Next chapter is here, people. :) Also, a few announcements before we start off:
~I'm getting some reviews from guests lately, and since I've got a policy to reply to all my reviewers, I will do that at the beginning of each chapter from now on. Keep in mind that my replies will be very short, though, as to not clog up all my chapters.
~Sadly, nobody has given me a PM yet who's interested in setting up a TV tropes page for this story. I would really love to see one, and if you're as excited about this story as I am, then shoot me a message. :) It'll be a page accessible for all my readers to add and remove tropes, so it'll slowly grow as time moves on.
~Guest: love it.
Thank you.
~Guest: Will Pikachu get smooched by a Lopunny?
Nope.
Disclaimer: I don't own pokemon! If I did, the 20th movie would have Brock and Misty in it.
Enjoy. ^^
When Koga, the Fuchsia gym leader, opened his eyes to look inside his gym, only emptiness greeted his sharp sight. But he knew that was about to change very soon. It was no secret anymore that Ash Ketchum was the owner of a legendary pokemon and an ancient Dragonite, and now, he was heading his way for a Soul badge.
'So, it's my turn to battle you now, young hero,' he thought respectfully. A small smile appeared on Koga's face. As a true ninja, he knew the importance of family all too well. That cheap stunt that Team Rocket pulled on Ash had become their downfall.
It had been all over the news the last few weeks, how a raven haired trainer had been sighted all over Kanto on the back of a massive Dragonite, destroying Team Rocket buildings left and right—be they hidden or out in the open.
'Looks like they pissed him off good; gone is all his subtlety,' Koga remembered thinking to himself. He was kind of disappointed with Ash's approach, but he couldn't help but to admire his incredible sense of justice.
'If I'm being honest with myself, I would've done the same if Team Rocket had kidnapped Aya. Well, I would be a lot subtler, but still.'
Koga smiled at those thoughts, cracked his neck and closed his eyes. Focusing, he could sense the presence of a massive pokemon approaching his gym from the sky; definitely Ash's Dragonite. A small earthquake later indicated that the giant had landed at the entrance of his gym.
'It is time, Ash Ketchum.'
When Ash opened the doors of the gym, he was confident. Meloetta was floating behind him, deep in conversation with Pikachu. Both Sylveon and Marill were walking at his right, giggling and playing with each other.
''I had no idea,'' Pikachu said, ''that legendary pokemon could get so old.''
''Well, Arceus created us specifically to keep this world spinning. We're basically its guardians.''
''Does that mean that you're immortal?'' Pikachu asked with a hint of disbelief.
Meloetta shook her head. ''Only Arceus is. Even the keepers of time, space and darkness will eventually pass away, but that will take a while, though. To put that in perspective, I'm around twelve-hundred years old, which means I'm a teenager for human standards. Meloetta tend to get around eight-thousand years old on average. Now if we're talking about Palkia, for example, eight-thousand years is nothing.''
''Really?'' Pikachu almost sounded like Marill when he asked. Meloetta had to stifle a giggle from the surprise in his voice.
''Yes. Palkia's almost five-hundred million years old. He'll easily reach two billion.''
''Two billion?'' Pikachu couldn't believe it. ''I'm happy if I reach sixty years,'' he jokingly responded.
Meloetta giggled. ''Don't sell yourself too short. Strong Pikachu reach one-hundred without much trouble.'' She winked.
''I'll be an old fart. What kind of fun would that be? I wouldn't be able to battle for Ash and kick some Team Rocket ass.''
''You weren't kicking much Team Rocket ass to begin with,'' Meloetta said teasingly, ''so nothing would have changed.''
Pikachu waved her off dismissively. ''Oh please, you were praying the lucky stars that you could keep up with me, albeit barely. Are you sure twelve-hundred years isn't old for Meloetta?''
The legendary puffed up her cheeks in an adorable fashion. ''No, it isn't!'' she said in denial, her tone a little bit more defensive than she wanted it to be. ''I'm barely fourteen in human years.''
''Sure, sure, grandma.'' Pikachu grinned. ''Is that why you're dating Ash? So you can feel a bit younger again?''
''Oh, shut up; you know why I date Ash.'' She gave him a friendly push. ''What about you? Ever had a girlfriend before?''
Pikachu shrugged his shoulders. ''Sort of. I'm only ten years old, mind you; it's around this age that we, Pikachu, actively look for a mate for the first time. Anyway, I hooked up with a very adorable Cyndaquil, but things didn't really work out.'' Pikachu almost sounded ashamed.
''What happened?''
''My ability happened,'' Pikachu confessed in a sad voice. ''While it's handy in battle, like against Erika's Leafeon, in other situations, it isn't. She, in turn, burned me pretty bad when she activated the flame on her back in a reflex. I was so embarrassed. She had to eat Cheri berries all day before it wore off.''
Meloetta gave him a consoling look. ''So, she blew it off?''
''She said she really thought of me as a sweet guy, but I couldn't give her what she wanted. We tried multiple times in different ways, but my ability would act up every time.'' Pikachu's ears drooped.
''Uncle Pika? What are you and Auntie Melly talking about? Why are you looking so sad now?'' Marill asked. The innocence and worry in his voice was almost palpable, something that made Pikachu smile sadly.
''It's nothing to worry about, sprout. Grown-ups talk. You'll understand when you're older,'' he cooed, and gave him a rub.
Marill giggled at the friendly touch. ''Okay! Hey, uncle Pika, do you really think big sis and I can win?''
He chuckled. ''I'm sure. Even with the type-disadvantage, you two have grown so much stronger in the last weeks. Battling all those Team Rocket Zubat and Golbat has really helped you guys prepare for this moment.''
''Did you hear that, big sis?'' Marill seemed to radiate happiness. ''We're going to make daddy so proud!''
''Uh-huh. We will make sure daddy gets his sixth badge, and then he will be all happy and hug us!'' Sylveon replied cheerfully, hopping alongside Ash like a Buneary instead of walking normally. Her smile was contagious, and Marill reflected it.
''Yay!'' he cheered, bouncing up and down like a Spoink, until he eventually was picked up by one of Sylveon's feelers and placed on her back.
''We're going to win, we're going to win!'' They both sang. Pikachu's sadness seemed to disappear instantly as he watched the two kids hop and sing like they were a bunch of drunks, and he couldn't help but laugh at their antics.
''Watch were you going, squirt. In a moment, you'll hit a wall if you keep hopping with your eyes closed,'' he joked.
Meloetta watched the scene with a bittersweet smile. 'You're always trying your hardest for us, Pikachu. Is that why you and Ash are so inseparable?' Her heart broke when she saw how sad the electric-type was just a moment ago. 'Don't worry, I'll make sure to try my hardest for you too. Mark my words, Pikachu.'
Ash, in the meantime, had reached the back of the gym, where a middle-aged man with spiky hair had been watching him and his pokemon patiently with amusement on his face.
''Ash Ketchum, welcome to the Fuchsia city gym. I'm the gym leader, Koga.''
''It's nice to meet you, Koga. This is Meloetta, my partner.'' She gave a little wave to Koga as Ash introduced her. ''And this is Pikachu, Sylveon and Marill. We're here for a Soul badge,'' he said.
The gym leader nodded his head. ''It was quite inevitable that this day would arrive. I've been looking forward to it ever since the news spread that a kid with a legendary was traveling through Kanto. And now, it's not a secret anymore who that kid is. You've been very active lately, haven't you, Ash?''
Ash shrugged his shoulders. ''It was never my intention to make a lot of ruckus, but Team Rocket brought it upon themselves. Besides, I wanted Kanto to know somebody was dealing with them.''
Koga applauded him. ''A very honorable effort. You've got my respect, young hero. Taking on such a big criminal organization is no small feat. Meloetta and Dragonite must be very powerful.''
The raven haired trainer rubbed his head sheepishly. ''Thanks, Koga. And yeah, they are very powerful. Luckily, my other pokemon are very strong too.'' It baffled Ash how much respect Koga seemed to have for him. He was a far cry from Lt. Surge.
''I see that two of them are very eager to battle me as well,'' Koga noted, amused at Sylveon and Marill's adorable behaviour. Their silly dance had been replaced with cold hard stares to be more intimidating, while their stances were active, ready to attack at a moment's notice.
''Absolutely. These two have trained very hard for this moment. They were a big help defeating Team Rocket for me,'' Ash said proudly.
Both Sylveon and Marill seemed to grow a bit bigger at the praise.
''Oh, were they? I can certainly see that. Well then, I'm interested to see how strong they truly are. Ash Ketchum, I hereby accept your challenge for the Soul badge. This will be a two vs two battle. The battle is over when one side's pokemon are unable to battle,'' Koga explained.
Ash nodded his head in understanding, and took his spot on the battlefield.
''Now then, Ash, show me what you've got!''
The battle against Koga was anything but easy. Sylveon managed to take down his Venomoth, but ultimately succumbed to Koga's Crobat. Marill too, was in a bit of a pickle. Both pokemon seemed to be on their last breath.
''I know you can do it, Marill, just one final hit,'' Ash encouraged.
''This is all yours, Crobat, victory is ours,'' Koga responded in turn.
Marill gritted his teeth. He'd fought countless Zubat and Golbat, but they usually went down in one hit. This Crobat took three and was still flying.
'I can do it,' he thought. 'Daddy believes in me; big sis, uncle and auntie believe in me. So, I shall believe in me too!'
At that moment, he began to glow brightly. He felt himself growing larger and stronger, and once the light died down, he had to stifle a gasp.
''Marill, sweetie, you evolved!'' Meloetta cheered.
''Good going, sprout!'' Pikachu congratulated him. ''You've got the best timing. Now defeat that Crobat once and for all.''
He nodded his head eagerly and eyed Ash, who looked at him with a massive smile. ''Now Azumarill, use Aqua Tail!''
Koga looked alarmed. 'At a moment like this?' He cursed his bad luck.
''Crobat, Poison Fang!'' he retaliated quickly.
The poison and flying-type, being a lot faster than Azumarill, was the first to strike. His fangs grew in size and took on a purple, venomous hue. He bit down hard, causing Azumarill to cry out in pain; it almost cancelled out Azumarill's attack too, given that it was a super effective hit.
Unfortunately for Crobat—and with eyes wide as saucers—he saw his opponent's tail crash into him with the force of a waterfall. He was knocked away like a bullet leaving the chamber of a gun, crashed violently into the wall of the gym with force only a pokemon with Huge Power could cause, and didn't get up after that.
''I did it, daddy,'' he muttered weakly, before collapsing on the ground, unable to battle any longer.
''Azumarill!'' Ash called out worriedly. He crouched down in front of his fainted pokemon to check if he was okay.
''Don't worry, Ash. Azumarill has merely given everything he had. A night's rest in the pokemon center and he should be fine,'' Koga reassured while calling back his Crobat.
Ash couldn't help but give Azumarill a big hug after that. ''Thank you,'' he whispered, ''why don't you take a well-deserved rest? Return.''
''Thanks for the immensely thrilling battle. You've won, Ash, congratulations! As a sign of beating me today, please accept this Soul badge from me, young hero.''
Koga held out the symbol, which Ash took with respect. ''Thank you, Koga.'' He bowed, which the gym leader reciprocated wholeheartedly.
When Ash had left the gym, his Meloetta hugging him tightly around his neck, Koga chuckled.
''This kid will be going places. Watch out, elite four, because a new challenger is approaching the Indigo League soon. I wonder if it will be as one-sided as with Lance.''
Koga chuckled again. ''I'm looking forward to seeing your true potential one day, Ash Ketchum.''
A slightly different approach than the other gym leader battles so far. :) Did you guys like it, love it, hate it? Review please. I love to read them! Next chapter Ash will add his final member to his team! Until next time. ^^
~Syrup-Waffle