Ash the Iron Trainer

by Mar 'Darry' Darren

It was a freak storm. One that separated Ash from Misty and Brock but not with Pikachu. And yet Ash was able to find an entire new region and be reunited with a friend that he never thought he will see again. With four young Pokémon found in a crate as eggs, Ash will take this new region and in the future, Kanto with skill and Mega Evolution!

27. The Awaited, Fateful Battle

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.

"Pokémon" – Normal Speech

'Pokémon' – Thoughts

Pokémon – Flashback

Pokémon – Move Names and Pokémon Abilities

{Pokémon} – Pokédex

Ash, the Iron Trainer

The Awaited, Fateful Battle With The Knight of Kalos!

Previously on Ash the Iron Trainer;

"Now that was art at its finest!" Siebold proclaimed once the battle was over. "I can see that your journey through Kalos has taught you on how to fight so well and with such art."

"Thank you but this isn't over until I face against the only trainer left in the Elite Four." Ash said in a seriously grim tone and Siebold nodded.

"Such a young trainer, barely past ten years old, with a reputation that demands you to uphold." Siebold responded and Ash nodded. "I understand, being a member of the Elite Four is also very demanding. That I why I am a cook on the side, so that I can relax and refine my sense of art. Also, barely anyone is allowed in the kitchen where I work so I can have some moments away from all the fangs."

"I might need to think of something like that too since everyone is still calling me the 'Iron Trainer'. They keep mistaking me for Wikstrom." Ash then commented and Siebold just chuckled.

"It is true that Wikstrom, in his youth, had his own reputation but the title 'Iron Trainer' is actually something he made up recently. Whenever he talked about the trainer with the Steel types and the fierce black eyes, he will always use that title." Siebold responded.

"Nice to know that I am not copying him, even unknowingly. But thanks for the conversation. I need to get going." Ash then turned to face the doorway but not before,

"I can give you some advice if you are willing to listen." Siebold said. "Wikstrom has a secret Pokémon. One that is capable of Mega Evolving but this one is much special and different than any other. Keep that in mind and you will do just fine."

Ash said nothing and left anyways. But he did listen to every word of what Siebold said and repeated them all while walking through the corridor.

"Ash, you are tense." Serena said, trying to slow down Ash from his aggressive pacing. She also tried to massage all the muscles that were so tight that they could be seen budging through his sweating skin. "You must relax."

Ash sighed and finally halted, before turning to Serena with eyes of anxiousness and worry. "Sorry Serena. It is just that I have been going over my entire team and everything I can against Wikstrom. I can't afford to mess up."

"Ash Ketchum." Serena spoke up to stop her friend from ranting instead of pacing. "You are a trainer that conquered the eight Gym Leaders, even with their Mega Evolutions. You were allowed to have ten Pokémon max on hand. You caught two Legendary Pokémon. And you have defeated three of the Kalos Elite Four." Serena pointed every single sentence with a finger pressed.

"You can't 'afford' to back down now. You can't be nervous when you are just one match away from challenging the Champion." Serena added. "Just do what you did with them and you will be just fine. It isn't like Wikstrom is going to be twice as hard as any of them."

"Well…" Ash then spoke up while drifting off. This got Serena to widen her eyes. "When we meet Wikstrom in Lumiose City, it was the first time I ever met a trainer of the Elite Four level. Sure, he screamed of power back then and so I thought that the other members will be the same. I was wrong, for each of the three."

"Ash, you can't be serious!" Serena was getting the big picture. "Wikstrom can't be that different, far ahead of the other Elite Four trainers! They all are legends, only the Champion is higher and so the Elite Four trainers are equal leveled!"

"I understand Serena." Ash responded. "Wikstrom is different because I can tell, despite all they threw at me and my team, the three trainers were still holding back!" Serena just couldn't believe what she was hearing. "And now I finally figured out why, they want me to win. They knew that I will be saving Wikstrom for last from the trainer himself. They allowed me to win! Just to hear how I am against an Elite Four trainer that will go all out!"

Serena couldn't find the words to say next. But she didn't need to when Ash cupped her checks and give her a powerful kiss. "That is why, no matter how this will turn, I will still want to be with you Serena. I want to keep learning about Pokémon, with you by my side. You can remember that, nothing will change that. Okay?" Serena just nodded with tears in her eyes and gave Ash another kiss.

And then, with a determined and unwavering expression, Ash walked into the room. There, a battle will decide how good at battling he really is. The truth will be supreme, no exceptions or mercy.

XXXXX

Ash had to shield his eyes when the light in the Ironworks Chamber almost blinded him. And when he did, two giant blades descend down from the ceiling and into two slots meant for them at the floor, and then turn 90 degrees, causing the wall to first flash with green light and then come down, sinking into the floor. The blades then turn another 90 degrees, raising a round wall around the arena.

"Welcome Ash." That was to be the voice of a certain man in armor that walked down from his chamber to the same level as Ash. "You have grown since we have met in Lumiose City. And you have improved, I heard about you gaining eight badges and stopping Team Flare. Quite impressive and especially since you defeated all but me."

"That's all in the past and just a distraction. Can we battle now?" Ash responded. And Wikstrom chuckled,

"Ready to start the most important battle of your career as a Pokémon trainer?" Ash said nothing and let his eyes answer Wikstrom. "Very well, the battle begins!" And so, the first Pokémon is sent out.

"Go and shine, Klefki!" Ash was amused to see a large and armored guy use a Pokémon that is based off the keychain accessory that tourists love to build. "Your turn."

"Mawile, go!" Ash called and Wikstrom raised his eyebrow. Mawile was the other Steel & Fairy type in Kalos.

"Okay, Klefki." Wikstrom said to his Key Ring Pokémon. "Start with Spikes." The little keychain of a Pokémon started to spin and send out sharpened spikes to random places around Mawile. They won't harm the Deceiver Pokémon but no trainer and predict where a Pokémon will land after they are sent out prior to Spikes being used.

"Iron Head!" Ash went for an attack for some regular damage since Klefki was the same as Mawile, it was too soon to reveal that Mawile has a move that both her and this Pokémon are weak to. But when Mawile was about to hit Klefki,

"Reflect." Wikstrom commanded and his Key Ring Pokémon blocked the Iron Head with a rainbow barrier. "Can you figure out my Pokémon's special ability?" He then said and when Ash didn't answer, "Flash Cannon." Klefki shout out a silver beam at Mawile, for the same reason as Ash and his Iron Head attack attempt.

"Jump and use Play Rough!" Ash called out and Mawile was able to dodge the Flash Cannon but when she tried to attack Klefki,

"Imprison." Wikstrom made another command and Klefki created a field around Mawile. This somehow stopped Mawile and prevented her from using Play Rough. "For future references, young trainer…" Wikstrom brought up and Ash listened in closely. "Imprison can be handy when facing a Pokémon that knows a couple of moves the user does. The move prevents both the user and the target from using those moves."

Ash jotted that down in his mind and tried to think of something that Mawile can improvise this battle with. But it was to no avail when, "Now use Metal Sound, followed by a Draining Kiss."

Klefki screeched out a very loud and terrible sound that made Mawile and Ash feel like their bones were rattled. And while this sound was making them cringe, Klefki moved in to somehow kiss Mawile, draining her most of her health. Then Ash's brain moved its gears and the answer became clear. 'It has be Prankster! The ability that grants more priority to status moves!' Ash then realized that it was pointless to outpace this Klefki, so it was time to change tactics and get a little risky. "Repel Klefki with Flamethrower!"

"Protect." Wikstrom was quick to defend his Pokémon which got Ash on edge. Klefki had defended itself from the Flamethrower and now Wikstrom knows that Mawile can harm his Pokémon. "Nice that you have tried to save Flamethrower as a 'secret weapon'. Too bad that all of my Pokémon have those in spades." Ash didn't have anything to say to this, "Now Mirror Shot!"

"Use Fire Blast!" Ash called out when Klefki shout out a hail of sliver beams at Mawile. And Mawile screamed with pain and fell to the ground, fainted from the sheer power of the Klefki. But not before the Key Ring Pokémon had received damage from a Fire Blast.

"Thank you Mawile, now come Greninja!" Out came the Ninja Pokémon which was as powerful as Ash and his four Steel-type Pokémon. "First use Mat Block!" Ignoring the pain from the Spikes, Greninja created a blockade of shields that resembled floor mats from Japanese living rooms.

"Nice tactic, young trainer." Wikstrom said calmly. "Now Klefki, use Metal Sound." Klefki was about to recreate the terrible sound like before but,

"Double Team!" Greninja was somehow able to outpace Klefki and its Prankster ability to dodge the Metal Sound with the copies created by Double Team! "Now use your own Spikes and attack with Hydro Pump!"

"Find Greninja with Mirror Shot, in all directions!" Wikstrom shouted this time, feeling just a little bit of excitement. And Klefki had to ignore Geninja's Spikes move and tried to figure out where the Ninja Pokémon was hiding among the copies that littered the battlefield. Too bad for Klefki, finding Greninja was made difficult when it was acted by Hydro Pump from seeming all the copies of the Ninja Pokémon.

"Now finish this with Water Shuriken!" Ash commanded and Klefki was bombarded by a storm of Shinobi Stars made of pure water. All this was too much, even for Wikstrom's Klefki.

"Thank you, my keychain Pokémon." Wikstrom said to Klefki, returning it to its Pokéball. "Now point us the way to battle, Probopass!" Out came the larger-than-life Compass Pokémon with a brushy moustache, trying to ignore the damage from the Spikes laid out on Wikstrom's side of the battlefield. Ash thought hard and then decided on the right Pokémon for this match-up.

"Come, Aegislash!" Ash sent out the Royal Sword Pokémon, also hurting from the Spikes on the field but not as bad as Probopass since Aegislash didn't have a double weakness to Ground type moves like the Compass Pokémon. "Move in to use Shadow Sneak!" Aegislash submerged himself into the shadows of the chamber to attack Probopass in an ambush; still that didn't even make the Compass Pokémon budge.

"Zap Cannon." Wikstrom commanded. Probopass willed its little 'Mini-Noses' to come to life, creating a large sphere of electrical energy. All that power can paralysis the target 100% of the time it hits; that is, if it hits. But Ash had no plans to have his Pokémon paralyzed today.

"Time to try something reckless." Ash said to his Pokémon watching the large ball of lighting approach him. "Use Swords Dance to deflect it!" Aegislash would have called it stupid if he could talk English but the Royal Sword Pokémon created the image of swords surrounding him but this was much different. Aegislash had moved those swords around him so fast that they became blurs and eventually, they created a vacuum that Zap Cannon cannot pierce. Once Aegislash saw that the attempt was a success, he was able to deflect the Zap Cannon after all and back at Probopass, only twice as fast!

But while the Zap Cannon was powerful and created a large dust cloud, Ash still retained his focus. He can't afford to lower his guard, at all while against an Elite Four trainer's Pokémon. And his fears were confirmed when Probopass looked barely scratched! "Nice tactic, especially since you had no chance to practice it." Wikstrom said, "But you need your own juggernaut to go against mine. Now use Thunder!"

"Shadow Sneak!" Aegislash jumped down to the sound of urgency in his trainer's voice but Probopass was smarter than it looked. The Compass Pokémon waited for him to appear from the shadows and unleashed its Thunder attack while in place, almost like a lightning rod. The Shadow Sneak was canceled out and aside from the damage done, the Thunder attack had paralyzed!

"Finish off with Stone Edge!" Wikstrom called out and Probopass cried out a storm of stones that did good work of Aegislash. The Royal Sword Pokémon couldn't help himself in that hail of rocks.

"Thank you Aegislash, return." Ash said and sent yet another fainted Pokémon of his to the Pokéball. "And if you want a juggernaut, here is one! Snorlax!" With a mighty roar, the Sleeping Pokémon emerged to shake the field. While he was not on Ash's team for as long as the Steel types or Greninja, this Pokémon was easily another of Ash's strongest. "Start with Yawn."

"Thunder Wave." Wikstrom countered with a status move as well, paralyzing Snorlax while the Probopass had caught the Yawn. It will fall asleep eventually but Wikstrom didn't count on Snorlax eating a Lum Berry that was stashed in the white fur. "Nice preparation, young trainer. Now use Zap Cannon!"

Seeing that Probopass was going for the large ball of lighting again, Ash still wasn't worried. "Show him your power. Use Belly Drum and Thunder Punch to repel it!" Snorlax roared while banging on his belly to fully enhance his strength, then he safely sent away the Zap Cannon with his hand covered in electricity.

But this time, "Dodge it." Wikstrom commanded and the large Compass Pokémon glowed of a golden hue, before levitating off the battlefield. Ash narrowed his eyes,

'Magnet Rise. I should have guessed that a Pokémon like Probopass will be able to learn this move.' Ash deduced, "Snorlax, jump into the air!"

"Gravity." Wikstrom said, he had to keep this trainer on edge. But he was shocked to see Snorlax directly above his Probopass and the Sleeping Pokémon was pulled by the Gravity move down onto the Compass Pokémon!

"Heavy Slam!" Ash called out, his loud command echoing in the chamber. And Snorlax's roar will soon follow as he used both his own body weight (as the world's heaviest Normal-type Pokémon) and the effects of Gravity, both are pulling him to the ground with the speed of a meteor. And before reaching the ground, Snorlax landed hard on Probopass, almost shattering the battlefield!

"Probopass…" Wikstrom was at a lost, for the first time in ages, and didn't know else to say. But Ash does,

"Giga Impact!" Snorlax charged with the strength of ten tanks moving at speeds of a race car, slamming once again into Probopass. This practically teared up the battleground and freed the Compass Pokémon. But a Giga Impact that was enhanced by Belly Drum is too much, even for a Pokémon with a double resistance and high defenses like Probopass.

"Thank you Probopass." Wikstrom said and returned his juggernaut of a Pokémon to its Pokéball. "Now that I have seen your sword and your juggernaut, meet my own sword. Aegislash!"

Snorlax growled, this Aegislash was so like Ash's that it was almost like facing a reflection of the same Royal Sword Pokémon. "Focus Snorlax. It is only like our training." Ash then said and Snorlax nodded before shaking his head of unnecessary, distracting thoughts. "Start with Crunch!"

Snorlax charged for Aegislash who just stood firm and not moving like its trainer. "King's Shield!" Wikstrom called out but then,

"Stop!" Ash commanded and Snorlax actually halted in his tracks, canceling out the Crunch attack. "Nice try but now use Shadow Ball!" For not being a Ghost type, Wikstrom could've sworn that Ash's Snorlax created a Shadow Ball that was worthy of any Ghost type user. One that actually forced Aegislash away, even with the King's Shield move up.

"Sacred Sword!" Wikstrom wanted to see more and called out that move to see it. His Aegislash changed into its Blade Forme and charged towards Snorlax with its blade covered in a bright energy.

"Dodge and Crunch!" When Aegislash would have totaled Snorlax, the Sleeping Pokémon was a lot nimbler than he put off and attacked Aegislash instead. "Hold onto Aegislash and use Thunder on it!" Firmly in Snorlax's jaw, Wikstrom's Aegislash couldn't dodge the powerful Thunder attack that attacked it from Snorlax's very body. "Now send it out with a Shadow Ball!"

Aegislash flew off again and a little further than before, also it looked like the Royal Sword Pokémon could just faint. This was becoming a little embarrassing for Wikstrom considering the level of his other Steel types. Still, things were different at the time that Ash first meet them. "Move in and use Fire Punch!"

Wikstrom could see that the Belly Drum had allowed Crunch to chip away more health in one move than ever before. The Thunder and Shadow Ball didn't help things and now this Fire Punch could end it right here. Wikstrom knew this and decided to accept the fate of his Pokémon, but not without a little coinvestigation from the other side.

"Destiny Bond!" Ash and Snorlax were shocked to hear that move. And the latter tried to stop himself from hitting Aegislash, that Destiny Bond will take down not only the user but the Sleeping Pokémon too. But something else happened,

Snorlax was able to halt within inches of Aegislash but the Royal Sword Pokémon of Wikstrom was still harmed and ultimately knocked out. And yet, Wikstrom started to laugh. "That is…the first time that a…an attack was used that way! Even by…accident!" Ash didn't know what to make of the old man in knight's armor. "Now this is my knight, Scizor!"

"Take a break Snorlax!" Ash then called out and returned the Sleeping Pokémon, who seemed to be already resting when he went back into the Pokéball. "Now battle, Bisharp!" Ash sent out the Sword Edge Pokémon this time,

"Night Slash!" Bisharp charged with his arms covered in dark energy and yet it barely annoyed the Scizor. "Try a Brick Break!"

"You too!" This time, both Pokémon went for the other with their arms covered in dark red energy and meet with a boom. "Break off and use X-Scissor!" Wikstrom then called out and his Scizor showed off its strength to actually lift Bisharp off the battlefield and sent him flying. Once that was done, the Pincer Pokémon charged forward to attack Bisharp with a green 'X' blow.

"Metal Sound!" Ash called out, for no clear reason. Bisharp grinded his metal arms anyways and lowered Scizor's Special Defenses. "Now try a Guillotine!" Bisharp charged with his arms crossed. But it was to no avail when,

"Quick Attack!" Scizor stopped Bisharp in his tracks and actually did some damage from that low-level attack. It must've been the Technician ability, which empowers the user's weakest attack. Ash could tell that also when, "Bullet Punch!" That low-level attack actually left Bisharp's body littered with dents. If this keeps up,

"Night Slash!" Ash wanted to go for another attack before Bisharp eventually falls to Scizor and this deadly Ability of its.

"Superpower!" Wikstrom saw that and Scizor was commanded to glow red with power before slammed its metal body into Bisharp. And while the Sword Edge Pokémon felt his energy leaving him,

"Metal Burst!" Bisharp sent Scizor off of him with the sphere of silver energy that damaged the Pincer Pokémon somewhat. Too bad that Bisharp fell anyways from the powerful Superpower attack, that did leave Scizor's physical stats fall as well. "Thank you Bisharp. Now go, Greninja!"

Wikstrom was wondering what Ash had planned for sending out Greninja again, returning the Ninja Pokémon after finishing off Wikstrom's Klefki early in the battle. "Quick Attack!" Wikstrom still commanded his Scizor to use that low-level but high priority move to test Greninja further.

"Mat Block!" And Greninja countered by blocking that Quick Attack. "Now Water Shuriken!" Scizor soon found itself bombarded by a storm of large shuriken made of water, a lot like Wikstrom's Klefki. "Hydro Pump!"

"Dodge with Agility!" Scizor moved almost like a blur to escape the Hydro Pump. "Iron Head!"

"Combine Double Team with Smokescreen!" Ash called out and his Greninja never disappointed him. First, she created an army of replicas for Scizor to hit with Iron Head. Then she covered the entire half of the battlefield belong to Wikstrom with thick black smoke, including Scizor. "Now another Hydro Pump!"

Scizor was practically flooded by the Hydro Pump, coming in from dozens of Greninja. "Bullet Punch!" Wikstrom still had to try for his Scizor to find its way out of the smokescreen and find the real Greninja among the dozens. And the Pincher Pokémon had to resort to blind punching and running around with the smoke clouding its eyes, not just the copies confusing it.

"Stop Scizor with Night Slash!" Ash called out and the real Greninja appeared this time, striking Scizor on the metal pincers hard enough to make the Pincer Pokémon cringe from the sudden jolt to its claws. "Hydro Cannon!" Greninja then shot out the most powerful Water type move that can be taught to a fully-evolved start like her.

"Giga Impact!" Scizor finally found sight of Greninja and charged in with bright white energy covering it from head to toe. And this Giga Impact fought against the Hydro Cannon that has the same-level of power. But Greninja, this time, had the upper hand and Scizor was instead sent into a wall hard. It stayed in that imprint, not even twitching from the pain.

"Thank you Scizor." Wikstrom said as he returned his Pokémon. Then he turned to face Ash. "You really are one hell of a trainer. Why don't you just admit that you have mastered Pokémon, more specially the Steel types?"

"Because Kalos doesn't need a ten-year old like me as a celebrity, and especially not another Steel-type master. I don't even want to imagine what the other regions will make out Kalos, with a ten-year old for their star trainer." Ash answered without hesitation. "And my dream is to be a Pokémon Master. The one that knows all, including where my father can be found." Wikstrom was shocked to hear such words and even see such sadness in the eyes of this ten-year-old. "I don't care if he is still alive or not, I just want to know where he is. And then I will tell my mother the truth as well, she is hurt the most ever since he left us."

Wikstrom saw, for the first time since they both met ages ago in Lumiose City, the 'real' Ash Ketchum. "I am sure you will." The man in armor said, not sure if he is making things better or worse. "I am sure that you find him. When things are lost, they are eventually found."

"Thank you Wikstrom." Ash responded with a broken and hollow tone that still had respect and gratitude. "I feel a little better now. But we still have our battle." Ash said, trying his best to regain his focus; but his hold was shaky and uneasy, which is never good for a trainer. Wikstrom knew that, given his own expression of concern but still takes out one final Pokéball.

"No problem kid. Now meet my real ace, Aggron!" This definitely looked a lot like the Lairon from Route 18. Only much larger and stood on its hind-legs instead all four of them.

{Aggron, the Iron Armor Pokémon, and the evolved form of Lairon. Aggron claims a large mountain for its territory, and fiercely defends it from those who trespass.}

Aggron is a huge, bipedal Pokémon. It is primarily black with plates of silver-colored armor. The armor on its head has two pairs of holes with horns protruding from the foremost holes. Its forehead plating extends past its upper jaw in a small point. It has sky-blue eyes, and two nostril-like holes on the tip of its upper jaw. On the rim of its mouth are several pointed, fang-like protrusions and the nape of its neck and back have gray-silver armor sections. It has wide, blunt spikes on its shoulders, and gray-silver bands on its arms and legs. Its hands and feet each have three claws. It has a thick, long, black tail that it can swing at enemies.

The gouges in Aggron's armor from previous battles are worn as mementos. The more wounds it has, the more it has battled. It claims a large mountain as its territory and fiercely defends it from trespassers. If its environment is damaged by a flood or a forest fire, it will restore the area by bringing in topsoil and planting trees. It burrows through the strongest of bedrock and digs tunnels, as it searches for iron to eat. Its horns, which it uses to dig through bedrock when seeking food, grow a little longer at a time and can be used to determine its age.

"Greninja, I need you to rest and ready for this final Pokémon. Return!" Ash then called out and sent his loyal Ninja Pokémon back to his Pokéball. "Snorlax, go!" It another match between juggernauts of Pokémon. "Start with Yawn." Snorlax released the bubble of sleepiness at Aggron and popped, making the Iron Armor Pokémon start to get drowsy.

"Iron Defense!" Wikstrom had a good idea of what Ash had in mind and wasn't going to let Snorlax get the same edge twice. Too bad that Aggron, willing its body to be tougher and more durable, had got the Yawn to do its magic.

"Now Belly Drum, then Recycle and Rest." Snorlax raised his Attack power to the max once again but was left with less than half his health, so Snorlax fell asleep on command. But that was before he recovered the Lum Berry that was used earlier in the match.

And as soon as Snorlax fell asleep, the Lum Berry woke him up once the process of Rest healing him was done. "Now use Crunch!" Snorlax charged in and bate down on Aggron hard. But this Aggron was not to be underestimated,

"Sleep Talk!" Wikstrom called out and Ash gasped, this move could only be used by sleeping Pokémon and it helps them randomly use a move that they know. And then Aggron acted like it was 'walking in its sleep', and attacked Snorlax with one of its hands shining brightly. The Sleep Talk activated its Metal Claw.

"Send it down with Superpower!" Ash called out and Snorlax fiercer than an awakening bear. Also, with the grace and strength of a pro wrestler, Snorlax lifted the Aggron up and slammed the Iron Armor Pokémon down the battlefield hard. "Now jump to use Heavy Slam!"

Too bad that the Superpower attack also awoken Aggron from its slumber. "Iron Defense!" Wikstrom called out and Aggron willed its body to be even more durable, taking in the Heavy Slam without even a bruise!

"Focus Punch!" Snorlax charged with his arm already armed and loaded to punch hard on Aggron. But as soon as the Sleeping Pokémon was only inches from finishing the match right there,

"Focus Blast!" Snorlax was hit by a large sphere of raw power that slammed hard into his stomach. The Sleeping Pokémon was a real Juggernaut, with high defenses and can enhanced his strength to the max but moves like Focus Blast were his weakness. Ash's mighty and sturdy Snorlax finally fell!

"Sorry about this Snorlax." Ash said to the Sleeping Pokémon once he was in his Pokéball. Both Ash and Snorlax had hoped to deal more damage, this was very disappointing. "Now come and fight to the end, Greninja!"

"You better because I am not going to tolerate you switching out the same Pokémon more than twice." Wikstrom said, "Iron Defense one more time and then use Double Edge!" Aggron had now maxed out its Defenses and then charged with the bright energy, a little dimmer than Giga Impact, that made a torpedo-like shape on its body.

"Mat Block!" Of course, that Double Edge was stopped when Greninja blocked it with another floor mat that she pulled out of nowhere. But Ash did notice that the Aggron didn't even flinch from the Double Edge. Even the toughest of Pokémon have to feel the effects of moves that cause recoil damage, which includes Double Edge. It could only mean one thing, 'Rock Head. What a Pokémon, suitable for a trainer like Wikstrom.'

"It seems that you figured my Pokémon out, now let's see how much of a difference this makes. Burst through the Mat Block with Metal Claw and slam Greninja to the ground!" Wikstrom called out and Ash had to think fast.

"Dodge with Substitute!" Greninja widen her eyes to see the Aggron clawing through her Mat Block with just Metal Claw. Yet this surprise had jumpstarted her nerves, which did allow Greninja to dodge the Aggron with a Substitute doll, but left Greninja a little shaky. "Focus and use Hydro Pump!"

Greninja cursed at her uneasiness and that was because her Hydro Pump was very unstable. The attack barely moved Aggron, only made it wet. "Power-Up Punch!" Ash called out and Greninja charged with her arm glowing, ready to deal some damage and increasing her Attack stat.

"Block with Metal Claw!" Wikstrom called out and Aggron did just that, with a firm grip on Greninja and ignoring the pain from the Power-Up Punch. "Use Superpower on Greninja!" Ash wasn't going to make any more mistakes and waited for a good chance for his Greninja to escape; and it came.

Once Greninja was directly above Aggron, "Scald! Down below!" Ash made his move and Greninja shot a pressurized shot of heated water, down through Aggron's armor! The massive Iron Armor Pokémon had to release Greninja which was also something that the trainer counted on. "Hydro Cannon!"

While Aggron was distracted by the boiling water, gusting throughout the air pockets of its armor, Greninja made her move and sent out a flood of a water gust that finally did some damage. Aggron even looked more hurt and exhausted than angry; the steam was from the boiling water that was still fresh and wet throughout its massive body.

"Aggron, let's fight from now on with your real form." The Iron Armor Pokémon heard that instead of a command but Aggron actually liked the sound of it and go on standby. Meanwhile, Wikstrom moved his gloved hand to the bump on his armor, directly in front of his neck; it was pressed to reveal a Keystone! And Aggron, revealed a Mega Stone that had the colors of silver and metallic black. "Now Aggron, it is time for the final level of power! Swords, sharp enough to pierce iron and shields that stop rock slides! Mega Evolve!"

{This Pokémon has achieved it Mega Evolution. This Pokémon actually loses its Rock typing and becomes a pure Steel type. It now has the ability Filter, which weakens the power Super-Effective attacks.}

Mega Aggron is bulkier and more heavily plated than its previous state. The horns on its forehead are now shorter, and it has a third, wider horn on its nose. Using its horns, it is said to be able to destroy a steel tank. A spike projects downward from both its upper and lower jaw. The protrusions on its shoulders are longer and curve toward its head, and new spikes thrust from holes in its armbands. Its tail is thicker with two bands around it

"It is now time for something different, Surf!" Ash shouted, which was supposedly a waste of breath since his Pokémon just used a move that required time to recharge after use. But Greninja was better than that and was able to summon a tide wave from out of nowhere, submerging the newly Mega Evolved Aggron. "And now…" Ash got ready for a final showdown, his body language alerting the message to Wikstrom.

"Hydro Cannon!" Now with a water source nearby, Greninja actually found herself making a much bigger Hydro Cannon than the other times during the entire battle. But all that dazzle and power surge was to be challenged by,

"Head Smash!" Mega Aggron charged with its massive forehead shining with power. It then started to charge, even with the power at its feet, getting faster and faster until Mega Aggron was met by the Hydro Cannon. Now no longer a Rock type, there was no more weakness to Water moves for the time being; as such, Mega Aggron actually ignored the move and managed to hit Greninja with Head Smash!

And, for the first time since they met, Greninja lost a match. She just couldn't take all that damage in one setting. The good side to this is that Ash actually caught Greninja in his arms, holding the Ninja Pokémon almost like a bride. All before thanking her and sending Greninja back into the Pokéball.

"Go, Pikachu!" Ash had only one Pokémon left to fight with. It was true that he was allowed up to ten Pokémon on hand but the rule of six the max for any match still affected him. Ash knew that fact and always tried to think of the right Pokémon for any match-up; but that skill & foresight of Ash's will be put through the ultimate trial. "Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu, for old times' sake, shocked Aggron badly. "So that is why you commanded your Greninja to use Surf and get my Pokémon wet; so your Electric attacks will be stronger." Wikstrom only needed a few seconds of this to figure out Ash's game. "Stone Edge!"

"Use Agility to dodge!" Pikachu was still Ash's fastest Pokémon and ran in a blur to avoid every piece of the Stone Edge. "Use your new move, Wild Charge!" Ash then commanded. Pikachu engulfed himself in raw lighting and tackled into Aggron, electrocuting the massive Pokémon.

"Grab Pikachu and used Heavy Slam!" Aggron forgot about the pain and grabbed the small, mouse-like Pokémon. Then it was going to send Pikachu down to the ground but,

"Thunder!" Ash called out and Aggron was shocked again. All Pikachu had to do was to ignore the feeling of being grabbed and almost sent to he battlefield like a wooden stake. With that done, Pikachu was able to hit Aggron who was still in close proximity.

Of course, Aggron not only screamed to the pain but also threw Pikachu high in the air of the chamber. "Try to land on the wall!" Ash tried to call out but Pikachu still had a rough landing onto the steel-hard wall. Thankfully, Pikachu was not out yet; only have the energy for one last ditch effort against Mega Aggron. This massive Pokémon never showed any signs of slowing down, even though every Ash had thrown at it.

"VOLT TACKLE!" Pikachu charged in from the steel wall, his little body covered with raw lighting, and slammed hard into Mega Aggron; Pikachu didn't even care about the headache that he will get, charging into something that was worse than a steel wall.

"METAL BURST!" Wikstrom called out and Mega Aggron took in all the damage, sending it all out as energy back at its attacker. But this time, Mega Aggron didn't attack with a sphere of silver energy, instead it all flew off of Mega Aggron's body and attacked Pikachu that way. This created a large smoke cloud that covered the battlefield entirely.

Once the smoke clears, the ultimate answer as to Ash's victory or defeat to the Elite Four. For the first time, Ash was left with only one Pokémon left along with Wikstrom so if Pikachu lost, it will be all over. But the trainers saw who won, it wasn't Pikachu. It was Mega Aggron, which means…Ash lost!

XXXXX

Ash couldn't believe it. He gave everything that he had, every trick up his sleeve, played all his cards and he still lost. The words of warning from Drasna came back to his mind, echoing through the walls. Because he lost against the final Elite Four trainer, he can't challenge the Champion. He will have to win his badges again and try for the Elite Four for a second time. And he will have to wait out until they restart the Kalos League, in three years!

And when he heard the sounds of metal footsteps, he knew who was approaching; Ash didn't need to see for himself. "I was right. You four just wanted a show." Wikstrom didn't say a word and waited for Ash to go on. "The three that I've faced were holding back! They wanted me to win so they can see if I am this bullshit 'Iron Trainer'! Now they see it was all crap, shit and a bunch of garbage!"

Ash was ranted so loudly that he didn't notice that there were more company. Siebold and Drasna arrived with Serena, the latter wanted to reach out to her close friend and companion. "What are you going to do now!? Did I disappoint you all! Did I not meet the expectations you hid from me about my battling!? You expected this much from the boy you threw away to stop Team Flare. When you could have done it from the start!"

"This is called growing up, young man." Wikstrom finally spoke up while his audience was still silent. "At one point in your life, in ways too numerous to count, it will seem that the world has turned their back on you. They left in the dust, in the dark and alone in hot water. But those who hold onto their dreams, never lose their faith and don't change are the…"

"What?" Ash muttered like a dumped man after a date turning sour. He sensed that Wikstrom was trailing off to test Ash even further. "Brave, smart, skilled, the prefect trainer?"

"More like the prefect fool." Ash cringed terribly to hear such a word from Wikstrom. "Those who think that you must always change, or not change at all are idiots. Fools. Poor excuses for human beings." Ash felt like he suddenly became a statue and that his body was crumbling. "But you are not a fool. You changed yourself when you arrived here in Kalos. You changed for your close friend. And more importantly, you changed for all; especially for your Pokémon. They were not weak, or useless; they are the strongest any of us have ever faced."

"Then this lost…" Ash muttered before losing his voice again.

"Will teach you something important. Experience both brings the power and skill as well enhances both for a trainer and his team." Wikstrom picked off. "And while you might find it easy to give up, you need to know this. Every one of us lost more than won in the past, all before becoming the Elite Four. Because defeat taught us more about battling than victories and even training."

"…" Ash was silent again, taking all this in. Until he felt something small lick his cheek. It was his Pikachu, looking as sad and downhearted as he was. Ash still didn't say a word, just hugged Pikachu gently. And after another long moment, "So what now?"

"Now?" Drasna spoke up this time.

"You will return to Kalos with your team and your friends." Siebold answered.

"Because we have a new contender to take the place of Malva and someday, become something much bigger." Wikstrom added and gave his hand for Ash. "Come on, Iron Trainer. It is time for you to learn more about Pokémon than you can possibly imagine."

Ash thought hard on it while staring at Wikstrom metal glove. Then he took the hand and shook it. "Teach us."

XXXXX

Four years later,

There was a commotion near a tent that had mirrors on for sale. The crowd sure was upset and angry over something, with one of them even having the owner of the tent at his collar. "Okay! You better start talking right no! We know that the Champion and the Kalos Princess was last seen in your tent until they disappeared! Where are they!?"

Something like this should've been calmed down by the police but the Officer Jennies instead were trying to find out this little mystery. All they knew was that a couple of hours ago, the Champion of Kalos along with his fiancé entered the tent looking for a present to the latter's mother. But when one of the fans decided to go in and chat with the duo, they both vanished. The only thing left that they were there was one of the mirrors on the ground, cracked badly and some spare change was mixed in with the pieces.

The tent and mirror shop owner looked suspicious to passersby but he was a genuine salesman since his previous customers agreed that he sold real mirrors. But instead of selling more until he was out of stock, the shop owner was treated like an offender; it was in his shop that a couple of celebrities had vanished.

"You can let him go." And just when the shop owner was about to be beaten by the interrogator from the mob, a voice cut through the tense atmosphere like a hot knife through butter. "We are back so release him."

"It's the Champion, Ash Ketchum! And his fiancé, Serena the Kalos Princess!" That man from the mob discarded the shop owner and ran along with everyone else to check on the pair of celebrities. It only took a few moments for the Office Jennies to give the pair some space and some sunlight which brought light on how different they looked.

Ash definitely looked more mature as a man and different in attire. Instead of his simple shirt, shorts and backpack, he was dressed more like knight's squire with armor. His arms, hands, legs and torso had metal plates tied with a strap each. His shoes were replaced with boots with armor that was of a simple and smooth design. Finally, he was wearing some kind of helmet that had a triangular piece of metal showing on his forehead and a face-mask that covered his entire mouth.

Through it all, Ash looked like the cross between an athlete and a bodybuilder (pleasing several of the women in the crowd). His face was smooth, without any speckles, warts or pimples to be seen. His raven-black hair was of a darker and bolder color that just made him look even more badass.

Meanwhile, Serena looked like she was outfitted with her our set of armor that was a matching pair with Ash's. Only that it was smaller and more feminine to fit the difference in figure.

And Pikachu also had armor, with his own mouth guard. A helmet on his head, a plate fitted for his back, metal sleeves for his legs and even one for his tail! But there was also this thing about Pikachu that was also different. It was a scar, going vertically down his right eye; and it seems that the helmet and mouth guard cover up the rest of it.

Finally, behind them both, there was an intimidating Pokémon that also took up a lot of space around him. But this was a Pokémon that most of the audience knew, "That's a Metagross!"

Metagross is a robotic Pokémon with a turquoise, disc-shaped body and four legs. The main body appears to serve as both head and body, and this Pokémon's overall construction gives it the appearance of a mechanized arachnid. It uses its heavy body to pin down its prey before consuming them with its large mouth. A large, metallic cross is situated in the center of its face. On either side of the cross, a red eye peers out from a space in Metagross's metallic armor. Its four legs are joined to the main body by ball-and-socket joints. While the upper portion of the legs is relatively thin, they are considerably thicker below the knee. Each leg has three short claws on the end and a flat, blunt protrusion extending over the knee. The legs can be tucked in, allowing Metagross to float in the air.

Metagross is the result of two Metang, its pre-evolution, fusing together. This gives Metagross four brains in total, one from each limb, all connected by a complex network of neurons. Because of these complex connections and the number of brains, this Pokémon is capable of complex calculations and is more intelligent than a supercomputer. It uses its intelligence to analyze its opponents during battle. This Pokémon can be found on rough terrains.

"And there is a Skarmory too!" Skarmory is a silver-gray, avian Pokémon with a long, metallic blue neck, legs, and tail. It has yellow eyes, a pointed beak with several pointed teeth, and a triangular crest on its head. There are red feathers under the sheaths that cover its sharp wings, and each feather can be moved independently. Its wings are actually hollow, allowing it to travel up to 180 mph (300 km/h). Its feet have three toes on them, two in front and one in back, and its tail has hooked ends.

Its steel wings become tattered and bashed in from repeated battles, but once a year the battered wings grow back completely. This process restores the cutting edges. Its feathers are sharp enough to be used as blades. Its skin and feathers are solid because it lives and is raised in very harsh conditions. Its nests are usually found in thorn bushes, where continual scratching of its skin will eventually harden it into an iron-like state.

"Sorry about the trouble we caused for you and your store." Ash then bowed to the shop owner tried his best to be polite since the crowd was glaring at to be so.

"It's nothing! Nothing! Just where did you go? I thought that my mirrors were harmless." The shop owner said. But instead of a quick and straight answer,

"It is a story that will take all day. What is important is that we can now expect the fog around Kalos to lift in another two weeks." Ash answered and then left with a hand on Serena's shoulder. The crowd soon forgot about the whole thing and began to follow the pair like lost ducklings. Meanwhile, the owner of the tent and the mirrors was told by the Officer Jennies to pack up and set shop somewhere else; he never argued, crowds are always bad for business when they have you grabbed by the collar.

And two weeks later, the fog that came along with Ash, his Pikachu and a create filled with Pokémon eggs had started to fade. Ash and Serena were witnessing this from the port of Coumarine City. "It is time." Serena just nodded with a content smile on her face; apparently, she was like a newborn kitten to Ash's hand on her hair. "Time to find the doomed St. Anne. My friends are still on it, needing our rescue."

End of Chapter 27

*Here it is, the big break you've been waiting for. I hate to do this and after I have been saying that Ash deserved to win big. He always falls short of willing the League while in the anime and here I made him lose the League by falling short of the Elite Four. But I have one last chapter to make after this one so please be more patient.

But not today. I was able to publish this chapter today and it will be the last for this year. I've made it so I am just going to enjoy the rest of 2016 and I have a party to go to. I wish that you all enjoy my story and enjoy the last hours of the year! See you all in 2017!*

Pokémon on Hand;

Ash – Pikachu (Male), Aegislash (Male), Bisharp (Male), Mawile (Female), Durant (Female), Greninja (Female), Yveltal (Genderless), and Metagross (Genderless).

Serena – Delphox (Female), Marowak (Male), Kangaskhan (Female), Phantump (Female), Xerneas (Genderless), and Dratini (Female).

Off Hand;

Ash – Ledian (Female), Kadabra (Female), Smeargle (Male), Sableye (Male), Lucario (Male), Luvdisc (Male), Talonflame (Male), Gogoat (Male), Lapras (Female), Ferrothorn (Female), Gourgiest (Female), Shuckle (Male), Blastoise (Male), Slurpuff (Female), Poliwag (Male), Snover (Male), Rotom (Female), Banette (Female) Chesnaught (Male), Scyther (Female), Ursaring (Female) Dragonair (Male), Hydreigon (Female), Snorlax (Male), Charizard (Male), Venusaur (Female) and Ditto (Genderless).

Serena – Furfrou (Male), Spritize (Male), Audino (Female), Luvdisc (Female), Plusle & Minun (Female), Weavile (Female), Gourgiest (Male), Ditto (Genderless), Mr. Mime (Female), Altaria (Male), Swablu (Female), and Poliwag (Female).