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OFARiolu: Well, if you like Ash x Karen then you'll enjoy this chapter.
Ash's current Pokémon and their nicknames:
Espeon (Artemis)
Trapinch (Imperial)
Chinchou (Neptune)
Absol (Eclipse)
I do not own Pokémon. If I did, there would be a difficulty setting.
The first light of dawn had barely brushed the sky when Ash walked into the training room he had reserved for the morning. Considering the number of people currently in Vermillion, he thought that there would be more trainers up and about.
But, to his surprise, most of the morning training areas hadn't been reserved, and he only encountered a little over a dozen trainers in the facility as he made his way down the hall. He had picked an area towards the back of the building in an effort to avoid anyone interrupting him looking for an open room.
Putting that thought to the back of his mind, he released Artemis from her Pokéball. His Espeon went into a lengthy stretch as she appeared from the ball, letting out a cry of satisfaction as she did so.
"Good morning, Artemis. Are you ready to work on our telepathy?"
The feline mewled her agreement, causing Ash to smile as his brown eyes locked on to Artemis', silently willing the connection between them form. He watched as her eyes glowed brighter, and the gem on her forehead radiated a soft aura.
'Focus, Artemis,' Ash thought, trying to project it towards his starter. 'We can do this!'
Artemis' eyes flickered with understanding for a brief moment, and their minds melded into sync. But, just as quickly as it came, the connection wavered and broke, resulting in a severe headache for Ash, who grunted in pain.
"Ow," he groaned, opening his eyes to see purple ones looking at him with concern.
"Did that not hurt you too?"
The feline shook her head, and a muted jumble of words came across his mind, causing him to wince in pain and reaggravate his headache that had just started to subside. The psychic-type nuzzled her head against his hand, sensing his discomfort and causing Ash to give her a small smile before pulling out a bottle of water from his bag and taking a long drink.
"Let's take a break for now," he said, looking at Artemis. "We can try again later when my headache has gone away."
His Espeon let out a small purr of agreement, and he took a deep breath to try and refocus his mind and get started on some other type of training so the morning wasn't wasted. Looking over at the corner of the training room, which had a set of workout equipment geared toward humans and fighting-types, a plan started to form in his mind.
Standing up with a stretch, he released the rest of his Pokémon into the room. Neptune excitedly started swimming around the small pool, causing Ash to smile. Eclipse looked at him hopefully, and Imperial stared blankly as he addressed his team.
"Alright, everyone, change of plans," he announced.
"I want to take some time this morning to work on the basics. Don't strain yourselves too much because we will still be training later today, but I needed a break from our telepathy practice and wanted everyone to take advantage of this new opportunity."
His Pokémon let off sounds of agreement, causing a small smile to tug at his lips.
"Great, I'm glad to hear it! Artemis," he said, turning to his Espeon, "I want you to work on endurance. See how long you can maintain your psychic barrier or keep using Swift without getting fatigued."
Artemis nodded before finding her own secluded area to begin her training. As she focused her mind and body, Ash moved on to the second member of his team.
"Imperial," he said, addressing his Trapinch, "I want you to focus on speed. When you evolve into Vibrava, you'll lose some of your strength. We're going to make up for that by developing your speed. Understood?"
Imperial unleashed a Quick Attack in response, darting around in circles with increasing speed. Ash chuckled at the sight before turning to his only dual-type Pokémon at the moment.
"Alright, Neptune, I want you to focus on being out of the water. According to my research, you can use your hydrokinesis to surround yourself with water and your electromagnetism to charge it so you can float around."
His Chinchou nodded, and once Ash saw him make a sphere of water, he turned his attention to the youngest Pokémon on his team.
"Eclipse," he addressed his Absol, "I want to work more one-on-one with you later today. But for now, focus on building your endurance. Run some laps with Imperial and push yourself to go as long as you can, alright?"
With a determined look in her eyes, Eclipse took off running alongside Imperial, their paws padding softly against the earth. Ash smiled at their eagerness before turning his attention to the weights nearby, ready to begin his own training session.
A couple of hours later, Ash let out a sigh of relief. Wiping his brow of sweat, he made his way back towards the Pokémon Center through the much more crowded training facility. It was almost nine o'clock in the morning now, and he was ready for breakfast.
After working out for an hour to clear his headache, he and Artemis got back to work on their telepathy once he returned the rest of the team to their balls so they could get some rest and there would be fewer distractions in the room.
They made good progress, and he was proud of their small breakthrough when she projected an image of what type of Pokéball she wanted to try after hearing about the experience from Eclipse.
Progress was progress, and he was excited for what the rest of the day would bring, which seemed to be a blue-haired beauty waving him over as he walked into the Pokémon Center's cafeteria.
If Ash was being honest with himself, he hadn't been able to get Karen out of his head since that night she had told him about Aura and how it connected trainers and Pokémon. The trust she placed in him at that moment stuck with him and toyed with his teenage brain.
He couldn't help but think that she liked him, at least a little bit, based on that trust and the small amount of flirting they did. But he didn't know if she liked him and wasn't about to jeopardize whatever was going on between them because he couldn't control a crush.
"Look pretty deep in thought for a guy who just got done training. What happened, get a headache from telepathy?"
Karen's tone was light and teasing, making him chuckle. Smirking at her as he set his tray down and scooted into the booth beside her.
"I did, actually. I know that's hard for a girl who relies on the moon to determine what her week will look like, but having a Pokémon communicate in your head hurts."
Karen gave a faux pause of indignation before responding, bumping his shoulder as she did so.
"I actually did know that, Mr Ketchum. The moon told me about it last night."
That caused Ash to chuckle as he looked over at her, bumping her shoulder with his as he opened his mouth with a comeback, only to shut it as Dakota and Amelia set down their trays in front of him and Karen, catching him off guard.
"Morning, guys; only two days left until we get our Thunder Badge!"
Dakota's enthusiasm was infectious, causing Ash to smile and nod his head while his knee bounced in anticipation.
Karen chuckled as she spoke. "Confident, are we?" She said, raising an eyebrow at Ash's friend before turning her attention to all of them as she spoke.
"That's good, it's important to have confidence but don't let it turn into arrogance. This is going to be one of the toughest fights of your battling careers. Yes, Surge is being more strict and brutal than normal due to the St. Anne tickets, but the third badge is when the gym leaders take the gloves off."
At their confused looks, the bluenette continued.
"Well, in first and second badge fights, Gym Leaders are making sure you know the basics, you can control your Pokémon, you know the type chart, and you can handle a surprise. At the third badge, Gym Leaders are going to challenge everything you thought you knew and throw you off balance. The third badge shows that you are able to adapt."
Ash took Karen's words to heart, nodding as he recognized the moments she talked about in his fights against Brock and Violet. Whether it was Brock choosing an Onix that Artemis could maneuver around easily or Violet when she sent out a defensive type of Pokémon like Shellder.
It made him wonder if every badge had some sort of meaning behind it outside of the ones he had learned about in School, with the Boulder badge symbolizing the start of the first champion's journey like a boulder rolling down a hill. An object that only stops once it reaches where it wants to go, or if it runs out of steam.
Figuring now was his best chance to get the Dark-type specialist to reveal the information, he voiced his question.
"If the third badge represents a trainer's ability to adapt. Are there any other badges that represent a milestone like that?"
As he spoke, he felt Karen's full attention turn to him, her eyes full of mirth and a smirk on her lips as she waited for him to finish his question, and Ash couldn't help but feel like it was at least 10 degrees hotter in the cafeteria all of a sudden.
"Wow, Ash, trying to get a lady to reveal all her secrets in one go, huh? Well, lucky for you, I think you're cute, so I'll tell you the badge number, but not what they mean. To learn that little bit of info, you'll have to entice me enough to stick around as you face those gyms."
The rookie trainer could only nod, not really registering the rest of Karen's words after she called him cute, causing his heart to race and his mouth to suddenly become dryer than one of Hoenn's deserts.
Thankfully, Amelia was there to save him. Subtly kicking his leg under the table to break him out of his trance, allowing him to make a comeback before the bluenette could continue.
"Actually, you're the lucky one, Karen. If it weren't for us, you'd be bored out of your mind."
That caused the Elite-Four trainee to roll her eyes as she bumped him with her shoulder again, and Ash could have sworn she had also hit him with an electric move of some kind the way his body tingled at the contact as she addressed him.
"Whatever you say, dork."
Ash felt his face heat up a bit, but otherwise managed to keep himself under control as Karen explained the fights where they would have more significance than just a gym badge.
"Now, as I was saying. The fourth badge is probably the most momentous outside of the eighth for obvious reasons, with the seventh being the only other one that has a lot of significance behind it for Kanto."
They all made guesses as to what the significance was behind the three badges she had mentioned, but the Elite Four trainee kept her lips sealed and maintained a serious poker face.
Realizing that it was a lost cause, the trio stopped their assault of guesses, and the conversation dipped into a lull. Giving Ash a moment to check the time, before getting up out of the booth and grabbing his tray.
"Thank you for the info, Karen! I appreciate it." As he said it, Amelia and Dakota echoed his sentiment, causing the Dark-type specialist to smirk at the praise as he continued.
"But, I need to go to the store and get some supplies before my afternoon training block. See you guys."
Everyone waved him goodbye as he put his empty food tray in the bin before making his way out of the Pokémon Center and towards the Pokémart. He had about an hour before his noon training slot and needed to refill his berries and potions beforehand.
About forty-five minutes later, Ash found himself walking back toward the training area in the Pokémon Center. It was way busier than it had been in the morning, so he entered his information on the kiosk and got the passcode for his training room before making his way to it.
A few moments later, the distinct sound of a Pokéball opening could be heard echoing off the walls as Ash released his team in a flash of light.
Eclipse was the first one out, shaking some imaginary dirt out of her white fur as the rest of his team came to terms with their surroundings before turning their attention to their trainer.
"Alright, everyone, our battle with Surge is tomorrow, and it's going to be difficult, but together, I know we will win!"
There was a cacophony of noise signaling their agreement that caused Ash to smile.
"Great. Now, let's get started! Imperial, I want you to keep working on Bulldoze. We are so close, and I'm confident we can have it ready for the gym battle."
"Artemis, you're going to keep working on Shadow Ball. Neptune, I want you to focus on taking in and storing electricity. Finally, Eclipse, we're going to keep working on the basics, so you're ready for our next battle!"
As everyone got into their training routine, Ash made his way around, focusing on helping Eclipse get into the swing of things before making his way to Imperial, who was going to be integral in getting them a win.
"Let's see how it's going, Imperial."
His Trapinch focused hard on a spot on the training room floor that started shaking, causing Ash to cheer in excitement.
"Great job, buddy. Can you make that more intense and make certain spots uneven so they could lose their footing?"
The ant pit Pokémon gave a resolute nod, and Ash watched as that same spot started to shake some more before gradually spreading out. At the same time, he noticed some spots on the floor dip and others rising.
He didn't quite know how the tile in the floor didn't break, but he was happy for it nonetheless. While these rooms were built to withstand most Pokémon training, any damage done to the room would become the trainer's responsibility to pay, which would seriously hurt his wallet and set him back for the purchase of his Silph Co. Bag.
A couple of moments later, the floor stopped shaking, causing Ash to congratulate the ground-type.
"That was perfect Imperial! I want you to work on your stamina using Bulldoze for the rest of the day, got it?"
His Trapinch let out a determined warble, and Ash rubbed his head in appreciation before moving on to the rest of his Pokémon.
By the time the three hours he had reserved the room for were up, he had already started daydreaming about what his room would look like on the luxurious St Anne.
Artemis had managed to break through and access Ghost-type energy to form the beginnings of a Shadow Ball. Given her determination after achieving that milestone, he was confident that, given another week, she would have the move ready for battle.
Meanwhile, according to his calculations, Neptune had successfully stored over 2,000 kilowatts of electricity before all the excess started to hurt him, which was a little under a dozen thunderbolts.
It gave Ash all the reassurance he needed that Neptune would be key to his victory against Surge. And while Imperial didn't make as much progress as he did at the start of the training, the little Ground-type had managed to get Bulldoze to encompass the entirety of their training room which was half the size of a standard League battlefield.
His Trapinch couldn't keep it up for long, but making half the battlefield a nightmare to stand on would only help. Even Eclipse had made some good progress, despite just working on endurance.
He couldn't wait to fight Surge and was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet, walking into his hotel room. Dakota was nowhere to be found, and he shot a quick message to their group chat before grabbing some clothes and taking a shower.
Stepping out of the shower, feeling refreshed, he grabbed his new transceiver, and after struggling to remember how to use the device, he opened the group chat to see if anyone had responded to his message.
Ash 3:24 p.m.
Hey everyone, just finished training and am going to take a shower. Do you all want to go explore Route 11?
Karen 3:27 p.m.
Sure, I can meet in the lobby at 4?
Dakota 3:28 p.m.
Amelia 3:30 p.m.
I can do that.
Ash grinned, closing the transceiver before getting ready to meet his friends in the lobby.
He was still getting used to not having to communicate with his Pokédex, but he liked the transceiver's group chat feature, which he assumed was the primary reason Amelia got one for him and Dakota in the first place.
The base model was relatively inexpensive, at around 800 Pokédollars, which is the sole reason he didn't reject the gift when Amelia presented it to him the morning after his volleyball game.
She said it was so they could all keep in touch more easily, and while he couldn't prove it, he had a feeling it had something to do with Amelia and Karen not being able to contact him or Dakota on their first day in Vermillion.
Karen already had one, and he figured the bluenette was the one who told Amelia about the device, which is why he wasn't surprised to see her in the group chat that was created.
Although he had to admit, the Elite Four trainee had a much nicer model with a solar-powered battery and range extender that would work on most routes. That model cost nearly 10,000 Pokédollars, so he understood why Amelia had bought it for herself with the Lapras money and given Dakota and him the base model.
It worked out anyhow, in his opinion, considering that the few times the group split apart, he was with Karen, and Dakota was with Amelia.
Clearing his head, he checked the time and saw that he still had another 20 minutes until he had to leave the room. So, Ash logged into the PC in the hotel room and plugged in his Pokédex to see if there was any Pokémon he wanted to catch on Route 11, or any that the League wanted relocated.
A minute later, he was in, scrolling through the recent captures and comparing them to past catches at this time of year. A few immediately stuck out to him, like the Shinx, Chansey, and Magnemite line, but he disregarded them when he realized none had been caught in the past 3 months.
Someone had caught a Heracross 2 weeks previously, but he doubted he'd get that lucky. There was also someone who had caught a Combee, which he assumed was a female since it was recently discovered that only females evolved from that species. Lastly, he noticed someone had captured a Horsea but disregarded it since he was perfectly happy with Neptune remaining his Water-type.
Seeing no other Pokémon recently captured that he wanted to add to his team, he looked at the League board, filtering out the Pidgy, Spearow, and Meowth lines. Unfortunately, considering his limited funds, there were no official League jobs to relocate any Pokémon that would've been worth the effort to catch.
Relocating some of the most common pest Pokémon like Pidgy and Meowth, was only worthwhile if done en masse since Pokéballs could be purchased at a bulk rate, and those savings would add to the profit while accounting for the errant Pokémon breaking free of the ball.
The alarm on his transceiver went off, letting him know it was time to leave. Unplugging his Pokédex from the PC, he went to put the device in its dedicated slot, but another alert sounded, notifying him of a dangerous Drowzee outbreak on Route 11.
He skimmed through the notification, and after seeing no more relevant information, he closed out the pop-up and put his Pokédex in his bag. Since Karen was joining them, he assumed the Dark-type specialist would easily handle any of the hostile Psychic-type's if they encountered them.
After closing the door to his and Dakota's room, Ash made his way down the carpeted hallway, the soft hum of the elevator accompanying his descent to the lobby. He met up with his friends, their eyes sparkling with mischief as they began a leisurely stroll toward the route.
"What took you so long, Ash? Did you leave any hot water for the other hotel guests?" Karen quipped with a teasing smirk, her eyes glinting with amusement.
Ash rolled his eyes, a chuckle escaping his lips as he joined in on the banter.
"No, I didn't actually," he replied with a playful grin, "to achieve hair as perfect as mine takes a lot of effort, you know."
Karen's eyes danced with feigned exasperation as she rolled them dramatically, gently nudging Ash with her hip. The unexpected jolt sent a pleasant shockwave through his body, and a wide smile spread across his face as he savored the lighthearted victory.
"Ash, I don't know how you can say that when you've worn a hat for as long as I've known you," Dakota chimed in, his voice playful and teasing.
The remark sparked a wave of laughter among the group, as Ash simply shrugged his shoulders with a relaxed smile, the brim of his ever-present cap casting a shadow over his eyes in the evening sun.
As they continued their lively banter, the group walked on, their chatter mingling with the sounds of the city. Soon, they arrived at the checkpoint that marked the boundary between Vermillion City and the untamed expanse of Route 11.
Before them stretched a breathtaking canvas of green and gold, where tall grass danced gracefully in rhythm with the gentle breeze, and the sun cast a warm, golden glow over the landscape. They paused for a moment, collectively inhaling the fresh, earthy scent and taking in the beauty of the landscape.
"Alright," Ash started, "Karen, you lead the way, and I'll bring up the rear?"
As his friends agreed, there was a small cacophony of noise, and they made their way off-route to explore the area. The tall grass brushed against their legs as they walked, rustling lightly as smaller Pokémon scurried away from their approaching footsteps.
"Careful where you step," Karen warned, her Houndoom keeping his eye ahead as she turned to look back at them.
"There are some signs of an Arbok nest ahead, and Ekans won't be scared of our footsteps."
They all nodded in agreement, and Ash made sure to watch his footing. He had already been poisoned once by that Zubat in Viridian and did not want to repeat that experience.
A sudden uproar seized their attention—the unmistakable clamor of battle echoing through the trees. Instinctively, they all moved towards the sounds of combat, and Ash couldn't shake the uneasy thought that the trainer might be in over his head.
As they got closer, he saw Amelia and Dakota growing visibly tense, undoubtedly reminded of the harrowing Scyther encounter in Viridian, just as he was. A minute later, they arrived at the section of the forest where the skirmish raged on, and Ash exhaled a breath of relief he hadn't realized he was holding when he saw that the trainer was holding his ground.
The battle was fierce, with the trainer's Slowbro standing steadfast against a wildly aggressive Primeape. Ash could immediately tell that the trainer knew what he was doing by the way he directed his Pokémon with precision, seamlessly moving in harmony with the rhythm of the battle.
Karen's words echoed Ash's thoughts as they observed the showdown. "This guy's no joke. I wouldn't be surprised if he had six badges."
Amelia let out an appreciative whistle as the trainer's Slowbro conjured a shimmering barrier to halt one of Primeape's powerful punches before retaliating with a well-aimed Water Pulse that struck the Primeape squarely in the face.
Immediately, the trainer took advantage of the dazed fighting-type "Slowbro, Psychic now!" he commanded.
The Slowbro's eyes gleamed with concentration, and an invisible force lifted the Primeape that had been stumbling around, confused from the previous attack. The psychic-type then proceeded to smash the pig monkey Pokémon around until it went unconscious.
Seeing the Primeape now down for the count, the mysterious trainer tossed a Pokéball at the fighting-type with a practiced motion, pulling it inside with a flash of red light. The ball shook violently on the ground, once, twice—then clicked.
The mysterious trainer pumped his fist in success, and Amelia was the first to announce their group to the man.
"Nice catch," she said, stepping forward with genuine cheer.
The trainer jumped at the sudden noise, his finger twitching towards one of the other Pokéballs on his hip before relaxing.
"Oh, hi there." he greeted them with a smile. "My name's Jorge; how long have you all been watching?"
Ash, Amelia, and Dakota exchanged glances before Karen stepped forward to answer. "Not long, we just happened to be passing by when we heard the battle. You never know if a trainer's in trouble or not, so we came to make sure."
Jorge nodded understandingly. "Well, thank you for not interfering. I've been tracking this Primeape for a while now and finally managed to catch it." He patted the red and white Pokéball at his side with a satisfied grin.
"I didn't catch your names. What were they again?"
This time, Ash responded, "Nice to meet you, Jorge. I'm Ash, and these are my friends Amelia, Dakota, and Karen." he said, gesturing to each person as he introduced them.
Jorge gave a polite nod once he was finished. "Pleasure to meet you all."
"What made you want to catch a Primeape?" Dakota asked at the lull in the conversation.
"Why do ya ask," Jorge replied, brushing dust from his rugged attire. His blue eyes looked at Dakota with a questioning gaze.
"Well," his friend started. "I have a Mankey, and I read that Primeape's are impossible to train if you didn't raise them before they evolved."
Jorge chuckled at that. "Well, I've heard rumors that a Primeape can evolve but requires one that fully gives into its rage."
Everyone's eyes widened at that revelation.
"What do you mean by 'fully gives into its rage'?" Karen asked, curiosity evident in her tone.
Jorge offered a casual shrug. "It's just a rumor I've picked up while traveling around," he admitted, his expression thoughtful. "I can't say how true it is, but I hope to find out soon. Anyway, I should get this guy to a Center, but I'm sure we'll cross paths again before long."
The group nodded in understanding as Jorge released a majestic, hulking Corviknight. Its glossy feathers shimmered in the sunlight as he swiftly mounted the massive bird.
"It was great meeting you all, and I wish you luck on your journey!" he said warmly.
Then, with a powerful flap of its enormous wings, the Corviknight lifted off, carrying Jorge towards Vermillion. Ash and his friends watched as Jorge's silhouette disappeared into the sky before turning their attention back to their surroundings.
"Well, he was nice," Amelia mused as the group started moving again.
"Yeah," Ash agreed, a hint of excitement in his voice. "I think I spotted a St. Anne ticket in his pocket. I'm sure we'll run into him again on the boat once we defeat Surge."
With that, the conversation died down as they all focused on their surroundings, keeping an eye out for wild Pokémon. The path they were on, wound through the verdant landscape, passing by several patches of wildflowers swaying in the breeze.
It wasn't until about forty minutes later, as they climbed a gentle hill that an ancient structure emerged on the horizon. Standing like a silent guardian of time, with weathered stones and overgrown with vines.
"Wow," Dakota said as they all spotted the building. "What do you think that is?"
"A temple, I imagine," Amelia replied, her gaze narrowing thoughtfully as she squinted at the imposing façade. "Let's go check it out and then head back?"
The group agreed, setting off toward the ruins as the golden hues of sunset bathed the sky. With each step along the dusty path, the ancient building loomed larger in their vision. As they drew closer, Ash noticed streaks of graffiti adorning the wall—a disappointing discovery that revealed someone else had already visited the structure.
"Looks like this place has seen better days," Dakota observed, looking at the signs of decay and vandalism etched into the stone.
"Still, there might be something worthwhile hidden inside," Karen suggested, her curiosity piqued despite the apparent signs from previous explorers.
"I agree," Amelia said, "Let's check it out."
Inside, the remnants of grandeur hung in the air like ghosts of the past. Evening light streamed through gaping holes in the ceiling, casting a celestial, almost otherworldly glow upon the debris and ruin.
"Let's see if we can find anything left behind," Ash proposed, releasing Eclipse from her Pokéball. The Absol stretched gracefully, her white fur a beacon in the dreary atmosphere.
"Take a look around, girl," Ash whispered, watching as Eclipse began to explore the space with a keen curiosity. Her sensitive horn twitched occasionally at every minor change in the air. Dakota and Amelia went up to the remnants of the second floor, while he and Karen explored the bottom.
"Do you want to take the right hallway, and I'll take the left?" Ash asked the Dark-type specialist,
prompting a nod of agreement as they split up along diverging paths.
As he moved from room to room in the dilapidated building, it became painfully evident that nothing truly new awaited him. Fresh graffiti and modern-day litter decorated several of the spaces, a stark reminder of recent intrusions in the ancient building.
Resigned to the feeling that his efforts might be in vain, he began making his way back to the staircase to reunite with the others. However, near a weathered statue of a Rhydon, Eclipse suddenly stiffened her body, alert, and her gaze locked onto something unseen.
"Eclipse?" Ash murmured, moving closer and following her intense stare toward the statue. She whined at him, before pawing at the base of the statue.
"Guys, come check this out!" Ash called out, trusting that his Absol found something. Amelia, Dakota, and Karen converged on the spot, their expressions a mix of excitement and intrigue.
"What's up Ash," Karen asked.
"I think Eclipse found something," he replied, carefully running his fingers along the contours of the statue.
His touch discovered a single stone that jutted slightly from the rest. With a gentle push, the stone shifted, and the entire structure immediately trembled. A section of the crumbling wall slid aside, exposing a dark staircase spiraling down into the earth's depths.
"Whoa," Dakota breathed, peering into the shadowy descent.
"Could be dangerous," Karen cautioned, her protective instincts flaring momentarily, though her eyes gleamed with adventurous fire.
"Or it could lead to something amazing," Amelia countered, her hand resting on the Pokéball at her belt.
"Only one way to find out," Ash declared, determination etched onto his features.
The stairs took them deep underground, with the only sounds being the scuffing of their shoes and the occasional drip of water echoing off the walls. Karen was leading the way with her Houndoom, it was easy to see she was in her element as they descended deeper into the dark abyss.
With each breath he took, the air got more stagnant and damp. It was nothing like being underneath Mt. Moon, and he wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing yet. On one hand, he wasn't reminded of his near-death experience. On the other, he was walking into something completely unknown.
"How far down do you think this goes?" Dakota whispered, his voice unnaturally loud in the stillness.
"Hard to say," Amelia replied, her hand never straying far from her Pokéballs. "But it must lead somewhere important for someone to go through all the trouble of hiding it."
He couldn't help but agree with Amelia, he wasn't sure what they were walking into. But whoever built the temple, clearly wanted to keep this part of it hidden.
"Watch your step," Karen cautioned everyone, her voice a steady anchor amidst the encroaching darkness. "I think we are at the bottom."
Sure enough, a few steps later, Ash found himself at the base of the staircase. He paused to take in the hallway they had entered, his flashlight revealing intricate carvings in the stone walls depicting figures draped in ceremonial robes. Their postures were filled with reverence as they encircled what appeared to be a formidable Pokémon.
"What type of Pokémon is that?" Amelia inquired, her voice echoing in the ornate corridor.
"I'm not sure," Ash replied, scrutinizing the remnants of the stone carving.
It was unmistakably a large creature, its form etched with sharp claws and a fierce, commanding expression. The jagged lines surrounding the Pokémon seemed to dance with energy, leaving Ash wondering if they represented crackling lightning or simply the natural fissures of the ancient stone.
As they ventured further into the ancient passageway, the flickering light of their flashlights danced across the engraved tapestry that adorned the walls, each step revealing a new image or story.
"Look at this," Amelia breathed, her fingers tracing the outline of a scene depicting the group of people surrounded by different figures. "It looks like they were attacked by another group. See how their robes are different?"
Dakota nodded, his eyes following the narrative as it unfolded along the corridor. "And here," he pointed to another carving, "it looks like the Pokémon they worshipped saved them."
Karen traveled farther down the corridor, her brow furrowed in concentration as she studied the story unfolding before them.
"Look here," she said, her voice gathering everyone around her as she pointed to a section of the mural where the imposing Pokémon stood tall, its carved figure radiating an aura of power and protection. The robed figures surrounding it stood with their hands extended, as if receiving a precious gift.
"It seems that after saving the people from their attackers, the Pokémon left something behind for them," Karen explained, her finger hovering over a peculiar carving. The image depicted a small, rectangular object, its surface adorned with intricate patterns that almost looked like writing.
"I wonder if it's still here?" Dakota mumbled.
"Only one way to find out," Ash said, his voice filled with determination as he continued to the end of the large corridor.
It didn't take him long to reach the end, and he felt the rest of his friends open their mouths in shock behind him as they stepped into a cavernous space. It was indeed a massive space for being completely underground.
He directed his flashlight to shine across the walls and was surprised to see that the carvings inside the cavern were made to look like a storm surrounded them.
"What is this place?" Amelia breathed, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the large open space.
"I think this is the shrine those people worshiped that Pokémon we saw." As he spoke, Ash directed his attention to the center of the room where a lone dais held a single pedestal.
Feeling a tug in his gut, Ash made his way to the center of the room, admiring the intricately carved tablet on the pedestal. He knew this was the gift the Pokémon left to the people who used to worship it.
Reaching his hand out, he attempted to brush away some of the dust that was on the tablet. However, the second his fingers made contact, a sudden burst of light filled the room capturing everyone's attention.
"ASH!" Karen's voice cut through the blinding light, concern lacing her shout.
But Ash couldn't hear her as his mind was assaulted by a flurry of images cascading through his mind—a tempest of elements, each more vivid than the last—lightning seared across the sky, followed by the roar of flames and the crash of water.
A city appeared, a scene of chaos and destruction, with buildings engulfed in flames and crumbling to the ground. His mind then moved to the Brass Tower, which stood tall in the center. Its once golden exterior was now blackened by fire, and flames licked at every corner.
He could smell the thick stench of smoke and burning wood mixing with the smell of what he could only describe as burning flesh. It was acrid and suffocating and he wanted nothing more than to empty his stomach at the tragedy happening before his very eyes.
He tried to move his body, but found he couldn't. All Ash could do was watch as the Brass Tower burned, hearing the cries of people and Pokémon alike stuck inside the tower awaiting their eventual deaths.
Then, suddenly, a storm appeared, bringing with it a torrential downpour of rain that put out the fires. He could feel the cool rain on his skin, closing his eyes in relief only to open them again to find himself back in the shrine.
It was silent, and Ash turned to see his friends all looking at him, frozen in time, with concerned etched on their faces.
However, before he could question what was going on, a bolt of lightning cleaved the stillness right as time resumed, striking him squarely in the chest. He could hear his friends scream in terror as he felt himself blown off the pedestal.
Ash landed with a thud, rolling across the floor and only coming to a stop when he hit the wall. He opened his eyes with a groan as he watched his friends run to him. Unbeknownst to everyone, however, his eyes were a veritable storm of nature until he blinked, and they returned to their normal hazel.
Eclipse was the first one to reach him, and he tried to give his Absol a reassuring smile as she licked a cut on his arm in an effort to heal him but could only manage a grimace as the rest of his friends made it to him.
"Are you alright?" Amelia asked, her words tinged with urgency.
"Y-yeah," he said, though his voice was shaky not only from being struck by lightning but also from the vision he'd witnessed.
"I feel like I was struck by lightning." He attempted to laugh at his own joke to help lighten the mood, but he ended up coughing and causing himself more pain.
Karen looked at him in concern as she held up her Transceiver, trying to get service from what he could guess as Amelia and Dakota helped sit him up.
"What happened man?" Dakota asked, and Ash figured now wasn't the best time to be sarcastic.
"I-I don't know. I went to brush off some of the dust on the tablet, and the next thing I knew, I was in Ecruteak City when the Brass Tower burned."
He coughed into his elbow, grimacing as he did so and Karen stomped her foot in frustration.
"Arceus dammit, I have no service and we need to get Ash to a doctor." her voice was full of emotion, and Ash felt himself feeling guilty for causing her so much grief.
"I'm sorry I touched the tablet guys, but I don't know; I just felt like it was calling me."
Karen's eyes softened as she looked at him. "It's okay, Ash. No one could've known that touching the tablet would result in what happened to you."
"Yeah," Dakota said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "It's all good man, we're here for you."
Ash managed a reassuring smile this time as he stood up with Dakota's help. It seemed to put everyone at ease, which he was thankful for. Eclipse brushed up against his side, causing him to run his hand through her fur.
Seeing that Ash was up and moving, Karen immediately took charge of their. Her voice was firm and decisive as she addressed them all. "We're leaving now to get Ash to a hospital. No arguments."
Amelia and Dakota nodded in agreement, their faces etched with worry, and Ash once again felt a surge of guilt, for being the cause.
However, as they turned to leave, Ash's gaze was drawn back to the ancient tablet still resting on the pedestal. He couldn't quite place the feeling, but it felt like it was calling to him somehow.
"Wait," he said, his voice echoing in the cavernous space. "What about the tablet? We can't just leave it here."
Karen's icy blue eyes narrowed as she considered his words. "Ash, what are you talking about? That tablet nearly killed you, and we have no clue what removing it from this place of worship will do."
"I know it sounds insane," Ash admitted, rubbing the back of his neck, which caused his hair to stand up. "But I swear it's calling out to me, begging for me to bring it with me."
He took a step closer to the pedestal without even realizing it, his eyes never leaving the intricate carvings etched into the stone surface. The tablet seemed to pulse with electricity, as if it was full of it.
Karen moved to block his path, her sky-blue hair swaying with the motion as her eyes looked at him with concern. "Ash, are you sure about this? Clearly, this is what that legendary Pokémon gifted the people that worshiped it."
He nodded, taking his eyes off the pedestal to look into Karen's icy blue orbs. "Yes, I'm sure, and if I'm wrong, feel free to write it on my tombstone."
The dark-type specialist shook her head, before stepping out of his way. He could have sworn she mumbled something along the lines of 'what are you doing to me' but he put the possibilities of that out of his mind as he focused back in on the tablet in front of him.
He hadn't even realized he had made it back to the center of the dais, and was surprised to find out that he could now read the letters on the tablet as if they were his native language.
Ash could feel the electricity running through his veins as he reached out and picked up the tablet. He felt a slight jolt as he brushed off the remaining dust so he could make out the words engraved on the stone.
Mighty Raikou, the storm of warning.
Mighty Raikou, the tempest of life.
Mighty Raikou, the lightning of death.
Mighty Raikou, the thunder of fear.
Mighty Raikou, hear our prayer.
Something in his mind clicked as he read the mantra inscribed on the tablet. The world slowed down around him, and he suddenly felt alive with energy.
However, it vanished as quickly as it came, and he was left feeling exhausted. Karen was quick to help him up when his legs gave out as he walked back, and he gave her an appreciative smile as the group made their way out of the temple.
However, as they were leaving the auditorium like cavern, Ash noticed something glimmering in the corner.
"Hey, what's that shining over there?"
Everyone turned to look in the direction he was pointing, and Ash was relieved that everyone noticed it as well. He had been concerned that the tablet had made him start hallucinating.
"I'm not sure," Dakota started. "But, I'll go check it out."
Ash watched as his friend went to the corner. A few moments later, he returned with a stone in his hand, looking down at it in awe.
"Wow, a Thunder Stone. I never thought I'd see one, especially one as high quality as this."
Moving in a little closer to get a better look, Ash had to admit it was an impressive looking stone. Since stones were graded based on the purity of the element that resided in them, which translated to a stronger evolution, their quality mattered.
Anything above a 5 was considered acceptable and typically worth thousands of Pokédollars. However, he had once seen a 9 at auction go for over 40,000, and the one in Dakota's hands looked similar to that stone.
He was broken out of his thoughts when his friend handed him the stone, which he immediately turned down.
"I already have the tablet and I don't have any Pokémon that could benefit from a stone yet. Keep it, you might be able to trade that for a Water Stone for your Poliwag."
Dakota looked at him in gratitude as he put the stone in his bag and they continued their path back to the surface. With each step, Ash felt himself feeling better, and by the time they were back in Vermillion he felt good as new.
Unfortunately for him, that wasn't enough to sway the blue-haired beauty from forcing him to get checked out by a Nurse.
As they stepped into the human portion of the Pokémon Center, the scent of antiseptic filled Ash's nostrils. He couldn't help but feel imaginary needles entering his skin, which caused him to scratch his arm nervously.
"Ya know, I'm feeling much better now Karen. There's no need to take up these doctors' precious time, look how busy they are." He said, his voice tinged with hope as he pleaded with the Dark-type specialist.
The bluenette folded her arms across her chest, her brow furrowing as she fixed him with a stern look.
"Ash, you were struck by lightning for Arceus' sake. Lightning! That isn't something you just brush off."
Her words were laced with genuine worry, and he sank into himself as he imagined how he'd feel watching Karen go through what he experienced.
"I'm sorry Karen, you're right. I… I just don't like hospitals."
She, Dakota, and Amelia gave him sympathetic looks, but it was clear that he wasn't going to be able to get out of seeing a doctor. So, after taking a deep breath, he let his friends check him into the hospital.
XX
The morning rays filtered through the window of Ash's hotel room, forcing him to open his eyes and face the day. He had barely gotten any sleep, too focused on his battle with Lt. Surge later to go to bed at a decent hour.
Well, that and the tablet tucked away in his backpack was still fresh in his mind. It had been two days since he had been struck by lightning in the underground temple, and despite the doctor's assurances that he was fine, he felt different.
He couldn't quite identify any specific feeling, and after Karen confirmed it wasn't his aura when he confided in her the previous day, he didn't know what to think.
Spitting out his mouthwash into the sink, he returned his focus to beating Surge and getting his Thunder Badge. Grabbing his magnetic trainer belt, Ash started making his way down to the lobby for some breakfast.
Karen's sky-blue hair shimmered in the morning light as she approached him, a smile etched on her delicate features.
"How'd you sleep Ash?"
"Good," he replied with a yawn. "I'm a little nervous about the battle, but I know my team will win out."
Karen gave him a supportive smile while they got their breakfast and found a table.
"I know you can do it, Ash. Just remember to trust your Pokémon."
He nodded, picking at his food while he and Karen made small talk until Amelia and Dakota joined them a couple of minutes later.
Once everyone had finished eating, they started walking towards the Vermillion City Gym, which stood tall near the city's center. Its fortress-like structure and large "V" with the symbol of Indigo on either side easily separated it from the surrounding buildings. To the right, several large generators hummed and crackled, safely enclosed behind a barbed chain-link fence.
As they got closer, Ash noticed two burly trainers guarding the entrance, one of whom stepped forward, raising a hand to halt their progress.
"The gym isn't accepting or scheduling any new challengers today," he informed them, his voice deep and authoritative. "If you already have a match scheduled, please speak to the front desk. If you're just here to spectate, go through the first set of double doors on your right."
They all nodded, before making their way inside, the gym doors swinging open to reveal the lobby. The industrial decor familiar to him since he had already come here once to schedule his battle.
Ash quickly made his way to the front desk, flanked by his friends as they checked in. The kind receptionist smiled warmly at them as she looked up from her computer,
"Welcome! Are you Ash Ketchum?" Ash nodded eagerly. "Great! If you could show me your Trainer ID to confirm, I'll get you registered."
He nodded, pulling out his ID for the receptionist, who gave it a once-over before typing a few things on her computer.
"Excellent. You'll want to head through the door behind me on the right. Lieutenant Surge should be ready in ten minutes or so," she instructed, pointing helpfully.
Ash grinned, adrenaline filling his veins, as he glanced back at his friends. Amelia and Dakota shared his grin, eager to face Surge themselves, while Karen's eyes locked onto his, giving him an encouraging smile that made his heart skip a beat.
The receptionist's voice catching everyone's attention as she continued, "Are the rest of you battling or spectating?"
Karen shook her head while Amelia and Dakota nodded theirs.
"Amelia Green and Dakota Richard, I take it then?" After his two friends nodded, she continued, "Great! If you could just show me your IDs as well, I'll get you registered."
His friends flashed the woman their IDs as she typed in a few lines on a form from what he could see before looking back up at Amelia and Dakota.
" I have you registered! There is a ten-minute break between battles, so you'll have plenty of time to spectate your friend's match before coming back here. And if you need anything else, just let me know!"
"Good luck, Ash!" Dakota said as he started making his way towards the battlefield's door, which caused him to look back.
"Yeah, show us how to take down Surge!" Amelia cheered, making him smile as he locked eyes with Karen, who blew him a kiss.
He could feel his face heat up as the bluenette chuckled, dragging his friends with her to the spectator stands before he could formulate a response. Her confident tease left him tongue-tied, and he shook his head in an effort to clear his mind.
Making his way through the door to the battlefield, he found himself in a small waiting area as an assistant hurried to meet him, fitting him with a small microphone that attached snugly to his shirt. He adjusted it slightly, the cool metal brushing his skin and sending a shiver down his spine.
Taking a deep breath, he felt the familiar calm of battle wash over him as he bounced on the balls of his feet. Electricity coursed through his veins, and he felt the world slow down around him once the assistant told him they were ready.
As he approached the battlefield, he looked up at the spectator stands to look for his friends. Thankfully, it was a weekday, and most people were at work, so he quickly spotted Amelia and Dakota in their seats, who gave him a thumbs-up.
Karen sat beside them, a sly grin on her face as she settled in. Her confidence in him was clear, causing him to smile as he climbed his stairs to the podium. Closing his eyes, he took in another deep breath, and when he opened them again, they were locked onto the man in front of him.
The chatter in the stands became background noise. The arena hummed with anticipation and the air smelled faintly of ozone, a telltale sign of the strong Electric-type attacks used in the last battle.
Overhead, the fluorescent lights flickered slightly, disturbed by the crackling energy that seemed to radiate from the battlefield itself.
The gym leader loomed tall, as he uncrossed his muscled arms, a cocky smirk barely concealed behind his military precision. His camouflage fatigues were fitted and customized with a lightning bolt insignia on his jacket that gleamed when the light hit it.
However, when Surge looked down at him, there was a slight break in his facade as he looked at him in confusion. Before Ash could think more on it though, the Gym Leader's confidence returned as the referee raised a flag.
"Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town is here to challenge Lieutenant Surge for his third badge and a ticket aboard the St. Anne." The referee paused as the crowd cheered before continuing. "This will be a Three-on-three battle, with a single substitution allowed. Challenger, are you Ready?"
At Ash's nod, the referee turned his attention to the man on his left. "Gym Leader, are you ready?"
The lieutenant grinned, causing the referee to nod.
"Very well. Begin!"
At the signal, Ash launched his first Pokéball into the air. Neptune appeared with a flash of light, his twin antennae swaying slightly while the bioluminescent orbs glowed with power.
Opposite to him, Surge wasted no time releasing his first Pokémon. A metallic clunk signaled the arrival of a Magnemite, its single eye narrowing as it hovered, static popping along its steel frame.
Without a word, the battle started as Magnemite zipped forward and unleashed a crackling Thunderbolt. Neptune barely had time to react as the attack split the air, but instead of dodging, he braced himself and Ash grinned.
Watching as the electricity slammed into his Water/Electric-type, Neptune's water-conductive skin allowing the energy to be harmlessly absorbed into his organs. Ash felt a jolt in his gut but clenched his fist—this was what he had planned for.
"Now, Neptune—give it back!" Ash muttered under his breath.
The Chinchou's antennae pulsed, releasing the absorbed energy into an Electro Ball, hitting the Magnemite in a crackling storm. The metallic Pokémon twitched as its circuits overloaded, its body spasming mid-air.
Surge's Magnemite fought through, stabilizing itself with a loud hum before countering with a Sonic Boom. The air split with a deafening shockwave, sending Neptune skidding back across the floor, with several cuts across his body.
"Pressure it! Water Gun!"
A forceful stream of water shot from his Chinchou's mouth, slamming into Magnemite's eye with pinpoint accuracy. The metal Pokémon reeled back, spinning wildly as its balance was thrown off. But before Ash could call another move, Surge's voice rang out. "Thunder Wave!"
Sparks crackled as Magnemite steadied itself and loosed a web of yellow energy. Neptune tried to dodge, but the paralysis spread across his body. Ash grit his teeth, if Neptune got locked down, he was done for.
"Power through, Neptune! Confuse Ray"
Neptune moved forward, his body shaking occasionally as Ghostly energy formed between his antenna before condensing into a ball that shot towards the Electric/Steel-type. The Magnemite couldn't dodge it quick enough, and Ash watched its eyes start looking all around it in confusion.
His Water/Electric-type followed up his attack with another Electro Ball, which hit Magnemite head-on once again. Its steel body crackled violently before dropping from the air with a thud, the overload of its senses combined with the confusion too much for it.
The referee signaled Magnemite's defeat, and Surge grunted, recalling his fallen Pokémon.
Then, without missing a beat, he hurled his second Poké Ball. "Luxio, show this kid what Power is all about."
The feline Pokémon gracefully landed, its claws scraping against the metal flooring. Its sharp yellow eyes locked onto Neptune, and a low growl rumbled in its throat. Even from up on the podium, Ash felt a pit form in his stomach.
Before he could even attempt to call out a command, Luxio moved like a bolt of lightning, dashing across the battlefield in an electrified Quick Attack. The impact sent Neptune tumbling, and the Luxio quickly caught up to his Water/Electric-type, following up with a savage Bite, its fangs sinking into the fish's soft body.
The feline shook its mouth violently before tossing his bloodied Pokémon aside.
Ash flinched at the state of his Pokémon, returning Neptune to his Pokéball as the referee confirmed the knockout.
"You did great," he murmured, before gripping his next Poké Ball.
He tossed the capsule, and Artemis emerged in a flash of light, landing with feline grace. Luxio's growl deepened, electricity rippling along its fur, the air around it warping with the heat of the static charge. It sprang forward again, another Quick Attack, but his starter's eyes gleamed, and with a flex of unseen energy, her Confusion caught Luxio mid-air, freezing it in place.
He watched Artemis's psychic grip tighten, Luxio writhing mid-air, sparks flaring wildly along its fur. With a sudden, violent motion, Espeon hurled Luxio against the floor. It landed hard, skidding across the battlefield before getting to its feet.
'Don't let it recover!' Ash thought.
'On it', His Espeon's telepathic reply came, her gem pulsing with a surge of power.
Ash ignored the slight headache that came with the communication, focusing on the Luxio that shook its head before retaliating, losing a high-pitched Snarl that echoed through the gym.
Artemis flinched, her psychic grip faltering in response to the Dark-type energy. Luxio capitalized immediately, fangs flashing in another Bite. His starter barely dodged in time, the attack grazing her flank, leaving behind a raw, reddened mark.
A small flare of pain spread out from Ash's leg, and he didn't know if it was through the telepathic bond, or aura. Something he filed away to ask Karen about later as Artemis's voice appeared in his mind.
'That one hurt... but I can end this.'
A ball of dark ghostly energy formed in front of her gem, sucking in all the light around it as it grew to the size of a baseball before being sent towards the Electric-type. The burst of ghost energy slammed into Luxio, sending it crashing into the gym wall with a dull thud.
It twitched once, then went still. Surge grunted, recalling Luxio with a flick of his wrist. The Gym leader threw his third Pokéball up in the air as a Pokémon Ash wasn't expecting to face materialized in front of him.
Raichu hit the battlefield with practiced ease, its long tail dragging slightly against the floor, sparks trailing from its cheeks. It locked eyes with Artemis, and Ash could see it's muscles tensing as its entire body coiled like a spring.
Then it disappeared.
Ash couldn't believe a Pokémon was that fast as the Raichu then reappeared inches in front of his Espeon, slamming into the Psychic-type with a blistering Quick Attack. Artemis was flung like a ragdoll, rolling across the battlefield before finally lying motionless, fur singed, as her sides heaved weakly.
'I'm… Sorry.' His starter said in his mind, but before he could reassure her, she drifted off into unconsciousness.
With a sharp exhale, he focused on the Raichu before him, rolling Imperial's Pokéball in his hand before throwing it up in the air and catching it with his glove.
His Trapinch appeared in a flash, digging his claws into the metal floor, unflinching against the raw power in front of him. His massive jaws clicked once as dust shifted beneath him, bracing for impact.
Raichu charged, electricity flaring along its body. Another Electrified Quick Attack was coming. But the moment before impact, Trapinch moved.
His second-ever Pokémon dropped low, jaws wide, and snapped them shut at the perfect moment. Raichu's entire front half was caught between the crushing force of Imperial's Bite. The Electric-type shrieked in pain, tail thrashing, trying to break free.
Sparks flared all around, but electricity did nothing against his Ground-type's natural resistance.
"Calm yourself, Raichu and break free!" Surge instructed.
Raichu's movement shifted from frantic to strategic, swinging its body in a well-aimed arc. Ash's eyes widened as the Iron Tail landed a direct hit, the impact reverberating through the entire arena. Imperial's grip loosened, giving Raichu the chance it needed.
Ash watched intently as Raichu wrenched itself free, stumbling slightly. Its limbs trembled, and Imperial's jaws left a bleeding mark on its abdomen, showing just how close he had been to victory.
The Electric-type shook off the injury, before planting its feet and charging powerfully at Imperial once more.
"Be careful!" Ash yelled as Raichu dashed forward.
Once again, Imperial waited, standing still as the Mouse Pokémon's mirages appeared all around the battlefield. Surge's voice cut through the crowd's sound, as Ash kept his eyes on the battlefield.
"Your trick won't work twice. Now Raichu!"
At Surge's command, the Electric-type reappeared in front of Imperial who lunged aside just in time to dodge the Quick Attack, turning swiftly with his jaws wide open for another Bite. However, Raichu swung around from underneath before he could clamp down again, using all its momentum and driving an Iron Tail directly into his Ground-type's body with brutal force.
Ash grit his teeth as he saw Imperial bounce away from the impact like a pebble on water; fear shooting through him that he had just lost—but, despite blood on his orange scales turning them a bloody brown, his Trapinch stood up!
Something that even shocked Lt Surge, whose confident expression faltered briefly upon seeing Imperial standing through sheer willpower.
"Guess we're not done yet… Finish them, now!" The Gym leader barked, his Raichu again taking off at breakneck speeds.
"You got this, Imperial!" Ash shouted. "Bulldoze!"
The ground started shaking violently, and for the first time this entire match, Ash saw the Raichu as it was moving. Watching a dip in the ground appear where the Mouse Pokémon was about to step, tripping it up.
The slight stumble was all Imperial needed to capitalize, moving with a purpose. His jaws clamped down around the Electric-type before it could recover, delivering a vicious Bite. Raichu squirmed in pain, trying to break free.
Desperate, it swung its tail around, trying to break free like last time with another Iron Tail that never connected. Ash's eyes were wide as he saw the Gym Leader's Pokémon suddenly go limp, the Steel-type energy dissipating from its tail as Imperial let go, letting it roll onto the ground unconscious.
Silence hung in the air for a moment that felt like forever. He thought Raichu might get up, rise to its feet for one last attack—but it didn't move.
The referee signaled Raichu's defeat, and Ash heard the words he so desperately wanted to hear. "Raichu is unable to battle, the Challenger has won!"
The stadium erupted in cheers as he returned Imperial to his Pokéball, congratulating the Ground-type, before clipping his ball back onto his belt. He watched Surge's shocked expression morph into a wide grin as the Gym Leader returned his own Pokémon to its ball.
Ash's knees felt weak as the adrenaline drained from his body all at once. With unsteady steps, he descended from the podium to the battlefield, where the Gym Leader awaited him at the bottom.
"Incredible," Surge said, his deep laughter audible even over the cheering crowd. "You'd make one heck of a soldier, kid."
Ash could only manage a nod, his mind preoccupied with concern for his team as the Gym Leader continued.
"Here's your Thunder Badge," Surge said, handing him the gleaming piece of metal. "See Leanne at the front for your St. Anne ticket and prize money. Also, since you impressed me with your strength, here's a TM for Discharge. That Chinchou of yours needs a better electric move than Electro Ball."
Ash's eyes widened in surprise, accepting the disc with a grin as Surge placed a hand on his shoulder and discreetly turned off their microphones.
"I've seen your file, kid. That was impressive, but you'll need to be better to stand against Team Rocket. Come to my gym tomorrow at 3:00, and I'll teach you how to fight."
Before Ash could reply, Surge reverted to his usual self, flashing a confident smile as he patted Ash on the back, urging him toward the exit. Taking the cue, Ash returned to the lobby, filing away his conversation with Surge for later, and focusing on getting his team to Nurse Joy so he could watch Amelia and Dakota's match.
And that's chapter 10! Let me know what you all thought in the reviews, and if you really liked it, consider supporting me in the world of Patrons or on Twitter Neptunerover. That's where you can get progress updates and early previews of chapters for my stories. It's also where you can find links for everything!
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