Chapter 3: Enter the Pokemon fan Ash vs. Casey
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We join our heroes as they have lunch on their Journey to Violet City and Ash's first gym battle site. As Pikachu and the others were getting to know their new teammate Totodile.
"So, Totodile, what made you want to join our team? From what I've heard, the trainer you were going to was not great?" Pikachu asked Totodile, which caught the attention of Ash's other Pokemon on the team, to which Totodile sighed and looked down at this.
"The truth is I didn't want to be someone's pet," Totodile says and looks up at the sky. "My family has been through many trainers. We never prefer being pets. Nothing's wrong with it, trust me, but Totodiles are battlers, not pets. Chikorita's or even other canine-based Pokemon are more in that department."
"I can concur even my evolutionary line can be both, but you wouldn't catch me dead as one," Charizard says, siding with Totodile. 'Yes, Charmander is cute, especially when young, but like you, we are born to battle and get stronger so we can lead and show off at the time," Charizard says, gloating much to Pidgeot's annoyance.
"Just like what you're doing now, Charizard," Pidgeot says while eating her food, to which Charizard scratches the back of his head.
"Heh, you got me there, Pidgeot, but you know me since I was a Charmander, and I love to be a bit prideful and all that, "Charizard said to Pidgeot, to which he could hear Totodile snicker at hearing this. "What's so funny?"
Totodile shook his head. "Nothing, it just sees you like this brought up what I've heard about Charizard, given that they originated from here," Totodile said, which caught Charizard off guard. He knew that which made Pidgeot curious about this.
"You mean the Charizific Valley. How'd you know about that place," Charizard said, a bit confused.
"It's something that I've heard the Professor talk about when he isn't giving boring speeches or going deep into his studies. All I know is that many Charizard was born there, that's all," Totodile says to Charizard.
"I don't get it. Why are you surprised that Totodile knows about that place, Charizard? I mean, it just sounds like a regular place for Charizard?" Pidgeot asked Charizard, a bit puzzled as Charizard crossed his claws and glared at Totodile and Pidgeot.
"Because the Charizific Valley is a protected area not known by many trainers or Pokemon. You either have to do one of the following to know of that place or be allowed inside the place is: to have a Charizard, meet or know the owner of the place, know the gym leader who is connected to the place, or in my case, was born in the Valley," Charizard explained, to which the group was surprised by this. "My family was born here in Johto. I have four siblings three sisters and a brother. The latter was on my former team. I haven't seen my three sisters since I came to Kanto to become a starter, " Charizard explained.
"You have it rough, Charizard. Judging by how you said that, I think there's more than you're letting on," Pikachu says to which Charizard humphs at that statement.
"If we ever go there, you will know the whole story until then. My past is not your priority. I will give you one thing you are right. I have connections to the Valley, not just growing up or being born there," Charizard retorted, not wanting to continue.
Pidgeot was about to say something. But was interrupted by the sound of cheering, to which Totodile groans at this. "Oh great, I know that cheering anywhere. It seems that we'll be running into Chikorita's trainer sooner than I thought," Totodile says in annoyance. This cheering also caught the attention of Ash and the gang, to which the cheering sounded familiar, but they couldn't put their finger on it.
The group went to where the noise came from and noticed a young female trainer in a baseball uniform commanding a little grass Pokemon that looked like the Chikorita that the group saw back at Professor Elms's lab, battling a Pidgey. As she managed to win the battle and capture the young Pidgey too, Pidgeot was surprised, but this Pidgey wanted to be caught and be with a trainer.
"Well, that's four Pokemon added to the team. Nicely done, Chikorita, that Pidgey put up a good fight," The young girl said and praised both the Chikorita and the Pidgey. The Chikorita cheers as he flaps his leaf. The Chikorita noticed Ash and the others watching them and pointed the group out. "Huh? Excuse me, do you three need something?" The young lady asked the trio.
"Hi, my name is Ash, and these are my friends Misty and Brock. We heard your cheering and noticed you must be the trainer who picked Chikorita?" Ash introduced himself, which made the young girl smile, meeting another fellow trainer.
"Thank you. My name is Casey. I'm from New Bark Town, and yes, this is my partner Chikorita," Casey introduced herself happily. The Chikorita raised his paw in acknowledgment as Chikorita noticed Totodile from the lab was with the group.
"Hey, Totodile, nice seeing you again. I thought you were going with a human to be her pet?" Chikorita asked Totodile while walking over to him just as Casey noticed the said Totodile and recognized him.
"Hey, Chikarita, Yeah, my so-called soon-to-be trainer agreed to let me go with my new trainer, with the permission of the Professor, of course. After all, they saved me from thieves," Totodile explained to Chikorita, who nodded in understanding. Given that he, too, didn't want to be a pet as well, so he could relate.
Before Chikorita could say anything, Casey spoke up, coming to the wrong conclusion about Totodile after seeing Totodile with the group. "Say, where did you get that Totodile? I remember seeing him at the lab. I also remember the Professor telling me that the Totodile here would be a pet to another trainer." Casey said, getting angry and excited about something illegal.
"Uh-oh, seems like your trainer jumped to the wrong conclusion about Ash?" Totodile said to Chikorita, who sighed.
"Don't worry, Totodile, I don't plan on being in this mess. She has three other Pokemon she can drag into this misunderstanding," Chikorita said as Totodile nodded in agreement, given that out of the three starters, Chikorita was the rational one of the group.
"I bet you stole that Pokemon and then ran away. You didn't think that I didn't hear about Totodile being stolen a few days ago, huh? Ash? Well, if you aren't a thief, then why don't you battle me," Casey said as she was trying to get Chikorita to come in and help, but he just shook his head and sat out of it. "Fine, Chikorita, if you want to be that way, then I'll use my other Pokemon some starter you are?"
"Woah, easy there, you may be a new trainer, but Chikorita has feelings too and is not a battle tool for your purpose Casey?" Ash tries to calm Casey down, which does as Casey realizes she jumps to the wrong conclusion without thinking and lashes out at her first Pokemon.
"As for Totodile, yes, he was stolen from thieves, but my friends and I stopped them and saved Totodile. As for him coming with me, he wanted to be with me as thanks, not the other way around," Ash said to which Casey was skeptical at first, but just by looking over at the Totodile, who was nodding as well as Chikorita, she started to believe Ash.
"But what about his other Trainer? Who would take him as a pet?" Casey asked, still not understanding why Totodile didn't want to go with his chosen trainer.
"Well, from how he acted, Totodile didn't want to go with that owner. The Professor asked her if she was OK with this. Surprisingly, the selected trainer was OK with this. As Chikorita demonstrated earlier, Pokemon can choose what type of trainer they want to be with or not. If they don't want to be pets, it's not our decision not to go against their wishes," Ash explains to the new trainer, who was grasping at what Ash was saying and understood what Ash was saying.
"Wow, I didn't think it like that...about asking for a battle Ash?" Casey said to Ash, who smiled at this.
"It's OK. I'm willing to battle against you, Casey, given that I haven't had a battle since I left Kanto for Johto." Ash said to Casey, who smiled at this.
"How about a 3v3 battle? Chikorita here does need some rest after battling three Pokemon in a row not long ago." Casey suggested to Ash, who agreed to the terms of the battle.
Ash and Casey got into battle position as Brock was the ref, as always. Casey sent out a Sentret, and Ash sent out Squirtle for the first Pokemon of the battle. "I'll let you start, Casey," Ash suggested to Casey, who nodded in agreement.
"Will do Sentret used headbutt," Casey commanded the normal-type Pokemon charging towards Squirtle.
"Withdrawl Squirtle," Ash commanded the turtle Pokemon who went into his shell and took a small brunt of the attack.
"Now use a Water gun, Squirtle," Ash commanded Squirtle, who blasted a water gun toward the Sentret.
"Use dig now, Sentret, to dodge," As it barely dodges by digging underground.
"Use water gun in the hole now," Ash commanded as Squirtle launched it at the hole, hitting the Sentret. "Finish it with Skull Bash," Ash commanded Squirtle as it landed a finishing blow knocking the Sentret out.
"Sentret is unable to battle Squirtle wins," Brock says as Casey returns the Sentret, praising it for the battle.
"Not bad, Casey. A few more battles with it, and you might be able to get better in battle," Ash commended Casey, who smiled at this.
"Thanks, Ash Sentret was my first capture. We will be working on exactly that," Casey said as she pulled out her next ball."Pidgey, come on out," Casey said. Pidgey from before came out of its ball, ready to fight.
"Alright, Totodile, would you like to take part in this battle," Ash asked his new starter, who nodded at this and joined the fight.
"Pidgey, use Gust," Casey commanded the flying type, which launched a big whirlwind toward the water starter.
"Use water gun, Totodile," Ash commanded the Crocodile Pokemon who used said the move, which clashed the moves against each other.
"Use steel wing, "Casey commands the flying type whose wings glowed a silver-like color. Ash noticed and recognized the move that Pidgeot used back in her battle against Fearow, and Pidgeot saw that as well and finally knew what that move was now.
Ash was about to command Totodile to use another water gun, but it had some glow and stomped on the ground, which caused some rocks toward the flying type. Ash first thought it was a Rockslide, given the way it was launched, but that was not the case, as it hit the said flying type knocking it out.
"Uh...that happened. I don't recognize that move anywhere?" Ash said with a Sweatdrop before looking it up as he also noticed that Totodile was getting stronger from it after one launch. Ash was impressed and looked the said move up. "So it's called Ancient Power. I didn't expect a water type to know a rock move, Gyrados, maybe, but not anyone else. Must be a new thing here in Johto?" Ash said aloud. The Totodile puffed his chest at this, and Ash chuckled at this.
"I think I'll call it a match Ash; sorry, but I don't think I can catch up after losing two Pokemon in a 3v3 battle," Casey said to Ash, who nodded in agreement.
"Knowing when you're beaten is the best move for a new trainer Casey. You'll get there soon enough," Ash said to Casey, who took what Ash said to heart.
"You know, I was thinking about what you said about that move Totodile used Ancient Power? I heard stories about Pokemon with moves that can only be learned when born," Casey said. Ash was listening and was curious about this but knew that maybe more Pokemon he would encounter would have unique moves outside their everyday moves.
Chikorita was also curious about this, and he did not even know he had a new move outside of his standard moves at the moment.
"Aside from that, we should be heading back to New Bark town to get healed before continuing our Journey. But the next time we meet Ash, we should have another battle?" Casey suggested to Ash.
"You bet, Casey, and I hope we will also meet at the league. I'm hoping to see how far you've come since our battle today and any other battles we come across," Ash said as he held out a hand for a handshake which Casey accepted.
"Deal, Ash, you better watch out because I'm not going to give up as a trainer, nor will I let this loss get to me. Our rivalry has just begun," Casey said with a fire in her eyes. This battle sparked her spirit for being a Pokemon trainer, as Chikorita had the same feeling.
"Same with me, Totodile. Next time we meet, I want to face you as well," Chikorita said, holding out a vine that Totodile held and shook.
"Deal, don't think what you saw today means that I'm going easy on you either just because you have the type advantage against me," Totodile said, grinning.
The gang waved goodbye to Casey as she went in the opposite direction of the group.
A new rival for Ash is just how he wanted to start the Journey, but Ash is still new to this region. Ash will learn as much as he can to master anything new coming his way as the Journey continues.
Stay tuned