Cinnabar Island couldn't come fast enough.
That was Dawn's mentality, as she leaned on the foremost railing of the ship's deck that was currently carrying her, Ash, and their Pokémon towards the site of this year's annual Wallace Cup.
A roller coaster of events had preceded her place here, in the past couple of days. The awful taste of defeat at the hands of Team Rocket, that she was doing her best to forget. The chaos and triumph that emerged from her and Ash's time in the Seafoam Islands, where she'd finally voiced her feelings for him. Ash had responded in kind; a fact that she often found herself replaying in her head, every time she looked back at her companion.
Right now, he was trying to secure a peach from the snack bar that Pachirisu had swiped from him, a bit further back on deck. Looking back, Dawn smiled, shaking her head. It was all real. As real as Prinplup, who watched the turning tides at her feet.
All of that was well and good… But, it was still chaos. It wasn't an anchor, nor a definite direction to step in to further her dreams. Another ribbon, however? A chance at a second Aqua Ribbon, specifically? It made Dawn smile, and she felt her heart race.
The cool ocean breeze felt nice on her skin, and she much enjoyed the feeling of her long tresses being nudged about… as long as not a bang was put out of place, that was. "So, Prinplup."
"Lup…?" Prinplup; Dawn's very first partner, proud and hotheaded. Though, he'd admittedly grown up a good deal, since their venture to Kanto. He was, after all, no longer a tiny Piplup, clinging to the past. He was a growing boy, with growing talents. He tilted his head, looking up at his trainer. Waiting for her to finish her thought.
"You're excited too, right? To see what sort of competition we have, and come out on top? I just know there are some amazing things waiting for us, at the Wallace Cup. Techniques we've never even seen, or thought of!"
Prinplup's baby blue eyes sparkled with brilliance. He chirped his agreement, waving his wings with enthusiasm. He was just as eager to scout their foes! But, even greater than that…! "Prin! Prinplup!" A wing was gestured towards the sky.
Dawn giggled. "Right! And we'll come through, and beat them all for that Aqua Ribbon. Just you wait, Cinnabar." Dawn beamed at the open seas, closing a fist over her heart. "We'll take you by storm, and we're not going to wait for anything to get there!"
Unfortunately, an ear-splitting screech rudely interrupted Dawn's musings, over the ship's loudspeakers. "Attention, passengers! The ferry will be docking in just a couple of minutes at the port to Dark City! Several hours will be spent on restocking and refueling; many of our amenities will be unavailable, so we advise you take that time to explore and stretch your legs. Just don't forget to return in time for departure!"
"Aw, what? Seriously!?" Dawn exclaimed, hanging her head. "I think I went and jinxed it… Me and my big mouth!"
"Lup… Prinplup." Prinplup consoled, patting Dawn's leg with his flipper.
"Well, that's a real bummer." Ash walked over, patting Dawn's shoulder. He leaned on the railing, taking a bite into his retrieved peach. After a moment, his eyes grew wide, and he started to choke on the fruit, furiously thumping his chest.
"Ash!?" Dawn panicked, thinking only to… smack him on the back. She wasn't exactly a trained physician, but it seemed to work. "What just got into you?"
"Ack… thanks." Ash sighed, wiping off his mouth with the back of his arm. "Did they really say Dark City, though? It's hard to imagine that place having its own port."
"Pika-Pikachu," Pikachu curtly agreed, rejoining Ash on his shoulder.
"Huh?" Dawn tilted her head. "How come?"
"Oh, trust me. You'll see."
"I… definitely don't see it." Dawn frowned, looking about her surroundings while they walked through the streets of Dark City. "It looks old-fashioned… Like something out of an old western movie, maybe, but everything seems fine!"
Indeed, the aesthetic of Dark City hadn't changed too terribly much. Stores, restaurants, and inns were furnished with wooden fronts, and signs written out on sturdy parchment. The roads were made of dirt, though grass, vegetation, and small trees weren't entirely uncommon.
But, one thing was entirely amiss: the streets were alive and loud with people and Pokémon walking freely about. A child was laughing as he playfully chased a Growlithe, and outdoor vendors were taking full advantage of the rush of tourism.
"I guess it's no longer a ghost town," Ash whispered to Pikachu. "Don't get me wrong, it's great! But, it's a little weird after last time…"
"Last time?" Dawn asked.
"Hey, is that Tom!?"
"And Pikachu!?"
"No way. You're lying!"
Three children ran up to the group, looking to be almost trainer age. One a brunette, another with ruffled blue hair, and the third sported a dark bowl cut. All three looked starstruck, though they quickly pulled their acts together, attempting to look cool. Each either with a hand on their hip, or arms crossed over their chest.
"Tom…?" Dawn echoed, frowning.
"Yeah! Tom Ato! Look, he's even wearing the same hat!" The kid with the bowl cut pointed at Ash's cap.
"Look! He's so cool!"
"He looks even stronger than before!"
"Now, now, guys. Please." Ash folded his arms, wearing a smirk. "No need to fawn, all at once. I'm just a Pokémon Trainer doing his best."
"Not you! Pikachu!"
"Agh…!" Ash stumbled, forcing Pikachu to grab onto the back of his head, rather than his shoulder. "I should've known…"
"Pika-Pika…" Pikachu uttered out sympathetically.
"What are you guys even talking about!?" Dawn interjected. "His name's-"
"...My name's been shortened down to Tom, for short!" Ash interrupted, simultaneously nudging Dawn's side with his elbow. Through a forced grin, he flicked his eyes to Dawn, quietly begging her to play along. "Tom Ato kind of sounds long-winded, you know? Only close confidants still call me by my full name."
Dawn frowned, making a face. What in the world was even happening!? But, whatever Ash was hatching, she reluctantly played along. "...Right! I just thought you guys should know that. And I'm Dawn! Tom's girlfriend." She hooked his arm around Ash's, grinning. If she was going to fib, then she'd at least tell the truth about something.
Besides, it still gave her the jitters to say, just a little. It was exciting and new.
"Ew, gross."
"Who cares about that stuff? Aspiring Pokémon trainers don't have time for girls."
"Yeah!"
"Ack…! Why you!" Dawn fumed, stomping her boot into the dirt. To go out on a limb and boast of their status, only for that kind of disrespect…! "I'll have you know that-"
"...That Dawn's an amazing Pokémon trainer, too!" Ash interjected. "Actually, she's a Coordinator. Her Pokémon can use all sorts of amazing combination moves! We're a real threat in battle, together."
"...Huh. I guess that's cool," the kid with the bowl cut conceded.
"Hey, speaking of battling together," the blue-haired boy interjected, "have you checked out the Yas-Kaz Gym? They do double battles, too. I bet they'd be dying to see you, Tom!"
"Yas-Kaz… Ha, seriously? They actually got a Gym going?" Ash laughed jovially. "That's awesome! Yeah, we'll have to go check that out. And hey, we're running short on time, so we're gonna go do that, now! I'll catch you guys some other time." He waved, and tugged on Dawn's arm to pull her along. "Later!"
"Pika-chu!" Pikachu waved, as well.
"Yeah, alright. Bye, Tom!"
"See ya, Pikachu!"
"Catch you later, Dawn!"
"H-hey!" Dawn protested being pulled along. But once she kept her pace, she managed to keep up, until they slipped into the thick of the crowd. Now that they seemed to be free of those kids, she felt she could speak freely. "...I'm sorry, Ash. I can't do it."
"Huh?" Ash stopped in his tracks. "Can't do what?"
"I know we're a couple, but I just can't commit to a code name to match! I hate not being called by my name."
"Uh, that's… fine," Ash answered, puzzled. "No one said you had to."
"Huh… when why-" Dawn frowned. She was completely lost. "Why would you even go by that? You can't spread your legacy that way, A- I mean, Tom!" That still sounded awfully weird coming out of her mouth. She hated it!
Ash leaned in to whisper. "Well, my legacy wouldn't get very far if my name got attached to gang wars."
"Gang wars!?" Dawn exclaimed.
A few townspeople stopped in their tracks, staring at Dawn, before going about their business while painstakingly avoiding eye contact and pretending they hadn't heard it.
Ash raised a finger to shush her, and Dawn nodded, blushing. Something had gone on, and she was on the out. How irritating. But between this, Team Rocket, the former death trap that'd been the Fuchsia Gym… She had to wonder. "What even happens in Kanto?" She hissed out.
"A lot," Ash said dryly. Not another word about it was exchanged on their way to the Gym.
"So, this is the Yas-Kaz Gym…" Ash said, after entering the large, two-story building. Coming in through the double wooden doors, he had little time to dwell on the fact that the two gang leaders had so turned their careers around. Not when a Gym Battle was already underway!
The lanky, long-faced man, and his bulkier, horn-haired ally stood at the other end of a large battlefield, opposing two children with their backs to the intruding trainers. There was a pale boy dressed in all black and spiky, lilac hair, commanding a Haunter. Alongside him was a boy with dark blue hair, wearing a maroon vest and green t-shirt with a Machoke.
"Max…?" Ash mouthed out, stunned. "I guess he's here for a Gym Battle, but who's that other kid?"
"And what's with the tag battle?" Dawn asked, sneaking along with Ash towards seating on the sidelines. She gasped. "Is this a Gym with tag battles!?"
Suddenly, a flash of light manifested from Ash's belt; Rosa sat atop Ash's shoulder, watching the battle attentively.
"Kingler! Bubble Beam!" Yas commanded.
"Rhydon! Take Down!" Kaz shouted.
An explosive foam launched from Kingler's claws, blasting Haunter and sending the specter zipping away from the point of impact. Subsequently, Rhydon smashed his tough hide into Machoke, sending the Superpower Pokémon skidding back on his heels.
"Heh! You got guts, kids! But you can't stand up to dis Gym, at dat rate!" Kaz taunted, flashing a toothy grin. "Rhydon! Rock Slide, now!"
Rhydon cried out with a feral roar, as a multitude of large boulders materialized in the open air, above. A toss of the Pokémon's arms sent them flying towards Machoke and Haunter.
"Haunter," the pale youth shouted, use-"
"Tell Haunter to hide behind Machoke!" Max shouted, interrupting. "I've got this. Beat them down with Bullet Punch!"
"Choooke!" A lightning-fast blitz of punches battered away at the large rocks flying towards him. One after another, they crumbled into rubble.
"Shut up!" The other kid shouted. "Don't tell me what to do! Haunter use… Oh, crud!"
The time that elapsed between the trainers arguing allowed poor Haunter to get pummeled by Rock Slide. The ghost cried out, retreating from the barrage. Even afterwards, he looked rather woozy, floating about aimlessly.
"Moron! You distracted me!" The trainer spat.
"I was trying to help you!" Max defended himself.
"There's no room for squabbling, if you want to win in this Gym!" Yas shouted, and pointed forward. "Kingler, use Crabhammer!"
"Ku-kiii!" The large crustacean lunged at Machoke, coming in swinging with their gargantuan claw.
"Stop it, with Strength!" Max commanded.
A Kingler's claw was said to strike with ten thousand horsepower. But even that was within the limits of the mighty Machoke, who caught the pincer in a two-handed grasp. He stopped the claw's advance, but even still, his arms trembled under the weight.
"Choke…!" Machoke grit his teeth, and surrounded himself in an orange glow. The power of Strength forced a grappling contest of sheer strength.
"Keep it up, Machoke! You can do it!" Max encouraged him.
"We've got this!" Koda shouted. "Haunter, use Thunderbolt on Kingler!"
"W-wait, no!" Max waved his hands in front of him. "Don't!"
"Hau-hauuu!" Haunter fired a bolt of lightning from his floating hands towards Kingler. Though, the lightning was quickly torn off-course, and drawn to the horn atop Rhydon's head.
"What the…!?" Koda exclaimed.
Lightning coursed through Rhyhorn's horn, which spun wildly with a loud, whirring noise that ate up the charge. Feeling empowered, Rhydon threw his head back with a mighty roar. A red aura basked over the powerful Rock-type.
"You idiot!" Max hissed. "Rhydon's ability is Lightning Rod!"
"Hah! You've assured our victory," Yas declared. "Kingler! Pull back!"
"Ku-ki!" Kingler pushed off of Machoke, retreating to beside Rhydon.
"What does that even mean?" Koda asked.
"It means that they can absorb electric attacks, and it boosts the power of their special moves!"
"You got dat right, brainiac!" Kaz shouted with a cackle. "Rhydon! Use Blizzard!"
The tough-scaled biped opened his mouth wide, and a harsh, unforgiving blizzard blasted away at the entirety of Max and Koda's end of the field. Machoke and Haunter were swept away in the storm,
In but an instant, the two middle-stage Pokémon were left at their trainers' feet, blue in the face and knocked unconscious.
The referee off to the side raised her hand. "Haunter and Machoke are unable to battle! That makes the Gym Leaders, Yas and Kaz, the winners!"
"Excellent work, Kingler. Return!"
"Good work out dere, Rhydon. Come back!"
Yas and Kaz's Pokémon disappeared in flashes of light, as did the two belonging to the challengers. Max, returning Machoke, was quick to turn on his battle partner. "Thanks a lot!'
"Me? That was on you, man. You distracted me!"
"I was trying to help. If you'd listened, none of that would've happened!"
"Hey! Hey! Break it up." Kaz clapped his hands loudly, interrupting the squabble. "It's one thing to get beat down, but you'll never get our badge, with that kind of sportsmanship!"
"Winning the Unity Badge requires working in sync! Come back when you've worked out your squabble." Yas agreed, walking up to the duo, alongside Kaze.
"Y'know, they're right." Ash smiled, walking up to rest a hand on Max's shoulder. "If you want to win a tag battle, then teamwork is key!"
Max startled at the contact, spinning around to look at the capped trainer in disbelief. "Huh!? Ash-"
"Ashhhsure surprise to see me here, ain't it?" Ash interrupted, doing his best to smooth over Max's slip-up. "It just so happens your ol' pal Tom Ato wanted to drop in and check out the Dark City Gym! What're the odds, right?" He spoke through gritted teeth, eyeing Max with an intensity that he hoped would get his point across.
"Tom Ato…?" Max frowned.
"Well, look who it is! Our good ol' pal, Tom Ato!" Kaz laughed boisterously, resting a hand on his hip. "Our guide in Pokémon Training ain't so puny, no more! Time really flies."
"Guide in Pokémon Training…?" The purple-haired youth furrowed his brow, looking between Ash and the leaders. "You taught them how to be Gym Leaders?"
"Well, I wouldn't go that far…!" Ash smiled to himself, folding his arms. "I just gave these guys a few pointers while they were getting their careers off the ground. Some fundamentals in Pokémon training!"
"And it went quite a long way," Yas added. "I believe you've seen the results for yourself!"
"I sure did!" Ash praised. "Your guys' teamwork was top-notch! I'm really impressed." Words he quickly regretted, when both of the children flinched, and shot him a dirty look. "...Whoops."
"You grown-ups have fun. I've gotta get to the Pokémon Center." The strange boy scoffed, heading for the exit.
"Yeah, me too." Max shouldered his bag, sulking off, but not so quick as to catch up to the other trainer he'd just feuded with. See ya, Tom."
"...Er." Ash frowned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not to rip off Dawn, but me and my big fat mouth."
"Pika-chu," Pikachu frowned.
"What… just happened!?" Dawn balked, looking between everyone present. "I'm totally lost."
"Ahh, they're just being sore losahs," Kaz dismissed. "They'll be alright, once they sulk it off!"
"Maybe," Ash agreed. "...But, I better go check on them. I'll catch up with you guys later, alright?"
"Very well," Yas agreed. "Farewell, Tom!"
Ash headed for the exit after the children had already left the door swinging, and Dawn followed shortly afterward, leaning in close to whisper. "Now, I get the fake name thing, but what's all this about training Gym Leaders!? You never told me about that."
"It's… a long story," Ash decided on saying. "I'll explain it to you later. Right now, I'm just worried about Max."
"Yeah. Him and whoever that other kid was."
Ash and Dawn found the Dark City Pokémon Center, soon afterward. Stepping through the sliding doors, they scouted for the two trainers they were after. Though, it didn't take very long.
Max was sitting on one end of the lobby, while the child in black was on the complete opposite end. The 'ding' that played upon their arrival made the kids look over, before pointedly looking away.
Ash looked between them, and let an exasperated chuckle slip. "Aha… still sour, huh?" He shook his head, and walked towards Max, being most familiar with him. "Hey, about the match-"
"Save it," Max snapped. "I don't wanna talk about it."
Ash cracked a sympathetic smile. He remembered this sore feeling well. Losing a Gym Battle could be a real knock to one's ego… Especially knowing that he'd gotten bulldozed by Surge, upon arriving in Kanto. Time for a course change in conversation, then. "Well, alright. Then, why don't you tell me who your friend over there is?"
"Hah! Why should I?" Max scoffed, before taking on a mocking tone. "He can do everything by himself. He doesn't need my help!"
"Well, this is stupid," Dawn huffed. She had no patience for these sorts of things. Since Ash was occupied with Max, she took it upon herself to approach and address the other. "My name is Dawn! And this is…" Dawn tilted her head towards Ash, frowning. Could she use his real name, even with someone Max knew?
Ash nodded her way. "It's fine."
"That's Ash," she whispered past her hand, "but around here, he goes by Tom."
"...Uh-huh." The surly-looking child trailed off. "Well, I guess I can tell you, since you're not being a big baby, unlike someone. The name's Koda." After a moment's passing, he blinked, his brows raising in surprise. "Hold on. A- I mean, Tom," he corrected himself, "aren't you supposed to be the guy with a Taillow who could take a bunch of Thunderbolts, or something?"
"Er… mine?" Ash scratched his cheek. "I definitely had a Taillow, but… maybe? That certainly sounds like her. It's been a while since she was in that stage." He wouldn't be surprised if Max recalled something he didn't; he had a knack for memorizing things about Pokémon that Ash himself never could.
Koda snorted, and tilted his head towards Max. "You liar. The guy you were talking about doesn't even have his own story straight! I knew you were full of it."
"I was not lying!" Map shouted back. "It's not my fault he can't remember!"
"Well, he can't be that great, if he doesn't."
"Ahaha…" Ash rubbed his neck. He was getting caught in the crossfire, here. More importantly, they were drifting far away from why they'd come here. He cleared his throat loudly to draw attention. "Alright, that's enough! This squabbling is pointless. You may have lost a battle, but beating each other up over it is pointless."
"And it won't do anything to help your Pokémon!" Dawn added on. "They fought their hardest for you, out there! The least you can do is focus on them!"
~Yeah! Quit being sore losers!~ Rosa added, despite herself having been one, not long ago.
From across the room, a woman loudly cleared her throat. "Is there a problem!?" It was Nurse Joy, scolding the noisy group from behind the front desk.
"N-not a problem!" Ash denied. "Excuse us, Nurse Joy."
"...Yeah, whatever." Koda shrugged, folding his arms.
"Well, what do you suggest, Tom?" Max asked, although he still sounded quite sour, only reluctantly playing along, now that he'd been thoroughly embarrassed.
"I suggest we kick all these bad feelings to the curb, with a good meal. My treat!"
"Wait, one second," Dawn interrupted.
"What is it?" Ash asked, raising a brow at Dawn.
"Who said you have to cover it? I've got this, Tom."
"Dawn… Are you sure? C'mon. I won a Gym Battle more recently, I've got it."
"I won a ribbon right before that!"
"Yeah, but you've got the Wallace Cup coming up!" Ash slapped a comforting hand on Dawn's shoulder. "This trip is for you, remember? Lemme cushion this one. Easy peasy."
Dawn narrowed her eyes. "Now, I know we aren't starting this thing again… No. Need. To. Worry." She drew out her words through bared teeth, the way she so often did when they were less a suggestion and more the last say.
Frowning, Rosa hopped off Ash's shoulder to go stand by Max's leg. Their arguing had gotten too close for comfort.
"Hey, uh… What's up with those two?" Koda walked up to Max, jabbing a thumb towards the teenagers in a seeming temporary truce. "They're acting like total tools… They boyfriend and girlfriend, or something?"
"Pffft, ha!" Max snorted, shaking his head. "Please. The day Tom gets a girlfriend is the day I eat my sneakers."
"You guessed it!"
"Guilty as charged!"
Max froze, slowly turning his head towards the two teenagers. Each had their arms hooked around one another, with the only real distance between them provided by Pikachu, who was sandwiched between both of their shoulders. "Come again…?"
Ash grinned, lifting the brim of his cap. "The two of us…!"
Dawn proudly flipped her bangs. "...are totally dating!"
Pikachu, who looked less-than-amused to be squished, nodded with a deadpan stare. "Pi-Pikachu."
"...Huh, gross." Koda acknowledged, before shooting Max a look. "Better make room for dessert. I hear they've got loafers a la mode."
Max swallowed heavily. The color in his face was fading, and he wasn't sure if it was the promise he'd just foolishly made, or the sheer shock of Ash getting a date before… well, anyone in their group, actually. "...Heyyy, haha, let's get going! You win, guys, I'm gonna eat so much that I won't even have room for dessert! Ahaha…"
The group relocated to a local restaurant; the same one where Pikachu had developed his tragic, ill-fated love with a bottle of ketchup, in fact. The interior had been refurbished; no longer under constant threat of destruction and bankruptcy, surely.
Perhaps it was the location acting on his nostalgia, but Pikachu found himself hugging and twirling with the customary ketchup bottle left on the table. "Pika Pika Pika-chu~!"
"Huh? What's up with Pikachu?" Max frowned, as he scooped up a spoonful of curry.
"Who knows…?" Ash looked at his partner, shrugging. He knew he liked ketchup, but this was new. "Better not call out Buneary right now, though." He felt Dawn's elbow nudge his side; not enough to hurt him, but catch his attention.
"Even in her ball, she has strong hearing," Dawn whispered, before twirling some udon noodles onto her chopsticks, and fed them to Ash. "Here, before you slip up again."
Although he was technically being shut up, Ash couldn't complain about the free sample, and hummed gratefully around the noodles.
"Eww. C'mon! Not right here, while I'm eating," Max complained, wrinkling his nose in disgust.
"Mphm hmph?" Ash asked, before realizing his mouth was full. He'd try again, afterward. "I'm eating too, though?"
"Yeah, what's the difference?" Dawn asked, returning to slurping her own noodles.
"You're doing couple stuff," Koda replied. "It's nasty."
~Is it?~ Rosa asked. She stood on her own little chair pulled up to the table, speaking while munching on a bowl of Poké Chow, thanks to the benefit of telepathy. ~They're just eating.~
"But we are a couple…?" Ash blinked, clueless.
"Weren't we here to talk about our Gym Battle, or something?" The kid continued, ignoring them.
"I think you mean my Gym Battle," Max scoffed. "You were just there swinging blindly."
"I was doing what you do in a battle; taking action. No one likes a backseat battler."
"And no one likes a stubborn brat, either!"
"Hasn't stopped you, up until now."
"Why you…!" Max seethed, angrily and pointedly shoving a spoonful in his mouth before turning his eyes to Ash and Dawn. "Y'see what I mean!? This guy's impossible!"
"It looks like you're both being a little impossible," Ash pointed out, his lips tilted in a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
"Yeah, no one wins a tag battle acting like that," Dawn pointed out. "We'd know."
"Well, whatever!" Max huffed. Tensions were high, and he hated being wrong, so he decided to change the topic, leaning in with a hand raised. "So, Ash. Why are we calling you Tom Ato here, anyway?"
"As long as we're in this town," Ash whispered, "I have to keep a low profile."
"A low profile…? Why?" Max squinted. "What, are you on the run for tax fraud or something?"
Ash nearly choked around a spoonful, pounding his chest. "Ack… give me a break. I think I'd have to own a home or something to start paying those. Besides, if anyone here would handle taxes, it'd be Pikachu." He pointed a thumb towards his partner.
"Pika…?" Pikachu looked away from his current task of slurping ketchup straight from the bottle, which they'd surely now have to pay for.
"Hah! I'm sure you're right. After all, Pikachu is smarter than you," Max quipped.
"Eh…? Hey!" Ash complained, looking awfully offended.
"You know," Koda replied, "you walked right into that one."
"Anyway," Ash continued, once more changing the subject. "Max wasn't traveling with anyone when we saw him last. You from around Kanto, Koda?"
Koda shook his head. "I'm from Sinnoh."
"Oh, you too!?" Dawn beamed. "That's awesome!"
Suddenly, Max adopted a smarmy smirk. "Yeah, he is. In fact, he's here to see how cool Kanto's Gym Leaders are. He's a super huge fan of cool Gym Leaders. Especially Crasher Wake!"
"It's not that serious!" The lilac-haired child folded his arms, averting his eyes in a manner that told that it was that serious. "I'm from Pastoria. Guy's a local celebrity; he's kind of cool. What do you want?"
"Oh! Crasher Wake?" Ash's eyes lit up at the mention of the boisterous Water-type specialist. "He's awesome! I battled him, once!"
"Pika-chu!" Pikachu chirped.
"They did!" Dawn vouched. "And guess what else? Ash beat him, three-to-zero!"
"No way. You've gotta be making that up," Koda replied, squinting at Ash. "Not even losing one Pokémon? Most people don't even get past his Gyarados."
"Pikachu, here, handled that all on his own!" Ash boasted, gesturing to his partner. "At least, that's what I remember…"
"I definitely remember, too!" Dawn vouched. "From what I remember, that round lasted barely any time at all. You can't underestimate his electric attacks!"
"Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu boasted, tapping his paw against his chest.
Rosa looked between the three, and nodded. ~They're not lying.~
"...Well, if you're not lying, then you're seriously good," Koda conceded. "Anyone who could make a fool out of Crasher Wake is no joke. I bet you could take on the Dark City Gym all on your own.
"Well… maybe!" Ash laughed bashfully, rubbing his neck.
"Totally," Dawn agreed.
"But, I have a better idea! Dawn, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"You bet I am!" Dawn smiled, pumping a fist. "It'd be a whole lot better for you guys to see the two of us take them on, together! In a proper tag battle!"
"That way, we'll show you proper teamwork!" Ash cheered, then hesitated, afterward. "Wait. What's the deal with that, anyway? I've never heard of a Gym that lets two challengers go at once, before."
"That's their whole gimmick," Max explained. "You can challenge them to a regular ol' double battle, of course, but as of right now, it's the only Gym out there that lets two challengers try for the badge at once. You get double the help, but that teamwork really makes it sink-or-swim…"
Max and Koda pointedly looked away from one another. They'd certainly sunk.
"But hey, how come you didn't know that!?" Max pointed a finger at Ash. "This is your region, and I knew that before you."
Ash made a sour face, making Max shut up. Whatever retribution he feared, though, it never came. Ash only smiled, placing his hat down atop his head. "Believe it or not, I like being surprised, sometimes. It's good to be prepared, but life is a little more interesting, with the odd curveball! Besides…"
"...Ash and I can take anything on as a team!" Dawn finished.
"This will be a sanctioned tag battle, between the Gym Leaders, Yas and Kaz, and the challengers, Dawn and Tom! Each trainer will use one Pokémon each. The battle will end only when both parts of a tag team are taken out, and there will be no time limit!"
The referee; a blue-haired woman that Ash was sure he recognized from his last visit, counted off the rules to the four competitors standing, and the two boys watching from the sidelines. A cheerful and bubbly persona was quickly swapped for a stern gaze and an authoritative voice to match. "Yas and Kaz, send out your Pokémon!"
"If Tom's our opponent, den we ain't holding anything back!" Kaz grinned devilishly, retrieving a single Poké Ball. He wound up and lobbed it into the fray. "Go, Electivire!"
"Elec-iviiiire!" The twin-tailed lightning behemoth grinned, bashing his fists together. Sparks danced erratically from the point of impact.
"And if our other opponent is an ally of his, then I can't afford to, either!" Yas tossed his own Poké Ball backhanded. "Scizor! You're up!"
The bipedal, ironclad insect appeared beside Electivire, snapping his razor-sharp pincers. "Scizorrrr!"
"An Electivire and a Scizor, huh…? We've got a real fight on our hands, Dawn." Ash shot a smirk at his companion, before picking a sphere off his belt. He wound up, and pitched his choice into the fray, just as Pikachu abandoned his shoulder.. "Gliscor! I choose you!"
Gliscor appeared in a flash of light, balancing his weight on his tail. "Gliii!" He cried, happily snapping his two pincers.
"Sure looks like it, Tom!" Dawn forced out. That name still sounded so wrong, rolling off her tongue. She bit it down reluctantly, and focused on the match. If Ash's choice was Gliscor… then she had just the Pokémon to compliment him. "Quilava! Spotlight!"
"Laaav!" Quilava materialized on all fours, igniting the flames atop her back.
"Battle… begin!"
"Gliscor! Tailwind!" Ash shouted before anyone else, gesturing a hand forward.
"Gliii!" Gliscor bounced off his tail to take to the air, and began the match with a powerful swing of his webbed wings. The motion started a howling, steady wind current towards Yas and Kaz's ends of the field.
"Tailwind? What's that move?" Koda asked, frowning. "Never heard of it."
"Of course you haven't," Max sassed, which he quickly regretted when he was punched in the arm. "Tailwind is a move that creates a powerful wind right down the middle of the field, giving the user and any allies a boost in speed when attacking. So, you're faster for a couple of turns."
"That sounds pretty pointless," Koda replied. "Why not just use that time attacking?"
Meanwhile, in the midst of Tailwind, Ash held his cap down atop his head, and Dawn's bangs whipped about in the wind. The Coordinator smiled. "Thanks for giving us a head start, Ash! Quilava, use Flamethrower!"
"Quilava!" Quilava hopped towards the center of the battlefield, with the wind at her back giving her greater speed. She opened her mouth, and spewed flames towards her opponents. Though, this Flamethrower didn't turn out to be any ordinary Flamethrower.
The fanning from Tailwind met its flames, and forced it into a wide-spanning blaze that would toast both ends of Yas and Kaz's field.
"A combination attack!" Yas exclaimed. "Scizor! Behind Electivire!"
Scizor readily obeyed, crouching behind the wider form of his teammate.
"Electivire! Protect both of ya's, with Light Screen!" Kaz ordered.
"Vire!" Electivire held both of his padded hands outward, and conjured a green, translucent barrier that surrounded both himself and Scizor. The wide-reaching Flamethrower blasted away at his hands and fur, but thankfully, the damage was halved by his screen. The attack only brought him mild discomfort.
"Electivire, power on through! Thunder Punch!"
The fanning flames started to split and divy even moreso, as Electivire barreled through the coming heat with a fist geared back. Golden lightning snapped at the wisps and embers, clearing the path for the Thunderbolt Pokémon. He swung with a vicious uppercut, knocking Quilava into the air.
"Quilava!" Dawn gasped.
"Scizor! Beat that Gliscor to a pulp, with Bullet Punch!"
Gleaming silver pincers, trailed by crimson, crossed the fray in the blink of an eye. Scizor socked Gliscor in the gut, and followed with a blitz of merciless jabs reinforced by steel.
"Fight back, Gliscor!" Ash shouted. "Use X-Scissor!"
"Gliiii…!" Gliscor endured the barrage quite handily, rearing back two gleaming claws.
"Use Tailwind to pull back!" Yas instructed.
Scizor planted his feet on solid ground, and swiftly sprang backwards. The Tailwind gave him additional momentum, kicking him out of the range of Gliscor's swing, and returning him to standing before his trainer.
"Tch… They used Tailwind against us to gain distance after attacking! These guys are no joke, using our own move." Ash grinned. "This battle is shaping up to be a lot of fun."
"It's the kind of move we've come to expect, from double battles and tag battles!" Yas boasted. "Your moves are clever, Tom, but I seriously hope you have more in store for us than this."
"Oh, I do. Don't worry." Ash smiled, flicking his eyes to Dawn. "Hey, Dawn. What do you say we end this in one go?"
The girl's eyes widened, brows raised at the suggestion. "What, already? The battle just started!"
"Well, sure," Ash replied, grinning mischievously. "But, if they're gonna talk a big game…!"
"Y'know, you've got a point." Dawn giggled.
"Hm…?" Kaz raised a bushy brow. "Just what're those kids up to…?"
Dawn gestured forth. "Quilava! Smokescreen!"
Black clouds of smoke poured forth from the Volcano Pokémon's mouth in streams. With Tailwind's influence, the murky cloud blanketed Yas and Kaz's side of the field, only.
"Arg, what the!?" Kaz shouted.
"I can't see a thing!"
"That's too bad," Ash quipped. "Gliscor! Use Guillotine!"
"Did he say Guillotine!?" Max exclaimed.
"Isn't that one of those one-hit knockout moves?" Koda asked.
"It is," he confirmed. "It's got pretty terrible accuracy. But if Electivire and Scizor can't see…!"
Gliscor glided on the generous tailwind forward, navigating the air with ease. "Gliiiii…!" He crossed both of his claws; filling them with energy that just barely leaked from his claws. Enough to light the way, but not so much that he'd be easily spotted. As soon as he spotted his foes, it was over.
Perhaps it would've been, anyway, if Tailwind didn't peter out at the last second. The current elevating Gliscor passed, and Smokescreen cleared to the sides of the battlefield. Scizor and Electivire were exposed… but, so was Gliscor.
"Scor!?"
"We were too late!" Ash exclaimed.
"Electivire! Grab 'im!"
Per Kaz's orders, Electivire slung his twin tails at each of Gliscor's narrow arms, snapping around them in a tight grip. Even as the Fang Scorpion Pokémon struggled, Electivire grinned.
"Now, Scizor! Fury Cutter!" Yas commanded.
A red blur passed under Electivire's tails, and immediately lunged at the trapped Gliscor. "Zor!" Scizor slashed at Gliscor with a gleam of green energy.
Gliscor hardly flinched at the initial strike, shaking his head out. "Scor!" He stuck his tongue out, before a multitude of consecutive slashes followed. Each came sharper and more powerful than the last, until Gliscor started to recoil and struggle.
"What a nasty combination!" Max exclaimed.
"Fury Cutter always came off like such a weak move," Koda remarked. "I'm surprised they're even using it."
"It starts off really weak, but with each consecutive strike, it grows stronger," Max explained. "It's not all that reliable, but if you can trap someone like with Electivire's tails… I can't believe Tom even walked into that! This isn't even his first time."
Despite Ash's folly, though, Max couldn't help but notice that Ash looked supremely confident.
"Nice strategy," Ash praised. Luckily, though, he wasn't the only one who could call upon an assist. "Dawn, I need your help!"
"Way ahead of you, Ash!" Dawn gleefully pointed forward. "Quilava, break up that combination with Flame Wheel, now!"
Quilava tucked into a sphere, blazing a quick path under Gliscor… Only to bounce and smash into Scizor at the last possible moment. She felt triumphant, as the blazing bug was sent soaring over Electivire's head, suffering a great deal of super-effective damage.
"Not bad," Kaz praised. "Electivire, grab that Quilava, instead!"
The cable-like tails around Gliscor flung him, only to constrict around Quilava.
"Now, Thunder!"
"Quilava!" Dawn gasped, and turned to her boyfriend. "Ash, tag in!'
Ash nodded. "Gliscor! Snatch those tails!"
Gliscor shook his head out, and dove back towards the trapped, struggling Quilava. As soon as he was within reach, he snapped up each of Electivire's tails with his pincers, and yanked them apart.
A maneuver that was executed just in time; crackling, deafening lightning shot down Electivire's tails, and into Gliscor's body. Golden, blinding flashes lit the battlefield, centered entirely on the Fang Scorpion. But, naturally, he was totally unphased.
"Channeling the damage through a Ground-type… Dat's really resourceful," Kaz reluctantly praised through gritted teeth.
"You ain't seen nothing, yet." Ash smirked. "Stone Edge!"
"Scor!" Gliscor yanked on Electivire's tails, pulling him in, as jagged stones orbited his body. All of them pelted Electivire in one barrage; striking at point-blank range.
"Agh… Their teamwork is good. Very good!" Yas frowned. "We'll need some more power! Scizor! Use Swords Dance, now!"
Just as Electivire was outmaneuvered, Scizor executed a quick series of movements with glowing claws, greatly boosting his fighting spirit. A red aura basked over his sleek form.
Electivire cried out from Stone Edge, tumbling back across the field to land beside Scizor.
"We can't just let them power up that easily," Dawn thought aloud, narrowing her eyes at their foe. "Quilava, use Flamethrower!"
"Qui-laaav!" Quilava spat white-hot flames at Scizor.
"Use Bullet Punch!"
Without Tailwind giving Flamethrower an extra boost, Scizor was capable of dashing around its heat, and zipping towards Quilava. A swift, upward jab caught the attacking Fire-type in the stomach, making her cough and gasp for air before flying skyward.
"Now, follow dat up with Thunder Punch!"
Electivire emerged from the dust and rubble, with many scratches, and pebbles caught in his fur. He shook off the pain, and lunged for the falling Quilava. "Electi… vire!" He chopped down with a crackling hand, spiking Quilava towards Gliscor.
She collided with her teammate, smacking both of them down to the floor in a heap. Quilava and Gliscor bounced off each other, landing by Dawn and Ash, respectively.
"Gliscor!" Ash called out. "How're you doing, big guy?" Ash asked, as his own Pokémon righted himself to balance on his tail.
"Gli! Gli!" Gliscor winked, sticking his tongue out at his trainer.
"What about you, Quilava?" Dawn checked on her Pokémon.
In comparison to Gliscor, Quilava was breathing heavily. She uttered a word of confidence, but her fur was frayed, and her footing was a tad clumsy. Perhaps training with Ash had helped to narrow the gap, but she was still a tad overwhelmed, compared to these foes.
Meanwhile, Electivire and Scizor, themselves, were panting heavily. Each of their hides was torched in multiple places from Quilava's flames, and Electivire sported bruises on his chest from Gliscor's point-blank Stone Edge.
"I gotta admit, you two ain't bad at all. Just what I'd expect from Tom Ato!" Kaz praised.
"Stellar teamwork," Yas added. "But don't go thinkin' it's enough to beat our top-notch tag battling!"
Ash and Dawn exchanged a glance, with the latter speaking up first. "Gliscor is the one with the advantage here," Dawn said. "You think you can get a clean finish, if we back you up?"
"Oh, you know it." Ash grinned, brushing his index finger over his nose. "Work your magic, Dawn!"
"You've got it!" Dawn agreed. "Quilava! Smokescreen!"
"Laav!" Quilava spat out a murky, black veil, once more.
"Now, Gliscor, Tailwind!" Ash added in.
"Scor!" Gliscor compressed, and sprung off his tail to take to the air above Ash. With several efforted flaps of his wings, he started up a very contained gust that blew Quilava's Smokescreen towards Yas and Kaz's side of the field; obscuring both them and their Pokémon.
"I hope ya don't think you'll be bringing us down with the same move, again!"
"We're not so stupid as to fall for the same trick twice!"
Both of the Gym Leaders' voices could be heard from within the blanket of smoke, even if they couldn't be seen. Even if they did have a point, they were missing just one key factor.
"You're right," Dawn agreed, smiling as she threw a hand high in the air. "That's why I'm adding one new twist! Quilava, use Swift, now!"
Golden, shimmering stars were fired from the Volcano Pokémon's mouth, intruding into the pitch-black veil shrouding the opposite end of the field. The sparkling projectiles lit a brilliant path through the darkness… and right to their opponents!
Ash's eyes shone, as he comprehended Dawn's strategy. "I see… Thanks, Dawn!" Grinning, Ash chopped both of his hands outward. "Gliscor! Follow that Swift to Electivire and Scizor!"
"Gli!" Gliscor charged headlong into his own tailwind, breaking through the Smokescreen.
"Electivire! Grab 'im!"
"Scizor, use Bullet Punch!"
Yas and Kaz gave their commands, but their Pokémon were both in the midst of defending themselves from the onslaught of Swift. While it was providing a nuisance at most, Quilava had done her part to expose Electivire and Scizor, and slow them down.
"Now," Ash shouted, "use Guillotine!"
Harsh, overpowering crescents of silver leaked and carved through Smokescreen on either side. Immediately afterwards, Gliscor soared out of the black haze, pulling out of Tailwind's gust to circle back around to land before Ash.
"Electivire!"
"Scizor!"
After a brief respite, Tailwind's influence petered out, and Smokescreen dispelled along with it. Both Electivire and Scizor were revealed to be lying in a heap, each with swirls in their eyes.
The referee raised her hand towards Ash and Dawn. "Both of the Gym Leaders' Pokémon are unable to battle! The winners are the challengers; Tom and Dawn!"
"Yes!" Ash cheered, turning to Dawn with a hand raised. "High five, Dawn!"
"Oh, you know it!" Dawn giggled, and clapped her hand against his.
"Lav…" Quilava heaved a sigh of relief, slumping over to rest her chin on the Gym floor. She was definitely tired, after holding her own alongside Ash's Pokémon. Those Thunder Punches were no joke.
"Gli…?" Gliscor hopped over, poking at Quilava's hide. "Gliscor?"
Quilava shook her head out, and stood up, flashing a smile at her comrade. "Quilava~!" She patted his shoulder, praising him for carrying on the fight.
"Gliscor…!" Gliscor stuck out his tongue, bashfully rubbing the back of his neck.
"Agh… Both of us went down to a one-hit move." Yas frowned, rubbing the back of his neck.
"That's what ya get, when you're fighting our mentor, Tom!" Kaz laughed, slapping his hand against his forehead, both in frustration and amusement. "Figured we'd get turned inta mincemeat!"
"Hey, hey. Don't go giving me all the credit!" Ash interjected, turning around to gesture both of his hands towards Dawn. "There's no way I would've come through, if it wasn't for Dawn stealing the spotlight from us!"
Dawn giggled, spinning around to strike a pose with a peace sign flashed over her forehead, winking. "You know me! Controlling the spotlight is what I do best~! I'm just glad I had a great following act," she praised, walking over to playfully nudge Ash's shoulder.
"Ya got a point, ya got a point!" Kaz conceded.
"Our mistake, Miss Dawn." Yas chuckled. "In any case, you've lived up to the spirit of our Gym. That much I can't deny!"
"And dat's why you've earned these!" Kaz walked over, flipping open a small box with a plush interior. There were two identical badges, side by side. Each circular with silver trim, and the interior decorated with what looked awfully similar to a yin and yang symbol, though the yin was mustard yellow, like Electivire's fur, with a red eye like Electivire's. Its yellow influence broke into the yang with several branches of lighting. The yang was crimson like Scizor, featuring a yellow eye, much like the beetle, reach eclipse into the yang, like Scizor's claws.
"...The Unity Badge!"
"Aha, awesome!" Ash laughed, taking his own between his index finger and thumb. "I've never seen a badge like this before…"
"Now we've got matching ones!" Dawn claimed hers, holding it up to the light. "Now that I think about it… This is my first ever Gym Badge! That's so cool!"
"Ya first ever Gym Badge?" Kaz laughed. "Now I find that hard to believe!"
"Well a Pokémon Coordinator's no pushover," Ash vouched. Then, he shot a grin at Dawn, which she returned. They were definitely on the same page, as he spun around to show off his badge. "Alright! I just got… The Unity Badge!"
"And for me, the Unity Badge is mine, all mine!" Dawn cheered, mirroring Ash's every move. Together, they hoisted their prizes up high!
"...Do you seriously have a whole pose and catchphrase?" Koda frowned, crossing his arms.
"Dude, have you ever seen Crasher Wake perform? That guy's even more showy than I am." Ash pointed out, pocketing his badge.
"...You got a point," Koda reluctantly conceded.
"Either way," Max said, "you've gotta admit, that was pretty cool. I guess there is something to be said for working together, huh…?" He flicked his eyes towards Koda, hoping for him to meet him halfway.
"...Yeah, I guess," the other child grumbled. "You can't argue with hard results. We'll find a way to line up our strategies, or whatever."
"Yeah!" Max giggled, elated to hear that they'd finally gotten somewhere. "My brains and your brawn!"
"That's not a bad combination!" Ash praised. "You can't go wrong with balancing out each other's weaknesses!"
"And complementing each other's strengths!" Dawn added.
"Yeah, yeah… That just leaves one question." Koda looked back to Yas and Kaz. "How come you fought them with different Pokémon? They looked even stronger than the ones you used against us!"
"Oh, that's easy!" Ash interjected before the Gym Leaders could, smugly folding his arms. "Before I started my round of the Gyms, I sent out a formal Writ of Challenge to face every Gym Leader's best teams, so I could get the full experience of the Indigo League!"
"Um… Ash?" Dawn frowned.
"Writ of challenge…?" Kaz echoed.
"I do recall receiving a letter of that sort," Yas replied, "but not from you, Tom. I believe it was from a challenger named Ash… Ketchup?"
"It's Ketchum!" Ash hastily corrected, before slapping his hands over his mouth.
"Ketchum…? Hold on! Then that means… that you're Ash Ketchum!"
"You mean you ain't called Tom Ato!?" Kaz exclaimed. "That all that was a lie!?"
"Agh…!" Ash slumped over, holding his head. "So close. I was so close to sticking to that name, but I had to go and run my big mouth…!"
"Pika-chu…" Pikachu hopped on Ash's shoulder, patting it consolingly. It was a good effort.
Max shrugged with his palms up, shaking his head in amusement. "Never change, Ash…"
"But, I don't get it," Kaz grumbled. "Why would ya take on a fake name?"
"I can explain that," Dawn said. "He said something about some kind of gang war, last time he was in town? An aspiring Pokémon Master can't just go and tarnish his good name with associations like that!"
"Now that you mention it, that does make sense," Yas hummed. "...Well then, Ash Ketchum, congratulations! And you as well, Dawn! We can't have our old dirty laundry smearing your good names!"
Ash sighed, shaking his head. "I'm just glad it's all over… And that Dark City's doing a whole lot better! You guys have really done your part in turning things around. It looks like my advice paid off, after all!" The teenager blinked, then swore under his breath. "Speaking of Dark City… Dawn, we gotta go, if we don't wanna miss our boat!"
"Shoot! You're right!" Dawn recalled Quilava. "Let's go, Quilava!"
"You too, Gliscor!" Ash recalled his own Pokémon.
"Aw, already!?" Max complained. "But what about the battle you promised me?"
"Sorry, little man," Ash replied, "but it's gonna have to wait till we see you next."
"Well, who knows when that's gonna be!?"
Ash hummed, holding his thumb to his chin in thought. Then, he snapped his fingers. "Well, I know one place we're gonna meet. We'll fight again, in the Pokémon League!" He smiled widely, holding out his hand. "How's that?"
Max took Ash's hand, laughing. "It's a deal!"
Although there was still plenty of daylight left, the sun was starting to edge towards the west, shifting the shadows cast by all present, at the pier. The slightest tint of gold reflected off the gang present, in the late afternoon.
"So… What're you guys gonna do now?" Ash asked, standing on the edge of the staircase leading up to the boat. "Got any plans going forward?"
"I think we're gonna train so that we can take another shot at Yas and Kaz's Gym," Max explained, tilting his head towards his companion. "That is, if we can agree to ironing out some teamwork."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm in." Koda rolled his eyes. "You sold me on it, Ash and Dawn. It works. Besides, we'll only need one more badge each after that, if we win. League season's starting to crawl up on us, isn't it?"
"It's in mid-July!" Max proclaimed, proud to have the information handy off the top of his head. "So, we should be fine, but we shouldn't start dawdling, either." He turned back to Ash and Dawn. "What about you guys?"
"We're headed to Cinnabar," Ash answered. "For my next Gym Battle…"
"...And my shot at taking on the Wallace Cup!" Dawn cheered, pumping a fist.
"Prin-Prinplup!" Prinplup squawked, standing at her feet.
"Another Wallace Cup, huh? Sounds awesome!" Max said, before stammering over his words. "W-wait! Cinnabar? Ash, don't you-"
The loud, deafening sound of a foghorn drowned out Max's words, making all present flinch and cover their ears.
"Sorry, Max," Ash laughed, running up the stairs while waving over his shoulder. "We gotta boogie!"
"But, Ash-!"
"See you!" Dawn waved, making her way up to the main deck, to lean over the railing. As the ship started to pull away from the pier, she smiled fondly, watching the pair of young trainers take their leave. It was hard to hear them from up high, but she and Ash could make out a few more words, before they faded into the sounds of crashing waves.
"...So, that thing you said about eating your sneakers."
"Uh-uhn! I'm afraid I can't!"
"Don't be a chicken."
"Technically, the day Ash got a girlfriend has already passed. So it's impossible for me to eat my shoes, the day that happened!"
"You were the kind of kid who said you were invincible during tag, weren't you…?"
Ash laughed, shaking his head, as he leaned his arms on the railing. "Kids. Gotta love 'em."
Dawn cracked a smile in amusement. "You're saying we're not kids anymore?"
The trainer only shrugged a shoulder in response. "You're almost fourteen. I'm almost sixteen. We're on our way to being older… Least, I feel that way, when I look at two new trainers."
"Man. I guess you're right." Dawn giggled, before scooting over to lean her shoulder into Ash's side. Her cheek found a comfortable spot against Ash's shoulder, and she sighed happily. Maybe they weren't full-grown adults, but they were growing up, together. Which reminded her…
"We still make a great team together, don't we?"
"The best." Without thinking, Ash wrapped an arm around her waist. His free hand idly scratched under Pikachu's chin, as the mouse stood on the railing, vying for attention. "Between today, and the little tournament back in Seafoam, we're sharper than ever, too."
"You said it… Which is fine by me! Because that puts me one step closer to my Aqua Ribbon!"