Hi, FanFiction Members! This is HollowKU bringing the new chapter of The Parallel Challenger! I am really, REALLY happy right now. You know why? Because my story reached the 100 reviews! I'm really excited! This is the first time I got this much reviews in one of my stories. I really thank you for this achievement! I couldn't have done it without you, my dear readers! But I want to give special thanks to Angel Kaijeno, or as I call him, Kai. He was the one who got the 100th review, so I would like to thank him by dedicating this chapter to him in specific, but this is also for all of you who have been reading this fic and have managed to make me achieve this.
Anyway, thanks to Silver Demon Sword, Lightningblade49, Omegaxis1, Pokeguy84, HikariGaijin, Imperishable Soul, Starlighz, A Natsume Yuujinchou Lover, Lord Kaizer, Trainer Theta, ChloboShoka, PokeMaster000, REDxYELLOW, aggronlover, Peter Kim, beastmode953, Golfer2012, JJWalker, XSubaruRockmanX and 2 Guests. Thanks for all your support as always =)
Well, with no more interruptions, let's go to the fic!
Pokémon: The Parallel Challenger
Chapter 10: Clear Mind
"Damn it...how are we going to beat him if he keeps healing himself?"
Ash couldn't help but watch as his Pokémon was about to receive the powerful blow from his counterpart's Pokémon. Infernape tried to get up, but it seemed that he took a lot of damage from the battle so far.
"Snorlax...finish this already..."
Red watched his Pokémon heading with an amazing speed where the fire ape was. If the Giga Impact landed, it would be all for Ash's Pokémon. But after all that damage, including the annoying Rest ability, there wasn't so much hope for Infernape.
"INFERNAPE!"
Snorlax collided with the ground, making lots of dust to cover the battlefield. Ash cursed his luck by looking in a different direction, while Red just grabbed the brim of his cap and was ready to return his Pokémon back to his Pokéball to continue with the next battle. There was no point in continuing.
"Snorlax?!"
"INFERNAPE!"
Suddenly and surprising everyone, the dust dissipated revealing a pumped-up Infernape grabbing Snorlax while breathing heavily. It was an unbelievable view. Infernape had taken the whole attack and resisted it with his bare hands.
"Infernape! Thank Arceus you're alright!"
"Infer...ape!"
"So...he still had a lot of power hidden within him..." Red couldn't help but smile. "As expected of the other me..."
"INFERNAPE!"
The fire ape, with all his might, threw Snorlax to the floor really hard, as he returned to his side of the field with a really enraged face. Snorlax got annoyed as well by the persistence of his opponent.
"Infernape! We have to finish this quickly before it gets worse!" Ash was somewhat nervous, but he trusted in his Pokémon's strength.
"INFER...NAPE!"
Infernape started emanating a big red aura that went directly to his flaming head. It grew bigger and bigger, as everyone saw in disbelief that the Pokémon's temper had reached his limits. The fire ape roared, as he hit the floor with a mighty Mach Punch, cracking the floor in the process while seeing the Sleeping Pokémon with a deadly glare.
Meanwhile with the others...
"Yeah!" Dawn raised her fist in joy. "Just when he needed it, Infernape activated Blaze!"
"It seems that Infernape is in the same kind of situation when he fought Paul's Electrivire in the Sinnoh League a year ago." Brock remarked.
"Maybe now Ash has the opportunity to destroy Snorlax's defensive tricks!" Max said.
While the group was seeing that luck was now in Ash's side, two researchers were still looking at the battlefield, with a serious look, analyzing the fire ape.
"Gramps, I may be not expert, but I feel there is something wrong with Infernape." Gary whispered to not worry the others, "The look in his eyes...it just...doesn't feel right..."
"I noticed it too, Gary..." Prof. Oak replied with a low tone. "However, it is too soon to jump into conclusions. Right now we can only look and hope it's nothing serious..."
Even though she was also celebrating the sudden power-up, May noticed the worried faces of both researchers. She decided to let it pass, however. After all, what would be possibly wrong in the battle so far?
Returning to the battle...
"So, another Blaze, huh?" The young Champion said while looking at his opponent. "Don't think that move will work as effective as the last one..."
"Let's see about that!" Now luck was on Ash's side. "Infernape, ready for round two?"
"INFERNAPE!" The Pokémon roared as he suddenly charged on his opponent.
"Huh? Infernape, what are you doing?!"
The Pokémon didn't listen to his trainer, as he collided with the Sleeping Pokémon with a powerful Mach Punch. The champion's Pokémon didn't have time to react, taking him by surprise, so he received the whole shot as he flew backwards, and finally falling into the dirty ground. The Sleeping Pokémon groaned in pain as he got up with one of his big hands covering the spot he was recently hit. It seemed that the fist was even more devastating than the last one.
"U-umm...nice shot, Infernape!" Ash was confused why his Pokémon attacked without his order, but he was glad that the damage was actually effective this time.
"Snorlax...use Blizzard." Red sounded somewhat worried.
"Flamethrower!"
Both attacks clashed, but the heat of the Flamethrower that Infernape released was way more powerful than the Ice-type attack. The Blizzard melted as the Flamethrower make his way through the attack and hit Snorlax directly. The Pokémon fell to its knees as he saw his opponent grinning.
"Now! Use Dig!"
The fire ape ranted, but obeyed his trainer as always, and began to make his way beneath the ground to surprise his opponent.
"Snorlax...keep an eye on every way. I have a bad feeling about this..."
"Now Red, let me show you one of the combos I made when I was back in my Sinnoh journey!" Ash said as he pointed to Red's Pokémon. "Now! Underground Flare Blitz!"
When Ash gave the order, the whole ground started shaking, as fire emerged from several points of the field. In seconds, the whole battlefield transformed into an inferno. Snorlax tried to use Blizzard to extinguish the fire, but that was his doom. With an amazing speed, Infernape appeared from behind him and collided with him, hitting him with the whole pressure of the Flare Blitz.
The Sleeping Pokémon went flying were his trainer was as swirls formed into his eyes. The battle was over for him.
"Snorlax can no longer battle! The winner is Infernape!" Brock took his position as the referee and announced the winner.
"Yes! Well done, Infernape!" Ash smiled.
"..." The fire ape just stayed in silence as he looked at the fainted Pokémon.
"No way..." This was Red's thought after seeing another of his Pokémon falling because of his opponent. "He has managed to overcome the strength of my Pokémon..." Red started to be nervous. "As much as I want him to pull out his best potential, I can't afford to lose, either..."
"INFERNAAAAAAAAPE!"
Everyone was surprised to see that Infernape roared with such intensity. What shocked them the most was that, with no reason, he charged once again as Snorlax, even though he had already lost the battle. He started hitting him with multiple Mach Punches, making the Sleeping Pokémon to groan in pain.
"What the...? Infernape, stop it!" Ash yelled to his Pokémon.
The Pokémon didn't obeyed, and threw Snorlax another Mach Punch, sending him flying because of the big impact. The Sleeping Pokémon then proceeded to use his trick move: Rest. As the Pokémon slowly recovered, Infernape used a Flare Blitz, with a power boost thanks to his Blaze ability, and clashed with Snorlax.
"Infernape, no!"
However, the impossible happened. The indestructible barrier started to crack. In seconds, Infernape passed through the barrier and hit Snorlax once again. Thanks to Rest, Snorlax was able to recover some energy, but he was extremely tired, since Infernape was putting him right in the edge of his abilities.
"...!" Red grabbed his Pokéball fast and returned the Sleeping Pokémon to it. He then grabbed his next Pokéball.
"Ash, what are you waiting for? Infernape is obviously angry! Return him to his Pokéball right now!" Brock was getting concerned about the fire ape going berserk.
What came next was also really shocking. Infernape looked at Red with a death glare, as he slowly approached to where he was. His intentions were pretty clear. He was going to hit Red.
"Infernape, stop it!"
The Pokémon didn't obey and continued to walk to where the young Champion was. However, he started to be faster with every step.
"Infernape, return!"
Ash tried to return him to the Pokéball, but Infernape dodged the energy beam really fast. Ash ran where his Pokémon was heading. Red just stood there, looking at the fire ape getting closer and closer.
"Red, look out!"
Infernape got where Red was, and was ready to impact direct hit into his face...when a mysterious purple aura surrounded Infernape. Apparently, now he couldn't move any part of his body, as if he was being holding back by a mysterious force.
"This should be able to stop you for a while." Red said calmly. "Espeon, nice job as always."
"Peon!" A Pokémon was hiding behind Red, who was revealed to be Espeon.
"What the...? When did you made him appear?" Ash asked, shocked since he didn't see that coming. By this time, he had already reached Red.
"When Infernape approached, my Pokéball was already in my hand, so I just summoned him behind me, and waited for me to give the order to counter..."
"But, you didn't do anything!"
"Espeon can read my thoughts." Red replied to his counterpart and then he looked at the fire ape. "And so can read his. Espeon, you know what to do."
"Peon!"
The Psychic Eevee evolution started emanating a purple aura, as his eyes were shining in a light blue color. The Pokémon looked at Ash's Pokémon directly in the eyes. Infernape tried not to look at them, but the psychic prevented him to move freely. Slowly, the fire ape's ferocious face started fading, and leaving an emotionless expression on the Pokémon's face.
"What have you done?" Ash was shocked to see his Pokémon like that.
"Espeon is entering into the deeps of his unconscious mind." Red replied to the trainer. "That way I'll know what is wrong with him."
"Wait, does that mean that...?"
"Yes." Red said as he touched his Espeon's head softly. "I'm going to enter to his mind."
With that said, Red closed his eyes, as he was slightly engulfed by the purple aura that Espeon emanated. Now, he was just standing there, but there was no movement coming from him. He was in the same state like Infernape.
Now, both Ash and the audience were left alone...
Red's POV (Inside Infernape's mind)
... ...
... ...
...So here we are...
...A white space...
"Espeon...come here..." I called my Pokémon.
"Peon!" My Pokémon appeared near me, watching me with a confused look. "Espeon!"
"This was going to be dangerous, so I don't think calling the other me here would be a good idea..."
"Peon..."
Well...that doesn't matter...
...Let's see what is really happening in here...
...I started walking through the white space, looking for something that could be wrong with it...
... ...
... ...
As I started walking, I started seeing a tiny black spot in front of me. As I walked near to it, the spot was making even bigger, and I noticed that it was emanating a dark aura...
...What's that?
*RAWRRRRRR!*
Hmmm...interesting...
In this whole blank world...a taint of darkness exists...
"Espeon, open a path for me..."
"Peon!"
The light emanating from Espeon opened a small rift in the dark spot...
Well...let's go...
... ...
... ...
As I entered the portal, I started looking everywhere, looking for the 'thing'. The whole reason I'm here...
As I entered further into the abyss with my Pokémon, I started noticing a silhouette of a young man. Probably about my age. What intrigued me the most was that I noticed that this silhouette started repeating itself in every single corner of the strange dark world.
...This is not normal...this person doesn't look like the other me at all...
So who is it?
Suddenly, a loud scream resonated in the whole space. As I looked in the center of it, the silhouette of the man was pretty clear. It was a purple-haired guy with black and blue clothes.
It was more like a flashback. I started seen this man yelling at a young monkey Pokémon. Apparently, he was defeated in a battle and this trainer was scolding him for being defeated.
...What a foolish and arrogant trainer...
...But that little Pokémon is...?
... ...
"Peon!"
I know...let's look more...
As my Espeon and I looked into the silhouette, the scenario changed, this time the mysterious trainer releasing the monkey Pokémon. No matter how much the Pokémon insisted to return with his trainer, the man just kept walking, without looking back...
...You were abandoned by your trainer...
...Because he thought you were weak...
Suddenly, another person came to the scene. I recognized this one perfectly. It was the other me. I looked as he offered the Pokémon to join his team. The Pokémon gladly accepted as tears were falling from his eyes...
...So the other me took you as one of his own...
...Interesting...
I kept looking at scenes. The Pokémon eventually evolved into his second stage, and encountered his former trainer in many occasions, making him go berserk with his inner ability...just like now...
...Well...it doesn't surprise me...
...I've seen this once before...
Instability of power can slowly turn into...madness...
"Red! You CAN'T defeat me now! My reign will last FOREVER! And you will be the first to be overpowered by my TRUE power!"
... ...
... ...
... ...
"Peon?"
"It's ok...it's all in the past now..."
...I hope so...
... ...
As I continued to look into the memory lane, I saw them. Two Pokémon, one I recognized as Ash's Pokémon, Infernape, and that horrible trainer's Pokémon. Both were tied in strength, it seemed like it would last forever. Until the other Pokémon make his move, apparently defeating Infernape. I was surprised to see that he managed to wake up again and unleash that powerful Blaze that managed to get the other me the victory of the battle.
So...in the very end, you defeated him...
...then why are you still with that pain?...
I continued to look into his memories, and found something really interesting and really familiar. My silhouette. Apparently, Infernape was looking from afar when I had that first battle with the other me. Well, it seems that he is angry with me for having defeated his trainer so easily...
...yet that doesn't give me a complete answer...
As I continued looking, I recognized a notorious recent event: his fight against my Snorlax...
The emotions that reside here are really familiar...
... ...
...Like when you battled your former trainer...
... ...
...When you started losing...you see him instead of me...right?
Your anger started blinding your logic...
...And you became this...
Suddenly, the whole world started shaking, as parts of it slowly shattered and disappeared into nothing...
...and I know why...I was here for a really long time...
"Espeon!"
"I know. We should get out of here. The stability of this world is going to collapse..."
I got out of the dark world, and entered once more to the white space in which I orinally appeared. However, it was also shaking as well...that was all that I needed to realize that I needed to get out of there.
... ...
Normal POV (back at the battle field)
"Ugh."
The young Champion stopped emanating the purple aura, as he touched his head, probably from the mental exhaustion of travelling into another mind...
"Wow, that was fast!" Ash, who was there the whole time, replied to his counterpart. "You've been just like a minute!"
"Not exactly..." The champion replied as he rubbed his hand on his Pokémon's head, who was also conscious. "But that's not the point. I know why he has lost it. It's because-"
"INFERNAPE!"
The fire ape roared, surprising everyone. He started moving with an amazing strength, even though he was under the effects of the Psychic type. It was clear that he was in pain, but he that didn't matter to him, as long as he managed to get a hit in the Pokémon.
"Other me. Your Pokémon seems to be bothered by the fact that he battled with another trainer that give him a hard time..."
"Your point being?"
"His former trainer."
"Paul..." Was all that Ash could reply to his Champion counterpart. "But why would he go berserk because of that? Infernape defeated Paul at the Sinnoh League!"
"His anger has blinded him. For the moment, he thinks he is battling this 'Paul', not me..." Red remarked as he looked at the angry ape.
"INFERNAPE!"
"You need to calm him down, other me." Red said as he put his hand on Ash's shoulder. "I've seen in his memories that you've done it before."
"INFERNAPE!"
"You must hurry, I must warn you. My Espeon can hold him back for a lot of time, but if he continues to force himself out of the attack, it can break him. Literally."
"Ok." Ash replied seriously to Red as he looked to his angered Pokémon. "Infernape! You don't need to do this anymore!"
"INFERNAPE!"
"Look. I know that Paul was really cruel back at the Sinnoh journey, but that time has already finished! You can already move on with that!"
"INFERNAPE!"
"Infernape, you are a great Pokémon, and I know that you are powerful, but you have to see that there are a lot of trainers out there in the world, with Pokémon that can probably defeat us easily!"
By this time, Infernape was already calming down.
"But that's why we get better. We improve our abilities to not fall! And even if we do, there's still a lot to learn, no matter how much one trains!"
"...!" Red was kind of shocked by hearing this last sentence.
"Please. I know that you're upset, but that doesn't mean you have to deal with it all by yourself." Ash approached his Pokémon and put his hand on his shoulder. "We'll get better so, one day, no one can ever defeat us, ok?"
After this, Red made Espeon deactivate his Psychic abilities, making Infernape to fall in the ground slowly. The fire ape was just looking at the ground, like if he was ashamed of looking at his trainer. But then he looked up, and nodded at Ash, getting up quickly, showing he was doing fine.
"Heh. You continue to surprising me, other me..." Red smiled.
"So..." Brock reached both trainers. "I don't know what to do now. Infernape has clearly violated the standards of traditional Pokémon battling, so disqualifying him would be the right thing..."
"No." The young champion looked at the former gym leader. "This battle will continue as it was left before this whole incident. That is...if Infernape can continue battling..."
"Infernape!" The Pokémon nodded to Red.
"Very well then. My next choice for the battle will be Espeon."
"Peon!"
"Well, then let's do this!" Ash grinned as he went to his position in the battlefield.
Meanwhile with the others...
"That kid...he never ceases to surprise me." Prof. Oak smiled.
"Well, although we didn't see the whole deal, I think that Red was pretty cool with all that mind-reading." Max said.
"Who are you supporting? Ash or Red?" May hit his little brother's head with her fist. "And besides, weren't you afraid of Red?"
"Ouch! I'm just saying that it would be pretty awesome to read a Pokémon's mind, that's all!" Max replied to his sister.
"Ugh, it seems that another battle is setting in here." Gary facepalmed. Sibling issues were certainly not his department.
"Well, let's just see how the battle continues." Dawn sweatdropped.
Returning to the battle...
"Ok. Let's continue with this." Brock said as the referee. "This battle will be between Ash's Infernape and Red's Espeon. Are both contestants, ready?"
"Yeah!/Sure." Both counterparts replied.
"Ok. BEGIN!"
In the next chapter...
Ash: Ugh. Espeon is really giving me a hard time...
Red: Hpmh. Don't expect to get another easy victory.
Ash: Let's go!
May: Their power is almost the same, but…Ash, I know you can do this.
Pokémon: The Parallel Challenger
Chapter 11: Equals
Ash: The final battle is coming near. I can't afford to lose...
Red: The real battle...starts now, other me...
So that was Chapter 10! Hope you liked it =) I know I kind of destroyed the normal continuity of the chapters with a whole battle in each section. However, I started seeing that this whole battle pattern needed to break a little bit. I kind of wanted to make Red get a little of spotlight, aside from being the counterpart of Ash and the one who is testing Ash. Besides, I also kind of did it because of showing a little of Espeon's abilities. "Reading minds, huh?". Don't worry, that's not the only thing he can do, I can assure you that.
Anyway, hope you liked the chapter and I would like to know what you think about this chapter with some reviews. The story is slowly coming to its end, unfortunately, but don't worry. When everything is set up, I will make an official announcement to all of you, so stay tuned to see more of this amazing fic!
One more time, I would like to thanks everyone that has supported me so far, and I hope that you keep making me feel proud of what I'm doing here.
Oh, and before I forget about it. Not a lot of you know about it, but a couple of weeks ago, a user of FanFiction copied my story and changed a few things about it, and posted it as if it was his own original idea. Although the problem was already solved (thanks to Omega for reporting the fic to Eliminators.), I'm still shocked that someone dared to do that. Well, thank God that this was solved without so many problems. Please, if someone had thought of doing that (I'm saying this because the copycat was a reader of this fic), please don't do it. I'm not saying someone is thinking about doing it, but it's just a note, seeing what happened.
Well, that's all for now. Stay tuned for more action in The Parallel Challenger! Hollow, out!