Chapter 9: Fateful Encounters:

Time for another major battle between Ash and Burgh the gym leader, a couple of encounters with a few important characters.


"Ash wake up now," Dawn demanded while Ash remained in bed, she knocked on the door to try and get the trainer up, 'great some things never change,' Dawn reminded herself while thinking about the times when Ash slept in, as the memories flowed in she thought of a wonderful idea, "Pikachu wake up Ash for me," Dawn requested of Ash's small electric type pokemon, with a sudden blast of electricity Dawn heard the screams of the trainer, she opened the door to see Ash on the floor with lightning leaping from his body.

Ash slowly picked himself up and looked towards his girlfriend, "gee thanks for the wake-up call Dawn" Ash sarcastically told the woman with a smirk, Ash walked towards the entrance of the room with Dawn following him, "what could be so important?" Ash asked while putting his jacket on, "for needing to wake me up like that?" Ash enquired further much to the pleasure of the coordinator.

Dawn walked up to Ash and pushed him towards the main lobby of the medical facility, "well, someone has been trying to call you all morning," Dawn replied while forcing Ash to the phone, "someone by the name of Liza," Dawn stated while Ash lazily looked at the phone to wait for the call to come in.

"Really?" Ash asked in amazement, "seems like I have a friend coming back to me," Ash said with a little more excitement.

The phone started ringing while Rosa and Hugh walked up to the duo, "hello Ash, I have been trying to call you all morning," Liza explained while the trainer scratched the back of his head embarrassed by the fact he slept in.

"Sorry Liza I slept in this morning," Ash said while looking over to Dawn and his Pikachu.

Liza chuckled with what was being said but she soon pulled out a pokeball and put it on the teleporter, "I have some amazing news, your Charizard wants to travel with you again," Liza declared much to the trainers excitement, she teleported the red and white device to where Ash was, "also, can you please make sure Charizard gets a decent challenge, he seems to have lost interest with staying here, none of the Charizard can challenge him," Liza pointed out as the pokeball appeared next to Ash.

Ash grabbed the pokeball containing his old pokemon, "thanks Liza, I will be sure to let you know how he is going," Ash said while finishing off the call. Ash looked down at the pokeball feeling excited with see his old friend back in his team, 'I can't believe you're back,' Ash thought as he jumped out of the seat and ran towards the entrance of the Pokemon Center.

Dawn followed Ash to see what the trainer was going to do next while Rosa and Hugh watched on, "oh man, I was about to tell him my decision," Hugh complained as he followed the two trainers outside.

Rosa stood there with a smile before following the rookie trainer to her friends, 'I want to watch his next battle before I head out on my own, I just feel like I have been holding those two back,' Rosa thought to herself as she watched her friend call out a large orange pokemon with powerful wings and a large tail with a powerful flame at the tip.

Ash walked up to his pokemon before being hit by a burst of flames, Ash hit the ground after the powerful attack much to the shock of everyone, "something's never change," Ash stated before one of his pokemon jumped out of its pokeball, the large blue pokemon walked up to Charizard and growled at the large orange pokemon, Ash sat up and witnessed the two pokemon glaring at one another growling and not backing away, "hey you two, you're team mates not enemies," Ash told the two powerful pokemon concerned that they would start to fight.

Ash picked up two of his pokeballs and recalled the powerful pokemon, Hugh stood there amazed at what he had just witnessed, "Ash, after I watch your gym battle, I am heading back to Aspertia City," Hugh told the trainer with a smirk, "I will challenge the gyms and become your rival," Hugh explained while Ash took the time to get up, the two friends looked at one another and extended their hands out to shake.

"I will be heading to Nuvema Town to participate in the gym battles as well, so it seems like we will be rivals as well," Rosa said while looking over to Hugh and ignoring Ash, "I know Ash is much stronger than me, so being his rival would seem a little pointless," Rosa explained before turning her gaze to Dawn, "now for you, when the time is right, I want to be your rival in Pokemon Contests," Rosa told the bluenette who stood there amazed at the confidence the brunette was exuding.

"But before we head off in separate directions, we need to watch Ash battle the Gym Leader of this City," Dawn replied to her friends while looking over to Ash who was getting pumped for the battle and Pikachu allowing sparks to fly from his cheeks, Dawn stood there knowing what was going to happen next, "Oh Ash, after we make it to the next city, we need to spend some time together," Dawn reiterated to Ash who nodded happily.

The group of friends walked through the city until they reached a large building with wide windows with a green field lined with trees inside, "so this is Castelia Gym," Rosa whispered as she walked into the gym first followed by her friends.

Ash and Dawn looked around to see the bug type pokemon jumping from tree to tree, while some were walking around on the ground through the bushes, Ash tried to find the gym leader who wasn't easy to find, Ash spotted a large cocoon, "this is just great, where is the gym leader?" Ash asked in frustration before walking further into the building, "If the gym leader is around I challenge you to a battle!" Ash called yelled out for the gym leader to appear.

Dawn looked until the large cocoon fell from the tree and behind the four people much to their shock, "now young trainer we are going to have an artistic battle," a man said while unwrapping himself from the cocoon, "I Burgh accept your challenge," he said while walking up to Ash.

Ash and Burgh wondered to the battlefield ready to battle each other, 'I wonder if what the other gym leaders said is true,' Burgh wondered as he watched his foe get ready to battle him, Burgh pulled out a pokeball, 'both Roxie and Cheren said this guy is strong, just like Tobias,' Burgh thought to himself while staring at the trainer while blanking out everything around him, 'I do sense a great power hiding with in him,' Burgh thought as he heard the referee declaring the battle ready to begin, "alright Ash, show me what you've got, Scolipede, let's go," Burgh called out a large purple pokemon for the battle against the trainer.

Ash held his pokeball out with a smirk, "battle me with everything you've got," Ash ordered the gym leader with supreme confidence, "Lucario, I choose you," Ash called forth his first pokemon to battle the gym leader.

"He wants me to battle him at my best, well let's start things off with Double Edge," Burgh told his pokemon while Ash just stood there with a smirk on his face.

Ash watched the powerful bug type charging towards the aura pokemon with incredible force, "Lucario, dodge the attack, then use Bone Rush," the trainer instructed his fighting type pokemon quickly.

The aura pokemon jumped out of the way of the charging megapede pokemon and formed a large bone staff in his hands, in a fast motion the aura pokemon hit the bug type with multiple blows with the weapon shocking the gym leader at how precise the attacks were, the megapede pokemon landed in front of the gym leader panting after taking the powerful attacks from the much smaller pokemon.

"Amazing, Cheren said his Lucario was strong, but I never expected it to be this strong," Burgh said with amazement, "okay, Scolipede attack with Steamroller," Burgh instructed his combatant with a little more hope.

Ash waited for the opposing pokemon to move closer, Ash let out a quick sneer knowing that the time was right to attack again, "Lucario, attack with Aura Sphere," Ash commanded his fighting type pokemon calmly. The aura pokemon leapt into the air and formed a ball of blue energy in the palm of the fighter's hands before unleashing it at the unsuspecting foe.

Burgh watched in shock as the ball of aura slammed into his first pokemon, the ball exploded causing dust to rise up in the surrounding area, 'amazing, his pokemon have amazing power,' Burgh thought to himself while waiting for the dust to settle, 'not only that his Lucario is extremely well trained,' Burgh explained to himself while seeing the dust lowering with every passing second.

"Yeah that's it Ash, show him what you're made of!" Dawn cheered with a broad smile, raising her fist into the air while cheering for Ash over and over again.

Ash watched as the smoke finally settled to reveal that Scolipede had been knocked out of the battle, "the winner of this round is Lucario," the umpire decreed while raising his hand to Ash's side of the battlefield.

Burgh recalled his pokemon amazed at how powerful Ash was, he watched as the trainer returned his pokemon, "so you're going to show off some more of your pokemon, Crustle it's time to battle," Burgh called forth his second pokemon, a large red pokemon with a large cut away block for a shell, "let me see what you have to offer," Burgh requested as the trainer picked another of his pokeballs, 'his confidence is intimidating,' Burgh thought while noting Ash's confident expression.

"You asked for it, Garchomp I choose you," Ash called out his next pokemon to battle the gym leader.

Burgh gazed at the powerful dragon standing in the middle of the arena, noticing how powerful the pokemon looked, "fantastic, your dragon pokemon, Roxie said something about that, she said your Garchomp is your strongest pokemon, yet you bring it out this early," Burgh told Ash with a smile while thinking about what Roxie had told him, 'this pokemon knocked out her Garbodor with pure power, something Garchomp are known for,' Burgh reminded himself as he remembered the shocked expression of Roxie from the day before, "Start this round with X-Scissor," the bug type gym leader demanded with certainty.

Ash looked over to his dragon type pokemon and waited for an opening to attack, after the much slower pokemon got closer with its glowing claws ready to slash down on the trainer's pokemon, "now try Dragon Claw," Ash instructed his pokemon quickly. The large dragon charged towards the bug type pokemon with a glowing claw, he slashed at the rock type knocking it back after taking the hit, but was hit by one of the claws of the pokemon, "well done Burgh, you are the first to hit Garchomp with one of your attacks," Ash complimented the gym leader while remaining unfazed by the hit his pokemon received.

"What that's the first time his pokemon got hit, no wonder why the previous two gym leaders were amazed at this guy's power," Burgh told himself while his Crustle got back up after the attack, 'not only did he let my pokemon hit his own to lure me in, but he hit my pokemon harder,' the gym leader told himself while seeing his pokemon panting from the single attack it took from the powerful dragon type pokemon.

Dawn and Rosa continued to cheer for Ash while Hugh watched in amazement, "impressive, his pokemon are going to be tough to beat," Hugh whispered while sitting there with his arms crossed, he continued to watch with great intent ignoring the girls cheer for Ash with all their might, 'I need him to be a benchmark for my training,' Hugh thought with pride as he watched the trainer continue his battle with the gym leader.

"Yeah keep it up Ash!" Dawn and Rosa cheered in unison while pumping their fists into the air.

'I am getting more impressed with Ash, his pokemon seem to be getting stronger all the time,' Dawn thought while looking down at the trainer with a prideful smile, 'when he left me just over two years ago, he was nowhere near as strong as he is now,' Dawn looked back at the past events and the battle with Tobias, "he continues to evolve," Dawn said in an impressed manner.

"Use Rock Slide now," Burgh called for his next attack of the battle. Crustle unleashed a mighty avalanche of rocks at the dragon type pokemon.

"Garchomp, dodge the rocks then use Brick Break," Ash ordered with certainty. The powerful dragon leapt from side to side dodging the powerful attack, the entire arm of Garchomp started to glow before slamming it down on the bug type, the pokemon flew back from the force of the attack leaving everyone amazed at the brawn the dragon type was displaying in front of them.

"Crustle no," Burgh called to his bug type pokemon.

The judge called raised his hand to Ash's end knowing that Crustle was out of the battle, "Crustle is unable to battle this round goes to Ash Ketchum," the judge confirmed with confidence.

Burgh recalled his pokemon while watching the trainer recall his, "I only have one more pokemon to battle with, I want to see what he has, Leavanny it's time to battle," Burgh called for his final pokemon to battle the challenger. A sudden chill ran down the gym leaders spin as he watched the opposing trainer pick up his next pokeball, 'whatever is in that pokeball is most certainly a very powerful pokemon,' Burgh thought while watching the trainer throw out his pokeball.

A bright light enveloped the pokemon, it's wings extended out until the glowing stopped, "say hello to Charizard," Ash remarked with confidence as the fire type let out a deafening roar while unleashing a powerful burst of fire into the air, "Burgh I will let you make the first move," Ash told the gym leader while staying confident in his pokemon's abilities.

'He is daring me to attack,' Burgh reminded himself while the trainer waited for the, "Leaf Blade," Burgh instructed his pokemon while feeling uncertain of Charizard's true capability in battle.

Charizard stood there and took the attack on the chest, he used his claws to scratch where the attack landed, Charizard let out a mighty roar while waiting for the command, "Charizard attack with Flamethrower," Ash told his pokemon confidently.

The powerful fire type threw back his head allowing a powerful ball of flames to appear in his mouth, he lowered his head and sent out a steady stream of flames at the bug/grass type pokemon, after the flames cleared up the opposing pokemon was on the ground taken out after a single hit from the.

"What power, his Charizard is super strong," Burgh stated while recalling his fallen pokemon from the battle, the gym leader walked up to Ash with the badge in hand to congratulate him, "I am impressed, your pokemon are well trained, by the way someone by the name of Tobias passed through the city about five days ago," Burgh explained with a smile as he handed the trainer the insect badge.

"Thanks for the battle," Ash replied with a smile while taking the badge politely. He looked over to his friends as they approached him, 'I am finally catching up to Tobias,' Ash thought quietly as he remembered the battle against Tobias and Darkrai in the Sinnoh League, thinking about his defeat at the hands of his powerful legendary pokemon, he turned his view to the bluenette walking up to him, 'I always knew I would have the support of one person,' Ash reminded himself as the rest of the group walked up to the trainer proud of his battle against the trainer.

"That was amazing," Dawn repeated over and over again excited about how much stronger Ash had gotten over the time he was away, 'I thought I was getting stronger but it seems that Ash is ten steps ahead of me,' Dawn wondered while looking at the ground in shame, thinking about what she needed to do next, she looked at her Piplup who was catching up to the trio with Pikachu next to him laughing and talking to one another.

"What's the matter Dawn?" Rosa asked her friend nervously.

"Nothing, just thinking about how much stronger Ash had gotten," Dawn retorted while faintly smiling at the more inexperienced trainer, "I was thinking how I could become strong to show Ash that I have become stronger," Dawn professed as her smile quickly disappeared, she watched Ash and Hugh talking about their respective goals before walking up to the girls happily.

"Well let's head out of here, we need to continue our travels," Ash told Dawn positively.

The group walked out of the Castelia Gym all smiling and laughing except for Dawn who was lagging behind the group, thinking about the times she had traveled with Ash in the past, the days she would think of Ash as her equal, she wondered what she could do to prove to Ash that she was definitely much stronger than she was since the Sinnoh League, ' I feel like I am living in his shadow now,' Dawn told herself as she continued to walk behind the group.

Ash looked back to see Dawn dawdling behind the group, he turned around and waited for Dawn to catch up while the other two were walking ahead to the Pokemon Center, Dawn was looking at the ground not noticing that Ash was standing in front of her, "is there something wrong Dawn?" Ash asked his girlfriend.

Dawn lifted her head and came into eye contact with Ash, "I was just thinking about our past journey together, when we were at the same level," Dawn replied to the trainers question quietly, "now I just feel like I am walking in your shadow," Dawn explained while trying to hold back tears from her own shame, "I want to become stronger, but I am not sure how I can do it without holding you back," Dawn stated as the trainer walked up to the coordinator and embraced the girl, "Ash?"

"Holding me back?" Ash questioned with laughter while hugging Dawn, "I never thought you were holding me back," Ash told the bluenette with a smile before pulling away from the embrace, "how about I help get stronger," Ash offered happily.

"But what about the Unova League?" Dawn asked the raven haired trainer.

"As you would say, no need to worry," Ash replied surely, "I have plenty of time, it isn't like the Unova league will be happening tomorrow," Ash stated while scratching the back of his head.

"You're right," Dawn replied while standing there quietly, "thanks for the offer," Dawn replied to Ash offer as she started to feel much better after hearing Ash's offer to help her, Ash extended his hand out much to the surprise of the coordinator.

Ash left his hand out and grinned at the bluenette, "come on Dawn, the other two would want us to wish them luck on their travels," Ash assured Dawn while smiling at her. Dawn took Ash's hand and walked with him to the medical facility while holding his hand.

Rosa and Hugh waited for the two lovebirds to arrive at the medical facility, when the two finally made it into the Pokemon Center, Rosa and Hugh looked down to see Ash and Dawn holding hands, "so you finally made it, we were wondering where you two were," Hugh explained with a smirk, he walked up to the two trainers, "well this is where we part ways for now, I hope to see you two again," Hugh said as he extended his hand out to Ash, the two trainers nodded before the more experienced trainer stretched his out to meet with the rookies hand, "I want to become as strong as you, I am unable to do that while I am traveling with you two," Hugh declared as he shook hands with Ash.

"I hope we can stop Team Plasma as well," Ash stated as Hugh walked away from the trainer with a proud smile, Hugh looked back an nodded in approval before exiting the Pokemon Center, Ash looked over to his fan and walked up to her with Dawn next to him, "so Rosa, what about you?" Ash asked the brunette calmly.

"For me, I want to battle you as well Ash, but just like Hugh, I will be doing so at the Unova League," Rosa expressed her plans to Ash before turning her gaze to Dawn, "you know something?" Rosa question while looking at Ash and Dawn who were holding hands, "I was hoping to win Ash away from you, but I realize that will never happen," Rosa said with laughter as she held out her hand to Dawn, "I will be your biggest fan Ash and Dawn, so don't do anything to change that," Rosa stated playfully while Dawn met the young girls hand to shake it, "when I get the chance, I want to become a coordinator, just like you," Rosa professed before walking to the exit of the Medical facility.

Ash and Dawn let out a sigh knowing that they were going to travel together for the rest of the region, Ash walked to the main desk of the to give his pokemon a check-up before continuing on his journey with Dawn.

Ash and Dawn sat down to discuss where they were going to head to next, "you know Ash, now that we are going to travel just the two of us and our pokemon, how about we head to Nimbasa City," Dawn suggested with a little more confidence. Ash ate the rest of his meal before looking up to see Dawn giggling at him, she spotted the mess on Ash's face before slurping up the last bit of pasta, "you've never changed, I mean you still eat like a pig," Dawn digressed while leaning over to clean Ash's face up.

After Dawn had cleaned up the trainers face, the bell started to chime signaling that Ash's pokemon were ready to be picked up, "well at least I have you to keep me from going crazy," Ash joked before going off to pick up his pokemon from Nurse Joy, 'makes me wonder how many more people know about us,' Ash wondered quietly.

After picking up his pokemon from the check-up the duo walked towards the northern exit of the city to start their journey towards the next destination. Ash and Dawn walked through the gates of the large city looking back to think about their friends who had traveled with them from Aspertia City, "time for us to head out to Nimbasa City," Dawn declared before walking towards the desert.

As they started walking towards the next city a powerful gust of wind stopped them from going any further, they covered their faces to protect their eyes from the harsh sand, Dawn tried to get a view of what was going on, it was then she spotted a large blue pokemon before the harsh winds died down, "Ash, there is a pokemon in front of us," Dawn said in shock as the pokemon approached them quietly, "what do you want?" Dawn asked the powerful pokemon.

'You're Dawn right?' the pokemon asked the coordinator coldly, the coordinator nodded unable to say anything in awe of the pokemon standing in front of her, Ash moved between the mysterious pokemon to prevent her from getting hurt, 'you have nothing to worry about, I just want to talk to Dawn,' the legendary pokemon declared his interest to the trainer, 'my name is Cobalion, very soon your other friends will be meeting with the other two pokemon, Hugh with Terrikion and Virizion will meet with Rosa,' Cobalion stated while the two trainers looked at each other in shock.

"What is it you want from me Cobalion?" Dawn asked with uncertainty while walking towards the legendary pokemon.

'I want to test your abilities in a battle,' Cobalion decreed with a smile as it turned around to get ready to leave, 'make sure you become stronger,' Cobalion instructed the bluenette before running off into the distance.

Ash and Dawn looked at one another now feeling very worried about what had just happened, "me facing a legendary pokemon, I don't know what to do," Dawn confessed while drooping her head with uncertainty, Ash took the coordinators hands and smiled at her, "Ash what do I do?" Dawn asked her boyfriend with a frown.

"What will I do, simple I will help you get stronger to face this new challenge," Ash dictated while Dawn looked at him in shock, "yes I know you feel like you're standing still, I know what that was like when I was defeated by Tobias," Ash explained quietly as Dawn continued to look down in shame, "oh come on where is that confidence?" Ash asked while helping Dawn's spirit up, "I said I will help you get stronger, I am not worried about helping you out," Ash proclaimed with certainty before he started walking through the desert with Dawn holding his hand.

As the duo journeyed through the desert, a large black pokemon landed in front of them, "not another legendary pokemon," Ash complained as the large pokemon glared at Ash, a man with long green hair jumped off the pokemon head and landed in front of Ash, "who are you?" Ash asked with his fists clenched.

"My name is N, the previous leader of Team Plasma," the man known as N introduced himself to Ash and Dawn, "I saw what had happened a moment ago," the man said with a smile as he recalled his pokemon to his pokeball, "just like Cobalion I am also wanting to challenge you," he said with a smile as he looked over to the trainer's small yellow pokemon and the coordinators small blue pokemon, "your pokemon seem very happy to have you as a trainer," N said while petting the two pokemon gently.

"My name is Ash Ketchum and I am from Pallet Town in the Kanto region," Ash introduced himself to the former leader of Team Plasma.

"I am Dawn Berlitz from the Sinnoh Region," Dawn finished the introductions.

"Nice to meet you both," N said with a smile while turning around with a worried look, "be careful of Team Plasma, they have become more dangerous since my father returned," N warned the two people behind him, he walked away through the desert leaving the two trainers in awe not knowing what to say after the two strange meetings with a powerful pokemon and a man with a large black pokemon.

Ash and Dawn recommenced their journey towards Nimbasa City, 'two meetings, one with a strange person, then there is Cobalion,' Ash thought as he continued to grasp Dawn's hand while thinking about how to help her get her confidence back, "hey Dawn, how about once we reach Nimbasa City we spend some time together?" Ash asked the girl who remained quiet ignoring Ash's question thinking about the challenge given to her by the legendary pokemon.

Dawn looked up to Ash and smiled at him, "no need to worry," Dawn told Ash before walking ahead of the trainer.

Ash stood on the spot and chuckled at his loves words, "that's when I worry the most," Ash said before he started to catch up to Dawn.


Alright the chapter is done and dusted, two new challenges have come up for Ash and Dawn. How will they face these new challengers? And what is Team Plasma next plan?

Next time chapter 10: Sparks of Fashion and Music