Authors Notes: Reached the 100,000 word mark. Sure a number of them are author's notes but it still counts!
And in other news, the fic is a year old. I extend my thanks to those who have been around since chapter 1, hope the time you've spent reading this has been worth it.
It seems fan reactions to Quentin are mixed. Some like him, others don't. Surprisingly, I even got someone hoping he'll beat Ash. I wasn't sure what to expect from you all but I'd never have expected that. I would appreciate any feedback on him any of you may have. Writing a fan fic is one thing, but making good original characters is another thing entirely, so I'd like to know how I'm doing. Shit though I am at it, I'd like to be an author one day.
HELP!
Thanks to those who responded, but it seems Ash and Dawn don't have anything. No matter, I'll work around it.
Contest:
First, I want to thank those who have actually entered thus far. I expected a wider response, but while I am disappointed with the number of entries, I find myself in greater appreciation of those who have entered. Know that you stand out from the crowd among this fic's fanbase. I hope you'll all continue trying (everyone gets one shot per chapter, so feel free to try again), it makes this fic a little more fun to write.
However, that being said, I want to clear something up about the contest. Probably should have done this before, but I set up the contest that would be better suited to a brain like mine, but it works in very strange ways...
Anyway, the clarification:
Ash is Grandmaster, but there is also a certain fact within this I'm wanting you to notice. I've received some answers, some well argued. However, a number of answers given are subject to interpretation, I bet some fans would likely say I screwed up Ash beyond all possible repair, while some of you would give far milder opinions. Draw whatever interpretation from the story you want (that's part of the charm of a good story, makes you think about it), but know that's not what I'm asking for.
I'm asking for a fact.
Let me post some examples. These are facts about the Grandmaster title:
Masato Shigen was the first Grandmaster
Quentin Gelden preceded Ash Ketchum as Grandmaster.
Ash Ketchum became Grandmaster at age 16.
There's no interpretation here, and that's the kind of answer I'm looking for. I want a fact about Ash's holding of the title. The precise question addressing what fact I want has been only been mentioned briefly, each mention only a line or so long, but it has been mentioned. The answer has been hinted a few more times, and likely will be a few times more. If you can't find the hint for the question, look for the answer, it might just explain the question.
By the way:
Has anyone seen Ash's new outfit for the upcoming XY series? Almost makes him look older. Though I'll likely be old and grey before he gets past age 10. I'm not too fussed on the design itself though. (I just can't like that hat), but the jacket is an interesting design.
One more thing! ("oh for fucks sake just get on with the story!")
Not vital to the story, but I went back and made one change to the dream battle Ash had in chapter 6. I changed one member of the younger Ash's team. The logistics of it may not make sense, but it's a dream sequence, since when do logistics matter? I swapped out Muk for a more befitting Pokémon. Who for? Go read. I think you'll agree it's the perfect choice. I should be on the business end of a Hyper Beam for not having the new Pokémon be the original opponent for Snorlax.
(No, seriously, a Hyper Beam, by a pissed off Arceus who's been drinking for a week)
Again, not important to the story, just a little touch which I think completes the battle.
Speaking of battles, these are seriously getting harder and harder to write. And I thought I'd be good at this...
Soundtrack:
Bloodbound: Tabula Rasa
Iron Maiden: These Colours Don't Run
Sonata Arctica: Die With Your Boots On (Cover of an Iron Maiden song oddly enough)
Axel Rudi Pell: Fortunes of War
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Over a year ago...
Ash looked lazily at his Driftveil Gym badge. Today had been something interesting. He'd gotten into town, and heard about the Gym specializing in Ground Types. Pikachu could have won, but Ash wanted to win quickly, so he'd made a quick call to Professor Oak, but even his victory didn't overshadow a grim certainty.
He would likely miss the Vertress Conference this year. He'd started so late to begin with, and time only continued to pass by, but luckily he could earn the badges this year, then catch the next year's conference. Maybe that wasn't so bad, he could spend all that extra time training, then no-one could beat him. No-one could defeat his team.
Speaking of his team...
He looked over to Sceptile, who was currently lazing about, lightly chewing on that twig he insisted on keeping in his mouth. His performance today had been truly astonishing. He'd gone up against three opponents, and downed each of them with one strike. Professor Oak had mentioned Sceptile had been training himself hard since the Lily Of The Valley conference but sweet Jirachi, he was a machine!
It made Ash realize, that Sceptile had always been a considerably powerful Pokémon...
Sceptile had fought some incredible battles, proving some real power against Tobias. Sceptile delivered him a victory against Darkrai, where no other Pokémon had managed to pull it off, and that included other trainers Pokémon. Sceptile was a serious powerhouse he'd overlooked. He took a moment to consider the Hoenn Grass Pokémon, then nodded to himself.
He'd be keeping Sceptile around.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"These are the days..."
Sceptile and Scizor descended to the ground, Blade to Claw. Their weapons scraped together-
"Tile!"
"Zor!"
The first appendages parted, and the seconds collided. The water beneath their feet was shot up, and like a circular tidal wave the water shot out in all directions, very quickly removing the thin veil from the arena. There was a metallic screech, Sceptile removed his blade from Scizor's claw, striking then with his right blade again. With both claws Scizor blocked, pushing back with enough force to knock Sceptile off balance. Scizor slashed, and Sceptile leaned back.
It missed by less than an inch. He leaned back further, landing on his hands, before like a springboard his tail shot him backwards. Ash smirked; That was a Feraligatr-style evasion. Sceptile would have his twig shoved into his eye before admitting it, but the pair had learned a lot through fighting each other.
Scizor scraped his claws together, as his body became outlined in blue. His body darkened, the metal of his skin appearing even more metallic as the glow started to fade. Even when it had faded his body seemed to somehow shine. "What?" Sceptile took a defensive stance. "What's he up to?" Ash smiled. "We'll find out." "Sceptile, attack again with Leaf Blade!"
"Metal Claw."
The air shook, screaming with a metallic cry as the weapons scraped and parted. Sceptile struck again, Scizor blocked, striking back to in turn to blocked. Like samurai, like dancers, the two moved in place, an intricate pattern of would-be blows in perpetual motion. Scizor took a step back, focusing on an incoming blow as he pulled a claw back. He struck out in a backhand motion, with force that briefly knocked himself off balance.
Through Sceptile was knocked off more, he was briefly knocked up from the ground. Scizor cracked the ground beneath as he reaffirmed his footing, launching another slash.
"Sceptile, Pound!"
Sceptile arced back, evading a claw as he turned his body. Scizor took off from the ground, jumping onto the offending appendage. Scizor bounced off Sceptile's tail, and as if from a trampoline he took to the air. His small wings emitted a distinct buzz as he seemed to be still for a moment. Scizor glowed again, and he slowly descended to the ground, his coat shiner than it was before. Sceptile growled, before taking a stance again.
"These are the days that make it all worth it."
Both lunged, and the song of metal and grass moved into a new verse, of stronger notes, and faster pace. Scizor met Sceptle's slashes, Sceptile met Scizor's thrusts. Sceptile evaded a blow to his chest, raising his arm and making a downwards slash. Scizor thrust his claw up, knocking Sceptile off his feet for a second before punching with his claw. Sceptile moved his head out of the way of the first, second, and third rapid punches, before finding his feet firmly on the ground again and jumping away. Scizor followed, and the ground beneath cracked as another set of blows met. Scizor pulled back his claw, Sceptile leaning forward just a little too much. Scizor moved around Sceptile's body, aiming a claw at the top of his back.
Sceptile dived, his tail narrowly evading the claw as he rolled to his feet. Scizor quickly jumped after, Sceptile side-stepped him, Scizor jumping and kicking at his enemy's head. Sceptile ducked, flipping away again and finally restoring his guard. Sceptile clenched and unclenches his hands, uncertain. Scizor was strong, how could Sceptile outmatch him...
"Sceptile, you're faster than Scizor is! Use your speed!"
"Scep?" He looked back at his trainer, seeing that oh so familiar certainty in his trainer's face. "Tile!" He charged forward, his blades glowing brighter. His steps became swifter.
He was in range. He struck. CLANG! Scizor shot out his second claw. Sceptile shifted his head, glancing briefly as the claw passed. He leapt forward, slashing at Scizor's chest.
"Zor!" Scizor jumped back, landing and kicking off the ground, leaping at Sceptile. He struck. Sceptile parried, before leaping away. Sceptile put himself on all fours, smiling.
He ran forward, on all fours and as swift was the wind. He reached Scizor, evading the claw with slashed at him, jumping on all fours around him, like a Houndoom circling its prey. Scizor clenched his teeth before-"ZOR!"
The ground detonated, a geyser of dust shrouding Scizor as Sceptile put a small distance between him and the blast, Sczior somewhere within. The cloud parted, showing Scizor having just pulled out his claw before "ZOR!" Sceptile fell back, evading claw and rolling away before Scizor could even put his guard back up. Springing with his tail, Sceptile was back on his feet.
Sczior's claws snapped open and shut. Nobody mocked him! He rushed forward again, as Sceptile simply stood there, chewing on his twig. Scizor pulled back his claw. "Sci-!" It glowed brighter. "Zor!"
Sceptile jumped, flipping in the air. It all happened so fast, but if one could slow down time, they would see the process of Sceptile landing as Scizor took a neutral stance again, both fighters gazing at their foe.
Back to back.
"TILE!" Sceptile struck, and Scizor's claw met the blow just in time. "Scep! Scep!" Two more strikes, two failed strikes. Scizor leaned out of another blow, leaping forward off his claws, spinning in the air and quickly found a raging Sceptile coming his way.
"Sci!" Sceptile swiftly moved aside, making the claw seem as if it had been moving in slow motion as he darted around Scizor's body, his blade swinging through the air.
Scizor ducked. The blade passing over him as Sceptile twisted in place, his other arm aiming for Scizor's legs. Scizor jumped in place, the blade just managing to hit nothing as Sceptile came to the end of his spin, and jumped from another swift Metal Claw, and a distance from him in a single bound. Ash smiled. "Looks like Scizor's having trouble keeping up."
His smile vanished when Quentin copied it. "Think again, boy. Scizor, Tailwind!" Scizor's wings quickly generated a distinct humming, and he kicked off from the ground, leaving a cloud in his wake as he advanced on his foe. "Do not let him out of your range!" Scizor closed the distance, blocking a Leaf Blade and thrusting another claw.
Sceptile blocked with the flat side of his blade, jumping away from Scizor's aggression. "Bullet Seed!" Sceptile opened his mouth and let loose a stream of glowing explosions waiting to happen as he hit the ground.
"Scizor, Flash Cannon!" Scizor's claw opened, releasing a bright flash of silver. It erased the seeds as if they were never there to begin with, and advanced up the stream towards-
"Sceptile, move!"
Sceptile closed his mouth, jumping away from the explosion that quickly made its mark where he'd been standing. Sceptile moved across the ground on all fours, before he stood up again, determination in his glare. He charged for his equally swift foe.
The two met again, pushing both their weapons against one another, desperate to either cut, or break the other. They parted, meeting again, and again, sparks bursting from their clashes. Their right side weapons met again, both pushing with the strength of their legs. Scizor's eyes briefly darted around, before.
"Zor!" He moved his body, letting Sceptile's body come forward as he the Pincer Pokemon moved inside his guard. Scizor's left arm shot out, slipping under Sceptile's extended arm. "Sci!" Sceptile was lifted off his feet, over Scizor's shoulders before-SLAM! He hit the ground hard. Dazed for only an instant, he saw Scizor had moved into his next attack.
Scizor had a claw pulled back..."Bury him!"
He struck.
Sceptile rolled away at the last instant, Scizor's claw slamming to the ground as Sceptile found his way to his feet, and jumped, waiting for his foe to emerge.
He waited a second. It walked out from the cloud, a creature of red, like another Pokémon he'd recently seen after the remnants of a blast. One belonging to an old opponent, and the other...
"Blazeiken..."
May's Blazeiken, it was strong. He recalled a distant battle in the past, as crowds cheered. That was a good battle, for its time. Battling for something other than to test the limits of one's might, of skill, to fight just for beauty. So insulting it seemed, to someone like him.
Then there was the one he never battled, the one he owed a battle. Max...and Ralts.
Ash shook his head. What battle could he hope to find against a...a child? There were reasons titles like Master, Champion, and Grandmaster itself existed. Powerful fighters needed opponents of their level, anything else was both insulting and cruel.
His battle was here, at least for today.
"There are the days that make loneliness worth it."
Ash took in Scizor's claws, suddenly realizing it was brighter than it started out..."Scizor's Metal Claw's getting stronger..." This was getting interesting. "Scepitle, attack him again!"
They met again, and it was almost like fencing, and the two clashed back and forth. Scizor stepped back from a slash. He thrust a claw, aiming at-Sceptile turned in place, twisting around completely, meeting the back of Scizor's claw with his blade, dragging Scizor forward.
Scizor dived, and with it all connection, and Sceptile's attempt at gaining control was lost. "Sceptile, Energy Ball!" Sceptile's hands met, creating a tiny ball of green which instantly grew to many times its previous size.
It shot off like a cannon. Scizor, on his feet, prepared to. "Use Swift!" Scizor's claws opened, and from them came the lights of the cosmos. Countless stars emerged, hitting the sphere head-on. The stars briefly became a sun, before vanishing, leaving just a dent in the arena.
"Sceptile, Leaf Prison!"
Sceptile burst up from the ground, his back glowing green. He flipped in the air, showing all six seeds were glowing green. They disconnected. Falling through the air they glowed brighter and brighter, surrounding Scizor from above as they erupted into a cloud. A cloud of leaves, a dome of them floated down to the ground, shrinking inch by inch, second by second.
"Scizor, Sand Wave!"
Scizor's claws cross across his chest, and sand bust from his back, growing quickly in quantity. Ash had seen this before.
Sandstorm.
Scizor's claws lit up, his wings too, yet another technique he'd seen. From another Scizor, a far...weaker Scizor. One who had fallen to Sceptile in a mere handful of blows.
Razor Wind.
The sand storm grew, billowing around Scizor like a blizzard. He cast out his arms.
Sand Wave, a most befitting name.
The air shook, the closing dome meeting the expanding wave, the air quivering as both sought to overpower the other. The air's trembling began to lessen, and soon it had stopped.
The prison of leaves was almost still in the air, floating impossibly slowly to the ground. The air itself was laced with sand, littering many leaves. A prison built from grass had met a stalemate with the sand, and through a gap in the dome Scizor a look at Sceptile, and cocked his head.
Useless.
Ash frowned. "Damn." So much for that idea, all that and all they got for it was-A familiar tactic. "Scepitle, sneak in and attack him!"
Sceptile took one look at the prison, briefly confused before his sight of Scizor was covered again. "Tile!" He charged, pulling back his blades. He jumped into the thick veil. The sand-covered leaves formed a perfect shroud, both Scizor and Scepitle were briefly lost to their trainers. A second passed.
Another.
Another.
Not a second more. A brief and mighty gust emerged from the dome, scattering the leaves away, before they crumbled into nothingness.
Both fighters could be seen once more.
Quentin's gaze darkened. "Foolish move, boy." Scizor smiled, in contrast to the shocked Sceptile, who had a Metal Claw in his stomach. "I'm far too old to be outmatched by such simple tactics." Scizor extracted his claw, before slamming his second into Sceptile's jaw.
"Sceptile!" Sceptile rolled on the battleground floor like a rag doll, arriving within short distance of Ash. Sceptile growled, before slamming his palms into the ground. Ash watched as he got back up, still in fighting form, but at this rate it wouldn't mean a thing. Scizor just stood their, calm as a lake's surface as his body briefly glowed again. Would more ranged attacks help? Sceptile had a considerable arsenal in that department. He just had to pick-
"Tile!" Ash was broken from his thoughts. "Scep scep tile!"
He blinked. Admittedly, Ash's understanding of his Pokémon's speech was limited outside of Pikachu, but he'd seen Sceptile's expression enough times to know what it meant. Sceptile was, at his core, a close range fighter. Even against a foe of Scizor's calibre, no, because of his calibre, he would have this fight fought no other way. But the fact was..."Two blades wont work, Scizor's too good." If two wouldn't work..."Sceptile, Leaf Dual Blade!"
Sceptile closed his eyes, the ground beneath him starting to glow.
"Zor?"
"What?"
Sceptile's feet were glowing, and the glow took on a familiar, distinct shape as Sceptile sunk just slightly into the ground with his feet aglow, like his arms. Quentin looked on, curious. "He didn't use that at the Championship." He took in the exact shape of the light. "Four swords. Interesting...He can wield four swords. But can he fight with them?" "Scizor, engage! Metal Claw!"
"These are the days that make my pain worth it."
Scizor kept his position, letting Sceptile rush towards him for another clash. Steel met neon green as the two forces collided again. Scizor pushed back, with enough force to send Sceptile sliding back. Sceptile only grinned, and another flash of Neon green nearly blinded Scizor.
Scizor ducked Sceptile's kick, the blade passing over him as Sceptile rotated in place. Sceptile threw himself to the ground, landing on his hands as his other leg came up, batting away another Metal Claw. Sceptile was on his hands, smiling as he propelled from the arena, turning in the air as he took his stance across from his opponent. He chewed briefly on his twig, still smiling.
Scizor growled, smashing his claws together as he prepared to move forward. "Scizor!" He stopped. "He's trying to get under your skin, don't let him! Think about every detail for a moment." Scizor blinked, and took a good look at Sceptile's blades, and briefly gave a look at his own body. He smiled. "Now engage him again!"
Scizor moved forward, in a swift glide.
Sceptile spat out his twig.
So much for taunting him again...
He ran forward, meeting Scizor's glide in another world shaking clash. With a harsh roar, Scizor pushed Sceptile back, and he found himself on the defensive as the fast, strong strikes came like a river. He side-stepped a strike, taking to the air as he spun in place.
Scizor leaned down, sliding under Sceptile's range. He quickly turned his attention to the still airborne Sceptile.
"Scizor, Flash Cannon!"
"SolarBeam!"
Sceptile aimed a claw up, shooting a stream of silver, as Sceptile's mouth delivered a blast of white. The blasts exploded, blinding all eyes for just a brief moment. Scizor took aim at the air, but could see no target through the smoke for an instant.
The instant passed, Sceptile fell from the smoke landing on all fours, and with a growl and force of his arms shoot across the ground, both his blades sharp enough to cut a target in two...
Scizor jumped, high above the passing Sceptile. He quickly found ground again, and flew at Sceptile with a single outstretched claw as Sceptile reached his feet, his blades crossed.
Sceptile arced back, his leg coming up to-CLANG! Scizor's arm was knocked up. Sceptile kicked his other leg off the ground, sending a second blade up. Scizor stumbled back, scarcely evading the blade as Scepitle landed back on his feet before jumping forward. Scizor put up his defences, both his claws rushed into a defensive position. Sceptile viciously threw himself through the air in a forward cartwheel, sending Scizor's defences, and him to his knees with a powerful downwards strike. Sceptile, on all fours, reached Scizor in less than a heartbeat.
"Sceptile, now!"
"These are the days that make my mistakes worth it."
The ground screeched as Sceptile's blade scarred it, before it made a vicious trip up Scizor's chest. Scizor was knocked to his feet, and back by the sheer force of the blow. Scizor scrapped the ground as he came to a stop, growing as his claws snapped open and shut.
"What?" Scizor hadn't even cried out. Instead the metallic bug simply stood there, smirking at him with those fierce eyes. "How can he-?"
"-be undamaged?" Quentin smirked. "It's quite simple, really. Scizor's fought for a very long time, and over the years he's developed some pretty tough skin. Did you ever wonder why he kept using Metal Defense? That has made his already strong skin impervious to most attacks. Those blades wont cut, no matter how many times you hack at him."
Most would shake in fear. Most would search all their knowledge, for anything, absolutely anything which could even begin to hope in overcoming such an absolute defence.
Many would be intimidated into defeat.
Ash laughed."Then we'll just try another. Sceptile! Leaf Storm Blade!"
"These are the days that make it worth it, just to be alive."
Sceptile's back erupted with leaves, the seeds almost magically regrowing, his arms stretched outwards, his blades glow getting bright, and brighter still. The leaves of the storm were constantly touching the blade. The storm becoming one with the blades. The swords grew, their width from Sceptile's wrists to his elbow, and its length had doubled, the entire surface alive with the power of glowing leaves, the edges a serrated surface of razor sharp leaves, with even more leaves becoming one with the sword every second, as Sceptile's back shone like fire. It was so bright that gazing directly at them was painful to the eye. Leaf Storm Blade, the blade that cut down six legendaries in a row. The blade that single-handedly reduced Tobias' team to pieces all but literally.
Quentin was familiar with it. "The camera's didn't do it justice I'll admit. But I'm not impressed."
Ash almost gasped, he knew Quentin wasn't putting up a front. He truly was not awed. "He sees Leaf Storm Blade and doesn't even blink..." He smiled. "He really is stronger than the Champions." He laughed. "Perfect!"
"Just you wait, Quentin! Get him, Sceptile!"
Sceptile lunged forward, his glowing blades each like a green sun.
"Scizor! Focus you energy, them meet with Metal Claw!" Scizor glowed blue, raising his claws as they glowed brighter, a mixture of blue and silver...
"These are the days I know I'm alive."
Sceptile pulled black his blade as he drew closer, Scizor readying his blue-glowing metal claws.
Sceptile struck, there was a flash of light as the forces met, and in the next instant-
"ZORRRRR!" Scizor clutched at his chest, a green hue emanating from the where the blade had obviously struck.
Ash grinned. That was damage. That was pain! "This is a real battle!" Now Sceptile and Scizor could really fight it out, hack at one another until one finally fell. Ash felt his pulse quicken at the thought.
"These are the days I would never trade away."
Scizor growled to himself, removing his claws. The green marks were revealed to be leaves, which lost their glow, and disintegrated to nothing. Sceptile walked forward, his back briefly flaring. Scizor took a step forward, reaffirming his stance.
"Scizor! Use you head! His power means nothing if he can't hit you! You can't block or match his blows, so intercept!"
Scizor blinked, turning around, seeming to have briefly forgotten he was actually under guidance from a trainer. He nodded, giving Sceptile one long glance, taking in details with his inquisitive eyes.
Ash knew this wasn't going to be easy in that instant, and that was the best part of it all. "Sceptile, get him!"
"These are the days I never regret."
The two fighters got closer, close enough to be within striking distance of-"Sceppptile!"
"The wrist!"
"ZOR!
Scizor's leg shot out.
"Tile?!"
Sceptile's blade stopped, Scizor's foot implanted firmly on the left side of Sceptile's wrist, the glowing blade on the other side nothing more than bright light. "Sceptile, don't pause! Keep striking!"
Scepitle pulled back, slashing out his other arm, the blade aiming for-"Down!" Scizor ducked, the blade passing where his chest had been just a fraction of a second before. "Attack!" Scizor jumped forward, claw thrusting out, aiming for Scepitle's stomach-
"Tile!" There was a flash of green, a howling screech, and Scizor was briefly dazed. As he landed on his back he flipped, realizing what had happened.
"His feet can't hurt you, Scizor! Don't forget that!" Scizor shook his head, shaking off the remnant light in his eyes.
Sceptile prepared to charge again. "Scepitle, use your speed, power and technique! Scizor's too strong to take it easy on!" Sceptile growled.
He wasn't taking it easy!
He charged again, seemingly gliding across the distance as. "Scep!" He slashed again. Scizor ducked again, charging at Sceptile with his shoulder before-
"Sci-!" Too late he noticed Sceptile's tail, its mass hunching him over, though even that not harming him. Scizor's eyes were captured by another flash. A flash of a distinct shape.
"ZORRRR!" Scizor slid back, clutching at his eyes. His eyelids may had been nigh-indestructible, but they couldn't stop light reaching his eyes. "Sci-!" He stopped, opening his eyes to a vision bathed in light.
Sharp light.
Scizor howled out again, a stream of green light on his lower chest as he fell to the ground. He clutched at his new wound, teeth gritted as he groaned.
"Scizor! Pull it together! You've taken worse than this!" Scizor's eyes snapped open. He jumped to his feet, grunting, the light on his chest fading away as its leaves cracked. "Show him the proper application of power!"
Scizor charged. His voice howling in a war cry.
"Sceptile, guard up!" Scepitle tensed, blades briefly glowing brighter...
"Scizor, slide!" Scizor leaned back, sliding across the floor with speed and precision, he stopped just beneath Sceptile, a claw aimed right at his head. "Blast him!"
Flash Cannon burst forth, lighting up the arena. A shadow was cast across the light, Sceptile's form, flying through the air. Sceptile's form rotated in the air, and again, before descending back to earth, his glowing foot pointing directly at-
"Sci!" Dust burst from Scizor's wings, and as if launched from a springboard he found his way back to his feet, putting up a claw to meet-
The air howled, Sceptile's foot Leaf Blade meeting Metal Claw. Sceptile's other foot came down, sending Sceptile into a kicking flurry against Scizor's Metal Claw.
No effect.
"Sceptile, it won't work! His Metal Claw's gotten too strong!"
Sceptile kicked off from Scizor's claw, hitting the ground again. "Scizor, Air Slash!" Scizor's wings buzzed into life, glowing blue. He turned, his right wing aimed at Sceptile. A blade of energy, alive with the force of the wind shot out.
"Scep?" Sceptile jumped, hearing the explosion below him inform him he'd moved just in time. He landed, finding Scizor turning his body again.
"Keep the pressure on him, Scizor!"
Sceptile jumped away again, a second before he had to dodge another attempt on him. Ash watched on. "Is he trying to wear Scepitle out?" No way this was happening. "Sceptile, don't let him push you around! Force your way to him!"
Sceptile stopped, as Scizor prepared another air slash. With a sudden flare on his back he ran forward.
Another slash. The long ranged attack shot towards Sceptile like a cannon. Sceptile slashed too, the Leaf Storm Blade colliding with the air blade.
Without even an ember, there was an explosion, and a storm of dust. Scizor pulled back his arm, Sceptile would attack again, and with the Leaf Storm Blade Sceptile was as good as wearing a bullseye. He just needed to wait for the green.
"Sci-?!" Green, but it wasn't in front of him.
It was above.
"Scizor! Flash Cannon!"
It happened in a heartbeat...
Scizor's claw shop up, and light was born
"Sceptile, cut through it!"
White met Green. Like a river meeting a dam the white light crashed, its power spilling to the sides. "Scepppp-" The Blade flashed brighter. "TILEEEEEE!"
The river was split, the blade cutting through it, all the way down to Scizor.
The only thing between the blade and the ground was Scizor.
"Gottcha!"
"Pika!"
Scizor fell back, a trail of leaves rising from him almost as if the wound was bleeding them, the blade having run its course down his chest. Sceptile landed, cutting the ground as "TILE!"
Scizor was shot across the arena, trailing green across the air as he landed with a hard slam."Sci!" His claws slammed the ground. "Sciiiiizor!" He jumped to his feet, his laboured breathing visible. Sceptile raised his blades again, ready for another round.
Scizor charged, like a madman ignorant to the dangers before him. Sceptile rushed to exploit the advantage, slashing out. "Scizor, Acrobatics!" Scizor jumped, gracefully flipping over in the air, his arms reaching down for Sceptile's head as he went. He grasped his foe by the neck, pulling him from his feet. With all momentum he was able to summon, he flipped again, both them spinning in the air rapidly before-
"Sceppp!" Sceptile shot through the air, like a flying neon sign as he got closer to the ground. "TILE!" He slammed his arms into the ground, quickly forcing himself to a halt. He got back on his feet, charging again.
Scizor was already upon him. "Iron Head!" Scizor's head smashed into Sceptile's face, knocking him back as Scizor flipped, smashing Sceptile's jaw with the heel of his foot as he took to the air. From mid-air Scizor took aim. "Double Flash Cannon!"
Both claws bore light, two streams which found their mark with a pained cry. Sceptile flew across the arena, his blades not even slowing him down as his landed on his back, instead cutting the arena like a superheated blade through butter. There was a bang, and through the smoke the glowing blades moved. Sceptile burst from a cloud of dust, angry, damaged, but still in the fight.
Ash was briefly pensive. "Scizor's really good...there's only one chance." He smiled.
Quentin felt a bead of sweat fall down the side of his face. Leaf Storm Blade, he was very familiar with it. Enough so to know its weakness.
"Constantly charging that blade with leaves, which inevitably disintegrate under the blade's own energy. Sceptile gains incredible striking power when using that move, but such power comes with a price." He took in Sceptile's stance. "But not high enough of one. This won't end by Scizor chipping him down..."
Sceptile suddenly broke into a roar, howling to the heavens as his body took on the same glow as his blades.
Ash understood. "Sceptile, go at him with everything you got!" Sceptiles back erupted, into a brighter blaze of leaves. "Leaf Storm Blade: Storm Blade Cross!" The Leaf Storm Blades grew brighter, and brighter, and if one listened closely, they could hear a distinct hum in the air.
This, Quentin was not familiar with, but he had an idea what to expect..."Scizor! Use all of your power! Hyper Metal Claw!"
Scizor opened his claws, and light was born within each, a sphere of familiar, orange light. He closed his claws, turning them to grey, and the metal began to glow, quickly becoming an aura of metal fire.
He ran forward.
Sceptile rushed faster, his leaf storm suddenly erupting, charging his blade even further. The glow set him alight as he ran towards his foe, like a storm of emerald fire.
The ground cracked with their final step, their final blows ripping through the air. Scizor thrusting both his claws forward. Sceptile slashing both his claws, the blades destined to meet. The air charged with the closing gap of strange fires...
"For these days..."
It closed. The two attacks met in a radiant light, like a supernova of power which shook the ground like an earthquake, and sheer force shot out in a perfect circle.
Light, wind, and leaves.
A thousand leaves, like a thousand tiny swords. From Sceptile's side of the chaos they shot out in all directions. In little more than a second all the power of the titanic clash was born and passed.
All Ash saw was light. He might have been screaming, but for one instant it was impossible to make out one detail from another. He could only see green.
Green that cut his clothes.
Green that cut his skin.
He felt them, each one that touched him like a knife to his flesh. He felt the sudden wet warmth escape him, he felt the wind on his back as fell.
He smiled.
"I would do it all over again."
He hit the ground, still with that smile upon his face, his arms and legs spread out.
"Pikapi!"
Ash's mouth, still in smile, had opened as he took in deeper breaths. His arms and legs were outlined in red as he lay there, eyes closed. He took in the deepest breath. His eyes opened. "This day just keeps getting better and better."
There was not even a trace of sarcasm in his voice. "Pikapi..."
"Ugnn." Ash forced himself to sit upright, stopping to breath again briefly. "Uhn..." He breathed in, and out, slowly, as Pikachu took in just how hurt his friend was.
His arms and legs were littered with dozens of cuts, each of them red, and leaking down their respective limb, like a thousand tiny rivers of red. Ash grunted, then growled, and with a deep breath-
He roared. With a primal cry worthy of any Pokémon he had ever sent into battle he forced himself to his feet. His voice in his breath as he forced himself through the pain. He gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, spread out his arms and roared to the heavens.
"I would do it all over again!"
He stopped, letting his arms fall to his side as he breathed, heavily, bled freely. He felt his shirt become laced with blood, his gloves becoming wet with it, and his shoes start to take it's own share of red.
He took a look to the battleground before him, and most it was a cloud of dust. He tried to find sign of the combatants, but each were hid. He turned his gaze to somewhere further, finding his own opponent.
Quentin, aside from the debris on his coat, was not much worse for wear. He looked across to Ash, briefly raising his brow at what he found, but wiping his shock in the next instant. He turned his eyes to the center of the dust cloud, as did Ash.
As it finally faded away.
There they were. Still standing. Both stared one another down. Both were panting, their attacks having faded to nothing but the scars in the battleground around them. "Sceppppp." Sceptile clenched his fists.
"Zorrrr." Scizor's claws snapped briefly. "Scizor!" He took a step forward. "Sci. Sc-zorr..." He fell, on all fours with a thud, his heavy breathing reverberating from every wall.
Ash laughed. "You got him, Sceptile!"
"Scep!" He raised his arm, presenting his blades."Scepti-...illlle." Sceptile too fell, to a knee, his breathing matching that of Scizor.
"Sceptile's...at his limit." Ash felt a bead of sweat, or was it blood that ran down his back? If Sceptile was out of power then this really was anybody's round.
Scizor scraped a claw across the ground."SciiiiI!" He punched the ground, before "ZORRRR!" He forced himself back up, raising his claw to the sky.
"Scizor!" Scizor's claw flashed silver. "End it!"
Scizor's arm shook, as his claw slowly turned from red, into grey, becoming more like the claw every fraction of a second. Greyer, greyer, greyer...
Red. "Sciiii..." He leaned back. He fell back, a soft, dull thud his only remaining sound.
The round...was over.
Ash grinned. "Good going, Sceptile!" Sceptile smiled, but remained on his knee.
Quentin raised a hand to his chest. He unclasped another button, the third. He reached to his belt, extracting two Pokéballs. "Scizor, return." He looked down at the ball with a blank expression, before came a small smile. "Head-to-head to the very end. Reminds me a lot of the third..."He looked at the second ball, and smiled wilder. "Prepare for battle, Sableye!" He cast the battle, and from it came forth the ghost Pokémon.
Sabeleye emerged, hopping in place. The most...unprofessional Pokémon in Quentin's team so far repeatedly back-flipped in place, occasionally taking a few seconds to walk on his hands. Singing some kind of tune to himself. He flipped to his feet, looking up to the sky, his features tense as he opened his maw wide and...
...yawned. Quentin clenched the bridge of his nose. "All these years...and I still can't make you take a fight seriously." Sableye turned around, flashing him a grin of fangs. "Why have I kept you on this team again?"
The grin vanished, Sableye stood up straight, putting his hands on his hips. He turned around, walking across the arena like...like some people Ash had seen on TV he was sure. He walked towards Sceptile, who understood the fight was on again. So did Ash. "Bulletseed!" Sceptile opened his mouth, his mouth aglow as he released all his remaining power.
A single barrage of seeds. Sableye jumped, passing over them as he pulled his claw back. It became surrounded in purple fire. He landed, slashing out, creating a phantom of his claw with reached out and struck Sceptile in the face.
He was out before he hit the ground. Sableye turned around, hands on his hips again. Quentin rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright, you made your point."
Ash pulled a Pokeball, not even needing to call to confirm Sceptile's condition. "Return!" He smiled, looking down. "Good job, Sceptile." He closed his eyes and breathed, this was the kind of battle he wanted. The kind of battles he fought his way to the Championship for. The kind he had waded through the weak, the inexperienced and those who pretended to be strong to find. He looked across to Quentin, to the only other who could understand.
Who should have understood. Quentin was strong, but...Ash closed his eyes, feeling the life leaking of his many wounds.
"I live for these days."
He opened his eyes, taking in Quentin's appearance, his expression..."You...you still don't get it, do you?"
Quentin looked up from Sableye, meeting Ash's eyes. The old man breathed deep, and to Ash, he somehow seemed older all of a sudden.
He exhaled. "No, Ash. It's you who doesn't get it any more."
Ash clenched a bloody fist. "Damn you, Quentin!" He violently pulled his next ball and cast it. "Feraligatr!"
Feraligatr emerged, raising his head in a brief roar before he took a look at his opponent. He scraped his feet across the ground; his ritual of preparation upon a new battleground. Upon a new stage.
It was time to dance.
Sabelye cocked his head, and had he been capable would have likely blinked. He scratched his chest, before he too took his stance, grinning all the while.
It was time to play.
Ash briefly swayed, before he bit his lip and forced himself to be still. "I'm the onlyone who gets it! The only one!"
Quentin's eyes slowly closed. "You once understood..." They snapped open, and suddenly, the extra years vanished. "Sableye, continue!" Sableye clapped, then jumped, taking to the air as if he was born to it.
Ash reaffirmed his stance, his senses deaf to the blood falling from him. "Feraligatr!" Ferlaligatr roared, swiping his tail through the air, prepared for the attack to come.
Ready for the ballet of battle.
"All I have left...are these days."
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End of Chapter
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Next Time: Dance With The Specter
Author's Notes: I'm a complete sucker for sword fights. I'd have had Scizor be a Scyther, but un-cuttable (nearly) skin was such an appealing option. Not quite the blade to blade combat I'd have liked, but it'll do.
A little comparison between the Pokémon animé, and being realistic
Scenario: A really strong, sharp attack (anything that cuts will do), with a wide surface, hitting the neck of a human being.
Results:
Animé: Knocked down, possible neck pain, back on feet inside ten seconds. (usually)
Realistic: Head goes clean off.
Shoot me, but I prefer realism. Don't like it? Well this is far from the only fic on the net, so off you go!
(Seriously, you stop reading and I have damn good excuse to stop writing. It's not like I'm not telling a story that's already been done a hundred thousand times...)
Trivia: Quentin using a Scizor is actually a reference to myself. (I actually waited this long for a self reference, absolute frigging miracle right there) Used to have a Scizor on my team back in the days of Gold/Silver (Gold in my case) and it was a powerhouse. Used to help leave my brother's team in shambles.
About Scepitle:
With the obvious (and automatic exception) of Pikachu, Sceptile was the easiest member to choose for the team. He was just so damn obvious a choice. Fast, strong, and an efficient fighter. Though his battle record may not be as impressive as Snorlax's, he's proven to be one of Ash's best. As much as I love Bulbasaur (and I do, he was one of Ash's original team), Sceptile is more Ash's type (Ash tends to use faster/more agile Pokémon) and I can't see Bulbasaur leaving Oak's lab, not for the lengths of time that have been mentioned in this fic already.
I could have considered going with Bayleef (would have evolved her most likely), but this fic's got its shipping covered already. (plus I'd have to have changed out Totadile/Feraligatr, no frigging way was that ever happening)