Chapter 10

After Ash and Alice come into the room where Mustard is playing the Switch, Ash says, "Master Mustard, we have already finished finding the spots."

Mustard hears it as he stops the game, he turns to Ash and Alice, "What's this? What's this? Let's see how you and Kubfu are getting along..."

After Ash and Alice send out their Kubfu, Mustard starts to look at their eyes and how they are acting towards Ash and Alice. Then after a while, Mustard smiles, "Good, good! You are just the best of friends now, aren't you? Kubfu's really become more confident. How wonderful! I daresay I think you're ready. Follow me, you four."

As Mustard stands up and leaves, Ash and Alice are curious as they follow him, only to see him taking them to the Soothing Wetlands. "Dum dum dee dee... La la de daaa... Whew! I guess this is as good a spot as any!"

Alice asks, "What's is this about? Master Mustard?"

"Now then, Ash, Alice! And Kubfu! If you want to become stronger... there are special training grounds just for Kubfu!"

"Special Training grounds?" Ash asks in confusion.

"Prepare yourselves for the...Tower of Two Fists!" Mustard says as he points at the two directions. "The blue tower is the Tower of Waters! And the red tower is the Tower of Darkness!"

"Wait, you mean, we can enter the tower with your permission?" Ash asks in confusion.

"Choose wisely, since you'll only be able to climb one of the two towers. Kubfu's fighting style will change depending on the tower you choose... And the types it gets will change as well! Think carefully!"

"So we have to choose one tower to train our Kubfu?" Alice asks in confusion. "Ash, what tower are you going to train?"

"I think I will do the Tower of Darkness. And you?" Ash asks.

"I choose the Tower of Waters." Alice says.

"Good. Each tower's five stories tall, and each floor has a tough opponent waiting for you." Mustard says. "Make sure you level up Kubfu properly before trying to climb up!"

"Okay, Master Mustard." Ash and Alice says.

Then before Mustard leaves, he says, "Oh right. You can reach both of the towers by heading through the Forest of Focus. You might even be able to find a shortcut if you can ride your bike across the river! I'm really looking forward to when you two make it to the top of one of those towers! It's going to be so exciting!"

Once he leaves, Alice says, "Ash, how about we come with you to the Tower of Darkness first?"

"Sure." Ash says as they head towards the place. Once they climb the Challenge Road to the tower of Darkness, the student in front of the tower says, "Hello, Ash, Alice! Master has already sent word. This is the Tower of Darkness...It's the special training ground that only Kubfu can use. If you want to climb the tower, please make sure that Kubfu is the only Pokemon on your team."

"Wait, what?" Ash and Alice are surprised, and the student says, "Oh, and don't worry, Master Mustard told us that you and Alice share your Pokemon, so you can just have Alice accompany you, but she can't interfere the battles."

"Okay." Ash says as he takes the Pokeballs to Alice, and Pikachu also goes to Alice's shoulder as the student says, "Okay, if you raised Kubfu to at least LV.70, its training will go smoothly. Once you enter the tower, you won't be able to leave until you best five opponents...or are defeated yourself. Now...do you wish to forsake the path of water and follow the path of darkness?"

"Of course." Ash says as Kubfu also agrees. Then the student says, "Remember, there will be no turning back once you have made your choice. Are you sure you want to climb the Tower of Darkness?"

"I am sure about it." Ash says. "I can tell your heart is set. The best of luck to you."

As they enter the tower, they see a male student in front of him, he says, "Walking only a path of light will not help broaden your perspective... You must learn to use both the light and the dark. Let me show you how!"

Then he sends out the Zoura, Ash has to use Kubfu only, and with the hard battle, with the Close Combat, it is defeated.

"Fighting types are super effective against Dark Types, maybe this tower is easy for Ash." Alice says as the student says, "Light and Dark aside, you have certainly broadened my perspective."

After that, they go upstairs and then the student says, "Those strong in the darkness are also strong in the light...I have traveled the path of darkness and perfected my strength in the light! Behold!"

Then she sends out Scraggy, Ash says, "Well, this will be easy as well." Ash sends out Kubfu to battle this Pokemon. Since it is also a Fighting Type, so Ash can also use the Aerial Ace to knock out the Scraggy.

"Yes, even my strength perfected in light can be overshadowed at times!" The student says as she recalls her Pokemon.

Alice says, "Looks like you are going smoothly in this tower." Alice says with a smile.

"Yeah, though I start to get worried that there might be some traps when we go to the upper floors." Ash says.

Once they climb up the stairs once more, they find the third student, who says, "We are all but lost travelers, feeling our way through the darkness around us...The results of battles are hidden in darkness until the battles are completed. That is the beauty of battling."

"Well, that is for sure." Ash says. This time the trainer sends out Inkay, and Ash groans, "Great, and there is the Dark Type Pokemon who is also a Psychic Type."

And much to Ash's horror, Inkay manages to use the Psybeam to deal some damage to Kubfu, and this time Alice starts to get worried, "Maybe this floor is not that easy after all..."

But with the Iron Head and the Aerial Ace, the Inkay is also knocked out. But Kubfu has taken quite a lot of damaged.

"Now the darkness surrounds me...I am about to blackout!" The trainer says as Ash and Alice head upstairs.

"Ash, is Kubfu okay?" Alice asks Ash, who replies, "I have been thinking of the same thing, but I think Kubfu wants to continue. I wonder what is the reward after we beat the tower..."

Ash and Alice head to the fourth floor and the trainer says, "Wind that carries a ship out to sea is wind that stalls a ship returning to port...what shines light on one path can also be what keeps another in darkness. Let's see if you can find your own path onward."

"Sure." Ash says as the trainer sends out Krokorok. Ash says, "Krokorok, huh? I know for sure how this Pokemon is hard to beat."

The Pokemon uses the Sandstorm to deal some damage at the Kubfu, and with the Bite, it keeps flinching the Kubfu. But in the end, Close Combat manages to knock out the Pokemon.

"It seems you have found your path and sailed right on course!" The trainer says as Ash and Alice come to the final floor.

When they reach the top, they see Mustard standing there. "Master Mustard?" Ash and Alice exclaim in shock.

"There you are..." Mustard smiles at them, "I figured you'd choose the Tower of Darkness, so I decided to wait for you here."

"What...but...how..." Ash is lost for words, and Mustard says, "Ash, Kubfu-you've both done well to get this far. Your final opponent is little old me!"

"Wait, we are going to battle you again?" Ash asks in surprise as Mustard says, "It's been a while since the last time I battled like this...but I think you can handle it! A stream too clear is avoided by fish Pokémon...We all need some darkness in ourselves."

"Let me be the one to teach you the final lesson on the essence of darkness." Just then, Mustard takes off his hat and the jacket, showing his Champion uniform and the backflip in front of them.

"Wow...Master?" Ash asks in shock as Mustard sends out his own Kubfu. Ash sends out his own Kubfu and Mustard says, "I need to get serious if I am to take you on! Hone your senses now...and let this battle sharpen you! Show me how you can grow!"

"Okay...master, Kubfu, use Aerial Ace!" Ash says as Ash's own Kubfu tries to land the attack on the Pokemon, but it dodges and Mustard says, "Watch closely, Ash! This is what Kubfu's fists are truly capable of!"

Then he also uses Aerial Ace, which deals more damage at Kubfu. Ash notices that Mustard's Kubfu is different from the others, and he starts to fell worried. Ash tells Kubfu to Bulk Up, and then goes for the Iron Head, and the attack hits, but it is not that much damage. The Iron Head from Mustard's Kubfu also hits Ash's as he is struggling to get up. But with Ash's cheering and encouragement, Kubfu manages to get back up and uses Aerial Ace once more, knocking Mustard's Kubfu out.

Mustard laughs out loud and then he says, "You young folk grow so fast! It never ceases to amaze me."

Ash sighs in relief as he feels the battle really intense. Mustard says, "What a team! Impressive... Most impressive!"

Ash high five with Kubfu and Alice also gives him a hug. "You did it, Ash!"

Pikachu also nuzzles at Ash to congratulates him.

"Fuhaha! I knew you were worthy of my trust, Ash! You have done well-very well indeed-in raising Kubfu to this level of strength! Leon was once my best student...a long time ago. He, too, attempted this trial... But he never made it to either tower! He got lost along the way!"

Ash and Alice sweat drops at the words, and Mustard laughs once more, "Fuhahaha! Now it's finally time for Kubfu to evolve! Go and show Kubfu the Scroll of Darkness. Kubfu is ready now!"

He takes out the scroll and Kubfu is looking at it. Ash says, "So this is how Kubfu evolves?"

Just after reading the scroll, Kubfu starts to glow white, and it causes surprise to both Ash and Alice. "No way...my Kubfu..."

Then they see a black and white colored bear like Pokemon standing in front of him, and it is the same height as Ash. "Wow..."

"Behold! Before you stands Urshifu! Sure to be unyielding armor that will shatter any blade turned against it...And it has mastered the style of darkness!"

"Urshifu..." Ash says with awe, Urshifu gives Ash a hug and he returns.

"Ha! You've certainly grown, haven't you?" And to think, not long ago you would've run and hid behind me the moment you got scared! Indeed, no matter how old I get, witnessing someone grow always brings joy to my heart. Ash! Urshifu! Thank you both, from the bottom of my heart."

"Thank you as well, Master." Ash says, Mustard says, "Now I assume that it will be Alice's turn to challenge the Tower of Waters?"

Alice says, "You are right. I wonder if the scroll in this tower makes this Pokemon Urshifu...then what about the other tower...Just by thinking it is exciting."

"I know." Ash says, then they leave the tower as Mustard also leaves to Tower of Waters to prepare the trial for Alice.

Here is the first part of the Tower of two fists, now Ash has the Single Strike Urshifu, and the next one is going to be Alice's turn in the Tower of Waters.