The Princess and her Knight
"Now for the final battle of the day!" The announcer yells into his microphone. "Gym Leader Candice and Coordinator Zoey vs Pokemon Trainer Ash and Frontier Brain Anabel! Unfortunately, as I said earlier, there was an incident last night and we had to push this battle to the last of today. Candice and Zoey are already in position, so we'll give Ash and Anabel one minute to arrive before they're disqualified."
"Oh my," Delia gasps. "I hope it isn't anything serious."
"That Ash can never stay out of trouble," Misty grumbles.
"There, there now," Professor Oak calms them down. "I'm sure he's alright."
"Please be okay Ash," Angie prays.
Lati looks down.
"Hey," Bianca tries to cheer her up. "Believe in him."
"That's right," Melody tells them. "I'm sure he's on his way over right now!"
"Ooh..." Dawn is agitated.
"There's no need to worry," Lucian relaxes her. "Lance will make sure he arrives in time."
"So, how are we going to do this?"
"If they win, they'll battle Leo and Gaia. Which means we can knock them out and battle them ourselves, the perfect humiliation. If they lose, we'll ambush them right then and there."
"Do you think they're okay Red?"
"Of course they are Yellow," Red replies.
"WHOOOAAA!" a loud screaming can be heard above the stadium. Everyone looks up to see a Dragonite with two riders.
"Alright Dragonite!" one of them commands. "Dive!"
Dragonite descends at an unbelievable speed. Shaking the ground when it lands on both feet.
"Okay Ash," Lance says out loud. "We're here. Ash?" Lance looks around and couldn't find Ash.
"AAAAHHHH-OOF!" Ash lands on his back right next to the Dragonite. His eyes were swirling. "Ooooh..."
Lance runs over to check on him, "I told you to hold on tight. Are you alright?"
"I'm... I'm okay," Ash raises a hand and Lance helps him up. Ash wobbles to his side of the arena. He slaps his face a couple of times to straighten himself up. He shakes his head wildly and looks forward.
"Ash," Zoey starts. "Are you sure you're-"
"I'm fine! Really!" Ash assures her. "Listen, Zoey."
"Huh?" a startled Zoey listens closely.
"Whatever you do, don't hold back." Ash stares at her with a determined look. "I don't like losing, but I don't like winning if I didn't deserve it."
"Ash..."
"Just what I like to hear," Candice confidently replies. "Well, I wasn't planning on holding back anyway! Zo-zo! You heard him, give it all you've got. If you don't, you'll have both of us breathing down your neck."
"Okay Ash!" Zoey confidently yells. "You asked for it!"
"Let the battle begin!"
"Let's go! Infernape and Gardevoir!"
"Time to show them our keyai! Go Medicham!"
"I know you're strong, so I'll give you my best! Glameow! Curtain!"
"So he's using Anabel's blue Gardevoir," Candice smiles.
"And Infernape," Zoey adds. "He probably thought you would use one of your Ice types."
"I totally saw that coming."
"Infernape!" Ash begins. "Mach Punch!"
"Not so fast!" Candice smiles. "Medicham, Confusion!"
Infernape is stopped just before hitting Glameow.
"Now toss it!"
Infernape is tossed away.
"Gardevoir! Magical Leaf!"
Gardevoir calls out several leaves around it and sends them flying at Medicham and Glameow.
"Glameow! Stop that attack with Shock Wave!"
Glameow's electric attack completely halts Gardevoirs, and the leaves fly off into the wind.
"Medicham! Fire Punch!"
Medicham rushes forward to attack Gardevoir.
"Infernape! Block it with Mach Punch!"
Infernape's fist and Medicham's fist connect, Glameow jumps over Medicham and Iron Tails Infernape.
"Infernape! Are you alright?"
The monkey growls in reply. Gardevoir turns to Ash and tries to tell him something.
"Huh?" Ash looks confused. "You want to try something?"
The Psychic Pokemon nods and begins talking to Infernape. Infernape looks at Ash and gives him a thumbs up.
"Alright! Go for it!"
Gardevoir gathers Ghost energy, Shadow Ball in front of it and fires at Infernape! Infernape covers itself in flames and spins. Shadow Ball and Flame Wheel combine as Infernape takes off towards Glameow and Medicham.
"I've never seen that before!" Zoey watches surprised.
"Don't phase out on me Zo-zo! Medicham, stop it with Fire Punch!"
"Glameow! Shadow Claw!"
Fire Punch and Shadow Claw try to stop the spinning mass of Ghost and Fire. But the two Pokemon were being pushed back.
"It's strong!" Candice observes. "Just the way I like it! Medicham! Confusion!"
Medicham's eyes glow as it lifts Infernape up and tosses him back.
"Infernape!" Ash calls. "From there, spin and use Flamethrower! Gardevoir! Cover him with Magical Leaf!"
Infernape spins around, releasing flames everywhere as magical leaves fly in and ignite. The burning leaves rain down on their opponents.
"Oh no!" Candice cries as their Pokemon take damage.
"Glameow!" Zoey yells. "Use Shock Wave again!"
The cat unleashes a wave of electricity, stopping the rest of the leaves from falling on them.
"Now Medicham!" Candice plans. "While Infernape has to land, Fire Punch on Gardevoir!"
Medicham rushes in, its fist flamed up and running towards the Psychic Pokemon.
"Oh no," Ash snarls. "Quick Infernape! Mach Punch!"
"I don't think so," Zoey warns. "Glameow, Fury Swipes!"
The monkey is stopped by the cat and both of them exchange high speed blows, fist vs. claws. Medicham readies to hit its target!
"Teleport!"
Gardevoir disappears just before Medicham's fist connects. Glameow and Infernape are still exchanging blows but Glameow senses another Pokemon behind it.
"Psychic!"
Gardevoir lifts up Glameow and tosses it to Medicham.
"Finish it off with Energy Ball and Flamethrower!"
Gardevoir fires a sphere of Grass energy and Infernape pushes it with Flamethrower.
"Medicham! Slow it down with Confusion!"
Medicham gets up and tries to hold back the combined attack. Infernape presses on with Flamethrower. Medicham is losing the battle!
"Now Zo-zo!"
"Right! Glameow! Iron Tail!" Glameow rushes towards Gardevoir, its tail glowing.
"Infernape! Stop it!"
Infernape stops using Flamethrower and blocks Glameows tail. Medicham sends Energy Ball right back and ignites its fist.
"Gardevoir! Shadow Ball! Infernape! Flame Wheel!"
Gardevoir shoots off Shadow Ball to stop Energy Ball, Medicham flies through the dust cloud ready to Fire Punch Gardevoir. Infernape intercepts Medicham by Flame Wheeling right into it.
"ASH!" Lucian stands up and roars! "How long are you going to blame yourself?"
"Huh?" everyone looks at Lucian.
"Look at what you're doing!" Lucian points at him. "You're more focused on protecting Anabel's Gardevoir then you are on winning the battle!"
Candice turns around and sees that Gardevoir hasn't even been damaged yet, while Infernape is panting hard, bruised and beaten. "He's right."
"Miss Senior?"
"When he attacked us with Flamethrower and Energy Ball," Candice begins. "If he kept his Infernape on the offensive, my Medicham would be knocked out. But instead, he stopped attacking to defend Gardevoir from your Iron Tail. Even if you were able to knock out Gardevoir, he has the type advantage with his Fighting Infernape against your Normal Glameow."
Zoey recalls what just happened a few seconds earlier. "But why?"
"Stop sulking and start battling for real!" Lucian continues yelling.
"I am battling for real!"
"No you're not!" Candice joins in. "I'm not the kind of girl that dreams of having a knight in shining armor. However, how do you think Anabel would feel if she saw you getting hurt because of her?"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"ANABEEEEEEEEEL!!!"
"I let her down..." Ash didn't lift his head up at all, drops of water fall from his face onto Anabel's. "She protected me... I... I couldn't do anything..."
Ash drops his head from remembering that dreadful event.
"Ash..." Zoey worriedly whispers. As does everybody else.
"Piiika..." Pikachu watches in sorrow.
"Ash," Anabel keeps her eyes on the screen as she pets Pikachu. "Why are you doing this to yourself?"
Infernape lets out a roar! Gardevoir Teleports in front of Ash. The Psychic Pokemon sees him struggling to keep his emotions in check. Gardevoir slaps Ash!
"Ah!" Dawn covers her mouth as Ash's hat floats to the ground. The whole crowd gasps.
Gardevoir starts to talk angrily at Ash.
"Hey Meowth," Jamesilina leans over. "Do you mind giving us a translation?"
"It's saying that this is not what she lent herself to the twerp for. The only reason the twerp is even borrowing her is because her trainer believed in him. However, Gardevoir can only sense a desperate need to protect her, no matter what. The twerp is still feeling guilty about what happened and is trying to make up for it here. So before she'll continue to battle, he has to start believing in her trainer and in her Pokemon."
"I see," Lucian calms down. "They say that Gardevoir can sense people's emotions, and those that have been together with their trainers can even sense what their trainer is feeling, even from far away. I'm guessing that Gardevoir is just relaying to Ash Anabel's thoughts."
Ash just stood there stunned, feeling the mark on his cheek.
"Are you going to drop out?"
"I-"
"Don't say anything yet. You and her are partners after all. Don't make this decision on your own."
"Don't you dare drop out! You can still fight, can't you? You don't have to worry about me."
"They're saying that because you're a close friend of mine, they'll agree to let you borrow them."
"Those two are pretty strong, so good luck. I'll be rooting for you."
Ash stares back at Gardevoir and smiles, "Thank you... Anabel..."
"Gardevoir," even though that's all that can be heard, Ash knew Anabel was speaking to him through Gardevoir. The Pokemon uses Psychic to retrieve Ash's hat.
Ash puts on his hat and turns it around. "Alright! It's time to end this battle!"
Infernape lets out a happy roar.
"Gar..." Gardevoir turns to face her opponents.
"Now that's more like it!" Candice smiles.
"Infernape!" "Medicham!"
"Mach Punch!" "Fire Punch!"
Infernape and Medicham's punches collide in the middle of the arena. The two Pokemon struggle to overpower the other. The two Pokemon and their trainers smile at each other, feeling the battle aura in the air.
"Glameow!" "Gardevoir!"
"Shock Wave!" "Magical Leaf!"
Leaves and electricity surround Medicham and Infernape as their fist to fist struggle beings to crack the ground.
"Infernape! Fire Spin on the ground now!"
Infernape lets out a Fire Spin, surrounding itself and Medicham in flames while sweeping up the Shock Wave and Magical Leaf.
"Oh no! Medicham!"
"An attack of this magnitude could also severely damage Ash's Infernape," Conway observes. "Just what is he thinking?"
"Gardevoir!" Ash turns to the Psychic. "Help Infernape!"
Gardevoir nods to him and Teleports right into the middle of the storm of fire, leaves and electricity. She grabs hold of Infernape and Teleports out of it, leaving Medicham inside the chaos. The Fire Spin intensifies, squeezing itself thin before vaporizing. Medicham drops to the ground and is seen with swirls for eyes. Gardevoir and Infernape reappear on the battlefield, the Psychic Pokemon is badly burned as sparks run through it while leaves fall off of it. She drops to her knees and Infernape shows concern for her.
Infernape hears a command from the opposing trainer. It steps right into Glameow's Shadow Claw, taking the full force of the attack!
Gardevoir watches as Infernape falls on his back. She lets her eyes glow and throws away Glameow, firing an Energy Ball right where it would land.
"Glameow and Medicham are unable to battle, the victory goes to Gardevoir and Infernape!"
The crowd cheers at the sight of an awesome battle. Gardevoir leans over Infernape with a worried look on her face. Infernape just smiles at her and gives her a thumbs up. Gardevoir seemed relieved.
"A perfect mirror to their trainers, those two," Lucian smiles as he observes.
"Don't worry about him Gardevoir," Ash speaks to his partner's Pokemon. "He's my Pokemon after all."
"Gardevoir," Gardevoir floats over to hug Ash.
"What? Hey, stop it Gardevoir. That tickles!"
"Now I can't tell if that's Anabel's emotions Gardevoir is acting on," Lucian speaks. "Or Gardevoir herself."
Gardevoir lets go of Ash and helps Infernape up.
"Okay you two," Ash smiles. "You both deserve a rest." Ash calls them back into their Poke Balls as everybody else gathers around him.
"Ash that was totally awesome!" Ritchie and Lyra cry together.
"I'll say," Flint smiles. "The way your Infernape heated up the arena at the end. It even got my blood boiling."
"Hey Ash," Melody walks over. "That mark on your face, I bet a simple kiss will make it all better, what do you say?"
"WHAT?"
"N-no way!" Dawn jumps in between Ash and Melody.
"Chill out," Melody smiles. "Since it was Gardevoir that slapped him, kissing his cheek is obviously Anabel's right."
"HUUUH?"
"Where is Ash?" May looks around. Ash had disappeared.
"There!" Marley pointed, Ash was being dragged away. "With Lati!"
"LATI!" Bianca gives chase followed by everyone else.
Lati takes Ash around a corner and pushes him against the wall. Lati slowly closes her eyes and moves her face closer to Ash's.
"Hold it right there!" Zoey yells.
"What do you think you're doing?" Dawn questions.
"Wow," Cynthia smiles. "They certainly seem lively."
"Indeed," Lance agrees. "It's up to us to keep it that way. A trainer like him doesn't come around too often."
"He definitely has a strange Aura about him," Riley tells them.
"It's his kindness and friendship that are his strongest points," Wally Ace mentions.
The four of them watch as the big party walks off happily towards the Pokemon Center, nothing but smiles and laughter all around.
"Excuse me, are you Leo and Gaia?"
"Um... Yes, why? MPH-!"
"ACK-!" Ash freezes at the sight of Anabel. For some reason, she was dressed up in a Cresselia themed dress.
"Welcome back Ash!" Anabel smiles, but she sees that everyone else is in shock as well. "What? Is something wrong?"
Ash's face turns redder the more he looks at Anabel, "WHY ARE YOU DRESSED LIKE THAT!?"
Author: FUN TIME! Why is Anabel in a Cresselia dress? Find out next chapter. XD
