Chapter 3:
Tales at the breakfast table

“Well, this is where I’m staying for a while.” Ash explained to his new group of friends. They stared at the big penthouse that Plotz had given to him. The eldest of the Warner siblings looked around and then back to their new friend with a big grin.

“Not a bad job, Ash. Just started here and got one of the best places at the lot.” He said while shaking the trainers hand while adding, “Of course the Water Tower is still nicer.” Not quite sure what he meant by that the trainer just smiled nervously at him, but thankfully his stomach cleared the awkward handshake with another growl. The gray furred squirrel who was little impatient decided to speak up through the noise.

“Alright already, let’s get `im some food before we all need hearing aids.” She said to them and then flopped on the couch and added, “And when I said that I meant anybody but me.” The elderly character then relaxed in the seat. This raised the ire of Ash’s secret fan club, but they did not know of the Pallet Town member’s good heart.

“No. Slappy has the right idea. How about you guys rest up and I’ll fix the grub.” He suggested and entered the kitchen. “Wakko, think you could find a table for everyone?” The trainer questioned while looking at what the room he was in had to offer.

“Sure thing.” The middle sibling said back before taking off his red hat. He then dug around in it, like a magician looking for a rabbit, and after a while found what he was looking for: a table. He slammed the table down and set up the silverware for him. After a great while of suppressing his growl and making Breakfast at the same time two of the final members made it.

“Are we too late for this delectable meal.” Favio, the blue hippo, questioned after making it to Ash’s room. Giving the sausage links a once over Ketchum walked over from the kitchen doorway to the front door of his temporary home.

“Yeah, it is. Come on in, if you can.” Ash said to them and was surprised when he saw BOTH of the hippopotamus were able to squeeze in without damaging the frame of the door. ‘How did they do that?' The out of towner thought knowing that the heavy set Pokemon can never really get into a room without at least a little damage. The monster tamer ignored that thought and went back to work, and around 11:00 he was serving them everything he created.

“This is one heck of a spread.” Skippy said in praise to the human’s skill as he looked at his 21 stack of pancakes. The young squirrel was grateful that they were not the size of silver dollars either. The trainer loaded up the table with every known form of food for Breakfast he has ever come across. None of them ate until he was there, but that could take a while since he had more food to deliver.

“Okay, Runt, Buttons come over here.” Ash said as to the canines as he piled up the last of their grub on their plates. He walked over to the two in question with their spread, and both of the brown furred protectors LOVED what they saw. Four chunks of 12 ribs, three BIG T-Bone steaks, sausage patties on top of that, sausage links, Hot Dogs, Polish sausage, and bratwurst around that. “Hmm, something’s missing?” The trainer questioned and quickly came up with an answer. The raven haired chef went in and came back out with turkey broth and poured it on top. “That should do it guys.” He told them with a smile.

“Thank you.” Buttons said to him and began to chow down. Runt was also happy about the meat.

“Yeah, thanks Ash. Definitely, definitely thanks.” The big dog said and began to eat. The Pallet Town pal looked over to the birds of the crew and knew what to do with them. The boy walked back over to the kitchen and got into the oven.

“Don’t think I forgot about you guys.” He said and pulled out a whole mess of forms of bread: bread loaves, muffins, bagels, donuts, and churros. “Here you go guys.” The boy said to them and added, “I have a feeling that the god-pigeon goes first.” He presented the spread to the plump one. After a quick look with his non visible eyes he picked out a bagel that looked perfect. Once it was down in one gulp the elder spoke.

“The god-pigeon says you cook the best bread he ever had.” Bobby informed seeing the humbled clueless expression. “Now, put the bread on the table and let’s chow down.” Bobby said to the boy, since he too was starving.

“Just a sec.” He answered back after looking down and saw Rita smothering around his legs, trying to get his attention. The trainer soon picked up the cat in his arms and carried her to the kitchen. “Don’t worry Rita, I didn’t forget about you.” He spoke in a soft voice as he pet her while barley touching her fur before reaching into one of the cabinets, and grabbed something he saw earlier: canned cat food.

“Why, Ash, you sly little boy. You shouldn’t have.” She said to him when she saw the can. He placed her down and the two headed to the table, she got to her seat, and he put the canned food on her plate.

“Now is everyone okay. I didn’t forget anything, did I?” The host of this Breakfast spread questioned them even though he knew that all of them were probably starving to death.

“Yes, we’re good. Let’s eat.” The elder squirrel said in her usual anger tone. The boy obeyed her request and sat down at the right end of the table with Dot to his left and Minerva to his right, and as soon as his butt touched the seat they chowed down. The kid chuckled at their eagerness before joining in.

‘Man, I’ve never known anyone who can eat as much as my brother.’ Dot thought as she watched the latest human eat practically everything in sight.
‘Aside from the fact that he can eat as much as that lecher with the cap Ash really does seem nice.’ The mink thought as she too watched him eat. After two hours their food was gone and they were relaxing even though most of the food went to Ash or Wakko.

“So, Ash, tell us: what is your world like?” The big headed mouse question when he saw that all of them were relaxing at the table. The young trainer looked at all of his new friends and had a feeling that all of them were thinking the same thing it was just that none of them knew how to approach such a question.

“My world has creatures of different shapes, sizes, colors, personalities, types, and attributes. All of them are called Pokemon, and there are a few careers to go by: professor, trainer, breeder, coordinator. I am sure that there are others, but those are the only ones that I know for sure.” He said to them and saw that they needed something more, so the teacher went on, “A professor analysis Pokemon in their own way: sees what the creature does, what it eats, you know that kind of thing. A breeder sort of raises Pokemon, but they raise a Pokemon’s inner beauty, and also knows the best way to keep them healthy. A coordinator shows off a Pokemon’s skill in a different way - they show off their creatures beauty, but without losing the creature in a display of pure glamor. Finally: a trainer goes around different gyms to collect badges and compete in the finals.” The experienced youth informed them after giving them an abridged version of what the jobs around Pokemon do.

“So, which is your, Ash?” Squit questioned the out of towner. Ash thought for sure that he answered that when he gave them his name, but he didn’t mind giving it to them again.

“Mine is: Pokemon Trainer, and I already have a few badges if you want to see them.” He said to them and saw that most of them were nodding for him to get them. As the monster tamer dug through his pack the short attention one voiced her thought of this.

“This is going to be as much fun as listening to Fan-boy go on and on about his comic collection.” Her sentence went unheard as pretty much all of the girls were staring at the speaker's butt while it was in view; some even tried to take pictures with their cell while his back was turned.

“Here they are.” Ash said after finding all of the portable containers that held his badges. “These are all of the badges that I have ever gotten through out my journey, it’s a good thing that I always keep them around to…help inspire me when ever I had a set back.” He explained to them while leaving out the part when ever he is down on himself he looks at one of the set for inspiration.

“But I bet you never have a set back, do you, Ash?” Nurse question the young one. The boy went into a state of nervousness like he often did when asked those sort of questions, but like always answered her truthfully.

“You’d be surprised like when I first started: I overslept by breaking my clock, so I ran to my friend: Professor Oak's lab in my pajamas.” He said to them with an embarrassed red face.

“Seriously?” The CEO questioned the lad without disrespecting him by laughing at his face since the youth was trying to shield his embarrassed face with his hat.

“Yep.” He answered with a still nervous tone before adding, “Anyways, when I got there the only creature that Professor Oak, was a Pikachu. Even though he did quip as I opened all of the empty Poke balls.” It was then the monster tamer came up with an idea. “Come to think about it. I guess me giving you guys a book over the Pokemon and people that I’ve met won’t hurt.” He then went back to his pack and it took the girl-feathers everything they had NOT to pinch his buttock with their talons. “Found it, but I only have one book.” The traveler said to them and the last part came out in a sad tone since this was a small hole in his plan.

“No problem, Mac. We got it covered.” Yakko said and raced over to where the closet was, and then pulled on a curtain string, a string that the new arrival didn’t even know was there, and revealed a copier. The eldest Warner put the book in and before the trainer knew it the scan of all of the pages were done. The pants wearing brother then handed each of them a book and said to Ash, “Okay, you can continue.” After a few confused blinks the trainer went back to it.

“Right…well, Pikachu and I didn’t exactly get off on the right foot. He didn’t like me and I was trying to be his friend, but after an attack by a flock of angry Spearow the two of us became buds.” He said to them of his first creature and how they became friends.

“Spearow, are probably your version of a sparrow, so how did they get angry since there are a few here that have a temper?” Questioned the leader of the girl-feathers: Lana. That was one question that Ash really hated to answer, but he knew that it would be bad manners if he didn’t answer her.

“This is embarrassing, but I threw a rock at one, and that is basically how it started.” He answered the female flier. The boy went on about telling them of Misty and the business with her bike, Team Rocket’s first strike, his first capture, but then he got to a precious moment. “I can still remember my second blunder and my main promise I made. You see: I had Metapod in my arms and we were running from the Beedrills, I tried to explain myself…

“I didn’t abandon you, Metapod. I just got side-tracked, It was all Samurai’s fault.” His younger self said as he fell dropping the cocoon causing it to roll and stopped to where it was facing him. “No, It wasn’t Samurai’s fault.” He said in defeat before setting on his knees and added, “It was my fault. If I was a better Pokemon Trainer I’d stop making all these excuses. From now on I promise never to run and leave my friends behind again. No more excuses.”
“That’s the promise I made and until the day I stop breathing I will never go back on it. Ever.” He said to them and saw that some of them got watery eyed.

“That’s such a beautiful promise.” Sasha said while wiping her eyes with her wing. The others had to agree with that much about him as they all were clearing their eyes of tears.

‘Loyal to his friends. An admirable trait to be sure.’ Nurse thought after hearing his vow. The storyteller then told them of his meeting of a rock seller, first attempt against Brock. As he spoke of it the trainer thought it best not to bring up what he often did when it came to seeing a pretty fight, but he also spoke of the first gym leader's family, the power up, and the refusal of help.

“After Pikachu got charged you went against that rock trainer guy?” Pinky guessed to the storyteller.

“Yes, but when the sprinklers went off everything changed.” Ash said and then went deeper into meaning.

“Believe me, Kid, I’m no bully.” Ash said to one of nine siblings holding onto the new trainer. He heard from a sister why he stopped the attack and then gave his first creature a strange order, “Pikachu, return.” The comment confused all of them, especially the gym leader, but the trainer had an answer for that. “Those sprinklers going off was just an accident. Winning the match because of that wouldn’t have proved anything. Next time we meet, I’ll beat you my way: fair and square.”

“After I said that I left, but after meeting Brock’s dad, who was the guy selling the rocks, I was still able to get the badge.” The modern Ash said to them while leaving out the real reason Flint, Brock's Father, helped him with his first gym.

‘An honorable fighter: extraordinary find.’ Skullhead thought as he listened to the tale. Ash went on about: Mt. Moon, Cerulean City, meeting AJ(who Ash hasn’t seen since then), checking out a Poke-school and the student body, gaining: Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle to his team, meeting Bill along with an unknown giant, meeting and beating LT Surge, going on the Saint Anne, and trading his Butterfree, along with sinking.

“So, you had a Titanic moment?” Questioned Skippy, who cried for that movie while his aunt griped or laughed about it.

“Yeah…I guess so.” The trainer answered back since he really didn't know what to say to that. He went on about: meeting giant robot Pokemon, beauty contest, giant Tentacruel moment, Maiden’s peak mayhem, fighting Sabrina twice, and going to the Tower of Terror.

“So, Sabrina had the power to turn ANYONE into dolls?” Dot questioned with big eyes. All of the girls, maybe or maybe not including Slappy, thought of Ash in doll form in their custody.

“She still might.” The young traveler said back to her and then went with the quick approach by pointing to the individual story and a few in between action. Some that made them laugh was Ash’s dress-up and him being mistaken for another trainer which he was surprised that didn’t happen when he was with May. He spoke of the Orange Islands as well, and that one hit a soft spot for the females there.

‘That lady doesn’t deserve Ash. If she flirts with one gym leader and rejects the second then she doesn’t deserve Ash.’ Minerva thought after hearing of the fights with the Orange leaders. 'Where did that come from?' The white furred woman thought to herself after realizing what she just thought. The storyteller even spoke of when he lost and found Pikachu by Team Rocket. The monster tamer soon moved on to the other fights and mid-adventures.

“One of my Johto battles was a bit different: I had to deal with a girl who thought she and I are lovers.” The trainer informed them with an honest chuckle, and as soon as he said: lovers, all of the girls got cheesed off.

“Macey, are you okay?” His past self said after taking a spill down a rocky side and landing on a rock. “Stay here leave this to me.” He added and took on Rocket…again. After beating them things went from bad to worse. Since the friendship between Macey and Misty did not go over very well.

“Get this: after the whole thing, you know, after I beat her: she said that this evolved Slugma of hers was to representation of what the two of us shared.” The modern Ketchum said to them.

‘Teach her why this boy is spoken for.’ The blonde human thought after hearing that story.

“I was finally able to gain all of my badges for the Hoenn region just like I did for the others, but after participating in the competition I had to deal with battling another new friend.” Ash said and then added, “I thought it would be great, but it didn’t start the way I hoped so I had to give Morrison a reminder.”

“Just hold on.” The Ash of the past said to the ref and then looked at his new friend, “Morrison, what’s wrong with you? We both know that you can fight harder than this so why are you just giving up.” The trainer said and got a complaint from the opponent. “If that’s the way you feel than you might as well give up right now.” He added and received an angered reply, but Ash wasn’t done yet. “You have Pokemon that believe in you and battle for you, but right now you act like you don’t even care about them.” He then got the right words from Morrison and their fight went the way he wanted it.

“I do not understand, Ash. If Morrison didn’t want to fight you than why convince him to battle against you will all of his might.” The smart white furred creature said to the weaver of this tale, not understanding the warrior's style.

“Because just like at Brock's gym I prefer to fight an opponent at their fullest, that’s the only way I know that I deserve to move on.” He explained back to him, but the mouse didn’t understand the fact of honor very well. The trainer then spoke of the other fights including his fights with Anabel.

‘Sounds like another person I need to show why this kid is taken.’ Thought the white furred one, but she didn’t know why she kept thinking these thoughts in the first place after all the hourglass girl was into the rich folk or stereotypical hunks and Ash Ketchum seemed run of the mill in both fields, but for some reason she just couldn’t help herself. The trainer then talked about everything else leading up to present.

“That’s it! I’m going to bed.” Slappy said in an angry fashion and added, “Come on Skippy.” The others followed her lead and went back to their homes. The Pallet Town youth was about to comment about the dishes until he watched as Wakko ate them.

‘Nothing more to do than to take a shower.’ Ketchum thought after they all left and went to the bathroom to take one. The shower was great to his skin, and after stepping out of the bathroom with a pair of slip on pants and a gray sleeveless shirt on his person he took another look outside of his window. “This place might not be so bad.” Ash said to hemself before seeing some garbage move around across the street. ‘I better check that out.’ The hero thought and did so. When he got to that mess he saw Rita and Runt resting in the junk.

“Hi, Ash?” Runt questioned when he saw the person in front of them. The trainer knelt down and saw that the feline was already fast asleep.

“How about you two spend the night with me.” Ash said to them and saw the canine’s tail wag about that. “Good, come on.” He said and then gently picked Rita up and the three went to his room. “Make yourself comfy.” He said to the big dog once they were back in his penthouse, who had already plopped at the foot of his bed.

“Good spot. Definitely, definitely a good spot.” Runt muttered and fell asleep instantly.

“How do I deal with this?” Ash whispered when he saw that the cat had clawed onto his shirt. Using his out of the box thinking the boy was able to lay down without waking her. ‘See you in the morning Rita.’ He thought and went to bed himself: thinking of the new day.


Copy Rights:
Ash Ketchum, and the others, are owned by Gamefreak/Nintendo and Cartoon Network.
Animaniacs, and the others, are owned by WB.