The morning sun crossed over Kanto's horizon, signifying that the morning had arrived. Ash began to stir, letting out a rather loud yawn as he awoke. Clearly, waking up at sunrise wasn't something he did often. "Guess it's time to get up..." The teen sat up in his temporary bed, stretching his arms high over his head before dragging himself to his feet. The initially drowsy trainer received an odd burst of energy, however, when his cap was fitted upon his head, followed by his jeans, jacket, gloves, and shoes. Something about the iconic outfit sent adrenaline rushing through his veins, and Ash was ready to go.
Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, he made his way to the front desk. Nurse Joy was already wide awake, standing nat the front desk. Pikachu sat atop it, a full tray of Pokeballs beside him. His ears perked up at the sight of his trainer, a curved smile spreading across his lips.
"Pikapi!" The mouse chanted, thrilled to see his trainer. He was greeted with a pat on the head, which earned a happy coo in response.
"Morning, Pikachu! Sleep well, buddy?" Ash beamed as he clipped the spheres to his belt, outstretching his arm to allow Pikachu up to his perch. Pikachu promptly dashed up to his shoulder, nuzzling his cheek against Ash's in an affectionate manner. "I guess that's a yes!" Ash remarked with laughter. "Thanks for the help, Nurse Joy! I guess we're gonna get going, now!"
"You're very welcome, Ash. But don't be too hasty!" The Nurse placed two items on the counter. "Here's a canteen and an energy bar to get you started! You wouldn't want to begin on an empty stomach, would you?" The teen scratched the back of his neck with an embarrassed chuckle, clearly having forgotten. "If you're going to thrive up there, you're going to have to be more careful than that! Now, the spring water from Mt. Silver is incredibly pure, so you should have no problems staying hydrated with this! If you run low on provisions, please feel free to visit at any time! There'll always be a bed and a meal here if you're in need!"
"Thanks a lot," Ash replied with a respectful bow of his head, grabbing the canteen and the snack before heading off towards the door. "Goodbye, Nurse Joy! I'll see you soon!" With a wave, Ash departed, heading into the great outdoors.
A short walk led him to a small wooded area, parallel with a riverbed that stretched around the western border of Route 28. The chilling air brought on quite the sensation when coupled with the welcoming warmth of the sun as well as the fresh pine scent that permeated the area.
"Well, guess it's time to get started! Come on out, everybody!" Ash shouted as he threw five Pokeballs into the air, releasing his entire team. Charizard was released, then Pidgeot, Lapras, Sceptile, and finally, Gible. "Good morning, guys! Now that we're up, let's warm up and wake up with little jog! What do ya say?" The group clearly wasn't as enthusiastic as their trainer, as Charizard let out a loud yawn and scratched its stomach. "Oh c'mon, it isn't that bad! Follow me and Pikachu!" He began to jog along the dirt path, soon to be followed by his team.
About an hour passed and the group soon made its rounds, coming back around to the Pokemon Center, where they'd begun. When Ash turned to check on the group, he found some to be faring better than others. Sceptile had handled the exercise quite easily, currently leaning against a tree with its signature twig in its mouth. Charizard and Gible didn't fare as well, both panting from the jog, but they were recovering nicely. Pidgeot and Lapras looked to be raring for more, as an hour of flight and swimming respectively was second nature to the two. Pikachu had finished the exercise comfortably, if not without a shortness of breath that likely wouldn't last long.
"Alright, guys! Time to chow down and get some energy built up for later!" The trainer slung his backpack off his shoulder, quickly rummaging through it to find a portion of the Pokechow he'd packed. He quickly set up a bowl for each of his companions, leaving them to eat. "Alright! Chow down, everyone!" Ash announced, peeling back the wrapper of his energy bar before taking a big bite of his own.
The group soon finished their meal, and were all promptly recalled to their Pokeballs, save for Pikachu of course. "Okay... I guess this is it!" Ash stood to full height, turning towards the colossal landmark. A brisk wind blew at the coattails of his jacket, causing it to billow dramatically in a way that was quite fitting to the moment. Majestic mountaintops stood tall, craning over the horizon as if to challenge Ash to scale it, to conquer the challenges that lie within and throughout. Needless to say, this challenge would be met with absolute boldness and certainty. Gloved fingers reached to grip the brim of the red cap, chocolate eyes shimmering in pure excitement. He could feel his blood boiling - every nerve in his body was restless in anticipation. A wide smile spread across the boy's features, reaching from cheek to z-marked cheek. "Mt. Silver..." He started, a whisper quickly turning into a dramatic shout, "HERE WE COME!"
"So, any guesses why we're here?" The query came from a violet-haired young man with sharp emerald eyes, baring a white Team Rocket uniform. Of course, this was none other than James. Sweat dripped down his brow and his fallen features reflected fearful anticipation of the meeting as he trudged down the hallways of Team Rocket's headquarters, feet dragging him unwillingly to what could be a very unfortunate meeting for the trio.
"Well, obviously, the boss is going to praise us for all of our hard work and excellence! Why else would he call us in to see us personally?" Jessie, the magenta-haired, self-declared leader of the group chimed, throwing her arms to the air in dramatic emphasis.
"With our record, you've gotta be jokin'. We haven't brought back a single Pokemon since we got to Sinnoh! Chances are, I'll be surprised if da boss don't give us da boot." Meowth remarked in his strong accent, head hung much like his cohort, James. "Maybe he called us in so he could kick us out on the double."
"Now, that sour attitude won't get us anywhere! You two better pull yourselves together before we get in there, or the boss might punish you for talking that way, or worse, punish me for it! So pull yourselves together, or we're all going to regret it!" James and Meowth were met with a glare that may as well have come from a Gengar, and promptly cowered in turn.
"Y-yes, ma'am!" James sputtered out, having flinched in face of her infamous temper.
Rolling his eyes, Meowth nodded along. "Whatever ya say, boss." The two complied just in time, as they'd found themselves face to face with the double doors leading to Giovanni's office.
Jessie hesitated, a bit less confident than moments before, before twisting the knob, entering the dimly lit office.
Giovanni sat stationed in the center of the room behind his desk, His fingers were linked atop the desk, his expression unwavering with a characteristic emotionless gaze that immediately sent chills down the trio's spine.
Beside him was a dark-haired woman with ruby eyes framed with rounded glasses, standing motionless. It was the same woman they had spoken over the phone, when she had called them back to Kanto to begin with. On the opposite side of him was someone not so familiar; a tall, aged man in a lab coat, with bushy hair and a grey mustache, and an expression equally terrifying as Giovanni's. A monocle was placed over his left eye, further adding to his unusual appearance. Behind the head figure himself was a large screen, showing nothing but buzzing static at the moment.
Doing her best to talk over the lump in her throat, Jessie managed to speak first. "You... Wanted to see us, sir?" Her eyes turned on the boss, attempting to spot some kind of hint in his composure. Yet there wasn't a single sign of emotion, neither happiness nor anger. That was truly one of the most troubling things about Giovanni. He was impossible to read. A business-like composure was kept at almost all times. Worse off, that composure being broken was equally terrifying.
"I have something to discuss with the three of you. We've been keeping tabs of your exploits in Sinnoh," he went on, causing the hearts of the trio to nearly sink to their stomachs. "While you had little success in your endeavor to expand a Team Rocket branch in the region, you have brought us across some interesting details." The screen in the back began to play clips behind him on cue, showcasing shots from the Sinnoh League tournament. First came a clip of the Pitch-Black Pokemon, Darkrai. It felled a Magmortar in a few simple but potent moves, lighting the ambient room with a flashing Dark Pulse attack. "The winner of the league was using a Darkrai, as I'm sure you're aware, a legendary Pokemon that's exclusive to the Sinnoh region-a very interesting finding, indeed. What's more is that he was in possession of a Latios. Someone with that sort of talent in capturing mythical Pokemon is certainly of interest to Team Rocket."
Jessie, James, and Meowth visibly cringed, nearly going blue in the face over what they perceived to be their next mission. "Are... We supposed to go after Darkrai?" James barely whispered, not so eager to pursue someone so daunting. After seeing even the twerp fall so hard to him, such a thought was unthinkable.
"I have a feelin' dealin' with that thing'd end up with me havin' a very unpleasant catnap," Meowth added in, equally skeptical of the idea. As soon as their fears were voiced, though, Giovanni continued.
"Our sources will look into this matter further. However, what's more is that the boy you've spent so much time and money tracking-" The mentions of said time and money came out in a hiss, irritation briefly sneaking into his tone before slipping away. "-had managed to defeat his Darkrai, and even his Latios, consecutively."
The screen began to play more clips, focusing on the boy's climactic battle with the mysterious man. Gible's Draco Meteor rained down on the field before it fell victim to the wrath of the mythic Pokemon. Torkoal was shown being downed in a single blow. Sceptile, though, soon made its appearance, felling Darkrai in a single sequence of Leaf Blade attacks. Soon after was Pikachu clinging to Latios' back-the same Pikachu who they had sworn capture of for so many years. Their promise to their leader that would make all of their efforts worth their while. Consecutive Thunderbolts were dealt to the creature in the background, a testament to the mouse's mettle.
"I've come to the conclusion that this 'Ash' may not be such a waste of time, after all. You've chosen quite the interesting target for your efforts. However," His eyes narrowed, black irises glowering upon the trio of misfits. "The amount of money you have wasted in your exploits and the sheer number of failures has been unacceptable." The trio cowered in his wake, not daring to speak a word in protest. Every word he spoke was true, and there was no denying it.
"So now, I'll turn your attention to my assistant, Matori. She will explain the rest." He gestured to the woman standing beside him, who laid a manila folder down on the desk, opening it to reveal the files on Jessie, James, and Meowth.
"Despite your failures, you three are known for being especially loyal to Team Rocket. In addition, your pursuits have taken you all over the various regions around Kanto, giving you quite a bit of knowledge on your surroundings. These factors have led us to show a bit of forgiveness, but under a few conditions. You will be trained extensively as higher ranked members in Team Rocket, which means you will be receiving a promotion. To ensure your success in future missions, you will also be provided with new Pokemon and more advanced equipment to aid you in Team Rocket's objectives. In return, we will expect nothing but success in what we ask of you. Do you have any questions?"
The three appeared to be flabbergasted, nearly floored by the information that had just been relayed to them. They were actually being promoted!? It was like a dream come true, though none of them dared to get into one of their excited outbursts.
Jessie bowed her head to their superiors, speaking first once again. "We truly appreciate it... But yes. Who's that geezer over there?" She pointed with a gloved hand towards the elderly man, who hadn't budged an inch since the conversation began.
She quickly regretted her remark when met with a glare from Giovanni, but Matori was the first to speak, shouting at the redhead. "Do NOT speak to that way!" She glowered at the three as a group, contempt etched into her facial features.
Giovanni raised a hand, quieting his aide. "That's enough, Matori. This is . He is one of Team Rocket's top-ranked scientists and he will be overseeing you three in upcoming missions as well as providing you with the technology necessary to help you succeed."
"You'd do well to show me more respect in the future." The scientist added, scowling at the trio. "Aside from your primary target, there will be a number of missions required of you on the ground and I expect total cooperation and efficiency in doing your part. You've no need to worry yourself with any technological details. I'll provide you with all that you need to help Team Rocket grow and accomplish its objectives. Understood?"
"Sir," Jessie replied, bowing her head in respect, and James and Meowth mimicked the action. "We can promise you total success."
"Indeed," James added, raising his hand in a salute to Giovanni. "You've no need to worry about anymore failures!"
"When we're through, da whole world'll know and fear the Team Rocket name!" Meowth finished, feline eyes glowing with mischief. They'd been given a second chance, and the three resolved that they would succeed this time - and extend their reach to the stars above.
Meanwhile, back between Kanto and Johto, Ash had entered Silver Cave, marking the beginning of his newest adventure yet. The caverns were long and dimly lit, making for a rather interesting trek for Ash and Pikachu. What's more was that wild Pokemon could be found every which way. They posed quite the challenge. Each were every bit as powerful as the Sneasel they had faced, though many were far sturdier due to the nature of the Pokemon inhabiting the caves. One battle after another tested the mettle of Ash and his friends, and eventually, their hard work paid off as there was soon a light at the end of the tunnel.
A literal one, at that. Ash was forced to hold his hat down, shielding unadjusted eyes from the sudden drastic change in lighting. "Hey, look at that, Pikachu! Looks like we found a way out!" The teen let out childish laughter, running for the exit. It was a little peculiar. He'd been so eager to enter, but the first sign of the outdoors practically beckoned Ash to it. Maybe this cave training thing would take some getting used to...
The exit let to a small plateau above the route below, featuring a rocky cliff side that climbed up to the next highest ledge. Some grass and foliage matted the edges of the flat surface, making for a rather pleasant place for Ash to take a break. He made his way into the open area, stretching his arms over his head as he basked in the warmth of daylight. "Hey, not bad! I guess it can't hurt to stop here for a bit, right?"
Pikachu nodded his head, craning his head back as he soaked in the comforting warmth, long ears folding behind his head. "Pika~!" He cooed, stretching as well to soothe the faint soreness that had been dealt to him through multiple challenging battles.
"We shouldn't stop training now, though..." Gloved hands were placed upon the trainer's hips as he briefly pondered his next course of action. "Hey, I know!" The light bulb had gone off in his hand, and he reached for two of the spherical devices on his belt, tossing both of them into the air. "Charizard, Sceptile! Come on out!"
On one side of Ash, the large winged lizard appeared, letting out a huff of hot flames from its mouth. Charizard stood battle-ready, both of its arms folded over its beige-toned chest. The inferno on the tip of its tail roared loudly as ever, a sure sign of its energy and health.
Sceptile appeared on the opposite side, promptly inserting its signature twig between its lips, chewing on the small plant. Golden eyes turned towards the other powerhouse present, locking with aqua hues. Before Ash could even utter a word, the challenge had been silently declared. Sceptile had heard stories of Ash's ace in the hole. Tt had been glorified for its strength and tenacity in every description.
While Charizard hadn't been around to hear any such thing about the Forest Pokemon, its gaze said it all. It was being presented and it looked tough enough, even if it was a grass type. Challenge accepted.
"Alright! I guess you guys're ready, so let's get started! Sceptile, use Quick Attack, and Charizard, you use Steel Wing!"
The latter flapped its wings, quickly taking to the skies as the two extremities began to glow, taking on a silver shine.
Sceptile judged its altitude to be a bit too great for an effective head-on attack, but needless to say, that wouldn't stop the speedy grass-type. It quickly leapt onto a boulder adorning the rock wall, jumping from one height to the next before launching itself at Charizard, blurred silver light trailing its form.
The soaring fire-type didn't relent, letting out a loud ferocious cry as both wings swung towards Sceptile, sure to land with devastating impact.
Both combatants finally crashed, steely limbs colliding with the entire body of Sceptile who compensating with speed where he failed in power. The aerial clash made its intensity known with a booming shockwave, forcing Ash to guard himself from a gust of wind and dust. The two broke apart moments after, allowing Sceptile to fall to the ground below, skidding before coming to a halt. Charizard pulled back in the air, letting out a huff. So far, the two seemed evenly matched.
"Man, talk about power..." Ash commented under his breath, marveling at the strength that had been displayed so early in the battle. "Charizard, you start using Flamethrower! Sceptile, use Quick Attack to dodge it!"
The fire type complied, craning its neck back before throwing its head forward, unleashing the inferno towards the ground. By the time the ground was scorched though, Sceptile had been long gone. Fierce blue eyes scanned the ground, finally spotting it standing near the rock wall. A roar followed another burst of flames, striking the boulder behind Sceptile, who had jumped out of the way. Charizard didn't relent, though, spraying a continuous stream of heat along the wall as its opponent scaled the rocks, jumping from one targeted location to the next.
The higher he jumped, though, the closer the flames came to scorching its body. The residual heat was becoming uncomfortable, and Sceptile decided to leap forward, heading straight for Charizard with its Quick Attack. The assault crossed the dragon with amazing expertise, landing a weak blow before coming to a halt on the ground below.
"Sceptile, use Leaf Storm!" Ash shouted, counting on the grass type to stage a powerful counter attack. Each of the seeds upon its back lit up in succession, gradually charging the powerful attack. But, it wasn't fast enough, shown by yet another torrent of flames that threatened to swallow Sceptile. Of course, it wasn't going to take that sitting down. Powerful legs sprang the grass type into the air above, completely avoiding the peril. By now, it had found the opportunity to attack. The Forest Pokemon let out a cry, letting loose a potent flurry of energized leaves that headed straight for Sceptile's winged adversary.
At the last moment, Charizard managed to swoop out of the way of the blast, narrowly avoiding what could have been substantial damage. Cycle of leaves soared past it, only to crash into the mountainside behind it. They razored through, lodging themselves among some rocks and dislodging others. Those went flying, a number of larger ones striking Charizard in the back. The fire/flying hybrid cried out in pain, hovering uneasily before managing to regain its position in the air.
Ash stared on, caught completely off-guard by the occurrence. Rocks proved to be a weak point for Charizard... That was interesting. "Okay, Charizard, Flamethrower! And Sceptile, use Leaf Storm, now!" The dragon above opened its mouth wide, gathering heat before launching a brilliant flame towards its opponent below.
Sceptile responded in kind by countering with its own powerful move. Each of the bulbs on its back lit up brilliantly, quickly gathering energy that culminated in a brilliant spiral of shining leaves, colliding directly with Flamethrower. The powerful winds behind Leaf Storm managed to push back Flamethrower quite a bit... But it would only last so long. One leaf after another was incinerated by Flamethrower, slowly eating away the attack in a fierce struggle between the two moves.
"Both of you! Give it all you've got! Don't hold back one bit!" Ash shouted, throwing two closed fists outward in dramatic encouragement. As climactic as the struggle was, though, Sceptile was losing ground. His typing just wasn't cutting it. The two poured more power into their attacks, lighting the battlefield with brilliant splendor, sending flares and scorched projectiles every which way. Finally, the attacks erupted, going off in a deafening explosion. Smoke was thrown across the plateau, crossing Ash and Pikachu with an unpleasant wave of heat.
The debris soon began to clear, first revealing Ash and Pikachu, the latter with his arms crossed over his body. One eye opened, finally, free of the sting of the aftermath. Sceptile and Charizard became visible soon after, both retaining their original positions. The dragon above was marked with a few burns and scratches, still raring to go. Sceptile, however, wasn't so lucky. Its arms were crossed over its chest, one eye wincing from the impact. It was covered in burns, its body trembling slightly from the damage it'd been dealt.
"Sceptile...!" Ash uttered, just barely loud enough for Pikachu. The worry showed in his eyes, but he refused to shout his concern, knowing full well how much pride played a part in this battle. 'This is no good... Sceptile looks like it's on its last legs here. Charizard's fire type moves just give it too much of an advantage.' Ash was lost in his own thoughts, oblivious until Pikachu pointed forward, shouting to get his attention.
"Pikapi!"
Ash turned his sights toward the two Pokemon, spotting just what Pikachu had been pointing out. Sceptile's body had been enveloped in a luminous green glow. "Hey, hold on... That's Overgrow!" Ash shouted, recognizing the ability immediately. That meant it was at its limits. This was its chance, if it were to have one. "Sceptile, get in there and use Leaf Blade!"
Shrugging off the pain, the grass type didn't waste a moment, springing off the ground with its powerful legs to close the distance between itself and Charizard. Each pair of leaves adorning its forearms seemingly merged into one, taking the shape of a shining scythe of natural energy. Both shone with great radiance, clearly powered up by Overgrow. "Sceeeep... TILE!" It cried out, slicing Charizard across the chest with both blades, overcoming the fire type with remarkable speed.
"Now, Charizard! Use Seismic Toss!" While Ash did have his eye in helping Sceptile overcome his weakness, this training was meant to benefit both titans equally - and he wouldn't shortchange either by holding back a bit. Still reeling from Leaf Blade, Charizard corrected itself before lurching forward, wrapping both of its arms tightly around Sceptile's body. Startled, the Forest Pokemon began to struggle, trying to squirm its way out of the other's grasp. It proved fruitless as Charizard soared higher, holding an iron grip.
"If Sceptile doesn't do something, he doesn't have a chance..." Ash mused to himself, staring upward at fire type climbing the skies. The boy squinted as the burning sun shone into his eyes, holding his cap down to block out the bright light. "...That's it! Sceptile, use Leaf Storm! One more time!"
While the consecutive uses may have become tiring by this point, desperate times called for desperate measures. The golden seeds lining Sceptile's back took on a bright glow, gathering energy. But, the powerful grass type move wouldn't go off without a struggle.
Charizard began its standard procedure for its Seismic Toss attack, turning into a full loop that was enough to make the weakening grass type dizzy. Several more followed, adding to the dull headache that plagued the grass type. Fortunately for it, the seeds on its back continued to gather energy, and not a moment too soon, as Charizard turned straight into a dive, heading for the ground below.
Finally, the grass type unleashed his wrath, revealing a brilliant twister of natural energy. The blast launched at point-blank range, enveloping Charizard in a ferocious beam of light.
A deafening explosion made everything else seem insignificant, forcing Ash and Pikachu to once again shield themselves from the impact. Sceptile was sent careening towards the ground below, just barely able to catch its bearings and skid across the scorched ground, clawing its way onto all fours. It was clearly barely hanging onto consciousness, with various burns and scratches covering its body. The smoke cleared to reveal Charizrd standing on its hind legs, likewise marked with a number of scorched marks. Unlike its opponent, though, it still seemed to be hanging in there, fiercely staring down its adversary.
Normally strong legs trembled, barely supporting the body of a creature whose heart was willing to fight but body was unable. Narrowed eyes refused to leave Charizard's gaze, bared teeth clenched in determination. Soon, Sceptile's body gave in, allowing it to fall to the ground and fade from consciousness. Charizard had won.
Ash didn't hesitate to rush over, kneeling down to his fallen Sceptile. "Man... That had to hurt." He reached to sling the creature's arm over his shoulder, walking it towards the cliff side. "But you put up a great fight... You too, Charizard! Awesome job! Take a good rest, alright?" The dragon nodded, letting out a fiery huff before laying down upon the ground of the plateau. Sceptile was set against the wall, hunched over unconscious.
The trainer slid his backpack off his shoulder, unzipping one of the pockets before rummaging through it. "Here... I've got just the thing to fix you right up!" Ash pulled a small blue fruit out of the pouch - an Oran Berry. "Here... Eat this, and you'll be feeling better in no time!" The fruit was held up to Sceptile's mouth, who was beginning to come to consciousness.
It took a bite out of the berry, feeling its stamina slowly return to its body. "Hey, you're feeling better! That was an awesome battle, Sceptile!" Ash praised, only to be shrugged off as the grass type stood at its full height, immediately leaping up the cliff side to stand on the highest ledge. Down below, Ash stared momentarily before nodding his head. "I guess you want to be alone right now... I understand." He nodded to the Pokemon above, turning his back to give it some peace.
"Alright, everyone! Let's get some training done!" His remaining three Pokeballs were thrown forward, releasing Pidgeot, Lapras, and Gible. "Are you guys ready to get tougher, or what?" Ash pumped a fist in the air, displaying enthusiasm that his companions so obviously shared, each of them letting out a cry of agreement.
Meanwhile, the grass type watched down from above, leaning against the mountainside behind him, chewing on his signature twig. It watched on with a disinterested gaze, only able to focus on the battle that it had just lost. To put it simply, it was overwhelmed. The last thing it had expected out of this training session had come true and on their very first day of exercises. Not only did Charizard boast a twofold type advantage over himself, but its power had been simply incredible. It was ertainly stronger than any fire type it had faced, and in all honesty, posed a greater challenge than even the Darkrai he'd felled no more than a week ago. Even May's Blaziken paled in comparison. While he hadn't been completely helpless, he was certainly outmatched. That was more than enough to wound its pride.
It continued to watch the others as the day went by, engaging in fierce battles and training exercises, most of them socializing all the while. While it did look fun, he could admit, there was no use in training when he'd had the wind taken out of his sails. All Sceptile could do was ponder the match, analyzing the events at every turn. Day turned to night, and it hadn't moved from that spot, except to come down for dinner. Still, it stood at the foot of the cliff, keeping to itself even after the other Pokemon had returned to their Pokeballs for a good night's rest. A gentle campfire burned, and only Ash and Pikachu, pardon Sceptile himself, were still awake.
Ash lay back in his sleeping bag, arms folded behind his head with charcoal eyes staring blankly at the stars above. Like his stubborn companion, he found it very difficult to sleep when there was something on his mind. That match today... It had been a rather brutal one, and it was obvious Sceptile wasn't happy.
"Man... He really took it hard," he spoke aloud, catching Pikachu's attention.
"Pika," the mouse replied, who was resting his head on Ash's chest. He felt badly for his friend. He always knew the grass type to be extremely prideful and he'd certainly earned his stature.
"I've gotta find a way for him to fight it... To give Sceptile a fair shot." He would have to at least put Sceptile on equal footing with Charizard. "But how...? He can fly and he's a fire type. Sceptile doesn't have any moves to deal with that." The teen's mind began to wander, contemplating the battle just as his Pokemon was. As powerful as Leaf Blade was, it proved fruitless against such an opponent. Quick Attack was useful as always, but too weak to deal any definitive blow on its own. Leaf storm was powerful, but risky to use, and still weak against fire and flying types. Though the last move did deal some damage to Charizard indirectly, when dislodged rocks and boulders had hit it following the explosion.
"Wait a sec..." Ash jolted up, both eyes going wide in realization. "...That's it! Sceptile, come down here!" He shouted to the cliff above, catching the Forest Pokemon's attention.
It made its way down in several swift jumps, landing beside his sleepy trainer.
"I think I've got an idea on how to give you a better shot at beating Pokemon like Charizard... It's just a hunch, but it might work! What do ya say? You willing to give it a shot?" Ash proposed, raising one of his fists to Sceptile with a smile curved onto his lips.
"...Tile!" After a brief pause, Sceptile threw its own armed forward, bumping elbows with his sitting trainer. Whatever Ash had come up with, he trusted would be good enough. Whatever it took to overcome this obstacle would be worth the effort.
"Awesome! Then we'll try our best, starting tomorrow!"
Lilycove City was absolutely thriving. Dawn's fingers gripped tightly to the railing, a wide grin on her face. Resting on her head and shoulders, Piplup likewise let out numerous chirps, just as ecstatic. Hanging onto her ankle, Buneary seemed star struck. The whole group was eager to begin the business for which Dawn had been given her ticket to Hoenn: pokestyling—to the next level!
With her bag already packed and upon her shoulders, it was evident the girl had learned plenty on efficiency in luggage while traveling from her journey through Sinnoh. All the same, within the bag were two very special outfits; whether they were necessities or not depended upon whether one understood their purpose. One belonged to Buneary and the other to Piplup. The normal type's was covered in glitter and the most girly of pinks. The starter's, on the other hand, was leather and had a hard edge to it. They would be doing photoshoots and shows here. Dawn, in all likelihood, would be showing along with them. She was very excited—she wouldn't be competing for a Ribbon Cup while down in Hoenn, but the chance to show in the curious kind of contests they boasted would be fun.
Besides, she'd been a little bored and lonely at home. It'd do her good to get out and about.
"All ashore that's goin' ashore!"
That was Dawn's cue!
Walking off the ship, Dawn easily spotted her mentor among the crowd. Incredibly beautiful and keeping a Lopunny at her side, Paris stood out.
"You made it! Good to see you again," the pink haired woman greeted.
Dawn waved, as did Piplup who was upon her shoulders and Buneary who trailed at her feet. "It's good to see you, too! So, let's get started, huh?"
"Of course." Paris turned, gesturing uphill and northeast of the pier.
The two girls began walking, exchanging pleasantries and news all the while. Paris explained that Dawn's pokemon would be doing some promotional work, but that it shouldn't take her from home too terribly long. She also complimented the younger girl, pointing out that she only seemed to be getting prettier as time went on. Of course, Dawn was torn between being embarrassed and automatically but truthfully complimenting Paris in turn. All in all, they got along swimmingly.
Lilycove was beautiful, Dawn realized. It was open but not rural. Though she'd been in plenty of cities, she'd grown up in Twinleaf Town. It was always exciting to visit more urban areas. She wondered what she should pick up for her mother. Maybe some of the foreign fashions? What about her other friends…? It'd been a while since she'd talked to Brock, she knew. Maybe she should get him some cologne with a cheeky note about it helping him with the ladies? Her mind turned to Ash, then. Perhaps Paris noticed her slip in conversation. She'd openly discussed her other gift options, but the moment the mention of Ash passed her lips, she got a goofier grin. He'd probably do best with some new gloves, she joked, brushing off her sudden wish that he was there for this. He'd know his way around Hoenn since he'd been there already, but she didn't know how he'd feel about all of this high style business.
However, Dawn was as much a battler as she was a fashionista, and her pokemon were no different.
Piplup let out a chirp, pointing to an empty training field as they neared their destination. The contest hall was momentarily forgotten.
"It's been a while since we battled, huh?" Dawn muttered. She looked over to Paris. "Do you mind? We usually use Mom's whenever we want, so I feel bad about telling them no." Besides, she wanted to, as well.
Paris shook her head. "I wanna see what you can do! Go for it."
Nodding, the coordinator and her team made their way to the field. Paris waited on the sidelines, her arms crossed.
Putting Piplup down, the bluenette grinned. "Alright, Piplup, spotlight and center field! Hydro Pump straight down! Buneary, use Ice Beam on the Hydro Pump!" Following her instructions, Piplup was rocketed into the air. As he ascended, his tower of water turned into a pillar of ice thanks to Buneary. Dawn nodded. Right. She knew what to do from here. "Buneary, use Bounce to join him up there!"
"Neary!" she called, quickly reaching the top of the tower.
"Piplup, use Spinning Bubble Beam!" the girl called. "Buneary, freeze them with Ice Beam!"
Twirling in the center of the tower, Piplup obeyed. Soon, there were beautiful frozen spheres atop the tower.
"So, she's going to play like she's an architect today, huh?" Paris mused.
"Lop," the normal type agreed.
Soon, the building continued. "Ice Beam!" Bridges were formed. "Hydro Pump!" Another tower. "Dizzy Punch!" Arches and windows were forced into the building. After half an hour, a dazzlingly beautiful two-tower castle stood before them all. Dawn held the exhausted Buneary and Piplup, the two little pokemon panting and looking proud of themselves. Paris walked around the base of the tower, touching the surface of it reverently.
"It's incredible!"
A shadow passed over Dawn's face, blocking out the sun which shone over the top of the tower. "Thank you! They're really… good…" She looked up.
Atop the clear blue spires, a single white creature stood. It leered down at Dawn, red eyes intense. However, as soon as she noticed it, it leaped off into the bushes on the side of the field. Dawn stood for a moment more, confused.
"Dawn!" Paris called out again.
The coordinator snapped out of it. "Huh? Sorry, I saw a weird white pokemon!"
"Well, Wingull are pretty common around here—but they're in Sinnoh, too!"
"It definitely wasn't a Wingull," Dawn muttered as she and Paris exited the field. The tower would melt shortly, but there were drains installed on those fields that would take care of it just fine. After returning Buneary and shifting the way she held Piplup, she got out her pokedex. In a minute, she found her pokemon.
The girl quietly assured herself of what she had seen: "An Absol, huh?"
"Well, we're here, Dawn!" Paris exclaimed, gesturing to the contest hall. "But… we should visit a pokemon center first, haha! We need our little models in top condition!"
