A/N: Finally an update. I spent a lot of time on my other story and hadn't really had any motivation to write this story. I will admit it will mainly by a fluffish piece…well compared to my other story anyway. So I kinda write it when I need a break from the emotional rollercoaster of my other story. Reviews of course can motivate me…just saying. Anyway I needed a break from the grueling job hunt I am currently taking due to unemployment since I relocated to a new state. Oh yeah and since I have mentioned this in absolutely none of my stories recently. I literally own nothing of pokemon and this is not for profit but if only!
Chapter 3 – I think I can figure it out but I just need a little help to get there
Professor Oak's Ranch -
Gary was laughing so hard that he was doubled over and holding onto his sides. "So…so…so….ahahahaha." Another round of laughter left Gary as he attempted to regain his composure only to end up letting out peals of laughter again.
"It really isn't that funny Gary." Ash muttered petulantly. "I don't see how you can find this so funny."
"But you…and me!" Gary just managed to point at Ash before doubling over again hit by another round of laughter. "Just…just…haha."
A slight frown crossed over Ash's face. He thought that Gary would commiserate with him or if nothing else at least be sympathetic to his plight. Instead he was as usual subjected to ridicule. "You know I came over here because you wanted to meet with me. If you are just going to laugh about my mother's assumption that we are together, I'll just take my pokemon and leave."
Waving at Ash with his one hand, Gary managed to support himself by putting his other hand on his left knee to keep himself upright. Gary managed to pull himself together for the moment. "Come on now Ashy boy, you gotta admit it is hilarious. I mean you and me together? If I were gay I could get a much better gay guy then you!" With that Gary ended up losing himself to laughter again.
"Gee, thanks a lot." Ash muttered not completely sure if he should be thankful or offended over Gary's statement. "If you are quite done?"
"Geez…take the stick out…Mew almighty you are seriously no fun." Gary managed to look mildly offended despite the shit eating grin still on his face. "You know you're fired right you can drop the diplomatic act."
Sighing in annoyance, Ash swore he was talking to a small child sometimes. "Gary, it is called a professional demeanor."
Waving off his friend, Gary just rolled his eyes at Ash's uptight attitude. "Yeah well you better lose it. You think the fans are going to get behind mister super serious business man or the Ash Ketchum they remember?"
"Seems to work just fine for Steven." A slight smirk crossed Ash's face. He knew without a doubt that his shot would send Gary off on a tangent.
"Yeah well A. He is a Champion and B. You don't have the certain cool factor to pull it off." Gary smirked and started towards the back to the lab.
"What do you mean cool! I'm cool!" Ash growled out before following after Gary.
Gary just chuckled. "Yeah nothing says cool like, "Hey girls I'm in the restaurant business." Please Ash, Steven has the whole reclusive billionaire thing going for him and his company is all about technology. Technology is hot, food not so much."
"Your confidence and support are much appreciated." Sarcasm lacing Ash's response, the young once CEO of Pallet House just kept from rolling his eyes.
"I know, I know. You deserve so much less from me Ashy boy, but someone has to keep you in line." Gary laughed aloud.
"What do you mean by that?" Ash muttered as he kept pace with the trainer turned gym leader turned researcher.
"Oh I don't know, Mister "I can't take your call right now Max I've got this contract" or "Oh sorry Brock I know we were going to meet up but I have this last minute meeting with the mayor of Pewter City." Of course my favorite is always. "Hey Dawn! Why yes I would love to catch up but I gotta catch a flight right now to Cinnabar, I swear I'll call back!" Gary's tone took on a slightly hard edge. "You know Ash, all those allowances you made for your job kinda alienated your friends. They stopped calling because you were always too damn busy for them. From what I hear no one even bothers anymore. They've just come to accept that they will see you on Christmas if you aren't too busy and gave up trying to do anything with you. Don't you find it strange I'm the ONLY PERSON YOU TALK TO OTHER THAN GRAMPS OR YOUR MOM!?"
Ash was slightly taken aback by Gary's diatribe that ended in him yelling. "Well…I guess I just didn't realize how…umm..well…" Now that he thought about it after Pallet House really took off, Ash really had not seen or heard from anyone. In fact the last person to call him had been Dawn and she seemed kinda down about something. As usual though he hadn't had time to get involved with whatever new crisis the girl had, had and threw out some excuse. "I guess you're right…but why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Gary threw his arms up in the air while a laugh came unbidden from his throat. "Are you kidding me!? What do you think I was trying to do by getting your ass out of the office? Jimmy god damn cricket, Ashy boy, you are unbelievably self-centered sometimes."
"Hey! I am not self-centered! I was just helping my mom out!" Ash defended himself.
"Oh please, you just do whatever you want without ever thinking of anyone else. You were just the same when it came to pokemon but at least you had a damn passion for that…or at least you used to." Sighing in annoyance, Gary put his arms behind his head. "Your self-centered nature about pokemon could be forgiven since you were always willing to be there for others. Once you "grew up" and gave up on your dreams you became a real dick. Maybe this wasn't a good idea."
Ash once more was a little shocked by Gary's words. Was it possible that he had been as bad as Gary said he was? He never really meant to hurt anyone's feelings he just figured everyone understood he was busy taking care of things in Pallet Town. "Am I really that terrible? Did I really drive them all away?"
A quick glare from Gary seemed to confirm it, if that didn't do it, Gary's words did next.
"Really Ash? Were you that absorbed in that little phone of yours the past three Christmas's at Dawn's? Anyone that tried to talk to you got waved off or shot down. Yeah you were there physically but you were still in Pallet Town as far as we were concerned." Huffing in annoyance at his friend, Gary let his friend further into the fields of Oak Ranch. "To be honest I'm glad your mom fired you."
"Yeah…" Ash trailed off lost in his thoughts. He was trying to remember the last conversation he had with anyone other than Gary. Sadly other than the occasional chat with Professor Oak or the normal banter with his mother he really was drawing a blank. The worst part was that Ash could remember each time he blew off one of his friends. Everyone had suffered because his propensity to become absorbed in his work. He had put everything into the company and unfortunately everything else had suffered.
"We're here." Gary called out to Ash. It had been some time and the two had fell into an uncomfortable silence in the meantime. This mainly consisted of Gary ruminating over being pissed off over Ash and Ash examining the past five or so years. So Ash was surprised by Gary suddenly speaking up.
"Huh?" Ash muttered unintelligibly.
"I said we're here." Gary paused before turning back to Ash. "Look, Ash, I know I kinda forced your hand on this but seriously your pokemon are kinda hyped about this. If you're not committed we gotta stop right now because it will break their spirit to see you half assing this."
"No…" Ash shook his head a little before a smile crossed his face. "I mean no, I'm good, let's do this. I guess I got some ungrowing up to do if I want to be a true pokemon master."
A smirk crossed Gary's face. "Now that's more like it. I don't expect a night and day change up but you better start getting excited because I did you the honor of putting together three teams for you."
"Why three?" Ash queried.
"Simple, Ashy boy." Gary raised his finger. "Your problem in every tournament is that you stick with the pokemon on you. Every now and again you'll change out one or two but mainly you stick with the pokemon you caught in that region. That is all well and good but using a three team system you mix up the pokemon from all the regions and some trainers may be thrown off by a pokemon they've never seen so they don't know how to react. Needless to say they freeze in a moment of indecision and you strike."
"Huh…why hadn't I ever thought of that?" Ash truly did wonder why he never tried a strategy like that. He couldn't lie, Gary actually had a pretty damn good idea there.
Laughing aloud, Gary pulled out six pokeballs from his pocket. "Cause I'm a mother fucking genius."
Throwing forth the pokeballs for team one, Gary cried out. "Alright Ash, meet Team 1!"
A moment later six pokemon took form consisting of Snorlax, Infernape, Sceptile, Heracross, Squirtle, and Donphan.
The pokemon were released with cries of their names. A moment later though they were happily crowded around their trainer, each vying for attention.
"Haha wow guys…look I'm sorry I've been gone. Once the others are out I will explain what is going on!" Ash laughed aloud once more.
With a nod Gary withdrew six more pokeballs. "Now for Team 2!"
Once released pokemon took the forms of Torterra, Oshawott, Pidgeot, Quilava, Glalie, and Gible.
And once more Ash was greeted and requested for the remaining pokemon to be released before explaining everything.
A slight smirk crossed Gary's face at this point. "Okay Ash and here is Team 3 some of your heavy hitters…and a certain pokemon that really…really hates being in a pokeball."
Ash's eyes widened suddenly. That sinking feeling was coming back full force.
"Oh yeah, glad you remember dumbass. This is going to be great." With a laugh Gary tossed the remaining six pokeballs he had in his pocket up into the air. "Come'on out team 3!"
A moment later six more forms materialized. First came Bulbasaur, then Totodile, followed by Staraptor, with Primeape right behind, Charizard with a roar, and finally Pikachu.
Ash started to back away immediately but unfortunately the movement just caught Charizard and Pikachu's attention. The two pokemon as if by unspoken agreement roared or cried in anger.
"PIKA PIKA CHU!"
Charizard's deafening roar followed before Ash was hit by a mix of lighting and fire from the two very pissed off pokemon. Charizard mostly on principle alone and Pikachu well he was pissed about being in the pokeball for the past few years.
The trainer fell over in a puff of smoke. "I deserved that." Ash managed to get out.
Laughing aloud once more over his friend's predicament, Gary shook his head in mock disappointment. "Remember actions have consequences. Isn't that what you told me when I invited you drinking that one night and you turned me down because you had and I quote "A real job with responsibilities that expects me to be on time." Ha!"
Ash managed to throw a glare at Gary before slowly sitting up and looked imploringly towards Pikachu. By far Pikachu was the one he had to win over. Charizard would happily comply with Ash's orders once he was informed of a new challenge. "Hey buddy…I know it's been a while. I'm really sorry I put you back in the ball…"
Pikachu for his part chittered away angrily before throwing what was easily discerned as the middle finger or Pikachu's best equivalent.
Rubbing the back of his head, Ash decided it was time for full on begging. "I'm sorry Pikachu I really am! You can hit me with as many thunderbolts as you like and I swear on my life I will never put you back in the ball. On my honor I am fully devoted to you guys and if I lie you can give me a full on thunder!"
Pikachu huffed in disbelief before turning his head away from his trainer. A clear signal that he was no longer interested in the words of his trainer, Pikachu closed his eyes.
"Come'on buddy! Look I'm a worm under your feet, please, please, please I'm sorry It has been so long. I swear we're in it together and forever I promise. We even got a new tournament that we're entered in. In fact that is why we're all here. We're gonna train and we're gonna win it. I swear I'm going to be a pokemon master but I need my entire team to do it!" Ash in an attempt to appease his little electric friend, threw himself onto the ground like a worm and started to crawl towards Pikachu.
"Now this is just sad." Gary muttered to himself. Charizard must have heard him because the giant fire dragon snorted flames out his nose in agreement.
"Please! Pikachu I swear all the ketchup in the house! No I'll do you better in the supermarket it yours. Come on buddy think about the offer. I will go right after our training session and buy every bottle in the store for you!" Ash was still worm crawling…or something towards the yellow rodent.
For his part Pikachu opened one eye and finally glanced at his trainer without fully turning his head. The little electric type seemed to be considering the proposal.
Ash knew he had the little guy the moment he opened one of his eyes. 'Now for the final nail.' Considering for a moment how manipulative he was, Ash shrugged it off. It was for the good of the team even if it was a low and dirty trick. "Come'on Pikachu…you know May will be at the tournament. If you go you can see her." Ash cringed a little at his half-truth. What he hadn't mentioned was that although Pikachu could seek May out, he on the other hand had no intentions of seeing her unless or until Dawn made him.
Gary's eyes lit up a little at the statement. A small smirk crossed his face. Excellent a way to get the two together this was exactly what the researcher had been hoping would happen. Gary had been counting on Pikachu's legendary stubborn streak and ability to hold a grudge to force Ash's hand and bring up May. "Great Ash! I'm sure Pikachu will be a welcome addition to the cast on Battler's Review. Not to mention I'm sure they'll eat up Pikachu in the ratings. He has a great personality…for a rodent."
Pikachu had started to look proudly at Gary and his trainer before a frown crossed his face at the last statement by Gary. The small electric type gave Gary a warning look while letting his electricity spark a little.
Gary held up his hands in a disarming manner. "Hey come on now I'm not the enemy I got you back to battling and you get to see May even earlier than you would have thought thanks to me! So really you should be thanking me!"
Growling a little, Ash leveled a glare at his best friend. "Really Gary, you are just too kind, please stop helping I don't want to go onto a talk show."
"Too late Ashy Boy! I already cleared it like I told you. You are going on Battler's Review a week before the tournament begins and part of the conditions for the interview was that you had to have Pikachu with you." Gary retorted. "Luckily Pikachu seems to be onboard since May is involved. How convenient!"
"You never told me! I found out because they brought it up on the show!" Ash was fuming at this point. "Hey wait a second! Are you saying you were the one to arrange it! BASTARD!"
"Now now…just because I didn't tell you personally isn't my fault. Barry told you and that is as good as me telling you!" Gary laughed at his comment before noticing Ash's blank stare at Barry's name. "Oh you are shitting me! Do not tell me you forgot who Barry is!"
Ash just stared blankly back at Gary. He tried to remember but he honestly couldn't place the guy. Sure the name sounded familiar but there were a ton of Barry's in the world. "Uh…nope not ringing a bell."
"Your rival in Sinnoh…" Gary ventured while placing his head in his right hand. "Come on I know you have nothing going on up there but seriously I talked to this kid for a good hour and all he could do was go on about you!"
"Uh….I remember Paul…and Dawn…" Ash ventured with a hopeful look that he was correct.
"Are you shitting me right now! You were in Sinnoh for a year and a half!" Gary threw his hands into the air. "How do you forget someone you knew for a year and a half! Would you have forgotten me if I wasn't constantly bothering you and you grew up with me?"
"Uh…" Ash responded with a shrug. "I guess I kinda forgot…you know I was only like fourteen when I was in Sinnoh. That was almost seven years ago."
"Unbelievable." Gary just pressed his head further into his hand. "You are just unbelievable."
"So…" Ash ventured. Pikachu had apparently forgiven Ash or was planning to exact his revenge later because the small rodent had finally made his way back to Ash's shoulder.
Sighing in defeat, Gary attempted to wave the oncoming headache away. "You are utterly hopeless. But I guess it is up to me to get you back to training shape. So let's see how much damage has been done by your time away. Pick a pokemon and let's have a practice battle."
"Alright! How about you Totodile you up for a little practice!" Ash called out.
"To To Dile!" The little pokemon waved it's hands in the air before jumping in front of Ash a large smile on it's face.
"Right…right well I'll even be nice and give you the type advantage. Let's go Arcanine!" With a casual toss of his pokeball, the giant lion dog pokemon appeared with a howl.
"Alright Totodile! Water gun!" Ash directed his pokemon.
"To!" With a quick inhale the big jaw pokemon let loose a blast of pressurized water.
"Dodge it." Gary called out. "Follow up wild charge!"
With casual elegance Arcanine jumped out of the way of the wall of water before he charged the smaller pokemon. Electricity started to dance across Arcanine's mane and before Ash could call out a counter the large lion dog crashed into the big jaw pokemon.
"To!" Totodile was flung away and ended up lying face down in the dirt some distance away.
"Totodile!" Ash cried out.
"Wow Ash…wow we really…" Before Gary could finish his sentence though, Totodile popped back up looking for the most part no worse for the wear.
"To!" The small croc pokemon seemed to finally be in the game now. After the wake up call the small water type was ready to go.
"Alright Totodile! Let's try a surf attack!" With a grin Ash could already see Gary's look of oh shit.
"Underground Arcanine!" With just enough time to spare Arcanine managed to get underground to avoid the worst of the wall of water.
"Crap!" Ash growled before looking over to see Gary's smirk. The pokemon research mockingly pointed towards the ground as if to help Ash to find his pokemon.
This unfortunately for Gary gave Ash an idea. "Keep your head pointed towards the ground Totodile!" Ash called out.
Cocking his head, Gary wondered what the hell he was up to. "Arcanine stay sharp but come up with a thunder fan lets finish it here and now!"
The ground beneath Totodile started to erupt.
"Now Totodile! Hydro pump! Right into the ground!" Ash called out.
Gary's face went white. Right as Arcanine exited the ground with a glowing thunder fang he was met by a stream of pressurized water. Totodile being light as he was, was blasted sky high and out of the range of the Thunder fang attack.
A moment later Totodile landed on the ground already dancing. Arcanine though was half out of the hole with swirls in his eyes.
"Come on ya big mutt get back here good job but so much for the regal lion dog." Gary muttered before recalling his pokemon.
"That was a great battle Gary!" Ash called out before running over to hug Totodile. "Good work buddy you showed him!"
"To! Dile!" The big jaw cried out happily.
"Well glad to see your unique style is still alive but we have some work to do yet. You froze there with that wild charge. If Totodile hadn't been able to hang tough you would have been out right off the bat." Gary commented. "The trainers are gonna be way tougher at the tournament."
With that the two started going over strategies and discussing further ways to use the team based approach that Gary had developed to really press Ash's advantage.
A/N: Hey guys hope this answers some questions.
Bronski: Hope this answers why Ash is only really in contact with Gary.
LittleMissMidnight: Thanks for the tip on chapter 2! I always appreciate the grammar assistance believe me! Glad you enjoyed the little phrase from chapter one about Ash going to kill Gary at his house as well. Hopefully I can throw in more random gems like that one.
LOL61: Hope that will give you a taste of the old gang. Mostly Pikachu thunderbolting Ash with Charizard burninating him for good measure.
Thanks to everyone else who reviewed! I am kinda honored that this story got as much interest as it did. Next chapter will be mainly May. We will also be time skipping to the start of the tournament. I want to start introducing the other characters and get the old gang back together. I am planning on this story being fairly short only around 100,000 words or so. Then again if you read The Burning Nightmare when it comes to my plans they are all lies and I am not to be trusted.