Ron the True Fan: (Is spat out by Shai-hu-Gib) …Love that shark. Guess who's back.
Takeshi Yamato: Sure you don't need more of a break, my friend?
Ron the True Fan: It's been two months and it took a month to get this done. Leech.
Takeshi Yamato: …You're never letting me live that down, are you?
Ron the True Fan: When you actually do something about it without my help. Let's get it done.
Indigo Plateau, Kanto Region, 1313 hours local time, Day 198 of Ash Ketchum's Pokemon Journey
Bruno stood at the end of the arena as Ash walked in, the field surrounded by rocks.
"So you defeated Lorelei." Bruno said. "Well done."
Ash closed his eyes and made a subtle sigh. "I… don't feel like I earned that win." he admitted. "Seemed a bit too easy and… I don't like it."
Bruno chuckled. "A word to the wise, young man. Lorelei's choice in Pokemon is not the greatest." he said. "She is an instructor and teacher first and Elite Four second. This is not to fault her: this is simply fact. But I will not fall as easily."
Ash had a dark 'I hope so' on his tongue that he did not voice. It wasn't his thing. He lived for the challenge, not to mock people that didn't deserve it. He wasn't Gary pre-Hoenn, he wasn't Paul and he was not Trip.
Something was wrong with him and he did not like it.
Refocusing on the moment, Ash pulled out a Pokeball. Bruno nodded before tossing out one of his own, both releasing at the same time, revealing Ash's pick to be Quilava. And Bruno's… confusing.
Quilava voiced it. "Qui?" 'What the hell's wrong with that Golem?' she asked, as the golem in question had giant spikes on his back, eyebrows and a BEARD.
"Oh, crap." Ash said aloud. "It's an Alolan Golem! Rock/Electric–"
"Gol!" 'FIRING!' the Golem declared as it fired a MASSIVE boulder out of the railgun at Quilava, who barely Quick Attacked out of the way, Ash having to duck from the boulder as it shot past him.
"Pika!" 'Watch where you're firing, asshole!' Pikachu demanded. "Pikapi!" 'You almost hit Ash!'
Quilava's back flared up, royally pissed. "Qui." 'You're going to suffer for that.' she declared, before launching at the living boulder, using Aerial Ace to shoot towards the Golem before flipping over by 180 degrees and slamming her feet into his face.
The cracking of stone made both Bruno and Ash wince from the impact. Quilava boosted and Double Kicked. And fighting broke rock.
"Qui!" 'That's-' Quilava started before wincing in pain. That little move broke her ankles due to the speed and impact.
Bruno raised a hand. "Golem has suffered brain injuries and your Quilava's legs are broken." he said. "To continue would injure them more and put the spectators in unnecessary risk."
"…So… a draw?" Ash asked, just for clarification. He wasn't going to let Quilava get more hurt then she already was, that was for sure.
"A draw." Bruno confirmed, returning Golem to his ball. "Rock-types are resilient. He will heal with time."
"Qui…" 'I. Regret. Nothing.' Quilava said, wincing with pain as she put weight on her back paws. Ash returned her without a word. She was too hurt to fight and he wasn't going to make it worse by forcing her.
More concern then Paul would ever show.
"Send out your next, young man." Bruno said. "You are certainly living up to your reputation."
"My reputation?" Ash asked as he put a hand around Noctowl's ball. "It might surprise you, Bruno, but reputation isn't something I care about." Not anymore, at least. After five leagues, he'd just resigned himself to his fate. Serena ALMOST restored his faith in being able to decide his own fate until… well, Diancie, then Volcanion…
Seriously, he'd like the CHOICE to refuse for ONCE. Even if Arceus struck him down, at least he could say he chose not to obey.
"Regardless, you live up to it. Now, you must overcome it!" Bruno declared, sending out an Onyx. Ash never understood why he had one, honestly. Because Bruno was a fighting master. Onyx was a giant rock snake. Didn't make much sense.
Oh, well. Ash tossed out Noctowl's ball. This was either going to end very badly or just badly.
And with a sparkly shower, Noctowl emerged. And saw his massive opponent.
"Noctowl." 'I say, you're a big one.' the bird said before looking back at Ash. "Owl?" 'I suppose aiming for the horn is pointless?'
"Whoever thought that was a thing that worked needs to be electrocuted." Ash said dryly.
"If your Noctowl mentioned that stupid 'aim for the horn' thing-" Bruno said before Onyx roared. "…He asked for it."
Ash could not deny that. Hitting a horn would take them off balance… but it wouldn't end the fight.
It would just make the horned one mad.
Outside, Serena had an honor guard of sorts.
Of fins and mysteriously ominous music.
'Why must they be CUTE?!' Asuka demanded from within her mind, as the fins circled, the one with the clip surfacing to eyesmile and make a happy 'Gible!'. 'They're sharks! Sharks aren't supposed to be cute!'
'But they are. This is fact.' Rey said as she joined the staring at the Gibles. Iris' and Sabrina's sharks following Ash's as he followed them in orbiting her as she wandered Indigo Plateau's woodland area. It was so… different to Kalos, yet so similar. But there was no familiar Pokemon there.
'Don't get homesick.' Astral Serena said, getting her corporeal self's attention. 'You, WE chose this when we left home! Especially to go with Ash the first time around! Mom wanted me to be her carbon copy, remember?!'
'Vaguely.' Hime quipped. 'We are nobility now: heirs to a duchy. Our fate was sealed when we were born. We were free to do what we wanted otherwise, but you aren't wrong in that mother forced us into trying to become her carbon copy.'
Serena was not a Ryhorn racer in either timeline. It was a skill to learn, sure, but it was not a profession she wanted to pursue.
It wasn't until she discovered performances that she knew what she wanted to be. Her mother didn't get that. But now… things had REALLY changed.
The Gibles then surfaced, sniffing around. "Gible?" said Sabrina's yellow shark. "Gible!" cried Iris', before Ash's went for the traditional Gible greeting by jumping into the air.
CHOMP!
Serena looked where Gible flew off to, seeing, in a bush…a Goomy.
What was a Kalosian Pokemon doing here?
"Gible!" 'Friend!' cried the land shark as he nommed on the Goomy's top half, eyesmiling.
The Goomy looked up, the green spots on her face looking more like gold, looking somewhat annoyed.
"Goomy?" 'Land shark, might I inquire why you are latched onto my head?' the female snail asked. "Goo." 'There is no reason for you to be biting upon me.'
Gible opened his eyes in confusion. "Gible?" 'You talk weird. Very old-fashioned.' Gible warbled. Then he eyesmiled. "Gible!" 'But you do not know the way of the Gible! When we say hi, we chomp!'
The Goomy was more confused. "Goomy." 'Could you kindly let me go out of your mouth?' she asked. "Goo." 'I am not your comrade.'
"Gible!" 'But you can be!' the cheerful land shark said before letting go and landing on the ground before making his little Gible dance.
Serena, Ash's future mate, approached the Goomy, kneeling. "What are you doing here in Kanto?" she asked, curiously. "You are a long way from your homeland."
The Goomy slithered towards her, curious. "Goomy." 'Very much so. I don't know how I got here.' she said. "Goo." 'You are… more refined then most humans I have met.'
Both regarded the other, even as the Gibles stared at them.
"Gible?" 'Friend?' asked Sabrina's yellow land shark.
"Gible." 'She'll catch the snail.' Iris' Gible said, 'nodding'.
"Gible!" 'New friend!' cried Ash's land shark, who was more then happy to have a new travelling companion/chew toy.
…They're Gibles. The chomp is what they do.
"I mean, aiming for the horn KINDA makes sense - smack it and they're reeling for a minute - but it's not an instant win thing." Max said while crossing his arms as Noctowl did… just that using Steel Wing on Onyx's horn. "Why does everyone have an obsession with hitting the horn and thinking it's an instant victory thing?"
"Coolness?" Kyoji suggested.
"Cool is nice, but cool doesn'ta automatically mean you win." Max pointed out. "Just look at shiny Pokemon. They look cool, with the exception of Garchomp-"
"Gible!" 'I take offense to that!' the yellow shark protested.
"But a lot of times, a shiny's no match for a well-trained Pokemon." Max said. "Sad, but true. WAY too true."
"And yet Ash is winning." Kyoji said before Onyx shot rocks at Noctowl, who barrel-rolled out of the worst of the barrage.
Max gave him a look. "You know they train their butts off at the ranch, right?" he asked. "Exception that proves the rule: just because it's shiny doesn't make it automatically awesome."
"Gible?!" 'And what's wrong with Garchomp's shiny? I bet it looks great!' Gible demanded.
Kyoji winced before pulling up Gible's shiny line on his Pokedex… and Garchomp's mediocre change.
This made a very sad Gible. Which didn't last long as Gible perked up, sniffing the air. "Gible?" 'Another dragon?' he asked before eyesmiling. "Gible!" 'Friend!'
"Goomy." 'Not another one.' came the voice of a regal sounding female Goomy, prompting Kyoji to look at the entrance and see Serena walking back in with her 'Gible Guard' of land sharks with a Goomy with… yellow spots instead of green?
Odd.
Noctowl almost hit the ground before Ash returned him, conceding that match.
Bruno did not sneer or mock, simply nodding in approval. "It is good to see a trainer take their Pokemon's well-being into account. You could have waited for him to hit the ground, yet you did not." he said, clearly pleased not with himself, but Ash's conduct. "Well done."
In the back of Ash's head, he felt… annoyed. Like fair play and concern was beneath him. Which was dumb: he went out of his way to make sure everything was equal.
He'd need to talk to Gaffery about this.
Ash put a hand around another ball. He had to focus.
"Go, Pidgeot!" he declared, not noticing his key stone resonating when he tossed the ball. Pidgeot emerged as a Mega Pidgeot, cawking proudly.
Bruno and Ash both stared at the mega evolved raptor before looking at each other.
"I did NOT do that. I think." Ash said, confusion in his voice.
"I believe you." Bruno said before Onyx fired more rocks into the air, only for the mega bird to perform a kulbit and avoid the majority of the rocks fired by looping INTO the tight space between the attack.
"Geot!" 'Time to go.' cawed the first of Ash's birds as her wings became steel and she dove at Onyx, her left wing slamming into the gaps between the boulders two and three away from the rock snake's head, chipping it away.
Ash winced at the cry of absolute pain from Onyx. Part of him took enjoyment from what was effectively cutting through a vein - something he REALLY had to talk to Gaffery about - but less lethal. Onyx would recover.
Bruno noticed. "I would penalize you if you gave that order." he said. "But you gave no commands and didn't have time to do so. Onyx will recover."
"I'm not happy about what happened." Ash said, giving a look at Pidgeot, who looked sheepish. "But at least Onyx'll be fine in the end."
"A tad bit aggressive, though." Bruno noted.
"You know she was cheated of the chance once." Ash said, meaning more Jessie, James and Meowth being obsessed with his Pikachu then the Cipher attack. "I think she's making up for it."
"Geot!" 'You're damned right!' the bird-of-prey declared.
"This will be a mistake." Bruno declared. "But my Pokemon and I also enjoy thumbing our noses at the type chart. Hitmonchan!" he tossed out a Pokeball, releasing the boxing Pokemon onto the field.
Ash winced, knowing Pidgeot was not going to play fair. "Please tell me he knows Thunder Punch." he asked, not wanting it to be decided by Pidgeot's raw speed. It would not be fair to Bruno.
"He does." Bruno confirmed, Hitmonchan readying for battle. Ash recognized the stance: he knew he would lose, but he would make the victor pay for it.
Ash could admire that. His Pokemon had made that stance so often in the past.
His Pokemon trained too much. Far too much. Ash wanted to win, but not… effortlessly.
Cyrus had to be stopped, sure, but… not at the expense of enjoying themselves.
Because if you weren't enjoying what you were doing… why bother?
"I feel SO sorry for Bruno." Misty said. "That's just WRONG."
"A Mega Pidgeot, which is effectively channeling the power the god of skies, against a Hitmonchan." Max deadpanned. "He's doomed."
"…I forget, which god-" Kyoji started to ask before Sabrina answered.
"Rayquaza." she said. "All flying-types are directly empowered by him. Even the Lugias and Ho-ohs."
"…How does-"
"There are only TWO Weather Trios. There are at least EIGHT Bird Trios and Trio Masters for each." Sabrina cut off.
"…I see your point." Kyoji said before looking at Gible. "Who do YOU draw your divine power from?"
"Gible?" 'I don't know? I always assumed it was just a fragment of Arceus' might.' the yellow shark said. "Gible!" 'I don't really care, either!' The declaration was followed by the tradition of Gibles everywhere.
CHOMP!
"And I wouldn't want you any other way, buddy." Kyoji said, petting the land shark.
Kingdom of Rota - temporary home of the Priestesses of Arceus - 1546 hours local time
Mei had a bird on her head.
This was not unusual. After all, it was a Natu. Her Natu. Every priestess of Arceus had a Natu to directly commune with the gods.
That said, her bird was balancing on a Pokeball, which she was using to psychically 'glue' to Mei's scalp.
Natus… were ODD birds.
The head of her order, High Priestess Megumi Odata, sat near a makeshift shrine, communing with the spirits of the land. While it was easy to confuse them with the priests and nunnery of the long-dead Abrahamic faiths (whose brief time in the sun was crushed by the fact that they could not prove their god existed while Arceus' existence was well known and proven beyond the shadow of doubt) they were anything but. They were channelers of the spirits and guardians of sacred places.
But even sacred things could easily be corrupted. Thus why they had decided to come here. The closest to the supreme god, the incorruptible, was meant to rule this place. To be near the Neverborn, the Legendary-In-Human-Skin, was to be purified of taint, to be cleansed, for the soul was incorruptible.
But as Mei knew, none of them could be trainers. To do so would begin to erode their connection to the spirit world. A trainer could not perform the tasks demanded of the miko-no-Aruseusu to maintain their spiritual clarity and purity. The constant meditation, communion and prayers required them to be immune to trainers challenging them for battle.
Which posed… a problem. All of Ash's companions were trainers. There was a camaraderie between them as a result. Her destiny laid with him.
And if she could not do as he could… well, there would be some issues in bonding. Arceus DID give her a mission.
Her plea to the Creator also gave her a message to help Ash. He was hurting. The corrupted fires of Ho-Oh scarred deep. He needed someone, MANY someones, to heal his soul. After all, the last coming of the Chosen also ended in pain of the soul. And while the Neverborn could never be corrupted, there were ALWAYS the wounds of the soul.
Always the guardian, never healed. Perhaps that was why Ash had the blood of Rota's kings: Arceus had a hand in it, to heal the eternal guardian. And there was no better balm for such pain then love. Mei was more then willing to help him heal his soul.
But she could not know him while remaining… distant. Trainers were always to be avoided unless they had fallen from grace and needed to be dealt with.
"You have been standing there for fifteen minutes, young Sukone." Odata said, standing and turning to face her with rapidity. "You wanted to speak to me."
That was not a question.
"My apologies, mistress." the silverette said, bowing her head. "I was deep in thought while I waited for you to finish."
"Respectful enough." the head of their order said evenly. "But I had finished my communion with the spirits an hour ago. Speak. What is on your mind?"
How to explain it without seeming disrespectful.
"Simply saying it would help." the most senior shine maiden said dryly, Mei looking almost shocked. "I am 70 years old. You are an open book to me."
She barely looked 40. Regardless…
"Is it possible to become a trainer?" she said bluntly. "You know what the Chosen of Arceus is-"
"And the wounds on his soul. Very. The last time the Chosen walked this realm, the pain he endured was…" the old woman was silent. They both knew what happened. There was a reason it took so long for the Neverborn to return.
AZ be damned for his insult to Arceus.
Back to the point. "And you wish to join the ranks of the trainers… for him?" Odata asked.
"I cannot bond with him if I am segregated by profession." Mei explained. "He is a Pokemon trainer. By all rights, I should not be remotely close to him."
"Circumstances force us to be flexible, especially in Ferrum and Orre." the elder of the two said, her Natu waking and levitating onto her head.
"Natu." said the parrot. Mei's 'Natu'ed back.
Odata closed her eyes. "You will not be forced out of this order." she said. "Your duties are to the Chosen. And if you must become a trainer to help him, let it be so."
That didn't help. At all.
Indigo Plateau - 1557 hours local time
Krookodile traded another blow with Poliwhirl, Ash looking for a way to help him.
Pidgeot beat the crap out of Hitmonchan, but the boxer gave as good as he got. She was going to be needing medical attention after that Thunder Punch to the head. And Hitmonchan was going to need to spend WEEKS recovering from the Hyper Beams and Aerial Acing.
But type disadvantage was the only thing allowing Poliwhirl to last as long as he had. Bruno opened with Hydro Pump, which hurt Krookodile, but it ALSO made him mad. Ash only told him to Dig, then let him fight on his own recognizance.
The result? Punching, clawing and using the second-most powerful bite known to nature on the poor amphibian, who used ice punches, water guns and even a Focus Blast to the head.
Ash was not a fan of the brutality, but he didn't have any means of ending this gently. And neither did Bruno.
"I am of the opinion we both made a mistake when we sent these two out." Bruno said, as Poliwhirl used Ice Punch on Krookodile's side, breaking more then a few ribs, which made the crocodilian roar in pain before rearing up, the frog in his mouth being flung into a wall, but the hardy water-type did not just fall down, unsteadily getting to his feet.
"I think you're right." Ash agreed, Krookodile just looking PISSED. "Krookodile, calm down!"
"KROOK!" 'THREE YEARS! I've been waiting for this for THREE! FUCKING! YEARS!' Krookodile roared. "Dile!" 'I will NOT be denied!'
"Poliwhirl is too injured to continue the battle." Bruno said, even as the toad glared at him, even if he was in a great deal of pain. "And he was thrown out of bounds. For the safety of all involved, I will concede the round."
Krookodile roared, Ash almost tempted to return him, but the look Krookodile gave him spoke of bad things happening if he was returned.
"Pika." 'I honestly cannot blame him.' Pikachu said. "Pikachu." 'We've been… what's the human term? 'Blue-balled'? Since Indigo.'
"At least you're being more calm about it." Ash muttered as a Hitmonlee was sent out, making showy kicking moves, twirling in midair.
"Hit! Mon! Lee!" 'I am strong, I am fast, I am your end!' the martial artist Pokemon declared. Krookodile's answer to that?
Charging at him with flying-type energy surrounding his tail. Hitmonlee recognized the move and tried to evade… but avoiding an Aerial Ace is like trying to dodge a railgun slug within one thousand kilometers.
WHACK! Fucking pointless.
Hitmonlee discovered that quite quickly as in spite of running twenty feet to the left, the tail just homed in on him.
"Arceus has strange ways of letting nature even the odds." Bruno said, as Krookodile started to just spam the attack before looking at Ash. "How long?"
Ash knew the question. "Three years. He was… cheated." he answered. "And now he's making up for lost time."
"I suppose I can't blame him." the fighting Elite said. "Do they train-"
"Every day, apparently." Ash cut off. "Except when Ivysaur forces them to rest."
Bruno nodded. "Wise to enforce a rest period." he said before rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Determined, well-trained, highly conditioned, VERY motivated and with no small amount of highly-focused anger that they are venting on our Pokemon. Were it not in their nature to seek combat, I think my Pokemon would be very angry with yours."
"LEE!" 'GLORIOUS!' the whack-drunk fighting-type said. "HITMON-" 'This is the most fun I've had again-' Krookodile whacked him again with his tail, finally knocking him out.
Bruno sighed. "I had no chance of victory." he admitted. "Your Pokemon train to defeat their weaknesses while also being themselves. If there was a region with an open champion title, I'd suggest you claim it."
Ash and Pikachu blinked. That was… well, unexpected. Him, a champion?
"Recall him. He's vented enough." Bruno demanded. "If he continues, he WILL suffer injury."
Krookodile glared at him over his sunglasses. "ROK!" 'You dare-'
"Krookodile!" Ash cut off. "Stand. Down. You NEED medical attention. There's a difference between determined, stubborn and stupid. You're hurt. You stay, you might DIE."
The crocodilian's anger at being denied was replaced by shock at being snapped at by Ash - Ash, the nicest guy he knew - and the adrenaline numbing the pain was allowed to fade… and yeah, the sheer amount of broken bones was not great.
"Krook." '…you got a point…' he admitted before Ash returned him to his ball.
Bruno shook his head. "My Machamp will stand no chance against any of your Pokemon." he admitted. "And the fight would destroy this place. I yield. The match is yours, young Ketchum."
The gnawing sensation of being cheated grew in the back of his mind. He ignored it.
"A word of advice before you move on." the fighting master said, getting Ash's attention away from ignoring the back of his head. "Agatha will not pull her punches. Do not seek a type disadvantage. It will NOT end well."
"I'll keep that in mind." Ash said.
Mei would have teleported back, but instead a Ghastly took her into a place where mortals were not meant to go.
Fortunately, Giratina was in a good mood and shielded her from the worst of the unknowable. Which is to say all of it: even ONE unfiltered glimpse into the Realm of the Dead was to JOIN it.
"Good. You're here." came the voice of the old hag, Agatha, making Mei snap her eyes to the old, gray-haired woman sitting in a wicker chair and her hands on her cane. "We have much to discuss, young one."
The priestess stood, facing Giratina's Favored. She was, by no means, akin to Ash - her soul was not that of a god, after all - but she was still the favored mortal of a god. Moreover, the favored of the God of the Dead. And while Palkia and Dialga were equal in divine power, Giratina's lack of appearances since Yveltal's original sealing made him… her… whatever gender Giratina was right now… more feared.
Even Mei, who knew Giratina's nature - ashamed rather then malevolent, caring rather then evil - was terrified of the ruler of the Distortion Realm.
"I don't bite." Agatha said. "But the social courtesies have become more and more pointless as I get older. So why don't we get to the point?"
Mei nodded unsurely. "Yes, madam." she responded. "You know what I am."
"Your Natu communed with the gods. Giratina's home is the realm of the Unown, so your message went there… then to Giratina." Agatha explained. "Arceus usually delegates most of these things to her youngest. Makes up for Giratina's lack of public appearances." Mei's eyes widened in horror before Agatha scoffed. "You aren't Giratina's priestesshood, girl. Arceus is a hands-off god. Her usual responses to extreme threats are excessive overkill in the form of smiting."
"Thus why the Chosen comes to the mortal realm." Mei finished. "Then you know as a priestess, I must be solely dedicated to spiritual purity. Spirit channelers who become trainers become easily possessed by angry ghosts."
"I was one." Agatha said. "The percentages are exaggerated. I would know. Maintain your rites of purity and meditation. Consider that an order from Arceus. You DID get the message a few months ago."
Loud, clear and overwhelmingly. To the point where she had to actually confirm it.
"Natu." said her parrot. Demanding to be balled, no doubt.
"I am still not sure-"
Peck. Peck. Peck.
Peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-peck-
"I would make your decision quickly." Agatha said with mild amusement. "That bird will peck through your skull before too long."
Entry 89: Bruno
The Fighting Master of Kanto and Johto, universally respected as a master of martial arts and Pokemon battle, Bruno is not easy to defeat by first-time league winners. Only the most seasoned and skilled of combatants can take down his Pokemon, usually those being four or fifth-league winners.
Bruno is a man of few words, but when he speaks, only a fool would ignore him.
Entry 90: Agatha Grimm-Oak
Wife to Samuel Oak, grandmother to Gary, Agatha is the oldest member of the Kanto Elite Four and mistress of Ghost-type Pokemon. Rumors abound that she is a favored of Giratina and often visits the Distortion Realm.
Her history is largely tied to the Professor's, with their romance beginning due to an undisclosed incident in the Ilex Forest during the Shadow War. She then joined him in his quest to begin reuniting the URN. She is still a force of nature to be worried about.
Ron the True Fan: Bruno did not go down easy. Before you post a review about it, use your brains. Ash has gone through SIX leagues. SIX. His Pokemon train on a daily basis, so much so that only the OLDEST members of the Elite Fours can match them in battle. They are preparing for war. So, please, use some critical thinking.
Takeshi Yamato: And Ash is about to face one of those oldest members next. This is… going to be brutal.
Ron the True Fan: So much so that the Natus are fleeing for the trees. (Flock of Natus hides in canopies) …I'm not sure that's fleeing. That looks more like-(Gets swarmed by parrots)
Takeshi Yamato: Yeah, that was more an ambush formation. They still don't like you, I see.
Ron the True Fan: FUCKING PARROTS!
Ja Ne! (PECK!)