Hello, and welcome back to A Promise Kept Ash's Johto Journey. I've been waiting for this following capture for a while, thanks to True Masters's request. I'll warn you that the personality may sound harsh or rude, but I was told to make my personality and backstory for this one. So let's get this going.
Chapter 12: Pride and Vanity
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We joined our heroes as they were enjoying lunch Houndour was eating next to Ash, showing his loyalty to Ash even though Ash was just fine with him being a good Pokemon. Mareep was with Pikachu eating beside him and acting like a couple as well as Charizard and Pidgeot. The group didn't notice someone watching them from up in the trees.
"Man, this is the third Pokemon that joined the Team because of Team Rocket, first Heracross, then Eevee, both of them, and now Houndour. Wonder what is going on that Team Rocket is just going after other Pokemon instead of their usual stuff," Ash said to Misty and Brock. Ash was petting Houndour's back, who was married to this. "I just want to catch a Pokemon without a hitch or complications," Ash said, getting tired that Team Rocket has something to do with Ash's recent captures. Mareep noticed this and only had one encounter with Team Rocket, asking Pikachu.
"Who are these clowns anyway? They tried to take my momma, me, and my siblings the last time I saw them?" Mareep turned to Pikachu or any one of his teammates.
"They've been a pain in the butt since day one of my Journey. Team Rocket, up till recently, has been after me instead of other Pokemon, but yet they've been after the Pokemon of this region," Pikachu said to Mareep, who now understood who they were.
"I agree, Pikachu, but I don't like that they are messing with you. They'll need to get to me," Mareep said, puffing her chest. She's a lot like a Pikachu from the way she was acting. The two were talking. Misty and Brock noticed how much closer Charizard and Pidgeot were together than usual, especially since they had left the Charizific Valley.
"You know, Ash, I've noticed that Charizard and Pidgeot have been acting less of what they've usually been," Misty said as Ash turned and noticed what Misty had said.
"I have to say whatever Pidgeot said to Charizard back at the Charizific Valley. They've been closer together than usual normally I would see them arguing, or one would get annoyed with the other," Brock said, now showing signs of jealousy. "More similar to how Mareep and Pikachu are over there?" Brock noted as Ash looked at the two, acting more like a couple but not as apparent as Pikachu and Mareep. The Pokemon watching this now took this as its advantage to snag the food out of Ash's hand while he wasn't looking, which caught Ash's attention after it flew off.
"Hey, who took that?" Ash said, looking around and seeing a tiny bird Pokemon that was black colored and looked like it had a hat on. Ash scanned it and saw it was a Murkrow. "Hey, Murkrow, can you please give me that back?" Ash asked politely, which made the Murkrow laugh her holding her wing to the side of her beak and eating the food she took from Ash. "You know what? You can have it, Murkrow. We have plenty here, but you are different from a normal Murkrow?" Ash noticed that Murkrow had many different colored eyes from a normal Murkrow. Her eyes were more blue-colored than their usual color.
Murkrow heard this and noticed that Ash was something special. Only a few trainers noticed that she was different. Still, she wanted to see how good he was as a trainer cause she wouldn't let him capture her without a challenge and had that competitive look in her eyes that Ash was very familiar with and had the bring it expression with her wing. Mareep came over to try her best against the Murkrow, who flew down to their level.
"Okay, Mareep uses Thunderbolt," Ash said after looking into her moves in the Pokedex. Mareep sent a massive surge of electricity at Murkrow, whose wings glowed a steel-like sheen and took the Attack and shook it off. Murkrow used Shadow ball, sending it right at Mareep, striking her.
Ash ran to Mareep and Pikachu as Murkrow was laughing again at this. She was toying with Ash and flew off. "Man, that's a different Murkrow, that's for sure," Ash said to Brock.
"She seems to like that she is stronger than normal and well trained either Murkrow was originally owned by a trainer or had a few good teachers in the local flying types," Brock said. "Ash, I think you should just leave her because we don't know what else she has in her move-set," Brock advised Ash.
"I don't know, Brock, because Murkrow seems interested in joining my Team and just toying with me. She kinda reminds me how Charizard is acting?" Ash said to Brock as the two returned to eat while the Murkrow from before watched from afar.
"This human is fascinating, and I must admit," Murkrow looked at her wing a bit, roasted from the thunderbolt, and smirked. "He knows how to raise his Pokemon, " Murkrow said, looking at the group afar. The passion for battling was growing in her, and Ash might be that trainer to scratch that itch to be stronger. Ash finished eating his lunch as Brock was healing Mareep, as Pikachu was beside her.
"You did your best, Mareep, don't worry about it?" Pikachu said, smiling at her. Mareep smiled back and kissed his cheek. Ash was thinking about a way to face that Murkrow as he figured she would return to battle him again.
"You are interested in capturing that Murkrow Ash, but why? You have three flying types on your Team," Misty said to Ash, curious about what was so special about that Murkrow.
"Just something about that Murkrow reminds me of myself. You shouldn't have too many flying types, especially if you will be a Pokemon master one day. Maybe I should use one against Murkrow. She knows how to cover both fighting on land and air," Ash said to Misty. Misty and Ash talked about what Ash suggested Murkrow was listening from afar and smiled upon hearing this.
"This human isn't the one to underestimate me, that's for sure. I wonder what type of flying type he has on his Team, as I do need a good challenge, that's for sure," Murkrow said with a chuckle. Ash heard that chuckle, knew that Murkrow was nearby, and calmed down, not letting Murkrow get to him. Pidgeot stands in front of Ash, wanting to participate in this battle to get back for Mareep, which catches Murkrow's eye, something she is too familiar with.
Pidgeot was annoyed that Ash wanted to capture something like this but agreed as she wanted to prove a point given that she is used to Charizard's pride and hot air and nodded to help with this situation. Murkrow flew out of the trees in the air, and Pidgeot joined. The two flying types glared at each other.
"Alright, Pidgeot use wing attack," Ash commands Pidgeot as it flies straight at Murkrow, whose beak spins were a drill peck. As the two flying-type moves clashed, Murkrow matched Pidgeot's attacks blow for blow.
"Now, Steel wing," Ash commands Pidgeot slashes at Murkrow, which disappears and slams right into Pidgeot with a dark glow. Ash was surprised that Murkrow was fast, which wasn't a quick attack or double Team. Murkrow's eyes glowed, and psychic energy was used on Pidgeot, sending her to the ground hard. "Psychic, that's something I wasn't expecting. She's different, that's for sure," Ash thought. Pidgeot wouldn't let this get to her as she got up without issue, now ticked off by Murkrow as Murkrow was laughing at Pidgeot.
"I must say, Pidgeot, and you impressed me. Not many Pokemon I've faced can take those two moves and keep going," Murkrow laughed.
"You going to be okay, Pidgeot, to continue?" Ash asked Pidgeot, who nodded at this and aggressively flew back up in the air, even more ticked. Pidgeot slammed into Murkrow with a Steel wing hard, sending Murkrow to the ground, struggling to get up. Ash saw this take advantage of tossing a Pokeball at the Murkrow before it could cause more trouble.
Murkrow was sucked into the ball as it shook three times. Suddenly it dings without even a single hassle. Pidgeot smirked, seeing Murkrow was caught. She would've been impressed with the young bird if she weren't ticked off. Ash sent Squirtle back to the ranch as Brock was healing Pidgeot and Murkrow.
"Welcome to the Team, Murkrow. I hope you can get along with the rest of the Team regardless of what happened here?" Ash greeted Murkrow, who nodded at this.
"I only do that when battling or finding someone I feel piqued my interest. You won't have trouble with me, Ash," Murkrow said and then turned to Pidgeot. "I must admit you battle admirably like another Pidgeot I've heard before from my father," Murkrow said to Pidgeot.
"Well, my father is a gym leader Pokemon and a flock leader, so staying in tune with my training is vital for me getting stronger," Pidgeot said, trying to be nice to the Murkrow, but Murkrow's mocking of her earlier still steamed her. Murkrow was curious about what Pidgeot meant by her father.
"You mean Falkner's Pidgeot? He's your father?" Murkrow's eyes widened at the mention of Ash's Pidgeot's father. Pidgeot would ask Murkrow how she knew about Pidgeot's father, but suddenly Murkrow eagerly requested. "Can you take me under your wing and make me your apprentice, Pidgeot? I promise you I won't disappoint, and I want to be like my father, too," Murkrow said to Pidgeot. However, Pidgeot misheard Murkrow asking Pidgeot's apprentice.
"I appreciate your offer, but right now, I have to say no sadly; please understand," Pidgeot said politely to Murkrow, who looked down but nodded at this. Murkrow knew that she had taken it too far earlier. She'll ask Pidgeot later when Murkrow is on good terms with Pidgeot.
"I understand, but I do hope you can change your mind because I want to learn from you, not the other way around," Murkrow said to Pidgeot. Who now realized that maybe Pidgeot had been a bit too harsh there without understanding why Murkrow asked without knowing why Murkrow was so dead set on being Pidgeot's apprentice.
"Talk to me later on in the Journey, Murkrow. I want to know how you know my father, but no more bragging, please I can take your pride and your self-absorbed with getting stronger, but the bragging has to stop," Pidgeot asked Murkrow as Brock now finished healing Murkrow up.
"Deal, Pidgeot," Murkrow said, holding out her wing showing respect and knowing that she needed to get on Pidgeot's good side if she wanted to get to learn from Pidgeot. Ash, still not understanding what was being said, sighed at this, seeing how Pidgeot was not happy with Murkrow for the moment, and gave both flying types some food to eat after that long battle, who happily accepted it.
Ash's Team has gotten more enjoyable with a new member, especially a very special Murkrow. What history does Murkrow have with Pidgeot, and what else is in store for Ash as the Journey continues?
I am finished before I get where the Vanity is at. It's more self-absorption in how strong she is than, say, Ash's Lyconroc was in SM because of its one-of-a-kind form and won't refuse to battle because of her feathers getting dirty or leaves because she loses a match. Murkrow is one of my favorites, mainly because Honchrow is my favorite Dark-type. As for Murkrow's past, we'll get to that later but pay close attention to the question that Murkrow asked Pidgeot. Lastly, I will get questions on why Murkrow knows more than four moves and why Psychic, as I can only learn them in Shinnoh. Well, I did mention that the cut-off region is Shinnoh, as is the range of the moves for the Pokemon if the move originated from gen one or two, and that another move that Murkrow used is the Faint Attack. I haven't seen it in the anime, so I can't describe it well. The Cyndaquil episode is next. Catch you guys later.