Last Time, Ash and his pokemon train for their rematch against Drayden, meanwhile Iris gets increasingly worried about Axew, Cilan well he just kinda wandered around, Drayden shows up, and discusses Iris' nervousness with Ash, they haven't really a clue as to how to fix it though, dinner comes around, and Axew and Haxorus have a battle, Axew wins and then evolves into Fraxure, reaffirming Iris' worst fears.
The air inside the Opelucid city gym was stuffy as usual, but it felt so tense, so alive, the dragon statues watched over the battlefield, Drayden on one side, Ash on the other.
"Man Iris you seem pretty nervous" Cilan said. "Are you worried about the battle?"
"Not quite" Iris simply said.
"Hmm, it's about Fraxure isn't it" Cilan said.
"Yeah, it is" Iris said, looking at the dragon next to her, now too big to sit in her lap as he had always done.
Fraxure didn't hear the two, he was too excited for the battle.
"Are you two ready?" Asked the Elder.
"As long as he is" Drayden said.
"Then I guess both of us are" Ash said.
"Then battle begin!" Called the Elder.
Drayden without a word sent out Hydreigon.
"Dewott I choose you!"
"Hydreigon use Dark Pulse"
"Dodge and counter with Ice Beam!"
Hydreigon fired a Dark Pulse, Dewott leapt from where he was standing, the ground quickly turned into a danger zone, he shot an Ice Beam which hit Hydreigon.
"Use Aqua Jet"
"Dodge the incoming water"
Dewott shot forwards, but Hydreigon backed away, dodging the Aqua Jet.
"Uppercut with X-Scisscor"
Dewott wasn't done yet though, he slashed upwards flipping Hydreigon upside down.
"Fire an Ice Beam now!"
"Counter with Fire Blast"
Dewott charged an Ice Beam, but got Fire Blasted before firing it.
"Hydreigon follow it up with Dragon Rush"
"Dodge it!"
Dewott quickly dove out of the way of the charging dragon.
"Fire another Ice Beam"
"Dodge it and counter with Dark Pulse"
Dewott shot yet another Ice Beam striking the dragon in the chest, but Hydreigon wasn't done quite yet, firing back a Dark Pulse hitting Dewott.
"Hydreigon use Fire Blast again"
"Dodge it!"
The Fire Blast was too fast though hitting Dewott sending him skidding across the ground.
"Dewott Aqua Jet into X-Scissor!"
"Dark Pulse the incoming otter"
Dewott shot forwards and sliced through Hydreigon, while it blasted Dewott.
Dewott plummeted towards the ground, slowly getting up, while Hydreigon remained standing, er flying.
"Ice Beam now!"
"Dark Pulse!"
The two mons fired their moves, both hitting their opponents, creating massive plumes of dust.
When it settled Hydreigon was still standing, albeit wounded, but poor Dewott laid fainted.
'Dragon types are so cool, but seeing my friends beaten like that isn't so much' Fraxure said. 'I still like both though'
"Fraxure seems pretty invested into this battle" Cilan said.
"He's just excited for the dragon types" Iris replied bluntly. "Especially his mother"
"Well that's not the full picture, I'm sure he's excited to see Ash's pokemon improve too, I mean Dewott did a pretty good job out there after all" Cilan observed.
"Hmm your Dewott has definitely improved, I'm impressed it all happened in just a day" Drayden complimented.
"Dewott return, thanks for the compliment, Krokorok I choose you!"
"Hydreigon use Dragon Rush"
"Hit it with Brick Break!"
Hydreigon charged forward at blinding speed, however, Krokorok slammed down at just the right time, causing the dragon to break the ground under its own weight.
"Hydreigon Fire Blast now"
"Duck and use Crunch!"
Krokorok ducked under the incoming Fire Blast, chomping down on one of Hydreigon's arms.
"Get it off any way you can"
Hydreigon flailed around, knocking Krokorok off its arm, the croc landed safely on the ground.
"Krokorok fire Stone Edges at it"
"Dodge and use Acrobatics"
Hydreigon ducked and weaved between the Stone Edges closing in for an Acrobatics.
"Krokorok hit it back with Brick Break"
"Dodge it now!"
Krokorok leapt up and slammed down on Hydreigon, creating a crater where the dragon laid defeated.
"You really have improved" Drayden said, clapping. "Taking down my second strongest pokemon, while only losing one of yours is no small feat"
"Thanks again" Ash said, a little embarrassed.
"Don't get too big a head kid" Said the Elder, smugly.
Silent once more, Drayden sent out Druddigon.
"Krokorok use Stone Edge!"
"Giga Impact through them"
Krokorok fired a barrage of Stone Edges, however Druddigon broke through them with ease, ramming into the croc, knocking him off his feet.
"Druddigon Flash Cannon the croc"
"Dodge with Dig!"
Druddigon fired a Flash Cannon, Krokorok narrowly dodged by digging underground.
"Erupt under with Crunch!"
"Dodge it!"
Krokorok chomped Druddigon from below, causing the dragon to fling upwards, carrying the croc with it.
"Druddigon get it off, and use Flash Cannon"
"Get out of there, quick!"
Druddigon swung around flinging Krokorok in front of it, before blasting him with Flash Cannon.
The crocodile rolled across the floor, while Druddigon landed safely on the ground.
"Use Flamethrower"
"Dodge it!"
Krokorok rolled out of the way of the incoming flames.
"Outrage now"
"Counter with Brick Break!"
Krokorok slammed into Druddigon, but it kept going, thrashing Krokorok around, while he was fruitless in stopping it.
When the Outrage was done, Druddigon threw out a fainted Krokorok.
"Ash's training has definitely given them better odds" Cilan said. "But Drayden is still super strong"
"You got that right" Iris said.
'Poor Uncle Krokorok' Fraxure said.
"Whirlipede I choose you!"
"Hmm unorthodox, but we'll see, Druddigon use Flamethrower"
"Whirlipede dodge and use Rollout!"
Druddigon fired a Flamethrower which missed, and Whirlipede swung around to strike it in the back, she did so a few more times.
"Druddigon use Giga Impact"
"Dodge it!"
Druddigon charged towards Whirlipede, crushing her on a wall, leaving a circular imprint in it.
"Whirlipede use Twineedle"
"Duck!"
Whirlipede shot Druddigon twice in the face with venomous stingers, poisoning it.
"Druddigon use Flash Cannon"
"Get out of there and use Pursuit!"
Druddigon shot a Flash Cannon which missed, destroying the wall even more, Whirliped swung around and hit it with a Pursuit, on top of the poison damage.
"Follow it up with a Rollout"
"Dodge and use Flamethrower"
Druddigon side stepped the incoming Rollout blasting Whirlipede with Flamethrower, it was hurt by poison.
"Druddigon use Flash Cannon!"
"Whirlipede charged with Pursuit!"
Druddigon attempted a Flash Cannon, but winced in pain from the poison, allowing for Whirlipede to ram into it.
"Finish this with Twineedle!"
"Use Flamethrower now!"
Druddigon went for the Flamethrower first, but Whirlipede swung around, and hit it twice with Twineedle, the dragon couldn't take it no more, collapsing onto the ground.
"Most impressive, so far we've only traded pokemon" Drayden said, smiling. "When I take out one of yours, you take out one of mine, truly exceptional"
"But you still got Haxorus to go" Said the Elder.
"You've seen how powerful she can be" Iris said.
"And even when she is holding back, she's a force to be reckoned with" Cilan observed.
'Oh boy, here we go!' Fraxure said, really excited.
Once more no words were said when Haxorus was released, sparkling in the dark room, her pure black form dominated the playing field.
"Whirlipede use Poison Sting"
"Dodge and use Dragon Claw"
Whirlipede shot forwards, her tips covered in poison, but Haxorus dodged, and Dragon Clawed her away.
"Dragon Dance, now"
"Don't let her get it off Twineedle!"
Whirlipede shot two needles, but Haxorus dodged both mid Dragon Dance, is there nothing that can stop this dragon from dancing?!
Haxorus powered up, and Whirlipede got nervous.
"Whirlipede use Twineedle again"
"Rock Slide before it gets the chance"
Whirlipede couldn't fire the Twineedles before getting buried under a mountain of rocks.
"Now Hyper Beam!"
"Brace for impact!"
Haxorus shot a Hyper Beam perfectly in between the rocks, directly hitting Whirlipede, causing her to erupt into an explosion, destroying the rocks and leaving a crater in the ground.
When the dust settled, Whirlipede had fainted, swirls in her eyes.
"Whirlipede return"
"She didn't even get a hit off" Cilan said, shocked.
"That's Haxorus for you, always ahead of her opponents" Iris said. All of her opponents.
Fraxure didn't say a word, merely staring at his mother in admiration, although a part of him felt some sorrow in Whirlipede's quick defeat.
"Braviary I choose you!"
"Hmm good choice, Haxorus use Rock Slide"
"Duck and weave, then use Air Slash!"
Haxorus sent a landslide of rocks down at Braviary, she dodged every last one however and slashed Haxorus right across the face.
"Use Hyper Beam"
"Dodge and use Shadow Claw!"
Haxorus fired a Hyper Beam, missed and then proceed to get hit in the back by Braviary's Shadow Claw.
"Continue attacking it with Slash!"
"Dodge it"
Braviary Slashed at Haxorus, but she dodged it.
"Dragon Claw now!"
Haxorus clawed Braviary, sending her tumbling away, she regained her balance quickly however.
"Haxorus another Rock Slide!"
"Superpower now!"
Haxorus threw down another Rock Slide, Braviary grabbed a wingful of rocks, and threw them at Haxorus, doing some damage.
"Follow it up with Air Slash"
"Dodge it!"
Braviary slashed Haxorus across the chest, causing her to flinch.
"Air Slash again!"
This cycle continued for a bit, before Haxorus came through with Hyper Beam, striking Braviary sending her careening towards a wall, impacting it strongly.
Braviary was getting weaker.
"Braviary charge with Shadow Claw"
"Use Dragon Claw"
Braviary and Haxorus ran towards each other, clawing at each other, Braviary tumbled towards the ground, while Haxorus remained standing.
'Ruffie!' Fraxure called out.
"Sigh, Braviary return" Wait did Ash just literally say sigh?
"Fraxure seemed pretty upset over Braviar's defeat" Cilan analyzed.
"Huh, I guess he did" Iris said, a little surprised, but not much, she knew their bond was strong.
'Ruffie' Fraxure said, sadly. 'That wasn't very nice mom'
"I told you not to get too big a head" Elder said.
"Servine I choose you!"
"Haxorus use Dragon Claw"
"Dodge and use Leaf Storm!"
Haxorus dashed forwards and clawed at Servine, but she back stepped and fired a Leaf Storm.
"Haxorus use Hyper Beam"
"Trip it with Vine Whip"
Servine tripped Haxorus and her Hyper Beam went into the roof, blasting open a sun roof.
"Get up and use Dragon Claw"
"Hit with Pursuit while you have the chance"
Servine slammed into Haxorus, while she struggled to get up.
When she did she clawed Servine across the battlefield.
"Dragon Dance now"
"Don't let her get it off, use Aqua Tail"
Servine dashed across the room slashing against Haxorus' rough skin with Aqua Tail, interrupting the Dragon Dance.
"Use Rock Slide"
"Knock a rock back with Aqua Tail!"
Haxorus threw down a Rock Slide, and Servine swiped a rock at her with Aqua Tail, but she dodge it.
"Use Hyper Beam"
Haxorus shot a Hyper Beam at Servine, which hit her, sending her careening into a wall.
"Dragon Claw now!"
"Dodge it!"
Haxorus dashed forwards, clawing at Servine, she ducked under Haxorus, while the dragon did even more property damage than she already had done.
"Trip her up now!"
"Watch out!"
Haxorus got tripped by Servine's Vine Whip, the dragon was flipped onto her back.
"Fire Hyper Beam!"
"Dodge it!"
Servine leapt over the Hyper Beam landing safely onto the ground next to Ash.
"Get up and use Dragon Claw"
"Dodge and use Pursuit!"
Servine dodged the Dragon Claw and slammed into Haxorus once more, the dragon stumbled a little.
"Dragon Claw again!"
"Dodge it!"
Servine couldn't dodge the blindingly fast Dragon Claw from Haxorus, sending her tumbling across the ground.
"Use Dragon Claw again!"
"Dodge!"
Haxorus clawed Servine once more!
Servine laid on the ground for a good few seconds, before slowly getting up.
"You managed to survive the onslaught for this long?" Drayden said. "Now that is really an impressive feat"
"Thanks again, again" Ash said.
"Yeah, Haxorus Hyper Beam!"
"Dodge it!"
Despite her rapidly depleting strength, Servine leapt over the incoming Hyper Beam, but Haxorus leapt up to meet her, greeting the grass snake with one last Dragon Claw.
Servine was slammed into the ground, creating a large crater, in the center she laid, utterly destroyed.
"Servine return" Ash said, returning Servine, while his head hung in shame.
"Well this looking rather familiar" Elder said.
"A one v one, Pikachu vs Haxorus" Cilan said.
"This could go either way really" Iris said.
'Who's gonna win?' Fraxure said. 'I don't even know who to root for'
"Are you ready?" Drayden asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be, Pikachu I choose you!"
"Haxorus start with a Rock Slide"
"Dodge it!"
Pikachu dodges the incoming boulders, while Haxorus did a Dragon Dance, at least she would've if Pikachu didn't ram into her before she could pull it off.
"I see you've learned from your past mistakes" Drayden said. "Use Dragon Claw"
"Dodge it and use Iron Tail!"
Pikachu dodged the blindingly fast Dragon Claw, rounding up an Iron Tail and slamming on Haxorus' head, knocking her back a bit.
"Haxorus Dragon Claw into Hyper Beam"
"Dodge it!"
Haxorus clawed Pikachu into the air, before blasting him with Hyper Beam, the mouse rolled across the floor, but was still going.
"Pikachu use Volt Tackle!"
"Dragon Claw it"
Pikachu dashed towards Haxorus covered in electricity, she tried clawing at him, but Pikachu dodged every last one, before ramming into Haxorus, knocking her back.
"Haxorus use Rock Slide, and cooperate it with Dragon Claw"
"Uh oh, watch out!"
Haxorus summoned a hailstorm of stone, and clawed at Pikachu from different angles.
When Pikachu dodged a few stones, he got hit by a Dragon Claw, when he focused on the Dragon Claws, he was crushed under a rock.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt to destroy the stones!"
Pikachu shocked the entire room, destroying all the rocks, a massive thunderbolt erupted out of the previously made sun roof.
Haxorus was still left standing, although greatly exhausted.
"Haxorus use Hyper Beam!"
"Dodge it!"
Haxorus fired a Hyper Beam, which Pikachu dodged, but he then got hit by an incoming Dragon Claw.
"Iron Tail now!"
"Dragon Claw!"
Haxorus and Pikachu dueled it out, blocking each other's attacks with their own.
"Rock Slide now!"
"Volt Tackle through!"
Haxorus created a truly monstrous Rock Slide, and threw it down at Pikachu, he Volt Tackled around each and every single rock, eventually getting through and slamming into Haxorus, knocking her to the ground.
"Get up and up Hyper Beam!"
"Don't let her get up! Use Thunderbolt!"
Haxorus shot a Hyper Beam, despite being downed.
Pikachu countered it with a powerful Thunderbolt.
The Thunderbolt was even larger than the Hyper Beam, it overpowered it and engulfed Haxorus with surging power, blasting outside of the gym itself.
When the gigantic Thunderbolt subsided, Haxorus laid outside of the gym fainted, electricity cackling throughout her.
"Wow, that was something" Said the Elder. "Well I suppose that means that Ash wins!"
Haxorus got up, and went back inside. 'That was one heck of a battle' She said. 'That last move was insane'
'Thanks, I didn't know I could make a Thunderbolt that big' Pikachu said.
'That was great from both of you though' Fraxure came up and said.
'Thanks son' Haxorus said. 'All of your friends did a pretty good job at beating me too'
"For beating me, and therefore the Opelucid City Gym, you've earned yourself the Legend Badge" Drayden said, handing over a spiky badge.
"Ah heck yeah! I just got my 8th gym badge!" Ash said, holding it up in the air. "That means I can enter the pokemon league now"
"Well not quite actually, the league doesn't take place for another month and a half" Cilan said.
"Oh, well I'm sure there's lots to do in Unova while we wait" Ash said.
"Yeah, there is" Cilan said. "In fact we haven't even really went to eastern Unova yet, we could go check that out"
"Yeah that sounds like a great idea" Ash said. "Iris you down for that?"
"Huh? Oh yeah I guess" Iris said.
"Before you all leave, how about we have some dinner first" Drayden said. "My treat"
"Don't leave me out of that" Elder said.
"Thanks Drayden" Ash said.
Later…
Ash and the gang were eating well, although Iris wasn't eating all too much.
"Iris, we are leaving soon" Cilan said. "Have you made a decision?"
"Yeah, I just don't know when to say it" Iris said.
"Well, better sooner than later" Cilan said. "Waiting later will just build up anxiety"
"Okay fine, I'll do it, right now" Iris got up from her seat, and walked over to Fraxure who was talking with his mother. "Fraxure there's something I've been meaning to tell you, in private"
'Oh okay Iris, what is it?' Asked Fraxure, Iris lead the Fraxure into an enclosed area.
"Well these past few days, have been pretty eventful" Iris said. "Not only have you met with your mother, but you also evolved thanks to her training"
'Yeah, what about it?'
"Maybe it's for the best if you stayed with her"
'Stay with her? Wait you mean like, I leave you!?'
"Yeah" Iris said, kneeling to meet Fraxure's eyes. "Fraxure you'll grow much stronger with her, than you ever will with me, you'll grow into a mighty Haxorus, be loved and respected for the rest of your life"
'What? But I already am! You give me your love and respect!'
"I tried my hardest to make you strong, but even I can't deny that leaving you here would be the best thing to do"
'Iris it doesn't matter what you can or cannot do' Fraxure said, before hugging his trainer. 'What does matter is that you cared enough to try your best, and spent all that time with me, for me!'
"Wait, so you don't want to stay?"
'No, I always want to be with you, go on adventures together, make new friends, and do fun stuff! You raised me for five years, despite all the challenges that you faced! I'm not gonna leave just to become stronger, not even with the strongest dragon, or my own mom, you cared for me, and I can't just leave you behind!'
*sniff* "Thanks Fraxure"
'I'm so proud of you, my son' A black dragon loomed from the thick trees. 'You were willing to give up a bright future, just to stick behind the person that stuck behind you for so long'
"Haxorus, what are you doing here?" Iris asked, surprised.
'I came to apologize' Haxorus said. 'At first I thought I was helping you raise him to be strong, but then I saw how much more he came to me, than to you, and then I saw the heartbreak, I had a similar feeling five years ago, when you left the village I thought I might never see my son again, I thought he would forget about me'
'I never really got to meet you until a few days ago' Fraxure said.
'I suppose that's why I took you for myself' Haxorus said. 'I was afraid that you would leave me again, and that I would once again be forgotten, I just wanted to make the most out of it'
"Oh I see, you too were experiencing the same thing I was" Iris said.
'Yeah, it's hard seeing the ones we care for leave us' Haxorus said. 'We think they might forget us, and all the things we've done for them'
'Well I'm not gonna forget either of you!' Fraxure said. 'You've both helped me a lot, and if I forget anyone, then it's my fault'
'That's reassuring' Haxorus said. 'I guess that resolves my fear of losing you, alright you can choose whoever you want to go with'
"Yeah Fraxure, I don't think you'll forget me anytime soon, so it's all up to you" Iris said.
'Hmm, are you absolutely sure?' Fraxure asked.
"Whether or not you choose me, I don't care, as long as you're happy" Iris said.
'I agree, it's all up to you, no matter who you choose, I'll be okay' Haxorus said.
After giving it a lot of thought Fraxure said.
'Iris, I choose you' Fraxure said, hugging her tightly.
*sniff* "Thank you Fraxure, thank you Haxorus" Iris said, tears streaming down her face.