"So why are we out here?" Goh asked curiously. Ash had taken him out to the open field by Vermillion. "Flight training. You need more practice fighting in the air, and if you're going to use Skarmory for transport, you'll need to learn to ride it as well." Ash said sternly. "So, I've set up a bit of an obstacle course for you to train in." Ash said, turning a corner. "Goh followed to see his Beedrill, Flygon, Aerodactyl, and Skarmory waiting there. Along with Ash's Dragonite, Swellow, Noivern, and Unfezzant. "So I get why my Pokémon are here, but why are yours?" Goh asked. "For competition." Ash replied, smirking.
"First up is targets. Each set it worth different points, Chloe is here to help keep track." Ash said pointing to Chloe. "Chloe! When did you get here?!" Goh said shocked. "About 30 minutes ago." Chloe said not looking up from her notepad. "Well if it's targets, then I'll go with… Beedrill!" Goh chose. "Good choice, but you'll have to be more than that to beat Unfezzant." Ash taunted. "There are three types of ring targets. Green which are the largest, blue the medium sized, and red the smallest. The smaller the ring the higher the point value." Chloe said. "And go!" She said, starting a stopwatch. "Beedrill,line yourself up and get the smallest you can." Goh said. "Unfezzant, keep working your way back and forth through the targets, if you miss one just keep going." Ash called out.
"Ash won, by a lot." Chloe said counting the rings. "How! He barely got any reds!" Goh exclaimed looking at his decent pile of them. "In flying battles, you can't line up a perfect shot, sometimes you just have to keep hitting, or you won't get a chance." Ash explained. "So what's next?" Goh asked. "Speed." Ash replied. "On the top of the lab, there is a flag with each of our faces on it. The goal is to get it back first." Ash said. "Well then, I'll go with Aerodactyl." Goh said proudly. "When it comes to speed, I trust Swellow to do the job." Ash said.
It was a close race, but in the end Aerodactyl pulled out the win. "So what was the lesson in that?" Goh asked. "Nothing, it's just fun to have a flying race every now and then." Ash said smiling. "So what's third, a battle?" Goh asked, readying himself. "Nope, now we race on Pokémon." Ash said. "That was just a warm up. There are 5 markers around town that you'll have to grab. First one back with all 5 wins." Chloe said. "Dragonite you're up." Ash said, running up to him. "I guess I'll go with Skarmory?" Goh said hesitantly. "This is so different!" Goh screamed from atop Skarmory. "Much better than being grabbed." Ash laughed. "Let's take things up a notch." Ash said standing up. "Are you insane!" Goh screamed. "Maybe, Dragonite full speed!" Ash called out. "DRAGO!" Dragonite shouted zooming off. "After them Skarmory!" Goh commanded.
"Goh, I'm surprised, the markers showed Ash had a big lead, but you're here first." Chloe said shocked. "So then where's Ash?" Goh asked. "I don't know, I just could tell when the markers were grabbed." Chloe said confused. "He was standing on Dragonite, I hope he didn't fall off." Goh said concerned. "Guys let's go look for Ash!" Goh said to his Pokémon. As they took off, he saw Ash's Pokémon do the same as they began looking.
"Wahooo!" Goh heard a shout a bit off the shore. He looked to see waves coming in fast. In the middle of them was Ash on Dragonite! "Ash where have you been!" Goh shouted. "We've been looking everywhere for you!" "Well, after we got the markers, I decided to go for a bit of a joyride, I guess it went a bit longer than expected huh?" Ash said seeing the skies darken.
"I just have one question? How did you not fall off Dragonite?" Chloe asked. "A jaw harness, it's painless and safe for the Pokémon, and makes it easier riding them like the way I did." Ash said wringing out his hair. He had gotten soaked on his little joyride. "Well I hope you had fun, we didn't even get to the final test you had planned." Chloe said angrily. "Don't worry so much, we can work on it tomorrow, and if not then, the next day." Ash said nonchalantly. "He does all this planning, leaves for hours, and seems to barely care. I just don't get him." Chloe said exasperated. "I don't think it's that he doesn't care, I think he knows it'll still happen. One way or another." Goh said calmly.
Ash had dried off and changed and the trio were sitting in a lounge like area at the lab. "So what exactly was the final part of the day supposed to be." Goh asked. "If I told you now, it wouldn't be a surprise later." Ash said sassily. "Besides, I think we can still do it today." Ash said hopefully. "Seriously? It's pretty dark out." Goh said shocked. "Not everywhere is dark." Ash said, standing up. "Come on, there's no time to lose!"
"Ash, it's cold, dark and late. Can't this wait until tomorrow?" Chloe complained. "Nope, now I'm all fired up. Okay Goh, now it's time for a proper aerial battle!" Ash said readying a pokeball. "What? I don't stand a chance against you!" Goh exclaimed. "With that attitude you've already lost." Ash said. "That's exactly what I'm saying, ugh fine. Go Flygon!" Goh said sending out his final Pokémon. "That's just what I like to hear. Come on out Noivern!" Ash called out.
"Noivern use Boomburst!"
"Flygon dodge and use Draco Meteor!"
The sound waves echoed, as meteors fell from the sky.
"Noivern use Acrobatics to dodge them!"
"Flygon use Sandstorm to give yourself the edge."
Noivern narrowly avoided the meteors, as sand started to fly around.
"Noivern time to get in close with Dragon Claw!"
"Flygon use Draco Meteor again!"
Noivern got clipped by the attack but hit hard against its opponent.
"In aerial combat, you need to remember a balance of near and far attacks, on top of that, there's a whole new dimension to the fight. Like this Noivern strike from above with Boom Burst!" Ash called out.
As Noivern flew above and shot down Flygon, Goh was too stunned to react.
"How did you learn to fight in the air like that?" Goh asked, stunned. "Practice, something that'll come with time, but if you remember the up and down, it can help greatly." Ash said with a smile.
