Alright, let's pick up where we left off shall we?
Zippy
We find our hero Ash, in the mysterious Lavender town, where his battle with the Ghost Master is in full swing!
"Chandelure, use Will-o-wisp!" the Ghost master ordered. The Chandelier pokemon shot many small blue flames at Ash's pokemon, Haunter.
"Dodge it, and counter with Shadow ball!" Ash responded. The Ghost weaved it's way around the stadium, managing to dodge all of the attack. Then, Haunter threw a ball of darkness toward Chandelure.
"Double team," the Ghost Master countered. Chandelure then began to copy itself multiple times, surrounding Ash's Haunter. "Nowhere to run kid,"
Ash knew that she was right. And with a Ghost type team surrounding his own, Haunter would unable to battle in seconds, then he had an idea. "Haunter, use Lick while spinning."
"Haunt," it said, tongue extended. It began to spin rapidly, and as it's tongue extended, I hit the Chandelure clones surrounding him, and the real one it smacked against the wall. However, when Haunter stopped spinning, it was dizzy and confused.
"Oh no, Haunter's confused." Ash exclaimed. The Ghost Master's Chandelure got up, but instead of targeting Ash's Haunter, it turned it's attention to the Ghost Master.
"Chan-Chandelure!" it cried. The Ghost Master turned to face her Chandelure.
"You're fine, get back in there."
"Chan-Chan-Chandelure!" it cursed.
The Ghost Master looked at her Chandelure with a face of concern and disgust. "That's it, after this, I'm getting the soap. Anyway, use Shadow ball!"
"Chan-de-lure!" it shouted. The dark attack hurled at high speed to hit the confused Haunter. Knocking it backwards.
"Haunter!" Ash cried in concern. The pokemon slumped to the ground, unable to move.
"Haunter is unable to battle," Zach confirmed. Haunter then just disappeared.
"Wait, where did Haunter go?" Serena asked.
"Relax," the Ghost Master said cooly. "I teleported it to the pokemon center. It'll be back." She then turned her attention to the trainer she was battling. "Pick your pokemon, and let's move on."
"Alright," Ash replied. "Pikachu, are you ready to go?"
"Pika!" it replied, jumping off of him and onto the battlefield.
"Very well then, Chandelure, use Shadow Sneak." the Ghost Master ordered.
Chandelure then launched himself forward, but instead of making contact, it just disappeared.
"Be on guard Pikachu!" Ash shouted. Pikachu looked around cautiously, unsure where the blow would come from. Then, Chandelure appeared right behind Pikachu, and charged the mouse. Ash watched it made impact, launching Pikachu upward. However, Pikachu quickly recovered and landed on it's feet.
"Quick Pikachu, use Iron Tail!" Ash ordered. Pikachu's tail began to grow silver, and it threw itself at the chandelier.
The Ghost Master sighed. "You'll never learn, dodge it Chandelure! Then, counter with Will-o-Wisp!"
Chandelure casually floated out of the way of Pikachu's attack. Pikachu landed on the ground, but Chandelure was just about to use Will-o-Wisp. Ash didn't know what to do, Pikachu had no time to dodge, and he had no time to call out an order. The small flames shot towards Pikachu, and dust shot up when it made impact.
Or so they thought.
"Pikachu!" Ash cried. The Ghost Master just smiled, knowing that victory was nigh, but when the dust cleared, all of the audience was surprised at what happened. Pikachu, was standing there unharmed, but with his iron tail still on.
"What happened?" Serena asked.
Zach just smiled. "It used Iron Tail to protect itself from Will-o-Wisp."
"Is that possible?"
"It is, but I've never seen that done, especially when it wasn't called by the trainer. That Pikachu's got some serious talent."
"Great move Pikachu!" Ash called.
"Pika-Pi!"
"That was impressive, but don't let your guard down. This battle isn't over yet." the Ghost Master commented.
"Right," Ash replied. "Now, use Electro-ball!"
Pikachu jumped into the air, and threw the ball of electricity at Chandelure.
"Counter with Shadow Ball, and then use Shadow Sneak once more!"
Chandelure complied, and used Shadow Ball to counter Electro-ball. The smoke around the field made the perfect cover for Shadow Sneak.
"Not this again," Ash complained.
"Ash, you can do this! Pikachu has a move that will get you through this!" Zach shouted.
"What do you mean?"
"Think about the moves that he's learned!"
Ash quickly began to run through the moves that Pikachu knew: Thunderbolt, Quick Attack, Iron tail. None of those would work. Then, he understood what Zach meant, and thought about the moves Pikachu had used in the past. He then thought of a move that would be perfect for the job. However, he had to time it just right.
"Zach! Stop helping!" the Ghost Master shouted. Just then, Chandelure appeared, and advanced on Pikachu.
"Pikachu, Volt Tackle, now!"
Pikachu, who was recently re-introduced to the move, began the run forwards, away from Chandelure. Chandelure pursued, but it was too late before it could do anything. Electricity began to build around Pikachu. As soon as it was fully encased in it's own electricity, Pikachu immediately turned around and attacked Chandelure. Pikachu hit Chandelure, knocking it backwards.
"Chandelure is unable to battle." Ash called.
"Alright Pikachu, we did it!"
"Pika-Pika!"
The Ghost Master rolled her eyes and returned her pokemon. "Don't forget, I still have one pokemon left."
Ash's smile faded. Pikachu had taken quite a bit of damage, not to mention the recoil damage from Volt Tackle. But the Ghost Master just smiled.
"No matter, I resign."
"Wait, What?"
"I resign, you win."
Zach just stared at her with a shocked expression. "Um, Ash the challenger is the winner I suppose."
The Litwick surrounding the battlefield exploded with noise. Most were frustrated, and some had relieved expressions. However, there was another Litwick dressed in a referee costume on that was was shouting 'Litwick' over and over, holding a red card.
"It's alright everyone," The Ghost Master addressed the crowd. "I did the best I could." She then turned her attention to Zach. "Alright, time to talk." She then snapped her fingers, and Zach and herself vanished, leaving Ash, Serena, and the Litwick in the battle arena.
"Where did they go?" Ash asked.
When Zach reappeared in the Ghost Master's study. She had a seat and beckoned Zach to do the same.
"So, I suppose that you want to know why I brought them here right?" Zach asked.
"Oh no, I knew why from the beginning." the Ghost Master replied. "It's because of the boy. I was able to sense him clear from my mansion."
"How did you-"
"Have you learned nothing? I'm the Ghost Master for heaven's sake. Anyway, you did the right thing to bring him here. From what I could tell, he's seen more legendary pokemon than anyone I've met, including you."
"I knew that you could do something."
"Exactly, but there's actually nothing I can do, nor you, nor Ash."
"What do you mean, aren't you worried that he'll be able to harness all of the power he has obtained from the legendary pokemon over the years?"
The Ghost Master shook her head. "No, you're getting confused on what the difference between getting a legendary pokemons influence, and harnessing its ultimate power."
"How so, is there a difference?"
"You see, I can harness the power of the mythical pokemon Darkrai. It's how I can read minds, dreams, etc. What the boy has is very different. He has seen and experienced a legendary's influence multiple times. However, no matter how hard he tries, he'll never be about to use Shadow ball like I do now and again."
"So, just let him be himself?"
"You didn't let me finish. You see, a legendary's influence, is very puzzling. It can work in many different ways. For Ash, it seems to be increasing the power of his pokemon, his battling, and his abilities as a trainer. This can be good and bad."
"How can it be bad?"
"You see, if he was to use this power for the destruction of people and pokemon, he could hurt many people. However much you or me doubt that option, it's still just that, an option."
"So, what do we do?"
"We help influence him for good, he will be one of the most powerful trainers in history. I have no doubt that he will indeed become a great opponent, but a good friend as well. So, do the same for him, be his friend and teach him how to be stronger."
Zach nodded. "Alright, the Aclean League starts up in a few weeks, I'll teach him some tricks there."
"Excellent, as for me, I'll wait here. I don't really belong at a place like the Aclean League anyway."
Zach stood up. "I gotta go, but be sure to contact me with any advice you have."
"Wait one more thing," the Ghost Master commented.
"Yeah?"
"Be sure to keep Serena around Ash. I think that she is more of an influence on him than anyone right now besides his mother."
"I'm not gonna ask how you know that, but alright." Zach said.
"Good." the Ghost Master replied, snapping her fingers. The two teleported back to the gym where they found Ash and Serena talking. "Hello again," she said chipperly. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
"It's good, that was a great battle." Ash replied.
"Yes indeed." The Ghost Master replied. "However, because you technically won, there is a matter of a badge."
"Okay," Ash said, standing up.
"The problem is, I don't have a badge to give, so, I have the next best thing." The Ghost Master snapped her fingers and a Litwick came over and handed something to the Ghost Master. She beckoned Ash forward, and he complied. "These are charms that I obtained over the years."
The Ghost Master held up two small objects. One of them a small necklace, and the other a bracelet, both had a citrine jewel in the middle.
"Wait, are those-"
"Yes Zach," The Ghost Master interrupted. "These are charms to help people and pokemon get along better."
"Wait, they aren't magic, are they?"
"Well, they're as magic as you make them."
Ash took them from the Ghost Master. "Thank you,"
"Anytime, I think that should make up for it. Anyway, you best be going."
"Thank you for all your help." Zach said.
"It was really nice to meet you." Serena added.
"Yeah kids, class dismissed." And with a snap of her fingers, she disappeared. There was a little silence, which was broken by Ash.
"She was definitely the strangest person I've ever met." he commented.
"You can say that again." Zach replied.
The group exited the mansion, and began the long walk back to civilization, Ash,
"Hey, Zach, you've been to an Aclean League before, right?"
Zach shook his head. "No, this is my first one, but I can answer your questions if you like."
"Okay, is there really anything I should know about?"
"Yeah, so the league begins with an open tournament, where anyone can battle anyone, and the winners stay, and the losers are ejected at the end of the round."
"Actually, I kind of meant if I could actually bring anyone along."
"Actually, you are allowed one guest, and you can switch pokemon with the transfer machines on the island. They should explain a lot of when you get there. Why, you nervous?"
"A little, but, I know that I can do it. I can't give up now, it's too late for that."
"You'll do great, I know it." Serena assured.
Zach nodded in agreement. "I'm really excited for this league. I think that you'll grow not only as a trainer, but as a person as well."
And so, Ash with another victory under his belt, has happy thoughts for The Aclean League that is fast approaching. But what else lies in store for our hero? Find out, as the journey continues.
Alright, there's that chapter, I hope you liked it. Now, the Aclean league will begin. Here's where this gets interesting. For those following this fanfic, you can send me an OC for Ash, or someone else to battle. If you don't, that's fine, I'll just find some bro joe from the series for him to fight. Until next time!
Zippy