"Do you think that simply because I am behind bars that everything will be fine? That there won't be any consequences or that no other organization will surface in the Indiigo League?"
Those words still hunted him.
"Team Rocket might have been dismantled, but the world is full of criminals and greedy people. Just wait, soon something worse than Team Rocket will appear. It will be then that you'll wish we were still around."
Damn you Giovanni!
"Partner?" Pikachu poked my cheek in concern.
"Sorry, Pikachu, I'm... not fine," I admitted. "My head is filled with Team Rocket rubish," I laughed humorlessly.
"We are about to face against Sinnoh's Champion and the strongest Generalist Master, maybe you should focus on that," Pikachu told me drily. "Team Rocket and Giovanni are locked up, what he told you when we visited his jail does not matter. He is just a sore loser. Not to mention, a psycopath and a criminal."
"You are right," I sighed, finishing off my protein bar and sport drink. "We've made it this far, let's give her everything we've got and get our Generalist Mastery!"
"That's what I mean!" Pikachu cheered me on, from my shoulder, as we opened the doors for the final battlefield.
I took my place on the challenger's end and waited for Cynthia to appear. I turned to my left as I heard the cheering from my friends. I smiled at them, my faithful Ghost Teams, my big brothers and his friends, my traveling companions, they were all here to cheer me... no, cheer us on. I'll give it my all and make sure not to dissapoint.
This is my final challenge!
I do not mean just the Sinnoh Pokemon League Challenge, but the last rock I need to move before all of my dreams all fulfilled. I'mm already an Ace Ranger Captain, a Terrain Master, the Leader of the second branch of the Battle Frontier, and the Future Champion of the Orange Archipelago League. This is my last challenge as a relatively normal trainer. Before I become a Champion of my own right. This will be the proof I need to prove that I am ready for this.
The doors on the other side of the battlefield opened slowly, to reveal the magestic form of the Sinnoh Champion, my older sister, Generalist Master Cynthia Shirona.
"Are you ready Ash?" Cynthia smiled at me, as she took her place on her side of the battlefield.
"I am," I answered her, even though my heart was beating like a thunderstorm inside my chest.
"Good, because you do not know how long I've been waiting for this moment," Cynthia confessed with an excited smile.
That's right... this is a battle. I love battles. Why I am nervous? This should be fun. I've always wanted to face off against Cynthia!
"Me too!" I exclaimed with cheer. Cynthia's posture relaxed, losing some tension I did not know she had. It must have been because I was acting strange, I reasoned internally. "Thank you," I told her gratefully.
"You are welcomed, little brother," Cynthia replied, never losing her smile.
"Today Terrain Master Ash Ketchum is facing against Generalist Master and Champion Cynthia Shirona, on his last challenge against the Sinnoh Pokemon League," the referee announced from his position on the side of the battlefield. "The match will be a battle of 6 vs 6. Only the challenger will be allowed to substitute his pokemon."I saw Cynthia take out a Poke Ball and smiled challengingly at her. "Let the battle begin!"
"Gastrodom!/Snorlax!"
A pause. Then...
"Gastrodom, Rain Dance!" Cynthia began.
"Snorlax, stop him! Use Iron Head!" I countered, even with Snorlax speed it did not stop the summon of a rainstrom. Snorlax landed the hit, having dashed through the rain, but Gastrodom took the hit without effort. "Snorlax get back!" I shouted as soon as realize that my pokemon was in the right distance to receive a Muddy Water. "Focus Blast!" However, the Muddy Water caused Snorlax to fall and miss. Not to mention, it dealt a heavy blow on him. But i was not giving up! "Heavy Slam!"
"Acid Armor!" Cynthia bossted her Gastrodon's defense, so that the blow barely fazes him before he used another rain-boosted Muddy Water again.
Caught in the middle of the vicious attack, Snorlax's situation was looking dire. I clenched my fist and grimanced. But then I took a deep breath and calmed myself down.
"This is not the time to give up Snorlax!" I shouted to my pokemon, who roared back in determination. I decided to put all of his faith in one attack, a newly learned move- but I knew it will work. I had faith and so did Snorlax. "Steel Roller!"
The move... connected! It dealt a one-hit knockout and defeated Gastrodon just as the rain faded away.
"It was a wonderful start, Ash," Cynthia congratulated me with a smile as she returned Gastrodom. "It seems that you are on the lead... for now."
"Not really," I corrected her, just in time for Snorlax to faint. "Those Muddy Water of yours should be illegal," I protested half-heartedly, as I returned Snorlax. "We are equally matched... for now."
Cynthia returned my challengingly smirk and took out her second Poke Ball, I did the same.
"Milotic!/Pikachu!"
Pikachu jumped from my shoulder to the battlefield, cheeks crackling with electrical power, as Milotic appeared in a white flash on the other side. Cynthia's Milotic's beauty was on par to Wallace's.
"Pikachu, Iron Tail!" This time I went for the initiative.
"On it partner!" Pikachu shouted back, as he used a Quick Attack to rapidly get closer to Milotic.
"Hydro Pump!" Milotic effortlessly avoided it and striked back.
It sent Pikachu flying back various yards and land harshly on the ground. "Pikachu, are you ok?!" I asked him worriedly.
"I c-can still go on!" My starter assured me, even as he struggled to get back on his feet his eyes were shinning with determination.
"Good! Then use Wild Charge!" I commanded, the move connected dealing which dealth a super effective damage on Milotic. However, Milotic was not giving up either. She used Disarming Voice, a Fairy-type move that caused Pikachu to stumble. "Pikachu!" It left my partner disoriented and opened to any attack. Milotic took advantage of that and wrapped her body around him. Just as she was about to bash her head against my partner, using Iron Head, I shouted for him to snap out of it. "Come on Pikachu! Use Thunder!"
Just as Milotic bashed her Iron Head, my starter released the most powerful Electric-type move on her. With the Iron Head working as the perfect conduit, she had no hope of surviving the attack... on the other side, neither did Pikachu. The Hydro Pump, Disarming Voice, and Iron Head were too much for his little body. No matter how powerful he is, his body was not made to take such heavy damage. That's why we work so much on his speed and make sure his reflexes are on top notch to dodge any attack. Pikachu fainted alongside Milotic.
I used my aura to get to my partner's side in one long jump and take him in my arms, as Cynthia returned her Milotic to her Poke Ball. I jumped back and gently laid Pikachu next to me.
We were now both out of two pokemon.
This is nothing like the previous battles I've faced. Not even Tobias, Paul, or the other Elite Four members compared to the raw power of Cynthia. The tension was in the air. But instead of making me nervous like before, I felt excited. This is it! This is why I got into battling! This is so much fun!
"Are you ready?" Cynthia asked me, mirroring my excitement.
"I am!" I exclaimed, taking out my third Poke Ball.
"Then let's do this together!" She told me, raising her Poke Ball.
"Spiritomb!/Tyranitar!"
My Tyranitar roared as soon as his feet landed on the ground, shaking the whole room with the raw power of his roar. Spiritomb appeared silently, but that did not mean I underestimated him at all. His silence was deadly. I've learnt a lot of Ghost-type pokemon this last year, the main things I learned is that you never and I mean it, never, underestimate a ghost.
"Shadow Sneak and then use Sucker Punch!" Cynthia commanded her Spiritomb.
However, we were already expecting a sneak attack like that, so Tyranitar easily blocked it with rocks. We then used those hugge rocks to hide Tyranitar's large body and sneak up behind Spiritomb. "Use Brutal Swing!" I shouted and watched as Tyranitar threw Spiritomb against the upcoming Stone Edge, we had planned beforehand. "Let's finish this! Black Hole Eclipse!" After striking various choreographed poses- they are so much fun! Tyranitar raised his head and a spiraling sphere of purple, red, and black energy formed above his head. He then threw the sphere at Spiritomb, and it expands into a miniature black hole. Spiritomb waas sucked into the black hole, which then shrank to a much smaller size, causing it to explode. "All right!" I cheered but then gasped when Tyranitar also fainted alongside Spiritomb. "What?!" Then I realized what had just happened. "You used Destiny Bond!"
"Got it in one try!" Cynthia praised me. "I had Spiritomb do it as soon as Tyranitar had caught him to use Brutal Swing."
"Ghosts are so sneaky!" I cursed.
"So, are you," Cynthia told me with a small laugh, as we both returned our pokemon. "I did not expect this battle to be so evenly match."
"Neither did I," I told her, while internnally thinking that I was expecting her to kick my ass.
The following battle was a short but intense one, Cynthia's Lucario against my Primeape. It was a purely Fighting-type style of battle. Kick after kick, punch after punch, until they both knock each other out.
"Sceptile you are next!"
"Come on out, Kommo-o!" Cynthia called out her fifth pokemon.
"A Kommo-o? All the way from Alola?" I inquired surprised. "Honestly, Alola pokemon and culture is in bloom lately."
"Mostly because of you," Cynthia joked. "But I've had her since I was a young trainer, a gift from my parents who had went to Alola as a wedding anniversary trip."
"That's so nice," I thought out loud.
"It is," Cynthia agreed. "But now it's time to continue our battle! Kommo-o, use Clanging Scales!"
Shit! Not that move! I thouhgt worredly. It was one of Kommo-o's strongest moves and a pain in the ass while we were doing our Island Trails!
"Frenzy Plant!" I shouted, and sighed in relief as both moves canceled each other.
"Breaking Swipe!" Cynthia commanded her pokemon.
"Meet it with Leaf Blade!" I countered. That lead to both pokemon to meet each other in a close combat battle, which worked on my favor. "Dragon Breath!" Our Dragon-type move caught him right on the face, sending him flying various yards back. "Agility and Dual Chop!" Sceptile got two hits on Kommo-o, before being enveloped in a hug by Kommo-o and unable to move.
"Clanging Scales!" Cynthia commanded.
What is she planning to do? I shouted in my head. Without any distance between the pokemon, the move will ricochet on Kommo-o and take both of them out?!
"Sceptile! Use Grass Pledge!" I yelled.
If we are going down, we will go downn fighting!
As I had predicted the move collison took both pokemon down, but at least this way I it was not just Cynthia's plan.
"You know how to surprise someone," my sister told me with a chuckle as she released the pokemon I was fearing to face in this battle: Garchomp.
"You do too, I was not expecting that," I replied, releasing my own titan: Charizard.
A pause.
Then...
"Garchomp, Draco Meteor!" Cynthia ordered.
I almost panicked. A Draco Meteor from Cynthia's Garchomp or from any of Lance's pokemon is a death sentence. They are powerful beyong words and capable of destroying small villages if they wanted. However, I connected with Charizard in a spiritual level, through my aura powers, and calmed down. We have this.
"Outrage!" I shouted.
"You got it!" Charizard roared in excitement, eyes shinning red as Outrage was activated. Charizard cleaved his way through the meteor shower and exchanged some blows with Garchomp before the side effect of Outrage left him confused. However, I was prepared for that. "Charizard, bash your head on thee ground!" I heard many people gasp at my wild plan, even Cynthia's eyes widenned. Charizard quickly broke out of the confusion by hitting his head on the ground.
"Not bad," Cynthia praised me, impressed by our performance. It was then that she pulled out a lipstick, I did not need her to turn it around to know what was happening. That was my big sister's Key Stone. "Garchomp, let's Mega Evolve!"
"We are screwed," Charizard commented, yet he was smilling in excitement.
"Even with the power-up, this can go either way," I told my partner, staying positive. "They are not the only ones who can Mega Evolve," I reminded him, taking out my Key Stone Necklace and kissing the stone as it shinned. Many Pokemon Masters do it, like Cynthia and Steven, I'll join the club too. "Charizard, let's Mega Evolve!"
"That's what I am talking about!" Charizard roared, I could feel the power rush running through him through our connection- it was exhilarating!
"Dragon Claw!" Cynthia commanded.
"Meet them with Shadow Claw!" I retaliated. Mega Garchomp attacked with Dragon Claw, which Charizard met with a series of Shadow Claws. Using this strategy, we got Garchomp lured into close-range combat, before unleashing a point-blank Dragon Pulse, which scored a direct hit. "That's what I mean!" I cheered with my pokemon. "The next hit will decide the match," I communicated with Charizard though our bond. "Put everything into it!"
"I will," Charizard promised me.
Cynthia seem to have decided to finish the match with her next attack, as well, and ordered a Draco Meteor. As the meteors start raining down again, Charizard fired a Dragon Pulse, which splits up and started taking down the falling rocks. However, the meteors numers were too much, and many of them still hit the ground, creating a big cloud of dust. When the cloud cleared, both Dragon- type pokemon were staring down at each other. One minute, then... Charizard fell down in defeat.
I looked at the scene before me in shock.
I heard the referee calling the match in favour of Cynthia numbly.
I lost...
That's all right, I thought with a bemused smile, shaking my head. Cynthia is one of the strongest champions out there and the strongest Generalist Master, I did incredibly good. Though seeing Charizard being taken down is a surprise. My titan was defeated.
"Ash?" Pikachu asked me in concern, I looked down to my right and found my starter bruised and battered. "Are you ok?"
"I am... it is frustrating, because we put everything we had... and it was still not enough..." I had to put everything I had in me not to allow the tears in my eyes to fall. "But... but we put everything we had, so I have no regrets. We did our best and we'll keep on training to get stronger! We'll face her again and we will win!"
"That we will!" Charizard assured me. I turned around to see him in front of me. When did he move? I rapidly wrapped an arm around him to help him, never more grateful for aura than then. A Draco Meteor from Garchomp is no joke. "Sorry I lost."
"Sorry I lead you to lose," I countered cheekily, making Charizard snort a cloudd of smoke.
"I could not have said it better," Cynthia praised me with a smile, eyes shinning with pride. "Generalist Master Ash Ketchum."
My eyes widened at her words, this time I was not able to keep the tears at bay and cried. Though, I did not mind it. I was crying tears of happiness. I hid my face on Charizard's shoulder as he and Pikachu cheered in celebraation. We might have not won against Cynthia, but we did achieve our Generalist Mastery.
"The Flying Mastery is next, right?" Charizard asked me cheekily, as Garchomp and Pikachu chuckled.
"Hold your Rapidash buddy! Let me regain my breath first!" I complained jokingly. "But yes, that's coming next. So, you better get ready!"
"I was born ready!" Charizard bragged proudly.
I laughed. Because I was happy. I might have lost but this was only halfway-through, we still had a long way to go. And I would rather not travel through this journey with anyone else other than my team.
My family.