Chapter 107, everybody! This Friday is Spring, yay!
So a big chunk of this and the following chapters were written well in advance...like years ago in advance. Like the entirety of next chapter was done maybe two years ago and all but the first 300-ish words of this one were done then too. When I tell you all that I knew where I wanted to go but kept getting tripped up with getting there, this is what I mean.
In other news: thanks to marcsns mills, Speed Reader, AngelicTrinity, Dragonkeeper10, griffin blackwood, LongNightDragon, Silverwing23, thor94, MyselfLOL (haven't gotten a review from that guy yet), and Endarus for the reviews! You all have the right amount of oh no for the coming chapters. XD
Also about the sponsoring and such...I legit don't know how to make that clearer at this point.
Pokémon © Game Freak; Nintendo
And now, for something completely different:
By popular demand, the Pokémon League is allowing for the PLAE to be taken online. Please ensure that you have a stable internet connection, as the exam cannot be taken twice in one year. Rotom and Electric Pokémon are no excuse.
Ash was more than happy to ride the high of beating Gary Oak, was up bright and early the next morning to head to Professor Oak's ranch and train.
"You all did really good in the battle yesterday," Ash told his Pokémon once they had breakfast and were lined up to train. "The main thing is, we gotta make sure you can handle or dodge any hits that come your way—if yesterday was any indication, then we can expect some heavy hitters at the League level."
Several of his Pokémon roared their assent there—they might have wiped out Gary's 'mons, but their skill level had been neck-and-neck; if they were going to challenge the League, they had to step up.
"Think this'll work?" Ash asked once he had his 'mons split into teams to battle each other, with a specific focus on speed and dodging.
"Until we go to Victory Road, the only Pokémon strong enough to give them a challenge is each other," Brock said. "It's the best we've got for right now."
Ash nodded, looked at him and Misty. "So how are you guys getting over? Is there like, a tourist route or something?"
"Nah, we're going with you," Misty said, getting Togepi to follow her finger.
Brock nodded. "Doesn't seem right to skip the last leg."
Ash ducked his head to hide his grateful smirk; honestly he wasn't looking forward to challenging Victory Road with just himself and his team, although he figured on Darkrai at least accompanying. You know, if he ever showed up again.
"Ash, I have to make a run to the Seafoam Islands," Professor Oak said, leaning over the fence. "I can trust that you won't destroy anything while I'm gone?"
"Of course not, Professor!" Ash said, a little offended. "What's going on at the Seafoam Islands?"
"Just checking something out with Professor Elm—apparently a few Pokémon were spotted there that aren't native to the islands, so we're going over to take a look. You're sure you'll be fine on your own?"
"We'll be fine, Professor, don't worry," Brock assured him. "Have fun on your trip."
"Oh yes, I plan on it—my luck we'll see Mew while we're there. Well, toodles!"
Ash blinked at where he and his Alakazam had vanished from for a few moments before looking at the others. "You know, what with that thing with Mew and Mewtwo, maybe the odd Pokémon were the clones?"
"Oh that'd be fun," Misty muttered, playing with Togepi and getting her to spin in a circle, trying to chase after a string. Togepi was chirping happily, hopping a little trying to catch it. "Probably the cloned Frenzy is tearing the island down to the studs."
"Maybe," Brock said, tossing some vegetables in the wok. "Okay, after lunch Misty and I are heading home—we'll meet you in Viridian at the start of next month, and that'll give us a month to get through Victory Road and to the Indigo Plateau."
"You don't have to, you know," Ash said, kneeling to pet Lewis as Pikachu and Vee tumbled by. "I mean, you're not doing the gym run, so you can take some other way."
"We could, but we've come this far—might as well go the rest of the way."
"Plus, Victory Road has a ton of Rock Pokémon," Misty pointed out. "It'd be a good place for me and Brock to train some of our stronger Pokémon—and you can't deny that some help getting through would be appreciated."
"Well, it would," Ash said, shrugging.
"Rio!" Lewis cheered, batting at Ash's arm—he got a tingle of excitement from the Riolu, guessed the reason.
"Sorry, buddy, but you won't be high enough level to get through Victory Road," Ash told him, giving the Riolu one last pat. "I might be able to take you as a plus-one, but it'd be awfully dangerous to take a baby Pokémon there."
"Luuu," Lewis whined, head down.
"Togepi will be staying here too, Lewis," Misty told him. "You two can play here while we're gone."
"Lu!" Lewis yipped, immediately happy.
"Darkrai's right—he's just like you," Brock said to Ash, laughing.
"Hey, that's a positive thing!" Ash said, straightening up, one hand on his hat and the other balled into a fist. "All right, Lewis! Want to practice your Quick Attack? You, Pikachu and Vee, race to the target, first to hit wins—whaddaya say?"
Lewis and Vee both cheered, running around each other—Pikachu had already assumed a ready position, cheeks sparking and a smirk on his face.
"Okay, on the line!" Ash said, dragging the toe of his shoe across the sand—the three Pokémon jumped into place. "On your mark…get set…almost," he added, just to see if anyone would jump forward—Vee jerked, caught himself. "Okay—go!"
Vee was a blinding blur, Lewis shot forward, faster than he had been but not fast enough—
Pikachu practically blistered the ground, smashing through the target and skidding to a halt before the others could even get a quarter of the way there.
"Oh wow—Pikachu, you're showing off!" Ash said, grinning. "And you guys are getting faster! I can definitely tell!" he told Vee and Lewis, prompting them to act abashed. "Okay, battle for second place—ready—"
He cut off sharply, everyone jerking their heads up at the sound of slow, measured clapping. Look around for the source—
Ash knew, from reading the pulp novels for The Shadow and the Nightmare, that what the man was wearing over his muted orange three-piece suit was a Fedora and a trench coat, the latter differing from a Peabody in that it looked like it was made of something lighter than Mareep wool. Ash almost expected to see that the man leaning against the open gate was in fact Lamont Cranston, him being dead or no—but no; lantern-jawed instead of the movie-star look, a little rougher, a little sallower-faced. But the eyes and the smirk—there was something dangerous there, cunning, enough to make Ash a little leery. Especially with Ash being the focus of the man's attention.
"Very impressive," the man said finally. "I don't usually see people with enough patience to train a Pikachu, but that one is something."
Ash glanced at Pikachu, who had come up next to him and was eyeing the man narrowly—looked back at the man, sizing him up.
"Professor Oak just left, if that's who you're looking for," he said, figuring that would be the first question.
"That actually wasn't what I was in town for," the man said, elbow resting on the post, fingers laced now. "How long have you been training that Pikachu?"
"A…few months? I have seven badges."
"Really." Tone and expression disbelieving.
"Yeah! All I have left to get is the Earth Badge."
"That so."
"You know, not introducing yourself is pretty rude," Misty said, standing and facing the man, hooking her thumbs in her pockets where she could easily grab a Pokéball and throw it.
"And yet I noticed you haven't volunteered your name," the man pointed out to her.
Misty scowled a little before answering. "Misty Waterflower, Cerulean Gym Leader."
"I'm sure that was meant to be impressive."
Ash could practically see Misty's temper flaring up, jumped in to intercede. "My name is Ash Ketchum," he said, moving a little so he was between Misty and the stranger. "Future Pokémon master."
"Well at least you don't aim low."
Ash mimicked the man's expression, adding a little tooth to the smirk and feeling the skin around his nose prinkle. "Not in my goals, at least."
The man barked out a laugh, startling Ash into taking a step back. "Well! I wasn't expecting that much bite from a starting trainer! You're what, ten?"
"Ten and a half," Ash muttered, feeling the beginnings of a glower. "And you never did answer Misty's question—who are you?"
Brock—who had been silent and evaluating the stranger during the whole conversation—suddenly snapped his fingers and pointed at him.
"Wait a minute!" Brock interjected. "I know you—I've seen your picture in the gym leader handbook! You—you're Don Giovanni! You're the Viridian Gym Leader!"
Ash's attention snapped back to the man, interest fully piqued, to see him tipping his hat to Brock.
"I was waiting to see which of you two would recognize me," the man Giovanni said. "I didn't think I looked any different from that old photo."
"You're really the Viridian Gym Leader?" Ash asked, stepping forward eagerly.
"Among other things."
"But that's great! You're the guy I have to beat—I need the Earth Badge to get to the Indigo Plateau!"
"Not so, the League has been accepting other, lesser badges," Giovanni said, looking like he wanted to spit on the word lesser.
"But they're not the Earth Badge," Ash insisted. "And you're right here—can't we battle? Please?"
"I want you to know I don't battle just anyone."
"But I have seven badges!" Ash protested, digging in his pockets for his badge case.
"So you said," Giovanni said, before leaning back from the open case thrust towards him.
"See?" Ash asked, double-fisting the case. "Seven badges, all of them from the official sanctioned gyms."
Giovanni took the case, examining the badges within. "More like six and a half, with the Cerulean Badge—aren't they just giving those away now?"
"My stupid sisters are," Misty spat. "I'm not. Ash beat me for it fair and square!"
"Touchy subject," Giovanni muttered, eyeing Misty with amusement before scanning the rest of the badges—and then blinking several times in obvious surprise. "The Volcano Badge? You found Blaine?"
"Took about a month—had a minor detour with a Mew, but we found him near the volcano," Ash said, smiling smugly.
Giovanni gave him a look that was somewhere between utter disbelief and harsh judging. "You. Did. What."
"Yeah—we didn't see Missing-No though. Not for lack of trying."
Now Giovanni looked like he wanted to call Tauros leavings on him. "And what's the name of Blaine's Ninetails?"
"Er…I'm not sure, it started with an S—it had a really cool setup with Will-O-Wisp though, like how Stealth Rock does but with flames. His Magmar's named Kovie though—and he keeps all his Pokéballs in a stuffed Tepig doll."
"Uh-huh. The Soul Badge? How'd you get past Koga's traps?"
"Lots of cleverness and a little bit of dancing—Misty knocked Koga out though, so I battled his daughter Janine instead. I did beat him properly on a return trip, though."
Misty lifted her chin in smug defiance when Ash announced that bit of news; Giovanni arched an eyebrow at her, continued.
"The Marsh Badge?"
"Sabrina—and then I beat the Fighting Dojo that had set up shop in Saffron too. They didn't give me a badge, though."
"Uh-huh. And the Rainbow Badge? I had heard that Erika had stopped taking challengers."
"I wouldn't take no for an answer."
Giovanni considered him for a long moment—snapped the badge case shut, walking around him and Misty.
"Well I suppose I can oblige you on that battle," he said, heading for the battlefield behind the lab. "Seeing as how you did get seven badges and managed to catch me at a good time."
"Really?" Ash squawked. "We're going to battle?"
"You did want the badge, correct?"
Ash pumped his fists excitedly, cheering as he ran for the opposite end of the field.
"Ash, you might want to think about this—" Brock started—
Ash didn't hear him, already skidding to a halt in the challenger box.
"All right!" he crowed, assuming a battle-ready position. "How do you want to play this?"
"You're in an awful big hurry to get your head handed to you," Giovanni observed, half-turned away from the field, turning Ash's badge case over in his hands. "Last chance to back out."
"No way—we're going to beat you! Right, Pikachu?"
"Pika pi KA!" Pikachu cheered, cheeks sparking.
"Cute," Giovanni said, expression a barely controlled sneer as he looked at Pikachu; he turned to face them, a smirk taking its place. "Well then—feel free to use all your Pokémon against me."
"So it's a full-team versus full-team battle?" Ash asked.
"Did I say that? No—I told you to use all your Pokémon. If you have six, use six—if you have a hundred and fifty-one, use them all. I'm only going to use one—if you can beat that one, or if you succeed in impressing me enough, I'll give you the Earth Badge. Sound like a plan?"
"Ash, I don't like this," Brock said, looking from Giovanni to Ash. "Remember what Koga told you."
Ash did—Koga told him that if he hit fast and hard enough, he'd last through one of Giovanni's Pokémon.
Giovanni had just said he was only going to use one.
"You've got yourself a deal!" Ash said, twisting his hat around, fists pumping in excitement. "Let's do it!"
Brock was rubbing his temples, Misty cheering for Ash to win.
Giovanni's eyes narrowed, smirk growing as he doffed his hat, gave Ash a little bow, tucking his badge case away in a coat pocket.
"Well then," he said, pulling a Pokéball out of his hat and expanding it. "Let's not waste any more time—go, Rhysa!"
Ash braced himself as the Pokéball arced down from the toss, burst open, disgorged a…very large….
He blinked several times, mind not wanting to process the thing across from him. Shifting gray plates coating a huge solid mass, thick tail and limbs, a horn that spun in place briefly before stilling, showing its shiny point, a gold Level 100 medal on its chest—
He was looking at the biggest Rhydon he had ever had the misfortune to clap eyes on.
Giovanni was chuckling darkly at Ash's expression as he put his hat back on.
"There's the one you have to beat," he told him. "Let the battle for the Earth Badge begin!"
"Oh mama," Ash muttered.