The Battle Institute.
Had Bertha not led Ash here, he might not have even noticed it; an angular, postmodern three-story building down the block from the Pokémon Center, with periwinkle walls bordering on a dull gray.
"This is the place?" Ash asked, brow furrowing in incredulity. I've seen it a million times since we've been here. It definitely doesn't look like much."
"Aha-ha!" Stopping outside the institute, Bertha laughed. Beneath her subtle, subdued demeanor, there was just a crack of a cackle from an elderly person who just didn't give a damn. "I would tell you that your observation skills need sharpening. But, you're right, and that's by design."
"By design?" Ash frowned. "Why would a bigshot battling arena want to look so dingy? The Big Stadium and Small Court were much flashier…" Ash stopped, blinking. "Shoot, hanging out with Dawn is rubbing off on me."
"Perhaps," Bertha replied. "But, you see… Its modus operandi is something I can relate to." Before Ash could ask what that meant, she continued. "It's only interested in engaging the most competent of trainers, with a sharp enough eye to seek it out in the first place. Slapping a bunch of decorations and prestige on its surface would only draw crowds that aren't quite ready for it."
Ash whistled. "Sounds like a big deal." His budding excitement was chasing the proverbial rain cloud over his head away. Unable to help himself, he filed on in, coming through sliding double doors. Stepping inside, he gasped.
The contrast between the interior and exterior was night-and-day. Teal, checkered tiles spanned the floors up until the length of a battlefield, which was a darker stretch of aquamarine. Neon railing barred off the battling area from the lobby, flashing beats of hot pink. Silver and royal blues spanned the walls, and maroon felt furniture sat towards the back of the lobby, with small glass tables sitting between them. Several trainers; mostly young adults, occupied them and chatted. A few looked over out of curiosity when Ash stepped into the building.
'It looks like something out of a sci-fi movie…'
~Or a spy thriller. This could fit right into one of the villains' evil lairs,~ Pikachu replied, carrying Ash's train of thought.
"Excuse me!" A voice jostled Ash and Pikachu out of their musings. A man sat at the front desk, leering at the former. "I don't believe you're a member of the Battle Institute… We don't allow just any trainer to wander in here, you know."
"Oh, would you relax. He's with me," Bertha vouched before Ash could retort, resting a hand on the youth's shoulder.
"Oh! Bertha! Welcome back," the man chimed, immediately changing his tune. "Couldn't stay away from our Battle Tests for too long, could you?"
"As fun as that sounds, I'm afraid I'm here on other business," she replied. "I'm here to introduce my young friend, Ashton, here, to your facilities. I believe it could do him a lot of good."
"It's Ash," Ash muttered, but he didn't expect a correction.
"I see. Well, be that as it may, he still needs the qualifications to enter in the first place. You're new here, Ashton, so you might not be aware. To qualify to be a member of the Battle Institute, a trainer must possess at least one Hall of Fame title from any region with reputable Pokémon League credentials."
'Pokémon League' and 'Hall of Fame' hit Ash like a brick. "Oh, well…" His shoulders slumped with his spirits. "The thing is… I haven't exactly managed that, yet."
The clerk answered with a hum, curt and dismissive. "What a shame. Well I'm sorry, Bertha, but I'm afraid we'll have to ask Ashton to-"
"Check his Trainer File," Bertha interrupted, before the man could finish his sentence.
"Ash Ketchum," Ash volunteered, though he wasn't sure what she was getting at.
". . . Yes, well. I don't see the purpose with Ashton's own admission, but, ahem, very well." He complied, reluctance and disgust screwed onto his features. Ash very much got the impression that if anyone but Bertha had asked, he'd have them thrown out the door already.
The man typed away at a tablet before him, blue screen light reflecting in his spectacles. Said spectacles nearly slid down his nose a moment afterward. "Oh! Ash Ketchum… It seems that you've entered the Orange League's Palace of Victory, and the Kanto Battle Frontier Hall of Fame. Although the Orange League's credentials are a tad questionable… Completing a decorated Battle Facility is more than sufficient. You can go on ahead."
"...Oh. Oh, yeah." Ash blinked, blushing profusely. He felt embarrassed that he hadn't thought to mention either accomplishment sooner. "Well, thank you!" He bowed his head, and shuffled on by.
"You forgot?" Pikachu asked. "I was about to remind you, before Bertha said something."
"Well-"
"I've noticed that you don't tend to flaunt your past achievements often," Bertha cut in, after catching up to him. "Or, even think of them. Before you ask, I did a few observations of my own, into your trainer history. I did say I was going to keep up with you, after all."
"That makes sense," Ash replied. Humming, he rubbed the back of his neck. "See, the thing is. Whenever I spend a lot of time thinking about my victories, my ego gets the best of me, and I screw up royally. Don't get me wrong! I'm really proud of what I've done. But I like to focus on the road ahead of me and not get overconfident."
It went unsaid, but his recent state of mind probably hadn't helped.
Bertha smiled, clearly approving. "Someone your age having such a mindset is commendable…As is you holding your cards close. If an opponent is oblivious to all that you've accomplished, they're less likely to observe and perceive you properly, as we just saw a moment ago, if you've observed as much," she said, nodding back towards the clerk.
"However! Staying aware of your qualifications is also important. Achieving what you did is no small feat. It essentially puts you on even footing with myself, in some respects. You should remember that, Ashton, and battle like it. Hold your strengths close to your heart, and don't let them go to your head."
"...Wow. That's really great advice, Bertha! Thank you." Ash managed a half-smile, humbled by it all. "I'll try to remember that. But also, uh… Since when did you decide to start calling me Ashton? That's not actually my full name," he corrected, frowning.
"Oh! I know it's not. I just think we've known each other long enough for me to give you a nickname," Bertha chuckled.
Ash, surprisingly, found himself touched by that.
"Hey! Do I get a nickname, then?" Pikachu asked.
Bertha laughed. Though she couldn't understand Pikachu, she figured it out, as always. "Oh, and how could I leave Pikachu out? Now, what should I call you…?" She paused, humming. "Pikachu… Peek… Oh! I'll call you Peeks."
Pikachu chirped happily at this.
"Peeks! I like it," Ash agreed. "Hey, in that case, maybe you should get a nickname, too, Bertha! Just to complete the trio."
"Mm… No," she shook her head.
Ash deflated. "No?"
"I appreciate the comradery, but you still ought to respect your elders. If you're going to call me anything, you can call me Meemaw."
Ash snorted. "Yeah, right. Oh! I should probably get signed up!" They'd wandered close enough to the next counter, anyway.
"Hello, there!" A much more chipper woman stood behind the next counter, with long, aquamarine twintails fashioned into drills. She wore a suit, though she looked like she could've been a fashionable trainer a few years ago. "It seems this is your first time in the Battle Institute. Shall I judge you with a Battle test?"
"That sounds great," Ash replied, "but what's a Battle Test?"
"A Battle Test is a series of battles which'll assess the aptitude of your skills in battling. You will take your test using one Pokémon for single battles, or two for double battles, in a gauntlet of battles against five different trainers. You will be judged on your performance, and at the end of each battle, you will be given a score, depending on our rubric. Depending on how many points you earn, you can exchange them for useful items, or even Technical Machines!"
"Technical Machines, huh…?" Ash hummed, thinking back on his time in Cinnabar. 'What was that thing Brock said about helping my Pokémon grow in different ways…?' He smiled. This was a perfect opportunity to do just that. "That sounds great! I'm eager to get to winning!"
"Well, there's a winning attitude!" The clerk beamed. "Now, will it be singles or doubles?"
"I'll choose… singles!"
"Wonderful! Then, please make your way to the battlefield, and you'll have your first opponent shortly!"
"Awesome! Thank you." Ash made a quick beeline for the railed off area, before realizing he didn't hear any footsteps behind him. He looked over his shoulder, and Bertha was still at the counter, conversing with the clerk. "Hey, Bertha! C'mon. Aren't you gonna watch us?"
"Oh! I'll be there in just a minute; don't worry about me. We just have something to discuss," she answered, smiling.
Ash exchanged a look with Pikachu and shrugged.
watch?v=H2aJmj21SUA&ab_channel=GamingThemes
Standing on one end of the futuristic battlefield, Ash found himself opposite of a man who was likely in his thirties, with dark, short parted hair and a blue sweater vest. Gazing across the way, his opponent smirked. "The rush of a good battle is like the hiss of a locomotive as it enters the station. Wouldn't you agree? Both just get me fired up!"
"Uh… Yeah," Ash trailed off uneasily. "I guess that makes sense."
"The battle between Challenger Ash and Clerk Hoffman will now begin!" The judge called from behind a desk, separated from the action by the neon guardrails. "Please send out your Pokémon!"
"Looks like it's time to get to it…" Ash huffed. "Pikachu. You wanna give it a spin?"
Pikachu's nose scrunched. He felt conflicted. Nonetheless, he took a deep breath. "...Yeah. I have to battle again, sooner or later. Send me in."
Ash nodded. "Pikachu! I choose you!"
"Pika!" Following his trainer's gesture of pointing forth, Pikachu leapt off of his shoulder, landing on all fours.
"A Pikachu…? Hah, you don't see that sort of thing in Unova, often! Klang! I choose you!" Hoffman threw a Poké Ball backhanded. A Pokémon appeared that neither Ash nor Pikachu recognized; one consisted of two small gears, and a larger one on its back. One of the gears had a face, with a teal nose and one eye, with a cross mark in the place where its other eye would presumably go.
"Klang!" Klang chirped a metallic noise, as their gears started to turn. Ash pointed Dexter at them.
"Klang: The Gear Pokémon. Spinning minigears are rotated at high speed and repeatedly fired away. It is dangerous if the gears don't return."
"What a cool Pokémon… And they're a Steel-type. Alright, Pikachu… Pikachu?"
Where Pikachu stood, now, he'd hoped to be battle-ready; fresh and free of his previous perils. On the contrary, though, he was shivering. The faintest snap of electricity from his cheeks that would normally spark excitement instead struck terror down his spine.
A sterile battle scene, battle-ready, with an opponent opposite of him. It was all too familiar. All a little too recent. The images of Klang and a charred and bloodied Ash were starting to blend together.
"Pikachu… Pikachu?" Ash asked, increasingly concerned. He could practically feel his partner's stress leaking into his own nerves.
'Pikachu… It's me, Buddy. You can hear me, can't you?'
"Chu! Pikachu!" Pikachu shook his head, letting off a greater volume of sparks that snapped at the pristine field.
"Now, hold the breaks," Hoffman frowned. "Is your Pikachu alright, over there? He doesn't look too sound."
Ash took no time to answer, instead running over to scoop his partner into his arm. "Buddy… It's okay. You're in Unova, remember? It's okay." He gently stroked Pikachu's fur, only to find that it was starting to become matted with sweat. The guilt he felt was palpable.
"Is there a problem, Mr. Ketchum?" The judge; being the same peppy clerk from before, asked from behind the railing. "Is your Pikachu not able to battle?"
"...I don't think so." Ash shook his head. Pikachu's trembling was slowing down, as he started to come to his senses. "He had a traumatizing experience recently. He wanted to hop back in, but it looks like he isn't ready." He looked back down to Pikachu. "Are you okay, Buddy?"
"...I. I think so." Pikachu huffed. He felt positively pathetic. "I can't, Ash. Sorry. I-I can't."
"Hey, it's fine, it's fine. Don't sweat it," Ash replied. "Should we go, now?"
"...No." Pikachu shook his head, frowning. "You just got started. I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure! You went through the trouble of coming here… Just, let me sit it out."
"If you say so," Ash agreed. "Sorry, Hoffman, I need a moment."
The brunet nodded. "Don't rush. No good train leaves the station with a Pokémon in need."
"Thanks." He turned his attention to the judge. "Sorry, miss. But could I please substitute my Pokémon? I know it's against the rules, but this is a weird situation, and I won't put him through more trouble than I already have."
"I should say that it was irresponsible to send a traumatized Pokémon out in the first place," the woman huffed. "You should be more careful." She seemed to zero in on the sorry look on Ash's face, judging by the pity in her eyes. "However, a responsible battle facility will never put procedure above a Pokémon's well-being. You'll be allowed to substitute Pikachu, but you will suffer a loss in points."
"That's more than fine." Ash approached Bertha, who'd been standing behind the railing. "Bertha, could you please look after Pikachu?"
The silver-haired Elite hummed affirmatively, holding out her arms. "Now, you know I wouldn't leave Pikachu uncared for." She took Pikachu, and the mouse opted to board her shoulder. She leaned in to whisper. "Now, let's put this embarrassing display behind us, shall we?"
"Yeah." Ash agreed, ruffling his partner's head before returning to stand opposite of Hoffman. He inhaled, and exhaled sharply. "Sorry. Let's try this again. I choose you… Meema!"
The lithe, gray Illusion Fox appeared on all fours. Her icy gaze landed on Klang.
"Now that Challenger Ash has sent out his Pokémon, you may begin!"
"The first move is ours!" Ash called. "Night Slash!"
"Klang, use Thunderbolt!"
Klang, naturally, was a bit slower on the uptake than Meema. With turning gears, they fired a bolt of lightning at the mauve-claw-brandishing fox that she'd surely be able to avoid.
Only, she didn't. Meema charged right into the Thunderbolt, howling as lightning shot through her nervous system.
"Meema…!?" Ash watched the scene unfold before him in confusion and concern, as the fox powered through, raking her claws across Klang to bring the shock to an end.
'That was weird.'
If there was anything amiss, Hoffman didn't notice. "Use Return, Klang!"
Klang had been knocked into a spin by Night Slash, skidding and dragging across the surface before finding purchase. With a metallic cry, they lunged at Meema.
"Dodge, with Agility," Ash commanded, deciding to be a bit more specific, this time.
Meema stretched into a dark blur, darting far out of Klang's reach. The turning gears came to a halt just a few feet away from Ash, turning around to scout their opponent.
The Steel-type found themselves baffled. Not only was Meema darting from one end of the field to the next before her audience's eyes, but multiple Meema were doing so. Running circles around the gadget, the seeming pack of Zoroark had the gear puzzled and dizzy.
Ash frowned, raising a brow at the display. "I didn't ask her to use Double Team…!"
"Hm! You can't be a proper conductor without a proper command of your Pokémon, sonny," Hoffman huffed.
"Tch," Ash tutted, but pressed on with a wave of his hand. "Night Slash!"
In an instant, Meema was before her trainer again, flanking Klang with a slash of her claws. Violet light leaked from the point of impact, as Klang was sent spinning back towards their trainer. They corrected themselves with a gear planting in the ground, and stood strong.
"Now, use Metal Sound!"
Klang's gears started to turn and grind, setting off a harsh, ear-rattling noise. The silver soundwaves barraged Meema, making her flinch and buckle under the painful sensation.
Afterwards, a blue aura washed over her; her special defense had dropped harshly.
"Tch… Hang strong, Meema!" Ash encouraged.
"Use Flash Cannon," Hoffman followed, coaching Klang to fire a silver burst of energy.
"Dodge that, Meema!" Ash urged.
The blast collided with Meema, and a blinding explosion rocked Ash's end of the field. Smoke and bits of metal flew about, shrouding the fox from view. Ash scouted for her, fearing the worst.
When the smoke cleared, however, there was no Meema.
"Klang!" Klang cried, suddenly pinned to the battlefield. Meema was atop them, pinning the spinning and struggling gears to the floor with her claws.
"What the…!? How did she…" Ash gasped. "Her illusions!"
"Now, halt, right there!" Hoffman scolded. "That's no way to use Illusion in battle, sonny!"
The clerk's warning went unheeded, with Ash focused entirely on Meema. "You shouldn't go making it look like you got hit without me knowing, Meema. You really had me worried!"
With Klang still struggling under her, the fox looked over, head tilted. ~You… were worried? For what purpose?~
"Bah. Thunderbolt!"
Lightning shot through Meema once more. The Zoroark howled, illuminated by gold, before the resulting explosion blasted her back towards Ash in a smoking heap.
"Meema! Are you alright, Meema!?"
Portions of her voluminous mane looked burnt, still trailing wisps of smoke. Meema struggled to support herself with trembling limbs, but she stubbornly sat up, nonetheless. She'd clearly taken a lot of damage, thanks to Metal Sound.
"I believe the train that is our battle has arrived at the station," Hoffman shouted. "Flash Cannon!"
"Night-" Ash was halfway through a command, when a sudden dizzying feeling overtook him. Blurring colors flashed before his eyes, and he felt like he'd been rattled. "What the…!?" He shook his head, attempting to regain his bearings. He could see Meema in front of him, just fine. But, something was off. The floor underneath them was no longer the colorful, futuristic battlefield, but a solid royal blue. The same color as… "...the ceiling!?"
He and Meema seemed to be standing on the ceiling. Hoffman and Klang were upside-down, below… above…? Whatever was happening, it was disorienting.
But, the Clerk had already ordered his move. Flash Cannon fired at Meema, and detonated. She leapt out of the smoke, only to be struck by another. She did so again, and a third Flash Cannon struck again.
"Halt! Halt!" The seemingly kind and mild-mannered Clerk called out; his arms forming a cross over his chest. "Just what do you think you're doing with those illusions, sonny?"
"What do you mean, what am I doing!?" Ash belted back. He was a bit too embarrassed to admit that he had no command of what Meema had been up to, thus far. (Though, he had to imagine that was obvious.) "She's using one of her abilities as a Pokémon; what's the problem?"
"The problem is, the way you're using Illusion is illegal!"
"Illegal!?" Ash echoed, wide-eyed. He looked up… down… in the direction of the judge. "Is that true?"
The aqua-haired woman nodded. "The ability, Illusion, is strictly regulated, at least in the Unova region as Zorua and Zoroark's native home. Twisting everyone's perception at will is considered overpowered in the lengths it can be exploited, and can even be considered to be interfering with the trainer… as you can clearly see for yourself."
Finding himself to be standing on the ceiling, apparently, Ash certainly could. "That definitely makes sense. Then, what can they do with their illusions?"
"When appearing from their Poké Ball, Zoroark are allowed to imitate the appearance of one other Pokémon on the trainer's team; typically one that's decided on beforehand. After they take damage and their concentration is broken, they may not resume the illusion until sent out again."
Ash nodded. That sounded like a far fairer use of such a powerful ability, now that he took a moment to think about it. "Thanks, but if that's the case, then why wasn't I told sooner!?"
"As a veteran trainer," she replied, "you're expected to catch your own mistakes in a Battle Test."
Ash's face burned with shame. "...Meema, drop the Illusion."
~I don't understand. This is combat, is it not? You use whatever advantages you have to conquer your foe.~ Meema asked, looking back at her trainer.
"That's not how Pokémon battles work." Ash shook his head. "A Pokémon battle is a fair-and-square sport, where we all work together to do our best. I need you to trust my judgment so we can work together. Can you do that for me, Meema?" The teen smiled, holding out a hand.
Meema was silent, for a moment. His words were puzzling; profoundly so. But, she recalled the other day, where his tactics had led to her saving her darling cub. Where they'd combined their strengths to beat a common enemy. She bowed her head, and the illusion dispelled. ~My apologies, Leader. I'll do as you ask.~
"Well, I'll be… A Zoroark with telepathy. I'd say that our stop at this station has been a worthy venture, even for all the trouble," Hoffman chuckled.
~But, what should I do, Leader?~ Meema went on to ask, feeling profoundly out of place.
"Well, as a trainer, it's my job to help you be at your best," Ash answered, smiling. "So, what would you do, if you weren't sure how to beat an opponent?"
~...I would stalk my prey until I find an opening,~ she answered, sending a shiver up Ash's spine.
"...I'm gonna ignore how creepy that is and say I'm not surprised," Ash said nervously, masking his feelings with a smirk. "Right. Then, let's do it! Come at us, Klang! We're ready for you!"
"Then, we're leaving for the next stop! Flash Cannon!"
"Dodge that! Agility!"
Flash Cannon fired, but not nearly quickly enough to tag the Zoroark. Disappearing and reappearing at quick intervals; no longer with the aid of Illusion; she ran literal circles around the turning gear.
Far faster than Klang could follow, Ash noticed; the Steel-type was haphazardly turning to catch a glimpse of their opponent, to no avail. Back and forth, they turned in stilted motions.
"Tch… That fox may be faster than even the Nimbasa Subway!" Hoffman snorted. He, himself, could barely keep an eye on Meema.
Ash's eyes widened in a split-second observation. 'Every time she moves, Klang has to keep turning to even catch a glimpse of 'er. They're just a couple of gears with no neck, or anything. They can't keep up with her without even turning around!' Ash smirked. He had a plan. "That's enough, Meema!"
The Zoroark slid to a halt, now in plain sight.
"There she is! Ue Return, Klang!"
The gear shot towards Meema with all the force behind their bond with the Clerk.
"Now!" Ash grinned, swiping a hand through the air. "Night Slash, from the side! Snag their gear, and send 'em off!"
Meema had no idea what Ash had planned, but she obeyed to the letter. Crimson claws came at Klang from the right, catching the grooves in their gears. Following through, she launched them into a violent spin.
"Ah! Klang!" Hoffman exclaimed."Catch your footing, posthaste!"
The gear's dizzying rotations finally started to slow, as the Pokémon buried one of their bottom gears into the floor. Finally coming to a halt, facing away from Meema.
"Now's your chance; they can't see you," Ash called. "Use Nasty Plot!"
Meema leered at her foe, scheming underhanded and aggressive thoughts that made her even more in-tune with her Dark-type attributes. A red glow signified her special attack doubling.
All, just in time for Klang to dislodge from the floor, and turn to face her.
"Klang! Flash Cannon!" With the Clerk's orders, the gear fired a shimmering beam.
"Night Daze!" Ash cried.
Meema slammed her paws against the ground. A violent burst of cool hues exploded from the epicenter, colliding with Flash Cannon before quickly overpowering it. Crimson and violet flashes swallowed the field, before fading away.
Klang laid on their back, unconscious.
"Klang is unable to battle," the judge called, raising a hand. "Zoroark is the winner; As is Ash!"
"Yes! We did it!" Ash up to the Zoroark without hesitation, reaching over to take her paws and pull her upright. "That's what I'm talking about, Meema!"
The surprisingly lightweight Zoroark was up on her hind legs without a fight, but she did stare at him with complete bewilderment. Eyes that were normally narrow and focused with the intent of a hunter were wide; a bit stupefied, even. After a few short moments, she blinked. ~I see. This must be how humans show affection.~
The fox awkwardly lifted and jostled Ash's own hands, clearly finding the whole gesture alien.
"Well, emergency stops aside, I must say that was a fine battle, Ash!" Hoffman interrupted, extending a hand to the younger trainer.
"It sure was!" Ash laughed, meeting the gesture and shaking firmly. "Thanks a lot, Hoffman."
"Though, I must say," the man said, frowning. "I get the impression this was your first venture with that Zoroark. From the little I heard from both of you, you both seemed lost."
"Well… yeah," Ash admitted, sheepishly rubbing his neck. He then threw an arm around the Zoroark. "That's because it was! I actually caught Meema, yesterday, near city limits. I thought a battle was the perfect way for us to get to know each other!"
"Well, while I can't help but feel a little insulted… Hah! I am impressed the two of you found your speed so quickly. Like an engine and their stalwart conductor, you worked in tandem!"
"That's because I believe in my Pokémon!" Ash chimed, pulling Meema in closer. The fox only looked more perplexed, still.
"Well, it's no wonder you found yourself here. I'd better go and get my Klang healed. Good meeting you, sonny!" The Clerk answered, before taking his leave.
Ash looked at Meema, and grinned. "Now, let's go and see our score!"
Returning to the judge in front of her counter, they waited early on the score for their very first battle. After a few calculations; some accounting for unusual mistakes that Ash had committed, a score appeared on a screen behind the judge, alongside four empty spaces. 500 points!
"500!" Ash cheered. "Hey, that sounds high. It must be a pretty good score, right?"
The judge put on a polite, customer service smile. "It's… fairly passable, with all of your blunders considered. If you continue as you have, you'll be lucky to break out of the novice tier."
Ash groaned, hanging his head. "I should've seen that coming…"
~It was a poor performance, then?~
"Afraid so," Ash replied.
~My apologies.~ Meema bowed her head. ~I understand if you're to remove me from the team. I just beseech that Dawn holds onto Rura.~
"What!? No!" Ash blanched and recoiled. Offering the judge an apologetic grin that said 'I'll be right back,' he ushered his Pokémon aside to speak to her confidentially. "Accidents happen, Meema. It's really not that serious."
~But your standing suffered because of my errors.~
"I threw you into a professional battle without ever testing the waters. That's my mistake… But, we're not here to pin blame, so let's just say we both screwed up. Besides, that battle let us grow closer! So, I choose to take that as a victory!"
~If that's your wisdom, Leader,~ Meema replied, ~then I'll accept it.~
"Good. Now, let's get you healed up, and head on to the next battle!"
"Now, for the third round! Challenger Ash vs Backpacker Mabon will now begin!"
This time, Ash found himself an aptly titled man; one with brown, messy hair and a large, unwieldy blue backpack over his shoulder; undoubtedly, a heavy traveler like Ash, himself. Mabon wasn't quite as talkative as those before him, starting by throwing a Poké Ball. "Go! Bouffalant!"
A large, brown bull appeared, sporting a huge, dark afro on his head, with two sharp curved horns jutting out of it; each adorned with golden rings. Matching golden eyes leered at Ash, a heavy snort passing through his nostrils.
"Boufallant…" Ash pulled out his Pokédex.
"Boufallant: The Bash Buffalo Pokémon. A Normal-type. They charge wildly and headbutt everything. Their headbutts have enough destructive force to derail a train."
"Now that sounds like a strong Pokémon," Ash smirked. "And I know just who to send into this battle! Tauros, I choose you!"
His trusty horned leader appeared in a flash, bellowing and stomping the field. A quick glance at his foe turned into a fierce staredown. Hooves bashed and scuffed the stage. Tension hung in the air thicker than Moomoo Milk butter, and an intense showdown was certainly about to begin!
"Ha! You think your Tauros is a fan of my Boufallant?" Mabon joked.
"I think he wants to beat your Boufallant," Ash said, smirking.
"Why wait and wonder?" Baboon replied. "Use Head Charge!"
"I agree! Tauros! Take Down attack!"
The two rampaging brutes charged one another, but there was something unique about Boufallant's attack; a glowing, red and yellow aura coated his afro. A sure sign of power, as the two collided center-stage to lock horns!
Bull bashed against buffalo; horns against horns. Pristine flooring chipped and gave to their powerful hooves in a game of tug-of-war. But, it was a game that Tauros quickly realized he wasn't going to win. Losing ground, he succumbed to a nasty bash from Head Charge.
Crying out, he flew back before catching himself on all fours. He shook his head out, warding off the soreness. "Booh!"
"They really are tough," Ash grinned. "But, we're tougher! Let's try that again! Take Down!"
"Fine with me! Head Charge!"
The two Pokémon clashed again, with just the same ferocity. Tauros bucked and dug in his hooves, pressing all of his weight and power against his foe. Once more, though, he found no purchase against that afro. Head Charge sent him flying.
This time, he was a little less graceful in his recovery, stumbling to land upright.
"Again!?" Ash exclaimed. "But Tauros's Take Down has always been a force to be reckoned with, no matter who our opponent is. Just how strong is this guy!?"
"Ha! You're not from 'round these parts, are ya, Ash?" Mabon asked, grinning.
"No," Ash said, shaking his head. "Why?"
"Well aside from Boufallant being a top-notch Pokémon, you should know a thing or two about his ability, before you tussle with him!"
Ash took out Dexter, again. " One of Boufallant's abilities is Reckless. Reckless powers up moves that have recoil damage. Head Smash is a Normal-type attack with tremendous power that deals some recoil damage; though, unlike Take Down, their afro provides a cushion for the impact. In other words, Boufallant's charges are altogether superior to those of a Tauros."
Overhearing the Pokédex, Tauros snorted loudly.
"Ignore Dexter, Tauros!" Ash immediately protested, pocketing the device. 'Smartass… But, they did tell us something important, at least. We're gonna have to find another approach.'
And, the ambient heat of Tauros's angry huffing gave Ash an idea. "Let's show them just how fiery hot our spirits can get, Tauros! Use Fire Blast!"
Tauros cried, firing off a blazing star towards his foe.
"Block it, with Stone Edge!" Mabon countered, as Boufallant stomped the field. Spires of rock erupted in a row in Fire Blast's path. The first of them started to melt away, but the blaze split harmlessly against the second.
Tauros dipped out of Stone Edge's range, charging past the spire that erupted under him. Temper growing hotter by the second, he took the liberty of charging Boufallant.
"Man, he's mad," Ash muttered. "I'd hate to be in Boufallant's horseshoes… Wait, that's it!" The light bulb went off in Ash's head. "Use Scary Face, now!"
Clearing the crumbling rock, Tauros came face-to-face with his opponent, and gave him a nasty leer. Glowing eyes and a nasty, scrunched expression sent terror through Bouffalant for the first time. A blue glow and rolling sweat drops denoted a sharp drop in speed.
"That's the way," Ash praised. "Now, follow up with Take Down!"
Tauros took advantage of his rival's hesitation, and smashed his full weight into him.
The brutal bash forced Boufallant to dig his hooves into the field and reorient himself.
"Not bad, not bad! But don't dish out what you can't take! Revenge!" Mabon shouted.
Snorting loudly, Bouffalant retaliated, bashing the side of his skull into Tauros's hide; mighty horn and all. A blazing orange had coated the spiky extremity, sending Tauros flying.
"Tauros!" Ash called out in worry. 'A Fighting-type move that does more damage after you take a hit… So attacking close-up is really dangerous, but firing from a distance isn't doing us any good, either! The main thing we have going for us is Scary Face, so Boufallant is slower.'
But, if they were slower… Ash gasped. "Tauros! Fissure! Now!"
"Bulldoze, Bouffalant, pronto!"
Battered and thoroughly furious, Tauros got up on his hind legs, rotating his hooves in a show of angry bravado. He'd been thrashed and overpowered long enough!
Ash's eyes widened. "He's taking too long to use Fissure… He's still ticked off! Tauros, stay with it!'
Meanwhile, a rolling torrent of earth rippled across the battlefield, crossing under Tauros and the terrain he stood upon. The rattling ground made him lose his balance and stumble, digging his hooves into yielding earth that promptly wrapped around his ankles. He snorted angrily, yanking away from it.
"Bulldoze: A Ground-type attack. The user stomps down on the ground and attacks everything in the area. Hit Pokémon's Speed stat is reduced."
"Well, that could be a problem… That's why Tauros is having trouble moving!" Ash grit his teeth in frustration.
"We gotcha, now! Use Head Charge, Boufallant!"
The next attack was a brutal and decisive one; Boufallant smashing the full weight of his skull into Tauros's side. The bull yelped and cried, thrown high into the air before he came crashing down. The field crumbled a bit more under the force of his fall.
"Tauros… Tauros, hang in there!" Ash called, peering over his downed Pokémon. 'With how he's doing, and how strong Boufallant is… This is going nowhere, fast!"
The mighty leader of the herd was trembling; forcing himself onto his knees. His entire body was sore, his opponent was stronger… It was all enough to make a bull see red. He cried out, stomping his hooves violently into the ground. Hot air was expelled through his nose; much like his boasts to conquer the titan before him.
"Dang it… Tauros, calm down!" Ash scolded. "If you keep losing your temper, we're going to lose the battle!"
Tauros, then, turned his glare back on Ash. And if looks could kill, he'd probably already be six feet under.
"Tauros," Ash managed, after swallowing the lump in his throat. "I'm not trying to get on your case. It's what screwed both of us up against Gary, remember? We lost our cool!"
"Are you two good 'n done?" Mabon jeered. "Boufallant! Head Charge, now!"
"You have to listen to me, Tauros!" Ash pleaded, as the afro-headed bull charged Tauros for the finishing blow.
Tauros bellowed, perhaps louder than ever before. Coming down on all fours, he thrashed and pulverized the floor in a frenzy, battering it to rubble with his front hooves without relent. Snorting, fuming and all, he was surrounded in a golden glow.
The result, inevitably, was the earth and solid flooring breaking apart under his hooves, launching a ripple of force through the field that sent countless splinters of earth and flooring towards the oncoming Bouffalant.
The fragments blasted and pulverized him, sending him flying back in a confused frenzy.
"My… how interesting!" Bertha's lips pulled into a coy smile against the creases of her lips that came with age, the Elite leaning forward on the railing.
"Pika?" Pikachu begged an explanation, tilting his head.
"I believe Tauros has gone to great lengths to communicate his feelings to Ashton. Now, all that's left is to see if his observational skills are up to task."
"Bouffalant! Are you good there, pal?" Mabon asked, as his Pokémon stumbled and staggered from the quake. The buffalo snorted, righting himself again.
"Tauros, what… was that?" Ash stammered out, pointing Dexter at him.
"Stomping Tantrum: A Ground-type attack. Driven by frustration, the user attacks the target. If the user's previous move has failed, the power of this move doubles."
"A move that gets stronger when you're ticked off…" Ash's eyes widened. It was clicking. "I get it. You're fighting with your anger on purpose!"
Tauros snorted. "It's about time you caught on. Being outmatched by a peer like him pisses me off!" A low, gruff voice passed through Ash's head. "Tauros don't win by cowering from strong opponents. Our temper is how we work."
"Tauros… I hear you." A colloquialism that could simply mean that he understood. But, the meaning was twofold. He was hearing his prideful Pokémon speak, which meant that he'd successfully opened his heart to Tauros. He smiled. "I get you. I'm sorry for not understanding you."
The bull shook his head. "Don't even mention it. Water under the bridge. So, are we winning this thing, or what!?"
"Oh, we're winning. In fact, I think there's a way to use brains and brawn, here. Try a Fire Blast!"
"Now, we're talkin'!" Tauros responded in turn, launching a fanning inferno.
"Tch… You're a clever one, aren't ya!?" Mabon huffed. "If we block this, they'll corner us… But, it's not like we've got a choice! Stone Edge, Boufallant!"
Another stomp summoned rocky spires that took the brunt of Fire Blast, reducing it to embers.
"Give me a damn break. Hiding again, are ya!?" Tauros hollered.
Ash grinned. "You tell 'im! Now, Tauros! Stomping Tantrum!"
Tauros brought his wrath upon the land, once more. And once more, the earth rippled; this time, breaking and co-opting the stony outcrops of Stone Edge for a second round of terrestrial decimation.
The earth and rock pummeled and pelted Boufallant, knocking the mighty beast on his side.
"Bouffalant is unable to battle," the judge shouted. "Ash and Tauros win!"
"Alright! Now, that's an explosive temper!" Ash cheered, running over to his Pokémon. "Tauros, you were… uh." He trailed off, stopping in his tracks. His prized Pokémon was charging right for him! "Tauros, wait, hold on!"
Alas, the Normal-type happily tackled him, knocking Ash airborne, only for the teenager to land on top of his back. "Good to see we're on the same page, now, Ash! And what a finish, eh!?"
"Ergh… I'm… happy we pulled it off too, big guy." Ash groaned, laughing tiredly. "Watch the back, though. It's still pretty sore."
"Well, isn't that something." Bertha smiled upon the scene, with Pikachu's company. "Ash's observational skills pulled through, and Tauros benefited from it greatly."
"Pika-Pika," Pikachu agreed, smiling. Despite his jumpy nerves today, it was wonderful to see some of his closest friends growing closer. Ash was doing well for himself.
"Now, that does make me wonder, Peeks…" Bertha hummed. "Does he have what it takes to go all the way."
The Electric Mouse tilted his head, staring at the silver-haired veteran with an air of confusion. "Pika…?"
"Alright… The fifth round."
A quick pit stop to deliver Mismagius's Poké Ball to the healing center brought Ash back to the battlefield he'd been using, up until this point. His opponent hadn't arrived yet, giving him a moment to mentally prepare. With his usual gloves missing, he tapped the toe of his sneakers against the floor, performed several stretches, and adjusted the brim of his visor with a smirk on his lips. "Okay, I'm ready. Let's do this!"
The sound of shoes clacking on the facility's tiles drew Ash's attention to the open doorway that'd welcomed all of his opponents, thus far. When his opponent came into the light, he gasped.
Bertha had walked out, accompanied by Pikachu on her shoulder. Meeting Ash's gaze, she smirked. "You look surprised, Ashton. You weren't expecting me, were you?"
"Bertha!? No, not at all," Ash shook his head. "You're my fifth opponent…? What's the deal?"
"Well, that much is simple," Bertha said, strolling towards her trainer's box. "I made my arrangements, when your challenge started. I want a proper rematch with you, Ashton. I'd like to observe just how much you've grown since our prior two battles. If that's quite alright with you."
The surprise settled in quickly; Ash had come to learn that when it came to Bertha, you had to expect the unexpected. "Ha, yeah! Of course it is! I don't plan to lose, like I did before."
Pikachu left his perch and dashed across the field, leaping up onto Ash's open shoulder. He let out a low pur, feeling a bit more comfortable back where he belonged.
"Pikachu!" Ash laughed. "I mean, Peeks. Good to have you back." The trainer's expression became stern. "Are you sure you'll be okay, here? Watching up-close?"
"My… I can't battle. Never said anything about watching you do it," Pikachu explained, shaking his head. "Besides. Do you really think I'd want to miss your first victory over an Elite Four member?" The mouse paused, sweating. "Um, please don't tell her I said that."
Ash laughed, and motioned zipping his lips.
Bertha's hazel gaze narrowed, fixing on Ash. "Now, what exactly are you two talking about?"
"N-nothing! Don't worry about it!" Ash denied, and just in time.
"The battle between Challenger Ash and Pokémon Trainer Bertha will now begin! Send out your Pokémon!" The judge shouted; notably dropping Bertha's title, Ash noticed.
"The second I saw you walk out, I knew which Pokémon I'd pick." Ash said, grabbing a Poké Ball off his belt with a smirk. Juggling it once in his palm, he threw it overhand. "I choose you…!"
Four heavy limbs stomped down upon the fine, oceanic-tilted field. A massive, sturdy shell coated the Pokémon, boasting mossy terrain, rocks, and a lively shrub towering over it.
"Terra!"
Torterra had joined the battle.
Just as she had last time, Bertha wordlessly tossed her Poké Ball, backhanded.
"Glii-oh!" Standing on the end of a long, scorpion's tail was a purple bat, with dark-membraned wings, snapping pincers, and deadly golden eyes. It was Bertha's Gliscor.
"Gliscor…!" Ash's eyes widened. He'd only seen them in action once, from memory. The only move he'd seen her use, too, was almost certainly Guillotine. 'With a move like that, we can't afford to screw around… We've got to close this as fast as possible!' Brows furrowing, Ash decided on his first move with a dramatic toss of his hand. "Torterra! Leaf Storm!"
A terrible cyclone fired from Torterra's tree; spiraling emerald leaves unleashed one of the most devastating Grass-type attacks.
Without a word from Bertha, Gliscor soared, just narrowly slipping above Leaf Storm's area of impact.
"Torterra! They're moving over your Leaf Storm!"
Torterra tilted his shell, raising the altitude of the storm. But, Gliscor took the liberty of tilting her wings and circling the storm, looping closer and closer to the attacking Torterra.
It reminded Ash an awful lot of Dawn's Togekiss orbiting the attacks from Kenny's Skarmory.
"X-Scissor!" Bertha called, as Gliscor's claws cleaved across Torterra's shell. A burst of violet light detonated, and Torterra groaned from the super-effective damage. Gliscor quickly took to the air, gaining distance afterward.
Meanwhile, a blue aura fell over Torterra.
"You… didn't use Guillotine for the one-hit knockout?" Ash asked, feeling quite lost.
"Ah, you remembered that move! Astute observation," Bertha said with a hint of a smile. "A move like that would be quite a waste, in a battle that's ultimately meant to test your aptitude."
Ash frowned. "Does that mean you're going easy on me?"
The look Bertha gave him, then, quickly made him regret asking. "I plan to crush you under the might of my Ground-type expertise. If you want to survive it and prevail, you'll have to observe."
"Observe…" Ash assessed the situation before him. The only thing he observed, really, was the sharp drop in Torterra's special attack. 'I went and cut Torterra's power, right off the bat. I should've known something that risky and straightforward wouldn't work on someone as smart as Bertha. I'll have to be more careful!'
"Sand Attack." Bertha pulled Ash from his musings, as Gliscor opened up her pincers, and sprayed a dense cloud of sand and dirt. Ash and Torterra were forced to guard and cover their eyes. It was denser and more abrasive than even the average Sand Attack, Ash noticed, as he covered his mouth to cough.
'Hey, hold on… This is like how my battle with Paul at Lake Valor started! Gliscor used Sand Attack, and Paul's Torterra used Giga Drain to bait us into attacking up-close!' Smiling behind his covered mouth, he shouted. "Torterra! Use Giga Drain!"
Green whips of energy shot out of the dust clouds, striking blindly at the field.
"Fire Fang!" Bertha shouted from behind the shroud.
'There it is,' Ash thought to himself. 'Now as soon as they get in close…!'
Gliscor broke into the dispersing dust, jowls ablaze, and chomped into Torterra's shell.
"Now's our chance," Ash muttered. "Torterra, use-"
Ash's words were deafened by a sudden burst of flames around Torterra. Flinching and shaking his head out, the tortoise grunted in pain.
"A burn…!?" Ash clenched his teeth. But there was nowhere to go, but forward. "Rock Climb!"
Torterra quickly recovered, and his claws broke the earth to summon a rocky elevation beneath Gliscor. He charged and stampeded into the Fang Scorpion, smashing his skull against their torso.
"Gli…!" Gliscor fell into a backwards somersault, planting her tail on the elevation's end, only for Torterra to continue charging, and smash into her again. She fell back, catching herself on her tail. With Torterra's attack power halved, she shrugged it off, grinning.
"I'm afraid your strategy was as easy to see through as a Haunter's arm, Ashton," Bertha lectured. "Intentionally firing a futile attack, to draw me in and catch me off-guard. You didn't waste but a second in assessing the shrouded field, and did so with far too much confidence."
Ash grimaced. She'd read him with ease.
"But, taking hits is risky business, when you don't know what their effects will be."
Frustrated and at a loss, Ash shouted, "use Energy Ball!"
Torterra opened his mouth, charging an emerald orb.
"Use Earthquake."
A terrible, low rumbling passed through Gliscor's tail and into the battlefield beneath her. The tremors spread quickly, and rattled the elevation of Rock Climb. Torterra's footing collapsed, bringing the bewildered Pokémon down into the rubble.
Torterra pulled himself out of the wreckage, only to be swallowed in flames again.
'Damn it, c'mon… I lost my cool, again,' Ash scolded himself.
"Ash…" Pikachu muttered, frowning. He could see the conflict on his trainer's face.
"Not yet." Ash slapped his cheeks, refreshing himself. "We're not done! Use Energy Ball!"
"Use X-Scissor, Gliscor." With Bertha's word, Gliscor swooped in with energy-coated claws.
"Now, eat it!" Ash declared triumphantly. Torterra knew the drill, and chomped down into the orb.
"Oh…?" Bertha raised a brow, curiosity piqued.
Gliscor's pincers raked across Torterra's tough shell, but the Continent Pokémon didn't yield, as a bright, lively glow overtook his moss and shrubbery. Grass-type power bolstered, he roared.
"Don't let 'em get away!" Ash shouted, clutching a hand above his head. "Giga Drain!"
Gliscor disembarked, but not quickly enough, as a glowing snare clutched around the scorpion's midsection, snagging her. Red light flickered about her, sapping her of her strength.
"Giga Drain seems to be fairly strong, given the effects of Leaf Storm," Bertha pointed out. "I can't say I've seen a power-up like this, in all my years."
"It's a technique of ours," Ash boasted. "It happened by accident, once, during a battle with Frontier Brain Palmer! It boosts Torterra's Grass-type power for the length of a battle. Dawn's even made the whole thing her own!"
Ash's boasting and stalling came to a quick end, though. Resurgent flames struck Torterra again; his burn broke his concentration and made him buckle, allowing Gliscor to escape.
"Shoot," Ash hissed. "Before they get away! Leaf Storm!"
Gliscor's departure was halted by another punishing storm, blasting her with supercharged leaves. Fanning her wings, she made the most of the winds, tumbling away. She uttered a cry of pain, though, landing a bit more uneasily than last time.
The exchange left Torterra and Gliscor both battle-weary; breathing heavily, with visible marks of damage. The glow of Torterra's Energy Ball was starting to fade and flicker; that mighty shine humming and dimming intermittently. Leaf Storm had undone their efforts even more.
"Tch…!" Ash's fist closed painfully tight, bottling the tension that started a quivering of his lower lip. 'We keep running in circles… Every other move I make is making things worse for Torterra. Is this kind of battling all we can do…!?' He exhaled heavily. "I'm sorry, Torterra."
"Terh…?" Torterra grunted inquisitively, looking back towards his trainer.
"I'm sorry about all this. Evolving, back in Sinnoh… It was supposed to be something to celebrate, but it made you change your whole battle style. I was supposed to help you find a better one. One that works for you!" Ash bit his lip, and pulled the brim of his visor down to cover his eyes. He felt too ashamed to be seen. "I owe you better."
He had to wonder, really, if just a difficult battle was enough to make him feel this way. It sounded ridiculous. But, it wasn't just one battle. It wasn't just Torterra.
"Ash…" Pikachu's ears fell to frame his face. Ordinarily, he'd jump to comfort his trainer. For once, though, he felt a bit at a loss.
"Torterra!" Torterra shouted back at him. "Ter. Terra!"
"Is Challenger Ash going to be able to continue the battle?" The judge asked.
Raising a hand, Bertha answered in his stead. "Now, that's enough," she scolded, turning her elderly, but still-striking eyes on Ash. "Your talents of observation are being shrouded by the fog of your guilt and personal reservations. With that veil over your eyes, you'll never be able to observe properly. And, you'll never be able to connect to Torterra."
Her words were a sobering wake-up call. Ash's eyes were glassy, but focused on the cold, hard truth that Bertha laid out. "I haven't been fighting with a battle style I have faith in. I was trying Paul's tactics; not my own. His Torterra tried to teach mine what to do with his new power. But, I know that's wrong, and it backfires whenever I do it. It reminds me of something, Torterra."
"Turh?" Torterra grumbled, listening intently.
"Of something I was told by a great trainer, before I met you. He told me to battle in a way that only I can. And I do believe in that! But, with you, I just…" Distressed, he shook his head. "I don't know what to do. Nothing we've tried together has worked, yet."
"I think the key you're missing here," Bertha said, "is momentum."
"Momentum?" Ash echoed.
"You're a sharp battler, Ashton. Your wit and observational skills are keen. But, as you said, you lack identity when you're battling with a Pokémon who can't use their speed to their advantage. That's clearly your first instinct, and it leaves you at a loss when you train a Pokémon like Torterra. Thus, your opponent gets to dictate your every move, leaving your battling purely reactionary. You're a warrior, not a chess player. Thus, you need to find your own way to control a pace with Torterra to find success together."
"My own way…" Ash muttered under his breath. He gasped, mentally turning back the clock.
Per Empoleon's coordination, Pachirisu was up next to serve. Without a racket, she simply tossed the tennis ball and spiked it with her tail. This shot went way out of Rosa's path, headed right for Torterra!
~I'm not gonna make it!~ Rosa exclaimed, diving for the spike in vain. The point was all but lost.
Tough claws dug into the court's surface. A rumbling roar uprooted solid ground, taking the shape of a vertical wall. Rock Climb had obstructed the tennis ball, sending it bouncing back
the way of Typhlosion!
Ash gasped, leaning up and out of his seat. "He can use Rock Climb like that!?"
The competition continued, as Typhlosion returned the shot. This time, Rosa was able to follow-up and parry it. By the time Rock Climb reverted into the court, Pachirisu smacked it back again. Torterra stomped with his opposite foreleg, raising another slab of rock. The ball bounced off it, spiking back to the other side of the court. Although Typhlosion swung, it bounced out of bounds.
Torterra and Rosa cheered, exchanging congratulations.
"That's it!" Ash's eyes snapped open. "Torterra, it's time for us to turn things around!"
"Terr…" Torterra grumbled inquisitively. But, if his trainer had a plan, he'd trust it!
"Oh, is it…?" Bertha smirked, raising a brow. "And yet, I don't see any new moves."
"Yeah?" Ash smirked, beckoning her on with a wave of his hand. "Come and get it, then."
"You know," the elder said, "you're in no position to bark orders with that burn."
"Torterra can take the heat," Ash replied, grinning. "You scared, Meemaw?"
Bertha laughed. "You know, I know I'm being baited. Unfortunately, you've observed me well enough to know that I'd take it. Gliscor, use Fire Fang!"
Gliscor sprang into the air and dove towards Torterra, fangs blazing.
Curiously, Ash said nothing, initially. He waited, eyes glued to their foe. "...Now! Rock Climb!"
Torterra's claws punctured the earth, and a slab shot out from under them, rising to startle Gliscor. The Fang Scorpion struck with her stinger, abruptly stopping her from crashing into it.
"Now! Energy Ball!"
Energy Ball spawned, flickering momentarily before launching into solid earth. Its power had dwindled, failing to puncture Torterra's own structure. It did, however, detonate the land, battering Gliscor with debris.
Unfortunately, Torterra recoiled again from his burn.
"Oh…?" Bertha hummed thoughtfully. "Use X-Scissor."
Recovering in mid-air, Gliscor stubbornly dive bombed Torterra a second time.
"Giga Drain!" Ash countered, and projectile tendrils snagged around Gliscor, starting to sap her energy, once more.
"Gliscor," Bertha commanded in but a word. The Ground-type struggled against her restraints, yanking her arms free. Sharp pincers sliced through Giga Drain; after two Leaf Storms, it simply wasn't strong enough to hold her.
"Shoot!" Ash exclaimed. They couldn't afford another hit. "Make some distance! Rock Climb!"
Before Gliscor could approach, another slab of land forced her to back away.
"Using Rock Climb in such a creative way… I have to say, I'm impressed, Ashton!"
"It took a little creative thinking," Ash said, smiling. "...but it all comes down to what my real battle style is! The best defense is a good offense!"
"Indeed… But I hope you don't believe that trick alone will be enough to beat me. Sand Attack!"
Sand flooded Ash's end of the field from either side of Rock Climb, in a two-pronged assault.
"Fine with me," Ash muttered. "Torterra, eat another Energy Ball!"
Torterra summoned another bomb of energy in his beak. Though, this time, it failed to keep its shape and integrity. When he bit into it, it shattered.
"Nothing, this time…" Ash tutted. 'But, if Bertha's falling back on hiding with Sand Attack, then Gliscor must be low on stamina, too. Both she and Torterra are comin' towards their limits… It's down to who can land a decisive hit, first!'
Another round of burn damage hit Torterra, and flames licked at his shell, again.
'There. I know Bertha heard that, which means she'll be comin' in to take advantage of it,' Ash thought. "Alright, Torterra! Listen for Gliscor, and listen good!"
Torterra's ruby eyes flicked left and right, and he tried to tune out any distractions. The faint whistle of the wind caught his attention. "They're on the left!"
"Rock Climb!" Ash shouted. Indeed, Gliscor was approaching from their left, and a slab of land jutted out to cut her off. The scorpion disappeared from Ash's field of vision, until she flanked them from the other side. "Now, the right!"
Torterra's opposite foreleg stomped down, and intercepted her, once more.
'They'll have to come in again, soon…' Ash exhaled, relying on his senses. Or, perhaps, it wasn't his own he'd fall back on, this time; he saw a faint twitch of Pikachu's ear; it turned and pointed behind his head, as his ears always did when he heard something coming from behind them. Ash smirked to himself.
"Wait for it…"
"X-Scissor," Bertha commanded from behind the debris.
Indeed, Gliscor cleaved through the air, ruffling and nudging Ash's hat atop his head.
"Rock Climb, behind you!"
Torterra's hind legs stomped, and a wall of earth erupted in front of Ash. But, it wasn't quite in time to stop Gliscor from dive bombing Torterra.
"You're late," Bertha said.
"Am I?" Ash grinned. "Giga Drain, behind you!"
Gliscor was closing in, before glowing projections shot out of Torterra's tree, snagging Gliscor and latching her to the slab from Rock Climb behind her. This time, her arms and pincers were suspended; unable to move, as her vitality started to slip away and be fed to Torterra.
"Tor!"
At least, that was the case until Torterra suffered his burn again, and Giga Drain withered. Gliscor took the opportunity to launch off of the wall behind her, slicing down the length of Torterra's shell. She soared on, gaining distance from Torterra once more.
"Torterra!" Ash cried. "That was a direct, super-effective hit… Are you okay?"
With trembling knees, Torterra groaned out an answer. "I'm… I'm still in… I'm not giving up!" With his words of courage, the greenery atop his back began to shine again, without fail. In fact, it was glowing brighter than ever, leaking a beautiful, verdant aura!
"That's Overgrow…" Ash blinked, then smiled. "In that case…"
He and Torterra, then, spoke in unison.
"We'll have to finish this in one shot!"
"We'll have to finish this in one shot!"
"You shouldn't make such bold claims so freely," Bertha said from across the field. "Not when you won't have the chance to deliver on them."
Ash's eyes narrowed. What did she mean?
"Gliscor, use Earthquake!"
Gliscor landed with some difficulty in the middle of the fray, and jabbed her tail into the earth. The entire field started to rumble and quake under her might.
Ash gasped, starting to catch on to what she was up to. Every one of the many Rock Climb slabs they'd built during their exchanges was trembling and rocking at their foundations. Even the ones near Torterra looked ready to collapse. "Torterra! Watch out!"
Ash's warning was to no avail. The many elevations rattled and collapsed, raining an avalanche of earth on top of the Continent Pokémon, burying him in the debris. Dust and dirt flooded the field, forcing Ash and Pikachu to guard their faces from it. The former pulled down his visor to shield the latter.
Afterwards, the dust started to settle. Gliscor stood over the rubble, huffing heavily. For all of the rock, sediment, and broken tile lying around, only the top of Torterra's tree could be seen jutting out of it. Its light was flickering, the intervals between its shine increasingly slower.
The judge scouted the scene, and raised a hand. "Torterra is unable to battle, making-"
"Wait!" Ash interrupted, raising a hand. He lifted the brim of his cap, grinning at Bertha. From across the way, she saw a certain gleam in his eye. He knew the battle wasn't over. "Not yet."
The shattered battlefield began to tremble, and loose rock started to break and roll. Torterra emerged from the rubble, his greenery shimmering with all of his stubborn might. "We're not done!" He roared, rising higher still. Rock Climb underscored his ascent.
"Gli!?" Gliscor stammered, wobbling and pulling away from where she stood. She found her tail was still buried in the crevices of Earthquake, though. Worse yet, the ground below her was also rising. Rock Climb rose higher and higher, yanking her along for the ride.
"We're not losing! Not until we show you OUR battle style!" Ash roared, clenching his fists.
"Not until WE come out on top!" Torterra rumbled, in perfect symphony with his trainer. And, along with Ash, he let out one mighty roar. The Grass-type energy emanating from his shell grew, and grew, and with it, so did the mighty tree atop it all, growing and growing until it'd doubled in size; coated with a projection of pure natural energy. The force of nature towered over Gliscor, putting her entirely in its shadow.
Bertha gazed up at the titanic scene before her, blinking. "Why, that's…" She could only smile to herself.
"Torterra!" Ash cried, punching towards the earth with his good arm. "Wood Hammer!"
"Gliscor," Bertha shouted, "disengage!"
Gliscor had finally shaken herself free, and sprung away from the rising platform. But, there was no escaping the giant tortoise looming over her. No escaping the arboreal hammer descending upon her.
Wood Hammer smashed down upon Gliscor with all of its weight and might, bringing the two on a swift descent. Torterra slid down the sharp incline, only his claws preventing a deadly drop.
Afterwards, the entire floor trembled. Ash braced himself, hugging Pikachu to his chest. "Tch…!"
"Pika…!"
Rock Climb crumbled at its foundations and fell to either side of the impact. The aftermath, truly, made Earthquake's look puny. This time, though, Torterra stood atop the wreckage. He backed off, panting, to reveal his opponent.
Gliscor laid, flat-out. Swirls in her eyes told the story's conclusion.
"Gliscor is unable to battle!" The judge shouted, hand in the air. "Which makes Ash and Torterra the winners, bringing their Battle Test to a finish!"
Ash felt the excitement bundle up in him until he felt he could just about explode. "...Yesss!" He ran and hopped over the veritable mountain of debris to stand atop it, throwing his arms around the tortoise; he'd practically hopped onto his shell! "Torterra, that was totally awesome! You did it!"
"We did it!" A gruff, but elated voice answered, with no shortage of enthusiasm. "And I even learned a new move!"
"Yeah! You…" Ash paused, blinking. "Holy crap, I can hear you."
"...Huh. You can! Well, isn't that something?" Ash swore he heard something of a rumbling laugh in Torterra's real, audible voice. "I'm just glad we're on the same page."
"Hah, me too! Right, Pikachu?" He looked at his partner, grinning.
Pikachu's expression was just the same. "It looks like we're all growing closer together!"
"Sure are… But I think you could use a rest, big guy." Ash said, tapping Torterra's Poké Ball against his shell. A flash of red light retreated into the capsule, sitting in his palm. "You've earned it."
"Well, Ashton," Bertha said from below, standing by the heap of rubble, smiling. "What else can I say but 'congratulations?' You took my advice and used your observational skills to the fullest. You should be proud."
"Ha, thanks!" Ash laughed, skipping his way down the debris to stop in front of her. "I sure am proud! That was my first ever win against an Elite Fouuuu-"
Bertha's deadly glare stopped him short.
"...Fooooorgot what I was even talking about! Aha, clumsy me! Can't imagine what it would've been."
The Elite's expression softened, though it did show a hint of a smirk. "Remember, that should we battle again, you'll be seeing me at my worst."
Ash hummed affirmatively, smirk matching her own. "And I'll be stronger next time, too."
"At this rate, I should hope so… But, let's go see your results, shall we?"
"Right!"
"Pika!"
. . .
"...Agh." Ash groaned. "3218. I only just broke out of Normal rank, huh?"
"It should be enough for one Technical Machine, at least," Bertha pointed out, arms folded behind her back. "But, I think what you should take from this is that this test was a learning experience."
"Yeah. I guess you're right." Ash smiled, exchanging a look with Pikachu, who seemed to be doing well, compared to earlier. "Hey, Miss. Is there any limit on how many times I can take the Battle Test?"
"There isn't!" She replied, beaming. "You can take it as many times as you'd like; your only limit would be our time of closing, which happens to be 5PM!"
Ash glanced up at the closest clock. "Well, that still leaves another couple hours! Alright! Then let's get Torterra healed up, and hop right into the next round!" Grinning, he punched a fist in the air.
"Let's get to it!" Pikachu agreed, doing just the same.
Ash's keycard slid into the slot on his suite door, and with a click and flicker of green, he was free to enter. Turning the knob, he opened it to see the strong oranges and pinks of the sunset beaming through the curtains. Sitting on the couch in the living room was Dawn, who was in the middle of brushing Rura.
"There you guys are!" Dawn exclaimed, hopping to her feet. "What took you so long!?"
"Aha, sorry!" Ash stepped into the suite with Bertha close behind, grinning. "I just got through doing loads of battling. Enough to win some prizes!" He held out a tote bag for Dawn to see.
She peered over, and saw a pile of TM disc containers, and a small collection of vitamins. "Aw, no way!" Dawn huffed, cheek puffing out. "I'm kinda jealous, now!"
"Not gonna give me a 'congratulations?'" Ash teased.
Dawn giggled, shoving his shoulder. "Maybe once you ask me what I've been up to."
Ash snorted, rolling his eyes. "How silly of me. What did you do, Dawn?"
"Well, Rura, and I helped inspire a movie!" She boasted, picking up the fluffy fox.
Without warning, a flash shot out from Ash's belt, summoning Meema. ~Were you on your best behavior with Miss Dawn?~ She asked, squinting.
Rura giggled, sticking his nose proudly in the air. ~Abso-posi-lutely! I was a super-duper star!~
"A movie, huh…?" Ash laughed. He didn't get it, but it sounded fun. "Well, good for Rura. I bet you were a real show-stopper. But hey, guess what! Meema had her battle debut, today!"
~Aw, no way!~ Rura whooped, hopping down and into her mane. ~Didja win!? Didja, didja!?~
~There was… trial and error,~ she replied. Her eyes drifted up to Ash. ~But, I feel I did grow closer with Leader.~
"How many times am I going to tell you?" Ash laughed uneasily, ruffling her fur. "The name's Ash."
"Or, Ashton, in my opinion," Bertha added.
"Not helping!"
The elder chuckled to herself. She did have a love for getting people's goat. "Well, then… I'd say that both of you look to be in better spirits than when I'd arrived," she said, smiling. Seeing the youths and their Pokémon side by side, it eased her heart, and her guilt. "It's been nice seeing you."
"Aw, what!?" Ash's face sank into a frown in real time. "You mean you're leaving, already?"
"Well, I would like to enjoy the last of my little vacation, before I'm called back," she winked. "I'm sure you'll be alright without me, though. It's been nice seeing you, Dawn. And you, Ashton…"
The young man just couldn't help throwing his arms around Bertha, one more time. Pikachu joined him in nuzzling into her hair, balancing on his shoulder. Ash smiled. "You too . . . Meemaw."
With what passed for a low belly-laugh, the Elite pulled back, and stepped into the doorway. "See you around. All of you, remember to focus on observations. That'll lead you down whichever road you're headed." With that, the door closed behind her, and clicked.
Then, Dawn turned to Ash, nose scrunched. "Meemaw? What's that about?"
Ash chuckled, as he flicked a lone tear from his eye. "It's just an inside joke. Don't worry about it."
This left Dawn only more puzzled, and she'd surely have a plethora of questions to come. But, one thing was for sure; both she and Ash had grown closer to their Pokémon, whether old or new. And that step closer to their partners was also another step closer to healing.
Pallet Town was a fairly quiet hamlet, with only one proper entrance to its grassy hills, valleys, and humble homes; the dirt road of Route 1, leading to Viridian City. The few trainers who came and went from Pallet Town were its most common inhabitants.
Today, though, several rather shady individuals had gone off the beaten path. A black, unmarked van was parked within the wooded area surrounding the town; enough out of the way that no one minding their own business would possibly spot such an out-of-place vehicle.
A short distance away, two nondescript men, also decked completely in black, complete with ski masks, crouched behind a row of shrubbery close enough to town. The lankier and smaller of the two was peering through a high-tech pair of binoculars. Colorful patterns flashed within the scopes; infrared vision scanned the town for life.
"The Ketchum home is occupied. One adult, and one smaller Pokémon. The targets haven't returned, yet." The man grunted. "If those three idiots had done their job, we wouldn't be here."
"Hell, if the baggers before us did their jobs, we wouldn't be here, neither."
"Makes you wonder where the hell they went. How do you screw up taking out a couple of kids in a hamlet like this?" High-tech optics scanned over Pallet Town's rolling hills and homes, in meager hopes of finding any sort of clue. "We're going to need to check in for some reconnaissance… There's no point in sticking around, without our targets." An uneasy silence passed as his scanning continued to be for naught. "Hey. Am I talking to the wind, or what?"
"Hey, uh…
"What!?" The lanky man hissed under his breath, dropping the binoculars into the shrubbery when he looked towards his partner.
Rows of innumerable, razor-sharp teeth clenched around the bulkier criminal's shoulder and upper arm, latched in place by a powerful set of jowls. A low, menacing growl reverberated from the beast that'd taken him captive; a Garchomp, looming over the crouching man, dragging him down to fall on his rear.
"I wouldn't move a muscle, if I were you."
Waltzing over was a brunet with a dark gray jacket, matching jeans, and spiky hair. His cold, green gaze pierced the two criminals. The scowl fixed on his lips spoke of utter contempt.
"Garchomp are known for their speed, but their jaws have enough horsepower to tear an all-terrain vehicle in two. I can't imagine you'd get much work done with one arm missing." The teenager walked leisurely around his Pokémon with one hand slipped into his jacket pocket, stopping between the two men. "Not that you'll be getting much work at all done, once you're turned in."
"H-hey…! Help me out, here!" The juggernaut of a man stammered out. The drool coating his sleeve was a terrifying reminder of the predicament he was in. The terrifying golden gaze of the Mach Pokémon wasn't helping his constitution, either.
"You punk!" The slimmer of the two men scooted back across the grass, reaching for his belt. "Just who do you think you-"
Garchomp laxed her grip on the larger man, only to smack him brutally to the ground, and pin him under her foot. In the split second she'd done so, the sharp claw on the end of her fin was pointed towards the other man's throat.
His Poké Ball fell off its holster, and rolled into the grass.
"Tch… You may have a dangerous Pokémon, but you're still just a kid!" The man scooted back further away from Garchomp. "It figures all you'd do is call the cops… And what then? Do you think that'll stop-"
"Do you think Team Rocket will come bail you out, after you expose them all over the news for trying to assassinate one of the region's most accomplished trainers!?" The youth shouted over him, crouching into the man's personal space.
The man's eyes were the only part of his face that could be seen. But even in them, the fear was palpable. "You… how did you-!?"
"You two aren't the first to come here," the other answered. "But I do hope, for your sake, that you'll be the last."
"Give me a friggin' break," the larger man muttered, his voice muffled with his face against the dirt. He spat out a blade of grass, and met the youth's gaze. "There is no backing out of Team Rocket orders. Whether it's you or them, we'd be history. You think we'd just play ball!?"
"You can't be as stupid as you come off, for a job like this," the brunet replied. "Pallet International Airport is a short ride from here. You could leave your allegiance and uniforms behind, if you never return to this region again." He rolled Garchomp's Poké Ball around in his palm. "I'm sure you've made enough dirty money for at least two tickets," he spat.
After a moment of juggling the logistics of self-preservation, the two men raised their hands in surrender. At the threat of Garchomp's claws, they scooted back towards one another.
The teenager breathed a heavy sigh, and allowed his gaze to drift back to the Pallet Town he'd always called his home. Gary's lips creased in a frown. 'If they're as smart as their cohorts before them, this'll be the last we see of them… Damn it, Ash. Just what have you gotten yourself into this time…!?'