What felt like seconds later, Ash was unceremoniously dumped onto the carpeted floor when his backrest left. Rubbing the back of his head, the trainer glared at his starter who pretended not to notice.
The sun had started to crest over the surrounding mountains, shining gold over the various stones of the city.
Styx walked past Hemlock's place on the bed, her extra appendage flared out and struck him, causing him to fall off the bed with an undignified squawk. Before she could do the same to Bane, Ash scooped up the Dark type. His fur had almost completely grown back to cover the shaved patch from surgery.
Bane slowly blinked awake, his cerulean eyes nice to see, since they were often hidden. He still tensed upon waking, unsure if he was safe. It would take some time to grow out of it. Ash gently set the Dark type down and started getting ready.
"Today is the day. We'll be battling Brock. Remember, Rock types are very durable, but typically slow. Stay light on your feet, Hemlock, and we should be good. I know you'll do well. While I get breakfast ready, go through some stretches." Grunts answered him as he left the room. He still had around an hour and a half before his battle; enough time to digest.
The cafeteria had a few trainers milling around, but Ash ignored them and got what he needed. A few hondew and watmel berries that he was sure Bane would enjoy. He was a sweet flavor kind of Pokémon.
He grabbed an omelet for himself and made his way back to his room. His two smaller Pokémon were finishing up their movements as he set the bowls down. His mind was half on eating while the other half was on Brock's rookie team. He always used a young Onix as his second Pokémon, but his first was a toss up between Alolan Geodude, Rhyhorn, or a Rolycoly from Galar.
"Bane, you remember the plan, right?" The Zorua lifted his head, his cheeks bulging with food, and nodded. Hemlock pointed and laughed at the expression. Styx's soon-to-be-wing whacked him on the head. Again.
Rolling his eyes, Ash gathered the now empty bowls and returned the three. Making sure he had all his belongings, he made his way back down to the main floor. Nurse Janelle Joy was manning the counter and spared him a smile as he walked up.
"Checking out?" Ash nodded and handed back the card key. "Feeling confident you'll win?" The trainer shrugged.
"I'll be back after my battle to heal my Pokémon. If I don't beat him, I'll just have to try another time. I need to move on. My team is getting fidgety and I have a boat to catch." He could see the nurse hide a grimace. He couldn't blame her, no one wanted agitated Dark types in a city.
"Well, good luck." Ash waved and exited the center. It wasn't just his Pokémon that were getting restless having to stay in a city.
The walk to the gym took time, but he was happy to arrive 15 minutes before his appointment. The lobby was empty and he could feel nerves trying to get claws into him. Clenching his fists, he breathed. He had a great strategy and his Pokémon were ready.
"Ketchum?" Ash turned to see a boy that had to be the older brother of the one who scheduled his battle. "Brock's ready for ya."
Following the pre-teen through the halls, they finally came to the battlefield. It was mostly barren dirt, except for a few strategically placed boulders scattered around. Standing boldly on the opposite side was Brock Harrison.
Freshly turned 20, Brock looked like he worked with rocks. He was all sharp edges and hard lines. Baggy green cargo pants and a thick orange vest, the Gym Leader stood tall and proud.
The boy who led him here dashed to the referee box. Brock held up a hand before he could speak.
"Welcome to the Pewter Gym, one of the Big Eight. As a Big Eight gym, you only have two attempts to win the Boulder Badge until the next League cycle. As this is your first gym battle, do you have any questions?" Ash shook his head once. He was ready to start. Brock quirked an eyebrow. "Not a talker? Alright then. Let's get this going."
"This is an official Gym Battle of Pewter Gym between Ashton Ketchum of Pallet Town and Rock Master Brock Harrison. This will be a 2 on 2 battle, and a victor will be declared when both Pokémon on one side are unable to battle. Substitutions are not allowed. Gym Leader Brock will release first."
Brock smirked and tossed a Pokéball in his hand.
"Good luck, Ash. You'll need it! Let's go, Rolycoly!" The mobile hunk of sentient coal that sparked the industrial revolution landed on the battlefield and let out a rumbling cry, its single eye glowing bright with inner flame. Ash nodded to himself and pressed the release on the painted Pokéball.
Hemlock landed on the field and Ash had never seen him look more serious. If he wasn't so tense, Ash would have smirked at Brock's face.
"Rolycoly versus Impidimp! 3-2-1 Battle Begin!"
"Rock Polish!"
"Fake Out."
Rolycoly whirred in discomfort when the shockwave struck it, distracting it from its plan. Hemlock was already closing the distance, dashing after his Fake Out. The Wily Pokémon leapt, but Rolycoly backed up just in time for Hemlock to slam a painful fist into the ground.
"Incinerate!"
Hemlock howled when the Fire attack seared his skin, the oils coating his body making the attack more painful. Hemlock stumbled back, Rolycoly pressing its advantage.
"Again!"
"Double Team!" Hemlock dove and rolled when the Incinerate destroyed the clone, buying him enough time to throw a Drain Punch. The Rock type made a sound like hissing steam, the light burns on Hemlock's arms healing slightly.
Ash frowned, Rolycoly's defenses were better than he expected.
"Reflect!"
Shit.
The blocky barrier flashed to life around Rolycoly, stopping the next Drain Punch its tracks. Rolycoly used the opportunity to launch itself forward in a quick Tackle that made Hemlock trip over his own feet and fall to the ground.
They had to fix his footwork after this.
"Hemlock, Fake Tears!" The Impidimp stared up at the Rock type with shimmering eyes from his place on the ground. Rolycoly hesitated, swaying forward and backward on its wheel, a low rumbling emanating from its body. Brock's shout of "Distance!" encouraged the Rock type to speed away before Hemlock's Sucker Punch could land.
"Dig." Brock had a steady expression on his face, arms crossed and staring intently at the field. Ash cursed, knowing the Gym Leader had the pace back to his preference.
"Onto a rock!" Hemlock darted toward one of the towering spires, scrambling up and perching like a Meowth ready to pounce. Rolycoly was too young to be able to break through a rock of that size, so Hemlock would have time to dodge its attack.
"Up!"
"Sucker Punch!"
The attack barely did anything, but it threw Rolycoly off course. "Follow it!" Hemlock didn't question his trainer's order, leaping off the spire and landing on Rolycoly's back. Brock's befuddled face would have been entertaining if Ash was looking.
"Draining Kiss!" With how craggy and uneven the Rock type's body was, Hemlock had no issue holding on to the many handholds. Glowing brightly, the Impidimp planted one right on the top of Rolycoly's head.
A sharp hiss from the Coal Pokémon kicked Brock into gear. "Full steam ahead!" Rolycoly took off, more and more energy getting drained from it as Hemlock refused to let up. "Stop!"
Ash took an aborted step forward as Hemlock went flying.
He landed heavily, bouncing roughly against the ground before he clumsily found his footing. He turned just in time to stumble out of the way, Rolycoly faster than before. It must have managed to pull off a Rock Polish.
Ash bit the inside of his cheek. Both Pokémon were getting tired, but the energy Hemlock had siphoned from the Rock type was keeping him afloat. Barely.
He watched as Hemlock narrowly danced out of the way of another charge.
"Get ready!"
"Rock Tomb!"
"Double Team!"
Some Impidimp had the interesting Prankster ability, predisposing them more for status moves as opposed to attacking ones. Their minds were more hardwired for manipulative attacks, allowing them to react faster.
The stones crashed down atop Hemlock, blocking the Impidimp from view.
Brock only had time to smirk before Rolycoly cried out in pain, then his jaw dropped.
Hemlock was atop the Coal Pokémon, Drain Punches raining down even as he gasped for breath. His single clone had done its job, now there was nothing but a brawl.
"Rapid Spin!"
"Jump!"
It wasn't athletic by any means, the way Hemlock stumbled and jumped, veering left as opposed to straight up. But Ash could see the progress, the awareness from their training kicking in. And when he called "Finish it!" Hemlock landed, one foot braced behind him so he could launch himself forward.
Sucker Punch struck the spinning Pokémon, sending it veering off course and out of control.
Rolycoly spun in place, slowly coming to a stop. Unmoving.
"Yes! Nice work, Hemlock!" Ash felt like his blood was on fire. They had just taken down a Pokémon personally trained by Rock Master Brock. Young Pokémon or not, it was an accomplishment.
Hemlock puffed up his heaving chest, giving a thumbs up that pulled a bright laugh from Ash. He heard the Gym Leader huff in amusement.
"That was well done, Ash. Your quick thinking and use of your Pokémon's ability won you this battle. But you haven't won the match yet. How will you fare against Onix?" From the Heavy ball in Brock's hand, the enormous Rock Snake crashed into the ground from where it was released. Hemlock only took a single step back in the face of the monster.
"Onix versus Impidimp. 3-2-1 Battle Begin!"
"Tackle!"
"Fake Tears!" The bewildered look on the Onix's face was one for the memory books. It stopped a few feet from the bawling form of Impidimp. But Brock was prepared now.
"Scary Face!"
Tables were turned.
Hemlock cowered, giving Onix free reign to curl its enormous body around the spindly Pokémon. The already weakened Wily Pokémon struggled uselessly.
Flash Cannon erupted from its maw.
Hemlock didn't stand a chance.
The fainted Pokémon was freed, falling bonelessly to the ground. Sighing, the trainer returned him. "You were brilliant." He whispered and exchanged the Pokéball for the pink one. Quirking his lips, Ash released his last Pokémon. Brock's eyes bulged.
"Onix versus Onix! 3-2-1 Battle Begin!"
"Dragon Dance and Torment." To keep up the ruse, Ash had trained with Bane to do Hone Claws and Taunt when he called for 'Dragon Dance and Torment' so Brock would believe he was battling another Onix for as long as possible. Of course the Rock Master would have Onix's move set memorized.
"Rock Throw!"
Ash was squeezing his fists, knowing that an illusion of this magnitude was taxing every bit of Bane's focus. The moment Onix or an attack flew through the illusion, Brock would know.
Bane had to make his illusion 'dodge' perfectly, any possible mistake and Brock would capitalize on it tenfold. Almost an entire day of training was dedicated to studying how Onix moved. It wasn't perfect, but it would hold.
Ash was banking on the hope the Gym Leader wouldn't think to target the part of Onix touching the ground; where Bane was hidden. There was a lot he was banking on here, primarily Brock's attention on the battle and not the small details.
Like how there were no vibrations, sounds, or shockwaves coming from the fake Onix.
As Onix got more and more enraged as it 'missed', Bane kept using Hone Claws as much as he could. Bane merely had Onix swaying as he powered up, and Ash had a feeling his time was almost up.
"Orria, Flash Cannon, aim at its base!"
"Dig!"
Everyone froze, Brock staring at the tiny little hole left behind.
Now for Phase 2.
Ash had done his homework. He watched videos of Brock's Onix battling in one and two badge battles, making notes of the moveset and techniques.
And he knew Onix did not know Dig.
Obviously the Pokémon can Dig, it was what the Pokémon was known for and how it lived in the wild. But not once in the nineteen videos Ash watched did Onix use Dig.
It was a hard pill to swallow when Ash first started his Battle Practical 101 class that battles were a game of probability. Nothing was ever set in stone and nothing was 100% impossible. Ash had to work hard to find the excitement in it, and luckily, it hadn't taken long.
Battles were risk. Battles were challenge.
Of course there were ways to bridge the gap.
"Agility!"
Brock braced, but Bane did not surface. Frowning, he thrust a hand forward. "Iron Tail."
The Onix roared, slamming a metallic tail into the ground, shaking the ground. Ash had to catch himself before he stumbled, keeping his eyes on the field. Sharp stones and debris were repelled by a psychic barrier before they could strike Ash; a barrier he hadn't even noticed.
When its opponent still did not appear, Onix struck again.
Ash minutely flinched with every strike of the tail, tapping his thigh as he counted down.
Right as the ref raised his flag, Ash shouted, "NOW! COPYCAT!"
Bane flew from the ground, eliciting shouts of shock from almost everyone present, just as the ground collapsed beneath Onix's bulk.
The surprised Screech did nothing to deter Bane, tail glowing with the stolen energy of Iron Tail. As he jumped, Onix fell, and he swung a heavily overpowered Iron Tail right at Onix's head.
Hands were flung up to protect his ears from the awful caterwaul from the Rock Snake, its eyes closing in pain.
"Keep going!" Bane landed on Onix, stumbling a bit from the flailing, but raced up the Pokémon's body, Dark Pulse seeping into the giant Pokémon's body as he ran, minute flinches interrupting its bucking.
"Jump!" Bane hesitated for just a moment, but followed Ash's direction, getting clipped by the previously unseen tail that flew by beneath. "Use it!" The Zorua planted his feet on the tail and launched forward, flipping and slamming a final Iron Tail to the wounded Onix's temple.
There was silence before the enormous Pokémon collapsed to the ground with a resounding boom.
"Bane you did it!" Ash beamed as the little Zorua shakily raced toward him, reflexively catching his teammate in his arms. Ash hesitated for a moment before clutching the Tricky Fox to his chest. Bane was huffing from holding such a large illusion for so long, as well as withstanding what had to have felt like Earthquakes when he was underground.
But he had pulled it off flawlessly.
He was absolutely astounding.
A low cough interrupted their celebration.
Brock stood looking at the two with an almost fond expression on his face. "I have to admit, that was brilliant." The Gym Leader held out his hand, causing Ash to shift Bane to one arm to return the handshake. Bane's eyes were already drooping in exhaustion.
"Honestly, that whole battle was one of the best I've had in ages. You used your Pokémon's unique traits to your advantage and didn't rely on blindly attacking like so many newbies do. I have never been duped like that. Orria is going to be pissed when she wakes up, taken out in only two attacks." Ash had to crack a smile at that.
"This one was making tunnels underground, wasn't he? Destabilizing the battlefield, right?"
Ash nodded, a little more eager with his heart pumping like it was. "Yeah, I knew your Onix didn't use Dig in battle and she was too young to know Earthquake, though that Iron Tail trick was as good as. But Bane had powered up enough with Hone Claws to make those two Iron Tails count."
Brock blew some hair out in amazement. Still shaking his head, he reached into his pocket. "Yeah, you definitely deserve this, the Boulder Badge, the first of the Big Eight badges. You've more than earned it." Ash gently took the small pin from the leader and held it in front of Bane's sleepy face so he could see. Placing it in his pocket, he looked up when Brock cleared his throat. The leader had a brown disk in his hand.
"This is the TM for Stone Edge. It's reusable. You're one of the few to get this one, I usually hand out Rock Tomb. But you really impressed me today. So use it well." Ash reverently slid it into his pocket. This would have cost most of his savings.
"Mind if I walk with you to the center? My next battle isn't for two hours." Ash shifted before nodding. Brock looked over his shoulder at the ref. "Forrest, message me if I'm needed back before the battle!" A thumbs up was the response.
The Gym Leader watched curiously as Bane shimmered before a Skitty was in his place as they walked to the exit. Ash could tell the Rock specialist wanted to ask but was holding his tongue.
"I caught him a few days ago in the forest. He had just escaped from poachers. We're trying to be careful." Brock nodded.
"I was wondering how a rookie got one of those. I'm amazed you've only had him for a few days. He seems to trust you a lot." Ash shrugged stiffly but brought up a hand to gently stroke the fox. Bane burrowed deeper in his arms. The perfectionist side of him was saying Bane's hesitation earlier was due to lack of trust but he banished the thought from his mind.
"I was really surprised. My other two Dark types I had to prove myself in some way. He just… liked me right away." It seemed that was the segway Brock needed to ask his real question.
"Dark types, huh?" Barely withholding a grimace (that was exactly what Jenny said), he nodded.
"I'm on the road to becoming a Chaos Trainer. Professor Oak gave me my starter and Hemlock." Brock almost looked impressed.
"Wow, you don't take the easy way, do you?" Ash ignored the rhetorical question. "Are you hoping to go all the way to Master Chaos Trainer?"
Ah. That was the big question.
Right now, Ash was a rookie, and would be until he qualified for a League Conference. He wasn't even considered a Chaos Trainer yet, he was merely aspiring to be one. Very few trainers who decided to specialize early on stuck with it in competitive battling, even with type-affinities.
Specializing was limiting; restricting coverage and giving opponents a better chance at countering your team. But those that stuck it out, those that got over the steep, steep learning curve found specializing to give an edge.
Throughout the Gym Circuit and conference, Ash would have to utilize at least three Dark types, three Dragon types, and three Fairy types. Then, once Ash managed the Top 32 in a League Conference, he would gain the title Chaos Trainer.
Masteries were different. Masteries weren't common. Masteries were a mark of success. Masteries were required to hold a League Leadership role, be it Big Eight Gym Leader, Elite Four, or Champion.
The ULA recognized Masters in various ways, but every Master was tracked by the United League Association. Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, and Galar had around 150 Masters total. That was 0.4% of competitive Trainers in the ULA.
There was a sense of awe surrounding Pokémon Masters. They were the best of the best, a one-person army, a weapon of mass destruction. They could single-handedly take down crime rings, divert natural disasters, and overwhelm almost any pushback they may encounter.
But even the power of Masters breaks into a hierarchy. A newly minted Master could hardly hope to compete with an Elite, a Champion even less so. Even the power amongst Big Eight Gym Leaders varied; Brock would probably never be able to go toe to toe with Psychic Master Sabrina Natsume.
The most clear cut way to gain a Mastery was to be recognized by at least three other League-affiliated Masters. Recognition came about through either battle or apprenticeship.
The road to Mastery was more difficult for those specializing.
Of course.
There were many forms of specializations, not just type-specific. They could be based on abilities, attacks, or even coloration. The Kanto Frontier Brains were known for their unconventional Masteries. Pike Queen Lucy only trained Serpentine Pokémon, while Palace Maven Spencer was a Weather Master.
Surprisingly, very few Masters were generalists, the few Ash could think of were Champions Cynthia, Alder, former Champion Mustard, and World Champion Leon.
But type specializations were the most common. Specializing in a singular type made up a majority of Masteries, while two-type specialization was less common. Three-type was practically unheard of.
The reason being how fucking difficult it was.
There were two options, and both were brutal.
If a generalist wanted a Mastery, they had to defeat three Masters in a full battle. If a trainer specializing in a single type wanted a Mastery, they had to defeat three Masters with six Pokémon of that type. If Ash wanted a Chaos Mastery, he had to defeat three Masters with a full team of Darks. Then another three with a full team of Dragons. Then another three with a full team of Fairies.
Ash would have to defeat nine Masters.
And that was the quickest option!
The other was an apprenticeship with three different Masters. Most apprenticeships lasted anywhere from six to eighteen months, and unless Ash studied under a Fantasy Master like Champion Diantha, a Ruin Master, or a Jinx Master, it would take years before he earned the title.
There were no Ruin or Jinx Masters on top of that.
Ash didn't like the apprenticeship option because he would be neglecting two of his other affinities while he studied under a Master. Plus, there were only seven Dragon Masters, seven Dark Masters, and only four Fairy Masters. Almost all of them were Elite Four or Champions and hardly had time to take on an apprentice.
Both options weren't perfect, which is why Ash was considering a secret third.
Winning a conference would give him the chance to become a Kanto League Trainee.
It would give him the freedom to challenge the Elite Four, backfill or substitute Gyms, be lended out to other regions, and take on strong opponents. He'd get time to gain his Mastery while also traveling, training, and working with other Masters without being an official apprentice.
"As you said, I don't take the easy way." Ash didn't specify which Mastery option he'd attempt, but Brock seemed to know, actually breaking out into laughter at the look on Ash's face.
"You, Ash Ketchum, are one to watch." The fifteen year old shrugged. He didn't know why Brock was still engaging with him. People didn't usually stick around to chat this long.
"I don't know how you're going to catch enough Pokémon in Kanto to fit your specialization."
Another reason multi-type Masteries were rare.
There had been plenty of trainers that specialized in three types, some even specialized in four. But none had become Masters. Even Champion Steven Stone dropped the Ground typing from his Rock and Steel specialization, becoming a Geo Master instead of a Mineral Master.
On top of everything, keeping 15-18 Master-level Pokémon was practically illogical.
Yes, Champion Lance might train 13 Pokémon, but only eight were part of his Mastery team as a Tempest Trainer.
At the end of the day, Ash would need 16 Master-level Pokémon to become a Chaos Master.
"I'm not sticking around Kanto." At Brock's raised eyebrow, Ash elaborated. "I have about three weeks to get to Vermillion to catch a boat to Alola. Then I'm headed to Unova, then Kalos, and finally Galar. I'll come back to collect the rest of the badges before the League."
"You've really planned this out." Ash shrugged.
"I had to, there are no Dark types native to Kanto that I have a chance of catching, and I'm not counting on my chances of finding a Dratini." Ash wasn't planning on a Kingdra, they weren't the best out of water, and finding an Eevee was practically impossible.
Brock chuckled. "I don't know, you've already found Bane."
"Yeah and I don't expect a repeat of that good fortune." The Gym Leader's easy laugh washed over him again. It was oddly… nice, to talk to someone so openly.
"But there are a few Fairy types native here." Ash pursed his lips.
"Yeah but none that have a good secondary typing. As much as I love Clefairy, they don't care about battling much. Jigglypuff is out of the question, and, be honest, can you see me with a Mr. Mime?" There was the boisterous laugh again and Brock shook his head, eyes filled with amusement.
They approached the Pokémon center to the soundtrack of Brock's laughter. The Rock Master sobered just before they activated the automatic doors.
"I got my Mastery only a year ago, even though I've been Gym Leader for years. It's a tough road, and yours will be even tougher. Don't let anyone sway you from that path, even yourself."
Ash was speechless but was saved from responding when Janelle Joy caught their eye.
"I'm guessing you won, Ash?" The teen gave a quirk of his lips and nodded. The nurse smiled softly before grabbing two trays. "How'd this sleepy head do?" Ash looked down at 'Skitty' to see him valiantly trying to stay awake. Tapping the Heal ball to his head, he looked back at the nurse as Brock spoke up.
"This freaking Pokémon fooled me and Orria. Completely duped us. It was amazing." The two Pewter residents laughed together as Ash shrugged and looked away. He placed his two Pokéballs on the tray while Brock copied his movements.
"I'm never going to be able to look at Orria the same. I'm going to remember this for a long time." As the two Pewter residents spoke, Ash used the time to pin his badge to the inside of his vest. The badge was pure platinum, but was light enough that he barely noticed the added accessory.
"So Ash, who is your starter?" Ash actually grinned as he looked through his Pokédex camera roll. He brought up a picture he had taken while in Viridian Forest of Styx. Her two heads were facing each other, the right head's torn lip on full display. One had a blazing Fire Fang in her maw while the other had crackling Thunder Fang. The two heads had been practicing switching their attacks.
"Holy shi-"
"Brock!"
"-moly…" Nurse Joy shook her head in amused exasperation as Brock gaped at the screen.
"This is your starter?" Ash nodded with pride.
"Professor Oak introduced us two years ago. She's been with me ever since. She's actually getting really close to evolving, maybe another two months. Styx has been getting a little annoyed with the lack of battles lately. Back at the ranch we could challenge the strong Pokémon that were staying there but since we left she's been grumpy…" Ash trailed off when he realized he was rambing.
He never got to gush about Styx. But when he looked at the Gym Leader, he was smiling softly. Ash shifted in place, half in confusion and half in embarrassment.
"I can tell you have really good bonds with your Pokémon. It's wonderful to see. Especially with such controversial types. You're a good trainer, Ash." Instead of ducking his head like he wanted, Ash squeezed his thumbs and bit his tongue to curb the swell of… emotion.
"I'll tell you what… when you get back to Kanto, come see me. Your starter versus my starter. If you manage to beat me, I have something you'll love. Deal?" Ash didn't hesitate to grab the hand offered to him.
"Deal."
Ash stood before Mt. Moon and stared at the gaping pit that marked its entrance. It had only taken a day and a half to get to the mountain. He was honestly a little sad to say goodbye to Brock and Janelle Joy. He had actually felt… more than tolerated by people for once. People who weren't Professor Oak.
It was nice to be back on the road, though. Routes 3 and 4 were teaming with trainers looking to toughen up before tackling the mountain. Hemlock had defeated six opponents while Bane had managed four. Ash was still wary of letting him battle. If word spread too far that a rookie trainer had a Zorua, he'd be hunted down.
Easy pickings.
Luckily, Bane had managed to keep up his illusions for the entirety of the battles. His reflexes and focus were improving at an incredible rate.
He was incredibly relieved that Styx got two battles. Ash managed to convince two rangers to battle him, and Styx had defeated both their Pokémon. The first ranger had sent out a strong Sandslash that gave Styx a couple new cuts. The second ranger had a very aggressive Victreebel that almost, almost took her down. The poison had just about knocked her out when the burn the Grass and Poison type got from Fire Fang sapped the last of its strength.
Those two battles won him a pretty penny.
However, now he was feeling the pressure of time. After making his way through the other routes, he had a little over two and a half weeks to get to Vermillion. He could make it if he stayed on course and only stayed one night in Cerulean. The trek from Cerulean to Vermillion would take the longest. But if worse comes to worst he can rent a bike and quicken the journey. For some reason Kanto hadn't yet implemented Teleportation or flying taxi services like other regions.
Now he had to spend two days in a dark cave. He knew his Pokémon would enjoy it, but he wouldn't. The Mt. Moon range separated Kanto from the independent and isolated kingdom of Rota, its towering spires like clawed hands too high to cross. People, those merely curious or worse, had tried for decades to pierce Rota's borders.
All failed.
Brushing a hand against his three occupied Pokéballs, Ash looked up and took the plunge into the mountain.
Soft torches lit the way, luckily, so trainers wouldn't get lost. There had been an incident during the prime of the Rocket War where dozens of trainers had been ambushed in the mountain. There was a burial that friends and family could visit to pay their respects to the young teens that lost their lives in a war they had no part in.
Ash often found himself being grateful the war ended when he was still an infant. Mere days after he was born, really.
Halfway through the mountain, a campground was set up to help new trainers avoid the pitfalls of the lower levels. Of course, it wasn't mandatory to stick to the main path, but there were some Steelix and Golem that called this mountain home, and newbies did not want to come across those.
If he had wanted to catch a Clefairy, he would have chosen to wander deep into the heart of the mountain. But he was in a bit of a hurry, so he'd follow the status quo for now.
Ash finally got so bored he released Hemlock. It was both a great and horrible idea. Great, because the Impidimp was entertaining with his pranks. Horrible, because the Impidimp annoyed a lot of Pokémon and trainers with his pranks.
A beat up but satisfied Hemlock walked away each time.
After hours of battling, walking, and more battling, Ash could see the large cavernous campsite in the distance. Walking through the natural archway, he saw the large circular 'room' lit up with campfires, torches, and flashlights from dozens of other trainers.
He tried to hide his distaste.
Making his way to the far far side of the cave, away from any other rookies, he set up camp. He only had to remind Hemlock to stay close three times, which he counted as a win.
Dinner was soon dished out and steaming soup was warming his stomach when Ash heard his name being called.
Bracing himself, he looked up and almost sighed in relief when he saw long silver hair and not spiky auburn.
"Viktor." The other Pallet town native smiled while shifting on his feet in a nervous gesture.
"H-hey Ash. How've you been?" Raising an eyebrow, he was impressed with the coordinator. He was actually maintaining some eye contact with Ash. He didn't even seem to see Styx.
"I've been well. Got the Boulder Badge. Won some battles. You?" Viktor looked surprised and pleased when Ash responded. His smile grew and took on an odd heart-shaped quality.
"I've been great! I got a Seel from Professor Oak and a Smoochum from my mothers. I took part in a contest in Sable City and made it to the quarter finals." Ash was surprised. Viktor was always pretty quiet back in Pallet.
"Ice type specialty?" Viktor titled his hand side to side.
"Still deciding, but probably. Once I can manipulate the field, I want to do a figure skating routine with my Pokémon during the performance stage, like Kalos Queen Aria." Ash didn't smile but he did nod politely. Viktor, realizing that he might be overstaying his welcome, grinned awkwardly.
"Thanks for chatting with me, Ash. Good luck with everything. Hope I see you around." Ash actually did spare a smile at that and gave a single wave. Viktor hopped back over to his campsite by the entrance to the cave where he sat down next to a boy Ash didn't recognize with messy black hair and blue glasses.
Rolling out his sleeping bag, Ash watched as Bane curled up next to Hemlock. Styx looked around and growled in what could be satisfaction. She hunkered down next to his sleeping back with her heads facing the entrance. Feeling safe, even around all the trainers, Ash fell into a calm sleep.
An insistent, sharp poke to his cheek woke him up. The cavern was only lit by the torches on the wall when he blearily blinked his eyes open. Turning toward the offending-whatever still poking his cheek, he came to face a... large pink stomach?
Looking up, the Clefable held his eyes even as it poked him once again with a pointy claw.
Ash sighed and sat up, rubbing his eyes. Styx was watching with an amused quirk to her lips.
Traitor.
He turned to face the Clefable and could see two Cleffa and three Clefairy behind it. Dragging a hand down his face, he waved at the family of Fairies. All six cheerfully waved back at him before disappearing into a hole in the wall he hadn't seen before he fell asleep.
"Seriously?" He whispered incredulously in the dark. Low rumbling laughter could be heard from his back-stabber of a starter.
They woke him up to wave at him and leave.
Legends-damned Fairy types.
The light at the end of the tunnel was as hopeful as Oak's haikus described. He was ready to be done with the Mew-forsaken mountain. With its stale air and short-tempered trainers and annoying Fairies who woke him up for no reason.
Picking up his pace, Hemlock whined as he had to run to keep up. The midday sun on his face forced the tension to seep from his body. Cerulean was in the distance, all sparkling water and white buildings.
"Come on, we should be there in an hour." Hemlock grabbed onto his pant leg to hoist himself up Ash's back and land on his shoulder. Ash couldn't even pretend to be annoyed. He was happy the Impidimp felt comfortable enough to do this.
Jumping over ledges and wading through tall grass, the trainer winced everytime Hemlock's grip on his hair tightened too much as he kept balance. He had to sprint from a pissed Ekans after the Impidimp made faces at it from his perch.
Well at least he was never too bored.
As the police outpost got closer, Ash remembered Nurse Joy's advice. Tapping the black and white Pokéball to Hemlock's head, the teen walked the remaining distance to see an unassuming officer manning the post.
"Business?"
"I'm one of Oak's sponsored trainers. I'm here for the Cascade Badge." The officer looked impressed as he took Ash's Pokédex. He nodded when he validated his statement and handed the dex back without checking his team.
"Good luck, kid." Thanking him, Ash moved past and let the air rush out of his lungs once he was a safe distance. With his relief palpable, the teen finally took this time to look at the city. It was bright, gleaming, and the air tasted salty.
He walked along a briney river that led into the city. He could see a few Poliwag and Tentacool within the clear water.
Passing a line of boutiques, fishing supply stores, a bike shop, and restaurants, Ash finally made it to the center. It was somewhat busy inside, and from the conversations he overheard, there was a contest here in a few days. He waited in line and tried to block out the conversations around him.
"What can I do for you?" Ash looked at the familiar face of Nurse Joy but her gaze held no recognition.
"I'd like to get my Pokémon checked and book a room for one night." He slid over his Pokédex. When the nurse flipped it open to his profile, her face lit up in acknowledgement.
"Ah, Ash, Janelle told me about you. Any issues with the police outpost?" Ash fidgeted with his hat and shook his head. The nurse smiled and went back to her computer after sliding a tray to him. She handed him a card key as she handed the tray of Pokéballs to the Indeedee beside her.
"Let me know if you need anything else!" Thanking her, he went up to his room to set his bag down. It would probably be an hour or two before his Pokémon were ready. Might as well get shit done.
After stuffing his key card into his pocket, he made his way to the exit and headed to the gym. It was surprisingly close by, luckily, and the front desk had a pretty, pink-haired girl behind it. She looked up at the sound of the doors closing and smiled.
"Hello! Here for a battle or to get a ticket for the show?"
"A battle, Water Master Lily. Can I schedule it for tomorrow morning if there's an opening?" Lily smiled knowingly and nodded, taking his Pokédex.
"Yeah no problem, the earliest we can do is 8:45. Does that work?" Ash nodded his assent and waited as Lily typed into the computer.
"Ash Ketchum, alright you're all set for a two-on-two battle tomorrow morning! Since this'll be a second-badge battle, you'll be facing Misty. Good luck!" He nodded to the bubbly Master and walked out of the large stadium.
From what he knew, there were three Water Masters that took on the role of Gym Leader with a fourth Water Trainer that oversaw most battles. The Water Masters, Daisy, Violet, and Lily, would only battle in five or more badge battles. Otherwise, they focused on their shows. Misty, the youngest, had all the makings of a prodigy.
He heard she trained a Gyarados. Ash hoped he got to face it.
The League offered special treatment for generational Big Eight Gyms like the Waterflowers. As long as at least one Master 'ran' the gym, even just on paper, the family was given a grace period to gain their Mastery.
All of the ULA regions had Big Eight Gyms, pretty much the 'expert' mode for an already difficult challenge. Big Eight Gym Leaders had to be Masters while the dozen or so small-time gyms were run by strong Trainers.
Whenever a Big Eight Gym fell out a family, a League Trainee would take over until a permanent Master was found.
Shaking away his thoughts, he gazed around Cerulean until he caught sight of the shop he needed.
Walking past the fishing store and boutiques, he entered the bike shop. The girl at the counter looked up and waved casually.
"Hiya, what can I do for ya?"
"Do you do bike rentals?"
The girl nodded. "Sure do, we have sister stores in Fuschia, Vermillion, and Viridian where you can drop off the bike. Where ya headed?"
"Vermillion. How long do you think it'd take?"
"Probs a week and a half, give or take a day. There are some good battles to be had and some rare Pokémon along routes 5 and 6. We rent bikes for $45 a day. Extra $30 for insurance in case it gets damaged."
Ash nodded in understanding. "Great, I'll leave tomorrow, could I reserve a bike to pick up around noon?"
The girl popped her gum and nodded, reaching behind to grab a blank ticket.
"Name?"
"Ash Ketchum."
"Height?"
"5 feet 8 inches."
"Alright, I'll have a bike chosen and set aside for you. I can put your account into the system now so we won't have to worry about it tomorrow." Ash handed over his Pokédex and waited as she clacked away on her keyboard.
"All set. Pick up on Monday, June 15th at noon and return by June 28th at 5:30pm at the absolute latest. Payment will be finalized when you drop off the bike. Pleasure doing business with ya!" The trainer thanked the girl and slid his Pokédex in his pocket.
With still some time to kill, he stocked up on items from the Pokémart. Glancing at the few TMs available, he grabbed the reusable Protect TM that cost almost as much as his winnings from the Pewter gym. But strategic use of Protect could make or break a battle.
Finally he got the notification that his Pokémon were ready to be picked up. It was only early afternoon, so they had time to get some battles in at the Nugget Bridge. Ash thanked Indeedee when she handed him his Pokéballs and clipped them to his belt.
The walk to the northern edge of the city was pleasant and not too busy. The little ponds and streams that wove through the streets were beautiful and added a calm ambiance that made Cerulean his favorite city so far.
He saw the gleaming golden bridge and a woman in a smart suit off to the side. A small plaque read:
Nugget Bridge
Take the challenge!
Defeat 5 trainers in a row and win a wonderful prize.
Only $100 to enter
Shrugging, Ash pulled out his Pokédex and walked up to the woman. Her cat-eye glasses caught the sun when she looked up.
"Interested in the challenge?" Ash nodded and handed her his Pokédex to charge the entrance fee. The woman grinned and handed it back.
"There's a 10% success rate among rookie trainers. Good luck!" Shrugging, the trainer walked up the steps until he could see across the golden and white bridge. The Nugget Bridge took a hard hit during the Rocket Wars when it was unknowingly used as a recruitment site. The challenge was created to improve its reputation.
The first trainer on the bridge was a teen girl with blonde braided Pignite-tails. She cocked a hip and threw an energetic smirk his way.
"Only half of the challengers make it by me. One-on-one battle!" Simultaneously the two trainers tossed their Pokéballs. Bane, disguised as a Skitty once more, snarled at the opposing Poliwag.
"Tide, use Bubble Beam!"
"Agility into Fury Swipes." Bane dodged a majority of the widespread Water attack, concentration not wavering when the bubbles burst against his fur. Poliwag stumbled back against the onslaught of sharp claws.
"Hypnosis!"
"Taunt." Dark energy seeped into the Water type's body, disrupting the Psychic move. Ash didn't have to call an attack for Bane to take advantage of Poliwag's annoyance. Dark energy burst from his body, knocking the tadpole over and securing his victory.
The teen returned her Pokémon with a blink of surprise. "Wow, that was super impressive! Usually trainers aren't ready for Tide's Hypnosis. Your Skitty is strong! I didn't know they could learn Dark Pulse." Ash just shrugged and shook her hand before moving on.
He was lucky Bane could hold up his illusions as long as his concentration stayed strong. Ash had started the little Dark type on meditation to improve his ability to focus, often joining him.
The next trainer was an older boy who stood with his arms crossed and a bored expression. "This'll be a one-on-one battle. However, the rule is no non-damaging moves allowed. No status inflicting and no stat improving moves. Understand? Good. Let's go."
Hemlock landed light on his feet across from a twitching Sandshrew. Ash knew Hemlock's strength was status moves, but this would be a good lesson for him.
"Poison Sting then Rollout!"
"Fake Out then Sucker Punch." In the blink of an eye, Hemlock appeared before the little Ground type and slapped his hands together right in front of Sandshrew's face. The mouse stumbled back in surprise before a glowing black fist embedded in its gut.
The mouse recovered much faster than Ash or Hemlock were expecting. Curled into a ball, Hemlock was launched back from the impact. The teen watched to see what the Impidimp would do.
Hemlock danced to the side, narrowly avoiding the Sandshrew each time. Getting closer and closer with each pass as the mouse picked up speed, Ash's eyes widened as he realized what his little troublemaker was doing. When the Sandshrew was at full speed and racing toward Hemlock, the wily Pokémon smirked and dove out of the way.
He had been standing in front of one of the metal posts holding the thick railings.
A metallic gong rang through the air. Sandshrew was on its back staring dazedly at the sky. Before it could regain its bearings, a solid Drain Punch finished the job.
Hemlock ran over to Ash and started hopping and clapping. The trainer smiled and held out a hand. The Impidimp jump and smacked his hand to Ash's. He looked up at the other trainer.
"Hey man, nice work. I never said no dodging. Your Pokémon looks like he barely broke a sweat. Head on to the next opponent." Ash nodded in thanks, letting Hemlock walk beside him.
The trainer that awaited them was bouncing on her toes. "Hi hi! I'm your third challenge. This is going to be a double battle! Two Pokémon each. Let's see how your teamwork is!" Ash nodded to Hemlock and tossed Bane's Pokéball out. He was slightly surprised to see Bane had chosen the illusion of the Nidorino they had battled before Mt. Moon.
His opponent sent out a Butterfree and a Beedrill. Adrenaline flooded his body when he realized this would be a tough battle.
"Free, use Stun Spore, Bee, use Toxic Spikes!"
"Bane, Taunt. Hemlock, Double Team." Ash really, really loved Taunt. Butterfree and Beedrill started buzzing erratically as their anger grew. The two Bugs dove for Bane and Hemlock, but as Butterfree dove through a clone of the Impidimp, Bane stood his ground and spat out a small trickle of flame.
Incinerate was definitely a work in progress.
Ash watched his Pokémon drive the two Bug types crazy. Any time Butterfree dove at Hemlock, it would turn out to be a clone and give the wily Pokémon time to land a Draining Kiss or Sucker Punch.
Beedrill was jabbing its stingers at 'Nidorino' but he would hop out of the way and send a lick of flame or a burst of darkness at the insect. They were being worn down in the most annoying way possible. Ash could see Hemlock grinning and breathing deeply as he absorbed Butterfree's frustration.
Their trainer wasn't much better. "Free, Bee, switch! Free use Confusion, Bee use Poison Sting!" She practically growled the orders. Ash frowned and made a decision.
"Hemlock, take the Confusion, Bane, jump and use Incinerate." If that Confusion didn't affect the 'Nidorino', Bane would be found out. He really didn't want that to happen.
So Hemlock dove in front of the wave of Psychic energy, which had the unintended consequence of jumping in front of the wave of Poison Stings. The Impidimp cried out and started 'crying'. The fight drained from the two Bugs and they drifted closer, not heading their trainer's frantic call.
Bane lept from behind Hemlock and doused the two bugs in flame. It looked like the strongest Incinerate he had managed.
The two lightly smoking Bugs fell to the metal bridge. Hemlock hopped up from his dramatic crying pose with a wince. Bane meandered over and lifted his head in pride. Quickly pulling out two oran berries and a pecha, Ash quietly praised the two.
"Both of you were incredible. Hemlock it was genius to use Fake Tears when you did, and Bane your Incinerate is looking much stronger. Great work."
"You're definitely right, that was great work!" The girl had returned her Bugs and walked over.
"You definitely kept us on our toes. We'll have to figure out a counter to Taunt. Our whole strategy was torn apart within the first couple seconds. The next two challenges are going to be harder, I wish you luck!" Ash thanked her and shook her hand before returning Bane and Hemlock.
He walked for a few minutes before he came to the next trainer. This guy had bright red hair tied in a Ponyta-tail and a wild grin.
"Hey dude! Nice work making it to me! I could see smoke from your battle with Yelena. Your battle with me is just a good ol' fashioned battle before you take on the boss. One-on-one, but you have to use a Pokémon you've already used during this challenge. Ready?"
Ash shrugged and nodded. Not like he could use Styx. He hovered a hand over his belt trying to decide who to use. He finally decided on Hemlock and launched the ball to the field. His opponent released a serious Growlithe.
"Dive in with Flame Wheel, Pyro!"
"Double Team and punch." The flaming dog rushed through a clone and Ash stood back to see which attack Hemlock would choose. He watched in curiosity as the Impidimp charged up Sucker Punch for much longer than necessary. As the Growlithe swung back around, Hemlock swung his fist.
Ash blinked in understanding. He had built up enough Dark energy on his fist to protect him from the flames of the Flame Wheel. Very smart.
The Growlithe stood and shook his smoking fur and growled. "Howl and Fire Fang!" Ash frowned in concern when Hemlock barely danced out of the way. The consecutive battles must be taking a toll.
He watched the aggressive exchange between the two Pokémon for a few moments. Growlithe would jump with flaming jaws that would sometimes lock around wiry limbs. But then Hemlock would retaliate with an unforgiving Drain Punch to somewhat heal the wound.
Neither Pokémon had much steam left.
Covered in bruises and gashes, Hemlock and Growlithe stared the other down.
"Take Down!"
"Sucker Punch."
Trepidation had charged every nerve ending. Ash watched with a sense of detachment as Growlithe dove at Hemlock who wasn't moving.
And then Growlithe connected, and the image of Hemlock faded, and rising from a void of black, Hemlock bashed the Growlithe into the bridge. He didn't get up.
"Hemlock you learned Feint Attack!" For some reason he couldn't control the volume of his voice. The Impidimp tiredly smiled and slowly walked over to his trainer. Ash grabbed a potion and lifted the wily Pokémon into his arms. Hemlock sighed as he allowed his body to finally relax. The potion drew a soft cry from the Pokémon but soon his wounds were knitting together. He'd be sore for a few hours, but he'd earned the rest.
Tapping his Pokéball to his head, Hemlock disappeared in a sparkle of red light.
"That was such a good battle! That little dude packs a punch, for sure. You totally lucked out with that Feint Attack, man. Either way, good job! Your last battle is coming up. It'll be a doozy! See ya later!" Ash shook the extroverted trainer's hand and rolled his shoulders as he walked.
Even if he didn't win this last battle, he was exceedingly proud of Hemlock and Bane. They were improving drastically. Ash had even noticed a few tufts of hair sprouting on Hemlock's head. It was a good sign he was growing stronger. He'd most likely evolve before Styx.
Ash was broken from his thoughts when he saw his last opponent. The guy was bulky with spiky green hair and an annoying grin on his face.
He immediately disliked the guy.
"Sorry, buddy, your winning streak ends here. I've won 130 battles since I've started this gig, now it's about to be 131! This is a one-on-one; starter versus starter!"
Oh. He shouldn't have said that.
AJ suddenly felt his confidence fall when he saw the feral grin on the other kid's face. Red eyes seemed to light up in anticipation and AJ felt the foreign urge to run away. He watched as the teen plucked a Dusk ball from his belt.
He shook himself and growled. He wouldn't be intimidated by this newbie! Priming his Pokéball, AJ launched it and smirked when Sandslash landed in a burst of light and brandished his claws.
But then his opponent lightly tossed the Dusk ball and AJ made a truly valiant effort not to piss his pants.
What emerged from the ball was the thing of nightmares. Tough scaly skin, midnight fur, and two snarling gleaming jaws that were practically eye level with AJ. The growl the creature released was felt in his bones.
Oh Moltres.
"Bulldoze!" He cried in panic. AJ watched in morbid fascination as the immense beast actually jumped over the attack and shot a condensed ball of violet energy at Sandslash as he passed underneath. His back spines absorbed some of the attack, but still sent the mouse stumbling.
Sandslash whirled around in time to see the vortex of water descend on his head. AJ flinched when the Ground type's chin was smashed into the bridge from the force of the Aqua Tail.
Hope welled in his chest when Sandslash immediately released a few poisonous barbs from his mouth, but that hope shriveled and died when they pathetically bounced off the thick scales on the reptile's chest.
"Gyro Ball!" Sandslash fought through the pain and rolled up into a metallic silver ball that shot towards the Dragon and actually managed to cause some damage.
The Zweilous shook it off and proceeded to release an ear-splitting shriek that brought Sandslash to his knees. Another Dragon Pulse was launched at the mouse the second the sound stopped and sent him tumbling away.
"Sand Tomb, trap it! Then Brick Break!" Thick granules of sand fell from Sandslash's body before he sent them to swirl around the beast. The Dragon roared in annoyance as Sandslash rushed forward to deliver the super effective blow.
"Disrupt with Dark Pulse, then use Scary Face." As selfish as it was, AJ was relieved the Dragon's back was to him. He couldn't see the Scary Face, but poor Sandslash looked like he was having a heart attack. He might have to find a Poké-therapist after this.
AJ could only watch as his poor starter froze in the face of the opponent's Dragon Rush despite his shouts of 'Rollout'. He numbly raised his Pokéball to return his starter. One of the reptile's heads snorted derisively even though AJ could spot a limp as it walked back to the red-eyed trainer.
He couldn't help the awe that filled him when his opponent scratched both heads under their chins and he didn't lose any fingers.
This guy, this trainer, there was something…
Taking a deep breath and willing some of his fear to dissipate, AJ walked over to the winner and reached into his pocket.
"Wow." AJ meant to say something else, but the amusement in the kid's eyes calmed him somewhat.
"Yeah, maybe I shouldn't shit-talk anymore. Anyway, you kicked my ass, so here are your prizes. $2500, a TM for Shadow Ball, and this token. If you take this to the lighthouse at the end of this route, you'll get an evolutionary stone from the dude who lives there. He's the one who sponsors this whole venture." AJ saluted the freaky trainer and turned to walk towards Cerulean. His Sandslash needed some care.
Longer chapter. We got an info-dump with Masteries.
Specializations Mentioned and Notable People:
Dragon and Flying: Tempest Master Lance
Rock and Steel: Geo Master Steven
Dragon and Fairy: Fantasy Master Diantha
Rock, Steel, and Ground: Mineral Trainer
Dragon and Dark: Ruin Trainer
Dark and Fairy: Jinx Trainer
Something I didn't mention was that Generalist Champions like Cynthia, Alder, and Leon have what is considered a Species Mastery. This means they have at least six Pokémon that are the strongest of their respective species.
As a fun treat for myself, I sometimes include 'cameos' of characters from movies/TV shows/etc.
Yes, Styx is a bit OP right now.