Chapter 37
The tension was high and the silence within the stadium was ominous.
The two trainers stood in their boxes, their Pokemon squaring off at the center of the battlefield. All eyes were on the referee, who raised one flag. It fluttered as he dropped it down and Flint took action immediately.
"Let's get fired up Magmar!" He proclaimed as he threw out two punches. "Start off with Fire Punch!"
Magmar pounded his knuckles together, igniting a fire around his hands before he dashed forward. To Ash's surprise, Magmar wasn't particularly fast. Despite this, Pikachu stuck to the game plan. He kept his distance, evading the fiery attacks and studying his opponent.
The only thing that Ash and Pikachu managed to glean from looking at old footage of Flint was that he featured the seven seconds or less offense. Giselle warned him about the danger of getting overwhelmed by that relentless offense, suggesting that Ash look to be disruptive whenever he was given the opportunity. However, the first thing he needed to do was identify where that would be appropriate, because Flint was more than capable of punishing them if they got hasty.
"Let's switch things up with Flamethrower!"
True to the name of the offense, after seven seconds without any noteworthy progress, their approach changed. It was clear that Pikachu was much faster than Magmar, maintaining a considerable distance between them, making Fire Punch ineffective. Flamethrower seemed to be a much better choice as Magmar set the field ablaze. The edges of Pikachu's fur were singed as he searched for a safe area on the burning field, which prompted Flint's next command.
"Alright, now we got them, use Fire Punch again!" Flint commanded as he found himself with no routes through the flames. Magmar vanished in the flames, his form so strongly resembling the fire that it was difficult for the audience to track him as he moved. He pounced, flames roaring around one arm as he reeled it back to hit Pikachu, but the time for observation was over.
"Just sit tight for their first three attacks, Pikachu," Ash stated as they sat in the waiting room. "Let's get a feel for how they like to do things before we show our hand."
As Magmar neared him, Pikachu tensed the muscles in limbs before he dashed off, putting an on an exhibition of his speed. A blur zig-zagged across the field, snatching away the air that fueled the flames. With the field at its natural state, Pikachu had free reign again and came to a stop in front of Magmar. Pikachu bounced on his feet, a smirk on his face as he eyed Magmar's raised brow.
"Whoo!" Flint yelled, a fierce grin on his face. It was merely a demonstration, and that alone was enough for him to confirm that Pikachu was a worthy opponent. "Now that is some serious speed right there! Forget trying to wear them out Magmar, let's go right at them! Smokescreen and Feint Attack!"
Magmar echoed the sentiments of his trainer, his body temperature climbing rapidly. He inhaled sharply and blew out a thick cloud of black smoke that filled the field, inhibiting everyone's ability to view the battle. The flame Pokemon immediately went on the attack within the cover of the smoke, his vision unaffected by the smoke as he tracked Pikachu's location using heat from his body.
Despite the hot smoke that occupied the field, Pikachu's body heat already climbed exponentially with his brief use of Quick Attack. And that temperature remained a constant with Ash's next command.
"Double Team, Pikachu!" Ash hollered as a counter.
Pikachu's ears were raised as he tracked Magmar's footsteps, anticipating the moment that he would attack. His footsteps quickened before Magmar appeared above Pikachu in the air, an arm raised to chop down onto Pikachu's back. Pikachu responded quickly, changing his location in an instant to separate himself from Magmar, but the vision of the fire Pokemon was exceptional. His gaze followed Pikachu to his new location, and as soon as Magmar touched the field he took a great leap to close in on Pikachu.
"Pi-ka?" Pikachu exclaimed before Magmar delivered a backhand to his cheek which sent him flying out of the Smokescreen.
"Great job, Magmar!" Flint hollered before he threw his fist forward. "Now let's follow up with Fire Punch!"
"Pikachu, stand strong and use Double Team!" Ash ordered immediately. The damage from Feint Attack was insignificant, leaving Pikachu with the presence of mind to reorient himself in midair and land on his feet. Magmar burst out of the Smokescreen with a fiery fist ready to strike, but Pikachu was already flickering by the time he was in striking distance.
His Fire Punch phased right through Pikachu, followed immediately by a gust of wind as Pikachu circled around him. Eight after-images of Pikachu surrounded Magmar, causing the fiery foe to whirl around with a grin of intrigue.
There were exclamations of awe from the crowd before Pikachu's took action. Magmar was battered five times, all these hits landing within a fraction of a second. The final hit was a slam to his chin, leaving him stunned for a moment.
With a blink, Magmar's vision refocused and he saw that Pikachu was alone again, a confident grin on his face.
Come on, is that all you got?
Magmar returned Pikachu's grin.
Oh, you have no idea.
Magmar turned, looked back to his trainer and gave a nod, causing Flint to don a similar expression.
"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing," Flint said giddily. "These guys are the real deal, so let's get fired up! Sunny Day and Flame Charge!"
Magmar clapped his hands together and separated them slightly, the air around them wavering as the heat became intense. A tiny white speck formed and it quickly grew in size to become a sizable sphere in his hands. He pitched it up into the air and with a great flash, it remained over the battlefield, casting a near blinding light onto them.
Ash drew in a breath as the air became stifling, and his eyes widened at Flint's response to the new conditions. He tore off his shirt and tossed it aside, but Ash's attention was drawn to the wings that formed from Flint's back.
Wings born in the fire of a hearth.
They were massive and gallant, demanding his attention in ways different to Volkner's. Thankfully, Magmar gave a shout which helped Ash focus on the battle. His fiery form became engulfed in loudly crackling flames.
"Let's go Magmar!" Flint shouted and Magmar burst forward as nothing more than a ball of fire. Pikachu flickered once again in response, using Double Team to avoid Magmar's attacks entirely. Magmar kicked hard at the field, but the after-image of Pikachu merely vanished from the contact. He turned to look across the field where a trio of Pikachu's were looking at him, waiting for his next attack. "Don't let up Magmar, keep going!"
Ash watched as Pikachu evaded Flame Charge with relative ease, noticing that Flint stepped away from his usual battling style. Even though Magmar couldn't close the distance between him and Pikachu, they stuck to using Flame Charge. This attack was also setting the field ablaze wherever Magmar went, although Pikachu could put the flames out just as quickly if he needed to. Their strategy wasn't finding any success, so Ash took this as an opportunity to act and turn the battle in their favor.
"Pikachu, use Thunder Wave!" Ash called out as Magmar whiffed on another attack. Pikachu ended his Double Team to discharge several bolts of electricity. They jumped across the flames, interweaving themselves together as they closed in on their target. In response, the air around Magmar became warped and hazy as the temperature climbed to new heights. Those seated closest to the field could feel the rapid increase in temperature from both Sunny Day and Magmar's Flame Charge, sweat beginning to form on their foreheads. However, they all ignored the heat as they rose to their feet, expecting the Thunder Wave to make contact which would all but guarantee Ash a victory.
When the lightning bolts reached Magmar, they all fizzled out in the air around him, leaving Ash's mouth agape.
"Ah, ah!" Flint proclaimed. "We've battled Volkner one too many times to get caught in a Thunder Wave! Go Magmar!"
Ash slapped his own wrist angrily as Magmar pursued Pikachu, who went back into his typical defense of Quick Attack and Double Team. He should've been well aware of something like, this considering Flint challenged Volkner on multiple occasions. He must have developed numerous methods to counter Ampharos' electricity, which meant that every trick Volkner had shown him, Flint probably knew as well.
"So that means Thunder Wave and Electro Ball are out," Ash muttered to himself, scratching at his chin to develop a plan. "Flint's ready to battle Volkner and Ampharos but…I guess we'll have to show him something only Ash and Pikachu know how to do!"
Within his private booth, Charles watched the battle with rapt attention, impressed with how it continued to evolve as the participants went back and forth. The tablet on his desk buzzed, forcing him to turn away from the battle.
Charles was irritated as he swiveled in his seat, but he was grateful for the alert that was displayed on his table. The temperature of the battlefield already exceeded their safety parameters, prompting a call to the maintenance crew.
"Yes, Mr. Goodshow?"
"Deploy three Solosis," Charles stated. "Assign three of them to contain the heat on the field. And then I want three more on standby. If the temperature climbs any higher, I want those three to protect the trainers and referee."
"Yes, sir!"
Charles turned back to the field, watching as a transparent barrier was raised around the field. He doubted that anyone in the audience noticed with the riveting battle taking place.
Ash squinted, wondering if his eyes were deceiving him. Pikachu's fur was singed and blackened in several spots, far more than a few moments ago. He tracked the next exchange and saw that even as Pikachu moved from one spot the next, Magmar was keeping up! The flames were growing closer, barely catching Pikachu as he leaped backward.
Then it happened. The flames around Magmar began to stir, going from orange and red to a flamboyant yellow. Few people saw this small detail before Magmar caught up to Pikachu, delivering five successive hits that sent Pikachu rolling across the field, clearly startled that there was physical contact.
Up in the stands, Giselle gave a gasp at Magmar's sudden speed boost.
"You saw it too?" Volkner asked her.
"Yeah, and I remember seeing it earlier this week at one of his street battles, but I didn't think anything of it," Giselle muttered in disbelief. "I didn't think it was possible for Magmar to ever be as fast as Pikachu. How is that even possible?"
"That move they started using earlier where Magmar cloaks himself in a fire," Volkner stated. "I think Magmar has been increasing his body temperature to get his molecules to vibrate at the same frequency as air."
"And that makes him faster?" Giselle questioned with a furrowed brow.
"All Pokemon can get faster in different ways. For example, Pikachu can naturally grow faster by training his body to accelerate and decelerate in a fraction of a second," Volkner explained. "Magmar is eliminating anything that could reduce his speed, such as air resistance."
"Wait, so taking wind resistance out of the equation makes him that much faster?" She exclaimed and Volkner shrugged his shoulders.
"There might be another reason, but I can't tell from up here," He replied as he leaned forward his seat, eager to see how the battle would progress. Cubone and Ampharos gave shouts from their seats for Pikachu to keep his confidence up, though the small cheers were lost as the whole audience was marveling at the contest of speed.
Down on the field, cloaked in yellow flames, Magmar's form could be seen through the fire and he shot a smirk at Pikachu when they made eye contact.
Is that all you got?
"Yo, Ash!" Flint called out to him. "I hope you guys have another gear! We're expecting a lot more from you than what we've seen so far!"
At this call, Flint's wings seemed to spread out even further, challenging him!
"Of course, we do!" Ash hollered in return.
"Then show it to us!"
Ash suddenly gained a lot of admiration for Flint. Flint wasn't interested in beating his opponent until after he saw everything about them. He wanted to beat them at their best! That competitive spirit was unlike any trainer Ash faced before.
Pikachu shook himself as he got back on his feet, and sent a glance Ash's way. When Ash saw Pikachu looking at him, he gave a nod. It was time to unveil their newest move as well. Pikachu looked back to Magmar and shot him a smirk.
Watch this!
"Electric Terrain!"
Pikachu raised his tail and arched his back to call forth all the electricity he could. His cheeks lit up with lightning before he tore off in a dash, discharging electricity with every step. All the flames that Magmar left behind were put out in seconds, and sparks of lightning were left in their place, jumping from the surface of the field. Flint flinched as he felt a zap on his forearm before he grinned. He had never seen a move like this before!
Ash and Pikachu were far from done. Pikachu continued to sprint, his form in motion going from that of a blur to a lightning bolt that ended with a crash of thunder. Pikachu now occupied the spot where Magmar previously stood, having tackled his opponent with his shoulder which was burnt by the flames protecting his target.
As for Magmar, he was now lodged in the stadium wall, stunned from the sudden and mighty blow. He pulled himself free from the body imprint he left on the wall and fell down to his feet, trying to steady himself. His legs were shaking and his arms tingled. Even with the shielding provided from Flame Charge, Flint couldn't believe how shaken Magmar was left from one hit.
"What the hell was that?!" Flint shouted as he looked toward Ash and Pikachu.
"Well, you asked if we had another gear," Ash retorted as he beamed. "Now just try to keep up with us!"
"Phew! Are these guys awesome or what, Magmar?" Flint asked his partner. Magmar gave a nod of agreement. "Let's crank it up, get in there with Flame Charge!"
"Pikachu, I want you to combine Spark and Quick Attack!" Ash commanded. Hopefully, an electrical cloak would reduce the burns Pikachu was receiving from the close combat with Magmar. The two Pokemon rushed off to prepare their attacks, and the audience responded accordingly.
They were all mesmerized as the battle turned into a territorial war. Magmar set the field ablaze as he raced around the field, building momentum for the instant where he and Pikachu reengaged. Similarly, Pikachu was doing the same, cutting down the flames on the field as he darted around the field in the form of a lightning bolt. Their paths intersected, and the two Pokemon made eye contact, and a mutual agreement to attack. A test.
They separated, heading in opposite directions to get some distance before they made a one-eighty, charging straight for each other. They leaped into the air and met head-on. As fire and electricity met, it created a display that first started with a bang!
A flash of light startled the crowd as the electricity and fire howled, flying outward from the point of contact. Some jumped to their feet with exclamations, while others remained seated, awestruck by the spectacle. Pikachu and Magmar were sent skidding back to their trainers on their feet, eyes wide that the other withstood their attack.
"Oh man!" Flint hollered as he threw up his hands. Every challenge he threw at them, they went a step further…they were exceeding his every expectation! "This is awesome! You guys are getting me so fired up! Come on Magmar, let's burn this field to a crisp!"
Ash's eyes widened at the sight of Flint stretching out his wings, the flames on them intensifying. Magmar responded by hunching over, his whole body becoming tense before he gave a shout. The flames surrounding him exploded into a brilliant blue, burning hotter than ever before. Pikachu was grateful for his electrical cloak that provided a measure of heat resistance, certain that his trainer was filled with envy for it. Ash pulled at his shirt, now realizing that it was damp and clinging to his torso. He was drenched in sweat, and the field was only getting hotter…and he didn't mind.
His heart was thumping in his chest, and his hands were shaking. The genuine excitement he felt was overwhelming. Flint was drawing him into a battle that ignored the technical standards of Giselle and Volkner. He was battling without thought, relying on their practice and the earnest belief that they could succeed. The way Ash loved to battle!
"Pikachu, we gotta keep our energy up!" Ash shouted to his partner as he hit his chest several times. "These guys are the real deal, so we can't hold back anything. Let's give it everything we've got!"
"I like the way you think," Flint declared as he hit his chest twice. "We'll do the same, and we'll come out on top when all is said and done!"
"Pikachu! Go!" Ash commanded and his partner tore off, earning a myriad of shouts from the audience as a lightning bolt diced the fire on the field to pieces. The electricity from Pikachu became the dominant feature on the battlefield, though the rocky surface of the field was charred and black. However, this revealed that Magmar was no longer setting the field on fire. Rather, the ground beneath him glowed yellow, being superheated from the contact with him.
As the flame Pokemon began to move, the field was warped into a molten mess, the earth melting from the intense heat. Ash wiped away the sweat on his brow, his breath uneven. He did everything he could to ignore the heat, abandoning his shirt in the same fashion as Flint, but it was no avail. His proximity to the field forced him to endure the heat.
And he wasn't the only one suffering from the heat. The field reached a point where it was too hot to touch. There was absolutely nowhere for Pikachu to run which triggered his next move and the audience cheered wildly at the sight of it.
Pikachu whizzed about in the air as a yellow streak, using the lightning of Electric Terrain as a runway to stay off the field. Flint marveled at Pikachu running overhead and gave a shout for Magmar to ramp it up. Their last exchange of attacks ended with neither side managing to do any significant damage. So, Flint knew they needed to make an addition to break the stalemate, and he possessed a little trick for such an occasion.
"Iron Tail, Magmar!" Flint commanded as both Pokemon launched themselves at the other from across the field. Within the blazing blue ball of fire, there was a flash of light as Magmar's tail began to glow before he met with Pikachu. There was a screech as the fire and electricity met once again, grinding against each other, but the Iron Tail proved to be the difference-maker. Pikachu was caught off guard as Magmar dropped his tail onto him which sent him spiraling toward the melted and smoldering field.
"Pikachu!" Ash hollered. So much as touching the field spelled doom for them!
"Do you feel it, Pikachu? The lightning all around you. It's untamed but powerful…it belongs solely to you."
Tame the lightning.
Make it your own.
Pikachu's eyes became electric as he recalled Ampharos' words, and he commanded the Electric Terrain. The electricity that jumped around the field took action, being constructed into an electrical platform beneath him that Pikachu used as a launching pad to return to the air above the battlefield.
"Oh, no way!" Flint shouted, snapping his fingers. He was positive that they had them with that attack. "Ahh! We'll get em' next time, Magmar! Stay hot and we got this!"
"Magmar!" His partner roared, startling even Flint. The field grew intensely hot as Magmar's flames went white, unleashing gusts of fiery winds. The danger was acknowledged immediately, as three Pokemon coalesced alongside each of the humans on the field. They were shrouded in psychic force fields, protecting them from the absurd heat Magmar produced.
Ash lowered his arms tentatively from in front of his face, watching as the furious winds passed by him. He would've been swept off his feet if not for the small green Pokemon that floated beside him. They shared a glance, and she gave him a wink.
"Solosis!" She declared and Ash gave her a grateful thanks. His flesh was still intact because of her, and he was finally experiencing a reasonable temperature around him. The field was scorching hot since Sunny Day was put into effect!
"Oh baby, you're going supernova!" Flint screamed as he pumped his fists. "This is it! With full power, Flame Charge and Iron Tail!"
A pillar of white flames erupted around Magmar as he roared Ash noticed the Solosis became still in the air as she reinforced their psychic barrier. Despite its presence, Ash could still feel a measure of warmth. He could only wonder how hot the field was! A heavy gust surged outward as Magmar began to move. The field was nothing more than molten earth and dust clouds as Magmar ran about, gaining momentum for the next, and likely final, exchange.
"Man, they just keep going higher and higher!" Ash exclaimed, his respect for Flint and Magmar growing even larger. Every time he and Pikachu came close to passing them, they took another step forward. "
I want to beat these guys!
Ash looked up to Pikachu, the little streak of lightning that was still flying about above the battlefield.
"We can! If we do this together!" Ash shouted.
Together!
They were swept up in a windstorm that blew away their surroundings. The heat from the battlefield, the fans in the stands, the entirety of the Hidden Cove was snatched up, leaving them on a lonely mountaintop.
The sun shined brilliantly as they all remained frozen in place, affording Ash the time to observe his opponent in Flint. This was the first time Ash could see someone's wings so clearly. He wondered if it had to do with the person or their location…
The thought was put aside in favor of focusing on their battle. This was a valuable opportunity here to figure out what they could do to overcome Magmar and his supernova Flame Charge. The white flames looked magnificent while they were motionless, and they were a hundred times hotter than anything Ash ever experienced. Facing such an attack would require all of the electricity Pikachu could get to prevent it from fizzling out from contact with the heat.
"Could you do that, Pikachu?" Ash asked as he looked up at his partner. Pikachu looked back down at him in question. "Take everything, all of the electricity from Electric Terrain and overload your Spark attack. Could you do that?"
Pikachu furrowed his brow. It was certainly doable…but his question was, would that be enough?
"It'll be enough," Ash stated confidently. "Do you know why? Because we've got each other and we've been practicing night and day so that we could beat all the best trainers. And we can only do that together!"
Pikachu beamed at him.
Right!
The Hidden Cove returned as they all began to move again. Flint threw his fist in the air and Magmar leaped from the field, surging upward to meet Pikachu. But, sitting just outside of the focus of his vision, Flint caught sight of something. He looked toward it, toward Ash…and he saw his wings sprout, spreading themselves out triumphantly! An unmistakable chill traveled down his spine as he looked toward Magmar and Pikachu.
Pikachu stood still on what seemed to a visible web of electricity in midair. It was evident that he was harnessing everything he could from the Electric Terrain as his electrical cloak became dense and dark yellow. It flared to life, hissing and snapping before Pikachu used the web as a springboard, launching himself to meet Magmar at a downward angle. Flint looked back to the Pokemon and opened his mouth, but his call to disengage was far too late.
The meeting of these two attacks put all of the prior exchanges to shame. There was a brief flash of light and a pulse rippled outward, battering the psychic barriers that became visible to the naked eye. Several people in the audience flinched at the sudden crack of thunder as the two Pokemon finally made contact with each other. Lightning and fire shot out in all directions and the audience rose to their feet as a golden light engulfed Magmar and Pikachu.
Their shields of flames and electricity ate away at each other as the two Pokemon grew ever closer to making physical contact with the other. It was a stalemate that Magmar was more than prepared to decimate, his tail poised and ready to strike down Pikachu once he got any closer. With a shout, Pikachu surged forward, plowing through the flames to tackle Magmar where he met with an Iron Tail once again. The fiery Pokemon winced as his tail made contact with something solid that send a jolt up his spine. He looked at Pikachu, spotting the cross-arm block he used to conjure up a Protect, denying the Iron Tail any effect.
Pikachu hunched his back, the electricity intensifying around him, undeterred by the heat produced from Flame Charge. His power was still climbing! How was that even possible? Magmar's eyes widened as he saw a vision of Ash alongside Pikachu. With a shout, Ash threw his fist forward and Pikachu broke past the Iron Tail to drive his shoulder into Magmar's abdomen. His Flame Charge burst, becoming an inferno of flames that consumed the light they were trapped within.
A streak of yellow light broke out from the blazing ball, crashing into the area outside of the battlefield. It produced a steaming crater on impact, causing both trainers to approach it, anxious to see the results from their attacks. The referee barked at both of them as he approached, accompanied by his Solosis. He would be the one to make the final judgment.
Electricity crackled around the perimeter of the crater. The white smoke billowed, far too think for anyone to see what took place. The referee looked to the Solosis beside him who quickly cleared away the steam with a burst of psychic energy. The results were as clear as day.
Magmar was sprawled out on his back at the center of the crater, eyes replaced with black swirls. Pikachu rested on top of him, his fur darkened and lighting sputtering from his tiny form, but he was conscious.
The blue flag shot up, and the audience erupted.
"Pikachu!" Ash hollered as he jumped into the crater fearlessly, the psychic shield around him protecting him from the heat and Pikachu's electrical discharges. He kneeled down to pick his partner off of Magmar, taking a moment to observe their beaten opponent. Magmar put up a hell of a fight! "You did it, buddy!"
"Pi-ka," He muttered in reply, ears drooped from exhaustion. He nestled himself into Ash's arm, his newfound drowsiness claiming the victory that Magmar was vying for earlier. Ash smiled down at his partner before Magmar became a deep red, being snatched up into his Pokeball by Flint.
Ash looked up to the trainer in question and saw that he was grinning down at Ash from above, his shirt slung over one shoulder.
"Well hot damn, I was expecting a lot of you guys, but nothing like this!" Flint remarked as he extended a hand down to Ash to help him back up to the field where he and the referee were waiting.
"The closing interview was canceled after considering the damage you all did to the battlefield," The ref revealed with a gesture to the field. A team of Poliwag was deployed to douse the field with their Water Gun, producing an excessive amount of steam as the temperature of the field dropped rapidly. "You're free to go."
"What? No compliments for that showcase we put on?" Flint asked him with a grin.
"Considering I nearly had a heat stroke, you won't be getting any compliments from me," The referee retorted with a huff before he stalked off the field.
"Yeesh, some people just can't appreciate when two hot blooded trainers get serious, huh?" Flint directed his question to Ash as he slapped his back. Flint then made a gesture for Ash to follow him as they also made their way toward the exit of the battlefield. The crowd applauded their performance as they left, and their conversation resumed within the quieter tunnels of the stadium.
Ash followed Flint down the corridor until he came to a sudden stop and turned to face him. When they made eye contact, Ash saw that Flint abandoned his usual carefree persona. It almost caused Ash to flinch at the sight of it.
"You know, I didn't think you could make a serious face," Ash commented sheepishly, however, that didn't last long. Flint threw his head back with a shout, grabbing his afro angrily.
"Damn it!" He shouted as he kicked the wall. He didn't so much as grimace from it before he planted said foot and pointed straight at Ash. "We should've had you guys! I didn't even know that Magmar's flames could turn white, so I thought for sure that we were going to win. But then the two of you went to the mountaintop together and that turned everything around!"
Ash narrowed his eyes.
"What do you know about the mountaintop?" Ash asked him immediately.
Flint paused as he saw the change in Ash's demeanor. He wasn't concerned about their battle anymore. His focus was elsewhere.
"I take it you've been there at least a few times now, otherwise you wouldn't be asking," Flint noted, having calmed himself down considerably. "I don't know much, it's some kind of special place where the Unown live. Sometimes, they invite you up there. Other times, you can fly up there on your own or with your partner Pokemon."
"The Unown…" Ash muttered. "What are they? Do you know?"
"Nah, they didn't tell me much the one time I was there," Flint answered with a shrug. "Bianca said I shouldn't worry about em', they're a weird bunch of Pokemon."
"You know Bianca too?"
"Mhmm, she was the one to show me the Book."
"Like me," Ash mumbled as he stole a glance at Flint.
"Look, man, don't go racking your brain about the Unown. Trying to understand them is like trying to understand calculus," Flint said with a laugh. "Chill out and focus on battling for now. You've clearly got something going for ya if you and your Pikachu can go to the mountaintop."
Ash wrinkled his nose. Flint had a point. No one had any answers about the Unown, so it was a fruitless endeavor to try to understand more about them. However…
"But how did we get to the mountaintop?" Ash asked him.
"Your wings, dude," Flint stated with a straight face.
"I don't get it, what do you mean?"
"It's kinda like, you know," Flint said as he wiggled a bit, trying to explain it for Ash. "When Volkner does it, he says that it feels like he's seeing the field better like he's seeing it from above, kind of…"
"Like he's flying?" Ash said, struggling to wrap his head around it.
"Eh, maybe," Flint said with a sigh. "I wouldn't know, I've only been to the mountaintop once, and that was because I was invited. I've never actually been there during a battle like you or Volkner."
Ash wasn't sure what he really wanted to know about the mountaintop. He went there twice with Pikachu, and he felt remarkably closer to Pikachu, like they were in-sync. It still gave him chills remembering the one occasion where he was seeing the field through Pikachu's eyes.
"So, if we go there during a battle, is it like some kind of power boost or something?" Ash inquired, causing Flint to shrug his shoulders again.
"Like I said, I'm not the guy to ask these questions," Flint replied before he paused to consider his answer. "But I think it is. When Volkner and Ampharos go to the mountaintop, I'm telling you, it's scary what they can do. It's some next-level kind of stuff."
"So then…is it even fair that we used that against you?" Ash asked as he looked to Pikachu.
"What you mean? Of course, it's fair," Flint answered immediately.
"It almost sounds like an unfair advantage to use it against someone else who can't do it," Ash explained and Flint shot him a sharp glance.
"Keep the pity to yourself, there's a reason the betting odds were against you," Flint interjected as he placed his thumb against his chest. "Magmar and I are both the superior trainer and Pokemon. As individuals, we had the edge in practice, experience and execution. But all that doesn't mean much when you're facing a better team. The combined strength of you and Pikachu overpowered Magmar even when he went well beyond his limits."
Flint paused for a moment and Ash saw that he looked Magmar's Pokeball. He tightened his grip on it, the veins showing on the back of his hand.
"Even with everything we developed, it was still no match for a good team. All that means is that we have to keep practicing until we join you guys up there," Flint declared with a prideful grin. "Clearly, we've got a lot of work to do, and I'm falling way behind Volkner if I let you beat me. And that gets me fired up! There are strong trainers everywhere, so we're going to start traveling against to face all the best ones. I'm sure we'll find our way up the mountain by beating all of them!"
Flint raised a closed fist to Ash, who followed through on the fist bump.
"We'll be seeing you, Ash," Flint stated as he turned away. "You're the number one contender now, and I can't wait to see you take on Volkner. I'll definitely tune in for that battle when it happens."
Ash watched Flint as he made his way down the tunnel.
Then it finally settled into his mind.
He was the number one contender!
With tonight's victory, he had the right to challenge the Five Kings.
He had the right to challenge, Aaron Ketchum, King of the Red Skulls.
His father…
In the upper stands of the stadium, Giselle and Volkner sat quietly with their Pokemon. With the battle still fresh on their minds, the two trainers tasked themselves with trying to develop counters to Magmar's unstoppable Flame Charge. However, Giselle was the first to concede with a deep sigh.
"I give up, I've got no answer to a move like that," Giselle stated as she crossed her arms. She looked to Volkner. "What about you? Could you have beaten them with that Flame Charge going?"
Volkner leaned to his side, propping his chin up on one hand before he stole a glance at Ampharos.
"I don't think so…" Volkner muttered. "At least, not without using Ampharos' other form…"
Giselle furrowed her brow, Volkner's voice final words being drowned out by a familiar voice.
"Hey!" Brock exclaimed as he waved to Volkner, Giselle and their Pokemon. He and Tierno came running up the stairway to join them, eager to hear their thoughts on the match. "So, what did you guys think of that?"
"Wasn't that battle awesome!?" Tierno shouted as he looked back down at the field, the proof that Pikachu and Magmar's showdown was indeed a memorable one. The Poliwag already finished cooling the field, though there was still quite a bit of work that needed to be done to restore it to its usual condition.
"It was flashy, I'll give it that much," Giselle muttered as she crossed her arms.
"Come on Giselle, that was the kind of battle that the audience loves," Volkner said with a gesture to stands. There were still hundreds of people present, excitedly discussing their favorite parts of the main event. "Everyone wants to see all of the cool moves our Pokemon can use, and let's face it, people love it when battles are fast-paced. Although, this one might have been a little hard to follow for some people."
"Oh yeah, I was lost at some points," Tierno admitted. "That fire Pokemon was insane! He was going nuts at the end there when his fire turned white!"
"That battle was probably one of the most skilled I've seen at the Hidden Cove," Volkner added with a nod of agreement.
"Skilled?" Giselle repeated incredulously. "How so?"
"Skill is more than having different attacks to address a situation Giselle," Volkner pointed out, earning a huff from her. "Skill can be shown even if you only use one attack. Flint may have spammed Flame Charge, but look at how that attack kept getting better as the battle went on. I would say it takes some skill to create an attack that can improve during combat."
Giselle looked away with a righteous huff.
"In the end, Electric Terrain came out on top, another move that falls into that same category," Volkner noted.
"I get that Magmar was getting hotter during the battle, but how was Pikachu getting stronger to match up with him?" Tierno asked curiously.
"Pikachu can generate his electricity when he's running. When he runs on Electric Terrain, it doubles or triples the amount of electricity he can build," Volkner revealed with a smirk.
"Awesome, right?" Brock asked Tierno who had starry eyes.
"Hell yeah!"
Charles Goodshow whirled around his chair to face none other than Ash Ketchum. Seeing the state of his Pikachu up close, Charles could see that Flint's Magmar did more damage to Pikachu than any other opponent they faced so far. He opened up one of his desk drawers to retrieve a spray bottle that he kept within it. It contained a golden liquid that Ash recognized as a Super Potion – an extract derived from Sitrus berries that aided the recovery process.
Charles invited Ash to place Pikachu on his desk so that he could quickly douse him with the Super Potion. Pikachu seemed to sleep a bit easier after and the focus shifted to Ash.
"I'm glad you came, I was expecting you to drop by tonight at some point," Charles noted as he observed the young man in front him.
"You remember the deal, its time," Ash stated as he stood confidently in front of Charles' desk. "With the title of number one contender, I'd like to formally request a match with Aaron Ketchum!"
Charles took in a deep breath as he acknowledged Ash's request.
"I'll get started on the preparations," Charles said. "I'm especially looking forward to it Ash, you've earned this battle with your father."
"Thank you, Mr. Goodshow." Ash said softly as he picked up Pikachu in his arm again and turned to leave.
"And Ash," Charles called to him. He looked back. "I hope you find what you're looking for."
Ash gave him one final nod and stepped out of Charles' office.
Once he was alone in the corridor, Ash bit down on his lower lip, his body beginning to tremble.
He made it!
His father was within his reach, as were the answers to all his questions.
Little did he know that those answers would lead to his own downfall.
Sunday, March 19th
The duo of Dawn and May were together in Dawn's bedroom, each of them with their faces glued to a laptop screen. They got together today to take an online defensive driving course together. May was glad that she listened to Dawn and came over in the morning to get an early start, since the course ate up the majority of their day. This was mandatory for May to get her license back from her parents. For Dawn, it was an opportunity to learn a little bit more about driving, since the summer was fast approaching, and she intended to start driving!
"Psst, Dawn. What did you get for number four?" May asked in a whisper.
"May, for the last time, there's no proctor or anything so you don't need to whisper," Dawn said as she rolled her eyes.
"Sorry, force of habit," May admitted with a giggle. "So, what did you get?"
"I'm not helping you cheat," Dawn said. "This is to get your license; so, you should've been paying attention to the video. You need to know the answers."
"But Dawn-y, you're my best friend and best friends are supposed to help each other out!" May said desperately. Dawn only stuck out her tongue in reply. "Fine, I'll guess. Just remember, if I don't get my license back and you get one, then you'll have to drive me and Drew around all the time."
"So what?"
"You'll have to take us to all our date locations and stuff, you'll be our chauffer," May pointed out.
"And? It'll be good practice for me." Dawn retorted.
"And umm," May smirked. "We'll be making out in the back of your car and I'm warning you, we're noisy."
"Eww May, too much information!" Dawn shrieked at her. "God, you're so gross!"
"Well, if you don't want to be subjected to that, give me the answer to number four!" May hollered.
"No!"
Outside of the Berlitz Estate, the large gateway leading the property opened up, granting access to four black vehicles. The windows were tinted on each of them, preventing anyone from seeing the passengers. The first pair of SUVs' went to the top of the driveway while the final two remained at the entrance.
The doors of the second vehicle opened up and three men dressed in black stepped out, allowing the VIP to come out. Malcolm Berlitz gave a sigh, grateful to see his home for the first time in almost two months. A business trip to Kalos that should've lasted no more than three weeks turned into a two-month ordeal, as Malcolm met with various officials that eventually culminated in a final trip to Fuchsia City in Kanto. It was an eventful time that passed quickly, but it was an exhausting trip, more than anything else, and he was anxious to return to the familiarity of his home.
Entering the front door of his home with two of his guards, Malcolm raised his brow as he was greeted by Darach.
"Master Berlitz, so nice to have you at home," Darach welcomed him, taking his jacket, though he reached for the briefcase Malcolm held, he was stopped. "Ah, my apologies. I've prepared your private den, and I have begun to prepare a meal for you as well."
"Thank you very much, Darach, bring it whenever you can," Malcolm replied before Darach left to complete his task. Malcolm gave a nod to the guards, who stationed themselves at the front door. With one last sigh, Malcolm turned and went on his way, leaving the foyer to travel through the long corridors on the ground floor until he arrived at the entrance to his den.
He opened the door and smiled at the familiar sight, his leather chair waiting for him beside the fireplace with a newly selected novel waiting for him. He couldn't wait to sit back, but he had a few more things to do. Approaching his wooden desk, Malcolm set his briefcase down on it and scrolled in the four-digit code to unlock it. Held within it were several documents that he had been collecting throughout his trip that he took a glance over one last time with a hint of a smirk.
The top page was read 'Safari Zone' in bold, red letters.
Settling himself down in the seat behind his desk, Malcolm took a small key out of his briefcase and used it to open a drawer on his desk. Malcom shuffled through several files in the drawer. Once he found the location for his newest set of documents, Malcolm tucked them away and locked it all up.
Then he leaned back into his chair and loosened the tie around his neck. There was a knock on the door, and Malcolm gave a call for them to enter. It was Darach and Dawn. He smiled warmly at his daughter as Darach approached his desk to set down a platter, but Malcolm paid his lunch no mind. He focused on Dawn as she greeted him happily.
"Hey dad, just thought I'd check in on you," Dawn said kindly.
"Why thank you, sweetheart," Malcolm answered, matching her cheery expression. "I'm doing fine. How about you? Do you have any big news, that you'd like to share with me?"
Dawn pursed her lips as she looked at him.
"You know already, don't you?" She questioned with narrow eyes.
"Whatever do you mean?" He asked her innocently.
"I knew it, mom told you, didn't she?" Dawn asked him and Malcolm began to chuckle.
"You should've heard her, she could hardly keep it to herself," Malcolm explained. "Don't worry about surprising me, I couldn't be more proud of you. I've heard nothing but great things about the Lumiose Visual Arts Institute. I know I missed that little party you had; I'll make it up to you."
"Aww, you don't have to do that dad," Dawn cut in.
"Yes, I do, after all, you've got graduation coming up, and I know you want to start driving in the summer," Her father noted as he raised his brow. "Perhaps we'll go looking for a car for you."
Dawn's eyes became wide.
"Would you like that, Dawn?"
"Yea, that would be amazing!" She exclaimed happily, but her expression changed. Malcolm creased his brow as he saw her face become solemn. "Dad, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, what is it?"
She fidgeted for a moment before she became stern, her eyes focused.
"I want to know why you told Ash to stay away from me." Dawn stated and Malcolm showed a rare moment of shock. That was certainly the last thing he expected Dawn to ask him about. He looked into her eyes and saw that she was unrelenting in the same fashion as her mother. There was no escaping this conversation.
Malcolm gave a sigh.
"Dawn, Pokemon trainers are different from regular people," He began, leaning back in his seat. "They don't attach themselves to people, only their Pokemon. They don't care what happens to the people around them, their Pokemon are their first and only priority. If you keep getting closer to Ash, he will only hurt you."
"You don't know Ash the way I do!" Dawn piped up defensively.
"I may not know Ash well, Dawn, but I have firsthand experience with countless trainers," Malcolm said. "I know what I'm talking about."
"And I'm telling you that Ash is different from all of the others. I saw him sacrifice everything for his family. You can say he doesn't care about people all you want, I know who he really is!"
Malcolm exhaled. He knew exactly what his daughter was experiencing. No one was immune to the allure of a Pokemon trainer. They were incredible people in their own right, that stubbornly chased their goals and believed in their wildest dreams. When push came to shove…these trainers had different priorities.
Malcolm had given a trainer the same ultimatum in this very room, and even today, the answer from that man still shocked him.
-X-X-
"I know everything, Malcolm. Everything you've built, I will destroy, if I have to."
"Your empty threats mean nothing to me. You don't have enough evidence to support your claims. All you have is a vague idea of what I'm trying to accomplish."
"You can't stop me, Malcolm."
"Oh yes I can," Malcolm stated as he leaned forward in his seat. "I'll give you an option right now. You can go public with your blind accusations, realize you can't possibly prove the case you're trying to make, and lose that precious family of yours in the process."
His eyes widened.
"That little boy of yours…he just turned seven, right?" Malcolm asked, a crooked smile on his face. "And your wife was quite the cook. It'd be such a shame for them to lose their lives over this."
"What you're doing is wrong! You have no right, and I won't let a man like you get away with this! Take my family, take everything! Because I'll be taking you down with me!"
-X-X-
"I can see it; you really do care for him, don't you?" Malcolm asked his daughter and she gave him an earnest nod. Malcolm's expression darkened, sending a chill up Dawn's back. "I understand how you feel Dawn. Ash seems like an amazing person when you talk about him. He's passionate, big dreams and he's obviously working toward something. Pokemon trainers only take, Dawn. And I promise you, if you get to close to them, they will hurt you in ways you can't imagine. Ash is no different."
Dawn bit down on her lower lip, unable to make eye contact with her father's chilling gaze. She didn't know what else to say so she dropped the subject and left. As she moved through the corridors of her home, the words of father continued to ring out in her head like a dull bell.
They don't care what happens to the people around them…
Their Pokemon are their first and only priority…
Pokemon trainers only take…
Ash is no different.
Dawn scoffed, that couldn't be true!
She saw Ash put everything at stake for other people on more than once occasion.
He wasn't selfish in the way her father described. No, it couldn't be possible for someone like Ash. Or…was it?
"Everyone has been…brainwashed into believing Pokemon are dangerous… if I really want to make a difference, I have to do something big…no, huge."
"It's been exactly ninety-four years since the Great Crisis. People still fear Pokemon, and I think it's time for that to change."
Could that dream cause Ash to become the person her father described…?
Monday, March 20th
Ash possessed a basic understanding of the layout of North Vermilion High School. He didn't spend as much time in the building as most students, but it was enough for him to learn everything he needed. Today, though, he found himself in an unfamiliar office. The guidance office.
When he arrived at his first period class in the morning, Fantina informed him that his guidance counselor, Mr. Telesu, wanted to meet with him today. Ash came during his free period in the afternoon and nestled himself into one of the sofas in the waiting area.
"Mr. Ketchum," A voice called out to him. He looked up and saw that one of the assistants was standing by the doorway. "Mr. Telesu will see you now."
"Thanks," Ash said as he tucked away his phone and grabbed his backpack. He made his way further into the guidance office, stepping into a small corridor with multiple doors that led to each of the counselors' private office. Mr. Telesu's was the third door down with the entrance wide open.
Mr. Telesu was a middle-aged man with dark hair. Whether he forget to shave in the morning or not, the stubble on his chin wasn't doing him any favors. Ash gave a knock on the door to get his attention.
"Ash! Thanks for coming, you can shut the door," He said with a gesture for Ash to take a seat. Once they were settled, Mr. Telesu gave him a great smile. "I just wanted to touch base with you today since graduation is coming up. How is everything?"
"Mmm, I'm alright. I've got nothing to complain about," Ash answered with a shrug of his shoulders.
"And everything is alright in the classes you're taking?" Mr. Telesu continued.
"No problems there."
"Yeah, your grades agree with that," Mr. Telesu noted as he looked over Ash's transcript. His grades were average across the board, except for his elective, Fantina's art class. "And how have you felt about coming to North Vermilion High since transferring here? Were you comfortable?"
"Yeah, I'd say so." Ash said, keeping his answers brief.
Mr. Telesu paused for a moment, glancing over the comments Ash's teachers made about him. The majority of their concerns were the same, 'inconsistent effort, often seems tired in class, fails to participate in class.' But, of course, the only instructor to give him different comments was Fantina, the one class he was doing well in.
'Shows initiative and thinks things through for himself, takes responsibility for his actions, displays a fine attitude.' It wasn't uncommon for students to be more outgoing in classes they liked, and more withdrawn in the ones they didn't care for. In Ash's case, it was clear what he was interested in and yet…
"I know you've expressed that you don't have any interest in attending college in the past," Mr. Telesu said as he looked to Ash. "Would you mind sharing with me why that is?"
"College isn't going to do anything for me." Ash replied.
"I've spoken with Fantina, Ash," Mr. Telesu injected. "She's said you have a lot of promise as an artist. Why not take the time to go to college and study that field more?"
Ash shook his head.
"Sorry, I've already figured out that art isn't going to help me reach the place I'm trying to get to," Ash stated, his cryptic talk causing Mr. Telesu to furrow his brow.
"Then what exactly do you intend to do beyond high school?"
Ash's lips curved upward as he leaned forward in his seat, looking Mr. Telesu straight in the eyes.
"I'm going to become a Pokemon trainer," He stated, his voice firm and confident. It took a moment for his answer register in Mr. Telesu's mind as the man sat, dumbfounded.
"Wha-What?" He sputtered. Mr. Telesu took a moment to cough and regain his composure before he continued. "Ash, there is no future in that. That lifestyle will only put you and other people in danger. It's not the life that you think you want."
"You're right, what you see trainers doing now is not that life I want. They've all been forced into what they're doing now, but I'm going to change all of it," He stated, his expression unaffected by Mr. Telesu's comment. "I'll tear down everything, all the negativity and fear…wipe the slate clean and start again. Just you wait and see."
The two of them sat in silence for a few moments. Mr. Telesu was unconsciously wringing his hands on his desk, uncertain of whether he should admire Ash or label him as 'crazy!'
Even at the age of seventeen or eighteen, a high school senior only had a vague idea of the kind of person they were going to become. With Ash, there was an air of certainty around him, unlike anything he felt from the students he spoke to in the past. And looking into Ash's eyes, Mr. Telesu saw…something like feathers fluttering about in the wind.
They seemed to move with a purpose, assuring him that they had a destination.
Mr. Telesu cleared his throat as he finally broke eye contact with Ash.
"While I can't force you to do anything Ash, I hope you'll at least…reconsider," Mr. Telesu said as he looked back to Ash. There was no difference in the young man's demeanor.
"No," Ash said as he shook his head again. "There's nothing that's going to stop me."
"Well then…that'll b-be all. Thank you for coming, Ash, all the best to you."
"Likewise."
Ash rose from his seat and collected his backpack. Mr. Telesu watched him closely as he left, and Ash's words rang out once more.
'Just you wait and see.'
Mr. Telesu's eyes widened as he saw a pair of wings on Ash's back. His vision blurred and blinked, but they were gone in that instant. Ash looked back to him and gave one last wave to his counselor.
As he went out into the corridor, Ash looked up as he walked. Another reminder that soon he would graduate from high school. He wouldn't be shackled into the routine of school every day. He would have the freedom to focus entirely on his own goals, and developing into the adult he wanted to be…
Who was Ash Ketchum going to be in five…or ten years?
Ash smiled as he ruffled his wings.
He knew what he was going to be.
The Pokemon Master.
A/N
My deepest apologies for the gap between this update and the last. The end of the year was super busy for both myself and MjrGenMatt. So, as a result, Caged Wings took the backseat for a month or so. We're back at it and going strong though!
What did you guys think of this battle? I went away from my usual formula and tried for something a little more shonen. This one was a lot of fun to write, so I hope you all enjoyed. Please leave your thoughts, I'd love to hear them.
And as a special announcement for you guys, welcome to the final arc of Caged Wings. The second half of this chapter was sort of a prelude of what's to come. As always, I'm keeping the spoilers to myself, but if you ever have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them.
A big thanks to everyone for your support and patience with me! We're working hard to deliver a high-quality chapter each time, so please, bear with me! If any of you are tracking when I update, just check my profile. I have a little section that I use to keep you guys informed on the progress of each chapter and where it is in the development process.
So, thanks again, welcome to 2020 and I wish you all the best. See you at the next update!