Well, hey there. Been a while, hasn't it? Now, I know, I know. My fanfic career is over. Still is…er, was. It's complicated. Though with this, it's something fun I thought up that I was never able to give my readers. I can't promise much in the way of a "story", but it'll be a good time to lead into…something, which will be announced here at the end (or already has been elsewhere if you've followed me). In the meantime, let's twist this!
Author: Epicocity
Rating: K plus
Pairings: Amourshipping and whatever else fits
WARNING: Spoilers for the entire Ancienverse!
DISCLAIMER: I still don't own Pokémon.
Finals, Fights and Flights
An Amourshipping Pokémon Fanfiction
Part 1
"You're sure we have everything?"
"Yes…I think…" Ash leaned over, checking the contents of his backpack. It was no different from any of his usual journeys, outside a couple more things to help Serena if any problems arose. His wedding ring clanked around his pokeballs, and eventually Pikachu muscled in to check over everything, himself.
"Pikapi. Pi!" His best friend's confirmation was good enough for him.
"Yep. Everything looks good to go."
His wife sighed, leaning back on the airport chair, her hand upon her belly as she breathed. Ash watched her a moment, tapping his foot and keeping an eye on Pikachu when he ran over to the vending machines. She had gotten slightly bigger, further progressing along her pregnancy, but Ash wasn't one to notice these things all that well. All he cared about was a clean bill of health for her and the child they were expecting, which was complicated already by the fact they were going abroad.
"Good. I don't want to be caught unawares." Her meaning was obvious, and Ash looked to her bag, something lighter so it wouldn't strain her, but still containing all the essentials for a pregnant woman on the road. Not that he wanted to keep her on the road, but he'd long learned how stubborn she could be. "I wonder what the region is like."
"No idea, but it sounds awesome!" Ash said, pulling out a brochure that had come with his most recent orders. Well, his first orders as an official League Liaison, but Ash wasn't splitting hairs over technicalities. "They have Gyms there, and a Pokémon League, and I'm sure there are plenty of new Pokémon. It's weird I never went there before…"
"Probably because it's such a small region, and you've been busy. Ever since that battle with…" Serena pursed her lips here and Ash grew solemn. The name she spoke held weight, and with it, Ash blew at his bangs. "After your battle with Diantha, you've been kept busy."
"Yeah…wonder when Champion battles will start up again…" Ash leaned back on his chair, not really wanting to think about the fallen Diantha. Only Serena really knew, but her death had weighed on him, as if part of the Champion expected him to take up the position she once held and find the right path to the future.
He wasn't even sure if he could handle being a father soon, let alone that.
Ash was spared the need to think about it by a light thwack to the back of his head, which turned out to be a rolled-up magazine in the hands of one Astrid, standing over the married couple, determined to not be a third wheel. "If you're interested in the progress of Champions, the League is running a spread. You're not included."
The snicker was not missed.
Ash twisted around, swiping the magazine before Astrid could hit him with it again, no matter how teasing it was, and he spread it open to reveal the front cover. Indeed, the issue of League Quarterly, the first since the battle in Ancien City, was splashed with the faces of all the Champions. Well, current Champions, as Malva was finally making her big debut as the new Champion of the Kalos Region. Oddly absent was Kukui, and as Ash looked into the magazine, he saw that there was a big question mark where the professor and once-reigning Champion of Alola was.
"Astrid, are you sure about coming with us? You wouldn't rather stay in Nova?" Serena asked, with Ash paying the scantest of attention to her. He managed to find his name tucked in a corner, asking what he'd be doing in his new role, something the League had been somewhat coy about to the public.
"I don't think I could stay there," the blonde replied, puffing air that blew onto Ash's neck. Pikachu returned, just as fascinated by the magazine as he read it from over Ash's shoulder. Taking a small break, Ash watched Astrid, making sure she was okay, but the trainer was resolute. She certainly wasn't dressed for a break in Nova Town, not with her beige slacks, though her style up top (or whatever it was; Serena had the better eye for fashion) was still reminiscent of her usual clothing. Ash wondered if the change had been in order because of Rocky's death, or just the fact her clothing had been singed in the battle with Tolbert. It was nothing to him; he appreciated the company either way.
"I get it. Well, you're welcome along, of course. I could use an extra hand."
"I'm sure you could! Pregnancy is no joke!" Astrid didn't bother to sit, leaning against a nearby wall and fiddling with what looked like Absol's pokeball. "Can't believe it's already the cusp of a new generation. But don't worry, I won't follow Bonnie's notes to tease you about the 'bun in the oven'."
"Bonnie…" Serena growled. Ash took it as his cue to return to reading, zeroing in on where Pikachu was tapping the big question mark over Kukui's face.
"Kapipi!" he chirped with a big grin, and Ash soon realized why.
"What?! Kahili is challenging Kukui for Champion?!" Ash screamed, almost flying out of his chair. Serena nearly did just that, looking at her husband with wild, wide eyes, only helped by Astrid easing her back down. He gave an apology as quick as he could. "She never mentioned anything…I didn't know Lanakila had even recovered."
"League's been pouring a lot of money into reconstruction," Astrid said before foregoing the magazine to poke Ash playfully in the back of the head. "I would have thought a League Liaison would know that."
"I don't think Ash is aware of all the finer details…and somehow the League doesn't expect him to be," Serena admitted, propping her chin on her palm as she stared at her husband with softness. He barely registered it, his and Pikachu's eyes attracted to the little detail in the corner.
"Aw, man! Her match is happening right now! Gotta find a screen!"
Ding dong ding!
"No time for that, Ash. That's the call for our flight," his wife called, stopping him in his tracks. He wasn't going to press his luck on this. For all of Serena's sweetness, her pregnancy had made her even more of a force to be reckoned with.
Disappointment setting in, Ash found himself nodding, Pikachu sharing the emotion as the two turned and swiped their bags, trudging towards the gateway for their plane. It felt a bit better when he slipped his hand inside Serena's and, before long, the three were on their small plane, only a dozen or so passengers bound for the region ahead. As the plane lifted off, Ash found himself staring out the window, a sigh fogging up the glass.
"She must have been so busy training she just never had the chance to say anything," Serena said once the flight had stabilized in the air. "Kahili's a lot like you that way."
"No one can be just like Ash," Astrid laughed from across the aisle, garnering some looks from the other passengers. "Kahili might be on the road to being Champion of Alola, but nothing can beat that Diantha battle. How many years was it now?"
"Five?" Serena said, though even she was unsure of the number with how much had happened. Ash couldn't even do the calculations for the biggest professional battle of his career. "But true. That match was sold out. Even normal Champion battles never draw such a crowd."
"Then you should see the battles in this region, miss," a voice the row ahead of them said. An older man peeked his head over the chair, looking to the married couple and Astrid, not bothering to apologize for intervening in their conversation. "The Champion there is really something. Never lost a match."
Never lost a match, huh…? Ash began to think to himself. The prospect fascinated him, and before long he found a grin on his face, filling in his mind with a pleasant memory. From the way Serena took his hand, she was reminiscing as well. He could tell. Fingering the pokeballs on his waist, his mind was drawn inexorably to the battle that the two blondes near him had discussed.
Champions, themselves, had always been seen as undefeatable, and any battle against them was sure to draw a crowd, wondering if they could be toppled by normal trainers who had climbed the ladder. Until that day, only matches of Champions against members of the Elite Four had drawn excess interest.
But that day…
That day, the match Ash had with Diantha at the Kalos League Headquarters was one that went down in history as the greatest match ever fought.
The faint roar of the crowd.
The nervous anticipation before a match.
The sounds of cheers and the clamoring of reporters each wanting to get an interview.
All of that and more came to Ash's ears in that waiting room, reminding him of where he was and that he was once again about to battle. If it was that simple. No, this battle had already been years in the making, ever since he had promised to battle Diantha as two trainers on the battlefield outside Geosenge. Maybe even earlier than that. He had then solidified it with his claim on Mount Lanakila that he was coming for them next.
He had kept that word.
"The stands are packed!" a reporter's voice shouted from the screen in his waiting room. The space was cool and dark, other than that thin light from the television, which drew Ash's eyes to it. Pikachu was on his lap, watching with him as he was absentmindedly petted and scratched behind the ears. "This is a match many months in the making, with tickets sold out for weeks, but at last, the battle people have been waiting for is here."
Shots of the crowd were panned over, the excitement palpable even through the camera. Some lingered, like those of the Kalos Elite Four gathered in a box to watch. Only Malva was missing, joined up with the familiar face of Harry Kalas in the commentator's box to provide analysis for the match ahead. A different shot lingered on a rather large, restricted group of people who had managed to score VIP tickets for the event in front-row seats. Most of them were familiar faces that he had ensured would all be there, including concession salesmen trying to make some quick cash (while stuffing their own faces). It was enough to steady his nerves about heading into the battle.
"It's been an arduous year for challenger Ash Ketchum, whose achievements have become quite notable over the last many years, ever since the Ancien Debacle, here in Kalos," the reporter continued, showing Ash's face on the screen. It looked like an older photo, taken from the Kalos League or the Peace Tournament, but he wasn't sure. "As most of the populace knows, winning a League Conference and battling even a single Elite Four is no easy feat, with many trainers that have even won a Conference having been swept under the rug by a single Pokémon owned by those lofty four. Yet to reach the pinnacle that is battling a Champion, one must battle and defeat all four of those elite.
"Ash Ketchum, over the last year, has managed to do just that behind the closed doors that protects all those trainers and their skills. Now, however, he and his team are ready to make themselves public in the fight that has been called the most anticipated since the Lanakila Conference was first held!"
Knock knock
The sound of the soft rapping of the waiting room door didn't hold much pause before it swung open with a light squeak. He wasn't surprised who it was, but he did take a measure of comfort, blowing away any nervousness he might have had.
"Looks like they're going all out in coverage. It makes a Master Class look like child's play," Serena said, stepping in. She had her hair tied back, though it still wasn't all that long, but she looked ready to play for keeps, herself.
"Different venues, I guess," Ash said, laughing. Pikachu looked up at him, sensing that pit of nerves inside. Serena guessed the same, sitting next to him on the bench and taking his hand. "The others aren't with you?"
"Dawn's getting a cheerleading section going and I'm fairly sure Clemont and Brock are restraining Bonnie. They don't want her getting too excited right before your big match. Not sure where Kahili is…"
"I think I could use some of that excitement, and I don't know if Kahili will be making it. She's pretty busy," Ash said, looking to the television. It was showing Diantha upon it now, discussing her laudable achievements as a Champion, from League Reform to an unprecedented winning streak far as Kalos Champions went. None had managed to overcome her in all the years Ash had worked his way up.
He hoped to topple that today, and connect with the Champion as an equal.
"You're ready for this, Ash," Serena insisted, squeezing his hand. "You fought and beat all of the Kalos Elite Four, something even Alain couldn't do when he was still part of that battling world. You've worked really hard, and all of your Pokémon are going to be in the stands cheering for you, just like the rest of us."
"Yeah, I know. Just pre-battle jitters. But once we get out there, we'll do our best!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu cried out, slapping his cheeks and sparking with electricity. Serena ruffled his fur, to which he cooed, and then she stood. At a glance, Ash could see a timer on the screen, counting down to when the match was due to begin, which was only a few minutes.
"You're sure about your team, right?" she asked, before pointing down to his wrist. It brought into focus the ring upon her own wrist. "And your Z-Ring?"
"Yup!" Ash said, standing up as Pikachu leapt to his head. "I made a promise to Diantha before I ever went to Alola. I want to keep that promise to battle her with everything I got through Kalos. My Pokémon all understand, too. We're winning under our own strength! That's how we Pokémon Masters work."
Serena giggled at that before leaning over and offering him a peck on the cheek. "Then we'll be watching. Time to be a Champion, Ash."
It was the best encouragement he could have asked for, knowing it came from both her heart and the heart of all the others she would be sitting with. No more words needed to be shared, and Serena backed out of the room, her footsteps echoing as she ran down the castle halls towards the stands. Ash faced forward, the timer almost finishing its countdown.
"You ready, Pikachu?"
"Pi."
The timer reached zero, and as soon as it did, the doors leading to the stadium halls hissed open. Ash adjusted the hat on his head and walked forward, back into the brightly lit halls of the Kalos League Headquarters. He was familiar with them from the Peace Tournament many years before, but it felt different now. The cheers of the crowd were louder now and the hallways were emptier, with his steps the only ones, carrying him towards the battlefield.
"It's here, folks!" Kalas's voice cried out, echoing around the stadium. It didn't silence the crowd, but everyone grew quieter in anticipation. "The battle of the decade, maybe even the century! The battle that has been built since…well, I couldn't even say since when, but it's been a long time, is finally here! The Champion battle of the Kalos region has arrived!"
"Yeaaaaaaaah!" The crowd's cheer was getting Ash fired up and he pumped his fists, stepping over to the edge of the stadium. He took a breath, and then watched as, from below, the battlefield rose, covered in lush grass with chalk outlines that he knew would be useless once the battle began.
"The stage is set, and you're all here to watch a spectacular battle! It's been a long time since there's been a televised Champion match that hasn't been against a member of the Elite Four, but this one is the most anticipated yet. Without further ado, let's introduce our challenger! He's the indomitable force of unorthodox nature that swept Kalos by storm, won the Lanakila Conference and has now battled his way to reach the apex of the Kalos League!
"You know him, you love him, so stand up and cheer for our challenger: Ash Ketchum!"
Knowing that was his cue, and prompted by the reigning cries of the audience, Ash stepped forward with Pikachu at his side. His feet touched grass, the bright lights of the stadium offsetting the darkness of the night that the match was taking place during, and once visible, an even greater cheer of appreciation rose within the crowd. He kept his eyes focused on only a few spots, though, rising immediately to the VIP section.
There were some unfamiliar faces there for people who had managed to get tickets, but most of them were people Ash knew. Serena was the most prominent, seated with Clemont, Brock, Bonnie, his mother and Professor Oak. Right behind them was Dawn, who tried to lead Misty, Iris and May in a cheer, though none were all that enthused to be part of it. They almost looked as nervous as he had been feeling. Less nervous was Cilan, watching the field with interest (to the surprise of Bonnie, it appeared) and seated near numerous other faces from Sawyer to Alain and Mairin, to Gladion and Lillie, all clutching concessions. As expected, Kahili wasn't there, doubtlessly busy in Alola, but Ash knew she was watching.
The biggest section, however, was made up of his Pokémon that had come to watch the match in person, to the point it took up most of the VIP section. Oshawott, of course, wasn't with them, he and Snivy joining Dawn and Piplup in their enthusiastic cheer.
Ash raised a fist to them, and they all cheered back.
"There he is, folks!" Kalas screamed to the crowd, whipping them into a further frenzy. "He's battled his way here, now taking the stage with his trusted partner, Pikachu."
"And he is quite the trustworthy partner," Malva said, her face briefly appearing on the screens around the stadium. "Pikachu is most notable for his battle against Silvally in the Lanakila Conference, but he even gave Drasna a hard time in Ash's battle with her, I hear."
"I take it you've had no experience with Pikachu yourself."
"Mm, no. Ash's team against me was quite the powerhouse of a team even without him. That said, I'm certain he's one of the greater threats on the team Ash has put together." Ash and Pikachu shared a grin at that, the partners bumping fists to confirm Malva's speculation.
"Your foresight on Ash's team and chances."
"Difficult to say. He has a wide assortment. That said, anything can happen in a battle with the Champion."
"Indeed, it can!" Kalas shouted, quieting the crowd once more. "And so, we bring out our second competitor, the most beloved Champion in Kalos history and an esteemed actress besides. She spearheaded League Reform in the wake of the Nova Incident and has been featured on many magazines. The longest reigning Kalos Champion to date and the most undefeated. Will Ketchum be able to topple her reign? Let's find out, because here she is, the illustrious Champion Diantha!"
"YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" The cry was even louder than the one for him, its volume almost rocking Ash off his feet. He was fine with it, turning to where the woman he had been aiming for was striding out. Smoke concealed her entrance, sparklers and firecrackers combining with lights to provide a most flashy entrance for the woman.
Her feet daintily stepping on the grass, she waved to the crowd, further cheers of adoration rising while she offered smiles. Ash didn't need to start the battle, though, to see that beneath the smile was a steely gaze that threatened to take him out if he blinked at the wrong time. He would have sweated, if he wasn't looking forward to it so much.
At long last, the two met in the center of the field, silence falling around them.
"This has been a long time coming, Ash," she said, the words reverberating around the stadium in the profound silence. "I'm glad you finally battled your way to the summit."
"Me, too," Ash said in kind. He held his hand out and Diantha clasped it. Each gripped hard, neither backing down in the challenge that was about to begin. "But at the end, I'll make sure to beat you."
"I'd have it no other way. Let us save our words for the battle," Diantha said, turning away with a wave. She paused, having one more thing to say. "I can't wait to see what you and your Pokémon are capable of after all these years."
Ash had no words to spare. He nodded, Pikachu with him, and they turned back towards the trainer's box on his side of the field. The crowd fell away, irrelevant in the growing tension of the battle. Everything he needed to say to Diantha, and everything she needed to say in kind, would be between the two of them as their Pokémon clashed.
Taking his position, Ash turned back to match eyes with Diantha across the field. She nodded. At last, the referee for the match stepped forward, dressed in the usual attire of a Kalos League judge.
"This is a Champion Match between the challenger, Ash Ketchum, and the Champion of the Kalos Region, Diantha," he said, his arm raised. Ash's foot moved back, every breath heard in his ears. He looked up to his friends, some tightening their fists, while others leaned forward to watch. Only his mother looked relaxed, taking pictures of him on the field. "This will be a full six-on-six battle, with substitutions allowed on both sides. The battle will be over when a single side has no Pokémon remaining to battle. Furthermore, when three Pokémon on one side have fallen there will be a thirty-minute intermission to allow the trainers to recuperate and revise their strategies. The field chosen is the grass field, and there will be no change for the match. Battlers, prepare."
Ash looked down to Pikachu, and on the other side, Diantha took out her first pokeball. It was time. The referee made sure each was ready, and the stadium waited with bated breath.
Then, his arm fell. "Let the battle begin!"
"Pikachu, I choose you!"
"Aurorus, take the stage!"
Pikachu dashed to the field, his feet barely making a sound in the grass, while Diantha's pokeball exploded, the roaring Rock and Ice Type revealing itself. In the night sky above, an aurora appeared, to the crowd's great joy. To Ash, it was a sign that Diantha held her popularity well, and each of her Pokémon shared in it.
"To no one's surprise, Ash has called Pikachu. Fitting for a challenger's most reliable Pokémon to scout the battlefield," Malva commentated. Pikachu and Aurorus stared each other down, each waiting for the other to make a move. Ash already knew, though, that he would be the one making it; Diantha expected as much. "And the Champion has called one of her most reliable as well, with Aurorus being one of her commonly used teammates. How the rest of her team will unfold will be just as interesting as Ash's."
"I can't wait to find out!" Kalas screamed, garnering the enthusiasm of the crowd.
"Neither can I! Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Ash called, forming a fist with the attack. Pikachu was glad to be the one on the offensive, his body blitzing forward with a trail of white light behind him. Aurorus stood much taller than him, not looking threatened by the streak of yellow fur shooting at it, but Ash was fine with his command. Diantha lowered her head.
She was getting ready to make her move.
Pikachu slammed into Aurorus, rebounding and skidding back on the grass. He looked up. Aurorus hadn't budged an inch, its legs not even feeling the blow. Diantha took quick advantage. "Rock Slide."
"Aurooooo!" The cry intensified the aurora overhead and Ash readied himself. Aurorus shivered, its skin rippling with the air, and in the air above Pikachu, white stones formed, each far larger than his best partner. They fell.
"Jump up, Pikachu!" The battle was fully on as the first rock fell, planning to pelt Pikachu from afar. With Quick Attack no longer an option, Pikachu used his tail to spring up on to the first rock and then another. They fell faster, but Ash punched up. "Rock Slide Climb!"
"Pika!" Pikachu shouted, his tail stiffening with bright light. He whirled it around, striking one rock and bounding upwards, outside of the rocky attack's range. Higher and higher he climbed with his tail, until he had managed to get out of the barrage. "Chuuu pika!"
He needed no order to swing his Iron Tail right into Aurorus's head. Diantha's Pokémon stamped its legs but didn't move from position, even while Pikachu used his tail to spring backwards. "Now, Thunderbolt!"
"Chuuuuuuu!" The searing bolt fired in a straight line for Aurorus, the Ice Type a stationary target for the attack. Ash knew Diantha wouldn't take it lying down. She was too good at predicting attacks.
He needed to learn how to predict hers.
"Freeze Dry." Aurorus reared its neck back faster than Ash would have anticipated for such a Pokémon. A blue and purple glow appeared in its mouth, and before the Thunderbolt could hit, it fired. The attack barely moved the creature, and it struck against Thunderbolt. The crowd cheered in delight as the Thunderbolt began to get frozen right before their very eyes, neutering Ash's attack.
He bounced back with a swift, "Electro Ball!"
"Chu pi!" Where the lightning had been frozen, Pikachu used whatever momentum he had to land on the chunk of ice and create an electrical orb at his tail, flinging it outwards for Aurorus's exposed face.
Well, not quite exposed. Diantha snapped, a smirk forming on her face, and Ash knew she had another trick up her sleeve. "Hyper Beam!"
"Rauuuuuuuu!" From where the Freeze Dry had come, another beam formed, this one a whitish blaze that Pikachu stood no chance of avoiding where he was. The blast fired, pushing Aurorus back but slightly as it consumed the Electro Ball and ice both. It rammed into Pikachu, sending him straight to the floor and freezing the grass.
Refrigerate, huh? Ash noted as the Hyper Beam faded away. Pikachu was fine, shaking off the attack with a shiver. Aurorus looked as healthy as it had when the battle was started. Ash didn't care. He had gotten everything he needed. "All right, buddy, come on back!"
"Pi!" Pikachu called, jumping off the frosted field and to Ash's side. He leaned over to pat him on the head.
"Rest up for the later fights. I know what makes Diantha's Pokémon tick."
"Oh, you do, Ash?" She sounded extra-confident, but that fired him up all the more as he reached to his waist and grabbed his first pokeball of the fight. On the screen, Ash finally noticed his and Diantha's faces displayed, Pikachu's face smaller as the referee anticipated his next call. "I won't just give you the fight, no matter what you think you've figured out."
"I wouldn't want you to," Ash shouted back. "But we've come this far understanding trainers and their Pokémon, and we get a little bit of how you and Aurorus work together. That's why I can trust my team to handle what Pikachu showed me. Krookodile, I choose you!"
"Krrrrooka!" The flash of light revealed Ash's next Pokémon, the red and black crocodile appearing on the screen to signify his choice. Of course, the scoreboard neglected to include Krookodile's perennial sunglasses, a fashion choice he kept even as he roared with intimidation to Aurorus. The Pokémon didn't feel threatened, and nor did it move.
Ash knew that would be the case all along, regardless of the aftereffects of Hyper Beam keeping it fatigued. He made his move. "Stone Edge!"
"Dile!" Krookodile's arms thrust forward and stones whirled around his figure, much to the excitement of the crowd. Being from Kalos, they weren't as used to this style of Stone Edge and Ash was using that to what minimal advantage he could gain. The stones stopped spinning and shot forwards, battering the still Aurorus. Ash kept his keen eye on Diantha's Pokémon, the Champion not even giving a nod, seeing where the stones struck worst.
He got his first clue when it hit upon the Tundra's backside and fin. "Time for the attack! Aerial Ace!"
Krookodile jetted forwards, his glasses jiggling on his face while his body and limbs glowed white. Aurorus's body was beginning to move bit by bit, a minor twitch in its leg, and Ash knew he wouldn't have much of a moment to attack. Of course, Diantha had to nod before then, ever the subversive commander he had come to expect with his battles against her top Pokémon.
"Rock Slide!" This time, there was no jump he could accomplish to get away. The air was cut off by the sudden white rocks that formed and rained upon Krookodile's path.
"Dodge as many as you can!" The stones were thicker than any Krookodile had used, the Intimidation Pokémon attempting to dodge the rocks that were littering the path in front of him. They were faster than him, each falling and creating a groove in the grassy field to slow his Aerial Ace. Krookodile was quickly losing his momentum, and Ash turned his eyes to the falling rocks. There was no way to go up…but that didn't mean there wasn't another way. "Krookodile, bounce off the rocks!"
"Krook!" he replied, aiming for the rock that fell right in front of him. His body changed around, his feet hitting the stone and then bounding towards another. In a ricochet, Krookodile navigated his new pathway between the maze of stones, but Diantha was already preparing for her next attack, her fingers forming a snap.
"Now, Dig!" Her snap came seconds too late, Krookodile using his swift, newfound momentum to pierce the ground and burrow beneath it. The Freeze Dry snap rushed from Aurorus's mouth across the battlefield, freezing the stones and disintegrating them into dust while Krookodile was safe from harm.
"Well, I should have expected that when I cut off all your other options," Diantha called across the field, but she remained cool. That control over the match unsettled Ash and he breathed out, adjusting the brim of his hat. He needed to work smoother. "No matter. This wouldn't be a match against a Champion otherwise."
"Dragon Claw, now!"
Diantha hadn't taken her eyes off the field, and Ash wondered if he'd made a mistake, but committed to the action as Krookodile emerged, his claws glowing green before they struck upwards. He struck Aurorus's head, causing it to cry out, and a great cheer emerged from the crowd at the turn that was Ash's Pokémon landing a clean hit. He knew that wasn't the case. "Freeze Dry."
"Ruuuuuuuuuus!" The aurora in the night sky intensified and Krookodile was left hanging, falling back towards the ground from his attack.
"Dodge under!" Ash cried out, but the order came too late for Krookodile to follow up. The blue and purple tendril emerged from Aurorus's maw, striking against the crocodile, who weathered it, though his sunglasses were frosted over. He shook the icy particles loose, glaring up at the Pokémon that simply would not budge. "Get out of the attack range with Dig!"
"Dile." Krookodile's confirmation was met with him equally diving into the grassy plain, leaving a moderate hole behind, but safe from the Freeze Dry. Or Ash thought that before Diantha ordered her next move.
"Hyper Beam, in the hole, Aurorus." She said it with a nod in her Pokémon's direction, one it couldn't have possibly seen, but knew was there nonetheless. Aurorus reared back, the chilly white glow of a Refrigerator Hyper Beam forming. Ash cast his eyes around, and in moments, found his chance to strike.
"Get out and go straight under!"
"Rus!" Aurorus fired, the beam cooling the air to the point even some of the stands were frosting from the ambience of the blast. It impacted with the hole, traveling into it with the express purpose of ripping Krookodile right out of it. Here, however, Ash's strengths had played to his advantage, his loyal Ground Type emerging underneath the tanky Ice Type, ready for a quick command.
"Now, Stone Edge!" From beneath the giant Pokémon, Krookodile's body was surrounded with stones, and without aiming them on any specific orders, he sent them flying straight into the underbelly of Aurorus.
It screeched, its legs stampeding as its Hyper Beam was thrown wildly off-balance. Ash was forced to duck, as was Pikachu, but he grinned. Pikachu had figured out the style Diantha was going for, and now Krookodile had discovered the spot he was looking for.
"I understand your move here, Diantha," he whispered under his breath. She seemed to have heard him, quirking an eyebrow with a smile that invited him to prove it. As Aurorus finished stampeding from the exposed spot on its underbelly, Krookodile had slid back out, looking to Ash as he held his pokeball up. They were in agreement on the next move. "All right, Krookodile, return. Sceptile, go!"
The crowd roared at this latest pick, the red beam of light sucking Krookodile back before another thrown pokeball burst with light to bring Ash's trusty Grass Type to the field, to much applause. Diantha's body tightened just a little. Testing time was over.
"There he is, folks!" Kalas cried, amping the crowd's enthusiasm even higher. "The Sceptile that analysts have said may be the Darkhorse of Ash's team. The one and only Pokémon to have felled a Darkrai in the Lily of the Valley Conference years ago, he stands tall as, perhaps, this trainer's most indomitable Grass Type! It's Sceptile!"
"Sceptile!" Ash's Pokémon cried, the crowd screaming his name with him. Locking eyes with his sturdy and speedy Pokémon, the two nodded, on the same page to lock away the crowd's cheers and focus on the looming Aurorus. Diantha wasn't making it easy, and she knew exactly what each of them were doing. He had to be fast.
"This is Ash's third Pokémon on the field, and despite Krookodile taking a minimum of damage, his decision to swap out could swing either way," Malva commented, her voice providing a contrast to Kalas and his excitement. "We'll see what this latest matchup has to hold, and which side will lose a Pokémon first."
"Kooroo!"
"Luchaha!" The cheers from his Pokémon made Sceptile look up at the section, to where the two he had arguably become the closest friends with were cheering with gusto. His subtle nod in the direction of Decidueye and Hawlucha was enough to make the two birds jump down a level to watch their comrade's battle with interest. Ash appreciated the cheers; it reminded him that it wasn't just the six on his team fighting this important battle. They had each given something.
"All right, let's speed it up with Agility!" Ash yelled, his palm stretched outward. Diantha's eyebrows flew up, waiting for the newest move. A red glow surrounded Sceptile, pooling around his body as he coiled, ready for a spring. "Leaf Blade!"
"Tile!" Sceptile pounced, flying through the air faster than Aurorus or Diantha could anticipate.
"Speed, is it? In all your battles, including the one's we've fought, Ash, that's always been your specialty," Diantha called across, drowning out Kalas delivering the commentary to the crowd. "But we can take your speed. Rock Slide."
"Not this time! Cut right through!" Ash said, turning his palm to a fist and punching forward. Sceptile kept charging on, the green blades jutting from his arms. The first rock formed overhead, crashing down for him, but Sceptile's speed, and the strength of his blade, slashed through it, bringing him right in line with Aurorus. With a single slice upwards, he managed to land a clean hit on the Tundra Pokémon that made it stumble back. "Now, get some distance with Leaf Storm!"
"Scep!" Sceptile's tail whipped around, glowing green as a mess of foliage surrounded it. He fired, the resultant force of the Grass Type attack pushing Sceptile away from Aurorus to avoid the same hit Krookodile had taken. A quick glance to the VIP section showed Sawyer watching with interest, and he had to thank his rival for the strategy.
"Light Screen!" Diantha's call made Ash wince. He knew there was a fourth move waiting in the wings, but he certainly hadn't expected it to be one that would cut his offensive. As the storm made impact with Aurorus, its cry gave way to a box of light forming around it, the leaves tickling its hide. The damage Diantha had done to Ash's strategy was full-wrought. He wouldn't let it keep him and Sceptile down, however, and Diantha was hardly giving him a chance to. "Freeze Dry!"
"Agility! Keep on the move!"
The now familiar ray of purple and blue ice struck out from Aurorus's maw, right for Sceptile. He was faster, his feet not leaving a single mark on the grass, jumping over Krookodile's hole as the red glow sped his body up. The Freeze Dry raked over the grass, missing Sceptile as he got close to his opponent. Ash called his next command, and the leafy blades appeared once more.
"Sceptile! Tile! Tile!" The Forest Pokémon ran close to Aurorus, and with a single slash, darted across its right legs, wounding them with a blinding flash of green. Diantha's Pokémon shuddered, but refused to relent, not providing a chance to injure the underside further. Ash grimaced.
"Keep circling around it, then go right for the hole!" Sceptile dashed behind Aurorus, out of its reach, and slashed through the left legs this time before his speed sent him zipping for the hole that Krookodile had left behind.
Diantha's snap was heard before the command, and despite Aurorus's bulk, its speed in firing another Freeze Dry could not be denied. Before Sceptile could get close, the beam struck Sceptile's back side, sending him tumbling across the battlefield, bits of frost clinging to him, just as more rocks formed overhead. "Rock Slide."
"Sceptile, dodge!" Sceptile tried, but he winced, a single eye closing as the icy particles on his tail and legs made him just that little bit slower. The rocks fell.
"Tiiiile!" The stones battered on Sceptile's figure, creating a pyramid under which he was buried, leaving him exposed to whatever Diantha's next attack would be. She was inscrutable, not allowing him to work his plan and forcing him to get close to deal any kind of damage.
Indeed, this was the Pokémon of a Champion.
And that Pokémon was about to attack once again, this time with the mighty, icy Hyper Beam coalescing in its mouth.
Close…that's right…Ash's eyes found the hole, a small distance from where Sceptile was buried under rubble, but he knew his plan could work. He just needed to be fast. The Hyper Beam was firing. "Sceptile, Leaf Storm, straight for the hole!"
He didn't have to worry about Sceptile hearing him beneath the stones and the howling winds of the Hyper Beam. If there was any Pokémon he could trust for that, it was the one fighting on the field right now. Sure enough, the rocks wiggled, and before the Hyper Beam could hit, Sceptile's leaves broke through the stones. The storm raged from his tail, bringing the rocks to batter against Aurorus as Sceptile was pushed back, right into the hole and away from the Hyper Beam. That attack hit the ground, but Sceptile was safe…all with the freedom to move.
Better yet, the rocks striking the Ice Type had shown Ash a fatigue Aurorus gained from the battle of attrition against his trio.
"Let's finish this, Sceptile! Leaf Storm straight through the tunnel!"
No one could see Sceptile's move, but Ash knew it was coming, and with Pikachu and Decidueye cheering the Forest Pokémon on, it wouldn't miss. The grassy field rumbled, and then the tornado of green leaves flew out from straight underneath Aurorus, where Krookodile had left his exit hole. This force was greater than anticipated, the leaves cutting at Aurorus's exposed underbelly, causing it to cry out in spite of the Light Screen still protecting it, and its front knees slipped. That sole hint of exhaustion caused the force of the Leaf Storm to carry Aurorus up into the air, just a little, but enough for Ash to take advantage.
"Now, Leaf Blade!" His arm cut through the air, and as he did, Sceptile emerged from the hole, his swords glowing brightly. He shot above Aurorus on the breeze of his Leaf Storm, and with a single twist, came soaring back down, slashing through the underside of Aurorus and landing on the field with nary a sound.
The stadium waited, and then the bloom of green energy appeared alongside Aurorus, before it fell to the ground, its head slamming against the grass as silence fell. In the skies above, the aurora faded. The referee stepped forward.
"Aurorus is unable to battle! Sceptile is the winner!"
"Pi-ka!" Pikachu cried at the same time that the crowd burst with their reined-in cheers. On the scoreboard, Aurorus's portrait was greyed out, the first Pokémon of the match down.
"Un-be-lievable!" Kalas cheered along with the crowd. "With a rather quick tactic, Ash takes the first match, proving himself an unstoppable force, even against a Champion! I can't wait to see what comes next!"
Ash couldn't either, reaching up to find his forehead was sweating. Diantha called back her Pokémon, the smile not leaving her face and making Ash's skin crawl. It hadn't been as easy as the crowd or Kalas made it seem, and he had shown too much of his hand in taking down Aurorus. That, of course, was bound to be the point.
There was no other reason for her to choose such a stalwart defense.
Now that she knew, he had to wonder what she would choose to take him on next. Sceptile looked back at Ash, both knowing he was remaining on the field. They'd see what she would do and work from there; it was no use worrying about whatever strategy she was building. He'd break it.
"Meganium!" Diantha wasn't wasting a move, nor had she wasted the loss of her first Pokémon. Ash ground his feet into the dirt, and Sceptile, too, prepared with the burst of light that revealed its fellow Grass Type on the field.
Ash wasn't going to let her get the momentum. "Use Agility and get in there with X-Scissor!"
"Scep!" Sceptile jetted forward with his red glow, leaving a streak behind it. His arms were crossed, glowing purple with the power of his X-Scissor. Within the crowd, Hawlucha could be heard cheering. Sceptile was like a flash, appearing in front of Meganium and prepared to attack. Diantha's head inclined.
"Petal Blizzard."
"Megain." The short cry was enough to indicate Sceptile's failed attack. No sooner had his cross-shaped attack struck forward, than a whirl of cherry blossoms surrounded Meganium, obscuring the view. His attack whiffed through the air, Diantha's newest Pokémon escaping unscathed and appearing with its own flash behind Sceptile.
"She might not be as fast as Sceptile, but there are advantages to an all-encompassing attack," Diantha said, her fingers poised for a snap. "Dragon Tail."
"Leaf Storm!" Ash's reply to the incoming attack was heeded in seconds. As Meganium's glowing green tail extended and collided with Sceptile's head, his tail whapped on to the Herb Pokémon. The box of Light Screen lit up again, showcasing the reduced damage, but the Leaf Storm cut into Meganium, its burst of wind buying Sceptile enough distance.
Diantha wasn't allowing it. "Petal Blizzard!"
The cherry blossoms once more whirled around Meganium's figure, with Sceptile holding his arms defensively and twitching each way, expecting his foe to vanish into the wind again. This time, that wasn't the case, as the petals all gathered to one spot, and from the flower around Meganium's neck, they shot out for his crossed arms. The petals cut across Sceptile now, battering his form while he held back, and Ash saw his Pokémon's foot begin to slip. They needed to act, and fast.
"Leaf Blade Scissor!"
"What is this?!" Kalas shouted, his shock evident at the command. Sceptile steadied himself, his green blades coming into a cross. He marched forward, his speed from all the Agilities he had used causing him to speed through the petals that were cutting across him. Each one was hurting him, but with his crossed blades cutting a path, he minimized the damage to his already tired body.
"SceeeepTILE!" The bloom of green and purple struck upon Meganium, driving the Grass Type backwards as the cross shined on her body, a bruise appearing where the attack had struck. Ash was quick, refusing to let her recover for another Petal Blizzard surprise.
"Sunny Day!"
"X-Scissor!"
Sceptile flew in with all speed, the green transitioning to a pure purple. The flowers upon Meganium glowed, and then were sent upwards into a ball of heat that pierced the night sky. The stars were pulled back, any lingering clouds disappearing and turning night to day, a scorching heat inside the stadium manifesting after this newest move. Sceptile slashed outward, but under the renewing effects of the sun, Meganium was not to be denied.
Diantha's nods, as always, were not solely relegated to Gardevoir.
Meganium swung around before the Sunny Day had completed its arc, a new Dragon Tail matching with Sceptile's Bug Type attack. They clashed, green and purple flecks off of them as each strained to gain dominance over the other.
Unfortunately, Ash grit his teeth as Sceptile's fatigue from the previous battle caught up to him. His knee slipped, and with a spin, Meganium sent Sceptile flying into the hole that sat in the middle of the field.
"Now, Synthesis."
"Don't give them a chance to recover, Sceptile! Under the ground with an X-Scissor!" The call for a healing move surprised Ash, expecting Diantha to push the offense, but he knew she was certain to finish this. He had to attack before recovery, and take his second win before it got out of control.
The grass fluttered in the wind, and Meganium glowed, drawing energy from the sun overhead, faster than Ash expected. It was a completely synergistic move, and one Diantha knew how to use perfectly.
Sceptile sprang from the ground, his own hole created as his X-Scissor pierced the surface. He dove for Meganium, but the Herb Pokémon had healed too quickly, and with a snap, Diantha called her next unforeseen move.
"You're not the only one with combination moves, Ash. Petal Tail!"
The X-Scissor merely grazed Meganium, for she had turned at the last second, her neck with it, and her tail glowed just like Sceptile's, this time radiating with a storm of petals. Before Sceptile could gain distance, he was slammed in the jaw by the tail. With a burst of pink that exploded into the air, was sent flying.
He spun about, and with a thud, landed on grass.
"Ti-i-ile…"
"Sceptile is unable to battle! Meganium is the winner!"
"It's tied up!" Kalas roared, the crowd getting into their fervor alongside him. "After a pitched battle, Diantha has evened the score!"
"It's still anyone's battle," Malva agreed, making Ash sweat while he recalled Sceptile. "Ash will have to think smart, because from here on out, Diantha won't be giving an inch."
"It is a Champion Battle, after all," the Champion spoke in response. Meganium roared with victory at her statement, the crowd fired up from it. She wasn't wrong. Aurorus had fished out his first three team members, showed their strengths, and now Meganium was a combination of power and recovery he needed to take out fast.
"Pikapi! Chu pika pika!" Pikachu called from his feet, pumping his fist, wishing to be sent into the fray.
Ash, on the other hand, had a different idea. "Not yet, buddy."
"Pikaaaa…" Pikachu didn't look quite happy at being held back, but perked up in support of whatever teammate would come next. Ash looked to the sky, the sun burning hot despite it being the middle of the night. He had the perfect pick.
"You're right, Diantha, this is a real battle between me and a Champion. I can't go into this without everything blazing on my side!" Diantha liked the sound of that, and Ash began to see that she was having fun, giving her all. That connection made the loss of Sceptile worth it, and there was little doubt he shared that sentiment. "And I have a Pokémon that blazes brighter than anything! One who shows the bonds of our entire team, and why I can beat you! Infernape, I choose you!"
The battle against Diantha was only just getting started.
Author's Note: So, it's been a while. Have I missed a step? Have I gotten better? You'll have to let me know.
To be honest, this was an idea I came up with some time ago when I realized I killed Diantha off in Tomorrow without having ever given a proper battle with her and Ash. I thought it was high time to rectify that so I could have a real and proper battle with a Champion in the Ancienverse. There are some…other reasons, too, that the first part of this threeshot have begun to hint at, but we'll talk about that at the end of the entire piece!
That said, in the meantime, I have been quite busy as a writer these last few years. In that time, I've written over eight books, actually, with the first four of those, collected together as a title called The Soul Saga, having been uploaded to Royal Road (royal road (period) com (slash) fiction/42376/the-soul-saga)! Of course, you can always support me as a patron as well, if you so choose, but those chapters are free to read, with the final part of the series due to drop tomorrow. So, forgive me for taking this as a moment of advertisement, but please look forward to all my works coming in the future.
For now, though, I'll see you next Tuesday as we continue this (hopefully) epic battle! Please feel free to Review, and Dare to Be Silly.