Who I Am - Lightning99
Chapter 54:
Ash and Gladion
Lillie vaguely registered someone rummaging about the room through her half-sleeping state, but the door closing rather hurriedly – in other words, slamming shut – was what properly woke her. She sat up and looked around. Ash wasn't there, which pretty much confirmed that he had been the one making so much noise. That was odd, though. He was always quiet when moving about the room, especially when she was asleep. What was different tonight?
With that question in mind, Lillie shuffled out from under her covers. She flicked a lamp on and moved over to where Ash always left his bag. It was gone, as she had expected, along with his Pokéballs and clothes. That fact created even more questions: what was he doing, and why did he need to be so prepared?
Lillie peeked around the curtains then, hoping to see him. She glimpsed the blue of Ash's t-shirt at the edge of the forest before he disappeared inside, vanishing beyond the darkness. As Lillie frowned, a knock on the door made her jump.
"Mallow! Is everything alright?" Lillie asked upon finding Mallow on the other side of the door. She peered out into the hall. Kiawe stood behind Mallow, and Brock and Dawn were moving towards them.
"I was going to ask you the same thing," Mallow said. "I heard a door slam out here, so I thought I should check in with everyone. It seems like I wasn't the only one that heard it."
"Yes," Brock said, "I heard it, too."
"Me too. Hau sleeps like a Komala, so he didn't," Kiawe said.
"Did something happen?" Dawn asked.
"I'm not sure," Lillie said. "When I woke up, Ash was gone, and I saw him running into the forest. He's always quiet whenever he comes and goes at night, so this is strange."
"Yes, he doesn't like waking anybody," Brock said, rubbing his chin.
"I'm going to find him," Kiawe said, starting down the hall.
"In your pyjamas?" Mallow asked, chuckling to herself.
"Yes," Kiawe said, and he continued forwards.
"Well, let's be honest," Dawn said, "he's not really wearing anything different. Come on, let's get changed and follow him."
By the time they had changed and ventured outside, Kiawe looked ready to explode with impatience.
"I knew you'd wait," Mallow said, elbowing his shoulder as she passed.
"Let's just go and find Ash," Kiawe said. "He could be in danger."
The small forest separating Brooklet Hill and Lush Jungle was strangely lit beneath the dark Alolan night. The canopy usually cast enough shade to impair one's vision as much as a Zoroark's Night Daze might, but tonight the forest seemed to possess a silvery shimmer. Ash could see some Pikipek and Grubbin hiding in the nearby bushes and the leaves rustling just above his head. He could see Gladion several feet ahead, too, striding forward without looking back. If he were not currently following the blond, he might've stopped to absorb the atmosphere. Instead, he quickened his pace.
Ash followed Gladion past a small hollow of a tree in which a family of Lilipup was nestled, asleep, and around a bush full of Fomantis, who blended in with several berries. They emerged into a small clearing encircled by trees on all sides. Gladion stopped at the far side. He looked about himself, then grunted.
"Here is as good a place as any," Gladion said. He turned around slowly, and the diagonal rays of moonlight unveiled a rather serious expression on his face. Ash stood a little straighter.
"You know, don't you," Gladion said.
Ash hesitated.
"What do I know?" he asked.
"What do you think I'm talking about?"
"I don't know. It could be anything," Ash said, choosing his words carefully. He knew that whatever Gladion was referring to concerned Lillie, but how much did Gladion know, and what exactly was he referring to?
Gladion grunted and glared.
"You know that Lillie and I are related, that I'm Lillie's older brother," he said, which confirmed what Ash had been thinking: Gladion didn't know a thing about Lillie's situation.
"Yeah, I know. Lillie told me, but I figured it out before she did," Ash said.
"How?"
"Your looks. Your hair and eyes are so distinct you just had to be siblings."
"I guess that's reasonable," Gladion said.
"Why are you asking?"
"Because you didn't tell me that you know her."
"What?"
"How many times have we run into one another now–?"
"Sorry, wha–?"
"And you didn't even think to tell me you've been with her the entire time?"
"Wait, wait a second," Ash said, raising his hand in a stop sign. Gladion stepped forwards anyway, fists clenched.
"What?"
Ash sighed.
"I'm sorry if this sounds blunt, but I don't think you should expect me to tell you something like that. I get that you are siblings, so maybe I should have mentioned knowing her, but let's be honest, you haven't exactly tried to be my friend."
Gladion stepped back. He levelled his stare to that of a Pokémon using Odor Sleuth.
"I bet you told Lillie that you saw me," he said.
"Yeah, because she and I are friends. I had a reason to tell her, to ask about you, and I thought–" Ash stopped himself and shook his head.
"Thought what?"
"Nothing, the–"
"What did you think, Ash?!"
"The point is," Ash said, staring pointedly at him, "it's different. Lillie and I know each other. I don't know you as I know her, and I – we've barely even talked to each other, Gladion, not long enough for me to bring her up, anyway."
Gladion deepened his frown, stepping forwards again.
"What did you think?" he asked.
"Are you serious?" Ash asked through an exhaled breath.
"What was it?"
"I thought you two were siblings, and she confirmed it. That's it, and that's another reason I didn't have to mention Lillie to you. Since she already told me you're siblings, I didn't have to ask you about it," Ash said, still cautious of his words.
However, in that situation, Ash focused more energy on controlling his tone of voice. Having to lie while Gladion was in interrogation mode was hard but reigning in the part of him that wanted to shout at Gladion was even more challenging. After all, he had abandoned Lillie, and now here he was, demanding answers without knowing why he was being kept in a Smokescreen. All Ash could do was clench his fists, take deep breaths, and keep himself controlled.
But within that anger, another part of him wondered if telling Gladion the truth was the right thing to do, to help the siblings start mending their relationship. So many options flew through his head, but he kept them hidden away. Lillie said she wasn't ready for him to know just yet, so he wouldn't say anything.
"That's it?" Gladion asked after a brief pause.
"Yes!"
"I don't believe you. Why would you not tell me something so trivial?"
"Oh, Arceus – why do you want to keep tabs on Lillie, anyway? She's her own person. Besides, I'd have thought you'd know where your sister was, especially if you care about her that much," Ash said, and even as he said it, he cringed. It seemed he couldn't completely hold himself back.
Gladion glared again.
"What did you say?"
"I'm sorry, that came out wrong. I just – I would've thought you knew where Lillie was, is all, seeing as you're so keen to know everything about her now."
Gladion said nothing. Ash sighed again and rubbed his eyes.
"Why are you so curious about my friendship with her, anyway?" he asked.
"Because she doesn't want to see me," Gladion said. He folded his arms, and his glare became something more accusatory. Ash widened his eyes.
"You – You think it's my fault?"
"What else am I supposed to think? Some random guy appears, and suddenly she doesn't want to see me?"
"I'm not the reason. I'm her friend. I'd never make her avoid you."
"What is it, then?! Why doesn't she want to see me?!" Gladion asked, rushing at him. Ash could have dodged, but he let Gladion grab his shirt. He grabbed on so tightly that his hands were shaking.
"Why are you getting so mad about this?" Ash asked, trying his best to keep his cool.
"Why, Ash?!"
"Just think for a second!"
"Why doesn't she want to see me?!"
"I–"
"You know, so tell me!" Gladion shouted, shaking Ash a few times.
Ash reached up and grabbed Gladion's wrists, stopping him, and he said, in as calm a voice as he could, "Are you sure you know Lillie?"
"W-What?" Gladion asked, his voice losing all of its ferocity.
In that moment of confusion, Gladion's grip loosened. Ash tugged his hands from his shirt and pushed him a few steps away. He flapped his shirt twice, then stared at Gladion. Neither of them said anything, but Ash knew what Gladion was thinking.
"I mean what I asked," Ash finally said, even though he knew Gladion wouldn't like it.
"Lillie is my sister! I grew up with her! Of course, I know who she is!"
"Maybe back then, but what about now? Do you know her now, the person she has become?"
Gladion stepped back again, and again, his anger faded away.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"It's just–" Ash took a moment to piece together how he should phrase it. "How long has it been since you last saw each other? You don't know what Lillie has been doing or what she has gone through. Those things have shaped who she is, so how can you know her without knowing about all of that? Are you still thinking of her as the girl you knew as a child?"
Gladion continued staring at him for several moments. Ash could almost see his thoughts manifesting in his eyes.
"Battle me," Gladion eventually said, retrieving a Pokéball from his pocket.
"What?" Ash asked.
"Go, Golbat," Gladion said, sending out his first Pokémon.
"Gladion, wait. Neither of us is in the right mindset to–"
"Golbat, Air Cutter."
Golbat poised itself in the air and slashed its wings, throwing several curved blades of air at Ash. Ash widened his eyes and dived to the side, rolling into a crouch.
"What in Arceus' name are you–?!" Ash stopped himself. He snapped his eyes shut and exhaled. Then he slowly stood, opening his eyes again. "Right. Ok."
Before Ash could send out his Pokémon, Gladion spoke again. "And battle seriously. I want to fight you at your best."
"I always fight at my best," Ash said, and he sent out Bagon, making Gladion stamp his foot and huff.
"Why didn't you choose one of your more experienced–"
"Don't tell me who to choose," Ash said, leaving no room for argument.
"Fine. Golbat, start this off with Screech!" Gladion commanded, muffling his ears with his hands.
Ash did the same while shouting, "Bagon, Dragon Breath!"
As Golbat's piercing cry pulsed from its wide jaw in blue, wavy rings, lowering Bagon's defences, Bagon breathed a misty blue Dragon Breath that looked almost like fire. Gladion commanded Golbat to dodge, but the Dragon Breath still clipped one of Golbat's wings.
"Ember," Ash called, and Bagon began haphazardly spitting fire. Golbat weaved and ducked through the air, avoiding every attack.
"Golbat, fly among the trees!"
Ash watched Golbat, following the rustling leaves as he dashed about the branches.
"Bagon, charge Headbutt. Be ready."
Bagon's sturdy grey head started glowing white. He turned in a circle, focusing his eyes on the trees above, eyes snapping to wherever a patch of leaves rustled.
"Poison Fang!" Gladion shouted, and Golbat swooped down.
"Behind you!" Ash shouted. Bagon pushed off the ground without turning around, slamming into Golbat's head, repelling him.
Golbat retreated to the trees, and Bagon readied himself once again.
"Go!" Gladion shouted, and Golbat swooped down again.
"To your left!"
"Now!"
"Right!"
"Go!"
"Right!"
"Golbat!"
"Left!"
"Poison Fang!"
"Bagon," Ash began.
"Feint the Head–"
"Use Dragon Breath!" Ash shouted because Golbat came right from in front of him this time.
The misty blue attack engulfed Golbat, knocking him back to Gladion's side, who grunted in obvious annoyance. When Bagon relented, his jaw smoking, Golbat tried to fly again, but its body staggered and faltered, hindered by several strands of electricity zig-zagging about its body.
Ash grinned, but Bagon was not unscathed from their short exchange of blows. Every time he had used Headbutt to counter Poison Fang meant they made physical contact, and given the Screech from earlier, the damage stacked up. And if that wasn't bad enough, a couple of dark, purple bags beneath his eyes and the slightly purple aura encasing his thick hide indicated he had been poisoned.
"There's nothing for it," Ash said, and he threw his arm outwards. "Bagon, run forwards with Dragon Breath!"
Bagon charged as instructed, his fanged jaw set in a ferocious grin behind the misty blue breath.
"Air Cutter to block!" Gladion called. Golbat sliced the Dragon Breath apart, allowing only tiny, ineffective puffs of blue to reach him.
As he was running, Ash saw Bagon falter, and so he decided a gambit was in order. If he were to faint soon, he wanted Bagon to at least do so victoriously.
"Charge through the Air Cutter and use Headbutt!"
"Wha–?"
Gladion was too late, for Bagon lowered his head and ran straight into the Air Cutter, each one slashing and bouncing off of him. He breached the move, and before either Golbat or Gladion could act, Headbutt struck, knocking Golbat back into a nearby tree. Golbat slid down the bark, his eyes swirling.
"How?!" Gladion shouted through gritted teeth as he returned Golbat, briefly praising his battle.
"What do you mean 'how', Gladion?"
"How can you possibly beat me?! Haven't you only had that Bagon for a couple of weeks?! I've been with Golbat for a whole year now!"
"You haven't been listening to me!" Ash said, quickly returning Bagon so as not to let him faint. "Pokémon aren't only strong because of how long you've had them or how many moves they know."
"Then what is it?! What am I missing?"
"It's about how you work with and raise them!"
"Are you saying I haven't done a good job?!"
"No! I have years of experience, Gladion, years in which I've fought with Pokémon people consider weak. First evolutions, second evolutions, Pokémon that don't even evolve – I know how strong any Pokémon can be and how to bring out that strength. Or at least, I know more than you do!"
"You can't say that without–!"
"Yes, I can, because you always comment on why I choose to send out my so-called 'weaker' Pokémon. You have this – I don't know. Why are you so fixated on Pokémon's power?"
"I'm not!"
"Are you sure?" Ash asked.
"I just don't get how I can't beat you! I've defeated a lot of strong trainers in Alola, yet I can't beat you!"
"Why do you need to beat me, Gladion?! Why do you need to beat strong trainers in the first place?"
Gladion reached into both of his pockets, brandishing two Pokéballs.
"Umbreon, Sneasel, let's go!"
"What are you doing? You can't just change the battle format halfway through."
"Just battle me, Ash!" Gladion yelled, his voice cracking at the end, and Ash's patience cracked too.
"Fine! You want me to use some of my strongest Pokémon?!" Ash shouted, reaching into his back pocket. Gladion's eyes widened. "Infernape, let's go!"
He threw out the Pokéball, and Infernape appeared, a frown as angry as Ash's on his face, his head flame flickering more ferociously than it had in a while.
Gladion seemed to focus, then, eyeing Infernape intensely.
"Umbreon, bring up the rear with Shadow Ball, Sneasel, use Aerial Ace!" Gladion called.
Umbreon positioned herself behind Sneasel, and as Sneasel ran forwards, arms coated in a white glow, Umbreon unleashed a torrent of Shadow Balls around her.
Ash took a few seconds to analyse the field. He nodded to his fiery partner.
"Infernape, Thunder Punch into Flame Wheel!" Ash said.
Infernape nodded back and bounded forwards, both of his fists sparking with electricity. He came to the first Shadow Ball and punched straight through it, then he reached across his body and punched another one. Then, he jumped, destroying one above his head, and descended in a flip, breaking another. He punched all around his body, twisting and flipping and sliding, destroying them until he was close enough to Sneasel. At that point, he jumped and spun into a ball of searing red flames, rolling forwards.
"Sneasel, dodge, then run in!" Gladion called, and Sneasel withdrew her attack, jumping away just in time.
Unfortunately for Gladion, Umbreon was just behind Sneasel, and Infernape was too fast. He hit Umbreon backwards, then spun around just in time for Sneasel to land a few blows to his chest with Aerial Ace.
"Mach Punch!" Ash shouted.
Before Sneasel could land her fifth blow, Infernape moved in a blur. He pulled his fist back and punched, striking Sneasel in the chest. She flew through the air into a nearby tree. Unlike Golbat, she jumped up again. She staggered a little but stayed on her feet.
"Umbreon, Dark Pulse into Iron Tail!" Gladion called out.
"Infernape, take it!" Ash called, estimating that, given the little effect Aerial Ace seemed to have, Dark Pulse wouldn't do much damage.
"Sneasel, Screech!" Gladion called.
As Infernape crossed his arms in an X in front of his body, blocking the Dark Pulse, Sneasel's shrill cry echoed throughout the glade, making Ash wince and cover his ears. Umbreon prepared Iron Tail mid-air, about to strike.
"Infernape, throw it at Sneasel!" Ash shouted.
Umbreon swung its glinting tail, but Infernape reached up and caught it – a spark of pain shot across Ash's hand. Ash swivelled on his feet unconsciously, and in one motion, Infernape swivelled and threw Umbreon at Sneasel, who was not fast enough to dodge. They collided hard, making them both skid across the ground.
"Follow up with Flare Blitz!" Ash called.
Infernape yelled out his cry, and an inferno of sizzling blue flames, burning so hot at the edges that they turned white, encased his body. He crouched down, placing one hand on the ground, throwing his other behind him – an action Ash found himself mimicking – then pushed off, darting through the air and into Gladion's team. The move exploded as it hit, flames scattering into the air, and both recipients flew back to Gladion's side and past him. They bounced and slid across the ground, and when they stopped, both of his Pokémon were unconscious.
"Wha–"
As Gladion seemed at a loss for words, Ash sucked in a deep breath, suddenly feeling like he had been the one battling, not Infernape. He looked up at Infernape, who grinned at him from inside the dissipating blue flames. Ash wondered just when he and Infernape had reached that level of strength.
"What the hell…?" Gladion asked. He sounded more shocked than angry. But, inevitably, that lasted for only a moment; in the next, he was growling under his breath. "What the hell?! How can you be that strong?! That was a two on one!"
"Gladion, you're not thinking straight! You're too angry. You can't battle like that – trust me, I know! I've been there. You can't–"
"Shut up! What do you know about me?!" Gladion asked.
"Nothing!" Ash shouted. "I don't know anything because you won't tell me! Why are you–?"
Ash stopped himself when he realised that what he had just said wasn't true. He did know one thing about Gladion, and he didn't know how he hadn't made the connection earlier.
"I don't have anything to say–"
"This is about Lillie, isn't it?" Ash asked.
Gladion looked up quickly, eyes wide.
"You're not just angry that I didn't tell you I know her. The battling, the fixation on strength and defeating strong opponents – it's all for Lillie, isn't it?"
"Shut up."
"Gladion, I'm trying to understand!"
"You can't."
"Why not–?"
"You wouldn't be able to understand!"
"Gladion, tell me! Lillie's important to me, too!"
"Shut up! I'm the only–!"
Gladion stopped himself, looking away.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"The only what, Gladion? Her only brother? The only person who can care about her?"
"No–"
"Then tell me! What is–?"
"I'm the only one that can protect her!" Gladion shouted.
Gladion's words were like a crack of thunder. The glade fell so silent Ash wondered if he had lost his hearing entirely, but even if he had, he didn't need it to see how Gladion's eyes looked suddenly lost, suddenly overwhelmed and desperate.
Looking into those eyes, Ash wondered if Gladion knew about Lillie's situation, but then he realised that wasn't it. He had left before her true hardships began, but he had seen the neglect. He had witnessed his mother changing. He knew enough.
"Gladion–" Ash tried.
"We haven't finished," Gladion said, reaching for a Pokéball on his belt.
"Gladion, wait! You're not the only one that wants to, or can, protect–"
"Stop it."
Ash sighed, watching Gladion's hand hover over one of his Pokéballs. He hesitated, then moved his hand to another one, sending out a Lycanroc instead of what he initially planned to send out.
"Infernape, re–"
Before Ash could give the order, one of his Pokéballs opened. Lycanroc appeared, staring straight at Gladion's Midnight Lycanroc.
"Lycanroc?" Ash asked.
His own Wolf Pokémon looked back at him, his emerald eyes set and ready to fight. Even if Ash wanted to change Pokémon, Lycanroc probably wouldn't have accepted it. And anyway, Gladion's Lycanroc was already running towards them.
"Howl as you approach!" Gladion shouted, and Lycanroc did just that, a red glow signalling that he had buffed his attack. "Thrash!"
"Gladion, wait– Lycanroc, use Accelrock to dodge," Ash said. Gladion's Lycanroc threw a fast palm strike, but Ash's zipped to the side just in time, his coat aglow with a bright white light. Gladion's went for a kick, and Ash's dodged again, appearing just behind him. Gladion's kicked backwards, catching Ash's in the face, then Ash's vanished again only to reappear beside Gladion's, striking his side. They exchanged blows until Gladion's rocked on his feet, confusion setting in.
"Lycanroc!" Gladion shouted, and his Lycanroc turned to him. He threw something, and as Lycanroc bit into it, the cloudy swirls in his eyes vanishing, Ash realised it was a Persim Berry.
"Lycanroc retreat," Ash called, and in a flash of white, Lycanroc was at his side, Accelrock finally fading.
"Fight back!" Gladion shouted, throwing his arms about him.
"Gladion, please stop. I get it, ok? I get why you're doing all of this now, so just talk to me," Ash said.
"No!"
"Why? Because I got you to slip up and tell me what's wrong? Because you want to take everything on by yourself?"
"Rock Slide!"
"Gladion!" Ash shouted, but it was too late. A large wall of rocks spawned in the sky just above his Lycanroc, and Gladion wasted no time in giving the command to make them fall. "Lycanroc, Accelrock into the air, then Thrash to destroy the rocks!"
Lycanroc did as said, leaping into the air in a flash. The light from Accelrock transferred itself onto his paws, and he started kicking in all directions, breaking up the rocks into tiny chunks. By the time Lycanroc came out the other side of the move, he had destroyed all of it, and it seemed he had a few more kicks in him, for he darted at Gladion's Lycanroc, delivering several kicks to its body.
Unfortunately, that made Gladion grin.
"Counter!" he shouted, and his Lycanroc pulled back its fist, grinning. It punched hard, striking his Lycanroc right in the side, causing him to crash to the ground.
"Gladion, please stop fighting! Listen to me! You don't need to do this on your – no, you don't even need to protect Lillie! Even if you did, you can't do it like this!"
"Yes, I do! You have no idea what she went through!" Gladion shouted.
"I know more than you do!" Ash yelled, feeling the words strain his voice. He widened his eyes, his anger fading. He shouldn't have said that.
Gladion looked stunned for a second, but it didn't stop him.
"Shut up! Lycanroc, Thrash!"
"No, Gladion, you need to hear this! I know a lot more than you do, and do you want to know why?! Because I care about Lillie too!" Ash shouted louder than he had before. So loud, in fact, that it seemed to echo through the trees, to make all other sounds void, plunging the glade into absolute silence. Except for one thing.
"Ash…?"
It was Lillie's voice; Ash recognised it immediately. He spun around, and there she stood with some of his friends, looking at him.
"Lillie," Ash said, his voice softening.
"Gladion? What's going on?" Lillie asked.
Suddenly, the sound of a scuffle began, and Ash realised Gladion's Lycanroc hadn't stopped. He was laying on a Thrash to his own Lycanroc, who was still down after the Counter.
"Gladion, call him off!"
But Gladion didn't seem to hear him. He was looking only at Lillie.
"Gladion, can you hear me?!" Ash shouted, snapping Gladion to attention. He still didn't act, so Ash ran towards the two Lycanroc, intending to break it up himself. But he didn't reach them before something he hadn't expected happened.
Ash's Lycanroc's eyes snapped open. Instead of their usual emerald green, they were as red as Gladion's Lycanroc's. And they were angry. He swiped at Gladion's Lycanroc, knocking him back, then charged without Ash's command.
"Lycanroc!" Ash shouted, but it didn't stop him. He reached Gladion's Lycanroc and used Thrash.
"Lycanroc, retreat!" Gladion called, but he didn't listen, either. He readied his own Thrash, and they continued fighting.
First, it was an even Thrash battle, lasting longer than usual, then they paused, panting, confused. They waited out the confusion, but as soon as they snapped out of it, they continued fighting. This time, Ash's Lycanroc used Accelrock, and Gladion's used Rock Slide, both hitting and blocking and dodging.
Both Ash and Gladion tried shouting and running in, but neither of them could stop the fight. They were too immersed, and if Ash was honest, he was shocked. He had never seen his Lycanroc act like that before.
Another Thrash battle began, and when they succumbed to confusion again, Ash realised how useless shouting was, because instead of waiting out the confusion, they continued attacking. His Lycanroc used Accelrock, and Gladion's tried to use Rock Slide to counter, but because of the confusion, they went of course.
Ash's Lycanroc pushed off the ground, heading straight towards Kiawe. Without even thinking, Ash jumped in the way. Lycanroc slammed into his chest, but he moved at such an angle that Ash managed to stay on his feet. He tried wrapping his arms around Lycanroc, but the impact of the blow was so much that he flew backwards instead, shoes sliding across the earth.
He heard his friends call his name, but his focus remained on the battle, on the Rock Slide now heading straight towards them.
"Pikachu!" he called, voice strained against his aching chest.
But Pikachu knew what to do. He jumped up, Iron Tail ready, and started breaking the rocks. He couldn't quite get them all, so Ash threw himself into the path of the final one, which had been heading towards Lillie. It struck his shoulder, causing him to falter, but neither Lycanroc noticed. His friends noticed, and while the Lycanroc charged at each other again, Lillie and Kiawe were at his side immediately.
But Ash didn't stop to let them check on him. He pushed Kiawe aside and looked to his left.
"Infernape," he said, holding his shoulder.
He didn't need to say anything more. Infernape nodded and dashed forwards. He stepped between both Lycanroc as they were about to collide. Instead of each other, the respective Thrashes hit Infernape, who stood like Regigigas between them.
Gladion seemed dazed, his stare set on Ash.
"Infernape, endure it!" Ash shouted, and Infernape nodded again.
With each strike he took, Infernape didn't falter. Ash felt every slash across his body, too, but he didn't falter either. He stood firm, and he watched.
Gladion continued staring at him, as did his friends, and it took a while, but when Infernape sustained enough damage, he caught both Lycanroc by their limbs, stopping them dead. He lifted them, held them there, and everybody else watched as it started.
Infernape closed his eyes and hunched forwards slightly. A red glint peeked through his eyes lids, and he snapped them open again. He threw his head up, revealing a pair of glowing eyes as red as the flames on his head. Infernape sucked in an audible breath, then cried so loud it nearly made Ash cover his ears. The flame on his head blew up, expanding into a torrent of crimson fire that stretched higher than the trees and dug up the earth beneath his feet. When it settled, it flickered and crackled so much that Ash could hear it loud and clear.
"Infernape," Ash said, "use Flare Blitz."
Infernape spun, throwing both Lycanroc through the air into one another almost faster than was perceivable. Then his body ignited, encasing itself with blue flames much larger than his earlier Flare Blitz, nearly filling the entire glade. He crouched again and darted forwards, striking both Lycanroc. The move exploded, sending a large gust of hot air through trees.
When the dust settled, both Lycanroc were unconscious, and Infernape was stood over them, his eyes calmed, but his fiery mane just as large and ferocious.
"W-What the hell?" Gladion said, his voice wavering, and that was the last thing Ash heard before his body gave out. Several sharp jolts of pain shot across his chest, arms, and legs for each strike Infernape had endured, and then they went numb; his eyes stopped seeing what was in front of him, and his mind seemed to cloud itself to a degree not even Defog could clear. He was unconscious before he even hit the ground.
Hi, I am back with another chapter!
Once again, this has come out later than I'd have liked, but that's probably a given with me now. One reason this is late: I really don't like presentations/pitches, and that has been my life for a few weeks... Yeah... Another reason this is late: I like to keep you guessing. Yeah, it's definitely the second one. 0_0
I realise I should shout out you guys who have been helping/pointing things out for me, so I'd just like to say thank you to AmaranthineWolf7 for telling me I completely forgot about Bonnie! What a fool I've been! That mistake has been rectified. Basically, in my mind she was with Red's group, but I hadn't actually written it down, so if you go back a little bit, she's magically placed herself in the timeline. Having so many... so, so many... pages of this document in one place really helps fix such issues. As for Daisy, well, she was meant to be nothing more than an Easter Egg. As you can see, I already have trouble dealing with the characters I have.
As always, thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed! Oh, and also, thanks for the reviews and kind words, I really appreciate it! Let me know what you think, and I'll see you next time!