Ash vs Liz, and Dreaded Encounters
Alec's POV
After Ash's gym battle against Clemont, the group was still in Lumiose City the next day and they had an encounter with Liz. Ash, being Ash, immediately asked her to a battle, to which Liz agreed. The two were now on a battlefield with Clemont acting as the referee. Currently, Pikachu was battling Violet.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded. Pikachu jumped into the air and fired the electric attack at the shiny Delphox.
"Use Mystical Fire!" Liz shouted. The two attacks clashed and Violet's attack managed to overpower Pikachu's.
"You alright Pikachu?" Ash asked.
[I'm good. Let's win this,] Pikachu answered.
"Alright then, use Electro Ball!" Ash called out.
"Send it back with Psychic!" Liz ordered. Pikachu's attack was grabbed by a blue glow before being sent back towards Pikachu.
"Dodge and use Iron Tail!" Ash shouted. Pikachu dodged the returning Electro Ball and swang his steel tail towards Violet, scoring a hit. "Now Thunderbolt!" Pikachu fired the electric attack and Violet took it head on this time.
"Fire Punch!" Liz called out. Violet emerged from the smoke of Pikachu's attack and charged the mouse.
"Counter with Iron Tail!" Ash shouted. The two ended up in a clash but neither could overpower the other.
"Looks like it's even," Liz commented.
"We'll see for how long. Electro Ball!" Ash shouted. Pikachu smiled as he formed the ball on his tail, but Liz smiled as well.
"Dragon Rush!" she shouted. Violet formed the attack and slammed into Pikachu, sending him flying.
"Pikachu!" Ash called out as Pikachu hit the ground.
"Don't think I was going to give Pikachu a free attack. Ethan pulled that same trick when Alec first one the Kalos League, so I know that move," Liz commented to Ash.
"Well, we're not finished yet!" Ash shouted as Pikachu stood up and shouted in agreement.
"Good. I'd hate for this to be too easy. Mystical Fire!" Liz shouted.
"Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted at the same time Liz called out her move. The two attacks clashed and appeared to be even this time.
"Use Fire Punch on the Mystical Fire!" Liz ordered.
"What's she thinking this time?" Alec asked himself aloud. Using her other fist, Violet punched her own attack and it caused the flames from the Mystical Fire to increase in power. The combined attack overpowered Pikachu's Thunderbolt, causing a massive explosion.
"Pikachu is unable to battle. Violet's the winner!" Clemont declared.
Ash ran up and grabbed Pikachu, taking his partner off the battlefield as Liz returned Violet. "That was pretty impressive Ash. A little more training and you might be up to me and Alec's level," Liz commented with a smile.
"The battle isn't finished yet," Ash pointed out.
"You're right, it isn't. Let's go Snowflake!" Liz shouted as she released her Glaceon.
[Alright, who's the lucky one today?] Snowflake asked.
[Oh heck no! Let me at her!] Ethan shouted, trying to attack Snowflake.
"Ethan no!" Alec shouted, holding his partner back.
"Uh… is everything okay over there?" Ash asked, he and Liz stopped noticing the commotion.
"Let's just say Ethan has an unsettled grudge with Snowflake," Alec replied.
"Long story short, Snowflake beat Ethan during the Kalos League and he's taken it personally," Liz explained.
"Ethan if you don't stop your going in the ball," Alec threatened. Ethan stopped struggling, but only reluctantly while glaring at Snowflake.
"Okay… Well, let's get back to it," Ash said. "Hawlucha, I choose you!" he shouted.
[Let's battle!] Hawlucha shouted upon release from his ball.
[Kick her ass Hawlucha!] Ethan cheered.
[Ethan!] Eve protested.
[What?] Ethan asked her, not seeing a problem. Alec's hand met his face at Ethan's antics.
"Dare I ask?" Cassidy asked him.
"Ethan's being Ethan," Alec explained.
"Well, it's a good thing Bonnie can't understand Pokémon," Serena commented to Alec and Cassidy.
"Snowflake, use Iron Tail!" Liz shouted.
"Karate Chop, let's go!" Ash counted. Hawlucha and Snowflake clashed quickly before the two separated. "Use High Jump Kick!" Ash shouted. Hawlucha closed in on Snowflake and managed to slam into her.
"Recover and use Ice Beam!" Liz shouted. Snowflake recovered from Hawlucha's attack and fired towards him.
"Use the walls to jump around and use Karate Chop!" Ash shouted. Hawlucha dodged Snowflake's Ice Beam and started jumping off the walls, hitting the Glaceon with a quick Karate Chop before jumping off another wall.
"Spin and use Blizzard!" Liz shouted after a few hits. Snowflake jumped onto her side and fired the cold winds from her mouth, causing her to spin around like a top. The winds hit Hawlucha and he stumbled a bit, his rhythm broken.
"Flying Press!" Ash shouted. Hawlucha jumped and performed his signature move.
"Dodge and use Ice Beam!" Liz commanded. Snowflake stopped her Blizzard and jumped out of the way of Hawlucha's attack in time. She then shot the cold beams at Hawlucha, creating an ice prison around him. "Now Hyperbeam!" Liz shouted.
"Hawlucha, get out of there with Karate Chop!" Ash called out, but it was too late as Snowflake's Hyperbeam hit Hawlucha.
[That's going to hurt,] Ethan commented, but more in deja-vu than his normal sass. Alec remembered that move well. It was the one that took down Ethan when he was 11.
"Hawlucha is unable to battle! Snowflake's the winner!" Clemont declared.
[That was somewhat of a challenge,] Snowflake commented. [More so than Ethan,] she added, knowing it would tick off the Moonlight Pokémon.
[Why you little!] Ethan shouted but Eve stopped him before he did something too crazy.
"Ash is already down to his last Pokémon. What's he going to do?" Serena said worriedly.
"It's just like with his battle with Alec," Bonnie added, noticing the similarities.
"Ash is doing better against Liz than he did against me," Alec pointed out.
"Frogadier, I choose you!" Ash shouted, letting out his last choice.
"Frogadier, huh. Snowflake, return," Liz said. She then grabbed another Poké Ball. "Let's go Lucario!" she shouted.
[I'm ready master,] Lucario said determinedly.
"Frogadier, use Cut!" Ash shouted. Frogadier charged in towards Lucario, ready to strike.
"Stop it with Rock Slide!" Liz shouted. Lucario summoned boulders and had them fall down towards Frogadier, breaking up his momentum.
"Aerial Ace!" Ash called out.
"Counter with Shadow Claw!" Liz shouted. Lucario and Frogadier clashed a few times, but Lucario got the upper hand and scored the first hit. "Aura Sphere!" Liz shouted.
"Water Pulse!" Ash commanded. The two Pokémon formed their orbs and fired at each other, causing an explosion.
"Dragon Pulse!" Liz shouted, firing through the smoke, a trick she picked up on from Alec. The move rang true as it slammed into Frogadier.
"You alright Frogadier?" Ash asked.
[I can keep going,] Frogadier responded.
"Alright! Get close with Double Team!" Ash shouted. Frogadier ran towards Lucario splitting into multiple copies with more coming by the second. "Now use Aerial Ace!" Ash commanded. All the Frogadier copies charged in towards Lucario, ready to strike.
Liz responded by grabbing her keystone. "Lucario, Mega Evolve!" she shouted. When Mega Lucario appeared, Liz called out, "Shadow Claw!" and the additional speed managed to get rid of all the Frogadier copies and hit the real one.
"Water Pulse!" Ash ordered. Frogadier fired the water orb towards Lucario, who dodged effortlessly.
"Aura Sphere!" Liz shouted. Lucario fired and hit Frogadier hard.
"Frogadier is unable to battle! Lucario's the winner!" Clemont declared.
"Great work Lucario!" Liz shouted as she ran up to him and Lucario reverted to normal.
[Thank you,] Lucario responded.
"Wow. Now I see why you're Alec's strongest rival," Ash complimented Liz.
"I'm sure you'll be on our level soon," Alec reassured Ash.
"Still it was a fun battle," Liz said to Ash. "And are you alright Ethan?" she asked the Umbreon.
[No,] Ethan said bluntly.
"He's really cranky now, isn't he?" Liz asked Alec and he nodded.
The group then left the battlefield and talked as they approached Prism Tower. "So, next up is Laverre City!" Ash celebrated.
"And your sixth badge," Serena added.
"So you've already got five badges?" Liz asked and Ash nodded in response.
Alec then noticed Cassidy seemed a bit sad. "You alright?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Just going to go to Snowbelle City while the rest of you go to Laverre City," Cassidy said, her voice becoming sadder as she spoke.
"You've really enjoyed traveling with us, haven't you?" Alec asked.
"Yeah, but at the same time I want to go my own path and not just follow you around," Cassidy answered.
"Well, whatever you decide to do, I just hope you're happy," Alec told her. Cassidy smiled at Alec's words.
"Alec," a sing-song voice suddenly called out.
"Oh no. Not now," Alec moaned.
"Please don't tell me that's who I think it is?" Liz asked Alec.
"Who?" Serena asked.
Alec turned and saw Annabell approach the group, her long ginger hair draping behind her, while wearing designer clothing. "Alec, darling, it's been so long," she said, trying to grab Alec but he got out of her way.
"'Darling'?" Cassidy asked Alec suspiciously.
"What do you want Annabell?" Alec asked coldly.
"Is it so wrong to see my future husband?" Annabell asked.
"Husband?!" Serena asked in surprise with everyone but Alec, Liz, and Ethan having faces of shock.
"Still living in that fantasy, aren't you. We aren't going to happen," Alec told Annabell.
"Oh, don't say such silly things," Annabell scoffed.
"Why don't you go away Annabell," Liz told her coldly.
"Still hanging out with the peasant I see?" Annabell asked Alec and Liz to get noticeably angry, which didn't happen often.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Ash asked Annabell.
"Oh, you must not be from the region, my name is Annabell, daughter of Lysnadre," she answered Ash. She then turned back to Alec. "Come along sweetie, we need to catch up," she said as she grabbed Alec's arm, but he pulled it back.
"I don't have time for you, so why don't you go away?" Alec asked her.
"Always playing hard to get," Annabell muttered. Alec facepalmed in response and Liz scowled at her.
"Why don't you just go away. Alec clearly doesn't want you around," Cassidy said, stepping between Alec and Annabell.
"So leave him alone," Serena added.
"Who do you two think you are?" Annabell asked the two girls coldly.
"Alec's twin sister," Serena answered with the same coldness.
Annabell looked at Serena in surprise before bursting out laughing. "Are you delusional, girl? Alec doesn't have siblings, his father said so," Annabell told Serena.
"What's going on over here?" another familiar voice said, and Alec turned to see his father approaching. "Alec, it's good to see you again," he said with little emotion.
"Can't say the feeling's mutual," Alec muttered as Ethan growled at Alec's father.
"Oh, don't start you beast," he said to Ethan, causing the Umbreon to get even angrier.
"Ethan's not a beast!" Alec shouted, but his father ignored him.
"So, when are you coming home?" he asked Alec.
"When you start being a real father to me, so never," Alec answered.
"Oh, don't be silly darling," Annabell said, moving to put her arms around Alec but Cassidy intercepted her.
The two girls gave each other death glares. "Don't even think about it," Cassidy told her.
Alec's father sighed. "Can you both please stop or take it somewhere else?" he asked the girls. They stopped, but hostility was still in the air.
"Alec, who's this?" Serena asked him.
"This is our father," Alec answered Serena. She looked surprised at first, but it quickly turned into a small hostility. Their father looked at Serena with the same cold look that Alec was familiar with. "That's right. I found my mother, and my sister that you never bothered to tell me about," Alec said to him.
"What does it matter. She never wanted to see you," Steven responded.
"Stop lying!" Alec shouted.
"Look, I don't want to get into a pointless argument right now. Can you please just come home? You've accomplished all you wanted to, have you?" Steven asked.
"No, there's something that's becoming more and more clear that I'll never complete, but I'm going to keep trying. And I'm not coming home till I do," Alec answered.
The three then heard a commotion and Alec saw that Cassidy and Liz were trying to tackle Annabell, but Ash and Clemont were holding them back with Bonnie helping Clemont. "You take that back!" Cassidy shouted.
"Take what back. I wasn't lying when I said that your hair made both hideous," Annabell stated and Liz and Cassidy tried to break free of the ones holding them back.
"Let's just calm down before someone does something they'll regret, okay?" Clemont asked, trying to be the voice of reason but not getting through to any of the girls.
"Oh, I don't regret anything," Annabell stated.
"That's it! I challenge you to a one on one battle!" Cassidy demanded.
"And why should I? You're hardly worth my time," Annabell proclaimed.
Cassidy looked like she wanted to curse at Annabell, but she adopted a devious smile. "What's the matter? Too worried that you'll get some knots in that ginger rat nest you call hair?" Cassidy asked Annabell.
That proved to be beneficial to Cassidy as Liz burst out laughing and Alec quietly chuckled at her quip. "'Rat nest'! How dare you! I will destroy you!" Annabell screamed, pulling out a Poké Ball.
"You're on," Cassidy replied, pulling out her own Poké Ball.
Cassidy's POV
Clemont was kind enough to offer the Lumiose Gym's battlefield for Cassidy and Anajerks battle since there weren't any challengers on the afternoon schedule today. Everyone else sat in the stands, even Alec's father, but no one sat close to him, not even Alec. That told Cassidy a lot about the relationship those two had, but she pushed it out of her mind as she faced her opponent.
"The battle between Cassidy and Annabell is about to begin. Each trainer will use one Pokémon and the battle will be over when one side's Pokémon is unable to continue," Clembot said.
Cassidy grabbed a Poké Ball and looked at it in her hand. "I'm counting on you. We'll show this jerk who we're capable of," Cassidy said to it. "Cotton, let's go!" she shouted and her Altaria appeared.
"Salamence, sweetie, you're up!" Annabell shouted, throwing out the Dragon Pokémon.
"Thought someone like her would have a cute Pokémon," Cassidy commented.
"Altaria," Cotton said in agreement.
"Alright, battle begin!" Clembot declared.
"Salamence, use Dragon Rush!" Annabell shouted.
"Counter with Dragon Pulse!" Cassidy commanded. As Salamence formed a blue dragon around him, Cotton fired her move which stopped Salamence cold.
"Why you little! Get close and use Steel Wing!" Annabell ordered. Salamence managed to score a hit this time. "Now, Dragon Rush again!"
"Counter with Sky Attack!" Cassidy shouted. As Salamence charged Cotton again, she flew up to it with a golden glow around her. The resulting crash caused an explosion, throwing both Pokémon back.
"Looks like I'll have to take you seriously it seems," Annabell commented.
"You're not taking me seriously?" Cassidy asked.
"I was hoping you would just roll over for me, but it seems you're too stubborn for your own good. Salamence, Mega Evolve!" Annabell shouted. Salamence then became Mega Salamence right then and there.
"Mega Evolution? Someone like you got Mega Evolution?!" Liz shouted out in rage from the stands.
"You're not the only one who can do that. Cotton, Mega Evolve!" Cassidy shouted, touching her bracelet. When Cotton's transformation finished, she glared at her opponent with the same fire and determination her trainer was feeling.
"That won't deter me! Use Hyperbeam!" Annabell yelled.
"Moonblast!" Cassidy called out. The two attacks clashed and were even in power. Knowing Salamence would have to recharge after using Hyperbeam, Cassidy made her move. "Dragon Pulse followed by another Moonblast!" she ordered. Both attacks did a ton of damage on Salamence, who looked almost beaten.
"Take that dumb bird out with Steel Wing!" Annabell ordered, her voice getting angrier as the battle went on. Salamence, not wanting to anger it's trainer further, hit Cotton hard with the Steel-type move.
"Earthquake!" Cassidy called out, a plan forming in her head. Cotton looked confused for a second, but knew that her trainer had a plan. She hit the ground with her talons causing the ground to rip apart.
Annabell laughed at Cassidy's choice of move. "Are you stupid? Ground-type moves won't affect my Salamence," she mocked.
"You can do it, Cassidy!" Alec shouted from the stands. Annabell looked shocked at Alec's choice of sides while Cassidy smiled. The others, besides Alec's father who was watching the battle with a cold stare, started cheering for her as well.
"Cotton, get above Salamence and use Dragon Pulse!" Cassidy commanded. Cotton managed to complete the first part of her trainer's orders, but Annabell was even angrier now and wasn't going to let Cassidy do what she wanted.
"Aerial Ace!" she screamed in rage. Salamence started to attack and started cutting through Cotton's Dragon Pulse.
"We can do this Cotton! We won't let someone like them beat us! Use Dragon Pulse with everything you have!" Cassidy called out. Encouraged by her trainer, Cotton's attack increased in power. Salamence crashed into the ground and tried to get back into the air, but the damaged ground it landed on trapped its legs. "Finish this with Moonblast!" Cassidy ordered. The pink orb formed in Cotton's mouth and fired at Salamence, causing an explosion.
When the smoke cleared, Salamence was in its normal form lying on the ground. "Salamence is unable to battle! Cotton is the winner!" Clembot declared.
"Alright!" Cassidy cheered and Cotton flew up to her and snuggled her. "You were amazing Cotton," she told the Altaria, who smiled happily.
"Espe!" Eve shouted as she ran up to her trainer and jumped into her arms.
The others then ran up to Cassidy. "You were amazing out there," Alec complemented Cassidy. She blushed at Alec's complement, but quickly got her face under control.
"Nice work Cass!" Liz yelled in joy as she wrapped her arm around Cassidy. "You showed that big jerk who's boss!"
"You're just pathetic!" Annabell screamed at Cassidy. "I don't know what kind of horrible brainwashing you put my beloved Alec through, but I will have my revenge!" she declared before storming out of the gym.
"See ya!" Bonnie shouted before blowing a raspberry in the direction Annabell left.
The group then left the gym and Cassidy realized that she would have to leave Alec and his friends soon. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she had developed a bit of a crush on the Kalos Champion while she traveled with him. Since it was too late to really do any traveling, the group stayed in Lumiose City for one more night.
Cassidy found herself unable to sleep and took a bit of a midnight stroll. She eventually found Alec talking to Liz and she decided to listen in. "It's been an interesting day, hasn't it?" Liz asked Alec.
"You're telling me. Didn't think I'd have to see both my father and Annabell on the same day. One of them is enough," Alec answered.
"Agreed. Good thing Cassidy gave that suck-up of a trainer the beat down," Liz stated happily. Liz then looked in Cassidy's direction and she quickly hid, wondering if Liz saw her. Liz was silent for a bit before asking Alec, "So… what do you think of Cassidy?"
"Wh-what about her?" Alec asked in what sounded like surprise.
"Did I touch a nerve there?" Liz teased. "Still, she's really pretty."
"Yeah, she kind of is," Alec answered, his voice calmer. Cassidy felt herself blush at Alec's words. "Wait! I meant-" Alec started suddenly as Liz started laughing. "That wasn't funny," he complained.
"For me, it was," Liz said through her laughs. She calmed down before saying anything more. "Though from what I heard she's going to Snowbelle City for her next gym badge. I hope she doesn't run into your father while she's there."
Cassidy remembered that both Alec and Liz were from Snowbelle, so there was a chance that she may run into Alec's father. She didn't want to do so, he appeared quite cold. "Cassidy's strong. She can handle him," Alec reassured Liz.
"Well, I'm going to get some sleep. I'm assuming since we saw both annoyances today you'll be up for a while?" Liz asked Alec.
"You know me too well," Alec answered. Liz then started walking over to where Cassidy was and she tried to hide. When Liz was gone, she slipped out and thought she needed to talk to Alec.
Alec's POV
After Liz left, he stood in silence looking at the stars when he heard someone behind him. "You here to grill me more, Liz?" he asked.
"No, I thought you could use someone to talk too," Cassidy's voice said. Alec turned to find her standing behind him.
"Oh… uh, thanks," Alec said, feeling the heat rise to his checks and Liz's question about her still fresh in his mind.
"So, that was your father?" Cassidy asked as she stood next to him.
"Unfortunately," Alec answered.
"And what was up with Annabell?"
"My father, looking to further expand his company, thought that if I married Lysandre's daughter he'd be able to get her father company. I never even liked the idea when I was a little kid, but Annabell took it to heart and it became an obsession for her. Liz helped however she could and her parents were kind enough to hide me whenever Annabell showed up in Snowbelle," Alec explained.
"I'm guessing your father isn't liked that much?"
"Only by big business figures. For the average person, my father is just some greedy businessman who somehow got a son," Alec said, sighing. "That didn't help me when I first started traveling."
"What do you mean?" Cassidy asked. Alec told her about how he was ridiculed by other trainers who found out about who he was. "That's horrible! How could anyone do such a thing?!" Cassidy asked in a mix of anger and shock.
"Anger does things to others. But it seems my father's curse is never-ending," Alec complained.
"Does that have something to do with the something you'll never accomplish?" Cassidy asked.
"Yeah. My father's respect."
Cassidy looked confused. "Why would you want someone like that to have your respect? He's a horrible man," she said then covered her mouth when she realized she had insulted his father.
"Don't be sorry for insulting him, and as for why I want his respect," Alec started. "When I was younger, I followed my father's wishes hoping it would please him. He was always cold, and the memories of him being a father are probably from a desperate kid who wanted to be loved. I guess that part of me still lives, even if it's faint."
"That must have been hard growing up like that," Cassidy said softly.
"It wasn't all bad. I had Liz and Ethan with me and they helped keep me from going crazy," Alec told her.
"You and Liz are pretty close, aren't you?" Cassidy asked, the question coming out a bit hard.
"We have more of a brother-sister relationship. Liz has two younger sisters so to her, I was the brother she never had. It just wouldn't work any other way for us, though we always did kind of tease each other that it could have been more," Alec said with a chuckle.
"Well, who wouldn't think the Champion of Kalos isn't a catch," Cassidy said jokingly. Alec's face then fell. "Oh, sorry, bad topic?" she asked.
"I suppose I should tell you," Alec started.
"Don't forget what I told you before. I don't want you to tell me just because you're trying to be more open. Tell me because you want to," she reminded him.
"Well, I do want to tell you," Alec told her and she gave him a small smile. "I've been feeling a lot of pressure recently, and me becoming Champion has only added on to that."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that now I have something else to me than just being my father's son… but I'm worried about what's going to happen if that's taken away from me. To those who knew who I came from, I was just as bad as my father, and the only reason I went on a Pokémon journey was to make others hate Pokémon and to take down the system from the inside." Cassidy looked surprised by what Alec said.
"People can be cruel sometimes."
"Yeah, but now that I'm Champion, people who once treated me badly because of my name are suddenly praising me."
"That's good, right? They aren't doing horrible things to you now," Cassidy pointed out hopefully.
"And that's what worries me. These people didn't change because I convinced them to change, but because I became someone important. But if I lose my title, then it'll go back to just how it was before, except worse," Alec explained.
"I guess I never thought about that," Cassidy said.
"I don't hide my past because I'm antisocial, I do it because in the past, revealing it has brought nothing but pain from those who claimed to be my friends. Until I met Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie, Liz was the only one who I even considered a friend. But I can add you to that list," Alec told Cassidy and she smiled. Seeing her do that made Alec's stomach flip for some reason.
"Well, I'm going to get some sleep, and you should too," Cassidy told Alec.
"You're right. And, thanks for listening to me," he told her.
"No problem," she said, her cheeks suddenly becoming red before it turned back to normal.
When it was morning, Ash looked ready to burst off the Laverre City immediately. "Man, I'm getting excited for my six gym battle already!" he shouted.
"Well, we'd better get going," Serena said.
Alec then turned to Cassidy and Liz. "You sure you won't come with us?" he asked them.
"I'm sure," Cassidy answered.
"And I'll come with you to Snowbelle City. I've been meaning to visit my family anyways so the two of us can travel together for a bit," Liz told Cassidy.
"We're going to miss you," Serena told the two girls.
"It's been fun seeing you though," Clemont stated.
"It has been," Cassidy said. She then turned to Alec. "I guess I'll see you later then," she said.
"Yeah, I'll see you then," Alec answered. Cassidy smiled then surprised him by kissing his cheek.
Alec was too busy trying to process what just happened as Cassidy and a very cheerful Liz left, the latter giving Alec a big smile. "I approve," she told Alec, leaving him even more confused.
"What just happened?" Alec asked, still not sure how to take it all in.
"Oh, I'm going to have fun with this," Serena said, smiling deviously.