Chapter 40
Monday, April 10th
A pair of Rhydon stood on opposite sides of the field of the Hidden Cove stadium. Their eyes were wrenched shut in fierce concentration as they exerted an unseen force in the field beneath them. The damage left from the Hidden Cove's Saturday night main event was almost repaired thanks to the pair of Pokemon present. Demonstrating their masterful control over the earth, these two Pokemon restored the integrity of the field, filling in the tunnels Onix left down below. It took them the entirety of Sunday to complete this task, leaving them to repair the surface of the field today.
Charles Goodshow sat in his private booth that overlooked the battlefield, watching on as these two Pokemon acted under the supervision of two staff members. It fascinated him how the Rhydon functioned as doctors for his battlefield. Every week, the trainers and their Pokemon did considerable damage to it, and every week the Rhydon restored it to its previous condition.
With a sigh, Charles swiveled in his office chair to face his desk, sending a glance at his phone that was waiting to be used.
Yesterday, he received the phone call that he was waiting many months for.
The clearance to organize the battle between Aaron and Ash Ketchum.
He knew that Ash was eager to face his father in a Pokemon battle. The young man worked hard over the last few months to meet all the conditions that Charles set before him. However, there was one final prerequisite that Aaron made before he would agree to the battle…and Charles wasn't looking forward to breaking the news to Ash.
But he put it off long enough. It was time for him to contact Ash.
Dialing Ash's phone number, the tone sounded twice before there was an answer.
"Good afternoon, Ash," Charles said as a greeting.
"Hey, Mr. Goodshow, what's up?" Ash asked in return.
"I have some news for you," Charles began. "I was contacted by your father yesterday."
As Charles said this, there was some rummaging of papers before he heard a door slam.
"Sorry about that," Ash apologized. "You were saying?"
"Yes, I spoke with your father about setting up a match between the two of you," Charles paused, prompting a question from Ash.
"And what did he say?"
Charles heaved out a sigh.
"He'll agree to it, but there's some…new conditions," Charles mumbled out.
"New conditions?" Ash repeated. Charles could hear the disbelief in his voice. "What else could he possibly want? I've done everything I needed to do, I'm the number one contender, he can't avoid this battle! That's the rules, right?"
"It is, Ash," Charles stated. "But arranging matches for your father usually come with special exceptions, and considering the magnitude of a match between you two…I'm not surprised more requirements are being tacked on."
Ash groaned, mumbling a few words under his breath.
"Mr. Goodshow, can I ask you something?" Ash asked suddenly, causing Charles to raise his brow.
"Of course, what is it?"
"Do you think it's worth it for me to do all of this to battle, my dad?"
The question caused Charles to freeze. He needed a moment to think about it.
Drumming his fingers on his desk, Charles wrinkled his nose as he considered his answer. Was all of the effort worth it? If Ash challenged any of the other Five Kings, they would've likely agreed without any further complications. But Aaron was a different story. The relationship between him and Ash was creating conditions that Charles couldn't anticipate.
But while the preparations were a struggle, the reward could be worthwhile. It could produce a match unlike any other. A moment where a father and son connect through their Pokemon. It would be an unforgettable experience for both of them and their viewing audience.
"I think it is," Charles answered. "Because I believe it will be a worthwhile experience. This is only the second generation of trainers since the Great Crisis, so there are hardly any people that were raised as Pokemon trainers. A battle between family members that are trainers is something that is rarely seen, and I would love to see it."
Charles paused when he heard Ash give a heavy sigh.
"But you know what, Ash, that's only my opinion," Charles added. "In the end, it's still up to you. What do you want to do?"
"I…I have to face my dad," Ash answered, causing Charles to furrow his brow. "I have to."
"If that's what you want, then I believe all of this effort and struggle will be worthwhile," Charles assured him. "And if it's any help, I played a minor part in selecting your final hurdle."
Ash clicked his tongue.
"Alright, tell me what I have to do."
"It's a battle…to measure your ability as a trainer," Charles stated.
"Measure? What for?"
"Your improvement between battles is uncanny and hard to predict, Ash," Charles explained. "Your father is trying to get a better idea of what kind of trainer you're going to be by the time we reach the match date."
"So, he's giving me some kind of pre-fight to see what he can learn about me?" Ash asked for clarification.
"That's likely the case," Charles said.
"Then that means he'll be there to watch this battle, right?"
"I don't want to make assumptions," Charles answered. "Your father is hard to predict, so I know where you got that trait from."
Ash swallowed his hopes and kicked himself mentally. Charles was right. There was no point in making assumptions that would get his hopes up. Expecting anything from his father in the past only led to disappointment, and Ash had no intention of walking down that road again.
"I'm not going to keep jumping through hoops for him," Ash stated. "This is the last thing I'm going to do. If we can't put together a match for us, then we can just scrap the whole thing."
"Uh…so then," Charles stammered for a moment before his voice gained its usual clarity. "I understand. If the match with your father falls through, you'll still be the number one contender so you're free to issue a challenge to any of the other Kings. But we'll discuss that only if it's necessary."
"Fair enough," Ash muttered, causing Charles to frown.
"I know this all must be frustrating, Ash," Charles consoled him. "But here's something else to think about. This battle you're going to take part in will be much more than a tune-up before you face your father."
"What do you mean?"
"When I was arranging this battle, I decided it was high time we see how you'd fare against a world-class trainer," Charles stated with a smile on his face.
"But aren't the Five Kings considered world-class trainer?" Ash inquired in return.
"They most definitely are, but I'm trying to adjust your focus."
"What for?"
"I understand you want a match with your father, but have you thought about what you're going to do after that?" Charles asked, and he could hear Ash breathing faintly as he prepared and answer.
"I know for a fact that I want to battle N too…but no, I haven't really thought about what I'd do after all of that."
"That's alright Ash," Charles consoled him. "That is why I arranged this battle, to give you a little perspective. You're a very promising trainer that could go far beyond Vermilion City. This is just one place, out of hundreds, maybe even thousands for you to see. And there are amazing trainers and Pokemon you couldn't begin to imagine."
Charles beamed as he spoke, thinking back to his own adventures across the globe.
"I want to give you a taste of what the whole world has to offer," Charles went on.
"But aren't all the best trainers here?" Ash interjected. Charles had to mull over his answer before he spoke.
"There's no definite answer to that question," Charles responded immediately, turning in his chair to glance out the window of his office, providing him with a view of the battlefield below. "Who's the strongest? Who's the greatest? I've spent years trying to find the answer to that myself, Ash…and it's my dream to one day designate someone as the greatest trainer," Charles paused and licked lips, wondering if it was best to proceed. But his qualms were quickly tossed aside as he thought of Ash and Pikachu battling on the world scene. "I have a secret that I want to let you in on, but you have to keep it to yourself for now."
"Uh, sure what is it?"
"Years ago, when I first developed the underground circuit, it was meant to promote Pokemon battling in other regions outside of Kalos. The Kalos Circuit was the original, and the only place to go to for organized Pokemon battling. But if you went to Kalos, you couldn't leave," This statement earned an immediate response from Ash.
"What do you mean you couldn't leave?"
"Pokemon battling is an industry in Kalos. When you join their circuit, you are placed under a contract to perform as part of their circuit," Charles revealed. "If you fail to meet that obligation, you are relegated to the Vanguard, a subdivision of Kalos' police force."
"But what's stopping you from leaving…and why are people going there in the first place?" Ash demanded to know.
"Don't forget, there are regions with agendas against both trainers and Pokemon. Kalos presents itself as a haven for these trainers trying to escape from those extreme ideas," Charles pointed out. "As for why you can't leave, the Vanguard possesses a way to strip a trainer of their Pokemon. There's no escaping if you value your partner…and the trainers there aren't the type to abandon their Pokemon."
"That's ridiculous!" Ash proclaimed, earning a deep sigh from Charles. "What gives them to right to go around threatening those trainers?!"
"Think of the alternatives," Charles stated. "There are trainers all over the world that are trying to escape prejudice and discrimination. A life in Kalos serving the Vanguard will seem infinitely better if you can do so peacefully with your Pokemon."
Charles could hear Ash mutter a few times, unable to decide what he should say.
"It's alright," Charles assured him. "As of right now, all that isn't your concern. The reason I'm telling you this is because I wanted you to know why I created the underground circuit here in Kanto. It was to provide trainers with the same escape they could get in Kalos, but with no strings attached," Charles went on as he leaned back in his chair. "I was fortunate when I was younger. I made some friends that saved me from getting trapped in Kalos, and I was allowed to travel the world with my partner Pokemon. It's an experience that I believe all trainers should have…and it's my dream to give all trainers that opportunity."
"That's awesome," Ash said in a whisper.
"The expenses involved in traveling with a Pokemon presents it as a daunting challenge. If you join the underground circuit, it serves as a place to earn money and get sponsors," Charles explained. "In fact, you could consider it a place where trainers can come set themselves up with the finances that they need to support their lifestyle…but that's enough out of me. I just wanted to be certain that you understood that there's much more out there than what you've seen in Vermilion City."
"I get it. I spoke with Flint after our match, and he was telling me that he was going to start traveling again to face all the best trainers. It's just that…" Ash paused for a moment and Charles could hear him exhale. "There are people that I'm looking after. I don't want to leave them without knowing that they're going to be okay."
"I completely understand," Charles answered quickly. "Everyone has different circumstances. But it's something I want you to think about. Think about you and Pikachu going off to explore the islands of Alola or the seas of Hoenn," Charles suggested with a warm smile. "Just give it some thought during your free time and we'll discuss this again in the future."
"Sure thing, Mr. Goodshow," Ash responded kindly. "You've got me looking forward to this battle now."
"As you should," Charles commented. "I'm still in the process of making the arrangements. It looks like it will take place next Wednesday, the nineteenth."
And with that, their phone call came to an end. Charles sighed with relief as he swiveled in his desk chair, grateful for Ash's patience. Many trainers abandoned trying to set up a match with Aaron because the man hardly wanted to participate in circuit matches.
In most cases, the time spent waiting on Aaron to agree to match would turn a challenger away. Ash not only put up with a lengthy waiting period, but was jumping through hoops. His determination to face his father was unyielding, and Charles hoped that Ash would see it through to the end. Perhaps then Ash would find the answers that he was looking for.
Saturday, April 15th
The Vermilion Journal.
Confrontation in Vermilion City Shipping Yards by Alexa Brooks.
Late Friday night, officer Thomas Pierce was ordered to report to the shipping yards downtown. He was among the many officers that were called to the scene where yet another Pokemon battle was taking place.
"It was like someone took the entire dock and turned it upside down," Thomas recounts. "Those Pokemon can do things that you couldn't imagine."
This isn't the first time that a Pokemon battle has taken place in the shipping yards. Since it was opened almost twenty years ago, the shipping yards have been known as a spot where trainer gangs conduct their battles. In most cases, when the police arrive on the scene, trainers and their Pokemon will typically flee. But last night, things took a scary turn for the worse.
"There were at least six other officers there when I arrived," Thomas continues. "It was on Dock Three, and there had to be at least twenty trainers there. The trainers usually leave by the time we get there, but their fighting persisted as more of us arrived. I'd say there were about twelve officers on the site when we intervened."
Captain Jonathan Mitchell added further insight.
"When we got to the scene, those Pokemon were already in combat, so we didn't know what to expect. We went in with weapons raised. One of the officers spoke them through a megaphone, but the fighting didn't stop," Johnathan continues. "So, he fired a warning shot, and all hell broke loose."
"They were fighting each other at first, but when that shot rang out, they all turned to us," Thomas adds. "Before we knew it, some of their Pokemon were already on top of us. Something got me right on top of the head, and I finally got my bearings back a few minutes later. By then, the trainers were long gone. But our cars had been trashed, and two of the officers had some injuries."
Pokemon battles are being reported around the city regularly, and the Vermilion City Police Department has not been able to put a stop to these activities. With such dangerous threats to our safety running rampant, I spoke to the Chief of Police who had this to say.
"We're doing everything we can," Chief Raymond stated. "But it will take a combined effort on our part, and the public's, to keep everyone safe. Our officers were lucky to come away with only minor injuries based on what we saw at the shipping yards. So, we ask that if there's any indication that a Pokemon battle is taking place nearby, report it to the authorities and get as much distance as you can. Don't put yourself at risk, there are professionals here to deal with those situations."
Despite those statements, two officers were injured, nine cars were damaged beyond repair, and not a single trainer or Pokemon was captured. It's becoming apparent that our law enforcement is unable to deal with these Pokemon trainers.
Tuesday, April 18th
Hues of orange and yellow painted the walls of Malcolm's private den within the Berlitz Estate. The electronic fireplace in the corner of the room crackled and roared with the hypnotic beauty of an open campfire, providing Malcolm company as he read through a recent news article in the Vermilion Journal on his tablet. Seated in his leather recliner, Malcolm reached for his morning coffee to take a sip as he reached the conclusion of the article. It covered the details of the Pokemon battle in his shipping yards, the conditions of the officers and the cost to repair the damage.
The article went on to question if the police could ever get a handle on these trainers that were running rampant around Vermilion City, causing Malcolm to roll his eyes at the statement. He thought that by now these supposed sleuths would've realized the battles in his shipping yards were isolated incidents. Separate from the daily activities of other trainers around the city.
Years ago, trainers tried to battle on his shipping yards, and Malcolm was quick to put a stop to that by hiring a special security detail to deal with Pokemon trainers. But there was still one group who continued to battle on his docks, and they did so for more than just entertainment. They were malicious in their intention, and decisive with their tactics, trying to strike at one of Malcolm's main sources of income.
Aaron Ketchum and the Red Skulls…
They were a vengeful band of trainers that would do anything hurt Malcolm's business. But with a small chuckle, Malcolm knew that the best they could was strike at his toes. They were fortunate that he couldn't dedicate the time to snuff them out…Malcolm had a much more fitting end in mind for them.
The phone on his desk buzzed, earning a raised brow from Malcolm. There were very few people that could contact him directly in his den. He placed his tablet on the stand beside his recliner and rose. Reaching his desk, Malcolm answered the call with a push of a button and placed it on speaker.
"Malcolm," It was the familiar voice of Charles Goodshow. "I've got some…interesting news for you."
"Oh really," Malcolm remarked with a smirk. "And what might that be?"
"An exhibition match for Ash," Charles stated. "Against Hector Mendez."
Malcolm's eyes grew wide.
"Mendez?" He exclaimed, "The former Kalos Circuit champion?"
"The one and only," Charles responded.
"Why would Hector agree to have this battle?"
"He's an old friend," Charles said, "And he owes me a few favors."
Malcolm leaned forward and set his elbow on his desk. In his prime, Hector Mendez was arguably one of the best trainers on the planet. The scenes of carnage as he dominated the Kalos Circuit was the stuff of legends.
"But what's the point of this battle?" Malcolm pressed. "Even though Hector's been retired for a while, I still think that Ash is easily outmatched by him."
"It's a measuring stick," Charles answered quickly. "Ash intends to challenge his father. Battling Hector will give us a better picture of how he will fare against his father."
The mention of Ash's father piqued Malcolm's interest.
"If anyone can give us insight into that matchup, its Hector," Charles pointed out, and Malcolm nodded in agreement. "And I think this is also a valuable opportunity to see if Ash is ready to go beyond the underground circuit."
Malcolm narrowed his eyes.
"What are you suggesting?"
"That Ash begins to prepare for things beyond my circuit. It only took him a few months to become one of the strongest trainers here. The best move he could make to continue improving is to go out and face the best trainers all over the world," Charles explained. "And perhaps, once he's built up his reputation, he could join the Kalos Circuit."
Malcolm stroked his chin as he considered the prospect.
Charles built the underground circuit to support trainers that couldn't make it to the Kalos Circuit. It became an incredibly lucrative arrangement thanks to some Wailord-like sponsors such as Malcolm. But if Ash made it to the Kalos Circuit, it could create yet another substantial source of income for Malcolm.
"I knew I made a good investment from the moment I met him," Malcolm noted with a smile. "I'd like to see this battle myself, and speak to Hector afterward."
Malcolm leaned back in his chair as he considered the possibilities. If Ash realized his potential and became a force in the Kalos Circuit, he could be Malcolm's ticket back into Kalos. That investment he made would be paid back a thousand times over.
"That battle is tomorrow afternoon, at five o'clock sharp," Charles stated.
"I'm looking forward to it. If all goes well, I'd like to discuss a few…conditions for the battle between Ash and his father."
"What did you have in mind?"
"When the time is right, we'll walk that road."
Wednesday, April 19th
"I see you've made some improvements to your seating arrangement," Malcolm remarked with a gesture to Charles' private viewing booth within the Hidden Cove stadium. A larger television was installed on the wall along with several individual recliners for the viewing party. The sofa that Charles previously had was moved to the window for those that wanted to view the battle from a distance.
"Well, I've had a lot more guests as of late," Charles reasoned as he observed the group that accompanied him tonight. Malcolm stood at the center of the room, uncertain of where he wanted to sit, and one of his bodyguards was stationed at the entrance of the room.
Two trainers from the White Lotus were present as well. Koga, one of the Lotus Heads, and their King, N. Both were seated on the sofa, preferring to view the battle with their own eyes than through a television. Despite the gap in age between N and Koga, they spoke freely with each other.
"I've heard of Hector Mendez," N stated. "But he retired a few years ago, so I've never seen him battle in person."
"He was in the underground circuit just before he retired," Koga explained with a smirk. "Even though he was well past his prime while he was battled here, I think it's fair to say that he aged like fine wine."
N raised his brow. That was high praise coming from Koga!
"This should be an interesting battle," Koga remarked. "Especially since your friend is taking part."
N grinned as he looked down at the battlefield, anxious not only to see Hector in action but to see how Ash would react to such as fearsome opponent. After his last battle in the Hidden Cove and direct challenge of Ash's philosophy, N wanted to see if Ash could give a rebuttal.
"Just out of question," N began as he turned to Charles. "How did you convince Hector to battle Ash, of all people?"
Charles beamed at him.
"Hector and I have quite a history. I had a brief stint of homelessness when I first visited Hoenn," Charles shrugged his shoulders. "And Hector just took me into his house with his wife and kids."
"Just like that?"
"Yup," Charles answered simply with a nod. "Just like that. I couldn't believe it either, especially since I didn't speak any Spanish or Portuguese to get by in Slateport City."
"Wow, that's so lucky!" N exclaimed, receiving a laugh from Charles.
"I needed some luck then," Charles waved off his comment.
"What has Hector been doing since his retirement?" Malcolm inquired as he approached Charles' desk.
"He retired because his youngest daughter, Dahlia, just joined the Kalos Circuit," Charles answered with a grin of pride. "He's helping her prepare for it."
"Oh really, that's quite impressive," Koga noted. "How old is she?"
"She is twenty, one of the youngest ever to join the Kalos Circuit," Charles replied.
"Well she's the daughter of the former champion, what more could you expect?" Malcolm remarked before his attention was drawn to the television on the wall. On it, he could see Ash and Hector who met at the center of the field. "It looks like our show is beginning."
As Malcolm returned to his seat in front of the television, he wore a smirk that went unseen by the occupants within the room.
Down the field, Ash found himself standing face to face with a well-built man as the referee listed the rules of their battle. His arms were massive, even though there were several indicators that he was up there in years. Gray roots could be seen among his hair that had been slicked back, and wrinkles were developing on his forehead, yet he chose to wear a plain white tank and jeans shorts. He wasn't particularly tall, but he certainly seemed like a strong man. But Ash couldn't tell much else about Hector Mendez.
Instead, Ash chose to examine the two Pokemon that stood beside him. A Hariyama and a Makuhita. To Ash's understanding, Hector's partner during his prime years was his Hariyama, but with just a brief observation Ash could see that Hariyama was an older Pokemon. Watching him stretch with Hector and Makuhita, his movements were stiff and slow. It was clear to Ash that Hariyama wasn't in battling condition anymore. So, their opponent today was the younger Makuhita.
"Alright trainers, let's shake hands and head back to your boxes," The referee declared with a nod to each of them.
Hector extended his large hand toward As, his bushy eyebrows raised. Ash accepted the gesture and winced as Hector practically crushed his hand.
"Ah, forgive me chico, I forget my strength sometimes," Hector apologized as Ash practically jumped away from him to free his hand from Hector's grip. His Makuhita snickered, earning a leer from both Ash and Pikachu.
"Pika!" Pikachu piped up at their opponent. "Pikapi!"
"Ma-ku," Makuhita responded as his expression became serious. He raised a hand toward Pikachu gave a motion for Pikachu to 'bring it.' The two of them took a step toward each other, prepared to battle in that instant.
"Well chico, I don't think we should keep them waiting," Hector noted with a gesture toward their Pokemon.
"Agreed," Ash said, and they turned to return to their boxes.
As he walked, Ash glanced over his shoulder to watch as Hector matched the pace of his slow-moving Hariyama. He squinted as he studied Hector's back, searching for a means to gauge Hector's strength. But his wings never appeared. With pursed lips, Ash focused on his final preparations.
Stick to their battle style, establish the tempo early, and hold onto it for dear life!
Seeing that both trainers were ready and waiting at their boxes, the referee raised his flags as the signal to begin. Ash looked across the field, his gaze meeting Hector's. The man still wore a neutral expression, but he welcomed Ash and Pikachu to make the first move.
It was no surprise to Ash. The better the trainer, the more likely they would spend at least sixty seconds trying to get a feel of their opponent before they committed resources. For Ash, that first sixty seconds was his time to experiment with Pikachu's speed and see how their opponent reacted to it.
"Let's go hard and fast Pikachu, Quick Attack and Double Team!" Ash shouted as he pumped his fist. Pikachu twitched for a moment, and Makuhita whirled around in shock as six after-images pranced around him.
"Pi, pi, pi, Pika!" Pikachu's voice came from all directions causing Makuhita to look around frantically. Was he going to attack from the right, the left…from behind, or in front of him? Makuhita spun around twice before he received a blow to his side. He hardly moved from the impact but lashed out desperately trying to knock Pikachu away. Makuhita's panic only invited an onslaught from Pikachu as flashed around his foe.
Stunned after he struck on his chin, Makuhita could only stare as Pikachu really dug into the ground in front of him before slamming his shoulder into Makuhita's sizeable gut. With all the force Pikachu generated, he knocked Makuhita clean off his feet left and sent him skidding backward several feet on his back.
"Haha, nice one Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed with a smile. He was liking what he saw. Their speed was effective, even against one of the best trainers in recent history.
"Hari!" Hector's Hariyama gave a great shout and stomped one of his feet which sent a small quake across the field. Makuhita rose from the ground and looked back at Hariyama who lowered his stance. "Hari-Hariyama!"
"Ma…" Makuhita jumped back to his feet and beat his stomach for a few moments. Pikachu paused his assault and raised his ears as he observed Makuhita. Ash joined his partner, watching with intrigue before Makuhita raised his eyes to meet their own. As he did so, both he and Hector took the same stance that Hariyama demonstrated from the sidelines.
Ash sucked in a sharp breath. It felt like the field was shrinking around them…but how?
"Are you ready, Makuhita?" Hector asked, and Makuhita stomped his forward foot and invited Pikachu to attack. "Give us your best shot, Ash!"
Pikachu leaned forward, ready to surge forward, but a shout from Ash forced him to hold back. Staring at their opponents, Ash's eyes flashed from Hector to Hariyama, and then to Makuhita. He couldn't see it…but he could feel it. The kind of feeling that made him hesitate to attack.
"Use Thunder Wave, Pikachu!" Ash commanded and Pikachu obliged. A lightning bolt was launched across the field and Makuhita responded by raising his hands to meet the attack. Angling his hands downward, Makuhita deflected the Thunderbolt attack into the field at his feet, a smirk on his face as Pikachu ended his attack. Ash gawked, his mouth hanging open as he saw that Makuhita was unaffected, and his expression earned a laugh from Hector.
"Don't be surprised chico," Hector remarked with a grin. "Deflecting attacks like that is basic at our level."
"Their level?" Ash repeated incredulously. All their opponents up until this point had developed some sort of method to block Pikachu's electricity. Flint and Laura used the heat generated by their fiery partners. Cross and Lycanroc created Thunder Fang as a means of defense. Even Cedric's Dewott relied upon scalchops to avoid direct contact with any electricity. Yet…Makuhita brushed it aside like it was nothing.
No tricks, no gimmicks.
With one movement, Makuhita and Hector established themselves as the strongest opponents Ash had ever faced.
"Wow!" Ash exclaimed, his hands beginning to tremble. Hector raised his brow as he watched Ash hunch over briefly, and then he suddenly raised a hand to point at them. "These guys are awesome!"
"I'm glad you think so, but don't be impressed. We're just getting started," Hector declared as he and his Pokemon shifted into a new stance.
"Don't underestimate us, we still have more to show," Ash responded as he reached for the visor of his cap to turn it around.
"Well don't hold out on us chico, give us your best shot!" Hector challenged them.
"Alright then, let's go all out Pikachu! Spark and Quick Attack on the double!"
Makuhita might have been able to block a ranged electrical attack, but Ash wanted to see how they'd respond to direct physical contact.
"Makuhita, Foresight!" Hector commanded, and Ash felt that familiar chill as Makuhita tightened his stance. Pikachu burst forward, sparks flying from his body that soon engulfed him as he approached. He made eye contact with Makuhita for an instant and felt his fur stand on end, so Pikachu altered course. With a feint mixed in to draw Makuhita's attention, Pikachu attacked from behind, but only felt slight contact as he brushed past Makuhita. Pikachu circled around and went in again, experiencing another soft impact as he passed Makuhita again.
"Pikachu!" Ash called out to his partner, halting his action. "He's parrying your attacks, dig in hard and don't let him push you away!"
"Pika!" Pikachu gave a nod and followed Ash's command immediately. He paid closer attention as he neared Makuhita, and he saw exactly what Ash was talking about. Despite his feints, Makuhita was predicting his movements and meeting him head-on, keeping one hand out in front of him to masterfully redirect Pikachu's Spark attack.
Allowing Makuhita to turn him away again, Pikachu decelerated and stopped on a dime right beside Makuhita, sparks flying as he let loose another Thunder Wave. Makuhita reacted quickly with his remaining hand, using it to cleave through the Thunder Wave like an ax and launched it off into the stadium wall.
"Vital Throw!" Hector roared.
Before Pikachu could dart away, Makuhita snatched him from the field by his tail and swung wildly, slamming Pikachu back down against the ground. Makuhita then tossed Pikachu back to Ash's side for the field.
"Good hit!" Hector yelled while Hariyama shouted with approval.
Makuhita raised one foot and stomped it triumphantly before he gestured for Pikachu to resume his offense.
"One more time, Pikachu!" Ash called as a test to see if Makuhita's stellar defense was a fluke. But once again, Pikachu was sent skidding back to Ash's feet as further proof of Makuhita's skill level.
The small and stocky Pokemon had an incredible reaction time and the hand speed to make the most of it. Warding off Pikachu's speedy attacks at close range was no small feat. Makuhita was world-class!
Ash punched his palm in response to their outstanding opponents. Then he took a hold of the visor of his cap and turned it backward, sporting a large grin.
"Let's go all out Pikachu! Electric Terrain!" Ash hollered gallant, eager to see what Hector would do in the face of their best attack.
Hector paused at the call of Ash's command. It was a move that he'd never seen or heard of before? And it was coming from a kid and his Pikachu? He smiled and invited them to proceed.
A dark electrical cloak enveloped Pikachu as he threw his head back. With a great shout, his cloak surged outward, saturating the field with lightning. Hector and Hariyama maintained their stance, even as the electricity crackled and hissed at them. Makuhita looked into Pikachu's eyes, and he could see the lightning bolts traveling through his irises. Pikachu shook out his back feet and checked his traction on the field. He leaned forward, lightning crackling from his fur before he leaped forward.
Makuhita gasped and raised both his forearms, intercepting Pikachu's attack. But the sturdy Pokemon wasn't prepared for the force Pikachu generated, and the impacted lifted him from his feet and hurled him past his trainer. Makuhita hit the ground like a lifeless sack and remained there, electricity sputtering around his form.
Hector stared at his downed companion, his mouth just partly open and one eyebrow raised. Then he looked back to Pikachu, a smile forming on his face. He certainly wasn't expecting that!
"That's quite a move you've got there, amigo," Hector declared as he pointed at the duo of Ash and Pikachu. Makuhita slowly got back to his feet, brushing off the lightning on his skin and patting at his gut as proof that he was fine. "Let's see what else you can do with it!"
"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet!" Ash said as he thumbed his nose. "Let's show them our Electro Ball!"
As Makuhita returned to the field, the electricity on the field began to move as Pikachu gave another shout. Hector glanced around the field, watching as the lightning converged on Pikachu's tail into a sphere that more than doubled the size of Pikachu's body. Hector gave a nod to his Pokemon, and the three of them switched into a defensive stance, placing both hands forward in preparation for the incoming attack.
"Ka-chu!" Pikachu shout as he spun, launching the Electro Ball at its target. It raced across the field, continuing to grow as it came close to Makuhita.
"Force Palm!" Hector shouted as he and Hariyama thrust one hand forward.
Makuhita timed his strike and planted his palm into the center of the Electro Ball as it entered his range. The attack held strong despite the shockwave that Makuhita released from his hand, threatening to overwhelm as he was pushed back against his will. Makuhita took his remaining hand and slipped it under the Electro Ball to heave it over himself and avoid further contact.
"Oh boy," Hector muttered as he watched the electric attack fly off haphazardly into the stands. "Charlie isn't going to be happy about that."
A psychic barrier was raised in the path of the Electro Ball, swallowing it easily. A Solosis coalesced in place of the barrier and winked at the participants that were down on the field. Then she trilled and spun, disappearing into whatever realm she had been hiding in.
"Go Pikachu, Quick Attack and Double Team!"
Hector's gaze shot back to the field as Pikachu flashed off in a sprint. Even through their trained eyes, Pikachu was difficult to track. He was nothing more than a streak of yellow as he traveled around the field…like a lightning bolt.
"Foresight!" Hector called again.
Multiple exchanges took place within the span of a few seconds as Pikachu swirled around Makuhita, bombarding him with attacks. But to Ash's astonishment, Makuhita remained unscathed. Despite the pace of Pikachu's offense, Makuhita kept him at bay.
"Alright then," Ash muttered as he recalled some of their earlier exchanges. Makuhita could protect himself from a high quantity of attacks, but when Pikachu went in with a quality attack, it was enough to overwhelm him. "Let's use Spark, full power Pikachu!"
"Pi-KA!" Pikachu shouted as he ran around the perimeter of the field. His movement may not have been as quick anymore, but an almost orange-colored electrical field engulfed him. Pikachu could barely be seen within it as he turned sharply and charged at Makuhita.
The collision was the biggest thus far in their battle. A shockwave flew out from the point of contact, but Makuhita held his ground. He was using both hands, pressing back against the electric shield that shrouded Pikachu with all his might, holding the smaller Pokemon in place.
"Now Makuhita, use Force Palm and follow with Counter!" Hector roared.
It was finally Makuhita's turn to attack, and he smirked now that he was finally given clearance to unleash his strength. His hands began to glow before they discharged a small shockwave that popped the clock around Pikachu. As the orange lightning bolts scattered around them, Pikachu stared at Makuhita with wide eyes as he threw an incredible haymaker.
He flattened Pikachu amidst the Electric Terrain, causing the lightning on the field to fizzle out. Makuhita stepped back from Pikachu, allowing the referee to make his judgment.
"Pikachu is unable to battle, Makuhita is the winner!"
It took a few seconds for everything to settle in Ash's mind as he watched Makuhita run back to Hector and Hariyama. He bowed to each of them as they praised him for his victory. Just a few moments ago, Ash felt as though he made the call that would secure them the win, but in an instant, the tables were turned. It was a tough pill to swallow, like a spoonful of castor oil.
Counter was the last thing Ash was expecting. Every ounce of power that Pikachu drew in from the Electric Terrain to enhance his Spark was thrown right back at him. As Ash replayed the final exchange in his head, he walked out onto the field, approaching his fallen partner. Pikachu lay flat on his stomach, having been pressed into a body imprint on the field. He remained motionless as Ash kneeled beside him, gently placing a hand on Pikachu's back.
"Don't feel bad, amigo," Hector stated as he approached Ash and Pikachu. "That Electric Terrain attack you used was muy bueno!"
Ash shrugged off the compliment as he carefully slid his hands beneath Pikachu's body and lifted him from the ground. Once he had Pikachu nestled in a small pocket created by his arm, Ash looked to Hector.
"I just want to know, how did Makuhita see through our attacks?"
"Foresight," Hector responded. "Or the accumulation of experience. As you attacked, Makuhita was learning Pikachu's habits and tendencies to counter his speed."
"And…by countering our speed, you made us go in for a big attack to set us up for Counter," Ash concluded as he felt a chill run down his back. The small successes that they enjoyed throughout the battle; it was all one big set up.
Hector was always in control, from the moment the battle started.
"So there really are other great trainers outside of Kanto," Ash noted.
"Like you wouldn't believe," Hector said with a grin.
"Are they all as strong as you?"
"There are many, many trainers out there," Hector replied as he scratched his chin. "They're not all as tough as me, but they're out there. Don't spend too much time here amigo, the world's a big place."
They shook hands, and Hector left Ash to contemplate his words.
The world's a big place…
"It sure is."
"Hermano!" Hector exclaimed as he and Charles embraced at the entrance of Charles' office. "So good to see you again!"
"I could say the same," Charles added as they separated. Malcolm watched on with mild intrigue and cleared his throat to get their attention. "Ah, I almost forgot. Hector, this is a friend of mine, Malcolm Berlitz."
"Ah, Malcolm, nice to meet you!" Hector exclaimed as Malcolm stepped forward during his introduction.
"No, it's nice to meet, Mr. Champion," Malcolm responded cheerfully.
"Ah, you don't need to call me that," Hector said with a laugh as he waved off Malcolm's comment. "Is there anything I can do for you? An autograph for your kids?"
"Oh no, nothing like that. I came only to see the former champion in action against my youngest prospect," Malcolm noted with a gesture to the field below them. Hector beamed.
"Ah, so you're the one who found that diamond in the rough!" Hector exclaimed. "You have good eyes!"
"He came to me actually," Malcolm said thoughtfully. "But that's beside the point. I do have a few questions for you about Ash if you have a few minutes."
"Shoot hombre," Hector said as he invited Malcolm to sit with him on the couch.
"In light of Ash's recent performance, Charles and I have begun to discuss matches for him against the Five Kings of Vermilion City. One of them is his father," Malcolm explained as Hector nodded his head. "He's been trying to battle his father since he joined the circuit, so we gave him a list of conditions that he had to meet. Ash has done his part, but I still wanted some insight on how he'd fair against his father."
"Ash," Hector said simply. "As I said, he's a diamond in the rough. That Electric Terrain move alone would get him into the Kalos Circuit, although he might get relegated to the Vanguard for a while. But he has the building blocks to become something special."
"Do tell," Malcolm said with a motion for Hector to continue.
"I can tell that he understands the nuance of Pokemon battles. He's experimenting during the battle, testing what works and what doesn't and adjusting his tactics," Hector explained, and Charles couldn't help but smirk at how much Hector learned about Ash during their short battle. But you couldn't expect anything less from a former Kalos Circuit champion. "His Pikachu is very capable, but perhaps a little undercooked."
"Undercooked?" Malcolm repeated, wrinkling his nose.
"Pikachu still has a lot to learn. Even though he's got the speed, he doesn't use it yet. All he does is feint, feint, feint and then attack," Hector explained as he clapped his hands. "That'll work at this level, but if Ash wants to be the very best, they have to go back to the basics, and work on how Pikachu battles at close range. He has to do more than just run around his opponent. The best trainers will flatten them just like Makuhita did."
"Quite an analysis you've got there," Charles noted, earning a grin from his friend.
"I'm not finished yet, hermano," Hector stated before he looked back to Malcolm. "I watched some footage of Aaron like you said to, and with tools like Electric Terrain, Ash could beat him without question. But that's based only on what I've seen. My only concern is if Aaron survives Electric Terrain, what will Ash do then? Counter was the only strategy I could come up with on the spot and I don't think Aaron has anything in his arsenal to defend against Electric Terrain."
"So, what's your final verdict?" Charles asked him.
"If I had to choose between Aaron surviving Electric Terrain, or getting overwhelmed by it, I would go with the latter," Hector stated simply. "Electric Terrain takes Pikachu's offensive ability to another level, one I doubt Aaron could defend against."
"You don't know how happy I am to hear that," Malcolm noted, his lips curving upward in a devious smile. Charles eyed him wearily from his desk. "Thank you very much, Hector. Now if you don't mind, I'd like just a few moments to speak to Charles privately."
Hector furrowed his brow before he looked to Charles. His friend gave him a nod, so Hector shrugged his shoulders and rose from the couch. Both he and Malcolm's bodyguard stepped out of the room, leaving Charles and Malcolm to chat. Malcolm approached Charles' desk with the same smile on his face.
"Do you remember what we discussed during our last phone call?" Malcolm inquired as he leaned forward, placing one hand down on Charles' desk. Charles gave him a nod. "Did you make the proposal to Aaron?"
"Yes…he agreed to them…but he has some conditions of his own," Charles answered slowly.
"I expected as much," Malcolm commented. "What does he want?"
"He didn't tell me," Charles responded as he held a straight face. "He wants to discuss that with you in person."
"How bold of him," Malcolm remarked. "But I have a business trip starting tomorrow. I'll be available for this meeting early next month. If you could kindly relay that message to him, I would appreciate it."
And with that, Malcolm gave a parting bow to Charles and went on his way.
Charles sighed as Hector reentered his office.
"Hermano, que pasa?" Hector asked as he shut the door.
"Oh…" Charles muttered as he pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. "More than you could imagine."
Friday, April 21st
"So uh, do you mind telling me how uh…how this happened?" Brock asked as he and Ash looked into the backseat of their car. Smushed together in the back was not only Giselle but two familiar faces from the White Lotus. 'Shortcake' Sashay and 'Gateway' Joe.
"First off, I want to know what you were doing with Giselle," Ash asked slyly as he looked toward the young woman in question. Giselle's cheeks became pink as she scoffed at Ash.
"As if!" She proclaimed. "I had to take my car into the mechanic today, so I asked Brock to pick me up for your training sessions today. So, I'd save your smartass comments for someone else."
"Whoa, she's a feisty one," Joe noted with a laugh that earned a glare from Giselle.
"Alright then, and what were you two doing with Ash?" Brock asked as he changed to the focus of the discussion to the duo that belonged to the White Lotus.
"We came to take him to a meeting with N," Joe answered.
"Where's your car then?" Giselle asked them.
"Pfft, like you're one to talk," Sashay noted with a giggle. It was her turn to receive a glare from Giselle.
"And how did you guys intend to get there?" Brock inquired.
"Walk. It's a nice day after all," Joe said as he looked out the window.
"Where were we supposed to meet him?" Ash asked.
"Down at the Vermilion Sound,"
"That's on the other side of town!" Giselle exclaimed. "You guys were going to walk there?"
"Why not? N's not expecting us to be there until like five o'clock. We had time to get there on foot," Joe retorted, feigning offense.
"So, why'd you jump in the car at the first chance you got?" Giselle asked as she crossed her arms, one eyebrow raised.
"W-well," Joe stammered, searching a reply as he scratched at his neck.
"I'm not stupid, so there's no way I'm passing on a free ride there," Sashay declared before she waved to Joe. "If Joe wants to walk, he's free to go, I'll see ya when you get there."
"You wouldn't leave me hanging like that," Joe said in protest, but Sashay held a deadpan.
"Would you like to find out?"
"So yeah, how about that ride downtown!" Joe said quickly as he looked to Brock desperately.
"I'll take you guys, but on one condition," Brock replied. "I want to sit in on the conversation."
"How come?" Ash asked him.
"Well every time you and N meet up, you go off to talk privately," Brock pointed out before he smirked. "I want to know what kind of secrets you guys are trading."
Joe looked up in thought for a moment.
"Hey yeah, now that you mention it, I remember at the steel mill…and at the subway station N went off by himself to talk with you," Joe added, earning a nod of agreement from Brock.
"See, I'm not the only one who noticed!"
"Is it true?" Sashay asked as she and Giselle leaned forward to get closer to Ash. "What secrets is N telling you?"
Ash gave them a toothy grin.
"You guys will just have to tune in to find out!"
The Vermilion Sound was a sizeable river that traveled through the center of Vermilion City and emptied into the sea on the southern strip of the metropolis. Throughout the Vermilion Sound were piers, bridges and small empty lots, most of which were considered 'date zones' for couples.
N stood on the rocky beach that sat beside the river bed. The ground was uneven beneath his shoes from the small stones that were lodged in the sand. They had been washed up during high tide and left for visitors to hurl back into the river at their leisure. Digging his heel into the sand a bit, N turned to look at the group of five people that were on the beach, anxiously waiting for him to speak.
"I certainly wasn't expecting you to bring an audience today, Ash," N noted with a soft chuckle. "But the more the merrier, I suppose."
"Yeah, sorry about that," Ash apologized with a laugh. "These guys think you've been telling me cool secrets, so they wanted to listen in."
"Secrets? What do you guys think I know?" N asked as he looked to the rest of the group.
"If dragon type Pokemon are truly extinct," Joe answered.
"Where to find a shiny Pokemon," Sashay added.
"How to win the hearts of all the babes!" Brock declared as he clapped his hands together with rosy cheeks.
N stifled a laugh.
"Sorry guys, I don't know any of those, not even the one about the 'babes', Brock," N replied, causing Brock to lower his head with a groan.
"What do you guys talk about then?" Giselle injected as she looked at him expectantly.
"Ash and I have been having quite an interesting discussion," N responded with a gesture toward Ash. "We've been trying to figure out what it means to be Pokemon Master."
"You told him to come across town just to talk about that?" Giselle inquired; her brow wrinkled. "How long have you all been talking about this?"
"Phew, months now," Ash replied, impressed by his answer. It was hard to believe that months passed since the first discussion he had with N.
"We talk about a lot of things though," N added quickly. "Like for example, earlier this week I watched Ash have a battle against Hector Mendez."
There was a moment of silence as that statement settled in their minds. Then Joe, Sashay and uncharacteristically Giselle, practically pounced on Ash.
"Hector Mendez!" Joe shouted.
"You mean the Hector Mendez!?" Sashay exclaimed. "How did you get to battle him!?"
"And how come you didn't invite me?" Giselle hissed with the glare of an Ekans.
"Whoa, easy there," Ash said as he backed away from them. "It wasn't that big a deal. You would've just seen me get stomped by him. And by the way," Ash focused on N. "How did you know about that?"
"I was there of course," N answered cheekily. "But I had to leave right after."
"Well I don't know about you guys, but that's a huge secret in my book!" Joe pointed out.
"Agreed!" Sashay and Giselle said together.
"So, spill it, how did that battle go?" Giselle inquired as she looked to Ash.
"Since Ash is being humble, I'll fill you guys in on the details," N interjected with a smirk.
With better narration than Giselle was expecting, N gave her an excellent recap of Ash's battle with Hector, providing his insights as he spoke. He expressed how impressed he was with Ash and Pikachu's Electric Terrain which only seemed to improve each time he saw it. However, N was quick to explain that there was a massive gap in skill between Ash and Hector.
"It was big," N reiterated with a nod. "It's like when you're playing video games and your little brother wants to play too so you give him a controller that's not connected to let him think he's playing. That's what the battle was like."
Brock fell over, holding his sides as he laughed, kicking his legs for good measure.
"Damn, it was that bad?" Sashay asked as she and Joe looked to Ash sympathetically.
"Don't worry, Ash, it's all a part of growing as a trainer," Giselle said as she placed a hand on his shoulder to console him.
"I get the feeling you guys are having more fun with this than you should..." Ash noted with a leer as he looked around. Each of them was fighting off their urge to laugh at N's description of the battle.
"Whatever gave you impression?" Giselle asked him, but as Ash made eye contact with her, she stifled a laugh. And to top it off, Brock was still howling with laughter on the ground.
"Is it really that funny, Brock?" Ash asked him.
"It is!" Brock exclaimed. "I did the same thing to Forrest when we were younger!"
Ash rolled his eyes while N laughed sheepishly. When Brock finally regained his composure, N took charge of the conversation and brought up the real reason he wanted to speak with Ash. His tone changed and his expression along with it. N was serious now, and his subordinates sensed the difference. They became quiet when N spoke.
"I actually called you here today because I have some concerns Ash, some things that I think you might be interested in," N began, placing his hands in his pockets. "I'm sure you all have been hearing about the battle between the White Lotus and Red Skulls."
"Yeah, it's like every other week you guys are having another huge battle at the docks," Brock said with a nod. "Why are you guys battling so often? You've got the police up in arms and patrolling for trainers more often now."
"Is there something going on between you guys?" Giselle asked him.
"I don't think the Red Skulls have a problem with the White Lotus, but more so the person that we work for," N replied. "There's some sort of tension between them and Malcolm Berlitz."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa…hold on," Ash exclaimed, his hands raised. "The White Lotus works for Malcolm?"
Joe and Sashay gave him a nod.
"It's not a secret, but not really a thing that everybody knows." Sashay said with a shrug.
"So, the Red Skulls have a problem with Malcolm," Ash repeated, getting a nod from N. "And to get to him, they trash his shipyard? Is that what's going on?"
"Yeah, for lack of a better explanation," N said with a weak chuckle.
"And because you guys work for Malcolm, you're protecting his shipyard…" Ash added, earning some nods of confirmation. "But what do the Red Skulls want from Malcolm? And why do you guys work for him?"
"The first question I can't answer," N said as he shrugged his shoulders. "But the second question I can answer with an old saying, 'keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.'"
N's expression became dark momentarily, giving Ash a chill.
"Enemy? But Malcolm supports the White Lotus financially," Sashay pointed out as she stepped forward.
"That's true…but he's a man with big ambitions," N responded softly. "You can never trust someone like that."
Ash felt his chest become tight as Cassidy's voice rang out in his head.
"Malcolm…Don't trust that man, Ash."
"This is just my input…do not trust Malcolm Berlitz."
But before he could give this any further thought, N continued on the subject at hand.
"Now the reason I brought this up is that I wanted to talk about those battles at the shipyard. I've had to watch the last few and…they're not pretty."
"What do you mean?" Brock asked him.
"Those battles are different from regular Pokemon battles," N began as he turned to look at the river flowing alongside them. "The spirit of Pokemon battles, the thing that makes them so awesome…it's gone from those battles at the shipyards, and it's because those trainers aren't battle with proper motives, and it creates a product that's hard to watch."
Ash knew that feeling…he remembered witnessing the battle between Cross and Felix back in February. He hated that battle.
"I hate to say it, but Malcolm has motivated the White Lotus with money and greed to protect him…" N noted with disdain. "And it's going to cause the White Lotus to collapse soon."
"Collapse?" Sashay exclaimed.
"What do you mean?" Joe injected immediately.
"Think of it as a trickle-down effect," N spoke using another example. "Malcolm's greed is making the trainers care less about the actual duties of being a Pokemon trainer, and more about their personal gain. If this continues…it won't be long before our trainers start to turn on each other."
"Well can't you do something to stop it?"
"It's out of my hands," N replied softly. "I've already lost the White Lotus to him…but dealing with Malcolm and talking with Ash has helped me put something in perspective. There's a bigger issue at hand, bigger than the White Lotus or Vermilion City. It's a problem that affects the whole world."
"What are you talking about?" Sashay interrupted him.
"The whole stigma against Pokemon…there's more to it than just fear," N elaborated for them group. "Ash has helped me to see that the fear of Pokemon isn't misplaced. They are creatures possessing awesome powers. When used for good, you can achieve great things. But when used inappropriately…you get things like the Great Crisis."
"Are you trying to say the Great Crisis is some kind of conspiracy?" Joe exclaimed. "Take off the tin foil hat!"
"I'm not trying to say that…what I'm trying to bring to your attention is that Pokemon can be used for good and bad…and that's the problem. How their powers are used shouldn't be based on human inclination," N explained thoughtfully.
"But it's not," Ash countered. "A Pokemon has just as much of a say in things as a trainer does. It's a partnership, that's how it works."
"In a perfect world, I would agree with you Ash…but we don't exist in that world," N stated firmly. "As long as qualities like greed exist among trainers, we will never reach that world you've imagined."
"Alright then, N," Giselle cut in. "Enlighten us…how do we fix something like greed?"
"You don't fix it," N stated. "You remove it entirely."
There was a brief silence as they all observed N. He stood calmly as he said that, undeterred despite the magnitude of his statement.
"I know it doesn't sound great, but if we expect to make progress, we can't continue to handicap ourselves. Change will only come about if you do something to trigger it," N said before he made a gesture to Ash. "You'll die of old age waiting for people to get over themselves."
"Everything isn't black and white, N," Ash responded after a moment. "There are gray areas everywhere. That's the whole purpose of compromise, right?"
"So, you're going to bribe them to change by offering them part of what they want?" N clarified with a raised eyebrow, but as he studied Ash's expression, he saw that Ash was unyielding. It was like looking in a mirror.
"Not at all, the point of compromise is for two groups to make an agreement and work toward the same purpose despite their differences. If anything, compromise is proof that we can achieve great things as long as people are willing to work together." Ash reasoned in return, earning a laugh from N.
"Well, I've got to say, Ash, I admire how much faith you have in the average person. Maybe working with Malcolm has caused me to lose that faith…I don't know."
N shrugged again and looked at the river once more. He gave everyone a few moments to process everything that they had said so far.
"I've spent a lot of time thinking, Ash, about what it would take to achieve Mastery of Pokemon," N said suddenly, drawing everyone's attention. "After a lot of thought, I realized I've been neglecting the first step."
"The first step?" Ash repeated, getting a nod from N.
"Yes, to disown oneself and no longer live for yourself…but only for your Pokemon. No distractions, no commitments…just you and your Pokemon." N stated, staring only at Ash. "Once you've achieved this, only then do you have the right to crush the dreams of everyone around you and climb on top of their shattered hopes. That is what is required of anyone who expects to become Pokemon Master."
N kneeled to collect a stone from the sand. He held it in his palm for a moment before he closed his fingers around it. Then in a show strength, he hurled the stone straight across the river, watching it split against the wall that stood on the other side.
"The purpose of a Pokemon Master is to create unity…not conflict," Ash offered as a rebuttal.
"Conflict is a means to create change, it's through conflict that both humans and Pokemon grow," N reasoned in return.
"But there are other ways to grow besides conflict, no one needs to die or get hurt for the sake of progress," Ash replied as he too bent down to pick up a stone from the beach. "There are other ways to achieve the same thing."
Ash whipped his hand to hurl his stone over the water. It skipped across the surface of the water four times before it reached the wall on the opposite side of the river. With a glance toward N, Ash saw that he was smiling at him.
"Every time we speak, I become more invested in the Pokemon battle that we're going to have," N remarked as he tipped his cap at Ash.
"I'm getting the same feeling," Ash said as he returned the gesture.
Hector was right in more ways than one. The world wasn't just a vast place of strong trainers to meet and battle. There were different beliefs, varying ideas of what was right and wrong…there was so much that Ash had to experience beyond Vermilion City.
And with each passing day, he found himself starving for a taste of it all.
Graduation couldn't come any faster.
A/N
Hello again! How often do I see you guys twice a month? One of the positives of quarantine, although its really starting to get to me. I've learned quite a lot about myself being trapped at home for the last month now. For example, I'm not an introvert like I always thought. I've been starved of human contact for a while and I miss it. But I heard social distancing could last for a long time where I live, so it looks like I'm going to have to make due. I'll survive!
As for this chapter, we're now in the endgame folks. There are just a few more puzzle pieces I have to set down in the next chapter, and we'll see who can put it all together before I unveil all the secrets!
Notable Characters
Hector Mendez. He is an OC who also appears in a prequel I've been writing that I intend to start posting later this month, or hopefully next month. It adds a more to the world outside of the Vermilion City because Caged Wings is very narrow in scope and focused specifically on what's happening around Ash. So, be on the lookout for it!
A big thanks to those who reviewed! I always appreciate the support and don't be shy, I'll happily reply to anyone with questions! So as always, please review.
A shoutout to MjrGenMatt for all his help and I'll see you all at the next chapter! The next one will probably be at some point in May as well! Stay safe everyone!