Man, talk about a Two month trip to California! Wow! In retrospect, I really need to stop making a habit of this! Lol, anyway, enjoy the long chapter.
Chapter ~ The Rush to 1,024!
Ash slumped onto the cave walls, taking a heavy sigh as he and the crew looked amongst each other. They had arrived in the highest part of the mountain, and took shelter in the nearby cave, due to the wind. The trek up had not been easy on Ash, considering the stress he had just shared with his pokemon in battle against Red, and it had gotten to the point where Meganium had to carry him up the mountain.
To make sure no one jumped them, Justin and Caleb were standing guard outside, having mild conversation.
"So, how you said you looked into Ash's memory to see the battle?" Justin quizzed as he squinted further out, only to see two Buneary playing in the snow.
"Yea, the battle was pretty freaking epic. Ash and Pikachu even used Bolt Strike against Charizard to try and win!" Caleb answered, looking towards his friend.
"That's pretty awesome, I want to face Ash using that." Justin stated, once again squinting at two figures approaching. Before his eyes widened.
Caleb looked at his friend. "Justin, what do you see?" He asked, before Justin ran inside, screaming something. Caleb looked at his friend in confusion, until he looked back and saw a figure approaching.
"So... everyone only has one pokemon at perfect fighting condition?" Clemont asked, everyone nodding. He sighed.
"This might be a problem. Uh, Anabel? How many people are left?" Clemont quizzed.
Anabel checked the map, nearly gasping, getting everyone's attention.
"What, what is it?" Clemont quizzed, before Anabel held up the Holocastor. What everyone saw was quite surprising.
"The numbers since this morning's check had shrank all the way to One Thousand One Hundred!" Anabel exclaimed.
"This is perfect! We have time to think of a battle strategy, and we can rest a bit, too!" Clemont said in joy. Everyone else was cheering too, except Aubree.
"Wait a minute guys! Some of our pokemon are still in need of medical attention! And from what Ash said, Pikachu really needs to get to a pokemon center too! Plus we only have one pokemon on us in battle condition! Are we really able to just stay here?" Aubree quizzed, silencing the joy cries.
"She has a point." Ash said, as he fed Meganium. "With only one pokemon, and Pikachu in dire need of medical attention, we really can't just sit here." He stated.
So what will we do?" Abel quizzed. As the crew sat there, Justin came in screaming.
"Guys guys guys!" Justin wailed, coming to a stop, and pointing his hand towards the cave entrance.
"What is it?" Anabel quizzed, as Justin continued to stutter.
"Y-you're not gonna believe this, it- it's-"
"It's Max!" Caleb shouted from the outside, interrupting Justin, but explaining what Justin had wanted to say. Everyone got up and looked outside, to see Max walk in, a big grin on his face.
"Max! You're here?!" Clemont asked/said, confused as too how he was seeing Max right now, considering a few days ago he was holding off the champions, also known as a Suicide mission.
Max puffed out his chest, with a cocky grin. "What, you didn't think any champion could stop me and Jirachi, did you?" He kept his cocky grin, until Aubree came up behind him.
"They did beat you, didn't they?" She asked. As she did, Max's body went limp, as he fell to the floor.
"Yes..." He said miserably.
"Wait, then how are you here right now?" Justin quizzed curiously, as everyone sat down with Max, listening in to hear the story that was to come.
*FlashBack*
"Iron Head, Jirachi!" Max ordered. Jirach charged towards the opposing Garchomp, intending to smash it's head into the land shark, before Dragonite rushed forward, and pushed Jirachi away with a Dragon Claw.
Jirachi landed with a thud, before being picked up by Gardevoir's psychic, and being launched into the air. As Jirachi fell, they were struck with multiple Hyper Beams. Jirachi nearly crashed into the ground, before regaining control of it's body, and hovering slightly above ground.
Diantha frowned. "You should really give up; continuing will only end in further harm to your pokemon." She almost pleaded, not wanting to hurt the little pokemon any further. By this point, even Lance agreed.
"There is no point in continuing. You've succeeded in helping your friends get away. Continuing now is pointless."
Max ran up to Jirachi, scooping the wish pokemon up in his arms as it almost collapsed. Max knew better then them how much pain Jirachi was in, if only that wish had arrived in time. He looked to the sky to see the sparkle was not yet ready. He sighed in defeat, before getting Jirachi's pokeball. Before he could return Jirachi, however, Jirachi floated out of Max, and stared down the opponent.
"I refuse to give up!" Jirachi said through it's own telepathy, shocking Max and the champions.
"You have no idea what Max and his friends have been through these past eight years! They were shunned from their families, forced into exile, and had only each other! I will not let Max go down so easily! He will stay in this tournament!" Jirachi proclaimed, as the sparkle in the sky finally shimmered, and shot down towards Jirachi, restoring it's health.
Lance sighed. "I'm sorry that you think that, Jirachi. Please forgive me for any further harm you must endure." He said as the Champion's pokemon readied another attack.
Iris looked at Max and Jirachi, recent events being too much for her brain to handle all at once. First, Clemont beats her in battle, claiming that Oak had been lying. Then she visits the Salon Maiden, who claims the innocents of Ash and co, and now even a Legendary Pokemon was sticking up for a child! Iris felt guilt run through her stomach. Had Oak really lied to her? Ash had always been such a child when she was with him, and that was only for a few months, so she never got a real chance to learn too much, so when a World Renowned professor tells her that Ash became desperate, and forced his pokemon to train day and night, nonstop, it wasn't hard to believe.
But now, she was already too far in. She had already made their lives miserable. What could she do, really? If she helped Max, Oak would definitely find out, and it wasn't like she could fix the broken bond with Ash. Yet, if she didn't do something, Iris knew that guilt in her stomach would only grow.
The Village of Dragons Elder came to Iris' mind, recalling a speech she had once given her.
"Never fear what others will do and think. You must do what YOU believe is right, no matter the cause."
Putting her hand to her chest, Iris knew what she needed to do.
"Guillotine!" Iris shouted. Haxorus, automatically knowing his targets, charged up the silver attack, and hit all of the other Champions pokemon dead on, since they didn't have time to react to Iris' attack.
'Bzzt! Champion Pokemon Defeated! Teleporting now for recovery!' The five champion's machines said, teleporting them all away with shocked faces. Max and Jirachi just stared, unsure of what to think.
Iris shook her head, before running over to Max. He backed away a little, remembering who she was before, she held her hands up.
"I mean no harm." She said quietly. Max continued to stare, unsure if he should believe her.
Iris put her hands on her head, knowing it was too late to go back now. "Look, I- I'm gonna help you find your friends, ok? I'm not seeking redemption, I'm not asking for forgiveness, and this isn't a trick." She said, knowing Max was suspicious. She started walking in the direction that Ash and co had taken, with Max following.
Max looked at her, before inhaling, and then exhaling. "Then why are you helping?"
Iris stopped, once again putting her hand to her chest, and looking back at Max.
"Because this is what I feel is right."
*End Flashback*
"And that's what happened." Max finished.
"So, Iris is here?! Where is she?!" Abel asked, running outside to see if Iris was still there. All that remained outside, however, was a small snow storm.
"No, she disappeared the second she figured out where you were. I don't know where she is now.." Max stated, looking at the outside of the cave. Everyone sat in silence after that, occasionally coming up with a possible plan as to what to do, with it getting denied in one way or another. Nobody wanted to suggest what they knew they needed to do.
"Well, we all know what we're thinking. We need to get those numbers down, as soon as possible." Clemont said, looking at everyone, who stayed silent.
"But that requires that we split up, and I don't think anyone really wants to do that." Justin claimed, looking over to Ash. "Granted Pikachu is in critical condition.."
Brock began to shuffle through his bag. "The one time I don't bring medical supplies, and we actually need them." He closed the bag, looking at the group.
Ash continued to stay seated, with Meganium nuzzling her head against his shoulder. Ash looked at her, both of them nodding.
Ash stood up, finally, and looked over the group.
"I'm going. I've gotta end this and get Pikachu medical care." Ash asserted, walking towards the cave exit. Everyone looked at each other, before Clemont stopped Ash.
"Wait Ash." Clemont stopped him. "We at the very least need to split into groups. It's safer that way." He proclaimed, grabbing a stone and writing on the ground.
"So we'll split into groups of two. Brock and Dawn will go together. As will Aubree and Abel. Justin and Caleb, and then Me and Ash. Anabel can't battle, so she can go where she pleases. Everyone ok with this?" Clemont finished, with no one complaining.
"Alright, let's go!" Everyone got into their groups, with Anabel going with Abel and Aubree. Everyone ran out, going into their own separate groups.
X.x.X
"Solar Beam, Meganium"/"Thunder Luxray!" Ash and Clemont yelled respectively. Meganium charged up the solar rays, as Luxray fired off the extra bolt of electricity. The Gyarados was fried by the attack, effectively knocking it out as the Krookodile rushed Luxray.
Luxray and Krookodile clashed, Luxray dodging the opposing attacks as Meganium continued to charge the attack.
"Finish this, Krook! Use Earthquake!" The opposing trainer shouted. Krookodile raised it's leg, before stomping it into the ground, creating a powerful tremor.
"Into the air, Luxray!" Clemont shouted. Luxray leapt into the air as the Earthquake reached them. "Now, Ash!" Clemont shouted, looking towards Ash.
"Do it, Meganium! Solar Blast!" Ash shouted. Meganium fired a powerful ray, triple the size of a normal Solarbeam. The attack smashed into Krookodile, shoving it's body into the dirt, and pushing it twenty feet back.
Krookodile slowly got up from the attack, grinning, before falling backwards. The opposing trainer frowned, before returning Krookodile, and teleporting away.
"Let's keep going." Ash stated, Clemont nodding.
X.x.X
"Brave Bird Combo, on the double!" Abel and Aubree shouted, their Talonflame both enveloping themselves in blue energy, before disappearing. The Torterra and Serperior, looked around them, before the attacks smashed into both of them. The snake and turtle pokemon flew back from the attacks, smashing into a nearby plateau.
Abel and Aubree high fived from the effective attack. Anabel, walked up, handing the two a potion.
"That's the last of our potions, I would suggest not using Brave Bird unless necessary." Anabel warned, the two teens looking at her, nodding.
X.x.X
"We're here, now we're here, oh! Now we're over here!" Caleb taunted, both him and Prankster disappearing into the shadows over and over. The Aegislash missing all of it's attacks.
"Grr, where are you?!" Sawyer quizzed, looking up and down for his opponent. His notepad was on a page of Gengar, trying to figure out how to beat the opponent.
"Right above you!" Caleb shouted. Sawyer looked up, only to see a Shadow Ball come crashing down onto Aegislash, knocking it out.
Sawyer sighed in defeat, before being teleported away.
In the distance, Justin's Gallade clashed with a Medicham. The two continued to go neck and neck with their fighting type attacks.
"Into the air!" Justin commanded. Gamma shot into the air. "Now, Psycho Cut!" Justin continued his attack. Gamma's arms glew with psychic energy, before shooting down waves of the psychic attack. Medicham was pelted with the attack, before collapsing from exhaustion.
As the trainer was teleported away, Caleb ran up to Justin, with Prankster appearing from the shadows.
"Let's keep going!" Caleb asserted, with Justin nodding.
Caleb and Prankster disappeared into the shadows, with Justin looking towards Gamma. Everything became dark as a line of psychic energy formed from the two. The lines crept towards the other, before missing, as the darkness disappeared. Justin sighed, before he and Gamma ran to catch up with Caleb.
X.x.X
Professor Omni looked on in amazement. The numbers had already shrunken down to One thousand and thirty! The battle would be over very soon. After a long week of non stop battles, the numbers had shrunk even further. Omni could barely contain his excitement.
The numbers continued to drop.
Twenty nine.
Twenty eight.
Twenty seven.
Twenty six.
Twenty five.
And Twenty four.
Omni pressed a button, before all the remaining trainers heard a noise coming from their transceivers.
"Congratulations, Trainer! You have survived Round Two! You will now be teleported to one of our many teleporting devices! Please be patient, as this will take some time, and remember to move as soon as you appear back at Genzu!" The transceivers said, with everyone slowly being teleported out of Little Rock Island.
Ash grinned, as he took Pikachu out of his pokeball. Pikachu was still breathing, albeit barely.
"Don't worry, buddy. We'll get you medical attention soon."
Two Days Later
The Crew, including Bonnie and Serena, stood in the lobby of the pokemon center, all anxious. After they had been teleported, they immediately found Serena and Bonnie, who were ecstatic to see everyone. Brock and Dawn were nowhere to be found, having kept to themselves, as well as avoiding Oak and Misty.
Nurse Joy walked out with Pikachu on the roller, Ash getting up and running over.
"Pikachu!" Ash shouted, as Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder.
"It's great to see ya buddy!" Ash said, running his hand along Pikachu's head.
"It's great to see you too, Ash!" Pikachu proclaimed happily.
Everyone smiled, happy to see everyone was ok.
"Well, that was an interesting week." Justin said, laughing now that everyone was safe and ok.
Anabel nodded. "That was most certainly interesting. Does anyone know when Round three will start?" She quizzed. Abel grinning, before sitting up.
"Omni thought it would be a good idea to give everyone a week to relax, but after that, we get into the Doubles matches! So let's relax and enjoy our time off from battling!" Abel proclaimed, everyone jumping in excitement.
X.x.X
Professor Oak looked at May and Misty, extremely frustrated. "What do you mean, They've disappeared!?" He shouted in anger. "And where is Iris?! Lance told me she helped that little brat Max! I need to have a word with the three of them!" He yelled in anger.
Misty sighed. "Look, I don't know where they are! They just disappeared in the last two days, but we'll find them! Ok?" Misty yelled, before going to bed.
Oak sighed in frustration, before going to his computer. Brock, Dawn, and Iris were all pains in his side, but nothing too serious to his plans. A call erupted from his computer. It was Professor Pine.
Oak hit the answer button, before seeing Pine's face pop up.
"Hello, Oak. How are things going on your side?" He asked. Oak frowned. "We're almost complete on my side. But we've had some complications with three of our allies. They turned on us, I believe, but I'll find them. Omni is also getting a bit suspicious, but I think I can get him out of the way. That child, Abel, will be my ticket. What about you?" Oak finished.
Pine grinned. "Well, I ran into Micheal, or should I say 'Justin'. It seems he made it passed Round two, but that's no problem. It just so happens I have some allies of my own here. They were originally just here for the tournament, but I know they'll be happy to help. You said that 'Justin was an ally of Ash, correct?" Pine asked. Oak nodded. "I think we can take care of that. I'll take care of 'Justin', you take care of Abel and Omni." Pine said, signing off.
Oak sighed, before looking out his window. Just a little longer, and everything he was promised would be his.
And thus, the arc ends. What are Oak and Pine up too, and what will happen to Abel and 'Justin'? All will be made known, but you must be patient!
Until then, I'm Justin, signing off.
Break Arc:
Chapter ~ Franklin's Discovery
Chapter ~ Forgiveness
Chapter ~ Genzu Pokemon Show!
Chapter ~ Abel pt 1
Chapter ~ Abel pt 2
Chapter ~ Abel and Minun pt 3
J/M Arc:
Chapter ~ Justin's Dark Past
Chapter ~ Jungle Escapades! Pull through, Aubree!
Chapter ~ Franklin's Truth
Chapter ~ Justin and Anabel: The Perfect Team?!
Chapter ~ Mew Plays Match Maker?!
Chapter ~ Ash and Abel vs The Legendary Duo!
Chapter ~ A Battle Interrupted
Rainbows Arc:
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