Chapter 33 – The Final Evolution
Making his way out of the temple, Ash thought about what Duvivier said to him. About him being the one who could reach the final evolution. Lance tried so hard for so many years to build a bond with Dragonite that would make him finally reach it, while Ash just trained his Pokémon the way he always did, with love and caring, not thinking about evolution or power… just thinking about them, hoping for their happiness by his side. Now, thinking back to when Greninja mega evolved for the first time… Ash also never looked for his mega evolution…it just happened because they also had a strong bond and that made him not need a mega stone, because their hearts were connected to each other. But now to reach the final evolution, Ash had to be connected with one of his Pokémon in heart, mind and soul, and he wasn't sure about it. Was he really ready to reach the final evolution? What would Lance say when he finds out about it? He was the one who should do it… along with his Dragonite they would be unbeatable. He just… wasn't sure yet
Ash was so lost into his own thoughts that he just noticed he had left the temple when the sun light hit him. But something was wrong, very wrong… where he hoped to find Serena, Dawn, May and Lance… he just found… her
"So… you decided to show up" said The Lady who was standing next to her dark Dragonite
"Where are they?" asked Ash
"They? Who?" asked The Lady ironically
"Don't play dumb with me Jennifer" said Ash "Where are Serena, Dawn, May and Lance?"
"Well… you see, you took so long inside that temple that I got bored" said The Lady "So I had to entertain myself with you master and your girlfriends"
"Answer my question Jennifer" said Ash angrily "I'm not asking again"
"Don't worry boy, they are safe" said The Lady "But for how long… it's up to you"
"I'm starting to get real nervous Jennifer" said Ash
"So... let me tell you what happened" said The Lady
FLASHBACK
"It's no use to keep fighting Lance" said The Lady "I admit you are very strong… but you also know that your Dragonite will never defeat mine. Not after the ritual"
Lance didn't answer, he knew that the measure of their Dragonite's power were completely different from each other, and The Lady's was absolutely stronger than Lance's
"Where the hell are you Ash?" thought Lance "I can't hold her for much longer"
"Let's finish this once for all" said The Lady "Dragonite, double team"
The Lady's Dragonite soon turned into many other, surrounding Lance's and not letting it escape
"Do you remember the strategy you used against Ketchum at Pluma Island to stop Alakazam's teleport?" asked The Lady
"Yes. I asked Dragonite to use Hyper Beam on the mirror ceiling, dividing it into many other Hyper Beams" said Lance
"Exactly. But there was a problem. Wasn't it?" she asked smiling
"Of course. Not only had the beam divided itself… but the strength of the beam had as well" said Lance
"Making it less powerful" completed The Lady "I'm about to do something very similar"
"What?" asked Lance
"Dragonites… use Hyper Beam" said The Lady
"What is she doing?" asked Serena "If she asks to Dragonite and his copies to attack… it's like just one attack was real"
"It will not be as powerful as she thinks" said Dawn
"Unless…" started May "Unless all of them are real"
"This is impossible… Double team makes copies of the Pokémon… only one are real" said Dawn
Lance who was watching Dragonite and his copies prepare the attack, looked down knowing what was about to happen
"I… lost" he said to himself
The Hyper Beams came from the sky illuminating all the way down to where Lance's Dragonite was… the next second all they heard was the sound of destruction the beam caused
"I'm sorry Dragonite… I did my best… but it seems we are not strong enough to beat her" said Lance as he saw his strongest Pokémon fall to the ground unconscious and defeated
"I… can't believe" said Dawn "He… lost to her"
"They were real" said May "All Dragonites were real… so…"
"…all hyper beam were real too" said Serena
"It was an amount of energy that no Pokémon could endure… not even Dragonite" completed Lance returning his Pokémon to his Pokéball
"So… do you give up Lance?" asked The Lady
"What choice do I have?" said Lance "You defeated my strongest Pokémon… there's nothing I can do"
"Come on Lance, don't give up" said Serena "Use another Pokémon"
"She's right. Let's use all Pokémon we have at the same time" said May
"Yes… screw what is right… let's finish her together" said Dawn
"Girls… we would only injure our Pokémon" said Lance "We better do nothing"
"Are you going to give up like this?" asked Serena "I don't mind if we lose… but losing this way is unacceptable "
"Ash is the only one who can win" thought Lance "He is the only who can reach the final evolution and finally defeat Jennifer… but to reach it… he's gonna need more than a Pokémon that matches him in heart, mind and soul…. He needs an incentive to fight"
Lance looked at Serena, Dawn and May and started to cry
"I'm sorry girls" said Lance "I'm sorry for what I'm about to do"
"What?" they asked
"Your minds are no longer under my protection" said Lance "And mine is also unprotected"
"What are you doing Lance?" asked May
"Doing this The Lady is able to take over our minds" said Dawn
"And that's exactly what I want" he whispered to himself
END OF FLASHBACK
Ash listened to The Lady's story until the end and he was furious now. He didn't know how long he stayed inside the Temple… but somehow The Lady took advantage of his absence, defeated Lance took over his friend's minds
"I did not take over their minds if it's what you are thinking" said The Lady
"What?" asked Ash "What did you do with them?"
"Nothing" she said "They are right over there"
The Lady turned back and pointed to the corner of the battlefield where four bodies were lying unconscious. They were May, Dawn, Serena and Lance
"No" Ash said running toward them
Ash grabbed Serena and shook her trying to wake her up
"Serena. Serena" said Ash. He then did the same with May, Dawn and Lance… but no one answered them, they just stayed there without moving
"Don't tell me that you…" said Ash
"…I did not kill them" interrupted The Lady
"What did you do?" he asked
The Lady then opened her hand and showed Ash four colored lights, a pink, a red, a blue and an orange one that were flying over her hand
"Here they are" she said
"What are you talking about?" Ash asked
"I removed their minds from their bodies Ketchum" said The Lady "And without them… they are like Zombies, can't talk and can't walk… in fact, the only thing that separates them from death is that they still breathe"
"You…" said Ash "Bring them back now"
"Come get them Ketchum" said The Lady serious "There's a reason you entered the temple and I feel that somehow you left it stronger… if you think this is enough to defeat me… show me then"
"My pleasure" said Ash taking a Pokéball "Some of my Pokémon are hurt and I won't have a second opportunity to choose the right one"
"Come on Ketchum" said The Lady "My Dragonite are ready to fight"
"Greninja, I choose you" said Ash calling his water ninja out of his Pokéball
"Greninja?" asked The Lady "Well… That's gonna be fun"
"Greninja mega evolved due to our bond… we know each other… if there's a Pokémon that's ready to reach the final evolution… it's him" thought Ash
….
"Greninja, use Water Shuriken" said Ash
Greninja obeyed Ash and threw many water shuriken on Dragonite
"Dodge now" said The Lady as Dragonite easily avoided the attack
"Run and use cut" said Ash
"Use Iron tail as a sword" said The Lady
Greninja and Dragonite started fighting like a samurai fight, Greninja using cut like a sword while Dragonite used his tail to also block and attack Greninja
"Greninja… it's time to mega evolve" said Ash
Soon, a water vortex covered Greninja making his appearance to change into the Mega Evolution
"Greninja, use quick attack" said Ash
Greninja ran as fast as he could, his Mega Evolution made him really fast, so fast that Dragonite didn't have time to avoid the attack and got hit by Greninja falling to the ground
"Wow… he is really fast" said The Lady "But his strength is not that powerful"
"What?" asked Ash looking at Dragonite who got up as if nothing had happened
"Dragonite, use Thunderbolt" said The Lady
Dragonite released rays from his horns that hit Greninja real bad, making him fall to the ground and return to his normal form
"Greninja" asked Ash
"I thought you were going to give me a real battle Ketchum" said The Lady
Ash looked at his hand, he was holding the Dragon Pearl, he squeezed it but nothing happened
"Why? Why nothing's happening?" he asked himself "Greninja and I were supposed to reach the final evolution together… but why? Why we can't do it?"
"Let's finish this Dragonite" said The Lady "Use Thunder"
A gray cloud covered the sky and from it a huge lightning came down, hitting Greninja in a very effective and cruel way. He was defeated
"No!" said Ash falling into his knees "How… could this be possible?"
"Face it boy" said The Lady "There is not a single Pokémon in your stupid belt that can defeat my Dragonite"
Ash called Greninja back and looked at his Pokéball
"I'm sorry Greninja" he said "You did your best… I did my best, but it wasn't enough"
"And now, to finish this forever and finally become the only Dragon Master, I shall eliminate you from this life" said The Lady "Dragonite, use thunderbolt on him"
Dragonite attacked Ash with his electric attack, for Ash it seemed it took eternity; he looked up seeing that yellow light coming down from the sky, ready to scorch his body completely
"DIE ASH KETCHUM!" shouted The Lady
But… that lightning never reached Ash, another lightning came from the opposite side of the field and met with Dragonite's causing an explosion which created a dark smoke that covered all battlefield
"What's happening?" asked The Lady
As the smoke started to fade away, Ash saw him, standing right in front of him… how he got there was a mystery, but still,,, he was there, that small yellow mouse with red cheeks that Ash knew for so long…
"Pikachu?" he said "It's really you?"
Pikachu looked at his trainer and smiled, it was really him
"How did you get here?" Ash asked
"Pikachu" Pikachu said showing Ash that wasn't really important now
"I should have killed this rat back in Pluma Island when I got the chance" said The Lady "Well I think I'll have to do it now. Dragonite use Mega Punch"
Dragonite tried to punch Pikachu but he easily dodged and hit Dragonite with his Iron tail, making Dragonite not only fall to the ground, but visible got damaged by his attack
"What?" asked The Lady not believing what she just saw "How does this yellow ball of fur have so much power?"
"Pikachu…" said Ash, he was still in shock for seeing Pikachu there, recovered and so strong
Ash then noticed something; the Dragon Pearl on hid hand… was shining… like it was reacting to something
"Of course" said Ash smiling and understanding everything that was happening "It is you Pikachu… It has been you all the time… the one that understands me… the one that is connected to me in heart, mind and soul… my best and oldest friend… how could I not have realized before?"
"What are you talking about?" asked The Lady confusedly
"Pikachu… you and I together are reaching… The Final Evolution!"