Ash's Team
Styx - Hydreigon
Hemlock - Morgrem
Bane - Zoroark
Mirae - Mytheon
Sagitta - Togekiss
Libra - Hakamo-o
Castor - Krokorok
Polaris - Greninja
Artemis - Houndoom
Orion - Alolan Ninetales
Ladon - Appletun
Wisteria - Galarian Ponyta
At Oak's
Nettle - Naganadel
'I should really have Styx with me…' Ash shuffled in place, nerves and a bit of fear practically pouring from his body. He hated himself, just a little, for that fear.
Inhaling deeply, he made himself take the first step down the hill. That was all that was needed to snag its attention.
Far at the edges of the ranch was a large cave that used to belong to a particularly territorial Rhyperior before she was sent to her trainer in Sinnoh. Hardly any of the Pokémon at the ranch knew the cave had been available before a new resident moved in. It was a covetable piece of land; a large cave mouth facing the rest of the ranch, a hill to make any approaching visitors visible, a tiny little pond for water.
Perfect for an interdimensional beast.
Glowing cyan eyes tracked his every careful step as he made his way down the hill. Ash kept his gaze down, figuring direct eye contact would come as a threat or a challenge.
The massive Naganadel had floated to the mouth of the cave, its metallic body still somewhat shadowed by the rocky overhang. It wasn't obvious, but its deadly needle was poised just-so in defense. But what was also obvious was the delicate bell wrapped around the bisection of its abdomen and thorax.
There was a certain calm, or maybe peacefulness to the UB's figure that hasn't been there before.
Finally making it down the hill, Ash hesitated for a moment before heading to the small pond, settling down on the edge furthest from Nettle. A distinct barrier between himself and his old friend. He couldn't cross it easily, but Nettle could. It put Ash in a particularly disadvantageous position if worse comes to worst.
He had his hands on his knees in his seated position and kept his eyes just to the left of Nettle's other-wordly ones.
"Hi Nettle." Toxic purple wings twitched but the UB made no move to approach or retreat so Ash kept going. "I hope being here has treated you well. I hope you've been able to find some peace here." He went silent for a few moments and looked out over the pond. He could feel holes being bored into the side of his head from Nettle's intense gaze.
"I just want you to know I'm sorry I frightened you, it was not my intention. I don't know if you remember me at all or if you feel some itch in the back of your mind when you look at me, but I know you and I miss you. But I'm not what you need right now, but I hope someday I am." Waiting a moment, foolishly, for something from his old partner, Ash bit the inside of his cheek and stood when nothing came. Nodding once in the UB's direction, Ash scaled the hill and left.
Ash rubbed the back of his neck just above the necklace and sighed, tilting his head back and closing his eyes. The warmth from the weak March sun was cut by the brisk breeze that rippled over the Ranch.
Pokémon from all regions gave him a wide berth. He recognized most and most recognized him as the crazy kid going toe-to-toe with Grimmsnarl and Skuntank years ago. There were naturally some new additions to the Pallet Town preserve, but they followed the status quo.
The irate Cacturne he successfully gained the respect of years ago reluctantly tipped her hat as he passed.
His solitary stroll was interrupted in the best way when Artemis barrelled into his leg in her excitement to see him. Her enthusiasm pushed away the remaining tightness in his chest as he knelt to scratch around her horns.
Maybe everything would work out.
He scoffed. 'Yeah right', things didn't tend to go his way often. He was pretty sure he'd used up any good karma he had when catching his teammates. He's hardly had any issues with the Chaos Types, at least, less issues than he expected. The big three he could think of were with Styx, Hemlock and Nettle, obviously. Castor had been stubborn, but he came around eventually.
Speak of the demons and they shall appear. Hemlock came running up to him, Castor just a few paces behind trying to trip up the Morgrem with small Stone Edges. Stumbling up to him, Hemlock tugged on Ash's pant leg, trying to get his attention even though Ash was staring at him in amusement.
The Morgrem excitedly pointed to his ears, though was interrupted when Castor barrelled into him, shoving him out of the way and pointing at his own eyes. The following hisses and growls reminded Ash of two toddlers arguing in a language only they knew. Ash shared an exasperated look with Artemis before interrupting.
"Guys." Ash's voice was quiet but firm, immediately restoring the two's compliance. "Now, what is it?" Both bore toothy grins and pointed to their respective body parts. It was then Ash realized what they were trying to show him.
Hemlock's ears were turning a rather putrid green color and had gained an even sharper edge. As for the Desert Croc, the black scales around his eyes had started to extend, his zygomatic bones morphing into an almost mask-like shape.
Ah.
Ash grinned, kneeling down and putting his hands on the two Pokémon's shoulders. "You two are getting close to evolution. I'm impressed. It usually takes a little over a year to evolve from middle stage into final stage evolutions. You two have been working very hard."
Now, Ash wasn't normally this earnest, but he was trying to be better for Nettle, and he figured the worst that could happen is getting a bit roughed up from his two troublemakers.
His new approach seemed to pay off, as both Pokémon puffed up their chests and bared their teeth. The Morgrem's upper canines were wiggling slightly, getting ready to fall out and allow the newer, larger fangs of his evolution to grow in.
Ash's smile turned sly as he looked upward in fake contemplation. "Now the only question is who will evolve first?" Castor and Hemlock froze for just a moment before shooting each other the most venom-filled glare Ash had seen from them since he caught the Krokorok.
Castor, of course, was the first to tackle Hemlock and start another spar. Laughing under his breath, Ash sat down with Artemis curling up beside him, sporadically calling out suggestions to his teammates as they fought.
It watched red-eyes-sad-eyes arrive for the fourth sunrise. Just like the other three sunrises, red-eyes-sad-eyes stared at it for a long moment before settling down on the edge of the pond, its too-soft-no-claw upper limbs holding a thick, papery object and its too-fragile-no-needle lower limbs tangled and crossed. The timid posture and distance put between them was deliberate, not too far and not too close.
Timid and not too close. Unlike when they first met, when all it knew was pain and fear.
But that wasn't right, was it? That wasn't when they first met... right?
Red-eyes-sad-eyes made something itch, made its wings twitch and its abdomen ache when it thought too hard about why this sad and fearful creature radiated familiarity. Why this sad and fearful creature radiated chaos so reminiscent of something, something dark and lightless and cosmic. It would draw it in, floating closer before its rational mind took over once more.
This human left remnants of its presence on trinkets, most specifically the bell looped between its abdomen and thorax that chimed so sweetly.
Sometimes the confusion threatened to drown it, not understanding where it was or why these creatures made it feel so much. Since it could remember, in what had seemed like unceasing moments, power flowed beneath its carapace, wild and violent and erratically uncontrollable. Moments of instinct and defensiveness and vulnerability. Moments where its mind would be overcome by a haze of fight-fight-FIGHT!
Those moments have calmed, though, with the help of the delicate bell. Though the wrinkled human rolled the trinket to it weeks ago, red-eyes-sad-eyes' color was all over it.
And just like the past three sunrises, it found itself creeping closer to the source of that color. That magnetic, chaotic, sad being. Each day the distance between them shrunk, bit by bit. Each chime of its bell reassured it and each sad glance its way relaxed it. Each time it felt a little bit fuller as the distance waned.
Nettle tucked its wings to the sides, metallic scales clinking together as they folded over each other. From the corner of its vision, red-eyes-sad-eyes stiffened, gripping its paper stack and holding as still as it could in an attempt to appear non threatening.
It knew better, but it also knew (hoped, trusted, believed) that red-eyes-sad-eyes wouldn't turn that threat towards it.
It.
Nettle.
Its name was Nettle.
Wings flattened, needle pointed away, abdomen tucked beneath its body, Nettle rested.
"You're happy here, aren't you."
Spoken words were a rarity during these peaceful mornings. Orange light cascaded over the meadows and streams and brightened Pallet. The dawning glow shined burnt umber on toxic scales beside him, mottling out the warning colors of a venomous predator.
Even with Ash staring down at the second chapter of Aura, Balance, and Natural Order by Dr. Fleur Fir, his attention was all directed to the UB.
Nettle twitched, the shock of the voice being drowned by the subtle chime of the Soothe Bell. Fluorescent eyes darted towards his slumped figure. Mandibles clacked absentmindedly as the beast tilted its head.
It was such a familiar motion. As a Poipole, Nettle had done it all the time. Innocent confusion and curiosity were obvious when it encountered something new. A Naganadel had no reason to do that motion when its brain was in its abdomen.
It was little habits and gestures like this that brought him tiny shreds of hope. Hope that Nettle isn't completely gone. Over these past four days Ash had seen more and more of these mannerisms that were so common as a Poipole.
Its needle quivering like its tail had when it saw a Pokémon dash by.
Its claws flexing unconsciously when it was relaxed.
The more pronounced way its body bobbed in the air right after waking up.
Ash had to bite his lip and look away every time he saw one of these quirks again. Nettle was so familiar but not, and the metaphorical distance between them had never felt so vast. Yet for every traitorous shiver of loss, Nettle would tilt its head and clack its mandibles, eyes looking so young.
The Naganadel quivered in response to his question, settling down on the bank and soaking up the light that was so unnatural to its homeworld. Closing eyes and a massive breath were answer enough.
Clenching his thumbs to stave off his frown, Ash forced a smile. "I'm leaving tomorrow. If-If you ever want to come ho-...come with me, find Oak, the man that gave you that." Ash gestured to the Soothe Bell.
Nettle had frozen when Ash spoke again, watching him with a tenseness around its eyes he hadn't seen before. His heart sank. 'They've only been reacquainted for four days. Of course it wouldn't leave its peace for you.'
Smiling in a way that looked like shattered glass, Ash nodded and stood slowly, closing the book with a snap.
"I love you, Nettle."
Blue eyes were locked on his form as he walked away.
"Ash!"
Nettle twitched, interrupted from its swirling thoughts and oddly heavy spirit. Mandibles clacked as it turned and cautiously flew up the hill, the familiarity of that word - that name - drawing it forward until it crested the hill that marked the edge of its territory.
Not too far away was its- the boy, speaking with two other similar creatures that looked like clones of the other. The clones had short brown fur on their heads and mist-colored eyes. One of the clones was gesturing wildly between the three of them, a fierce flat-fang-filled expression on its face.
It took a moment to realize red-eyes-sad-eyes was Ash. Like how it was called Nettle. The name slotted into place easily, like it had always been there.
Nettle blinked and flinched when bright flashes of light erupted from the clones' fingers. Two creatures emerged and the UB tensed, the wild energy within it rising in defense. But every tremble allowed a quiet chime to sound out, easing the aggression threatening to be unleashed.
The creatures were foreign to it, but then again many things were. The first was a tall avian with three heads and long, piercing beaks. Its legs were agile and built for speed.
The second creature was daunting, bulky, and sounded like crumbing mountains when it shifted. The massive horn on its nose spun furiously as it glared down at its- at Ash.
An odd, urgent feeling overcame Nettle, making it want to rush forward to do… something. That feeling fled as soon as it appeared when it noticed the lack of fear on Ash's face.
Nettle lowered itself to the hilltop, somehow knowing what was about to happen. From its trai- from Ash's side emerged a tiny form, one that was comically dwarfed by its two opponents. The equine had fur black as night and a mane and tail that was a direct antithesis; shining white with swirls of purple within it. The hatchling emanated waves of uncomfortable energy that made the poison within Nettle churn.
It waited for another flash of light, but instead Ash made a piercing high pitched sound from his lips that echoed over the area. Its sensitive hearing picked up a rhythmic pounding of paws on grass, a black blur racing through the field straight at Ash.
The two clones' faces paled with what tasted like panic, clutching each other and stumbling back. But the black blur came to a sudden stop right next to Ash, its large body seated and pressed flush against Ash's hip, looking up at him with what could only be adoration in its coal eyes. Just like Ash, this creature elicited an odd itching in its abdomen, like this scene was a recognizable one.
Red-eyes-sad-eyes morphed into Red-eyes-warm-eyes as he gently crouched down and scratched around the creature's horns. Coal-eyes thumped its arrow-tail on the ground and the small equine trotted over with a huff and planted itself against Ash's other leg. The trio pretended not to notice the two clones slowly unclenching their muscles and staring at the human and two creatures with something akin to bafflement.
The humans exchanged words Nettle couldn't make out, but led the two teams to put distance between them.
What followed made Nettle's heart race with either terror or exhilaration, it could not tell. The equine and canine faced off against the avian and mountain in what seemed like a clash clearly tipped in the clones' favor.
But with a critical eye Nettle has no memory of cultivating, it was able to spot the distinct differences in skill between the two teams. The equine was obviously a hatchling, but there was a grace and budding control to its movements, steps so light it appeared to glide as it dodged a cascade of stones.
Coal-eyes outclassed the three other creatures with a finesse that could be seen easily with Nettle's scrutinizing stare. There was a synchronicity between coal-eyes and red-eyes, one that caused the stones attached to both their chests to glow faintly.
At one point, Nettle had to shake its abdomen when it seemed to be predicting the actions of the clones' team. It didn't know how, but every subconscious shift of their muscles told Nettle a myriad of possible subsequent maneuvers.
This clairvoyance gradually evolved into Nettle unconsciously deciding how it would proceed; how a slash of air would trip the avian before a blast of draconic energy would slam into its chest. How intangible clones would split from Nettle's body as the mountain barrelled towards it, confusing the giant, allowing the UB to sink noxious liquid between the crevices of its plated armor, draining its strength with every step. How a gleaming needle, poised with metallic energy would aim true and strike smartly right between the chest and abdominal plate, taking it down for the count.
How the avian's speed meant nothing when Nettle could tag it with poison, a beacon in its mind, and then lay trap after trap to immobilize it.
Nettle's body was practically vibrating with the adrenaline and desire to fight. Fight but not kill. Battle for the victory but not the violence. To win and share the moment with Ash as the equine and coal-eyes were doing at this very moment; the avian and mountain returned to the spheres.
That moment was broken, a black hole replacing its spirit as Ash turned away.
The beast numbly backed away, claws holding each other tightly in numb self-comfort. Fearful of the confusion and blankness in its mind that clung to it every hour of every day. Leaving it so lost. So alone. Clacking its mandibles, it turned its head to the pond.
Blue-eyes-sad-eyes stared back.
"Hey, so uh, yeah what's with the, uh, Houndoom?" Liam's eyes kept darting away from Artemis every time he glanced over, like he was afraid to be burned just by looking at her. Luke wasn't much better, standing stock still to avoid attention. Said Houndoom was smiling dopily, chest heaving slightly and tongue hanging from between dagger-like teeth.
Ash chuckled, much to the twins' alarm and bafflement, and squeezed Artemis' face between his hands, wrinkling her snout as he gently shook her side to side. "What about her?" He was having too much fun with this. His spirits were high after the casual battle and having caught Nettle watching with rapt attention.
"He means why in the Nether do you have the most tabooed Pokémon in Kanto?" Luke cut in sharply, a harshness to his tone that made his brother and Ash blink in surprise. Luke seemed to realize what he just did and turned a look of utter distress in Ash's direction.
Scowling, Ash was ready to tear into him when he paused. Didn't change start here? Start small by changing a few minds? Taking a deep breath to smother the reflexive defense, he looked at the twins and stood up, keeping a hand on Artemis' head.
"I didn't go looking for her, if that's what you mean. I saved her as a Houndour from a gang in Unova that had been beating her half to death in a back alley." The twins flinched. "I left her at a Pokémon center where Nurse Joy said she'd probably be euthanized. I left for a few days and when I came back to check on her, Joy told me she escaped. She followed me for over a week, bonding with my Pokémon even as I refused to catch her. Things happened, and she ended up catching herself. She's saved my life once or twice and is the sweetest Pokémon on my team."
Artemis barked softly and pressed heavily against him, her weight almost making him lose balance.
Wisteria had been returned to her Ultra Ball, two seconds away from fainting after her first high level battle. She had been magnificent, albeit still headstrong. She was a 'charge first listen later' type of Pokémon, much like Orion. She had managed a particularly volatile Psybeam that had struck one of the Dodrio's heads, causing it to peck at its other two heads in confusion.
Artemis had had to split her attention to keep Wisteria in the battle, which coincidentally made it last much longer than it otherwise would have.
The battle did show Wisteria had a fantastic grasp on her current moveset. Oak had graciously allowed him to look through his collection of TMs and TRs, not having much use for them anymore. All the Professor had asked in return was to settle a territory dispute between a Donphan and a Tauros.
Ash could now add Zen Headbutt, Ice Punch, and Power Whip to his collection.
He'd get Wisteria started on Double Team first, Protect second, and either Swift or Charm third. These past few days at the ranch have been a good break, allowing his team to get acquainted with the land and surrounding area in case they had to be sent back for a little. Styx was already reclaiming her Alpha status, going after the few 'big bads' that lived on the ranch.
"I can't believe a Houndoom is the nicest on your team. You're telling me that Nether-spawn is friendlier than that Ponyta?" Luke's voice made Ash blink, forgetting the twins were there. Then he scowled.
"Don't call her that." Luke's hands flew up in a 'peace' gesture. Ash then thought for a moment and made a 'so-so' gesture with his hand before counting off his teammates. "Ladon is pretty chill, not so sweet- well, not sweet in the personality sense. Wisteria is as aggressive as Orion and Styx, Hemlock is a little shit, so is Castor. Libra and Polaris are rather calm, Mirae is a kleptomaniac, and Sagitta would watch the world burn with a smile. Bane's a mix."
There was a sudden slight twinge in Ash's chest and he refrained from rubbing it. His eyes darted to the East where he somehow knew his friend would appear. Their bond was weird and they were still figuring it out.
"Woah woah woah, how many Pokémon do you have?" Liam looked starstruck. Ash took a moment to focus.
"Twelve, although it'd be thirteen if I can convince Nettle to join."
"How do you decide which to leave at the lab? I have a team of six but want to catch one or two more." Luke rubbed his hands in a nervous gesture.
"Oh, I have an extension to carry 18 Pokémon."
"What? How?"
"What the shit?" The brothers spoke simultaneously, looks of shock and slight envy on their faces. "I thought only someone of high ranking could do that?" Liam practically whined.
Ash nodded casually and saw his teammate crest a hill and come sprinting towards him. A glint tore his attention away from Polaris to see Mirae gliding around with Sagitta high in the air. "Uh huh."
From one moment to the next, Polaris was beside his trainer, handing him his pack. Luke and Liam startled when the Greninja was suddenly there. Ash dug through it to find a Potion he could use on Wisteria.
"Woah, you have a Greninja?" Liam had stars in his eyes.
Deciding he was done with the conversation, Ash gave a half-hearted nod. "Yeah, anyway, I should go. See you around."
Leaving the two stunned twins behind him, Ash stuck his hands in his pockets and strolled away, Polaris walking with his arms crossed stoically and Artemis plastered to his side like always. When he was far enough, he released Wisteria and ignored her whining as he sprayed the Potion before shoving a sitrus berry between her teeth.
Deciding this was as good of a place as he'll find, Ash settled down and pulled out his notebook. Artemis plopped down beside him while Polaris leaned against a tree and crossed his arms behind his head. Wisteria flopping over and starting to roll and scratch her back in the grass, hooves flailing in the air.
Huffing a laugh, Ash reclined against the Kanto maple behind him to write. He was trying to decide what city to hit after defeating Surge. Celadon or Fuchsia? Koga had joined the Kanto Elite Four a couple years ago, leaving the Fuchsia Gym to his youngest daughter, Janine. While not as deadly as her father, her talent was obvious. Apparently his eldest daughter was still striving to qualify as a Gym Leader.
The trek to Fuchsia is long and arduous no matter which direction, and it offers incredible resources for training. However he would need that training before taking on full-strength Gym Leaders.
Mind made up, he planned his journey from Vermilion to Celadon to Fuschia. He'd fly on Styx to the seaside port town to rechallenge Surge and loop around Kanto after that.
Sighing, Ash leaned his head against the tree, closing his eyes and feeling the early spring breeze ruffle his hair. Artemis's warmth seeped into his leg and he let his fingers smooth the fur around her eyes. A smile slid onto his face when he heard Wisteria huff and Polaris start to scooch over. He counted down in his head and felt her plop against his side as soon as his mental timer ran out.
She was predictable, and while it was a disadvantage in battle, he was happy to let her keep it for a little while longer. As soon as she gained her Fairy typing upon evolving he'd miss this side of her. Wisteria had a long way to go before that, though.
For now, he soaked up this closeness with his Pokémon and allowed Pallet's unchanging calm to settle in.
At some point, Ash opened up his Pokédex to scroll through the news, his mind too busy to relax.
"Galar Rebuilds: Circhester's Hero's Baths first to be Restored [Posted 3 Minutes Ago]"
"Fiore Establishes Fall City as Region's Capital, Rangers Base of Operations [Posted 5 Days Ago]"
"This Day in History - Pokérus: How the Kalos Epidemic Lead to Attempted Genocide [Posted 10 Days Ago]"
"What to Know About the Mysterious Successive, Overnight Disappearances of Sinnoh's Great Lakes [Posted 2 Days Ago]"
"Kanto Battle Frontier Has New Handful of Hopefuls [Posted 8 Days Ago]"
"Deep Dive into the Galar Catastrophe: The Search for the Unnamed Trainers that Helped Champion Leon Win the Day [Posted 24 Hours Ago]"
"Months After his Death, Omen's List of Victims Continues to Grow [Posted 4 Days Ago]"
"Inside Look Into Paldea's Elite Four and Champion [Posted 18 Minutes Ago]"
"Aether Court Case Unveils Gruesome Research Findings, Unethical Reconstruction of Interdimensional Compounds [Posted 4 Days Ago]"
Grimacing at the rather bleak headlines, Ash clicked on Kanto Pokémon News.
"How This Trainer Helped a Hybrid, Tailless Slowpoke Evolve"
"This Day in Science - Venomoth Scales Found to Reverse Tau Protein Buildup in Brain"
"Why Pichu Evolutionary Line are the Only Pokémon to Vocalize Species Name"
"Annual Butterfree Mating Ritual to Take Place at Maiden's Peak"
"Chansey Evolved Under Poor Conditions Lead to Reduced Egg Potency"
"Mass Girafarig Migration Heading Towards Route 3"
"Champion Lance to Give Speech on Pokémon Discrimination on Anniversary of Rocket Defeat"
The last headline made Ash hum under his breath, his scarred eyebrow quirking in interest. He would have clicked on the article if it wasn't for a spark in the back of his mind appearing and gaining strength.
Seconds before someone Teleported in, Polaris and Artemis tensed up. Fern, Oak's Exeggutor plopped down immediately to soak up the sun's early spring rays. Oak had a clipboard in his hands with a thick stack of papers attached. Striding towards Ash, Oak paused for a moment to let Wisteria whinny aggressively at him before he finished his approach.
Unceremoniously, the Professor sat down in the grass a few feet away, unheeding of the potential dirt and grass stains. Ash tilted his head in question as Wisteria settled back down and Artemis sleepily huffed. Polaris stared silently at the old man with pinkish-red eyes.
"I've compiled the measurements and other results from the check ups I have done on your Pokémon. I figured we can chat about it here as opposed to inside a stuffy lab." Ash nodded gratefully to the Professor.
A few days ago, he and his team had reluctantly allowed Oak to get some scans of his Pokémon. Ash had a large number of rare or one-of-a-kind Pokémon that made Oak's researcher heart sing. There was also paperwork to send in to the League about some of his more… controversial members; i.e. Styx, Mirae, Artemis, Polaris, and Nettle.
"Let's start with Nettle. I've been collaborating with Professor Burnet and upon her suggestion I brought a portable X-ray to its territory. That Soothe Bell you sent has been doing wonders. We already chatted about how its brain is in its abdomen now, but I also wanted to go over its poison reserves and defenses.
"As we know, Naganadel is a Poison and Dragon type, and its scales offer adequate defense. There is a higher thickness on its abdomen to protect both its brain and the poison stores. Its poison reserves seem to be higher than most Poison type Pokémon. I am working with Professor Rowan to figure out why Nettle gained wings upon evolving when it was perfectly able to use electromagnetism as a Poipole. As of right now, Nettle is an exact 13 feet long with a wingspan of equal length. I'm in the final stages of getting Nettle's potential use in Leagues cleared."
Oak handed Ash the copy of the report before proceeding on to the next one.
"Styx is the largest Hydreigon ever recorded. Of the three that existed, they ranged from 5'11" to 6'4". Styx, at the moment, is 9'04", an absolutely astounding difference. Her two accessory heads are surprisingly developed, able to work independently from the primary brain. Her primary frontal lobe is shockingly developed and her lateral longitudinal fasciculus tract is far less developed, which decreases her affective aggression." Ash can't imagine her aggression being worse.
"Hemlock is also quite large for his species. The average height of Morgrem is around 2'07", while Hemlock is 4'06". As you know, he is nearing evolution, and you have been increasing his biotin, magnesium, calcium, and iron in preparation for putting on pounds of thick hair. The secondary motor area, responsible for the control of his hair, is larger than other Morgrem. This will carry over into his evolved form and give him great control.
"Bane has incredible command of his illusions, his budding abilities to create sound and mimic human speech are astounding. I attribute this to his practice holding illusions for long periods as well as your training in meditation. His medial temporal lobe, specifically the area involved in declarative memory, is larger than others in his species. He is also taller than average, standing at 6'04" compared to the average 5'03".
"Bill has shared all the research on Mirae, and I have nothing to add other than he has grown two inches since Bill was in Kalos, now standing at 3'10".
"We are seeing a pattern in your teammates' sizes. Sagitta is 5'11" compared to the average 4'11", making her able to carry lighter people and Pokémon. While her bones are still hollow like most Flying types, she does have a surprising density to them that has in turn made her wings far stronger than most Togekiss. Her lactic acid threshold is incredible if I do say so.
"Unsurprisingly, Libra is twice the size of a normal Hakamo-o. She has even grown since being caught by you! When you caught her she was 6'04", but she's now 7'01" and I think she's still growing. It's to my understanding she is rather young for a middle-stage Pseudo-Legend, only about six years old. Practically a teenager. She is a bit heavier than expected for her height, I believe her scales are thicker from the supplements you've given her.
"Artemis, the gem, is impressive. I was a bit uncertain about the embedded Mega Stone, but it doesn't seem to be causing any discomfort. She runs hotter than most Houndoom, proving her internal fire is very strong. Her flames are turning orange as opposed to red, showing an increase in temperature. There are also wisps of icy blue in her flames from arsine gas as her poison control gets better. She is a doberman breed with some great dane in her, which might explain her size. Most doberman Houndoom are 4'07" but Artemis is 5'03".
"Castor is also nearing evolution, his pigmentation has started to gain some red coloration. He has a surprising water-resistance due to his scale control. I believe his Anger Point ability and the increased testosterone can be attributed to his size of 4'01" when the average is 3'03". His amygdala is a bit larger, but that's normal in Pokémon with Anger Point, Moxie, and Sheer Force."
Oak paused for a moment, staring at his next packet of papers. Pursing his lips he took the stack and put them off to the side.
"I'm going to save Polaris's report for the end."
Ash shifted uneasily, worry settling into his gut. That didn't sound good, and he prayed to Mew that nothing was wrong with Polaris. Even so, he rested a hand against the Greninja's slimy arm, eliciting a soft hum from the frog.
"Moving on, Orion is a beautiful example that Fairy types aren't their stereotype. I got a couple new bite marks after working with him." Ash didn't even pretend to look sorry. "I was concerned when I learned he had evolved at only six months old, but it doesn't seem to have stunted his growth at all. In fact, he has surpassed the average height of Alolan Ninetales by a few inches, standing at 4'01". I suspect he will continue to grow. His body temperature is also lower than normal, which tells me his control over ice is extremely well trained. I do believe the trauma he suffered has made him more reactive, but no interventions are needed yet.
"Your Appletun is a joy to work with, although his teeth are rather sharp… anyway, he's enormous. You knew this. He's over three feet taller than the average Appletun. He's even grown an inch since you caught him, putting him at 4'10". Testing the flesh on his back, it's actually approaching inedible. The toughness is astoundingly high, I might credit this to the common use of Gyro Ball and Iron Defense. His metabolic rate is higher than average, so he's going to need more calories to upkeep his aroma.
"Your Ponyta is an interesting case. She seems to have some remnant Ghost DNA. I can't begin to guess who her sire was, but he must have been powerful to be able to pass down Shadow Sneak to a Psychic type as an egg move. She has developed the medial locus fasciculus which connects the intraparietal sulcus with the occipital lobe. This white matter tract is present in all Teleport-capable species. While you were correct she is a draft breed, a mix of shire and clydesdale, she also has a bit of friesian in her. Right now she's still a foal, and thus only stands 2'11", the average is 3'03". She has great potential."
Professor Oak took off his glasses and began polishing them on his shirt as Ash looked through the many many pages of his teammates' reports. "It is quite the coincidence all your Pokémon, bar the baby, are larger than average." At this he gave Ash a curious look he couldn't begin to interpret.
He had thought about that as well. He had large teammates. But the thing was, they weren't caught like that, except for Ladon and Libra. They hit major growth spurts only after they came into his care. He'd like to attribute it to their diets and training, but some were considered full grown and yet…
Professor Oak finally picked up the thickest stack of the bunch. At this point, Polaris was sitting up, more attentive and unconsciously mirroring Ash's own posture.
"Polaris is… fascinating. Professor Sycamore, Rowan, and I have been pouring over his test results. When he was a Frogadier, he was on track to be average height for a Greninja at 4'11". However… he seems to be your exact height at almost 5'09". We are unsure what exactly this means, or what happens when he is called into battle. It appears to be some sort of automatic Mega Evolution.
"After the readings we got from you two battling Bane, they show your heart rates, brain activity, and epinephrine levels sync during battle. When he gets injured, the pain centers of your brain fire in the exact same locations. The two of you bond on a… deeper level. Though it doesn't seem like it needs the same 'close bond' as Mega Evolution, which is odd. Not saying you're not close!" Oak backtracked at Ash and Polaris' matching looks of offense. "We're not sure how to describe it yet. He is definitely stronger than other Greninja when you two are synced. We also can't explain the odd double vision you both seem to share. Normally, this would cause major issues, such as confusion and migraines. However, your reflexes seem to improve in this bonded state."
Ash was frowning in concentration as he flipped through the graphs and images in the report. He and Polaris had been connected to electrodes that sent data wirelessly to Professor Oak's high tech server. The sensors collected general biostatistics alongside pain readings and active areas of the brain. Pain was detected using functional near infrared spectroscopy. The same areas of the brain lit up in both Polaris and Ash's brains when either were injured.
That was another thing, it was 100% mutual. Orion had bitten Ash's hand while he had been bonded with Polaris and both had flinched and held their hands.
What was interesting was that Professor Oak also did a modified PET scan on both and saw their dopamine levels were spiked in their medial preoptic area when they were in sync. Oak, as the leading expert in human-Pokémon relationships, was quick to realize that was the main neurotransmitter and area involved in bonding.
Thus, Polaris and Ash's quirk was dubbed the Bond Phenomena. Internally, Ash was calling it the Battle Bond because it only happened during battle. Oak thought it had something to do with adrenaline levels. The man had also sent some DNA to his colleague that had discovered Nettle's potential Dragon typing before it evolved.
"Luckily, there doesn't seem to be any major consequences to the phenomena besides mental, emotional, and physical fatigue, but already you both are adapting to the added strain. While it is similar to Mega Evolution, it's more than surface level. We might even see Polaris start to permanently look like his bonded form."
The knot that was holding Ash's stomach hostage finally released. He had been so worried there was going to be a negative impact on Polaris with this kind of bond. The Greninja responded to his relief by pressing his shoulder against Ash's.
While Ash could get a general idea of what his Pokémon were thinking or saying, he had a much more profound understanding of Polaris's emotions. It was like he could feel them as his own, just dialed down.
The Battle Bond was already bleeding into their everyday lives.
How would Ash's… connection with Yveltal and Zacian affect Polaris?
Ash really didn't know how this would shape his life, having a teammate so intertwined with his emotions, emotions he had only started to acknowledge. He knew Polaris could sense his reticence, and he hated how he could feel the frog's own hurt in response.
He had to be better for Polaris. Ash would stop being a trainer before he allowed Polaris to take the burden of his past.
And with that thought, he knew what he had to do.
The walk through Pallet would have been serene had his destination been anywhere else.
His feet kicked up dust with how he was dragging them along the gravel road, hesitation in every step. Hands shoved deep in pockets, Ash stopped and glared distrustfully at the modest two-story house.
It wasn't immediately obvious, but there were signs of neglect. The weeds in the garden were getting a bit too long, the paint on the shutters had crevices running through them, threatening to peel. Branches and leaves were hanging from the gutters, some Pidgey nests making the roof their home.
To him it was glaring that no one had lived in this house for months.
Where had Delia Hill run off to?
Scowling and grinding the toe of his shoe into the dirt, Ash huffed and forced himself to stalk up the walkway and open the unlocked door.
The house was dark, even at midday. If it wasn't for the layer of dust covering the floors and furniture, it looked as if someone would come home at any moment. Magazines were on the coffee table, a pair of slippers by the door, clean dishes long dry beside the sink.
It was eerie, seeing his… house like this.
He wondered if he should be more concerned about where his mother went.
Shaking his head, Ash walked in and up the stairs, his hand hovering over the dusty banister. Stepping into the doorway of his room, he took a moment to scan it. It was just as he left it.
Rummaging through his dresser, he held up different articles of clothing. It was a shock to realize they wouldn't fit. He had grown over two inches while he had been away and his shoulders had grown broader.
Two-thirds of his clothing was thrown into a donation pile. The remaining things, like socks, gloves, and some shirts were folded and put in his pack.
Ash took a deep breath in, fighting a sneeze, before exhaling slowly, mimicking the morning he left for his journey. At least back then he'd had a fiery Zweilous with him to disrupt the echoing silence.
This house…
It wasn't a home.
Mind made up, Ash got to work.
For the next few hours, Ash emptied his room. A majority of his things he moved to the curb to be picked up by a donation truck. Some knickknacks were stowed away in his bag, while the rest were tossed.
He stood in his doorway, his room now looking like an impersonal guest room. A dresser, a desk, a stripped bed, and a side table were all that was left.
A weight fell from his shoulders.
This was a step towards closure. Painful, but the wound was starting to close, constricting the flow of tumultuous negative emotions that battered Polaris through their bond.
This hurt, but he'd do it for his family. His real family.
Ash sighed and turned to leave, before stopping and eying Delia's room. He pursed his lips and approached, the door squeaking as he pushed it open.
Her room was the same, dust everywhere. Ash took a faltering lap around the room, fingers brushing against perfume bottles, pillows, and painting frames. Her closet had very few outfits hanging within, some skirts, a pantsuit, and the kimono she would wear to Oak's annual party.
Unable to stop himself, Ash dragged his fingers along the light green fabric. It brought a sense of nostalgia, remembering the time his mother had gently shown him how to tie his own piece of formal wear. The party had been fun, Ash actually interacting with a few of the local children; Gary being chief among them. It had been that horribly confusing in-between time before Oak's lab had become his safe haven, but after his mother had pulled away.
But the day of that party, she had knelt down in his room, helping him into the brand new red yukata, carefully tying it around his waist and tapping him on his nose with her finger.
He had thought she had forgiven him for whatever he'd done to drive her away.
Ash glowered and curled his fingers into a fist, something stiff crinkling beneath his fingers.
Frowning, Ash took the article off the hanger and placed it on the bed, hands searching. In the sleeve there was a small pocket and when Ash withdrew his fingers, he saw a tiny polaroid had been hidden inside. In black ink, the date 03/14/XXXX was written on it.
His breath stuttered in his chest when he flipped it over.
In a messy white hospital bed, Delia had bags under her eyes, sweaty strands of hair falling from her Ponyta-tail and into her pallid face. Mouth agape, her amber eyes were wide as she stared at the bundle in her arms, her gentle, almost reverent grip a peculiar display.
The baby's eyes were closed in the picture, a tuft of black hair atop his head. He was swaddled in a gray blanket and tucked securely against Delia's chest.
His eyes roved over the background of the picture; no lights on in the hospital room, machinery dead and dark, and even the picture itself was grainy and blurry. It was a moment before his eyes were drawn to the mirror somewhat blurred in the background.
Set in gold armor, glowing red eyes were locked onto Ash's small, vulnerable form with single minded focus.
The picture felt heavy in his pocket as Ash took another revive from Oak's outstretched hand, packing it away in his bag. Styx was impatiently growling from his side, ready to be off. Ignoring her, Ash returned the remainder of his teammates, bar Sagitta, and clipped the Pokéballs to his belt. He made a mental note to get some sort of accessory to hold a few more Pokéballs since his belt only has 12 slots.
He was trying to avoid meeting Oak's eyes as long as possible, disliking the heavy feeling in his chest as the time to depart grew nearer. He kept adjusting and readjusting the straps on his backpack.
Ash must not have been as subtle as he would like with his fiddling because two warm hands fell on his shoulders, stopping his movements.
The Murkrows feet around Oak's eyes have multiplied, he idly noticed.
Samuel Oak smiled softly at the young man, lightly squeezing his shoulders. "Take care, Ashton. Train hard, explore wildly, and laugh freely. Know you can always call."
Nodding stiffly, Ash blurted, "And if Nettle comes to you-"
"They'll be sent over faster than you can say 'Transport'." Squeezing his shoulders one last time, Oak took a step back, pride sparking in his eyes. Ash sighed slowly before turning towards Styx. She huffed in a way that screamed 'finally' and lowered her body in preparation.
Ash grabbed a fistful of her feathers but froze. Oak opened his mouth, a question forming in his throat before a weight crashed into him, clamping around his waist.
"Thank you."
Quick as a flash, the teenager had hopped on his Dragon and taken to the air, not sticking around to see a teardrop fall from the old Professor's eye.
As Styx started flying due east, Ash took a calming breath. He had lay awake the night before, his thoughts matching his actions and tossing and turning. A midnight call to Grimsley had softened his angry thoughts. The momentary dip in self-worth was cast to the side.
It was not his fault Delia was distant. It was not his fault she was a bad mother. It was not his fault she didn't care anymore.
Samuel Oak had been there to fill the space left by her, and he'd done what he could to be what Ash needed. It took Ash traveling half the world to see it, but he saw it. Oak needed to know that.
Scrubbing his face, Ash let his shoulders relax. Sagitta was swooping and spinning through the air beside them, diving in front of Styx's faces and riling her up until one of the smaller heads got a mouth full of white feathers.
Chuckling to himself, Ash smoothed the crest around Styx's necks, calming her agitation. One of the heads tilted back to flick his wrist with its tongue.
The air was cool, but not overly so. It was nearing the end of March after his weeklong stay in Pallet. It was now March 25 and he was officially restarting his Kanto Gym Run. He had until December 1st to collect the remaining six badges and catch 2-3 more teammates.
The flight to Vermilion would only take a couple hours, and after that he would refrain from using Styx to get from place to place. The trek from Celadon to Fuschia alone would take almost a month, but he'd need that time to work with his team on poison immunity.
In what seemed like no time, Styx and Sagitta were diving towards the ground. Ash was given no warning and had to scramble to hang on to his Dragon's neck. Styx landed with a thud, the dirt ground of Route 6 breaking slightly beneath her bulk. The Togekiss didn't even land, just swooped back up into a vertical climb.
Ash let her be. This would be a chance for her to practice Psychic trying to find his obscured mind in a big city.
Tilting his head forward, he pressed against Styx's main snout, feeling her humid exhales against his skin. She roughly nuzzled him, no doubt leaving red irritation from her scales all up the side of his face.
"I'll get you a good battle soon okay?" The giant Hydreigon growled smugly, nuzzling him harder until he had to stumble back. One of her smaller heads darted out to clamp his jacket in razor-sharp teeth, amusement dancing in all six fuschia eyes.
Smiling fondly, Ash scratched the jaw of the secondary head, not even caring about the new holes in his clothing.
Styx finally allowed herself to be returned with a final nudge to Ash's chest.
Taking a bracing breath, Ash stalked towards the police outpost, fingers clenching the fabric of his pants from within his pockets. He hated the way his heart pounded in his chest, how he felt sweat break out on his hairline, how Zacian's 'gift' suddenly felt suffocating.
Clearing his throat, he stepped up and handed his Pokédex to the expectant officer. The officer looked over the top of the dex. "Reason for visit?"
"I'm Professor's Oak's sponsored trainer, I'm here to get the badge." Ash kept his words clipped, but direct. The officer clicked through his dex and made a note on their tablet before handing the dex back.
"Be careful, Mr. Ketchum."
Ash blinked, but inclined his head before racing past. He worked his jaw in slight confusion as he entered the busy mid-morning rush of the port city.
That went… well?
As he wove through people, he felt the worry drain from him. No one spared him a glance, no glares, no mistrust. He was able to make it to the Pokémon center without issue.
An unfamiliar nurse was manning the front desk and checked him in for two nights. Dropping some of his things off in the room, Ash wasted no time and headed for the gym.
As confident as he was, he felt it waver with some embarrassment mixed in as he approached the Vermilion City Gym. His last attempt here had been… bad. Hemlock, as an Impidimp, had been uncontrollable. Ash had forfeited, and vowed to come back when he could better handle his Pokémon.
So as he stood once more before the massive structure, nine months later and changed beyond belief, his red eyes narrowed in determination.
He was more than ready.
Growth for Ash! Another somewhat transitional/informational chapter, enjoy it while you can - Kanto is going to be full.
The swing between Ash and Nettle's POVs was a little clunky, but I wanted to show Nettle's perspective.
Chapter 45 will kick off with a battle