Hey guys, another chapter here. There obviously isn't going to be a whole lot to build up here since I primarily plan on using this for establishing a few key events that will happen in the future. And now to answering some reviews!
thunderofdeath97: I do plan on addressing the Tauros thing down the line at least. And there is a little bit of pushing forward with that in this chapter as well.
I'm basically using a different method of qualifications for championship. Being a Pokémon Master and a Regional Champion are two different things. In this iteration, the qualification is that one has to win the championship in five leagues before they become a Pokémon Master. As you might have read prior, the leagues are still held in the same way as they are in the anime. As a result, winning the League qualifies a trainer to challenge the Elite Four, it's just a question of if they plan on chasing after their ambition to be a Pokémon Master or become the greatest in their own respective region. Hope that clarifies things.
I ultimately decided to have Ash get an entirely different set of Pokémon and decided that they would make for a more effective team. And as you might be able to tell, Pidgeot is in fact used in later chapters.
Yeah, I broke the darkpsychic rule a bit. I figured since it wasn't doing any damage to Tyranitar it would even out the break a little.
As for Latios and Latias, well there's a bit of a development down the line I think will be quite interesting to see.
jurassicdinodrew: Planning to do so and I hope you along with everybody else continue to enjoy this as much as I enjoy writing this.
And with that out of the way, let's get this next chapter under way shall we?
Chapter 29: Challenger
Another month had passed as Ash and his friends were given a reprieve from the astonishing display of danger that had taken place in Alto Mare. In the amount of time that had passed, Ash was now given the time he needed to prepare for the day to save Clair's position within the Dragon Clan. Even with the great danger that had passed over him a while ago, Ash still had dedication that had been evident since the day he took on the routine within the clan.
Everyone was fortunate that the most that had come to pass over the last month was that there were a few astonished fans who made their way into Blackthorn City and became anxious to meet with even one of the trainers who saved the world from Team Rocket's grand ambition. Clair hadn't lost her edge as a Gym Leader and Will had begun to formulate a thesis on the sort of psychic user that Ash Ketchum appeared to be. Sabrina found herself having an easier time begin around Karen while the Master Elder overlooked them and their progress. For him, everything had been progressing as it was meant to.
On top of the mountain top where Ash and Clair had continued their practice of dornálaíocht uachtaracha deiridh while the second peak began to make its way over the second peak. Clair offered Ash a flurry of punches as he was quick to block each one with his arms and made several leaps back as he made a defense. As soon as Ash found Clair attempting to make a punch towards his abdominal area, he swept his left arm to move it away from him before making a mighty sweep with his right leg towards Clair's.
Clair saw this attack about to occur as she made a jump into the air and flipped backwards before preparing to make a landing to continue her attack. Her plan was interrupted however when she saw Ash move quickly beneath her and reached out his arms. What happened after was a surprise for her as she saw him catch her in midair and hold her with his left arm before holding back his right hand as though he was prepared to make a mighty punch to her neck.
"Looks like this is all pulling off something isn't it Clair?" Ash smirked when he asked her. The moment for both parties had become an interesting one to say the least. Ash and Clair had grabbed hold of one another before, but this was the first time in a while that Ash was not in absolute danger and was allowed to truly appreciate the moment. Not because of his victory, but because of the touch that he was able to truly appreciate. Clair's outfit was indeed skintight and being able to feel it for the first time in a while allowed him to recognize how he practically might as well have been feeling her naked.
"Yes. Now please let me go before we have to continue this fight." Ash realized how long he was holding on to Clair's back as he quickly removed his hand and allowed her to stand on her own two feet. Most telling of the recent accomplishment however was of something that Ash hadn't seen on Clair's face before. A blush. The close form of contact actually brought her to muster some intense feeling within her to have that sort of reaction.
Ash began to wipe the sweat off his brow when he told her, "I really have to say, you sure did manage to take my life into a really new kind of direction. And it was just a few months ago that I was thinking all of this was going to break me."
Clair knelt next to the mouth of the river stream when she responded, "I have to admit Ash Ketchum. You aren't a completely helpless child. Perhaps there was some sort of fate that dictated that we were supposed to meet together like this."
Ash walked over to her when he asked, "Did you expect that it would be a lot harder than it was?"
Clair took a sip out of the river when she answered, "It is something I had to expect of everyone who is not part of the clan as a trainer. Such thinking has indeed been my downfall however. I allowed all of my achievements to become pride and it all eventually fell upon me."
Ash knelt next to her when he offered, "Is there any way that I can try to rebuild it?"
Clair paused as she looked into the water. The woman who would have snapped at such an offer months ago had been tempered a great deal as she was forced to truly listen to what her fiancé was offering. She shook her head not in denial to his question but to herself when she answered, "I truly did not expect to see such honesty in someone who would become my betrothed. I've only known you for so few months and yet you offer such a compelling display of wanting to truly respect me. Even after all that I have said before where I called you so naïve for believing such things."
Ash agreed, "It's nice that not everything I say has to be met with a snapping tongue like before. Although I guess you were really determined to be with your clan weren't you?"
Clair confirmed, "It is all I ever wanted ever since I was a child. To be recognized as one of the greatest among the clan and unchallenged as a trainer. After enduring my first loss ever I believed that I was now only about to become the property of someone. It truly is a fascinating experience in where you are willing to honor me in such as way Ash. For that you do have my thanks."
Ash told her, "I really would have thought anyone should have Clair. The fact you were able to do so much just goes to show how anyone who came close to you should offer you some kind of respect. I have to admit, I find it pretty incredible that I'm in a situation like this myself."
Clair stood up when she told him, "As of right now, the best way you can rebuild my pride and achievements is if you are successful and can become my husband, I will be able to vindicate the choice that I made. Only then will I be able to look at my situation with a sense of pride." She turned to face Ash when she asked, "Now then, will you be prepared to continue the betterment of your final dragon type?"
Ash agreed, "I sure am." He stood up as the two trainers stood apart from each other and prepared their Poké balls for a battle. Ash ordered, "It's time for a battle Shelgon!"
Clair followed, "Prepare for battle Dragonair!" On the battlefield between them, Clair's shiny Pokémon towered over Ash's new pupal quadruped. Over the past month, engaging in a battle between one another had proven to be a great benefit to Ash's Bagon. He was now evolved into his new form and becoming closer to achieving his ultimate form. Every Pokémon evolved at a different rate and dragon types were known for being slow to reach their more powerful forms. Fortunately for Ash, having the privilege to take on Clair herself every day was proving to be a mighty exercise that would push him to his limits every time. Now was about to be another such time.
Ash gave the first command, "Shelgon! Fócas Fuinnimh!" Shelgon's body glowed in a light-blue aura as he allowed a mighty measure of power to build within his body.
While Ash's dragon Pokémon prepared for a mighty attack, Clair countered, "Dragonair! Tonn na toirneach!" Dragonair released a blue stream of electricity from her horn as she prepared to paralyze her Shelgon opponent.
Ash was prepared for the attack when he ordered, "Shelgon! Chosaint!" Ash's Shelgon brought a turquoise energy shield in front of him as he endured the paralyzing attack.
Clair prepared her next attack, "Dragonair! Dragan Rage!" The orb on Dragonair's neck glowed and sent a swirling cyclone towards Shelgon as soon as the turquoise energy shield had faded.
Ash brought himself on the offensive when he ordered, "Shelgon! Anáil Dragan!" Shelgon fired a thick, green beam from its face into the vortex. The two attacks made contact with one another and caused a gust of wind to blast against both trainers and struggled to maintain their ground.
As the attacks subsided, Clair gave her next order, "Dragonair! Wrap!" Dragonair leapt forward as she slithered her way under the feet of Ash's Shelgon and prepared to wrap around her opponent.
Ash retaliated with his next attack, "Lascaire!" Shelgon leapt up into the air and retracted his eyes into his shell before releasing a red-orange stream of fire onto the ground. The ground between the two trainers had become ablaze with fire but missed the target Dragonair as she continued her ascent through the air and towards the Pokémon in the air.
With the attack missed, Dragonair was able to make a successful wrap around the body of the Shelgon and began to make a mighty squeeze around him. Ash responded with his next attack, "Shelgon! Rage!" Even with the attack surrounding him, Shelgon's body glowed red and made a mighty dive to the ground as his eyes became fiery. The two dragon Pokémon were driven into the ground as a small crater was formed and Shelgon ran around in a circle against the flames on the ground. Before anyone could make another order, both Ash and Clair saw their Pokémon run towards the foot of a slope as Shelgon drove himself into the walls of the mountains. Ash called out, "Hey! Shelgon! Not that hard!"
Clair added to her Pokémon's stubbornness when she ordered, "Dragonair! That is enough!" Both trainers were in astonishment as they saw their Pokémon continue to struggle with one another however as they dug their way through the foot of the slope and began to form a small cave.
Ash knelt down when he observed, "Shit. I didn't think Rage would cause him to do this."
Clair agreed, "I wouldn't have even commanded Dragonair to attempt this sort of thing. They should both be inside the caves however."
Ash accepted the idea when he told her, "I guess if we head down there, we should be able to find them." Both Ash and Clair made their way into the cave that offered the stream that contributed to the waterfall on the mountain. The two made their way through the larger cave before they looked further inside to search for their Pokémon
As a larger mass of land began to appear in front of them, both Ash and Clair were surprised by the sight of two particular Pokémon who were lying face first on the ground. "Woah… Shelgon?"
Clair was in the same astonished tone when she asked, "Dragonair. Is that you?"
Neither Pokémon was present as the two trainers came upon them. Both pokemon were in fact draconic but unrecognizable from what they once were. The first one stood up on its two legs while a quadraped stood up now bigger than before. Ash walked forward when he tried to see his Shelgon was still there, but recognized that his pokemon was no longer the same pupal creature he was before. "Wow… Clair, I think this is them."
Clair stood in front of the dark green Dragonite when she realized, "Dragonair has evolved indeed." She smiled when she offered, "Well done Dragonair. I suppose you deserved to achieve this didn't you?"
Ash offered his compliment, "And it looks like that Bagon I found has now become a fully fledged Salamence. You feel like you can take on the world now buddy?" Ash's Salamence offered a bellowing roar that echoed throughout the cave.
Ash could hear Dragonite tell him in her tongue, "That is nice enthusiasm. I'm afraid that any future battling in here won't be beneficial to our trainers though."
Salamence responded, "Ah man. I was hoping for some more fun in here. Let's wait until both of them say that we can't battle in here anymore!"
Ash took out his Poké ball when he told him, "That's great work. I think you had a good amount of battling for today buddy."
Salamence was returned to his ball while Clair followed, "Rest yourself to prepare for the next battle Dragonite."
Both trainers had their dragons back on their belts before Ash noted, "Well that sure was good for me. I didn't think that training a dragon type would be this easy."
Clair answered, "It was about how long a dragon type should be handled on a constant repetition of battles. Most trainers don't quite have the dedication to see them achieve their status, but as you might be able to tell the power is certainly worth the effort."
Ash pointed out, "You said that you had Dragonair in the same state for years though didn't you?"
Clair confirmed, "It was because I denied letting her have the chance to evolve even after a worthy victory. My goal was to have her defeat a trainer more powerful than the Elite Four before I allowed her to have the privilege. It would seem that I couldn't hold her back any longer however."
Ash noted, "The good news for both of us is that now we have some really powerful dragon types to battle at our side now. I bet this would be great for both of us."
Clair agreed, "And now you have three worthy dragon Pokémon to prepare for your initiation into the clan. Assuming that you are prepared of course."
Ash ticked off, "Dragonite, Tyrantrum, and now Salamence. I bet I could take on just about anyone if I tried now. I guess now I just have to wonder if you feel like you're okay with it now Clair."
Clair blushed again when she heard her fiancé offer the comment. She told him, "Well, the sooner it takes place, the sooner I can have my marriage completed. It is about to happen at some point anyway at this point."
Ash shrugged, "Yeah I guess it would be wouldn't it? Although I would like for you to feel as easy about… well… our future as you can."
Clair told him, "I know you must have known Sabrina for much longer before you consummated with her. I suppose being around me will be a more testing trial for you won't it?"
Ash confessed, "Well I didn't really know Sabrina for that much longer than you before she and I… went that far. I was just happy to let her have a life that she didn't believe she would ever have and I grew to be pretty happy around her. We both complimented in some way and we just went from there was all."
Clair noted the gradual amount of ease that Ash had on the subject when she observed, "That is something many need to come to terms with in some way isn't it? Right now all I can hope for is that you will offer me the sort of respect that you promise you will offer me when that time comes."
Ash smiled when he agreed, "Hey I'll prove it for sure Clair. If I ever make you feel like I lost your respect, feel free to use that whip on me."
Clair accepted, "It is nice of you to make such an offer Ash. I will hold that much to you. Now then, I suppose it is time that we leave this cave and head back down. The others will be waiting for us."
Ash added, "And you wanted to catch up with Sabrina on the next season of your show right?"
Clair agreed, "That will certainly be another highlight for me today."
Ash and Clair made their way down the mountain as they were able to take in the calm morning of Blackthorn City. Across the gym, Ash saw a small plot of land with one person and a few Pokémon at work. He heard Clair tell him, "I'll go prepare the Gym. Let Sabrina know that I'm ready as soon as she is."
Ash turned to agree, "You bet." The two parted as Ash made his way over to the barren piece of land that was being worked on while a Tyrogue lifted a beam of wood while an Alakazam and a Grumpig prepared their building materials to lay out on the ground.
It was when he made over to the plot of land that Ash was treated to a view that many had come to expect for a while. Sabrina's stomach had begun to show a small bulge that wasn't intruding upon her walking but was becoming bigger by the day. "You been staying out of trouble right Sabrina?"
Sabrina turned to tell him, "I've been perfectly fine Ash. Nothing is going to endanger me out here."
Ash nodded when he told her, "Yeah I thought so. I just want to make sure that you don't take any risks that you don't have to. You're not the only person I have to worry about now you know."
Sabrina smiled when she agreed, "Yeah. Pretty soon I am going to have to be more cautious aren't I? At least the most you say you plan on doing is participating n the next Pokémon League right?"
Ash told her, "I don't have any plans on doing anything bigger than that. Although I'm pretty surprised to say this, I'm actually looking forward more towards the initiation tournament I have to be ready for."
Sabrina looked at the Gym behind Ash when she told him, "Sounds like you really do want to tie the knot officially between me and Clair don't you? I imagine this must be a dream come true scenario for you isn't it?"
Ash gave a small laugh when he confessed, "A pretty crazy one if you ask me. I never thought I would end up getting hitched with more than one girl but now I'm being asked to really be ready for this sort of thing. I'm happy that you seem to be okay with this now."
Sabrina shrugged when she admitted to her own initial hesitation, "It took some getting used to for me, but I can look forward to having this sort of life. Clair herself is actually not such a bad person if you are willing to meet her as an equal."
Ash recognized the ease Sabrina had with the subject when he pointed out, "That's pretty true. She just seemed to grow up thinking that she could only command respect rather than find it with someone else. It's pretty nice that you were even able to find that sort of respect with Karen as well."
Sabrina kept a chuckle from uttering before she pointed out to him, "I imagined that you were going to have your eye on her at some point. Even better for you, she seems to be rather enthusiastic about the idea."
"Well you have to believe me Sabrina, every decision I make is going to be only because you won't have an issue with it. I didn't even think I would be in a situation like this."
"I did give you the approval to save Clair this way. But who knows how this could all turn out? This is going to be a bold new experience for us. It could just as easily be a great experience for both of us."
Ash made his way over to Sabrina when he placed a hand on her left shoulder and told her, "I'd like to remind you that I have you to thank for making something like this possible. I can only imagine things would be a lot harder for me to handle if you weren't here."
Sabrina leaned towards Ash as she placed a kiss on his cheek when she told him, "You offer the same for me Ash. Just as long as you are willing to stay the same kind man that I've known you to be, nothing is going to change that."
Ash made his way to the nearest Pokémon center where he was able to let his newly acquired Salamence gather himself up to full health. As he prepared to step out of the waiting room and towards the entrance, he was greeted with the sight of someone he hadn't seen in a while. "Is that you Molly?" The young woman stood with a mighty Ursaring following behind her when he recognized the friend he made months ago. Molly Hale was indeed as recognizable as she had ever become with the pattern of Unown that formed around her skin.
Molly smiled when she greeted, "Hi there Ash. It's nice to see you. Did you just get here to try and get a final badge?"
Ash nodded when he confirmed, "I actually already earned it. Right now, I'm actually kind of settling down here and preparing for the Pokémon League to start at some point."
"Ah, I guess that is important to do. I just got here. How soon did you manage to earn your last badge?"
"A few months ago. I think you might have heard about all the crazy stuff that happened in Alto Mare recently, but that was one giant training session for me."
"I would think so. You saved the world once before, I wouldn't expect less from you. It's nice to see that you were given credit for doing it this time."
"Yeah, being popular isn't too bad when I get used to it after a little while. It really helped having Will and Sabrina at my side though. You been managing your own powers okay?"
"I try to avoid using them as much as I can. It's funny though, when Alto Mare was happening I actually had a feeling of the Unown pushing me away from trying to go there."
"Sounds like they must have some kind of instinct that wants to keep you from heading into danger that they think you can't handle."
"Probably. It's unfortunate I couldn't have been there. So how well do you think your training has been going with your Pokémon?"
"Well I've made some pretty big progress. I caught a Bagon a few months ago and he's just achieved becoming a full fledged Salamence."
"Already? I thought Dragon types took a long time to get to that sort of state. You didn't cheat anything did you?"
"I wouldn't say it counts as cheating, I just got some serious overwork time with the Dragon Clan. Turns out if you stick with one Dragon type for as many battles as possible and as long as possible, you can actually push them real far."
"It sounds like you have gone very far with your Pokémon becoming powerful. It makes me wonder if I even had anything to convince you for a trade."
"Huh, you'd like to do that? What do you have?"
Molly took a Poké ball off her belt when she pointed out, "I recently caught an Eevee…"
As soon as Ash heard that Pokémon's name he jumped, "That would be perfect for me actually."
Molly was surprised to hear the point when she asked, "Oh, would it?"
Ash gave his confirmation, "Yeah, I'd just have to get that one to achieve a powerful form is all."
Molly looked over the Poké ball when she asked, "Well I guess I would be okay with that. Do you have something to offer?"
"Yeah, let me just get him real quick." Ash made his way over to the nearest PC when he placed one of his Poké balls into the slot and saw it vanish. He managed his box before seeing a new Safari ball take its place. Ash picked it up when he made his way over to Molly and offered, "I have a Tauros here. I think I can trust you to take good care of him."
Molly was pleased to hear that Ash was offering such a powerful Pokémon when she decided, "Wow, that's a pretty favorable trade for me. Okay, let's do that."
Ash and Molly made their way to the trading machine, the two trainers placed their Poké balls into their respective shoots before they were processed from one side to the other. It only took a short amount of time before Ash saw the safari ball transferred over to Molly and saw the new Poké ball take its place. Ash smiled when he welcomed, "Hope you look forward to the experience Eevee."
Molly thanked, "I'll be sure to respect this Tauros as much as I can Ash. Friend to friend after all."
Ash agreed, "Happy to help out another trainer."
Nurse Joy greeted, "Mr. Ketchum, your Salamence is up to full health and ready to be taken home."
Ash turned when he thanked, "Thanks Nurse Joy." He turned to Molly when he told her, "Well it looks like I have to head home now. Maybe we'll see each other again some other time."
Molly agreed, "I'd like that Ash. It would be nice to meet you trainer to trainer without anyone's lives on the line."
Ash took the Poké ball from Nurse Joy when he agreed, "That would be a lot of fun to have one day."
"I'm ready Master Elder." Another week had come and gone in Blackthorn City as Ash knelt in front of the man who he had to consider as a superior.
The Dragon Elder sipped his tea as he pondered, "Hm. So you believe do you? You have selected the three Dragon Pokémon who you feel will carry you to initiating into our clan?"
Ash held out his three Poké balls when he confirmed, "My Dragonite, my Salamence, and my Tyrantrum are all my loyal friends and I'm fully confident that they will make everyone proud."
The Dragon Elder tapped his chin before he decided, "And you feel that you have learned everything that you can learn have you? Quite a display of confidence. It is only the first step towards becoming a member of our clan. As of now you need remember Ash. You must be prepared for a great trial. If you feel that you are prepared however, then it would seem that now is the time for your initiation."
"So that mean's it's about to start right?"
"Absolutely. Now then, I suggest that you contact everyone who you wish to see your great trial."
Ash was curious about the command when he asked, "Everyone? You mean like my family and friends?"
The Elder confirmed, "Exactly. The greater the number of people who witness your great achievement or failure, the greater it will be. And don't try to act as though you don't have one. I can notice that sort of lie."
"How many times did you see someone make that kind of lie?"
"Thirty-one."
Ash stood up as he prepared to make his way out of the room and agreed, "Okay, looks like I have a few calls to make then."
The Dragon Elder nodded when he observed Ash leaving to prepare a series of calls to invite everyone to his trial. "Very good boy. Perhaps you will be more than what some have anticipated."
On the other line, the voice of Lance Grayson greeted, "You called Master Elder?"
The Dragon Elder nodded, "Yes Lance. Prepare everyone to gather here in Blackthorn City! I invoke the Tástáil de na Caitheamh!"
There we go everyone. Ash now has three powerful Dragon types to prepare himself for his initiation and it was done thanks to his friends hlping him become as powerful as he has become. Also a Tauros has been given to someone who he considers to be a good friend, so hopefully that is something people are okay with. And now that Ash has an Eevee, he can prepare to form another key member of his team that will be quite invaluable in the future.
The stage is now set. Ash's initiation is about to be under way and we are about to see him challenge the Clan for his and Clair's right to be recognized as a key member of their Clan. An event this big and this significant however is not something that is being adressed now however, but very, very soon.
Until then, I look forward ot seeing you all next chapter.
