"Brendan look!" Wally said, as the group reached the top of the hill.
"I can't believe it!" Brendan said. "We found Scott!"
"And where there's Scott, the battle facility can't be far." Wally said.
"Then what are we doing here, let's go!" Brendan exclaimed, rushing down hill.
"Guys?" Ash asked, sending them leaving. "You know I can't sense the terrain. Guys?"
"Pika." Pikachu said worriedly.
"Cyn?" Cyndaquil added in confusion.
"I mean It's just a hill, right? How hard can it be?" Ash asked, really wishing his sight was back.
"Pi." Pikachu sighed, carefully following his trainer.
"See, I was worried about nothing." Ash said, making his way down the hill. "I'm sure Brendan and Wally are waiting at the bottom for me anyways."
Meanwhile with Brendan and Wally
"Why does he drive so fast?!" Wally exclaimed, as he and Brendan ran after the car.
"I don't know! Why didn't he stop when he heard us screaming!?" Brendan cried out.
Back on the hill
"You know I think I'm actually getting the hang of this." Ash said confidently.
"Diglett." A Diglett said popping out of the ground.
Ash had not been ready for that as his came hit the Diglett fairly fast, sending him tumbling down the hill.
"Oh come on!" Ash exclaimed.
At the base of the hill
"Much better." A woman with long dark hair said stretching. "I need to remember to get out more on these nice days." She added.
"Somebody stop me!" Ash shouted as he flew down the side of the hill, crashing into the woman, sending her into the air, and Ash into a nearby tree.
"What's the big idea?" The woman said. "Can't you see where you're? Oh, I'm so sorry, are you okay?" She said, changing her tone upon seeing Ash's cane.
"Oww." Ash groaned, sitting up.
"Pika!"
"Cynda!"
"I'm alright guys, I'll survive." Ash said.
"Please let me help you up, what's your name?" The woman said.
"Thanks, I'm Ash." Ash responded.
"I'm Lucy. What happened? Someone like you shouldn't be out adventuring on your own." Lucy said.
"I was with some friends and they apparently saw Scott and went chasing after him. Oh, sorry. Scott is this guy running the Battle Frontier a new challenge here in Kanto." Ash said. "Anyways, I guess they forgot I wasn't with them when they ran off."
"Come on, my place isn't far from here. I'll patch you up and call Scott when we get there." Lucy said.
"You know Scott?" Ash asked.
"Relatively speaking." Lucy said.
All the way in Fuschia
"Why did you two follow me all the way here. We were at the Battle Pike!" Scott exclaimed, seeing the two boys catching their breath.
"How were we supposed to know? We've never seen it before!" Brendan exclaimed.
"I told the worker I was talking to that you were a challenger and to tell you the Pike Queen would be back soon." Scott said.
'Bzz bzz bzz.'
"Hold on." Scott said, picking up his phone. "Go for the Scott Man." "Mmm hmm. Okay. Yep they're with me. I hear you. We'll be right there." Scott said.
"Who was that?" Wally asked.
"The Pike Queen Lucy. The two of you forgot Ash." Scott said.
"Oh we're gonna pay for that one." Wally said sullenly.
A while later at the Battle Pike
"Oh aren't you just precious." Lucy said, giving Cyndaquil another snack. "Tell anyone about this and I'll deny everything."
"I won't say a word, I barely know what's going on." Ash said. "Just glad I ran into someone who was willing to help."
"Of course. Your friends are jerks, you know that." Lucy said.
"They aren't jerks, this is just a new situation for us." Ash defended.
"It doesn't change the fact that they left you and didn't realize it." Lucy said. "You need to let them know they can't do that."
"Like I said, my lack of sight is a new thing for all of us." Ash said. "You can't be angry about it."
"Ash! Lucy! Where are you two?!" Brendan called out.
"I'll be the judge of that." Lucy said. "I want you to stay here for now. You took a nasty fall still."
"You can't keep me in here. Wherever here is." Ash argued.
"It's for your own safety, please Ash." Lucy said.
"Fine, but at least let them know I'm okay." Ash begged.
"I will." Lucy said.
At the arena
"You must be Brendan." Lucy said, walking into the arena.
"Where's Ash?!" Brendan demanded.
"He's safe, not that you were much help." Lucy pointed out.
"Take us to him!" Brendan said angrily.
"I told you he's safe. Just resting for now, you left him on top of a hill and he fell." Lucy said. "Now I understand you're here for a frontier symbol. Let's start with that."
"Fine, and when I win you let us talk with Ash." Brendan said angrily.
"Don't let your anger control you Brendan." Scott warned. "Lucy is a master of toying with her opponents."
"I'm simply speaking the truth Scott." Lucy said. "They abandoned a friend in need. Now our match will be a three on three, prepare your first Pokemon."
"Lucy, do your job." Scott warned.
"Fine." Lucy sighed. "Seviper come out!"
"Seviper's a poison type, so I'll go with Aggron!" Brendan said, tossing out the Pokeball.
"Seviper use Flamethrower!"
"That's unexpected. Aggron use Rock Tomb!"
Rocks launched up from the ground, absorbing the searing flames as Aggron moved closer to his opponent.
"Seviper use Swagger!"
"Aggron use Earthquake!"
Seviper showed it's fangs and gave a menacing glare, causing Aggron to get angry and slip up on it's attack.
"Seviper use Flamethrower!"
"Aggron return!" Brendan called back. "Tentacruel use Surf!"
Tentacruel landed in the arena's lower portion, being in a watery element, it unleashed a tidal wave snuffing out the fire attack and soaking Seviper.
"Seviper use Crunch!"
"Tentacruel use Constrict!"
Seviper was pulled into the water by Tentacruel's tentacles, the snake now unable to get an attack on the jellyfish.
"Seviper use Swagger!"
"Tentacruel use Sludge Bomb!"
Seviper tried twisting itself about to get Tentacruel angry, but as soon as it was facing the water type, it was hit by the Sludge Bomb.
"Now Tentacruel use Surf!"
"Seviper use Crunch!"
Tentacruel wriggled its body causing a tidal wave that washed away Seviper with ease.
"Seviper is unable to battle, the winner is Tentacruel!" The judge declared.
Back in the room Ash was left in
"Come on where's the door?" Ash asked, feeling around. "This is worse than leaving me on top of a hill, at least I think it is?"
Back at the arena
"Seviper return! Come out Gyarados!" Lucy called out.
"Tentacruel use Sludge Bomb!"
"Gyarados use Dragon Dance!"
Gyarados's body began shimmying, allowing it to easily dodge the Sludge Bomb.
"Alright let's stop that! Tentacruel use Constrict!"
"Gyarados use another Dragon Dance!"
Tentacruel shot out its tentacles, wrapping up the Gyarados, but what worried Brendan was that Lucy seemed calm.
"Tentacruel use Sludge Bomb!l
"Gyarados use Return!"
Gyarados launched forward, slamming into Tentacruel and sending the poison type flying.
"Tentacruel!" Brendan shouted as the Pokemon got back up. "Alright use Surf!"
"Gyarados use Dragon Dance!"
Tentacruel rode a tidal wave back at Gyarados as the water snake continued wiggling oddly.
"What does Dragon Dance do?" Wally asked out loud.
"It raises the power of the Pokemon's attack, along with their speed." Brendan said. "That's your plan for it right? Max out it's attack?"
"If only you knew how truly dangerous Gyarados was. Use Roar!" Lucy called out.
Tentacruel was sent back to it's Pokeball as Marshtomp took to the field, confused on why it was suddenly out.
"Oh now you're in for it. Marshtomp use Ice Beam!"
"Gyarados use Return to counter it!"
Gyarados launched forward towards Marshtomp, only for the smaller Pokemon to dive out of the way, not aiming for Gyarados.
"I wasn't aiming for Gyarados. Even I know that in water Marshtomp doesn't stand a chance, but on land, maybe." Brendan said, pointing to the frozen pool.
"Impressive." Scott commented, watching Marshtomp slide across the ice.
"Marshtomp use Rollout!"
"Gyarados use Dragon Dance!"
Gyarados flopped about, only to be struck by Marshtomp from below as the smaller Pokemon kept going.
"Marshtomp keep it up!" Brendan called out.
"Gyarados use Return!"
Gyarados and Marshtomp collided, sending both Pokémon flying backwards.
"Now Gyarados use Rest!"
"Marshtomp start another Rollout!"
Gyarados went to sleep, recovering it's lost as energy, and Brendan knew he was on a timer. With Rollout set back to its starting speed, he'd need to get four hits on Gyarados before it woke up, or else it was bye bye Marshtomp. Marshtomp sped across the arena, rolling over Gyarados before reaching the curved wall of the arena and being launched back with ease.
Lucy watched as Marshtomp moved about the arena. Ash may have been telling the truth that these two were good people but it still didn't excuse it in her eyes. Ash could have been seriously hurt, more so than he was already.
"Marshtomp finish it!" Brendan called out.
Marshtomp slammed down on Gyarados, defeating the water snake, and putting the battle into a three on one.
"Impressive, but you'll need more than skills to beat me." Lucy said. "Come on out Steelix!"
"Marshtomp return! Come on out Aggron!" Brendan said, switching to his healthiest Pokémon.
"Steelix use Screech!"
"Aggron use Double Edge!"
Aggron charged forward at its fellow steel type as the iron snake let out an ear piercing scream, everyone but Lucy flinching from the sound.
Back in the room Ash was in
"Owwww!" Ash yelled out, holding his head. "Why is that so loud? I'm not trying to oversense everything?!" Ash said, in pain, not noticing his powers flicker once more.
"Steelix use Earthquake!"
"Aggron use your own Earthquake!"
The arena shook as both Pokémon stumbled from the attacks. Aggron still stood strong, charging at his opponent once more.
"Haha! Even with a Screech! Aggron's armor is too tough!" Brendan gloated. "Now use Double Edge!"
"One screech huh? Steelix use another Screech!" Lucy called out.
Brendan quickly covered his ears as another piercing scream filled the arena.
"Aggron stop it with Iron Tail!" Brendan shouted.
"Steelix use Earthquake!"
Steelix slammed its tail on the ground, launching Aggron into the air as if it weighed nothing. The rock and steel type landed with a loud thud, no longer moving.
"Aggron is unable to battle, the winner is Steelix!" The judge declared.
"Aggron return!" Brendan called out. "Great work. Now come on out Tentacruel!"
"Steelix use Earthquake!"
"Tentacruel use Surf!"
The battle had broken up the ice enough that Tentacruel was able to send a wave of water crashing into Steelix, pushing it back slightly.
"Steelix use Rock Slide!"
"Tentacruel use another Surf!"
Tentacruel unleashed another tidal wave as Steelix swept its tail across the ground, sending rocks to block the attack and knock out the giant jellyfish.
"Tentacruel is unable to battle, the winner is Steelix!" The judge declared.
"Tentacruel come on back!" Brendan said. "Let's go Marshtomp end this quick with a Muddy Water!"
"Steelix use Rock Slide!"
Marshtomp took off running, and diving between the rocks as water surrounded him, eventually crashing the water and boulders into Steelix.
"Steelix use Earthquake!"
"Marshtomp use Mud Shot!"
Steelix slammed its tail down, sending debris and Marshtomp into the air.
"Now!" Brendan shouted.
Marshtomp spun in the air, sending a fistful of mud at Steelix's face, causing the large snake to begin falling back.
"Ash!" Brendan cried out, seeing the trainer open the door. "Marshtomp use Ice Beam and resuce Ash!"
Marshtomp rushed forward, sending out a powerful Ice Beam that stopped Steelix from falling onto the blind trainer.
"I was wrong." Lucy admitted, going over and helping Ash up.
"For locking me in a room?!" Ash demanded.
"That was for your own safety." Lucy pointed out. "A Steelix almost fell on you just now. But I was wrong about Brendan, I thought he mustn't care for you for leaving you behind, but it's clear that he truly does care. He gave his Pokemon's all to make sure you were safe, even before the judge made a call." Lucy said, as Steelix got back up. "Steelix you did great. The battle goes to Brendan though."
"Wait seriously?" Brendan said in shock.
"As proof of your victory I present you with this." Lucy said holding out her hand. "The Luck Symbol. You are truly lucky to have friends in each other. Always remember that."
"Remember?" Wally said. "Right! Ash, the contest it's tomorrow!"
"Wait what?" Ash said in shock. "How far did you guys go before realizing I wasn't with you?"
"Technically speaking they didn't." Scott said. "I might actually attend this one, see how a blind trainer competes in a contest."
"I'd be interested in seeing it too." Lucy said. "I have a feeling it will be one no one wants to miss."