The gnarled path of the forest twisted through out Viridian Forest sending the trio of trainers on the most indirect route imaginable. This greatly tired out the trainers and they had to rest frequently. Even the resilient Ash couldn't go much longer with out a break.
Ash kept his promise with Seadra about giving him battles a little to much. Any pokemon they met on the path attacked them, be it Caterpie or the occasional Pinsir, they were all put down by Seadra's might. But soon even his stamina faltered and Smaug had to step in.
Ash found that Seadra relied on his strongest moves to win battles, that most of the time worked, but was a bad habit to stick too. It drained his energy to much and he had to recover a brief moment to attack again, something that could decide victory or defeat in a battle.
Adam and Julia's new pokemon, surprisingly, followed their orders with out any disobedience. Ekans focused on raw strength, constricting its foes with its muscular body or just slamming into it, while Spearow took advantage of its natural born speed and pummeled its foes with a barrage of clawed strikes.
Julia's Weedle used its potent poison attack the most, but its small size and stubby legs meant that it was crucial that it got the first shot in, seeing that Weedle would have a hard time dodging attacks. Caterpie, however, focused on tactics more than brute strength, spraying an enemy with its sticky web, before launching an attack on the trapped pokemon.
While Adam and Julia were busy training their newly caught pokemon, Ash focused on making Smaug master Metal Claw. He knew Seadra was all he needed to challenge Brock and win, but he wanted Smaug to have it in his arsenal just in case he ever faced a Rock-type and Seadra wasn't available.
It took some rigorous training and many battles, but finally Smaug go it down. His claws now grew twice in size and but also kept the metallic glint. It packed some serious power and could chop a tree down with one clean hit.
Currently Ash was leading the group on the path when a bush on his side rustled. He quickly stopped and stood still, when Adam and Julia saw him still they instantly silenced and stilled like him.
Moments later, a figure burst out of the bush, sword in a hand, swinging down on Ash. With skills honed over the years with constant practice swordplay, Ash's sword met his opponent's in a shower of sparks. The two weapons of metal and their wielders struggled against each other, desperate to push the other back.
While their two blades crossed, Ash got a good look at his attacker. It was a boy, about his age, wearing a helmet similar to a samurai. A flag with his name was strapped to his back. 'Samurai', how... original.
Snapping out of their shock, Adam and Julia drew their weapons. Adam's spear was now pointed at his exposed chest, Julia dagger was aimed at his eye.
Finally Ash's strength proved greater than Samurai's and with final push, Samurai was pushed back. Losing his balance, Samurai fell on his butt and before he knew it three, extremely sharp weapons were pointed at his face.
"Explain yourself." Ash hissed, his voice unnaturally colder than usual, but he didn't care. What would have happened if Julia was in front?! He couldn't live with himself if she got hurt.
" Please, forgive me. I meant no harm." Samurai said shakily, his body was quivering under his gaze. It was like his very essence of life was being burned away from him.
"I was merely testing skills. I was also looking for the remaining trainers traveling from Pallet. By any chance are you them?"
Ash's eyes blazed an unnatural vortex of blue and red before Adam spoke up. "What if we are?"
Instantly Samurai jumped up, ignoring the sharp weapons pointed at his face. "Then I challenge you to a battle!" shouted Samurai pointing a finger at Ash. Ash grew a confused look before a feral grin danced upon his face, that scared even Julia.
She knew that Ash was very protective of her and she loved him for it, but like all good things you could have too much of it. The sudden change in his eye color also terrified her, she would have to ask him about it later.
Ash and Samurai stood of on a grass clearing, poke-ball in hand. The wind rippling sending leaves and making the grass sway in a hypnotic way.
"Pinsir, come on out!" shouted Samurai, releasing a giant brown stag beetle with two massive horns upon his head. It released a roar and stamped its foot on the ground ready for battle.
"Smaug, burn them to ashes." Ash said coldly. His starter appeared on the swaying grass, growling at his towering adversary.
' Pinsir's armor is too thick to simply attack with Smaug's claws and its not flammable, so I'll have to make a opening in the armor to get a successful attack.' Ash thought to himself as his starter began circling his large foe.
"Pinsir, Take Down! " commanded Samurai. Pinsir charged from its initial position, aimed directly at Smaug.
"Side-step Pinsir and Metal Claw his back!" Ash said, his eye gaze upon the charging Pinsir. Smaug's claws grew twice in size and a metallic glint glowed around his claws. With speed to match that of a speeding bullet, Smaug nimbly dodged the racing Pinsir and raked his claws on its back. Pinsir stopped its attack and released a blood-curdling scream of agony as it armor was being slashed away. The pain was too much for Pinsir to move, so it sat their, unmoving, taking hit after hit.
Soon Smaug's constant slashing uncovered a large piece of exposed flesh, that was protected by its exoskeleton.
"Ember!" said Ash. Smaug released a ball of fire on the open wound sending Pinsir tumbling on the ground roaring in pain, till the pure pain of having its flesh being burned knocked it unconscious.
Samurai, Adam, and Julia stared in shock and awe at the easy win preformed by Ash. Samurai's Pinsir clearly had the advantage in strength and experience, yet it was taken down so easily.
Smaug growled victoriously, stepping his clawed foot on his downed foe. Ash congradulated his starter before tending to Pinsir's wound.
It was larger and more gruesome than he hoped, but Ash began treating it. After using about a entire bottle of healing potion and numerous bandages Ash finished treating Pinsir's wound. Samurai was by his pokemon's head stroking Pinsir's horns while rubbing its head.
"Pinsir will be fine, but he needs rest. Pinsir should be back to perfect health in a few days. But you should keep him out of battles for awhile just to make sure he is fine." Ash suggested as he packed up his medical supplies, neatly into his satchel.
After thanking Ash, Samurai returned Pinsir back to his ball and began walking away.
"Wow, Ash nice job! You completely destroyed him!" complimented Adam, Shinx barking to agree with his trainer.
"Thanks, but I wish this could have gone faster." Ash said, noticing the darkening sky.
"If you need a place to stay for the night, you can stay in my cabin." suggested Samurai. Julia thanked Samurai and the quartet of trainers headed for his hut.
Hey lordofire here. Well i know this chapter is extremely short but i have a good reason.
MY COMPUTER IS WONKING OUT!
Like seriously i can't finish the rest of this chapter. It was suppose to be around 5k words but since my computer is dying i can't finish it. I literally tried 20 times to write this but they all failed. my computer either dies, restarts, or just won't respond.
I'm gonna have it repaired so I will be on hiatus for awhile. So thats the reason I haven't uploaded anything for the past couple of weeks and for probably two more.