Chapter Three: Unorthodox Battling

Misty handed Kris and Jule a cup of tea each before heading back into the kitchen to retrieve her own. Kris looked around the apartment, taking in his new surroundings. There weren't many decorations, and everything seemed rather plain. There were photos, however, and many of them had a young boy with messy black hair.

Kris then noticed a yellow mouse that had been sitting on the recliner next to the sofa that he and Jule sat on. The Pikachu was curled up, beady eyes watching the two newcomers to its home. Kris could tell it was very protective. He touched the unconscious Quilava beside him, thinking maybe that Pikachu was territorial to other Pokemon and didn't want any conflict.

"Don't mind him," Misty said as she came back with her tea, noticing Kris staring back at Pikachu. "Pikachu's very friendly. We just haven't had company lately." She sat in the recliner and Pikachu climbed onto her lap. She began to pet him on the head and scratch him under the chin.

"He's seen a lot of battle, hasn't he?" Kris said. Questioning glares were on him.

Misty smiled. "Yes, how can you tell?"

"His eyes. He's got that look. It's the same look I see in Quilava's eyes when we battle." He pet his Pokemon. "But you couldn't tell outside of battle. He's very softhearted."

"Pikachu is too," Misty said.

"How long have you had him?" Jule asked.

"Actually he's my friend's Pikachu. I'm watching over him for now."

Kris grabbed a picture off the coffee table and looked over it. It showed a younger Misty being aggravated by the young boy that was in the other pictures as well. "Is it his?"

A solemn look came over Misty suddenly. Pikachu's ears drooped as well. Jule nudged Kris hard in the ribs with her bony elbow and gave him a harsh look as if to silently say, "Why did you say that?" to which Kris just nudged.

Jule finally looked back to Misty and said, "I'm sorry about him. Sometimes he doesn't think before he speaks."

Misty shook her head. "It's okay. You didn't know. But since we're on the subject, yes, that's Pikachu's owner. His name is Ash." Her eyes met Kris' eyes. "You remind me a lot of him, the way you handle your Quilava in battle." After receiving a questioning look from Jule and Kris she continued. "I saw you in the Underground the other day. You're amazing."

Kris blushed and couldn't help but laugh nervously. "You saw that? Thanks for your praise."

Jule's eye twitched as she watched the giddiness in her childhood friend, and why was he blushing like that?

Misty became depressed again, looking down at the dark liquid in her cup, reflecting her sad face. "I miss him." Kris and Jule both frowned, not knowing what to say now. Pikachu reached up to pat Misty on the cheek to cheer her up. She forced a smile at him before saying, "But we'll see him again, one day, right Pikachu?"

"Of course you will!" Kris said excitedly. "If he's a hardcore battler, I'm sure he'll show up in the Underground."

Misty nodded. "My thoughts exactly. That's why, Kris, I'm really happy we met like this." Kris became reserved suddenly at the statement. What did she mean? "My Pokemon and I could never stand up to him"—She pet Pikachu on the head.—"and Pikachu would never battle against him. So—"

"You want me to fight him?"

"It would be great if you could. He's really powerful so you'll need training, but if you beat him maybe it'll make him come home."

Kris stood in excitement. "To face a trainer as strong as you say? You bet I—"

"Won't," Jule interrupted. Kris and Misty looked to her. She had her eyes closed, looking to maybe calm herself. After a moment she opened them and said, "Kris, I think it's stupid. If this Ash really is that strong, imagine the danger Quilava would be in, especially in unsanctioned battles. And you'll just be reuniting her with her lost love. What's in it for you?"

"Jule, don't be so rude," Kris snapped.

"No, she's right," Misty said. "I've got nothing to offer you Kris. I just hoped maybe you would help me, especially after seeing how close you and Jule are, and that maybe you would understand my situation."

Jule stood. "I'm sorry to disappoint you. Thanks for everything, but we have to leave."

Kris grabbed Jule as she began heading to the front door. "Wait a minute!"

"I want to go, Kris," Jule argued, pulling away. "Grab Quilava and let's go."

Kris looked down at Misty who had a look of I-don't-know-what-to-do on her face. "Can you train me?" he asked.

"Train you?" Misty repeated.

Kris nodded. "Yeah. Teach me to be a better trainer. If you can do that for me, I'll fight Ash for you."

"Kris!" Jule exclaimed, a look of hurt in her eyes.

Misty moved Pikachu off her lap and set her tea down. She stood and straightened up, working out the folds in her jacket. She smiled at Kris, overcome with a certain emotion. Finally she said, "It's a deal!" She reached out a hand to Kris who took it in his own and shook firmly.

It was the first time Kris had stepped outside of Celadon City since he moved there. It was strange being in the wilderness, but Misty had explained it was the safest place to train where they wouldn't be noticed by the police. Kris felt ready for this training, as did Quilava who made a full recovery after they spent the night at Misty's.

Jule hadn't come with them, though. Kris had her return home to tell Fark that he was okay. Of course, she was defiant to Kris's wishes. "Why don't you come home with me?" she had asked. "I don't understand why you have to leave the city with that girl! We don't even know her!"

"I know," Kris said, "but I feel this is the only way I'll get better. I have to do it."

Kris saw the look in Jule's eyes through the reflection of her spectacles. It wasn't just a look of worry, however. It created a hole in the pit of Kris's stomach, as if she was trying to tell him she was being betrayed. Why would she feel that way, though?

"Kris," Misty said, snapping Kris out of his thoughts. They were standing in an open field, the city of Celadon just a mere silhouette in the background. Misty had Pikachu on her shoulder, both looking at Kris. She gave him a sweet smile. "Everything all right?"

Kris scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "Yeah, just fine. So, we're training here?"

"Yep," Misty said, nodding. "We'll begin now. I'm going to use Pikachu. Since he's Ash's Pokemon, you'll be able to see how Ash battles and maybe find ways to overcome his strategy."

"All right!" Kris said eagerly, making distance between him and Misty. "Quilava, let's go!"

"Get in there, Pikachu!"

Quilava barked as he made his way to the makeshift battlefield, and even Pikachu seemed excited as sparks flew from his red cheeks.

"I'll start off!" Kris called out. "Quilava, Flame Wheel!"

The plumes on Quilava's body lit aflame and circled his body. He lunged forward and rolled at high speed toward Pikachu.

"You're fast, but Pikachu's faster. Quick Attack!" Misty called.

"Pika!" Pikachu cried as he darted in a zigzag motion as Quilava came at him. At the last second Pikachu lunged into the air, dodging his opponent's attack.

"Hit him with Thunderbolt!" Misty commanded.

Pikachu's cheeks sparked electricity and a large bolt shot from his body toward Quilava. Kris's eyes grew wide in horror. Without hesitation, however, he called, "Agility!" The enflamed Quilava split into three, then six as he sped up. The Thunderbolt his one of the Quilava, but all it did was pass through the image and create a large hole in the ground.

Kris saw the impressed look on Misty's face. It was enough to make him blush, but he had to keep focus on the battle at hand. "Head back at Pikachu!" he ordered his Pokemon. "Hit him with Flamethrower!"

"Pikachu, Volt Tackle!" Misty commanded. "Take that Flamethrower head on!"

He didn't see it coming as Quilava let out his Flamethrower. A swirl of electricity wrapped around Pikachu and he rushed at the burst of fire coming at him. The electricity acted as a shield that collided against the flames, and then Pikachu pushed into the fire. Kris just gaped at what happened. The flames died as Pikachu let out a cry of his name and hit Quilava with a full on electrified tackle. Quilava yelped in pain as he was thrown backwards and slid across the ground.

"Quilava, are you okay?" Kris asked urgently.

Misty shook her head. "Those are the kind of head-on attacks you'll have to be ready for when you face Ash. He's style is very unique. I saw your style, how you bide your time with Agility and Smokescreen and attack when least expected. Ash, however, will hit you directly, even through your own attacks."

"He's that hardcore, huh?"

Misty laughed. "You think so? I used to think he was so stupid when we were younger. He thought he could always win by trying his hardest, and strangely enough it worked out for him."

"Well I won't fall for it again! Quilava, get back in there and blind Pikachu with Smokescreen!"

Quilava stood on his four paws and let out a puff of smoke. Kris lowered his goggles over his eyes to watch as his Pokemon and his opponent disappeared into the blackness that spread over the arena. He could see Pikachu looking around eagerly for his opponent, while Quilava had already planned for the next strike.

"Hit him with another Flamethrower!"

"Pikachu, Iron Tail!"

From the sky a burst of flames could be seen plummeting down toward Pikachu. The fire spread across the ground, clearing the smoke. Pikachu was completely engulfed by the attack. Quilava fell back to the ground, but still continued to launch the Flamethrower.

"That's enough!" Kris called. He was worried about injuring Pikachu too much.

Quilava closed his mouth and the attack stopped. However, the fires continued to dance around the spot Pikachu stood in. Slowly the flames dispersed and Pikachu still stood, nearly unscathed, his tail, coated in a silver metal, having acted as a shield. Kris was left gawking once again at the technique Misty showed with her friend's Pokemon.

"That's another strategy of Ash's technique," Misty explained. "He would use his attacks in unique ways. Volt Tackle and Iron Tail can both be used as shields. Once you know the moves of the Pokemon he uses you'll have to figure out in what ways he's able to use them."

Kris glared. This battle was already intense enough, and yet Pikachu had minimal damage while Quilava already sustained quite a bit just from Volt Tackle. He knew Misty was taking it easy, but if this was a real battle he would be toast. His old buddy would never stand a chance against a real opponent like this. She, or rather Pikachu and his old trainer's battle style, was nothing like he had faced before. Was Pikachu just that experienced, or was Kris not "thinking outside the box" enough?

What skills did Quilava possess that would give him a fighting edge like Pikachu? Flame Wheel could act just like Volt Tackle, but it wasn't about copying the technique. This was about making up his own strategies, and combining attacks to pull off abilities never seen before, just like Misty was doing to him now.

"Pikachu, let's move!" Misty shouted suddenly. "Quick Attack!"

"Match it with Agility!" Kris countered.

Pikachu darted side to side toward Quilava as he followed the same motions back at Pikachu. Then Misty called out, "Volt Tackle!" while Kris cried, "Flame Wheel!" The two were swept up in their corresponding elements and Quilava started into a fast roll. The two collided with powerful strikes, enough to send a force of energy across the field that ruffled Kris' hair and jacket.

"We seem pretty even," Misty called to Kris over the battlefield.

"Maybe," Kris called back, "but I've got a plan up my sleeve. Quilava, jump over Pikachu and use Smokescreen! Hit him right in the eyes!"

A look of shock came over Misty as she watched Quilava stop spinning and spring into the air. Pikachu became startled as the force he pushed against gave way and the electricity around him dispersed. Quilava swiftly let out a puff of smoke that hit his opponent right in his beady black eyes, causing Pikachu to squeal in displeasure as he tumbled to the ground.

"Now use Agility one more time and combo with Flame Wheel again!"

Fire burst around Quilava as he charged for Pikachu, and as the fire Pokemon sped up he didn't tuck into the normal roll. He only became even faster, charging at a speed that even made Pikachu's Quick Attack look as slow as a Slugma. Quilava bashed into Pikachu from behind, sending the electric mouse through the air, squealing in pain and rolling across the ground next to Misty's feet.

Kris gaped at his own Pokemon. That wasn't Flame Wheel he used. It was definitely something different. But how did he use it? What was it?

"Flame Charge," Misty had answered to his unasked question as she picked up Pikachu. Pikachu seemed ready for more, but knew that Misty was done for now. "Quilava just learned Flame Charge. It's like Flame Wheel but can greatly speed up the user."

"Flame Charge?" said Kris. It was interesting seeing Quilava learn a new attack like that, considering how hard he worked to learn Flame Wheel with using Rollout while his plumes were ablaze. Kris liked it, however. Speed was a vital part to their strategy, and this definitely worked in their favor.

"That was a great match," Misty said as she walked up to Kris. "I think you already understand how Ash battles. Let's take a lunch break and continue this afterwards."

Lunch sounded great to him, considering he knew Misty had especially made the lunch for them just before leaving her apartment. He couldn't wait to chow down.

"Sorry it's not much," Misty said as she and Kris sat next to each other eating plain sandwiches. "I'm not much of a cook like my friend Brock."

Kris took a big bight of his sandwich. "It's great!"

Misty blushed. "I'm glad you like it. You know, though, if you keep improving like you had today you'll be ready for some real battles in the Underground in no time."

Kris nodded. "I'm counting on it. Actually they're having a gauntlet match in a few days that I want to enter." Misty gave him a curious look. "It's where you enter a string of battles one after another. I really can't wait to test my new skills out."

Misty stared at Kris. She saw the same happy-go-lucky look she remembered from her younger days. Their resemblance was amazing, even down to how he shared his affection for his Pokemon. But the last time she had seen Ash, things were so much different.

"Hey Misty," Kris said, startling Misty from her thoughts. He had a sincere look on his face. "I was wondering something. Before all of this banning on Pokemon, what did you do? You have a way with handling a Pikachu that's not yours, and your Staryu was pretty cool last night."

"It's something I don't think about much anymore, since the Pokemon League shut down." Misty's smile faded. Kris could see the sadness in the young woman's eyes. "For a while I traveled through a couple regions with Ash as he battled in the different Leagues. And after that I became the Gym Leader of Cerulean City."

"A Gym Leader huh?" Kris said, impressed. "I guess there's a lot more I can learn from you then."

A strange and bashful smile appeared on Misty's face suddenly. "Yeah, I guess you can."

Kris stood swiftly after having finished the rest of his sandwich. "The day's still young! Let's keep going!"

Misty laughed loudly. "All right, but you have to let me and the Pokemon finish eating first!"