February 12th 2017 ~
Guzma: What is the meaning of this?!
The overgrown forest surrounding the spooky house summoned Marko and Greninja causing Guzma to clench his teeth together tightly as he gazed upon his dazzled, Golisopod.
Marko: What are the chances of us crossing paths again?
Guzma: You were lucky the last time we met!
Marko: If I recall I managed to escape from you and your Pokemon with ease. All I had to do was perform one or two tricks and I was gone.
Guzma: Don't think you'll get out of this situation any easier.
Marko: You? A tough opponent? Come on, there are three Pokemon against your slightly confused Pokemon.
Guzma: Hmph.... Ya boy's Golisopod is way stronger than all of your Pokemon put together. Here, I'll prove it. Giga Impact, and do not hold back!
The slight confusion was easily shrugged off by Golisopod which Marko found surprisingly impressive. However, the humanoid like Pokemon was instantly covered by a veil of white and pinkish energy. Golisopod charged at Ash who happened to still be protecting Litten and Pikachu using his body.
Knowing that, Ash would be seriously hurt, Marko instructed Greninja to use Aerial Ace. As Greninja's feet and fists began to emit a resplendent light, the frog like Pokemon smashed his left webbed foot into Golisopod forcing it to go off course hitting a nearby tree.
With Ash confirmed to be safe, Marko knew it was time to finish it off. He firmly held his right arm up notifying Greninja to return by his tamer's side. The two stood side by side, then all of a sudden their eyes blossomed into a raging red.
Marko: Greninja! Respond to my heart, share our strength, share our feelings and become one!
Greninja unleashed ghostly cries as Marko followed with roars, then all of a sudden a extravagant water tornado devoured Greninja as a faint blue aura appeared around the outskirts of Marko's body
Splashes of water smacked onto Ash's face, grabbing his attention. As he uncovered Pikachu and Litten he turned around to find his ancestor and Greninja engulfed by raging water and transparent blue energy.
The Kantonian's jaw broke open in amazement. It brought back instant memories of the first time he experienced a transformation similar to Marko and Greninja's. The sound of Mallow's voice informing Ash "Your eyes have turned red" stained inside of his head. The blustering spiral of water made Ash remember how his Greninja managed to protect Mallow's Lurantis while taking on Heatran and Darkrai which proved to be a challenging trial for the pair.
Everyone continued to watch on as the ferocious water spiral surrounding Greninja grew thicker and more treacherous, then all of a sudden it burst like a bubble. Splatters of water landed everywhere revealing Greninja in his new form. The blue aura like energy travelling around Marko soon died out as it was sucked in by the large Water Shuriken planted on Greninja's back.
Ash instantly realised Greninja went through the same transformation that his own Greninja experienced. However, since Marko's Greninja was a shiny there was a different between the colours black and blue.
Guzma: What?!... What's with pulling all these magic tricks on ya boy, Guzma?!
Marko: I was going to interpret this situation nicely, but since you threatened to badly hurt Ash and the Pokemon I'm afraid I can't that let go.... And for that, you've got to pay.
Guzma: And for that, you've got pay.... Phhfftttt! Give ya boy a break! Golisopod will happily dismantle your large ego.
Marko squeezed a comedic snort through his nose as he chuckled inside regarding Guzma's claims. Quickly pulling himself back together, a confident smirk burst onto his face as he commanded Greninja to use Double Team.
Many copies of Greninja were made at the quick response of his tamer's order. With Guzma spacing out about his opponent's actions he ordered Golisopod who had just managed to stand back up after colliding with a tough tree trunk to use Sludge Bomb.
One by one the copies of Greninja were slowly extinguished by the Poison-type attack. In spite of this, Greninja sneakily approached Golisopod and slashed the entire front section of the humanoid like Pokemon with two giant glowing daggers.
Guzma: Grrr.... Sludge Bomb again!
Golisopod quickly recovered from the sneak attack and launched a wave of Sludge Bombs in Greninja's path. However, Marko was very experienced in battling, so in a pinch he had an idea.
Marko: Let's try something new out! Smash your two daggers into each other to create a blade!
Ash: Greninja can do that?!
Greninja held his two daggers above his head and proudly smashed the daggers into each other which sparked a blinding light to form. As the coruscating light dimmed, Greninja dragged a long blade down to the side of his black body inserting fear into, Guzma.
Marko: Concentrate on the attack! Feel it's presence, then react on your own will.
Greninja firmly nodded as he closed his beaming red eyes. The look of concentration was clearly obvious, but once Greninja found his most comfortable feel towards the attack he flashed his eyes open and dashed towards the Sludge Bombs.
The first wave was easily dealt with as Greninja swung the sharp blade downwards slicing clean through a large portion of the Poison-type attack. The second wave swarmed Greninja, but the frog like Pokemon stood it's ground and began to spin the blade like a windmill. As each splash of the Sludge Bomb attack invaded Greninja's territory it would bounce directly off the spinning blade.
The last wave of Sludge Bomb was approaching at a high level of speed, but it wasn't classed as a major problem. Well, not for, Greninja anyway as he performed a perfect somersault over the bucket load of poisonous sludge, then reacting quickly, Greninja performed an underarm throw launching his blade clean through immobilising the remaining evidence of the Sludge Bomb attack.
Ash: That was incredible.... I never knew, Greninja could do that!
Pikachu: Pikaaaa!
Marko: Days, weeks, months, even took years to fully master this technique of battling.
Guzma: Enough with your blabbing! I'm only here for one thing! To take your Pokemon and the Stoutland back to my headquarters!
Ash: Stoutland?...
At that moment, Litten began to scratch on Ash's leg, attempting to gain the Kantonian's attention. Ash quickly caught on as Litten sneaked past, Guzma fading into the spooky house. Ash took one last look at Marko and Greninja who were busy dealing with Guzma and Golisopod, so sneakily, Ash and Pikachu followed Litten into the spooky house.
Upon entering the broken home, Ash absorbed his surroundings as he noticed worn out bookshelves, the roof was crumbling, cracks and mould grew on the walls, and even the stairs had gaping holes.
Each step, Ash and Pikachu took the wooden floorboard would screech in reply. Once you entered the spooky realm a few steps lead to a Mamoswine sized room which was weakly lit. The edges of the room were filled with broken tables and chairs. Within the centre stood a gathering of sofas which were ripped to shreds.
Dug into the back wall of the room, a hallway led deeper into the scary dimension, parting ways to other rooms. However, when Ash approached the hallway, Litten appeared from the first room on the right followed by an injured, elderly Stoutland.
The Fire-type Pokemon aimed it's phantasmal whimpering towards, Ash, asking for the Kantonian's help. At a disadvantage, Ash couldn't understand Pokemon very well. His connection with Pikachu allowed him to understand his partner clearly, even spending a really long time with each other influenced their communication skills, but Ash was smart enough to realise, Litten was him to help Stoutland who looked very sickly.
Ash: Don't worry, Litten. I'll try my best to help, Stoutland, but we can't take your friend to the Pokemon centre until, Marko and Greninja have dealt with, Guzma.
An unsettling look cracked upon, Litten's face. As a matter of fact, Ash honestly wanted to help, Stoutland, but he knew they couldn't go anywhere without confirmation of a victory by, Marko. Even if they tested their luck and sneaked into the forest, Ash wouldn't be aware or prepared for any other dangers such as wandering Skull grunts.
At this point, Litten was flourishing his impatience and abandoned, Ash in the spooky house. On the contrary, the Kantonian understood how, Litten was feeling, so he instructed Pikachu to follow it while he stayed behind to comfort the injured, Stoutland.
Marko: Okay, Greninja. Let's clean this mess up quickly before it gets any messier.
Guzma: Why can't you let ya boy, Guzma get what he wants and scramble? Is it honestly that hard?
Marko: If you want to steal Pokemon, then I'm afraid I can't let you get what you desire.
Guzma: Too bad, I thought we could become great friends. You join Team Skull along with that powerful, Greninja of yours.... Oh well, it was a stretch, but at least I can punish you for your decision.
Marko: Hmph.... Bring it!
Guzma: Quickly! Use Sludge Bomb, but aim for Greninja's webbed hands!
In an immediate response to it's trainer's command, Golisopod spat another wave of Sludge Bomb. However, it was much more energetic as the Poison-type attack smashed into Greninja's right webbed hand hammering the blade out of his hands.
In reply, the sharp blade flung into the air and eventually smashed into the forest floor right before, Greninja's feet. The Water-type lowered to one knee holding his right hand with his left tensing his black arms in order to ease the flaming pain.
Marko: Greninja!.... I know you're slightly hurt, but I want to try something. However, it requires you to focus on your agility.... Can you handle it?
Greninja gently swivelled his body around gradually facing his tamer. The frog like Pokemon stared at his insignificantly injured webbed hand. He proceeded to scrunch his hand into a fist, then stood up, nodding is agreement to, Marko's offer.
Guzma: What's with the emotional business?! Hurry up, and get a move on!
Marko: Your loss.... Greninja, I'm going to need you to take your Water Shuriken and slam it onto the blade!
Greninja gasped in shock, even he knew this was something new and creative by his tamer, but without further hesitation, Greninja reached out for the Water Shuriken on his back and held it above his head allowing the sun to glisten through the transparent object.
Then with mighty force, Greninja smashed the Water Shuriken onto the sharp blade, forcing the two two objects to conjoin. A flash of light occurred forcing everyone to hide their eyes beneath their arms, but once the light finally died out the blade and Water Shuriken had combined creating some kind of shield.
Marko: Perfect.
Guzma: Stop with your magical rubbish, and fight ya boy, Guzmaaa!
Marko: Gladly..... Greninja, run.
Greninja: Gren!
Greninja nodded with respect and with the shield tightly gripped in his right webbed hand, Greninja dashed towards Golisopod.
Guzma: FOCUS BLAST, FOCUS BLAST, FOCUS BLAAAST!
The Team Skull leader let rip as his voice thundered across Melemele island. Golisopod, on the other hand held it's two large claws close together, slowly creating orbs of blue energy, then one by one it proceeded to launch every orb at Greninja's path.
Marko: Be one with the shield! Demonstrate your true power within!
End Of Chapter 160