that Charlos was friends with Mela, one of the leaders of Team Star, who eventually left Mesagoza Academy, leaving Charlos feeling abandoned. After a battle with him, Charlos' spirit was reignited, and he became a valuable member of Ash's team.
Finally, there as the Legendary Pokemon, Koraidon, whom was the first Pokemon he got after arriving at Paldea. He met him on a beach when he was badly wounded, but he quickly befriended him after giving him a sandwich. Right now, he is still recovering, and it seems that the Herba Mystica seems to be the only thing working for him.
Speaking of Koraidon, Ash now has to face new dangers across the region, with Team Rocket seeming to have a magnetic lock on him, as they usually do. However, Ash also must deal with the Explorers, an organization that is after Koraidon, and wants to take over Area Zero, the mysterious crater in the center of Paldea. However, every time they attempt to get Koraidon, Ash and his friends have managed to stop them thus far, with Zirc and Onia attempting to most, and the mysterious member with a Ceruledge.
Meanwhile, outside the building, a small imp like Pokemon with a ring was floating nearby giggling "Ash will love my gift, me bring Ash friends, many friends."
Right now, though, Ash was just kicking back and enjoying himself, but as he took a deep breath, he caught the scent of putrid garbage and stagnant water. Ash coughed as his eyes watered, which caught the attention of everyone in the classroom.
"Ash, are you alright?" Jacq asked with concern in his voice "Yeah, I'm fine, but does anyone else smell that?" Ash asked as he whirled his finger in the air. Everyone else took deep breaths, and scrunched their noses at the foul odor. "Ugh, what IS that?!" Arven cried indignantly.
"MUUUUUUUUUUUUK!"
As if to answer his question, a large purple mass of sludge came bursting through the door and smothering Ash under its mass. Everyone recoiled at the sight, with Nemona getting Cyclizar's pokeball ready, until something unexpected happened.
"Hahahahaha! Muk, what are you doing here?!"
Everyone was shocked at how joyful Ash was at this surprise.
"Wait, that's your Muk?" Shouted Liko
"Why is he so….. affectionate?" Amethio wondered.
"And how do you put up with that awful stench?" Arven shuddered as he held his nose.
After getting Muk off of him, Ash proceeded to answer all of their questions. "Yes, this is my Muk, yes, ever since I caught him, he's been affectionate with pretty much anyone, and I managed to build up a tolerance to it after a while"
He then turned to Muk "What I don't understand is how you got here, Paldea is miles out in the sea, there's no way you could have swum all the way here" Ash questioned, with Muk responding to the best of his abilities by making a circle with his arms, then pointing at Pikachu, more specifically, his color. "A yellow circle?" Ash wondered, nothing at the top of his head could make a connection to that explanation. Ash then noticed something in Muk's hand: his Pokeball, which he took and returned Muk with it.
After that was settled, Prof. Jacq continued with the lecture until the bell rang. However, as Ash left the building, he saw a shadow on him, and looked up to see another purple figure, this one had bat wings and a scorpion tail however, and as it spots Ash, it dives down to him.
"Gliscooooooor!"
Gliscor body slams Ash just like Muk does, and after some confusion and more questions, Ash returns Gilscor to the pokeball that was found on him. "I'm going to need to call Professor Oak after this" Ash muttered as he proceeds to walk around the campus to see if any of his other Pokemon are also here.
Ash and the gang soon found some of the Pokemon running around, including Centiskorch, Scraggy, and even Lycanroc, much to Nemona's excitement as she can now battle another Lycanroc with her own.
Suddenly, they heard the sounds of screaming as many of the students ran in the opposite direction.
"Tauros herd!"
"Brown Tauros!"
While the others were confused as to what they were talking about, Ash had a very good idea of what they meant, and he quickly ran over to see what was up. True enough, he soon found a herd of 30 Tauros stampeding around the schoolgrounds, only they weren't Paldean Tauros, but rather Kantonian Tauros.
"HEY GUYS!"
Immediately, the Tauros stopped running around and gunned it towards Ash.
"What's he doing?!"
"He's gonna get killed!"
"Does he have a death wish!?"
But rather than trampling him under their hooves, the Tauros stopped in front of him, Safari balls hanging around their necks, indicating that they are caught Pokémon.
"A-a-ash… how did you… do that?!" Roy stuttered, not knowing how Ash could calm an entire stampede of Tauros.
"Well, you see, they're my Tauros" Ash answered flatly.
A few moments of silence until.
"WHAAAAAAAAT?!"
Scene Cut
Hoopa snickered as she returned to the Hall of Origins to report to Arceus.
"How did it go Hoopa?" Arceus asked. "Ash is with friends now; Ash will be happy!" Hoopa said in fits of giggles.
"Excellent" Arceus stated. "Did you also send over the released Pokémon?" "Yes, me bring over released friends, Plunder Vines gone thanks to Swords of Justice" Hoopa said with a smile, with Ho-Oh coming in "I also handled the Fearow flock, the Pidgey flock will be much safer now" "Wonderful, we will let the Chosen One gather up his allies, afterwards, the next gift shall be given"
Scene Cut
Ash laid on his bed as he spent the entire afternoon gathering up his Pokémon, whom are apparently in the most innocuous places that he didn't think to look at. What also surprised him was how his released Pokémon were also here, not that he was complaining, he was happy to see them again. He then heard a knock on his door, forcing him to pick himself up to see who it was, but as he opened it, he was swamped by more of his Pokemon. Bayleef, Corphish, Pignite, and Gible were all present, and Ash only had one thing on his mind.
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!"
End of Chapter
Yep, now Ash has all of his Pokémon again, might be awkward to keep them all in a campus, but I'm sure he'll find a way, now Ash will be able to keep Koraidon safe much more efficiently.