Right Here is Chapter 2. I wanted to say thank you to those who favorite and left review!
I should warn everyone though, updates may be a bit slow. I'll try my best to be consistent, but I can't make any promises.
In the meantime, why not sit back, relax, and enjoy…
Chapter 2: The Brawl
'How could they?' Ash thought as he raced toward the Lab, tears now flowing freely down his face. Ignoring the calls of the Humans Serena, Bonnie, and Clemont behind him and the cries from the Pokémon Pikachu and Noivern as they followed as well, rushing down the dirt roads of Pallet.
As the Lab came nearer and nearer, a thought occurred to the hurt teen. 'Wait! Brock and May were not there! And Gary too! Maybe…I hope…' but he pushed those thoughts aside as he neared the lab and burst through the front door.
At that moment, he was embraced by a figure in red, more specifically, May Maple, Max's older sister, and his traveling companion through Hoenn and Kanto Battle Frontier challenge. She apparently had been crying due to her red puffy eyes, but Ash didn't care, he needed all the support he could get right now.
"It's ok, it's ok," she soothed, as the Kalos companions entered the lab with Ash's Pikachu and Noivern.
Ash cried and seethed for a good 10 minutes, before looking up to see who else was in the room. He felt relieved to see his mother, and Professor Samuel Oak, as well as his longest traveling companion, Brock Harrison, and first rival Gary Oak. He was also surprised to see May's biggest rival, Drew Hayden as well. All of them had looks of support and sympathy on their faces, although Drew looked a little jealous as well.
"I can't believe this," fumed Brock, "I can't believe they would do this. They even tried to get me to help!"
"What just happened?" exclaimed Clemont, "I thought they were your friends, Ash!?"
"I thought so too," the raven haired trainer muttered darkly, finally separating from May.
"Ash," Brock continued, "we heard what they were planning from your mom. I believe I speak on behalf of everyone here when I say that those traitors are wrong."
Ash looked up, ears perking up at this.
"I agree with Brock," interjected Gary, "You are an incredibly strong Trainer. They had no right to say such things."
Looking at the others in the room, Ash began to feel better as they all had looks that said 'Screw those traitors. You're better than them.' Ash felt much better seeing them, but surprisingly, the feeling of dread wouldn't go away.
"Thank you guys," Ash said softly, beginning to perk up, while Pikachu rubbed against his leg affectionately.
Ash was happy for his friends, but still couldn't shake the feeling that something even worse was going to happen that day.
He was soon proven correct.
Ash suddenly heard what sounded like Poké Balls sending out Pokémon outside. Just as he was about to ask what the sound was, he heard a voice that sounded like Misty's shout:
"KETCHUM!"
'Shit' thought Ash as he realized that they had forgotten that the traitors were unconscious in Delia's yard. Ash got up and hurried to the door followed closely by May, Drew, Serena and Brock.
As Ash put his hand on the doorknob, he felt another hand on his shoulder. Turning to look, he saw it was Brock's hand, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, and giving Ash a reassuring smile. Ash smiled back at Brock and his good friends, before opening the door.
They were shocked at what they saw outside.
The traitors, minus Tracey stood outside each with a Pokémon or several out. Misty had her Gyarados, Max a Gardevoir and Grovyle, Dawn her Piplup, Mamoswine, and Quilava, Iris had her Dragonite and Excadrill, with Axew jumping out of her hair to join in, and Cilan had out his Pansage, Crustle and Stunfisk.
"What the hell guys!?" shouted Ash.
"You ATTACKED US" Growled Misty.
"And you tried to get Ash to give up!" Serena shouted back.
"So?" shot Max, "He's weak! We're here to prove it!"
"With this many Pokémon?" snorted Serena, "Yeah, I doubt that!" Bock nodded in agreement with Serena.
"May? Drew?" Max suddenly realized that his sister and her rival were there, standing with Ash, "What the hell are you too doing with that loser?"
"Shut up Max!" Shouted an incensed May, "How could you be so arrogant?"
"I'm not!" Max tried to 'reason,' "I'm just sick and tired of hanging around that weakling Ketchum! You should be too! You could be so much more!"
This comment caused Drew to growl, as he recalled a similar comment from his past, unbeknownst to the others.
"Right," said Dawn vainly, "It's time to show that weakling that he we are WAY better than him!"
"Dawn!" May shouted at her former friend, before turning to the rest, "Why the hell are you doing this? How could you!"
"It's simple really," said Dawn, "I realized that by hanging out with this weakling, I myself am getting weak. We need to show him we are better, and that his dream is out of reach. Unobtainable!"
At that moment, a Poké Ball opened on Dawn's belt, and her Ambipom emerged with what appeared to be an angry look on its face, standing with her Pokémon.
"See," Dawn said with a sneer, "Even your former Pokémon doesn't believe in you!"
Ash was about to retort, when he noticed Ambipom give him a look. It was only for a fraction of a second, but he swore he saw it as the purple monkey began charging a Focus Punch…
Iris interrupted his train of thought with a screech. "Enough of this! Let's show this kid what we're made of! Dragonite, ICE BEAM!"
Dragonite proceeded to launch a beam of ice straight for Ash's group, but Drew quickly sent out his Flygon to intercept the Ice-type attack.
"Use Flamethrower, make the ice melt!" Drew shouted
This command caused Ash to snap out of his daze, and he pulled two Poké Balls from his belt.
"GO! Greninja! Hawlucha! I chose you!" Ash shouted as the two Poké Balls opened up, revealing his Pokémon. Sending out Pokémon appeared to be the best move to everyone, as Brock sent out his Steelix, Marshtomp and Sudowoodo, May sent out her Blaziken, Venusaur, and Glaceon, with Skitty popping out as well. Serena sent out Braixen and Pancham, before calling inside to alert the others, and Drew sent out his Roserade and Absol to join his Flygon. The traitors saw this as an opportunity to attack, ordering their Pokémon to attack.
As the sound of Pokemon cries and attacks filled the air, Ash proceeded to give out his orders
"Greninja, use Double Team! Make it more difficult to hit a target. Hawlucha use High Jump Kick on Mamoswine!"
As Greninja copies began to fill the field, Hawlucha charged in at Mamoswine to try and get a super-effective hit in. High Jump Kick hit, but Mamoswine seemed relatively unfazed.
"Shit" Ash thought, "I forgot about Mamoswines defense." It was then he realized something.
"Oh no! Hawlucha get out of the way!"
Too late: Mamoswine bit into Hawlucha with Ice Fang, causing Hawlucha to Freeze.
"Got you!" Shouted Dawn triumphantly, Now Mamoswine! Use Take Down! Finish that weak Pokémon off!
Ash's eyes widened in horror, as Mamoswine smirked. The Mammoth Pokémon began to charge in with a Take Down attack…
…when Mamoswine was suddenly blindsided by a Focus Punch attack from the side. Dawn gaped, Ash smirked, and Hawlucha used the opportunity to break out of the ice.
"Well done!" Shouted Ash in triumph, "Thank you Ambipom! Great Job!"
Ambipom smiled happily and cheekily, but this only seemed to incense Dawn.
"You want to be with that weak trainer!" shouted Dawn, as she pulled out Ambipoms Poké Ball, "Fine by me! But you are sooo in for it!" With that, Dawn proceeded to chuck the Ball at a nearby rock, which caused the device to crack and break. With that, Ambipom was released from Dawn.
Ash would have called out to the now-trainerless Pokémon right away, but was interrupted by a Flamethrower from Iris' Dragonite. He ducked out of the way, narrowly avoiding being scorched by the flames. Ash quickly composed himself, and began to realize that he and his friends were, at best, a stalemate against the traitors. Realizing that perhaps they could change the odds if some of Ash's reserve Pokémon joined the brawl, he turned to his Pikachu, who had just finished frying Piplup to a crisp.
"Pikachu," Ash called to his starter, "I can't imagine why everyone else cannot hear this. Run inside and tell the others what is going on!"
Pikachu, not wanting to leave his Pikapi, but realizing that the situation could get a LOT worse without the others, nodded and hurried inside the open door to the lab.
"Big mistake," shouted Cilan, "parting with your vintage is always a bad option! Crustle, Rock Wrecker!"
Crustle proceeded to launch the Rock-type Hyper Beam attack at Hawlucha, but Serena's Pancham, who had just finished launching a Dark Pulse attack against Max's Gardevoir, jumped in front of the attack. Launching a Stone Edge, Pancham managed to block most of the rocks, with the remaining ones missing their target.
"Thanks Pancham!" grinned Serena, with Pancham grinning and showed a peace sign.
"Right," growled an infuriated Ash, "take this Cilan! Hawlucha, Karate Chop on Crustle!"
"Pancham, Arm Thrust on Crustle as well!" Serena added.
Hawlucha and Pancham proceeded to attack Crustle with their physical Fighting-type moves. After the moves struck, Crustle looked worse for wear, but still was hanging on.
Ash smirked. "Finish this Greninja! Water…"
But he was unable to finish the command as Gyarados' roar and a terrified shriek from Ambipom alerted everyone to Gyarados' location. Gyarados had just fired a Flamethrower at Ambipom, Burning her. As the monkey struggled to stand, Gyarados began charging up a Hyper Beam attack.
Everyone's eyes widened in horror. "Move Ambipom!" Ash called, even though he could tell that Ambipom was too hurt to make it in time…
Suddenly, a burst of fire collided with Gyarados, and another monkey with a mane of flames emerged from the burst, punching Gyarados and causing it to miss with the Hyper Beam.
"Fern," Ash's Infernape said in a badass style, as he helped Ambipom to her feet. And Infernape was not the only Pokémon of Ash's that had emerged from the lab door behind them. Ash's Kingler, Muk, Bayleef, Totodile, and Krookodile, among others began to emerge. And they were growling at the traitors.
The sound of a zap and a scream rang out, and a burnt out Tracey came scrambling from behind the labs corral, followed by an angry Professor Oak and Rotom, with Clemont and his Luxray following behind the professor.
"IF you ever…" warned Professor Oak, who looked like he was trying his absolute hardest to remain calm "…set foot in my lab again, you can bet that I WILL call the police, and have you removed from my premises in handcuffs! I am disappointed in you Tracey. If you couldn't already tell, you are done here!"
"You're outnumbered," Gary voiced from behind Ash, as Gary emerged, glaring at the traitors with his Blastoise, Umbreon, Electivire, and Arcnanine.
Several of the traitors were about to retort, but then realized with so many Pokémon against them, they were at a huge disadvantage.
"Forget them," growled Misty, as she moved to recall her Pokémon. One by one, the traitors realized that the situation was not good for them, and moved to return their Pokémon as well.
"You're still weak Ketchum," grunted Max, as he and the traitors turned to leave, Misty helping the crisp Tracey, "You couldn't defeat us without help. We will show you one day. Remember that."
With that, the traitors turned and walked away down the path, toward the Route 1 exit. Ash and the group watched until they were out of sight. Just to be sure.
Once the traitors were out of sight, Ash sank to his knees. Tears began to fall from his eyes.
"Ash?" May asked.
"They're right…"
"Huh?"
"I couldn't take them alone. I couldn't protect anybody…" Ash managed to sob out.
"Ash come on. Don't…"
"They were right…" Ash mused. "I'm pathet…"
SLAP!
Everyone stared. Serena had just slapped Ash, who had fallen to the ground with a red mark on his cheek. May was about to retort, but Drew put a hand on her shoulder.
"Wait," he advised, with Brock nodding.
"Don't you DARE for one minute believe what those assholes think!" Serena exclaimed. "Just because someone hateful and bitter thinks your weak, does that mean it is true? NO! They decided to make some horrible attempt to put you down? They had no right to tell you what to do! They had no right to tell you to give up! They had no right to tell you you're worthless!"
"I agree," said Clemont, "You didn't see what Tracey tried to do. He was trying to sneak back into the corral, and convince your Pokémon to leave you!"
Ash stared, but said nothing, so Clemont continued.
"I don't think any of your Pokémon decided to betray you Ash." Clemont smiled, as a deafening roar of multiple Pokémon cries sounded out.
"What's more," continued Serena, "one of their Pokémon joined you."
This seemed to snap Ash out of his daze, and he looked up to see Ambipom grinning in a comforting way.
Ash refrained from saying anything for a moment. A whirlwind of emotion was rushing through him. Pain. Anger. Hurt. He was trying to avoid shifting to hating the traitors. Then, Serean's words rang through his head again.
'Just because someone hateful and bitter thinks your weak, does that mean it is true? NO!'
"You…you know what I'm gonna do?" Ash whispered, keeping his hat over his eyes.
Serena shook her head.
Ash immediately turned his cap around so that the brim was at the back, revealing his eyes. It looked like either a passionate fire or a rage filled fire had been re-ignited in his eyes.
"Prove those traitors WRONG!"
And that's Chapter 2! Please, let me know what you think.