The next morning, Drake was the first to wake up. He woke up Ash. "Goodmorning Drake.", Ash yawned. "Goodmorning, it is time to start.", Drake said. He washed himself and got his clothes on. Ash did the same. Pikachu was awake too. "Hey, can Pikachu train with us? He's very strong, far more stronger then any other Pokemon or Pikachu for that matter.", Ash asked. Drake sighed. "Ash, understand this. Pikachu maybe powerful, but he is nowhere as strong as I am.", he said. Ash grinned. "Let's test that, shall we? Let Pikachu use a Thunder attack on you. Then you can see for yourself.", he said, still grinning. Brock and Misty had woken by the talking. "Goodmorning guys.", Ash said, and turned to Drake. "How about it?", he said. "Goodmorning, what's this all about?", Misty asked. "Nothing really, I wanted Pikachu to train with me, but Drake says he isn't strong enough.", Ash replied. Drake had remained silent. Then he sighed. "Alright Ash, I'll let Pikachu have one full Thunder at me. If it's strong enough, then he may train with us.", he said. "You can't be serious, Ash! Pikachu might kill him!", Brock yelled. Misty agreed with him, but they knew that once Ash made up his mind, nothing could change that. "It's alright. I want to see that strength of him myself.", Drake said, and stepped on the open field. "Alright Pikachu, go stand before me, with thirty meters spread, okay?", he asked. "Do it, Pikachu. Show him what you can do.", Ash said. "Pi!", the yellow mouse replied, and ran to the spot where Drake pointed to. "Alright, Pikachu, I want you to increase your power to your maximum! Think you can do that?", Drake said. "Pika, pikachu!", the mouse replied, and sparks started to flash from his cheeks. The electricity surrounded its entire body. "Go for it, Pikachu! You can do better than that!", Ash yelled, cheering for his friend. Pikachu's body was now completely engulfed by his own power. "Pika…", it said, and increased it's strength to it's maximum. The electricity flashed around him. "Okay, it looks like he is ready. Ash, I must say, he has alot more energy then I thought, I'll give you that!", Drake yelled, and readied himself for the attack. "Whenever your ready, Pikachu!", he yelled. "Pika!", Pikachu replied, and readied it's strongest attack. Drake stood there, smiling. "Give him everyhting you got, buddy!", Ash yelled. Pikachu nodded, and with a high-pitched scream, it released all his power. A huge beam launched straight at Drake, and hitted with an enormous explosion.
"Wow! That was an attack!", Ash yelled, and ran up to his friend. Pikachu was exhausted from the attack, but he was still standing. Breathing and sweating heavily, he looked at the large cloud of smoke. "Pi…", it said, when Ash reached him. "You did good, buddy.", he said. Pikachu smiled weakly, and then he fainted. Misty and Brock ran up to him. "Wow, I never though that he could do that.", Brock said, and gave Pikachu a medicine. Pikachu opened his eyes slowly. He smiled again. "What a blast! But where's Drake?", Misty asked, while looking at the cloud of smoke. Everybody looked at the smoke as well. Then, they saw multiple beams of light flashing out of it. Then, with a huge outburst of wind, the smoke cleared. Drake stood there, seemingly unhurt, and in his Super Saiyan form. "Wow, Drake has blond hair now?", Misty said. Drake smiled, and walked up to them, and while he did, he powered down. "I must say, that blast was strong enough to kill a person. Right when the blast hitted me, I transformed. Otherwise this little guy could actually hurted me.", he said, while he smiled at Pikachu. "And? May Pikachu train with us?", Ash asked. "Yes. He may be of great help. But don't expect me to go easy on him!", Drake grinned. "Pika!", Pikachu said, and gave him thumbs up. "Now that's settled…", Brock said, while they were heading back to their camp, "…who is hungry?".
Jessie, James, Meowth, Cassidy and Butch walked through the forest. "So, anyone got a plan? The boss wants that kid, but I for sure don't want to get smacked around again!", James said. The group nodded. They knew that they didn't stand a chance against Drake. "Well, the boss asked us to call him if we find them. But whe are travelling for a day now, and still we haven't find them!", Cassidy said. Then the phone rang. Butch, the one who carried it, answered it. "Butch here. Hello boss. New orders? Okay, I'll tell the rest.", he said, hung up, and putted the phone away. "What did he want?", Jessie asked. "He wants us to return. The boss has a new idea.", Butch replied. "What's with him? First he wants us to find that kid, and now he wants us back! I don't get it, and I don't like it!", Cassidy yelled. "Well, orders are orders. So I guess that we better get moving.", James said. They sighed, and nodded. They turned around, not knowing that they were only a mile or so from there earlier target.
Giovanni putted his phone down. "Excellent. In a day or so they will be here.", he said to no-one in particular. His Persian was asleep at his left side. He turned on his videoscreen. The image showed the two youngsters again. They were awake, but far too weak to do anything. Giovanni grinned. "Soon, you will be all reunited. Although not in the way you two may think.", he said. He switched his videoscreen to another camera. The tube with the blue-ish liquid appeared. "It is almost ready. And now nothing will go wrong!", he said in triumph. He picked up his phone, and dialed a number. "Yes sir, what is it?", a voice said. "How long will it take before it is ready?", Giovanni asked. The voice let out a grin. He knew precisely what 'it' was. "Well, we've continued to run tests, and it's growing more and more stronger, and intelligent. I'd say it will take a week or two before it's can be trained.", the voice replied. "Excellet work, and ahead of schedule. Keep me informed.", Giovanni said, and hung up. Then he relaxed himself in his chair, while he grinned.
Six days later, Ash, Pikachu and Drake continued to train. They decided to stay at their camp for a week, before moving on. Ash and Pikachu showed more and more improvement. Ash was a quick learner, and learned to improve his speed and stamina. He got stronger as well. Pikachu got stronger as well, improving his attacks and abilities. And now Ash was ready to have a match with Drake. "Finally, how long I've waited for this! Lets see if I'm stronger now!", Ash said. Pikachu, Misty and Brock sat a distance away. Brock was acting as the referee. "Alright, this match is one on one, and the match will end if one of you is unable to continue!", he yelled. "Brock, this is something different then a Pokemonmatch, mind you.", Misty said. "I know, but hey, I had to say something.", he replied. Then he turned to Ash and Drake. Both had taken their fighting stances. "Ready? Begin!!", Brock said. As soon as they heared that, both fighters ran at eachother, clashing in a furious battle. Throwing punches and kicks at eachother, Ash was giving it all he had. But Drake wasn't even trying. "Wow, I must say Ash is holding out quite good.", Brock said. He and Misty witnessed the training a couple of times, and knew what they could do. "Yeah, Ash is stronger now, but he can't keep fighting like this for long.", Misty replied. Brock nodded. "Well, let's see how long he lasts.", he said. Pikachu kept silent, while he looked at his master.
Ash and Drake continued to fight. Ash had taken a few hits, but everytime he was pushed back, he jumped right into the action again. He closed in for a punch, and Drake did the same. Both fists hitted home, straight on the cheek of eachother. They jumped back, and Ash was breathing and sweating heavily. He still kept his eyes on Drake, ready for another attack. "Well Ash, I must say you are stronger then ever. But still, you are no match for me, and you know that.", Drake told him. "Maybe. But I'm willing to try as hard as I can!", Ash replied, and ran at Drake again. Drake waited. "It's time to finish this match. If I keep this up, Ash might get hurt too bad.", he thought. As soon as Ash reached Drake with a punch, Drake dodged it, lowered himself and punched Ash in his stomach. Ash fell down on his knees, grabbed his stomach with one hand, and used his other hand to prevent himself to fall over. "Let's call it a day, Ash. You still have alot to learn. In the meantime, you can spar with your Pikachu, like you did before.", Drake said, and helped him up. His friends walked up to them. "Well, this match is settled. How are you doing Ash?", Brock asked. "Could have been better…", Ash replied, and fell over, out cold. "Ash!", Misty cried. "Don't worry, he is just worn out from our match. Let him rest a while. If we leave tomorrow, we can reach Goldenrod City in a day or two.", Drake suggested. "Sounds good. Ash needs a break from his training.", Brock said, and picked Ash up. "He's strong. But it will take a long while before his body is fully used to his new strength.", Drake said, and walked alongside Brock to the camp. The rest followed on the otherside of Brock. "Isn't he pushing himself too far? I mean, he could get seriously hurt if he keeps this up.", Misty said. Drake smiled. "Don't worry. I only train that we are equal in strength, speed and stamina. If I fight him at my fullest, then he would have a problem. That's why I take this easy at first, and hard in the end, when he is used to this.", he explained. Misty nodded, and looked at Ash, who was still out cold. When they reached the camp, Brock putted Ash in his sleepingbag. "Well, he will be asleep for a time. I'll fix dinner in the meantime.", he said. "Sounds great! I'm hungry, ecspecially from that match.", Drake said. "Yeah, I'm kinda hungry too. And I'm sure Pikachu is too.", Misty said, looking at her best friend's Pokemon. "Pika!", the mouse replied.
Late afternoon, Ash finally woke up. "He guys, what is that terrific smell?", he said. "Hey, you're finally awake! It's about time.", Misty said, and handed him a boil of soup. "Thanks.", Ash said, and started eating. "How are you feeling?", Drake asked. "Okay, still a little tired though.", Ash replied. Everyone let out a sigh of relief. "What's wrong?", Ash asked. "Well, we're worried that you couldn't take it, but it looks like we were wrong.", Brock said. "Never judge a book by its cover, guys.", Ash said, and everybody laughed.
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Ash has had his first real match, and he took it rather good. But he has still alot more to learn. Can he master everything that Drake will teach him? And what is Giovanni up to, by ordering his members back to the base? What sinister plots will await our heros? Find out in the next chapter!