With gritted teeth and clinched fists, the rock climber called out in a loud voice. "Now Nidoking, use Hyper Beam!" he commanded.
The battered but still standing, horned Pokémon roared in response, opened its mouth and began to charge the powerful attack.
Sweat rolled down the face of the black belt. "Quick, Hitmonchan, use Mach Punch!" she shouted.
The panting fighting type steeled itself and launched toward its opponent with blinding speed.
There was a bright flash of light; a huge collision; an explosion of smoke and… suddenly everyone in front of the large screen carrying the battle leapt to their feet and started shouting in a deafening cacophony.
"NOO, what happened?!" Terrence wailed desperately.
"I can't see!" Cyril added, craning his neck to try and look over the wall of people.
"Hey, down in front!" Gwyn shouted. After a few unsuccessful seconds, Gwyn glanced up at her Squirtle, Turtee, standing atop her head. "Can you see what happened?" she asked.
Turtee had a big smile fixed to her face. She nodded and all three kids lit up with happy relief.
"Oh boy!" Terence said, bouncing on his heels.
"Who won?!" Cyril asked.
Turtee dropped into Gwyn's arms, started gesturing and rapidly speaking in… Squirtle…..
The three kids stared blankly for a few seconds and then groaned as one, "OHHH NOOOO!"
After a trip through Victory Road, and some time watching the first day of the Indigo League, our heroes are ready to return to Pallet Town. But will the journey home be so simple?
Ash took a long look at the large stadium shining in the afternoon sun and smiled as countless memories flowed through his mind. The hustle and bustle of the crowd, the cheering as battles unfolded and the exciting reversals; nothing much had changed. Even though it had been a few years since he'd competed in a Pokémon League, it suddenly felt like only yesterday that he'd faced down Leon and won. Part of him itched to get into a battle, but he felt content where he was in life. He was happy leaving the battling to the younger trainers who hadn't ever tasted victory.
Beside him, Cyril was fiddling with a large, fold-out paper which featured a bunch of brackets printed on it. "So, that guy from Johto lost but the girl from Viridian City won!" he commented.
Gwyn munched on a mouthful of popcorn and nodded. "Yuahhh," she mumbled. "Un, thun tuh phisuh mun osst!"
Cyril looked puzzled and glanced at Gwyn. "Huh?"
Gwyn briefly looked embarrassed and made an effort to swallow. "I said, then the fisherman lost!" she repeated.
Cyril nodded and made a mark on the bracket. "Right," he said. He started tracing a finger over some of the other markings. "So, next up will be that ghost hunter girl…"
Ash stepped over and eyed the two kids. "So, what are you doing?" he asked with a smile.
Both children glanced up and Cyril spoke. "We're trying to figure out who's gonna make it into the top sixty four."
Gwyn nodded. "Yeah, there's still a lot of trainers left."
Ash glanced at the large paper which sported lots of writings and scribbling. "Looks like you guys are on top of things."
"Trying to," Gwyn replied. "I didn't know there were three battles for each of the trainers on the first day."
Ash nodded. "Yeah, they changed that a few years ago since there were so many people competing. The first day, each trainer fights three one-on-one battles with different Pokémon. If they lose any of them, they are eliminated."
"Seems pretty harsh," Cyril said. "Only having one shot."
Ash shrugged. "Well, they did it to cut down on the number of trainers. Plus, they wanted to make sure that a trainer with one super powerful Pokémon couldn't sweep through the field."
Cyril nodded and turned back to his paper. "Makes sense."
At that moment, Terence came dashing up, holding an armful of small paper baskets with sugar-covered fried bread in them. "Hey, guys!" he said energetically. "You've got to try these things!"
Pikachu hopped along behind him and Dreepy floated near his shoulder. Both Pokémon wore happy expressions and were munching on small pieces of the fried bread.
Cyril's mouth opened into a wide smile but Gwyn's face scrunched up in dismay.
"How much did you spend on all that?!" she whined.
Terence's eyes briefly flashed with fear and then he appeared dumbfounded. "Uhhhh, I don't remember," he said uncertainly.
Gwyn's shoulders slumped and she let out a sigh. "We're gonna be eating berries for dinner again, aren't we…" she groaned in a disheartened voice.
Cyril hesitated for a moment and then reached across for one of the baskets of sugary bread. He took a bite and his eyes began to sparkle with enjoyment. Gwyn sighed, grabbed a basket as well and a moment later her frown disappeared.
"Well," she managed between bites, "at least this isn't too bad."
Ash chuckled as the kids began to chow down on the snacks. He waited until the finished the fried bread before stepping forward and speaking in a friendly voice.
"Okay, guys, it's time to start heading home."
All three kids looked surprised and sad. "AWWWWW!" they groaned as one.
"Can't we stay a little longer," Gwyn whined.
"Yeah, there's still a bunch of battles to go," Cyril added.
"We can set up tents somewhere and stay the night," Terence said.
Ash smiled warmly and listened to the kids' replies before slowly shaking his head. "Sorry, but this was just a short little trip to let you guys see the Pokémon league and see what's going on." The kids started to respond but Ash held up a hand to stop them. "Don't worry, next year, if you get all eight badges, you can see all of the league…"
Ash's comment lessened some of the kids' disappointment but they were still clearly sad to go. They took a few last glances around and then started following Ash on the path away from the stadium.
The short walk took far longer than it should have. The kids took every opportunity to stop at booths and check out the battles currently in progress. They had just reached the edge of the grounds when Cyril and Terence veered to the side and dashed toward a small food truck with a man selling Pokémon made ice cream.
Gwyn sighed. "It's already cold, why do you want ice cream?!" Gwyn moaned.
The boys only laughed and quickly got into line. Gwyn sighed and stayed a short distance back with Ash.
"I think they're just wasting time," she mumbled unhappily.
Turtee nodded while Ash only chuckled.
Terence and Cyril leaned to the left and right, trying to get a good look at the menu, listing the various flavors available.
"I think that chocolate caramel sounds good," Cyril said.
Terence nodded. "Yeah, but I'm gonna get the cherry custard," he replied.
At that moment the young man standing in front of them looked over his shoulder and Ash's protégés found themselves staring into the face of someone they were not going to forget anytime soon.
"VERNON!" Terence and Cyril shouted in surprise.
Vernon's eyes narrowed. "Why are you here?!" he said in an unamused voice.
"Why are you here?!" Terence replied.
Vernon glared back. "I'm watching the Pokémon league and getting ready for next year," he deadpanned. "You doing the same?"
"Yeah, we are!" Terence answered. "We're gonna win it all next year!"
A small smirk pulled at Vernon's lips. "So, how many badges did you get this year?"
Terence smiled and quickly pulled out his badge case. "I got three!" he said proudly.
Vernon smiled and pulled out his own case. "I got five!" he said smugly.
Off to the side, Gwyn looked over at the trio of boys and her face tensed up as she recognized Vernon. "Uh, oh!" she breathed.
Terence frowned and quickly put away his badge case. "Well, you still didn't make it this year, did you!" he taunted.
Vernon clinched his teeth but kept his badge case out for Terence to see. "Yeah, well you did worse!" he said in a cutting tone.
Now Terence clinched his teeth and his fists. "Just you wait till next year!" he growled
"That's what losers always say!" Vernon retorted.
Terence leaned forward so his face was almost to Vernon's. "What'd you call me?!" he hissed.
A voice suddenly called out nearby. "Hey, go take your battle elsewhere."
Cyril looked on tensely while Terence and Vernon stared at each other for several long moments.
"Sounds like a good idea!" Terence abruptly quipped.
"Yeah," Vernon growled.
Still staring at each other, the two boys started walking out of the small cluster of people and toward a nearby empty field. Cyril followed, and when Ash caught sight of what was happening, he snorted in amusement and smiled wryly. The world's greatest Pokémon trainer followed after them with Gwyn in tow.
Terence and Vernon reached the grassy field and separated. They put some distance between themselves and pulled out a Pokéball each. Neither of them needed to say anything to make the battle happen. With frowns of determination and gritted teeth, the two boys threw their Pokéballs forward and the battle was on!
Gwyn nervously shifted side-to-side on her feet. "Terence never battles well when he's angry," she mumbled to no one in particular."
Turtee moaned in concern and hugged the back of Gwyn's head.
The white flashes of light resolved themselves and Terence's Bulbasaur took shape. Across the field, a Mankey appeared in front of Vernon and make a few chattering noises while it bounced energetically.
Terence's eyes narrowed. "So, he's got a Mankey now," he said. "Okay, Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip!"
Terence's Pokémon rasped a battle cry and sent its vines shooting toward the jittering Mankey.
Vernon swept his right arm in a fierce gesture and shouted his command. "Use Fury Swipes and go right through it!"
Mankey squealed and charged forward with its arms raised. It made no effort to avoid Bulbasaur's incoming attack. Just as the vines were about to impact the fighting type, the monkey Pokémon flicked out its arms and began rapidly swiping in front of itself. Vines and claws collided with a series of impacts and suddenly Mankey broke through!
Terence squawked in dismay and frantically waved his arms. "Quick, use Sleep Shield!"
Bulbasaur looked at the oncoming Mankey and arched its back. A moment later, the bulb on its back pulsed and released a thick green cloud of powder.
"EH!" Vernon grunted as Mankey charged blindly into the cloud. Both Pokémon disappeared from view and a second later there were the sounds of attacks hitting home and cries of pain. Bulbasaur came flying out the opposite side of the cloud, and tumbled along the ground. The grass type was clearly worse for wear and sported many scratch marks across its body.
To the side, Ash scrunched up his mouth into an uncertain expression. "Well, he almost got it to work," he commented.
Bulbasaur groaned and rose to its feet. Terence sent a concerned glance at his Pokémon but immediately returned his gaze to the dissipating cloud of sleep powder. He tensed in anticipation and then shouted in elation as Mankey staggered into view, looking half-asleep.
"HA!" Terence barked. "Looks like getting close didn't go so well for you!"
Vernon growled and his clinched fists shook in frustration. "COME ON, SNAP OUT OF IT!" he shouted.
Mankey's eyes crossed and the fighting type staggered about randomly. Terence grinned fiercely and punched the air in front of him.
"Okay, Bulbasaur, use Leech Seed!"
Terence's Pokemon croaked in acknowledgment and a small seed rose to the tip of its bulb. With a small squeeze, the seed was launched toward Mankey where, upon impact, it immediately sprouted into a tangle of vines engulfing the Pokémon. Mankey began to shriek and Bulbasaur started to look stronger as it drained the energy of Vernon's Pokémon.
Vernon made a furious noise shouted his command. "DON'T JUST STAND THERE, BREAK OUT OF THAT!"
Mankey, started to thrash and writhe, but it failed to break free of the small, leafy vines surrounding it.
Terence continued to grin. "All right!" he said. "Just a few more seconds."
"USE ACROBATICS!" Vernon shouted abruptly.
Mankey thrashed again, but this time its movements were more violent and forceful. It flipped, it bounced and suddenly it ripped out of the vines. A look of surprise briefly formed on Bulbasaur's face but Terence acted quickly.
"Use Razor Leaf!" he commanded.
The grass type wasted no time and launched a couple of spinning leaves toward Mankey.
"Dodge it," Vernon ordered.
Mankey twisted to the side and avoided one of the incoming leaves. The second leaf hit home however and knocked the fighting type backwards.
"Use Acrobatics again!" Vernon shouted.
"Use Vine Whip!" Terence countered.
Mankey jumped high into the air and started descending towards Bulbasaur. Terence's Pokémon rasped in worry and launched its vines toward the threat above it. Mankey flipped in mid-air and dodged the first vine. The second struck home and sent the monkey Pokémon spinning out of control.
"NO!" Vernon shouted.
"YES!" Gwyn and Cyril cried.
Mankey crashed to the ground with an abbreviated grunt. The dust cleared and Vernon's Pokémon struggled to push itself off the ground. After a short effort, the Pokémon collapsed to the ground.
Terence was about to announce his victory when Vernon started shouting again.
"OH, COME ON!" he bellowed. "YOU'VE GOT MORE THAN THAT!"
Cyril cringed and Gwyn glanced up at Ash. She saw he had a deepening frown on his face and his right hand was slowly squeezing closed.
Mankey struggled again and failed to rise.
"GET UP!" Vernon yelled.
"Shut up," Gwyn mumbled to herself.
"YOU'RE NOT WEAK LIKE ALL THE OTHERS, ARE YOU?!"
Mankey chirped and struggled to rise again. Its arms shook and its body jittered. The Pokémon was on its hands and knees but could rise no further. Terence smiled broadly in victory… and then Mankey began to glow!
A bright light started to shine from the fighting type and all four of the youths looked on with wonder.
"Hey, what?" Gwyn said in confusion.
"Is it?" Terence stammered.
"It's evolving!" Cyril stated.
The light shined brighter and Mankey's form began to enlarge ever-so-slightly. After long seconds, the light faded and Cyril raised his Pokédex.
Primeape: The pig monkey Pokémon. It is always outrageously furious. If it gives chase, it will tenaciously track the target no matter how far.
Vernon's anger dissipated and was replaced by a look of immense satisfaction. His newly evolved Pokémon snorted and chattered while punching the air like a boxer. Primeape was only a little bigger than it had been as a Mankey. Its arms and legs were thicker and its slender tail was gone. The overall appearance of its body was very similar, except it looked angrier, a lot angrier.
Terence eyed the now upright fighting type. "Okay, you still wanna go?" he asked.
Vernon glared back at his opponent. "Use Low Kick!" he shouted.
In a flash, Primeape launched itself at Bulbasaur and delivered a sliding kick which violently knocked the grass type into the air. Terence cried out in dismay and quickly gave his command.
"Use Vine Whip!"
Bulbasaur grunted and snapped its vines at Primeape.
"Acrobatics!" Vernon responded.
Primeape neatly flipped to the side and completely avoid Bulbasaur's attack. A second later, the monkey rose even with Terence's Pokémon and delivered a devastating punch-kick combo. With a cry, Bulbasaur fell from the air and slammed into the ground.
Terence gasped in shock. "Get up, quick!" he shouted.
Bulbasaur rose on shaky legs but Primeape was right there.
"Use Fury Swipes!" Vernon said forcefully.
Cyril winced and Gwyn covered her mouth in horror as Bulbasaur was subjected to strike after strike. Terence froze for several seconds and gaped at the sight of his Pokémon being pummeled.
"Quick, use Super Razor Leaf!"
"NOOO!" Gwyn moaned.
Bulbasaur tried to start spinning but Primeape was there.
"Use Thunder Punch!" Vernon commanded.
Primeape chattered in a low and aggressive manner and then slammed a sparking fist into Bulbasaur's face. The grass type was knocked straight backwards and tumbled head-over-heels a half dozen times before coming to a stop. Terence's Pokémon didn't move and the young man's shoulders slumped.
Vernon smirked and looked toward his Pokémon. "Good job, Primeape!" he said. "That's how you do it!"
Primeape turned around and looked at Vernon with an expression which was perhaps a little less angry than usual. Vernon raised its Pokéball and recalled the creature.
"Better luck next time," he called out in a taunting tone. He stared smugly at Terence, who was kneeling next to his unconscious friend. His gaze shifted over to Gwyn and Cyril before rising to Ash. The black haired man was staring back with a very stern expression and Vernon's gaze suddenly wavered. He looked to the side and idly cleared his throat before turning to go. Without a word, he walked away, leaving Terence to tend to his battered Pokémon.
The trio of kids shuffled along in silence as they brooded over the loss to Vernon. Ash watched them as they walked in a tight group to his right. Terence still appeared angry; Gwyn was concerned and sad while Cyril looked thoughtful. Finally the downcast young man spoke up in a disheartened tone.
"Sorry, Mr. Ash," Terence said, looking down at the ground as they walked.
Ash glanced over. "Sorry about what?"
Terence's mouth trembled and he continued. "For losing! I should have won!"
Ash raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Losing!" He remarked. "That happens when you battle!" A wry smile formed on his face and he clinched a fist while enthusiastically pumping his arm. "When you lose, you just keep going and train harder!"
Terence's shoulders sagged and he continued to look downcast. Ash frowned and continued.
"Pikachu and I lost a bunch of battles when we were challenging the Pokémon league!" he said. "Sometimes it was tough, but we always kept going!"
Terence looked up. "Yeah, but I bet you never got stomped like that…" he moaned.
Pikachu made an embarrassed noise and looked sheepish. Ash glanced over at his buddy and shared in his expression.
"You might be surprised!" Ash replied in a humorous tone. "Pikachu and I lost some real big ones back in the day!" Ash laughed and scratched at his nose. "Sometimes it was cause we were just way overconfident!"
Pikachu let out a chirp of agreement and nodded.
Gwyn and Cyril perked up upon hearing this.
"Really, you lost some big battles?!" Cyril asked.
"You were overconfident?!" Gwyn said in surprise.
Ash laughed ironically. "Yeah, we weren't always as strong as we are now‑"
Ash's voice abruptly trailed off as some faint, harsh cries echoed from the sky. He and Pikachu came to a stop, both of them with distant looks in their eyes. They scanned the great, blue canvas above them and quickly spotted the source of the noise.
"Fearow," Ash said in a low voice, eyeing a twisting flight of about a dozen of the Pokémon soaring off in the distance.
Pikachu let out a low murmur of acknowledgement and watched the flock with a stoic expression. Even after all these years, the evolution of the Pokémon which had bullied them on their first day as trainer and Pokémon still gave them pause.
Terence, Cyril and Gwyn all came to a halt. "Hey, what's going on?" Gwyn spoke up.
Ash smiled subtly and half-turned toward the kids while pointing up at the flock of flying types. "It's a bunch of Fearow," he answered.
Gwyn frowned while Terence and Cyril appeared eager. "Oh cool," Terence said, perking up from his dower mood. The two boys dashed to Ash's side. Cyril pulled out his Pokédex and pointed it at the flock. The device promptly lit up with a picture of the flying type and began speaking.
Fearow: The beak Pokémon. Fearow is recognized by its long neck and elongated beak. They are conveniently shaped for catching prey in soil or water. It deftly moves its long and skinny beak to pluck prey.
Terence grinned. "Wow cool!" he said, pulling out his own Pokédex.
Fearow: The beak Pokémon .Its huge and magnificent wings can keep it aloft in the sky. It can remain flying a whole day without landing.
Gwyn continued to frown and looked up at the flock of Pokémon. "It looks like they're really angry…" she commented.
Ash and Pikachu glanced at each other and exchanged an ironic chuckle. "Yeah we know what that looks like, don't we," he murmured.
Pikachu nodded in reply.
Ash returned his attention to the flock and eyed them with his years of experience. As Gwyn had said, they looked very angry. They were zigging and zagging across the sky and…
The world's greatest Pokémon trainer frowned in puzzlement as he watched the flying type's movements. They weren't flying randomly or simply cruising around. Their sudden changes in direction and rapid movements had all the appearances of a chase!
Ash shifted on his feet and looked ahead of the flock. After a few moments, he spotted a flash of red and then the distinct outline of something else in the sky.
"They're chasing something," Ash commented in a deadpan tone.
All three kids grunted in interest and looked upward. "Wow, Really?!" Terence replied.
Ash nodded grimly. "Yeah," he said. He narrowed his eyes and tried to make out what the Fearow's target was. Pikachu let out a grunt and hopped up to his shoulder. The flying conflict was steadily moving in their general direction and Ash soon got a good view of what was attempting to flee from the flock of angry bird Pokémon.
"That's a Salamence!" Ash remarked as he made out the distinctive red wings and sleek form of the speedy, flying dragon.
"A SALAMENCE!" Terence and Cyril exclaimed, their eyes lighting up. Both boys grinned from ear-to-ear and eagerly raised their Pokédex toward the rapidly moving dragon.
Fearow: The beak Pokémon. Carrying food through Fearow's territory is dangerous. It will snatch the food away from you in a flash!
Terence frowned and tapped at the device. "Huh, no not them again!"
Fearow: The beak Pokémon. It shoots itself suddenly high into the sky, then plummets down in one fell swoop to strike its prey.
Cyril frowned as well and tapped at his Pokédex. "Oh, come on!" he grumbled.
Gwyn walked over to Ash's side and looked up intently at the speedy dragon. "Ash, why isn't the Salamence just battling the Fearow? It's way stronger, right?" perched atop Gwyn's backpack, Turtee nodded in agreement with its trainer's question.
Ash placed his hands on his hips and looked thoughtfully at the young girl. "Well, it's not always that simple," he began in a wise sounding voice. "Salamence could probably beat three or four of those Fearow but there are almost a dozen of them. Also, not all Pokémon want to battle. Sometimes they'd rather just run away and not have to fight."
Gwyn hummed thoughtfully and nodded in acknowledgement. "That makes sense," she replied.
Ash grinned and glanced up at the fleeing dragon. He saw it abruptly falter as one of its wings suddenly dipped. It quickly recovered but Ash frowned in concern.
"That might be your answer Gwyn," he said in a grim tone. "It looks like that Salamence has already been injured."
Gwyn's mouth scrunched up in concern. "Oh no!" she murmured.
Salamence: The Dragon Pokémon. Overjoyed at finally being able to fly, it flies all over the place and usually doesn't land until it's completely exhausted and needs to sleep.
"YES, FINALLY!" Cyril exclaimed.
The two boys shared eager looks. "I'll bet that explains how it got here!" Terence said.
Cyril nodded. "Yeah it probably just evolved in Hoenn and it's been flying around the world. We're lucky it's here now!"
Gwyn made a frustrated sound. "I don't think it's lucky!" she barked. "It's hurt and it's probably gonna get knocked out!"
Terence and Cyril looked at Gwyn and then at each other. Their minds worked as they took in the new information about Salamence's fate. After a moment's hesitation, they pulled out Pokéballs and looked at Ash with sparkling eyes.
"Hey, Ash, if it gets knocked out, can we catch it?!" Terence asked breathlessly.
"That would be sooooo cool!" Cyril added, nearly shaking with excitement.
Gwyn groaned in exasperation and slapped a hand to her face. Turtee followed suit and both of them slowly shook their heads.
Ash chuckled at the boy's enthusiasm and motioned for them to calm down. "We'll see what happens," he said in a calming voice. "But usually you just want to let wild Pokémon work out their differences."
Gwyn squeaked in concern. "But, what if Salamence gets hurt?!" she said, her voice warbling.
Ash pursed his lips and glanced up at the dragon which was steadily moving closer and closer. "Let me tell you about one of my Pokémon, Hawlucha," he began. "When I first met Hawlucha, it was in the middle of battling a‑"
At that moment, the Salamence rolled and began a sweeping turn to its left. The change in orientation meant that Ash was able to see the top of the dragon type and he immediately froze in place. Atop the magnificent creature was some kind of large saddle contraption and tucked in behind its neck was the distinct form of a human rider.
Ash grunted in grim realization. "That Salamence has a rider!" he stated.
Gwyn, Terence and Cyril all reacted with sounds of surprise, distress and wonder. A second later, they all looked toward Ash.
"What are we gonna do?" Gwyn spoke up.
Ash glanced over at Pikachu. "We've got to help whoever that is!" he said firmly.
Without hesitating, Terence grinned and pulled out a Pokéball. "All right!" he exclaimed. "We've been training for this!" He tossed the red/white sphere into the air and a burst of white light resolved into his Magnemite. The electric type buzzed its readiness for battle.
Terence looked at the approaching Fearow and pointed at them. "Okay, Magnemite, let's get that Thunder attack ready to go!"
Cyril clinched his fists and grinned in eager anticipation while Ash tensed up and Gwyn appeared mortified. Magnemite started spinning the u-shaped magnets to either side of its body and began letting out a series of determined cries.
"What are you doing?!" Gywn exclaimed.
Terence started giggling manically as sparks began to fly from his Pokémon. "Thunder is gonna totally fry those Fearow!" he boasted.
"AND SALAMENCE!" Gwyn wailed. "YOU KNOW MAGNEMITE CAN'T CONTROL THAT ATTACK!"
Terence's expression faltered and he tensely glanced over at Ash. The world's greatest Pokémon trainer made a sheepish grimace and waved for the young man to back down.
"Yeah," Ash said diplomatically. "Magnemite still needs a bit more training before it's ready to use that attack in a battle."
A drop of sweat rolled down the side of Turtee's head as it recalled the first time Terence's Pokémon had unleashed the attack. It had left all three kids, and Gwyn's Squirtle, flat on the ground, slowly smoldering and twitching. Since then, all of them had taken cover when Magnemite practiced the move.
Terence shoulders slumped and Magnemite's spinning magnets slowed to stop. The floating electric type let out a defeated moan and its magnets drooped so they were hanging limply beneath its spherical body.
Gwyn let out a relieved sigh. "Why that guy in Saffron city sold you that TM…" she muttered under her breath.
A dejected looking Terence looked upward at the swooping Salamence and mumbled a question. "What are we gonna do now?"
Ash frowned and looked over at his best buddy. Pikachu put on a determined expression and nodded subtly. Ash grinned, eyed the distances and put his years and years of experience to work.
"Hey, Terence!" Ash said energetically.
The young man looked up, surprised at being called on.
Ash glanced at Magnemite. "Have Magnemite give Pikachu a boost. He'll take care of those Fearow!"
Terence's face immediately lit up while Gwyn continued to look nervous. "Can Pikachu really hit the Fearow and not Salamence?!" she jittered.
Pikachu grinned confidently and Ash chuckled. "Just watch," the man from Pallet Town said in a low voice.
Magnemite perked back up and hovered over so it was floating just above Ash's shoulder. Pikachu let out a small grunt and hopped up to the steel type. With a buzz and a bold cry, Magnemite began to rapidly rise into the air.
All three kids looked into the sky, using their hands to shield their eyes against the sun. Salamence was nearly past their position and all of them started to worry if Pikachu could get high enough in time.
"Oh, no!" Gwyn whined.
Terence gritted his teeth while Cyril squeezed the straps of his backpack. "Hey, Ash?!" Terence cried in uncertainy.
Ash merely chuckled. He watched the distances and waited for the last possible second.
"ASH?!" Gwyn squealed nervous fear.
With a wry smirk, Ash called out to Pikachu. "Now, buddy!"
Sparks were already snapping from Pikachu's red cheeks. With a cry of effort the electric mouse leapt off of Magnemite, straight up into the air. The yellow Pokémon was directly underneath the flock of Fearow and in perfect position. With skill born from years of experience, Pikachu clinched up his body, let out a fierce cry and then unleashed a bright, yellow bolt of sizzling electricity.
The kids gasped and Ash grinned. The Thunderbolt arced into the flock of Fearow and jumped from bird to bird in a devastating chain jolting impacts. All of the flying types screamed and wailed as their bodies writhed from electrocution. A moment later the attack ended and all of the Fearow began to fall from the sky. A moment after that the birds flinched and yelped in dismay before beginning a rapid retreat from the area.
Terence, Gwyn and Cyril were bouncing with childish joy. They happily cheered and shouted, amazed at Pikachu's display of skill and power. Above them, Pikachu neatly landed back atop Magnemite and the two of them began descending toward the ground.
"That was AWESOME!" Terence shouted.
"Yeah, really great!" Gwyn added.
"Pikachu sure can aim a Thunderbolt!" Cyril said.
Ash humbly shrugged and glanced up at Pikachu before looking at the Salamence. The dragon was no longer racing away and had changed its flight so it was slowly spiraling down. It seemed its rider had noticed the Fearow had been dispatched and now they were coming in for a landing. Ash waited until Pikachu jumped down to his shoulder and then started making tracks toward the Salamence.
"Come on, guys," he said. "Let's see if that Salamence and its rider are okay."
The kids didn't need to be asked. Terence recalled Magnemite and all three of them eagerly raced toward the descending dragon type. The flying creature was still some distance away and they wanted to get closer before it landed. Seconds passed and they watched as the Salamence wobbled in the air and faltered again. Ash came to a halt and held up his arms to stop the kids. He didn't want them getting any closer to the incoming Pokémon.
"Oh no!" Gwyn exclaimed.
Ash gritted his teeth and looked on grimly as the red-winged Pokémon suddenly dropped a large distance before catching itself and slowing its dive. All three kids tensed as the Salamence pulled up at the very last moment and skidded along the earth. Dirt and grass was kicked up and the large creature finally came to a stop. The Salamence slumped to the ground and the rider quickly hopped off.
Terence took in the sight with wide, amazed eyes. "Whoa!" he breathed.
"Yeah!" Cyril added.
Gwyn grunted and dashed forward. "Come on! Let's go see if they're okay!" she urged.
The kids surged ahead and Ash chuckled before jogging along to keep up with them. After a short run, the four of them reached the edge of the large skid mark the Salamence had left and cautiously approached the dragon.
Terence's mouth was hanging open in wonderment. "This thing is huge!" he whispered excitedly to Cyril.
The other boy nodded eagerly and pulled out his phone to begin recording.
Gwyn stepped ahead and started looking for the rider. "Hey, hello?" she called out. "Are you okay?"
The Salamence let out a weak, rumbling growl and Gwyn froze in her tracks. A moment later the girl spoke up in a very timid and shaking voice.
"I'm a friend! I'm not like those mean Fearow!"
The calm voice of a woman suddenly sounded from near Salamence's head. "It's okay," she said assuringly. "They're not going to attack us!" With that, the rider rose up from behind Salamence's head and looked toward Gwyn. "Thanks for helping us out!" she said with gratitude.
Now that they were closer to Salamence and its rider, they could clearly see the saddle and the outfit of the woman. The saddle was sturdily built and draped over the top of most of Salamence's body. It had a low-profile seat for the rider just behind Salamence's neck. The rest of the saddle was taken up by streamlined, bulging tubes of bright orange fabric. Each tube had a heavy zipper running its entire length and was fastened securely to the saddle by numerous straps. A few of the tubes had small rips in the fabric, no doubt a result of the Fearow's attacks. The saddle was colored white and dark blue and on the side there was a logo of a cartoon Dragonite flying with a satchel slung over its shoulder.
Ash paused as he looked at the logo on the saddle. He could swear he'd seen it somewhere before…
"Is Salamence okay?" Gwyn asked, slowly approaching the large Pokémon.
The woman nodded and stepped into view. She was wearing a somewhat bulky, matching set of coat and pants. Her entire outfit was dark blue with some white highlights. She was also wearing heavy black shoes, black gloves and a dark blue helmet which covered the back and sides of her head. Her eyes were covered by a pair of large reflective goggles strapped around her head. Behind the helmet, the woman's thick, black hair flowed down her back like a waterfall, nearly reaching her thighs.
The woman nodded and glanced to the side at the slowly breathing dragon. "Yes, I think he's just a little shaken up and exhausted after that chase!"
Ash paused again and frowned. The woman's voice seemed familiar too…
Cyril suddenly stepped forward and spoke up. "Hey, are you one of those package delivery riders who flies across the world?!"
The woman let out a musing chuckle and reached up to take hold of the helmet. "Not around the world, but we do fly all over Kanto and Johto." The woman pulled the helmet free and shook her head to straighten her hair. She then pulled the goggles up over her and Ash flinched as he suddenly remembered where he'd seen the logo and heard her voice. Standing before him was none other than Goh's ex-girlfriend, Yvette!
"Where'd you get a Salamence?" Terence piped up eagerly.
Yvette propped her helmet against her hip, under her left arm, and glanced at Terence. "We acquired a few Salamence from a special trainer in Unova. They're really fast and good at long deliveries when time is important."
Cyril started to speak by Yvette talked over him. "So which one of you took care of those Fearow?" she asked, glancing between the four of them.
All three kids grinned and looked toward Ash. "He did!" Gwyn said proudly.
"Yeah!" Terence added.
Yvette's eyes settled on Ash and he suddenly felt embarrassed and awkward. He knew a fair amount about her, yet she knew nothing about him. This wasn't a position he was used to.
"Uh, yeah," Ash said sheepishly. He inclined his head toward Pikachu. "Pikachu here gave em a jolt and they took off."
Pikachu put on a satisfied smile and let out a pleased reply.
Yvette smiled subtly and her grey eyes ran over him as she approached. She extended a hand and spoke in a soft voice.
"So, who do I have the pleasure of?" she asked.
Ash smiled awkwardly as he reached out a shook her hand. "Ash," he said curtly.
Yvette's gloved hand held on to his for a moment and then she let him go. "You're quite the trainer, Ash," she responded.
Now Ash really felt awkward. He hated promoting his successes to others. "Uh, yeah, I've worked on it for a while," he replied.
Terence sniggered at Ash downplaying himself and Cyril was about to say something when Gwyn poked both of them in their sides.
"Hey!"
"Ow!" the boys muttered.
Gwyn hissed something to both of them and they became quiet.
Yvette blinked her eyes and her gaze lingered on Ash for a moment before she looked over at Salamence. "I don't suppose you know anything about Salamence," she asked.
Ash did know quite a bit about Salamence but he decided to play it cool. "Uh, a little," he began, feigning uncertainty. "Do you not know how to take care of them?" he asked.
Yvette smiled coolly and turned toward the large dragon. "I know how to fly them but not how to take care of them." She approached Salamence's tail and started looking at a few abrasions on the creature's skin. "Other people do that."
Ash quickly stepped over and looked at the injured dragon type. Even though he was downplaying his knowledge, he wasn't going to let a Pokémon sit unattended.
"Do you have any Sitrus berries?" he asked.
Yvette glanced over her shoulder at him with a look of puzzlement. Gwyn, however, quickly spoke up.
"Oh! I have some!" she declared eagerly, bouncing on her heels.
Terence frowned. "I thought we were staying quiet," he muttered.
A perturbed expression crossed Gwyn's face. "Not for this," she retorted.
Ash reached over and took the berries from a smiling Gwyn. He didn't have the proper set up to make a medicinal rub and so he simply mashed up one of the berries in his hands and started smearing the pulp over Salamence's injuries. It was far from the best treatment, but it would help.
Yvette moved so she was beside the saddle but her gaze remained fixed on Ash. "You look like you've done that before," she commented.
Ash shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, a few times," he said.
Ash kept rubbing the berry salve and Yvette kept staring. After a few more seconds, she shook her head and spoke in a baffled tone.
"Have we ever met?" she asked. "I could swear I know you from somewhere…"
Cyril grinned, stepped forward and spoke in a loud and proud voice. "You probably have, he's Ash Ketchum! The Masters Eight Champion!"
Yvette flinched and her eyes widened. Ash tensed and grimaced. Gwyn groaned and barked a rebuke.
"I told you!" she hissed.
Cyril looked terrified and held his hands up defensively. "What, she was gonna figure it out anyway…"
An impressed smile spread across Yvette's face. "Ash Ketchum," she breathed. "I knew I'd seen your face somewhere…"
Ash shrugged and smiled sheepishly. "Uh, yeah…" he said awkwardly. Sometime he really disliked being famous.
Yvette looked down at the ground and shook her head ruefully. "I'm guessing you know more than a little about Salamence…" she said in an ironic tone.
Ash shrugged again. "Yeah, a bit…" he replied.
Yvette took a step back and made an inviting gesture towards Salamence. "Please…" she said in a friendly tone.
Ash chuckled nervously and stepped forward. "Well, the good news is, Salamence isn't hurt all that badly…"
Yvette watched Ash step past her and move to Salamence's head. As he passed within inches of her, she again eyed his athletic form and powerful arms. She'd been attracted to him from the start, but now, upon learning that he was a famous, no, the most famous, Pokémon trainer in the world, her interest was piqued even more. All she needed to do was make a memorable impression…
Ash knelt down next to Salamence's head and slowly ran a hand over the top of the creature's neck. "Hey, you were really giving those wings a workout, huh!" he said in a friendly voice.
The dragon blew out a breath and rumbled in agreement while subtly nodding its head. Its eyes turned to look at Ash and the world's greatest Pokémon trainer smiled. He held out his left hand and offered a couple of the Sitrus berries to Salamence.
"Here you go. It's not much but it will help," Ash said.
Salamence rumbled in approval and opened its mouth. Ash placed the berries inside and the creature promptly consumed them. After swallowing the small snack the dragon hummed and looked at Ash with happy eyes. The man from Pallet Town smiled and chuckled.
"All right," he said, standing back up.
Yvette slipped her gloves off and stowed them in her coat's pockets. She wished she was wearing anything but this flying outfit. It completely covered her from head to toe and its bulk thoroughly concealed her curves. However, she still had plenty of other weapons in her arsenal… As Ash started to walk past, he glanced in her direction. She let out wheezing breath, let her eyes unfocus and spoke in an unsteady voice.
"So, is he… okay?" she managed.
Ash nodded. "Yeah, he should be okay after a short rest. I'm just gonna check on those injuries a bit more," he said, gesturing toward Salamence's tail.
Yvette took a ragged breath and started speaking in an ever weakening voice. "Oh, good… I was hoping…" She blinked her eyes, let them cross slightly and then turned her left ankle before letting her left knee collapse. With a feminine sigh, she fell to the side… and Ash promptly caught her!
"Woah," Terence commented.
"Uh," Ash grunted awkwardly. "Are you okay?" he said, cradling Yvette in his arms.
Yvette resisted the urge to smile. Things like this were simply too easy. She let her head flop limply for a moment before taking a sharp breath and letting out a groan. She blinked her eyes and then looked up into the brown orbs of the man holding her. She let out a breath and smiled faintly. It was time to go to work!
"Sorry, I guess Salamence wasn't the only one who got shaken up," she said in a mildly embarrassed tone.
Ash looked at a loss. "Uh, yeah," he replied. "Are you hurt?"
Yvette shook her head. "I don't think so. I just felt a bit faint all of a sudden." She reached up a hand and gently clasped Ash's right bicep. "Thanks for catching me!"
Ash grinned awkwardly. "Sure, no problem," he replied. He carefully lowered Yvette to the ground and leaned her so she was sitting with her back against the side of Salamence's saddle. He pulled out his thermos and unscrewed the top.
"Here, have some water," he said.
Yvette smiled warmly and started to reach for the thermos. Abruptly, Gwyn loudly interjected herself and shoved a bottle of red liquid in between them.
"Here, drink this!" she said boldly. "It will rehydrate you real quick!"
Ash and Yvette looked at the girl with puzzlement. "Uh, thanks!" Yvette said, taking the offered bottle.
Ash raised an eyebrow and started putting away his thermos. "You got something against water," he said to Gwyn.
Gwyn's face scrunched up into a look of disgust. "Normal water, no. Nature water…!" she stuck her tongue out and scurried away.
Ash continued to look at Gwyn with puzzlement while Yvette took a long drink from the bottle. She kept her eyes fixed on the man from Pallet Town and waited until he turned back around to face her.
"Your kids are something," she said with a wry smile.
Ash's eyes widened and he chuckled nervously. "Uh, heh heh, no those aren't my kids!" he said awkwardly.
The faintest of smiles pulled at Yvette's lips. One hurtle down… "Oh?" she replied in puzzlement.
Ash glanced over at the trio who were slowly making their way around the far side of Salamence examining every inch of the dragon. "Yeah, they're the kids of some of our… uh… my neighbors. I gave them their Pokémon and I've been teaching them a few things about being a trainer."
Yvette took note of Ash's aborted mention of 'our' neighbors. She once again glanced at his hands and confirmed there was no ring. Was there a girlfriend? She could deal with a girlfriend, but it would complicate matters.
Yvette chuckled and looked at Ash with amused eyes. "So the grand Pokémon champion of the world just stays at home, alone and trains the kids of neighbors?"
Ash awkwardly shrugged. "Well, I've got a couple of friends taking care of things right now. Usually I'm there. This is kind of a special case…"
Yvette simple hummed and nodded. Sometimes patience was all which was needed.
Ash worked his mouth for a moment, feeling terribly uncomfortable. His descriptions were making him seem lazy and irresponsible.
"Uh, yeah, see, I run the Pokémon reserve in Pallet Town."
Yvette's eyes brightened. "Oh," she cooed happily.
Ash nodded. "Yeah, and the kids just needed some help with some Pokémon stuff and my friends from Alola showed up… so… it just kind of all worked out."
"Alola!" Yvette breathed happily. "I've been there a few times on vacation."
Ash grinned and nodded. "Yeah, it's really great!" he replied.
Yvette looked into the soft, brown eyes of Ash Ketchum and cursed her luck. It was winter and there were kids there with them. If not for those two factors, she was certain she could have this fine specimen of a man taking a tumble with her in the bushes within fifteen minutes. Alas, that would have to wait…
With a sigh and a feminine grunt, Yvette pulled her legs toward her chest and prepared to stand up.
Ash looked at her with concern. "Are you feeling better?" he asked.
Yvette nodded and took another drink from the bottle. "Yes, much," she breathed.
Ash nodded and stood up. He reached down and offered Yvette a hand to pull her up. The black haired woman smiled and reached up to clasp hold of Ash's hand. She squeezed his hand and he squeezed hers. She relished the feeling of his flesh touching hers. Soon, there would be a lot more of that…
"Thanks!" she said gratefully.
Ash nodded awkwardly and shifted to the side. "I'll just finish checking Salamence, real quick," he said, gesturing toward the creature's tail.
Yvette eyed Ash like he was a tasty snack. He was so innocent… She was going to enjoy watching his reactions when she went to work on him; first emotionally and then physically…
Ash shuffled around to the back of the saddle and examined the areas which had been damaged. "Looks like the saddle blocked some of the hits," he commented. "Some of the packages might have been damaged though."
Yvette shrugged and stepped so she kept up with him. "They're all insured, so there's no issue."
Ash nodded and moved so he was standing next to the base of Salamence's tail. He gently ran his fingers over some of the abrasions and frowned.
"You'll want to get these looked at," he said. "Salamence really took some hits."
A thought entered Yvette's mind and she worked hard to suppress a smirk. She glanced down at the small part of Salamence's belly which was exposed.
"Do you think his underside is okay?" she asked with some concern in her voice.
Ash frowned and craned his neck downward. "Uh, let me check," he mumbled.
Ash stooped down and took a closer look. As he did so, Yvette wobbled on her feet and took a step to the side so she could place a hand on Ash's side. She let out a feminine gasp and Ash glanced over at her.
"Are you okay?"
Yvette quickly nodded and leaned a bit more of her weight into Ash. "Yeah, I just thought I might be getting a bit faint again. I'm okay."
"Okay, good," Ash replied. He awkwardly slid his right foot out to the side to brace himself against the weight Yvette was putting on his left. Yvette smiled and stooped down, appearing to join Ash in examining Salamence.
Ash grunted and spoke in a tense voice. "I don't see anything," he said.
Yvette looked at Salamence but then turned her head back and examined Ash's crotch. With his legs spread apart, she had the perfect view. She always liked to size up the equipment of any male she fancied. Disappointment in the bedroom was always a drag… To her delight, she could tell Ash certainly wasn't going to leave her wanting.
Yvette glanced up at Ash's face. "Yes, it looks pretty good to me as well," she said in a warm voice. She stood up, allowing her fingers to linger on Ash's side for a few more seconds than were necessary.
Ash scratched at the back of his head and ran his eyes over Salamence one last time. "I think he'll be okay after a short rest." He turned and pointed north. "The Pokémon league is just a little ways in that direction. If you can make it there, they can take care of Salamence. Their facilities are the best."
Yvette batted her eyes and stared into Ash's brown orbs. Yes, he was going to be a good one. Maybe he could even be the one for her. A union between her and one of the world's greatest Pokémon trainers would be a smart move.
"I really can't thank you enough," she breathed in a feminine voice.
Ash shrugged and looked a little embarrassed. "No problem," he replied. "Happy to help out."
Yvette smiled subtly and started to lean in so she could deliver a kiss. She'd be sure he wouldn't forget her…
"Hey, Ash," Gwyn shouted abruptly. "Can Salamence really break the sound barrier?!"
Yvette pulled back and cursed her luck. Blasted kids!
"I told you it can!" Terence said in an insistent voice.
"I'm not so sure," Cyril said uncertainly.
Ash chuckled and slipped away from Yvette. "Well, what does your Pokédex say?" he asked.
Yvette watched Ash walk over to the trio of kids. She eyed his strong arms, his manly frame and his excellent butt. She smiled hungrily and swallowed some drool. Traveling to a backwards place like Pallet Town had never crossed her mind, but it looked like she would be making a trip there in the near future.
The woman from Vermilion City spent some time watching her new boy toy before she climbed on top of Salamence and settled into the saddle. Under the attentive eye of Ash, the dragon rose to its feet and prepared to take flight. Yvette sent Ash a warm smile and a playful wink before Salamence flapped its wings and rose into the air. The dragon was far from one hundred percent but it could fly. As she soared away, Yvette squeezed the saddle between her legs, imagining what it would feel like when Ash was in that position. She was sure it would be great!