Well, here it is, the thirty-first part of the fifth and final installment in my 'Heart' series. All the posturing and preparations are over, the battle has begun and it is time to see who is stronger in a 3 on 3 battle, the Alola or Kalos Champion. That is all the administrative stuff I have for this Part but there is a question to answer, several guest reviews to respond to and a clarification to make so I will do so now. Do please keep your reviews coming as I love hearing from y'all.
Will we see people from Orange Island? I have not considered or planned for them to be there and given the nature of Orange Island they don't meet the auto qualifications. That said they are talented and could easily qualify so there is a good chance that they do end up there. However, there won't be any rematches as I've already planned out Ash's battles in the PWC and there is a very good reason for who he is facing so you will have to wait and see who he faces in those battles.
To Pearl shipper (guest), glad to see that you're back, yes this story is still going strong and will make it to the end no matter how long it takes. I addressed this at the start of Champions but it was a lot of responses and I'm sure many have forgotten so I'll mention it again, Ash and Dawn will not go to Paldea in Champions but they will go there at a different time. I've got a stand-alone story in mind for them in Paldea but so far all I've got planned are general concepts for it, no real outline, as it is years off but it will have a story set in it one day. As to who they meet there, with the Hearts Series being based off the anime and not the games the anime will always take precedence in terms of canon and characters but when needed to either supplement in the way of characters or deal with missing or inconsistent anime canon then game canon and characters will come in. For a Paldea story, the anime will play a big role but I do know the games better and with less than other regions there is a good chance that there is a hybrid approach to this. I hope this answers your question and do keep reading and enjoying my work.
To Guest (guest), unfortunately I can't do any of those requests. Tsareena and Trevenant are already being used by notable characters with the former being canon so to give them to Ash and Dawn would violate my diversity rules. As for Glastrier and Spectrier, while both are cool they are legendary Pokémon and while I am ok with legendary Pokémon serving as allies to characters so in this vein I'll consider it though it likely won't be until one of the sequel stories, I am not comfortable giving them to characters unless it is canon and not Goh as he's not appearing in this universe. The same generally applies to mythical Pokémon hence why Ash has a Meltan as it is canon though I may be a bit more flexible there depending on the Pokémon. There have been some interesting suggestions lately, alas some can't be done as they're already assigned to notable characters (and in at least one case Ash and Dawn won't be near the location for it) and in one case it is already assigned to Ash or Dawn just not that form of it but some can be considered. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.
To Guest (guest), to answer your question, yes they know it was stated two chapters ago in the post Meltan capture recap before the Konikoni Contest so Ash would be prohibited from using Meltan or, if it evolves, Melmetal in the PWC. There won't be exceptions to that rule for anyone but there may be a place where Ash would be allowed to use it to show it off. This rule is in place to counter the whole bs that Diamond and Pearl did with Tobias and has had this side effect for Ash.
To Guest (guest), to generally answer some of your questions, nothing from Hisui will appear in this story. I may do a spinoff that addresses it but it's too much of a distraction from the tightness that Champions is so I'm not addressing it at all nor will any Pokémon from it appear. Like with Paldea, Hisui was revealed after the plot for this story was established and while I will tweak for canon Pokémon caught after I was done and this only applies to Ash's two Galar Pokémon as they were caught after I finished the outline. I will, if it comes up, reference them but there won't be anything from them until a future story. I will keep the suggestions in mind but they'll have to wait for another story, sorry. As for Ash getting an Eevee, no he will not get one in this series. The reason for this is that as of right now the only evolution I see working for Ash based on various factors, mainly that all other evolutions are owned by either major characters or notable rivals (multiple in the case of Umbreon) is Jolteon and as Ash has never had an electric type after Pikachu I will stick with that trend. Should they release more evolutions for Eevee then I'll think on it but until then Ash won't get an Eevee. As for gender, and this applies to the many requests for female Pokémon for Ash, if I decide on a Pokémon's gender and it is not a genderless or single gender, it will be based on what fits best for Ash and in line with his general capture trends. I hope this answers your questions and do keep reading and enjoying my work.
To Guest (guest), I've already given one of Dawn's Pokémon an egg move, her Banette has one that was revealed back in Dreams Come From the Heart shortly after he was caught and that egg move was one of the two key reasons why she beat Anabel. As for Hidden Ability, no I will not be giving any Pokémon that as that is a game only thing and this series is based on the anime so if it is not in the anime as a feature it won't be in this series. It's a similar thing I do for held items beyond what is known in the anime like Everstones and Mega Stones. See my reply to Pearl shipper for the specifics of how I address game canon in the Hearts series.
Just a reminder as it's starting to come up and I've not addressed it in a while, nothing that is introduced in Gen IX will appear in this story except for references to the 9th region and maybe, if applicable, one or two Pokémon from that region but as of right now the latter is not. This is because this story in the Hearts series is set in Gen VIII just as the last one was Gen VII and the one before that Gen VI and as such only canon/what is known up unto the generation of the story is applicable to it. Certain notions and concepts, especially region locked ones like Dynamaxing and Terastal Phenomenon, may be referenced ahead of Ash and Dawn's travels to those regions (Galar and Paldea respectively) but as those regions won't appear until their respective generations in the story they won't occur until then. That does means that the former is coming up given that Galar will appear and is where the PWC is being held. I hope this clears up any confusion on that matter and for those waiting for Paldea don't worry as I've mentioned I do have a standalone story planned for Paldea which, while a long ways off as I'm going to take a break from this universe when I'm done with Champions and will release other spinoffs first, is going to come and so anything there will be seen when Ash and Dawn finally visit the 9th region.
That is it for this very long pre-Part note which means that it is once again time to sit back which and enjoy the latest installment in Heart of Champions. Part CCXX: Alola v. Kalos.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon.
Part CCXX: Alola v. Kalos
"Florges, I choose you!"
"Now show your crimson flare, Lycanroc!"
Ash and Gladion sent out their Pokémon at the same time, Ash's Poke Ball and Gladion's Ultra Ball flying through the air before they burst open and the two Pokémon materialized and landed on their feet or base before their trainers as their images filled the first slots on the jumbotron. Both stood tall and proud as they sized each other up in the moments before their trainers gave them their opening commands.
Lycanroc was one of the three Pokémon that Ash had seen Gladion use when he'd studied the recordings of the first Manalo Conference, learning in the process that the red and white bipedal Lycanroc was the midnight form and that there were two other forms it could take depending on the time of day that it evolved, so he was ready for it and pleased with this matchup given Florges's move set and Lycanroc's rock type but it was still a Pokémon that Ash had never faced before and used by a regional Champion so he was going to be wary.
By contrast Gladion was surprised with Ash's choice. He knew that Ash had a blue flower Florges, Lillie had informed him of it after she'd joined him for his final preparations, but it was new and caught after Ash had become Kalos Champion so Gladion hadn't expected Ash to use her.
True she was a fully evolved Pokémon and a fairy type which countered two of Gladion's Pokémon well, one of which was completely negated as it was a dragon type attack, but it still seemed like a risky choice for Ash to make in a battle like this. He'd heard that Ash was unorthodox and did things that you didn't expect and it seemed that he'd done so right off the bat against Gladion but Gladion wouldn't let this affect him. He may be at a bit of a disadvantage based on moves with Lycanroc but he'd still give it his all and he's start with a boost.
"Swords Dance." Gladion commanded to begin the battle in earnest only moments after the Pokémon appeared on the battlefield. "You may be using a new Pokémon you've never shown in battle before but that won't get to me."
"That's not why I'm using Florges, she needs battle experience and is strong enough for this so I wanted her to face you to really get a challenge for her first official battle." Ash said with a grin as Lycanroc began frenetic dance to uplift its spirits and sharply increase its attack. "But I like your use of a boost move, I think I'll do the same as it will really help. Florges, use Grassy Terrain."
"Florges." Florges happily sang as she glowed green before it flowed off her and into the ground as Lycanroc's Swords Dance finished and the entire battlefield turned to grass.
Gladion grit his teeth at that. Florges had changed the terrain to boost grass type attacks which Lycanroc was already weak to to begin with. This was not good and while Florges wasn't part grass type despite looking like she should be, Ash wouldn't use a move like Grassy Terrain unless he had at least one, maybe two, grass type attacks to justify keeping it. This wasn't a good start and Florges's fairy type precluded one of Lycanroc's moves while being resistant to another one. That wouldn't deter Gladion though as he launched right into the next attack.
"Stone Edge!" Gladion shouted as the grass filled the battlefield.
"Petal Blizzard!" Ash countered at the same time as the attacks truly began.
Lycanroc roared and slammed its paws down on the ground and a line of stone spikes shot out from right in front of it and tore towards Florges. Simultaneously, Florges let out a cry as she twisted her body and an explosion of blue petals burst from her flower and filled the air in seconds tearing across the battlefield at Lycanroc.
The result was that both attacks landed at almost the exact same moment with the final rock bursting up right in front of Florges as she finished her attack and slamming into her chest with enough force to lift her off the ground and toss her back with a cry of pain, the attack stronger than normally thanks to being boosted by Lycanroc's Sword's Dance. As that was happening, the petals swirled around Lycanroc and slashed it all over causing the Wolf Pokémon to wail in pain from the super effective attack which was made even worse thanks to the boost from Florges's Grassy Terrain.
Despite this, the knockback that sent Florges into the air played to Gladion's advantage and he pressed that. Petal Blizzard was a physical move after all so while it's landing hurt Lycanroc it also allowed Gladion to negate the resistance that a pure fairy type like Florges would have to one of Lycanroc's and thus take the battle to her and Ash.
"Counter!" Gladion shouted as Florges was tossed into the air. "Push through the petals and strike her!"
"This is what we prepared for." Ash said, well prepared in general as Ash wouldn't have known the moves that Gladion would use but it was their plan for if Florges was knocked into the air and Gladion tried to capitalize on that by closing the distance with her to land a close quarters attack. "Intercept it with Vine Whip. Focus on that and then follow up with a Petal Blizzard as soon as you can."
"Florges!" Florges cried trusting Ash as Lycanroc howled and charged at her its Stone Edge no longer in the way having fallen away right after it ended.
Lycanroc was fast, strong, and well trained, Florges could tell that, but she was also strong and fast and her training was coming along really well thanks to Ash and her new teammates. She was his first new Pokémon of his current adventure so she was getting a lot of focus and help from Ash's other Pokémon and she was absorbing it all, getting stronger, and trusting the tactics that Ash liked to employ so that she could be better in battles and in general. One such tactic was to use an airborne knockback to land an unexpected hit rather than right yourself.
Florges had seen this done when Ash showed her videos of his past battles in preparing her for her first official battle and debut as one of Ash's Pokémon, one considered strong enough for such a battle as this one even though she lacked experience, and so she understood what she had to do as the vines shot out from her flower and lashed across the battlefield at the charging Lycanroc as she fell to the ground.
It helped that Lycanroc was on a collision course for her, Ash at least could tell this, and would easily land the hit before Florges hit the ground which would give Gladion the advantage. Thankfully, that wouldn't be the case for Ash.
That's because the vines whipped down and grabbed Lycanroc, wrapping around its arms and chest binding them there before Florges twisted in the air so that she was back first to the ground and heaved upwards with all her strength. She using Lycanroc's own momentum against it as she lifted the rock type into the air with a yip of surprise.
Ash had used the week he had to prepare as much as possible and knowing that he would use Florges first he'd had brought in Bulbasaur and Snivy to really help Florges out with Vine Whip and she showed that training now as she hauled Lycanroc up into the air. Then, as she slammed back first into the ground with a breath exhaling thud, she yanked her vines down as sharply as she could and brough Lycanroc to the ground as well.
The result was that the Alolan Pokémon slammed chest first into the grass covered ground with a loud thud that kicked up a lot of dust and caused Lycanroc to howl in pain from taking a second super effective attack that was still being boosted by the still active Grassy Terrain. As she did this, Florges quickly retracted her vines and the second that they were fully retracted, and still on her back, she blasted out the blue petals of her Petal Blizzard so that they shot into the air above her before exploding out and covering the whole battlefield.
The only advantage of this, for Gladion that was, was that the move meant that it would take a few seconds longer than normal to reach Lycanroc where it was lying panting and battered but still in the fight. If Lycanroc could push through this, which Gladion knew that it could, then they could win this with overwhelming power and as such Gladion didn't hesitate as he put his trust into Lycanroc.
Gladion knew that against someone like Ash he couldn't hold back, the other teen was the Champion of an established region after all and his victory over Diantha had been one of the best battles of the last few years. It was why Gladion had wanted to have this battle to test himself and see where he stacked up against a fellow Champion who'd earned it the traditional way. As such he acted right away and so as Florges retracted her vines he grit his teeth, his Z-Ring glowing with an orange light as he clenched his fist, turned his body, and brought his arm across it while the petals were blasted into the air.
As he did Lycanroc understood and grunted in agreement, pushing itself up to its feet just as the petals reached him and enduring it with nothing more than a yip of pain. Lycanroc trusted Gladion and knew what was coming as Gladion's whole body glowed with the orange light from his now active Z-Crystal, he'd prepared this one before the start of the battle for a quick use if he needed it as he was always going to start with Lycanroc so the Wolf Pokémon pushed through the attack ready to end the battle as Florges rolled onto her side and began to get up.
"It seals it up now…" Gladion began as he thrust his arm into the sky and the light shot off him in several beams before coalescing into one as it tore upwards and then broke apart as it arched down and became 5 beams that all slammed into Lycanroc at the same time causing it to roar as it held its arms out to the sides as the Z-Move activated. "Get ready. Use Continental Crush!"
"Moonblast!" Ash said amazed at the move, the second Z-Move he'd ever faced, and watched as Lycanroc placed its left front paw on the ground and howled before leaping high into the air. "I know you can do it Florges, you got this!"
"Florges!" Florges in agreement as she continued to get up and began to borrow the power of the moon but she wasn't fast enough as rocks shot up and formed around a still howling Lycanroc forming a mountain over its body that obscured the sun and shaded Florges.
Lycanroc then dropped the mountain on Florges as she halfway off the ground. There was no way to avoid it so she didn't and instead focused all her strength on preserving her move and not passing out as the massive rock type attack slammed into her and pushed her into the ground with a boom that cratered the area around it and sent dust and grass everywhere. That wasn't all though as a second later the rock exploded sending a shockwave that Asta and Pikachu had to brace as the air whipped around them.
As it did Lycanroc landed on the ground just on Gladion's side of the battlefield panting and battered from all that it had taken so far but just about still in it. This was a Z-Move after all and Lycanroc's attack had been boosted by the Swords Dance so even without a weakness to rock type attacks, plus no resistance to them either, this should do it for Florges. Lycanroc and Gladion thought that all the way up to the moment that a beam of moonlight suddenly cut through the last of the explosion and slammed into Lycanroc's face.
Florges had drawn on all her training and strength, on her trust for Ash and the reasons why she'd joined him to last through the mountain being dropped on her and maintain her focus on the borrowed power she'd taken from the moon. It was tough and she knew that she could only survive a dragon type attack now, she could have survived more had it not been for the Swords Dance boost and the Z-Move that had just been used on her, but she'd hung in the fight and as the mountain exploded and she saw Lycanroc land on the ground she attacked, her cry lost over the sound of the explosion.
As such no one, not even Ash who wasn't sure that Florges had survived the hit as the only Pokémon he could have been able to know for sure was Greninja and only after the Battle Bond had been triggered, had seen the attack coming. However, it came and the fairy type attack hit Lycanroc full in the face and drove it back and into the grass covered ground with a crash that kicked up a lot of dust which only added to the obfuscation from the explosion.
Florges used this to push herself slowly and painfully up so that she was standing on her base, her body battered and bruised but still in it as she panted and looked across the battlefield ready to keep the battle going. She needn't have as the dust finally cleared to reveal Lycanroc on its back in the crater its arms spread to its side, legs bent, mouth open, tongue lolling out and eyes swirls as it lay there. There was no doubt that Lycanroc had been knocked out.
"Lycanroc is unable to battle." Kukui declared raising his hand to Gladion's side as Lycanroc's image grayed on the jumbotron. "Florges is the winner."
"Lycanroc, return, you did really well but come back and take a rest as we end this." Gladion said as he quickly recalled Lycanroc the moment that the defeat was declared and using what he'd seen Ash do in his film study of Ash he quickly put away the Ultra Ball without looking at it while drawing a pure white ball with a red band around the break and button at the same time which he then tossed out before Ash could finish pulling out Florges's Poke Ball. "Go my mighty beast Silvally."
"Silvally?" Ash asked confused as he put away Florges's Poke Ball knowing that he couldn't recall her now and an image appeared in the second slot next to Gladion on the jumbotron for the crowd to see. "What is that Pokémon?"
"One that only I have and which I didn't need in the Manalo Conference but against you there's no way I couldn't use it." Gladion said as his white ball, which Ash would learn later was called a Premier Ball, burst open and a Pokémon materialized before Ash. "I'm not sure if I can use it in the PWC as its classification had yet to be determined but I have to use my best against you, Ash."
Ash was honored and he'd expected as much as the Pokémon appeared before Gladion. It was indeed one that Ash had never seen before and it was one of the strangest Pokémon that Ash had ever seen.
Silvally was a quadrupedal Pokémon that stood over 7 feet tall with a black body and hind legs that had purple scale things on its thighs and shins but its fore legs from the knee down were green and clawed. To add to it, the Pokémon had a broad, fishlike tail with a blue outer part and white interior bordered in gray.
By contrast, it's head and neck were light gray with thick strands covering its chest and back, as well as coming from the back of its neck, while a vertical crest shot up over its head with three long white strands behind it. To add to this the front of the crest was a darker gray and it seemed to have some kind of gray mask over its eyes with red and black markings on its forehead.
Overall it was a strange Pokémon but clearly a powerful one which Gladion was only using because he was against Ash and thus debuting it just as Ash had debuted Florges. That was fine with Ash though and he'd scan this Pokémon later, for now he had a battle to win.
"Now let's kick this up a notch." Gladion said as he pulled out a large disk that looked like a blank DVD or CD with a segment missing and replaced a dark gray and rugged patch. "You've never seen something like this Ash, this is what makes Silvally special."
With that he tossed the disk towards Silvally's back. The disk spun through the air and turned so that it was vertical as it reached Silvally's head. As it did the mask thing it wore opened slightly on the left side to let the disk in and then it closed activating Silvally's RKS System ability. As it did the white strands at the back of its crest suddenly turned steel gray from the base to the tip, as did the area around its eyes though it was sill black at the far ends, and the flat of the tail though the border became white.
It was a startling change and one that Ash had a feeling he knew what it was. It was certainly something he'd not expected but it also wasn't something he couldn't handle.
"So, Silvally can change its type with those disk things." Ash said voicing his theory aloud. "Interesting."
"I'm surprised that you picked up on that." Gladion admitted. "Well so quickly that is. Yes, what I used was a Memory Disk, in this case a Steel Memory, to change Silvally's type from its usual normal type to a steel type via Silvally's RKS System ability. There's more to it but for now that's all you need to know."
"So it's an ability, makes sense and as for how I picked up so quickly it's because color change gave it away." Ash said. "I have a Porygon-Z and back when it was a Porygon2 it did the same thing whenever I used its signature Conversion2 move, same thing with Porygon and Conversion so I know what that can mean. Not bad and more fluid and precise than what Porygon and its evolutions can do as those are based on moves used on or known by it. In fact it's thanks to my Porygon2 that Professor Oak was able to deduce that an 18th type had appeared as Porygon2 turned pink when using Conversion2 after an attack and subsequently became immune to dragon type attacks."
"Right, you have that rare Pokémon and used it against a Porygon in Kanto, Iris showed us that battle because of how unlikely it was and our Professor Oak made sure that we knew the history of how the fairy type was discovered." Gladion said. "Well then how about trying this on for size, Ash. Silvally, Multi-Attack."
"I don't know what that does but my gut tells me this will be a steel type attack." Ash said as Silvally roared and was covered in a gray energy that was the same color as the color changes Silvally had gone through. "Yup I'm certain it's a steel type attack. Blast it with Petal Blizard and dodge. You can do it Florges!"
Florges cried out in agreement, she still had one more turn before the Grassy Terrain ended and so she needed to maximize it even if she was taken out as Silvally charged at her. She could tell that Ash was correct and right now this Pokémon was a steel type, one of the two that was strong against her, so she had to avoid this attack while landing hers with the latter being more important for the sake of the overall battle.
Therefore it would take timing to pull off and so with a cry she let out an explosion of blue petals that tore across the battlefield and into the charging Silvally. Then, as Silvally plowed into them, she leapt to the side to avoid it banking on its appearance to give it a wide turning radius.
Alas Florges, in her inexperience, hadn't expected that Silvally would be able to counter her leap to the side as it lowered its head and planted its left front claw into the ground so as to turn on it to aid its move as it whipping its head around. Florges's timing was also off and she knew it but at least she'd landed her attack so this failure of hers hadn't been in vein.
Even though Florges had landed her Petal Blizzard attack, Silvally just ignored the petals as they slammed into it doing above average damage thanks to the Grassy Terrain but not being super effective. That wasn't a concern to it as the gray strands out the back of its crest sliced through the air and Silvally used their longer reach to slam the top one into Florges's gut as she leapt away.
Florges let out a wail of pain as she was struck by the super effective attack and bent over the strand for a moment before the hit finished and she was tossed back and to the side as Silvally finished its turned facing Gladion. Florges was out before she hit the ground, she was already at her limit and had no way of surviving a super effective attack, so she went limp in the air before she hit the ground with a thud and rolled over it and out the back of the battlefield to Ash's right hand side. After a few moments she came to a stop on her side and lay there her eyes swirls.
"Florges is unable to battle." Kukui said raising his hand to Ash's side as Florges's image went gray on the screen and the grass faded from the battlefield as Grassy Terrain's effects ended. "Silvally is the winner."
"Florges return." Ash said turning and recalling Florges, ready to change his strategy for a quick and decisive attack on the now steel type Silvally. "That a rest, you earned it and landed a good hit before going down. I couldn't have asked for better in your first battle. Now…"
"Silvally, return." Gladion said already ready for a potential quick change and getting his Premier Ball out in time to recall Silvally the moment that Florges was recalled and using Ash's turn to his advantage as it had bought him the extra few seconds he needed to beat Ash to the punch. "Your ability is strong but it can be countered, especially by a trainer like Ash who no doubt has one of his powerful fire types ready to attack and land a hit before we can do anything. Best to avoid that and take a rest as I may need you in a bit."
"Not bad and you will need Silvally again." Ash said with a smile as he aborted his plan to use Charizard who was one of his three backups if he needed to change things up based on what he was seeing in the battle and putting Florges's Poke Ball away. "Now let's see your last one. Pikachu, I choose you."
"Just what I expected and prepared for." Gladion said with a smile as he put away Silvally's Premier Ball and brought out a green and black ball that Ash had only seen when Gladion used it in the recordings of his battles so while he wasn't aware that it was called a Dusk Ball, he was aware of which of Gladion's Pokémon he kept in it. "Alright what about this!"
Gladion didn't reveal the Pokémon as he tossed out his Dusk Ball. That was the whole point as while Ash might have guessed based on the use of a Dusk Ball, Gladion had still prepared a surprise should Ash use Pikachu. He'd even made sure to catch the Pokémon in question shortly after learning that Ash was in Alola so that it was last in his party thus ensuring that he could do this. It was also because of that recent capture that said Pokémon wasn't ready for a battle against someone like Ash but Gladion fully intended for it to be at that level come the PWC.
Regardless, had Ash used a different Pokémon then Gladion would have gone for his Heal Ball and used his Umbreon but this would really throw Ash. Sure there was a good chance that Ash knew the ability that he was facing as Gladion had used this Pokémon in the Manalo Conference, though it had been his last Pokémon against Iris in the final so its ability hadn't been seen, but the surprise would throw him for a moment and give Gladion a chance. Again, he needed all his tricks and skills to beat someone like Ash.
That was shown as the ball burst open and another large quadrupedal Pokémon burst from the ball and landed before Gladion. This one was almost a foot taller than Silvally and looked like a massive, brown, horse with thick orange legs and muzzle and a black tail and mane with dreadlock-like strands coming from it that ended in orange clumps and in a line along its mane. The image of the Pokémon, a Mudsdale if Ash recalled his study of Alolan Pokémon over the last few weeks correctly, appeared on the screen.
It was certainly a shock to Ash as he'd not expected the fully evolved ground type to burst from the Dusk Ball. Ash had seen that specific ball being used last against Iris and it had contained a Zoroark which was a Unovan Pokémon that Ash had only met once before back in Sinnoh during an adventure with Dawn and Brock that had involved shiny variants of the Legendary Dogs of Johto, so that was what he'd been expecting. Of course just because Gladion kept a Zoroark in a Dusk Ball didn't mean that he didn't have more of that kind of ball as well.
Had Ash not been surprised and the memory so distant he would have recalled what Zoroark and its pre-evolved form could do and thus realized the deception right away. Even without that, he should have noticed that the Mudsdale landed surprisingly lightly despite being one of the heaviest known Pokémon with a weight of just over a ton.
"Now use Sludge Bomb!" Gladion ordered.
"Avoid that with Quick Attack and then charge in with another." Ash said snapping out of his surprise and getting back into the battle though the attack was odd and something nagged at the back of Ash's brain as Mudsdale opened its mouth and began to spew forth the filthy sludge that was Sludge Bomb. "Show what speed can do."
"Careful and be ready to evade the second attack." Gladion said as Pikachu cried out and dashed forward and to the side with his Quick Attack, easily avoiding the poison type attack even as the Mudsdale tried to track Pikachu despite Pikachu being too fast. "As soon as you can boost your speed with Agility and evade the second Quick Attack before countering with Shadow Claw."
All of that took Ash aback and the nagging sensation in his head increased as Pikachu finished his evasion and turned on a dime similar to how Silvally had turned against Florges only with a sharper turning radius and then launched at Mudsdale with a second Quick Attack. As he did, however, Mudsdale glowed and boosted its speed with Agility.
There was more to doing this than just getting an advantage for Gladion, it was a specially designed counter based on Zoroark's moves that could be used on this specific Pikachu and what he could do. Gladion had learned from Iris back when she first told him about Ash that Ash's Pikachu was one of a kind and a lot stronger than a normal Pikachu so Gladion had been wary about it from the start.
From that knowledge, and in preparation for this battle, Gladion had watched the big battles that Ash had been in and seen how he'd used Pikachu in his two finals and against Diantha. Admittedly Ash had only used the Mouse Pokémon once in his Elite Four Challenge for his battle against Siebold where Pikachu was best suited but that had been because the nature of the challenge ensured that Ash didn't need Pikachu in every battle and so he'd only used his starter when needed. Regardless, it was clear that this Pikachu could hold his own.
Hell, Gladion had watched Pikachu beat a massive Coalossal in the Lumiose Conference final so it really showed how strong he was. That was why Gladion had this trick for Pikachu to cause Ash to, at least briefly, not use his electric type attacks, and why he use Agility now as Ash liked to use a double Quick Attack like this so Gladion needed to boost Zoroark's speed to counter that.
Even knowing and preparing for this strategy, Gladion and Zoroark were only just able to avoid it as Agility finished boosting its speed and allowed the Illusion Fox Pokémon to leap to the side with a grace that an actual Mudsdale wouldn't have and let Pikachu pass. It was as Pikachu was in the air and passing it that a set of dark purple claws burst from the right foreleg of Zoroark's illusionary Mudsdale and it turned to slash Pikachu in the side with the ghost type attack causing Pikachu to wail in pain and be tossed away before Ash could give another order.
The whole sequence was way too agile for a Pokémon of Mudsdale's size and likely weight to pull off, and Ash was sure that one couldn't learn a move like Shadow Claw though admittedly he didn't know the species well. However, he was still sure that something was wrong about this Mudsdale and in that moment it all struck Ash.
He chastised himself for being an idiot as he recalled the female Zorua that belonged to Luke and who he'd met in Unova along with what the one he'd met in Sinnoh could do. It wasn't just Zorua though, it was its evolution Zoroark as well. He should have remembered this but Gladion hadn't shown this when he'd used Zoroark against Iris so Ash missed it but now he knew what he was seeing was an allusion so as Pikachu hit the ground he adapted and changed up his strategy just as Gladion followed up his hit.
"Night Daze." Gladion called out as Pikachu rolled over the ground.
"Evade and use Thunderbolt." Ash said suppressing his grin as Zoroark-Mudsdale let loose a pitch black shockwave at Pikachu as Pikachu came to a stop. "It will work, trust me Pikachu."
"Pikachu!" Pikachu said knowing that Ash wouldn't lead him wrong so if he said that it would work then it would and his cheeks began to spark.
Pikachu had been in many battles and so this was nothing to him as the shockwave approached. True it was a move that he'd never seen before but so what, that happened all the time for Pikachu and a shockwave was a shockwave so with a cry he leapt up into the air as high as he could right before it reached him so that it passed under him. As he did the sparking intensified right before the electricity flared off Pikachu.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu cried as he unleashed his favorite and best attack.
Gladion could only grit his teeth at this. Even if he could call out to Zoroark to avoid the attack, which he didn't have time to do before the attack hit, ordering a dodge would have signaled that this was all an illusion and give it away. That didn't matter though as Ash had already deduced that on his own hence the attack order and the Thunderbolt that now arched up from Pikachu and down onto Zoroark-Mudsdale.
A second later it landed on Zoroark and he let out a cry of pain as the attack to which he was neither weak nor resistant to coursed through his body and his illusion was shattered revealing the fully evolved, Unovan dark type standing there smoking slightly and panting. It was as Ash had deduced though why this was the first time Gladion had prepped Zoroark with its Illusion ability was beyond him, not that Ash actually knew how the Illusion ability worked having never seen it properly used in a battle before today.
Of course the reason why Gladion was using when he'd not done so against Iris, beyond Iris knowing that he had a Zoroark and what it could do, was because he facing Ash, and more specifically his Pikachu. All that was unknown, and frankly irrelevant, to Ash as he followed up his attack and pressed his advantage.
"Quick Attack!" Ash shouted before Pikachu even hit the ground.
"Shadow Claw." Gladion countered as Pikachu landed on all fours and instantly set off towards Zoroark. "Make sure that it lands."
Zoroark cried out in agreement but before it could get the claws out Pikachu had reached it and leapt up, slamming his head into Zoroark's chest at full speed and with enough force to stagger the Pokémon back a few paces. However, this wasn't nearly enough to take down Zoroark and it pushed through the hit as the claws of ghost type power shot out and over its claws. Zoroark then slashed sideways and caught Pikachu in the side for the second time that battle, this time as Pikachu was falling back to the ground.
As such Pikachu let out a cry of pain and was tossed to the side by the hit. However he wasn't weak to it so it wasn't nearly enough to take Pikachu down and already Ash had his next move ready, one that he was sure would set up what he was sure would be the winning sequence.
"Electroweb!" Ash called out.
"Evade and use Night Haze." Gladion said as the electricity formed into a ball over Pikachu's tail.
Instinct and long training kicked in with Pikachu on this and he quickly formed and shot out the attack as he flew back, spinning his body as he did. The ball of electricity that flew off him quickly exploded into a net and thanks to being close from the Quick Attack, and despite the hit sending Pikachu away, Zoroark didn't have the space to avoid the Electroweb and thus the net of electricity that ensnared the dark type Pokémon causing it to let out a cry of pain and fall to a knee as the net remained around it. That was just what Ash needed and as Pikachu hit the ground and rolled away he was already giving his order.
"Quick Attack into Iron Tail!" Ash called out. "You got this Pikachu!"
"Keep it up Zoroark!" Gladion shouted as Zoroark blasted out the pitch black shockwave having not forgotten about the Night Haze order though the Electroweb continued to ensnare it while Pikachu righted himself and landed on his feet. "Cut that net with Shadow Claw as soon as you can."
"Leap over it!" Ash said as the shockwave tore across the battlefield at Pikachu as Pikachu shot forward and at Zoroark with Quick Attack. "Don't let it slow you!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu agreed and he leapt up as soon as Ash told him too.
Only their years of trust and experience, combined with Pikachu's training to really master moving while using Quick Attack, allowed for this as Pikachu just managed to leap over the shockwave. No other Pokémon, at least none that Ash had, could have managed this unless they could fly but Pikachu did and he avoided the attack and set himself on a crash course for a surprised Zoroark's face thanks to Zoroark still being on one knee.
A second later Pikachu slammed face fist into Zoroark's snout causing the Pokémon to wail in pain and fall back while still in the net creating a small gab between it and Pikachu. As it did, and the Shadow Claws formed as Zoroark was still committed to getting that move off, Pikachu turned his tail to steel and flipped in the air as Zoroark cut through the Electroweb and brought his Shadow Claws to bear while still falling back. However, thanks to the angle Pikachu was a hair faster and his tail slammed into the center of Zoroark's chest with a boom that drove it back first into the ground.
The force of the impact kicked up dust and for a brief moment the Pokémon were covered in at and obscured from everyone as their trainers looked on. Pikachu knew that he was fine and Zoroark knew that it wasn't. The attacks had all taken their toll on the Illusion Fox Pokémon and as he was driven into the ground Zoroark let out a sharp exhale as it was pushed past its limit and passed out. This was seen as the dust cleared to reveal a still conscious Pikachu sitting on Zoroark's chest as Zoroark lay on the cracked ground with swirls for eyes.
"Zoroark is unable to battle." Kukui declared raising his hand to Gladion's side as Zoroark's image, which had changed from Mudsdale the moment that the illusion was broken, grayed and Pikachu hopped off his vanquished opponent. "Pikachu is the winner."
"Zoroark return." Gladion said pulling out his Dusk Ball and recalling his Pokémon before looking at the Dusk Ball in his hand deliberately giving Ash the time to do the same with Pikachu as he had a feeling that Ash would break out his best to defeat Silvally and that was a Pokémon which Gladion really wanted to face regardless of the outcome of this battle as it was one that would really test Gladion's skills as a trainer and Champion. "You did really well out there. That Pikachu is as strong as we expected and then some. There is no shame in losing to him. Plus we still have Silvally, this isn't over yet."
"Pikachu, come back and take a rest." Ash said using the time that Gladion gave him to recall Pikachu as he did want to use his third Pokémon regardless of whether or not he thought that Pikachu could defeat Silvally, which he knew that Pikachu could do. "I may need you again but I'm going to do all I can to avoid it."
"We shall see." Gladion said as he put away his Dusk Ball and pulled out his Premier Ball once again. "I'm not beaten yet Ash. Go again my mighty beast Silvally."
"Oh I fully expect this to push me which is just what I want." Ash said with a grin as Pikachu reached him and turned to watch the battle and he pulled out his final Poke Ball and threw it out in a single smooth motion as Silvally returned to the battlefield. "Greninja, I choose you."
"As I expected and just what I wanted from you." Gladion said with a smile as Greninja's Poke Ball burst open and he materialized before Ash in his usual ready stance, his image appearing in Ash's final slot on the screen. "Let's see what the best that Ash has can do."
"I wouldn't say that Greninja is my best, just one of them but you'll get all I have." Ash said still grinning as he pointed out at Silvally. "Greninja, use Double Team and then Night Slash."
"As expected, well then try this Ash." Gladion said as he produced another Memory Disk, this one light pink but for the different segment with was a much darker pink as Greninja pushed off the ground and charged at Silvally already able to tell that this was a strong foe and ready for it. "Fighting might have worked as well but I feel like fairy type is best against your Greninja."
With that Gladion tossed out the disk as Greninja burst into many shadow clones and all formed blades of darkness in their hands as they ran across the scarred battlefield. This was a classic strategy that Ash and Greninja often used, Gladion had noted it in his extensive studies of Greninja in preparation for this battle as he expected, and hoped for, the Pokémon Ash had used to win the Lumiose Conference and defeat Diantha and he'd not been disappointed. It was why he'd gone for the Fairy Memory not the Fighting Memory as that was a better matchup for Ash's Greninja.
Thankfully, it just reached Silvally in time for it to be taken in by the RKS System while the currently installed Steel Memory was ejected and sent back to Gladion. As it was the colors turned from steel gray to pink and the swarm of Greninjas reached Silvally and slashed just as the change finished happening.
The result was as expected, the fake ones vanished the moment that they hit Silvally with their fake Night Slashes while the real one landed, slashing across Silvally's chest and causing it to grunt and stagger back with a grunt. Thankfully, it wasn't a critical hit and had come in time for Silvally to be resistant to it so it wasn't that bad.
It also allowed Gladion to be in place for a counter and he already had that prepared along with a follow up to keep Greninja on the back foot and press his current type advantage. Besides, he couldn't relent and had to do all he could to beat this Greninja that had won so many notable battles already.
"Multi-Attack!" Gladion shouted as Silvally staggered. "Follow it up with Air Slash."
"Water Shuriken!" Ash countered as the light pink energy engulfed Silvally. "You got this Greninja, I know it!"
All Greninja could do was croak an affirmative before Silvally used the momentum of its stagger to push forward off its hindlegs and slam its body into Greninja. It didn't have time to use its crest or claws, just ram Greninja with its body but that was more than enough to impart the super effective attack and send Greninja flying back to Ash's side of the battlefield with a cry of pain. As Greninja was tossed back, Silvally whipped its head around sharply and sending out several slashes of air at the airborne water and dark type as it flew through the air.
However Greninja wasn't idle. Like all of Ash's Pokémon, and like both Florges and Pikachu had done in their battles earlier, Greninja was ready for this and he slapped his forepaws on his legs and pulled out the stars of water and then spun his body as he tossed them which had the added effect of increasing their speed. He repeated the process with two more water shurikens while still in the air and making sure that they avoided the slashes of air before said slashes reached him.
They did a few seconds after Greninja got off his second set of water shurikens with one hitting his face, another his chest and a third his abdomen thus tossing Greninja further back but they weren't nearly enough to take him down. Besides, his own attacks had been true as well as the four stars of water also reached their mark. Two struck Silvally in the chest, one in the neck, and the final one in the face staggering the Synthetic Pokémon back a step and blinding it for a moment with the explosion of water as Greninja hit the ground and bounced off it.
Thanks to his experience and training Greninja was able to twist in the air and land in a crouch on his feet as slide back several paces so that he was in front of Ash. As he rose to his full height and Silvally shook itself from the attack he glanced back at Ash and nodded to which Ash grinned and nodded back. It was time, they both knew it. Even after such a short exchange their battle wavelengths were already in sync and Ash wasted no time in activating Greninja's ability.
"Greninja it's time to get stronger and stronger and stronger!" Ash said as their wavelength synchronized and the change was triggered.
"Greninja!" Greninja croaked as the golden helix formed and the change happened.
As with before, the massive spout of water burst up and around Greninja with a rushing sound and his features changed to match Ash's to some extent before the water exploded outwards and coalesced into a ball on Ash-Greninja's back. That ball turned into a massive water shuriken once all the water had been collected there and the change was completed in seconds, the crowd roaring at seeing the now famous transformation first hand.
Gladion grinned at getting Ash to trigger Greninja's Battle Bond ability and was already using it to his advantage as he ejected the Z-Crystal in his Z-Ring and caught it in his right hand before he put it away and pulled out a different Z-Crystal that he then slammed into the Z-Ring and activated it as Ash-Greninja finished transforming. No holding back, no wasting time, no hesitation. This was the peak of the battle and if Gladion wanted a shot at winning he had to use all he had to take down this Greninja using everything that he had before dealing with Pikachu and he was doing just that.
"It seals it up now…" Gladion began as he glowed with a simple gray light before it shot off and at Silvally just as Ash-Greninja finished transforming. "Get ready. Use Breakneck Blitz!"
"Show that speed and evade it." Ash countered as Silvally roared and charged forward building up speed and momentum on a crash course with Ash-Greninja. "Then use Water Shuriken!"
"Greninja." Ash-Greninja croaked as Silvally charged him.
This would take timing and precision but Ash-Greninja was more than capable of that as he tensed while Ash looked through his eyes then through their connection he rushed forward and leapt high and to the left with Ash's guidance and right as Silvally reached him thus causing the Alolan Pokémon to pass by him without striking him. This was impressive given the speed of the move but Ash and Ash-Greninja weren't done as Ash-Greninja twisted in the air and yanked off the large water shuriken on his back and tossed it at Silvally while Ash mirrored the move where he stood.
In a swift, practiced, motion, Ash-Greninja tossed the water shuriken at Silvally as the latter finished its charge and began to turn to face its opponent. The result was that the attack struck it on the flank and exploded in a cloud of water as Silvally staggered from the blow and let out a grunt of pain. Still, it wasn't super effective so Silvally was able to withstand it and use the momentum to fully turn and face Ash-Greninja as he landed on the ground. As he did both Ash and Gladion were already giving their next orders.
"Aerial Ace."
"Multi-Attack."
Both Pokémon heard the orders and acted at the same time charging at each other. However, Ash-Greninja did not activate his attack right away as Ash had a plan that he relayed through their bond while Silvally glowed with light pink energy.
This time, rather than use its body or crest, Silvally reared up as it reached Ash-Greninja and used its foreclaws to try and rake the Ninja Pokémon with the now fairy type attack. Ash-Greninja saw this and thus pulled up short and then with Ash's aid planted his right foot and flipped to the side before he began to leap, spin, twist, and flip as he avoided the slash before landing and continuing to avoid the follow up slashes that were coming at him from Silvally.
To those watching it looked like a dance and in a way it was as Ash-Greninja evaded the attacks with Ash's aid, the duo in perfect sync like they always were now that they'd mastered the Battle Bond phenomenon, and able to pull off something that few, if any, could manage. To top it off, the moment that the opening appeared and the pink light faded, Ash-Greninja leapt up and twisted in the air, his right foot glowing with flying type power as he brought it down in an upside down, downward, kick that slammed into the side of the Silvally's head that caused it to roar in pain.
"Now Night Slash!" Ash called out as Ash-Greninja landed in a crouch before Silvally and now in front of Ash thanks to his evasion while Silvally staggered. "We got this!"
"Multi-Attack!" Gladion cried again going with the best move he had, the Aerial Ace reminding him why using the Fairy and not a Fighting Memory was better, as the blades of darkness formed in Ash-Greninja's forepaws and he pushed off the ground. "You're still resistant to that so you can push through it and land a devastating counter!"
Silvally cried out in agreement as Ash-Greninja neared but that cry turned into one of pain as Ash-Greninja slashed Silvally across the chest in an X pattern. The hit triggered a critical but Silvally, while being pushed close to the edge now after all it had taken in the battle, still had enough left to fight in part thanks to the dark type resistance it currently had lessoning the Night Slash's damage even with it being a critical hit. As such it activated Multi-Attack again and lowered its head as it glowed pink before it thrust its head forward.
There was nowhere for Ash-Greninja to go so the attack landed with ease as Silvally struck him with the top of its crests in the face and chest and blasted Ash-Greninja back with a howl of pain from the super effective attack. Ash let out his own exhalation of pain from and staggered from the blow as he felt it too but he knew full well that Ash-Greninja was still in it and pushed through the pain just as his Pokémon did to give his next order.
"Water Shuriken!" Ash commanded his arm going to his shoulder to mirror the move with Ash-Greninja.
"Air Slash!" Gladion countered as Ash-Greninja yanked the water shuriken off his shoulder and threw it as Silvally. "Intercept it at least, it's too big to fit through now."
Silvally roared as it whipped its head and sent the slashes of air at the large Water Shuriken as it spun across the battlefield at it. However, as Ash had seen it do before, the power boost that Ash-Greninja had showed itself once again as the Water Shuriken cut through the Air Slash with little resistance and continued onto a wide eyed Silvally to slam into its chest with a boom that sent water up and around it as it staggered back several paces. At the same time Ash-Greninja hit the ground hard and rolled several feet until coming to a stop just in front of Ash.
With a groan, Ash-Greninja pushed himself onto his side and then slowly to his feet as the water dissipated to reveal Silvally still standing there before him and panting in pain. It was an impressive display of strength but that was it as Silvally had been pushed past its limits, had it not taken Florges's attack earlier it wouldn't have been, and so as Ash-Greninja rose to his full height Silvally let out a long, low, groan and fell to the side before Gladion could get out an order. The large, unique, Pokémon crashed to the ground with a thud and lay there on its side with swirls for eyes.
"Silvally is unable to battle." Kukui declared the moment that he noticed Silvally's swirled eyes and the image, the final one for Gladion, went gray on the jumbotron. "Greninja is the winner. Gladion has lost three Pokémon and so the match is over. The winner is the Kalos Champion, Ash Ketchum!"
At that the crowd erupted in cheers at the battle they'd just witnessed. True it had been a victory for the visiting Champion, and a convincing one at that, but it had been a good battle and Gladion had acquitted himself well in it. Naturally neither Champion paid attention to the crowd.
"Silvally, return." Gladion said pulling out his Premier Ball and recalling the Pokémon before looking at it with a small smile on his face. "You did well, landed a few hits, but that Greninja's reputation is as well-earned as Ash's Pikachu's if not more so, so it was an honor to face it. It's one strong Pokémon and the bond it shares with Ash is impressive. We wanted it and we did well against it but in the end we, like Diantha, lost to it. Ash showed us the gap between Alola and Kalos but we will close it for the PWC, I promise you. Take a rest, you earned it, you all did."
"We did it Greninja!" Ash said as Greninja turned back to normal and fell to a knee panting from the battle, he'd taken two super effective hits so he was feeling it, as was Ash thanks to link while Greninja was transformed but Ash pushed through his exhaustion. "Yeah take a rest, you earned it. We'll all celebrate later."
Greninja smiled as he looked back at Ash as Ash recalled him and looked at the Poke Ball for a moment. They'd won, they'd shown that they were still in shape and could beat a fellow Champion and Ash was excited for what more was to come as he prepared for the PWC. There was plenty to look forward to but for now he had a battle to wrap up so Ash shrank Greninja's Poke Ball, put it away and then walking out onto the cracked, cratered, and scarred battlefield and towards Gladion with Pikachu walking by his side.
Gladion did the same thing, walking out as he put away Silvally's Poke Ball and making his way to Ash. The battle had taught him a lot about himself and the competition he'd be up against come the PWC so he was glad for it even if he'd failed to defend Alola. Still, it was his first loss in a while and to a worthy opponent, one who would now become a rival that Gladion wanted to beat one day, a motivation that would help him with what awaited him and many other top trainers at the end of the year.
"Well done, you're as good as the reports and battles showed and more than earned your status as Kalos Champion." Gladion said as he and Ash reached the center of the battlefield and he held out his hand to Ash. "Thank you for that battle. It taught me a lot and showed me where I need to improve."
"Likewise, I always learn from my battles and you were a worthy challenge who helped me get back into it after my battle with Diantha." Ash said taking Gladion's hand and shaking as the crowd roared and cameras flashed. "I look forward to battling again someday."
"So do I so look out for me in the PWC." Gladion said as he let go of Ash's hand. "I want a rematch there and this time I'll win."
"I look forward to it." Ash said with a grin at rise of a new rival for him. "But I won't lose to anyone at the PWC."
"Good because I want to see how much stronger you are as well at the end of the year." Gladion said. "So if we meet there I expect a big challenge from you but for now, this is your moment Ash so I'll leave you to it. Goodbye, for now."
With that Gladion turned and walked away as the crowd continued to cheer. Ash just smiled as he watched Gladion, his latest rival, walk away and off the battlefield. There were still a few things to sort out, not least of all what he'd won by winning this battle, but that would come soon.
For now he enjoyed the moment, the thrill of the battle still in him and glad to see he was starting his training for the PWC on a high note. It was a perfect way to end his and Dawn's time in Alola and Ash embraced it as the battle between the Kalos and Alola Champions ended with a victory for Kalos.
I think that's a good place to end this chapter on as the battle is over and Ash has a new rival to look out for come the PWC. Given the differences to canon in so many ways due to how the Hearts Series has been I wanted this battle to be different as well hence the different lineup, especially because Ash still has Greninja in this story, and the different outcome. That and Ash is coming in as a regional Champion with only one new Pokémon really at the level for a battle like this and a good chance for Florges to get some experience. As such Ash cruises to a comfortable 3-1 victory but at the same time lights a fire within Gladion and brings another rival into the fold as he inspires Gladion to get stronger for the PWC. There is still one more Part left in the Alola arc to wrap everything up, give Ash his reward for winning, and announce where he and Dawn are off to next however that is all that I have for y'all so I will leave this Part off here. As always if you like my work then please favorite (both this story and me in general to be notified of any new content I post), if possible leave a review as I really like hearing what you think of my work and your suggestions that help complete this story (and respond as best I can) and just in general keep enjoying my work. Until next time.
Stringdog