Chapter 14
I'm baaaccckkk~! Miss me? Yes? No? No? Okay... -~-
Anyhow, here's the newest, long, chapter of this story! I hope you enjoy reading and review, it would be appreciated if you did but it's not necessary.
Thanks to LunaLavender1023, AlexuPenguin, RosesOfTruth for reviewing last chapter! I'm glad that you like the story so far and hope that you'll continue reading! And to AlexuPenguin, heck yeah! I'm all for Oldrivalshipping! :D
Oh, and sorry for any grammatical errors that I may have made this this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. Enjoy!
"Uncle, we're - mmphrg!"
"You're back!"
Right when Serena opened the door to the office of Prof. Sycamore's modern research facility, she was attacked by a blurry red and black. She stumbled back while hearing the fluttering of a pair of wings and random chirping.
The brunette reached up to grab Fletchling from getting all over her face and yank him away.
"Robin!" she scolded. "Don't do that!"
The little robin Pokemon huffed indignantly, taking into the air as the rest of the gang filed in - minus Clemont and Bonnie who went back home. "Well sorry for being happy that you're back! You're such a sour-Purloin."
A light chuckle filled the room from the other side, where Prof. Sycamore was getting up from his desk. "Re-bonjour all of yo -"
"Shut up Gary!" Leaf snarled from behind as she and the spiky haired trainer were having a glaring contest. None of the others seemed to want to take an part in trying to yank them apart while Ash acted as if this happens all the time - which it does. "It was your fault!"
"How was that even my fault?! You're the one that didn't pay any attention!" Gary retorted.
"Hey Professor!" Ash greeted. "Sorry it took so long but we had a minor issue."
"You let your Charizard blow a gust of wind that blew me off!" Leaf continued to accused.
"It wasn't intentional!" Gary countered. "At least we caught you before you went splat!"
"Uh..." Tierno started but the two wasn't really paying attention.
"Ignore them." Serena merely advised, tossing a pokeball up and release Rhyhorn, who in turn went into a conversation with Robin.
"You - Oh hi Uncle Sycamore!" Leaf turned from acrimonious to cheerful in the matter of minutes upon realizing that they have arrived.
About half of the group sweatdropped while the other half - the Kalos natives - dropped their jaws at the mention, stunned as when they find out that Serena was related.
Ash blinked at the group of five. "What's with you guys? Should you know that Leaf's uncle if Prof. Sycamore if she's Serena's cousin?"
For one reason or another, the chirping of Kricketot filled the silenced room.
The Kanto native turned to Serena and smirked. "Ya didn't tell them did you?"
"I wasn't planning to," Serena huffed, folding her arms. She rather not have anyone find out her mess of a family tree with her deceased mother being a famous Rhyhorn racer, her father was once a prominent trainer, Prof. Sycamore as her uncle, and Leaf... well she's... Let's just say, Serena came from a family of famous people - or at least well-known in their region -... with connections if you could Gary in.
"Wait, wait, wait," Shauna started, then looked from Leaf to Serena to the Kalos Professor. "you two are Prof. Sycamore's nieces?"
Leaf laughed good-naturely. "It isn't that hard to sink in is it?" she then hummed. "Well, we didn't properly introduced ourselves yet so how about we do that right now?"
Presumed unanimous - Serena not giving her opinion - Ash started it off.
"My name's Ash Ketchum," The Kanto trainer grinned and then jerked his thumb at the Pikachu perching on his shoulder. "And this is my buddy Pikachu! We're traveling to reach my dream of being a Pokemon Master!"
At that Gary snickered. "That's a long road for ya Ash-boy seeing how you -ow!"
Leaf promptly stepped onto the spiky haired trainer's foot, prompting a chain of curses from the latter. "And this obnoxious oaf is Gary Oak."
"I'm not -" His counter was cut off by the Kalos natives.
"Gary Oak?" Trevor parroted in awe and disbelief. "As if the grandson of the Prof. Oak?"
"I know right?" Leaf jabbed a thumb towards said teen. "I couldn't believe it either. Still can't."
"Ouch." Gary feigned a hurt tone, placing a hand over his chest. "That hurts Leafy."
That earned him another foot stomp by yours truly.
"Are you going to do that when ever I say a nickname for someone?" Gary groaned, lifting his leg and rubbing it with care.
The brunette faced the boy with a sweet smile. "Of course not... Gar-bear."
The nickname prompt a snicker from Ash and the others while Gary twitched an eye. He raised his hands up and sigh in defeat. "Fine fine. You win this round."
"Don't I always?" Leaf flipped her brown locks behind her.
"Oh get a room." Shauna teased, already getting the hint.
"I-IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!" Both trainers shouted in unison with some degree of red on their cheeks, though Leaf's was more evident. Both of them, as usual when saying something at the same time, turned to glare at each other - again.
"Stop copying me!"
"No, you stop!"
They continued to say the same thing each time until Ash broke them up. "Well you two stop flirting?"
"We're not -" They stop, glared, and decided to remain silent while turning away from each other.
Serena sighed internally of how this introduction was turning out. Instead of one that should have taken five minutes, it was extending to ten, maybe thirty if it continues like this.
"Right..." Serena interrupted the awkward silence. "Let's just finish this already and go to sleep. We'll resume tomorrow - assuming if any of you have anything else to say."
Leaf rolled her eyes but complied. "I'm Leaf Green, current -"
"Current Champion of Kanto?" Calem finished, finally recognizing where he had heard the name from. Leaf blinked but nodded. His friends stared at the brunette blankly before the information settled in with the others - it was just too much in one day when Shauna toppled over.
"Aaanndd," Leaf grinned, pulling Serena into a side hug. "I'm Serena's one and only cousin! Isn't that right Serena?"
"... I'm pretty sure Ash mentioned that earlier." The brunette deadpanned, pulling away.
"You're... well connected." Calem commented in absentmindedly, astounded. Then he snapped out and faked a cough to regain his composure. "Right, I'm Calem Xander, current seated as Kalos Champion. Nice to meet you three. These are my friends, Shauna Belrose, Yvonne Faye, Tierno de la Fontaine, and Trevor Janiver."
He gestured to each of them respectively. It was a good thing he decided to do the introduction for them since his friends well... a little starstruck.
"Great." Serena clapped. "Now that we're done, I want to sleep."
"What?" Leaf asked. "It's still early!"
"... It's 2 AM in the morning," Serena deadpanned again, pointing at the clock. "your sense of time is screwed up remember? This is Kalos, which is behind by 7 hours."
"Now that you mentioned it," Gary massaged his head. "the jet lag is finally settling in..."
Leaf shrugged. "There's an answer to that. Coffee."
"That doesn't..." Gary stopped. He shouldn't be arguing with someone who pulls all-nighters on a regular basis. Truth be told, Gary does that too but not nearly as much as Leaf though he didn't know why she isn't be immune to the caffeine's effects yet.
"Now if that's settled - Uncle?" Serena turned around, only to see the anomalous Professor sulking and mumbling in the corner while Robin pecked on his head and Aron the Rhyhorn observing, perplexed.
All that was coherent of the professor was something along the line of being ignored.
"... So," Ash clapped. "the Pokemon Center then?"
It was a good thing that the Pokemon Center was still opened.
The surrounded was black as far as Serena could see. She surveyed around, her glowing body was completely foreign to the black background. Where exactly was she?
"Serena..."
Said girl shipped around to find the source of the voice but there was nothing.
"W-who's there?" she managed to utter. Was hat raw fear that was in her words? It was strange, she always managed to get a hold of herself, hiding her emotions, but she couldn't. It was as if she no longer have that wall around her, leaving her without a shell and defenseless.
"Serena..."
The eerie longing voice was at it again, but when Serena jerked around one more time, there was still nothing there. She looked around one more time and this time, she saw something.
Out of the darkness came a luminous figure just as she was. When they got closer, she took a step back, staggering.
"M-mom...?" Serena choked out. She was really happy to see her again but there was something wrong. She was about to ran to her, give her a great big hug like she used to, when Grace spoke with a voice of piercing cold.
"Why?" she riled.
"W-what?" Serena replied, bemused.
Grace twisted her face to anger. "Why didn't you save me? Why didn't you save any of us?!"
At the last question, another came into existence. A man with platinum blonde hair and silver eyes that used to emit warmth now stared at Serena with disappointment. A Pikachu settling on his shoulder.
"Dad!"
"Serena," the man start, his voice filled with sadness. "Pika and I are disappointed in you. I didn't raise you to be like that."
"What..." Serena croaked, her eyes fogging up with tears. "What do you mean?"
"We didn't risk our lives for your safety just so you can ruin others." He expanded. "You let your mother die and put others in danger. You're not not the daughter that I hope for. You're still as weak as you once were, Pokemon trainer or not."
"No..." The brunette shook her head slowly with her hands covering her mouth. She tried to convince herself that this was all a dream, nothing but a dream but it wasn't helping. Having our parents say something like that was too much.
She needed to get out of here.
With that in mind, she turn and ran, as far as away as possible; escaping.
The ground under Serena started to crack and before she knew it, she was falling into a pit of eternal darkness, screaming.
.
.
.
Serena's silver-grey eyes flickered up and she bolted up from her slumber, panting. She placed a hand over her forward, making contact with the cold sweat that she was excreting. She looked around, seeing that she was in the furnished room at the Pokemon Center. She looked around, seeing that the other occupants of the bunk beds are still asleep.
"Just a nightmare..." she mumbled, trying to persuade herself. Feeling her throat parched, she decided to get some water to quench her thirst.
She didn't realize that she was shaking and her body was limb from the dream until her hand loose gripping as she climbed off of her bed, bringing herself down with a thud despite the matted floor.
The brunette cursed under her breath, pushing her back from the floor and massaging her head. She hoped that it didn't wake up the other occupant of the room but did.
"Serena?" Leaf mumbled sleepily, switching the lights on Upon seeing the brunette on the floor, Leaf blinked. "What happened?"
Serena sighed, getting up. "Nothing, I just fell. Sorry that I woke you up."
Leaf knitted her brows in concern. "Serena... you only do that when you have nightmares."
"It's nothing, really." the brunette insisted, avoiding eye contact.
Leaf sighed, walking over to Serena and setting her down on her bed. "I'm know you like the back of my hand so don't lie to me. It won't work. Besides, Ash, Gary, and I came all the way here to make sure you were okay. Now tell me what's wrong or I'm going to beat it out of you. Your choice."
Serena pursed the bottom of her lips, her hands squeezing tightly against each other. "I... let my parents down..."
She proceeded to tell her cousin about the nightmare that she had, every detail still as livid as if it's still in her ocular sight. She started to trembled again, gathering herself into a ball.
"I-I just..." she chocked on her words, no longer able to produce coherent words other than sobs.
Leaf sat by herself, stroking Serena's back in comfort while trying to find a way to make the younger girl feel better.
A sudden flash and Belle came out of her pokeball that was resting on the table. Hoping up on Serena's bed and nuzzling against her trainer in an attempt at cheering her up.
Leaf smiled gratefully at the Pokemon's efforts for it was working. She didn't know how close those two were but they seemed to be as close as Serena was with her other Pokemon.
"Well, since we're all awake, how about we get some fresh air?" Leaf suggested sisterly.
Agreeing, the girls changed out of her pajamas and left the Pokemon Center, with Belle of course. It was the break of dawn and there were already people strolling and opening shops.
"So.." Leaf started. "How's Kalos?"
"... You really want to ask that?" Serena gave the elder brunette a look.
The Kanto Champion laughed sheepishly. "Right... Scratch that. How are you and your new friends then?"
"... They're acquaintances." Serena corrected.
"So you haven't remembered their names huh." Leaf concluded that much. The younger of the two decided not to comment (Because it's true). "I really can't understand why you have trouble remembering names."
"We're not starting this up again," Serena ended the topic before it started. "Let's just say I don't bother remembering people that aren't close to me."
"Ouch... if I was someone else, that would have hurt." Leaf winced. "Still have that unintentional habit of being blunt and harsh I see; adding in that cynical persona you acquired, it's a lot more effective. I'll give you a call if I ever want to insult someone."
Serena rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Don't mean to be rude-"
"You do that unintentionally anyways." Leaf added in.
Deciding to ignore that comment, Serena continued, "- but how long are you guys staying in Kalos?"
"Hm..." Leaf hummed, mulling. "Not that long. Maybe a couple of days off to hang out. I mean I mainly stay in Kanto, Gary does research around the globe while Ash travels from region and region to fulfill his dream... it's hard to get us together like now and since none of us really been here before, it'll be a great experience."
"... hard to get together?" Serena raised a brow and the smirked. "You're joking right? Don't you and Gary talk every other day? You two are dat-"
"You know what I mean!" Leaf cut in, cheeks flaring up. She paused for a second. "What are you going to be doing?"
Serena's smirk faltered, looking straight ahead. "What do you mean?"
"You're not going to be coped up with Uncle Sycamore helping with his work right?" Leaf expanded. "You did ask for your Pokemon back..."
Serena's eyes looked distant as they continued down the street of South Boulevard. "I... I did decide to do something, but... my resolution isn't that firm anymore. Not after that nightmare."
Leaf wore a furrowed frown. "You shouldn't let one dream get to you. What happened to the 'I'm-going-to-do-this-and-nothing-will-stop-me' attitude of yours?"
"In the grave."
"Eh -" Leaf almost trip upon hearing that one. "You said that so causally..."
Serena shrugged as they make a right and into Vernal Avenue. As they pass by the Stone Emporium, someone flashed at Serena's eyes through the window. She stopped at gaze at the strange stone intently. It was a jagged stone with a strange swivel of blue and brown in the middle.
"What are you looking at?" Leaf asked, noticing that her cousin had stopped walking. She looked through the window and spotted the stone that caught Serena's attention.
"Didn't think you're interested in stones." Leaf remarked. "Do you want it?"
"What?" Serena snapped back to attention. "No, it's find. I just had a strange feeling when I saw it. I can't really describe it."
"Hm..." Leaf contemplated it for a second before walking into the store and coming back a minute later with a box.
"That's one pricey rock." was all she said before passing it to the younger brunette and walked on. Serena was at a lost of what to say for a moment.
"Did you just...?"
Leaf stopped and looked over her shoulder, shooting a lopsided smile. "Keep it. You'll never know when it might come in handy someday."
"..." Serena looked from the box to Belle, who shrugged.
"C'mon!" Leaf called a few feet ahead. The younger girl put it in her bag before catching up to the elder brunette. They continued with an idle talk for a while, that is, until Belle's and Serena's stomach started to growl. It made Leaf laugh.
"Like trainer like Pokemon." She quipped but then her own stomach betrayed her.
"Look who's talking?' Serena smirked.
The elder brunette rolled her eyes. "Let's go back. I'm pretty sure at least some of them are awake by now and then we'll get something to eat."
...
When Serena and Leaf -Belle back in her pokeball- returned to the Pokemon Center, most of their gang was already awake.
"Hey you two," Tierno greeted. "We were wondering where you girls were."
"... it's to make a strong bond with the Pokemon you caught and battle with them, know the Pokemon inside out." Ash was in the middle of giving his interpretation of what a Pokemon Master is to Trevor, who asked. "It's basically to connect with as many Pokemon as possible, forming a special bond with each one of them and to never let one and another down."
Gary blinked, as he was listening into conversation. "Wow, didn't think you changed that much. At least that was a better interpretation than the first time. You thought it has something to do with being the strongest trainer there is."
Ash gave his childhood friend a lot before waving it off with a grin. "It still means that." He then stood up and did a fistpump. "Because training and battling along with your Pokemon is the best way to get to know each other! That and traveling together."
"Oh that reminds me," Ash slammed his fist into his palm. He whirled around to Calem. "Mind if we have a battle?"
The Kalos Champ arched a brow.
"Not an official one, no." Ash elaborated, shaking his head. "When I hear about strong trainers, I want to battle them."
"Are you sure about that?" Yvonne interjected, coming in with Shauna. "Caly's pretty tough."
"The stronger the better is what I always say." Ash grinned with a glint in his eyes. For a split second, his expression went from carefree to analytic but it was probably just their imagination.
As they conversed talked, Leaf recalled something and surveyed Serena. When the latter noticed, she arched an eyebrow. "What?"
"... Where's your hat?"
So that was what she forgot. Serena knew she was missing something but now it was clear. She still hasn't found her favorite hat!
Calem opened his mouth to say something about that but Serena beat him to it.
"I lost it." she answer simply but then balled her hands into fists. "But if anyone - and I mean anyone - is to ruin it before I find it, I'm going to..." the rest was incoherent as she made hand gestures of ways of punishment with her hand and fist.
"I feel ya," Ash commented, placing a hand on Serena's shoulder. "I would do the same thing if my cap was stolen."
Calem gulped.
He hoped that it wasn't crushed in his messenger bag.
"Were you going to say something?" Serena asked, positive that she interrupted him. She eyed his fidgeting outline suspiciously.
"Well -"
A growl from Ash's stomach indicates that breakfast is overdue.
"Exactly my thought," Leaf remarked while Ash apologized. "let's go eat!"
"Alright!" Ash piped once they left the Pokemon Center after a hefty breakfast. "Let's battle!"
Pikachu agreed on the spot, cheeks letting sparks fly. Before anyone get a say, he sped off, leaving a roster-tail dust trail.
"Where are you going?!" Shauna called after him. The raven haired trainer immediately froze in place and came zooming back with a sheepish grin.
"Right... where exactly are we battling?"
The Kalos natives facefaulted while the others shook their head in hopelessness.
"Is he always so..." Calem couldn't find the word to describe Ash's antics.
Gary chuckled. "You'll be surprised once you see past his childish facade."
The group tried the park at first but seeing how the Kalos Champion was going to fight in the open... it attracted a lot of flies.
"... What the hell?" Leaf commented incredulously. "What's with the paparazzi of this region?!"
"Exactly my thought." Serena remarked.
"Don't..." Calem sighed, shaking his head. "Just don't."
"... Let's find elsewhere."
Apparently, the Pokemon Center's field at the back was also a bad idea since, well, trainers gathered their. And seeing that it's Lumiose City, it was more than the other Pokemon Center of Kalos.
Gary was about to say something but Calem beat him to it. "Not a word. Not. A. Word."
The troubles of being the Champion in Kalos...
"... This is getting nowhere." Serena commented. She would have suggested Prof. Sycamore's but realizing that he hasn't install a battlefield in that office building, it wasn't a good idea.
"Hey guys!" Clemont greeted as the group traverse through the city."What are you all doing?"
"Hey Clemont, Bonnie!" Shauna waved. "We're looking for a secluded place for Cal and Ash to battle."
"The paparazzi here is like the buzzing of Ninjask's wings." Leaf remarked, cringing at the thought.
Upon seeing the brunette,Bonnie's eyes sparkled. "It's the cool lady from last night!" She then did a twirl and bind down on one knee like she was proposing. "Please be my brother's bride!"
.
.
.
.
.
Everyone watched though most of them were used to it.
Leaf just stared blankly down at the blonde, blinking once, twice, thrice before even able to respond. Even when she did, it was a dumbfounded "Huh?"
"GAH!" Clemont panicked, flushing front neck up at his sister's bizarre antics even if the intention was to help him. "B-BONNIE!"
Gary's eyebrow twitched as his eyes closed, peeved. His hand went to his belt, unclipped a pokeball and sending it out just as Clemont took a step forward in an attempt to grab Bonnie.
A large Scizor coalesced out with pincers chomping up and down menacingly as he stood in Clemont's way.
"AAAIIIEEE!" Clemont quickly jump back in start, but he did manage to snatch Bonnie back before anything happens.
Gary walked up, stood in front of Leaf protectively. "Nope."
Scizor rolled his eyes, relaxing from his fight stance. "...Humans."
Ash snickered, to which no one noticed, while Pikachu rolled his eyes. "Bright side. At least you weren't being called to get a trim." The electric mouse gestured towards the window where the groomers were tending a Furfrou. He wouldn't have liked it if he had to be groomed.
"... I have metallic exoskeleton." The Pincer Pokemon pointed out. "They don't need trimming."
After Clemont apologized for his sister's behavior and Bonnie being disappointed. "This is what happens when you wait too long!" Bonnie had whined. "The good ones get taken!" There was also some convincing for Gary to relax and return his Scizor.
The Lumiose gym leader offered the usage of their gym as battle ground - Clemont eagerly returning to the original topic to lessen the menacing aura building up around the researcher.
...
"How about we just do a one on one?" Calem suggested, a pokeball already in his hand. "To make this quick and simple."
"I'm game!" Ash called from the other side of the battle field. He looked at his Pikachu on his shoulder. "You ready buddy?"
"I was hoping you would say that!" Pikachu piped, cheeks exuding sparks of electricity. The electric mouse hopped off of Ash's shoulder and onto the field as Calem send out his Pokemon.
"Slade!" Calem announced. The Absol materialized with a shook of his fur.
"You're my opponent?" The Absol surmised, looking down at the yellow rodent while both Pokemon circle around, sizing each other up.
"What of it?" Pikachu retorted, his body scintillating with electricity. Slade didn't reply, merely surveying his opponent.
The air was tensed with silence for a few measly seconds and as if there had been an invisible signal, the two Pokemon lunged at each other.
"Alright." Pikachu started with a Quick Attack as did Absol. They kept on headbutting each other, neither wanting to lose ground from the momentum of the attack.
"Switch to Iron Tail" Ash called. Pikachu flips back and into the air with a tail lighting up to a silvery color. He brought the attack down on Absol but the Disaster Pokemon countered with Night Slash per Calem's request.
The shadow invested protrusion at the side of Slade's head meet with the steel hard tail of the yellow rodent. The result was a cacophony before small explosion and both Pokemon receiving a recoil, sending them back a few feet.
"Slade, use Razor Wind!"
"Dodge them with Quick Attack and follow it up with good ol' Thunderbolt!"
Piercing air was created from the Absol side with barely missed Pikachu's flank as he sped out from the range of the attack and sending a bolt of lightning. The shock prompted a yelp from the Absol but he quickly shook his white coat of the static after the attack finished, looking quite hale.
"Payback with Stone Edge!"
Slade levitated stones from the ground, crisscrossing each other before homing them at the electric mouse.
"Send them back with Iron Tail!" Ash commanded quickly. Silvery colored tail smack stones back to Absol like they were playing tennis but Slade avoided them with Detect and bring home with a simultaneous Psycho Cut per Calem's order.
Pikachu got right back up with little injury and Ash told him to try an Electroball.
"Double Team!"
As the electric-filled energy ball was about to hit the Disaster Pokemon, he split into multiple images, avoiding the hit. Ash rethought about his offense before telling Pikachu to send a Thunder Bolt straight up.
Complying without hesitance, lightning strikes up to the ceiling, brightening up the room a great deal.
"There!" Ash pointed to the only Absol with a shadow. "Agility into Spark!"
"Slade, counter with -" Calem wasn't ale to finish his command when Pikachu sped in with his body highlighted in electricity. The attack the Absol screeching back. He grimaced and shook himself of the after shocking, growling.
"Not too shabby."
"I'll say." Pikachu commented and crack his neck. "I fought a few Absol before in Hoenn but... I'm enjoying this one more."
"Interesting. I may have misjudged."
"Huh," Leaf piped from the sidelines as the two battling Pokemon stared each other down in silence. "they look pretty even."
"But..." Gary mused, examining the Absol and noticing the necklace he is wearing. "... is that a Mega Stone?"
Calem smirked. "So, is that a good enough of a warm up?"
"Ready whenever you are!" Ash answered across the field.
"Slade?" the Kalos Champ called. Said Pokemon whipped his head around to meet Calem's gaze and nodded before returning to the stare down with Pikachu.
"I guess we should take it up a notch." The Disaster Pokemon remarked, a smirk.
Pikachu readied a stance, his red cheeks letting sparks fly in challenge. "Bring it."
Calem raised his right arm up, revealing a black bracelet with a colorful stone embedded in it. With a touch of his index and middle finger, the crystallized stone lit up as bright as the sun. The pendant that Absol wore resonated with the bracelet, shinning in the same intense brightness and enveloping Slade in a shone of light.
A few seconds later, the luminescence subsided as it revealed the Disaster Pokemon in a new look.
As Mega Absol, Slade's fur grew longer, and the fur at the back of his mane stood on end to make it appear that he have wings. The spikes on his heels and elbows grew larger, and the fur in those areas becomes longer as well. His sickle-shaped horn widens, while an additional, smaller horn appears on the opposite side of his head. His tail now has a more saw-like shape, and the oval marking on his forehead is now a rounded triangle.
"Ash, how about we take it up too?" Pikachu called to which the aforementioned trainer nodded in response.
"Let's resume this with Volt Tackle!"
The yellow mouse charged up electricity through his fur, allowing a current to flow. As quick as he had charged, he sprinted with amazing speed and leaving a rather enormous trail of electricity behind his as he does so.
"Slade, attack head on with Me First!"
With a roar, the Absol burst into lightning and loped forward at an even greater amount of speed than he had previously.
This took both Ash and Pikachu by surprise, the upshot being that Pikachu shedding speed for a split second before being collided with Mega Absol. Though he did managed to stand his ground at first, Pikachu was pushed back - mostly due to the mass advantage Mega Absol have over him but that was it.
The copied Volt Tackle didn't seem to do a thing to the electric mouse.
Slade, on the other hand, was worst off than he started with. Residue of electricity crackling through his fur He winced when he tried to move, finding his muscles tensed.
"Well, that was unexpected." The electric mouse commented.
"You're telling me." Ash responded. "Okay, let's go with Iron Tail!"
"How come..." Shauna trailed in uncertainty, seeing how Pikachu was looking more hale after the attack in stead of the other way around. The others were judging what happened as well.
"Hidden Ability." Gary explained, though his ocular gaze never leaving the battle field as it resumed again. "Ash's Pikachu has the hidden ability Lightning Rod instead of the Static."
"If Pikachu has that..." Trevor surmised. "Then the paralysis came from the Volt Tackle? That takes a great deal of chance since it only has 10% paralyzing the opponent."
"Might as well raise it up to ninety since this is Ash's Pikachu," Leaf muttered, reminded of the times she had to fight Pikachu. "His Volt Tackle and other moves paralyzes his opponents most of the time they were used. It was ridiculous just how much luck he has."
"... You're exaggerating." Gary deadpanned.
"It isn't that far off. Pikachu has ways to induce status conditions without even trying." Serena mused, gaining the attention of some. She had been silently watching the battle from the start that they almost forgot that she was there. Almost.
"What?" The brunette snapped, sensing the odd gazes. Up above them, a stray Thunderbolt hit the light bulbs - destroying some - and caused the ceiling lights to flash irregularly. It hurt their eyes at the increasing incessant flashes until the bulbs ceased to function. Al least Clemont was able to switch to the backups upon noticing it.
"We're sorry!" Ash apologized over to Clemont as Slade and Pikachu collide with opposite walls. Mega Absol leave not a dent, but an actual hole in the wall while Pikachu make a crater due to his small body.
Slade and Pikachu then took up speed again, blurring into battle along with the occasional clashes on tail and horn.
Mega Absol using multiple Psycho Cuts in one go, only to be collided with a Counter Shield that Pikachu made. The electricity webbed into a intricate wall that blocked Slade's attacks with little effort.
"Whoa!" Tierno gasped, amazed. "Just look at Pikachu spin! That's awesome! I didn't know a move can be made into that!"
"I can't believe he is actually on par with Caly." Yvonne remarked with astonishment and a hint of jealous. She was the only one that had been able to do that yet, here's a stray trainer from Kanto easily taunting Calem to bring him out.
"Not a surprise," Leaf responded. "he and his Pokemon had always been able to drive people into a corner."
While the battle resumed, Serena looked around the field, seeing several furrows from the collision and recoils along with cut makes made into the floor. She then switched to the ceiling, seeing that it was beginning to crack. That wasn't a good sign. Since when did they started getting this serious?
"SERENA, LOOK OUT!"
Upon the warning she heard from Calem, Serena jerked her head back down in time to see multiple sizzling Electro Balls coming her way after the Disaster Pokemon had volleyed them away from him.
She barely had time to blink before she felt a rush of wind hitting her face and Ash came to her aid in a second; his expression warped into seriousness as he begin to counter. He rebounded most of the with the thrusts of his hand - blue aura crackling upon contact. At the last one coming his way, the raven haired trainer formed a uniformed blue sphere in his palm.
With the Aura Sphere that he just made, Ash launched it at Pikachu's stray attack, both detonating upon contact until the others.
"Phew," Ash sighed with relief, his carefree persona returning. "that was a close one. You okay Serena?"
"Good." The brunette merely answered while the Kalos natives were off their rockers upon seeing Ash's strange... performance just now - even Mega Absol. Their jaws huge open, waiting for a fly to land as Calem and the others looked at the eccentric trainer, thrown and dumbfounded. They couldn't comprehend what just happened.
"You been improving on that haven't you?" Leaf complimented.
"Yep." Ash chirped.
"W-w-wha..." Yvonne stammered, starting to point a shaking finger but failed.
"Ash! You almost hit me when you reflected one of my attacks!" Pikachu shouted indignantly, prompting a sheepish chuckle from his trainer.
"Sorry sorry," the Kanto trainer apologized good-naturedly, scratching the back of his head. "It was in the heat of the moment Pikachu. I didn't have time to think much about it."
Ash's reply to Pikachu made them even more bewildered. Now only was he able to block off and use Pokemon moves, he could also understand Pokemon?! Just what in Arceus's name is going on here?!
"D-did you..." Trevor started but failed just like Yvonne.
"Hm?" Ash turned to see the dumbstruck faces of the Kalos trainers. He didn't know why they were so shock until a minute later, where he pounded his fist onto his palm in realization. "Oh! You guys must be hungry!"
Every facefaulted at his comment.
"Ash..." Gary groaned, getting back up and facepalm. "Not now."
Said trainer laughed sheepishly again and apologized. "Sorry, I just wanted everyone to loosen up a bit." He then round his head to Calem was still in the battle field. "But I want to finish the battle first alirght?"
With that, he raced back, calling Calem's name several times before actually getting a response. Though the Kalos champ rather hear an explanation now than to resume the battle, Ash was tenacious.
And so they continued though... it seemed more lighthearted than before.
Ash sighed, a hand on his head while the other on his hip. "Wep, a lost is a lost."
He then walked to Pikachu, scooping him up in his arms while Slade reverted back from his mega evolution.
"He put up an impressive fight for a Pokemon his size." Slade commented.
"Pikachu's full of surprises," Ash grinned, catching the Absol off guard with his response.
"What...?"
Before Ash could reply, Pikachu had recovered enough to talk. "That was a good fight! Let's do that again sometimes!"
"Err... Right..." Slade replied hesitantly, till thrown by earlier but he shook it off as a coincidence. Of course, his new deduction was shot down when Ash started to converse with Pikachu about the battle.
"You... understand Pokemon speech?" Calem took the words right out of Slade's mouth, even if he couldn't express human speech. The others were starting to make their ways to them as well, half of them wanting a clear explanation as to what happened, albeit Clemont was grieving about his gym and how much it will cot to replace a wall or two. Maybe the ceiling as well.
"Um... well, not exactly," Ash replied. "that was Aura."
Several "Huh?!" resounded through the clearly destroyed room.
"Aura is a field of light said to surround living beings, it usually have no physical form so most humans and Pokemon can't see it or use it for that fact. There are some Pokemon such as Riolu and Lucario that can though." Gary supplied.
"That, I can understand," Calem said, pulling out one of his pokeballs. "my Lucario can do that and he could also communicate through using his aura. I just never heard of a human doing it."
"Really?" Ash asked, tilting his head to the side slightly. "I know for a fact that there aren't many Aura Guardians left but you should have at least heard of them before right? "
"... I heard of them before," Trevor offered. "Aura Guardians are known as people who are able to manipulate their aura, giving them physical form like that of the two aforementioned Pokemon and are able to use them... Wait... doesn't that mean..."
"You're one of them?" Yvonne asked, putting the pieces together.
"Erm..." Ash mulled over that for a moment, scratching his cheek with his index finger. "Well, I am the descendant of n Aura Guardian but... I wasn't planning on becoming one. It all just happened, ya 'know?"
"You are?!" Shauna piped in awe. "Who? who?"
"Sir Aaron of Rota." Ash replied proudly, yet there was the ghost of a smile on his face. "Since that's out of the way, let's go explore Lumiose!"
"I rather not." Serena answered.
"Eeeeh?" The raven haired trainer said in a whiny pitch. "Why not?"
"Just because."
"That's not a good enough answer."
"So? It's an answer."
The terse reply from Serena made Ash frown as he gave her a look that resemble that of scolding. "Being vague won't get you anywhere. You need to be firm in what you want to do or you'll lose it as easily as you came to a decision."
Did he know about the conversation she had with Leaf that morning or was it just a coincidence? The brunette couldn't really judge when it came to him.
"... Since when were you the one to give advices, Ash?" Serena retorted.
"Since I'm older than you and have more experience." Ash quipped back without missing a beat.
She really hate Ash. Really.
"Okay, that's enough of the banter." Leaf declared, tugging at Serena's arm.
"Leaf, it really wasn't one." Serena retaliated, irked.
"If we hadn't known better, we would have thought -"
"Shut up Gary." Serena hissed before the young researcher could finish his sentence.
Leaf rolled her emerald green orbs at her cousin's behavior. "we're rarely together so today, we're going to have fun together."
"You okay?"
Serena turned her gaze to the speaker. "Nothing of your concern Cameo."
They were currently walking a few feet behind their friends, who were talking away animatedly. Leaf, Gary, and Ash stopped for a moment to steal a glance behind them before exchanging looks and returning to the conversation they were having. They had a feeling that would be of some kind of help to Serena so they didn't want to interfere.
Claem sighed. "Wrong again Poppy."
"... call me that one more time and -" her threat was interrupted when Calem abruptly grabbed her arm and dragged her into into a alley. He guided her through twists and turns with her complaining about why he was doing this and where they were going.
"Have you seen the view from Prism Tower?" Calem asked, looking over his shoulder as they turn the last corner onto Central Lumiose.
"No -" She stopped again when Calem stopped running and pointed up. It was the same building that they left from so she didn't understand what was so interesting about it.
"... Haven't we been here already?"
"Yeah but you haven't been to the top." Calem supplied.
Serena promptly look up to the apex, finding in rather high - not that she's acrophobic or anything.
The brunette heard the opening of a pokeball and the flash of light. Before she could comprehend what Calem was trying to do, he climbed onto his Altaria and pulled Serena along.
"Wait, I didn't -"
"Hold on tight!" Calem advised as the Humming Pokemon take flight.
All that was heard were Serena's uncharacteristic shrieks of terror and her vice griping Calem around the waist.
Leaf looked up to the sky when a shrill voice echoed throughout the city. while the others wondered who is the owner.
"Was that..." She turned to Ash, who promptly closed his eyes to use Aura Sight. In the next second, he was snickering before opening his brown orbs back up.
"She's fine."
Gary raised a brow. "That didn't sound find to me..."
"We're... here?" Calem ended his announcement uncertainly when he looked over his shoulder to see a scared little child - or he would have thought if he hadn't known that it was Serena.
She was shaking uncontrollably while her arms wrapped around him tightly, afraid of letting go; her face was buried onto the back of his jacket.
Calem exchanged worried looks with his Altaria - who was beginning to land on the observatory deck of Prism Tower.
"Ser -" He paused, deciding on the second option since it'll get her attention quicker. "Poppy?"
Serena stopped upon hearing her new unofficial nickname and was quick to absorb in what was going on. Disgruntled, she shove Calem aside, prompting him to fall off of the Humming Pokemon with a painful thud.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"What was that for?" Serena parroted with teary eyes. She slide down from Altaria, storming towards Calem with quelling rage. "I'm the one that's supposed to say that, you dimwit!"
She grabbed Calem by the scuff of his black suede shirt jacket and pulled him up to level with her silver eyes that were no longer dull but of fiery ire. "What the hell was that for?! I didn't give you sanction to fly me up here on that Altaria of yours you got that?!"
"Calem down Serena!" Calem tried to quell the brunette's coming anger but it did little to appraise the situation. "I just thought that it would be faster if we take the shortcut up here!"
"Shortcut?" The indignant brunette parroted once more. "You call that a shortcut?! I THOUGH IT WOULD NEVER END! I RATHER TAKE THE STAIRS!"
That gain some attention from the onlookers as they watched the altercation unfold.
They only shake it off as a normal lover's quarrel that they seen from time to time.
It took some time for Calem to gain a little breathing space without the brunette yelling in his face. Serena was still furious but she was only stabbing daggers at the Kalos native when her glares now.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't throw you off this tower right now." Serena demanded irritably, pointing at the railing and what was beyond that.
Calem laughed sheepishly. "Um... Because... I'm your friend?"
Her eye twitch.
He hands quickly went up in defeat. "Sorry, I forgot that you have a fear of -"
A feral growl from Serena made him quickly rephrase.
"- dislike riding on bird Pokemon." Calem sweatdropped. She really didn't like it when someone pointed out her weaknesses but it brought a lot of emotion from her, something he wasn't expecting. "I just wanted to show you the view."
Serena scowled. "And bringing only me up hear because...?"
Calem sighed, walking pass her to the railing and leaning his back against it. "You looked like you have something on your mind and since I wouldn't get anything out of you when there's a crowd, I thought I bring you here."
"Why do you think I would speak my mind to you?" Serena interrogated, fixing Calem with another glare, though softer this time.
They silently stared at each other before Calem closed his eyes and sigh again. He then pushed himself from the railing, finding it more comfortable to stand straight. "Serena."
The girl waited for the Kalos trainer to continue.
Calem open his eyes. "You're the one that told me I have friends and family who will support me, and help when I'm stressed or troubled. Even if you don't think of me as a friend, I still am. I'll be there to listen to whatever you have to say and help you anyways I can, the same with the others."
"You'll be the idiot if you take all of us for granted."
Serena balled her hands into fists as her bangs shadowed over her eyes and mumbled something incoherent.
"... What?"
Serena heaved a breath, her hands loosening. "I'm worried about Garchomp. That's all I'm saying."
Calem blinked as Serena averted her gaze, then he beamed. It was about time he was getting somewhere. "Now was that so hard?"
Serena snapped her head back to fix Calem a scowl. "You're as bad as Ash, Caliver."
The raven haired champ frowned and folded his arms. "How come you can remember his name but not mine?" He wasn't jealous. He was just merely curious at the fact that Serena could remember the Kanto natives' names but not his or any of the others. Yep, just mere curiosity - or so he thought.
"I don't bother remembering people that aren't considered my friends or family."
"Ouch."
Serena was starting to get the feeling that she was having déjà vu.
"Well," Calem started, waking over to Serena while rummaging through his messenger bag. "If that's how it is, then..."
He pulled out a familiar red felt hat that the brunette thought that she had lost forever. The boy place it on Serena's honey brown hair and grinned, his hand not leaving from her head.
"... I'll just work my way up until you can remember my name."
Serena delivered a smack to Calem on the head.
It's super effective!
"If there's a next time, bones will be broken."
And the moment was ruined by yours truly.
Done~! Ah, I just keep on deleting parts that I didn't like and it ended up taking a long time since had several scenes that didn't particularly like so I just kept erasing and rewriting. Might have been at least 3k's worth of words that were deleted and rewrote... yeah, I kept track.
That last part. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I just had to. XD
Anyways, I got too lazy on the battle so I just... skipped to the end. :p But I hope the beginning was decent enough.
As for Ash, I kind of portrayed him with a flip side personality, or split personality if you wanna call it that. He has a carefree mask on to hide his serious nature. He may seem like a idiot but he's actually not and he doesn't take things seriously unless he needed to... I hoped that what I just said was evident in the chapter. ;-;
That's all I have so R&R and see you next time!