Greetings, everyone Mgunnels3 here, and welcome to the second act of A Promise Kept Ash's Johto Journey. Before we begin, I want to let you know that I originally planned not to have this episode in the story, but this was requested in the reviews, so I am a man of my word. So let this chapter begin, shall we?
Chapter 22: The Miltank Farm
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We join our heroes as they join the Goldenrod's City gym leader to her family's Miltank farm. This is nostalgia for Ash as he hasn't been there since childhood.
"Man, it's been years since I've visited your family's farm Whitney, but I guess that was when you were about to start your days as a gym leader?" Ash told Whitney as the group left the city to the meadow outside the town.
"Well, I must say I'm impressed that you remember my family's farm, Ash?" Whitney asked Ash in surprise as she was still getting over how he knew of the farm. "As for the whole gym leader part? I started being a gym leader about three years ago upon the league's request and your Uncle, if he didn't tell you that, Ash," Whitney told Ash, who was looking down on this.
"Seems like your uncle hasn't told your family everything, Ash?" Brock asked Ash, who nodded as Whitney was curious about this.
"I will ask him when we run into him the next time I see him or when we are in the Whirl Islands. Until then, let's move on. Is the farm close by," Ash asked Whitney, who nodded at this.
"Should be at the top of that hill, Ash? Ah, there it is; let's go," Whitney said to Ash and the others as they walked towards the farm. The group noticed many Miltank, young and old, being taken care of at the farm as Whitney saw her Uncle taking care of the younger Miltanks. "Hello, Uncle Milton; I'm here with some guests to visit the farm today," Whitney said to her Uncle, who turned around and waved at Whitney and the others.
"Ah, Whitney, this is terrible. There's been a string of missing Miltank lately since you've been gone?" Milton told his niece, who was now worried about this.
"Any leads as to what is going on? Maybe we can help?" Ash said to Milton, who was thinking about what he knew.
"All I can know is that I see a red light, and suddenly the oldest Miltank has gone missing, and it's been happening for the past few Miltanks as well. I don't know what is going on?" Milton said to Ash and the others.
"Maybe it's hypnosis or something of that sort?" Brock said as Ash thought the same thing but looked even more worried the instant that word was spoken, which Brock noticed and didn't say anything.
"But why would anyone want to take Miltanks in the first place? I mean, yes, they are strong, and all my battle against one can tell you that, but nothing else comes to mind?" Ash said to the group.
"It's not just that Ash or you have forgotten about learning about them as a kid?" Slowbro said telepathically to Ash, who sighed at this and nodded at this.
"Your Slowbro is right, Ash?" Whitney said to Ash, acknowledging that Slowbro has telepathic capabilities as Whitney continued to speak.
"Miltank also produces milk, and they are not only very potent in healing Pokemon but can be used for medical purposes and, if used correctly, even strengthening Pokemon as well," Whitney finished saying, which made Ash more worried. On the other hand, Brock was more interested in the different uses as they differed from the type he had seen as a gym leader.
"Come on, we'll show you around, and then we can figure this out during this," Milton said as the group headed inside. Ash was standing still, thinking that it couldn't be Noctowl. It couldn't be.
"Ash, I know what you are thinking, and you might want to face the facts that your old friend might be long gone mental-wise," Slowbro said to Ash, who looked down at this.
"I know, Slowbro, but can you keep it down? The fewer people knew that I knew the Pokemon was causing these attacks. The better, as not many know who is behind all of this," Ash whispers to Slowbro. Who nodded at this?
"If you say so, Ash? But you're going to have to take on him one day, and I hope you are ready for that," Slowbro said to Ash before walking into the barn where the others were. Ash was hurt upon hearing this but knew that Slowbro was right as he walked to the barn. Little did he know, but another red glow happened as another Miltank nearby was affected and was heading towards the direction of the glow. Ash saw many Miltanks being groomed and milked by machines.
"Wow, just like when I was a child back then, this is as good as I remembered," Ash said as Milton noticed that Ash said that.
"Excuse me, Ash, but you've been here before? Now that you mention that, you do look familiar?" Milton asked Ash who jumped when he was asked that.
"I'll explain for you, Ash," Whitney told Ash before turning to her Uncle. "Ash is the former Goldenrod gym leader's nephew, Uncle Milton, and Ash mentioned that he used to visit this farm when he was a kid whenever he visited Johto back then," Whitney explained to her Uncle, who was surprised by this.
"Ah, now I remember you, Ash. You were interested in the Miltank a lot growing up back then. If I remember correctly, you were interested in the Miltank that now belongs to Whitney," Milton said to Ash.
"I also now remember you know Ash? Miltank didn't choose her trainer at the time as many can choose whether or not they want to go with a trainer if it benefits them, that is," Whitney said as she let out her Miltank after hearing this and explained what had just been said to the Miltank.
"Ah, I thought you looked familiar. It's been years since we last saw each other, Miltank," Ash said to Whitney's Miltank, whose tail wags at this and nodded.
"It has been a long time, young man, but please teach your grass starter some manners because her mouth is going to get her in trouble with other Pokemon later on," Miltank said to Ash, who sighed and nodded at this.
"Trust me, I'll work on it, but we are here to help the other Miltanks who have gone missing for some reason," Ash said to Miltank, who was taken aback by this but nodded at this.
"Hey, we got an emergency. More Miltanks have gone missing," One of the farmhands said, running towards the group after checking on the younger ones.
"Again, what is going on? Ash, did you see something when you were out there since you were taking your time before coming in?" Milton asked Ash.
"No, sadly, I didn't. I was so deep about what was happening that I didn't notice one gone missing. There was a herd of them next to me when I was out there but nothing out of the ordinary," Ash said.
"Hmmm, maybe we should check on the rest of the Miltank before we can go after what it is, but Ash, it seems like you know more than you are letting on," Whitney pointed out. Ash sighed at this. On the other hand, Brock noticed that one of the Miltanks was walking past the barn in what looked like a trance-like state.
"Hey, we might want to stop that Miltank before we lose another one," Brock said while running over to what looked like the youngest of the Miltanks and trying to stop her from walking off, as that was enough to do so. Ash and the others were running toward where Brock was. "Glad we got to you before. Who knows what got to you? Do you know what happened, Miltank," Brock said to the young Miltank.
"I don't know one instance, I was going to meet my sister that Miltank there, and another, I saw a reddish light, and I just blanked out, and you know the rest," The young Miltank said everyone as Slowbro said what she said to Whitney and Milton.
"Like when the others went missing, it can't be a coincidence," Misty told Brock, who nodded. On the other hand, Ash was now more worried about this as Miltank pointed to where that light was.
"Let's go and find out who was causing this and hopefully save what's left of our Miltanks," Whitney said to the group as they headed toward where the Miltank said she saw the light. Many Miltanks were standing waiting for something or someone when the group arrived. All showed the same emotionless look as someone hypnotized them as the group heard a commanding voice in Pokespeech to the Miltank. A voice that Ash, Misty, and Brock recognized was Noctowl's voice.
"Now you, Miltank, you will join my master's cause. You will be giving power to our Pokemon than what you are doing back at that sticky barn," Noctowl said as his eyes were a much stronger red-like color, now more brainwashed than the last time the group saw them as Ash ran towards Noctowl.
"Knock it off, Noctowl. These pranks have run their course," Ash said as Noctowl growled at Ash before using Psychic on Ash before Ash could do anything. The Noctowl started laughing evilly at the thought of such a thing.
"Pranks, you say? Hah, those days of my life are gone. This is no prank. Human, this is real. Whatever this Hoothoot you think I am is gone under new leadership," Noctowl said to Ash, who struggled to escape its Psychic attack. "I'm just following orders, and while I would love to toy with you and use my Hypnosis on you, human, I have to get going. Sadly, my masters already have enough Miltanks to feed an army," Noctowl said before releasing Ash and warning him.
"But I will warn you? You mess with my missions again. I won't hesitate to cause harm to you, human. The Ilex forest is only a fraction of what I have, as my Psychic capabilities and Hypnosis has strengthened since the last time we met," Noctowl said before showing two Pokeballs with his psychic powers and tossing them at two of the Miltanks who were caught without hassle.
"No, wait," Ash said before Noctowl used a more potent Psychic attack that made Ash pass out. 'Humph, I figured that his friends are nearby, so I'll be taking my leave later, twerp,' Noctowl said before taking off as Ash heard barely heard that last part. Ash woke up back at the ranch, being taken care of by one of the Miltanks as Ash woke up. "Ugh, my head. Where's Noctowl and the other Miltanks?" Ash said in a frantic.
"Relax, Ash, the rest of the Miltanks are safe, but Noctowl was gone when you passed out," Misty said to Ash, now worried about Ash's health, as that was a lot of energy being used on him. Ash sighed at this and looked down.
"I do appreciate the help there, Ash, but you need to come clear as to what you know," Whitney said to Ash placing her hands on her hips but not in a scolding way but a worrying way. "From the looks of it, you knew that Noctowl? If you know what is happening, please tell us what is happening?"
"You may remember a Hoothoot that used to be with me during one of the visits to the ranch, a very rare one?" Ash said to Whitney and Milton, who nodded at this.
"I remember that little one; in fact, you brought the little guy here to get better if I remember...correctly? Wait, Ash, are you saying what I think you are saying?" Milton said to Ash, who nodded at this.
"That Noctowl is indeed the same Hoothoot, according to Ash, but he's not with me, not anymore, it seems," Brock said to the group. Whitney and Milton were surprised by this and are now confused by what was happening.
"But why hide this, Ash? If he isn't with you? You shouldn't be affected by this as a trainer?" Whitney said to Ash, who looked down at this.
"I promised to capture the young Hoothoot when I was a kid, and now I'm taking responsibility for not getting here sooner. And now Team Rocket has him under their control," Ash said to everyone, who was surprised upon hearing this statement.
"Ash, are you sure that it," Ash interrupted Whitney in tears?
"I heard him call me a twerp, a phrase that Team Rocket always calls my friends and me, and no one else calls us that, and his state of hypnosis tells me that," Ash said as Whitney was feeling wrong about this, as did the others. "His hypnosis was strong even back as a Hoothoot, and now we are seeing how powerful it is," Ash said. "I feel like if people knew my connections to him if they saw me with Noctowl, then they think I have something to do with this," Ash explains.
"Look, Ash, even if you managed to save him from Team Rocket? People won't see you like that. They don't know your past with Noctowl, and you helped save our Miltanks from a far worse fate. Well, what is left of them?" Milton said to Ash, who looked up upon hearing this.
"I agree, Ash. The league won't take your license because of this. You weren't the one who was commanding Noctowl. Yes, you know him, but that won't change anything, so don't let this get to you or think that way," Whitney said to Ash, who kinda cheered up upon hearing this. The group was about to head off only to see the young Miltank before walking towards Brock.
"You are leaving now?" Miltank, saved before meeting up with Noctowl, asked Brock and the others, who nodded as Miltank pointed at Brock. "Can I join you, human? I really can help you all, and thanks for helping me and my friends and family out like that," The young Miltank said to Brock as Slowbro translated it all to Whitney and Milton.
"I think that would be a good idea, Brock. Consider it. Thanks for helping us get our Miltank back and all that, and you did say that you are a breeder. Miltank here can help you with that and more for your Pokemon," Whitney said to the group.
"If you want to join me, you can. I have no issues with that," Brock pulled out a Heavy ball, knowing that this would be useful one day. "Welcome to the team Miltank," Brock said. The Miltank's tail wags and nods as Brock taps her and captures the said Miltank.
"With that done, as I said before, Ecruteakk City is next, but before you go. The national park is hosting the annual Bug catching contest in a few days if you want to participate in it for more members on your team," Whitney said as Misty shivered at the mention of the word bug.
"The contest is run by the park's owner, who happens to be the original Azalia town gym leader before he retired and Bugsy took over. Rumor has it that there is a Pokemon there that can help with any medical issues you might have," Milton said to the group, who nodded at this as that caught Brock's attention. The group made farewell to Whitney and Milton as they headed towards the National Park part of their next stop on their Journey.
The Miltank farm is safe from Team Rocket's control, and a new team member is joining the group. Ash and the gang head off to their next destination as the Journey continues.
Stay tuned.
Done and done, man. This chapter was fun to write. Noctowl is back and won't be the last we'll see of him. As for Miltank. It was requested by a guest reviewer to have Brock catch it. The next chapter would be this chapter if that didn't happen, but I'm glad I did this. The unexpected captures keep coming in the following several captures. It's off to catch a few bug-type Pokemon next as the Bug catching contest is next. See you guys next time.