Hey guys, I'm back with a new chapter for this story! I know the wait was long for this update, but I've been pretty busy over the past few months, and I had to update all my other stories as well. Plus, over the past few weeks, I had zero motivation to do any writing and I didn't want to try to force it. A ton of free time recently has also been completely consumed by Pokemon Legends Arceus and Dying Light 2. But I've finally gotten around to working on this story and we'll be picking up where the previous chapter left off. Ash will be catching Volcanion in this chapter and will also be starting the final leg of his journey in Jhoto. So, I hope you're all looking forward to that!
P.S. **EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ!** After running the poll on my profile for a few months, and seeing the results, I've decided to go ahead and start a P atreon page. The page will be live by the time this chapter is posted, so those of you who wish to support me can do so whenever you're ready. Any little bit you can give will help support me and my family. And I encourage you all to at least check the page out. You can find my P atreon at p atreon com/JTZ29Fanfiction (just remove any spaces and add the '.' before 'com' when you enter the link). Whether you decide to become a Patron or not, I want your feedback on the page, good or bad. And I'm open to suggestions for tier incentives. But please remember that I DO NOT want to lock any content exclusively to my P atreon. I know it would likely help get more people to support it, but I don't want to hide content for my readers behind a paywall. Either way, whether you decide to fund my P atreon or not, I sincerely appreciate all of your continued support for all of my stories over the years! I know this will sound super corny, but I love you all and I thank you for helping me enjoy my writing hobby even more than I already did!
**PLEASE READ AS WELL** If you have any questions or suggestions regarding my P atreon, I ask that you please send me a PM. I do not want to artificially inflate the reviews for my stories. But I suppose if you must leave a review, please try to leave a guest review. That way I can still read your input, then remove the review so that it won't inflate my review count. To those of you who do decide to support my P atreon, I again give you my deepest and most sincere thanks. And if don't want to support it, that's totally fine as well, I'm grateful that you like my stories enough to keep reading them.
P.P.S. I've been playing Pokemon Legends Arceus the past week and I really loved it. The game isn't perfect by any stretch, but it is extremely fun and that's what's most important. I really hope GameFreak takes this formula, improves and refines it, then uses it in future Pokemon games going forward. Because all the complaints I have with Legends Arceus, aside from the god-awful visuals and mediocre story, are overall fairly minor and can easily be fixed in future games. If you haven't played Legends Arceus yet, I highly recommend you check it out!
Well, that's all I wanted to say, so let's get to the fic!
"Speech"
"Thoughts"
Pokemon Attack
"Telepathy"
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or any of its characters.
(Airport Just Outside Violet City)
"Man, I can never fly coach again after that!" May gushed with a massive smile, stretching her arms out a bit as she stepped into the terminal. "You've officially spoiled me, Ash!"
"It really was great." Dawn added as she followed right behind May, clasping her hands behind her back. "I did feel kinda bad for the people stuck in coach."
"Eh, it was alright I guess...all that pampering made me feel a little uncomfortable. I mean those flight attendants were checking in with us every five minutes, I just wanted a little alone time." Hilda said, shrugging her shoulders as she adjusted the straps of her backpack. "I definitely prefer traveling by foot."
"I gotta agree with Hilda here." Roxie chimed in as she adjusted the strap of her guitar case. "I'm not really into all that fancy shit, I can take it or leave it."
"You two are freakin nuts." Iris said with a chuckle, slowly shaking her head. "I like hoofing it in the great outdoors as much as the next person, but I'd never turn down a first-class experience."
"I flew almost twelve hours in coach when I first came to Kanto." Nessa said as a shiver ran down her spine as she hugged herself. "It was cramped, uncomfortable, and I had an old lady snoring next to me the entire flight. Trust me, Hilda and Roxie, you never want to experience that. First-class all the way."
"So, we're supposed to meet Rosa in Violet City, right?" Cilan asked pulling out a map and taking a moment to examine it. "If we walk, it shouldn't take us more than thirty minutes to get there."
"What should we do after we meet Rosa in Violet City?" Burgundy said as she peeked around Cilan's shoulder and gazed down at the map. After a few moments, she quirked an eyebrow. "It doesn't look like there's a heck of a lot to do in that town."
"Oh, I can't wait to explore!" Flannery exclaimed with a grin, excitedly pumping a fist into the air. "I've never been to Johto before!"
"This is my first time in this region as well." Anabel chimed in as she walked up next to the fiery redhead. "I'm interested in seeing the type of Pokemon that live here and how they interact."
"I studied in Johto a few years ago and I learned quite a lot while I was here." Cynthia explained with a small smile, crossing her arms underneath her chest. "Johto has a rich and exciting history. I can't wait to experience everything this region has to offer again."
"I'm just excited to start battling." Ash said with a toothy grin before he reached up and gently stroked Pikachu's chin. The Mouse Pokemon purred in delight and moved closer to Ash's hand. "Johto's not gonna know what hit it!"
"My, you all sure are energetic." A familiar voice spoke up from behind the large group. Turning around, everyone was surprised to see Rosa smiling at them. "Hey guys! I was so excited that I came to see you all!"
"Rosa! This is a nice surprise!" Ash exclaimed as he walked up and hugged the brunette. A fierce blush spread across Rosa's face before she smiled and hugged Ash back. A few moments, Ash released Rosa and gently gripped her shoulders. "So, did you catch any Pokemon!?"
"Oh yeah! A bunch!" Rosa said in an excited tone, digging into her backpack and rifling through it. Eventually, she held out her hand, revealing 5 shrunken Pokeballs. "I caught a Hoothoot, Heracross, Aipom, Misdreavous, and best of all, a Cyndaquil!"
"Damn, that's quite an impressive haul..." Ash said as he nodded his head and let a low whistle. "And I'm sure you'll catch plenty more while we're here."
"I plan to!" Rosa said with a chuckle, slipping the Pokeballs back into her bag. "Speaking of catching Pokemon, there's something I have to show you, Ash!" Reaching out, Rosa grabbed Ash's hand began to pull him toward the terminal's exit. "You all come too!"
"Whoa! Whoa!" Ash said as he stumbled a bit as he allowed Rosa to practically drag him through the airport. The rest of the group was closely following behind, confused by Rosa's sudden excitement. "Where are we going, Rosa?!"
"I ran into this awesome Pokemon on my way here!" Rosa replied, turning her head to look back at Ash, a big grin on her face. "But when I tried to catch it, it smacked my Pokeball away! Then the craziest thing happened! It started to talk to me! And it said that it was looking for you!"
(Five Minutes Later: Outside the Airport)
"Are we almost there, Rosa?" Ash asked as they entered a small wooded area next to the airport's parking lot. "And do you know what Pokemon was looking for me?"
"Yeah, it's just up ahead! And I have no clue! I've never seen one like it before and my Pokedex didn't have any info on it!" Rosa replied, her eyes suddenly lighting up and pointing toward a clearing up ahead. "It was right up here!"
"Wow...it sure is getting hot..." Ash muttered as he tugged on his shirt to fan himself a bit. Suddenly, the forest around them began to fill with steam, slightly obscuring their vision. "Heat...and steam..." The gears in Ash's head began to turn as he started to deduce who the mystery Pokemon was. Looking past Rosa into the clearing, Ash could make out a very distinct silhouette. The raven-haired trainer's eyes lit up when he realized what Pokemon was waiting for them. "Volcanion is that you!?"
"Ah, I see you've finally arrived, Chosen One." A deep voice echoed inside Ash and Rosa's minds as the Steam Pokemon turned around to face them. "It's been a while since we last saw each other."
Volcanion was a primarily maroon, quadrupedal Pokémon. It had pointed ears with blue interiors, bright blue eyes, yellow markings over and behind its eyes that resembled eyebrows and eyelashes, a pointed, yellow mandible, and a spike-like protrusion on each cheek. Its body was divided into three segments. Starting with a considerably larger front portion that had a hunched back, a thin, blue waist, and smaller hips that resembled its front portion. On its chest were four yellow, diamond-shaped bumps. There was also a thin, yellow band around each of its leg joints and the lower, maroon portions of its legs were larger than the thin, blue upper portions. Each of its ankles had a short, blunt growth, while each foot had three yellow claws. The Steam Pokemon had a short, tapering tail with a slightly shorter blue protrusion along the top. On the front portion of its body was a ring around the back.
"Volcanion...I've never heard of that Pokemon before..." Rosa muttered, staring at the Steam Pokemon in wide-eyed awe. It looked like Rosa could barely contain her excitement as she bounced from foot to foot. "Where did it come from?"
"I met Volcanion during my journey in Kalos." Ash explained as he pulled out his Pokedex and quickly scanned through it. Finding Volcanion's entry, Ash handed the Pokedex to Rosa so that she could read the data. As Rosa scrolled through the Steam Pokemon's information, Ash walked up to Volcanion and gently patted its head. "We had an...interesting...first encounter and we didn't really get along in the beginning."
"Centuries of mistrusting humans isn't a habit that is easily shirked. But after our encounter, I've come to understand that not all humans are evil beings. I can't thank you and your friends enough for helping protect Magearna. Both of us are eternally grateful for all that you did. And it is because of that gratitude, that I wish to become one of your Pokemon and aid you on your journey."
"I'd be happy to have you join me Volcanion, I'm sure you'll get along with everyone else. All my Pokemon love making new friends, especially with their legendary and mythical brothers and sisters. Oh, and no need to thank me. I was just helping out a Pokemon in trouble, I didn't even have to think about it." Ash said with a chuckle, his cheeks flushing slightly as he rubbed the back of his head. Perking up a bit, Ash began to eagerly peek around Volcanion into the surrounding forest. "So, how is Magearna? It didn't come with you?"
"Magearna has been doing quite well and has been looking forward to its reunion with you. But unfortunately, Magearna was unable to join me on my journey here. It however does plan to reunite with you at some point and become one of your Pokemon. When that will be, I cannot say for sure."
"Well, that sucks, but I'm just glad to hear that Magearna is safe and happy." Ash said with a small smile as he unslung his backpack. After a bit of rifling, the raven-haired trainer pulled out a shrunken Cherish Ball. After enlarging the Cherish Ball, Ash presented it to Volcanion. "So, what do you say...are you ready to go on a journey with me?"
"Of course Chosen...I mean Ash. I'd be honored to join you on your journey. I look forward to adventures we'll go on."
With those final words, Volcanion leaned its head forward and pressed it against the Cherish Ball. In a flash of bright red light, the Steam Pokemon was sucked inside the Cherish Ball. Rosa watched on in awe as the ball shook a single time, before it dinged, signifying a successful capture. As Ash clipped Volacanion's ball onto his belt, Rosa's mouth fell open in complete shock.
"Is...is that it?! Did really just catch a mythical Pokemon like it was nothing?!" Rosa exclaimed in astonishment, grabbing Ash's shoulder and whipping him around so that he was facing her. The raven-haired trainer flinched slightly when he saw that bewilderment on Rosa's face. "Who the hell are you, Ash Ketchum!? And what did Volcanion mean when he called you 'Chosen One'!? I'm so confused right now, so start talking!"
"Uh, that's a lot to explain at once..." Ash said with a nervous chuckle as he rubbed the back of his head. "But long story short, Arceus picked me to be his Chosen One, which sort of makes me his champion. And Arceus has tasked me with defeating Tobias because he's been abusing his legendary Pokemon and their power. To help me on my journey, Arceus has allowed me to capture legendary and mythical Pokemon of my own, that's why I have that Cherish Ball I used earlier. I've also formed bonds with many of the legendary and mythical Pokemon I've captured, so most of them want to assist me."
"That's...amazing..." Rosa breathed out, releasing Ash's shoulder and taking a step back. "I knew you were an amazing trainer...but I had no idea Arceus had chosen you to be his champion. I-I don't know what to say."
"I'm honored that Arceus chose me, but I'm honestly not that special." Ash said as he slowly shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, a small smile on his face. "I've loved Pokemon my entire life and it's always been my dream to become a Pokemon Master. If Arceus want sees potential in me and wants me to help take down some bastard who's mistreating his Pokemon, then I have no reason to refuse. And in the end, as long as I can continue traveling with my friends and battling, I'll be happy."
"I knew there was a reason I looked up to you, Ash..." Rosa said with a faint blush, smiling at the raven-haired trainer. "I think I may admire you even more now. I've got a long way to go before I can become a trainer like you."
"As long as you keep working hard and treat your Pokemon well, you'll get there one day, Rosa. I believe in you." Ash said with a grin as stepped forward and patted Rosa's head, causing her blush to darken several shades. Raising her head, Rosa locked eyes with Ash, feeling her entire body start to heat up. As Rosa continued to stare into Ash's eyes, she was hit by a sudden rush of confidence. Closing her eyes, Rosa pressed her hands against Ash's chest and started to lean in closer. But just as Rosa's lips brushed against Ash's, they were interrupted by the sound of rustling bushes. Nearly leaping apart, Ash and Rosa saw that the rest of the group had finally caught up with them. Ash hid it well, but he was quite flustered by the near-kiss, his heart pounding in his chest. "N-Now that everyone's here, we should probably start making our way to Violet City."
"Y-Yeah...that sounds good..." Rosa muttered in a somewhat disappointed tone, lowering her head to try and hide her burning red face. "Listen, Ash...about what just happened-"
"You don't need to explain anything Rosa, we can take things at whatever pace you want. I do like you, Rosa, there's a strong connection between us that I've felt ever since we first met." Ash said with a smile which caused Rosa to squeak in surprise, her heart starting to flutter. Reaching up, Rosa quickly pulled down her cap to hide her near neon red face. Chuckling to himself, Ash patted Rosa's back. "We can pick back up where we left off another time and when you are ready, I'll welcome you with open arms."
"Thanks, Ash...I'd like that...it just makes me so happy to hear that you like me..." Rosa said, putting her hat back on and flashing the raven-haired trainer a bright smile. "But yeah, we should rejoin the rest of the group. I'm sure they're wondering why I dragged you off like that."
(One Hour Later: Violet City Pokemon Center)
After explaining what had happened with Volcanion to the rest of the group, Ash and his friends traveled to Violet City. Everyone in the group noticed the awkward and nervous tension between Ash and Rosa, but they all decided to leave it alone for now. Once they arrived in Violet City, it didn't take the group very long to find the Pokemon Center in the small town. After booking everyone's rooms, Ash gave Professor Juniper a quick call and shocked her as he sent Volcanion over to her lab. Once Ash was finished with Professor Juniper, he called his mother as well, letting her know they had all safely arrived in Jhoto. Like usual, Delilah seemingly wanted to talk for hours, giving Ash almost no chance to end their phone call. But eventually, Ash managed to convince her to hang up and rejoined the rest of his group.
"Looks like you finally finished your call with Delilah." Dawn commented as she noticed Ash walk into the Pokemon Center's recreation area, where most of the group was gathered. The raven-haired trainer had an exhausted look on his face as he approached the lounge area they were all sitting in. "We thought you'd be there all day."
"Ugh, don't remind me..." Ash groaned, plopping down in a seat between Hilda and Roxie. Releasing a heavy sigh, Ash ran a hand down his face. "I love my mom, but she can seriously talk forever if you don't stop her. As soon as she started talking about me settling down and getting married, I knew I had to stop her." The mention of marriage caught most of Ash's girls off guard, causing their faces to flush red as they began to imagine their futures with the raven-haired trainer. Noticing that most of the group was starting to space out, Ash quirked an eyebrow. "Hey...are you, girls, alright?"
"Oh, it's nothing really Ash..." May said as she pressed a hand against her flushed cheek, a faint smile on her face. "I think we were all just thinking about our future."
"H-Hey! Why don't want we all go do something before Ash's gym battle!" Nessa suggested, clapping her hands together and standing up out of her seat. While Nessa did enjoy the company of Ash and his whole group, she wasn't super comfortable with how lovey-dovey the girls could be with the raven-haired trainer. "Is there anything fun to do in this town?!"
"Unfortunately there's not a heck of a lot to do in Violet City." Rosa replied with a light sigh as she slowly shook her head. "I looked at a map on our way here, but aside from the local Pokemon School and Sprout Tower, there's nothing really interesting to do."
"Why don't we go check out the Pokemon School at least?" Cynthia chimed in, brushing a few loose strands of hair out of her eye. "It could be fun to see how the newest batch of trainers is coming along."
"Oh! That does sound like fun!" Iris cheered as she practically leaped out of her seat, a large grin spreading across her face. "And I can show those kids how awesome dragon-type Pokemon are!"
"I think you mean fire-types." Flannery added with a smirk, nudging Iris with her elbow and shooting her a teasing look. Whipping her head around, Iris glared at Flannery, an annoyed growl rumbling in her throat. "Those kids will definitely enjoy my flashy fire moves."
"Ah, would you both can it..." Hilda spoke as she huffed and shoved her hands into her pockets, clearly frustrated at the possibility of more petty bickering. "Who cares, as long as those kids are having fun and learning how to be great trainers..." A smirk suddenly spread across Hilda's face. "And if anyone is gonna be whipping those kids into shape, it's gonna be me!"
"Okay, okay! Checking out the Pokemon School sounds like a great idea!" Ash exclaimed, stepping in between the three girls before an argument could break out. The raven-haired trainer knew that most of the girls enjoyed the little spats they had, it was kind of fun to see who had the quickest wits. But Ash noticed that several other people in the Pokemon Center were starting to stare at them and he didn't want to disturb them any further. "Why don't head over there now."
"Fine..." Iris, Flannery, and Hilda grumbled as they broke off their little tiff, knowing they were starting to cause a scene. The three girls shot each other a playful glare before they let out a laugh and went their separate ways.
"Nice work, Ash!" Roxie complimented as she slapped the raven-haired trainers back, causing him to stumble forward slightly. "I'm all for getting loud and rowdy, but there's a time and place for that."
"Those three do tend to pick their mock fights at the worst possible times..." Anabel said, releasing a light sigh as she crossed her arms over her chest. Getting out of her seat, Anabel flashed Ash a quick smile. "I'll go get ready, I'm actually quite excited to see what these new trainers are learning."
"We must gather our things too, Cilan!" Burgundy cheered with a massive smile as she excitedly sprang out of her seat. "As a Pokemon Coinessuer, I can't resist the urge to evaluate the relationships these young trainers have with their Pokemon!"
"Right, right..." Cilan chuckled, getting up and following his excited girlfriend out of the recreation area. As Cilan walked past Ash, he patted the raven-haired trainer on the shoulder. "I'll go with Burgundy, we'll meet you all outside in a bit."
"Sounds good." Ash said with a smile as he watched Cilan and Burgundy disappear down the hall. Slowly, the rest of the girls followed Cilan and Burgundy's lead, getting ready for their visit to the Pokemon school. Once the rest of his group had retreated back to their rooms, Ash released a light sigh and gently scratched Pikachu's chin. After shoving his hands into his pockets, Ash too ventured toward his own room. "Alright buddy, we should get going too. Maybe we can teach these kids a thing or two."
(Thirty Minutes Later: Violet City Pokemon School)
"Anyone else get creeped out when they walk through a school as a grown-up?" Hilda asked, following the rest of the group through the somewhat narrow hallways, occasionally glancing at the miniature lockers meant for children. "I don't know man, it just feels like we're not supposed to be here."
"I totally know what you mean." Roxie said with a shudder as she hugged herself, a chill running down her spine. "I freaking hated going to school. Feels wrong being back here again."
"Would you two calm down." Iris chastised both women, huffing and crossing her arms over her chest. "We're almost to the front office. At least try to act like adults."
"That's rich coming from the girl who acts like a little kid whenever dragons are mentioned." Ash thought as he rolled his eyes at Iris' comment, not daring to say anything in fear of starting a fight. Stepping through the doors to the front office, Ash spotted a single middle-aged secretary sitting behind a desk. The woman was furiously typing on a keyboard, her eyes glued to her computer screen. She was so focused on her work that she didn't notice the large group of trainers walk into the office. After a few moments of awkwardly standing unnoticed in front of the desk, Ash coughed into his hand. "E-Excuse me."
"One moment, sir." The secretary said without looking away from her computer, holding up a finger to silence Ash before he could say anything else. After another minute of typing, the secretary clicked one last key before she turned to face Ash's group. However, as soon as the secretary recognized who was standing in her office, her entire demeanor changed instantly. "O-Oh, my Arceus! You're A-Ash Ketchum! I'm so sorry for making you wait like that, I d-didn't know it was you!" It was then, that the secretary finally noticed the rest of the group, her eyes widening when she recognized many of them. "Oh goodness! S-So many...I should have helped you all as soon as you walked in!"
"It's fine, no need to worry." Ash said in a somewhat embarrassed tone, not entirely used to be being treated like some type of celebrity. Behind the raven-haired trainer, Dawn couldn't help but flush slightly at Ash's use of her catchphrase. "We're sorry for sort of barging in here unannounced."
"No! No! It's totally fine! We're honored to have such amazing trainers like you all in our little school!" The secretary beamed with a massive smile, completely unable to reign in her excitement. "W-What can we do for you!?"
"Well, my group and I are in town so that I can challenge the Violet City gym..." Ash explained as the secretary hung on his every word, eagerly nodding her head. Feeling a bit uncomfortable because of the secretary's enthusiasm, Ash took a small step back and rubbed the back of his head. "We were hoping to kill some time...so would it be alright if we observed one of your classes? We'd even be willing to assist in some way."
"Oh my, what an honor! I'd have to discuss this with the principal first, but I'm sure he'll say yes!" The secretary beamed, practically leaping out of her seat and dashing toward the office door behind her. Grabbing the handle, the secretary gave Ash and his group a thumbs up. "Just give me a moment to talk with him!"
"Wow...she sure is...energetic..." Cynthia drawled in a tone that barely hid her annoyance as she released a light sigh, watching the secretary disappear into the principal's office. "This is the one thing I hated about being champion of Sinnoh...all the attention got old...really fast."
"Oh my gosh, guys! Look at this!" May hissed in a hushed tone, barely holding back her laughter as she grabbed something off the secretary's desk. Quickly whipping around, May showed the rest of the group a framed picture of Ash, with a heart drawn around his face. The raven-haired trainer's entire face suddenly flushed bright red in embarrassment. "Looks like she's a big fan of yours, Ash."
"Arceus, kill me now..." Ash muttered underneath his breath as he used a hand to shield his face. Immense discomfort washed over Ash as he felt his entire body start to heat up. Seeing the rest of his group gather around the photo and start giggling, Ash had to resist the urge to bolt out of the room. Ash began to rapidly tap his foot, every second feeling like a small eternity as he did his best to ignore his group's teasing comments. Pikachu even got in on the jokes, smiling deviously as he poked Ash's cheek. "Come on...come on...where is this lady?"
"Good news, Mr. Ketchum!" The secretary exclaimed, suddenly barging back into the room, a small stack of papers in her hands. "The principal absolutely loved the idea of you sitting in on one of our classes!" Slamming the papers onto her desk, the secretary smiled brightly at Ash and his group. "If you're ready, you all just have to fill out one of these forms and I'll escort you to Mrs. Forester's class! They should be getting back from their lunch break soon, so you won't be interrupting them!"
"Sounds good..." Ash said as he laughed awkwardly, taking one of the forms the secretary offered him. After giving the paper a quick once-over, Ash grabbed a pen and signed it. Despite the secretary's discomforting enthusiasm, Ash did feel a rush of excitement at the prospect of teaching new trainers. After handing the secretary the signed form, a large grin spread across Ash's face as he adjusted his cap. "Alright, let's see what these kids are learning."
(Five Minutes Later: Mrs. Forester's Classroom)
"Okay kids, I need your attention! I have a special announcement!" Mrs. Forester called out, clapping her hands together as she walked to the front of the classroom. All the eyes of her thirty students were on her as she stood in front of the chalkboard. "This is pretty sudden, but we just had a special guest show up at the school. He's agreed to sit on our lesson today and will even be offering his expertise." This seemed to excite the students as they began to murmur to each other. "I'm sure you've all seen him battling on TV..." Mrs. Forester smiled as she walked over to the classroom's door and opened it. "Everyone...please give a warm welcome to Ash Ketchum and his friends!"
Almost immediately the entire exploded in a flurry of excitement, with students gasping and standing up out of their seats. Then, as Ash and his group walked into the classroom, he was showered in a wave of excited cheers and shouts. Most of the kids couldn't believe that he was actually in their classroom and were going wild. Ash was used to this type of attention and simply smiled as he stood at the front of the class, waiting for the children to calm down, Eventually, with plenty of coaxing from Mrs. Forester, most of the children had managed to quiet down, but they were still practically buzzing with excitement. Once things had calmed down enough, Ash glanced over at Mrs. Forester and she nodded, signaling for him to finally introduce himself.
"Hey guys, I'm Ash Ketchum and I'm from Pallet Town in the Kanto region. I'm a Pokemon trainer just like you all and it's my dream to become a Pokemon Master." Ash said which caused several excited squeals from the students. Reaching up, Ash stroked Pikachu's chin. "And this is my best buddy, Pikachu. He was my starter Pokemon and we've been together a long time." Turning his head to his side, Ash gestured toward the rest of his group. "And these are some of my friends. We've spent a long time traveling across the regions in my journey to become a Pokemon Master. But I think I'll let them introduce themselves."
"Hi kids, my name is Dawn and I'm the Top Coordinator in the Sinnoh region!" Dawn introduced herself with a smile, stepping forward and waving to the children who were staring at her with rapt attention. "I've known Ash for years and we've been on a ton of wild adventures together! Hopefully, I can teach some of you how awesome it is to become a Pokemon Coordinator!"
"Oh, me next! Hey everyone! I'm May! Like Dawn, I'm a Top Coordinator as well, but in the Hoenn region!" May cheered as she leaped forward and flashed a peace sign, a massive grin on her face. "The story of when I met Ash is actually pretty wild, maybe I'll tell you all if we have time. I'll be working with Dawn to show you how amazing it is being a Pokemon Coordinator!"
"I guess I'm next..." Iris said, clasping her hands behind her back and stepping forward. "Hello guys, my name is Iris. I'm not a coordinator like May and Dawn, I'm just a normal trainer like you all. But I do specialize in training dragon-type Pokemon. If you'd like, I'd love to teach you guys about them and show you how cool they are."
"My turn now...how are you kids doing?! My name is Flannery and I'm the leader of the Lavaridge Gym in Hoenn!" Flannery introduced herself as she rested her hands on her hips. "My gym specializes in fire-types. So if you ever find yourself in my gym, I'll really turn up the heat!"
"I suppose I'll go next. My name is Roxie and I'm the leader of the Virbank Gym! But that's not all, I'm also the front for the band Koffing and the Toxics! I may not have liked school very much, but I do like the idea of teaching you how to rock!" Roxie said, pulling her guitar strap so that it was now resting against her waist. "In my gym, you're gonna have to go up against poison-types! If you don't win fast against me, my Pokemon will whittle you down and crush you!"
"Now, that was an interesting introduction, I'll try to follow it. Hello children, my name is Anabel and I'm a Frontier Brain in the Kanto region. I run the Battle Tower near Cremini Town." Anabel said as she stepped forward and bowed slightly, surprising the students with how gracious she was. "I wouldn't say that I particularly specialize in any type of Pokemon, but I do tend to prefer psychic-types. I'm also empathic, which means that I can sense the emotions of living beings and communicate with them. I've had this ability ever since I was little." This caused several awes of wonder from the students. "I hope that I'll be able to teach you all how to deepen your bonds with your Pokemon."
"Looks like I'm up now." Hilda said somewhat nervously, before stepping forward and coughing into her hand. "Hey guys, my name is Hilda and I'm the former champion of the Unova region. I was champion until..." Leaning forward, Ash glanced over at Ash, sticking her tongue out at him. "Ash beat me. Now, he's the champion of Unova. Other than that, I'm just a normal Pokemon trainer. I love catching and battling Pokemon. And with hard work and dedication, I know you all can be great trainers too."
"Well said, Hilda. I'll go next..." Cynthia said with a small smile as she crossed her arms underneath her chest. "Hello kids, I'm Cynthia. Like Hilda, I'm a former champion as well, but I was the champion of the Sinnoh region. I was also defeated by Ash and it was one of the greatest battles of my life. Other than being a trainer, I'm also a Pokemon historian, I like to spend my free time researching and exploring various sites associated with legendary Pokémon across the world."
"I'm not the best at this sort of thing...but I'll do my best. Hello, I'm Nessa and I'm from Hulbury in the Galar region." Nessa said, waving and smiling awkwardly as she chuckled. "Galar doesn't have its own Pokemon League yet, but we're trying to establish one. And once that is done, I hope to open my own gym that specializes in water-type Pokemon. I actually met Ash and his friends during the recent Pokemon League championships in Kanto. After seeing what an amazing trainer he is, I asked him to help teach me how to be a better trainer. He agreed and I've been traveling with him ever since."
"Salutations children, my name is Cilan and this is my lovely girlfriend Burgundy! We both hail from the Unova region and are Pokemon Connoisseurs!" Cilan declared as he gestured toward Burgundy before both connoisseurs gave exaggerated bows. "We hope you'll let us assess the compatibility you all have with your Pokemon!"
"Wow, I don't know how I'm supposed to follow all that...well here goes. Hi kids, my name is Rosa. I'm not a former champion or gym leader, I'm just a normal trainer like you guys. I come from Aspertia City in the Unova region and I'm actually old friends with Hilda." Rosa said with a chuckle, rubbing her arm as she gazed out at the children staring at her. "I actually battled against Ash during the Kanto League championships. He's one of the reasons I became a trainer in the first place and I've admired him for a long time. I'm traveling with his group for a bit before I head off on my own to explore the Johto region. Who knows, maybe one day I'll get to battle him again in another league championship."
"My, those were all amazing introductions!" Mrs. Forester said as she began to make her way back toward the front of the classroom, causing a round of thunderous cheers and applause from the students. It seems that the rest of Ash's group had also made quite the impression on them. Once things had settled down again, Ash and his group made their way to the back of the classroom, taking seats so that they could observe the lesson. "Alright everyone, we'll pick up where we left off earlier and continue our lecture on type advantages. Ash..." Mrs. Forester waved to get the raven-haired trainer's attention. "If you or anyone else in your group has anything to add, or wants to chime in, feel free to do so whenever." Ash and the rest of his group all nodded their heads as the teacher grabbed a piece of chalk. "Okay, before lunch we finished discussing fire-types, so why don't we move onto fire-types."
A smirk spread across Flannery's face as Mrs. Forester continued her lesson, adding her own expertise and insight whenever she could. This continued on as each of the various typing's advantages and disadvantages were discussed, with each member of Ash's group speaking up and joining the lesson at some point. Each of the students was on the edges of their seats throughout the entire discussion, intently listening to everything the experienced trainers said. At some point during the lesson, Ash found himself at the front of the class, constantly adding on to whatever Mrs. Forester taught. The raven-haired trainer often had to be reigned in as he recounted various battles and adventures he had been on, each of the students hanging on his every word.
The lesson soon transitioned from type advantages to covering just a handful of the dozens of abilities Pokemon could have. This was a more information-heavy subject that many of the children had a difficult time following. But luckily Cynthia and Anabel stepped in and made the material slightly easier for them to digest. After this lengthy lecture, the day was starting to wind down. Since they had special guests, Mrs. Forester opened up the rest of the day for a free period. This allowed the students to study whatever they wanted and freely ask questions to Ash and his group.
Most of the class quickly scattered amongst Ash and his friends, bombarding the older trainers with questions. While a majority of the students flocked around Ash, several of them gathered around May and Dawn, eager to learn more about Pokemon Contests and becoming a Coordinator. Flannery, Iris, and Roxie even had a few students congregate around them, wanting to learn more about the types of Pokemon they specialized in. The rest of Ash's group bounced among the crowds of students, helping out where they could and joining in on whatever conversations they were having. Cilan and Burgundy were practically buzzing with excitement as they darted around the classroom, critiquing the relationships the students had with their Pokemon and flexing their skills as connoisseurs.
An hour later, the school day was drawing to a close. Most of Ash's group was gathered in the back of the class, while the rest of the students were huddled around the raven-haired trainer at the front. Ash was sitting on the edge of the teacher's desk, while the students were on the floor in front of him. The raven-haired trainer was recounting one of his adventures in Sinnoh, battling against the evil Team Galactic. Each of the children was leaning closer to Ash, paying attention to every word he said.
"You know...Ash is actually great with kids..." Dawn mused with a smile, watching as Ash released finished telling his story which caused a round of cheers and clapping from the children. As soon as the story was finished, the students wanted to see some of Ash's Pokemon. With a grin, Ash released Sylveon from her Pokeball and allowed the students to pet her. "It makes you think about...you know."
"It really does...especially since Ash mentioned marriage earlier." Cynthia said as she released a wistful sigh, resting her head on her palm. "Maybe when we're finished with this journey we can consider settling down...at least for a little bit."
"Heh, knowing Ash he'd want to go on another journey for the honeymoon." Iris joked, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair. "But knowing how Ash is, he'd somehow make it romantic."
"It's the craziest thing, isn't it?" Hilda said as she took off her cap and brushed some hair out of her eyes. "Ash may seem like an oblivious idiot sometimes...but then he does or says the most romantic thing, seemingly by complete accident."
"These girls...they're really head over heels for Ash." Nessa thought, listening to the girls talk about their future with the raven-haired trainer. She even caught Rosa staring longingly at Ash, a faint blush across her face. "Man, even Rosa too? It may not be official, but I can definitely sense something is going on between her and Ash. I guess I can see why Ash is a really great guy. He is pretty hot too." Nessa felt her entire body suddenly heat up, realizing what she had just thought. "Arceus, what the hell am I thinking!? I've barely known Ash a week! I need to slow the hell down and stop thinking like this!" Unexpectedly, Nessa and Ash briefly locked eyes. After staring at each other for a few moments, Ash flashed Nessa a quick smile before turning his attention back toward the students. Nessa felt her heart skip a beat as she tore her gaze away. "Get a hold of yourself Nessa! You're acting like a horny teenager!"
"Oh, what do we have here..." May thought with a sly smile after she noticed Nessa's flustered reaction. "Did Ash wrangle in another one?"
(One Hour Later: Violet City Gym)
"Man, that was actually awesome! I never knew teaching kids could be so fun!" Ash explained, pumping his fists into the air as the large group entered the gym. "We should totally do that again!"
"I wouldn't mind, that was quite an enjoyable experience." Anabel said with a small smile as she glanced around the gym's entrance. The lavender-haired girl quirked an eyebrow when she saw that the lobby was completely empty. "Um Ash...where is everyone?"
"Hmmm, you should be able to hear them..." Ash replied, confusing the rest of the group as he held a finger to his mouth to silence everyone. After a few moments, the faint sounds of chanting could be heard coming from above. "They're probably on the roof."
"The roof?" Rosa parroted as she stared up at the ceiling overhead, confusion visible on her face. "What the heck are they doing up here...and why are they chanting?"
"The chanting is coming from Falkner's students. They're cheering him on while he trains." Ash explained, leading his group toward a nearby elevator. As everyone piled into the cramped elevator, Ash hit the button for the roof. "And the reason why he's on the roof...well...you'll see."
"What do you-" Rosa was cut off when the elevator doors opened and she saw a group of people standing near the center of the roof. However, what really shocked Rosa was when she spotted what appeared to be a man zooming through the air overhead, with a Pidgeot following closely next to him. "Is that...Falkner?"
"Yeah, he always says that he wants to be as close to flying-type Pokémon as possible. But it looks like he's upgraded from a hang glider to a wingsuit." Ash said with a chuckle, watching as Falkner soared through the air, performing several flips and spins. As Ash walked toward the center of the roof, Pidgeot let out a loud squawk alerting Falkner to his presence. Executing one last flip, Falkner came in for a landing and stopped in front of Ash. "Wow, nice flying skills."
"Thank you, Ash. It's taken years of practice." Falkner said with a smirk as he flipped some hair out of his face and unzipped his wingsuit, moments before Pidgeot landed next to him. "I take it you're here for a gym battle?"
"You read my mind, Falkner." Ash said with a smirk, grabbing Pikachu and handing him to Hilda which caused Falkner's brow to furrow in bewilderment. "So, why don't we get things started?"
"You're not going to be using, Pikachu?" Falkner asked as he led Ash toward the roof's battlefield. "It's no guarantee that an electric-type will win against a flying-type, but it's foolish to ignore the type advantage. Are you underestimating me, Ash?"
"Of course not, Falkner. I just want to get one of my new Pokemon some more experience." Ash explained, stopping on his end of the battlefield. Noticing one of Falkner's students step up as a referee, Ash turned his cap backward in preparation for the battle. "I'm going to give it my all, Falkner. I want to see you do the same!"
"I wouldn't dream of doing anything else." Falkner said with a chuckle as he rested his fists on his hips. "Show me the strength of a champion, Ash!"
"This will be an official three-on-three battle between the challenger, Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, and the Violet City gym leader, Falkner! Are both trainers ready to begin!" The referee announced, causing bother trainers to nod their heads. "Both trainers, please send out their first Pokemon!"
"Let's see how high you'll soar, Ash! Take to the air, Staraptor" Falkner explained as he enlarged a Pokeball and tossed it high into the air. With a flash of white light, the Predator Pokemon appeared in the air, unleashing a ferocious screech. "What a magnificent specimen! What will you bring to challenge me, Ash?!"
"I was expecting to face powerful flying-types...this is why I picked you for this battle, you need the experience." Ash said, staring down at the Pokeball in his hand. Taking a deep breath, Ash cocked his arm back and tossed out his Pokeball. "Dartrix, I choose you!" Letting out an intense hoot, the Blade Quill Pokemon landed on the field in front of Ash. "Let's do this, Dartrix!"
"Dartrix...oh my..." Falkner muttered as he stroked his chin, closely analyzing the owl-like Pokemon. "I've never seen a Pokemon like it before."
"Staraptor vs. Dartrix, let the battle begin!"
"Take the initiative, Dartrix! Use Aerial Ace!" Howling in acknowledgment, Dartrix flapped its wings and flew toward Staraptor, with powerful energy encasing its body.
"Dodge it, Staraptor! Then counter with Air Slash!" Letting out a fierce caw, the Predator Pokemon easily avoided Dartrix's attack in the open air. After performing a high-speed roll, Staraptor positioned itself behind Dartrix, unleashing a barrage of wind blades.
"Quick Dartrix, use Sucker Punch!" Whipping around, Dartrix's body become coated in dark energy as it flashed toward Staraptor. In the blink of an eye, Dartrix slammed into Staraptor, momentarily stunning the Predator Pokemon. "Now follow it with, Steel Wing!"
"You have to recover, Staraptor! Use-" Falkner was cut off when Dartrix's shimmering wings slashed Staraptor, causing the Predator Pokemon to howl in pain. But being a powerful and fully-evolved Pokemon, Staraptor quickly recovered from the attack and was back in the fight. "Nice job, Staraptor! Use Giga Impact!"
With a flap of its powerful wings, Staraptor launched toward Dartrix at an incredible speed. As Dartrix gained even more speed, its entire body became encased in a stream of flowing energy. Before Dartrix could even attempt to dodge, Staraptor landed its attack. An echoing boom rang out as Dartrix was sent crashing into the roof. Staraptor flinched as it to was forced to be immobile to recover from Giga Impact.
"Dartrix! Are you okay!?" Ash called out, staring at his injured Pokemon. The raven-haired trainer began to fear the worst, but he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the Blade Quill Pokemon slowly get back up. "Can you keep going, Dartrix?" Rapidly shaking its head, Dartrix nodded to signal that it could keep battling. "Great! Use an Energy Ball and Brave Bird combo!"
Because it was still immobilized, Staraptor could only watch as Dartrix took to the air to prepare its attack. Once Dartrix was positioned above Staraptor, it formed a medium-sized ball of green energy. Then, Dartrix dove toward Staraptor, firing Energy Ball as it drew closer. Once Dartrix fired its first attack, its body became shrouded in brilliant blue flames as it unleashed Brave Bird. Staraptor was first hit by Energy Ball, causing it to grunt in pain as the attack spiraled into the Predator Pokemon's back. A moment later, Staraptor screeched in pain as Dartrix slammed into it. Dartrix purposefully targeted Energy Ball, amplifying the normally not-every-effective move's power drastically.
The momentum behind Dartrix's attack sent both Pokemon crashing down toward the roof. With a thud, both flying-types slammed into the ground, with Staraptor bearing the brunt of the impact. The Predator Pokemon appeared to be motionless as Dartrix leaped away, flinching as it was hit by the recoil from Brave Bird. The referee approached Staraptor and crouched down next to the fallen Pokemon. After a few moments, the ref stepped away and called the match.
"Staraptor is unable to battle, the winner is Dartrix! Falkner, please send out your next Pokemon!"
"You were magnificent, Staraptor. But that Dartrix is quite the intriguing Pokemon." Falkner said as he returned his knocked-out Pokemon, grabbing another Pokeball off his belt. "That was an impressive first battle, Ash. But let's see if you can keep it up! Now, it's time to fly high, Pelipper!" In a bright flash, the Water Bird Pokemon materialized in the air above Falkner. "Let's see if you can handle this, Ash!"
"Pelipper vs. Dartrix, let the battle begin!"
"We'll strike first this time! Pelipper, use Hurricane!" The Water Bird Pokemon began to rapidly flap its wings, kicking up a massive amount of wind that swept over the entire battlefield. The attack's range was so large, that Dartrix had no chance to avoid it. The Blade Quill Pokemon hooted in pain as it was swept up high into the air, being bombarded by the devastating gusts of wind. Suddenly the winds died down and Dartrix began to fall toward the ground. "Follow it up with Wing Attack!"
"Dartrix! Try to recover and use Leaf Blade!" Managing to straighten itself out, Dartrix dove toward Pelipper, its wings glowing with vibrant green energy. Both Dartrix and Pelipper barreled toward each other, their attacks ready to be discharged. Then, both Pokemon clashed mid-air, a small explosion ringing out as their attacks collided. Through the cloud of smoke burst Dartrix, the Blade Quill Pokemon falling toward the ground. A few seconds later, Pelipper emerged as well, appearing to have taken minimal damage. Ash felt a pang of worry as he watched Dartrix crash into the roof, coming to a skidding stop a few feet away from him. "Dartrix! Are you okay!?"
Despite their injuries, Dartrix was defiant and tried to get back up. The Blade Quill Pokemon winced in pain as it stood back up on wobbling legs. However, before Dartrix could even attempt another attack, Pelipper swooped in landed a powerful Quick Attack. Dartrix was instantly floored by the sudden attack, lying motionless on the ground and groaning in pain. However, Dartrix was still determined to continue battling, despite all of its injuries. Images of Ash's other fully evolved grass-types, like Sceptile and Chesnaught, flashed through Dartrix's mind. The determination to not let its trainer down and to become like the Pokemon it looked up caused a sudden surge of energy to flow through Dartrix's body. Letting out a fierce howl, the Blade Quill Pokemon stood back up, its entire body engulfed in a blinding white light.
"No way...Dartrix is evolving!" Ash exclaimed with a massive grin, watching his Pokemon's form change and grow larger. "What will Dartrix change into!?"
When the white light finally began to die down, Dartrix's new form was revealed. The new Pokemon was tall and avian, resembling a large owl. The upper portion of its face was dark green with a thin, orange mask-like marking encircling its eyes. Its eyes are reddish-orange and it had a hooked dark green beak. The feathers covering its wings and back were brown, while the rest of its body was primarily white. The three feathers at the tip of each wing were structured similarly to fingers and had lighter tips. The backs of its wings and torso were dotted with many white spots, with six on each wing. The inside of each wing had a line of upside-down, reddish-orange triangles across the top. It sported long legs, feet with two toes facing forward and two backward, and short dark green talons. Its tail consisted of three long, green leaves. A leafy hood covers its head and shoulders, and partially covered its face. The hood was smoothly draped across the shoulders and back. Around the head, the hood formed many pointed projections that extend over its face. A single white feather with a red base extended from the top of the hood. In the center of its chest was a reddish-orange X shape formed by dead leaves with two thin green vines extending from it.
"Woah..." Ash breathed out as he stared at the new Pokemon in awe, having never seen anything like it before. Taking out his Pokedex, Ash scanned Dartrix's new form. When the Pokedex dinged, signaling it was finished, Ash scanned through the entry. Just like before, the Pokedex entry was pretty limited, but Ash at least learned the new Pokemon's name. "So you evolved into...Decidueye, the Arrow Quill Pokemon..." The raven-haired trainer's eyes narrowed slightly as he read an interesting part of Decidueye's Pokedex entry. "And it looks like you learned a new move...Spirit Shackle...I wonder what that does?"
Decidueye's eyes widened as it sprang into action, interpreting Ash's questions as an attack command. Suddenly, Decidueye drew an arrow from a quill that was hidden underneath from its wing. A shadowy aura surrounded the tip of the arrow after it was drawn, using a vine as the bowstring. The arrow was fired and looped around Pelipper, before striking the ground in front of the startled bird. A burst of blue fire-like energy exploded around Pelipper, sticking the Water Bird Pokemon's shadow in place, preventing it from moving. Then, without any commands from Ash, the Arrow Quill Pokemon launched itself toward Pelipper. In one fluid motion, Decidueye slashed Pelipper with a devastating Leaf Blade.
"Holy crap..." Ash muttered, his eyes widening as he watched Decidueye gracefully land back on the roof, with Pelipper crashing behind it. The Water Bird Pokemon laid of the ground unmoving, appearing to be knocked unconscious. "I...was not expecting that."
"Pelipper is unable to battle, the winner is...did you say Decidueye?" The ref glanced over at Ash for confirmation and the raven-haired trainer nodded his head. "Decidueye is the winner! Falkner, please send out your final Pokemon!"
"My, that was quite an interesting development...but you did a great job Pelipper." Falkner said as he returned the Water Bird Pokemon to its Pokeball. Grabbing the final Pokeball off his belt, Falkner tossed it into the air. "This where we'll make our final stand! Time to soar, Pidgeot!" With a mighty caw, the Bird Pokemon appeared in the air above Falkner. "Time to soar, Pidgeot!"
"Pidgeot vs. Decidueye, let the battle begin!"
"Strike fast, Pidgeot! Use Aerial Ace!" The Bird Pokemon let out a fearsome screech as it dove toward Decidueye, energy streaming off its body.
"You use Aerial Ace too, Decidueye!" Using its powerful legs, the Arrow Quill Pokemon launched itself into the air, before it flapped its large wings and flew towards Pidgeot. Both Pokemon slammed into each other and entered into a stalemate, stuck in a midair deadlock. Pidgeot and Decidueye growled as they tried to overpower each other, massive amounts of energy flowing off their bodies. However, before the standoff could go on forever, Decidueye made use of its large legs to kick Pidgeot in the chest. The Bird Pokemon gasped in pain as all the air was knocked from its lungs. "Good thinking, Decidueye! Now, slam Pidgeot into the ground!"
Grabbing Pidgeot with both its legs, Decidueye flipped the Bird Pokemon over and drove it toward the roof. The Arrow Quill Pokemon gained a lot of momentum as it barreled closer to the ground. With a thunderous crack, Pidgeot was smashed into the roof, with Decidueye's claws digging into its chest. Giving one last powerful, downward thrust with its legs, Decidueye hopped off of Pidgeot.
"Pidgeot! Are you alright!?" Falkner exclaimed in a worried as he watched his Pokemon struggle to get off the ground. The Violet City gym leader was about the forfeit the round, but Pidgeot let out a powerful squawk as it mustered enough strength to get back into the air. "I knew you could do it, Pidgeot! Unleash Air Slash!"
"Let's finish this battle, Decidueye! Use Shadow Sneak to get in close, then hit Pidgeot with Aura Sphere!" Just as the Bird Pokemon discharged a barrage of wind blades, Decidueye's body disappeared into its own shadow. Then, in an instant, the dark shade darted across the roof, merging with Pidgeot's own shadow. Before the Bird Pokemon could even react, Decidueye materialized from Pidgeot's shadow, a glowing sphere of blue energy under its wing. "End this, Decidueye!"
Thrusting its wing forward, the Arrow Quill Pokemon slammed the Aura Sphere into Pidgeot's back. The Bird Pokemon screeched in pain as it was once against sent slamming into the roof. This time, however, Pidgeot didn't attempt to get back up. The official made his way over and closely examined Pidgeot. It didn't take him very long to make his decision.
"Pidgeot is unable to battle, the winner is Decidueye! Since all of Falkner's Pokemon have been eliminated, the winner of the match is the challenger, Ash Ketchum!"
"YEAH! You did amazing, Decidueye!" Ash cheered, rushing onto the field and hugging the Arrow Quill Pokemon. Decidueye look absolutely elated as it hugged its trainer back, basking in the shower of praise. "I knew you could do it Decidueye, you've been training so hard lately!"
"You did your best, Pidgeot...we'll just have to train more..." Falkner said with a small smile as he gently patted the Bird Pokemon's head, earning him a weak coo in response. Taking out a Pokeball, Falkner returned Pidgeot and released a light sigh. "Better go congratulate the winner."
"That was a great battle, Falkner!" Ash said with a bright smile, shaking the gym leader's hand. "If Dartrix didn't evolve, this battle would have been a lot harder."
"Nonsense Ash, you're an amazing trainer and you would have bounced back no matter what." Falkner said as he chuckled, returning Ash's handshake. "Oh, and I heard you and your group stopped by the Pokemon School. I'm sure those kids loved having you teach them, thanks so much for doing that."
"It's no problem, Falkner, it was actually a ton of fun." Ash said with a grin, rubbing the back of his head. "I'll have to do it again sometime."
"You'll be welcome here anytime, Ash." Falkner said as he released Ash's hand. "I'll be rooting for you to win the Johto League. It's about time someone kicks Tobias out of here."
"Thanks, Falkner, I'll be sure to give Tobias hell." Ash said, noticing that his group was waving at him. "I gotta get going, we'll have to battle again sometime!" With those final words, Ash gave Falkner a wave as he jogged back toward his friends and lovers. "That's one gym down! I'm one step closer to achieving my dream!"
And done! That was a hell of a chapter to write. I struggled a bit at first, but I really got going around the midway point. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, the next one will continue Ash's journey to win the Johto League and bring him ever closer to his fated rematch against Tobias! So, I hope you're all looking forward to that. I will be working on my Fairy Tail story next, but I will get back to this story in due time, so I ask that you just be patient and wait for my next update. Remember to follow/favorite if you enjoyed, PLEASE REVIEW (I NEED YOUR FEEDBACK), check out my P atreon page and please consider supporting me and my writing (remember if you have any questions or suggestions, please PM me or leave a guest review), check out my profile and other stories if you haven't already, and PM me any ideas you might have for my stories. So until next time, I'm outta here!