Welcome back everyone! Last time, Ash's first day on campus was a mixed experience, meeting new friends and rivals. Either way, let's get into this chapter and Ash's placement exam!
Ch 4: Examination
"Pikachu is going to be just fine," Nurse Joy explained, placing a hand on Ash's shoulder as the young boy stared at his best friend. Pikachu was laying down on a bed, wires hooked up to him as they kept close watch over his vitals. "He's just worn down right now, but he should be ready for tomorrow. I would just recommend not using him unless it was absolutely necessary. If you didn't think to take him here, who knows what condition he would be in."
The two made their way back out to the front of the Pokémon Center, passing through some doors before they were at the front entrance. The place was nearly deserted except for Leaf who was sitting off to the side and a few other trainers who seemed to be relaxing in a separate section of the building.
Now given his first look at the building without any worries, Ash realized that the Center also doubled as a café of sorts, an area to order food and relax also being present. Looking out the large glass windows, Ash saw other buildings nearby though he cared little about them. Making his way over to Leaf, the young girl looked up at him with worry.
"Is Pikachu going to be all right?" she asked, standing up while also lifting her hat off if her lap and placing atop her head. Ash just looked down, not wanting Leaf to worry much.
"He'll be fine. Just banged up is all. Nurse Joy wants him to rest up though and not take part in the placement exam battles," Ash explained, lifting his head up and rubbing behind his neck. "He's going to be disappointed but if he keeps battling then who knows what other injuries he'll receive."
Leaf slapped Ash's chest, the young boy coughing from the sudden hit, quickly recovering before he stared at her in confusion. "Don't look at me like that," she stated, placing her hands on her hips and staring down Ash. "You know exactly why I hit you. If you had never let your temper get the best of you then you never would have battled that Mayaka person and Pikachu wouldn't have lost as he had."
"She challenged me!" Ash stated, throwing his arms up in the air defensively while walking away from Leaf. He had no interest in arguing right now. Not with how things just went. Leaf however wasn't letting go of this conversation, grabbing Ash by his arm and pulling him back. "What!?" he asked, harsher than he meant it to sound.
Leaf glared at him, Ash taking a step backwards from the look. He knew just how bad Leaf got when she was angry and he wanted nothing of it. "This is no one's fault but your own. You know all too well about your temper, but this isn't Pallet Town anymore! You can't just take on anyone when you're upset at them, someone will do something even worse than what happened to Pikachu today."
Ash pulled his arm back, Leaf letting go as he threw his hands into his pockets. "You don't get it. You were never told by Gary that you were a loser or how you would never amount to anything just because of who your parents were. Right now, I'm here to prove him and anyone else who wants to doubt me wrong."
"I know all about that," Leaf replied, looking out the window now. Ash could see a few more students now entering the building, Nurse Joy taking care of their Pokémon. "Ash, I've seen Gary tease you all about your family relations, but if you really want to prove him wrong, then don't get provoked so easily! Whenever you do, you always make mistakes or stop thinking correctly. If you're going to become the best, you've got to put that behind you."
Ash didn't say anything, instead remaining silent. He knew that she was correct, but it was easier said than done when it came to controlling his temper. About to open his mouth, a familiar voice entered his ears. Turning his head, he watched as Brock entered the Pokémon Center, carrying his pot full of stew, Ash's backpack also slung over his shoulder.
Ash had no clue as to why the boy was here or even how he would have known Ash was waiting for Pikachu. Though, his questions were soon answered by the older student.
"I heard all about your battle earlier and how Pikachu was pretty banged up," Brock began to say, placing his stew down upon a table, Ash getting a good whiff of it and drooling slightly, only to wipe it away.
"Bruce or Trent, I can never tell the difference between them, saw me in the lobby of our dorm and told me all about your battle. Once they said who you went up against, I grabbed my pot of stew and figured we would be eating here now. I also grabbed your backpack and packed a change of clothes for you," he finished stating before noticing Leaf standing behind Ash. "Oh, I'm sorry. I haven't properly introduced myself. My name's Brock."
"Hi! I'm Leaf," the young girl replied, Ash figuring they would use dinner to learn more about each other. Though, he could tell Brock was more interested in Pikachu's current condition.
He was proven correct as Brock turned back towards Ash, a serious look on his face. "So, where's Pikachu?"
"Nurse Joy has him in the back resting. She said she wanted him to stay the night so she can keep an eye on him, but come morning he'll be able to leave. Though...she doesn't want me to use him tomorrow in the placement exam battles," Ash explained, casting a glance back towards the sliding doors he came out from not too long ago.
The Pokémon Center was quiet now, most trainers now gone while the few waiting still were preoccupied with either watching the television set up in the building or just eating something over in the café. He wondered how one Pokémon Center could handle the entire school's population. Though, the thought was quickly pushed to the back burner as he noticed Brock make his way towards the front desk.
"Excuse me, Nurse Joy," he began to say, Ash wondering how he was going to act around her. If it was like when he was in their room, then it was going to get ugly. Watching with bated breath, Ash sighed in relief once the boy acted normal, actually putting a pair of gloves and a mask on.
"Would it be alright for me to take a quick look at Pikachu. My friend is worried about him and from what I understand, the poor Pokémon is exhausted. I just want to run a quick checkup on him and see if I have anything that could speed up the healing process."
"Of course, Brock," Nurse Joy replied. Ash was surprised at her lenience towards letting Brock take a look. However, the two began to make their way towards the back. "You've been a very welcomed help whenever you've stopped by. Though, I'm surprised you didn't apply for the Health course instead of the Battle course. You would seem a much better fit for the former," she stated, Ash noticing Brock slump for a moment but quickly regained his posture. It made the young boy wonder if Brock was hiding something.
Watching his roommate walk towards the back with Nurse Joy, Ash slouched in a nearby chair. Leaf soon joined him, placing a soft hand on top of his. Ash didn't speak. He didn't do anything, Leaf being the one to break the silence.
"Listen, I'm not mad at you and neither is Pikachu. Just...work on that temper of yours. Okay?" she stated, squeezing Ash's hand before letting go. Standing up, Leaf brushed a strand of hair back behind her ear before smiling at Ash. "I need to go get everything ready for tomorrow. I'll swing by Gary's dorm in the morning and then meet you at the exams."
Ash didn't say anything in response. He just sat there in silence, Leaf walking out of the building while Ash drowned on his thoughts. Here he was, not even the first official day of school and he was losing his cool. He promised himself to keep a better control on things like this, but that Mayaka girl managed to get right under his skin. She pushed the right buttons and it got him going; it frustrated Ash to no ends, it only proved Gary right.
Shaking his head, Ash cleared away his doubts and anger, instead looking at the door where Pikachu was laying in a room behind it. This was twice now he let Pikachu down; two times more than he ever hoped to do. "It'll be the last time though. I'm serious this time when I mean it! I'm going to grow stronger until the day comes where I am stronger. Not just in battles, but mentally too. Tomorrow is my turning point; we'll show them all that I'll become the strongest!
"Though...without, Pikachu, I'll only have Spearow and we've never actually trained together. Or even done anything now that I think about it," Ash muttered as he stared down at the Pokéball that contained his first capture. From the moment he was captured, Spearow always seemed temperamental towards him; the first time he was let out of his capture device, the Flying and Normal-Type attacked him.
I guess tomorrow will be the best chance to see what Spearow can do in battle, Ash thought to himself, his eyes growing heavy. Giving into his call for sleep, Ash slowly closed his eyelids; he figured that getting some rest before tomorrow would be for the best. Otherwise, how would he be able to give it his best shot? Still, what if Spearow acts up? I'll just have to hope it all works out for the best.
The night went by slowly for Ash, the couch he was laying on not providing much support or cushion for his body. There were several times he would awaken during the night, turning to look at Pikachu only to remember how he was in the back being watched by Nurse Joy. He also could have sworn Brock had returned from helping her only to return to the back after taking a short break. Though...everything seemed like a dream to him. He wasn't even sure if the conversation he overheard in the early hours of the morning were true or not.
"For a Pokémon without any serious injuries you're keeping a close eye on Pikachu." Ash remembered Brock saying, the young trainer not moving; he didn't want to alert them of his eavesdropping.
"It's strange," Nurse Joy responded, the sound of a clip board being placed against the front desk filling the empty Pokémon Center. "Pikachu seems perfectly fine outside of exhaustion, but his electrical readings have increased since he arrived here yesterday. There's nothing life threatening...but...it's almost as if he absorbed some of Magneton's energy and is storing it within his own body."
But that was all Ash heard, the duo having returned to the back room; Ash assumed it was to check on Pikachu's "electrical readings", whatever that meant. Though, when he woke up a few hours later, he found the area to be just as deserted as when he first slept. The only differences being Brock's stew having vanished (Ash assumed he placed it within a fridge to keep it from going bad) and a blanket draped by his side. He was surprised by the blanket, he surely would have felt someone place it atop his body. Though, it was the least of his interest; Pikachu was most important right now.
Getting up, Ash quickly made his way towards the back of the Pokémon Center, the doors opening right as he reached them; Brock and Nurse Joy making their way out from behind the other side with a still sleeping Pikachu in the former's arms. Ash wanted to lunge forward and hug his best friend, but Nurse Joy quickly stopped him, placing her arms out in front of the young trainer.
"Pikachu is just fine, but he's still exhausted from yesterday," she explained quietly, making sure to not wake the sleeping Electric-Type. "For some reason...our sensors picked up a large electrical buildup inside of Pikachu. It's almost as if his body is now storing more energy than before. It's nothing to worry about though; no harm will happen to Pikachu because of it."
Ash didn't respond while Brock carefully transferred Pikachu into his arms. Instead, Nurse Joy's words reminded him about the conversation he had heard while sleeping. Even if they were saying that it was harmless to Pikachu, Ash couldn't help but worry a little. Why were his electrical levels now growing? And how did this happen?
Seeing the worry on his roommate's face, Brock planted a hand onto Ash's shoulder, a smile crossing his face. "If Nurse Joy says that there isn't any harm to his increased electrical levels then there isn't. Usually, some Electric-Type Pokémon increase the amounts of electricity their bodies can store. And when it increases, their electrical attacks usually increase in strength as well."
Ash nodded slowly, wondering if Pikachu's current condition had anything to do with Mayaka's words to them about learning a new attack yesterday; their final Thunder Shock was stronger than usual, though in the heat of the moment Ash didn't think much about it.
"Pikachu will be back to fighting in no time at all," Brock reassured him, the duo thanking Nurse Joy before separating from her. The latter made her way back to her front desk, a few trainers now coming in to have their Pokémon be checked before the placement exams. Looking at the clock, Ash soon saw how the time was quickly approaching what the exams were scheduled for and threw his backpack over his shoulder. He took extra precautions to not disturb Pikachu as he did so.
"Sorry to make you stay up most of the night," Ash began to apologize, the two boys making their way out of the Pokémon Center and towards the group of students making their way towards the large battling arena. "Because of me, you couldn't rest for the placement exams today. I hope you don't do poorly because of me."
Brock chuckled lightly to himself, hands stuffed inside of his pants pockets as they rounded a corner, a line of trainers now waiting to enter into the stadium. Ash could make out Gary, Leaf, and Ritchie further up ahead in line, and Mayaka was off to the side talking with a few other students, Ash gritting his teeth at the sight of her.
"Actually, Ash, I don't even have to take the exams. Because my father recommended me while also saying I've had over two years of training from him, the school felt I should be allowed right into the expert level. That's why I already have my classes picked," Brock explained, Ash having a slight feeling that were the case. Though, if Brock were one of the five, then it made him wonder who else wouldn't have to take part in these exams. Kai was probably another and maybe Gary. He was recommended by Professor Oak after all...and with his grades he should be allowed into the expert level with ease.
"May I have your attention please!" a short man called out, a megaphone being used to project his voice over the rowdy crowd. His announcement seemed to have worked, the crowd quieting down for a moment as all eyes turned to him. Wiping his forehead clean of sweat, the man placed his handkerchief away before speaking once more. "All students in the freshmen class who are participating in the placement exam will make their way into the main stadium and be assigned a number based on their registration date. For those of you from another class wishing to watch or if you're just exempt from the exam and want to see your fellow classmates, you will have to enter through the visitor entrances on either side of the stadium.
"From there, you'll be seated and allowed to watch the battles down below. Hopefully this incoming class can provide us all with some excitement before classes begin next week."
"I guess this is where we go our separate ways," Brock began to say, clasping one of Ash's hands with his own. The duo nodded in agreement, Pikachu beginning to stir awake in Ash's arms as a few shocks of electricity shot off of his cheeks and zapped Ash lightly. "Just remember what Nurse Joy said about using Pikachu today..."
"Yeah... Only if it's absolutely necessary," Ash spoke back, casting a glance at the still awakening Pikachu. He smiled at his best friend before placing one hand on his belt, his only other Poké Ball felt between the tips of his fingers. "Though, I just may have to use him since Spearow is...well let's say it's complicated."
Brock merely shrugged his shoulders, Ash not having the time to fully explain his relationship with his Spearow. Though, before he knew it, Brock had already left him, the older male swooning over what appeared to be some females from the upper classes. Ash merely chuckled before rubbing Pikachu's stomach, the Mouse Pokémon letting out a joyful "chaa" from the sudden contact.
"Pi...pikapi," Pikachu finally yawned out, fully awake now. Looking up at Ash, Pikachu scurried up his trainer before coming to a rest on his shoulder. Ash smiled at him before they followed the crowd before them into the stadium. Passing by a few of (who he assumed were) the upperclassmen, he could hear their excitement over the battles. He wanted to listen a little more to them, but the few people still behind him forced him within the building, four separate lines now forming.
"Please move to the line that corresponds with your last name!" a second faculty member, this one much taller, spoke up. Ash watched him and his collegues as they signaled for students to move into one of the four lines. "There, you'll be given your examination number along with drawings to see what your three matchups will be! This entire process will hopefully move swiftly with your cooperation."
Looking at the lines, Ash could see they were separated as "A through F", "G through L", "M through S" and "T through Z" and made his way immediately to the second line. It seemed shorter than the others, whether it meant that those in this line had already received their drawings or that there weren't many to begin with meant little to Ash as he made his way towards the front.
The young trainer had little time to think things over, the line moving rather fast for his liking until finally he found himself only a few students behind from the front. Looking around the lines of the other students, Ash could make out a few trainers, yet none that he recognized until seeing Leaf and Ritchie further down in their own lines. There were some others who stuck out in comparison to the others, namely a girl in some sort of purple outfit and another in a red leather jacket, but neither seemed to care much for their surroundings.
"I can't see Kai or Gary here...maybe they won't have to take the exam after all. And obviously Mayaka isn't here, she would be sticking out like a sore thumb with how loud and obnoxious she is..." he muttered out loud, the girl in the leather jacket casting a quick glance in his direction. Ash didn't notice it, instead continuing to move forward in his line; now only one person in front of him.
"Next," the faculty member spoke up, Ash appearing shocked for a second until realizing it was his turn. Hearing a few snickers from the students behind him, Ash decided to ignore them as he moved forward. Standing in front of the table, he quickly gave them the information needed for his registration.
"I'm Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town. I'm here for the Battle course," he quickly explained, the lady punching in his information rather quickly before a sheet began to print out. Casting a quick glance at it, Ash noticed a number written on it, but he didn't quite get a chance to make out which number it was.
"I don't know how much you know," the lady began to say, pausing a second to spin her computer screen towards Ash. "But there are one hundred and six students registered for the freshman class. Out of them, twenty are registered for General Studies, fifteen for Business, another fifteen for Research and sixteen for Health. Of course, our Battle course is the most popular with thirty five of the forty students registering for the placement exam for this course."
"So the other courses won't have their exams at the same time?" Ash asked, adjusting his hat a moment as the computer screen changed to show him what seemed to be a board of numbers.
"They are and they aren't," the lady replied, pulling out a small red button and placing it on the table in front of Ash. "General Studies and Business don't have any exams so those courses don't have one. While Health and Research are already taking theirs over at the main academic buildings while the thirty-five of you taking the exam here face off against each other. Out of one hundred and six students in your entire class, you were admitted into the school as the one hundredth and so that'll be your number.
"However, you still have to draw to see which of your fellow students will be your opponents. For that, just hit the small red button I placed on the table to cause the light to stop. Most numbers have been paired up already, so if that happens we'll just find you a different opponent."
Nodding, Ash watched as the numbers on the screen lit up, the light bouncing around the thirty-four other numbers until he clicked on his button. The lights stopped flashing, first stopping on number sixty before moving around again. Watching with intent, Ash and Pikachu both pressed down against the small button as the moving light stopped on number forty-eight this time.
"I'll now check to see if those numbers have been paired off yet," the faculty worker stated, turning the computer back to herself and typing away. Ash wondered why he didn't have to pick a third time, but figured that would be explained. Soon, a piece of paper began to print out of the nearby printer, the worker stapling it to his original paper. "Unfortunately, number sixty was already matched up with three others so they were replaced with number fifty-two. And your third match was already paired up with number thirty-three.
"So take these papers and head into the stadium. Take the hallway on your left and then keep walking until you find two large doors. Once there, walk through them and you're there," she explained, Ash taking his papers from her before nodding. Thanking her, Ash began to make his way down the hallway he had been pointed towards.
"I wonder just who we'll end up facing, Pikachu?" Ash wondered aloud as they walked past a few trainers talking about their own drawings. They seemed to be good friends, especially since they were complaining about facing each other right away. Casting a quick glance at them, the duo looked almost exactly like, though Ash didn't get a good look as the duo ran off ahead of him.
"Though, whoever they are, hopefully they're really strong! We've got to make a big statement from the beginning that we're no pushovers."
"Pipikachu!" the Electric-Type stated positively, pumping his fists in excitement, a few sparks flying off his cheeks once more; Ash noted how these small sparks were feeling stronger than originally, though he assumed it was due to the increased electrical levels within Pikachu now. If there was one good thing from their battle with Mayaka, it was that.
Seeing the two large doors, Ash began to sprint forward, nearly knocking over the girl in the leather jacket from before. Apologizing along his way to the doors, he finally noticed her constant glare at him. He seemed slightly spooked by it, not quite sure how to respond and instead walked through them, the girl following behind him, her glare feeling like it was shooting through the back of his head.
Once inside the stadium, Ash found his voice leaving him. The sheer size of the entire arena caught him off-guard; spread across the regulation sized field appeared to be about four smaller fields, outlined in chalk markings. And in front of them all was a stage, a large jumbotron hanging from the center of the ceiling as it showed images of the field. There also appeared to be a large screen hanging up on the wall behind the stands on either side of the field, Ash seeing what were obviously the registration numbers plastered on them.
"This place is huge..." Ash trailed off, his thoughts being filled by his amazement for the stadium. He never assumed it would be this large on the inside.
"First time seeing an official sized stadium?" a familiar voice stated, Ash turning to see Ritchie making his way into the stadium. "It's pretty breathtaking; I've battled on some practice fields, but none like this. I've heard that the school even rents it out at times for official, League sanctioned tournaments."
"That's amazing," Ash replied before shaking his head. This wasn't the time to think about how amazing this place was; he needed to focus on his three matches and prove that he deserved the expert level for classes. Ash was about to ask Ritchie if he had ever battled on anything other than a practice field, but the sound of a megaphone blazing through the stadium caused him to cover his ears.
Casting a glance up to where the sound was, Ash saw the shorter man from before standing up on stage, his megaphone pressed against a microphone causing that noise. Coughing, the man removed the megaphone and picked up the microphone, nearly dropping it on his first attempt.
"Ahem...yes. Now that I have your attention..." he began to speak, using his handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead once more. All eyes seemed directed right at him, Ash feeling slightly sorry for the man having to put up with all of them. He wondered if this was his job or if he had been forced into such a situation.
"Thirty-five of you have been registered and paired up within our computers. Those groupings have already been assigned to different fields, each marked with a different letter to help you find them. In a few minutes, after the first matches are shown up on the screen, the matches will begin. To quickly remind you all, a win will award you two points, a draw is one point and if you lose...well you'll lose a point. Though do remember, these points mean absolutely nothing when it comes to determining your course level. You could lose all three matches and still be placed in the expert level," he finished, sighing a moment to catch his breath while the screens around the stadium lit up.
Ash watched for his number to see if he would be amongst the first four, but unfortunately, he wasn't; his first match wasn't until roughly halfway through the first round of them. Instead, he figured he would watch the other battles, maybe pick up on some tips or ideas from the other students.
One battle that was already starting appeared to be taking place amongst twins...or so the duo looked like twins to Ash. It was after a few moments before he realized they were the duo from earlier in the hallway. The only differences between them being the clothes they wore, with one in a red jacket and the other wasn't. Their Pokémon though seemed to gather a crowd, no one having seen anything like the red, white and blue eagle-like creature Bruce had, or the blue martial artist that Trent had.
The battle was already off to a quick start with Trent commanding for a Bulk Up, his partner flexing his muscles to increase both his attack and defense while Bruce called for a Crush Claw, his own partner flying in at their opponent with glowing red claws.
"Woah...I've never seen anything like those before," Ash stated, Pikachu's ears perking up suddenly as the matches around them began. Ash went to pull out his Pokédex to scan the unknown Pokémon, but before he could, Pikachu scurried off to a different section of the field. Ash decided to follow his best friend; he didn't need the little guy getting into any sort of trouble on his own.
Manuvering through the crowd, Ash gave up on trying to watch the previous battle despite the claims of how evenly matched they were and how the two seemed to be practically the same person. Ash turned around quickly to catch one final glimpse of the match only to see the two clasping hands, the match already over; it was almost as if they both knew what the other was going to do for a move and purposefully forced a draw out of the match.
"Pikapi! Pika! Pikapi!" Ash could hear his best friend cry out for him. Turning back in the direction of the cries (though Ash wondered just how he could hear Pikachu over the entire crowd that were sitting in the stands), he soon regrouped with the Mouse Pokémon near one of the other fields.
"Pipi! Pikachu!" Pikachu cried out once more, pointing to the ongoing battle at the moment. Ash followed his best friend's pointing only to have his eyes light up with excitement once he saw who was battling.
"Whoa! Ritchie's battling right now! How'd you know, Pikachu?" Ash asked his best friend, Pikachu merely wagging a finger back and forth. It was almost as if the Electric-Type wasn't willing to let Ash know about any of his secrets, though the boy figured it had something to do with Sparky's electricity right now.
Ritchie however seemed to be in a tight situation, his opponent having an upperhand against him despite the fact that Ritchie had Sparky out against a Zubat; the former using Thunderbolt after Thunderbolt, but being unable to land a single attack on the speedy bat. It almost seemed as if Zubat was the one in control of the entire battle, its small body fluttering in between each Thunderbolt attack from Sparky.
Ash watched on as Ritchie grit his teeth, a few drops of sweat forming on his forehead as he wiped it away. "There has to be some way to hit that Zubat! We've just got to find a way," he muttered, Sparky using a Thunder Shock attack this time only to have Zubat be struck and disappear.
"W-Where did it go!?" Ash stated, a few of the others gathered nearby nodding in agreement to his question. However, Ritchie's opponent merely chuckled at the amusement before pointing a finger forward as Zubat emerged behind Sparky and struck him in the back with what Ash assumed was a Wing Attack.
"If you only fight with your eyes, then you'll never beat us," Ritchie's opponent stated, Ash turning to look at them. The student appeared to be in a purpleish-black jumpsuit or rather, a ninja costume. There also seemed to be a mesh shirt underneath her ninja outfit. She was even wearing a veil to cover her mouth. It was like the ones Ash saw on those old movies he would watch as a kid, though he wondered just why anyone would be wearing something like that as normal clothes. The student's voice made Ash realize they were a female as well, her purple hair tied off behind her head to keep it from getting in her face.
"To win here, you can't rely on one sense. Eyes can be fooled easily," she contined on, Zubat striking Sparky once more, the Electric-Type rolling across the ground before jumping up. His cheeks were sparking now, but Ritchie wasn't issuing any commands just yet.
"Sparky, calm yourself and take a deep breath," Ritchie stated, Ash hearing his number being called off in the distance. He wanted to continue watching, even lingering on for a moment longer than he should have before turning away. Though, he continued to listen on, even turning his head back towards the field to watch on. He was amazed at how fast some of the other matches were moving at.
"We have to slow down and pay closer attention. Zubat's been using Double Team every time we seem likely to land an attack. Our eyes are no good in this match; shut them and use your hearing and smell to find the real one before striking." Ash wanted to turn back around, especially once he could see the electricity flowing out of the corner of his eye and Zubat crying out in pain. Instead, he continued to move towards the faculty worker who was calling for his number over a megaphone.
"Well, Pikachu, looks like Ritchie is figuring it all out for his battle. Let's hope Spearow can handle whoever we battle against here," Ash said, Pikachu nodding in agreement until they were finally at the designated field. Signaling to the faculty member that he was here, Ash made his way onto his side of the field, shocked to see that his opponent was the girl he had almost knocked over before.
"So, you finally showed up," she stated angrily, folding her arms across her chest. Ash wondered just why this girl always looked so angry at him. He had never even talked to her before. "Mayaka did say you were a little different, but she never said you would be late to something like this."
So that's why she hates me...figures she's friends with that crazy girl, Ash thought to himself, hands behind his head as a light chuckle escaped his lips. The young boy wondered what else Mayaka had said about him; there were no doubt in his mind that the girl was prepared to face Pikachu.
"I just got excited by all the other battles going on that I didn't notice ours was ready to begin. But now that I'm here, let's give it our all!" Ash shouted, pumping his fists in excitement. His opponent raised her eyebrow in confusion, curious as to why Ash seemed so excited for a simple match.
The young girl was about to respond, however, the faculty member stepped forward with two flags. "Well, if both trainers are now here, we'll begin!
"This exam will be a one-on-one battle with the side claiming victory earning two points. Both trainers please select your Pokémon and begin," the faculty member stated as they raised their flags.
"Rue! Kick this hotshot's ass back to his mom!" Mayaka's voice echoed out, Ash seeing her leaning against the railing in the front row, the blond-haired boy from yesterday sitting there lazily. "Show him what happens when ya don't know yer place around here!"
"Don't worry, big sis, I'll do what I can!" Rue replied, gripping a pokeball in her hand before spinning it on her finger. "You've taught me well, I can't lose and bring dishonor onto your name!
"Go, Machop!" The pokeball flew out onto the field, erupting in a bright light to reveal the Fighting-Type Pokémon punching at the air. Having never seen one before, Ash pulled his Pokédex and scanned the strange and buff Pokémon.
"Machop, the Superpower Pokémon. A Fighting-Type, it's body is believed to be built of pure muscle, having spent most of its life training. Some Machop are also able to toss one hundred human adults without tiring," the Pokédex spoke, Ash placing the encyclopedia back into his jacket's pocket before gripping his own pokeball.
Well, a Fighting-Type might be the perfect opponent for Spearow's first battle, Ash thought to himself, mixed feelings filling his mind as he tossed the pokeball onto the field. This was either going to go well or go very badly. "Spearow, I choose you!"
The capture device opened up, Spearow taking to the air immediately before making a direct approach for Ash. Pecking at its trainer's skull, Ash was forced to swat at Spearow, forcing the flier to head back towards the field.
"Spearow! I'm not the opponent, that Machop is!" he called out, but the Tiny Bird Pokémon paid him no attention, instead choosing to flutter softly onto the field and go to sleep.
"Ha! His own Pokémon won't listen to him but he thinks he's good enough to battle Kai! What a numbskull!" Mayaka's voice echoed, Ash choosing to ignore it for the time being; he had more important things to worry about than her heckling.
"Spearow, wake up and battle! Come on, you're always willing to battle me so battle her!" he shouted, Spearow opening an eye only to smirk at Ash; it was actually taunting Ash! Ash was losing his patience with the Normal and Flying-Type, but it seemed as though Rue had already lost hers, calling for a command.
"Machop, Karate Chop on that sleeping bird!"
"Chop, machop!" the Fighting-Type shouted, his hands glowing white as he charged forward. Swinging them at Spearow, the Tiny Bird Pokémon was struck by the glowing fists before being sent up into the air by an uppercut.
Spearow did not enjoy its nap time being disrupted, the Normal and Flying-Type glaring at its opponent before straightening its flight. Flying above the field, Spearow continued its glare before dive-bombing straight at its opponent. Spearow's beak glowing white as it quickly approached Machop.
"Stand strong and take the blow straight on!" Rue stated proudly, both trainer and Pokémon stomping their feet into the ground and bracing for the attack. It seemed as if the two partners shared a close connection thanks to their synchronized movements. Spearow slammed right into Machop's midsection, the Superpower Pokémon flinching slightly from the attack but holding his ground.
"Spearow!" the Normal and Flying-Type cried out while continuing to push against Machop's body. Machop wasn't backing down though, his body glowing a faint red before the aura transferred to his right fist; Ash realizing just what was happening.
He called out for Spearow to get away, but the stubborn bird didn't budge, his beak continuing to ram into Machop's chest as Rue called the next command.
"Revenge!"
Machop smirked for a second before slamming his glowing fist down into Spearow's back. The Normal and Flying-Type cried out in pain before slamming down into the ground, a small crater forming from the impact. Machop wasn't finished however, picking Spearow up by its talons before swinging it around wildly.
"W-What move is that!?" Ash asked in concern, Spearow being turned into a ragdoll as its body was slammed back and forth into the ground endlessly.
Mayaka however was one step ahead of him, cheering wildly from her seats. "Come on, Rue, stop messing around with Seismic Toss and give him and his bird the real finisher!"
Rue nodded in agreement before signaling for Machop to toss Spearow. The Normal and Flying-Type landed in front of Ash. It's breathing was heavy and bruises covered its body from the previous attack. Though, the Tiny Bird Pokémon got back up, spreading its wings.
"You can't win this way," Ash spoke up, Spearow looking back at Ash with a glare. He had a feeling the Tiny Bird Pokémon wasn't one to take orders, especially from him, but if they were to win, they needed to work together. "See those two? They're working together against you. I get there are some hard feelings between us, but we need to work together if we're going to win this!"
"Spearow!" it cried out in disagreement, shooting forward as its wings glowed a metallic silver. Machop and Rue seemed prepared, already motioning their bodies to counter the attack.
"Machop! Chop-chop!" the Fighting-Type shouted, moving off to the side of Spearow's attack. The Steel Wing attack barely nicked the Superpower Pokémon on the arm, Machop following through with his dodge by grabbing ahold of the wing that struck him. Using all his strength, Machop slammed Spearow into the ground before slamming his elbow (and entire body by extension) onto the exhausted Pokémon.
"You might as well forfeit. Your Spearow is no match; its too weak to beat Machop even if it has a type advantage," Rue stated, holding a fist outward and shaking it. "We'll get you for trying to hurt, big sis! Now use Seismic Toss to end this!"
Ash shook his head, seeing no similarities between the two girls, but knew now wasn't the time to question it. Instead, he watched Spearow struggle to get up, Machop about to slam itself onto the Tiny Bird Pokémon. Gritting his teeth, Ash yelled out to Spearow.
"You don't have to listen to me, but if you know what's good for you, use Double Team!"
Spearow merely glared at Ash. Though to his surprise, the moment Machop slammed his entire body onto Spearow, the latter vanished in a flash of white light. And before Ash could find Spearow again, the Normal and Flying-Type was nosediving right for Machop, his beak glowing white as it slammed into (the now standing) Machop's back.
The Fighting-Type was tossed forward, his body rolling along the field as he cried out in immense pain. Spearow however wasn't finished, circling back around and landing a second Peck attack to Machop's back again. This time, the Superpower Pokémon was thrown from the attack, landing defeated on the field.
"And that does it! Machop is unable to battle, the winner is Spearow! And so, Ash is the winner of this match!" the faculty member declared, Ash uncertain as to how Spearow won with only two good hits. It felt like the Normal and Flying-Type's attacks had an extra boost to them.
"Nice battle...Ash, was it?" Rue asked, recalling Machop into his pokeball before walking to Ash. She didn't seem as mad as before, yet there was still a strange atmosphere to her, as if she was nervous of something else now. "You just got lucky against me. Doesn't hurt that your Spearow has Sniper for an ability, but I can see why big sis has her eye on you. It'll be an interesting year with you two and Kai being around," she explained before throwing her arms behind her head.
"Anyways, I'm off. Gotta apologize to big sis for losing to you," she stated before walking away. Ash wanted to ask her what exactly "Sniper" was or better yet what an "ability" was, but before he could she was already gone.
Looking back towards the direction where Ritchie's first battle came from, he could see that it had ended a while ago. Instead, Leaf appeared to be using her Bulbasaur against another trainer's Rhyhorn. The former seemed to be at a size disadvantage but that meant little; Ash felt that Leaf had the match under control. Making his way over to the field, he watched the battle really start to heat up.
"Bulbasaur, use Razor Leaf on Rhyhorn!" Leaf shouted out, pointing forward with her left hand. Bulbasaur nodded in agreement, a dozen sharp leaves flying from the bulb on her back. Rhyhorn and its trainer didn't seem worried however.
Instead, the young boy made his next command. "Some leaves won't slow us down! Rhyhorn, run right through them with Take Down, let's end this with one hit!" he shouted out confidently. Leaf just smirked lightly as the Rhyhorn charged forward blindly. The Razor Leaf proved to be nothing more than a nuisance for Rhyhorn as they did little damage to it. Though, it seemed as though Leaf wanted it to be that way.
"Now, Bulbasaur, let's wrap this up! Leech Seed!" she shouted out, Ash swearing he heard her opponent yell a word his mother told him to never say. The reaction got a good chuckle out of Ash as he watched Bulbasaur jump forward.
The Grass and Poison-Type's bulb began to glow brightly for a second before firing off a tiny seed. Soon, the seed smacked right against the raging Rhyhorn before vines wrapped themselves around it. The Spikes Pokémon was completely immobilized for the moment, its energy being sapped by the vines over its body.
"And Razor Leaf!" she shouted out, adjusting her hat for a moment before a gust of leaves shot across the field. Ash could hear the other students praising Leaf's plan to draw Rhyhorn into a trap and weaken it like she did. Ash had to admit, she had always been the smartest of them back in Pallet Town so it only made sense she was good with strategies.
Watching as the faculty member made the call, Ash wanted to go and congratulate Leaf on her victory, but soon heard his number being called. Knowing that he could congratulate her after the exam was finished, Ash made his way over to the field his number was being called from.
To his surprise however, his opponent that he would be facing was the last person he thought would be here. Standing across from him at the field was none other than Gary!
"You!?" the two rivals shouted at each other, fingers pointing at each other in shock. Ash could hear a few of the other students sound excited from seeing "Gary Oak, the grandson of renowned Professor Oak" battling and made their way over to the field. Ash remained silent for a moment, making his way over to his side of the field before opening his mouth.
"I'm surprised you didn't have your grandfather make you exempt like the others."
"Please, it's better to show the rest of my class just who's going to be number one. And you'll be the perfect example to show them my skills," Gary spoke up, Ash imagining his rival's nose growing as he talked. For some reason, he had the feeling Gary didn't even know you could be exempt from this.
"You do remember how our last battle went, right?" he continued, Ash just squeezing his hands into fists. He wasn't going to fall for Gary's taunts, not this time. Gary however was already gripping a pokeball in his hand, as if he wanted to get out of there (which turned out to be true). "Let's just get this moving, I have more important things to do than mess with you. Wartortle, go!"
The Water-Type emerged on the field, Ash recognizing it as the Squirtle from Professor Oak's lab only now evolved. There was no doubt in his mind that it was also stronger than the last time they battled it. Ash knew that Spearow wouldn't be able to handle this, especially since it wouldn't listen to him.
He knew that Pikachu shouldn't have even been considered for the match, but they both wanted to win. Ash didn't even have to ask his best friend, Pikachu hopping from Ash's shoulder, cheeks sparking with electricity.
"Pikapi! Pipikachu!" he cried out seriously, staring down Wartortle for a moment before the faculty member declared the battle to begin. Pikachu and Wartortle didn't wait for commands from their trainers, both launching off a Thunderbolt (to Ash's shock) and a Water Gun respectively. The two attacks met in the middle of the field, combining together before exploding outwards. Dirt and dust kicked up, covering the field in a light blanket but that didn't stop either side.
"Pikachu, go in with a Quick Attack!" Ash shouted while turning his hat around. He couldn't make out much in the cloud pf dust, but he could hear Pikachu's paws scampering across the field.
"Counter with Withdraw and then Water Gun!" Gary countered, sweeping his arm across his body as Wartortle ducked into his shell moments before Pikachu struck. Ash could hear Wartortle's shell rolling along the ground, but soon grew worried when he heard water.
"Pika!" Pikachu cried out, the dust being blown away by the water. Pikachu tried to stand his ground, but the water proved too strong; the Electric-Type soon found himself rolling across the field.
With the dust now gone, Ash could see clearly again and called out to Pikachu, the Mouse Pokémon shaking off his drenched fur before shooting off a Thunder Shock attack. Ash knew it wouldn't be as powerful as a Thunderbolt attack, but he needed to test something out.
"Still as predictable as ever," Gary chided before throwing a hand forward. Calling for a Rapid Spin attack, both trainers watched on as the Thunder Shock was merely reflected by the spinning shell, Pikachu jumping out of the way of the returned blast.
So, it still has Rapid Spin, Ash thought before grinning. Looking at his best friend, Ash could tell Pikachu wasn't too tired yet but he didn't want to push him too far. "Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
"This again? Didn't you learn anything from last time?" Gary called out, issuing for another Withdraw before watching Pikachu slam against Wartortle. The shell rolled along the ground, but Pikachu wasn't finished there, he chased after the shell before hitting Wartortle up into the air.
"We've learned plenty, Gary! But I think it's you who still needs to learn a thing or two! We've come too far to lose to you," Ash replied as he pointed up towards the now flailing Wartortle. Issuing a Thunderbolt, Ash smirked as Gary bit his lip; he had a feeling that Wartortle's Rapid Spin wouldn't be as effective in the air. There was no way they could direct the attack back at Pikachu.
"Don't think for a second you've got us! I'll never lose to someone like you ever again!" Gary shouted back, issuing a Water Gun attack. The two blasts collided again, a slight explosion occurring as Pikachu was blasted backwards; Wartortle also landing on the ground in a hard fashion.
Neither Pokémon moved for a moment before they both stood up. The gathered students seemed to cheer about the spectacle before them, yet none of them knew just what was really going on.
"Never again! You beat me once back as kids and I refuse to lose to you again."
"And what's so wrong with losing to me!?" Ash called out, both boys eyeing the other. Their Pokémon were also staring each other down, as if this rivalry went further than just between the trainers. "Winning and losing is a part of being a trainer! You can't win every time, Gary! I should know that."
"I know!" Gary shouted back, hands raised by his sides before calling for a Skull Bash attack. Pikachu and Ash were ready, meeting him head on with their Quick Attack as it soon turned into a shoving match between the Pokémon.
"But I have to be the strongest there is! I have to beat him and I can't do it if I lose to anyone, but most certainly you; the son of the man who drove him away! It's your dad's fault that he's gone!"
"Gary..." Ash muttered as his rival called for Wartortle to knock Pikachu off his feet by using his tail. The tactic worked as Pikachu fell to the ground, Wartortle using the opportunity to break free from their previous collision.
"I never knew about that, but even then it doesn't excuse your behavior. I'll have to knock some sense into you," he continued on, smirking at his rival. He had to keep his promise to Leaf, even if it took all four years at this school, he would get through to him. "I'm not my father and neither are you! And even if you see me as such, I won't let you win easily since I dream to be the greatest Pokémon Master!
"Pikachu, get in close with Quick Attack!" he finished, Pikachu sprinting off across the field as dirt was kicked up. It seemed as if Pikachu's speed had reached a new level, Ash hearing one of the nearby students saying Pikachu was using Agility now. Either way, it didn't matter since Pikachu was getting closer to Wartortle.
Gary seemed to panic for a mere second, calling for a Water Gun attack only to see Pikachu spin out of the way. The Electric Mouse Pokémon was now within striking distance, but instead of slamming his body against Wartortle, Pikachu gripped tightly to the outside of his shell.
"Get off you annoying mouse!" Gary yelled in frustration as Wartortle struggled to shake Pikachu from his back. The Electric-Type held strong despite the best effort from Wartortle, his cheeks sparking with electricity before releasing it all at once. Wartortle began to spin his entire body, a Rapid Spin being used to try and shake Pikachu from his shell. The Electric-Type wasn't budging though, holding on with all his might.
"Pikachu!" the Electric-Type cried out as he exerted all of his energy into this final attack. Ash could only imagine the strain being put on him right now, the intensity of the attack causing the gathered students to back away.
The sparks soon died down, the brightness also leaving to allow everyone a chance to see what was now going on. To everyone's shock, Wartortle was down for the count, his body covered in burn marks and sparking with electricity. Pikachu however was still standing as the faculty member began to make the call.
"Wartortle is unable to battle! The winner is..." he began to say, stopping the moment Pikachu's tiny body collapsed next to Wartortle. Checking both of them, the faculty member decided that neither were able to continue. "A quick correction! Neither Wartortle or Pikachu can continue! This match is a draw!"
"I...I drawed with him..." they both stated, though they both had different feelings behind their statements. Ash could feel the disappointment in Gary's voice despite both of their Pokémon doing their best. Neither trainer made eye contact at first, both unsure of just how to move on after this battle. Though, Ash made the first move to try and help his rival.
"That was a nice battle, Gary," Ash stated, making his way over to Pikachu and picking him up carefully. He already had a feeling that he would have to forfeit his final match, but now it was a definite decision. With Spearow still not listening to him and Pikachu exhausted, he would tell the faculty that he planned to forfeit. "Maybe next time we battle a winner will be decided."
"A loss is a loss. Wartortle fell before Pikachu and it only ended in a draw by luck," the grandson of Professor Oak stated bitterly as he recalled Wartortle into his pokeball, thanking the Water-Type for his hard work today. "Though, don't get too confident. I'll grow stronger and then the next time we battle I'll beat you and move closer to my dream."
Gary began to walk away from the field, Wartortle's pokeball grasped in his hand before pausing and looking over his shoulder at Ash. "But, this was...fun. You better be stronger by our next battle, I only want your best when I beat you."
Ash just nodded, not sure if he saw the beginning of a smile forming on Gary's face. Either way, the young trainer couldn't help but wonder if he had finally got through to his longtime rival. All he knew was that this school year would be amazing with all the strong trainers gathered here.
And that brings an end to this chapter (and the placement exam by extension). So, Ash manages a win (even if Spearow didn't listen one bit) and a draw against Gary. We're only getting started though, so we'll see what happens next regarding those two boys. Though, Ash really has found the perfect place for his love of battles, there are strong opponents everywhere.
As for two new character in this chapter, the wonderful Bruce and Trent are owned by Epicocity and he was kind enough to allow me to borrow these two amazing characters for this story. Though, for anyone who didn't know, his next story is just about to be posted on this site in a few weeks: Love in the Time of Tomorrow. So you should all go check it out when it drops in a few weeks. If you can't wait that long, he's got a story building up to it called: The Road to Tomorrow. So you should check that one out first.