Chapter Text
“So, how many candidates passed the acceptance test?” Ash circled around the living room in conversation. His Pokémon and Rotom were asleep except his Pokemon partner and Rockruff, who were chatting. Rockruff excitedly admired the Lycanroc they saw early. His tail seemed to be doing most of the talking. “Mhm, I think that’s fine.”
“Of course we’ll be keeping the original style of the gyms. That’s been a custom for years.”
“I’m half Orenji, technically three-fourths. My father was from the islands and my mom’s mom was born there before moving to Kanto. I know my history, dude.”
“The league can be a mix of both, can’t it? That makes the island special,” he persuaded.
“Don’t let the usual mojo change how our islands’ league is run. 彼らはただ嫉妬しているだけです。 (They are just jealous.)”
“Mhm.”
“I mean, you are the only Elite Four member right now. You get to call the shots.”
“Drake, that technically wasn’t a gym. Hypothetically, you were never a gym leader. Aren’t you getting the construction work there for the league anyway?”
“Now we’re just getting off topic.”
“Okay, who’s the first one?”
“A.J.? Oh, yeah, I think I met him years ago. He has an unofficial gym in Kanto, right?”
“Yeah, what island has the most amount of wild Pokemon? I’m sure he’d love to be around them.”
“The island doesn’t have a name? I’d call that island a ポケモンパラダイス (Pokemon Paradise) with all the wild ones I saw there.”
“Yeah, I’m sure we are talking about the same island. Give him the ‘okay’ for me.” Pikachu tugged his leg.. “I’ve got to go. I think a gym could also be on Hamlin, but don’t use up the whole open field in the middle. A lot of Pokemon roam the area. I’ll talk to you later. さようなら。(Bye.)”
“Pika!”
“What’s up buddy?” His Pokémon partner pointed above him, to the window in the roof. A familiar Umbreon looked down at him, with a note in its jaw. Its fur was barely noticeable with the upcoming sunrise, but the glow of the rings on its forehand and thighs created a shadow. The note drifted down, swaying like a leaf on an autumn’s day. He caught the note, and looked inside, smiling when he finished. “Rockruff, you up for a early adventure?”
“Gladion,” he calmly greeted him. The sun was peeking out of the horizon, using the sky as a canvas for orange and pink paints.
“I asked you here to test your battling skills, to see what Tapu Koko saw in you,” he firmly stated.
“I don’t really think I’m anything special.”
“I didn’t think I was battling a cocky trainer. What did Tapu Koko even see in this?”
He slit his eyes, “If you want to test my skills, then I’ll show you what I got. Rockruff, you okay sitting this one out?”
“Ruff!” The puppy Pokémon seemed excited, even while being on the sidelines.
“Don’t let one sentence determine your look on someone.”
He flicked an ultra ball in his hand, “Lycanroc, show your crimson glare. Let’s go!”
“Awooooo!” Rockruff jumped with glee at the sight of his new idol.
“Let’s go, Pikachu.” His partner hopped off his shoulder and faced the intimidating Pokémon. “Make some dust.” The mouse Pokémon dashed around the Lycanroc, particles of sand flying around and blinding his opponent. Without a commend, an Iron Tail attack whipped the opposing Pokémon. The blow caused a slow clearing in the cloud of dust.
His hand covered his hair as he spoke, “Stone Edge.” Lycanroc growled and punched the ground. Spiked glowing rock sprouted out of the ground. They illuminated a sharp cyan, sending clumps of sand aside. Rockruff waved his tail in awe.
“Quick Attack.” Pikachu leapt on top of one of the stones and dived towards the wolf Pokémon. He aimed slightly to the side of the wolf Pokémon, so when Lycanroc attempted a dodge he successfully avoided the attack. Ash saw Gladion squint at the Pokémon before continuing on. “Iron Tail!”
“Counter!” An Iron Tail attack smacked the arm Lycanroc focused its Counter on. The collision caused a fog of beige. Their attacks were like blades of colliding swords. Some of Lycanroc’s hits landed a minimal blow. His trainer slightly twitched, pondering over something Ash didn’t focus on every time his Pokémon made a hit. “Crunch.” Lycanroc clutched his opponent in its jaw and threw him into the sand. “Again!” The process repeated, everytime Pikachu was slammed to the ground Gladion glanced at Ash. “Aren’t you going to do anything?”
“Yeah, be patient.”
“Don’t tell me you’re keeping up this act.”
“Huh?”
“You’re holding back. I didn’t realize you’d be so self-centered that you’d give free wins.”
“It’s not li-”
“Battle like you mean it. You aren’t something special.” Gladion murmured under his breath, “Tapu Koko definitely chose the wrong person.”
“I just wanted a longer battle. Pikachu?” His Pokémon partner automatically somersaulted backwards before Lycanroc could grab him again. “You alright?”
“Pi,” he nodded.
“Electro Ball, full force,” he commanded calmly with an arm out. His Pokémon partner looked at him before attacking. Ash gave a calm nod and the mouse Pokémon scratched the sand. He zipped towards the Lycanroc, moving like a flickering light. Lycanroc’s eyes bulged out as it tried to keep its eyes locked on its opponent. Sand flew into the air as he dizzied the wolf Pokémon. Gladion watched with an emotionless face, but Ash knew his partner was an amazement. “Don’t land the attack, buddy.”
“Piiika,” it groaned in the cloud of dust. He leapt into the air with a backwards somersault and launched a ball vibrating of electricity into the ground beside Lycanroc. The powerful blow to the sand released a large burst of energy, clearing the dust around their battlefield in a flash. Ash stood there with the same soft expression: his eyes locked on Gladion with a slight grin while his hair whipped backwards from the blast. His clothes rippled like waves during a storm. Gladion dug his heels into the ground, he seemed to be bracing the strong winds, unlike his Pokémon. Lycanroc was sent high into the sky, the rock-type fainted indefinitely. In the air, a net grabbed the flung rock type and another grabbed Pikachu.
“Hey!”
“Huh?” The two Pokémon struggled while being dangled inside of a net attached to a crane, a part of a pickup truck. Gladion redeemed his emotionless demeanor, “Who are you?”
The scene faded into a white background, a large, decorated letter ‘R’ in the middle of the backdrop. Two people and Pokémon were poised in front of the large letter. “The new kid asked something, prepare to find out,” a sassy tone said. Her hair was a dark shade of hot pink, shaped in one large curl like a semicircle. She wore a bright red lipstick in close compliment to her lapis blue eyes.
“Noble answers are what we’re all about!” The other human leaned against the stem of the fictional ‘R.’ His dark lavender hair fell to his shoulders with spiky edges. His eyes flashed an emerald green which could compare to Gladion’s.
“A beauty so radiant, the flowers and moon hide in shame,” she continued, “a single flower of evil in this fleeting world, Jessie!”
“The nobly heroic man of our time,” the male chimed in, “the master of darkness fighting back against a tragic world, it’s James!”
“It’s all fo’ one and one fo’ all,” the cat Pokémon followed along, “a glittering dark sta’ that always shines bright! Dig it, while Meowth takes flight.”
“Team Rocket, let’s fight,” they cheered in chorus.
“That’s right!”
“Wobbuffet,” the patient Pokémon saluted.
“You guys again?” Ash looked at Team Rocket with an annoyed expression.
“We’d love to stay and chat, twerp, but we have to scat.” They drove off in their pickup truck with an evil grin, “Ta ta!”
Ash grumbled before turning to Rockruff, “Let’s go Rockruff.” He dashed off after the truck with Gladion at his tail shortly after. The trainer didn’t say a word to him, his eyes glued to the vehicle. They chased down the vehicle with human speed. The distance between them and the truck only increased. “I have an idea,” he said, picking up Rockruff. “Use Bite!” He threw Rockruff ahead of him.
The puppy Pokémon dashed the shorter distance to the truck, leapt, and attacked the net. “Mmruf!” He hung on to the tough ropes of Lycanroc’s net, his tail wagging with the thrill of saving his idol.
A head peaked out from the open back of the truck. “Hold up, we got comp’ony,” the talking Meowth said with his signature accent.
“Can we please get a little more action on this chase?” Jessie looked at James in the front seat of the truck. Wobbuffet agreed from right beside him.
“Right,” he nodded, spinning the steering wheel. The pickup truck moved like a ruby Ekans, moving in a crooked zigzag across the sand. Rockruff kept his jaw locked with the net still in the grasp of his teeth. He was whipped wildly in the air with the nets as the truck began to pick up speed.
“Umbreon, Dark Pulse!”
“Bre bre bre bre!” Ash didn’t realize Umbreon was running alongside his trainer. Ellipse shaped pulses rapidly punctured the back right wheel of the vehicle. The speed automatically slowed down, now moving like it was on a rocky road.
“Bite!” Rockruff attacked the net again and it snapped. The truck flipped over with the mighty momentum of the attack. The three Pokemon fell to the ground. Rockruff and Pikachu landed in a battle stance while Lycanroc was still weak from the prior battle. Ash’s Pokémon helped him get from the explosion of the truck, acting as crutches for the larger Pokémon.
“Did you have to let them do that?” Team Rocket dizzily landed into a pile on the side-ways truck.
“I didn’t exactly let him,” he mumbled.
“Pika!”
“Grrrr.”
“Breon!” Their Pokémon faced Team Rocket with an irritated glare.
“Pikachu us-”
“Would it be alright if we took it from here?” Ash took a step back, allowing Gladion to head over to Lycanroc. “Come on, Lycanroc, let’s use the last of your remaining strength for something good.”
“Grrr-ruff,” he nodded. Pikachu and Rockruff waited at Ash’s ankles to watch Gladion’s move. Umbreon also gave his trainer space.
“Hi-ya,” he grunted. Lycanroc and him made an ‘x’ with their arms and spread them out again, just to stretch them forward. Gladion’s crimson Z-ring radiated Z-power. “The blue moon’s Z-power washes over us…” The trainer and Pokémon moved as one, punching forward in the coordination of the move’s dance. “…and the crumbling world…” They brought their fists up into the attack and moved them to the side like the action of flexing muscles. After doing a jabbing motion, their heels dug into the ground and stomped. “… then seals it up!” Gladion glowed with orange rock-type energy.
“Lyiiiicanroc,” it grumbled.
“Now!” The energy was transferred to Lycanroc. A symbol appeared before it. “Get ready, use Continental Crush!” Lycanroc punched the ground and leapt high into the sky. Chunks of earth were pulled into an enormous rock, Ash thought he could compare the size to a mini planet. Lycanroc howled, throwing the rock towards Team Rocket with one paw.
Jessie looked dumbfounded, “What is that?”
“I doi’n’t know, but it ain’t look so good.” The rock mimicked a meteor, falling onto Team Rocket for an inevitable doom. Large clouds of smoke covered the field, led by an exploding vehicle. Team Rocket went flying into the sky, becoming a twinkle. Ash didn’t know what they were saying as they were flung off, but he assumed something about being on a blast off and mumbling about Bewear saving them. He looked around to see Gladion helping Lycanroc up to his hinge paws.
“How?”
“Huh?”
“You one shot Lycanroc, how?”
“I’m sure Pikachu didn’t-”
“I know what I saw. How are you going to the Pokémon School with this immense power under your belt?”
“It wasn’t a single shot.”
“Are you seriously underplaying this?”
“On another note,” he quickly moved on, “that was a cool Z-move. I’d like to do that.”
“You have a rock-type Z-crystal?”
“Nope!”
“Oh. Then do the island challenge of the Akala Island Grand Trial.”
“Alright! I have to get ready for school, bye!” He dashed off without waiting for a goodbye.
He’s definitely up to something. Maybe Lillie knows.