Ch.7: Pokémon Tech School
After their unpleasant encounter with AJ, Ash and co. set up camp and slept for the day. They travelled for a few days and nothing eventful happened. Then one morning they continued on their journey early in the morning but the forest started to become a thick fog.
"That's just great. The fog is affecting the reception of my Holo-Caster and I can't see the map too clearly with all this fog," Ash said as they were wandering through the forest.
"You mean we're lost," exclaimed Misty.
"It would appear so," said Ash and Misty groaned.
"Well let's stop for now and maybe eat something before we let tempers rise" Brock said and tried to calm everyone down. He got out a table, chairs and cooking utensils and Ash wondered how the heck he fit all that in his back-pack but Brock wasn't giving out that secret.
"Ah, nothing like some Cerulean city coffee to get started in the morning but I don't think this is for you kids," he said as he pulled out a blender and coffee packets from his bag. "Prune juice?" he asked to the others but Ash and Leaf said no while Greninja gave him an 'you've got to be kidding me' look.
"How about some tea," Misty asked and Brock just pulled out a tea set and bottle of water. "I can do better, how about some crêpes?" Brock asked and Misty started to grow stars in her eyes and daydream about romantic stuff.
"Pass, I had plenty of those in Kalos," Ash said. "They're nice but it's only fun to eat them with Serena".
"Of course romantic food is only fun with your girlfriend," smirked Brock and Ash blushed, while Greninja and Leaf giggled.
"Don't you need firewood to boil water, Brock," Ash asked when he could speak again and tried to change the subject and Brock nodded. "Excellent observation and for that Ash you can get the honor of finding some for us!" he said dramatically while Ash just sighed and decided to get on with it.
"I'll go with you," said Leaf and followed Ash.
As Ash, Leaf, Greninja and Pikachu were searching for firewood they came across kids holding pictures in front of a kid on a treadmill. Ash decided to just ask them for any places with firewood and went up to them.
"What's this Pokémon," one asked while holding a photo.
"A Zubat?" one on the treadmill said.
"Idiot, is your head full of fog as well Joe," one said scathingly.
"A Pidgey," Joe said.
"Luck guess, now what's its special attack," another said.
"Gust, Sand attack...," Joe said, and Ash and Leaf wondered how that's a special attack when a load of bird type Pokémon know that.
"What level does it evolve and what does it evolve into," another one said.
"I don't know," he said and slipped on the treadmill but Ash had Greninja catch him before he could hurt himself.
"Hey, what's that," one said while pointing at Greninja.
"What do you think you are all doing," Ash said while he walked in front of a red headed one that seemed to be the leader.
"Mind your own business. We're testing the level of some of the students at our Pokémon tech school and sorry to say but he doesn't cut it," one said.
"Well, the standards must be appalling to let bullies like you lot just hurt someone and not even act sorry," Ash said angrily.
"That's right Ash," Leaf said. "Let's teach them a lesson!"
"Don't worry I can take these morons any day," Ash said while glaring at the group.
"All 5 of them at one go?" Misty asked skeptically.
"You haven't seen what Greninja and I can do when we battle," smirked Ash.
"Hmph, like we would lower ourselves to deal with trash like you," the red head said while taking a step back from Greninja.
"Backing away in fear, looks like they'll have to add coward to your résumé," Ash said.
The others glared at Ash before walking away into the fog.
"So that's the infamous Pokémon Tech students" Brock said as he looked at the 5 of them vanish into the fog.
"I've never heard of Pokémon Tech," said Leaf.
"That makes two of us," said Ash.
"Pokémon Tech is short for Pokémon Technical and it's a school for trainers," Misty said as she pulled out a flyer from her pocket.
Brock asked if he could look at it and read it out loud. "Pokémon Technical. A boarding school for Pokémon trainers and all trainers that graduate are guaranteed a placement at the Pokémon league. Pokémon tech is a school for exceptional children who want to become Pokémon trainers in a sort time without having to travel long and difficult journeys to collect badges."
"That sounds kind of stupid," said Ash.
"Yeah, how could trainers get to the League without gaining experience from battling gyms," asked Ash.
"There's more," Brock said as he continued reading. "The high standards of Pokémon tech are in key with the student entrance and tuition fees and set by Pokémon Technical."
"So it's a school for snobby rich kids, who think they know everything," summarized Leaf.
"Couldn't have said it better," said Ash and turned his attention to Joe. "Where is actually that stupid school?"
"Right over there," said Joe, who pointed in front of him and the fog started to clear, and a school building could be seen.
Ash realized just how much lost they've been to be camping in the school courtyard and Brock packed up their supplies quickly and tried to do it before anyone could see.
The school bell rung and an announcement to signal the start of class was heard.
"Well, looks like it's time to get turned into a snowman tomorrow," Joe sighed and Ash felt bad for him.
"Do the students treat you like this all the time," Ash asked.
"My friends are just trying to help me learn," Joe said dejectedly while Brock felt bad for him as well.
"With friends like that, who needs enemies," Brock said.
"I know, but they tried to teach me about the Pidgey evolution line," Joe said and sprouted off all sorts of useless junk about Pidgeotto and Pidgeot while Ash was confused.
"If you knew the answer why didn't you just tell them," Ash asked.
"If I do they make the questions harder," said Joe and started talking about how some people stay here even when they're adults and how hard his family worked to send him here.
"Well this system is a farce and if they let bullying like this go unchecked and don't even care about it then I'm talking to the person in charge about this," Ash said angrily.
Joe pulled out a picture from his jacket. "Here's a picture of Giselle, she's the student in charge here".
Brock immediately sported a blush as he looked at the picture. "Wow she's hot!" This just made Misty angry.
"If she made the horrible system here that lets bullying go around like crazy then why do you have a picture of her," Misty said angrily.
"Well she's beautiful, I don't like her system but I like the way she looks," Joe said. "Don't you think so?" and asked Ash.
"Serena's way more beautiful," he said. "Leaf is also more beautiful, and it doesn't need to be a heartless jerk to everyone for people to think that. Even Misty is more beautiful than this girl because real beauty is on the inside not the outside." Leaf and Misty blushed a little before Misty bashed Brock who was still staring at the picture.
"That's so sweet, Ash," said Leaf kindly.
"So is this Serena girl the most beautiful girl you've ever met," Joe asked.
"Of course she is. After all, she's my girlfriend," said Ash with a blush.
"Well, I'm going to find that witch and put her in her place," said Misty as she marched towards the school while Ash, Greninja, Leaf, Brock and Joe tried to catch up with her.
Joe showed them around the place and showed them their battle simulator room and said Giselle usually hangs around in here. He then explained how the simulators work and how he has the skill of a two badge trainer and went to a machine and beat Misty's Starmie. Needless to say, Misty didn't like that too much. Joe explained that as the bottom of his beginner class he has the skill of a two badge trainer and Giselle was at the top of his class and had the skill of over a three badge trainer.
"How can a stupid machine tell you that you could beat the Cerulean city gym," Misty yelled at Joe who just shrugged and told her than his Weepinbell could beat their Pokémon pretty easy.
"Well then let's test that Joe," Misty said and called for a battle.
They went to a battlefield inside the room and Ash was wondering how it came to this.
"Um, why are you fighting Joe. We're here to defend him and change the bullying system not beat him," he asked Misty but she just snapped back at him.
"I have to defend the honor of the Cerulean City Gym, Ash Ketchum so butt out of it," Misty yelled and Ash stayed silent.
"I hope she knows what she's doing," Leaf whispered to Ash.
"Me, too," replied Ash.
"Starmie, let's go," said Misty and she brought out her water/psychic–type.
"This'll be a piece of cake. Weepinbell, come on out," said Joe as he summoned his grass/poison–type.
"Starmie, use Water Pulse," said Misty and Starmie launched its Water Pulse, which struck Weepinbell, sending it flying.
"That was anti-climactic, what was the point of this again," Ash muttered to Leaf.
"But Weepinbell is a Grass–type he should be able to beat a Water–type," Joe muttered to himself in confusion and Ash felt the need to face palm at the garbage this school feeds the students.
"But the opponent is a Pokémon from a gym leader and is stronger than Weepinbell, you should have known that, embarrassment," a snide voice said from behind Joe and the person from the picture, Giselle, walked into the room with the people from the morning behind her.
"Giselle...," he muttered dejectedly as he looked at her.
Brock nearly went into overdrive as he saw Giselle and muttered, "She's like a movie star," and was about to walk up to her and ask for a date but was stopped by Greninja who held onto his shirt. Ash was angry at these horrible people, really they were like Gary. Heck the whole school is filled with people like Gary. Misty looked like she wanted to bash something and caught sight of Brock and filed him for a bashing in future.
She then went on a stupid speech about how others don't have her looks, talent and modesty in a dreamy voice and Greninja had to tighten his grip on Brock, and Ash and Leaf just thought that at the end of it she was dumber and more conceited than Team Rocket and that's saying something!
She walked up to Joe and said in a dreamy voice, "I want to help every student here to learn, teach each other, respect each other and become the Pokémon trainers of the future," and Ash was wondering just how delusional this nut-job is. Then she took on a harsher tone. "But you're a weakling, get stronger or everyone you know will turn their back on you. Understood!" and Joe looked shocked and she turned her back on Joe and walked away.
Misty had just about enough of this witch and decided to pipe up. "Not so fast! A real friend wouldn't just walk away like that on a friend. How could you even call yourself a friend of Joe? Your so called beauty and brains are only skin deep," she said at Giselle.
"Jealousy isn't exactly pretty either," she said back to Misty in a mocking tone.
Ash wondered if he should step in before this escalates and Brock's out of commission so it falls to him but Brock stopped him and muttered something about not getting in between two angry women.
"Well then, let's settle this with a battle," she said and picked up a Pokéball. "If it's a water pokémon then go Graveler," she said with a dramatic pose and materialized a Graveler onto the pitch.
"But Graveler is a Rock–type, that would be a disadvantage against a Water–type," Brock said in confusion. "My pokémon are at an advanced level, no water Pokémon could beat Graveler" Giselle said in a haughty tone."
"Okay, enough is enough! She may mock Misty all she wants, but when she insults Water–types, that becomes personal," said Greninja as he let go of Brock and leaped onto the battlefield.
"What's Greninja doing," asked Leaf.
"He can tolerate Giselle mocking Misty, but felt pretty insulted what she said and wants to defend the honor of Water–types," said Ash and turned his attention to Giselle. "You said you want to battle a Water–type, well Greninja is more than happy to oblige."
Misty knew there was no way to change Greninja's mind and returned her Starmie, and whispered to Ash. "Show her who's boss." and Ash nodded.
"What Pokémon is that," Giselle asked in confusion to her peers but they all took out books and shook their heads. One pulled out an old–fashioned Pokédex and tried to scan Greninja but a voice just said. No data available.
"That's Greninja. He's the Water–type starter in the Kalos region, which is where I'm from. Since you said any Water–type, then let's battle," said Ash.
"Prepare to lose then," Giselle smirked.
"You're the one who's going to lose," said Greninja.
Giselle was about to give Graveller a command, but Ash was quicker.
"Greninja, jump and use Double Team," said Ash. Greninja jumped high into the air and created copies of himself.
"Graveller, wipe them out with Rock Tomb," said Giselle. Greveller hurled multiple rocks at Greninja's copies, destroying them, but much to everyone's surprise, the real Greninja was nowhere to be found.
"Greninja, use Night Slash," said Ash. Greninja came from bellow Graveller and struck the ground/rock–type with Night Slash.
"From where did Greninja come from," asked Giselle, shocked.
"Well, he isn't known as the 'Ninja Pokémon' for nothing," smirked Ash. "Greninja, use Aerial Ace and then finish it with Water Shuriken!"
Greninja's right leg glowed and struck Graveller with Aerial Ace, and then fired multiple Water Shuriken, which hit Graveller hard, knocking it out.
"What? How is that possible," screamed Giselle. "You cheated!"
"And how did I do that," asked Ash.
"No water–type can beat my Graveller so it's obvious that Pokémon can't be a water–type," said Giselle cockily.
"Am I the only one who saw Greninja using Water Shuriken, which is a water–type move," asked Leaf.
"What the heck is Water Shuriken," asked Giselle.
"Water Shuriken is Greninja's signature move," answered Ash.
"What's a "signature move"," asked one of the students.
"It's official, these guys are more stupid than Team Rocket," said Misty.
"By the way, Greninja is not only a water–type, but a dark–type as well," said Ash.
"See, you did cheat," said Giselle with a smirk. "That wasn't a water–type, so it doesn't count. Not to mention that there's no thing as dark–type."
"Really, then what types do you think these two are then," asked Ash and brought out Houndoom and Hydreigon.
"What the heck are those," asked Giselle.
"These are Houndoom and Hydreigon. They are Pokémon from Johto and Unova," explained Ash. "But please tell, what types do you think they are."
"Houndoom looks like a fire/ghost–type and Hydreigon looks like a flying–type," said Giselle, causing Ash and co. to face palm.
"Can I roast her," asked Houndoom.
"Let me make one thing clear. Houndoom is fire/dark–type and Hydreigon is dark/dragon–type, and he's floating because of his ability, Levitate," said Ash.
"You just made that up," said Giselle.
"Listen, Ash is a lot of things, but he's not a liar," said Leaf, annoyed.
"I bet none of your Pokémon can beat my strongest Pokémon," said Giselle.
"Then let's battle again," smirked Ash.
"You're so on," said Giselle. "But we won't battle here. I'm going to humiliate you at the courtyard." Ash simply shrugged his shoulders and they all left.
They went to they courtyard where the students were convening. Some passing by students started to mutter about how Giselle is going to win and Ash was just getting annoyed at this whole farce.
"Go, Cubone," said Giselle as she brought out her Cubone. "So which one of your Pokémon am I going to crush?"
"You know, let's see who wants to battle you," smirked Ash and he brought out the rest of his Pokémon, including Salamence and Steelix. "So, which one of you wants to teach Giselle and her Cubone a lesson?"
"I want to battle," said Glaceon.
"Okay, Glaceon, I choose you," said Ash and Glaceon stepped on the battlefield. "We're ready, Giselle."
"What kind of Pokémon is that," she asked, which irritated Glaceon.
"Ever heard of ice–types," asked Ash.
"Of course I have. Do you think I'm stupid," asked Giselle.
"Do you really want me to answer that question," asked Ash.
"I've had enough of this. Cubone, use Leer," said Giselle.
"Glaceon, close your eyes and then use Hail," said Ash.
Cubone tried using Leer, but it didn't effect Glaceon and the female ice–type summoned her Hail, causing damage to Cubone.
"How come Leer didn't have any effect," asked Giselle.
"If a move requires eye contact, then just tell your Pokémon to close its eyes," Ash said simply.
"Why you little? Use Bone Club full power," said Giselle.
"Glaceon, dodge it and use your newest move. Use Attract," said Ash.
Cubone rushed at Glaceon with his bone raised, but Glaceon dodged it and landed her Attract, causing Cubone to fall in love.
"What the heck is that," asked Giselle.
"That's Attract. It makes Pokémon from the opposite gender to fall in love," explained Ash.
"But that means your Glaceon is female," said Giselle shocked.
"Yup," said Ash. "She's not only beautiful, she's also dangerous."
"At least they know that Pokémon have genders," muttered Leaf and Brock and Misty nodded.
"I suggest you forfeit, Giselle," said Ash. "Cubone can barely attack and takes damage from Hail and there's a move that always hits when its hailing."
"I won't give up," said Giselle, trying not to sound nervous.
"You asked for it," said Ash. "Glaceon, use Blizzard!"
Glaceon fired her Blizzard, which struck Cubone, freezing it solid.
"Let's wrap this up with Water Pulse," said Ash. Glaceon formed a ball of water and launched the Water Pulse at the frozen Cubone, hitting it directly, which was enough to knock it out.
The school was shocked that a kid from nowhere managed to beat Cubone and their top trainer in their age group with ease. Leaf and Misty were cheering for Ash and Brock smiled and the rest of them looked shocked.
Once Cubone woke up, he started to sob like a baby and Glaceon looked at him confusingly. "That meanie hurt me," sobbed Cubone, and Ash and Glaceon just sweat dropped.
"Don't cry Cubone, you did your best now return," Giselle said softly and returned Cubone. "I lost," she muttered to herself.
"The textbooks...," she started but Ash cut her off.
"Textbooks will only give you a foundation to work on. If all the school teaches is just a book on battling then the students have no chance in the real world" Ash said and that ensued several gasps and murmurs among the crowd, "A trainer's best skill is versatility, adapting to situations and foresight, planning for all sorts of encounters with different strategies. Knowing information on every Pokémon and all their skill is useless if you never learn to apply it to real life battles. I only came here to stop people bullying others, it's horrible and I am disgusted you people think it's acceptable to do that to make others learn. People learn at their own pace and learn because they are interested in it, if not then it won't work," said Ash.
"Wow, that was amazing," Joe said as he looked at Glaceon. "That was an once–in–a–lifetime moment," he said passionately while Ash was feeling uncomfortable, seriously it was just Glaceon beating a Cubone.
Then smoke started to appear at their feet and Ash was seriously getting tired of this nonsense.
"Prepare for Trouble"
"And make it double"
"To protect the world from devastation"
"To unite all people's within our nation"
"To denounce the evils' of truth and love"
"To extend our reach to the stars above"
"Jessie" "James"
"Team rocket, blast off at the speed of light"
"Surrender now and or prepare to fight"
"Meowth, that's right"
"Hey, I remember you. You're the idiots who got the lowest score ever in the history of this school in the entrance exams" Giselle said while pointing at the idiots and Ash wasn't surprised by that.
"That explains why they're so stupid," Leaf whispered and Brock and Misty nodded in agreement.
"Hey, they remember us" James said.
"They'll remember us even more after we steal their pokémon" Jessie said with a smirk.
"2 idiots against a whole school and all of my Pokémon? I think the odds are against you," Ash deadpanned at the duo and they looked around, and saw Ash's Pokémon glaring at them, plus all the students had Pokéballs out and were ready to fight.
"H-Hey can we do 1 on 1," James asked fearfully.
"Let's get them, guys," said Ash and his Pokémon nodded. "Greninja, use Water Shuriken! Lucario, Aura Sphere! Gliscor, Giga Impact! Nidoking, Sludge Bomb! Salamence, Dragon Claw! Hydreigon, Dark Pulse! Yanmega, Silver Wind! Houndoom, Flamethrower! Gallade, Focus Punch! Glaceon, Frost Breath! Steelix, Iron Tail! Pikachu, Thunderbolt! Butterfree, Psybeam! Pidgeotto, Aerial Ace!"
The Team Rocket trio looked in horror as they saw the attacks heading for them and before they could move a muscle, they got hit and were send blasting off.
"You think that'll teach them a lesson," asked Brock.
"I hope so," said Leaf.
"Good job, guys," said Ash as he returned all him Pokémon, except for Greninja and Pikachu when a portly man in a suit with a name badge that said Headmaster.
"Just who do you think you are," he yelled at Ash, "How dare you mock our institution!"
"My name is Ash Ketchum from Vaniville town in the Kalos region and I dare because it's the truth," Ash said calmly and everyone attention was drawn to a spluttering and angry principal and a calm Ash.
"W-Why you little! And what qualifications do you have to be talking like that to us," he barked.
"Take a look," said Ash as he pulled out his Pokédex and showed his ID.
The headmaster was quite surprised when he saw that Ash was an apprentice to the Kalos region champion.
After one of their battles Diantha asked if Ash and Serena wanted to be her apprentices, apparently Alder from Unova took an apprentice named Marshal and he was bragging about it to the rest of the champions. The Pokémon league made it official for champions to have apprentices so the league can know which new rookie trainers to look out for and Diantha couldn't think of anyone other than Ash and Serena for that role. Heck they both learnt a lot from Diantha and Ash and Serena kept telling how much they looked up to her. They accepted and Diantha could get back at Alder with her own apprentices.
The moment the headmaster saw this, he paled considerably. The league would have his hide if he threatened this kid but he couldn't just let him walk away, if he does then all the other students will agree with this brat.
"Okay then, if you think you know better than me about what to teach these students then prove it with a battle," he said with a smirk. "If you lose then you have to admit our system is superior in every way and if you win then it means your right and it's flawed. Care to battle one on one? Both of us will use our strongest Pokémon."
"You're on," said Ash, much to the students' shock.
"Ash, he's the headmaster. He's a lot stronger than you think and has really powerful Pokémon," said Joe.
"Don't worry. He's got this," said Leaf. "I believe in my brother."
"I'm going to enjoy this. Let's go, Dragonite," said the headmaster and a Dragonite materialized and the students gasped.
"Greninja, let's do this," said Ash and Greninja hopped on the battlefield.
"Dragonite, start with Focus Punch," said the headmaster.
"Greninja, dodge it and use Night Slash," said Ash.
Dragonite charged at Greninja with Focus Punch, but the 'Ninja Pokémon' dodged the attack and struck Dragonite with Night Slash.
"Greninja, use Ice Beam," said Ash.
"Dragonite, counter it with Flamethrower," said the headmaster.
Greninja fired his Ice Beam, but it was countered by Flamethrower, didn't notice Dragonite charging in with Dragon Rush and got hit by the powerful dragon–type attack.
"Hang in there, Greninja. Use Water Shuriken," said Ash.
"Dragonite, block them with Aqua Tail and then use Focus Punch," said the headmaster.
Greninja fired multiple shurikens, but Dragonite managed to counter them with Aqua Tail and struck the water/dark–type with a super–effective Focus Punch.
"Greninja, are you okay," asked Ash and Greninja nodded, and miraculously stood back up.
"That frog's got some determination. Dragonite, use another Focus Punch," said the headmaster.
"Greninja, block it with Aerial Ace," said Ash.
Dragonite charged with another Focus Punch, but Greninja barely managed to counter it with Aerial Ace.
"Use Night Slash," said Ash. Greninja formed a dark blade and struck Dragonite with the dark–type move.
"Dragonite, use Aqua Tail and then Dragon Rush," said the headmaster.
Dragonite recovered from Night Slash and struck Greninja with Aqua Tail and Dragon Rush.
"Stay strong, Greninja. Don't give up," said Ash.
"What did I tell you? I can't beat be," teased the headmaster.
"It's not over yet," said Ash and turned his attention to Greninja. "Greninja, you can do it. We can win this. Think about Delphox."
Greninja slowly opened his eyes at the mention of his crush and barely started to get up.
"Imagine if Delphox's life depended on this battle," said Ash encouragingly.
Greninja fully opened his eyes and glared at Dragonite, who had a surprised look on its face.
"That's the spirit, Greninja. Let's show them what exactly we're all about," said Ash and Greninja nodded. The two of them mimicked their movements and were surrounded in a water veil, which exploded and a giant shuriken formed on Greninja's back, and Greninja's transformation into Ash–Greninja was complete.
Everyone present stared in shock at the transformed Greninja and Leaf noticed that Greninja now look a little like Ash. But no one was more surprised than the headmaster.
"What the heck is that," asked the headmaster.
"That's our special bond," smirked Ash. "Greninja, use Night Slash and then Aerial Ace!"
Greninja charged like a bullet a Dragonite and struck the dragon/flying–type with Night Slash, followed by Aerial Ace.
The headmaster got over his shock and gave Dragonite his command. "Dragonite, use Focus Punch!"
"Use Double Team to dodge it," said Ash.
Dragonite charged with Focus Punch, but Greninja created multiple copies of himself, confusing the 'Dragon Pokémon'.
"Wipe them out with Flamethrower," said the headmaster. Dragonite fired its Flamethrower and destroyed all the copies, but Greninja was nowhere to be found. "Where did it go?"
"Use Aerial Ace," said Ash. Greninja came from bellow and struck Dragonite in the chest with his foot. "Now use Smokescreen."
"I've had enough of this. Dragonite, use Draco Meteor," said the headmaster frustrated.
Greninja unleashed a thick smoke around the battlefield. Dragonite launched its Draco Meteor in the air, which exploded into multiple meteors and crash on the ground, clearing the smoke, but there was no sign of Greninja.
"Use Water Shuriken," said Ash.
From out of nowhere, Greninja threw his shuriken at Dragonite.
"How is that frog so fast," asked the headmaster. "Dragonite, use Dragon Rush!"
Greninja, dodge it and use Ice Beam," said Ash.
Dragonite charged at Greninja with Dragon Rush, but Greninja avoided the attack and struck Dragonite with Ice Beam, freezing it solid.
"Dragonite, get out of there," said the headmaster.
"Greninja, let's finish this. Use Double Team followed by Water Shuriken," said Ash.
Greninja created multiple copies of himself and lifted the shuriken on his back above his head, and the copies were absorbed in, making Water Shuriken even bigger.
"Let them have it," said Ash and Greninja threw the humungous shuriken at the frozen Dragonite, hitting directly, which was enough to knock it out.
The headmaster stared in disbelieve at his defeated Dragonite and then looked at Greninja, who turned back to normal, and collapsed on his knees.
"Ho-How," he muttered to himself and caught sight of Ash. He was ruined, all by some brat. The Headmaster sucked in his pride and admitted to Ash. "Ok, the system the school runs by is flawed," he said with gritted teeth.
"No, it's not," Ash said blankly and everyone stared at him.
"What," the Headmaster asked.
"You were the one who said it. I never said the system was flawed, I think it's just incomplete. You give so much emphasis on the book and only the book and don't let the students gain experiences from battling. You only give them the skills but you never let them have the chance to refine them and limit them to stupid simulators which have no real-life application. I believe that travelling is the best way to learn how to be a trainer but others may not and prefer to learn to be a trainer in a school environment. This school needs to stop giving each trainer ranks based on their knowledge and degrading them with horrible acts of bullying. I said it was a sham because the parents are wasting money by learning from bullying. This school just needs to be rid of the bullying problem and emphasis on the book and you'll be making real trainers out of these students easily," Ash said to the Headmaster as he picked himself up and pondered on Ash's words.
"Wow," he said quietly. "That is something to learn about." Ash offered his hand to the headmaster and he took it and lifted himself up and announced to the school. "Ash Ketchum from Vaniville town. You showed me that the way I'm trying to help these students is wrong. From now on I'm changing the curriculum. You proved to all of us that the book is only a stepping stone and you use to go to greater heights not just stand on it and do nothing like I did. And I'm putting an end to bullying, I get too many complaints for it from the students and maybe that's why we have so many students stuck here every year without progressing. Thank you for opening my eyes."
"No problem," said Ash as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Ash, that was amazing," cheered Leaf as she gave Ash a hug, which he returned. "But what was that transformation Greninja did?"
"Yeah, it was nothing I've ever seen before," said Brock.
"Well, that's mainly because of our bond. When Greninja transforms, our hearts become one and that's pretty much it."
"What do you mean by 'your hearts become one'," asked Leaf.
"Well, we mimic each other's movements, see from each other's point of view, things like that," said Ash.
"That's got be the amazingest thing I've ever seen," said Leaf.
"'Amazingest' is not a word," said Brock.
"Do you have a better word for it," asked Leaf.
"No," muttered Brock.
Ash shook hands with the headmaster and he got the crowd of students to disperse back to the school and left as well.
"Ash that was a really nice thing to do," Misty said with a smile, and Leaf and Brock nodded as well to Misty's comment.
"Can we get going? I'm tired from the battling and I want to get to the Pokémon Center before sundown," said Greninja and Ash nodded.
As they were about to leave they met with Giselle and Joe again. Giselle saw Ash battle and was shocked at how qualified he was and his skills, if he attended the school he would have been at the top. An apprentice to a champion! He trounced her without even trying and the headmaster's strongest Pokémon, which was the strongest in the school! She greatly admired him but after Misty saw her looking at Ash she told her that he liked another girl and Giselle felt dejected at that. She had to agree with Misty on one point, all the good ones are always taken. She then decided that she wasn't learning much by staying in this school and decided to travel just like Ash.
Joe looked at Ash in amazement. A kid his age had just beaten first Giselle, the strongest trainer in their age group and then the headmaster who had the strongest Pokémon in the school. He felt like he was wasting all the hard-earned money saved by his parents and realized that continuing at Pokémon tech was not worth it and called his parents to tell them what happened and his decision to travel like Ash and they supported his every decision. He decided to go home before travelling on a journey. Similarly a lot of older students, some even adults saw Ash's example and decided to learn more from the outside world than from a school.
Both Giselle and Joe met up with Ash and his group one last time and wished them good luck before leaving on their own journeys.
"Well, Serena's now 10," Ash said as the group was travelling. "We have to get to Vermillion city. She's going to get there in a few weeks and she can then travel with us," he said excitedly.
"Slow down, pal. We'll get there on time to see your girlfriend," said Brock while chuckling. Leaf was also excited as she couldn't wait to meet her brother's girlfriend. Misty also wanted to meet this girl, but deep down she was jealous that Ash had already found his soulmate.
"Let's get going," said Ash as he ran down the road with Pikachu on his shoulder and Greninja following him.
"When you say 'slow down', he hears 'let's hurry'," said Leaf as she chuckled at Ash's behavior.
Here's chapter 7. I bet some of you didn't expect it so soon. Leaf, Brock and Misty saw Greninja transform into Ash–Greninja. Next time Ash will meet the Kanto starters. The next chapter will be out by the end of May. I'll see you all next time.
R&R