Hey everyone! First of all I want to apologize to take so long to update. I was into some other things lately that unfortunately kept me busy. But I'm back now so get ready because "The Elite Four Tournament" is coming to an end soon.
Thank you!
Chapter 34 – Ash and Pikachu: Two of a Kind
Ash looked at Pikachu smiling; somehow he had managed to get at the Temple of Dragons which made Ash realize that after so many years together, the bond between them was still very strong.
Pikachu was not a final evolved Pokémon. He had the chance to evolve into a Raichu many years ago, but he chose to remain that way and Ash also never got informed by Professor Oak how Pikachu appeared at his lab, if he came as a Pikachu already or as a Pichu, actually Ash never asked anything about him to Professor Oak, he was so excited to start his journey when he got Pikachu that he never thought about inquire him why he was being given Pikachu after all other starts Pokémon have been chosen.
But destiny put Ash and Pikachu together and from that day a friendship was born, a friendship that only grew as the years went by, a friendship that never ended and probably never will. They weren't only friends, it was like they were brothers from different species, Ash never saw Pikachu as a pet or a fighting machine, as he never did with any of his Pokémon, he always saw him as a part of himself and after all these years carrying him on his shoulders, he knew there was no one on earth that could understand him better than Pikachu, his best friend.
"Life is hard" said Ash getting up "Life is not easy"
"What?" asked The Lady
"I've been through many hard situations that life threw in front of me. And I was always succeeded because I trusted myself, my friends, my family and my Pokémon" said Ash
"Nonsense" replied the Lady
"And now… you come to me, wanting to become a Dragon Master, hurting people and Pokémon, hoping the world to kneel before you and your cause… you make me sick" said Ash with anger eyes "You may have defeated Lance, May, Dawn, Serena and everybody else who tried to stand against you… but there's something that not even you can destroy"
"And what that would be?" asked The Lady
"The goodness of the world" said Ash "As long as there are people who crave a better world, a world without sorrow, suffering or pain ... as long as there are people who care for others, even if it is a single insignificant person... you will never win Jennifer. And at this very moment unfortunately for you, there is at least one person who cares"
"Who?" she asked
"ME" Ash answered with flames in his eyes "You will never defeat me Jennifer; you can take me down as much as you want, but I will always get up and keep fighting until I win over you"
The Lady looked at Ash. He was different now, a couple of minutes ago he was basically defeated… but ever since Pikachu appeared… something changed. It was like he was a Phoenix that emerged from death to shiny again. Could it be true? Could he really be… unbeatable?
"You talk too much boy" said The Lady still uncomfortable with Ash's reborn "Show me then"
"My pleasure" said Ash
Silence took over the temple, on one side Ash and Pikachu, on the other The Lady and Dragonite, both sides waiting to see who would strike first. In a Pokémon battle not always who attacks first has the advantage, if the strategy is wrong, it may cause serious problems
"Dragonite, use Air Slash" ordered The Lady
Dragonite quickly lifted flight and shook his wings, throwing his attack against Pikachu
"Pikachu, dodge and use quick attack" said Ash
Pikachu easily dodged Dragonite's attack, ran fast toward him and with the same speed jumped high hitting a head-butt in his belly
"He's fast" thought The Lady
"Pikachu, thunderbolt" said Ash
Pikachu took advantage of the fact that he was still touching Dragonite with his head to use his thunderbolt and hit all Dragonite's body with his attack, making him scream in pain
"Dragonite" said The Lady not believing in her eyes
"And now Pikachu, use Iron tail" Ash ordered
Pikachu's tail shone silver, and with an impulse he stood face to face with Dragonite striking his head and sending him straight to the ground
The Lady remained motionless, Dragonite wasn't defeated, but for the first time he got hurt, and by a small Pikachu. She just couldn't believe it. How a Pikachu could hurt Dragonite when not even Lance's Dragonite was able to? There was something that wasn't right there, and although she didn't believe in a victory of Ash, she decided that it was better to finish that battle as fast as possible to avoid "miracles"
"Dragonite, use hyper beam" ordered The Lady
"Pikachu, run and dodge" said Ash as Pikachu easily avoided Dragonite's attack
"Dragonite, use earthquake" ordered The Lady
"What?" asked Ash
Dragonite jumped and hit the ground strongly making a powerful earthquake to occur catching Pikachu by surprise while he was still running
"Pikachu" said Ash as he saw his Pokémon falling down
"I'm not done yet. Dragonite use Fire Blast" said The Lady
Still down, Pikachu had no chance to avoid the attack and got hit by Dragonite's Fire Blast
"Pikachu" said Ash taking his Pokémon in his arms "Are you okay?"
Pikachu opened his eyes and stared at Ash. When he realized what had happened, he fast moved away from his master arms
"Pikachu… do you still want to battle?" He asked "Because it's okay if you don't"
Pikachu shouted at Ash angrily, he was not going to lose that battle when he knew that losing would mean the end of everything
"I see" said Ash "I'm with you until the end"
Ash looked at The Lady who was also staring at them, by her side, her Dragonite was standing ready to keep battling, he was obviously hurt, but far from being defeated
"I was going to ask you how your Dragonite managed to attack without recharging from the Hyper Beam but… It's not an ordinary Dragonite right?"
"Correct" she answered
"Pikachu… this is it… It's now or never… If we don't win now, we'll never be able to do it" said Ash looking at his buddy "Are you with me?"
Pikachu nodded to his master, he was with him… until the end
On the other side, The Lady suddenly noticed something strange. Ash's left hand was shiny, like he was holding a very powerful golden light
"What is that?" she asked
"I have someone… that will never leave me… a friend, a brother a son… his name is Pikachu and we are connected in hear, mind and soul" said Ash who along with Pikachu also began to shine "This is me… this is him… this is us… just one, together… face Jennifer, The Final Evolution"
A strong golden light came from inside Ash and Pikachu, making the whole temple to lit up, it was such a strong light that would dazzled the view of anyone who tried to look straight at it
As the light fade away, The Lady took a look at where Ash and Pikachu were supposed to be, but instead, what she saw was a light golden figure shaped as Ash and… Pikachu, she didn't know how to describe it but it was like both Ash and Pikachu were together in just one perspective, one overlapping the other
"What is this?" The Lady asked steeping back "This light is so… warm and cozy"
"This is the final evolution" said the light with a strange voice, a voice that actually sounded like two like Ash's and Pikachu's voice were also overlapped
"Final Evolution? I remember my father saying things like this… when a human and a Pokémon reach the highest level of understanding… the final evolution happens" said The Lady "But nothing can save you now Ketchum… not even this evolution"
"I will show you my kindness Jennifer" said the light "Bring my friends back to normal and leave the Temple of Dragons forever and I shall spare you"
"Spare me? You think this light will scare me?" said The Lady laughing "I AM THE LADY, THE MOST POWERFUL PSYCHIC TRAINER OF THE WORLD, DRAGON MASTER BY LAW AND NOBODY WILL TAKE THIS AWAY FROM ME. NOT EVEN YOU. DRAGONITE USE THE MOST POWERFUL HYPER BEAM EVER"
Dragonite charged energy enough to destroy all Temple of Dragons, The Lady was serious about the most powerful hyper beam ever, and with an amazing force, he discharged his attack
"Feel the Power of THE LADY" she shouted
Dragonite's Hyper Beam flew through the temple, from one side to the other targeting Ash and Pikachu who did nothing to divert, if it was any other Pokémon or human standing there, the battle would have ended with victory for The Lady, but who was there was not an ordinary Pokémon or human, it was the Final Evolution of Ash and Pikachu, and nothing could be compared to the power of the two at that point, so true that with just a hand, he was able to hold the attack very easily, sending it to the sky where got lost into the clouds
"How… how was this possible?" asked The Lady "If I can't hurt you I will poison you. Dragonite use Toxic Spikes"
Dragonite shot many spikes in an attempt of poison Ash and Pikachu to get them weak but once more it was in vain, they easily dodged the attack making the spikes to hit the ground instead of them
"It seems to be clear who is going to win this battle" said Ash and Pikachu
As they said it they flew toward Dragonite, going through his body and making him scream in agony and pain
"Dragonite" said The Lady "What did you do with him?"
"I cleansed him from the evil and darkness that was inhabiting his heart" they said
"What?" asked The Lady
Instantly they all saw Dragonite shine white while he was still screaming in pain, but as the minutes passed by, the screams began to decrease until his own form also began to change, their wings reduced, his horn also disappeared and his color changed from black to the traditional brown it was before. Dragonite was no longer under the Psyblood Ritual
"Dragonite?" said The Lady watching her strongest Pokémon to fall into the ground unconscious "No… It can't be… I… lost?"
The Lady fell on her knees staring at her Pokémon; the strongest Pokémon in the world was no more. She was so lost into her thoughts that she didn't notice Ash and Pikachu coming close to her. As they approached The Lady, they touched her forehead and removing from inside her brain four colored lights, a pink, a red, a blue and an orange
"Return to your bodies" said Ash and Pikachu as they watched the lights slowly flying back to Serena's, May's, Dawn's and Lance's bodies that were still on the floor
Ash land Pikachu looked at The Lady who was avoiding making eye contact with them, but instead of say or do something, Ash and Pikachu just left her there and walked over Lance and the others
Lance was the first to wake up, slowly he opened his eyes and started to look around to understand where he was, but when he saw that warm and cozy light figure, he already knew what happened
"So you did it Ash" said Lance getting up and coming close to them "So… this is the Final Evolution"
"You knew all the time Lance" said Ash and Pikachu "You knew that it was me and not you who was supposed to achieve it"
"Yes… I knew it" Lance answered "I'm sorry to put you into so much trouble… I was selfish and never thought about the consequences that could fall on you… I'm sorry"
"You are my Master Lance. I don't blame you, being here in this situation made me realize how difficult is to be a Dragon Master… and although our goal is to be a Pokémon Master… I'm also ready to be the Dragon Master and take all responsibility" said Ash and Pikachu
"So you're saying that…"
"You are free to renounce your position as Dragon Master… if you want so" said Ash and Pikachu
"I can't think of a better person to take this title but you Ash Ketchum and Pikachu" said Lance
"What the hell is that?" asked a voice from behind them
"Dawn please… be more respectful before the Final Evolution" said Lance
"The Final what?" asked May who was also up "Who's this?"
"Well… this is…"
"Ash?" asked Serena interrupting Lance's explanations "Ash is it you?"
"Actually it's me and Pikachu together" they said
"Pikachu? How did he get here?" asked Dawn
"Pikachu and Ash have the most powerful connection that ever existed. The heart of a Pokémon and its master can make both of them go distances, even if this distance is the Temple of Dragons" said Lance
"How is this possible?" asked May
"The Dragons will always protect and help the Dragon Master, they will go far for him, and they will do anything to make him be the winner"
"So the Dragons along with Ash's and Pikachu's hearts brought them together here?" asked Serena
"Probably. The forces of the Dragons are still difficult to understand, but let's think this way" said Lance
"But how did you manage to reach the Final Evolution?" asked May
Ash and Pikachu were about to explain everything when suddenly and once more they began to shine strong, so strong that Lance and the others had to cover their eyes to not get them hurt
"What is this light?" asked Dawn
After a couple of seconds, the light fade away and where once was stood Ash and Pikachu's Final Evolution, now there were Ash and Pikachu…. Separated
"I guess… the Final Evolution is over" said Lance
"What?" asked Ash looking at Pikachu who was next to him "But why?"
"The Final Evolution occurs when a critical situation come up. The Dragons must think that there is no more danger apparently" said Lance
"So… it's over" said Ash "We won"
Lance looked behind Ash where The Lady was still kneeling, Dragonite on the other hand was no longer there, she probably called him back to the Poke ball
"I guess so" said Lance
Ash got on his knee and took Pikachu in his arms giving him a hug that he was waiting since they split up at Pluma Island
"Thank you my friend… for everything… I love you" Ash said
Pikachu smiled and hug Ash back saying his traditional words "Pikachu" but at that moment all of them knew that meant "I love you too"
Pikachu moved to Ash's shoulders like he always did, what made everybody feel that those good old days of Ash and Pikachu on the road were coming back
"I want to thank you three for being by my side since the very beginning" said Ash to May, Dawn and Serena "Without you… I wouldn't be able to accomplish this mission, so… thank you"
Serena, May and Dawn just smiled and blushed a little but they were all happy that in the end everything turned out very good
"So we're heading back Indigo Plateau?" asked Serena
"Yes" Ash answered "Let's go home"
"You four may go first" said Lance "I still have to take care of Jennifer"
Ash, Serena, Dawn and May all looked at The Lady who was still in the same place, apparently she was having a hard time to accept her defeat
"Alright" said Ash
As Ash turned around he saw the girls back who were walking in front of him, and without thinking he grabbed one of them by the hand
"Ash?" she asked "what happened?"
"There is… something… I want to tell you" Ash said blushing
"What?" she asked as she realized the other two girls had also stopped
"I… I…" Ash tried to say
"ASH WATCH OUT" shouted Lance but it was too late
Ash suddenly felt a pain in his body, like someone had stabbed him in the back, he looked down at his chest and saw that something had just hit and passed through it, he didn't have time to think, he felt down on the floor screaming in pain
"Ash… Ash… ASH" the girls called his name, but he seemed to be too weak to answer them
Lance looked behind and saw The Lady standing and laughing
"What did you do Jennifer?" asked Lance
"I will never allow nobody but me to be the Dragon Master" The Lady said "If I can't be… no one will"
"Lance…. It's a toxic spike that hit Ash" said Serena
"A Toxic Spike?" he asked
"I ordered Dragonite to use Toxic Spikes, but the boy avoided it" said The Lady "Too bad that the poison remains in it… I mean too bad for him, because now he will slowly die"
"You…" said Lance "How could you?"
"And he is not the only one" The Lady said "Do you remember the explosives Myers used on the battle of the second temple?"
"Yes" said May and Serena together
"I have also set many explosives even more powerful than those all over the Temples" The Lady said
"Jennifer don't be stupid" said Lance "If you use them… we all going to die"
"That's what I said brother dear" The Lady answered "If I can't be Dragon Master… no one will be"
And saying that The Lady showed them a small detonator with a red button in it. She smiled at them and slowly pressed it
"Goodbye to all of you" The Lady said as she started laughing again
Next chapter will be update on 05/10/2016
See you!