"... Wouldn't you…?"
Pikachu gazed into the eyes of his beloved Buneary. Her eyes sparkled as she peered into his soul with pure confidence.
Pikachu had never seen someone so….
….. Brave.
"... I …" Pikachu tried to respond, but he couldn't find his way out of her insightful gaze.
Before Pikachu could find the right words, Pikachu felt Buneary grip his paws tighter.
"Don't throw away your dream….." Buneary begged him slowly.
Pikachu was speechless as he gazed into his beloved eyes. He was concerned about what he really wanted.
He loved Buneary, but could he really put her in so much danger?
Ash and his friends were watching his Pokemon with concerned and heavy hearts.
Ash was nervous, but he knew his Pikachu would pick the right answer. No matter what he would pick, Ash would understand.
Paul and Lucario were watching them as well.
Everyone there was in a dead silence waiting for Pikachu's answer.
Buneary was standing there with her eyes glycerine. She waited for her beloved answer.
Before she had promised him that she wouldn't hold him back and she wasn't going to start here.
... She would fight for him and his dreams.
Pikachu slowly looked away. He was still very silent
His heart was heavy...
...and he was scared.
Could he really go through with this?
"What's it going to be...? Pikachu?"
Lucario asked in a cold, deep, tone.
Pikachu just ignored him and kept his eyes on the one he truly loved.
He closed his eyes tightly not wanting to go through with it.
He opened them slowly and then he saw Buneary's eyes once again.
His eyes widened when he began to realize something that he had not thought about before...
... What did She want?
... What was this with that look in her eyes...?
It was as if her expression was trying to tell him that she would fight for his dreams...
"Buneary... I..."
"Please..." Buneary silently whined in a soft whisper. "... Don't abandon your dreams for me..."
"But you might get-"
… But before he could even finish, Buneary interrupted him by pressing her nose against his.
"Please..." She continued to beg. She slowly nuzzles his forehead with hers, very gently.
As she nuzzled him, he finally knew the answer. He could not say no to her, nor would he allow himself to lose his dream.
He was still scared….. but….
"Okay..." Pikachu finally said as he slowly let go of her. He looked over to Lucario who had his arms crossed and was waiting patiently.
Another steady silence lingered.
Buneary stepped a bit closer behind Pikachu.
"... …. … What is your answer…."
Everyone waited.
"... … We … accept your challenge…." Pikachu answered finally. Everyone perked up.
Buneary gripped her paws into fists. She knew it was time….
"But…."
Buneary looked over towards Pikachu.
"If Buneary is unable to battle…. And you do what you said you were going to do….." Pikachu began to state. He looked down for a breif moment.
When he looked back up, his expression was ferocious.
"You'll regret it."
Lucario didn't respond.
There was a chill in the air.
Dawn and Brock gripped their cold arms. Ash withstood the breeze of discomfort.
Ash was having a serious thought…
Ash knew his Pikachu…..
Pikachu was going to lose his composer….
Ash knew from his experience, and his deep bond with Pikachu, that he would lose his ability to command him.
Pikachu would go all out. Full heart.
All for Buneary….
Lucario rose his head up slowly.
"Pikachu accepts the challenge….." Lucario telepathed to everyone in the area. Dawn and Brock's eyes widened. Vulpix cooed her worries as Squirtle and Bulbasaur blinked in curiosity.
Ash clenched his fists tightly.
Paul looked back at Ash one last time.
"He's your Pokemon…."
Ash closed his eyes slowly.
"Start the Battle….." Ash finally allowed half heartedly. What followed was a deep, eerie silence.
Everyone knew that the unorthodox battle was going to begin any second.
Paul lifted up his arm. Everyone besides Lucario and Pikachu got ready.
Pikachu and Lucario eyed each other hard.
Paul paused for a moment, letting the suspense linger a little longer.
"Let this battle…. Begin!"
Pikachu got into a quick battle position, but his eyes widened quickly. Lucario was in his face, leaning forward.
Pikachu felt his heart sink. His experience was in slow mo.
Pikachu managed to shoot his arm up and it blocked Lucario's mega punch. Pikachu felt his body skid across the ice.
Buneary got worried and she hopped forward, ready to fight.
"P-Pikachu!" Buneary cried out.
Lucario spun on one of his heels and Buneary felt his other ankle smash into the side of her neck.
Buneary felt some airtime before Lucario continued his spin to throw another punch into her gut.
Buneary gasped as gravity returned and she hit her knees, curdling her stomach. The impact made her knees slide across the ice.
Pikachu jumped toward them.
"Hey!" Pikachu cried out.
Buneary growled and she jumped towards him too.
Lucario stepped away from Buneary. He threw his left arm up to block Pikachu's kick.
Buneary then did a double kick, in which Lucario easily caught himself into Buneary's rhythm blocking with his other arm.
Pikachu swung himself into a spin, throwing his tail at Lucario in which he easily blocked with his left arm.
Lucario then spun himself tightly in place lifting up a knee. Buneary saw Lucario raise his right leg and he shot at Buneary. She panicked and blocked with both of her arms.
Pikachu saw her fly away from them, however this also drew his attention away from Lucario's fist. It caught Pikachu's cheek.
Pikachu felt his body thrash against ice and shards that came along with his tumble.
At last, he came to stop on his belly before coming to a slow momentum.
His body hurt. He didn't want to get back up, but he knew he had to.
As Buneary tried to get up, she noticed how far away she was from Pikachu.
Buneary felt her body clench in pain. The pain brought her back down to her knee. She felt a bit confused. When did she hurt her knee?
Was it when she landed?
She put her attention back to the fight.
"P-Pikachu- Uh...?"
Buneary felt the ice chill run through her heart. Lucario was already near her, approaching her. Buneary slowly found her strength as she stood back up.
She held up paws, preparing herself.
"Do you trust your partner….?" Lucario asked her in a cold and serious tone. Buneary paws clenched as she felt a bit confused by how he asked this question. "Can he keep you safe….? Or will he….. let you down…."
"W-What?"
Pikachu got up quickly, ignoring all of his pain..
"Kek! Buneary!" Pikachu grunted as he cried out in frustration and anger. He dashed off after Lucario.
Lucario heard him coming after him. Buneary could see a strange smile from Lucario's expression.
….. She couldn't quite make it out.
Lucario smirked before he turned. Pikachu was caught off guard by the fact that Lucario knew exactly where he was coming from and where to block.
Lucario blocked Pikachu's kick. Pikachu grunted as he spun hard and he activated his iron tail.
Pikachu spun even harder, and for Buneary, he wasn't going to hold back.
Pikachu's tail spun with him just as fast. Lucario was quick to coat his arms in a thick aura and he brought up his arms.
The two made a large impact. Lucario was moving his arms in a rapid session. Buneary had to shield her face from the nearby shockwaves.
Since she was so close, she could feel every inch of Pikachu's and Lucario's power.
The two went at it hard.
Pikachu swung and swung, moving faster and faster.
However, Lucario seemed to be predicting Pikachu's movements, for he was easily blocking them all.
"Yes! This power! That's it!" Lucario praised as he kept up with Pikachu's intense speed. "But will it be enough to protect her!?"
Pikachu grunted at that remark. He felt himself continue the attack. He started to spin into a faster spin by rolling and flipping in midair, attacking with his iron tail in such a way that released steady, concentrated power at a very intense speed.
"SHUT….. UP!" Pikachu cried out in anger.
Buneary wanted to run up and help Pikachu, but as soon as Buneary attempted to run into battle, she caught a glimpse of Pikachu and Lucario vanishing into a very fast dash further out into the battlefield.
Buneary panicked and proceeded to follow. She climbed up a large incline of ice. When she got to the top she saw a glimpse of Pikachu and Lucario.
Pikachu and Lucario were going at it so hard and so fast that all Buneary could see was colorful shockwaves that were created by Pikachu's golden electricity and the Mega Lucario's blue aura.
It was sparking with each impact, creating a massive shockwave. These shockwaves were rapidly appearing wherever they fought and they were moving really fast.
Ash was watching from his platform. He was becoming uneasy, clenching and unclenching his fists. He could barely keep up with the battle.
It was only because of his accumulated battle experience, that he could keep up with the battle. With each collish, Ash could see a small glimpse of Pikachu and Lucario colliding against each other's attack.
Brock soon stepped closer behind Ash.
"Ash…! Why haven't you given Pikachu a command yet!? What's the hold up?" Brock questioned with a serious tone. Ash didn't look back. He kept his mind on the battle.
Brock stood there, slowly becoming impatient.
"Ash!"
Ash turned slightly. He had a serious expression. Brock lost his frown, for he saw how serious Ash was.
Dawn couldn't help but to put a clenched fist near her mouth.
"What's wrong Ash…..?" Dawn asked with concern. They haven't seen Ash make that face quite before. Ash turned back to the battle slowly…
"Believe me …. I want to command Pikachu in this battle….. but I already know…." Ash started to explain before he looked slowly down. "Pikachu won't be able to listen to me….."
Brock stepped even closer.
"That's crazy! Pikachu always listens to you! What makes this battle so different…!?" Brock questioned aggressively. Ash looked towards the battle. Ash, Brock, and Dawn could see the many shockwaves that were created by Pikachu's and Lucario's power.
Ash closed his eyes.
"It's because….. things are…. actually different…." Ash slowly explained to them. Brock tilted his head confused.
"... You and Pikachu have won so many gym badges together before…. I don't understand…." Brock continued to question. "How can you say things are different, what has changed from then… to now…?"
There was a moment of silence, and the only sound that could be heard was the sound of the loud crackling of the battle before them.
"Maybe, if it was a regular gym battle…. But in this fight…. The stakes are just too high... And he isn't fighting for just me anymore ..."
Dawn's eyes widened, when she realized who he was referring to. She looked out towards the battlefield.
Brock's face became a little more serious. He looked out towards the battlefield as well.
"Pikachu fell in love with your Buneary, Dawn…." Ash said to Dawn, quietly. "All Pikachu can think about right now…. Is protecting her with all of his might…."
Ash clenched his fist tightly.
"His mind is set… and I don't even know if he can even hear me right now….." Ash informed them, sounding as if he was unsure himself. He just knew his Pikachu would go far beyond his limits for his friends.
…. Ash could only wonder how far he would go for the pokemon he loved.
Pikachu dashed at Lucario once again, swinging his iron tail as hard as he could.
Lucario smirked as he spun, throwing his elbow upwards as it was coated in a thick aura.
Another shockwave formed once again.
Pikachu and Lucario both backflipped away from each other. Pikachu found himself landing on a tall pillar of solid ice.
As Lucario landed on top of a hill of ice.
Lucario crossed his arms as he landed. His smile got bigger.
Pikachu was panting so hard that his body was beginning to cramp up. He held his side, trying to not breathe so hard.
Lucario let out a deep laugh that caught Pikachu's attention
"Heheheheh…. Not bad Pikachu… I will say that you are the strongest Pikachu I have ever had the pleasure of facing!" Lucario seemed to praise. He let out a large laugh out of his puffed up chest. "Hahahah! Who knows…! Maybe you can actually protect your Buneary from the likes of me!"
Pikachu growled as he got into a tighter battle position. He bared his fangs slowly.
"Why do you keep threatening her like that!? This is a gym battle…!" Pikachu complained angrily. "You're making it sound like you actually want to hurt her! …. And personally it's beginning to piss me OFF!"
Lucario loosened his smile, but only a bit. He was almost smiling evilly and this began to bother Pikachu.
"Because….." Lucario started to explain really slowly. He leaned a bit closer off the mound of ice. "If you can't protect the one you love the most….. how can you ever call yourself a male…..".
Lucario punched himself dramatically in his own chest.
"A real man's power comes from the heart! …And the love he carries within!"
Pikachu slowed his growl a bit. He knew Lucario was right….
…. But …..
"That gives you no right to threaten the one I love!" Pikachu declared angrily. This caused Lucario to pause for a moment. However, Lucario closed his eyes slowly.
A small gust of wind blew by. The cold chill brushed through their fur gracefully.
There was an eerie silence that followed.
Lucario let out a small chuckle. Pikachu's ears perked up. Pikachu frowned angrily again.
"What's so funny…?" Pikachu asked with an angry tone.
Lucario let himself smile wickedly as he closed his eyes.
"Heh…. Who said it was a threat….?" Lucario asked coldly. He opened up his eyes again, staring at Pikachu with what seemed to be hungry eyes. "If you don't stop me….. Buneary….. might become…."
"... Broken….."
Pikachu felt the fur on his body prick up with anger. Lucario could tell he had gotten through to Pikachu. Pikachu's body started to give off his own aura now.
His body seemed to power up with electricity. With a kick of his legs the pillar of ice he was on shattered to pieces.
Lucario jumped high. Pikachu had rocketed so fast towards him, that Pikachu couldn't stop himself from shattering the mound of ice Lucario was on.
After landing on the remaining debris, Pikachu growled hard as he blasted off towards Lucario.
Lucario had his arms crossed.
"GrrrrrRRRRAAAAAAH!" Pikachu roared as he shot straight towards him. Pikachu swung his fist.
Lucario shifted midair to dodge it easily. Pikachu kicked, punched, and swung his tail, but Lucario easily moved out of the way.
Pikachu turned to see that Lucario was still smiling.
"Heh, and Paul had spoken highly of you…." Lucario taunted slowly. "And yet…. You can't even touch me…."
"Well! That's about to change!" Pikachu pledged as he spun with a really hard punch. Lucario saw it coming and he easily moved to the side.
However, Pikachu saw that coming as well, so he spun the opposite direction, throwing his tail right at him.
Lucario's eyes widened as he threw his arms up to block, however, Pikachu had formed a powerful iron tail heightened by his anger.
The impact was so powerful, Lucario felt himself fly through the air. Pikachu dashed forward and he was hot on his tail.
Buneary gasped as Lucario threw above her. She could feel the wind and the power as she watched Lucario fly by, however she barely noticed her boyfriend fly threw in the air after him.
"Oooh!" Buneary gasped as she felt the powerful rush of wind brush aggressively through her brown fur, causing her ears to flow with it.
Lucario flipped as gravity brought him back to the ground. He landed and slid on his knees. He smiled as Pikachu dove right for him.
Lucario jumped backwards just in time to miss another one of Pikachu's iron tails. Pikachu smashed into the ice below.
Pikachu, however, was still hot on his tail and he jumped straight after him. Lucario landed and took to steps backwards.
He stood firm. Pikachu landed himself and he dashed in a zigzag pattern as he was powering up. Lucario put himself into a battle stance. He was ready for him.
Pikachu jumped up to Lucario's height and he threw multiple punches and kicks. Lucario blocked them and then he threw a solid punch of his own.
Luckily, Pikachu had plenty of time to block it. It hit his arms hard, making him fly backwards.
Lucario ran hard after him. He ran so hard that his arms were dragging behind. Pikachu finally landed, but he didn't have time to catch his breath.
Lucario came up to him fast and he started swinging many punches and kicks. Pikachu panicked and he dodged and weaved quickly.
Lucario didn't let himself slow down. He was relentless. Pikachu began to have a really hard time dodging every attack.
Eventually, Lucario did manage to land a solid punch to Pikachu's face. Then before Pikachu could recoil from his pain, he felt Lucario bring up his leg, kicking him in the stomach.
"KAAAK!" Pikachu cried out as he felt the air leave his lungs. Lucario took a large step to Pikachu's side and then he cupped his fists together and hammered it down on Pikachu's back. "ACK!"
Pikachu hit the hard ice. Pikachu attempted to get back up, but he was met with Lucario's kick.
He punted the small yellow Pokemon across the ice.
Before Pikachu stopped moving, Lucario jumped. Pikachu roller for a moment before coming to a complete stop
Pikachu tried to get back as soon as he could.
Unfortunately, before he could, Lucario fell right on him, smashing his feet deep into Pikachu's back. There was an awful crackling sound.
"AAA-AAAAH!" Pikachu let out an awful scream. Lucario stepped off of him quickly.
Stunned by the pain, Pikachu was failing to think straight. However, Lucario picked Pikachu up by the fur on top of his head.
Lucario smiled a wicked grin as he lifted up a fist.
Pikachu felt helpless as Lucario started to pound his fist into Pikachu's body. He began to beat him senseless.
Buneary was just over the hill when she realized where they were. She gasped when she saw that the one she loved was in trouble.
"Oh no! Pikachu!" Buneary cried out as she desperately ran down the hill towards them.
Lucario turned and saw her approaching in the distance. His grin grew to this. He turned back to examine the beaten Pikachu….
Pikachu was in so much pain, he struggled to move. He could barely open his eyes, However, he stared at Lucario.
… And Pikachu's heart grew colder when he saw the look in his eyes. Lucario turned back to Pikachu.
Lucario brought him closer to his face.
"Looks like you're going to fail to protect her….."
Pikachu found his strength return from the fear for his loved one. He struggled and put his paws to the back of his neck, and with a strong kick, Pikachu got loose.
"Over my dead body- ACK!"
Pikachu was kicked in the stomach before he could even reach the ground. He felt his body fly through the air.
Pikachu's back hit the icy wall so hard that a giant crack formed. He felt his body hit the ground hard.
He tried to get back up, but before he knew it, the ice above him started to give way. It crackled and popped until a lot of ice broke apart. Pikachu gasped as the ice crashed down upon him.
Buneary's eyes widened when she saw the one she loved, become buried in a pile of ice.
"Pikachu!"
Buneary started to panic as she started to run towards him. However, Lucario turned around swiftly and blocked her way..
Buneary's heart sank as she had to dig her paws into the ice to make herself stop.
Buneary stared at him with fear.
"Don't worry, my dear… you have a lot more to worry about than him…." Lucario bloated in confidence. Buneary stepped back, fearing for the worst for herself and for Pikachu.
Her body began to shake…..
She knew Pikachu was stronger than her…
How was she supposed to help him if she wasn't powerful enough….?
Panic began to set in….
Her heart started to quiver with intense fear, she didn't know what to do.
Lucario laughed a little as he began to run towards her, ready to take her on. Buneary tried to clench her paws, but they shook so much. She couldn't find her will to fight.
…. All she wanted was to check on Pikachu and see if he was okay.
It was as if time was slowing down. She watched as Lucario grew closer and closer.
Soon Lucario jumped at her, with his Aura pulsing through his body.
Buneary felt so scared she couldn't think of what to do….
What could she do….?
She wasn't strong enough….
She wasn't brave enough….
She began to shake with fear as her eyes slowly widen when she couldn't think…..
"Buneary! Dodge it!"
She snapped out of it.
Without thinking about it, she listened to Ash's command. Buneary jumped up high and Lucario's fists smashed into the ice below.
She felt the rush of power that Lucario had emitted to that attack. She had to shield herself as the rush of wind was sent upwards from his power.
Ash swung his arm sideways and gave another command.
"Now! Use Ice Beam!" Ash commanded with all of his heart. On instinct Buneary inhaled the cool air to form her attack.
Lucario went to block, but the attack landed before him. The Ice beam formed a giant wall in front of him blocking his way to Buneary.
Buneary landed on the other side of the wall, panting. She knew if Ash didn't snap her out of her own fear….
…. She didn't know what Lucario would have done to her.
Ash stepped forward with a clenched fist.
"Don't give up now! Use dizzy punch on the ice!" Ash commanded. Buneary didn't know what Ash was planning but she trusted him…
She hopped up once and spun with her ear, which clenched to itself like a fist. Using the power of her ear, she used it to punch the wall of ice that was in front of Lucario.
Lucario didn't hear Ash, so he wasn't expecting it. He was pelted with all the shards of ice.
It wasn't enough to really phase him though. Lucario could still withstand it and throw up his arms to block the incoming shards.
"Keep going! Use dizzy punch again! Give it all you got!" Ash demanded, sending his confidence through his words.
Buneary cried out as she hopped towards Lucario in anger. She spun again, this time much stronger, with a much more impressive spin.
Lucario didn't see her coming. He was just too focused on the incoming shards of ice…
Buneary managed to land a solid punch to his face. Lucario cried out as he was sent flying across the field.
Lucario couldn't help but to roll across the ice and he too slammed onto a wall of ice. He stood there, stunned. He shook his head, trying to shake off the pain.
Buneary was already panting….
She wasn't exactly use to this sort of fight….
She was beginning to wish she had trained harder.
"Buneary! Ice Beam!"
Buneary inhaled the cool air once again. She let it out quickly sending her powerful beam of ice straight at Lucario.
Lucario grunted as he jumped high up into the air. He put his palms to his side and he started to charge a large aura sphere.
Buneary's eyes widen upon seeing it. Lucario shot it at her.
"Buneary,! Dodge it!" Buneary shook her head, trying to shake off her fear. She then was quick enough to roll out of the way…
When Buneary looked up, she could see Lucario diving towards her. Buneary saw him swing an attack, in which she intended to block. When she did she didn't expect another attack straight after.
She felt a sharp pain in her gut. However, she didn't let the blow break her defense. She bobbed and weaved a few more blows before she knew she was becoming barraged with punches and kicks.
Ash became tense upon seeing her position. He clenched his fists tightly.
"B-Buneary! Get out of there-"
But it was too late, Lucario grabbed her by her ears and he pulled her closer.
With a crackling smash of his fists, Ash and his friends' eyes widen. Buneary's head flung back from the blow.
… As blood started to bleed from her forehead. Ash stepped forward frightened.
"Buneary!"
Things turned even worse when Lucario recoiled and brought his fist back again, letting out an evil chuckle.
She cried as Lucario began to pumble her. She tried to get out of it.
… But Lucario began to abuse her.
Dawn and Brock felt the horror. They expected Ash to stop this, but even they knew Lucario was too quick. Even if Ash stopped it now, Lucario would still be wailing on her.
"No! Stop!" Ash did cry out.
However, Lucario held her up by her ears. He turned his head at his opposing trainer.
With a small, wicked grin, he let go of the poor Buneary…
Just to slam another fist into her face, sending her rocketing to the ground.
Ash leaned forward, clutching his heart. It painted him to watch this happen.
"Lucario, please!" Ash begged. He watched Lucario land onto the ground himself. He was still near Buneary. Buneary wasn't moving.
Paul crossed his arms. He looked away, with, to Ash's knowledge, a cruel and uncaring smile.
"Lucario….. Ash hasn't surrendered…. Keep going till he does…." Paul commanded coldly. Without responding, Lucario started to walk towards the unconscious Buneary.
"Huh….?" Ash sounded ignorantly.
….. Paul was seriously going to go through with this?
….. This battle wasn't over?
He had no pokemon that was able to battle. Why did he have to surrender?
"N-No…. Wait …" Ash was hesitating. He had never been put in a situation like this.
Ash couldn't let this happen.
Lucario picked up Buneary by her arm. This gave everyone a moment, just to see how damaged Buneary actually was. Her head was drenched in blood. Her fur was ragged and dirty, and she was badly hurt.
"Paul, Wait! I surren-"
Lucario threw a mega punch.
SNAP!
"K-AAAA-AAAAAAH!"
Buneary cried out a horrific scream. Lucario had smashed into her elbow, bending it into the wrong direction.
Unknowingly to everyone, her scream woke up Pikachu.
Pikachu eyes bursted open. He felt his arms struggled in the weight of the ice.
"N-No…..! B-Buneary….. NO!" Pikachu grunted and cried out
Lucario let her go and he let her hit the ground. Without an extra arm, Buneary landed on her good arm.
Lucario crossed his arms, staring at Ash coldly.
"Surrender! Or it will be her other arm next!" Lucario threatened through his telepath.
Ash eyes widen. He felt sick. He felt like crying. He had lost.
….. Not only this battle….
…. But his own self respect as well.
How could his pokemon ever trust him again…
How could he let this happen …..?
How could he ever call himself a trainer, if he had failed both Pikachu's and Buneary's trust.
Lucario grew impatient and he shot a small energy ball at Buneary. It blew her away on impact.
Covered in smoke and burns, she was sent skipping across the ice.
Ash hopelessly learned forward.
"I said STOP!"
Dawn cried out in fear. Causing Brock to rise in anger. He marched next Ash and he grabbed ahold of Ash's collar and he pulled him threateningly close.
"Surrender…. Now! Ash!" Brock demanded in the heat of his anger. He pulled him closer. "Or…. Or…. I won't be able to forgive you….!"
Ash looked down, clenching his teeth.
Brock was right…..
….. This fight was over…..
His Pokemon has suffered enough…..
"Paul….. I….."
However, in the corner of his eye he saw Buneary slowly stand up. She was clutching her bleeding arm, as blood dropped into the frost.
Dawn ran up next to Ash.
"No! Buneary! STAY DOWN!" Dawn begged of her pokemon.
However, Buneary turned away from her trainer. She shook her head. She was becoming dizzy from all the pain.
….. But she marched on, turning away from everyone.
She dragged her feet towards a large pile of ice.
She let the tears she's been holding back flow down her face. She felt herself sob.
"... P-Pikachu….." She cried quietly. She swallowed her pain on " … ….. P-PIKACHU!"
"You told me ….. 'Sob' …. You PROMISED me…"
"... So do it….."
Buneary clutched her freshly broken arm. She let her heart cry out for him.
Lucario tilted his head slowly, believing her cry to be meaningless.
"... Pikachu!"
"Please…."
" … SAVE ME!
Then there was a rumble…..
BOOOOOM!
A thunderbolt came down, destroying the ice that imprisoned him. Everyone's eyes widened when they saw this great display of power.
They could barely see Pikachu as he felt his relief from the weight of the ice. He slowly stood straight.
However, what they didn't see…..
Was his anger…
"Pikachu….?" Ash called out quietly.
Lucario stepped back. Buneary watched Pikachu move, she had to almost step to the side as Pikachu escaped his imprisonment. Lucario stared cautiously.
Pikachu's power was sparkling all over his body.
All Lucario could pay attention to was Pikachu's wrathful power…..
….. And the slowly falling debris behind him.
"You're a monster….." Pikachu growled. He clenched his fists tightly. "You hurt her… and…. You kept…. hurting her….. and your…. not gonna stop …"
Lucario's guard slowly went up. He was slowly getting into battle position.
Pikachu began to shake in great anger. He slowly looked up.
…. And he saw Pikachu's pure white glow.
"I told you…"
With a flicker and a glimpse of lighting, Pikachu was in front of him.
" … You would regret it!"
Lucario felt his iron tail nail him across the face. He didn't even have time to realize he was flipping across the ice.
Pikachu zipped to the right, left, right, and then down towards Lucario. Lucario tried to get up, but he couldn't read his movements. Pikachu started to appear around him, in the form of after images.
He couldn't keep up with the lighting fast Pikachu.
Pikachu drove his fist into Lucario's stomach. He expected to fly away from the impact, but what didn't expect was the barrage of hyper fast blows that followed.
Lucario felt himself become airborne.
Pikachu jumped up towards him.
"Lucario!" Paul cried out, actually concerned for his partner.
Pikachu dived into his stomach, smashing him with a powerful headbutt.
"GRAAAAK!"
Pikachu was faster than ever now. He landed, sprinted past Lucario and then he spun around, sending a quick, but powerful Volt Tackle straight into Lucario's back.
Keeping up with his own attacks, Pikachu dashed after him. He ran so hard he had caught up too quickly.
Acting on instinct, Pikachu tucked himself over and rolled. It was such a hard roll, he ended up rolling under Lucario.
It might of been a messy roll but with a furious kick, Lucario was sent upwards.
Lucario could barely keep hold of his bearings as his surroundings started to blur. This only further intensified when he saw another glimpse of lighting zoom near him.
Lucario recoiled in the middle of the air and he looked around.
However, he did not see him time to block an incoming attack. Lucario was hit across his cheek. He recoiled again, trying to search for the vanishing Pikachu.
Lucario was then hit across his face once again, however, he did not have time to recoil again, for he felt himself get knocked in the other direction.
They could hear Pikachu's cry as he felt the moment near. This battle…..
…. was coming to an end….
"PiiiiiiikaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Lucario couldn't see him, but he sure could feel every blow across his body.
Infact, no one could see Pikachu, all anyone could see was Lucario suspended into the air, as he seemed to be attacked by a a barrage of lighting bolts.
Paul tried to call for him.
"Lucario! Move! Get out of there-" His eyes widened. Paul saw Lucario's eyes. Lucario wasn't even conscious anymore.
Pikachu appeared Infront of him.
"PI…. KAAA!" Pikachu cried as he did a diagonal spin, powering up an iron tail.
The last feeling Lucario felt was Pikachu's iron tail slamming him back to the stadium's hard ice.
"Awe…!" Ash, Dawn, and Brock sounded as their mouths were gaped open with astoundment.
"Lucario….!" Paul called again as he watched Lucario plummet to the ground. However, he hit the ground so hard an icy cloud of frost and dust shocked waved towards Paul causing him to shield himself with his sleeve.
After the frost and dust settled, Paul immediately looked towards his fallen Pokemon.
"N-No way….." Paul mumbled under his breath, as he saw that Lucario could no longer battle. Paul's Mega Lucario had been defeated.
Lucario's power slowly reverted, causing Mega Lucario to transform back into a regular Lucario.
Paul slowly looked down, unsure of what to make of the results of this gym battle.
"L-... Lucario is unable to battle…" Paul accouched so quietly, he was barely heard. "The victory…. goes to Ash and his team…. Of Pikachu….. and Buneary….."
Ash was in no mood to celebrate. He turned to Dawn, right before jumping off the trainer's platform.
"Dawn! Get Buneary! I'll grab Pikachu!" Ash felt rushed to command. He dashed across the field just as Dawn began to follow him.
Without thinking about it, Paul stepped off his platform. He paused before he pulled out Lucario's PokeBall.
He was so stunned by Pikachu's sudden power….
….. He could hardly think about anything else.
Dawn rushed over to Buneary, who was lying on her back, unconscious herself. Dawn slid to her knees quickly, but she was slow to pick her up.
Dawn was careful to pick her up, trying to be easy with her broken arm
"Oooh…. Buneary…" Dawn cried quietly as she was trying to not cry. Buneary was bleeding badly and her arm was drenched in blood, where the elbow was, which dripped down the rest of her arm.
Ash ran up behind Pikachu. He slid to a spot near him. Pikachu was still standing, but he was still staring at Lucario's unconscious body.
Ash slowly took a step closer.
"H-Hey buddy…. Are you okay?" Ash slowly asked him, concerned. He could see Pikachu was hurt, but Pikachu didn't show much signs of pain.
It was only when Pikachu slowly turned to Ash, did he see his true pain….
Pikachu had a furious expression across his face, as it was masked by his deep, painful, sadness. Ash saw his tears. He was crying hard, as he was trying to hold back his hate.
Ash could tell Pikachu was deeply wounded within his heart.
Ash knelt down by him. He slowly rubbed his hand on top of his hand, caringly.
"I'm…. sorry buddy….." Ash looked down, hating himself a little. "I shouldn't have asked you to do this…. Especially with Buneary….. neither one of you deserved this….."
Ash began to get angery at himself.
"I promise…. That it will never go this far again….. Master's League or not…." Pikachu looked at him, listening with his heart quivering with sadness. "... You two are…. more important than…. some dumb battle….."
Ash heard Pikachu sob. Before he could notice, Pikachu jumped onto Ash's knee and he plunged himself around his neck, hugging Ash as he cried.
Ash was stunned, but that only lasted for a moment. Ash started to think about Buneary's state. He picked Pikachu up and he turned to walk away.
Paul was still in his state of awe. However, when he saw Ash was already leaving, Paul started to follow. He stuck his arm into his pocket, fishing in his cloak, searching for Ash's badge.
"H-Hey….!" Paul called as he pulled it out of his cloak.
Paul tried to follow quickly. Ash was still leaving, as if he didn't hear Paul. Paul held up his badge.
"What- What about the badge you earned….? Hey! … Hey!"
As Ash tried to ignore him, his anger grew and grew, he even began to clench his teeth.
….. Until Ash finally had enough.
Ash flipped around and with his free hand he threw an unexpected punch. Paul felt it pop him in the nose, knocking him off his feet.
Brock and Dawn turned to those two, and they were surprised that Ash had knocked Paul off his feet.
Ash clenched his bloody fist tightly. He then stood straighter. Paul slowly lifted himself slightly, just enough to where he could look at Ash, struck with sudden shock.
"How cruel are you….!?" Ash questioned in anger. Paul didn't reply. He could see how angry Ash had become. "Do you really believe that…. After all that….. I would be more concerned about that Badge…. Over my pokemon!?"
"But you…"
"You talk about the fact you've really changed …." Ash continued. Paul could tell, Ash was eager to leave, he was even turning away. "But….. Your friendship with Lucario is nothing but mutual pride!"
Ash started to walk away with Pikachu in his arms.
"You'd put your own pride in front of everything that matters….."
Ash passed Brock, Dawn, Buneary, Vulpix, and Ash's other pokemon.
Ash led them towards the exit of the stadium.
"... You don't care about Pokemon….."
Paul was left in that cold stadium. He didn't get up.
He laid there on his back, thinking about Ash's words. He was taking them to heart.
Paul was weighing his decision.
Then an odd desire appeared in his heart.
…. He now had the desire….
….. To be like Ash and his Pikachu….