Chapter 3: Train Like Never Before


Ash didn't think it was possible, but he found himself overheating even as the icy winds of Mt. Silver blew past him and his Pokemon.

"Come on, guys, no giving up now!" Ash cried out to the Pokemon around him, who struggled up the mountainside beside him. Like his Pokemon, Ash wore a weighted vest made worse by a series of excruciatingly crushing metal spring-like bindings that contracted the arms inward like a vice.

This forced Ash and all his Pokemon to work nearly three times harder just to move their upper bodies at all. Many wild Pokemon watched the human and his convoy of Pokemon with interest, fear, or confusion.

"Pika!"

"Dile!"

"Grauu!"

"Ape!"

Ash's Pokemon mirrored their trainer's determination and fought against the elements and overwhelming burden until finally, they reached the summit. Ash breathed heavily and kept up his grim determination as he and Pikachu stared at eleven figures who awaited them.

Daniel stood directly across from Ash with his Charizard, Torterra, Talonflame, Lucario, Aggron, Tyranitar, Feraligatr, Tyrantrum, Tauros, and Haxorus flanking him. The Pokemon Kaiser and his Pokemon all shared the same impatient smile.

"It took you long enough."

A few of Ash's Pokemon growled, but Ash, Pikachu, Charizard, Lucario, and many more merely smiled back.

"Sorry, we have over thirty Tauros with us." Ash said, emphasizing the herd bringing up the rear of his party.

"Well, now that you're warmed up, are you ready for some real training?" Despite the intense strain, it put on their bodies, Ash and his Pokemon all took a fighting stance.

"We're ready!"

"Pika!"

"Talon!"

"Hawl!"

"Bay!"

"Kingler!"

Daniel lowered his hood and smiled wider.

"Good, let's get started." Ash and all his Pokemon raced towards the Kaiser's team, their fiery blood keeping the cold at a distance.

Ash lunged for Daniel and tried to strike him, only for the Kaiser to knock it aside effortlessly. Ash's Pokemon came at Daniel's in groups, though Charizard forced himself to meet Daniel's Charizard first, only to meet a similar fate as his trainer.

Daniel's team kept back Ash's Pokemon and forced them to exert themselves like never before. Day after day, week after week, month after month, all day, every day. At least until several months later, Ash stood on one end of the Mount Lanakila stadium on Ula'Ula island in Alola.

A middle-aged man sighed as he approached his unconscious Bouffalant.

"Bouffalant, I'm sorry we couldn't win." When Adler and his Bouffalant opened their eyes, they saw Ash, with Pikachu on his shoulder, extend his hand down. His Lycanroc stood beside him along with Gengar, Oshawott, Staraptor, Tauros, and Bayleef.

"That was quite a battle. You guys did amazing." Adler smiled a little and took Ash's hand to get up.

"Thank you. It's been too long since I faced a champion." Both shook hands as the audience lit up with applause.

"There you have it, folks! Ash has won the battle and retained his title of Alolan Champion against the former Unova Champion, Adler!" A board showed all six of Adler's Pokemon with the lights blacked out beneath his picture. Across from him rested Ash's picture with Oshawott, Gengar, Bayleef, and Tauro's lights dimmed.

"Alright, Ash!" Mallow cried as she sat with Lillie and the others in a private box, trying not to tremble with Daniel sitting among them, a proud smile on his face.

"That's my boy!" Delia cried.


Over a year after Ash started training with Daniel, he and his Pokemon stood on the beaches of Southern Island in Hoenn, all wearing the same training gear they had at Mt. Silver.

"Again." Daniel said with stern discipline as Ash unleashed a series of successive strikes in ever-increasing synchronization with his Pokemon. Ash went for Daniel while Lucario went for Daniel's, Charizard doing the same with Daniel's too.

The Kaiser and his Pokemon easily kept away the attacks, though it wasn't an effortless affair as it was a year earlier. Ash and Daniel shifted locations on the island every few hours, moving into a lagoon with his water/flying Pokemon, the palm forest with his grass, and more.

"Dile!"

"Squirtle!" Totodile and Squirtle burst out of the water, with Daniel's monstrous Feraligatr following.

Just like in Kanto, Ash spent almost an entire year training in Hoenn, mostly on Southern Island, only briefly leaving when he needed to defend his title of Alolan champion. One of these battles happened near the end of the year, and once more, Ash stood victorious. Only this time, he had Bulbasaur, Donphan, Glalie, Infernape, Unfezant, and Hawlucha beside him.

"That does it, ladies and gentlemen! Champion Ash emerges victorious against Drake of the Hoenn Elite 4!"

All six of Drake's Pokemon's pictures were dimmed, while only Donphan, Hawlucha, and Unfezants did so on Ash's side.

"How about that." Drake said with an impressed nod. Ash came over with his team and extended his hand.

"Great match Drake. That was exciting!"

"Yes, you've come quite a long way since we last battled each other, young man. To think I could only overcome three of your Pokemon." Drake said while shaking hands with Ash to an over-animated crowd.

"Look at him." Professor Kukui said with Burnet, Lei, Delia, and Samson Oak beside him.

"Yes, look at him." Daniel and his Charizard watched Ash with ever-increasing intrigue.

"Looks like need to take it up a notch, again."


Halfway through the following year, Ash furiously exchanged blows with Daniel while his Pokemon did the same against the Kaiser's Pokemon. Like before, they wore the constricting vests with advancing burden and tightness. However, every day Ash and his Pokemon moved faster.

For the past six months, they trained almost non-stop in the Sinnoh's Battle Zone, moving from place to place on the island and only breaking for Ash to tend to his Champion duties.

Ash panted heavily as he unleashed successive blows toward Daniel, who was now truly putting serious effort into his fighting. Ash felt himself stumble backward after a kick to the stomach alongside Heracross and Gengar.

Daniel smiled and held out both hands, revealing his gauntlet keystone on one and ring keystone on the other.

"Care for a real battle?"

Ash and his Pokemon grinned.

"I thought you'd never, Ash!" Ash's other Pokemon stopped for a moment and watched with exuberance when Ash touched both keystones. Within moments, Heracross and Gengar emerged from colorful spheres in their mega evolved forms.

"Cross!"

"Gar!"

"Finally, duel mega evolution, took you long enough." Daniel touched both his stones, and within moments, Aggron and Tyranitar both mega evolved.

"Come on then!"

By year's end, Ash once more stood in the Mount Lanakila stadium with none other than Tobias trying to help his unconscious Darkrai up.

"Darkrai , are you ok?"

"Rai." Darkrai groaned before an equally massive Torterra knelt down and helped him up.

"Terra."

"Darkrai was incredible. All your Pokemon were! I'm glad you brought the whole legendary team!" Ash said, earning a smirk from Tobias even as he shook his head. Aside from Pikachu on his shoulder and Torterra beside Darkrai, Ash also had Muk, Typhlosian, Swellow, Serperior, and Noivern beside him.

"I'm sure you are." Tobias sighed as he looked back up at the board. Darkrai, Latios, Regigigas, Articuno, Raikou, and Virizion all marked beaten while on Ash's board only had Swellow and Muk dimmed.

"Folks, this was a match that won't quickly be forgotten, as Alolan Champion Ash Ketchum once again defends his title with a spectacular win over Tobias!"

"He beat six legendaries!" Lillie muttered while Gladion tried to remain in his seat.

"Like they were nothing!"

"He's getting so powerful."

Daniel and his Lucario slowly clapped with proud expressions.

"Looks there's no holding back in our training now."


Four months later, Ash struggled to stay upright while fighting Daniel on top of a moving train as it sped along the rails in Anville town. All around them, Ash's non-flying Pokemon battled Daniel's on top of either the same train or several nearby ones.

However, unlike the last few years, Ash kept pace with Daniel, even with his restrictive gear on. Sweat trickled down student and teacher as they trained.

"Dragon claw! Iron Tail!"

Pikachu and Charizard moved in with Ash and exchanged blows with Daniel's Charizard, who sparred back using Dragon claw.

Daniel continued blocking Ash's strikes, but when he launched his own, the Kaiser's eyebrows raised upon seeing the Alolan champion knock it aside.

"I thought you weren't holding back anymore?" Ash said with a grin. Daniel's expression mirrored Ash's.

"Indeed."

All of Ash's Pokemon forced Daniel's to fight unrestrained, though dividing their attention between multiple opponents.

At the end of that year, Ash caught Squirtle as he triumphantly leaped into his arms.

"That was unbelievable Squirtle!"

"Pika!" Beside Ash stood Corphish, Feraligatr, Infernape, Dragonite, and Krookodile.

Across from Ash and his team, Lance helped his Red Gyarados ease up after getting knocked out.

"We gave it everything, Gyarados. That's all that matters." Lance looked up at the board, which showed all six of his Pokemon dimmed and only one of Ash's, Corphish.

"Ladies and gentlemen, there you have it, Alolan Champion Ash Ketchum achieves a near-flawless victory against former Kanto Champion, Lance."

Ash shook hands with Lance, who sighed.

"Here I was hoping a victory against you might revitalize my career and inspire me to take back my title. But I suppose the future is for the young, first losing the position as champion to him, now losing to you too."

"You're still one of the best trainers in the world Lance." Ash assured him, but the Dragon Master narrowed his eyes up at a private box.

"Does your mentor think so?"

Daniel and his team sat in the box, but not alone. None other than Cynthia sat beside the Kaiser with a warm smile.

"Looks like all your hard work is paying off." Cynthia said, her head resting on Daniel's shoulder as he nodded.

"Definitely, now the real work begins."


Over halfway through the following year, Ash and his Pokemon trained in Kiloude City Kalos near a small lake before an ever-increasing audience of tourists and ace trainers. The training proved harder than any they'd done in the last four years combined, for unlike before, Daniel wasn't just training Ash but pushing his own limits.

Ash's constraining gear bound him and his Pokemon like an iron Arbok, yet they moved as if nothing were there. However, this time, it wasn't just them wearing the gear.

Daniel and his Pokemon all wore the same restrictive jackets and felt sweat drench their bodies while training with Ash's Pokemon as much as they taught them.

"Night Slash! Dragon Claw"

"Dragon Claw!"

Greninja, Charizard, and Ash moved in near-perfect synchronization while sparring against Feraliatr and Daniel's Charizard, who kept pace with each other.

Daniel pushed himself past his previous limits and knocked Ash backward while his Pokemon did the same.

"Thank you, Ash. This is the first time I've we've challenged in years."

"Glad I could help." Ash laughed.

"Now to see what you're truly capable of!" Daniel flexed hard while his eyes flashed blue, and the restraining jacket burst off, revealing his immensely muscular upper body. While doing this, the Kaiser also pressed one of his keystones, mega evolving Charizard into Mega Charizard Z.

Ash's eyes glowed blue as he thrust both arms out and felt his gear shot off in a blue burst of aura, revealing a similarly toned upper body.

"We can show you!"

"Gre!"

"Grauuu!" Ash pressed one of his keystones, and mega evolved Charizard into Mega Charizard Z while Greninja synchronized his aura with Ash and transformed into Ash-Greninja.

"Let's go!" Both teams clashed again while Ash and Daniel's other Pokemon continued their own training. Climaxing when Ash and Daniel thrust their hands forward and both unleashed aura spheres from their hands.

At the end of that year, Ash took his spot on one end of Lanakila stadium with Mega Heracross facing off against a Mega Gardevior.

"Moonblast!"

"Swords Dance!" Mega Heracross very narrowly avoided the incoming attack with almost unbelievable agility, flipping himself in mid-air and enhancing his physical attack.

"Megahorn!"

"Cross!" Mega Heracross propelled himself through the air like a missile, crashing his horn into Mega Gardevior's stomach, slamming her hard into the ground.

"Gardevoir!"

When the dust settled, Mega Heracross stood over an unconscious Gardevoir.

"It's over, folks, it's over! Alolan Champion Ash defeats former Kalos Champion Diantha in a flawless victory!"

"We did it Heracross!"

"Pika!"

"Cross!" Mega Heracross almost tackled Ash and Pikachu onto their backs when he flew into them. Within moments, Sirfetch'd, Incineroar, Gliscor, Kingler, and Snorlax joined in the embrace.

Diantha placed her arms around Gardevoir with a comforting smile.

"We did our best. I'm very proud of you." The audience erupted into overwhelming applause, particularly at the fact that all six of Ash's Pokemon remained lit up on the board.

"Ash, I can't believe how strong you've become in these last few years." Diantha offered her hand to Ash, and he shook it with a friendly smile.

"We put in the hard work, and never gave up on our goals, right guys!"

"Pika!"

"Cross!"

"Well, at this rate, there's only one place for you to go." Both looked up at one private box in particular. There Daniel and Cynthia sat beside each other alongside their Pokemon.

The Sinnoh Champion stroked her hands across her swollen stomach while Daniel did the same, a few of their Pokemon occasionally nuzzling the unborn baby inside.

Daniel looked down at Ash, who looked back up at him.

"So, is it finally time?" Cynthia asked with a slight chuckle.

"Not yet. There are six trainers he must beat first." Cynthia nodded in understanding.

"Ahh, I see. I suppose I'm one of them."

Daniel nodded and kissed her on the cheek while Cynthia gazed down at Ash with an almost excited look.

"Good. After five years of training with you, I'm eager to see what he's truly capable of. But after Jr. here is born, that'll be too much excitement for a pregnant woman." Cynthia exhaled and tried to ease back.

Daniel and his Charizard kept their eyes on Ash.

"The next few months will tell us if someone will ever take the crown from us, Charizard."

"Grauuu." Charizard nodded.


Author's note

Yep a bit of a training montage and showing Ash attending to his duties as Alolan Champion

I hope you guys are enjoying the story so far, because Ash still has a few challenges remaining before he faces Daniel again

So until next time,

Please review, comment, suggest, or ask (VIA PM)