Chapter 7: Ash's Test
(DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE MARIO FRANCHISE/SERIES OR POKÉMON. MARIO (FRANCHISE/SERIES) BELONGS TO NINTENDO/GAMEFREAK. POKÉMON BELONGS TO GAMEFREAK/NINTENDO).
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(Princess Serena, and Sylveon begin leading Ash to the balcony Waterfall that opens like a pair of a curtains on a Stage. Then the Balcony begins floating away from the castle to the middle of a lake. Then appearing from the lake was a giant Yellow Block with a White Question Mark on it, it floats up to Ash, Princess Serena, and Sylveon before continuing to float higher in the sky before coming to a stop. Then the Block begins to open, sending pieces of it all over the place. Revealing what Ash could only describe best as a sort of Training Course, filled with yellow log-esque platforms, Yellow Blocks with Mechanical Hydrapple's with snapping Mouths, Metal Blocks with Cannons perched on top with Beldum's in them ready to fire, Brown Brick Blocks separated by blocks covered in Lava, and swinging bars also covered in lava, finally a Flagpole had a Pennant Flag with Princess Serena's "S" initial on it rise to the top. Suffice it to say, it left everyone awing in delight. Then Princess Serena tells Ash informing of what they are doing here).
Princess Serena: If you can finish this, you can come with me, and Sylveon. (From Ash's point of view, Princess Serena was wanting to assess his aptitude first so it will not cost her any time she would need to protect her kingdom, which made sense to him as a Reasonable Authority Figure. But this Training Course looked quite insurmountable, while Sylveon gave him an encouraging look). Watch and learn. (Then Princess Serena runs as she enters the Training Course with Sylveon cheering her on).
Sylveon: You got this Serena.
(Princess Serena Goes through the Training Course, jumping over spikes, jumping from a bunch a blocks onto a group of yellow blocks, going higher into the air, going over another bunch of spikes, before landing on another set of blocks, skillfully avoiding the Snapping Hydrapple's, and landing before taking off running once more. Then She slides under a Flaming Bar of lava, dodging another Snapping Hydrapple, jumping and landing on a spring pad, sending her flying into the air where she bounces off various blocks, going higher and higher into the air. Before letting herself fall onto more brick blocks, even rolling back onto her feet, as she keeps moving through the training course. She keeps moving as she leaps off a group of blocks into the air before she kicks a cardboard Koraidon). Hi-yah! (After hitting the Koraidon-shaped target heels-first, she lands on a group of the yellow log-esque blocks that Ash saw, and began running at once, sliding across them as the turn red and fall downwards to the ground. Princess Serena runs and turns around a corner, as she saw the Beldum cannons facing her direction, before firing all at once. But Princess Serena did not seem discouraged in the slightest, as she smirks at them, and then jumps on them, jumping from one Beldum to another without any problems. Then she leaps off one last Beldum, before jumping towards the flagpole, and manages to grab onto it, swinging around it, before jumping again as Sylveon uses its Fairy Wind Move to create an air current that allows Princess Serena to slowly descend to the ground safely as Sylveon praise her).
Sylveon: Great Job Serena.
(Ash was amazed to see the Warrior Princess Serena finish the Training Course without breaking a sweat, without any issues, and without so much as a scratch on her. And she looked to have been legitimately enjoying herself the whole time. Clearly Princess Serena was an Action girl who was capable of Kicking Butt in All Her Finery due to being a naturally skilled acrobat. Obviously, Princess Serena living with all these Floette has ensured that she was able to perform impressive aerobic feats like she just did. But earlier he had trouble just following Floette (Eternal Flower) through Berry Kingdom on his tour, such as when he had to jump across moving platforms Multiple stories above the ground, so how was supposed to do incredible acts of Platforming like her. Ash never met a woman who was more adept in combat and skills quite like her before, and he still had a Slack-Jawed look on his face as he finished processing the Ace Princess Serena's amazing skills, making him feel a bit like an Amazon Chaser towards her).
Ash: That was amazing. Wait... How-how am I supposed to do that?
Princess Serena: With the Power-Ups. They give us special abilities. (Princess Serena then hits a "?" Block floating in the air between them when she does it sends out an item that lands on Ash's hands. When Ash saw it, he recognized as a Leppa Berry, and he became instantly repulsed and disgusted by it).
Ash: Ugh! Really? (Princess Serena, and Sylveon send Ash encouraging smiles).
Princess Serena: Go on. Eat it.
Sylveon: I love eating Leppa Berries.
Ash: Ugh... (Ash tries to eat the berry, bringing the Berry up to his mouth while childishly stomping in place as he prepares to eat it, finding all this to be a truly cruel twist of fate). Does this have be a Berry. 'Cause I just...HATE Berries, and... (Then he sees that Princess Serena, and Sylveon were glaring at him, expecting him to do so). Okay, okay. (Ash tries to eat the berry again with a Determined grunt; Ash again brings the Berry up to his mouth before stopping to ask). Are you sure there is not like a- (Princess Serena having had enough of Ash hesitating, grabs the Leppa Berry and signals to have Sylveon use her ribbon like feelers to force Ash's mouth open while she force-feeds it to him).
Princess Serena: Down the hatch! (Princess Serena continues shoving the Leppa Berry down his throat).
Ash: (Huffs). Ow!
Princess Serena: Yep, there it is, and all gone. (Then She signals to Sylveon that she can let go of Ash. Once Ash can, he gags and huffs in pain of how she just force fed him a Leppa Berry with a Deadpan Snark, even his own father never did that, and his dad knew that he did not like Berries).
Sylveon: Sorry, but you were taking too long. (Finally, Ash did a Hard Swallow of the Leppa Berry while barely able to speak).
Ash: Oh, not cool! Uh... (Then Ash noticed that his body was beginning to shimmer and glow as he Feels a surge of power). Huh? (Ash's hand suddenly grows large and hits him in the nose). Oh! (Then Ash notices that his feet were growing as well). Whoa! (The rest of Ash's body grows, keeping his proportions but now standing as tall as Princess Serena. Then he begins to cheer in happiness). Whoa! Now I am tall. (Feeling Taller than before made him quite Pleased, especially when he remembers all the instances that people have used his Height Angst to mock him for his height over the course of his life. But now he was a Sizeshifter, and he liked it).
Princess Serena: And strong. (Then Ash notices a Brick Block floating above him nearby, then he jumps and manages to break it in one hit). And you can jump. (Ash was really liking how in addition to his increased height, he now also had Super Strength, and best of all, he could punch and Breaks Solid Bricks with no effort or discomfort. He was now feeling quite Confident in himself now, as he chuckles to Princess Serena, and Sylveon).
Ash: (Chuckles). Oh, I got this. No problem. (Sylveon then encourages Ash before he heads for the Training Course).
Sylveon: Good Luck Ash. (Ash Runs onto the Training Course and jumps into the air in a Single Bound). Woo-hoo! (Ash could also see that the Leppa Berry also boosted the power of his jumps quite a bit. But then Suddenly he realizes that he forgot to make sure that there was a platform beneath him, but since there was no platform below him, he falls, crashing into multiple brick platforms and landing in the water with a couple of Seaking nearby, causing him to shrink back down to his Usual Size. Then an Origin Ball that was under the water activates, pulling him in).
(The Origin Ball takes Ash back to the platform where Princess Serena, and Sylveon were watching as she "Casually" tells him).
Princess Serena: Oh, yes... When you get hit, you...lose the power. (Princess Serena Hits the "?" Block again, producing another Leppa Berry that lands in Ash's Hands as he responds with fake excitement, as he realizes that while he was quite powerful in his own way, he was overconfident, and lacked the technique that Princess Serena has, making him Unskilled, but Strong).
Ash: Great. (With a Sigh, Ash eats the Leppa Berry and becomes big again, not entirely liking this whole "Untouchable Until Tagged" rule with the Power-Ups, as Princess Serena, and Sylveon gently nudge him to try again).
Princess Serena: Come on. Try again. (Then Sylveon tries to cheer up Ash telling him).
Sylveon: Do not give up. Keep trying. (Then Ash runs back onto the training course).
(A remixed version of Bonnie Tyler's Song "Holding Out for a Hero" plays, as Ash tries again, running along a line of Blocks, even climbing onto another line of Blocks, and running down but when he jumps into the air, he ends up hitting a block causing him to fall making Princess Serena and Sylveon wince as they watch this).
Princess Serena: (Winces). Ooh…
Sylveon: That's gonna leave a mark.
(Then When Ash was at the part where he had to get past the Fake Fire Bar, he screams as he manages to avoid having it hit him. He keeps trying to pass it from below but keeps having to turn back to avoid having it hit him, but then the bar ends up hitting him).
(Then on one of Ash's next tries to clear the course he arrives at the end of a row of brick blocks with a moving lift platform that would take him to a bunch of Yellow Log-Esque Platforms on the other side. But when Ash arrives to jump to the Lift Platform, he comes a couple of seconds late, and the platform moves away to the other side, causing him to miss it and he falls screaming).
(The sun was beginning to set when one of Ash's Next tries to get across the space with the Lift Platform, has him succeeding to jump, and land on the Lift Platform, before he lost control of himself and he ends up falling off the Lift and crashing into the Yellow Log-Esque Platforms, causing him to fall and lose again).
(Now it was nighttime when Ash managed to safely land on the Lift Platform and not at once fall off, before succeeding in getting across to the Yellow Log-Esque Platforms. Feeling happy about this success of his, Ash shouts happily).
Ash: Yes! (Ash was thinking he has finally gotten that part of the obstacle course taken care of, but then the platform he was on, turns red and collapses taking him with it as he screams. This Causes Princess Serena, and Sylveon who were still watching his repetitive failures to groan in frustration and sigh in exasperation. As they were both thinking the same thought, "You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!" With Princess Serena even drops her face in disbelief and planting her face into the railing of her castle balcony. But Sylveon while saddened by Ash's repetitive failures, was still holding out hope for him to succeed in the end).
(As Ash keeps trying (and failing) to complete the training course, he keeps losing in different ways, such as: Getting Caught in a Hydrapple's mouth after passing one, getting hit by a Beldum while he was not looking, getting hit by a fireball, having a Seaking tail-slap him with its Aqua Tail as he was already preparing to enter an Origin Ball, getting stuck to a Beldum's face as it goes flying across the course, hitting his head on a block, getting caught in the Chompers of a Hydrapple, having a Seaking chomp on his head, and falling into the water. Ash just kept failing the Training Course repeatedly, which meant he had to keep eating Dreaded Leppa Berries. Even regurgitating the Leppa Berries he ate too much of, at one point, thinking that this really was a "cruel twist of fate" as he Does Not Like Spam. As he was regurgitating the Leppa Berries, his body had a flickering light effect as he was getting the berries it out of his system. While Princess Serena, and Sylveon were disgusted and grossed out by what Ash was doing, Princess Serena and Sylveon were trying to comfort him with Serena awkwardly and gently patting his back while Sylveon was using its Heal Bell move to try and alleviate Ash's condition as he leans over the side of the balcony, trying to get the Leppa Berries out of his body).
(Later as Morning has come, Princess Serena, and Sylveon have fallen asleep. And Ash was still going, having not given up yet, despite feeling exhausted as he had been going all night without stopping. He looks up at the Flagpole, before taking bite of another Leppa Berry, takes a deep breath, and rushes into the training course once more. Ash avoids the spiked blocks and jumps from one block to another, before climbing onto another row brick blocks, ducking under a Hydrapple, and perches himself against the Origin Ball the Hydrapple was in, and waits until it goes back in the Origin Ball, then he climbs on top of it, and jumps into the air, landing on a Hydrapple that was just coming out of an Origin Ball, and uses it to propel himself into the air. Then he lands on the Blocks leading him to the dreaded Fire Bar, he knew that instead of waiting for a chance to pass it, he decides instead to just go underneath via ground pound. Once he lands on a row of blocks underneath him, he continues running through the course. Busting his way through Brick walls, either by running into them, or punching his way through. Just then, Princess Serena, and Sylveon were both starting to wake up when they see Ash jumping and performing a Forward Aerial attack on the Fake Koraidon Cardboard Cutout, before landing and running across on the Yellow Log-Esque platforms that he made the mistake of standing on for too long, then when he turns around a corner, leading him to be in the path of the Cannons that shoot Beldum, he keeps going, holding his arms out to the side while running across the blocks. Once he reaches full speed, he performs a triple jump, jumping on multiple fake Beldum, getting closer and closer to the Goal Pole, with Princess Serena and Sylveon watches in excitement with Serena looking particularly starry-eyed, thinking that Ash might just make it, ending his Failure Montage. Then Ash turns to lock eyes with the Princess as he poses and smiles confidently at Princess Serena as he shows off to her with an almost flirty smirk, but because he took his eyes off the course, he ends up chomped on by a fake Hydrapple before he can reach the Goal Pole, leading to yet another loss).
(Now Ash, Princess Serena, and Sylveon were all sitting together on a Pair of Blocks somewhere on the Training Course as the Sun was rising).
Princess Serena: Well... We have a long journey ahead of us, Cappy. (Ash was in shock to hear this).
Ash: But I did not make it. (Ash thought that his Butt-Monkey status would have been detrimental to Princess Serena's quest to stop Koraidon and save her Kingdom. But he did sorta like how Princess Serena just called him, "Cappy").
Princess Serena: You did quite well. No one gets it right away. (But Princess Serena noticed that Ash had slowly started to learn the layout of the Obstacle Course and learned how to deal with the various obstacles and enemies, eventually becoming skilled enough to (almost) make it through in style. Not to mention, it allowed her, and Sylveon to see Ash's Determinator attitude).
Sylveon: Despite how greatly you kept failing Ash, you also kept getting back up, and never quitting. That is why we are letting you come with us. (Then Ash felt the need to ask Princess Serena).
Ash: What number of tries did it take you? Or Sylveon? (Ash was for sure thinking that she had to try this course a ton of times, while also wondering if Princess Serena had commissioned this course and had it built in the first place, since it would explain to him why she'd already know the layout from the Spikes of Doom, to the amount of fireball whip traps, and the bunch of Beldum Blaster turrets. It would have also explained why it did not look like something the (close to legless) Floette would have made for themselves and how he would have a devil of a time getting the hang of it while Princess Serena ace what was clearly a Death Course. Princess Serena takes a couple of seconds to process Ash's question before she answers it).
Princess Serena: Oh! (Chuckles). So many, I was not good at it. Worse than you.
Sylveon: I lost so many times that I still have bruises and scars from all my losses on me to this day. (Then Princess Serena and Sylveon then awkwardly grin at him, but Ash did not believe Princess Serena, or Sylveon's answers, seeing them as bunch of Blatant Lies. As he had been practicing the entire night, and only came close to finishing the training course, and since he had already seen her in action he does not buy it for a second and says knowing that she was a bad liar due to her trying to overcompensate the lie).
Ash: You both got it right away, didn't you? (Seeing that Ash figured that the two of them were a case of Instant Expert for this Obstacle Course, she admits it to Ash).
Princess Serena: Yes, I got it right away, but I grew up here with Sylveon.
Sylveon: Our Princess has always been quite the Ace when it comes to platforming and combat, and a Natural Prodigy. And for being quite a Warrior Princess, she is not just a warrior, but a proper One-Woman Army for her beloved Floette subjects. (Ash feels flattered by what they are telling him, knowing that are just trying to be nice. With Princess Serena trying to be a Humble Hero who might make others seem inferior to her by comparison, she compensates for it by not being a braggart, and did what she could to console Ash while trying not to draw attention to her accomplishments.
Ash: Okay, now you are just trying to make me feel better. (Then Princess Serena tries to deny it).
Princess Serena: No, No... (But then she asks). Is it working?
Ash: A little bit, yes. (Ash found that Princess Serena was a Nice Girl who was kind, sweet, and gentle. And was even willing to wait for him to complete the training course and prove himself worthy to go to the Ultra Jungle Kingdom with her, and Sylveon. Even after he kept failing (albeit with very impressive improvements), she was kind enough to let him join them, because she was impressed with determination. And then reassure him that there is no shame in failing repeatedly, even lying that she did not get it right the first time just to make him feel better. Ash just hoped that all this training he did would be enough to help Save his brother Ritchie, Stop Koraidon and Save the Berry Kingdom).
[A/N #1: Attention Everyone, while I was working on this chapter, I realized that I had made a HUGE MISTAKE! As you surely know (Remember more so) I had chosen to include Serena's Delphox in the story, but there lies the HUGE MISTAKE I made, I forgot that I was already using Delphox to play another character in this story, Bowser's (Koraidon's) Magical Assistant Magikoopa who is already being played by a Delphox. So, to fix this problem, I went back and completely edited out all Delphox's parts in Chapter 6. (The Chapter that came before this one), I did this just to avoid potential confusion between Serena's Delphox, and the Delphox aiding Bowser (Koraidon). Now I am so sorry; I do not usually make mistakes like this. When I realized it, I was so embarrassed. (And I felt like a HUGE idiot). But by now, all the Parts with Serena's Delphox in Chapter 6 are no longer there (in other words, gone). The only Delphox in this Story will be the one helping Bowser (Koraidon). Chapter 6 is still the same it was, just now all mentions of Delphox are gone, including Dialogue said by Delphox and actions that Delphox did are (again) gone. So, this means that Serena's only partner Pokémon is her Sylveon. And I hope you can forgive for such an Egregious mistake. It will never happen again. (And if does, feel free to point it out, so I can fix it as soon as I can). Thank you :) And I hope you enjoyed this chapter].
[A/N #2: In the last chapter, I mentioned that I hid a reference to well-loved 2007 Nickelodeon Show in the Same Chapter. If you are wondering what the Show, I made a reference to was, it was "iCarly". The Clue was that I had Floette call a Character, "Carly Shay" who is the Main Character on "iCarly"].
Replies to my reviewers:
Ashpoke55: Thank You, I am glad you liked my Choice of Serena for Princess Peach. But my reason for why I chose Serena as Princess Peach has a bit of a Story behind it. A long time ago (Around the time the Pokémon "XY", "XY and Z" Anime (Season) was airing) I was a MASSIVE Fan of the Pokémon shipping for Ash and Serena. (Called, "Amourshipping"). At the time, I was very much into the shipping (Close to being obsessed, but not fully obsessed). I even had a couple of other favorite Pokémon Pairings (Shipping's), Such as PokéShipping (Which is Ash and Misty), AdvanceShipping (Which is Ash and May), PearlShipping (Which is Ash and Dawn), NegaiShipping (Which is Ash and Iris), AureliaShipping (Which is Ash and Lillie), RocketShipping (Which is Jessie and James), ContestShipping (Which is May and Drew), ShalourShipping (Which is Ash and Korrina), AlolaShipping (Which is Ash and Mallow), and AbilityShipping (Which is Ash and Annabelle). But AmourShipping was the shipping I was most Fascinated with (So to speak). (At least it was until Mallow of the Pokémon Sun and Moon Anime debuted, then I fell I love with AlolaShipping). Mainly because, prior to becoming invested in Shipping, I never really gave it a whole lot of thought. It was just that I liked Ash and Serena as characters, but when I found out about AmourShipping, I ended up HOOKED! And that is when my Fascination with Shipping's began. As I said, AmourShipping was the shipping I was most Fascinated with, and I spent a ton of time watching videos (Mostly Music Videos) where people place songs while showing clips of the two characters who people are shipping are doing things together. In the Case of AmourShipping, it was videos of Ash and Serena with Songs like, "Love is an Open Door" (Which I now regret ever liking because it is from my Least Favorite Disney Movie EVER, "Frozen"), "Skater Boy", "You're the Reason why I Smile", "Girl at Home", "Counting Stars", "Shut Up & Dance With Me", "Marry You", "My Life Would Suck Without You", "Don't Stop", and "Dear Future Husband". But also through exploring my Love for the previously mentioned Pokémon shipping's, I discovered other songs that I have come to know and Love (or just ones that I have come to like a lot) such as, "I want to be your girlfriend", "Summer Sunshine", "My love", "Bad Boy", "Bad Romance", "E.T.", "Everytime we touch", "Heart Attack", "I want it that way", "In the Name of Love", "Kings & Queens", "Listen to your Heart", "Love me like you do", "Marry Me", "Never Forget You", "Never let me down", "Paradise", "Whispers in the Dark", "Thanks for the Memories", "Shape Of You", "Attention", and "Just the way you are". And Shipping's in Pokémon tend to be a Major factor in deciding which Pokémon Characters should play characters who have a Relationship with each other. (Whether the Relationship is a Marital or a Boyfriend x Girlfriend kind of relationship). In this Story's case, Since Mario and Princess Peach end up becoming Romantically interested in each other (Even though the Romance of their relationship is not the Main Focus of the Movie), I decided to just have a little fun and choose an old Favorite Pokémon Shipping of mine that I still have a fondness for, that being AmourShipping. But what AmourShipping remarkably interesting (and Special) is that according Bulbapedia (which is an Encyclopedia for the Pokémon Franchise) that The Pokémon Company has officially recognized it as a Real Thing in the Pokémon Franchise. Bulbapedia even has a whole Article Page on AmourShipping, (and a Couple of other shipping's) here are a couple of interesting things they say about the AmourShipping Pairing:
1). AmourShipping is the ship between Ash Ketchum and Serena and is one of the most common pairings within the Pokémon fandom, alongside PokéShipping and RocketShipping. It is also one of the few pairings that have received officially recognition by The Pokémon Company, with evidence found across multiple adaptations.
2). In "Till We Compete Again!", when Ash enters his house, the white flowers in the foreground are Baby Breath flowers which symbolize everlasting love and are for use in bride's bouquets. There has been confirmation that it is a hint from the writers that shows their content with the ending of XY&Z having Ash and Serena kiss and that it is a willing hidden message.
3). In "Reuniting for the First Time!", Serena no longer wears the blue ribbon that Ash gave to her in Coumarine City, but she does wear an ankle bracelet connected to beads on her left leg as a part of her contest costume. Wearing an accessory on the left ankle symbolically means having a husband, boyfriend, lover, or someone you are interested in romantically.
4). In "Reuniting for the First Time!", as Serena watches Ash's boat from a distance, the dock lights turn green. This could be a reference and parallel to The Great Gatsby, in which a green light on a dock is symbolic of Gatsby's hope to rekindle his past love with Daisy.
5). This could also be a reference to The Green Ray, in which a green light appears at sunset when two lovers gaze into each other's eyes, like what happens between Ash and Serena in the episode.
Bulbapedia, even at one point had lists of every Single little hint of Romantic attraction between Characters involved in a Shipping Pairing, on the Respective Shipping Page on Bulbapedia. But sadly, those are no longer present. And Multiple pages for tons of different shipping's no longer exist on Bulbapedia. (Which Really stinks if I am being honest because I like that sort of thing). So, even though AmourShipping is no longer my top Favorite Pokémon Shipping (that title belongs to AlolaShipping), I still do have a Soft Spot in my Heart for Ash and Serena as a Couple. Anyway, as for your question about what story I will be doing next after I finish "The Super Ketchum Bros.", I am sorry, but I do not want to spoil the surprise for you. But I will say this, when I publish it, it will be causing quite the Pandamonium. And I do Respect and Like how eager you sounded when you asked the previously mentioned questioned].
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-To Be Continued-
Next time on ... THE SUPER KETCHUM BROS.:
Koraidon's Victory Party