Hello, and welcome back to A Promise-kept Ash's Johto Journey. This chapter is a request chapter that I originally wanted to put on Ash's team, but Myra the Dovihkinn requested this Pokemon, which counted as a request capture. Let's start like this, and the next chapter will be a capture request chapter for Ash which Myra also requested.
Chapter 10: Of Mareep and Pikachu
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We join our heroes as they are still walking down the path Bugsy, the Azalea town gym leader, suggested as the group noticed a Pokemon ranch in the distance.
"Wow, look at the place," Ash said as he noticed a bunch of sheep-based Pokemon, which he had never seen before, and looked them up and found out that they were the region's electric type, known as Mareep.
"Awe, they look so cute," Misty said, gushing over their cuteness.
"I think this place isn't just known for raising them; I heard they're known for making clothing products from their wool," Brock said, which Ash realized something.
"I think I've heard about this from my mom. And if I recall correctly, most of my clothes are made out of Mareep wool," Ash said.
"I think that a lot of clothing items are made from Mareep wool, but I never thought that we see the place in question, but I did hear that it's a place that treats its Pokemon right and isn't abusive," Brock said.
"You're correct on all of the statements." A female voice said as the group noticed that a young girl with light brown hair was talking to them along with a tall yellow Pokemon with a reddish gem on its head and tail.
Brock tries to pull his usual flirting stunt through the Pokemon instantly shocks him in defense of its trainer. "Don't try that again, or that shock will be much stronger," The Pokemon bleated in Pokespeech, which Brock shakes off and gets the message.
"Sorry bout that, but Sparkle here is very protective towards me as I raised her since she was a Mareep," the young girl says apologetically. Ash scanned it and noticed that it was a Pokemon named Ampharos.
"I see, so this is Mareep's final stage of evolution I'd taken," Ash said, which she nodded.
"My name's Jasmine and my family runs this ranch," Jasmine said. "Sparkle here is one of my partners, even though she runs the lighthouse in the city I live in and is mother to a couple of the Mareep that lives in the ranch," Jasmine explained as the Sparkle held out her flipper in confirmation. As the commotion caught the attention of one of the Mareeps, who noticed Ash's Pikachu, something about him made her blush.
Brock looked up at the city she was talking about, "I'm surprised that you've come all this way from Olivine City, which is near the ocean," Brock said to Jasmine, who nodded in confirmation as the group went into the ranch itself.
"Well, I do have some time off away from the city, and I was trying to enjoy a week off," she was interrupted.
"Auntie Jasmine, you're here." a young girl ran over to Jasmine, hugging her.
"Hello, Mary. You still studying to become a trainer one day" Jasmine asked, making the young child nod happily.
"You bet I need better to understand the Mareep and," Mary said as Jasmine interrupted.
"You still have a few more years before becoming a trainer, my little niece," Jasmine says to her little niece. "This is my niece Mary. She's studying to be a trainer one day and hoping to raise a Mareep through it," Jasmine introduced Mary to the gang. "Ash and the others here are visiting while heading towards Azalea Town," Jasmine said.
"A pleasure to meet you," Marry said while bowing courteously. Little did the group know it, but they were being watched by one of the Mareeps who had her eyes on Pikachu. The group ate lunch with Jasmine and her family.
"Mama, your home?" The group only heard a Mareep bleat as one walked toward Sparkle and the other Pokemon.
"Ah, looks like your oldest has just noticed that you came home Sparkle this Mareep. Here is one of the daughters that Sparkle has raised," Jasmine introduces the little Mareep. Misty went gushing on the little Mareep as the said Mareep walked over to Pikachu, to which Sparkle noticed this.
"Hello, there, you must be new to this area," Mareep was more interested in Pikachu than seeing her mother here, to which Sparkle sighed at this.
"Forgive her, Pikachu. She has a thing for other electric types. Her father is a Raichu, so I won't be surprised that she has a feeling for one of your evolutionary lines because of it," Sparkle explained, to which Pikachu nodded in understanding. Pikachu was surprisingly okay with this.
"Come on, Mom, outside of my siblings, this is the first electric type I've met since living here," The Mareep said while nuzzling Pikachu, who immensely enjoyed it. The wool was soft but wasn't absorbing too much of Pikachu's electricity to cause damage.
"Self-control, I see eh cutey," Pikachu said to Mareep, who was blushing upon hearing this and turned to her mother.
"Momma, can I please come with them? I want to see the world outside of this ranch?" Mareep asked Sparkle, who sighed.
"Look, little sheep, I know that you want to leave the ranch, but you just met them, and you know that you're going to run the lighthouse one day since you are the oldest of the siblings. I may be young myself, but who knows what happens down the line," Sparkle said to her daughter, who was pouting and humphed at this. She has sass, for sure, and didn't like being told no.
"You never let me have want I want, Mommy. Besides, they seem nice enough for you to trust. So why not me? You said you fell in love with his evolutionary line as my father. Why can't I?" Mareep whined to her mother and made that pouting face that her mother knows all too well.
"We'll see, dear. Until then, please check on your sibling for me since I'm busy and will see them after I eat," Sparkle said. Jasmine noticed that Sparkle was feeling on edge from speaking to her daughter like this, who pouted and nodded to this as Mareep left.
"Forgive her, Pikachu. She's been spoiled during her infant years before I became the lighthouse caretaker and guide. As her father mentioned, he's in Kanto, and you may have run into him during your Journey. Sadly we haven't seen each other since we have our different trainers, so we can't spend time with each other more than usual," Sparkle explained to Pikachu as the Mareep walked out the door. Pikachu was curious about who her father was as he had run into many members of his evolutionary line during his Journey, which Sparkle noticed. "Don't get me wrong, Pikachu? I trust you, but she also has plans outside the barn. I didn't choose it, but Jasmine and her grandfather," Sparkle looked down after saying that.
"I understand, Sparkle, but maybe it wouldn't be a big issue about her following her dreams just like Mary here wanted to as well," Pikachu said calmly to Sparkle after having feelings all of a sudden for the Mareep. "As for what you mentioned about her father, I've run into a few of the members of my evolutionary line during my Journey, but I'll let it go anyway. I think you think about what she wants as well?" Pikachu said to Sparkle.
"Maybe, but we'll see, and thank you for understanding, Pikachu," Sparkle said. Pikachu reminded her of her lover before they went their separate ways. Jasmine noticed this and was thinking about little Mareep's desire, just as Mary wanted to be a trainer one day too.
The group finished eating and was given a tour of the ranch. As many saw more Mareep and how the wool was processed, they noticed the said Mareep from before talking to her siblings, and it was easy to spot her since she was taller than the others. As Pikachu couldn't keep his eyes off the said Mareep, it was love at first sight, and she had that Pikachu appeal to her.
"You know, Sparkle. Let's give her a chance to explore the world. It was similar to when you were a young Mareep in her place," Jasmine said to Sparkle, who nodded in understanding as she looked at her daughter Mareep who was playing with the other Mareeps.
Just before Sparkle could come over and tell Mareep that she could come with Ash and the others, after giving what Jasmine said some thought, an electric proof net went around the herd of Mareep, including her oldest daughter. Shortly after, one for Sparkle herself and brought up in the air. Team Rocket was after the said Mareep, even their mother, and they didn't bother doing their motto given the flack they got from Ash's Pokemon.
"Not again. They don't know when to leave places like this alone," Ash said in a not-pleasant tone. Ash explains who Team Rocket is, to which Jasmine and her family had already heard of them. It was all over the news, mainly after what happened to Totodile a while back.
"So they have heard of us. I'm surprised, but it doesn't mean you'll get these Pokemon back," Jessie said while laughing. Ash was about to use one of his Pokemon to stop them, but Jasmine stopped Ash.
"Don't let them get to you, Ash. I'll handle this," Jasmine said as she pulled out a Pokeball. "Steelix, stop these thieves," Jasmine lets out a large steel snake-like Pokemon, which looks like an Onix but much taller and shaper and more menacing looking, that's for sure. Team Rocket was somewhat scared but confident they were out of range of whatever this new Pokemon had in store.
"Oh no, you don't Steelix Iron tail now," Jasmine commanded the said Pokemon, whose tail glowed and launched it at the nets, slicing it clean in half. Freeing the Pokemon in it, many of them ran back to the ranch as the Mareep from before was beside her mother after running back to Jasmine, not happy.
"Hey, that was made of strong fiber that is hard to break. How did you manage to do that," James explained, to which Jasmine laughed. "What's so funny?" James questioned.
"Never underestimate the power of steel types nor a Gym leader who specializes in them," Jasmine explained, which shocked Ash and the others upon hearing this.
"As for the rope, Steelix's body is made up of a much stronger alloyed than fiber, so basically, you spent that money for nothing," Jasmine said. "Steelix hyper beam and Sparkle Zap cannon send them flying," Jasmine commanded the two Pokemon, who launched their attacks straight at Team Rocket, who was blasting off empty-handed again.
"Wow, that was strong. I didn't realize that you were a gym leader, Jasmine," Brock said to which Jasmine sighed at that statement and turned to the group shortly after returning Steelix to its ball.
"I guess a real introduction is needed. My name is Jasmine. I'm the leader of the Olivine City gym here in Johto. Along with this ranch, my family also runs the gym right now. I'm on vacation as my apprentice runs the gym while I'm away," Jasmine explained. "Steelix that you saw is my main partner at the gym and, at times, Sparkle here, but recently she's been working at the lighthouse more often to the point that she couldn't get a break until now," Jasmine explained as Sparkle nodded at this. Pikachu now understood why Mareep was chosen to run the lighthouse when she got older.
"However, I think it's time you go for your dream, my little sheep," Sparkle said to her oldest daughter. Who was surprised by this?
"Momma? Would you let me go with Ash and the others? Even after all that?" Mareep said she was in a dream and needed a shock to wake her up, to which Sparkle nodded.
"I expect to see how your training and travels went when you come to Olivine. That is dear in return," Sparkle said to which Mareep nodded and pouted a bit.
"There's always a catch with you, Momma, but the deal is I will be as strong as you the next time we meet, that's for sure," Mareep said with determination in her voice and eyes as Sparkle chuckled and petted her head between her ears which she bleated from this.
"Seems like little Mareep will be joining you, Ash. I'm looking forward to seeing how much she has grown after today. I will also look forward to facing you in a gym battle, Ash," Jasmine said to Ash. Who nodded in agreement towards Jasmine's offer.
"Seems like we'll be getting to know each other more, Pikachu," Mareep said to Pikachu as she nuzzled him. Pikachu nuzzled back.
"Wouldn't trade it for the world, Mareep," Pikachu said back, and Mareep was blushing even redder than before.
Ash knelt to Mareep's level, pulled out a Pokeball, and tapped her, which Mareep sucked in the ball and instantly caught without struggle. This was Ash's 10th and final Pokemon for the extended Pokemon for his team. If he wants to use any new Pokemon sent to the lab after this point, he'll have to send one of his Pokemon in response.
The group said their goodbyes as they left for Azaelea town and the next gym battle.
With a new Pokemon for the team in tow Ash and the others is even more determined to make more friends in Pokemon like this as the Journey continues.
Stay tuned
Done. This took a lot longer than expected. Yes, Ash has a Mareep now. Come on, folks, we all wanted Ash to have one way back in the days of Johto. Now he has one in this story. As said before, I'd initially planned on Ash having her before it was requested. As for requests, one requester called one of the Eevee siblings, Eeveelutions the sisters one Espeon. Anyone who knows me or knows me on Deviantart knows that Espeon is one of my favorite Eeveelution. As for the brother, sadly, his evolution request was already asked. You might figure it out by the sister's evolution, Umbreon. He was requested by Dragonrules18, by the way. Speaking of requests, the Hour of the Houndour episode is next, along with a new teammate. See you guys next time.