"Lancelot Doryu Wataru Blackthorn."
Every single muscle in his body locked up at the carefully precise words that barely restrained a tsunami of rage. Lance was a grown man; one that embodied the ferocity of Dragons and the untamable force of the winds. A man that had been steeped in the horrors of war.
Lance had carved his place through blood, tears, and more scars than he could count. Peace had been brought to heel by his hand, by his might, by the blood and sacrifice of his family. He had tamed the Tempests as a young man and became their Master.
But an angry former Champion Samuel Oak was one storm he could not conquer.
Swallowing thickly and trying to stop the trembling of his hand holding the phone, Lance knew there was nothing he could say. There was no defense he could offer to spare his neck the chopping block.
"What have you done to my grandson."
He just had to weather this hurricane.
When Ash's awareness slowly trickled back, he had to blink a few times in confusion. He wiggled his fingers, feeling the grittiness of sand shift against the calloused skin. He could hear the crash of waves a few paces in front of him, but his view of the ocean was blocked by black feathers. It was becoming a familiar sight.
Memories filtered back to the forefront and he closed his eyes in resignation. Mew, what had he been thinking? Antagonizing a Champion? Lance? He had just been… so tired. Of the suspicion, the bias, the pain, the tiptoeing he had to do because of people's fear. When he realized Lance Blackthorn was one of those people…
Well, let's just say he didn't hold tight to his composure.
He'd just been so angry. The constant blazing agony of his arms only worsened it.
Closing his eyes, Ash took a deep breath, trying to center himself and think about this rationally.
He antagonized a Champion.
He had a panic attack because said-Champion released an Arcanine.
His starter attacked said-Champion and his Arcanine.
His starter demolished a villa in an effort to protect him.
His starter flew him away from taking responsibility.
...He did not have the money to repair a vacation villa.
Shit.
Ash had no idea how long he was out of it, but he was exhausted. He tugged on a few feathers and soon the swirling colors of sunset were blinding him.
Wait… Undella Town's beaches faced East, not West.
Looking around, Ash blinked. Huh.
The two were curled up on a tiny little island. He could see Undella Town in the distance, streetlights looking like pinpricks of stars as dusk drew closer. The sky was a soft shade of pink, but soon the violet of night would overtake the dusty rose. It calmed his still rapidly beating heart.
"Thank you for protecting me." A deep rumble was all he got in response, but soon he felt a ticklish sensation on his cheek and he couldn't help the fond and exasperated smile. For some reason the two smaller heads took comfort in flicking their tongues against his cheeks to assure themselves he was fine.
It was rather sweet.
Ash leaned back against his starter, letting his head thump against her thick scales. It was achingly peaceful here, surrounded by nothing but rhythmic waves and light shuffling of nearby beach grasses. Every so often, an Alomomola or Mantyke would jump out of the water, or a Swanna would paddle by, closely followed by a half dozen tiny Ducklett. Unfeazant and Tanquill soared overhead in a V-shape, beginning their migration to warmer climates.
At one point he even saw a Wailord breach the ocean and release a huge plume of mist, droplets catching the fading light of day.
He wasn't entirely sure how long he'd been away from town, but he really couldn't muster up the energy to care. He was so tired. He knew this would all catch up to bite him in the ass eventually, but for now, he wanted to enjoy the ambiance with his starter.
As always, the universe had other plans.
It was Styx lifting her heads and growling that alerted him to the incoming company. His starter pushed herself to her feet, curling Ash up in her tail, standing unflinchingly before the strangers.
But they weren't strangers.
Styx growled at the sight of the two Dragonite, wings flaring in warning. Her lips lifted in a fearsome snarl, prepared to protect what was hers. But the Dragonite were undeterred, gliding down to the island, landing with a spray of white sand. The two Dragons stood tall, each over seven feet tall, as their passengers hopped down.
Ash peaked out from behind the massive tail to observe their approach. He hadn't really had an opportunity to take in Lance earlier, but now that he had the chance, he realized how much the man radiated power.
Broad shoulders squared with self-assurance, burgundy hair spiked to add a few inches to his height and gold eyes burning like the sun. He had omitted his traditional Blackthorn Clan garb, and instead donned a flight suit of blue and black leathers. The cape was nowhere to be seen.
Yet it wasn't the cape that gave him the kingly aura. It might have been his towering height, or maybe his purposeful gait; either way, Lance was a leader through and through.
Didn't keep Ash from scowling at the jerk.
He could just catch the twisting of the man's lips before Grimsley's countenance drew his attention. The Dark Master was trying to hide it, but his concern was palpable.
"Red?" And wow, he didn't know so many hidden feelings could be attached to the nickname.
Styx shifted, hissing at the psychologist, but that was practically her seal of approval. She allowed the Elite to get close, but he didn't try to touch the trainer, what with the tree trunk-sized tail separating the two.
Ash pursed his lips, trying to ignore the red flush creeping up his neck from his embarrassment. "I'm alright. Just… caught off guard." Even he couldn't withhold his amused grin when Grimsley shot a heated glare at the Champion that had stopped a few meters from the group.
The Champion looked surprisingly… chastised? His hands were locked behind his back but his shoulders were tense and somewhat hunched. He seemed to take a fortifying breath before straightening up and locking eyes with Ash.
"I wanted to apologize."
Ash blinked.
"You were right, I allowed my fear at the resurgence of Team Rocket, as well as my bias against Dark trainers, to cloud my judgment. It was reprehensible to use my partner to intimidate you. I had no right. You've done the League a great service, and I'm sorry for tarnishing that." Even though his voice was strong and his words clear, Ash could hear the undercurrent of genuine regret… or at least, he thought he could. Emotions weren't exactly his forte. It could have been the strain from having to apologize.
Dragons were prideful, afterall.
Styx was growling, but she could hold a grudge like it was no one's business. He took the next few moments to gather his thoughts. "Well, I was kind of an asshole too."
Lance barked out a surprised laugh. "Maybe so, but you weren't wrong. You were defending yourself, and I can't really fault you for that. Plus, as hard as your words were to hear, I think I needed them."
Ash shifted slightly and tapped on the scaly appendage still separating him from the two men; a physical barrier to match his metaphorical one. "How bad was the damage?" Grimsley rolled his eyes but stayed quiet.
Lance shook his head. "You don't need to worry about that. I was told in no uncertain terms from two very angry Masters that I was being held accountable, and I would pay for the repairs to their villa. I'm inclined to agree. Don't worry, my wallet won't take too much of a hit."
"I wasn't worried." The defensiveness in his tone was either petulant or biting, and he was hoping for the second, but wouldn't hold his breath.
Neither Master acknowledged it, and for that he was grateful. Ash took the next moment of silence to pat Styx's tail (actually, it was more of a punch so she would feel it) to get her attention. "You can let me go now, he won't attack me." Styx gave an incredible approximation of a scoff and eyed the two resting Dragonite.
Ah, Styx knew they were stronger than her, and she was not risking her partner.
Without hesitation, the Champion returned them. Only then did the Hydreigon unwrap her trainer.
Minutes later found the three men seated in the sand, darkness quickly falling, Styx taking up post behind her trainer and glaring down at the two men like they were Caterpie. Grimsley had whined at the treatment, arguing he didn't deserve the suspicion.
("You flew over on a Dragon with Lance, that's all she needs."
"...Fair enough. Association with this dick would call for such a response."
Lance's sigh was resigned.)
The three sat quietly and watched the waves lap at the shore, all tied up in their own thoughts. The sun had disappeared beneath the trees in the distance and even though the two Masters' night vision wasn't ideal, no one made to move. Ash though, he could see clearly through the dark.
The night felt safer, Ash feeling more comfortable in the shadows, and Lance grasped the opportunity with both hands. "I know I have no right to pry into your recovery… but you don't have the Houndour with you, do you?"
Ash clamped down on the ire that wanted to bleed from his heart, but that was just masking his shame. He tightened his arms around his knees and tucked his chin a bit more. "No."
He couldn't see Lance nod, but he felt like that would be an appropriate response. "Understandable. Couldn't stand to be near my Flapple when I got an acid burn from her. Had to have my entire right rib cage skin-grafted. We're good now, though."
He could recognize an olive branch when he saw one. It felt like an offer of some vulnerability after witnessing another's.
"Would you recommend training a Flapple?"
"Whole-heartedly."
"Okay, I like the dark as much as the next guy, but this is getting weird." Ash chuckled as Grimsley reached into a small knapsack and brought out a portable lantern. The chill of the October night seemed to recede when light flared, but it was just a placebo. Ash wrapped his sweatshirt tighter around himself, which encouraged Styx to re-wrap her tail around him.
He caught sight of Lance eyeing the two of them. "The difference between the beast I met and the starter I see before me is astounding. You share an incredible bond. Deep. Deeper than most trainer and Dragon could hope to achieve." Pride practically oozed out of Styx; she even played it up a little by leaning down to nuzzle Ash and start up Familial Thrum. Ash smiled and rumbled back.
The vibrations carried through the air, charging it like a live current. Lance shifted in discomfort. "Yeah, trying that was extremely thoughtless, I get it." Styx huffed and nodded once, allowing the thrum to fade along with Ash's.
A Dragon Master schooled by a Dragon. Would wonders never cease.
"Oh, right, I have your reward, and… something else. For your capture of Domino, you've been awarded $250,000." Ash choked on his own spit. That more than triples his current net worth. Grimsley reached over Styx's tail to thump him harshly on the back with a shit-eating grin. Styx's smaller head lashed out, but Grimsley withdrew his hand before he could lose it.
Lance laughed lightly before digging around in his pocket, withdrawing a small box.
"My personal reward is a bit more… weighted, I guess you could say. It's partly a test." He tossed the box to Ash, making him scramble a bit to catch it. Pausing for a second, he slowly flipped open the lid and gasped.
Nestled in the crushed velvet bedding was a small marble that flashed every color of the rainbow when it caught the light. Coiled within the center was a short double helix. "A Key Stone…" He whispered reverently. He dragged a fingertip along the smooth glassy surface in awe.
"Yes. Mega Evolution is based on the bond between trainer and Pokémon. This was the best possible test I could give you. If you're able to find a compatible Mega Stone and get it to work, there will be no more doubts. I'm trying to be transparent, and I can't honestly say I trust you 100% yet. Bias doesn't just disappear within the span of a few hours. But I'm working on it, and this is for my peace of mind as much as a gift."
Ash could respect that, and he wasn't just saying that because he had one of the most potentially powerful items in his hand. Key stones were rare. Not Shiny Stone rare. Not Fossil Pokémon rare. Not even Zorua rare.
It went beyond that.
He can still remember the first time he witnessed Mega Evolution in a battle. Lance versus Cynthia. Mega Aerodactyl versus Mega Garchomp. It had been heart-stopping.
The power that the two behemoths had exhibited dwarfed anything he'd seen before. Their potential for destruction could not be overstated. And the way the Masters had moved in tandem with their Pokémon, like they were truly one, it was a connection Ash craved.
To be given something that could grant him that same potential, that same oneness…
And there was a sickeningly sweet fail-safe to such overwhelming power.
Love.
Mega Evolution was based on the bond between a trainer and their Pokémon. The more the two trusted and loved each other, the stronger the bond. The trainer and Pokémon had to know each other, inside and out. They had to understand the spirit of the other to achieve such power.
To be intertwined so unconditionally…
Lucario and Lopunny are said to have the easiest time Mega Evolving. There are hundreds of researchers attempting to quantify and measure affection; neuroscientists, endocrinologists, physiologists, microbiologists, sociologists, the list goes on. How does a bond between trainer and Pokémon spark evolution? How does it increase power? How does belongingness alter the body? Do trainers undergo changes just like their Pokémon?
The phenomenon took up a majority of Ash's interest a few years ago.
Ash gave a sharp exhale. "Now I just need to find a Mega Stone. That should be easy." His sarcasm was thick. He was a bit confused by the following silence but didn't comment. Shifting a bit in the sand, he got more comfortable against his starter. "I'm not sure how you just had an extra Key Stone lying around, but thank you for the chance to prove myself."
"I'm glad you understand my reasoning. I'd also like to extend an invitation to sit with me in the top box to watch the Vertress semifinals and finals."
Ash sat up suddenly, looking at Lance and his smug smile noticeable even in the low light of the lantern. "Are you serious?"
Lance laughed deep and throaty. "Yeah, just be there in five days."
Grimsley side-eyed Ash. "Don't worry, I'll make sure he's on time."
Ash's eyebrows furrowed and he frowned. "Why are we acting like I'm irresponsible?"
"Uh, because you destroyed a villa worth millions?"
Face draining of color and mouth gaping like a Magikarp, Ash hissed in a distinctly Hydreigon-esque way.
The isolated island stayed lively the rest of the night with echoing laughter and undignified silence.
"So, it'll take four days to get to Opelucid, but we could Teleport to Vertress after, sound good?"
Ash hiked his pack higher up and nodded at the Dark Master. Both trainers had dark circles under their eyes, neither getting a wink of sleep on the tiny island. The group of three had stayed up chatting, and even Styx had lowered her guard enough to sleep a few hours.
Surprisingly, he felt good. Some weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Knowing the Champion of your home region didn't actually hate your guts did wonders for one's stress levels.
His Key Stone had been slipped into the same container that held his Dusk Stone. He'd have to get it fit in some type of jewelry or accessory. His necklace was getting a bit crowded.
Between the gold beryl pendant, Styx's fang, and a rosy pearl Mirae had brought him, it was becoming a rather eclectic accessory.
For some reason, Grimsley was still traveling with him. Ash wasn't sure if the Master was bored, or if he was incredibly invested in helping him, but the teen couldn't find it in him to be annoyed. He liked the company for a change. He liked Grimsley.
Maybe Grimsley liked Ash's company too.
The rest of his team had been filled in on the previous day's events by a still pissed off Styx, so now, in the wide openness of Undella Bay, he was surrounded by half a team of rather intimidating Pokémon. Sagitta was flighty as always, uncaring of her trainer's emotional problems, only caring about his ability to train her. Castor, naturally, sneered until Bane, surprisingly, wiped the expression off his face.
Libra was a steady presence at Ash's side, while Nettle was a not-so-steady cling-on. Mirae decided he was once again okay with being carried by Ash, if only for today.
Styx's shadow was looming over the ragtag group as they traveled, the Hydreigon a couple dozen meters in the sky alongside Grimsley's Mandibuzz, watching over them all. Castor was still being drilled by Duvessa, and in an uncanny turn of events, Rogue the Liepard and Bane had become two peas in a pod. Riktor and Riot were tucked away in their balls to the relief of many.
The Tyranitar and Drapion were rather vicious.
Blackwell was an ever-ready presence at Grimsley's side, the Bisharp constantly scanning their surroundings.
Grimsley had already encouraged (forced) Ash into his 'Houndoom critical analysis' as soon as they left the seaside town. As the teen went through the motions, Nettle, Mirae, and Sagitta darted around like hyperactive children.
Which to be fair was practically true. He had no clue how old Nettle or Sagitta were, but he guessed Sagitta was a couple years older. It was rare for Pokémon that typically evolve through affection and bonds to evolve in the wild. She must have gotten really strong as a Togepi.
It was odd without Hemlock. Ash always had his devious Morgrem in his periphery just in case he ran off. His senses had been queued to the Pokémon any time he'd been out walking. It was making Ash a little anxious not having him there.
Grimsley was a good distraction, though.
"How would you go about countering Duvessa?"
Ash had been thinking of nothing else since he started traveling with the Dark Master. "Krookodile's two most effective weapons are its jaws and sand manipulation. Right now, my best counter, other than Styx, would be Libra. Her scales give her natural protection against Sandstorm and can withstand a Krookodile's bite strength to a certain degree. With Libra, I'd have to worry about scales getting ripped off and Ground manipulation. I've seen her turn Sand Tombs and Scorching Sands into solid masses, so holding a defensive technique like Protect or Iron Defense could help-"
"Protect is one of the most energy-draining moves around behind the Recharges, and Iron Defense would give her a temporary weakness to Ground attacks."
Ash scowled. He and his team have been working with Protect for months to make it more usable instead of a 'get out a jail free card' they could only use once per battle. If his team ever learned one of the Recharges like Hyper Beam or Hydro Cannon, he'd have to work on those too.
"What about an offensive strategy? Earthquake to disrupt Duvessa's hold over the ground and hot enough flames from Flamethrower to crystalize the sands?"
Grimsley grinned and shook his head. "Wrong again. Few Fire types are even able to create vitrified sand, Libra has only just started on the technique, and probably won't ever have the energy reserves for that. Plus, Duvessa can still control vitrified sand. Do you really think a non-Ground type can wrench control from a Krookodile? Try again."
"Catch her by the jaws."
"We'd never attack a Hakamo-o straight on, and even if that happened, that's what the elemental Fangs are for."
"Sound to disorient."
"Krookodile are guided by sight and smell." Grimsley's grin was only getting wider.
"Dragon Dance for speed and Sky Uppercut."
"Dive underground."
"Auto-" Ash stopped, voice cutting out as realization washed over him. "We can't." They both stopped walking, Grimsley watching Ash and Ash staring at nothing as he spoke. "I can't counter her, no matter what strategies or moves or Pokémon I have because some opponents are just too far out of reach." Ash looked up at Grimsley to see his grin gone, icy eyes intense.
"Yes. Every strategy you came up with is something we have faced before. What you need to counter Duvessa is experience. No matter how hard you train, you can never predict another trainer's methods or teachings or strategies until you've encountered enough of them. Your best asset?" Here, Grimsley poked Ash's forehead, eliciting a grimace from the teen. "You came up with five strategies in a minute, tops. That's going to get you far. Having a team that you can communicate those strategies to, that'll get you even farther."
The two resumed walking, Grimsley rather subdued and Ash deep in thought.
It was a wakeup call, and in a sense, a refreshing one. While Ash has lost plenty of battles at this point, there was always a voice in the back of his head telling him he hadn't been smart enough. Quick enough. Clever enough to win. And maybe that had been the case for some of them, sometimes there were people you just couldn't beat.
But that wouldn't be true forever.
Ash's eyes flashed and his heart burned and he missed Grimsley's smile as determination filled him.
A few hours of walking and talking later, Ash perked up when he caught sight of the little surf shop on the beach. Jogging over and ignoring Grimsley's questioning shout, he made his way onto the sandy expanse. Passing a few surfers with their boards, he went up to the desk.
The woman manning the counter looked like an Alolan native and had a wetsuit on. He could see a tribal Sharpedo tattoo peeking out from the neckline. "Hey kid, looking to rent a board?"
Ash shook his head. "Any diving tours of the ruins heading out soon?"
The woman's face transformed in an instant, a light blazing within copper irises. "Oh, finally. With the season ending, I haven't done a tour in ages. Do you have diving experience?" Ash nodded and pulled up his Pokédex where all his various certifications were stored. Oak had made sure he'd be prepared. "Fantastic. It'll be about $350, sound good? Awesome, come on back so we can get you suited up."
Ash turned and rolled his eyes when he saw Grimsley had already made himself comfortable in one of the lounge chairs. He watched Libra, Bane, Castor, and Styx head into the woods to hunt. They'd be gone for a while. He saluted his remaining Pokémon and followed the woman past the counter.
"I'm Moira, by the way."
"Ash."
The next twenty minutes were filled with getting his tank set up and the right size wetsuit, flippers, and mask. Moira's eyes rested on his scars for a few moments before shifting away. They did a quick refresher, how to equalize with the pressure, mask clearing, and the proper hand signs so they could communicate underwater.
"Alright kid, we'll have about two hours to explore the ruins. If you find a souvenir, grab it. But the place has been picked clean after all these years. Once your tank gets to 75 PSI, let me know. Usually it's 100 for first timers, so don't push it. My Sharpedo will take us to deeper waters."
"How is dual Dark type when it comes to training?"
Moira gave a surprised laugh. "I hatched her as a Carvahna, so it wasn't too terrible. Got the help of a Master when she evolved. Why do you ask?"
"I have some Darks."
"Huh." His scars were given another quick glance, but she just shrugged. And that was that.
They waded into the water before they tugged on their flippers. They swam deeper before Moira released her Pokémon. The Sharpedo was large and Ash was way too close to her teeth. The shark merely huffed at him when he latched onto her dorsal fin. Moira looked at him. "She likes you." The trainer wasn't given time to respond before the shark took off like a torpedo.
The ride only took a few minutes. There was a buoy to indicate the diving location and warn oncoming boats.
The duo took a few seconds to get their masks and regulators in place. Exchanging the universal 'okay' hand signal, Moira tapped her Pokémon.
Then they were underwater and Ash was in awe. The sunken ruins looked beautifully eerie. The weak autumn sunlight barely cut through the murky depths, but enough to highlight the dilapidated stone. The walls were covered with grime and algae and kelp. Hundreds of Water types were darting in and out of sight, schools of Remoraid the size of Wailord caught the midday rays that sunk through the water.
Mantine by the dozens cut lazily through the sea as Finneon and Lumineon danced around sleepy Clamperl. Moira guided the group away from a few Basculin that were eying them dangerously.
They finally made it to one of the crumbling doorways and slipped inside. It was dark where the light couldn't reach, but a few bobbing lures of Chinchou and Lanturn lit the way. Ash was sure his eyes were wide with wonder as they swam through the drowned hallways of what must have been a marvel.
A few times, Sharpedo had to scare away a curious Huntail or migrating Barraskewda, but other than that, their dive was focused on their surroundings. They weaved deeper and deeper into the ruins, passing still mounted candle sconces and long faded tapestries.
Ash could spend hours here. The wildlife and the other-worldliness of the place was intoxicating. Every so often Moira would sign at him to check his pressure gauge, but other than that, the two didn't interact. Ash would follow the guide when she pointed in a specific direction, sliding into lower levels where light grew more and more scarce.
Clicking on the lights attached to a chest buckle, the ruins gained a distorted glow. As soon as the light flickered to life, something caught out of the corner of his eye.
Turning to the flash, he squinted and lightly paddled his feet to drift closer. There was a shabby tapestry that had been shifted from their movements and hiding behind it was an empty groove.
Huh. His luck was so finicky.
Resting oh-so innocently within the groove was a single cuff, gunk and grime tarnishing the metal below after being exposed to the elements. He slowly reached in, the water's ripples causing the cuff to shift and lightly clink against the stone. Gently, Ash wrapped his fingers around the metal, wrinkled fingertips and eons of time giving him a sure grip. A surprising feeling of ComfortHomeWeightless washed over him.
His eyelids fluttered.
A muffled shout made him turn to see Moira giving jazz hands to convey excitement. Ash internally sighed in a weird state of bliss and shook the cuff to give her a better view. He rubbed his thumb along it to clear the gunk away and saw it was made of a shining gold metal.
The cuff was fascinating, a thin stretch of metal probably three to four inches long would rest along the arm. Three bracelets branched off the main part at right angles to wrap around the arm. The cuff was slightly more bulky where it branched, but tapered off into sharp points, leaving half an inch between ends on the underside. It was large, too large to fit on his arm without falling off.
Unzipping the little pouch connected to his person, he carefully tucked it into the bag and zipped it back up. He gave the 'OK' signal to Moira and the two continued on.
The remainder of the tour was much of the same, but right before the two turned around, Ash caught sight of a Relicanth. He pointed aggressively at it, trying to make Moira understand the implications. He could see her shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
But it was a Relicanth!
A living fossil! Hasn't changed in millions of years! Most were in research facilities! What the Nether, Moira!
Risking the possible loss of his dex, he pulled it out to snap a picture, thanking Mew that Oak took his request to make the dex waterproof.
Moira and Sharpedo let Ash stare for a few more minutes before forcing him to grab the dorsal fin once more. The journey out of the ruins was at least 5x faster than their journey in. Darting out of the fractured walls, a Gorebyss was startled out of the path.
Breaking the surface, Ash ripped off his regulator and mask, allowing himself to finally breathe normally and not the overly rhythmic breathing required underwater. He was sure his face was creased from the mask, but it would go away with time.
"So cool you found something! No one has found anything for years. But I've never seen a Relic Band like that before."
Ash turned and smiled at Moira. Her passion for diving was visible in everything she did, it was hard not to admire. "Thanks!" He didn't mention how the cuff felt… familiar in an odd way.
Moira waved a hand. "There's a collector who will pay a pretty penny for that."
Ash immediately shook his head as a rush of possessiveness came over him. "No, I like keepsakes. I'm going to get it cleaned up and fitted."
The two made sure their equipment was secure before Moira patted Sharpedo's side for her to take them back to shore. Even from far away, Ash could see the large form of Libra on the shore, curled up on the hot sand as her scales reflected the October sun.
Ash made sure to wave to the teammates that weren't napping as he followed Moira back inside. Toweling off, he gently pulled on his clothes and grabbed his possessions from the locker. The cuff was wiped off and safely put away with the Dusk Stone and Key Stone.
Once he was back outside, hair dripping onto his shirt, he waited a few moments for Moira to come back out. The two shared a grin and clasped hands. "Thanks a bunch. I've had that on my bucket list for a long time."
Moira released a joyous laugh and released his hand. "I was happy to help. That cuff is probably pure gold, we get a lot of that around here, but never molded like the one you found. The civilization that inhabited those ruins had found a huge swath of gold in the rocks here. Pretty sure it sparked the gold rush."
Ash nodded and gave a salute, jogging back over to a napping Grimsley whose pale skin was slowly turning red. Due to sensitive hearing, all the napping Pokémon blinked awake, and Ash's teammates greeted him with various grumbles and grunts.
Kicking Grimsley's leg until he shot into a seated position, Ash grinned and stepped away. The Dark Master looked around until his eyes caught Ash's. A single eyebrow lifted slowly. "I don't think I've ever seen you this light."
Wow. Wasn't that a loaded statement?
Uncomfortably brushing the comment away, Ash gestured to the road. "Come on, it's been hours. Let's get moving." A shadow flashed over them and really, Ash had to commemorate Styx's timing. Tilting his head back, he watched the magnificent Dragon circle overhead, much to the weariness of the public.
"Yeah, yeah I'm ready. Let's go."
"Okay, okay, Nettle!" Ash couldn't withhold his laughter as the little Poipole nuzzled his face. The beast had just perfected Protect's basic dome-like version and it got a bit… cuddly when there was a new accomplishment. It had happened when the beast mastered Sludge Wave and Gastro Acid.
Quick as a flash, Ash grabbed the beast around its waist and pulled it into his arms. He dug his fingernails into the scales on its flank and revelled in the echoing laughter he elicited. The Poipole tried to kick his fingers away through its giggles but it was half-hearted at best.
The group was about an hour away from Opelucid, and that meant another police outpost. Undella Town didn't have one, but he felt a little better having Grimsley with him.
"I know you've been battling with Nettle, but is it going to be one your 'Master' team?"
Ash eyed Grimsley, unsure if the Elite was mocking him. "Nettle's a Poison type. I can't." It was Grimsley's turn to eye him with confusion. Ash's next words were spoken slowly and a bit condescendingly. "I can only use Pokémon of Dark, Dragon, and Fairy types in any official Mastery battle."
The Elite stopped in his tracks and looked at Ash like he was an idiot. The teen scowled up at the man. "Dear Zekrom, Ketchum, I thought you studied this shit." Grimsley didn't even crack a smile at the teen's flabbergasted expression. "You're allowed one non-specialized Pokémon per Master team as long as they fall into one of two categories. One, they're capable of learning a minimum of three techniques of your Mastery type. Two, though a little more specific, they're part of the corresponding egg group. Let me see if I can remember the right egg groups, uh, Water 1, 2, and 3, Dragon, Bug, Flying, Fairy, and Grass.
"Why do you think Lance has an Arcanine? It was one of his first captures. Agni can learn Dragon Pulse, Dragon Breath, and Outrage. Marshal has a Darmanitan that was also one of his early catches. All those trainers who train a team and then decide to specialize, you think they just abandon their first catches?" Ash didn't have an answer to that.
"I have a Gliscor that I used to get my Mastery. He was my third ever Pokémon. Fang has Night Slash, Brutal Swing, Throat Chop, and Hone Claws in his moveset."
Ash was completely baffled. "Why didn't I know this?"
Grimsley snorted and shrugged before he started walking again. "Beats me. So, care to answer my question now?"
He debated not answering just to be a dick, but decided against it. "Then yeah, I'll definitely use Nettle if I'm able and it can learn the right moves. I doubt they'll fit into my Fairy team. But I don't know if I'll catch any others outside my specialties. There aren't really any Pokémon that catch my interest other than my affinities."
"Thought I'd ask."
They fell back into silence until Grimsley called for Mabosstiff, Manectric, and Houndoom counter strategies.
Shockingly, Ash passed through the Opelucid City outpost with no issue, but that could have been because Grimsely was glaring at the man looking through Ash's dex. They slid into the city and Ash's eyes hurt from the glare.
Everything was built in a light gray stone that reflected the sun every which way. Each building was very…. Square. Cookie cutter, almost. The entire city was blanketed in a quiet, preternatural air, the sun seemingly subdued. People walked slowly, like they were drifting from one destination to the next.
How this could be a Dragon-based city was anyone's guess. There was no energy.
"God I hate this place." Ash couldn't help the startled laugh that escaped him at Grimsley's sour words. The Elite had his hands linked behind his head with his eyes closed, uncaring of the people leaping out of his way.
"Why is it so… boring?"
Grimsley sighed dramatically and shrugged. "Probably 'cause Drayden is a crotchety old dude who runs the city like it's a juvenile delinquent center? There's a curfew and everything. Total bullshit. The only people who choose to live here are the ones who love order and regulations, so it's not like anyone complains. Even the man's own grandson prefers to stay at his school instead of here." A slow and wicked grin made its way onto the Elite's face. "You should see the squabbles he and Elesa have, so chaotic." Ash rolled his eyes at the pointed pun.
"Yeah, I'd rather not spend too much time here." Ash ignored Grimsley's sigh of relief as they continued their trek through the city. A visit to the center wasn't necessary, and he didn't need to rent a room, so straight to the gym.
And… wow what a gym.
For such a sleepy city, the gym was beyond ostentatious. An enormous octagonal pyramid made of white marble loomed in the center of the city. Two black massive marble busts, one a Haxorus and the other a Druddigon, were embedded into the structure on either side of the entrance.
By Mew, this looked more like a place of worship than a gym.
Ash knew his face was distorted with his disgust purely from Grimsley's loud guffaws. Elbowing the Dark Master, they walked into the epitome of ego that was a building.
The last four days with Grimsley had finally carved away any remaining uncertainty when it came to their companionship. Ash, to his absolute and flabbergasted surprise, trusted the man. With Grimsley refusing to coddle him or back off when the teen was pissed, Ash had finally started accepting that his PTSD wasn't something to be ashamed of. The man was really only his therapist half the time, and a travel companion the other half.
Once he had gotten past the particular obstacle of accepting his new reality, it was like he was making leaps and bounds of headway. He even watched Grimsley's Poochyena play with Mirae the night before without spiraling.
It was a heady sense of accomplishment.
But he was realistic. It would still be some time before he could bring Houndour back. Grimsley had mentioned video-calling the canine with Professor Oak present to act as a mediator.
Ash had to admit, he wasn't looking forward to the day he and Grimsley had to part ways. He never felt like this before, like his own particular brand of sharp edges and brittle emotional stability didn't need explaining.
Because Grimsley was the same.
A kindred spirit without any of the softness.
Shaking the thoughts away, Ash walked up to the front counter, catching the attention of the blue-haired trainer behind the desk. The guy arched an eyebrow with a mixture of amusement and confusion. The man opened his mouth but all that came out was a choked cough when he saw Grimsley. The guy jumped to his feet like he was a soldier awaiting orders, face pale as a Cursola.
"E-elite Four Grimsley, sir! What brings you to Opelucid Gym? Would you like me to call Leader Iris?" The Dark Master rolled his eyes, looking bored as all Nether.
He waved a lazy hand. "Chill, kid. I'm here with him." Grimsley jabbed a finger into Ash's ribcage, making the teen glower, much to the Elite's amusement.
The gym trainer turned to Ash with a weird respect-slash-fear in his eyes. "Yeah, I'm here to test some of my Dragons against Iris. She around?"
The trainer finally got a grip on his emotions and a modicum of professionalism returned to his stance. "Yes, she's not leaving for the conference until tomorrow. Let me get your info and I'll contact her." Ash handed over his Pokédex and tapped his foot alongside the click-clack of computer keys.
Huh, no touchscreen. He thought everything in Unova was touchscreen.
"Head on through." Ash gave a deadpan salute and pocketed his dex. Grimsley snorted but followed him through the doors.
Across the field was a girl in her mid teens tossing an Ultra ball up and down. Her dark skin and wild deep mulberry hair contrasted with her ivory and pink two-piece ensemble. Long cream pants hemmed with pink bows matched the cropped cream top with another pink bow at the neckline.
"So, you're the upstart kid who wants to be a Dragon trainer?"
Ash internally bristled but didn't rise to the bait. He had read about Iris's tactics. She might not be the strongest gym leader in Unova, but she still had one of the more difficult badges to obtain.
All because she purposely pissed off her challengers before the battle.
"Look, I'm not here for a badge. I have two Dragons and wanted to test them against a Master. But since I can't find one, I settled for you."
He heard Grimsley give a shocked snort from behind him, but he was more focused on Iris.
Oh she was mad.
Her face was twisted into a snarl and the Ultra ball in her hand looked like it was going to shatter with how white-knuckled her grip was.
Guess he struck a nerve.
"Oh, I'll give you a Master battle."
Ash let a sharp grin stretch his lips. "I'll be the judge of that."
The two took their places in the trainer boxes and didn't waste any more time. With two flashes of light, the ground shook with the combined weight of two Dragons slamming down.
Libra stared at her opponent, her towering height giving her a slight edge over the Druddigon ten meters away. The cave-dwelling Dragon's growl sounded like grinding rocks that could still be heard over the loud clanging of Libra's scales.
Druddigon were interesting Pokémon, with their thermoregulation so inadequate they practically become petrified if they get too cold. The Dragons lost their ability to fly over the eons, but their vestigial wings took on a new purpose; storing fat and absorbing ultraviolet radiation. The sun's energy gets cycled through their bodies extremely efficiently, Druddigon only needing a few hours of sunning every few weeks to survive.
But the Cave Pokémon were known to be vicious, kicking Onix and Steelix alike out of their underground homes.
Both Dragons tensed at the sight of the other, eyes glinting with challenge.
One thing Ash would never tire from is the reaction that the Hakamo-o's appearance garnered.
Iris's eyes had practically lit up upon seeing the Alolan Dragon. Her stance had widened slightly, now taking the battle a bit more seriously.
Ash dragged his attention back to the Druddigon. Its Rough Skin wouldn't mean much in the face of Libra's scales, but those claws could spell trouble if they could get beneath.
As soon as the buzzer rang to start, it was all out.
"Dragon Dance."
"Hone Claws."
"Rock Slide, make it dance."
Iris didn't call for a counter, merely watched as her Druddigon wove between boulders or smashed them to pieces with Rock Smash. Ash watched with intense eyes to see how the pure Dragon moved. Druddigon as a species had surprising reach with their long arms, and this one used them to push against the ground with agile strength. He caught a smug smirk from the Opelucid leader. Ah, she was showing off.
Well, if she wanted to tire out her Pokémon, he was more than happy to let her. "Dragon Breath." The vibrant violet blaze razed the field, yet the Druddigon coated its head in metallic energy and ran straight through in a remarkable feat of power.
"Our turn. Overwhelm and destabilize!"
All of a sudden Dragon Pulses were shot out at a rapid speed, two catching Libra in the chest and shoulder before she managed to tear them apart with Dragon Claws, her reflexes faster than ever after her time spent with Blackwell.
Bursts and wisps of draconic energy danced around Libra, looking as if her scales were aflame.
He held his breath and waited for the timing of the barrage to falter before calling "Dragon Dance!" just as a Bulldoze tore up the field.
The Ground type technique met Libra's smooth movements and only made her stumble slightly. Ash waited a few moments before he yelled, "Screech!". The wince and roar of pain was what they needed. The rumbling ground quieted, and Libra pressed her advantage with the speed boost of Dragon Dance when all 600 pounds of Dragon barrelled into Druddigon with a Sky Uppercut.
Betraying its skill, Druddigon flipped itself over and landed in a skidding crouch, deadly claws leaving deep furrows in the field.
And then they clashed.
The reason Ash wanted to challenge Iris was because he hasn't had the opportunity to battle another Dragon type on his journey other than Altaria and Flygon.
Nothing could have prepared him for the rush.
It wasn't just the strength and potential for destruction. These Dragons had their pride on the line, and nothing was more important to a Dragon than their pride.
Ash had to consciously restrain himself from stepping toward the aggressive display before him. Libra's bulky forearms were useful shields, able to block some of Druddigon's more predictable attacks. Druddigon was experienced, bulky, and savage, giving it an edge over the younger Hakamo-o.
It was fascinating watching Druddigon battle purely because it was a master of itself. Each time Libra went for a biting technique, it oriented its body so she was biting down around the pointed spikes littering its body. It knew the skin on its head was dense, hard, and had very few nociceptors, allowing it to tank hits without pain.
But Libra used her scales to her advantage, overwhelming the Dragon at integral moments to elicit a flinch and give her an opening for Drain Punch to steal some energy back. Druddigon were used to dark caves, so their hearing and olfaction were their strongest senses.
"Sludge Bomb!"
"Iron Defense." Libra snarled and coated her body in the Steel type energy, the most noxious of the toxins sliding right off. But Druddigon used that against her. It lept the short distance between them and rained fire and fists on the Totem.
Rock Smash, Flamethrower, and Fire Punch started chipping the energy away, and soon scales were cracking under the assault. Libra had lost her rhythm with parrying and blocking and it showed. Druddigon packed a very mean punch.
"Protect! Regroup." Libra roared and the misty green dome exploded from her body, pushing the pure Dragon away. Ash took a few-second reprieve to look at his teammate.
The scales on her forearms were cracked with dark black blotches already forming between the gaps. Her chest was mottled and some of the scales had impaled her, luckily only shallowly.
But her eyes were burning and a wolfish grin that looked too much like Bane's had made a home on her face.
"Rock Slide!" Libra roared, slamming her meaty fists against the ground, pulling boulders from her own energy town around Druddigon.
Iris yawned, flicking a wrist, "Rock Smash." Druddigon tore through the attack like the high-velocity boulders were mere pebbles. The cave dweller closed the distance like a speeding semi. "Outrage!"
Ash steeled himself. Libra inhaled.
"Endgame!"
Libra's red eyes squeezed shut against the deluge of violent, raging energy that Druddigon rained down on her. She did not move, she did not try to dodge, she did not fight back.
She took it.
Scales tore and shattered beneath the assault. Skin split, blood welled, bruises bloomed.
Then her eyes snapped open, blazing.
All at once, bright white light erupted from the Hakamo-o's pores, gathering around a single fist.
It struck Druddigon's temple.
And Druddigon knew flight once more.
Ash winced at the sight of his partner. Blood ran in streams down her fists, the scales that formerly protected her knuckles long gone, stripped away. Leathery gray skin was revealed, and even that was more blood than flesh. Her chest looked mangled from the onslaught, darkening to a frightening shade of black.
When Druddigon shivered but didn't rise, Libra didn't even have the energy to roar.
And then she fell.
Ash returned his friend before she hit the ground.
She took unimaginable damage to unleash that Bide and Counter combo. But she won.
She took down Iris's Druddigon.
Oh, they'd probably wouldn't be able to repeat the feat again until they were actually on Iris's level, but for now…
Libra proved her tenacity.
Hearing a whistle from across the field, he looked up to see Iris with an odd expression on her face. "Alright, just… damn. I haven't had a battle that bloody in a while. Let's chill, yeah?"
Ash shrugged, he wasn't sure Styx knew the meaning of the word 'chill'. "Sure."
Iris beamed, her whole countenance suddenly a 180. "Great! I must admit, that was fun. Druk is almost on my main team, and you managed to take him down. How long have you been a trainer?"
Ash shifted and clipped the Ultra ball back to his belt. "Uh, almost six months. But Libra was one of the Totem Pokémon of Alola, so she was already strong when I caught her."
Iris blinked. "Holy shit, and she listens to you? Is she your strongest?"
A wild grin answered her question, a Dusk ball primed in his palm. Iris laughed, head tilted back in glee. Her maroon eyes were bright, even from across the field Ash could see her excitement. She pulled out a Luxury ball and just like before, both Pokémon were released simultaneously.
"How do you have a Hydreigon?!"
The shriek was music to his ears. Styx landed on the field, tail smashing the ground and her unholy screech eliciting a challenging roar from the opposing Haxorus. She was sick of Riktor pushing her around like she was a hatchling. She was back on a somewhat even playing field.
"Meet my starter."
Iris let a grin slowly light up her face. "Oh, this'll be fun." And the buzzer rang.
"Hyper Voice, Stone Edge."
"Roar, Laser Focus!"
Ash and Iris scrambled to cover their ears as the high decibel moves assaulted their ears. Styx thrashed and stomped the ground, pillars of stone crashing through the surface of the field. Haxorus' eyes flashed and soon it was side-stepping the craggy rocks. A few times it got clipped in the shoulder or tail, but all were superficial wounds.
"Into the sky."
"Focus Blast!"
"Spin and Dual Wingbeat." Styx roared and her body was enveloped by the turbulent Flying energy. She tucked her wings and twisted, her body looking like a black and blue blur. The rapid-fire Focus Blasts couldn't penetrate the improvised barrier.
"Dive!"
"Outrage!" The ensuing explosion caused both trainers to cover their faces, dirt and heat irritating the eyes. A heart beat, two, and then Styx swooped from the cloud, a little battered but nothing horrendous. There was barely a pause before a Dragon Pulse caught her in the leg, eliciting a furious shriek.
"Dark Pulse." Her mastery over the attack was displayed when the black energy discharged from her body like a sphere of night the moment the command left Ash's lips. A sharp grunt and then Haxorus could be seen stumbling from the still settling cloud of debris.
They pressed forward.
"Engage! Triple Threat."
"Superpower!"
Ash gritted his teeth as he once more observed the might of Dragons. The two looked like feral beasts, punches amplified, slashing tusks, and kicks meeting elemental fangs and point-blank Tri Attacks.
An Ice Fang from a secondary head caught Haxorus' neck and a blast from Tri Attack chipped its left tusk. Styx snarled, her three heads giving her a slight advantage. The pure Dragon type would block one head, just for the other two to land stinging bites. One arm was having trouble with slight paralysis while its flank had a smoldering burn.
But then Haxorus's massive head flailed in a thrashing motion, tusks slicing through the scales and feathers and flesh of Styx's smaller heads, making them retract for safety.
"Point-blank!"
Ash's eyes widened and he shouted, but the Draco Meteor was charged up faster than anything he'd ever seen.
Styx took the blast to the chest, and he didn't know someone of her bulk could be sent flying with such force.
She landed and skidded and bounced against the already torn up field. Feathers and small blue scales were torn from her body and when she finally rolled to a stop, two wings were bent awkwardly and one of her magnificent fuschia crest feathers was gone. A smoldering wound smoked from her chest.
Ever-so-slowly, she twitched and shook but forced herself to her feet.
"Holy Reshiram…" The Opelucid leader's eyes were bugging out of their sockets as she watched the rare Unovan Pseudo-Legend push herself to her feet after taking a point-blank Draco Meteor.
Ash knew they couldn't win this fight, but the pride suffusing his body didn't give a shit. The breaks and wounds littering his starter's body would take time to heal, but he knew she would never forgive him if he called this match.
Fuschia met red, and fire burned in their hearts.
"Stone Shower!"
"Laser Focus!"
The Stone Edge was expected, but the simultaneous charging and firing of an airborne Draco Meteor took every ounce of focus and power Styx could manage. Haxorus' eyes glowed once more and danced away from the stones erupting underneath. The slight exhaustion, paralysation, and burn allowed some stones to slam into it, but that wasn't the main course.
The inferno raining from above was.
Ash thanked Mew when the first meteor struck Haxorus. The Ax Jaw Pokémon was struck on the side, sending it down to one knee. The next hit between the shoulder blades, forcing it to its stomach. Haxorus was obscured from the subsequent impacts.
His eyes slid to Styx, his heart giving a painful beat when he saw her legs had given out. She was lying on her side, but all six eyes were open and trained on her opponent. His starter, fighting till the end.
When the barrage finally ended, Haxorus looked rough. Scales had been knocked loose, its previously chipped tusk now had a whole chunk gone, and scorches littered its entire body.
But it was standing.
Until a single Dragon Pulse shot it in the chest and sent it flying onto its back.
Styx snorted derisively and then lost the battle with her own exhaustion, slipping into unconsciousness.
Ash choked... and then burst out laughing.
She was so petty. He loved her.
Haxorus grumbled and managed to get to a kneeling position. Ash didn't even care that he lost, that was an amazing battle. He quickly returned his downed starter and fervently whispered his thanks to the Dusk ball before clipping it to his belt.
He looked up to see Iris and Haxorus slowly making their way over, so he jogged the remaining distance. The two sized each other up for a moment before smirking and clasping hands.
"That… was one amazing battle, kid. I feel like I should be insulted or something that you're only six months into your journey and you almost tied with one of my strongest. But I'm just running on an adrenaline high right now."
Ash kept his smirk but shrugged and released her hand. "I got Styx two years before I left on my journey. She was already a Zweilous, so I got a head start with her. She's my strongest, but Libra is a somewhat close second. The rest of my team are determinedly closing the gap though."
Iris just clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't sell yourself short. But you aren't only training Dragons?"
"Nope, he isn't!" The two startled and turned to see Grimsley walking towards them with a shit-eating grin on his face. Iris glared a little heatedly at the Elite she's yet to defeat before understanding dawned on her face.
"Really, Dark types too?" Her expression was open curiosity so Ash nodded.
"Yeah, and Fairy."
Iris gaped. "Chaos trainer, wow." She breathed. "That's badass. I'm kinda shocked Grimsley is training you." Ash swallowed and looked to Grimsley, but the man shrugged, pretty much saying it was up to Ash if he wanted to tell the truth.
He minutely shook his head and Grimsley merely nodded.
"He's really kicked my team into shape. I doubt Styx could have done what she did today without his help."
Grimsley put a hand to his chest and fluttered his eyes. "Stop, you're making me blush."
Ash rolled his eyes and muttered, "Jackass."
"Prick."
"Dick."
"Dipshit."
"Motherf-"
"OKAY!" Grimsley and Ash jumped and turned to see a fuming Iris, her battered Haxorus growling from beside her.
Grimsley waved her off. "Come off it, lighten up. Didn't mean to offend your delicate sensibilities." Iris pursed her lips but elected to drop the subject. Grimsley pouted but turned to Ash. "On a serious note, that was an incredible battle. Let's get to the center so your two mutilated Dragons can get fixed up."
Ash nodded and turned to Iris. "Thanks again for the battle." Iris grinned and waved, watching them leave.
The teen breathed deeply once they were outside, the epinephrine coursing through his veins slowly subsiding and leaving him bone-tired. He felt a clap on his shoulder and turned to the Elite, but he wasn't looking at him. Ash smiled to himself, knowing this was Grimsley's heartfelt congratulations.
They made it to the center with little fanfare, and Ash handed over his two Dragons and warned the nurse about their extensive injuries. "It'll be around three hours before they're ready."
Ash nodded in thanks and looked to find Grimsley. The man was at another desk and was taking his credit card back from the cashier. "Hey, I have a scheduled Teleport to get us to Vertress, it'll leave in four hours, is that enough time?"
"Yeah, there should only be three to heal up the Dragons. I'm going to send Bane to the lab and bring back Hemlock, though. Want to grab lunch?"
Grimsley shrugged and dramatically gestured for Ash to lead the way. Used to his brand of excessive sarcasm, Ash didn't deign to respond and instead headed out to the city. They found a quiet sports bar to grab a burger. The place was covered with TVs, some showing a match between the Driftveil City Drilburs and the Circhester Cryogonals and others playing the news.
Ash bit into his food, before his eyes narrowed and cut to the man sitting beside him. Grimsley wasn't eating, instead staring at his burger like it held the answers to the universe.
The Dark Master noticed his attention, and pursed his lips. "I'm… ugh." His nose wrinkled like he hated what he was about to say. "I'm impressed, okay?" Grimsley saw the grin tugging at Ash's mouth and glared at him with all the warmth of a glacier. "Fuck off. See if I give you any more compliments."
Ash shoved a bite of food into his mouth, eyes dancing with mirth and something a little softer. Grimsley scoffed, dropping his food and using one disgusting hand to roughly ruffle Ash's hair. Ash was so startled he dropped his own food, ducking his head and freezing at the casual affection.
He felt Grimsley's hand retract and did the first thing he could think of.
He flicked the center of the man's forehead.
Grimsley's expression dropped to careful neutrality and Ash felt himself pale with a strong sense of foreboding.
"Oh it's on."
Imagine that Styx sounds like the Nazgul from LotR
Ash has some fun jewelry in his future
Oooh Lance got full-named by Oak. I wanted to give him a kinda embarrassing first name. Sorry to anyone named Lancelot.
Lance has an Arcanine in Pokémon Stadium, and I thought it was a fitting Pokémon for him. We learn how he can have Agni on his Master team.
We're about 25% through the fic! Cheers!