The sounds of Pidgey chirping woke Ash from his slumber, and he felt Artemis stretch out beside him. Meanwhile, Eclipse stayed asleep, curled up at the end of his sleeping bag. The smell of dew filled his nostrils, and he let out a giant yawn while stretching inside his sleeping bag.
It was still dark in the cave, but he could see a sliver of light shining through the entrance they had walked through the night before. It was early, and the fact that Artemis was just waking up with him gave it away.
His starter was known as the sun Pokémon for a reason, and despite not being in her new form for very long. She had embraced the object her species was known for, practically rising with the sun, and if they weren’t outside, she was looking for a window to sit at to absorb its rays.
Turning so he could face the Espeon, he watched her stretch out once more, sneaking an arm out of his warm sleeping bag and into the crisp, cool morning air to scratch the tuft of fur on her neck. His starter let out a soft purr of happiness as she opened her eyes.
“Good morning, sleep well?”
The Psychic-type nodded her head, and Ash smiled.
“Good, we learned a lot yesterday. Well, technically, today, too. But what I want to focus on is your telepathy. I have a feeling we are going to be busy later, so let's start now. Are you up for it?”
His Espeon gave a determined nod, sitting up entirely on her haunches.
‘Go*d *orn**g’
Ash felt his smile bloom, hearing Artemis’s voice in his mind. Now, he just had to figure out how to talk back with the telepathy.
“Alright, Artemis. I am going to think of something, and I want you to try to tell me what I’m thinking. Ready?”
Artemis nodded, and Ash thought about what he wanted for breakfast.
‘Wa*f*es *nd e*gs’
He was pretty sure his smile could be seen from outer space as hundreds of thoughts raced through his head with this new information. Absentmindedly, he wondered if they could communicate with more than words while he scratched behind her right ear.
“Alright, Artemis. Let’s test how far this can go. Can you show me an image or convey your feelings about something without using words?”
His starter closed her eyes in concentration, and Ash felt the beginning of a headache that worsened once an image of him and Artemis, when she was still an Eevee in the Pewter Museum, appeared in his mind along with feelings of curiosity, wonder, and happiness.
The memory, including the emotions he felt, was gone a second later. Unfortunately, the headache didn’t disappear, but it was worth it. Not only did he learn more about his and Artemis’s telepathy, but he also learned something she was passionate about.
“So you liked the Pewter Museum, huh?”
The Espeon nodded her head cutely, and Ash laughed, scratching her favorite spot on the left side of her neck. She purred in contentment and leaned her head towards his ministrations. He took a second to cherish the moment before stopping to sit up in his sleeping bag, waking Eclipse in the process before standing and starting on breakfast for everyone.
The Dark-type whined at him, and Ash apologized for waking her up before returning her to her Pokéball, letting his Absol get a little more rest before the morning meal. Unfortunately, his actions woke everyone else up, which led to some grumbling that dissipated when they saw he was making food.
It didn’t take long to start the fire again so he could cook up some potatoes and eggs, the smell of which was a welcome reprieve from the stench of poison and decay. While that was cooking, he started making the specialized food for his team on top of breakfast for everyone else's Pokémon.
The morning was a quiet affair, with everyone still waking up and the knowledge that a fellow trainer was dead just a few feet from their camp. Nonetheless, they all went through their morning routine, and after everyone was fed, they finished packing up camp and made their way out of the cave.
Ash couldn’t quite believe his eyes once he stepped outside, seeing all of the devastation and ruin around them. Some trees had been split in half, while others had been completely uprooted from the storm, creating massive holes in the process.
Meanwhile, there looked to be an inch or more of sitting water on the ground from flooding. Ash was confident the destruction hadn’t been this bad when he and Karen had gone to train the previous night.
It made him think that a second, larger storm had come through after they had gone to sleep or the original storm was actually a hurricane. And when he and Karen had left the cave last night, they were just in the eye of the storm.
Both scenarios were plausible, but he pushed that to the back of his mind when he saw an Oddish trying to move a large log off a trapped Growlithe to no avail. Before he could even give out a command, the log was wrapped in Psychic energy before being lifted off the injured Fire-type.
Ash jogged over to the two Pokémon only for the Oddish to stand protectively in front of the Growlithe, which growled in warning as he approached. He slowed his jog and put his hands up to show he meant no harm along with the rest of his companions who had followed him.
He didn’t know how long the Fire-type had been half-submerged in water, but he doubted that any amount of time was acceptable. Besides, if the Puppy Pokémon hadn’t been injured, it would’ve run off by now.
“I don’t want to hurt either of you. I just want to take a look at your friend Growlithe’s leg and make sure they’re okay.”
Neither of the Pokémon budged, and Ash had to stop himself from sighing in frustration. Thankfully, his starter stepped in, her eyes flashing with Psychic power as she no doubt communicated with the two.
After a second, Artemis’s eyes dimmed, and Oddish stepped to the side while Growlithe stopped its growl. Ash smiled, thanking his Espeon, before kneeling beside the injured Fire-type and lightly running his hand down where the log had trapped it moments ago.
When the Puppy Pokémon let out a yip of pain, Ash stopped and pulled out a Potion before applying it to the area. Growlithe grimaced as the medicine worked, but once it was able to stand up again, it barked happily, licking Ash’s hand.
He smiled, rubbing the top of the Pokémon’s head before letting it run off with its friend Oddish, who waved goodbye to him with one of its vines before he turned back to his own friends, who were staring at him.
“What?”
Dakota snorted while Amelia and Karen chuckled until the Dark-type Specialist decided to clue him in.
“Nothing, Doctor Ketchum. You just ran face-first into a dangerous situation and didn’t even flinch. Did you see the Oddish start to build up a Razor Leaf when that Growlithe yelped in pain?”
Ash rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly as he shook his head, causing his friends to laugh while he tried to defend himself.
“I had faith in Artemis to protect me.”
His starter gave a serious nod, and Karen pinched the bridge of her nose.
“I didn’t realize your Espeon could already create barriers to protect you.”
Ash could hear the sarcasm in her voice as he smiled at her.
“It worked out, didn’t it?”
Karen shook her head, causing Amelia and Dakota to laugh even harder.
“Just because it worked out this time doesn’t mean it will the second. We’re probably going to encounter a lot more Pokémon who are injured or trapped, and not all of them will be as tolerant of humans as that Oddish and Growlithe.”
“Before we charge in all reckless, let’s clue everyone else in on the plan first so we can provide backup if necessary, alright? I don’t want to have to deal with a rampaging Pokémon and one of you being injured.”
Ash nodded his head and was quickly joined by both Dakota and Amelia. With that warning, they started making their way through the destruction toward the actual Route that would lead them to Vermilion.
The entire time, they were slogging through an inch of standing water, making everyone uncomfortable. Not long into their trek, Ash returned Artemis, seeing how much she hated wading through the water, especially since it was overcast and the sun wasn’t out.
He had replaced her with Neptune, who was happy to be traveling outside of his Pokéball since the water was just deep enough that he could keep up with everyone. Meanwhile, Amelia had her Pidgey, Dakota his Poliwag, and Karen had a weird frog-like Pokémon that he had never seen before.
According to her, it was a Water-type that eventually evolved into a Water/Dark-Type from Kalos called Froakie. It took a while for the information on its species to load on his Pokédex, but he thought its middle and final evolution stages looked cool.
It reminded him a bit of the ninjas that used to roam Kanto and Johto that his mom told him about as a kid. He wondered if the ninjas knew about Froakie’s evolution line and inspired their habits from a Greninja.
He supposed it was plausible, remembering the many warrior clans from his studies in school that had based their way of life on a Pokémon. At the forefront of his mind were Aura Guardians and their reverence of Lucario.
Realization dawned on him as he remembered Fuschia City believed in the old ways of the ninja and that if he beat Janine, he could ask her if one of the first ninjas had a Greninja or not. He also made a note to talk with Artemis later today about his theories, remembering her interest in history.
He was confident that his starter would enjoy learning about ninjas and was excited at the prospect of teaching her. However, that also reminded him that he wanted to talk with the rest of the team and see what their interests were.
Making a mental note to do that in Vermilion, he took off his cap and ran a hand through his hair. It would be a miracle if they didn’t get sick from being wet and cold all day. He glanced over at Neptune, who was happily playing with Karen’s Froakie and Dakota’s Poliwag while Amelia’s Pidgey scouted ahead.
A shadow different from a cloud passed over them, and Ash couldn’t help but look up, only to stare as a massive Braviary flew above before lowering and hovering in front of them. A man wearing standard Ranger regalia was on the bird's back and hopped into the water to greet them.
“Afternoon, I am Captain Bilyer. You are Trianee Karen, right?”
The bluenette nodded her head, and the Ranger smiled in relief.
“Thank Ho-Oh. Could you please come with me? I have a pack of rampaging Tauros that escaped from their pen during last night's hurricane, and I could use some help.”
Before Karen could open her mouth, Ash beat her to it.
“We’ll do it. What do you need, Captain?”
He could feel Karen staring daggers at him while Captain Bilyer raised an inquisitive eyebrow.
“Are you sure? You look like a rookie, and we are dealing with at least forty Tauros here. Trainee Karen, are these three good?”
He gave the Dark-type specialist a megawatt smile, one that she did not return as she talked to the Ranger Captain.
“Yeah, they each have two badges, and this should be a good learning experience. Lead the way.”
Bilyer sighed in relief as he thanked them before turning and hopping back on his giant Braviary to lead them toward the Tauros. Meanwhile, Karen dropped back and gave Ash a look that let him know she was pissed.
“Tell me, Ash, why in the world did you speak on my behalf? Do you think I can’t take care of myself?”
He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly as they wadded through the water.
“No, and I’m sorry that I made you feel that way. It's just... I figured you wouldn’t want to help, and it sounded like they could use it.”
He watched a look of hurt pass over her face before it quickly shifted to its usual confidence.
“Of course, I would’ve helped them. However, I was going to get more information, like why they are rampaging or why they need an Elite Four Trainee’s help. Rangers are no push-overs; three of them would be plenty to stop forty Tauros, so why ask for my help?”
He could feel his eyes widen in realization, and Karen smirked at him.
“Information is the most valuable tool at your disposal, Ash, and before running headfirst, you should try and gather as much of it as possible in a reasonable amount of time.”
The rookie nodded as the group continued at a sedate pace, with Dakota and Amelia a couple feet ahead. That quickly changed, however, when the water started to shake, and Captain Bilyer called down to them.
“Look out, the Tauros are coming right this way!”
Ash didn’t need to be told twice and quickly released his team. Imperial let out a cry of pain at being halfway submerged in water, but there wasn’t anything Ash could do but reassure his Trapinch. They needed the Ground-type to help slow the herd.
“You got this Imperial! A herd of Taurous is coming right at us, and I need you to use Bulldoze to help trip them up and slow them down. Neptune, focus on using Whirlpool and Artemis. I want you to stop any that make it through with Confusion. Eclipse, you’re with me.”
His Absol let out a small whine, and Ash rubbed her head in sympathy, watching everyone else prepare for the herd.
“Sorry, girl, but you’re not quite ready yet. I want you to observe and see how everyone works together; I’m sure you’ll be helping out in the future.”
That seemed to appease the Dark-type, and Ash smiled at her, looking up just in time to see Karen’s nod of approval. The Elite Four trainee had out her own Absol, along with a mean-looking Weavile, a Honchkrow that let out a mocking laugh at him when they locked eyes, and a green Cactus-looking Pokémon that looked to be constantly grinning, creeping him out.
While pulling out his Pokédex to scan the creature, he also noticed that her Froakie was still on her shoulder, and Pawniard was standing behind her legs. Figuring that it was a learning experience for those two as well, he focused on the robotic voice that spouted out information about the Pokémon he had never seen before.
Cacturn, the Scarecrow Pokémon. It rarely moves during the day to preserve moisture and will only hunt at night or follow travelers until they become exhausted. It has lived in the deserts for so long that its blood has transformed into sand.
Ash wasn’t reassured by the information his Pokédex gave him but had faith that Karen trained it well. He turned his attention over to Dakota, who had his entire team out except for Charmander. Meanwhile, Amelia had all of her Pokémon out, including her Feebas, which was splashing in the water beside her.
He also glanced toward Captain Bilyer, who had released his team, which consisted of a Machamp, Rhydon, Ursaring, Arbok, Forretress, Girafarig, and the Braviary he rode in on. When he caught him staring, the Captain gave him a wave, and Ash smiled sheepishly before waving back.
A second later, he saw the Tauros herd cresting the horizon and running straight towards them. At that moment, he understood why the Ranger Captain needed help. These Tauros were clearly agitated at something and were carving a path down Route 6, destroying everything in their way.
Immediately, Karen and Bilyer went into action with their teams doing everything they could to slow down the rampaging herd. He saw the Rhydon create a gap in the Earth in front of the Tauros, only for them all to jump it with ease.
Karen’s Weavile turned the water to ice, causing a couple of the Wild Bull Pokémon to lose their footing, but the herd was so tightly packed together that it didn’t matter. They were running out of time, and Ash felt sweat build up on his palms.
“Rhydon, Bulldoze!”
“Help‘em out, Imperial!”
The two Ground-types caused the Earth in front of and below the rampaging Taurous to shake, with several cracks appearing in the ground for them to step in, slowing them down. Ash then returned Imperial to save him from the pain of being in the water now that his job was done.
Karen followed up on their efforts with her Cacturn, creating some type of spore powder from its body that Honchkrow and Amelia’s Pidgey helped blow into the herd. A solid dozen or more of the Tauros fell, but at least twenty of them stayed standing, continuing on their path of destruction.
“Alright, good work everyone! Now, Retreat. We’ll round up the stragglers and get ahead of the herd.”
Captain Bilyer’s voice carried across the route, and Ash didn’t need to be told twice. He returned his Pokémon before dashing toward Amelia and Dakota to get out of the herd’s path. A second later, Karen joined them along with the Captain as the Taurous continued their rampage.
One of the Pokémon hit a tree as it passed, causing it to fall in his direction. But, before he could call out for help, Karen’s Honchkrow blew the tree away with a singular beat of its wings. Ash breathed out a sigh of relief as Karen scolded him.
“And that’s why you always keep a Pokémon out.”
He nodded, releasing Neptune. At the same time, he noticed Dakota and Amelia each release a teammate of their own as they waited for the Tauros herd to finish running past them, utterly oblivious to everything around them.
Once they were gone, Ash watched as Bilyer started capturing the ones that got knocked out and left behind. At the same time, Karen congratulated him and his friends.
“Good job, you three, you handled yourselves really well. We are going to have to use a different strategy next time. Despite their lack of reaction, the Tauros aren’t dumb. They’ll be prepared for the same attack.”
“What I wanna know, though, is why those Tauros were so angry. It’s not unusual for them to get like this, but they usually disperse at the first sign of real trouble.”
Captain Bilyer walked up behind the Elite four trainee, his face grim.
“I agree with Karen, and unfortunately, I think I just got an answer for why they are acting like this. The Ranger team at the Rancher’s house just sent me a message. They found a dozen or so destroyed Tauros eggs that seem to have been crushed by a tree.”
Amelia gasped in horror while Dakota and Karen cursed in frustration as he let out a defeated sigh.
“No wonder they’re pissed.”
They all agreed with that, taking a second to process the news before working on another plan of attack. According to the Captain, they had stopped fifteen of the beasts, and based on the exact counts Bilyer had from the rancher, there were twenty-two left in the rampaging herd.
“What if we set up a sinkhole trap? Use our Ground-types to create a hole for the Tauros to fall in and cover it with some leaves?”
Everyone turned their attention to Amelia, who shied away at sudden scrutiny as everyone considered her idea. After a minute, Captain Bilyer nodded his head.
“That’s a good idea, lass. We can fill the hole with Sleep Powder to calm them down and take on any stragglers ourselves.”
With their plan set, they broke off into two groups, with Amelia and Dakota hoping on Captain Bilyer’s Braviary, while Ash joined Karen on her Honchkrow. Within seconds, the group was flying through the air to get ahead of the rampaging herd and set up their trap.
As they passed over the trail of destruction the Tauros were leaving in their wake, Ash asked Karen what he hoped wasn’t a question with an obvious answer.
“Karen! Since Bilyer has the Tauros’s Pokéballs, why doesn’t he just fly overtop the herd and return them?”
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Thankfully, they weren’t going so fast that he had to shout to be heard over the wind. Unfortunately, that didn’t mean it was easy for him to hear her reply, and he had to strain his ears to listen to the Dark-type Specialist’s response.
“Theoretically, he could. But the Tauros would be indistinguishable from that distance, and it’d be pure luck for him to match the right Tauros to its ball. Not to mention, it would be like trying to hit a bullseye on a dartboard from hundreds of feet away with how tightly compact they are.
Ash nodded his head as she continued.
“But, I like where your heads’ at Ash. A lot of trainers forget that the most straightforward, quickest, and safest solution to a rampaging Pokémon is to simply return it if it’s already been caught.”
The rookie nodded, remembering one of the first lessons in trainer school being the Pokéball method. Where a trainer in danger of a rampaging Pokémon should throw as many balls as possible at the creature while trying to escape.
While it was incredibly unlikely to successfully capture the beast, it would buy the trainer precious seconds that they could use to either escape or heal their team. Professor Oak even went so far as to say the Pokéball method had saved his life on an occasion or two.
The rest of the flight was spent in silence, and before he knew it, they had landed and were preparing their trap. The Water-types cleared a spot for the Ground-types to stand without getting wet, who immediately got to work creating a pitfall.
Amelia’s Bulbasaur and Karen’s Cacturn then proceeded to fill the hole with dozens of spores. Meanwhile, Weavile focused on creating a sheet of reinforced ice in front of the pit, using the extra water that was displaced from making the hole.
Finally, once the hole was big enough and Captain Bilyer was satisfied with the amount of Sleeping Powder inside the trap, Karen’s Weavile covered it with a thin sheet of ice that would break under the Tauros’s weight.
Satisfied, they moved off to the side and out of immediate sight, waiting for the Tauros to pass by. They didn’t have to wait long, and soon, they could feel the earth and water rumble as the herd approached their trap.
Ash was pretty sure the success of their trap could’ve been heard from miles away. The thin sheet of ice collapsing sounded like hundreds of glass panes shattering simultaneously, and the Tauros' cries echoed off the hole's walls, creating a cacophony of noise.
The group reacted at once, releasing their Flying-types to the skies so they could track and corral any potential stragglers while Bilyer’s Machamp ran forward with several of Karen’s Pokémon. When he and his fellow rookies caught up to the veteran trainers and their teams, all the Tauros had been taken care of.
Dakota let out a frustrated sigh at not getting to see any action, and Ash couldn’t blame him since he wanted to be a part of the action himself. That didn’t stop Karen from sending a smirk his way as she helped the ranger captain capture the Tauros.
Within minutes, the Wild-Bull Pokémon had been caught, and the hole filled back up. Now, everyone was waiting on Captain Bilyer after the man had just finished talking with his team about any other issues that they could help with.
“Welp, it appears as though everything else has been or is in the process of being taken care of. So, why don’t I offer you all a ride to Vermilion? It’s the least I could do as a thank you for your help today.”
Ash nearly spoke for himself and his friends again but stopped, remembering his conversation with Karen just a few hours ago.
“I would appreciate the ride, but I don’t want to speak for everyone else.”
He felt Karen’s approving gaze on him as the rest of the group echoed their agreement. Twenty minutes later, they were in the air towards Vermilion City.
----------------------------------------
Vermilion City had always been known as one of the most beautiful cities in Kanto, and Ash couldn’t help but agree after seeing it from a bird’s eye view during a sunset. The brilliant orange hues combined with the vibrant blue of the ocean to create a picturesque backdrop for the skyline.
The sea was dotted with dozens of colorful sailboats and speedboats, all in the process of returning to port. At the same time, a flock of Wingull soared above and towards the city proper through a maze of towering skyscrapers clustered in the city's center.
Despite the evening hour, Ash could see the center still buzzing with activity and movement, which slowed as modernity bled away to the historic buildings and homes that housed Vermilion City’s population.
The beauty of it took his breath away, and he couldn’t help but feel slightly depressed once they touched down on the Pokémon Center’s landing pad. Karen quickly returned her Honchkrow, and he and she promptly moved out of the way to make room for Bilyer’s Braviary.
The captain and his Flying-type soon landed once the space was clear, helping Dakota and Amelia off the massive bird before waving goodbye as he spoke.
“Thank you, four, for your help once again! I have to get back to base, but when I get some time, I’ll be writing a nice note on each of your trainer profiles. Good luck with the lieutenant!”
With that, the captain returned to the air, and with two flaps of the Braviary’s wings, he was out of sight. Ash couldn’t help but watch on in jealousy, eagerly awaiting the day he could apply for his flying license.
He didn’t care that the rules on flying and the requirements to get a permit were more complex than he initially thought. Such as altitude restrictions, saddle requirements, landing procedures, and airspace around towns and cities, to name a few.
It was a lot, and while he looked forward to soaring above, he did not look forward to all of the studying. He would have to persevere, though, because the Champion of Indigo had to be able to get wherever he was needed as quickly as possible.
Karen tugged his arm, breaking him out of his thoughts, and he followed her along with everyone else into the Center, which was packed to the brim with people. Ash wasn’t typically claustrophobic, but something about being in a lobby with over a hundred people made his hair stand on end.
The Dark-type specialist led the way to the front desk, fighting through the crowd to the Nurse Joy, who was busy working on the computer as they approached. Her eyes focused on the monitor as she talked.
“Hello, Welcome to the Pokémon Center. I apologize for the crowding, but a lot of trainers have come to attempt to win one of the thirty tickets Gym Leader Surge has left for the S.S.Anne, and the lieutenant has not held back.”
The smile Nurse Joys were known for faltered from her face as she spoke, but it quickly returned when she looked up from the screen, her eyes flashing in recognition when they landed on Karen.
“I hate to say it, but my colleagues and I are overwhelmed with the mix of new challengers and those who have to stay because their Pokémon need over a week to recover. Is there any way you could talk to the Gym Leader?”
By the end of her tirade, Nurse Joy’s voice was practically pleading, and Ash looked to Karen, who he had felt getting more and more tense as the conversation continued. The usually calm and collected Elite Four Trainee was red with anger.
“Of course, Nurse Joy. I will be sure to talk to the good Gym Leader. Do you have any rooms available, and could you give my team a once over?”
The smile on the Nurse’s face was beaming as she spoke.
“Thank you so much, Elite Four Trainee Karen. You’re in luck! It appears as though I have two rooms that just finished being cleaned. I’d say they are the last two in the city. Do you want me to register them?”
Karen nodded, and Nurse Joy quickly gave her four keys, which she handed him to distribute. Then, he, along with everyone else, handed over their Pokémon to the nurse before heading to their rooms.
They were on one of the top floors, which is not as nice as it sounds when every room is booked, and the elevator stops on practically every floor. So, they had to take the stairs, and by the time they made it to their floor, Ash was pretty sure his legs were on fire with how much they burned.
Something that he shared with his fellow rookies after a quick glance. Meanwhile, Karen seemed perfectly fine after walking up nearly sixty flights of stairs, and it terrified him. Then, as if it couldn’t get any worse, the Dark-type specialist caught him looking at her and smirked.
“Come on now, Ash. If you think you got a shot with me, you can’t be worn out after only a couple flights of stairs.”
Suddenly, the burning in his legs didn’t seem as strong compared to how hot his face felt, and he could just barely hear Dakota and Amelia’s laughter through the blood rushing to his head. Nonetheless, he stood a little straighter and focused on controlling his breathing before opening the stairwell door for everyone.
He completely ignored the woman’s jest and refused to look her in the eyes as she walked past him. Once everyone was in the hallway, Ash opened his mouth to ask what the room arrangements would look like, but Karen beat him to it.
“So, Amelia and I are going to take the room that overlooks the ocean. You two can take the one with the city view, sound good?”
Then, before either he or Dakota could respond, the two girls looked at each other and giggled before heading off toward their room. Ash let out a frustrated sigh, and Dakota chuckled, patting him on the back as he guided him toward their room.
“I feel the same way, buddy. But look on the bright side. She hasn’t completely rejected you.”
The rookie trainer looked at his friend wide-eyed, and Dakota laughed.
“Dude, it's so obvious you have a crush on her. Amelia and I were talking about it the other day when she and you were off looking for a cave.”
Ash groaned into his hands. If his feelings were so apparent that Dakota and Amelia picked up on them after only a few days spent with the bluenette, Karen probably thought he was some lovestruck fool.
His fellow rookie trainer clapping him on the back broke him out of his self-wallowing and gave him a reassuring smile.
“Cheer up, man. If she didn’t like you, I’m sure she would’ve told you as much. And before you even bring up her comment in the stairwell, she was flirting with you, even I know that.
Ash chuckled, thanking his friend for pointing out the obvious as they opened the door to their room before making their way inside. Once there, he immediately collapsed on one of the beds while Dakota did the same with the other.
Both of them sighed in satisfaction at the cloud-like comfort Pokémon Center mattresses provided, letting a comfortable silence linger as they relaxed a little after all of the traveling.
Ash wasn’t sure when he fell asleep, but the next thing he knew, he was woken up by a notification on his Pokédex. Sitting up in his bed, he looked over to see Dakota also fast asleep before glancing out the window to see the moon shining in the sky.
Before he could ask himself how long he had been asleep, his Pokédex dinged again, and he leaned off the bed to pick it up out of his bag, surprised to see the number of missed notifications.
Rubbing his eyes, he flipped open the device before switching to the communication function and checking the missed messages.
Karen 6:57 p.m.
Hey, Amelia and I are heading down to the cafeteria for some food. Do you wanna join?
Amelia 7:13 p.m.
Hey, Karen and I overheard some trainers talking about how some Team Rocket member was arrested in this Center just after we arrived! IDK if it’s a coincidence or not, but be careful.
Amelia 7:36 p.m.
What time do you and Dakota want to register for our battle with the gym?
Amelia 7:51 p.m.
I don’t know if you guys are mad at me and Karen or what, but I’m starting to worry after hearing that Team Rocket is here. Could you please just let me know if you two are okay?
Karen 8:24 p.m.
Hey, loser. Are you alive? I know you two can take care of yourself, but Team Rocket is ruthless. Amelia says it’s not like you both to go AWOL for a couple hours, so we are going to stop by your room if you don’t text either of us back in the next hour.
Amelia 9:12 p.m.
I went online and registered us for the gym, our battles are in two days. I know Karen texted you, but I understand if you don’t want to talk with her. Just please let me know if you and Dakota are okay!
Karen 9:23 p.m.
I just got an extra room key from Nurse Joy. You had better pray to Arceus that you are not in your room, Ash Ketchum, because if you are there, I promise you there will be pain.
The knock at the door actually made him jump, and he heard Dakota rumble in his sleep. Then, before he even had a second to respond, the familiar sound of the room key being used to unlock the door sounded, and Karen and Amelia walked in.
Both of whom looked incredibly relieved to see that he and Dakota were alive and well. However, that relief quickly turned to fury, and all Ash had time to do was brace himself as Amelia screeched at him.
“WHAT IN ARCEUS NAME ARE YOU TWO DOING?!?!?”
The rookie trainer couldn’t help but feel bad for Dakota, who was so startled that he fell off the bed. The tell-tale sound of a Pokéball opening could be heard, and his Mankey hopped up onto the bed with a screech before looking around in confusion.
At the same time, his Charmander also peaked around the corner of the banister, looking back in uncertainty, only for Dakota to then inch his head out behind the fire lizard to see what was going on.
Once he realized who it was, he let out a loud groan while returning his Pokémon back to their balls.
“What the hell, Amelia? Why are you barging into our room screaming?”
The two women turned their attention to him, which led to Dakota giving him a questioning eyebrow. Ash gave the two girls an incredulous look before sighing and explaining things.
“Don’t give me that look. We had both just fallen asleep after lying on the bed when we first got into the room. I woke up to Karen’s latest message and was reading everything you two had sent when ya burst in here.”
“I’m sorry we worried you both, and I understand your concern, Amelia. I would’ve felt the same way, but we are fine, I promise.”
Amelia nodded, her eyes slightly watery as he got up and brought her into a hug, motioning for Karen and Dakota to join him, which they did. His friend let out some type of sound that was a mix between a sob and a laugh, and everyone chuckled.
After standing there for a few minutes, everyone pulled away, and once Dakota saw Amelia was doing better. He turned to him with a questioning gaze.
“While I’m glad whatever this was seems to be fixed, can someone tell me what in the world I missed?”
Amelia burst into laughter, which was soon followed by himself and Karen, getting rid of the somber mood that had settled after their hug. Ash was happy to see it go. While he knew they all still had unresolved trauma from Team Rocket, he also knew they would persevere.
After staying a bit longer and enjoying each other’s company, Karen and Amelia excused themselves to their room. Once they were gone, Dakota gave Ash a sideways glance, causing him to chuckle.
“What now, Dakota?”
His fellow teen laughed.
“Well, I’m not tired, and I figure you aren’t either. So let’s go explore.”
Ash took a moment to consider the offer, considering Team Rocket was apparently active in Vermilion, before shrugging his shoulders. He believed he and Dakota could hold off any attack to give police time to respond.
With his mind made up, he followed Dakota out the door and down towards the lobby.
----------------------------------------
At night, Vermilion City had a certain charm that was impossible to replicate during the day. While the city was beautiful and tranquil, acting as the perfect getaway during the day. Once the sun went down, it was as if the place truly came alive.
Granted, Ash hadn’t gotten a chance to experience the metropolis while the sun was up. But he doubted it could compare to what he was experiencing at the moment. After leaving the Center, Dakota dragged him towards the beach, which was alive despite the relatively late hour.
It was filled with trainers and their Pokémon, all gathered around a large bonfire, which crackled and popped, sending sparks into the air. A lot of people were sitting on blankets, while a select few sat on beach chairs and some on logs placed around the fire.
Ash could spot a few trainers spread amongst the crowd based on the ever-present Pokéballs secured to their person. A man and his Growlithe appeared to be working several barbeques, grilling up what smelled like some delicious fruit and seafood.
He spotted a couple of trainers battling off to the side, barely illuminated by the light of the massive bonfire. Meanwhile, it appeared as though a group of trainers and their Pokémon were playing a game of beach volleyball.
A Pikachu's tail lit up the night sky as it spiked the ball on a Machop, which just barely managed to hit it back up, allowing a Raichu to come in and get the assist. A Loudred, amplifying a classic by one of Ash’s favorite artists, Jason Paige, played in the background.
The atmosphere was electric as a mix of trainers, regular people, and Pokémon danced around the bonfire. Then, before he knew it, he joined them, releasing his entire team to enjoy the party.
Neptune immediately went toward the ocean, joining several other Water-types that were playing splash. Imperial got closer to the fire, burrowing himself into the warm sand. A smile more prominent than any other he had seen plastered on his Trapinich’s face.
Artemis and Eclipse looked at the sand in confusion, and Ash couldn’t help but chuckle, realizing this was the first time either of the two had been to a beach.
“I know it feels weird now, but once you two get used to it, I think you’ll enjoy it!”
His two Pokémon gave him a hesitant nod, and Ash made sure to put on a confident and reassuring smile as he pointed out all the activity to the duo. Both of them seemed to be especially intrigued by the volleyball game taking place.
So, he encouraged them both to go over and watch. Artemis didn’t need to be told twice, but once Eclipse realized he wasn’t following, she stopped. Ash smiled at the Dark-type.
“It’s okay Eclipse! I’ll join you both in a bit. Stay close to Artemis.”
His Espeon mewled at her teammate, and after another second of contemplation, Eclipse followed his starter over to the volleyball courts while Ash turned to Dakota. Who was having a conversation with his own team.
From what he could gather, Dakota’s Poliwag also wanted to go to the volleyball courts, but his Mankey and Charmander wanted to go watch the battles taking place on the opposite side, and Poliwag didn’t want to go by himself.
“Artemis and Eclipse actually just went over to watch the volleyball game, Poliwag, if you want to join them.”
The little Water-type looked to its trainer, and Dakota nodded. Ash couldn’t help but smile as he watched the Pokémon jump in excitement before quickly waddling to try and catch up with the other two.
With the dilemma solved, Mankey and Charmander went towards the battle courts, and before Ash could even ask his friend where Abra was, he beat him to it.
“Abra hates crowds at the moment, so I kept her in her ball. I’m going to make sure Congo doesn’t cause any trouble. Keep an eye on Poli, would ya?”
Ash nodded, watching Dakota jog to catch up with his two Pokémon before turning around and making his way over to the volleyball courts. It didn’t take him long to find Artemis and Eclipse talking with Poliwag as they watched the match.
Plopping down on the sand next to his starter, he joined them in watching the group play, occasionally checking on Neptune and Imperial to ensure they weren’t causing any trouble. After a couple minutes of watching, a tap on the shoulder broke his focus, and he turned around to see a pair of legs.
Looking up, he was met with a pair of vibrant blue eyes that belonged to a girl with beach blonde hair. She was wearing a blue two-piece swimsuit, and Ash suddenly felt his mouth go dry as he stood up to greet the woman.
She looked about his age but could’ve been older with how she had her hair in a high ponytail. There was a matureness about her that he couldn’t quite place, and he could spot a small scar on her forearm and abdomen.
The girl gave him a brilliant smile that he returned as he stuck out his hand to greet her.
“Hi, my name is Ash. What’s yours?”
“Hi Ash, I’m Perri. It’s nice to meet you! I just saw you were watching the game with your Pokémon and wanted to ask if you’d like to play a game against my team and me in a four-on-four?”
The trainer from Pallet Town looked down at his team in silent question.
Le*’s P*a*
Ash grinned at his starter, nodding as he turned his attention back to Perri.
“My team’s ready.”
Perri smirked. “Well, in that case. Come on out, Everyone!”
The four Pokéballs she had thrown up in the air opened at once, releasing a Phanphy, Togedemaru, Sandile, and a Vulpix. Ash waved at the girl's Pokémon, which all gave some acknowledgment back.
“Now what?”
Perri laughed, shaking her head as she motioned him to follow her over to the empty court. She then brought out a beach ball from her bag, setting it to the side as she spoke.
“First time playing huh? Well, don’t worry, I'm not some volleyball Sharpedo in disguise. First, we gotta make sure the net is tight. They sometimes get loose after sitting for so long. Then we break off to each side. Do you know the rules, Ash?”
The teen shrugged his shoulders. “Well enough, I know we serve and don’t want the ball to hit the net or land outside the white lines.”
Perri nodded. “Yep.” she said, popping the ‘p’.
“Also, the ball can't be hit twice in a row by the same person or Pokémon, and you have to get the ball over within three hits amongst your team. Sound Good?”
Ash grinned, nodding as he got into position with the rest of his team. Something that Perri soon followed after making sure the net was secure.
“Alright, I am going to have Phanpy sit out for our first game. Ready?”
Ash nodded, and suddenly, the game was on. Perri’s first serve was masterful, and Eclipse had to dive to get it back in the air. Poliwag then jumped off Artemis’s back to smack the ball back over the net with his tail.
The Togedemaru jumped up in the air with the help of its trainer and hit the ball right towards him. Ash brought his arms together, hitting the ball up with the underside of his forearms. Eclipse then jumped up, spiking the ball on Perri’s side.
Before he could celebrate the point, though, her Sandile created a small sand twister, pushing the ball in the air and allowing her Vulpix to hit it over. Ash and his team were too stunned to react, and it was too late by the time they did.
The ball hit the ground just outside of Artemis’s reach. Ash looked up at Perri with a scowl, who whistled innocently before laughing as she smirked at him.
“Oh, did I forget to mention our Pokémon can use their abilities as their touch for the ball?”
Her tone was teasing, which Ash matched, as he threw her the beach ball so she could serve again.
“Nope, ‘fraid ya didn’t, Perri. But don’t worry. We’ll come back and beat ya!”
Perri grinned, a competitive glint in her eye as she started the second round with a powerful swipe of her hand. Artemis was quick to react, using her Psychic power to send the ball flying back to their side.
Sandile leaped up, attempting to block, but Poliwag was there. Spiking the ball the second Sandile had committed to the jump. Ash smirked at Perri, wagging his index finger on both hands before picking up the ball.
As the game went on, it somehow got more competitive, with Perri’s Togedemaru electrifying the ball at one point to make it harder for anyone else to hit.
By the end of it, they had developed a small crowd, and Ash could spot Dakota with his team, along with Imperial and Neptune cheering him on from the sidelines. The game was tied, and the next point won the match.
Perri was serving, and after taking a deep breath, she tossed the ball up in the air, following it with a leap and sending it over the net with a powerful smash. Eclipse was there in a flash, bouncing the ball up with her head so Artemis could send it careening back toward Perri’s side of the field.
Vulpix used Fire Spin to stop the ball, while Sandile used the sand to send it back his way. The ball started flying back and forth over the net, as both of them gave it their all. Unfortunately, Togedemaru managed to end the game with a perfect hit just out of Eclipse's reach.
Artemis was unable to save it after using her Psychic influence once already due to a mutual rule implemented once they realized how powerful a psychic could be at Volleyball. Ash let out a defeated sigh, watching as Perri cheered and celebrated with her team.
He then saw the rest of his team downtrodden at the loss and made sure to praise each of them on a job well done, saying they would beat her next time. Once they were in better spirits, he made his way over to Perri.
“Congratulations on the win; it was a good game.”
The woman looked up from praising her Vulpix, smiling at him in a way that sent butterflies in his stomach.
“Thank you for not being a sore loser; I had a lot of fun! Are you sticking around Vermilion long?”
“Not too long. I’m sure you could guess, but we are here to try and win a St. Anne ticket from Surge.”
Perri bobbed her head up and down.
“Yeah, a lot of people are. I’m actually from here and have been on the fence about battling him. It would be for my first badge, so I know the injuries wouldn’t be that serious. But... I just can't stand the thought of my Pokémon being hurt.”
“I can understand that, and I’m thankful none of mine have been injured that badly. But I also know that they want to get stronger, and they know that this is the safest way to get there. Wild Pokémon and criminals don’t hold back, and if we are going to reach our goals, serious injuries are a risk I have to be willing to take. Thankfully, Nurse Joy’s and Ditto cells help to stop something from being permanent.”
Ash watched the woman’s face turn thoughtful as she pondered what he said.
“You make a good point, Ash. I’ll have to talk with my team and see how they feel. I had been considering traveling to Hoenn and attempting to become a coordinator, but if my Pokémon want to battle. Then, I’ll find a way to get over that hump.”
The rookie trainer smiled.
“That’s the spirit, Perri. I’ll leave ya to it. I am going to go round up my Pokémon and hit the hay.”
Before he could leave, though, Perri grabbed his arm.
“Before ya go, here is my transceiver number.”
Ash smiled at the blond, putting the crumpled-up piece of paper in his pocket. Only to feel his face start to heat up as the blonde kissed him on the cheek before walking away towards her team.
He couldn’t help but notice the extra sway Perri seemed to put in her hips as she walked and was broken out of his thoughts when Dakota clapped him on his shoulder.
“Damn, bro, who needs Karen when you could have a girl like that?”
Ash chuckled, shoving his friend off him in playful banter, joking with him as they started making their way back to the center after returning most of their Pokémon.