This is my first attempt in making fanfiction. This story is going to be slightly different from other stories. I will be providing "headcanon" Japanese voice actors for the characters (I'll provide career highlights so you have an idea of what they sound like, with the roles that most influenced my decision bolded that are the most similar when necessary), as well as opening, ending, and insert songs. Listening to these while reading is intended to assist in immersing yourself within the world I am painting for you. Not mandatory, but HIGHLY recommended.
The story itself is an original character based romp through the Pokémon world reminiscent of a good old adventure anime, with some inspiration from the Adventures manga series and my own imagination.
Now, let's dive in!
Cast
Āsā Patrion: Hiroshi Kamiya (Trafalgar Law from One Piece, Koyomi Araragi from the Monogatari series, Yuzuru Otonashi from Angel Beats, Seijūrō Akashi from Kuroko no Basket, Levi from Attack on Titan, Yato from Noragami, Shinji Matou from Fate/stay night, Choromatsu Matsuno from Osomatsu-san, T-Bone from Clifford the Big Red Dog)
Lt. Surge: Tetsu Inada (Katayama Gorobei from Samurai 7, Sajin Komamura from Bleach, Kurogane from Tsubasa Chronicle, Nappa in Dragon Ball Z Kai, Tetsu Shinjo from Cardfight! Vanguard, Ira Gamagoori from Kill la Kill, Rory 1 from Thomas and Friends)
Zorro: Inori Minase (Suzune Tanahashi from Love Lab, Eddelrittuo from , Asaka Mibu from Black Bullet, Chino Kafū from GochiUsa, Koharu Seto from Your Lie in April, Hestia from DanMachi, Carol Malus Dienheim from Senki Zesshō Symphogear GX, Yuki Takeya from Gakkou-Gurashi!, Tsubasa Oribe from Genei Ibun Roku #FE, women from Symphogear)
Our Lord and Savior Pokédex-sama: Chiwa Saitō (Komachi Mikumari from Samurai 7, Kosuna from Desert Punk, Hazuki/Luna from Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase, Natsumi Hinata from Sgt. Frog, Hitagi Senjougahara from the Monogatari Series, Homura Akemi from Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Fredrika from Hitsugi no Chaika, Cooper "Coop" Burtonburger from Kid vs. Kat)
Mystery Character Who is Previewed in the End: Kana Hanazawa (Nadeko Sengoku from the Monogatari series, Kanade Tachibana from Angel Beats, Ruri Gokou from Oreimo, Moriyama Shiemi from Blue Exorcist, Charlotte Dunois from the Infinite Stratos series, Akane Tsunemori from Psycho-Pass, Ren Kougyoku from Magi, Manaka Mukaido from Nagi no Asukara, Seryu Ubiquitous from Akame ga Kill!, Kosaki Onodera from Nisekoi)
Battle 001:
~The Boy and the Blue Flame~
The salty ocean air resonated with his senses, somehow simultaneously being refreshing yet compulsive at the same time. He could see the Vermillion City Harbor from the ship's banister. Āsā's heart began to quiver in anticipation. His journey through Kanto was about to begin. He dashed across the deck and into the ship's interior to procure his belongings.
The scent of lithium and cigar smoke permeated throughout the Vermillion City Gym. Lieutenant Surge was a man's man, with muscles the size of a car battery and a dull green tank top that accentuated his awe inspiring pecs and abs. His baggy camo khakis were kept in control by his prominent leather boots that stretched all the way to his shins, and he could almost always be seen with a cigar in his mouth when he wasn't facing challengers.. The wrinkles of old age may have began to slowly creep in, but they were just barely visible, and the magnificent bastard still had the strength and willpower of a soldier in him. Lt. Surge was a trooper. PTSD tried to get ahold of him at one point, and he chose to specialize in the Pokémon with the flashiest moves out of spite. War doesn't overcome Lt. Surge, Lt. Surge overcomes war.
It is precisely for this reason that the Vermillion City gym hasn't given out a single gym badge in the past 3 years. Lt. Surge doesn't mind losing to challengers, he just doesn't want to go down without a fight.
This was just one of the many, many reasons the Indigo Pokémon League began undergoing reform 2 years ago. Times change, and the battling scene changes with it. New gym leaders have come and gone. Additionally, aspiring trainers could now enter the Indigo Plateau with any combination of badges from the Kanto and Johto region certified Pokémon Gyms. However, kinks in this system are still being worked out, and the Kanto phase is only now reaching its finish, with Johto soon to follow.
Now that trainers didn't have to defeat the Vermillion Gym leader, the gym's challenger rate has plummeted. The only trainers that ever come to challenge Lt. Surge in this day and age were either cocky fools or foreigners who were unaware of his reputation.
So, of course, Lt. Surge was less than surprised nor was he excited that this new challenger before him was nothing more than a somewhat scrawny kid in an olive green trench coat that was just ever so slightly too big for him. The boy's t-shirt prominently featured a black-and-white Zebstrika inspired design–a black base and two white thunderbolts streaking from his sides towards the center of his ribcage–by pin-up model and Unovian gym leader Elesa. His boots went up to just above his ankles and were a standard sleek black leather, albeit slightly tattered. The boy's dark auburn Cloud Strife-esque–although somewhat tamer–hair was hidden by a beret whose color matched his trenchcoat's.
He looked like a fucking dumbass and Lt. Surge wanted to deck the kid Full Metal Jacket style just from the look of the smug smirk on his face.
"You sure ya ready for this, kid?" provoked Lt. Surge, attempting to intimidate the poor kid. "What's your name anyway, ya little dipshit?"
"Āsā Patrion, sir!" the challenger exclaimed in response.
"Heh! Tryin' ta impress me kid? Confidence doesn't do a damn thing kid, you all end up the same in the end–" He threw his cigar behind him. "Cryin' to your mothers!"
With this the Lieutenant drew out his Pokéball.
"You don't have to be so rude I was just trying to show you some respect..." Āsā retorted, also drawing out his first Pokéball. He looked slightly nervous and maybe even somewhat embarrassed, but there still wasn't any sweat to be found on the young trainer's brow. His composure was rock solid when compared to the hulking war veteran he was about to face.
"It may not be very smart to challenge me," cried Lt. Surge. "But it takes guts! I never lose on the battlefield! I'll obliterate you as if you were just another enemy soldier in the war! Let's get this over with! Voltorb, go!"
"You're not very nice, 'sir,'" muttered Āsā condescendingly, "Let's get this started, Mito...!"
Out of Lt. Surge's Pokéball came another Pokéball, this one being sentient and having a slightly brighter shade of red. The Voltorb sent out a few sparks to orbit it as if it had something to prove to the opposing Pokémon that had yet to burst out of its ball.
The Pokémon that Āsā referred to as Mito also sprang out of its Pokéball, a peppy yet fierce little Growlithe whose cry was stronger than her body could handle, causing it to slightly jump with each bark at first. While she seemed innocent enough, she had the eyes of a warrior.
The battle began.
"Voltorb! Charge!" The gym leader commanded.
Sparks encompassed the Ball Pokémon, growing in frequency until they all were absorbed by it, temporarily strengthening its electric capabilities as well as its special defense stat.
"Alright then," Āsā's body tensed in anticipation. "Mito! Leer!"
With this the Growlithe tensed its body and delivered a sharp glare at Voltorb.
"Voltorb! Electro Ball!" With this, the electric type swiftly flipped itself backwards and spun at a breakneck speed, generating an electric current.
"FIRE!" The currents collected in the spherical silhouette of the Voltorb and fired towards the leering Mito.
"Mito! Switch it up! Face it head on with Flame Wheel!"
Mito sprung out of the Leer and into the air, beginning to spout flames from her mouth. Flipping into a brief revolution, Mito's flames spread into a ring around the Puppy Pokémon, and stayed intact as she charged towards Voltorb's electric projectile.
"What the hell is this kid trying to pull!?" spouted Lt. Surge in disbelief. With brute force, Mito's flame wheel made impact with the Electro Ball. It charged through the Electro Ball, splitting it in half, colliding head on into Voltorb, inflicting a burn.
"Grrr... looks like that confidence wasn't just naivety after all, ya got a name kid? Voltorb! Rollout!" Voltorb began to roll on the ground, rapidly increasing in velocity–and with an increase in velocity comes an increase of momentum.
"Mito, dodge!" Mito was able to jump out of the way. However, Voltorb turned around with an inescapable rebound, inflicting damage that was both critical and super effective. "Damn it, looks like we're gonna have to fight it head on with a Flame Wheel!"
The canine initiated its Flame Wheel Attack and charged directly towards the rebounding Voltorb, the two clashing head on. Locked in a battle of will and strength, neither Pokémon was going to back down. "Oh yeah, it's Āsā, and you better not forget it!"
However, the sheer intensity of the clash eventually grew too much to bear, and both Pokémon had to bail out, both taking a heavy physical toll.
"Mito! How are you doing?" Mito looked back, and nodded in affirmation despite the pain it was currently feeling. "Good! Let's go for the Reversal!"
"Don't let it go through! Blast that damn mutt away with Electro Ball!" Things were finally getting interesting for Lt. Surge. A soldier like him who lives for the thrill of combat was not going to give up now. His Voltorb fired the sparking shot with the strength of a cannon.
"Mito–!" The Growlithe was one step ahead of its trainer, attempting to side step out of the way of the incoming threat. Although the attack scraped it, it did not hit enough surface area of the Pokémon to stop it. With a downward swipe of its tail, Mito smashed Voltorb viciously against the ground, creating enough pressure to imprint a small crater into the gym's steel flooring.
"Heh! Looks like we've just about got you pinned! Reversal's a move that only gets stronger the more damage the user has taken! Mito let's finish this off–"
"letsgovoltorb!SelfDestruct INITIATE!"
"SHIT!"
Voltorb became engulfed in a scarlet tint, its internal body temperature exponentially heating up to the point where it could not be contained. The only thing it could do is burst out in a cataclysmic explosion accompanied by nearly blinding light. An unconscious Mito rag-dolled into the ceiling and ricocheted off it, pounding into the cold metal floor. Voltorb had fainted as well, of course.
Both trainers returned their incapacitated Pokêmon to their respective Pokéballs. "Heh, you're not half bad, kid," Lt. Surge complimented, "I mean you're not pushing me back into a corner or anything but you're holding your own. That's something."
"You know," Āsā replied with hesitation, "I could say the same to you." The look on Lt. Surge's face was priceless, red with anger. He practically had steam fuming out of his ears.
"Let's see if you can possibly keep up." A malevolent grin appeared on Lt. Surge's face. Doubt it. "Raichu! Come on out!"
Lt. Surge's Raichu was somewhat thin compared to other Raichus, and it was giving the same malevolent grin Lt. Surge had on his face. This was accompanied by an inert tenseness within. This was the stance of a ruthless sadist.
"Hmph. you don't see that often," Āsā commented as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a Pokédex.
Raichu: The Mouse Pokémon. When its electricity builds, its muscles are stimulated, and it becomes more aggressive than usual.
"I see, somebody's got a little electricity build up," the boy said to himself as he drew out his next Pokêball. "Alright Bara, Take it over!"
Bara was a Yamask, and a relatively timid one at that. However, the Spirit Pokémon was filled with determination.
"Let's start things off with a Will-O-Wisp!" Five incorporeal skulls appeared one at a time, each orbited around the Yamask until it wept a single tear. This was a signal to dart for the Raichu.
"Grrr...don't let a single one hit you Raichu!" The rodent dashed away, circling around Yamask from a fair distance attempting to throw off the wisps, but to no avail. The wisps eventually caught up to him, sinking into his pelt and inflicting the Burn status upon him. "Damn it!" Raichu! Go for a Volt Tackle!"
"Bara...let it go through," Āsā commanded with a devilish grin.
Raichu charged towards Bara, his cheeks continuously releasing electricity until the Mouse Pokémon was nothing more than a lightning blur. He charged headfirst into the ghost type Pokémon inflicting a critical hit. However, the sheer scale of the electrical discharge he had just released resulted in recoil damage. Additionally, a part of Yamask stayed attached to Raichu, stretching until it broke away. Once Raichu was at a distance from Bara, this ectoplasmic fragment of sorts sprung into the air and wrapped itself around Raichu's mid region, constricting him. It then extended its hold around the bottom half of the rodent's body, maintaining the appearance of embalming bandages.
"What the hell?" Lt. Surge responded, aghast with great confusion.
"Allow me to explain, Mr. Surge," patronized Āsā.
"THAT'S LT. SURGE!"
"Hush now." It was clear that Āsā was enjoying being one step ahead of Lt. Surge. "Bara is a Yamask, a Pokémon with an unique ability known as 'Mummy.' Any physical contact with my Bara spreads the Mummy ability to your Pokémon, overriding its original ability until it is returned to its Pokéball. Now, your Raichu's uh...Static, is it?" Lt. Surge's face crinkled. "I'll take that as a yes– looks like I won't have to worry about getting paralyzed by you anymore."
"GRRRRR! YOU DARE PATRONIZE ME IN MY OWN GYM? NOW YOU'RE IN FOR IT! RAICHU USE MEGA KICK!"
Raichu's powerful kick merely phased through Bara. "Wow, you must really be mad if you forgot all about how ghost types are immune to normal type moves."
"PLEASE! THAT WON'T STOP US! THUNDER BOLT!"
Raichu stored electricity into his cheek pouches and released it all at once midair, striking Bara from behind before he could react.
"Bara! Shake it off! Time for a Hex!" The eyes on Bara's mask became alight with a dark aura, and a giant ethereal smiling skull materialized in front of the ghost type Pokémon. The apparition floated towards Raichu, looming over him as its jaws engulfed him, only for it to phase away. Raichu could only quiver in horror from the sight. Suddenly, six dark spears of aura began to relentlessly jab at the poor rodent repeatedly. Fifteen seconds passed and these aura spears dematerialized as fast as they had appeared. Raichu dropped onto the floor, unconscious. Bara just continued to float showing no signs of emotion, while Āsā had a smile that almost stretched beyond the limits of his face. "How's that for 'keeping up?''"
"You fought historic out there, buddy ol' pal. Take a good long rest Raichu." Lt. Surge returned the Pokémon into its Pokéball. He turned to Āsā and gave the trainer a grin that rivaled his own. "Hoooo boy, now you've got me excited!" The gym leader cracked his knuckles intimidatingly. "I can't even remember how long it has been since I last experienced this kind of challenge." Lt. Surge reached into his back pocket and pulled out an Ultra Ball. "Usually I don't resort to this, but I think you've earned it. Get ready to face the true power..."
Lt. Surge tossed the Pokéball behind him, and from it sprout a massive avian whose size dwarfed both of them in comparison.
"...OF A MAN WHO HAS SURPASSED WAR! ZAPDOS USE DISCHARGE!"
The thunderbird's figure lit itself up in all of its glory with a phantasm of lightning, which enveloped the entire gym. This incredulous display of strength incapacitated Bara.
"Holy shit..." These were the only words that were able to bring themselves into fruition As he returned the fried Spirit Pokémon to its Pokéball. All of the pride he had been displaying was wiped away by this single discharge.
Such is the power of a legendary Pokémon.
Āsā once again pulled out his Pokédex, which was possibly the only thing that could lead him to victory.
Zapdos: The Electric Pokémon. A legendary bird that can freely control lightning and thunder. Legend says that it appears only when a thundercloud parts into two halves.
"Just as expected from the Kanto region," said Āsā."Always going the extra mile. Alright, Zorro, let's do this."
Āsā took out his final Pokéball and sent it open. Out of it came... Lt. Surge?
"HAHAHAHA! YOU HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN IN A WAR!" yelled the doppelgänger.
"ARE YOU MOCKING ME, MAGGOT?!" burst Lt. Surge.
"Damn it Zorro! Now's not the time to play around; you're facing a legendary Pokémon!" Āsā expressed with frustration. He came up behind the doppelgänger, which had a stubby onyx tail. Āsā yanked it. Hard.
A loud yipe came from the doppelgänger. The illusion spiraled into the tail as if it was a black hole, until only the form of a shiny blue-tufted Zorua remained. You're no fun. The Zorua was communicating with its trainer telepathically in a childlike voice. "You heard me, now's not the time to play around we've gotta take down this glorified pigeon." Fiiiiiiine.
Āsā needed time to think. Strategize. Unfortunately, he only had less than a minute. I have the means necessary to fend off any attacks. Now, I just need to figure out how to take this thing down.... "Alright, I think I've got it now. Zorro use Feint Attack."
Zorro zoomed out of its position almost instantaneously, like a vanishing shadow. It reappeared behind Zapdos, enveloped in a dark aura, and struck it down, hitting somewhere around the spinal area. Zapdos turned around before hitting the floor. "Zapdos use Drill Peck!"
"You can dodge this!"
The thunderbird spun like a drill, its beak being the center of the spiral. The Tricky Fox Pokémon was able to swoop out of the attack's reach and landed back onto the ground. "Go for another Feint Attack before it rebounds!"
Zorro darted behind Zapdos, which was still recovering out of its Drill Peck move, and struck again. This time, the Electric Pokémon collided with the gym's wall. Zorro landed back on the ground.
"Tch, bastard," Lt. Surge cursed under his teeth. "Use Discharge! Don't hold back!"
"Zorro! Protect!" An almost glasslike dome generated around Zorro, shielding it from the devastating electric attack.
"Damn it!" Lt. Surge clenched its fist. "Thunder Wave!"
Zapdos broke away from the wall and flapped its wings. A wave of sparks is blown towards Zorro. "Zorro! Dash under it, then use Fury Swipes!" Zorro ran as fast as it could to get out of Thunder Wave's range. Succeeding, Zorro jumped to Zapdos's level and brandished its claws.
Before Zorro could begin to slash away, Lt. Surge managed to bark a command. "Ancient Power!" Zapdos's eyes turned into a pure marble white, tucking its wings in quickly, and spreading them out again even faster, releasing a wind current similar to a sonic boom that extended in every direction within a six foot radius, tossing the Zorua back into the gym floor.
"Zorro! Are you still good to fight?" The Zorua, although heavily scraped, nodded with determination. I'm still standing. Peeved off, but standing. Āsā couldn't help but smirk. "Alright, you'll just have to fight ten times harder to get back at 'em."
"Zapdos! Drill Peck!"
"Incinerate!"
Zorro spouted flames from its mouth, flames that almost had the appearance of cotton candy. Extremely hot, hellfire cotton candy. These flames overtook Zapdos stopping its attack and scorching it as well. "Hehe, I wonder how much meat's on there." Āsā licked his lips.
Darn it, now I'm hungry!
"I'll get you some chicken if you're able to beat this thing."
Oooh, now you've got me going! Let's do this!
"Hehe, yeah. Enough talk, let's finish this!"
[CUE INSERT SONG: Transformation by Takeharu Ishimoto (ft. Andy from "Sixpin"), Originally from The World Ends With You;Youtube link: watch?v=J_P1OwYgZNI]
"ZAPDOS! DISCHARGE!" Zapdos charged itself up for its electrical spectacle of an attack.
"Protect!" Zorro braced itself, forming his dome, and took no damage from the attack. "Feint Attack!" Zorro phased towards Zapdos.
"ANCIENT POWER!" Zapdos tensed itself in preparation for the attack.
"Phase out of Ancient Power's range, and then attack!" Zorro did just that, moving out of the move's range before it was unleashed, and then afterwards seizing the opportunity to strike Zapdos down towards the ground. "Don't stop now! Fury Swipes!" Zorro swan dived to follow Zapdos, and as it descended past Zapdos landed a myriad of swipes on it, and then landed gracefully on the ground. "This is it! INCINERATE!" Zorro tilted its head towards the still falling Zapdos and unleashed its fiery combo finisher, which pushed Zapdos back into the air. After readjusting itself from the devastating combo, Zapdos was still barely holding on, barely able to flap its wings in order to keep itself suspended in midair.
"THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!" Lt. Surge screamed. "THERE'S NO WAY MY STREAK IS ABOUT TO BE BROKEN BY SOME COCKY PIPSQUEAK! I WON'T LET THAT HAPPEN! DISCHARGE! CHARGE IT UP FOR MAXIMUM DAMAGE!"
"PROTECT!"
"Not gonna happen, kid! Zapdos's ability is Pressure, which doubles the amount of Power Points spent on an attack! Your Protect's fresh out buddy! NOW, BLAST 'EM!"
Tch...this is bad. Āsā knew very well that Zorro wouldn't be able to survive the attack if it hits. That's it! It's risky, but it's my best shot. "Zorro!" Flip around while using Incinerate! Surround yourself with as much fire as possible! This may not work but it's all we've got!"
Oh I'll make it work! Zorro's reassurance calmed Āsā's anxiety. He had known Zorro long enough to know the Pokémon was capable of this monumental task.
And Zorro delivered. The Pokémon whipped up a plethora of flames, completely engulfing himself in them right as Zapdos unleashed its Discharge. Incinerate's flames acted as a makeshift Protect, shielding it from damage. However, the combined heat of the flames and the electricity released nearly made Zorro pass out from Heat Stroke. When both attacks had dispersed, he was drenched with sweat. "No time to rest, Zorro! Finish Zapdos with Feint Attack!"
With a nod, Zorro phased behind Zapdos and dealt the finishing blow. The legendary bird had fallen. Āsā had become the first challenger to defeat the Vermillion City Gym Leader in 3 years.
[If it hasn't finished for you already, you can cut off the insert song.]
The sun was just barely beginning to set. Āsā and Lt. Surge had moved outside following their gym battle. Zorro was perched on the young trainer's shoulder. Lt. Surge had a straight face, which made Āsā nervous of what he was about to do. He gulped.
"Listen, kid," Lt. Surge bellowed before shifting to a subdued, more insightful tone. "What you did today...well it hasn't been done in a long time. A long time. Over three years. I should be upset. I am upset. However, most of all, I'm happy. I'm at peace." Lt. Surge rested his hand on Āsā's head. "Āsā,"
This was the first time he had referred to his challenger by name.
"You taught me what it was like to truly feel the adrenaline of battle again. Congratulations, kid, you earned this." Lt. Surge reached into his pocket and pulled out a medal in the shape of a sunflower, with a burnt orange jewel in the center. However, this badge still had slight remnants of lint left over, and it was slightly rusty. "I know it doesn't look like much, but the Thunder Badge looked awesome in its hey-day."
"Oh Lieutenant, you spoil me," Āsā teased as he took the badge from the gym leader's' extended palm. He pulled out a slim case from one of the inner pockets of his trenchcoat and put the Thunder Badge in it.
"It only gets rougher from here, kid."
"I know," replied Āsā. "But for anything Kanto throws at us,"
"Me and Zorro are ready."
~Battle 001 End~
[CUE ENDING/OPENING 1: Because You Are You by Aqua Timez; Probably will have to download it, but it's worth it]
[With the sort of almost pulse-like warm up before the main instrumentals leading into the song kick in, A blue flame burns in a background of black. Once the main instrumentals kick in this fire fades into Zorro's tuft, and Zorro leaps onto Āsā's shoulder, who is dashing into blue sky backdrop as whatever you imagine the main logo to be fades in with Zorro's blue tuft in the bottom right corner of it. It fades out as the vocals get ready to kick in.]
Kono kami no uchigawa wo kasumeru koi
On this paper is a hazy voice
[We view Āsā strolling along in the standard anime elbows up pose on the left side, sort of kicking his feet at points in an attempt to keep himself entertained, behind him is a sort of generic silver gradient background]
Sono koe ga warau made wo chigiru
That will tear the clouds apart until it can laugh again.
[Āsā's Pokémon fade in following him, at "Sono" Zorro comes from the side of the screen prancing up to him and somewhat passing him slightly. At "warau" Bara materializes behind him doing a twirl, and at "wo" Mito sort of comes in strutting behind Āsā.]
Nobashita te ga fukou wo tsumaku kamo to
Thinking that their outstretched hands will grasp nothing but misfortune,
[Now we focus on a girl with her long faded pastel orange hair topped with a red bandana. She is wearing a pink spaghetti strap tank top, and light green shorts that cover no more than her thighs. She is somewhat moping, cradling a Mawile in her arms. at "tsukamu" a Corpfish and Corsola practically flail their small legs trying to keep up with her.]
Tejou wo kakete yasuragu hito mo ita
there have been people who gambled with the heavens and are now in rest.
[The two are now on the same plane, walking until they pass each other at "-ragu." At "hito" we get a close up of the two turning around to look at each other again, with emphasis on the girl. When they turn around the silver gradient turns into a blue sky, and their plain environment becomes rolling hils. Focus swooshes from this locking gaze and swoops into the blue sky.]
Tadashisa yasashisa kanashisa
Righteousness, kindness, sadness–
[We now get a brief preview of the first three gym leaders Āsā faces. They are heavily shadowed to the point where they are barely visible. Focus is shaky, and even then we only get what is barely a second's glimpse of all 8 gym leaders together in front of a backdrop of the purple cosmos before focusing on these three. On "tadashisa" we get a shaky glimpse of Lt. Surge, arms crossed intimidatingly and slightly towering over our view with his Raichu on his shoulder, giving the psychotic look showcased earlier in this chapter. On "yasashisa" we get a preview of Erica, somewhat hiding her face behind a folding fan, with her Bellossom twirling. With "kanashisa" we can barely make out Sabrina brooding with her arms out, and her Alakazam in a near identical position. Each of their respective Pokémon's eyes stand out with eyes glowing white. We quickly pan out. Far.]
gochamaze ni naru
All become miscellaneous.
[A twin-tailed girl in white dashes over the frame showing her back to us., following her a happier yellow pastel watercolor background.]
Watashi ni mo
You and I
[As we are left with this new backdrop the girl dashes back into frame, and we get a better image of her. large white cap with a red bow, stark ponytails jutting out her sides. She wears a white vest that covers a lipstick rouge tube top. and black athetic shorts, tight as all hell. She completes her outfit with long white stockings covering past her knees and white tennis shoes. she zips past us, blowing a kiss in our view with a peace sign. A Smeargle chases behind her flailing like a bull in a china shop.]
anata ni mo nakusu koto no dekinu mono ga atte
both have things that we have lost that we can do nothing about.
[We switch to a volcanic backdrop, and slowly swerve to see a teenager that looks astoundingly similar to the Elite Four member and then Pokémon League Champion Lance from the first two generations standing on a ledge, his cape blowing in the wind. At "dekinu" we swing around him from directly facing him to his side and face a menacing Dragonite. which bellows a roar.]
Kotoba wo sagasu sora yori takaku,
I search for words higher than the skies
[This roar continues as we phase from the volcanic backdrop to that of a stadium. Zorro charges at the Dragonite, swiping at it furiously and then jumping out of the way as it unleashes a devastating beam attack.]
Kotoba ni narazu tameiki ni naru
but unable to form it into words, it becomes a sigh,
[The Dragonite then chases Zorro fiercely trying to pin it with a punch while the Tricky Fox just barely dodges out of the way each time, eventually sliding in front of Āsā by the end of the line of lyrics. Āsā glares at his opponent at the other side of the field.]
Kotoba ja toosugite kimi wo dakiyoseta
Because words were too distant, I held you close.
[Focus returns to Āsā's green eyes, and zooms out to show he is back in the silver gradient, and focus circles around him as he walds towards the girl from the beginning of the opening, who is curled into a ball. We focus on her looking up with "dakiyoseta"]
Namida yo tomare
Tears, stop.
[We see Āsā with his hands outstretched to her. At "tomare" she grabs on, and the scenery instantly returns to the rolling hills, and we have a little lens flare]
I love you, because you are you.
I love you, because you are you.
I love you, because you are you.
I love you, because you are you.*
[From a distance we watch Āsā pulls the girl up, letting go once she's fully up. They walk side-by-side as the chorus repeats. Walking off screen with the last repetition.]
*This part of the song actually happens later on, but this is to make it opening size.
"Where do I go from here?"
