Here's chapter 2 as promised

Chapter 2

Aboard the S.S. Chatot

Ash quickly woke up, and stared at the clock which showed 9:00, he was shocked that he woke earlier than expected since he usually wakes up 2 hours later when he takes naps. Sighing, he slowly carried himself up and looked at Pikachu who was still sleeping; he smiled at the sleeping Pikachu and stood up, and began doing his stretching exercises.

"Ahh, that feels good." As he stretched his arms upwards, but upon saying that, Pikachu slowly opened his eyes, and yawned loudly.

"Chaa…"

"Oh, sorry about that Pikachu, did I wake you up?" But Pikachu simply shook his head and began to stretch his arms and legs.

Ash smiled and continued to stretch his muscles. After the both of them finished stretching, they head outside, grabbed their room keys and locked the door. But after doing that, Ash suddenly stopped in his tracks and began to think deeply. Pikachu leapt to his shoulders and began to poke his master's cheeks.

"Pikachu?"

"Ah, it's nothing, Pikachu." He chuckled, "It's just this ship is so big I don't know where we should start exploring."

Then, Pikachu leapt from his shoulders and began to run, Ash wondered why he'd run off like that but he started to run after Pikachu. As they went to the stairs of the ship that goes to the 2nd floor, Pikachu stopped and pointed to the map he found the day before.

"Hey, there's a map of every floor of the S.S. Chatot here. Why didn't you tell me earlier, Pikachu?"

Pikachu only sighed and began to poke at the map, prompting Ash to look closer,

"Hey, they have a restaurant at the 2nd floor!" He quickly drooled, "C'mon, let's start there buddy!" And then sprinted towards the stairs, Pikachu happily agreed as he ran after his hungry master.

"Whoa, the food smells so good!" Ash happily said as he opened the restaurant doors, and to his luck, it is an All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet, and its free for upcoming students and transferees of the University. He quickly snatched a plate and began placing many kinds of food. Pikachu quickly noticed a ketchup bottle at a vacant table and quickly sat and began to eat its contents. While, Ash was so busy grabbing all the food his stomach can take, he accidently bumped into someone he knew too familiar of.

"Hey, watch it you Idiot! I almost spilled my foo-" A dark-haired boy said as he turned around to look at the annoying person that bumped into him only to see his eyes widen in surprise.

"Hey, its Ashy-boy. How've you been, buddy."

"Oh, Gary is that you? You look… uh the same as always." Ash was surprised.

"What was what you punk? Of course, I still look the same, it's only been a few months since we last seen each other at Graduation you idiot!"

It was Gary all right, Ash's best friend and one of his greatest rivals. But only Gary is one step ahead of him in any kind of games they've competed in. Ash still couldn't beat Gary even if he is one of the best trainers at their school. He had brown large spiky hair, and still wore his favorite purple sweater with a necklace with is shaped like Yin and Yang but its colored green and yellow. A navy blue pants and brown hiking boots that reached to his knees.

Upon staring at the mountain of food on Ash's plate, Well, some things never change, do they… He thought to himself and chuckled. Since Ash is going to take a while longer, Gary proceeded to the vacant table where Pikachu was, and patted it on the head.

"Hey there, Pikachu, good to see you again."

"Pika, Pikachu." He replied as he put down the ketchup bottle to enjoy the warm and gentle touch of his touch while he's rubbing its cheek as it cooed in delight.

He then stopped after a short while and proceeded to eat his meal. Ash came afterwards, and Gary wasn't surprised that the mountain of food he saw earlier was bigger than before. He then grabbed a handkerchief and put it on his lap as he began to eat his humongous meal.

But before he was able to make his first bite, he heard a very familiar voice:

"Oh my sweetest princess, your radiant beauty has blinded my eyes- " Wait a minute, that voice sounds too familiar, Ash looked around to see a man with spiky hair, weird looking eyes that appears to be closed all the time.

"- as I am forever lost by the shine of your love, as your prince in shining armor, I will be at your side as I – OWW! OWW! OWW!"

"Will you please stop that?! You're embarrassing me in front of everyone in here." A female figure suddenly came out of nowhere and pulled the ear of that man. I looked closer as the figure slowly revealed her orange hair, her large emerald eyes, her yellow vest and matching shorts that only reached to her thighs, and yellow sneakers. The girl pulled his ear with only one hand as the man couldn't resist the pain and had to follow her as she went away from the waitress who sighed in relief.

"Hey Brock! Misty!" Ash quickly stood up and ran after them, while Gary and Pikachu followed behind.

"Ash? Is that really you?" The girl turned around, released her tight grip to Brock's ear and quickly ran towards him. The two hugged tightly, it has been two years since they last met but by the two of them, it seems like forever.

"Oh Ash, I missed you, you've grown up a lot, haven't you?" She happily asked.

"Yeah I have, haven't I?" He replied and looked to see Brock right in front of him smiling; he released the hug and approached and shook hands with him.

"Hey Brock, long time no see, buddy. You're still flirting with girls I see."

"Heh, same as always Ash, same as always."

Brock released the handshake as he saw Pikachu running up to him and jumped to his strong arms while Gary trailing behind him.

"Hey, how've you been doing, Pikachu? You're more energetic as ever." He stroked his back while Pikachu licked his cheek.

"And good to see you again, Gary." He extended his hand to Gary, who smiled and shook his hand with him, Misty also greeted Ash's rival and friend.

But something is strange, what are those two doing in this ship? Ash couldn't help but ask,

"Hey, I've been wondering, what are you two doing here?"

The two looked at each other and sighed.

"Uh, sorry Ash we forgot to tell you, but we're students at Alkia University." Brock said.

"Yeah, since summer break is almost over, we have to return to the university." Misty added.

"So, we can see each other again, just like old times right?" Ash happily said as the two agreed in unison.

"And the two of you will enroll there, right?" Ash and Gary nodded.

"Well, when we get there, why don't we give you the grand tour in this awesome university." Brock proposed to the two in which they immediately accepted the kind offer.

But Ash's stomach had to growl, reminding him that he still hasn't eaten yet as he blushed in embarrassment as the three including Pikachu laughed at him.

"Hehe, I still haven't eaten yet so why don't you guys join me?" Ash asked to his two older friends.

"Sure thing, we haven't eaten yet either since Brock had to get distracted by every girl we pass by on our way here." Misty said leaving Brock embarrassed at himself.

"Hey, I know what we can do after this!" Misty quickly said.

"Well then, what is it?" Gary asked.

"I'll tell you guys later, why don't we eat first?" The three agreed and headed to Ash and Gary's table.



Ash had to run towards the table, leaving the three behind since he cannot contain his hunger any longer, his food was a bit cold, but he didn't mind as he quickly munched down his food. Pikachu quickly followed and grabbed the half-empty ketchup bottle and continued to eat its contents, as Misty and Brock head their way to the Buffet table and put their food.

After the gang finished their meal, they head outside of the restaurant.

"So Misty, what were you suggesting before that we can do?" Ash asked.

"There's a pokémon training room just below us where trainers and coordinators can test out their skills and battle against each other."

"Really? Pokémon battles? I am so there, come on Misty!" Ash quickly grabbed her arm and started to run.

Misty could only blush as Ash's arms pulled hers, as she felt his strong but gentle grip.

Misty led the gang inside the hull of the ship; they looked around and noticed that the walls, the ceilings, and floors were reinforced with titanium metals.

"They told me that they made the entire hull to be 'indestructible' in case for any accidents that may happen in here." Misty grinned as she said that.

The gang walked for few minutes until they stopped to see a giant glass door with rubber cushions at the edges of the glass so the noise will not be heard outside which may disturb the other passengers.

"Here we are, you guys. Just behind this door is the 'Battlefield'." Catchy Name

Ash hurriedly pushed the doors and as he pushed, he could hear faint cries and shouts entering his ear. The gang went inside the 'Battlefield, but all they could see was a Nurse Joy which Brock immediately went love-struck over her and a few trainers who were with their pokemons, some of them were resting while others were bandaged up, it would seem they had an intense battle.

"This is a mini-Pokemon Center you guys." Misty told them as she extended her arm and pointed to a passage-way beside the counter. "That, is where we'll be going."

"Oh I see, so this place is where trainers can treat their pokemons after battles right?" Gary said with his hand on his chin.

Ash couldn't help but overhear a conversation made by three trainers who sat at a bench.

"Man, that guy is unbeatable."

"Yeah not even those upperclassmen could beat his pokemon. And to think he's only an upcoming freshman here."

"I hear he already has a winning streak of 8 and counting. Man, that Kirlia of his must be a pretty high level pokemon, its not even fully evolved."

"Dude, if that Kirlia does evolve, he might be the strongest trainer alive, heck he can even beat the Pokemon League with only one pokemon."

Ash was getting pretty curious and excited about his unbeatable trainer that the three were talking about, he approached the three and had to ask,

"Excuse me, but what about this 'unbeatable' trainer? Is he really that strong? If it is, I want to challenge him."

"Don't push your luck, kid." The male trainer said, "Even your weak Pikachu cannot stand up against his Kirlia, even my Bibarel cannot defeat it."

As Pikachu heard the mockery statement, his cheeks began to spark as he made his battle stance, glaring at the trainer who stepped away from Pikachu.

"Whoa, take it easy there, I'm not looking for a battle right now since all of my Pokémon are still resting, and I'm just telling you that challenging him is a waste of your time."

"Hmph, I don't care what you say, my Pikachu is pretty strong. I can stand a chance against him."

"Whatever, kid. Just don't come whining at us when you get beat in there." As the male trainer said, he left the room.

A tall trainer, who heard the conversation, stood up and approached Ash.

"Hey, I just heard that you want to challenge the 'Unbeatable' trainer?"

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

"Uh, because I challenged him earlier but my Combusken ended up losing anyway. Because of me, he's at his ninth winning streak."

"Whoa, not only that he's that strong, he's only an upcoming freshman like I am." Ash was getting really excited, nothing pleases him more and his pokemon than to battle stronger trainers than him.

"Please Ashy-boy, only I can beat him, besides you haven't beaten me even once before, do you think you have a chance against him if you can't even beat your rival?" Gary just had to butt in.

"Shut up Gary, I can beat you anytime, anywhere. You were just lucky in all of our matches before."

The tall trainer knew that he needs to somehow stop this argument before it gets worse.



"Come on guys' chill, if you want, I can guide you to where he is."

"Really, you'd do that? Thanks a lot." Ash shook hands with the tall trainer.

"Oh, sorry I forgot to introduce ourselves properly, I'm Ash. This is Gary, my rival, and there's Misty and Brock." He pointed to his two friends, prompted them to come closer and greet themselves.

"Nice to meet you all, I'm Harrison by the way."

The gang went inside the stadium with their new friend, Harrison. The gang was shocked to see what the 'Battlefield' really looks like, it was really big. Trainers and Coordinators everywhere. As they were sightseeing, Ash noticed 4 battle arenas on their left and asked Harrison.

"That's the Trainer's Arena." Harrison pointed to the four arenas. "This is where trainers test their skills against one another. Not only to kill time but improve on their strategies and such."

And then, he pointed to the 4 battle arenas on their right.

"That's the Coordinator's Arena." Harrison said. "This is where coordinators try to appeal by countering the moves of their opponents with one of their own."

Harrison also added. "Oh yeah, the rules in these Coordinator battles, is that each coordinator are given five tokens, if their moves get countered, they lose a token, and if any trainer that loses all of their tokens first will be defeated. Unlike, there at Trainer's Arena, its only a 1 on 1 battle and the victory will be declared via knockout or forfeit."

"Wow, the rules of a Coordinator match are really complicated."

"Good thing you chose to be a trainer, right Ash?"

"Shut up, Gary."

"Are they always like that?" Harrison whispered to Misty.

"Yeah, they always fight and argue at the littlest things."

The gang made their way through crowds until they reached the arena where the 'Unbeatable' trainer is at.

"Anyone else?" The trainer shouted. He is wearing a white jacket with a hood covering his face except for his nose and mouth. His Kirlia stood ready for battle.

Everyone whispered among themselves who would take him on, but most of them backed off. Fearing that the results in this match would always be the same for them.



"I will!" Ash quickly ran towards the arena and entered the empty trainer's stand and looking at the hooded trainer with determination.

Everyone was shocked to see the cocky trainer and began whispering to themselves. Some were even mocking him. Ash ignored all of them, for his mind is only set on beating the hooded trainer and win.

"Well then, this will be my tenth." The hooded trainer grinned.

"Or this is where your… uh winning streak ends." Ash retaliated with a lame comeback.

"Enough talk, let's battle."

"Sure thing, Pikachu I choose you!" He called Pikachu as he leapt from Ash's shoulders and into the Battle Arena, as sparks rose from his cheeks. The hooded trainer only smirked.

"Well then, this will be a 1-on-1 battle as always, no time limits and the match is over if either of the pokemons are unable to battle or forfeits." A referee came and raised his green and red flags, pointing to the two trainers. "Although we all already know who the victor is." He mumbled to himself.

"Are the trainers ready?"

Both trainers nodded.

"Well then, let's begin!"

Light pokeshipping here, but I intend to bring more of this growing love after a few chapters or so. So Read and Review.