Hello again, Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to A Promise Kept Ash's Johto Journey. Before we begin, I would like to get a few things out of the way. First was the review about mentioning the older brother's evolution. As mentioned before, this evolution was requested before my reworking. Yes, I'm aware of Gary having one and trust me, this isn't the last Pokemon that Gary also had on Ash's team. Next, yes, Ash will have all three starters in this story. However, Chikorita and Totodile will evolve fully Cyndaquil will evolve to her middle stage and the final stage in the last story. Lastly, I should have mentioned this in the update, but I will make a few adjustments to Ash's team for Johto and Hoenn. The first is Phanphy/Donphan since Ash will get Larvitar for Ash's baby Pokemon. Yes, there will be another baby. We'll get to that in the upcoming chapters, but egg-wise, Ash gets Larvitar, and Brock gets Phanphy. The other Pokemon is Snowrunt. Instead of what it would evolve into Glailie, let us make it a Frosslass. That fits Ash more than Glailie, and have you seen its win/loss record even though it came in late into the story? Yeah, fast and hard hits would be better. With that said, let's get this new request done by the previous requester Myra the Dovihkinn.
Chapter 11: The Hour of the Houndour
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We see Ash carrying a tiny canine-based Pokemon in his arms, heading to the Pokemon center, which looked to be in worse shape both physically and internally from its looks. Pokemon followed behind like a pack of the canine, hoping he could figure out how to help said youngling. Nurse Joy of the said area noticed Ash, a bit bruised and holding a young Pokemon.
"Oh, my word, what happened to this Houndour? How could you get it to this" Nurse Joy was interrupted by Ash?
"Nurse Joy, he doesn't belong to me. He's been attacked with some stuff by Team Rocket. I'm trying my best to make sure that I can get him back to normal," Ash said while looking behind him at the pack of said Houndour, who was more upset than angry. As Nurse Joy notices this, nods and takes the said Houndour to urgent care, Ash gets treated himself.
"I'll have Chansey cure him. He looks like he's gone through a heavy dose of Poisonpowder and Stuns spore. Can you tell me what happened? Ash, as Houndour, isn't the type to attack someone and is usually at times friendly," Nurse Joy asked. Ash is looking down.
"Okay, here's what happened from what I heard from Team Rocket," Ash started explaining what happened that night.
Some point earlier that night:
A familiar male grass starter was sneaking into a den where a sleeping young Houndour was.
"So this is the soon-to-be leader of the pack I heard so much about," the young male Starter with a leaf on its head was staring at it as he used stun spore and Poison powder on the said Pokemon while it was sleeping as it was stirring in its sleep from both of those effects hitting it. As the grass starter heard, someone was coming his way as he hid out of sight.
"Huh? Hey, what happened to my son," One of the Houndour said out loud, which caught the attention of the rest of the pact. The grass starter who did the deed smirked and knew he could take advantage of this and get back at the human he hates the most and maybe more Pokemon to his new trainers.
"I might be able to tell you what happened. I saw the whole thing," The Grass Starter said, who happens to be a Chikorita, walking out of his hiding spot, which leads to growls from the other pact members.
"Easy, boys, you want help with the young alpha, and I might be able to get you that," the male Chikorita said. However, they calmed down; the pact leader was suspicious of him, who just came out of nowhere and suddenly saw everything.
"Tell me what happened to my son? And you better have a good explanation of why you invaded my den without permission especially given that we can beat you without hassle,:: the pact leader said while growling at him, who held his vines out like hands showing the calm down suggestion.
"I saw a human with a grass starter like myself coming by and attacking your child. I was here because I fought against humans who attack Pokemon in their environments without remorse. If you need proof, you may have heard about what happened to the forest with Heracross and Pinsir, as most of them were captured by the same humans," Chikorita said while hiding that his new owners were the ones who did the deed but didn't lie about what happened.
That was enough to convince the pact somewhat as they did hear about that incident as it spread throughout the forest as Chikorita told the pact about Ash and his friends, given that they heard about a trio doing the deed. They left as the Chikorita left as well. However, the leader needed to be convinced about what the Chikorita said, especially since they were not told what Pokemon were taken in the said incident, and went to get to the bottom of things.
Chikorita was out of sight of his new owner Team Rocket. After being captured by them, he's been heavily brainwashed, and his hatred for Ash has grown. "It's done. They took it hook, line, and sinker, stupid dogs believing anything to get their soon-to-be leader well, even if it means going in blind," Chikorita said while bowing to his trainers.
"However, that leader, his father, is suspicious about what you said. You really shouldn't have said the names of the Pokemon that was taken," Meowth said. Chikorita sighed.
"It was to convince them, and it seems that they've heard about what happened, but I'll keep an eye out on him," Chikorita said to Meowth as he had to admit that he let on more than what he should say to the Houndour.
Meanwhile, Ash and his friends arrived in the forest nearby, trying to find the Pokemon center near where they were.
"Is the Pokemon center nearby, Brock? I just wanted to get away from this forest as quickly as possible," Misty said while trying to ignore that they were in a forest full of who knows what.
"According to the guidebook, the Pokemon center is close," Brock said while looking around as the pack of Houndour was watching the group from a distance. Something about them did feel off to them and not right. They don't look like the type to cause harm to Pokemon, but they've never met Ash and the others before, as one of them returned to the leader to report this. This caught the attention of Pikachu, and Ash noticed this as well.
"Hey Brock, I'm not sure what it is, but something or someone is watching us," Ash said to Brock.
"I noticed it too. According to the guidebook, there's a group of Pokemon nearby that is very territorial but is normally friendly to those who are willing to respect them," Brock said as Ash pulled out his Pokedex to where the noise was and caught what was there, a Houndour.
"I've heard of Houndour from my Mom. They're usually friendly, and if raised right, they can be more than a loyal trained Pokemon but never mess with their pack as they're very protective of their members," Ash said to Misty and Brock. They saw the Pokemon's image and pointed out a new type they had never heard of, the Dark type. Many came out growling at Ash, and the others weren't friendly from what Ash said. Pikachu stood before them, ready to protect Ash and the others.
"Easy, Pikachu, we're not going to fight back 'cause we don't know what we did or what happened to make them come after us," Ash said to Pikachu. The pack overheard this. This wasn't what they expected from the humans that had taken an entire forest of Pokemon.
The leader came to where Ash and the others were after hearing the last part of what was said and talking to Pikachu. "Before we leave, you tell me, are you the ones who took the Pokemon in the forest back a while back that was full of bug-types?" Houndour asked Pikachu, who shook his head at this.
"No, we were the ones who were trying to save it. It was a group named Team Rocket with a Meowth," Pikachu said to Houndour, showing that he wasn't lying.
The rest of the Houndour wasn't convinced or needed clarification as that differed from what they were told. One was about to attack the group. One managed to do so at Ash, who held his arm out after being bitten and sent to the ground. Luckily it wasn't enough to completely ruin his arm or break it, either just enough to make marks on Ash, but boy, that attack made Ash out of wack.
"Enough. They've proven that these humans aren't responsible for my son's condition," the Houndour leader told the one who attacked Ash and his pack. Ash noticed that the leader was stressed and was more concerned about something than worrying about what Ash and the others would do.
"I don't know what is happening, but we can help you in any way. We aren't going to catch any of you if that is what you are wondering unless you wanted to," Ash stepped forward, saying that, but the pack of Houndour growled at Ash, not welcoming him, still unconvinced.
"Let them help but keep an eye on them. While I am convinced they aren't responsible for attacking my son, I'm still not convinced that they are telling the truth about what Chikorita said," Houndour's leader said, which caught Pikachu's attention.
"Chikorita? It wouldn't be a male one, would it?" Pikachu asked the Houndour leader, who stopped.
"See, he knows him. He must be the ones who did," one of the Houndour said to his leader, who shook his head at how Pikachu phrased that question.
"I highly doubt that Chikorita sounded very fishy and was too revealing of what had happened. Let them come. We'll get to the bottom of this," Houndour said, motioning his head towards Ash and the others to follow.
Ash and the others did while following in a distance without causing alarm for the pack. The pack, Ash, and the others arrived where the leader's son suffered from the attack Chikorita had done to him. The Houndour showed Ash and the others what had happened. Brock ran over but at a safe distance.
"This is bad? This Houndour is very young, yet he seems to be under some attack by some combination of spore-based attacks," Brock explained while moving away from the little Houndour, not trying to provoke the rest of the Houndour.
"Is that human with his eye closed a doctor or something?" The Houndour leader asked Pikachu.
"No, but he is a breeder and has a good eye when it comes to Pokemon and how bad they are in health," Pikachu said the leader who was curious about why a human would be interested in it something like that but let it go.
"And how long were you in the forest, the four of you here?" The Houndour leader asked Pikachu.
"That's enough, Houndour. You are going to believe Pikachu and these humans," A voice came out behind the rocks. It was the male Chikorita Team Rockets Chikorita that is which made the leader bear teeth.
"You?" The Houndour leader growled towards the Chikorita. Half of the Houndour pack was with him, and the other half was convinced that Ash and the others were not responsible. "And you believe this Chikorita over me. You heard what was said, a mix of spore-based attacks, yet you were just nearby a few hours ago. You are not fooling me," Houndour said.
A sludge bomb and Poison sting attack flurry were coming towards the Houndour leader only to intercept Pikachu's thunderbolt. Team Rocket was over the hill where the den was. "That stupid Houndour leader is smarter than he seems. A shame that the rest of your pack doesn't seem that you are worthy of calling the shots," James said as Chikorita stood beside James.
"Team Rocket!" Ash, Misty, and Brock said.
"So it is true you were behind all of this, Chikorita? You may have fooled the pack, but I will never forgive you for what happened to my son," the Houndour leader said to which the Chikorita laughed at this while Meowth was translating this.
'Says the leader who used to belong to humans. You don't know that we've researched you, or did you not tell your pack that when you became the leader?' Chikorita said.
This took Houndour aback, but Ash noticed this as well. Surprisingly most of the pack wasn't fazed by what was said, while the ones who turned on him were. 'Yes, it's true, but that was a long time ago, and it has,' "Has nothing to do with this Team Rocket. First, you tried to take the Heracross and then Chikorita. Now this man has you stooped to a new low," Ash interrupted the Houndour leader.
"Say what you will, twerps, but we are here for these Houndour, not you. I'm sure they would rather be with someone competent than this leader who has been hiding things," Jessie said aloud. Two of the Houndour went over to where Team Rocket was now convinced that they were the ones who were helping and not Ash and the others, but the other Houndour stayed with the pack as James and Jessie pulled out two Pokeballs and caught them.
"They'll make good for our team. We got what we came here for. See you later, twerps," Meowth said as Weezing used a smokescreen. Team Rocket was gone along with two of the Houndour pack members.
Ash ran over to where the young Houndour was holding him in his arms regardless of the pain caused by one of the captured Houndour made earlier. The rest of the pack growled at Ash for doing that. "Look, I'm trying to help your youngling here, and the only way to heal him is at the nearby Pokemon center. I promise I won't capture him; I want to help," Ash said to the Houndour leader, who could see that this was the only way to help his son.
"Let him go," The Houndour leader said, which caused the other Houndour to stop. "Right now, we can use all the help we can get. These humans are willing to help us without cost, and right now, our pack isn't in the shape or form to cause more trouble," the Houndour leader said. This caused the Houndours to back off.
"You're letting me help your child?" Ash asked to which the Houndour leader nodded at this. "Thank you," Ash said as he left with the young Houndour in both his hands.
Flashback ends
Ash was finishing what had happened to the young Houndour just as Nurse Joy was bandaging Ash's arm. The rest of the pack was waiting outside the Pokemon center for news on their leader's son. "I see that's what happened. As you said, Houndour isn't the type of Pokemon that will cause harm, but this is very serious if a criminal organization like Team Rocket could convince two of them to join them." Nurse Joy said as she was finishing up. "The Houndour brought in is just a year old pup at most to think that one usage of stun spore and Poisonpowder can do that much damage in just a few hours?" Nurse Joy said to Ash.
"Is the Houndour going to be okay, Nurse Joy? I did promise that I would return him safely?" Ash asked Nurse Joy, who nodded her head.
"He'll be fine. Give it till morning, and he'll be normal in no time," Nurse Joy said to Ash.
"Thank you, Nurse Joy. I'll let the pack know about this right now," Ash said to Nurse Joy, who nodded and took her leave. Ash went out to the doorway to tell the pack of Houndours the news about their leader's son, to which they were happy and relieved by the news. However, the Houndour leader still feels that he still owes Ash everything, and one of the Houndours, who went and fetched the leader, notices that there is more than thanks for the humans.
"You want to go with the humans, don't you, leader?" The other Houndour asked his leader, surprised by this but shook his head.
"No, but I think that my son might want to. I've already been through one trainer before; I rather have my son be with someone I can trust, not me. That is a fair thank you, don't you think?" The leader said. Surprisingly, the rest of the pack nodded in agreement.
"If the young pup's father is here, he is more than welcome to see his son now he has fully recovered but is in no shape to leave the room until tomorrow morning?" Nurse Joy asked Ash. The leader didn't need to be told twice and followed Nurse Joy to his son, who was resting in the bed area where care patients would be.
He talked to his son about Ash and told him what he did to help not only what was left of the pack but also the young Houndour himself and if he was fine joining Ash's team. "Are you sure, Dad? You're more experienced than me, and I just met him?" The young Houndour asked his father.
"I'm sure, son, I've been with a human before, and while he wasn't the best in the world, from what I've been through was a worthy journey," Houndour leader said, nuzzling his son, who wagged his tail. "Don't worry about me. You in good hands, son, and I rather you be with a good trainer," Houndour leader said, finishing his nuzzling.
"Okay, Dad, if you say he's a good human, I won't disappoint you. I owe him that much. He saved my life," the young Houndour pup said to his dad, now convinced that Ash was the right fit for him.
The next day came, and the young Houndour was let out of the care unit to greet his fellow pack members before turning to Ash, as did the Houndour leader. Ash noticed what the two Houndour was trying to say and realized what was happening.
"Even after I made a promise not to catch one of you? You still want me to have one of you as thanks?" Ash asked the Houndour leader. The young Houndour pup nodded at this and ran over to Ash, nuzzling him. Ash notices that the other Houndour isn't reacting to this sigh. "Okay, I'll make a new promise. I'll take good care of him for you and hopefully get those you have lost back for you that was taken by Team Rocket as well," Ash said to the Houndour pack, who smiled at this.
"If you feel like I'm being too much or that I'm not worth it, I'll let you go out of my team with no hassle or complaint from me," Ash said to the Houndour pup, who nodded towards Ash. Ash pulled out a ball and tapped him with it, only to be sucked in without hassle. He was Ash's. Ash sent Bulbasaur back to the ranch since he had too many Pokemon on his team per his new expansion limit.
Ash and the others left the Pokemon center and headed towards the forest on the right trail to Azalea town. The rest of the Houndour pack saw them off as Ash let out the young Houndour pup for one last goodbye before leaving.
With a new team member on Ash's team, the Journey to become a Pokemon master has taken a weirder turn as the Journey continues.
Stay tuned.
Done. My god that took longer than expected. Yes, Ash has a Houndour now. I considered giving him the young Houndour pup or the leader, but the leader had a pack to run, and the youngling had more weight when it came to Ash saving his life. I don't know. It was the right thing to do, and Ash should've caught one in the original episode, given how late Houndour comes in generation two. The next chapter is another request capture and one of my favorites from generation two. See you guys next time.