Chapter 7 Battling Akari
Now Ash and Serena are having dinner with Akari and Laventon again, and Laventon says, "So Ash and Serena! I believe a jolly good congratulations are in order! Well done on earning your First Star rank!"
Akari smiles, "Potato mochi tastes so much better when you have something to be happy about! Still, we'll be very busy from now on between our Survey Corps duties and requests from folks here. Which reminds me - have you already taken on that request from Beauregard?"
"I sure have. He wants a Wurmple and I gave him one, though I am not sure if it will evolve into a Beautifly, though." Ash sighs.
"The people of Jubilife aren't too familiar with Pokemon, you see...So if problems arise, the Survey Corps gets called to help." Akari says.
"Indeed so! Some people will ask you for help when you talk with them, while other requests will need to be claimed from the blackboard I keep in my lab." Laventon adds. "Speaking of which, weren't you approached with a request recently, Akari? What's it all about?"
"About that...I was thinking maybe Ash or Serena could handle it for me. I was told it would require a bit of skill with battling Pokemon, so..." Akari frowns.
"Ah, yes. That request came from Mai of the Diamond Clan if I recall correctly?" Laventon says.
"Diamond Clan?" Serena asks.
"The people of the Diamond Clan have lived here in Hisui since before the Galaxy Team arrived. If we could establish good relations, I'm sure there is much we might learn from them, including more about the local Pokemon...But we can discuss all that tomorrow! For today, we should eat up and get some rest."
"I guess so." Ash says as they continue to eat, after that's done, they bid farewell to Akari and Laventon as they go back to their own house. But just as they open the door, Ash and Serena are tackled to the ground.
"Lillie?" Ash asks.
"Ash! Serena! We really miss you!" Lillie says as she hugs the two people tight, Serena says, "Okay, okay. Please let go or else we won't be able to breathe again..."
After breaking the hug, Ash also notices that Delia is also there, and he gives her a hug. "Mom...even you are here. I assume you came from the portal?"
"Indeed. We really miss you two very much." Delia says. "Even though we can see what you are doing, it will be better if we can see you two in person."
"You're right." Ash says. "And I assume you saw how I got Staraptor back, right?"
"We all saw it, but there are also some times we are worried for your recklessness." Lillie says.
"I'm sorry about that, but looks like in the past, people intend to survive Pokemon attacks. We still don't know why Arceus would send us back to the past, and when to come back to our own world as well." Serena frowns.
"About that..." Delia says, "Arceus has told us the true story, but we can't reveal it since it is related to space and time."
"So what we can do is to guide you by using the Arc Phone of yours." Lillie says. "And Arceus also told us that he will also help you teleport the Pokemon into the Aether Foundation so that even when you're leaving, your Pokemon will also follow you."
"That will be nice." Ash says, "By the way, I haven't asked, what about those traitors? Have they got their judgment yet?"
"Sadly...they are still hiding somewhere from the police. They might have changed their names and appearances, but their old accounts aren't able to be used anymore. The whole world are sad to learn your deaths."
"Wow, I mean, I never know we are that famous around the world..." Ash says.
"So the girl that you two were hanging out with, you don't think she might be that traitor's ancestor, right?" Lillie asks.
"You mean Akari? Maybe she is, but I am not going to tell her about that though. They are different people and she doesn't need to know about that." Serena says.
They continue to talk for a while, and Ash is sad to learn that Pikachu isn't with them considering he really misses the mouse. But he knows that he might be somewhere in the Obsidian Fieldlands and he intends to find him as soon as possible. And after finished talking, Delia and Lillie bid them farewell by going back to the Aether Foundation, while Ash and Serena decide to take a good night sleep by cuddling with each other.
The next day, Akari asks Ash and Serena to come outside as she has something that needs their help. "Listen - do you have a bit of time after this? There's something I could use your help with."
"Sure, what is it?" Serena asks.
"I'll tell you once we arrive at the training grounds." Akari says. "If you've caught a lot of Pokemon, you may want to visit the pastures to change up your team."
As Akari turns around and heads towards the training grounds, Ash asks, "Should we tell her that our Pokemon aren't going to be there?"
"Might not." Serena sighs.
Once they arrive at the Training Grounds, she says, "Thanks for coming, I know you're busy. Listen - I've had an epiphany!"
"Which is?" Ash asks.
"You see, I've got a partner of my own. We may not get along perfectly, but we've got to work together to help complete the Pokedex!" Akari frowns.
"Your partner?" Serena asks.
"Yes! Here - this is my partner, Pikachu!" As Akari sends out the Pokemon, Ash flinches as he can't believe what he sees and what he hears, but when he sees the tail, he realizes that this is not his Pikachu considering this is a female one.
"When we were attacked by those Shinx, I got too scared to think straight, and...I couldn't handle battling as a team." Akari frowns. "Ever since then, my partner's refused to listen to anything I tell him...And if I'm being honest, I'm not even sure how to order him - how to guide him in battle. But when I saw how you and your Pokemon work together, I realized we need to do more, too...So please! Have a battle with me. I want to learn how to fight effectively."
Ash says, "Then I'll help you out. I have a lot of experiences with Pikachu considering that my very first Pokemon is a Pikachu and we have been together for 8 or 9 years before coming to this Hisui Region."
Serena frowns as she knows very well, deep down inside, Ash is feeling heartache considering that he really misses his Pikachu. But if he can get Staraptor back, then he might be able to get Pikachu back as well.
Ash sends out Rowlet as they begin to battle. Akari takes a breath and says, "Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
But Pikachu doesn't listen as she just lazily yawn, causing Akari to frown. Ash knows what the problem is, and he says, "Rowlet! Let's use Peck!"
Rowlet starts to peck at the Pikachu, causing it to be angry at what it is doing. "Pikachu! Listen to me! try to use Quick Attack to hit back!"
But Pikachu goes for Thunder Shock, which zaps Rowlet. Ash says, "Rowlet! Use Roost!"
As Rowlet gets back into the health, Ash says, "Akari, you have to calm down and think what Pikachu wants, that way you and your Pokemon can bond with each other."
"But how am I going to do it? What if she doesn't want to listen to me again?" Akari panics.
"No need to worry." Serena says, accidentally using Dawn's words. "You just have to focus and communicate with Pikachu. If you are scared of her, she won't be listening to you!"
Akari sighs and she shows a determined face. "Pikachu."
The Pokemon suddenly hears her trainer's change of tone as she turns around. "Let's give our best shot. We are going to win this battle, so listen to me once, please."
Pikachu turns to Rowlet and gives a small Pika. Akari says, "Now use Thunder Shock!"
Pikachu charges its electricity and shoots at the Rowlet, but Ash has Rowlet use Roost again.
"It's great to see some progress, but I am going to end this for now. Rowlet, Leafage!"
Rowlet uses the Grass-type attack and knocks out Pikachu, much to Akari's surprise.
"You and your Pokemon seem to be completely in step with one another." Akari sighs. "Phew. Thank you for battling us. I could be wrong, but...for a moment, I felt like Pikachu and I finally understood one another."
She turns to Pikachu and says, "Let's keep working at it. OK, Pikachu?"
Pikachu just turns away, causing Akari to frown, "G-guess I was wrong, then. But I'll strive to work more as a team with my partner, the way you do...Assuming Pikachu and I can...bridge some gaps."
"I'm sure you can do it." Ash says, seeing how Akari interacts with Pikachu reminds him of how he used to interact with his own, and Ash frowns again.
"So you're the one? That new recruit everyone's talking about?" They turn around to see a woman with red hair walking towards them, and she seems to be the owner of the training grounds. Ash feels like she might be an ancestor of Flint, the Sinnoh Elite Four member.
"The name's Zisu. Captain of the Security Corps. I see you've got some fight in you. Figured I'd stop by and give what advice I could."
"Captain Zisu is a master of an ancient martial art - one that specializes in Pokemon battles." Akari says.
"Now listen - if your Pokemon's truly mastered its moves, it can actually use them in different styles! On the one hand, you can choose to deliver a move in the strong style. The move will deal more damage, but afterward, it'll take longer for your Pokemon to act. On the other hand, you can choose to unleash a move in the agile style. Such a move will have less power behind it, but your Pokemon can act more quickly afterward. In truly favorable conditions, it might even get out two moves before the opponent can act."
"That will be nice, we were also confused about those two since our Research tasks require them. But Strong Style moves, agile style moves, and regular moves...there are so many we can choose." Ash says.
"Choose which is right for a given situation, and direct your Pokemon with a little nudge." Zisu nods. "And one more thing - if you want to teach your Pokemon some powerful moves, just let me know!"
"Zisu's teachings should serve you well when you're up against tough Pokemon! Now I suppose it's time I went to meet Mai." Akari says.
"Mai?" Serena asks.
"You remember? I mentioned at the Wallflower that I could use your help with Mai's request." Akari says.
"Oh, you did mention that, so where is she?" Ash asks.
"I'm to meet her down past the foot of Aspiration Hill." Akari says. "You should come as well - once you've readied your Pokemon team and perhaps had them learn some moves from Zisu, if you'd like!"
"That will be nice." Ash says as Akari leaves. Ash turns to Serena, "So? Should we go there as well?"
"We can, but we'll also see what the folks want about the requests as well."
"You're right." Ash says. "After all, we like to help others."
And here is a new chapter, with Akari battling Ash in the end. I hope you like this chapter and we will be doing some side requests in the next chapter.