"Sorry for the wait you two." Ingo apologized as he returned to the two young trainers, ending their awkward conversation for now. For once Ash was thankful for the interruption. He wasn't sure how much more of this conversation topic he could've taken.
"It's really alright." He assured the Warden.
"So where's Noble Sneasler?" Akari asked.
"Actually, before we meet Lady Sneasler, I have a favor to ask." Ingo said.
"What is it?"
"Could one of you have a battle with me?" he requested.
"Really? A battle?" Ash wondered.
"Yes." Ingo nodded. "I have very vague memories of doing a lot of battling before I came here. I have hoped a good one may jog some memories loose."
"Oh. Alright, then I'll do it." Ash nodded. It sounded a bit strange to him, but if there was a chance that some of Ingo's memories could come back and give him some more answers to what was going on, then he'd gladly participate in a battle.
"I thank you in advance Ash." Igno said with a small smile.
"No problem." He nodded.
"Chu!" Pikachu smiled. Akari quickly moved out of the line of fire as Ash and Ingo put a good distance between them for a battlefield.
"Let's go Pikachu!" Ash announced.
"Got it!" Pikachu nodded as he jumped off Ash's shoulder and sparked his cheeks.
"Go Machoke!" Ingo called as he threw his pokeball.
"Ma!" Machoke yelled as he flexed his biceps proudly.
"Start us off with Quick Attack!" Ash called to his partner. In a burst of speed, Pikachu charged towards Machoke with a powerful Quick Attack.
"Double Edge!" Ingo commanded. Machoke heeded the order and charged toward Pikachu, colliding with him head-on. With the size and weight advantage, Machoke easily sent Pikachu flying backward.
"Pika!" Pikachu yelped.
"Oh no Pikachu!" Ash gasped.
"Once more Machoke!" Ingo ordered, prompting Machoke to charge toward Pikachu once again.
"Quick use Thunderbolt!" Ash called out. Pikachu quickly got back up onto his paws, then fired Thunderbolt at the incoming Machoke before he could make an effort to dodge. Machoke cried out in pain as the electricity coursed through his body and knocked him backward. "Alright, Pikachu! Way to go!"
"Choke!" Machoke groaned as he stumbled backward slightly.
"Now wrap this up with Iron Tail!" Ash commanded. Pikachu nodded and then leaped into the air with his tail glowing. As he fell towards Machoke he swung his tail and struck his opponent's head with Iron Tail. The force of the hit sent Machoke crashing into the back wall where he fainted. "Nice work Pikachu!"
"Pika!" Pikachu cheered. Ingo recalled Machoke and smiled at his pokeball.
"Well done my friend." He said as he exchanged the pokeball for a new one. "Tangla come out!"
"Tang!" Tangla announced himself as he took the field.
"A Tangla next…alright Pikachu return." He informed his partner. Pikachu nodded and ran back to Ash, retaking his perch on Ash's shoulder. Ash grabbed a pokeball from his pack and threw it onto the field. "Let's go Growlithe!"
"Growl!" Growlithe howled as he shook out his fur.
"Energy Ball!" Ingo called the first attack. Tangla formed a ball of energy at his front and then launched the Energy Ball at Growlithe.
"Use Flamethrower!" Ash countered. Growlithe took a deep breath and fired off a Flamethrower at the Energy Ball. The two attacks collided midair and exploded out with smoke across the field, temporarily blinding both teams. "Quickly use Fire Fang!"
"Lithe!" Growlithe growled as he charged through the smoke while his fangs were set ablaze.
"Stop them with Stun Spore!" Ingo ordered his Pokemon. Tangla quickly launched a yellow powder into the smoke and intercepted Growlithe within the smoke cloud. The attack forced Growlithe to stop as he became Paralyzed by the attack.
"Growlithe!" Ash gasped.
"Ancient Power!" Ingo followed up. Tangla's eyes glowed a purple color and the same glow suddenly broke rocks free from the cliffs nearby before launching them at Growlithe and earning a clean hit. Growlithe howled in pain and collapsed onto the field, still struggling to move. "Follow up with Energy Ball!"
Tang!" Tangla responded as he fired off another Energy Ball at the motionless opponent.
"Don't give up Growlithe! Use Flamethrower!" Ash ordered. Growlithe managed to fight through the paralysis just enough to turn his head and fire a Flamethrower into the Energy Ball, stopping it before it could make contact. Another explosion gave Growlithe coverage to get back up and Ash to give another command. "Rock Slide!"
"Grow!" Growlithe howled as he sent rocks raining down on Tangela, leaving the Grass-type nowhere to go as he was pelted with the large boulders. Tangla crashed into the ground and fainted.
"Alright!" Ash cheered as he hugged Growlithe.
"Grow!" Growlithe barked happily as he licked Ash's cheek. Ingo recalled Tangla and smiled at the pokeball.
"Thank you for all your hard work." He put the pokeball away and grabbed his last one, tossing it into the field. "Gliscor now!"
"Gli!" Gliscor announced himself as he took the field. Ash stood back up and returned Growlithe to his pokeball, considering his next move.
"Take a good rest Growlithe. Come on out Basculegion!" he announced as he threw out his Water type.
"Bas!" Basculegion roared.
"Use Poison Jab Gliscor!" Ingo ordered his Pokemon. Heeding the order, Gliscor flew at Basculegion with his claws glowing purple.
"Counter with Aqua Jet!" Ash called. Gliscor was fast and managed to strike Basculegion with Poison Jab, but Basculegion was able to push through the pain and still use Aqua Jet, slamming full force into Gliscor while they were close. Gliscor was pushed back a ways, but he quickly expanded his wings and stopped himself from being pushed too far back. "Follow with Shadow Ball!"
"Legion!" Basculegion roared as he fired a Shadow Ball at Gliscor.
"Aerial Ace!" Ingo called. Gliscor managed to dodge the Shadow Ball with amazing speed and then landed the attack with just as much speed.
"Hang in there Basculegion! Use Wave Crash!" Ash commanded. Basculegion roared and coated himself in water before rushing towards Gliscor with a powerful Wave Crash.
"Stop them by using Mud Bomb!" Ingo demanded. Gliscor opened his claws and launched several Mud Bombs at the charging opponent in an attempt to stop his advance.
"Use Shadow Ball max power!" Ash yelled. While still charging forward, Basculegion fired multiple Shadow Balls at the Mud Bombs and the attacks collided, causing another explosion and canceling each other out. But before anyone had a chance to do anything else, Basculegion charged right through the smoke and struck Glisor with Wave Crash. Gliscor cried out in pain and was sent flying through the air.
"Gliscor!" Ingo gasped as Basculegion screeched in a bit of pain from the move's recoil damage. Gliscor managed to straighten out and fly back onto the field, though it was clear that he was running low on energy. "We have to end this. Use your best Poison Jab!"
"Gli!" Gliscor agreed as he flew in quickly, his claws once again glowing with their purple color.
"Use Aqua Jet and give it everything you got!" Ash countered. Basculegion charged toward Gliscor with Aqua Jet and the two Pokémon collided in another explosion, hiding the result of the collision in another layer of smoke. "Basculegion!"
"Gliscor?!"
"No way!" Akari gasped as the smoke slowly started clearing up. Soon it was revealed that both Pokémon were laying on the ground, fainted.
"Whoa…" Pikachu marveled. Ingo recalled Gliscor and smiled at the pokeball. "You were wonderful Gliscor. Thank you."
"You did great too Basculegion." Ash smiled as he too recalled his Pokemon. Both trainers put their pokeballs away and met back in the middle of the field as Akari ran over to join them.
"Thank you for the battle, Ash." Ingo said with genuine appreciation.
"Your welcome Ingo." He replied.
"I do believe that battle helped. It felt like a very familiar experience. I appreciate you're indulgence." He continued.
"I see. Did it…feel like you were missing having someone battling alongside you?" Ash wondered, hoping to encourage some more memories out.
"It did indeed." The Warden nodded. "Perhaps someday soon I can finally regain those memories in full."
"We'll be rooting for your Ingo." Akari smiled.
"Yeah." Ash nodded, though a bit disappointed that more didn't resurface.
"Thank you both. Now, I think it's time you met Lady Sneasler." Ingo announced, getting back to the matter at hand.
"Alright then. Where is she?" Akari wondered.
"Just a moment." Ingo said as he took out his flute and began to play the familiar tune. As he played, a Pokemon cry sounded above them and a very tall Pokemon leaped down from the rocks above and landed amongst the group. She looked a lot like a Sneasle, but it was obvious she held far more power than one. More on par with a Weavile probably.
"Whoa...so this is Noble Sneasler...?" Ash asked.
"Indeed. And these are her children." Ingo confirmed as he gestured to two Sneasle at the Noble Sneasler's feet. One was a Sneasle similar to the ones that Ash remembered from his time, and the other looked completely different, with a white and purple complexion as opposed to the black he knew.
"Wow..." he marveled as he looked at the differences between the two young Sneasle.
"Oh wow. How can the two of them look so different if they're both her children?" Akari asked Ingo.
"It seems that Noble Sneasler took a mate in one of those mysterious Weavile we've been seeing, resulting in these twins looking vastly different from one another." He explained.
"Is it…really ok to take on a Noble's children? Aren't they supposed to be in training to become the next Noble?" Ash wondered.
"Not to worry. They have an older sibling that will take over the duties for their mother someday. Noble Sneasler has given her permission to each of you to take one of these little ones under your wing." Ingo assured him.
"Well, alright. If you're sure." He nodded. Both he and Akari knelt down to the two young Sneasle to greet them. The Johtonian Sneasel seemed to be a bit more bold, standing defiantly next to his mother's legs while the Hisuian Sneasel seemed to be more timid as she hid behind her mother's legs. Noticing her timidity, Akari moved slightly closer to her.
"Don't be afraid sweetie. My name is Akari. It's nice to meet you." She gave the little Sneasel a friendly smile and slowly Sneasel began to approach her.
"Sne..." she greeted Akari quietly.
"I think we can become great friends." She promised as she offered Sneasel her hand. Sneasel seemed to hesitate for a moment, but finally put her claw in Akari's hand, both of them sharing a small smile. Ash smiled a little at the two of them before turning towards the Johtonian Sneasel with a confident smile.
"You seem like one who's ready for anything. I think we'd work really well together, don't you think?"
"Sneas!" Sneasel agreed with an eager nod.
"So what do you say? Wanna come to get stronger with me?" he offered. Sneasel nodded confidently and ran over to Ash, clearly ready for anything. Both trainers took out an empty pokeball and tapped their respective Sneasel on the head. Both Sharp Claw Pokémon were sent inside their capsules and were set on the ground. Two fireworks later, the trainers picked up their pokeballs and let out the newest members of their teams.
"Well done to you both." Ingo congratulated them. "Now that you've earned the trust of the Sneasel, it's time we got to training. They both must learn how to climb these cliffs so you both can reach Lord Electrode."
"Right." Ash nodded.
"Noble Sneasler will help us in the training. Is everyone ready?"
"You bet!" Ash smiled confidently.
"Sneasel!"
"We're ready!" Akari agreed.
"Snes…!"
A few hours later, Ash and Akari watched as their Sneasel effortlessly climbed up the cliffs alongside their mother. They had worked hard and with dedication throughout the day, and now were climbing almost as well as their mother was.
"Good. It seems they've both mastered climbing very well." Igno nodded in approval.
"Way to go you two!" Ash called up to the two Sneasel.
"Call them back down for now and we'll begin the final step." Ingo instructed them.
"Right." Akari nodded as she turned her attention back to the cliff. "Sneasel come on back down please."
"Come on back down Sneasel!" Ash called as well. Both Sneasel heard their trainers' calls and then jumped off the cliff. They landed in front of their respective trainers with proud smiles.
"Luckily, we're just in time for dusk." The Warden announced as he proceeded to hand each of them a small curved claw. "Give these to your Sneasel."
"What is this?" Akari wondered.
"It's called a Razor Claw." He answered her.
"Where I'm from it helps evolve Sneasel into Weavile. Are you saying it helps Hisuian Sneasel evolve into Sneasler in the same way?" Ash asked.
"Indeed it does. I've also found the time of day matters between the two of them. However, when the day turns to night, meaning during dusk, both of them can evolve when given this item." Igno added.
"Oh wow." Akari marveled. "That's amazing."
"Sure is." Ash nodded. With that, both trainers offered their Sneasel the Razor Claws and they both started glowing and changing shape. Akari's Sneasel grew taller similar to her mother, while Ash's Sneasel only grew slightly taller, but gained a lovely red headdress. Finally, the glow faded, and two new Pokemon were standing before them.
"Wow...I have a Sneasler!" Akari cheered.
"Sneasler!" her new partner confirmed excitedly.
"And I've got a Weavile!" Ash added with equal excitement.
"Weavile!" Weavile announced himself.
"Wow." Akari commented as she looked between the two of them. "The two of them look completely different. And to think they both came from the same species."
"The world of Pokemon really is amazing." Ash nodded with a small smile.
"It is indeed." Ingo spoke up. "Be that as it may, now that they've evolved, you two need to use these Pokémon to climb to the top of the cliffs. And there you'll find Lord Electrode's dwelling."
"Understood." Ash confirmed.
"Thank you, Warden Ingo." Akari smiled.
"You're both very welcome. Good luck, and please take good care of those Pokemon."
"We sure will." Ash nodded. Both trainers raced towards the cliffs with their newly evolved Pokemon and started climbing up the cliffs towards the Moonview Arena, where Lord Electrode was waiting for them.
To be Continued...