My Wings

by DestinyHead123

This vast world is filled with uncertainties, from ancient myths to urban legends. Stories passed down for centuries have become intertwined with current cultures, producing this reimagined world in which our hero, Ash Ketchum, chases the answer to an age-old question. What does it mean to be a Pokemon Master? – AU, adult characters, real-world cultures

14. Way of the Water III

Chapter 14

---

Wednesday, April 21st

Day four in Cerulean City. Ash was on another morning run alongside the Cascade River with Pikachu and Greninja. Yesterday, they trained privately. But today, they encountered a familiar face Ash hoped he would see again.

Misty was on the riverside, accompanied by her Psyduck, where she directed a spar between her Corsola and Floatzel in the water. As Misty gave out a fresh set of commands, she caught sight of movement out of the corner of her eye. With a glance, she saw Ash and his Pokemon passing by their little training area, and she waved to them. Ash took that as his invitation to approach her, and his Pokemon followed suit.

"We meet again," Ash remarked as a greeting. Misty didn't even look at him. Her attention rested firmly on Greninja.

"How is your Liquidation coming along?" She asked Greninja.

Greninja avoided eye contact. So, Ash volunteered the information.

"Greninja's been at it for the last two days," Ash interjected as he ignored the narrow glance from Greninja. "But it hasn't been going too well."

Misty pursed her lips. "Lapras is busy today, but Corsola can still help you," Misty said to Greninja. "Show her what you're doing; maybe she can help you a bit more."

Greninja kept his head low and offered a slight nod. Ash raised his brow as he saw Greninja shrink and skulk his way over to Corsola to ask her for help. Greninja wasn't a stranger to struggling with a new move, so what was it about Liquidation that seemed to bother him so much?

"He'll get the hang of it," Misty commented as they watched Corsola greet Greninja with a headbutt. Ash snorted as Greninja fell to the ground clutching his abdomen while Corsola hopped around in front of him.

"I think he's a little too hard on himself sometimes," Ash pointed out. "He's been sort of stuck for a while now, and we didn't really know what to work on until you showed us Liquidation," Ash explained with a gesture to Misty. "Since this feels like a way for him to move forward finally, I think he's trying to rush."

"How often does he practice?" Misty inquired.

"Non-stop," Ash repeated. "I wasn't kidding when I said that. He'll work all day, and then we go back to our room at the resort; he'll sit in the bathtub to work on it some more."

Misty giggled at the thought of Greninja in a bathtub. Ash's brow shot up as he saw an opportunity.

"I've got pictures if you don't believe me," Ash added as he took out his phone. Misty thought it was adorable and even requested that Ash send her a picture. It certainly wasn't how Ash imagined sharing his contact information with Misty, but he wouldn't complain. They were butting heads over Greninja two days ago, but now Greninja filled the role of an olive branch.

"You know, it took Corsola weeks to get the hang of Liquidation," Misty said as they watched Corsola guide Greninja through an exercise. "Admittedly, she's not that great at it. She's more a swimmer than a water crafter. But Lapras is a natural. It only took her a few days."

"A few days?" Ash exclaimed.

Misty gave a proud nod. "Mhmm, but Lapras is brilliant. Her IQ is on par with most psychic type Pokemon, so she can adapt quickly and learn new moves in no time," Misty went on. "I'm not saying Greninja is dumb, but you're right; it will take some time."

They agreed on something!

And what came next was equally shocking.

"Ash…uh, can I ask you something?"

Ash's mouth hung open for a second, but he quickly snapped it shut. "Yeah, sure."

"The last time we spoke, you mentioned that Gyarados was trying to talk to me," Misty said. "I was thinking about that and…I don't really know how I would do that." She confessed slowly. "I was hoping that you might have more to share on the subject."

Ash blinked. "Um," He hesitated at first. "What exactly do you mean?"

"Well, you were almost making sense when we were talking on Monday," Misty exclaimed. "You said that if I can hear Gyarados' voice, I need to listen to her, right?"

"Yeah, I said that," Ash nodded.

"So, how do I listen to Gyarados?" Misty posed her question through grit teeth.

Ash chewed on his lower lip as he thought about his answer. As he looked around the area, his gaze eventually settled on Pikachu, who was going through his footwork exercises on the dry sand. Then it all came back to him.

"I remember I was about to make a huge mistake a few years ago, and Pikachu tried to stop me," Ash stopped for a few moments.

That memory was still crystal clear, as though it happened yesterday.

The lightning. Pikachu's tears. Their final words to each other before…

"I…I don't want to say goodbye,"

"You have to let me go, Pikachu,"

Ash shook his head to regain his focus. "Pikachu was trying to rescue me from myself, and even though I didn't want to hear it, his voice was louder than ever," Ash exhaled. "I guess I'm saying that you don't really get to choose those moments. They just sort of happen, and you've got to make the most of them."

Misty softened as she heard about Ash's experience, she still wasn't happy to hear his conclusion.

"The only time I run into Gyarados is when we have to battle her," Misty said. "Are you telling me that I've got to figure out whatever it is she's saying while trying to fight her?"

"Maybe," Ash said weakly. "I…I really can't give you a definite answer. You've just got to be ready for whenever it happens."

"That doesn't help at all!" Misty hollered at him.

"I mean, a battle might be the best way to communicate Gyarados," Ash cut in. "A battle is usually when I feel closest to my Pokemon. Although, we don't always focus on the combat. Sometimes we just focus on our bond, which helps us understand each other."

Misty paused to think about it. When did she hear Gyarados' voice? It was always during a battle, but that was the only time she ever encountered Gyarados. Was she supposed to find Gyarados in a different setting? Would that help them reach an understanding?

"Uh, I don't get it," Misty muttered.

Ash chuckled. "I don't really get it either," he said. "But maybe the next time you get to battle Gyarados, try to find a way to connect with her. It might be the actual combat…it might be something else," Ash noted with a shrug. "Either way, just try to listen out."

Misty shook her head but decided to leave the subject alone. She had more questions than answers now. But Ash made a valid point. After battling Gyarados multiple times, Misty still didn't understand what Gyarados was trying to say. Perhaps it was time she tried something different…

---

Greninja practiced under Corsola's tutelage for about an hour before Misty joined them to check his progress. She clapped her hands together to get their attention, though Greninja didn't appreciate it. The momentary distraction caused the water sphere he held to collapse, and he leered at her in response.

"Sorry," Misty apologized to him. "I've been watching you practice, and I thought of something that might help."

Misty had her phone in hand and raised it to show him something.

"In your battle against Volkner, you were able to water in this shape for a while," Misty pointed out as she showed him an image of his transformed state where a much larger water shuriken rested against his back. "But as I watched this, I noticed that you never let go of it."

She pressed on her phone screen, and the video resumed. It showed Greninja's rapid combination that ended the battle against Volkner's Ampharos. Greninja watched as he got into the air above Ampharos and grabbed the shuriken of water from his back to slam it against his opponent.

"That got me thinking," Misty continued as she paused the video. "You're capable of advanced water crafting, and Liquidation will help you get there. But maybe projectiles are a little too difficult at the moment."

"Ja?" Greninja questioned her.

"I know I'm saying a lot, but just bear with me," Misty said. "Instead of trying to make shapes that you would throw, let's stick to handheld tools. Things that you don't have to let go of. That way, you'll have more control over holding its shape."

Misty's suggestion was warmly welcomed by Greninja, especially since his shapes usually collapsed if he lost his focus or when he tried to throw them. Hopefully, this would be the start of some actual progress.

But what was the right hand-held tool for him?

He conjured up water from the river and held it between his palms. What weapons was he familiar with? The first thing that came to his mind was his father. Water Shuriken was always his father's go-to…, but that didn't work for Greninja. He needed something that remained in his hands. Something simple and easy to craft.

Greninja flattened the water between his palms and closed his fingers around it. It fit within his hands and became a short-staff. Nothing special. Nothing fancy. An almost blank object, but it held its shape!

Misty raised her brow as she watched Greninja check the weight of his water staff. He held it in one hand, but when he attempted to switch hands, the water lost its shape and dropped to the ground. Misty could hear a faint grumble from Greninja as he glared at where the water fell onto the sand.

"That was really good, Greninja!" Misty exclaimed. He couldn't hide his surprise. "Keep practicing; you'll get there!"

"Cor-so-la!" Corsola added, matching Misty's enthusiasm.

Greninja offered a nod and returned to practice. However, after another hour, his results left him less than enthused. He made the water staff longer, roughly three feet, but he couldn't hold the shape for more than fifteen seconds. Greninja's hands trembled as yet another water staff dissolved in his hands and fell back into the shallow waters that he stood in. He squatted over the water and bit down on his lower lip, tempted to slap the river's surface.

He was trying to blend everything he had learned up until this point. Be patient with the water, find a shape that feels natural, and then compress it to hold that shape. All of this worked when it came to Water Pulse and Water Pledge!

So why wouldn't the water work with him now?!

Misty frowned as she watched Greninja from afar. But as she thought about what advice she could offer him, Ash approached Greninja.

"Hey, Greninja," Ash called out to him as he stepped into the water. "You're getting frustrated. How about a break?" Ash suggested as he raised his hands to take a fighting stance. He sent a smirk at Greninja and motioned for him to attack.

Misty furrowed her brow as she watched Ash and Greninja start to fight each other. From his battles, Misty knew Greninja was adept at hand-to-hand combat, but she never even considered the idea of Ash being quite skilled as well. Could Ash have taught Greninja how to fight like this? As Ash and Greninja went back and forth, Misty's intrigue was piqued as she watched them.

At first, they were clearly fighting as two opposing forces. They would attack, react, and block accordingly. Despite being opponents, their movements started to mirror each other. They seamlessly transitioned from complex blocks to fast attacks, but neither could land a decisive hit.

They were making perfect predictions of what the other would do. It was like…they were connected.

What Misty saw next snatched her breath away. Wings sprouted from their backs!

Greninja's were still small, but the white feathers were rainbow tipped. However, what demanded Misty's attention was Ash's sizable multicolored wings. They were beautiful!

She blinked…and their wings were gone.

Misty raised a hand to rub her eyes. It was only a few seconds, but she was positive that she saw Ash's wings!

Why were his wings like that?

---

Friday, April 23rd

It was early in the afternoon when Ash and Brock were escorted to a small corner office on the top floor of the Cascade Resort. The walls were made entirely of glass windows to provide an excellent view of the Cascade River. Fletcher sat behind a lengthy desk at the far side of the room, though he was turned to watch the sparkling river.

Fletcher's assistant nodded to Ash and Brock, and then she motioned to the empty chairs opposite the desk.

"Fletcher, I have your one o'clock appointment here," His assistant announced, and he swiveled around his seat to welcome them.

Today was the big day! Ash and Brock would make their first Pokemon League presentation to Fletcher Waterflower.

Ash and Brock were accompanied by Pikachu and Rockruff, both of which were on their best behavior.

"Thank you for coming," Fletcher said as they got comfortable in their seats. "I've been looking forward to learning more about the Pokemon League since speaking with the two of you a few days ago."

"We're happy to share, and there are actually some things we'd like to learn from you as well," Brock said. "But we'll get around to that later."

"Perfect," Fletcher noted.

"So, we sort of discussed the goal of the Pokemon League, but I think an explanation of how we'll reach that goal is warranted," Brock explained. "Charles Goodshow has been exploring ways the Pokemon League can support itself. Vermilion City's underground circuit was focused on competitive battling and entertainment. But that model isn't sustainable as the only source of income for Pokemon trainers."

"I wouldn't call it unsustainable," Fletcher remarked. "After all, the only reason it was stopped was because the Vanguard occupied Vermilion City."

"That's a fair point," Brock said. "But we also don't want to create the idea that the only career path for a trainer is the competitive scene. There are so many other fields that we want to make accessible."

Fletcher nodded slowly as he leaned into his seat.

"That's why we wanted to ask more about what you've managed to create within the Cascade Resort," Brock went on. "It's definitely different when compared to the underground circuit."

"Is there anything specific you'd like to know?" Fletcher inquired.

"What was your vision when you first started?" Brock asked.

"And is what you have now what you thought it would be?" Ash added.

"Hmm," Fletch paused for several moments as he thought about his answer. "I would say that when I started construction of the resort, the plan was to create a unique experience for tourists. I've always been a bit of a water Pokemon fanatic, and I wanted this resort to show people water Pokemon in their natural setting," Fletcher explained. "As a tourist attraction, the resort was a rousing success. But it also attracted Pokemon trainers."

That was hardly a surprise to Ash and Brock.

"I noticed that trainers would visit the resort regularly because it was a safe space to have their Pokemon alongside them," Fletcher continued. "So, I started to employ these trainers at the resort, and it's reached the point where roughly seventy percent of my staff are Pokemon trainers."

"Wow!" Ash exclaimed.

"And it's like you said," Fletcher motioned to Brock. "I wanted to make sure these trainers understood that competitive battling isn't their only option," Fletcher nodded slowly. "Not all trainers are interested in battling, and I saw that some people just wanted a safe space. But others wanted to learn more about Pokemon, so I designed a development track for them. There's a lab within the resort where trainers can explore the research field to see if it appeals to them."

"There's a research lab here?" Brock asked.

Fletcher wore a proud smirk. "Yes. Since some water Pokemon migrate up the Cascade River during their breeding season, our positioning along the river allows us to observe and interact with various species of water type Pokemon."

"That sounds awesome!" Ash could hardly contain himself. It was no wonder Misty was wearing a scuba suit! He pictured her and other researchers deep in the waters of the Cascade River as they observed Pokemon like Seaking and Seadra.

"Between the success of the resort itself, and the trainers that have gathered here, I think we've created a space where people are learning more about Pokemon and seeing them in a different light," Fletcher concluded.

Brock and Ash happily agreed.

"You've definitely set the example. Charles wants to spread that same awareness and educate people about Pokemon through the Pokemon League and the Pokedex," Brock pointed out.

"Yes, I've heard whispers about this Pokedex," Fletcher noted. "I remember Samuel Oak reached out to me for some of our research data for the Pokedex. We were happy to supply, but that was the last I heard about the Pokedex."

"I'd be happy to show you the current iteration of the Pokedex," Brock offered as he pulled the device out of his jacket pocket. "This is the Pokedex Prototype ," Brock placed his Pokedex on the desk in front of Fletcher. "It's still going through some fine-tuning before we launch it publicly."

Brock chewed on his lower lip as he watched Fletcher examine the Pokedex. He studied everything about it: the casing that made up the body of the device and the interface on its home page. Fletcher raised his brow as he set it back down on the desk with a grin.

"This is certainly a marvel that Charles has managed to create," Fletcher noted. "I can't wait to see what is accomplished when the Pokedex is launched!"

Their discussion pivoted back to Vermilion City's underground circuit, and Fletcher offered his opinions on how it operated.

"The underground circuit was more of a trial by fire than a place that nurtured trainers. While it helped some trainers launch a career as competitive battlers, it left many more on the outside looking in," Fletcher stated. Ash and Brock shared a nod. "There weren't enough opportunities, which made trainers desperate during street battles. Of course, if trainers are reckless, it creates a bad image for trainers, and then you have the authorities breathing down your neck if a street battle is reported."

Brock nodded. "That was something Charles was always worried about. On top of the public's perception of Pokemon trainers, he felt like a sense of inequality was creeping into the underground circuit."

"Which is to be expected if only a handful of trainers could be considered successful while thousands are left high and dry," Fletcher added. "I saw some of these pitfalls and did my best to avoid them here at the Cascade Resort."

"Yeah, having a research lab will help trainers understand that there is more to it than just battling," Ash pointed out.

"Can I ask what inspired you to create a research lab here?" Brock inquired.

"It actually started with Misty's Lapras," Fletcher explained as he turned his chair to look out at the river. "You may not be aware of it, but people out there hunt down Pokemon and sell them on the black market. As I'm sure you can guess, Lapras are hunted constantly. Many years ago, Misty's Lapras escaped a group of poachers and took refuge in the Cascade River. Lapras was accustomed to the ocean's environment, so she became sick living in the river," Fletcher paused as he recalled the day they discovered Lapras.

She washed up on the beach about half a mile from the resort. Her appearance stirred the water Pokemon within the river, and Fletcher witnessed as the Pokemon worked together to create a more suitable habitat for Lapras. They adjusted the temperature and salt content of the water, and Lapras recovered quickly.

Until then, Fletcher wasn't aware that water Pokemon could alter the environment at that level for survival.

"When I saw that, I realized there was so much more to learn about water type Pokemon, and I funded the lab to delve into their secrets," Fletcher concluded.

"Man, it doesn't matter who I talk to," Ash exclaimed suddenly. "The more I hear about Pokemon, the more they amaze me!"

Fletcher chuckled at Ash's statement. "That's the magic of them!"

Ash wore a broad grin as he looked at Fletcher. He had reservations about this man when Brock first mentioned him. There was a slight tingle at the back of his neck and a nervousness that his man might be something similar to Malcolm Berlitz.

There were some similarities between Malcolm and Fletcher. They were both shrewd and successful businessmen. But it was clear that Fletcher wanted to help people appreciate Pokemon; he clearly loved Pokemon from the bottom of his heart!

"I've got to thank you, Fletcher," Brock interjected. "Everything you shared with us today will be passed along to Charles. The way you've tackled some issues is impressive, and we'll definitely see if the Pokemon League can take some of the lessons you've learned and use them to help more trainers."

"I'm glad I could help," Fletcher responded. "Unfortunately, like Charles, I only have so many assets available. I can't support these trainers beyond offering a living wage, so it will always be up to them to break the barriers and see what else they can do outside the Cascade Resort. Hopefully, the Pokemon League can help trainers to see how much they can change the world with Pokemon!"

"So, I think, at this point," Brock continued. "I'd like to ask if you'd be willing to join the Pokemon League."

"Join? What would be expected of me if I did join the Pokemon League?"

"There aren't any responsibilities yet," Brock replied. "Our goal is to ensure trainers from all over the world can voice their concerns to the Pokemon League and find ways to collaborate. I think you would be the perfect point of contact for Cerulean City, especially with all your work at the Cascade Resort."

Fletcher rose from his seat and extended a hand toward them. "I think that would be fantastic. I accept," He declared. "In fact, I think this is worth celebrating! I will make arrangements for a banquet to be held tonight!"

They shook hands, and the Pokemon League expanded.

---

Since the banquet was on such short notice, the dining hall received the best facelift that could be expected with a few hours. Small spotlights were set up and aimed at the hanging chandeliers to light the room. All the guests at the resort were invited to attend, and Ash felt a little out of place as he tugged at his shirt collar. The best he could do to dress for the occasion was a clean pair of jeans and a button-up shirt.

Ash thought that Gary and Brock might feel the same way, but the two were more preoccupied with each other.

They all stood at the buffet table, but Brock and Gary were locked in one of their usual but often ridiculous confrontations.

"You can't put pinap berries on pizza!" Brock declared. "It's a universal mistake!"

"You want to start a war right now?!" Gary barked back in return.

Ash did his best to keep a straight face, though Pikachu snickered on his shoulder. Ash felt a small hand touch his back, and he glanced over his shoulder. Behind him was Lily Waterflower in a sparkling blue evening gown.

"Having fun?" She inquired as Ash turned to face her fully.

"Eh, I've never really been a big fan of parties," Ash replied as he glanced around the room. "Or at least not the kinds where you have to be dressed like this."

"You know, Misty's the same way," Lily noted. "She always skips out on these kinds of festivities," She shrugged her shoulders. "But that's beside the point. I'm glad you came."

"You are?" Ash furrowed his brow in question.

"Yeah, my dad wants to talk with you," Lily replied, motioning to one of the upper balconies. Ash looked up and spotted Fletcher leaning against the banister, and when they made eye contact, he waved. Lily then cleared her throat to get Ash's attention. "You coming?"

Lily led Ash to the upper balcony and Fletcher welcomed Ash with a smile and a handshake. Then he invited Ash and Lily to lean against the banister and admire the banquet hall from above.

"Thank you for coming tonight, Ash," Fletcher began as the three stood together. "I imagine gatherings like these aren't really your forte?"

"Lily asked me the same thing," Ash noted with a glance at the young woman. "And no, I'm not much of a party guy. At least, not big parties."

"Ah, you prefer something more intimate," Fletcher nodded. "I can respect that, but I've always believed in, 'the more, the merrier!'" Fletcher declared as he raised his arms. "As superficial as that might sound."

Lily snorted while Fletcher offered Ash a smile.

"I must admit, I was very impressed with you the first time we spoke, Ash," Fletcher went on. "You've got a rare passion for Pokemon."

Ash pursed his lips. "Well yeah, I love Pokemon."

"Well, most trainers love Pokemon," Fletcher added. "But you seem to grasp how extraordinary a bond with a Pokemon can be."

Ash felt Pikachu's paws gripping his shoulder, so he raised a hand to scratch Pikachu's chin. "Pokemon are awesome, especially when you let them into your heart," Ash answered. "It's like…you want to teach them something, but at the same time, they'll teach you something about yourself."

Fletcher nodded his head slowly.

"I've never really been good at explaining it," Ash continued. "But when I'm around Pokemon, I just feel stronger or uh…better."

"Like they give you a power boost?" Lily suggested.

Ash beamed at her. "Yeah, I call it Pokemon power!"

Lily and Fletcher shared a glance and smiled.

"And just out of question, do you think Pokemon power can help other people?" Fletcher inquired.

"Of course!" Ash responded. "I think a lot of people don't understand how much a Pokemon can change them," Ash paused for a moment as he looked up. "It's hard to explain, but it's like a Pokemon can look into your heart and see things that not even you see, if you know what I mean. Like…they're trying to help you before you realize that you need it."

Ash thought of Pikachu, who tried to rescue him from a terrible mistake all those years ago.

He thought of Growlithe, who recognized that he needed support on his journey to Ecruteak City.

And he thought of Greninja, who rekindled his love for Pokemon.

"The thing is…it's a two-way street," Ash added. "We can do the same thing for Pokemon. We have to help them too, because then both sides get to learn more about each other. That helps everyone to improve and get a little better," Ash raised his eyebrows as he made a connection. "We empower each other, and that's why I call it Pokemon power."

Lily held back a laugh, but Fletcher scratched at his chin.

"Pokemon power…that has a certain charm to it," Fletcher marveled with a smirk.

The Pokemon League was a truly ambitious project that could change the world if it succeeded. But to do so would require the leadership of some special people. Fletcher knew that Charles Goodshow was more than capable of leading this project…but something in the pit of Fletcher's stomach told him that it would be Ash that would usher in a new era.

Now Fletcher understood why Ash had a chokehold on Misty's attention. It wasn't just Greninja, but Ash himself. The same quality that he described about Pokemon...the ability to inspire someone to improve themselves. Ash possessed that same quality!

Misty probably didn't realize it, but Ash demanded her attention like a water Pokemon.

Fletcher chuckled as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. Ash could trigger something in Misty and help her understand that her potential far exceeds what she could accomplish at the Cascade Resort. He could help her to start her own journey!

---

Saturday, April 24th

Ash returned to the dining hall for breakfast the following day and was impressed that the room was restored to its normal state. Despite all the extravagant decorations put in place the night before, it was as if the banquet held never took place. It was business as usual.

As Ash, Greninja, and Pikachu browsed the buffet table, they encountered the duo of Misty and Lily. After a brief conversation, Lily invited Ash to join them for breakfast on the upper balcony. Ash accepted, and as they made their way up to it, he noted that he was surprised to see them on the lower level. Lily explained that since it was the weekend, they didn't receive service in their private booth, so this was one of the occasions when they would cross paths in the dining halls.

Much to Ash's surprise, he wasn't the only one who received an invitation to join the Sensational Sisters for breakfast. Brock was already there, swooning over Violet.

Ash rumbled his lips as he sat at the table beside Lily and across from Misty. Brock and Lily didn't even notice the new additions at the table, completely absorbed in their own exchange of compliments.

"I'm sorry about my friend," Ash apologized to Lily on Brock's behalf. "He's always been a bit over the top when talking to a girl he likes."

"I'm sorry about my sister," Lily replied on Violet's behalf. "She's always fallen for sweet talkers."

Oddly enough, that was enough to break the ongoing conversation between Brock and Violet as they greeted their company. They passed time with aimless chit-chat before Brock popped a question that was on everyone's mind.

"So," Brock looked from Ash to Misty. "When are the two of you going to have a battle?"

"Ugh," Misty turned her nose upward. "Ash is still ten years away from even standing a chance against me!"

"Ten years?!" Ash exclaimed, but any further comments he swallowed as Misty shot him a glance. Their previous battle between Floatzel and Greninja was proof that there was still a gap in skill between them.

"I wouldn't think so little of Ash if I were you, Misty," Brock commented. "He's got a strong track record when it comes to surprising people that underestimated him."

Misty opened her mouth to respond, but her phone buzzed in her pocket. In most cases, she would ignore it. But the vibration pattern was unique, to let her know that the call was one she couldn't ignore. Lily and Violet became quiet when Misty answered her phone, which prompted Ash and Brock to do the same.

"I'll round up anyone available," Misty stated.

Ash felt a sudden tightness in his chest. He had a feeling that he knew what was going to happen next.

Misty ended the call and looked at Lily and Violet.

"Gyarados was spotted again?" Lily inquired.

Misty nodded. "She's three miles out from Nugget Bridge. The patrol team was wiped out by Gyarados, so we don't have much time to get a group together."

"Let's split up and get everyone we can!" Violet declared.

"We're going too!" Ash added as he jumped to his feet.

The group shared a nod.

They would need all hands on deck!

---

A small group of trainers from the Cascade Resort gathered downriver from Nugget Bridge, where they prepared to intercept Gyarados. They met on the rocky coast, where Misty devised a strategy for the trainers present. Among the trainers recruited were Ash and Gary, who waited anxiously for the upcoming battle.

"From what I heard, Gyarados is more powerful than ever," Misty announced to the group. "It's going to take a combined effort from us to deal with her today, so we have to work together!"

With eight water Pokemon available, Misty divided them into two squadrons that would each serve a role during the battle. A squad of high-mobility swimmers would work together to keep Gyarados' attention, and a utility squadron responsible for protecting the surrounding area and dealing damage to Gyarados. The centerpiece of the utility squadron was a Lanturn, and Ash's Pikachu was a final contingency if needed.

"Are you ready for this?" Gary asked as he stood beside Ash.

"It's not like we get much of a choice for this battle," Ash commented with a glance toward Nugget Bridge. He thought about his last encounter with Gyarados and her fearsome power. Her ability to manipulate water and rattle off Hyper Beams was frightening, and she had no regard for life…

The Nugget Bridge would be nothing but smoldering debris in Gyarados' wake if they didn't stop her.

"Let's get out on the river!" Misty announced. "We want to take this battle as far from the bridge as possible!"

A pair of Wailmer was brought from the resort to function as water taxis for the trainers to take to a set of speed boats on the river. These were captained by Daisy and Violet so the trainers could offer direction if needed. Misty, however, would be battling from the back of her Lapras, accompanied by Ash's Greninja, who would support the damage team. Once the trainers boarded the speed boats, the groups mobilized to intercept Gyarados.

Ash found himself on Daisy's boat, and realized that he wasn't surprised at all to see her behind the wheel. The more he thought about her profession as a performer with water Pokemon, the more sense it made. Ash bit down on his lower lip, unable to ignore the tightness in his chest. He knew there was a need to support this effort to battle Gyarados…but he was nervous.

This wasn't a standard Pokemon battle for sport or for training. Gyarados was a legitimate threat to the participants of this battle and the surrounding area. This battle wasn't supposed to be fun.

A roar in the distance only reinforced this. Gyarados was approaching.

"Stop here and set up!" Misty hollered.

Misty called upon Lapras, Dewgong, and a pair of Seadra to use Ice Beam on the river. They set up barricades to either slow Gyarados down or funnel her toward the center of the river, where they intended to battle her. Greninja jumped onto these barricades and stared into the distance. Further out, he saw a red light shimmering beneath the waters, and it was racing toward them!

Greninja clapped his hands together to summon a Water Pulse and launched it toward the red light. His attack shattered against the creature beneath the water, stopping its approach. The water churned and spiraled before Gyarados emerged from the center , her body bathed in a glass-like red glow.

"Swimmers, go!" Misty commanded, and three trainers from the speed boats gave a shout along with her. Misty's Floatzel burst out of the river, spearheading the charge toward Gyarados with an Aqua Jet around him. Floatzel was accompanied by a Golduck who mimicked his use of Aqua Jet and the duo of Seadra that used Agility to skate across the surface of the water.

Gyarados greeted them with her Hydro Pump, unleashing volleys of water jets. Still, the speedy Pokemon weaved through her attacks until they closed in. They separated and took different angles around Gyarados, zipping around her to take her attention. Gyarados lashed out with her tail and roared at them, but the group was too elusive to be struck.

"We've got her distracted, Lanturn; you're up!" Misty declared. They weren't wasting any time today. The faster they could end this battle, the better!

"Right, Lanturn, use your Thunderbolt!" Lanturn's trainer shouted.

Lanturn rested a safe distance from the actual battle, carefully observing Gyarados as she tried to eliminate the squadron of Pokemon around her. But the time for observation was done. With the call for Thunderbolt, the antenna on Lanturn's head glowed yellow. Lightning cracked from the ball before Lanturn raised his voice with a shout. A jagged lightning bolt fired from his antenna that jumped straight toward Gyarados. The sea serpent flinched and trembled as her body was dazzled by the electricity.

"Direct hit!" Ash exclaimed as he pumped his fist.

Pikachu's Thunderbolt was enough to end the battle last time, so hopefully, Lanturn's would get a similar result. However, such a thought was short-lived. The glow around Gyarados' body intensified, and she roared. The soundwave released from her voice was enough to disrupt the Thunderbolt, and her eyes flashed red as she swiveled in the water. A sudden gust wrapped around Gyarados that quickly spiraled and rose up into a column of wind that concealed her.

The sudden Twister caught the swimmer team off guard, as both of the Seadra were dragged into it. The winds lifted them into the air, where Gyarados followed up. Her tail burst out of her windshield and crushed both of the Seadra with a devastating Aqua Tail.

"Seadra!"

But Gyarados wasn't finished. There was an orange flash from within the Twister before a beam of light pierced through it. The target was Lanturn, whose eyes grew wide at the approaching Hyper Beam. He dove into the water, but there was no escape. The Hyper Beam detonated against the water's surface, and Lanturn was too close to the blast site. The water rippled from the Hyper Beam, sending out waves that nearly capsized the speed boats.

"Hang on!" Daisy shouted, and Ash grunted as he was thrown against the railing. Water doused him and Pikachu, and Ash raised a hand to his head to hold onto this hat. Thankfully, the Wailmer that accompanied the boats used their large bodies to keep them from tipping over.

Gyarados' Twister dispersed, and she roared once more, having now beaten three of her opponents. Misty bit down on her lower lip. Gyarados was in exceptional form today. Twister, Aqua Tail, and Hyper Beam were all used consecutively, and Gyarados still had energy to spare.

"Ash!"

Despite the commotion, Ash heard Misty holler his name. That was their cue.

"Pikachu," Ash said to his partner. "Charge up, and let me know when you're ready."

"Everyone!" Misty screamed. "We're going to have to wear her down together. Don't hesitate to attack, but stay on the move!"

The remaining squadron, which consisted of a Tentacruel, Dewgong, Azumarill, Misty's Corsola, and Gary's Wartortle, joined the fray. The battle grew chaotic as Gyarados lashed out at the Pokemon with her tail and the occasional Hydro Pump, but everyone followed Misty's direction perfectly. They attacked from a distance, which gave them ample time to react when Gyarados retaliated with her Twister.

Misty and Lapras grabbed Lanturn and retreated to the speed boats to get some distance from the combat. Once there, Lapras sang a song to summon her Aqua Ring and heal some of the damage done to Lanturn. While Aqua Ring was the first form of treatment, the follow-up came in the form of a Potion which triggered an immediate recovery for Lanturn. He was still bruised and blackened from the contact with the blast from Hyper Beam, but he was ready to rejoin the battle.

On the battlefield, Greninja stood at the edge of one of the ice barricades where he closely observed Gyarados. Greninja recalled his last battle against Gyarados, and he could tell that something was different this time. Obviously, there was that strange red light around Gyarados' body…but her strength, reaction time, and energy output were off the charts. Where was all of this power coming from?

"Ash," Misty called out again as Lapras brought her close to Daisy's speedboat. Misty motioned to Lapras. "Get on; we'll need all the firepower we can get to bring down Gyarados. We'll combine PIkachu's Thunderbolt with Lanturn's to end this before it gets out of control."

Ash nodded in agreement before jumping over the boat railing and onto Lapras' back.

"Pikachu, how are you feeling?" Ash asked his partner. Pikachu's cheeks crackled in response. Ash looked back to Misty. "Alright, let's do this!"

"Lanturn, follow us!" Misty called out before she pointed back to the battlefield. Lapras surged forward with Lanturn alongside her to rejoin the battle.

Gyarados faced a barrage of Bubble Beam, Water Pulse, and Hydro Pump. However, these attacks failed to do any lasting damage as they met with her tough skin. Gyarados thrashed in response, sending out sizable waves that would drown anyone that wasn't a capable swimmer. Tentacruel continued to bombard Gyarados with Poison Sting and Acid, but the attempts to poison Gyarados were unsuccessful as her protective skin proved to be a fortress. But Tentacruel's attempts to poison her did not go unnoticed.

The prickles of Poison Sting meeting her skin only aggravated Gyarados. The next time she felt that sensation, she focused on finding the source. Tentacruel kept his distance whenever he attacked, but a sudden chill wrapped his body when Gyarados' head snapped in his direction after his most recent Poison Sting met with her body. She twisted and writhed as a red glow engulfed her body again, and Gyarados gave a tumultuous roar that caused the river to quiver. Tentacruel dove underwater, but Gyarados was already on him before he could reposition. She trapped him in a Bind attack and crushed him until he fainted.

Tentacruel resurfaced first, left unconscious from the damage as he drifted in the water. Gyarados then emerged, a dangerous red glow in her eyes. Brock shifted uncomfortably as he recorded the last few moments of the battle with his Pokedex. Gyarados was a fearsome Pokemon, but her power and speed rose every time that red glow appeared around her body. Something was causing this.

With the recording in his Pokedex, Brock took a screenshot to run a comparison through the database, and an answer was delivered almost immediately.

"Dragon Dance," Brock snapped his fingers as his fingers. It was no wonder Gyarados seemed to be getting stronger with each passing moment. Dragon Dance was improving her performance exponentially…but by the looks of it, Dragon Dance also triggered Gyarados' Outrage, which resulted in her losing control of all this power. "Gotta relay this to Ash!"

Misty clung to Lapras' neck as the watercraft Pokemon battled against the waves and shifts in current. As if that wasn't enough, there was the constant threat of getting caught by one of the blasts from Gyarados' Hydro Pump, Twister, or Hyper Beam. Anyone crazy enough to be on the battlefield had to be absolutely focused to avoid getting hurt or killed.

"Ash, are you and Pikachu ready?" Misty asked. She didn't get an answer, so she glanced over her shoulder to check on him. Of all the things she expected to find Ash Ketchum doing, Misty never expected to see him taking a phone call in the middle of this battle. "Ash! What are you doing?!"

Ash winced before he ended the call. "Sorry, that was Brock. He told me that Gyarados keeps using a move called Dragon Dance that's raising her attack power," Ash explained. "But as she's getting stronger, it's triggering another move called Outrage, so she's getting more out of control the longer this battle lasts."

"We're getting pushed back toward the bridge, so we don't have any time to wait," Misty reasoned with a nod toward Pikachu. "Are you guys ready?"

"Pika-pika!" Pikachu declared as his cheeks lit up with sparks.

"Lanturn!" Misty added as they came to a stop. Lanturn surfaced in the water alongside Lapras upon hearing Misty's call. "We're going to attack from here; no holding back!"

Floatzel lurked beneath the water, carefully timing his engagements with Gyarados to capture her attention whenever she attempted to attack the other Pokemon. Despite his best efforts, he could not intercept Gyarados the last few times she retaliated, and the number of Pokemon battling against Gyarados was steadily dwindling. He couldn't even save Corsola when she was caught in the last whirlpool. But, Floatzel did notice the return of Lanturn to the field, and he took that as his cue to make sure Gyarados was distracted. Floatzel summoned an Aqua Jet and erupted from the water in front of Gyarados.

They locked eyes for a moment, and Floatzel quickly wrapped around her. Gyarados tracked his movements with her glowing red eyes and lashed out with an Aqua Tail to strike him down. Floatzel evaded the first two attacks comfortably, but the third one grazed his body, which disrupted his Aqua Jet. Gyarados swiveled in the water and raised her tail to swat Floatzel down into the water, but thankfully, he accomplished his mission.

A lightning bolt dropped down onto Gyarados, this one featuring the combined strength of Pikachu and Lanturn. Gyarados roared as she trembled violently, and her eyes became completely red. Her body became engulfed in a red glow again, and Misty winced as she leaned against Lapras' neck for support. It felt like all her strength left her as her arms and legs became weak, and she looked to Gyarados. That familiar red glow, Dragon Dance, was darker than ever as Gyarados threw her head back and howled to the skies above. A Twister erupted from the water around her, and that caused the water to spiral around her as a whirlpool that quickly expanded.

'Help…me!'

Misty heard that voice again. A desperate plea.

"Everybody get back!" Ash hollered to the Pokemon on the battlefield. Even with the Pikachu and Lanturn working in tandem, their strength wasn't enough to knock out Gyarados. In fact, as far as Ash could tell, all they managed to do was trigger another Outrage from Gyarados. Ash heard screams and chatter from above, and when he looked back, he realized that they were practically under the Nugget Bridge. During all of the combat, he didn't even realize how much they retreated from where the battle initially started. "This is getting way out of hand, but not even a combined Thunderbolt could bring her down. We gotta think of something fast!"

"I heard her voice again," Misty said as she looked back at Ash.

"Huh?"

"I heard Gyarados' voice…" Misty continued. "She was asking for help! She knows she's losing control, and we're only making things worse by battling her."

"Do you have any ideas?" Ash asked in return.

"At this point, I want to try your suggestion," Misty confessed. "But we have to find a way to disable her so I can try to talk with her. But I'm not sure what we could do to pin her down long enough."

Ash punched his palm. "If we're just trying to hold her down for a little while, we could use Thunder Wave to disable her, but we'd need more to hold her down."

"Lapras' Ice Beam might do the trick, but not for long. I don't know how long we'll have before Gyarados goes through another Outrage," Misty reasoned. They shared a nod and got to work immediately.

Unfortunately, Gyarados' last Outrage induced Twister did a number on the Pokemon that were battling her. Most of them were caught in the whirlpool that was created by the Twister, and Gyarados finished them off with her Aqua Tail. Their group was reduced to Floatzel, Wartortle, Greninja, Lanturn, and Pikachu. Everyone else was unconscious and floating somewhere in the river.

"We're going to have to distract her for a bit; Pikachu has to recharge for a Thunder Wave," Ash explained.

"No problem," Misty replied. "Lapras, we'll need your Ice Beam to create more areas for Greninja."

Floatzel grimaced as he placed one of his fins against the gashes on his side. The direct hit from Gyarados' tail slashed his body, and that was just a regular hit. However, they were in dire straits. There was no time to focus on the damage he received. Floatzel created another water cloak and rose up into the air to circle around Gyarados. He narrowly avoided her attacks for a few precious moments, which afforded Lapras the time to set up several ice barricades for Greninja to stand on. With Greninja back in the fray, he and Floatzel worked together to split Gyarados' attention, but eventually, she was consumed by another Outrage.

Gyarados opened her mouth, and an orange light gathered into it that everyone recognized. She took aim at Greninja, and Misty felt her stomach drop as she noticed Greninja's positioning. While he wasn't close to one of the pillars that supported the Nugget Bridge, he was lined up with it. If Gyarados fired, that attack would destroy the stone column and cause the bridge to collapse.

"Floatzel, the bridge!" Misty screamed.

Fortunately, Wartortle was ready to follow through on the assignment he received before the battle. Protect the surrounding area.

Gyarados fired the Hyper Beam, and it shattered the ice barricades in its path toward the column. Wartortle swam beneath the water near the column, watching as Floatzel and the beam approached him. He withdrew his arms, legs, and head into his shell in preparation before Floatzel came up beneath them and gave his shell a kick to elevate him into the air. Wartortle shut his eyes and braced himself as a transparent barrier formed in front of him to block the attack.

Ash and Misty raised a hand to shield their eyes as the Hyper Beam met with Wartortle's Protect. There was a flash of light and then an explosion that caused the entire bridge to tremble. By now, the local authorities had arrived and were evacuating any pedestrians from the bridge, but there were still several screams as people felt the bridge shake beneath them. Down below, Floatzel spotted Wartortle as he came crashing back into the water, blackened and unconscious from the attack. However, the support piece was intact and undamaged, thanks to Wartortle.

"There's no shot at us stopping something like that again," Misty said as she looked at Ash. "Is Pikachu ready?"

Pikachu gave Ash a small nod. "We're as ready as we'll ever be," Ash replied.

"Lapras, top speed, and get ready to use Ice Beam when I call for it!" Misty declared.

Lapras surged forward, and both Greninja and Lanturn took action as well. Greninja attacked with his Water Pulse from one angle, and Lanturn rattled off a few Thundershocks from the opposite angle. Gyarados kept looking back and forth between them, which allowed Lapras to slip behind her unnoticed.

Another lightning bolt connected with Gyarados, but this time, it ensnared Gyarados, wrapping around her body and attacking her muscles. Gyarados felt her body seize up, but Lanturn came through with the follow-up Thunderbolt that brought Gyarados crashing down to the water. Misty gave Lapras the call, and Gyarados was hit with Ice Beam repeatedly, raising ice barricades around her body to hold her down.

Gyarados writhed against her ice prison but couldn't muster the strength to break free.

"You're up," Ash said to Misty as Lapras brought them back to Gyarados' head. Misty took that time to study Gyarados' body. She was littered with cuts, bruises, and scratches. Her tough skin absorbed most of the damage, but Gyarados was far from unscathed. Once they were in front of Gyarados' face, the water serpent rumbled at the sight of them. That red glow appeared in her irises as she stared at Misty. In response, Misty bit down on her lower lip and reached for the tip of Gyarados' nose.

"Gyarados, I've heard you asking for help," Misty began as she made contact with Gyarados. "We don't want to hurt you, but you're putting many innocent people in danger. So please, try to remain calm so we can help you."

Gyarados trembled, and the ice around her began to crack as she fought to free herself.

"Please, Gyarados," Misty went on. "I want to help you, but if you lose control again, I won't be able to."

That wasn't enough to stop Gyarados. Her eyes became completely red, and Ash felt a chill as he realized another Outrage was imminent. But Misty showed no fear and stared directly into Gyarados' eyes to make one more request.

"Gyarados…let me help you," Misty stated.

Gyarados' pupils became dilated, and her vision blurred. She knew this voice. It was the voice of someone who had helped her before!

She was trapped, restrained by seaweed at the bottom of her river. The rest of her school was already gone, and no one could help her.

"Here…let me help you."

Magikarp looked up as she felt a pair of hands pull her free from the seaweed, and she turned to see who it helped her. It was a ginger-haired young woman, but Magikarp remembered the silver and cyan wings on her back.

Gyarados saw those wings again today. It was the same person!

But that wasn't enough to stop her Outrage. Red lightning seemed to crackle from her eyes before that power took the form of a Hyper Beam. Misty stumbled backward, but Ash grabbed her arm to prevent her from tumbling off Lapras, who tried to create some distance from them and Gyarados' sudden attack. But they would have been far too close to escape the blast radius if not for Gyarados' willpower. It took everything in her power to turn her head skyward and aim the Hyper Beam into the skies where it wouldn't harm anyone. Gyarados' strength returned as she broke free from the ice barricades to straighten up.

"No, Lapras, don't run away!" Misty shouted. "We have to help her! I need you to use Aqua Ring on Gyarados to help her calm down!"

Any sensible person would've preferred to get as far away from Gyarados as possible, but Ash was willing to see this through alongside Misty. Why? Because he saw her wings sprout from her back and expand rapidly. If there was any moment where Misty's decision-making should be trusted…it was now.

Lapras followed Misty's command and stopped to sing her song right in front of Gyarados. The serpentine Pokemon looked down at them, her body beginning to glow red from yet another Dragon Dance. But she didn't attack them. Gyarados trembled in place as she fought to restrain the power threatening to burst forth from her. Aqua Ring didn't take long to take effect as streams of water rose up around Gyarados, circling around her body in the form of a double helix.

Its healing powers produced a white light around Gyarados, which seemed to combat the Dragon Dance as it suppressed the red glow around her. As Ash looked up at Gyarados, he saw her wings take shape as well, and a smile broke out on his face as Gyarados then lowered her head back to Misty, who reached out once more. When Misty's hand touched Gyarados' horn, it triggered a new phenomenon that was visible to everyone. A unique aura engulfed Gyarados body, this one possessing blotches of different colors splattered about. It all converged at her horns, which flashed a symbol like a double helix in rainbow light. Then Gyarados was engulfed in light.

"Is she…evolving?" Ash exclaimed as he watched Gyarados break free from the ice restraints and rise. The light faded after a few moments, revealing that Gyarados' form was altered. Her horns grew more prominent, and the fins protruding from her body became massive, almost resembling the sails of a ship. "Whoa…"

Misty looked up at Gyarados and marveled at her new form. "Incredible!"

Gyarados then lowered her head to Misty, who reached out to touch Gyarados' horn.

"Thank you," Misty heard Gyarados' voice again.

"You're welcome," Misty responded. "I'm sorry that it took me this long to realize you needed my help. Are you feeling better now?"

Misty didn't need an answer from Gyarados. She could feel it herself. Gyarados was stronger than ever, and Misty felt the same. It was like they were sharing this newfound power, and it was demanding a way out. Misty could see why Gyarados was losing control of this power originally.

With Gyarados now under control, the turbulent waters finally relaxed, allowing the trainers on the speedboats to rejoin them. Most of them used the time to search for their injured and unconscious Pokemon, recalling them to their Pokeballs to get treatment back at the resort. However, as everyone gathered around Gyarados, the roar of a helicopter above prevented Misty from thanking everyone for their support. It was a news chopper, and they could see them collecting video footage of the scene on Nugget Bridge.

"We should get out of here, or at least get Gyarados away," Ash suggested as he looked up at the helicopter. Misty gave a short nod and called for everyone to head upstream. There was a lot of commotion on the bridge as police officers arrived to restore order.

The trainers abandoned the scene near Nugget Bridge, heading upstream along the Cascade River. Greninja joined Ash and Misty on Lapras' back, where he spent his time watching Gyarados, who swam alongside them. For the first time since he encountered Gyarados, this was the first time he could observe Gyarados in a peaceful setting. She was a massive creature, intimidating in every sense of the word. Piercing red eyes, long fangs, scaly cracked skin, and sharp horns protruding from her forehead and cheeks.

Despite her appearance and track record in combat, Greninja sensed something else within Gyarados. The madness and fury that consumed her during the battle was given peace, and her terrible powers took on a new form, one that overflowed with energy that Greninja recognized. One he felt on a few occasions with Ash…the power that caused him to transform too.

He and Ash spent the last several months trying to understand this power, and perhaps facing it in battle was another way to learn more about it. There was a glint in Greninja's eyes as he made up his mind. He wanted to battle Gyarados.

And he wasn't the only one who had this desire. Ash felt the same way, and their shared interest took on its own form.

"Whoa!" Misty exclaimed as she was suddenly sprayed with water. She turned back and found Greninja crouching on Lapras' back, his body engulfed in a twisting water bubble. Misty felt a chill run down her spine as she caught sight of the red glow in Greninja's irises as he stared at Gyarados.

The sea serpent took notice of the change in Greninja, and they locked eyes. Gyarados rumbled and shifted in the water beside them, stretching out the sizable fins on her back in response to Greninja's challenge. Misty raised her brow as she watched their exchange and then made eye contact with Ash. This caused her lips to curve upward.

Ash stared at her, biting his lower lip to hold back a smile. That was a look all Pokemon trainers recognized. The look of a trainer who wanted to battle!

"Misty, I know you said you wouldn't battle me and Greninja again, but there's no way you could pass on getting to battle with Gyarados while she's like that," Ash pointed out. "That transformation is only temporary."

"Transformation?" Misty repeated as she tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"I'm not sure I'm right, but I think Gyarados transformed because of the connection the two of you had earlier," Ash explained. "The same thing is happening to Greninja, but it doesn't last forever. If you want to test it out, this may be your only chance."

Misty looked toward the Pokemon, and they both shifted their gaze to her. To have these incredible Pokemon staring at her almost helplessly while they waited for her answer was almost amusing. But Misty was also a Pokemon trainer, and she couldn't deny the fire in her chest. The urge to test the limits of Gyarados' new form.

"I accept your challenge," Misty responded as she grinned. "And I know just the place!"

---

"A combat trial!"

"Everyone, come quick!"

"A battle is upon us!"

The Council gathered in the heavenly realm to witness the upcoming battle.

"This one known as Delta stands before us again…"

"I have been anxious to see his rainbow wings once more."

"He already stands on the mountaintop. Let us see how far he gets into the Way."

"What of the girl? What shall we call her?"

"She has not earned her title yet…Her awakening is incomplete."

"Perhaps Delta will be able to trigger her awakening."

"We shall see."

---

When word got around that Misty would be battling Ash with Gyarados, everyone accompanied them as they traveled further upstream. Lapras guided everyone to a private beach that Misty frequently used to practice with her Pokemon. Their audience took their places on the shore, and Brock requested a few minutes to organize a few people to record the battle with him. While they were getting set up, Ash and Greninja stretched together while Pikachu watched them. Greninja was practically shaking as he eyed Gyarados, who was situated in the water.

"Just a little bit longer, Greninja," Ash said to him, a grin on his face. "I know you've been waiting for a chance to run wild like this ever since you battled Volkner and Ampharos," Ash motioned to his transformed state. "Let's make the most of this!"

"Nin-ja," Greninja nodded to Ash.

"Pika-pi!" Pikachu added as an offering of encouragement.

Misty was out on the water, riding on the back of her Lapras, where they offered Gyarados a pep talk in preparation for her battle.

"Gyarados," Misty said softly as Gyarados lowered her to Misty again. "I know we've been opponents, but now we'll be allies. We don't know much about each other, but I want to ask you to trust me during the battle, and I'll do my best to work with you, okay?"

In response, Gyarados extended one of the long whiskers on her cheeks and offered it to Misty. She extended one arm in response, and Gyarados wrapped Misty's forearm with her whisker as an agreement. Misty held back a giggle and smiled at Gyarados.

On the shore, Brock briefly straightened the collar of his shirt before checking the live stream that he had started on his phone. There was already an audience of over a thousand people waiting for the battle to begin, so Brock thought it was high time they got things underway. He briefly straightened his shirt's collar before turning on his phone's camera to address the audience.

"Good afternoon! 'Brock the Rock' is coming to you live with another high-profile matchup," Brock declared. "In fact, I think high profile is a bit of an understatement. The trainers are both big-name trainers, but they'll both be battling with Pokemon that have transformed!" Brock exclaimed before he switched his camera to show the battlefield. He started by showing them Ash's Greninja cloaked with water, then he shifted his attention to Gyarados. "They'll be starting really soon, so get ready because this battle is going to be insane!"

Brock gave the signal to the referee, who called for Ash and Misty's attention. Misty came closer to the shoreline on Lapras to hear the rules for the battle.

"This is going to be a one-on-one Pokemon battle between Gyarados and Greninja. The battle will conclude when one of the Pokemon is judged unable to continue or if either trainer calls for a forfeit," The acting referee explained. "Is this understood?"

Ash and Misty gave him a nod in response.

"Trainers, take your places! The battle will begin on my mark," The referee declared. Ash and Misty separated, heading back to their respective spots. Ash took his place on the shore, close to the water's edge but still a safe distance from the actual battlefield. Half of the field was in the shallow waters where several rocks would provide Greninja with an area where he could move around. The other half was the deeper waters of the Cascade River that Gyarados would operate out of.

Greninja stood on the shoreline, where he took up a fighting stance.

Gyarados roared, causing the fins on her cheeks to stretch.

Misty pulled her hair into a side ponytail using the hair tie she kept on her wrist.

Ash held the brim of his cap and adjusted it before he grinned.

"Let the battle begin!"

"Gyarados, Hydro Pump!" Misty hollered immediately.

Gyarados' response was almost instant. She opened her mouth, and a massive jet of water was released. She aimed directly for Greninja's body, but he leaped to the side to evade the attack. The Hydro Pump hit the ground where Greninja was previously standing and pummeled the shore. The stones in its path were shattered, and it left a sizable indentation on the ground. Ash staggered as he saw the damage done by that Hydro Pump, and his head snapped back to Gyarados as she roared. Greninja remained on the move as Gyarados continued to use her Hydro Pump in short bursts, blasting craters into the shore, which earned several shouts of exclamation from the crowd.

"Greninja, we can't stay on defense! Use your Water Pulse and show them what kind of power we've got!" Ash called out.

Despite being on the move, Greninja clapped his hands together and used a portion of his water cloak to create a dense sphere of water. It shined in his hands before he came to a stop to let Gyarados lock onto him. She fired another powerful stream of water, but Greninja hurled his Water Pulse in return. Their attacks met, and despite being eclipsed in size, Greninja's Water Pulse still held its own against the Hydro Pump until both attacks burst, which created a brief rain shower.

Misty felt a smile creep up on her face. Greninja possessed some monstrous power if his Water Pulse was strong enough to break even with Gyarados' Hydro Pump. She could wait to see what else they had in store.

Ash already had a game plan in mind. Their ranged attacks weren't very effective with the distance they would have to travel. But at close range, Greninja would have the edge in mobility. "Now it's our turn!" Ash declared. "Greninja, use Double Team to get close to Gyarados!"

Greninja burst forward and leaped from the shoreline to the rocks in the water, jumping from one to another as he rushed toward Gyarados. She opened her mouth to ready a Hydro Pump, but Greninja used his Agility to create a single after-image to accompany him on his approach. Gyarados eyed them both for a moment before she fired at one of them, but her guess was incorrect as Greninja closed in.

"Gyarados, don't let them get that close to you for free! Keep them away with Aqua Tail!" Misty barked in return.

Gyarados raised her tail, and two streams of water spiraled around it. She lashed out with her tail as Greninja closed in, creating a wave of water that threatened to wash Greninja away. In response, Greninja leaped into the air, but he was an easy target once he was airborne. Gyarados slapped him out of the air with her tail, sending him straight back to the beach. Thankfully, Greninja saw the motion for her attack and braced himself with his arms to absorb some of the impact, allowing him to reorient himself in the air and land on his feet.

Ash winced as he felt his arms throb from the blow. "They forced us back once, Greninja, but don't back down!" Ash called out to him. "Let's ramp up our speed and go in with another Double Team!"

Greninja raised his head and set his sights on Gyarados. His eyes were sharp and focused, undeterred by the threat of being crushed by Gyarados on his next attempt to get close to her. He was more than willing to face that danger head-on! Greninja tensed his muscles before he lunged forward, sprinting out toward the rocks on the water.

Unfortunately, Greninja's path to Gyarados wasn't in the same condition as before. The wave Gyarados produced with her Aqua Tail drenched the rocks, and Greninja had no traction! As a result, his after-image faded, and to make matters worse, he slipped off the rock and went straight into the water. Gyarados jumped at the opportunity to strike again and swiveled in the water to attack with another Aqua Tail. She created another wave and sent Greninja back to the shore again.

Ash clicked his tongue, angry with himself for making the same mistake twice. This wasn't a normal field, so they couldn't use a 'normal' approach. They needed to do something different, something like…

Greninja's vertical kick sent Ampharos into the air, and he leaped upward to deliver a double kick that launched Ampharos even further into the sky. From there, once Greninja touched the ground again, he jumped to an updraft which he sprinted up to get in the air above Ampharos where he would land the finishing blow of their battle.

Ash grinned as he looked at Greninja's transformed state. "Greninja, this might be our chance to push Aerial Ace to its limits!" Ash exclaimed.

Greninja got back on his feet after being tossed back to the shore a second time. But as he thought about Ash's words, he realized that Ash was right! This was their best chance to make the most of Aerial Ace. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Misty raised her brow as she heard Ash's call for Aerial Ace…a flying type move. How in the world would Greninja make use of that move?

"Steady Gyarados," Misty said as they both eyed Greninja closely. "Let's see what they're planning."

Greninja exhaled one more time, and his eardrums were flooded by various sounds. The ebb and flow of the water. The whispers of the audience. The sound of the breeze and how it moved around his protective water cloak. He opened his eyes, and he could see it all. The movement of wind, the roadways through the air, the path needed to use Aerial Ace.

Ash didn't need to give a command, he merely leaned forward, and Greninja took action. He rushed forward, but the rocks on the river were no longer his focus. He jumped in the air as though he was attempting one long jump to get close to Gyarados. She readied her tail and quickly predicted the path Greninja would follow, but his course suddenly changed.

Greninja felt his feet slide through a gust of wind, and it became solid for a brief moment around his toes. That quick touch was all he needed to spring upward, higher into the air than Gyarados could reach. She looked upward, but the glare from the sunlight forced her to look away, giving Greninja his chance. From above, he found another passing breeze he used as a springboard to launch himself at Gyarados.

"Brick Break!" Ash hollered, and Greninja slipped right past Gyarados head and bounded toward her neck. Gyarados gagged as Greninja punched her tough skin. In her various battles since evolving, most physical attacks rarely felt like anything more than a prickle. But Greninja's Brick Break was different. It went through her natural defenses straight to her core.

But Greninja was far from finished. Gyarados was reeling from the first Brick Break and unable to defend herself. Greninja used his Aerial Ace to travel around her and strike at her neck from the opposite angle. She threw her head back and roared vehemently, creating a Twister attack to force Greninja away. The sudden windstorm around her proved to be a valuable resource as Greninja had more wind than ever to work with, but Gyarados was shielded within the eye of the storm.

"Lapras, take us in. I want to talk with Gyarados!" Misty commanded as she clung to Lapras' neck. Despite the rough water produced by Gyarados' Twister, Lapras dove under the water and fought through to take Misty to Gyarados. Lapras resurfaced within the Twister next to Gyarados, who was still coughing after being hit on the neck twice. "Gyarados, are you okay?"

Gyarados groaned before she turned to look at Misty and Lapras.

"I'm sorry, I've watched them battle before, but I didn't think they were capable of anything like that," Misty commented before she made eye contact with Gyarados. She had the same unwavering gaze as Greninja. She didn't care about the pain or the danger. She wanted to put her abilities to the test. "You want to run wild too…alright then, let's start pushing boundaries. Drop the Twister and then use Dragon Dance!"

Gyarados actually smiled at Misty with the call for Dragon Dance. This was the move that terrorized her until now, but she would gladly use it now that Misty was alongside her.

Greninja had no trouble staying airborne as he jumped from one blade of wind to the next, waiting for Gyarados' Twister to end. As expected, the windstorm dispersed, and Gyarados was revealed with a red glow around her body. Her body temperature skyrocketed as wisps of steam rose from the water that evaporated on her skin.

"Let's keep it up, Greninja!" Ash declared as he pumped his fist. "Give her another taste of your Brick Break!"

Greninja grinned as he observed his opponent with an aerial view. Seeing everything from above was a unique sensation that caused his chest to swell. Is this what it felt like to break free of his limitations? To see pathways in the airstreams and walk on the wind. Greninja didn't want this to end any time soon!

Greninja propelled himself toward Gyarados, but he had almost a dozen options to move around her on the air currents to attack from a different angle. However, as he rotated around her, Misty gave her next command.

"Outrage!"

Gyarados' eyes became completely red, and her head snapped around to track Greninja's movements. He darted around her, but Gyarados didn't let him leave her field of vision. As long as she kept Greninja in her field of vision, he hesitated to attack, and rightfully so. Gyarados angled her tail to attack with it, but as Greninja reacted to dodge it, Gyarados read his movements and changed her target to the direction Greninja was moving in. She beat him to the spot in the air he jumped to and slapped him down into the river.

"Now, follow up with Aqua Tail!"

Gyarados kept her tail underwater as she swung it multiple times, creating ripples that turned into massive waves that swept Greninja back to the shore. He fought against the turbulent waters, but even with all his might, Greninja couldn't overcome the strong currents, and he crashed into one of the rocks and was pinned against it. On the beach, Ash staggered and dropped to one knee as he felt his whole body become numb.

Members of the audience close to the shoreline quickly abandoned that location as they saw the massive waves come crashing in. The small beach area that gave Greninja some land to move on was utterly swamped, leaving only the stones in the river for him to move on without Aerial Ace. As the water levels returned to normal, Greninja pulled himself on top of the stone and groaned as he held his side. Crashing into the rock earlier left him feeling tender, and he was sure there would be a large bruise on his torso later.

"There he is!" Misty hollered. "Hyper Beam!"

A flash of light forced Greninja to summon his focus. A screeching ball of orange light was growing in front of her open maw, and she roared once it was complete. A beam-like extension left the orb that sliced through the water as it approached Greninja, who dove into the water to avoid the attack. The trainers in the audience were glad they left their spot on the shore as Gyarados' Hyper Beam cut through the river, the rocky shallow waters, and then the beach. The water split, the rocks shattered, and a chasm was left of the beach that was quickly consumed in the black smoke of the ensuing explosion. The ground shook, earning gasps and exclamations from the audience.

Ash licked his lips as his body trembled. He remembered battling Gyarados and seeing the craters her Hyper Beam left on the coast in her normal state. But in her transformed state, the combination of her Aqua Tail and Hyper Beam completely obliterated the beach that made up part of the battlefield. Her power was absolutely incredible! However, she wasn't just a powerhouse.

Gyarados' Outrage gained a sense of focus, heightening her senses to help her track Greninja's moves even when using Aerial Ace. Through her battles against Gyarados, Misty understood Gyarados' abilities. And despite this being the first time they worked together as a team; Misty was making the most of that knowledge.

"They're amazing," Ash remarked with a deep breath as the pain subsided and he forced himself back onto his feet. "But we're just getting started! Greninja, let's take things up a notch! You're doing fine moving with Aerial Ace, so combine that with Agility!"

Greninja resurfaced, and though he missed hearing Ash's command, the idea of what Ash wanted to do was already imprinted on his mind. Go faster! Trust all the practice he did with Aerial Ace and continue to push his boundaries of what he could achieve with it! He swam to the nearest rock, and he didn't waste a moment as he got his feet onto it and leaped to the nearest air current to get airborne again. From the moment he touched it, Greninja accelerated. His body flickered as his speed rose, and Misty's eyes widened as Greninja seemed to bounce around like a blue pinball.

"Gyarados, use Outrage again!" Misty commanded, and Gyarados' eyes were consumed with red light. She roared as Greninja came close, tracking his rapid movements. They went through the same exchange as last time, and Gyarados forced Greninja to move in one direction and predicted his course to swat him with her tail. But there was a new wrinkle. Greninja's body flickered before Gyarados' tail passed right through him, and she saw another blue blur flash across her line of sight before she was struck on the head.

"There it is!" Ash shouted triumphantly, and there were cheers from the audience as they saw the display from Greninja.

Three after-images of Greninja flew around Gyarados at a time, though one would fade out after a few moments, but a new one would take its place. A combination of Double Team and Aerial Ace! It was still incomplete since Greninja couldn't fully maintain his after-images, but it was enough to create confusion on which target Gyarados needed to attack. She couldn't find the real Greninja among the constant blurs around her. Gyarados retaliated, but with each whiff, Greninja struck back with a Brick Break. He landed three attacks before Misty intervened.

"Gyarados, you have to force him back. Use Aqua Tail on the river!" Misty called out as she pointed to the surface of the water.

Gyarados roared and lashed out at Greninja again, but she failed to hit him, and yet another Brick Break was delivered to her jaw. She reeled from the blow but remained upright. It was only after she was struck that Misty's instructions registered in her mind, and she understood what to do. The serpent Pokemon raised her tail as high as she could before she dropped against the water, raising a massive pillar of water. The sudden rush of water rising and falling caused Greninja's after-images to waver. The real Greninja stood out as a target for Gyarados, who immediately struck him down.

Ash doubled over in pain and held his stomach while his knees wobbled from the impact of Greninja crashing into the remains of the beach. Thankfully, the water cloak around him cushioned the damage, but he still found it difficult to return to his feet. Gyarados' aim was impeccable, as she sent Greninja within a few meters of where Ash was standing on the battlefield. Putting them so close together, Misty raised her brow as she saw Ash and Greninja back on their feet in unison and take a fighting stance. They weren't going to yield!

Gyarados was grateful that they could continue. She didn't want this to end! She roared gallantly, stretching out the fins on her cheeks to answer Ash and Greninja's challenge.

Everything went silent.

The Cascade River was gone.

Misty raised a hand to shield her eyes from the glaring sun that was suddenly off to her right. She looked around and saw that they were on the summit of a mountain. A lonely flat area, just her, Ash, Greninja, and Gyarados. They were all here.

"Wha…what is this place?" Misty inquired.

"This is, um," Ash paused as he thought about it. Then he smiled. "This is where you're the closest with your Pokemon."

Misty pursed her lips as she took another look around. It was like time stopped here, allowing them time to regroup with their Pokemon. Ash didn't hesitate to approach Greninja who was studying Gyarados closely. With the pause in the action, Misty used the opportunity to take a breath, and that allowed her to hear Gyarados' breathing. It was labored, almost like she was wheezing. It was then that Misty realized how heavy her own shoulders felt. She was exhausted, and there was no doubt that Gyarados was feeling the same way. Even though she looked so impressive during the battle, Gyarados was expending a ridiculous amount of energy, and she probably couldn't do that for much longer.

"I want to keep going," Gyarados stated, though she was panting.

Misty felt her heart thumping in her chest, and she could hear Gyarados' heightened heart rate. Their hearts were beating in unison. Ash was right; she did feel closer to Gyarados here than at any point during their battles. This new bond between them was remarkable, and according to Ash, this battle was a sort of preview of everything they could achieve together.

"Gyarados, I know you're exhausted," Misty said. "But it feels like this battle is only just starting. So, let's give this our all until we can't go any farther!"

Gyarados' breathing became steady, and the red glow of Dragon Dance enveloped her body. Greninja's chest grew hot as he observed this change in Gyarados, and Ash experienced this as well. Greninja's excitement was contagious.

"Greninja, you like battling like this, don't you?" Ash inquired with a motion to Greninja's transformed state. "I've never seen you this worked up before during a battle, but I know how you feel. It's hard not to get all riled up when battling someone really strong," Ash went on. "But don't get too caught up in yourself. We're at the climax of this battle…the best part. I know you haven't been in many battles like this to understand what I'm saying, but this is different."

Ash paused for a moment as he stretched out his arms in a motion to the mountaintop around them.

"Take all this in, feel the flow of the battle, feel your opponent and what they want to do," Ash continued with a broad grin. "Take it all in…because this is where the winner of the battle is going to be decided!"

Misty found herself smiling after Ash's declaration. "No holding back!" Misty challenged them.

Gyarados roared, and Greninja widened his stance.

Ash took hold of the visor on his cap and turned it around. "We're all in!" Ash hollered in return.

Their surroundings returned, and the battle resumed.

"Go for it, Greninja!"

"Gyarados, you can win this!"

The audience encouraged both participants, anxious to see the conclusion of this battle.

Ash knew that Gyarados was exhausted. After all, she fought multiple Pokemon before her battle with Greninja. He didn't want to win that battle simply because Gyarados' stamina ran out, and he knew Greninja wouldn't accept a victory like that. They had to defeat Gyarados before her transformation ended. So what was the most effective way to beat her?

Of course, the first thing that came to mind was Pikachu's Thunderbolt, but something like that wasn't in their arsenal. But the next best strategy was showcased by Misty's Corsola, who struck Gyarados on the forehead hard enough to disorient her for a while. If they could do something similar, it might create the opportunity they needed to end the battle.

So, their target would be Gyarados' forehead. "Greninja, we're going to use our double Water Pulse, one as a setup and the other to attack with! Remember everything you've used in this battle, and let's put it all together!"

"Gyarados, I want you to start off with Dragon Dance. We're going to need the extra 'oomph' to deal with Greninja once he gets close!" Misty declared. "Use your Outrage to predict his movements and take him down with an Aqua Tail!"

Their final exchange was kicked off with Greninja summoning a Water Pulse, which he hurled at Gyarados from the shoreline. Then he rushed forward and jumped to an air current to approach Gyarados using Aerial Ace. As expected, Gyarados took a moment to focus on the Water Pulse that came first, so Greninja summoned another aerial Double Team to begin his actual assault. Gyarados followed Misty's instructions and used her Outrage in another attempt to track Greninja's movements, but it was impossible to keep up with him. So, she used her Aqua Tail rapidly, slapping the river's surface to raise pillars of water that cut off Greninja's angles to attack.

Her strategy worked to perfection as Greninja attempted to force his way in, and Gyarados was ready and waiting for it. In his hands, Greninja held a shining Water Pulse that he intended to use as a melee weapon as he closed in. He weaved between two water pillars and rushed toward Gyarados from her side, aiming for her temple. However, Gyarados knew that this was one of three possible angles and turned to meet him. Greninja couldn't change his course in time, and he slammed his Water Pulse into the black horns that protected the front of Gyarados' head.

Greninja felt his stomach drop as he stared into Gyarados' menacing red irises. Then her eyes flashed red, and she roared at him, unleashing gale-force winds that caused Greninja's Water Pulse to unravel right in front of him. The winds suspended him in midair, and Gyarados snapped her tail at Greninja. He was struck from below and launched high into the skies.

"It's target practice now, Gyarados!" Misty hollered as she pointed to Greninja. "Hyper Beam!"

Greninja was still traveling upward by the time Gyarados finished charging her attack, and she didn't let a moment pass before she fired. Thanks to her Dragon Dance, it was even stronger than last time as orange lightning bolts spiraled around the beam that pierced through the air.

Greninja attempted to stop himself on the passing air currents, but his upward momentum was too strong to stop completely. He was helpless, with only a few seconds remaining before contact with the Hyper Beam. Just as Greninja was going to brace himself, a wind tunnel preceded the attack. This air was moving in response to the dense energy beam, giving Greninja enough leverage to launch himself toward the ground and avoid the attack.

Gyarados' Hyper Beam missed the mark, but she continued to fire the attack, attempting to clip Greninja with it as he made a beeline toward the ground. But she couldn't catch up to him, and the attack ran out as Greninja landed back on the beach. Misty felt her legs give out beneath her, and she latched onto Lapras' neck for support. All her strength was gone, and the same could be said for Gyarados. That last Hyper Beam came at a high cost. She could hardly move.

Greninja stood upright on the shore and stared at Gyarados. This was the big finish that Ash was talking about. Now was the time to end the battle, and Greninja knew what he needed to accomplish this.

"You should know this already, Greninja, but water represents fluidity. The ability to change and take on any shape," Misty began as they all stood ankle-deep in the river. "Water is powerful, capable of blunt force like a tsunami…but water can also be used with precision. That's what we'll show you how to do with Liquidation."

Greninja captured the blunt force of a tsunami with a precision tool thanks to his water crafting once before when he battled Ampharos. It happened on its own the first time, but Misty showed him how to replicate that through her lessons with Liquidation. Greninja raised one hand, and his water cloak gathered into his palm, where it morphed into a shuriken. All of his strength and power was collected into this attack, and Greninja took hold of it, which caused it to burn blue.

"Gyarados, we can still disrupt them! Use Hydro Pump!" Misty shouted. It was the only option they had left since Gyarados was defenseless. If they were going to go down, they would go down fighting!

Gyarados took a few deep breaths to muster what little strength she could to launch a Hydro Pump. The pressurized water cannon raced toward Greninja, threatening to crush him before he could launch his finishing move.

"Nice going, Greninja," Ash exclaimed as he mirrored Greninja's movements, holding the shuriken from within the hold at the center of the object. "Let's do this together!"

The two of them lowered their upper body and swung their arm through the air to hurl the shuriken at the approaching Hydro Pump. Greninja's water shuriken met with Gyarados' Hydro Pump, and it easily cut straight through the attack. Misty sank to her knees as she saw the jet of water being split, which cast water everywhere, while Greninja's attack went straight back to Gyarados. It connected with her head and erupted there, creating a cloud of white smoke. Everyone could hear Gyarados' roar as she reeled from this attack, and this time she went down like a collapsing tower.

Misty looked across their makeshift battlefield, and her eyes locked with Ash's as he straightened up. She was taken back to the mountaintop a second time, but this time it was just her and Ash. He didn't seem to notice her at all this time as he stood out at the edge of the summit. Misty attempted to approach him, but a white stairway appeared in front of him that led to the starry heavens above. Ash stepped onto this stairway, and Misty felt her heart leap into her throat as she saw his rainbow wings spread out from his back as he traveled up the stairway.

Misty was left behind on the summit, and she realized that this wasn't a destination. She had visions of this place in the past, but she never managed to reach the mountain's peak. Not until she met Gyarados. But it only took one visit to the mountaintop for her to realize that this was only a stepping stone and that there were more incredible things beyond this.

Clearly, Ash was heading to someplace even higher than the mountaintop.

For the time being, Misty knew that she had to make it back to the mountaintop. Hopefully, Gyarados would be willing to help her get back here again.

Misty returned to the battlefield, and as she continued to stare at Ash, she let out a breath that she had been holding for a long time. Now she understood why Lily told her to stop holding Ash to one standard. He was simply different.

Ash didn't obsess over practical skills or having different strategies to outsmart his opponent. Instead, he motivated his Pokemon during combat to help them overcome their challenges and improve during the battle. This was how Ash Ketchum influenced battles…and this was truly unique. He inspired his Pokemon and his opponents to be better.

Misty was familiar with the theory behind Gyarados' abilities but putting them into practice in battle was a completely different story. Under normal circumstances, Misty wouldn't dare try out Gyarados' Dragon Dance or Outrage, but because she saw Ash and Greninja pushing their limits, she decided to do the same.

"I have no idea what a Pokemon Master is supposed to be…" Misty muttered as Gyarados glowed. Her body reverted to its original form, and she floated in the water, unconscious from the final blow she received. "But he might figure out how to become one."

"Gyarados is unable to battle. Greninja is the winner!" The referee declared, and the audience applauded wildly for the battle they had just witnessed.

"Ugh, Lapras, take us over to Gyarados," Misty said as she gave Lapras a pat on the neck. Lapras cooed before she took Misty to her fallen comrade, and there she performed an Aqua Ring to heal some of the damage done to Gyarados. Lapras had to spend some time tending to the extensive damage done to Gyarados's forehead by the water shuriken. Not only was there a massive bruise on her head from the impact, but her horns had dozens of gashes. A combination of blunt force and precision damage. That move had incredible potential!

As the Aqua Ring closed up the wounds on Gyarados' horns and reduced the swelling on her head, Gyarados regained consciousness. Her eyes opened, and she rumbled slightly as she rose up to look around. She saw Ash and Greninja celebrating on the shore, and Gyarados lowered her head slightly.

"Don't feel bad. You were amazing during that battle and…" Misty paused for a moment as she reached into the pocket of her diving suit and withdrew a miniaturized Pokeball from it. "I was hoping we could work together more. I felt some sort of connection to you before, but I didn't really understand it at first. But after battling with you, I've realized that there's so much more I still have to learn. I know for a fact that I have some things to learn alongside you," Misty stated as she pressed the center of the Pokeball to enlarge it. Then she presented the device to Gyarados. "Would you be willing to join me on my journey to learn more about each other?"

Gyarados looked back to Ash and Greninja, and she knew for a fact that what she faced today was their combined strength. She and Misty were capable of something similar, and Gyarados wanted to explore that power more. She looked back to Misty and extended one of the whiskers from her cheek to touch the center of the Pokeball. Gyarados' massive body turned white before being swallowed into the Pokeball. The small device snapped shut and shook in Misty's hands before it emitted a low hum. Misty looked down at the Pokeball and breathed out a sigh before she leaned against Lapras again.

"What a day," She muttered. Lapras sang a short tune and lifted two small streams of water out of the river as an offering to use Aqua Ring on Misty. "Aww, thank you, Lapras, but I'm okay," Misty assured her. "Come on, let's head back to the shore."

As Misty arrived, she was dragged into the center of the crowd where Ash and Greninja stood. She was bombarded with questions about how Gyarados transformed.

"I'm sorry, I don't know much about it yet," Misty answered before showing them Gyarados' Pokeball. "I did capture Gyarados, so I'm hoping to learn more about it in the future. But if you want to know more, I think Ash could explain it."

Ash scratched at the back of his neck with a chuckle. "Uh, I'm not the best at explaining it," Ash admitted. "I think the best way to put it is that it has to do with the bond you develop with your Pokemon. You can build that bond by doing all kinds of stuff, but once you let a Pokemon into your heart, it's like having the ultimate enabler with you. That bond you share makes you stronger and helps you do things you might have thought were impossible. Think of it as like a superpower…" Ash hesitated for a moment before he added. "Pokemon power."

Gary stood among the crowd and listened closely to Ash's answer about the transformations. The last time Gary heard Ash mention Pokemon power, he laughed and turned his nose upward at the thought of such a thing. But after witnessing the battle between Greninja and Gyarados, Gary knew he couldn't deny it any longer. This wasn't exclusive to Ash. Pokemon power was something that other people could utilize too!

Brock held his phone up to get a better angle of Ash and Misty as they shook hands now that the contest was over. Then he switched back to the camera on the front of his phone to speak with the audience one last time.

"Just like I promised, an absolutely insane battle!" Brock exclaimed as he pointed to the camera. "I don't think much else needs to be said. That battle speaks for itself. So, all I'll say to you trainers who watched this. 'Quest' is accepting any and all challengers!"

---

Sunday, April 25th

There was a gathering of trainers in the main lobby of the Cascade Resort to watch the morning news.

"Shush, it's starting!" Daisy said vehemently to the group as they all looked up at the television mounted on the wall. A dark-haired woman was seated behind the news desk, and she smiled for the camera.

"Good morning Kanto; this is Kinsey Miles with your regional news network," She began. "Our opening segment this morning comes from Cerulean City, where their local news network caught some stunning footage of a Pokemon battle in the Cascade River. According to eyewitnesses on the scene, a Gyarados in the Cascade River threatened to destroy Nugget Bridge if a group of local trainers didn't intervene."

The broadcast then switched to a recording captured by the news chopper over Nugget Bridge. It showed an aerial view of Gyarados rampaging in the river with several Pokemon attacking her from different angles. Several clips, including Wartortle's heroics in blocking Gyarados' Hyper Beam from destroying one of the support beams, were shown. There were some cheers from the trainers in response to what was shown. The final clip was Misty's interaction with Gyarados, which finally calmed her down and ended the battle.

"It took some time to find these trainers, but one of the local reporters made contact to get more information," Kinsey went on.

Misty was on screen now with one of Cerulean City's local news reporters.

"There she is!" Daisy proclaimed proudly. Several people shushed her.

"I'm here with Misty Waterflower, the young woman who calmed down the Gyarados in the river earlier," The reporter said as he introduced Misty. "First off, I just want to say that was one of the bravest things I've seen. And I've also got a few questions for you. Could you fill us in on what was going on there?"

"Well, actually, Gyarados has been living upstream in the Cascade River for a few weeks now. Gyarados are known for their bad temperament, so we've had a team of trainers working together to patrol the river and keep Gyarados in check," Misty explained with an air of authority. "Today was the closest she's ever gotten to Nugget Bridge. Fortunately, we captured her, so she's no longer a threat."

"Incredible. We just want to thank you for all your effort!"

A few other interviews were shown as the clips of the battle were shown one more time.

Gary was among the group that came to watch the news segment, and as he saw the footage of Wartortle blocking the Hyper Beam once again, he frowned. Suddenly, a hand was slapped against his back, and Gary found Brock beside him.

"So, how is Wartortle doing?" Brock inquired.

Gary raised his brow at Brock. "He's doing fine. Misty's Lapras treated him yesterday, and he'll get a follow-up later today. I'm not worried about him. His shell is built to take that kind of punishment."

"I figured as much," Brock commented, though he furrowed his brow as Gary shoved his hands in his pocket and turned away. Gary began to make his way toward the exit of the lobby, but Brock pursued him. "Hey, is something bothering you?"

Gary pursed his lips as he walked, and the two exited the lobby before he answered. "Just had some things nagging on my mind, and yesterday has me wondering what I'm doing."

"What does that mean?" Brock asked him in return.

Gary shook his head at Brock and quickened his pace.

"Hey, hey, hey," Brock jogged to get ahead of Gary. "Look, we don't always see eye to eye, but if you need to talk with someone, I can be a good listener."

Gary narrowed his eyes skeptically.

Brock raised his hands in his defense. "I'm being serious, Gary. What's bothering you?"

Gary breathed out and shook his head once more. "What have I got to lose at this point?" He asked himself. "Alright. Back in Ecruteak City, Ash and I were pretty much equals, but ever since we left, I feel like he's getting farther and farther ahead of me."

Not only did Frogadier evolve into Greninja, but some of his performances since evolving, could be described as 'otherworldly.'

"And then yesterday, Wartortle got demolished by one Hyper Beam from Gyarados even though he was using Protect. Meanwhile, Ash and Greninja faced a transformed version of Gyarados and beat her," Gary continued. "I remember I laughed at Ash's whole 'Pokemon power' spiel the first time I heard it. I thought it was the dumbest thing ever because I always thought that knowledge of your Pokemon and your opponent is what would help you win battles. But Ash has been proving that there's more to it than that."

Brock nodded slowly. "So, I get what you mean," Brock told Gary. "Ash has always been that way. I'm like you. Pokemon is all science and research, but for Ash, he's more into bonds and feelings. He's got his own thought process on all of it, and truthfully, it really doesn't make that much sense to me either," Brock gave Gary a pat on the shoulder. "So don't feel bad."

"It's not that I feel bad," Gary responded. "I just feel…inadequate. Ash is making so much progress, and he attributes it all to the bonds he's building with his Pokemon. I don't think I've built bonds with my Pokemon yet," Gary confessed.

"Gary, it's not like there's a time limit," Brock reasoned. "You can build a bond at any time, you know. I'll be honest with you, I've had Rockruff as my partner for a couple of years now, but I don't think we've really built a bond yet. But that doesn't mean that I can't. This stuff takes time."

"Mmm," Gary gave him a slight nod. "I see what you mean. I guess it's just something for me to work on."

"Yeah, just take it one step at a time," Brock added, but he sensed that perhaps he needed to leave the subject for now. "Look, if you ever wanna talk, just let me know. I'll shut up and listen if that's all you want. But don't think that's going to change anything," There was a glint in Brock's eyes. "I'm still going to terrorize you whenever I can."

Gary forced a laugh and thanked him for listening. Brock gave him a two-fingered salute before departing, leaving Gary to himself. With his hands in his pockets, Gary continued on his way.

He thought of Wartortle and Umbreon. "I can build a bond with them anytime," Gary muttered.

His Pokemon were his companions, but Gary knew that Ash thought of his Pokemon as so much more. They were friends, comrades…maybe even brothers.

"How can I build a bond with them?" Gary asked himself. "How can I get Pokemon power?"

---

Monday, April 26th

9:36am.

Ash, Greninja, and Pikachu were doing road work alongside the Cascade River. Considering how much action they experienced on Saturday, Sunday was dedicated to rest and nothing else. Ash didn't realize how much Saturday took out of him until he laid back on his hotel bed that night and woke up at noon the following day. Greninja and Pikachu slept even longer than him, though Ash attributed that to the energy they expended during their battles.

Taking a day off for the first time in a while was nice. No travel or training. But, of course, it was back to business as usual today. If there was anything that battling Misty taught Ash, it was that there were many more amazing trainers around the world that he had yet to meet. If he was going to battle all of them, he wanted to make sure that he and his Pokemon were at their absolute best!

They ran five miles alongside the Cascade River before they ran into a group of familiar faces training on the shoreline. Misty and her band of water Pokemon, Gyarados, Lapras, Corsola, Floatzel, and Psyduck. As Ash took a moment to observe the group, he realized what an impressive team Misty had around her. He wondered if he would have five or six Pokemon accompanying him one day. However, that thought was short-lived as Corsola greeted the three of them by tackling their chests.

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised to see you here," Misty noted as Ash slowly approached with his arm wrapped around his abdomen. Greninja and Pikachu joined Misty's Pokemon, who ceased their mock battle since they had company.

"Yeah, the battle we had against you and Gyarados has got us all fired up," Ash explained through a grimace. "We want to make sure we're as strong as possible for anyone that challenges us!"

"Have you gotten any new challengers yet?" Misty asked him.

Ash shook his head. "Not yet, but that's nothing I'm not used to already," He replied with a chuckle. Then his expression became neutral as he looked at Gyarados. "I haven't had a chance to talk with you since our battle. What did you think of it?"

Misty raised her brow for a moment. "I can't lie…that was one of the best battles I've ever been in," Misty confessed. "It's hard to explain, but Gyarados was easy to work with even though that was the first time we were teammates. I've felt that with all my Pokemon, but I was surprised to feel it with Gyarados almost immediately."

"And by the looks of it, you just met your partner Pokemon," Ash stated as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"Partner Pokemon?" Misty repeated in question.

"Mhmm, it's something I learned about in Ecruteak City," Ash answered. "Apparently, there are special trainers where if they meet their partner Pokemon, their bond allows them to go above and beyond what you would normally expect from a Pokemon."

"So, Gyarados and I have a bond that caused her transformation?" Misty concluded.

"That's what it seems like to me, especially after I saw your wings and hers," Ash nodded toward Gyarados.

"I uh," Misty hesitated as she bit down on her lower lip. "I saw your wings too…when we were on the mountaintop. But I wasn't sure if you could see them too."

"Yup, I've been seeing them for a long time," Ash confirmed.

"Oh, thank god!" Misty exclaimed, and Ash flinched. "I've been seeing them since I was a kid, but I never really understood why I was seeing them. So I started to ask my family about it, but after a while, they thought I was going crazy, so I stopped talking about them."

Ash rumbled his lips. "I've only known for a little while, though it still doesn't really make sense to me," Ash shrugged. "This is probably going to sound crazy, but I met a trainer in Ecruteak City that's over two hundred years old. He had colored wings, like you and I do, and he said that there are trainers that can create special bonds with Pokemon and help them go beyond their limits. Like how we helped Greninja and Gyarados to transform."

"So, we're special," Misty trailed off.

Ash shrugged again. "That's what he said…and he had a Pokemon with him that kind of said the same thing."

Misty raised her brow skeptically. "A talking Pokemon?"

"It was more like telepathy," Ash reasoned before calling Greninja. "Right, Suicune spoke with us using telepathy?" Greninja nodded in return.

Misty shook her head and sighed. "Yeah, you weren't kidding about all this sounding crazy."

Ash couldn't help but laugh. "I've actually met a few people with colored wings, and whenever I got to talk with them, they would tell me all sorts of stuff that didn't make much sense at the time. I guess it's my turn to do that to someone else," Ash chuckled. Misty narrowed her eyes, and Ash cleared his throat. "Admittedly, I'm not sure if this stuff really matters because your focus should be building that bond with Gyarados."

"How did you develop your bond with Greninja to help him transform?"

"The same trainer I met in Ecruteak City; his name was Spenser. He gave us a bunch of different exercises to help us practice getting into sync because that's the key to the transformation," Ash explained.

Misty puffed out her cheeks as she looked toward their gathering of Pokemon. She didn't like asking Ash all of these questions, but he was clearly more informed than her, and everything she saw from him during their battle was evidence of this. If she was going to figure out how to develop this special bond with Gyarados, she would have to ask Ash. "Can you recommend anything I can do with Gyarados to get started?"

Their ongoing conversation reached a point where their Pokemon started seeking entertainment. Floatzel offered to take Pikachu for a ride on the river, much to his delight. Psyduck and Corsola accompanied them while Greninja approached Lapras to ask her a few questions. Gyarados remained to observe as Lapras summoned a few water bubbles from the river to teach Greninja a lesson.

Ash pursed his lips. "I'm not sure. A lot of the training Greninja and I did was specifically for us, like practicing martial arts together. I don't think that would work for helping you and Gyarados get in sync."

"Well, do you have any other ideas?" Misty pressed him.

Ash brought a hand to his chin as he thought about his answer. "As I think about it, I've learned a lot from other people I've met with colored wings. Have you ever met someone like that?"

"Yeah, once," Misty responded slowly. "When I was like eight, my family visited Alola, and I met a woman with blue wings. She was the one who taught me how to dance with the water."

Ash nodded with a grin. "Then she's probably the person you're looking for."

"But why would it be her?" Misty inquired.

"Here's an example," Ash went on. "I met Volkner when I was younger, and he had golden wings. I even saw him catch a lightning bolt with his bare hand. He was the one who taught Pikachu how to control his lightning. Did you ever think that maybe your wings are tied to how you can make water move?"

Misty shook her head. "No, I don't think much about the wings. Like I said, my family thought I was going crazy, and they sent me to a psychiatrist. I kind of got the impression that the wings were just in my head," Misty paused momentarily. "But as I think about it, I only remember starting to see the wings after I met that lady in Alola."

"I'll bet she can teach you more about what you can do to bond with Gyarados," Ash said. "I mean, I'm sure you probably would've figured it out on your own, but getting help couldn't hurt."

Misty leered again. "I don't need you trying to pity me," Misty declared as she pointed at him. "I'm the better trainer between us, but in this specific scenario, I'll acknowledge that you're better at bringing out the most from your partner Pokemon. But that doesn't mean I'll let it stay that way!"

In a water Pokemon showdown, Misty was confident that any of her Pokemon could beat Greninja. But it was a completely different story if he managed to transform. The only Pokemon that would even stand a chance against the transformed Greninja was Gyarados. If she was going to be the greatest water type specialist, then Misty could never accept that Greninja was stronger than the Pokemon she trained.

"I'm going to become the greatest water type Pokemon trainer," Misty added. "And that means we'll have to beat you and Greninja to get that title! The next time we battle, we're going to take you down!"

Ash beamed in response to Misty's challenge. "I'll be looking forward to it. And we'll be stronger by then, so don't expect it to be easy!"

Misty fought her urge to return his smile. She was eager to face them again, but in the one day that passed since she captured Gyarados, Misty learned one thing. She had no idea how to trigger that transformation; without it, they couldn't compete with Greninja. So, until they discovered the secret behind it, that rematch with Ash would have to wait.

But there was one thing that was still on Misty's mind.

"Can you tell me more about that place we visited during the battle?" Misty asked him. "The mountaintop?"

Ash tilted his head. "What do you want to know about it?"

"That was the first time I ever reached the top," Misty replied. "I've battled with Floatzel, Lapras, and Corsola, and I would get these visions of myself climbing the mountain. But with Gyarados, I was there instantly."

"I mean, I don't know much about it, but I was in the same boat as you for a while. I was always climbing the mountain when I battled with Pikachu, but we made it to the top a few times," Ash explained. "But with Greninja, it's like the mountaintop was our starting point."

"Is there something else beyond it?"

"I think so," Ash said, scratching at the back of his head. "When I battle with Greninja, a glowing staircase appears that goes higher and higher, but I'm not sure what's at the end of it."

"Yeah, I saw you go onto the staircase," Misty noted.

"Whenever I start to travel up the stairway, Greninja transforms, so I'm pretty sure they're linked," Ash added.

"And if you had to take a wild guess, what do you think is at the end of the stairway?"

That question caused Ash to pause. He never thought about that. What was waiting for him at the end of the astral stairway? If the stairway caused Greninja to get stronger, then the destination would likely unlock something else within them. Could it be, Mastery of Pokemon?

"Maybe getting to the end of the stairway will make me a Pokemon Master," Ash mused. Then he realized he had said that out loud and expected a laugh from Misty. However, she kept a straight face. "Does that sound crazy?" He asked her.

"With everything you've said so far, nothing sounds crazy at this point," Misty replied. "But what does it even mean to be a Pokemon Master?"

"I'm not sure," He paused. "I've always thought of it as the final goal where I've learned all the secrets Pokemon have to share, and I've become the best trainer I can be. You know, it's kind of like a point where you can take a step back from a painting and say it's done. You just feel…satisfied."

Misty didn't know what to say in response, and Ash took her silence as an invitation to continue.

"But at the same time, I don't think about this as often as I used to. Back when I lived in Vermilion City, there was a guy I used to run into," Ash looked up fondly at the memories.

"I don't see the Pokemon Master as a figurehead, like you do," N noted briefly as their gaze met. "I see them more as…a ruler. My belief is that a Pokemon Master is selected, by whom… I'm not certain. Since they were selected though, they were given a vision or an ideal as you put it. And because they possess this, they are willing to assert themselves in order to create the ideal world that they have witnessed."

"I don't see how you expect a Pokemon Master to make a difference, Ash," N pointed out. "The greatest leaders were unconventional and willing to push boundaries. A Pokemon Master has to go above and beyond anyone in history."

N made a gesture toward his Zoroark. "Mastery of Pokemon. I now consider it to be…oneness of self, and Pokemon. The bond you forge with your Pokemon, it's tested through everyday life. When you train together, battle together, succeed together, fail together…and above all else, learn together."

"In the end, talking with him made me realize that everyone is going to have a different answer because Pokemon Mastery is going to mean something different for everyone," Ash motioned to Misty. "But honestly, since I've started traveling, I'm just enjoying the journey now instead of obsessing over the destination."

"I'm a little surprised with you," Misty stated. "I had you pegged as a guy with a brain the size of a Slakoth's. But clearly, you're at least a Mankey," Before Misty could go any further, she was suddenly picked up by her waist and found herself resting on Ash's shoulder. "Hey, what the hell are you doing?!"

Ash began to walk to the river, where he stepped into the water. Misty started to hit his back to try to break free of his grip, but Ash was strong. Once he was waist-deep in the water, Ash hurled Misty into the river, and she shrieked. Her sudden shout drew the attention of all of their Pokemon.

Misty resurfaced and stood upright, glaring through her damp hair that hung in front of her face. "What was that for?"

"I don't know, just followed a thought I had in my 'Mankey brain,'" He retorted before he turned away.

Misty fumed, and a glint flashed across her eyes. Ash felt the water around his legs suddenly pull backward, as though the current was trying to pull him out into the river. He ignored it and took another step, but as soon as he raised one foot, the current became more assertive and snatched his other foot off the river floor. Ash fell face forward into the water and was dragged out to Misty, who smirked as Ash stood up to spit the water out of his mouth.

"What the…" Ash caught sight of Misty's expression and shot a leer at her. "That was you, wasn't it?"

"That 'Mankey brain' of yours must be imagining things," Misty snapped back.

As the two of them began to wrestle in the water, their Pokemon stopped and merely observed. Ash would use brute strength to toss Misty around, but she would quickly retaliate by manipulating the water around Ash to drag him underwater. There were screams and shouts from both of them as they went back and forth. "Mankey brain!" "Blimp butt!"

Greninja, Lapras, and Gyarados shared a glance, and shook their heads.

---

Friday, April 30th

Ash tugged at the brim of his cap, fastening it tightly to his head. When he thought of Cerulean City, quite a few things came to mind. There was the Cascade River and the incredible battle between Greninja and Gyarados. The bed in his room in the Cascade Resort was the most comfortable thing he slept on. There were the dozens of trainers he battled while he was here, including Misty Waterflower.

But all that couldn't compare to the glee Ash felt right now as he stood on the battlefield in the basement of the Cascade Resort. He had multiple battles here since their arrival at the resort, but this was the first time that a particular little electrically charged Pokemon could participate.

"Pika!" Pikachu declared as he discharged a few lightning bolts from his cheeks.

Across the field from him was a Granbull who bared his lengthy fangs and snarled at Pikachu.

"Alright, no holding back, Madeline!" Ash called out to his opponent, and she nodded in return.

"Let's do it!" She hollered.

The referee waved his flag through the air, and their battle commenced. Ash didn't waste a moment as he called for their tried-and-true combination of Quick Attack and Double Team. It was their first combination and the centerpiece of their entire offense. Ash licked his bottom lip as a laugh escaped his mouth as he saw Pikachu flicker and then lunge forward. There was something that just felt 'right' about seeing a yellow blur flash across the field.

Granbull stumbled backward as four after-images of Pikachu accompanied him as he approached. "Granbull, use Roar!" Madeline shouted, and Granbull went down on all fours before he let out a deafening howl. Pikachu flinched and came skidding to a halt from the sudden assault on his ears, and his Double Team wavered, which allowed Granbull to locate him. He immediately charged at Pikachu and delivered a Heatbutt that sent him sliding away on his back. "Follow up with Play Rough!"

Granbull pounced on Pikachu and grabbed him by his legs. Pikachu shouted at Granbull before he lifted into the air and slammed into the ground repeatedly. "Pikachu, use your Iron Tail to break his grip!"

Pikachu's response came quickly. His tail stiffened and gained a faint glow before Pikachu twisted his body to swing his tail at Granbull's wrists. When Pikachu's tail made contact, Granbull's vision became unfocused as a jolt of pain shot up his arm straight into his shoulder. He released his hold on Pikachu, who darted away to safety.

"We should try to pin them down first, Pikachu," Ash commented. "Let's see how your Thunder Wave is looking."

Ash was hoping to see Pikachu's electrical mayhem in action, but the response from Granbull was Thunder Fang, a move that brought back some almost frightening memories. The first time Ash saw that move in action, it was used by Cross' Lycanroc to counter their Thunder Wave after Lycanroc was struck. Lycanroc practically bit off his arm to drain away the residual electricity in his muscles and remove the effects of paralysis. Thankfully, Granbull didn't resort to such tactics. Instead, his large lower fangs became lightning rods that caught the Thunder Wave and robbed Pikachu of his lightning attack.

Granbull went down on all fours as he charged at Pikachu, but his attempt to chomp down on Pikachu's body led to him passing through an after-image. Ash didn't need to call for a Double Team as Granbull found himself surrounded by copies of Pikachu.

Ash bit down on his lower lip to fight off a smile. All of their patience and practice paid off. There was a sharpness and cut to Pikachu's movement. His change of pace, directional control…it was all there. Pikachu's speed was back!

All that aside, this was the first battle Pikachu took part in over five years, so there were still other elements that he was missing. He lacked the steely fortitude to ignore his opponent's threat, so Granbull's Roar caused him to hesitate on more than one occasion, allowing him to land attacks on the quick-footed rodent. Pikachu was accustomed to being tired from training, but he also forgot how painful a battle could be at times.

Granbull got his hands on Pikachu multiple times. Each of those moments was followed by a Play Rough, which left Pikachu battered and bruised. But in the end, as Pikachu gradually adjusted to the combat, he buried his urge to hesitate and maintained his Double Team. Granbull could not answer Pikachu's speed and was steadily whittled down as Pikachu struck his knees with Iron Tail to restrict his movement. It eventually reached the point where Granbull could no longer move, and Madeline conceded the match to Pikachu.

With the battle finally over, Pikachu flopped on his back and heaved a sigh of relief. As he breathed, Pikachu noticed that the lighting from the ceiling was blocked, and he opened his eyes to find Ash standing over him.

"Great job, buddy," Ash said softly as he kneeled down to pick up Pikachu in his arms. But Pikachu hit Ash's hands to keep them away.

"Pi…ka," Pikachu groaned, rolling onto his stomach and forcing himself up. He didn't want any help getting back up after a battle like that.

"Pikachu," Ash continued as he touched Pikachu's back. "I know this wasn't how you're used to things going in a battle…"

Ash paused as he picked his next words carefully. He knew what frustrated Pikachu the most was that Granbull was an opponent that wouldn't have been able to even touch him if he was in prime condition. But after all this practice and daily training, he was still a step slow.

"You're starting to look like your old self now," Ash commented. "I know this isn't what you're used to, but you're almost there. I see the progress you've been making. After a few more battles, it'll be just like old times. Trust me."

Pikachu looked up at Ash with a narrow glance. Ash furrowed his brow in response, and Pikachu immediately forced a smile for him. He offered a reluctant nod and would take Ash's word for it.

The results were already starting to show. Pikachu just had to 'stay the course.'

---

The dining hall within the Cascade Resort was filled to the brim for the evening dinner service. It was filled with the chatter of hundreds of conversations and the clang of utensils hitting plates. Ash, Brock, and Gary were among the masses today since none of the Sensational Sisters were present for dinner, not that it mattered to them.

"I think this might be the first time I've gotten to talk with you guys in a couple of days," Brock noted as he glanced at Ash and Gary. Their schedules didn't align for them to meet at meal times since Ash and Gary were always off training. This might have been a small blessing for Gary since he was getting used to being trapped in a car with Ash and Brock all the time.

"Yeah, I haven't seen you much either," Ash agreed, smirking at Brock. "I figured you've been too busy with Violet to care about us."

Brock pursed his lips. "Well, actually, the two of us kind of decided to break things off," Brock pointed out, which caused Ash and Gary to share a glance.

"Did something happen?" Gary inquired.

Brock shook his head with a chuckle. "Nothing happened. We agreed that we're not looking for a long-distance relationship. Violet performs with her sisters here in Cerulean City, and I told her that we'll be leaving soon, so it didn't make sense for the two of us to be together."

Ash reached over to Brock to pat him on the shoulder. "It'll be okay, Brock-o," Ash said to him. "You'll meet the right girl for you someday."

While Brock thanked Ash for his sympathy, Gary narrowed his eyes at the thought. Was there a 'right' girl for Brock? Who could possibly like…Gary paused as he realized Violet was head over heels for Brock. It certainly wasn't impossible, but the odds must have been exceptionally low as far as he could tell.

"Speaking of which," Gary cut in. "How much longer are we going to stay here?"

"I was hoping Ash would get another challenger to decide where we should head next, but no one has sent anything our way," Brock explained. "We could head west to Pewter City and visit my family."

"Hmm, that's not a bad idea, actually. My gramps mentioned that we could visit his lab if we were close to Pallet Town. It couldn't hurt to head in that direction," Gary added.

"I haven't gotten to work with Samuel in person in a while. It'd be great to see him again," Brock said with a nod of agreement.

For once, Brock and Gary agreed. So, they looked to Ash for the final say on the matter. As expected, his mouth was full, and he needed a moment to chew his food.

"I'm all for it," Ash answered. "There's gonna be trainers anywhere I go, so we'll keep practicing anywhere to get ready for our next challenger."

"Well then, it looks like we're heading west!" Brock declared.

The planning accelerated to the point where they all decided to leave the Cascade Resort tomorrow. They would travel straight to Pewter City and spend a few days there before going to Pallet Town.

---

Saturday, May 1st

Despite their plan to leave on short notice, Brock couldn't leave without giving a proper goodbye to Violet, and she informed her small family that the guys would be heading out. That afternoon, they all met at the front entrance of the Cascade Resort as Brock and Gary packed the car. Even Fletcher came out from his office to see them off.

"Brock," Fletcher stated as he shook hands with Brock. "It was a pleasure meeting you, and I'm looking forward to working more with this budding Pokemon League."

"You and me both!" Brock exclaimed with a nod.

Gary slammed the car's trunk shut, and all eyes went to him. "We're all set to go here," Gary announced. "Someone needs to go tell Ashy-boy it's time to hit the road."

"Rockruff," Brock called out, and there was a bark from within the car. All the windows were open, and Rockruff leaped out of the back window to the pavement before rushing to Brock. "Can you go get Ash and tell him it's time to go?"

Rockruff yipped before he darted off to the main entrance of the resort. He ran at full speed, dashing between the legs of employees and guests as he moved through the main lobby. After having the freedom to roam around the resort during their time here, Rockruff became very familiar with the facility. Of all the fantastic places he got to explore, his favorite area was the pools in the lower level of the resort that acted as a habitat for the water Pokemon. However, a network of water tubes gave them the option to return to the Cascade River if they pleased.

A grand stairway led down to the habitats since it was considered a point of interest for the resort, so Rockruff had easy access to the basement level. However, there was a special habitat that was still private that housed the newest addition to the Cascade Resort: Misty's Gyarados.

Unlike the public areas, this room was silent, which could be considered a surprise with the occupants present. Ash, Misty, and Pikachu stood at one end of the pool, where they watched as Gyarados and Greninja simply stared at each other. Greninja was perched at the edge of the pool, while Gyarados only kept her head above water to be at eye level with Greninja.

"I'm pretty sure you know what they want to do," Ash noted with a glance toward Misty.

"As if it couldn't be any more obvious," Misty muttered.

Both trainers attempted to speak with their respective Pokemon, but there was no response from either of them. However, there was that unmistakable red glow in their eyes.

"It'll have to be the next time we meet," Ash said as he scratched his chin. "But I don't know when that'll be," He turned to Misty. "Are you going to be staying here in Cerulean City?"

"I'm not sure yet," Misty answered. "I want to make training Gyarados my top priority, so I've been thinking about traveling to Alola to see if I can find that lady I met when I was a kid."

"That's awesome," Ash remarked. "I'm sure she can help you and Gyarados figure out how to take this to the next level. After all, I don't think it's a coincidence that our paths crossed. I was lost on what to teach Greninja next, but now you gave me tons of ideas to work with once we master Liquidation," Ash chuckled a bit before he concluded. "I think we're both helping each other get better."

Misty crossed her arms and looked away from him with a huff. "Don't go all soft on me now," Misty declared. "We're rivals from now on, so save all that for after we beat you!"

Ash gave a laugh. "You bet!"

Pikachu's ears perked up as he heard a thump against the room entrance. He jumped down from Ash's shoulder to approach the doorway. "Pikapi?" Misty and Ash followed Pikachu to the door and opened it, where they found Rockruff waiting outside. He barked at them before he spotted Pikachu and pounced on him to wrestle.

"I think that's our cue to head out," Ash noted before he looked back at Greninja and Gyarados. Greninja clearly heard him and reacted by extending an open hand to Gyarados. She rumbled in the water before approaching him and raising her whisker to take hold of his hand. At first, they remained still, but then Ash and Misty noticed that Greninja's arm began to tremble, and Gyarados' whisker stiffened. It was their version of an arm-wrestling contest, a test of strength.

Greninja and Gyarados held like this for almost thirty seconds, going back and forth as they tried to overpower the other. Despite the difference in size, the strength in Gyarados' whisker matched Greninja's arm strength, and they remained locked in a stalemate. With a grunt, they finally released their hold on each other and shared a nod.

They would meet again on the battlefield. They were sure of it!

---

A/N

In the years that I've been working on this story, this is the longest I've gone without updating. I knew this job I got last year was going to take up a lot of time, but it's definitely caused a total shift in priorities. It was probably timing more than anything else since I've also added a lot of responsibilities to my plate. I treated this story like a part-time job from 2017 until the middle of 2022. My lifestyle during that time allowed me to sink hours upon hours into writing this story, and I don't regret one minute of that. But now my situation has changed. Different priorities, new things to maintain, etc.

I'm not going to discontinue/abandon the story because I still enjoy thinking about it and writing it when I can, but I want to adjust expectations. Updates could take months based on my schedule, so I apologize in advance. I know that isn't the way to produce content, but I don't want to give up on this just yet. Wings is pretty much on life support at the moment, but from what I've learned over the past year, your situation can change dramatically so you never know what the future holds. Maybe things change, and I can focus on writing this more often in the future. Or I might officially discontinue the story one day...who knows? Whether someone reads this or not isn't a big deal to me anymore. But I've come so far along that I would at least like to one day finish writing this story.

So, for the time being, I thought I would at least give this chapter to conclude the Cerulean City arc. This was a lot of fun to write and perhaps too much combat to shove into one chapter. But based on some of my outlines, think of this as a prelude to what future battles could be like. And now that Ash and Misty have officially met, what do you think of their dynamic so far? Obviously, Misty is going off-screen, but I do have future plans for her as well if I ever get around to it.

The last thing I want to do in this chapter is give a huge thank you to my beta reader MjrGenMatt! We've been working together since the first chapter of Caged Wings back in 2017, and it's crazy to think that we spent almost six years working together on this story. With how things have been changing in our lives and our focus is shifting away from working on this, we've decided to go our separate ways now. He's been a phenomenal beta reader, and his advice and critiques helped to improve several ideas and concepts in this story. Many thanks for all the support he provided, and it's been an absolute pleasure to work with you. I wish nothing but the best to him going forward!