Chapter Text
[Pikachu Fan Club]
Ash: It’s good to be back
Diantha: I know what you mean
Steven: You’re back in Pallet Town, I take it?
Ash: Yep!
Cynthia: Getting back from your first journey. There’s nothing quite like it
Kate: It’s only been a few weeks, but that can feel like an eternity, can’t it?
Ash: It did. And like no time at all. Is that weird?
Leon: I don’t think so
Alder: little bit
Alder: but also no
Kate: I’m kinda in the opposite boat myself. I’ve been gone for three months now, and it felt like no time at all, but right now it also feels like forever.
Cynthia: Time’s funny like that
Lance: People perceive it in weird ways.
Diantha: Also her flight got delayed
Steven: That would do it
Ash: Oof, sorry to hear that
Kate: How do you know that?
Diantha: I can track the progress of your flight from my computer
Cynthia: Is that sweet or creepy?
Alder: bit of both
Lance: Depends on how Kate feels about it.
Kate: I’d agree with both.
Diantha: I can live with that
Kate: Don’t suppose you know how long until my flight lands?
Diantha: Looks like another three hours
Kate: Ugh.
Ash: Oof, sorry to hear that
Kate: It’s fine. So, Pallet Town? What’s it like to be back?
Ash: It’s good. Mimey’s kept the house nice and tidy while we were all gone
Ash: He even put a hot water bottle in my bed so it was nice and warm.
Kate: Lucky.
Leon: Hey, don’t worry about it! I’m sure your bed at the Union will be just as inviting when you get there!
Kate: I’m not going to the Union. My flight lands just outside of Vientown. I’m gonna go to Chicole Village and spend the night at home.
Lance: Even better.
Cynthia: Nothing beats time with family
Ash: If you get the chance, call ahead and have someone put a hot water bottle in your bed!
[Pikachu Fan Club]
Ash: Pallet Town is throwing a party
Leon: Nice!
Steven: To celebrate your performance in the Indigo League?
Cynthia: Or just because. There’s nothing wrong with a party just because
Ash: For Gary and I both
Diantha: He is a Pallet trainer too
Alder: not as good though
Lance: I’m not sure that’s a fair thing to say.
Alder: ash made it to a higher round
Alder: numbers dont lie
Cynthia: I don’t know about that. Seven’s awfully shifty
Alder: and terrifying
Ash: Professor Oak asked us if we’d like to say a few words
Leon: Speech!
Steven: What did you say?
Ash: I kinda got nervous. It’s a bit of a blur
Ash: I think I managed to thank everyone for their support?
Lance: Well, that’s good if you did.
Cynthia: Ugh, I hate public speaking
Diantha: It takes a lot of getting used to
Steven: Did Gary say anything?
Ash: He thanked everyone for their support then hopped off the stage
Leon: So nothing much
Lance: It’s good that he’s appreciating them.
Alder: it is
Ash: Anyway, now that the speeches are over, I see a few food stands set up
Cynthia: Ooh, nice!
Steven: Well, you can’t ignore that
Leon: Chow!
[Pikachu Fan Club]
Ash: The takoyaki is too spicy
Leon: Tako-what?
Alder: a little spice isnt bad
Ash: This isn’t a little spice. This is demon fire in food form
Alder: oh
Ash: Misty had to get Staryu to wash her mouth out with water gun it was so bad!
Alder: ooh bad move
Alder: if you eat something spicy you want milk
Diantha: Moomoo milk?
Lance: Kinda surprised the takoyaki stand didn’t sell it if they sold spicy food.
Cynthia: Was Delia helping run it?
Ash: No, she’s taking the day off
Alder: good for her
Leon: She deserves it!
Leon: But seriously, tako-what?
Lance: It’s a kind of food.
Leon: I’d guessed that part
Steven: And it’s too spicy
Ash: Yeah, it really is
Cynthia: Who would make it that way?
Ash: Team Rocket, apparently
Cynthia: Really?
Ash: Yep
Ash: They snuck into the party and set up a food stall
Diantha: Did they at least get a permit for this one?
Lance: It’s an informal event in a small town. I doubt there was a permit to get.
Leon: Are they trying anything or just selling food?
Ash: They’ve got Pikachu tied up beneath their balloon
Alder: did they not even get a cage
Ash: They also have some kind of firecrackers they’ve been throwing down at us. Squirtle, Staryu, and Gary’s Blastoise are putting them out before they can go off. As soon as there’s an opening Charizard’s gonna pop their balloon
Ash: Scratch that, as soon as there was an opening Charizard popped their balloon
Cynthia: Great! Get Pikachu back from them and get back to the party!
Ash: Wait
Ash: That’s new
Leon: Oh no
Diantha: What’s new?
Ash: Not entirely sure what happened, but their popped balloon was disconnected and a new one inflated to catch them
Steven: An emergency backup
Alder: they needed it
Lance: To be honest, they’ve probably needed something like that for almost a year now.
Diantha: True
Ash: Jessie did send out Arbok to attack Charizard. He was distracted and got tangled up by a wrap, but then Squirtle hid in his shell and had Gary’s Blastoise hit him with a hydro pump. It sent him flying up at Team Rocket. He bounced off Arbok and crashed through the balloon, sending Team Rocket blasting off
Alder: thats one way to shoot a shell at a rocket
Leon: Was that a pun? I feel like that was a pun
Alder: hm
Lance: You and Gary worked together on this one?
Ash: No! Squirtle and Blastoise worked together!
Lance: Right, my mistake.
Ash: Anyway, Charizard caught Pikachu and Squirtle and flew them back down. Squirtle even caught a few pieces of takoyaki that had fallen from the remains of the balloon
Steven: Make sure he’s careful with it
Ash: No need. Apparently, Squirtle likes spicy food
[Pikachu Fan Club]
Kate: Morning, everyone.
Ash: Good morning!
Leon: Morning, Kate! Sleep well?
Diantha: Isn’t it the middle of the afternoon in Almia?
Kate: And the sun was already up by the time I was able to crawl into bed, so I don’t see your point.
Diantha: No point. Good morning
Cynthia: And a good morning to you!!!
Lance: Good morning.
Steven: Good morning
Alder: good morning
Steven: Did you have a good flight?
Kate: Eh. About as good as it could’ve been. Food was pretty good.
Diantha: How in the name of Arceus did you find a plane with good food?
Kate: Brock gave it to me before the flight.
Lance: That would do it.
Leon: And when you got back to the house? You still didn’t answer my question
Kate: I slept fine. Not quite as long as I’d have liked, but I don’t want to completely ruin my sleep schedule.
Ash: Did you at least get a hot water bottle?
Kate: No. But I did have another source of warmth.
Steven: Oh?
Alder: do tell
Kate: So. Apparently, about a month after I left for Kanto, Hannah started hearing something moving around in my bedroom. I was out of town, so this obviously confused her. She thought it might be a burglar. Dad went to check it out, and it turns out somehow a Munchlax had gotten into the house. Fast forward to today and I woke up with her cuddled up against my side.
Steven: A Munchlax. Those are rare
Cynthia: Infuriatingly so
Ash: And Munchlax was really warm?
Kate: Muffin. Hannah calls her Muffin. And yes, she is. Like a furnace, almost.
Leon: That name is adorable
Lance: I take it that means Hannah’s keeping Muffin?
Kate: Yeah, she and Hannah have really bonded.
Alder: glad your parents are letting her stay
Kate: Not sure they’d be able to get Muffin out even if they wanted to. They still don’t know how she got inside that first time. And for some reason Muffin likes to hang out in my room, so I’d assume she’d keep showing up even if she didn’t stay.
Alder: maybe she enjoys the view from your window
Kate: It is a great view. Overlooks the ocean.
Diantha: Very nice
Cynthia: By any chance, do you keep any honey in your room? I hear Munchlaxes can be attracted to honey
Kate: No, we’re not allowed to have food in the bedrooms.
Ash: Is honey food?
Alder: you eat it
Alder: dont you
Ash: It’s a liquid, so wouldn’t it be a drink?
Steven: That logic makes sense, but I really don’t like thinking about it
Ash: Sorry
Diantha: I don’t know if I can stop thinking about it now
Steven: So! Muffin! She gonna be Hannah’s starter when she’s old enough? Or Partner if she decides to go the Ranger route?
Kate: None of those, I think. I dunno, Hannah and Muffin… they’re kinda more like Miss Ketchum and Mimey, I think.
Lance: A Pokémon friend that hangs out around the house.
Leon: I can’t imagine Muffin helps out around the house as much as Mimey does
Cynthia: She probably helps take care of leftovers from meals?
Steven: Most likely
Ash: Remember how you guys were all claiming Mimey was my brother?
Leon: Oh yeah!
Steven: Delia started it
Cynthia: Good times, good times
Alder: yes
Kate: …I do…
Ash: Does this make Muffin your sister?
Kate: Wouldn’t she be your sister too?
Ash: Then you’d get Mimey
Kate: …
Kate: I have to think about this.
Ash: While you’re doing that, Professor Oak wants to talk to me at his lab
Ash: Let me know what you decide!
[Pikachu Fan Club]
Ash: Kate, I think Professor Oak is a little hurt you left without saying goodbye
Kate: Really?
Leon: Wait, you didn’t say goodbye?!
Kate: I’m pretty sure I did…
Steven: What’s going on with Professor Oak?
Ash: Professor Oak has this friend Professor Ivy
Alder: another professor
Lance: In the Orange Archipelago?
Ash: Yeah, that’s the one
Diantha: What about her?
Ash: She called Professor Oak about a mysterious Poké Ball she found. She hasn’t been able to figure out what it is and wants Professor Oak to take a look at it, but it won’t go through the transporter on Valencia Island
Lance: Wait, really?
Ash: Really
Cynthia: That’s not usual, is it?
Steven: No it’s not
Lance: Excuse me.
Kate: This is interesting, don’t get me wrong, but where do I play into this?
Ash: Right!
Ash: Professor Oak needs someone to go pick up this mysterious Poké Ball for him, and he suggested that me and Kate could go do it
Diantha: So he didn’t know Kate was gone
Ash: Yeah. When I explained it he just said he didn’t know that and started talking about how we could get to Valencia Island
Alder: at least he took it in stride
Leon: Still, not being told goodbye like that must sting
Kate: But I did! I said goodbye before we left the Indigo Plateau!
Steven: Guess he just misunderstood it
Kate: I guess.
Ash: Seems so
Cynthia: Hey, Kate. Can’t you just go to this island and help out anyway?
Kate: No. My vacation’s kinda over. I’m going back to the Union tomorrow.
Leon: Just make it a quest
Alder: coming from a professor
Kate: That would be a mission.
Alder: it would be a mission
Kate: See?
Diantha: Professor Oak almost definitely has enough sway to get you assigned to the mission if he wanted
Kate: But he hasn’t. And besides, I may be a Top Ranger, but at the moment I’m still an Almia-based Top Ranger.
Ash: Aw, so you’re not gonna be able to tag along on this one?
Kate: Not this time. Sorry.
Ash: It’s fine
Lance: I’m back.
Ash: Welcome back!
Leon: Hey, Lance! You’re back!
Alder: i can see that
Steven: Where’ve you been?
Lance: Talking to Bill. He’s looked into it and says that the Valencia Island transporter is working perfectly. Whatever the reason this Poké Ball can’t be transported, it’s not the transporter.
Ash: Good to know
Cynthia: So, you’re back at the lighthouse with Bill? How’s that going? Any new developments on that front?
Lance: No.
Cynthia: Aw…
Cynthia: You should really get on that
Ash: Get on what?
Lance: Don’t worry about it.
Diantha: So Ash, you’re going to Valencia Island soon?
Ash: Yep
Ash: We’re gonna leave soon so we can get to the Pokémon Center by night, then fly down to Valencia Island tomorrow
Ash: Brock just wants to do some quick planning, and we need to say goodbye to Mom
Cynthia: Good
Alder: on both accounts
[Pikachu Fan Club]
Ash: Something weird just happened
Kate: Good or bad weird?
Cynthia: Or Team Rocket weird?
Ash: I don’t know
Ash: Okay, so, we were just about to leave, right? We had everything packed, we were walking past Professor Oak’s lab, and then Charizard popped out of his Poké Ball. I think he’s decided to stay at the lab for a bit
Leon: Oh. That kind of weird
Ash: Yeah, that kind of weird
Alder: whens the last time he stayed at the lab
Ash: He hasn’t. Charizard has literally never done this before
Diantha: You’re not talking just about him as Charizard, right?
Ash: Right. Ever since he was a Charmander, he’s never stayed at the lab before
Steven: Why hasn’t he?
Ash: He’s never wanted to. Anytime the subject came up, he made it clear that he didn’t want to
Ash: And now he does
Ash: Is that bad?
Alder: no
Leon: Did he make it seem like it was bad? Did he get angry and fly away or throw fire everywhere or anything?
Ash: No, he didn’t do anything like that
Leon: Then I think you’re good
Lance: I must agree.
Ash: Really?
Kate: Really?
Lance: Really. I think this is Charizard just letting himself take a break.
Cynthia: Which is good
Steven: Like that conversation you told us you and he had while kidnapped by Team Rocket. Charizard doesn’t have to push himself and now that he knows that he’s letting himself rest a bit
Cynthia: Which is still good
Ash: You really think that’s what it is?
Alder: yes
Diantha: Did Charizard seem upset or like he wanted you to just leave him behind?
Ash: No. No, he didn’t. I mean, yes, he wanted to stay at the lab, but he definitely doesn’t want me to leave him behind
Leon: And he’d definitely make it known if he did, so I think it’s good
Ash: Doesn’t really feel good
Diantha: What’s wrong?
Ash: This is the farthest Charizard has been from me since I caught him. It feels weird
Kate: Nerve-wracking?
Ash: Yeah
Kate: Like the second you turn your back something’s gonna go wrong?
Ash: Yeah, I guess
Kate: I know what you mean.
Ash: You do?
Kate: I think Togepi’s old enough that he doesn’t need the constant supervision I’ve been giving him. I can take him with me as a full Partner without any other Pokémon, and I can leave him back at the farm as well. So, yeah, I have a pretty good idea.
Ash: Sorry
Kate: It’s not your fault.
Ash: But it’s not fun
Kate: No. But hey, we can form a support group!
Leon: Yeah!
Steven: I’ll join in
Cynthia: Isn’t that basically what we already are?
Ash: Sometimes, I guess
Diantha: I’d be happy to provide support whenever you need it
Ash: Thanks
Kate: Thank you.
Diantha: And that goes to any of you
Alder: i appreciate and reciprocate
Leon: Oh, thanks!
Cynthia: Thanks, Mom!
Diantha: Don’t make that a thing
Lance: She’s going to make that a thing.
Cynthia: Oh, I’m gonna make that a thing
[Pikachu Fan Club]
Ash: I think I might need support right now
Kate: What’s happening?
Diantha: What’s wrong?
Leon: Did something happen with Charizard?!
Cynthia: Team Rocket?
Ash: Even worse
Ash: We ran into Gary
Alder: oh dear
Ash: Yeah! We were on the road to Viridian City, and Gary showed up!
Lance: Is he going to the Orange Archipelago with you?
Ash: No, he’s not. He’s just off on his own journey, and apparently we’re going the same way for now
Steven: At least you won’t have to put up with him for long? I mean, with his car, he’s gonna be gone soon
Ash: He doesn’t have the car. He’s doing this journey on foot
Cynthia: Finally
Alder: what about the cheerleaders
Ash: They’re gone too
Kate: Wonder why?
Steven: Because carting cheerleaders across the region is weird?
Lance: It’s not the done thing.
Ash: Gary’s done it
Leon: Exactly
Steven: So for now you’re walking with him?
Ash: We’re on the opposite sides of the road, but more or less, yeah
Cynthia: Is he trying anything?
Ash: No. And I don’t think he will
Kate: That’s good.
Leon: Right?
Diantha: It is
Kate: And he’s ditched the car and doesn’t have the cheerleaders. I think that’s good
Alder: well
Alder: the car at least
Cynthia: Gives him a more authentic traveling experience
Diantha: Not that there’s anything wrong with doing it another way
Cynthia: I know, I know. But the motivations!
Steven: Can’t argue with that
Kate: It is summer now. Guess Gary’s trying to enjoy it?
Ash: I guess
Leon: Good for him
Ash: Well, yeah, good for him
Ash: Just… did he have to take the same road as us?
Lance: There’s only one road.
[Pikachu Fan Club]
Ash: You guys are never gonna believe this
Alder: youd be surprised kid
Steven: What’s going on?
Ash: Remember how on my first day as a trainer I was attacked by a Spearow flock?
Leon: Oh yeah!
Kate: I vaguely remember that.
Lance: Just north of Pallet Town.
Cynthia: No!
Ash: Yes!
Ash: They’re back!
Diantha: Do Spearow hold a grudge, by any chance?
Lance: A grudge? A grudge?! Spearow are downright vindictive!
Ash: And they have long memories
Diantha: They’re targeting you
Ash: They’re attacking all of us
Leon: Can’t Pikachu just knock them all out again?
Ash: No!
Steven: Right, didn’t he take advantage of rain to do that?
Ash: You remember what it did to Pikachu last time! I can’t ask him to do that again!
Alder: that too
Cynthia: He is significantly stronger now, though
Lance: This is still an entire flock of Spearow.
Steven: And they’re probably stronger too
Leon: So… run for it?
Kate: I don’t think there are any convenient bikes nearby for them all to steal.
Diantha: And even if there were, that wouldn’t be a good idea
Leon: As long as he doesn’t fry these ones…
Ash: So, the flock is being led by a Fearow
Lance: Makes sense.
Kate: Was there a Fearow last time?
Steven: I don’t remember him mentioning one
Ash: I’m almost positive that this Fearow is the original Spearow I got angry
Lance: Of course it is.
Ash: Gary tried to battle Fearow, but it’s completely focused on me
Ash: I don’t think it’s forgiven me for throwing that rock at it
Leon: Wait, you threw a rock at it?
Steven: I don’t remember that
Ash: I didn’t know any better!
Cynthia: I can kinda understand why Fearow’s holding a grudge
Ash: Anyway! Fearow keeps trying to get at us, but even though we can keep him from getting too close he can also stay far enough away that none of our attacks can hit him
Alder: flying types are tricky like that
Ash: I think I’m gonna have to go with an aerial battle
Lance: Probably the best strategy.
Diantha: Have you ever done that before?
Ash: Once. When I caught Aerodactyl
Kate: Are you gonna try to catch Fearow?
Ash: I don’t think so
Leon: You sure?
Cynthia: That would be awfully poetic
Ash: Yeah, but Fearow would hate to be caught by me
Steven: Can’t argue with that
Alder: good
Ash: Right, Pidgeot and I are off to battle Fearow. Wish us luck
Leon: I wish you all the luck!
Kate: Good luck, Ash.
Cynthia: Luck!
Steven: You got this
Diantha: Good luck
Alder: keep your cool and you and pidgeot can do this
Lance: I know you can do this.
[Pikachu Fan Club]
Ash: Right, what do you guys want to hear first? What happened to Fearow, the part with Team Rocket, or the flock of Pidgey and Pidgeotto?
Leon: There were a bunch of Pidgey and Pidgeotto?
Cynthia: Ooh, Team Rocket!
Kate: Pidgey and Pidgeotto.
Alder: flock
Lance: What happened to Fearow?
Diantha: The Team Rocket part
Ash: Okay, Pidgey and Pidgeotto it is
Ash: It turns out that a flock of Pidgey and Pidgeotto live in this forest. With the Spearow and Fearow terrorizing them, they couldn’t really do anything. They were too terrified to do anything but hide in the trees
Cynthia: That’s so sad!
Leon: Poor little guys
Steven: The Spearow and Fearow are really that strong?
Lance: Never underestimate how savage they can get.
Alder: plus fearow was probably the worst of it
Alder: an angry and evolved form like that
Alder: a huge bully
Kate: But they’re safe now, right? You wouldn’t be telling us this if they weren’t safe?
Ash: They’re safe, yeah. The Spearow all left to chase Team Rocket, which gave the Pidgey and Pidgeotto an opening to escape
Cynthia: Yeah, you said Team Rocket was there. I take it they tried to capture all the Pokémon?
Ash: Not that I can tell. I don’t know exactly what happened, but at some point they angered the Spearow and had spent some time hiding in a tree themselves
Leon: Valid
Lance: That’s about right.
Ash: I guess they thought with Pidgeot and I fighting Fearow, it would give them an opening to escape unnoticed
Ash: Didn’t work
Cynthia: At least Pidgey and Pidgeotto could escape
Steven: But what’s to stop the Spearow and Fearow from chasing them?
Ash: Well, we think that the main issue was Fearow. Pidgeot’s confident that the others will be safe from just the Spearow. Even if they do attack, without Fearow they won’t be able to do much of anything
Steven: Without Fearow?
Alder: you said you werent gonna catch fearow
Kate: Change your mind?
Diantha: Or did you send Fearow running away out of shame?
Ash: I decided not to catch Fearow
Ash: Turns out Gary didn’t make that decision
Steven: Gary actually caught Fearow?
Alder: huh
Kate: That is…
Diantha: You’re the one who battled Fearow, right?
Ash: Yep
Diantha: And Gary caught him. That is terrible etiquette
Cynthia: Typical
Ash: Well
Ash: Gary did ask if it was okay with me
Cynthia: Wait, really?
Alder: thats better at least
Kate: He really wanted Fearow?
Ash: I think Fearow wanted to go with him if anything
Steven: How did that happen?
Ash: I’m not sure
Ash: Pidgeot and I defeated Fearow and sent him crashing into the forest. We stopped to check on the Pidgey and Pidgeotto, and by the time we got to the clearing where Fearow had landed, Gary had already been there for a while and asked if I minded if he caught Fearow
Ash: Guess they bonded
Cynthia: I guess
Kate: Wow.
Leon: I did not see that coming
Lance: At least that means Fearow won’t be around to terrorize trainers?
Diantha: Or the flock of Pidgey and Pidgeotto
Ash: Yep, they’re good now!
Alder: they should be able to take care of themselves
Ash: Pidgeot seems to think so
Leon: That’s good
Ash: So anyway, after he caught Fearow Gary left and I decided to update you guys on everything. Now we’re about to keep going ourselves
Kate: Onward to the Orange Islands?
Ash: Onward to the Orange Islands!