Jhoto - Violet City

Max looked outside the train cab window as they headed towards Palm Hills situated in the South Eastern region of Violet City. They had received a call from Mandy after breakfast about a few Pokemon, who's trainers he could not find. Casey had gone a little pale when she heard that and Max had a suspicion why but he really hoped it was not what he was thinking. Ash did not comment on it, instead he agreed to meet up with Mandy and meet the Pokemon. Max half wondered how it would turn out and he was dreading the meeting a little as well, he didn't want a repeat of what happened to Phanphy.

Shroomish nudged him, "Shroom."

Max turned to him, "I'm fine girl, it's just I'm a little nervous about the meeting."

Shroomish stared at him before nodding and grumbling to herself, "Oooom."

Casey was fidgeting as she spouted facts about Palm Hills to distract herself. She had been a trainer long enough to understand that not everything was sunshine, fluffy clouds and rainbows. There is always the negative side to everything, even being a trainer, no matter what the adults tried to tell them. She's young, not stupid nor blind. She has seen how cruel humans can be and how equally cruel their Pokemon partners are. Ho oh only knows how she survived this long after running into those humans and their Pokemon.

Gou was worried about his friend but didn't interrupt her as she told them trivia and facts about the place they were heading to. It was a luxurious, rich estate area with business tycoons owning lands or old money being inherited by the younger generation. It was basically a place where the rich people on this side of Jhoto lived and competed with others on who was richer. It was enough to make him sweatdrop but he supposed if he had money he would be just as eccentric. He looked at Brock who was talking quietly with Ash and Max who was looking outside with Shroomish before looking out as well letting Casey's chatter drown out his thoughts.

Brock, "Are you planning on adopting one of the Pokemon? Mandy mentioned there are three of them."

Ash mumbled, "I don't know if they would want to go with us. Considering how Mandy was talking I would say they watched their trainers get killed. If they wish to come, I would not reject them however."

Brock nodded, "Yeah, Kanto seems like a breeze compared to Jhoto, doesn't it?"

Ash, "I would not call it a breeze, not really."

Brock, "I hope Meowth is alright."

Ash frowned at that, Meowth had gone to do some work after reaching Violet City, citing he had some connections he had to deal with personally. He wondered what that was about, he only hoped the cat Pokemon was careful and unhurt doing whatever it was he wanted done here. Ash realized he had become attached and very fond of Meowth in his own, previous life feelings aside. Jessie, James and Meowth had become close trusted friends to him and the thought of them getting hurt made him upset.

Ash, "Meowth will be fine. He is smarter than most Pokemon and humans put together."

Lucario snorted, -That is am understatement Meema. He is also quite strong when it comes to close range combat.-

Brock nodded, "That's true, he certainly gave us a run for our money whenever we trained together. And I am trained to fight as a Gym Leader."

The train announcement came at that moment, "Next stop Palm Hills station. Passengers please be ready to disembark."

Ash, "Well we are here. Let's get this show on the road. Speaking of, Gary said he'll meet us here too."

Gou, "Gary is here? Why?"

Ash, "He came to meet his late parent's Pokemon. They work in the hospital here."

Brock, "That is cool."

Casey, "We can visit him while we are here. Hey, maybe he'll be there to meet us, the place we are going to."

Max, "Let's go find out."

Lucario walked next to Ash, -Are you alright Meema?-

Ash nodded, "I'm fine. I can deal with trains, don't worry. Trains are not small you know, not like a car at least."

Lucario nodded, -Alright then.-

They walked from the train station and looked around them. It was a beautiful place to live in if Ash was being honest. Around them were mansions and bungalows with large sprawling front gardens and fountains. This was truly a rich person place. He half heartedly compared it to the Hollywood and Bollywood actors living places. Although that was that and this was this, the difference being they were actors and the people living here were all business tycoons. According to Casey the mansions were owned by high flying business heads or were from money from before the war.

Mandy waved at them, "Over here everyone. I am so glad you are here."

Ash, "What's up Mandy?"

Brock looked at the Stanler and Chikorita behind Mandy, "Are they the Pokemon you were talking about?"

Mandy nodded, "This Chikorita belonged to a trainer and Stanler well, how about we go sit in the garden. My grandma prepared tea and cookies for everyone."

Casey, "How about I call Meganium out, she could help in relaxing both Chikorita and Stanler."

Max, "Oh yeah. Meganium is the evolved form of Chikorita and they have the ability to release a calming scent."

Mandy smiled, "Good idea. We are here. Hey grandma, my friends are here."

A portly lady laughed, "Oh Mandy sweetheart, you are here and such adorable friends you have. Welcome, welcome to Oria villa. I'm Sophie Konami, Mandy's grandmother. You can call me grandma too."

Casey beamed, "Nice to meet you Grandma."

Ash smiled brightly, "Yeah, I am happy you let us meet here. You have a very beautiful villa."

Brock, "And an impressive garden, look at all those berries and fruits."

Sophie laughed heartily, "Well you kids have a good time, my dear Granbull and I have a meeting. Enjoy your time dears."

Granbull roared and snuggled the older woman and guiding her out. Mandy became serious after that and told them about the Stanler and Chikorita. The two were from completely different places and Chikorita had a previous trainer unlike Stanler who was too young for one.

Mandy, "Chikorita was unlucky, not only was she stolen, she also watched her trainer get killed, right infront of her."

Max gulped, "She did?"

Casey looked at Chikorita sadly, "That's terrible. Poor thing."

Mandy smiled, "She's a tough one though, she refused to stay down and fought back against her captors. Of course, it was not without consequences."

Ash mumbled, "The scar on her leaf. Those bastard tried to cut her leaf."

Brock was thunderous, "Idiots, they could have killed her."

Mandy drank his chamomile tea trying to keep himself calm, "I know. Anyways they are not the only ones, my team also came across one poke egg while helping the two of them. We couldn't however figure out who it belonged to, so I was hoping you all could help me out."

Casey looked at her fingers, "Ummm, I was planning on visiting a breeder centre to get myself a poke egg liscence actually."

Brock, "Really I can help you out with that."

Casey perked up before looking at Mandy, "If you want I can take the poke egg. They would be my first one."

Mandy, "I'll clear it up with my team and the the needed people. Now for Stanler, well he is quite young and I'm fifty fifty on him."

Brock, "I don't mind raising Stanler, I'm a breeder training to be a Doctor after all. It is essentially a part of who I am to care for the young."

Ash smiled, "I can take Chikorita in, it would not be the first time I helped a Pokemon with loss. Whether she wants to be a part of my team however is up to her. I will not replace her trainer."

Mandy, "But you are not replacing him."

Ash, "I know I'm not but Chikorita may not feel that way. Especially since she watched him die brutally at that."

Max, "I want to help too. I don't know how but I have your back."

Casey grinned, "You can Max. Don't worry."

Ash, "Alright but first observe how we deal with it first before making any move. We are trying to heal their heart and mind not their body."

Brock, "That's always harder. I know Blastoise, Charizard, Venasaur, Pidgeot, Togetic, and Banette took a whole year to fully trust anyone who was not Ash. Chimchar and Gengar are still work in progress."

Max, "Oh I didn't realize Chimchar was also a rescue."

Ash, "Mn, he is mostly quite and stays by himself, which according to the forest Rangers is complete opposite of his previous behavior. I'm trying to help him and he gets along fine with me and my Pokemon but the moment someone else comes. He clamps up."

Mandy, "Oh I heard about your Chimchar. Poor thing watched his family die, didn't he?"

Ash nodded sadly, "I'm hoping Chikorita and Chimchar can help each other out."

Mandy, "Thank you for agreeing. Will you stay for dinner?"

Casey, "We would love to, after the paperwork is done."

Ash, "I'll let Chimchar and Chikorita get used to each other first before getting to know her."

Brock, "I'll let Sandslash to know Santler first then I'll get to know the little fawn."

The group spent the rest of the day from lunch till dinner getting to know the new Pokemon while Casey got her liscence. She was starry eyed as she got the poke egg and Brock gave her tips on keeping the little one clean and healthy. Ash waited for Chimchar to get to know Chikorita before introducing himself to the wary grass starter. He still remembers the spunky Chikorita from the anime and decided to approach her differently compared to others.

Ash, "I can see you are wary and do not want another trainer, so instead, I will teach you to battle and make you strong. If you wish to be part of our family one day, just know you are more than welcome to join us."

Chikorita stared at Ash before nodding, "Chiko."

Ash smiled, "I don't expect you to trust me, but I do expect you to train alongside us. Also I will not make you battle for a while, you need to heal first."

Chimchar grinned fr where he was perched on Ash's shoulders, "Chim chim."

Ash, "And I must warn you."

Chikorita tensed, "Ri?"

Ash, "The people who took your trainer from you, they are still out there."

Chikorita hissed, "CHIKORITA!"

Ash sighed, "I know girl, I know. I'm telling you this because they are my enemies too and there is a high chance we will run into them down the line. So think about what I said okay? I'm not going to replace your trainer, I'm me, he was him. There is no comparison. But I will train you the same way I train my family and my team."

Chikorita nodded, she could deal with that, she knew she was not ready to accept another human trainer. The hurt of watching her trainer die, the life leaving his eyes as he told her to run, still cute deep. She felt her heart twist painfully just even thinking about what happened, perhaps one day, she'll be able to accept another family. She slowly joined them beside Chimchar and ate the delicious dinner infront of her. Stanler was just as wary of Brock but after getting to know the Pokemon who were with him especially the little Corsula, the fawn relaxed.

Sophie was a wonderful lady and created quiet the feast for all of them and gushed about Granbull's pups. The Snubbulls were adorable and despite the grumpy expressions were actually really sweet and shy. Lapras, Phantump, Tyrunt, Eevee and Abra got along with the pups and played together till they were called for dinner. Mandy gave a smile seeing the Pokemon get along with their trainers and he mentally wished them best of luck. It would take a while to recover but he was sure they could do it, hopefully.