Hey all! Despite this Christmas break only lasting two weeks, I haven't been able to stay up to date with this story as I hoped, but I have been able to enjoy the company of my family after completing another semester in college.
Speaking of such, there have been big things with my family, especially regarding a certain brother of mine / former writer in this site (I hope you've caught on, if not, then forget it…). I already made such announcement at the end note of my separate Christmas one-shot, Tradition Together, which is my only minor AmourShipping fic so far. But I'll briefly announce it again at the end of this chapter what's going on with MisterP.
"Hi there, Ash. Long time, no see."
The Pallet Town Trainer merely stood in place as the two newcomers from the forest approached him. After avoiding human contact for a while aside from the encounters with Anabel, Ash wasn't sure how to react from seeing Paul and Sabrina together out of the blue, especially with the latter having addressed him rather cheerily in spite of herself. He knew he wasn't particularly close with either one, save for his former rivalry with Paul, but ultimately he decided to see what they wanted from him.
"… Hello," Ash replied lowly.
Paul took a good look of him from top to bottom, ever being the analytical one. For some reason, he felt something particularly different about him from the other times he would catch sight of him around the ongoing Champions League tournament. For a moment, the Veilstone City Trainer could've sworn he saw a bit of Ash's former personality from his current expression.
"You're quite the chatterbox lately, aren't you?" he remarked sardonically. "I heard another person's voice talking to you before we got out of that forest."
"… …" Ash said nothing, but frowned particularly at Paul's attempt to pry about.
"Ash, we weren't eavesdropping on you," Sabrina intervened, holding a hand before him. "On my honor as the Saffron City Gym Leader, I assure you the truth. We only got out here moments after finding you here. Paul and I had some… private issues to take care of."
"Hn, those 'issues' won't help me get any stronger than where I am now," Paul retorted.
"On the contrary, your impatience and desire to do things differently than certain people, aka your brother, are what keeping you from understanding what I'm trying to teach you," Sabrina replied calmly.
"What's Reggie got to do with this?" Paul queried brusquely. "He's not here right now, is he?"
"If you still haven't put the pieces together, then you'll need a lot more help in your training," Sabrina sighed.
"You're making it sound like I need a shrink," Paul muttered. "I'm tough on my Pokémon for a reason. I'm not insane."
"If I may also add, you're not as tough as you used to be on your Pokémon as before," Sabrina offered as an afterthought.
"Hmm…"
Ash couldn't help but feel curious on what had been going on between his former Sinnoh rival and the Saffron City Gym Leader. He knew Sabrina changed for the better after their Gym battle by being less obsessive with mastering her psychic powers and becoming more connected with her emotions as a regular human, thus also repairing her familiar relationships with her parents. She had been on the right path with Haunter's help since then. And he also could tell that Paul was slowly making his own changes since their last battle at the Lily of the Valley Conference years ago, the first step having been thanking his Electivire after their intense final battle.
Seeing as he had nothing else to do since Anabel left, Ash decided…
"… How's Haunter?" Ash asked, catching both Sabrina and Paul off guard; given his recent behavior, they weren't sure to keep on bugging him to talk.
"Haunter's doing really well," Sabrina replied with a small smile. "It's still back in the forest, entertaining the wild Pokémon. We'd often talk about how you been after watching you compete in a few live competitions and League Conferences. I can see for myself how much you've grown since we last battled… how much you… changed."
"… Things… happened… …" Ash mumbled, having caught on to what Sabrina was leaning towards.
"I can probably guess that these 'things' happened after the Sinnoh League," Paul mentioned, arms crossed in front of his chest. "Whatever happened really did quite the number on you. But it's not to say that I haven't been impressed with the results. That kid you faced first round didn't even stand a chance."
"… … …"
"Know this, Ash, that if you don't make it to the later full-battle rounds to face me, I'll never forgive you," Paul warned, placing his hands into his pockets and preparing to take his leave.
"… Right," Ash responded with a determined nod.
If there was anything that was reminiscent and still fully intact of the former Ash, it was his competitive spirit and eagerness to face challengers and rivals that would push him to his limits in battle. Paul was certainly no exception as his journey in the Sinnoh region had been one of his more successful highlights as a Pokémon Trainer, having made it into the Top Four and being the only known Trainer to defeat Tobias's Darkrai and Latios.
"You know, you're one of the few people that Paul's aiming to beat in the latter rounds," Sabrina stated openly, warranting an inquiring look from Ash. "You've known him long enough that the one he wants to defeat big time is the Pyramid King of the Battle Frontier. He also mentioned you as one of the Trainers that knocked him out of Conferences, which no doubt would leave him desiring a rematch. Paul seems to hold you in a bit of higher respect now, something that you wanted from him after beating him in the Sinnoh League. Aren't you happy?"
"… … Yeah," Ash mumbled, taking a quick glance to the direction Paul left. "… Sabrina?"
"Yes, Ash?"
"… What are you doing with him?"
"As a Gym Leader, I help Trainers realize their inner potential, Paul being no exception," Sabrina explained evenly. "As for my exact reason for helping him, I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to share with you or anyone at this moment. I can tell you this, though, that earlier we had a practice battle to evaluate his current battle style."
"… Battle?" Ash repeated.
"I wonder if you also caught on that he was straining to be civil when we left the forest and found you out here," Sabrina brought up, looking Ash in the eye knowingly. "Did you also take note on his reactions when I mentioned the 'issues' we were working on?"
"… Yes…"
"Well, he wasn't particularly pleased with the results of our battle and the 'things' that happened after our battle…"
Earlier…
Within a secluded rectangular grove of the manmade forest of New Island, Paul stood on the opposing side of the Saffron City Gym Leader. He was initially surprised by her sudden challenge as to 'test' his current capacity as a Trainer, but he certainly wouldn't turn down a challenge offered by a Gym Leader, especially from the well-known Mistress of Psychic Pokémon.
Haunter floated off to the side with a large bucket of buttered popcorn on hand, waiting for its current form of entertainment to take place.
"While I don't normally object to challenges, I must ask why you're being insistent on me," Paul began. "You claim you can find what's holding me back from battling me yourself. Why haven't you done this in the first place instead of waiting after my second match?"
"From previous psychological studies, I'd certainly need more than one test in order to find the right information in solving the problem, whatever it may be," Sabrina answered. "Though I can tell you're eager to fight me at some point in the Champions League, this one-on-one round shouldn't be a problem for either of us."
"So it's basically the same method you're using on me, the one on your dissertation on the emotions of Pokémon Trainers and how they're related to battle," Paul surmised. "The only factor you're missing for your dissertation involves Ash and Anabel, though I still have to ask why her?"
"I'm impressed that you still remember after all this time," Sabrina said with a slight smirk, pulling out a Poké Ball. "You should also remember that time will reveal everything you'll ever need to know. You have my word as a Psychic, for I've foreseen what'll happen regarding my dissertation. Now go, Alakazam!"
Sabrina called forth her faithful Psi Pokémon from its Poké Ball, landing on its feet with a medium thud and taking up a calm defensive stance with its spoons. Paul narrowed his eyes on Alakazam before pulling out the Poké Ball he felt would be a suitable match-up.
"Drapion, stand by for battle!"
The Ogre Scorpion Pokémon roared and clicked its pincers together as menacingly as it did from its debut in the Sinnoh League against Ash, as far as Sabrina recalled from watching their match on television. However, despite watching that brief display of intimidation, she and Alakazam were completely undaunted from the threat.
"An interesting, but effective choice on your part, Paul," Sabrina commented. "Drapion are naturally powerful and aggressive, not to mention their primary type being Poison. Though if it didn't have the secondary attribute of being a Dark-type, then I would be the one with the type advantage."
"I use whatever is convenient at the time," Paul responded, briefly showing a rough smirk. "Since I'm in a good mood, it'll be ladies first to attack."
"See, you really can be a gentleman if you put your mind to it," Sabrina replied with a smirk of her own. "Alakazam, Energy Ball!"
Alakazam connected its spoons together and formed an effervescent green orb of natural energy in front of it. In a matter of seconds, the Energy Ball reached full size and launched it right into Drapion's face, eliciting a forceful explosion of smoke. However, Drapion quickly waved the smoke away with its pincers, revealing itself unscathed from the first attack.
"That didn't do a thing," Paul called out. "What are you trying to pull?"
"Alakazam, another Energy Ball!"
"Drapion, block it and use Cross Poison!"
The Ogre Scorpion Pokémon was quick in intercepting the second Energy Ball heading its way, simply by using its large tail to knock it to the side… and right into Haunter's popcorn bucket.
"Haw Hawn-tah!" Haunter growled, shaking a fist at Drapion from receiving the Energy Ball aftermath and its snack being left up in smoke.
Drapion had then crossed its glowing arms in formation, creating a venomous violet blade in a form of an 'X.' The Cross Poison gradually flew its way and picked up speed towards Alakazam.
"Alakazam, Teleport!"
With a solemn grunt, the Psi Pokémon focused its power into evading the oncoming attack. Its body briefly shone a multicolored light before the Cross Poison reached it. The Poison-type attack narrowly came into contact with its intended target, but Alakazam proved to be wily as it had disappeared from that location were the Cross Poison landed. Paul scowled in displeasure, only to turn to shock upon discovering his opponent reappearing overhead a few meters over Drapion.
"What the?!"
"Energy Ball!"
Alakazam clicked its spoons together again, this time creating a particularly larger Energy Ball. It then lobbed the Energy Ball downward towards Drapion, who only looked up to see the incoming attack. With Alakazam's own power with the combined force of gravity, Drapion was unable to completely defend itself once the attack struck on its back and producing another rough explosion of black haze to cover it.
However, in amidst of the smoke, a long, segmented claw reached out and immediately seized Alakazam, much to Sabrina's own surprise. The smoke cleared away and revealed Drapion to still be just fine, albeit with discharging green sparks of energy from the Grass-type attack still lingering about on its body. After putting away that observation, she saw that her Alakazam was captured in its pincers.
"Now use Poison Fang!"
"Doh-raaaaah!" Drapion roared as its particular fang protrusions radiated a venomous violet before taking a vicious chomp on one of Alakazam's shoulders.
In spite of trying to hide her emotions, Sabrina couldn't help but worry for her longtime partner as it suffered from the Poison Fang bite. In a matter of seconds later, Drapion released Alakazam from its chomp and fiercely through the Psi Pokémon to the ground. It was sent rolling for a while before stopping on its back.
"Alakazam…" Sabrina whispered, seeing the pained expression it held.
Before it was able to stand back up, Sabrina saw the violet blush permeating in Alakazam's face, as well as the looks of exhaustion and weakness that have suddenly taken over its posture. Its afflicted status condition was made more prominent as sparks of the same purple shade of color sparked about around its body.
"It's sad for me to say this, but what exactly am I supposed to be learning from this?" Paul taunted. "Not only is Alakazam clearly at a type disadvantage, it's also been poisoned from the Poison Fang. I've seen the attacks it's been capable of that are not Psychic. Energy Ball is not particularly effective against Drapion and Teleport is only prolonging the inevitable. I can only guess that Alakazam's remaining attacks are Psychic attacks, which would be rendered useless because of Drapion's secondary type."
"I'm impressed, Paul."
"Huh?"
Paul was certainly confused on how tranquil Sabrina remained in spite of being backed into a corner, which could only mean one thing for him. She was still hiding some trick away. He recomposed himself into his usual stoic self, starting to wish he bit down hard on his tongue for showing that he was underestimating this particular Gym Leader.
"You've proved to be quite the brilliant tactician, using your basic knowledge of Pokémon typing as well as training up your Pokémon to their potential," Sabrina continued rather monotonously. "However, your focus on pure power has often left you unable to think outside of the box when it is needed. This is only one of the flaws in your battle style."
"Your point?" Paul demanded.
"The only times you've ever showed off an improvised creative move were when you essentially took what you learned from previous opponents and made them your own. There's nothing wrong with that. However… you're not spontaneous enough to keep on your toes every time you face a surprise that supersedes your expectations."
"What are you trying to say?"
"You're still holding back from fully connecting with your Pokémon and truly understanding them," Sabrina concluded, now bearing a wicked smile. "Allow me to show you. Alakazam, use Miracle Eye!"
"What? It knows Miracle Eye?!"
Paul watched on as Alakazam stood at full height with glowing multicolored eyes. It then focused its metallic spoons as they also radiated with its peculiar psychic power. Using the spoons as points, a bright visage of an eyeball was formed. The eyeball projection was then cast upon Drapion, whose body was momentarily illuminated in the same light as the eyeball before the image was seemingly imprinted on the front of its torso.
"You've probably heard of the move, Miracle Eye, before, haven't you?" Sabrina asked, briefly showing off a cool smirk at Paul's frustration. "It's a remarkable move that not only helps the user track down and attack very evasive Pokémon that use Double Team and moves of the like, but Miracle Eye also removes Dark-type Pokémon's immunity to Psychic attacks."
"That's not going to stop us!" Paul declared heatedly. "Drapion, use Pin Missile!"
Drapion quickly brought its claws overhead as they glowed white. With a forceful thrust of its arms, it released a ferocious barrage of streaming white needles into the air with their sole target being Alakazam.
"Alakazam, Teleport!"
The Psi Pokémon disappeared from sight as the Pin Missile landed around it and kicked up dust and dirt clouds around it. The resulting shockwaves from the Pin Missile attack blew back against Paul and Sabrina as both Trainers braced themselves. They were both expectant to see what happened to Alakazam once the dust clouds dissipated.
Within a few seconds, a silhouette was made visible within the dust cloud. Paul peered closer to see that Alakazam was still standing, though it was obvious that it was scuffed up even without the poison taking its toll. Speaking of such, the poisonous sparks discharged about Alakazam and sapped it of more of its stamina.
"How did it survive?" Paul questioned.
"I had Alakazam teleport to one of Drapion's Pin Missile blind spots," Sabrina explained. "Though none of the Pin Missiles made direct contact, I certainly didn't expect them to be as powerful as they turned out to be, so I'll give you that. I'm afraid it's time to end the lesson. Alakazam, use Psychic!"
"Alah-kah-zam!" Alakazam grunted as it waved its arms into motion.
The Psi Pokémon's eyes were illuminated in a bright light blue. With another wave of its arms, powerful psychokinetic waves reached out to the stationary Drapion, seizing its entire body reminiscent of the way it had previously captured Alakazam. Lifting an arm up, Alakazam caused Drapion to synchronously be levitated high into the air. Paul and Sabrina watched silently, both having come to a consensus regarding the outcome of the battle.
Once Drapion had reached a certain height, particularly rivaling that of the forest trees, Alakazam swiftly sent its controlling arm down, causing the Ogre Scorpion Pokémon to follow suit. It crashed heavily into the ground facefirst. Once the resulting dust cleared away, they were able to see from the edge of the crater that Drapion was completely knocked out, evident with spiraling pupils.
"Drapion's unable to battle," Sabrina stated as she recalled Alakazam back into its Poké Ball. "Alakazam, great work out there."
The Saffron City Gym Leader watched as Paul gave off a heavy sigh before walking into the field where Drapion laid. She neutrally observed as he got on one knee in front of Drapion as he pulled out its Poké Ball, quietly expressing his gratitude for it before it was recalled away. Paul then stood up and glanced at her with an even look of his own.
"Well, I lost," Paul said plainly. "You seemed to have known that was really going to happen."
"It comes with being a Psychic Gym Leader that I know what's to take place before they happen," Sabrina replied. "This match had its inevitable outcome, but not because I foresaw it. It was more on predicting your style and strategy and waiting for the right time to counter and overwhelm you."
"With Miracle Eye removing Drapion's immunity, it was left as a Poison-type," Paul mused, lowering his head and closing his eyes. "And don't think I didn't realize what you've been trying to do with those Energy Balls. You were lowering Drapion's special defense. I knew that with one Psychic attack, it would've been over. It didn't stand a chance with Miracle Eye."
Without warning, the Veilstone City Trainer found his body completely locked up and bound by an invisible force. Using what remained of his willpower, he saw Sabrina's eyes gleaming fiercely with psychic power. Before he could say or retaliate, he was forced to his knees, unable to fight back.
"With that attitude, it's still a wonder that you lost," Sabrina remarked, frowning. "You still had a chance with Pin Missile, you know."
"But how? There was nothing left!" Paul retorted, still trying to fight off Sabrina's psychic hold.
"If there really was nothing left, then why did you try to fight back the moment after Drapion was marked with Miracle Eye?"
"… …"
Paul wanted to question himself about that. It wasn't like him to charge in headfirst the way he did without a total surety of his surroundings and circumstances. He knew that he had a surge of emotion when he wanted to fight back despite the tables turning on him. But this was something that he still couldn't understand.
"I can tell you that you're on the right track, and only if you heed my every instruction you'll understand more about yourself and your Pokémon than before," Sabrina assured. "Who knows, really? Maybe by the time the full battle rounds come and assuming you're still in the tournament, you might be strong enough to handle Pyramid King Brandon."
"Maybe," Paul repeated lowly, looking down at Sabrina's feet and saw that she came closer to him.
"But right now, one step at a time," Sabrina concluded, releasing her mental hold on Paul, though the Veilstone City Trainer still remained kneeling on the ground as though in thought. "First lesson, a lesson in humility, went quite well."
"Hm?" Paul grunted, looking up to her.
"Though I'm afraid that you'll still need to learn some more humility. You won't be able to see any chances for counterattacks if you go about with your chin held high in the air in contempt and arrogance."
"Just what do you have in mind?" Paul inquired, narrowing a glare at her, only to receive a wicked grin from the Saffron City Gym Leader.
"You'll see long enough…"
"Maybe it's for my personal amusement, but Paul's been really stubborn on what I've been trying to show him," Sabrina mused, looking away from Ash. "Two wrongs don't make a right. But I think he's coming around in understanding relationships between people and Pokémon, not to say that he didn't know such things before."
"… Why?" Ash asked.
Sabrina looked at the Pallet Town Trainer. In spite of receiving of a one-worded question, she knew the extent and the definition of what he really wanted to know. She could actually see the question at full view from the projection of his outer emotions.
"It's something that you already knew regarding Paul, Ash," Sabrina answered. "Forgive me for bringing this up, but I've heard that you and he are essentially two opposite sides on the same coin."
"… …!" Ash gasped on how Sabrina came to that conclusion.
"Though you both have the same goal of becoming the best, you both have taken different paths to reach that goal," Sabrina continued. "From what I could gather, you both are now experiencing things outside your comfort zone. In your case, the events you faced the past year that caused you to be like this brought out more of your inner strength than if you had stayed the way you were. Paul is going through a similar process, though instead of focusing on power, he's now trying to understand how relationships with others build into play in battle."
"… …?" Ash gave her a bewildered look, much to her annoyance.
"Okay, so it's somewhat complicated to understand at first. Let me leave you with this to think about. Would you be where you are now without the trials you faced in life breaking you down and building you up? Would you be able to experience the joys in life without first experiencing the sorrows?"
"… …"
Ash looked down as he pondered over her words. Sabrina could tell that he was beginning to understand her previous explanation and decided that it was enough for the day. However, she knew she needed to catch up on seeing how his current relationship with Salon Maiden Anabel has been going so far and if they had any significant interactions lately for her dissertation.
"Don't try to take it all at once," Sabrina advised, placing a comforting hand on the slightly taller Trainer's shoulder. "You have an upcoming battle I look forward to watching by the end of this week. Your opponent is someone you already faced in a previous Conference, isn't she?"
"Yes…"
"Well, I wish you best of luck, Ash. And say 'hi' to Anabel for me when you see her, will you?"
"… … … Sure?"
One more flashback, that was it with Paul and Sabrina's pre-battle and 'other things,' which would be left to your speculation. As for Sabrina showing emotion in spite of her original appearance in the anime, I'm just going to say that she's not as monotonous as before and that over the years since battling Ash that she's properly developed her emotions just like any regular human being no longer obsessive with her psychic talents. Just wanted to make that clear what's been happening with them while Ash was with Anabel. Next chapter will be Ash's next match in the Champions League, I can assure you. Can you try to guess who he'll be facing? (Hints are close to the end of the chapter, mentioned by Sabrina herself if you hadn't caught on.)
The theme of this chapter is also rather appropriate considering it's the end of 2013. My, how time has flown by. My advice to all of you reading on is to take everything you've learned this year, the good and the bad, and use the experience for your benefit in order to make 2014 hopefully better.
Be good boys and girls now. Be an example for the world, regardless of how much morality has decayed in this day.
Also, what's been going on with MisterP… I'll keep it simply as this:
…
He's engaged… YEAH!
He was engaged halfway this month to a wonderful young woman (who actually helped provided a good base of Anabel's character for this story with her own beautiful example) who he dated for almost a year and they're to be sealed for life by the end of April of 2014. It'll be convenient for me as the coming semester will be done by then and I'll be there to witness their sacred union. Like I mentioned, I made this announcement at the end of Tradition Together. Well, that's all for me to speak. Any more questions, just send a PM or review.
Speaking of the latter, it's time to measure up my writing skills. Please review!
L-ater! (And Happy New Year for 2014! Woo!)