It's the moment you've all hopefully been waiting for! The pokemon league is here, and ready to knock your socks off! We hope you enjoy the show, and please, let us know what you think of this installment! Hope all you spectators enjoy!
"That's right, Ash!" Worn old fingers, barely the size of baby carrots twirled the elderly man's pale gray mustache. "I have to say, it's been quite a while; I'm flattered you still recognize me!" Charles squinted, briefly stalking around Ash, as if the youth had dropped something.
Ash perplexed, and for once, silent.
"Or, even see me from way up there! You're not the stout young lad you used to be."
"It has been a while, huh?" His height acknowledged, Ash felt his pride swell, a finger brushing over his nose. "Well, you know how it is. Time flies when you're training hard!"
Goodshow hummed with a solemn nod. "So I've heard, from your friends."
"Hm…?" Ash looked back to his group, and then back to Goodshow. "Oh, that reminds me! What're you doing here, anyway?" Realizing he sounded rude, Ash swallowed. "I mean, shouldn't you've delivered the torch, by this time of day?"
"That was, indeed, the plan. But, just a few minutes ago, I happened to run into Misty, Brock, and…"
"Dawn," the girl quickly interjected.
"Ah, of course, Dawn! I couldn't quite pass without saying hello."
"We were waiting for you guys to come out," Misty explained. "And, he and the torch committee just happened to be passing by! Though, I do feel a little bad about holding them up…"
"Oh, nonsense. The ceremony doesn't start until tomorrow," the elder waved off. "It did my spirits good to see you all. Plus, I couldn't help but wonder where you," he pointed to Ash, "had run off to!"
"We caught him up on what you were up to," Brock explained, clapping his hand on Ash's free shoulder. "About Victory Road, just now, and a few of your other exploits!"
"My… Exploits?" Ash pointed a finger towards himself, his face flushed.
"For starters, how hard you'd been training, up at Mt. Silver! It'd be silly to leave out something that showed that much dedication," Dawn chimed.
"I'd say I was startled that anyone actually climbed its peaks, but if any young trainer has the enduring spirit to make their training ground, it'd have to be you, Ash!"
"Aw, please, you're embarrassing me!" Ash stammered, waving his hands in front of him.
"And, the Gym Challenge," Misty brought up. "That battle of ours was one of the best I've had in a long time; I have no doubt the others were almost as amazing! I'm actually a little jealous."
"And, like I said, Victory Road," Brock brought up. "Taking that extra time to bond with your pokemon was a very mature move!" The man's narrow eyes flickered with a mischievous glint. "Especially coming from the trainer who used to skip town at the first scent of a Gym Badge."
"Hm." Goodshow hummed. "I've always said that the most important thing about our competition was spirit. But, what I didn't mention was the importance of sharing that spirit with your pokemon! A trainer who can inspire his companions to fight with all of their own determination is one that's destined for greatness!"
"Please, I think I'm burning up here!" Ash stepped back, turning his cap back around to lower over his eyes.
"Piiiikachu!" Pikachu agreed, sporting a blush and a bashful, uneasy smile.
"Suddenly you're deciding not to be a glory hog?" Misty teased, nudging his ribs with her elbow.
"I have my limits," Ash quickly shot back.
Dawn and Brock chuckled at the back-and-forth. "Well, that's a surprise," the latter quipped.
"Very funny."
"Any who," Mr. Goodshow coughed, regaining the group's attention. "I was touched by your growth as a Pokemon Trainer, and decided to wait just a bit longer to make you an offer; how would you like to carry the torch, once more?"
"No kidding?" Ash lifted his cap, eyes wide. He grinned. "Yeah, I'd love to!"
"Then, let's get moving~!" Dawn chimed, pointing towards Indigo Plateau.
"We'll meet up with the rest of the committee, and, um, 'pass the torch,' as they say, eheh!"
There was a collective stumble and groan at Mr. Goodshow's joke.
Ash recovered first, turning his cap backwards once more. "What do you say, Pikachu? Ready to get a move-on?"
Pikachu leaned back, his ears bouncing in the wind. "Pikachu~!"
Catching up to the truck, tailed by an Officer Jenny on her motorcycle, the group came to a halt.
"Alright, we're here! Ready whenever you guys are," Ash announced.
"Weren't you just complaining about being exhausted?" Misty quirked a brow.
"That was then, and this is now!" Ash protested. "This is a special occasion."
"I think that's his new catchphrase," Dawn thought aloud, scratching her cheek. She watched Ash approach the last athlete, who handed him a torch lit by a roaring red flame. She cocked her head. "So, this is something they normally do for the Indigo League? I don't remember any prelude to the torch lighting at Lily of the Valley, they seemed all set up for it already."
"I think we missed it, when we were searching for Ash's pokemon after they got scattered," Brock guessed. "Usually, it's handled by a small certified group."
"But, we broke that tradition a couple of years ago," Misty sheepishly explained. "We came across the commotion, and Ash butted in, right away."
"And, I bent the rules, and let you three carry the torch! With your eager spirits, I couldn't say no," Goodshow chuckled, folding his arms behind his back.
"Ash has actually carried the torch a couple of times. Here, as well as the Silver and Evergrande Conferences!" Brock explained. "Once he heard 'Flame of Moltres,' that was the end of it."
"Flame of Moltres?" Dawn paused, then gasped. "Oh, I've heard of that! In one of my mom's old books about foreign legends; the flame used to light the torches at big events are said to come from Moltres, itself!" She beamed, clasping her hands together. "How exciting! I wonder if it's true…"
"I wouldn't be surprised." Misty smiled, looking to her friend, who was chattering giddily with Pikachu. "If there's something supernatural out there, Ash is bound to get involved."
"Don't we all know?" Dawn chuckled. "Not that I'm complaining." Seeing the endless wonders of the world of pokemon never got old. If a little chaos at Ash's side was what it took to see it all, she wouldn't have it any other way.
"Heyyy!" Ash called, waving to the group. "Are we movin', or what?"
"Yes, let's!" Goodshow agreed, climbing to the top of the truck. "On to Indigo Stadium!"
I want to be the very best, like no one ever was~
The first stretch towards the stadium was led by Ash, hoisting the torch high, its steady flame burning with vibrant reds and yellows, much like the sky above.
To catch them is my real test, to train them is my cause~
Pikachu dashed beside Ash on all fours, and Rosa sprinted on her trainer's other side, eyes glued to the torch. Her ruby eyes shone with amazement; something about its presence felt simply amazing!
I will travel across the land, searching far and wide~
The Flame of Moltres was passed onto Misty next, who continued the path with complete ease - constant swimming made light aerobics like this a breeze.
Each Pokemon to understand, the power that's inside~
Noticing the emptiness in her free hand, however, wasn't so easy. Last time they'd made this run, she'd been holding Togepi securely in her grip along the way. She could almost hear his jubilant chirps, now. She sniffled, reaching to wipe a tear with the hand that wasn't carrying the torch. Her red brows furrowed. Togetic would want her to make the best of this. Today was a new day, for her, as well as Ash.
Pokemon, gotta catch 'em all~
Misty passed the torch on to Brock, who reached for his belt, calling on Chansey.
It's you and me, I know it's my destiny~
The young man jogged on in his friend's stead, holding the flame high and steady. He watched Chansey skip and twirl alongside him, chanting a merry tune. Brock chuckled. It made him proud to see that his very own pokemon was finding as much joy in the tradition as he was.
Pokemon! Oh, you're my best friend, in a world we must defend~
Dawn was next, after being cheekily reminded by Ash to not fall victim to her clumsy nature. She'd returned the favor by pinching his cheek, reminding him that there was no need to worry.
And, there wasn't, as she jogged along with Empoleon, making sure to maintain a steady pace. Shiny, ocean hues glimmered with wonder at the contrasting red-hot ember that she was sure to hold high. Its mythical nature made her heart race; what a ceremony!
Pokemon! Gotta catch 'em all~
Her luck had held until then; but, Empoleon was about to test it. Stumbling with heavy breaths, the portly penguin had drawn his head back, ready to fire an Ice Beam. Dawn frantically scrambled to hold her starter back, chiding him. He couldn't draw an ice path with a large vehicle right behind him!
A heart so true, our courage will pull us through~
The penguin resigned, and returned to his pokeball to rest. Buneary replaced him, hopping joyfully along. Not without spinning in her leaps to strike a pose for Pikachu of course. The mouse chuckled and waved, and lit a fiery determination in her heart. She'd accompany Dawn without fail!
You'll teach me, and I'll teach you~
Dawn ended up passing the torch to another athlete along the way, returning to the top of the truck, where she sat beside Ash and Misty. The former threw an arm around her shoulder, pulling her in.
"Whaddya think? Pretty cool, huh?"
"I'll say! I never thought I'd get to be part of a Pokemon League ceremony… I guess we'll call that your good luck charm!" Dawn winked at Ash, leaning back into his torso. She was happy to watch Indigo Stadium grow ever closer in their view.
Pokemon! Gotta catch 'em all! Gotta catch 'em all! Yeah~
"Bun-Bun~!" Buneary was all too happy to pile on, leaning against Pikachu in her trainer's lap.
"Pikachu…!" Pikachu rubbed the back of his head. Well, they had agreed on cheering one another on! "Pika-Pika!" He pat Buneary's back with his tail.
Every challenge along the way, with courage I will face~
Mr. Goodshow chuckled, looking back to the youths. "A little camaraderie is good for keeping spirits high! But, love's glow could distract you from the flame of victory, if you're not careful, heh!"
"Y-you don't have to worry about that…!" Ash stammered, nervously waving the elder off.
"Why does everyone tell us that!?" Dawn complained, her cheeks a solid crimson. "We're not that bad." She took pride in not falling into gushy tropes. They were friends first, and boyfriend and girlfriend second.
"When your only frame of reference is Brock, I can see why you'd think that," Misty deadpanned.
Brock huffed, but a look from Dawn silenced him.
"But, you're worse about it on the battlefield."
I will battle every day, to claim my rightful place~
Brock coughed into his hand. He'd already been put in his place, commenting on Ash and Dawn. "The point is, in crucial moments like this, you need to stay concentrated. Keep your mind on your strategies, and your eyes on your opponents."
"Misty and Brock have the right idea. Just keep your focus, Ash. And you, Dawn, in your endeavors!" Goodshow advised, though, he couldn't help but grin under his bushy beard. Stern as he tried to be for Ash's own sake, seeing the trainers of today so filled with enthusiasm filled him with hope. "And, I don't think I have to remind you to keep your hearts focused on your pokemon!"
Come with me, the time is right, there's no better team~
"You don't have to worry about that." Ash leaned forward, a hand resting atop Pikachu's head. "I'll never turn down the support, but I know why I'm here. No goofing around, this time; Pikachu and the others are in it to win it, and so am I! Right, Pikachu?"
"Pi-Pikachu!" Pikachu hopped up to stand in Ash's lap, throwing jabs at the air to pump himself up. They had their hearts and minds set on victory.
Arm in arm, we'll win the fight, it's always been our dream!
"And, that goes double for us! Our first priority is our pokemon." Dawn held Buneary close to her chest. "Ash knows that; right, Buneary?"
"Bun-Bun~!"
"It looks like we're almost there!" Misty leaned forward, using a hand to shield her eyes from the setting sun.
"Mhm. We've made it!" Brock smile on, his spiky hair drifting in the wind. The finish line was within sight. "...It's not quite as crowded as I remember, though."
A small crowd did line the streets, but in the dragging hours, it'd dwindled. But, the sight of the truck lit their spirits ablaze, cheers ringing out for the committee, and the unfamiliar athlete up front.
"The last time we were here, it was still the late afternoon," Brock recalled. "I… Guess we held you up."
"Nonsense! It's no harm done, really." The president dismissed. "We're here, and that's what matters!"
Applause boomed as the man upfront broke through the finish line, the Torch Committee's truck following soon after. Amongst the fanfare, Goodshow climbed down to meet the athlete.
"I present you with the Flame of Moltres," he gleefully announced, crouching to hand the flame to the President.
"Thank you!" Goodshow looked to the crowd around him; what was left of them, anyway. Many had gone their separate ways after the torch had crossed the finish line. "Ahem… We apologize for the long wait that you've so graciously stuck out. Your love and enthusiasm for the Pokemon League is appreciated, as always! Tomorrow, the flame will be lit in the stadium, marking the beginning of this year's competition! So, look forward to that! And, please thank the torch bearers who ensured its safe return!" He gestured to those responsible, selected athletes and Ash's group of friends alike.
Another modest round of applause and hollers answered. Ash, Pikachu, Misty, Brock, Dawn, and Buneary waved to the audience below.
The scene grew sparse and quiet quickly, and the youths had left the truck to see their company off.
"I guess we'll see you tomorrow." Ash addressed the old man, hands on his hips.
"Pikachu!'
"Indeed, you will, Ash, Pikachu." Goodshow's old, charcoal eyes scanned the group. "It was a pleasure reuniting with you all. I'm sure that Moltres was honored to have its flame hoisted by such promising trainers!"
"It was the least we could do," Misty excused, scratching her cheek. This guy really liked to layer on the praise; it was a little embarrassing.
"Speaking of Moltres," Ash interrupted, "I have a good feeling about its flame. Like luck is on our side."
"A good feeling?" Brock quirked a brow.
"Now, don't tell me you're getting superstitious on us," Misty crossed her arms.
"Well… I dunno, it's probably dumb." Ash kicked the dirt. "But, like… You guys know the big burn mark on my back? The one you saw on the beach?"
Misty and Brock winced, nodding along. Where was he going with this?
"I wanted to ask you where you got that!" Dawn pouted. Somehow, it'd slipped her mind, back then.
"I earned it, battling Moltres."
He was greeted with blank stares and pale faces.
"Pikachu and I battled it together, and I got hit by one of its Flamethrower attacks in the middle of it all. It hurt like he…" Looking to Goodshow, he trailed off. "Like heck, but we didn't give up, no matter how tough the battle got on either of us. We beat Moltres together."
Ash and Pikachu met eyes, and shared a smile before bumping fists.
"Seeing that flame… it feels familiar. I'unno, almost like, a blessing from Moltres, I guess." Ash rubbed the back of his neck, feeling sheepish. "I know that sounds bold… But deep down, I really feel that way. That it's a sign that this time, we have what it takes to win the Pokemon League."
The silence that followed made Ash swallow heavily.
Dawn spoke in a passionate rush. "You're right!" She took Ash's hands in her own, absolutely star-struck. "The parallels…! The symbolism…! The ancient subtext…! Oh, Ash, that was absolutely poetic! And, you know, they say life imitates art! I'm so glad you saw the connection! It has to be a sign!"
"I think it's the other way around," Misty mumbled.
Brock recalled how adamant Dawn was with poetry before chuckling. "You feel free to correct her if you want. I'm not touching that."
Neither of the Luvdisc had apparently heard the others. Blushing at Dawn's praise, Ash's chest swelled with pride.
"Well, you know, I've got my moments," he said with a surprisingly sincere smile. He was clearly trying to pass himself off as cocky, but he couldn't quite muster it under Dawn's heartfelt gaze.
"Well, since you've hyped yourself, you girlfriend, and both of us up," Misty interrupted, trying her best to not admit directly that she was riding on Ash winning for the sake of her gruff persona, "on top of invoking some old magic crap to supposedly be in your favor, don't let none of us down. I'm sure Moltres would especially be mad that you're invoking him like this." She finished with a teasing grin.
Brock let out a content sigh before crossing his arms behind his head. "Ash, you know we've got all the faith in the world in you. If you think this is a sign, I think that's great."
"I don't just think it's a sign," said Mr. Goodshow, taking command of the conversation, "I know it's a sign. Why, when Moltres lit this flame for us, it began a revolution in human-pokemon relationships worldwide! Just as the League was blessed, so have you been! Ash, I think it might actually bring good luck to this year's conference if you light the opening torch! You might draw a huge crowd or light the fires of competition in your new rivals' hearts!" The man balled a fist. "Why, I dare say, if you truly believe what you're saying, you're obligated to complete the circle!"
Taken aback by Mr. Goodshow's enthusiasm, Ash considered it for a second. He looked to Pikachu before nodding. "The first fire brought a revolution to how people and pokemon interact, huh? Well, if that's the case…" He looked dead at Goodshow. "Pikachu's gonna light it with me! This is our fight and our story! We're gonna share everything no matter what!"
Touched by Ash's words, Pikachu let out a happy chatter before latching himself onto his trainer's chest in a hug. "Cha~!"
Mr. Goodshow nodded, smirking. "It's a deal."
Just over two hundred competitors stood in the middle of the stadium, facing forward with hungry, ambitious expressions. Brows furrowed, lips drawn thin or stretched into smiles, and the lust for the gold of a trophy swirling in their eyes, each of the eight badged wannabe conference winners waited in the flat battlegrounds in the center of the Indigo Stadium. Ash was just one of many in the crowd, but the comforting, familiar weight of his Pikachu on his shoulder was enough to make him think he was truly destined to be here.
He was certain that there were others who wanted this as bad as he did. Knowing that made him all the more eager to battle and beat them; they'd be good competition.
Ash was snapped out of his assessment of his new rivals when he was called up. He stepped forward, feeling the weight of many eyes upon him as Mr. Goodshow waited on the podium. As he walked among the crowd, he spotted Koda. That meant Max was here, somewhere. He saw the telling flash of yellow of a Pikachu's tail, but wasn't sure if it was Sparky and therefore Ritchie. He didn't have much time to search. Soon, he was upon the stage.
"Here," Mr. Goodshow said, passing the torch to Ash.
Holding Pikachu in one arm, trainer and pokemon alike put a hand on it each. He stepped forward. Ten steps until he would open the conference.
His mind's eye wandered, playing memories for him. The twin union badges he and Dawn shared flickered through his memory. That joint battle with her had helped him get here. His battles with her in general had helped him so much.
Nine steps until he would open the conference.
Though she was not presently out of her pokeball due to the crowd, his mind wandered down into his heart and brought back memories of Rosa as a freshly hatched Riolu. He could taste the salt of the ocean again as he recalled how she'd learned to swim in the seas just off Iron Island.
Eight steps until he would open the conference.
As he felt the weight of his gym badge case in his pocket, he remembered the luxurious metal that was his Brave Symbol. He'd been so proud of himself for defeating Brandon. He was skilled enough to be a Frontier Brain, wasn't he? Then, surely, he could do this!
Seven steps until he would open the conference.
His memories darted suddenly much further back, to when he was still a young boy. The clammy wetness and a sense of fear came back as he recalled his first meeting with Misty. A sense of sympathy and steadfastness was coupled with the recollection of how Brock had become his traveling companion. The two of them had helped him grow so much, as both a person and a trainer.
Six steps until he would open the conference.
He had tangoed with legendaries, perhaps more than most people had a right to even know beyond a shadow of a doubt truly existed. But, he had beaten many of them. He'd come close to even beating a whole team of them. Despite it all, he couldn't find it in himself to resent Tobias. First, he'd prove himself here in Kanto and claim the championship he'd wanted since he was a boy. Then, he'd repay Tobias for the inspiration to better himself the man had given him. It had been a lesson; both of those battles had been lessons!
Five steps until he would open the conference.
His heart swelled with pride as he looked at the flame. Moltres aside, he had his own incredible fire type. That was one who had indeed defeated legendary pokemon. Charizard was one of Ash's prides. Raised from a feeble Charmander and into a Charizard that he had to win back the respect for, the flying type was now a rival even to one of Lance's famed Dragonites! He couldn't let that respect down, not here, not now!
Four steps until he would open the conference.
He wondered where Samurai was. He could still feel the deepened bond between himself, the bug type user, and Dawn from her inspiring speech back at the cabin. Surely, he'd get to show off his improved growth now!
Three steps until the opening.
With a slight phantom pain aching in his burned shoulder, Ash recalled his battle against Moltres and then against Zapdos. He'd defeated all three of Kanto's legendary birds. Wasn't it time he won a conference? If for no one else's sake but his own?
Two steps.
No; not his own sake. He looked down to Pikachu. He thought of the pokeball he never used but always kept in his backpack. He thought of their first meeting. He wasn't doing this for his own sake. He was doing this for his best friend's sake, too. It was for all of his pokemon! They'd worked so hard for him! He wouldn't let them down by losing now!
One step.
Ash and Pikachu's eyes met. Nodding, they reached out, together lighting the embellished torch. A flame danced up, impossibly larger than the flame which had ignited it. A flash of left and right to the flame unfurled like wings and a long, slender section of flame jutted up before it all collapsed into the amorphous energy that was a fire.
~You saw that, right?~ Ash asked Pikachu, using his aura to convey the question.
~Well,~ Pikachu replied, equally as physically quiet, ~it was definitely not natural fire.~
Satisfied that the flame was lit, Goodshow stepped forward to the microphone. "Thank you. Please, take your spot," the man said before beginning his opening speech.
Indigo Village was crowded and lively. In the outdoor seating area of a sports bar, our heroes unwound after the opening ceremonies. Ash tossed a boneless chicken wing in his mouth as he watched the broadcast covering some of the top picks for this year's conference winners. Brock sipped a frothy glass of something that was decidedly not orange juice, but given that he was five years older than sixteen-year-old Ash, it was fine regardless. Dawn, meanwhile, gushed to Misty about the merchandise.
"I've never seen so many different items for sale!" she gushed. "Kanto really is on the cutting edge of all things Pokemon League related, huh?" She squealed. "I'm tempted to go back to that guy who customizes battle items! Empoleon's got this Mystic Water item, but it's just on a plain silver chain, you know? I was thinking it'd look nicer if it matched him! Maybe more like a brooch or something to go in his feathers!"
Misty nodded. "I get what you mean! It's hard to use items that don't fit properly. I think it's a good investment, especially since it'll look good in a contest!"
"Don't go getting anything important," Brock warned. "We've only got the cabin we rented until a day after the conference ends. If you order anything and the guy can't find you to deliver, you'll be pretty upset, won't you?"
"That's true," Dawn mumbled. She looked to Ash. "What do you think, Ash? You think he'd ship it to your mom's house? Would your mom mind if I shipped it to her house?"
Snapping out of his intense watching of the sports cast, Ash blinked. "Huh? Oh! Nah. Mom'd love to help out! Just let her know if you do order it so she can call us when it gets there!" With that, the trainer went back to watching the program. He furrowed his brows.
The limited information on one of the competitors was concerning. Hailing from Blackthorn City, the dark-haired dragon tamer was, by all accounts, a powerhouse. Though she didn't have a perfect battling record (who did, really?), they'd analyzed all her losses and she'd only lost to people who had particularly bulky, defensively oriented teams. That might spell trouble for Ash. He'd have to start thinking of strategies for -
He looked down. His eyes widened.
"It's her!"
"Her?" Misty echoed.
"Her?" Brock repeated.
"Her?" Dawn continued.
"Rival, Conference, strong, be right back!" Ash yelped before grabbing Pikachu and sprinting for the little fence that closed off the Tauros Big Peck's outdoor eating area. He promptly hurdled the fence.
"Deidra!" Ash yelled, running to catch up with the girl. She looked just as intimidating in person as she had on the television, dressed in dark colors with a short black cape and a bang covering one eye. "Deidra! Wait up!"
She turned, looked at Ash, and then scowled. She did, however, wait for him, though her fists were balled at her side while she did such.
Ash grinned as he caught up. "Oh, man, nice to meet you! I'm Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town! Hey, good luck out there, not that you really need it!" He shrugged. "I mean, unless you battle me! Kidding, haha! No, but seriously, I wanna battle you! You seem super strong."
The dragon tamer regarded him for a moment before turning her nose up. "I am strong," she corrected. "And, I hope whatever sort of favoritism you were shown today won't get in the way of my conference ambitions. I'm quite tired of old men playing favorites screwing me over, thank you." With that, she began to walk off.
"... Favoritism? Old men?! W-What the heck's she talking about?!" Ash babbled, taken completely off guard.
Pikachu's tail drooped. "Pika…"
Dejected, Ash trudged back to Tauros Big Peck's. He stepped over the fence, heart not in it to jump.
"Aw, I know that face."
"... May?!" Ash said, shocked. He looked up, blinking when he saw her. She was wearing another new outfit, but this time it more like the one she'd worn in Hoenn, but with a bow? Or, was it a headband? He didn't know. He wasn't good with fashion. But, he did know he was supposed to compliment a girl's hair if it was different. Or, so he'd recalled a few of his friends telling him. "Uh, you got a new hair cut?"
May pouted. "It's actually longer now!" she insisted. "Look, look, it's in a ponytail!"
"It looks like the tip of a turd," Koda said flatly.
Max burst into laughter as May looked horrified.
Dawn turned to Ash. "We saw them coming to get a table out here while you were gone! So, we all decided to sit together!"
"... Oh." Ash said after a moment. "... Hey, what'd you mean by you know what this face means?!"
"You looked the same when Drew would tell you to buzz off," May said simply. "Or, anyone else you wanted to battle but rejected you."
"She's got you pegged," Brock agreed.
"It's not too bad," Misty said, trying to comfort Ash. "At least you're upset you didn't get to try. Some people are big babies when they lose."
"Hey, I cried once when I lost! And, you weren't supposed to talk about it when Ash got here!" Max hissed.
"Misty didn't tell Ash you cried over a gym battle," Koda corrected, "You said that."
"Shut up!" the boy whined.
Ash laughed. "Hey, crying's fine, isn't it?" He looked around. The table had gotten crowded, but weren't they missing one? "Hey, you said something about Drew? Where is he?"
"May's stupid boyfriend's sleeping back in the cabin," Max answered.
"Hey, be nice!"
"Whoa, whoa, you said you were traveling together still, but you didn't say you were dating!" Brock noted.
"I didn't?" May asked, feeling suddenly stupid. She laughed. "Gosh, sorry! I was so excited to brag about my first Grand Festival win that I didn't even think to talk about that! It feels so unimportant!"
"I'll be sure to tell Drew that," Misty teased.
Ash stood up. "You won?! Why didn't you lead with that?! Congrats, May!"
"We all already heard," Dawn clarified. "You just decided to go chase… A rival? Something like that?"
"Yeah, well, guess I made the wrong choice," he said with a sigh, sitting back down. "... How'd you and Drew get together, even? I know you two traveled together, but isn't he your rival?"
"... Oh, gosh, I forget he still wants to act like a turd around you," May noted. "Um, honestly, we haven't been dating that long. You and Dawn got together before we did. He asked me out after I beat him in the Grand Festival. He said if I lost he'd let me eat to my heart's content on his dime. If I won, I'd pay."
"Oh. Okay- … Hey, no, wait, how'd you know me and Dawn were together?" Ash questioned.
Koda let out a loud groan. "Oh my Mew, keep up! We all talked while you were gone! We caught up! Everyone's on the same page!"
"Koda." May chided.
He crossed his arms. "I'm frickin' hungry, man. I just want my quesadilla."
Ash nodded. "I feel you. Hopefully our food arrives soon."
"Right! Food soon!" May gleefully noted.
Dawn smiled. "Heheh… They've got that in common, at least."
"Huh, doesn't look as crowded as it was earlier," Ash thought aloud, approaching the open dome where the preliminary match-ups were randomly decided. Trainers still hung around, some still applying for their first rounds, but they no longer packed the building to the point of discomfort.
"Well, we did stop to eat before signing you up, so we missed the big rush." Brock flipped through his Pokemon League handbook, skimming for anything Max might want to know.
"No complaints, here!" May waved with a big goofy grin. "I don't think I'd be able to focus on your matches if I went in with an empty stomach, haha!"
"Thanks a lot, sis," Max deadpanned.
"I mean, I can't blame her," Ash interjected. "I can hardly battle when I'm hungry, either."
"Of course, you'd agree with her." Max snorted. His glasses shone over, then. He saw an empty booth! "Be right back!"
"Ditto!" Koda rushed afterward.
"By the way," Misty tapped Ash on the shoulder. "Remember how Brock and I coached you during your first conference?"
"Yeah?"
"We definitely won't be able to do that anymore."
Brock nodded, flipping through his pamphlet. "There was an incident a while back, where a competitor was getting a little too much help from their coaches; they didn't get disqualified, since there technically wasn't a rule against it at the time, but there was an uproar in the competitive scene, after the fact."
"If we do it now, we'll all be thrown out for cheating! Even worse, my Gym Leader license would come under question!" Her face scrunched at the thought. "So, sorry, bucko, you're on your own, this time. Well, at least when it comes to tips."
"I'm surprised that was ever allowed at all." Dawn quirked a brow.
"It was a courtesy offered to younger trainers who might get nervous during the earlier rounds," Brock explained.
Ash smiled, giving a thumbs-up. "Hey, that's fine. I don't really need the help anymore, anyway. I'll do this all on my own!"
Misty's face twisted in a huff. "You don't need the help, huh?"
"Hey, those're the rules, right?" Ash turned back with a cheeky grin.
Misty relented. She couldn't really argue with that, she admitted to herself with a smirk. "You really ought to register. No hand-holding, now!"
"Oh, right." Ash rushed after Max and Koda; the latter had just been assigned, apparently. But, Ash was cut off by another trainer who looked to be about his age. He'd pressed the large red button on the counter, and the screen featuring the four fields flashed in a spiral between each corner of the screen. Gradually, the spinning slowed, and finally stopped on the water field.
"You'll be battling on the water field!" The attendant chimed. "Now, the system will randomly choose your opponent."
A 'ping' could be heard from the screen, and the trainer's image was mirrored by none other than…
"It's me!" Ash gawked at his visage on the screen above, beside the contestant in front of him. "Hey, what're the odds? Looks like we'll be facing off, first!" He grinned, holding a hand out to the other.
His prospective opponent turned around. A young man with spiky dark hair, sporting a red, stylish outfit, with three pokeballs at each of his hips. He blinked, quickly processing who he'd be facing. "Looks like we will… Ash Ketchum."
"Yeah, that's me." Ash blinked, retracting his hand. "Guess you already know who I am, huh?"
"I wouldn't take myself seriously if I didn't study my competition. But, since you're asking, I'm guessing you're going in blind?"
"I've… been busy," Ash trailed off, a hand absently brushing the mark on his cheek.
"I'd hope so. I'd be insulted if you think you could have a chance against me, riding on pure luck."
The rest of Ash's friends caught up at that point, stopping short of speaking. The tension in the air was hard to miss.
"Oh, yeah?" Ash's brows knit together. "What makes you think I'll do that?"
"Don't be modest. Your record's pretty extensive; before you get flattered, that includes all of your bad calls. I don't want to babysit any of your fresh, first-stage pokemon."
Ash's eye twitched, and he stayed silent.
"And, I thought I was harsh." Max hung back by Misty's side.
Brock scowled. "I don't like this."
"Maybe I won't have to, if they get bored and decide the match for me." He only remembered bits and pieces, specifically, but his Charizard throwing his first league for him? That detail was pretty hard to forget. "Or, should I prepare for you to use Pikachu against one of my ground types?"
Pikachu's ears pinned back. "Pikachu…" Even in his state, he carried quite the urge to smack this guy across the face.
"Poor Ash," May muttered. "He might pop a blood vessel, at this rate."
"Maybe…" It was no secret that Ash was hot-headed; Brock knew that better than anyone. "And right before his first match, too."
Dawn, meanwhile, was looking ready to bust a vein, herself. She clenched a fist, teeth grit and bared. She stepped forward. "Listen here, you-"
"Maybe you should." Ash tilted his cap, showing the stranger a calm smile. "If you think you've got me all figured out."
Dawn quieted, and watched on with the group.
The male cocked a brow, then snorted. "There's not a whole lot to figure out. You fight straight-forward and expect guts to carry you to victory. A real waste of some talented pokemon, really. In someone else's hands, they might've been champions, already."
"Pikaaa…!' Pikachu hissed. Electricity crackled off his cheeks. The nerve!
A gentle gloved hand cupped Pikachu's cheek, stroking it. "Yeah? Well, what would you've done, in my shoes?"
The trainer cocked his head; that response hadn't been on his list of expectations. "Hmph… I can't say I have a list on hand. But, for starters, I would've brought fully evolved pokemon to a conference, and actually put some focus on conventional strategy. Rather than just throwing out whatever pokemon crosses my mind." He smirked, confident in his recovery.
"Show me how that works out for you on the battlefield." Ash threw his opponent a two-finger salute, holding a cool, confident smile.
Complete silence got its grip on the small circle, between Ash's startled companions, and his speechless adversary.
Pikachu regained his composure, joining in Ash in flashing the trainer a cocky smile.
The trainer squinted at Ash and pursed his lips. But, no words came out. "Hmph." Frustrated, he turned to walk away from the scene. "Be careful what you wish for, Ash."
"That was… different." May was the first to speak.
"I'll say." Misty, to her own surprise, was initially speechless. Ash… Something about him felt unfamiliar. The cool way he'd handled himself, most of all. "I think he's finally grown into that big head of his." That wasn't a rookie's cocky bluster. That was sure confidence.
"I was a little worried he'd let it get to him," Brock thought aloud. "That never ends well."
"You held together better than I would've!" Dawn folded her arms behind her back, one leg crossed behind the other. "I was ready to feed that guy his own teeth for the crap he gave you."
Ash chuckled, brushing his thumb over his nose. "He wasn't worth it. Anyone going that far out of their way to make me feel dumb can't be that impressive. If he wants to scare me, he's going to have to bring all that skill to our match." He folded his arms, looking up to Pikachu. "If his bark isn't worse than his bite. Right, buddy?"
"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu gleefully pumped a fist.
"Actually pretty cool," Koda remarked. Maybe he had Ash pinned wrong, as a corny adult.
"...Yeah." Max swallowed, messing with the frames of his glasses. "It was cool."
"Speaking of that, how about it? You wanna take a crack at this guy?"
"Pi…" Pikachu hummed, then shook his head. "Pika." They did have just enough rounds available to let every pokemon try; he'd hate to waste his awaited return on a crummy opponent, especially when he wasn't completely mentally prepared.
"That's fine. Then, let's go call Professor Oak and get our team prepped!"
"...You do that. I've got a match on the grass field in a couple minutes, so I better split!" Max turned to leave.
"Mine's on the rock field, later, so I'm gonna watch." Koda followed.
"And, I'm going to cheer Max on!" May chimed. "Make sure to give me the play-by-play, guys~!"
Misty waved the group off. "It's been awhile since me and Max got to hang, so I'm gonna give him my best. Brock, you good to babysit?"
"I'm not a baby," Ash mumbled before yelling back: "Right back at you!" He turned to head for the nearest PC, with Dawn and Brock in tow.
Thankfully, it was unoccupied. Ash dialed in the familiar number, waiting for the old man's visage to pop up on-screen.
It never did. Instead, Tracey had answered the phone. "Hello, Ash!"
"Tracey?" Ash tilted his head. "Oh, hey. Not to be a jerk, but where's the Professor!"
"Hey's, uh, very busy," Tracey dismissed. "If you need to switch pokemon for your matches, I'll be happy to handle it!"
"Huh… Alright! Thanks, Tracey! Then, I've got a few pokemon I need you to find, on the double."
"Exeggutor! Zen Headbutt!"
"Exeggutor!" The Coconut pokemon charged Kingler, smashing into its body with its three glowing heads.
Kingler slid back across his round, marooned platform, seeming none the worse for wear.
"Use Crabhammer!"
"Kuu-kiii!" Kingler swung back with a vengeance, smashing Exeggutor with his muscular, oversized claw. The grass type was sent flying across the water field, skidding to a halt on his own platform.
"Oooh, and that's a nasty counter from Ash's Kingler," a booming voice shouted over the stadium's loudspeaker. "So far, Blake hasn't had much luck with physical attacks, nor has he been able to control the field. Will the trainer from Cherrygrove stage a comeback?"
A majority of the stage had been frozen over by Kingler's Blizzard, leaving thick sheets of ice to stand on. Frost clung to Exeggutor's feet and leaves, as well, making the grass type shiver.
Blake grimaced. 'Leaf Storm might be my best bet to do Kingler in… But, if I use it now, it'll only get weaker as the match continues. Alright, Ash, you've pushed my hand.' A devious smile spread across the Ace Trainer's lips. "Exeggutor, use Trick Room!"
"Torrr!" The pokemon droned, his eyes flashing a faint teal. The arena full of ice and slush was surrounded in the faint glow of a translucent box.
"Blake has employed Trick Room! With his reputation for excelling in speed and agility, will Ash be able to counter the vexing field-adjusting maneuver?"
"And, not to flatter you, but don't think that was a coincidence."
"Thanks! It'll make the battle last a little longer." Ash smiled.
Blake's eye twitched.
"Now, that could be trouble… Ash beat Trick Room last time, but barely." Brock held a thumb to his chin. "How will he, this time?"
"This guy tries to talk like Conway, but I don't feel like he matches up to the real deal." Dawn leaned forward, smiling wide. "Ash'll outsmart him in no time."
"Kingler, Crabhammer!" Ash pointed forward.
Kingler crouched, hoisting his pincer high.
"Exeggutor, Egg Bomb!"
A barrage of explosive eggs quickly followed, crashing into Kingler in an explosive barrage before he could close the distance.
"Ooh, and there's the power of Trick Room! Egg Bomb struck before Ash's Kingler even had a chance to counter!"
The smoke settled soon, and Kingler stood atop the ice bordering his platform. "Kuu-kiii." He sported several scratches and burns, but he hardly looked to be in any pain, so far.
"You doing alright, Kingler?" Ash called out.
"Kiiii!" Kingler waved to Ash with his smaller claw.
"Thought so. Hyper Beam!"
"Exeggutor, Leaf Storm!"
As quickly as Kingler had raised his large appendage, Exeggutor unleashed a storm of sharp leaves. They'd closed in before Hyper Beam could even be launched.
Ash threw an arm to the side. "To your left!"
"Kiii!" Kingler swerved, firing the glimmering blast to the side. The explosive recoil sent him sliding across the ice, avoiding Leaf Storm by merely a hair. Skidding to a halt, the crustacean huffed. He'd grown accustomed to Hyper Beam's recoil, but it never fully faded away.
"Not bad, Ash. Not too bad. Your quick thinking will be a nice warm-up for the later rounds."
"I was thinking the same thing!"
Blake scowled. "You're real mouthy, aren't you?"
"Hey, when it comes to trash talk, I go for quality, not quantity."
"Trash talk…" The trainer's face went pale. "You were stalling!"
"Who, me?" Ash held an open palm to his chest.
His opponent growled. "Zen Headbutt!"
"Kingler, use Harden!"
"Tor!" Exeggutor stomped onto the ice, sliding along the slick surface with his three heads ducked. Psychic energy was focused through each skull, sure to deliver a devastating blow to Kingler.
Within seconds, it smashed into its target.
Kingler, however, didn't budge. A bright glimmer glazed over his tough exoskeleton.
"What's this!? Kingler seems unaffected by Zen Headbutt! Somehow, it successfully defended with Harden!"
"How!?" Blake's voice cracked. "I'm certain that Kingler's speed should be superior to Exeggutor's, not accounting for a massive level difference. Trick room couldn't have run already."
"It's still here." Ash smirked. "I just made it work for me, this time." He didn't wait for Blake to ask again, continuing. "Trick Room gives the edge to whoever's slower; but, you didn't count on Exeggutor becoming faster than Kingler, did ya?"
Blake was silent for a moment. His eyes grew wide. "...The ice! Exeggutor slid across the ice to use Zen Headbutt… You'd set this all up?"
"It just came to me." Ash's eyes flicked to Kingler and Exeggutor; they were still within inches of one another. "Grab it and toss, with Crabhammer!"
"Ki!" Kingler reached for Exeggutor's many leaves, getting a solid grip. Ignoring its many cries, the water type roared, rearing its claw back to roughly toss his adversary.
"Exeggutor...!" The pokemon's three heads groaned, thrown for a loop before they were lucky enough to land upon their original starting point. It struggled to stand.
"Now, Hyper Beam!"
"Leaf Storm!"
A typhoon of leaves barraged Kingler, scraping his tough skin. He persevered, firing his attack.
The glimmering beam shot across, exploding violently where Exeggutor stood.
Mist and chunks of ice were thrown about amongst the inky smoke that quickly dispersed.
Exeggutor laid on its back, swirls in each of its six eyes.
The referee observed, raising a green flag. "Exeggutor is unable to battle! Victory for the green trainer!"
"Blake put some pressure on Kingler with Trick Room, but with some quick thinking from Ash, it persevered! Now, his opponent must choose his next pokemon!"
"What'd I tell you? The guy's not shabby, but ordinary strategies like that won't hold up to Ash's quick thinking!"
"Hey, you were right! Guess I didn't need to worry." Brock let a smile show, before descending into thought. "Hm… Still, it's remarkable."
Dawn turned to him. "What is?"
"This match-up… Kingler against an Exeggutor. That's the exact match-up Ash had in his very first battle in the Indigo League; Kingler was a Krabby, before it evolved at the end of the battle, but still… What a coincidence."
"Wow. No kidding. But, this battle's just getting started!" Dawn clapped her hands together, turning her eager eyes back to the match.
"Thanks, Exeggutor." Blake recalled it, tossing another pokeball. "Go, Magneton!"
"Ton!" The trio of magnets appeared with a screech.
"Magneton, eh… Great job, Kingler. Return!" Ash reached for his next pokeball.
"Go, Pidgeot!"
The large bird shrieked, orbiting the field. She kept her attentive gaze on Magneton.
"Switching a water type for a flying type against Magneton…?" Blake snorted, smacking his palm to his forehead. "You're irritating. You almost had me worried about this match, but you're already throwing me a bone!"
"Think what you want." Ash grinned, throwing a hand out. "Heat Wave!"
"Magneton, Light Screen!"
Trick Room aided Magneton, quickly erecting a translucent shield that covered its body. The scalding winds crashed into the screen, blistering off to each side.
"Ton…" Magneton groaned, taking on the remaining heat.
"You can forget turning around Trick Room when you're using Pidgeot." Blake smiled to himself, confidence bolstered. "Gyro Ball!"
A spinning blur of silver shot out of the embers, smashing into Pidgeot's chest.
"Pidgeot can take it. Steel Wing!" Ash ordered.
Pidgeot recoiled with a grunt, spinning around to strike with a vengeance. Steel-covered wings smashed into Magneton one after another, each bouncing about with a loud 'clang.'
Each head had been knocked in a different direction, surrounding Pidgeot.
"That was a good strategy," Brock thought aloud. "Trick Room plays into the hands of slower pokemon, and Gyro Ball does more damage, the slower you are compared to your opponent."
"It wasn't bad," Dawn agreed flippantly. "But, he practically set Ash up for this."
"What do you mean?"
"Pidgeot fought another Magneton recently, twice." She smiled, leaning back in her seat. "He's got plenty of counters. And, letting her knock a Magneton's heads apart was a big mistake."
"You're surrounded," Blake boasted. "Magneton, Tri-Attack!"
A crackling orb appeared before each of Magneton's eyes; one red, one blue, and one yellow.
Ash's gaze traced the field. Trick Room's barely visible hold… It'd been flickering.
"Dodge it, with Agility!"
"Are you dense!?"
Tri-Attack's three components fired. A stream of flames, a ray of ice, and a bolt of electricity all encroached upon the alpha. The blasts collided.
"What a devastating Tri-Attack, and from all angles! What will become of Ash's Pidgeot!?"
Blake waited patiently for Pidgeot to drop in a heap. At least, he thought he was patient. "...Well? Don't tell me it tanked that attack!"
"She could've," Ash boasted. "But, she didn't. Look behind you!"
Blake turned his head and flinched. Pidgeot was hovering just overhead. As quickly as she'd appeared, she vanished, zipping across the water field in a tan blur.
"But…!" He scowled. "Trick Room… That was a bold move."
"I just kept my eyes peeled." Ash brushed his thumb over his nose. He was enjoying this.
"Magneton, Thunderbolt!"
The Magnet pokemon reunited, firing a bolt that cut through the air, blasting the spot where Pidgeot had just been.
"Magneton, behind you!"
"Mag… Ton!?" The pokemon turned. It was faced with a large, leering bird of prey, dwarfed by its large, encroaching wings. Magneton panicked, firing another Thunderbolt.
Pidgeot was already gone. She hung towards Ash, cawing in triumph.
Bolts and the concurring scent of o-zone sprayed every which way, snapping and crackling at the water below, which was now more slush than ice.
"Time to wrap this up," Ash proclaimed, throwing a finger towards the sky. "Hurricane!"
"Pidgooo!" She screeched, beating her wings rapidly. A brutal wind tore through the waters, kicking up an airborne whirlpool that quickly surrounded Magneton.
Ash braced himself for the spraying mist and hail. The little that splashed his arm was numbingly cold.
"Mag….!" Magneton moaned, descending from the winds. The three heads floated amongst the slush, sending sparks through the waters. All three eyes had turned to swirls.
The referee raised the green flag, once more. "Magneton is unable to battle! Victory for the green!"
"What a tremendous show of power and speed! In the wake of Trick Room's disappearance, Blake will, once again, be forced to think of a new strategy, if he wants to win this match!"
"Now I see what you mean, Dawn." Brock smiled to himself, holding a thumb and finger to his chin. "He didn't back up his confidence, but Ash sure did. He's not letting anything slide, so far."
The doctor-in-training promptly plugged his ears with his fingers. "But, you don't have to cheer so loud!" He winced, drowned out by the girl's loud hollering and cheering. She was starting to make a scene!
Blake recalled Magneton. "...I'll give you some credit. Your pokemon are fully evolved and fully developed. I can see why you came to this conference so sure of yourself."
"There's more to it than that, but thanks." Ash recalled Pidgeot, quietly thanking her for her hard work. "Let's show 'im, Haunter!"
The pokeball flew through the air, spitting out a long, ghastly wisp. It zipped about the frozen wreckage, barely a sliver before popping up in Ash's face with a cartoonishly long tongue. "Hau-hau!"
Ash chuckled, a bead of sweat dripping down his cheek. "Let's save the jump scares for your opponent, eh, Haunter?"
"Hau!"
"...Every time I try to give you credit, you disappoint me." Even as he said so, the experienced trainer wiped sweat from his dark brow. Evidently, Ash's prowess couldn't be judged merely by appearances. "Go, Quagsire!"
"Sire." The water/ground hybrid stood atop his very own platform.
Ash ignored Blake. "Haunter, Shadow Ball!"
Haunter conjured a crackling orb of darkness, chucking it at Quagsire.
"Use Amnesia!"
"Quag?" She tilted her head, opting to space out, even as she was pummeled with Shadow Ball. She slid across the wet flooring, otherwise unperturbed.
"So, Amnesia buffs up your defenses. Good to know!" Ash fiddled with the brim of his cap.
"You didn't know? Are you sure you didn't use Amnesia, too?" Blake squinted at Ash.
"Ahaha, just needed a reminder. I like learning from experience."
"Hmph. Quagsire, Muddy Water!"
"Haunter, use Shadow Punch!"
Quagsire belched a torrent of mucky water at Haunter, who launched his ghoulish fists.
Quagsire was struck, stumbling back towards the edge of her platform.
Haunter, in turn, was doused in muck. "Hauch!" He coughed up some of the muddy water, his face shriveling in disgust. What's more, he was squinting! The ghost could barely see two feet in front of him.
Ash grimaced. "Haunter! You alright?"
"Haunter…" The ghoul grumbled, floating hands floating and grabbing about, as if they belonged to an elder grabbing around for their spectacles. He couldn't even figure out where Ash's voice was coming from!
"Of course… Muddy Water." Ash frowned. "...Hey, just throw some Shadow Balls down at the water!"
Blake quirked a brow. "What's he up to?"
That, he could do. "Hau!" A Shadow Ball was conjured in each of his hands, chucked down below, one after the next. The blasts came nowhere near Quagsire, instead drenching Haunter with water and mist.
The water settled, and Haunter blinked. Hau… Haunter!" The ghost cackled. He could see again!
"He just needed to wash his eyes out," Ash boasted. "We're back in business!"
"Quagsire, use Ice Punch!"
The Water Fish pokemon jumped at Haunter, her fist glimmering with frost. "Quag… Sire!"
The blow struck true, sending Haunter spinning like a top.
The swirl of purple and blue finally slowed, and Haunter was chilled, clad in frost. He hugged his claws to his amorphous body, teeth loudly chattering. A bitter blue colored his visage.
"Heh." Blake smirked, resting a hand on his hip. "Your Haunter's really feeling that Ice Punch."
"Is he?" Ash snorted, barely able to hold back from snickering.
"Hm?" The methodic trainer squinted.
Under the cartoonish facade, Haunter was… Grinning? He even erupted into laughter, shards of ice dropping from his form like hail.
"How… Unusual!" The announcer's voice cracked; muffled laughter could be heard from the booth before he coughed, regaining composure. "It seems that Haunter is having the time of his life, turning this high-stakes battle into his very own comedy routine!"
The ghost type was satisfied with the chuckles that could be heard from the audience. "Hau!" Clawed hands clasped together to shake about, basking in the approval.
Blake growled, stomping his foot. "Use Yawn!"
Quagsire tilted her head back, loudly yawning. In her sloth, she spawned a large, pink bubble that hovered towards Haunter.
"Haunter, look out!" Ash shouted.
It was futile; the bubble popped, startling the ghost. "Hau…?" What had that been about?
Ash grimaced. "Alright… How're we gonna work around this one."
"Now, Amnesia!"
As the water type made herself oblivious to the fight once more, Haunter yawned loudly. He was beginning to lose altitude.
"We're not knockin' out without a fight," Ash insisted. "Shadow Punch!"
The laxing Haunter launched his fists towards Quagsire. Pitifully, they veered safely out of its way.
With that, Haunter's gassy form formed a snoozing puddle that floated atop the water.
"The Shadow Punch misses, and Haunter's been put to sleep! Ash is facing the pressure, now!"
"Now, that's bad." Brock folded his arms. "Ash is lucky he has two other pokemon left."
"Still, I'd hate to see Haunter miss out on getting his 15 minutes of fame…" Dawn rested her cheek in her palm. "I wonder what Ash plans on doing."
"I'm sure he'll come up with something. Let's hope it's not too late."
"Quagsire, Muddy Water!"
The Water Fish assaulted the water field with another mucky torrent.
Haunter was tossed about, his purple form oozing across the dirty water.
"Now, Ice Punch!"
Quagsire dove into the water, slipping through the grimy deep.
Subsequently, Haunter was launched into the air by a rising uppercut.
"Haunter's taking a beating! How much longer will it last against Quagsire!?"
The water/ground hybrid returned to her platform.
Blake ran a hand through his hair. "Still trusting your instincts, Ash?"
Meanwhile, the purple, oozing puddle that was Haunter began to stir.
Ash smirked, standing tall and sure as ever. "One hundred percent!"
"Your loss. Quagsire, Muddy Water!"
Ash's brows knit low. "Grab it and pull!"
Two barely visible spectral hands seeped through the stage, gripping Quagsire's feet.
Just as Quagsire spit up Muddy Water, she was promptly yanked on her back, yelping loudly. She was drenched with her own Muddy Water.
"What in the world!?" Blake recoiled, looking between Quagsire and Ash. "What just happened!?"
"Haunter woke up at just the right time! Awesome job," Ash praised, before turning back to Blake. "Remember that Shadow Punch from earlier? Haunter never got his hands back, so they just chilled over there while Haunter was snoozing."
"Hauuu!" Haunter rose, shaking himself free of the mud. He retracted his clawed appendages, patting his face to fully wake himself up.
The opposing trainer froze, eyes glazed over. "You're…!" He stepped forward, throwing a hand out. "Ice Punch!"
"Will-o-Wisp, on the water," Ash countered.
Just as Quagsire righted herself, fist frozen, Haunter conjured several floating blue flames. He cackled, tossing them towards Quagsire's end of the field.
They ignited, surrounding Quagsire in a hissing wall of steam.
"Sire…?" The lazy pokemon tilted her head, looking about. There was no Haunter in sight to punch.
Ash smirked. "Now, Haunter, do your stuff!"
Inside the hot vapor, a dark, gaseous figure crawled about, only barely caught by Quagsire's eye. It promptly vanished afterward, allowing the pokemon to rest easy.
"Figures! After that comedy routine, you're gonna hide in the fog! Quagsire, go in there and chase Haunter out!"
The water type, as obedient and gentle as its trainer was arrogant, stepped forward, peering deeply into the vapor but daring not to touch it. It squinted, spotting a patch of darkness. It was very small! How far back into the vapor was Haunter?
The dark dot blinked out of existence. Two hands shot out of the vapor, grasping with wicked claws for Quagsire's shoulders. The water type had been staring dead into Haunter's face the whole time!
If the amphibian's eyes could shrink any further than the tiny pinpoints they were, she would have. Faced with a dreadful, heart-stopping scare as it was, she wailed in fright.
"Now's our chance! Shadow Punch!"
The ghoul's claws retracted, only to slam into Quagsire's abdomen, carrying her high above the steam.
Blake gasped in horror, watching his pokemon tumble through the air. "Use Muddy Water!"
Ash threw a hand forward. "Grab it!"
Shadow Punch gripped its sides.
"Giga Drain!"
A brilliant green light zipped through Haunter's hands and body, sapping Quagsire of its strength.
Within moments, the flickering stopped, and Haunter's detached hands lowered to the platform, laying the unresponsive Water Fish on its back.
The referee raised the green flag a final time. "Quagsire is unable to battle! Victory goes to Ash and Haunter!"
"It's over! Ash Ketchum has made a stunning entrance, winning his first match without losing a single pokemon! Even under pressure, he proved to have a cool head!"
Stunned silence turned to roaring cheers, many shouting Ash and Haunter's names.
"Yes! Alright, Ash! Way to knock that jerk down a peg!" Dawn whooped, pumping a fist in the air.
"Blake must feel pretty foolish, right now. Ash, on the other hand… He must feel like a million bucks." Brock beamed, folding his arms. "Even I didn't see that sleeping trap coming!"
"I know I didn't~!" May sing-songed, leaning over Dawn and Brock's seats.
Brock yelped, recoiling from the girl's sudden appearance. "Where'd you come from!?"
"You nearly pulled a Haunter on us!" Dawn exhaled, holding her chest.
"Just got back from Max's first match~ He's moving on to the next round!"
"Good for him!" Brock beamed. "So… How much of that did you see?"
"I caught the last minute or two, scrambling through the crowd to find you guys! That Ash… I can see why he was so cocky!"
"Well, I'm not surprised," Dawn smugly proclaimed.
"He's your boyfriend, of course you're not," May deadpanned.
"I was still right!"
"...Hm." Blake quietly returned Quagsire, exiting the arena.
"Excellent job, Haunter! You put on a real show!" Ash high-fived Haunter; for what it was worth, as their hands slipped right through one another. They both paused, looking down at their hands before laughing. The happy ghoul was returned to his pokeball afterward.
Just as Ash was ready to return to the main hall, he was ambushed by reporters with cameras.
"Mr. Ketchum! How do you feel about coming out of your first match with no losses?"
"Uh, pretty great!" The teen reached to rub the back of his head; he always hated having a camera thrown in his face. Pikachu, meanwhile, clung to Ash's hair.
"Can you tell us how you managed to keep a cool head and maintain your advantage, despite numerous upsets from your opponent?"
"Hm…" Ash held a hand to his chin, the opposite hand coddling Pikachu. "I guess the best advice I can give, is to not tie yourself down to one strategy working out! Working everything out on paper sounds nice, but battles are never that predictable; you're better off being ready to go with the flow!"
Approving hums and chatter followed, and the last to question Ash spoke up. "Advice that any trainer listening to this is sure to benefit from! Thank you, Ash!"
"No problem! But, uh, we've gotta get going, bye!" Ash waved them off, exiting the arena.
Still in the competitors-only section of the stadium, Ash tried to spot out a nursing station before he met up with his friends. While he was eager to celebrate, he wanted first to reward his team with a good rest.
"See anything promising, buddy? I maybe shoulda turned left when we left the field," Ash said to his starter.
"Pi…" the mouse replied, standing atop his friend's head as a lookout. "... Chu! Pika!"
"Good eye! Let's go!"
As the two jogged over to the secluded nursing station, they saw another figure waiting at the counter of the tiny booth. Arms resting on the flat surface and his palms under his chin, their briefly contended rival Blake looked to be rather discontent.
"Hey!" Ash called out, all hint of previous sass drained. "How's the team?"
"Don't patronize me," Blake spat, looking at Ash from the corner of his eye.
The teen frowned, crossing his arms. "Hey, I'm askin' seriously. You might have a crap attitude, but your pokemon were giving it their all, you know? I wanna make sure they're okay."
A tense silence ran between the two. Ash settled on handing over his pokeballs to the attending nurse when she came over to him. Before she returned with Blake's tray, he spoke up.
"... Why'd you win? You put so many handicaps on yourself, and you still won! You're my age, so it's not just experience. I've studied strategies from all the greats. You've been rumored to be illiterate. I don't get it! No offense, but you shouldn't have won! My team's better! Just, statistically speaking!"
"People think I'm illiterate?" Ash quipped, brows quirking. "Where'd that even… Ugh, anyways, back to your actual question." He scratched the back of his head before plucking Pikachu down to hold in his arms. "Well, I don't spend much time asking why this or the meaning of that! I mean, sometimes stuff makes sense, but if it doesn't work, it doesn't work! As a friend of mine says, no need to worry! Just work with how things are! Don't throw a fit, you know?"
"That's so halfhearted," Blake lamented. "That's not motivation."
"Yes, it is!" Ash insisted. "It's not taking any excuses! You see my buddy Pikachu here?! I wasn't really supposed to get him! But, I decided to make the best of it, and now we're best friends and he's one of my strongest pokemon!"
"Pika," the mouse chirped proudly before climbing onto Ash's shoulder, a paw on his chest.
Blake hummed. "He is statistically one of our highest performing, if I recall. Plus, I've heard species specialists theorize his physical power output is-"
"See! That's the kinda thing I mean! You're thinking about it too much! You're questioning stuff that doesn't matter too much! My Pikachu doesn't matter to you! You should focus on your own team and how to bring out the best in them!"
The other hummed, putting his pokeballs back on his hip. "... I suppose it couldn't hurt to spend some time just focusing on the strengths of my own team instead of what everyone else does. But, what if it doesn't work out…?"
"Hey, do you think your team goes around asking what if your instructions don't work out?"
Blake's eyes widened. "Right! Well." He adjusted his collar. "I'll be going. Do me a favor; don't win in a weird way here. It'll embarrass me."
Ash leaned against the counter as Blake walked off, frowning. "I just told that jerk what I do doesn't matter for him."
"Max! Max!" Ash called. He'd ducked outside earlier to meet up with everyone else, but May, Dawn, and Brock said that they hadn't seen Koda or Max. May was a little worried that, given Koda's sudden avoidant nature after Max's first match, he might be getting antsy about the league. "Koda? Max! Koda!"
"Ash?" both boys said in unison, poking their heads out from around a corner.
"Where have you two been?" he chided. "May's been worried. I mean, I think it's kinda dumb, because we were all this age walking around by ourselves, but she said something about you and crowds? Anyways, she's worried."
Koda pointed forward. "I came back to hang with Max when May went to go watch you. We found this spot. Check it out. You can see the monitors but it's not in the stadium seating area."
Ash looked forward, blinking dumbly. Sure enough, right across from the little break in the wall, almost like a balcony, was the monitor! He wondered what this area was for.
"Uh, you always have this stupid look whenever you're wondering stuff!" Max snapped.
"Hey, be nice! You're not too little for me to noogie!" Ash hissed back.
Max straightened up and sniffed before explaining. "I'm pretty sure it's for the staff around here. Before electronics were around, they'd have to hear the old-fashioned announcements. This'd let sound in from an Exploud making an announcer louder, all around the backstage area."
"... Boring," Ash said before looking across.
Plainly ignoring Max's irritation and Koda's mild amusement, Ash looked to the monitor. He grinned. He had seen Samurai earlier! There he was, completely in control of the battle on the grass field! As he scanned the rest of the screens, he couldn't help but quirk his head. The name Jimmy ran familiar to him, but he couldn't quite place why. He wondered if he'd battled the boy on the rock field before, or if he was just a high enough ranking trainer that Ash had seen his name around. Finally, he spotted Deidra. He was shocked, really, to see how intense she looked. Somehow, he'd expected her to have a dignified, restrained demeanor. Instead, she was going so far as to stomp the ground as she called for the final blow in her match on the ice field.
"A couple of other trainers have gotten three to zeroes," Koda said after a moment of silence. "A lot of 'em got big, cool teams. There are big grown-ups like you, too."
Ash looked down. "You think I'm a grown up?"
"He's only like sixteen," Max corrected.
Koda blinked. "Whoa, really?! But, you're so tall! And, like, jacked! I kinda thought you were maybe, like, a fighting type specialist before Max told me what was up!"
If only he'd heard these compliments when he was ten and shrimpy and short. A hand under his chin, Ash absolutely beamed. "I can see why you'd think that. I am super jacked. But, no, I'm not a grown up. Most of the people here are probably teenagers or really young adults."
"Don't get worried, though. If a ten-year-old Ash could beat them, then we'll definitely do fine, Koda."
Ash cut his eyes at Max. Max looked up at Ash.
Max immediately tried to run away. "MAY! MAY!"
"I told you!" Ash yelled.
Pikachu jumped from his trainer's shoulder as Ash grabbed Max around his shoulders with one arm, the other fist digging into Max's scalp.
"Say uncle, say uncle!"
"Koda, help me!" Max whined.
Koda shook his head, squatting by Pikachu to let the electric type sniff his hand. "Dude, no. His bicep's like two of my arms. Shut up next time."
"Traitor! MAY!"
As our hero released his young friend, he felt certain this league would be interesting as well as challenging. Fiery, passionate anticipation to prove his mettle burned within his heart, and Pikachu's, as well!
