Chapter 69 – Offenders and Defenders! The Alola Pokémon League
…We're here live at the Mount Lanakila Stadium at the second match of the preliminary round of the Alola Pokémon League Tournament, where veteran trainer Ash and his Axew are facing off against new challenger Kailee and her Shiinotic. And already it is not looking good for Ash, with Axew at a serious disadvantage against Shiinotic, and that little dragon looks exhausted…
Ash's heart was racing, and he was drenched in a cold sweat as he watched Axew panting on all fours on the battlefield. The little dragon's body was covered in brises and scratches, and he seemed close to fainting. Axew had managed to survive a direct hit from dazzling gleam but there was no way he could survive another hit.
It was the first round of the fist ever Alola League, and Ash was starting to fear that it might be his last of the competition, given Axew's exhaustion and serious disadvantage. He felt Pikachu's claws tighten on his shoulder, a reflection of the tension he was feeling.
"Alright Shiinotic," he heard his opponent cry out, "Finish this off with Dazzling Gleam!"
Ash felt a lurch of fear in the pit of his stomach, as Pikachu's claws dug into his shoulder. Shiinotic was a pink mushroom Pokémon with a slim white body resembling a stalk and a mushroom cap on the top of its head. A mushroom cap that was glowing with a bright white and pink light as it gathered energy.
"Dazzling Gleam hits all adjacent opponents," Ash mumbled to himself. He knew that from Sylveon and Zacian. "Got to think of something quick, or Axew's toast….think!"
The cap on top of Shiinotic's head grew brighter and brighter…
"Axew, use Draco Meteor but aim it down at the ground," Ash shouted. It was a desperate ploy, but he had little choice at this point.
"Yew…" If Axew found the instruction strange, he didn't show it. He glanced over his shoulder at Ash before looking back at the ground, taking a deep breath, and gathering his energy. "AXEWWW!"
KABOOM…
A sphere of purple energy formed in Axew's mouth and was fired at the ground, where it exploded in a bright flash of the light. At the same time, Shiinotic let loose it's dazzling gleam. The stadium was consumed in light. Ash raised a hand to shield his eyes, while Pikachu shut his tight.
He held his breath…The next few second would likely decide the match. Craning his head upwards, he squinted. His heart was racing and his stuck to him with how much he was sweating. But then, as the light from the attacks begun to fade, he saw what he'd been looking for. The outline of the little dragon spinning high in the air above the battlefield.
He felt a thrill of relief so strong that he punched the air in triumph. "YES! Alright Axew, now straighten up and use Giga Impact!"
"Yew Axew." Axew did a somersault in mid-air, so his nose was facing down. He snapped his arms against his sides like a diver and allowed his body to plunge through the air. An envelope of almost invisible energy surrounded him.
"Shii." Axew's mushroom shaped opponent looked up just in time to see him coming, but not soon enough to react or take any evasive action. CRASH…. There was a second explosion as Axew came crashing down on top of Shiinotic.
"And I don't believe it…" The announcers voice boomed through the stadium once again. "…What an amazing comeback."
Ash held his breath as he surveyed the scene on the battlefield before him. Axew was double over on all fours breathing heavily. But Shiinotic was lying flat on his back, black swirls over its eyes. The little dragon had done it.
"Shiinotic is unable to continue to battle," the referee shouted, holding up a flag. "Axew wins…"
[Pokémon]
Meanwhile…
Ashachu took a deep breath, breathing in the clear fresh air. He felt a little dizzy. The air at this altitude was still very thin. The battle stadium a top Mount Lanakila had to pump additional oxygen in to ensure battling Pokémon didn't become spent too fast.
It was much colder up here than any other part of the tropical Alola Region, and Ashachu shivered as the wind ruffled his fur. He drew slightly closer to his boyfriend, pressing himself against his large chest and signalling that he wanted Charizard to hug him tighter.
Which, he suspected, had probably been Charizard's plan all along in brining him here, to this ledge on the side of the mountain. Where he had no choice but to sit tightly, Charizard's arms folded across his little body in an X, holding him against his chest.
Of course, for Ashachu, the opportunity to be held like that was more than worth the cold thin air. The view was a bonus…
"Wow," He mumbled. "You can almost see all of Alola from here."
"Hmmp this is nothing," Charizard scoffed. "I can fly way higher and show you more. But I'm glad you like it here!"
Ashachu of course was exaggerating when he said he could see all of Alola. He could see a long way, however. Below them the mountain slopped steeply downwards until the icy wall became a rocky mountain side, and then finally lush green jungle far below.
From here Ashachu could spot a bay filled with sand islands, a large lake, a field full of flowers, and in the distance…
"Is that Po Town," he wondered, as his eyes trailed to the grey rectangle right before the jungle met the sea.
"I think so," Charizard grunted.
By the tone of his voice, Ashachu could tell his boyfriend had no interest in revisiting the events in Po Town. And he understood. Thinking about it now, it made him shudder.
"I wonder how Ash and Axew are getting on in their first league battle," Charizard mused, keep it seemed to change the topic of conversation.
Ashachu shrugged. "Honestly it doesn't really bother me," he sighed. Under his breath he added, "be kind of funny if Axew lost, though."
Charizard heard him. "Still mad at Axew," he said with a chuckle.
A frown crossed Ashachu's face. "Yes, I'm still mad. I tried to tell him what happened with that stupid Dedenne, but he wouldn't listen and kept blaming me. It's like he wanted to force me and Hunter apart…Not that I care about that anymore." He added quickly afterwards.
Charizard snorted, before giving Ashachu a lick on the ear. "Mmmhmm, he's a little shit. Though it would be a shame to have come all the way here, and not get to fight."
Ashachu let out a long low sigh. "I don't know. I'm kind of tired of fighting. I've been fighting my whole life. Fighting for my dad. Fighting against Team Rocket. Fighting my life, and that of my loved ones. I don't have enough paws to count the number of people…And Pokémon, who've tried to kill me. I just…" He sighed.
To Ashachu's surprise, Charizard squeezed him a little tighter and let out another low chuckle, causing Ashachu to tilt his head back to give him a quizzical look.
"It's ironic," said Charizard. "I brought you here so I could ask you a personal question. Once the tournament is over, I'm going back to the Charicific Valley. Our egg is going to hatch into a Charmander, and I want him to be among his own kind when he does. Away from humans. And I need to finish training. I want you to come with me!"
A little smile crossed Ashachu's face, as his heart skipped a beat. "Are you asking me to move in with you." At the same time, however he felt a little lurch in his stomach. What Charizard was asking, essentially, was would Ashachu leave his trainer and live with him as a wild Pokémon.
Charizard continued. "It's more than that Ashy. That other night when you…" He paused for a moment before continuing. "Fuck that fucking Dragonite." Ashachu felt his cheeks become a little warm, in spite of the cold winds, and his ears twitched. "It made me feel…Really jealous. So jealous I wanted to flame that overgrown Dratini for ever laying a claw on you. And I didn't like feeling like that. I know it's different for Pikachu's, but Charizard are very defensive of our mates and competition over mates can be… fierce. And so Ashachu, I am asking you if you would do me the honour of being my permanent mate."
Ashachu felt his heart flutter, a warm sensation spreading through his chest. A passionate fire that burned away the doubt from earlier. He swivelled in Charizard's arms to allow him to hug Charizard's chest. "Oh Chari," he cried. "Of course, I will. I will be your permanent mate. It would be my honour too!"
"Rwahhaha." Charizard let out a little roar of pleasure, as he hugged Ashachu tighter than ever, and pressed end of his muzzle, against the top of Ashachu's head….
[Pokémon]
Back at Mount Lanakila …
Lusamine lent back in her seat, and folded her hands together as she watched, Ash walked off of the battlefield, Pikachu and Axew clinging to his shoulder. Her expression remained as it had throughout the fight, hard and emotionless, yet seemingly calculating.
Being the Aether President and the owner and financier of the league, she had the use of a private box in the stands nearly all to herself, with plush seating and panels separating her from the remainder of the spectators.
Beside her, the new Aether Branch chief Colress, in contrast to Lusamine's stoicism, let out a chuckled and clapped his hands together in what was supposed to be a dignified round of applause. "Oh bravo," he said with an almost giggle. "Bravo indeed. That child certainly has skill. I didn't believe there was any comeback for that Axew, and in a single move he goes onto win. Quite the little protégé."
Lusamine made a non-committal grunt, that could have been interpreted as anything. Indeed, it caused Colress to turn to her his eyebrows raised. "I'm surprised you aren't more enthusiastic Madame President. It was, after all, you who invited him here. Surely it is in our interest that he remains in the tournament as long as possible."
"It matters not, how well he does," Lusamine replied. "Now that he is here, he will not be leaving Alola." She sighed. "It concerns me more that we are three matches into the league, and the calibre of the local trainers has been abysmal. A fully evolved fairy type, losing to an Axew. Preposterous. Almost worst that the opening round."
"Ah yes, that Cyndaquil certainly made quick work of that Druddigon," said Colress.
"Thus far only one of the participants to move onto the first round will be an Alolan native. How disappointing. The foundation, and I personally, have spent billions to establish an Alolan Pokémon League, and our own regions trainers are demonstrating themselves to be rank armatures." Her voice remained calm, almost nonchalant, but there was a definite annoyance in her eyes.
Colress offered a comforting word. "We still have sixty-one battles to go over the next few days. Three is hardly a representative sample, as we say in statistics."
"Perhaps. I believe next year I will enforce proper entry requirements," Lusamine mused. "I'll accede to the Pokémon Association's suggestion. Island challenge winners and foreign league participants only. Now, let's go over the program."
"As you wish." Colress reached into the pocket of his long white lab coat and withdrew a handheld electronic tablet. "The preliminary round is scheduled to last until Friday. 128 competitors have registered. At the end there should be 64 remaining. The first round will commence on Monday and conclude on Wednesday. They'll be 16 battle royals, which will get us down to 16 competitors. The quarterfinals are on Thursday. That shouldn't take more than a day, as they are one on one single battles. The semi-finals will be occur Friday morning. That's a two-on-two battle. We'll hold the final that night. There's a reception for Chairman Rose on the night before the quarterfinals are due to begin. His entourage have tickets for all of the matches, but I believe he is only interested in the semi-finals and the finals."
Lusamine's eyes flashed. "When I spoke to him last, he told me he would open the tournament himself as my guest!"
"Madame Oleana sent a memo through to Wicke," said Colress. "He's preoccupied and cannot travel to Alola until Wednesday."
"How disappointing! And the fundraiser?"
"Tuesday. Wicke will have the itinerary drawn up for you this afternoon."
Lusamine nodded curtly. "Good. Now, to other matters. Any word on the Darkrai."
"I'm afraid not," said Colress. "The canyon has been searched from end to end, and there is no sign of a body. Rangers found a number of Pokémon footprints around the area, including species not indigenous to that part of the Galar Region. Which would fit with the theory our new intern has posited about Pokémon cults."
"I remain of the opinion that, that explanation is farfetched," replied Lusamine. "But it seems we have to assume either that wretched creature survived, in which case we will need to ensure the protections around Aether Paradise, or that his body fell into the wrong hands. Both scenarios are a problem, given that nuisance of an investigation."
"I agree, the situation is most unsatisfactory, though realistically we have no choice but to accept it. I don't see that we can afford to expend further foundation expenses on it."
"Not unless we want questions asked," said Lusamine. She sighed, her eyes falling back on the battlefield, where the next participants had entered. "Mr. Colress, I believe I have seen what I came to the stadium to see. I believe we should return to Aether Paradise…"
[Pokémon]
Ash's heart was still racing as he exited the stadium, his brain still trying to process what had happened. By the skin of his teeth, or more accurately the skin of Axew's tusks, the two of them had managed to steal victory from the jaws of defeat. It had been extremely close – if that last ploy with Draco Meteor hadn't worked, Ash would have been out of the league.
The thought of being eliminated at the preliminary round weighed heavy on his mind and sapped any relief or joy he might otherwise have felt. Pikachu seemed to understand how he was feeling, as he let out a soft cooing sound of "Pikapi," and licked his ear.
Ash barely noticed. On his other shoulder blade, Axew was dozing. The little dragons claws dug firmly into his shoulders and his eyes were closed. His soft steady breaths tickled Ash's cheek.
"Hey, look out….WHOA!"
So preoccupied with his thoughts was he, that Ash didn't noticed the teal-coloured figure speeding towards him until it was too late. He felt something smack him hard in the face, causing him to lose balance and fall to the ground.
"Oh man, I'm sorry. You, okay?"
Ash snapped out of his reverence and looked up…. And did a double take upon seeing who it was! A boy of about sixteen, roughly the same height as Ash with Brown Gray hair that seemed to defy gravity… "C-Cameron!"
"Ash." Cameron was offering out his hand to Ash to help him up. By the expression on his face, he seemed as surprised to see Ash as Ash felt seeing him.
"What are you…We're here for the…" They both said in unison, asking the other, and answering their same question.
"So, you're competing the Alola league too," Ash continued, as Cameron helped him to his feet.
"Hey, you know me," Cameron replied grinning. "Wouldn't miss a contest like this!"
The boy's smiles quickly faltered as they looked at one another, and the awkwardness set in. Memories of their parting bubbling uncomfortably under the surface. Cameron, much like Ash, was not alone and was accompanied by his Pokémon.
Lucario was standing directly behind him, initially shaking his head in exasperation at the incident, but upon recognising Ash, his expression became steely, and his eyes flashed as they caught sight of Pikachu.
Pikachu returned the glare in kind, letting out a little whispery growl. "Piika." Not fierce, but enough to show Lucario he wouldn't be intimidated.
Next to Lucario was Hunter, who was looking curiously and somewhat nervously between his dads and his former boyfriends parents. Ash suspected he was probably looking around for Ashachu.
Cameron had one other Pokémon with him too, the sight of which mercifully gave Ash the ability to break through the awkward silence by exclaiming, "Hey, a Growlithe."
The puppy Pokémon sat beside Hunter panting, his long tongue hanging out of his maw, seemingly oblivious to the situation.
"Oh yeah," Cameron replied proudly. "Found him in the Hoenn Region."
"He's awesome." Ash knelt down to give Growlithe a pat on the head, and was rewarded when the puppy Pokémon jumped up, putting his paws on his chest, and licking Ash's face.
Cameron grinned a satisfied grin and exclaimed, somewhat boastfully, "Got that right. I'm trying to find a fire stone, then I can evolve him into an awesome Arcanine. "
"Growoooo!" Growlithe howled happily at that suggestion.
"In fact, I've caught a ton of new Pokémon."
"Really." Ash's face lit up in delight. "Well so have I. Can't wait to battle against them."
"What, so they can get their asses kicked!"
"You wish!"
For a brief second, the spirt of their rivalry and friendship seemed to rekindle in their hearts and the initial awkwardness. They were even oblivious to their two partner Pokémon staring daggers at each other. And it might have stayed that way, but for two things that happened near simultaneously.
First, there was a loud POP, as one of Cameron's Pokéballs burst open and a small weasel like creature with dark navy fur materialised beside them. "Hey, is it battle time yet," it exclaimed raising two paws each adorned with sharp looking claws. "Fuck, that Pokéball gives me a fucking crick in the back and…Oh. Well, this is awkward!"
The Pokémon had just realised who was in front of him, at the same time Ash, Pikachu and Axew realised who it was.
"Wait…Isn't that" Ash started pointing.
Pikachu finished the sentence. "Blade the Sneasel."
"Yew." Axew just glared at him, a soft growl escaping his snout.
"Believe me buddy, the feelings mutual," Blade growled under his breath as he heard the little Dragon's cry.
Ash looked incredulously at Cameron. "You caught HIM! That Sneasel."
"It's a long story," Cameron replied, rubbing at the back of his head.
The second thing that happened, was Charizard and Ashachu entering the scene. There was a great, "Rwahhh," from above and a heavy thud as the large dragon touched down beside his master. Ashachu was sitting on the small of his back, his head poking out over his shoulder.
Trouble began almost the moment Charizard touched down as soon as he and Ashachu laid eyes on Blade. Ashachu's draw dropped and he stuttered in surprise, "B-Blade." Charizard let out a roar of fury and belched a jet of flame at the Sneasel.
"WHOA!"
Cameron, Lucario, Hunter and Blade scrambled to get out of the way of the flames. Blade dived to the side but wasn't quite able to avoid the attack. The fire caught the feathers protruding from his rear, causing Blade to leap a mile in the air.
"YAHHHH." His howl of pain echoed over the mountain top.
"Charizard NO," cried Ash, as at the same time Cameron gasped, "What the hell!"
They each whipped out their respective Pokémon's ball and shouted "RETURN!"
Charizard and Blade dissolved into clouds of red energy, vanishing back inside, returning peace the stadium forecourt. Ashachu dropped to the ground, falling flat on his stomach.
"Ummm…Well I guess I'll see you around, Ash," said Cameron rather hurriedly before running off in the direction of the stadium, Lucario and Growlithe in toe. Hunter remained rooted to the spot for a moment or so, his eyes fixed on Ashachu. Then he too dashed after his trainer…
Wait, Cameron," Ash called after him, but it was too late. He was already out of sight.
[Pokémon]
"What the hell were you thinking. Randomly attacking a Pokémon like that!"
Back down at sea level, and in the privacy of a secluded beach, it was now time for Ash to give Charizard a berating for the fight…well near fight. Red faced, blood boiling, most of his Pokémon might have cowered under his fury.
Not Charizard, though. The dragon looked at him with an almost bored expression on his face. After all, he could turn the red in Ash's cheeks to black with a single puff of his flame. "It wasn't random. That Sneasel's caused more than enough trouble for all of us. Him and his bitch Darkrai tried to murder Ashy, remember!"
"But he wasn't threatening you then, Charizard." Pikachu spoke up, softly and in a much calmer voice than Ash. Though, by his tone, the dragon could tell that he was equally displeased. "You attacked first. That wasn't right."
To Ash's displeasure, Charizard just rolled his eyes before opening his jaw wide and yawning. "Whatever. I'm not going to apologise for flaming that little shit. Next time I see him, I'll burn him to cinders."
"Maybe I should send you back to Oaks," Ash snapped. "Until you learn to behave like a civilized Pokémon."
The threat only caused the flame Pokémon to let out a single chuckle, and a puff of black smoke. "And give up your powerhouse for the league. I don't think you'll be doing that. You know you need me, more than I need to be here."
Ash glowered at him. "Sometimes you really burn me up."
"Perhaps you should cool down them. Come on Ash." And with that, Chari pick up Ashachu, threw him onto his back, and took flight.
Leaving Ash to yell after him, incoherently, "CHARIZARD!"