Ash Ketchum Z-Warrior Unleashed Chapter 1
Yo everyone! Nice to see you here! I am humbled by your presence, really, I am. I hope that you all accepted my decision, because the last thing I want to do is make you guys upset. I feel like I should mention that I finally got Microsoft Word, so there should be less mistakes in the chapters to come.
Anyway, I want to reiterate that I will be rewriting some of the chapters of AKZWU and I will change some things that I find that are unexplained, cringy, and convoluted.
Of course, the rules still apply, and I have thoughtfully copied and pasted the rules from the original first chapter. So, if you're new here, you may want to read these.
1: This is based four years after the Majin Buu saga in DBZ and the Sinnoh League in Pokemon.
2: Nobody will age, I don't really like seeing characters I've loved since childhood getting older.
3: Ash will be the main protagonist. The story is centered around him and how he grows into a warrior, which is one of the things this fic brings to light.
4: Ash will be able to carry all his pokemon even though the limit is meant to be six. I feel like the story wouldn't work if I just had six of his pokemon. Though he grows stronger, he does need all the help he can get.
5: Since this is not GT, Super Saiyan 4 isn't in this story.
6: Any pokemon that Ash has released are back with him, including: Butterfree, Primeape, Lapras, Pidgeot, etc. It's hard to make him connect with new pokemon that I decide on. If the situation ever needed some wings, fists, or claws, Ash's own pokemon would be enough for me.
7: Pokemon Speech will be in brackets. Exceptions are if it's a prolonged talking sequence or an emotional one. And Ash can understand it, due to his time spent with his pokemon friends.
8: If characters appear to be a little OCC, then I probably intended that. If they need to be meaner, or nicer, I will try to make that happen while staying as close to their original character as well.
Now...that's over, I think it's time to restart...feel free to compare the old and new chapter, I promise, this is a million times better.
Thank you once again for reading this, whether you're new or old, you all make this fic possible. Here we go again!
"If you realize you made a mistake with the way you've been walking the path of life, you just have to take the next step and start over."
-Erza Scarlet, Fairy Tail
Chapter One: From Bad to Worse.
"When every life meets another life, something will be born..."
Those words carried significant weight in the pokemon world...
It meant, that when two beings, people and pokemon alike, crossed paths...they would create something between them. Something grand.
So many things could be created, so many things could become something amazing.
Friendship...
Hope...
Love...
Lives that connected; intertwined with each other created many incredible things. Things that would make them shine and bloom against the crowd, both pokemon and people.
But, the harsh reality of that saying, was that not only positive things were born. Things that would beget nothing but negativity were also created.
Pain...
Anguish...
Despair...
Both the light, and the dark side of those simple words were both formidable, and clashing would eventually happen between them, creating a grey area of sorts, where the darkness melded into other creations, along with the light.
One of the things born when both sides mixed together, was something that could change the very way two people saw each other. Both a longing for respect from the other party, while also giving them their own. Both trying to usurp the other in strength, yet acknowledging their counterpart's.
It went back and forth, like a nail between two magnets.
The thing that was born...
...was Rivalry.
Cheering.
The loud screams and shouts of the crowd was almost everything that the two could hear right now, their ears hurting a little from the volume.
In front of them, two combatants of incredible power stood strongly, despite being on their last legs, a testament to their desire to win.
The atmosphere at the Lily of the Valley Isle was astonishing, people's excitement of the battle happening below them could be felt all around. The final match of the tournament had begun, and it had been an amazing one. Some Champion matches didn't even get people this hyped.
It was because of how back and forth the battle went, and the rivalry that was put behind it. Whenever one would break out a combo move, the other would counter it, and when the other lost a pokemon, he took out one of his opponent's in reply.
They were not only battling for the title of Pokemon League Champion, but they were battling in a show of their ideals.
One trained pokemon with the mercilessness of an angry Tyranitar, strength being the only thing he cared about. To him, pokemon were just tools for battle, and nothing else. Weakness had no place on his pokemon team. To him, if they were weak, they were released, simple as that.
Which only surprised him more when one of the "weak" pokemon that he released, had given him so much trouble. From taking a point-blank Thunder attack, to erasing the Poison Point he spread out on the field, by burning up the entire battlefield itself, not to mention the Blaze ability that he'd tried to harness so many times.
That kind of strength came from the opposing trainer, who was the polar opposite of the other. He trained pokemon with kindness in his heart. Every single day, he'd love and train his pokemon to the best of his ability. He gave them encouragement if they won, and consoled them gently if they lost. They shared a bond so insanely powerful that the difference between it and family was miniscule, non-existent even, and that helped them to grow stronger and stronger; to get where they were today.
Two ideals. Cruelty, or Love. What would prove superior in this fight?
It was a beautiful dance of strength and strategy as both trainers eventually came down to their final battler.
Soon, that had reached its climax too, both pokemon struggling to stand. They stared down each other with a crazy amount of determination, and their trainers did the same thing.
It was time to end it, both pokemon had one move left in them. Every battle before then had been building up to now. Ever since that fateful day when they first battled at Professor Rowan's lab...
Both purple and raven hair blew in the wind, and cold black pupils met with warm auburn ones. Both knew that this battle was about to end. But which side would win, and which would lose?
The heat of a raging inferno washed over them, and their bodies tingled from the electricity in the air, showing the strength of the two pokemon, despite their fatigue.
Both trainers took a deep breath and faced the other, both the championship, and ideals on the line.
He was Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town.
And he was Paul of Veilstone City.
"Let's finish this!" They yelled in unison
And this was where the battle ended...
Clenching his fist in front of his face, Paul called out his attack.
"Use Thunderpunch!"
Upon receiving the command, his pokemon, Electivire began rushing in, both of his arms glowing in a yellow, electrical aura. He crossed the field intent on finishing the fight.
In retaliation, Ash called out his own attack, shouting as loud as he could.
"Flare Blitz, go!"
Infernape, using all the remaining power he had amassed from the power-up of the Blaze, jumped back into the air. Pouring all the power forth into his fiery aura caused the flames to go from a blinding orange to a burning blue, illuminating the whole stadium, causing people in the stands to cover their eyes.
With one of the world's most powerful fire-type moves ready to go, Infernape pushed off of seemingly empty air, proceeding on a beeline course to match Electivire's attack.
The entire stadium held their breath for the collision that would inevitably take place. The spectators, Ash's friends, and even Team Rocket, who were working as food vendors.
With a cry of willpower, both pokemon finally clashed in the middle of the stadium, electricity and flames flying off both titans.
With a resulting blast of power, the two elements folded into each other, creating a massive surge of blue and yellow that shot off into the sky above the stadium.
Dust flew up into the air, shrouding the beige color of the battlefield. and almost swallowing the two trainers standing on either side. Pikachu and Ash covered their faces with either an arm, or a paw respectively, and dug in their heels to prevent them from being blown away. Paul however, managed to show a lot more composure and did not let himself be inconvenienced by the power surges.
The power struggle went on for a while, neither opponent giving the other a single inch. They were both burning up power and with their exhausted states, it was obvious that they were going to run out of juice soon.
Infernape, however, did not allow that.
Unleashing any remaining power within his being, the fire monkey let out a loud, determined cry. The flames around his body grew even larger, and so did the twisting outputs of energy that could be seen above the stadium, making it bear the resemblance of an erupting volcano.
That kind of pressure was too much for Electivire to handle, and his Thunderpunch was overpowered by the incredible flames, allowing Infernape to follow through with his attack.
In a burst of speed, Infernape pushed through Electivire and ended up crouching behind him a few meters away. His body shuddered as red energy crackled around him, a sign that the recoil damage had taken effect. The blue flames that had surrounded him slowly faded back into his orange fire.
The electric type behind him was suddenly engulfed in red-hot flames, causing an explosion of heat that rocked the stadium floor and sent out a huge plume of smog.
It was for a single moment that Ash thought that they'd won the battle, that Electivire had taken enough damage to get him out of the game. That thought was dashed however, when two glowing red eyes shone out of the smoky cloud, showing that the electric-type wasn't out of the fight yet.
Sure enough, when the smoke cleared, they could all see that Electivire hadn't fallen. He was obviously damaged, barely standing, just like Infernape was. His body cracked with red energy too, but he was still able to stand.
With a growl of frustration, Infernape turned back and grit his teeth, facing his opponent with his malicious, pink eyes.
This was it...
Both trainers knew that their pokemon had reached their limits. No more moves could be used, and moving an inch would send them stumbling to the ground, unable to get up. It wasn't a battle anymore, but a contest of determination and willpower to see who would remain standing.
The stadium's cheers had subsided into complete silence as they watched the tense standoff between the two pokemon. The only thing that the two trainers could hear were the sounds of their own heartbeats.
Everything that they had both fought against to get here, all of their battles...all boiled down to a few moments. All of it was put on the line...Everything was all up to their pokemon now...
Pink met red...
Auburn met black...
Then, with a defeated groan, one of the pokemon fell...
He landed on the ground with a thump that echoed around the stadium.
The entire stadium sat in stunned silence at the outcome of the battle.
"...Infernape..." Ash whispered with wide eyes.
The referee standing on the side made the call.
"Infernape is unable to battle! Electivire wins! Which means the victory goes to Paul from Veilstone City!" He announced, holding up the red flag in Paul's direction.
Ash stood in his box, paralysed...frozen in place. All he could do was stare at his beloved pokemon, sprawled out on the ground. There was just no way...It wasn't supposed to end like this!
He let his vision move to Electivire, who had needed to sturdy himself with both his arms and his tails. Ash clenched his fist. The difference of damage between them wasn't just small, it was marginal. If only Electivire was a little less resilient...if only..."
His fists clenched even tighter as he heard the commentator announce that Paul had won the Sinnoh League, and the cheering that came after was like adding salt to the wound.
"P-Pikapi...? (A-Ash…?)" Ash heard his starter ask him, concerned about his best friend's feelings.
The concerned tone that Pikachu used helped to calm down Ash a little. He took a deep breath and found his body able to move. He hung his head down and began to slowly walk over to his fallen friend.
"I...I was so sure we'd win..." Ash muttered to Pikachu, who had climbed onto his shoulder. The electric-type looked sadly at Ash's face, which was shadowed by the brim of his cap.
"I-I let Infernape take too much damage before Blaze was activated...I was so stupid...I should've battled more carefully..." Ash muttered to himself, getting closer and closer to Infernape.
"Pika...Pika Cha Pika Pika Pikachu Chupi...(You...couldn't have known what Paul would do...") Pikachu replied. He was just as upset that Ash had lost.
Each step took ages, and Ash sighed when he finally reached Infernape. He let his legs lower him to the ground and began to gently nudge the fire type. He noticed a red glow in his peripheral vision, and registered it to be Paul returning Electivire.
"Hey...Infernape? Infernape...come on, buddy, wake up..." Ash said in a caring voice, urging the fire type to awaken.
It was kind of unorthodox to do this in a stadium, filled with cheering people, but to Ash, the whole place, the cheers and the field just faded away. He didn't just want to return Infernape to his pokeball after losing an insane bout like that.
He needed to talk to his pokemon, to make sure that he wouldn't lose his fighting spirit, something that was to be suspected after losing to Paul once more.
After a few more moments of gentle nudging, the fire monkey eventually begun to stir, causing both Ash and Pikachu let out a sigh of relief.
Infernape slowly cracked open his eyes, now yellow instead of the Blaze induced pink, indicating that he'd regained consciousness.
With a groan, he turned his head to face up, only to find the face of the one he let down. Almost instantly, he turned his head away, a look of shame adorning his features. Out of all the battles he could have lost...why this one...?
His teeth were grit together and his eyes were shut tightly, for if they weren't, tears would surely come out. Had Infernape had any remaining strength, he would've punched the ground, both out of anger at his former trainer, and at himself.
Ash deserved victory, not Paul! Ash wasn't abusive, or mean. He didn't forcefully push his pokemon to their limits or berate them when they lost. Ash didn't just see flaws, he saw strong points too, and if there were flaws, he helped each pokemon, whether they were his own or not, to erase them and make them even better, not release them because he didn't have the time.
Ash was the good guy, and Paul was the bad guy...a hero and a villain. The good guys were never beaten by the bad guys, they always triumphed one way or another. It was in everything that told a tale of conflict, the good guys always won!
But because of him, and his weakness, he was unable to bring Ash to victory, despite how close they were. It wasn't only a match of a tournament, but the finals! Ash had never been this close to winning a tournament before, and he was determined to emerge victorious. To come out a step closer to his dream of becoming a Pokemon Master.
And it wasn't just Paul that took that away from him, Infernape took the blame upon himself as well. He took Ash's chance to be a winner of the Sinnoh League, and crushed it. His best friend's chance to finally show up Paul, and his chance to prove he wasn't a weakling became all but moot when they lost.
Infernape was indebted to Ash, and he always thought that he owed him in every single battle that he participated in to fight his hardest, and come out on top. When Paul had abandoned him outside the Hearthome City Battle Arena, Infernape being a Chimchar at the time, he thought his life was over, robbed of purpose.
But there Ash was, right by his side, a smile on his face and a hand outstretched, more than eager to welcome the little fire monkey into the family, and ever since then, he'd flourished much more when he was Paul's pokemon. By becoming Ash's friend, he was happy, and their bond crushed anything that Chimchar and Paul had, if any...
He was instantly welcomed by both human and pokemon sides of the party, and he was shocked at how everyone had instantly accepted him as a friend, despite his past with Paul.
He got to eat delicious, customised pokemon food, made just for him, out of his very own bowl, not the low-quality stuff that Paul fed him from a tiny tin that he could barely get his hands into.
He was also tutored by Ash and the other pokemon to become the strong Flame pokemon that he was today. He received proper training, not by being pelted by rocks or forced to stand against a Zangoose, a pokemon he feared vehemently.
No, his training held no insults, they held only improvement. It was so different to Paul's barbaric style of training, that it was almost like breathing a different kind of air. He was even taught to control his incredible Blaze ability, though not without its share of sacrifices. The scars that Chimchar left when he bit Ash in a Blaze frenzy, and the burns on his hands, hidden by his gloves from Monferno's Blaze freak-out were still healing to this day.
Still, through all that, Ash never resented the fire-type, never hated him when he was unable to control something that was too powerful for him to handle at the time. If it had been Paul, he would have all his pokemon put him through a torturous "training session" once he was back under control. But Chimchar wasn't naive; it was punishment, and nothing else.
Ash was his saviour, a person that made all the hurt and neglect go away, a strong-hearted teacher that taught him how strong the power of bonds truly was. He was...nothing less than an Arceus-send to him.
But, no matter how much he believed in that, no matter how much he fought with that in mind…
He still lost…and that crushed him.
He'd rather stare down an entire horde of Zangoose than look Ash in the eye, it would've been less nerve wracking.
The Flame pokemon, believing that he could never be strong enough to be Ash's friend, was suddenly brought out of his sorrowful state by the said trainer.
"Hey, Infernape, look at me, buddy…"
As he didn't have a choice, Infernape forced himself to look up at his trainer, but purposely avoided his eyes, always looking at his cap, or his vest. He was convinced that all he would see would be sadness…
And with three simple words, Ash turned that single view on its head.
"Thank you, Infernape…"
Letting out a short gasp of surprise, Infernape didn't realise that he was suddenly staring directly at his trainer's face.
Those words…they were the exact same words that his trainer used back at their full battle staged at Lake Acuity, just with his name switched to his current form. They had also lost that day against Paul, even when Chimchar evolved into Monferno. But, instead of being upset at their loss, Ash congratulated them, consoled them, and helped them to become even stronger.
There was no disappointment.
No frustration…
No anger…
Instead, his vision met with a face of fierce pride and boundless joy.
And, his shining, chocolate brown eyes shone with just as much love as they always did.
"I…I don't have any words…for how proud I am of you." Ash begun with a voice of pure admiration.
"You gave it your all, and I couldn't ask any more of you, my friend…"
Those last two words stirred up a myriad of emotions in Infernape's heart.
They held so much emotion behind them, so much intention to convey just how appreciative Ash was to the fire type. Suddenly, it seemed as if the wounds that the fire monkey had sustained in his intense battle simply vanished, the pain a long-forgotten element, as Infernape looked at his smiling trainer.
"Sure…we may have lost today…but if it's anyone's fault, it's mine…don't try and blame yourself for it."
And there it was. Just from a few seconds of observing his behaviour, Ash had managed to dig up the cause of Infernape's anxiety by the roots. Honestly, he was so good at doing stuff like that; it was a legitimate theory that he could read the minds of his pokemon or something.
Of course, in protest to Ash's statement, both Pikachu and Infernape shook their heads frantically and voiced their arguments. But Ash simply tuned them out.
With a warm smile still plastered on his face, Ash slowly began to lift the fire type up, putting the pokemon's arm around his neck, and gently getting him to his feet.
"But…oh man, was that a way to go out or what? You were so awesome in that last clash! It was like nothing I've ever seen before!" Ash exclaimed as he slowly stood up, intent on letting Infernape not just know, but feel how proud he was.
Coming from Ash, someone who saw legendary pokemon at least once a month, and got caught up in countless life-threatening situations almost daily, that compliment meant a lot.
"And, even though we lost, at least we went out in a blaze of glory. Heh, though that's kind of an understatement…" Ash joked.
It was at that moment where Infernape, one again realised how truly lucky he was to find a friend, a trainer, and a partner like Ash, and that realisation was only strengthened by the raven-haired trainer's next words.
"I promise buddy, we'll get much stronger, and we'll definitely win next time!"
Infernape and Pikachu smiled warmly at their friend. It was obvious that Ash wasn't going to be upset just because he lost another league. Each loss that he suffered taught him a valuable lesson as a trainer, and pushed him and his pokemon to new heights, and look where that got them; the finals of the Sinnoh League! Next time, he would be the winner for sure.
The two pokemon gave Ash their owner a nod of agreement. They would help Ash every step of the way. The raven-haired trainer then proceeded to lift Infernape's arm off of his shoulders after the fire-type insisted that he could walk on his own. Smiling at his pokemon's restored morale, Ash gently clapped a hand on his shoulder, and gave him a proud smile.
"Jeez, sucks that you lost Ash…guess Paul was too good for you…" A voice suddenly announced the arrival of some newcomers.
Knowing the voice all too well, Ash grinned and turned his head to look at one of his other Sinnoh rivals.
Standing behind him was a boy around his age, with platinum blonde cowlick hairstyle and hazel eyes. He wore a simple grey pants, brown shoes, and a high-collared, orange and white striped shirt. His style was complete with a green scarf wrapped around his neck, and an orange Pokétch strapped onto his left wrist. His hyperactive rival who was obsessed with fining people, Barry.
Following Barry were two of Ash's close friends who he travelled the entirety of the Sinnoh region with.
The first was a girl with ocean blue eyes and dark blue hair to match. She wore a white undershirt with a black tank top, pink boots, a pink scarf, a short, bright pink skirt and a white beanie with a pink pokeball logo embroidered onto it. Her accessories included twin yellow hairclips, creating a pair of bangs that framed her face, an ordinary bracelet on her right wrist, and a red Pokétch on her left. The aspiring pokemon coordinator, Dawn, who was clasping her starter, Piplup to her body.
The second was a male who looked to be a little older than Ash, his brown hair spiked in multiple different directions, and his eyes were squinted shut. He wore a dark green shirt with a black and orange vest over it, white and blue shoes, and his pants were a light grey. The pokemon breeder, navigator, chef, doctor (and hopeless wooer) of the group, Brock.
All their faces showed smiles, but behind them was the obvious sadness that was able to poke through. They were upset that their friend had lost after fighting so hard, and coming so close to becoming the League Champion. What was worse, the one he lost against was Paul, the one that Ash had tried his hardest to beat all throughout his Sinnoh journey.
"Hey, Ash…you gonna be alright?" Barry asked out of concern. He must've been feeling quite upset, since he also lost to Paul in the Sinnoh League. He didn't even fine Ash for losing, like he promised to do before the match started.
"Yeah, are you ok, Ash?" Dawn asked, her voice carrying clear concern for both Ash and Infernape. Coming all this way, just to lose at the end, must've been awful for the trainer, especially since that defeat was at the hands of Paul.
Brock didn't say anything in reply, but It was clear that he was just as worried as the others were right now. He had travelled with Ash the longest, and could tell when Ash was upset or frustrated. They were emotions that contrasted so differently to Ash's own personality, after all. So, it pleased the breeder that his closest human friend showed no traits of differing from his character.
"Heh, we're fine, guys!" Ash said cheerfully, addressing his comrades with his usual bright grin. He looked to the exhausted pokemon standing next to him, noticeably having a tough time standing, but Ash's stubbornness must've rubbed off on the Flame pokemon, because he simply gave a thumbs-up while refusing help.
The declaration of fortitude that Ash had made brought now genuine smiles to all of his friends faces. They were glad that Ash and his pokemon were alright.
The trio of spectators, quad if Piplup was included, let their gazes wander to the destroyed battlefield that a test of power, will, and strategy was fought on. Noticing the stunned stares of his friends, Ash chuckled and addressed the issue.
"Amazing, isn't it? You guys should've felt what it was like down here. My blood was pumping and my nerves were all tingling; there's no way to describe how awesome it was!"
"And I just know that we'll win next time, count on it!"
Hearing the upbeat tone of the trainer only greatened the smiles that everyone had on their faces. It was nice to see Ash just as determined as he ever was.
It was supposed to be a touching moment. An announcement of pride. A cry of indomitable will. A spark that would fuel the fires of victory that they would be sure to achieve next time.
However, such origins don't start as easy…as what happened next…
…would send all of that crashing down for the aspiring Pokemon Master.
As their attention was trained on the destroyed stadium and Ash's excited statements, they hardly noticed the sound of approaching footsteps.
Not until it was too late….
Picking up on a presence behind him, Ash turned his head around to address it. Maybe it was the referee? That was the logical conclusion. After all, the most obvious guess would be Ash's opponent, and he wouldn't come over here for all the poffins in Dawn's…
"Paul…?" Ash addressed the purple haired trainer with a voice of confusion. His noting of his rival's appearance was all the time he had to process before he realised something was up.
He saw that Paul was standing on one leg and his other was positioned at a weird angle, one too peculiar for this situation It was crooked up to make a backwards L behind him, almost like he was…
Ash's eyes shot wide open in disbelief as he realised what Paul was about to do. Unfortunately, the only thing he could to, was let out a surprised sounding:
"Paul? What do you think you're-?"
…before the kick connected with the pokemon who was struggling to stand.
"Nape!" Infernape let out a pained cry as he was sent sprawling to the desecrated field underneath their feet.
"Ah! Infernape!"
"Pikachu!"
"Piplup!"
A chorus of human and pokemon cries of concern sounded as the fire-type collapsed onto the ground. Ash and Pikachu, as well as their companions, were by the exhausted Flame pokemon's side in a split-second.
"Infernape! Are you ok!?" Ash cried in concern for one of his good friends.
"N-Nape…Fer…(I'm…ok…)" The pained grunts of the fire monkey made it obvious to the contrary.
Ash grit his teeth and looked at the perpetrator who hurt his beloved pokemon. His warm brown eyes were met with cold, coal black ones staring down at him cruelly…
For a moment, for each one of them, nothing else existed but the other's eyes, each pair conveying in views that they truly believed in.
Love…
Suffering…
Friendship…
Solitude…
Nurturing…
Discipline…
Bonds…
Power…
A new kind of battle was being fought through their glares at each other.
Cynthia, the Champion of the Sinnoh region couldn't hide the shocked look on her face. She wore a long, black, silk dress that stretched down to her ankles, a pair of long, black, silk pants underneath, closed toe high heels, and a single golden fastener across the top. Her dress had black, fluffy cuffs around the wrists, and the same kind of material at the bottom of her dress, but black. She also had three silver tear drop shaped ornaments at her chest, along with wore two black tear drop shaped ear rings, a black, fluffy choker, and her hair was a fine, sandy blonde that reached almost as long as her dress in neat curls.
Paul, the one who she had dictated the wordings of the Celestic Town Stone Tablet to, along with Ash, had just done something that no one in the entire stadium could've expected.
Why did he do that? He had nothing to gain from kicking a downed pokemon while he was out.
Was it just his sadistic side showing itself? The side that turned his pokemon into power-hungry, loveless battlers, or was it for something else?
When the battle was underway, Cynthia had been on the edge of her seat nearly the whole time. Due to her being a Champion, she was a very strong battler, and often wasn't pushed in fights. The level that both Ash and Paul's pokemon were at right now would be something that she may have lost a pokemon or two against if they battled, but her heavy hitters, like her Garchomp, could widen the gap once more
However, she could feel her blood racing and her anticipation eat away at her as she observed, at the very least, two Elite Four level trainers battling with everything they had.
It reminded her on just how exciting pokemon matches could be if they were really close, and this one certainly qualified.
She was rooting for both of them to win. Both had styles that worked for them, and if they got stronger, then they were more than welcome to use that style. But she honestly felt a little disappointed when Ash had lost. She was naturally biased against Paul, due to the fact that both her and Ash shared the same type of training. Her training was more severe, but she always made sure her pokemon were healthy and happy, just like Ash did.
But once the kick had happened, everything positive that she had ever thought about Paul was engulfed by everything she disliked about him.
His unhealthy obsession with strength.
His lack of concern for his own pokemon and other people.
His arrogance that wasn't doing its job if it didn't annoy someone.
She personally wanted to go down there and berate the cruel trainer and lecture him on the severities of what he just did. Unfortunately for her, the Champion was not allowed to leave her own spectating booth while the finals were going on, since she needed to be present for the ceremony declaring the winner of the League, and if she disappeared before that happened, she couldn't crown the winner as the League Champion. A rule added by Charles Goodshow himself.
She couldn't complain. It was her fault that was a rule in the first place.
Hey, she had only been the champion for about three months at the time, and she was hungry while the finals were going on. So, she went to get something to eat, vowing that she'd be back in two minutes.
It wasn't her fault that the Flaaffy Cotton Candy, the Azumarill Pies, the Solrock and Lunatone cookies, and the seventy-two different flavors of Miltank Milk Ice Cream looked so good!
She eventually showed up forty-five minutes late for the ceremony, holding a triple stacked cone with cookies and cream, mint choc chip, and strawberry.
The winning trainer and spectators were not amused…
And here she was present day, childishly pouting as she anxiously sat in her chair, because of that little mistake.
She took a deep breath to calm herself and focused harder onto the battleground.
That was until she felt a hand gently resting on her shoulder. Upon turning her head around to see who it was, her features softened a little.
"Oh, Mr. Goodshow…" She identified the person.
Standing behind her was a short, elderly man with a thick white beard that reached down to his waist, along with bushy eyebrows and long white hair that crept down his back. He wore a red sweater with a blue stripe going horizontally across it, a pair of dark green shorts, and a pair of brown shoes with almost knee-high length socks. Atop his head was a faded blue baseball cap that was turned backwards.
"Cynthia, my dear…I can imagine you want to go down there…" The old man began.
The blonde champion sighed and propped her cheek up on a fist.
"I do, but because of your rules-"
"-Which are well justified…" The elderly man cut in, humour evident in his aged voice
Cynthia huffed in annoyance and cut herself off. She was pretty sure that Charles could piece together what was going on.
However, what he said next truly shocked her.
"Ok…I'll allow an exception to the rules just one time…but I must accompany you. After all…"
He turned to the battlefield with a sour face.
"This matter concerns both of us due to young Paul's actions…"
Cynthia let a smile grow upon her pretty face.
"Thank you for this, Mr. Goodshow." She bowed her head in respect for the person who managed Pokemon Leagues.
"Of course, I don't think we should go the public way…all the food stalls are there! Hah hah hah!" The bearded man joked.
This caused the blonde to hang her head shamefully. Keeping up the strong face of a champion was hard when this old coot knew how to push all of their buttons…
To distract herself, she looked back down to the scene going on below. It was like watching a ticking time bomb slowly count down as she waited to see what Ash's reaction would be.
She had a feeling it'd be hard to miss…
Reggie, who was watching in Veilstone City, could only give a disappointed sigh as he witnessed his brother's behaviour against his opponent's pokemon. The utter compassionless way that he treated any pokemon at all…it made Reggie's blood boil.
It was hard to acknowledge that the teen on the screen right now was his brother. Their personalities were incredibly different, up to the point where it seemed like they were both raised under different roofs.
Now, that was not to say that Reggie didn't love his brother, because he did. Their parents were overseas for a few years, indulging in numerous business related endeavors and trusted Reggie to take care of Paul, and any pokemon that he may catch, so Paul, despite his attitude, was all Reggie had left until their parents came home.
It was about that time where Reggie had stopped professionally battling, when he lost against Brandon at the Battle Frontier. Paul was watching that match, his Turtwig sat by his side. It was one of the last times that Reggie had seen him smile, to see the pride that his brother held for him as he fought.
But when Reggie just stopped, Paul changed, becoming a person that resented many people and trained pokemon past their limits, with severe results, usually.
Reggie stepped in, and tried to get his younger brother to stop, but…
"You have no right to tell me how to train my pokemon! You stopped competing, you stopped winning, you…you did nothing but smile when you were beaten, and now, you're like this! Well, listen closely: this is how I train now, and I'll fix every single mistake you made when you trained. And I won't give up if I lose."
"And I will never lose…"
It was downright unsettling how much Paul pushed himself to be different from Reggie.
Reggie greeted people with a friendly smile.
Paul waved people off and only addressed them when necessary.
Reggie took grace in defeat, knowing that there were always stronger people out there.
Paul took defeats out on his pokemon. In battles, they couldn't fall. Whatever they were feeling in battle now, Paul's punishment would hurt worse.
Reggie was always polite and open.
Paul aggravated people he believed were below him, and only showed respect to the ones he knew he couldn't beat.
The list went on and on…
Reggie was hoping that if Ash beat Paul, maybe he'd mellow out a little, be a little bit nicer to his pokemon and people. Unfortunately, that vision didn't come to fruition, and Ash was bested in battling.
And kicking Infernape was just pouring salt onto an already open wound.
What worried Reggie was how this would change Paul. You couldn't win a League tournament and not change a little.
Who knew, maybe Paul's cruel fires would be doused?
…Or maybe more wood would be added…?
Ash took only a few seconds before he finally reacted to what Paul had done to Infernape.
He got to his feet before he suddenly reached out with both hands and grabbed the collar of Paul's blue and black cargo jacket, never breaking eye contact. Paul's demeanour didn't change much, besides his mouth twisting into a deeper frown and his brows furrowed further.
"You jerk! I can't believe did that! What the heck's wrong with you!?" Ash shouted in his face, his features marred with clear fury. Seeing the raven-haired teen get angry made his friends recoil a bit.
If Paul was bothered by Ash getting up and yelling in his face, he did a decent job at hiding it.
"He was weak…and always was weak. And the weak needs to know where they belong" Paul broke eye contact to look at Infernape.
"…eating dirt, at the feet of their superiors…"
That line pushed Ash over the edge, and his emotion evolved from being furious, to being absolutely livid. It was everything he could do to not punch the cruel trainer's lights out right now.
"Take…that…back…" Ash growled dangerously, his grip on Paul's jacket tightening.
"Make me…" Paul retorted, his ever-frowning feature now having a hint of smugness in it.
Ash pulled Paul's jacket to bring him in closer, to get what he wanted to say through to him.
"We lost…I get it, you hate weakness…but you went way too far! Infernape didn't deserve that! You should be ashamed to call yourself a pokemon trainer! Now, apologise to Infernape, or I swear-"
"You swear what? You think you're scaring me? Let's face it, you won't do anything; you don't have the conviction to do anything. You're just like your pokemon. Weak." Paul growled at Ash.
It reached a point where Ash was now visibly shaking from rage, and his hands began to throttle Paul's coat collar.
"TAKE THAT BACK!" Ash repeated, yelling in Paul's face.
"Enough!"
The referee of the match had come forth and was standing right in front of them. He stuck his hands between the duo and pushed them apart. The referee gave them both a stern look. He turned to Ash, with his features screaming how displeased he was.
"Ash Ketchum, your anger at Paul's actions are understood, but please refrain from taking action. Any repercussions of Paul's actions are not yours to deal."
"What…? But-!"
Ash's protests were promptly ignored as the referee then turned to Paul with a deep scowl on his face.
"And you, Paul. What you've done is unforgiveable. Acting out like that against an already exhausted pokemon…actions like that could revoke your right to be League Champion."
The purple haired trainer's glare hardened and his teeth bared themselves in a growl. It seemed that the possible annulment of his victory finally broke through the façade of stony calmness he was putting up.
"Being a sore winner isn't a behaviour befitting a league winner. You're someone that the next generation of trainers will look up to, and that's how you want them to act towards their pokemon? Cruel and violent?" The referee asked rhetorically.
The words that he spoke spurred a myriad of thoughts in the observing, raven-haired trainer's head. Was that possible? Any Pokemon League that was held was televised worldwide, and in front of those screens, would be impressionable young aspiring trainers that would be looking forward to when they could stand in the same boxes as the trainers on the field.
If they saw how a winner like Paul treated pokemon, they'd likely follow in his footsteps, mistreating pokemon for strength, and denying them a life of happiness and camaraderie.
The very thought sickened Ash to his stomach. He loved pokemon, and the thoughts of an entire generation abusing them made his heart hurt.
He suddenly realised that there was something more to the battle that had just transpired. Both fought for their ideals, trying to prove the other wrong. Neither of them thought about how this would impact a group outside of them and their pokemon.
But now the thought had been pushed into Ash's mind, he felt even worse about the loss. He hadn't only let down his pokemon and his friends, but a whole society of would-be trainers and their pokemon.
The image of that future of pokemon training caused Ash to fall to his knees, gaining concerned exclamations from his friends. It actually physically hurt him to imagine all those poor pokemon in pain.
It hurt…
Too bad…
Too much…
Suddenly, Ash's eyes widened in fear.
"No…it's not just that…!" He thought as a memory flashed through his mind.
"Go on…you know he deserves it…"
He groaned in even further pain, and his hand was placed onto his chest. No, it wasn't something like a heart attack or anything…
It was much…much worse…
Noticing this, Paul's face twisted into one of slight confusion. He then pushed past the referee, who was still telling him off.
"Hey! I'm not done talking to you!" The referee exclaimed as he put a firm hand on Paul's shoulder. This action made the trainer stop in his tracks and turn his head to the man with a withering glare.
"I don't care what anyone thinks of me…but I will be titled the League Champion. I didn't waste my time training my pokemon to not receive my reward at the end."
If Ash was not feeling so bad, he would've scoffed.
"You have no authority to decide whether you'll be denied of your title. That decision lies with the Champion and Charles Goodshow." The referee stated roughly.
That made further cracks in Paul's usually emotionless features. He was now beginning to fathom just how much his behaviour would cost him. But…but he won…they couldn't do this…
His fists clenched tightly and his teeth ground against each other. He'd dug himself too deeply to claw his way out now. It was up to the people above him to decide if they would toss him a rope…or start filling in the hole…
And speaking of the higher-ups…
"Thank you very much, Sir. You may relieve yourself now. Cynthia and I shall handle the rest." An elderly voice said in an authoritative tone.
The voice gained the attention of all present parties, and they found the bearded form of Charles Goodshow with Cynthia following behind.
Their appearance, caused a noticeable uproar in the crowds, due to the fact that those two weren't supposed to physically appear out in the field until long after the final match had been fought. So, there was obviously something going on here.
"Oh! Champion Cynthia, Mr Goodshow. Impeccable timing, there's an issue going on down here that isn't within my jurisdiction to-" Before he could finish, Charles cut him off.
"Yes, yes, we understand…we saw everything. Now, we'll handle it, your job is done. Thank you for not letting it get too far out of hand." The old man thanked the referee who nodded back before exiting the field due to the previous order.
Charles then focused his attention on Paul. Cynthia also wanted to do the same, but her attention was more attuned to Ash, who was kneeling on the ground, and noticeably unwell. Her features softened as she watched Ash's pokemon and friends try to discern what was wrong so they could help with fixing it.
The champion always liked the kinds of people that cared for pokemon, and loved them like family. Just like Ash, she was a firm believer that dedicated training and love for one's pokemon would unleash awesome powers. However, she couldn't fault other training methods, like Paul's, no matter how barbaric they were. If they got results, they were unfortunately sound methods.
However, what she could fault was the blatant mistreatment of an opponent's already beaten pokemon. It disgusted someone like her.
And upon seeing Ash's condition, and trying to empathise with the trainer, she had discovered that Ash had deduced a horrible future for pokemon. The reasons behind it were hardly proof that it was going to happen, but they were very convincing.
But…such a spontaneous ailment wasn't natural, was it? It was obvious Ash wasn't faking or anything, but he looked like he was physically straining, like he was fighting an internal battle or something. Was just the thought of pokemon in pain enough to hurt him like this, or was something else going on here…?
Charles also noticed Ash's condition, but as much as he wanted to, he couldn't assist until this matter with Paul had been taken care of. He made eye contact with the trainer, who was looking down on him, and spoke in a gruff voice.
"Paul…I hope you realise the seriousness of what you have done today. The match was over, and yet, you took it upon yourself to not only further injure your opponent's pokemon, but to also rub it in his face."
Charles took a deep breath before continuing.
"The Pokemon League is about the gathering of skilled trainers who wish to test the strength of both themselves and their pokemon, and about acting as a stepping stone to be a prominent figure in the pokemon world. It isn't about how…brutal you can be to your opponent. That's a major difference. Seeing the display that you put on isn't why I manage the leagues…" He continued.
"I want to see unity between trainers, as well as respect and consideration. I want a tournament where they can both share a handshake after the match is decided, where bonds are forged and strengthened, where lessons can be learned, and where dreams can come true. And you…"
Charles raised a finger as if he was lecturing a naughty child.
"…have not shown any of those qualities. You ignore unity, you rarely show even a sliver of respect, and you toss those lessons to the wind. You instead show coldness to both your pokemon and your opponents, belittle them when they lose, and now, you do this!"
The elder gestured to Infernape, who had gotten up on his knees after he was kicked down.
"So…give me one good reason why I shouldn't instantly revoke your victory, and make sure that you aren't allowed to enter any tournaments for a length of time that I shall decide on." Charles requested in a threatening voice, filled with authority.
Paul felt sweat begin to roll down his face. He had no reasons for attacking Infernape like he did, at least, no reasons that would be accepted. If he gave the old man his honest answer, there'd be no way that he'd ever be allowed to participate in a tournament again, heck, they'd probably even take his trainer's permit from him.
His mind was devoid from any reason he could use that would be acceptable, and it was obvious that Charles was losing his patience. There were no lies that he could think of.
Desperately, he looked to Cynthia, thinking she could persuade Charles to forget about it. However, her face held the same glare that Charles had. He was alone right now. To add further to that was Ash's friends, who also glared at him.
"I-I…I…" Paul stammered. The seconds were ticking down.
TICK!
TICK!
TICK!
TICK!
"I…"
"…have no excuse..." The Veilstone City native finally realised that there was no changing his fate…
And that made him so angry, though he was careful not to let it show and make the situation worse than it already was. He was trying to control his breathing and resisted the urge to clench his fists.
He was so close…He thought that he could do anything in the heat of the moment. If he'd held back his urges for a while, then this wouldn't have happened…
Funny, after all he'd been through on his journey, his lone downfall, was himself…
"Eh, you have no excuse? I hope that's not all you have to say? Violence against pokemon in a Pokemon League Administration match should not just come out of nowhere; in fact, they shouldn't come out at all!" Charles chastised Paul, who had his head down and a look of rage-hidden acquiescence on his face
"That's it then…" Paul muttered under his breath.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to Paul.
This was the Finals of the Sinnoh League…and there needed to be a winner of the tournament, otherwise, the backlash for the PLA would be huge. People wanted to see one of Sinnoh's strongest trainers stand on top of the podium, holding the trophy high, basking in the luminescence of the Flames of Moltres while fireworks exploded in the sky.
If they couldn't provide that, then it would be a huge letdown, something they'd want to avoid…But, with his victory annulled, then the only one that could fill his role would be the second finalist.
Ash…
Looking at the still kneeling trainer, Paul grit his teeth behind closed lips. As if his day couldn't get any worse. Now, with everything he fought for being nullified, it would go to the very person that had never, ever won against him, unless the draw back at Professor Rowan's counted.
Damn it…that wasn't fair!
And as if he was reading the purple-haired trainer's mind, Charles piped up once more.
"The position of the League Champion will be given to your opponent, as the tournament cannot go without a final victor. It was extremely close, so I'm sure the public won't mind." He said.
Every word that the man uttered was like a punch to the gut for Paul, who was trying desperately not to shudder out of frustration. He had never wished so hard that he could go back in time; he would've conducted himself in a slightly different manner then.
And then…there came the words that would end Paul's time as a tournament participant.
"Paul. For the blatant, intentional and morally wrong mistreatment of Ash Ketchum's pokemon...your win at the Sinnoh League is hereby revo-"
"W-Wait!"
The sudden cry to hold up the verdict came from none other than the cap wearing trainer, who immediately coughed violently twice as a result of his sudden outburst.
His friends, his pokemon, Cynthia, Goodshow, and even Paul. They all stared at the trainer who was trying his best to talk through his pain.
Ash looked at Infernape and almost abandoned his resolve when he saw how eager the fire monkey was to see his former trainer get dished out some high-class justice.
"Sorry, Infernape…" Ash apologised to his pokemon before he turned his head back in their direction.
"D-Don't you th-think you're *cough* b-being too harsh on P-Paul…?"
If there was one thing that everyone thought would come out of Ash's mouth, it certainly wasn't that.
"What do you mean, Ash? Your pokemon are the victim here!" Cynthia replied before anyone else got a chance to.
"Yeah! He deserves the mother of all fines for what he did!" Barry cried, bringing to light his habit of fining people.
Ash let his head hang a little.
"Sure…*cough*…but…don't I get a say I this…?" He asked
Paul's eyes were wide open, and so was his mouth, a very unnatural look for the ordinarily stoic trainer. Was Ash actually…defending him?
Charles stroked his beard a little and looked at Ash. This was the same person that had been the one of the torch runners for the Pokemon League, and he had been decently impressed at Ash's determination throughout the whole ordeal.
"Hmm, you do have a point there…it makes sense that you'd be able to put a word in." Charles said as he looked at the boy expectedly.
"But don't push yourself…you seem rather unwell." He warned, also concerned about Ash's condition.
Ash gave the man a pained grin before he began to talk.
"S-Sure he *cough* got a l-little carried away, but…There has been some, issues concerning the both of us…*cough* and Paul isn't exactly the b-best person when it comes to expressing his emotions…"
Infernape were staring at Ash with a horrified look. This couldn't be happening, could it? Ash was going to get what he'd rightfully earned and his former trainer was going to be punished. Why was Ash fighting for him?
"Infernape was…once *cough* P-Paul's…pokemon, but…they weren't…compatible…so he gave him to me to train…and said that if anyone could bring out his strength, it was me…"
Paul didn't know what to think. This person, whom he always thought as pathetic since their first encounter, was straight up lying to two of the most authoritative people in the entire stadium, and one of those two knew the real story, but was obviously curious why Ash was taking this route.
"*cough* Wh-When we we're having a battle…Infernape…who was a Ch-Chimchar *cough* at…at the time…lost control of Blaze and hurt us both…and…I-I…know that kind of created a *cough* grudge in Paul's heart…since he was Chimchar's first owner…"
"Ash!" Dawn cut in. "You know that's not-!" She began to say before being harshly shushed by the trainer. After taking a few quick breaths, he resumed.
"A-And with the combination of…*cough* his lack of social skills…and his little grudge…I don't blame him for l-losing control of h-himself to assert his sub-*cough*…conscious desires a little, and I forgive him for doing so, as long…*cough*…as long as he promises not to do it again. I'm *cough* sure it was j-just a one-time thing anyway." Ash told them…
With a smile to hide his pain, Ash gave his final statement.
"S-So…If it's not too late to c-convince you…*cough* D-Don't invoke his victory because of something he couldn't help…it's not fair for him…It's like being mad at Pikachu for needing to release electricity through his tail…Just…give him one more chance…"
Finishing his "recount," Ash immediately re-entered a fit of coughing, worrying his friends once more. The pain had increased tenfold, and was showing no sign of abating.
"P-Pika…pi…(A-Ash…)" Pikachu whispered both worriedly and incredulously at what his condition was, and what he had just done.
Cynthia's pale pewter pupils stared hard at Ash. Lying to keep Paul's victory alive when he deserved it much more? Why the heck would he do something that would benefit the one who had hurt his pokemon?
He wouldn't…not unless he had a very good reason to.
She wanted to ask him questions, to unearth the secret behind his motives, find out why he wanted Paul to take the win when he knew of the consequences, and when he had more than rightfully earned it.
However, her hopes of doing that now were quickly dashed as Ash coughed once more, and a red liquid began to seep from his mouth. Everyone present, even Paul, gasped in horror as what they thought was a pang in Ash's chest was something much more serious. It was horrible, watching as the blood dripped onto the floor.
"Ash! What's wrong? Can you tell us?!" Brock exclaimed as he knelt next to his long-time friend, who was then followed by both Dawn and Barry. Both Pikachu and Infernape watched in terror as the blood slowly dripped down from his lips.
"I-I-It's…" Ash's normally confident and joyful voice, was now replaced with a weak and scared one, which was such a contrast, it terrified the surrounding people and pokemon.
"I-It's…him…"
The cryptic way Ash had said that sent shivers up the spines of everyone.
And what followed…was Ash's frantic screaming that made their blood run cold.
"Please…someone…PLEASE…SOMEONE PUT ME TO SLEEP! I CAN'T…TAKE IT!"
The clear panic in Ash's voice was incredibly disturbing, and it terrified everyone there. It was painfully clear that if Ash wasn't granted his wish of being put to sleep, or at least knocked out, something awful was going to happen...
Thankfully, the first person to regain their bearings, was also the person who had a pokemon qualified to do just that.
"R-Roserade! Come on out, we need your help!" Cynthia cried in a desperate tone, throwing out one of her pokeballs. The red and white sphere glided through the air for a few seconds before it popped open, making a bright, jagged light snake out.
The light eventually manifested into a bipedal Pokémon with an appearance that incorporated features of roses into a masquerade attire.
She possessed a crown made of white rose petals, and a leafy, green cape with a yellow, collar-like bangle on her neck. The cape pattern reached towards the back of her head, in spiky, sepal-like extensions on her hair.
Her caramel pupils shrouded by yellow eyelids were coated with a dark-green mask. The lower portion of her face was light green, and both hands held a bouquet of flowers, blue for the left hand and red for the right. Her limbs and underside were a light-mint green, and her feet ended with yellow tips.
With a graceful twirl on the surface of the battleground, she declared her name.
"Roooose-rade!"
It was apparent to all who witnessed the pokemon's appearance that she liked to show off her beauty and grace, but the fire in her eyes and confident posture showed that she was definitely built for battle, and not contests.
There were bigger things on the line now, however…
"Roserade! Please, you need to use your Sleep Powder on Ash, right now!" She heard her trainer cry.
The Bouquet pokemon quickly lost her show-offy attitude as she saw the condition that the boy was in. Without wasting a second, she dashed over, and held out both her bouquets.
"Rooooose…(Here…)" She said comfortingly as green, sparkling powder emanated from from the flowers on her hands. The misty spores slowly circled around Ash's head, which was now void of Pikachu, since he didn't want to fall asleep as well.
The trainer felt his eyes drooping, and he felt a profound sense of gratitude as he felt his consciousness fading.
"Thank…you…" He muttered as he succumbed to the Sleep Powder, and hit the ground in a state of unconsciousness.
"Wh-What the heck…was that…?" Barry asked once Ash had drifted off.
It was soon after that moment when Cynthia used her phone to contact some medics to treat the clearly ill boy, and his pokemon as well. There was a medical facility not far from the stadium, so Ash would be taken there, and his injured pokemon were acquired from his belt so that they could also receive treatment at a Pokemon Centre.
After a short while, a pair of paramedics arrived with a stretcher in tow. With a smooth motion, they gently lifted the trainer onto the wheeled bed and took a look at his vitals with the portable medical tools that they had brought with them.
"H-How is he…?" Brock asked after watching them observe his friend for a while. He was not filled with confidence after seeing the grim expression on the doctor's face.
"Blood pressure's through the roof…heartbeat's way above the norm…and he seems to be suffering a form of internal bleeding around his chest area, though it seems to be minimal right now, so hopefully that'll heal…but that's just the tip of the iceberg…" He diagnosed.
Even Paul was horrified to hear the extent of Ash's condition. What the heck was happening to him?
"We need to get him to the hospital now. Without treatment, his very life is at risk!"
That statement made the whole group gasp. This doctor obviously wasn't one to sugarcoat Ash's condition. They told everyone that Ash would need to be treated at the hospital, and no one could come along.
Infernape was obviously fighting for the right to stay with Ash, but he was recalled into his pokeball, and he was far too weak at the moment to burst out.
Pikachu, however…
The stubborn electric type was adamant about staying with Ash, and without a pokeball, he wasn't separating from him anytime soon. Anyone who tried would receive a fierce shock. It was eventually decided that Pikachu would get his way, just so he'd stop zapping people.
Soon, Ash was wheeled out of the stadium, Pikachu running alongside his stretcher, making sure that his trainer didn't leave his sight for a second.
But…just before they left through the arched doorway that provided entry into the battlefield, the electric type heard Ash mumble something in his unconscious state, something only his ears could pick up.
"You…won't…go…free…again…"
Dawn was clutching Piplup tightly to her chest, her nerves rattled quite obviously due to what had just transpired. It was downright scary just how…afraid Ash seemed to be, while also being in extraordinary pain, like he was being tortured or something. Whatever had happened to Ash was clearly worrying and she was greatly concerned for her travel companion, just like Brock, who still felt his body trembling.
"Wh-Why…would Ash come to the battle if he was that sick? He was coughing up blood for crying out loud!" Barry exclaimed, his eyes holding an element of fear to them.
Being a rival to Ash himself, Barry was quite aware that Ash was trying to prove that his training method was superior to Paul's, and that the power of bonds overshadowed the brutal training Paul…inflicted on his pokemon. But to come out onto the field with an ailment like that…that was a testament to how dedicated Ash was to see this through.
Or did Ash just get some kind of mysterious, spontaneous sickness post-battle?
Cynthia's head was filled with just as many questions as everyone else's and they were just as prominent as her concerns.
It was a true conundrum…With the afflictions that Ash had, he shouldn't have been able to battle as well as he did today, heck, he shouldn't have even been able to get out of bed. Stuff like internal bleeding was nothing that you could just ignore.
It was something that he would need to be inflicted upon him after the battle had ended, but that didn't seem like the case. Ash had sustained no injuries between the times where he'd entered the field, and when he had keeled over and started coughing up blood.
Which raised another question…why would Ash fight his illness long enough to defend Paul of all people, someone who was clearly against anything that Ash did as a trainer?
That wasn't the only question asked by her, but by Paul himself as well. Why would he do that? Risk his heath to attempt getting him the title of League Champion? Was he that kind-hearted? Or was he just that stupid…?
"Young man…"
Paul's attention was gained from the elderly voice of Charles Goodshow. His expression had softened a little, but still maintained a semblance of irritation.
"Everything that Ash Ketchum said in your defence…was it the truth?" The old man asked.
It was at that moment when Paul then realised the magnitude of what Ash had done. With every gasp through his pained lips, he managed to paint Paul in the best light he could; someone who reserved his emotions and sometimes acted outside his own accord. It didn't absolve what he did, but it painted him in the best light it could.
And, if Ash gave him this kind of opportunity when his body was overcome with pain…
…Who was he to refuse?
"Ye-Yeah…it's true. I'm sorry that I didn't say anything about it earlier…but I didn't know how to put it into words…" Paul nodded his head and spoke in a composed voice. He bowed forward as a show of respect for the old man, closing his eyes as he did so.
"I'm sorry."
The words pleading forgiveness made the elder stare at Paul with a calculating gaze. Charles' eyes were narrowed and his facial expression was mostly hidden by his beard.
Paul was trying not to show how nervous he was. If this story failed to convince him, then he could say goodbye to the winner's podium right now.
His already shaken nerves almost made him fall back when he heard an exasperated sigh come from Charles.
"Hah…the younger generation…What do we do with them…?" He asked rhetorically as his gaze softened. "I suppose I can't really fault you for something you couldn't control, but I'm not the one you need to apologise to. It is your opponent and his pokemon that should be receiving any apology."
Paul grit his teeth behind closed lips. But he relented. It was reasonable, that was all there was too it.
"Very well…You shall retain your position as League Champion, but you must apologise to Ash as soon as he recovers, and you shall also make a formal apology for your behaviour just now to the public when the closing ceremony commences. That is only fair. Do you understand?" Charles told the purple haired trainer.
Paul, with his head still bowed replied with a calm voice.
"Yes, I understand…"
But inside, he was letting out massive sighs of relief. He was keeping his win! He wasn't going to have his victory revoked!
The apology, to him, was a small price to pay, and if he was being honest, his actions did warrant some apologies, even to Ash.
If it wasn't for Ash, then everything he did to get here, the trials, the training, and the battles…all of them would've just gone up in smoke.
But Ash…he had saved him from his own stupid mistake, and sacrificed his position to be League Champion so Paul could take the title.
If Paul was being honest, he was a little suspicious of Ash's attitude change towards him at the end. Minutes before he fell ill, Ash had been ready to pound Paul into the ground after what he'd done to Infernape, but his personality took a complete 180° and he was suddenly defending Paul against the very actions he was mad at him for.
The only thing Paul could deduce was that there was an ulterior motive for defending him, and, despite the genuine tone that Ash used through the coughing and straining, Paul could only assume that his rival didn't mean any of it, like his true intentions weren't to let Paul win the league.
He'd ask that of Ash once he got better and his apology was out of the way. He hated to admit it, but he owed Ash now. Big time…
"Good. Now, please go to the Pokemon Centre and get your pokemon fixed up, they battled hard out there. A messenger shall be sent to your room when you are to be announced as the League Champion, and when you apologise. Please be prepared." Charles ordered before turning to Cynthia.
"Come now, Cynthia, let's return to our seats." He told her before turning around and slowly walking away.
Cynthia was nothing short of flabbergasted. Paul had just gotten off with little more than a slap on the wrist when he clearly shouldn't have. She had known the cruel trainer long enough to know that nothing Paul had done was unintentional.
If it was up to her, Paul would've immediately been negated his victory, and be denied entry into any Pokemon League again. He was clearly an awful trainer, and one she'd never approve of. However, it wasn't her call…it was Charles. Telling him the truth, however, would refute the effort Ash made to save Paul's victory.
The old man had seemed to buy the story hook, line and sinker; Ash's unexpected outburst certainly contributed to his changed decision. It was strange, nothing short of a convoluted mystery, that Ash had defended Paul.
Something was going on here…and she was going to find out what…
She recalled Roserade, thanking her for her assistance, before turning to Ash's friends.
"I apologise for our interruption. It was unorthodox, but this matter required our attention." She apologised to them.
Barry proceeded to wave her off. "Nah, don't worry about it. After all, things were getting pretty ugly before you guys came here." He said.
Dawn and Brock, as well as Piplup, smiled at the Champion, showing that they thought the same thing.
The blonde proceeded to turn away, but before she did, she asked them one question:
"Oh, so…could you let me know when Ash wakes up? I need him to answer some questions I have." She requested. Cynthia didn't mean for it to sound forceful, but she was terribly desperate to know what the heck had happened.
The trio of trainers nodded their heads in response. They too, were wondering about Ash's strange ailment just as much as they were about the reason on why Ash would defend Paul.
Cynthia gave them all a sweet smile, one that would normally have Brock swooning at her feet, but due to what had just transpired, he was uncharacteristically stoic.
However, Cynthia's face fell as her gaze landed on Paul.
The purple haired trainer had reclaimed his normal, scowling persona, now that the tension of the situation was gone. It legitimately ticked Cynthia off to see him pretend like what had just happened didn't affect him.
She was no psychic, but when both their eyes locked, she tried her best to get her message across.
A message that told him that she wasn't buying what Ash and Paul were selling. One that expressed her clear distaste for what the antagonistic trainer had done.
And one that promised utter defeat and sheer humiliation should they ever battle…
It seemed that Paul had gotten the message, because his eyes widened slightly, showing that he was indeed intimidated by the Champion's piercing glare.
The glance didn't last too long, maybe a few seconds, before Cynthia started to walk away, her business here done.
The trainers watched as Sinnoh's Champion left them on the desolated battlefield, grace in her movements as she ascended the stairs to return to her viewing box.
It took a few moments, but eventually, Paul put his hands in his pockets and slowly shuffled out of the stadium. No one stopped him.
Brock didn't lecture him.
Dawn didn't scold him.
Barry didn't administer a single fine.
Instead, the trio, plus Piplup, turned away and walked through the tunnel that trainers usually emerged from in order to exit the large structure.
They had a friend in the hospital to visit…
"Can't…"
Pikachu's ears perked up as he looked at his best friend, who was currently lying in a hospital bed. The staff were able to treat Ash rather quickly, and he was stabilised within a matter of minutes. Occasionally, his heartrate would quicken, and his body lightly spasmed, but it was nothing to be concerned about.
Yet, despite Ash's steady condition, he was whispering single words to full sentences at a time, all while being unconscious. Pikachu had no idea why this was happening, but it was honestly quote unnerving, especially with the words that Ash was saying.
"You…won't…go…free…"
"Not…again…"
"I'll…stop…you…"
"You…won't…hurt…them…again…"
Those were just some of the words that Ash had said in his sleep, and they made the electric mouse nervous. Just what were his mumbles about?
In fact, the illness, the rejection of his chance to be League Champion, and the defence of Paul all congealed together to create one mysterious mess.
Oh no…
Was…Was Ash getting caught up in another "Save the world" thing and this was how it all started?
Couldn't his trainer have one break? For crying out loud, he stopped Team Galactic's insane planes, saved multiple dimensions that reflected reality's laws and saved the world, and Arceus, who literally created the entire Pokemon universe, to name a few.
And that was just Sinnoh!
Any lesser person would've keeled over and given up, but Ash kept persevering and defied all the evil that was thrown on him, always saving the day in the end. He was a true hero…
…A hero that, for the love of Arceus, needed a break!
Pikachu sighed. It seemed like no matter what, the world was going to keep hitting his trainer with trial after trial. Ash attracted trouble like metal to a Magnemite…
Still, no matter what…Pikachu would always stay by his trainer's side, through thick and thin.
That's what best friends were for…
The quiet sounds of Kricketunes' chirping away amidst the salty night air was the first thing Paul heard as he exited the Pokemon Centre. He had just recovered his pokemon from Nurse Joy, but not before he got a scolding from the nurse about how late he was staying up. Or maybe she just didn't like him due to the stunt he pulled in the afternoon.
He needed a late-night walk. The events that occurred today ran around his head like a train with its brakes cut.
The battle that he'd had with Ash, admittedly one of the toughest battles he'd ever had…
What he did once he won…
The intervention of the higher-ups…
And Ash's defence of him…he truly could not wrap his head around that.
The closing ceremony had occurred a few hours earlier, crowning Paul as the League Champion. As he had promised, he had made a formal apology for his actions after his and Ash's battle.
After that, he was awarded with the League Trophy, golden, shining brightly, and adorned with a pokeball on top, an obvious milestone to anyone wanting to become the best trainer in the world.
Paul even did something so uncharacteristic of him, that Cynthia, who awarded the trophy, had to do a double take.
He…genuinely smiled, though he tried his best to hide it.
Finally, finally he'd surpassed his brother, and achieved something that he was truly proud of.
That was the same trophy that he held, his fingers clutched around the base. It wasn't as heavy as it looked, but still had some weight to it. He lifted it above his head, and the pokeball on top gleamed in the moonlight.
The proof of his undeniable prowess as a trainer...in the palm of his hand.
However, it had occurred to him that this wouldn't have even happened if Ash hadn't pulled him out of the metaphorical fire, while said trainer was going through the metaphorical grinder.
Sure, it would've been better if he didn't kick Infernape in the first place, but that didn't matter now. He had won, and that was all he cared about…
If only that were true…
His mind was flooded with questions concerning why Ash did what he did. Almost kill himself to defend him? That just didn't make sense. It was no surprise that Paul wasn't a very likeable guy, but even Ash wouldn't have been able to turn his opinion of Paul around that fast and effectively.
Something happened, and when he apologised to Ash, the only reason he was still on Lily of the Valley Isle now, he'd get some answers. But right now, he just needed to clear his head.
It was at that moment…where Paul felt hairs stand up on the back of his neck, and shivers to race across his body. A feeling of dread made it hard to swallow, or even inhale any air. His entire form trembled at a rapid speed and his pupils dilated.
"Wh-What's happening t-to me…I can't…breathe!" Paul thought, barely able to process the words in his head.
It felt like something was…pushing down on him, denying him his breathing and bodily responses, due to the fact that he couldn't run, or even move a single step.
"Pl-Please…make…it…stop!" The tortured thoughts ran through the purple, haired trainer's head as he placed both his wrists to the sides of his heads.
Then…he saw them.
Piercing grey eyes…staring directly at him. They seemed to shine against the Lily of the Valley Isle's darkened streets. Whoever owned them shrouded themselves in a dark cloak, so identifying the person was impossible.
This was the one…Paul didn't know why, but he could feel the pressure coming from him.
"Wh-Who are y-you…?" He asked in a shaky voice. He could barely get his mouth to move the way he wanted it to. This thing wasn't a person, or even a pokemon… so if it wasn't either, then what was it?
The grey eyes didn't budge a single inch, and the pupils seemed to hauntingly stare directly into Paul's soul. No answer came from it.
Then, the figure raised a hand out in front of him, confirming that he was at least, somewhat humanoid. The moment he did so, a magenta coloured ball of…something formed in front of his hand.
Paul gulped. Whatever that thing was doing, it wasn't good.
"I…have searched for you…for a long time…" A sudden voice echoed around the area, a deep voice that definitely identified as a male one.
"Wha-!?" Paul gasped in surprise of the voice, but before he could continue, an almighty blast was heard that deafened the surrounding area like a thunderclap.
Paul gasped when the mysterious ball shot towards him at an alarming speed.
Paul couldn't run…
Paul knew one thing…
He was going to die here…
He took his final breath as he felt the heat of the orb nearing him
"AAAAAAGGH!" His haunting cries echoed across the island as he was engulfed in a white light. Smothered by some kind of strange energy.
As the sphere connected…the eyes disappeared, and the cloak fell to the ground in a heap.
The light from the orb had now vanished…
With an audible clunk, the trophy hit the ground.
And Paul was nowhere to be seen…