Hey guys! Sorry for not getting a chapter up earlier, but on Thursday I attempted to write but only managed about 200 words in an hour, and the days after I just didn't feel like it. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I'll respond to reviews first, I guess.
JNottle: That would be pretty sweet, being able to watch a SMART Ash for once, but rewrites of the anime usually don't work/don't get finished.
Fire Drastar: Thanks! You have to remember Ash was isolated from civilization for four years, so his social skills won't be that great. I hope there's enough competition in this chapter for you ;). Thanks for the OC's btw and about Gible, I was unsure about whether to put it in the list seeing as it's status listed as "Unknown" on bulbapedia but i'll see what I can do.
One last thing I've been needing to say: The story ideas I had were, yes, Kind of stupid, but that's because I didn't really think them through. I just made them up on an impulse, so forgive me.
Enjoy!
"Hey! I think I'm getting the hang of this!"
May and Max had finished their battles and had some spare time on their hands, so naturally they decided to test out their powers. However, it proved to be much harder than they expected, and a few hours on, May still hadn't mastered flying, and Max hadn't even been able to generate any sort of psychic energy.
Of course, that didn't stop them from trying.
Gary and Dawn stood nearby, watching the two. May seemed to be constantly crashing into things, while Max seemed to be concentrating so hard it looked like he had constipation. The two chuckled as May once again smashed into the ground.
Brock had gone back to his room to mope after losing his battle, but truth to be told, most of his friends had expected him to lose first, after all, he was a breeder, not a battler.
Misty and Tracey had gone to get something to eat, leaving Max and May alone to attempt to harness their powers.
The two seemed to actually enjoy the painful torture they were going through, and continued to try with smiles on their faces, laughing to each other as they managed to hurt themselves.
Sitting around the fire, Ash's Pokémon were quietly talking. Ash however, was once again lost in deep thought. He still was wondering whether he should tell his friends who he really was. They had said themselves that "Ash" was better than he was, and they were true. But Ash was gone, and all that he left behind was a shell.
"You think that, but deep down you know it isn't true. Admit it; you're still the same person, but the old you is simply buried beneath your misery" Latios said, comforting his friend.
Ash looked up into the eyes of Latios, and nodded. He finally made up his decision.
"I'm going to tell them. Now." He said, as he stood up, walking in what he thought was the direction of the town. Pikachu jumped up on his shoulder, mimicking his trainer's look of determination. The rest of his Pokémon looked up, silently cheering him on.
However, the aura of confidence, determination and bravery was instantly shattered, as Latios said, "Err, isn't the city that way?" while pointing in the complete opposite direction from which Ash was walking in.
Everyone in the clearing (Except Latios of course!) facefaulted upon hearing his, as Ash said, "Right! I knew that!" before he spun around, before walking off, once again, in the wrong direction.
At the sight of this, Latios sweatdropped and asked Latias, "Should we tell him?"
Latias giggled and said, "Nah!"
Ash arrived outside the Pokémon centre where his friends were staying panting, exhausted after he ran in the complete wrong direction, arriving in Viridian city before realizing something was wrong. How did he get there so fast? He got so impossibly lost in the forest, that space and time were warped and he was teleported randomly, arriving in various random places, before Viridian and finally Indigo Plateau.
"Damnit, Latios could've told me I was going the wrong way." He grumbled, as he walked into the Pokémon centre.
After finding out from Nurse Joy which room his friends were staying in, Ash walked up the stairs, finding the room.
He paused at the door for a second, his mind trying to think of an excuse to leave now, but he gathered up his wits and knocked on the door, knowing that if he didn't come clean to his friends now, he might not get the courage to later, or they might find out in another way, possibly ruining any chance he had at them forgiving him for leaving.
Brock sat quietly on his bed, silently thinking to himself, which was a major contrast to the chaos going on around him.
May was chasing Max, shouting something along the lines of "Give it back!" or "I'm going to kill you!"
Misty was performing CPR on Psyduck; trying to get him to cough up the rock he had somehow swallowed. She certainly did not look happy; this was the fifth time today that Psyduck had choked on something.
Dawn was sitting in a corner, crying loudly because she had lost her battle.
Gary and Tracey had mysteriously disappeared.
'Why does that Red kid seem so familiar? I swear I've seen him somewhere before. First, he seems to get along with our group so easily, like he already knows everyone. Come to think of it, I don't think we told him our names, and yet he knows them. Then, there's that Pikachu on his shoulder, and the fact that most of the Pokémon he has were the same Pokémon Ash had… No… It can't be Ash. But then, why did he so willingly give May and Max that strange power to merge with their Pokémon.' Brock thought, trying to figure out who 'Red' was.
The door burst open, surprising everyone in the room, causing them to turn and look at who had opened it. May had even stopped chasing Max, who was now taking advantage of this to get away.
In walked Drew, who a threatening look on his face. Seeing this threatening look, Brock walked in front of them.
"What do you want?" Brock said bluntly.
"Hmph. I just want to speak to May outside, privately, of course." Drew said, obviously ignoring the threatening looks he was getting from the others.
"Not after last time. Get out." Brock replied.
By 'Last time', Brock meant the last time they had met. He claimed that he wanted a friendly chat with the girl, but they were actually just trying to insult her with mentions of 'Ketchum' and "how much of a failure he was" so that she would be too distressed to participate in the Grand Tournament, which, in the end, resulting in May losing to Drew.
Drew smiled, before saying, "I thought you'd say that. I guess I'll just have to get May with force, eh?"
He pulled out a pokeball, and Brock, noticing this, said, "Hah! You think you stand a chance against all of us? There's five of us and only one of you!"
Drew, not even caring, grinned and said, "Sure, but do you have shadow Pokémon?"
Noticing their looks he continued, "I thought not, now let me show you what a REAL Pokémon can do."
He threw his pokeball, and out came his Roserade, but something looked very wrong about it. Something FELT very wrong about it. It seemed to be radiating darkness, and everyone shivered as they saw it.
Getting over the initial reaction, the group of five pulled out their own pokeballs, sending them out for a fight.
Out came a Crobat, Sceptile, Beautifly, Starmie and Piplup, all of which also shivered upon seeing the 'shadow' Pokémon.
The Roserade jumped in the air, before releasing a devastatingly powerful petal dance, knocking out all the Pokémon in front of it. Drew grinned.
"How is this possible?"
"Heh, that, you don't need to know. I think I'll be taking May outside now, unless you have any more objections?" Drew said.
Max immediately grabbed a pokeball, but before he could throw it, the door burst open once again, as Red walked in, looking beyond angry. If looks could kill, everyone would've died that instant.
Instead, Drew wet his pants as soon as he saw the enraged young adult.
Red walked up to Drew, before grabbing him by the neck, lifting him, and shoving him roughly against the wall.
"I HAVE AN OBJECTION! WHY THE FUCK DO YOU HAVE A SHADOW POKÉMON?" He shouted, apparently knowing what a shadow Pokémon actually was. The rodent on his shoulder growled with equal ferocity
Drew stuttered, trying to make out simple words, but he was so scared he couldn't say anything.
His Roserade though, noticing its master was in danger, fired a poison sting at Red's leg, but the stings did nothing, breaking against his skin. Red simply grunted to his Pikachu, who jumped down, knocking Roserade out cold with an iron tail, before promptly jumping back on Red's shoulder.
"Well?" Red said, in a somewhat more controlled tone.
Finally managing to make out words, Drew said, "S-Some man in a trench coat came up to me and asked if I wanted him to make my Pokémon stronger. He said if I agreed, I could finally beat those brats and get what I deserve! Of course I accepted his offer; it was too good to turn down!"
Red growled, taking Roserade's pokeball from Drew, returned the Pokémon and asked Drew, "Got any more shadow Pokémon? I'll return them to you after I purify them, I'm not thief. You can either hand them over so I can purify them, or I can throw you out the window, purify them, and release them into the wild."
Drew burst out of Red's strong grip as he heard this.
"No way! Why would I want them to be purified? I have all powerful Pokémon now, and next time I see these brats, you won't be here to protect them, and I'll get May all to myself!" He shouted, as he ran out the door.
Red sighed, signalling for his Pikachu to go get Drew. Seconds later, as Pikachu ran out the door, Drew came flying back in the room (Courtesy of Pikachu's iron tail), looking more scared than ever.
"Okay! Okay! But you better give my Pokémon back after you do whatever to purify them. I swear, if you steal them, I'll kill you!" Drew said, handing his pokeballs over to Red.
Red raised his eyebrow at the green-haired co-ordinators pathetic threat, but silently took the pokeballs.
"Ahh Suicune, I have finally cornered you. I admit, you gave me a good chase, but this is where it ends. Garchomp; lets end this quick. Draco Meteor."
Meteors rained from the sky, smashing against the aurora Pokémon and knocking it out instantly, the powerful attack too much for the already exhausted Pokémon.
As the mysterious figure captured Suicune, she looked up in the sky and saw an angry looking phoenix, screaming in fury.
"Ahh. Ho-Oh. I've been waiting for you."
Ho-Oh had come investigating after being unable to sense its servants, and found this human capturing Suicune. A puny human, capturing one of her servants in pathetic human devices? HER SERVANT? A SERVANT OF THE GREAT HO-OH? She could not allow this as she prepared a sacred flame attack.
Leaf grinned.
"Welcome to the second part of the preliminary rounds of the Tournament of Arceus! Our first battle will be a three-on-three battle between Red of Pallet Town and Avrey of Alamos town! There will be no time limit and substitutions are not allowed! Trainers, begin the battle!" The announcer announced.
Ash looked up at his opponent. The kid looked to be about 16 and was wearing an open black jacket with green flames decorating the bottom and a plain white t-shirt under it. His pants were also black with green flames and he was wearing black and white shoes. Ash had looked up the Pokémon this kid had, and was surprised. He had a Darkrai, and the rest of his Pokémon were very powerful.
'Finally, a challenge.'
The crowd, including Ash's old friends, erupted in cheering as Avrey sent out a powerful looking Infernape.
Ash smiled, before calmly sending out his Blastoise.
Avrey hesitated for a moment before shouting, "Come on Infernape! Typing doesn't matter, we'll win this anyways! Let's start off with a mach punch!"
Ash frowned as he saw how fast the Infernape was, before shouting to Blastoise, "Meet it with Hydro-Beam Spin!"
Blastoise withdrew into its before starting a rapid spin, which he then augmented with water blasting out of the holes in his shell, courtesy of hydro pump, before also firing off an ice beam, causing the water to freeze in a magnificent display of power.
Avrey snickered and said, "This aint no contest, fancy moves won't get you anywhere. Infernape, take it down with close combat!"
Avrey then watched in shock as the Blastoise simply smashed into Infernape's fists, breaking through its guard and knocking it back.
Recovering from the initial shock, Avrey quickly took the advantage, "Quick Infernape, while his close hit it with a close combat!"
Infernape, grunting from the heavy hit it had taken, quickly retaliated with a close combat, which Blastoise was unprepared for.
"Blastoise! Are you ok?" Ash said with concern, as he saw his Pokémon take a direct hit. Blastoise nodded and gave him a thumbs up, signifying he was OK to continue.
"Enough fun and games, Blastoise, take it down with rapid fire Hydro-Cannons!" Ash shouted.
Avrey, expecting the hydro cannon attack, shouted to Infernape, "Quick! Get out of the way!" He knew if the attack connected, Infernape would be knocked out.
Infernape tensed its muscles, preparing to jump to the side.
Instead of firing one hydro cannon, however, Blastoise fired multiple concentrated hydro pumps, manipulated into orbs.
Infernape dodged the first one, but let its guard down as the others slammed into it, knocking it to the ground.
Ash grinned and then said, "Blastoise, finish it with a hydro cannon!"
Avrey, seeing there was no point in letting his Pokémon get hurt by an attack he knew it couldn't withstand, so he returned it and said, "I retire Infernape from the battle."
The referee nodded and Ash said, "Good choice. Shows you care about your Pokémon."
Avrey simply smiled and said, "Let's rock, Sceptile!"
"Good luck taking down Sceptile; his never lost a single battle!" Avrey boasted.
"Guess it's time to end your winning streak, eh?" Ash replied, unfazed.
"Enough talking! Sceptile, start off with a quick attack into leaf blade!" Avrey said, confident in his chances of victory.
Sceptile sped towards Blastoise at blistering speeds, before jumping in the air, doing a 360 spin and slamming his blades into Blastoise. Blastoise grabbed one of the blades, but was totally unprepared as the second blade slammed into him.
Avrey grinned, while Ash frowned.
"Finish this with a leaf storm!" Avrey said, knowing the battle was over.
Ash, also realising this, did the same thing Avrey did with his Infernape, he retired Blastoise, saving him the pain of getting hit with the leaf storm attack.
"Charizard, may the aura be with you!" He shouted, throwing a pokeball which released Charizard in a burst of red aura-energy.
Avrey groaned, realising that a Charizard would have a 4x resistance to grass-type attacks, but he didn't back down.
"Charizard, let's take the offensive this time! Speeding Bullet Fire Spin!" He shouted.
Charizard grinned, before unleashing a huge fire spin, and proceeded to fly into the middle of it.
"Crap… Sceptile, quick, charge up a solarbeam as fast as you can and use leaf blade!" Avrey shouted, noticing what Charizard was doing.
Sceptile managed to charge up the solar beam moments before the fire spin hit him, and as he released it, he slammed his leaf blades forwards. Charizard was not out of tricks however, as he spat a huge flamethrower as he collided with Sceptile, creating a colossal explosion in the middle of the battlefield as the whole arena was filled with smoke.
"Charizard/Sceptile!" The two trainers shouted in concern.
As the smoke cleared, both Pokémon were lieing on the ground, defeated.
"I guess you kept your winning streak after all, seeing as that was a draw" Ash said, with a grin on his face. "No-one's come this close to beating me yet."
Avrey only smiled at this, before pulling out his last pokeball.
"It's down to you and me, let's rock, Darkrai!" He shouted, sending out the legendary Pokémon Darkrai.
Ash raised his eyebrow at the impressive sight, as the crowd gasped. A legendary Pokémon! Right in front of them as well! People took out cameras and took as many photos as they could.
Avrey smiled, wondering what Pokémon Ash was going to use to beat his Darkrai, knowing that his opponent had probably known in advance he was going to use a Darkrai.
"Totodile, may the aura be with you!" Ash said, startling the audience.
As Totodile came out of its pokeball, it started dancing. The crowd went silent for a moment, before breaking out in laughter. How was this puny thing going to beat a Darkrai?
Avrey, however, did not underestimate his opponent, knowing that many people lost because they did so. Instead, he quickly said, "Darkrai, use dark void!" knowing that Darkrai had a huge advantage if the enemy was asleep.
Darkrai complied, creating a pit of sorts underneath Totodile, who seemed completely unaffected as he continued dancing energetically.
Darkrai and his trainer both sweatdropped as instead of falling asleep, the Totodile continued to dance around, seemingly enjoying itself in the middle of a serious battle.
Ash grinned, before saying, "For some reason, my Totodile has the 'Vital Spirit' ability, which prevents it from falling asleep! Now Totodile, propel yourself with hydro pump and use bite!"
Avrey, remaining calm, said, "Darkrai, stop it with ice beam!"
Ash, having a temporary burst of energy, did a 360 spin and shouted, "And twirrrrl!" Ash shook his head; he needed to stop acting like Latias sometimes.
Regardless, Totodile did what he said and twirled in mid-air, causing the ice beam to just miss him, before slamming into Darkrai with a powerful bite attack.
Avrey, noticing the Totodile wasn't letting go, said, "Darkrai, get it off with psychic!"
Darkrai tried, but the dark aura coming from Totodile's jaws negated the psychic energy attempting to grab hold.
"Now Totodile, Thrash!"
Totodile starting thrashing about with incredible power, still holding onto Darkrai. Because of this, Darkrai was thrown about, being slammed onto the ground and finally at a wall, where it was finally knocked out.
Avrey, seeing that he had lost, walked up to Ash, shaking his hand and saying, "That was a great battle, Red. You deserved that win. You'll go far, win it for me, Ok?"
Ash grinned and returned the handshake, as the crowd cheered around him.
Hope you enjoyed that! I won't give a definite time for the next chapter, but I'll get it up some time this week. Tomorrow if you're lucky!
Edit: Just realised something, I said this would be 5000-6000 words last chapter. I apologize, I won't set a word limit again seeing as I can't even meet the time limit. Once again, I apologize for the lack of words in this chapter.
