177 Jhoto - Azalea town

Around early evening time after making sure all of their Pokemon were in full health, they left for Dr Kurtis place. Ash held the package that Bugsy had requested they take to his office, making him wonder why the Gym Leader looked worried. But he figures Dr Kurtis could explain later. Max and Gou were chattering away about the many types of pokeballs available in Jhoto, Kanto and Hoenn.

Max, "Oh yeah! Lucario's pokeball is a Heal ball, right?"

Lucario nodded, -Yes. Though I rarely use it, unless it's an emergency. Like if I get hurt.-

Gou, "Ash won it from a competition, I remember Red bragging about it."

Brock snickered seeing Ash's face turn pink, "Oh tell us about it."

Gou then launched into an explanation and started to tell them about one of the get togethers before becoming trainers. Red and Blue were in charge of watching over them as they had just returned from their first journey through Kanto. Red and Blue were trying to keep them put of trouble, they had already gotten into some earlier by wandering into the forest and got a earful for it. To distract them the two trainers started telling them about how they got their pokeballs first. The contest Ash and Gary had taken part in and the Cherish and Heal ball they had won as prizes for coming first. Gary had given Blue a Heal ball while Ash had given Red a Cherish ball.

Max, "Is that why Blue's starter is Blissey?"

Ash, "Eh? No, no, it's not because of the Heal ball. Blissey is Blue's starter because he took care of Blissey since she was a poke egg. The same way Red took care of his Charizard from a poke egg."

Gou grinned, "Poke eggs you and Gary found during the camping week. You two were like their lucky charms."

Ash laughed nervously, 'I highly doubt that.'

Brock hummed, "Still to find poke eggs in the wild just like that."

Casey, "That's like super duper lucky."

Max, "Wait, isn't Red's Charizard a Shiny?"

Gou, "Yes, she is."

Brock laughed, "You sound like a Shiny magnet."

Ash grumbled, "I'm not and it's not my fault some trainers are just way too stupid and incapable of cherishing their Pokemon."

Gou, "We are here guys. This is the place I think."

Max, "That's one large orchard."

Brock, "Those look like Apricorn."

Casey, "That's cause they are. Dr Kurtis uses them as base for pokeballs remember?"

Ash, "Let me ring the bell. Hello anyone here?"

A girl's face appeared, "Yes? Who is it?"

Ash, "Hi! I have a package from Gym Leader Bugsy and another from Professor Oak."

The girl hummed looking at something, "Oh yes! Bugsy sent an email about it. Come in."

Ash and the others grinned as they walked through the calm and sweet smelling Apricorn orchard. The young girl introduced herself as Mazie and she talked about the many types of Apricorn around the orchard. There were many including red, pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, black and white Apricorns currently growing in their orchard. She told them about her dream of having a gigantic Apricorn orchard of her own one day and produce many types of pokeballs.

Mazie, "The white ones are used in making fast balls and the pink in cherish balls."

Max, "So cool. Oh these are orange."

Brock sniffs, "They smell ripe."

Maxie, "They are almost ripe. They'll be harvested next week to make moon balls used to catch Pokemon that evolve with moon stones."

Casey, "They smell so sweet though. Kinda makes you want to eat them."

Maxie chuckled, "These are not for consumption I'm afraid though the edible ones grow in a garden in the backyard."

Gou, "Nice! Hey look green Apricorns! They look small though."

Maxie, "They are still growing, they'll become bigger at the end of the month."

Lucario, -Meema look! Red Apricorns.-

Maxie stared at Lucario for a bit before shaking her head, "Those are used in making level balls."

Ash, "Interesting. You know so much about this."

Maxie puffed up proudly, "The next ones are blue Apricorn trees, we harvested them yesterday. They are being turned into lure balls as we speak."

Casey, "They are used to catch water types right?"

Gou, "I want one."

Maxie grinned nodding, "The last one is the black Apricorn. They are used in making heavy balls and are getting harvested today."

Ash gave an impressed whistle on seeing a fruit picking machine gently pick the fruit from the tree branches and transport them to a basket. They watched for a while before following Maxie to the house situated in the middle of the orchard, they had gone all around it. Dr Kurtis was waiting for them inside and quiet excitedly received Professor Oak's package while telling Maxie to put the package sent by Bugsy in his office.

Kurt, "Let's see now. Oh! this is different."

Brock, "What's wrong doc?"

Kurt, "I have worked with old fashioned pokeballs before but this one... It's made from gold and silver. Very odd choice. What are these?"

Gou, "What's wrong?"

Casey, "Did we miss something?"

Kurt observed the G. S. ball using a magnifying glass, "Interesting. There are some runes etched into this. I'm not sure what it means sadly. I'll have to ask an expert in runes to help."

Max pouted, "Awww! I was hoping we could figure out this mystery today."

Kurtis laughed, "The mystery will be solved one day. Just not today. Now why don't you all follow Maxie here. In return for the safe delivery of the two packages, each of you have my permission to take one free pokeball."

Gou, "Aw sweet!"

Brock, "Thank you Dr Kurtis."

Max, "Thank you very much."

Casey, "We appreciate it."

Ash, "Yes thank you."

Lucario, -Can we get another Heal ball Meema?-

Kurtis, "Oh ho! I thought Sammy was pulling my leg about your Lucario. Turns out he wasn't. Don't worry, you can pick any poke ball you want."

They thanked Dr Kurtis for sharing information on the G. S. ball before following Maxie to the workshop. Maxie explained they were working on making the pokeballs last longer and handle the natural elements more without rusting. Brock nodded agreeing it would be more cost effective for beginners and it would be fascinating to have a new type of poke ball.

Maxie, "Here we are."

Ash, "Go ahead Lucario."

Lucario, -Right.-

Max, "I want ummm... What should we get Breloom, Mareep?"

Breloom looked around, "Loom bre."

Mareep, "Marrrrr?"

Max, "That's a friend ball. Good choice."

Brock picked up a heavy ball, "I'll take this."

Casey, "I'm taking a lure ball."

Gou, "I've decided to take a fast ball."

They thanked Maxie for the tour and waved goodbye to Dr Kurtis who smiled back, before heading back to the Pokemon center in the main Azalea town. Ash half wondered what the package that Bugsy sent was, it felt like paper so maybe paperwork. Ash looked at the paperwork he was working on in his room, yeah, he was better off not knowing to be completely honest. He had his own stack to tackle at the moment, there was no need to add an extra one. He fluttered between doing the official paperwork and writing his fifth book, he had the main storyline down, he was adding more details now.

He had finished writing the first detailed chapter which talked about the magical worlds international and local laws. Ash chuckled wondering how his readers would react to it, the magical world having their own superstars, crazy sports and now laws. He checked the official page on his laptop that he recently after winning at the conference. The official page allowed fans to post fanart and fanfics which his Pokemon enjoyed reading from time to time. Some were hilarious and others were downright flabbergasting making Ash snicker at it before he decided to shut his laptop and go to sleep.

Ash grinned the next day, "My turn today."

Casey, "This should be interesting."

Ash, "My Heracross is very excited. He'll be going against other bug types."

Brock, "I can imagine."

Gou, "Do you plan on catching more bug types?"

Ash, "Yeah, I have been planning on getting one more from Jhoto but none clicked yet. I can't explain, it's this feeling you know? When you meet that Pokemon you just know they will be right for you."

Max, "I think I can understand."

Ash, "My first battle however will be my little Omanyte's first official battle. Professor Oak called this morning to say Omanyte was clear to battle."

Max, "Really?"

Gou, "This will be an awesome battle to watch."

Brock, "You have been training with Omanyte and Lapras both that's why you were gone the last few days."

Casey, "I was wondering why you didn't use the battle grounds around the Pokemon centre."

Max, "I can't wait."

Gou was holding a recording cam, "I can't either."

Ash half wondered when Gou got the expensive looking recorder before shaking his head, "I'm here for a Gym battle and an Ace battle."

Bugsy grinned, "I accept."

Brock blinked, "Huh!"

Bugsy smiled sheepishly, "Sorry, it's not always I can go all out."

Ash laughed, "I get it. I should tell you though. The Gym battle will be with Pokemon who just started battling officially. It's in the Ace battle I'm bringing out my stronger Pokemon."

Bugsy, "Let's do it then."

Referee, "Today we are having a battle for the Hive badge first before we have an Ace battle. For the Hive badge, the challenger is allowed to recall Pokemon but the gym leader is not allowed. The battle will be a three on three battle. Choose your first Pokemon."

Bugsy, "Go Surskit!"

Ash, "Time to shine Omanyte."

Referee, "Begin!"

Bugsy who was surprised gave the first attack, "Use water gun."

Ash, "Roll out to dodge."

Omanyte withdrew and rolled away from the water gun Surskit was shooting at him more then once. When Surskit stopped, Omanyte came out and just like Lapras had advised him shot a mud shot at Surskit. Surskit hissed as her eyes were hit by the mud shot and started to shake to get rid of the mud.

Bugsy, "Water gun upwards to wash it away."

Ash, "Water gun."

While Surskit used water gun to clean herself Omanyte used water gun to attack her. The bug water type growled at that and got up before attacking using agility. On seeing his opponent use high speed Omanyte withdrew and looked outside as Surskit moved around him before attacking him with aqua jet.

Ash, "Use ancient power."

Bugsy, "Use mist to hide."

Ash, "Shoot around you like a circle to get rid of the mist. Stay calm."

Omanyte nodded and instead of attacking Surskit as previously intended, he decided to use ancient power to clear the mist. When the mist cleared Surskit was preparing water pulse prompting Ash to call out a water pulse as well. The two water Pokemon soon released water pulse attacks at each other, hitting each other with it. Omanyte was shaking as he got up slowly but Surskit stayed down and didn't get up.

Referee, "Surskit is unable to battle, Omanyte wins the match."

Omanyte finally relaxed "Nyte."

Ash picked him up, "You did great buddy."

Omanyte gave an eye smile before snuggling with him, "Nyt!"

Ash smiled, "Sleep buddy. You deserve rest."

Referee, "Omanyte is incapable of battling as well. Choose your next Pokemon."

Bugsy, "Very impressive. We are not having our Ace battle yet, you brought a very lovely surprise to the first match up."

Ash, "Thank you. I was honestly worried Omanyte might have to stay at the lab forever instead of being able to see the world. I'm just happy he is here with me now."

Casey, "He is so adorable asleep."

Gou, "Yup, Misty has more cutesey names for him."

Max looked at the chat and sweat dropped, "She really loves water types huh?"

Brock snorted, "Understatement of the century."

Ash, "Now then!"

Bugsy, "Let's go Parasect."

Ash, "Let's go Chikorita."

Referee, "Begin."

[A. N.: Finally some free time to upload.

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I decided to give them different pokeballs for the next Pokemon they will capture.]