Chapter 6:Purpose
Barring any records of the Time Before, the regions of Kanto and Johto have always been like two independent provinces that shared a lot of traditions, and history together. In fact, Johto and Kanto were known to be together in strength and spirit, a vision promoted by the fact that both regions were governed by the same committee, though under the jurisdiction of two independent organizations, the Indigo League of Kanto, and the Johto League of Johto. The conferences were responsible for regulation of pokémon training, battling, conservation and development. Each conference had a defensive wing, known as the Elite Four, a group of four talented individuals, who were a Master of a particular pokémon type, both in breeding, training and battle. When it came to a matter of regional security, the word of an Elite Four member was law, and only superseded by the Inter-regional Head of Defense, also known as the Champion.
Every year, the Indigo Conference held an international event, known as the Indigo Conference, a grand scale tournament that allowed participating trainers from all parts of the world to come and participate, the sole requirement being that they would have to win eight badges from the various gyms spread throughout the Kanto region, usually one in each city. Once in the tournament, a trainer would have to battle other participants, and so on, through the process of elimination, a single winner would be chosen each other.
After the completion of the tournament proceedings, the winner is given an offer on behalf of the Indigo League, the chance to join its ranks as an Ace trainer. After his joining, the winner would go through extensive private training with the Elite Four, the entire time limited to a single year at maximum, after which, he would join the ranks as a full-fledged Ace trainer—a job with good social stature, solid money and perks. Ace trainers were, in effect, the second layer of defense against malicious forces, the first layer divided into two divisions- the Police force, responsible for cutting down human-related crime, and the Pokémon Ranger Squad, responsible for preventing pokémon-related crime, though the two divisions are known to work together on numerous occasions. Should the matter be beyond either of the divisions, only then are the Ace Squad called in for duty.
However, should the matter in question involve supernatural activity connected to legendary pokémon, or cataclysmic events engineered by malicious organizations, then the big guns come out to play, namely the Elite Four. Currently, the positions are held by the Fighting-type Master Bruno, the Psychic-type Master Sabrina, the Ice-type Master Lorelei, and the Ghost-type Master Agatha. These four behemoths, with the occasional presence of the current Champion Dragon-type Master Lance Wataru, are responsible for maintaining peace over the lands of Kanto.
Indigo Plateau. Offices of the Kanto Elite Four.
"Lance, exactly how difficult is it to understand the point I'm trying to make?"
Lance Wataru was annoyed. The Dragon-master from the legendary Wataru clan had singlehandedly maintained peace over the regions of Kanto and Johto for the last nine years. However, ever since the Kanto-Hoenn Cooperation Programme had come into effect, things had gotten a little… messier around there. In order to improve and maintain relations, he had invited the former Champion of Hoenn Steven Stone, to take up the post of his Deputy, and make sure that the Johto region didn't suffer from any… negligence, since it seemed like Kanto would be occupying his time for quite some time now. Steven, who had been Champion for five years before losing it to the new Champion Wallace, had greatly appreciated the thought and taken up the offer.
In hindsight, it was also a perfect move for positive media coverage, and had gone a good way in the mutual relationship between the regions. It was almost, almost worth the headache the same Steven Stone was giving him right now.
He stood up from his chair, glaring at the wide screen opposite him, his usual mode of communication with the former Hoenn Champion, as he tried to keep his irritation in check. "Tell me, Steven," he began slowly, "—outside of these… premonitions that Sabrina has been getting, what exactly are your reasons to cancel the biggest event of the decade?"
"The unexplained draconic activity over the Cerulean-"
"Is classified and too localized to be of any importance." Lance cut him out. "Steven, I know that you, and your family, are downright religious with metagross, and psychic premonitions, but trust me, this, is beyond reason. You, on the mere word of a single girl, want me to completely shatter everything I've been working on."
"—we have been working on." Steven corrected angrily. "And just so you know, this… girl you are referring to, is the youngest Elite Four of Kanto, and perhaps the most powerful psychic ever born in the world. For once Lance, get your head out of this fucking promotion event and look at the-"
"Don't call it, a Promotion event!" Lance barked. "The St. Anne cruise is a symbol, a symbol of hope that will finally seal the barely functioning cooperation between Hoenn and Kanto."
"—for which you've done a lot," Steven agreed. "I don't disagree with that, but is it really worth it, Lance? With all that's happening all around?"
"What, may I ask, is happening all around?"
Steven took a deep breath. "Drake, mentioned that things were… unruly, in the air."
Lance opened his mouth, then shut it.
"The sudden rise of this… Team Rocket," Steven sneered, "the sudden hyperactivity of psychic pokémon, Sabrina's premonitions, and the rumours about Entei's outrage… need I go on?"
Lance took a deep breath. "Steven, I understand your point, but-"
"If it is Devon Corp. that's troubling you, then you know that I need to make a single call, and it will be done." Steven offered.
As if I didn't consider that already. Lance thought bitterly. "You have made your point, Steven. Now consider mine. The St. Anne's event has been broadcasted to every city and shore in the Kanto region for the last two months. Vermillion city is swarming with trainers, rushing in for the ticket, all in anticipation for the greatest event of the decade. People from Sinnoh, including the champion has boarded the ship as it heads for Kanto in four days, and you want me to cancel the entire thing?"
"But… but Lance, hundreds of trainers, and dozens of VVIP, all on that single ship, alone in the sea, without any fortifications. Don't you think we are painting the bull's eye?"
Lance considered his words. "I… admit it might seem like that from a perspective, but what could possibly defeat two Champions, a team of Elite Four, and hundreds of competent trainers?" He paused, "—or are you trying to tell me that the Champions and the Ace Squad is so incapable that we won't stand a chance against these… Rockets?"
"Not against the Rockets, I'm not saying that."
"Then?"
"The Armoured pokémon."
That… shut Lance up. There had been potential rumours about a certain… armoured humanoid pokémon spotted at several regions of Kanto and Johto, although there had been no… digital footage of the events under question. Apparently, it had been responsible for the deaths of a herd of Tauros in Five Isle Meadow, where three hundred and forty one Tauros had been… strangled to death. The forensics had disclosed it to be the work of a single, large-scale psychic attack, followed by a single, large-scale Crunch, the latter aimed exactly at the first three vertebrae, tearing the spinal-cords with the precision of an Alakazam. It had bamboozled everyone since there weren't any psychic/dark type pokémon known to any League- Lance had personally called for favours and inquired for the existence of such a pokémon.
There were none.
And even so, it still wouldn't explain how said pokémon was able to perform both a psychic-type and a dark-type attack at the same time, and that too, over such an extensive population, with one-hundred percent precision. Lance knew for a fact that none of the known legendaries were involved, since the League's Absol team were pretty good at determining the epicentre of an oncoming legendary-interaction.
"Lance?"
Lance stayed busy in his thoughts, his palm firmly holding the edge of the table.
"Lance?"
"Yes?" Lance looked up, his expression disturbed by the thought of such a disturbing notion.
"What are we going to do, if… hypothetically, this armoured pokémon exists, and decides to attack St. Anne? How are we to know that this… Team Rocket is not behind all of this?"
Lance fell back to his chair. "Then I suppose, well need to take protective measures about it. You and the Sinnoh Champion will be present on the ship, with Agatha and Sabrina-"
"Sabrina has straight-away refused to get close to the vessel, as she calls it."
"Right!" Lance drawled, "very well, I'll send Agatha and… Lorelei perhaps, to be on board. I myself, along with a team of Aces, will patrol the surroundings keeping our distance from the ship."
"The Champion of Kanto and Johto wouldn't be there for the largest promotion event of the decade?" Steven asked, surprised.
"As I said," Lance stressed, "this event… is something we cannot afford to cancel. If I'm playing on the safety of several hundred of my region's population, I need to get the job done without any problems."
"But Lance-"
"No more hitches, please." Lance raised a hand. "I'll call in Bruno and… Sabrina, to take care of Kanto while this… St. Anne event is on board."
"Very well."
Back in Vermillion city.
"All right, Metang," Ash commanded. "Let's get this done. Start with magnet rise."
The iron claw pokémon levitated in front of the crustacean, as magnet rise activated. It was a well-known fact that psychic attacks in general, had little to no effect on dark-types. After the incident the previous evening, Ash had checked up on his pokedex to figure out what Miracle-eye was all about. The answer had been interesting, and… highly illuminating.
Miracle Eye. Enables a dark-type pokémon to be hit by psychic-type attacks.
However, on further research, it seemed that the move was sort of, a one-trick-pony. Once used on an opponent, the effect of the move decreases exponentially with further attacks. Hence, it could only be used as a sudden surprise or perhaps a distraction at best.
The surprising thing was that Metang was naturally able to use Miracle-eye, though after several failed attempts at trying to get a psychic hold on Harrison's Houndoom, who found Metang's attempts to be rather interesting and… dare he say so, amusing. After over an hour of practice and more practice, Metang had begun to get a hold of it. The fact that the iron claw pokémon had made it a habit of maintaining psychic defenses for extended periods of time had certainly helped with improving the extended continuity of his psychic attacks.
He had had Metang activate Miracle eye the very moment Crawdaunt had been thrashed down by the dragon pulses. The fact that Metang had been able to hold Crawdaunt for that while was a testament, both to Metang's own prowess, as well as Crawdaunt's inferior harnessing of the dark-typing in him.
At least that was the theory, so far.
"Use reinforced tackle." Ash commanded, as Metang shot towards the crustacean, who looked ready to return back with what seemed to be a half-baked crabhammer attack. The moment the powerful pincer was about to collide with Metang, Ash changed route. "Now pull back and use light screen."
It was something he had been working on with the iron claw pokémon over the last couple of days. The ability to change momentum midway was an extremely good ability, something Bagon seemed to be natural in. He had made his starter teach the move to the iron claw pokémon, and the results were in front of him.
As is with Light screen, coupled with magnet rise, any ground attacks had zero to little effect, something that was further reduced by Metang's own steel-typing. Besides, light screen allowed him to reverse the damage onto Crawdaunt himself, and that was exactly what happened.
Still, the light screen shattered. Need to address that issue later.
"Use toxic and then metal claw!"
The effective combination slammed into Crawdaunt's thick exoskeleton, banishing him away by a couple of feet at the very least. However, the crustacean was far from done, as he sent two powerful torrents of water from its pincers while in mid-air, directly towards the psychic pokémon.
"Use psychic, and reverse the attack."
The psychic energies stopped the water jets midway, combined them into a single, doubly-thick water torrent which shot back at Crawdaunt, who was already too injured to avoid it. However, being a water-type, the jet had little effect save some bruising on its thick exoskeleton.
"N0w use thunder punch!"
There was no way that Metang would have mastered the technique so quickly, since he had barely any practice with it, after Ash had injected the TM into him the previous evening. However, the already wet form of the crustacean, combined with its partial water-typing, enhanced the effects enough to make it count. The powerful aura of electricity, along with the sheer momentum behind the iron appendages, sent Crawdaunt tumbling onto the ground, completely disoriented and in no condition to continue battling.
"Crawdaunt is unable to battle," Ash replied in a monotone. "The winner is, Metang."
Metang let out a victory-note, which once again, was limited to two monosyllables, before he joined up with rhyhorn who was having a hard time trying to use flamethrower.
This will take some time. Ash decided.
Walking up to the fallen crustacean, Ash lifted him up, a tough job considering that Crawdaunt was extremely heavy, pushing him up and against a bench. Taking out a super-potion, he poured a single vial into the crustacean's mouth, though given his reaction, the thing had a bitter taste.
"Swallow it." Ash replied. "It will do you good."
Crawdaunt sent him a glare but did nothing, as it relaxed against the bench.
"I'll be back with a restore potion once your injuries have healed," Ash spoke, his tone stern yet without any anger. "It will not do to have you battle when you are not at your best. I certainly don't want you to think that I'm a trainer who takes attacks others when they are weak." Without waiting for a reply, Ash strode away to join the rest of his team.
"Well done, Metang." Ash praised, a happy smile on his face as he observed the iron claw pokémon to display a little more reaction than before. He turned towards his starter and Charmander. "So, what do you say guys? Wanna have a round of practice?"
Bagon and Charmander had matching expressions on their faces.
"All right, that's enough." Ash held his hand. "Bagon, your head-butt is strong, I get it. But if you begin to depend too much on that, it will become a serious liability."
Bagon gave an indignant screech, and almost in defiance, went ahead and smashed his head against one of the rock fragments Ash had made rhyhorn raise up for the purpose of training. Just as expected, the rock fragment smashed to bits with a single strike.
Ash snorted. "I wasn't questioning about your head-butt's effectiveness, buddy." He knelt down close to his starter and held him. "You need to be more… versatile. Anyone with knowledge of Hoenn native will know that you guys have head-butts better than most. We don't want them to take advantage of that, do we?"
Bagon looked confused.
I might have to do something to get him out of his obsession with head-butt. Ash pondered. "Tell you what? Charmander here has dragon-breath down, though his dragon-claw and dragon-pulse leave something to be desired." He ignored the indignant 'CHAAR!" from the fire-lizard, and continued, "you, little buddy, on the other hand, have dragon-pulse and dragon-claw down. I know I gave you the flamethrower TM as well, but right now, I want the two of you to teach each other the attacks you know best. Is that okay?"
After a few seconds, both of them stared at each other and turned back to Ash to give a hesitant nod.
"Of course," Ash smirked, "I'm not expecting you guys to do it for free."
That perked their attention.
"If you Bagon, can master Dragon-breath and metal claw by say… by the time we reach Celadon city, and you, Charmander, are able to learn dragon pulse and dragon-claw from Bagon during the same time, I might be inclined towards going to the pokemart and…."
The two draconic creatures stared at him with unabashed curiosity.
"—and get you a Draco-meteor TM."
Okay, they were sold. Or at least, that was what Ash understood from the similar-sounding grunts from either creature. Draco-meteor was, in effect, an extremely powerful move, used by the Garchomp-line to devastating effect. It was Cynthia's Garchomp's signature move, all things considered.
"That's my promise to you guys. I want you," he pointed at Bagon, "and you," he nodded at Charmander, "to cooperate with each other, and not gossip all day."
It was true. Ever since Charmander had joined the gang, it seemed like he was seeing a different shade of his starter, who could go ahead and chatter with the unconventional fire-lizard. A part of him felt good that Bagon's friendliness would go a long way in doing away with Charmander's… inferiority issues. However, that was then and this was now. Besides, the event of St. Anne would take at least two weeks to return from Unova, which meant that the two draconic pokémon had almost a month to accomplish their task.
"-If you do as I said, I'll get that TM."
No other words needed to be said. No other words were exchanged.
Crawdaunt watched with a scrutinizing expression as the damnable human (somewhat tolerable as of now) trained alongside that rock monster of a rhinoceros. The human stood in front of the mountain-beast, with the floating know-it-all right next to him, as the beast kept on raising rocks out of the ground with powerful stomping of its limbs, and the know-it-all kept smashing the rocks the beast was raising into smithereens with its iron appendages. Even Crawdaunt had to admit, it was a pretty solid way to increase efficiency of the know-it-all's thunder punch. After all, the same technique would also better his somewhat decent crabhammer attack.
"Now try again, rhyhorn. Use flamethrower." Rhyhorn let out a loud grunt, releasing a bout of flames from its mouth. It wasn't that… effective, the more cynical part of Ash's mind pointed out, considering rhyhorn's anatomic design. However, it was a rather… unexpected move to learn, and could be used as a distraction if nothing else. However, when rhyhorn would evolve into a rhydon, the things would be much better.
"Now when rhyhorn charges, I want you," he directed the iron claw pokémon, "to attack back using metal claw. Shouldn't be difficult."
Metang made a grunt of acceptance.
"Now, rhyhorn… horn attack."
Crawdaunt pushed his pincers over to the bench. Just as the somewhat-damnable human had promised, the infuriatingly-disgusting potion had indeed healed his injuries. Now only if the human would keep his promise and give him the restore that he had mentioned. Then, Crawdaunt would show him and those little blighters who was the boss.
"So, you feeling better, Crawdaunt?" The damnable-human just had to break in again.
Crawdaunt gave a grunt in response.
"All right, then." Ash came a little closer, a restore pack in his hand. "Now, I am going to put this into this bowl. If you try to attack me, or worse, damage the bowl, I'll order everyone to attack you at once, and I will not even bother addressing your injuries after that." Ash paused for effect. "Then, I'm going to recall you back in my pokeball and not let you out for a month. Does that sound good to you?"
Crawdaunt looked at him with a disturbed expression on his face. Humans weren't that brutal, were they?
"So, do we have an arrangement?"
Crawdaunt grunted quickly, much to Ash's smirk. "Very well."
The entire day had passed in training, and it was almost evening by now. Using the Xtransceiver, Ash had made a call to Professor Oak, and luckily, his mom was also present at the lab. After a somewhat half-convincing explanation on his part, he managed to convince his mother that he was, under no conditions, going out of his way to get himself into places of extreme danger. He conveniently ignored the more traitorous part of his mind whispering that he didn't, in fact, need to go out-of-his-way to get himself in danger either way.
Since Metang and rhyhorn had literally trained themselves dry, Ash had transported them to Professor Oak's lab so that they could get the more nutritious and better-tasting food that Professor Oak got his hands on, compared to the more tasteless variety available at pokémon centers. He had asked the professor to recommend him a good book on pokémon food and berries, and Oak had promised to get him a good one soon.
With rhyhorn and Metang both away, and Bagon and Charmander having their work cut out for them, Ash only had Pidgeotto and Poliwhirl to concentrate on. The St. Anne only had five days left to set sail, and he wanted his team in full form before that happened. If necessary, he would have to pick up some battles with the trainers in town, not that it was too difficult, considering there were too many of those wandering about town, looking for battles and quick cash.
Bill's help couldn't have come at a better time. He's really a godsend.
Oak had suggested that he let Metang stay for another day or two, since he had arranged a psychic training for the iron claw pokémon with his Alakazam. Oak's psychic type, all things considered, his third most powerful, the first two being his Dragonite and Charizard. However, Alakazam was a complete package, with a rich diversity of move sets enough to make any self-respecting psychic-type wag their tongues out of jealousy.
So, he shifted his attention to the second important item on his schedule.
"So Crawdaunt, if you are all rested and ready, we can start the next round."
The crustacean stood up on his hind limbs, giving Ash a cold stare, before nodding towards Pidgeotto, who was currently perched on Ash's left shoulder.
"Pidgeotto it is." Ash declared. "Whenever you are ready?"
Crawdaunt glared and raised his pincers angrily.
"Have I offended your pride, then?" Ash taunted. "Battling with Pidgeotto will only wound it, I assure you."
Crawdaunt demonstrated a fake vice-grip, just to make his point.
"Right," Ash took a step back, "Pidgeotto, take to the skies."
The avian instantly left his shoulder and soared to the heavens. The yellow-going-crimson sky wasn't as brightly lit as earlier, but it was more than enough for Pidgeotto, who had the ability to see a target a mile away with those sharp eyes.
Ash's lips twisted into a smirk. "Use double-team followed by sand attack!"
Pidgeotto soared down towards the rogue pokémon, forming dozens of illusory forms of itself as it traversed all around Crawdaunt, raising the sand off the ground, creating a miniature sand storm of sorts. Crawdaunt instantly hardened itself, as it waited in silence, for the avian to come closer.
"Use air slash!"
Crawdaunt jumped off the ground, barely missing one of the energy waves lashing out at him, before firing bubble beam at Pidgeotto, one that hit her straight in the abdomen, sending her into disarray.
"Pidgeotto," Ash cried, a little worried now, "are you okay?"
A sharp squawk of agreement was all that he needed to hear.
"Okay then, use toxic and follow it with peck!" Ash commanded, thinking hard about the possible ways of turning the battle in his favour. Crawdaunt's size and power, plus his thick exoskeleton was a little difficult to be put down by normal air attacks. Even toxic would hardly do anything should it use Iron Defense. He would have to think of something-Aha!
Crawdaunt had to admit, for a bird, this irritable avian was making him do a lot of hard work. Sand attack hadn't worked on him, and now perhaps the devious human was trying to poison him, hoping it would slow him down in the long run. Well, fat chance of that happening. Instantly, he hardened his self, and though it wasn't exactly iron defence, it would be more than enough to neutralize the toxic attack. His entire body hardened, glittering with a metallic sheen. Come to me, you little blighter.
"Pidgeotto, use steel wing."
Crap.
The wings of the avian glowed bright silver, as she shot towards him, as Crawdaunt increased his harden to the maximum, hoping it would be enough to hold on to- wait—it held its pincers in the direction of the avian, hoping to catch those wings and then shatter her bones.
"Now double team!"
Just kill me now.
The avian's eyes glowed an unnatural blue as dozens of its illusions raced towards him in all directions. Crawdaunt closed his eyes and waited for the worst to-
WHAM!
The steel wings slammed into its abdomen, lifting it up in the air, and sending it tumbling down.
"Use twister!"
Oh for god's sake.
That same god-forsaken move, which had caused everything to happen in the first place, had come into existence. Still disoriented from the previous attack, Crawdaunt couldn't help but be lifted and thrashed around in the swirling wind of the twister, spinning faster before his mind could process and-
"Slam him onto the ground!"
"…."
"…."
Crawdaunt didn't get up.
"Do you still want to battle?" The despicable, but clearly devious and powerful human trainer asked.
"…." Crawdaunt answered.
"Will do you still want to fight against another of my team? I assure you Bagon is itching for a fight."
"…."
The damnable avian squawked back at the human, and even in his disoriented state, Crawdaunt could understand that it was wanting to continue the battle. The human on the other hand, had different ideas, one, that Crawdaunt found extremely agreeable.
"Are you willing to join my team and train with the others? Comply with my commands?"
"Craw…. Daunt!"
"Is that a No?"
Damn you, human. "Crawdaunt!" He forced himself get up, and with extreme pain, pointed towards the pokeball in the human's hand. Get my message straight and clear, damn it.
"All right then. Welcome to the family, Crawdaunt." The devious human (now his trainer) replied back. "Return."
Valhalla, here I come….
Two days later.
"What do you mean, professor?"
With Crawdaunt now rid of his… more rebellious streak, Ash had begun to work with the crustacean in improving his own move sets, which sad to say, weren't that great to start with. They had gone ahead and near-perfected the crabhammer attack, with a little help from his draconic starter. Once it was assured that the rogue pokémon was on his way to perfect his technique in vice-grip and bubble-beam, Ash had gone ahead and imbued him with the ice-beam TM he had gotten from Cerulean gym, leaving him on his own to practice the move after that. With Charmander and Bagon already engrossed in their own job, and Pidgeotto and Poliwhirl sent to Professor Oak for inspection, Ash had quite the free time in his hands. He had spent the entirety of the day going through the pokémon league guidebook, trying to look over the move sets that his pokémon were capable of learning, while checking on Crawdaunt every now and then.
That was when he had received a call from Professor Oak, and by extension, his mother, who was accompanying the professor in his lab.
As expected, Ash had asked him to send some of his pokémon back so that he might continue their training, to which, the professor had asked him the unusual question.
Why was Ash in such a hurry?
Needless to say, the trainer from Pallet had answered it with a blank stare which the old professor matched with his own.
"Look Ash, I understand your wish of completing the Indigo Circuit as quickly as you can, but you need to enjoy life as well."
Ash looked at him, dumbfounded. "I'm enjoying life."
"Yeah?" His mother, who was standing beside the professor, raised an eyebrow. "Pray tell, what exactly have you done ever since you started out on your journey?"
"I-" Ash opened his mouth to answer.
"Except catching pokémon, training and battling." Delia added swiftly.
"….." Ash closed his mouth. Thinking about it for a second, he addressed her. "I spent some time at Bill's lighthouse."
"To get help for your charmander. And he's a researcher, and a senior one at that. Show him some respect." Delia admonished.
"But he told me to call him Bill." Ash retorted.
"So?"
"…." Ash couldn't find what to use as a counter-argument. "Either way, this trip is going to be exciting. It will extend for a while, so there, you got me having fun."
"Yes, remember that the trip is for having fun, not just battling your way around." Delia deadpanned.
"Uh… sure." Ash answered, a slight hesitation leaking through his tone. Ever since his journey began, his experiences had only increased his attraction towards the mysteries of pokémon, and his urge to become a powerful trainer had grown by leaps and bounds. So, why was that a bad thing?
"Ash," It was Oak this time. "Cerulean city is one of the top tourist spots in Kanto. Hundreds of people visit there, just as tourists. Even Gary spent five days there."
"Oh." Now that he thought of it, all he had done was visit the Pokémon center, treat his pokémon, and then go challenge the gym. Even after his initial defeat, he had spent the rest of the day training his pokémon to do better, get to the pokemart, buy stuff, only to get back to the gym and finish the challenge. He hadn't even spent time with Misty, despite her being such a help to him for the gym battle. Immediately after that, he had begun on his way to Vermillion city.
And he had done the very same here as well. If not for the St. Anne's match, he would be perhaps in Celadon already, trying to challenge the gym leader.
"Ash, it has just been almost three weeks at most, and you already have three badges." Oak tried.
"Gary had already gotten one in ten days." Ash retorted automatically.
"Yes, one in ten days." Oak returned. "One, and he drives around in a convertible. You, on the other hand, have been on foot. To be honest, I was shocked that you already have two badges under your belt when you called me from Bill's lighthouse."
"Well, I do need to defeat Gary." Ash looked away, not at all happy with how the discussion was turning out to be.
"And also have a satisfying journey at the end of it, Ash." Delia stressed from beside. "You need just five more badges, and the Indigo Conference is ten months away. You can afford to enjoy life as well, Ash."
"Yeah, but-"
"Yes?"
"Never mind." Ash knew a lost argument when he saw one. Besides, his mother and the professor did have a point. He still had three days in hand, and that was enough time to look around."
But that would mean losing the three days of practice that I could've gotten.
"Ash?" It was Oak.
"Yeah?" He replied in a low voice.
"Why exactly did you begin your journey?"
"Because I-" Ash stopped midway. The answer should've been there, ready at his lips. All his life he had awaited this very journey, looking forward to it, even deciding and making plans about all the different kinds of pokémon he would catch, the places he would go, the-
What was the point behind it again? Why am I…. doing this?
Before he had acquired the trainer's license, it had always been about beating Gary. Gary, the bully. Gary, the person who always fought against him. Gary, the grandson of Professor Oak. Gary, who had challenged him on the face that he would take the Indigo League trophy, and leave Ash in the dust. Gary, who-
It did not matter. Not now anyway. Ever since he had… had that accident with the Pikachu in Oak's place, things had, changed, or perhaps that should be shifted, in priority. Sure, he was comatose for three days or so, but something had… permanently shifted in him, and he didn't know what it was. It was like… an emptiness inside him, one that he was obsessively trying to fill in. The encounter with Derrick and his metagross, the fury of the legendary ice-king, or the king Dragonite for that matter, and lastly Paul, it had left an irremovable effect on his mind.
Power is a state of mind.
"You shouldn't have existed…."
His lack of proper sleep, the disturbing dreams, all of that had had an effect on him, and Ash had tackled that in the only way that had appealed to him.
Train harder. Catch pokémon. Win badges. Get stronger. Repeat.
A vicious circle, and he was getting obsessed with it. But did he want to leave that? Where would that leave him?
At least with this, I have a purpose.
A purpose… is that what this is about? Is that what I'm looking for? Would my existence be worth it without a purpose? Was that why…..?
"You shouldn't have existed…."
"A… purpose." Ash's lips spoke up, almost on their own. The lack of emotion in his own voice surprised him. "The reason for this journey is to find my purpose."
He wasn't sure what it was about his answer that had seemingly stumped his mother. Even the old professor seemed to be looking at him… strangely, almost as if he were seeing him for the first time.
"Ash…" Oak replied in a strange tone. "What exactly aren't you telling me?"
"Nothing." Ash lied. "Nothing at all."
The trip to the Vermillion coast had been a solitary one. With Harrison being out of reach, Ash had no one to talk to, and literally no place to go, so on a whim, he had trudged his way back to the coast. By a strange twist of luck, none of his pokémon (those he had on him anyway) were long walkers. Bagon would probably get tired after walking for fifteen minutes or so. The baby dragon's physiology was strange that way. The muscles of his limbs allowed him a quick sprint over short intervals of time, but a long-drawn out solitary walk would drain him out faster than imagination. Charmander, if not for his frail condition, could have fit the deal. At least, the constant use of draconic powers, and his complete lapse of inner-flame usage had begun to show somewhat… positive effects on the little fire-lizard. Bagon's constant presence and lack of judgement had helped too.
Crawdaunt was certainly not an option. Not now anyway.
He found himself a nice little place in the sand, making sure that he wouldn't be drenched by sudden tides. Plucking his pokeball out, he released his starter, as the baby dragon looked around, and finding no one, settled down beside him, nudging his leg with his hard-as-steel head.
"What is it, Bagon?"
The baby dragon gave him a questioning look, as if asking the reason why he had called him out.
"You want to know why I brought you out. Is that it?"
Bagon grunted in agreement.
Even my pokémon seem to think that all I care about is training. About that-
He plucked out the other pokeball and released Charmander, who let out a soft grunt before relaxing against him, his tail flame burning brightly.
At least he's a little happier than before.
"Bagon, Charmander… I thought we could you know… just spend some time and talk."
Both draconic species gave him a questioning look.
Ash snorted. "You know, before I met you, Bagon, "he gave the baby dragon a meaningful look, "before I even begun this journey, I was mad after getting a Charmander as my starter."
Charmander squeaked in surprise, though Bagon looked slightly… offended.
Ash gave a sad smile. "I was… I was crazy about dragons. Charizards in particular, since dragons are so rare. I used to want having an entire team of them, breathing fire."
He paused for a moment.
"I was so mad, when Professor Oak told me that I'd not be able to get a Charmander, and if I really wanted one, I'd have to wait for a long while."
The expression on Bagon's face shifted to that of curiosity.
"So the professor told me that I could either wait for it, or get started on another starter."
Bagon felt the sudden impulse to look away, since from Ash's words, he was simply an afterthought.
"—and he brought me to a Pikachu."
That perked Bagon's ears. A Pikachu? Ash didn't have one of those rodents in his team. He would know.
Ash snorted. "Well, he was a crazy little one, biting the wires and sucking electricity from professor's lab. So me, being the idiot that I was, went ahead and tried to convince it to join me as my starter."
Bagon and Charmander both widened their eyes, as it struck them.
"Pikachu literally electrocuted me." Ash snorted again. "It would be funny, except that I almost died. I was in a coma… I mean, totally unconscious, for like three days or something, and even after I woke up, I was quite weak in the beginning."
Bagon could attest to that. His earliest memories of Ash were the human sitting on his bed.
"And then Professor Oak told me that I could also have a dragon, and then I got you." Ash smiled, caressing the baby dragon who felt an incessant desire to rub his head against his trainer's leg. "I was so happy. I finally had my dragon, the starter I dreamt of. It might not have been Charmander, but it was you, a real dragon. I was very happy."
He paused. "Though… I'll admit, that it didn't quench my desire to have a charmander of my own." He looked up at Bagon's inquisitive eyes. "Come to think of it, I've been a horrible trainer. Getting myself such a wonderful starter, and yet, having second thoughts about another. I'd hate me if I were you."
Personally, Bagon thought that his trainer was being overly sentimental. He was a draconic being, and dragons only chose the most powerful as their leader, since they themselves were powerful in their own right. He knew quite well that compared with the fire-lizard, Bagon had been initially a lot limited. It was kind of… obvious why Ash would want a charmander. He didn't have to like it, but he agreed with it. His draconic pride wouldn't allow him any less.
"So I thought that you deserve an apology."
Bagon nuzzled into his leg, making Ash snort.
"You know, you are rather progressive about this forgiveness thing." He snorted again, caressing his starter. Charmander too, he observed, had pushed himself a little closer to him. "I know your greatest ambition is to fly, soaring through the sky as a powerful Salamence. Seeing your dedication at that, jumping off cliffs like that, I wonder if that is what having a purpose feels like."
Bagon couldn't comprehend his trainer's words, so he decided that he was just being praised. With a soft purr, he rested his head on Ash's lap.
Ash turned to his other pokémon. "When I saw you on the rocks, Charmander," he began, as the fire-lizard widened his eyes, listening to his trainer. "I was- I was happy, sad, enraged, confused… I don't really know what I was feeling back then. All those wishes of me having a Charmander as a starter, all those feelings of being cheated when professor oak told me that I might not get one at all, all those memories came back with full force. Here were you, a Charmander, injured, alone and almost dying, deserted by your trainer, and on the other hand, I had always wanted one, and never got any… I thought it was terribly unfair. I thought you deserved better."
Charmander just looked at his trainer with his large eyes.
"Like you, I too have never really seen my father. I know he's there, somewhere, but I've never known him. I guess… both of us are alike like that."
"I know you've been through a lot, Charmander, but I do not want you to judge me or my friends in terms of Damien." He paused, looking at the two of them, "I meant it, you know. Both of you, I will always be there for you, and look out for you. You can trust me on that."
Charmander gave out a long and drawn-out 'chaar' while Bagon grunted appreciatively.
"I know that in the future, I will be catching more pokémon, and I might not always be able to relate with each and every one of them. I'll need your help in that matter. I will-"
He looked down, and found that both of his pokémon had their heads rested on his lap, and were almost asleep.
He snorted. A part of him reminded himself that he should get himself an early return to catch up with training, but no amount of that could convince him to wake those two pokémon from his lap.
He smiled to himself. Maybe a little more rest wouldn't be that bad after all.