After participating in the Kalos League, Ash decides to go to the Nessada region with his friends. Along the way, they face some unexpected events which will change the life of some of them.
Ch.26: Decisions, Separation and more
"So, where do you think we should go next," asked Ash as came up to his friends after registering for the Nessada League.
"How about we go to Corriola Town," asked Brock. "According to the Guide Book, a Pokémon Contest will be held there in a few days and it is home of the Corriola Town Gym."
"A Contest," asked May excited.
"A Gym," asked Ash.
"I guess that means we're going to Corriola Town," said Clemont.
"Hey, Ash," said Kaylin. "You seem pretty excited for the Gym Battle."
"Trust me," said Brock. "This is just the beginning."
"By the way, Brock," said Ash. "Which way should we go?"
"It says here that we should go north, but we have to go through a forest and it's a dangerous one," said Brock. "According to this, there are some powerful and aggressive wild Pokémon."
"Isn't there another way to Corriola Town," asked Bonnie.
"Well, that's a simple one-word answer," said Brock.
"And the word is," asked Serena.
"No," said Brock and everyone felt worried about what might happen.
"Don't worry, guys," said Ash. "I'm sure will make without many problems. Come on, let's go."
With that Ash started running towards the forest with Pikachu on his shoulder.
"Ash, wait up," said Serena as she and the others ran after Ash so they could catch up with him, or in Clemont's case to try to reach him.
(After 15 Minutes)
Ash, Kaylin and the others had just entered the forest and were now taking a break as all of their Pokémon were out of their Pokeballs and it appears Ash had made some changes in his team as he now had Greninja, Bayleef, Swellow, Krookodile and Emboar, but that's not all. There was a mysterious Rhydon among them.
"Do you guys know where this Rhydon came from," asked Ash.
"Acctually, this Rhydon is mine," said Serena. "I caught it the night before we left Kanto. I couldn't sleep so me and Braixen went for a walk through Professor Oak's ranch, but we got too deep into the forest and got attacked by it, but good thing Greninja came."
"Now that's strange," said Ash. "Rhyhorn and Rhydon are not supposed to be near Pallet Town. I think the only place where Rhyhorn can be found is the Safary Zone."
"That's not good," said Brock. "If there are Pokémon like Rhydon near Pallet Town, there's no telling what could happen."
"I better call Professor Oak when get out this forest," said Ash.
Unbeknown to the group, they were being watched by some angry eyes from the bushes near by and were about to attack. The unknown eyes waited 'til the group finished their meal and that's when they made their move.
"That was amazing, Brock," said Ash. "I sure missed your cooking."
As Ash said that, Greninja suddenly stood up, attracting the attention of the other Pokémon, excluding Chespin who was still enjoying its food.
"Greninja, what's wrong," asked Ash as he saw his water/dark–type glaring at the bushes. He got his answer when Greninja fired two Water Shuriken towards the bushes and to the group's surprise an Arbok and an Aggron came out of them, avoiding Water Shuriken.
"Arbok and Aggron," asked Ash in shock.
"They don't look so happy," said Kaylin as she grabbed onto Ash.
"Everyone, return quick," said Brock and Clemont as they returned their Pokémon to their Pokeballs. May and Serena were almost done, but just as they were about to return their Braixen, Sylveon and Glaceon, Aggron and Arbok fired Flash Cannon and Sludge Bomb towards the group.
"Watch out," shouted Bonnie.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt. Greninja, Hydro Pump," said Ash. Pikachu and Greninja fired their attacks and managed to counter Flash Cannon and Sludge Bomb. "OK, guys, return."
Ash returned his other Pokémon, as Pikachu and Greninja were preparing to battle Arbok and Aggron. Kaylin, Serena, May, Brock, Bonnie and Clemont decided to watch the battle from behind as Braixen, Sylveon, Glaceon and Kaylin's Pikachu had worried expressions. If there were Pokémon that were strong enough to defeat aggressive Arbok and Aggron, they are Pikachu and Greninja.
"Are you two ready," Ash asked his Pokémon to which Pikachu and Greninja nodded. "Then let's get started."
Suddenly, Aggron and Arbok charged in with Iron head and Crunch, but Pikachu and Greninja were prepared.
"Pikachu, counter Iron Head with Volt Tackle and Greninja, you use Night Slash," said Ash. Pikachu ran towards Aggron as he covered himself in yellow electricity and Greninja brought out his dark blades and all four attacks collided, creating a huge explosion which caused a cloud of dust to form. When it cleared, Pikachu and Aggron were struggling against each other with Volt Tackle and Iron Head, but Greninja was in a different situation as Arbok had bitten on of his blades. Just then, everything turned around thanks to Arbok's long tail. The poison–type slammed a Poison Tail on Pikachu and the electric–type was send flying backwards, but that wasn't the only problem. It appears Poison Tail did its job poisoning Pikachu.
"Pikachu," said Ash as went to check his partner. "Hang in there, buddy. You're gonna be alright. Greninja, it's all up to you."
Greninja nodded as he made some space between him, Aggron and Arbok. It was now two against one.
"Greninja, don't relax just because Aggron is weak against water attacks," said Ash. "The Pokémon in this forest are too powerful which means we have to hit hard so let's show them what we're made of."
Ash and Greninja began mimicking the other's movements and Greninja was now covered in a water veil which disappeared and a giant shuriken came out from Greninja's back.
"That's Ash-Greninja," said Bonnie. "This is getting better and better."
"Greninja, let's show them what you're made of," said Ash. "Use Night Slash on Aggron."
Greninja brought out his dark blade and before Aggron could react, Greninja managed to hit it with Night Slash, but Arbok wasn't going to allow Greninja to have the upper hand as it fired a Sludge Bomb.
"Greninja, dodge it and finish Aggron with Hydro Pump," said Ash. Greninja managed to dodge Sludge Bomb and struck Aggron with a super–effective Hydro Pump, knocking it out. "Now use Ice Beam on Arbok."
Greninja fired its Ice Beam which struck Arbok, freezing it completely.
"Rap it up with Water Shuriken," said Ash. Greninja grabbed the giant shuriken on its back and threw it and it struck Arbok with incredible force that even broke the ice and knocking Arbok out.
"Great job, Greninja," said Ash as he returned towards his friends. "Come on, guys. Let's go before they wake."
With that, the group left the campsite, and Pikachu was now feeling much better thanks to the Pecha Berry Brock gave him. Braixen, Sylveon, Glaceon and Greninja, who was still in his Ash-Greninja form, were close behind I case another wild Pokémon attacked the group. It was a good thing they were as the ground suddenly started to shake.
"What's happening," asked Bonnie a little scared.
Then, two giant grey snake-like Pokémon emerged from the ground and looked at the group angrily.
"What are those," asked Clemont.
"These are angry Steelix," said Ash as Serena pulled out her Pokedex to scan the steel/ground–types.
"Steelix, the Iron Snake Pokémon and the evolved form of Onix," said the small machine. "The iron it ingested with the soil it swallowed transformed its body and made it harder than diamonds."
"Sounds like a tough Pokémon," said Serena.
"And a pretty dangerous, too," said Brock. "And we've got deal with two of them."
"Then let's get ready," said Ash. "Greninja, Night Slash."
Greninja, who was still in his Ash-Greninja form, formed two dark blades and slashed the two giant Pokémon pretty hard, but to everyone's shock, the two Steelix quickly recovered and fired a Flash Cannon and a Dragon Breath. Both attacks combined and struck Greninja hard, sending the water/dark–type fly backwards. However, Greninja wasn't the only one who felt the pain. Due to their connection, Ash also felt the hit.
"Ash, are you OK," asked Serena her childhood friend.
"Yeah," said Ash. "Greninja, can you still battle?"
Greninja managed to stand up, but he looked at Ash with worry.
"I'm fine, Greninja," said Ash as he put his hand on Greninja's shoulder, but the look on his Pokémon's face answered his question what was disturbing Greninja. "You want to cancel the connection, right," asked Ash to which Greninja nodded. "If that's what you want."
With that, Greninja returned back to its original form, but the two Steelix didn't care about what was happening and once again fired Flash Cannon and Dragon Breath.
The group saw the attacks just in time and got out of the harm's pain.
"Let's get out of here," shouted Kaylin. Everyone nodded as they ran away, without noticing they had just split apart.
(With Ash)
"That was a close one," said Ash, but as he said that, he saw only Greninja, Serena's Braixen and Sylveon to be present. "Man, we must've got separated from the panic."
Then, to his and the Pokémon's shock, a Rhyperior came out of nowhere and charged with Drill Run towards Braixen, but Greninja managed to block the attack with Night Slash and fired four Water Shuriken stars towards Rhyperior which struck the ground/rock–type, knocking it down.
"Great job, Greninja," said Ash and as he said that, Greninja looked Braixen and nodded, which caused the fire–type to blush. "Come on, let's get going. We need to find the others."
After a few minutes, Ash, Greninja, Braixen and Sylveon still hadn't found their friends, but after a few more steps, they got attacked by a Golem and a Scizor.
"You've got to be kidding me," said Ash as Golem started rolling towards Braixen, but Greninja managed to block the attack with Night Slash and then froze it with Ice Beam, but after that Scizor landed a powerful X-Scissor on the water/dark–type. "You can do it, Greninja. I believe in you."
Greninja managed to stand up, but Scizor didn't care and prepared another X-Scissor, but this time on Braixen. However, Greninja once again protected her by using Water Shuriken to knock Scizor backwards and froze it with Ice Beam.
"That was amazing, Greninja," said Ash impressed, but he was not the only one. Behind him, Braixen couldn't believe what just happened. In just less then an hour, Greninja protected her three times from powerful hits which caused her to blush. No one had ever done something like that for her. "Let's finish them of with Water Shuriken."
Greninja fired two shuriken which struck the frozen Golem and Scizor, knocking them down.
"OK, now which way should we go," said Ash. Just then, not far away, they saw electricity sparkling through the air which Ash immediately recognized.
"That was Pikachu's Thunderbolt," said Ash as a beam of ice was shot towards the sky. "That must've been May's Glaceon's Ice Beam. Come on. They must be in trouble."
With that, Ash, Greninja, Braixen and Sylveon ran towards the direction from which Thunderbolt and Ice Beam came.
To be continued…
And that's all for now. Sorry for the long wait. In the next chapter, Ash will reunite with one of his friends and you'll find out something interesting about Braixen. The next few chapters will be full of romance and rivalry. Until next time, have a good day.
R&R