Greetings, Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to A Promise Kept Ash's Johto Journey. We are doing more of this story this week instead of Unova. We are getting close to the same number of chapters, with only eight more after this chapter. Until we hit chapter 59/60, we will focus on this story, and then we will do chapters for both a week. Yes, I will release a new chapter four to five days a week, but both stories should be worth it. Let's get this chapter going, shall we?
Chapter 51: Ash vs. Casey, part two, the first round of the Poke Ringers
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
Ash and Sakura arrived at the balloons for the trainers participating in the tournament.
"To a good battle, Casey wished we would face each other later in the tournament," Ash said to Casey while getting into the balloon and getting things ready to start. Casey nodded at Ash and said.
"Same here, Ash. Best of luck to you and Murkrow, and see if she can catch up with my Pidgeotto," Casey said to Ash as the two started up their balloons and took off.
"Now for the first match of the Poke Ringers, Ash vs. Casey; these two faced each other in the Grass-type Tournament a few months ago," The announcer said.
Skarmory watched this in the crowd and Daniel's Pidgeotto, wondering why Skarmory was with Ash's team and seeing how much Pidgeot had faith in Murkrow as another balloon took off with a ring hanging. "Now, will both trainers release their Pokemon and let this first round begin."
"Murkrow, come on out," Ash sent out his Murkrow.
"Pidgeotto, come on out," Casey sent out her Pokemon as the two were ready to have a fun but fair match.
"Remember, trainers, you are allowed to use any moves and attack the other trainer's Pokemon, but the main goal is for your Pokemon to get the ring and get it to the goal," the announcer reminded Ash and Casey. "Now, let the first round begin," The announcer said.
"Pidgeotto, quick attack," Casey commanded her Pokemon, who charged right at the ring and a pretty fast pace, took the ring off the twine thread, and headed toward the goal.
"Murkrow, use Faint attack after her," Ash commanded her, who nodded and flew faster right at Pidgeotto, quickly showing the fruits of her training with Pidgeot speed-wise. Everyone was amazed at Murkrow's speed as Pidgeot smirked at this Murkrow while not known for being as fast as her. Murkrow is fast enough to match it. "Now, Steel wing," Ash commanded her, who slammed her wing right at the ring knocking it out of Pidgeotto's beak and taking it in her beak.
"Charge after her Pidgeotto and use your Steel Wing," Casey commanded her Pokemon. They charged in at Murkrow as the two birds were evenly paced speed-wise. Murkrow was reaching the goal quickly, as Pidgeotto managed to slam her wing at Murkrow's leg as it managed to get her to get it out of her beak. Luckily it wasn't bad enough to cause too much harm to her. Pidgeotto managed to regain the lead again as Murkrow regained her composure. As stubborn as she was, a hit like that wasn't something she should brush off.
"Drill Peck, now Murkrow," Ash commanded her, whose beak spins and charges at Pidgeotto and the ring.
Skarmory was impressed as she noticed that Pidgeotto, who was watching this noticed the move that Murkrow used. It was a move that, at the time, Fearow was known for using. Pidgeot didn't care if she had one in Murkrow's family. Right now, Murkrow is Murkrow, and she shows her training.
Murkrow reached Pidgeotto and tried to hit the ring from Pidgeotto's beak as Pidgeotto maneuvered herself away from the Drill Peck attack, trying to get out of reach of Murkrow. Casey smirked at this, knowing that Murkrow wouldn't get to her Pokemon, and saw Ash wasn't concerned, which made her worried.
"Faint Attack Murkrow," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who slammed right into Pidgeotto, who lost the ring out of her beak, heading right to the goal. This would cause Casey to win if it landed. "Oh no, you don't Shadow Ball on the ring Murkrow," Ash commanded her, who fired a Shadow ball right at the ring, hitting it, and landed right at the goal, ideally winning the round for Ash.
"Goal, moving on to the next round is Ash and Murkrow," the announcer said as Murkrow flew beside Ash and puffed her chest at her winning this round. Ash chuckled at this as Skamory and Pidgeot chuckled at this.
"You earned that as you progress, young one," Pidgeot said as she noticed Pidgeotto heading his way to her and Skarmory.
Casey and her Pidgeotto were upset but knew this was a good fight. The two trainers landed their balloons as Ash and Casey approached each other.
"Well, Ash, you won fair and square. I can see why Pidgeot trained you as her apprentice Murkrow and wasn't expecting her to know Drill Peck," Casey said to Ash and Murkrow.
"I don't know why you are so obsessed with that. I was born with that move," Murkrow said in a puff.
"Your bragging, Murkrow," Ash said to Murkrow, toning it down as she promised Pidgeot, to which Casey and Ash made a chuckle.
"Good battle Murkrow and best of luck to you in the tournament," Pidgeotto said, to which Murkrow nodded. Ash and Casey walked separate ways as the tournament continued, as Skarmory and Daniel's Pidgeottot argued.
"What do you think you are doing? You know that your Uncle and your trainer have an issue with each other?" Pidgeotto told Skarmory, who gave him a look that she wasn't having it with Pidgeotto's anger with her team and trainer.
"You can stop lying, Pidgeotto, and besides, your trainer is good friends with ours," Pidgeot said to Pidgeotto, who Skarmory held her wing at Pidgeot.
"I can handle this, Pidgeot," Skarmory said to Pidgeot and glared at Pidgeotto, who was taken aback by the glare of Skarmory as Ash and Murkrow noticed this and walked over.
"Look, Pidgeotto, give it a rest, will you? Cause you aren't fooling me or anyone else; besides, I was with my Uncle during my time at the ranch, as per my agreement with Ash for letting me join his team. You may have known me since I was a fledgling, so you should know I am not the type to mess with or lied to Pidgeotto. Former flock leaders, son or not, don't want to mess with your former boss's niece, let alone next in line to run the flock," Skarmory said with a glare that could make even a Ursaring scared. Pidgeot and Ash were curious about this as Pidgeotto was speechless as Pidgeot was stunned by what she just said.
"Now, if you still want to have a flock to return to on either side when our flocks merge, I suggest you stop picking on my team. I joined cause Ash gave me a good battle and is keeping his end of the bargain for me joining, so are you going to abandon your trainer cause you aren't getting your way, or are you going to stop," Skarmory said as Pidgeotto sighed and shook his head.
"No, I have no plans on leaving Daniel's team. I owe him a lot since he and I met, and no, Pidgeot, I don't plan on using him to get back at you. If your apprentice or Skarmory beats us, then I'll stop, but right now, I should be going, but my issues with you, Pidgeot isn't over," Daniel's Pidgeotto said as he was about to take off as Pidgeot stopped him.
"I know your problem is with me, but what has Ash have to do with this? His peace with Skarmory's flock is over, and you said it yourself your beef is with me? Why join a human's team if you are trying to get back at me," Pidgeot asked him, who sighed.
"I'll give you this, Pidgeot; I have no beef with Ash. It's only cause of how Skarmory's Uncle was towards him; I'm a member of both flocks cause he's my guardian. As for why I joined Daniel's team, it is cause he saved my life when he and I met. That is all I can say, as I am holding my trainer up for his match," Pidgeotto said before taking off to Daniel to get ready for his match Pidgeot sighed and lets it go as Skarmory sighed as well and shook her head, and noticed Ash and Murkrow coming their way.
"Everything OK, Skarmory? I take that is the reason why you are distraught?" Ash asked Skarmory, who sighed, looked at Ash, and nodded. "Wanna talk about it? We just had our first match, and you promised," Ash questioned Skarmory.
"Spearows, Fearows, and even half one's a mon of their word Ash, fine," Skarmory said to Ash, who nodded. "Before I begin, I appreciated you are letting me visit my Uncle's flock during my time at the ranch as per our agreement. Even he appreciates it, and before you ask, he knows I am your team member. I told him he was willing to train me to get stronger so I can make the team proud," Skarmory said to Ash, who nodded.
"I taken that is what that argument was about?" Ash asked Skarmory nodded.
"Yeah, he has known me since my first visit to the flock. His father ran the flock that Pidgeot ran back then before the leader who Pidgeot took over for, and like Pidgeot, he was a respectful mon," Skarmory said to Ash and Pidgeot.
"I don't get why he feels like he wanted to get back at Pidgeot, do you, other than his father was the original leader?" Ash asked her, who shook her head.
"Not a clue. I've only visited the flock when Fearow's sister, my mother, visits the flock whenever I'm with her," Skarmory said. "The only thing that I can think of is two things, one being that he is mad that Pidgeot took over the flock that belonged to his family, and the other is to make up for him losing his chance at a leader status," Skarmory said as the group was surprised by this.
"What did he do to lose that?" Ash asked Skarmory, who sighed.
"I'm only going by what my Uncle told me, and he's been quiet about him, is that he made a mistake when he became a Pidgeotto and was on a mission with the flock, as it was, to see if he was ready to be one. All I know is it went bad, and my Uncle stepped in to save him, who was in good standing with your flock Pidgeot, before all this. Sadly, the rest I don't know, and you're either going to get it out of my Uncle or Pidgeotto's beak himself," Skarmory said as the group nodded. It was Pidgeot's turn to ask questions as one thing Skarmory said still was on her mind.
"Speaking of running in families Skarmory. What is this I hear that you are the next in line to run the flock, Skarmory. I taken that is what you meant by you being distraught about what is going on with you was about?" Pidgeot questioned her as Skarmory groaned and sighed.
"Me and my big break, it is Pidgeot on my first day to the flock. After I joined the team, we visited your flock, and during that visit, he asked me to run the flock one day when I am old enough that and when he either passes, stands down, or retires as flock leader," Skarmory said.
"If I remember correctly, you have to be in either your middle stage, the final stage, or at least 18 years old to run one, and you are the second oldest of us?" Murkrow asked Skarmory, who nodded.
"I see, Skarmory, but why not your mother or father take over, or your siblings would think instead of you?" Ash asked Skarmory, but Skarmory shook her head again in a polite tone.
"My mom was originally a flock leader when I was growing up; in fact, she used to own one here in Johto before handing it off to another member to run it when she joined a trainer. She's the reason behind that saying about us being mons of our words. However, she has good standing with my Uncle's flock, and alongside myself, we are labeled as second in command of his flock whenever we visit," Skarmory said as Pidgeot nodded.
"Most flocks, unless they're mates or joining flocks, shouldn't have two leaders who are siblings as it might cause issues. That is what I heard from other flock members, as most leaders are relatives of the original leader," Pidgeot said as Skarmory nodded.
"Similar to what happened with Pideotto, he was the next in line to run it but made a mistake that cost him his rank; that must be hard, and I can understand your mother's position too, Skarmoy," Ash said as Skarmory nodded and turned to where Wionna was at and pointed to her with her wing.
"As for my father, his trainer is a gym leader and is taking part in this tournament, which you saw earlier with the Altaria was hoping to see him take part in this, and he has good standing with the flock like Pidgeot's father. Mine is also well known amongst the Fearows," Skarmory said as she sighed and turned to Ash taking a deep breath.
"As for my siblings? Do you wonder why he's been spoiling me and asking me to take over one day? It's cause I'm an only child and his only relative outside of my mother biologically," Skarmory said in an indignant tone as Ash held out his hand to calm her.
"I'm sorry, Skarmory. I thought it was a reasonable question?" Ash apologized to Skarmory, who sighed and shook her head.
"No, it's okay, Ash. You don't know my family history outside of my Uncle Fearow, and I shouldn't have gotten mad at you. After all, you've kept your end of the bargain, and I am keeping my promise to be loyal to you and not try to cause trouble for you or the team," Skarmory said. Ash nodded as Pidgeot stepped in, concerned for Skarmory upon hearing that she was asked to be a flock leader one day at her age.
"Skarmory, if you don't mind me asking you a few questions, Skarmory? A flock leader to an upcoming one," Pidgeot said to Skarmory, who nodded at her. "If you don't answer these questions, that is fine, but it doesn't hurt to ask anyway. How does the flock feel about you, and how do you see and treat them in terms of your rank and relationship with the flock," Pidgeot asked Skarmory.
"I don't think that question is needed, Pidgeot," Ash asked Pidgeot, who sighed and nodded.
"It's a fair question when it comes to an understanding my status in the flock, and if it were the other way around, I would have asked that too," Skarmory said to Ash and turned to Pidgeot. "The flock takes my relationship with my Uncle seriously. While my Uncle orders the flock only to allow him to be the one who takes care of me and spoils me, the flock usually leaves me be," Skarmory said to Pidgeot, who nodded.
"That is fair, given that you don't want to be that one kid in the flock who demands things and all that," Ash said to Skamory, who nodded in agreement.
"As for how I see the flock and treat them outside my mother's flock, who I probably wouldn't recognize even now. My Uncle's flock is my family, and I tell them that if they don't do anything stupid like wander into another flock or make me mad by calling mam or miss, they're free to do what they want as long as the mission is done. I may be the boss's niece, but I prefer them to see me not as that when I visit the flock or on missions," Skarmory said.
"No argument on the last two parts there. Yes, it shows respect, but it gets annoying over time, especially when you want them to treat you normally and not through your rank," Pidgeot said to Skarmory, who nodded and smiled. "Before we wrap up, I have one more question, Skarmory. Are you up to the challenge of being a flock leader one day? Yes, it runs in your family, but there are many things to do than earn that. Even I went through a lot to get where I am as one, and I can tell you maintaining it isn't easy either. Do you think that you are ready? You are only six months younger than I am and two years older than Murkrow."
Skarmory looked down and sighed. "That is a reasonable question, Pidgeot, and as stubborn as I am, more than Murkrow here? I know my Uncle isn't retiring or leaving the flock anytime soon, but he suddenly asked me to do that without asking my mother or father if I would want to. I don't know. And to tell you the truth, Pidgeot, I prefer to be second in command than be a leader," Skarmory said as Pidgeot nodded in understanding, as did Ash and Murkrow.
"I understand, and you do have time, so no worries. Skarmory and I can help you if you want?" Pidgeot suggested to Skarmory, who nodded.
"I'll take that to heart, Pidgeot. Don't think that being like this means that I am soft. I'm still my usual self and still see you as a rival and currently a friend cause of our flocks. But if I do become leader," Skarmory asked Pidgeot, who was curious about what she would say.
"I will keep my uncle's promise to merge with the flock and no harm to them, even after it's all over," Skarmory said to Pidgeot, who smiled at this, seeing that Skarmory is growing up a bit and showing why she is second in command.
"Fearow's are mon's of their word, and I know I'm keeping isn't just because we are teammates and would cause a rift between our team," Skarmory said. "And yes, my Uncle agreed to merge the flocks when you return, Pidgeot," Skarmory said to Pidgeot and nodded as Skarmory turned to Murkrow. "Speaking of Fearow's Murkrow, I have taken you have one in your family or your blood?" Skarmory asked Murkrow, who nodded.
"Yep, father is a Honchrow. Mother is a Fearow, yeah, the same one Ash faced at the gym," Murkrow said as Ash tried to look at her father's evolution, but it didn't show up at the time. "Honchrow is my evolution in Sinnoh, Ash, and it's not usually shown here in Johto anyway," Murkrow said to Ash.
"I figured that one of your relatives might be a Fearow, given that Fearow is at the time known for only using that move; yeah, Dodrio also knows it, but that doesn't fit you either, huh?" Ash said to Murkrow, who nodded and puffed her chest.
"I'll forgive your bragging and pride 'cause this is your time to shine, Murkrow, just not when you are with other Pokemon, please," Pidgeot said. Murkrow was about to say something as the announcer said.
"The first round of the Poke Ringers is now done, and tomorrow will be the next round."
Ash's next opponent was Misty, and Ash and Misty were surprised. Brock was at the other end of the bracket, and Ash would be battling against him if they made it to the finals.
The Poke Ringer is getting interesting as Ash is up against Misty in the next round. What else is in store for the Tournament for Ash as the Poke Ringers continue?
Stay Tuned.
Done and done. This chapter was fun but tough to write. I won't lie. Doing an entire Tournament that is usually just one episode in the anime is tough. But I can do that. Yes, more on Skarmory's past and her family and Murkrow's, but hopefully, you will enjoy that. It's Ash against Misty in the next chapter. See you next time.