A/N: To the Latios situation, I put a note at the end of the last chapter to prevent any confusion.
"Go, Pokéball!"
The object bounced off a Sewaddle before entering the Pokéball. It rocked twice before dinging and was caught.
"Sewaddle was registered!" the Rotom Phone beeped.
"Alright!" Goh triumphantly held the ball in his hand. The capturer then looked at the recently captured Pokémon: a blue-striped Basculin, a Venipede, a Pidove, a Tympole, and now a Sewaddle.
He and Ash were currently running around, the former more so, Pinwheel Forest after their excursion in Castelia City. The tickets were given for a taste test on different Unovan foods. Both boys enjoyed them completely. After they finished their tasting, Goh ran off to Pinwheel Forest to capture some Unova Pokémon.
Ash, Pikachu, and Lucario were off to the sidelines watching their overzealous friend catch any Pokémon he didn't have in Unova. Latias and Latios were also there just camouflaged, watching Goh attempt to catch any new Pokémon.
After a recent discussion with Oak, Ash was now able to carry a total of eighteen Pokémon on his person. So, after finding out he was heading to Unova, Ash opted to change up his party once in a while for the World Coronation Series. He currently has the aforementioned Pokémon and more for some training while also using them in his World Coronation battles.
"Okay, Goh. That's your fifth capture," Ash reminded him as the wind was starting to pick up, "Don't you think it's time for us to find shelter?" He had checked his Rotom Phone for the forecast and it was supposed to be sunny in Unova but the sudden increase in wind was starting to concern him.
'Your friend has a very… one track mind,' Latios noted as he and his sister camouflage themselves. The Eon duo was doing their best to hover but the winds continued to pick up.
"Hang on, Ash," Goh stubbornly said, "I still need a few more Pokémon in this area."
Ash just sighed as the wind started to affect trees now. Pokémon began to panic themselves as the weather turned for the worst.
"Okay, Goh," yelled Ash, holding his hat from blowing away, "We should go now!"
"Cinder!" Even Cinderace was agreeing as she avoided a flock of Pidoves.
"Ah!" Goh was beginning to lose his balance from the wind, "Yeah. I guess you are right." He was about to run but then he saw a Cottonee. Immediately Goh changed his direction, "A Cottonee!"
"Goh!" Ash shouted as Cinderace chased after her stubborn trainer. Lucario held Pikachu tightly from the winds.
Latios and Latias looked up at the storm before noticing something.
'Is that?' Latias questioned.
'Oh boy,' Latios sighed.
Suddenly a large blue bolt struck the ground before Ash and his Pokémon. And from it…
Zekrom appeared, his red eyes gazing at the trainer.
"Zekrom!?" Ash exclaimed. Pikachu huddled in fear, remembering what the dragon did to him before, and Lucario posed himself in a fighting position. The Eon duo shared a silent look.
'Greetings, Chosen One,' the Dragon of Ideals spoke.
Ash caught on to what Zekrom said with the Chosen One phrase. "Wait a minute, Chosen One?"
'Yes,' the Deep Black Pokémon said, 'Has Latios and Latias not explained?'
'We were going to tell him,' Latias informed as she and her brother de-cloaked themselves. Lucario lowered his guard while Pikachu un-hid himself.
"Tell me what?" Ash questioned.
'It seems I must inform him,' Zekrom bellowed, 'You see, your role as the Chosen One is more than just a prophecy. It is destiny.'
"Destiny?" Ash repeated as the three legendaries nodded.
'While the role of the Chosen One is written in stone, it is more than that. The Chosen One's role is one that intertwines with every legendary known to mankind. Has that not been your experience with many of us?' the Dragon of Ideals informed.
When the Black Bolt said that last sentence, Ash started to recap on his many adventures with Legendaries and Mythicals. Yes, time and time again he has put himself in between legendaries and dangers. "Yeah, I guess so."
'And time and time again, you have proven yourself in all our eyes. Even saving the world on multiple occasions,' Latios mentioned.
Ash sheepishly rubbed his neck, "Well… as you mentioned before, I'm selfless. Probably the most selfless person in the world."
'And that is why Arceus has decided to reward you,' Zekrom revealed.
"Reward?"
'Yes. As you can see Latios and Latias have already gifted you. As well as Hoopa it seems since your previous Pokémon have returned. With Melmetal already joining you, it felt satisfied with its gift. Solgaleo or Nebby as you call him and Nagandel also wanted to join or rejoin,' Zekrom continued.
Ash soon got a lightbulb. Of course, Hoopa makes more sense with the recent appearances of his previous family members. "So if they have gifted me, I guess you're here…"
'To gift you,' the Deep Black Pokémon finished before holding out a claw. A surge of electrical energy began to appear before it condensed into a yellow sphere that electricity coursed through.
"What is it?" Ash asked in awe, followed by Pikachu and Lucario.
'It is a sphere with all the traces of every single Electric-type in the world,' the black dragon explained, 'I did not have an official name for it though.'
Ash thought for a second, "Maybe call it the Light Ball!"
'The Light Ball,' the Dragon of Ideals thought, 'A bit on the nose but I will accept it. It is for Pikachu.'
"It is?" Pikachu perked up at the mention of an item for him.
'Yes. Consider it as an apology for draining his electricity from our first encounter,' Zekrom apologized.
"Pika, pika," Pikachu said with a gaze.
'He says it's a start,' Latias giggled.
'The 'Light Ball' will be able to amplify Pikachu's Electric attacks, giving him newfound strength that may even rival a legendary,' Zekrom explained.
Ash took the Light Ball from Zekrom and gave it to Pikachu. The Mouse Pokémon began to feel electricity on a different scale, far different than before.
'Give it a test,' the Deep Black Pokémon said.
"Alright, Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash wasted no time on wanting to see how the Light Ball would work.
Pikachu jumped and fired off a yellow bolt of electricity at a tree. Instead of leaving a burn mark, the Thunderbolt managed to completely zap the tree all together causing it to turn to ash.
"Woah!" Ash had stars in his eyes at seeing his starter's newfound power while Lucario was impressed at the sheer power.
'Isn't it impressive?' Zekrom said with a haughty tone, 'Now for a trainer match, Pikachu should tone it down. I wouldn't want him to fry the opposing Pokémon. Not that this does not make Pikachu's Electric-type moves effective on Ground-types still.'
"You got it!" Ash replied with a thumbs up, "Thanks for the gift!"
Zekrom nodded, 'Farewell, Chosen One. I bid you good luck in your future endeavors. And Pikachu, try not to go overboard with your new abilities.' With that, the Dragon of Ideals took off from a blue bolt and the storm disappeared.
Ash couldn't help but grin at Pikachu's new power.
"Ash!" Goh came running over and panted out of breath with Cinderace at his side. "I managed to get a Cottonee…" he breathed out.
"That's great, Goh," Ash sweatdropped along with Pikachu and Lucario. The Eon siblings cloaked themselves again.
"Looks like the storm went away," the capturer realized before being revignorated, "Let's see if there are any more new Pokémon nearby!"
"Nope," Ash put his foot down, "We are leaving Pinwheel Forest. Nacrene City is nearby. Let's rest for the day."
"Oh alright," Goh reluctantly said before the two trainers left the forest, one with many captures and the other with newfound power.
Arriving at Narcene City again, the two trainers headed towards the Pokémon Center. After getting a room for the night, Ash opted to do some training and Goh decided to watch.
Other than the four aforementioned Pokémon he had on hand, Ash also brought along Snivy, Oshawott, Pignite, Leavanny, Boldore, Krookodile, Unfezant, Scraggy, Palpitoad, Dragonite, Gengar, Farfetch'd, Haunter, and Pidgeot on his team. He wanted to bond with the last two members since he hadn't seen them in forever. After finding out he was heading to Unova, Ash opted to change up his party once in a while for the World Coronation Series.
Upon seeing the other Pokémon, Goh was in awe. "Wow! A Pidgeot! And a Boldore! And a Krookodile!" The capturer kept going on listing the names of each Pokémon. "You never told me you had these kinds of Pokémon!"
"Well, most of them are from my Unova journey," Ash scratched the back of his head, "I had Pidgeot on my first team through Kanto and Haunter I had for the Saffron City Gym. He liked Sabrina so I left him there for the time being. I, uh… picked them up recently."
It wasn't necessarily a lie since. Just leaving out the fact that Hoopa had brought back every Pokémon he once had, even with an Ultra Beast and a Legendary. "Yesterday, actually."
"Oh, that's what happened," Goh realized. "So I guess you went on a round-up trip yesterday!"
"You could say that," Ash said under his breath, "Plus I figured I would give my Pokémon at Oak's lab some much deserved battling. And it would surprise some of my opponents instead of me just using the same five for the entire Coronation Series."
"I guess that does make sense," Goh said, rubbing his chin in thought.
"You have been challenged!" Ash's Rotom Phone beeped and the trainer checked to see who it is. His eyes widened in shock.
"Hey there, Ash!"
The two boys and their Pokémon turned to see a boy with a red headband and a Lucario at his side.
"Cameron?!"
"Long time, no see," the youngster said. Cameron's Lucario gave a curt nod before seeing Ash's Lucario and Pikachu.
"I see you got a Lucario now," Cameron recognized.
"Yep, I hatched him when he was an egg a few months ago," Ash informed, "Since then, he's been on my team."
"Uh, Ash, who is this guy?" Goh asked as Cinderace walked over to the conversing Pokémon.
"Oh, Goh, this is Cameron, one of my rivals from Unova. We battled in the Unova League," Ash explained.
"And I won!" Cameron triumphantly said, "And with five Pokémon too!"
"Yeah, because you only brought that many and got yourself handicap," the Pallet Town trainer remained. Ash felt like that battle could have gone better and he was somewhat sour about his performance in Unova.
Cameron sheepishly rubbed his head while Goh was surprised. Ash questioned, "Anyway, what have you been up to?"
"Well, if you must know, I was in the Johto League recently!" Cameron claimed before dropping his head, "But I only got to Top 8. Weird how I did so well in my first League only to go down a rank."
"Yeah, odd," Ash muttered.
"But now, I'm competing in the World Coronation! And I challenged you to a battle, Ash!" Cameron exclaimed while pointing at his opponent.
"Oh, that was you?" Ash said in surprise before grinning, "Alright then! I accept!" He figured this could be one way to test out the Light Ball's power with Pikachu.
A Rotom Drone appeared on the Pokémon Center's battlefield, "This is an official World Coronation match between Ash and Cameron! It will be a three-on-three battle!"
"Just think. I'm in the Great Class now, but this victory will get me into Master Class!" Cameron dreamily said.
"Uh, Cameron," Ash called, "The next rank after Great Class is Ultra Class."
"It is?!" The youngster exclaimed before Lucario facepalmed at his trainer's thinking.
"You think he would know," Goh commented on the sidelines with Cinderace.
Cameron shook off his stupor, "Whatever. I'll just keep battling till I get to Master Class! And my first choice is Hydreigon!" The youngster sent out the infamous pseudo-legendary of Unova.
"Hydreigon!" the hydra roared.
"Starting off with Hydreigon," Ash murmured, remembering how badly he lost to the 'secret weapon' with Pignite barely pulling out a win. Shaking his head, Ash made his choice, "Krookodile, I choose you!"
The Intimidation Pokémon lumbered onto the field, flashing his shades, "Krook!"
"Battle begin!" the Rotom Drone deemed.
"Krookodile, start with Stone Edge!" The maroon reptile punched the ground, several stone spires erupting in quick session before colliding into the dragon.
"Shake it off, Hydreigon! Use Dragon Pulse!" The Brutal Pokémon took a deep breath and launched a multicolored dragon-shaped beam towards the Intimidation Pokémon.
"Dodge with Dig!" Krookodile burrowed underneath the pulse attack. "Crunch when you appear!" The crocodile leapt out from underneath and Crunched the pseudo-legendary's arm.
"Shake him off!" Hydreigon flailed arm, getting Krookodile off. "Now Double Hit!" The hydra's phony heads turned purple before striking the crocodile twice.
"Dragon Claw!" The Ground/Dark-type extended his claws, turning them teal and struck the Dark/Dragon pseudo-legendary.
"Tri Attack!" Growling, the hydra unleashed a fire-electric-ice trivumate that the crocodile endured, the ice doing the most damage.
"Stone Edge!"
"Use Earth Power!"
Krookodile punched the ground just as Hydreigon did. Both reptiles were on the receiving ends of the earth-based attacks, the crocodile hit with a glowing earth crack and the dragon with stone spires.
"Now Aerial Ace!" Shaking off the move, Krookodile increased his speed, plowing into the hydra where he fell to the ground.
"Hydreigon!" Cameron yelled as the Brutal Pokémon slowly got up. The Unova pseudo-legendary roared as the Intimidation Pokémon sharpened his shades.
"Alright! Now, use Outrage!" the youngster exclaimed.
Hydreigon glowed with a red aura, eyes gleaming the same, before rushing and bashing Krookodile nonstop. The crocodile was pounded relentlessly from the assault until the hydra stopped with a confused look in his eyes.
"Krookodile!" Ash exclaimed in concern. He had to admit, Cameron had improved with Hydreigon since the Unova League which was a problem. The Ground/Dark-type managed to stand, growling menacingly.
"Okay, Hydreigon! Finish with Hyper Beam!" Cameron said but his pseudo-legendary just waved his heads around wildly.
"Cameron! Outrage confuses the user after using it!" Ash explained before the youngster sweat-dropped.
"Oh, right," Cameron said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. His Lucario facepalmed at the idea of using the deranged move.
Krookodile roared before glaring at the hydra. "Our turn! Use Dragon Claw!" The crocodile extended teal claws before slashing at the dragon. "Now Stone Edge!"
Krookodile punched the ground and stone spires erupted and collided with Unovan dragon to the point he collapsed and had swirls in his eyes.
"Hydreigon is unable to battle! Krookodile is the winner-roto!"
"Amazing work out there, Krookodile!" Ash cheered and the Intimidation Pokémon flashed his shades. Ash himself was proud that it only took one Pokémon this time. He had wanted to use Krookodile for the next match but his battle with Sawk took a lot out of him during their match against Stephan.
"Return Hydreigon," Cameron said before apologizing, "Sorry. Guess I should have remembered Outrage causes confusion."
"Carr…" Cameron's Aura Pokémon agreed.
The youngster's attitude turned back to his fired up personality. "Alright, Stantler, let's go!"
The Big Horn Pokémon appeared and stomped his hoof, "Stant!"
Cameron rubbed his nose, "I caught him during my Johto journey! Stantler's as strong as they come. Get ready, Ash!"
Ash weighed his options before he returned Krookodile, "Thanks for your hard work out there."
The Alolan Champion turned to his party before selecting his next choice. "Oshawott, I choose you!"
The Sea Otter Pokémon triumphantly walked onto the field before tripping. He regained his balance and challenged the deer.
Stantler just huffed, Intimidating Oshawott surprisingly but the otter shook it off. He had a battle to win.
"Battle begin!" the Rotom drone uttered.
"Stantler, start with Stomp!" Cameron ordered. The caribou ran before raising his hoof up.
"Dodge, Oshawott!" The otter avoided the Stomp, letting out a breath of relief.
"Now Hydro Pump!" Oshawott expelled a torrent of water that collided with Stantler. The Big Horn Pokémon shook off the water before huffing in agitation.
"Use Tackle!" the mustelid charged, tucking in his head before leaping and Tackling the ungulate. It didn't do much to the caribou, who just bounced the attack off his body.
"Hypnosis!" Stantler's horns began to glow before releasing inducing lights that clouded Oshawott's vision to where he fell asleep.
"Oshawott!" Ash cried out as the otter lay there, sleeping away.
"Sorry, Ash but this match is mine!" Cameron claimed, "Use Zen Headbutt!" Stantler pawed the ground before charging with blue psychic energy around himself.
"Oshawott, wake up!"
The otter's body didn't move, just lazily rolled to the side as the caribou missed the attack completely.
"What?" an unison of Ash, Cameron, and Goh said as the otter avoided the attack in the most unexpected way.
Ash felt a sense of deja-vu when Corphish was confused during his first six-on-six match during the Hoenn League against that trainer who used her Golduck to confuse the crayfish but ended up defeated. Shaking that thought away, Ash went in with his move, "Razor Shell!"
A groggy Oshawott drew his scalchop into a blade before slashing aimlessly at air. Stantler was nowhere near the otter right now.
"Maybe I should have taught you Thunderbolt come to think of it," Cameron sheepishly said and the caribou just began stomping indignantly. He huffed before getting his next order, "Megahorn!" The Big Horn Pokémon's antlers turned to lime-green and charged the mustelid.
"Oshawott, Hydro Pump!" The otter muttered in his sleep before firing a gushing torrent of water but missed tremendously. The caribou nailed the otter before lifting him into the air.
Oshawott landed smack-dab on his face, still snoozing.
"Unless Oshawott wakes up soon, this could become a bad match-up," Goh commented.
Ash began to grit his teeth again and yelled again, "Oshawott! Wake up!"
This time the otter managed to hear his trainer and got up, albeit bruised from the fall. The Sea Otter Pokémon shook his head clear and growled.
Stantler had a smug look on his face, knowing that his opponent couldn't take much more.
And Cameron picked up on that, "Alright! Stantler, let's wrap this up! Zen Headbutt!" The Big Horn Pokémon snorted and charged with a blue psychic glow around his body.
"Aqua Jet!" Oshawott covered himself in a watery veil before jetting towards the charging Stantler. Both mammals collided with each other, meeting at a stalemate before an explosion occurred.
Both trainers guarded their eyes before seeing the outcome: both Stanlter and Oshawott KOed.
"Both Pokémon are unable to battle! This match is a draw!" the Rotom Drone declared.
"Great work out there, Oshawott," Ash praised. He felt like Oshawott could have won but a tie with him in the lead was not as bad. Cameron returned his ungulate before addressing Ash.
"Well, it seems I'm on my last Pokémon. But I have come prepared this time!" the youngster declared before pointing forward, "Lucario, let's go!"
Cameron's Aura Pokémon nodded before walking onto the field. The jackal got in a fighting stance. "Car!"
Ash grew a grin. He knew Cameron saved Lucario for last and now time for some payback for the Unova League.
"Pikachu, I choose you!"
"Pika!" The Mouse Pokémon scurried onto the field, pumped for action. The rodent was excited to try his new Light Ball gift from Zekrom.
"Battle begin!" the Rotom Drone said.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash cried right off the bat. The Mouse Pokémon unleashed a yellow lightning bolt that struck the Aura Pokémon dead-on.
Upon impact, Cameron's Lucario felt the voltage stronger than it was the last time they fought. The jackal theorized perhaps it was the years of training becoming fruitful for their opponents. Either way, the opposing Lucario fell to his knees.
"Woah!" Goh and Cameron said in shock.
"When did Pikachu's Thunderbolt become so powerful?" the capturer asked.
"Well, lots of training from yesterday," Ash lied before getting back to battle. He was impressed with how Pikachu handled the Light Ball, even if it was toned down for now. "Iron Tail!"
"Match that with Power-Up Punch!" Cameron shouted. The jackal rushed forward with an orange aura while the mouse ran with a silver tail. Both attacks made contact and the fist did more damage than the tail.
Pikachu landed and growled as Cameron's Lucario returned to his original position.
"Electro Ball!" The Mouse Pokémon created a sphere of electricity and threw it at the Aura Pokémon.
"Bone Rush!" The jackal manifested an aura bone before spinning it and smashing it into the sphere. Unfortunately, the sphere was enhanced by the Light Ball and Lucario was skidding against the ground.
"Looks like Pikachu's been training!" Cameron complimented, "But I'll be going up a rank! Aura Sphere!"
Lucario conjured a compressed orb of aura and launched it.
"Thunderbolt again!" Pikachu gave another yellow bolt of lightning, striking the Aura Sphere and sent it towards the jackal.
"Pour it on!" Cameron shouted, surprised to see Aura Sphere struggling against the Thunderbolt.
Cameron's Aura Pokémon, with his palms forward, channeled his aura into the sphere, trying to hold it back.
"You too!" Ash shouted and the Mouse Pokémon pressed on the power with his own electricity and Light Ball. The Thunderbolt managed to send the Aura Sphere back and created an explosion.
Cameron's Lucario was sent skidding back before hunching over, panting from the sheer power.
"Oh man, you really have been training!" Cameron exclaimed before doing his infamous technique: stretching his headband. The youngster did his technique -still hurting- before getting an idea.
"Use Me First!" Lucario glowed with a purple aura before firing a Thunderbolt much like Pikachu's. The Mouse Pokémon was struck and sent tumbling before landing on all fours.
Ash hid his surprise, not expecting Cameron's Lucario to know Me First. It seemed to unleash a stronger variation of the move last used. But he felt it was time to wrap this fight up. "Get in there with Quick Attack then Iron Tail!"
Pikachu sprinted across the field with white trail tailing him before turning his tail to steel and landing a blow on Lucario's chest. Cameron's starter grunted before standing his ground.
"Bone Rush!" The jackal manifested a blue bone before swinging it downward, hitting the mouse.
"All or nothing Pikachu, Thunderbolt at close range!" Ash shouted. The yellow rodent unleashed yellow electricity, again with the combination of his natural charge and Zekrom's gift. At point blank, Lucario felt the electricity zap him completely before collapsing defeated.
"Lucario is unable to battle, Pikachu is the winner! Therefore Ash is the victor!" the Rotom Drone announced and flew away.
"Great work out there, Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed and his starter chirped with excitement. It felt oddly satisfying for them to beat Cameron.
Speaking of the boy, he ran to the field, "Great work, Lucario. We'll have to get him next time." Cameron's Lucario nodded at the claim before returning to his Pokéball.
"Well, Ash," Cameron addressed his opponent, "Nice to have another battle with you! From here on out, you are my rival!"
"We were already rivals to begin with," Ash sweatdropped but shook it away, "But right back at you!"
Both trainers said their goodbyes to each other before Ash and Goh headed in for the night as Cameron said he had other arrangements.
That night at the Pokémon Center, when Goh fell asleep, Ash was in deep thought after what Zekrom had said.
The fact that Legendary and Mythical Pokémon were coming to reward him both made him nervous and excited. He couldn't help but wonder what awaits him and maybe even learn more about this Chosen One situation.
But alas, he would have to wait and see what would happen. And tell Goh and Chloe about this whole situation. Even though they had met a few together, Ketchum doubts that his new friends would believe the idea that he himself had interacted with tons of Legendaries before. Even Mew, Goh's entire dream.
He needed to sleep on this for a few days.
A/N: Sorry, I have not updated this one in a while. Same with my Tournament of Legends story. Been going back and forth with many of my Pokémon stories plus work as been draining along with a summer class, but the latter ends this week.
So I hope you enjoy this chapter. No flames.