Ash Ketchum was reflecting.
It was rare thing for him. He was guy to live in moments. At certain times he did think about and when happened he sat quietly and reflected. His mind was focused on different topics and all of them came down to one thing.
Greninja's new form; it was certainly powerful that much he felt through his bond with greninja, he felt it, in a way that he couldn't describe it. It was certainly powerful and for fact he knew he has just scratched the surface of it. He hasn't felt power like this long time, 5 years in his journey through out regions and the only few instance he has seen such power. He believed and gave freedom to his pokemon whether they want to evolve or not, but even than he hasn't felt such tremendous power through final evolution for more than year. Last time he felt such power was when he was in sinnoh and when the evolution of infernape took place, and he certainly remembered Professor Oak telling him another of his pokemon also went through this change when he was in Unova.
But he also know that without control such power was useless, he has experienced it and knew firsthand about it. Now the question was, How to learn it control? He knew that right now Greninja was his strongest pokemon out of all his kalos team, that too counting Goodra which was considered Pseudo-Legendary and taking into consideration that the final evolution took place only recently.
Just how powerful that form would be when it is mastered was the question going through his mind. He knew that Greninja would become beast when he first saw him as froakie, as he only has encountered four other pokemon which right now where his strongest pokemon. He knew that it was time to put the training into final gear as Kalos League was just two months away and even though he wanted to wait for noibat to evolve, after meeting Alain he needed to push things through.
Remembering his earlier battle, another though went through his head.
Amber eyes squinted at the sun setting through stuck on the path where mysterious trainer left through after leaving pokemon centre. "Mega Charizard, huh?" Ash whispered to himself though he couldn't quite put his finger through it.
Jealousy? Anticipation? Awe?
Realizing that the time has come up for certain things to be done, he decided that its finally time. Just then he was taken out of his thought process by tap on his shoulder and a shout.
When he turned around he met blue eyes of Serena, "Did you say something about Charizard, Ash"?
"Just thinking some things", taking of his hat and running through his hands through his hair; he turned around and ask her, "That Charizard was amazingly powerful, right?"
"I have never seen anything like that", She replied, her tone holding certain edge of awe and trepidation to it, "A black and blue Charizard, it certainly put all other mega evolutions we have seen till now to shame".
So it wasn't just him, if a person like Serena, who wasn't battle-oriented would be in awe of that Charizard. As he was right now, he knew he stood no chance against alain with his Kalos team, no-one had that much fire-power, speed and defense to stand up to that beast. He had stood in presence of many champion level pokemon and no doubt that Charizard in his mega form was one of them.
Finally realizing that certain conversation with Professor Oak, he knew that time has come now.
Flash Back
As he was looking towards all his pokemon after coming from Unova, he couldn't help but think that maybe if he had used some of his older member that he wouldn't have been defeated in such pathetic manner. Hydreigon, now matter Pseudo-Legendary or not wasn't up to the level of his Higher member, if he had to guess it was at same level as his Gabite, and that was saying something as he Gabite was still not in his final form. As he was thinking things he didn't notice someone came behind him.
"So what are you thinking my boy?", Professor Oak asked, seeing him gazing over his team. Acknowledging Professor's presence he answered in clipped tone, "Just thinking about some things".
"Thinking about past bring nothing by sadness Ash. We always think what could we have done differently and the result would have been different. I saw your battles at Unova League, and while I am proud that of you coming into Quarterfinals we both know that this wasn't your best. I haven't said anything till about your decisions but seeing you grow up I do consider you as my second grandson after gary. It is admirable that you want to have new start and catch new pokemon when you go to new region but you also have to think about pokemon you have here. They always train themselves as they know that you leave them here so that they can train as much they want without having to go into their pokeballs." Professor said to him in sagely manner as he stood with Ash looking at Gabite and Krokodile clashing through their limbs, even know it was testament to Gabite's physical training that he was able to match blow for blow with much bigger and powerful foe.
Ash just looked at Professor and asked in confused tone, "What do you mean Professor?"
Looking at Ash, Professor Oak could see that even though Ash has matured quite a bit in last years, the loss in Sinnoh did break him and instead of taking break him going to Unova to forget that loss was quite a big mistake on his behalf, as he should have done this sooner. "Well my boy, i know that you want to give the pokemon you train in particular region a chance to prove themselves in conference, but while its admirable you cannot just win on them alone. And also unknowingly you neglect your other pokemon here in ranch as they become lazy and doesn't train like they should be. I can fairly say that only few of your pokemon train on the intensity that you train them with. As they think that now you have gone to new region you won't be using them that much. For example just look at Bayleef, while she is strong, she could have become more stronger and reach her final evolution. While its admirable on your part that you let your pokemon decide whether they want to evolve or not, there are certain barriers which can be only broken through evolution and some pokemon require for that. While Pikachu is exception as you have trained him for long time and he has been accustomed to his form, same doesn't go for all pokemon. You see starter pokemon needs to evolve until their final evolution to reach their full strength. There is reason why they are given as starter pokemon. You have so many starters from different region, honestly looking at your assemble team its quite a force to reckon with if they reach their pinnacle and for that they need to evolve Ash. While it is understandable that you want to prove their strength in their base form, know that that can only carry them that much, they will hit a certain barrier which cannot be broken without evolution. So I am just giving you advice Ash, think on it." Having said his point Professor turned around and started going to his office, though he could see that his talk did have a quite effect on Ash.
Ash on other hand was thinking deeply, and while he doesn't want to admit it, he knew what Professor said was true. Looking towards his pokemon he decided that now it was time to do things correctly.
End of Flashback
Thinking on those lines he knew that time has come to bring some additional firepower, and he just add perfect names in mind.
Turning to Serena he said, "I am going to talk to Professor Oak for some things, and check on my pokemon".
Though Serena was quite busying staring at Ash and day dreaming so she didn't hear what he said and responded, "huh?"
Shaking his head, he knew from past experiences that pointing out her staring would be bad thing, so with a sigh he said, "I am going to make some calls and have some errands to do, so I will see you tomorrow." Having said his piece he left to go inside centre.
Serena on other hand chewed her lip thoughtfully, her eyes on his back as he walked away. It occurred to her that despite massive crush she had on the boy that she was't afraid to admit to herself...she really knew nothing about Ash.
His past at least. He did tell her that he had traveled five different regions with different people, but other than that nothing. Come to think of it, despite having met her mum, she hasn't met his mum yet.
What if Ash's mum doesn't like her? What if she prefers other girls with whom he has traveled before? Come to think of it what if other girls with whom he has traveled with also liked him? Thinking about this she couldn't help but wonder this things.
Ash on other hand couldn't help but sigh, really that girl can be so obvious. He wasn't dense as people say he knew what girls think after all he was fifteen year old, but he wasn't interested in this things now. Honestly this things in his mind would just hold him back, he already realized that all his female companions had some kind of attraction towards him at some point and while it was flattering he didn't want to deal with those things now. And he hasn't met any girl either whom he could he was attracted too. At this point his just stopped this line of thought as nothing comes out of it and made it to the video phones and dialed the phone number of Oak Ranch.
"Hello?"
It was incredibly early in morning, so early that sun had barely began to rise.
Ash sat on bench on one of the training grounds staring at four shrunken pokeballs in his hands. Looking at Pikachu he knew, his partner was aware that what was gonna happen and while he was worried he also knew that now was the right time to make things happen. Ash couldn't help but see that Pikachu was gazing at horizon with sharp gaze. He knew what was going in his best friend's mind, even he had hard time to believe it. All the hard work that they did just going within minutes was still hard for him and pikachu. Zekrom incident did affect both of them, as before that Pikachu was one of his most powerful partner with this four, but now pikachu was playing catching up. That's why he pushed his kalos team hard. While Unova team needed softer hand, coddling them didn't workout and he couldn't make them catch up to his sinnoh team. His sinnoh team was the reason he got till semifinals in Sinnoh, he didn't coddle them, he trained them perfectly and at this point he could definitely say that his Kalos team was shaping up same, but this time he won't make same mistake as he did back than.
Standing up and noticing that Pikachu also took his position by his legs he called out his Kalos team. The field was spacious enough and while he normally would train outside, he didn't want to wake others up with loud sound of his pokemon.
One by one all appeared before him in flashes of light. Greninja, cool and calm as ever met his eyes and nodded his head. Talonflame arrived with squak, with tiny embers appearing from his wings. A broad smirk sat upon Hawlucha's face as he settled into his favorite pose, and Noibat next sleeping standing up and rubbing his big yellows eyes and yawing. Goodra arrived with his smile and saying hello to other team mates.
He also decided that it was time for Goodra to come back, if he was gonna participate in conference that he needed to train and also boost his arsenal. Luckily Goodra agreed as swamps were under control and Keanen was able to transport to him Goodra's pokeball.
Getting their attention, eyes sharp he asked Greninja, "You felt it, didn't you? Charizard's Power?"
Greninja held his firm gaze for seconds than gave firm nod. Accepting the answer, he continued, "That charizard was something else. We may have lost it now, but we won't next time. Your new form is powerful, but we need to learn to control that power, as power without control is like blunt sword. I promised you when I captured you that we will become powerful together, so in same way, we will control this power together and become stronger." Saying this he put his fist forward for Greninja, who needed his acceptance and pulled Ash in surprise hug which he happily returned it.
Separating he got all his pokemon attention and started speaking, "Yesterday I thought few things and decided certain things are to be done. All of you are strong, no doubt about it and you have potential to become really powerful. But at the pace we are going right now, winning Kalos will be a pipe dream if there are people who are on Alain's level or higher. We have been running to many mega evolutions too which makes it more possibility that there will be more in conference."
Locking his gaze with each of his pokemon and ending on noibat he continued, "After meeting this incredibly strong trainer yesterday I have decided that its time for more rigorous training in preparation for league, because without it, you won't stand a chance" Well a lie, as they were now, they could still give paul a hell of battle.
As Greninja stepped back to join other pokemon, Noibat flinched from semi-criticism. Well-deserved considering Ash always praised him and never criticize him.
"Now this training is going to be incredibly tough, Much more than you have done before." His gaze traveling from his pokemon and ending on Noibat's watery gaze and longest and he continued in softer voice, "You don't have to go through it, if you don't want too, as i would never force you into this." This statement was aimed at Noibat and he meant it every word.
Though, unsurprisingly Noibat puffed out his chest and gave a very confident glare to Ash. And there was dragon pride, Ash thought, after training Charizard, Sceptile, Gabite he knew that Dragons were always ready to take challenge head on and were always ready to back up their pride.
He swept his gaze from each pokemon and brought out four shrunken balls, enlarging them and saying, " I have decided to some friends of mine. They are incredibly strong and will help you train. Just know that this four are my strongest partners and one of them has been with me as long as pikachu. So we will start with a battle"
So with a flourish he took a particular pokeball and through it in air.
"Let's go, Garchomp!" with that declared loudly, Ash released the pokemon.
In the flash of light, his one of strongest pokemon appeared. The dragon pokemon towering easily everyone. Out of his entire kalos team Goodra was tallest with being 2 m but Garchomp towered over him with him being 2.2 m.
The massive dual dragon ground type was covered in dark blue colored scales with red underbelly which was going from lower jaw to middle of abdomen, including undersides of arms. It opened its cold golden slit eyes. It had incredibly long and thick tail which ended up with fin and had large fin on its back. It had single claws on each arm which was connected to large talons.
This was the beast that one would look in fear and run away. For this was beast of children nightmares. The beast gave assembled pokemon one look, than giving them snort of derision it turned towards its Ash curiously.
Ash grinned, "Wow look at you, you have become quite strong, and huge. Much bigger since last time i saw you." With that he walked toward it and patted his stomach.
That said, he turned towards his pokemon. All of them stared wide eyed. Even Greninja who saw one at lab tried to keep cool composure, but had a beat of sweat going down. Hawlucha arms shook slightly, and Talonflame's hung limply. Noibat?...well tiny dragon almost covered seeing garchomp's massive frame and Goodra literally took couple steps back.
Ash glanced as tiny dragon shook in fear and tried to hide behind Talonflame but it caught Ash's gaze... than steeled and look at Garchomp's eyes without any fear.
Ash allowed pride to be filled in, as he raised the tiny dragon from egg, and seeing him holding gaze with opponent who was out of its league. Right now none of his attack would even faze Garchomp and supersonic would just tickle his scales.
Which was why last night he had conversation with each of his four pokemon and made sure explicitly to go easy on little guy as their weakest attack could send him in critical condition.
With that being done, he turned around went to platform and said few words to Garchomp, loudly so everyone can hear it.
"Show them your power".
And with that Garchomp roared. It created shock waves which sent almost all pokemon flying, only Goodra and Greninja remaining standing and even then, they were flow few steps back.
Ash just looked at scene with firm gaze and said to Pikachu, "This is going to be fun".