Greetings, Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to A Promise Kept Ash's Johto Journey. Let's get this chapter going, shall we?
Chapter 56: Bonds, family, and Responsibilities
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We joined our heroes as they arrived in Olivine City, Ash's gym battle site, where the group had a good ocean view.
"Wow, look at that view. If I remember correctly, the Whirl Islands is barely shown from our location," Ash said to Misty and Brock. Brock was looking at the guidebook.
"There's the lighthouse that Jasmine's Ampharos is at, and we should go visit there after the gym battle to show Sparkle how Flaafy is doing on this Journey," Brock said. Ash nodded at this.
"Let's go you guys to the gym," Ash said to Misty and Brock as the group was heading to where the gym was. At the same time, enjoy the city's sights, given that the gym is further into town. Pikachu hoped to see Jasmine's Ampharos again, given that he and Flaafy were now Boyfriend and girlfriend, but something felt off for some reason.
"Huh? Pikachu, you okay?" Ash asked Pikachu, who turned to Ash.
"I don't know, Ash, something feels off since we arrived here in Olivine City," Pikachu said. Ash nodded as the group arrived at the gym.
"Here it is. Wow, for a steel-type gym, it gives off a mysterious vibe, given that we haven't seen many of them since Azalea Town," Misty said. Ash and Brock agreed to this. It had that tone to it. The gym looks like it was made of steel plating and minerals. Ash opened the door, entered the gym, and arrived at the entrance to the battlefield. Only to see the battlefield empty. The group was curious about what was happening.
"Hey Jasmine, it's me, Ash. I'm here for a gym battle," Ash said. Jasmine would come out of the door as a young girl came out.
"Hello, I'm Janina. I'm taking over for Jasmine as gym leader until further notice," Janina said to Ash, who was upset but must have thought Jasmine hadn't returned to Olivine City. "Jasmine told me that you were going to challenge the gym. It's nice to meet you, Ash."
"Well, if that's the case, I am here to challenge for," Ash was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"That is enough, Janina," Jasmine said as Jasmine walked over to the group with a tall man Ash and the gang recognized as Lt. Surge. "Jasmine, I thought you were heading to the lighthouse?" She said. "I'm sorry, Ash, but I must cancel this battle for reasons. Janina will you come with me to my office," Jasmine said as Janina sighed and walked with Jasmine. The two arrived in the office as Jasmine wasn't happy.
"So, Janina? I was told some surprising announcement that you have been modifying your Onix to resist water. Need I remind you that it wasn't just one trainer who told me this," Jasmine said in a tone of upset than anger. Janina looked down as she was just found out.
"But you told me to find a way to bond with your Pokemon and find a way to win. As of late, I've rarely won any battles until I found out about that," Janina said as Jasmine sighed.
"This isn't what I want to return home to. I've only been here for a couple of months, and I have already had to apologize to your gym challengers and give them gym badges to make sure they don't blame me. Janina, this isn't what I meant, and you took it in a way that can cost me my gym," Jasmine said.
"But, Jasmine," Janina wined as Jasmine held out her hand, now done with Janina's excuses.
"Leave the gym for the rest of the day. I need to talk to Ash and explain what is going on with Sparkle," Jasmine said as Janina nodded as she took her leave.
Meanwhile, with Ash and Surge.
"Been a long time, Ash. I wish we would run into each other in a better situation, and I apologize to Janina. This wasn't the reason why I was here? I'm here 'cause of what is happening with Jasmine," Surge said to Ash and the others.
"It's okay, Surge, I had a feeling something was off with her, but I would've been fine with a battle with her if Jasmine needed time away from the gym?" Ash said to Surge, who was about to say something, but Jasmine interrupted, who was coming out of the doorway.
"It would've been an illegal battle, Ash," Jasmine said, walking towards the group beside Surge.
"What do you mean, Jasmine?" Ash asked. Jasmine sighed.
"Lately, Ash, there have been many complaints about my apprentice cheating in her gym battles when I was away. I was only informed about this when I returned from the ranch almost a few months ago," Jasmine said. "She's been coating her Onix with a water-resistant wax, and if you had battled her, she probably would've won without hassle," Jasmine said.
"I see. That is not how you should raise your Pokemon, even if she were trying to win and get a good way to get to know your Pokemon," Brock said, understanding, given that he also owned an Onix, and Jasmine nodded.
"I sent her out of the gym to remove that wax and then take a full day suspension until then," Jasmine said as Surge cleared his throat.
"I think you should tell them what is going on, Jasmine, and why she has been taking over since you've come back," Surge said as Jasmine nodded.
"Before I do, is little Mareep with you? I'm sure she would like to hear what is going on with her mother," Jasmine said. Ash nodded and let out Flaafy, which Jasmine and Surge were surprised upon seeing that she had evolved.
"Wow, Raichu's little Mareep evolved," Surge said as Ash and the others were surprised.
"Wait, you don't mean that her father is," Pikachu said as Surge let out his Raichu, which Flaafy recognized.
"Daddy!" she said, running to him and hugging him, who returned it.
"Yup, you're looking at her father, alright. I've been visiting here in Johto, and I don't think I need to explain to you kids," Surge said as Raichu let go of his daughter. She wags her tail.
"I've told, Surge you took Raichu's oldest daughter, and surprisingly you were fine with it when I mentioned your name," Jasmine said as Surge nodded.
"Yeah, Raichu and I were happy to see her go on her own with a trainer one day, and you, Ash, I trust enough to raise her," Surge said to Ash, who nodded as Jasmine sighed as Flaafy was curious.
"But, sadly, little Flaafy, I wished this reunion was better. Your mother fell ill on the way home from the ranch," Jasmine said to Flaafy, surprised and worried. "Follow me, and I'll show you, and I'm sure your mother will be happy to see you grown even in her state," Jasmine said as the group nodded and walked with her.
On the other hand, Brock went to find Janina before going with the group, who was wiping down Onix in a sandpit area. Brock was noticing how well raised the Onix was minus what happened.
"I must say, Janina. You raised that Onix pretty well, and as a gym leader who owns one, I can tell," Brock said to Janina.
"Thank you, Brock. Is it right," Janina said, bowing to Brock, who nodded. "While I am happy to raise one, it's hard to be in sync with him, not to mention getting a win," Janina said. "But, I don't know what lady Jasmine means to learn from your Pokemon," Janina told Brock, who knew what Jasmine meant.
"Look at your Onix and try to remember what makes them known for their strength, defenses, and how long they are. It helps with many situations in battle, like helping others," Brock said as Janina looked down.
"I understand that losing isn't good, but remember that it's part of the job to give the challengers a fair and fun match as a gym leader," Brock said. "I'll leave you be but remember it's not just you who is battling in the gym battles, but your Pokemon and I can tell that your Onix wants to battle for fun and help you get used to the battles," Brock said as Onix nodded.
"I didn't like the wax anyway, and I just wanted to make her happy with winning the gym battles knowing that she is filling in for her teacher and my mentor Steelix," Onix said. Brock nodded and explained this to Janina, who was surprised, and Onix, as Brock explained that one of Ash's Pokemon helped him understand Pokespeech.
"I see, so I should let Onix face his battles without using it. I had no idea that he didn't like that I used it though he looked like he enjoyed the water-resistant wax," Janina said.
"I'll leave you be, and maybe when you are ready, you should go and ask Slowbro to help you understand Onix better with a translator. Until then, I suggest you take what I said to heart," Brock said before leaving Janina and rejoining Ash and the others just in time as they arrive at the Lighthouse.
Everyone entered the Lighthouse and headed into the elevator as it took them to the top. And saw an ailing Ampharos who looked like she was suffering from some illness.
"Mamma," Flaafy ran over to her mother, hugging her as Sparkle nuzzled her oldest daughter. Surge's Raichu smiled upon seeing the two of them happy.
"As you can see, Sparkle suddenly fell ill when we arrived in Ecruteak City. Even the gen on her tail isn't glowing as bright as it used to. And that is what is needed to help with the Lighthouse," Jasmine said. "There's a pharmacy in Cianwood City that can give the medicine to help her. But the person I was planning on doing that, Janina, was suspended for what she did, and I don't know if I can trust her with a responsibility like that when she cuts corners," Jasmine said.
"I talked with her on the way here and told her what she could do to get to know her Pokemon and Ash. I was going to ask Slowbro if he could help her understand her Pokemon," Brock said before bending down to look over at Sparkle and see what was happening. "I must say I've never seen this, but I think that my Shuckle might be able to help her out," Brock said as he let out his Pokemon, who got word about what was going on, and Slowbro used his power so they can understand what Shuckle said and everyone other Pokemon.
"I've seen this type of disease. It's a thing that affects specific electric types like Ampharos. I can brew medicine, but it's only enough to help soften it. But she will need something stronger," Shuckle explained, and Jasmine agreed to it and knew it could help her Pokemon out. Shuckle was making medicine as Flaafy was worried about her mother, and Sparkle noticed this.
"This is one of the reasons why I wanted you to work in this Lighthouse one day just in case something like this happened to me, and your father, even though he offered to help, isn't strong enough electricity-wise to run the place," Sparkle said to her daughter who looked down.
"I realize that now, momma, but I don't know what to do. I'm not an Ampharos, and I'm," Flaafy was interrupted by Pikachu trying to comfort her. Sparkle and Surge's Raichu were watching this, smiling, seeing that Pikachu does care about their daughter as much as they do.
"I can see why my daughter likes you, Pikachu, and after losing to you, I am glad I agreed to let her stay with you," Raichu said to Pikachu, who nodded.
"She's showing why she is spoiled, and I try not to do that, but she isn't making it easy, that's for sure," Pikachu said to Raichu, who sighed.
"I did spoil her as a young Raichu, and even though I visited the farm whenever we came here to Johto, I tried to be there for her," Raichu said. "Being a gym leader's Pokemon made it harder to visit these two more often, not to mention the other siblings," Raichu said, which Flaafy was surprised by hearing this.
"Daddy, I thought it was because mommy was at the lighthouse and little time with you or caused you found someone else," Flaafy said, trying to get around all this as both Sparkle and Raichu were taken aback by this.
"Wait, made you think that, dear? Your mother and I kept in contact through our trainers, and I wouldn't abandon your mother for another girl, let alone do that to you," Raichu said to Flaafy, whose eyes widened.
"Because, after my siblings were born, I rarely saw you, and all the times that mom comes to visit me, I always saw you, but then you were not in the last few years," Flaafy said, looking down. "I wanted to go on this Journey, not just to be with Pikachu and Ash. I just wanted to see you two happy together again and maybe learn the truth, and I had no idea it was more your trainers than that," Flaafy said as her father hugged her, and Sparkle did as well, even in her weakened state.
"No matter what happened, we still love you and wouldn't try to ruin our family. You are still our little sheep and a Pikachu on the inside. When I found out that you went on your Journey like this, I was happy for you," Raichu said as Flaafy smiled and bleated in the hug as she started to glow, which made everyone surprised by this as she was becoming an Ampharos, and wasn't paying attention to that. The three electric types brock up the hug.
"Flaafy, you evolved," Ash said to Ampharos, who looked at herself, realized what had happened, and puffed her chest. Just in time for Shuckle to finish the medicine for Sparkle and handed it to her, who happily drank it, and her tail glowed slowly but only enough for some power to the Lighthouse but not enough for it entirely if she would leave.
Ampharos looked down and knew that she had to do something.
"I'll stay and help, momma, until she gets better," Ampharos said aloud, which surprised everyone. "I know I didn't want to, but I can't just sit by and let this happen and do nothing," Ampharos said.
"You sure, Ampharos? I know you want to help your mother out, but" Ash said as Ampharos smiled and nodded.
"Again, I want to help now, even until she gets better," Ampharos said to Ash as Jasmine walked over to Ampharos and Ash.
"I think that is a good idea. Even if she recovers, the power will only last briefly, and Ampharos can provide enough power to run this place," Jasmine said. Ash turned to Ampharos and nodded.
"Okay, I won't stop you, Ampharos, and you were originally asked to help out with this place a while ago," Ash said as Ampharos hugged Ash before letting go. As Janina ran to the group, Ash and the others headed to the docks. And apologized to Jasmine for what she had done.
"Please, Jasmine, I want to make it right and help you. I did wrong, and I won't do that again," Janina said to Jasmine, who sighed.
"I'll allow you to bring back the medicine for Sparkle. Her daughter will be running the Lighthouse during her time while her mother is getting better," Jasmine said sternly. Janina nodded and agreed to do whatever she could to make things right.
While this was happening, Pikachu was upset that his girlfriend was leaving the group on short notice. Ampharos kissed him on the cheek.
"Don't worry; once this is over and you return, I will be back on the team. Don't fall for any electric-type females while you're gone, please," Ampharos said to Pikachu, who nodded.
"I won't love, I promise," Pikachu said, kissing her on the gem.
"I'll be here in Johto while you are gone for a bit longer until she gets better. Ampharos can be with her father more often," Surge said to Ash, who nodded.
The group boarded the boat to Cianwood City, not only the site of the next gym battle but to get the medicine for Sparkle.
Ash and the gang are heading to Cianwood City for Ash's gym battle and helping a sick Sparkle with a detour now in place. What else lies in store for our heroes? As the Journey continues.
Stay Tuned.
Done and done. Man, did I have a lot to cover in this chapter? But I hope you all enjoyed it. Yeah, I did try to get Brock to help Sparkle out as much as possible, but there's only much he could do. As for Ampharos and her father? I know people will say isn't Raichu small for an Ampharos. Remember, they are in the same egg group, so she knows Thunderbolt. I also felt like she needed a reason why she is like she is. I wanted to make Ampharos more like Chikorita in the anime, more of the sassy type and a fit of pre-emptive jealousy, but I never got around to doing that. Maybe as the story progresses later on? We are coming close to where Unova is and the halfway mark. It's off to Cianwood for more than one chapter. First is the gym battle, and then it's a tournament. See you next time.