Chapter 18:Talks and Training
Ash found himself standing on the cliff, the sea breeze kissing his face as he stared at the behemoth in front of him. Behind him, divided into two teams, stood his team. On the right, stood Metagross levitated above the ground, with Shelgon, Charmander and Poliwrath standing on the ground below him. A little further right, stood Pidgeot, her mane billowing in the wind as she stood there with all her majestic appearance, exuding power. A little further behind, stood Rhydon, his bulky form visible behind Metagross's appendages.
His original team of six.
On the left, Lairon grunted impatiently, trying to dig a hole into the ground with his facial armour, and beside him, stood Absol, her white fur shining as she stood, her very stance reflecting grace and skill. A little behind, Crawdaunt stood, his pincers up and ready for battle. Behind them, coiled around itself like a snake, stood Gyarados, his maw open as he stared in front, his draconic origins screaming to it to begin a rampage immediately. A little above the ground, Gengar floated, her lethal grin shining on her face ominously. A little further to the left, Alakazam stood on the ground, his silver spoons on either hand, waiting for the opponent to make the first move. While a little surprising, it wasn't overtly unexpected of Alakazam to take part in this event, considering his new realization and craving for battle experience.
His new team of six.
Trevenant was still at the Pokémon center, as was Dusclops. It seemed like the group attack on the elder-tree pokémon had made a greater impact than what Ash had supposed. Dusclops wasn't a surprise though, considering the amount of injuries it had sustained from the battle. The exotic dark-type… Ash had decided that he would release it later on.
"So…" Steven pronounced, sitting cross-legged on top of his Metagross, who floated gently above the ground. "This… is your team."
Ash nodded his head, feeling slightly confident about his chances of winning. After all, it wasn't like his team was weak or anything.
They were all standing on the cliff, the very place that Ash used for his own training purposes for two days before leaving for the Forest. It was also the place where he had encountered Mewtwo after waking up from his comatose state.
"Let me remind you of our deal, Ash." Steven replied, his tone composed, "You have the option to choose one of my pokémon, and then your team shall battle against it. Should you manage to win, I will allow you, and a single pokémon, to train with me and the chosen pokémon."
Ash nodded. He had given it a lot of thought the previous night. After hearing both Alakazam's and Metagross's own verdict about his skill level, he had come to this conclusion, and asked Steven for a favour out of the blue. Of course, he hadn't expected the former Champion to simply agree to it without any condition.
Now I simply have to win.
"I have decided." Ash returned. "I wish to fight against your Metagross. If my team wins, then Metagross and I will train with you and yours."
Steven arched an eyebrow. "You wish to battle against my strongest?" He chuckled. "Well, at least you don't lack in ambition."
Ash was vaguely aware of the fact that Cynthia was seated at a distance away beneath one of the trees, observing the ongoing interaction with great interest.
"Very well. You may choose any six of your pokémon to battle my Metagross. More than that is an insult to yourself as well as your pokémon. You may attack Metagross one after another, in any order whatsoever. If you succeed in winning, or at least, seriously maiming my Metagross, then I will accept your request."
Ash bobbed his head. This was his chance. His chance to help Metagross, just like he had done for Ash on several occasions. "I choose…"
Midget, I wish to battle against this… superior psychic.
Ash spun around towards Alakazam. "Did you just….?"
Talent always recognizes genius, midget. Let me battle.
Ash paused for a moment, digesting the entire thing. He cleared his throat. "I choose Absol, Gengar, Alakazam, Gyarados, Pidgeot, and Metagross, exactly in that order."
"All the heavy hitters with the advantage eh?" Steven chuckled. "I'm not sure how the underdogs of the team would feel about that."
"This is a one-in-a-million opportunity for Metagross. My team understands why I made the decision." Ash remarked, a little amount of hesitation leaking out of his voice. "Or at least, I think they will."
He thought about it once again. Absol would have the type-advantage, as would Gengar, both of them were already powerful in their own regard. Alakazam is a powerful psychic, so if he managed to hold that Metagross back, then perhaps Metagross with his bulk and Pidgeot with her speed would be able to gain an edge over it."
The former Champion smirked. "Very well." He relaxed up, before jumping off to the ground, allowing his steel behemoth to levitate towards the centre of the cliff, the makeshift battlefield for this impromptu battle.
Meanwhile, Ash sat down on his knees. "Guys, I know I'm being unfair in choosing some and ignoring the others. But this is a great opportunity for Metagross, who is a member of our family. Will you do it for me? For Metagross?"
A cacophony of voices described everyone's views on the matter, though Ash didn't miss the somewhat disappointed grunt from Charmander amongst them.
"Something wrong, Charmander?" Ash asked, touching the fire-lizard in the head.
Charmander shook his head and simply stepped back.
Ash frowned. While Charmander had come a long way from his initial frail state back at Route 24, he was hardly in a position fit for battling against stronger opponents. For one, his physical proportions were smaller than the average ones of his kind, which along with his frail health, had made a significant impact on Charmander's mindset. He would need to be careful or else the little fire-lizard might lose his confidence for good.
Maybe if I allow him to battle….?
He rejected the notion. All things considered, choosing Charmander in the team might have a worse effect than not choosing him. For one, he would literally be… (He didn't want to accept it but nevertheless) useless, considering this was a Champion-level pokémon they were up against. For all he knew, it was not beyond comprehension that the Metagross might just ignore Charmander's attacks, further hurting his already-shaken confidence. Also, choosing Charmander and not the others like Poliwhirl or Shelgon would send a negative vibe throughout the group. Rhydon… he would understand, since this was mostly an aerial battle with long-ranged attacks, and not one in which Rhydon's moves could make a difference.
On second thought, I should get back to challenging trainers. It will be a good way to make the junior team stronger and confident.
"Don't worry, buddy." Ash whispered, "Soon you are going to be the most powerful, ever."
Charmander grunted half-heartedly in reply.
"All right, guys." Ash whispered, looking at the ones he had chosen. "I know you do not have any experience fighting alongside and for each other, but we have to make a stand, for one of our own, our family. Can you please do that? For me? For the family?"
The cacophony of voices answered his question with agreement, as Ash turned towards the opponent they all had to defeat. It was not the first time he had faced an adult Metagross. However while Derrick's Metagross reeked of wisdom, unrestrained power and a clairvoyance the likes of which Ash had never felt before. Steven's on the other hand, felt methodical, ruthless, precise, someone who wouldn't waste a drop of power unless it was used for a perfect strike.
This was a Metagross that battled the Elite Four on regular basis. This was a Metagross that maintain Steven Stone's position as Hoenn Champion for over six years.
"Very well then. Let's begin testing out how strong out opponent is." Ash paused. "Absol, would you like to do the honours?"
Said pokémon let out a grunt of acknowledgement, before leaping to the centre of the makeshift battlefield.
"I see… you are beginning with a type advantage." Steven remarked from his safe place. "At least you have some sense of tactical manoeuvre."
There is no point in using psychic attacks against it. Ash decided. "Begin with a dark pulse."
Absol growled, gathering her innate dark energy, as she condensed it into a sphere, before discharging it out at the steel behemoth.
The dark red eyes of the behemoth glowed with eldritch power, as it lazily dodged its way out of the sphere's trajectory, and yet, making sure that its movements were the bare minimum required to do so. The sphere flew past the Metagross, before hitting the ground several yards away, causing a miniature explosion.
"Sloppy." Steven remarked.
"Get close to it, and use night slash. Use Double team."
Absol did the same, instantly shifting into multiple illusory forms of herself, which jumped in different directions, before leaping towards Metagross in the center, their horns leaking concentrated dark energy. For one second, it seemed Metagross would be vulnerable, but the very instant they leapt, it created a reflect shield in front of a certain illusory form, which hit the shield, before having to jump back, while the rest simply faded through Metagross, revealing themselves to be mere illusions.
"What?" Ash yelled in shock. "Absol, use dark pulse quickly!"
The steel behemoth was too fast for him. Almost the moment Absol recoiled against the reflect screen, it prepared a bullet punch attack, and slammed into Absol, much before she could managed to manifest a Dark pulse in her mouth. The quick-paced bullet punch hit her abdomen, banishing her away by several feet, thrashing into the ground.
"Absol." Ash yelled in fright, but before he could run up to her, the disaster pokémon managed to pull herself together, and stood back up, though it was easy to notice that the single, albeit focussed move had left a powerful effect on her.
"Absol, return." Ash commanded softly, much to her indignant snarls. "Don't worry, the others will take it from here on. Get some rest." He raised her pokeball, sucking the somewhat sulking pokémon into it.
"Absol's good. No doubt about that." Steven remarked. "Then again, she was chosen for exactly that reason."
"How did Metagross identify her from the other illusions?" Ash asked brazenly.
Steven smirked. "Experience. Any experienced psychic will be able to do that, with time. In case you forgot Ash, double team is a normal -type move. It creates illusory forms of the user based on sight, not based on their innate energy. Even if there were a hundred illusions instead of one, only one would have the innate dark energy that Absol has. Of course, it is easier with the other types than with Dark, but that's Metagross for you."
"Oh." Ash muttered. Come to think of it, it made a lot of sense. Specifically considering that for Absol to use a perfect night-slash, it would not do to have her dark energies spread out into a dozens of afterimages of herself. If it had been so, then the effect of the attack would have been decremented to a point of non-existence. But the sheer precision with which Metagross had coordinated the entire thing spoke volumes about the beast's abilities.
He considered the next pokémon. "Gengar, you are next."
Gengar had a devilish grin on her face, as she dissipated into smoke, only to suddenly reappear in front of Metagross. It was a good thing that the area was quite shady, or else the harsh sunlight would have adversely affected her.
"Your latest capture," Steven arched an eyebrow. "Should be interesting."
"You have seen how it took out Absol, Gengar. Show it what you are capable of." Ash proclaimed.
Steven just smirked.
Gengar instantly vanished in the air, before reappearing behind Metagross to fire a shadow ball, and instantly, coming up front and firing another one. Instantly, Metagross propelled himself upwards into the air, allowing the shadow balls to explode into each other.
Gengar however, was far from being done yet. She instantly vanished before appearing in front of Metagross, and fired a powerful Confuse Ray, which Metagross instantly shot down with a hyper beam. Taking advantage of that situation, Gengar vanished again.
"That Gengar of yours is quite the trickster." Steven commented. "Should be interesting."
"Use night shade." Ash yelled, as Gengar's eyes glowed with otherworldly energies, as she shot out a beam of dark purple light out of her eyes, as Metagross fired a psybeam to counter it.
"Follow up by shadow claw. Get up close."
Metagross seemed prepared, as it prepared a full powered Meteor Mash, readied with perfect precision against the incoming strike.
Ash knew what would happen. Considering Metagross's precision, it was impossible that Gengar would manage to hit it in the first place. However, that wasn't what he actually had in mind.
I just hope this works.
"Gengar, take the hit, and use Lick."
"What?" Steven looked in surprise. He had not expected that of all things from a Gengar at such a point of time. Ghost-type attacks were very effective on psychic types, and while Metagross's innate strength would soon be able to cancel out the effects, it was the intervening seconds that was troubling.
Ash smirked, an expression that was shared with Gengar, as she extended her pink tongue out and licked the Metagross on the face, causing a meagre paralytic effect on its body for a couple of seconds.
"Now use Perish song." Ash continued, his fingers now balled into fists.
Gengar let out a wail, which prolonged for three seconds before Metagross was able to break out of the effects of the paralysis, and send a burst of raw, untamed energy at Gengar, something that was utterly beyond her ability to defend against, as she collapsed.
Steven simply stared at Ash with an undecipherable expression on his face. "That… was an extremely underhanded technique, Ash."
"I take all the advantages I get." Ash answered. "I lost to Harrison back then because of something similar. Thought it might be poetic justice and all that." He lifted up a pokeball and returned Gengar. "Alakazam, you are next."
"Not necessary." Steven shook his head. "The effects of the Perish song would make Metagross faint anyway. I should remind you though, that had this been a real battle, I would have simply recalled Metagross and substituted someone else, cancelling out the effects."
"I know." Ash shrugged. "It was a one-trick pony, able to work only in this particular circumstance. I'll go for Destiny bond over it, in the battlefield." And I hope Alakazam doesn't eat me up for not giving him a real chance to battle.
Steven lifted his head and let out a laugh. "I should tell you that Destiny Bond wouldn't have worked against Metagross. However, your shenanigans never cease to amaze me. Good work. Good work. You will have your training with Metagross."
Ash had a shit-eating grin on his face.
"However," It was Steven's chance to smirk. "You cheated to win, and thus, it will not be without repercussions. He enjoyed the look of horror on the young trainer's face. "Your Metagross will indeed get his training with my own, but it will be limited to only the two of them. You will not be present there."
"Huh… but-"
"You've got something to say?" Steven challenged.
"… No." Ash lowered his head. "It will have to do as it is."
"Take this as a word of advice, Ash. This victory doesn't truly count as your own. Absol was already a powerful pokémon when you received her as your prize, and as you mentioned, it was her that defeated Gengar on a one-on-one battle. Am I right?"
Ash nodded his head. It was the truth.
"I have observed the battles you've fought so far as Ash, in the St. Anne tournament to be precise, as well as the gym battles."
"Huh—but how?" Ash inquired.
"Every formal battle like those at the gyms or at tournaments are recorded for future investigation. It helps the League look out for prospective Ace trainers from the wild."
"Oh."
"Yes, and I must say, your performance both interests me and disappoints me."
Ash widened his eyes. "Why would you say that?"
Steven looked squarely at him. "Well for one, I believe you overly rely on raw strength way too much. Whether it be Rhydon, or Metagross, raw strength is the center point behind your reasoning and all your battles demonstrate that flow. I don't disagree that you have a strong team, Ash. A prospective Salamence, Charizard and Gyarados. Three draconic species. A metagross, an Absol, and a Gengar. All three of them prime examples of their own type, and the same can be told about the prospective Aggron, the Rhyperior and the Poliwrath. The only other person that can boast of a team with that much raw power became very famous in the world and made a name for himself. You might know him as Lance."
Ash stood wide-eyed, hanging on to Steven's every word.
"However, that is where the comparison ends. Everything else about yourself as a pokémon trainer, and your team in general… is in ruins."
That hurt Ash. "Why… why would you say that?"
Steven arched an eyebrow. "The team you had prepared to fight Metagross. Tell me, with resorting to underhanded techniques, do you think any of your pokémon, hell, all of your pokémon could even make a scratch on Metagross?"
The answer was on his lips, despite how much he refused to say.
"They wouldn't. I'll of course, ignore Absol and Gengar from that list. Your Pidgeot is powerful, but all that power is unhoned as of now. The same goes for your Rhydon. Your Gyarados is barely more than a baby, and knows only three moves, and none of them mastered to perfection. Lance's Gyarados can take on my Aggron and probably win. Yours? It would be out before I count to three."
Ash looked away.
"I'm not scolding you, boy. Look at me." Steven barked. "I see in you a trainer with potential to become a Champion someday, Ash Ketchum. But right now, all I see is a kid with a lot of prospectively powerful pokémon, yet completely untrained. I have seen it in your matches. You use your pokémon's raw power like a sledgehammer, hoping to overwhelm the opponent with it, along with a type advantage."
He paused for a moment. "It might work for a rookie. For a trained professional, it is an inherently flawed way of battling. Sure, Lance favours overwhelming, raw power. But he also has the speed to match it up. Get in, throw a devastating blow, get out—that has always been Lance's way of battling, and it suits him as well, what with being a Dragon master. That girl seated there," he casually nodded in Cynthia's direction, "is perhaps the best tactical battler I have ever seen. In some ways, your own method of battling greatly mimics her own, if one were to ignore how… wasteful you are being."
"I… understand." Ash slowly pushed his face up. "I'll not disappoint you."
And Steven's face cracked with a little grin. "I know, and that is why I have high hopes on you. I want to see you at Indigo Plateau, as Champion someday. What did you learn from fighting Metagross?"
"That he packs a mean punch?" Ash offered.
Steven rolled his eyes.
"That's incredibly methodical." Ash answered. "Every single move seem to count."
"Exactly. Steel-types are powerful defenders. My pokémon have a ton of power, and an impenetrable defense, when used methodically, becomes overwhelming offence. A steel wall with pointed edges, just like my Aegislash, so to say. That has always been my own battling style."
Ash nodded his head, committing every single word told to him by heart. These were words from a Champion, and every single of them had utmost significance.
"I haven't seen what the other ghosts are capable of, or how far you can take yourself into training ghosts, but as far as the others are considered, you have… gathered a team that mimics all three of us in some way or the other. Right now, the team is hardly trained, an understandable fact considering your own remarkably tiny breadth of training experience. How long are you planning to stay here?"
"I… perhaps a week or more?" Ash offered. He had called Professor Oak to discuss the change of plans. While his mother hadn't been spectacularly happy about it, she was at least agreeable to the fact that he would return home straight away after that.
"And I imagine that Miss Sinnoh will be accompanying you for the time being?"
"I… think so."
Steven smirked. "Either way, try to imbibe a part of her own tactical genius into you during the duration. I still think that it was the mimicry of her own battling style that caught her attention in the first place. Imitation is after all, the best form of flattery."
That, and the fact that you have a pseudo-legendary at your command. Steven didn't say.
"I will." Ash bobbed his head, digesting his words as he sent a sideward glance at the blonde-haired girl, who was sitting beneath the tree, in a completely benign fashion, almost making Ash believe that she was just another ordinary trainer and not the Sinnoh Champion. He turned back to face Steven. "I will not disappoint either of you."
"I hope so." The former Champion returned. "Hand your Metagross's pokeball to me. You will be getting it back when you reach Kanto."
"That… that long?" Ash gulped.
"You have become overly dependent on using Metagross's raw strength, and unfortunately, so has Metagross. As someone from a family that has defended the Beldum Colony for centuries, it is almost a sin to allow that. I have your contact number. I will call you when it is time."
Ash shook his head in resignation. "Are you going to stay here for long?"
The silver-haired man shook his head. "I'm already delayed. I need to make a quick home visit, before I leave for Kanto. Once there, my Metagross can begin training the little one."
Ash almost snorted at Steven referring to Metagross as little one. He hesitated a little, and turned towards his pokémon.
I will be fine, trainer Ash. The old keeper's family has defended us for generations.
Ash hesitated before plucking out Metagross's pokeball, and recalling him, handing it over to Steven. "What are you going to train him in?"
"You will have to find that out for yourself. In the mean while. I suggest you begin training your team. You have three badges now, which means the handicap is now gone. The battles with the gym leaders will be much more difficult from now on, the levels increasing with each badge gained."
Ash knew that already, inquiring about it from a certain trainer from Hoenn.
"Train yourself well. I will see you back during the Indigo League, or if… I don't know, you manage to score an appointment with another Legendary."
Ash almost snorted at that. Almost.
"So… what do you plan to do next, Ash?" Cynthia asked casually, seated opposite the raven-haired trainer in the Pokémon Center Cafeteria. Steven had made a quick departure from Mirage Island to Rustburo City, which hosted also the Headquarters of Devon Corporation as well as his home. Advantages of having a personal teleporter and all that. Steven's Gallade was, if what he had heard was right, able to give even a powerful Alakazam a run for his money in that field.
Too bad Metagross cannot learn Teleport. Would have worked wonders for instant travel. Alakazam…. He will be returning to Pallet anyway.
"Ash?" Cynthia repeated.
"Huh?" Ash asked, taken off-guard as Cynthia's voice shook him out of his thoughts.
"It is an offense to be thinking about something else, when you have a lady sitting in front of you. You do know that, right?" The blonde-haired girl teased.
Ash mumbled something, before getting his words out. "I didn't know that Champions were known as Lords and Ladies?"
Cynthia let out a shrill laugh. Ash decided he liked it.
"They aren't." The Sinnoh Champion answered. "I am the heiress of an old clan. People of my stature are usually referred to as Lords and Ladies, at least that's what my nannies and my professors have taught me."
"Clan?" Ash asked, bewildered.
Cynthia arched an eyebrow. "You don't know what I'm talking about, do you?"
Ash shook his head.
The girl sighed. "There are several old families in the pokémon world, you know, some of which are rather old, rich and influential, and have a deeper relation with pokémon than most. Steven for instance, is from the Stone family, who have had a deep relation with all of the Metagross colonies all over the world. The Stone Family has complete rights to any and all Metagross colonies, and are responsible for their protection."
So that was what Steven meant back then.
It made sense. Even Metagross had referred to Derrick as 'old keeper'. He nodded his head, gesturing her to continue.
"Then of course, there are the Blackthorns of Unova, involved in the breeding of Hydreigon. Lance is from the Wataru Clan, famous for their relation to Dragonite. You will usually find most clans to be connected with some or other pseudo-legendary pokémon."
"Oh." It all sounded pretty interesting. Besides, it told him just how much was there about the world that he didn't know. "What about yours?"
"My family is actually related with the Blackthorns." Cynthia admitted, "Though in later centuries, we became our own independent family, the Shirona. Our family isn't connected with any pseudo-legendary per se, but we are involved in a lot of research on the Unown, precisely their connection with Palkia and Dialga, the rulers of Space and Time."
Ash stared at her wide-eyed. "Rulers of Space and Time? Palkia and Dialga? You mean to tell me that there are pokémon that can control space and time?"
Cynthia chortled mirthfully at that.
"What's so funny?" Ash returned, his awe shifting to a scowl. He certainly didn't want to come across as an ignorant idiot.
"More than half of Sinnoh is filled with runic monoliths about Dialga and Palkia. Maybe if you were to visit Sinnoh sometime, I can show you."
"I'd like that." Ash grinned. "I was reading a book at the center about legends and it said that Sinnoh and Hoenn had a lot of mutual history."
"Uh-huh, they do." Cynthia agreed. "Which book was it?"
"Hoenn: Myths and Legends." He answered. "Found it in the center."
Cynthia's eyes sparkled with interest. "Oh that one? It's pretty good for beginners. If you are interested in the Legends, I could send you some quality reading material you know."
"Considering everything, I thought it might be helpful." Ash murmured.
"Yeah, you seem to come across them with startling frequency. I'm jealous."
Ash stared at her, impassive.
"Seriously," Cynthia admitted. "I have spent a major part of my life staring at the ruins, wondering how it must be to see the Legends face to face. And you seem to work your way through their residences."
"Totally coincidental." Ash assured her.
"Perhaps." The girl countered. "I'm almost wishing to leave my job and travel with you, if that means I get to come across legendaries."
Ash stared at her with disbelief. "You would leave your Champion status to travel?"
"Why not?" Cynthia countered. "Well, I would have… but right now, there are some things I need to take care of. Maybe after a year or so, when it is a little more… peaceful, I guess… I'll resign from my position to try my luck at another league for a change."
"Wow…" Ash breathed. "And here I was thinking that being the Champion was the supreme achievement in life."
"Hardly." Cynthia snorted. "Honestly, there are dozens of things I'd rather be doing. Researching the legends being one of them. However, I have been crowned Champion and have some duties to perform, challenges to accept, and my own position to defend. This… time, that I am spending with you now… is possibly my last vacation before a busy year of work."
"Well, then shouldn't you be at home or with family right now?"
She gave him a blank stare. "Why would you say that?"
"Well, you just said that this is your last vacation. Shouldn't you spend it with… you know, people close to you?"
Cynthia stared at him, as if trying to memorize his facial features to the Tee. "Sometimes I wish to have you dissected and examined."
"Huh?" Ash panicked. "What for?"
"No reason. Scientific curiosity I guess." The blonde girl waved it away. "Never mind. Tell me, what do you plan to do next?"
Ash got the impression that she had just made a joke, and that it was on him. "Well, there's Sulphur Island close by. I was thinking of… you know… training with my pokémon for the next week or so."
"Oh." Cynthia muttered, somewhat lost in her own thoughts.
"What are you going to do?" Ash asked, slightly oblivious.
"I…." The blonde-haired girl didn't know how to answer that question. "I suppose I'll just aid you in training your pokémon then, considering there isn't pretty much on the line."
"You would?" Ash repeated, slack jawed, awed of the fact that a Champion had casually offered him training aid. It was possibly the best thing he could ever expect. "Allow me to train with you, I mean."
Cynthia blinked. Twice. "Not exactly…. I don't think you can… well, train with me."
"Oh." Happy face gone now.
"Not because I don't want to train alongside you, or anything, Ash."
He looked up, puzzled. "I know my pokémon aren't as trained or powerful as yours, but I-"
"It's not about that, Ash. You misunderstand." Cynthia explained. "Pokémon that are on similar levels can train with each other. My team has gone through rigorous training over the past four years, and they still do. Your pokémon, no offense meant, isn't simply ready for that level of conditioning."
He didn't have to like it, but he agreed with her explanation.
"However, as Steven must have told you, your way of battling is very similar to my own, though it is… for lack of a better word, a little too brutish, if I am being direct. Then again, considering your own time as a trainer, it is hardly your fault. So, I believe what I can help you is in… optimising your team a little, so that they can perform better when you return to Kanto."
"You would do that for me?" Ash gasped.
Cynthia opened her mouth, and then closed it, scowling. "Yeah… I would."
"Cool." Ash grinned, his enthusiasm contagious, ignoring the dark scowl that marred her face for a moment. "Personally, I have a lot of plans for their training, and some specific move sets that should allow them better chances at fighting."
And here I thought we would be spending some time together. Cynthia didn't say. "Ash, I wanted to talk to you about-" She hesitated.
"About?"
"… Nothing." She breathed out. "Did you really challenge the… Mewtwo that you'd capture him?"
Ash's words fell short, as he looked away. "I did."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because…" He didn't know what to say. Was it because he…? "I don't really know, to be honest. I just… feel so angry when I come across him. He feels to me… like an error."
"An error?" Cynthia asked, interested.
"Yes, like something that shouldn't exist in the first place." He looked up. "It might seem odd to you, but my view of Legendaries isn't really all that hyped up."
"Just because you seem to come across them so frequently doesn't mean they are-" Cynthia began.
"No wait, listen." He interrupted her. "Mewtwo… isn't the first legendary I've come across."
"The Dragonite." The Sinnoh Champion suggested.
"He's a King, and a pseudo-legendary, yeah I know, but I'm not talking about him as well."
Cynthia stared at him, wide-eyed. "You have met more Legendaries?"
"…. I did."
"Which one?" the girl literally screamed into his face.
"I really… couldn't say." Ash replied meaningfully.
Cynthia stared at him for a moment, before she recognized his word play. "I see."
"I know you, and Steven, and the League… you all think that I might have something very… oh, I don't know, some spooky chosen business with the Legendaries, but personally, I get the feeling that they think I am an…." The word paused at his lips.
"A what?"
You shouldn't have existed….
"An abomination, like I shouldn't have existed in the first place."
Cynthia stared at him, hard. "Why would you say that?"
Ash looked up. "Because that is what the King Dragonite said to me, when I met him in the first place."
The Lighthouse, Cerulean city.
"I cannot believe that something of this scale was even possible." Samuel Oak spoke quietly, sipping the coffee served to him by his one-time student and fellow researcher, Bill Montgomery.
"I swear Samuel, I didn't have so much in mind when I made the agreement with Ash. He just seemed like an enthusiastic kid, one who had a problem with his Charmander and got me feathers from a shiny Pidgeotto."
"About that," Oak interrupted. "I was quite… surprised to see Ash listed as a freelance-based employee for Silph Co. Stealing my protégé, Bill?"
Bill laughed sardonically. "Come now professor, we both know that that position has always been reserved for one single person."
"And Ash is his son."
Bill paused. "Ash is… Red's child?"
Oak nodded slowly.
"And does he know about… you know?"
"… not at the moment. No. He has no idea about his father's identity, or about his father's side of the family. He simply… believes that his father and mother went separate ways, and that it was probably a mutual decision."
"Rothsvale." Bill muttered. "He never talked about it?"
Samuel shook his head. "His mother is a woman of few expectations. Ash has always respected her wishes. Between himself and her, the little family is content."
Bill took a sip from his coffee. "Either way, I wasn't sure if I heard it right when you mentioned about Ash summoning the King. I should have known that something like that could happen." He paused. "Did you get any details?"
Samuel shook his head. "Ash is being rather discreet about it. I hope Kadabra has better success there."
"I didn't know you had one of those."
"My assistant's. She is…."
"Delia Ketchum. I've checked. Ash's entire profile is on the server, though there wasn't a father mentioned. I just thought it was one of those… single mother cases."
"It took some calls." Samuel replied evasively. "Delia's a good woman, but there's nothing one can do about it."
"I received two calls over the last few days." Bill explained. "Both of them pertaining to my relationship with Ash Ketchum."
"Who were those from?"
"The first was from the Champion."
Samuel opened his mouth, but then considered better. "The other?"
"Derrick Stone."
Samuel raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"Imagine my reaction when I found that it was Derrick Stone who led Ash to a secret Beldum Colony in Kanto."
"…."
"My reaction exactly." Bill snorted.
"I didn't know there was a Beldum colony in Kanto at all." Samuel choked. "Where is it?"
"Sorry Proff. Secrecy agreements and all that. Devon Corp and Silph Co. are rather entwined in their business arrangements as of now."
"Interesting. Little Daisy is working with him as an apprentice archaeologist." The old man replied.
Bill recognized the name. "Your granddaughter, right? The one with the outlandish fashion sense?"
Oak laughed heartily at that comment. "The very same. Apparently, they are involved in some excavations at Tanoby Ruins. Fully privatized, and financed by Devon Corp. I heard Lance was furious."
"Well, Lance is… well…"
"Lance." Samuel answered.
Bill nodded in agreement.
"Why is Lance interested in Ash?"
Bill sighed, getting up from the seat. "It seems, Lance has good reason to believe that Ash is… responsible for summoning the Dragonite."
The old professor paled.
"You should check on Ash's trainer page, professor. Ash is now an honorary associate, league-sponsored, with Steven Stone as a contact."
"I don't like this." Samuel pronounced. "Lance has always been a little too… forceful with the scheme of things. Derrick Stone has always been a little too ambiguous, no question about his knowledge and talent though. That man had been a Hoenn Elite Four for decades after all."
"You think Lance is planning something? Or Stone?"
"I… don't know. Too many variables. Ash has just started his journey, and already he has come into communication with the Stone family, and now with Lance, though I'm not sure of the extent of the latter."
"Derrick Stone seems fond of him." The Montgomery scion suggested.
"I'm not worried about Stone. It's just… they are almost religious with Metagross. Why would Derrick Stone introduce a no-name child to a pseudo-legendary, just like that?"
"I don't know." Bill remarked, a little too casually. "Why did you?"
"Ash had always looked forward to-"Oak began.
"A Charmander, yes I know. I made it a point to inquire about it too, professor. It was really interesting why Professor Sycamore would choose to gift him with a Hoenn pseudo-legendary, when there were so many options, an Axew or a Noibat or… even a Vibrava? It's not like it would be hard for you."
"What are you… insinuating?" Samuel asked carefully.
"You tell me, professor? What is there to insinuate?" Bill replied, a little too coolly.
Samuel just closed his eyes and took another sip.
"Either way, the Samuel Oak gets Red's son a pseudo-legendary draconic pokémon as a starter. Interesting thing, really, especially the conversation I had with Augustine Sycamore four days ago. Wonderfully interesting things he told me, like how he had never really had a conversation regarding that in the first place."
Bill paused, observing Samuel's disturbed expression. "But let's just ignore that for a moment. Next, Derrick Stone comes in contact with the child, and introduces him to his next pseudo-legendary, and I'm pretty sure you must have seen the newly registered specimen in his team, the one that has been registered for some eight days now?"
For the first time in his life, Samuel Oak felt himself completely outwitted, having no idea what to say.
Bill smiled. "Come now Professor, surely you didn't think I'd just make… just anyone a freelance associate under my direct supervision, because he helped me out with feathers from a shiny Pidgeotto?"
Back in Hoenn.
Sulphur Island was a rather large area, with more than half of it covered with thick grasslands, and an extinct volcano at the centre. Apart from the wild pokémon that had made the land their habitat, very few people actually came to that place. For one, it lacked almost any and all forms of services, and secondly, Mirage Island was an infinitely better option. That meant that Ash and Cynthia had more than enough space to set up tent and facilities for the upcoming week of their time training… or well, helping in training, as far as Cynthia was concerned.
"Tell me Ash, what exactly was the training regimen you had in mind?"
Ash gathered his thoughts. "Well, I was thinking of teaching some… long-range moves to my pokémon like always, and work on a particular group."
"Which one?"
"Well, Shelgon, Poliwhirl, Crawdaunt and… Charmander."
"Ah, the elusive Charmander of yours." Cynthia drawled. "Would you like to tell me about him? Or is it still one of your secret shenanigans?"
Ash had a somewhat jaded expression on his face. "Sorry for the reaction back then. Well, Charmander just has a history, and it's not a nice one."
Cynthia nodded understandingly. "If you are willing to share that, maybe I could do something to help. I have a Charizard of my own, after all."
Ash looked at her in surprise. "You have a Charizard?"
"Of course I do." Cynthia snorted. "He's one of my top battlers after all. After Garchomp, he's probably the strongest in the group in sheer power."
I didn't know that.
"That reminds me, you have never really seen my team, have you?" Cynthia asked rhetorically. "Well, I don't have my entire team on me, but some of them… which I thought would be useful to your… training." She plucked out six pokeballs from her jacket, and threw them out. "Come out, everyone."
Flashes of red light inundated the entire area, only to be replaced by six pokémon. Standing in front of her, was her mighty Garchomp, and much to Ash's disbelief, a Rhyperior. Beside them were four more pokémon, none of which he could recognize. Holding the pokedex in front, he scanned them.
Milotic. The tender pokémon. Evolved form of Feebas. Dexter narrated about the exotic, and elegant sea serpent, which looked a bit larger than Gyarados himself, if albeit much less monstrous. Milotic is said to be the most beautiful of all the Pokémon. It has the power to becalm such emotions as anger and hostility to quell bitter feuding. They live at the bottom of large lakes.
The next pokémon looked like a purple, swirling vortex with green eyes and a black spiral for a pupil in its left eye. Around its face are green orbs that encircle it, its "body" is connected to a stone base. Spiritomb. The Forbidden pokémon. A Pokémon that was formed by 108 spirits. It is bound to a fissure in an odd keystone.
The third pokémon looked like a massive eagle, if albeit slightly smaller than Pidgeot in size, though no less in bulk. Its entire body was covered with red fur, with a dark purple underbelly, and a white crest on the head. Braviary. The valiant pokémon. Known as "the hero of the skies," this Pokémon is so proud and so brave that it will never retreat, even when it's injured.
The last pokémon was humanoid, with a greyish body, having several red and yellow adornments on itself. Medicham. The meditate pokémon. t is said that through meditation, Medicham heightens energy inside its body and sharpens its sixth sense. This Pokémon hides its presence by merging itself with fields and mountains.
"Whoa…" Ash gushed. "They look damn powerful."
"They are." Cynthia smiled. "They are part of my original team of fifteen, when I challenged the Sinnoh League for the first time."
"And you won." Ash completed for her.
"Been checking me out, have you?" Cynthia teased.
"Uh… yeah."
Cynthia snorted at his obliviousness towards her word play. "Well, seeing your pokémon team the other day, I thought that these six would be good for training them to be a bit more optimised."
"What do you mean by that? You mentioned that during lunch."
Cynthia almost snorted again. "Well, at first sight, your team looks rather intimidating. However, if you look close enough, each of them is flawed with several limitations. That is without even mentioning the fact that they don't even understand themselves as a team, and are simply latching together because of you."
Ash frowned. Steven had said the same the other day as well, though he hadn't really given him any details about it. "Can you… expand that a little?"
Cynthia nodded. "Release your pokémon."
Without further comment, Ash released all of the pokémon he had revealed the previous day. He had yet to welcome Trevenant to the group, and the same could be said to Dusclops and the exotic dark-type. Ash had decided that he would initiate training with the rest of his team first, and then after a few days of them beginning to bond together, he would release Trevenant first, then the Dusclops and then the mystery pokémon. Having too many unknowns together could create a lot of mess, and he certainly wanted to avoid that.
"Hey guys, meet Cynthia and her pokémon. They will be helping us train and become more powerful for the coming few days."
A couple of snorts and grunts met his proclamation. The rest were busy staring at the fully evolved monsters, who were almost indifferent to their presence.
"Understand this carefully, because I do not really like repeating myself." Cynthia replied in a no-nonsense tone, much like the way she behaved while talking about Charmander on the ship. "There are three kinds of moves- the basic, the advanced and the trick moves."
Ash nodded.
"The basic ones are those which pokémon learnt as a first-stage. As they progress and evolve, the basic moves are slowly replaced by more powerful ones, and finally, the pokémon is left with a fixed group of advanced versions, which are, so to say, its strongest move sets." She paused. "In case it wasn't clear, your pokémon are still in the baby-move stage."
Ash bobbed his head in understanding.
"The tricky moves are… so to say, moves that pokémon depend upon, irrespective of their forms. The Lick your Gengar used for instance, is one of them."
"I understand."
Cynthia nodded in acknowledgement, staring at the team of twelve standing in front of her. "I observed your pokémon during the matches, Ash, and there are a lot of issues that need to be addressed. I don't even need to remind you that I was there when Gyarados evolved, do I?"
Ash shook his head.
"Your Gyarados, despite his sheer size, is a baby at best. He knows three moves, none of which are perfected, and has little battle experience. It takes months to train a Gyarados well, and yours is…." She paused, fearing she had been a little discourteous. "What I mean is, Gyarados needs a lot of help as of right now. It would do him good to follow Milotic, who will be his mentor for the days to come."
Ash nodded, glancing at Gyarados and wondering how to convince the draconic creature to follow Milotic's commands without any complications. Gyarados weren't generally, the most understanding or the most cooperative of pokémon.
"The Gengar is powerful and has a high amount of battle experience. Anyone watching her battle the previous day would know that. You are extremely lucky to have her. The same goes for Absol. Both of them have moved on to their more advanced move sets and you can work on giving them special augmentations." She paused, "Though I'm afraid… I've never really seen an Alakazam with you. Did you catch him recently?"
"He's… not mine. He's my mom's pokémon, and is here to make sure I don't get myself killed." Ash replied embarrassedly.
"Tough luck with that." Cynthia snorted, a reaction shared by Alakazam as well. "I assume he's quite well–trained?"
Be assured.
Cynthia arched an eyebrow, staring at the psychic-type who had just communicated with her. "I will… take your word on that." She turned back to face Ash. "Your Rhydon looks powerful, but fairly limited. His earthquake seems decent enough, though he seems to overly rely on it. Against someone with speed, or worse, a flying-type, Rhydon is as good as dead meat."
Ash cringed at that statement.
"Rhydon needs a fair amount of long-range moves. I believe he's capable of flamethrower, yes?"
"He's… decent." Ash replied, still cringing at her harsh criticism of his team. Nevertheless, he agreed that each and every point was well-founded.
"I will believe it when I see it. Rhydon needs a good long-range attack. Something like thunderbolt, or hyper beam. I believe you have a Hyper beam TM on you?"
Ash shook his head. "I had thought that Gyarados would be able to teach it to the others once he managed to master it."
"A plausible approach, considering everything." Cynthia bit her lip. "Either way, he needs a long-ranged move.'
"I have an ice-beam TM on me." He supplied helpfully.
"That will… suffice for now. Either way, Rhyperior is an expert in hyper beam. You can have Rhydon and Gyarados learnt it from him. Considering how… eager he is for using Earthquake all the time, I will consider it to be perfected in due time. You need to focus on getting him at least one more advanced move, more particularly, the Stone Edge or even better, Mega horn."
Ash nodded, committing her words to memory. "Mega horn would be a rather powerful one."
"It is a move used by the apex pokémon. Should your Rhydon be able to progress with at least one of those two, it will drastically improve his performances in battle. That, and he needs to learn hyper beam, and master the flame thrower. Rhyperior can help him in both matters. As for the Lairon, he can… just join in, though you can work with him separately later on."
Ash nodded. "I guess I will work with Ice beam later on."
"You do that." Cynthia agreed.
Ash turned around to face Rhydon. "You will be training with Rhyperior from now on, Rhydon."
The rock-type stared at his final form with a mix of jealousy and challenge. The fully-evolved Rhyperior simply snorted back.
"Your," Cynthia paused for a second, "… mega-evolved Pidgeot… she needs to comprehend the true limits of her strength and prowess. I will simply leave Braviary to give her a good competition and leave it at that."
Ash inwardly agreed that there was really not much to say there, considering how Braviary and Pidgeot were already sizing each other, if their mutual glares were of any indication.
"Your Shelgon will be learning Draco Meteor from my Garchomp, who will see to it if Shelgon can be made to learn something apart from what it can already do." Cynthia declared. "I admit I don't know the true scope of your Absol and Gengar's strengths, but Spiritomb is a ghost/dark type, one of only two specimens of its type in the world. I suppose she'll find something to impart to Absol and Gengar."
Ash shrugged. There was always more to learn. If not, at least it would be good practice battling against a Champion-level pokémon.
"As for your Poliwhirl, I believe he has the ice beam perfected. You should get him to learn Blizzard from Milotic, or Ice punch, both of them are rather effective. Though… I'd suggest having him learn a bit on the fighting end from Medicham. It would be useful once he evolves into a … Poliwrath, I suppose. I must admit I am slightly biased towards that form than the other one."
Ash chuckled. "Misty said the same thing."
"She's an upcoming water-master. It is expected."
Ash wisely didn't point out how Cynthia had been initially… put-off by Misty's rather… omniscient attitude.
"Well?" Cynthia put her hands on her waist, staring at the fourteen-year-old trainer from pallet, in interrogative fashion. "That sorts everything out, and your pokémon will stick to that routine for the remainder of the week. So why don't you bring that Charmander over here and start telling me what's the matter with him?"
Ash and Charmander blinked at each other, the former simply resigning himself to follow the orders of the girl standing in front of him. The fire-lizard on the other hand, simply kept on glancing from his trainer to the girl and then back, wondering how in hell he became the point of discussion out of nowhere.
Or at least that was what Ash thought the lizard thought, as he opened his maw and let out a confused squeak.
"Chaar?"