Ash's Team
Styx - Hydreigon
Hemlock - Morgrem
Bane - Zoroark
Mirae - Mytheon
Sagitta - Togekiss
Libra - Hakamo-o
Nettle - Poipole
Castor - Krokorok
Polaris - Frogadier
Artemis - Houndoom
Orion - Alolan Ninetales
Crimson eyes read the assorted headlines with a mixture of amusement and embarrassment. Serena was laughing over his shoulder, pointing to the last one and unable to speak through her wheezing.
Scattered on the table in front of Ash and held in his hands were printed articles and photographs - all about the two of them.
"Prince and Princess: Power Couple on the Battlefield!"
"Has our Kalos Princess found her Prince?"
"Serena Yvonne and Ashton Ketchum: Kalos Couple of the Year!"
"Ambrette Amour! Love by the Sea!"
"Passion in Frost Cavern: Capturing Hearts!"
Ash groaned, making Serena just laugh more, almost losing her grip on the chair holding her up.
"It's- oh my Xerneas, they're so bad!" She was dying, hands on her knees.
"You seriously printed these out just to be mean." Ash really couldn't be too upset about it, he was glad Serena was laughing instead of the awkward discomfort they had started with all those weeks ago.
He lowered the folder, glanced around the Pokémon center as he tried to put words to the guilt churning in his gut.
Ash knew he had been selfish, knew that Palermo's offer had persuaded him despite Serena's discomfort. Despite how he knew Serena's childhood stayed with her.
But he… he had no idea how to accomplish his goal - how to change the ULA's mind about Darks and Dragons. Ash knew it was an uphill battle because it wasn't just about showcasing his Pokémon in a good light. That was… well, not easy but his Pokémon were wonderful so he wasn't worried.
It was Ash that had to be showcased in a good light.
He wasn't blind. Ash knew how he was, what he was.
Palermo convinced him to use Serena. Sure, he was going to turn the woman down, but she had still convinced him. And Serena knew that.
How could he ever apologize for that?
"Serena, I…" He tried, he did, but the words didn't come.
He watched as the skin around her eyes tightened, as her smile wavered and tugged down at the corners. He also watched as she physically shook herself, her smile widening to an uncomfortable degree.
"No big deal. There are worse people to fake-date than your childhood best friend."
Ash could see in real time what was happening. Serena was suppressing what she really wanted to say, always putting herself second.
"Childhood only friend." The two shared half self-deprecating, half fake smiles. Ash warred with himself for a few moments. "I missed your kindness." It hurt to say that, knowing it shared too much. But he was trying.
Serena got it. She smiled encouragingly, some of the tightness smoothing out. "Hey, from how often Grimsley, Hau, and Plumeria called you, I think you've got more kindness coming your way." Hesitating, she bit her cheek. "I hope you are able to open up more, someday. That you feel safe to do so."
Ash smothered the urge to scowl. Smothered the urge to feel like she was judging how little progress he's made compared to her. He knew that wasn't what she was saying, Serena wasn't like that. But…
"I need to get to the airport."
He didn't look to see what expression she wore, instead stashing the printed articles back into their folder and stowing it away in his pack. They were silent as they walked across the city, but Ash felt something prickling along his spine.
They walked past snow-covered pines in dark forests, and he could swear he saw flashes of green moving alongside him. The shadow of a canine. Rippling scales of black and emerald. A pulse of red.
Oh, Artemis's friend was back.
He spared the verdant canine a wave, its body glitching and rippling even as it continued to stalk his steps from the shadows of the forest.
Ash expanded his senses, 'seeing' the spark of light that was the canine. He saw the others, the weak worm-like creatures in the trees whose numbers just kept growing. They kept to the wilds, skirting the edges of cities and towns.
But all the while their numbers grew.
There was something in his heart, his core, that spoke of more.
You can't hide from Fate
It will worm its way into your soul
It will hound your steps
It will snake and wind around your throat
Until it melds and molds and appears as human as you
For Fate is you and Order will be upheld
He stared with wide eyes at the city around him.
Motostoke was enormous, all red brick and billowing plumes. The birthplace of the industrial revolution was obviously very proud of that label. And while fuel and energy has become clean and reliable, Motostoke still released clouds of water vapor just to keep with the theme.
The entire city was built on two tiers, gears and platforms constantly moving between the upper and lower levels. Honestly the place looked more like a museum than a city.
His plane had landed on the upper tier and from where he was currently standing, he could see the lower level sprawled out below him. Ash shrugged out of his thick jacket, the rising steam from the many factories keeping the city at a much warmer temperature.
Galar was situated directly north of Kalos, so unfortunately it would be much, much colder here. Ash groaned at the thought of finding an Applin, a Grass and Dragon type, in the middle of winter. He'd probably have to set up camp for a few days and have Artemis use Sunny Day to lure one out.
Finding a Tart Apple should be the easy part.
Ash stretched his arms above his head before releasing Sagitta to fly overhead. She nipped rather harshly at his hair before becoming a tiny speck in the sky. Ash started walking towards the center of the city trying to find a Pokémon center. The flight hadn't been long and he was in the same time zone, so it was only mid afternoon. The people here wore much more casual clothing compared to Kalos; thick sweaters for warmth rather than style, Wooloo fur-lined leggings and hats, large chunky boots allowing easier snow travel.
As he passed boutique after boutique, he figured he'd need some warmer clothes before he left Motostoke. He was looking forward to camping again after being in a Pokémon center for almost two weeks. But tonight he'd stay in the city and set out early the following morning.
He quickly found the center and walked in, trusting Sagitta to mostly stay out of trouble. He saw Nurse Joy and her Indeedee waiting behind the counter. "Good afternoon! How may I help you?"
Ash walked up and took out his Pokédex. "Can I have a room for one night? Also, I have some teammates who are recovering from a rough battle. Would it be beneficial to put them in a healing pod to speed up the recovery?"
The nurse took his Pokédex and typed in the computer as she thought. "If they've already been treated, I think time and rest will do."
Ash nodded. "One of my partners lost a lot of her scales and the doctors told me to give her plenty of protein and β-keratin supplements, do you have any other recommendations?"
Joy handed back his Pokédex and a card key. "She's going to need a much higher caloric intake as she heals."
Groaning, he pocketed his dex and key. Libra already ate like a Snorlax, he'd have to have Bane bring something back for her from his hunt. He thanked the nurse and headed up to his room to drop off some of his things.
While he was here he was going to register for the World Coronation Series just so he could have a global placing number and a class rank. He could have registered in any region, but he wanted to train up a little first.
The World Coronation Series was a global ranking system to determine the Masters Eight. It wasn't just limited to the United League Association.
Depending on your ranking, various jobs opened up, similar to League placements. Normal Class included trainers ranked between 1,000 and 2,000. Any trainer ranked lower was Unranked. Normal Class trainers were available for one-off jobs for which Gym Leaders or Gym Trainers didn't have the bandwidth. Depending on their successes, trainers could get jobs with the League or privately hired by businesses.
Great Class included any trainer ranked between 100 and 999. These trainers were considered Gym Trainer level, and could be picked up by the League as Ace Trainers, by Gym Leaders as Gym Trainers, or by the Ranger Corps as Rangers,
Ultra Class were elite trainers, many, many of them Masters. The top 99 battlers in the world were always employed by the League, trainers of that caliber being an individual infantry. Gym Leaders were expected to hold these spots, taking up almost 70%, though some were trailing behind. The League allowed some Gyms and territories to be led by Great Class trainers, though it was rare.
Then there was the Master Class. If a trainer makes it to the Masters Eight, they will automatically be awarded a Mastery, but that has never happened. It's never happened because any trainer who has ever made it to the Master Class has already been a Master. The Masters Eight were the best of the best, and typically the spots were juggled between many Masters.
The most recent Masters Eight Tournament renewed some of the rankings. Unchanging for the last five years, Leon Dante was the strongest trainer in the world. He was Galar's sweetheart, having been discovered by Macro Cosmos CEO Winston Rose, the current Chairman of the Galarian National League. Leon achieved a Species Mastery quicker than anyone else. His Charizard has defeated Lance's, his Dragapult defeated Agatha's, his Gallade defeated Sabrina's, and so on.
Second was Champion Cynthia, unsurprisingly. She was the closest to ever taking down Leon's Charizard. She was the closest to ever making him fear. She also held a Species Mastery, and her Garchomp was a terrifying beast that made even Ice types run. The rest of her team was just as formidable, balancing strengths and each having a specific role to fill. Ash has heard horror stories of her Spiritomb, the only one in existence.
Ash considered reaching out to her and talking about the experience of training a one-of-a-kind Pokémon.
Third was Lance. Ash rolled his eyes unconsciously, his dislike of the Kanto and Johto Champion more a habit at this point. The man had been a shocking presence in his life, checking in on him often, oddly enough. Ash figured it was because of his Dragon affinity. The Tempest trainer has dominated the skies, has bled them dry of any secrets and made them his own. Cynthia's Garchomp might be a beast, but Lance's Dragonite was the fastest Pokémon in the Masters Eight.
Fourth was Champion Steven Stone. As a Geo Trainer, his Steel and Rock types made him an absolute pain to take down, and his alternately colored Metagross was practically unbeatable. Almost half his team was made up of Fossil Pokémon, and they were ruthless. For such a terrifying foe to face, he was surprisingly calm when Ash met him.
Fifth was Elite Agatha. Ash was pretty sure the only reason she wasn't #1 was because she didn't have the time or energy to put towards the effort. She was a Noxious Trainer, focusing on Ghosts and Poison types, a particularly cunning and merciless combination. Her starter was a Gastly, a Ghost known for its difficulty to train.
Sixth was Champion Diantha. While Ash remembered their battle with fire, it was doused by the Champion's befuddling demeanor. Evenso, she was known for her ingenious strategies. Being a Fantasy Trainer, one with so diametrically opposing types, she had to be flexible. She had infinite strategies for any scenario, but she tended to lack the overwhelming power most Champions could dish out.
Seventh was The Masked Royal, who Ash knew to be Professor Kukui after seeing his team at the lab. He wasn't sure why the World Coronation Series allowed him to hide his identity, along with the Alolan National League, but it did garner a lot of PR. After Ash had figured it out, he had looked up past battles. Knowing Kukui didn't have a specialty Mastery didn't diminish his battle prowess. His Venusaur alone…
Eighth was a woman not even part of the ULA, but was the Champion of her own National League; Geeta Ságita. Ash didn't know much about the Paldean Champion, but he did know she had invented a new type of Mastery; Signature Abilities. Her entire team had abilities unique to the species. Ash wished he knew more about Paldean Pokémon, he would love to learn about the woman's team.
The others that juggled the top eight spots were Pyramid King Brandon, Gym Leader Giovanni Sakaki, Former Champion Wallace, Champion Alder, Gym Leader Raihan, Gym Leader Sabrina, Champion Drake of the independent Orange Islands, Tower Tycoon Palmer, and Arcade Star Dahlia.
Ash had considered trying to get his Mastery that way, fighting his way to the Masters Eight. But it almost felt… cheap. He wanted to earn it the formal way, defeating three Masters for every specialty.
He'd be in that tournament some day, though.
Pushing thoughts of Mastery to where they usually dwelled in his mind, Ash left his bag on the bed and headed back down to the lobby to check the info board. Ah, there, Wild Area Training Course. He grabbed the brochure and flipped through it.
The Wild Area was Galar's greatest draw for trainers. An enormous expanse of land that had been the location of a massive weather-changing event hundreds, maybe thousands, of years ago. According to legend, Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza did something that altered the Wild Area's natural weather patterns. Every day, every hour, every minute, the weather could change in a moment. It could be overcast and dreary one second and the next a raging sandstorm would come through.
Personally, Ash thought it was the unique power spots of Dynamax energy that had given the Legends even more power during that battle so long ago. What else could explain the crazy weather patterns that were still in effect to this day?
This phenomenon made the Wild Area one of the most diverse places in the world when it came to native Pokémon. From a tiny Joltik to a rampaging Steelix, the Wild Area had some of the strongest wild Pokémon as well. He'd heard stories of fully evolved Pseudo-Legends, of alternately-colored Pokémon being the norm, of foreign Pokémon migrating to the Wilds every year.
Ash was dying to check it out.
But due to its dangerous landscapes, weather, and wildlife, all trainers were required to complete a training course. Too many had died from its unpredictable nature.
According to the brochure, the training would be four days long, Sunday through Wednesday. That gave him three days to find an Applin. This would also give Libra, Artemis, and Styx enough time to heal up before they tackled the treacherous territory.
He flipped open his Pokédex and registered for the training course. They'd be venturing into the Wild Area on their final night for a practical lesson which was exciting.
For now, he was eager to explore the city, buy some clothes, and possibly have a battle or two. He'd like to know more about Dynamax and Gigantamax, maybe witness a battle at the stadium.
Thus, with his to-do list mentally filed and his next week planned out, Ash set off on his next regional adventure, smiling as Sagitta's shadow settled overhead.
'Thank Mew I went shopping yesterday.'
Ash shivered and pulled his thick Wooloo lined coat tighter around his body. The Flying Taxi was a great service, but the windows barely protected against the January chill. The beanie on his head was also thick and offered enough protection that his ears wouldn't freeze off.
The ride was only a half hour, but it was still enough for him to wish Styx was well enough to fly him. Her ability to regulate her body temperature would at least offer some extra warmth.
Finally, the enormous Corviknight landed on the edges of Route 5. Ash transferred the funds to the oddly chatty driver before hopping out and thanking his legs for not giving out on him.
Lance had said Applin were only found in and around the trees that grew on this route and while Ash still had a chip on his shoulder against the Champion, he'd believe him on this. Lance had seemed… oddly invested in Ash's development since the Vertress Conference, and had told Ash all about his Flapple, Gala.
Flapple were interesting Pokémon, having an extremely acidic coating on its scales and a protective covering that offered a primary defensive layer. They could hit hard and fast, and their acidic saliva could eat away at most Pokémon's flesh.
As for Applin, once they chose an apple to inhabit, the two fused in a way that has yet to be understood. Applin's circulatory system expanded out of its body and into the apple which prevented the fruit from decaying or rotting. Obviously they were still susceptible to parasites and bacteria, but the skin of the apple thickened to an almost scale-like quality when an Applin was a year or older.
Few made it to that age.
Ash figured it was a symbiotic relationship. Applin was now able to utilize photosynthesis to absorb energy while the apple could regrow and eject seeds every spring using Applin's energy. It was honestly such a fascinating Pokémon that Ash had spent longer than necessary studying the creature.
Applin were still affected by cold and ice, naturally, so most would bury themselves, their eyes the only thing above ground and filled with chloroplasts so they could sleep and still absorb energy.
Thus the shovel.
He had found a small shop on the lower tier of Motostoke that rented out tools and equipment, anything from hoses to stump grinders. A simple trench shovel for three days cost him hardly anything.
He'd have to be very careful not to cut into the apple or else he'd have a very angry Dragon on his hands. Adult Applin might be the weakest Dragon type Pokémon other than Dreepy and Goomy, but it was still a Dragon.
Following Lance's instructions, he veered right before the nursery and found the tiniest path, so tiny that most people overlook it. The Kanto and Johto Champion said to follow it for about an hour and he'd come to a small clearing that had a large number of naturally growing apple trees.
Brushing fingers against his belt, he released Orion to walk with him. The Alolan Ninetales was still feeling the victory high from his battles yesterday. Ash had found one of the many Battle Cafes situated around Motostoke, giving Hemlock, Nettle, Mirae, and Orion a chance to battle. Castor and Sagitta had grumbled when they didn't get to fight.
Orion had felled an impressive Coalossal after a lengthy battle. His coat was still singed and blackened in some spots but the Ice and Fairy type wore them like badges of honor. The cold would heal the burned spots by the time they returned to the city.
Hemlock got to flex his muscles against a Cinderace, that had been a fun one. Nettle had flown circles around a Grapploct that risked being poisoned with every Octolock, and Mirae had just barely eked out a win against a particularly nasty Perrserker.
When the two finally made it to the clearing, Ash took it all in with wide eyes. A small pond was frozen over in the center while areas of tall grasses were disrupted by thick tree roots. Snow was falling in puffy clumps which made the clearing have two feet of snow already accumulated.
Ash watched Orion run over to the pond and freeze it over even more with Ice Beam so he could glide around on it. He smiled as he unloaded his camping supplies. He felt bad that he was going to disrupt this area, but he had a task he needed to fulfill.
Pressing Artemis's release button, the Houndoom appeared, much of her weight resting on her uninjured foreleg, the other in a white cast. "Hey, how are you feeling?" Artemis just let her tongue loll out of her mouth in a toothy grin, her injured leg doing nothing to break her optimism. "Can you fire off a Sunny Day for me?" The canine just tilted her head back and let her throat start glowing. The sphere of artificial sun shot into the sky and the immediate temperature difference was noticeable. "Thanks, I'll have to ask you to renew it every hour or so." Artemis shrugged and carefully maneuvered her body until she was comfortably lying down.
When not in battle, Artemis could hold a Sunny Day for upwards of 45 minutes.
And now they wait.
He kept his eyes peeled even as he groomed his teammates, Orion and Artemis going first. He kept Libra and Styx in their Pokéballs, knowing they would hate the cold as they recovered from their violent battles.
Nettle zipped around the clearing, examining every nook and cranny. Ash had attempted to give the Poipole a description of Applin eyes, but he didn't think the UB was seriously looking.
Castor, Hemlock, Bane, and Mirae were all curled around Artemis, using her as their own personal heater. Sagitta had flown up to roost on a branch that was the closest to the artificial sun.
Ash couldn't help but purse his lips as he counted his teammates. Again. He only had one more free slot on his belt and on his team until he'd have to start sending members to Oak's Ranch. He wondered if it would hurt his pride to ask Grimsely or Kukui or even Lance to recommend him for another extension.
He shook his head slightly when it finally sunk in that he almost had twelve Pokémon. He only needed Dragon and Fairy types from here on out, because once Polaris evolved he'd have a full Dark team. It was insane how he had such an incredibly diverse and rare team almost eight months into his journey.
Ash had been lucky. He treasured the team, the family, he's found.
Laughing to himself, he stood up and started on lunch. He picked up a curry cookbook from the Battle Cafe and wanted to try it out. He had to have three different pots going at once due to everyone's flavor and diet preferences.
But once the spicy smoke-tail curry, dry apple curry, and sweet seasoned curry were steaming and ready, he portioned it out in bowls for his teammates. From their happy hums and barks, he guessed they liked it.
Only Bane and Polaris were eating the seasoned curry so Ash dished some of that onto his plate. He made sure to put some sausage into Bane's. After all, he was an omnivore.
The enormous pot of smoke-tail curry had enough remaining that was luckily sufficient for both Styx and Libra, the two only released long enough to eat before the cold and their injuries made them too irritable.
Over the last few hours, Ash had felt eyes on him, but he wasn't worried. It was most likely a curious Pokémon and would show itself in due time. He heard the crunch of snow every now and then, but it sounded like a rather large Pokémon. When he expanded his sense, his brow furrowed at the odd spark in his mind.
It was bright, strong, warm, but wavering. Like it could be stronger but wasn't.
It never showed itself, Ash only catching a flash of blue before it was gone. Honestly, he was constantly catching flashes of color, sometimes he wondered if he had some sort of vision disorder. Flashes of green caught his eye, even in Galar. He had thought the worm creatures were only in Kalos. Gold was always flashing in water and mirrors, and he would swear Yveltal's eyes followed him in the dark.
But the gold wasn't new. His shadow had been with him as long as he can remember.
Learning to accept the others and move on was a work in progress.
Now, he knew he should be searching for some green tinted eyes, but he was enjoying the atmosphere and just being with his team.
Night fell early with the shorter days, and he returned all his teammates except for Orion and Artemis as he crept into his tent. His Houndoom happily snuggled him to ward off the chill and soon they were fast asleep.
The next morning, Ash had Artemis fire off a Sunny Day first thing. A majority of the snow had melted yesterday, but there was still a good chunk that could obscure Applin eyes. To hurry it all along, Artemis would release small spurts of flame from her spot by the tent. Ash didn't want her walking around on her leg unnecessarily.
He left the injured Houndoom by the renewed fire to start his search, Orion and Bane were out and on the prowl, knowing what Ash was looking for. The two foxes sniffed the apple Ash brought just to get a similar enough scent and he let them loose.
Naturally, they turned it into a competition.
Ash stood in the middle of the clearing, watching the two foxes zip around. The number of apples they dug up was ridiculous, and the pile of frozen fruits were growing by the minute. None had a Dragon attached to them, but Ash didn't mind. He tossed one of the fruits to Artemis as he bit into his own after it had melted a bit.
Maybe he'd use the rest in curry tonight.
He still had tomorrow to search for the Galar native, so he wasn't in a huge rush.
Applin were a somewhat common teammate for the average Galarian trainer, and they were also used as a cultural display of romantic intention, funnily enough.
Flapple became a bit harder to control upon evolving. Appletun were more known for being the mascot of the popular bakery chain, though they could be used in battle if trained right. Ash was pretty sure one of the Gym Leaders here had one as his ace.
He's heard rumors of another evolution, Dipplin, that has the potential to evolve further. But the secret to its evolution was closely guarded by the small independent nation of Kitakami.
It wasn't until the sun was setting that there was a change. Ash stood, confusion written in every aspect of his face, as Bane and Orion pushed the biggest apple he's ever seen through the slushy snow.
"Uhh…" Orion and Bane set the apple a few feet away, muzzles open in proud grins.
Then the apple wiggled.
What he thought were leaves straightened up to unveil green tinted eyes. Ash furrowed his brows and leaned to the side to find the segmented tail of Applin trailing behind the apple. The eyes blinked vacantly, looked up towards the artificial sun, and then closed them once more and got comfortable.
Ash released a startled laugh. Mew above, this was the biggest Applin he's ever seen, it must be the size of Lance's Flapple when she was curled up. And it was just sleeping around a bunch of strangers.
What a character.
Watching it for a moment and realizing it wasn't going to leave anytime soon, he got started on dinner, knowing it'd be difficult to cook the darker it got. Applin wouldn't have a mouth until it evolved, relying purely on photosynthesis, but the heat from the fire was probably appreciated.
During dinner, Ash kept shooting glances at the drowsy Grass and Dragon type. He wondered if it would move on its own or it got that big from finding the best spot to absorb sunlight. Humming, Ash collected the bowls and went over to the melted pond, rinsing them and packing them away inside the tent for tomorrow morning, ignoring the ever-present flash of gold.
Castor, Bane, and Styx would go hunting tomorrow, bringing back enough food for Artemis and Libra, so they'd be absent at breakfast. Styx was getting grumpy from being cooped up.
The following morning, Applin was still there, but now it was staring at Artemis with patient expectation. The poor Houndoom glanced at Ash with uncertainty, but Ash smiled and gestured for her to go ahead. She tilted her head back and released the Sunny Day into the sky, dissipating the thick clouds that were trying to establish themselves.
Applin once again closed its eyes and settled in.
Ash didn't know why he was hesitating to catch the Dragon, maybe it was because he was so baffled by its relaxed state around a bunch of powerful Pokémon.
Pursing his lips, Ash shrugged. He didn't have to be back to Motostoke until tomorrow for the training, so he might as well get some drills in. Artemis, Libra, and Styx pouted off to the side, all technically 'healed' but not yet cleared for battle.
Polaris worked on Hydro Cannon, still unable to garner the water output necessary. Orion was nearby working on Aqua Tail under the narrowed eyes and harsh growls of Styx. Bane was busy helping Mirae expand what he learned from Fawkes for Mystical Fire. They were hoping it would act as an intermediate between stronger Fire attacks.
Everyone else was paired up and sparring. Ash was scrolling through his team's movesets and was noticing a few had moves that were shaded gray. He furrowed his eyebrows as he read, realizing these must be attacks some of his Pokémon rarely use any more.
Hemlock was losing Draining Kiss and Fake Tears. Sagitta had only ever used Metronome once before so it wasn't a surprise she was slowly forgetting it. Metronome was a technique rarely used in competitive battling, its unpredictable nature made it disadvantageous. Though Ash recalls seeing a League match three years ago finish in an upset when the trainer's Munchlax rolled a Blast Burn that took out the opposing Machoke.
He had to decide if he wanted them to keep those attacks or not.
He looked up when Castor and Nettle caused a minor explosion in the clearing before looking back down at his dex. He needed to pick up a few TMs that would round out his team's movesets nicely. Dream Eater for Orion, Dragon Claw for Castor, Acrobatics for Polaris, and Solar Beam for Artemis.
Then their movesets would be pretty much complete for now. A few of his teammates could teach others, but otherwise Ash was content with everything. Then he could start expanding on how those techniques were utilized and truly mastered.
Fear not the Hitmonlee who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but the Hitmonlee who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.
Ash's gaze cut to Applin, vacant eyes watching his teammates but not truly processing what was happening. At least, that's what it looked like. The Grass and Dragon type had actually shuffled closer to the resting Houndoom even as the Sunny Day beat down on it.
The day passed, and training eventually devolved into an all out game of tag that was more dodging attacks than avoiding being tagged. Ash cried out and ducked beneath a spray of poison. "Nettle! I'm fragile!" The little UB giggled but turned its attention to Hemlock instead.
Everyone was diving and weaving and firing off attacks when Castor was suddenly struck by a rolling projectile. No one else really noticed, too busy with their own surroundings, but Ash did.
Applin had just entered the game.
The Apple Core Pokémon had curled into a Rollout and was now blinking around emptily. Ash laughed and nodded to the red Dragon who only blinked in response and dove back into the fray with another Rollout.
He couldn't help it, he kept laughing.
So the next morning, when he was packing up to go and Artemis was walking without a limp, Applin rolled after them, and that was that.
Applin: The Apple Core Pokémon. Grass and Dragon Type. As soon as it's born, it burrows into an apple, which serves as a home, food source, and protection against preying bird Pokémon. The longer an Applin is bonded with its apple, the stronger the skin and larger it grows.
This Applin is Male and has the ability Bulletproof.
Known Moves: Astonish, Withdraw
Egg Move(s): Rollout
This Pokémon stands at 3'01" and weighs 11.4lbs.
Ash shifted in the plastic chair with a grimace and leaned back to try and get comfortable. He'd be in this room for the next eight hours per day for Wild Area Training. He was surrounded by nine other trainers, hikers, and campers and would be working with them for the next four days. They'd head into the Wild area on the third day and come back on the fourth.
The newly named Ladon, after the mythological Dragonite that guarded golden apples, was inside the lone Quick ball on his belt. He thought the irony was funny.
He had officially reached his carry limit.
He now needed one to two more Dragons, and Ash was banking on Nettle either gaining a Dragon typing or being able to learn another two Dragon techniques. He also needed two more Fairies. He knew the Wild Area offered a couple options, but he wanted to train Ladon up a bit before he caught another.
Ash was knocked out of his thoughts when the door slammed open and an older, hardened woman walked in. Her face was tanned and wrinkled and weather worn, and her blue hair was streaked with gray and pulled back into a severe bun at the nape of her neck.
"Listen up. You're here to prepare for the Wild Area. I'm here to tell you that's impossible. All you can do is know what to do when things go wrong. You'll be stuck in blizzards, sandstorms, tsunamis. You will get stuck in thick fog and be unable to find your way out. You'll be attacked by Rhyperior and Gyarados and have to run or fight.
"The Wild Area is an arena. You either win, or die. Before we started this training program, 67% of people who went into the Wild Area didn't come out. We've managed to get that number down to 13%. That means there is still a chance one of you won't be coming out."
The woman made eye contact with every single individual, driving home the severity of the situation. "My job is to get that number down to 0%. But that depends on how well you listen and how well you do. This is nothing more than a survival course. There is a reason you're required to take it."
She paused, allowing the point to sink in. "My name is Solana Baxter, a former Top Ranger. I decided to dedicate my time to helping trainers like you survive while also respecting nature's turf. Here's how the next four days are going to go." She clasped her hands behind her back to pace in front of the enraptured group like a general with her troops.
"Today we will be going over every possible weather condition and how to combat it, or if need be, hunker down to ride it out. We will carefully define situations in which you should find shelter. Basic survival skills will also be touched upon and practiced.
"Tomorrow we will be pouring over the map of the Wild Area and the possible dangers. The Wild Area is broken into 18 zones and each has a unique biome. There are various merchants and shelters situated throughout the area as well. We will discuss power spots and where they occur. Each trainer entering the Wild Area is given a particle tracker in order to avoid any Dynamax Dens if so desired.
"Tuesday I will be evaluating your teams and determining which areas you are allowed to explore and which you will be required to avoid. Ignoring my decision will result in a fine. I will not allow you to play with your lives in such an irresponsible way. You can submit a request for re-evaluation every 3 months. Everyone will arrive at 4:00 and after evaluations we will make our way into the Wild Area.
"From Tuesday to Wednesday, we will be in the Wild Area. If you disregard my commands you will be banned from the Wild Area for a minimum of one month and cannot retake the training until that time is up. Am I clear?"
She got a resounding "Yes Ma'am" to which she nodded sternly.
"Good. Let's get started."
"Packs on, clasps clicked, goggles at the ready, and in we go." Ash grinned with all his teeth at the single person he actually got along with in this group. Hop rolled his eyes, nerves and excitement warring for dominance.
Hop had recently started on his journey, only in his third month. Ash had learned a lot about the 13 year old in the last three days, the most shocking fact was that he was Leon Dante's little brother. The same Leon Dante that is the strongest trainer in the world.
The two had bonded over their mutual high reaching goals and love of Pokémon.
As the group of ten waked through the threshold that separated Motostoke from West Lake Axewell, Ash watched as Hop nervously reached down to palm the five Pokéballs on his belt every so often. From the snippets Ash caught, Hop started with his Wooloo but was also gifted a Scorbunny from Professor Magnolia. He caught a Rookidee and Yamper early on in his journey and a Mudbray only recently. Since then, both Scorbunny and Rookidee have evolved once.
The new trainer was only cleared to explore around Lake Axewell while Ash had been cleared to visit everywhere except Axew's Eye and Lake of Outrage; the two most deadly areas.
As soon as they stepped into West Lake Axewell, Ash had to quickly strap on his goggles when the sandstorm slammed into them. The communication piece in his ear crackled for a second before Solana's voice came through. "Alright everyone, we're heading for Lake Axewell. My Aggron and Hippowdon will be our protectors until the Sandstorm abates. Release your first companion."
Ash quickly tapped the release on Castor's Pokéball, letting the croc appear in his natural habitat. The Ground and Dark type shivered with glee and slammed his tail on the ground in excitement.
He heard the telltale bray of Hop's newest catch and turned to see the Alolan Ground type. It was a little taller than average and all in all looked healthy. Ash sent Hop a nod of approval which made the younger boy beam.
A half hour into their walk through the Sandstorm, the ground rumbled. Solana held up her fist and told them to stop through the comms. The Diggersby that erupted from the ground looked strong, maybe a three to four badge level. Solana flicked a finger towards her battle scarred Aggron who didn't hesitate to engage the Normal and Ground type.
The two fought savagely for a moment before Aggron struck its opponent in the ribs. The rodent flinched before retreating into its hole. The few Dwebble, Baltoy, and Nincada that watched from the sidelines slunk back, realizing it was better if they didn't approach.
Dusk began to fall shortly after, prompting Solana to order the group to turn on their electric lamps.
As they walked, Solana pointed out things to use as markers, the random info-posts that popped up once in a while, and tested them with their sense of direction. In the middle of a quick-fire pop quiz, the sandstorm suddenly abated like it had never been there to begin with. The stars were visible, but a thick mist started rolling over the surrounding hills.
"Fall in, it's easy to get separated in this fog." Hippowdon was returned and replaced with an absolutely massive Noctowl that released a short burst of Defog every couple minutes.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ash could see flashes of white and green, but every time he turned to look it was gone. Castor hissed, at the fog or at the Teleporting Pokémon Ash wasn't sure, but Ash rested a hand on the croc's snout to calm him. Ralts were far from the biggest threat here.
Knowing fog was a downplayed Misty Terrain, he returned the Desert Croc and released Sagitta, allowing her to fly overhead. The other trainers gazed at her in barely concealed wonder as she swooped overhead alongside Noctowl. Hop left out Terra, his Mudbray, the mule trotting beside him happily.
"We're almost to the campsite. Stay together." The only trainer that had been cleared for the entire Wild Area, a woman named Arya, took up the rear of the group with her chestnut-coat Kantonian Rapidash walking proudly beside her. Her eyes were peeled and darted towards any noise. Arya had somewhat become the protector of the group, being the most experienced and strongest.
Everyone looked up to her, Ash included. She didn't talk about where she was from, but it was obviously not Galar. She had interesting mannerisms, almost old-fashioned, and kept her dark hair in multiple elaborately decorated braids.
Through the thinned mist, Ash could see the moon reflecting on Lake Axewell as they made it to their camp. Solana started barking orders, the ten participants creating a circle and pitching their tents. Aggron and Noctowl circled the group, a newly released Araquanid slinking into the lake, bulbous eyes scanning above the water. Finally, a hulking Swalot was released to round out the protections.
Two of the participants were tasked with starting the fire, three with dinner, and two with the first watch. Ash, Arya, and Hop walked the outer perimeter to spray Max Repels that would last through the night.
Naturally, strong Pokémon could ignore the artificial repellant, but a majority of wild Pokémon would be deterred.
"Every single night in the Wild Area, you are expected to have a look out. Have a rotating shift, and if you have Pokémon with exceedingly heightened senses, always have them out. You will be attacked at any and all hours of the day and night." Everyone nodded solemnly along to Solana's words as they ate their herb medley and seasoned curry.
"Remember, this is a No-Trace area, if you cook, eat it all or pack it up. If you shit, you bury it so deep not even an Arcanine could smell it. You wash dishes with water? You reuse it each and every time until you can dispose of it at a designated site. Only ever bury biodegradable toilet paper." Solana glared at everyone before nodding to herself. "Alright, start getting ready for sleep."
Sagitta swooped down as Ash looked around. His tent was set up, he was bundled for sleep, and his peers were hunkering down. The Togekiss ruffled her wings in an odd twitch that put Ash on edge. A harsh spark was finally acknowledged in his mind.
The water started roiling.
There were a few shrieks from the group when a large spray of water doused the fire and some tents. Solana's Araquanid was attached to the massive head of the monster of a Drednaw pulling itself from the lake.
The enormous turtle's shell was gouged with large chunks missing, the stone protrusions on its forehead jagged and glinting in the moonlight. It released a roar and shook its head, trying to dislodge the Bug and Water type so it could hunt properly.
Solana jumped into action.
"Noctowl, keep it still with Psychic. Aggron, Focus Blast. Swalot, use Toxic and then Giga Drain. Araquanid! Sticky Web." The four Pokémon dove right in, Drednaw looking just as daunting as Aggron.
Solana did her best to guide the attacking Pokémon away from camp, Sagitta and Arya's Rapidash acting as their strongest defense. The Togekiss even fired off a few Aura Spheres to distract the snapping turtle.
Drednaw snarled, its Water Guns going wide with Araquanid targeting its eyes and its movements impaired. Swalot's Toxic was draining its strength alongside Giga Drain and soon the monstrous Bite Pokémon cut its losses and disappeared back into the lake.
Everyone released a collective sigh when the area fell silent once more. While some of the others looked more and more convinced that the Wild Area wasn't for them, Ash just got more and more excited.
This would be the most difficult test - other than battling a Champion or surviving Rockets - he could experience. If he could survive 2-3 weeks in this perilous place, he'd count that as a personal win.
Hop caught his eye and grimaced, but Ash only bared his teeth in a wild approximation of a grin in response. The younger trainer visibly shivered, half exaggeration half not, and started helping others fix their tents.
It took a while before everyone relaxed enough to fall asleep. They were all woken up three times during the night; twice when a torrential downpour and a blizzard started and once when an Obstagoon decided it wanted to try its luck.
Unlike everyone else, Ash was a ball of energy the following morning. He was used to his sleep being interrupted, typically by nightmares or when his scars still pained him, so this was nothing in comparison. The other trainers were grumbling with deep bags under their eyes, but Ash was just excited to go solo. Sagitta had been stuffed in his tent with him but had to be returned upon finding a blizzard awaiting them.
Orion was more than happy to take her place. The Alolan Ninetales trotted across the wintery scape, oftentimes trying to pick a fight with Aggron or Swalot much to their amusement. A single swipe of Aggron's tail was enough to send Orion flying.
He was quick to run back over.
Ash chuckled and left his spitfire teammate to his one-sided feud, turning his attention to dismantling his tent and collecting any spare food or trash that was left at the site.
Apparently the blizzard was too much even for Arya's Rapidash because now she had a Doublade sinking into her shadow. Hop was shivering, none of his teammates capable of braving the storm.
"In blizzards like this, if you don't have a strong enough Fire type or can't see 400 meters in front of you, find shelter immediately. There are natural outcroppings that have been repurposed into possible shelters, so head to the outskirts of the Wild Area." Solana finished packing her own tent, taking half the time as everyone else.
Ash shouldered his pack and it took him a few moments to find Orion, his natural camouflage working its magic. He had been trying to not rely on his 'sixth sense' from Yveltal, and he had gotten better at ignoring it. Ash whistled and soon the fox was beside him and shaking out his fur.
Solana did a thorough scan of the area, making sure absolutely no trace of their stay was left behind. A few people were yelled at, but once she deemed it acceptable, she took point and started to lead them out of the blizzard and out of the Wild Area. At one point, Ash caught sight of Araquanid following them in the lake, looking like nothing more than an odd bubble floating on the surface.
"Who can tell me in what situations do you seek shelter?"
Illiana was quick to answer, sounding like she was reading off a safety brochure. "Floods, blizzards with winds of 15 meters-per-second or higher and a temperature of 0 degrees celsius, ice storms, severe thunderstorms with winds of 20 meters-per-second, heat advisories of 38 degrees celsius or higher, and any time visibility is less than 400 meters."
"Very good. You were all given a visibility checker, I urge you to keep it close at hand at all times and ensure you set it into the sun to charge every day if possible."
The few hours it took to trek back to Motostoke, they were only attacked once by a rather irate Copperajah, but Araquanid chased it away. When they finally stumbled over the threshold and out of the long-lasting blizzard, everyone took a mutual gasp of air.
Orion grumbled but followed the group into the city, growling at anyone that got too close to him and his trainer. Hop laughed weakly and skipped away until a few steps were between them at all times. Ash could only offer a shrug.
He wasn't going to force his Pokémon to be kind when they weren't.
The group trails back to the training building and drop into their unassigned-assigned seats with a mighty sigh as Solana takes her spot at the front. "Less attacks than I expected, but all in all a good trip." Ash smothered a grin at the shock spreading through the group. "Congratulations, you've all survived Wild Area Training. Your trainer accounts will be updated by the end of today if you passed. Reports will contain criticisms and feedback, as well as recommendations for how to gain access to other zones. The earliest you will be able to enter the Wild Area is tomorrow morning at 8:00AM."
The group stood and some ran for the exit while others shuffled awkwardly before creeping out. Hop and Ash walked out together and headed towards the lower tier Pokémon center.
"So when are you heading in?" Hop turned yellow eyes on Ash. "Assuming we passed."
"As soon as possible. A few of my teammates have been healing from bad injuries for the last week, one of them worse than the others. If she's back to 100%, I'll go in tomorrow morning. I need to stock up for a couple weeks."
Hop choked and started coughing. "A few weeks?! Do you have a death wish?"
Ash smirked darkly at Hop's unintentional pun and shook his head. "Nah, but I want to test myself. We haven't done hardcore training in a while, focusing more on traveling, so this will be great. And doing something like this beside my team? Worth it."
The Galar native just shook his head and wove his hands together on the back of his head. "Do you mind if I tag along for a day? I don't want to immediately go solo."
Thinking about it for a moment, Ash shrugged. "Sure, don't see why not. West Lake Axewell or do we want to catch a flying taxi somewhere else?"
"Can we get dropped in Rolling Fields? I'm hoping to find a Tyrogue there."
"Yeah, sure."
Hop beamed at him. "Great! Want to meet outside the center tomorrow morning? 8:15?"
"Sounds good." Ash waved to the excitable trainer as he ran off. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he turned to Orion who was still grumbling after leaving the cold. "Let's go prepare for the Wild Area." The fox ignored him to growl at a passing couple, eliciting an eye roll from his trainer.
Motostoke was a hotspot for people looking to enter the Wild Area, so naturally they had an entire boulevard dedicated to buying anything you could possibly need for the expedition. Ash knew he would come across some merchants and vendors within the Wild Area, but he'd rather be over prepared.
He went grocery shopping first, his special containers coming in handy. He got packs of beans, pasta, ramen, potatoes, Grumpig sausages, Tauros steaks, some spices, herbs, cheeses, berries, and a couple different fruits. His carnivores really liked Galarian Slowpoke Tail, so he splurged for a couple. He was set on cooking utensils for now.
Then he came to the camping shop. He pursed his lips as he perused the high-end all purpose tents that offered built in heating/cooling using solar panels and a sturdy foundation that could stand up to 17 meter-per-second winds.
It was $20,000.
Fuck it, why not, he was rich now.
Ash wanted the red one, but figured the black would blend in with the night a bit better. He looked over the assembly guide quickly just to ensure it wasn't a complete hassle and was happy with what he read. He might have to donate his old tent.
With the fee for signing up for Wild Area Training, he was given a couple devices that would be invaluable. The visibility checker, the watt adapter, and the Galar particle tracker would probably keep him alive.
While he had more healing items that he feasibly needed, he still stocked up on revives, repels, and full heals just in case. He knew if things truly went badly he could fly out on Styx or Sagitta or if - Legends forbid - they were indisposed, he could call a flying taxi. It was ensured there was a cell signal throughout the Wild Area.
Man, he really needed a Teleporter.
Ash kept trying to think of worst case scenarios, what could go wrong? He could be cornered by a Pokémon too strong to fight, he could be horribly injured, he could be stuck in another blizzard. How would he react in those situations? The training had done well in giving a step-by-step checklist of things to do, but he was thinking about items or materials he might need.
He had two Ultra balls left, and if necessary he could catch an attacking Pokémon with one, or just buy time to flee. If injured, he could call a taxi or have Styx fly him out. If he was stuck in a blizzard, Orion and Artemis would help him out and his new tent would be able to hold up if the winds weren't too strong.
Breathing deeply, he nodded assuredly to himself. He wasn't deluded thinking everything would go as planned, but he was confident in his ability to react accordingly.
Night was falling at this point and he quickly made his way back to the Pokémon center to grab dinner and get Libra's final check up.
The next morning, all his Pokémon healthy and strong and his pack bursting at the seams, Ash stood tall beside a rather twitchy Corviknight as he waited.
At 8:16, Hop jogged out the front doors of the center looking a little frazzled. He huffed as he stumbled to a stop in front of Ash. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Are you sure you have everything?"
Hop looked dramatically offended. "Of course!"
"Food?"
"Check!"
"Tent?"
"Check!"
"Repels?"
"Check!"
"Visibility checker? Watt adapter? Galar particle tracker?"
"Check, check, uh…" Hop trailed off and patted his pockets. He frowned. "Oh bollocks, be right back!" The younger teen ran back into the center, Ash and the Corviknight sharing a tired glance. When Hop returned a few minutes later, they climbed into the metal cab and were soon in the air.
Hop shifted next to him, his hands shoved between his knees and his shoulders hunched to his ears. "...Are you nervous?"
Ash leaned back and sighed. "A little, but I'm confident in my team. I'm confident in my ability to problem solve and make decisions. I'm confident I'll enjoy this."
The new trainer swallowed and nodded, his shoulders relaxing slightly. Ash frowned, thinking of how Hop was still a kid. Galar trainers started at 13 instead of 15, and it just seemed unbearably young.
Yes, Ash was technically young as well, but he'd been forced to mature very early. Now he'd be 16 in March and that felt significantly older than 13.
But to Galar, Pokémon Training was a sport, and only a hundred or so new trainers were accepted each year just to compete in the Gym Challenge, in comparison to the almost 900 trainers taking on the Gyms in Kanto alone. Rookies had to show utmost talent, and their Gym Challenge was heralded as one of the hardest in the National League. The Galar Gym Leaders were continuously ranked highest in the Ultra Class, with a few exceptions.
For Hop to even get a recommendation to compete in his first year showed his potential. Ash was sure people would call it nepotism, but Ash didn't think Leon would sponsor his brother if he wasn't ready.
Ash was shaken from his thoughts when their descent occurred sooner than expected, and soon the cab touched the ground lightly. The two trainers stepped out and paid the driver, then stood and stared.
Rolling Hills was sunny and bright with a breeze that made it seem like it was late spring rather than the middle of Winter. Butterfree, Ninjask, Combee, and Tranquil fluttered by while Bounsweet, Bunnelby, Minccino, and Roggenrola meandered around.
Then they caught sight of the Mudsdale, Pangoro, and even a massive Onix stomping and slithering around, smaller Pokémon dashing out of sight to avoid the strong Pokémon's ire.
Hop looked at Ash out of the corner of his eye. "Ready?"
Ash smirked.
Happy February! During my short hiatus, I discovered EPIC: The Musical and have been listening to it on repeat.
Ash is so unfazed at being stalked by various creatures, it's the norm now
I would die for Ladon the Applin. I have plans for him. (I know I use that sentence a lot, continue to assume I have all the plans)
Have you ever tried to find an Applin in Scarlet/Violet? Those things are too damn tiny, so I fixed it. Also, Ash already has one hydra, he doesn't need another. As much as I think Hydrapple is a cool design, I decided against it
I know the units of measurement are all over the place in this fic
Was anyone going to tell me Zygarde's forms are based on Norse mythology? Fenrir, Jörmungandr, and Hel? Wild, the things you learn
I've expanded Zygarde's 'concept' to include Fate alongside Order.
Hop's Team:
Wooloo
Raboot
Corvisquire
Yamper
Mudbray