An explicit tension in the air silenced the group. Ash clenched his fists, eyes locked on the disciplined warrior. Finally, he smiled. "I was wondering when I'd run into you, here. Didn't think you'd get out of facing me, did ya?"
"It's not like you to act like we're enemies, Ash." Samurai smirked. "And, it's been months since I've seen you."
"Just setting the mood." Ash grinned.
Misty blanched, pointing a finger. "I remember you! You were that bug type trainer who attacked us in the forest. But, that was a lot more than a couple months ago…"
"Attacked you?" Brock quirked a brow. He didn't remember this guy at all. "Not to be rude, but who are you, exactly?"
"Forgive me. I am Samurai!" Wooden sandals clacked against the pavement as he took a dramatic stance, his hand hovering over the sheath of his blade. "A bug type trainer who recently came out of retirement, to test his might at the Indigo League Conference!"
"Why is everyone here so cheesy?" Koda scoffed, wrinkling his nose.
"This is a pokemon league, not a fight to the death," Max agreed.
"It's a little thing called 'style!'" Dawn defended, clasping her hands. "It's good to see you, again! I knew you'd be here to compete!" The fact that her speech had inspired a fellow trainer to climb the plateau made her heart swell with pride.
"It's good to see you again, Ash, Misty, Dawn." He ignored Max and Koda. "And, Dawn, I have you to thank for bringing me here! I'm confident I'm not the only one who's improved."
"Not at all!" Dawn boasted, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Ash and I have powered up!"
"Yeah, so watch out!" Ash teased, lifting the brim of his cap.
"Pika-chu!" Pikachu goaded as well, smiling wide at their potential opponent.
"I'm happy to hear that." Samurai reached low, drawing his blade from his hip, pointing it squarely at Ash. "...Because you are my next opponent!"
"Hey, watch where you point that thing!" Brock blurted, throwing a hand defensively on Ash's shoulder.
"Are you nuts!?" Max blurted, even as he hid behind May.
"I am!?" Ash blurted, pointing towards himself.
"Pika!?" Pikachu gawked.
"No way!" Dawn cooed.
"You are." Samurai held his weapon steady, ignoring the worried shouts and hushed whispers of passersby. "I already drew my lot, and I was fortunate enough to have you selected as my opponent! Your fortune, however, isn't so great."
Ash smirked, suppressing any uncomfortable feelings he had with the blade. He had to look cool here. "In that case, I won't disappoint you!" He reached for his own belt, drawing a pokeball to point towards Samurai, passing his blade.
"Oooh, hold still, hold still!" May cooed, sliding over towards Ash and Samurai, her index and pointer fingers held in front of one eye. "Because it's time for a long-awaited return of May's Expeditions!" She winked, turning her 'camera' between Ash and Samurai.
"Today, at the Indigo League Conference, we're bearing witness to a burning rivalry between two old friends, pitted together in a battle to decide who gets to move on towards the gold!" She narrated with zeal, hopping back and forth for different angles. "The bug trainer, Samurai, points a shimmering sword towards his opponent, Ash Ketchum, but he shows no sign of fear! This is bound to be a match for the ages!"
Ash chuckled, dropping his dramatic act. "I haven't seen that in a while…" He blinked, then pointed at Samurai. "Hold on! How come you waited so long to tell me that we're paired up in the next round!?"
The trainer sheathed his sword, folding his arms. "I was withholding it for dramatic effect."
The rest of the group nearly collapsed in exasperation.
"I swear, all you know is drama." Misty sighed, resting her hands on her hips.
"It's a way of life. Anyway," he turned to Ash, "our match is tomorrow. So, be prepared."
"Nothing to worry about." Ash smiled, brushing his thumb over his nose. "See you then."
"Until then." Samurai turned, disappearing into a crowd. "Farewell."
"Oh, excuse- get out of the way!" May barked, shoving past a pedestrian to snap a few more imaginary shots of the man's retreat. "What a dramatic exit~! The atmosphere for the coming match is as heavy as a generous bowl of noodles after a long day! That's all, for now, of May's Expeditions!"
"Well, I don't think anyone's changed too much." Misty smiled, crossing her arms.
"May certainly hasn't," Brock agreed. "Now she's got me hungry."
There was a pause. Everyone had looked to Ash.
He turned around, growing self-conscious. "...What?"
"You're not gonna agree about wanting to stuff your face?" Max prodded.
"Oh, yeah. Sure." Ash shrugged. "Right now, I'm just fired up for my match."
"Wow. He's really excited." Dawn cooed. "This is going to be so much fun!"
It'd been awhile since she got to genuinely relax. So, sitting on the front lawn of the rented Indigo Village competitor's cabin, Misty enjoyed a little sunbathing in one of the available lounge chairs.
"This is the life."
"Psy!" her little water type agreed, holding up his own little mirrored sun enhancer.
She lowered her shades. "... I'm gonna let that pass." Just as she was about to raise her shades back up, she caught a glimpse of two old friends. Well, one was quite literally old, but the other only figuratively.
Misty stood, giggling.
"Oh my gosh! Professor Oak! Delia! Welcome! You didn't tell us you were headed up!"
"Well, we meant to get here in the morning as a surprise during one of Ash's matches," Delia explained, stepping inside the fenced yard. She put down the basket of food she was carrying, embracing Misty briefly.
Oak huffed. "Well, you see, one of my old students caught up at the Viridian train station. We meant to arrive on the morning commuter train from the Viridian shopping district to Indigo Village, but we missed that, so we had to wait for the evening train."
"It was so nice to see an old classmate, though!" Delia said. "Oh, gosh, that reminds me! I think Molly starts her journey next year, right? I should start planning my trip to Johto! Someone's going to have to watch the restaurant for me."
"Molly? You mean that Molly?" Misty inquired.
Before anyone could answer, Brock and Dawn stepped out of the doorway.
"Delia!" Brock said.
"The poetry man!" Dawn cheered.
"Hi, kids!" Delia waved to the two.
Professor Oak snorted with pride. "Ah, there's my favorite little literary aficionado!"
"Your… favorite?" Dawn squealed before darting to Professor Oak's side, practically bouncing around him.
Ignoring Dawn's stars truck behavior rather admirably, Brock walked up to Delia. "Welcome! I just picked up some groceries. We're probably having salads tonight. All the restaurants around here are really fatty."
"And, the ones that aren't have suckish atmosphere!" Misty interjected.
"Yes, the ones that don't have fatty food have suckish atmosphere," Brock echoed with a roll of his eyes, however visible that might be. "Anyways, if you'd like to join us, I can set some spots at the table for you."
"That sounds delightful!" The woman looked around, hand under her chin. "Though… Where's my son?"
"Or, Pikachu for that matter?" Oak asked, looking up from the book he and Dawn had been pouring over.
"They went to this lake just outside the village," Brock explained. "He said something about doing some training."
"I think he just didn't want Max to see. They're booked in a cabin somewhere around here." With that, Misty flopped back onto her lounge chair.
"Well, I wanna go see my boy!" Delia insisted.
Professor Oak closed his book. "Right. I'd like to check on his pokemon, too."
"But… But… He'll be back for dinner!" Dawn whined. "Why don't we all just wait on him?"
"Dawn?" Delia began, knowing exactly how to solve this problem. "You know, the woods around the Indigo Plateau are so pretty… I'm sure if Professor Oak goes with me to find Ash, he'll get inspired… Maybe after a good dinner and a little rest, he might even write a poem about his walk in the woods!"
That was all it took to get Dawn to straighten up. Slamming the gate open, she pointed in the direction Ash had gone. "It's about a mile outside of the village!"
As Delia and Samuel set off, Brock let out a huff of exasperation.
"Delia played her like a fiddle…" he noted, somewhere between impressed and frightened.
Misty put her shades back on. "What did you expect? That is Ash's mom. As much as I love them both, they're the same kind of moron. If Delia can handle Ash, she can handle Dawn."
A gentle breeze stirred the lake outside of Indigo Plateau, giving birth to the occasional ripple in the glimmers of moonlight that touched the water's surface. A Magikarp occasionally surfaced before diving back under.
A perfectly serene background for a trainer and his two pokemon.
Ash sat in front of the lake, legs crossed, with Pikachu on one side of him, and Rosa on the other. All three had shut their eyes to the world in quiet meditation, drawing slow, easy breaths. Their minds were clear, for the most part. The gentle buzzing of nocturnal pokemon going about their business didn't so much as stir them.
That, after all, was their goal.
Pikachu put his trance on hold to wipe sweat from his forehead, breathing a bit heavier than the rest. "Pika…"
His voice made Rosa's ear twitch. ~P-papa?~
Ash opened one eye, directing it towards the Lucario. "What's up?"
~You sure I shouldn't do some training, too? Pikachu already did!~
"Pikachu had his reasons to train." The faint scent of smoke and ash still occasionally lingered, from charred dirt and grass, not far off. "And you have your reasons to meditate. Right now, you just need to conserve your energy for tomorrow. Besides," he reached over, scratching behind her ear. "All you need to do is make sure you're calm and psyched for tomorrow!"
The Lucario tilted her head. ~H-how can I be both?~
"Well, that's easy! You…" Ash started, trailing off as his nose started to twitch. He smelled something savory.
"Calm as a Slowpoke, vigorous as a Primeape, you're sure to succeed." The voice of an old man chimed in.
Ash jolted around, startled. "Professor Oak! Mom!"
The elderly man, sporting his usual lab coat stood before him, along with Delia, who was wearing a short-sleeved jacket and blouse. She had two plastic bags hooked on one arm.
"Sorry we took so long~!" Delia excused, twirling one of her dark locks. "Oh, you don't have to stand up, honey." Delia knelt to the group, setting down the bags. "I brought you three something to chow on; you can't train on an empty stomach!"
"Oh, thanks!" Ash opened the bags - he found one large bowl of instant ramen, heated, and several smaller bowls of the same, designed to be sipped, for a pokemon's convenience. He handed the latter to Pikachu and Rosemary. "But, I didn't know you guys were coming to watch… But, now that I think about it, it was kind of weird that Tracey was the only one at the lab, the other day."
"We wouldn't miss it for the world!" Delia intertwined her fingers. "Not your big break."
"I have a good feeling in these old bones about your outcome." The pokemon authority folded his arms behind his back. He looked off, towards the scorched earth nearby. "Either you've been busy, or a disgruntled trainer must've let off some steam."
"Pikachu and I have been training," Ash explained, giving Pikachu a gentle pat on the back.
The mouse yelped, nearly spilling his ramen. "Pikaaa," he complained, going back to slurping.
"Sorry," Ash apologized. "We've been working super hard to make up for lost time. Can't go into an event this big without a few tricks up our sleeve!"
"I take it that he's making great strides to recovery, then. That's great news." Oak's lips creased into pleased, dimpled smile.
"He sure has! We had a real heart-to-heart on the way up here." Ash smiled down at his companion, reaching to more gently stroke his ear.
"P-chuuhh!" Pikachu enunciated in the middle of a slurp, his ears laxing, lopsided.
"And, Rosemary? You look a bit on edge." Oak knelt to the Lucario, staring into her ruby hues.
She quickly turned away, flustered by the eye contact. ~Just a little…!~
"Rosa's not good with crowds," Ash explained. "Even getting her to be comfy sitting in one is a challenge. So, she's a little worried about tomorrow. Too much commotion going on at once is overwhelming for her, and you know how big that stadium is."
"I see. Stage fright would be a fatal handicap in the middle of a battle." Oak placed a gentle, wrinkled hand on the pokemon's shoulder. "And, a Lucario's natural sensory abilities would make it that much more difficult. But, they can work to your advantage."
~How's that gonna work?~ Rosa relayed through her thoughts as she slurped her noodles.
"Well, your senses are acute - I'm sure you, as a pokemon, know that better than anybody. Especially with your ability to track aura, overstimulation could be quite the problem… But, if you focus all those great senses on one thing, and one thing alone, the rest of the world will seem insignificant. Keep your senses keen on your opponent. Let them be the object of all of your intuition. Ahem," he coughed into his fist. "Lucario's pride, lies in its greatest treasure, a keen eye for life."
Rosa was momentarily silent. With glimmering eyes, she nodded. ~R-right! I'll try and stick to the battle!~
"That's the spirit," Ash praised, setting down his bowl with a content sigh. His eyes turned up towards the many stars in the sky. "Tomorrow's going to be a good day… This match is more than just a match."
"I thought Samuel was the one who spoke in riddles," Delia quipped.
"Seriously. Samurai was the first trainer I battled on my journey. Back then, I made a fool of myself - he was right; I was a novice. And he was Rosa's first real opponent, too. Back then, she wasn't ready." He caught Rosa's sideways glance, and continued.
"But, now we have another chance. This'll be our big moment - a chance to test just how much we've improved, since then!" Ash flashed a big, toothy grin.
"You'll do just fine." Delia knelt, lightly ruffling Ash's dark, messy hair. "You've come a long way."
"I don't have a doubt in my mind," Oak agreed, standing back up. "You've learned and grown plenty since you left home, Ash, and that's an understatement. I'm sure the same is true for Rosemary."
"Pikachu, Rosa," Ash started, holding a hand out between them, palm down. "Let's give it our all, together!"
~Y-yeah! We'll beat 'em!~ Rosa chirped, placing her paw atop Ash's hand.
"Pi-Pikachu!" Pikachu cried, putting his paw atop hers.
Sunlight had barely slipped through the cracks of the blinds. Ash, Pikachu, Misty, and Brock laid sound asleep, nestled up in their cots. Nary a sound could be heard, except for gentle, calculated steps along the wooden floor.
Dawn turned the doorknob as slowly and quietly as possible, quietly tip-toeing out of the cabin's bedroom, with a bag slung over her shoulder. Rura trotted behind her, barely holding back a snicker as the door slid shut.
Back in the room, Ash continued to doze, his limbs stretched about the mattress, pardoning the arm that held Pikachu to his chest. With his mouth wide open, it was a miracle he wasn't snoring.
His and Pikachu's peaceful slumber would continue for several more minutes undisturbed, until finally, a single finger tapped Ash's shoulder. He didn't respond.
The culprit pursed her lips, and tapped again, twice, this time. Ash stirred, but did little more.
Dawn uttered a quiet huff in frustration, instead reaching to gently nudge Pikachu.
"Pi…?" Pikachu squirmed, stretching out for a high-pitched yawn. "Cha…!" He blinked, rubbing his eyes. "Pikaka?" What was Dawn doing up so early?
"Sorry, Pikachu, but I need your help for just a moment," Dawn whispered with a mischievous grin, a finger held up to her lips. "I need to give Ash a lil' wake-up call. You think you could help me? For old time's sake?"
"Pi…?" Pikachu tilted his head. He soon understood. "Pika-Pikachu!"
Dawn cupped her hand over her mouth to keep herself quiet. "Then, let's see that Thunderbolt Alarm Clock!" With that, Dawn tip-toed back from the bed, as did Rura.
"Pikachu…" Pikachu sported a mischievous grin, his cheeks crackling. "Pika… Pikachu!"
The room illuminated with a loud, crackling bolt, only to be outdone by a loud, pained yelp from Ash.
Misty and Brock jolted up, and Ash collapsed in a crackling heap.
"Ergh…" Misty groaned, rubbing her eyes. "What's the big idea, Pikachu!?"
"He might've had another…" Brock yawned, "nightmare." With a grumble, he stood to flip the light switch.
"It's way too early for that, Pikachu…" Ash complained, sitting up. He rubbed his eyes, forced to adjust when light filled the room. He dropped his fist, and his jaw hit the floor.
"It's never too early for a little shock and awe!" Dawn grinned, standing tall with a pom-pom raised towards Ash, her opposite pom-pom resting on her hip. The bluenette was clad in a brand-new cheerleader's outfit, rather similar to her old top and skirt, boasting more white trim bordering the traditional hot pink. Her hair was clipped back into a ponytail, and Rura hopped atop her shoulder, sporting Piplup's old matching outfit. He couldn't help but snicker at Ash's face.
She had a moment to soak in Ash's speechless gaze, and reveled in it, looking smug as could be. "Thunderbolts and Hydro Pumps, He'll leave his opponents stumped! His team's the best, there's no doubt, they'll blow the competition out!" Dawn chanted, waving her pom-poms high. "Goooo, Ash!"
The trainer whose praises were sung was, indeed, speechless, left with a big, dumb smile spanning from cheek to cheek. Before he could open his mouth, someone else did.
"Dawn, your enthusiasm's nice," Brock grumbled, "but it's barely seven in the morning."
"You could've saved this for the stadium," Misty agreed.
"...Oh. Whoops!" Dawn threw a pom-pom behind her head with nervous laughter. "Sorry! I guess I was just so excited that I couldn't stay asleep!"
"I don't know about you guys, but I feel pumped already!" Ash flew to his feet, both of his fists pumped. He suddenly paused. "...Hey, how come you didn't say anything about this, sooner?"
"If you can keep secrets about your training, I can do some plotting of my own!" Dawn tutted, her hands on her hips. "Besides, Rura really wanted to cheer for his mama!"
"Well, he looks great," Ash praised.
~Duh!~ Rura snickered, raising a paw. ~She's the best!~
"And, I know you can't complain!" Dawn snagged Ash by the shoulder, reeling him in. "There's no way you can lose, with a gorgeous cheerleader rooting you on!" She winked. She was chiefly just building up her own vanity, but it didn't hurt that it doubled as flirting.
"I can't argue with that!" Ash grinned, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Victory's on its way!"
Misty groaned loudly, reaching to snag Brock roughly by the ear. "This is your fault, for influencing Ash! I told you all of your skirt chasing would get to him, one day!"
"A-ahhh! Oww!" Brock yelped, struggling with Misty's grip. "Hey, whatever happened definitely went down in my absence, so don't blame me!" Finally, he wrestled his ear free, tenderly rubbing it. "Well, I'm glad you two are pumped up - a little extra enthusiasm never hurt. But, if you're going to follow in my footsteps, don't fall for your heart's weakness during the competition. You remember what Mr. Goodshow said. You'll need a clear head at all times."
"Yeah, yeah. My head'll be clear by then; the match isn't for a few hours." Ash waved his hand. Pikachu had managed to slip between his cheek and Dawn's, sitting atop both of their shoulders. "Besides, it'll be pretty cool hearing a cheer routine just for me, again!"
Misty huffed. There was no use in staying grumpy. "Just don't turn out like Gary was back in the day, alright?" She cast Ash a cheeky smirk.
"Hey, hey, it's a once in a blue moon thing! I don't have a gaggle of girls following me."
"The Gary Oak!?" Dawn gasped, holding a pom-pom to her mouth in offense. "There's no way that that Gary would act that way!"
Somewhere, in Sinnoh's wilderness, a man in his teens patiently watched the battling methods of a western Shellos. In the midst of his quiet observation, he sneezed.
"Achoo! Ugh," Gary complained, wiping his nose with a handkerchief. "Someone must be running their mouth about me. I blame Ashy-boy."
"Anyway, I can't lose!" Ash pulled Dawn in closer, his face smushed against Pikachu's. "...But, just to be safe, let's catch breakfast so I don't go in on an empty stomach."
"And, we're here on the rock field, for the last of the preliminary rounds! Between Ash and Samurai, one of these two formidable trainers will move on to the final rounds! The fight to move on is sure to be fierce!"
Two elevated boxes towered over each side of the craggy, uneven terrain.
The red box hosted Ash, who clutched a pokeball tightly in his hand. Pikachu stood atop the railing beside him. With furrowed brows, he watched his opponent step towards the edge of his own. "You heard 'em. I'm not going to lose!"
"Hmph." The other teen smirked. "I admire your confidence, Ash. But, today, I intend to succeed, no matter my obstacle!"
"The tension is already building between the competitors! Is this a friendly rivalry, or a fierce showdown!? Let's watch and find out!"
The referee threw his hand up. "Begin!"
"Go! Butterfree!" Samurai started, tossing a pokeball off of the ledge.
"Free~!" The bug type swept across the rocky field, showing off its speed, before returning to Samurai.
Ash grew quiet, watching the butterfly circle about.
"I thought this would be fairly poetic for our battle. You, yourself, showed me how formidable a Butterfree could be, when we first met! And, after our last encounter, you inspired him to grow far stronger than ever before. You ought to be proud, Ash. You and your Butterfree were an inspiration to us both."
Ash averted his eyes, playing with the brim of his cap.
"The red trainer must send out his first pokemon, or he will be disqualified!" The referee chimed in.
"Pika… Pikapi!" Pikachu waved his arms about. Talk about bad timing. But, Ash needed to get his head back in the game.
"...Right, sorry!" Ash winded up, chucking his own pokeball.
With a bright flash, a Garchomp appeared.
"Flamethrower!" Ash barked, throwing a hand out.
The Mach pokemon threw its head forward, launching the stream of heat.
"A clever start, but not enough. Dodge, with Quiver Dance!"
A bright glow illuminated Butterfree, leaving faint afterimages as the pokemon buzzed about in the air, safely dodging Flamethrower's wrath.
"That move again." Ash squinted. He could see where this was going. "Use Night Slash!"
Samurai squinted, unsure whether his helmet had obstructed his hearing. "Did he say, 'Night Slash?'"
Garchomp lunged at Butterfree, slashing at the bug type with violet-tinted claws.
Butterfree, however, slipped comfortably out of harm's way.
"Excellent work. Use Tackle!"
Butterfree zipped in with ease, smashing into Garchomp's side in mid-air.
The dragon was swiftly knocked back towards the earth, where it dug its claws into the dirt.
"Quiver Dance is making it one really fast Butterfree… Use Agility, then Night Slash!"
The Mach pokemon lived up to its name, sporadically disappearing and reappearing from one spot on the field to the next. Even jagged boulders perched the speedy pokemon that refused to stay in one place.
"Free!?" Butterfree floated about frantically.
"Keep a sharp eye on it!" Samurai instructed. "Don't fall for its mind games!"
"Too late," Ash boasted.
Garchomp lunged at Butterfree, tinted claws ready.
"Once again, you're the fool!" Samurai smirked. "Use Psychic!"
"Free!" Butterfree trilled, swiftly turning towards Garchomp. Surrounded in a blue glow, he countered the attack with a potent psychic blast.
Garchomp slashed across Butterfree's abdomen, showing no signs of slowing down.
"But, how!?" Samurai gawked, sweat dripping down his forehead.
Butterfree plummeted, roughly bouncing off one of the rocks. "Free…!"
"What's this!? Somehow, Garchomp doesn't seem to be affected by Psychic, whatsoever! Is Ash's pokemon simply that powerful!? Things might be looking bad for Butterfree!"
"Oh, dear." Delia cupped her mouth with her hand. "I hadn't realized Ash's pokemon had gotten that strong!"
"Curious." Professor Oak thought aloud. "It's true that Ash's pokemon are a cut above the rest, but I have a hunch that there's more to this battle than a mere difference in power."
"Ash is doing a good job keeping a lid on it, that's for sure," Misty smiled.
"Is there something I'm missing?" Delia looked to Brock.
"Just wait," Dawn replied, holding Rura snugly in her lap. The Zorua only stared, for once, silent.
"Suspicious." Samurai grimaced. "Very suspicious…"
Ash's brow twitched. "I think he's catching on," he whispered to Pikachu. "But, he's never met her before. And what he doesn't know, will hurt him."
"Pi-Pikachu!" Pikachu agreed, an ear bouncing.
"Butterfree, use Bug Buzz!"
The bug type had regained flight, and he countered with a loud, shrill sound wave, carried with its greatest intensity by a series of red rings. This time, the attack hit its mark, pulverizing the defending pokemon.
Garchomp roared, smashing into a large boulder behind it, leaving a rather large dent.
But, the pokemon hunched over wasn't Garchomp. Certainly not, judging by the sleek, skinny grey body, or the blood-red claws, or the flowing scarlet, black-tipped mane.
"What's this!?" The announcer hollered. "It seems Ash's Garchomp wasn't truly a Garchomp at all! I'm not sure what exactly is going on, but I would like to believe that this isn't involved in some form of cheating!"
The crowd buzzed loudly with confusion and clamor, awestruck by the sudden change.
"Cheating!?" Ash's face fell. "Get with the program. I registered her already."
"...Oh! My apologies, onlookers; I was wrong about this one! This is a Zoroark! Its ability is Illusion, allowing it to take on the appearance of other pokemon during battle! It's giving us some technical difficulties, but we'll have them corrected shortly." Ash's end of the scoreboard was filled with static, where Garchomp's image had been. "But, hey, I guess I can't give spoilers, huh?"
"Oh, so it was Meema!" Delia beamed, folding her hands in her lap. "I should've known."
"Well, my hunch was correct!" Professor Oak proclaimed, proudly folding his arms.
~That's my Meema!~ Rura grinned, waving his paws. ~Kick some bug butt!~
"Now, you'll get to see how tough Meema really is!" Dawn raised a pom-pom to cheer. "One! Two! Three! Four! Who's the fox that we adore! Five! Six! Seven! Eight! One thing's for sure; you're doing great!"
Rura scurried up atop Dawn's head, finishing the cheer with a loud howl. ~Gooooo, Meema!~
"So, you're playing with deception now. Well, color me impressed." Samurai smirked. "I've never seen that pokemon before, but I promise to defeat it, regardless! A Samurai won't fall to such simple tricks."
"We've got more than tricks up our sleeve. Right, Meema?"
The Zoroark was standing by now, hunched forward on all fours. She responded to Ash with a howl, icy eyes locked on Butterfree.
"Good. Flamethrower!"
A stream of fire was spit at Butterfree.
"Use Psychic!"
"Free!" Butterfree illuminated, willing the fire to stop with telekinesis. With a flap of its wings, the assault was thrown back towards Meema.
"Block it, with Night Daze!"
Meema briefly stood on all fours, her forelegs lit with eerie streaks of violet. With a roar, she slammed her paws into the ground, rattling the field with a booming, scarlet shockwave.
Flamethrower collided with the burst, clouding the battlefield in a dark explosion.
"Night Slash!"
A streak of scarlet and grey launched out of the smoke, slashing Butterfree's abdomen.
"Stay strong, Butterfree! Use Bug Buzz!"
Butterfree launched another assault of sonic rings at the Zoroark.
"Dodge that!" Ash ordered.
Landing atop a rock, Meema did just that, jumping to the next elevated point. Meanwhile, the first shattered under the pressure.
"Flamethrower!"
Meema kept her perch, throwing her head to launch another blaze.
"Dodge, with Quiver Dance!"
Butterfree shone once more, swerving about. But, this time, the incoming inferno was too large to duck. Butterfree shrieked, barraged by the heat.
"Yes!" Ash grinned, pumping a fist. "Direct hit!"
Smoke turned to grey wisps, though, and Butterfree endured, despite the occasional burn on its wings. "Free!" It chattered, blowing the smoke away.
"It tanked it!? Quiver Dance really is impressive." Ash smirked. "You raised it well, Samurai!"
"Only the greatest for my bug types." Samurai smiled in return. "Use Bug Buzz!"
"Free-eee~!" Stubborn, the bug type launched another sonic assault.
"Counter, with Night Daze!" Ash called out.
Meema stood, chilling eyes trailing wisps of teal. Her forelegs hung high above her head, brought down to pound the ground with a thunderous roar. Swirls of red and violet expanded in a dome, bursting rocks and boulders about it to pieces. It met its challenger in Bug Buzz, the malleable dome giving in shape.
The colliding attacks exploded, sending hot and cool hues in every direction.
The after-effects faded. Butterfree was embedded in a large boulder, unconscious.
The referee raised a red flag. "Butterfree is unable to battle! Victory to the red trainer!"
~Awriiight, Meema!~ Rura yipped, bouncing atop Dawn's head.
Dawn didn't even think to fret about her hair, loudly whooping herself. "Way to go, Meema! You're the best!" With that praise, she pumped her pom-poms in the air.
"I knew she had it in her!" Misty smirked. "Never underestimate a momma."
"You've learned from the best~!" Delia teased. "Oh, she was wonderful!"
"A bit of a close call," Professor Oak remarked. "But, they came out fine, all the same."
"Yes!" Ash punched the air, elated. "Excellent work, Meema!"
"Pi-Pikachu!" Pikachu agreed.
The Zoroark huffed, shaking the dust out of her fur. She turned to Ash with a smile, doing her best to imitate a 'thumbs-up.' ~Happy to be of service, Leader.~
A bead of sweat rolled down Ash's cheek. "Ahaha, don't sweat it. Now, let's win this thing!"
"Return, Butterfree!" The bug's shape disappeared into a red flash, retreating to its pokeball. Samurai smiled down at the capsule. "You fought well. Now, I'll call on… Beedrill!"
The Poison Bee pokemon appeared, hovering above Samurai's end of the field. Its beating wings buzzed, and eerie red eyes stared down the Zoroark. It smashed its two needles together, like knives ready to be sharpened.
"Beedrill, again… I know you're not familiar with 'em, but their attacks are dangerous, so be careful," Ash warned.
The Illusion Fox nodded. ~Noted. I don't intend to become prey.~
Ash shuddered. "Does she really have to talk like that…?"
"Piiika." Pikachu frowned, rubbing behind his head. He'd been feral, once, but she was truly wild.
"Anyway, use Flamethrower!"
Meema complied, spitting up another roaring flame at Beedrill.
"Use Agility!"
In the wake of the attack, Beedrill vanished.
"It's gone…!" Ash gawked. That was real speed. "But, he's still around here. Do your stuff, and hunt 'im down!"
The Illusion Fox did as told, lithely stalking about the rocky terrain. She clung to larger surfaces when possible, doing what she could to stay out of sight. Now, she knew she could smell the scent of venom….
But, flickering black and yellow images continued to buzz about the arena, never quite staying in one place.
Beedrill leered over with its birds-eye view, circling the fox. She'd pinned herself to a rocky surface in an attempt at stealth. But, all she'd done is given him an easy target. Beedrill was sure to stay silent. Slowly, he crept up upon the cornered creature… Slowly, until he lunged.
Suddenly, he felt an intense pressure on his abdomen. In but a blink, he was pinned up against the rock, a tough, unforgiving paw pressing against him. Tried as he may to squirm, he couldn't move.
All he could do, was gaze into the eyes of his attacker, who loomed over him, staring daggers with her icy hues. He couldn't see the sunlight past her large, methodically frayed mane.
~In this pack, I do the hunting.~ She stared down the insect, pressing him further up against the rock.
"Wow! Beedrill used its Agility to come in for a sneak attack, but it seems that Ash's Zoroark has claimed the upper hand, pinning it against the rocky field! What a turn of events!"
"Good job," Ash praised. "Night Slash!"
Meema's free claws smashed into Beedrill, then.
The rock behind them cleaved in two, parted by a sharp arc of red. Beedrill was sent crashing through the boulder, buzzing in pain.
"Pikaaa! Pikachu!" Pikachu hopped back and forth on the stage, cheering loudly.
"Don't give in, Beedrill!" Samurai encouraged. "Counter, with Twinneedle!"
The bug type did just so, retaliating by jabbing his needles into Meema's torso.
The Illusion fox yelped, brought to her knees by the super-effective move. Her chest felt numb from the potentially poisonous attacks, her breaths hasty.
"That's gotta hurt…" Ash grimaced. "Meema, hang in there! Use Night Sash!"
Meema grit her fangs, and lunged. She slashed at Beedrill.
The Poison Bee pokemon was well out of her way by the time she struck.
"Use Fell Stinger!"
Beedrill zipped by, jabbing a poisonous needle into Meema's side.
The fox gasped, eyes reduced to a pinpoint. Her lids fell heavy, and her body to the ground with a thud.
The referee leaned forward, squinting. He raised his green flag. "Zoroark is unable to battle! Victory goes to the green trainer!"
~Awwww.~ Rura whined, slinking down into Dawn's lap. ~Meema lost…~
"But, she put up a great fight!" Dawn consoled, stroking the large tuft of fur atop Rura's head.
"I think Samurai's a little shook. She really left her impression before going down!" Misty insisted. "Especially after having to fight all those bug types…" The gym leader shuddered.
Professor Oak chuckled. "With similar woes, Misty and Meema grow closer, through weakness to bugs."
"Thanks for pointing it out," Misty pouted.
"Oh my gosh, that was a poem, wasn't it!?" Dawn beamed, leaning over Misty's seat. "And, you came up with it right on the spot!"
Misty grunted, shoving Dawn's cheek back towards her own seat. "You're here to cheer for Ash, not Professor Oak!"
"Meema!" Ash gasped, leaning over the railing. Her body had, indeed, gone limp. "..." Ash's brow twitched. Finally, he smiled. "You did great." He recalled the Illusion Fox.
"Pika-Pika." Pikachu leaned over Ash's shoulder, patting Meema's pokeball.
Beedrill, meanwhile, was briefly surrounded in a purple glow.
"Your 'Zoroark' was most impressive, Ash. I was honestly worried that I'd lose two pokemon, taking it down. I've got the suspicion that it's not quite home grown."
"She's a bit more wild than the rest," Ash boasted. "Chasing opponents down is her specialty."
"It's no wonder she gave Beedrill trouble. But, he is also a natural predator. Fell Stinger is a sure sign - when it takes down an opponent, the user's attack stat increases! The strength of a bug pokemon is hidden, behind a deep well of potential! With moves that increase their natural speed, offensive stats, and defensive stats, they're nigh unbeatable. With that strength, we'll defeat you here, today, Ash!"
"So, that's your strategy…" Ash smirked, reaching for his belt. "Well, if you're trying to steamroll us with power and speed, then we'll just have to fight fire with fire!" Ash chucked a pokeball. "Go, Garchomp!"
The Mach pokemon appeared, for real, this time. Garchomp was hunched over, with a blank, glazed stare. Much unlike Meema's illusion, it was a mystery whether he knew if he was meant to be battling at all.
"Your Garchomp looks… Unusual," Samurai stammered.
"He's a bit of a space case," Ash admitted. "But, he's reliable. Garchomp, we're gonna need speed for this one!"
The dull look in Garchomp's eye vanished. His postured changed completely, streamlined body leaning forward, with the blades on his fins raised and ready. "Gahr!" He growled, poised and prepared.
Ash noted the perplexed look on Samurai's face. "He's really flexible - one battle style he knows is my Sceptile's! So, you can forget being sure about your speed. Garchomp, Dual Chop!"
Garchomp lunged forward, gliding low before kicking off of the terrain, making a streamlined charge for Beedrill. His fins flickered with emerald, swung swiftly like blades on the end of his arms. Each strike smashed into Beedrill, sending it flying.
"Counter, with Twinneedle!"
Beedrill quickly zipped back in, jabbing Garchomp's chest with both of his needles.
The Mach pokemon retreated, landing smoothly on the rocky terrain.
"Dual Chop, again!"
"Twinneedle, again!"
Both pokemon charged to meet center-stage. Garchomp struck with his fins, and Beedrill with his stingers. The limbs collided, one after the next, pushing one another back consecutively in a swift, mid-air brawl.
"Gah! Gahrrr!" Garchomp roared, fending off a stab, swinging the same limb back to crash into both of Beedrill's stingers. The other resisted in futility, bounced off by Garchomp's superior strength.
"He's still stronger…" Samurai grimaced. "Beedrill, pull back! Toxic Spikes!"
"Crap," Ash hissed.
Beedrill pulled away, launching several poisonous bullets from his main stinger, barraging the terrain below. Bolts of venom seeped into the surface.
Ash wiped sweat from his brow. "That's bad… Now, we can't touch the ground. This battle's gotta stay airborne. Hey, Garchomp! Keep gliding and flying, alright!? We can't touch those Toxic Spikes!"
"Gah!" The pokemon agreed, suspending himself with a smooth, easy glide.
"Not that move, again." Dawn frowned, crossing her arms.
"I don't think I've ever seen that move," Delia remarked.
"Toxic Spikes is a lethal trap for any victim - if they happen to touch the ground, then, they're infected with poison. Samurai just put Ash in a very compromising position. Now, he's free to put all the pressure he wants on Ash and Garchomp, while they have to be careful just not to land."
"It gave him a lot of trouble at the Lily of the Valley Conference," Dawn explained. "But, he found a way out of it then, and he'll do it again, here!"
"Garchomp, switch to Charizard's style and keep your distance! Flamethrower!" Ash ordered.
Garchomp circled around, eyes glued to the buzzing Beedrill. He tossed his head back, firing a roaring jet of flames.
"Don't let him keep you at bay! Twinneedle!"
Beedrill buzzed around the flames, jabbing at Garchomp with his stingers.
"Dual Chop!"
Garchomp came in swinging, opting for brutal, full-body strikes, rather than Sceptile's swift swiping. Within several clashes with Twinneedle, Garchomp struck gold, smashing Beedrill brutally through the air.
"Keep on the pressure," Samurai ordered.
Beedrill was quick to zip back around, jabbing relentlessly at the Mach pokemon.
Dual Chop continued to defend, but Beedrill's speed was beginning to show. With every few jabs that were blocked, one slipped past Garchomp's defenses. With a third, Garchomp was knocked back.
"They're pressuring us…" Ash frowned. "Garchomp, use Sandstorm!"
"Gahhhgh!" Garchomp threw his fins out, summoning a torrential gust of sand and dust.
"Sandstorm has swarmed the field! Perhaps Ash is hoping to use this to fend off Beedrill from making use of Toxic Spikes!"
"Beedrill! Keep watch, and use Twinneedle, when you spot Garchomp!" Samurai shouted.
The bug type buzzed about in the abrasive storm, growing irritated by the gravel. It hurt just a bit. But, his concentration was supreme. He'd just have to spot that dragon.
A flash of navy poked out of the dust, and Beedrill stabbed.
It hit nothing but sand.
"Dual Chop!" Ash countered.
A glowing fin shot out of the dust, smashing Beedrill over the head.
Beedrill jabbed in return, but found no resistance. Garchomp had escaped again.
"With Sand Veil, they're not gonna have much luck." Ash smiled to himself, crossing his arms. "You're doing great, Garchomp!"
"Pika-Pikaaa!"
"Hpmh." Samurai frowned. Judging by the lack of cries from Garchomp, he could only deduce that Beedrill was having no luck at all, so far. "Ash has created quite the cover. But, I doubt his pokemon are half as observant as my own." He held a hand beside his mouth, shouting into the storm. "Beedrill! Watch the storm carefully! The shifts in the sand and winds are no different than a branch, rustled by fleeting prey!"
Beedrill lurked, its many red eyes observing the storm at a variety of angles. Though, the passing sand forced it to squint painfully, once more. It would be delighted when this condition faded away…
But, a break in the current caught its squinted eyes. "Bzzz!" It cried, stabbing into the sand.
"Gahr!" Garchomp cried, swinging wildly in self-defense.
Another stab came to the back, sending it plummeting.
"That's a problem." Two different complaints from Garchomp clued Ash in. He grimaced. "Garchomp, use Flamethrower towards the ground to keep you up!"
The Mach pokemon was plummeting, surely mere feet from the tainted field. He did as told, spitting a roaring jet of flames below him. Boosting off of the heat expelled, Garchomp soared.
The flames let Ash breathe a sigh of relief. "Good, now turn them on Beedrill!"
Garchomp lifted his head, launching the remainder of the flames towards the bug type.
"Retreat, behind the sand clouds!" Samurai ordered.
Beedrill pulled back into the storm, feeling the effects of Flamethrower, nonetheless.
He hovered, burnt and hurting, but free of any damage that was beyond superficial.
"I thought for sure that would've worked…" Ash frowned. He didn't see any signs of success, yet.
"As if flames are going to deliver their full potency, wisped around by dirt and wind." Samurai boasted to himself, looking smug. "Twinneedle!"
Beedrill smashed his needles into Garchomp's back, stubbornly shoving it down through the storm.
A flash of violet inside the storm sunk Ash's optimism. "He's poisoned… Crap. Guess we can't play defensive, now." He cupped his hands around his mouth. "Hey, go after Beedrill with Flamethrower! Don't hold back!"
Shrugging off the bubbling poison, Garchomp roared, launching back into the fray. Spotting the end of a pointed stinger, he launched another flame.
"Agility, Beedrill! Stay out of its reach!" Samurai ordered.
The bit of Beedrill that could be seen vanished, the bug zipping about the storm. Unfortunately, as Garchomp suffered from poison, Beedrill had been enduring Sandstorm for far longer. Its wings were a bit weighed down with sand.
"Use Dual Chop!"
Garchomp soared about the storm, keeping a sharp eye out.
A hint of a beating wing caught his attention, and he lunged with teal wings.
A sudden sickening bubble of poison halted him, forcing him to return to the ground. "Gahr…" He huffed, drooling toxins. Subsequently, the ruthless winds of dirt and gravel began to die out, dispersing over the rocky battlefield. Sand coated rocky outcrops, rendered harmless.
Beedrill hovered above, covered in sand and dust. It looked weary, worn down by the abrasive storm, coupled with Garchomp's assaults. It was determined to will itself to win against the weakening Garchomp.
"Sandstorm has finally died down! And, from the looks of it, both Beedrill and Garchomp are worse for wear, whittled down by a long exchange of blows and status effects! Which will come out on top, now that we can see the action!?"
"I think that's enough of that…" Ash huffed. "Garchomp! You doing alright?"
"Gaagh!" Toxins seeped through the Mach pokemon's nerves, bringing him to his knees.
"It looks like Ash's Garchomp is on the edge of defeat! How will he handle this!?"
"I'm afraid this round is over, Ash." Samurai pointed towards Garchomp. "Fell Stinger!"
A purple glow overcame Beedrill's stinger, aimed squarely at Garchomp. The bug type dive bombed towards its ailing target, ready to deliver the finishing blow.
"We're not done yet…" Ash bared his teeth, throwing a hand across his body. "Dragon Rush!"
The Mach pokemon launched from his crouched state, quickly building momentum.
Beedrill found itself face to face with a mad, speeding dragon, and a blue, draconian aura to match.
It was utterly swallowed by the flashing light.
Beedrill plummeted, crashing into solid rock. Its segmented body hung limp, dual needles hanging towards the ground.
Garchomp soared low to land, hunched over in a heap.
The referee raised his red flag. "Beedrill is unable to battle! This round goes to the red trainer!"
Samurai recalled his pokemon, pocketing its pokeball. "I stand corrected, Ash. But, this is my last pokemon, and my first partner! Together, we'll persevere!" He chucked a pokeball. Pinsir! Assume battle mode!"
The Stag Beetle pokemon appeared on the field, promptly infected with the violet influence of Toxic Spikes. He shook off the irritating poison, gnashing his horns together.
"You've fought your fair share… I think you could use a rest." Ash recalled Garchomp, reaching for his last ball. "It's funny you say that… I know you and Pinsir have worked hard together. But, you're not the only ones!" Ash winded up, chucking his pokeball. "Rosa, I choose you!"
The spinning pokeball bounced off a boulder, spitting out its captive creature. A bipedal jackal appeared, crouching on one knee. With a press of her paw, she stood, casting a bold look at her opponents. Her posture was tense, a low growl marking a deep breath. The roaring crowd - all of the faces, all of the aura. It made the nerve bundles on the back of her head twitch.
"Deep breaths," Ash coached.
She did just that. She tuned out the world. Only Ash, Samurai, and Pinsir were a part of hers, right now.
"Good!" Ash smiled, looking back to Samurai. "You remember Rosa."
Taking in the sight of Pinsir, she grinned, leaning forward in a fighting stance. With a howl, she greeted her familiar opponent. A 'come hither' wave of her paw egged on the Stag Beetle.
Pinsir hissed, clashing his horns together atop his head. It stepped forward, the claws on its feet digging into the dirt.
"Indeed, I do. She tried her hand at challenging Pinsir, last we met. I see that she's grown."
"She has, and so have I." Ash gripped the brim of his cap, turning it behind his head. "You were my first ever trainer battle in my journey to become a Pokemon Master, all those years ago. Pinsir was Rosa's first ever trainer battle. As far as I'm concerned, this is a test. A test to show just how far we've come together!" Ash pointed a finger towards Samurai. "Samurai! We're giving you all we've got! You and Pinsir better do the same!"
"Piiika! Pikachu!" Pikachu waved his paws, clamoring in agreement.
"So much for Toxic Spikes!" Misty beamed.
"Ash was indeed lucky to come into this battle with a steel type pokemon - his poisonous perils are over!"
"I don't think it was an accident," Dawn rebutted, as much as she hated to contradict the Professor. "Ash knew Samurai for using poison type pokemon. That might've been part of the reason that he chose her for this battle. Then again…" She pondered, holding a fist to her chin. "Rosa had her first real battle with him, so it might've been sentimental."
"Oh, that's just like Ash." Delia looked on with pride. "He's always been that way."
"Your conviction inspires me, Ash, as always." Samurai reached past his hip, drawing his blade to point it towards Ash. He ignored the cries from the crowd. "You and your friends were the ones who encouraged me to look past the vastness of the forest, and beyond any of my expectations! That will be rewarded with a battle worthy of your name!"
"Then, let's get started! Ready, Rosa?"
"Arh!" The Lucario raised a fist to Ash.
"Then, use Aura Sphere!"
The Lucario cupped her hands at her side, charging a sphere before firing it.
"Pinsir, X-Scissor!"
Pinsir charged headfirst, a green, gleaming cross heading his assault.
The two attacks collided, obscuring the field.
"Again!" Samurai ordered.
A second glimmering cross shot out of the smoke, smashing into Rosa's torso. She gasped, losing breath as Pinsir continued to shove, sending her skidding back across the terrain.
"Use Vital Throw!" Ash ordered.
Rosa loosened her limbs, turning to the side with Pinsir's momentum. Her right foot crossed over her body, tripping up Pinsir's leg. With a roar, Rosa followed through, slamming the bug type into the ground on her arm.
"Use Superpower," Samurai shouted.
"Gh…!" Pinsir growled, slamming a glowing fist into the Lucario's exposed stomach.
"Achk…!" Wide-eyed, Rosa was sent soaring. She landed pitifully on all fours, short of breath.
"Don't waste an opportunity! Use Thrash!" Samurai pointed with his sword.
Pinsir charged the Lucario with reckless abandon, throwing frenzied hits, regardless of whether Rosa was in his path or not.
"Quick, get up! Watch out!" Ash shouted.
Rosa stood, but not before taking a punch to the jaw. Blindsided, she stumbled back.
"Stay focused!" Ash coached. "Use Detect!"
The bundles on the back of Rosa's head rose, and her eyes glimmered. The next frenzied punch was ducked in a step backwards, and another sidestepped. A jab of Pinsir's horns was dodged with a leap over his head. Landing on the other side, she failed to avoid a blow to the head.
"Detect's wearing off," Ash mumbled. "Try and start dodging normally, now! Remember your training with Riley!"
The Lucario swiftly turned, leaping backwards out of Pinsir's range.
Pinsir lunged again, this time with a full-body tackle.
Rosa shoved his skull, bringing the rampage to an end.
Pinsir huffed, staggering drunkenly. He'd worn himself out.
"Now's your chance," Ash hurried. "Bone Rush!"
Rosa lowered her paws, conjuring a glowing staff. She roared, smashing Pinsir across the face with it. After that, she turned her arms to deliver an uppercut. She soared with it, jumping to spin and deliver a strike to the back of the head. "Agh! Rahh! Ah!" The Aura pokemon roared, gaining more and more ground in the merciless assault.
Bubbling with afflicting poison, Pinsir winced, unable to defend himself.
"Ooh! And, Lucario seems to have Pinsir on the ropes! Things are looking bad for Samurai!"
"So you think," the warrior muttered. "Vicegrip!"
Rosa brought the bone down overhead, only to howl in pain.
"Rosa…!" Ash gawked, his teeth gnashed.
Pinsir's spiked horns had crushed down on the Lucario's left arm, holding it firmly in place. Bone Rush had already vanished.
"Aargh…!" Rosa yelped, yanking her arm back to no avail. Even with her feet dug into the rock, she found no relief.
"Rosa, don't!" Ash shouted. "You could mess your arm up, that way…! It's not worth it!"
The pokemon whined, pressing her free paw against one of Pinsir's horns. She shoved and shoved, but her arm was securely clamped.
"It looks like I spoke too soon! Pinsir has Lucario in a bind!"
"Poor Rosemary." Delia frowned, a thumb held to her chin.
"This looks bad. I know I wouldn't want to be in her spot right now," Misty shuddered.
"Not many would." Professor Oak crossed his arms. "A Pinsir's grip is strong enough to break logs, and the thorns on its horns prevent escape. She and Ash are in quite a bind."
"Come on, Rosa! Go, go, go!" Dawn hollered, furiously waving her pom-poms. "I know you won't lose!"
~C'mon! Rough him up!~ Rura barked, hopping up and down on Dawn's head.
"Ash, you know as well as I do that there's a point where a trainer must surrender, for the sake of their pokemon." Samurai re-sheathed his sword, crossing his arms. "Your Lucario can't escape from Pinsir."
"I've had it with people making threats to surrender!" Ash barked. "My pokemon have more pride than that, and they're not going to lose!"
"You have no other choice!" Samurai grimaced. "Pinsir's grip is unbeatable! You're just torturing your pokemon! Detect will do you no good, she's held too tightly for Vital Throw, and she doesn't have the momentum to use Bone Rush. And, with one arm useless, she certainly can't use Aura sphere!"
Pinsir, meanwhile, fell to one knee, yanking Rosa with him. With bubbling poison, his grip weakened just a bit.
Ash smirked. There was a glimmer in his eye. "You wanna bet?" His expression turned stern, a hand held high above his head. "Rosa! Blast him off, with Aura Sphere!"
"But, how!?" Samurai stammered.
Rosa bore her fangs, digging her feet into the ground. With a shout, she summoned an Aura Sphere above her head, and slammed it directly into Pinsir's face.
A concussive explosion sent a gust of wind in every direction, the air laced with flickers of blue.
Pinsir bounced back across the terrain, blind-sided.
"Great work!" Ash grinned, flashing a thumbs-up.
The Lucario giggled, turning to raise her paw to her papa.
Ash beamed, quickly regaining his serious air. "Aura Sphere, again!"
The smoke cleared, and Rosa stood, chucking another teal blast with her good arm.
"Remarkable…" Samurai's dark brows knit. "Knock it back, with Superpower!"
Pinsir stood, smashing his fist into Aura Sphere with a roar. The blast bent and caved, malleable. With an extra push from Pinsir's end, the attack was sent flying back towards its user.
"Block it, with another Aura Sphere!" Ash threw a hand out.
"Agh!" Rosa shouted, tossing another blast overhand.
The two collided, rattling the field a second time
"X-Scissor!"
Pinsir charged the fray again, his skull hidden behind a large emerald 'x.'
"Block that, with Bone Rush!" Ash shouted.
Rosa raised both of her paws, guarding with a bone staff held diagonally. X-Scissor crashed into the defending object, pitting Rosa and Pinsir in a struggle to exert their weight.
Rosa grit her teeth, shoving back. With strong legs stationed, she started to pressure Pinsir.
"Ahh!"
"Rosa!" Ash gasped. The pained yelp clued him in - her grip on Bone Rush had gone weak.
The Lucario struggled, still, pushing back against Pinsir's horns. But, her left arm had nearly gone limp - sore and bruised, it simply couldn't hold against Pinsir's weight.
There was a gleam in Samurai's eye. "Now's our chance!"
Pinsir grunted, ducking under Bone Rush's influence. He smashed his head into her chest, setting off an explosive X-Scissor.
Ash's fists dug into his palms. "Don't give in! Use Vital Throw!"
The Lucario stumbled back, waiting for Pinsir's approach. He emerged from the smoke, charging still.
With narrowed eyes, she watched its movement very carefully.
A foot extended, kicking Pinsir's legs out from under him. An arm wrapped around his body, slamming him into the ground with a roar.
Rosa growled, pressing her knee and arm into the pokemon's back. Without the use of other arm, she pressed down upon Pinsir with all of her weight. Feeling resistance, she doubled down.
"Pinsir!" Samurai gasped.
"It's been great, Samurai, but this is over!" Ash raised a palm over his head. "Rosa, let's finish this! Aura Sphere!" With his command, he threw his hand down.
Rosa focused another blast of energy, slamming it down into Pinsir's back.
Blue-tinted smoke flooded the battlefield.
Ash closed his fists tight.
Samurai squinted.
The audience fell into a dead silence.
The debris cleared. Rosa sat atop Pinsir, her knee pressed to his back.
The Stag Beetle was motionless.
The referee leaned over. "...Pinsir is unable to battle! This makes Ash and Lucario the winners of this match!"
"Wow! What a battle! Rosa took a lot of damage from that Vicegrip, but she returned with a come-from-behind victory! I certainly didn't see that coming!"
"Wooooh! Alright, Rosa!" Dawn hollered, waving her pom-poms about. "Way to give it to 'em!"
"Empolll!" Empoleon squawked, waving a wing.
"What a thrilling battle, too!" Delia chimed, snapping one picture after the next. "Ash is doing so well!"
"Way to give it to 'em!" Misty punched the air.
"A true testament to perseverance," Oak praised.
"Rosa!" Ash laughed, gripping the guard rail to hop over it, falling several yards to land on one knee. That hardly held him back from sprinting onto the field to embrace the Lucario, who'd rolled off of Pinsir, already. "You were amazing!"
"Pi-Pikachu!" Pikachu cheered, sprinting after his trainer.
~Papa!~ Rosa cried, throwing an arm around the trainer. She nuzzled her muzzle into Ash's chest, embracing him with her good arm. ~We did it, Papa!~
"We sure did." He nuzzled his cheek into her forehead. "I'm really proud of you. You fought hard, right to the end."
"That was a great battle!" Pikachu chirped, joining in on the hug.
~Th-thanks…! It was so much fun!~ Rosa yipped, only to yelp shortly after. ~Ouch…~
"That Vicegrip got you bad, huh…" Ash smiled, cradling the pokemon. "We'll get you patched up soon, okay?" With that, he held up her pokeball, recalling her in a red flash of light.
He then looked up to Samurai, who'd recalled Pinsir. The young man flashed him a smile before turning his back, leaving the arena.
"Guess we should head backstage to… Oh!" When Ash stood, he found himself face-to-face with a camera. A reporter with a microphone leaned forward.
"Ash Ketchum, you've made it past all four preliminary rounds! And, with plenty of style to boot! How does it feel?"
"It feels pretty great." Ash grinned, holding his arm out for Pikachu to scale. "The battles have been a lot of fun, so far! But, I can't wait for more!"
"As expected!" The man coughed. "And, you came through in this last match, after being in quite a bind! Do you have anything to say about your comeback?"
"It was a tough one, not gonna lie." Ash looked to Pikachu with a cheeky grin, then looked back to the camera. He flashed a victory sign. "I guess my answer is to be flexible! And, being able to use Aura Sphere with one hand doesn't hurt, haha!"
Far away, in the northern-lying region of Sinnoh, Ash's voice echoed over an old television set, in a small log cabin, secluded on Iron Island.
Riley sat on the modest carpet in his living room, arms and legs crossed. "Hmph." The man's brows twitched in annoyance. Despite this, he couldn't keep himself from smiling.
Lucario sat beside him, voicing a thought that, to most, would come off as incoherent. His tail was wagging behind him - an oddity, for sure. But, brotherly pride swelled in his cold, steel heart.
"That Ash… I suppose, no matter the discipline, he'll always be a rebellious spirit." Riley laxed, letting his hands rest on his knees. "But, some spirits aren't meant to be tamed. I'll be wishing them the best of luck."
Lucario barked in agreement.
"Your pokemon are doing just fine, Ash!" Nurse Joy assured, sliding a tray of pokeballs across the counter. "They'll definitely need their rest, especially your Lucario. Her arm was a bit bruised up, but as long as you keep it bandaged, it'll be healed in no time."
"That's a relief!" Ash exhaled, taking the three pokeballs from the tray. "Thanks a lot, Nurse Joy!" Ash smiled, saluting the caretaker, before heading down the hallway. "That was the toughest match, yet! I get the feeling things are only gonna get tougher, from here." Ash thought aloud, scratching behind Pikachu's ear.
"Pika!"
"I'd certainly hope that won't be discouraging you."
Ash stopped in his tracks, turning to catch the source of the familiar voice.
Samurai leaned against the wall of the inner corridor, his arms crossed over his chest. "I'd hate to lose to someone who'll lose nerve so easily." He didn't elaborate, his pride was too great.
But, Ash understood. He smirked, walking over to his opponent. There was no need for Samurai to re-live the shame of doing just that. "Don't worry. I fight best under pressure. I'm winning this thing, no matter how tough it gets."
"Then, I have no regrets. I may not have made it quite as far as I'd like. But, the top 32 is quite the improvement over the last. Now, I know that my options are boundless. I'll keep fighting honorably, until I find my place." The teen extended a hand to Ash.
Ash grinned, reaching to give a firm shake. "Just what I want to hear!"
"It was an honor battling you again, Ash." Samurai pulled back, turning to walk off. "Oh, and that reminds me; I'm hoping to deliver the message personally, but just in case… Give Dawn my gratitude. Without her advice, we wouldn't have had this battle, today."
"Hmph." Ash smiled, turning to walk in the other direction. "I'll definitely do that!"
Misty's eyebrow couldn't help but waver a bit as she stared down the two Luvdisc. "The match is over already," she hissed, exasperation coursing through her veins. It wasn't fair that Dawn had someone to latch onto and fawn over! But, more than unfair, it was obnoxious how much the two inflated each other's egos!
Ash, blushing all the while, walked with an extra skip in his step as Dawn rested her head on his shoulder. "Aw, come on, Mist! We're just celebrating! That was an important battle, you know!"
Humming in agreement, Dawn spared a look back at the water specialist. "Besides, didn't you see how happy it made Samurai to get to show his stuff like that! It was good for everyone! So, we should be happy!"
"Oh, I know! Let's go get cha siu bao!" Ash suggested.
"I love those!" Dawn enthused.
Misty let out a long sigh. "You two…" As she was about to sulk after them, she caught a battle on screen. Her eyes widened. "No way… Ash! Get over here! Isn't this that girl you were excited to battle?"
At once snapping out of the lovey dovey moment, Ash and Dawn alike bolted over, vying for best view of the screen. The camera quickly cut away from a calm, in control looking Deidra.
Ash's jaw dropped. "That Psychic!" He was in awe.
On the screen, Deidra's Metagross stood its ground, creating a Barrier-mimicking shield out of its Psychic attack. Its opponent, a rather flashy looking yellow Arcanine, rushed straight into it, trying to break down the Flamethrower deflection with Extreme Speed. Metagross, however, was having none of that. With only a low, metallic groan, it thrust the shield forward, pushing back against the massive canine. Arcanine was thrusted so roughly by the shield's movement that it even skidded outside of the ring!
"Talk about getting the most yank for your yen," Dawn noted. "She used the same Psychic to defend and attack! She's not the type to waste a single move, huh?"
"You're telling me. She's going in for the kill," Misty noted with a cluck of her tongue. "She's not even letting her opponent know her other moves… She's using Psychic again, and Arcanine can't do a thing about it!"
Both girls seemed to recall that Ash was there and remarkably quiet. They shared a look before Dawn put a hand on Ash's shoulder, rousing him from his quiet contemplation.
"Are you nervous?" Misty asked.
He breathed out before standing up right. "Honestly? A little. She's… something else." He gripped his fists tight, raising them even with his shoulders. "But, I'm not shaking with fear! It's excitement! Yahoo!"
"Pika!"
Ash looked over to the sudden weight added to his shoulder. "Oh, hey, buddy! Where's-"
"Empoleon!" the big penguin greeted, hugging Dawn from behind.
Dawn giggled, turning to hug her starter back. "Hehe, glad to see you, too, big guy! … Did you wash your flippers, though?"
"Empo…"
At her starter's guilty admission, Dawn huffed, looking over to Pikachu. "I asked you to go with him so he'd act right, Pikachu! Did you wash your paws, either?!"
Huffing, Pikachu fussed back at Dawn. "Pika! Pikaka Pi! Pikapi!"
"Hey, don't throw me in this," Ash warned, holding up his hands. "I've learned my lesson on washing my hands after I get 'em dirty."
Misty rolled her eyes. "Alright, now that your kids have come back from playing in the mud, can we please go, Mr. And Mrs. Battle Buffoon?"
"... That's Mr. The Battle Buffoon," Ash pouted before following Misty towards where they planned to eat lunch.
Dawn giggled as she followed. "We'll wash your flippers when we get there, Empoleon! Still, I guess I can't blame you for getting them dirty - you've got to cool down one way or another, huh?"
The navy-blue dragon raised his head, letting out a bellowing roar as he claimed his vittles. He dragged the huge egg closer to his mouth. Opening his mouth so wide his jaw unhinged, the ground dragon forced the huge, pearl pink egg down his gullet. Satisfied with his endeavor, he licked his lips…
Before immediately turning to look at Ash, head cocked as if asking for more.
Looking back up at his behemoth dragon, Ash could only blink. "... What the hell?" Absolutely stunned by Garchomp's massive appetite, Ash only waved down the waitress. "Hey! Hey! Another Soft Boiled Egg, please!"
"I don't see how he's eating more than one…" Max grumbled. "Soft Boiled Eggs are full of energy."
May slammed her fist down on the table. "I completely understand Garchomp's heart!" Before anyone could look twice, she was out of her seat, holding the dragon's claws gently in her hands. She spoke gently to him. "You want to taste the good things in life, right? That's why you travel with Ash! Seeing exciting places, meeting wonderful people, tasting delicious food…!"
"Is she tryna bond with that Garchomp? Thing's dense as a brick," Koda mumbled.
Ash took off his hat, whacking Koda over the head for his comment.
"Ow! Hey!"
"That's my Garchomp you're talkin' about," the teen warned.
"But, Ash, Garchomp really is… kinda dense." Dawn gave Ash a sympathetic look.
"... Not anymore. Look at it and May," Misty pointed out, taking a sip of her milk tea.
The table looked, watching in slight shock as Garchomp actually smiled back at May. Was it blushing a little?!
"You understand! Someone else who enjoys nice things would naturally understand me!" She laughed. Garchomp moved his head lower and May moved her nose upwards, expecting a nose bump. "What a good boy!"
Ash jerked up in his chair, seeing Garchomp's mouth open. "Oy! May, move, he's gonna!"
Clack!
Garchomp's teeth came down over empty air.
"He was trying to eat something good, alright," Drew grumbled. "I step outside to talk to a fan for five minutes and you almost get eaten by Ketchum's dragon."
May stuck her tongue out, snatching her wrist out of Drew's hand before pouting. "Hey, hey, hey, Brock said Ash's Garchomp bites to show affection! Don't be mad that I'm popular!"
"Who'd be jealous over being bit!" Drew snapped.
Max groaned. "The atmosphere's always like this when they're together. They flirt with battles even when it's not a real battle!"
Noting the interaction, Meema flicked an ear before looking to Ash. ~Battles are really important to your people, aren't they?~
Reaching out to pet her, the trainer nodded. "Yep! By the way, you did great today, Meema!"
Hearing Ash's side of the conversation, Dawn jumped in. "Yeah! It was incredible. Ash, you, and the rest of the team are doing great! This really helped Ash with his goal!"
Rura popped his head out of Meema's fur, a piece of toast between his teeth. ~That's my mom for you!~ he bragged. ~She's super strong!~
Meema gingerly nibbled on the apples that Rura had refused. ~I didn't even last the whole way through, though…~
"That's fine! I'm gonna keep helping you get stronger so you can one day, but for now, you just need to do your part!" He gestured to Garchomp, who was now trying to stuff the entirety of his second Soft Boiled Egg down his throat. "Garchomp did his! And, so did Rosa!"
The pup looked up from where she was trading fruit slices with Empoleon. She passed him her orange slices while he passed her his apple slices as she processed what Ash had said. Realizing he was praising her, she yipped once in glee before going back to organizing her food with her fellow steel type.
Ash continued. "That's all you have to do! We're a team, so we can support each other."
Satisfied with what Ash had said, Meema nodded. ~Relying on a pack is easier than doing everything by yourself…~
"Speaking of doing a good job, have you seen how close you are to winning?!" She threw her arms up in the air. "Four more rounds! I'm so proud!" She put a hand under her chin, looking rather smug. "Gonna be pretty cool bragging about you after this." Pretending she was talking to someone else, she flicked her hair over her shoulder. "Hi! Nice to meet you! I'm Dawn of Twinleaf Town! Top coordinator, fashion icon, queen of the cuties. And, dating Ash Ketchum, hall of famer."
Ash laughed. "You were complimenting yourself a lot there…"
"I've gotta be good if we're a couple!" Dawn whined.
"Uh… Excited to have an excuse to ruin this gross love fest, but…" Max fumbled with his fork, running it over his plate until Koda grabbed his hand to make him stop. "Right! Well, Ash, first you have to beat me to win!"
Sensing how nervous Max was, Ash nodded. "Right. That'll be a hard battle. You've really come along as a trainer."
The kid smiled. "You think so?"
"I know so." He looked towards Misty. "She's not fond of handing out badges to just anyone, so there's someone else who can vouch for you."
Looking down at his plate, Max laughed. "Right! This'll be good. I'll be able to see how far we've both come. I'm excited."
"Me, too," Ash agreed.
Dawn practically cooed, clasping her hands together. "You're gonna be a great role model! I can see it! Taking your championship team everywhere to greet all sorts of aspiring and newbie trainers! Oh, oh, we should do double appearances at schools and stuff! It'd be great for inspiring kids to become trainers and really bond with their pokemon!"
While Dawn was going on about the idea of the two of them going places to inspire children, Ash just stared at her. After a second, he stood, pulling Dawn out of her chair and stepping onto the grassy lawn of the cafe they were eating at. He span her once, holding her above his head and laughing.
"Ash?!" she gasped.
He brought her down, letting her feet touch the ground before he touched his forehead to hers, arms wrapped warmly around her. "You're just great! I'm so happy we're sharing our dreams! You're gonna be a great top coordinator! I can't wait to go do all that with you!"
May and Drew, unfazed due to their own coupling, actually ignored the couple, giving them a bit of privacy. A bit jealous, but otherwise happy, Brock only smiled before shaking his head. Misty had half a mind to say something, but figured the two had earned this one; plus, the thought of Ash going to mentor kids was pretty cute. Professor Oak, pleasantly surprised at how mature both could be, only let out a low, muttering comment on the blossoming of youth. Delia, meanwhile, subtly got out her camera, whispering something about this being an important moment.
Naturally, this left only Max and Koda to share their disgust.
"Can you two get a room!" he whined.
Koda nodded his head. "It's… really gross."
Rosa, becoming embarrassed that her parental figures were displaying so much affection in public, actually wiggled her way between them, pushing them apart slightly. ~Papa! Mama! That's too much! It's uncool!~
Dawn only smirked. "Oh? What? Is this uncool?" She immediately hugged the Lucario before bringing Ash into the hold as well.
Taking Dawn's cue, Ash hugged both girls, snickering at Rosa's clear whines of embarrassment.
~Aw! Come on! What if someone sees?!~
"You're really growing up, huh? Being concerned about whether you're one of the cool kids?" Ash teased. "It doesn't matter! You're my little girl, so I'll always make sure you know I love you!"
Meema cocked her ears, smiling at the scene. ~Leader, you and your mate will truly be excellent parents whenever you have a litter. You're already an excellent father to Rosa, and a good leader for the rest of the team!~
Dawn, stunned into silence, spoke only after a brief pause. "W-What did I tell you about calling us mates?!"
Delia, meanwhile, only let out boisterous laughter, rushing to Meema's side. "They are cute, aren't they?! You're a mother, so you understand what I'm talking about!"
While Dawn desperately tried to get Meema and Delia to stop conspiring together, Brock took the opportunity to get the rest of the group's attention. It was time for a change of subject.
"We should get the checks, soon. The Magikarp fishing event is coming soon, and it's how you decide your opponent for the final rounds. Your skill matters most, but it doesn't hurt to get there early and psyche yourself up to fish up something fortunate!" Brock explained.
On cue, Ash, Koda, and Max stood, raising their hands in the air. "Check, please!"
May sighed, looking at the crepes she hadn't finished. "Oh… Drew, couldn't we please stay a little longer?"
He shook his head. "This is the first time I've felt good enough to hang out between matches. Let's get something to eat at the stadium. My treat." He looked to the side. "... It'd be nice to spend more time with your brother and your friends. We should all get along, shouldn't we?"
Practically squealing, May nodded. "Aw! You're doing your best to be nice, aren't you?!"
Not arguing, Drew nodded. A faint blush dusted his cheeks.
Professor Oak laughed as the waitress headed over with the bills. "It's certainly lively around here."
The dome, spotted with registration counters, was sparsely populated, compared to the earlier stages of the conference. A few competitors wandered for a booth, still, with presumably a few friends and companions tagging along. A glass tank full of Magikarp stood next to every registrar, equipped with a fishing pole, each.
"Looks like most of the top 16 already got their pick." Brock observed the bracket hanging on the wall, sporting several familiar faces.
"Deidra's up there," Ash picked up quickly. "And, there's that trainer with the backwards hat… His name's slipping me." Ash spotted a teen looking just a bit older than him on the bracket, with a red and white hoodie, and a long, black messy bang hanging out of a black and golden cap.
"I swear I've seen him somewhere before, too…" Dawn held a thumb to her lip.
"Ditto," May agreed.
"Ash, look!" Misty grabbed her friend's arm, pointing at the bracket. "There's-"
"Hey, guys!" A familiar voice called, earning the group's attention. Ritchie stood before them, a wide smile on his face and a hand on his hip. "About to get signed up for your rounds?"
"I can't wait, uh-huh!" Himashi bounced on her heel beside Ritchie, holding Sparkles securely on her shoulder. "It's just you guys and a couple o' other trainers, now!"
"Yup! Back at the top 16. Feels familiar, huh?" Ash brushed his finger over his nose.
"Mhm." Ritchie nodded. "The same round where we faced off during our first league. Could you imagine getting matched up that way again?"
"Yeah, right," Ash laughed. "Either way, we'll end up battling, sooner or later!"
"You might want to get signed up before you get excited about that." Brock nudged Ash's shoulder with his elbow. "Max and Koda are already ahead of you."
"C'mon…!" Max grunted, jostling around his lure inside the tank. "Take the bait, already!"
"You gotta take it easy, brainy. You'll scare the pokemon away, like that." Koda criticized.
"Right…" The boy from Petalburg exhaled, waving his lure more gently in the water.
"I got a bite!" Max cheered, yanking his rod away from the water. A Magikarp was pulled up with him, calmly hanging onto the bait. 'B-3' was printed on its side.
"B-3!" The registrar announced. "The B-3 bracket is currently empty, so please wait patiently to learn the identity of your opponent!"
"The next trainer will be Ash Ketchum," a voice chimed nearby. From the next desk over, the attendant announced over the loudspeaker.
"Good luck, guys!" Ash saluted Max and Koda, rushing over. He wasted no time tossing his lure in the tank.
"Let's see who I get." Koda mused meanwhile, gripping his fishing rod with all the impatience he'd scolded Max for. He could feel his fists trembling… Or, was that a bite!?
"Got it!" Koda yanked his Magikarp out of the water.
However difficult it was to tell, his face paled.
Max stared, breathless.
"B-3! Your next opponent will be…!" The attendant gestured to the counter's screen.
Max's visage appeared beside Koda's.
The boys met eyes, finding no words. Breaths barely registered, even, between the companions.
"Things are heating up…!" May cupped her hands over her mouth, finding no will to narrate an expedition.
Ash, meanwhile, pulled up his Magikarp with a calm ease. The pokemon's hide read 'B-4.'
"B-4!" The attendant named, gesturing to Ash's own screen. "Your next opponent will be…!"
The fishing rod slipped from his fingers, rolling onto the floor, as the Magikarp returned to its tank with a splash.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Misty gawked in disbelief, jostling Brock's shoulder. "Look at this!"
The man's expression turned stern. "Well, what do you know."
"Oh, man!" Himashi gasped, her head turning between the chosen competitors.
Next to Ash's face on the screen, appeared Ritchie's.
Ash turned on his heel back towards the group.
The brunette, clad in teal and navy, stood before him, with Sparky nestled into his shoulder. Ritchie stared, breathless. A stunned expression softened into a smirk, and his Pikachu did the same.
Ash smiled wide, as did Pikachu.
