Hey guys, I'm back with a new chapter for this story! I know the wait was long for this update, but I've been pretty busy over the past few months, and I had to update all my other stories as well. But I've finally gotten around to working on this story and we'll be picking up where the previous chapter left off. Ash and his group will be continuing their journey across the Jhoto region, with their next destination being Blackthorn City! This decision was decided by my patrons who voted in an exclusive poll. If you'd like to vote in one of these exclusive polls and help influence this story, please consider supporting my P atreon! I'll have another poll posted by this chapter releases.
**I know it'll annoy some of you that I'm mentioning this again, but I'm gonna keep plugging it whenever I can. If you haven't already ready please consider checking out my P atreon at p atreon com/JTZ29Fanfiction (just remove the space after 'p' and add a '.' before 'com') and think about supporting me and my writing. If you do, you'll be able to get updates on what I'm writing, see previews from upcoming chapters, and vote in exclusive polls that will help influence more stories (several different polls are already live for my various stories)! I hope that you'll consider supporting me, every little bit helps!**
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Well, that's all I wanted to say, so let's get to the fic!
"Speech"
"Thoughts"
Pokemon Attack
"Telepathy"
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or any of its characters.
(One Week Later: Outskirts of Blackthorn City)
"Arceus, it's so freaking cold!" Iris complained, her teeth chattering as she desperately tried warming up by the large fire in the center of their camp. As a shiver ran down Iris' spine, she aggressively rubbed her hands together. "Just like dragon-types, I hate snow and ice!"
"Don't worry Iris, we'll be in Blackthorn soon." Dawn said with a warming smile before she took a sip of a freshly made cup of hot chocolate, handing a second mug to Iris, which she gratefully accepted. "Once we're back on the road, it'll only take us an hour to get there. It'll be a lot warmer in town."
"How are you not freezing your ass off, Dawn?" May asked, grabbing a scarf out of her bag and wrapping it around her neck. "We had to pass through that damn Ice Cave yesterday and that was a nightmare!"
"I must concur with May." Anabel chimed as she energetically rubbed her shoulders, her teeth chattering loudly. "I despise this blasted cold."
"Hey, what can I say, I'm just used to the cold I guess..." Dawn replied, shrugging her shoulders and taking another sip of her hot chocolate. "It gets pretty cold in Sinnoh."
"Dawn's right..." Cynthia said as she tightened her coat a bit, sitting down next to May. "Winters in Sinnoh can get pretty brutal, especially in the northern parts of the region."
"My body just isn't used to the cold..." Flannery said with a frown as she sat down next to the fire, a shiver running down her spine. "I grew up on a volcano, so it didn't get cold very often."
"Don't worry everyone!" Cilan exclaimed with a bright smile as his head poked out from behind a portable stove. "I'll have some hot breakfast cooked up soon and it'll warm you all right up!"
"Make sure to use the last of our cooking supplies, Cilan. Especially the perishables..." Burgundy said, pulling out a partially used box of pancake mix and a half-empty bottle of milk. "We'll stock back up in town."
"Morning guys..." Hilda greeted as she exited her tent, zipping up her coat and suppressing a yawn. "Mmmm looks like I woke up at the perfect time, I can smell Cilan Burgundy's cooking."
"Ugh, I stayed up way too late working on new songs." Roxie groaned, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as she plopped down in a chair next to Cynthia. After blinking several times, Roxie gazed around the camp. "Hey...where's Ash and Nessa?"
"They left to do some early morning training. You know how gung-ho Nessa has been about Ash training her." Dawn replied with a smile as she made her way over to the makeshift kitchen to help Cilan and Burgundy. Dawn grabbed a stack of plates and some silverware, handing them out to everyone. "They should be back soon." The rest of the group perked up when they suddenly heard laughing and faint talking coming from the nearby treeline. After a few more moments, Ash and Nessa could be seen approaching the camp. "As if on cue, there they are."
"Your Blastoise is such a dick, Ash!" Nessa laughed, playfully punching the raven-haired trainer in the shoulder. "He almost pushed me into the frozen lake!"
"Hey, don't blame Blastoise." Ash said with a smirk as he shrugged his shoulders, slowly shaking his head. "I get that you were frustrated, but did you really need to throw snowballs at him?"
"I appreciate you letting me use your Pokemon, Ash...and I really did try to do everything you taught me, but Blastoise just wouldn't listen!" Nessa exclaimed, letting out a frustrated huff as she crossed her arms underneath her chest. "Such a stubborn ass."
"Of course he's not gonna listen when you have an attitude like that." Ash explained as he gently patted Nessa's shoulder, which alleviated some of her frustration. "I get that you're eager to improve, Nessa, and it can be frustrating when a Pokemon doesn't listen to you. But you need to be patient and work with your Pokemon. You can't just boss them around and expect them to listen to everything you say."
"Sounds like you two had an interesting training session." Hilda said, handing Ash and Nessa fresh cups of hot chocolate. "Are you making any progress, Nessa?"
"Slowly but surely." Nessa replied before she blew on her hot chocolate several times, pausing to take a long sip. After letting out a content sigh, Nessa set down her cup. "But I've still got a long way to go. Ash has been teaching me a lot though."
"Hey Cilan, is there anything interesting to do in Blackthorn City?" Rosa asked, tying her hair up into buns and putting on her hat as she emerged from her and Hilda's shared tent. "I was hoping we could do something fun before Ash's gym battle."
"Hmmm, let's see..." Cilan hummed as crouched down and reach into his backpack, eventually pulling out a Jhoto guidebook. Flipping through the pages, Cilan stopped when he landed on one filled with information about Blackthorn, his brow furrowing as he read. "According to this...there's not a heck of a lot to do in Blackthorn...although...Iris may enjoy this. There is someplace called the Dragon's Den."
"Dragon's Den!?" Iris exclaimed with a massive smile, her eyes lighting up as she dashed over and snatched the guidebook from Cilan's hands. Her smile widened as she read more about the Dragon's Den. "Oh, we have to go here! It says here that A clan of masters of dragon-type Pokémon has lived in Blackthorn for generations. They apparently built the Dragon's Den, which is a cavern with an underground lake that contains a shrine to Dragon Pokémon. The Dragon's Den also leads to a place called the Dragon Holy Land! Oh my, Arceus! We have to go now!"
"Sure, I've actually been to the Dragon Holy Land on my first journey through Jhoto, so it'd be great to visit there again." Ash said as he wrapped an arm around Iris' waist, pulling her close and placing a loving kiss on her cheek. Iris' face flushed red before she cheered and excitedly threw her hands around Ash, hugging him tightly. "I know you'll love it, Iris, there's a ton of dragon-type Pokemon that call the Dragon Holy Land home."
"YES! I can't wait!" Iris said, giving Ash another loving squeeze before she dashed over to her tent. "I'm gonna start packing right away! We need to get to Blackthorn City as soon as possible!"
"Well, luckily breakfast is ready, so we can eat, then pack up and hit the road." Burgundy said as she set two plates stacked high with pancakes down on the table. Almost immediately, the plates were emptied as everyone in the group grabbed their own share. Knowing how ravenous their group was, Cilan soon followed up with two more plates full of pancakes. "Eat as much as you want and fill up now, because we won't have anything else to eat until we get into Blackthorn."
"Thanks, Cilan, Burgundy!" Everyone in the group cheered with large smiles before they began to dig into the delicious meal.
(Two Hours Later: Blackthorn City)
"Wow, what a quaint city..." May said, gazing at the old-fashioned brick buildings and cobbled streets. "There's even a clock tower! So cool!"
"It says here that Blackthorn is one of the oldest cities in Johto." Cilan explained as he read through his Johto travel guide. "Apparently a majority of trainers from Blackthorn specialize in using dragon-type Pokemon."
"KYA! I'm loving this city more and more!" Iris gushed with a massive smile as she energetically scanned around the town, her eyes constantly darting around. "Now, where's the Dragon Holy Land!? I'm dying to get there!"
"Don't worry, Iris, we'll be there soon." Ash said with a smirk, reaching up and scratching Pikachu's chin, earning him a pleased coo from the Mouse Pokemon. "It's pretty close to the Blackthorn Gym, so we can head to my battle after we explore the Dragon Den and Dragon Holy Land."
"Is that the entrance to the Dragon Den?" Rosa asked as she pointed toward what appeared to be a small oriental temple, with its most distinctive feature being a large stone statue of Dragonair in front of the building. "They're not exactly trying to hide it."
"There's a bunch of people gathered outside the building too." Hilda said, gesturing toward a large crowd of people bunched up outside the Dragon Den. "What are they all here for? Is there some special event or something?"
"Maybe, but I doubt it. The Dragon Den draws in trainers who specialize in dragon-type Pokemon from all across the world." Ash explained as he led his group up the stone steps leading to the temple. "They all want to hone their skills and learn from some of the best dragon-type specialists. But the Dragon's Den only admits a few students per year, so there's always fierce competition for any open positions."
"How have I never heard of this place before?!" Iris exclaimed, throwing her hands into the air and gazing in awe at the massive, intricate Dragonair statue. "This place sounds like heaven!"
"How are we going to get through this crowd?" Cynthia asked as she crossed her arms underneath her chest, gazing at the numerous people standing in their way. "There have to be almost 100 people in front of us. There's no way we can get in."
"Just let me lead the way." Ash said with a grin, slowly making his way through the crowd with his group following closely behind him. Several of the trainers in the crowd recognized Ash, staring in wide-eyed surprise and whispering to each other as he walked past. Eventually making his way to the front of the crowd, Ash was stopped from entering the Dragon Den by an absolutely massive and muscular dark-skinned man guarding the entrance. The rest of his group was surprised when Ash waltzed straight up to the wall of a man. "Hey there, Jerome, it's been a while. How's your daughter?"
"Ash Ketchum..." Jerome said in a menacing tone as he scowled at the raven-haired trainer. However, Jerome's tough-guy facade quickly and a massive smile spread across his face. Letting out a bellowing laugh, Jerome wrapped his huge arm around Ash's neck and pulled the raven-haired trainer into a bone-crushing embrace. "You son of a bitch! I missed you man, you said you visit more often! And my daughter's doing great, thanks for asking! She pretty much idolizes you, and watches your battles all the time! HAHAHA!"
"Sorry, Jerome. I would have stopped by sooner, but I've been kind of busy lately..." Ash chuckled, managing to free himself from Jerome's vice-like grip. "I've been traveling all around."
"I'll say! HAHA!" Jerome exclaimed as he playfully slapped Ash's back, sending the raven-haired trainer stumbling forward a few steps. "You've been kicking ass and taking names! Becoming the champion of league after league! I think it's safe to say you have your eyes set on Johto now!"
"You bet!" Ash said with a smirk, Pikachu joining in a pumping his fist into the air. "I've already won my first gym battle in Johto."
"HAHA! I'm sure you did! I look forward to seeing you compete in the Johto League!" Jerome said as he threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh, roughly patting Ash's shoulder. "Should I let Clair know that you're here?"
"Sure, thing." Ash replied, turning slightly and gesturing back toward the rest of his group. "We're heading to the gym right after we visit the Dragon Den and Dragon Holy Land."
"Of course! You guys can head right on in! Just try to be quiet, lessons are going on right now." Jerome said as he stepped aside and ushered Ash's group into the Dragon's Den. Flashing Jerome one last smile, Ash led his group into the temple. "I'll head over to the gym and let Clair know you're stopping by! I'm sure she'll be excited to see you again!" Once Ash and his group had disappeared inside the temple, Jerome turned back toward the surprised crowd of trainers, his rough and menacing appearance returning. "What the hell are you all staring at!? Back up! No more entrants allowed at this time!"
(Two Minutes Later: Inside the Dragon's Den)
"Um, Ash...how exactly do you know that guy?" Dawn asked in a curious tone, walking next to the raven-haired trainer. "You two seemed pretty chummy."
"Jerome? I met him during the few years I was off training by myself. Clair was nice enough to let me train with the specialists in the Dragon's Den, so I spent a few months here. I learned so much about dragon-type Pokemon." Ash explained as he lead his group deeper into the Dragon's Den, passing dragon-type masters teaching their pupils. Several of the masters they walked by took notice of Ash and exchanged a courteous with the raven-haired trainer. "While I was training here, I got pretty close to everyone, and that includes Jerome. Heh, I would even babysit his daughter sometimes so that he could spend some time alone with his wife."
"Wow, I had no idea..." May muttered, watching as one of the dragon masters released a Salamance to demonstrate to his students. "Why did you never mention you trained here, Ash?"
"You never asked." Ash replied nonchalantly as he shrugged his shoulders, Pikachu mimicking him. "And it never really came up before. I wasn't trying to-"
"Who cares!? Let's just get to the Dragon Holy Land!" Iris exclaimed in a hushed tone, practically leaping onto Ash's back as she ushered him deeper into the temple. "I hope I get to see a bunch of dragon-type Pokemon!"
"And she calls Ash a little kid." Flannery teased with a smirk as she shook her head and crossed her arms. "She acts like the biggest kid when it comes to dragon-type Pokemon."
"There's no need to rush Iris, we'll be there soon." Ash said, opening a somewhat hidden door near the back of the temple. Flicking on a light switch, Ash led his group down a dimly lit staircase. As the large group descended down the stone stairs, they began to hear the sound of flowing water. "Watch your step up ahead. There's a small river we need to follow that will take us to the Dragon Holy Land, wouldn't want any of you guys to fall in."
"Oh my Arceus, this place is beautiful..." Cynthia breathed out as she stepped off the stairs into a cavern filled with crystal-clear water. In the middle of the flowing river was yet another small temple, the bridge leading to it appearing to have collapsed. "I've read about this place before, that's the Dragon Shrine."
"Yep, you can't get there by foot anymore, the bridge was destroyed by a pair of battling Dragonair. If you want to visit the shrine, you'll have to ride a Pokemon across the water." Ash said, crouching down at the water's edge as he watched several Dratini swim past him. Several members of his group joined him, watching as Magikarp, Dratini, and Dragonair swam past them. The aquatic Pokemon seemed to take notice of them and began to swim closer, some of them even popping their heads out of the water. "The Dragon Den's master supposedly resides within that shrine. Rumor has it that he tests people on their knowledge of dragon-type Pokemon, and if they pass his quiz, he'll reward them."
"Do you believe some guy actually lives in there, Ash?" Hilda asked as a Dratini poked its head out of the water in front of her. Reaching down, Hilda gently patted the Dragon Pokemon's head. "Sounds kind of wild to me."
"I mean, I never saw him when I trained here and I visited the Dragon Shrine several times. But all the other students and teachers here seemed to believe he was real." Ash replied, before scooping a handful of water and taking a sip, and offering the rest to Pikachu. Standing back up, Ash faced the shrine and bowed slightly, clapping his hands together. "It's a custom to bow and pay your respects to the shrine before entering the Dragon Holy Land." Following Ash's lead, the rest of his group clapped their hands together and bowed toward the shrine. "Great, let's keep going. We should be in the Dragon Holy Land soon."
After following the flowing river deeper and deeper into the dimly lit cave for about ten minutes, the group eventually spotted sunlight pouring through an exit ahead of them. Stepping out of the cave into the light, everyone in the group gasped in awe, minus Ash. Spread out before them was a grassy, forested area with various flora, and rock cliffs walling it all in. Running and flying across the beautiful plain were dozens of different types of Pokemon. Ranging from small Rattata to large and powerful Dragonite.
"Woah! This place is amazing!" Iris excitedly proclaimed as she dashed out ahead of the group, examining a pair of lounging Dragonite. Reaching into her pack, Iris grabbed all of her Pokeballs and tossed them into the air. In a flash of bright light, Haxorus, Excadrill, Emolga, Dragonite, and Garchomp appeared in front of her. "Alright, guys! You're all free to run around and have fun! Go make friends with the other Pokemon here!"
"Iris has the right idea." Ash said with a grin, grabbing the Pokeballs off his belt and throwing them out. The Pokeballs all popped open simultaneously and Sylveon, Blastoise, Sceptile, Mismagius, and Decidueye materialized. Pikachu hopped off Ash's shoulder and joined the rest of his friends. "You guys go and play! Relax and enjoy yourselves before our battle with Clair!" As his Pokemon ran off, Ash turned to the rest of his group. "Well, you guys too! Get your Pokemon out here!"
The rest of the group exchanged glances, before smiling and tossing out all of their Pokeballs. Seconds later, the sounds of dozens of Pokeballs opening filled the clearing as everyone's Pokemon appeared. With a cheerful roar, all the Pokemon scattered and began to explore the area. All the commotion seemed to stir the Pokemon who called the Dragon Holy Land home, causing most of them to come out and investigate.
"Wow! Look at all the Pokemon!" Hilda exclaimed as she sprinted toward a gathering of curious Aipom and Mankey. With a giddy smile, Hilda crouched down and gently patted one of the Aipom. Suddenly, another Aipom scurried up Hilda's back and perched itself on her head. "Rosa! You have to check this out! These guys are super friendly!"
"Hold up, don't hog all the fun!" Rosa yelled, darting over to join her friend. Almost immediately, Rosa was surrounded by several Mankey and Aipom, all of them wanting to play with her. "HAHA! These guys sure are energetic! They must not get to see humans very often!"
"Looks like those two are having fun." Cynthia said with a small smile as she crossed her arms and gazed around the clearing. "I think I'll explore the area and take some notes on the Pokemon who live here. I've always wanted to study the Dragon Holy Land and I don't know when I'll get this opportunity again."
"We'll join you, Cynthia." Burgundy said, walking up to the former Sinnoh champion as she held Cilan's hand, gently pulling him along. "Cilan and I would also like to observe the Pokemon who call this place home."
"Hey Dawn, do you wanna walk around and see if we can find any inspiration for a contest routine?" May asked as she watched a pair of Stantler bound past them, before darting into a nearby treeline. "I'm sure we'll see something amazing if we look hard enough."
"Sounds good to me!" Dawn said with a bright smile, heading in the same direction the two Stantler had went. "I've been trying to think of a new routine that would blow the judges away. Maybe something here will spark my imagination."
"I'm gonna try to catch some Johto Pokemon." Flannery said with a smirk as she watched a Dragonite fly through the clearing at an incredible speed. "I could use some new additions to my team."
"The Pokemon who live here are truly at peace." Anabel said, releasing a wistful sigh as she began to wander toward a group of dancing Bellossom and Sunflora. "Being here puts my mind at ease."
"Hmmm...this place..." Roxie muttered as she stroked her chin, scanning the massive clearing. However, she stopped when she spotted an idyllic-looking pond with vibrant blue water. She was surprised when she spotted a Kingdra's head pop out above the water's surface. A grin spread across Roxie's face as she grabbed her guitar and began to walk toward the pond. "Oh yeah, I can write some killer songs here. I can see it now, I'm gonna switch it up and work on some more mellow songs."
"And then there was just us..." Ash said with a teasing smile as he glanced over at Nessa, causing her face to flush slightly. "So, what do you want to do, Nessa?"
"You don't have to hang out with me, Ash." Nessa muttered as she nervously rubbed her shoulder, gazing down at her feet. "You can go do whatever you want. I'm sure you'd rather hang out with the other people in your group."
"Huh, that's not true...and I know that I don't have to hang out with you, Nessa." Ash said, reaching out and gently gripping Nessa's shoulder which caused her to raise her head and lock eyes with him. Nessa felt her heart skip a beat when Ash flashed her his bright, toothy smile. "But I want to hang out with you."
"W-What...b-but...I-I...y-you..." Nessa sputtered incoherently as her entire face flushed bright red. Ash couldn't help but giggle at Nessa's adorable reaction. After a few moments, Nessa managed to calm down a bit and gestured toward one of the several ponds scattered around the clearing. "I'd like to examine the Pokemon in the ponds here...and maybe we could squeeze a bit more training in...if that's okay with you."
"Sounds good to me." Ash said, gently grabbing Nessa's hand and guiding her toward the pond. "I'll make you an amazing gym leader in no time."
Ash and his group spent several hours in the Dragon Holy Land, exploring, training, playing, and studying to their heart's content. Nessa in particular enjoyed her extra time alone training with Ash. She may not have known Ash for very long, but Nessa had grown quite attached to him quite quickly. His childlike energy and immense kindness drew her in like a moth to a flame. Nessa had also grown closer to everyone else in Ash's group, becoming fast friends with all of them. However, Nessa couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy whenever she saw Ash being intimate with one of his girlfriends. Nessa didn't want to admit it, but with the way her heart would race whenever she was near Ash, she knew that she likely had feelings for the raven-haired trainer.
As the group began to gather their belongings and prepared to head to the Blackthorn gym, they were stopped as a powerful, chilling wind blew through the Dragon Holy Land. Many of the Pokemon in the clearing appeared to be frightened and dashed into the treeline to hide. Dark clouds began to form above the clearing as the wind's intensity increased and the temperature continued to drop.
"Ash...what the hell is going on!?" Hilda exclaimed over the howling winds as she raised her arms to shield her face. "This wind is fucking nuts!"
"I was wondering when he'd show up!" Ash said cryptically, holding onto his hat to make sure it didn't blow off his head. "Don't worry guys! This guy just likes to make a flashy entrance!"
The howling winds intensified as several bolts of lightning cracked through the sky. Moments later, a massive, imposing figure could be seen descending through the dark clouds overhead. When the figure finally emerged from the clouds, it appeared to be a menacing-looking Pokemon. It was a gray and blue, bipedal Pokémon of indefinable but seemingly draconic physique. It had a blue head and snout and also had yellow eyes without pupils. A pair of pointed light bluish horns were on its head, and a yellow crest was on its skull. Three pointed teeth jutted out the bottom of either side of its jaws, which were frozen shut by what seemed to be ice covering its head. Its long, gray neck had lines running around its whole body, legs, arms, and tail. It had two arms, each with its own claws. It sported oddly shaped blue wings, sprouting two spikes of ice. The right side of its body seemed to be damaged in some way, as the wing and horn on its head on that side were shorter; the right side of its head also had a spiked edge near its jaw hinge that is absent from its left. Its legs were somewhat slender and had three sharp ice-like claws on each enormous foot. Its tail had three blue conical spikes on its tip and appeared to be some sort of propulsion device or a container of energy.
"Kyurem! It's been too long!" Ash exclaimed over the rushing wind as the Boundary Pokemon landed in front of him and his group. "How have you been!?"
"Ah, Chosen One, I've finally found you. Yes, it has been quite some time. I believe the last time we met was two years ago, but you were by yourself back then..." Kyurem's gruff and deep voice echoed in everyone's mind as it approached the raven-haired trainer. Minus Ash, the rest of the group watched in stunned silence as it stopped in front of the raven-haired trainer. "I've heard talk that your journey has been progressing quite nicely."
"Yeah, things have been going pretty smoothly." Ash said with a chuckle, resting his hands on his hips. "We're nearing the end. It won't be long before I face off against Tobias again...I'll stop him for sure this time."
"I know you will, Chosen One." Kyurem said as it lowered its head, allowing Ash to gently place his hand upon it. "I trust father's judgment. He wouldn't have picked you as his Chosen One unless you were an exceptional trainer."
"Ash mentioned that he's caught legendary and mythical Pokemon before...but this is insane..." Nessa thought, staring at Kyurem in wide-eyed shock as she felt a chill run down her spine. "I've never been near a Pokemon this powerful before...it could probably wipe out this whole clearing in an instant...but Ash isn't fazed at all." When Nessa saw Ash touch Kyurem, she felt her fear and anxiety start to fade. "He really is incredible."
"I can guess why you're here." Ash said as he unslung his backpack, rifling through it for several moments, before pulling out a shrunken Cherish Ball. Enlarging the Cherish Ball, Ash held it out toward Kyurem. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Of course. I believe you're a trainer who's worthy to wield my power." Kyurem said as it nudged its head forward and tapped against the Cherish Ball. With a flash of red light, Kyurem began to disappear into the ball. "OH! I wish to have another bout with Keldeo! The 'Sword of Justice' better prepare! Our battle will be legendary!"
"We'll see about that. We don't need you two destroying Professor Juniper's lab..." Ash said with a smirk, the Cherish Ball closing as Kyurem was captured inside. After a single shake, the Cherish Ball pinged, signifying a successful capture. Shrinking the Cherish Ball back down, Ash clipped it onto his Belt. "That's another one off the list."
"Okay, Volcanion was one thing...but that was freaking nuts!" Rosa exclaimed with a massive smile as she energetically threw her hands into the air. "I can't believe you just captured Kyurem! One of the most legendary Pokemon in all of Unova! I remember reading stories about Kyurem, Zekrom, and Reshiram when I was a little kid!"
"Oh, I have Kyurem and Reshiram too..." Ash said nonchalantly, slipping his backpack back on and turning to face the rest of his group. "I caught them a while back when I re-traveled through Unova. In fact..." Reaching into his pocket, Ash pulled out two shrunken Cherish balls. After enlarging them, he tossed the balls into the air. With a flash of light, Victini and Meloetta appeared in front of Ash. With a delighted cheer, both mythical Pokemon leaped into Ash's arms and began to snuggle against him. "These two get fussy if they don't see me for a while, so I make sure to bring them with me every now and then."
"You have...Victini and Meloetta too..." Rosa breathed out in a stunned tone as she slowly approached both Pokemon, hesitantly reaching out and touching Victini's head. "How many legends of Unova do you have?"
"Well, now that I have Kyurem..." Ash said with a sheepish smile, scratching his cheek. "All of them I guess."
"Are you kidding me?" Rosa asked in a skeptical tone as she quirked an eyebrow. "Are you seriously trying to tell me that you've captured every legendary and mythical Pokemon in Unova?"
"I'd show them to you, but they're back at Professor Juniper's lab." Ash said, petting Victini and Meloetta one last time before returning them to their Cherish Balls. Shrinking the balls back down, Ash slipped them back into his pocket. "They'd cause quite the commotion if they were seen out and about, so Professor Juniper has to keep them in their Cherish Balls most of the time. But she makes sure to let them out from time to time."
"I...I can't believe this..." Rosa said in an astonished tone with a dry chuckle as she slowly shook her head. "I know that your Arceus' Chosen One...but it's still nuts hearing you've captured all these legendary and mythical Pokemon. You really are amazing, Ash."
"Thanks, Rosa..." Ash said, his face flushing slightly in embarrassment. "That means a lot. You're a pretty amazing trainer too." Pretending to cough into his fist, Ash fought back his blush and adjusted his hat. "Well, now that all the fun is over, why don't we head over to the gym? I've got a battle against Clair."
(30 Minutes Later: Blackthorn Gym)
"I see you've finally arrived, Ash. It's nice to see you again and it seems like you've brought many friends as well." Clair said as Ash and his group entered the gym, greeting them with a confident smile on her face. "I hope you enjoyed your time in the Dragon Holy Land. We don't let many people in there, especially such large groups."
"We had a great time, Clair. Thanks for letting us visit, I know that Dragon Holy Land is a sacred place." Ash said, walking up to Clair and shaking her hand. "It ended up being quite the eventful trip."
"I heard there was some commotion amongst the Pokemon in the area, but no one saw what actually startled them." Clair said with a sly smile as she quirked an eyebrow in intrigue. "Care to explain, Ash?"
"Sorry Clair, I didn't see anything." Ash said with a chuckle, shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders. "Maybe someone else saw something."
"Sure, I'll keep asking around." Clair said as she crossed her arms underneath her chest, knowing that Ash was obviously lying and that she wouldn't get him to talk. "I saw your battle against my cousin, Lance. That was quite an impressive display. I'm sure it wasn't easy to defeat him."
"Lance truly made me go all out, it's a battle I'll never forget." Ash said with a fond smile, remembering his fierce battle to become Kanto's newest champion. "But I've moved on from Kanto. Now, I've got my eyes set on Johto, the last leg of my journey."
"And that's obviously brought you to my gym." Clair said as she turned her back to Ash and his group, gesturing for them to follow her. "Let's head to the battlefield right away. I'm eager to see how much you've improved since you last trained with us, Ash."
"Oh my gosh, you really did train with 'THE' Clair!" Iris said in a hushed tone, rushing over to Ash's side and tightly gripping his arm. "She's almost as famous as Lance when it comes to dragon-type trainers."
"Don't sell yourself short, Iris." Clair suddenly said as she turned her head to glance back at the dark-skinned trainer, causing her to yelp in surprise. "You're quite famous among dragon specialists as well."
"She's heard of me! Clair knows who I am!" Iris gushed, excitedly up and down several times. "I can die happy now!"
"If you're a good girl, I'm sure Clair will show you some of the ancient techniques her clan has used to train dragons for centuries." Ash teased which caused Iris to immediately stop jumping up and down, her cheeks puffed out slightly. Letting out an annoyed huff, Iris playfully punched Ash's arm. "You're so cute when you're embarrassed, Iris."
"Whatever..." Iris muttered under her breath, hugging Ash's arm a bit tighter as her face flushed slightly. "Arceus, he knows how to play me like a fiddle."
"Hmmm...looks like Ash has found himself several suitors." Clair thought as she subtly glanced back at Ash and his group, easily noticing how close he was with most of the girls. "Strong men often attract many lovers, so I shouldn't be surprised. Ash and I spent many passionate nights together while he was training with the Dragon Tamer clan. It's a shame he left before I realized my feelings for him. Perhaps I'll make my move after he's finished his journey and has settled down."
"Hey Ash, did something happen between you and Clair?" Dawn whispered into Ash's ear, leaning against his shoulders. "She's been looking back at us quite a bit...it's almost like she wants to say something, but keeps stopping herself."
"Ah...that...I think I know why she's acting that way." Ash said quietly as he gazed at Clair for several moments, before turning to face Dawn. "When I was training with the Dragon Tamer clan...Clair and I spent quite a lot of time together...and we became quite close. A couple of times we were even...intimate with each other."
"I thought you lost your virginity to May." Dawn said, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "So it was actually, Clair?"
"No, no, no, Clair and I never actually had sex." Ash corrected as he released a light sigh and glanced at Clair once again. "We'd kiss and caress each other...but we never really went past that...I'd always stop her before we crossed that line. I don't know, it kinda felt like I would have been betraying you, May, and Iris."
"You didn't have to do that...but still, that's so sweet of you, Ash." Dawn said with a sweet smile, before leaning forward and gently kissing Ash's cheek. "But now that we've got this whole harem thing going...and so many other girls have shown romantic interest in you...what if Clair actually wants to start a relationship with you?"
"If Clair wants to cross that line with me...and you girls are okay with it..." Ash said as he briefly locked eyes with Clair, catching her looking back at him once again. Noticing that Ash had noticed, Clair gasped in surprise and quickly turned her head back around. "Then I see no reason not to give it a chance."
(Five Minutes Later: Blackthorn Gym's Battlefield)
"This will be an official three-on-three battle between the Blackthorn City gym leader, Clair, and the challenger, Ash Ketchum!" Jerome, who also worked as the gym's referee, exclaimed, looking between both trainers. "Are both trainers ready to begin!?" Seeing Clair and Ash nod their heads, Jerome waved his officiating flag. "Then, let the battle begin!"
"Come on out, Dragonite!" Clair said as she tossed a Pokeball into the air. Then, with a flash of white light, the Dragon Pokemon materialized in the air in front of Clair. Rearing its head back, Dragonite let out a fierce roar. "Let's show Ash just how strong you are, Dragonite!"
"Wow, that is a powerful looking Dragonite...but I think Iris's is stronger." Ash playfully teased, causing Clair to shoot him an annoyed glare and Iris's face to flush slightly. Unclipping a Pokeball off his belt, Ash enlarged it and tossed it out onto the field. "Sylveon, I choose you!" In a burst of bright pink hearts and light, the Intertwining Pokemon landed on the ground. After prancing around for several moments, Sylveon eventually made her way to Ash's side and wrapped her ribbons around his wrist. With a smile, Ash crouched down and patted Sylveon's head. "You ready for a battle girl?"
"You've always been so close to your Pokemon and that's something I've always admired about you, Ash." Clair said with a small smile before a determined look flashed in her eyes. "But now isn't the time to be sentimental! We're here to battle!"
"You're right about that, let's get to work, Sylveon." Ash said with a smirk, gesturing for Sylveon to head back onto the battlefield. Bounding back onto the battlefield, the Intertwining Pokemon stared down Dragonite, surprising the Dragon Pokemon. "Alright Sylveon, start things off with Moonblast!"
Sylveon's eyes began to glow bright pink as she began to gather a large amount of energy, its ribbons flowing behind her. A pink sphere of fairy-type energy quickly began to enlarge above Sylveon's head. Letting out a surprisingly fierce cry, Sylveon fired the ball of energy at Dragonite. Moonblast flew at an incredibly fast pace and quickly closed the distance between both Pokemon.
"Dragonite, dodge and use Iron Head!" Flapping its small, yet powerful, wings, the Dragon Pokemon avoided Moonblast and rushed toward Sylveon. With its head glowing with powerful steel-type energy, Dragonite rapidly approached the Intertwining Pokemon. "Take it down in a single hit, Dragonite!"
"Jump onto Dragonite's back and use Play Rough!" At the last possible moment, Sylveon leaped into the air, barely managing to jump over Dragonite. Spinning around mid-air, Sylveon's ribbons whipped out and latched onto Dragonite's body. Sylveon quickly reeled herself in and clung to the Dragon Pokemon's back. Dragonite immediately began to frantically fly around in an attempt to shake Sylveon, but its efforts were in vain. With her paws glowing bright pink, Sylveon began to repeatedly attack Dragonite, causing the Dragon Pokemon to howl in pain. "Now, finish this with Dazzling Gleam!"
The air surrounding Sylveon began to shimmer and hum as she began to gather a large amount of energy. Then, with a blinding flash of pink light, Sylveon unleashed all of its gathered energy. Dragonite howled in pain as it was bombarded by an onslaught of fairy-type energy. Almost immediately, Dragonite spiraled downward and crashed into the battlefield, kicking up a small cloud of dust and debris. When the dust finally settled, Sylveon stood atop Dragonite, her ribbons freely flowing in the air.
"Oh damn...that looks like it hurt..." Jerome muttered as he approached Dragonite, crouching down next to the unmoving Dragon Pokemon. After a few moments of examination, Jerome stood back up and waved his officiating flags. "Dragonite is unable to battle! The winner is Sylveon! Clair, please send out your next Pokemon!"
"You did your best, Dragonite, but that Sylveon is really strong." Clair said, releasing a light sigh as she returned Dragonite to its Pokeball. Shrinking the Pokeball, Clair grabbed another off her belt and tossed it into the air. "Now, it's your turn, Salamance!" With a fearsome roar, the Dragon Pokemon slammed onto the battlefield, glaring fiercely at Sylveon. "You won't win that easily this time, Ash! Salamance, use Flamethrower!"
Inhaling deeply, Salamance unleashed a torrent of scorching flames toward Sylveon. Needing no command, Sylveon began to dodge the streams of fire, but Salamance suddenly increased its attack output. Blazing flames began to coat the entire battlefield and Sylveon could no longer dodge them. Wincing in pain, Sylveon stood her ground as she was engulfed in roaring fire. Once Salamance eventually stopped its attack, Sylveon appeared to be charred slightly but other than that didn't seem to have taken a serious amount of damage. Shaking herself and using her ribbons, Sylveon cleaned the soot and ash off her body.
"Are you okay, Sylveon!?" Ash exclaimed as he watched the Intertwining Pokemon finish cleansing herself. Looking back at her trainer, Sylveon smiled and eagerly nodded her head. "Alright, that's what I like to see! Use Quick Attack to get in close, then use Shadow Ball!"
"Not gonna let that happen!" Clair shouted, gesturing for her Pokemon to go on the offensive. "Salamance, use Aerial Ace!" Both Pokemon charged toward each other at incredible speeds, quickly closing the distance. Sylveon's body was encased in glowing energy as it used Quick Attack to drastically increase its speed, with Salamance's wings sharing a similar appearance. Just before both Pokemon collided, Sylveon leaped into the air above Salamce, a ball of swirling ghost-type energy forming in front of its mouth. "Nice try Ash, but that won't work! Use Psychic Fangs!"
Whipping its head around, Salamance opened its fearsome maw, now filled with dozens of glowing fangs. Lunging forward, Salamance sank its teeth into Sylveon's side, causing the Intertwining Pokemon to yelp in pain. However, Sylveon was deterred by Salamance's attack and fought through the pain. At point-blank range, Sylveon fired several Shadow Balls, each of them hitting Salamance directly. The Dragon Pokemon roared in agony as it was bombarded by almost a dozen Shadow Balls. The attacks caused Salamance to veer toward the ground, roughly slamming both Pokemon into the battlefield. Salamance and Sylveon skidded away from each other, coming to a skidding stop in front of their trainers. Both of them were battered and bruised, eventually standing back up on shaky legs, determined to finish the battle.
"Let's finish this! Use Double-Edge!" Ash and Clair ordered simultaneously with matching grins. Salamance and Sylveon shared a brief, yet intense, staredown, before shouting and charging toward each other, their bodies encased in flowing yellow energy. Then, Sylveon and Salamance slammed into each other, causing a small and powerful explosion and sending out a shockwave that reverberated throughout the gym. Once the smoke finally settled, the outcome of the match was obvious.
"Damn, now that was something..." Jerome said, letting out a low whistle as he approached both Pokemon and examined them for a few moments. Seeing their unmoving forms and the swirls in their eyes, told Jerome everything he needed to know. "Both Pokemon are unable to battle! Will both trainers please send out their final Pokemon!"
"Nice job Salamance, you really gave it your all." Clair said as she returned the Dragon Pokemon to its Pokeball, before shrinking it and grabbing another off her belt. Cocking her arm back, Clair tossed her final Pokemon out onto the field. "Let's do this, Druddigon!" With a rumbling thud, the Cave Pokemon landed on the battlefield and unleashed a ferocious roar. "It's time for my come back, Ash!"
"You were amazing, Sylveon. Now get some well-deserved rest." Ash said with a small smile, returning Sylveon to her Pokeball and putting it away. Grabbing his second Pokemon, Ash tossed the Pokeball out onto the battlefield. "Mismagius, I choose you!" An ominous wind blew through the gym as the Magical Pokemon materialized, levitating in front of Ash. "Alright Mismagius, let's finish this!"
"Druddigon, get in close and use Crunch!" Letting out another frightening roar, the Cave Pokemon stomped toward Mismagius, its fangs glowing with dark-type energy.
"Use Phantom Force, Mismagius!" True to her ghostly nature, Mismagius melted into the shadows and disappeared, leaving Druddigon surprised and confused. A split second later, Mismagius reappeared behind Druddigon, attacking with a blast of dark purple ghost-type energy. The Cave Pokemon grunted in pain as it stumbled forward, caught off guard by the surprise attack. "Now use, Dazzling Gleam!"
"Dodge and use Dark Pulse!" Just as the gems across Mismagius' chest began to glow pink, Druddigon leaped to the side and unleashed a torrent of dark-type energy. The Magical Pokemon was so busy charging up Dazzling Gleam, that she wasn't able to dodge Druddigon's attack in time. Mismagius winced in pain as she was sent flying backward by the super-effective attack. "Quick, follow it up with Dragon Tail!"
"Mismagius, use Confuse Ray!" Recovering from the attack, Mismagius' eyes began to glow bright blue as she fired a ball of ghostly energy. Druddigon was so close that there was no way Mismagius could miss. Confuse Ray hit Druddigon directly, instantly confusing the imposing Pokemon. With its coordination completely messed up, Druddigon wildly missed with Dragon Tail, doing a full 360 before falling to the ground. "Now hit it with Draining Kiss!"
Mismagius floated toward Drudiggon, who appeared to be still quite dazed and was wildly swinging its arms. Slipping in close, the Magical Pokemon's mouth began to glow bright pink as it kissed Druddigon's cheek. The Cave Pokemon groaned in pain as its energy was sapped away, while Mismagius perked back up as it absorbed Druddigon's energy. With a grunt, Druddigon fell down onto one knee, panting heavily.
"Mismagius, finish this with Icy Wind!" Floating back a bit, the Magical Pokemon inhaled deeply before exhaling a freezing torrent of snow and wind. Druddigon roared in pain as it was assaulted by the devastating, super-effective move. When Mismagius finally finished her attack, Druddigon was left unmoving, its body partially encased in ice.
"Whew, I'm getting cold just looking at Druddigon..." Jerome muttered with a chuckle as he approached the frozen Pokemon. Leaning in closer, Jerome examined Druddigon for several moments before stepping back. Waving his officiating flags as he made his decision. "Druddigon is unable to battle! The winner is Mismagius! Since all of Clair's Pokemon are unable to battle, the winner is the challenger, Ash Ketchum!"
"Yeah! Nice job, Mismagius! You were awesome!" Ash exclaimed with a bright smile, rushing forward and embracing the ghost-type Pokemon, much to her enjoyment. "I knew you could do it!"
"You did your best Druddigon..." Clair said as she released a light sigh, returning the Cave Pokemon to its Pokeball. Clipping the Pokeball back onto her belt, Clair watched for several moments as Ash celebrated his victory with his Pokemon, a small smile spreading across her face. Realizing that she was staring for too long, Clair coughed into her hand to regain her composure and approached Ash. "That was a fantastic battle, Ash. I guess I didn't really stand a chance against a champion of multiple leagues."
"Don't sell yourself short, Clair. You're an amazing trainer." Ash complimented, reaching out and energetically shaking Clair's hand which caused a faint blush to spread across her face. "I learned so much from you when I trained here. Your teachings are one of the reasons I became such a great trainer."
"Thanks, Ash...I was happy to help...and I'll help you train anytime you want." Clair said as she gave Ash's hand a gentle squeeze, feeling her heart flutter slightly. "You know, Ash...I...when you were training with me...I never..." However, Clair before could say anymore, she stopped herself when she noticed the rest of Ash's group rushing. "I'll be rooting for you, Ash. Make sure you win this whole thing and become champion of Jhoto."
"Of course, Clair!" Ash exclaimed, surprising Clair as he pulled her in for a brief hug. When Ash released Clair, he gave her one last wave before meeting up with his group, never noticing that her face was flushed bright red. "I'll make sure to visit again soon! See you later, Jerome! Clair!
"Go out there and kick some ass, Ash! My family will be rooting for you at the Johto League!" Jerome shouted, waving to Ash and his group as he watched them begin to walk out of the gym. Once Ash was out of sight, Jerome glanced over at Clair, noticing that her face was still bright red. "You feeling okay, Clair? You're looking pretty flushed."
"I-I'm fine!" Clair yelped as she quickly darted out of the gym, doing her best to hide her embarrassed face. "I'll definitely tell Ash my feelings once his journey is over...I couldn't do it in front of all of his friends!"
(Fifteen Minutes Later: Route Leading out Blackthorn City)
"That was an amazing battle like usual, Ash." Rosa said, walking at the front of the group with her hands clasped behind her back. "But unfortunately, this is where we have to part ways...for now at least."
"Are you sure, Rosa?" Hilda asked as she jogged over to her best friend's side. "You can travel with us for as long as you want."
"Oh! It's not like I feel unwelcome or anything! You guys have been amazing to travel with, I couldn't ask for better friends!" Rosa exclaimed, frantically waving her arms dismissively. "But...I just feel like I should travel on my own for a bit. Maybe challenge a few gyms...catch some Pokemon...explore Johto by myself. I'll meet back up with you guys at the Johto League. There's no way I would miss Ash whooping Tobias' ass."
"He won't know what hit him." Ash said with a smirk as he approached Rosa and embraced her in a tight hug. "We'll miss you, Rosa."
"I'll miss you guys too...especially you, Ash." Rosa whispered that last part under her breath, returning Ash's embrace. After a few moments, Rosa released a light sigh and broke her hug with the raven-haired trainer. Taking several steps back, Rosa adjusted the straps of her backpack and flashed Ash's group a bright smile. "I'll see you guys soon! Don't have too much fun without me!" Turning around, Rosa began to joke down the path, hoping that no one noticed the tears streaming down her cheeks. "This will be good for me...I'll be able to see Ash soon enough."
"Stay safe, Rosa!" Hilda called out as she waved goodbye to her friend. Taking a deep breath, Hilda wiped a tear from her eye. "That girl has always been so impulsive."
"Sounds like someone else I know." Ash teased, playfully nudging Hilda's arm. After an elbow to the ribs from Hilda, Ash chuckled and turned to face the rest of his group. "I know we're all sad to see Rosa go, but we'll see her again soon. So, let's hit the road! My next gym battle awaits!"
"Speaking of that, Ash..." Cilan said as he reached into his bag, rifling around for several moments before pulling out a map of Johto. "Where are we heading next?"
And done! Two gyms down, six to go! Ash's Johto journey is well underway now, and he's added Kyurem to his roster of legendary/mythical Pokemon. Now, where will Ash and his group head next? You can help decide that by voting in the poll on my P atreon! So, if you'd like to help influence this story, please consider supporting. Remember to follow/favorite if you enjoyed, PLEASE REVIEW (I NEED YOUR FEEDBACK), PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING MY P ATREON!, check out my profile and other stories if you haven't already, and if you have any ideas for my stories feel free to PM me. So until next time, I'm outta here!