"Damn, what rotten luck... Never drinking soup outdoors again... Now I have to change into fresh clothes all over again."
Ash stood at the edge of Frozen Canyon, staring up at its towering hundred-meter-high walls. The clanging sounds of objects colliding echoed from within, confirming the earlier deafening roar had originated there.
Ash cracked his neck, his knuckles popping as he clenched his fists, ready to teach whatever creature lurked inside a lesson, though he still didn't know if it was human or something else.
Whatever it was, it had made him wet his pants.
And he was going to make it pay.
That confidence only lasted until Ash stepped into the Canyon.
His jaw dropped in astonishment at the sight before him. The Canyon had a deep pit and within that pit lay an ice cave. At its center stood an ancient circular platform.
On that platform, a massive Pokémon, in icy cave, was locked in battle with a colourful pony.
The ice type Pokémon was dozens of times larger than the pony, like a castle towering over a hut. By all logic, the pony should have been crushed. Yet, it wasn't just holding its own, it was incredibly formidable, matching the blow for blow.
"Holy crap... What the hell is going on here? This battle's on another level..."
Ash's right eye twitched slightly. The duel between these two Pokémon left him stunned, his thirst for revenge momentarily forgotten. He'd expected a clash between huge Pokémon but this size disparity was unreal.
"The Pokémon in ice is Kyurem, a dual-type Ice/Dragon Legendary. Its power ranks among the top Dragon-types. That blue pony is Keldeo, a Water/Fighting Mythical Pokémon. Keldeo has come to challenge Kyurem."
A voice snapped Ash out of his daze. He turned to see a woman standing not far to his left. She had golden shoulder-length hair, a camera slung across her chest, and wore a white short-sleeved shirt with dark green hiking pants. She waved and smiled at him.
"Oh, hello," she said warmly.
Ash glanced at her, noting her striking appearance and confident demeanor. His inner thoughts stirred briefly before a familiar voice interrupted: 'Ding! Target is Boss-level... Hypnosis currently unavailable.'
Ash's gaze shifted. This wasn't the blank stare he'd give a random passerby. Now, it held a hint of wariness.
"Huh? What's wrong?" the woman asked, stepping closer, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Uh... nothing," Ash replied, forcing a quick smile.
Seeing his expression soften, the woman didn't press further. She smiled back and turned her attention to the battle.
As she snapped photos of the clash between Kyurem and Keldeo, Ash approached her cautiously. "Hey, I'm Ash. What's your name?"
"I'm Viola," she replied, glancing at him with a friendly nod.
"Viola... that's a lovely name," Ash said, though his words didn't fully match his thoughts.
"Thank you," Viola responded with a smile.
"Are you filming their battle?" Ash asked, gesturing toward the platform.
"Yeah," Viola said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Don't you think this footage is incredible?"
"It's... definitely spectacular," Ash admitted, scratching his head. "But aren't you worried they'll notice you?"
Viola laughed lightly. "Nah, it's fine. If they get mad, I'll just run."
"Just run?" Ash raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself, Can she really escape? If that colossal Kyurem gave chase, only someone with abilities like his could get away. Then he remembered the voice calling her a Boss-level target. She must have her own tricks.
"Look, the battle's heating up!" Viola's voice pulled Ash's attention back to the arena.
Kyurem unleashed a Dragon Pulse, a torrent of draconic energy surging toward Keldeo. The pony dodged with a burst of speed, propelled by a Water Gun from its hoof. Turning swiftly, Keldeo countered with a Water Pulse that struck Kyurem's icy form.
Kyurem dove low, while Keldeo's horns flashed with white light. The two Pokémon collided with a tremendous crash that echoed through the Canyon.
"Whoa... what an incredible battle!" Viola's eyes sparkled as she frantically snapped photos.
Watching the fierce combat, Ash's mind raced with the urge to capture both Pokémon. His hand slipped into his backpack, fingers brushing against a Poké Ball.
Both Pokémon were visibly tired, their energy waning from a long fight. Their power was noticeably weaker than their prime, though still comparable to the Zapdos in Ash's possession.
Kyurem and Keldeo traded blows, each staggering from the impact. Keldeo was knocked back five meters, clearly outmatched in raw strength, while Kyurem showed signs of damage as well.
"They're nearly done," Viola murmured, her camera still clicking.
"Is that so?" Ash's eyes burned with determination. He was ready to seize his chance.
Kyurem opened its massive jaws, unleashing a purple energy toward Keldeo.
Keldeo struggled to its feet. As another blast of purple energy surged toward it, Keldeo pushed off the ground with a burst of Water Gun, narrowly evading the attack.
Soaring into the air, Keldeo's horn glowed like a sharp blade as it headed towards the Kyurem. The dragon roared defiantly, meeting the attack head-on.
BOOM!
The collision sent both Pokémon flying backward, each sustaining visible injuries.
Seeing them struggle to rise, Ash knew his moment had come. He reached for a Poké Ball, but the sky suddenly roared.
A dragon's cry echoed above. Ash and Viola's eyes shot upward as a massive green dragon, Rayquaza, swooped into the battlefield.
"Kyurem, I'm capturing you!" a voice shouted. A brown-skinned girl in bright, playful clothes leapt from Rayquaza's back, hurling a Master Ball at Kyurem's head. Her long, dark hair streamed behind her like twin ribbons as determination blazed in her eyes.
The ball struck, wobbled twice, then stilled. The girl, Iris, picked it up with a grin, patted Rayquaza and vanished into the sky as the dragon roared and left.
"I... I... Holy crap!" Ash and Viola stood frozen, jaws dropped. The sudden twist was too much for Ash to process. He let out a frustrated curse.
"That Pokémon... and that girl... That must be Iris and her Rayquaza. What a reckless move," Viola said, lowering her camera with a wry chuckle.
"Damn it!" Ash ignored her, jumping into the pit. Keldeo, dazed by the chaos, was still staggering. Ash threw Poké Ball after Poké Ball, finally capturing Keldeo after ten throws.
Holding Keldeo's Poké Ball, Ash glared in the sky. Stealing my prize right out from under me? Even if you're a Champion, Iris, you'd better hope I don't catch you. The thought burned fiercely in his mind.
"Oh dear... Looks like you caught the other one," Viola said, scratching her head as she watched Ash.
"Heh. First strike wins, I guess," Ash replied with a grin.
"True enough," Viola said, returning the smile.