Pokemon: Reborn As Ash; Hoenn

Ruby, "That was unexpected."

Ash, "An entire colony of Shroomish."

Molly, "They should be okay in the forest right?"

Max, "They will be fine. Shroomish are mushroom Pokemon which means as long as they are in a forest area, they will not starve."

Breloom nodded, "Loom bre loom."

May, "Yeah also congratulations on getting a Shroomish of your own Molly, you too Gou."

Gou, "Thanks Shroomish will be the first Pokemon from Hoenn. I was so busy with paper work I forgot to catch new Pokemon lately."

Cinderace pat his back, "Ace cind."

Molly, "Shroomish is very adorable. Now, I have a water type and a grass type. Yay!"

Gou, "They become a fighting type after growing and evolving."

Max nodded, "Yup."

Ruby, "Anyways in the mean time Ash do you want help in training?"

Ash, "For the Gym? Yes please, while training by ourselves is interesting having another to keep point helps more."

Ruby nodded and told him there was a friend he knew in Rustboro City that he helped as a trainer before. Ash asked about them and Ruby explained about Anthony and how he had met him and his Pelipper. The teen had been in a really bad financial situation after his parents had passed away suddenly in a land slide. Not only did he loose his parents but his financial situation became really bad as his parents were in the middle of paying off their education debts. Anthony had become saddled with the debt and he had used many illegal ways to pay it off, including steal other people's Pokemon.

Ash winced, "His situation was that bad, huh?"

Ruby, "Yes, he got tangled with poachers at one point but he turned himself in because he could not stomach what he saw."

Ash, "Don't tell me, those poachers."

Ruby nodded, "J class offence. You know what that means right?"

Ash scowled, "Bloody murderers. Those poor Pokemon."

Ruby, "They have refused to accept a new trainer even now. Poor things."

Ash, "The poacher group."

Ruby, "Eliminated from what I know. They are too dangerous to be allowed to run freely."

Ash, "I understand."

Ruby, "Here we are. Anthony, are you in here?"

A dark haired man popped out, "Ruby, my dear friend."

Ruby, "Hello Anthony this is who I was telling you about."

Anthony grinned looking at Ash, "Hello young lad, Ruby here has told me stories about you. You are one crazy lad you know that? Taking Team Rocket head on like that."

Ash, "In my defense I had no choice. It was either battle them or loose my Pokemon and friends. I rather battle them."

Anthony, "And I respect that. I would do anything for my old buddy Pelipper here. He saved my life in more ways than one."

Ash eyed the Pelipper who was obviously the oldest and carrying the most scars among the lot, "He truly does. I just met him and he is ready and alert to protect you."

Anthony smiled, "We have been together for a long time. Now, Ruby here says you are interested in the Shadow Gym challenge."

Ash, "Yes, I wish to get stronger especially with the warnings I was given about Team Aqua and Team Magma. I have a feeling I will have to deal with them considering... "

Anthony looked at Diance who was looking around his work area, "Yeah, those two groups have shown a very dark interest in Legendaries. You got a baby with you, alright I will tell you where it is located but you only get the first clue. The rest of the Gyms you have to figure out where they are are on your own."

Ash, "Fine by me! Where is it?"

Anthony, "The shadow gym is deep within the Devon Corporation building. It integrates water, rock, wind and grass terrains."

Ruby, "Wait a minute! When did it move there?"

Ash, "Huh? Where was it before?"

Anthony, "Honestly it is a new development and we just found out ourselves. It was in the school of Pokemon. Roxanne got annoyed by her kids getting distracted though."

Ash, "Oh! That makes sense."

Ruby, "I guess I would be annoyed too if my student gets distracted."

Ash, "I recall May and Max planning on visiting the school today."

Ruby, "I believe some of his old classmates are still in that school."

Ash, "Guess, I should go searching for the Shadow Gym but I want to train a bit first. We kind of rushed through training while we were on the road."

Anthony watched the young boy in front of him, "What do you think buddy?"

Pelipper, "Lip per."

Medicham, -To be honest partner, there is a lot on his mind.-

Anthony, 'Is that so?'

Medicham, -I had a word with his Pokemon while he was talking to you. It is not just Team Aqua and Team Magma he is worried about.-

Anthony, 'Who else is causing problems in our territory?'

Medicham, -He is worried about Team Rocket following him here. It seems there is an internal war going on and... Great Mew!-

Pelipper, 'What is wrong sister?'

Medicham, -They are doing human Pokemon experimentation. They are forcefully combining human DNA with the Pokemon DNA. I feel sick.-

Anthony clenched his fist though he kept a smile as he showed them the training area he kept, 'We are going to increase security and keep an eye out for the bastard who thinks they can play God with the life of Pokemon and humans.'

Pelipper, "Per pelip."

Medicham, -That child will go through a lot of pain.-

Anthony, 'Then we better help him get ready to face that pain. Come on! I have a new challenger after all.'

Pelipper smirked, "Per pelipper."

Ash meanwhile looked around the battle area, "This place is so bright. And I don't mean the sun beating down on us."

Ruby, "Really? That's interesting."

Ash, "I think this place should be alright to train for a bit. Right Lucario?"

Lucario, -Yes, we are safe here.-

Ash, "Is everything alright? You have been very quiet today."

Lucario, -I just find the Legendary Pokemon a little frustrating Meema, do not worry about me.-

Ash, "Alright I trust your word. Ruby I have a request. Could you use one of your Champion level Pokemon in this battle please?"

Ruby, "I figured you will ask that and don't worry I have my Magmortar ready to battle you in this training session."

Ash grinned, "Perfect, Typholsion, Magmar and Chimchar will love that."

Ruby, "Come out Magmortar! Ready when you are Ash."

Ash, "Let's go Magmar."

Anthony watched with interest as Ash directed his Pokemon to battle with the large more experienced Magmortar. The fire type was interested in the younger Magmar who was strong in his own way and stood longer than most Magmars did. Even the little Chimchar was no slouch as the little guy refused to give up that easily and kept getting up to battle. Ash had to step in and take the spunky fire Pokemon out to give him a break from the battle frenzy that he had entered. Unfortunately Chimchar did not have the stamina to support the frenzy properly as it was still a new development for him. The next Pokemon to battle was a Typholsion and Anthony started to wonder about the other rumours he had heard about the young man.

Anthony, "You have all the starters from the previous main regions."

Ash, "You heard about them being abandoned right?"

Anthony, "So the rumors were true. I was hoping they were not. Fucking morons! I would kill to have a chance to get a starter to join me. I have caught many Pokemon but not a starter."

Ash, "That just means you have not run into a backstabbing trainer yet. I really hope you do not either. It is a very heart breaking position to be in."

Anthony, "I can imagine. I need a smoke, feel free to use the vending machine for snacks. I made sure to keep it stocked."

Ash, "He is not so bad."

Ruby, "Hmm."

Ash, "Anthony, he isn't so bad. He is cool."

Ruby nodded as he took a sip of his water, "You good to go? Yeah, the heat just dehydrated me a bit but I am good to continue the battle."

Lucario, -I am going next. It has been a while since I fought a Champion level fire type.-

Magmortar gave Lucario a grin as they took their stances and started battling with the trainers watching on. This match went on for a certain period of time however and Ruby had to change his Pokemon out with another, a Blaziken. At the end of it Ruby and Ash had to take a break to get their Pokemon treated at the Pokemon center with Anthony accompanying them half way there. He left before they entered the building saying he still had a few things to do and prepare which Ash found a little abrupt but did not complain about. The man no doubt had many things to take care of, he seemed busy when they went to meet him anyway.

Ruby, "So, Shadow Gym next?"

Ash, "That is the plan. I booked my battle with Roxanne a for day after tomorrow."

Ruby, "Why the day after tomorrow?"

Ash, "Honestly I thought it would take longer to find the Shadow Gym's location."

Ruby, "Mmm, makes sense."

Ash, "Devon Corporations right? I do wonder where it is exactly. The place is huge especially with the lab, testing grounds and multiple buildings for various purposes."

Ruby, "I will admit I have not challenged a Shadow Gym in a while so I am a bit excited too. I bet it has a new system of battling now."

Ash grinned, "That would be fun."

"Ruby? Is that you?"

Ruby frowned as he turned then relaxed, "Roxanne? I thought you would be at the school."

Roxanne, "I am still teaching the kids. I was actually taking them to Devon Corp to teach them about the different pokeballs."

Max, "Ash!"

May, "Over here."

Ash, "Hey Max, May, Molly having fun?"

Molly, "The school is pretty cool. May and Max's friends are really sweet too."

Ash, "That is good to hear."

Max smiled, "We met our old friends."

May pushed a girl her age in front of Ash, "This is Charlie."

Max grinned pulling a boy his age along, "And this is her younger brother Sammy."

Ash smiled at the two brunettes with green eyes, "Hello there. Nice to meet more friends of Max and May."

Sammy turned red, "Ni.. Nice to meet you. I saw your battles."

Charlie nodded excited, "May and Max has told us a lot about you and we saw your performances on the television too. I want to become a Pokemon co - ordinator too when I grow up."

Ash, "I am sure you will do great no matter what you choose. Just remember to take breaks and relax in between yes?"

Ruby turned to Roxanne, "Have you prepared?"

Roxanne, "Yes, Steven gave us a heads up on what happened. I know you have us a heads up in the last meeting but Steven just sent the videos last night."

Ruby, "Ash actually wanted to do two different types of battling."

Roxanne, "Brock mentioned it during the online type specialist meet. He does a battle for Pokemon who he caught recently as well as the young ones and a separate one for the older ones."

Ruby, "Yes, the Pokemon who were born just last year are now gearing up to battle especially his Phantump. The little guy hated the fact Ash's life was in danger. For a baby ghost he behaves more like an overprotective older sibling."

Roxanne, "After what happened to him, I do not blame the little guy. I would react the same way no doubt."

Ruby, "Are you alright?"

Roxanne drawled, "I am not the one who faced the two organizations. I am alright and to be honest I am excited about the battle in two days."

Ruby, "We should get going. It looks like the kids are calling down from the excitement of meeting another Co - ordinator who won the Conference."

May, "Thanks Ash for talking to them. They are big fans."

Max, "Yeah, they watched your Orange League performance and were hooked once they realized you were a Performer too."

Ash, "I have a feeling they will become your bigger fans once you two do your debut."

May smiled, "You think so?"

Max, "That would be cool."

Roxanne, "Kids time to go. We still have one more class left."

Ash, "I will see you at the Pokemon center."

Molly, "Got it! Good luck with the Shadow Gym battle."