Ash, "Honestly! What were you lot thinking?"
Phantump pouted as he was being cared for, "Phaaaa."
Nurse Joy was stumped, "I received Phantump's previous health records and he did not have malnutrition just last week. So, how in the world?"
Ash, "They have been training without pointers to watch their health."
Nurse Joy, "I see, one of those types."
Lucario shrugged, -It was a good training session.-
Gou, "I was not expecting this, when we re - grouped."
Serena, "Me neither."
Molly, "I heard you burned up Piloswine? How is that possible?"
Ash, "With a thick dry vine and will o wisp that is super hot."
Nurse Joy checked the list then looked at the sulky ghost, "Yes, that will do it. I do not think I have to tell you but keep a closer eye on your Pokemon."
Ash nodded, "Thank you Nurse Joy."
Chloe, "I heard what happened, that was crazy."
Ash hummed, "Yeah, Phantump really surprised me."
Lucario, -Did he, really? You came up with the idea.-
Ash turned to him, "Oh! You are not off the hook either, Pup."
Max, "Oooh! He called Lucario Pup."
Misty, "Let's give them some time."
Lucario huffed, -Do you expect us to not try out a new battle mechanic after being told about it? Come now Meema, you saw how powerful it was and it took down Piloswine so fast too.-
Ash, "And it put Phantump out of comission. Not to mention. Do not think I did not notice the shaking, Annihilape! You are in the same amount of trouble."
Ruby closed the door, "They will take a while."
Serena, "I do not think I have seen Ash so angry before."
Melody, "Honestly speaking, we can't blame him. Did you see in what shape the Pokemon were after using those moves? That was pretty reckless."
Misty, "Even after extinguishing the flames outside, it still kept burning inside."
Ruby, "The poor Knight was both terrified and intrigued by it. I wonder how Piloswine is doing."
Chloe, "Let's go check on them, while waiting for Ash."
Misty winced remembering the bruns, "Let's grab a burn relaxant salve too, the poor Piloswine looked like he was in real pain. I know Ash feels guilty about it though he has a good poker face."
Serena nodded, "Yeah, let's do that."
The group could still hear the lecture which had turned from irresponsible trainng habits to a long lecture about increasing their nutrient intakes. Yikes! They would be better off keeping a distance while Ash was in a tirade about health, lest they get roped into it too. They went outside and the evening had just started to turn dark with many street food stalls opening up for the new night. They went to the pharmacy next to the centre first and went to visit the unlucky Piloswine and Knight. The Knight and the ice slash ground type Pokemon actually looked very energetic despite the burn marks on their body. The Knight, Sura asked where Ash was and Ruby laughed saying he was giving his Pokemon a thorough lecture on reckless training and using moves in battle without cross checking with him first. Sura just laughed incredulously on hearing what happened and had to verify it twice and asked what that move even was supposed to be.
Ruby, "Honestly speaking, I do not even think it was a particular move at all."
Max nodded, "Ash said it was a battle mechanic, not a move but seeing how angry and serious Ash looked.... "
Molly, "It is dangerous for Pokemon to attempt it nilly willy. I do not think we will be seeing it any time soon honestly."
Misty, "Annihilape looked pretty beat up too after the battle high went down."
Serena, "And let's not even mention Phantump. He looked like he died, which I did not think it was even possible for ghost Pokemon to look more dead."
Sura sighed, "Right, let's shelve it as a suicidal battle mechanic and leave it at that."
Melody, "I am more impressed they came up with a whole new technic. Have you seen something like that before?"
Ruby, "Me? Well, only during the really intense double battles Pokemon perform moves and trainers come up with battle styles or mechanics as Ash called it.... Huh! I will have to talk to him about this properly later."
Max, "That is probably a good idea though Ash might not be happy about it."
Serena, "Yeah, he did not look happy."
Gou, "He might reject the idea and completely ban it. You heard what he was saying. It is highly dangerous."
Ruby, "For young Pokemon like Phantump but Lucario, his oldest was alright despite using those same style of fighting. I will need to have a serious meeting about this with him and not just go in half hearted."
Misty snorted, "Good luck with that. If Ash thinks something is dangerous to his Pokemon, then one, he will act like it does not exist in best case scenario or two, destroy it in worst case."
Ruby, "I will say my Pokemon are interested."
Gou, "Like that has worked before. He will want to supervise and then if things go wrong it will be a complete ban."
Lucario meanwhile was calming his Meema, -Meema, I know you are irate, but we took a lot of precautions.-
Ash looked unimpressed, "Did you?"
Lucario sighed, -It was supposed to be a good surprise and it was till we realized the power consumed was not a small amount. The Visions you spoke of most likely acted as a safe conduit.-
Ash was tired now, "Obviously!!! I explained the game to you how did you forget such an important part?"
Treeko rubbed his back, "Ko tree treeko."
Ash, "I will be fine Treeko."
Taillow, "Low tai."
Ash stared at his Pokemon, "Look, I know I cannot stop you from wanting to be stronger but I request you all to take precautions. Please, if any of you got hurt I will not be able to forgive myself."
Lucario froze, he had forgotten about his Meema's nature, 'I might have messed up a bit.'
Phantump looked uncomfortable as well, "Phaa phantump."
Lucario got up and nuzzled the dark haired teen, -Meema, please do not ever feel like you have to beg us, we promise we will be careful. This was supposed to be a surprise, a gift. We never meant to worry you.-
Ash, "I am your trainer, I will always worry. You know that."
Lucario, -I know Meema.-
Ash, "Good because next time warn me before trying any more powerful moves. I will not stop you but preparation is very important."
Lucario looked at Phantump who was completely exhausted, -Learned that the hard way, some of us did.-
Phantump pouted and complained pointing at him, "Phaaaa phan phaaa tum phantump phaaa? Phaa phantump."
Lucario's lips twitched, -Well, I did make sure not to put all my energy into one go move. I saved some and used some.-
Ash, "Phantump."
Phantump turned towards him, "Phantump."
Ash, "We will need to change your diet to a more high energy one if you are serious about this. No complaints about this please, and I know you well enough to know once you put your mind into something you will not stop."
Phantump looked sheepish as he slowly moved to settle on Ash's lap, after realizing he was not angry at him just worried. Phantump however made an internal promise to not make his trainer angry at him though their enemies were free game. Ash had run out of juice and said what he wanted to say to his trouble magnet Pokemon and now focused on helping them. He took out his laptop and started to add what Nurse Joy had earlier informed about. The required nutrients, vitamins, supplements and the recipes that could help his Pokemon out. He would have to go shopping again but it was not like he was hurting for money anyway. He still received his regular stipend for all of his books that were selling just fine, maybe he should release the third Fantastic Beast book too? It was certainly something to think about.
Phantump slowly fell asleep to the sound of his Meema typing away on his laptop. The ghost Pokemon did not know when it happened but he had started to recognise the rhythmic typing with safety and home. Lucario meanwhile was talking with Annihilape and Wigglytuff who had been quietly snickering at their misfortune. She did not use the battle mechanics so just like Treeko and Taillow they had escaped a lecture. Absol, Abra, Eevee, Diance and Ralts however had fallen asleep a while ago in the middle of Ash's rant. The scolding had nothing to do with them, the babies of the group and they were going to keep it that way. After a few hours, Ruby and the group returned to see Ash was sitting comfortable surrounded by his Pokemon who were sleeping around him in the form of a circle.
Gou, "Should we wake him up?"
Ruby shook his head closing the door, "Best not to, heaven knows how stressed he was."
Serena hummed, "Agreed, besides the festival is day after tomorrow right? Let us all rest up to enjoy it."
Misty smirked, "I overheard Nurse Joy telling Ash to add more stuff to his Pokemon's diet."
Max walked beside his sister, "Tomorrow we are going shopping then?"
May, "I don't see why not."
Molly, "Well I did see some things I would like to buy."
Melody, "We can take the chance to stock up too."
Chloe, "That is probably a good idea. We got lucky Nurse Joy set up a camp here and helped us out but we had to spend a good chunk of our medicine too."
The group quickly ate dinner in the cafeteria area and went to the rooms they booked before hand and got some rest. The next day, Ash made sure Lucario and the others were on strict bed rest like Nurse Joy had said and went off with the rest of the group to do the shopping needed. Lucario pouted but admitted he had no one to blame but himself and Ash was not alone though he told Absol to keep an eye out for trouble. The young canine barked in agreement and trotted after the dark haired teen who was muttering about the stuff he needed already ignoring everyone else. The rest of the group met with him asking if he had already had breakfast to which Ash reassured them he had breakfast with his Pokemon. He had already started to incorporate the new diet thanks to Nurse Joy tipping the Chefs helping the healers.
Ruby, "I have something to do. Will you guys be okay?"
Serena, "We are just going shopping Ruby."
Misty, "Yeah, nothing will happen."
Gou, "Even if it does we can deal with it."
Max, "That is a long list Ash."
Ash, "That's because it is. Nurse Joy's orders. I don't know if we will get everything here but I have to check."
Melody, "We will help out."
As looked at her, "If you are going to ask me about what happened then no. Unless you hate your Pokemon and want them dead, that is."
Melody, "What? Of course not, I would never."
Ash sighed, "I advise you to keep an eye on your Pokemon though. Now that you have shown interest, they will attempt it."
Melody turned a little pale at that while Misty smacked her over the head saying, I told you so, yeesh. Ash shook his head, then focused on the shopping wishing her best of luck with her Pokemon because she would need it. Gou added his Pokemon were already trying to replicate it and Ash said he should get some of the food for the recipes that was recommended for the Pokemon. Gou looked at the list and it looked doable for his own fighter Pokemon and agreed to getting the ingredients or some of it plus the supplements. Chloe was just happy her Pokemon were more speed based then strength based so she would not have to worry but Ash advised her to keep an eye on them either way. Pokemon could sometimes act like a hive mind when it came to battle methods. Ash half wondered what Ruby was up to but decided to queston him after he returned.