"But Ash-"
"No buts. I'm leaving the day after tomorrow."
"You can't!"
"Who's going to stop me?"
"I will! Ash! I challenge you to a battle!"
"I will! Ash! I challenge you to a battle!"
"You? Against me? Are you sure? I took down Wallace, your idol."
"I've never been surer of anything in my life!"
"I don't think you should do this May."
"I know what I'm doing! Skitty out!"
"She's serious…Meowth, Pikachu, what do we do?"
"I don't know boss…"
"Pika…"
"Send out a Pokemon already!"
"Alright May. I choose you Kingler!"
"I'll attack first! Use Assist!" 'Please be Solarbeam, please be Solarbeam!'
It was Solarbeam and it hit Kingler head on. But when the smoke cleared, Kingler was standing, not even a scratch was on it.
"How!? Did it use Protect!?"
"No May. I never said it out loud but…A coordinator can't be even compared to a champion. I'm going to give you one last chance. If you don't want your Pokemon hurt, call Skitty back."
May was frightened. The power of Ash was something not to be messed with. She thought she stood a chance and then she remembered something.
"That you think you stand a chance against Ash. Let me tell you from experience. I thought I could win, stand a chance at least. But when you enter that stadium and face him, it's a completely different story. He's always 20 steps ahead. Predicting your every move."
Paul. A clearly more experienced trainer than her said those words. And now she knew what he meant. It is a completely different story when you face him and when you're watching him. She wondered how Felix, Elizabeth, Reggie, Wallace and Max felt when they faced him.
May then looked at Skitty. Skitty seemed fired up although she had no idea why. Ash did though and frowned. Skitty wanted to bring Ash back. The old Ash. The Ash that cared for every living soul on this planet. But when you get hurt, the worst way, you change.
May looked at Skitty and finally understood what Skitty wanted. Blaziken, Glaceon and Venusaur's Pokeballs started shaking a bit and she knew they wanted the old Ash back.
"So do you want to return your Skitty?"
"…No. Skitty wants to fight. We will stand our ground and bring you back Ash!"
"Groan I like myself the way I am thank you very much. Kingler use Bubblebeam!"
"Skitty use Blizzard!"
The Bubblebeam just went through the Blizzard and knocked out Skitty.
"Skitty! Are you okay!?"
"She fainted May."
"You were very brave. Return." May adjusted her bandanna. "Take the stage Venusaur!"
"Hey guys, where is my sister?"
"I think she said something about finding Ash." Said Brock.
"I'm going to go find her." Said Drew.
They all agreed and then they heard shouting, well May shouting. When they got to the battlefield they saw Skitty knocked out and Kingler unharmed.
"May's fighting Ash!?" Shouted Dawn.
"Do you think she can win?" Asked Gary.
"She will! She's my sister! She can do anything! GO MAY!"
May turned to the side to see her brother, boyfriend and friends cheering for her. This made May smile. She then looked at Ash.
"I will win this Ash! Venusaur use Solarbeam!"
"Knock it away with Crabhammer."
And Kingler did just that.
"No way! Use Razor Leaf!"
"Blizzard."
Venusaur was then knocked out.
"Venusaur! You were great. Return."
"Return Kingler. Go my old friend! Primeape!"
There was then a Primeape that had a gold chain around its neck.
"Brock! Is that Primeape a P2-Champion!?" Asked Max.
"I didn't think he went back to get it…"
"Fighting with fighting! Take the stage Blaziken! Use Flamethrower!"
"Block it then use Cross Chop!"
"Sky Uppercut!"
It was too late as the Cross Chop did severe damage to Blaziken, who was still standing but very injured.
"Blaziken return! Go Beautifly!"
"Primeape use Focus Punch!"
"Aerial Ace!"
The battle was the two dodging each other's attacks. Eventually Primeape landed the punch, knocking Beautifly out.
"Beautifly! You did well. Return. Go Glaceon!"
"Pika…"
Ash looked at Pikachu. Then turned to Meowth who nodded.
Meowth went to Pikachu.
"Hey buddy, you don't want to see ya girlfriend get beaten up do ya?"
"PIKA!?"
"Relax. I'm kidding! But I know you care for her. Don't worry, I felt the same way with Skitty. But they chose their fate. And besides, be thankful you're not the one doing da fighting!"
"Pika…Pi!"
"That's my pal! Why don't ya go talk wit Lucario while boss finishes dis battle?"
"Pika." Pikachu nodded and ran off while Meowth returned to his trainer.
"So?"
"He went to go find Lucario."
"Good. Now where were we?"
"Glaceon use Blizzard!"
"Vital Throw."
Primeape was hit with the Blizzard and completely froze. May was hoping that she won that round but then Primeape broke out of the ice and used a powerful Vital Throw, knocking Glaceon into a tree.
"Glaceon! Return, you tried and that's what matters. Return. Take the stage Wartortle!"
"Primeape use Karate Chop."
"Wartortle use Hydro Pump."
"Dodge and keep going."
"Wartortle use Hydro Pump to propel yourself in the air!"
"Primeape jump and use Cross Chop!"
"HYDRO PUMP MAX POWER!"
The Hydro Pump knocked Primeape straight into a tree, but not knocking it out.
"Primeape are you okay?"
"Prime!"
"No broken bones?"
"Ape!"
"Alright, If you lie to me though…"
"PRIME!"
"Okay! Primeape use Cross Chop!"
"Wartortle use Rapid-Hydro Pump!"
Ash instantly remembered the move, after all who created it years back when? It was a powerful move, but it had a huge weakness.
"Double Team and run up to it and use Cross Chop!"
"Wartortle dodge it!"
But when Wartortle is in its shell, it can't see in all directions, making it an easy target. Wartortle was then sent flying and knocked out.
"Wartortle! You fought brilliantly return." May took a deep breath. "I'm counting on you. Please! Blaziken take the stage once more!"
Blaziken then appeared but very tired.
"May! I would forfeit right now! Blaziken will not get out of this battle unharmed!"
May looked at Ash and then Blaziken and saw how tired and bruised it was. She then looked at Primeape who looked like it was ready to take on a Groudon.
"He's right…Blaziken, ret-"
"BLA!"
Ash frowned. "Blaziken, every Pokemon knows its limits!"
"BLA BLAZIKEN!"
"Ash! I choose whether Blaziken fights or not and I say Blaziken should stay in the fight!"
Ash just sighed.
"Blaziken Flamethrower!" May learned to never test Primeape's attack power.
"Dodge."
"Use Fire Blast!"
"Dig."
May smirked for the first time in this battle. "Blaziken use Earthquake!"
"Blaziken knows Earthquake!?" Shouted Dawn with disbelief.
"GO MAY! YOU GOT THIS!" Shouted her brother.
Blaziken used Earthquake which caused a very injured Primeape to come out of the ground.
"Primeape are you okay!?"
"Prime…"
"Don't tell me you want to keep fighting?"
"PRIME!"
"Primeape, alright. USE KARATE CHOP!"
Primeape went as fast as lightning and delivered a fierce blow on Blaziken knocking it against a tree.
"Blaziken! Are you alright!?"
"Blaz…"
"Blaziken, maybe we should quit-"
"BLAZ BLAZ BLAZ BLAZIKEN!"
"Blaziken…"
Blaziken got up and went started glowing red.
"That's blaze!"
"ALRIGHT MAY! GO!"
"May may win this round." Said Dawn.
"Maybe, maybe…" Says Brock.
"Blaziken use Flamethrower!"
"Dodge it!"
"Blaze Kick!"
"Meet it with Hi Jump Kick!"
The two kicks hit each other sending both Pokemon flying back.
"That's a strong Blaziken…Close Combat!"
"Sky Uppercut with Fire Punch added!"
It was then a hand to hand battle of combat. With Blaze boosting Fire Punch and Blaze kick and Primeape's power, either could win. Or so May and her friends thought.
"Primeape, end this."
Primeape ducked underneath one of Blaziken's attack and then delivered a strong punch knocking Blaziken out, or maybe even more…"
"BLAZIKEN!"
"Fantastic work Primeape. Return."
Everyone ran to May who had Blaziken in her arms.
"Blaaz…"
"You were incredible. I couldn't have asked for more."
"Blaz…"
"May, Blaziken is extremely hurt! We have to go see Nurse Joy!" Said Brock.
"That won't be necessary." Everyone looked at Ash.
"Return Blaziken in her Pokeball and give it to me."
"Why should we trust you!? After what you did to Blaziken!" Shouted Drew.
May just looked at Ash's hand that was waiting for the Pokeball.
"I know you'll be fine with him. Return." May stood up and put the Pokeball in Ash's hand. "Take good care of her." May said before taking back her hand. Ash nodded and then disappeared into thin air, leaving everyone but May surprised. Not that May knew how Ash disappeared but she knew Ash was full of surprises.
An hour later and Blaziken woke up. She found herself next to a stream on a leaf bed. She was then wondering what happened to her mistress until she saw Sceptile standing against a tree.
"Those were some injuries you had. But who could blame you? You went up against a P2 Champion."
"Sceptile. Where am I? Where's mistress?"
"Relax. Master healed you. Although it caused him to use a little more life energy than he thought. But you're fine now. If it weren't for him you would've stopped breathing and would be treated by the Pokemon Center for days, months even. So you better thank Master."
"But why did he help me?" Blaziken asked, knowing the answer already.
"He cares for Pokemon more than his own life. And he felt sorry for you since he was the one who put you like that."
"So there's still hope…"
"What?"
"Don't you want your master the way he was when he won the Kalos league? Don't you want him to go back to his cheery care-free self Sceptile? Instead of the man who is strict and doesn't have fun and doesn't-"
"SHUT UP! HE SAVED YOUR LIFE AND YOU START TALKING AS IF YOU KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM! Sure, he has changed, but not for the worse. He puts on a…mask. A mask of his true personality. He doesn't feel as carefree around people who he considers 'outsiders.'"
"Outsiders? You mean his friends?"
"Yes. He made new friends and family and he loves them. And unlike those outsiders, they helped him as much as he helped them! All of masters Pokemon love our new family and friends so I can't wait until we win and get out of here."
"So what does he think of his friends here?"
"He still thinks of Misty, Gary and Brock as friends. The others, he doesn't care for them. Not as much as them anyways. But one thing's for sure, he doesn't give one crap for your mistress."
"Sceptile. Return. Blaziken, return."
The two Pokemon were then sucked into their Pokeballs by a trainer with a Lucario standing next to him and two Pokemon on his shoulders.
"Sceptile…you said too much. It's a good thing May doesn't understand her Pokemon."
Ash said, shaking his head before returning Lucario and then walking back to the Pokemon Center where his 'friends' were. When he entered all of his friends who were sitting at a table looked at him. He just look at May and took a Pokeball out.
"Here. She's perfectly fine."
May looked at him and got up and took Blaziken. To see if he was telling the truth she released Blaziken who looked like she didn't even take a scratch from the battle.
"How did you heal Blaziken so fast Ash? What potions did you use? Or did you use herbs?" Asked Brock, a doctor who wanted to learn about healing.
"It's a secret."
"Hey Ash, you look a bit pale, are you alright?" Asked Iris.
"I'm perfectly fine. I'm going to get ready for the battle tomorrow."
Ash then left and Blaziken just stared at him and May noticed. When Ash left May asked Blaziken what's wrong.
"Bla."
"What? Is it something about Ash?" Blaziken nodded.
"What is it?"
"…" Blaziken decided to not tell her trainer. Ash was wrong, May understood her well but she felt like she shouldn't say anything because he saved her.
"Okay, you don't have to tell me. Besides we owe him don't we?"
"What do you mean you owe him?" Asked Drew.
"Well, he helped Blaziken recovered in just an hour, whereas Brock said it could take weeks for Blaziken to heal the injuries it had."
"But he was the one who injured Blaziken!"
"I challenged him. I refused to recall Blaziken so it was my fault."
"Master, you have perfected the Aura Sphere."
"Compared to the Aura Sword, this is nothing!"
"You mastered telepathy, Aura Sphere, Aura Sword and healing. There is only one more Technique of Aura. The Aura Shield."
"Sounds useful."
"It is but it is as risky as healing, but not as much. It will though use more energy than the Aura Sword."
"Greaaat…Alright, let's get started!"
Alright I want to say I'm sorry for not uploading for the past few day. School really eats up my time and then there are other stuff I have to do. But this will now be uploaded daily again even though there's two more chapters left. Anyways, as usual thank you for reading and feedback is always appreciated.