Chapter 19
Sunday, November 20th
Ash gulped nervously as he looked up at the large gateway that sealed off the 'Berlitz' property.
He hadn't given any thought to the security of this residence.
Ash didn't have a problem with showing up at someone's doorstep uninvited, but as he stared at the pair of bodyguards outside the front door, he shrunk. All the security measures that were taken for Dawn's father meant that it wasn't going to be easy to get into their home. Fortunately, this did confirm that Mr. Berlitz was currently home.
"I just have to get in there." Ash noted, recalling all of the brain-storming that he did the previous night.
Aaron gave him very straightforward instructions on how to meet with Mr. Berlitz, but Ash wasn't so sure if he could trust his father's words. The man was so indifferent, so...enigmatic, that Ash struggled to accept his direction. Rather, Ash spent the night thinking about how to enter the household of this tycoon, trying to think of what he would have to say to meet with Mr. Berlitz.
He thought mentioning Dawn would be a good idea at first, but Ash tossed that thought out. Of course, a father might misinterpret a boy mentioning that he was familiar with his daughter. It might have been safer to say that he had an interest in the type of business that Mr. Berlitz worked in, and that he aspired to become a tycoon as well. Hopefully, that would be enough to earn him an audience with Mr. Berlitz, where he could explain himself properly.
Stepping to the side so that he could use the intercom, Ash hit the buzzer and waited for a response. A clicked sounded before a female voice answered.
"Good morning, how can I help you?" She asked him.
"Uh, hello. My name is Ash Ketchum, I'd like to meet with Mr. Berlitz." Ash replied, fighting off the quiver in his voice. Now wasn't a time to get nervous.
"Concerning?"
Ash froze, needing to go over his plan once more before he could get the words out properly.
"Um...a possible, internship." Ash barely got this out in one sentence, trying to keep everything together. "I'm interested in his line of work, so I wanted to meet with him to go over the details."
"Do you have an appointment with him?" She inquired pointedly. Ash took a moment to lick his lips, wondering which answer would get him in.
He was already trying to get in using a fake story, and he didn't enjoy lying in order to get this meeting. But he had too much riding on this one meeting to let this slip away.
…
"Uh, no. I know he's a busy guy. I was hoping he could squeeze me in." Ash admitted, and he could hear the woman click her tongue in response.
"Well, I'm sorry. As you said Mr. Berlitz is a very busy man. He'll be in Vermilion City for one week and almost all of his time has been accounted for already." She explained which caused Ash to frown. "If you'd like to arrange an appointment with him in the future, I'll give you a number that can use to contact us in the week."
Ash sucked in his lower lip, tempted to walk away from the intercom. He didn't come all this way to be stopped at the gates to their property. There must have been a way to get just a few minutes of this man's time.
"You already found your sponsor, Berlitz. He'll get you in. Just tell him your name...he'll get you in."
The words from his father rung in his mind like the buzzer of an old doorbell. As irritating as this felt, Ash did not have a choice. He had to trust his father on this one.
"Actually, can you tell him directly that Ash Ketchum wants to speak to him?" Ash stressed his own name.
"I'm sorry, Ash Ketchum-" She stressed his name in response, and Ash felt as though she was mocking him, "-but Mr. Berlitz is in a conference call currently. I can't disturb him."
Ash groaned inwardly, making a face at the intercom.
"And there is a camera, Ash Ketchum, I can see you." She added snidely. "So, my suggestion is to make an appointment before I reconsider doing that much for you."
Ash examined the intercom briefly, searching for where the camera could be located. He failed to consider the thought of there being a camera, a mistake on his part, but he didn't appreciate the attitude of this woman. Right before Ash could comply, he heard a short exchange taking place on the other end, which was followed by some shuffling.
"Hello, Ash!" A new yet familiar voice exclaimed. "It's Darach if you remember me."
Ash looked up for a moment before making the connection that this was the butler. The man who made those amazing sliders!
"I knew I heard a familiar voice on the intercom. It wasn't until I heard your name that I realized who it was." Darach explained. "So, you want to meet with Mr. Berlitz?"
"Yeah, can you get me in?" Ash asked hopefully.
"You came at the perfect time. I'm about to deliver some coffee to Mr. Berlitz, so I'll have an opportunity to interrupt his call. I'll put in a word for you." Darach explained, and a smile broke out on Ash's face.
"That would be great!" Ash exclaimed.
"In the meantime, come inside. If you need a water bottle there's a cooler right by the front door for the guards there." Darach added as the gate unlocked.
"Thank you, I'll see you inside." Ash said as he left to walk up the driveway. When he made it to the front porch, one of the guards stopped him and requested to have a look into the backpack he brought. Recalling that this was the procedure from last time, Ash agreed and allowed them to search it while the other guard checked his clothing for anything that could've been hidden away. Once they cleared Ash for entry, the front doors of the estate were opened and Ash entered the grand foyer. After a few moments, a dark-haired woman entered the foyer with a less than pleasant expression followed closely by Darach who held a platter in one hand with a trio of cups on it.
The two of them came straight over to Ash, and Darach bowed to Ash once he was close enough.
"You'll have to forgive her-" Darach nodded his head toward the woman standing beside him, "-she wasn't aware of the fact that you are an acquaintance of Miss Dawn and a valued guest of this household."
"My apologies." She stated, her lips pursed as she did so. Ash recognized her voice as the same person that gave him a hard time through the intercom.
"It's no big deal." Ash accepted her apology, deciding that for now, the best choice was to keep the peace rather than be petty about their last exchange.
"This way Ash, I'll take you to the room in which Mr. Berlitz is hosting his conference call." Darach said as he motioned for Ash to follow him. Moving a few paces behind Darach, Ash glanced back at the woman as he left the foyer and made the same face he had earlier to the camera. Her cheeks reddened as she shot him a glare, allowing Ash to exit with a smug grin knowing that he would have the last laugh.
Returning his focus to Darach, Ash followed him into a short corridor with a large pair of doors at the end. Ash could only assume that this was their destination. As they arrived at the door, Darach approached a small intercom beside the door and pressed it.
"Yes?" A rather irritated voice asked.
"Your ten o'clock coffee, Master Berlitz." Darach stated, gaining a sigh in response. The doors parted, allowing Darach to enter and Ash to catch a glimpse of what this room looked like. The room was fairly large, with a massive television mounted on the far wall. A long table sat at the center of the room, with a large office chair turned to face the monitor.
The doors shut before Ash could see any other details, which left him to return to his thoughts. After considering how he had done on his attempt to get into the Berlitz Estate, he needed to make sure that he would be able to speak concisely. But did he really need a game plan, or would his surname bail him out again?
Before Ash could reach a conclusion, the doors to the room parted again and Darach stepped out.
"He will see you now." Darach stated as he stepped aside and raised one arm. Peering into this room once again, Ash could see the monitor was off and the tall chair had spun around to face the entryway. In it sat a dark haired man with his elbows placed on the table so that his hands could support his chin. He stared at Ash closely as he stepped into the room. The stare he was receiving from Mr. Berlitz felt ominous.
The doors shut behind him, and Ash felt a chill run up his spine as he realized that it was just the two of them. An awkward silence set in as Mr. Berlitz studied him, following his every movement. Ash stepped up to the opposite end of the table and licked his lips before he began to speak.
"Good morning, Mr. Berlitz."
The man nodded to him.
"My name is Ash Ketchum, and...I was told you could sponsor me as a trainer in the underground circuit."
Mr. Berlitz eyed Ash closely, examining each of his features. The messy raven hair, the birthmarks on both of his cheeks and eyes that simply oozed an unwavering sense of determination. Mr. Berlitz lowered his head slightly to conceal a growing smile behind his hands. This young man resembled his father in more ways than one.
"Well-" Mr. Berlitz exhaled and leaned back into his seat. "-I think I've seen it all. A kid that thinks he has what it takes to be a Pokemon trainer."
Ash bit his lower lip to halt a hasty response. Regardless of what Mr. Berlitz said, he would have to hold his tongue. If this was his one shot to get a sponsor, his first impression needed to be great. Backtalk was out of the question.
"Do you know what you're getting into if you become a Pokemon trainer?" Mr. Berlitz asked him. "Because I get the feeling you have a very narrow-minded view of all of this. Pokemon, it's not a sport that's fun, that you can do on the weekends. It's a business."
Ash felt his stomach turn at the statement. He already didn't like this man, and all it took was three words.
"I've made a lot of investments in the underground circuit, all of which have led to some very profitable returns. If I were to invest in you and form a partnership, what could I expect from you?" Mr. Berlitz inquired sternly, raising his head. His eyes were sharp as he waited for Ash to speak, ready to pick apart his answer.
"If...If it's money you want, then we want the same thing. A partnership between us would have a mutual goal. And when people working together have the same goal in mind, the odds of success are also in their favor." Ash reasoned, looking directly into Mr. Berlitz eyes. The man raised his brow and the corner of his lips turned upward.
"Ash." Mr. Berlitz began. "I want you to know that I've never personally sponsored a trainer in the underground circuit. And yet, I'm going to do just that with you. Now you might be asking yourself, 'why would he do that?' And the answer is simple, you have a connection to something I want. Your father."
Ash blinked, needing a moment to process what he heard. This man would be using him to get to his father.
"Why?" Ash blurted out, unable to keep his tone even.
"Your father and I were partners long ago. We still have some business to settle, but if there's one thing I've learned about your father, it's that the man knows how to disappear." Mr. Berlitz explained. Ash could agree with Mr. Berlitz, though he didn't do so verbally.
"So, he made some kind of deal with you but he didn't come through in the end? Is that what happened?" Ash pressed, trying to gather a little more information about his father. Mr. Berlitz paused, taking a moment to consider what he should share with Ash.
"...Yes. That is the best way to put it."
"Wouldn't be the first time he's done that," Ash muttered under his breath, realizing that he did have something in common with Mr. Berlitz. "I saw my father for the first time in years last night. He's still a Pokemon trainer, and I'm going to have a match with him."
Mr. Berlitz opened his mouth to speak but held his tongue. He used this time to size Ash up, wondering what could possess this young man to challenge his father to a Pokemon battle. This wealthy man saw Aaron Ketchum battle in the past and there wasn't an ounce of doubt in his mind that Aaron was an exceptional trainer. How could Ash hope to compete with such an opponent?
"What makes you think you could beat your father?" Mr. Berlitz asked, skepticism clear in his voice. Ash was too young to command respect from the circuit trainers. The competition would be fierce and ruthless, a place that wouldn't welcome Ash with open arms.
"I don't think I can...yet," Ash stated firmly. "I've seen what the circuit trainers can do, and I still have a lot of work to do. But I'm willing to put the work in, and practice day and night until I get my chance to show everyone what I can do."
Mr. Berlitz snorted before raising his hands in a gesture to their surroundings.
"This house and everything in it, do you think I got it by chance?"
Mr. Berlitz wore a small smirk as Ash took a moment to look around at his luxurious home. Obviously, Mr. Berlitz was rich; Ash had seen his home enough times to know, not to mention he had been on the receiving end of Dawn's generosity. There was no doubt in his mind that the money he accepted from Dawn came out of her father's back pocket.
Certainly, this man worked hard to obtain all of this.
"Of course not. I'll bet you worked your tail off to get all of this." Ash responded, gaining a chuckle from him.
"I did more than that Ash. To claim something you truly want, you have to be decisive. There is no room for hesitation. Everything I have now, I took at the first opportunity." Mr. Berlitz proclaimed, looking around at his home. "Now I understand that you need an opportunity to act upon. I will grant you that, but I want you to understand that I will not hesitate to drop you at the moment our partnership becomes...unhealthy."
"So...you're going to sponsor me?" Ash asked, and the man nodded slowly. Ash kept a straight face, but he closed both his hands into fists in a small act of celebration. This was it! He was going to become a circuit trainer! He was one step closer to that battle with his father and finding out what happened the day his mom died.
"There are some, conditions." Mr. Berlitz added, piquing Ash's curiosity.
"What kind of conditions?"
"I'll remind you of the first one. If you fail me, even once, this partnership is over." Mr. Berlitz stated causing Ash to gulp.
He would have no room for error from this day forward.
"And you might not be aware of it, but I'm more familiar with you than you might think Ash." Ash furrowed his eyebrow when Mr. Berlitz said this. "My daughter speaks very fondly of you, and as of this moment-" His voice became threatening as he made his final statement. "I-don't-like-that."
"Huh?"
"You're now a circuit trainer Ash. As far as the public is concerned, you are a menace. A danger to society. A threat to public safety. I will not have my daughter associate with such a person." Mr. Berlitz revealed, further confusing Ash by the sudden turn their discussion took. "If my daughter gets caught up in anything, and I mean anything-" He stressed this word as a warning to Ash, "-that involves Pokemon, I will hold you accountable."
"But-" Ash tried to speak but Mr. Berlitz continued.
"As I said, my daughter has taken a liking to you. I can't control that, but your relationship with her will not progress any further than what it presently is. Am I clear?"
The stare Ash received from Mr. Berlitz sent a shiver down his back. This was a warning from a protective father, and with the kind of money this man possessed, who knew what he could do to Ash?
The effect of this threat was short-lived as Ash thought about the bluenette. Their contact had been limited during the past few weeks with everything that had taken place, but this didn't stop Ash from thinking about her every so often. Ever since Nando's piano recital, he began to view Dawn…differently.
Ash attributed this to Nando's performance. His friend and classmate showed him some of the deeper aspects of the young lady in question, and Ash found himself contemplating having...something more than friendship with her. But with her father seated before him, Ash buried any feelings for her that may have surfaced.
He couldn't let this chance slip through his fingers.
Not for anyone.
Everything he ever wanted was laid out right in front of him. He could finally be a real Pokemon trainer. Not only in name, but through his accomplishments.
He could pursue his father, and one day battle him, defeat him, and get the truth about his mother out of him.
Then there was the big picture - this was his first step toward changing everyone's opinion of Pokemon and trainers alike.
Shaking his head, Ash knew that he couldn't give all of this up for Dawn.
"I understand." Ash said with a nod, and Mr. Berlitz wore a small smile of approval. It was good to see that Ash possessed the resolve to stay focused on his goals. Rising from his seat, Mr. Berlitz traveled around the table to approach Ash.
"Well then, Ash Ketchum, it's a pleasure to meet you." Mr. Berlitz said, extending a hand toward Ash, who returned the gesture. They shook hands to mark the beginning of this partnership. "My name is Malcolm Berlitz."
Ash wrestled with his thoughts, trying to piece together everything that happened within the Berlitz Estate.
It was official. He was going to be a circuit trainer.
But something still felt off to him. He went into that meeting with Malcolm hoping to answer some of the strange questions that developed from the prior night.
Why would his surname get him a meeting with a business tycoon? Now Ash understood that his father worked with Malcolm in the past, and it was clear that there were still a few matters that were presently unsettled between them. But this left Ash to wonder what his father did with Malcolm? What was it that made this man so desperate to get into contact with Aaron?
Ash wasn't quite so sure he wanted to know the answer, or if he even needed to know. At this point, his only concern regarding Aaron Ketchum was the details that surrounded the passing of his mother, Delia.
Clapping his hands against his cheeks, Ash realized there was only one step left to become a circuit trainer.
All he had to do was impress Charles Goodshow.
One spectacular performance against Giselle and everything would be set. He and Pikachu weren't shy about practicing since their first session with Giselle. Training with Pikachu had lived up to the expectations Ash developed. Every day was a grind as they tackled all of the projects, making a little progress by the time the sunset each day.
Giselle was a gold mine of tips and tricks, and Ash was using her teachings as a basis for his own ideas. Ash wasn't the analytical type like Giselle, but after mimicking her battle style for the past week, he learned to appreciate her tactics. If she kept the early stages of the battle under control, she would have the distinct advantage of understanding her opponents' tendencies as they entered the endgame.
In fact, Ash became rather fearful of her, now that he understood what was going through her mind. The mere thought of her manipulating her opponent throughout the battle sent chills through his body. He wanted a convincing win over Giselle, but there was no denying that battling her as frequently as he did played to her strengths. He was feeding her information about himself, and that could be his own undoing.
So, what were his options against Giselle?
He learned quite a bit about her through their battles. It was fair to say that he might be able to use her own strategy against her, though he wouldn't be surprised if she saw right through him the instant the battle started. Whenever he battled Giselle, Ash was always trying to pick apart her defense, trying to creating angles for Pikachu to attack from to further open up their options. If he wasn't battling like that, how soon would she realize what he was really planning?
Ash blinked a few times after feeling the bus come to a stop. This was a large bus stop in front of an apartment complex where several people were entering and exiting. They were still about thirty minutes from his stop, but this lapse in thought spared him a moment to glance out the window. Ash saw a pair of older men seated at a stone table, playing a game of chess. His eyes widened as he realized that this game perfectly mirrored how Giselle battled.
Over the course of a battle, the information she gathered about her opponent was used to eventually force them into position for a checkmate. Giselle was always thinking ahead, planning possibly three or four moves ahead in a battle. If Ash was going to beat her, he needed to figure out how to interrupt her plans, otherwise, he and Pikachu would be forced into a checkmate themselves.
Watching as one of the gentlemen picked up their queen and moved her across the board to take a new position, Ash felt a grin break out on his face. The queen was the strongest piece on the chess board because of the freedom she could move with. There was no limits on what position a queen could take.
That was the biggest advantage they had against Giselle. Pikachu could command more of the field than Giselle's Cubone. How would they use this against her? Scratching at his chin, Ash knew that this wasn't something he could answer immediately. But he knew the answer to this question was what would allow them to surpass Giselle and compete with any circuit trainer.
Monday, November 21st
Ash licked his lips, his heart thumping in his chest. When was the last time he was nervous about a battle? He couldn't even remember – actually, he was lying to himself. Nervous couldn't begin to describe what he was feeling the night he first met Brock. That was a long story, one for another day, but that was the night of his first street battle. Ash was shaking in his shoes as he stood at the center of the audience, amazed that all of these people were going to watch him battle.
He didn't have an audience this time, but there was a lot at stake. The presence of Trevor and the two cameras he set up on both sides of the clearing was a reminder of what he was battling for. To give the commissioner of the underground circuit a good show.
"Ash, how ya feeling?" Brock inquired as he plopped down beside his friend. Ash made a face, contorting his lips in a gesture of uncertainty.
"I don't know man. I really want to nail this battle and look good in it, but I still haven't thought of a way to beat Giselle like that." Ash admitted, glancing over the young woman and her Cubone. They were going through some last-minute preparations for their battle, and Ash could bet that she was filling Cubone in on what to look out for during the battle.
"Ash, forget about all that man," Brock said to him with a gesture to brush these thoughts aside. "I think you're forgetting the point of this battle. It's to show the commissioner what you are-" He pointed at Ash, giving him a stern look. "-Not what you're not. Don't try to beat Giselle by battling like her, do things the way Ash Ketchum would do them."
Ash blinked, letting that phrase settle into his mind. He liked hearing that.
Do things the way Ash Ketchum would do them.
A grin broke out on his face as he took hold of the visor of his cap, adjusting it slightly on his head.
"Come on Pikachu." Ash said to his partner, extending his arm for Pikachu to climb up onto his shoulder. Seeing Ash's grin once it was situated, Pikachu couldn't help but smile now that Ash returned to his usual mindset. He spent so much time yesterday holed up in his room, racking his brain to form a plan to outwit Giselle.
Pikachu spent some time with him trying to brainstorm, but it could see how much Ash was frustrating himself over this. Planning things out wasn't his strong suit. Ash was spontaneous, and he was going against his natural inclinations by trying to beat Giselle before the battle even started. It was sucking all of the fun out of battling for him. Thankfully, some choice words from Brock helped Ash relax.
Ash rose to his feet and took his place on one side of the clearing, anxious to start the battle. Seeing Ash and Pikachu take their position, Giselle smirked a bit and motioned for Cubone to follow her as they moved to their spot. The group of four looked toward Brock, waiting for him to take his post as the referee of this match.
"Trevor, are we good to go?" Brock called out to the amber-haired young man. Making a few last moment adjustments to the camera, Trevor glanced at his laptop to check the resolution before giving everyone a thumbs up.
It was showtime.
"Alright, this is a one on one Pokemon battle between Ash and Giselle." Brock began, mimicking the introductions that were used by official referees. "Trainers, are you ready?"
Brock glanced from one person to the next, receiving a confirmation nod from each of them. With a smile he raised his arms, declaring that the battle could begin.
"Pikachu, this is it, buddy. Let's go!" Ash hollered as Pikachu leaped from his shoulder to the grassy field with a shout of excitement.
"Cubone, we're not holding anything back today." Giselle declared as her partner Pokemon stepped out onto their battlefield, giving Pikachu a sharp stare. There would be no mercy in this battle.
If his smile could get any wider, Ash was certain it did as he observed his opponents. Giselle and Cubone seemed a whole lot stronger today, almost as if their declaration to not hold anything back meant that they had always been holding back against him. Could that be true? Did they have another gear to shift up to for this battle?
For whatever reason, this thought made him even more excited. He would overcome anything they threw at him.
"Then let's start strong Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Ash started off, pumping a fist. He could hardly contain himself!
Pikachu burst forward at the command, closing the distance between itself and its opponent in the span it took Giselle to inhale. Pikachu struck Cubone head on, slamming its shoulder into the torso of the masked Pokemon. Cubone glared down at Pikachu in response, causing Pikachu to shiver as it realized Cubone hadn't been staggered from this hit. Such a light hit wouldn't suffice against Cubone's defense.
"Get ready Pikachu!" Ash called out as Cubone threw out a punch at Pikachu. This was everything they worked on for the last week. Close quarter combat.
Pikachu ducked beneath the punch, but Cubone was quick to follow up by sweeping at Pikachu's feet with its bone. Expecting to feel the impact of its bone meeting Pikachu's body, Cubone was completely thrown off when its attack passed right through Pikachu. Stumbling for an instant, Cubone hardly had a chance to react before it was hit from the side by Pikachu which sent it tumbling away.
Giselle frowned slightly, refusing to show her dismay openly. In about a week Pikachu progressed to the point where it gained a very good grasp of how to accelerate even in tough situations. This opened up a whole new world for Pikachu, now that it could activate a move like Double Team without needing to build up speed beforehand. The practice for this was brutal, but the results were beginning to show already.
Brock called it 'sidestep' practice. Three small lanes were cut into the grass for Pikachu to stand in while Ash and Brock would throw stones at it from a short distance. Pikachu was only allowed to jump from one lane to the next in order to dodge these stones. This helped Pikachu grasp both how to accelerate and decelerate at the drop of a hat, and these movement restrictions were a perfect simulation for fighting at close range. With a week's worth of practice, Pikachu was much better at close quarter combat, to the point where it could battle at Cubone's range for a short period of time.
"Okay Cubone, let's stick to our original plan." Giselle called out as her partner got back on its feet, casting a sharp stare at Pikachu.
Cubone grew to respect Pikachu's speed since they first met, but it was reaching a point where battling Pikachu was becoming a frustrating experience. There was no denying that Pikachu was quick, but now it was learning to take advantage of its speed, and it was making Cubone miserable. The bone-wielding Pokemon was probably the only one keeping track of how many hits it scored on Pikachu as they practiced, and that number was steadily decreasing with each session that took place. In the pit of its stomach, Cubone feared the thought of Pikachu becoming an untouchable opponent.
Taking a deep breath, Cubone tightened its grip on its weapon and raised its free hand as a gesture for Pikachu to attack. Pikachu grinned at the invitation and charged forward at Ash's command.
Fortunately, Cubone could take solace in knowing it belonged to an excellent trainer. Giselle worked tirelessly on developing strategies to counter Pikachu's speed, and Cubone would demonstrate one of them. Raising bone, Cubone smashed it into the field to show its strength. The field in front of it shattered, portions of it being uprooted to deny Pikachu a direct approach. In a fraction of a second Pikachu altered its course and dashed into Cubone from the side.
With an instant to determine what side Pikachu would be attacking from, Cubone was glad to know that it narrowed down Pikachu's options. It glanced one way, and seeing that there was no blur to mark Pikachu's location, Cubone spun and whipped its bone out in the opposite direction. The side that Pikachu should have been attacking from.
Their plan worked to perfection as Giselle watched it unfold. Whittling down Pikachu' options on where it could attack from made it far easier for Cubone to react before Pikachu attacked. Pikachu came skidding to a halt as it saw Cubone turn to face it with its bone poised to strike, but once again Cubone's attack passed right through Pikachu. Giselle clicked her tongue, unable to conceal the irritation in her expression. Pikachu's growth was rapid, to the point where it was simply beginning to outclass Cubone with its speed.
Keeping its footing this time, Cubone relaxed and remembered its instructions from Giselle. Every time Pikachu escaped them, Cubone would have to rely on its hearing. Pikachu was too quick to follow with eyesight alone. They had to use all of their senses to try and keep up with this speedy Pokemon.
Listening intently for Pikachu's footsteps, Cubone heard a gust of wind from behind it and turned with its bone raised to blow Pikachu's attack. Using its weapon to block a tail strike, Cubone adjusted its grip in an effort to reposition its bone quickly and pin Pikachu to the ground. This proved to be futile as Pikachu placed on foot on Cubone's bone and tore off in another burst of speed. Slamming the ground with its bone again in frustration, a chunk of the field broke up as Cubone tried to calm itself. This moment where it wasn't tracking its opponent allowed Pikachu to score another hit which forced it to stumble backward.
Obviously, it was getting upset trying to keep up with Pikachu, and Giselle scolding it for losing its temper wasn't any help.
"Pikachu, get em' with Quick Attack again!" Ash called out and Pikachu rushed in again, a smirk on its face as it was beginning to see the fruits of its labor. Cubone couldn't keep up with it in the slightest.
"Cubone, focus!" Giselle said sharply.
This command from Giselle forced Ash to analyze the battle as quickly as he could. Even though he and Pikachu had a clear advantage, Giselle wasn't going to admit defeat for this battle. So, what did she have up her sleeve to try and level the playing field?
"Bone Club!" Giselle called out and Cubone took a few steps forward, placing itself at the center of the cracked area it created. The uneven portion of the field?
It took Ash a moment too long to understand how Cubone positioned itself to counter Pikachu. Due to the varying obstacles around Cubone, Pikachu didn't have a direct course once again which delayed its attack, but Pikachu also slowed down in an effort to make sure it didn't get any of its paws caught in any of the cracks. All of this gave Cubone ample time to prepare for Pikachu's next attack.
Spotting Pikachu as it approached, Cubone faced the direction it was attacking from and swung hard at its opponent. Pikachu managed to fall back onto its bottom to slide beneath this blow, but it was now trapped with Cubone on the uneven field where a concerted effort was required to make sure Pikachu didn't misstep. Now Ash understood what Giselle had in store for them. She allowed Pikachu to land all of those hits and even acted like she didn't have an answer to it as she and Cubone slowly prepared the field to trap Pikachu.
Giselle wore a confident smirk as she stared at the scene, impressed that everything went according to plan. The key to it was Cubone showing its displeasure. It convinced both Ash and Pikachu that they were struggling to land an attack, and it all paid off. Now Pikachu would be fighting at arm's length from Cubone, and they negated its speed to a degree.
Checkmate.
"Wow, that was really clever Giselle!" Ash exclaimed now that he put all the pieces together.
"It had to be. It's the only way I can beat you now." Giselle admitted as their Pokemon observed each other intently. Ash grinned in response, taking a hold of the visor of his cap and adjusting it on his head.
"At first I was nervous about battling you today Giselle," Ash confessed openly, causing her to raise her brow. "I was trying to figure out how to beat you with some crazy plan, but I realized that's your specialty. Mine is winning the battle no matter what. So even though you've got the upper hand, guess what? Here we come!"
Ash made his declaration as he thumbed his nose, raising that hand to point at Giselle, and she instinctively took a step back. She wasn't sure what made her do that, but it felt as though Ash was suddenly exerting a sudden pressure on the field.
"Pika-pika!" Pikachu added exuberantly, stomping its front paws.
Remembering his thoughts from yesterday, Ash saw how Giselle applied the same plan he had to this battle. Use the field to your advantage. She used it to slow Pikachu down, but Ash saw this as a way to take Pikachu's speed up another notch.
"Pikachu, start off with your Agility! Check the field for spots you're comfortable moving on." Ash called out, and Pikachu darted to its side. Without much thought, Pikachu realized that Ash was having it check where it could attack from comfortably in order to retake its speed advantage. Cubone certainly wasn't going to leave this part of the field, not willingly of course so they would have to force it out and a running start would allow them to do just that.
Giselle spent a few moments considering what Ash's command would mean to Pikachu. Throughout her practice battles with Ash, she learned that he didn't communicate everything to Pikachu through speech. Ash could give a small piece of his orders to Pikachu and his partner would follow an entire plan as if Ash relayed all of the information it needed. It didn't give her a lot to work with, but it was good practice for Giselle to work on deciphering an opponent's plans through the commands they gave their Pokemon.
Watching Pikachu dart around the broken-up field, Giselle could see that its speed was gradually rising. It was reaching the point where it was becoming a blur again as it tested out different paths through the jagged area while keeping its distance from Cubone. Giselle blinked and opened her mouth to shout for Cubone to be defensive. Pikachu wasn't just running, it was plotting a course to Cubone where it could move at full speed.
"Cubone!" Giselle hollered, and her Pokemon tightened its stance after hearing the urgency in Giselle's voice. It saw an image of Pikachu landing on the side of some overturned earth that then burst forward, reaching Cubone in an instant. Slamming itself into Cubone's body, Pikachu sent it flying out onto the grassy and flat field where it would have full control of the battle.
"We have to follow up now Pikachu! Close in with Quick Attack and use Double Team if you have to!" Ash called out as he saw Cubone rotate in the air to land on its feet. Cubone jammed its bone into the field to stop itself from skidding backward any further, but this was also another tactic Giselle showed it for Pikachu. The mouse Pokemon was rushing to get in an attack before they could tear up the field again, and they would use that against it.
Lifting up its bone, Cubone also ripped up a portion of the field into the air which it smashed with its bone to send multiple pieces of earth at the approaching Pikachu. Recalling the training it did with Ash and Brock, Pikachu performed sidesteps as it pushed forward, weaving through the chunks of rock to Cubone. Just as Cubone expected, Pikachu reached its destination with relative ease, but to attack there was still one last obstacle.
"Bone Rush!" Giselle barked quickly, seeing that this was the time unveil their secret weapon. Cubone's bone gained a blueish glow before the weapon began to grow until it was twice its original length. They used an incomplete form of Bone Rush last week against Ash and Pikachu and it came with good results. Now, with further practice, Cubone mastered this move, and the difference between then and now was very obvious.
Cubone held its bone from one end, demonstrating its skill as it twirled the weapon before whipping it out at Pikachu. With the additional length of its bone, Cubone was aiming to clip Pikachu, but its bone phased through the after-image of Pikachu.
"Pi-pi-pi-pi." Pikachu breathed out as three copies flickered to life around Cubone. Eyeing each of them for a moment, Cubone went on the attack and swung out with its bone repeatedly. It twirled about, attacking each Pikachu with no particular pattern in hopes of catching it off guard, but Cubone didn't even land a glancing blow. Pikachu was avoiding each attack flawlessly and creating a new image as the previous one faded away. Beads of sweat began to run down Cubone's back as it gasped, looking from one Pikachu to the next. The stamina requirement for Bone Rush was something it still hadn't grown accustomed to for this battle, and Giselle was witnessing the cost of this.
"Now attack Pikachu!" Ash commanded as Cubone's bone reverted back to its original form. Seeing one Pikachu burst forward to attack, Cubone raised its bone to protect itself. Its eyes widen in response to this Pikachu passing right through it, the copy fading away in response to the contact with Cubone.
Spinning on its heels in search of Pikachu, Cubone found that the remaining two Pikachu's were standing behind it, and a third copy formed as well. Taking a step backward, Cubone grunted as it realized it couldn't even anticipate Pikachu's next attack. Pikachu smirked at the sight of Cubone's apprehension, and all three of the images rushed forward to attack from three separate angles.
Looking from one Pikachu to the next, Cubone could only take a guess at this point and hope for a bit of luck. Swinging out its bone at the Pikachu that was approaching from the left, Cubone gained a frown of dismay at the lack of an impact. Then it was immediately hit from the opposite side, a blow that lifted it from the ground and sent it flying several feet. Cubone hit the ground a few times before it came rolling to a stop, losing its bone as it did so. Brock quickly approached Cubone to give it a quick check to see if it was time to call the battle.
He was certain that this battle was over. There was clear evidence of exhaustion written all over Cubone from trying to break Pikachu's Double Team with Bone Rush, but that was all wasted effort. To his surprise though, Cubone was stubbornly trying to get back to its feet, but this action was the straw that broke its back. Its eyes became black swirls and the Pokemon collapsed to the ground. It was official now, Pikachu was clearly the winner.
"Cubone is unable to battle. Pikachu is the winner!" Brock declared, raising an arm toward Ash.
"HA, we did it!" Ash roared as he raced onto their battlefield to Pikachu. His partner fell back onto its bottom, gasping in relief from the moment Brock announced that the battle was over. Grabbing his partner in his arms, Ash could feel how much Pikachu was sweating and he quickly understood how much energy Pikachu expended to move that fast throughout that battle. "You worked so hard during that battle, you're the best Pikachu!"
"Pika-pi!" Pikachu exclaimed as it relaxed into Ash's arms.
Giselle rested beside her unconscious partner, a hand on its back as she gently rubbed it. They threw everything but the kitchen sink at Ash, and he responded to their every move. Even when they tried to seal off Pikachu's speed, he reacted accordingly and it forced Giselle to acknowledge what would soon be Ash's greatest weapon in a battle.
His innovations.
It was what made this battle his most convincing win over her.
Ash even admitted during the battle that he couldn't emulate her battling style to outwit her, but relying on his tried and true style of battle, he came up with an answer to Giselle's tactics in the heat of the moment. There was no doubt in her mind, Ash and Pikachu's potential was something you'd see once in a generation.
It was almost unnatural how quickly they could apply what they learned. In the coming months, Ash would certainly rise to the top of the underground circuit.
Brock rushed over to Trevor who was already in the process of looking through the footage of Ash's battle. Trevor filmed the battle from two angles, getting several good shots of the exchanges between Pikachu and Cubone. Trevor was grateful that Brock warned him that tracking Pikachu would be difficult. He used one camera to capture the battle from a distance, while he dedicated the second one that he was operating manually to track Pikachu's movement. It was a test of his patience with how quickly Ash's Pokemon moved about the field, but Trevor was amazed that such a small creature could move so quickly.
"So how do you want me to put this together?" Trevor asked Brock as he showed him some of the clips.
"Don't make it anything special. Just make sure that nothing is left out." Brock replied with a smirk, pulling his phone out of his pocket to make a call.
They had everything they needed.
Charles Goodshow was sure to be impressed with Ash from this battle.
Ash fought to contain a smile as he glanced down at the jump drive he held in his hand. Trevor gave it to him right before he and Brock departed from their training ground on Route 6. It contained the edited footage of his battle with Giselle, which Ash had the privilege of viewing on Trevor's laptop. Seeing himself battle was a little surreal, but Brock said that this was the beginning. Pretty soon he would be able to examine replays of his professional battles using the PokeHub.
The thought of seeing himself on the PokeHub gave Ash goosebumps. His name was going to among all the other great trainers in Vermilion City.
Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Ash looked up at Brock who nodded out to the seawater in front of them. They were on a rocky beach at the western end of Vermilion City, the area they used to get transported to the Hidden Cove this past weekend. Approaching them on the water was an attractive woman riding a Mantine. Stealing a quick glance at Brock, Ash could see that his cheeks gained a soft tinge of color as he observed this woman.
Ash rolled his eyes, wishing that he could apologize to this woman in advance for what was about to take place.
Mantine came close to the shoreline, to the point where Ash and Brock had no trouble hopping from the rocks they stood on to the marine Pokemon. The woman stepped back to give them the space to get on, and Brock didn't waste a moment to take one of her hands gingerly and caress her palm, dropping to one knee in preparation for his appeal to her.
"Miss, would you do me the honor of having dinner with me this Friday night? I can promise you the finest delicacies from Kalos and some of best music Hoenn has to offer."
Ash raised his brow, mildly impressed with Brock's offer, but a nervous chuckle from the young woman told him that the inevitable was coming.
"I'm...sorry." She began slowly, a modest blush on her cheeks. "I'm seeing someone right now."
In a flash Brock was standing upright, fixing the collar of his shirt professionally with his free hand. He cleared his throat, quickly changing how he held her hand to a cordial handshake.
"Hi my name is Brock, I have a meeting with Charles Goodshow tonight. I'm assuming you'll be taking us to the Hidden Cove." Brock now spoke concisely, here strictly for business now. Ash suppressed his chuckle at Brock's ability to play off getting rejected. His friend was the 'master of rejection,' as Tierno put it.
"Y-Yes, I will be. I'm Melissa by the way." She said with a bit of uncertainty over the two sides of Brock she witnessed. "I'm his assistant."
"It's nice to meet you. This is my friend Ash Ketchum, he's the trainer that will hopefully be accepted by Mr. Goodshow." Brock explained, motioning to Ash, who gave Melissa a wave. She returned the action and then gave a call for Mantine to begin their return trip to the Hidden Cove.
As they arrived at the fabled beach, they saw that none other than Charles Goodshow was waiting for them, his hands in his pockets and his unruly hair tucked into a backward cap. He greeted them warmly once they disembarked from Mantine's back, and took the lead in walking them back to the stadium within the cliff side.
They didn't bother with the formalities as they moved, entering the stadium which, to Ash and Brock's surprise, had a few occupants. Men in uniforms along with a handful of Pokemon assisting them in cleaning the main lobby of the stadium. Impressed that there was a cleaning staff for the stadium, Brock couldn't help but wonder how this stadium had been built in such a place.
"Mr. Goodshow, how did you build this stadium?" Brock inquired as he glanced around at their surroundings. How did they get the materials and such to this secluded location without tipping off the authorities?
Charles merely glanced back at Brock and gave him a wink.
"Knowing the right people can get you anything." He replied enigmatically. After giving his answer, he turned his back to them and continued leading them back to his private chamber within the stadium.
Brock took a questioning glance at Ash, who shrugged his shoulders. Obviously, there were some things that they didn't need to know, secrets concerning the underground circuit that was none of their business.
Arriving at Charles' office, Melissa jumped ahead of them to open the door and welcome them in. The first thing that caught Ash's attention was the various photographs of different Pokemon that hung on the wall. As he looked around the room, his gaze became fixated on the only real Pokemon present.
He saw this Pokemon once before, on a portrait within the Berlitz Estate. Its fur was smooth and golden with a sheen that was to die for. However, despite the elegance of its fur, the most noteworthy feature of his Pokemon was the abundance of tails it possessed. Nine, to be exact.
The Pokemon slept comfortably beside Charles' desk, but upon hearing them enter the office, it opened one eye to inspect the newcomers. Ash felt a sudden chill as the Pokemon rose up, meeting his gaze. It studied Ash intently, tilting its head from one side to the other every so often. Its amber eyes seemed to stare right into this body, peering into the depths of his soul. It was an odd experience, one that left Ash wondering how long he had been holding his breath.
Charles approached the Pokemon and began to ruffle the top of its head affectionately.
"These are our guests tonight Ninetales, be nice." Charles said to the Pokemon, but even as he groomed it, its gaze remained firmly on Ash.
Ash glanced at Melissa and then to Brock, but neither of them seemed to notice the way this 'Ninetales' was staring at him.
With a grateful sigh, Charles took a seat in his office chair behind his desk and leaned forward, looking at Brock expectantly.
"So, let's see what you've brought me." Charles began, extending a hand toward them. Ash retrieved the jump drive and gave it to Charles, who accepted it graciously.
As this exchange took place, Ninetales approached Melissa and nudged her leg. Looking down at the Pokemon, she saw it glance at the closed office door and realized it wanted to step out now that there was so much happening in the room. Opening up the door for Ninetales to exit the room, Ash did his best to hide his relief now that it was gone. He couldn't really describe it, but he was getting a strange vibe from that Pokemon.
Charles was engrossed with his computer screen once he inserted the jump drive into his desktop. With access to the contents within this device, Charles opened the only file contained within that was labeled 'For Mr. Goodshow.'
The video file opened up, starting with the focus being on Brock as he explained the rules of the battle to Ash and Giselle. Charles used this time to quickly change the display from his computer screen to the much large television screen that was mounted on the wall behind his desk. Turning in his chair to enjoy the battle as it began, Ash and Brock discovered that their legs started to shake.
This was actually happening.
Charles Goodshow, the commissioner of the underground circuit, was reviewing footage of how Ash battled.
Charles marveled at Pikachu's speed, a smile growing on his face as he witnessed the early stages of the battle. Naturally, a Pikachu would be faster than most Pokemon, but it was clear that Ash and Pikachu were focusing on developing Pikachu's speed to turn it into their greatest weapon. They were using it perfectly to keep Cubone in check and do as they pleased. Or so he thought.
"Ho ho." Charles said as he shifted in his seat. Not even Charles was able to foresee that Giselle was preparing the field to trap Pikachu in an area where its speed would be neutralized. Charles wouldn't expect anything less from Giselle. She had a knack for making plans and executing them flawlessly.
Expecting the battle to shift in Giselle's favor, Charles was impressed to see Ash and Pikachu maintain the same control they held early in the battle. What Giselle designed to be a trap for Pikachu, now sharpened Pikachu's weapon of speed. Using the uneven surface to search for new angles, Cubone was unable to read Pikachu's movements before it struck.
Charles couldn't help but turn in his seat to steal a glance at the young man behind him. This video matched the expectations Charles set for Ash. He and his Pikachu were a special talent.
The battle was one-sided the rest of the way as Pikachu controlled the tempo with its use of Double Team until Cubone was exhausted. Landing the finishing blow, Ash and Pikachu were declared the winners as Charles leaned back into his seat.
"So..." Charles began, spinning around his chair to face them. "Let's talk about you-" He pointed at Ash who straightened up. "-and your Pikachu for a little bit. How old is it?"
"Pikachu?" Ash muttered, looking up to recall its age. He didn't know Pikachu's age exactly, but according to what his father told him, it was only a year old when Ash first received it. "Pikachu's about thirteen years old now."
Hearing this caused Charles to nod openly.
"And how long have you seriously been training?" Charles pressed.
"About...about a month now." Ash answered with a nod. This caused Charles to take a moment to stroke at his beard, deciding on what he should ask next. There were so many questions he wanted to ask Ash, but he didn't want to delve too deeply into his personal life.
"He's been practicing with Pikachu for years actually, but this past month they've really been working on their fundamentals with Giselle." Brock added, volunteering some information to Charles, who raised his brow.
"I see, so that explains it," Charles noted softly. "I asked for Pikachu's age to determine how long your career might be."
Ash furrowed his brow after Charles admitted what he was thinking about.
"It's clear now that I didn't have anything to worry about because the two of you will be filled with youth for many years." Charles said with a warm smile. Ash could detect that there was something deeper within this statement, as though Charles was reflecting on something. "Far longer than I was at least."
"But you're not that old Mr. Goodshow, what's stopping you from getting back on the battlefield yourself?" Brock asked him, and the gentleman looked down at his desk. Resting next to a picture frame was a well polished Pokeball with a lightning bolt sticker on the top half. A smile crept up onto Charles' face before he gave an answer.
"My partner is no longer with me so...my time as a trainer is over." Charles replied, causing Ash to frown.
"But what about that, um – Ninetales." Ash said, recalling the name that Charles used for the Pokemon that left the room. Charles chuckled softly.
"Ninetales isn't mine. It keeps me company every now and then, which I'm grateful for." Charles explained before he smiled at them. "And it assists me in my new responsibility, which involves bringing up the next generation of Pokemon trainers. You'll be the youngest trainer in the circuit by a sizable margin Ash, but don't expect any of the other trainers to go easy on you."
"Wait..." Ash said, his mouth slightly open as he replayed what Charles said. "Does that mean?"
"You're in." Charles stated with a nod of confirmation. The rather somber mood in the room melted away at the sudden cheers from Ash and Brock.
"We did it!" Ash exclaimed before he was suddenly pulled into a headlock by Brock, who was smiling broadly.
"You freakin' did Ash!" Brock hollered, throwing away whatever professionalism he had to celebrate.
Ash Ketchum was going to be a circuit trainer.
What a turnaround! Almost three weeks ago Ash was knee deep in a personal crisis, and it took all of his friends to stop him from doing something stupid. Now they stood in front of the commissioner of the underground circuit, who had just accepted Ash as his newest circuit trainer! It was unbelievable!
Charles and Melissa shared a glance, unable to hide their amusement at how these two young men reacted to the news. While Ash and Brock were busy, Charles invited Melissa to take his place at his desk, allowing her to begin working on a profile for Ash within the PokeHub. As she began to build the page, Charles cleared his throat to get their attention.
"Uh...excuse us." Brock said as he and Ash straightened up, regaining their composure.
"Quite alright. This is a pretty big deal after all." Charles noted, glad that these two didn't have a problem expressing themselves. There was no shortage of unusual personalities in the underground circuit, and Ash would be another fantastic addition to the pot. "I just want to discuss who your sponsor is."
"Oh, that's right I do have one, I met with him yesterday actually," Ash explained. "His name is Malcolm Berlitz."
Charles raised his brow. The surprises with this young man didn't seem to end. Of course, the biggest sponsor of the underground circuit was backing Ash Ketchum.
"Do you need to call him or something to confirm?" Ash asked, but Charles shook his head.
"That won't be needed. Not with Malcolm." Charles stated, which made Ash wonder what sort of connections Malcolm had. His father, and Charles expressed the utmost confidence in this man, but why was that? These questions were laid to rest though as Charles continued to speak. "So, its official, Ash Ketchum, welcome to the underground circuit."
Since they had gotten the urge to celebrate out of their systems earlier, both Ash and Brock approached the older man to shake hands. Each of them wore a smile that was brimming with confidence, and Charles couldn't be more certain that this was going to be an excellent addition to the circuit.
"Uh, don't get too excited yet. There's just one last thing we have to do." Melissa interjected, getting everyone attention. "We need a nickname or an alias for Ash."
Ash and Brock's eyes began to shine at the thought of this.
This name is what all of the other trainers would know him by. This name needed to be cool and awesome, but above all else it had to be unforgettable!
"What should we go with?" Ash asked, looking toward Brock who began to scratch the back of his head.
"How about uh - 'Ripper!'" Brock suggested.
"Ugh, no way, that makes me sound like some weird foreign killer." Ash retorted, wrinkling his face at such a name. "I've got it. 'Champ.'"
Brock deadpanned.
"Really Ash?" Saying it once wouldn't suffice for Brock. "Really?"
"Fine fine, how about, 'Best Yet.'" Ash said with a nod of approval. "No no, how about just, 'Best?'"
"Oh my god, can it get any worse?" Melissa muttered under her breath. Ash was too busy rambling off nicknames, but Brock stifled a laugh in response to her comment.
Ash continued to shoot off ideas for the group, each of them being worse than the last. It made it to a point where they wondered if it was even possible to think of something cornier, but Ash succeeded at it with every attempt.
Brock stood with his arms crossed in front of his chest, trying to decide on what would be the perfect name for Ash. Something with a bit of mystery, yet clear enough for his future fan base to fall in love with. A name that wasn't necessarily scary, but still strong enough to remind opponents that this trainer was no joke. That he was becoming stronger every day, one step at a time...on a journey. A trek – no. A...
"I've got it." Brock declared, gladly receiving the attention of Charles and Melissa. He cut Ash off mid-sentence, but Ash was now looking at him earnestly.
"Whatcha got, Brock?" Ash asked him, and Brock's lips curled upward.
"Quest."
Ash blinked.
"Quest?" Ash repeated, needing a moment to ponder over it.
"Yeah, Ash 'Quest' Ketchum." Brock stated, emphasizing each part.
Brock looked at the occupants of the room, and smiles broke out. No words were needed to describe their approval.
It was perfect.
A/N
And that locks it all in. Ashy-boy is finally a really-for-real Pokemon trainer! This is the first battle that I'm really invested in, which is kind of weird considering this is chapter nineteen. I liked this battle, although I will point out I have a lot in store for the future that I can't wait for you guys to see.
It's fair to say that Ash has made quite a bit of progress since he first got started. It's been more than a month of him constantly going at Giselle, refining both himself and Pikachu. But even with all this, we're going to see soon just what's in store for Ash as he prepares to debut as a circuit trainer.
I want to thank those of you who favorited and say welcome to my new followers. The story only gets more exciting from here as I have a deluge of plans ahead. Don't be afraid to review or PM me, I don't bite lol! I love feedback from any and everyone, even if you're critical.
I want to thank MjrGenMatt for his help with chapter and for his help altogether. It's been a full year since we became partners, and he has been an incredible help. That reminds me, the first anniversary of Caged Wings passed and I missed it completely lol. I can't believe it has been a full year already, and we're now starting to hit the nitty-gritty stuff of this universe.
Special announcement : I'm also working on a little prequel to Caged Wings. This story became so big that there are a lot of subjects that will go untouched for quite some time, so I thought it would be best to explore them from a different angle. Don't worry, this supplementary fic won't be anything huge. I hardly have enough time to work on Caged Wings, so obviously, my goal is to keep this small in scale so that I don't get distracted.
I don't have a timetable on when this prequel will be posted, but just be on the lookout for it. Be on the lookout for it. So until next time everyone!