Hey there AbilityShipping Fans! My ninja senses are telling me you want a new fanfic! Am I right?

BTW, this chapter might be a drag… I dunno. :P Hopefully you enjoy, and I'll try to update frequently. (No promises though) Enjoy… drumroll, please… anyone… no one… OK, I'll drum…

Fire and Ice (Or Maybe Not)

"Congratulations Ash. You've conquered all seven of the battle facilities, and now you're a member of the Battle Frontier Hall of Fame."

"It's a real honour, Scott!"

"It would be an even bigger honour if you considered becoming one of our Frontier Brains."

"Um, the thing is there are so many awesome people and places I haven't even seen yet, and that means there are still so many awesome battles out there for me to win!"

"To tell the truth, I really wouldn't expect anything different out of you, young man."

"…I see. If that's your choice. But we'll always be here if you change your mind!"

"Good luck Ash! I hope that one day we will engage in battle once more."

"Wow! Thanks!"

And so, true to form, Ash wins the Battle Frontier in spectacular fashion, and the end of one journey marks the beginning of a new one. But the question remains: What kind of goals will Ash set for himself now?

"Dang it Pikachu!"

"Kachu?"

16-year-old Ash Ketchum slammed his fist onto the table, cursing angrily. "Why didn't I stay? I could have had something to do… instead of this garbage."

He gestured at the crudely translated PokéDex entries scattered across the counter, each one depicting a Pokémon and a paragraph in a different language.

"Pika. Pi KaPi Chu."

"I know I was thirteen! Don't remind me of that stupid decision. "

"Chuuu…"

"I know I'm helping out Professor Oak, and it's not that I don't want to, it's just that I could be battling other trainers, or doing something exciting! This, well, isn't."

Ash sighed, picking up the computer. "I can't change the past, Pikachu, but don't you wish that there was some way we could have stayed?"

"Pikachu!" The little yellow mouse nodded furiously, and scrambled up into Ash's lap. "Pika, Chu Pi!" It smiled at the troubled boy and rubbed its head on the collar of his jacket.

"Ah, hey! That tickles! Stop it, Pikachu! Hey!"

Pikachu let out a small bolt of electricity, shocking Ash, and sending him flying into the machine behind the desk. "Hey! Watch it!"

"Pi!"

Another bolt flew through the air, aimed at Ash, and he yelped, dodging it, causing the lightning to crash into the machine and explode.

BANG

"Pikachu! How am I going to explain this to the Professor?"

"Chu?"

"It wasn't an accident! This was your fault!"

A strange humming sound filled the lab, and smoke rapidly spewed out of the smashed mechanism. Six beeps were heard, long and low, and streams of light enveloped the boy and his Pokémon.

"Pikachu!"

"Hold on, buddy! This may hurt!"

"…Pi."

"OK. This will hurt. Hang on!"

Another explosion erupted from the device, torching the lab and sending the Ash flying high into the sky, Team Rocket high, with smoke and fire trailing from every inch of their bodies.

On a small island just south-east of Hoenn, a tall, gleaming tower stood overlooking a lake, reflecting the warm sunlight. This was the Battle Tower, a place that challenges your Ability in Pokémon battles. Only the best can undertake the trial of the Battle Tower, and those who can must face 69 other trainers before they can battle the 70th and final opponent.

Just as the sun peaked in the sky, a comet started to fall from the sky, eventually crashing into the woods. Then there was silence…but not for long. Seconds later, a battered Pikachu and equally-beaten boy sprinted out of the woods, pursued by an angry swarm of Beedrill.

"Run Pikachu!"

"Chu!"

The twosome dashed out of the forest and started running up the path, yelling the whole time.

"Help!"

"Pika!"

"We're sorry Beedrill! Please stop!

"KaChu!"

"Ahhhhhh!"

"Chuuuuuuu!"

The closest Beedrill experimentally jabbed Ash with his stinger, and as the boy yelped, it decided that stinging it was not enough of a punishment for a boy who disturbed their nest not one, not two, but THREE times! Angrily, they all raised their stingers.

It was time for revenge.

Ash put on a burst of speed, but the Pokémon honed in on him, ready to attack…

"Beedrill, stop!"

Standing on top of a rocky outcropping was a shadowed figure, backlit by the sun. It leapt into the air and landed in front of the Beedrill swarm, bushing Ash aside.

"I know he disturbed your nest many times, but he didn't do it on purpose! Please, my friends, do not pass judgment on him yet!"

The swarm hovered uncertainly over the newcomer, then, deciding to trust it, buzzed angrily back into the woods.

"Hey, thanks! Are they your Pokémon? Is that why you could control them?"

"No, I can-" The voice froze, recognizing that familiar voice, and slowly turned towards it. "A-are you… Ash?"

"Yes. How did you know?

"Ash, don't you recognize me?"

The boy stared for a moment, then a grin broke out on his face. "Hey! You're…"

*Gasps* Oh noes! I wrotes a cliff-hanger! Silly me! Weeeeeeell… not really, you can probably guess who, but if you say so in the comments, you get a free sword to poke yourself with. Here:

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Please don't forget to review! Oh and here's your ChapterFact!

'Some beta versions of Red and Blue list Machamp's original name as "Ju-Doh"'

Well, that's all. TheElementHero, over and out!