A Continuation of events from last chapter.
Ash will have his one last stop, one last battle before heading to Mount Silver, currently where he resides.
Now in my story, Ash has won a few regional leagues between his decade of training. One of them happens to be the 2016 Silver Conference. Incidentally, his opponent, Jon Dickson, also happens to be a Cup Holder of the Silver Conference in the anime. So he's a potential adversary by Ash's perspective.
One thing that you should know Ash has battled Dorian, Vincent and Jon Dickson all in a day's time.
Meanwhile in New Bark Town, Jimmy will be seen gearing up to scale Mount Silver. His and Marina's family background will be revealed in the next chapter. And their battle (Ash and Jimmy's) will be the best until now, that's a promise.
So without, further ado, let's begin. I'm gonna pace this up as well. Jon Dickson may be have a Championship Trophy but he's nowhere on the same level as Ash.
Ash's Roster: Tyranitar, Unfezant, Tauros, Blastoise, Torkoal and Butterfree. (He switched Charizard on the way back from Pokémon Center)
Location 1: Sento Cherry Town (no info about this City anywhere but it's hometown of Jon)
Location 2: Mount Silver.
The Sun sank began to sink lower into the sky, doing its part for the day. The evening sent the Pidgeys and Spearows to their roosts, and Kricketunes to sing in swaying grasses. Rattatas scurried into the allies and Ghost Pokémon began the patrolling. The early evening lull had come to the streets that quiet between the frenetic commuters and the vibrant party seekers. The bars and clubs were still mostly shuttered, the only visible life being the cafe terraces that teemed with diners, chatting, relaxing after a busy day.
To Ash, he felt as if the people of this city had succumbed to a life like that. Work their asses off from ten to six and relax off their tiredness. They didn't have a penchant for Pokémon Battling and that differed them from the people of other cities, because he and his opponent were, at the moment, standing on the only Pokémon battlefield in the entire remote Town.
Almost tired from all the travelling himself, he didn't want to stand there and whine about all the cultures that breed in the city. It was his luck that the adversary had agreed to a battle with him at this time of the day.
Both being the winners of the same Johto Conference, this further evoked a thirst for battle even more. Standing on opposite ends, they just wanted to quench this thirst the right way.
''Let's go, Ariados!'' Jon was quick to throw upon his first Pokéball, bursting open in midair to reveal the freakish arachnid.
''Butterfree, I choose you!'' Ash as well, not wanting to delay this anymore, tossed his own Pokéball into the fray, releasing the Butterfly, fluttered up and down, his wings beating the summer air.
''Free~'' One glance of surroundings from his large compound lens was enough to comprehend that it's a time for fight.
''Hey Jonny! I'm just running this through you again. Full battle, ok!'' Ash reminded.
''I heard it the first time and all those times you repeated that on our way here,'' Jon let out a nervous chuckle. ''But don't disappoint me okay!''
''Oh man, you really tying my hands here!'' Ash groaned.
''You can whine all you want after this battle!'' Jon Dickson outstretched an arm. ''Spider Web!''
Ariados hissed, glad it could make the first move, parting his fangs to spew out a sticky glob at first. The glob quickly took the structure of an intricate, delicate, sculpture of silky threaded net that expanded and streaked forward.
''You can have your webby gift back! Psychic on that web!''
Each of the Butterfree's eyes, powered by a thousand eyes that were clustered glowed, a bright turquoise blue. The web was stopped and Butterfree became its puppeteer. With telekinetic power, the silky web changed directions, soaring back towards its creator.
''Quick! X Scissor to slash before it reaches you!''
Two swift slashes, with the nearest two legs, took care of one problem but opened the doors for another. It was now neatly exposed.
''And while your crawly friend is busy doing that, we'll won't be sitting idle either! Gust!''
As fast as he could, Butterfree flapped his angel like wings. A furious gust mercilessly battered the spider, lifting it into the air, and then yanking it down in a hard blow. Swirly eyes, indicated Ariados was out of commission. While that brought an early satisfactory smile on Ash's face, the color for Jon's face was leaking away.
''I-It's O-over?'' Jon stammered, widening his eyes to the best he could.
''Oh yeah, I probably forgot to mention this before,'' Ash scratched his cheek sheepishly, ''You might wanna keep a distance.''
''Just one move made contact, and Ariados is out? Is this strength even possible? It took Will to seven turns to beat Ariados but this man took only like a thirty seconds?'' Jon brooded over, returning Ariados back to the Pokéball it was sent out from. ''I have to play this carefully. If I stress over this, I won't get anywhere with him.''
Tossing another Pokéball, he sent out a Fearow. The Beak Pokémon, fluttered into the air, right in front of Butterfree, neck craned to show its dangerously hooked beak.
''Mind if I take the start this time. It didn't go down well with you last time,'' Ash taunted, before making the move. ''Quiver Dance!''
A bright glow illuminated Butterfree, as he fluttered around, faint afterimages trailing the original form.
''Fury Attack!''
Anger as of on its beak, Fearow bolted forward for the butterfly, its beak ready to pelt the bug type. But its powerful weapon could on tear the air if it wanted to, because each time, Butterfree successfully dodged, thanks to the boost in his speed from the Quiver Dance.
Having finally brought Fearow closer to Butterfree without an effort, Ash widened his grin. ''Poison Powder!''
Harsh, irritating were sprinkled on Fearow's back. A sudden sickening burst of purple bubbles earned a sharp shrill from the Beak Pokémon, as the powder further seeped into Fearow's feathers.
''Return, your job's done here!'' A sudden flash of light retracted Butterfree back, as Ash chose his next combatant. ''I choose you, Unfezant!''
The Proud Pokémon appeared with a chirp, eager to fight. One glimpse at the agonizing Pokémon, and Unfezant, though sympathetic but she knew she had to finish her job.
''CAWWWWW!'' another bubble of violet flashed on Fearow's body as it slowly began to lose its focus.
''Hang in there Fearow!'' Jon bit. ''Drill Peck!''
Shrugging off the bubbling poison, twisting its beak, spinning it like a drill and shaped in a cone, Fearow launched forward.
''Detect!''
Doing its best after eyes taking a blue glow, Unfezant acknowledged Fearow's speed, as she barely dodged out of the path.
''Air Slash!''
Whipping the length of her wings around, she howled. Violent currents around her were twisted into the shapes of saw disks before she casted them forward.
'' Agility and Mirror Move!''
Almost disappearing like a teleportation before the blades could tear its back, Fearow appeared at a certain distance above the Proud Pokémon. Mimicking the same move Unfezant made before, Fearow too fired a barrage of slicing currents.
''Taunt!''
''Shit!''
Once her own move were effectively dodged, Unfezant spread her wings while gliding, and cawed harshly at Fearow, lampooning it. ''You got such a long neck! Does food even make it to your belly? And what's the deal with your beak? It's longer than your entire body! I bet a few Pidgeys can make a nest there!''
Fearow's crest bristled. It was outraging by the second.
Without its trainer's orders, it tried to use Drill Peck, but somehow found it unable to. Only the mechanics of one move was stationed in its mind, and it seemingly had forgotten all about the rest. Then Fearow realized what really transitioned. The nerve of this pheasant!
''Now Fearow can't use any move except Mirror Move for three turns. And that move depends entirely on what we attack do we make. So dodge while you can!'' Ash smirked. ''Aerial Ace!''
In the blink of an eye, Unfezant rammed into Fearow, beak-first. The latter shrieked hard, its vital organs were the first to take the impact. Not able to continue anymore, the evolved form of Spearow, spiraled in the air, before its unconscious form descended on the ground.
The trainer's expression turned pale. ''How can somebody think that fast? He poisoned my Pokémon, than cunningly curbed Fearow to use any other attacks and landed a final blow with a move which can't be dodged. That was insane!''
Hastily, he held a Pokéball outward, calling back the motionless pokémon in a red flash of light. ''I'm sorry Fearow. I'm responsible.''
A same streak of light retracted Unfezant back on the other side as Ash cockily flipped the Pokéball in his hand. ''Don't worry. You still got four more chance to be responsible.''
Jon could make out that it was a shot at him but couldn't counter it. His mind wasn't in the place. Jon grit. A Pokéball was ready, yet his hands were trembling. Nevertheless, he tossed it above his head. '''Let's go, Furret!''
The long ferret coiled before, straightening up its body high, letting out a cry of its name.
''Hmph…Normal types can be very tricky,'' Ash mulled, before tossing another Pokéball forward. ''Torkoal, come on out and use Smog!''
The Pokéball spun before breaking, only to release thick smog that obscured the entire battlefield. Nobody knew where Torkoal landed.
''Double Team!''
Shrouded in the thick smoke, Furret increased its evasion by multiplying itself. One became four, four became sixteen.
''Let's heat up shall we?'' Ash pointed forward. ''Heat Wave!''
With Smog still lingering on the field, Torkoal released a blistering wind into the smog. The tremendous hot air mixed with the poisonous smog, the pollution increased by a stage eliciting coughs from the Pokémon and Trainer alike. The speed with which Furret was multiplying itself was nothing compared to the pace in which clones began to wisp away.
''Dig!'' Jon coughed, masking his face with his hand.
The smog was lifted away soon, and the vision became clear again. Torkoal became visible but the other Pokémon seemed missing on the field. Only one puncture was created on the ground.
''So Dig huh?'' Ash chuckled. Jon was beginning to try. ''Iron Defense!''
Shimmering a silver gleam, Torkoal sunk back into his shell. The ground convulsed a bit, before Furret erupted from below, smacking its head against the hard shell. Ash could note the power as the shell was sent toppling. But the normal type also inflicted some self-damage.
''ret!'' it cried, coddling its head.
''Aqua Tail!''
Brushing off the pain, Furret fired a corkscrew of water at the shell. Torkoal was pleasantly overwhelmed that the water didn't soak his as thoroughly due to Iron Defense.
''Back in the ground!''
With a leap, Furret hastily scampered back underground.
''Body Slam you know where!''
Pulling himself back again, Torkoal slammed himself on the battlefield with all his weight. Tremors were sent through the ground, and the repercussion threw Furret up out of the ground, clearly caught off-guard.
''Hey that's a good idea!'' Jon realized something before calling out. ''Aqua Tail on the ground!''
Swirling his tail once again, another flurry of water on the ground lowered and lightened Furret's tumble as Furret landed with grace on all fours.
''Now Double Team and Shadow Ball!''
Several copies surrounded the single Torkoal, a ghoulish violet orb channeling in front of each mouth.
''You are catching up quickly!'' Ash teased. ''Iron Defense and Heat Wave to take care of all the clones!''
Shining grey once more, Torkoal startled before retreating back into his shell. Of all, only one Shadow Ball was to land a confirmed hit but even that bounced of Torkoal's shell, like a balloon before exploding from the scalding winds that kicked up.
As if a storm just brewed, the storm of heated air thrashed every clones as well as the original one. With no place to go, and even underground didn't seem safe anymore, Furret was caught up in the turbulent wind and was sent tumbling back, unresponsive.
Jon had suffered a loss, once again. ''Hghh! Return!'' Agitatedly, he recalled the scorched normal type. While he was busy interpreting the events, Torkoal emitted at once, the smoke of victory.
Knowing Torkoal was about to create a tsunami of tears, Ash was fast enough to recall him back to his Pokéball. ''Here, swell up inside your Pokéball.'' He sighed after.
Tensing up, Jon gazed at his opponent. ''Every move I make, my Pokémon end up taking it back. His Pokémon pack a lot of sheer strength and have ultimate defense. And him, he just makes strategies in a second. I have never faced such a trainer before. He outclasses even the Elite Four. Man! This is a dream or what!? I need to ask Professor Elm about him. Maybe he has some Intel on this guy.''
''Let's go, Electivire!''
''Blastoise, let's tango!''
Two Pokéballs were thrown forward at the same time. The Thunderbolt Pokémon reached on the field first, fists raised high in the air, and its antennae bristling with sparkles. ''vire!''
Blastoise, similarly, clamored, pounding his fist against his hardy shell. ''Blas, blas, Blastoise!''
Spotting each other, they needed no explanation.
''Thunder!''
''vire!'' Electivire shrieked, enveloped in a blinding flash of electricity. Golden lightening tore the air, the sizzling streak of lightening heading for Blastoise.
''Mirror Coat!''
Blastoise enveloped himself in a bright reflective shield, the Thunder reflecting upon contact, redirected back at Electivire.
''Oh shit!'' Ash's eyes shot up once again, realizing he acted too soon.
The large bolt struck Electivire, and it gleamed, all that electricity dancing around its body, as it supercharged itself with its own attack..
''I got lucky this time!'' Jon cheered, raising a pumped fist. ''You accidently activated Electivire's Motor Drive!''
''Not for long though!'' Ash combated, stretching an arm outward. ''Hydro Cannon!''
The two carronades lowered on Blastoise's back, each firing a large teal orb of swirling, pressurized water.
''Dodge it and Thunder!''
With fine panache of evasion, Electivire swifted around to and fro, both orbs exploding behind the electric type.
''vire!'' it roared, firing another roaring current of electricity at the large reptile. Blastoise, who was numb after the Hydro Cannon cried, shocked stiff by the many volts assaulting him all at once.
''Damn it! I just hate that ability.'' Ash grimaced, recalling all the inconvenience Paul's Electivire had given him.
''Follow it up with Thunder Punch!'' Jon yelled, desperate to seal his first win.
Electivire having the same coy feeling, sprinted at Blastoise, a chop sizzling with sparks ready.
''Ice Beam in front of yourself!''
Even though sparks still crackled around his body, Blastoise was still in possession of his senses as it sighted a blur of yellow approaching him. Aiming his maw at the ground, Blastoise released a freezing flash, erecting a crystalline barrier of ice in his defense.
One charged haymaker was all it took to shatter that all of ice, but Electivire walked right into Blastoise's trap.
Making use of the time and opportunity they earned, Ash made the call. ''Hydro Cannon!''
The air itself shook when twin of spheres filled with pulsing water soared and hit Electivire in the chest, inflating it and carrying it to the other side of the battlefield, where it lied on the ground, inert.
''Not again!'' Jon whined, hand stretching a ball to recall the electric type back.
''Blastoise!'' the chelonian cried. Fortunately, he didn't have to pull out his sunglasses or the situation could have been worse for Electivire.
''Thanks Blastoise,'' With a grin, Ash returned the water type back.
It may not be seen, but Jon was feeling ashamed over his performance. Could he really be recognized as the Trainer who won the Silver Conference at a young age? How many years passed since, as he kept honing his craft? Yet, this stranger made him look like an amateur who just received a starter. To think, even those kids can stick longer in this battle. Is he not utilizing his Pokémon correctly?
But still what has started needed to end. Jon knew what would be the outcome of this battle, but yet he was willing to finish it. Even if either party won, they wouldn't benefit anything from it. But Jon was glad he met this young man, who just in half-an-hour made Jon realize so much about himself.
''So?'' Ash cocked a brow. ''Are you going to continue or should we just leave things here?''
''Ha!'' Even though his spirits couldn't go any lower, Jon was still adamant to take that challenge. ''No chance in hell! Rapidash go!'' He swiftly lobbed another Pokéball forward.
A large sturdy unicorn, neighed standing upto its hind legs. Ash immediately recognized, as one of Jon's common Pokémon he used back in the Silver Conference Ash was in.
Winding up his arm to throw a Pokéball, Ash answered with his own Pokémon. ''Go Tauros, I choose you!''
The flash of light introduced the beefy brawler, who pawed the ground with his hooves.
Ash squinted, befuddled at spotting something. ''Hey hold on, I asked for Number 30. You are Number 13. Damn that old man!''
The bull craned his neck back, looking crestfallen if he had disappointed his trainer. This Tauros, as Ash remembered is arguably the most sensitive one amongst the herd.
''Hey, don't worry. You can do a better job too!'' Ash cheered, earning an appreciative moo from the bull. Ash's cry of approval was echoed by a bellow of enthusiasm as he stomped on the field.
''Umm is something wrong?'' Jon asked, too confused from the scene.
''No nothing. Everything's fine.'' Ash waved off, but a sweat on his forehead said something was troubling him. Pikachu was not fooled. The mouse was quick to realize that Ash wasn't committed to memory very well, when it came to remember the moves of thirty different Tauros.
''Pika!''
The mouse gained Ash's attention as he pointed his paw at the Rotom Dex in Ash's bag.
''Oh yeah!'' Ash phewed. Tapping a finger at the device, the Dexter awakened and hovered above Ash's head. ''Hey Dex, could you scan Tauros and list down the moves he can use.''
Upon the request, Rotom Dex blitzed forward, and in a few flashes captured a couple of Tauros's pictures before feeding on the data. In a second, it flashed back and screened itself in front of Ash.
Examining the stats of this Tauros, Ash quickly absorbed the info. ''Hmm…so this one has the quite the similar moveset the rest of my Tauros have, except it can use Horn Drill and Stone Edge. That's huge. Stone edge can come handy against a Fire Type and Horn Drill replaces Fissure, so I can create something with that! See, I knew having thirty Tauros can have its perks!''
''Umm…should we start now?'' Jon scratched the back of his head, kind of assertion that he wanted to speed up things.
''Oh yeah, definitely! What were you waiting for anyway?''
Shaking his head, Jon commenced. ''Flamethrower!''
A jet of flames launched from the unicorn's mouth.
''Stone Edge!'' Ash countered.
The Wild Bull Pokémon flipped the trio of his tail before stomping the ground hard with his hooves. An up-slide of pointing rock pillars emerged from the ground before him, shielding the Pokémon from the incoming flames.
''He used them defensively as well as offensively!'' Jon marveled, recalling Ash had made Blastoise do the same thing in the last round. ''Dodge it!''
The pillars of stones were heading straight for Rapidash, who simply leaped to the side to avoid the path.
''Megahorn!''
Stomping on the field, whinnying, Rapidash channeled all the energy into its sharp horn, giving it a lustrous shine. It galloped towards Tauros, head tucked and horn ready to jab.
''Take Down!''
Rattling on the field, Tauros ducked as well, stampeding forward at Rapidash.
Experience trumped and Rapidash was the first to complete the collision. Tauros skid backward, whining from the jab in his mane. Thankfully it missed his face.
''Flamethrower!''
Rapidash neighed, firing Flamethrowers wildly.
''Not happening! Substitute!''
Another devious course of action saved the day, as Tauros split itself into two copies. One of them took the full brunt of the Flamethrower, but wasn't enough to erase out of existence.
Things had got worsen for Rapidash. Now it had to deal with two of them. The direct threat were head-on with heads lowered and shoulders hunched and neck curved to the side toward the potential object of the aggression.
''See, now I have two! Horn Drill!''
While Rapidash could do its best to evade one, it wasn't so stupid to miss upon the other threat on the field who was thundering forward, horns spinning viciously.
Vengeance was achieved when Tauros stabbed head-first into Rapidash, knocking it on its side. The secondary effects of the move seeped in, as Rapidash was knocked out. The knowledge of Horn Drill by both trainers made it easier to contemplate that Rapidash could no longer continue the battle.
Once again, Jon repeated the action of sulkily recall his Pokémon, and head hung over. While Tauros's gleeful stampede could only add for fuel to Jon's desolation, Ash made the right choice by recalling it.
''What did I even do in this battle? Did I get his Pokémon even down to a knee? I have failed as a Trainer.'' Jon moped, gazing quietly at his last Pokéball. ''My last Pokémon will end up the same way. I know that yet I can't do anything about it. Even if I forfeit, I wouldn't be able to raise my head in front of my Pokémon ever again.''
''Hey Jon!'' Ash called, gaining the senior's attention. ''You know, I have no qualms if you wanna forfeit. But if you can, do continue! I'll feel glad that I didn't beat a loser.''
Somehow, that tone seemed like a compliment. Yes that's it. He summed up an entire message in one sentence. Not to quit! Because quitting makes you a loser!
''I can't express how thankful I'm, AK. But I get what you say! I know the outcome of this battle already, but I have gained a new confidence. And for that I thank you.'' Jon sparked, tossing out his last Pokéball. ''Let's show them, Rhyperior!''
''Umm…glad I could help?''
The Pokéball rumbled before the titanic rock type appeared, letting out an earth shaking cry.
''Let's answer rock with rock!'' Ash drew an arm back and tossed his chosen Pokémon for the finish. ''Let's tango, Tyranitar!''
The monstrous rock/dark type appeared on the opposite side of his opponent, bellowing furiously. Along with him, he brought a vicious sandstorm that instantly brewed on the field.
The two titans stared at each other, a rivalry stirred up between them just like the sandstorm.
''Hammer Arm, Rhyperior!''
''Tyranitar! Dynamic Punch!''
Both gargantuans brandished their arms, and lunged for one another.
''Good six minutes, weren't they, Jonny?'' Ash chuckled, clipping Tyranitar's Pokéball back in his belt.
Jon exhaled, returning his fallen rock type. Struggling to put a happy face despite the loss, he smiled. ''I learned a lot from this battle, AK. You inspired me to set out on a journey once again! I'll get stronger and challenge the Elite Four once again! And this time, I won't quit.''
''And we'll meet again as well.'' Ash graced with a grin. And slowly turned around, and nipped his way out of the park. Jon only stared at his back for a few seconds, hoping he would run into this man once again.
Next day, between the peaks of Mount Silver.
Hiking the mountains of Silver is no joke, but a routine for Ash.
The woods separated them from rest of the world. The forest path was wide and civilized but also long. To walk through them was a joy for him, a nature given serenity.
When barely more than a thin sliver of the sun could be seen, the snow atop the mountains began to glitter like diamonds, throwing entire spectrums of colour across the land and into the air. The water of the nearby river reflected that light back, though with more shades of blue, due to the moon's influence. He lost his breath and - while utterly captivated by the scene in front of them. His eyes began to water as the wind whipped hair across his face. Lips chattering but curving upward in gaiety, he whispered to his partner. ''Pikachu…we are finally…
Home…
As promised, delivered within 4 days. Jon Dickson isn't a recurring, therefore, not an important character, so the battle doesn't need to stretch much.
The next chapter is final of the Johto series which I'll upload in August. I have a few certifications in between.
The old man referred is not Professor Oak as most of you would have imagined. That mystery will be lifted in the next chapter. Also, you'll see most of his Pokémon (those he didn't have in the anime).
If a possibility, then the next chapter will be bifurcated into two parts.
We'll begin with Hoenn series in September.
I also made a small mathematical error in the previous chapter. So I'll rectify it.
Next on BIA:-
Chapter 26: Jimmy
Chapter 27: Harrison.
Chapter 28: Roxanne
Thank you!
Please R&R.