Greetings, everyone; Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to A Promise Kept Ash's Johto Journey. Before we begin, I want to get a few things out of the way, as the previous chapters have been so far. First, I was given by a reviewer some ideas for the gym leader's Pokemon; however, they went out of my region's boundaries. I locked any Pokemon appearing in Hoenn early to Johto and Shinnoh to Hoenn because I wanted to avoid crossing over my other story with Unova. They are two separate stories and will have different shipping for Ash. This trilogy ending on the Battle Frontier saga would be best. As for when the Shinnoh Pokemon will appear, they'll, depending on how many requests I get in Hoenn, might be between the fourth and fifth gym battle, and I do have plans on some, not all, of Ash's Shinnoh Pokemon, making their appearances in the story as for which ones you'll see when we get there. With that said, I will be adding a few Hoenn Pokemon to say Pyrce and Clair teams, but that might be the extent of how far I'll go outside of, say, Harrison, that is. With that said, let's get this chapter going, shall we?
Chapter 17: Fowl Plays and Reunions in Ilex Forest
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We join our heroes as they have just started their Journey through Ilex Forest. Misty, being Misty, is scared of any Bug Pokemon. On the other hand, Ash felt they were being watched by something or someone. As a pair of eyes with a red tint was watching them from afar, one of them was at the top of the trees, a yellowish-reddish looking bird that seemed to be the pack leader watching the group from afar.
"Man, this place is giving me the creepy vibes ever since we just arrived in this part of the forest," Ash said while Slowbro was also keeping an eye out, but all he could sense was Pokemon, not any human or anything out of the ordinary.
"I don't sense anything, Ash, and that is very strange as this forest is usually filled with Pokemon but would never try to attack anyone without rime or reason," Slowbro said to Ash, who nodded at this.
"I agree with Slowbro Ash? According to the guidebook. The Ilex Forest is known for being populated by Pokemon, yet it's dead silent," Brock said while walking and looking around, as this is very peculiar to even what is being said and shown. Ash was about to say something, but something suddenly attacked the group. It was a group of Spinarak; however, something was off with them eye-wise, as if they were red irises, like they were being controlled and didn't look to be reasoned with.
"Look, we're not here to mess with you all," Brock was trying to say, but they were accompanied by what looked to be a massively tall bear Pokemon which Ash didn't need to look up as he had heard of these Pokemon before.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt Slowbro Psychic, stop them," Ash commanded them as it was enough to shock the group of Pokemon to distract them. "Move now before they get a chance to attack us," Ash said. Misty and Brock nodded at this and ran off with Ash. They didn't know that that snapped the Spinarak out of whatever it was but not the other Pokemon. The Spinarak noticed them and ran away, knowing what they're known for, as the said Bird Pokemon from before flying on a nearby branch.
"Seems like that human is aware of what you are known for. Cleaver for a human new to this region, fan out and let them rest for now. I need stronger Pokemon for them. My masters will be happy with you when most of this forest is theirs," The Bird Pokemon said with a smirk as the other Pokemon nodded and did as told. "We'll get back at you, humans. This isn't the end," the bird Pokemon said while flying off somewhere; however, something in his mind was nagging at him to turn back, but orders are orders.
Meanwhile, Ash and the others long-winded from running as Misty turned to Ash. "Who our what is going on?" Misty asked Ash, who was in deep thought about all of this.
"I think some sort of Pokemon is using hypnosis on the nearby Pokemon, Misty, and that Ursaring isn't prevalent in this area," Ash said to Misty.
"Ash, you are familiar with the Ursaring as well?" Slowbro asked Ash, who nodded to Slowbro as Misty and Brock were curious about what Ash was talking about.
"My family has a few members that used to live here in Johto and were warned about Ursaring. They aren't the type to be very forgiving about people in their territory, and they will cause harm to those they encounter. They may be normal types, but they aren't to be taken lightly, even their previous evolutions." Ash said to Misty and Brock, who was taken aback by this.
"You mentioned that they aren't from this area, Ash? How do you know that?" Misty asked Ash as Brock interrupted Misty by this.
"They are further into the forest and usually away from human reach?" Brock said to Misty while looking into the guidebook. Ash nodded at this.
"And, only the most daring trainers would dare to catch them. I know this as I had a few experiences with one growing up. One was owned by my Uncle, who lived in Goldenrod. The other was by accident while I was in summer camp as a kid," Ash said to Misty and Brock.
"You also mentioned a Pokemon that might use hypnosis on them that might not be too Farfetch'd, Ash?" Slowbro said to Ash while showing that it was thinking. 'There's a known Pokemon that lives in these woods known as Noctowl that is known for using hypnosis on Pokemon often, but its usually harmless pranks,' Slowbro said to Ash, who looked up at Noctowl and something about seeing it made him worried and had to take a different look if it had a previous stage and it did a Hoothoot. Pikachu noticed this.
"What is it, Ash? The image of that Pokemon just made you jumpy suddenly?" Pikachu asked Ash.
"Oh, it's nothing. I remembered a while back I used to help a rare young Hoothoot growing up, and I had promised if I would run into it if we came here that I would have it join the team?" Ash said to Pikachu.
"How rare are we talking about Ash?" Misty said to Ash, now curious. Ash looked at his Pokedex and knew that feature would be added.
"According to this, it's known as a shiny, but that wasn't the only thing different about it. It was smaller than a normal Hoothoot," Ash said while thinking about how it met it. "Back then, my family was camping closer to Goldenrod City, and I spotted a very young Hoothoot. It was injured and could barely fly even with its wings being normal," Ash said while thinking back to that day.
"My Cousin Uncle and I were tending to help this little guy and were part of most of our trip out here. The young Hoothoot had improved over time, and when my family sent me out here, I usually went and saw it when I was younger. The last time I saw it was the summer before I became a trainer," Ash said with a smile. "I played with the little guy, and sadly when it was time to leave, I made that promise that I would come back for it as a trainer," Ash said, holding his fist. "I hope he is either not involved with this or a victim. His hypnosis is pretty strong even when it was a Hoothoot, so I'm distraught," Ash said.
"I am too, but Pokemon do change Ash, and he may have either been captured by now or has moved on," Misty said, now worried about what Ash meant by that statement.
"I'm aware of that fact, Misty, and while I'm not mentally prepared, I do have to face that fact as well," Ash looked down. Suddenly a bunch of string shots was sent towards Ash and the others. The Previous Spinarak's parents evolved from Ariados under that same hypnosis. Ash and the others were now barely getting out of this.
"Ariados as well, man, that Noctowl is doing work quickly if it is a Noctowl that is, answer me Ariados, is that what is doing this to you," Ash said, knowing that they won't respond to him. Ash sent out Mareep, who was beside Pikachu and also Houndour. "Houndour Ember, Pikachu, and Mareep use Thunderbolt," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who launched their attacks, hitting two of the Ariados, but one managed to get out of the way. This one was backed by more of the Ursaring, which surrounded the group, which was bad even for them. "Slowbro, you think you can use future sight to take them by surprise?" Ash whispers to Slowbro, who nods and does as told, knowing that might come in handy.
The other Pokemon attacked Ash's Pokemon as Misty and Brock sent out their Pokemon Staryu and Onix to help. This got out of hand until one of Ursa Ring's slash attacks hit Pikachu. "Oh no, Pikachu!" Ash said as Mareep went to him. On the other hand, Ash was staring face to face with one of the Ursaring and instantly recognized it from before, not the one he encountered but the one he knew belonged to his Uncle.
"Ursaring, snap out of it! It's me, Ash, your trainer's nephew; please, before you do something, you'll regret it," Ash pleaded to the oldest, Usaring, holding his head to this as the hypnosis was intense. Still, it was fighting it as strong as well, to the point that it did manage to snap out of it in time to see another Ursaring was about to attack Ash and stepped in and used a mega punch, sending it to the ground. "I knew that you wouldn't forget me Ursaring now to deal with this mess," Ash said to the bear Pokemon, who nodded at this, willing to protect Ash.
Meanwhile, Pikachu and Mareep were fighting, combining their electricity for a stronger current, but even that took a toll on Mareep. "Mareep fallback. You have done enough, and I don't want you to be overdue for it," Pikachu said to Mareep, who shook her head, and a much stronger thunderbolt was used. Her body started to glow. She was evolving into a Flaaffy, which Ash scanned as he wasn't familiar with her next stage of evolution. Before Ash could command the rest of his Pokemon to retreat, the Future Sight had arrived and hit whatever was left of the Pokemon, attacking the group as the once hypnotized Pokemon ran away. Ash sighed at this.
"It's finally overcome on our Noctowl. I know that you are overseeing all of this. You don't fool us," Ash said out loud to the trees.
"Not bad, human?" the bird Pokemon said, coming out of its hiding place as if it was indeed a Noctowl but was very different from a normal one. Ash also noticed this and was taken aback by what he was seeing. "I wasn't expecting Ursaring to know you yet, alone an ambush from a Future Sight. Not bad at all, but don't expect mercy the next time we meet. My masters warned me that you were strong but not this strong; see you," Noctowl was interrupted by Ash.
"Hoothoot, is that you?" Ash said with wide eyes as that stopped the Noctowl dead where it was and turned to Ash. "It's me, Ash, the boy who helped you years ago. We promised to meet up and join my team by now, don't you remember?" Ash said as Noctowl, holding its head as if something was wrong before shaking its head and launching a whirlwind at Ash which is used to get away.
"Noctowl? What happened to you?" Ash said, looking down in tears. What he had seen and heard was too much even for him. "Hypnosis, he had to be under some sort of hypnosis or spell. That's all I can think of. What happened as the way he acted and said must be the solution," Ash said to Misty, and Bronodded agreed. "I'll get you back, buddy. That's for sure. I promise you that," Ash said to himself.
"What are we going to do, know Ash? We can't just stand here, and following it will lead to nowhere as we don't know where it went?" Misty said to Ash, who was now tending to Pikachu and Flaaffy, still tired from this attack.
"Right now, I guess we have no choice but to continue. As much as I hate to say it, you are right, Misty," Ash said before turning to his Uncle's Ursaring. "What about you? We are nowhere close to my Uncle's residence, Ursaring?" Ash asked Ursaring.
"I'll come with you. Who knows what else that old friend of ours has left here? I know he has turned most of the forest under its control, so you are not safe, or its so-called masters have already taken what they can? There's nothing we can do about them, sadly, and there's something that I wanted to ask you if I may join your team, Ash?" Ursaring asked Ash.
"Huh? But you belong to my Uncle. I can't take another trainer's Pokemon without their permission. You know that?" Ash said while shocked by this. Ursaring shook his head to this.
"To be honest, Ash, I think your Uncle originally planned on having me on your team. You know he's retired as a trainer, and most of us either left on our own or agreed to stay with him as he gave us that choice. I choose to stay by his side until we run into you. That is Ash," Ursaring said to Ash.
"Ash, I think it's wise to ask your Uncle before you decide?" Brock suggested to Ash. Ash nodded as the group left, heading towards hopefully to either the nearest Pokemon center or nearby town.
What a wild ride, folks, as a new evolution and now what looks like a betrayal of a close friend of Ash's, the Journey has taken a darker turn, and not for Ash's sake, as the Journey continues.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the forest with Noctowl. Who was still having trouble remembering what had just happened?
"Ugh, what happened? Did that human just know me for some reason? Why is that, as most of my memories before meeting my masters not matching what I was told, stupid human!" Noctowl said out loud.
"Now, now, Noctowl, don't get your talons bunch," A female voice said nearby. "You just need more time with us and more grooming to understand your role in our team. Those humans are nothing but our enemies who want to ruin our goals and what we were born as. Pokemon general of Team Rocket," the female came out to be nothing other than Jessie as James and Meowth walked beside her.
"That human is stronger than you told me, and the mission was," Noctowl explained but got interrupted by Meowth.
"A success minus a few casualties, Noctowl. Right now, you rest, and we'll help you more and more. Just trust us, and that twerp will regret messing with your brain. After all, you serve Team Rocket, and we helped you, not him," Meowth said, reminding him of the opposite of what Ash told him.
"If he did care about you, why did he not come here first as he so-called promised? Of course not. We did. He's a twerp. You were raised to be our second in command, and we have big plans for you, our Hoothoot friend," Jessie said while laughing, running on what they heard Ash say to his friends as it turns out that they were in earshot of Ash and the others.
Stay Tuned.
Done. Yes, that was a bit too much and a cliffhanger on Ash's team, but trust me, that'll happen in the next chapter. I wanted to give Ash more reasons why he wanted to make promises. Still, sometimes promises aren't delivered right away, as seen by Team Rocket's hands, who, yes, had turned his hypnosis against him. I will get that out of the way before I get that questions in the reviews. As mentioned, Ash will catch him much later, but until then, I have plans for our shiny friend here. More on Ash's family backstory is mentioned and will also be in the next chapter. The trading episode is next. Catch you guys next time.