Pokemon: Orre League Adventures

[Xero Key]

The world of Pokemon! A world of wonder and mystery! But also danger and disaster! Humans and Pokemon alike grow and evolve in exciting ways! In Pallet Town of the Kanto Region, one evolution is about to take place...

"Ash, Pikachu! Breakfast is ready!" Delia Ketchum called up to her son and his partner. "Ash? I'm not going to wake you up! You're practically an adult! ...Ash?" Delia slowly approached the stairs up to her son's room. The shadows from the rising sun piercing the blinds giving the stairwell a haunting image.

"BOO!" "PIKA!"

"Aah!" Delia slipped off the first step and fell back into her son's arms. "Ash Ketchum! How dare you scare your mother like that!"

Ash let his mother go and rubbed the back of his head, the tiny yellow mouse on his shoulder copying him. "Sorry mom, just thought it'd be funny."

Delia turned up her nose and walked back into the kitchen. "Well don't do it again if you want pancakes ever again!"

"No, not the pancakes!" Ash ran into the kitchen, quickly seating himself at the table. Pikachu jumped to the top of the cabinets and started snickering. "Oh don't you start. She'll cut off your ketchup too!"

"Chu!?"

"Mime, Mis Mi Mime." Mr. Mime set a large stack of pancakes in front of Ash and a bowl of Pokefood next to it, Pikachu scampering down on top of a high chair.

"Oh Mimey, you spoil them too much." Delia joined her son who had already dug into his food. Her breakfast was rather simple, eating at a microscopic pace compared to her son. As they ate, her eyes eventually turned to the living room and its newest addition, a large glass cabinet full of trophies, awards, and pictures.

Six sets of eight decorative badges, a single set of four badges designed like shells next to a trophy and a picture, a set of seven golden medals, photos of various people (quite a few girls, Delia idly noticed), pictures of various Pokemon, and a simple mannequin bust with beads around the neck and an old hat with tears and scuff marks, six other hats resting next to it. Delila's eyes teared up as a smile came to her face 'My baby boy has grown so much!'

"Mom? Everything okay?" Ash asked. Delia looked at her son, who along with Mimey and Pikachu were looking at her worried.

"Oh, nothing sweetie, just lost in some memories."

*Ding dong!* Mimey went to answer the door as the family continued eating. "Mi-Mi-MIME!?"

"Mimey? Who's at the door?" Delia called out.

Mimey came back into the room, paler than should have been possible, leading the visitor. The man was short and casually dressed, a simple baseball cap turned back on his head and his torso almost completely hidden by his beard.

"PRESIDENT GOODSHOW!?" "PIKACHU!?" Everyone at the table shouted as they stood to their feet.

"Mister President, what can we do for you?" Delia asked, Ash currently doing his best not faint. What was the president of the Pokemon League doing at his house?

"I do hope I'm not interrupting anything. I was just in the neighborhood visiting Samuel when I remembered you were from Pallet Town Ash." Goodshow said, smiling with his eyes closed.

"You were ...looking for me, sir?"

Goodshow nodded. "Indeed. Perhaps I can join you and explain?"

Delia shook herself from her stupor. "O-of course! Mimey, turn the stove back on right now!"

The president joined them at the table, still smiling. "You see Ash, the Pokemon League has finalized plans for a new Regional Competition."

"A new Region?"

"Sort of. The region existed, but there was a very minor League presence. None of the gyms were certified." Mimey set a plate in front of Goodshow and he thanked the Pokemon, picking up a fork to eat. "The region only finished certification for the minimum eight gyms a few months ago, a tournament to find the Elite Four and Champion not long after. MmMm, my dear these are delicious flapjacks!"

Ash still was confused. "So...what does that have to do with me?"

Goodshow dapped a napkin on his mouth. "As the region is still such a small League, the first tournament is to be an invitational. The League will accept badges from any region, as long as at least two are from the new one. I was visiting Samuel to ask which trainers he believed would be a good idea to offer an invitation to. Your name came up, my boy." Goodshow turned his head to the trophy case. "And I see quite the resume in the next room. Multiple regional tournaments, and quite good rankings in each."

"Where is this League anyway?" Delia asked. "I haven't heard about a region being close to certification besides the Orange Islands."

"Ah yes," Goodshow suddenly looked very nervous. "The new conference, the Revival League, is held in the... Orre Region."

"The Orre Region!?" Delia stood to her feet and pointed a finger right into Goodshow's face. "You want to send my baby boy into the Orre Region? No, I will not allow my child to go to that. That. Hellhole!

"Mom!"

"Forgive my language sweety, but I must put my foot down! I won't allow your wanderlust to put you in danger!" She crossed her arms and closed her yes. "Orre is a lawless region, a place of thieves and monsters. Pokemon can barely survive there at all. No, I won't let you go."

"Mrs. Ketchum," Goodshow began. "Things have changed. Wild Pokemon are starting to be in abundance, there is a quickly growing police force, and the Pokemon Rangers have made a presence there." Delia said nothing, only glaring at the president put of the corner of her eye. "Besides, your son seems to have a knack for getting out of danger."

Delia sighed. "The problem is he runs into it."

"Mom." Ash spoke up, looking down and petting Pikachu between the ears. "I want to go. Not just because it's a new region but because, if it is as bad as you say, I want to help them be better." He looked up at the adults, staring into Goodshow's eyes. "Mister President, I accept your invitation."

+++​

The sound of the ship's horn spurred Ash faster to the bow, placing one foot firmly on the railing and catching the brim of his new hat before the wind blew it away. "Wow! There it is Pikachu," he said as his partner hopped on to his shoulder. "The Orre Region! Oh, I can't wait to be one of the first to try out their League!"

"Pikachu!" his starter cheered happily.

"Attention passengers, this is your cruise director. I hope you all had an exciting time! We will be docking soon, and the captain will give the all clear signal. Please report to deck one to disembark. If you are joining us..."

Ash tuned the announcement out as he headed back to his bunk, never noticing three of the ship's custodians pausing in their work to watch him pass. "Hmm. So the twerp is actually going through with this?" The man said, returning to his mopping.

The woman scoffed as she scrubbed a deck table. "He's a good trainer, but this is Orre."

"Yeah, not even da boss wanted to start up here." The shortest of them said, a stack of towels as tall as him in his arms.

The three stopped what they were doing for a moment and sat down. "We're going to go after him, aren't we?" Jessie asked the others rhetorically.

James nodded. "We've been at this so long, it would look worse on us not to."

Meowth let his face fall on to the table. "Feels like twenty years to be honest."

The three heard the ship give the all clear whistle and packed themselves up. "Team Rocket's following the twerp into danger again!" They chorused unenthusiastically.

On the shore of Gateon Port, reporter Gabrielle 'Gabby' Montage angrily tapped her foot. "Not a single trainer competing in the League! Seriously, how hard is it to find one Trainer to interview! Orre doesn't exactly have a thriving tourism industry, Ty."

Her cameraman looked up from where he was working on his camera. "Huh, you say something Gabby?"

"Ugh!" Gabby turned away from her partner, then saw Ash wondering the port while checking a map. "Hey... that kid has a Pikachu!" She gabbed Ty and started dragging him, ignoring his complaints about the camera being delicate. "Come on Ty, he has to be here for the League! Hey you, with the Pikachu!"

Ash looked up from his map. "Huh? Me?"

"Yes, you! I'm Gabby Montage and this is my camera guy Ty Roll. We're doing interviews with Trainers competing in the Inaugural Orre League! Are you competing?"

Ash smiled. "You bet I am! I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town in the Kanto Region, and this is my partner Pikachu."

"Pika!"

"Excellet! Ty, get the camera ready!"

"R-right!" Ty fumbled with the camera before pointing it right at Gabby, making sure to get Ash in the background.

"This is Gabby Montage at Gateon Port. I'm standing here with Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town in the Kanto Region, who says he's competing in the Orre League. Now Ash, what made you decide to come to Orre? I have no doubt you've heard of our... reputation."

Ash smiled. "Well Gabby, I just like to travel. When I was younger I wanted to catch every Pokemon, but as I grew up I realized I just loved traveling and making friends. Oh, and battling!" He rubbed the back of his head shyly. "And as to Orre's history, well I was told it was changing. And I want to see it change for myself."

"I see, I see. Now, how many Leagues have you competed in? Orre only wants experienced Trainers right now."

"Let's see... I was Top Sixteen in the Indigo League my first year, Top Eight of the Silver Conference in Johto, Top Eight of the Ever Grande Conference in Hoenn, Top Four of the Lily of the Valley Conference in Sinnoh, Top Eight of the Ventress Conference in Unova, Second Place in the Kalos League during the year it was in Lumiose, completed the Alolan Trial Challenge, was Champion of the Orange League, and completed the Battle Frontier." Ash said as he and Pikachu counted off each competition they were in.

Gabby and Ty blinked and shared a shocked look with each other before focusing back on Ash. "Th-that's quite the, uh, resume. How old were you when you started?"

"Ten years old, that's when I got my best buddy Pikachu here." He said scratching Pikachu's ears, receiving a satisfied 'Chaaa' in response.

"And how old are you now?"

"Um. Sorry, been on the road a lot so I don't exactly have a calendar on me. I'm... oh wow, look at those guys go!" Ash shouted pointing behind the reporters at a battle going on. "They're awesome! Sorry, I gotta battle one of those guys! Come on Pikachu!" Ash ran off towards the battle, Pikachu excitedly racing after him.

"Uh... Gabby?" Ty said, the camera's view finder focusing on the back of her head. "What do we do?"

Gabby looked at the camera, then the battle. "Well, the viewers would love to see a battle between one of the competitors and a local Trainer!" She smiled slyly to herself, a hand on her chin. "Glad I thought of it! It's the perfect way to boost ratings!"

"The camera is still on." Gabby jumped and rubbed the back of her head, microphone held at her side as she laughed, then ran to follow Ash.

Ash jumped up and down excitedly as he stepped into one of the battle fields Trainer spots. "I'm Ash Ketchum and I can't wait to battle you. Get out there Pikachu!"

Pikachu jumped from Ash's shoulder on to the battle field, a determined smile on his face and sparks coming from his cheeks. "Chu!"

The blonde young man smirked in response. "I'm Jake, so bring it on kid! Go, Eevee!" The trainer throughout a Pokeball, releasing an Eevee on to the field.

"Vee!" The Evolution Pokemon barked angrily, a sharp glare on its face.

"Huh?" Ash felt the hair on his body stand on end. He looked at the Eevee in confusion. "...That Eevee."

His opponent smirked. "Something wrong kid? You were all excited a second ago. Oh well, Eevee! Take out that Pikachu!" The Pokemon charged forward with a small roar, tackling Pikachu and sending it flying to Ash's feat.

"P-Pika?" Pikachu stood up to four legs and winced, forcing himself to two and cradling his right paw.

Ty was already filming, making sure to get good shots of Pikachu's injuries. "Man, that Eevee must have a hell of an Everstone to be that strong. Right Gabs? ...Gabs?" Ty looked over to his partner and saw her staring at Ash's distant look, following the prowling Eevee.

'Does he see something we don't?' She asked herself.

Ash kept staring at the Eevee, Pikachu having to act on his own due to his distraction. 'That Eevee... I've never...' Ash grimaced and clinched his fasts. "Hey Jake!"

"Huh, going to surrender? Your Pikachu can't keep this up alone ya know!"

"Where did you get that Eevee?"

"What?"

"Where. Did. You Get. That. Eevee?" The crowd felt an intense urge to back away from the battle field, led by Gabby and Ty.

"It's mine of course. Hatched it myself a few weeks ago."

Ash's head hung, his hands trembling at his side. "Then tell me," his head suddenly snapped up to face his opponent, Amber eyes burning red. "Why it's covered in smoke!?"

The crowd gasped in confusion. "Smoke? Gabby, what is the kid talking about? The Eevee looks angry, sure, but it isn't hurt at all." Ty commented, turning the camera to face Gabby. Only he froze in shock as Gabby had covered her mouth, eyes wide in fear.

"They can't be back. They just can't."

"Gabs?..."

Jake scoffed. "I don't know what you're talking about kid. Eevee, take out his Pikachu and send this kid packing back home!"

"EEVEE!" The Pokemon rushed forward, to Ash's eyes it was swirling in purple energy.

"Pikachu, Counter Shield!" Pikachu used his tail to propel its jump into a spin, letting loose lightning around it as the Eevee passed by and shocking the Pokemon. "I don't know what you did to Eevee, but I'm not going to let you get away with it! Pikachu, finish this fast with Volt Tackle!"

"Pika Pika Pika PIKA PIKA PIKA PIKAAAA!" Pikachu became a shimmering single bolt of lightning, everyone covering their eyes from the bright yellow light. With a crack of thunder and explosion, Eevee was sent flying over Jake's head, completely unconscious.

"Wh-What the!? Where did that power come from!?" He growled pulling out a Pokeball. "Forget you kid. Eevee, Retu-!" But before he could activate the function, a Pokeball bounced off of Eevee and opened, green circles surrounding it before before being sucked in by white light. The ball flew back into the crowd. "Hey, thief!"

"Nope, Snagged." Out of the crowd came a tall, dark man with a monocle over an eye and dressed in the uniform of a Pokemon Ranger. "My scanner picked up that this Eevee was not safe in your care, so I legally repossessed it. Officer Jenny?" He said, glancing behind Jake.

Jake was pushed to his knees and cuffed. "You're gonna have to answer a lot of questions. To Interpol especially."

The Ranger stopped over to Ash and held out his hand, which Ash hesitantly shook. "I've heard a lot about you Mister Ketchum. The Rangers owe you a lot." He turned to the crowd. "All right, nothing to see here! Move along, move along!" He turned his head back to Ash. "Keep up the good work."

Ty and Gabby walked over to Ash. "Are you okay?"

"What... just happened? What was with that Eevee? How did that Ranger do that?" Gabby looked over to Ty and cut the camera.

"Ash..." Gabby began. "Orre has had a problem with criminals hurting Pokemon in such a way that they become, well, evil."

"What?"

"They're called... Shadow Pokemon. They are incredibly strong, and incredibly dangerous. They would feel no hesitation attacking a Trainer. To kill." Ash and Pikachu were frozen. "That's why it's taken so long for Orre to form a League actually. Shadow Pokemon just keeping popping up no matter how often the process is stopped."

Ty sighed. "Man, I knew it was bad before I moved here, but stuff like that? Never in my wildest dreams."

Ash clenched his fists. "If I win the League, do you think I could draw out the guys doing this? Guys like Jake?"

"Ash, no! It's too dangerous! Leave it to the professionals!

Ash looked Ty and Gabby in the eyes. "I don't care. Pokemon are our friends! Hurting them like this, just to be stronger?" He grabbed a bit of his shirt above his heart. "I couldn't take it. I will win the Orre League, and bring down the monsters who are doing this!"

 

[Xero Key]

"Seriously, no Pokemon Center? I though Orre was League ready!" Ash complained after being gently escorted out of Gateon Port's inn. "And 3000 a night is highway robbery!" He shook his fist at the building behind him, Pikachu mirroring his action on his shoulder.

Gabby and Ty watched Ash with slightly bemused smiles on their faces. "You'd think somebody with his record would listen to people when they say 'There is no Pokemon Center'." Ty said with a chuckle.

"I get the feeling that Ash is one of those people who is an absolute expert in one particular field, and completely worthless in literally everything else." As soon as she finished, Gabby's watch started beeping and she pulled off a ring of it to place around her ear, a holographic visor covering one eye. "Hello? Yeah, I'm free chief." She waved Ty away as she focused on her communication.

Ty shrugged and joined Ash and Pikachu on a piece of wall outside the inn. "So, got a plan?"

Ash and Pikachu sighed. "Not really. We got so used to always having a Pokemon center somewhere nearby, even if it was only a single room, that we never prepared for this. I guess I could try to find the Professor for the Region... I there even is one!" "Chu..."

Ty scratched his head. "I'm pretty sure we do have one, I just don't know if they are up and running at full capacity yet."

"YES! Yes Yes yes yes yes YES!" Gabby sprung on Ash and pulled him into a hug, swinging him around in a circle. "You are my ticket to the big time Ash!"

"That's great Gabby, but can you put me down please? Before I get *urk* sick?"

"Oh, sorry." Gabby let Ash down with a sheepish grin. "But, I'm just so excited, Eeeee!"

"What's up Gabs?" Ty asked while coming over with Pikachu, who hopped on to Ash's shoulder to prod the dizzy boy's cheek.

"So, just before Ash went on his silly crusade for free room and board," Gabby patently ignored Ash's 'Hey!'. "I sent Ash's name off to HQ with the recording we got earlier. They fact checked it and told us," Gabby pointed at Ty and her. "To follow him through the Region! Apparently he's got quite a fan club all around the world."

"I do?" "Pika?"

Gabby nodded enthusiastically with her arms crossed. "Hmhm. The boss thinks following a vet like yourself will make some serious ratings!" Gabby pulled her microphone from her belt and pointed it dramatically in Ash's face, Ty sliding next to her with his camera rolling. "So Ash Ketchum, this is your lucky day! Your very own film crew to follow you around! How does that make you feel?"

To Ty's camera, Ash was uncomfortably looking between the microphone and the camera. "Uh? Excited? Pikachu?" The yellow rodent tilted his head and shrugged. "Yeah, this will be... very... different."

"That's the spirit!" Gabby said, spinning her microphone back on to her hip. "So, onward to the Revival League Championship!" She started marching deeper into the city.

"Uh, Gabby?" Ty questioned from next to Ash.

"Come on you Slowpokes, victory waits for no one!"

"I still need to meet the Professor." Ash said and Gabby pivoted on one foot, marching between her two companions and pulling each of them by the back of their shirts.

"Like I said, victory waits only for proper procedure!"

-*X*-

The trio looked at the very nondescript warehouse, then back down at Ty's PokeNav, then back up at the warehouse. "Did you put it in right? Ash asked incredulously.

"Copied straight from HQ's email." Ty said, though his voice indicated he thought there was a typo in said email.

Gabby looked at the other two, rolled back her shoulders, and confidently knocked on the warehouse door. "Hello, is anyone in there!?" A tumbleweed blew past the three. "Guess not, we'll just go back to the inn and As-AAAAH!" The door swung open and Gabby was pulled inside the warehouse.

"Gabby!" Ash and Ty yelled, racing into the dark entryway after the reporter.

"Way too dark, come on out Magnemite and use Flash!" Ty called, his Pokeball opening to an explosion of light that exposed the room.

"Ow! Seriously!? I was about to turn on the lights!" The warehouse lit up ad Gabby was awkwardly standing next to a woman with long dread locks in a lab coat. The woman rubber eyes beneath her swirling glasses. "Why did I agree to this?"

Ash took in the woman. "Are you the new Professor for the Orre Region?"

The woman sighed and rested her head against the steel wall. "Unfortunately. But I can't do anything right." Pulling herself up, the woman turned around and gave a wave. "Anyway, hi! I'm Professor Eucalyptus! I'm sorry to say that I'm not quite ready to give you a starter Pokemon, so you'll have to try a different Region if you want to attempt the Revival League. Sorry!" Eucalyptus dropped her cheery demeanor. "I so wasn't ready for this. You're the third kid today I've had to disappoint. I knew I shouldn't have taken the position."

Ash smiled. "That's okay, I'm just here to sign up, Pikachu and I have been partners for years!" "Pika!"

Eucalyptus looked up in surprise. "You aren't here for a starter?"

"You kidding?" Gabby laughed. "Ash has been to practically every Region by now!"

"Yeah, he's an expert."

"Shucks guys." Ash and Pikachu sheepishly rubbed the back of their heads. He held his hand out to Eucalyptus. "I think we got off on the wrong foot, I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town in the Kanto Region, and this is my starter Pikachu!" "Pikachu!"

"I'm Gabby Montage, Ace reporter for Orre Regional Network!"

"And I'm Ty Roll, her trusty camera guy!"

Eucalyptus looked from Ash to the others and began to blubber, tears running down from behind her glasses. She dropped to the ground and pathetically crawled until she was crying on to Ash's leg. "Please, you have to help me! I can't be a Regional Professor if I can't give anyone a starter Pokemon!" The veteran trainer and entourage looked at each other awkwardly, not quite sure what to do with the woman sobbing at their feet.

-*X*-

A porcelain mug clinked as it hit the table. "I'm really sorry about that. It's just that I've been trying for months, even before I moved to Orre, to figure out what I'm going to do. Every Region has a set of three Pokemon they give out to new trainers; a Fire, a Grass, and a Water type. But there aren't any unique Pokemon for me to give!"

Ty crossed his arms and scratched his chin. "Yeah, I can see why that would be difficult. Have you tried just importing some that match your requirements?"

Eucalyptus nodded sadly. "Yeah, but they didn't adapt like I hoped. Only the Hopip line really thrived, but didn't stay long enough for me to begin passing them out to Trainers."

"Well, what did you come here to study in the first place?" Ash asked. "That might help you figure out what Pokemon would work.

"How Pokemon adapt to new environments. As you know, Orre was basically barren not to long ago. For a while, we were lucky to have any places wild Pokemon could survive." Eucalyptus said. "With the Orre Weather Teams making more of the Region hospitable, we've been able to import Pokemon from all over the world. And we figured out this was a good region to test re-introducing formerly extinct Pokemon into the wild."

"I remember hearing about that." Gabby said. "Orre is probably the only region with wild Fossil Pokemon."

Eucalyptus nodded. "That's right, I even have some in the lab right now if you want to see?" Everyone agreed and got up to follow Professor Eucalyptus. Unbeknownst to them, a microphone on a string was peeking in through a slightly open window.

"Fossil Pokemon just roaming around? That has potential." James said with a conniving grin.

"Yes it does. Team Rocket could really hit the market here with those." Jessie agreed.

"Den what are we waiting for?" Meowth asked, retracting the microphone cable. "Let's get those rock heads!"

Professor Eucalyptus pulled open the sliding door into the ranch for the Pokemon she was studying. "And here we have the Pokemon who agreed to stay at the lab with me, and their families." Various formerly extinct Pokemon were playing or battling, Eucalyptus' assistants handling some of their eggs and young in machines and observing data that came out of the machines.

Ty slowly swung his camera around, coming face to snout with a Tyrantrum. "Aah!" He fell backwards, the footage catching Ash appearing upside down, the Tyrantrum entering frame with a smile. "Easy there big guy." Ty hesitantly pet the nose of the giant lizard.

"Big girl actually, and you'll have to forgive her. Tyrantrum is a big prankster, has been since she was revived." Eucalyptus scratched under the lizard's chin, getting a rumbling purr in response.

"Hey!" Gabby lifted a leg to find it wrapped in tentacles. "Can someone get this Omastar off of me, please?" She shuddered as the Pokemon slowly inched its way up her body and wrapped her in a hug. "This is so weird."

"Pika!" Pikachu was knocked off his perch on Ash's shoulder by a big green head.

"Cradil." The Cradily droned out goofily as Pikachu fumed.

"Chuuu!" The yellow mouse zapped the Pokemon and his trainer, but only Ash was really singed.

"I think it's got more Rock than Grass buddy." Ash stated with a puff of smoke coming out of his mouth.

An assistant came over holding an egg. "Professor, I think this batch may be ready."

Eucalyptus took the egg and rolled it in her hands, then placing her ear against it. "Yeah, get it to its nest so we can-"

*Kaboom!*

One of the ranch's walls exploded inward, a cloud of smoke filling the area and causing all the Pokemon to cough. Two mechanical claws sprung from the smoke, one grabbing the egg and one grabbing Pikachu. "Piikaaa!"

"What in the world!?" Gabby yelled as she saw more arms springing out of the smoke and grabbing the eggs.

"Ah ha ha ha! In the world you ask?" A female voice questioned form the smoke.

"Why, our world of course." A male voice responded to the female.

Ash growled. "Of course they show up."

The woman stepped forward, holding a Pokeball in her left hand across her body as her hair and legs formed the shape of the letter R in the daylight pouring into the lab. "An inescapable, beautiful face!"

The male followed suit, curving his arm with a Pokeball in it to make an R himself. "No matter the time, we'll beat the race!"

"Chasing dreams through the heavens galore!"

"Hunting rare Pokemon forever more!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

A Meowth jumped between the two, claws extended. "And Meowth, just the same!"

"Team Rocket, roaming the world tirelessly!"

"An endeavor to leave listing helplessly!

"Meowth, so says we!"

The two grunt's Pokeballs opened, revealing a Wobbafett and Chimecho. "Wobbafett!"/ "Chime Chime!"

"Team Rocket!" Ash yelled. "Can't you leave me alone for like, a single year!?"

Jessie stomped onto a piece of rubble and leaned on her knee. "We left you alone practically all of Unova, was that really not enough for you!?"

"Yeah, but it wasn't completely alone!"

Gabby poked Ash's shoulder. "Um, do you know these guys?"

"Yeah, Team Rocket. They're a gang of criminals who DON'T KNOW WHEN TO QUIT!"

James flipped some of his hair out of his eyes. "I think never giving up is a respectable quality."

"What did you do with Pikachu?" Ty asked, his camera now focused on the three crooks.

"Oh, da twerp knows." Meowth said with a sinister smile, before pulling out a remote a pressing a button. The three were picked up by a giant, robotic hand and placed inside the head of a giant robot. On the chest was a sphere filled with eggs and Pikachu.

Pikachu started to spark his cheeks, when Meowth's voice came through a speaker. "I wouldn't try it. Who knows what could happen to da wittle babies!"

"Chu." Pikachu laid a paw on one of the eggs and gently rubbed it.

The trainers looked on in anger as the robot turned and began to stomp away, but a low growl turned their attention behind them. With thunderous footsteps, Tyrantrum began to marching out after the robot, picking up speed as it roared and sent blasts of fire after at its back. "Oh boy, big momma looks angry." Jessie commented while looking back.

"Almost reminds me of you before your makeup." James added before Jessie punched him in the head.

"Tyrantrum, wait! We have to be careful ab out this!" Ash called, chasing after the Pokemon.

"Ty, please tell me you are getting this!" Gabby demanded as she and Ty followed Ash through the debris caused by the robot and Tyrantrum.

"Are you kidding? This is headliner stuff!" Ty jumped over a mound of earth tossed up by the pursuit. "I'd have to retire if I missed this!"

"TYYYRAAAN!" The lizard charged forward and tried to headbutt the robot's knee to knock it over. "TYYYRAAAAN!!" She tripped and fall onto her stomach, struggling to get up with her small arms. "Raaaan..." The Pokemon began to cry as the robot got further away from her.

Ash finally caught up and patted Tyrantrum's head near the neck. "I know, and I promise we'll get the eggs back. We just can't give up. They need you to not give up."

Tyrantrum's eyes snapped open, the iris shrinking into slits as she rolled to one side and pushed herself on to her hind legs with her tail. She growled at the retreating robot and sucked in air, Ash immediately began to back up as the signs of a devastating roar were impossible to miss. "Tyyyy RAAAAAAAAN!" The Pokemon began to glow a brilliant white.

"Woah..." Ash mumbled.

"No way." Ty began to zoom out and just his camera's setting as the glowing Pokemon began to grow in size.

"Is it...?" Gabby started but couldn't finish as the roaring figure pulled back its glowing head and let its cry echo into the sky.

"Tyrantrum is... Evolving." Professor Eucalyptus's glasses slipped off her nose, her eyes as wide as dinner plates. "It has a third stage!

"TYRAAAAN," The white energy exploded off the newly evolved Pokemon The red of her body replaced by black, two arms with six digits each capable of complex movement, spikes of crystal running from the tip of the tail to the head. The orange crown now a deep crimson as two new spikes have erupted and curved forward into bull-like horns. "TyyyRAAAN TERAAAAHR!"

Team Rocket looked back in pure fear, white as ghosts. "Big momma's even bigger now!" Meowth screamed. Jessie and James started hammering away at the release and eject buttons, the sphere containing the eggs and Pikachu falling off the chest as the head launched itself off the body. Tyranterahr's spines began to glow and ominous purple as the Pokemon's mouth opened. Purple flames gathered within and shot out in a single beam of energy that engulfed the escaping head. The explosion sent the three inside flying into the sky.

"Well, this seems about right." A horribly singed Jessie complained over the wind.

"Honestly, it's as much tradition as the motto or the twerps." James agreed.

'The more things change, the more they stay the same." Meowth added

"LOOKS LIKE TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN!"

-*X*-

The sun was setting as Ash, Pikachu, Gabby, and Ty were led out of Gateon Port by Professor Eucalyptus and Tyranterahr. "Well, this has been exciting. I knew the Orre Region was going to have a lot for me to learn, but this?" The Professor gestured up to the gigantic lizard next her. "This is going to be the biggest thing ever!"

"I know, we got it all on camera too!" Ty said with a thumbs up. "I bet all the other Professors are going to be so jealous."

"Professor, did you ever figure out what you were going to do about starter Pokemon?" Gabby asked, a simple recorder in her hand.

"No, but I don't care anymore." Eucalyptus' glasses caught the light, allowing her tear filled eyes to shine through. "I was too busy focusing on what other Professors did, meeting their example. I'd never be able to make a name for myself if I did that." Tyranterahr lowered her head to let Eucalyptus pet her snout. "I'm going to give Trainers what I can, not be bogged down by tradition. Besides, if Tyrantrum can still evolve, maybe some of the others can too!"

"Well, good luck Professor. I can't wait to see what Trainers you send through are like!" Ash said with grin, Pikachu mimicking him.

"Oh, that reminds me! Here." Eucalyptus handed a device over to Ash. "It's a PokeDex attachment for the camera, I've already put in the preliminary data for Tyranterahr."

Ash held it warily. "This doesn't have a Rotom in it, does it? I've had bad experiences with RotomDex's." He held it out for Ty to attach to his camera, who then pointed it at Tyranterahr and activated the scanner.

<Tyranterahr: The True King Pokemon. This Pokemon fiercely protects those it considers its subjects. No further data.>

"There you go. Now the closest gym is in Agate Village, and that's a ways away. Be careful." Eucalyptus said, giving Ash a hug. "I'll take care of any Pokemon you catch, don't you worry!"

"You got it Professor!" Ash turned around, tightened his backpack against himself, and began walking out of town. Gabby and Ty picked up their bags and followed him, waving good bye to Professor Eucalyptus and Tyranterahr as their journey through the Orre Region truly began!
==========

(AN: Let's uh... just ignore the fact it took me two years to do this, huh? I was working on my Master's Degree and that sapped everything.)