The next morning Ritchie, Gou and Horace woke up to the sound of training coming a little bit further from where they were camping. Gou had taken one look at them before waking up fully alert and gaping at them. Ash, Brock and Misty were training together with their Pokemon, from hand to hand combat to dodging their Pokemon attacks. Ritchie watched them blankly before going nope and went back to sleep again as 04:30 was too early for his taste. He would wake up at his usual time at 05:00 thank you, and dragged the enthusiastic Zippo to sleep for now.
Jessilina was training with her own Pokemon at a different area and Jameson was battling her. Ritchie gotten up after another half an hour and went off to get some training done as well while Horace slept a little bit longer and Gou had taken out his phone and started to record the training. Gou can swear up and down Brock and Misty were using agility to move around but until he can check the footage he would hold his tongue. Brock soon joined Gou and the sleeping Horace at the campsite breathing hard from the training.
Gou, "You okay?"
Brock nodded, "Yeah, I'm just tired, but it's nothing that a good breakfast can't fix."
Gou, "I'll help you make breakfast."
Horace yawned, "Oh, you finished training?"
Brock nodded, "Good morning and yes, I have for today. We'll increase the training time slowly of course but for now this is enough."
Horace, "You lot really are a riot, I don't know anyone who trains like you do."
Brock gave a laugh, "I know but the results speak for themselves though. In Ash's words I am able to understand how much energy my Pokemon actually use in their moves."
Gou, "I guess I can see the pros in it and the cons too, but the pros outweigh the cons."
Soon Jessilina, Jameson and Ritchie rejoined the camp getting the smell of breakfast coming from Brock's cooking. Jessilina took out the glasses filled with fruit and berry juices from her capsule and distributed them among the group while Jameson took out the bread. Ash and Misty joined them after a few minutes, the former was dusty from being thrown around while the latter was dripping wet from all the water gun she was hit with.
Ash, "I got Moo Moo milk. I'll clean up first though, hey Krabby can I get a small water gun to wash up?"
Krabby nodded, "Bi bi bi!"
Misty, "And I got milkshakes, just let me dry up a bit."
Horace, "Milkshake for me."
Gou, "Milk!"
Ash cleaned up and took out the glasses of milk he had stored in his capsule while Misty dried up before taking out the milkshake glasses and distributing them. After breakfast they decided to walk towards Celadon city and Ritchie talked about it being his sixth badge. Misty grinned showing off her own four badges while Ash showed him his latest ribbon and badge.
Gou grinned, "You know Chloe and I saved your performances everytime you came on TV."
Ash laughed, "I'm flattered, Gou. By the way Brocko here is taking part in the breeder contest in Celadon city."
Horace, "Really? I heard of the one that took place on the Nautilus. This is the third contest I think."
Ritchie nodded, "The second one was in Viridian city, wasn't it?"
Brock nodded, "Yeah, I'm really excited though."
Jessilina smiled, "It is very interesting."
They walked through the wild meadows filled with flowers towards Celadon city. Ash knew Celadon was known for its Grass type Gym and the leader was a little quirky with an obssession over perfume. But she was strong with a Mastery on the Vileplume and Bellossom lines. He was thinking about using Charmander, Krabby, Pikachu and lastly Lucario to battle for the gym badge. He could have gone five on five which was the highest number of battles allowed but he decided to save that for the last two gyms.
Ash turned to Misty, Ritchie and Jessilina, "Are you guys gonna go for four on four battles?"
Ritchie, "I was thinking about it, I mean the semi finals in the league are mostly four on four right?"
Misty, "It'll be a good idea to get used to it, I guess, I don't want my lack of experience to be the reason for my loss."
Jessilina, "Definitely, it'll be more fun."
Jameson, "I see a few trees ahead, we can take a break and have lunch there."
Jameson grinned, "This is perfect, I was starting to feel hungry."
They made camp and took out the food from the capsules making Ritchie remark that he probably should get a new one. The capsule he was using was only able to store medicine and water as it was an old model. Gou blinked looking at the old colour faded box, despite it's worn out look anyone could tell it was well cared for and used a lot.
Ash hmmmed, "Celadon, just like Saffron is known for having the latest devices and items at the Celadon game centre. After Champion Gold had busted the poachers out, that place has mostly focussed on giving out equipments as gifts instead of poke eggs."
Ritchie shivered a bit, "To think a poachers camp was right there in the middle of the City."
Jessilina grimaced, "It is a little disturbing to think about."
Gou, "Want to go to the game centre first? I want to see if I can get the new camera that came out."
Misty, "Count me in, I was planning on getting a new fishing rod."
Horace, "I was thinking of getting a bike as well, a double sitter one. It could help us travel around easier."
Brock, "Maybe I can win a new breeding set too. Heard the latest one has been added to the prizes there."
Ash was being helped by Brock and Jameson as he took out the Pokemon food and gave it to everyone. Brock had taken over the preparation of the poke food as practice for the upcoming contest. The Pokemon seemed to like the food and didn't mind it much although they still preferred their own trainer's food most of the time. Banette and Phantump had been a challenge for Brock as they didn't want to touch his prepared food during the first few times and kept turning to Ash for the food. It took a while but they soon warmed up to Brock's cooking and started enjoying it.
Jameson, "Don't look now but I think we have company."
Jessilina blinked, "A pack of Mankeys? Here?"
Misty, "That's a little odd..... They are coming this way."
Ash looked at one curiously as the little guy sniffed the Pokefood and Pikachu offered him a block. The little guy tried it before giving an eye smile and turning to the other six Mankeys. He was no doubt telling them the food was good and calling them to join. Ash made an eye contact with Brock before nodding and taking out more Pokefood and putting it infront of Mankey and sitting back while watching them eat. Gou's eyes were sparkling as he took photos of the Mankeys and commenting on recording the behavior of wild Mankeys.
Ash looked at them wistfully, "This reminds me of the first time I met Primape. He was part of a Mankey pack too."
Lucario nodded, -They are quite an active group.-
Ritchie, "I'm gonna catch one too."
One of the Mankeys turned to Ritchie, "Man mankey."
Misty grinned, "I think one of then wants to go with you. I'm surprised you are not catching one Gou."
Ritchie, "I'm ready to battle you as well, Zippo, ya ready?"
Zippo roared, "Aarrrrrrr!"
Gou laughed sheepishly, "I caught a Mankey after Ash mentioned there was a pack living in the forest near Pallet town. Eh he he he he he he he!"
Horace snickered, "Chloe was not impressed when you dragged her all the way to Viridian city to catch one."
Gou laughed at that before watching Ritchie battle Mankey with Zippo, the little Mankey was something else. Half way through the battle he evolved into a Primeape and gave Zippo a longer battle before the Charizard defeated him and Ritchie caught him. They had decided to camp their for the night as Ash wanted to train a bit after watching the battle and it would also give Ritchie a chance to get to know the new team member.
Ritchie, "Hi, I'm Ritchie. It's nice to officially meet you."
Primeape huffed amused, "Ape primape."
Ritchie, "Do you want to say goodbye to your pack? You probably won't see them for a while. If you want you can spend the day with them, we'll be camping here for tonight."
Primape nodded before turning to his friends, the other Mankeys gave their friend back pats and a group hug before two of them rushed off into the trees. While they had gone Ash and Misty had decided to do a mock battle against each other, the next gym was pretty close now. A few more days, two to be exact, and they will be at Celadon city according to Fearrow. The group had left Saffron three days ago, two days spent for the Butterfree migration and one day of travel after that. If he was calculating it right, Ash reckoned, it had been four and a half months, give or take, by now, since he had left Pallet town. The Mankeys came back with an old music player getting surprised looks from them, talk about finding items in the forest.
Ash, "How about we stop for now?"
Misty, "Sure, we have been training and battling for three hours..... Yeah let's take a break."
Ash, "Alright guys that's enough for today.... "
Misty gasped, "Poliwag evolved into a Poliwhirl. Guess an intense training was the last thing needed."
Brock pat her head, "Congratulations Misty!"
Ash, "Now you got two Poliwhirls."
Gou looked curious, "Are you planning to have both Poliwrath and Politoed?"
Misty nodded, "Uh huh! I already have a water stone ready, I just need a Kings rock."
Ritchie, "Cool, looks like both of us got evolved Pokemon today."
Misty grinned as she watched her Pokemon cheer and congratulate Poliwhirl on evolving, her brother was the happiest. It was almost evening by the time they stopped their training and the Mankeys returned with their prize possession. They pressed the play button and music started to come out, an old classic Pokemon song. Ash stifled his laughter when he saw the Mankeys start to dance around the music player with their evolved friend. Pikachu and Phantump joined in giggling and laughing followed by the rest of the Pokemon while Meowth just sat back and cleaned himself. Lucario, Charizard and Onix decided to keep an eye on them although they didn't join the mismatched dance. The flying types were relaxing at various points across the clearing in the tree branches while the water types were making bubbles to add to the party atmosphere. Sobble stayed close to Scorbunny even though he joined them on the fun, it looks like the little one was just starting to feel comfortable with the others.
Brock, "Not gonna join them Meowth?"
Meowth, "Nah! I pr'fer to laze."
Gou, "You talk... Why didn't you guys tell me he can talk?"
Misty raised her hand in defense, "It was not our secret to tell. If Meowth wants people to know about it, he'll let them know, if not then not. Besides people get really weird about things that are different you know?"
Ritchie who was shocked gave an understanding look, "I guess so, I understand."
Gou sighed, "Yeah. But still this is really cool."
Horace looked at Gou curiously, "You didn't seem surprised when Lucario talked tho."
Gou, "Lucario used aura to talk to others, it's one of the rarer yet most amazing abilities his line has. But for a Meowth to talk, that's something else entirely."
Jameson, "It was not easy for him to learn human words but with a lot of patience and persistence he learned. Right Meowth?"
Meowth nodded, "Dats rite kiddies. Take it frm old Meowth. Dere's nuthng you can't do if you put yer mind ta it."
Ash chuckled, "There are no wiser words in this world than the ones spoken from experience."
Jessilina lifted her glass of juice, "Hear hear!"
Lucario approached Ash, -According to Fearrow there is a big campsite with two distinct battlefields a few miles from here.-
Ash blinked, "Huh, really? How curious, I wonder who it could be."
Misty, "A large camp site really."
Ritchie, "We could check it out tomorrow, I am honestly a little curious about them."
Gou, "Fine by me."
Jessilina, "Maybe they'll have showers we can use."
Horace nodded, "It would be nice."
The plans made for the next day they decided to turn in for the night and Primeape waved his friends farewell. Ash went to sleep as he remembered this was when he or rather the anime version caught his Primeape, he was starting to miss the guy and was thinking of calling him over. Phantump snuggled closer to him and he smiled humming a lullaby he remembers from a long time ago falling asleep feeling Banette and Pikachu leaning against him while Lucario cuddled him from behind and Krabby slept near his head. The two bird Pokemon Fearrow and Pidgeot had taken to sleeping outside on rainless nights, as a way to keep an eye out for intruders and watching over those sleeping without a tent.