Day 21 — May 23rd
Route 40, south of Olivine City
Arms gripped tightly around Ash's waist and blood pounding in her ears, Misty fought hard to control her racing heart.
Flying was not exactly near the top of her 'things-I-like-to-do-in-my-spare-time' list, given that she was a Water-type Pokémon trainer and had limited experience with airborne travel. The fact that Charizard was currently rocketing through the skies to follow the fleeing form of Suicune down below made the current experience even more unsettling. That wasn't to say that the redhead wasn't enjoying herself; the flight was exhilarating in a terrifying sort of way, the wind whipping through her fiery locks and causing her to clench Ash just a little tighter.
As if that wasn't enough, the mere idea that she and Ash were chasing Suicune of all Pokémon was simply astounding. Suicune was the epitome of Water-type Pokémon, embracing and balancing all the different aspects of water which she strived to model her own fighting style after. Tranquil one moment, torrential the next. But Suicune was more than that…it was grace, nobility, and serenity epitomized.
Down below, the lithe Pokémon jumped nimbly upon the ocean, barely rippling the water as it leapt towards the mainland. Such an act was a testament to just how perfect a Water-type Pokémon Suicune was.
Misty sighed dreamily, and Ash spared her a short glance. "Everything alright back there?"
"Mm hm. Just…Suicune's amazing."
Ash rolled his eyes before returning his gaze forward, trailing Suicune with sharp intensity. Women, he huffed mentally. Actually, he corrected, shooting his friend another glance, it's probably just a Misty thing. A small grin wormed its way across his lips at the thought.
The Glitter Lighthouse was within view when Pidgeot caught up with her trainer, flapping hard to stay even alongside Charizard. Clutched in the bird's talons was the Pokéball containing Lugia. "Hey," Ash acknowledged, holding his palm out, "good job." Pidgeot dropped the sphere in his hand, crooning proudly at his praise. "Take a rest," he said, recalling the Flying/Normal hybrid. Then brown eyes returned to following the Aurora Pokémon.
Suicune jumped the railing that lined Olivine's piers, racing along the wooden platforms towards the hustle and bustle of the city. Shouts and cries rose into the air as the Water-type sprinted past pedestrians, spilling groceries and purses alike. Hats flew into the air as the northern winds Suicune embodied gusted in the creature's wake, rustling skirts and mussing loose hair. Ash shot a look at the city's clock tower as they flew over the seaside environment, noting that it was almost two in the afternoon. Man, we've been gone for awhile… They had made good time, especially with how long it had taken to surf to the Whirl Islands. Flying was clearly the quicker mode of transportation, if a bit more tasking on the Pokémon.
The only question was how long Charizard could last while ferrying two adults around Johto.
Olivine's urban grey landscape faded into the distance as Suicune darted towards the spruce and pine trees that lined Route 39. It was fortunate that the Water-type Legendary apparently wanted to be followed, as Ash was sure that it could easily lose them in the thicket of the sprawling forest if it wanted. The dark-haired trainer signaled Charizard to take it easy, prompting the Fire- and Flying-type to glide after their target rather than actively push to chase it. There was no point in tiring out the Flame Pokémon unnecessarily if Suicune didn't want to lose them.
Time blurred by as they flew above the canopy. The sprawling grassland of the MooMoo Farm was off to the west, herds of Miltank grazing peacefully in their pastures. Through an opening in the treetops, Ash saw Suicune suddenly bank away from the farm, shooting northeast to where he spied a large clearing set in the middle of the trees. He tapped Charizard and directed him to follow.
The conifer forest opened to reveal a crystal clear blue lake with a single Pokémon Center sitting off to the side. Behind him, Ash heard Misty gasp. "Lake Lucid," she whispered in awe. "It's been so long since we've been here."
"…Huh?"
Ash could feel Misty's eyes boring into the back of his head. "You don't remember this place, do you?"
"Ehh…"
"You're absolutely hopeless, you know that?" Without letting him respond, she continued, "Lake Lucid is famous for its specialty in Water Pokémon healthcare, even though the Nurse Joy here is terrified of Water Pokémon. How can you not remember this place?"
"Hey, we went on a lot of adventures when we were young. Sorry if I don't remember every place that we've been."
"Hey, does it look like Suicune's slowing down?"
Suicune came to a halt atop Lake Lucid's pristine water, head angled to watch its pursuers. "Charizard, down," Ash commanded, patting the dragon's leathery neck. The Fire/Flying hybrid descended in lazy circles, landing with a heavy thud not far from the Pokémon Center. Ash allowed Misty to unwrap her arms from around him and slide off Charizard before disembarking the creature himself. He and the Aurora Pokémon engaged in a stare-down, the zephyrs that followed Suicune whipping its ribbon-like tails around and causing his purple mane to billow out behind him. So majestic…
Misty poked Ash's shoulder, dragging him from his stupor. "Why do you think Suicune led us out here?"
The Frontier Brain shrugged. "Could be a number of reasons, really. Suicune is said to be able to purify any form of contaminated water, so it's possible it feels connected to large reservoirs of clean water. I'm also betting that because it's a Water-type Pokémon, it likely wanted to give itself as much of an advantage as possible."
"Then why didn't it just challenge you on the ocean?"
"Probably wants to make the fight fairer for me." He turned to face Suicune. "Is that it?" The canid creature bowed its head slightly, acknowledging Ash's point. "Pretty noble. But I'm ready for you, Suicune. Bayleef, let's do it!"
The Grass-type appeared in a flash of light, baying her name cheerfully. She turned and tackled Ash, nuzzling the underside of his chin affectionately. Ash, prepared for such an action, merely laughed and patted the Leaf Pokémon on the head. "It's good to see you, too. But we have a big battle ahead of us."
"Bay!" asserted the Pokémon, suddenly all business. She turned around to face Suicune, stance stable and prepared for anything. Suicune attacked almost immediately, blowing out a stream of multicolored bubbles at the Grass-type.
"Counter with Razor Leaf," Ash commanded. Bayleef swung her head, sending a flurry of sharp leaves at the Bubble Beam. They popped the spheres and continued on towards Suicune, who blew them astray with a heavy Gust, reinforcing its image as the embodiment of the northern winds. The Water-type then fired an Aurora Beam, the rainbow of colors soaring towards its target. Bayleef avoided it with ease, the sheer distance between her and Suicune proving to be a boon for evasion. Suicune spewed forth another Bubble Beam, which Bayleef popped with a Vine Whip at Ash's behest. The two green vines then began to chase the Legendary beast, forcing the Aurora Pokémon to execute a series of nimble leaps and jumps to avoid getting hit.
I need to find a way to hinder its speed, maybe get it on land. "Bayleef, try to trip Suicune up!"
"Bay bay!" The two vines immediately diverged from their attack pattern. One angled in from the side, attempting to strike the Water-type on the flank. Suicune skipped left to avoid it, but was caught unaware as the second creeper swept an arc parallel to the lake's surface, catching the Legendary's paws. It stumbled, the first ungraceful act it had displayed thus far, and Bayleef took the opportunity to wrap the initial vine around her opponent's neck, tightening it with a resounding crack.
The sound was enough to snap Suicune to attention, for it angled its neck enough to bite the creeper, fangs emanating an icy blue aura. Frost began to form on the vine, crawling up its length and making the normally flexible and durable attack brittle. Suicune thrashed around, breaking Bayleef's hold on it, but before it could escape, the second vine snapped around and encircled its midsection. Ash reacted first. "Swing it around, Bayleef!"
The Leaf Pokémon grunted its name in exertion, putting all her strength into lifting the other Pokémon. In an impressive feat of strength, she heaved the Aurora Pokémon into the air and threw it onto the ground in a makeshift slam, crying her name victoriously. "Alright Bayleef!" cheered Ash. "Now follow it up with Body Slam!" Bayleef galloped forward and rammed herself into the downed Suicune.
Ash half-hoped the battle to be over with that – Bayleef had pulled off impressive knock-outs in the past with similar strategies a number of times – but true to its Legendary status, Suicune craned its head and shot an Aurora Beam at the Leaf Pokémon's back as she ran past it. Bayleef cried out as the Ice-type attack struck home.
Suicune took the opportunity to leap to its feet and fire another Aurora Beam at the Grass-type. Bayleef's body created a furrow in the ground as she was pushed away by the multicolored attack. When the Leaf Pokémon didn't move, Suicune took up position at Lake Lucid's shallows and stared at Ash. The Frontier Brain didn't register the Legendary's gaze, brown eyes focused on the fallen form of his exuberant Johto starter. "Bayleef, are you okay? Can you stand?"
The Leaf Pokémon groaned and twitched, struggling to drag her battered body upright. "Bayleef…" Ash murmured. He slowly reached for the Grass-type's Pokéball, prepared to recall the dinosaur-like creature. I'm sorry…
"B-bay…" Ash looked up to see Bayleef on her feet, one eye closed and teeth gritted in pain. He couldn't tell whether it was determination or sheer stubbornness pushing the Grass-type to continue battling, but Bayleef's willpower was undeniably impressive. Then, before he could even decide whether or not to withdraw Bayleef, she let out a cry of her name and was encased in white light. Ash gaped openly.
When the light faded, the six-foot, grass-green form of Ash's Pokémon became clear. Two yellow antennae swept back from where Bayleef's head-leaf had been, and the ring of leaves around her neck had fully sprouted into a magnificent pink flower with six petals. "Mega mega!" Meganium exclaimed proudly.
"…Didn't see that coming," Ash commented aloud.
"I guess you just bring out the best in your Pokémon," Misty remarked.
Whatever the reason, Ash didn't have time to analyze it. Suicune chose to attack before either trainer or Pokémon could find their bearings, expelling a violent Hydro Pump at the newly evolved Meganium. The Herb Pokémon sidestepped the attack. Ash was on the verge of giving his Pokémon a command when a feeling of deep serenity overcame him. Misty also seemed to be affected, asking in a thick voice, "What's…going on?"
"Meganium's…Sweet Scent…" Ash replied, voice just as sluggish. Despite the lethargy caused by the aroma Meganium exuded, Ash felt oddly at peace. Beside him, Misty's eyes were closed in relaxation, a tranquil smile playing on her lips. Idly, Ash thought that she looked rather pretty under the influence of Sweet Scent, with all the tension and temper he had gotten used to over the years drained from her system.
Even Suicune seemed to be taken in by Meganium's fragrance, its red eyes half-lidded. Wild Pokémon began surfacing from the lake, drawn in by the enticing aroma. Meganium took advantage of the Legendary's distraction, throwing out two thick vines at the Water-type. Suicune snapped out of its daze at the last second, dodging further into the center of the lake. The blunted tips of Meganium's Vine Whip slapped the water with an echoing thwock.
A thick mist began to emanate from Suicune's position, spreading out to cover Lake Lucid's surface. The wild Pokémon began to disappear into the water's depths as Sweet Scent's effect was nullified by Suicune's Mist. Ash also shook off the torpor caused by his Pokémon. As a Bayleef, the Grass-type had learned had to reel in the aroma that emanated from her neck pretty quickly. Apparently she would have to learn to do so again now that the effect had been amplified (and altered somewhat) by her evolution.
An Aurora Beam split the thick vapor, which Meganium was barely able to dodge. Following that was a stream of bubbles, prompting the Grass-type's Vine Whip to pop the spheres. Ash mentally applauded Suicune's strategy of using the mist to conceal its attacks, even as it made it more difficult for him to battle. "Let's take care of this mist, Meganium. Sunny Day!"
Meganium's flower shone a bright white, the petals angling to point skyward. Rays of light broke through the mist surrounding the large Grass-type. Almost immediately, the rest of the fog cover began to dissipate, giving way to the bright sunshine of the weather-manipulating move. The Herb Pokémon's pink flower retained its white glow as Suicune's form became visible on the lake. Ash smirked. "Solar Beam!"
The powerful energy attack lanced across the distance between the two Pokémon, its speed multiplied thanks to Sunny Day. Suicune only had time to lower its head, causing the Grass-type attack to strike the crystal there. The Aurora Pokémon slid several feet across the water's surface; it struggled against the assault before finally refracting the beam upward. By the time Suicune disposed of the Solar Beam, a slew of leaves was already closing in on its location; it inhaled and blew.
Instead of a mere gust of wind, ice balls were expelled in a strong zephyr, freezing the leaves and continuing on towards Meganium. The Blizzard attack swept over the Herb Pokémon and the surrounding area. Ash and Misty were forced to duck their heads against the cold, flurries settling on their shoulders and scalp. When Ash looked up, icicles were hanging from Meganium's antennae and flower, the intense rays from Sunny Day dulled and gone. "Meganium?" he tried.
Meganium toppled to the side, stamina spent.
Ash recalled the Grass-type with a mournful air. "Meganium, you did an amazing job. You wanted to win so badly that you evolved. Your work won't be in vain." The Frontier Brain directed his attention to Pikachu. "Let's show Suicune just what we're made of, buddy."
"Pi-ka!"
Suicune seemed to take this affirmation as a signal to begin, for a second Blizzard immediately gusted towards them. "Pikachu, Counter Shield!" Ash shouted even as he shielded his face with his arms. Streams of electricity danced around the rodent, zapping any snowballs that crossed their paths. When the snowstorm abated, the raven-haired trainer looked up and grinned. "Quick Attack!"
As Pikachu dashed towards the Aurora Pokémon, Ash felt Misty grip his arm in an iron-clad hold. "Ash, are you insane? Suicune's standing in the middle of a lake. Pikachu can't run on water."
"No," grinned the Frontier Brain, "but he can run on ice." He gestured to Lake Lucid, and Misty noted that the wide area which Suicune's two Blizzards had swept over was now frozen solid, paving a path directly towards the Water-type Legendary. "Go into Iron Tail," he called.
Pikachu twisted his body, throwing his hardened tail at the surprised Suicune. The Aurora Pokémon lowered its head into the assault, blocking the Steel-type move with its crystal just as it had against Meganium's Solar Beam. There was a resounding clang as tail met crystal, followed by a grinding sound as each Pokémon fought for leverage against the other. Ash decided to take advantage of the stalemate, ordering his friend to use Thunderbolt.
Electricity surged into Suicune's body, momentarily stunning it and forcing the Legendary to drop its guard. Pikachu's Iron Tail overpowered the Water-type's defenses, slamming into Suicune's head and sending the canid creature into the water with a splash. As Pikachu landed on the lake's icy surface, Suicune's crystal crested the water, aglow in a plethora of colors. An Extrasensory blasted out at the Mouse Pokémon before he could react, sending him sliding along the ice.
Pikachu recovered and rushed into a Volt Tackle at his trainer's behest before Suicune could properly regain its footing, but a Hydro Pump from the Water-type threw the rodent askew. The Mouse Pokémon bounced back quickly, balancing on all fours atop the ice with sparks shooting from his cheeks. Suicune – back to its position atop Lake Lucid's surface – merely stared the creature down. There was a standoff as both Pokémon waited for the other to make a move, Ash giving no commands so as to not throw his oldest Pokémon headlong in an attack.
Finally, Suicune lifted his head and bayed at the sky, one long, soulful note. Dark clouds gathered over Lake Lucid, and water poured down from above seconds later. "Rain Dance," Ash murmured, recalling how Zapdos had done the same thing at the Power Plant. Suicune was using the weather-oriented move to increase the power of its Water-type attacks, but Zapdos had used it to increase the accuracy of its Thunder…
Ash grinned. Oh, that'll do nicely. "Pikachu, shoot a Thunderbolt into the sky!" The Electric-type obeyed with an enthusiastic 'Pi!' Electricity twined about the clouds, deepening the sky even further with their blackness.
Suicune unleashed another Hydro Pump, this one faster and twice the size of its previous one. Pikachu took the attack with a cry, his trainer shouting encouraging words to him all the while. When the deluge ended, Pikachu remained standing, thoroughly drenched and panting. "Thunder!" Ash commanded. The Mouse Pokémon called down a brilliant yellow-white ray of lightning, engulfing the area where Suicune stood.
Simultaneously, another bolt – this one pure gold in color – jetted through the sky and struck Lake Lucid's bank 100 yards from Ash and Misty's position. Ash was too caught up in his battle to pay attention, but Misty turned to make sure the lightning strike hadn't started a fire. She gasped, shaking her companion's arm to get his attention. "Ash, you might want to see this."
"Hold on, Mist, the battle's not over yet." The Frontier Brain's eyes remained riveted to the spot where Pikachu's Thunder had fallen, watching as the electricity and illumination from the attack faded away. Suicune could be seen standing in the same spot, sparks crackling along its form. It took two slow, measured steps forward onto the ice, offered a short bow of its head to Ash, and then collapsed on its side.
Ash threw a Pokéball at the downed Legendary beast, absorbing it in a flash of light. When the sphere stopped shaking moments later, Ash wiped a hand across his brow, a triumphant grin dancing on his lips, and Pikachu plopped down on his rear, a tired 'Chaaa' wafting from his mouth. "We did it, buddy!" proclaimed Ash, rushing towards the rodent as the rain stopped falling and the skies cleared. Pikachu moved to meet him halfway, jumping into his arms when the trainer was close enough.
"Ash! You really need to see this!"
"Hm?" He turned to face Misty. "What's…" The question died on his tongue as his periphery caught the spot where the second lightning bolt had struck.
Standing over a burnt patch of grass was Raikou. Sleek, golden-yellow fur with angular, black V-shaped markings and a white underbelly decorated its body. Similar to Suicune, a purple mane also adorned Raikou – though the Electric-type's looked more like clouds than its fellow Legendary beast's – flowing from the base of its skull to its jagged, sky-blue tail, the appendage ending in a starburst pattern. Raikou looked distinctly more feline than its Water-type counterpart, with two saber-tooth tiger-like fangs protruding from under a light blue 'X' mustache, above which was set a skullcap black crest that enveloped its ears.
The moment Ash's brown eyes connected with Raikou's red ones, the Electric-type Legendary beast turned tail and bolted in the direction of Ecruteak City. "Not again!" groaned Ash. With surprising speed, he unclipped two Pokéballs and opened them, already running towards where Charizard was spreading his wings. "Pidgeot, grab the Pokéball," he directed as Misty climbed on Charizard's back. The Bird Pokémon screeched her understanding and shot off to where Suicune's Pokéball lay on the ice. Ash handed Pikachu to Misty and clambered aboard the fiery dragon. Raikou was almost completely out of sight. "Charizard, let's go!" he shouted, and the Fire/Flying hybrid took off with a roar.
All the while, another figure watched the ensuing chase from afar, a pair of binoculars glued to his eyes.
-l-l-l-
Like Suicune, Raikou also seemed to have a set destination in mind for its battle with Ash. The Thunder Pokémon led the Frontier Brain on a journey through the wooded area behind Ecruteak City to the craggy peaks of Mt. Mortar. Ash signaled Charizard to descend into the mountainous region when Raikou bounded to a halt not far outside Ecruteak's city limits, only a 15-minute flight from the border house connecting the so-called Historical City to Route 42. Even then, their location was tucked far enough into the hills that any signs of the ensuing battle from Route 42 would be hidden by Mt. Mortar's peaks.
Ash and Misty dismounted Charizard – Pikachu held tightly in the latter's arms – before the raven-haired trainer recalled the fiery dragon. Never taking his eyes off of Raikou's stationary form, Ash ran his fingers over the Pokéballs lining his belt, taking stock of his partners as he did so. Heracross, Meganium, Charizard, Pidgeot all need rest. He skimmed over the next three – Noctowl was going to be next-to-useless against this opponent, Gliscor was (unfortunately) unconscious, and Croconaw was also at a severe disadvantage – but paused on the next two. They were the only two options he had left – the last five spheres contained the recently acquired Lugia and Suicune (Pidgeot had caught up shortly after taking off after Raikou), as well as the trio of Legendary birds – though both were good bets.
Given the terrain, you'll do just fine, he thought. "Alright Raikou, let's do this," he challenged, grabbing and enlarging Donphan's Pokéball. Just before he threw it, a loud roar sounded out, freezing him in place. From the shadow of one of the mountain bases stepped a large figure.
Unlike the other Legendary beasts, Entei was bulky, covered in coarse brown fur with an extra layer covering its neck and a tuft of cream hair on its chest. Black bands, almost like shackles, were cuffed around the Volcano Pokémon's legs, and a grey, smoky-looking mane trailed along its back past its hindquarters. Two stiff, grey plates – mimicking stubby, useless wings – sprouted from each side of its back, a third one jutting out from under the cream fur. A stiff, white handlebar mustache hung over its mouth, accented by red, triple-pointed markings on either side and finished with a golden one on top; all three crested markings surrounded the Legendary's red eyes. Ash blinked at the sight of the Fire-type Legendary beast. "Uh…okay…" Brown eyes darted between Raikou and Entei. "I wonder…a double battle then?" Both creatures nodded at him. Ash reached back to his belt and grabbed the other Pokéball he had been considering. "I can do that. Donphan, Quilava! Let's go!"
Both Pokémon burst forth from their containers, Donphan with a trumpeting bellow of his name and Quilava with a squealing yawn of hers. The latter immediately ignited the flames on her head and rear. Ash grinned at his friends' enthusiasm. Both Donphan and Quilava were fresh for battling, plus Donphan held the type advantage over both Legendaries, and Quilava wasn't particularly weak to anything either of them could throw out. This'll be interesting. "Donphan, Earthquake. Quilava, take to the sky with Aerial Ace."
Donphan reared back and slammed his forelegs against the ground as Quilava went airborne amidst arrowheads of white light. Tremors shook the earth, temporarily destabilizing Ash and Misty and throwing them against each other. The Frontier Brain regained his balance and helped to steady the redhead, watching to see Earthquake's effect on the two Legendary beasts. Both had their eyes closed against the shifting, but then opened them and leapt away even as the Ground-type attack began to dissipate. Entei was tackled mid-jump by Quilava; it landed neatly on the side of one of the nearby spires and spat out a white-hot Flamethrower at the smaller Volcano Pokémon.
"Flamethrower right back!" Ash shouted. Quilava unleashed her own stream of fire at Entei; the two attacks met in the middle, merged, and combusted into a giant explosion that sent Quilava tumbling. Entei, its footing stable against the mountainside, merely stood still as the hot air washed over it, brown fur ruffled by the breeze. Ash didn't get a chance to see if his Fire-type was okay as Raikou was bearing down on Donphan, fangs extended for a Thunder Fang. "Donphan, Defense Curl!"
The Armor Pokémon tucked himself into a tight ball at his trainer's behest. Raikou bit into the tough skin of the Ground-type's plated spine, discharging the electricity gathered in its maw. The assault fizzled harmlessly against the pachyderm Pokémon's skin. "Take Down!" Ash commanded quickly.
Donphan unfurled from his Defense Curl and threw himself recklessly into the Thunder Pokémon, sending Raikou skidding back a number of yards. Electricity built up in the purple clouds on Raikou's back and then shot out in a multiple bolts at the Ground-type in a strong Discharge. Golden-yellow lightning crackled around Donphan for a moment before he stomped the ground with a bellow and dispersed the attack.
Meanwhile, Quilava and Entei were engaged in a fierce battle of Fire-type attacks. Flamethrowers cancelled each other out, Fire Fangs versus Flame Wheels sent both Volcano Pokémon recoiling in opposite directions, and Entei's Lava Plume was matched by Quilava's Eruption. The only disadvantage Ash could see was that Entei was stronger than Quilava, and thus his Pokémon was tiring much quicker than the Legendary beast.
The Frontier Brain had Quilava dodge the next burst of fire Entei spewed. "Quilava, move back towards Donphan." As the smaller Volcano Pokémon did as she was told, Entei released a bark that reminded Ash of a volcano erupting. Raikou looked at its bulkier counterpart and nodded, electricity again building in the purple clouds along its back. "Donphan, Defense Curl! Quilava, get behind Donphan!" The protection strategy he was utilizing wasn't anything new – he had, in fact, used it quite successfully with Corphish and Treecko back when the Grass-type had started learning Bullet Seed – but it was the first time trying it with this particular pairing.
Entei expelled another Flamethrower at the Armor Pokémon. Donphan grunted at the impact, and Quilava was forced to push against her companion and increase the jet of the flames protruding from her hindquarters to prevent the pair from sliding backwards. Just as the Fire-type attack lost power, Raikou came up and rammed its head against Donphan's skull, the Thunder Pokémon's top possessing the telltale metallic silver sheen of Iron Head. The elephantine Pokémon absorbed the attack as best as he could, but the sheer force after suffering through the Flamethrower caused him to release the Defense Curl by a smidge.
It was all the opening Raikou needed, as a violent Spark attack was released into the Armor Pokémon's body.
"Get Raikou away from Donphan, Quilava!" Ash shouted. "Flame Wheel!" Fire erupted around the Volcano Pokémon, and she slammed her slim body into the Electric-type Legendary in a hasty bid to do as her trainer asked. As Raikou was sent soaring, a surge of flames struck Quilava from the side, pushing the rodent-like creature into a nearby mountain. "Quilava!" cried the Frontier Brain. His attention was sidetracked as Donphan trumpeted loudly, apparently recovered from the dual-assault. "Donphan, Rollout on Entei!"
"Don-phaaan!" The Armor Pokémon tucked himself into a tight ball and began to roll towards Entei. The larger Pokémon stood its ground, releasing a loud roar that reverberated in the peaks of Mt. Mortar. A massive column of lava burst from the ground where Donphan was rolling, sending the Ground-type high into the air with a bellow. Thunderclouds began to gather overhead, and as the Eruption gave way, a clap of thunder was heard. Lightning descended onto Donphan's airborne form as Raikou's Thunder hit home, the pachyderm trumpeting in pain.
Donphan's body hit the ground with an unpleasant thud, causing both Ash and Misty to wince. The Frontier Brain didn't even need to check to know that the Armor Pokémon was out cold. He withdrew the Ground-type mournfully, staring at the Pokéball for a long moment. "Donphan, you did great. You deserve a long rest." Raikou and Entei padded over to stand across from Ash, staring at him with intent red eyes. Quilava – flames extinguished – made her way over to her trainer, standing protectively in front of him. "Quilava…" he murmured. "You can still fight?"
"Quil!" assured the small Pokémon, igniting the flames on her body.
Ash hummed in thought, a small smile working its way onto his lips. This was just another example of the willpower his Pokémon possessed. Brown eyes flickered up to meet the intense gazes of Entei and Raikou. "You guys are clever," he allowed, "and I see now where I went wrong.
"You split up my Pokémon to weaken them individually, all the while waiting for a moment to pull off an effective tag team tactic. It worked pretty good, all things considered," he added, staring at Donphan's Pokéball. He minimized the capsule and clipped it to his belt, reaching for the only other viable choice he had. "I've been using the terrain and type advantage to determine who I send out in this challenge so far—"
"Kingler and Zapdos," Misty coughed.
"—but that wasn't the right move here. Double battles require Pokémon who can work well together, who know each other inside and out. Who complement one another. Donphan's strong, but he was only with me for part of my Johto travels. But these two…well, they've been around each other for a very long time." He enlarged the Lure Ball in his hand. "Croconaw, let's go!"
The blue Big Jaw Pokémon emerged from the sphere and hopped twice on each foot, a trait he had retained from his days as a Totodile. He spied Quilava and gave the Fire-type a cheerful salute.
Ash failed to hold back his confident grin. Croconaw and Quilava had a long history of companionship, even after Ash's travels had concluded in Johto. The Water-type had been around when Cyndaquil had evolved before the Sinnoh League, and in turn had evolved months later in a practice battle with the Volcano Pokémon. Even with the Big Jaw Pokémon's weakness to Raikou, as long as he could hold off Entei, Quilava could focus her efforts on the Electric-type Legendary beast. In a tag battle, few combinations would be as effective as these two out of his current arsenal. "Croconaw, hit Entei with a Water Gun. Quilava, use Swift on Raikou."
Both Pokémon eagerly complied, firing a stream of water and a spread of stars at their respective targets. Entei retaliated with its Flamethrower as Raikou dispersed the Swift attack with its Discharge. Steam erupted from the collision of the water and fire, thick enough to hide Raikou's lithe form. "Quilava, get outta there with Dig," Ash commanded. The Volcano Pokémon offered a squeak of understanding before tunneling underground.
When the vapor cleared, neither Croconaw nor Quilava could be seen. The two Legendary beasts looked around warily in expectation of an attack. After half a minute had passed, Ash shouted, "Come up now!" Quilava broke through the earth underneath Raikou, but the feline creature bounded aside.
Entei was not so lucky. At Ash's rapid instruction to use Hydro Pump, a violent geyser of water exploded from below Entei, sending the bulky creature into the air. Croconaw popped up from the newly made hole in the ground with a triumphant croak of his name. Quilava sent a burst of embers at Raikou to distract it from attacking her companion, allowing Croconaw to pull himself free from the earth. Both Johto starters retreated to stand before their trainer.
Entei landed on all fours and moved to stand parallel to Raikou, allowing its body heat to evaporate any residual liquid clinging to its fur. Then the Volcano Pokémon shot a swirling vortex of flames at its opponents. "Block it with Aqua Tail, Croconaw!" ordered Ash. A corkscrew of water formed around the Big Jaw Pokémon's tail, and he swung it into the oncoming Fire Spin. The conflagration was nullified against Croconaw's liquid defense, which swirled into a cylinder of water parodying Ash's Counter Shield strategy.
Unfortunately for Ash, Raikou decided to take advantage of water's conductivity, unleashing a Discharge at the barrier. Electricity crackled along its surface before surging into the bodies of the two Johto starters. Ash gritted his teeth at the assault, wracking his brain for a quick solution. Gotta stop Raikou… "Croconaw, you gotta just bare it for a little longer. Quilava, hit Raikou with Rollout!"
The rodent curled herself into a ball, hurling herself through the liquid vortex and towards the Thunder Pokémon. Entei roared, causing the ground beneath the smaller Volcano Pokémon to tremble in warning of an Eruption. Ash – knowing that Quilava absolutely could not get hit with that – cried out for his Pokémon to use Eruption as well.
The flames along Quilava's hindquarters ignited forcefully, propelling the Fire-type past the exploding pyre of Entei's Eruption. Raikou was taken by surprise as Quilava barreled into it with impressive velocity, stopping its assault on Croconaw. The reptilian Pokémon allowed the vortex to collapse before expelling a hasty Water Gun at Entei, who shot back with a Fire Blast. Croconaw slammed an Aqua Tail against the ground to create a temporary vertical plane of water, but Entei's attack proved to be stronger and pushed through the defensive maneuver. The Big Jaw Pokémon let out a cry as he was sent flying, landing belly-first some distance away. "Croconaw!" Ash shouted in concern, only for Quilava's shrill call to draw his attention away from the downed Water-type.
Raikou had the small Fire-type in its mouth, electricity crackling along its fangs. The Thunder Pokémon tossed Quilava in a surprisingly far arc, causing her to land near Croconaw. Then, it released another Discharge as Entei exhaled a Flamethrower. The two attacks combined and washed over the downed Johto starters, pushing them along the rough terrain with their power.
"Croconaw…Quilava…" Ash turned his attention to the two Legendary beasts, both of whom stood close together and silent. "That was unnecessary!" he shouted at them. When neither Legendary reacted, the Frontier Brain was forced to wonder if his reaction to this situation was another part of their test. "I can't keep fighting now," he admitted aloud. While not entirely true – he did, after all, still have Charizard, Pikachu, Heracross, Pidgeot, and Noctowl, though the status of all but the last were not in peak form – he wanted to take Quilava and Croconaw to the Ecruteak City Pokémon Center and get them healed as soon as possible. Entei and Raikou seemed to take his decision in stride, turning in preparation to retreat further into Mortar's mountainous range.
"Quil…"
"Croc…"
As one, the Legendary beasts, Ash, and Misty pivoted to spy Quilava and Croconaw – bruised, beaten, and clearly exhausted – struggling to stand. "You guys…" Ash murmured, "how are you…"
And then both starters were enshrouded in the same white glow Bayleef had been overcome by only a short time previously.
"Big day for you," Misty commented to a slack-jawed Ash as the sheen of evolution faded away.
"Tell me about it…"
Standing on her hind legs in Quilava's place was the five-and-a-half-foot form of Typhlosion. The Volcano Pokémon was more muscular than the lithe Quilava, the growth in her arms and legs a testament to her newfound strength. A collar of fire was ablaze about her neck, and a deep blue tuft of fur poked out from her rear in pale imitation of a tail. She was exuding enough heat to be felt by Ash and Misty.
Hulking beside her was the taller, bulkier form of Feraligatr. Tough, leathery blue skin decorated the reptilian creature – barring the underside of his jaw and a V-shaped patch of skin on his belly, which were cream-colored – with armor-like protrusions along his knees, arms, and tail. Triple-spiked red plates jutted out along his backside: one atop his head, one on his tail, and a third on the hump of his back. The Big Jaw Pokémon's sharp claws were only surpassed by the even sharper teeth poking out from his trademark maw.
In the olden days, when Ash had been a rookie trainer, he probably would have taken out his Pokédex and had Dexter give him information about these new creatures. Now, he was simply impressed by the fact that both of his friends – after being pummeled by two Legendary Pokémon – had evolved for his sake. What willpower.
Auras blazed up around the two fully evolved Johto starters: red for Typhlosion, blue for Feraligatr. Blaze and Torrent. Even though they evolved, they're still clearly exhausted. I guess I shouldn't drag this out. "Typhlosion, Flame Wheel on Raikou! Feraligatr, Hydro Pump on Entei!"
Feraligatr emitted a scratchy growl before opening his massive maw and unleashing the powerful Water-type attack. Entei bounded aside to avoid the stream, and the torrent punched a hole through the rock that the Volcano Pokémon had been standing in front of. The Big Jaw Pokémon followed the Legendary beast with his attack, scattering debris and rocks everywhere but not quite landing a hit.
Raikou was not so fortunate. Typhlosion was upon it with a roar that contrasted heavily with the shy, sleepy Cyndaquil Ash had captured years ago. The Volcano Pokémon rammed herself into the Thunder Pokémon's flank with startling alacrity, the momentum sending Raikou into a nearby mountain with a painful slam. With a second roar, small explosions of fire ruptured around Raikou, coupled by billowing smoke and the collapse of the crag the Pokémon had impacted. When the rumbling of the makeshift avalanche stopped, the Electric-type could be seen trapped underneath a pile of rubble, eyes closed in blissful unconsciousness.
Typhlosion released one more roar – this one rather triumphant – before the aura of Blaze and the collar of fire around her neck faded away, and she slumped to the ground, energy spent.
Ash found he didn't have time to do anything about Typhlosion or Raikou as a Fire Blast was bearing down on Feraligatr. "Aqua Tail!" he yelled. Powered by Torrent, a cone of water formed around the reptilian Pokémon's tail. He swung it at the oncoming Fire-type attack, breaking it into individual cinders. "Superpower!" Feraligatr grabbed a nearby boulder and heaved it at Entei; the Volcano Pokémon sidestepped the projectile and shot a Flamethrower at its opponent.
"Feraligatr, try and use Aqua Tail on your whole body!" The Big Jaw Pokémon complied, conjuring up a film of liquid to cover his whole body in a parody of Aqua Jet. "Headbutt!" Using his sturdy legs, Feraligatr propelled himself forward, allowing the Flamethrower to vaporize harmlessly against his shield. Without even flinching, the reptilian creature barreled into Entei with the force of a truck. Ash took advantage of his Pokémon's proximity to the Legendary beast and immediately called for him to use Crunch.
Feraligatr's trademark jaws snapped shut over the smoke-like mane on Entei's back. With a twist of his neck, the Water-type sent his adversary into a nearby precipice. Entei managed to right itself before impacting the rock, but a torrential Hydro Pump propelled it into the craggy spire. In short order, the Volcano Pokémon was buried beneath the debris of the precipice, mirroring its fellow Legendary beast.
The tension in Feraligatr's shoulders faded, as did the aura of his Torrent ability, and then the Water-type hit the ground, stamina gone.
Silence pervaded the area, neither Ash nor Misty entirely sure how to react to the results of the intense battle. Finally, the Frontier Brain moved towards where Feraligatr and Entei had been battling and knelt next to the reptilian creature. "You were amazing, Feraligatr. I…there really aren't any words to describe how proud I am to be your trainer. Take a long, well-deserved rest." He recalled the Big Jaw Pokémon before moving over to Entei and simply dropping an empty Pokéball on the Legendary's prone form. That done, he walked over to Typhlosion and placed a comforting hand upon the Fire-type's soft head, offering her the same sincere gratitude he had the other Johto starter. The Volcano Pokémon vanished inside her Pokéball; Raikou was quick to follow.
Ash wiped a hand across his forehead and heaved a sigh of relief. "Good thing that's all done with—"
"HEY YOU! What did you do with Suicune?"
"What the—?" The Frontier Brain glanced around for the source of the yelling. His eyes met Misty's searching ones, and as one, both trainers turned their gazes skyward.
Descending onto the scene was a man dressed in a purple suit and a white cape. His brown hair was perfectly coifed, though his composed look was marred by the anger radiating off his form. When his feet hit the ground, he recalled the Jumpluff he had been holding onto and marched right up to Ash. "You! I demand to know exactly what you did with Suicune right now! And Entei and Raikou!" he added as an afterthought.
"You look kinda familiar," Ash opted to say instead, cupping his chin with one hand. As Misty made her way over to the pair, he asked, "Have we met before?"
The purple-clad man seemed to take offense to this statement. "I am Eusine," he stated, hand held to his chest to indicate just how important he was, "and I am the authority on Suicune—"
Ash snapped his fingers. "You're Morty's friend," he realized, "the guy whose goal was to capture Suicune."
"Hmph!" Eusine scowled, his visage the very essence of affronted. "As I was saying, I have studied Suicune for years, and when I finally ran into it, imagine my consternation to find you battling it. Suicune has only ever stopped to fight me once, so I ask again, what did you do to Suicune?"
"Suicune challenged me to a battle," Ash answered, "and I caught it. The same with Raikou and Entei—"
"I demand to fight Suicune myself!" proclaimed Eusine.
Ash considered the man for a moment. After a pause, he responded, "That's not my decision, it's Suicune's. And right now, I need to go to the Pokémon Center. You're welcome to follow, if you want."
Eusine didn't reply immediately, staring intently at the Frontier Brain as if searching for something. "Fine," he granted. "I shall meet you at Ecruteak's Pokémon Center soon enough." He released Jumpluff and grabbed the Cottonweed Pokémon's foot before it took off. "You're my rival now—"
"Ash. Ash Ketchum," he provided.
"Ash Ketchum. Soon we shall see who is truly worthy enough to be Suicune's trainer!"
Ash and Misty watched him fly away. "Just what I need," Ash grumbled, "another rival."
"How many is that now?" Misty asked.
"I've lost track." He called out Charizard, who looked irritated at being released again with no battle forthcoming. "Sorry buddy. Last time today, I promise. Maybe tomorrow I can get you that battle you want." Charizard snorted at that, but allowed both trainers (and Pikachu, still in Misty's arms) to climb on his back. Ash instructed him to head to Ecruteak City, and the fiery dragon took off with a flap of his wings.
They landed 20 minutes later, and Ash practically ran into the Pokémon Center, leaving Misty to follow him at her own pace. Charizard lumbered after both of them, mindful of the building's glass doors. The Frontier Brain spoke hurriedly to the Nurse Joy in charge, dumping all but Noctowl's and the Legendary birds' Pokéballs onto the tray the pink-haired woman provided; Charizard was recalled almost absently and placed with the rest of his companions, as was Pikachu.
Just seeing the quantity of capsules on the countertop cemented home just how much had happened over the course of the day. All of his friends had been put through the wringer, and although all of them had known the risks associated with taking on the challenge of the Legendaries, none of that justified how injured they had gotten.
The events of the day caught up with him, and suddenly all Ash wanted to do was sleep. He asked Nurse Joy for a room – not even bothering with getting a separate room for Misty – and retired to it, collapsing upon the bed with a soft whuff of ruffled sheets.
He was asleep in a matter of minutes.
-l-l-l-
The next morning found Ash and Misty standing in front of the Ecruteak Gym, the former prepared for whatever challenge lay ahead. Feraligatr, Typhlosion, and Meganium were recovering in their Pokéballs, but he was hoping to be out of the city before nightfall and didn't want to leave anyone behind. Eusine had left them a message the night before saying that he had gotten the go-ahead from Morty to use the Pokémon Gym for their battle. That suited Ash just fine, as he wanted to speak to the Ghost-type Gym Leader anyway.
They walked through the rustic doors of the gym, admiring the vintage decorations. Like the rest of Ecruteak, the Pokémon Gym was fashioned to reflect the historical aspects the city was renowned for. The floors were made of polished wood, and antique chandeliers hung from the roof's rafters, providing a dim ambiance to the otherwise bare interior. It was homey, if a bit outdated and rustic for Ash's tastes.
Morty walked up to his visitors, the ghost of a smile on his lips. "Misty," he greeted, shaking her hand. "Ash," he continued, moving on to the other male, "it's good to see you again."
"Hello Morty," Ash returned, grabbing the proffered hand. "It's been awhile. Your clothes are fancier than I remember."
Morty gave a short chuckle at that. Where he once wore a simple blue and yellow shirt and jeans, he was now garbed in a thick black, long-sleeved shirt with wide purple cuffs – two on each sleeve – and white cargo pants. A purple scarf – designed with jagged ends colored a deep scarlet – was wrapped around his neck, a golden relic clipped to the front. His unruly blond hair was held back by a purple headband, replacing the blue one he had worn in years prior. He now looked far more the part of a Ghost-type trainer than he had when Ash had won the Fog Badge in his youth. "I suppose I have embraced a sort of dramatic flair since our last face-to-face meeting. Emails and telephone calls only reveal so much about how a person has changed."
"This reunion is wonderful," interjected Eusine, stepping forward to make his presence known, "but it can wait. Fight me now," he challenged Ash. Morty sighed at his friend's zeal, but made no move to interrupt the proceedings.
Ash shrugged. "Fine. Morty, would you be willing to referee?"
"It would be my pleasure. Come Misty, perhaps you'd like to have a seat." The blond gestured behind him to a short row of benches, used for when his students were to learn a practical lesson. Misty took him up on the offer, taking Pikachu and going to sit behind the referee's box. Morty waited until both Eusine and Ash were settled on opposing sides of the gym before announcing, "This will be a one-on-one match. The winner will be declared when—"
"Alakazam, go!" snapped Eusine. Morty released another sigh at the man's impatience, but again made no comment. He turned his attention to Ash, waiting for the man to release his own Pokémon. Eusine hadn't specified the details of his reasoning behind the battle, merely inquired as to the availability of using the gym as the stage. The Ecruteak Gym Leader was curious to see what had his friend so riled up.
Ash stared at the enlarged Pokéball in his hand. He was unconvinced that this was the proper course of action – let alone a necessary one – but the sphere was shaking back and forth of its own accord. It's as if Suicune wants to fight… Before he could even make a decision, the ball burst open of its own accord, the white flash of light solidifying into Suicune's regal form. Off to the side, Morty inhaled sharply in surprise. The Aurora Pokémon leveled its trainer with a steady gaze, as if trying to communicate that everything was going to be okay.
There was a strained silence as Eusine seemed to bask in Suicune's presence before his awestruck demeanor quickly disappeared. "I don't know how you did it, but I will prove you an unworthy trainer to Suicune," he snapped. "Alakazam, Psybeam!"
"Ka-zam!" The Psychic-type crossed his spoons together, blasting a multicolored beam of energy at Suicune. The Aurora Pokémon countered with an Aurora Beam; the ensuing collision sent smoke billowing in all directions, and all the humans threw up their hands to protect their eyes. Alakazam and Suicune burst forth from the haze, the Legendary Pokémon expelling a Bubble Beam at its adversary. The Psi Pokémon disappeared, materializing behind Suicune in a well-placed Teleport.
"Psybeam again!" shouted Eusine, and this time the Water-type wasn't fast enough to counter or dodge. It took the Psychic-type attack to the side, but then craned its head and fired another Aurora Beam at the humanoid creature. "Teleport!" Eusine ordered, and Alakazam reappeared before his trainer, allowing Suicune a moment to regain its footing. "Why aren't you giving Suicune any commands?" barked Eusine.
Ash shrugged. "This is Suicune's battle, not mine. Suicune wants to settle this on its own, and I'm going to let it." The Frontier Brain's eyes narrowed. "Have you ever thought that it's you who doesn't deserve to be Suicune's trainer?"
"How DARE you!" raged the purple-clad man. "I'll show you! Alakazam, Psychic!"
"Alakazam!" The Psi Pokémon crossed his spoons again, his entire body becoming encased in a blue aura. The same psychic power rose up over Suicune's form, lifting the Legendary Pokémon into the air. Suicune's eyes glowed, and a thick mist exuded from its body. Startled by the lack of visibility, Alakazam dropped his Psychic, allowing the Water-type to land nimbly on its feet. In short order, a Hydro Pump broke through the water vapor, and Eusine commanded a hasty Light Screen. The deluge hit the psychic barrier and sprayed out in all directions.
Alakazam's intelligent eyes widened in surprise as Suicune's form suddenly became visible in the mist, the Water-type advancing on his position, Hydro Pump still going strong. When the Aurora Pokémon was within a foot of its adversary, its head crystal broke through the Light Screen and its mouth closed around Alakazam's crossed hands in an Ice Fang. Ice crawled up the Psi Pokémon's appendages and froze his spoons together in a chunk of glistening crystal. Suicune followed that up with a close-range Hydro Pump into Alakazam's abdomen which blasted the Psychic-type backwards. With his spoons frozen – and thus a great deal of his psychic prowess limited – the humanoid creature was unable to defend himself from the attack, nor from the Blizzard that succeeded it.
Alakazam slumped against the gym's wall behind his trainer. "Alakazam is unable to battle," announced Morty. "The winners are Ash and Suicune."
"Eusine," Ash said. The brunet looked up from recalling Alakazam, anger and frustration clear on his face. "Maybe you know everything about Suicune, but you treat it more like a trophy to be won rather than a Pokémon to befriend. Suicune chose to battle me and chose to accept me as its trainer, not the other way around." He cast the Aurora Pokémon a curious look; Suicune inclined its head in a slight bow, a motion that Ash was beginning to become used to. "Maybe you should think about that before you continue your quest."
Eusine said nothing.
"Ash," said Morty, approaching Suicune cautiously, as if it would vanish at any moment, "I don't understand." He reached a tentative hand out to the canid, placing it gently upon its crystal when it showed no inclination of moving away. "How did you…?"
"It's a long story," Ash deflected. "I'll tell you later. In the meantime," he said, tone becoming more business-like, "I have a favor to ask of you."
Morty looked up from his position by Suicune's side. "Hm?"
"I need you to tell me everything you know about Ho-oh."