Alright, we're back with another chapter! Unfortunately, though, we have an announcement. Due to real life constraints of the writers at this point in time, we're going to have to slow down a little, and post a chapter every two weeks, rather than every Tuesday. Until further notice, we'll continue this pattern to stay ahead, but that doesn't mean we're thinking of giving up. Please bear with us during this busy time, and continue to give feedback if you don't mind! We're always happy to hear what you think of the story.
A visit to the organic cafe and a trip to the Pokémon Center later, and the group was back on the road. Particularly, they were traveling on a rock-rimmed dirt road. Nostalgia had struck Ash and Dawn happily followed where he lead.
Right now, though, she was busy bickering with Empoleon.
"No! You're too big! You'll have to go in the Pokéball if you're tired! I can't carry you!" she reasoned.
Ash and Pikachu were getting tired of it at this point. "So much for a quick start towards Fuschia City. Dawn, you and Empoleon are giving me a royal headache." Get it? Empoleon, emperor, royal? He thought it was clever, enough.
"Pikachu…" the mouse hummed in agreement.
Empoleon huffed, reaching out for her once again as he squawked. "Empo Poleon!" Finally, Empoleon managed to get his flippers around Dawn, beginning to pick her up…
Unfortunately, since Empoleon hadn't been able to express that he wanted to carry her, not the other way around, the balancing act of flippers carrying human went all wrong. As Dawn tumbled back out of his grip, she cried out.
"No, no, no, no!"
A screech later and a distinct cracking noise followed Dawn landing on her butt.
Empoleon panicked, worried he'd actually hurt his trainer. He hovered by Dawn, too caught up in his fretting to notice the cracking sound was repeating.
"What was that?!" Ash blurted, turning around to Dawn. However, he noticed the noise continued. Anyway, it was way too loud to have been Dawn the first time… He hoped. "Hey, let's check it out." Unfortunately, curiosity beat out concern. Ash headed towards the source of the noise before Dawn was even back on her feet.
"Hey!" Dawn called out. "Where are you going?!"
Empoleon, on the other hand, was ever loyal and helped his trainer up, still feeling a little guilty as he waddled after her in pursuit of Ash and Pikachu.
The origin of the cracking sounds turned out to be shrouded in dust and debris. As the latest bout of clouding dirt faded away, it revealed a familiar form hovering over a shattered stone.
"It's a Primeape! It must've broke that rock," Ash deduced. He didn't think much of it until he saw the trainer accompanying it: a tall, muscular man with an abnormally large chin.
"Great shot, Primeape! You turned dat boulder into a couple o' pebbles! At this rate, you'll be ready for da next P1 in no time!" He grinned, lavishing the Pig Monkey with praise until his eyes turned upon the boy who'd shouted the Pokémon's identity. "Well, I'll be! Is dat who I think it is?"
It was only then that Ash himself made the connection. "Hey, I know you! You're Anthony! And that must mean…" Dark pools turned down toward the fury-packed fighting type, quickly collecting tears above a quivering lip. "…Primeape! Is that really you!?"
The trainer wasted no time in sprinting over, lunging at the Pokémon to pull it into some combination of a hug and a Tackle attack. "Aw man, I missed you! It's me, remember? Your old trainer, Ash! Ahah, this is great!" He couldn't stop himself from blabbering on, overcome with joy.
The fighting type had been quiet, staring unbelieving at Ash until the boy ran at him. Two glove-like hands flew wide open, ready to embrace Ash. And, given that he was a fighting type, it probably did count as a hug. Sort of. If you ignored the headlock and scissor hold Primeape put Ash in once the two were on the ground thanks to Ash's tackle-hug.
On his dive in, Ash should have expected some sort of pain out of his actions. Unfortunately, he hadn't, and the resulting embrace left him floored. Letting out a whine of pain, he did his best to regain his bearings. "Ow…"
After that, the cream furred ape snatched off Ash's hat and was off, running around in a circle near his felled trainer. "Prime, prime, prime, prime~!"
This was the scene Dawn walked onto. She paused, tilting her head and raising a brow. She realized Pikachu hadn't attacked, which meant the situation couldn't be dangerous, at the very least.
"I'm guessing you're friends, since he isn't swinging yet, huh?" Over the hat, naturally.
Pikachu had already abandoned ship, and Primeape was dancing about with Ash's prized cap atop his head.
"Ergh… Y-yeah… Definitely friends…!"
"I'm guessin' yer a friend of Ash's, here." The older man addressed Dawn, approaching the fallen trainer and his enthralled companion. "This Primeape belongs to him! I just took 'im in for training… What was it, a couple o' years ago? Looks like Ash missed 'im quite a bit." He smiled upon the scene. "And, the feelin's clearly mutual."
"I am! My name's Dawn, who're you?" she inquired. "That sounds like him." While he loved spending time with his Pokémon- that was deathly obvious- at the end of the day, the boy would always do what was best for them in the end.
"I'm Anthony! I train fighting type Pokémon, and enter 'em in fighting competitions! We met back when he was a pint-sized rookie." Getting a good look at him now, Ash really had grown. It was amazing how quickly time flew by.
Meanwhile, Primeape had settled down a little bit, checking over Ash. "Ape?" he checked, plopping the cap back on his trainer's head as a peace offering of sorts.
"Thanks, Primeape." Ash finally pulled himself up, adjusting his cap back onto his head. "Still full of energy as ever, huh? It's great to see you're doing well!" After Ash had adjusted himself, Pikachu had come over as well to greet the Pig Monkey Pokémon.
Chattering in agreement and asking as many rhetorical questions as Ash was, Primeape got to catch up rather quickly. He noted Pikachu's impressive growth, confessing in his native tongue whenever he wasn't training or watching action flicks with Anthony, he'd tried to keep up to date with the leagues since he figured that's where Ash was.
Pikachu rubbed the back of his head with his stubby paw, thanking Primeape for the kind words. Judging by the rubble lying about, the fighting type had grown quite powerful as well! He would guarantee that Ash would be happy for that. Of course, he couldn't help but wonder if Primeape actually got to see them battle!
"Well, no sense in gettin' caught up all the way out here! Why don't you guys come back over to my place? It'll be a lot less dusty that way!" Anthony offered, gesturing a thumb towards it.
All for relocating, Dawn clapped her hands together. "Oh, that sounds great!"
"Alright, let's get going then!" Ash pumped a fist in the air, obviously in agreement.
A short walk down the dry road and the group arrived at Anthony's house. Outside of it, a young red haired woman aired out floor mats. She noticed the group quickly.
"Dad, who's that?" she asked before the memory hit her. She left the poor Hitmontop that had been helping her to juggle the assortment by itself. "It's Ash! Nice to see you again!" she greeted.
"He, Rebecca!" Ash flashed a smile at the young woman. She'd certainly grown a lot. "It's good to see you too."
She paused upon looking at Dawn, trying and failing to figure out who the other girl was. "And, um…"
"Dawn," the coordinator provided."
"Right, okay! Dawn," she parroted. "Oh, are you guys here to watch the Grand Prix? Me an' Dad are entering since he did all his fatherly duties this year." She looked rather proud upon proclaiming that.
"The Grand Prix is back?! That's awesome!" Ash raised his fists, eyes glimmering with nostalgia.
Dawn shot Ash a confused look. Fatherly duties? However, she felt comfortable voicing at least one question. "What's a Grand Prix?"
Ash hesitated. "Long story," he summarized, an unspoken assurance that he would explain later. "It's the P1 Grand Prix, a tournament where a bunch of fighting type Pokémon can compete to become a Champion. Kinda like boxing." A smug grin crossed Ash's face. "I entered the tournament with Primeape back in the day." Numerous things had changed since then, and in the case of the relationship between Rebecca and Anthony, they were for the better.
Realizing that he hadn't clarified why he and Dawn were actually in the area, Ash spoke up once more. "We're actually just headed through on our way to Fuschia City. I'm challenging gyms again to get ready for this year's Indigo League!"
"The Indigo League," Rebecca echoed. "My, that reminds me of the first time you entered. Primeape threw a little tantrum because he wanted to watch it so badly."
The Pig Monkey Pokémon's fur bristled and a look of embarrassment spread on his face. He let out a loud squeal, clearly wishing Rebecca would find a different topic.
"Aw, he did, huh?" A chuckle left Ash, but he'd had his share of humble pie as of late, so he wouldn't make Primeape eat any, too. "That one was fun, but I've had better ones now."
"I wish we'd known earlier. Entering a tournament like this would have been good practice," Dawn suggested. She looked over at Hitmontop in the distance.
"Aw, man, you're right. Rosa could use the experience now that I think about it!" On that note, Ash reached for his belt and released the Riolu. She noted the strangers and, while not fleeing entirely, did cling to Ash's pants leg. "We've been training really hard, haven't we?" he asked her.
"Rio," she barked.
Anthony grinned. "Actually, it's not too late. I can make a call tonight and get you both entered as long as you've got a Pokémon that can punch or kick."
"Would you really both enter?" Rebecca inquired. She smirked, then. "I hope you'll be good competition."
Noting the playfully challenging tone in Rebecca's voice, Dawn supposed she should release her own pick for this competition. "Buneary, spotlight!"
"Neary!" the rabbit greeted, landing delicately on one foot when she materialized.
"Oh, she's so cute!" Rebecca gushed. "I've never seen a Pokémon like this before!"
"Well, she and I are from the Sinnoh region! I think your Hitmontop's really cool, by the way."
Said Pokémon wandered over upon hearing his name. From that point on, the girls and their Pokémon were busy getting to know one another.
Meanwhile, Primeape had grown curious about Rosa. She was certainly new! He held out a hand, attempting to befriend her. "Prime, Prime-Prime!"
"Ri-Riolu!" The Emanation Pokémon held her hand out, shaking with the larger fighting type.
"Hehe, he's tryna make nice with the li'l cutie. Don't go thinkin' I'll go easy on you or the girl because ya've got cute 'mons, though," Anthony chimed in.
The girls returned from their side conversation, clearly having bonded just that quickly.
"Hehe, I can't wait! You two are gonna be tons of fun, I know it!" Rebecca chimed.
After a brief night's rest, the P1 Grand Prix tournament had arrived.
The opening rounds were fierce.
Rebecca and Hitmontop had to face off against a Hitmonchan schooled in the Saffron martial arts style. Given how common the school was, all it took was Rebecca remembering a few lessons from her father and exploiting the natural strengths her Hitmontop offered to overcome the wide reach of the Hitmonchan. The match ended with a decisive upside down roundhouse to Hitmonchan's chest.
Ash and Rosa were next, taking on a Magmar! Though the creature's furious fists were intimidating, Rosa found it all too easy to outspeed him. She was suddenly very glad she'd always trained with Pikachu when she was younger. The mouse's lightning fast reflexes had punished her then, but were now allowing her bring the pain to this Magmar. Rosa managed to trip and push Magmar out of the ring with a Force Palm, winning through skill… And, a bit of exploitation of technicality.
Dawn and Buneary went after them. Their opponent was a fleet winged Ledian. Buneary simply couldn't keep up, but the growing penchant she'd had for dealing out pain was making itself known. After being beaten around by her fast fleeing opponent, Buneary managed to catch him in a scissor hold after Bouncing down on him. After that, it was all over with. She had the Ledian right where she wanted him.
Last but not least for the opening rounds was Anthony against a trainer and his Ursaring. The two had traveled all the way from Johto for the event! Anthony wasn't going to complain. Appreciation for fighting types was dwindling. He would accept any popularity or patrons that felt like coming to the Grand Prix.
However, unfortunately for the bulky bear, all it took was one good punch from Primeape to knock it smooth out. Unfortunately, the poor stranger mistakenly believed this to be a League-style battle. He wasn't ready for Primeape's punishing punches.
Thankfully, there was a short intermission.
"I can't believe all four of us made it!" Rebecca cheered.
Anthony chuckled. "Don't ya remember what they told us last night, girly? Ash an' Dawn are from the big leagues. Li'l missy here almost won her home region's Grand Festival and Mister Master there came in fourth in Sinnoh. I hear them fellas are 'bout as tough as their winters!"
Rebecca furrowed their brows. "Isn't that a little unfair then?"
"Not at all! People'll take this seriously again. Eight competitors annually? What a joke! I miss the good ole days… People linin' up to compete! We once almost had to have a pre-entry tournament in Pewter! The glory days didn't last long enough," Anthony reminisced.
"That explains why there's so few people," Dawn mused. "We were only able to get in because there were originally going to just be six people, Anthony?"
"Yeah. I'm hopin' if you two give us a good challenge, folks will wanna get involved. Rebecca here and I bring in most of the viewers, these days," he admitted.
"Then, that decides it," Ash piped up. "No holding back, guys. We've gotta give 'em what they came here for: a good fight!"
Anthony let out a coo of a laugh as next round's scoreboard came up. "Hoo-hoo! I hope ya mean that, boy-o, because you and Dawn are up next!"
"Now, here it is folks, fresh blood and a returning P1 Champion! Let's hope they give us a semi-final match worth talking about!" the announcer narrated, egging the crowd on and trying to rouse Ash and Dawn's already inflamed fighting spirits.
Buneary rested on tense legs within the ring, fists raised and ears coiled in eager anticipation to tear into her friendly rival. Rosa, on the other hand, remained loose and balanced, ready to dart or dodge at the slightest provocation.
As soon as the bell rang, Buneary rocketed forward, a fist drawn back in preparation to deliver a swift Dizzy Punch.
"Attagirl, Buneary!" Dawn cheered.
"Don't dodge yet! Use Force Palm!" Ash coached. The passive training style of Grand Prix tournaments didn't sit quite well with him as a League trainer, but he could work with it.
The two attacks met in a flurry of limb movement. While Rosa was limited by only using her two forepaws, Buneary could use both of those as well as her ears. As such, though her first Dizzy Punch was blocked by Rosa's Force Palm, a second from a coil ear managed to send the Riolu skidding back.
Buneary shook her paw, nerves stinging from the blast of aura from the Force Palm. She grinned. This time, she wasn't going to settle for a tie. Rosa would either knock her out or get knocked out.
Rosa, encouraged by Buneary's eagerness to brawl, darted forward again, trying to keep light on her feet. When Buneary went to guard her vulnerable stomach, Rosa darted to the side, jabbing the rabbit's ribcage with another Force Palm. Previously, the massive difference in experience had cut out most of the bite of the super effective nature of these attacks. Now, Buneary was starting to feel it.
"Can't keep close this time!" Dawn warned. "Try a Jump Kick!"
Nimbly shifting her weight from one leg to another, the rabbit teetered, getting ready to launch herself. "Neary!" With that, she went flying.
"Wrong move!" Ash bragged. Dawn wasn't the only one familiar with old opponents! "Rosa, Detect!"
Eyes lighting up a brilliant blue, Rosa's fighting instincts reached their limit. With her aura sensing Buneary's attentions, the Riolu was able to lunge out of the way just in time to allow Buneary no adjustment in direction.
Landing in a heap, Buneary was momentarily dazed.
"No holding back, remember! Try an Aura Sphere!" Ash prompted.
With her opponent just coming to, Rosa prepared her shot before swinging it forward like how Ash threw his Pokéballs.
When Buneary looked up, it was too late. "Neary!"
"Oh, and we're off to a strong start. This is why you don't bring a normal type to these things, folks," the announcer explained. "These two little powerhouses aren't holding anything!"
Dawn winced. This was her fault; she should be gambling like that so early in the game when Buneary could use more accurate moves. However, the time for decisive action was now! "Bounce!"
Eager to get out of easy reach again, Buneary slammed down her powerful little legs, sending herself soaring into the air.
Try as Rosa might to find a place on the ring where Buneary could not follow, it just wasn't happening. Buneary was too used to this move; she could change direction better than most sky divers. So, with a heavy elbow to the Riolu's back, Buneary executed her Bounce attack…
Only for Rosa to flip the positioning with a quick Reversal. Unlike the duo's other opponents, Rosa nor Buneary could trick the other with their small size and cute appearance. It was every girl for herself.
Dawn noticed the fatigue in Buneary's face, but Johanna hadn't raised a quitter. "C'mon! She's sitting on your arms, but your ears are open! Dizzy Punch!"
Buneary did as told, striking directly into Rosa's chin. The pup backed off, teeth clacking. Getting up, Buneary went forward for another blow, this time with her fists.
"Use Detect!" Ash yelled out.
For a while, this worked. Buneary would go for a hit and Rosa would dodge with the help of her aura abilities. However, Detect could only work for so long. And, with the ropes nearing her back, the little Riolu would need a new plan soon.
"Buneary's looking dogged, but she just doesn't give up! Riolu's getting backed into a corner, but it's still a normal type against a fighting type, folks! Let's see what happens next!" the commentator bellowed.
The crowd cheered enthusiastically, completely absorbed in the match. There was nothing like watching a spirited underdog fighting and this match proved no exception.
Back against the ring, Rosa realized she was going to have to counter Buneary again. Once more, as she used Dizzy Punch, Rosa met it with a Force Palm. At first, it seemed as if they were just barely keeping up with each other. Then, Buneary began to favor one paw, then she switched to just ears before she backed off.
Electricity danced off the rabbit's limbs. They'd been neutralized.
Rosa sighed with relief. While she was catching up to Buneary, her elder was still stronger than her physically. Still, that determined look Buneary was giving her! Rosa had to end this properly. She began ready an Aura Sphere as Buneary backed up. As Rosa launched it, Buneary prepared an Ice Beam. For a few moments, the Ice Beam held off the Aura Sphere… Then the two exploded.
Through the dust, Rosa lunged forward, using a Force Palm to knock Buneary out.
"Good job, Buneary," Dawn praised. She wasn't upset that they'd lost, but now she knew a new item on their training agenda: properly compensating for going against a fighting type. With that, she returned the rabbit. The coordinator looked towards Ash and flashed him and Rosa a thumbs up. "That was incredible!"
"Awesome, Rosa!" Ash praised, throwing a fist in the air. Rosa also cried out before running over to Ash's side of the ring, leaping off of it into a waiting hug in his arms.
"That's the match folks! Buneary did her best, but there's nothing quite like an expert fighting type! Better luck next time," the announcer concluded.
As the duo headed to the sidelines again, Ash spoke up. "Thank you. You guys did good, too. It's always good to go toe to toe with you," he praised. He looked up at the scoreboard. "Guess we better get ready to cheer for Anthony and Rebecca."
"I bet their match is gonna be just as good," Dawn added.
"Folks, it's time for the attraction we've come to expect these last few years: the father-daughter throw down!" the announcer cawed. "In this corner, the dizzying dancer Hitmontop and Rebecca! In the other, that punch master Primeape and Anthony!"
On the sidelines, Ash scratched between Rosa's ears. "Keep an eye on this. They've been at it a while."
Rebecca spoke to Hitmontop as they waited on the bell to ring. "Remember, hit fast and run. If you stay in there, you'll get pummeled!" she warned. She'd raised this guy from a Tyrogue; it was going to be their year, she knew it!
"Top," he replied.
As soon as the bell rang, Hitmontop span forward. It headed towards Primeape only to dart to the side at the last second, circling around to dodge Primeape's attempted punch and deliver a nasty kick to the back of the fighting type. Hitmontop's Fake Out was impressive enough.
While Primeape stumbled forward, flinching, Hitmontop used Focus Energy.
"Not a bad start, Rebecca," Anthony praised. "But, we ain't lettin' ya get away with that! Mega Kick!"
The Pig Monkey Pokéemon whirled around, lunging forward with a foot outstretched.
"You haven't let me do anything," Rebecca taunted, only to eat humble pie as Primeape sent Hitmontop skidding back. "Uh… Rapid Spin," Rebecca suggested.
Hitmontop came back around, aiming to beat up Primeape with its rapid fire kicks.
"Careful, Rebecca. If ya get too cocky, it's gonna bite ya quick like." The elder bore a smirk.
Rapid Spin barraged Primeape with a wheel of kicks. The monkey grunted in pain, but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. In fact, it was only making him more determined!
"Send 'em packin' with a Thunderpunch!" Anthony ordered.
Primeape threw a punch which crackled with electricity. Lit up like a pinball machine, Hitmontop ricocheted away, momentarily too shocked to control itself right.
When the living top's spin came to an end, Rebecca felt nervous. "Try Counter!" she coached.
After gathering himself Hitmontop obeyed, headed Primeape's way to return the favor with a super powerful kick!
"That's a pretty good strategy," Dawn noted. "Primeape's a lot stronger than Hitmontop, but Rebecca's making the best of it."
Ash nodded in agreement. "With this kind of battle, she's gonna need every advantage she can get."
Primeape took the devastating kick, reeling towards the ropes bordering the ring. Its furry, rotund body pushed the elastic border to its limits.
"Hang in there, Primeape," Anthony encouraged, pacing the ides. "Bounce back in there and throw Hitmontop for a loop with yer Seismic Toss!"
The Pig Monkey was flung forward like a rock out of a slingshot, grabbing hold of Hitmontop's foot as he shot by. Skidding across the arena floor, Primeape turned it into a spin. After tossing Hitmontop around, Primeape brutally tossed him up.
"Not this again!" Rebecca whined. Clearly, this was a move Anthony had come to favor of the years and she just couldn't cover for it. "Rapid Spin, Rapid Spin, Rapid Spin!"
No dice. Though Hitmontop wasn't disoriented due to being a species of Pokémon which primarily lived on its head and span around, it couldn't get out of Primeape's hold…
Or, avoid a crash landing. Hitmontop was out cold.
"Ooo, and that's the classic Seismic Toss!" the announcer prodded. "An excellent show as always, but it looks like age wins out again! Better luck next year."
Rebecca, thoroughly embarrassed, quickly returned Hitmontop before scurrying to the sidelines, sitting down by Dawn.
"Now, we're down to the final match of this year's Grand Prix!" the announcer called. "Longtime reigning challenger Anthony and his prize winning Primeape will face off against a former Champion who used this same Primeape to win his own title years ago! This time, though, Ash is using a different Pokémon. It's time to see folks: does the trainer make the 'mon or does the 'mon make the trainer?!"
The crowd went wild, their interested piqued to the tipping point.
"We won't lose," Ash challenged, looking fiery and bold. "I'll be expecting great stuff, though."
Rosa hopped over the ropes into the ring. Her eyes lingered on Primeape, a smile forming as she crouched into a defensive stance. She was excited to see how strong he was. All of Ash's other Pokémon were quite tough, after all.
"The same t'you, Ash, R… Riolu." Anthony hadn't actually learned poor Rosa's name.
Primeape's fighting spirit was renewed. He'd give Rosa the challenge she was looking for!
Soon, the distinctive bell marked the beginning of the match.
Primeape started off strong with a Mega Kick. He recalled seeing how the Riolu had done against Buneary and wanted to see if he was any faster than the rabbit.
"Primeape really packs a punch!" Ash warned. "Dodge with Detect!" He was going to have to go with brains over brawn this time.
Rosa's eyes took on a familiar blue glow, analyzing Primeape's aura and intent before sidestepping down and to the side, leaning inches out of the range of the kick. As soon as Primeape passed overhead, she turned, using Force Palm on Primeape's back.
Though Rosa's hit itself was not particularly strong to the tempered fighter, the aura burst after it was enough to push Primeape back a few inches.
Still, there was no holding back in this fight. Primeape reared his fist back, striking forward with Thunderpunch.
"Rosa, you've got to dodge it!" Ash's gloved fist tightened.
Try as she might, though, Rosa was not faster than lightning. She was sent flying into the ropes with a howl of pain.
"Oh! That's gotta hurt! Primeape strikes back with a devastating Thunderpunch!" the announcer narrated.
Primeape froze. Had he really hurt her?! She was so young and small… Perhaps he should be gentler. Not easy, no, but perhaps more aware of the fact she was growing still.
Ash ran over to the part of the ring where Rosa lay slumped in. "Rosa!" She was hurt, but still conscious. "Hey, are you okay? You can't give up. Get in there and turn things around with your Reversal attack!"
Pushing herself to her feet, the Riolu bore her fangs. She sprinted towards the larger fighting type and drew back her fist. Letting out a tiny roar, she executed her Reversal attack to deal out retribution.
"He's got a good heart," Anthony noted. "Pity I gotta go an' break it. Primeape, ya know how to deal with Hitmontop's Counter. Reversal's gonna be about the same. So, let it hit and then go for a Seismic Toss."
The reversal returned the damage Rosa had taken. However, Primeape grappled the Emanation Pokémon, spinning her around in a loop. She became dizzy under the duress, being thrown up into the air.
"Rosa!" Sweat trickled off the trainer's brow, eyes wide as he watched his Pokémon soar. "We've gotta come back from that… I know! Go into a dive, just like I taught ya! Really pick up some speed!"
Still airborne, the fighting type's eyes shot open upon the trainer's words being heard, turned down upon the Primeape below. She would then dive headfirst, tucking her arms and legs in. The tiny, aerodynamic Pokémon eyed her target like a bird of prey, rapidly descending towards the ring.
"Now, use Force Palm!"
"Riooo~!" The Riolu cried, one paw outstretched, every intention placed on slamming the padded extremity into Primeape's forehead. At that vital moment, yet another burst of aura would be unleashed.
"Ya gotta move, Primeape. She's gonna hit ya right on the noggin!" Anthony warned.
The Pig Monkey Pokémon took his coach's advice, hopping a few feet back to avoid the pup's descent.
After all, Rosa couldn't fly. The way she was coming down could only be altered so much.
"We're gonna miss…!" Ash grit his teeth. "Got it! Use Force Palm with your other hand, behind you!"
Letting out a yelp as she was nearing the arena, the Riolu did as told, extending her opposite palm behind her, firing off a quick burst of energy. The aura was enough to give some recoil, pushing Rosa back towards her target.
"Yer better off bracin' for impact, kid. That attack's a lost cause!" However, before Anthony could get a good look and realize Primeape was still too close—he was getting older, okay?!—the aura blast went off.
Primeape let out a shocked squeal, piggy side showing through clearly. He was definitely not a fan of being blasted by aura head-on!
"I told ya to move, didn't I?" Anthony reminded, chuckling. It was all a grand game to him. He was taking this seriously, but the sport demanded it all be taken in stride and in good spirit. "Hit 'er with a Thrash then, huh?"
Obeying, Primeape tensed up. Then, it was time to start the beat down. He lashed out wildly, though he still kept aware enough of himself to avoid critical hits. Beyond that, though, it was a free for all frenzy of flailing limbs and full out punches and kicks.
"Thrash!?" Ash couldn't help but cringe, the Pig Monkey's relentless ferocity still fresh in his mind after all these years. "That means Primeape's ready to give a prime pounding!" Facial features twisting, Ash was forced to react quickly. "Use Detect, again and again!"
Primeape's aura and intent became the aura wielder's main focus, allowing her to duck under, sidestep, and leap over numerous attacks. She could only keep this up for so long, however. Primeape's attacks were growing more furious, and aura reading had its limitations. Blows began to scrape the Emanation Pokémon, soon pummeling her with one hit after another.
"Uh oh! Ash's Riolu is doing its best, but a young pistol like that can't seem to keep up with a Champion like Primeape! They better do something soon, or this match won't be lasting much longer! Does Ash have anything else up his sleeve?"
"This is bad… Really, really bad…!"
While Ash's confidence began to slip with each passing blow, the Riolu's spirit only grew to boil. Dark hues were cast back towards the ring, wise to the growing determination of Ash's teammate.
Small canines bore together, red hues concealed by narrowing lids. Primal instinct won over fear, allowing the Riolu to lash out with a wild volley of punches and kicks. Unhinged and undisciplined, Rosa began to strike out against Primeape's relentless assault.
Primeape's furor had been dominating, relentless attack by the seasoned Pokémon winning out over good eye and technique. Soon enough, though, he found himself greeted with quite the surprise.
Feral, relentless attacks were continued by the pup, unrestrained from any sort of planned assault. Hints of a pattern showed, though, however unrefined they were.
And, the hints hurt like a bitch.
"Oh, wow! Them's some hooks and jabs!" Anthony cheered. "Keep it up, Primeape! Ya got size n years puttin' in work on 'er!"
If he wasn't already going to do such, Primeape had all the reason to do so now. He continued to avoid going for critical hits, not wanting to injure the Riolu too badly, but the match had quickly become so intense that at some points a single foot of Primeape's remained on the ground, both hands and the spare leg engaged in giving his opponent the fight of her life.
"Is.. That Close Combat?" Gawking at the relentless barrage of blows being dealt out by his Riolu, Ash flipped open his pokedex, questioning the electronic encyclopedia.
"Riolu are not capable of learning Close Combat. This move can be acquired after they evolve into their final stage - Lucario." The mechanical voice recited, earning a nod from Ash.
"Maybe she's close to evolving…" Eyes turned back towards the ring, a more urgent matter at hand. "Keep hitting hard, Rosa! Give 'em all you've got! You can do it!"
The Riolu was only seeing red at this point, throwing punch after punch, and a kick whenever she saw fit. Her pride as a fighting type was being tested, but Primeape's strikes seemed to persevere. The two pummeled one another, one with more precision than the next.
And that experience won out in the form of a bone-rattling kick, knocking Rosa back through the air. The Emanation Pokémon tumbled, only to land on one knee, scratched, beaten, and short of breath. Despite the rush of adrenaline, Primeape still proved stronger.
A less trained Primeape would have given in to pure rage. Though he was perfectly capable of taking on his species' characteristic habit of going berserk during battle, and at random, he had much better self-control.
As such, when he Riolu was finally flung back, he paused, stance stone still exactly where he had been when what he assumed was the final blow was thrown. He relaxed a bit, getting back into defensive mode, watching her, waiting on the next instruction.
"Don't give in! Give Primeape all you've got with one last Reversal attack!"
Ash's words were shouted to the heavens, and they were heeded. A single fist was brandished, positively shining with the remainder of the Pokémon's fight-or-flight rush. A loud, high-pitched cry was uttered, a speedy leap carrying the Riolu forward as she swung her fist towards Primeape with all of her might.
She was strong, he had to admit.
"Thunderpunch, Primeape, and finish it." Anthony was much calmer, seeing the situation and realizing it for what it was.
The fur of the pig-monkey bristled as he waited, gloved hand crackling magnificently. She was close enough that he could begin to make out his own reflection in her eyes before he threw his fist, quick as the lightning which danced upon it.
The strike would be true. With her arms being shorter, would she even reach him as he broke his own no-face rule? His aim was her little jaw, to finally knock her out.
The stadium seemed to have fallen into a slight hush for the briefest of seconds. In that moment, all that existed was the desperate struggle of the battle.
And the proud, brotherly smile Primeape bore towards Rosa as his fist neared her chin.
Unfortunately for Ash and his upstart companion, a larger body meant wider range, and that meant a solid Thunderpunch to the jaw. Credit was given where it was due for her resolve, but even that crumbled under the electrifying force of a cold, hard knock-out. The audience's silence persisted as the Emanation Pokémon hit the mat, eyes turned to swirls, limbs limp.
"And that's the end of that! Primeape puts an end to Riolu's bravery with a full-on knock-out, making it, once again, the P1 Grand Prix Champion! Ash and his challenger put up an amazing fight, but experience has won out. Let's give a big round of applause to both competitors, and everyone else who gave it their all!"
Just as directed, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause, loud and full of excitement over a remarkably intense match. Loud enough that Ash really wanted his companion to hear. Crawling into the ring, he picked up the Emanation Pokémon, cradling it in his arms. "Hey, you were great. You gotta hear this! All of that cheering? It's for you and Primeape!"
The small Pokémon began to stir, ignoring a killer headache and static electricity in favor of her trainer's voice. Lids parted to view the proud teen, a smile growing at the sound of applause. Win or lose, she'd given her all. That was satisfying enough.
A bit of jealousy sprung up in Primeape's chest. No, not jealousy—he didn't begrudge Rosa the attention, but… well, he was also… he'd done very well… And…
Fair-minded as ever, though, Ash was quick to approach Primeape next, holding a hand out to his former partner. "That goes for you, too! You've gotten super strong over the years, Primeape! I'm totally proud of you."
The fighting type's unspoken wishes were granted. Looking up, he merely took Ash's hand, clearly struggling to fight back tears. It was all happening over again…! He was truly as proud of himself as Ash was, but, somehow he felt as if there was more for him to do, now. He'd mastered the Grand Prix, after all.
Speaking of which, Anthony came onto the mat, clapping Ash on the shoulder only to make an apologetic noise when he realized Rosa might not appreciate that. He instead focused on ruffling Primeape's fur, spotting the faintest signs of tears in the corner of the surprisingly softhearted Pokémon's eyes. "Hey, hey, hey, it's time for someone to receive their championship belt!" Anthony encouraged.
Soon, that took place as well. There were cheers and victory poses. Primeape looked pleased, as did Anthony. The crowd adored them. The coach had success and respect as well as a stable homelife. Primeape had learned a lot. Their relationship had, in essence, peaked. Anthony had taught Primeape almost all that he knew. So, they made merry freely, knowing they'd given their all in earnest.
Later that evening, the entire group returned to Anthony's house to celebrate.
However, Primeape remained quiet, contemplating to himself. Not even Buneary pestered him, though she wanted to, on how to better use fighting type moves. His seemingly random meditation was undisturbed.
Rebecca noticed this and found herself torn between concern for Primeape and the fact that her father was getting loud and rowdy. While she couldn't do much about her father, Rebecca could try to cheer up Primeape with some dessert. She excused herself to the kitchen.
The noise between the television and radio that Antony insisted on keeping on at the same time and his own high spirits was getting to be a bit much for Dawn. After the celebratory meal, she excused herself to a short walk outside.
With just himself, the Pokémon, Anthony, and Ash left, Primeape gathered his courage. He approached Pikachu, minding the question that had been on his mind all evening. "Prime," he began, noting that Rosa was a new member of the time. "Primeape Ape." Was Ash still trying to expand the team?
The poor fighting type felt feverishly embarrassed and terribly awkward. As his pulse increased, the veins in his forehead became visible.
A smile spread across Pikachu's mouth, knowing what Primeape was indirectly asking about. After passing poor still-bruised Rosa the soda she'd requested, the electric type turned to address Primeape. "Pika… Pikachu Pikapi Chu."
Somewhere between encouraged and embarrassed by Pikachu's directness, Primeape broke eye contact while his fur fluffed shyly. "Prime…" He'd missed his trainer dearly after all these years.
Gathering up his nerves, Primeape walked over to where Ash was finishing off his third plate of food. The fighting type tried to look serious and sensible, like he wasn't freaking out internally. "P-Prime… Ape!" he announced, pointing from himself to Ash to the Pokéballs on Ash's hip with a shaky hand. Guiltily, Primeape threw a short glance to Anthony.
"Hm?" Ash asked, piecing together what Primeape's gestures meant. "... You wanna come with us again?" There was a hit of happy disbelief in his tone. A smile spread from cheek to cheek on the boy's face and joyful tears pricked at his eyes.
"Ape!" the fighting type agreed.
Ash couldn't help but slip out of his seat to hug the furry brawler.
"What's happening?" Anthony asked, wandering over. "So… Ole Primeape's headin' out, huh? Right after he mastered my style." He let out a cocky huff. "Well, that's good. Ash is gonna challenge the League! If Primeape gets any use, word'll get out that I trained it so it could play with the big dogs!" The old man laughed. "Then, everyone'll come all over to get their 'mons trained by me and it'll be like the glory days all over again!"
"What's with crazy laughing, Dad?" Rebecca deadpanned as she came back in, a tray full of ice cream floats in her hands.
"We're gonna show off Anthony's fighting style!" Ash supplied, raising up a victorious fist in unison with an actually happy-crying Primeape. Patting the Pokémon on the back, Ash turned back to Anthony. "Thanks for taking such good care of him for so long. I won't forget this."
"Just do me a favor, kid," Anthony requested, "and come back to battle us sometimes when I get new students. It'll be a good exchange, huh?"
"Pi-Pikachu," the electric mouse cheered from where he lounged by Rosa.
"So, Primeape's leaving?" Rebecca double checked. "If that's the case, we can focus more on Hitmontop! No ill-intent to Primeape, of course, but it's time for a little TLC for my battling boy, too!"
Just then, Dawn returned, nerves no longer frayed. However, the light hearted scene she walked back in on wasn't exactly what she'd expected. It was more tender than rowdy. "... Did something else happen?"
"Sure did! Primeape's coming back with us! I've just gotta get in touch with Professor Oak and it's official!" Ash enthused.
"Aw, really?" she cheered. "That's great."
Buneary, who had gone on the walk with Dawn, perked up. She could definitely train with Primeape now! "Neary!"
"Well, you'd better hurry and go talk to the professor, or I imagine he'll be asleep soon," Anthony chided.
"But, I just make ice cream floats!" Rebecca whined.
Picking one up off the tray, Dawn winked. "I think we should stay and have a drink to this. One more night here shouldn't hurt, should it?"
A brief pause was followed by Ash shrugging his shoulders and agreeing before grabbing his own float. Soon, everyone had a glass and touched around to clink their own against everyone else's.
As soon as they finished, Ash guzzled his down in one go. "Mm! That was great! Thanks, Rebecca!"
Dawn shook her head, not exactly surprised. "How didn't you get brain freeze, drinking that in one go?"
Nudging Dawn's side, Rebecca whispered to her. "When you're as hotheaded as he is, you don't have to worry about it."
Both girls burst into laughter as Ash suddenly became self-conscious. "Hey, what're you two laughing about!? … I don't wanna stay anymore! You two get sneaky and giggly when you're together! What are you saying now?!" Ash prodded.
In the meantime, Primeape settled onto the couch by Rosa and Pikachu, Buneary following shortly after him. It was good to be back.
