One year or so after the fateful Frontier Brain meeting, Scott was trekking up Mt. Silver. A few days ago Ash had sent him a letter via his Swellow about his exact location, which was the first anybody aside from his mother and Professor Oak had heard about him for the whole year.
The mountain was snow-capped, so of course it was cold. It was just a shame Scott forgot about that fact, and was still dressed in his customary blue Hawaiian shirt.
He was, naturally, very grateful when he finally found the stairs that lead up into the clouds Ash mentioned in his letter. It meant that he was close to where the teen had spent the year, and hopefully to something warm.
So he climbed the stairs. But when he got up he stopped, gawking at what was in front of him.
"Hey Scott." There was Ash, still dressed in his old clothes, Pikachu on his perch on the teen's shoulder. "Took you long enough."
"Ash, what…?"
"I'm not entirely sure." He shrugged. "But I've learned not to question it." The pair sat on two nearby rocks.
"So?"
"It's done. We've trained pretty much the entire time we were here." Pikachu nodded, agreeing with his trainer. "And I couldn't be more proud of all my Pokémon. And now we're ready to take our place as Frontier Brain."
"Groovy." Scott grinned.
"However…"
"Hm?"
"My wanderlust's starting to kick in." Ash grinned sheepishly. "I'm not sure I'll be able to remain here for too long."
"Oh that's no problem." Scott waved his concern away. "All Frontier Brains get plenty of warning before their challengers. So you'll be free to travel. You'll just need someone to take care of the Facility." Ash nodded. "So where do you want it to be? Palet?"
"Nah. Palet's got enough publicity from Professor Oak, if we set up there we'll just end up filling the town to the brim. Here will do."
"Here?"
"Sure." He and Pikachu shrugged in unison. "We've come to think of this place as a second home, it'd be a shame to leave it. And the climb up can be considered a little test." Scott looked around again before nodding to himself in thought.
"Alright, here it is then. And the symbol?"
"Here, I have a sketch. Pikachu, where did I put it?" The small mouse climbed down Ash's back and reached into his left pocket, bringing out a small piece of paper.
"Pika."
"Thanks buddy. Here."
"And what's this supposed to be?"
"What do you mean 'what'?" Ash and Pikachu exchanged incredulous looks. "It's the silhouette of Pikachu's head."
"Yeah, that's what I thought. Look Ash… are you sure you want this to be your Frontier Symbol."
"Positive."
"Pikaka."
"Alright, have it your way. Now there's just one thing left to do."
"Oh, and what's that?"
"Battle Brandon to see who will be the final Brain, of course."
"Excellent." Ash and Pikachu grinned. "I've wanted a rematch."
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Brock, or rather Pokémon Doctor Brock, as of a few days ago, stared at the letter he got, and the Staraptor that came with it (actually it was the letter that came with the Staraptor, but never mind) in shock. He'd known Ash went on a training trip, but he hadn't heard from him since. And now this.
"Big brother." A smaller man walked out the door behind Brock. "Is everything ok?"
"Yeah, Forrest. I just got a letter from Ash."
"Oh, what's it say?" His brother gave him the paper. "I think you should go." The younger spiky-haired man said after a few moments."
"I don't know… Will you guys be alright?"
"We'll be just fine." Forrest put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "I'll take care of them when mom and dad aren't around. I've learned a lot from you, after all." Their other eight siblings poured out from the doorway, where they had been listening intently.
"You should go Brock!"
"Yeah, follow your dream!"
"Do meet up with your best friend!"
Those, and similar, cries went out. Brock's eyes watered, and he hugged all nine of his brothers and sisters.
"Thanks a lot you guys." He turned to the bird Pokémon, who was just watching the family moment. "Tell him I accept."
"Raptor." The Staraptor saluted with one wing and took off.
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Paul, the Pokémon trainer from Veilstone City watched the field with a neutral expression. It was now two years after his old rival Ash's disappearance, and four since he had defeated the Battle Frontier when his brother could not.
In fact, that was where he was now. At the Battle Pyramid, battling in a full six-on-six battle against Pyramid King Brandon. They were down to their last Pokémon each, Paul's trusty starter Torterra on his side and Brendan's Dusknoir on his.
It was now or never. If he couldn't bring down the ghost Pokémon with this next move, he would lose the battle for sure.
"Torterra, use Frenzy Plant." The giant turtle started to glow green before vines shot out in front of it, rushing towards Dusknoir."
"Destiny Bond." Brandon called to his Pokémon, who obeyed just in the nick of time, seconds before the strongest Grass-type attack collided with him.
"No!" Paul yelled out. But it was too late. When the dust settled, both Pokémon were rendered unconscious.
"Both Torterra and Dusknoir are unable to battle." The referee called. "This match is a draw."
"Dammit." Paul swore, but accepted the hand offered by the Pyramid King. "I suppose that means I lost again."
"Actually, in the event of a tie it falls on the Frontier Brain to decide the match." Scott, who had been watching the entire battle, piped in.
"Indeed. You battled admirably young man, so it is my pleasure to award you the Brave Symbol." Brandon handed the small golden medallion to the very surprised Paul.
"Congratulations Paul." Scott clapped him on the back. "You've completed the Battle Frontier." Paul gave a small, almost unnoticeable smile. "However, you haven't conquered it yet."
"What?"
"We've recently gotten an eight Frontier Brain. Now, battling him is strictly optional, and you'll still be announced as the winner of the Battle Frontier if you don't. But if you want an extra challenge…"
"Yes, of course."
"Great." Scott grinned. "You have to go to Mt. Silver, then. I'll meet you at the Pokémon Center at the bottom." The purple-haired teen nodded and walked off to get his Pokémon treated. Scott and Brandon watched him walk off with small grins.
"Won't he be surprised?"
"Yes." Scott shook his head at his long-time friend and took out a phone.
"Hello. Yes, he accepted. Sure, I'll call all of them. And them. You have about a week to get there; I think he'll be very impatient."
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Nobody could believe their eyes.
The group, consisting of Paul and Scott, followed by all of Ash's old friends and family (except for Brock, who they couldn't find for some reason), gaped when they climbed up the snow-covered stairs near the peak of Mt. Silver.
They came to a very large clearing, with small caves on the left cliff. On the right, near the edge, there was a larger than standard battlefield, and right in front of them there was an average-sized house, leaning on the Cliffside and surrounded by a very luscious garden.
What really surprised them, however, was the cold and the snow. Or rather, the lack of either one. At that peak it was surprisingly warm, and snow stayed back on the stairs and continued on the cliffs above them, completely bypassing this space.
"Welcome everybody." Scott grinned, standing in front of them with his arms wide. "To the Battle Peak." He would have probably continued, he looked to be in one of those moods, if he wasn't interrupted by a trio of semi-familiar voices.
"Listen, is that the sound of organization in need?"
"Impossible." Misty's eyes widened.
"It speaks to me loud indeed."
"It can't be them." May shook her head.
"On the wind!"
"Pass the stars!"
"What a tough weed."
"It is." Max muttered, as everybody's hand slowly reached for the nearest Pokéball. "It's Team Rocket!"
"Bringing organization at a breakneck pace."
"Dashing misconduct, putting fair play in its place."
"A secretary by any other name is just as important." Jessie, the red-haired member of Team Rocket, appeared. However, she wasn't dressed in her old white uniform with the large red 'R' on the front. She was now dressed in a purple suit, her hair still in her pointy hairstyle, and a pair of red-rimmed glasses.
"And an official PokéJudge to keep everything constant." James was next. He was dressed in black shorts and green t-shirt, denouncing him as an official Pokémon Judge, however where the other Judges had a stylized Pokéball on the left side of their shirt, he had a silhouette lf some kind.
"Jessie!" The woman ran to the left, carrying a few manila folders in her hands.
"James!" The man ran to the right, a red and green flag in his hands.
"Gardner or cook, it's Meowth all the same!" Finally the cat jumped down, carrying a very large bag full of what appeared to be Pokémon food.
"Helping the Peak Lord keep track of the place…"
"… Former Team Rocket…"
"…We're in your face!"
"Team Rocket!" The teens all yelled in unison. The three stopped in their tracks for a few moments.
"It's just not the same." Jessie sighed, adjusting her glasses.
"Yes, it's missing that special something." James nodded sagely.
"Enough yous guys, we gotta go before the boss catches us."
"Right!"
"Hold it right there Team Rocket." Misty yelled, enlarging a Pokéball.
"That's 'Former Team Rocket' to you, twerp."
"Honestly, weren't you listening to the motto?"
"The noiv of some people."
"Don't mind them guys." Another man walked up. It was Brock, to the surprise of most of the group, dressed in beige slacks and a green shirt, with a white doctor's coat over it. His hair was still as spiky as ever, but he had a small soul patch on his chin. "They work here now."
"Brock!" He waved.
"Come on, I bet you want to meet the Peak Lord, huh?" The squinty-eyed man grinned. "This way."
He led them to an area hidden from view behind the battlefield. Two men were there. One, facing them, was the very recognizable figure, with his spiky red hair and cape, of the dual Kanto-Johto Champion, Dragon Master Lance. The other, facing the opposite way, was a messy-haired teen, dressed in black cargo pants, with a belt loosely tied around his waist, with five Pokéballs on it. He had on a black muscle shirt with an open blue long-sleeve shirt over it. The sleeves were rolled up to about his elbows, and he had a pair of fingerless gloves on his hands. A red cap was on his head and a small yellow mouse on his shoulder.
"Look Lance." His voice was a little deeper than they were used to, but it was unmistakable. "I'd be happy to help you out now and again, but I don't want to join your organization. I have my hands full with this one."
"But..."
"Lance, are you trying to steal my employee from under my nose?" Scott asked half-jokingly.
"Guess not." Lance sighed, calling his Dragonite from its Pokéball. "I'll see you around, then."
"You got it." The teen and the Pikachu gave small waves, before turning around to face the group.
"ASH!"
"Hey guys." Ash grinned. "So who's my challenger, then?" he turned to Scott.
"WHAT?"
"Presenting Peak Lord Ash." The leader of the Frontier grinned, enjoying the moment. "The Frontier Brain in charge of the Battle Peak."
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I swore to myself I wouldn't do this, but I guess it didn't work. No, I was scanning a few Pokémon pictures on Google, looking for something I could base Ash's new clothes on, and I stumbled upon a lot of those 'Ash vs. Red' memes. And I really couldn't believe how much people don't like Ash. Sure, he's a kid, but that's hardly his fault.
Here's the point I'm trying to make. Sorry, but no amount of nostalgia in the world will change the fact that Ash is simply better than Red.
Sure, I believe they are basically the same person, so all this 'Ash vs. Red' nonsense is meaningless, but if push comes to shove, that's the truth.
I'll try not to make these little rants a habit, but I do have one more thing. But I'll save that for the next chapter.