ALOLA!
Let's begin with some reviews! (I'm on break so my chapters will be a little longer than usual.)
ultimateCCC: I'll keep that in mind. Thanks!
Lectori Salutem: Thank you for your review! I'll see about that (when I stop being lazy, that is).
bladetri: :P
Lianne: I made sure Ash was likable. Although he may seem smarter (ahaha what? Did I say something?), he still has that fun feel that I really enjoy writing. And it's okay to like Ash (he's my favorite too). And as for the Sun and Moon series...I screenshot those facial expressions. :P
multyfangirl18: You'll just have to see. Serena's pretty cool. Are you an amourshipper?
Noxlux013: (Do you play League of Legends? Your pen name...) You'll see. But Ash has a way of teaching his Pokemon more than four moves, remember? "Just think Slash and add some evilness to it" or, "Just tie a knot on the grass and hope he steps on it."
Ash crossed his arms, watching Sceptile stare intently at a checkerboard of sixty-four alternating, black and white squares that formed out of what seemed to be marble. On one side of the board, a majestic statue of Reshiram stood, staring at an equally intimidating Zekrom. Figures of different Pokemon dotted the field, opposing each other in hues that reflected the colors of the game board. On the Zekrom side, Nidoking and Nidoqueen faced a Gallade and Gardevoir that posed intensely in front of the Dragon of Truth.
"What's this?" the Trainer asked, waving a bandaged hand at the Bisharp, Chesnaught, and Escavalier that stood to the right of the miniature Gallade.
"Chess-Naught," Charizard replied, sighing as Sceptile moved a Pawniard figurine forward onto a black square. The Grass-Type tapped the back of Zekrom's head, and an analog clock in the Dragon of Ideals' hand stopped running. On the opposite side, time started moving for the Fire-Type.
"How do you play?" Ash asked.
"It's strategy. You wouldn't understand," Greninja deadpanned, joining the conversation as he watched the game from a tree trunk that provided the players some shade.
"You're awfully blunt, you know," Ash grumbled, although a grin shone on his face. "And mean. Who do you think wins us our battles?"
"I was joking."
"I know that!"
"Socially awkward…" Charizard whispered to his rival.
"Says you," Sceptile quipped, smirking as the Fire and Flying-Type moved a Bisharp diagonally onto a white square. The piece hit a white…Pokemon that Ash had never seen before, and the Flame Pokemon laughed as he took the figurine out of the game and onto the side where two Pawniards and a Chesnaught stood.
Gallade Teleported next to Charizard. "You should watch how you're handling that set," he suggested. "Because—"
"Yeah, I know," the Fire and Flying-Type replied. "They're fragile. You said that twenty seconds ago."
"I cannot help but worry ov'r mine precious—"
"This is Gallade's set," the Forest Pokemon explained, interrupting the antics of his teammate. "We're just borrowing it."
"Aren't you supposed to call out the names of the squares, like 'Nidoqueen to B7' or something?" Greninja asked.
"We are?" Charizard asked. "Eh, whatever."
"You still haven't taught me how to play," Ash spoke up, looking down on the board. "Who's winning? Better yet, what's this Pokemon?" he asked, pointing to a black, castle-like Pokemon that stood on the right side of the Fire and Flying-Type's board.
"I dunno," Greninja replied.
"I've seen it in a book before…" Sceptile trailed off.
"Tis called a Sandygast,'" Gallade said. "You know, I would have at least expected Ash to know what that—"
"Oh!" Charizard exclaimed in excitement, moving the piece—Sandygast—forward by four squares to take out an Escavalier.
Sceptile muttered something under his breath.
"What does that do?" Ash asked, pointing to the Calvary Pokemon.
"It's the equivalent of Sandygast on the Reshiram side," Greninja explained. "Even I would know that from wat—"
"It seems like all you want to do is insult me today," Ash interrupted, chuckling, which made the Water and Dark-Type smile.
"You made me do push-ups this morning."
"I don't see anything wrong with that."
"They're oddly similar," Charizard whispered to Sceptile, leaning over the board. "They even stand the same way."
"True. It's really strange," the Grass-Type agreed.
For future reference:
King: Nidoking/Gallade
Queen: Nidoqueen/Gardevoir
Bishop: Bisharp
Knight: Chesnaught
Rook: Sandygast/Escavalier
Pawns: Pawniard
"Hmmm. It seems like Azelf was merciful," Electivire reported, chuckling. "Only the Team Galactic Admins have become stupid, drooling shells."
"Thanks, Electivire," Gary called from the computer before turning to his Dark-Type. "Umbreon, is Ho-oh related to Lugia?"
"Sort of. Finish your section about the creation of the Universe and we can move on to the Kanto-Johto regions."
A small ding rang from the front of the Gym.
"And it looks like another Trainer has made it. Nidoqueen, Dodrio, Alakazam! I need your assistance!"
Dodrio speeded in. "Is it another Pokemon Myth? You know how I hate those…"
"No, silly," Nidoqueen replied, shaking her head. "Gary needs us for a Gym Battle."
"Oh, right."
Gary collapsed on his bed with a sigh of exhaustion. After his short reprieve from work (more like, vacation with Ash), the Gym Leader had been expecting to come back to his dissertation with a refreshed point of view, but all he could find were grammar mistakes and spelling errors.
"Nidoqueen! Have you edited my papers yet?" the Pokemon Researcher yelled across the Gym.
Said Poison and Ground-Type walked casually into the room. "I did last night's work. Isn't it Rhydon's turn?"
"He's on a strike 'cause I called him fat yesterday. You'll have to do it instead."
The Drill Pokemon scoffed. "You know how sensitive he is about his weight! That was uncalled for!"
"Sorry," Gary sheepishly replied, throwing the covers over his face. The wind from the ceiling fan brushed some papers onto the floor, and the teen didn't have the heart to put them back.
"I'm sure he'll forgive you," Nidoqueen spoke up. "Just apologize."
"Can I do it tomorrow?"
"No. Act like a professor and go get him."
Gary pulled himself out of his bed, almost stumbling as he realized that he had pulled an all-nighter…and then some. He needed to sleep.
The door chime rang throughout the building, signaling the arrival of a challenger.
"I just want my Ph.D.," he mumbled, trying to keep his caffeinated body from shaking. "Is that too much to ask for?"
"So apparently, our match is the day after tomorrow," Ash explained, "so I brought us some training weights! They're pretty decent in size, so it should give you guys a challenge."
"You carry Larvitars," Pikachu commented. "I think we all agree that we're not going to survive this."
"Oh, you'll have no problem," the teen reassured his Starter with a cheeky grin.
The rest of Ash's team knew what the Electric-Type was talking about. Their Trainer was frighteningly strong for an adolescent Human. Sceptile's theory was a mixture of Aura, carrying a backpack—that consisted of a table—and a Pikachu everywhere, as well as the fact that Ash walked from Gym to Gym through the countryside (and got lost many times), unlike many other Trainers that usually stayed in large cities or never strayed off the paths when traveling through forests.
At the suspicious looks of his Pokemon, Ash held up a weight and tossed it to Charizard, who staggered in response, struggling to get a grip on the metal plate.
"'You'll have no problem,' he said," the Flame Pokemon muttered to himself. "'You'll have no problem.'"
Gallade Teleported behind Greninja, attempting to stab him in the back with Leaf Blade, but the Water and Dark-Type stepped aside at the last second. The Psychic and Fighting-Type's momentum carried him forward into a large rock.
"Try a Swords Dance while you're doing that," Ash suggested. "Let's see if it'll protect you from incoming moves. Plus, you'll be able to dodge the rock next time."
Greninja's Night Slash suddenly smashed into said rock, sending broken pieces into the air. Gallade Teleported away immediately.
"Gallade, try Teleporting and blocking at the same time. Then, your opponent will associate your blocking with Teleporting. Oh, and remember not to make it a habit. That'd be hard to break."
"Yessir."
Greninja flipped backward as the Blade Pokemon's Brick Break jutted toward him. Ash nodded in approval, taking notes and drawing crude diagrams.
"Ya know," the Psychic and Fighting-type spoke up, "Greninja has been spewing this 'edgy' word around. I doth not believeth yond is Kalosian slang."
The Water and Dark-Type shrugged, although it was a little difficult to tell because he had jumped into a tree to avoid contact with a Slash.
"'Edgy?'" Ash asked. "I've heard Gary use it."
The Blade Pokemon laughed, spinning to the left and bowing his head down low to dodge two Water Shurikens. "Maybe it's a teenage thing. Greninja is pretty young, and—"
"I'm older than Vivi."
"She's a child, and you're not much older," Gallade argued. "In fact, I'll start using it myself." He turned into a Gardevoir, aiming a Moonblast at his opponent's feet. "Here's my first sentence: 'Ash wants to be an edgy.'"
"'Ash is a wannabe edgelord,' you mean," Greninja corrected his teammate as he shakily used Hydro Pump to push himself into the air.
"Careful," the Trainer called out, "when you're in the air, it's easy to predict your trajectory. Try a Double Team to distract him."
"And Ash isn't an edgelord," the Water and Dark-Type remarked. "He's too…enthusiastic."
Said teen kicked at a tuft of grass as he drew a parabolic diagram in his notebook. "But you're the same way. I know you're trying to keep up the 'cool' facade just to impress Sce—"
"That's beside the point. Plus, we're getting off topic!"
"'Cool' facade?" Gallade asked.
"Nothing."
"Nothing."
The Blade Pokemon jumped, letting his momentum propel himself towards the other Pokemon. "C'mon, but doesn't he seem so—"
"Nope."
"Huh?"
"Alain was an edgelord," Greninja remarked casually, using Cut to block another Moonblast.
"Who's Alai—"
"Are you going to the Elite Four Challenge?" Misty asked, leaning over the counter of the Pewter Gym's new lobby. Brock, who was proud of being a Pokemon Doctor-in-training and Former Pewter Gym Leader, was mopping the floor while his brother was fighting a challenger in the other room.
"Of course. It's the first challenge in five years, and the last person failed miserably. Why wouldn't I?"
The Water-Type Trainer tried not to laugh aloud. "You sound like you're looking forward to it," she remarked.
"Heh. I know you Gym Leaders are forced to attend, but good-ol' Brocko is done with that life." He pointed one end of the mop at his friend. "In other words, I bet you're annoyed. The Pokemon Association likes to keep their appearance, don't they?"
"What do you mean?"
Brock shrugged. "I heard there was a year where nine Trainers took on the Elite Four, and the Gym Leaders were forced to watch all the matches: one challenge after another. After the ninth day, none of them even made it to Agatha."
"Wow," was all Misty could say.
"I hope this guy's good," Brock voiced his thoughts.
"Same," Misty agreed, smiling. "But honestly, I'll enjoy myself either way."
"Okay," Ash nodded to the team. "Go ahead and practice in whatever way you like. The fliers can go ahead and practice your loops, and the swimmers can practice speed. Basically, do whatever you need to, and don't forget to stretch and rest. We have a big day tomorrow, and I need to find new presentable clothes."
"I hast an idea," Gallade spoke up, smirking. "Weareth thy coxcomb not."
"He means, 'Don't wear the hat'," Vivi translated.
Ash took off his cap, making his hair stick out on all sides.
"I don't think that is a good idea," Greninja stated.
"Wear a cape!" Vivi suggested excitedly. "It gives...pizazz." A slight pause. "Is that the right word? I've only seen that word in books about music."
"It is," the Ninja Pokemon assured her.
"Wear a color that you don't normally wear," Garchomp suggested. "Like red, or green."
"Red looks good on you," Vivi decided, turning into a Flareon. "And black, too," she circled around her Trainer, turning into Umbreon.
"You should wear an Aura Guardian costume," Pikachu added on, tilting his head in a pondering state at the teen. "Remember that tournament we won back in Hoenn? It looked pretty good on you. And that's a rarity."
"Why don't you guys follow Charizard and Sceptile's example, and go train?" Ash sheepishly asked. His team followed their Trainer's gaze and ran off, leaving the Trainer to gather his thoughts.
"You should take a break," Iris suggested to Serena over videophone. "You know what? Go to the Elite Four Challenge tomorrow. It'll be like watching Ash battle, but ten times cooler, because the Trainers will be ten times…you know, better."
"The Elite Four Challenge?"
The Dragon-Type Trainer shook her head as if chastising her friend. "As everyone knows, the Kanto-Johto regions have some of the greatest—if not the strongest—Trainers in the world. Tomorrow, someone who got recommendation letters from two Champions and Kanto's Pyramid King is challenging the Elite Four. If he or she beats all four teams of six using only seven Pokemon, the region gets a new Champion. So, what do you say?"
"Well, I am free tomorrow. I'll see about it," Serena decided.
"I'm inviting Dawn and May as well, so you'll get to meet them...if they come. Coordinators are so busy sometimes. Even Gym Leaders from other regions don't want to miss out on an Elite Four Challenge in Kanto, especially right before their own regional Trainer Conferences. It's a great excuse for shutting down their Gyms early so they don't have to battle more desperate Trainers with seven badges."
The Pokemon Performer's eyes widened. "Wow. You know a lot."
"Thanks. You know, the reason why we don't know the identity of the challenger is because, unlike many the other regions, you don't need to win the Indigo Plateau Conference to enter. You just need eight Kanto badges, three recommendation letters, an application, and a team of seven."
"Oh, really?" Serena asked.
"Yeah. They're just weird like that. But everyone acknowledges the strength of the Elite Four, so rookies wouldn't dare to challenge them in the first place, unlike people in Unova, for example."
"That's pretty cool. In Kalos, you can challenge the Champion whenever you'd like for a casual battle," Serena explained, thinking back to her travels. "I think it's because the people in Kalos aren't as interested in Pokemon training as those in Kanto. Someone told me that one year, the Johto League had around two hundred fifty-six people competing!"
"That's a lot!" Iris exclaimed, before remembering something important. "Oh! By the way, I'll pick you up on Dragonite at seven tomorrow. You're in the Fuschia Pokemon Center, right?"
"Yep. Thanks, by the way."
"No problem. We just have to get there early for good seats."
Charizard used Flamethrower while flipping backward in the air, unaware of his surroundings.
"ACK!" a shrill voice screeched, and a powerful Hurricane suddenly slammed into the Flame Pokemon.
The debris cleared, and Charizard saw a flock of Flying-Types. Spearow and Pidgey had moved out of the way of the Fire and Flying-Type's flame, and thankfully, no one was hurt.
"Uh," Charizard blinked twice at the birds, "are you guys okay?"
"SEXIST! You SEXIST MONSTROSITY!"
One Steel Wing later, Charizard found himself confused and disoriented in the air. He was about to fall but managed to gain a little control over himself.
Then Pidgeot got a good look at the dragon-like lizard.
"Whoops."
"Charizard, what's going on?" Ash called from the ground. "Do I have to go up there?"
"Urgh…"
The Aura Adept wasted no time in throwing off his jacket and taking flight into the air.
"And look what happens when I leave," Pidgeot marveled. "I feel like a proud mother!"
"Hey," Ash greeted his Flying-Type. "How's it going?"
"The flocks were fighting again, and it was escalating quickly. Luckily, Rowie and I were able to make peace. Great, huh?"
Ash followed her gaze to a Fearow near the back of the flock. "Isn't that Gary's Fearow?"
"Yup. He's such a gentleman."
"Margaret, we have to go!" Rowie the Fearow called.
"Coming, honey!" Pidgeot yelled back, and turned around, seeing the bandages on Ash's palms. "What happened there?" she questioned suspiciously.
"Pokemon attack," Charizard responded as soon as his world stopped spinning. "It's just not healing very well. You know, caused Aura to leak, still an open wound, kinda caused some emergency improvisation…and the wings…"
"Oh. So what are you all doing here for?"
"Elite Four Challenge. Ash needs an outfit."
"I—"
"Rowie, please tell the flock that we're staying here for the night!" Pidgeot yelled off into the distance, cutting her Trainer off.
"On it, sweetie!"
"Hmmm…" Pidgeot looked Ash up and down.
"Greninja, this is Pidgeot," the Trainer introduced the Bird Pokemon. "Pidgeot, this is Greninja." He pointed to the Ninja Pokemon, who tried not to look uncomfortable at the other Pokemon's stare.
"Hello," Greninja greeted, flicking his eyes nervously in the direction of his Trainer.
"How do Trainers usually dress when competing against the Elite Four?" Pidgeot asked.
"Well, Lance wore a cape, and Cynthia was in a black dress. Steven wears a suit everywhere he goes. Others dress a little less nicely, but of course, it always has to be comfortable," Ash tried to explain.
"You should wear a red, white and black outfit," Pidgeot suggested. "Make your eyes red, and wear a low cape. And let out those wings: no one can tell the difference."
"And how am I supposed to—"
"Shopping time! I'll ask Leavanny to help make the costume. Bye!"
With a powerful flap of wings, Pidgeot was gone, and Ash couldn't help but wonder how his Flying-Type was going to be able to pay for his clothes.
Pidgeot had always been proud of her ability to read the body language of others. It was a trait she'd used since she was just a hatchling.
Sometimes, she could predict an opponent's move just by watching their eyes.
So when she first saw Greninja, she'd been a bit surprised. His movements matched Ash's…completely. Even their posture emulated each other (Ash had lost his habit of slouching over the years, which had surprised her).
The Water-Type (at least, she assumed he was a one from his coloring) had let himself out of his Pokeball as soon as Pidgeot landed on the ground. Every thirty seconds or so, he'd cast a look at his Trainer, then face forward again, narrowing his eyes as if he was genuinely worried about something.
And the strangest thing was, Ash knew it too. As soon as Greninja tried to act casual, the Trainer would glance at his Pokemon, questioning the Water-Type silently.
It got annoying pretty quickly, but at the same time, it was…oddly reassuring that someone cared that much for her Trainer.
Pikachu once told her that story: where Ash had lost all his confidence after a Gym Battle and didn't get better until the next afternoon. He'd left his team behind—even Pikachu—to mope in the woods until Greninja found him. By then, he hadn't eaten in over ten hours.
No, it wasn't the Trainer's confidence. There was something else that was bothering Ash, but she couldn't tell what it was.
Pikachu turned to his Trainer. "You know, they're going to ask for your age if you become Champion."
Ash said nothing, and refused to talk to his Starter for the next thirty minutes.
"Here, try this on," Pidgeot insisted. In one claw, she held a black, lightweight-looking windbreaker with red lines across the sleeves and through the center of the jacket. The hat on her head had similar colors but bore the design and structure like those of Sir Aaron's. In her other claw, a large cape dangled, along with a pair of pants and a short-sleeved shirt. A Pidgey flew down to the Trainer, handing him a pair of fingerless gloves. Greninja narrowed his eyes at them as the teen nodded in approval.
"How did you get this fabric?" Ash asked, impressed. "It's really lightweight, and honestly, should be pretty expensi—"
"Oh," the Bird Pokemon replied, shrugging. "Leavanny did most of it. We asked a store for some material, and the Beautifly running the shop gave us some."
"That's practically stealing."
"No, it isn't! Now try it on already!"
"Should we close early tomorrow?" Cilan asked his brothers. The Gym wasn't getting as many visitors as it had at the beginning of the year, and since Striaton City was considered the 'rookie Gym,' most of the seven-badge Trainers were off looking for Roxie and the Toxic Badge.
Cress, the Water-Type specialist, nodded. "We could go to Kanto and watch the battle that everyone has been talking about."
"And watch a five-minute match between Lorelei and the challenger?!" Chili shouted from the kitchen. "Why not?!"
"You're implying that this Trainer will lose badly," Cress remarked calmly. A tiny smile became visible on his face, and Cilan immediately knew that his brothers were joking. Anyone who could get recommendation letters from Cynthia and Diantha must be decently strong.
"I'll ask Alder if we can take the day off," the Grass-Type Gym Leader volunteered. "Chances are, he'll force all the Unova Gym Leaders to go anyway."
"Don't we need a plane ticket?" Cress asked.
"Eh," Chili replied, shrugging. "Alder's probably going to let us in his jet, anyway."
"Hello, Nurse Joy?" Ash called out as he opened the door to the Pokemon Center in front of Kanto's infamous Rock Tunnel. Since most of the other Trainers were either in the Sevii Islands, Cinnabar Island or Viridian City (where the harder Gyms were—no offense to Forrest, of course), he was sure that there weren't many other Trainers around. In addition, he was wearing a green and brown-themed outfit that day. No one would recognize him to be Ash Ketchum, winner of the Indigo Conference a few years ago.
But as he walked into the Center, he was met with around thirty people and Pokemon crowding around the entrance, staring at the newcomer. A boy walked up to him—with innocent eyes and all the cuteness tricks in his pocket—asking, "Are you the one challenging the Elite Four?"
"Uh, sorry. I'm just here to heal my Pokemon," Ash lied, scratching the nape of his neck sheepishly.
"Oh. Are you sure, though? Can I see your Pokemon? What's your name?!" the kid practically shouted, and the Indigo Plateau Conference Champion tried not to look uncomfortable or suspicious.
"I'm so sorry!" Nurse Joy suddenly exclaimed, running into the lobby with a devastated look on her face. "Do you need your Pokemon to be healed?"
"Yes please," Ash replied, taking out three Pokeballs from his messenger bag—careful not to disturb a resting Pikachu—and handing them to the Pokemon Nurse.
"Aw, you only have three Pokemon," the kid muttered with a disappointed sigh, "so you can't be the challenger. They have seven."
Ash put a glove (hiding his bandages) on the kid's shoulder. "Maybe the next Trainer to walk in will be him," he surmised. "I'm not good enough to challenge the Elite Four yet, but I want to keep training so I can be stronger! Who knows? Maybe you'll be the next Champion."
"Of course," the boy replied, nodding enthusiastically, reminding Ash of his Eevee. "I'll be getting my first Pokemon in two weeks, right after the Conference ends. Do you think I'll be a good Trainer?"
Ash laughed. "I know so."
The Nurse Joy came back with a smile on her face, carrying a tray with Ash's three Pokeballs. "Your Pokemon have been healed," she said, winking ever so slightly. "Good luck, and we hope to see you again!"
"Thanks," the Trainer replied and tried not to look too suspicious as he walked out of the Pokemon Center gingerly.
"That was funny," Pikachu remarked as Ash was finally out of sight from the other Trainers.
"We're going to Johto to heal the rest of you," the teen promised. "Actually, you know what? We're going to Hoenn. I'm staying away from all paparazzi until tomorrow."
"You'll also have to ask Gary about the schedule," the Electric-Type reminded his Trainer. "He probably has both the instructions and the formal letter."
"Okay. But first, let's find a Pokemon Center in Hoenn."
Serena sat in the hotel room, gingerly brushing Sylveon's fur with gentle strokes.
Her reason for finding Ash—it may have been a little childish—but she desperately needed to.
A week ago, she'd been crushed at a Pokemon Contest. Her opponent had been pretty rude to the other contestants, so Serena had made it her personal goal to win. Even though Pancham had tried his hardest, the girl had to remind herself that she didn't have much experience in battling, and shouldn't have been so discouraged on her second try.
Afterward, she met a green-haired, male Coordinator who had been watching the performance.
"Your appeal was gorgeous," he complimented her. "It's as if you've been doing this for years."
"Not really. I'm from Kalos, so I've only done Showcases."
"Wow!" the other teen exclaimed, eyes lighting up. "I've only seen those on TV! They're pretty prestigious—or so I've heard. And I should've guessed that you were from another region. Your Pokemon aren't found here."
"I guess."
"Well, I'm Drew," the Coordinator introduced himself. "Right now, I'm competing in Johto, but I've won a Grand Festival here before."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. Right after the year my rival won, too. It was pretty embarrassing."
Serena laughed. "For you or her?"
"Both, I guess. Anyway, you seem a bit under-the-weather, today."
"Oh," the Pokemon Performer replied, "I guess. Maybe it's just 'cause I'm not used to the battle round."
"Haha. It seemed a bit more serious than that. Would you like some advice?" the other teen asked. When Serena nodded, he continued. "Every Coordinator has a motivation to win. Maybe for Sterila—that was the winner's name, no?—it was to prove that she could do something that others cannot. Do you have something that motivates you?" Drew asked. "A reason to be trying so hard? A drive to never give up?"
The girl nodded eagerly, thinking of a friend.
"Good. But sometimes, we lose our motivation. And when we lose that motivation—and you seemed to lose yours, a few minutes ago, with that discouraged look—we need to find it again, and remember why we try so hard."
"Oak! Don't tell me you know who the challenger is!" Agatha scolded across the line.
The Professor sat in his chair with a confused expression plastered on his face. "No, I don't think so, but we'll just have to see tomorrow, right?" he teased, knowing that his former rival was searching for ways to gain an unfair advantage over her opponent.
"You're a naive Magikarp," Agatha sighed loudly. "Afraid to evolve, hiding yourself in your weakness."
"And you're a timid Gyarados: a contradiction. See you at the match, Agatha. Just remember that I won't be cheering for you."
The Pokemon Professor smiled, flashing a peace sign, and promptly hung up.
AN: You guys better be happy. This was a long chapter to write.
Ash's match is in two chapters. I can't wait. Yay. (Time to edit a bunch of kicking, yelling, and slapping!)
Haha, sorry for the late update, though. I've been trying to get over my terrible grades.
Alright. I have a poll on my profile page in which I'm asking for your favorite characters! Tell me so that I can provide adequate fanservice!
Did you guys see the latest episode? It was hilarious, like always. Rotom is funny, and Pikachu actually has a personality in this series. It's enjoyable, in my opinion. (And Rockruff is so cute! I didn't add one in this fanfic because I trusted that the anime would give him one.)
See you next time,
~Crestilia
Well, see you next week.