The sun had just set on another day of training for the future trainers. Today, they had gone up against Noivern, who's deafening sound waves had the trainers' struggling to hit him and it didn't help as the Noivern used Supersonic to confuse both trainers and Pokémon.
Currently, they are residing in the Pokémon Center, resting for the night. Professor Oak was currently going over everyone's performance's today, "Alright, can anyone tell me where Serena went wrong?"
"I mistimed my somersault dive." Serena answered for herself, "It was sloppy and threw off my reverse tumble." Braixen nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, we noticed." Misty sarcastically said as her Starmie blinked.
"No, no, you were great. Very 'Serena'." Gary flattered as Serena scoffed. She didn't need compliments from someone like Gary. She could improve herself. Nearby, Gary's Umbreon -as his chosen choice today- looked unimpressed at the flattery.
"She's right, however, you have to be tough on yourselves." Samuel noted, "Now, where did Ash go wrong?"
"He showed up," Brock snarked as his Sudowoodo snickered.
"He didn't get blasted," May offhandley said while patting Delcatty beside her.
"I'll tell you what he did wrong, he brought his Fighting-type and puny Electric-type to battle a Flying/Dragon-type." Max smugly said.
"He's never where he should be." Serena sharply responded, casting a glare at the boy. Monferno comforted Ash at the rude comments, his tail burning brightly. Ash only shrunk down at the comments, knowing they would never see things like him, especially with his secret views on fierce Pokémon. Hence why he sat away from the group, eating his own meal, even with Pichu and Monferno.
Oak stood up and shook off his lab coat, "Thank you, Serena. You need to live and breathe this life. Trainers can only learn so much during battle before being overwhelmed. With that said," Professor Oak threw out two books, "The Pokémon Encyclopedias, one for the ones we already know much about and one for the Legendaries."
Ash's head swiveled so fast at the mention of Legendaries, he almost developed a whiplash.
A harsh thunder was heard and Samuel let out a yawn before noting, "No attacks tonight. Study up."
"Really, gramps?" Gary groaned, "We have our own Pokédexes. Why should we read plain old books?"
"Because, Gary, the Pokédex contains only knowledge about your specific Pokémon, from gender, moves, and abilities. Occasionally there are some tabloids about them but it's still worth reading. Take care tonight." Professor Oak and Dragonite left the Pokémon Center leaving the trainers to their leisure.
"I'm not interested in these books. If you want me, I'll be at home." Misty remarked and left with Starmie.
"With a thunderstorm under way, no way am I letting my hair get ruined. Let's go, Piplup." Dawn admitted and strolled away.
"I've read it like, seven times! I heard about this phenomenon called Tera-" Clemont started but Brock cut him off. "I'm going to pass. Sudowoodo doesn't like to get wet so I'm out of here." The tan-skinned trainer got up and left with his Rock-type in tow.
"Yeah, there would be a chance I would have read that but…" Kiawe said, leaving the table.
"Yeah, I'd rather save the learning for the nerds of this group." May mentioned as she stood up and left with her Delcatty.
"Wait, May! You know I'm scared of thunderstorms!" Max called out and followed his sister out with Kirlia behind him.
"You can read that. Me and my Pokémon are going to battle stuff." Gary mentioned as he and his Umbreon left. Clemont, dejected, eventually left shortly after.
Ash walked over to Serena and Braixen, trying to study with her, "So, I guess we'll share?"
"Read it." Serena responded, not even casting a look at Ash. She left with her Braixen, leaving only Ash, Pichu, and Monferno in the Pokémon Center along with Nurse Joy and Chansey in back.
"All mine then. Great, so I'll just see you all…" The door slammed behind Serena and her Pokémon, "Tomorrow…" Ash let out a sigh and started to read the notes of the Legendary Pokémon book.
"Now then," Ash started, "What did I see…" Ash began to flip through them, coming across the many stories or fables the Legendaries have created with their time.
"Suicune… rumored to have the ability to purify polluted water. Entei… each roar signals the birth of a new volcano. Ho-Oh… said to revive fallen Pokémon. Collabion… leader of the Swords of Justice. Zekrom… the Legendary Dragon of Ideals. Shaymin, the Gratitude Pokémon… can dissolve toxins in the air." He read aloud, flipping through before finally discovering what he encountered.
"Latios. The Eon Pokémon. Known as the Blue Eon Twin. Is believed to be a Dragon/Psychic-type. Capable of flying at fast speeds that overtake jet planes."
Ash discreetly pulled out his Pokédex and replayed the recording of the now identified Latios. It was similar to the image shown by the book, only with an injured wing in the recording.
Ash now realized that the Latios he had shot down would have a great disadvantage. He hoped he could get Latios help. And his growing pity towards the Dragon/Psychic was doing a great deal of hindering his battling.
Riding his Lapras, Red and his gathered team with their Surfing Pokémon found themselves in a thick fog.
Red couldn't help have this feeling that his son wasn't doing too well. But he shook his nerves, knowing Samuel would take care of Ash in the training.
Various croaks and splashes were heard all around the scouting party. Red saw the red gems of a Tentacruel beneath them and had his Pokémon ready to battle. "Stay close. We have company."
"We are near." One trainer on their Poliwrath said. They entered the peninsula of the Orange Islands.
Just when things were getting too quiet, a Tentacruel launched its tentacles, throwing out a Poison Jab at a Golduck and her trainer.
"Lapras, Ice Beam!" Red commanded and the plesiosaur developed a chilly beam of cryo-energy towards the squid. However, from above, several Flying Pokémon could be seen and they began their assault.
Red grit his teeth, ready for the battle to come.
"So, out of curiosity," Ash offhandley said, "I was reading the book of Legendaries. And came across this very interesting one called Latios? The Blue Eon Twin?" Ash then quickly ducked as a Thunderbolt was shot from today's opponent: the prowling Luxray.
The Gleam Eyes Pokémon gave a hearty roar and dove for a Crunch attack but Ash, Grovyle, and Pichu ran to escape the jaws of the predator, leading it to crash into a structure of wood.
"Focus, Ash! You're not even trying!" Oak shouted.
Today's training took a different take: evident in the maze-like structure of Indigo Stadium. This was to help with sneak attacks from stealthy Pokémon such as Luxray.
"Today's listen is all about attack! Luxray are known to use their senses to track prey and it helps with their x-ray vision. Getting on the bad side of one is a surefire way to be in danger and let Arceus have mercy." Oak advised while Dragonite supervised.
Dawn, Clemont and Kiawe were walking the maze together before Luxray emerged from a corner. Giving a growl, the Luxray released a Discharge.
"Marowak, go!" Kiawe said. The Bone Keeper Pokémon jumped in the air, taking the attack head-on with relative ease thanks to Lightning Rod.
"Quick, Heliolisk! Use Dragon Tail!" Clemont called for. The frilled reptile blitzed out with a scaly pattern around his tail and was about to swing when Luxray jumped up and fired an array of Swift from his tail.
"You know I'm beginning to question your teaching methods!" Dawn shouted as she and her group ran away from the black and blue feline.
"Luxray's are Electric-type, meaning they are weak to Ground-type moves. Take advantage of this knowledge."
"Good thing, Graveler is here today," Brock admitted. The four-armed Rock Pokémon spotted Luxray sprinting at him and his trainer and curled into a ball, charging in with Rollout. However, Luxray jumped over and avoided the attack before his fangs developed cryo-extensions, turning around and biting Graveler, slowly encasing him in ice with Ice Fang.
"Oh, sometimes Pokémon have moves to counter their natural type-disadvantages." Oak mentioned, wincing at seeing Graveler get frozen over.
"Now he tells me." Brock lamented and began to run for his life to escape Luxray.
Brock ended up bumping into May and Max, with their Combusken and Breloom. "Ow! Watch it, Brock!" May snapped as she rubbed her head in mild pain.
"Lux…" The black and blue feline snarled at seeing the three trainers.
"Stay still," Max advised, "It can't see us if we don't move."
"Um… Aren't you supposed to be a brainiac?! Professor Oak just said its senses are superior to ours!" May admonished her brother. "Combusken, Fire Spin!"
Combusken took a deep breath and released a spiral of flames towards Luxray, who dodged and took off down another path.
Ash finally got a reasonable distance from the Sinnoh predator and tried to speak to Oak again, "So, what would one do if one say… injured a wing of a Pokémon like… Latios?"
"No one's ever met one to live the tale with a Pokémon like that." Oak responded, "Now get in there!"
"I know, I know, but hypothetically-"
"Ash!" A voice quietly hissed. Ash turned to see Serena, her Pancham, Gary, his Umbreon, Misty and her Togetic, hiding behind a wall. "Get down." Serena ordered and Ash immediately did so.
Seeing the Luxray peer around the corner, as he hasn't used his x-ray vision yet, Serena tumbled with Pancham. Gary, Misty and their Pokémon tumbled by her. Ash was about to follow when Pichu accidentally sneezed. The Gleam Eyes Pokémon used its unique ability spotting Ash, Pichu, and Grovyle. The trio ran as Luxray gained on them.
"Grovyle, use Bullet Seed!" Ash shouted. Grovyle jumped to the top and spat rounds of seeds that pelted the predator where it was. Grovyle joined up with his trainer shortly afterwards.
The Luxray ran off and came across Gary and Serena, Misty had split off.
"Pancham, use-" Serena started but was cut off when Gary interjected.
"Don't worry, Serena," Gary cockily said, "I got this one! Umbreon, use Shadow Ball!" The Moonlight Pokémon fired a sphere of spectral energy but Luxray fired Discharge, hitting the orb and causing it to explode. Luxray had a smug expression on his face when he saw Gary's face.
Gary was stupefied for a moment before coming up with an excuse, "Oh please, if I couldn't make it, no one could!" Serena rolled her eyes and ran with Pancham. Luxray proceeded to chase down them both, now only having eyes for the honey-blonde trainer. Generating a charge as he ran, Luxray used Wild Charge but at an intersection, he rammed the wall of the maze and started a chain-reaction of maze to come toppling down.
Ash continued to press for questions, "Given how it's more like a Dragon-type, wouldn't an effective way for it to be-"
"Ash!" Oak exclaimed, causing Ash to become fully aware of the impending destruction. He grabbed Pichu and dashed with Grovyle beside him, joining the other fleeing trainers.
Serena had climbed to the top and leaping from fence to fence as Luxray chased her down. She makes a grand leap and shouts, "ASH!"
The boy in question looks up just in time to be crushed by Serena. At close range, Ash was flustered but Serena was more keen on getting free.
"Oh~ Love on the battlefield." Dawn teased.
"She could do better." Clemont noted.
"Just– let me– why don't you-" Ash tried as Serena struggled even more. Serena saw in the corner of her eye that Luxray was charging at them, seeing them as a helpless target.
"Pancham, Dark Pulse!" Serena shouted just as she got free. Pancham emerged from the fallen debris and fired a dark purple double-helix spiral at Luxray, effectively hitting him and causing him to crash to the ground. Luxray got up, wounded, and limbed away from the arena. Back to his cage no doubt.
"Well done, Serena," Oak praised. Serena, however, was glaring so hard it almost looked like she was using the actual move.
"Is this some kind of joke to you?!" She snapped at Ash who was being helped by Grovyle. "Honestly, you don't have a clue what we are trying to do here!"
"I was just-" Ash tried but Serena continued to criticize him.
"We are the next generation of trainers!" Serena scolded, gesturing to everyone around them, "You can't even battle properly! Your Pokémon are nowhere near par to ours! Either learn to battle or stay out of our way. Figure it out now." She finished and turned heel with her Pancham. The other trainers left too, making their own comments about Ash, no doubt jokes as Grovyle shot a glare at them.
Ash looked ashamed at the declaration. It was true, his heart had been swaying too much recently since his encounter with Latios. Fierce Pokémon… weren't fierce to him anymore. He had always thought that but he was proven wrong since that day. He wanted answers.
He wanted to know for himself. Then maybe… he would make his decision on what side he was on.