Authors Notes: Now this is what a lot of you have been waiting for. Pikachu and Ash going all out.
Warning to those who are complaining about this battle going on too long: Yeah, you can just skip this one. Bye bye!
Contest: Well fuck me, somebody made a new entry. (Forgot to even mention the contest last time) Alas, no Cigar, GaruAlpha, but I commend a real effort. In return, I'm gonna drop a hint right here.
Well, I'm gonna remind you of one: The clue has literally been spelled out for you. Well more than 100 times now. (I shit you not, I did a count!)
It hides in plain sight, and it holds two meanings. One meaning you see every time you read, in the context of the story its meaning is clear, the other meaning is at the end of a web search (wikipedia is my source of choice), which more than likely will instantly give you the answer I seek once you find it.
(and another thing: The detail has nothing to do with Ash's mental state. Period.)
Also (and seriously, GaruAlpha, nice out-of-the-box thinking here), it doesn't have anything to do with how Ash got the title. It's a detail about his holding of it. Obviously, no. It's not that Ash is the first Kanto-native Grandmaster. His home region was not the info I was after, and he's also not the first Kanto-native. (it's probably predictable who the first was, but I don't care.) You're headed in the right direction...
I will be revealing the full list of Grandmasters in a later chapter, with details. Include the detail I'm asking about Ash, at least regarding them.
Soundtrack:
Dark at Dawn: Out in The Fields (this song is a cover of one that's been covered many times, other versions inspired a little too, but this one was the biggest contributor. Plus I love the vocals on this version.)
Disturbed: Prayer
Bloodbound: Tabula Rasa
Survivor: Eye of the Tiger (probably a Cliché choice, but it's a frigging awesome song!)
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One year ago...
Ash and Pikachu were focused entirely on the television before them. The ongoing battle was...was beyond the ability of most to even believe possible...
"Dragonite, Flamethrower!"
"Smeargle, Protect!" The inferno struck a shield of golden light, the shield and wielder leaping forth through the geyser of flame. "Zen Headbutt!" Smeargle's head was shrouded in blue, and smashed hard into Dragonite's face. The dragon took a step back as Smeargle flipped through the air, landing just the right distance to build up-"Giga Impact!"
"Hyper Beam!"
Two lights were born at once, one from Dragonite's mouth, and the other shrouded Smeargle, who'd already leap, his own light meeting the newborn beam head-on.
The world flashed to white.
When the world returned, it was shrouded in smoke, and as it faded, little details could be found piece by piece.
Dragonite was shorter, somehow, his form slumped. He was on his knees, he was atop something, he was slumped atop something. He was unconscious. The unconscious Dragonite was slumped over Smeargle.
Smeargle was still standing. Smeargle raised a single hand, picking up his larger foe and dropping him to the ground. Smeargle stumbled for an instant, before reaffirming his stance. His form was dirtied by battle, worn by it, but few would be brave or foolish enough to seek another round.
"People of the world! The winner, and still reigning Pokémon Grandmaster; Quentin Gelden!"
The camera focused on the Grandmaster whose reign seemed would be without end. Quentin Gelden...Ash had known his name for as long as he'd loved Pokémon battles, and that had been all his life. Ash had watched him meet the strongest, watched him defeat the strongest, and for the longest time, Ash had wanted to face him, but for that time it seemed like a goal so far out of reach.
But now...now he was getting so strong. He'd made more strides in strength in this one year than the four before it, and he could only keep climbing higher...
He clenched his fist, smiling. He felt fire, fire burning through his veins, though his soul, though his very being.
"Next year...Next year, we face him."
Pikachu's cheeks sparked into life. "Pikaaaaa."
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Light had faded, the world had grown dark, and under the sunless sky the four stood at the peak of the world.
The peak of their world. In all trainerdom, they were the rulers of all creation. Therein lay a problem, there could never be two. One always had to stand at the absolute pinnacle. But on the other hand, it really was so lonely to stand alone. Company was appreciated, as often as possible. For Ash, it had been mere weeks, weeks since he'd pushed himself to the realm of his limits, to wonder close to the edges of his current strength.
For Quentin, it had been so much longer. Immeasurably longer since he'd stood at the edge of his might. The former Grandmaster smiled to himself, as he took in the sight of his opponent, so unworthy for the role, yet..."This is it...this is the battle I waited for."
Ash took a breath, a deep breath. The air was rich with the smell, the aroma of battle. "Home. I've come home." Across the field he could see it all Quentin, smiling to himself, Smeargle the same way, and Pikachu's form a sparkling beacon. "We've all come home." He clenched his fist, it was time.
Quentin saw it, Ash was ready to kick this off. "Here it comes!" There was only one opener he'd use. "Smeargle, on your guard!"
Ash smiled. It was dark, but his vision was clear. His path was bathed in light. He had walked it, now it was time to run. "Pikachu! Flash Step!"
Pikachu vanished in a flash of yellow. In the next instant Pikachu was in front of Smeargle with another flash, smiling. "Thunder Punch!" Pikachu clenched his fist, it and his cheeks glowing before-
"Mach Punch!" He vanished again, and just half of an instant later Smeargle struck out.
The final round had truly began.
The air shook as fist met fist. "Smearrrrrr-!" Smeargle pushed Pikachu's fist back, and lashing with a kick-Pikachu vanished in a flash before-Smeargle blocked another punch with his tail. Pikachu vanished again.
"Smeargle, keep moving!" Smeargle jumped, leaping across the ground as the brief Flashes granted him sight of Pikachu briefly. A flash appeared to his left-he ducked a blow, stabbing up with his tail. Pikachu grabbed it before it touched him, jumping back to the ground and was gone again. Smeargle flipped, just missing a kick at his stomach, he his tail stabbed again, rapidly. Pikachu strafed around the strikes, before one came down too fast-he was gone again. "Magical Leaf!" Smeargle hit the ground, swiping his hand across the air, glowing green leaves appearing out of nowhere in its wake. They shot through the air, following the Flashing Pikachu.
Pikachu stopped for a second as the leaves can closer, and closer-he vanished again. The leaves changed course, follow him before he vanished again. Ash looked around, finding. "Pikachu! Middle Claw!" He pointed, Pikachu following his finger directly too-
He was gone again. He grabbed onto the claw as the leaves came in. This high up, the claw had taken heavy structural damage...he smiled, the leaves came closer and closer, and closer-he let go. Pikachu fell down, the leaves following after him, he grabbed the claw again, kicking it, the cracks spreading higher and-it shattered, from above countless stones fell even faster than the swift leaves, one by one they were crushed. Pikachu took a look at Smeargle, clenching a sparking fist.
"Smearle, Teleport!"
Smeargle glowed white, Pikachu vanished in yellow. Pikachu reappeared in midair, punching.
Pikachu's fist hit nothing but air.
Smeargle smiled, he was now standing in front of his trainer, a mirror of the smile Ash had, and even Pikachu had.
The skill Flash Step was built to counter.
Ash had watched Smeargle battle for his entire life. He knew his skills, particularly his skill in teleporting. The only way he found to contend was it was to either capture and train a Pokémon trained just to counter it, with their own Teleporting skills, but that would also require training a Pokémon against Smeargle's fighting style, but how did one train against a style with an arsenal as wide as the decades it took to forge it?
He'd found another way. Now he, now they could meet with their own style, and fight the way they felt comfortable. They could fight their way.
Quentin smiled. Now it got good. That Flash Step, it was going to be an interesting obstacle... "I could have Smeargle try and copy it..." The way Pikachu moved around, and could sweep in, in a heartbeat... "He wouldn't be able to do it fast enough. And just knowing it is not enough to try using a move like that. Oh well, keeps it from getting boring." He chuckled. "This is gonna be something for the ages."
"Smeargle, continue!" His tail dance in the air.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu's cheeks sparked.
Smeargle strode forward, smiling. "Sucker Punch!" He glowed white, and vanished.
He reappeared, already throwing his attack-flash. His fist passed through air. Flash. He moved his head, a punch barely missing his cheek. He jumped away, their trainers barking orders as fast as the flow of battle. Smeargle began moving around, moving around the Arena. Iron Tail met Blaze Kick, and that kick was followed with another, stomping the ground, creating a wave of fire in all directions. He vanished, and Pikachu stopped moving, trying to locate-he flipped through the air, the glow of a Night Slash, passing under him as he sparked, and with a how of his name sent Thunderbolt coming down. Smergle leapt away, Pikachu hitting the ground. Flash, Smeargle followed a series of flashes, waiting for Pikachu to stop-"CHUUUUU!"
A bolt headed for him, and at this range he couldn't teleport in time. He clenched his fist, forming a thunderpunch and-he bashed the bolt away."CHUUUU!" Another was coming from behind, he jumped away, catching another pair of flashes-"CHUUUUU!" Seeing it coming beforehand, Smeargle teleported, airborne above Pikachu. He slot a Force Palm.
Pikachu looked up, firing a powerful Charge Beam. So powerful in fact-Smeargle barely had time to vanish, and less to navigate, appearing somewhere in midair, now there-THUNK. Iron Tail sent him sailing to the ground. He slid across the ground, forcing himself to his feet as."KA!" Thunder Punch bashed his face, then again, another punch headed for-
He grabbed Pikachu's wrist forcing him off the ground. Smeargle's Tail lashed him twice, before-"KKAAAAAA!" Smeargle's fist sent Pikachu sailing through the air, the artist snarling, he was ending this. He vanished.
Ash saw Smeargle appear where Pikachu was headed, and pulling back a leg. "Thunder Wheel!" Pikachu flipped in the air, once, twice and as his body sparked he span around like a buzz-saw, almost cutting the air itself.
Smeargle vanished, Pikachu quickly landing, and cutting the count before he came to a halt. Smeargle stood in place, staring down Pikachu.
"I applaud your effort, boy. But you should have brought a Thunder Stone."
"No. I won't make Pikachu evolve to win. He can be all he can be without evolving."
"Then he is not truly 'all he can be', then is he? "You deny yourselves the true limits of your potential. That will come back to bite you, one day."
"We'll see." Pikachu's cheeks sparked into life again. "Pikachu!"
"Smeargle!"
The two met at the center of the arena. Tail met tail. Pikachu ducked a kick, jumping up and flicking his tail at Smeargle's chi-he backfliped, hitting the ground and moving his paw though the air in a swift Air Slash.
"Pika!" Iron Tail parried it, sending the would be slash sailing above and behind Smergle, to the only thing that was behind him, the thing that wouldn't move as the incoming blast reached next to his head.
Blood.
Quentin's shoulder spurt out red, splashing the ground and the side of his face. Quentin took in Ash's shock and smiled. "Boy, if I didn't know better. I'd say you were cowered by the sight of blood." His smile widened, into a wild grin. "Don't cower. Don't retreat. Don't even hesitate." The grin reached his eyes. "Not until I'm done with you! Continue, Smeargle!"
"Go, Pikachu!"
The two jumped at eachother, meeting in flying kicks, they jumped back.
"The strongest are always defined by one thing." Quentin watched the results of their next commands. Smeargle used stone edge, the countless shards like knives as they tried to hit Pikachu, who stayed just one step ahead of them. He approached Smeargle again, his Thunder punch met Protect. "We love it! If we can't fight then we're not fully alive!" Smeargle pushed the shield, striking with Shadow Claw, which met a wash with another Thunderpunch "Just for now, let it go, let it all go!"
Pikachu was knocked back, and off his feet, he'd acted too late on that one. Smeargle jumped at him, shrouded in the blaze of Dragon Rush. "Iron Spark Tail!" His tail turned to Iron, the iron came alive with power...
Ash's mind turned, for an instant, to the Thunderstone. To the Stone he still had, from way, way back when. He'd never gotten rid of it, even though he said he'd never use it he always kept it with him. He never considered it, but Quentin did raise a point...Pikachu could become much more powerful, if he chose too.
If...if he left part of himself behind.
The world flashed to white, both Smeargle and Pikachu were shot back by the clash. Ash smiled, now this was it. This is what it was all about...
Pikachu and Smeargle were soon reunited. Smeargle jumped a sweep, his tail sneaking under him to make a sweep of his own. Pikachu grabbed it, pulling Smeargle down. He tried to stomp Pikachu, and missed. Pikachu fired a thunderbolt...
It wasn't about the creeds, the opinions, or the reasons. It wasn't even about making a point. It was two, two fighting until one fell. That was what a battle was all about.
All it should have ever been about.
A part of them both, understood this. Embraced this. They laughed.
The Thunderbolt was ducked, Smeargle vanished, and Pikachu flashed away. The trainers stopped laughing, the Pokemon stopped fighting.
For a second. "Smearle, Wildfire!"
Smeargle opened his mouth, unleashing a deluge of..."Smog, but what's it for?"
In seconds most of the field was covered in the acrid gas. Smeargle waved his hand creating a strong breeze, the mass moving with the flow of wind, but not dissipating. Pikachu keep his cheeks sparking, waiting for-"Light it up." He breathed fire.
That fire became wild, consuming all in its path.
One thing was fast enough to get out of the way. Pikachu was on the middle claw again, that was too clos-darkness. A foul smell. Hea-flash. Pikachu scarcely evaded the blaze. Smeargle vanished from out of mid-air.
Pikachu panted, from the opposite claw, too close. The fires on the battlefield had burned out quickly, he'd run back there when-Flash
Smog covered where Pikachu just was, and Smeargle now was too. From the field Pikachu looked around, where was he? Smeargle wasn't going to-behind! He stuck out, missing and getting his face filled with smoke-flash.
Smeargle smiled, Pikachu would make a mistake sometime, and when that happened...
Pikachu reappeared, frowning. Dammit, what could he-"Pikachu! Remember your spars against Charizard!"
He knew which spar he was referring to. It got them both in the Pokémon center after part of a cave came down on them, but..."KAAAAAAAAA!" Pikachu glowed brightly, an aura of concentrated power covering him. His veil was formed. He stared into an oncoming mass of smog coming towards him. He ran forward, on all fours.
Smeargle used Flamethrower.
Pikachu jumped.
Smeargle looked around, where was he?! There's no way he'd actually-a flash of light...in front of-!
It was too late, Thunder Wheel collided with him at full speed, taking Smeargle off his feet. Even as he howled out, Smeargle's paws tuned to metal, and with a roar he slashed the middle of the saw with both hands.
The saw became a mass of fur, and was knocked back, both of them landing. Pikachu smiled, even with the darkened patches on his fur, it worked, and this time he didn't spend a day laid up in bed! Smeargle was on his feet, laughing.
Quentin was laughing too. "Now this is a real battle! It's just too bad I have to end it soon."
"Certain you can beat me huh? You're pretty confident, aren't you?"
"And why shouldn't I be? A Grandmaster falls only before one stronger than them. My might, my Pokémon's might are without equal by that logic. If a Grandmaster is Grandmaster until they are beaten then I reign still. Countless have tried. From all the world the strongest have tried to defeat me, for countless years! I have fought Masters, Champions, and struck them all down! What chance, boy? What chance do you have?"
"I have one thing they didn't." He smiled. "I am Ash Ketchum, Pokémon Grandmaster."
That struck a nerve. "You're Grandmaster only when I say you are! Smeargle! This battle ends right now!" Smeargle closed his eyes, his body starting to glow red. "By Ho-Oh's Ashes, I swear you will never utter those words again! Smeargle!" Ash felt a chill run down his spin, ironic, given what he knew to be coming. "Lava Vein!"
"S-Smear!" His foot slammed into the ground. His body glowed red with heat-"Smear-SMEARRRRR!"
The move that seized Quentin his reign.
The ground around Smeagle cracked, and started smoking, the cracks rapidly spreading across the arena, with some spots generating a circle of cracks, growing even brighter.
Quentin chuckled quietly to himself..."The strongest are forged in the fires of battle... Will you withstand ours? Or like even her, will you burn away?" He smiled, slightly. "Do you know what separates boys from men? Boys merely play with fire. Men wield it!" He laughed. "Your name befits you well, your reign ends in it! Now, Ash Ketchum!" He spread his arms as the ground continued to crack. "Stand in our fire!"
Ash knew what was coming, he could feel it, under the ground there were rivers of fire waiting to come. Smeargle's red glow faded, and he was shrouded in blue. He could feel slightly the movement underground.
"Pikachu, this is it! Like we practised!" If not for long, this fight wasn't expected. "Lightning Spin!"
"Pikaaaaa!" The Charge Veil returned, as Pikachu began to spin in place, lighting dancing around him. "CHUUUUUU!" He span faster and faster, the lightning becoming more and more defined as it span and span and span with him. "Pikapikapikapikapikapikapikapikapikapikapikapikapikapikapikapika!" A drill of lightning, a vortex of power ready to contend the oncoming fire.
It came. "SMEAR!" One of the cracked patches burst, a geyser of molten rock shot at the vortex.
"Pikachu, don't let up!"
It hit, and immense heat blended with static flooded the air. The stream of molten flame. Smeargle waved his hands, and with a warcry more streams hit the vortex. The vortex moved faster and faster, breaking the fire down as fast as it came.
"Strike from beneath his feet!" Smeargle ignited himself again with a roar, and around where Pikachu span a circle of cracks soon formed.
It burst, a circle of fire rushed up, roaring as it surrounded the votex in a superheated torrent. The ground quivered, as more and more lava came forth, growing higher and higher, thicker and ticker, keeping just out of range of the spinning storm, rising just above it-
It struck, a sphere of fire compressing on the vortex. It was covered, and the sphere became slightly smaller. "Pikachu!"
"Smearrrrrrrrr!-GLE!" More fire burst from the ground, joining the compressing sphere.
"PIKACHU!"
"PIIIIIIIIII!" The compressing stopped. "PIKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" The surface cracked, it spread open, it burst. "KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" The Lightning Spin shot to the sky, and spread out, dissipating the blaze.
"GLE!" Smeargle's glow vanished as he jumped back, the sky raining liquid fire. Countless drops hit the ground, each smoking as they hit the ground, a cloud of smoke building rapidly across the field. Ash and Quentin remained still, the rain scarcely missing the edge of their feet.
Across the field the storm was slowing down, the lighting faded, showing Pikachu coming to a stop, his eyes closed as Charge Veil faded. His cheeks briefly sparked. "Iron Tail!" His eyes opened, and he vanished.
He was in the air before Smeargle, his tail already made of Metal as the smoke built rapidly around him. "PIKA!"
He struck.
The smoke covered it all, and Ash couldn't "Pika-ack!" He fell to a knee, acrid smoke flooding his lungs. He could only look, as seconds passed, ever so slowly, the smoke rising higher and higher, clearing the ground for Ash to make out-he gasped. There was Pikachu, Smeargle, and an Iron Tail.
Smeargle holding the tail firmly between his hands. Pikachu's body started sparking, before Smeargle opened his hands again, letting Pikachu flip away on his tail. He hit the ground, staring his opponent down again, for the next round to come.
Ash couldn't believe it...not even the champions aces... Aggron, Volcrona, Dragonite, Typlosion, Garchomp.
Smeargle was stronger than them.
The strongest Pikachu had ever faced.
The smoke parted to reveal Quentin, standing tall, and resolute. "I am Quentin Gelden! I am Pokemon Grandmaster! Before all who are unworthy, we shall never fall!"
"You better not." Ash forced himself not to start hacking again. "I don't want this to end yet. You can fall when I'm done with you!"
"Likewise, boy. Likewise." He watched, as Ash forced himself to his feet. "So, I was right. It was him... This battle was inevitable." He smiled. "Thank Ho-Oh."
Ash was smiling too. What a truly glorious day...
He had met his predecessor. He had found his clarity. He had found satisfaction for his hunger. He had re-found the days worth living for. He had danced with the illusion of the spectre. He had ignited the fire in his heart. He had survived his darkest moment.
He had finally found his way.
Now he stood, at the height of the glory.
As it had began, as they had began, they had come to the end of the path.
Alone.
He looked up to the sky.
"The strongest stand alone."
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End of Chapter
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Next Time: Gone With The Rain
Author's Notes: Holy shit this one was fun to write! (if hard-ish, still not that great at battle-writing, I procrastinate like fuck) A Pokémon that can use any move, seriously why in the bloody hell was Smeagle not given an ep dedicated to this fact? If the animé had officially given Johto its own champion a Smeargle would have been a fucking perfect ace Pokémon for them. But alas it's been left to a fanfic writer to give Johto the glory it's due, and I went overboard, as I normally do.
I'll admit it, among all the rounds, this one has received by far the most attention. Likely you guessed that much by the fact it has two chapters already. I am going somewhere with it, maybe the next chapter's title caught your attention.
This one could have turned out better, but I'm a schedule, this had to be up today. What does he mean, you wonder...
P.S.
Before anyone says it; Yes, I know that Team Rocket stole the Thunderstone in the anime, but hey, this is a fanfic, comes with the territory that I can make shit up/ignore cannon material I find inconvenient, and that one is very much so I know Ash would probably never actually use it, but him simply having that Thunderstone is a potent plot point, given its history, so I'm definitely ignoring the cannon on this one.
Trivia: Holy shit I got nothing! Stop the presses!