Ash lay awake in his bed, staring at the dark ceiling with nervous excitement, occasionally grabbing his Pokédex and checking the time. His Pikachu had managed to fall into a light sleep next to him, but there was no chance of him doing the same, given what lay ahead of him. Finally, after what seemed like countless hours, his Pokédex showed him the time he had been waiting for. He grinned and threw the blankets off of himself, revealing him to be fully dressed, and he nudged Pikachu awake before climbing out of his bunk.
He carefully and quietly climbed down to the floor, kneeling down to slip his shoes on, before turning and catching Pikachu in his arms. As the Pokémon clambered onto his shoulder, Ash glanced down at the tan-skinned, green-haired boy sleeping in the bottom bunk. Ash had met this boy upon his arrival in Shalour City, and they had quickly developed a friendly rivalry. They battled each other and trained together in preparation for a very important Pokémon battle, one that the boy was eager to watch for himself. Unfortunately, he would not get the chance.
Sorry, Sawyer, Ash thought to himself as he stepped toward the door. But this is private.
As he exited the bedroom and descended the stairs to the ground floor of the Pokémon Center, Ash pulled out his phone to look at the instructions he had been given. He had already read them a dozen times, knowing them by heart, but he wanted to be extra careful that he didn't miss anything. He read them over twice more before pocketing his phone and stepping outside into the cool night air. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, savoring the feeling of his racing heart, before turning and walking toward the shore, and the tower that lay beyond.
It had been one week since Ash and Korrina had arrived in Shalour City, and one week since the two of them had last seen each other. With their gym battle looming over both of them, they had agreed to train separately for the next seven days, not wanting to give away all of their tricks and strategies to the other. They had even agreed to pause their nightly phone calls, though both of them had broken down by the fourth night. As Ash had laid in bed, trying to fall asleep, he had received a text from Korrina that simply said "I miss you". He texted back with "I miss you too", and within seconds they were on the phone with each other, chatting away as they always did.
Ash had taken little time to explore the city during his stay, preferring to wait and have Korrina show him the sights of her hometown. He'd become familiar with the various battlefields near the Pokémon Center, and had torn several of them up while training with Sawyer and by himself. The rest of the city, however, was still a mystery to him, even more so at this late hour. Ash passed by one unfamiliar landmark after another, straining to read the street signs with only the light of the street lamps, following Korrina's directions to the letter.
After ten minutes, he finally felt sand underneath his shoes as he stepped onto the beach. Looking out at the inky blackness of the ocean, he was barely able to make out the silhouette of an island several hundred yards away, with a moderately-sized tower standing in its center. This was Ash's destination: the Tower of Mastery. Normally, this tower was only accessible during low tide; right now, the bridge leading to the island was hidden underneath the water. Fortunately, Ash knew a secret that very few were aware of.
He walked along the beach, keeping his eyes on the large rocks that separated the sands from the city above. After some careful searching, he found what he was looking for, reaching out and touching one boulder that felt thin and hollow underneath his fingers. He grabbed it with both hands and lifted, and the boulder façade swung open like a heavy door, revealing a staircase leading down into the darkness. He pulled out his phone to use it as a flashlight, and slowly began to descend, hearing the door closing behind him.
After traveling through a narrow stone tunnel for a couple of minutes, Ash ascended a staircase, pushed open another door, and found himself on the shores of the island off the coast of Shalour City. He closed the door behind him and looked up at the large structure before him. It was an old-looking, oddly-designed, asymmetrical building with a large tower emerging from the center, looking to be five or six stories tall. The whole building looked like an ancient school, or library, or monastery, or something to that effect. Ash was not an expert on old buildings.
He walked up to the front door, finding it wide open, and stepped inside. He found himself inside the dimly-lit Shalour City Gym, which featured a raised battlefield surrounded by a skating half-pipe on all four sides. He walked up a ramp and stepped into the challenger's box, looking around nervously for signs of life, wondering if he had arrived too late.
"Hello?" he called out, his voice echoing around the stone room. "Are you here?"
"You're late." A familiar voice rang out, causing his heart to jump. On the other side of the arena, he could see Korrina emerge from the shadows, a playful smirk on her lips as she stepped into her box. "You know it's rude to keep a girl waiting." Her Lucario stepped up behind her, a stoic expression on his face.
Ash grinned wide, the mere sight of her enough to make him feel warmer. "Sorry about that," he offered. "I promise this battle will be worth the wait."
"I know it will," she replied. She was dressed in her typical skating outfit, complete with helmet and gloves, one hand resting on her hip. She was confident, full of swagger, ready for battle. This was the version of her that Ash liked best.
"You know the rules," she continued. "Three Pokémon per side. Beat me, and the prize is yours." Her words echoed throughout the cavernous room, which was silent save for her voice. There were no spectators in the stand to witness the battle, and there was no referee to adjudicate it. It was just the two of them, their Pokémon, and their honor as trainers.
Ash's heart was already pounding as he locked eyes with the Gym Leader across from him. It felt as if his entire Kalos journey had been leading up to this moment, and not just because this was a battle for his eighth and final Gym Badge. Every word he had spoken with Korrina, every blow their Pokémon had traded in battle, every moment they had spent walking hand-in-hand together - all of it had been building up to this. It was finally time for the two of them to have a long-overdue conversation, in a common language that both of them understood: the language of a Pokémon battle.
Korrina reached down to her hip, grabbing a Poké Ball from her belt, not needing to ask if her opponent was ready to battle. She hurled the device onto the battlefield, calling out her first Pokémon. "Go, Hawlucha!"
Ash and Pikachu watched as the device released an eagle-like Pokémon with a white body, red-and-green wings, and a head that looked like it was wearing a wrestling match. They had expected this Pokémon to appear, as they had been traveling with Korrina when she caught him, after resolving a dispute about who was to protect the forest where he lived. He struck a well-practiced fighting pose, waiting for his opponent to show itself.
Ash grinned and reached for a Poké Ball of his own, having known for days who his team would be. "Noivern, I chose you!" Out came a large, purple-and-black, bat-like Pokémon with imposingly large ears and wings. This was the evolved form of Ash's Noibat, and it would be his first time participating in a gym battle. He stared down the Hawlucha across the way, trying to hide his nerves, wanting to show Ash what he could do.
Korrina cast her hand out in front of her, snatching the first move for herself. "Hawlucha, use Agility, and hit Noivern with Steel Wing!" Her Pokémon leaped into the air, his body shining with a white outline as his speed increased. As Ash watched Hawlucha power himself up, he could hear Korrina's words from months ago in his mind.
After all the journeys you've been on together, your hearts are connected now, he recalled her saying. You can feel the words in your heart. Right now, the words she was speaking to his heart were coming through loud and clear.
I'm not waiting around for anybody. Can you keep up with me?
Ash smirked as he issued his first command. "Noivern, you use Agility too! Hit Hawlucha with Wing Attack!"
Noivern rose into the air with one mighty flap of his powerful wings, his body glowing white as well. The two of them took off toward each other, their wings glowing, and they both tried to strike the other while dodging at the same time. They passed by each other at high speed, barely missing each other by centimeters, and both Pokémon circled around for another attempt. Noivern was easily able to match Hawlucha for speed, and the air all around the arena was stirred up as they jousted, creating a tiny windstorm.
"Hit him with a spin, Noivern!" Ash called out before another approach. As the two Pokémon passed by each other, Noivern spun out of the way of Hawlucha's assault, using his rotating wing to smack Hawlucha out of the air. Korrina's Pokémon hit the ground lightly, not doing much damage, but the disruption gave Ash an opening.
"Great! Now use Air Slash!" Noivern quickly turned back toward his opponent, his wings glowing blue, and as he swung them downward, light-blue blades of energy cut through the air toward Hawlucha.
"Feather Dance!" Korrina responded. Hawlucha got to his feet and turned around, swinging his wings downward in front of his body, and a small cloud of feathers emerged in front of him. The feathers deflected and took the brunt of the Air Slash, softening the blow and allowing him to quickly return to the air.
"Now, get him with Aerial Ace!" Hawlucha dove down to the ground, flapping his wings as he hovered just above the arena floor, hitting a nearly blinding speed.
"Dodge it!" Ash called out, but it was to no avail. Noivern was not as skilled of a flier as his opponent, and Korrina's Pokémon slammed into him with full force, knocking him back.
"Perfect!" Korrina grinned. "Follow it up with High Jump Kick!" As Noivern tried to right himself, Hawlucha dropped down to the ground and bounced right off of it, leaping up and slamming his knee into Noivern's jaw. Ash's Pokémon cried out in pain as he fell out of the air, landing on his back.
"Oh no!" Ash took a step forward. "Noivern, are you alright?" He carefully looked over his Pokémon, who was clearly dazed from the impact, taking a moment to get up. His inexperience with difficult battles was starting to show. Korrina, for her part, was not interested in giving Noivern a reprieve.
"Finish him off, Hawlucha, with Flying Press!" Her Pokémon spread his wings wide, his body glowing faintly with orange energy, before turning downward and diving at Noivern at top speed.
"Noivern, hit him with a Dragon Pulse!" Ash responded, needing to disrupt this powerful attack. His Noivern used his wings to push himself up, opening his mouth and shooting out a multicolored beam of energy at his advancing opponent.
"Push through it!" Korrina commanded. "You're the stronger Pokémon!" Hawlucha grunted and flew directly into the Dragon Pulse attack, pushing through it with his speed and strength. He forced himself through the attack and slammed into Noivern's body with impressive force, kicking up a small cloud of dust. When the air cleared up, Hawlucha was standing with his wings raised in a triumphant pose, and Noivern was lying still on his back. Even in the dim light of the half-lit gym, it was clear he was down for the count.
Ash sighed lightly, putting a smile on his face as he grabbed Noivern's Poké Ball. "Good job, Noivern. Return and get some rest." A red beam of light emerged from the device, as the Pokémon was returned.
"Well, that didn't last long," Korrina teased, looking back at the challenger across the way. "I hope that's not all you've got for me, Ash Ketchum."
He grinned back at her, her teasing only getting him more fired up. "Don't you worry about that. I'm just getting started!" He turned his head to the right, glancing at the Pokémon on his shoulder. "Pikachu, you're up!" Pikachu nodded affirmatively, leaping off his shoulder and onto the battlefield, cheeks sparking with excitement.
Korrina grinned as well, ready to see what Ash's more experienced Pokémon could do. "Hawlucha, use Aerial Ace again!" Her Pokémon leaped into the air again, performing a backwards loop before approaching the ground, once again becoming a blur as he hit his fastest speed for a brief moment.
"Dodge it and use Thunderbolt!" Ash responded. His Pokémon quickly leaped to the side, just as Hawlucha shot past like a rocket. He tensed his muscles and shot a bolt of electricity out of his body, scoring a direct hit on Hawlucha as he was flying back upward again, dealing significant damage.
Korrina frowned, a contemplative look on her face. She knew that her Hawlucha wasn't going to last long, as a fresh Electric-type was at a distinct advantage against a tired Flying-type. He was going to have to do as much damage as he could before he went down.
"Chase him down with Flying Press!" she commanded. Her Pokémon dutifully flew upward, striking a pose as his body began to glow again, before diving down at Pikachu.
"Intercept him with a Volt Tackle!" Ash retorted. His Pikachu started running forward, electricity surrounding his body, nearly turning him into a thunder bolt himself. He leaped into the air as Hawlucha swooped down, their bodies colliding in midair, and the bird Pokémon cried out in pain as a powerful and painful shock coursed through him. Both Pokémon fell back to the ground, with Pikachu landing on his feet, and Hawlucha crashing onto his back, dazed and defeated.
"Yes!" Ash pumped his fist. "That's the way, Pikachu!" His Pokémon turned around and gave an energetic cheer, always happy to battle well for his trainer. Korrina nodded, unsurprised, offering her Hawlucha words of praise as she returned him to his Poké Ball.
"Not bad," she conceded, looking back at her challenger. "But you've still got a long way to go." She grabbed another Poké Ball and hurled it into the arena. "It's your turn, Mienshao!" The ball deposited her ferret-like Mienshao onto the battlefield, looking taller, lankier, and more elegant than she had been as a Mienfoo. Ash didn't even have a chance to think of his first move before Korrina announced hers.
"Use Swift!" she declared. Her Mienshao extended her arms to either side of herself, summoning a circle of stars around her body, before clapping her palms together. The stars shot forward, zooming toward her foe.
"Use Iron Tail on the ground!" Ash commanded, reaching into his bag of tricks. "Block that attack!" Pikachu leaped and twisted in the air, his tail growing stiff and hard as iron, before slamming it into the battlefield. The assault unearthed a large number of rocks and dirt clods that intercepted the Swift attack, causing the stars to burst into small clouds of sparkles.
Korrina grinned wide, seeing her opening. "Quickly, run forward and use Force Palm on those rocks!" Mienshao dashed forward with surprising speed, her paws glowing with blue energy, and she slammed her palms into the rocks that were still hanging in the air. Each of the rocks she hit rocketed toward Pikachu, slamming into him and knocking him back, dealing a light amount of damage.
Ash was taken aback by his strategy being turned around on him. He looked across the battlefield at Korrina, who stared back at him confidently, pleased with herself and a bit disappointed in him. She didn't say anything to him, but she didn't have to.
Can you keep me on my toes? Even when I think I have you figured out, can you still surprise me?
Ash gave her a resolute nod, able to clearly understand the words conveyed in her expression. He still had plenty left to show her.
"Use Quick Attack!" he called out. "Let's see how fast that Mienshao is!"
Pikachu got down all fours and took off like a bullet, dashing at his foe. By Korrina's command, Mienshao crossed her arms in front of herself, blocking Pikachu's assault as he crashed into her. She was slightly staggered, but stood her ground easily, as Pikachu flipped overhead and landed behind her.
"Again!" Ash called out. "Another Quick Attack!"
"Mienshao, use Acrobatics!" Korrina countered. As Pikachu ran in for another tackle, Mienshao's body began to glow a faint white, and she took a fighting stance, prepared to strike.
Ash waited for a brief second, until Pikachu was almost ready to strike. "Now, jump overhead and use Thunderbolt!"
Korrina's eyebrows raised, but she didn't issue any other commands as Pikachu leaped into the air, arching over Mienshao as he delivered a powerful zap. Korrina's Pokémon took the attack head-on, grunting in pain as she continued on with her Acrobatics attack, slamming her fists into Pikachu once, twice, three times. Ash's Pokémon was knocked away, hitting the ground harder than he'd planned, but he quickly flipped himself up onto his feet, ready to go again.
"You've got this, Pikachu!" Ash encouraged. "Run in again and use a leaping Volt Tackle from overhead!" Pikachu nodded and dashed forward again, leaping high into the air as his body crackled threateningly with electricity
"Now, Mienshao! Use High Jump Kick!" Korrina countered. Her Pokémon bent down and leaped into the air, her knee glowing with energy, on a direct collision course with Pikachu. Ash was unfazed, a smirk spreading across his face.
"Use Electro Ball on the wall to your right!" he commanded.
Korrina blinked, puzzled, wondering what bizarre tactic Ash had come up with now. His Pokémon tensed his body and focused, forming a ball of electricity on the end of his tail, then twisted himself around and threw it off to the side. The ball exploded against the stone wall and discharged its electricity in a small cloud of arcing bolts. His work done, Pikachu turned back to see Mienshao just feet away, her glowing knee threatening to smash directly into his jaw.
One second later, the two passed right by each other in midair, the High Jump Kick missing entirely.
Ash grinned wide and pumped his fist, pleased with himself as he saw the baffled expression on Mienshao's face. Pikachu twisted himself around to land on all fours, while Mienshao's attack continued on, bringing her back down to the ground, where she crashed painfully into the arena. As she got to her feet once again, she grimaced as pain shot through her leg, the result of her failed attack.
Ash looked across the field to see a shocked Korrina mouth something like "you've got to be kidding," too quietly for him to hear. He covered his mouth with his fist, holding back a laugh, a bit surprised himself that his plan had worked. During his stay in Lumiose City, while speaking with the scientifically-minded Clemont, he had learned that electric currents produce magnetic fields, which was the principle behind electromagnets. Ash had taken advantage of this during the battle with his use of Electro Ball. Since Pikachu was surging with electricity from using Volt Tackle, the two electric attacks had gently pulled on each other with a weak magnetic force. It wasn't much, but it was just barely enough to pull Pikachu away from the incoming High Jump Kick.
"We've nearly got this, Pikachu!" Ash called out, buzzing with energy. "Finish this with Iron Tail!" His Pokémon took off once again, his movements a bit slower as his energy began to wane, but with Mienshao injured it wouldn't matter much. He leaped into the air, his tail becoming hard as iron, ready to strike.
"Dodge it and use Drain Punch!" Korrina shot back, having mentally recovered from Ash's latest absurdity. Her Mienshao stood her ground, bending backwards and twisting out of the way as her opponent swung his Iron Tail at her head. As a surprised Pikachu passed overhead, Mienshao thrust a glowing green fist directly into Pikachu's stomach, sending him flying into the air with a cry of pain.
"Oh no! Pikachu!" Ash watched as his Pokémon landed hard on the ground, groaning as he got back up. Looking back at Mienshao, he could see her standing fully upright once again, having used the stolen energy from Drain Punch to heal her injured leg.
"Sorry, Ash, but you'll have to do better than that!" Korrina taunted. "Again, Mienshao! Use Drain Punch!" Her Pokémon ran forward, her fist once again glowing green, ready to steal more energy from Pikachu. Ash watched her approach, amazed at how quickly the battle had turned around, but he remained calm and collected. He still had a trump card up his sleeve, and the time had come for him to play it.
"Pikachu, use Thunder Wave!"
"Thunder what?!" Korrina exclaimed in shock from the other side of the arena. "Mienshao, get away!" Her command came too late, as Pikachu spun around in a small circle on the ground, swinging a glowing blue tail in his opponent's direction. Waves of blue, electrically-charged energy swept across the battlefield and washed over Mienshao, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground.
"Perfect!" Ash grinned wide. "Now charge in and hit her with Volt Tackle!" Pikachu took off running yet again, his body crackling with electricity as it had before. Mienshao pushed herself into a standing position, trying to dodge and leap away, but she cried out in pain as electricity shot through her now-paralyzed legs. Left with no escape, she took the Volt Tackle attack directly to her torso, shocking her painfully and knocking her back across the arena. Once she was done skidding to a stop, she lay in a small heap on the ground, not getting back up. Korrina stared in shock for a moment before collecting herself.
"Hm… you've been keeping secrets from me, Ash." Her voice had a flirtatious lilt to it, as she looked back into his eyes. "Pikachu didn't have that move before."
"Well, someone I know may have inspired me to teach him a new trick or two," he admitted, giving her a sheepish but toothy grin.
Korrina could feel her cheeks flush pink as she grinned back at him. "So you do listen to me, after all." She reached for her belt, grasping Mienshao's Poké Ball and returning her. "Don't get cocky, though. We're not done yet."
"I'm ready for whatever you've got," Ash responded confidently, before directing his eyes toward the Pokémon still on the battlefield. Pikachu was still standing, but he was breathing hard, roughed up from the handful of powerful blows Mienshao had landed. "Come on back, Pikachu. Take a break." Pikachu turned and scampered back toward his trainer at a more leisurely pace, sitting at his feet in the challenger's box.
Korrina turned around, looking at the Pokémon standing behind her. "It's all on you, Lucario. I know you can beat him." Lucario grunted and nodded, dashing forward onto the battlefield and getting into position. Ash smiled wide, having been waiting for this and knowing exactly who to use in response. He reached down to his waist and grasped another Poké Ball.
"Greninja, I choose you!" With a flash of red light, Ash's Greninja was standing stoically on his side of the battlefield, locking eyes with the Lucario across the way. As the two Pokémon sized each other up, Korrina stepped forward and raised her left hand, showing the rainbow-colored Key Stone embedded in her glove.
"Respond to my heart!" she called out to her Lucario, while keeping her eyes locked firmly on Ash's. "Show me the strength of the bond between us! Lucario, Mega Evolve!"
She grasped the stone with her right hand, and streams of energy shot out from between her fingers. Her Lucario glowed with a bright light of his own, as he began to transform. His tail expanded and puffed out, his muscles became more defined, and the dreadlocks behind his head grew longer and were tinged with red. Once the light had faded, the imposing form of Mega Lucario remained on the battlefield. Neither Ash nor Korrina were looking in his direction, their eyes still fixed on each other.
If I give you everything I have, will you do the same for me?
Ash clenched his fists, finally breaking eye contact and turning toward his Pokémon. "Let's do it, Greninja!"
His Pokémon nodded, and the two of them began to breathe slowly and deeply, their breaths eventually syncing up. Ash could feel a second heart beating alongside his, his vision growing sharper and more defined, as the two of them initiated a procedure they had practiced extensively since arriving in Shalour City. As their minds and bodies grew synchronized, Greninja was suddenly wrapped up in a spinning veil of water, just as he had been in the Lucarionite cave. His body transformed within the small vortex, growing more powerful, his facial features more closely matching Ash's own, and a giant shuriken of water appearing on his back.
Soon, the veil of water fell away, and the newly-transformed Greninja was standing there for all to see. Ash had no name for this mysterious transformation, never having seen anything like it before, but he knew that it had granted his Greninja immense power, rivaling that of a Mega-evolved Pokémon. This was the only natural answer to Mega Lucario. With this move, Ash was putting all of himself into this battle. Korrina deserved nothing less.
Ash was the first to issue a command this time. "Greninja, run in and use Cut!" His Pokémon brought his closed fists together and pulled them apart slowly, creating a blade of white energy that he held in his right hand.
"Lucario, answer with Bone Rush!" Korrina's Pokémon did the same, creating two energy bones, one for each hand. The two opponents stared each other down for a second, before both of them ran forward and swung.
Greninja and Lucario clashed their weapons over and over, battling like expert swordsmen, dodging and leaping as they fought. Every time the two of them separated, Lucario would quickly create and throw an Aura Sphere at his opponent, while Greninja answered with a Water Shuriken. They both shrugged off every blow they took, indefatigable, hungry for victory and refusing to back down. They dashed forward over and over, swinging with such force that each clash of their weapons created a small gust of wind and a handful of sparks.
The mysterious, synchronized bond between Ash and Greninja was taking its toll on the trainer. Every time Greninja took a hit from Lucario, Ash was able to feel it acutely on his own body, sapping his energy and his breath. Still, he stayed on his feet, shouting out every command at full strength, unwilling to show any weakness now. He was too close to victory, too close to claiming the prize he sought.
Minutes later, Korrina suddenly changed tack. "Rush in with Power-Up Punch!" Her Lucario obeyed, dashing forward with his fist glowing orange.
"Hit him back with Pound!" Ash responded. Greninja nodded and ran in, swinging his fist as well. Both Pokémon were feeling drained from their skirmish, but they still gave their attacks everything they had. Lucario's Power-Up Punch hit his foe directly in the gut, while Greninja's Pound made contact with Lucario's jaw. Both of them were staggered, stumbling backward, but the glow from Lucario's fist soon spread across his entire body, giving him a boost of power.
Ash was breathing hard, his legs shaking after the latest assault, but he remained standing. "Greninja, use Feint Attack!" Greninja shot forward like a rocket, his fist raised, but he vanished right before swinging. Lucario whirled around to find his opponent, but not quickly enough, and he stumbled as Greninja's fist slammed into the side of his head.
"Good! Again, Greninja!" His Pokémon rushed forward again, ready for another blow, but Korrina had other ideas.
"Stop him with Metal Sound!" she ordered. Lucario crossed his arms and brought his fists together, creating a painful, high-pitched noise that forced everyone to cover their ears. Greninja screeched to a stop, disoriented, his head ringing from the sound.
"Now, use Aura Sphere! Give it everything you've got!" Korrina commanded. Her Pokémon brought his hands together and quickly formed an enormous ball of energy, many times larger than his usual ones, boosted by his Mega-evolved form and the residual strength from his Power-Up Punch. He let out a cry and hurled it at Greninja with all his might.
"Greninja, hit back with your Water Shuriken!" Ash countered. Greninja reached behind him and grabbed the giant shuriken that rested on his back, flinging it at the oncoming Aura Sphere. The two attacks collided in the center of the arena, exploding into an enormous cloud of steam and smoke.
Ash was trembling as he issued his next command. "Now, Aerial Ace!"
"Force Palm, Lucario!" Korrina answered.
Both of their Pokémon nodded and shot forward, Lucario rearing a glowing paw back, Greninja crossing his arms in front of himself. The two of them dashed into the cloud, disappearing from view, their Mega-powered clash invisible to their trainers. Both Ash and Korrina waited with bated breath and pounding hearts to see the result.
When the smoke cleared, both Pokémon were facing away from each other, breathing hard and standing on unsteady legs. Their eyes were unfocused as they caught their breath, having put everything they had into their final attacks. After several tense seconds, Lucario grunted and collapsed to one knee, then fell to the ground. His body glowed as he reverted to his normal form, no longer able to maintain his Mega evolution. The battle was over.
Ash felt elation and relief rush through him at the same time, nearly knocking him off his feet. He closed his eyes and let out a long, slow breath, severing his connection to Greninja and bringing the bizarre transformation to an end. The rush of pain and weakness that followed did knock him off his feet, and he fell backward onto the ground, his vision swimming as he looked up at the darkened ceiling. He closed his eyes, waiting for his head to stop spinning, as a smile spread across his face. It had taken everything he had, but he had done it. He had taken on Korrina at her best and emerged victorious. He lay still for a few moments, basking in the afterglow of one of the best battles he'd ever had.
"Ash, are you alright?" He opened his eyes again, seeing Korrina kneeling over him, a concerned look on her face.
He gave her a reassuring nod. "I'm fine… just worn out." She nodded back at him, extending her hand, which he took. He pulled him up into a sitting position, smiling warmly at him as she sat back on her ankles.
"That battle was everything I was hoping for," she spoke in a soft voice, reaching into her skirt pocket and pulling something out. "As proof of your victory, I bestow upon you the Rumble Badge."
He looked down at her hand as she extended it to him, taking in the design of the badge, which took the shape of two fists clashing with each other, one red and one grey. He reached out and rested his hand upon hers, grasping her hand and the badge together. He looked back up into her eyes, which were clearly shining with pride and joy.
"Now you've just got the Pokémon League ahead of you," she continued. "You had better give it your all, alright?"
He grinned at her, not sure why she would expect anything less. "Don't worry, I will. That championship has my name all over it!" The two of them continued gazing into each other's eyes for a few moments, hands still clasped around each other and the badge, not moving, not saying anything more. There were no words they could say, no gesture they could make, that would be as meaningful or as powerful as the battle they had just shared.
Korrina eventually pulled Ash to his feet, wrapping one arm around him as he leaned weakly against her, thoroughly drained. He winced lightly as he felt Pikachu climb up his side, jumping over to Korrina's shoulder, not wanting to cause his trainer more pain. He quickly recalled Greninja to his Poké Ball before she led him out of the gym, toward the guest room where he would be staying that night.