Chapter 5
Saturday, May 9th
Dinner at Nakamura's was planned to celebrate Ash and Gary reaching the final stage of the tournament. To Ash's surprise, he was met at the entrance of the restaurant by a woman that recognized him.
The hostess addressed Naoko and their conversation continued in Japanese as they discussed what kind of room they would like to use. The hostess took a gander at the group that accompanied Naoko and she paused as her gaze settled on Ash.
She made a brief exclamation as she approached him, but she spoke in Japanese which left Ash looking to the girls for a translation. Zuki was quick to interrupt her and explain Ash's background and the language barrier vanished.
"I'm sorry dear," She apologized. "I wasn't expecting to see you again so soon. You battled my daughter today."
"Your daughter?"
"Megumi Nakamura," She explained. "I'm her mother, Yui."
"Oh, your daughter is a great trainer," Ash said kindly.
"Yes, the match you two had was incredible and you're an impressive trainer as well," She remarked. "I guess it's no surprise that you were invited into the Izumo Estate."
"What does that mean?" Ash asked, but Naoko cleared her throat and Zuki quickly stepped in between them.
"Sorry to interrupt, but the boys are famished from battling all day," Zuki interjected and the Yui's cheeks became pink.
"Oh, my apologies," Yui said as she then ushered them into the restaurant. As they were led to their private room, Ash found himself near the rear of the group walking alongside Zuki.
"Psst," He whispered to get her attention. "What did she mean earlier?"
"Earlier as in?" Zuki questioned him in return and Ash narrowed his eyes.
"When Yui said that I was invited to the estate, why did she say that?" Ash asked her again.
"Okay…forewarning, it's just a rumor that's running around town," Zuki said with a sigh. "But some of the townspeople think that you were brought to the estate as a potential husband for one of us."
Ash blinked. Then he looked away from Zuki for a moment. Then back to her. She waited. He pointed to himself. "Me?"
"Well, in prior generations, when a man is brought into the estate, he is either a servant or a husband," Zuki explained. "It's clear to everyone that you're not a servant, so…"
"You guys expect me to marry one of you?" Ash asked in a harsh whisper.
"Well, you don't have to make it sound like such a bad thing," Zuki retorted. "We offer a comfortable life. It's considered to be one of the highest honors to marry one of the matriarchs."
"Hold on," Ash muttered as he raised a hand. "I'm just starting to get to know you all and we're skipping straight to marriage? I don't know about all of this."
"Oh my, what am I going to tell Kuni now?" Zuki noted softly and Ash's eyes grew wide. "And I heard she had her heart dead set on you."
Ash paled visibly as he pointed at himself again and his mouth hung open. Then he looked ahead of them where he could see Kuni at the front of their group chatting with Naoko and Yui.
"If you don't intend to marry her, I would be forthright and let her know right away," Zuki said, but Ash hesitated. "But before you do, let me tell you one last thing."
Ash gulped audibly when Zuki placed a hand on his shoulder. "Just kidding," She whispered.
Ash turned his head to her slowly. His mouth snapped shut and his gaze became narrow. Zuki raised one of her hands to conceal her mouth as she laughed openly at Ash. His leer only amused her more which caused Miki and Sayo to glance back at the two of them.
"What's up with you guys?" Miki inquired.
"I just pranked, Ash," Zuki offered as an explanation between giggles.
Ash heaved out a sigh. This wasn't the first time that Zuki managed to trick him, nor could he assume that this would be the last. She was clever, so he would tip his imaginary cap to her and be more mindful going forward.
They arrived at their private room and took their seats, though Ash invited Froakie to have a seat next to him at the end of the table. That choice resulted in all of the accompanying Pokemon, the Eevee gang, Espeon, and Growlithe, all trying to squeeze in at their table. Soon enough, everyone was situated and although they lacked elbow room, they proceeded with the night happily.
"Ash, do you drink at all?" Naoko asked him as she raised the glass bottle that sat at the center of the table. Ash knit his brow, unable to read the label of the drink. "Its sake."
"I'll try it," Ash said as he passed his cup down to her, but Gary was quick to intercept his cup before it made it to Naoko.
"Na-ah, Ashy-boy," Gary cut in. "No alcohol for you. I don't want to hear any excuses when Squirtle and I beat you tomorrow."
"Alcohol?" Ash exclaimed. He'd all but forgotten about certain luxuries like that.
Naoko was quick to apologize for her thoughtless offer.
"I got a little caught up in my urge to celebrate," Naoko explained. "But the boys still have some more work ahead of them. We'll celebrate tomorrow, regardless of the outcome."
There was a verbal agreement made, but afterward, Ash and Gary shared a glance. Ash could see a glint in Gary's eyes, a sparkle of confidence. He was certain that tomorrow he would claim victory. It only fueled Ash's determination, and as Froakie sat next to him, he could feel it. A flame was lit in Ash's heart.
The door to their private room was opened and a familiar face greeted them all.
"Good evening, everyone!" She declared as she bowed and her Pancham mimicked her actions. It was Megumi.
"Megumi, what you doing here?" Ash asked her.
"Well, my family owns the restaurant, so they threw me a little dinner party to celebrate how far I advanced in the tournament," She explained.
"Oh, well since you work here, I didn't think you'd want to celebrate here," Ash noted, but Megumi tilted her head.
"Why wouldn't I want to be here?" She asked in return. "I love this place!"
Ash couldn't fault her for that.
"Anyway, my mom told me that you came here to eat, so I thought I'd just drop by and thank you for the battle one more time," Megumi explained with a large grin that Pancham mirrored. "You and Froakie were amazing opponents. I'm never going to forget that battle!"
"I'll say the same to you. It could've gone either way," Ash said as he gave her a nod of agreement.
"I'd like to hope that you win the whole thing since I lost to you, but," She paused with a frown. "Bruno has been undefeated for as long as I can remember. I don't want to count you out, but all I can really say is…ganbatte."
Ash recognized that phrase. 'Do your best.' He looked to Kuni who was seated across from him.
"What was the response you guys say to that?" Ash asked her.
"Ganbarimasu," Kuni said quickly, and Ash repeated the phrase to Megumi. She beamed at him before she waved. Pancham threw in a quick salute to Froakie before Megumi said farewell to the group and closed the door to their room.
As they waited for their meals to arrive, the conversation between the group continued. Ash, however, became quiet as he thought about Megumi's words. She wasn't the only one to express that Bruno was a powerful trainer. It left Ash to wonder how he and Froakie would do against Bruno and Tyrogue. His chest grew hot as he bit on his lower lip to hold back his smile.
Strong trainers still had the same effect on him. His curiosity was piqued. How would he fare against them in a battle? That question always made him excited.
Dinner arrived and Ash devoured his meal quickly. He ordered seconds and his voracious appetite was on full display. It almost mirrored the gusto that Miki ate with.
"Sheesh Ash, I've never seen you eat like that," Sayo noted.
"I gotta fuel up, tomorrow's going to be a long day," Ash replied as he looked to Froakie beside him.
"Froa-kie!" Froakie shouted as he sprinted across the courtyard of the Izumo Estate. He ran with all his might, but it was nothing to write home about. Froakie soon came to a stop and looked at Ash with a great frown.
"Still no dice," Ash noted. He was seated on the porch as he observed Froakie's practice. Their goal was to create some usable form of Agility for their matches tomorrow. But, their progress was lacking, and Ash still couldn't think of a proper explanation. He could remember through his many months of training with Pikachu what Agility felt like, but he couldn't put it into words.
"Froa-Froakie?" Froakie asked. Ash gave a sigh as he rose to his feet and joined him on the field.
"I'm sorry, I know my explanations of this haven't been the best," Ash said as he scratched at the back of his head. "But Agility isn't about reaching your top speed. It's for surpassing it. Don't focus on what you know, think about going beyond that."
"Froakie-kie," Froakie muttered as he crossed his arms.
"Surpassing your limits is like…um, geez," Ash mumbled as he also crossed his arms. "It's like…okay, how about we do it together and I'll try to show you."
Froakie glanced up at him curiously.
"Come on," Ash said as he motioned for Froakie to stand alongside him and take up a fighting stance. "Pretend we're battling Squirtle, and he's got us pinned down with his Water Gun."
Froakie mimicked Ash's stance and looked across the field to envision Squirtle and his proud grin.
"We're still really far so it's easy to dodge," Ash went on as Squirtle fired at them. They both sidestepped, but in opposite directions so Froakie crashed straight into Ash's shin and fell over. "Sorry."
Froakie groaned as he got back to his feet, but the thought of Squirtle snickering at them helped him regain his focus.
"Let's try again, we'll both go right," Ash instructed him and Froakie nodded. They dodged the Water Gun together, and as they cleared the attack, Ash called for Froakie to freeze in his current position. "Now keep in mind, surpassing your limits isn't something that you can do all the time. It's something you have to be selective with," Ash pointed to Froakie's stance. "Right now, just for this moment, you want to faster than you've ever gone before. Don't consider your limitations…just focus on your goal and let your body move."
Froakie raised his brow as he replayed Ash's words.
'Just focus on your goal and let your body move.'
Was that all he really had to do...? He would find out himself. They restarted the exercise and dodged Squirtle's Water Gun. As Froakie got settled on his feet, he lunged forward with all the strength he could muster but there wasn't any difference. He failed to close the distance before Squirtle's follow-up Water Gun blasted him away.
This wasn't good enough.
"Kie," Froakie said as he raised his head.
Ash nodded, and they repeated the process.
They continued with varying results. Froakie even slipped after the sidestep at one point and fell flat on his face. But Ash was happy to see him get right back on his feet and call for them to go again. After several attempts, Froakie paused to catch his breath. Ash kneeled down beside him and waited for Froakie to steady his breathing.
"Do you remember the night we met?" Ash asked him. Froakie furrowed his brow at the sudden change in subject, but he gave Ash a nod. "Do you remember what I told you that helped you to use Water Pulse?"
"You just need to clear your head. Let's just breathe for a moment."
"I'm going to say it again," Ash began. "You need to act with a clear head. Put all the other distractions aside. You don't need to prove anything to anyone at this competition. You are strong. Now take a moment, and just breathe with me."
They closed their eyes and did this together in silence. Ash found himself in a dense haze, but he wasn't alone this time. He could feel Froakie beside him. With each breath that they took, the haze around them cleared away. With one final breath, they opened their eyes and looked at each other.
Their eyes held the same unmistakable red hue that glowed in the darkness.
Without a word, they rose to their feet again and envisioned Squirtle once more. Ash and Froakie stared intently at Squirtle and their chests grew hot. Squirtle spewed a jet of water from his mouth that threatened to cool them off, but Ash and Froakie dodged to their right with another sidestep. As their feet touched the ground, they lowered their stance and the heat in their chest reached down to their legs. Froakie only had his eyes on Squirtle, and he surged forward.
Ash's eyes widened as Froakie flashed across the courtyard in an instant. The heat within him disappeared as Froakie reached his destination well before Squirtle could even react to it. The image of Squirtle faded and Froakie looked back to Ash, unable to hide his grin.
"Do it again," Ash said immediately as he motioned for Froakie to come back. "Before you forget what it felt like. Let's do it again!"
Sunday, May 10th
The sun was at its peak in the sky and the final day of the Phoenix Festival was well underway, but the most popular attraction today was the main battle stage in the central plaza of Ecruteak City. Shop owners and the like opened their doors and used their roofs to create additional spaces for the audience to view the battles. There wasn't a soul in the city that was going to miss the finals.
A special viewing area had been opened to the nobility of the city, which included the Kimono Girls, city council members, and even Spenser, one of the most renowned individuals in the city. They were located on the rooftop that overlooked the battlefield which provided one of the best aerial views.
Kuni stole a glance at the duo of Lady Satsuki and Spencer that sat beside her. They chatted softly to pass the time before the match began.
"We have some interesting participants this year, don't we?" Lady Satsuki asked as she looked to Spenser. He gave a nod of agreement.
"Indeed, there are some newcomers that caught my eye," Spenser said with a small laugh.
"Ah yes, our two boys from Pallet Town," Satsuki noted as she searched for them among the crowds below. "We have Samuel Oak's grandson here, and he's shown some promise as a trainer."
"I've seen him battle quite a few times. He's improved remarkably since he first arrived here," Spenser agreed with her. "But his path as a trainer has only just begun. He has much to learn."
"And I know you've taken an interest in Ash," Satsuki said as she sent a playful glance at Spenser. "Especially since he partnered with the Froakie you've been looking after. Is it fair to say that he's your favorite?"
"That is correct," Spenser admitted with a snort. "I saw something special between him and Froakie on the night that they met. I'm hoping today they will start to build on that special bond between them."
Kuni couldn't resist and jumped into their conversation.
"What do you mean by special?" She inquired and Spenser looked to her with a smile.
"Have you ever heard about someone meeting their 'partner Pokemon?'" Spenser asked in return, and Kuni furrowed her brow. She'd heard that term maybe once or twice, but its meaning remained a mystery. Kuni shook her head as an invitation for Spenser to continue. "These are old tales without much proof for us to see in the modern world. But long ago, when a trainer encountered their partner Pokemon, the two of them could form a special bond and bring out each other's full potential."
"But what does that mean?" Kuni pressed and Spenser looked up in thought.
"It can take on many forms," He reasoned. "So, I can't tell you exactly what to expect, but watch Ash closely as you have been and I'm sure you'll see it yourself."
Kuni's cheeks turned pink before she looked away from Spenser, which caused him and Satsuki to share a brief laugh. Kuni pouted before she looked down at the crowd below. She scanned it briefly before she found the area where the trainers participating in the tournament were located. There she saw Ash and Froakie among them, putting in what little practice they could before their match.
At long last, the host took his place on the stage and the crowd became hushed with a call for their attention. He briefly explained the rules of the battle for the crowd before he invited the first two trainers up onto the battle stage. Each of the participants was well regarded and the audience cheered for them.
Kuni watched the early matches and listened closely to Spenser as he made his observations about each of the trainers. She knew him as the groundskeeper of Bell Tower, but since she rarely received an opportunity to visit the tower, she hardly knew him. But, listening to him as he spoke, it was evident that he was a very experienced trainer. He even provided some insights about Bruno's match and what his opponent could've done to last more than fifteen seconds.
The time arrived for one of the most anticipated matches of the day. Ash Ketchum vs Gary Oak.
Ash developed an impressive following during his battles in the streets during the second day of the festival. Word spread quickly that he was staying at the Izumo Estate with the Kimono Girls which garnered even more attention. Everyone wanted to see what sort of trainer he was.
Ash and Froakie's battles were very down to earth. Rooted in the basics of exchanging blows, Froakie won his battles through point victories, carefully defending himself and attacking when he spotted an opening. It matched the traditional style of battle in Ecruteak City.
Gary, on the other hand, was a star. Since he spent the last year in the city, the residents were very familiar with him. Contrary to Ash and Froakie, Gary and Squirtle battle with style and flair, especially if they were superior to their opponent. They would deny any opportunity to score points and make grand gestures to the audience through their flashy moves. But, if faced with an opponent of a similar skill level, they became more reserved as Gary searched for a tactical answer to the strategy of their opponent.
Compared to the traditional style, Gary's was far more entertaining which created his adoring fan base.
As the two trainers met on the stage with their Pokemon, the audience gave shouts for them to have a good battle. The four participants bowed to each other before they separated and the host pointed to the timer at the edge of the stage. Ash and Gary stared closely at the other.
'I hope you're ready, Ashy-boy!'
'Let's do this!'
"Hajime!" The host shouted as he raised his hand.
"Go, Froakie, use Pound!"
Ash gave the first command and Froakie dashed at Squirtle. This was their once chance to get close for free since both Pokemon stood at the center of the stage to start the contest.
Froakie pounced at Squirtle who's eyes widened Froakie attacked with his feet. A dual kick that Squirtle managed to block with his forearms but he was forced back a few steps while Froakie backflipped to land on his feet. He immediately rushed at Squirtle again, trying to stay close and land hits while he could.
Squirtle attempted to retaliate and keep Froakie away by lashing out with his tail, but Froakie jumped over the attack and delivered his foot to Squirtle's face as a response. Squirtle stumbled backward and Froakie continued his offense, threatening to push Squirtle toward the edge of the stage. Ash furrowed his brow as he looked to Gary who had yet to say anything, but he wore a straight face. What was he planning?
"I thought we'd do you a favor and let you get some points, Ashy-boy," Gary called out from across the stage. "Because you won't be getting any more after this. Squirtle, keep them away with your Water Gun!"
Froakie's eyes widened as he quickly took in his surroundings. He was close to Squirtle, within ten feet. At that range, he couldn't react fast enough to dodge a Water Gun, and that remained a fact as he was blasted across the stage. Froakie tumbled for a moment before he jumped back to his feet and sent Squirtle a hard stare.
"Alright then, Froakie, this is just like we practiced," Ash called out to Froakie. Upon hearing Ash's declaration, Gary sent him a glance but continued to smirk. In the month that he spent battling Ash and Froakie, their only improvement was in close-range combat. At a distance, they were helpless. What could they have practiced?
Froakie lowered his stance before he rushed forward at Squirtle and that triggered another Water Gun. It matched all of the practice perfectly. Froakie sidestepped it and rushed forward alongside the Water Gun as fast as he could toward Squirtle, but he met with a second Water Gun that sent him right back to the other side of the stage.
Ash twitched uncomfortably as Froakie got back on his feet. It didn't match what they did last night…
"Froakie, calm down and focus," Ash said and Froakie paused before he could charge in again. "This is just like practice. Do what we did last night."
Despite Ash's suggestion, Froakie failed to accelerate to the degree he did last night and was tossed back by another Water Gun. He tried multiple times, but regardless of his level of determination, he still couldn't use Agility to close the distance. Ash stood at the edge of his stage, chewing on his lower lip. What was different compared to last night? Froakie managed to use Agility repeatedly once they figured it out last night, but that wasn't the case now.
Ash watched Froakie closely to see if he could find anything that was out of the ordinary. But this move was too new. One night of practice wasn't enough for Froakie to have an established routine with this move. They did all they could…but it wasn't enough.
Froakie hit the floor with a grunt, drenched in water and aggravated as he got onto his knees. He looked angrily across the field at Squirtle before he lowered his head.
"Kie?" He asked himself before he raised his hand and pounded the stage with it several times. "Froa-kie…"
"All this practice, but I'm still so weak…"
Ash raised his brow as he heard Froakie's voice.
"You are strong!" Ash declared in response, and Froakie looked back to him with wide eyes. "Strength isn't shown through winning. It's shown when you face a challenge even if you know that you may not succeed!"
"Water Gun!" Gary hollered before Ash could say anything. Froakie barely managed to roll out of the way in time, though Ash was mistakenly soaked by Squirtle's attack. Some in the crowd couldn't help but laugh as Ash wiped the water off his face with the sleeve of his coat. Ash sent a glance at Gary who smirked in reply, but Ash wasn't bothered. He looked back to Froakie.
"Don't lose heart," Ash added. "Just remember what you practiced."
Froakie recalled everything that Ash told him from the night before.
"Take a moment, and just breathe with me,"
Froakie took in a deep breath, his chest visibly swelling before he exhaled.
"Put all the other distractions aside,"
Froakie cleared his thoughts. He tuned out the audience and his gaze settled onto Squirtle.
"You are strong."
Froakie looked back to Ash once more, and the young man raised his brow as he saw a glint in Froakie's eyes.
"You ready?" Ash asked him.
"Kie," Froakie replied with a nod.
Together they looked back to Squirtle who tightened his stance as he made eye contact with them. Gary frowned before he made eye contact with Ash, and felt a chill on his back. There was something different…Ash's eyes were usually dark, but Gary could swear that there was a red glow in them.
From the rooftop overlooking the battlefield, Spenser stroked his long beard with a smile on his face. This was what he was waiting to see.
"Squirtle, keep them away with your Water Gun!" Gary called out preemptively. He'd seen enough Pokemon battles to sense when the momentum was shifting. Froakie dodged the attack just like in practice, and Ash mirrored his actions as he moved. Froakie's feet touched the field and his body began to glow before he surged forward.
"Froakie hasn't learned how to close the distance against an opponent."
Gary's eyes grew wide as Froakie became a blur that rushed at Squirtle. Before Squirtle could even fire his second Water Gun, Froakie was in front of him! Froakie landed two swift jabs that stunned Squirtle who was already surprised by Froakie's burst of speed. Froakie didn't let up as he continued his assault, landing several punches and chops to Squirtle's arms and face.
"Squirtle, force him back!" Gary hollered as he regained his bearings. Squirtle raised his arms to protect his face and block a few blows while he got a clear picture of Froakie's location. In between punches, Squirtle dropped his arms to fire another Water Gun, but even at point-blank range, Froakie avoided the attack. Squirtle suddenly took a hit to the back of his head, and he stumbled forward right into an uppercut from Froakie. That punch lifted him from his feet slightly and Squirtle fell down onto his side with a grunt.
Gary stared at Froakie with wide eyes. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Where was all of this coming from? He'd seen a good portion of Ash and Froakie's training sessions and he battled them once a week. Froakie never demonstrated the level of speed that he just witnessed.
Squirtle did what he could to fend of Froakie's attacks, but they couldn't keep him away now. Froakie was racking up points as he landed his punches in quick succession. Water Gun wasn't enough to create some space for Squirtle, so they didn't have much of a choice. They would not let Ash and Froakie seize control of this battle.
"Squirtle, use Withdraw and follow up with Rapid Spin!"
Ash felt his lips quiver. Gary just called for a move that he'd only shown against the likes of Naoko and their opponents on the main stage. He wasn't looking down on them anymore. They forced Gary to acknowledge them as real threats. But Ash could feel Froakie's burning desire. Acknowledgment wasn't enough…only victory.
Squirtle pulled his arms, legs, and head into his shell before he hurled himself at Froakie. Even as the momentum seemed to be shifting in Ash's favor, Gary took a firm grasp on it and tugged back. The Rapid Spin connected and forced Froakie a few steps back, but Squirtle could no longer keep Froakie at a distance. Froakie finally found a measure of consistency with Agility and had no trouble bypassing Squirtle's Water Gun to keep the battle at a more comfortable range for himself.
But the addition of Rapid Spin posed a new challenge. Froakie still couldn't land any hits, not when Squirtle could fall back into his shell and then attack from that same position. Regardless of if Froakie could close the distance, Rapid Spin still denied him any opportunity to land a hit and score points. Unless they thought of something soon, Squirtle's point lead would lead to his victory...
Ash took a breath as he considered these things. Baby steps. They already forced Gary to use a move he wouldn't normally use. That in itself was a small victory. But what could they do now to deal with Rapid Spin? Froakie had the edge in speed, especially with Agility in his arsenal. But, in the end, Froakie's footwork lacked polish. A move like Double Team would've allowed them to at least avoid Squirtle's Rapid Spin and punish each miss…could Froakie use that now?
Ash could vividly remember the day Brock taught him and Pikachu about Double Team.
"Well… there are different ways to use Double Team and not all Pokemon are capable of using Double Team," Brock continued. "In Pikachu's case, he's using his speed. Or really, his ability to accelerate and deaccelerate to create after-images on the field."
From that day forward, Ash saw Pikachu use Double Team at least a hundred times a day. The rapid acceleration through Agility to move from one spot to the next almost instantly was what made Pikachu a fearsome opponent. If Froakie had this skill right now, they could turn this battle around.
"Rapid Spin again, Squirtle!" Gary called out in response to Froakie's approach.
Squirtle lunged forward as he retracted his arms, legs, and head into his shell once again. But unlike the previous exchanges, Squirtle passed right through an image of Froakie that caused both Gary and Ash's eyes to grow wide. An after-image? Double Team!
When did…how did? Ash shook his head and put his questions aside. Now wasn't the time.
Squirtle halted his Rapid Spin and landed upright on his feet, but Ash immediately spotted a wobble in his knees. It couldn't be…could it? Ash looked to Gary and saw that the young man was visibly chewing on his lower lip.
"Froakie, Pound!" Ash called out. An after-image of Froakie rushed past Squirtle to startle him, and then Froakie followed through to deliver a haymaker to Squirtle's face. The hit was audible and earned a wince from Gary as Squirtle stumbled from the punch. "Again!"
"Water Gun!" Gary shouted in return. Water Gun wasn't the answer. It passed right through the only after-image that Froakie could produce, which allowed Froakie to slip right in and deliver an uppercut to Squirtle's chin. Water went everywhere as Squirtle's attack was abruptly cut short, and Gary looked visibly frustrated. "Get him away from you, use Rapid Spin!"
Squirtle barely managed to keep his footing, but his vision was a blur. All he had in mind was Gary's command, so he followed those instructions. He withdrew into his shell again and hurled himself forward. Froakie didn't even need to summon an after-image as Squirtle missed him completely. As Squirtle landed on his feet, the evidence was even more pronounced as Squirtle stumbled, unable to keep his balance.
Rapid Spin still made him dizzy.
"Now Froakie!" Ash shouted. His shout was a warning for Squirtle to tighten his stance in preparation. Froakie was observing Squirtle carefully and he saw that Squirtle was ready to trade blows if necessary, but that didn't deter Froakie. He knew exactly what he had to do. The same punch that Ash taught him, the right hook.
"Now you're using the space you have so dig in, use your weight, use your hips, use all of it to generate power, and hit your target."
As Froakie approached, Squirtle lashed out with his arm to meet Froakie. But, Squirtle wasn't steady and the motion was telegraphed. It was easy to read the path of the attack, so Froakie raised his speed and stepped in to catch Squirtle with a compact and well-placed punch. Squirtle barely saw the counterpunch, and he didn't see anything after that.
The two Pokemon stood frozen for a moment which gave Gary ample time to take in the scene. Froakie was leaned to his side just enough to avoid Squirtle's punch, while his extended hand rested against Squirtle's jaw. Squirtle's knees buckled and he fell to one knee, but Froakie wasn't done. He spun around Squirtle and clapped his hands together, drawing the water on the stage and the moisture in the air into a Water Pulse attack. Now positioned behind Squirtle who was down on his knees, Froakie drove the Water Pulse into Squirtle's back and the sphere burst with enough force to send Squirtle spiraling off the stage.
"Squ-Squirtle!" Gary exclaimed as the audience roared. Their hands shot up, and some even jumped to cheer for the sudden reversal.
On the rooftop above the battle stage, the likes of Zuki, Kuni, Miki, and Sayo broke their upper-class image to cheer proudly for Ash and Froakie.
"Amazing!" Miki shouted as she looked at Sayo. "That was the best I've ever seen Ash and Froakie battle!"
"Have they always been that good?" Sayo asked and Spenser gave the answer.
"No, they're improving together," Spenser marveled with a smile. "They just took an important first step…"
Down on the stage, Ash and Froakie were declared the winners by ring out, and it was just in time. There were only thirty seconds left, and the point total was in Gary's favor by a fair margin. As the host began to explain when the next round of battles would take place, Ash kneeled down to speak with Froakie.
"How were you able to use Double Team? We didn't practice that," Ash pointed out.
"Froa-kie…kie," Froakie paused for a moment before he looked to Ash with a straight face. "But then, during the battle, you showed me how to do everything. It was easy after that."
Ash was ready to deny Froakie's claim, but the stage shook as Bruno climbed onto it. He and the other two finalists joined Ash and Froakie on stage as they prepared to reshuffle the brackets to determine the next two battles. As each of them pulled a small slip of paper from the box again and announced their numbers, Ash stole a glance at Froakie, who stood beside him.
He never once mentioned how to use Double Team to Froakie. So how was that possible?
"Well now," A deep voice ripped Ash from his thoughts. Bruno now stood beside him along with his Tyrogue. "It looks like we'll have that battle after all."
Ash looked across the stage and saw that the remaining two trainers stood together as well, waving to the audience. The pairs that were on-stage would be matchups for the next round. Ash looked up at the gigantic man beside him, his mouth opening partially as he did so.
Their next opponent was Bruno and Tyrogue.
There would be an intermission between rounds, so the semi-finals were scheduled to take place at three o'clock. That gave Ash and Froakie ample time to rest and regroup. But as soon as the crowd dispersed from the main plaza, Gary approached them with Squirtle.
Gary scratched at the back of his neck as he looked down at his feet. He opened his mouth twice to speak but swallowed his words. Ash didn't mind waiting, it gave him time to give Squirtle a quick glance. Both his chin and jaw were bruised from the punches that Froakie delivered. But, a quick study of Froakie reminded Ash that there was a lot of work involved to land those punches. Froakie was still trying to catch his breath, and his torso had a few bruises from the Rapid Spin attacks he met with.
It must have hurt, but Froakie could wear those bruises proudly. He made it to his goal of beating Squirtle after all!
"Well, you got us," Gary finally spoke and he gave a shrug. "But just so you know, if we were going by official rules, there's no way Froakie would've won."
Ash gave him a faint smile in return.
"Eh, maybe we got lucky," Ash reasoned with him. "It was a good battle one way or another. I'm not going to forget it and we can't wait to battle you again."
Gary wasn't expecting a response like this from Ash, so he lacked a snide remark. Without any other choice, he shoved his hands in his pocket and gave an agreement.
"So, you're up against Bruno next," Gary noted and Ash gave a nod. "You know, I watched all of his battles and came up with a few strategies to beat his Tyrogue. Since I won't get to try them out myself, do you want to hear them?"
Ash raised his brow at Gary's offer, but then he looked down to Froakie. There was a moment of eye contact between them before Ash returned his gaze to Gary and shook his head.
"Thanks, but, no thanks," Ash replied. "You and Squirtle can always challenge Bruno yourselves. Froakie and I will figure out our own way to beat him."
Right after Ash made that statement, Sayo and Miki approached the two of them. As the two of them congratulated Ash and Froakie on their victory, Gary could only stare at Ash with a neutral expression.
Gary stifled a laugh, though it went unnoticed by the trio. Ash may not have realized it yet, but he was starting to sound like his old self. And while one part of Gary was excited at that prospect, another was terrified. The Ash Ketchum of old, the one that Gary saw battling at the Hidden Cove, was a trainer that improved rapidly, even during a battle. Gary witnessed this during their battle.
At the beginning of the battle, Gary was certain that he was in control. The pace, tempo…all of it was in the palm of his hands. But then, Ash and Froakie started to get better. Not only did Froakie become faster and more decisive, it felt as if they were battling as one. Ash was mimicking Froakie's actions and he hardly gave Froakie any direction with his attacks...yet Froakie was able to execute almost perfectly. How could Ash and Froakie be in sync when they only met a month ago?
Questions aside, Gary could safely say that by the end of the battle, Ash and Froakie were superior to him and Squirtle. However, it wouldn't remain that way for long. Gary looked down to Squirtle beside him and his partner answered with a nod of agreement.
Sayo and Miki insisted that Ash join the others on the rooftop during the intermission, but Ash didn't quite feel like having company. His mind was adrift as he tried to make sense of his feelings.
They achieved their goal of beating Squirtle.
A month ago, Froakie lacked the polish to be a decent opponent to almost anyone. He was stubborn and his battle style was littered with bad habits and poor decisions. Even now, Froakie was far from perfect, but by eliminating some of his bad choices, he became a respectable opponent.
But, during the battle, Ash felt it again. It wasn't the first time that he felt himself connect with Froakie, but that was something he only experienced with Pikachu before this. It wasn't quite the same either, but it was almost on par with how he felt with Pikachu. But how could that be? They hardly knew each other at this point, yet at times it felt like they were one and the same.
Ash gave a sigh as he sat down on a bench. The plaza emptied considerably during the break in between battles, so he could enjoy a few moments to himself. Froakie climbed up onto the bench beside him and poked at Ash's arm to get his attention.
"Froa-Froa?" Froakie tilted his head as he posed his question.
"I was just thinking how we managed to beat Squirtle and that was the goal we agreed upon at first," Ash noted as he recalled their original agreement. "But now, I was thinking that we're in the semi-final…"
Ash paused for a moment as he looked at Froakie. There was no mistaking that look in Froakie's eyes. It matched what Ash was feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"We could win this whole thing, don't cha think?" Ash asked and Froakie smirked at him.
"I couldn't have said it better myself," Froakie replied.
Ash extended a closed fist toward Froakie, but Froakie only stared at his hand in return.
"Kie?" Froakie asked and Ash chuckled.
"It's a fist bump, or knuckle touch," Ash demonstrated for him using both his hands. "You just go like this."
Ash then extended his fist to Froakie who completed the action this time, and the two of them shared a nod. It was just like old times back in Vermilion City with Pikachu. No matter who they beat, they were never truly satisfied. The next opponent, the next challenge…that was what excited them the most. Froakie was no different.
"Let's take down Bruno!"
The host raised his hand in an appeal to the audience who cheered with demands for the battle to begin. On one side of the battle stage was Bruno and his Tyrogue. They waved to the audience as nearly everyone expected them to claim another flawless victory. Opposite them was Ash and Froakie, a fan favorite, but one with no expectations. In fact, there was only one person present who expected anything from Ash and Froakie, and that was their opponent.
Bruno raised one leg and dropped it down onto the stage. The entirety of the wooden platform he stood on shook in response and Ash's eyes widen as he felt the wood reverberating. The stoicism that Ash saw when he first met Bruno was gone. Now the man wore a tremendous grin as he took up a fighting posture that matched his Tyrogue.
"Ash, Froakie," Bruno declared, his voice booming. "I want the two of you to bring out every ounce of your power! Hold nothing back against us!"
"Tyrogue!" Tyrogue added with a gesture for them to attack.
Froakie settled into his usual fighting stance, his lips curving upward at the challenge. Tyrogue was unquestionably the strongest participant in the tournament. This was his chance to see how he measured up against the very best! His body grew hot as he looked to the host who had yet to initiate the contest.
"Hajime!"
The crowd roared with shouts of 'ganbatte' for Froakie who charged toward Tyrogue fearlessly. He didn't need a command from Ash to know what he was thinking. They would meet Bruno and Tyrogue head-on to see just how far they could go!
Froakie went right to the basics that Ash taught him. He rotated around Tyrogue and attacked with an onslaught of left jabs as he observed Tyrogue closely. Tyrogue's defense was impeccable and clearly several levels above Froakie's. He slapped at Froakie's wrist to parry away his jabs or used head slips to weave through each blow.
Seeing that just a jab wasn't enough to create an opening, Froakie began to diversify his attacks. He mixed up the types of punches and added some kicks for good measure, but Tyrogue's had no weakness. Tyrogue blocked a kick with his forearm and swept Froakie's one leg out from underneath him which earned a quick point from the judges. No matter what Froakie tried, Tyrogue wouldn't allow him to land even a single hit.
Water Pulse was shut down by Tyrogue who simply used brute force and kicked the attack into the air where it dispersed. Ranged combat was out the question…not that it was much of an option, to begin with. But Ash was sure to check all the tools they had at their disposal.
"Fighting at a distance means we're sure to lose. But Tyrogue is way better than us at close range," Ash muttered. However, they faced a similar predicament against Gary, and their answer was to overwhelm their opponent with speed. "Alright Froakie, let's pick up the pace with Agility and Pound!"
This combination was brand new to Froakie, but he already had the concept in mind. Simple hand-to-hand combat wasn't enough to secure points from Tyrogue, so he would increase the rate of his attack. Froakie burst forward but lacked the speed that he demonstrated against Squirtle. Ash frowned as Froakie engaged and had both his attacks blocked before Tyrogue delivered a knee to Froakie's small torso. Tyrogue followed up a roundhouse kick that sent Froakie skidding across the stage on his back.
Even though Froakie was able to use Agility against Squirtle, he still couldn't trigger it on demand. Ash could feel the difference right now. He wasn't connected to Froakie.
"Froakie, slow down for a moment and just relax," Ash called out as Froakie got back to his feet. "We need to focus here."
"Tyrogue, no mercy, stay on him!" Bruno shouted in return as he stomped his foot. Tyrogue finally went on the offensive as he rushed at Froakie.
Just as Bruno said, there would be no mercy! Tyrogue wouldn't allow them to get settled as he attacked. Froakie could block one or two of his blows, but Tyrogue's combinations were too quick and well-practiced for Froakie to react to them all.
Froakie gasped as he received a punch to his body and his knees buckled beneath him. Every hit from Tyrogue was more excruciating than anything he'd felt before, but it was clear that Tyrogue was holding back. He already demonstrated the strength to hurl his opponents of the stage and end battles with a single blow. Tyrogue was showing some restraint against him…but why?
"Froakie!"
"Ganbatte!"
The audience gave their support as they saw Froakie trying to get back on his feet, but the match wasn't in doubt. Bruno stood in a fighting stance for most of the battle, but he gave a sigh as he straightened up.
"Is this all you've got?" Bruno shouted as he stared at Ash. "The very essence of Pokemon battling is when the Pokemon and their trainer lay bare their hearts and mind. There is no room for doubt or regret. Your only option is to press forward!" Bruno announced as he folded his arms. "Everyone who has walked this earth will fall down at one point or another. The weak will remain flat on the ground. Regular people will take a while to get back on their feet, but those of us who are strong, will give our very best to stand up once again…" Ash felt a chill as he locked eyes with Bruno. "Who are you?"
Ash felt his chest grow tight.
"Who am I?" He whispered. He'd been asking himself this for weeks, but the answer was right in front of him. Ash looked to Froakie on the field and Froakie looked back at him.
"You are strong." Froakie's words put his mind at ease and Ash knew what he had to say next.
"We...are strong."
Froakie smiled at him before he became absorbed in white light. There were gasps from the audience as the light blinded them. It concealed Froakie's form as he transformed. His arms and legs grew longer which in turn increased his height. The light gradually faded to reveal his two-tone skin and that his scarf of frubbles had grown considerably.
"Ash, this is Frogadier!" Bruno announced with a broad grin as he settled into a fighting stance once again. "Now show us what you've got!"
Ash and Frogadier both looked down at their hands before they looked back to Bruno and Tyrogue respectively. For the first time in ages, Bruno felt a chill run down his back as he made eye contact with them. Their irises possessed a red glow and it was clearly visible in daylight. And that wasn't all, he could see their wings and they were magnificent!
"We're just getting started!" Ash hollered in return as he threw back his head in sync with Frogadier. They have a shout together and a cyclone of water erupted around Frogadier. Even with the water around him, Bruno could see Frogadier's glowing red eyes. "Frogadier, let's use Agility and Pound again!"
Ash felt his body grow hot as he lowered his stance in unison with Frogadier. Then the water Pokemon burst forward with frightening speed. Tyrogue's eyes grew wide as Frogadier was suddenly in front of him and their forearms met with an audible thud. As their arms met, Frogadier adjusted his stance to launch a haymaker at Tyrogue's head to end the battle with one good hit. Tyrogue had a fraction of a second to brace himself before he took the blow, so he managed to stay on his feet as he stumbled backward. But Frogadier was faster than ever!
Tyrogue barely managed to get a cross-arm block in place to shield his chest from Frogadier's jump kick. The power behind just a kick was enough to send Tyrogue skidding backward and Bruno had seen enough.
"Tyrogue, use Foresight!" He shouted as his first command of the battle.
Tyrogue tightened his stance and his guard as an acknowledgment of Frogadier's strength. They fell back into the plan of observation. Frogadier was just starting to test his new power and speed. As much as Bruno wanted to recklessly challenge them, he wanted Tyrogue to get accustomed to it all first.
Just as Bruno expected, Frogadier's assault was endless. He attacked from all sorts of angles with flying kicks and heavy punches. Thanks to his new form, Frogadier had a bit more weight and height to put some extra power behind each blow, though Tyrogue still kept up a strong guard. He refused to let Frogadier get in a good punch.
Frogadier came in close and went directly for Tyrogue's face with a cross, but at long last, Tyrogue could time his attacks. He slapped Frogadier's hand downward to ward off the attack and he followed with a counterpunch that hit Frogadier squarely in the nose.
Ash grimaced as he raised a hand to his face. He could swear that his nose was broken. Frogadier was sent tumbling backward from the blow, but he set himself upright at the edge of the stage.
"Focus, Frogadier," Ash called out. "Don't be reckless. They've already learned your timing."
Frogadier took a glance at Ash for a moment before he looked back to Tyrogue. He gave a small nod and rushed back in with no hesitation despite the counterpunch he took earlier. If Tyrogue was reading his movements, then he would change things up.
Their next exchange of blows happened in a fraction of a second, and it determined the outcome of the battle. Frogadier feinted high with the right hook that Ash taught him, the same punch that knocked out Squirtle. Tyrogue recognized the attack and raised his guard to block it. His body was exposed and Frogadier accelerated as he changed his target. He lowered his arm and drove his hand into Tyrogue's abdomen. The impact lifted Tyrogue from his feet momentarily and his body arched in response.
Bruno raised his brow. He could tell that Tyrogue felt that one and his response wasn't going to be pretty.
Frogadier withdrew his arm and followed up, aiming another right hook for Tyrogue's unprotected jaw. He would hit him with everything he could muster and knock Tyrogue off the stage. Tyrogue saw Frogadier reposition his feet and was able to deduce how he was attacking. He raised one hand and caught Frogadier's fist, which produced an audible clap and a gust of wind that silenced the audience. Tyrogue then sent a glare at Frogadier before he adjusted his grip on Frogadier's hand and pulled. Frogadier barely had the time to realize he'd been pulled forward before Tyrogue's leg connected with his chest.
Frogadier was sent flying past Ash, over the heads of many people in the audience before he met with the wall of a building near the edge of the plaza. His collision with the stone wall produced several small cracks before Frogadier fell down the ground, where he remained. The water that spiraled around Frogadier dispersed and Ash's eyes became unfocused before he crumpled to the ground in a heap.
No one in the crowd understood how to react to such a scene.
"It's okay!" Bruno announced as he and Tyrogue approached Ash who remained on the stage. He kneeled down beside Ash and rolled him onto his back. It took a few moments, but Ash regained consciousness and sat upright. They shared a few words before Ash got back onto his feet and he bowed to Bruno. At the sight of this, the host raised on hand to declare Bruno the winner and the audience applauded for their performance.
Ash climbed down from the stage and the audience parted for him to go directly to Frogadier. The water Pokemon was still unconscious as he laid beside the wall of the building that he was thrown into. Ash flinched as he took a quick glance at the cracks in the wall and it called to main the immense pain he experienced before he fainted. He couldn't tell what felt worse, the kick from Tyrogue that shattered his ribcage, or when he hit the wall and it broke his back. Ash kneeled down to examine Frogadier and he marveled at the resilience that Pokemon possessed.
Gary stood among the crowds in the plaza as Ash's battle concluded, and he had his phone out to record the exchange of attacks between Frogadier and Tyrogue. He still couldn't believe that Froakie evolved during battle! But then, Frogadier summoned that cyclone of water. In all the battle footage that Gary, he had yet to see anything quite like that.
According to his research, Gary knew that certain water Pokemon possessed an ability called Torrent that amplified their strength tenfold if they were struggling in battle. He wasn't sure if Torrent alone deserved all the credit, but if it did, Gary was certain that he witnessed the absolute pinnacle of that ability.
"Hoho! There he is!"
"Impressive show young one!"
Ash was welcomed warmly to the rooftop that overlooked the battle stage where the city's nobility was viewing the tournament. Koji had met him down in the plaza and acted as a guide for him. With Frogadier in his arms, still unconscious, the likes of Zuki, Kuni, Miki, and Sayo surrounded them as they arrived.
"Let me have Frogadier," Miki demanded as she extended her arms. "I can treat him!"
Before Ash could answer, Frogadier was scooped out of his arms and Miki took him to the back of the rooftop where a table with various foodstuff. Zuki was quick to assure Ash that Miki would have Frogadier standing on his own two feet in no time.
"Ash, that was amazing!" Sayo gushed over their battle and showered him with praise which caused Ash to scratch at the back of his head. "You did really well against Bruno, I'm sorry you lost to him."
"It's no big deal," Ash said as he waved off her apology. "I'm glad I got to compete against someone as strong as him. I learned a lot from him."
"So, um…I don't know if you know, Ash," Sayo began as she fidgeted. "But after the concluding ceremony, there are fireworks and I wanted to know if you wanted to watch them with me."
Ash raised his brow at the offer before he gave her a nod.
Kuni turned to her side to conceal a frown, and this didn't go unnoticed by Zuki.
"Excuse us," Zuki said before she grabbed Kuni by the arm and took her a few steps away to talk with her privately.
"What do you want?" Kuni asked her.
"Me? I should be asking you that," Zuki said in return. "Did you want to see the fireworks with Ash?"
Kuni bit down on her lower lip as her cheeks became tinged pink.
"Look, I've noticed how much you've been watching him since he first got here," Zuki noted, and Kuni couldn't help but blush. "He's really straightforward and easy to talk to. There's no reason to be shy. Sayo may have asked him to see the fireworks, but you should try talking to him afterward."
"About what?" Kuni asked in a whisper.
"The things that you've noticed," Zuki said with a wink.
Ash and Sayo's conversation was ended when Naoko approached them. The eldest of the younger generation revealed that Lady Satsuki requested to speak with Ash. He parted ways with Sayo and Naoko, who complimented his battle before he left, and he approached the former matriarch who stood at the corner of the rooftop, admiring the plaza down below.
Ash chewed on his lower lip as he approached her. In all the time that he spent at the Izumo Estate, Ash rarely got to speak with Lady Satsuki. Often times he would hear her share some stories about her day at dinner, but he'd never spoken to her one on one. He felt a weight on his shoulders as if this conversation could determine his fate.
"Lady Satsuki," Ash said as he bowed to her. "You wanted to speak to me."
"Oh Ash, drop the formalities," She said as she gave him a faint smile. "You've been living with me for a few weeks now. Call me by my name."
"But Naoko always says that I should…" Ash began.
"Don't mind Naoko, she's too stiff," Satsuki noted with a chuckle. "But I suppose her being that way keeps the rest of them out of trouble."
"You know, I kind of thought you would be the same way," Ash admitted.
"Do you think that just because I'm old that I would be some sort of fuddy-duddy?" She asked and Ash gave a laugh. "I'm not surprised that you had that impression of me. A lot of our culture is very dated, rooted in our old traditions. We have a set way that we do things here, and Naoko exemplifies that."
Satsuki smiled fondly as she took a gander at their surroundings. She saw Miki kneeling down with Frogadier who had reawakened after she wafted the scent of some oran berries beneath his nose. He accepted the berry to eat and Miki smiled as she praised him for his efforts during the battle with a pat on the head. The rest of the Kimono Girls approached Miki and Frogadier to see how he was doing as well.
"Part of our tradition was to thoroughly train the next generation before they take on new roles and positions in the city," Satsuki went on. "But it can lead to a very sheltered upbringing. The next generation will simply follow the footsteps of the previous, too afraid to make a change."
"But look at how these people live peacefully with Pokemon, why would you want to change that?" Ash asked her in return.
"You're right, this is a place where people live peacefully with Pokemon," She said with a nod. "But we don't place an emphasis on battling or truly getting to know a Pokemon the way trainers do in other parts of the world. While those trainers don't know peace as we do, they have explored aspects of Pokemon that our culture hasn't even begun to consider."
"If…if you're trying to change things, why step down from being one of the matriarchs?"
Lady Satsuki paused for a moment as she looked down. Then she laughed softly with a smile.
"I've been a member of the city council for a long time, and for years, we would say things like 'we've always done it this way.'" Satsuki explained. "I realized that it's far too late for my generation to change. We've been here for too long, doing the same things for too long…" Satsuki sighed. "So, I said, why fight the old…when I can build the new?"
Satsuki put on a bright smile for him before she motioned to the next generation of Kimono Girls.
"Our culture may be a haven for trainers and Pokemon, but we have yet to embrace the culture that Pokemon trainers have created across the globe. How can we be considered a haven when we haven't accomplished that?" Satsuki asked him and Ash's eyes widened. "I'm glad those girls got to meet you and Gary. You've slowly been showing them what they can accomplish with Pokemon."
"But what about Naoko?" Ash inquired. "Does it really make sense to put her on the council? Wouldn't the same thing happen all over again?"
"She'll be fine as a council member, she is special in her own way," Satsuki continued. "As a child, she bonded with Pokemon like most people here. But she was exposed to the traveling trainers as well and she began to imitate them. It's why I contacted Samuel Oak and requested the Eevee that we have, so that each of the girls would have a Pokemon of their own. Naoko surprised me…she grew fond of Pokemon battles and helped her Eevee to evolve. I suspect that Naoko's influence will begin to change the council, and by the time the next generation takes over, hopefully, they all will be following her lead."
Ash marveled at the faith that Satsuki had in the next generation, but it was clear that she was doing her due diligence.
"But think of this as an opportunity for you all to learn from Lady Satsuki. She told me that she is looking forward to working with you all,"
He remembered that Naoko mentioned this at the restaurant earlier in the week. Satsuki was trying to make a change through the only people that were willing to listen.
"It's amazing how much thought you've put into this," Ash said to her.
"Thank you," She replied sweetly. "Change is hard to cause on your own. It's why the rest of the world remains trapped in their fear of Pokemon. The adults won't listen and they deny their children an opportunity to come to love Pokemon. Eventually, the children accept what their parents told them and the cycle continues."
Ash's eyes widened as a mental pipe burst and the memories came gushing forth.
"People still fear Pokemon, and I think it's time for that to change."
"Everyone has been…brainwashed into believing Pokemon are dangerous…if I really want to make a difference, I have to do something big…no, huge."
"All this day does is remind me of what I want to change…there will be a day where this whole ceremony will be a thing of the past."
That was him! He used to be so avid about changing the perception of Pokemon! He was willing to do anything to teach someone about Pokemon back then. But he lost that burning desire.
What would it take to accomplish that? To help people that are afraid of Pokemon to learn about and love them?
Satsuki could see a change in Ash's eyes. A new spark of determination. She concealed her smile as she looked back down at the plaza.
"Oh my, I've babbled for quite some time. Now, what did I call you over here for?" Satsuki asked with a laugh. "Ah, that's right, great battle. I know you lost, but I'm sure you discovered something along the way."
The final battle of the tournament took place late in the afternoon as the sun began to set. This contest was just like the rest of Bruno's battles where Tyrogue secured his victory through one well-placed attack. After the concluding ceremony of the tournament, the host advised all onlookers to prepare for the final ceremony of the Phoenix Festival, and the Kimono Girls dispersed to put on their last performance of the festival.
Their evening continued quietly as Ash was given another opportunity to witness the dance of the Kimono Girls as they performed in the main plaza. Unbeknownst to him, Spenser and Bruno met on the rooftop to speak.
"So, what did you think of Ash, hmm?" Spenser asked and he earned a chuckle from Bruno.
"I had my suspicions when you introduced me to him," Bruno reasoned. "It's not often that you would go out of your way for me to meet someone."
"I had nothing to do with it, in fact, Ash and Froakie came to us that day," Spenser revealed. "I think Ash needed to meet you."
"It seems like it," Bruno agreed with a grunt. "He was allowing his mistakes to weigh him down, but it looks like he's beginning to move past them."
Spenser nodded as they both studied Ash's back. His wings were still folded, but they grew considerably during the day.
"In all my years, I've never seen wings like his," Bruno stated and he could hear Spenser exhale. "He's one of us…but what exactly is he?"
"I believe he is one of the Candidates," Spenser said and Bruno raised one brow.
"A King's Candidate?"
"It's difficult to say…there is so much uncertainty around him,"
"That aside, it has been a long time since anyone heard of a King's Candidate,"
"And according to a friend of mine, there are many more who have been Chosen again."
"That's good, I remember that almost all of them were killed off before the Great Crisis," Bruno noted with a frown. "I always wondered if another Age of Heroes would come. Perhaps this is the beginning of it."
"I'm eager to find out. Hopefully, this generation will learn the king's identity…it's been a long time coming."
Ash returned to the Izumo Estate with Sayo on his back and Frogadier at his side. The property was dimly lit by the glowing lanterns that hung around the premises. It was an eventful night with Sayo who could effortlessly hold a conversation for ten people if she put her mind to it. Nevertheless, she was good company that made the night pass quickly, at least until they stopped at a small shop to get a drink.
Sayo was so rapt in her conversation that she didn't pay attention to which drink she picked up from the counter. She drank a full cup of sake as opposed to the tea that she requested, and it was clear that she was lightweight with alcohol. Her demeanor changed, and not for the better. She insisted that she was fine, but Ash knew better. She couldn't even walk straight, so he opted to take her home via a piggyback ride.
Fortunately, his arrival was timely as Kuni was walking through with one of the attendants. At the sight of them, Ash offered an explanation that caused Kuni to roll her eyes at Sayo's lack of awareness. The attendant took Sayo in his arms to deliver her to her sleeping quarters which left Ash to speak with Kuni.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that," Kuni apologized in Sayo's place. "How much did she drink, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Just a cup," Ash replied and Kuni had to stifle a laugh.
"Well, thanks for bringing her home, although I probably would've left her wherever she got drunk," Kuni said slyly and Ash snorted.
"She's your cousin, I know you wouldn't do that," Ash said playfully before he looked down to Frogadier. "If you want to go take a bath, you're free to go Frogadier."
Frogadier gave him a nod before he ventured off to the bathhouse and left Ash and Kuni to themselves.
"Are you going to sleep?" Kuni asked him, but Ash shook his head.
"Not yet, I just wanted some time to look back on how I did today. I usually do a little reflection on each day in my room, but I've been out so much today I figured I would just do it out here," Ash said with a gesture to the courtyard.
"Well, I don't want to disturb," Kuni said softly as she bowed to Ash. "I'll leave you alone."
Kuni turned and made her way back onto the porch, but as she walked, she couldn't help but remember Zuki's suggestion earlier today. Just talk to him. Kuni paused as she stood on the porch and took a deep breath before she turned back to Ash as he stood in the center of the courtyard.
"Um, would you care to hear someone else's opinion?" Kuni offered. It was dark, but she could see intrigue as Ash knit his brow.
"You know what," Ash said after a few moments. "I would."
He came onto the porch where there was much better lightning, and he took a seat on the steps with Kuni.
"How do you think me and Froakie-I mean Frogadier did today?" Ash asked her.
"Uh, okay," Kuni needed a moment to collect her thoughts before she proceeded. "Against Gary, you guys were great. I don't know a lot about battles, but whenever I watch you, it feels different compared to what I've seen."
"Different?" Ash repeated. "How so?"
"Most of the trainers that live in Ecruteak City, don't really practice with their Pokemon the way you and Gary do. We're all content to just live with them," Kuni explained. "But after watching you practice for a month and to see all of your practice lead to success in battle…it was inspiring."
"I mean, that's how you get stronger, right?" Ash asked her in return.
"That's true…but even compared to Gary, watching you is different," Kuni went on as she recalled various instances where she saw Ash battling. She saw it on his face at every single battle he was in. His lips would quiver as he fought to contain a smile. "You try to hide it, but you can't hide joy."
Ash couldn't hide his surprise as his mouth hung open.
"If you're happy, why do you try to hide it?" Kuni posed her question, her head tilted to the side.
He took a few moments to breathe before he finally answered.
"I made some bad decisions a few years ago and I abandoned the only Pokemon I had at the time," Ash explained softly. "Since then, it feels like I don't have the right to love Pokemon battles like I used to…but today I realized that everyone in this city has been telling me that I have to move on."
"'The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.'"
"Tell me who you walk with…and I will tell you who you are."
"What are you running from?"
"Gramps taught me that just being a good trainer isn't enough. You have to love all of it to be that good…"
Battles are deeper than just trading attacks to see who's the strongest. It's like a test that connects you with your Pokemon to…to what?
"You are searching for something in yourself, are you not?"
"I come to this festival to thank him for saving us, and to show that I've continued to move forward despite my mistakes."
"We are strong."
"Battles are a test that connects you to your Pokemon to…" Ash paused which caused Kuni to make a face.
"Is something wrong?" She asked him.
"That's something I said but at the time, I wasn't sure if I had the right to complete that sentence…" Ash stopped for a moment as he smiled softly. "But I feel differently now. Battles are like tests that teach you to band together with your Pokemon to overcome all obstacles. The battles are there to help you make the right choices when it matters. And even if you mess up, your Pokemon and the battles will always be there. You can always come back no matter how far you might have drifted."
Ash scratched the tip of his nose with a chuckle.
"It's funny how Growlithe and Frogadier stood beside me for all this time and waited for me to figure this out," Ash noted. "If it weren't for them, I don't think I would've taken the steps I needed to come this far."
"You know, while you're thinking about him, I do think it's worth mentioning that Frogadier has been very committed to you," Kuni pointed out. "I do remember that you said you were helping him until he could beat Gary's Squirtle, but it looks to me like Frogadier has already accepted you as his trainer."
Ash sucked in his lips at the reminder.
"You're very open and honest, so I can't imagine that you would be taking advantage of him," Kuni went on. "I think that after everything you've accomplished together, it's time to show that same level of commitment to him. You should talk to Frogadier about the plan for the two of you."
"Yeah, you're right," Ash nodded. "He deserves some rest tonight, so I'll talk to him in the morning."
Kuni gave him a smile.
"I've got to say, Kuni, you must have been paying close attention to me to notice all of this stuff," Ash said and Kuni blushed. She quickly raised the sleeve of her kimono to conceal the lower half of her face. "I don't know if this will mean anything to you, but talking to you, helped me to put some things in perspective. For years it felt like time stopped around me but today, it's finally starting to move again." Ash shot her a grin. "Thanks!"
Monday, May 11th
"Phew," Ash exclaimed as he completed his final sprint across the courtyard. Even though his legs were longer than theirs, both Growlithe and Frogadier completed their sprints well before he did, though that came as no surprise.
As proof that most of the household was awake, the Eevee gang came sprinting across the porch and they knocked over one of the potted plants as they came through. Growlithe whined at their usual recklessness and ran off to pursue them. Ash snickered as he stepped onto the porch to set the pot upright and then he kneeled to scoop up the dirt and return it to its place.
Frogadier assisted him in the task and Ash watched him closely. He bumped the pot twice with his arms, and Ash could assume that he was still getting used to the new length of his arms.
"You know, Frogadier," Ash began. "I'm impressed with how much you changed since I first met you."
Frogadier raised a hand to scratch at the back of his head. He even mimicked some of Ash's mannerisms now.
"I remember that there was a night where you asked me what I was running from?" Ash went on. "I was running from my life as a Pokemon trainer. Pokemon made me so happy when I was younger…but I let myself get consumed by all sorts of distractions, and I made some terrible choices," Ash admitted softly. "I was alone and depressed for a long time. I convinced myself that I couldn't be a trainer anymore, that I didn't have to right to be happy because of Pokemon."
Ash took a seat on the porch and invited Frogadier to sit alongside him.
"That's why I always told you that I couldn't be your trainer. I wasn't ready for something like that at the time," Ash continued. "But then I came to Ecruteak City and this environment helped me to take a good look at myself. I thought that my love for Pokemon was completely gone, but all I did was bury it. Training with you every day, practicing against Gary and Squirtle, battling in the tournament…it reminded me of everything that I loved. And I realized that I can't live without it. I want to be a Pokemon trainer again…"
Ash paused for a moment as he looked down at his hands. He recalled Kuni's words from last night closed his hands into fists.
"I want a future where I'm around Pokemon all the time. I want to go on a journey, travel across the world to see and learn about different Pokemon, and battle different trainers too…" Ash hesitated as he bit down on his lower lip, but he steeled his resolve. "So, I wanted to know if you'd be willing to come along with me?"
Ash took a tentative glance at Frogadier, and the tightness in his chest faded when he saw the smile on Frogadier's face.
"Froga-dier!" He exclaimed in return with a big nod. "Of course, I will!"
Ash beamed in return, his smile going from ear to ear. He raised a fist to Frogadier and they touched knuckles as a sign of their agreement.
"I don't have a Pokeball for you at the moment, so I guess we can't really make it official just yet," Ash noted, but Frogadier didn't seem to mind. He wore a big grin on his face that was reminiscent of Ash's.
However, there was someone close by who heard their predicament.
It was almost time for lunch at the estate. This meal wasn't nearly as large as a typical dinner since most of the occupants were out in town on various tasks. Lunch was made for those who remained at home for the day, and it was prepared by Miki. Today, Ash and Frogadier were her assistants.
"Well…" Miki tilted her head as she examined their work. "They're round."
Today's lunch was light, with a plate of rice balls, noodles, and tea. Ash and Frogadier were tasked with shaping the sticky rice, but the variance in size was noteworthy. Miki was content with their work, though Ash chuckled nervously. He might have made some bigger than the others with the intention of taking them for himself.
"Good work, you can take them into the dining room," Miki declared. "And then after that, Kuni requested that you and Frogadier go see her in the storehouse."
Ash wrinkled his forehead in question but followed his instructions. He and Frogadier each took a plate of rice balls and traveled into the dining room. They set each plate down at the center of the table and adjusted some of the settings before they left.
The storehouse was at the back of the estate, near the shrine for Lady Okuni. It was one of the few places in the estate that Ash had yet to enter, though based on the name he had a feeling this was the equivalent of a garage. Ash knocked on the door and gave a call of Kuni's name.
"Come in!" She hollered from within. He slid open the door and peered in along with Frogadier.
The storehouse was lined with shelves that were filled to the brim with different items.
"I'm in the back!" Kuni added and they followed the sound of her voice.
The back of the storehouse was clear of clutter with a mat set on the floor. It seemed as though it was a small workshop for Kuni, as a table was set up for her with various brushes and tools laid out. Against the wall was another shelf that was occupied entirely by Pokeballs. Ash raised his brow at the sight of them, and Kuni rose to her feet to greet them with a small bow.
"What this?" Ash asked her with a gesture to her workstation.
"I practice calligraphy in here. I learned from Lady Koume when I was younger," Kuni explained.
"Calligraphy? What's that?" Ash asked her. She motioned to the table where a large scroll sat. There were various symbols written down that Ash recognized as the kanji he saw all over Ecruteak City. He still couldn't read most of it, but he usually had one of the girls with him to translate.
"It's a form of visual art in handwriting," Kuni explained before she invited him to approach the shelf of Pokeballs with her. "We receive Pokeballs from a traveling merchant, and typically the residents of Ecruteak City like to have something inscribed on their Pokeballs. That's where I come in."
"Wow!" Ash exclaimed as he took a glance at the Pokeballs. Each of them had a different symbol inscribed on the upper half that reminded Ash of the lightning bolt sticker he had on Pikachu's Pokeball.
"I heard that you needed a Pokeball for Frogadier," Kuni continued as she looked away from him. "You can choose from the ones on the wall."
"Really? That's awesome, thank you so much!" Ash said, and Frogadier joined him in thanking her. "But each of the kanji has a meaning, right?" Kuni gave a nod. "Can you tell me what each of them means?"
They started at the top of the shelf and Kuni provided a translation for the inscription on each Pokeball.
Wisdom. Honor. Virtue. Respect. Honesty. Integrity. Confidence. Humility. Loyalty. Empathy.
"Courage," Kuni stated and Ash continued to stare at that particular Pokeball.
"Courage," Ash repeated as he tilted his head. "I think that one is the most fitting."
"What makes you say that?" Kuni inquired curiously. Ash looked down at Frogadier, who raised one eyebrow at him.
"It's Frogadier's best quality," Ash answered. "It takes courage to face a challenge when you're not sure if you will succeed," Ash grinned down at Frogadier. "And I hope to be as courageous as him soon."
"Go ahead, it's yours," Kuni said with a gesture for him to take the Pokeball.
Ash reached out and picked it up. He took a moment to study the device closely. The sunlight gleamed from the top of the sphere before he kneeled down to Frogadier. Ash turned the Pokeball to face him, and Ash posed his question once more.
"So Frogadier…will you come with me on my journey?"
Frogadier's reply came in the form of action. He touched the center of the Pokeball and accepted his capture.
A/N
And there's chapter five and Ash's first official capture of My Wings, though far from a traditional one when you consider their relationship since chapter two.
I've got two talking points this time and then I'll let you all get back to your lives. Of course, skipping my notes is always an option but there might be a secret or two sitting in these (wink wink).
I think I should talk a little bit about how Pokemon evolve since Frogadier is literally the first on-screen evolution I've written. Pokemon evolution isn't tied exclusively to their training and development. This will be briefly discussed in the next chapter, but to give you a sneak preview, there is a general and more accepted cause for evolution, and it's described as when a trainer and Pokemon's 'heart align.' This can lead to odd developments because Pokemon can evolve early, or it can be delayed. That can also affect their rate of progression in their new form since that evolution could be premature or long overdue. I shared a little bit more than I should, and I think I will leave it to the Pokemon professors to explain this stuff going forward.
I'm sure you all recognize the Bond Phenomenon between Ash and Frogadier at this point, so I will divulge a little bit on this topic to hopefully straighten things out. I know the anime kept the Ash-Greninja transformation as exclusive to Greninja, as in, there were little to no hints that Froakie/Frogadier was capable of this prior to reaching his final evolution (to my memory, I haven't seen XY/XYZ in a while now). I thought it would be more appropriate to at least imply that Froakie/Frogadier has the potential to do something remarkable, and show it in different stages as it hopefully progresses to the full transformation. If you have further questions, my door is always open for discussion.
The next chapter is enormous. I was floored when I saw the length of the outline, so please be patient with me since it might take me a bit longer to get this one ready. My apologies in advance.
If you feel the urge to do so, please review! I'm always happy to talk with anyone who has questions.