Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Pokémon is a media franchise published and owned by Nintendo Co. Ltd., the characters that will be shown here do not belong to the author of this text and he shall not gain any monetary gain by the use of them.

It was a bright summer's morning in Pallet Town, the sun shone brightly on the little wooden houses and gave a sweltering heat. Many of the bird Pokémon were chirping happily, greeting the commuters as they made their way to work or to drop their young children at school. The children were always jovial in the mornings and their laughter could be heard on the dusty roads that meandered through alluring greenery.

Pallet was, indeed, a beautiful place and it's residents were always proud of their little slice of heaven. One such resident surveyed the little town from his window, he leaned out and breathed in the crisp, clean air that he was so fond of. Ash Ketchum loved coming home, he hadn't spent much time in Pallet after he got his Pokémon licence and began his journey. There was something to be said about busy cities but this young man would always prefer the quiet countryside to the noise. Even if, now and then, it got a bit boring for an energetic Pokémon trainer.

Ash was one of many who travelled around the many different regions, where the Pokémon leagues were held, with the goal of becoming the greatest Pokémon master in the world. Over the last six years he had made countless new friends, caught many different Pokémon, competed in numerous leagues and had more adventures than most people have in a lifetime. It would be safe to say that he was a strange fit for this quiet little town but he would always be proud to call Pallet his home.

As Ash watched the street and saw the parents walking their children to school, he remembered his time before his journey. He had never really enjoyed his school days, he knew his life was on the road, discovering Pokémon and the world by himself. He chuckled, "Man, I guess things change."

"Ash, honey!" he heard his mother call to him. "Breakfast's on the table."

He quickly hurried out of his room and down the stairs, things change but one thing that never would was Ash Ketchum's insatiable appetite.

As he bounded into the kitchen, Ash saw the table laden with pancakes, syrup and butter, everything he could have dreamed of at that moment. He took his usual seat next to a small yellow mouse with bright red cheeks and long pointed ears.

"'Morning Pikachu! I didn't hear you get up," he said to the Pokémon, "were you hungry?"

"Pika!", it replied and nodded it's confirmation. It hopped up onto the table and pulled a small plate of pancakes towards it's chair, which had a stack of books piled on the seat. Pikachu was Ash's first Pokémon and had been his companion for his entire journey. For six years they had travelled together and had many adventures. Ash couldn't imagine his life without his faithful electric mouse by his side.

"You're having pancakes for breakfast?" Ash asked it quizzically.

"Pikachu!" it said and indicated for him to wait. It hopped underneath the table and then emerged holding a large bottle of tomato ketchup, which it then proceeded to empty over it's pancakes. It looked thoroughly pleased with itself. Ketchup was it's favourite food.

"Uh, looks great Pikachu," Ash said, as he tried to hold in his disgust. It was forgotten very quickly, however, when his mother placed his plate, of pancakes and syrup, in front of him.

"Thanks mom!" He exclaimed and dug into his meal.

Delia Ketchum watched her son, and his minute companion, as they ate. She was in a very happy mood as she always was when Ash came home for a break in his journeys. Although she supported him endlessly, she missed her son dearly when he was off discovering some new region and treasured the time they spent together. Ash had arrived on her doorstep late in the night, claiming he had missed the first ship from Unova and had had to take a train through to Sinnoh before he could get on another boat. Typical Ash, always scatterbrained, but she was just glad to see him.

"So Ash, how long will you be staying this time?" She asked her son, "You haven't mentioned any new leagues to compete in."

"To be honest, I'm not sure," Ash said in between bites, "I haven't heard of a different league to compete in yet so I was thinking about trying the Indigo league again. But it was only two months ago so I have a whole lot of time."

"Well, it would be great to have you here until next year,"

"You know, I think having a little time off might be just what I need. What do you think Pikachu?"

"Pika!" it shouted happily.

Ash smiled, "Alright then! We're staying!"

Ash walked down the familiar road that led to Professor Oak's laboratory, the noonday sun was giving a blistering heat and ash could feel the sweat on his brow threatening to fall.

"It's nice to actually walk to the Professor's," he thought, "running there that first day was exhausting."

"Piiika..." Pikachu groaned, painfully, from Ash's shoulder.

"Ketchup-cakes not sitting well, huh?" Ash asked the aching Pokémon. Pikachu had finished his breakfast, quickly, then had seconds and had the same for lunch. Unfortunately, stomach ache wasn't something a Pokémon center could heal.

"Chaaa..." moaned the little yellow mouse.

Ash felt sorry for it. "Don't worry buddy, I'm sure Professor Oak has some berries or something. That should help your stomach."

"HEY!"

Ash turned around, the call had come from behind him. He saw a young man running towards him.

"Yeah?" Ash replied slowly. His pursuer came to a halt right in front of him.

"Sorry to bother you but, you're Ash Ketchum right?" The young man seemed excited, almost as though he was meeting a movie star.

"Yeah, that's me." Ash replied, still somewhat confused.

"Man! I've wanted to meet you for so long! I'm Benjamin, call me Ben, we got our first Pokémon from Professor Oak on the same day!"

"Oh, that's pretty cool!" Ash was a lot more relaxed now, he knew that there were other trainers, besides himself and his rival, that had visited the lab on the same day as him. But, he had never met any of them.

"Let's have a battle! I've wanted to challenge you for a long time now!"

"Well, I never turn down a challenge!" Ash took a few paces backwards and got into a battle stance. "You ready Pikachu?"

"Piiika..."

"Oh yeah, I forgot." Ash placed the aching Pokémon on top of his backpack, on the ground. "You sit this one out buddy."

"How about 3 on 3?" Ben called.

"Sounds good to me!" Ash replied, confidently.

"Alright Ash, get ready! Go Marowak!" Ben threw a Pokéball and, with a flash of white light, out came a stout orange dinosaur wearing a skull over its head and clutching a long, threatening, bone club.

"Nice Marowak! OK then, Scraggy, I choose you!" Ash threw a Pokéball of his own and out came a little lizard-like Pokémon which, also, had orange skin with a red belly. It also had some extra skin around it's midriff that made it appear to be in a small sack.

"OK, let's do this!" Ben cried. "Marowak, use Bonemerang!"

Marowak hurled it's mighty club at Scraggy and it span quickly towards the little lizard.

"Dodge it Scraggy, use Hi Jump kick!"

Scraggy jumped high in the air and the spinning bone flew, harmlessly, underneath it. Scraggy then flipped over and aimed a powerful kick but, before it could connect, Marowak's bone crashed into his back and sent it flying forwards.

"There's a reason that move's called bone-merang Ash! It always comes back!" Ben proclaimed triumphantly as Marowak caught it's weapon. "Now Marowak! Use headbutt!"

Marowak charged forward and slammed it's bony skull into Scraggy's stomach and the lizard flew back towards it's trainer.

"Oh no! Scraggy are you OK?" Ash asked nervously.

Scraggy quickly got to its feat, albeit shaken, and nodded.

"OK then, you know what to do!"

"The little guy's got guts, I'll give it that! But it's time for Marowak to finish this!" Ben declared. "Marowak, double-edge!"

Marowak charged forward again, ready to give the finishing blow.

"Steady Scraggy." Ash said bracingly.

Marowak sped towards it's opponent but, just before it could connect with a devastating tackle, Ash shouted his order.

"Now Scraggy! Focus Blast!"

Scraggy unleashed a large ball of energy which flung Marowak backwards. It crashed into the ground right in front of it's trainer and did not get up.

"Yes! Way to go Scraggy!" Ash jumped for joy and scooped up his Pokémon for a victory hug.

Ben was in shock, that little Scraggy packed one hell of a punch.

"Good job Marowak." He said as he recalled Marowak to it's Pokéball. "I'm impressed Ash, I never would have thought that Scraggy could have beaten Marowak. Ready for round 2?"

Ash placed Scraggy next to Pikachu, which has weakly cheering him on, and regarded his opponent. "You bet!"

Both trainers hurled their Pokéballs once again, this time Ben released a Machamp, a tall, humanoid shaped but it Pokémon but it had light blue skin and four large, muscular arms. Ash's Pokémon was revealed to be Palpitoad, a small, oval-shaped toad with blue skin, a tan belly and three large half-spheres on its head.

"Ok, Palpitoad!" Ash shouted, "start things off with a mud shot!"

Palpitoad spat large clumps of wet mud directly at Machamp, who clearly wasn't expecting such speed from the small amphibian, and they hit it's eyes directly. Machamp, now blinded, started furiously rubbing at it's eyes with all four of it's large hands.

Ben looked on, clearly frustrated. "Get that mud off quickly Machamp!"

Ash didn't waste any time in grasping the new advantage, "Now Palpitoad, Hydro Pump!"

The toad sucked in as much air as it could muster and then unleashed a powerful blast of water which collided with it's opponent and sent it flying backwards, cartwheeling in the air.

"Great job!" Ash cheered, proud of his partner.

"Don't celebrate just yet Ash!"

Ash looked up, Ben was smirking. "Now Machamp, Revenge!"

Machamp darted across the field, surrounded in a red haze, and dealt a devastating punch right into Palpitoad's belly. The impact sent it rocketing back towards Ash and it crumpled onto the ground meters in front of him.

"But Machamp couldn't see! How..?" A sudden thought hit Ash and he mentally slapped himself for his stupidity.

"Hydro Pump washed away the mud!" He groaned.

"Yup! And it led you right into one of Machamps most powerful moves and...what!?" His opponent was suddenly looking at Ash's feet in shock.

Palpitoad was weakly getting to it's feat, trembling with pain.

"There's no way! Machamp hit it dead on, it should be knocked out!"

"Pal..." The little toad weakly moaned.

Ash looked at his Pokémon with concern. "Can you keep going?"

Palpitoad looked determined and sharply nodded.

"OK then. This time we'll get him!" Ash said confidently.

Ben appeared to snap out of his stupor and issued a new order. "Machamp, Close Combat! Let's wrap this one up!"

Machamp ran towards it's opponent once more and reared it's fist back, ready to strike.

"Dodge it Palpitoad!"

Palpitoad leant on it's tail and then sprung to the left so that Machamps' blow missed. The muscular Pokémon began to chase the tiny toad around the field, it's fists flying, each time trying to lay in a knock-out blow and each time Palpitoad sprung away using it's tail.

"Keep it up Palpitoad! Make some space!" Ash called.

Ben looked more and more agitated. "Ugh! This game of tiddlywinks has gone on long enough! Machamp, Foresight!"

Machamp stopped and stared intently at it's opponent, judging it's movement. "Now, Cross Chop!"

Machamp lunged forward, Palpitoad sprang up again but Machamp had guessed it's direction and headed right for it. Machamp knew it couldn't dodge this and splayed its arms out, ready to slice them right into it's target.

"Palpitoad, supersonic!" Ash cried his best hope to the heavens.

Palpitoad opened it's mouth wide, screeching loudly and ripples seemed to cut through the air. Machamp stopped in it's tracks and clutched the sides of it's head with all four of it's enormous hands. Once the screeching had stopped, Machamp made a move on it's opponent but stumbled forward appearing punch-drunk.

"Oh no! Machamp snap out of it!" Ben shouted helplessly.

"Now Palpitoad, while Machamp's still confused. Use Hydro Pump, full force!"

Palpitoad jumped forward and, inches from Machamps' face, let fly another blast of water which blew it's opponent back past it's trainer. It did not get up.

"Yes! We did it!" Ash shouted triumphantly.

Ben recalled his powerful, fighting-type Pokémon with a sigh. "You know Ash, not many people get one over on Machamp like that. You're a really great trainer, but I have one last Pokémon and, I'm afraid, it's my strongest. The Pokémon I got from professor Oak the day I left for my journey."

Ash was excited and knowing that he was about to face his opponent's strongest Pokémon fuelled the fire in his eyes. He lived for competition.

"Bring it on!" Ash grinned. Ben pulled his final Pokemon from his belt and took a battle stance.

"Anyway, my last Pokémon is.." He threw the Pokéball and, with a flash of white light, out came "Charizard!"

The large, orange, lizard stomped onto the ground and flexed it's enormous wings. It roared, issuing it's challenge and the flame, on the tip of it's tail, sent embers into the breeze, lightly scrorching some blades of grass.

Ash wasn't entirely surprised, he knew that someone had gotten a Charmander the day he left Pallet. Palpitoad, being a water-type, had the advantage but Ash knew, better than anyone, never to count out a Charizard even if it was at a disadvantage.

"Palpitoad quick, use Hydro Pump!"

Palpitoad let out another stream of water but Ben was clearly expecting it.

"Charizard, up in the air and use Dragon Rage!"

Charizard thrust it's wings downwards and shot up into the sky, it opened it's jaws wide and shot a bright blue ball of fire at Palpitoad, which couldn't dodge it in time. It was a one-hit knock out.

"Yes! Awesome Charizard!" Ben cheered, gaining his first victory of the match.

Ash, shocked at the power of the single move, recalled Palpitoad to it's Pokéball.

"You did great Palpitoad. That was some crazy power, Charizard."

The great lizard regarded the compliment from the opposing trainer and smirked in gratitude. This black-haired boy might be nice but Charizard certainly wasn't going to go easy on him.

"OK Scraggy, give it your best."

Scraggy hopped forward, Ash knew the Charizard was part flying-type but he also knew that Scraggy, being smaller than Palpitoad, would be a harder target to hit.

"Charizard, hit with a Wing Attack!" Ben wasn't waiting around.

Charizard dived towards Scraggy quickly, it's wings glowing white.

"Scraggy dodge it!"

Just as Charizard sliced it's wings towards it, Scraggy jumped up, over it's opponent, and the attack crashed, harmlessly, into the ground, leaving a small crater.

"Now, Hi Jump Kick!" Scraggy turned in the air and kicked Charizard in the back as hard as it could. Charizard flinched with pain but Scraggy bounced backwards, clearly not expecting such solid contact.

As it flailed in the air, Ash knew Scraggy was vulnerable and Ben was quick to take advantage.

"Charizard, Flamethrower!"

Charizard rounded and, quicker than Ash could believe, shot powerful flames out of it's mouth. The flame engulfed Scraggy and Ash knew that Scraggy was finished before it even hit the ground.

"Scraggy, return!" The tiny lizard turned into red energy and retreated to it's Pokéball.

"Man, your Charizard sure is strong!" Ash called to Benjamin.

"Charizard and I have been battling as long as you and Pikachu, Ash. We've grown stronger together, right buddy?" The large lizard roared it's approval.

Ash smiled, it was always great to meet another trainer who had the same love, for his Pokémon, that he had himself.

"Well, you guys make a great team. I'll have to use something powerful to beat you. What's that old saying?" Ash mock pondered. "Oh yeah, fight fire with fire! And you know what? This one might surprise you."

Ben watched, clearly intrigued.

Ash grasped his cap and, in a trademark move, twisted it backwards on his head. Then he released his final Pokémon and suddenly Charizard was face-to-face with Charizard.

The new Pokémon roared at it's counterpart and stomped its foot menacingly.

Ben was clearly shocked at this revelation. He knew Ash had a Charizard, after seeing him use it in the Indigo league five years previously. But he hadn't seen it used in a long time.

"Well Ash, you sure live up to your reputation. You ready to finish this battle?"

"You bet! Let's do it!"

Both trainers cried out in unison. "Charizard, Flamethrower!"

The two streams of fire met in the centre of the field and caused a powerful explosion, scorching the ground beneath. The smoke settled and both Charizards had locked claws in combat, trying to overpower each other. Almost symmetrically, they both took off into the sky, pushed away and shot another powerful blast of fire causing another large explosion.

Both trainers shielded their eyes as the force of the impact crashed over them, both held their footing but Ash was first to react.

"Charizard, Slash!"

Ash's Pokémon reared back and then lunged at it's counterpart with it's claws glowing white.

"Dodge it!" Ben yelled and his Charizard thrust it's wings forward, causing it to fly backwards, narrowly missing the powerful swipe. "Now use Dragon Tail!"

As Ash's Charizard spun in mid-air, Ben's flipped forward and it's tail, glowing blue, crashed into it's opponent's back.

"Oh no!" Ash couldn't believe the speed that the other Charizard had and his was falling out of the sky. But it was quick to steady itself and thrust it's powerful wings downward inches from the ground.

Ash felt relief wash over him but it was short-lived as his opponent's Pokémon was on top of his in an instant dealing a devastating bite. Ash's Charizard struggled under the weight of it's opponent and thrashed about trying to remove it's tightly-clamped jaws from it's neck.

"I think we've got you on this one Ash!" Ben yelled from the other side of the field.

"Don't count us out yet, we've still got a few tricks up our sleeve! Charizard, use Flamethrower on the ground!"

Ash's Pokémon hurled flames at the ground, the force of which rocketed the two combatants into the air and threw Ben's Charizard off of it's opponent. Ben was shocked at the sheer power of the move and his mouth hung agape, Ash didn't miss his chance.

"Now, Slash it!"

Ash's Charizard delivered blow after blow to it's counterpart which couldn't muster a defence. Ben was panicked, "Charizard...just...use..!"

Ash roared his final command to the sky, "SEISMIC TOSS!"

His Pokémon grabbed it's opponent by the waist and spun it around in circles in the air before diving downward and slamming it into the ground with devastating impact. Dust clouds billowed up from the wreckage and blocked the two battling lizards from sight.

"Charizard!" Ben yelled desperately, but it was too late.

The haze cleared and revealed Ash's Charizard standing triumphantly over it's beaten opponent, it reared it's head back and blasted flames into the air in victory.

"YES! Way to go Charizard!" Ash whooped with joy, even Pikachu's stomach ache couldn't hold back a faint "Pika" of happiness.

Ben walked over to his fallen partner and stroked it's head gently. "You did your best out there, I couldn't ask for any more. I'm so proud of you."

His Charizard let out a faint rumble of appreciation before it's trainer returned it to it's Pokéball.

"That was one hell of a battle Ash, you're every bit as good as I thought you would be. Congratulations." Ben held out his hand.

Ash clasped it with his own, "You're very good yourself, I really had to work hard to beat you. Thanks for the battle."

"And to you too, Ash. But with that, I must be leaving. Gotta get these guys to a Pokémon center before we head off."

"Oh? Where are you headed?" Ash asked curiously.

"I thought we'd try Unova, haven't had the pleasure yet." Ben replied confidently.

"Well, good luck and safe travels."

Ben nodded, picked up his bag and turned to leave. After two steps he turned back and grinned widely. "This isn't the last time you've seen me Ash, we'll battle again one day. Maybe for the right to be called champion."

"I look forward to it, Ben. Don't disappoint me." Ash replied with a smirk.

And with that, Ben walked out of the field and off into the distance.

Ash turned to his battle partner. "You were amazing Charizard. You've gotten so strong."

Charizard roared happily and smirked at it's trainer. Ash recalled it to it's Pokéball and walked over to Pikachu, still resting on his bag. He picked up both and readied to leave the area, his mind racing with all the battles that could be yet to come.