Hello! Here’s Shadow with part 7! For the disclaimer, please read part 1.

<> Will indicate telepathic communication, ** will indicate thoughts, italics indicates translated poke speech. And yes, Ash is Destiny. He doesn’t know it yet, though. That’ll be explained in ‘Destiny’s early life’, the prequel to this story. However, he does have limited psychic powers.

 

Title: arrival of the squirtle squad!

 

            “Where are we? Ash, did you lose the map?” A.J. asked.

 

            “But A.J., I thought you already traveled through Kanto!” Ash protested.

 

            “I did! But I don’t remember this road being here…”

 

            “Oh well. I’ll take a look.” Ash climbed on Pidgeot’s back and flew around for a few minutes.

 

            “See anything?”

 

            “Well, there are four holes in the road…”

 

            “Ash! You know what I mean!” A.J. said.

 

            “Well, Vermillion seems pretty far away. It’s at least another 3 days of traveling.” Ash reported.

 

            A.J. sighed. “I’m getting sick of all this Spam…”

 

            “I know.” Ash blanched, thinking of their trail rations. Eating canned food had lost its appeal after a few months.

 

            “Well, why don’t we just keep walking? We’ll get there faster that way.” A.J. said.

            “Okay!” Ash said enthusiastically.

 

            After an hour, they fell into one of the pits Ash had seen.

 

            “Ash! Why didn’t you warn me?”

 

            “I did!” Ash protested.

 

            Pidgeot cawed. Ash peered out and saw several squirtles approaching.

 

            “A.J! There are some squirtles out there!” Ash reported.

 

            “Oh?” A.J. released his Paras.

 

            “Pidgeot, Razor Wing!” Ash commanded. Pidgeot’s wings glinted as several sharp feathers detached themselves and shot at the squirtles. Only one was injured badly.

 

            “Paras, Stun Spore!” A.J. cried. The rest of the squirtles got away. Pidgeot pulled Ash and A.J. out of the pit. They walked over to the Squirtle.

 

            “What is a wild Squirtle doing here? And why is it wearing sunglasses?” A.J. pondered.

 

            “It must be one of the members of the Squirtle Squad. My mom told me about them. She said that they were the abandoned starter pokemon of several trainers.”

 

            “That’s horrible!”

 

            “I know.” Ash sprayed some Paralyze Heal on the Squirtle.

 

            “Pidgeot, please talk to it.”

 

            Pidgeot and the Squirtle conversed for a while. Finally, Pidgeot turned to Ash.

 

            < The squirtle says that a horrible trainer abandoned him. He doesn’t trust people. He hardly trusts me, even. But I’m a girl, so he doesn’t think I’ll be a threat. >

 

            “Well, why would a trainer abandon a Squirtle?” Ash asked.

 

            “Maybe ‘cause he thought it was too weak ta fight.” A.J. offered.

 

            “Well, we can’t just leave him here.” Ash said. “You can travel with us!”

 

            The Squirtle looked up. Really?

 

            Yep. Ash said.

 

            The Squirtle considered for a while. Finally, he shook his head. I’m sorry, but I have to stay with my gang.

 

            I understand. Ash replied. Well, then, try not to do any bad things, okay?

 

            Oh…Allright. But I can’t promise anything. Then, the Squirtle ran off.

 

            “Can we go now?” A.J. asked.

 

            “Sure!” Ash said. Pidgeot flew overhead as they continued down the road.

 

            Ash and A.J. stopped in town for a few days to get more supplies. Their relief from Team Rocket was short lived, however.

 

           

“To protect the world from devastation!”

 

“To unite all people within our nation!”

 

“To denounce the evils of truth and love!”

 

“To extend our reach to the stars above!”

 

“Jessie!”

 

“James!”

 

“Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!”

 

“Surrender now or prepare to fight!”

 

“Meowth, that’s right!”

 

            Ash groaned. “Pidgeot, Whirlwind!” He shouted, not wanting to deal with them. The threesome shrieked as they blasted off again.

 

            A.J. sweatdropped.

           

            Just then, Ash saw that the poke center was on fire. He quickly ran over to the fire department, which sent a squad of men over.

 

            “We need more water pokemon!” Jenny said, as the firemen worked.

 

            “Hmm…” Ash said. He sent out Poliwag to help, before climbing on Pidgeot’s back and flying off to look for the Squirtle Squad.

 

            When Ash found the squirtles, he saw them eating some stolen food.

 

            Please! You have to help me! Ash pleaded.

 

            The leader looked at him. Why should we?

 

            Yeah, why? Another squirtle questioned.

 

            Because the pokemon center is full of injured pokemon! Ash said. You’d just be murderers if you just let them burn to death while you could help.

 

            The squirtles looked uncomfortable. Finally, one asked where the poke center was.

 

            I’ll take you there. Ash said. He let the four squirtles hang on to various body parts as he climbed back onto Pidgeot’s back. “Pidgeot, let’s go!”

 

            When Ash returned, the fire had almost reached the Intensive Care ward. The nurses were frantic.

 

            The Squirtles descended and began to spray the center with Hydro Pump. The fire finally died out. Most of the pokemon were fine. Some were burned, but not too badly.

 

            “Yay! You did it!” Officer Jenny said. The squirtles smiled happily.

 

            “From now on, you will be our town’s honorary fire squad.” Jenny said. The squirtles were given coats and a black flag. Ash received a medal for his quick thinking, but he gave it to the Leader of the squirtles.

 

            Two more days passed. Finally, Ash decided that he wanted to leave.

 

            “Are ya sure?” A.J. asked.

 

            “Yes.” Ash said. A.J. shrugged and resumed packing. The next day, when the sun was up, the two trainers headed for Vermillion.

 

            Squirtle followed them.

 

            “Do you want to come with us?” Ash finally asked.

 

            Squirtle nodded enthusiastically.

 

            “Okay! Let’s go!”

 

           

 

A/N: Sorry that this chapter was so short! L Oh well. The next chapter will tie back to ‘Destiny’s early life!’

Completed 9/14/02