Chapter 33
Sunday, February 12th
Cassidy was grateful.
Grateful for life.
Grateful for her adopted son who sat beside her in the car.
Grateful for his incredible friends, such as Brock and Shauna, who sat in the front seats.
The last four months had been a tumultuous blur, most of which she spent in a coma.
That evening when she woke up in a hospital bed back in January was a truly startling experience. It was incredibly difficult to grasp the fact that she had spent nearly three months in a coma. For her, it felt like a regular night of sleep, but two and a half months had passed!
Cassidy could only wonder what she had missed in all the time. Thankfully, the hospital staff helped fill in the blank areas for her. She became well acquainted with the nurses, many of which were familiar with her trio of children, Macy especially. Cassidy would be rich if she received a nickel for every time one of the nurses used the word 'cute' to describe Macy.
However, this was only the beginning. The cardiologist that had been monitoring her coma, Ethan Avertt, had a long discussion with her about rehabilitation.
Cassidy learned that the cause of her coma was the heart attack she had suffered that night last October. The time she spent in a coma left her physically weak. She had a lot of work ahead of her in order to regain her lost strength. It was a discouraging experience at first.
Walking was exhausting, but they expected much more than that. It felt like torture to complete her exercises, but it had to be done if she wanted her body to reach a normal functioning capacity. A month of rehab came and went with regular visits from her children, and Cassidy's release date arrived.
Ash, Brock, and Shauna came to bring her home, back to the life she had been away from for so long.
They came to a stop at a red light and Cassidy was completely content to listen to the conversation between the three young adults around her. The car remained motionless even after the light had turned green, prompting Ash and Shauna to ask Brock what he was doing. Brock's gaze was on an attractive young woman on the sidewalk, his cheeks rosy as he observed her walk.
Ash and Shauna began to bark at their friend to get him focused and Cassidy couldn't help but laugh. Some things never change.
Soon enough, they entered the neighborhood where her home was located, and Cassidy couldn't suppress the smile on her face. It felt good to be back home. Brock was able to park directly in front of her house and Cassidy welcomed the sight of it. As she stared up at her home, Cassidy was anxious to see the girls again. This would be the first time that she would see them in the familiar surroundings of their house as opposed to the hospital.
Ash, Brock, and Shauna stepped aside for Cassidy to travel up the front steps first and enter the house. Upon entering, she was greeted by the sight of Casey and Macy along with all of Ash's friends.
"Surprise!" They shouted together. "Welcome home!"
Startled at first, Cassidy stole a quick glance at Ash and saw that he wore a cheeky grin. He really was something else.
A welcome home party.
Cassidy wasn't expecting anything of the sort. Her only intention was to go home and treat it like it was any other day. Instead, she found her house filled with Ash's closest friends, most of which Cassidy recognized.
They had a delicious spread of food curtsey of Brock and some incredible desserts made by Miette and Serena. Cassidy was happy to see all of them, and their little gathering was more relaxed than she expected, considering that she knew that they were a rowdy bunch once they got together.
Each of them took some time to sit down and talk with her to check and see how she was doing, to ask about her experiences in rehab and to let her know that if she needed in help with the girls, they were just a phone call away. As the party progressed, the heart of it remained in the kitchen while Cassidy relocated herself to the living room. Once there, she eased herself into the couch in the living room beside the open window. She looked up when she heard Ash's voice from outside and Serena was with him.
She couldn't help but smile hearing their lighthearted conversation, seated out on the front steps, like when they were dating. Cassidy thought back to the night Ash and the girls had come to visit her, after she finally woke up. Despite giving her daughters the bulk of her attention, Cassidy did notice that Ash spent nearly the entire time chatting quietly with Serena.
She was happy to see him speaking so naturally with her again.
Cassidy smirked as she heard Serena bellow with laughter at one of Ash's corny jokes. From the moment she had met Serena, Cassidy was in the camp of seeing Ash and Serena together.
Serena was good for Ash.
As cool and aloof as Ash would try to pretend to be, Serena would always bring out his inner child. The part of him that expressed his dreams with true sincerity. The part of him that smiled so brightly that you'd swear he was shining. Cassidy felt the two of them were meant to be together…but a certain bluenette came to mind.
Dawn was a great girl too.
Cassidy saw a different side of Ash with her. The genuine boy that he was around Serena, was somehow more mature, more profound, whenever he was around Dawn.
Seeing Ash around different people was truly fascinating. It made Cassidy think of one line in particular from the letter Delia had left.
"Even at the young age of seven, I can see that people just gravitate to him…the way he talks, how he stands up for himself and everyone around him."
Cassidy couldn't explain it, perhaps it was Delia intuition as Ash's mother, but she knew Ash was special from the beginning. There wasn't much of an explanation for it, not as far as Cassidy could see, but Ash had a way with people.
When Ash and Serena came back inside, Serena rejoined the pulse of the party in the kitchen while Ash checked on Cassidy. At the sight of him entering the living room, Cassidy beckoned for him to take a seat beside her.
"What?" Ash asked when he caught sight of the smirk on Cassidy's face.
"I heard you talking with Serena out there," Cassidy said with a nod toward the window. "I'm glad to see you guys are on better terms."
Ash scratched at the bridge of his nose; his cheeks tinged red.
"You and me both," Ash noted. "A lot of stuff happened while you were in the hospital, and I managed to mend some bridges that I thought I burned."
"That's good. Don't let Serena get away from you, she's a keeper."
Ash gave her a narrow glance and Cassidy snickered.
"Now go have some fun with your friends, but do me one favor. Send Brock in here, I want to talk with him." Cassidy said as she ushered him to get moving.
Monday, February 13th
Ampharos swatted at the underbrush with her tail, clearing the way for Volkner to follow her, uninhibited, through the woodlands of Route 6. She looked back to her trainer, who thanked her graciously and they pressed onward. It was mid-morning as Volkner glanced up at the canopy above them, the sun's rays slipping through the leaves and creating a gorgeous scenery.
Their destination? They didn't have an exact answer, just a general location.
They were looking for someone, Ash's previous mentor: Giselle.
After seeing Ash battle Brawly back in December, his development as a trainer was almost frightening. It was thanks in no small part to Giselle. Volkner had seen her battle on a few occasions, and her prowess matched the stories he had heard about her. If there was anyone out there that could help Ash develop as rapidly as he did, it was Giselle.
Ampharos perked up after hearing a dull thud in the distance. She looked back to Volkner and made a gesture in the direction they would going. They continued working their way through the thick brush that occupied the floor of the forest until they arrived at a clearing.
At the edge of the open area was a Cubone who eyed one of tree trunks with his sharp gaze. He dashed forward and lowered his head, driving his durable skull into the base of the tree. The trunk shook visibly from the blow, but Cubone came away worse for the wear as he fell onto his back and remained there.
"Mmm, that one looked like it hurt," Giselle noted as she approached her partner and kneeled beside him. "You're getting better at this attack, but you're still hurting yourself just to use it."
"What are you working on?" Volkner inquired, startling Giselle as he and Ampharos stepped out into the clearing.
"V-Volkner?" Giselle exclaimed at the sight of him. "What are you doing here?"
"Well I came to talk to you, but I'm surprised that Cubone of yours' hasn't evolved yet," He noted as he studied the small Pokemon. Giselle shot him a narrow glance at the comment, while Cubone jumped to his feet to protest, though he wobbled from the sudden movement.
"When its time, Cubone will evolve," Giselle stated sternly. "But until then, we'll keep showing everyone that he doesn't need to evolve to win battles."
Cubone gave a shout of agreement. Volkner raised his hands in his defense.
"I didn't mean to offend," Volkner said before he returned to the original subject. "So what move are you practicing?"
"Iron Head." Giselle said after a brief pause.
"Ah, a steel type move," Volkner noted as she and Ampharos approached them. He squatted in front of Cubone to address him directly. "It's not going to be easy, but that hard skull of yours' means it's doable. Just keep working at it."
Cubone gave him a small nod of respect before he returned his focus to the tree in front of him. Giselle eyed Volkner skeptically as they stood up and took shelter in the shade of the trees.
"So…long time no see." Volkner commented as he looked to Giselle. He caught sight of the hard stare from her and raised his brow. Despite the look Giselle shot when Ampharos came and snuggled up beside her, Giselle's expression brightened considerably.
"It's good to see you too, Ampharos," She said kindly as rubbed the top of Ampharos' head.
"Don't I get anything?" Volkner asked and Giselle shot a glare in his direction. "Alright, I'll just stick to what I came here for. I wanted to ask you a few questions about Ash."
Giselle seemed to soften up a bit at the mention of her training partner. Ash had told her that he would be training with Volkner going forward, and despite her disdain for Volkner, she couldn't let Ash pass on an opportunity to learn directly from one of the Five Kings. In fact, Giselle couldn't help but smirk. She could bet that Volkner was probably asking himself the same questions about Ash that she did a few months ago.
"What do you want to know?" Giselle asked him with a motion to proceed.
"Pikachu learns very quickly." Volkner began and Giselle gave a nod. "It's kind of scary if you know what I mean."
"I do," Giselle said in reply. "They're like sponges. They soak up everything you teach them. Have you battled them yet?"
"Not yet. They're not ready." Volkner replied.
"Well whenever you do…be ready. They're specialty is innovating. They will find a way to catch you off guard." Giselle warned him. They stood in silence for a moment, observing Cubone as he prepared another attempt of Iron Head. "So, what do you think of Ash?"
"What do I think of him?" Volkner repeated, his brow furrowed.
"What do you think his ceiling is as a trainer?" Giselle reiterated.
"Oh, that's tough," Volkner commented. "It's hard to tell. His ceiling is beyond anything I can imagine right now, for reasons you probably won't understand."
"And there you go with that again," Giselle proclaimed as she pointed at him. "I thought you might have taken a hint after I left you to stop giving all these vague answers, but some things never change, huh?"
Volkner merely smirked at her, his brow raised.
"Can you explain yourself, just this once?" Giselle practically begged him and Volkner complied.
"Here's an example," He began. "When I first became a trainer, I had an idea of what kind of trainer I wanted to be. A patient, methodical strategist was what I envisioned and aspired to become. When I asked Ash what sort of trainer he was aiming to become, he didn't have an answer."
Giselle wasn't surprised.
When she first met Ash, that was exactly the sort of impression he gave her. He wanted to become a trainer, but he wasn't sure what kind of trainer he wanted to be. He could be a strategist in the same vein as Giselle and Volkner. A brawler similar to Brawly and his Medicham. An oppressive defensive specialist like N. Or could he mold himself to command a relentless offense through Pikachu?
"Now the reason I said that is because he has this weird way of…innovating, like you said," Volkner said with a gesture to her. "A trainer might spend years working on a particular style or move, and then Ash will come along and warp it to fit whatever he's doing. If I had to be honest, I feel like one day that kid might figure out how to blend every battle style together at the same time. Now there's something I would love to see."
Giselle gave a nod of agreement. Volkner's thoughts matched her own.
Ash was a dynamic battler, one with the potential to surpass every trainer in history!
"How long do you think it would take him to reach that point?" Giselle asked curiously.
"That all depends on him. His growth seems to correlate directly with the challenges he is facing," Volkner replied and Giselle raised her eyebrows at his insight. "If we were to push him, I feel like you'd see him develop at a ridiculous pace."
"But how would you define 'pushing' him?"
"Put a strong opponent in front of him."
Charles Goodshow had been alive for sixty-one years, and in that time, he had met many trainers. Through his many interactions with different trainers, Charles had developed an eye for detail, which he prided himself over. With only one conversation, he could determine a trainer's personality and battling style, and his assumptions proved to be correct a vast majority of the time.
Seated in his office, Charles gave the young man in front of his desk a crooked glance.
Of all the people to appear in his office this afternoon, Volkner was the last person Charles was expecting. Not only that, but he came with a request that Charles could hardly understand.
"Can you repeat that for me?" Charles asked him.
"I want you to set up a match between Ash Ketchum and his father." Volkner stated in a deadpan.
Charles snorted and leaned forward to rest his elbows on his desk.
"Tell me why you, of all the people out there, are asking for this match?" Charles inquired as he concealed his mouth behind his hands, hiding his smile from Volkner.
"You know as well as I do that Ash Ketchum is special," Volkner said. "We all saw his wings that night."
"But tell me why he should have a match against his father." Charles said with a motion for Volkner to get to the point.
"Ash is walking the Path of Mastery," Volkner stated and Charles narrowed his eyes. "His father is a distraction. Ash needs to get over this, the sooner the better."
"I'm afraid that isn't how it works, Volkner," Charles said. "I've already given Ash a set of conditions if he intends to challenge his father. Ash hasn't met the requirements yet."
"What do you expect from him?"
"He has to earn the right to challenge his father. I expect him to be ranked within the top ten trainers of the circuit before I even consider organizing a match between them." Charles explained.
"You're wasting your time waiting for him to climb up the ranks. He could challenge anyone outside of the Five Kings and beat them." Volker stated and Charles averted his gaze.
Volkner did have a point. It had been nearly a month since Ash's last match, and Charles was struggling to find him an opponent. The trainers that were close to Ash's current ranking wanted no part of him. It was obvious after how he dismantled 'Blitz' that Ash was far stronger than his current rank implied.
On the flip side, his ranking was a detriment when Charles was pitching a match against trainers with a higher ranking. Many of the highly ranked trainers suffered from a bloated ego that wouldn't dare be involved in a match with someone ranked so far beneath them. It left Ash is a peculiar situation where Charles couldn't find him an opponent.
"It doesn't matter who it is, he needs to face someone that will actually push him," Volkner continued. "And I promise you, he will surprise you."
Charles pursed his lips as he observed Volkner's expression. The blonde was among the more reserved people that Charles knew, but seeing him speak so strongly about Ash forced Charles to reconsider.
He had been trying to find a match for Ash for three weeks now, with no results. It seemed as though Charles was down to his last option.
"I know someone, I'll make a call," Charles said. A silence set in as Volkner observed Charles expectantly. "You can go now."
Volkner moved to one of the open seats in the room and took a seat.
"I'll leave once I know Ash has a match."
Charles took a deep breath.
"Alright, suit yourself. It's a long-distance call to Unova, so I don't even know if he's awake right now. Do you intend to stay if my friend doesn't pick up?" Charles asked Volkner with a smirk.
"If he doesn't answer than I hope you're ready to have a new roommate." Volkner retorted and Charles shot him a glance.
Charles reached for his phone and called his assistant.
"Melissa, can you connect me to Cedric?" Charles asked, and a silence set in as he waited. The dial tone sounded several times, so Charles passed the time by avoiding eye contact with Volkner. The young man was just staring at him the entire time. Finally, there was a click and an older voice answered the phone.
Volkner listened closely to their lighthearted conversation. It was obvious the two of them had quite a history, as they spent some time catching up from the last time they spoke.
"Oh yeah, how is your daughter…She's twenty-two already? Time really does fly. Tell her I said hello, and I'm looking forward to meeting her in person one day." Charles said.
Volkner leaned back into his seat as the conversation covered various subjects. It was a while before Charles arrived at the only topic Volkner was interested in.
"I know it's been a while since you've made an appearance in my circuit, but would you be interested in a match?" Charles inquired and there was a pause. "It's a special case. A very promising prospect. You would be an excellent opponent to help us gauge his potential."
Charles began to nod as Cedric shared his response. A smile broke out on Charles' face.
"Excellent. I'll have my assistant arrange a flight for you to Vermilion City." Charles stated. "Oh, your daughter too. We can cover the cost, and this would be a great opportunity for me to meet her anyway. It was great hearing from you, and I'm looking forward to seeing you again."
The call was ended, and Charles looked to Volkner.
"Well, we've got a match for him."
Volkner gave his signature crooked grin.
Tuesday, February 14th
Cedric 'Old School' Juniper
Rank: 92
Registered Pokemon: Dewott
Record: 206 Wins, 32 Losses
Giselle made a face after reading the profile of Ash's latest opponent. Giselle could hardly believe that Ash had leapfrogged his way to a match with someone among the top one hundred! And it was Cedric Juniper, no less!
Cedric wasn't just some ordinary trainer; he was a highly respected Pokemon researcher who had dozens of reports published on the PokeHub. Not only that, but this was a savvy circuit veteran with over two hundred wins to boot! If there was anyone that could pick Ash apart, it was him.
Giselle looked to Ash as he stood in their usual clearing on Route 6 with Pikachu and Cubone. They were already practicing for their battle, and after her discussion with Volkner, Giselle felt like testing Ash as well.
"So, Ash, what's your game plan?" Giselle asked him. He left Pikachu and Cubone to continue their duel while he joined Giselle at the edge of the clearing.
"Well, I know for a fact that this guy has a ton of experience. He's been in like, thirty times the amount of battles I've been, in so I can't just battle him normally," Ash explained, and Giselle gave a nod of approval. "I looked up some of the bios on Dewott using the PokeHub, and it turns out that Dewott's use a weapon like your Cubone. So, I thought you guys might be the perfect partners to help Pikachu be ready to battle at close range with Dewott."
"That's good thinking, we're happy to help."
"I'm still not so sure what exactly I'm going to do yet. I don't want to be surprised as soon as the battle starts." Ash explained and Giselle smiled knowingly.
"It's good that you're being cautious," She stated. "But remember not to be overly cautious. Being aggressive has its place in a battle, but the middle ground between those two is where you want to be."
Ash gave a nod. He couldn't afford to be reckless against a trainer with so much more experience with him. But he also couldn't be so afraid that he abandoned his usual battling style. Giselle was right, he needed to find that middle ground and go from there.
"Are you nervous?" Giselle asked, causing him to look at the clearing where Pikachu was evading Cubone's attacks with ease.
"Nope. I know this battle is a big deal, because I'll jump up practically three hundred spots in the rankings, but I'm not really thinking about all that right now," Ash explained, and Giselle furrowed her brow. "Me and Pikachu worked really hard to get to this point, so I've decided to stay focused on that, the two of us. We're getting stronger every day as we practice, but I know the best way to improve is to battle strong trainers. The money and all that stuff don't matter right now. We just want to get stronger."
Giselle admired his attitude. It was evident now more than ever that Ash had become a student of the game.
"That's the right way to think about it, Ash. Look at every battle as a chance to improve, and you'll keep getting better," Giselle added. "I can't wait to see how you do in this battle."
Saturday, February 18th
Standing among the masses outside of the Hidden Cove stadium, Ash couldn't help but feel that the day of the battle arrived quickly. Of course, he only had five days' notice to prepare, but the time flew by.
Rather than train with Volkner, Ash opted to practice with Giselle for the past week. Her Cubone proved to be an excellent partner for Pikachu to practice facing a Pokemon that wielded a weapon. The training proved invaluable as they focused more on Pikachu's footwork to avoid taking damage at close range. But there was so much more Ash had learned about Dewott over the course of the week, thanks to the PokeHub.
Ash wasn't the biggest fan of reading, but the articles on the evolutionary line of Oshawott proved to be fascinating. Unlike Giselle's Cubone, who had to carry his bone everywhere, Oshawott and their evolutions, Dewott and Samurott, could attach their 'scalchops' to their body to eliminate the need of carrying their weapon. This line of Pokemon was exclusive to the Unova region, scattered about the region in small tribes. Each of these tribes developed their own distinct fighting style when using their scalchops, but if two tribes were ever to cross paths, both sides would be eager to see who's fighting style was superior. More often than not, this proved to be a learning experience, as both tribes incorporated techniques from the others.
Ash could imagine two tribes of the Oshawott-line squaring off in a lonely clearing. The tension was thick as the strongest representative from each tribe stepped forward with an air of confidence, ready to test the skills of their opponent.
Through his studies of the Oshawott-line, Ash discovered that water type Pokemon were more formidable than he had given them credit for. All water Pokemon had a measure of control of their natural affinity. Just like how Pikachu was learning to manipulate electricity, water type Pokemon could do the same with water. Even the slightest bit of moisture in the air could be used as a weapon by an experienced water type Pokemon.
The matchup against Cedric's Dewott favored Pikachu, since they had a type advantage going into it. But Ash knew that he couldn't rely on that heavily. Giselle told him many times that the best trainers will prepare very well when they face a type disadvantage, and look for ways to neutralize it. Cedric was a veteran, so Ash was certain he had at least a handful of countermeasures ready for Pikachu.
Ash struggled to imagine how Dewott could counter Pikachu's electricity, and the ideas in his head were making him anxious. He wanted to plan ahead, to be ready for whatever Cedric was going to throw at them. Perched on Ash's shoulder, Pikachu immediately took notice of Ash's change in demeanor when his shoulder became tight. Pikachu gave Ash's shoulder a squeeze with his tiny paws, earning the attention of his trainer.
"Pika," Pikachu began as their eyes met. "Pi-pika, Pikachu."
Let's just do what we always do.
Ash let out a soothing breath and gave his partner a nod.
"You're right Pikachu," Ash said. "I need to stay relaxed, and trust in you."
The smiles they wore were mutual.
"Hey, Ash!" Brock called out as he and Giselle returned with the match schedule for tonight's event. "You're not going to believe this!"
"Believe what?"
"Can you guess what your match number is tonight?" Brock asked him as the trio came together.
"Uh…I don't know, Cedric is a pretty high rank, so I guess somewhere close to the end, right?" Ash said, but Brock beamed in response.
"You got as close to the main event as you could," Brock replied and it took a moment for it to register in Ash's mind. "You're the semi-final dude!"
"I'm the semi?" Ash exclaimed.
Semi-Final – 'Quest' vs 'Old School' – 346/50
Giselle watched as the two of them gushed over Ash's achievement. The semi-final and main event were often reserved for the most famous participants each weekend at the Hidden Cove. For Ash to be taking part in a semi-final was no small feat.
However, the real news was one of the trainers taking place in the main event. It had everyone outside the stadium in a buzz.
Main Event – The Wild Ones – 'Axel' vs 'Restraint' – 3/1
Ash's gaze became narrow at the sight of Cross' battle tag.
"That Pikachu of yours didn't stand a chance in the first place, you were right not to trust him in a battle with Lycanroc."
There were very few things that Ash hated. Among those things was a single person, someone Ash barely knew. Yet Cross had done a magnificent job of earning Ash's resentment.
Both he and Cross would be battling from the blue box tonight, so they would be in the same waiting room as well. Ash dreaded the idea of having to even be in the same room as Cross, but with a deep breath, Ash put these thoughts aside. Cross was the last thing he should be thinking about right now. Cedric and his Dewott were Ash's only concern right now.
There was a chime from the main entrance of the stadium, a sound cue that all the trainers recognized as their call to enter the lobby. Ash and Pikachu parted ways with Brock and Giselle with a few final words of encouragement.
"Stay calm and focused, you'll know what to do when it's time."
"You got this, Ash, just do your best and I know you'll win for sure."
Brock and Giselle were quite the talking partners, so the time until general admission passed quickly for them. As the security of the stadium re-opened the main entrance for the masses, Brock and Giselle were stopped on their way by one of the guards.
No more than a minute passed before a young woman that Brock recognized entered the lobby. It was Melissa, Charles' beautiful assistant.
"Well, hello there!" Brock exclaimed at the sight of her. He rushed to greet her and got down on one knee, gingerly caressing one of her hands. "It's been some time since we last spoke, perhaps I was too forthcoming at that time. But I hope you would've reconsidered my offer to kindle a love between us that is brighter than any star in the galaxy!"
Melissa deadpanned.
"No thanks," Melissa stated and Brock slumped over for only a moment. He recovered immediately as he stood upright, allowing Melissa to explain why she had come to speak to them. "Charles Goodshow has requested that the two of you join him in his private booth to spectate the matches tonight."
"Really?!" Brock couldn't believe that Charles wanted them to watch the matches with him!
Melissa gave a nod and gestured for the duo to follow her. She led them into one of the stairwells that was manned by a single security guard. They shared a nod with him as they passed and journeyed to the upper levels of the stadium. Soon enough, they arrived at the door to Charles' booth, and Melissa allowed them to enter.
The first thing that caught Brock's attention was the young woman seated on the sofa who was equally as, if not more, attractive than Giselle and Melissa.
"Wow!" Brock shouted as he dashed to her side and snatched up one of her hands in his own. "Hi there, do you believe in love at first sight?"
Melissa and Giselle shared a glance as they stood at the entrance to the room.
"Is he for real?" Melissa asked her quietly.
"Yes, this…is normal for him," Giselle muttered in reply before she quickly added. "Or, at least that's what Ash says."
"Wow, he's something else."
"Ah, Giselle, thank you for coming tonight," Charles said as he welcomed her warmly. "Thank you very much for bringing them, Melissa."
"It was my pleasure." Melissa replied as she gave Charles a parting nod. She left them to return to her duties, and everyone's attention returned to Brock and the brunette he was attempting to swoon.
"So, what do you say? Would you like to be my partner in the game called love?" Brock asked her sporting a grin. She eyed him incredulously for a moment.
"Are you a Pokemon trainer?" She asked him in return.
"No, but I promise you tha-"
"Pass." She interjected, and Brock was dejected after being rejected.
Charles laughed at their exchange before he called the three of them together.
"I invited you two to join me tonight since I have a special guest," Charles explained as he made a gesture to the young woman that stood with them. "This is Aurea Juniper."
"Juniper?" Giselle repeated. "So, you're Cedric's daughter?"
Aurea shot a grin at Giselle in reply.
"The one and only!" She declared.
Giselle sized her up. She had been wondering why Aurea was wearing a lab coat over her skirt and blouse. If she was the daughter of a famous Pokemon researcher, at least it kind of made sense, though Giselle still found her fashion sense to be rather cringeworthy.
"So, you're here to watch your dad battle Ash?" Brock asked her. Aurea shot him a narrow glance before she replied.
"Not really, my dad dragged me along on this trip so that I could meet Mr. Goodshow." Aurea explained to them.
"Is this your first-time visiting Kanto?"
"Yup, and I gotta say, the weather is so much nicer here than in Unova. It's the dead of winter over there right now, so I'm loving Kanto," Aurea went on. "I can't believe its summer year-round here."
Kanto and Johto were both very close to the equator, which was responsible for their consistent weather throughout the year. Hoenn and Alola were the only other regions that enjoyed these weather patterns while the others experienced more varied temperatures through the changing seasons.
"I can see why Mr. Goodshow opted to build the circuit in Kanto. There's nothing here to stop trainers from battling all year long." Aurea commented, causing Brock to furrow his brow.
"Would bad weather even stop a trainer from battling?" Brock asked her.
"Not the weather. The police all over Unova really crack down on battles during the summer, because that's when most trainers are active," Aurea explained causing Giselle and Brock to share a glance. "Places like Castelia City are the worst for trainers."
"Well I will admit that your hunch is correct, Aurea," Charles said to answer her question. "Kanto has always been more…relaxed, about Pokemon battles than other regions…perhaps with the exception of Kalos, but I also chose Kanto for a few other reasons as well. But we're not here to discuss why the circuit is in Kanto, we're here to watch some of the best trainers battle each other tonight."
Right on cue, the MC of the event took his place at the center of the battlefield and called for everyone's attention.
From the waiting room within the depths of the Hidden Cove, Ash could hear the crowd's reaction to each exchange of attacks. The night was proceeding as expected, the matches all following their predicted outcomes. However, Ash found that his focus was split.
As he sat on one of the benches, he fought to focus on his upcoming match with all his might. But try as he might, as the number of trainers dwindled, Ash found that his attention kept traveling back to a certain ginger-haired trainer.
Cross stood on the opposite side of the room in solitude, leaning against the wall. He watched the television monitor with mild interest, his gaze narrow and stoic as always. Ash didn't care for him…not one bit! So why was he so fixated on Cross?
"That Pikachu of yours didn't stand a chance in the first place, you were right not to trust him in a battle with Lycanroc."
That was why.
He wanted to prove Cross wrong, and show him Pikachu's incredible ability.
Ash shook his head, silenced his musing.
Now wasn't the time to be thinking about something so…trivial.
What mattered now was his upcoming match. Ash cleared his head to focus solely on his final preparations for the match.
Even though Cedric had a clear advantage in experience, Ash and Pikachu had a few things going in their favor. They had the element of surprise. Pikachu's speed may have been well documented by now thanks to the PokeHub, but their lessons with Volkner had expanded their move pool significantly, and it would continue to grow going forward.
If they could surprise Cedric early and catch him flat-footed, they could steal the momentum and hopefully snatch an early knockout.
Ash felt Pikachu small paws grip his shoulder harder, and he left his mind to check on his partner. He looked to Pikachu and saw that his stance had tightened as he looked up at…Cross.
"Well well, look who's here." Cross stated, as he looked down at Ash with his uncaring gaze.
Ash took a glance around the room and discovered that they were the only trainers left. He returned his gaze to Cross and matched his detached expression.
"What do you want?" Ash asked him.
"I thought it might be worthwhile to ask you how it feels to be my opening act?" Cross inquired as raised his head and donned a smug little smirk.
Ash knew without a doubt that Cross was only trying to provoke him. It was no use playing right into his hand, so Ash opted for an answer that couldn't add fuel to the fire.
"I'm not thinking about it right now," Ash responded calmly. "I'm focused on my match, and that's all."
Cross raised his brow for a moment.
"Focus all you want, that's not going to help you anymore. A trainer like you doesn't belong at the top of the circuit, this match will be as far as you ever get. The semi-final." Cross said vehemently.
"And what makes you say that?" Ash asked him. Cross snorted and rolled his eyes.
"You're clueless!" He declared. "You battle with an over-dependence on one combination, and nothing else. Do you honestly think that you'll keep winning like that?"
Ash didn't respond. Cross' analysis of him was spot on…but a month old.
"Awful trainers like you with terrible Pokemon will stay at the bottom of the circuit where you belong." Cross stated as he pointed at each of them.
"Pika!" Pikachu snapped at him, his cheeks crackling as a warning.
Ash raised his hand and placed it on Pikachu's head to soothe his partner. This small connection caused Pikachu's anger to fade as Cross walked away from them. Pikachu looked toward Ash, who had closed eyes and took in a deep, calming breath.
"Pi-ka?" Pikachu asked him quietly.
"Don't worry about him right now, Pikachu," Ash replied. "Let's stay focused on what matters, and that's the battle with Cedric. Cross is only trying to distract us from our battle so that we look bad. Just forget about him."
Ash looked to Pikachu and they nodded to each other.
The entrance to the waiting room opened and one of the attendants stepped in.
"We're going into the semi-final, I need 'Quest' out here!" He called out and Ash rose from his seat.
"And now, our semi-final match!" The MC announced and a hush descended upon the audience. "We have a very peculiar matchup tonight. The youngest trainer in the circuit will be battling one of the oldest! So, in the blue box, the younger of our two participants, an eighteen-year-old upstart who has taken part in three matches so far, and secured a victory in all of them! Please welcome, 'Quest!'"
As always, Ash came sprinting out onto the battlefield as the audience cheered. Once situated in his box, he adjusted the cap on his head and stared anxiously at the opposite tunnel.
"And his opponent, one of the underground circuit veterans. He debuted on the first night that the circuit opened almost ten years ago! He is one of the few trainers in circuit history to have won over two hundred matches! Give a big round of applause to our trainer in the red box, 'Old School!'"
A middle-aged gentleman stepped out from the tunnel, well dressed in a collared shirt and a pair of slacks. He was none other than Cedric Juniper. He moved slowly to his box, waving to the audience with a great smile.
"'Old School!' Thanks for coming back!"
"It's so good to see you again!"
It took some time before Cedric was comfortable in his box, but Ash didn't mind. It gave him the time to go through his mental checklist one last time. When the crowd had settled down, the two trainers were called to the center of the battlefield to allow the referee to explain the rules.
Ash didn't pay particularly close attention to the referee. He had already memorized the rules of an official battle at the Hidden Cove. So, he used the time to observe Cedric closely. When Cedric caught sight of Ash's intense stare, he smiled graciously in response.
Once the ref finished his monologue, he motioned for them to shake hands. Cedric took Ash's hand in both of his and leaned toward him.
"May the best man, and Pokemon, win." He stated.
Ash gave a nod and they went their separate ways.
"Trainers, your Pokemon!" The ref called out after they returned to their respective boxes.
"Alright Pikachu, let's do this." Ash said as Pikachu jumped down from his shoulder and ran out onto the field.
"Dewott, it's time for a battle!" Cedric announced as he hurled a Pokeball over the field. It opened up to release his partner, who struck a pose as the crowd began to cheer. "It's been a while since our last match Dewott, don't take them lightly."
Dewott sent a nod back to Cedric, and then took a moment to study Ash and Pikachu. He drew one of his scalchops from the fur on his hips and pointed it at Pikachu.
"De-wott!" He declared and Pikachu stamped his front paws.
"Pika-pika!" Pikachu exclaimed, his cheeks beginning to crackle.
"It looks like our Pokemon are ready to begin." Cedric noted with a smile.
"I'm feeling the same way." Ash responded as all eyes went to the referee.
Seeing that everyone was ready, the referee didn't waste a moment. He swung his flags to signal the start of the battle.
"Pikachu let's start strong! Use Thunderbolt!" Ash barked as he threw his fist in the air. The electricity surged around Pikachu and a sizable bolt of lightning jumped from Pikachu immediately. Cedric's raised his brow but responded quickly.
"Dewott, use Razor Shell!" He called out.
Dewott tightened his grip on the scalchop he held. With it, he snatched the moisture out of the air and it all enveloped his scalchop, igniting it in a cyan aura that that took the shape of a blade. Dewott raised the tip of his weapon to intercept the Thunderbolt, cutting through the attack with ease.
There exclamations of awe from the audience at the sight of the lightning bolt separating in front of Dewott and dancing around the field.
When Pikachu's attack came to an end, Cedric stroked his small beard. Charles had warned him that Ash's battle footage would be irrelevant by the time they battled, but Cedric peeked to get an idea of what Ash and Pikachu were capable of. But with one attack Ash and Pikachu proved that Charles meant everyone word.
Pikachu's charge-up time for electrical attacks had been reduced significantly, so Cedric and Dewott would only have a fraction of the time they thought they had to defend.
Ash nodded to himself. It was just as he predicted. Cedric and Dewott did have an answer to their electric type attacks, so it would take more than a straightforward attack to get in some electrical damage. They had new tools at their disposal so he was certain that he could figure out a way to topple Cedric's defenses. After all, that was the fun part of a battle and that brought a smile to Ash's face.
"Okay, Pikachu let's start testing them out. Quick Attack and Double Team!" Ash commanded and Pikachu's all-out attack began. He rushed Dewott with twelve images flickering around him.
"Dewott, use Fury Cutter and keep them back!" Cedric hollered.
Seeing the approaching onslaught, Dewott drew his second scalchop and slid into his fighting stance. Ash watched in awe as Dewott masterfully worked his way through Pikachu's combination. His footwork was impeccable as he struck down each image with no wasted movement. Exactly what they had been expecting. Dewott was a master at close range combat.
Ash was glad he had done some research on Dewott prior to the match. Pikachu would've charged in blindly into a Pokemon that specialized in short-ranged battles and they would've gotten throttled. Thankfully, Ash had left Pikachu with the direction to exercise caution and search for any patterns in Dewott's defense. As Pikachu circled around Dewott, they made eye contact briefly and Pikachu felt a chill travel down his back. Dewott seemed to be tracking his movements among the after images that scurried around the field.
Despite the brief wave of uncertainty, Pikachu committed to an attack and dashed in at Dewott from his side. The otter Pokemon reacted perfectly, turning to face Pikachu as he attacked and lashed out with his scalchops. Again, if it weren't for Ash's warning, Pikachu would've thrown caution to the wind and taken a serious hit. Thankfully, he reacted to Dewott's attack and performed a backstep, evading Dewott's counterstrike.
They had a standoff, staring each other down. Dewott shot Pikachu a smirk and fell back into his fighting stance, making a gesture for Pikachu to attack once again. They hardly shared any words, yet the two Pokemon seemed eager to test the limits of their opponent. A rivalry was brewing between them.
"Pika!" Pikachu tore off in another dash around Dewott, zigzagging to summon another array of after images to join him on the field. They whizzed around Dewott silently as he looked around, then a dance began.
Pikachu would attack and Dewott would counter to force him away. Watching them go back and forth as the process repeated itself, Ash had the utmost respect for Dewott. Pikachu was already pushing the limits of his speed and Dewott was reacting to each of his attacks, not with any sort of fancy abilities, but just his finely developed reflexes. Of course, with over two hundred matches in the underground circuit, Dewott likely possessed a wealth of experience battling fast Pokemon. Sure, Pikachu was a fast Pokemon, but they had more than just speed in their arsenal!
"Pikachu, let's add Spark into the mix!" Ash called out. Their exchange continued as Ash's command reached Pikachu, and his offense changed. The caution he had been acting with faded and his aggression came to life along with an electrical cloak around him.
"Dewott, use Razor Shell!" Cedric commanded as their counter to the electricity. His scalchops gained an aquamarine shielding that he used to make physical contact with Pikachu, who had gotten too close. Dewott batted away his opponent, but Pikachu didn't hesitate to reengage. Spark provided a measure of damage reduction that proved to be a big help in tanking the damage from Razor Shell. Pikachu pressed into Dewott's space and anticipated his counter strike, using a quick sidestep to dodge it. But Dewott had two hands and two scalchops. Even if Pikachu dodged one, the other was always waiting for him.
Dewott's training was evident now more than ever. No matter how often he missed, he always had another attack waiting in the shadow of the last one. Regardless of Pikachu's effort, he was stuck trying to get past Dewott's well-established defense. Even though the results were the same, the crowd seemed to be mesmerized watching these two Pokemon go back and forth.
Pikachu's insistence on attacking as he jumped in and back out to avoid Dewott's defensive strikes. It was like watching the tide wash in on the beach and roll back out.
Ash pounded his palm as it dawned on him. They just needed a big wave!
Pikachu came to a halt at Ash's small action and took a glance back at his trainer. Through their wordless communication, there was a mutual understanding. Now wasn't a time for the grace of the footwork they had practiced. This was the time for them to be brutes!
The electricity around Pikachu crackled with a new intensity before Pikachu charged forward. As always, Dewott anticipated Pikachu's approach and intercepted his attack with one of his glowing scalchops. But rather than avoid the attack, Pikachu met it head-on with his shoulder. There was an audible clang as their attacks met and the two Pokemon made eye contact briefly before Pikachu struck.
All the electrical manipulation that Pikachu had practiced came flooding from his memory banks. Dewott had been canceling out his lightning using his scalchop, but now Pikachu was making a concerted effort to bypass this. Through their slight body contact, Pikachu unleashed a short-ranged Thunder Wave that traveled up Dewott's arm before he forcefully knocked Pikachu away from him. However, it was too late. The damage had been done.
Dewott's scalchop fell to the field.
The muscles in Dewott's right arm spasmed wildly from the sudden surge of electricity, and he couldn't even hold his scalchop. He focused on his arm, attempting to soothe the trembling, but it was no avail. His right arm fell limply to his side and Pikachu smirked at the condition of his opponent.
"Whoo! Awesome, Pikachu!" Ash called to his partner after seeing their success. "Now let's show them what we're made of! Use Spark with Double Team!"
Without Quick Attack in the mix, Pikachu could only produce four after-images to run alongside him, but this was more than enough to get the best of Dewott. He fought valiantly to keep Pikachu at bay, but with only one arm, he could only fend off half of Pikachu's attacks. The damage was piling up already!
"Dewott, disengage. Keep them back with Water Sport, then follow up with Water Pledge!" Cedric called out.
Dewott sheathed the scalchop he held and snatched up the other that he had dropped. Then he leaped backward to create some space from Pikachu. Both commands Ash and Pikachu were unfamiliar with, and their caution returned. Pikachu kept his distance in order to see what kind of move this would be.
With a great shout, Dewott slammed his one usable hand onto the field. Ash raised his brow with intrigue as the air around the field became dry, yet the surface of the ground was damp, and it quickly became soaking wet. Ash tilted his head and looked up. He was certain that he could hear running water in the distance.
As he looked to the field, though, he saw that the water that coated the ground was in motion. It was gathering around Pikachu and his Double Team in a circle. Pikachu looked around nervously before the water built up around his feet and a geyser of water erupted from beneath him, eliminating Pikachu's after images and hurling the electric type into the air with an exclamation.
"Now use your Aqua Jet!" Cedric shouted as he pointed up at the airborne Pikachu. Water cascaded around Dewott which he used to propel himself into the air, making a beeline toward his opponent.
Pikachu was practically defenseless in the air as Dewott struck him, knocking him back up into the air to strike again with Aqua Jet. Ash bit down on his lower lip as he saw Pikachu being juggled in the air by Dewott, denying him any opportunity to get back on the ground. It was Dewott's turn to deal some damage and he wasn't wasting the opportunity.
Pikachu didn't have a strong defense, so any damage was serious damage and Ash racked his brain for an answer to this. He had seen someone use Aqua Jet before, recently in fact. It was in…last match he had seen Cross in. Morris the 'Admiral' and his Floatzel. There was a point where they used Aqua Jet to pressure Cross' Lycanroc…and how did Cross deal with it?
They made a shield with Rock Tomb to protect themselves. Pikachu didn't have the luxury of using the field to protect himself, but he did have something else!
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt! Don't aim, just use it!" Ash shouted.
Pikachu didn't question the order. He went along with it and unleashed a torrent of electricity. The audience shielded their eyes as Pikachu's attack produced a blinding light that deterred Dewott's next attack. However, it wasn't the light that forced Dewott to stay away. Aqua Jet would amplify the strength of Thunderbolt, to the point where that move would surely end the battle, so Dewott had no choice but to let Pikachu return to the field and get settled on his feet.
Cedric wrinkled his nose at the sight of Pikachu patting the ground. Dewott was still battling with one arm, so they couldn't let Pikachu run wild with his combination of Quick Attack and Double Team. They had to keep him in check, at least until the paralysis wore off. But Ash and Pikachu wouldn't fall for Water Pledge a second time…at least not if they used it the same way.
"Dewott, use Water Pledge but cover the field with it." Cedric called out. Dewott slapped the field again, assuming control of the moisture that was resting on the field.
"Pikachu!" Ash said with a nod to his partner. There was no need for him to give a command, Pikachu knew what to do. He tore off in a dash, summoning an array of after-images to conceal him as he approached Dewott. However, the water of the field had been gathered around Dewott, coating the ground around him in a layer of water. It was more than enough to deny Pikachu proper footing, causing him to hydroplane. Pikachu gave a shout of astonishment as his after-images disappeared and he went skidding past Dewott.
"Dewott, follow up with Water Pulse!" Cedric added quickly. Dewott hunched his back, gathering some of the water that rested on the field around him and molding it into a dense sphere that he then slapped toward Pikachu using his tail. Pikachu was still fighting to regain control of his movement before he was hit on the back, the sphere detonating on contact which produced a thick cloud of white smoke.
Pikachu came skidding out from the cloud on his side, his fur damp and back aching. The attack hit him as hard as the club of Giselle's Cubone.
"Pikachu, are you okay?" Ash shouted from across the field. Pikachu stuck his hand out to give a thumbs up, though he winced visibly as he got back onto his feet. Ash had assumed that he and Pikachu would take full control of the battle since Dewott was handicapped by the paralysis, but Cedric's response was impressive. Using the water on the field to negate Pikachu's speed was proof of his status as a circuit veteran.
But that was a two-way street.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt on the ground!" Ash called immediately.
Cedric smiled at Ash's quick adjustment. Water conducts electricity, so their Water Sport would be an asset to Pikachu as well. Or at least, that was what Ash was thinking.
Dewott went down on one knee and set a hand down on the field. The water began to move at his command, clearing away from his feet as Pikachu channeled his electricity. Lightning surged around the field, but Dewott remained safe as he had cleared away an island to stand on. The water crackled for a few moments before the electricity fizzled out and Dewott smirked, unharmed by their attack.
Ash clicked his tongue. A direct Thunderbolt wouldn't work either because Dewott could use his scalchop to block it. Dewott's control over the water on the field also allowed him to redirect the Thunderbolt if they tried to attack using the water. The water also denied Pikachu proper footing to attack with Quick Attack…so the bulk of their offense had been shut down by a single move called Water Sport.
Such a thought would've terrified Ash a month ago. Today, however, he saw this as an opportunity. Dewott was showing full mastery over his ability to manipulate water. Pikachu had been working long and hard on learning how to control his electricity and now was the time to demonstrate everything they had learned.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt on the water one more time!" Ash called out. Pikachu quickly followed his command and electricity surged across the field, though it failed to reach Dewott a second time. But Ash saw what he was looking for; sparks of electricity in the water.
"Pikachu, I want you to run on your Thunderbolt using Quick Attack!" Ash declared gallantly. Those in the audience who heard his command began to question it immediately, but Pikachu trusted in Ash wholeheartedly. He gripped the field before he darted forward.
As he touched the water, he was met with the same tingling sensation that he felt when releasing electricity from within him. A feeling that was foreign, and yet all too familiar. Latching onto it with each step he took, Pikachu pressed onward much to the shock of the audience. The lack of traction he suffered from earlier was a thing of the past. He tore across the surface of the water and came face to face with Dewott in an instant.
High in the stands, Volker rose to his feet as Pikachu engaged Dewott on the small island that the water type had been located on. Seeing that Pikachu had gotten into striking distance, Dewott drew the one scalchop he could and endowed it with some of the surrounding water to shield himself from Pikachu's onslaught.
"Thunder Wave!" Ash ordered as Pikachu got within range. There was a discharge of electricity as Pikachu's tail met with the scalchop, causing Dewott to cry out as his remaining arm was shocked furiously. His scalchop dropped to the field with a thud, its cyan shielding fading away which left him defenseless.
Cedric's smile grew as he stared at Pikachu, and then to his trainer.
This was a truly a fearsome tag team that he faced today. Separately, Ash and Pikachu had many incredible talents. Pikachu's agility was first-class, and his newly discovered electrical abilities only added to his arsenal. Ash was a talented trainer who could read and react to anything that was happening on the field. But the trust between them was what made them special.
Every decision Ash made, Pikachu believed in without question.
The relationship between them was forged through years of friendship, and reinforced in their training. And the results of it were clear as day.
Pikachu was a blur around Dewott, blending Spark and Quick Attack together seamlessly. Not only was a he battered from all sides, but jolts of electricity would travel through his body with each hit. It dulled his reflexes and left him unable to defend against Pikachu's attacks. It wasn't long before his knees buckled from the damage and he collapsed to the field in a heap.
The inspection from the referee was short before he raised the blue flag and declared the winner. The audience was in a tizzy.
They had never seen anything like it.
Ash Ketchum's rise through the circuit ranks was unprecedented! It had barely been six weeks since his debut, and he had just claimed a spot among the top one hundred trainers in the circuit!
There wasn't any doubt among those spectating.
At the age of eighteen, Ash Ketchum was on his way to becoming a legendary Pokemon trainer.
A/N
So, if you haven't noticed already, I got a cover done for Caged Wings! Check it out!
I know an aspiring graphic designer and he agreed to do a cover for me for free. I was going to be happy with whatever he gave me, but he actually did a really good job! I hope you all like it!
The next chapter is going to be off the hook and I can't wait for you guys to read it. Keep an eye out for my next update. I hoping to get it up before the end of the month, but it's a colossal chapter and it'll probably take some time for us to pick it apart.
Much thanks go out to MjrGenMatt for his help with this chapter and also a big thanks to those of you who reviewed. Your thoughts are always appreciated and I can't wait to see what you guys think of the next chapter. In the meantime, what did you guys think of Ash versus Cedric? I'm trying to make my battles a little more formulaic as opposed to just chaos leading to a knockout. I want it to sort of build-up to that point and just feel like someone got in a lucky punch for the win. Anyway, any feedback is welcome!
In response to the reviewer that was recommending some new additions to Ash's team, I'm sorry to say that his team won't be expanding just yet. I'm more focused on the development of Pikachu. Trust me, I have so many ideas for Ash's team, but its not the time for him to get another Pokemon yet. You'll find out why I'm saying all this in the near future, but for now, I just ask for your patience as the story progresses.
Also, I heard Ash won the Alola League?! I don't follow the anime episode to episode, I usually binge-watch each season when it comes out on Netflix but I guess I have to go look over the league arc before that. I'm seeing like mixed reviews from a lot of people but until I see it myself my opinion is worthless. Maybe in the next chapter, I can say something. We'll see.
Thanks for reading everyone and I hope to see you all again soon! Be good until then!