Chapter 25: Chaotic Party Time
Ash rode the monorail back to the PortCourt after the ChaotiCup Final. After a massive battle involving 16 creatures on each side, Ash defeated Klay to become the ChaotiCup champion… but it wasn't over. Klay accused Ash of cheating, only to be discovered tampering the system. The Codemasters were in a discussion as Ash mulled, despite his victory. 'Those two would be great for Team Rocket, especially Jessie,' he minded, referring to both Klay and Krystella. 'Not to mention that Klay has the nerve to call me a loser, despite being undefeated. He's probably lost more matches than Tom has, and that's before me arriving, let alone the ChaotiCup.' The monorail reached its destination and Ash headed to the blacked-out PortCourt. 'I know my Pokémon will be happy to see me after that long battle.' As he reached for the door to get in, he now noticed the PortCourt had no power. This made him curious. 'Did a Codemaster not pay the electric bill? I know it was a lot of work to get the new Drome installed…' He opened the door and looked to the blacked-out lobby. Without warning, the lights flashed on, blinding the trainer for a few seconds. Then…
"SURPRISE!" the players cheered. Ash gawked but laughed to the gift. "CONGRATULATIONS!" Ash was surprised to see the players gathering around him as confetti and streamers rained inside. Tom, Kaz, Peyton and Sarah were the first to make contact with Ash.
"That was a wicked awesome battle, Ash!" shouted Peyton as they locked hands and bumped shoulders.
"I knew you could pull it off!" praised Kaz. "No way in Chaotic would you lose on a title shot!" Ash laughed as more players gave their praise and awe to Ash's victory.
"Hey, I didn't know you'd throw a celebration like this!" he chuckled.
"We wouldn't do it for Klay, and you already know how we feel!" mocked Sarah. The Pokémon rushed over and tackled Ash in their own celebration. They embraced their trainer in a massive hug.
("Numero Uno, Amigo!") cawed Hawlucha.
("I knew Dawn's teachings were still on your mind!") teased Pikachu.
("Can you teach me that, Sensei!?") requested Froakie.
("Me too!") cawed Fletchinder.
"You guys…" laughed Ash. Sarah helped Ash up with Fletchinder flying onto Kaz's head.
"I'm not normally a girl who shows love," she admitted. "But with how you beat Klay…" She gave Ash a massive hug. "I'm inclined to make an exception or two." She drilled her lips onto his cheek, creating catcalls about the two.
"Spare some face for the rest of us, Sarah!" urged Lulu. She, Jycella, Shinwan and other girls came to Ash, wrapped him in hugs before kissing his face, sans the lips. Sarah and the Pokémon enjoyed the show of love Ash was getting.
"Hey, let's get this party started!" chuckled Tom. The PortCourt cheered wildly as Eddie had a band behind him on a stage.
"Let's give it up for the Pokéotic, the first ChaotiCup champion!" he cheered. "Ash, this is my Conflagration! We have a number for the champ! 1… 2… 1, 2, 3, 4!" The Conflagration began playing rock music which Ash and the Pokémon instantly started cheering, softly banging their heads and pumping their fists in the air. With the music playing, Ash came over to a line of tables and a smorgasbord of PortCourt Food available: Hoton Hog Dogs, Perim Pizzas, Frafdo Fries, Toxic Gust Tacos, Onion Rings of Na'arin, Siado Salads, Blugon Burgers, Wamma Wings, Najarin Nachos, Shimmark Shakes, water, soda and juice.
"You guys went all out!" he awed.
"Believe us, when you have this many players watching, getting excited works up an appetite!" explained Bruiser. "So, what do you say? The ChaotiCup After Party Eating Contest?"
"Count me in!" agreed Peyton. Ash wouldn't pass a moment and handed his cap to Pikachu.
"I'm game!" sneered Brad. A few more lined up to have the eating contest with Sarah and Jycella looking on with pain on their faces. Kaz kicked it off.
"Ready, guys!?" he warned. Everyone was prepared. "EAT!" The boys began eating a storm at the smorgasbord. They sampled and then devoured each item that was there. Within five minutes, one guy caved, then another. Brad couldn't last long and it was down to Ash and Peyton, but the Mipedian expert was hurting, more than Ash was. Before he could shove another onion ring down, Peyton collapsed. The PortCourt cheered for another win by Ash.
"He's unconscious!" joked Sarah. While they cleaned the tables, someone came by the PortCourt's entrance. The visors were glowing red. Back inside, Ash was met with his friends as they held Ash's Pokémon.
"Hey, we all saw the move with Tangath and how you're able to attack while breakdancing," Kaz opened up as he drank a glass of soda. "Honestly. I didn't think you could pull it off."
"I was gonna say," Tom spoke up. "Where'd you pull that move out of? Tangath's memories?" Ash laughed to the guess.
"It's actually a move that I taught when I traveled in Sinnoh," he corrected. "Pikachu knows about the Counter Shield." The four looked on a little confused.
"Counter… Shield?" repeated Sarah.
("It's a treat to watch,") Pikachu squeaked.
"Here I am, thinking it's something you've seen other players or creatures pull off this radical," Peyton shrugged. "So what breakdancing school did you attend?"
"Well, it's a-" he started but a sensation entered his head. He felt something in his mind and turned. Klay appeared and swung a wide right hook. He spun away and faced Klay as the rest gasped to his backstabbing attack. Klay looked red in the face. His anger had boiled.
"Klay!" gawked Kaz. As Ash tried to recover and wonder Klay's ordeal, the sensation picked up again. He became weary before finding Krystella about to hit him with her fist. Ash dodged the punch mere inches from his face. Ash staggered a bit before recovering and seeing two enraged at him. Jycella had her scanner recording the exchange.
"Sis, that was uncalled for!" she snapped. Krystella ignored her sister as her anger came at Ash.
"This is all your fault!" yelled Klay. "The Codemasters are furious at us!"
" You got us in trouble!" added Krystella.
"No, you got yourselves in trouble with that device!" retorted Ash. "You shouldn't blame others for what you did!" Klay bellowed a roar at Ash.
"SHUT THE BLOODY HELL UP!" he snapped. Ash gritted and tossed his gloves and vest to Shinwan. Pikachu wore his hat after Ash had the eating contest.
"Remember when I said that punches don't always connect?" he reminded as he balled his naked fists. Klay charged at Ash, knuckles clenched. He swung but Ash lurched his head to the same side as his flying arm. Ash countered with a nasty body blow, slamming his fist into Klay's stomach. He followed up with a hook to the cheek. This forced Klay back and Krystella to attack. A bunch of players brought out their scanners, including Ash's friends, and recorded them. Krystella swung wildly, but Ash landed a perfect counter uppercut to her chin. This wobbled the brunette, sending her back several feet before falling on her hands and knees. Klay came back with both arms swinging downward like a hammer. All it did was graze Ash's wild hair. Ash delivered and connected a right cross above the cheek and breaking the glass of his specs.
"No wonder he said that about punching!" realized Tom. Peyton seemed perplexed.
"You mean how they don't always connect?" he recalled. Ash continued to bob, weave and counter each attack from Klay and Krystella. The group photo of Ash and his friends from Geosenge Town slowly slipped out from his jacket. Shinwan didn't notice.
"Of course… Ash can box!" After a while, Ash remained standing from the tag team "effort" but Klay and Krystella looked as if they couldn't stand for long. Their faces were bruised and swollen, nose gushing blood, teeth broken and missing... Klay's visor shattered and bow bent. That's when Krystella found the Geosenge City picture and picked it up.
"What's this?" she brought up through busted and missing teeth. Ash saw the picture and turned to Shinwan. He saw the pocket hanging down and loose. He now realized that was the pocket the picture was in. "Klay, look at these losers!" His face having seen better days, Klay looked at the photo and laughed.
"Who are these pathetic brats?" he cackled. They eyed Clemont and his forced smile. "The derp with the glasses can't stand straight!" Krystella eyed Bonnie and sneered.
"That little girl has to be an annoying bullhorn! Jycella was like her!" She also pointed to Korrina. "How many pigtails does one girl need? Overdoing it much?" Klay now eyed Serena as Ash's anger grew, blood boiling at the insults.
"Those two keep getting lower and lower and they're doing it on Ash's friends!" growled Sarah.
"This girl by our assaulter…" Klay pointed to. "I've never seen a more worthless and pathetic girl in my life!" Both laughed at Serena's picture. Ash was distraught. Hearing these two mock his friends, he lost all happiness. Replaced by anger, he clenched his fist and approached the two with a sprint as Klay leaned back, cackling to the mocking.
"I never thought anyone would cross that line…" he scowled. "NOW YOU'LL PAY!" By the time Klay got his head up, Ash was inches from him. Ash flung his knee up… and split Klay's uprights, smashing his kneecap into Klay's crotch. Klay stopped on the impact and stood frozen as the men in the PortCourt cringed at where Ash's knee made contact, holding their groins in the reaction. Klay let out a high-pitch scream, pain rushing through his body. With his body crouched forward in sheer pain, Klay looked open as Ash grabbed his collar.
"Anyone else think Ash is pissed?" wondered Brad.
"Understatement of year," Buzz Senior cringed. In his anger, Ash smashed Klay with destructive hooks from each hand, one more knocking him to the floor with massive force. Klay didn't stay down for long as he raced at Ash. He didn't know, see or care about Ash's cocked arm. He spun and delivered a rising uppercut, catching him in the jaw and twisting his head in a crooked fashion. He flew for a few seconds, flipping backwards just as he landed head-first into the floor. He looked to be knocked out. Krystella saw what happened and rushed Ash.
"YOU SON OF A BIT-" she screamed but got a crushing overhand punch that sent her flying several feet. The two began to stand despite how hurt they were.
"I want you to listen to me!" seethed Ash. "My Pokémon and I came here against our will. We were forced to come and we played this game. I learned what the game is and had a great time. You can deal with me in the Dromes, you can deal with me in Perim, you can deal with me here in Chaotic however you want… but my friends are off… limits! You can slug me in the back, you can insult how I battle, you can even mock at what I did wrong… but if you ever speak about my friends like that again… I promise you I will make it my mission to deal a punishment that you will feel back home." Klay and Krystella got to their feet and snarled back through their swollen faces.
"Then make it our mission to find your 'friends' and make sure they regret meeting you with how we'll make your face!" he countered. Just as they reached their feet…
"That is enough!" shouted Imthor. All turned to see all seven Codemasters reach the battlefield.
"It's the Codemasters," Tom hushed. Klay turned to the Codemasters with a disturbing grin.
"I'm actually glad you arrived," he sneered. "This boy has attacked us when we were giving him our congrats for winning the ChaotiCup! I need him-"
"Not another word!" scowled Amzen. Ash turned to the Codemasters, his hands slightly bruised and swollen.
"Trying to make us fools?" scorned Imthor. "We were going to suspend you for a month from service, but when we saw you attacking Pokéotic in his blind spot, you two forced our hand. Chaotic is suppose to be a place to make friends and challenge themselves in Drome battles."
"Please," Klay dismissed. "All this playing fair makes anyone weak! It's no wonder we never got one victory since you use cheap tactics! Rules are not meant to be followed since you don't follow your own! You need to bend it if you need to succeed!" The crowd booed and hissed the two for the audacity.
"There are people who won't learn… and here's two examples!" snapped Imthor. "Besides, we appreciate you telling us how you failed to show strategy in all of your Codemaster matches. Those who rather ignore the rules will not be around… EVER!" Amzen brought her scanner out. With a push of a button, Klay's and Krystella's scanners flew to the other two Codemasters.
"NO!" they cried.
"You have violated Chaotic for the last time!" continued Imthor. "Your records in Drome matches will be cleansed. You'll no longer be participating in Drome matches overall. Your permission to travel to Perim for ScanQuests are permanently revoked. Your scans and cards you've saved will be absconded." Amzen and Crellan scanned Klay's and Krystella's scanners before sliding them back. The two picked their scanners up, but there was a lock on each screen. "Basically, we Codemasters hearby banish you two from Chaotic… and you'll never come back!" Klay and Krystella yelled a plea before they burst into code. The two were gone.
"Good riddance…" Jycella scoffed. Now, they turned to Ash.
"We'll be back in a little bit," Crellan addressed. The party resumed for a little while when all of the Codemasters reentered the PortCourt.
"Excuse us!" called out Amzen. The party settled as the large gold trophy came out for all to see.
"Now, Pokéotic," Oron announced. "Come forth!" Ash heard the Codemaster and came to the stage. It was like the picture shown before Ash's and Klay's ChaotiCup Final.
"It is with great honor that we announce our first ever member of the Chaotic Hall of Fame," Tirasis began.
"Through tough trials and hardships," Crellan added.
"And through rigorous and strategic battling," Hotekk murmured.
"We hearby declare Pokéotic, champion of the first ever ChaotiCup, a permanent member of Chaotic and the Hall of Fame," Amzen announced. Chirrul handed the large gold trophy with statues of the four tribal rulers facing the large monument. Ash rose the statue above his head to show.
"Congratulations!" praised Chirrul. The crowd cheered wildly to the ceremony. Imthor saw in Ash's face something he needed to get off his chest.
"Do you want to say something to this crowd, Ash?" he asked. Ash looked to Imthor and nodded.
"I do," he admitted before putting the trophy down then faced the crowd. "It's a great honor to be the first champion of Chaotic… but in all honesty, I wouldn't have been anywhere as close without all of you to help. It's because of you that helped me with Chaotic, and Perim and meeting friends that I'll remember for the rest of my life. I cannot say that I deserve the trophy without all of you included. You've not only helped me in battles, including the ChaotiCup, but also in friends. Thank you!" The crowd cheered again, a great speech given. That's when Ash turned to Imthor. "By the way, if you knew Klay was cheating, why didn't you stop the match?"
"We have a strict code that doesn't allow us to interfere with a battle unless it's between rounds and the player must declare the opponent is cheating." Ash bobbed a nod, now realizing that it was the last round so he would've declared a ruling when Klay did use the Warbeast. "On a side note, we wanted to see how you'd overcome that illegal combination before ruling you the winner by default. Also, that move you did impressed all of us, even Hotekk." Ash chuckled shyly to the added detail. After a few more hours, the party had ended. Ash and his Pokémon were covered in kisses from all the female players giving love to them and each one was wiped out. Only Tom and his friends stuck around to help Ash and the Pokémon back to their room.
"Man, those girls were crazy for Ash," Kaz huffed. "Even Natalie gave him a little smooch!" Peyton carried the trophy up to Ash's room.
"I'm just gonna shower before calling it a night," Ash weakly moaned.
"After all that, I wouldn't blame you," Sarah sympathized. All reached the spot where Tom borrowed Ash's scanner and opened the door. Everyone entered and Peyton placed the trophy in a corner where it wasn't in sight.
"Thanks for helping me back," Ash praised.
"Hey, what are friends for?" joked Peyton.
"You all need a goodnight rest after all that," Tom reasoned. They left and returned to Earth as Ash showered and headed to bed. The day ended with the ChaotiCup champion sleeping easy.
TO BE CONTINUED…