As our heroes entered the bright port city of Vermillion, both found themselves a little confused by the late night conversation they held with not just one professor, but both Oak and Rowan. Despite being as enthusiastic about Pokémon as the two both were, neither was exactly a scientist.
Ash shook his head, brows scrunched down and lips pressed into a thin little frown. "I just don't get it. He said Pokémon are always evolving as a species. Is it like when the Clefairy all came together to evolve into Clefable? But, Professor Oak said Kanto born Clefairy and their family line were only recently developing the fairy type…"
Dawn shook her head. "Professor Rowan said it's like when a soda brand changes over time! I know Cascoon Cola used to come in glass bottles but now you can only find it in those big plastic ones or the little metal cans." It didn't really make sense to her, but both professors said there was evidence that Pokémon were not static discoveries. Science was always changing its views, it seemed. How frustrating. She was glad she was a coordinator.
The boy felt about the same, though he didn't voice it, about being a trainer. Science was amazing, alright, but it was so confusing! "And, what was that about getting sick more? Mega-something's?"
The coordinator shrugged. "I don't know. I was so confused and tired at that point… Something about weird stones. Professor Rowan said the professor who studied it was kind of unreliable, too…"
"Aw, whatever. If I ever battle one, I'll just beat it!" Ash assured Dawn with a grin.
"Hey, hey, I'm not doubting you," she promised. With that, she'd get ready to fall into step with Ash as they headed towards the gym. She did cast a curious glance over to Prinplup. He stayed close to her side; would he cheer with her still? He could definitely make plenty of noise now.
"Alright. Let's go, guys!" Ash cheered, voice heavy with enthusiasm. Pikachu responded eagerly, pumping both of his fists in the air.
"Pika~!"
It was clear both of them had a personal investment in the upcoming battle. The trek to the gym didn't take long; the building before them was large and intimidating, lightning bolts arching the doors and jutting off the roof. Large double doors stood in their way, which Ash moved to push open with both hands.
While Ash was normally enthusiastic about gym battles, Dawn noticed he seemed a bit more so than usual. It wasn't the same eagerness displayed before the battle with Brock or Misty, so she did have to wonder: what sort of person was Lt. Surge? Walking in after Ash made his grand entrance, she came to a quick conclusion. "He's probably got a thunderous personality…"
"Prin," Prinplup agreed. "Lup?!" Wait, was that giant over there—!?
"…Well whaddya know! I got mahself a challenger here! Who's the tough guy in here for a badge?" A booming voice thundered through the dimly lit gym, belonging to none other than said giant. Making his way out of the shadows was a burly, towering man, standing at least seven feet tall in camouflage, sporting bronze tan skin and spiky blonde hair.
Stepping forward, his brows raised at the sight of the bluenette, a smile then breaking out across his face. "Hm…? It must be mah lucky day! Not too often I get a cutie like you for a challenguh!" A gigantic hand lowered to lay on Dawn's shoulder, eyes turning to the penguin beside her, who was already sending a leer the man's way. "…And, ya got a spunky lookin' Pokuhmon for me to battle, too! Just don't think I'm gonna go easy on ya!"
By now, Ash was absolutely red in the face. Were he any less sure Dawn would take care of this herself, he would've long since swatted the Gym Leader's grimy hand away. "Hey, watch it! She's not the challenger! I am!" Ash spouted, just about steaming.
The entire time, Dawn had remained painfully silent. She stared down at Surge's hand. Had he really just—? "I'm about to challenge something, all right. The game's called put-that-hand-back-where-it-came-from-or-so-help-me and these are the terms: move it or lose it!"
Prinplup brought a flipper up. Even if he was smaller than the behemoth—the cruel irony to be this big yet still relatively short— he was still darn fierce, and would definitely prove it if his trainer was tested any further.
Probably to Dawn's surprise, the towering man did indeed retract his hand - though not out of fear. Surprise was more like it; shock was written all over his features, eyes wide at the fire from the relatively short bombshell. "Waddya know. Girl's got a lotta guts. I respect that!"
When Surge's hand was finally off her, Dawn made a face, feeling more disgusted than she ever had since she'd gotten to Kanto. "I'm headed to the stands. Good luck, Ash."
Laughter unfitting to the moment followed before Surge's eyes turned to the equally steaming teen who'd been beside Dawn. "Hey, it's da baby! Haven't seen ya since you were just a lil' shrimp here with yer Pikachu! I see ya still haven't evolved 'im! At least one of ya's started to grow, though, huh?"
Until now, he'd gone oblivious to Ash's own fury, but brows raised when he picked up on the red in the trainer's face. "…Hold on. Did I cross any boundahries back there? Nevuhmind that. If yer here for a rematch, I ain't gunna turn an old good challenguh down!"
Blood was still boiling in Ash's veins, but Dawn's swift rebuttal had settled his admittedly confusing feelings somewhat. Of course, the little altercation left him feeling a lot more motivated. "I want you to give me everything you've got, Surge! I'm going for the Pokemon League again this year, and I wanna be sure I'm ready!"
"I saw yuh letter, kid. Yer headed for the big leagues, huh? Alright, Baby! If that's what ya want, I won't hold anythin' back! Just don't come cryin' to me when ya end up roasted!" He could see why Ash was accompanied by such a fiery young lady. After all these years, the kid still had plenty of guts. In Surge's world, that meant there would be no mercy. The full shell-shocking fury of the Vermillion Gym would be rolled out upon the aspiring trainer. If he couldn't deal with that, then he just wasn't ready.
The two trainers, one a giant compared to the other, took their places upon the battlefield. The referee stood aside the battlefield, red and green flags raised. "There will be a three on three battle! Only the challenger can substitute their Pokemon. There will be no time limit… Begin!"
A bell was struck, prompting to throw his first Pokeball. "I know you'll recognize dis one… Goooo, Raichu!" The sphere was cast, tiny as a marble in his grip, before bursting open.
The second-stage electric type stood tall on the battlefield, looking cocky as ever. "Rai-Rai!"
"Alright, if that's the case… Let's have a real rematch! Pikachu, go!"
Pikachu hopped off of Ash's shoulder, eagerly making his way opposite of his evolved form. A smirk fell on his curved lips, sparks dancing from his cheeks. It was time to show them just how far he'd come. He wasn't just faster, now; he was more powerful, too.
"Look at dat! You think you're gonna win like that again, huh? Sorry to disappoint ya, but Raichu's a whole lot faster and stronger now! We're gonna clean yer clocks. Ain't dat right, Raichu?"
The larger rodent nodded, mimicking flexing his muscles. This time, the smaller rat was going down.
"Yeah, we'll see! Pikachu, use Agility!"
If their last match had been any indication, overwhelming Raichu with speed was the way to go. Pikachu acted instantly, breaking into a sprint that made him nearly invisible on the battlefield. He was already drawing circles around Raichu, making him quite the difficult target.
"Raichu! Give stop 'im in his tracks with Thunduhbolt!"
The fully evolved mouse unleashed a brutal golden flash of electricity, scorching the battlefield before it.
Pikachu, however, was nowhere to be found. If Surge thought he'd been fast before, he was really in for a shock. "You guys've picked up some real speed, there… But that won't do ya any good when you're too bruised up to move! Raichu, look out for 'im, and give 'im a Mega Kick!"
Raichu stood tall, round black eyes darting to catch a clear view of the yellow blur. Time and again, he appeared and vanished, leaving little more in his wake than small tracks and a bright glow. Soon enough, the darting opponent was coming Raichu's way.
Watching the zig-zagging rat, Raichu threw a foot forward. "Rai!" A mighty kick struck at the yellow blur… Only to pass through thin-air. A vein popped out in Raichu's forehead, frustration building in his futility.
Ash, meanwhile, was greeted with a modest wind, his black fringes thrown up from the aftermath of Raichu's kick. "That's some serious power… Surge wasn't kidding. We're gonna have to be careful."
"Ahhh…" Surge grunted, irritated with the duo already. "Use yer ears, Raichu! Just like in a warzone! Follow dat Pikachu's moves, and go in for a Body Slam!" The man roared, throwing a finger forward.
The visual search for Pikachu had been surrendered, Raichu's focus no longer held on the dashing streak of yellow. Instead, little pitter-patters of tiny feet, and the zips of Agility became Raichu's target. Pikachu had gone further away, now… No, wait, closer! But, he dodged to the right of Raichu next… And, then left! He could swear Pikachu was getting closer, now…
Bingo! Dashing feet were coming his way, right from the front. Sneering and brimming with confidence, Raichu lunged forward, intent on crushing the first stage mouse beneath his weight. Pikachu had stopped right before him - this match was as good as his!
Pikachu, meanwhile, was greeted with the sight of a leaping Raichu - he'd been caught. Not looking to become a Pika-pancake, he skidded to a halt with a paw dragging across the gym floor, pressing into the ground to spring him clear out of Raichu's range.
The larger, more rotund pokemon was greeted with an unfortunate collision with the ground, sliding across with an empty quota of successful hits. This was really getting irritating…
Unfortunately for Raichu, it was only going to get worse.
A smirk played at Ash's lips, his strategy going off without a hitch. "Now, time to fight back! Pikachu, Iron Tail!"
The yellow blur became even more difficult to spot, little more than a silver gleam striking Raichu clear across the face. The larger rodent stumbled backward, teetering before managing to catch his balance.
"Great job, now keep it up!" Ash grinned, punching the air.
"Pika…!" The tiny mouse roared, skidding to a silver-streaked halt after landing his first hit. Pushing hard off his feet, he launched back towards Raichu, hips turned and tail covered in a metallic glow.
Raichu had only just shook himself free of dizziness when a second steel swipe struck him in the forehead, knocking him on his back. The steel barrage continued, occasionally challenged by a failed attempt from Surge to strike back with a physical attack.
Pikachu had proven too fast, however; Raichu was certainly speedier than before, but even if he had the power and bulk to take Pikachu's attacks, there would be no helping him if he couldn't follow the smaller rodent.
Ash was leaning forward, fists closed tight. If they kept battling at this rate, they'd have the battle in the bag! "Alright, Pikachu! Let's wrap things up, with a full-power Electro Ball!"
The yellow blur made himself visible then, leaping high above the battlefield with his broad tail pointed towards the ceiling. Electricity quickly began to gather on his jagged tail, rumbling and crackling until the sphere had reached a phenomenal size, likely dwarfing even Raichu himself. The vibrations given off by Pikachu's remarkable speed had built the greatest Electro Ball he was able to muster, and a shriek accompanied the launch of the golden orb toward its target. "Chu… Pi!"
"…! Raichu! Give it a Thundahbolt!" The giant sputtered, sweat dripping down his brow over the sight of the phenomenal attack.
Pikachu's evolved counterpart did just that, unleashing a brilliant golden bolt towards the sphere. The two attacks met center-stage, each struggling and giving way to the other, hot flashes of electricity striking their surroundings indiscriminately. Soon, though, Thunderbolt gave way, and Raichu was overwhelmed. A booming explosion rattled the battlefield, leaving it covered in a curtain of smoke.
"Raichu!" The veteran shouted, flabbergasted. The evolved Pokemon lay belly-up, unconscious. In a flawless display of power and speed, Pikachu had emerged unchallenged as the victor.
It was like watching a falcon harass an eagle. A hit or miss battle, with most of the missing done by Raichu and the opposite for Pikachu. That being said, even Prinplup looked on in shock as the first leg of the battle swung decidedly in one trainer's favor.
"They weren't messing around." After the shock passed, Dawn giggled a bit. "Way to go, guys! Keep it up!" Likewise, Prinplup clanged his flippers together in good cheer.
"Will do, Dawn!" The trainer flashed a thumbs-up to the coordinator and her starter alike, turning back towards the battlefield. Raichu had been called back to his sphere, the tiny capsule placed back on Surge's belt. "Not bad, baby! Not bad at all. But ya luck's about to run out! Go, Electiviyah!"
The second sphere was tossed forward, releasing the hulking electric beast, dual red eyes staring down Pikachu, an eerie joker's grin fitted on its features. "Use Thundahpunch!" The Thunderbolt Pokemon lunged towards Pikachu, aiming to land a heated, electric-charged haymaker.
Still brimming with confidence, Ash threw caution to the wind as he called for his next attack. With this kind of momentum, there was no way they could lose! All they had to do was overpower Electivire, and one more Pokemon after! "Pikachu! Electro Ball, now!"
The mouse's features faltered, a confused look sent back towards Ash. He… Knew what was going to happen, right? Even in his hesitation, though, Pikachu's reluctance seemed lost on Ash.
In the end though, he supposed, Ash was the trainer, and he was expected to trust his judgment. Not to mention, there was a bulky electric type mere feet away from hitting him head-on. Raising his lightning-bolt tail to the sky once more, Pikachu quickly built up a giant, rumbling Electro Ball, raging with sparks and heat before swinging his body towards Electivire, unleashing the full wrath of the move.
The sphere struck Electivire dead-on, seemingly stopping the giant in its tracks. Smoke obscured the battlefield, leaving the results impossible to determine… At least for but a moment. A black and yellow blur shot out of the debris, launching a fierce right hook that sent Pikachu flying through the air, flung like a ragdoll.
"Ya shouldn'ta' done that, Baby! Electivire, another Thundahpunch!" The Gym Leader called, and his Pokemon didn't waste even a moment.
The brute slid across the field in little more than a second, catching up with Pikachu before rocking him with a vicious uppercut. Pikachu was sent flying towards the ceiling, bruised and hurting badly from the two successive hits. Residual electricity followed his arc, crackling before dissipating below the mouse.
Ash gaped, fists trembling and sweat dripping down his forehead. Stupid, stupid, stupid… How could he have been so stupid!? "Pikachu, Iron tail! Now!" Ash called out, attempting to salvage the situation.
Head still ringing and rattled from the successive punches, Pikachu did his best to correct his body, tail standing on end and glimmering with a steel coat. "Chuaaa….!"
"You guys're really gutsy! I like that! Electiviuh! Dynamicpunch!" Electivire sprung from the ground, zipping for Pikachu before delivering a brutal fist to Pikachu's stomach, brutally knocking the wind out of the mouse. Pikachu fell limp to the ground, laying belly-down on the battlefield.
"Pikachu!"
"Pikachu… Can you get up?" The teen hesitated, body tense and eyes pooled with copper.
Grunts of pain and effort left the mouse, weary arms attempting to push Pikachu's body to a standing position. While he was doing his best, however, the former military man was going to show no mercy.
"Let's finish dis! Electivire, use Thundah!"
Surge's voice boomed, prompting the Thunderbolt Pokemon to build electricity between his antennae, a gruff cry bellowing as a fierce lightning strike homed in on Pikachu, sending countless volts through his small body. His shrill shout could barely heard over the booming thunder, Pikachu's body giving way under the last of the blast. Iconic swirls appeared in the mouse's eyes, signaling his defeat.
She wasn't sure if it was perhaps her bias, but somehow that felt like… overkill. Mistakes had been made, but Dawn remained quiet, a bit blown back. Realizing that as stunned as she was, Ash was probably worse off, dealing with guilt over what had just happened. "It's still even! Don't get discouraged! No need to worry!"
Prinplup wondered if perhaps he should tell Dawn now might not be the time.
"…Right, thanks." He replied dryly, sounding less than convinced. The trainer made his way onto the battlefield, scooping Pikachu up into his arms. "Pikachu… I'm really sorry, buddy. I messed up bad back there." Making his way back to his box on the battlefield, he turned back towards Surge, cradling the mouse in one arm. Eyes pooled with chocolate, a Pokeball grabbed off of his belt. "…But we're not giving up! I choose you, Infernape!"
The simian made his appearance, none the wiser to the grim state of the battle. Still determined, Ash shouted his next command. "Infernape! Let's hit 'em hard, with Mach Punch!"
Infernape sprang right into action, aiming to pummel Electivire with a swift punch to the jaw. Surely, the nimble movements of the fire/fighting hybrid would make a difference.
"Lay 'im out with Thundahpunch!"
Unfortunately, Infernape found himself with an electrified fist slammed into his jaw, sending him stumbling back. To his credit, he endured the blow well enough, and the fighting resumed.
"Use Close Combat!" Ash shouted, his voice cracking.
"Ape!" The primate shrieked, springing towards the electric type. This match-up was quite reminiscent of the last major battle Infernape had been a part of - or, at least it would be, were the scales not heavily tipped out of his favor. One punch after another would be thrown at Electivire, aiming to pulverize it.
"Beat 'im down with Thunderpunch!"
"Vire!" The first punch struck through thin air, the target having ducked under the first blow with remarkable swiftness.
Infernape was met with a joker-esque grin, hardly having time to process before an electrified fist slammed into his face. "Infern…" He growled, canines bared. Punch after punch was lobbed then.
Blurred, spirited punches were met with electrified gauntlets, colliding in a storm of blows that were nigh impossible to follow with the naked human eye.
Infernape held his own, but every blow was met with a faster strike, gradually wearing down the spirited fighter. Ash, meanwhile, was losing confidence with every passing second. When things were looking grim, he decided to go for broke. "…You can do it, Infernape! Use Flare Blitz!"
"Infernape…" Normally steady and flighty legs buckled, pain coursing through the fire type. He wasn't sure what kind of monster Ash had brought him to fight, but he wasn't enjoying the results of this fight one bit. A whip of his head surrounded him in a brilliant blue flame, his entire body launching like a comet towards Electivire in a last-ditch assault.
"Finish it with Vital Throw!"
The burly electric type widened his stance, holding its gigantic hands outward. Infernape soon crashed into its body, pushing to overpower the guard.
As quickly as he'd landed, though, he found himself launched from his position, thrown brutally into the wall behind Surge. A smoldering crater housed the poor Pokemon, who'd been rendered unconscious.
A red beam of light enveloped Infernape, returning him to his Pokeball. Ash was silent, the bill of his cap covering his eyes. This was getting worse by the moment… How could this be happening?
"…Tyranitar, I choose you!"
The final Pokeball was cast, unleashing the Armor Pokemon. Sand spilled from the large pores on its body, shrouding the battlefield in a cloud of dust, Thanks to the rock type's Sand Stream ability. If there were any chance for Ash, this was it.
Capitalizing on the veiled arena, Ash took the initiative. "Use Dark Pulse!"
A flurry of dark rings fired out of the creature's mouth, shooting into the obscure clouds of dust. Electivire spotted the disturbing assault, shooting to the side in a mere moment's notice. The blasts did manage to graze it, however, leaving a faint burn along the side of its body.
Its eerie grin held true, the creature more than ready for its next order. And it came just as expected.
"Use Thundahpunch!"
Despite the wearing pain of the storm, Electivire lunged forward, striking the source of the pulse with a brutal, shocking punch.
The Armor pokemon was sent reeling, stunning electricity dancing along his armored skin that threatened to make him numb. He managed to catch his balance, prompting Ash to shout for a counter attack.
"Tyranitar, Earthquake!"
A furious roar bellowed, one of his legs harshly striking the ground below. A tremor shook the foundation of the gym itself, presumably hindering Electivire. Of course, Surge had other plans.
"Hit 'em hard first, with Dynamic Punch!"
Springing into action in nearly an instant, Electivire leapt above the battlefield, coming down with a brutal punch to the stomach, striking the grey, vulnerable core of the mountainside Pokemon.
Tyranitar coughed and hacked, skidding harshly across the gym floor towards Ash's side of the battlefield. He finally stopped, standing upright.
Ash tried to peer through the sand, desperately searching for a sign of his pokemon's status. "Tyranitar!" He swallowed, attempting to quell the air caught in his throat. "Please be alright, Tyranitar…"
Soon enough, the sand and dust had begun to disappear, revealing the Armor pokemon for all too see. Still standing upright, Tyranitar seemed to be in the fight… That was, until one saw the swirls in his eyes. Without any energy left, the pokemon fell, his loud body making the gym floor quake.
Looking upon the obvious results, the referee raised a flag. "All three of the challenger's Pokemon are unable to battle! Which means the Gym Leader, Lieutenant Surge is the victor!"
Surge's Pokemon was returned in a red flash of light, the capsule then pocketed by the giant. "I told ya, kid. You were askin' for a bruisin'! I gotta give ya credit, though, you've got some pretty tough Pokuhmon! Just make sure ya keep yer head on straight next time! Othahwise, there's no way yer gonna become a Pokemon Mastah!"
Likewise, Tyranitar disappeared in a flash as well. "…Sorry, Tyranitar." His gaze slowly turned up towards Surge, a half-hearted nod given to the leader. "…Yeah."
"Naw, don't look at me like that!" Second-hand embarrassment washed over the lieutenant, rather than guilt. Or, at least he preferred to think so. "Listen. It's tough not to get caught up when yer in the middle of a good fight, but this is war. Serious stuff. If you let your feelings get the better of ya in a moment like that, you're toast. Remembuh that."
Momentarily silent, the trainer nodded. "Yes, sir." Deflated and humiliated, that was all Ash could manage. "I better get them to the Pokemon Center." With that, he turned on a heel before heading for the exit, presumably expecting Dawn to follow.
Dawn had many questions and a few assumptions to work out, but that was only a secondary concern. One thing was for sure: Surge was right. Ash hadn't been himself during that match.
All the same, she and Prinplup hurriedly caught up with him, falling into step. She remained quiet, mental gears turning. What to do, what to do? He didn't need patronizing, empty words. But, she wasn't going to let him wallow.
For the majority of the walk over, Ash remained silent, hands occupied with holding Pikachu to his chest. His face was positively red, he was sure. To say he was embarrassed was an understatement. 'So much for getting a lot stronger,' he chided himself. He'd been out working hard to get tougher. Wiser. And, here he was, woefully defeated.
As said building came into sight and they neared its doors, Dawn took a breath. "You know, he's very strong." And, just because he and his team were strong did not mean Ash and his team were not. "I wonder how many can say they've beaten him once, much less twice." A twofold statement; praise and reminders.
"…Yeah." He agreed quietly. Surge was tough. Always had been. What he'd faced years ago was nothing compared to today. Then again… The worst of that match had been entirely his fault. "When we first got to Vermillion City all those years ago, the whole center was full of Pokemon beaten by him. Pikachu was scared stiff to face him the first time… That match left him in the hospital." Unfortunately, history sometimes repeats itself. Surprisingly, though, Ash had opened up that much. "That was the time when we thought about evolving him with the Thunderstone."
Dawn's eyes widened, hair whipping around her as she looked over her shoulder to the gym. "...You know, I remember that, now! You said something about Vermilion City after you first battled Surge and his Raichu, too." That gym leader put all those pokemon in the hospital. He'd put Pikachu in the hospital. Her momentary shock wore off when Ash doubted the match. While she didn't doubt the capability of any of the battling party, they had to remember what they were doing was not the norm—it was exemplary. Yet… if he had done it before, he could do it again. "… that was exceptional." He was gaining, after all, in knowledge, skill, prowess.
"It was? What about it?" He deadpanned, looking to the bluenette in disbelief. He'd gotten pummeled. What was so great about it? In his grief, it seemed as if Ash had completely forgotten about the first third of the match.
"Well, Pikachu kind of outgunned and outran Raichu, Ash." She was trying to be gentle. He didn't need her to go steamrolling him at the moment. "Actually, what messed you up was that you got kind of cocky or something? There was a shift. You seemed off." Then again, if she was going to be completely honest… "Actually, you probably went into that match too excited. Your pokemon probably fed off that, too."
She blamed herself a little, too. After all, she'd been right there egging him on.
"Yeah… I guess he did." He nodded along, eyes widening in realization. "I… Kinda did. Pikachu was doing so great, I thought there was no way I could lose. I totally forgot about Motor Drive. Some 'great trainer' I was." All of that polishing of his skills and critical thinking… And for what? A novice mistake like that? He was supposed to be done with being too cocky. So much for that.
He nodded absently to her recognition of their mistake. She probably had a point, but that hadn't excused it in his mind.
Now, to try and cheer him up a little. "No need to worry, though!" she encouraged, patting his back. "We're gonna make sure everyone gets some TLC! After we get settled into the center, I'm gonna run and get some food. Whatever you guys want!" Hopefully, that'd give him some time to decompress and for her to solidify her routine a little more in her head.
Dawn's suggestion, though, did leave a weak smile on his lips. "Thanks, Dawn… That'd be pretty cool." At the very least, he was totally lucky to have such a great traveling companion. Whether he said it or not, Dawn always knew the right thing to say.
"We'll just have to make sure you eat your wheaties next time," Dawn joked. She was glad he was coming out of the funk a little. Now, to make sure everyone really did get to feeling better.
"Very funny," he replied with a tinge of sarcasm, though it was clear he was trying his best to be cheerful. A bruised ego wasn't easy to nurse.
"Nurse Joy!" Dawn called out as they approached the counter.
"Hm…? Oh, how can I—wait, have you been here before?" she asked, pointing towards Ash and Pikachu. "Nevermind, hold on… I'll get things ready for your Pikachu."
"Yeah, you sure did." Ash nodded, looking down to the mouse in his arms. His eyes had begun to stir, the tiny body clinging to Ash's jacket. Multiple bruises and burns decorated his fur; it was a good thing Ash knew he was so durable. He'd make it… Still, that beating had been pretty brutal. If he hadn't been so dumb, this wouldn't have happened…
The bluenette put a hand to the middle of Ash's back. She was here for him, all the way.
Once more, he was brought out of his self-deprecating thoughts when a familiar hand lay upon his back. Dark hues turned to the bluenette, a small smile forcing its way onto his lips. "…Thanks, Dawn."
"You're welcome." Yeah. Slow but steady, it'd be okay.
After the nurse got everything ready, she wheeled out a little stretcher and a case for five other pokeballs resting on it. "Alright, let's get him checked out. I'm going to assume the rest of your team looks similar?"
"The ones who battled, yeah." He gently placed Pikachu down on the stretcher, along with two more Pokeballs that fit into the grooves on the tray, "Sorry, buddy…" After he'd done what he needed to, he let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping.
"Come on. Let's get settled in… Oh, wait! We'd need a room first, wouldn't we…?" the coordinator trailed off.
"A room? You two'll be staying the night, then?" Joy's voice followed, nearly causing Dawn to jump out of her boots. It seemed the nurse hadn't gone too far yet, after all.
""Oh… Yeah! A room for the night, please." That was, if they managed to beat Surge tomorrow. If not… Well, they could drop by again.
""One night it is!" Entering that information in the computer, she then held out her hand. "Someone's pokedex, please~"
"Here." Dawn offered, given Ash's reclusive mood at the moment. She handed hers over.
After running Dawn's pokedex, she passed back the pokedex and a set of keys. "You two have nice night, okay?"
"Thanks!" With that, she'd look at the number on the keys before grinning at the sullen boy. "Let's get going, then!" As quick as she'd gotten chipper, though, Dawn's face fell. "...Right, we still have to wait for your Pokémon." It probably wasn't the best time to leave Ash alone, though… Dwelling in his thoughts probably wouldn't end well for him.
"You go ahead." Ash finally spoke, trudging over to the lounge of the center, taking a seat on one of the small sofas. "I'll just stay here and wait for Pikachu and the others… I owe it to him, anyway."
"If you're sure… No need to worry, though! I'm sure that you're pretty hungry after all that, right?"
Ash averted his eyes, declining to answer… A rather loud rumble from below his shirt, though, answered Dawn.
Resisting a giggle, Dawn gave a light wave, turning towards the front door. "Right. We won't be long!"
"Prinplup..." The water type trailed off, equally hesitant to leave the trainer alone. Noticing that he was falling far behind, though, he simply waved before waddling along. "Lup!"
A sigh left the trainer; one that was probably a bit too dramatic. His arms folded behind his head. 'That was embarrassing… I thought I left this kind of mess back in the Hoenn region,' he chided mentally, flashes of the long-gone journey crossing his mind. Pushing his Pokémon into situations they couldn't win… Letting feelings cloud his judgment in critical moments… That wasn't the kind of trainer he was, was it?
Soon enough, he was spared from disparaging himself further.
"Ash? Your Pokémon are fighting fit!"
His head had turned towards the desk before the words even finished leaving Joy's mouth. Approaching the nurse, his tray of pokeballs, and most notably of all, Pikachu, he put on a smile. "Thanks a lot, Nurse Joy." The pokeballs were quickly swiped up, placed upon his belt. Pikachu, however…
"Pikapi." A small smile was upon the rodent's lips, subdued by bitter defeat. All the same, he was happy to be feeling better, and most importantly, back with his trainer!
The dullness in Ash's eyes didn't go unnoticed, though. "...Pikapi." His head tilted.
"It's great to see you, Pikachu… Feeling better?" He held an arm out, offering the mouse an easy ride up.
"Pika, Pika!" He asserted, trying to dispel his trainer's worries. Of course, he didn't deny the offer, quickly scaling his trainer's arm before settling on his shoulder. "Pika, Pikachu!"
Ash had nothing to say in return. Simply fiddling with the brim of his cap, he trudged to the nearest seat inside the center, sinking into the cushion without any attempt at eye contact.
"Pika! Pikachu?" A nudge of his trainer's shoulder didn't seem to help. Was he really that upset about losing? Odd… This was usually about the time where he'd nearly throw Pikachu off his jacket by bouncing up and declaring his next victory.
"Hmm…" Tried as he may, it was hard to avoid eye contact with the mouse for long. "Pikachu…" The mouse's round, beady eyes looked forgiving as ever. This time, though, that wasn't necessarily enough.
"Pika! Pikachu!" His trainer looked so distant… "C'mon, snap out of it!" At least, that was what he wanted Ash to hear… Maybe, if he put his aura to use, he'd be able to hear… But, that didn't seem likely right now.
Nurse Joy could be heard in the background, assisting another trainer whose Pokémon needed help… The use of the center was the last thing he wanted on his mind, right now. And, he could swear people were staring at them after his little scene… Ash was beginning to feel pretty cramped in this little center.
"...Man, I gotta get some air! C'mon, Pikachu." Oblivious that his outburst might have brought on even more attention, he slung his backpack over his shoulder, shuffling out of the small hospital as quickly as he could manage.
Toting the two take out bags while Prinlup precariously carried the water bottles, Dawn made what she hoped was a triumphant return. Hopefully some food would take Ash's mind off his problems for a minute! Looking around the Pokemon Center's lounge, Dawn failed to spot her companion.
Growing concerned - he'd been in a bad mood when she'd left, after all - the girl half-ran up to the counter. Maybe he was just locked up in their room, brewing in his own malaise. "Nurse Joy, I registered for a room earlier, but my traveling partner's got the key. I don't know where he is, so -"
"Oh! I remember you. The boy with the red jacket, right?"
"Yeah! That's him! Have you seen him?"
"He went outside, last I saw. I hope he didn't go too far. It looks like you've got dinner ready for him." The nurse gave Dawn a sympathetic look.
Nodding, Dawn supposed she and Prinlup should go look for Ash. "Thanks." With that, the two blue Sinnoh natives exited the Pokemon Center.
The sun had already begun to set over the port city's horizon, casting a vibrant orange glow upon the city, shadows drawing longer beyond the orb's influence. A bench lay not far from the Pokémon Center, close enough to the docks to be basked in the faint, slightly bitter smell of sea water.
Ash sat upon the small structure, letting out a huff. Even still, he hadn't felt up to talking. Shame kept his mouth shut, but one particular companion wasn't happy with his mood one bit.
"Pika! Pikachu!" The rodent hopped into his lap, waving his arm in yet another attempt to earn his trainer's attention. He knew the loss was bad, but that was no reason to leave his trainer moping like this!
"Pikachu… I'm sorry." He opened his mouth to speak, finally swallowing his pride. His eyes, however, were still obscured by the long red bill of his cap.
"Pikapi…?" Pikachu's head tilted. Did he really feel that guilty? It wasn't really the first time they'd had a bad loss, or a failed strategy.
"I didn't try to listen to you during that battle… We're supposed to work together as a team, and I got excited and forgot about that… I blew it for you, and the other pokemon, too. I hope you can forgive me for that."
"Pikapi, Pikachu!" "Of course I do!" He declared, resting a paw on Ash's chest, forcing his trainer to make eye contact from under his cap. It was true, Ash did mess up… He hadn't recalled Ash even acknowledging Pikachu's own skepticism in that moment. But, he knew Ash. Better than anyone, probably. He was hotheaded. Prone to getting excited, especially when a battle was going his way. Even all of their training couldn't remove that completely… Nor did Pikachu expect it to. "What matters is that you know, now!" Pikachu insisted, what passed as brows furrowing on his round black orbs. "We all make mistakes, sometimes... That includes you. But, we'll do better next time! All that matters now is you feeling better."
Various syllables of the mouse's name came out one after the other, not passing as understandable English to most who would hear him. The gist of the words weren't lost on Ash, though, Tears began to sting at his eyes, a quivered lip holding them back from spilling. "Pikachu…. Aw, buddy, you're the best!"
The trainer's best friend was pulled into a rather tight hug, able to fit snugly into Ash's chest, rather than his shoulder, thanks to the trainer's recent growth spurt. Though, he'd also grown stronger, forcing Pikachu to squirm a little in his hold… Nonetheless, he returned the embrace, light sparks dancing from his cheeks. Too gentle to hurt someone as acquainted with bolts as Ash, they were meant only as an expression of support. Understanding. Everything the duo had grown to share.
Feeling Pikachu constrict in his grip, Ash was quick to relax, reaching to wipe away tears with a gloved hand. "It… Won't happen again, alright? We'll keep working harder, together! As a team, again, this time… And, we'll do what both of us think is right! That way… No one'll beat us. And, even if they do, we'll be able to say that we gave it our all!"
As adamant as he was, though, tears continued to stain his z-marked cheeks.
A set of gentle touches gripped Ash's shoulders. One was warm and soft and the other was loose and feathery. As Ash looked over his shoulders in shock, he saw the soft smile upon the face of his traveling companion and what looked to be a barely composed Prinlup on the other side.
"That's right! And, me and Prinplup are gonna be there to support you and Pikachu all the way!" Dawn assured, only taking her hand off Ash's shoulder to cross to the front of the bench and sit down beside him. Prinlup settled on sitting on Ash's other side, taking up the rest of the bench space. "That's the two brave boys I've always known! There's no need to worry when you two do your best!"
Prinlup was freely crying himself at this point. He'd been concerned for his friends during the match and all the emotional heaviness of the moment was getting to him. "Priiii!" he cried, praising his companions and encouraging them in his own way. "Prinplup Prinplup!" Ash and Pikachu… "Plup!" He'd always looked up to them. He believed in them.
"Aw, guys… Pikachu…" A sniffle followed, the same gloved hand reaching to wipe his eyes again. Try as he may to seem tough and together, he was truly touched by those who surrounded him. Dawn and Prinplup, who were always eager to back him up and be at his side… And Pikachu, his very best friend from day one, who smiled upon the scene. Maybe this was just the push Ash needed to return his demeanor to normal.
"You're the best…" Only a smile could be seen below the shade of his bright red cap. But, that was enough for everyone. "You're right… We'll just work even harder to fight as a team, and the sky's the limit!"
"...Not even that! We'll shoot up right into space, and become Pokemon Masters for real, this time!" Ash cheered, pumping a fist in the air to follow his… Less-than-poetic commentary.
"Pi-Pikachu!" Ash was then mirrored by his number-one companion, who raised his paw up in the same spirit.
As soon as the two regained their vigor, though, their noses simultaneously seemed to be in working order. Sniffing left and right, the duo both looked out for the source of what smelled like savory treats.
"Hey, that's right! You got food, right? I forgot all about that!" Ash beamed, drying eyes already shining again.
Dawn couldn't help but let out a giggle. "Good thing I was the one who went ahead and got it, right? I told you it'd get you back in the right mood… Besides, I bet you both are getting pretty hungry right about now, right?"
"Well, I…"
Two rather loud rumbles interrupted, coming from none other than the duo in the center. Each of their faces reddened, a duo of whistles doing a very poor job at feigning innocence.
"Don't think I couldn't figure you guys out," Dawn quipped, winking at her two friends. "C'mon! Let's head inside so we can get you guys filled up and full of energy for tomorrow!"
After microwaving the take out in the Pokémon Center's lobby, the group was comfortably seated in their room, nibbling on wontons and rice. Rosa initially disliked the fried rice due to the horrific mess of a blend that it was; carrots, peas, and rice together!; but Ash was able to win her over by letting her try one at a time, and convincing her it all tasted better together.
Finishing slurping up a noodle, Dawn seemed to jolt in memory. "Oh yeah! I saw it when I was looking for you guys, but I didn't get a chance to read it until I went to go get our food warm again! There's going to be a contest here in Vermillion the day after tomorrow! When do you wanna battle Surge again? 'Cause, if we can, I wanna stay here for the contest."
Naturally a messy eater, Ash spoke around dumpling he was chewing. "Uh… I guess the day after that, then? I know I wanna train tomorrow, so we can just both practice and stuff." He turned to Rosa. "Besides, I think someone would wanna stay to see the show."
Eyes almost glittering, the puppy bolted up from her eating spot to bounce up and down beside Dawn. ~Can I enter it?!~
The coordinator tilted her head to and fro. "I've got to see if I can start planning a routine for you. Two days is too short a notice if you want to win… Plus, this a double contest. I don't know who aside from Prinplup you get along with. I'll definitely start planning for you, I promise."
The puppy's face drooped a bit, but then she looked up with those sad eyes. ~Okay… What if I Big Bro and I practice together? You should be able to use us together easy, right…?~
Swayed by Rosa's sweet little eyes, Dawn nearly melted. "Aw… Who can say not that? I've definitely got plans for you. I just need to test them out."
~Yay!~ Rosa cried, bouncing back over to her meal.
"What plans ya got in mind, Dawn?" Ash inquired, himself confused. She never said anything to him.
The bluenette looked over to her starter and smirked. "That's a secret."
"What?! Dawn, that's not fair!"
"You kept your Cerulean team a secret from me!"
"You found out in like, what, ten minutes?! Twenty maybe if we count the walk over!"
"It's a surprise! You'll like it, and you'll be busy until then so just let me plan in peace! I won't take Rosa away from your gym battles, so it's fine, right?!"
Pouting but finding no reason to argue further, Ash huffed and continued eating his meal.
"Hey, don't grump on me," Dawn chided. She reached into the bottom of the togo bag, a mysterious box in hand. "If you do… then I guess I'll just let Pikachu eat this all by himself."
Despite having just finished his meal, Ash looked eagerly over, ear seeming to twitch. He was listening…
"Tada!" Donuts! Jelly filled ones with coconut shaving. "They looked like rice balls, so I figured it'd be cute!"
"Aw, man, gimme!" Ash begged, leaning over to snag one from Dawn. "Mm! Thanks!"
"You're welcome."
"No… Seriously." He looked around the room. "I wanna thank all of you. We had a setback today, but we're that much closer to make our dreams a reality." The trainer looked intently at Dawn. "I'm gonna need your help to keep my attitude in check sometimes, like how I did with you and Ember. Can I keep counting on you?"
Where had this self-aware side of him come from? She supposed he'd always been that way for as long as she knew him, but he'd matured enough to know he needed to have contingency plans if he couldn't control his own emotions. "Right." He trusted her so much. She wouldn't let him down.
"Good, 'cause I'll still need you to cheer when I whoop Surge's butt a couple days from now."
Pikachu joined in with his trainer mirthfully, doing a little jig of celebration. Soon, everyone began to laugh as Rosa and Prinplup joined in. The group's evening felt more peaceful and the Pokémon Center was warm and inviting. The day might not have gone well, but for our heroes, tomorrow was full of potential.
