Having a lot of fun writing this one, but may be a while before I can post the next one.
The sun rested high above the sky shining throughout the plains of Pallet Town, with the group from Alola preparing themselves for the day ahead of them in the Ketchum household. Having stayed the night before in a giant sleepover while Anabel went back to her own dwelling, as she was unprepared for a sudden sleepover and wanted to get a few things ready for the next day.
Meanwhile, Kukui and Principal Oak were busy calling all the parents back home to let them know of the sudden changes and possible extension of the trip. With many of the parents cheerfully agreed as long as the students were returned by the end of the school week. The news being a huge boost in morale for the students who wanted to see as much as they could before going back to their respective homes.
After a big hearty lunch generously given by Ash's mother, the gang prepared themselves to head out of the Ketchum household with Anabel already waiting in front. Sporting a simple purple T-shirt that matched her hair and eyes along with a pair of brown cargo pants.
The only one they were waiting for was Ash, who said he wanted to change before they headed out. Though they didn't have to wait for long as he finally made it out of the house with the familiar sight of Pikachu on his shoulder. Yet wearing a different set of clothing that they weren't used to seeing.
A pair of black jeans fitted him instead of the capri pants he wore in Alola, along with a shirt that looked very similar to the one Anabel wore yesterday complete with the sharp collar. Except this one was more fitted for his build and was more like a regular shirt to fit his lifestyle, with a dark navy blue being where the purple was on Anabel's.
But the thing that stood out to them the most was the several symbols embedded into the upper torso part of his shirt. A design that went over the head of most of the Alolans, but not to the people who were there to see him join the Battle Frontier. As the symbols were the ones found on the hats he wore whenever he went to a region, from Kanto to the recently added Kalos. All placed in an arch on his upper torso where his heart was, a way to show that he kept the adventures he had in mind whenever he was on the battlefield.
Though while the rest of his wardrobe may have changed, he still had the cap he wore in Alola on his head.
Ash noticed their gazes and smirked with a knowing look as he puffed his chest out in pride, "If I'm going to be going against a challenger, I need to look my absolute best!" he declared as Pikachu mimicked the posture on his shoulder with a cheerful cry.
Anabel and Delia looked on in amusement and pride at his honest declaration while Brock and Misty looked at it with mirth and nostalgia, remembering their own journeys with Ash after seeing the symbols embedded on the shirt.
"I must say that it suits you well," Kukui added in his own two cents as he was the most used to seeing Ash in more disheveled states, namely Saturday mornings.
"Profile Updated," Rotom said as he snapped a couple of pictures of the new outfit.
Ash was amused by their awed expressions due to his outfit change but did a brief double-take at the sight of his mother joining the group as well.
"Are you coming too mom?"
"Of course!" Delia said with a smile as she shut and locked the door behind her, "It's been a while since I've seen you battle an opponent as a frontier Brain. I kind of want to see how much you improved."
"Alright!" Ash cheered in excitement as Pikachu did the same, "Let's get going!"
His classmates shared his excitement as Ash led the way with Anabel walking right beside him, the group walking down the dirt-paved road and away from the Ketchum household.
Yet as they continued to move onwards the Alolans were slowly puzzled, as the path they were walking on happened to be the direction where Professor's Oak lab was.
Unfamiliar with the Frontier, the group was confused about why they were heading this way seeing how they didn't see any buildings in sight other than the occasional houses that were spread across the plains when they came the day prior. With Kukui asking about the location of Ash's facility seeing how he was the most familiar with the topic of the Battle Frontier and how they operated.
"Ah, that would be because it is behind the lab," Anabel happily supplied as they walked towards the direction of the laboratory, "a ten-to-fifteen-minute walk into the forest to be precise."
The Alolans blinked in confusion at the odd placement of the facility, thinking that a place would at least be in some sort of building or large arena given Ash's taste in battles.
"In the woods? Not that I'm questioning your choice seeing that I haven't seen it yet, but wouldn't it be better inside a building?" Kiawe asked.
"It's not that odd," Anabel shrugged, "Scott lets us design our facilities however we see fit. No matter how weird or outrageous it may seem to others."
"I still don't know how they managed to make the Battle Pyramid without anyone knowing about it," Brock added his own two cents into the conversation with a shake of his head.
Ash also shrugged before a slight smile formed on his face, recalling his own area with fondness and an extra pep in his step.
"I knew that I would be traveling a lot, so I really wanted to make something that would benefit my Pokémon more than me when it came to the facility. Plus, I think it really makes for some awesome battles. Right Pikachu?"
"Pikachu!" the mouse cheered in agreement.
"Who's Scott?" Sophocles asked seeing that someone new was mentioned.
"He is the founder of the Battle Frontier for the Kanto branch," Anabel explained with a slight shake of her head in amusement, "I don't know how he manages to operate this and some of the other businesses he owns, but I stopped questioning his lifestyle and methods a long time ago."
The information about the arena and the mysterious owner only made the students more excited to see what this organization had to offer. Even going as far as to ask for hints of what Ash's facility will look like, yet was met with a surprisingly stubborn Ash refusing to spoil anything until they saw the place for themselves. Making the others wonder what sort of area Ash could come up with while discussing their own thoughts and ideas about what they may see in the facility.
Anabel smiled at their positivity as the Alolans walked ahead, as it was nice to get some feedback on the Battle Frontier from others. Though this allowed her and Ash a rare moment of peace that made the young man aware of a small detail about his girlfriend.
"Hey, your hair is longer."
Anabel jumped a bit at the sudden observation from the usually distracted Ash and turned to see his brown eyes giving a warm and inquisitive stare alongside Pikachu who sat on his shoulder. Making her hold the end of it in surprise since it wasn't that long since she last saw him, the hair reaching the back of her neck and nearly reaching her shoulders.
But it was still nice that he noticed.
"Y-Yes, I thought about growing it out to try something new," a now self-conscious Anabel looked on nervously, "Do... you like it?"
"Yeah! It looks great!" Ash said with a beaming smile and a look of amazement that was focused on her hair, "You should let it grow out more!"
Anabel blushed while sporting a shameless grin on her face, always delighted when Ash threw a compliment her way. With Ash looking at the expression a chuckle of his own as a red hue took on his own face.
"Now Anabel, you shouldn't let Ash influence your hairstyle," his mother playfully chided at the side hearing the conversation, "Heaven knows I can never comb that untamed hair of his no matter how hard I try."
A snort managed to escape her lips as Ash gave an embarrassed shout to his mother, the lilac-haired girl covering her mouth with her hand as soft giggles managed to escape. Making Ash grin despite the embarrassment put on him by his mother at the moment. Chuckling along with her while smiling, happy to spend this time with her now that he was able to visit.
As the last of her laughter faded away, she idly caressed the extended part of her hair while wondering what she would look like if she let it grow. A small smile managed to break through as she recalled the sight of his adoration and fascination with her hair.
By now the group managed to finally make it up the steps to the entrance of Professor Oak's lab. The door opened to a surprised Tracey, who blinked at the sheer number of people at the door but nonetheless welcomed them in with a smile.
"Hello Ash, the professor told me you were coming today. Got another challenger coming?"
"You bet! I'm so stoked to see who it is!" Ash cheerfully shouted while the rest followed inside Professor Oak's lab. Though before they could ask where they should start heading next, Ash headed over to the computer where Professor Oak was working.
"Ah Ash, you finally arrived," he said before pulling up the information of his captures and Pokémon, "What three are you going to use for the challenger?"
Ash crossed his arms and hummed as he thought about who he should use, not knowing who the opponent is or what type of Pokémon they will have when they show. Though he eventually shook his head and as always, went with his gut and thought of the three that he wanted.
A quick glance over his shoulder and saw the others watching their interaction closely, obviously curious about what Pokémon he would choose. Making him smirk and whisper his choices to the region's professor as he wanted to keep his choices a surprise.
"Those are good choices; they've been wanting to battle recently," the professor commented with a smile as he went to get their Poke balls much to the disappointment of the others around him.
Pikachu watched closely as the professor deposited three poke balls into the young man's hands, making the electric type furrow his brow for a moment before his eyes widened at the realization that Ash wasn't going to use him for this upcoming battle.
"PIKA?!"
Ash jumped at the outcry from the electric type on his shoulder, making him flinch at the shocked and betrayed expression of his most trusted partner.
"S-Sorry buddy, but I wanted to give someone else a try battling seeing that you are with me in Alola."
While Pikachu understood where his trainer was coming from, that didn't mean he was happy with the decision. Slumping over on his shoulder in disappointment as a displeased pout was made onto his face. An act that made Anabel pet the electric type on the back in a show of comfort while Ash chuckled sheepishly.
With his Pokémon already chosen for the battle, Oak opened the back door to his lab and gestured for everyone to exit out the back, with the others doing so with only a bit of hesitation before Ash looked back at the lab with a frown.
"Wait you aren't going with us?"
"Don't you worry Ash," the professor chuckled as his concern, "Tracy will join you once Scott comes with the challenger as I have a list of responsibilities to complete."
Ash nodded in understanding before leaving to let the door shut behind him, knowing the busy life of a professor if his stay with Kukui were any indication.
Looking ahead of him, he saw the enormous group of people in front of him walking into the dirt path road that led into the forest. With his Alola friends, Professor Kukui, Brock, Misty, Principal Oak, and even his mother looking around the forest with a sense of excitement.
He grew a bit nervous at the thought of so many people watching him battle, but the fact that he was going to battle the challenger that afternoon drove those worries away. Looking ahead with a grin on his face before being stopped by Anabel, who grabbed onto his wrist and was looking at him with concern.
"Hey Ash, I didn't get to ask earlier seeing that we were talking to your friends, but are you ok?"
He blinked alongside Pikachu at the sudden question much like the curveball she threw at him yesterday. Yet knew that this one was much more serious given the worried look in her eyes compared to the curious one she gave him yesterday.
"Yeah, I'm doing fine," he said a bit too joyfully, "Alola is so much fun! I'm learning so much about the region and meeting so many new Pokémon! Why wouldn't I be ok?"
"Ash, you know that's not what I meant."
He winced at the slight frustration leaking through her voice and finally locked eyes at the stern and concerned look that she was giving him. Realizing why she might have said it while tampering down his excitement enough to give him an honest and sincere answer.
"Anabel, I'm fine," grabbing her hand in a rare moment of tenderness while locking eyes, "Really, I mean it."
She kept her eyes locked on him before dropping the matter seeing the confident reassurance, facing forward once more as a sigh of relief managed to escape her lips. But she couldn't help herself from making sure after everything that he went through so far.
After joining the Battle Frontier, he went on to travel throughout Unova as a means of continuing his goal of becoming a Pokémon master. Which was something that she was lucky to be a part of as it was a rare time that she had a free schedule from her duties in the Battle Tower. Though while Ash never said anything during the journey, she knew that he felt pressure about winning the league seeing that he was a newly appointed Frontier Brain. Wanting to prove to them that he had what it took to earn his spot.
After that, he was so focused on winning when he went to travel with Kalos that he almost lost sight of the important things around him. A fact that she pointed out to him when he came to visit for another upcoming challenger, but was only driven into his head with the help of Serena. A fact that Anabel learned when she went to see him in the Kalos league.
Now during his trip to Alola, he was much more relaxed about the way he interacted with his Pokémon while looking much more confident in his abilities as a trainer while learning about the world around him. It brought a smile onto her face seeing how happy he was right now, even if there was an absence of a league.
She looked on with fondness before nudging his side with her elbow, knocking him out of his stupor as she walked ahead of him with a cheeky smile.
"Come on, you are supposed to be leading the way, aren't you?"
Ash looked on in surprise before a grin made its way onto his face, pushing ahead toward the front of the group alongside Anabel and smiling at the sounds of Pokémon that surrounded the area. Feeling connected to them even if he couldn't see any of them at the moment, with many of the others feeling the same.
Well... almost everyone.
"C-Can't we pick up the pace a little?" Misty shuddered while anxiously looking at the forest around her, "I forgot that your area was in a place filled with b-b-bugs..."
Ash and Brock sweatdropped at the reminder of Misty's fear of bugs, having momentarily forgotten about it over the excitement of facing a new challenger. Ash turned over his shoulder to try and reassure his friend who was shuddering and grimacing every so often when a bug-type was seen or heard.
"Come on Misty, it's only a ten-minute walk. Surely you can bear it until then?"
Given the scowl that she was currently giving him, he only could chuckle sheepishly before facing forward once more sweating bullets. Knowing not to set her off after traveling with her through Kanto and Johto while making him unsure of what to talk about as the group made their way deeper into the forest. Thankfully for him though, he was saved by Kiawe who wanted to know more about the illusive group that Ash was able to join.
"If I recall correctly you said that there were eight different Brains that were part of the Battle Frontier, right?"
"That's right," Anabel supplied with a nod while ignoring the sigh of relief from Ash.
"Then if you don't mind me asking, what are your rankings?"
The group looked on in interest, wanting to know where they stood in this field that many of them had never seen before. Kukui taking his gaze away from the surrounding wilderness to focus on the conversation at the mention of Ash.
"I'm actually the 7th right now," Ash cheerfully explained much to the shock of the others around him, "When I first started off I was 6th right before Anabel. But after my trip to Unova, they decided to put me in 7th after seeing how well I performed in the league."
(Note: In this AU, Ash was in the finals but lost.)
Anabel opened her mouth to correct his statement, only to close it abruptly before looking off to the side with pursed lips. Not wanting to spoil Ash's humble statement with her own inquiries about her boyfriend's current rank. Though the act was not lost on Brock and Kukui who narrowed their eyes in confusion, the former gym leader looked between them in slight concern.
"You're 7th?! I didn't know you went up a spot!" an unaware Misty said with shock, unhappy that she was only finding this out now.
Ash winced again at the fact that he once again kept someone out of the loop, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly as Pikachu gave his own apologies on his shoulder. Much to the amusement of his new Alolan friends, though that did make Mallow curious about his past adventure.
"You traveled to Unova?"
"Yeah! Anabel went with me too!" Ash said with a bright smile as he recalled all the adventures they had in that region, "You will see some of my Pokémon from there when we get to my area!"
At that the Lilac-haired girl shook out of her flustered state, looking back on that adventure with fond memories even if there were some less-than-stellar moments sprinkled throughout the journey.
"It was a lot of fun traveling again on a journey," she mused with a smile, "maybe I should do it more often whenever I have the time."
"You totally should!" Ash said with a beaming smile that Pikachu mimicked on his shoulder, "You should take a day off and come to Alola! There are so many things to see and do that I'm sure you will love it!"
"Pika-Pika!"
"I'll keep that in mind," Anabel said with a laugh that made the grin on Ash's face spread out in joy.
While the others looked at the sense with a sense of fondness and awe at the closeness of their relationship. Some couldn't help but question how this relationship came to be, seeing how Ash never mentioned his relationship when he came to Alola and the type of person he was. Making Lillie step forward with only a moment of hesitation before tapping Ash on the shoulder.
"Um... Excuse me," the timid girl drew the attention of Ash and Anabel, who turned towards the blonde with a raised eyebrow.
It was no secret to everyone there that Lillie was a sheltered girl, only viewing the world using books and research until she started going to the Pokémon School. This also involved the topic of romance, which involved numerous stories and magazines of people falling for one another. So naturally, she was curious how her overzealous friend and classmate got together with Anabel, who seemed much more polite and refined.
"I was just wondering how you guys got together," Lillie asked as her face turned bright red at her blunt questioning, not meaning to offend them as she anxiously waved her hands in front of her, "N-Not that there's anything wrong with that! I was just curious seeing how Ash can be a bit..."
"Hyperactive?"
"Overexcited?"
"Kind of spacey?"
Ash grumbled at his friends' description of him while feeling the tips of his ears burn, not helped by the sound of Anabel's laughter as she tried to cover it with her hand while looking at him with mirth no matter how nice or pretty it sounded. The adults weren't doing much better, with even Pikachu cackling up a storm to the point that Ash had to catch him before he hit the ground, though his companion was still laughing in his hands much to his dismay.
Once Anabel finally managed to calm her laughing fit a bit, she looked over to Ash who was pouting and looking off to the side fuming over their jabs and teases. Her gaze turning softer and fond as she recalled all the fun they had together over the years.
"While Ash may seem like the type of person to not pay attention to the world around him unless it involved Pokémon or battling. He can be quite attentive and caring when he really puts his mind to it," she started off with a smile while ignoring the indignant grumble from Ash, "It was something that I noticed when he first challenged the Frontier. The way he interacted with his Pokémon was so much like mine that I couldn't help but be drawn toward him."
Ash's face softened as a small smile started to form and the red on his face took on a whole new meaning, sharing a glance with Anabel to see her staring right at him with a loving and caring gaze.
"And as we started to train together for his initiation into the Battle Frontier, that feeling only started to grow more and more. And even if we didn't get there right away, I was more than happy when I found out that Ash felt the same way towards me."
Ash returned the caring look that Anabel was giving him, ignoring the looks that many of the others were giving them as they focused on each other.
Even if the Alolans only met Anabel yesterday, they could tell that she cared an awful lot about Ash by how deep her affection was for him. A feat they never would've guessed given how dense or hyper he may seem at times. Yet the look that their friend gave towards the girl dispelled any of those doubts that their friend was unknowledge of romance.
While the others looked on in amazement at the depth of their relationship, Lana looked away from the scene for a moment after seeing something enter her field of vision. Squinting at it from a distance with curiosity and intrigue.
"Hey, what's that?"
The question asked by water-loving Alolan made everyone look up to see a fenced-off area made of wooden planks that made Ash and Anabel perk up in excitement. The young man charging ahead of the group with an excited Pikachu on his shoulder as Anabel followed along. The girl not caught off guard at all as she laughed along at his enthusiasm, used to this kind of behavior after traveling and being together for almost three years now.
The group watched as Ash, Anabel, and Pikachu looked over the wooden railing that had a large wooden overhead with large smiles. A golden circle in the middle of the wooden arch with a heart embedded in the center, reminding Kiawe of the family ranch from back home. Yet the sight that lay beyond the wooden fencing was nothing like his home in Alola.
Just beyond the fence was a large grassy plain similar to the one they saw yesterday on Professor Oak's property, allowing plenty of space for Pokémon to run and play. Yet just a couple of hundred feet beyond those plains were different battle areas built just further in, each having a variety of different terrains and Pokémon training with one another.
One such field was a large lake, with numerous platforms of rock scattered throughout the water for any land-based Pokémon to stand on as well as two platforms at the ends where the trainers would presumably stand during a battle. At the moment, a weasel and an otter were sparring with one another by shooting blasts of water from their mouths. Diving into the water for a second and jumping out to clash with a glowing fist from the weasel and a blue blade from the Otter's seashell. Before going back to dodging each other's attacks with a determined focus while other water-type Pokémon cheered on from the sidelines, making Lana's eyes sparkle at the sight of the water-based fight and arena.
Another was a rock-based battlefield that left very little cover except for the occasional cliffs and mounds scattered throughout. With Infernape sparring and exchanging blows with Hawlucha, their glowing fists colliding with one another and dodging their opponents' attacks with slight fast-paced movements in their posture. A Scraggy looking at the spar with a determined gaze while throwing faux punches of his own while a Noivern looking on from the side with encouragement.
Another was a grassy plain similar to the ones found in Professor's Oak lab and the one near the entrance, but this one had clear lines drawn to show the boundaries where the trainers and the Pokémon would stand. Along with a beautiful field of flowers that grew just on the borders of the area. It was being used by the grass types who soaked up the sunlight with content looks on their faces.
Another was a flat area made of the type of flooring that was usually found indoors, leaving no clear advantages for either side and tested a person's abilities to battle to the absolute limit. At the moment there wasn't anyone using it for sparring, so it was left empty.
All of them had amazing features that made battling an interesting scene to witness, with ample seating in each for any visitors to see.
Most of Ash's Pokémon were watching from the sidelines where spares were taking place or in the plains, from the ferocious Charizard to the small and absentminded Gibble. Occasionally commenting on the spars and battles with each other while wondering when their trainer was supposed to arrive.
Before they could comment on the amazing field in front of them, the group of visitors had to brace themselves and close their eyes as four fleeting figures suddenly streamed by their faces. Picking up a large gust of wind that made Lille, Ash, and Kukui hold on to their hats as five bird-like creatures pulled up from the ground. One of them suddenly encased itself in flames as the others glowed bright white in an attempt to match their opponent's speed, zooming through the skies at a rate that made it hard to follow as they clashed with one another.
Ash grinned at the sight of his Pokémon training alongside one another and hanging out, glad to see them in action even if he wasn't there to train them. Letting go of Anabel's hand and sprinting ahead of the group with excitement that Pikachu copied on his shoulder, happy to see their friends once more.
"Hey you guys!"
"Pika-Pika!"
As one, the numerous different creatures paused and looked over to see their trainer heading towards them. Making some abandon their training while others got up from their resting spots to charge toward him with their own excitement and joy as they picked up dust under their trampling feet that made Ash smile wide, happy to see his friends after so long.
Pikachu jumped off his shoulder just as he was tackled by Bayleaf, who had sprinted ahead of the group wanting to be the first to cuddle against her trainer before anyone else. Doing so with a large smile on her face while rubbing the teen's face in complete bliss.
"It's good to see you too Bayleaf," Ash said with a laugh.
"Bay..."
The sounds of the stomping feet suddenly halting in front made him look up from the cuddling grass type, the sight of his companions from his journeys filling his heart with joy. Everyone from his beginning in Kanto to his most recent adventure in Kalos.
"Hey everyone, how are you guys doing?"
The response was unanimous as each of them let out a cheerful cry into the air while some of them let loose a powerful attack into the air, the most notable being a Charizard and Infernape with their flamethrower.
Anabel walked over to them with a large smile on her face as well, happy to see how well they were doing despite being away from their trainer for some time. Already feeling the love and adoration in each of their faces as they looked on.
"Hello everyone, it's nice to see you all again."
As one, the group of Pokémon then turned towards Anabel with a cheerful cry, having been used to her presence given the time they spent training for the Battle Frontier and the relationship she had with their trainer. Bringing her into the center until she was pressed against Ash and started to nudge and cuddle her as well. An act that made Anabel laugh in delight and filled Ash's heart with glee seeing all of them getting along.
"Wow Ash, these are all your Pokémon?"
Finally turning his attention away from the massive pile, he turned along with Anabel and his Pokémon to see his friends looking at him in astonishment and awe. Even Professor Kukui looked on in surprise at the amount of Pokémon he had, though Ash noticed that Lillie stayed in the back of the group with his mother with an anxious expression.
"Yeah! These guys have been with me all throughout my journey!" Ash managed to say as he got out of the pile, much to his captures' disappointment, "You guys can let yours out too. There's plenty of space for them!"
Not seeing anything wrong with the statement, the students tossed their Poke balls into the air which made numerous flashes appear on the ground, their Alolan Pokémon coming into sight while letting out a cheer in greeting.
"Oh yeah, you guys come on out too!"
Ash tossed his own captures from Alola out that materialized on the ground with a cheer of their own. Every one of Ash's Pokémon greeted the new arrivals with joy and interest, seeing different variations that they weren't used to seeing as well as Ash's members from Alola. Such as Lycanroc barking excitedly to Ash's Boldore while Turtonator, Marowak, and Litten chatted with the various fire types. Kiawe's Charizard sharing a nod in respect towards Ash's, already feeling the difference in power as members of the same species. Ash's bird-like Pokémon only sweatdropped as Rowlet came to introduce himself only to immediately fall asleep with a snore.
Anabel also released one of her own when Ash made the announcement, an Espeon appearing on the ground and looking around for a moment before spotting Pikachu on Ash's shoulder, who looked on with joy at seeing their friend again.
"Pika!"
Ash and Anabel looked on with amused and fond expressions as Pikachu and Espeon cheerfully called at one another. Catching up after being together after being apart for so long before chasing each other around the field much to the dismay of Togedemaru, who let out a pout seeing the interaction.
"Hey Anabel, I didn't know you brought Espeon along."
Anabel chuckled when Espeon managed to catch up to Pikachu, tackling him onto the ground with a mocking look of superiority that Pikachu rolled his eyes to. Before getting back on their feet to start a whole new game.
"When I told her that you were back in town, she insisted on coming along to see Pikachu again."
Ash nodded along with a laugh before taking a look at everyone and smiling at all the interaction going on between one another, happy to see everyone getting along for the most part. Though they weren't prepared for what happened next.
"Osha!"
The group turned to see the otter-like creature they saw battling earlier gathering a bunch of flowers and hurried towards Steene with hearts in his eyes. A bright red hue on his face as he cheerfully called towards her before getting down on one knee, an act that made the Alolan grass type take a step back in surprise. Unsure what to do with this sudden declaration of love from the Unova water starter.
"Oh man... not again."
"Pika..."
While Ash and Pikachu let out an exasperated sigh, Anabel could only shake her head fondly at the display after seeing it numerous times during her travels with Ash in Unova as others around her started to sweat nervously.
Suddenly a small green bipedal-like creature with sharp eyes broke away from the pack and headed towards the love-struck water type with annoyance. Already used to dealing with this type of problem all the time when she was in Unova as she slammed a vine on the top of the otter's head and made him faint instantly. A big lump already started to form before dragging Oshawott off to the side with a huff.
"Huh, kind of reminds me of someone..." Misty said with a smirk as she and Ash slyly looked toward Brock. Who pointily coughed in his hand and turned away from the scene and pretended to admire the vast forest around him.
"Hey, I've never seen that one before," Mallow pointed out with interest.
"Beep Beep. That's my cue." the Alola Pokédex said with a smile on the screen before turning around to display the creature they just saw, "Snivy, the grass snake Pokémon, a grass type. Snivy uses the large leaf on its tail for photosynthesis. And being exposed to sunlight makes its movements swifter."
"It's also one of the starter Pokémon trainers can get in Unova," Kukui added while looking at the grass type's antics in amusement.
"Thanks again Snivy!" Mallow cheerfully called out while Steene gave her own hesitant thanks as well.
Anabel laughed, "Yeah, you were always the one to keep a close eye on him."
The Unova starter paused in her departure to look at Anabel with a slight hint of surprise, before abruptly turning her head away in a huff as a slight red hue formed on her face. Much to the amusement of Ash's Pokémon and Anabel.
Kukui always smiled at how well this day turned out to be so far, with the students even being able to learn some things from other regions thanks to the slight change in plans. Though he was curious about how the battlefield was chosen given the several options available.
"So Ash, how do you choose which field to use when the time comes? I mean, there are a couple to choose from."
"Oh that's easy, I just let the challenger choose," Ash answered without missing a beat as he went back to talking with his Pokémon.
Anabel could almost feel the incredulous looks everyone was giving him, with Brock and Misty looking at him with resigned amusement as they already knew the conditions whenever they first met him as a new Frontier Brain.
"Wait, you let the challengers choose the battlefield?!" Kiawe asked in shock.
"Yeah," Ash said while petting the head of a Totodile, "It's a lot more fun that way, isn't it?"
Ash continued to talk to his Pokemon, not aware of the confusion he caused around him. Wondering why on earth he would give the opponent the advantage in any scenario while Anabel chuckled at their expressions.
She didn't know why they were so surprised, since that was just the way Ash was when it came to battling. Not focusing on strategies for the most part, but rather on his connection with his Pokémon to pull off various moves and concepts that would leave a normal trainer stumped.
"Now come on! I want to show you all of the battlefields up close!"
Ash continued on without here the response of the others, his Pokémon following closely behind.
"Talk about an ONIX-pected surprise!" Principal Oak exclaimed with a joyful laugh, enjoying the unexpected twists that came from his student. Taking the surprises in stride as he went on to take a look at the battlefields that this Frontier Brain offered, with the rest of the gang catching up after getting over their momentary surprise.
Ash explained each arena that was on display to the best of his ability, with his Pokémon occasionally demonstrating each of their arenas with the use of the movements and moves. Such as the agile water types swimming through the water-based arena with ease along with a joyful Popplio, who joined in after seeing how fun it looked.
The rock-style arena was mostly used for Ash's rock and fighting types, who spared against one another or with the terrain. Increasing their strength by hitting various boulders and cliffs or by increasing their reaction time with others. Kiawe's Marowak seemed especially eager to try it out after seeing Infernape demonstrate his power on a boulder, which he easily broke in half with a Mach Punch.
The grassy plains battlefield didn't seem to have as much of an advantage, but it was well maintained by the various grass types. With the corners and edges littered with beautiful flowers of many shapes and sizes now that they can see it up close.
The last one they saw was the standard battlefield, which Ash explained was the one that offered the least number of benefits for either competitor.
Everyone was amazed by the various stages available for battle, looking at each question in awe while asking Ash and Anabel questions about how it got built. Which the couple happily answered to the best of their ability.
Ash thought he did a pretty good job showcasing the area to his class. Which was a relief, since he didn't get the opportunity to do it a whole lot and was a bit worried that he would screw it up. Though that did make him aware of the amount of time that has passed since they arrived, and the challenger still hasn't shown up yet. Turning to Anabel with a confused frown and slight impatience.
"Hey Anabel, when was the challenger supposed to get here?"
Anabel frowned while also making a note of the time, seeing that a bit of time had passed and Scott still hadn't shown up with the challenger.
"They didn't really say when they would show up now that I think about it, only that they would show up sometime in the afternoon."
She winced at how Ash deflated and the disappointed looks the others made, not liking to be the bearer of bad news after changing so much of their schedule already. Frowning to herself in frustration as she tried to find a way to make it up to Ash and his friends.
Though that made her sight drift towards Pikachu and Espeon, who had long stopped playing with each other and were watching their trainers curiously seeing their faces. Making Anabel smile as Espeon perked up a bit in excitement, having an idea what her trainer was thinking.
"Hey Ash, how about you and I have a battle?"
She watched him blink in confusion before the look changed to surprise, turning to stare at her in awe while a slight glimmer of excitement started to bleed through his eyes. Making her smile as she continued to sweeten the offer with a sly smile.
"I was thinking that since Pikachu wasn't going to battle the challenger this time, he can battle Espeon. She was looking forward to sparring with him after being apart for a while, and I think we can show your friends a battle between Frontier Brains."
The group perked up at the statement from Anabel, even more so when Ash and Pikachu looked more than ready to battle. The two sharing the same eager grin with each other before turning back towards the lilac-haired girl.
"All right!" Ash cheered in excitement with Pikachu letting out his own cheerful cry, "You got yourself a deal! I love battling with you Anabel!"
Ash was fully aware of what he was saying and didn't regret a single word even as a slight blush made its way onto his face. Anabel shared his excitement while her own face took on a slight hue as well, looking at each other with fondness and adoration.
Delia rested a hand on her cheek as she smiled fondly at the interaction, proud at how far the two had come along since they first started dating one another. Though that didn't stop Ash from cheerfully grabbing her hand and leading her off towards the flat and empty battlefield in front of them, with her laughing at his enthusiasm once more as Pikachu and Espeon followed closely behind with their own delighted cries.
"Doesn't she ever get tired of getting dragged around?" Mallow wondered with a mirthful look knowing how hyperactive Ash can get at times. Yet was caught off guard at the sound of Delia's laughter and the fond, exasperated look on Brock's and Misty's faces that drew everyone's attention.
"Nah, that's just how Ash is. Always excited to see the next thing or challenger. I guess it was only a matter of time before Anabel followed along," Brock mused with a smirk seeing the pair give each other a fist bump and wearing matching grins on their faces before making their way towards opposite ends of the battlefield.
"And she was so much calmer when I met her too..." Misty added in with a wistful sigh, yet still had a smile on her face seeing her two friends so happy.
The Cerulean gym leader had long since buried the hatchet with Anabel when it came to her feelings over Ash, having discussed them when she eventually found out about their relationship. Looking back at the bittersweet memory, she couldn't help but recall the ache in her heart and the painful conversations that she had to have with Ash, Anabel, and even Brock.
Though once Ash told her that he didn't feel the same way and had some time to reflect, she truly saw how happy Ash was with Anabel. Giving the lilac-haired girl looks and glances that he never gave her or any other girl as far as she could tell and from what Brock told her on their travels through Hoenn and Sinnoh. Making moving on from her crush more bearable, as Misty truly believed that they were meant for each other.
"Guys! Are you coming over or what?"
The group looked up to see Ash and Anabel pause in their preparation to look over the group in confusion, wondering why they were still standing around. Making them shake from their momentary stupor as they head towards them with excitement and curiosity, wondering what a battle between two Frontier Brains would look like.
Anabel crouched down a bit to talk to Espeon while Ash stretched himself with Pikachu to prepare for this upcoming battle. Both trainers looking forward to battling each other after being apart for some time as the others looked on from the sidelines.
"I saw a battle between two Frontier Brains before. I wonder who would win," Lillie wondered.
"Ash did say he was higher than her in rankings," Mallow stated with a furrowed brow.
"Ash is pretty strong, but we don't know how Anabel battles at all to say a definitive answer," Sophocles added his own two cents into the conversation.
"One thing is for sure; you can count on them not to Slakoth!" the principal replied with a dopey expression on his face, much to the exasperation of the students.
While Kukui rolled his eyes at the pun, he couldn't help but agree with the statements of his students or the principal. Finding himself surprisingly eager to see what kind of strategies or moves these two can pull in a one-on-one battle.
"Pikachu, I choose you!" Ash exclaimed while trading a fist pump to his faithful friend, who quickly got onto the battlefield on all fours with an eager grin and cheeks sparking with electricity.
"Espeon, my friend!"
The Eevee evolution darted ahead until she too was on the battlefield, an eager look in her eyes as she carefully watched Pikachu's movements.
"I will oversee the battle," Misty said while standing ahead of the group to keep a close eye on the two competing, "The battle is a One-on-One between Anabel and Ash, with the battle ending after one of their Pokémon are unable to continue."
Ash clenched his fists and anticipation while grinning at Anabel, who shared her own eagerness in her eyes as she smiled back at him. The two nodded in synch at Misty's rules as the orange-haired girl nodded in understanding, throwing an arm down as one would do for a performance or race.
"Battle Begin!"
"Alright Pikachu, let's start off with a quick attack!"
With a mighty cry, the electric mouse was covered in a white glow before darting off toward Espeon at high speeds. A determined focus was on his face as he charged in while keeping the opponent in his sights.
'Charging in once again Ash?' Anabel thought with a slight smirk before focusing her attention on her opponent, 'Espeon, please use quick attack as well.'
The psychic-type was also covered in the same white glow before darting forward to collide with Pikachu, their heads ramming into each other before being sent backward and skidding across the ground on all fours with gritted teeth.
'Don't let him rest! Use Iron Tail!'
Espeon managed to regain her bearings first and rapidly darted towards Pikachu as soon as the command was made, catching both Ash and the mouse off guard as the psychic struck her opponent's side with a hardened tail. Flinging Pikachu off to the side with a startled cry.
"Pikachu!" Ash cried out in worry.
The group was surprised that Anabel was able to land the first hit, since as far as they could tell Ash was always the one that made first contact whenever he battles an opponent, even if they managed to block it. Though one of them noticed something odd about the way Anabel battled, something that caught him off guard.
"Hey, Anabel didn't even call out a move. Did Espeon start before she had a chance to speak?" Kiawe asked in confusion seeing that Anabel didn't give a vocal command and seeing the collision.
Brock chuckled knowing that they were going to be stumped again, looking at the others with a mirthful chuckle that also got Delia giggling.
"No, that's just the way she operates. She's just so connected with her Pokémon that she's somehow able to convey her attacks with mere thoughts. Even she doesn't fully understand how she can do it sometimes," Brock said with amusement as he kept his eyes on the battle.
The others stared in amazement at Anabel's deep connection to her Pokémon, fully witnessing the full scope of the Battle frontier along with the vast set of abilities and strategies. Though that did make them worry about how their friend is supposed to counter an opponent who doesn't say what they are doing.
"Oh man! How is anyone able to compete against that!?" Sophocles cried out in shock.
"Will Ash be ok?" Lana couldn't help but voice out her concerns seeing such an unusual battling style while holding Popplio in her lap.
"Now guys, Ash probably battled her numerous times at this point. Not to mention that he already beat her once before given that he is a Frontier Brain himself," Kukui looked over briefly to his students seeing their distress but quickly refocused on the battle ahead, wanting to see how Ash reacted to this type of opponent.
All the students nodded uneasily while their Pokémon partners cheered at the battle in front of them, taking in this next experience as Ash's Pokémon also cheered them both on from beside them.
'Alright Espeon, use Zap Cannon!'
A large orb of electricity was formed from the head of Espeon and quickly launched towards Pikachu with a shout, the massive electric sphere heading towards the mouse.
"Dodge it!" Ash shouted with a grin as he clenched his fists in excitement and anticipation.
"Pika!"
The electric rodent used his tail as a makeshift spring, leaping high into the air as the attack harmlessly passed below him. Creating a large explosion behind Ash that shocked everyone who was watching at the amount of power the Espeon demonstrated.
"Now Electro Ball!" Ash cried while punching a fist out.
Pikachu's twirled in the air while electricity started to build on its body, his fur bristling with the voltage as his tail started to form a sphere of static at the end. Before shooting off the attack towards Espeon with a flick of his tail.
Anabel cursed internally knowing that Espeon wouldn't have time to dodge, 'Espeon, please bear it!'
The psychic gritted her teeth as the attack made contact, the electricity coursed through her body while keeping an eye on her opponent as Pikachu landed across the battlefield awaiting the next order from Ash.
"Alright Pikachu, Iron Tail!"
Leaping towards Espeon once more with a battle cry, his tail hardened like steel before Twisting his lower half as he neared Espeon to get a bit of momentum. Who finally felt the last of the electricity leave her system.
'Get ready for it and use psychic!'
With a shout of confirmation, purple eyes glowed bright blue while carefully watching her opponent as he quickly approached her face. Getting a hold of Pikachu just as the tail was about to make contact, suddenly stopping inches away from her face as a blue aura surrounding the mouse made him and Ash cry out in surprise.
'Now throw him back!'
Following her trainer's orders, Pikachu was suddenly flung back towards Ash with a startled cry once more. Tumbling along the ground a bit before getting on all fours, a bit of dirt and scrapes on his fur and body from the barrage.
Ash narrowed his eyes the slightest as he carefully watched his opponent, searching along the field as Pikachu panted slightly. Before a sudden, familiar gleam appeared in his eyes, a trait that let Anabel and Kukui that a plan was made.
"Pikachu! Let's make sure she can't get a read on us. Use quick attack to charge ahead!"
"Pika!"
Anabel watched the mouse's face share the same eager grin with his trainer even as he shouted in confirmation without turning back. Trusting Ash completely as he charged ahead with the same attack from before. Yet Anabel could see that he was much faster, nearly becoming a blur on the field that made her hesitate for a moment. Ash somehow was able to follow where his partner was with narrowed eyes while Anabel frantically searched the area for the electric type.
'Espeon! Please jump up!'
The Eevee evolution leaped into the air at her trainer's command, who wanted the psychic type to be safe from the unseen opponent as she regained her bearing. Yet was caught off guard when Pikachu suddenly appeared on the field once more, sporting a grin that matched Ash's to a tee.
"Now! Pikachu! Iron tail when she lands!"
"Pika!"
Kukui was in awe at the quick thinking from Ash who now shifted the pace of the battle in his favor. As it was only then that Anabel realized that she played right into her boyfriend's hands with Espeon being unable to dodge due to her position in the air.
"Espeon! Block it with your own iron tail the best you can!"
Just as her partner neared the ground, Pikachu charged ahead with his tail already hardened and twisting towards Espeon. Who barely managed to block the initial attack with her own and got sent tumbling back as Pikachu did earlier, taking some minor damage. Though she wasn't able to get a moment of rest, as Pikachu was charging ahead again with its tail once more.
"One more time! Iron Tail!"
Anabel steeled herself as Espeon managed to get onto her own feet, feeling the pace of the battle increase in intensity along with her heartbeat now that Ash got her on the defense.
"Espeon, block with your own iron tail and don't stop until you land a hit!"
The psychic narrowed her eyes before striking her own hardened tail towards Pikachu, who gritted his teeth at the impact before making another swing that was blocked again. The tails collided with one another in a stalemate while also sending out a gust of wind that made everyone cover their eyes from the impact. A testament to how strong the two were after so many battles.
"Keep it up Pikachu! We'll make sure this one hits!"
Kukui watched in amazement as the blows only got quicker and more intense, faster than any of the battles Ash participated in so far bar the one with Tapu Koko. Really seeing the difference as he put his absolute all into his partner's move by actively moving alongside him. Thrusting a fist out whenever he went on the attack and clenching his fist in excitement and anticipation all while sporting a large grin on his face. A feature that he also found in Anabel, even if she wasn't as emotive as him.
"Faster Pikachu! Faster!"
The hard impacts only seemed to increase, with Pikachu's strikes becoming harder and faster than his opponent's. Who could barely keep up with the assault as the psychic type slowly got pushed back.
"GO!" Ash cried out in encouragement just as Pikachu resolved himself with his own battle cry, striking Espeon on her side and sending her flying with a loud smack of his tail.
"Espeon!" Anabel cried out in worry.
"W-Whoa, I never knew Pikachu could get that intense," Kiawe said in awe.
"It's like seeing a whole new person," Mallow added.
They watched Espeon get back onto her feet with a wince, yet she looked more than able to continue as she looked back toward her trainer with an eager look in her eyes.
"Espe."
"I know, I'm getting excited too," Anabel agreed as she watched Ash gain another gleam in his eyes. One that told her that he was feeling the same while also having a sort of plan in mind.
"Now keep firing Electro Balls!"
Pikachu charged himself up with power before flicking his tail repeatedly at his opponent, sending a volley of Electro Balls toward the Psychic type.
"Espeon! Dodge them and get in close!" Anabel shouted in a rare moment of anticipation and excitement.
The psychic type charged towards Pikachu, dodging all the sparkling spheres with grace by sidestepping and running forward as the attacks exploded on the ground behind and beside her. Something that made the students nervous seeing none of the attacks land, but the professor from Alola only grinned seeing Ash's own smile never wavering in the slightest.
Anabel's own face displayed confusion at the sight of her boyfriend's unwavering resilience, yet was shocked when Pikachu had the same face as Espeon finally closed the gap between them.
"Now! Iron tail!"
"Pika!"
Anabel's eyes widen in shock and realization as Espeon mimicked her expression finding Pikachu's attack suddenly changing. The tail ending its electric barrage and becoming a familiar glow while hardening into steel before striking Espeon in the face.
"Espeon!"
"What just happened?" Lillie questioned in confusion at the fast-paced action, "It was almost like Ash...
"...used electro ball to draw in his opponent," Kukui finished her statement in awe. Truly seeing a new side of Ash in his element in the Battle Frontier as he effectively turned the tide in his favor.
Pikachu and Espeon panted slightly in exhaustion at the constant dodging and attacks thrown and knew that the next one would be their last.
The trainers seemed to have realized this too, as Ash and Anabel locked eyes with one another and decided to put their all into the next move. The young man turned his Cap backward with a grin while Anabel's own hands clenched in excitement, a rare sight for anyone who knew her typical demeanor.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Zap Cannon!"
Pikachu and Espeon charged themselves up before firing off their attacks at the same time, with the electric type's thunderbolt stopping the massive orb in its track in the air. A feat that took time to master for Ash and Pikachu as it required a lot of energy and power, yet that didn't stop them from giving it their all as Espeon's own attack slightly increased in size.
Eventually, the massive orb exploded in a massive array of power that made everyone shield their eyes from the light and wind. Unable to see the outcome for a moment before the effects of the collision finally died down. With a panting Pikachu on his four legs overlooking a panting Espeon, the group and trainers looked on in anticipation over who won. Yet was stunned to see Espeon who collapsed a second later.
Misty got up close to see and saw that Espeon had a tired and dazed expression on her face, throwing an arm toward Ash and Pikachu.
"Espeon is unable to battle, which means Ash is the winner!"
"All right!" Ash cheered while Pikachu tiredly did the same. With the visitors releasing their own breath that they were unaware of holding.
Anabel walked up to Espeon who managed to open her eyes at her trainer, cooing under Anabel's touch as she complimented their battle.
"Yes, I believe they have gotten stronger," Anabel agreed with a laugh as she watched Ash approach her with a tired Pikachu in his arms.
"Looks like I win this time Anabel. It was pretty close there towards the end, but I had a lot of fun battling with you again!"
"I had a lot of fun too." Anabel said with a smile that made Ash grin in joy.
They were taken out of their conversation when Bulbasaur and Snivy came up to them and offered the two Pokémon numerous berries they gathered from the forest as a way to replenish their energy. The two combatants took the snacks with gratitude as Leavanny came to give them compliments with a slight bow, with many others soon joining in.
"That was an outstanding battle! Truly an experience you can't get anywhere else!" Professor Kukui praised with eager eyes.
"For sure! I was on the edge of my seat!" Lillie Added in.
"It was like an eruption from Wela Volcano!" Kiawe said in awe and fascination.
Ash and Anabel took the compliments in stride, just glad that they were able to battle each other after being apart while also giving an example of what the Battle Frontier had to offer. Though there were unaware of another pair of eyes that were watching as well.
"Well Ash, it's good to see your skills haven't fallen during your travels."
The young man in question along with the others turned to see a man wearing sunglasses and a blue flower-pattered shirt and shorts walk up towards them with a proud expression while Tracey followed closely behind.
"And I see you have a couple of visitors as well."
"Scott! When did you get here?!" Ash shouted in surprise.
The founder was amused by Ash's exclamation, knowing that he was too focused on the battle to notice his presence.
"In the middle of your match with Anabel," Scott explained before shooting a knowing look, "I see you already beat me here for the challenger this time around."
"Yeah! We were on a field trip when Anabel came to give the call, so I was able to get started right away."
Scott nodded in understating and smiled in amusement at Ash's boundless energy before finally turning to face their unannounced guests with a slight bow.
"Welcome to the Battle Frontier, I'm the founder of the Kanto Battle Frontier: Scott. I started this organization because it was always my dream to see the best of the best, while also expanding the art of Pokémon battles."
"The art of Pokémon battles?" Lillie questioned with a head tilt.
"That's right. As you are aware, no two trainers are the same. Having their own strategies, abilities, and gimmicks when it comes to battles. Whether it be from the way they train their Pokémon or the way they battle," he briefly explained before throwing a proud look towards Ash and Anabel, "As you can tell from their own battle moments ago, Ash and Anabel are far from your typical trainers. Which makes the battle so much more interesting, wouldn't you agree?"
"For sure!" the students shouted in agreement, fascinated by the short introduction of the whole organization of the new arrival. Who washed in the praise with a smug and eager look, making Anabel and Ash roll their eyes at his show boasting.
"Hey Scott, where is the challenger? I thought you were supposed to bring him here?" Anabel curiously asked seeing that the person in question was nowhere to be found.
"Now you guys don't have anything to worry about," the founder reassured them with a smile, "He saw something in the forest on the way here and wanted to check it out. As a matter of fact, I reckon he's going to show up any minute now."
Everyone turned as one while leaning in anticipation to see a figure in the distance walking towards the entrance of the area. The sight of a teen with brown hair carrying a large backpack and a Pikachu with frazzled hair on his shoulder looking around the field in amazement. His expression was one of wonder similar to the ones the Alolans displayed earlier seeing the different kinds of battlefields that were displayed throughout the area but paused seeing the group of people in front of him. Spotting many unfamiliar faces until his eyes locked onto Ash, who had his own bewildered expression mirrored onto the person that he was going to battle.
Ritchie.
Before you ask me what Pokémon and field he will use, I made some polls on StrawPoll so you guys can help out. It may take a while for the results to get in, but I'm excited to see what will show up. (Edit: Poll links are on my Archive of Our Own Account because this site won't let me post them here.)