That night Ash laid in bed as Vanillite floated around his room. He tried not to let the Rocket grunt's words get to him but he found it difficult.
"You're nothing, this is bigger than you".
Ash threw a pillow in frustration. Vanillite and Pikachu jumped to his side to help him calm down. Worried expressions marked their faces.
"I'm sorry guys, it's just knowing Team Rocket is out there doing something awful to Pokémon is driving me up the wall."
Pikachu patted Ash's arm as Vanillite gave a confused look with a slight frown.
"We'll stop them. All of us together. We'll get stronger, smarter, faster, and be able to handle anything they throw our way. Team Rocket will end once and for all." Ash had a fire in his eyes and spoke with deep passion. Vanillite cheered, although not really understanding the situation, and Pikachu gave a thumbs up.
Ash decided now was the time to get ready for the day and for whatever it was Brandon had in store for him. He took a quick, cold shower and got dressed. Ash learned fast that being in the warm jungle where the Battle Palace was, taking hot showers was a bad idea. He was pulling his shirt on when he walked into the main area where Brandon stood waiting.
"Today I want us to battle."
Ash grew a wide smile. "Really? Finally!" Brandon flashed a quick smirk. "Yes, it will be one on one. However, I want you to use your Seviper."
"Totally, I want to see where her power is at." Ash could feel his excitement bubbling.
"Meet me on the indoor practice field in ten minutes." With that Brandon walked off. Ash grinned and set outside to find his unusual Seviper. He managed to find her sleeping under a tree. He walked up and calmly woke her up.
"Hey buddy, gotta wake up. We're gonna have our first battle together!" Ash said cheerily to his overgrown viper. Seviper looked up at Ash worried. She did not feel like battling, and tried to shake her head 'no'.
Ash looked at her tilting his head. "You don't wanna battle?" He asked, curious more than anything. Seviper then shook her head up and down. She felt too big to really battle, way too big. She really just felt like taking a nap.
Ash shrugged and put his hands on his hips. "Well, I can't force you to do anything you don't want to do. Maybe I'll just use someone else?" He spoke, mostly to himself. Pikachu just tried to mimic Ash's look of thinking. Ash made his way over to the indoor practice field and saw Brandon waiting patiently.
"Young man, do you have that Seviper with you?"
"No, she did not want to battle and I do not want to force her."
Brandon nodded. "Understandable. Shall we still battle?"
Ash gave a grin, "Of course! I wouldn't have it any other way!
Brandon gave a grin and withdrew a pokeball. "I hope to atleast see a new Pokemon of yours Ash. This is a new one for me!" Brandon released the Pokemon, revealed to be mystic looking Pokemon that remained in the air.
Ash grinned, "A Sigilyph? That's definitely new. But I won't underestimate you, and you shouldn't underestimate me!" Ash tossed a pokeball out, and out jumped his new Ditto.
"Transform Ditto!" Ash said excitedly
Ditto cried it's name out and began to transform into the mystic flying type. Soon in front of the two trainers were two Sigilyph.
"Okay Sigilyph, teleport and use Shadow Ball!" Brandon commanded. In an instant, Sigilyph disappeared and reappeared behind Ditto, charging an ominous ball of spectral energy.
"Ditto, use Protect then Psychic!" Ash commanded. Ditto quickly brought up a green barrier just in time, causing Sigilyph's attack to bounce off and dissipate. Ditto then fired a wave of pink psychic energy at Sigilyph who remained frozen in pain.
"Use Psybeam!" Sigilyph shook off the damage and fired a ray of rainbow psychic energy.
"Teleport, then use Cosmic Power!" Ash said. Ditto disappeared then reappeared over near Brandon's side of the field and began to glow as it's defenses were raised.
"Sigilyph, Future Sight and then follow up with a Psybeam!"
Sigilyph's eye glowed pink for a brief moment then quickly changed to a rainbow beam again.
"Ditto dodge with Teleport!" Ditto nodded and teleported, but Sigilyph was wiser and pre-aimed to where Ditto went and blasted the copy with Psybeam.
"Steady Ditto, use Psychic!" Ditto nodded and uprighted itself, firing a blast of pink, psychic energy at Sigilyph.
"Sigilyph, Teleport into Shadow Ball!" Brandon yelled. Ash smirked, "Ditto, counter with Psybeam and Shadow Ball!"
Ditto nodded and changed course and hit Sigilyph with the two attacks before Brandon could utter out another command. The flying type fell hard and struggled to get back into the air. "Ditto, use Psychic!" Ditto moved in and blasted Sigilyph with a wave of psychic energy which caused Sigilyph to groan in pain.
"Sigilyph, use Roost!" Brandon yelled, hoping to recover.
Ash gave a wicked grin, "Not a chance Brandon! Ditto finish with Shadow Ball!"
Sigilyph landed on the ground to regain itself, but it was no use as Ditto appeared behind it and blasted the psychic type with a ball of ghostly energy. When the smoke cleared, Ditto returned to it's soft pink state as Sigilyph lay in defeat. Brandon returned his Sigilyph, thanking it for an excellent as Ash congratulated Ditto on their first win together.
"Well, as much as I wanted to battle that Seviper of yours, but that was still an excellent battle Ash. Well done adapting to Ditto."
Ash smiled at the praise, "thanks Brandon, but it was Ditto doing the work. Part of me feels that unless provoked, Seviper has no battle drive."
Brandon chuckled, "Well, you are the type to have quirky Pokemon. Take the rest of the day as a rest day. Tomorrow is important."
Ash nodded, the two shook hands, and went their separate ways on the grounds.
That night, Ash lay in bed wide awake. It was past midnight and did not feel tired at all. Pikachu was asleep at the foot of his bed while Vanillite was asleep on a pillow on the floor. Ash sighed and swung his legs over the side, carefully doing so as a means to now wake up the sleeping Pokemon.
Suddenly a fierce headache gripped Ash as he exited the bedroom. He clutched his head and fell to his knees. His skin started searing in pain. He looked down and saw strange, dark blue patterns emerge on his arms. Ash began to panic as they spread down his arm in a sort of tribal shape. Suddenly, a voice called out to him. "Hither, boy!"
Ash jumped in surprise. "Where are you? What's happening to me?!" He yelled out in frustration and confusion, with a tinge of fear. Suddenly a blue glow came from the side room where they kept all of Spenser's belongings, including the Staff of the Unown. Ash felt a pull towards the room as his vision had a blue tint. He made his way to the room, the pain in his arms dwindling as the marks began to set in. The head of the staff was glowing a brilliant blue.
AN: Hi yes I am BEYOND sorry about being late for updating. Besides the usual depression causing inactivity, I have been busy with personal things as well. However, I should be able to update more frequently. I have a pretty clear idea of where I want this story to go and I am excited to begin laying the foundations. I hope you all are still reading and enjoying this and the next update will not take as long as this one did. As always, read and review. Thank you for sticking around!