Chapter 44: A Pokemon's true potential
Two days had passed since the group had left Laverre city and were on route 15 heading towards Dendemille Town. Route 15 had many bushes and flower beds on the sides of the group had also passed by a stream.
One morning the group was up making breakfast just off the main path. As Clemont and Serena cooked Ash, Red , and Korrina looked at the map.
"Alright if we keep going on the path we're on we should be at Dendemille Town in three days" Korrina said.
"I still say my map nav could get us there in two" Clemont said while he stirred ingredients in a pan".
"The last time we listened to your map nav we went in a huge circle that took 5 hours" Serena said.
"That was my old map nav my new one is much better" Clemont said as he raised his wrist. When the others looked they saw nothing was there.
"Hey! Where's my map nav!?".
"Oh the thing you were building earlier. I figured it would probably explode so I threw it off into the path a few miles back" Bonnie said.
"What!?" Clemont said. A few moments later the group heard a small explosion behind them with some birds flying away.
"Your welcome" Bonnie said as Clemont sweat dropped. A few minutes later the group was eating breakfast in a circle with their pokemon eating in another circle. As Delphox ate she noticed that Zorua was slowly moving himself closer to her. As Zorua tried to inch himself closer again he was met with a slight push back from some telekinetic energy. He pushed hard to try and move back , and after a moment the resistance vanished. As a result Zorua stumbled forward and fell head over heels next to Delphox.
Delphox gave a little laugh before giving Zorua a friendly pet on the head. Ash's Charizard, who was sitting next to Delphox noticed this. At first he didn't think it was anything until he saw Zorua slightly rubbing his head against Delphox's tail. When Red's Charizard saw this he brought his head closer to Ash's Charizard and growled something to him quietly with a grin on his snout.
Ash's Charizard glared at Red's Charizard before turning his attention back to Zorua. He whipped his tail end around Delphox so that when Zorua tried to rub his face against Delphox's tail he was instead met with Charizard's flames. Zorua lurched back without his fur catching on fire. He then noticed Charizard giving him a threatening glare, to which Zorua promptly backed off towards Furfrou.
Delphox turned to Charizard and gave him a relaxed "Phox" Before licking the side of his head.
Meanwhile as Korrina ate she noticed Pikachu was sitting on Ash's shoulder as he ate his own breakfast. Ever since she had met Ash, Korrina noticed that he had a strong bond with all his pokemon , but something about his bond with Pikachu was very noticeably stronger. It made some sense because Pikachu was Ash's first pokemon, but the truth was that his bond with Pikachu was just as strong as her own bond with her Lucario. But while she had spent over 10 years with her Lucario, Ash and Pikachu had only known each other for a little more than one year. It fascinated Korrina greatly.
"So how much longer do you guys want to stay at the camp?" Clemont said.
"I say we get moving as soon as we're done. There's still plenty of group between us and Dendemille Town, and I plan to make the most of it. There's plenty of adventure to have, pokemon to catch, and experience of us and our pokemon to get. Right Pikachu".
"Pika!" Pikachu said raising his right arm. Serena smiled seeing Ash's usual inspired attitude towards life.
"Ash is right, lets not waste time sitting around" Red said.
"Awwe I was hoping I'd have time to rebuild my map nav" Clemont said. Bonnie put her arm on his side.
"It's for the best brother". Clemont sweat dropped. After finishing breakfast the group made their way back to route 15. Ash and Pikachu were out in front of the group , both keeping their eyes out for wild pokemon. That was when Pikachu heard some rustling from a patch of red flowers. Pikachu immediately let Ash know through their aura connection, and Ash immediately turned over to the patch of red flowers.
He used his aura vision and saw a wild pokemon's aura in the flowers. From what Ash could see from the pokemon's aura , it was reasonably large and aggressive. Ash was interested. Serena noticed Ash staring at the flowers.
"Ash why are you staring at those flowers?".
"There's a pokemon in there, Pikachu flush him out with quick attack!".
"PIka!" Pikachu shouted as he leapt forward and sprinted forward before leaping into the flowers. A moment later a large dog like pokemon with grey and black grey fur came out with Pikachu quick behind.
"Woah what is that?" Red said as he opened his pokedex.
"Mightyena, the Bite Pokémon. Mightyena is the evolved form of Poochyena. They move primarily in packs, working together to capture their prey".
"Wait if that's a pack pokemon why is he alone?" Clemont said.
"He won't be alone for long. I'm going to catch him, Pikachu use quick attack!". Pikachu sprinted forward and smashed into Mightyena before he could even respond. When the Mightyena moved backwards he growled before running at Pikachu.
"Pikachu under him and batter his stance". Just as the Mightyena came forward and tried to Crunch his jaws around Pikachu, Pikachu ran under Mightyena and hit the inside of his legs, weakening his stance. When Pikachu reached the other side he turned his tail Iron and smashed it into Mightyena's behind, making Mightyena get knocked and roll forward several feet.
When Mightyena got up he snarled, red hot with anger as he howled increasing his own attack power before charging forward.
"Pikachu get ready go get over him then strike back". Pikachu readied himself as Mightyena tried to smash his head into Pikachu. Pikachu leapt clean over Mightyena's head and ran across his back. Just before reaching the end of Mightyena's back , he smashed his tail into Mightyena's back and made him lose his footing. As Pikachu landed beyond Mightyena, Mightyena did a front flip before smashing into the ground.
"Pikachu Thunderbolt!".
"Pika chu!" Pikachu shouted as he unleashed a massive bolt of electricity. Mightyena turned his head around just in time to see the Thunderbolt.
"Ruh" Mightyena whined just before he was engulfed in electricity.
"Alright Pokeball go!" Ash shouted as he hurled a pokeball forward. The pokeball made contact with Mightyena and sent him inside. Everyone in the group watched closely as the pokeball shook and rattled for around 20 seconds before it sparkled.
"Alright Pikachu we caught a Mightyena".
"Pika!" Pikachu shouted.
"Congratulations Ash" Serena said. Even after being with Ash for so long she was still amazed at how he handled things like that in life. A few moments later the pokeball glowed white and disappeared.
"I'll have to get him from Sycamore when we get to Dendemille Town" Ash said.
"Ahh what the hell have you done!" A voice said from seemly no where.
"Who said that?" Serena said. Moments later a young man wearing a red shirt came out from another patch of flowers. The young man looked about 18 years old with dark skin and green eyes. He walked up to Ash with an irritated expression.
"I've been tracking and watching that Mightyena for 3 days now, been trying to decide if he would do well with me. I just decided this morning I was going to catch him. Then you just swoop in at the last moment and snake him out from under me!" The young ma shouted.
"I'm sorry I didn't know" Ash said sweat dropping. As Ash raised his hands up the young man noticed his wrist blades under his sleeve.
"Hold on, wrist blades. You're an aura guardian?" He said.
"My name is Ash Ketchum and I am an aura guardian" Ash said as he revealed his wrist blades with his Charizite Y in one and his Lucarionite in the other.
"Huh how about that, my name's Anton Gonet. I am also an Aura guardian" Anton said revealing his wrist blades and a mega evolution stone in the right one.
"Nice to meet you Anton" Ash said.
"My name is Red, I'm Ash's brother and I'm also an aura guardian" Red said.
"I'm Korrina , Red' girlfriend. I also happen to be an aura guardian" Korrina said. After the others introduced themselves they sat down around the side of the path.
"So you guys are those kinds of aura guardians. Go around and help when you can while still living having lives outside the brotherhood" Anton said.
"That's right, we like helping pokemon when we can. But we have other things that are just as important to us" Ash said as he took Serena's hand.
"I never really wanted to devote every waking moment of my life to running around on some mission for the mentor. No I always loved being in an among nature". Anton said.
"What do you mean?" Serena said.
"You see even before I started my training in the brotherhood, I always loved being in the woods in an among pokemon. Seeing them as they are when allowed to grow up without humans. After I became a guardian I devoted myself to living in and among pokemon for extended periods of time. Watching over them, protecting the, and understanding them" Anton said.
"That sounds amazing" Red said.
"So Anton when I was looking around with my aura vision I didn't see your aura. Why was that?" Ash said.
"After mastering the art of concealment in training, I spent a few years also trying to find ways of concealing my aura from pokemon that can feel aura".
"That must have been hard" Korrina said.
"It just took a lot of practice" Anton said. Since he met Ash Anton noticed that there was an unusually strong bond between him and his Pikachu.
"So Ash how long have you had that Pikachu?" Anton said.
"He a little over a year, he was my first pokemon" Ash said.
"Very interesting" Anton thought to himself.
"I saw the way you battled Mightyena, I was very impressed at how in synch you guys were and just how powerful your Pikachu is".
"Thanks" Ash said.
"Have you not been able to get your hands on a thunderstone?".
"What?" Ash said as he and Pikachu gave confused looks.
"You know to evolve your Pikachu. I mean you've had him for over a year and he's gotten that strong, I thought you would have evolved him by now".
"Why would he need to evolve him?" Serena said.
"To reach his full potential of course" Anton said.
"Anton as an aura guardian you should know that evolution doesn't mean everything " Red said.
"Of course not, just because a pokemon is evolved doesn't mean he's stronger than every pre evolved form of him. I'm just saying that if there is a pokemon and his evolved form with the same level of training the evolved one is naturally going to win".
"I don't think it's a simple as that Anton" Ash said.
"I've lived with and among wild pokemon for years now. I've seen time and time again that a pokemon never reaches his true potential of how good he can get unless he's in his evolved form. I'm just saying that your Pikachu can grow to be incredibly powerful, but he'll never be as powerful as a pikachu as he could be as a Riachu" Anton said.
"I don't believe that, if Pikachu and I train hard enough he could beat any Riachu in the world".
"Pika!".
"I'm not saying he can't beat any Riachu, I'm just saying he could be stronger than he is now if he were a Riachu".
"Anton I think Ash is right, in the end the only evolution that really makes a difference is Mega evolution" Korrina said.
"You don't believe me, how's about I prove my point" Anton said as he got up and took out a pokeball. A large dark yellow pokemon came out. It resampled a larger version of pikachu only with a longer black tail with a yellow spiked end, big spear tip shaped ears, and a white stomach.
"What is that?" Serena said opening her pokedex.
"Raichu, a Mouse Pokémon of the Electric element. Raichu is the evolved form of Pikachu. It can shock with more than 100,000 volts, enough to render a Dragonite unconscious."
"I've had this Raichu for little over a year now, first got him as a pikachu and after 5 months of training we found a thunderstone. Since your pikachu and my Raichu have about the same level of training and since we're both aura guardians we should have the same skill level for how old we are. So if your pikachu can beat my Raichu you'll have proven me wrong" Anton said as he and his Raichu gave confident expressions.
Ash got up and said.
"Oh PIkachu and I will prove he doesn't have to be a Raichu to reach his full potential".
"Pika!" PIkachu said with his cheeks sparking.
"This should be exciting" Red said. Ash and Pikachu stood on one end of the grass with Anton and Raichu about 20 yards away.
" The battle between Ash and Anton is about to begin, each trainer is allowed one pokemon. Whoever knocks out their opponent's pokemon is the winner" Red said.
"Time to show what you can do Raichu".
"Chu!" Raichu said with a confident expression.
"We can beat them Pikachu, don't be intimidated". Ash said sounding very determined.
"Pika!" PIkachu said as with a determined expression on his face. Serena had seen Ash and Pikachu get fired up for battles before, but they both seemed very determined for this match.
"Hey Korrina , do Ash and Pikachu seem a little too determined for this match?" .
"Maybe , but I understand why they are. I mean they're fighting to prove that Pikachu isn't bound by his evolution. I'd be just as determined if I were in his position I'd be just as determined" Korrina said.
"Begin" Red said.
"Pikachu quick attack!".
"Pika Pika Pika!" PIkachu shouted as he sprinted forward with incredible speed. Anton and his Raichu smiled.
"Raichu dodge it" Just before Pikachu could hit Raichu, Raichu moved out of the way as quick as a flash of lightning. Pikachu quickly turned himself around and tried again to hit his opponent. Every time he did , Raichu simply moved out of the way even faster.
"Raichu Quick attack".
"Pikachu dodge it!" Ash shouted. Pikachu moved out of the way just in time to avoid Raichu as he flew past him with unbelievable speed. When Raichu went past Pikachu he quickly turned around and came back. Pikachu , still using Agility, leapt up and over Raichu as he ran at him. Unfortunately he wasn't fast enough.
Raichu slammed the end of pikachu's feet with his head and sent pikachu falling down behind him.
"Brick Break!" Anton shouted.
"Pikachu counter with Iron tail!" Raichu quickly turned around as his right paw came down at Pikchu. PIkachu turned his tail iron, but because he was falling there was little he could to protect himself. Raichu slammed his paw into Pikachu's stomach hard.
Pikachu was hurled back towards the grass.
"Quick attack" Anton said. Before Pikachu could even hit the ground , Raichu sprinted forward and smashed into Pikachu. Forcing him into the ground even harder.
"PIkachu!" Ash said.
"Dam that's one good Raichu" Red said.
"Ash and Pikachu have their work cut out for them" Korrina said.
"Don't get discouraged Ash, Pikachu. Keep fighting!" Serena shouted.
"Raichu Brick break again".
"Pikachu Iron tail!". As Raichu raised his tail and brought it down, Pikachu hurled his tail at the inside of Raichu's arm, knocking it away. Pikachu then struck his tail onto Raichu's knee, causing him to stumbled backwards a little and let Pikachu get up.
"Pikachu Quick attack, but keep your distance from him" . PIkachu sprinted away and around Raichu as fast as he could.
"Raichu use Thunder!".
"Rai chu!" Raichu shouted as he unleashed a colossal bolt of electricity at Pikachu. Luckily for Ash , Pikachu was moving fast enough to avoid it.
"Alright show him how fast you are, Quick attack" Raichu sprinted after Pikachu , moving even faster than Pikachu was. Luckily , Ash was counting on that. Raichu had nearly reached Pikachu when Ash made his move.
"Pikachu on your stomach then Iron tail!" Pikachu quickly dropped onto his stomach as Raichu leapt over him, Pikachu raised up his tail , smacking Raichu's back legs and sending him tumbling forward.
"Iron tail!' Just before Raichu could hit the ground, Pikachu leapt forward and smashed his tail across Raichu's face.
"Alright great job Pikachu!" Ash said as Pikachu landed.
"That was a good set of moves" Korrina said.
"Great job Pikachu!" Serena said. Raichu got up and turned right back towards Pikachu.
" Raichu use Thunder!" .
"PIkachu use Quick attack!" . PIkachu quickly sprinted from place to place, avoiding each of the incoming bursts of lighting.
"Pikachu Thunderbolt!". Pikachu landed on the ground and shouted as he unleashed a massive burst of Thunder at Raichu.
"Rai Chu!" Raichu shouted as he unleashed another bolt of lighting that hit and tore through Pikachu's and filled him with electricity.
"Quick attack into Brick break!".
"Pikachu quick use Quick attack !" Pikachu tried to move but the electricity kept him on from moving until Raichu slammed into him with Quick attack, then smashed him with his paws.
"Not again" Ash said as PIkachu was hurled back.
"Pikachu are you ok?" Ash said. Asking Pikachu was redundant as he could feel how much pain Pikachu was in through their aura connection. Pikachu slowly got up grunting with bruises , dirt, and hit marks all over him.
"Pika, chu" Pikachu said panting.
"Geeze Anton's Raichu is incredible" Korrina said.
"Ash you can't give up now, keep fighting !" Red shouted.
"Never give up until the end!" Serena shouted.
"They're right , we can do this Pikachu!".
"Pika chu!" Pikachu shouted as he got up and sparked his cheeks.
"I like your guys' determination, I like it a lot. Raichu use Quick attack with shots".
"Pikachu use Quick attack". Raichu sprinted forward after Pikachu, occasionally stopping to unleash a massive Bolt of electricity towards Pikachu. Despite his injuries, PIkachu kept running and avoided each of the incoming bolts of lightning.
Ash and PIkachu saw Raichu stopping to use Thunder.
"Pikachu Electroball then at him!". PIkachu grit his teeth as he sparked his cheeks and whipped a ball of electricity at the incoming lightning. The two attacks collided and caused an explosion.
When the smoke started to clear , Pikachu leapt up and through it.
"PIka chu!" Pikachu shouted as he unleashed a massive bolt of thunder and engulfed Raichu.
"Iron tail!". Pikachu continued forward and smashed his tail into Raichu as hard as he could. Raichu was hurled back a few feet and smashed into the grass.
"Alright great work Pikachu!" Ash said.
"That's it Pikachu you've got him!" Serena shouted.
"PIka ..chu" Pikachu said panting. Raichu got up with a few bruises, hit marks, and dirt marks on him.
"Raichu Thunder, don't let up!".
"Rai, chu!" Raichu shouted as he lit up the air with massive bolts of electricity.
"Pikachu use Quick attack!". PIkachu tried moving from place to place, but Raichu kept his blasts at the areas around Pikachu keeping him boxed in.
"Volt tackle!" Raichu covered himself in electricity and sprinted forward faster than he had with quick attack.
"Pikachu Agility!" Pikachu tried to move out of the way, but Raichu was moving too fast. He crashed into Pikachu and unleashed all of the electricity he had gathered.
"Pika!".
"Pikachu!" Ash shouted. Serena and the others watched in horror as pikachu crashed into the ground.
"Pika , chu" Pikachu said as he tried to get up. Just when it seemed like he was about to get back onto his feet, Pikachu fell back onto the ground.
"Pikachu!" Ash shouted as he ran forward and picked up Pikachu in his arms.
"Pikachu is unable to battle, the winner is Anton and Raichu" Red said.
"No, they lost" Serena said.
"Pika, I'm so sorry" Ash said as he felt Pikachu's pain, both physical and emotional. Anton and his Raichu walked over to Ash.
" Is he ok? I could help you heal him".
"I should be able to take care of him" Ash said staring down at Ash's in his arms.
"Don't discredit yourselves, you and Pikachu battled amazingly. If anything it proves my point. Your Pikachu has all the skills and training he should have by now. If you just evolve him, he'll have skills like you couldn't imagine. I even have one if'd you'd like" Anton said as he reached into a bag and took out a greenish blue stone with a yellow lighting bolt in the center.
"Just think about it" Anton said as he put the stone in Ash's offhand. Serena could see how upset Ash looked and felt terrible for him.
"Ash I" Serena started.
"I'm going to be by the river with Pikachu. I'll be back when I've finished treating his injuries. I'd prefer if Pikachu and I were left alone" Ash said as he kept his head down and walked off with Pikachu.
"Is he alright?" Korrina said.
"I don't know, I've never seen him act like this before" Red said.
"Ash" Serena said with a very concerned expression on her face. Thirty minutes later Ash was sitting beside the river with Pikachu in his arms. Since he got there Ash had been using his aura abilities to help pikachu recover.
Pikachu was still unconscious as Ash healed his injuries. As Ash healed Pikachu's injuries he felt very conflicted inside, not just about how he had lost the battle. But how and why they lost, and what would happen next.
"I'm so sorry Pikachu" Ash said as a single tear came down from his eye and fell to the ground. It was then Ash felt a familiar aura approaching him. He turned around to see Serena behind him.
"Hey Ash" Serena said.
"Serena I appreciate you coming here, but I'd rather be alone with Pikachu right now" Ash said as he turned back to Pikachu in his arms.
"Ash I'm not just going to let you deal with this on your own. I care to much about you. I'm going to help you through this" Serena said as she walked over and sat down next to Ash. Serena could see just how upset Ash was just from the expression on Ash's face. But the aura connection Ash opened up between them at Shalour city let Serena know just how conflicted Ash was.
"You're taking this loss pretty badly. But I'm guessing your not upset about just loosing to Anton" Serena said.
"No, that's not why I'm so upset".
"It is because of what Anton said about Pikachu not being able to reach his true potential ". Ash sighed.
"That's it. I thought if Pikachu and I trained hard enough , battled in synch, and did everything we could that we could overcome evolution. But I was wrong". Ash said looking at the thunderstone Anton gave him.
"Ash you're not considering using that are you?".
"I don't know, all Pikachu has ever wanted was to reach his full potential. I mean I've never had this opportunity before and Pikachu could grow stronger than he ever could before. But I just don't want Pikachu to evolve".
"Why not? Most of your other pokemon have already evolved" Serena said.
"I know but have you noticed that when each of your pokemon evolved they evolved on their own. I didn't force them to evolve with a stone".
"I guess that's true" Serena said not thinking of it like that.
"Plus they didn't just change on the outside, but on the inside as well". The more Serena thought about , she realized that when her Fenniken evolved into Braixen and again into Delphox , that her personality changed too.
"I guess Delphox's personality did change a bit as she evolved".
"Plus remember when Charizard evolved".
"That was only because he evolved too soon. Besides they did change but they're relationships didn't change".
"It's not the same with Pikachu! I don't want him to change!" Ash said very defensively as he dropped the stone and held Pikachu closer to him as he moved away from Serena a little.
Serena was now very concerned for Ash. She came closer and put her arms around his shoulders as she knelt down in front of him.
"Ash why don't you want Pikachu to change". She could see Ash's eyes tearing up.
"Don't get me wrong, I love all my pokemon so much. But my bond with Pikachu is different, it's special. I can't imagine him being a different pokemon and our relationship changing" Ash said.
Now Serena realized why Ash was so upset, she that that him and PIkachu both wanted Pikachu to reach his full potential. But his relationship with Pikachu was so strong that he didn't want to risk it changing by having Pikachu evolve.
"Ash I know you're so conflicted about this, but you don't need to be. If you do evolve Pikachu then we both know that you two will still be as close as you are now. Even if he evolves he will never stop loving you. But in the end you don't have to evolve him if you don't want to. Pikachu can only evolve with a thunderstone, if you don't want to evolve him , then you don't have to".
Hearing Serena say this made Ash feel a little better, but Ash was still a bit conflicted.
"Thank you Serena, but I realize that I don't have the right to even consider using this stone. That decision belongs to someone else" Ash said. Moments later Pikachu's eyes slowly opened.
"Chu" He said as he tried to stretch in Ash's arms. He looked up and saw Ash and Serena.
"Pika" Pikachu said unenthusiastically. Ash could feel how poorly Pikachu was feeling. Pikachu felt very poorly about his abilities. Ash took a deep breath and set Pikachu down.
"Pikachu I know that was a hard loss for us both, and I want you to know that I couldn't have been more proud of how well you battled. And" Ash said before taking a quick pause and looking at the ground.
"I know how much you want to reach your full potential , but I don't want you to change. Though I have no right to tell you if you can or can't evolve. So I'm going to let you decide" Ash said as he slowly picked up the thunderstone and put it in front of Pikachu.
Pikachu stared at the stone for almost a minute as Ash and Serena watched him closely. This was perhaps the most conflicted decision PIkachu ever had to make. On one hand he would be able to grow and increase his skills like never before by becoming a Raichu. He could reach his full potential. But it would mean he could never go back, never be the same pokemon he was before, and that he would be changed forever.
Pikachu stared at the thunderstone for another minute before he growled and smacked the stone into the river with his now metal tail. He then turned to Ash.
"Pika , pikachu, Pika Pika , Pikachu". Ash understood what Pikachu was saying through their aura connection. Apparently Pikachu didn't want to change who he was to make himself stronger. He still believed that he could meet his true potential without evolving and that one loss wouldn't change that. That he would never give up on reaching his full potential and evolving wasn't how he wanted to reach it.
Ash's eyes began to tear up again, not of sadness, but joy.
"Pikachu" Ash said as Pikachu leapt into his arms and they hugged.
"I love you Pikachu".
"Pika" Pikachu said. Serena was very happy to see Ash and Pikachu were both feeling better and resolved their problems. Ash looked back over at Serena.
"Thank you Serena, for helping being here for me and helping us through this". Serena blushed a little.
"It's nothing you wouldn't have done for me Ash" Serena started before Ash put his arms around her shoulders and kissed her. After a minute Ash withdrew leaving Serena's face as red as a crawdaunt.
"So Pikachu if you're feeling better tomorrow, how about a rematch with Anton and his Raichu.
"Pika!" Pikachu said with determination.
"Then let's get some training in" Ash said. The following day Anton was sitting in a tree watching a group of Watchog below him.
"These Watchog are amazing" .
"Hello Anton" A familiar voice said. Anton turned around to see Ash kneeling on the branch behind him.
"Ash!" Anton said as he jumped a little.
"What are you doing here, you scared me half to death".
"Come on as a guardian you should never let anyone sneak up on you like that" Ash said.
"Fair enough. What do you need?".
"I was wondering if we could have a rematch". It was then Anton noticed pikachu on Ash's shoulder.
"So you decided not to evolve Pikachu?".
"I was actually hoping we could have a rematch".
"Really? But nothing has changed".
"Not much no, but that doesn't matter".
"Pika!".
"Alright if that's what you want. I'm always up for a battle" Anton said. A few minutes later Ash and Pikachu were standing across from Anton and Raichu. Standing on the side was the rest of the group.
"You've got this Ash!" Red shouted.
"I know you guys can do it" Serena said.
"Let's do this, Raichu start with Quick attack" .
"Pikachu use Quick attack" Pikachu quickly sped away with Raichu close behind him. Raichu's superior speed allowed him to reach Pikachu.
"Brick break!" Raichu smacked the back of Pikachu's legs making him go forward before Raichu raised his arm.
"Iron tail!" As Pikachu was forced forward he used his front paws to catch himself, then smashed his now metal tail into the the inside of Raichu's arm. Knocking it away and making Raichu's Brick break miss.
Pikachu flipped himself forward before smashing his tail right across Raichu's face, knocking him back few feet.
"Alright great job Pikachu!" Ash said.
"He's starting off better" Korrina said.
"Raichu try our rocky attack". Raichu Smashed the ground in front of him with Brick break three times, causing it to crack and some rocks to form. Raichu then picked them up and smashed them at Pikachu with Brick break.
"Quick attack with Iron tail" Pikachu quickly moved from place avoiding or smashing each rock with his tail , but was kept in a general area.
"Quick attack with Brick break!". Raichu sprinted forward and smacked into Pikachu before hurling his fist into Pikachu's stomach, forcing Pikachu into the ground.
"Oh no" Red said.
"Don't give up now guys!" Serena said. Ash saw Raichu was coming down and would land near Pikachu.
"Pikachu swipe!" Pikachu swept his metal tail up and around, smacking into Raichu's legs and lower body as he landed. Raichu was knocked off balance and stumbled backwards.
"Slam with a burst!".
"Pika chu!" Pikachu shouted as he blasted Raichu with electricity before leaping forward and slamming his head into Raichu's gut.
"Chu" Raichu said as he smacked into the ground.
"Raichu fill the entire ground with electricity from above". Raichu leapt up into the air unleashed a storm of lighting towards the ground.
"Pikachu Iron tail to keep yourself off the ground". Pikachu kept himself off the ground with his Iron tail. The metal absorbed all of the electricity as it came near Pikachu, leaving him unaffected.
"Huh!?" Anton said.
"That's it Pikachu!" Serena shouted.
"Pikachu Thunderbolt!". Pikachu came down and filled himself with electricity combining with the electricity in his tail that he had gathered.
"Pika chu!" Pikachu shouted as he unleashed a blue bolt of electricity forward. The bolt soared through the air and smashed right into Raichu's stomach. Exploding and hurling him into the ground.
"Dam they've gotten better. Raichu Quick attack with shock". Raichu got up and sped around while slowing down to use Thunder.
"Pikachu use Quick attack". Pikachu quickly sped and narrowly avoided each burst of electricity as they slammed into the ground around him. Pikachu then sped forward , still avoiding each burst of of electricity as they hit the ground in front of him. Just before Pikachu could reach Raichu , Raichu used his speed and agility to leap clean over Pikachu.
"Brick break!" Raichu smiled as he smashed his right first into Pikachu's back and hurled him forward.
"Chu!" Pikachu grunted as he hit the ground.
"You're still doing great Pikachu don't worry!" Serena shouted.
"Keep the pressure on him with Quick attack and Brick break!" Raichu sprinted forward with his right first raised.
"Pikachu , get low then come up at an angle!". Pikachu got down low and waited until Raichu was close then came up at an angle and smashed his tail across Raichu's stomach. At the same time Raichu's fist continued on and hit Pikachu across the head. Both pokemon were knocked back a few feet.
"Thunder!".
"Thunderbolt!" Both trainers shouted. Pikachu and Raichu both sparked their cheeks and shouted as they filled their opponents with electricity.
"Chu!".
"Pika!" They shouted in pain.
"Pikachu!".
"Raichu!". When the attacks ended , both pokemon were covered in bruises, wound marks, and dirt stains all over them.
"Pika" Pikachu said breathing deeply.
"Finnish him with Volt tackle!" .
"Pikachu use Quick attack to keep away from him". Raichu snarled as he covered himself in electricity and sprinted at Pikachu with unbelievable speed. Pikachu sprinted away from Raichu, but Raichu was moving faster and getting closer.
"Almost got him" Anton said.
"Come on Ash, Pikachu. I know you can do it" Serena said. Ash watched closely as Raichu got within a few inches of Pikachu.
"Time to show them evolution doesn't mean everything, I know we didn't have much time to practice this new move. But if he can do it, so can you" Ash said to Pikachu through an aura message.
"Pikachu jump with Iron tail!". Pikachu leapt up and back over Raichu as he racked his metal tail across his back and then across his legs. The metal in Pikachu's tail absorbed all of the electricity in Raichu's Volt tackle. Raichu was also tripped and crashed into the ground.
"Oh no" Anton said.
"Pikachu Volt tackle!". Pikachu covered himself in electricity as the voltage he collected from Raichu met with it and mixed.
"Volt tackle? When did Pikachu learn Volt tackle?" Clemont said.
"Last night down by the river, Ash and Pikachu were training hard for this rematch. I never saw them so determined" Serena said.
"PIka chu!" Pikachu roared as blue electricity covered him and he went forward like a demon.
"Raichu use Quick attack!". Raichu tried to get up and move , but Pikachu was moving to fast. He smashed into Raichu and unleashed all of the electricity stored on him at the same time he smashed his Iron tail across Raichu's face.
"Chu!" Raichu cried as he fell to the ground and lost consciousness.
"Raichu!" Anton shouted.
"Anton is unable to battle, the winner is Ash and Pikachu! Red shouted.
"We did it ! We won!" Ash shouted as he ran over and picked up Pikachu.
"Chu" Pikachu said panting with a very happy expression.
"You were right Pikachu, you didn't have to change. I couldn't be happier that you didn't" Ash said.
"Chu!". Anton returned his Raichu before walking over to Ash.
"Well Ash, I guess I was wrong. A pokemon's true potential isn't bound by they're evolution. I was wrong to think your Pikachu couldn't get as strong as he could if he were a Raichu".
"It's alright Anton, you and your Raichu showed us just what we're capable of if we stay determined".
"So if you're not going to use that Thunderstone, could I have it back" Anton asked.
"Uh well, the thing is" Ash started as he and Pikachu sweat dropped. A few moments later Anton sighed.
"Alright I guess I didn't really need it anyway" Anton said.
"Sorry".
"Pika" Pikachu said sweat dropping.
"Well good luck on your journey Ash, I hope we can meet again" Anton said.
"Me too" Ash said as he shook Anton's hand. Anton left the group while the rest of the group came up to Ash.
"Wow that was amazing, you and Pikachu won your rematch so quickly" Clemont said.
"That was very impressive Ash, last night I actually thought you might evolve Pikachu" Korrina said.
"The decision wasn't mine, it was Pikachu's. He didn't want to evolve and I didn't want him to either. He didn't want to change who he was just so he could get stronger. But most importantly, he proved that he didn't need to evolve to reach his true potential".
"Well I'm glad you guys were able to stay true to who you are. I'm so proud of you" Serena said.
"Thank you Serena , for being there for me when I was in such a bad place. I don't know what I did to deserve you" Ash said.
"Oh Ash, you're making me blush".
"Oh just kiss , we all know that's where this is going" Red said.
"Good point" Serena said before she grabbed Ash and kissed him.
"Well if they're doing it" Korrina said before she put her arms around Red and kissed him , much to his surprise as his face turned red. Clemont and Bonnie were left watching.
"You need a girlfriend brother". Clemont sighed.
"I know".
Author's note
Sorry this one took so long, I've had a hectic week. I'm giving you a fair warning I'm about to have an even more hectic week so this next update could take just as long if not longer. As I said before, I love making this story but I have bigger priorities.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I felt like my last too were a little too plain and I needed a chapter with more depth to it with Pikachu and Ash. I know some of you were asking for a chapter like this.
So until next time please review, comment, suggest, or ask.