Mandarin Stadium
Ash and Cheren stood across from each other ready to commence the finals.
Rose stood off to the side to officiate. "The eight competitors have battled it out to bring us our two finalists in Ash from Kanto and Cheren from Unova. To determine our winner, they will battle it out in a three-on-three battle.
The battle ends when all of one side's pokemon are unable to battle. There is no time limit and substitutions are at the discretion of the trainer. Additionally, there is no rule on who must send out their pokemon first."
"Ash, when I first heard from Hilbert, it piqued my interest. Then, I met you and understood you're a lot like him. Now, I've seen your skills in action for myself. That is why I'm glad you're my opponent." Cheren declared. "Let's show them our strength, Watchog!"
Ash got out his pokedex:
Watchog, the Lookout Pokémon. The markings on Watchog's body can glow to intimidate its foes. It has excellent vision, even in darkness.
"Well Cheren, my pokemon and I will just have to do our best to exceed your already high opinion of us." Ash smiled as he returned his pokedex. "Get ready because we haven't come this far just to lose." He grabbed his first pokeball. "I choose you, Dragonair!"
"Let the battle begin!" Rose declared.
Ash VS Cheren (P. I)
"Alright, let's start off with hypnosis." Cheren commanded.
"Dodge it Dragonair." Ash ordered. "Then, strike with aqua tail."
Watchog's stomach flashed before pulses of a psychic energy were sent Dragonair's way. The dragon type slithered out of the way and drew in close before smashing its water covered tail into the normal type.
"Alright, let's see how you handle this." Cheren stated. "Use crunch."
"Preempt them with your extreme speed." Ash instructed.
Watchog prepared to rush in and bit down on the dragon type only for Dragonair to rush in slamming the normal type away.
"Follow it up with iron tail." Ash ordered.
"Watchog, get out of there with dig." Cheren commanded.
Dragonair rushed in while coating his tail in metal only for Watchog to dig into the ground. Before Ash could issue a command, the normal type came up out of the ground slamming into the dragon type.
"Now, use gunk shot." Cheren ordered.
Watchog looked up and fired a blast of poison energy into Dragonair as he came down pushing him back up.
"Now, jump and bring the dragon down with aqua tail." Cheren commanded.
"I didn't expect you to know this, since we do all come from different regions, but Dragonair have the ability to fly." Ash declared. "Dragonair, use dragon pulse!"
On command, Dragonair exercised his ability to fly avoiding the oncoming Watchog. He then positioned himself and fired off the dragon pulse which sent the normal type slamming into the ground with swirls in his eyes.
"Watchog is unable to battle taking this to a three on two in Ash's favor." Rose declared.
Stands: With the Competitors
Harrison, Tad, Lock, Marley, Veronica, and Zinnia had all ended up sitting together in the stands; however, that's not to say they were out of luck in placement as Rose had reserved six prime spots just for them to watch. Well, them or whoever would have lost.
"I was wondering why Ash didn't have that Dragonair of his in the air already." Tad chuckled. "Who knew he'd built that into his strategy."
"I don't think there's much strategy to be had in a battle where neither knows what the other is capable of." Marley reasoned. "That said, Ash does seem to have the ability to remain calm under pressure."
"Still, it was impressive." Lock stated. "Like you said, he remained calm where I'm uncertain the same could be said about me. Even though I did manage to beat him in a one on one before, I get the feeling my inexperience in battle really would have shown through here unlike him."
"For someone with the least experience, you sure managed to give me a run back in our battle." Harrison declared. "Experience is something that comes with time. Some of us grow faster or are put in positions to grow. Still, it all just comes back to time."
Mandarin Stadium
"Watchog, you gave it your all; however, I just don't have the ability to bring out your potential like Lenora." Cheren returned the pokemon. "I must say, that was a pretty good use of holding your cards close to your chest.
You could have sprung flight the moment Dragonair was in the air; however, Watchog wouldn't have been in nearly as prime a position for a counter attack. In essence, you traded damage for the opportunity."
"Like I say these days, I owe it all to the people I've faced." Ash stated. "Fact is, I've met a lot of people that overpowered me, so I had to rely on another method to overcome them." He smiled. "It does help that my pokemon and I are stubborn."
"A bit of stubbornness never hurt… just be careful about taking it to the extreme." Cheren spoke from experience. "Anyways, this is far from over." He grabbed his next pokeball. "Let's show them our strength, Cinccino!"
"Let the battle resume!" Rose announced.
Ash VS Cheren (P. II)
"Dragonair, use iron tail." Ash ordered.
"Cinccino, dodge and use triple axel." Cheren commanded.
Dragonair lunged forward with his metal covered tail only for the normal type to dodge and spin around the dragon type. As she spun, Cinccino struck with ice covered feet nailing three increasingly stronger strikes.
"Now, follow it up with play rough." Cheren instructed.
"Dragonair, interrupt with aqua jet." Ash commanded. "Then, use brutal swing."
Dragonair cloaked himself in water and slammed into Cinccino just as she began to cloak herself in fairy energy. The dragon type then slammed a dark covered tail into the normal type knocking her back.
"Dragonair, use dragon pulse." Ash ordered.
"Cinccino, end this with u-turn." Cheren ordered.
Dragonair fired his dragon energy only for Cinccino to avoid it in a u-shaped arc, slam into the dragon type, and immediately return to her pokeball. Dragonair collapsed to the ground with swirls in his eyes.
"Dragonair is unable to battle bringing this to a two on two." Rose declared.
Mandarin Stadium
"Thanks for everything Dragonair." Ash returned his pokemon. "Take a good, long rest." He smiled. "For a little guy, your Cinccino's got a lot of power. I choose you, Scyther."
"Well, I do my best to raise my pokemon better these days then I tended to in the past." Cheren declared. "Let's show them our strength, Bouffalant."
"Let the battle resume!" Rose announced.
Ash VS Cheren (P. III)
"Let's build up your power with a swords dance, Scyther." Ash commanded.
"We'll supersede your set up." Cheren declared. "Bouffalant, use cotton guard."
The astral swords danced around Scyther increasing her attack by two stages while Bouffalant was coated in cotton for a good moment raising his defense by three stages.
"Scyther, use steel wing." Ash commanded.
"Use cotton guard one more time before following it up with a stone edge." Cheren ordered.
The cotton appeared one more time bringing Bouffalant's defense up to the maximum six stages, so when Scyther slammed her steel covered wing into the normal type, it barely did anything. Then, stones came up beneath Scyther inflicting massive damage due to her quad weakness.
"Scyther!" Ash shouted with concern as his pokemon was laid out on the ground. "Come on, I know you're tougher than to be felled by one move." To be fair, this seemed to affect her more than your average rock move. "Please, get up."
"Scy." Scyther stated from the ground.
The attack had disoriented the bug/flying type. So, Scyther did hear Ash, but it was hard to make out any concern. To her, it sounded like every other trainer before him. Begging her to get up. When she couldn't, they ended up abandoning her. She never was strong enough.
Never was good enough for any trainer no matter how hard she tried. Eventually, she had come to loathe humans. If they didn't want her, then she'd gain strength alone. Strength enough to never be hurt ever again. Then, Ash came along.
No matter how badly she had treated him, this boy didn't abandon her. In fact, he's supported her, treated her well, and even saved her. Scyther realized that she didn't want this trainer to abandon her. If she didn't want to be abandoned, she knew her trainer had to win.
"Scyther!" Scyther screamed.
Pikachu heard the pain, beyond the physical, with that declaration. Despite how he may feel about her trying to kill Ash, no pokemon should suffer. The electric type wouldn't want any pokemon to push themselves like this. Ash was picking up on it himself.
"Well, that's one tough Scyther you have there." Cheren wasn't blind to the pain, emotional and physical, that pokemon was going through. "Bouffalant is one of my strongest pokemon and most quad weak to his attacks usually can't get up after being hit by it."
That wasn't true. A gym leader using their own pokemon, someone more skilled, Elite Four members, and champions most certainly could. Realistically, this was the future gym leader feeling Ash out. Seeing what his opponent would do in this situation.
"Chairman Rose!" Ash held up a hand. "Scyther is unable to battle! Additionally, I'd like to request a break to talk with my pokemon, please!"
This would have been an automatically denied request anywhere else; however, the Orange Islands were a slightly different region compared to most. While it is true the bond between trainer and pokemon was generally seen as a good thing, the Orange Islands truly valued it.
It was essentially their claim to fame beyond just being a so-called minor league. Of course, it was at the discretion of any ref to determine if the trainer was serious or lying to by time. Given what he observed, Rose saw no problem in doing this especially with Ash forfeiting his Scyther.
"Scyther has been declared unable to battle by her own trainer's wisdom." Rose declared. "This brings it to a one on two in Cheren's favor. Cheren, do you agree to let your challenger have this break?"
"I see no problem with it." Cheren stated. "Honestly, I respect my opponent for knowing when to throw in the towel."
"Very well." Rose nodded. "By the rules of the Orange League, I declare a fifteen-minute break. Once I call to resume the battle, you must make your way back to the field, or you will be disqualified. Additionally, leaving the stadium will be met with disqualification as well."
If Ash couldn't have gotten the break, he'd have surrendered. This was just a simple tournament and not worth risking his pokemon over mental/emotional problems.
"Thank you." Ash held out the pokeball to his still shocked pokemon. "Return Scyther."
Ash then ran off to the confusion of a few people in the stands; however, Orange Island natives were able to explain how highly they valued the bond between trainer and pokemon. In their eyes, what Ash did was respectful to his pokemon.
Locker Room
Ash let his Scyther out who just stared at him. Despite his words out there, she had her doubts. He very well wouldn't be the first trainer that tried to save face only to release her in private. That line of thinking was squashed when she noticed tears forming in his eyes.
"Scyther, I don't know who hurt you to the extent you would fight beyond your limits, but you don't have to do that for me." Ash wiped his eyes. "My dream is to become the Pokemon Master, but I won't do it by pushing my pokemon like others have pushed you.
Even if I ask you to keep fighting, that's not a command. It's a hope that you can push on." He took out a potion and used it on her. "At the end of the day, win or lose, you are as much my pokemon as any of the others. In the end, I'm sorry if I haven't conveyed…"
Scyther stopped her trainer by bringing him in and gently hugging him. She sincerely wished her first trainer, or any of the others after, could have been like this boy. The only thing that matter now was that the bug/flying type had found someone who could be her trainer.
"Scy. Scyther." Scyther stated.
Pikachu's ears perked up and he spoke to a stunned Ash. "Pika. Pikachu."
Scyther had just apologized to him for their first meeting. Ash hugged his pokemon back glad to know she seemed to be accepting him rather than just listening to him. This was certainly another lesson to keep in mind since he should have said this long ago.
Ash soon parted form his pokemon with a smile as he decided to take out those evolutionary items and his pokedex. "Scyther, I know you want to be strong, so if you want to evolve, I have the items to do it."
He had his pokedex display Kleavor and Scizor to his pokemon. "The metal coat will turn you into Scizor while the hard rock will make you a Kleavor. Whether or not you want to evolve, and which one you want to evolve into, is up to you."
Scyther was again stunned that her trainer genuinely cared for her. At this point, she didn't doubt it, but it was till bizarre. Regardless, evolution was something Scyther was passionate about. She just couldn't reach it on her own. Now, here was a trainer offering her the chance.
"Regardless of your choice, we can make a new start from here." Ash declared.
Scyther gave a small smile before pressing her claw over one of the images and pointing to herself. "Scyther."
Ash put his pokedex away. "I'd have been happy with whatever you choose. What's important to me is that this is your choice." He took out her pokeball and held it up to Scyther. "If you want this, then return."
Without hesitation, Scyther pressed her claw allowing herself to be sucked back inside.
"Alright Pikachu, are you ready for when they call us?" Ash nodded. "Despite now being at a disadvantage, we got to give it everything we got!"
Pikachu nodded with determination. "Pika!"
Mandarin Stadium
"The fifteen-minute break is over, so I need Ash to return to the stadium." Rose declared.
Cheren had simply stood where he was, with his arms crossed, waiting for Ash to return. He hadn't moved nor had he returned his Bouffalant. After all, he didn't want to lose his pokemon's currently maxed out defense. Ash walked out to the field with Scyther following him.
As he took his place across from the future gym leader, Cheren uncrossed his arms. "So, I take it you were able to help your pokemon?"
"You bet!" Ash declared. "Our bond is better than ever."
"Scyther." Scyther declared happily.
"Then, it most certainly wasn't a waste to you let you have that time." Cheren stated. "Still, you are at a disadvantage."
"Scyther, return." Ash declared before clipping her pokeball to his waist. "The thing about my pokemon and me is that we always do our best under pressure." He held out his arm. "I choose you, Pikachu!"
Pikachu ran down his trainer's arm and took his place across from Bouffalant more than ready to give this battle his all. "Pika!"
"Bouffalant and I will reciprocate." Cheren declared.
"Bouff." Bouffalant declared in agreement.
"Let the battle resume!" Rose declared.
Ash VS Cheren (P. IV)
"At this point, Bouffalant likely hasn't been returned meaning Pikachu's physical attacks aren't going to do all that much." Fortunately, Ash knew Pikachu had more than physical moves to rely on. "Pikachu, use thunderbolt."
"Bouffalant, wait for the right moment to try a poison jab." Cheren smiled. "When that fails, use your high horsepower."
Bouffalant tried to coat his horns in poison energy only to be struck by Pikachu's thunderbolt. From there, the normal typed cloaked himself in ground energy before charging in.
"Sorry about the field." Ash stated to himself. "Pikachu, dig and burrow."
Pikachu managed to just get underground before Bouffalant reached him.
"Stay on guard and wait for Pikachu to appear." Cheren declared. "Then, try high horsepower again."
"Who said Pikachu needs to come up?" Ash smiled. "Charge when you're ready."
The future gym leader was confused even as the electric type eventually did use charge causing the hole to light up. This also increased the electric type's special defense and doubled his next electric attack.
"Alright Pikachu, give it all you got with a full power thunder." Ash commanded.
Suddenly, lighting ripped through the ground shooting up into Bouffalant along with some rocks. Then, most of the battle ground began to cave in. This maneuver really shocked everyone save those who had seen it before.
"Oh no." Cheren was shocked. "Get out of there Bouffalant!"
"Pikachu, show them your grass knot." Ash ordered.
The normal type tried to flee but he was tripped up by grass knotting at his hooves. While this may have dealt little damage, the caving in floor still compounded a lot onto that. The normal type was still very much conscious.
"Now, end this with thunder at full power." Ash commanded.
"Bouffalant, use stone edge!" Cheren tried.
Before the normal type was in any position to use a move, Pikachu hopped onto his back and let the electricity rip. By the end of it, Pikachu moved to the intact section of the field, near Ash, while Bouffalant had fainted.
"Bouffalant is unable to battle which takes this to a one-on-one battle." Rose declared.
Leon's Box
Leon had yet to return while Ness and Sonia were just staring at what the kid had done with the same thought running through their minds. "Oh my god, he's like a mini-Leon in the making. Please tell me his sense of direction is at least better."
Mandarin Stadium
"You performed admirably Bouffalant." Cheren smiled as he returned his pokemon. "Take a nice, long rest." He shook his head. "You really are just full of surprises Ash."
"I do my best." Ash looked at his buddy. "Pikachu, you good to continue this battle?"
Pikachu looked back and nodded. "Pika!"
Before they could say anything more, Rose interjected. "Hold on you two." He looked at them both. "There is no rule on damaging the terrain, but I must ask if you really want to continue your battle here. We do have other fields, just not in the middle, like this one."
"I'm fine with it if Cheren is." Ash declared.
"I see no qualms with it." Cheren stated. "After all, not every battle is under the best circumstances anyways. At least with this my opponent can't dig me out again."
"Hey, I never replicate a strategy this destructive twice in one battle." Ash retorted.
"I still wouldn't like to take that chance." Cheren grabbed his last pokeball. "Let's show them our strength, Cinccino!"
"Let the final battle begin!" Rose declared.
Ash VS Cheren (P. V)
"Cinccino, use slam." Cheren declared.
"Pikachu, use agility to dodge and strike with iron tail." Ash commanded.
Cinccino moved to slam into Pikachu, but the electric type sped around the normal type. He not only avoided the attack, but his speed rose a stage in the process. Pikachu then closed in and slammed his metal covered tail into the scarf pokemon,
"Now, follow it up with brick break." Ash instructed.
"Cinccino, dodge and finish this with rock blast." Cheren commanded.
The normal type dodged around the coming fighting move and began sending rock after rock, five times over, into Pikachu. Each one pushed the electric type back until the final one knocked the mouse pokemon into the wall of the crater. He fell to the ground with swirls in his eyes.
"Ash is out of usable pokemon which means Cheren is the winner of the Mandarin Tournament!" Rose declared causing the crowd to go wild.
Stands: With Serena, James, and Nate
"I thought for a second he really had it." Nate stated. "Looks like I can't have Veronica slouching throughout this league."
"Still, Ash gave it one heck of a try." James crossed his arms. "While he may not have won, getting this far does speak volumes."
"Knowing Ash, he'll just turn this into motivation." Serena stated lovingly.
Mandarin Island
Ash entered the crater and produced a potion before using it on his buddy. "Guess we have a lot of work ahead of us to be ready for the Orange League, huh buddy?"
Pikachu scampered back onto his shoulder before nodding. "Pika!"
"Thank you for bringing this home, Cinccino." Cheren returned his pokemon before entering the crater himself and coming to stand across from Ash. "You know, I'm not certain how I feel…"
"Don't." Ash smiled. "It's a trainer's job to take care of their pokemon before battles like this. I failed to do that. I was also the one who choose to use Scyther despite my failure. This loss is mine." He held out his hand. "The better trainer won today."
"If my opponent concedes defeat, who am I to deny my victory." Cheren smiled as he shook the offered hand. "Hey, I'll be expecting an even better battle at the Orange League."
Ash nodded as they let go. "Count on it."
Rose came on down into the crater to join them. "Well, this has been an exciting day; however, there are still two gifts left to give. Ash, you may not have won the day, but I present you with a little something I picked up in Kalos."
He took out a small box and opened it revealing a rainbow-colored sphere with a DNA symbol imprinted on it. "This is a keystone by which you can activate the process of Mega Evolution with a pokemon you have a strong bond with.
Naturally, whatever pokemon you use this on will also need a Mega Stone of their own as well or this evolution is off the table. What is Mega Evolution? Besides the bond and items, it is a temporary evolution that can grant certain pokemon extraordinary power."
"Wow, you're really okay with giving this to me?" Ash asked amazed.
"I wouldn't have made the stopover in Kalos if I hadn't intended on passing it to a trainer here." Rose closed the box and passed it to him. "By the way, people usually put their key stone in something they'll wear as to have it on them."
Ash looked at the back of his glove. "I think I know where I want it." He then looked to Pikachu. "I may have just learned about this buddy, but we are officially one half… maybe it's actually a third… of the way to seeing a mega evolution."
"Pikachu!" Pikachu exclaimed happily.
"Now for you, Cheren." Rose took out a paper and envelope before passing it to him. "That paper is a recommendation from me to challenge the Galar League along with an envelope which contains all the information you'll need to claim your all expenses paid trip to Galar."
"Wow, that's rather generous of you sir." Cheren nodded. "Lenora did say I should garner more experience before making my gym, and she does still have a couple more years in her. This is for after the Orange League, right?"
"I wouldn't dream of taking you away from this." Rose smiled. "Additionally, you now have an exhibition match with our champion tomorrow and first rights to challenge this gym. For now, I have to say farewell to all of you!"
Mandarin Pokemon Center: Evening…
Ash, Serena, and James sat around a table eating dinner. Ash now wore only one glove with had his new keystone imprinted within courtesy of Chairman Rose. Despite coming second, James and Serena could tell he wasn't bummed, so they weren't going to dwell on it.
"Well, Mandarin Island's been great, but I'm ready to start earning badges." Ash declared. "Where's the nearest island with an Orange Crew member?"
"Don't forget about me." Serena stated. "After all this time, I'm ready to get back into the Chateaus, so whichever one we tackle needs to have one."
"According to the guidebook, each of the four islands, with a member, has a Chateau." James voiced. "Additionally, Trovita Island is the closest; however, I think I'd advise against that."
"Why is that?" Ash asked.
"As far as I can tell, you seem to be one of a few challengers with a pokemon which can ferry us to other islands. James stated. "While others could a pokemon, I bet a good number of them will head for Trovita or Kumquat."
"Alright, then where do you suggest we go to?" Ash asked.
"I think we should head to Mikan Island." James voiced. "It is the farthest island out from here meaning it's your best bet at getting an immediate challenge."
"Sounds good to me." Ash declared. "The only condition is that we head straight there. After all, we can check out the other islands after I get my badge and Serena gets her rank increased."
James closed the book. "I have no objections."
"I'm fine with it; however, night is setting in fast, so we should wait until tomorrow before leaving." Serena stated and the guys agreed.
So, the group ate their fill and decided to turn in soon after. Before they leave tomorrow, the trio resolved to rotate their teams a bit. Especially Ash who had to get Lapras back. He also decided to evolve Scyther tomorrow. Then, it'd be time to set off for Mikan Island.
Mandarin Island
Somewhere along the way, Leon had lost track of where Yamper was and lost his way. Now, he was walking along the streets trying to find his way back. He figured the electric type, who had a great sense of direction, was already with Sonia anyways.
"Now, which way was it back to the stadium?" Leon questioned.
He'd make it back… eventually. Sonia just had to send Yamper, who did in fact make it back to her and Nessa, after him.
The Mandarin Arc, as it has become, ends with this chapter. Again, I would like to thank Elemental-Aura for suggesting this as I personally feel that it helped flesh out the other competitors beyond just being seven competitors. Next chapter, we really get into the Orange Island's. After so many chapters, it's time for Ash to go after a new badge. After, it'll be time for Serena to battle it out for a rank increase.
Ibrenneke: He did.
Reader: There must have been other starters with their hidden abilities, but I am admittedly drawing a blank. Honestly, the anime never seemed to focus to much on abilities, if I remember corrected, but hey I thought it would be a slightly more unique idea in the long run that just giving Marely an Infernape with blaze. No, I'm not talking the super blaze Ash's Chimchar had. That was made evident to be a quirk of that specific one.