CoL Special: Squad Collab Book

Blake: Johto.

Ash grinned as Olivine City came into view. Gary was asleep on one of the benches, having not gone to sleep until well into morning thanks to his gramps needing help. Ash woke him up as they were docking.

"Hm?"

"Come on." He nodded tiredly as they got off. Eevee and Pikachu were on their heads as they headed off. Gary glanced at his map.

"According to this-" He yawned as Ash chuckled. "Uh- Violet City has the first gym here-"

"I hear the grass around here is good for napping."

"Ash, I will regain the rest of my sleep when we're closer to Violet. Do not test me because I will kill you." Ash kept quiet, eyeing the Oak as he yawned again.

"If one of those yawns knocks you out, I'm not carrying you to Violet City."

"Ash. Shut up."

~

Gary was able to make it to Violet City. But once there, he nearly collapsed twice before Ash helped him lay down.

"Sleep. It will not kill you to get some sleep." Gary mumbled something under his breath as he drifted off, leaning his head against the ravenette. Ash smiled as he watched their two pokemon play nearby.

~

"Hm...?"

Gary woke up as the sun rose, proving Ash was right about one thing. Once asleep, the Oak family are like trees in the winter, waiting for the summer. The only difference is that it wasn't winter and it was only a few hours.

"Sorry- I know we were so excited-" Ash smiled as he finished making food.

"Gary, you needed the sleep. The journey would've been there if you had slept a few more hours." Gary took the offered food as they ate up. "Besides. I'd rather have you on full energy than that partial energy you had getting here to Violet." Gary smiled softly at that.

"Yeah... I guess so..." They finished their food as he sighed. "Johto... Here we are."

~

Since Gary got plenty of rest, Falkner and Bugsy were no match for his Arcanine. Ash was lucky to catch a Heracross and Wooper, so he was able to go steady with the fights.

Before they got to Goldenrod, Ash got an Egg from the daycare. Gary chuckled as they got to the large city.

"There it is. The loving side of you." Ash hushed him.

"You do the same thing with the little pokemon at the lab." Gary shrugged.

The gym wasn't open (Whitney had a family emergency), but something caught Ash's attention.

"Team Rocket-" Gary turned to him as a snarl escaped the ravenette and he hugged the Incubator close. "What are they doing here?"

"Not sure. Let's flush them out." Ash nodded as they ran over. Jessie intercepted them.

"Look who it is. Guys! The Twerps are here." One of the other grunts chuckled.

"Show 'em the new strength!"

"Oh I will! Steelix!" Pikachu and Eevee got in front as the large pokemon appeared.

"Eevee, stay back. Blastoise!" The normal type bounced back before the water type came out.

"Steelix! Rock Throw!"

"Pikachu! Thunderbolt!"

"Blastoise! Hydro Pump!"

The three attacks collided before Ash jumped back from a second wave from the larger pokemon. Oh no. He was too far away to activate his aura and end this quicker. These guys weren't messing around. He locked eyes with Gary, who panicked. Shit- He went to get back to his side when three Gengar jumped him.