Ash's Team
Styx - Hydreigon
Hemlock - Grimmsnarl
Bane - Zoroark
Mirae - Mytheon
Sagitta - Togekiss
Libra - Hakamo-o
Castor - Krokorok
Polaris - Greninja
Artemis - Houndoom
Orion - Alolan Ninetales
Ladon - Appletun
Wisteria - Galarian Ponyta
At Oak's
Nettle - Naganadel
Route 6 was overcast and windy enough to warrant a thicker jacket.
They were almost to Saffron after over a week on foot. Back before he'd left for Alola, Ash had biked from Cerulean to Vermilion, cutting the time down significantly. Now, he was making the most of the calm days to get his team back into the swing of regulated battles.
"Alright, we'll be in pairs and groups today. Sagitta, you'll be teaching Artemis and Orion Nasty Plot. Once they've gotten a solid grasp on it, I want you and Orion to work on Psychic, Extrasensory, and Psyshock. Artemis, continue working on Solar Beam.
"Polaris and Bane will be working on speed, agility, and reflexes, whoever is the first to get tagged ten times loses." The two Dark types grinned at each other with narrowed eyes, sparks flying at the challenge.
"Mirae, you'll be helping Wisteria and Ladon with Double Team. After that, work with Wisteria on the strength of her Swift, Fairy Wind, and Protect. Ladon, you'll be with Styx-" The Appletun's eye flaps snapped up, wide and alert as Ash has ever seen him. Styx wheezed an evil chuckle from beside him, making her temporary mentee shiver.
Rolling his eyes, Ash placed a hand on Styx's neck in a half-hearted reprimand. "-working on Draco Meteor." Ladon turned his wide eyes to Ash, blinking rapidly as a dopey smile slowly widened his maw. Ash nodded seriously at the Appletun; he was ready.
"Libra, continue to test Hemlock." The Grimmsnarl growled low in his chest, glaring heatedly at the smug Hakamo-o. Libra has been having quite a bit of fun brawling with the newly evolved Pokémon, pushing him to find his new limits. She was still the strongest on the team physically, but Hemlock was shortening the gap.
"Finally, Castor is with me." The Krokorok bared his teeth in anticipation while his teammates looked on in slight envy. Working one-on-one with Ash usually led to learning a technique that could turn the tides of a battle.
A strong Pokémon could win in the wild, but a clever Pokémon could win anywhere.
Ash preferred to teach his team to think, to look for options other than attack. Even the mightiest Pokémon can be toppled by a clever strategy. He had once watched Diantha's tiny Carbink take down Lance's Aerodactyl with Stealth Rock, Trick Room, Gravity, and Meteor Beam.
Some of his teammates have even started coming up with their own unique uses for various techniques. Orion was the one to watch Castor's Sand Tomb act as a protective barrier and discovered how to do the same with Ice Shard.
As his Pokémon split into their groups, Ash watched for a moment. He tried to encourage interaction with each other, rather than just stick to their one or two friendships and bonds. It was important the team felt and acted like a pack; they needed to be able to rely on one another.
In most cases, there was just indifference to those they didn't interact with. Sagitta didn't care for most of the team except Mirae and her hostile-yet-fond relationship with Styx. Orion was getting better at tolerating more than just Artemis and Bane. Ash had even seen him playfully spar with Wisteria, which was a shock for him.
Libra was an interesting case.
For such a large, powerful Pokémon, she kept to herself. She didn't make a splash, didn't call attention, didn't make her incredible presence known. Libra seemed happiest just existing in the group, battling and training and sparring, challenging Styx, and resting with Bane. It was confounding that one of the most dominating Pokémon on the battlefield was the most unobtrusive off of it.
She got along fine with others when she was paired up with them, obviously enjoying their spars. But she didn't form any deep connections with them.
When Ash asked if she was happy, she looked surprised he had to ask. In a rather bold move for her, she picked up her trainer and nuzzled his face until he had shallow scrapes from her scales. The content rumble she released made the worry drain from his shoulders.
Ash bit his lip as he tried to picture how Nettle would fit into the group.
As a Poipole, the UB hadn't had that one companion that everyone else seemed to have. Nettle had been too naive, too zealous, and too open for the others to tolerate for long. Mirae had gotten along with them well enough until he evolved, same with Polaris.
Ash couldn't anticipate who would get along best with the Naganadel. Nettle had changed so much upon evolution that he didn't truly know their personality anymore. He didn't know what was at their core, their soul.
Cynthia's advice had stayed at the back of his mind, and he knew he was avoiding it.
He was avoiding all that made him other.
But maybe that otherness will help him reach Nettle.
Ash shook his head when Castor none-too-gently nudged him in impatience. "Yes, yes, let's go." The Krokorok huffed but followed Ash away from the others. When working one-on-one, Ash didn't want his Pokémon distracted by the rest of his team.
They were too competitive for their own good.
"Today we'll be learning Stealth Rock. It's an interesting attack that exerts your passive control over the rocks and sediment on the field. It's an enhanced form of Sandstorm that requires willpower and complete, unwavering dominance. Stealth Rock revolves around shaping the sediment into sharp weapons that slowly chip away at your opponent."
Castor was somewhat torn on learning a not-really-attack attack. Yet he did like the somewhat cruel and unavoidable nature of the move.
Ash let a smirk slide onto his face before he continued. "I have a theory that with enough strength and mastery with the move, you can have it cause damage every single time an opponent even thinks about moving so much as an inch."
That won him over.
Castor roared, thrashing his tail and flexing his claws. His hungry expression made his eyes glint with a bloodthirsty glee that just made Ash sigh. He knew Castor was thinking this was a surefire way to gradually exhaust Hemlock's newfound defenses.
Ash began their lesson by breaking down the intricacies of the technique. It'd be like Sandstorm and his Pop Up strategy with Stone Edge. While Stealth Rock wouldn't be as physically draining as Pop Up, it would be mentally taxing to continuously exert his control over so many pieces.
When they moved on to the practical lesson, Ash had Castor create smaller and smaller stones, working on sharpening the edges to dagger-like points and then pursuing tinier, sturdier creations. Once Castor was consistently making scaled-down, dense, sharp stones, they moved on to increasing the quantity he could make at a time.
There were two general options for Stealth Rock. Castor could dissolve them into sand and remake them as their opponent moved or he could bury them and leave them to be discovered. The first option provided more flexibility but also required more concentration. The second option was a 'one and done' situation, but lacked adaptability.
Due to Castor's innate talent with sand manipulation, they started with the first one.
With the Krokorok focused entirely on his current task, Ash took a moment to look around, zipping up his jacket as a brisk breeze rushed over him.
Ash couldn't help but feel sentimental as he looked at the somewhat familiar route. He remembers biking south with a small team consisting of a temperamental Zweilous, an angsty Impidimp, a cautious Zorua, and a newborn Eevee.
It felt like a lifetime ago.
Now he had so many more personalities thrown into the mix; a troublesome Togekiss, a competitive Hakamo-o, a loving Houndoom, an iron-willed Krokorok, a serious Greninja, a vicious Ninetales, a drowsy Appletun, and a spirited Ponyta.
An unknown Naganadel.
Humming under his breath, Ash dragged his pack around his shoulder to find his newest possession.
The Enigma berry plant appeared on the ground, the hazy blackish-purple glow rather ominous. Kneeling down, Ash plucked one of the ripe berries from its stem, returning the plant to its storage container.
Staring down at the berry, Ash pursed his lips as he turned it this way and that. It was surprisingly large for a berry, about three inches long and three inches wide at the base. It tapered to a narrower rounded point at the top. The cream and black swirling striations looked oddly like scorch marks. Even the berry gave off the odd haze, like it was releasing a benign smog from its flesh.
Ash put the berry in his pocket, planning to give it to Wisteria later tonight. She'd be out of commission for around two days as her body assimilated the spectral resistance that the berry offered.
"Castor, you're allowed to move!" Ash shook his head when he saw Castor standing like a statue as he tried to melt the small stones into the ground. He saw the croc nod and raise his clawed hands, flexing and fisting them. It helped to physically move when learning a new technique, and over time learn to decrease the reliance on it.
The last nine days had been calm, smooth, and without incident.
Which is why Styx's screech of pain sent Ash's fight or flight into overdrive.
Without hesitation, Ash and Castor took off, the Krokorok dropping to all fours and diving underground, cutting through the solid earth like a Golduck in water.
The quarter mile was nothing in the face of Ash's single minded focus to get to his starter. Her spark was an inferno in the back of his mind - all his Pokémon were - but Styx was a beacon of home.
He heard furious roars and violent collisions before he burst into the clearing.
His fingers spasmed, black wanting to bleed into them at the sight before him.
Styx was surrounded, sporting a slightly injured wing and bruises, but Ash had never seen her more vicious. The charging Rampardos was launched away with a raging Aqua Tail, a Dragon Pulse meeting Salamence point blank and sending the other Pseudo-Legend onto its back.
Ursaring would have landed its brutal Hammer Arm on Styx's unprotected back if Castor hadn't exploded from the ground with a gaping maw and crunched the ursa's arm between flaming jaws.
The debilitating sound of clashing scales preceded Libra erupting from the trees and driving her devastating momentum into the recovered Rampardos. Ladon was off to the side, growling at the Hariyama he had wrapped up in Grass Knots, Leech Seeds, and Giga Drain. The Fighting type tore free with ease, backhanding the Appletun into a tree.
But what made Ash's blood boil was the Magmortar grinning demonically with its cannon pointed at a pinned Artemis.
Ash's eyes, wild and burning, locked onto the trainer responsible for this.
He had his arms crossed, frame relaxed, almost bored, but his eyes were focused on the various battles. Severe countenance, furrowed brows, permanent frown; he was pure stoicism.
Ash didn't smile - though he felt a strong burst of relief - when Bane faded from invisibility with claws dripping with the void held to the teen's throat.
The attacking Pokémon froze.
Gasping in a way that broke the trainer's apathetic expression, the teen's eyes were wide with startled panic. Bane flexed his claws, brushing threateningly against the fragile skin of his throat.
Ash was shaking with barely restrained rage, his fingers twisted in his jacket in a feeble attempt to keep Yveltal's gift at bay.
"What are you doing."
The other trainer's gunmetal eyes finally landed on Ash. He didn't speak, but Ash could see his neck convulse as he swallowed, briefly pressing the skin further into Bane's claws.
Stalking a few feet forward, Ash knew his steps were lurching as he controlled himself, muscles too strained to function smoothly. "Get the fuck away from my Pokémon." Red eyes bore into dark gray until the teen grunted, voice deep, and his Pokémon stepped away.
Artemis whined as she got up, her movements stiff from what looked like injured ribs. Libra's glowing red eyes were boring into the Rampardos she held by the neck, the Fossil Pokémon struggling in her hold. With a jerk of Ash's chin, she dropped the Rock type, the ground trembling from the impact.
Hissing, the reptile backed away, but still not moving back towards its trainer.
Bane hadn't released his threatening stance, daggers still held to the trainer's jugular.
The air was tense, silent, and still with their stalemate. Ash could sense the rest of his team at the fringes of the clearing, watching and waiting.
Once Ash was sure his fingers weren't imbued with Death, he raised one hand and made a simple gesture. In an instant, Bane appeared at his side. Styx, Ladon, Libra, and Castor all backed away towards Ash, the Hydreigon keeping herself between her pack and the threats.
The other trainer's Pokémon followed suit, cautiously making their way back to the teen. The lack of reassurance from the trainer to his Pokémon was obvious. The lack of visible relief from the Pokémon was glaring.
Ash's penetrating gaze flicked over the other's Pokémon, his breathing picking up when he noticed their power.
Rampardos, Salamence, Ursaring, Hariyama, and Magmortar, Pokémon known for their overwhelming strength and difficulty to train.
Pieces fell into place.
He was trying to capture Styx.
"Are you an imbecile?"
The other trainer definitely hadn't expected those to be the words that broke their impasse.
He sneered, hands in fists at his sides. "Excuse me?"
Ash felt Bane place a hand on his back, no doubt trying to calm his trembling. This- this pile of rancid Grimer filth had tried to take Styx away from him.
Trying to control his breathing - his heaving, agitated gasps - Ash once more felt the prickle of numbness crawl down his fingers. Bane's paw pressed harder against his back, pulling him from the edge.
"Did you think - did you truly believe - that a wild Hydreigon was outside Saffron, unmonitored and unsecured and capable of being caught?"
The sneer deepend on the other teen's face, his purple hair falling over his slate eyes when he tucked his chin in a subconscious display of humiliation. Even from far away, Ash could see his jaw clench as he grit his teeth.
"Tch. How'd you get it? The rest of your assets are rather pathetic in comparison."
Assets assets assets assets
That word told Ash all he needed to know.
"So how'd you catch it-"
"Her."
The other trainer raised an eyebrow, his composure having returned to him as he tried to gain command over the situation. "Hm?" He raised an uninterested eyebrow.
"I got her. She's my starter."
Ash couldn't even enjoy the flash of shock that shot through the trainer's eyes when it immediately turned to disgust.
"Oh, you're one of those."
There was peer reviewed research, testimonials, Masters proving that bonds with your team made them stronger. Oak's entire life's work was based on showcasing the outcomes of bonds. Proof that treating Pokémon like equals enhanced that connection, that bond. It was proven, it was fact, it was Truth.
But there would always be trainers choosing to blind themselves to that Truth.
Trainers that saw Pokémon as tools, as possessions, as things to fight for them. As emotionless machines that would do their bidding and become strong because if they didn't…
And unless they actually abused their Pokémon, unless they got caught, nothing could be done. Nothing and no one could force them to change except themselves.
And this trainer was one of them.
"And you're one of those that thinks they know better than Masters." Ash watched an almost imperceivable twitch go through the teen's frame. Ash felt a slow grin stretch his face, baring his teeth like his team. "Ah, I see." Ash pouted condescendingly, mockingly. "A Master hurt your feelings, didn't they? Who was it? Let's see if I can guess…" Ash tilted his head, looking at the other like a Bug under a microscope. "It was either a Champion or someone you know personally- Ah! It's personal then." The trainer had once again flinched, even though his expression was locked on a sneer.
"Tch, enough. Obviously catching that thing was a waste of my time, but I know grinding your face into the dirt will make up for it. It's where you belong." When his eyes darted to Artemis, Ash once more bared his teeth, the rest of his team snarling and growling in defense of their packmate. Artemis ducked her head, pressing against Ash's side, searching for reassurance.
The trainer's scorn took on a jeering edge, and his Pokémon suddenly became even more alert. The promise of battle igniting the air.
Ash felt the rage, the righteousness, the vengeance coalesce until his face was blank and empty. "Just try and put me there."
The atmosphere changed in an instant, charged like a livewire and twice as dangerous.
Ash's Pokédex dinged in his pocket with an incoming challenge request.
6 Single Battles
6v6
Challenger: Paul Shinji [Rank 119]
Challenged: Ashton Ketchum [Rank 409]
Clenching his jaw, Ash refused to allow himself apprehension. Paul might be ranked higher than he expected, but he would regret his words either way.
They each had five Pokémon out with them, but Ash couldn't rely on the assumption Paul would use any of them.
Ash nodded to Libra, the Totem Hakamo-o grinning and stomping forward, her scales forcing a wince out of Paul. The other trainer scoffed and jerked his head, Hariyama taking hulking steps forward.
There were a few beats of stillness before it broke.
Hariyama's massive hands pressed forward, a blast of turbulent wind exploding forth. Libra's Dragon Breath cut through the Whirlwind, but Hariyama had already capitalized on the millisecond of a delayed reaction.
Belly Drum mutilated Hariyama, the Dragon Breath washing over its thick hide like a Gust from a Pidgey.
"Augment!" Hariyama had few long-ranged attacks, and those it did were easily avoided as Libra wove with the grace of Dragon Dance and solidity of Iron Defense. The harsh cacophony echoed over Route 6 in a mimicry of Clanging Scales, the simultaneous Earthquake she released allowing her to finally close the distance.
Hariyama was well trained.
Its shorter stature gave it a surprising advantage, the low center of mass preventing it from being knocked over by Libra's Iron Tail. But her Drain Punch landed right on its damaged stomach, eliciting a pained grunt.
Huge palms snapped forward, the incredible power of its Arm Thrust pushing Libra back. The Hakamo-o looked livid after the fact, her armored arms coming up to successfully block the bone-breaking Focus Punch. But to both his and Libra's immense shock, some scales cracked beneath the force.
Ash was almost positive that this Hariyama had Sheer Force as its ability. Terrifying when combined with Belly Drum. It might almost be as strong as Diantha's Tyrantrum when enhanced like this.
Libra's roar morphed into a debilitating Screech as she shed the damaged scales, her Sky Uppercut snapping Hariyama's head back. She followed up with Iron Head, but Hariyama caught the following Thunder Punch between its huge palms.
Unprepared, Libra roared in shock when Hariyama flipped her over its shoulder, the Seismic Toss rattling the ground like her earlier Earthquake.
"Protect!" The dome of energy splintered under the force of Hariyama's Close Combat, but Libra was ready. She had learned from her battle with Tyrantrum. If her scales weren't enough to protect her from her opponent's strength, then she would have to become more than her power.
She would not be made helpless again.
Rock Slide caught the next strikes, bursting into dust but giving Libra the brief reprieve she needed. Hariyama dodged the first few Drain Punches, but that was fine.
Clangorous Soul had Libra glowing violet, her red eyes glinting with ferocity.
"Wide Guard!" Paul's voice was a barking command, Hariyama bracing itself and its meaty hands prepared to block.
Libra's tail locked behind the Fighting type's leg and yanked.
Flamethrower washed over Hariyama's mangled stomach, Dragon Claw tearing bloody, smoking flesh from fascia.
Zen Headbutt smashed into Libra's throat.
Stumbling back, Libra was left open to horrendously powerful Arm Thrusts that had concussive force, rattling Libra's scales with their staggering power. Snarling through her damaged trachea, Libra focused through the pain, through the cracking scales and through the bruising impacts.
Paul's eyes flared when he realized.
"En-"
Counter and Bide coalesced around Libra's mighty fist.
Endgame connected.
All 1,000 plus pounds of Hariyama were launched across their makeshift battlefield, the Fighting type leaving a spider-webbed crater beneath its bulk when it landed.
Paul watched, sneered, and barked, "Get up."
It slowly, painfully, pulled itself to its feet, Endure imbuing its mind with the willpower to overcome the limits of its body.
Libra was heaving, but she was standing tall. She had grown since Galar, since Kalos, since Unova, since Alola. She might not be ready to evolve into Kommo-o, but she has evolved in other ways.
As Hariyama rushed her with Reversal, a debilitating technique that was no doubt its final gambit, calm determination washed over Libra's frame.
Legs braced, center of mass lowered, she huffed.
Hariyama plowed through the first Double Team clone. Then the second. Then the third. The next waiting behind the former; a long line of faux-Hakamo-o.
Libra tore through the remaining, Aerial Ace striking Hariyama in its vulnerable, gaping stomach.
Hariyama couldn't even gag before its eyes rolled up as it collapsed.
Libra slammed her fists into the ground and shook, her scales roaring her victory for her. Bane howled in time with her celebration, grinning wolfishly beside Ash. The Hakamo-o took a few moments to pant before she turned to head back to Ash's side. Dropping her chin atop Ash's head, he reached up to scratch the leathery skin of her jaw.
"I'm proud of you." He heard and felt Libra's huge huff as she relaxed. Detaching herself from her trainer, she walked a ways away to settle down to watch the next battle.
Looking back, Ash saw Paul's harsh frown, eyebrows pulled down in a severe angle as he tucked Hariyama's Ultra ball away. Ash couldn't help but be grateful he didn't hear Paul's potential response to Hariyama's loss.
"Tch. That won't be happening again."
Ash didn't deign that with a response, instead gesturing for Ladon to step forward as Paul tossed another Ultra ball.
A hulking, writhing leviathan landed on the field. Gyarados was so coiled up that there was no telling how long it truly was.
Ash froze, staring up at the blue serpent with wide eyes. His heart pounded in his chest and for a moment, this Gyarados had a gaping hole in the roof of its mouth, gushing blood and brains and life.
A flick to his cheek snapped Ash out of his reverie, Styx rumbling lowly beside him. Exhaling slowly, Ash placed a hand against the Dragon and refocused his attention. Ladon had one eye lifted and was staring at him intensely. Paul was giving him a condescending stare, a tinge of cruel satisfaction in the face of Ash's hesitation.
Gritting his teeth, Ash pushed the memory from his mind, nodding at Ladon.
The fact that the Gyarados was caught in an Ultra ball told Ash that Paul couldn't even be bothered to raise a Magikarp.
Exhaling in a steady stream, Ash was ready.
"Waterfall."
"Rolling Aroma."
Paul went on the immediate offensive, trying to gain the upperhand after his previous loss. Geysers of water erupted from the ground, breaking through the dirt and creating a truly marvelous spectacle, proving Gyarados's mastery of its water.
Ladon was quick, gaining speed every moment from Rollout, spewing the pink aroma from his body as he repeatedly smashed into Gyarados, who had trouble maneuvering with its size, eyelids heavy from the enchanting scent.
Paul was more vocal in this battle, distrusting his Pokémon's capability to battle without input.
"Wrap, Rain Dance." Gyarados finally uncoiled, and it was at least 25% larger than the average Gyarados. Its body was almost able to wrap around the entire field, which allowed it to corral Ladon and grab him with its tail.
Ash had taken a risk choosing Ladon. Even though he had only been with Ash a short while, he was proficient in outlasting tough opponents.
Immobilized for the moment, Ladon could do nothing when Gyarados glowed blue and sent a glowing orb into the air. Dark clouds collected overhead, thick and foreboding before the drizzle started.
During this time, Ladon was still spewing Sweet Scent, trying to induce lethargy but Gyarados had more tenacity than either Ash or Ladon expected. Luckily, the Dragon was able to get a couple dozen Leech Seeds to twist around and beneath the serpent's scales. Tough vines dug superficially into flesh, tapping into the energy that flowed beneath the scales.
The energy Ladon gained from this offset the pain from Wrap.
The downpour erased any existence of Sweet Scent, instead suffusing the area with the fresh smell of rain. Gyarados shook its head and started charging an Ice Beam in its maw.
While Ash knew Ladon's Thick Fat would negate some of the damage, it would still hurt. So he enacted his escape plan. "Gyro Ball." Ladon twitched in response, rolling up into a tight ball and taking on a metallic sheen.
The Ice Beam overtook the Galar native, encasing him in ice. Paul crossed his arms and smirked, but as he opened his mouth to continue his assault, Ash cut in.
"Rollout!" The iceball started to spin, ripping out scales when Gyrados tried to tighten its coils around him, roaring in pain when the rubbery skin beneath was exposed to the painful cold of a makeshift Ice Ball.
The serpent flung the Dragon away, trying to get away from what must have felt like a freezing orbital sander. Ladon landed and rolled, the ice cracking even as he spun and shot back towards the serpent.
"Iron Tail!" Ice shattered when the metallic tail made contact, sending Ladon flying back. The Appletun bounced, his thick body helping absorb the shock of the fall. He flipped over and, rather dexterously, landed on his feet. His claws dug up dirt as he skidded back.
Not looking particularly scuffed up, Ladon shook and glowed for a moment as Leech Seed gave him some energy back. Paul scowled and thrust out a hand.
"Squall!" Twister and Dragon Dance engulfed the serpent, tearing vines from its body and shredding them in the gales.
Ash bit his cheek but allowed him to go ahead, instead calling over the winds, "Sunny Day."
It wasn't until things calmed down that Paul saw the brightly shining sun overhead and Ladon glowing.
The Solar Beam that erupted from Ladon slammed into Gyarados's chest. A shriek tore from the serpent's throat, the beast writhing from the burning attack. Ladon followed up with an Apple Acid, managing to drip the sizzling attack into the wounds littering the Atrocious Pokémon's body.
"Dragon Breath!"
Ladon disappeared behind the wave of purple flames, the unexpectedness of the attack heightening its payoff. Gyarados closed its maw, cutting off the attack. The Appletun had some minor burn marks on his scales, but it was the minute shaking of his muscles that caused Ash to curse.
"Flamethrower!"
"Protect!" Ladon twitched, paralysis jumping through his body as the wave of fire washed over him.
Gyarados slithered closer, the neverending streams of flame bearing down on the Dragon.
Finally, a burst of energy pushed the flames back, causing them to take shape around the dome of protective energy. "Synthesis!"
Winds tore at the two trainers' clothes, rushing over their ears and making it hard to focus. Paul had an arm braced in front of his face in a way that Ash had learned never to do again. The heat seared his skin but Ash could see the green glint of a glowing Protect through the flames.
It was asking a lot, to hold both Protect, Sunny Day, and utilize the heat from Flamethrower to heal himself, but Ladon's stamina was in a league of its own.
A shocking roar broke through the howling winds, and suddenly the dome of flames expanded. The walls extended, gaining momentum before erupting, sending flames, energy, and light in all directions.
Gyarados had to close its maw and turn its head away when heated draconic energy licked against its scales.
Ladon was panting in the middle of a crater, wisps of his charged Dragon Pulse dancing over his scales. He was out of breath and shaking, but all the wounds on his body had closed up.
Grasping the opening, Ash slashed his hand down. "Rollout!" Ladon roared again, a surprisingly terrifying sound from the normally lazy Dragon. The speed behind the attack was a last ditch effort, putting every ounce of energy in.
With the force of bullet, the Rollout arced around, racing towards the serpent. A sharp crack echoed when Iron Tail slammed into Ladon. The Appletun hit the ground, but glowed with the light of Gyro Ball, darting off once more.
Flamethrower bathed the area, reigniting the smoldering coals from earlier. Ladon stayed just on the edge of the flames, the heat licking the Steel edges of his getaway. Gyarados' enormous body worked against it, having difficulty manipulating its bulk to keep the Appletun in its sights.
"Earthquake!"
"Launch!" The timing was slightly off, but Ladon used the sudden quake to throw himself into the air, a Solar Beam exploding from his maw. Ash winced when the beam of energy only clipped the edge of Gyarados's head, Ladon unable to right himself in the air for a solid shot. But it did have the added effect of exposing the serpent's throat. "Body Slam!"
Gyarados's eyes bulged and it gagged when Ladon's forward momentum struck it right in the throat. It tried to roar, but it came out raspy. Ladon fell to the ground rather gracelessly, but heaved himself up and tried to launch a weaker Solar Beam at his opponent's white belly.
Paralysis locked his movement.
Red eyes blazed with fury, Gyarados's infamous rage coming to the forefront.
The Hyper Beam blinded them, and the subsequent shower of dirt and debris concealed the outcome.
Ladon's roar of pain was a new sound. Even upon being struck by Marnie's Thievul's Hyper Beam he hadn't muttered a sound. Gyarados dove into the obscured portion of the field, maw open wide to release a Hydro Pump that dug trenches into the ground.
Darting away clumsily, Ladon came rocketing out of the combat zone, cutting sharply to avoid the following Hydro Pumps, Aqua Tails, and deadly Crunches that snapped closed inches away.
Finally, Ladon was caught.
Hydro Pump carved into the field right in front of the Appletun, jolting him from his Rollout and being engulfed in the overwhelming geyser.
But Paul wasn't going to leave it at that.
Hurricane exploded around Ladon, encapsulating hundreds of thousands of gallons of water in its untamed cyclone. Ladon was trapped, unable to breathe, suffocating and drowning.
Ash's eyes widened in panic.
The Quick ball couldn't reach him.
He felt Death at his fingertips, Zacian's sword burning like a brand around his throat, cold wrapped around his arm; ozone and smoke filling his lungs.
"LET HIM GO!"
Styx shrieked threateningly, the others on the outskirts of the battlefield prepared to intervene and free their packmate.
Paul lingered for one cruel, sadistic moment before he waved a hand.
Ladon fell to the ground, gurgling and heaving through the water in his lungs.
Polaris was at his side before Ash could step forward, freeing Ladon's lungs and throat of the obstruction. Ladon hacked and coughed in his unconscious state, but soon his breathing evened out. Artemis howled mournfully, whimpering at the sight of her friend suffering. He was returned to his Quick ball, Ash's shaking hand holding it to his chest.
That helplessness…
Wide, fearful eyes stared at Paul with newfound clarity and incredulity, unable to determine if Paul really would have- if he was-
An unidentifiable emotion clouded Paul's face but it was gone the next moment.
Helplessness bred seething, burning malevolence.
"Styx."
With savage glee, the Hydreigon took to the field, retribution not a threat, but a promise. Ladon might be lazy, might be simple, might be unbothered, but he was pack.
Salamence roared its challenge, stepping onto the field.
Styx's demonic shriek of outrage held the encompassing, overshadowing might and unbroken oath of the Nether.
For the first time, Paul looked uncertain.
Salamence kicked off, tearing through the air like a missile, speed and vicious desire on full display.
Styx had seen faster.
Echoed Voice bounced between three heads, growing stronger, more devastating with every beat of Salamence's wings. The overwhelmed Dragon flew straight into the sudden Stone Edges, momentum too wild to dodger Styx's ruthless Dragon Rush.
Secondary heads tore into blood-colored wings, the rivulets blending with the membranes. Ice Fangs crackled over the punctures, Salamence shrieking in pain and rage, its Dragon Pulse missing Styx's main head as she undulated like an Arbok.
In the air, Styx twisted, Ice Fangs tearing free from wings and Dual Wingbeat sending the other Dragon into the ground with unforgiving force. Unrelenting, Styx landed on Salamence, five-inch-long claws digging into scaly flesh. Her dagger-filled maw filled with water, freezing with Ice Fang, and clamping down on Salamence's jugular.
Salamence gasped, finding itself pinned and beaten within two minutes.
There was silence before Styx dug frozen fangs deeper into Salamence's neck.
All six blazing fuschia eyes were locked on Paul.
Pale and gaping, Paul returned his Pseudo-Legend.
Styx slowly unfolded to her full height, wings flared aggressively and roaring at the other trainer. Paul took a step back, none of his Pokémon stepping forward protectively.
Snorting in derision, Styx turned her back on Paul and stalked back to Ash's side. She leaned down to nuzzle his face, secondary heads flicking their tongues out and coating his hair in saliva. Ash pressed his forehead to her warm, rough snout and breathed out.
Red eyes cut to Paul, the trainer watching the interaction with a tight expression, frown carving deep lines for someone so young.
Ash and his starter separated, focusing their attention at the halfway gone battle.
He nodded at Castor.
Hissing in feral delight, the Krokorok skittered onto the field.
An ordinary Pokéball was tossed, and a vast, colossal Torterra sent a natural earthquake throughout Route 6.
Ash knew this was Paul's starter.
Paul raised a young, small Turtwig into a monumental threat, a Pokémon more known for its bulk than its power output. He'd disregarded his own hardfought beliefs to keep the Sinnohian Pokémon on his team despite the fact it didn't fit in with his single-minded idea of powerful Pokémon. It broke the mold, it was the exception to the rule.
Someone like Paul wouldn't have a Grass type on their team. Grass types were more known for their strategic battling, their terrain manipulation and spores and energy drainage. As for Ground types, there were much stronger choices, choices that weren't too difficult to obtain for someone of Paul's skill. Rhyperior, Steelix, Hippowdon, Mamoswine; all better choices.
Paul, somewhere within him, cared for his starter, or else he would never have kept it.
Ash stared at the Pokémon that gave him further insight into Paul's character. It certainly lived up to its classification as the Continent Pokémon. Standing at least nine feet wide, Torterra was a titan, able to fit two Wailmer on its shell easily. Its tree was full of dark, verdant leaves, flowers almost unfurling in the early spring weather.
Ash's fingers flexed as he realized they were at a severe disadvantage. Many of Castor's techniques were out, Torterra would be able to sense the Krokorok's own Ground manipulation.
No matter. They'd overcome similar odds.
Pokémon and trainers alike held still.
"Leaf Storm."
"Sand Tomb, Pit." Ash watched as the field was overrun. He couldn't see anything through the hurricane of razor sharp leaves. There was so much noise Ash's senses were almost overwhelmed, hearing nothing and everything at the same time. The power behind the Leaf Storm was incredible.
When the storm died down, leaves created a layer of padding on the field, though some were sinking into the sand where Castor took sanctuary in his sand pit. Only his black-masked eyes could be seen above the leaves and sand.
"Earthquake." Ash didn't respond, allowing Castor to get his Hone Claw power up as the Earthquake merely shifted the sands.
Paul 'tch'ed but even that couldn't hide his intrigue.
Now to draw attention away from the sand pit so Torterra wouldn't target it.
"Dig."
"Curse. Grass Knot."
"Double Team." Castor popped out of the ground and soon a circle of Krokorok surrounded Torterra and rushed in.
The leaves around the field glowed, and soon they sank below the surface, growing rapidly into knots that covered the entirety of the makeshift battlefield. Every single clone dissipated as Castor got caught.
Grass Knots leapt from the ground, encircling the croc and immobilizing him.
"Energy Ball."
"Sand Tomb." The raging sands sliced the Grass Knots to shreds, allowing Castor to skitter away from the Energy Ball, the high powered attack detonating against the ground. Castor slammed his hands down, and soon a Stone Edge struck Torterra right in the underbelly. The turtle grunted, its sturdy shell leaving it unfazed. In retaliation, it slammed its own forelegs down, the Stomping Tantrum staggering in its magnitude.
"Jump!" The Desert Croc's powerful legs launched him in the air, a Dark Pulse shooting from his body, washing over Torterra.
The giant turtle flinched.
Castor landed on the turtle's back, unhesitating when his teeth burst into flames. Torterra wailed when the Fire Fang sunk into the tree on its back, blackening the trunk and traveling upwards.
The Continent Pokémon lifted up on its back legs, trying to toss the pest from its body. Unfortunately for Torterra, a Krokorok's biggest strength was their jaws.
"Leaf Storm!"
"Shit-" The storm burst from the blackened tree, driving Castor back and off the turtle, shearing leaves and buds off the branches as he went.
He landed right in front of Torterra's face. The Energy Ball sent Castor flying backwards, skidding along the ground and rolling to a stop.
The croc shakily pushed himself to his feet, the small scales of his underbelly completely torn off. Blood was already dripping down his front but the Croc barely seemed to notice.
He was glowing red.
Paul shoved his hands in his pockets as the Krokorok glowed with the power of Anger Point.
Then he glowed more.
Oh Mew.
Not that, not now.
'Fuck fuck fuck' Ash shook his head in denial, not knowing what to do as the white energy enveloped Castor's form.
He's heard horror stories of Pokémon evolving under the adrenaline rush of Anger Point, Moxie, Reckless, and Berserk.
Horror stories of how the hormones and rage mixed and twisted and combined to overdevelop the amygdala. Overdevelop the rage response and underdevelop the neural connections to control it.
"STYX STOP HIM!" The Hydreigon roared and shot forward, but the explosion of evolution energy blocked her charge, blasting her back.
Everyone had to crouch and take cover as Castor evolved. Ash's heart pounded in his chest, mind racing and fear settling into his bones. When the roaring quieted, Ash watched in a trance.
The Krookodile's eyes were red in absolute fury, his tail crumbling the ground beneath it like brittle ice.
Not again
Krookodile rushed at Torterra, claws shredding thick vines of Frenzy Plant as easily as tissue paper. A Sandstorm was building around the field, fierce and uncontrolled.
This can't be happening
Krookodile's claws latched themselves beneath Torterra's jaw, digging in and drawing blood as he started to glow black.
Don't forget
The joint power of Power Trip and Foul Play infused Krookodile's body.
Don't forget like Nettle
Then
He
Picked
Torterra
Up.
Not again
Torterra's stocky legs flailed before the massive Pokémon was slammed to the ground, gouging a crater and shaking the area like an Earthquake. Its tree bent beneath it, crackling and creaking under its owner's substantial weight.
Not again
Torterra was out cold, but the Krookodile didn't realize or didn't care.
Jaws opened, prepared to clamp down around the unconscious Pokémon head.
"STOP HIM!" Paul's ragged scream tore from his throat; desperate and scared. Sandstorm blocked the beam from the Pokéball, the dense sands unyielding.
Bane's claws closed shut around his shirt seconds too-late. Polaris' webbed hands missed by a hair. Artemis' teeth shut around nothing.
Ash shouldn't be faster.
But right then he was, just like at Relic Castle.
Ash found himself in front of Torterra. Too fast, too quick.
Sandstorm tore into his flesh but it was disregarded. Everything was disregarded.
Everything except Castor's enormous, gaping maw coming at him.
"Castor-"
Feral eyes widened.
Jaws cracked shut with jarring force, the top layer of skin on Ash's nose shorn off.
The sound was sharp and jolting, rattling his eardrums with the strength behind it.
The motion brought Castor's eyes a few feet from Ash's, his snout elongated and filled with piercing, white fangs. Red eyes stayed locked with beady black, red flickering within; the rage and furiosity at war with recognition.
The Krookodile suddenly squeezed his eyes shut, roaring in both wrath and pain, claws coming up to scratch at his snout. Bloody red scales were ripped away as Castor took out his fury on the only other thing around.
Himself.
The Sandstorm surrounding them picked up speed, the newly evolved Pokémon's energy and uncontrolled emotions running rampant. Castor fell to all fours, thrashing his head and tail, claws tearing at his own face trying to ease the tumultuous fire in his veins.
The fire that begged for destruction and carnage.
Ash watched with slight detachment as Castor destroyed himself. He felt as if he was outside his body, feeling echoes of hopelessness and agony tearing at his heart but halfway removed.
Styx, Libra, and Hemlock barrelled into Castor, giving him the fight he so desperately craved. Blood was running down his snout in streams, each droplet carried away in the Sandstorm.
Polaris and Artemis slammed into Ash, backing him away from the bloodbath. Bane's form wavered, illusions at the ready as he braced in front of his trainer.
Ash stood frozen on the periphery. His teammates weren't even using moves, just tapping into the savagery of their species. But that wasn't right… no, only Castor was erratic. Styx, Libra, and Hemlock were calm, strategic, and… pulling their punches. They were allowing Castor to run himself ragged, allowing the evolution and Anger Point hormones to run their course.
Through it all, he could hear Castor's wimpers.
Ash's chest felt like it was hollowed out as he witnessed his teammate's torment.
The moment Castor finally collapsed, eyes glazed with agony and exhaustion, the Sandstorm halted midair. There was a pause, and then like a rain it all fell to the ground. Ash did as well. His legs turned to jelly beneath him and the roaring in his ears grew in intensity.
Polaris caught him, Artemis's warmth seeping into his chilled body, Bane's claws tangled in his sleeve. Ash tugged at his necklace, the metal burning against his throat and buzzing beneath his hand. It felt charged.
The sound of transmuting energy had Ash snapping his eyes behind him.
Paul stood like a statue at the edge of the field, a white-knuckled grip around the old Pokéball. His dark eyes were still wide, both with panic and some unnamed emotion that Ash couldn't begin to decipher.
Those dark eyes cut to Ash, a reflexive sneer cracking Paul's face as he backed away. "Tch, pathetic." Spitting the insult like a last resort, he continued to step away, hands shaking.
The word rang through Ash, but he didn't watch Paul leave, attention back on his team. Castor was splayed out on his stomach, eyelids drooping and panting. Hemlock was seated beside him, one large palm resting on the Krookodile's head. Styx and Libra were settled down a ways away, the Hydreigon's main head staring at Ash.
The rest of the team finally came forward, Mirae rushing for Styx and staring at Castor with wide jade eyes. Orion and Sagitta were more subdued than he had ever seen them, and even Wisteria looked spooked.
But Ash couldn't keep his eyes off Castor.
Catching his intentions, Polaris tightened his grip, hesitating, before he led Ash forward. Falling to his knees, Ash gently cradled Castor's enormous maw and rested it in his lap. His face was brutalized, scales torn from skin and drying blood blending with the croc's new coloring.
Castor's eyes met Ash's and he whined, high pitched and keening.
Dropping his forehead to the croc's snout, Ash held the Pokémon's jaw even as his biceps burned with the weight of it, even as he felt blood smear against his skin. His teammate's warm breath fanned against the bridge of his nose with every shallow puff.
"You're gonna be alright." His murmured words seemed to have been the key. Castor's tense body went limp as unconsciousness took him. Ash pet the wounded snout once more before gently placing it back in his lap.
Ash wanted nothing more than to return him, envelop him in the comforting heaviness of his Pokéball. But his body had to return to homeostasis, the hormones needing to drain from his system. There was the potential consequence of overactive adrenal glands when Anger Point is activated in the future, risking further uncontrollable rampages.
But he wouldn't know for sure until a doctor looked him over.
A ping from his pocket had him dazedly withdrawing his Pokédex.
6 Single Battles
6v6
Challenger: Paul Shinji [Rank 119]
Challenged: Ashton Ketchum [Rank 409]
CANCELLED
Numbly, Ash clicked on Paul's trainer page.
Kanto Battle Frontier Invitee
Symbols won:
KNOWLEDGE SYMBOL
GUTS SYMBOL
Ash slowly shook his head, dropping his head in his hands, his face hanging over Castor's mutilated muzzle.
Artemis draped her head atop his thigh, sniffing Castor and looking up at Ash with her soulful coal eyes. His breathing hitched as he shakily petted the side of her head. He couldn't help but notice how still Polaris stood beside him, tense with his shoulders hiked up.
Hemlock kept one hand on his rival's head, reaching forward to place the other reassuringly on Ash's knee.
But Ash refused to let the worry and fear out. Not until he got Castor to a hospital.
When enough time passed and Castor was no longer trembling from the flood of hormones and had finally slipped into a calmer sleep, Ash returned him. Clearing his throat, Ash stood, his team looking at him in silence.
"We… I need to get Castor to a doctor. I'll let you all know what they say." There was general resistance to being returned, especially from Styx. But Saffron was a half hour's walk away, and he would be within view of the outpost within ten minutes.
Then, Ash was alone.
He walked in a heavy daze, vision narrowing until it was just one step in front of the other.
"-id,"
"KID!" Ash startled, looking up into the eyes of an irritated officer.
There were only a few other people being waved through by the other officer, no one in line behind Ash. Swallowing thickly, he handed his Pokédex over, wanting nothing more than to get to a Pokéhospital.
So out of it, he didn't see the officer motion to the other, and soon Ash was the only one left in the outpost.
When shadows loomed over him, he finally looked up.
Both officers were barring his way. Ash blinked slowly, noting one had a scraggly goatee, pale brown eyes, and a receding hairline. The other was younger, more lanky, but had a glint in his eyes that spoke of a certain pleasure in towering over someone smaller.
"So, what's a little creep like you trying to get into Saffron for?" The older, stout officer leaned in close, though it lost some of its effect when he was the same height as Ash.
Even still, the reality of the situation finally sank in, and his heart rate picked up.
He didn't have time for this.
He had to get Castor to Saffron.
"I just-" Ash swallowed, "I just need to get my Pokémon to a doctor."
The younger one scoffed. "Hear that? Little creep is pretending to care about one of those Nether-spawn. Ever heard anything so hilarious, Kenji?"
Kenji circled Ash, trying to intimidate him and somewhat succeeding in Ash's desperate state. "Do you think we should remind him what happens to Rocket scum, Ren?"
Ren grinned, placing a hand on the baton at his hip.
Ash's hand slipped into his pocket as he swallowed his pride, his dignity. "Please, my Pokémon is hurt."
His Pokémon were more important.
Helplessness once again seeped into him when both officers jeered.
"'Please'," Ren mocked, his voice high-pitched. "Come on, what do you take us for?"
Ash felt Styx's Dusk ball twitch on his belt, his hand reflexively flying to cover it, to reassure her.
The officers definitely didn't see it that way.
The baton slammed into the back of his knee, knocking it out. Ash's knee slammed into the floor as his arms were wrenched behind him. Ash's breathing picked up, feeling his fingers prickle as adrenaline spiked.
Let go let go let go before I-
"Nice try, scum, now let's see what else this says about ya." Kenji's voice spoke up, and Ash watched him scroll through the Pokédex.
"Ashton Ketchum, Pallet Town, 16 years old, spons-" There was no satisfaction when blood drained from Kenji's face.
"Ren," he hissed. "He's sponsored by Oak."
Ren released Ash like he was contagious, making Ash catch himself with both palms smacking the ground.
Both officers backed away, Kenji tossing the Pokédex to the ground where it clattered inches from Ash. "Heh, no harm no foul, right kid? Go on, make sure to keep this little joke between us, yeah?"
Ren's hand stayed on his baton, but it had been reattached to his belt.
Ash pushed himself to his feet, eyes dead and frame tired. Both officers seemed slightly alarmed and unnerved by his blank stare, watching Ash as he passed by.
How he made it to the Pokéhospital, he didn't know. But he definitely remembers begging the receptionist for help. Remembers handing over Ladon and Artemis for healing too.
Remembers getting them back, but unsure when.
Two hours later, he had his hands interlaced with elbows resting on his knees, one leg bouncing in place and rattling Ash's entire frame.
Castor was being run through a number of scans and tests to see how his evolution under Anger Point affected his physiology and endocrinology. The doctor who took the Krookodile had looked resigned.
It was a sickening expression.
"Mr. Ketchum?" Hanging his head for a moment, Ash took a deep fortifying breath. Getting himself under control, he pushed himself to his feet. The doctor was waiting by one of the hallways.
"I'm Dr. Reid, I'm in charge of your Krookodile's care. Let's head to his room." Ash nodded and followed the woman through the halls. They came to a terrarium-like space that Ash could tell was scorching hot within. Castor was asleep under one of the heat lamps and had electrodes connected to his body. His snout looked healed, though some of the deeper self-inflicted wounds would most likely scar.
The two settled into chairs that were angled towards the glass separating them from the terrarium. Ash kept his eyes locked on his teammate even as his hand fiddled with the Enigma berry in his pocket.
He'd never gotten around to giving it to Wisteria.
"I'll start with saying that your Krookodile is going to be fine." Ash finally let his eyes close, the burning behind them eased. "He's a very strong Pokémon, and it seems instead of affecting his orbitofrontal cortex and amygdala, the increased adrenaline during evolution adapted his circulatory and muscular systems."
She paused to allow that information to sink in. "I must say, Mr. Ketchum, that your Krookodile was very lucky. If his orbitofrontal cortex - the part involved with suppressing anger response - had been severely affected, he would have had to be euthanized."
The world stopped.
Ash's heart pounded in his ears and he almost didn't hear himself say, "But it wasn't his fault…"
Dr. Reid sighed and clasped her hands in her lap. "Be that as it may, it would have been euthanasia or pump him full of depressants he would have been half catatonic. With him being a Dark type, the board would have voted for the first option. It's not uncommon for the mixture of adrenaline and evolution hormones to 'break' the brain, so to say. Lucky for you two, we don't have to worry about that. His orbitofrontal cortex was in perfect working order, and his amygdala wasn't any more active than other predator Pokémon." Her delivery was matter-of-fact with no insights into her own feelings on the subject.
Ash was a backseat driver in his own body. One hand clipped Castor's returned Pokéball to his belt while his other shoved in his pocket. His feet followed Dr. Reid's. His head nodded and his mouth spoke his thanks all while he was drowning.
Euthanized
Euthanized
Euthanized
He startled when cool hands suddenly cradled his jawline, not unlike how he had cupped Castor's. His eyes flickered up and met empathetic blue.
Sabrina Natsume stood in front of him, a complex storm of emotion in her omniscient eyes. Heartbreak warred with regret, and Ash had to wonder what she saw presently or soon to come for those emotions to be in her eyes.
She moved her hands soothingly through his hair, the strands having long fallen from their Ponyta-tail.
"Come."
Ash followed, but the relief was smothered beneath the realization that he almost lost three- four Pokémon today.
And Ash couldn't handle that.
Angst angst angst
Had to cut this into two chapters
I was inspired by Challenger for the Anger Point/Moxie/etc evolutionary risks
For ages I went back and forth on how I wanted Ash's interaction with Paul to go. Eventually I realized that they're rather similar, but with two key differences that would lead to conflict.
Ash is finally experiencing the stigma of Dark types upon returning to Kanto, and it's hitting him hard.
Even though Styx wasn't actually at risk of being caught, there was still an attempt. Paul's Magmortar was threatening Artemis, his Gyarados almost drowned Ladon, and now Castor was at risk of being euthanized. Ash isn't dealing well.
Hope you're ready for Chapter 47!