Pokemon: Reborn As Ash; Hoenn

Ash hummed as his poke egg glowed, "Ah! Not ready yet I guess."

Diance pouted, "Ance di."

Ash chuckled, "You are that excited to become an older sibling, huh."

Diance, "Diiii."

Anthony, "You good?"

Ash, "We are good. Looks like my youngest will take some time before joining us."

Ruby smirked, "Imagine if it's another baby Legendary."

Ash, "I will become a hot target for poachers everywhere. Please do not jinx me."

Ruby laughed, "Sorry, it's just with your ridiculous luck. I would not be surprised at this point."

Ash sighed as he secured the poke egg, "I can see why you think that. I hope it is not a Legendary for all our sakes."

Anthony snorted but did not comment instead he turned to thank Nurse Jim for healing his Pokemon, "So Ruby, ready to battle you whenever you are ready."

After Phantump had been defeated earlier, Lucario had stepped in feeling very excited about the fights. Anthony had been very impressed by the fighting steel type, especially when he changed form. The Aura Pokemon had beaten two of his strongest Pokemon but was taken out by the third one, his trusted Pelipper. But even then his dear Pelipper did not walk away unscratched and required medical attention for his sprained muscles and pulled feather. That Lucario is not to be underestimated he was strong enough to defeat two of his Pokemon who were Sitting class in their own right. Anyone who underestimates the calm and collected Pokemon was in for the shock of a lifetime.

Ruby, "Maybe after lunch. It is late in the afternoon and I will not hear the end of it if I allow us to skip a meal."

Anthony sympathised, "Wallace still on you about that?"

Ruby, "He means well and he makes a good point and honestly it is kind of my fault for being hyper focused on one thing."

"Help! Help! Please, the forest is on fire!"

Ruby stood up, "What?"

Anthony, "Katrina? Goodness what happened? What about the Poocheyanas and Mightyenas?"

Katrina, "They are trying to put out the fire but it is too big on our own."

Ash, "We will help. Just let me call in a few Pokemon."

Anthony, "Go ahead! Sorry Ruby but looks like we have to postpone our battle."

Ruby, "It's fine. It is an emergency. How did the fire start Katrina?"

Katrina spat out angrily, "It was those damn poachers again. Ever since last month they have been trying to steal Poocheyana and Mightyenas."

Ash narrowed his eyes, "Let's deal with the fire first."

Ruby, "What are you thinking?"

Ash, "There has been a rise in the demand for fur accessories lately."

Katrina blanched, "No! You seriously cannot be implying that is the reason... "

Ash, "Only one way to find out. Abra I will need your mind reading skills for this one."

Abra, -I am always ready to help Meema.-

Ash, "If you feel uncomfortable say so. They might have plans in place for psychic types."

Abra, -Got it.-

Lucario, -Meema, you are not going anywhere without me.-

Ash, "Lucario, you need rest."

Lucario, -YOU ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE WITHOUT ME. The last time I let you, you almost died.-

Ash sighed, "Fine! But no battling and you stick close to me."

Lucario calmed down, -Yes Meema, I apologize for shouting.-

Ash, "No need, I know you worry. I would react the same way so it was my mistake for suggesting you stay behind. I was being very hypocritical."

Abra, -Meema, you were right about them having a plan for Psychic types. I can sense many bug and ghost types.-

Anthony, "Leave the Ghost types to me, focus on your objective. Umbreon, Sneasel, Sabeyele, help me deal with them."

Ash, "Good idea. Absol, Eevee looks like you are up."

Absol, "Sol."

Eevee, "Vui."

Diance, "An?"

Ash was already placing a hat on her, "You are staying close to me. Put on your disguise too. I do not want those creeps to see you."

Lucario, -There!-

Ash, "Together shadow ball."

Gou, "Ash!"

May, "We are here."

Ash, "Guys! Help Milotic and Kingler put out the fire. I will be interrogating these two here."

Gou, "Poachers.... Alakazam help Abra."

Alakazam, -With pleasure.-

Abra, -Hello Elder.-

Alakazam, -Shall we?-

The poacher spat, "I am not telling you anything."

Ash, "You do not need to say anything. We are taking it from you."

Alakazam and Abra's eyes glowed making them look like unholy devils in the poacher's point of view as the shivered under the glare of the two psychics. Ash watched the whole proceeding take place while dealing with the Pokemon who attacked them to stop the psychic types. Lucario despite his low stamina still used the staff Ash had with a very sharp precision to take down the Pokemon who attacked them. Well, there was a reason why they trained to fight beyond exhaustion but it did not stop Ash from worrying about him. Anthony, Gou, May, Katrina and the other trainers that joined them soon rounded up the rest of the poachers.

Ash, "Katrina, you are going to hate this."

Katrina looked at the records Ash was holding, "Give it to me. I can deal with it."

Ash sighed, "From what Alakazam and Abra found out: They were to send these Pokemon dead or alive, mostly alive to one of the storage areas. There they would butcher them and use their different parts for different reasons."

Anthony narrowed his eyes, "And what are those reasons?"

Ash felt furious but kept a calm look, "The fur as we had suspected would be used for clothing. The liver and other organs for medicine apparently."

May was flabbergasted, "What? But that's not how medicine... It has been proven that flesh of Pokemon cannot cure diseases."

Ash, "Human diseases, no, Pokemon diseases, yes. But there lies the conundrum, Pokemon rarely fall ill and they rarely have to face a plague. So, who is making these medicines and why."

Ruby, "Is that all?"

Ash, "No Champion Ruby. Aside from these the bones are used as ivory and teeth are used for accessories like jewelry."

Katrina, "I want them to receive lifetime imprisonment. I do not want them anyhere near my forest or Pokemon."

Roxanne, "And it will be done."

Anthony, "Roxie, glad you could make it."

Roxanne, "I apologize for being late, the meeting took longer than I thought."

Ash, "I will leave this to you as I believe the forest and surrounding areas are under your jurisdiction."

Roxanne accepted the papers Ash passed to her, "These are detailed. When did you?"

Ash, "I have been doing paperwork for the Orange Archipelago and helping Lance, Red and Gold out with their own paperwork. It has become a habit to keep records."

Roxanne, "That is a very useful habit to develop. This is done through the polygraph too."

Ash, "I carry a mini one with me that I register with the police station every month due to cases like this. Officer Jenny actually suggested it back in Jhoto."

Roxanne, "Understandable since you seem to run into these situations a lot."

Ash, "Yeah! Guys come on! Time to go, especially you Lucario. You need rest."

Lucario, -I am just exhausted.-

Ash, "Come on! I will carry you."

Lucario sweat dropped, -I am too old for piggy back rides.-

Ash, "No one is too old for piggy backs, anyone who says so has obviously got no one to give them one."

May, "You know I need to get my Pokemon checked too. We had quite the fight against the poachers."

Gou, "Yeah, same."

Roxanne, "Go ahead! Officer Jenny should be here soon. We can deal with these clowns."

Ruby nodded, "We got this."

Gou nodded and with May rushed off to join Ash who was still bickering with Lucario about each other's stubborn nature. Diance was watching the whole thing fascinated and amused by them while Absol, Eevee and Abra snickered beside her. Gou and May just watched the scene snickered quietly at the duo till they reached the Pokemon Center. Lucario demanded he be put down and Ash did so lamenting about the time he was an adorable Reply who always wanted cuddles. Lucario visibly blushed and it started another tirade about Ash who loved cuddling with every Pokemon he could find even the wild ones back in Pallet town.

May, "Ooh! He is serious."

Gou, "As a heart attack. Imagine the shock and stroke every adult always had whenever they saw Ash in the middle of a Pokemon pile. That too Pokemon that are supposed to be wild and short tempered."

Max, "We are back."

Molly, "Um... What are they bickering about?"

May, "Ash's habit of sleeping with wild Pokemon."

Max, "Why does that sound so weird?"

Gou, "Probably because it is strange. I do not know anyone else who does that. Gary does not count. He can never say no to Ash, not even once though he likes to claim otherwise."

Molly gave a huff, "Well, I don't see anything wrong with it. If they are friendly and just want cuddles I don't mind."

Mudkip eyed her warily, "Mud mudkip."

Ash was pushing Lucario to sit now, "Come on, stop pouting. I will even make your favourite cookie and curry tonight."

Lucario, -Fine but the cookie better have extra berries in it.-

Ash, "Okay, okay, extra berries."

Ruby, "Roxanne, come here, check this out."

Roxanne, "Is that one of their pagers?"

Ruby, "Yup and Porygon managed to hack it open. Look at the messages though."

Anthony, "Great Groudon! This is solid proof of their wrong doings. Nice one Ruby."

Ruby, "Looks like we are pulling an all nighter though. If what Ash said is true we need to do a follow up investigation."

Roxanne bit her thumb, "I agree. How about this then? Anthony and I will deal with the proceedings here. You and Katrina on the other hand grab a couple of trainers and hunt down these storage areas. Find them and bring them back. They deserve a burial at least."

Katrina, "I have no complaints."

Ruby, "Let's get going then. Trainers we need two volunteers to join us."

A red haired teen walked up, "I will help you. My name is Reuben Dunkun."

Katrina, "Wonderful! One more person."

Another red haired teen joined them, "You are not going anywhere dangerous without me. Hello I am Rosary Dunkun."

Ruby, "Nice! Nice! Let's get going. Come out Orion!"

Orion appeared in a bright flash, -I hear you my dear friend.-

Reuben, "Oh! To meet the God of the Skies, we are blessed."

Rosary, "Agreed!"

Ruby, "What are you waiting for? Get on already. We have to find them."

Katrina, "Is this really okay?"

Reuben, "Yeah, I mean. If Orion does not mind us."

Rosary, "Please excuse us."

Orion, -I do not mind trainers. You wish to save my fellow Pokemon do you not? Hold on!"

Roxanne, "That never fails to amaze me."

Anthony, "Agreed!"

Ruby, "Here's the plan. We are using Orion as bait. He is large enough we can hide on his back from sight."

Reuben nodded, "When the poachers appear we jump in to deal with them."

Rosary, "It is crazy but I suppose we do need a crazy plan to deal with crazies."

Katrina, "Is that it?"

Ruby, "That is the place. Stick close to Orion's back in a straight line."

Reuben, "Right!"

Just as Ruby had predicted the poachers could not resist the appearance of one of the three Legendaries. They all came out to try and capture the Rayquaza that was flying over the warehouse searching for something which they guessed were the missing Pokemon. Just as they came out Katrina, Reuben and Rosary got ready to battle the poachers while Ruby and Orion distracted them with meteor showers. The meteor shower hid their presence till the raid battle started and the poachers realized what was happening.

Reuben, "You are going down."

Rosary, "No escape!"

Katrina, "I will never forgive you for what you did to my Pokemon."