Chapter 13: The Bonds of Mega Evolution pt. 2
"Dragon rage, Heat Wave, Dark Pulse!"
Serena flew over the Kalos army camp beside Charla while her pokemon below unleashed their moves.
"Char!"
"Fenn!"
"Cham!
All three moves combined before gleaming over the camp like an aurora borealis, sending wonder and awe into the soldiers and noncombatants below.
Serena glided down and picked up both pokemon on the ground before flying back up and dancing with them and Charla in the air around their aurora borealis.
"So beautiful!" Bonnie cried. Ash, Red, and Clemont saw virtually identical expressions on the faces of hardened soldiers and knights.
"I think they're still waiting for the big finisher." Ash said with a growing smile upon seeing particular eagerness on Arnaud and his men. The Captain's company once more grew since their last meeting, now having over three-hundred and fifty fighting men. Even those who hadn't been there to see Serena's first performance in the village clearly heard the wondrous stories and so far didn't appear disappointed.
Finally, Serena came directly over the audience and, together, with her pokemon, threw their arms out and showered those below with blue irises. This finale made the crowd of soldiers/knights erupt into thunderous applause, but even more so into a sensation of hope.
"Espérer! Espérer! Espérer!" Arnaud led the soldiers/knights in a glorious chant. Ash, Red, Clemont, and Bonnie joined in with the crowd and their pokemon, but soon both brothers noticed their Charizards' attention lay elsewhere.
"Charizard?" Ash asked before he and Red realized they stared at none other than the Priest, Father Hugo, and his Alakazam, who also sat in attendance. Hugo carried a warm smile on his face, which his Alakazam shared. Both similarly enjoyed Serena's performance before giving the traditional hand movements, indicating thanks to Reduka and saying the same.
Since receiving their mega evolution stones from Daniel, Ash and Red both longed to use them fully. However, thus far, their lack of a proper teacher nearly led to disastrous consequences on two occasions. Perhaps now they finally had someone to teach them.
Unfortunately, just when they hoped to approach the Priest, he and Alakazam got up and walked to another part of the camp, where they began consoling a trembling soldier/Heracross, both clearly suffering from battle fatigue.
The brothers and their pokemon sighed but knew the soldier and his Heracross needed Father Hugo more than them.
"She's so magnifique!"
"Princess, princess!" Ash nearly shot his head back in terror upon seeing the enthralled soldiers/knights nearly swarm Serena when he and her pokemon landed. The Princess, Fennekin, and Charla looked more than a little overwhelmed by the crowd's desire to approach them, not necessarily in a lascivious manner but spirited. However, none of the men could deny Serena's beauty. Only Pancham seemed to enjoy such attention and eagerly allowed the many of the soldiers' pokemon to carry him away.
"Hey! Reculez!"
Ash and his pokemon fought their way through the crowd while Red, Clemont, and Bonnie chuckled.
"Ahh, the price of fame." Red laughed.
"Ash getting jealous for his wife is so romantic!" Bonnie cried while clasping her hands together. Ash eventually reached the Princess and picked her up in his arms while Charla eagerly jumped into Charizard's.
"Make way!" Arnaud barked, not wanting Serena to get overwhelmed either. He and Monsieur Raymond managed to hold off the crowd and let the couple escape to their companions.
"Merci." Serena said bashfully as Ash let out a sigh of relief.
"Merveilleux performance, your majesty." The group turned to Count Grant, who'd just arrived with his Tyrantrum.
"Merci, mon Seigneur. I'm glad you liked it." Serena said with a slight blush, though not in a romantic manner.
"Captain Arnaud didn't exaggerate. I can see how you inspired him and his men. I've never seen morale so high among the men." Ash and Red both nodded, as both noticed a distinct boost in the army's spirit since Serena began performing for them the day before.
"Oui! Soon we'll retake Cyllage city!"
"Pika!" Ash and Pikachu confidently declared. However, the Count's optimism wavered slightly.
"Je prie donc."
Serena and the others understood Count Grant's lament at seeing his ancestral home and its population under Galar occupation. However, the news of his wife's safety and Serena's arrival bolstered his spirits tremendously.
"Runt!" Tyrunt cried as he ran up to Grant's Tyrantrum and snapped his jaws at him in a challenge just as he did to Charizard.
"Tyrunt." Ash muttered, sweatdropping slightly alongside Serena and his pokemon. Grant, and Tyrantrum, however, merely smiled.
"I was wondering where you'd gotten off to, little one. Still a bit cocky too."
"Oui, mon Seigneur. He really wants to grow stronger." Ash said nervously. Grant saw this and chuckled slightly.
"Oui, monsieur, it also seems he's taken quite a liking to you. Perhaps it would be best if he remained in your company."
"Really!" Ash almost shouted.
"Oui, consider this a late wedding gift."
"Merci!"
"Mon Seigneur! Mon Seigneur!" A camp sentry raced over towards them alongside a Fletchinder, both with frantic expressions.
"Mon Seigneur, several Galar knights have arrived with a flag of truce. They wish to discuss terms!"
Grant and the group went silent, and Serena took Ash's hand with an uncertain look.
"Oui, collect Captain Arnaud, Captain Thomas, and Father Hugo."
Together, the group, save Clemont and Bonnie, joined these leaders in Count Grant's tent, where they sat around a table and anxiously awaited the Galar's arrival.
Only Father Hugo seemed entirely calm, while the others either appeared nervous or on the edge of drawing their swords. Since arriving, Ash and the others learned about the situation from Arnaud and Grant. Between the two of them, their host had almost fourteen-hundred fighting men opposing a little less than two-thousand Galar hold up in Cyllage City.
According to Count Grant, a Galar Earl, Lady Nessa acted as the Lord of the City for King Victor. Her superior numbers and the fact that the city's population still lay trapped inside made Grant and Arnaud hesitant about laying siege to the city directly. Thus, with the arrival of Captain Thomas's fleet, courtesy of Serena's performance days earlier, they instead blockaded them from the sea and countryside, preventing any forces from entering or leaving the area.
The Galar made several attempts to break out of this encirclement with minor skirmishes such as the one Ash and Red joined, but to no success. However, the Kalos forces' progress remained similarly limited. As of late, one could only describe the situation as a stalemate.
"Mon Seigneur, sir Zach and sir Mercer." One of Grant's knights said as he escorted two Galar knights inside. Ash and Red nearly jumped when they saw them.
Ash instantly recognized sir Zach as the knight he'd battled in the skirmish, and Zach similarly looked taken by surprise upon seeing him. Red and Mercer needed no introduction, and both knights nearly went for their swords.
"Calm yourselves, monsieurs. We meet under a flag of truce. Let us keep Reduka's peace." Father Hugo said, standing up and placing himself between the knights. Red grit his teeth as Mercer's fiery hatred bore into the Kalos knight.
"Sir mercer, don't be daft." Sir Zach warned his fellow knight, who hadn't taken his hand from his sword hilt. The young knight exhaled deeply, and unmistakable anxiety racked across his otherwise youthful face. Ash and the others saw genuine fear in the knight's expression, but not the fear for one's self.
"Bonjour, Count Grant. On behalf of my wife, Lady Nessa, we come to reach terms with you." That last bit caught Ash, Red, and Serena's attention, but not the others.
"Wife? This is Lady Nessa's husband?" Serena whispered to Ash, who slowly nodded.
"Oui, he did look like he was actually leading the Galar forces when we fought them." Ash and Serena slowly began to understand his fear, not for himself but for Lady Nessa. The same kind of dread that often struck the young couple.
Grant took a deep breath, clearly struggling to remain in control, but managed a nod.
"Very well, but we'll use Galar. I'd prefer if you didn't butcher our wonderful language."
"Whatever you want, Sliggoo eager." Sir Mercer sneered, his eyes not leaving Red.
"Say that again!" Arnaud nearly sprung up before Father Hugo restrained him.
"Mercer, I swear I'll geld you!" Zach roared, his Dragonite likewise snarling at Mercer and his Metagross. Sir Zach quickly composed himself and stood tall before Count Grant.
"As I was saying, my Lord. On behalf of Lady Nessa, I sincerely hope we can reach an accord to end this siege. Your blockade of the city has drastically undermined our food supply, particularly with several thousand men, women, children, and pokemon still inside.
"Yes, we're well aware of the effectiveness of our blockade." Captain Thomas said with a grin, irking Sir Zach.
"Indeed, yet we must take into consideration those noncombatants within Cyllage city and their well-being."
"If, you're truly concerned about our peoples' well-being, you'll open the city gates and release them to us." Father Hugo said in a stern but wise tone.
Sir Mercer scoffed at this, and even Sir Zach looked a bit hesitant. Serena felt slightly confused by this, but Ash and Red understood perfectly well. So long as the Galar held their people there, they'd hold off a direct siege for fear of them getting caught in the melee.
"I'm afraid that's not possible at this time."
"Then why are you here?" Red asked before Count Grant could speak. His tone and expression nearly made Sir Zach's throat dry up, and he took another deep breath.
"There has been a recent development, as of late. For you see, this morning, we discovered that Lady Nessa is pregnant." The Kalos war council's eyes all widened at the same time, and only now did they truly understand sir Zach's fear.
Serena couldn't help but feel some sympathy for him and the Lady Nessa, for that matter, even if they were invaders.
"I therefore formally request you allow her to depart the city and return to Galar on a ship. A siege is no place for a woman with child."
"And what of all the other pregnant woman within the walls? Have you taken them and their unborn children's well-being into account?" Grant asked. Zach started to sweat and wiped it from his brow.
"I'm formally asking you to allow my pregnant wife to depart Cyllage city safely."
Grant narrowed his eyes, allowing Sir Zach to stew in fear for a moment.
"I will allow her to leave, but not alone. If the Lady departs for Galar, she must take her garrison with her." Zach grit his teeth and visibly trembled for a moment.
"It is not in our power to relinquish the city. His Majesty King Victor entrusted her to Lord over the city in his name and has a responsibility to Cyllage's safety. I was led to believe that men of Kalos were chivalrous and-"
"Responsibility to Cyllage's safety!" Grant sprang up and flipped the table over, his face boiling red.
"That's my city you salopards took! My family has lorded over it for centuries! You invade our Kingdom, mercilessly pillage the countryside, massacre out knights and King, seize our homes, and dare to lecture us on chivalry!" Tyrantrum roared, and even Ash struggled to control his rage.
"Ash!" Serena grabbed Ash and restrained him while Father Hugo and his Alakazam sprinted in front of Count Grant.
"My Lord, enough! A man of Reduka is slow to anger and rich in kindness!"
Despite Grant's fury, Sir Zach hadn't backed down but now faced the Priest.
"Good sir, certainly you can sympathize with our position. We understand your commitment and loyalty to your King, an admirable trait, to be sure. However, one could be forgiven for mistaking your desire for chivalry as hypocrisy, given what you ask for."
The fight and color drained from sir Zach as the Priest's words struck him harder than any mortal weapon. Mercer, however, merely rolled his eyes.
"Reduka, pff." He scoffed.
Hugo's eyes shot to the knight for a brief moment, but he quickly returned to sir Zach.
"Yes, it seems we have reached an impasse."
"Sir Zach, do you truly care about the people inside Cyllage city?" Ash asked, finally speaking up.
Zach turned to Ash, and after a moment's silence, he spoke with utter sincerity.
"Yes."
"I understand your lady wife is a skilled pokemon trainer, is she not?"
"Yes." Zach asked, now slightly intrigued. Red and Serena instantly knew where this was going and smiled a little.
"I suggest we handle this chivalrously. If Lady Nessa is willing, we could conduct a single pokemon battle between our sides. If she wins, we'll allow her to depart safely. If our side wins, you release the city's inhabitants, and she can still return safely to Galar."
Ash's proposition took sir Zach and the others, save Serena and Red by surprise, both of whom, alongside Father Hugo, smiled warmly at him. After a moment, Count Grant composed himself and nodded.
"Yes, as monsieur Ash says-"
"We accept these terms!" Sir Zach screamed, an immense look of relief running over him as if a Steelix had just gotten off his shoulders. Sir Mercer stared over at Count Grant's Tyrantrum and grinned nefariously.
"Of course, the Lady Nessa uses exclusively water-type pokemon. As such, the battle must take place in the bay." Zach looked slightly taken aback for a moment, then nodded.
"Actually, he's right about that. Cheers, Mercer, it almost slipped my mind."
"Graww." Tyrantrum tilted his head and sweatdropped as he nudged Grant.
"Count Grant's pokemon are all rock type. They can't battle in the water." Red countered before Mercer turned to him with renewed hatred, clearly remembering the fate of his Rhypherior. Sceptile tried to hide his own guilt before feeling the comforting hand of Hugo's Alakazam on his shoulder.
"Alakazam."
"Tile."
"...I see." Zach said, trying to remain calm.
"Well, it's obvious, isn't it? If the Count is an honorable chap, he won't force the good Lady to battle outside her element." Mercer's grin returned, making his intentions very obvious to the Kalos leaders.
"Mon Seigneur. With your permission, I'd happily battle the Lady Nessa in your place." Ash said with unmistakable eagerness in his voice that made Serena giggle slightly.
Grant and Zach both looked intrigued by this offer and nodded.
"Monsieur Ash is an honorable chevalier and formidable trainer from what I hear. I would be privileged to have you battle on my behalf, monsieur."
"As would-" Zach started before Red slammed his fist into the table, which a soldier placed back up, so hard it nearly cracked.
"Non!" The knight roared louder than Tyrantrum, making everyone but Hugo and Mercer jump.
"Red!" Ash shouted, but his brother's fiery eyes turned back to sir Mercer, and he came within inches of the Galar knight.
"Mon Seigneur, I don't know if you recall what we told you happened at the Battle Chateau, but I can tell you that this knight lacks honor! During my duel with Earl Milo, he violated the rules twice, first attacking monsieur Raoul before the duel then launching an attack after I defeated the Earl, violating our terms!"
Zach's head shot to Mecer in disbelief.
"What the bloody Hell is he talking about!?"
Mercer shrugged.
"I have no idea why this git is taking a piss on us-"
"He speaks the truth." Serena spoke up firmly and stared down the massive knight who turned to her with interest.
"And who might you be?" Ash furiously threw himself in front of Serena, but Arnaud took it a step further by drawing his sword.
"Take one step towards her, Galar, and I'll sever your manhood!"
"Be at peace, good men!" Hugo placed himself between the two parties again as Zach tried to regain his composure.
"I don't know what happened at the Battle Chateau, but I swear before Reduka I have honor as does my wife. We will use no trickery or deception."
Red continued to stare Mercer down and then looked back fearfully towards Ash.
"He stays away from the battle!"
"Done!" Zach and his Dragonite turned to the second Galar knight with a clear threat in their eyes.
"Fine." Sir Mercer shrugged.
Ash and his pokemon grinned eagerly, and he approached sir Zach before removing his gauntlet and throwing it at the Galar knight's feet. Sir Zach returned Ash's expression and picked up the gauntlet.
"I just want you to know you won't win. I'd say we proved each other equals yesterday, and my dear Nessa is a stronger trainer than I."
"Bien, the bigger the challenge the better the fun."
"Pika!"
"Fletch!"
"Grouuu!"
"Grauuu!"
"Runt!"
Later that night, Grant, Captain Arnaud, and Captain Thomas made plans for how they'd best take care of the city's inhabitants once freed. Serena, meanwhile, gave another performance while Clemont instructed a formation of crossbowmen on how to use his hand cannons.
However, Ash, Red, and their pokemon nervously waited outside Father Hugo's tent. They waited for what felt like hours, listening to him chant alongside Alakazam, praying for the safety of Cyllage city's people/pokemon, those across Kalos, and in their camp.
Neither brother wanted to interrupt him but felt increasingly anxious in their desire to learn about Mega Evolution properly.
"I know you're out there."
Both knights and their pokemon almost yelped as Hugo stuck his head out of the tent. He didn't look annoyed or upset in any way, merely at peace.
"Bonsoir, father." Ash said while nervously sweatdropping.
"Do you wish to come in, monsieurs?"
"Oui!" Both followed Hugo inside his tent and sat down beside him with their pokemon. The Priest poured some wine from his wineskin before offering it to the knights and their pokemon.
"Merci."
Hugo nodded but didn't pour any for himself.
"How can I help you both this evening?" He asked in a warm and highly caring tone.
"Father, you have mastered Mega Evolution." Red said, rather than ask, pointing to the mega evolution stone to his pendant to Reduka and a matching one around Alakazam's neck with Alakazite embedded in it.
"Oui, we have. So you wish to learn more about it then?" Father Hugo similarly emphasized their Mega Evolution stones.
"Oui!"
"Grauu!"
Sceptile and Lucario looked more anxious/guilty than excited at this prospect.
"Have you ever tried to Mega Evolve your pokemon before?" He asked sincerely, without a hint of accusation in his voice. Even so, both brothers, Lucario and Sceptile, grimaced.
"Oui." Red muttered, his face turning slightly pale. From their expressions, Hugo and Alakazam understood what happened and approached, placing a warm hand on each other shoulders.
"Be at peace, monsieurs. The past is the past."
"Alakazam."
"Tile!" Sceptile choked on his tears, and Red similarly struggled to maintain himself, Rhyperior's terrified expression as he sunk beneath the water still flashing through their memories.
Ash, Pikachu, and Lucario suffered similar trauma, as the crippling pain from their failure to rescue Alexandre returned like a charging Rhyhorn.
"We mega evolved our pokemon before we were ready. Our King is dead because of it." Ash muttered.
"Pokemon are dead because of it."
Hugo tightened his grips on their shoulders and stared firmly into the brothers' eyes.
"Are you truly sorry for these choices?"
"Oui."
"Then by your humility before Reduka, I call upon him to absolve you of your sins and live free of the guilt. Go on in peace." Somehow, Ash, Red, and their pokemon felt as if an invisible burden left them.
Hugo released their shoulders and then refilled the wine glasses.
"Do you know what Mega Evolution is precisely?" He asked them.
"It's done through the use of a keystone and mega evolution stone. Calling upon the bond between a trainer and pokemon to temporarily evolve them into an advanced form." Ash said, calling back to his studies on it.
"Oui, that's a broad overview of it. So tell me, why didn't it work when you both tried it?"
Ash and Red looked at their pokemon with mutual fear.
"...We, we don't know... It can't be a lack of a bond-" Red started.
"A powerful bond exists between you both and your pokemon, that much I can see for certain. Your pokemon wouldn't have even transformed had you not possessed such a connection. " Hugo assured them.
"Then why did they lose control?" Ash asked in desperation.
Hugo placed his hand on Lucario and Sceptile's mega evolution stones.
"Having a bond isn't enough, I'm afraid. For you see, Mega Evolution draws upon it to allow the evolution itself. But controlling that power is another matter. It can take time to develop, but ultimately, it requires a pokemon to remember who they are and who you are despite that power."
Ash and Red both turned to their pokemon with new understanding.
"So, that's why they lost control?"
"Oui, the bond between a pokemon and their trainer when strong enough is like the bond between Reduka and us. Such power can easily overwhelm pokemon and cloud their minds. Ultimately, the remedy for such things is the bond itself, a Pokemon's love for their trainer breaking through the power and putting them back in control."
"But, but how?" Red almost pleaded, their four mega evolution capable pokemon doing the same.
Hugo and Alakazam smiled.
"Here's a trick that worked for Alakazam and me. Think back to your memories, the source of the love between you."
Both Charizard, Lucario, and Sceptile thought deeply about what the Priest said. Ash and Red both took deep breaths and nodded.
"Merci, father."
"I'll be sure to keep you in my prayers, monsieur Ash. I have faith in you and your pokemon."
Ash and his pokemon left, but Red felt the Priest's hand on his shoulder again.
"Father?"
"Monsieur Red, may I have just another moment?"
"Ok." Red felt slightly confused, particularly from the almost fatherly concern on Hugo's face.
"You and sir Mercer nearly came to blows today."
Red felt his blood boil slightly and tightened his fist.
"That salopard deserves it, he's a monster!"
"Grau!" His Charizard snarled.
"Tile!"
"Kirl!"
"Noi!"
Hugo and Alakazam, however, only looked more concerned when they heard this.
"Red, whatever sir Mercer may have done, he's still one of Reduka's children. Hating him and desiring him dead will not bring you any closer to our creator." Red grit his teeth.
"...You don't know what he's done, what he'll keep doing." Red expected the Priest to give him a tedious lecture in a pious tone. However, when he looked back at Father Hugo, he looked somehow diminished and almost in shame.
"Hate begets hate, monsieur. It's perhaps one of the easiest things for us humans to feel. Why do you hate him?"
"For what he's done!?"
"Could you hate me?" Red looked taken aback by the question.
"Quoi? Of course not, father, you're a good man." Father Hugo didn't answer, nor did his expression change.
"It's easy to hate, monsieur, but it's right to forgive."
Red lowered his head slightly.
"So you forgive them then, all of them? The Galar, Lysandre?"
"Oui." Hugo said without hesitation.
"To forgive is the be forgiven."
Red felt some of the fight go out of him and he contemplated what Hugo said.
The following day, he stood alongside his pokemon, Father Hugo, Captain Arnaud, and Count Grant, in front of their army, which stood in formation just outside the great walls of Cyllage city.
Count Grant and Captain Arnaud organized their men in standard formation, heavy infantry in the center with missile troops behind them and mounted knights on the flanks.
Opposing them stood a thousand or so Galar knights, men-at-arms, and longbowmen alongside their pokemon. None other than Sir Mercer stood at their head and stared out at Red.
The young Kalos knight struggled to remember what Father Hugo said the previous night when Mercer glared at him.
"Do you really think they'll keep their word?" Arnaud growled while his Hawlucha took a fighting stance.
"For now, we can only hope so. Regardless even if we successfully rescue our people, we still have to retake the city." Grant said while watching the Galar very carefully.
Red took a deep breath but soon smiled.
"Well, that's all we have to worry about then. My brother has this well in hand." Clemont nodded.
"Leave it to monsieur Ash." Their optimism soon spread to the other leaders, who similarly smiled.
"I only wish we could see it." Grant said, earning a sigh from Red. He too, longed to see Ash's battle, but Count Grant asked him to remain in the case the Galar tried to deceive them. Given what happened at the Battle Chateau, he agreed.
"Bonne chance, Ash."
Elsewhere, in the bay, Ash, like Red, stood fully armored on the deck of a carrack acting as Captain Thomas's flagship. Over two-dozen other carracks and smaller ships anchored around it. Under two-dozen Galar ships anchored just beyond Cyllage City's harbor opposing them.
Hundreds of Kalos sailors and pokemon cheered for Ash while the Galar sailors/pokemon did the same for Lady Nessa.
"Do your best Ash!" Bonnie cried as she stood beside Captain Thomas and his Golduck.
"Time to see if you can give us as good a show as Princess Serena, monsieur!" The Captain laughed. Ash didn't may any mind to this, and remained pumped up while standing with his pokemon.
"This is it, our first real challenge. We've trained and fought hard for this, and I know we can do it!"
"Pika!"
"Fletch!"
"Grouuu!"
Tyrunt pouted slightly as he looked at his companions who got to battle.
"Tyrunt, you can't battle on the ocean. It's too dangerous. Pikachu and Lucario can both swim if they fall in. You can't."
"Pika." Pikachu nodded while explaining the same to Tyrunt, who lowered his head.
"Grauuu." Charizard growled while patting Tyrunt's head.
"Ash, do your best." Serena said softly but with a confident smile on her face as she came up behind her husband. Ash turned to face her, but she immediately wrapped her arms around him, ignoring his armor and lifting up the visor to give him a passionate kiss. Ash returned the gesture and lifted Serena up, savoring her warm embrace.
"I know you'll save those people." Serena whispered into his ear.
"It's my duty." Ash was about to kiss Serena again when they both saw her.
A young woman, roughly their age, though slightly shorter than Serena, stood on the Galar flagship's deck. She had a somewhat slender yet athletic body with long bluish/black hair, light blue eyes, and the same dark skintone as Count Grant. Serena was slightly taken aback by the noblewoman's attire, which resembled swimwear more than a gown.
She wore a top and bottom that exposed most of her legs and stomach. Sir Zach lifted Lady Nessa in his arms up just as Ash did Serena, and the two shared an equally passionate kiss before the knight reluctantly put her down.
"Win or lose, you'll be safe, both of you." Ash and Serena felt their breaths stiffen when they saw Sir Zach kneel down and kiss Lady Nessa's stomach. The noblewoman was on the verge of tears as she caressed her husband's head.
"I won't let our baby grow up fatherless." Nessa declared before she turned to face Ash.
Serena held Ash's hand for another moment before returning to Bonnie and Captain Thomas. Ash raised his fist and turned to his pokemon.
"Prêt!?"
"Pika!"
"Fletch!"
"Grouuu!"
The knight smiled and walked to the edge of the ship's port side directly across from Lady Nessa on her ship's starboard side. Over three dozen rafts floated in place between their vessels to act as platforms for Pikachu and Lucario to fight off of.
A Kalos sailor acting as the referee similarly rowed out on a small boat alongside his Walrein.
"The battle between Monsieur Ash and Lady Nessa will now begin. Each trainer is allowed three pokemon, and whoever knocks out the other's entire team wins! Trainers may substitute pokemon!"
Ash kept his visor up and gave Lady Nessa his confident smile, which after a moment, managed to infect her as well.
"My husband says you're quite the battler, sir. I certainly hope you don't disappoint." Nessa said, now standing tall with her trainer's confidence coming out.
"Oui, I've been told the Galar Earls are formidable opponents. Earl Milo certainly seemed that way when he battled my brother." Nessa looked taken aback by this.
"You jest, you're brother was the one who defeated Earl Milo at the Battle Chateau!? Well then, this may be interesting after all!"
"Begin!"
"Allons-y, Fletchling!" Ash shouted with his armored hand outstretched.
"Fletch!"
"Show them your power, Pelipper!"
"Pel!"
Fletchling and Pelipper both flew out from their ships straight for each other.
"Pelipper use tailwind!"
"Pel!" Pelipper rode the new wind and flew around Fletchling so fast he appeared to come from multiple directions, making the fire bird get slightly dizzy.
"That's not going to work, Arial Ace!"
"Fletch!" Fletchling moved in incredible burst of speed, allowing him to catch and slash Pelipper's side.
"Oui! Get him Fletchling!" Serena cried as hundreds of Kalos sailors joined her.
Zach grit his teeth slightly, but Nessa merely looked impressed.
"Arial Ace, not a bad counter, but let's see how you handle this. Underwater air slash!"
"Eh?" Ash muttered. Pikachu and Fletchling looked equally confused until they saw Pelipper dive straight underwater.
"Quoi!?" Ash shouted in disbelief. Pikachu almost jumped off Ash's shoulder pauldron in fright upon seeing the unexpected move. Before trainer or pokemon alike could react, Pelipper burst out of the water directly beneath Fletchling and slashed his side.
"Fletchling!"
"Pika!"
"Woah!" Bonnie yelped as Serena similarly felt her eyes widen.
"Bonté! I didn't know Pelippers could do that!"
"Oui, it takes a lot of intense training." Thomas grimaced.
Fletchling shook his head but recovered, giving Pelipper an intense look.
"That's it, darling!" Zach cried alongside the enthusiastic Galar sailors.
"Fletchling, use Arial Ace!"
"Underwater!" Pelipper dove underwater moments before Fletchling could make contact.
"Merde!" Ash growled in frustration.
"She found a way to make Arial Ace miss!" A Kalos sailor yelped.
"Roost!" Nessa cried, and Ash watched a glowing light from underwater, instantly healing Pelipper from Fletchling's earlier Arial Ace.
"Water Pulse!"
"Fletchling, use Agility!" Fletchling increased his speed and darted away from a series of Water Pulses that flew up from beneath him.
"Keep it up, Fletchling!" Serena cried. However, Ash saw Nessa's grin widen and realized something was up.
"Hurricane!"
"Fletchling Agility!" Fletchling tried to increase his speed again, but a massive cyclone of wind and water emerged from the ocean and engulfed Fletchling, throwing him about like a ragdoll.
"Fletch!"
"Air slash!" Ash was helpless and could only watch Pelipper ride his cyclone and slash Fletchling again.
"Fletchling!" The small firebird fell into the ocean and floated on the surface, unconscious.
"Fletchling is unable to battle." The official grimaced.
"Yes! That's it, darling!" Zach shouted, leading the other Galar.
Thomas cursed while many Kalos sailors felt their nerves tighten in anxiety.
"Don't lose hope, Ash!" Serena cried, remaining determined.
"Do your best!" Bonnie added. The Kalos sailors saw Charizard recover Fletchling and hand him to Ash.
"Du repos, Fletchling. You did a good job. You are good, my Lady, definitely worthy of your reputation. But we're far from beaten, right guys!"
"Pika!"
"Grouuu!" Ash's confidence infected the sailors and he handed Fletchling off to Serena before facing Nessa again.
"Ready Pikachu?"
"Pika!" Pikachu flexed while sparking his cheeks, then leaped off Ash's shoulder and across the rafts.
"Monsieur Ash has sent out his Pikachu!"
"A Pikachu, well, this certainly won't be easy. But don't forget, you're still in my element."
"That's what I'm counting on, Pikachu, thunderbolt!"
"Pika chu!" Pikachu instantly knew what Ash intended and blasted the ocean.
"Pelipper surface!" Nessa barely kept herself calm but breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Pelipper burst out of the ocean just in time.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Tailwind!"
"Pika chu!" Pikachu unleashed another thunderbolt into the air, but Pelipper rode his tailwind and sped away before any electricity even got close.
"Water Pulse!"
"Agility!"
"Pika, Pika!" Pikachu sped across the battlefield, leaping from raft to raft as the water pulses hit behind him.
"That's a nice trick, but as I said, you're in my element, sir. Hurricane!"
"Pelipper!" Pelipper conjured up another cyclone that began picking up the rafts, cutting off Pikachu's escape avenue.
"Pikachu, iron tail on the raft!"
"Pika!" Pikachu embedded his tail into the raft.
"Eh? What's he doing?" Bonnie asked. Serena peered closer and realized precisely what Ash's plan was.
"Ahh! Brilliant!" She cheered. Thomas and the others similarly put it together when they saw Pikachu remain safely on the raft even as Pelipper's hurricane picked it up.
"Air Slash!"
"Electroball!"
"Pika chu!" Pikachu leaped up and thrust his tail, hurling the raft and a ball of electricity into Pelipper. The water bird's air slash cut through the raft but proved useless as Pikachu's overwhelming electricity coursed through his veins.
"Pelipper!" Nessa wailed as he saw her pokemon convulse as if having a seizure from the super-effective and nearly overpowered attack and crashed into the water, black and burnt to a crisp.
"Pelipper!" Zach cried.
"Pika." Pikachu and Ash sweatdropped, not intending to hurt him that much.
"Ahh, is he ok!?" Ash cried in genuine concern. Serena and Bonnie ran over with similar fright, but the Kalos sailors cried out in overwhelming approval.
"Oui! Pelipper is unable to battle!" The official roared.
Nessa dove straight into the water and swam like an athlete to her Pelipper before picking him up.
"Pelipper, speak to me!"
"Pel." Pelipper muttered, his eyes swirled.
Charizard considered going out to pick them up, but Sir Zach's Dragonite quickly took care of it for him. A Galar physician and Chansey sprinted onto the deck when Dragonite landed and took Pelipper from a trembling Nessa.
"Let's go!"
"Chansey!"
"Is he ok!?" Ash cried.
Nessa looked slightly surprised at Ash's genuine concern and sir Zach smiled a little.
"He will be. It seems I underestimated you, sir Ash. I won't make that mistake again. Let's go, Quagsire!"
"Quag." A Quagsire leaped from the Galar ship into the water.
"Merde!" Thomas groaned.
"What's wrong?" Bonnie asked.
"Quagsires are part ground type. Pikachu's electricity will not affect him."
"Oh no!" Bonnie cried, her Dedenne looking equally scared.
"C'est d'accord." Serena said with a confident smile.
Ash and Pikachu looked unphased by this development, and both nodded.
"A Quagsire, this just got interesting. Nothing we can't handle, though, droit Pikachu!?"
"Pika!"
"We'll see, Mud shot!"
"Agility and Iron tail!"
Pikachu dashed across the rafts as Quagsire's Mudshots slowly closed the distance. On land, Pikachu could've easily avoided the attacks even without agility, but leaping from raft to raft on the ocean made this incredibly difficult.
Luckily, Ash knew this and was ready.
"Pika chu!" Pikachu turned his tail metal again and smashed apart any mud burst that came near him.
"Ice punch!" Quagsire burst from the water, smashing apart Pikachu's raft.
"Agility!" Pikachu tried to leap off the raft fragments, but Ice punch froze them and caused him to slip.
"Mud shot!"
"Quag." Quagsire blasted Pikachu with three bursts of mud, dealing immense damage.
"Pika!"
"Pikachu!" Bonnie and Serena cried as the Kalos sailors held their breath.
"Pikachu, iron tail!"
"Pika chu!" Pikachu instantly recovered and kicked off another raft.
"Scald-" Quagsire opened his mouth, but Pikachu's Iron Tail smashed him before he could attack or dodge.
"Oui!" Thomas thrust his fist with Golduck.
Steel-type moves usually didn't do much damage to Quagsires, but Pikachu's attack made Quagsire taste blood in his mouth.
"Quag." Quagsire groaned, his usual carefree face showing agony.
"Quagsire, are you ok!?"
"Quag!"
"Nice hit Pikachu!"
"Pika!"
Ash's other pokemon cheered for Pikachu, but Quagsire's face now contorted into pure rage.
"Now you've done it, sir Ash. Scald!"
"Quagsire!" Quagsire sprayed the ocean with steaming water that made each raft almost painful to stand on.
"Pika!" Pikachu groaned while jumping from foot to foot.
"Mud shot!"
"Iron tail and Agility!" Pikachu desperately attempted to avoid the mud shots as he did before, but the scalding water made it too difficult and three got through, striking his stomach.
"Pika!"
"S'il te plaît!" Serena pleaded, clasping her hands together.
"Return!"
"Pika chu!" Narrowing his eyes, Pikachu kicked off the burning raft and smashed apart the incoming mud shots with iron tail before slamming headfirst into Quagsire's stomach with Return.
"Sire!"
"Quagsire!" Nessa yelped, and Zach lost his breath when they saw him skid across the water like a skipping stone. Dragonite's jaw dropped in disbelief when he saw an unconscious Quagsire land in front of them on the deck, baffled at how a Pikachu managed to do that.
"Quagsire is unable to battle!" The official nearly fell out of his boat in excitement while the Kalos sailors erupted in glee.
"Well done, Pikachu!" Ash shouted.
"Pika." Pikachu muttered, panting heavily from fatigue.
"Get Quagsire below deck!" Nessa barked out, and two sailors quickly raced her pokemon to the physician.
"Ok, I'll admit it, you are good." Nessa said in admiration.
"Merci, you're just what I hoped for. If it's easy, then it's not fun. Pikachu, come back. You've done enough." Pikachu was slightly disappointed at being called back early but knew Ash was probably right. He needed a rest, especially if Lucario ended up getting knocked out.
Charizard flew out and picked him up before placing him on Ash's shoulder.
"Pika." Pikachu said in deep gratitude for the lift.
"Prêt, Lucario?"
"Grouuu!" Lucario threw his fist up and performed a front flip onto the nearest raft.
"A Lucario. Could this be the one who gave your Lucario such a thrashing yesterday, dear?" Nessa smiled over to Sir Zach and his Lucario, who grimaced slightly.
"Grouu." Zach's Lucario groaned, stroking his arm where Ash's Lucario hit him with a particularly strong power-up punch during the skirmish.
"Well, unfortunately for you. My ace has plenty of experience battling Lucarios, courtesy of my darling husband. Let's go Drednaw!" A massive turtle-like pokemon leaped from the Galar flagship and caused a wave to roll over the battlefield upon landing.
"Mud shot!"
"Power up punch!" Lucario took a fighting stance, and Nessa saw Ash do the same.
"What the?"
Serena beamed when Lucario and Ash mirrored each other's movements, their eyes glowing blue as their aura synched. Lucario smashed apart each incoming mud shot with his fists and grew in power with each thrust.
"Look at them go!" Bonnie cried.
"No good, dive and use rock polish!" Drednaw dove underwater and left a trail of excess material on the surface, allowing her to move faster.
Lucario carefully surveyed the water for any signs of movement, but Ash merely smiled.
"Stay underwater if you want. We'll be ready, Sword's Dance!"
"Grouuu!" Lucario flexed both arms up as aura in the shape of swords formed around him.
"That's it Ash!" Serena cried, knowing every moment Drednaw waited underwater, Lucario's power and chances of winning drastically rose.
"Damn it, this is going all to pot!" Zach grimaced.
"Not yet, Drednaw use Liquidation!"
"Dodge it!" Lucario tried to leap off his raft, but Drednaw burst up from below, shattering it to pieces and slamming Lucario into the air.
"Yes! Now use Mud shot!"
Ash and his pokemon, however, remained in control.
"Bone rush!"
"Grouuu!" Lucario formed a bone-club of aura in his paws and, spinning it, broke apart each burst of mud before landing on another raft.
"Close Combat!"
"Grouuu!" Lucario pushed off and slammed his fists into Drednaw with successive and continuous blows like a storm.
"Drednaw!" The turtle-like pokemon landed on her back unconscious.
"Drednaw is unable to battle! Monsieur Ash is the winner!" The official couldn't contain himself anymore and fell out of the boat.
"Ha! Ha ha ha ha ha!" Captain Thomas and the Kalos fleet erupted into thunderous applause with their pokemon.
"He did it! He won!" Bonnie clasped her hands together while Serena blushed and almost ran over to embrace him. However, Lucario beat her to the punch and eagerly leaped back onto the boat.
"Exceptionnel! All of you!" Pikachu and Fletchling soon joined the embrace.
Dragonite set an immensely guilt-ridden Drednaw beside Nessa, who knelt down and stroked her head.
"It's alright, Drednaw. We're going home." Nessa almost trembled as she looked back at her husband.
Sir Zach almost went pale and took a deep breath before turning to one of the sailors.
"Send word to sir Mercer, tell them to release the city's inhabitants."
A Galar soldier mounted his Corviknight at the same time a Kalos sailor mounted his Talonflame and flew off.
Even with the great distance between them, Red and the entire Kalos army heard the echoes of cheers and applause reach them.
"It sounds like Ash won!" Clemont cried, his eyes lighting up as he recognized the Kalos language in the chanting. Red wanted to believe him and did his best not to get overexcited should they be mistaken, but Charizard quickly pointed to a beaming Kalos sailor flying towards them and a grim Galar soldier heading towards his side.
"Monsieur Ash was victorious! Monsieur Ash was victorious!" The sailor nearly burst as he ran through the ranks declaring Ash's victory.
"La victoire!" Red cried, soon followed by Clemont, Count Grant, and Arnaud.
"That's my brother!" Red laughed as he wrapped his arm around Clemont, and nearly dragged him off his feet.
"Grauu!"
"Tile!"
"Noi!"
"Kirl!"
Father Hugo smiled warmly and offered a prayer in thanks. However, Red's joy faded instantly when he looked across the field at sir Mercer who narrowed his eyes upon hearing the news.
The Galar knight went silent for a moment but then looked around at the other knights around him and gave them some kind of instruction. Red couldn't quite make out what he said, but half of the knights/soldiers looked shocked and disturbed while the others grinned.
Some kind of argument broke out, which ended with sir Mercer punching another Galar knight so hard it lifted him off the ground. The others backed up in terror.
"En garde! Something's not right!"
"En garde!" Arnaud growled as he too saw Mercer's expression and suspected foul intentions. The Kalos army and their pokemon went silent as the city gates opened and people/pokemon emerged.
At first, Red's suspicions seemed incorrect, for men, women, children, and their pokemon came out in the hundreds. However, suspicion instantly returned to the Kalos forces when they realized it wasn't the entire population but only a thousand or so. Additionally, several hundred more Galar soldiers, knights, and pokemon emerged, including nearly the full longbowmen contingent.
"Hold on. I count just over eighteen hundred men!" Clemont yelped as he surveyed the Galar forces now arrayed before them. Red's heart raced, for that was nearly the entire enemy garrison, outnumbering them.
Count Grant climbed onto his Tyrantrum and donned his helmet, knowing something wasn't right.
"Que font-ils?"
Sir Mercer stared out at Red with a malevolent smile before his men-at-arms drove the captive people/pokemon directly in front of their longbowmen.
"Knock, draw-" Mercer barked out, and the longbowmen obeyed.
Red's jaw dropped as he finally understood.
"Human shields! They're using them as human shields!" The knight lowered his visor and ducked down to endure the incoming volley.
"Protect!"
"Stone edge!"
"Rock tomb!"
The Kalos army's pokemon tried desperately to throw up any kind of protective barrier they could from the incoming longbow arrows and pokemon attacks, but many got through, bouncing off armor and helmets. Even so, the blows still caused immense pain.
"En garde! Prepare to-" Arnaud cut himself off when he saw the terrified Kalos inhabitants in front of the Galar.
"Merde! Merde, damn salopards!" A feeling of helplessness overcame him, Count Grant, Red, and the entire Kalos army.
The same messenger frantically mounted his Talonflame.
Back in the bay, Serena finally reached Ash and congratulated him by pulling up his visor and giving him a passionate kiss. Ash wrapped his arms around her and returned the favor even as excited cheers continued to erupt around them.
However, a new sound soon reached both sides.
"Huh?" Ash, Serena, Captain Thomas, and their pokemon listened closer before they realized it was the sounds of a battle.
"Quoi!?" All three cried.
"What the Blood Hell!?" Sir Zach shouted, identical confusion overcoming him and Lady Nessa.
Just then, the Kalos sailor flew in with a frantic expression.
"Treachery! They dupé us! The Galar army attacks and are using innocents as human/pokemon shields!"
"What!?" Nessa and Zach yelped, their faces turning pale.
Ash, Serena, and Bonnie quickly did the same.
"Why? I don't understand?" Serena muttered.
"Mercer! Merde, Red was right!" Ash growled alongside his pokemon.
"Treachery! Treachery!" Captain Thomas snarled, his face turning red while Golduck tightened his webbed fists. The Kalos sailors all joined this chant and furiously drew their weapons.
"Wait! Wait, please, this is a misunderstanding! We didn't order this!" Lady Nessa pleaded. However, aside from Ash and Serena, it fell on deaf ears.
"Attendez! Captain, attendez!" Serena raced over and tried to plead to Thomas, but he didn't listen.
"Attaque! Seize these Galar scoundrels!" The Kalos crews raised their anchors and sailed forward as Gyarados, Wailords, Crawdaunts, and Dragalge followed in the water, many carrying sailors on their backs.
"To arms! Defend Lady Nessa!" Sir Zach roared while donning his helmet. The Galar crews desperately attempted to raise their anchors while Inteleon, Drednaws, Seakings, and Octillery formed up.
However, Captain Thomas's first move and the swift movements of his crews proved decisive. Crossbowmen and other pokemon successfully formed up while Galar longbowmen and crossbowmen still fumbled about.
"Ahhh!" Bonnie wailed in unrelenting terror as flashes of Lumiose city came back to her.
"Bonnie, don't look!" Serena wrapped her arms around the little girl as two sailors quickly escorted them inside the Captain's cabin and stood guard.
Ash considered trying to reason with Captain Thomas, but looking back at the two fleets, he realized it was too late. Crossbow volleys and pokemon ranged attacks wreaked havoc on the poor Galar crews, but it only got worse as the Kalos pokemon began attacking their Galar counterparts and ships themselves.
A Gyarados and Wailord managed to smash open a cog's portside while a Kalos Carrack did the same to another, ramming it. Other Kalos sailors hurled grapples from their decks or from the backs of wailords, climbing aboard with their pokemon and clashing with the scattered crews.
Even if he didn't have expertise in warfare, Ash could've easily read where this was going. It was quite clear their fleet would swamp the Galar squadron, meaning his best option was to end the fighting as quickly and bloodlessly as possible.
"Get her!" Dozens of Kalos sailors snarled as they rode their pokemon towards the Galar flagship, grappling hooks in hand.
"Pika!" Pikachu cried in fear while Ash similarly grimaced, terrified that the Kalos sailors might kill Lady Nessa in their fury. However, sir Zach had an answer to that.
"Get back!" He snarled alongside Dragonite. The Galar knight drew his sword and cut down three Kalos sailors that tried to board them, his Dragonite doing the same to their Golducks.
"Let's go, Dragonite!"
"Grooo!" Sir Zach gigantamax'd his Dragonite, who shook the bay as he roared.
Charizard and the others shook slightly when they saw the colossal pokemon looming over them.
"Zach, that woman you saw in their camp was the Princess. It had to be! Capture her, and they'll break off their attack!"
"Right!" Zach shouted while climbing onto gigantamax'd Dragonite's back.
Ash's fear instantly vanished, transforming into fiery metal determination. Charizard snarled but hesitated when he looked down at his Charizardite Z.
"Protect the Princess!" The Kalos sailors/pokemon attacking Lady Nessa's flagship immediately turned their attention to the gigantamax'd Dragonite, attacking him with everything they had. However, the colossal pokemon brushed aside these attacks with ease using hurricane and then scattered the pokemon/sailors by groups at a time using Dragon tail.
Ash's heart raced as he saw the gigantamax Dragonite moving steadily closer and then turned to Serena and her Pokemon who fought to get out of the Captain's cabin.
"Pika."
"Fletch."
"Runt."
"Grouu." Ash's pokemon, Charizard and Lucario in particular, lamented until Ash placed his hand on Charizard's shoulders and looked into the fire lizard's eyes with pure devotion.
"Charizard, c'est d'accord, I have faith in you, in our bond."
Charizard licked Ash across the face.
Elsewhere, Red and the Kalos army continued to suffer under a barrage of longbow arrows and pokemon attacks. Grant didn't know what to do, they couldn't attack, but they couldn't just sit there either.
"Reculer! Reculer!" He barked out, Tyrantrum giving the same instruction to the pokemon.
"You heard him! Reculer! Stay together!" The Kalos soldiers/pokemon began moving back away from their opponents but remained in formation.
"What do we do!?" Clemont muttered.
"Let me think!" Red grimaced before he saw Father Hugo and his now Mega Evolved Alakazam rushing to the front.
"Psychic!"
"Alakazam!" Mega Alakazam held back almost half the attacks/longbow arrows with his psychic powers and also helped wounded/fallen over Kalos forces back to their feet.
"There you are, clergyman." Mercer laughed before approaching with four other knights, all wearing Z-rings.
"Father!"
"Grouuu!" Charizard roared, nudging against Red and emphasizing his Charizardite Y.
"Tile!" Sceptile cried, but Charizard groaned, promising Red they could do it.
Red's heart raced faster as Mega Alakazam struggled to hold back the attacks and the seven Galar knights prepared their Z-moves.
"Grauu!" Red closed his eyes and rested his right palm on Charizard's forehead.
"Remember who you are."
Across the bay/field, Ash and Red touched their keystones at the same time both Charizards flew up into the air. Serena, Charla, and Ash's pokemon watched in awe and wonder as a colorful sphere formed around Charizard.
At the same time, Clemont and Red's pokemon watched the same sphere form around Charizard. At last, Mega Charizard Z and Mega Charizard Y emerged.
"Grauuu!"
"Grauuuu!"
Lucario and Sceptile trembled as they looked upon their companions.
Ash and Red took a deep breath and reached out for them. But both Charizard's turned back to their respective trainers with feral expressions, the same expressions Lucario and Sceptile gave.
"Grouuu!"
"Pika!"
"Tile!"
"Kirl!"
"No!" Serena muttered.
"Char!" Charla pleaded with a desperate expression. However, Charizard Z snarled at Ash like a mindless animal, and Charizard Y did the same to Red.
"Grauuu!" Both mega Charizards flew straight for their trainers with mad bloodlust in their eyes.
"Pika!"
"Grouuu!"
"Scep!"
"Ash!"
"Red!"
"Char!" The sailors restrained Serena while Ash's pokemon tried to get him back and Red's/Clemont did the same to him. However, both knights refused to move, and looked back up into their Charizards' eyes.
"Charizard, I know you're in there. You know me." Unaware, both brothers said the exact same thing and reached out. Charizard Z and Y both stopped just in front of their respective trainer and stared into their eyes.
"Remember."
Charizard Y's eyes widened slightly as he stared into Red's, then remembered.
"Char!" A little Charmander cried out eagerly as he tried to jump out of a woman's arms towards a little boy.
"Remember Aka. A pokemon is a big responsibility. You have to take good care of him."
"I will, Okaasan! I promise!" The boy sounded just as eager and held his arms out. Finally, the brown-haired and eyes woman released Charmander, allowing him to leap into the boy's arms.
"We're going to be an unstoppable team! I just know it!"
"Char!"
A year later, Charmander and the boy clung to each other as they drifted on a piece of wood, barely staying above water in the raging sea.
"I won't let go, Charmander, I promise!"
"Char!"
More years passed, and a Charmeleon sparred alongside the boy, now a squire facing off against another squire and his Braixen.
"Fire Punch!"
"Charr!" Both overcame their opponent together and threw their hands up together.
More years passed, and Charizard knelt beside the same young man as King Alexandre slowly tapped both their shoulders with a sword.
"From this day forth, you shall carry the title monsieur Red, chevalier of the House of Capet." Red stood up before Alexandre smacked him across the face.
"May this blow be the last you receive unanswered." The King said with the smile of a proud parent.
"Charizard, remember." Ash said.
Years earlier, a Charmander cried out in pain after enduring a powerful bubble beam.
"Char!" Charmander landed at the feet of an angry teenage boy with ginger hair almost having a cross-shape in the front.
"Bein, we won, Froakie!" The opponent cried as his Froakie leaped into his arms.
Charmander looked up at his trainer, who stared down in disgust and disappointment before kicking him.
"Hmp, you really are good for nothing."
Later, he set Charmander on a rock in the forest.
"Stay there, and don't move until I come back."
"Char." Charmander muttered while nodding. Hours went by, but the boy didn't return. Still, Charmander waited and waited, even as it started to rain.
Charmander desperately tried to cover his tail with a leaf, but the pain was becoming unbearable. Just then, he heard rustling in the trees around him.
"Char!" Charmander cried out, hoping it was his trainer. But it wasn't. Instead, a dozen Zubat flew out and began viciously biting him.
"Char! Char! Char!" Charmander pleaded for his trainer, but he wouldn't come.
"Laisse-le tranquille! Pikachu, thunderbolt!" Another voice cried.
"Pika chu!" A thunderbolt hit and knocked out all twelve Zubat, and with his vision fading, Charmander saw another teenage human with a Pikachu on his shoulder race towards him.
"Attendez! We won't hurt you!" The raven-haired squire promised.
"Pikachu!" The squire removed his tunic and covered Charmander in it before picking him up and carrying him to safety.
Charmander's vision began to fade along with the flame on his tail.
"No! Don't you give up on me! Never give up until the end!"
Years passed, and Charmeleon fought beside the same squire and Pikachu as they battled a brigand/Houndour attempting to enter a peasant's house forcibly.
"Move aside, boy!"
"Jamais!"
"Pika!"
"Charrrr!"
More years passed, and Charizard knelt beside Ash across from Red and his Charizard. Monsieur Pierre lowered a sword onto their shoulders.
"From this day forth, you shall carry the title monsieur Ash, chevalier of the House of Capet." Ash stood up before Pierre smacked him across the face.
"May this blow be the last you receive unanswered." The chevalier said with the smile of a proud parent.
A tear fell from both Mega Charizards' eyes, and reaching forward, they licked their respective trainers' faces.
"Charizard!" Serena and Clemont cried as they saw their eyes return.
"Char!" Charla exhaled deeply.
Ash and Red both hugged their Mega Charizard's head before turning back to their respective opponent.
"Allons-y!"
"Grauuu!"
Red and Charizard Y soared faster than Red ever imagined, yet Charizard Y had complete control of himself, never risking losing his trainer.
"Grauuu!" Charizard Y soared in, effortlessly, past a series of attacks from the Galar ground pokemon and came straight for the knights about to unleash their Z-moves.
"Bloody Hell, look!" Sir Mercer jumped when he saw Red and Charizard Y coming straight for them.
"Damn git! Shoot him down!"
Two finished their poses and, with their pokemon sent out Hydro Vortex / Acid downpour.
"Dodge and use Heat wave!" Charizard Y performed a barrel roll and easily avoided the Hydro Vortex before unleashing a fiery storm into Acid downpour, burning up the Z-move completely.
"Air Slash!"
Red readied his sword and buckler, then when Charizard Y came in to slash both pokemon as quick as a flash, he similarly their knights.
"Are you mindless blokes? Shoot him down!" Mercer snarled.
Two more knights unleashed Breakneck Blitz and Bloom Doom with their Pokemon, but just like before, Charizard Y proved too agile.
"Heat Wave!"
"Grauu!" Charizard Y breathed a fiery cyclone engulfing the pokemon and causing them to collapse while Red struck down their knights.
Mercer felt his nerves twitch, and he turned to Metagross.
"Continental Crush!"
"Gross!" Megagross and sir Mercer moved together and brought forth the same Z-move that nearly killed Charizard the other day. However, this time, he dodged each stone without trouble and came right for Metagross.
"Inferno!"
"Grauuu!" Charizard Y sent Mercer and his Metagross flying with the fiery explosion, which soon made them disappear into a twinkle of light.
"Ha! You might've over overdone it!" Red laughed with Charizard Y.
"Allons-y, let's help the others!"
"Grauuu!" Charizard Y swooped down and began attacking the Galar pokemon very precisely, not hitting a single captive. Red and Charizard Y's attacks not only scattered many Galar but, more importantly, took the pressure off Hugo's Mega Alakazam.
The Priest smiled proudly up at Red and Charizard Y while the army cheered them on.
"Alakazam, get those people to safety, psychic!"
"Alakazam!" Mega Alakazam reached out and lifted every captive human and pokemon up with his psychic power.
"What the!?" Many Galar gasped in confusion, especially with the disappearance of their acting commander. More cheers erupted from the Kalos army when they saw their people/pokemon lifted to safety.
"Notre tour!" Clemont roared as he and his hand cannoneers raced to the front alongside hundreds of pokemon.
"Fire!" The barrage of hand cannons only actually struck a few Galar, but the psychological effect it had did far more damage to their cohesion.
"Earthquake!"
"Graww!" Grant's Tyrantrum nearly took the entire Galar host off their feet as he shook just the ground beneath them. By then, Arnaud and monsieur Raymond had reformed the Kalos army's formation and lowered their weapons.
"Attaque!"
"Hawl!"
The infantry followed Captain Arnaud/Monsieur Raymond while the mounted knights on the flanks followed Count Grant on his Tyrantrum. From above, Red and Charizard Y watched the battle unfold but instantly knew its end result.
"Let's get in there!"
"Grauuu!"
Back in the bay, Ash climbed onto Charizard Z's back as he flew up to meet gigantamax'd Dragonite.
"Another one!" Sir Zach cried, remembering Daniel's Charizard Z.
"Dragon claw!"
"Dragon Tail!" gigantamax'd Dragonite hurled his massive tail through the air, but Charizard Z slashed it with both his claws, pushing the mighty appendage back.
"Dragon pulse!"
"Grauu!" Charizard Z flew about and unleashed a thunderous beam of violet energy that threw gigantamax'd Dragonite backward.
"Dragonite, are you ok!?
"Grooo!" Gigantamax'd Dragonite snarled.
"Go Ash! Charizard!" Serena cried.
"Char!" Charla almost melted from her fiery passion for Charizard Z. The odd Charmander's eyes turned to bright red hearts while her face's color matched.
"Come on, Dragonite. We can't fail here! Outrage!"
"Grooo!" Dragonite raised its gigantamax bulk and unleashed a hurricane of dragon power that could've engulfed both fleets had he aimed low enough.
Fortunately, Charizard flew high enough the ships to avoid this and moved fast, dodging each incoming burst, though not easily.
"Keep it up, Charizard. Dragon Rush!"
"Grauuu!" Charizard Z coated himself in pure green dragon energy and smashed apart the incoming attacks while closing the distance between himself and gigantamax'd Dragonite.
"No you don't, dragon rush!" gigantamax'd Dragonite lowered his colossal body and counter-charged. Gigantamax met Mega evolution as both dragons poured everything they had to overpower the other.
"Nessa, Dragonite! For Nessa!"
"Don't give up, Charizard, never give up until the end!"
"Grauuu!" Charizard Z's tail flame erupted in dragon power, and with an unmatched effort, he threw Dragonite back and flew up over him.
Gigantamax'd Dragonite and Zach had just enough time to look up and see Charizard Z descent upon them with Dragon Rush.
Charizard Z's collision reverted Dragonite to his normal form and sent him tumbling down into the flagship.
"Groo." Dragonite muttered as he lay sprawled on the deck, unconscious.
"Dragonite!" Zach pleaded as he got up and dashed over to his partner's head.
"Zach!" The Galar knight looked up again and saw Charizard Z land on the deck in front of him.
Ash leaped down and exchanged two sword blows with the Galar knight before delivering a decisive buckler's strike to the head. Zach tumbled to his back and desperately tried to fight off Ash as he came down and pulled a dagger.
Charizard Z easily swept away any Galar pokemon that came near, and Kalos sailors resumed their boarding action, attacking the crewmen.
Zach finally went still and turned pale as he felt Ash's dagger poke his throat. He stared up at the Kalos knight, unable to see his eyes through the helmet's visor.
"No! No please!" Nessa broke down into tears and fell to her knees.
Ash took a deep breath and slowly moved his dagger back.
"Do you yield?"
"I do." Zach said in a defeated tone. Ash exhaled and stood up, sheathing his dagger and offering the Galar knight a hand.
"Quitte la!" Ash shouted at a pair of Kalos sailors who tried to capture Lady Nessa. Zach stood up with Ash's help before feeling Nessa seize him in her arms.
"Thank you! Thank you!" She and her husband both teared up while embracing. Ash smiled a little and nodded. Moments later, Lady Nessa reached into her bag and took out a small badge depicting her house's sigil.
"Take it, honorable knight. You've more than earned it." Ash and Charizard Z stared at their first badge with pride.
"The first of many!"
"Grauuu!"
That evening, the Kalos army and inhabitants of Cyllage city celebrated in the city's center. Food, wine, and joyful dancing overtook the streets as Ash, Red, Clemont, Bonnie, Arnaud, Hugo, and Grant watched Serena perform alongside her pokemon.
"We did it. Cyllage is free." Count Grant came to the verge of tears as he gazed around at his home.
Ash and Red both looked at Ash's new badge alongside their pokemon.
"Impressive, that means we're tied, little brother."
"For now." Ash said, both brothers and their Charizard exchanging looks of spirited competition.
"Watch yourself. Charizard can mega evolve now."
"Yes, he can." Ash said, referring to his own.
Elsewhere, inside the Cyllage citadel, Lady Nessa and sir Zach both lay in bed together in just their bare skin. The couple's pokemon slept around them, and Nessa rested her head on Zach's muscular chest while he stroked her hair with one hand and stomach with the other.
As nobles, they weren't thrown into a dungeon and treated more like guests than prisoners, with their needs tended to, including a physician for Lady Nessa and their pokemon.
Zach thought about Ash and how he'd spared him despite sir Mercer's treachery. Nor were they the only ones spared. Most of their garrison surrendered upon seeing their unwinnable situation, and the Kalos forces accepted their submission.
"Zach." Nessa muttered.
"Yes."
"Why are we here? Why aren't we back home?" Nessa held her stomach but felt Zach's lips kiss her forehead.
"I'm not sure I know anymore. But let's not worry about that now. We're safe, and our baby is safe. Nessa nodded and moved onto her back, allowing Zach to lower his head and passionately kiss her stomach.
Back in the celebration, Pikachu continued to take in Serena's performance when he glanced back at Charizard.
"Pika." Pikachu thought back to what Ash said to him.
"Remember."
"Pika." Pikachu now reminisced on his own history with Ash.
Pichu ran across the shoulders of a tall-raven-haired man while a brown-haired woman handed a Charmander to a boy with similar hair.
"This is Pichu, Satoshi. He's very spirited and determined. Which is why you'll both get along so well!"
"Arigatōgozaimasu, papa!" A boy with matching raven-black hair eagerly held his hands out and caught Pichu as he leaped into his arms.
"Being a trainer is no easy task, Satoshi. But remember what I taught you."
"Never give up! Never give up until the end!"
Author's note
Yep both Charizard have Mega Evolved! And Ash's Charizard's backstory is more or less the same as the anime's, it's one I really like
Ash has his first badge with more to come eventually, as well as many twists and turns along the way
Expect to see Father Hugo again,
So until next time,
Please review, comment, suggest, or ask (VIA PM)