Jhoto - Violet City

Chikorita looked around as the Pokemon trained with their trainer, they were training very hard with the others. Ash had her do some warm up before having a mock battle to find out her exact level and ability. He was at the moment talking to Lucario and coming up with a training plan for her. She was not happy per say, but definitely greatful, he didn't catch her in one of the pokeball. Instead, he fixed the pokeball belonging to her late trainer and let her stay in it instead. Chimchar explained that Ash knew she already lost her world and he did not want her to loose the only other connection she had left with her trainer. Even if it is an old broken pokeball, it was her pokeball, the one her trainer received her in.

Chikorita approached them, "Chiko."

Lucario, -Hello sister, do not worry, we are almost complete with the training plan for you. Your trainer already did a great job creating a base now, we use that as a foundation to help you become more strong.-

Ash, "I hope you are ready Chikorita."

Chikorita looked at the two determined, "Chikorita."

Gou was with Spinarak, "So what do you think?"

Spinarak looked at the group who were spread out across the giant training ground and chirped happily. Cinderace and Gou smiled at that, they were a little worried Spinarak would not be able to get along with the others but everyone had been patient and understanding with them. Ash told him Spinarak reminded him a bit of Charizard when he was still a Charmender and was feeling reluctant to mingle with others. Gou nodded at that agreeing with the dark haired boy.

Gou, "There is no need to rush okay. You can take your time to socialize with others. I know for a fact outside a small circle of friends I have a hard time getting along with others."

Spinarak, "Na spina?"

Gou, "Hard to believe? Well believe me, despite my happy attitude. If my friends are not there, I avoid other people a lot. It's just easier when you have friends, you know."

Cinderace, "Ace cinderace."

Spinarak nodded, he understood a bit, "Spi spinarak."

Brock meanwhile was brushing Stanler, "I'm almost done, you can play with the others soon."

Stanler whinnied, "Annnnn."

Graveller gave a laugh, "Grave graveller."

Brock grinned brightly seeing his Pokemon relaxed and happy, he had spent last night getting to know the fawn Pokemon. It had taken a lot of coaxing and reassurances but it had paid off and Stanler was now comfortable with him. Although one look at the pleased expression, he suspected the grooming helped out too.

Brock, 'Ah well, as long as he grows up healthy.'

Max was training with Shroomish, "Come on Shroomish, you can do it."

Shroomish, "Shroomish."

Max grinned seeing Shroomish glow a bit with the ability agility, "Yeah, that's right, you are becoming faster. I know after you grow up you will be a battling grass type, but having the speed to back up your power attacks will help you."

Shroomish nodded determined, "Shroom."

Max, "I know agility is difficult for you learn because of your typing, but don't worry I'll train by your side. We will become faster together."

Shroomish, "Shroom shroomish."

Casey was cleaning her poke egg, 'And done.'

Her Pokemon were very curious about the new addition to their team. Beedrill buzzed around the poke egg and her trainer as she finished cleaning. Casey smiled as Meganium took the poke egg and gave a look that said she would take care of it while they trained.

Casey rubbed Meganium, "Thank you girl."

Meganium shook her head, "Meg meganium."

Casey turned to the rest of her Pokemon who was waiting, "Okay then, listen up everyone, you all heard how we got the poke egg right? And you all remember the bastards who attacked us right after coming here?"

Beedrill nodded, "Bzzzz."

Pichu hissed, "Pi pichu."

Electabuzz grunted, "Electabuzz."

Jolteon frowned, "Jolt."

Dewgong, "Gong gong."

Casey, "Well guess what they are the same people. So from now on when we train, we will train not only to win gym battles but also to fight people like those. You know what that means right?"

Pichu tilted his head, "Pi?"

Electabuzz's eyes hardened in understanding and nodded at her trainer, "Buzz."

Casey was very serious as she spoke, "It means, if push comes to shove, we may end up killing our enemies to survive."

Beedrill stared at her before nodding, "Bzzzz."

Casey looked at Pichu who was staring at her shocked, "I know, it's not ideal to become murderers so killing will be our absolute last resort. As you have no doubt heard, they killed Stanler's family. I am not losing my family."

Her Pokemon roared in response and got to intense training, Casey was now determined more then anything to challenge Falkner in a serious battle. She needs to get stronger, not just to win Championships but also to protect what is important to her. They were still at Palm Hills, Mandy's grandmother had sweet talked all of them into staying at their place as long as they were in Violet City. Ash, Casey and Brock's reactions were hilarious when they realized they were still at Palm Hills. Ash shook his head and muttered something about watching out for the sweet grandmas.

Casey, 'Well, could be worse.'

Sophie called them after lunch, "Youngsters, could I request a favor from you all?"

Gou, "What is it Grandma Sophie?"

Sophie, "Well, I need to send a package to Cherrygrove City. They are having their annual blue moon festival tomorrow night."

Ash, "Oh I heard about that festival. It is to celebrate the Quagsire deity who was said to have brought good luck to them right?"

Sophie beamed, "Yes, correct. I would have asked Mandy but he is currently in a meeting right now."

Brock, "Well we have been training from early morning only stopping for breakfast before getting to it again."

Max, "A break will be nice, our Pokemon have been training hard."

Casey grinned, "Yeah."

The Pokemon agreed to have a break and check out Cherrygrove City and wrapped up their training for the day. They would have to walk through a place called Happy town to reach Cherrygrove City. When Ash mentioned it in the group chat, Jessie texted her Blissey worked there and to tell her hello. They blinked at that before going to the Pokemon center. Blissey recognized them from seeing them before at her trainer's home party and, Blissey was as bright as ever. Blissey took them to meet her friends who were a Chansey and Nurse Joy who smiled at them welcoming them.

Brock, "Nurse Joy, seeing your beauty makurkkkk."

Golbat, "Gol gol gol golbat."

Ash snickered, "Some things never change~"

Lucario snickered as well, -Like Brock getting put in his place~ -

Casey laughed out loud, "That is way too hilarious."

Meganium snickered, "Mega meganium."

Max was awed, "That was awesome."

Shroomish, "Shroom shroomish."

Brock whined, "Come on guys! Not funny."

Blissey, Chansey and Nurse Joy laughed at the antics before asking if they wanted to book a room. They decided to stay at the Pokemon centre for the night and were getting ready when the alarm went off. They rushed to the front to see what was going on.

Nurse Joy, "We have a fire outbreak at an apple orchard. Trainers are requested to help in putting out the fire."

Brock frowned, "A fire? I hope it's not like Vermillion City."

Gou gulped, "I hope not."

Ash, "Let's go help them out. It'll be bad if the fire spreads far."

Casey nodded following Ash out, "Dewgong can help along with Lapras."

Max, "Right!"

They rushed to the apple orchard where a Lady was ordering people to put the fire out as fast as possible. There were Ledian flying around her helping the people get into position to put the fire out. Casey and Ash nodded and released Dewgong and Lapras and ordered both to use rain dance. Max and Shroomish were helping the Pokemon dig up trenches around the fire to keep it from spreading far. They worked with the other trainers till midnight to put the fire out.

Max, "Phew!"

Shroomish, "Shroom."

Pikachu checked on them, "Pika pikapi?"

Max, "We are ok."

Chimchar looked around and saw something, "Chim chim chimchar chimchar."

Ash sighed, "So any idea what happened?"

Brock, "Nurse Joy is talking to the owner, a lady called Arielle."

Arielle was not having a good time, she had just finished her final check and was about to sleep snuggling with the younger Ledyba, who were a little spoiled by her. That's when the trouble started, she was about to sleep when one of her older Ledian rushed into the room chirping frantically. It took a while to calm her down and when she looked outside there was smoke coming from the orchard. After the fire was put out she checked through everything in her orchard only to realize her most prized apple saplings were gone. It was not burned down gone as the fire didn't reach the green house, more like stolen gone.

Arielle, "Trainers, I have a request."

Gou perked up, "She found out something."

Brock, "Probably."

Arielle, "My most prized apple saplings ate missing. They are the costliest things in my orchard, and yes you all would be right in guessing it's Jhoto's cube apples."

Casey, "What? Aren't they difficult to maintaining? Who would be dumb enough to steal them? They would just destroy it."

Arielle sighed, "Yes, it is, which is why I request you all if you find them please inform me."

Ash observed the older woman, she had a hard look in her eyes and her hands had scars on them. He half wondered what happened to her but decided it was not his business, this Arielle was more confident and stronger then the anime one. He had honestly forgotten about her and seeing her brought back memories of her. Ash gave a tired sigh before leaning on Lucario who was looking around using aura sight. Chimchar's shriek pit him on alert.

Ash, "Chimchar?"

Chimchar was jumping and pointing at the ground, "Chim chim chimchar."

Lucario, -What is it? Oh!-

Ash, "Are these flammable liquid holders?"

Arielle, "What? Where did these come from?"

Lucario, -Chimchar says they were dug out when the Pokemon were digging up a trench to stop the fire.-

Nurse Joy, "So they were planted here, they were probably planning on stealing your saplings for quite some time now."

Arielle gritted her teeth, "No doubt."

Arielle sighed, "Guess I'll be reporting this after all. It's not just theft but arson too. Thank you for your help tonight everyone. Please drop in tomorrow morning to grab a thank you gift bag."

Ledian nodded, "Ledian."

Brock, "I could use a bath and sleep."

Casey, "Me too. I'm all muddy and smell like smoke. Gross!"

Ash, "Let's go guys. We can think about this tomorrow."

The group returned their exhausted Pokemon, luckily things did not escalate like they did before and returned to the Pokemon center to wash up and sleep. Ash had a dreamless sleep that night and the next day they went to the apple orchard and noticed there were a few trainers there already. Arielle was there and handing out plates of goodies that were made with apples as an ingredient. The apple cookies were delicious and they enjoyed it on the road to Cherrygrove City.

Cherrygrove City was a beautiful and peaceful city and it was decked out in blue and white colours everywhere, the colour shade of a Quagsire. Ash and the others looked around before reaching the Pokemon centre where they dropped the package. It was a package that contained items that would be added to the decor and Ash half wondered if this was Grandma Sophie's way of telling them to relax a bit. Either way this would be a fun festival and a good way to spend time with their new members outside of training. They nodded at each other and Ash and Brock went off in different directions while Casey, Gou and Max decided to stick together.

Ash, 'This will be good practice for Gengar too before he has to perform at the contest.'

[A. N.: My friend arrived home safely a few days ago.

We live in different states and I plan on going to meet her.

So that means I might not be able to update for a week or two.]