Pokémon Journey: XYZ
Hey guys Paradox here and welcome to Chapter 105 and Chapter 22 of XYZ. We're now at the next step, and I did say that Alain is back in this. So now we'll see how Ash will hold his own. With just that, enjoy yourselves.
"The limits of the possible can only be defined by going beyond them into the impossible."- Arthur C. Clarke
Chapter 105: Know Thy Limits
The gang stops at a Pokémon Center on Route 19 for a check up on their Pokémon. After getting back their Pokémon , the gang was on the topic of Ash and Greninja's Synchronization. "I'm telling you this will examine your progress more closely." said Clemont. "Alright Clemont, I'll take you up your offer." Ash said. "This outta be good." Drake snickers.
The gang goes to the field out back as Clemont couldn't hold his excitement anymore. "I haven't seen Clemont this excited since Lilia." Rene said. "Shh, Don't remind him of that." Ash said. "So allow me to show you the spectral analysis with the power of science. CLEMONTIC GEAR on." Clemont said as he presented what was a miniaturized version of Clembot. "I call it Clembot Mini." Clemont said. "Aww its kinda cute." Rene commented. "Thanks, now Clembot Mini please display analysis of Ash-Greninja's battles." Clemont said as the little bot turns its head up and from its eyes displays a holo picture and video.
"As you can see from the overall three battles Ash-Greninja had, it's from the result of Ash and Greninja's merging as one. Their Synergy and soul harmonized." Clemont said. "We get that. Tell us something we don't already know." Ash said. "We also figure once merged your movement and thought patterns mimic one another." Said Clemont. "Okay, let's add to that, recall what Olympia said." Drake added. "Olympia mention that by only together will me and Greninja achieve greater power." Ash said. "She also mention a key emotional feel amongst you two." Serena said.
"Love, She said we needed love." Ash said. "Then let's test it and I got just the thing to help us out." Clemont said as he took out two bracelets out of his backpack. "Here you and Greninja each put one on." Clemont said as Ash and Greninja put on the bracelets. "What exactly are these Clemont?" Ash asked. "I call them Battle Pulse Meters. Clembot Mini?" Clemont asked as Clembot Mini displays a holo screen with Ash and Greninja sharing half of it. "Each half displays your vital signs and brain scans. I've also taken the liberty of uploading a sample of your Synergy connection." Clemont said.
"So what do we do?" Ash asked. "We concluded that your Synchronization activates under intense conditions so you guys have a battle. If my hypothesis is correct, this reading of your Synergy connection should merge together." Clemont said. "Only one way to find out. Who wants to battle me?" Ash claps his hands. "I'll do it Ash." Rene steps in. "It's about time we finally battle." Ash comments. "Easy cowboy, this is just practice." Rene smiles.
Once facing each other on the field, Rene and Ash prepare themselves. "Kay Del, let's do this." Rene calls Delphox to aid her. "Ready Greninja." Ash said as Greninja agrees.
Ash vs. Rene: One on One
"You make the first move Rene. That will get our blood pumping." Ash said. "Got it, Del let's start with Mystical Fire." Del forms a fiery circle and unleashes a stream of blazing flames at Greninja. "Water Shuriken." Greninja forms and shucks a water ninja star at the Mystical Fire to cancel it. "Use Night Slash." Greninja gets in close with a purple blade in hand. "Block with your branch." Del watches Greninja closely and rose its branch just as Greninja swipe its blade, effectively blocking it.
"Use Psychic." Del then manages to restrict Greninja's movements by holding him in place. "Now Fire Blast." Up close Del uses its branch to fire a star shape blast that force Greninja backwards but landing on its feet afterwards. "Let's try again. This time with Double Team." Greninja rushes Del once again, this time with a squad of clones. "Use Mystical Fire, snuff Greninja out." Del summons a stream of fire to eliminate each clone but more including the real Greninja were closing fast.
Inside the Pokémon Center, Alain walks through the front door and looks out back to see Ash once more battling with Greninja. He smiled, "Perhaps he's finding out about Greninja's mysterious form." Alain said.
"Use Hydro Pump." Under cover by the remaining copies, Greninja spews out a high pressured stream of water that nails Del in the chest. "Whew, hey Clemont any changes on the Meters?" Ash asked. "Some change is present Ash. The Synergy lines are close to intersect but not enough." Clemont said. "Maybe we should stop here Ash." Rene suggested. "Know what? Let's." Ash agreed.
"So let's break this down." Ash said. "Perhaps we haven't included all the factors in yet." Clemont said. "It maybe just one more thing guys, but what is it?!" Ash exclaims. "Easy Ash, we'll figure it out." Drake said. "How? Every time we get close to a possible answer, it's slips away...it's maddening." Ash said as he sat down. "I don't suspose I could help."
The gang turn to the door to see none other than Alain. "Alain, you're here." Ash stood up. "I am delighted to see you all again. I don't suspose you have Greninja's new form all figured out yet." Alain asked. "We're working on it." said Drake. "We have a...working hypothesis. There's just perhaps one thing we are missing." Clemont said as Alain took a look at Clemont's analysis on the holo screen.
"Hmm...I don't think you're wrong Clemont. The readings your machine recorded show tremendous growth and the Synergy readings show promise of merging." Alain asked. "Mind if we ask how you know that?" Drake asked. Alain would've responded but that would involve digging up a painful part of history. "You may not. But Ash think; how can you and Greninja express being closer than ever before?" Alain asked. "Only by being in the heat of battle." Ash began to see what Alain meant. "And under great intensity shows how you both could achieve greatness." Alain said.
"That could be it. Alain I don't suspose you could help us by battling us." Ash asked. "Me and Charizard would be honored." Alain accepted. "Ash wait, shouldn't you heal Greninja first?" Serena said. "Oh, right. Alain I don't suspose you have another Pokémon we could battle until Greninja gets healed up?" Ash asked. "I think I know what you mean. Metang come on out." Alain release a floating blue tank like Pokémon with claws. "So that's a Metang." Serena said as she took out her Pokédex.
"Metang, the Iron Claw Pokémon, It is form by two Beldum joining together. it's two brains are linked, amplifying its psychic power."
"I got just the Pokémon inching to battle. Noivern let's go." Ash release the Sound Wave Pokémon to battle. "I see your Noibat evolve. Let's see how hard you guys are training." Alain said.
Ash vs. Alain: One on One
Once facing each other on the battlefield the battle begun with Alain making the first move. "Metang use Metal Claw." Metang rushes in with sharp claws at hand. "Counter with Dragon Claw." Noivern flies straight ahead with green claws as both Pokémon slash their claws together, creating sparks. One standoff came even and force both Pokémon to retreat.
"Use Zen Headbutt." Metang glowed in a purple aura as it races across the field. "Dodge and use Acrobatics." Reacting from having Metang zooming in from three feet across, Noibat hovered up a bit out of it's range and glowed blue as it zips into the top of Metang's head hard. Metang was forced back but didn't take much damage due to type advantage. "Use Meteor Mash." In a blue blaze, Metang once again races across the field at high speeds. "Boomburst now." With its big ears, Noivern shoots out a high sound wave screeching towards Metang and striking it. Blocked by smoke, Noivern waited until he saw that Metang was still racing towards him and didn't react fast enough until it was too late.
Metang struck Noivern hard, causing him to go down, landing on its talons but in pain. "Can you see go on Noivern?" Ash asked as Noivern nodded. "In that case use Dragon Claw." Noivern then rushes forward with green claws at the ready. "Zen Headbutt." Metang rushes ahead under a purple veil and met Noivern head on.
Both were even until Alain called for a surprise. "Use Psyshock." Up close and personal Metang uses its claws to shoot six purple beams that curve and struck Noivern on all sides, causing an explosion. "Noivern!" Ash yells as he saw Noivern go down and land on its belly fainted.
"Noivern is unable to battle, Metang wins." Clemont declares.
Ash returns Noivern back to its Pokéball, "You did your best Noivern. Take a good rest." Ash said. "That was a great battle Ash." Alain said as he return his Metang. "I gotta say, if your Metang is already that strong, imagine how it'll be once it's a Metagross." Ash said. "That's what I'm aiming for. Say Ash, I'm sure Greninja must be all healed up." Alain said. "Right, I'll get him and give Noivern to Nurse Joy." Ash said as he ran back into the Pokémon Center.
Once coming back, Ash release Greninja out. "Perfect, I have been looking forward to this for awhile now." Alain said as he release Charizard. After putting the Pulse Meters back one, the battle was ready once more.
Ash vs. Alain Rematch: One on One
Both Pokémon stayed on the field as both trainers glared and readied for the right moment. "Start with Dragon Claw." Charizard races across the field with two green claws at Greninja. "Dodge closely and use Night Slash." As Charizard got closer and tried slashing horizontally, Greninja ducks underneath and quickly slashed Charizard's belly with a purple blade. "Now use Aerial Ace." Still dazed from the Night Slash, Charizard fails to see the Capoeira Kick Aerial Ace that went to its snout, forcing it back.
With Charizard forcing back to a safe distance, Alain had to think. "Ash is no slouch in a battle, especially close quarters. His Pokémon will surely have adapted to his Knighthood's training and that makes him very unpredictable." Alain thought. "Surely you can keep up Alain, right?" Ash asked. "I can do more then that. Charizard use Flamethrower." From a safe distance, Charizard bust out a stream of flames at Greninja.
"Dodge and use Aerial Ace." Greninja dashes across, doing a baseball slide to dodge the Flamethrower and flying through the air with a Karate kick Aerial Ace. "Right there Charizard, use Thunder Punch." Charizard eyed Greninja's form and saw its opportunity. By flying straight ahead, Charizard charge an electric fist and before Greninja's leg could connect, Charizard struck first right on Greninja's jaw, sending it flying back.
"Can you still go?" Ash asked as Greninja stood back up. "Come on you two. Show me your potential." Alain said. "Clemont, is a shift in the Meters?" Ash asked. "A big shift, we just need a little more." Clemont yelled. "Then allow us to get you that push. Respond to my heart Key Stone." Alain spoke as he touch his Key Stone which began to shine brightly. "Our hearts become one, we achieve greater. Go beyond evolution. Mega Evolve." Alain yells as Charizard's Mega Stone glowed brightly and tendons began to merge from both stones, causing Charizard to undergo Mega Evolution and became Mega Charizard X.
"Well this just got more fun." Ash smirked. "Charizard use Dragon Claw." Mega Charizard rockets off with even bigger green claws. "Wait for it." Ash said as Mega Charizard got closer. "Now bend your body back and use Night Slash." When Charizard slashes straight, Greninja bends its upper body backwards like an expert gymnast to avoid it, and comes back up and slashes Mega Charizard vertically. "Use Double Team." Greninja immediately makes a dozen copies around Charizard to confuse it.
"That won't stop us. Use Blast Burn." Charizard flies upward, charges up and fires a devastating fireball to the ground below and unleash a major explosion that engulfs all the copies including the real Greninja. "Greninja!" Ash yelled as the explosion rocked the entire field. Once the smoke disperse, Ash saw that Greninja was still standing but wounded and steam rising from his body. Ash could feel Greninja's spirit, still willing and wanting to battle. So Ash tried to keep his spirit calm and his Synergy flowing.
Clemont began to see significant chance in the Synergy Meters that Ash and Greninja's began to merge at the same wavelengths. "Guys, it's happening." Clemont said as the group saw the change and looked at Ash and Greninja.
"Time to get stronger. Go beyond harmony. Our bonds become stronger and one." Ash said as both he and Greninja yelled and Greninja burst under a water veil. "There it is." Alain said as Ash and Greninja mimic their own movements and did a fighting pose. "Go Greninja, use Double Team." Ash-Greninja dashes at incredible speeds and under a dozen copies heading towards Charizard. "Use Flamethrower." Mega Charizard spews a stream of flames at the Ash-Greninja copies but together we're still overwhelming it.
"Hydro Pump now." All copies mimic the original but the real move came from the Greninja in front of Charizard as it felt a high pressure water stream on its belly, dealing high damage. "Fly high and use Flamethrower." Charizard flies out of Greninja's range and fires a stream of flames at Ash-Greninja. "Dodge it and use Water Shuriken." Ash-Greninja rolls out of the way and fires a compress ninja star at Charizard. Charizard easily dodges it in the air as more came at him. "Use Thunder Punch." Mega Charizard flew in circle until it could get in closer. From behind Greninja, Charizard went in with an electric fist. "Flip back." Greninja didn't even need to look backwards to know Charizard was coming at him and thus jump backwards perfectly to land on Charizard's back.
"Shake him off. Roll!" With a couple of quick aileron rolls Ash-Greninja couldn't hang on and let go. "Now use Steel Wing." Retaliating back, Mega Charizard rushed back in with wings of steel and actually nailing Ash-Greninja in the gut. Ash winch in pain when Greninja took that blow, "almost forgot about it." He thought of. "Rush in." Ash-Greninja recovered quickly and blast towards Charizard once more. "Thunder Punch." Charizard charge at Ash-Greninja once more and both Pokémon collided moves trying to overpower one another.
Finally both were at a standstill and backed off. While Ash was coming up with another plan, he suddenly felt numb and gasped as a sort of paralysis swept his body. "Guys something's up with Ash." Serena said. "His Synergy wavelength is starting to demerge from Greninja's." Clemont concluded.
Ash was still feeling numb while Greninja remains fine. "No, come on, come on! Work with me damnit." Ash growled as he slammed his fist down igniting an Aura Burst. "Let's finish this. Greninja charge in." Ash shouted as Greninja rockets ahead somehow due to an extra power boost. "Don't let them get near, Use Blast Burn." Charizard obeyed by charging up as fast as possible but Greninja was moving in too quickly and jumped over its head. "HYDRO PUMP NOW!" One last push and Greninja expel the most powerful Hydro Pump it could muster, literally drowning Mega Charizard in its waters.
Ash-Greninja retreated back while Charizard groan on one knee. The Hydro Pump was enough to revert it back to its base form but Charizard was still willing. While Charizard can still continue, Ash however was not and felt the Aura Burst drain him completely and his legs collapsed while cough a up a puddle of blood on the ground. With that he finally fainted.
"Ash!" Serena cried as the whole group ran over. Greninja felt his Synergy revert back, thus going back to base form. "Ash, Ash!" Serena cried as Drake check his vital. "He's somewhat stable, but we gotta check him for any internal bleeding." Drake said as he and Alain carried him back inside.
Later that afternoon
Ash looked around to see he was in a sort of dreamworld and he was standing in water. Up ahead he saw Greninja standing ahead of him. "Greninja, hey." Ash heard his voice echo. But Greninja didn't heed him and instead turn away and started walking. "Wait, where are you going?" Ash asked but Greninja still didn't heed and got further and further. "Greninja please!" Ash said. "Don't leave me." Ash said in a hopeless voice.
"Ash." Ash woke up to see he was lying on his back and that the sun was setting. "How are you?" Serena asked. "Um..I guess fine." Ash said as he slowly rose up. "You have no idea how lucky you are." Drake said unamused with his arms cross. "What happened?" Ash asked. "What happen was that you storm out a full Aura Burst which was something you knew you weren't suspose to do. That push your heart beyond normal levels which cause fatigue and that lead to internal bleeding near your spleen, and then you cough up blood and passed out.
"Oh..." Ash was starting to see how bad this was. "I..I suspose I messed up." Ash said. "Oh we are way passed that." Rene said also unamused. "She's right. We are at the point where you...are a fucking idiot!" Drake yelled at Ash. "Me and Rene spent the last three hours just healing you internally, and we're both exhausted! You're tried to use an Aura Burst to boost the Synergy connection with Greninja!" Drake said.
"I thought it would be temporary." Ash argues. "Okay, first of all you can't force a connection like that. It's like trying to pull a rope that's beyond its length to where you need it. You'll just snap it and you're be dead! You're could've died!" Drake said as Ash could only look down at his actions. "Not to mention the Burst change your demeanor and made you more aggressive." Rene said. "I really hope you consider what happen today because this isn't funny." Serena said with tears in her eyes. Ash could only grow sad because simply Serena was. "I'm sorry." He whispered.
"And the battle?" Ash asked. "Well both Pokémon were still standing but you did manage to revert Charizard back to his base form and could barely stand, so I suspose the battle was in your favor." Alain said. "It still wasn't a real conclusion but after today...I'll take it." Ash said. "Maybe next time we'll have a proper finish and when you still work out the kinks of Greninja's form." Alain said as Ash nodded. "If you're feeling better Ash, I'll be taking my leave and be going back on the road." Alain said as the group understands.
Waving Alain goodbye, the group heads back inside. "So we're spending the night here?" Ash asked. "We already got three rooms. Now if you're excuse me, I need to sleep." Drake said as he left. "Me too." Rene joined.
That night, Ash and Serena laid in bed with Serena resting her head on Ash's bare shoulder. "Please promise me you'll never do something like that again." Serena spoke softly. "I promise Serena." Ash said. "I could've lost you. If you...le..left...I don't know what I would do." Serena pleads with tears as Ash could only hold her close. "You won't lose me, okay. I will always be with you." Ash swore as both only held each other to sleep. But in Ash's mind was the dream he had earlier in the evening. What did it mean? Why was Greninja leaving him? Was this another premonition? He needed to find out..soon."
Done guys, here's Chapter 105. Now that Ash has figured out how to achieve the form, there is now the issue of trying to maintain it in battle and that will be a challenge in this story. Plus in his last battle with Alain he did beat him...sorta. As for me, I'm still getting use to using App version of Fanfiction but I'm getting there.
Next chapter will be simple and normal that will involve a Shiny Phantump so look out for that. Lastly is if I don't post by this week then to you all: I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
This is Paradox signing off. Goodbye.
