Author's Note:

Sorry for the extreme delay. Since I've set the bar for battles high, I had to make it seem that way. I had to balance a lot of elements while showing the intensity of the battle, and honestly, it was a little challenging since I don't want to write a battle as most authors write. It's not a jab at anyone, but you may already know, from my plot, I like to keep things as different and unique as possible.

I know most of you will skip almost everything in this chapter since this is only a battle, but those who like action may enjoy it, I hope. And I doubt any of you have read a battle written this way. (If you have, then let me know. I want to read and learn from there). I'm honestly, really proud of this chapter.

PREVIOUSLY IN 'THE LEGEND OF ASH KETCHUM'

Chapter-2:

"Sometimes, in the heat of the battle, I feel as if I'm connected to my Pokémon. I keep getting tired and they keep getting stronger, as if my energy flows into them. It happens extremely rare, but when it does—that's when I have my best battles and I know I'm up against a worthy rival."

"What you've experienced, son, is a unique battle phenomenon known as, the aura-bond."

"Does that happen because I can use aura?"

"No, anybody can experience it. When the feelings between the trainer and the Pokémon match during a battle, the aura-bond occurs."

"You mean, my bond with my Pokémon is why all that happened with me?"

"Yes, it is.

"The aura-bond is a battle phenomenon; it occurs only when the trainer and the Pokémon have synchronized emotions and are put under deep stress during a battle. The state of extreme emotions, is the trigger for aura-bond and that happens only when you're fighting against the wind, yet you still keep moving."

Viola peeped through a lens she formed with fingers. "Shadow Ball, burst mode!"

"Use Pound!" Ash sliced the air with his fingers.

Gloomy orbs flurried at the trees. Froakie leapt onto a leafstalk, trampolined to another, then another, and another, dodging them all. He grabbed onto another stalk with both hands, tugged it down, catapulted into the air, wheeled forward, and nosedived at Surskit.

"Protect."

A mirror-like barrier materialized before Surskit. Froakie sprung off of it with his webbed feet. He clung back on the tree and snorted.

"You need equipment to click a picture; you need moves to win a battle," Viola said. "Your Froakie lacks both."

"Right. But…" a bold smirk edged Ash's lips. "There's equipment everyplace. Moves everywhere."

"Huh?" Viola's brow arched. "You got something?"

"Yup. Check this out." Ash eyed his water type. "Froakie, get those coconuts and toss them at Surskit."

Froakie grinned his widest grin. He clambered to the treetop, plucked a hefty coconut from the beetling cluster, and flung it at Surskit.

"Protect!" Viola hurried.

The coconut smacked into the barrier and caromed off.

"Keep them coming. Break that Protect!"

One after the other, Ash's water type barraged hard-shelled nuts at Surskit; but again, they caromed off the protective barrier, shielding her from any hit.

"Get around, Froakie." Ash swung his hand.

A colossal leap, and Froakie crossed six trees. With a coconut in hand, he twisted his body, and hurled it with all strength. The coconut smashed into Surskit's back. She screamed painfully, and her protect disintegrated.

Froakie hopped off the ground, and pounded at his foe. Surskit wheeled into the air. Froakie jumped, and roundhouse kicked her in the gut. Surskit crashed into the wall.

"All right!" Ash punched the air. Froakie landed with a summersault. "That's one down."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. How naïve." Viola dipped her head, shaking it sympathetically. "Surskit, let's refocus. Show them our real composition."

With a vociferous cry, the water-bug type jumped to her feet. She frowned icily, angry, annoyed, and agitated.

"On your guard, Froakie." Ash squinted. What is it that you're trying, Viola?

Surskit yowled. A voltaic energy shot up from her antenna. It reflected off the ceiling's stained-glass, diverged into various thunder-like rays, and struck the battlefield in various spots. Froakie hopped, dodging the rays. And as Surskit was done, the battlefield glistened. An ice cap layered it.

Ash flexed his muscles. So this was what refocusing meant.

Surskit skated agilely over the ice, dancing immaculately like a ballerina on steroids. She skimmed laps around the field, getting faster with each circuit.

Froakie's sat tight; his eyes darted all over the field as he tried to keep track of Surskit's flawless movements.

"Can you move on it, Froakie?"

Ash's water type took a step. His leg slipped, he skidded and fell on his back.

"Signal Beam, F/22, burst mode."

Surskit circled Froakie, firing rapid pink bullets at him. The Bubble Frog rolled left and right, dodging a few, enduring the rest. He tried to get on his feet, but slipped again.

Something seemed off about this ice, and Ash could feel it. It was a little too greasy than normal. Froakie's sticky feet should have allowed him to move on ice, yet he couldn't. I should find a solution soon, or risk losing the round.

Surskit then ceased her attacks and continued to skate around the panting Froakie on his back.

Ash followed Surskit's movements, hoping to find a clue. She moved jet fast and nearly covered the whole terrain. He peered closer at her. He vaguely noticed something flowing out of her lanky legs. Something transparent and… That's it! Her legs. Dexter did say she secretes oil to walk on water. She must be using the same technique on ice, too. Ash smiled, impressed. Viola was smart, but he can outsmart her. "Froakie, back to the trees."

"Uh-huh, Sticky Web on the field," Viola said. "Trap him."

Froakie rolled on the ice haphazardly, dodging the Sticky Web. When he reached the field's end, he climbed up the wall. He sat on the wall's rim, and slapped his behind, taunting his opponent. Surskit, annoyed, fired Shadow Balls at him. Froakie then leapt onto a tree, twisting and turning, evading the attacks.

"Way to go, Froakie," Ash said. "Now use Water Pulse."

"Shadow Ball!"

Blue and black orbs clashed and cancelled each other.

"Water Pulse, again."

"Signal Beam."

Attacks clashed and cancelled.

"Again, Froakie."

"You should try something else, Ash. Shadow Ball."

Clashed and cancelled.

"Don't you worry about me. Water Pulse."

"Grr, Ice Beam."

"Gotcha!" Ash snapped his fingers. "Froakie, Pound into that."

"What!"

The attacks clashed, but didn't cancel; instead, the Ice Beam froze the watery orb into a rugged iceberg. Froakie slammed his head into it with Pound. The ice exploded into infinite shards. He landed back on the icy field. His leg slipped again, but he maintained a menacing scowl.

"Froakie, take your pick of the sharpest shards," Ash said. "And use your frubbles to stick them to your feet."

The Bubble Frog looked back at Ash with twinkling eyes. He nodded and did as instructed.

Viola crossed her arms. "So, this was your plan after all?"

"Your battle style is easy to read. I knew you'd use Ice Beam again. I just had to bait you and wait."

With his new shard skates, Froakie zigzagged his way on the satiny ice, cutting through the gummy webs on it, and leaving blade trails at his wake. "Bring it on, Bugsy."

Surskit frowned.

"Don't think you have me figured yet," Viola said. "My lens isn't prime."

Ash smirked. I've figured you, all right. You're tough, I'll give you that, but you're cocky too. Very cocky. It's only a matter of time before you slip up. "I'm just getting started." He punched forward. "Pound. Let's go!"

"Shadow Ball!" Viola cocked her hand back.

Backtracking in circles, Surskit shot her gloomy orbs at Froakie.

With his hands tied back, Froakie sped across the ice, following his foe's flashy movements.

Shadow Balls blitzed at him.

Zip!

A tilt to the right. Dodge.

A tilt to the left. Dodge.

Zip!

An effortless twist of his shoulder. Dodge.

An elegant reel on his blade. Dodge.

Zip!

An arch to the left; an arch to the right.

Left, right, left.

Left, right, left.

And repeat.

Each Shadow Ball evaded with grace. Not a single graze.

His speed then raised.

A milky cap over his head glazed.

He skated, whizzed, and pounded into Surskit.

"Awesome! Now use Water Pulse."

Froakie leapt into the air, spinning, a watery orb in his hand.

"Quick, Haze!"

Damn it!

Froakie flung his attack, but the water-ball got lost in the thick black cloudiness. He landed, and got buried in the same black cloudiness.

"Shadow Ball."

A wham, and Froakie pinwheeled up, groaning, over the haze, and into the air.

"Finish him." Viola swept her hand. "Signal Beam, F/4."

"Substitute!"

No chance.

Ash lunged out of his box.

Signal Beam crashed into Froakie.

Froakie crashed into Ash.

Ash crashed into the wall.

It was all over.

"Ash!" an orchestra of screeches rang from the side. Ash cast a grimacing glance at Froakie. A painful pang shot through his back, throbbing along his spine. He gritted his teeth and cringed. He withstood worse before.

Froakie's limbs shivered. Scratches and bruises covered all over his body. Not too bad. A day at the Pokémon Centre should restore him back to his usual spirits. He tried to move, get back into the fight, but Ash stopped him. He's had enough. He cradled his Pokémon in his arms, and resisting his pain in his back, he forced a smile. Proud of you, Froakie. I really am.

"Ash, are you okay?" a panicky voice called out, worried and concerned. It was Serena. She and Pikachu leaned into the battlefield against the fence wall.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine," Ash groaned. "Thanks."

"Why would you do that?" she yelled angrily. Her voice was strict now, but concern still lingered in it.

"Not now, Serena." Ash dismissed her. He flimsily straightened himself up and got back on his feet. He returned Froakie into his contraption. "You were awesome, Froakie. Take a good rest for now." He turned to Viola. "That was a good warm-up." He vaulted over the railing, into his challenger box, wincing slightly. "Now why don't we get started with the main event?"

"You sure get me fired up," Viola said. "But I have to say this though: your Froakie earned my respect. Do tell him I said that."

"Will do. Thanks."

"Miss, please get back to your seat and take the mouse along with you," the referee, Britney said. "Or I shall have you both escorted out of the premises."

"Yeah? Make me, you eight-chinned hag." Pikachu poised to pounce, sparking static from his cheeks.

"Pikachu! Back off!" Ash commanded strictly, displeased at his partner's rudeness.

"What's her problem if we stay?"

"Let it go, Buddy. Let the battle do the talking," Ash said. "That's our style, isn't it?"

Pikachu smirked. "Whoop her butt. Make it bleed."

"Err, right." Ash scratched his head with a finger, wondering if his mouse realized that the battle was against Viola and not the referee. Well, it was better to play along than point that out to him. He shifted his glance over to his oldest friend. "Serena? "Can you please take Pikachu and go back to your seat?" he said. "I'm all right, and I'll see you both after the battle."

"Um, okay." She bit her lower lip. Pikachu crawled up and perched on her shoulder. "But please, don't do that again."

Ash smiled softly. "I'll try."

"Phew, now since that's done," Viola said and glanced at the tight-lipped referee. "Britney?"

"Yes," she said, and then grumbled something inaudible. She raised the flags in her hands, then dropped the one in Ash's direction. "Froakie is disqualified for his trainer returning him before the call." She raised the flag she just dropped. "Challenger, please choose your next Pokémon."

Ash flicked a glance at the side-lines: Alexa sat cross-armed with Helioptile coiled around her neck. The smug twist on her lips said everything running through her head. Bonnie was beside her with slumped shoulders; Dedenne settled on her head, his pom-poms nearly slipping off his petite arms. Froakie's fall must have dispirited them. No problem. They'll light up once he made his next choice. Ash was sure of that. Clemont had his arm over Bonnie, comforting her. Then there was Serena to the far side. She had her hands wrapped around his smirking Pikachu. Fuzzball knew who was coming next. No wonder he was so confident. Rascal. Ash's eyes landed back on Serena. Her face was puffy and her posture saggy, seemingly upset at his reckless act. Yet, even with that face, he couldn't deny how she looked. She was… ahem.

He veered his head back to the battlefield, plucked a Pokéball attached to his belt, and chucked it. "I choose you… Pidgeot!"

Golden sparkles rained on the battlefield, and his Kanto bird materialized. Her mere presence, a manifestation of clout and beauty. Her glossy sheen sparkled as she swished a lap around the arena.

"We've got two Pokémon left; think you can handle that, Pidgeot?"

She docked before Ash. The inky haze covered most of her lower body. "Give me three and I'll find a fourth one to take down."

"Thought you'd say that," Ash muttered with a chuckle.

"So, the shiny saviour of Lumiose… finally in flesh." Viola raised her hand and stroked her jaw.

"Huh? You know about that?" Ash asked, dazed.

"Ha-ha, half of Kalos does, Ash. But I'm afraid we have a battle before we can talk about that."

"Of course!"

"Battle resume!" the referee flicked her flags down.

"Hurricane! Get rid of that Haze." Ash scissored his arms.

Pidgeot swooshed into the air and flapped her wings. Vigorous gusts surged and transformed into a turbulent hurricane. Ripped leaves and broken twigs rushed into its vortex. The Hurricane swept across the ice-field, blowing out the Haze like dust during a storm.

Surskit skated around the attack, evading the Hurricane's currents.

"Air Slash!"

"Ice Beam." Viola stabbed an open palm forward.

"Gotcha! Steel Wing, let's go!"

As air discs slashed into the ivory beam, Pidgeot bucked past it, lightning-like, faster than her own attack. She clubbed her metallic wings into Surskit, smacking her into the wall.

"Surskit!" Viola panicked.

"Finish her, Sky Attack!"

Pidgeot rocketed up. The ceiling's glass shattered, and she whizzed out the arena.

"Surskit, give it your all. Signal Beam, F/1!"

Surskit, tired and injured, struggled back on her legs, trembling. The bout against Froakie drained her, and Pidgeot's Steel Wing weakened her. Taking shallow breaths, she began to charge a pink mass of energy before her.

Tension swelled. A grim silence proliferated all around. Grinding teeth, cracking knuckles, fidgeting feet—every minute sound was audible.

One.

Two.

Three.

Heartbeats resonated and echoed in Ash's ears like drum beats. The energy before Surskit bloated, bigger and bigger.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Air breezed, instilling life in a few dead leaves. The energized orb before Surskit was now thrice her size, as big as a wrecking ball.

"Surskit, get ready."

Seven! "No use." Ash smirked. "Pidgeot!"

"Now! Let it rip!"

The fuchsia beam fired skyward. The ceiling exploded. Glass and wooden pieces flew everywhere. A blue comet-shaped energy, Pidgeot, drove into the beam. But the beam's force held her at bay.

"Don't give up, Pidgeot!"

Pidgeot rolled, drilled through the beam, and pressed forward.

"You got this, Surskit!"

Surskit strained. The beam widened, and pushed Pidgeot back.

"Pidgeot!" Ash cried through the violent winds impaling at him.

Pidgeot's comet shape swelled. Spun faster. Glowed brighter. Charged ahead, rapidly diminishing the gap.

"Surskit!" Viola covered her face from the assaulting leaves.

Surskit screamed. Her attack intensified. She slid back from the recoil. Her legs punctured into the ice. She held her ground. And then, just then, for a brief second—she stumbled.

Bang! Pidgeot zapped into her.

Serena spat out a leaf stuck between her lips. Grey smoke screened the battlefield. Clouds billowed, and the last thing she saw was a blinding blue flash accompanied by a loud bang. "Think Ash won?" she asked, plucking out the little twigs stuck in her dishevelled hair.

"In my calculated opinion, yes," Clemont said. "If not then Surskit deserves a spot in Diantha's team."

"Pika pika, pika."

"What was that?" Serena dipped her head at the mouse in her lap. The dust in her hair tickled her nose. "You think… you think"—achoo—"You think Surskit's not out yet?"

"Pi pi pi." Pikachu shook his head. "Picha pika pi pikachu."

"I think he means to say, Surskit's knocked out for good," Alexa said in the voice that resembled a disappointed parent talking about her middle-aged sluggard son. "And he might just be right."

Serena wiped her nose with a hanky. "Is that it?"

"Chu." Pikachu nodded.

Serena's lips strained into a thin half-smile at the concerted opinions. Ash certainly seemed to have this round in his bag, and there was only one more to go. She was glad, very glad about it, but wasn't elated, like she had thought she would be; nor were her cheeks flaming like baking ovens, like she had thought they would be. She was merely, simply, only, glad.

The better part of her mind was too conflicted to rejoice what would be Ash's first victory in her presence, and it was solely his fault for that. Did he really have to dive at Froakie to cushion his crash? Was it necessary to put himself at such risk? Froakie would've been completely fine without his daredevil-ish intervention, and even if he wouldn't, and was hurt a bit more, there were hundreds of Pokémon Centres to take care of that. But the same couldn't be said for Ash. Didn't that idiot know that unlike Pokémon, humans are much more fragile and susceptible to injuries? The gap between a scratch and death was too small to flirt with. A wrong hit at the wrong spot, that's all. That's all it took for a plunge from 'I'm all right' to 'dead silence'.

In the span of under a week, he jeopardized his life twice for a Pokémon he barely even knew, and coincidently or not, both times it was for the same Pokémon, and who knows how many times more he would. At this stage, Serena began to question if admitting Froakie in his team was a wise decision or not. She unequivocally loved Froakie like any of her own Pokémon; but however, willing or unwillingly, his presence seemed to put Ash in danger more than anything, and that wasn't something she could sit tight with. If such incidents continued to occur in the same tangent, and Ash would continue to risk his life for him, she was sure, from the bottom of her gut, it wouldn't be long before…

"P-P-Pi!" Pikachu grimaced, squirming in her arms.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Pikachu." Serena loosened her grip she didn't know she had tightened. "Better?"

"Pika." Ash's electric type nestled comfortably, to her displeasure, between her boobs. Yep, she should definitely get used to this.

"Look!" Bonnie pointed at the battlefield.

The smoke had done clearing out, and just as the mouse had predicted, in a crater within the frozen terrain, among rubbles of ice fragments, Surskit lay unconscious, her eyes swirling in defeat.

"Surskit is unable to battle." Britney struck a flag down. "The gym leader will now choose her next Pokémon."

"Yippee! Ash won. He won!" Bonnie and Dedenne jounced in their seats, cheering ecstatically.

"I gotta give it to Ash, he raised his Pidgeot excellently. That Sky Attack was no joke," Alexa said with an impressed expression, but that was all; in no way did she display any signs of worry. She was as confident as a master baker with a cake in the oven.

"If Pidgeot fights like that, I don't think Ash can lose," Clemont said.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Alexa clicked her tongue. "Let's not get too ahead, shall we? Remember, this is not a gym battle." Her eyes crinkled at the corners. "It's much more than that."

Serena's face tightened at those words. Her dismay just turned into fear, not because Ash might lose the battle, but more so, what might happen to him. From what she knows, and seen of him, it wouldn't be ridiculous to assume he'd do something rash again if his Pokémon was in trouble. She couldn't say what he would do or how, she just knew he would. In addition, going by Alexa's words and how Viola toyed with Froakie, it was evident that Viola would stop at nothing in her quest to defeat Ash. If worse comes to worst, Serena should be ready to fight to stop the battle. Even if Ash will detest her for that, she couldn't take a chance.

"Pika?" Pikachu looked at her, his ears perked up.

"Nothing, Pikachu." She forced a gentle smile at him. "Let's watch the battle, shall we?"

"Pi."

"Deemed as a bug typist, I've fought quite the number of flying types over the years," Viola said, returning Surskit into her Pokéball. "And yours is undoubtedly one of the finest, Ash."

"Thanks." Ash flicked his nose with his thumb. "Pidgeot's one of my best."

Fluttering her wings, his royal bird landed before him. Her claws cracked through the ice as she steadied herself. Her overgrown body, towering a few feet over Ash cast a dull shadow on him, engulfing most of the trainer box he was in. She tossed her head up and wiggled it. Her golden mane streaming from her crest waved like a flag. The blazing light shafting through the hole in the ceiling bounced off her glossy body. Her skin glittered.

"I'd like to see her win, but… too bad." Viola pulled out another Pokéball. "This one will show you what real composition is." She tossed the spherical contraption.

Here we go. Ash tensed his muscles.

The Pokéball moved in an arc and burst open in mid-air. A red light flashed and quickly withdrew, leaving a white fist-sized orb in its wake. The orb dropped on the icy terrain with a plop and then—it flattened. Rings of white smoke rippled out of it.

Ash quickly masked his nose with his jacket's front panel. He had learnt enough from Team Rocket's ambushes that the action was instinctive. The rings drifted effortlessly over the blue-tinted field, slowly turning it pearly.

The smoke, in its fluid form, feigned. It feigned airy tentacles creeping up the chest-length walls. It feigned vaporous braids, surging and congregating into dappled clouds under the ceiling; the incoming light softened. It even feigned a snaky sneak into Ash's trainer box, slithering through the rectangular grills, and coiling his legs in wispy curls.

Pidgeot rotated her head towards him; her eyes wide. Ash nodded at her; his eyes sharp. She then zoomed into the air, muddling the smoke near him. In mere seconds, she disappeared into the clouds above.

The smoke, which invaded the whole arena at an astonishing pace, had stopped moving. It was now a foggy thicket, cloaking everything within eyesight. Apart from a few distant outlines of tree crowns, Ash saw nothing. The boxes of the referee and the Gym Leader, the five-seater dugout where his friends sat, and the humungous walls of the arena—the smoke cloaked everything. The atmosphere was like a gas chamber. Surprisingly, despite the smoke's creamy thickness and unbearable volume, his eyes didn't burn. That's not how smoke behaved, Ash thought curiously. Team Rocket's smoke bombs never failed to burn his eyes. Make them red and watery. He lowered his jacket, taking a break from the sweaty stench it reeked. He took a whiff of his surroundings. His brows furrowed. That couldn't be smoke. Nope, no chance. It didn't seem like it in the faintest bit. It was more like mist, if he had to name it. The thickest he's ever seen. It was tasteless and odourless, and if not for its tingling coldness, it was even senseless.

Flapping sounds came from above. The stagnant smoke-turned-mist gained mild disturbances. Ash's lips curled. Pidgeot would clear this in no time. He waited, watching the mist stir. Anytime now, he thought. And then, his face dropped. There was no more stirring, and the wind bursts from above got fainter and fainter. It was as if the mist fought back. Ash frowned. He better order for an attack.

"Pidgeot! Hurricane!" he hollered. Three echoes of his own voice returned, each softer than its predecessor, but the Hurricane never came.

"Pidgeot!" he hollered again, louder. The echoes were louder, too, and he almost caught a fourth one this time. But again, the Hurricane never came.

Ash's heart raced. Negative thoughts flooded his mind. Pidgeot had the best hearing among all of his Pokémon. She could pick up sounds of leaves crunching even from hundreds of meters away, yet she didn't answer his throat-aching screams? That's impossible. She couldn't be in some trouble, could she?

His gaze darted left and right. There was mist all around. His limbs, his head, his body—all swallowed by it. He was sunk deep in a silky ghost-like underwater. "Viola!" his yell pierced through the mist, and yet again, there was no answer. Clearly something was wrong. "Hey, ref—"

Doors banged shut. Ash flinched. His head snapped towards the sound. There was nothing but mist. His racing heart hammered like a blacksmith pounding an anvil. Then, the temperature dropped noticeably. His fingers started to twitch.

Abruptly, motorized sounds rumbled from above. Sounds like Professor Oak's garage shutter made—old and rusty—irritating to the ears. He glanced up: mist again. It was all there was and all he could see, but he kept looking, eager and desperate to find something. And then, in a moment, he saw them: shadows. Two fine murky lines at the far ends of his eyes, and as he watched, they converged, cutting the light as they moved. Darn it! Not the light too. His jaw clenched.

"Viola…! Pidgeot…! Somebody…!" It was useless. Echoes were the only response he got. Even his friends didn't utter a sound, and that was the most frightening part. A pang of fear jolted through him. He fought down his pestering urge to run and bolt. This could all be only an illusion, he told himself, but doubted how much of that he actually believed.

He closed his eyes, and took deep controlled breaths and puffed them out the way his old man (Gold) had taught him. Meditation invariably calmed him down. He began to count each breath in reverse, starting from ten, gradually feeling his heart simmer down as he reached to one. He then opened his eyes and forced his gaze up. Dust particles and paint flakes floated in the mist. The two murky lines from before were now stark and gigantic, like nimbus clouds which brought the year's heaviest downpour. They travelled towards each other, eclipsing the incoming light, at a hurried pace. Only a brief column remained in between. It wouldn't be long before that dwindles too.

Ash rubbed his cold hands together and tucked them in his jacket pockets. He watched the shadows wolf the light like starving gluttons. The light column became a light ribbon, and the ribbon became a streak, thread-like. And then, metals clanged. The light died out. Ash was left blind and vulnerable.

A sullen silence loomed in the air, and Ash could hear his breath rasping. His hands involuntarily acted on their own, groping around for the railing to grip on. His nail clinked the metal. He found it. And when he clamped his fingers around the cold bar, an eerie peal of laughter rang out. His hands jerked back. His neck hairs bristled. What was that?

Whirring sounds came from nearby. Ash swallowed. All this was starting to scare him a bit. He was reminded of the various haunted houses he had the misfortune of visiting during his travels. The mist, the cold, the sounds, the darkness, the laughter—all were spookily similar. He couldn't help but relive those spine-chilling memories, and that hammered his heart again, louder this time. So much so that it could possibly be heard from a mile away. He wanted this to end soon. He came here for a battle, not for an amusement ride through a haunted mansion.

A moment passed, and warm pools of light sputtered to life within the battlefield, one after the other. By the way it looked, they were possibly lined along the fence walls. Ash released his held breath. That was better. Much better than nothing. He at least had his vision back now, though it made no difference to the waxing cold around, or the grim darkness beyond. Those two remained, utterly, dictatorial.

The laughter rang again, echoing throughout the cavernous airspace, but this time Ash stood hardy.

A blurry silhouette in a flowing gown appeared in the wintry mist, levitating. Ash weirdly thought it resembled the ghost of a maiden mercilessly killed on her wedding day. Two amethyst lights, which had to be eyes, gleamed in it. Just by looking at them, Ash felt drugged, and he saw ghoulish images of an apocalypse flash before him: stacks of pale skeletal faces covered in fresh soot, toys abandoned by their perished owners, charred papers from notebooks flying aimlessly like chucked chocolate wrappers, ravaged cities, demolished buildings, cracked open roads, and finally, a diaper burning desolately on a sidewalk with the last remains of flesh left in it. Ash's gut wrenched and a pit formed in his stomach.

A delicate breeze then brushed his chapped lips. The cracks in them ached like they were being ripped apart. The mist then began to move, circulate, and whoosh into the silhouette's gown. Its hem billowed violently.

Slowly, the mist got sucked in totally. The lights on the wall rims brightened. And the Pokémon revealed itself. Two blunt horns of ice. A white cloak over a hollow body. A mask for a head whose sides branched into broad hands. It grinned perversely eyeing Ash, like a sadistic serial killer eying at a victim.

"Meet Froslass, my photography partner." Viola bumped her hip to one side and threw a hand on it. The bulbs along the walls cast a warm glint on her slender body. "Liked her entrance?" She smiled with no humour, but Ash found it oddly comforting. He wasn't alone anymore. His friends were in their seats, looking at him bewilderedly. Pidgeot was aloft in the air, flapping her wings to stay put. Everything was back to normal. Ash felt relieved. Well, what'dya know. It really was an illusion after all.

Froslass pecked her palm and blew a flying kiss at him. A stinging rush of cold swept over Ash, and instantly, the air around him burned. His knees crumpled and he found it difficult to even breathe. Heaving labouredly, he fumbled for his smartphone with numb fingers. He pointed it at Froslass.

The Dexter spoke: "Froslass, the Snow Land Pokémon. Ice-Ghost type; female.

"It freezes its foe with an ice breath of nearly -60 degrees F. What seems to be its body is hollow. Legends say that women lost in icy mountains are reborn as Froslass."

Ash gulped hard, replaying what Dexter had just said in the back of his mind. He heard Pidgeot making distressing grunts from above. The grunts he heard her make when she was against an opponent way out of her league. With his quivering hand, he wiped the frost accumulated on his brow, and stared at Froslass warily. Her eyes were abysmal and her gaze was charnel. With each second that he stared into them, his head spun. He felt his soul depart into her, like she clawed into him and stole the very thing that she lacked. He shook his head and realized what he was up against: a strong opponent, perhaps even stronger than any of the Pokémon on Assumption Island, and Pidgeot's grunts attested to that. Just then, a thought struck him: "Hey, Viola. Aren't you a bug typist?"

"Peh. Did you really believe that a trainer can stick to a single type forever?" She crossed her arms. "Trash! Most Gym Leaders' strongest Pokémon aren't even their specialized type. We take that tag only to comply with League rules." She then smirked devilishly. "But, if you didn't know, none of their rules apply to you Gold Classes."

Ash's fingernails dug into his palms. So his promotion snatched away every edge he had had? And from now on Gym Leaders could choose to do whatever they felt like? That… that… that… was awesome! His eyes lit up. Exactly what he has been craving for all his life. He's sick and tired of Gym Leader downplaying their game simply because he was inexperienced, and perhaps even to comply with the rules, but not anymore. Now he'd get to face the best of the best. No strings attached. He wanted that, no, needed that. His insides squealed in joy. This was it. His first step towards his dream, an inch closer to his destiny. His lips stretched into a wide grin.

"Uh?" Viola cocked her head. "Aren't you the tiniest bit scared?"

"Nope! The stronger the opponents we face, the more we get fired up and psyched." Ash flicked a glance at his bird. "Isn't that right, Pidgeot?"

Pidgeot blasted a gust of wind, proclaiming her tenacity. Ash could feel the energy radiate from her. She was fired up too. A battle against such intensely trained Pokémon was completely different from the wild beasts in Assumption Island. There it took passion; here it will take brains with passion. And they were ready for both.

"You're a strange one, Ash. Never seen one like you before." Viola chuckled. "Anyway, let's begin." She turned to the referee. "Britney?"

"Wait a minute," Ash voiced.

"What is it?" Viola asked.

"You haven't told me why you cut the lights out," Ash said. "Can't we fight in the light?"

"Why? You scared?" Viola's brow arched.

"Nope. Just curious."

"Hmm." Viola nodded. "You said you wanted me at my best, didn't you?"

"Huh?" Ash tipped his head. "That I did, but what's that got to do with this?"

"Everything. Froslass is at her best in the dark."

Ash nodded, satisfied with the answer.

"Now. Britney?"

"Yes." Britney raised her flags. "Battle begin!" She flicked them down.

"Pidgeot, get moving. Stay away from Froslass."

Pidgeot swished in the air; her aerial mobility her only lifeline.

"Really?" Viola scoffed. "Froslass, Hail."

Ash smacked his fist into the railing. There goes the advantage.

Fluffy clouds gathered under the closed ceiling. Haze covered the battered ice field. Ice pellets of various sizes pattered the ground rhythmically. A few struck Ash, a few struck Viola, and a few struck Britney. But it was Pidgeot who suffered the brunt, wincing at each hit as if it weren't ice but flaming coal that pelted her.

She raced laps in the air, trying to manoeuver away from the onslaught; but it hailed everywhere. Struck everyone, save the spectators who were shielded by the roof slat over the dugout.

Viola spun on her heel, and punched the air. "Blizzard!"

"Get out of there!" Ash swept his hand.

Rocky winds howled, bitter and chilly, grating Ash's skin like it was tender cheese. He sunk to his knees, shivering and covering. Even his triple-layered clothing couldn't protect him. The cold licked at his face, crept through his jacket sleeves, and wicked away his body heat faster than it was replaced. His exposed fingers turned stony, rigid and lifeless. He never thought wearing fingerless gloves could hurt, but now, it did.

Snow showered on his head. Snow danced into his box. Snow slipped down his jacket. There was snow everywhere. It crowded around Ash in cottony piles, and hailstones fell on them randomly. They appeared like little mounts of snowmen with derisive faces, gloating in pleasure at his sour suffering. It annoyed Ash. He wanted to strangle them, mess them up, and obliterate them, but he didn't. It was snow, he reminded himself, repeatedly, just snow.

With chattering teeth, he rubbed his fingers together. They slid past one another. Could they be anymore frozen? He grunted; then rolled his fingers into fists, groaning as his knuckles cracked like brittle bones. He unrolled them, groaning again. It pained. It pained like a machete plunged on them. Each sound of a crack was like a finger being chopped off. But it was nothing. Perhaps, given a choice, he'd even choose the plunge over this cold. It was so excruciating.

With great difficulty, he pulled his jacket's hanging zipper up, till it met its metal stop. He slumped his quivering chin into his collar's cavity, interlocked his swollen purple fingers, suffocated them between his thighs, and curled into himself like a question mark. Then, with an earnest desire to combat this cold, he began to play warm thoughts in his mind: A leisure stroll on the beach, barefooted, on a sunny summer afternoon. The blazing sand grains searing his soles, oddly gratifying. It's freezing in here. The refreshing sweat his body leaked when reclined back in a steaming hot spring. My skin can't feel a thing. The hot vapours from a mug of piping coffee moistening his nose hairs. When will this cold end? The heat of his body during an intense training session. My lips feel like rocks. And during the night, the homely warmth when cuddled up with his Pokémon. The cold is… His eyes popped wide. His Pokémon! Pidgeot! His mind went berserk, restless. If Blizzard did this to him then what about her? She's a flying type after all. Forgetting all about the cold, he tried to catch her sounds. Any sounds. Anything. Just a hint of proof that she was okay. But his ears buzzed. And the winds howled like Mightyenas on a full moon night. He heard nothing.

Frightened and apprehensive, Ash started to calculate all the circumstances Pidgeot might be in. None seemed pleasant. They were much, much agonizing that the cold in itself. His head grew heavy and he began to lose sense of time. Was it seconds, or has it been minutes already? Heck, it could've even been hours, and he wouldn't be able to tell.

Gradually—though it felt like an eternity—the winds receded, and eventually, they subsided; and so did the knifing sensation on Ash's skin, but what remained was the restlessness in his heart. He wasn't sure if he wanted to find out what condition his bird was in.

Reluctantly, he raised his head above the railing. Whiteness filled his vision. The battlefield's ice cap had thickened. Puffs of snow stacked on the fence wall and the bulbs on it. The dim light had dwindled to dimmer. Nearly every leaf in his view (whatever he could see in that darkness) was frozen; icicles outlined their blades. A stink of stale-ice replaced the tropical scent of vegetation. Yes, the ice stunk, stale like the smell of air released from an unused refrigerator. His eyes then fetched for his Pokémon. He found her. Found her helplessly shuddering in a corner, her wings frozen by frost. Ash gritted his teeth. Exactly what he was afraid of. One more of that attack and he couldn't be sure if Pidgeot could continue. He rose to his feet, his knees trembling. It was still cold but warmer cold.

"Picture perfect, ain't it?" Viola smirked. Her Froslass had the same smirk, mocking and belittling. "I won't judge if you forfeit. A photographer should know when the settings won't work. A trainer should know when to give up."

Ash glared at them. He noticed his friends' and Pikachu's worried expressions, and Alexa's sarcastic chuckle. He neglected them and turned to his distressed Pokémon. "Can you still continue, Pidgeot?" he asked in concern.

"Y-y-ye-yes," Pidgeot groaned in a hoarse voice.

Another hailstone pelted her. She winced, and that churned Ash's stomach. He nearly considered forfeiting. Perhaps he was still inexperienced; perhaps he was still weak; perhaps he was way out of this league; but then, just then, he noticed, Pidgeot's frozen body glow. The glistening frost around her was almost gone. The Hail pummelling on her was melting flickeringly with a hissing sound. The ice beneath her cratered. Water dripped down her in streams, pooling in that deepening crater. She was using Heat Wave on herself.

Ash chuckled to himself. She wasn't giving up, and so wasn't he. The battle was far from over.

"Your Pidgeot's got some moves," Viola said. "What a pity though. Froslass, Blizzard, again." She jabbed a fist. "End her this time."

"Oh, Yeah? There's no way you're winning this." Ash thrust his open palm out. "Pidgeot, let's show them what we got. Blow it back with Hurricane."

Pidgeot rose fearlessly. A robust wing flap. The thawed water flung off her feathers. She swished into the air in a snap, and flailed her wings. A Hurricane stormed at the incoming squall.

Gusty wind vortex clashed with frosty wind currents.

Hurricane forced forward; Blizzard retreated.

Blizzard pushed ahead; Hurricane fell back.

Both attacks brawled with each other, and the chain continued. Neither faltered nor submitted.

"Keep it up, Pidgeot. You can do this!"

"Don't let them win," Viola yelled.

Two boisterous cries. The attacks bolstered, and consumed the entire area.

The Hurricane's gales, rugged like cheap jute ropes whipped Ash's face. His skin welted. The force was shoving him behind. His cap flew off, and his hair roared like wildfire. He gritted his teeth. His cheeks fluttered, saliva sputtering out of his mouth. He jammed his legs between the box's grills, clamped his arms around it, and held his ground. "P-Pidgeot… d-don't give up-p."

A violent screech, and an even violent wing flap. Hurricane cleaved through Blizzard and rammed into Froslass.

"Now, Heat Wave!"

Pidgeot jerked her wings and blasted scorching radiation at her foe. Froslass collapsed down and screamed in pain, the Heat Wave sinking into her icy body.

The spreading heat melted the ice. The battlefield's glacial mass thinned unevenly. Water streamed and puddled into the random depressions. Just then, the clouds cleared out. The Hail ended.

"Quick, Double Team," Viola ordered.

Wincing on her back, Froslass multiplied herself into dozens of copies. The copies scampered across the arena, concealing the real one.

Pidgeot turned her head at Ash, a sardonic glint in her eyes.

Ash grinned. "Air Slash."

Pidgeot nodded. She soared up, heaved herself, and launched compressed air currents. Her attack cut through the copies and struck the real one hovering at the edge of the battlefield. Froslass crashed into the wall.

"Way to go, Pidgeot!" Ash cried.

"Keen Eye." Viola snorted.

"Got that right," Ash said. "What'dya say? Who needs to forfeit now?"

Viola scoffed. "You know what, Ash? A good photographer always calculates for the worst light."

"Huh?" Ash tipped his head. "What does that mean?"

"Why don't I just show you? Froslass, set the equipment up."

Froslass rose. There were burn mark all over her mask, and scratches all over her pristine cloak. She scowled at Pidgeot menacingly and used Double Team again.

Pidgeot barraged Air Slashes at the copies, but her attacks simply passed through their ghastly bodies. Even with her ability, none struck.

The copies scurried and formed concentric circles in chains. They held each other's hands like they assembled for a voodoo ceremony. Then, they sang in an obnoxious harmony, chanting words Ash couldn't interpret.

Pidgeot didn't let up though. She continued to assail Air Slashes at the copies, but her attempts were rendered vain. It was as if the real Froslass mysteriously vanished from there.

The Froslass-es' voices grew louder. Winds started to blow. White orbs sprouted in the spatula-like hands of all the copies. The light from them was dazzling. Ash shielded his eyes against his jacket sleeve's denim folds.

There was again a drop in the temperature, but it was negligible compared to the glacial abuse before. In a moment or two, crackling sounds joined the warbling sounds. Ash somewhat recognized those crackles. They sounded similar to when his Wartortle used Ice Beam to construct a flamboyant dais for Totodile's last performance at Assumption Island. He wondered if Froslass was using Ice Beam too.

About a minute had passed, and the sounds ebbed. Ash peeked a little with squinted eyes: blurry whiteness. The stale smell of ice wafted again. He opened his eyes hesitantly. The battlefield seemed to sparkle. He shot a confused glance at Pidgeot soaring in the air. She rolled her head sharing the same confused look.

"Lost your composure, Ash?" Viola landed a hand on her hip.

"You got me, all right? What is all this?" Ash's eyes swept across the giant rectangular ice columns Froslass had erected all over the field. They were at least fifteen of them, towering several feet high. Their bodies were multi-faceted, almost jewel-like. Each surface resembled a glassy mirror, reflecting the lucent light from the bulbs, increasing the area's overall brightness. Pointed spikes branched out of the columns' peaks like royal crowns. It was quite fanciful. If it were an ice museum, Ash would've thoroughly appreciated the craft.

"It does look good, I'll give you that," Ash said. Even their positioning was fanciful. If Viola and he were giants, the field could've easily served them as a chessboard. The ice terrain with the random water puddles—the board, and the columns—the pieces. While Ash had his pieces scattered all over, launching a full-scale attack, Viola worked a more defensive strategy, moving only her pawns and wingers, holding her major powers at standby.

"Watch and learn," Viola said. "Froslass!"

Like the wary king of the politic game, the icy ghost hovered back and took shelter behind the central vanguards on Viola's end of the field.

Ash's lips twisted faintly. They could try all their tricks, but they'd only work if the attacks hit. The Hail was gone, and Pidgeot was fast, very fast. "You never learnt your own advice, have you?"

"Cocky, huh?" Viola's eyebrow curved. "Let's see how far that takes you."

"All the way towards victory. Pidgeot, bring her out with Air Slash."

Fluttering her wings, Pidgeot launched discs of air at the glassy columns. A few parts dented, and a few chunks whittled, but none connected her foe. Froslass scuttled, dodging them like a frisky rodent in a maze.

"Keep it up, Pidgeot. We'll get her at least once."

Pidgeot swooshed ahead, blasting Air Slash after Air Slash. The columns fissured and ice continued to chip off their edges; but again, Froslass managed to dodge all attacks.

"Ice Beam," Viola called.

Time for some physical attacks. "Steel Wing! Cut right through it!"

Pidgeot spun on her beak. Her chromium wings minced through the sparkling beam; ice fragments flung in all directions. And as she drove forward, Viola snapped her fingers.

Flash!

Pidgeot flinched. Ice Beam engulfed her.

"Pidgeot!"

The beam got stronger and bulkier, glaciating Pidgeot. When it ceased, a large chunk of ice was wrapped around her. She gravitated. Fell on a column. Its pointed spike shattered the ice and pierced into her body. Pidgeot tumbled, scraping against the column's rough edges.

"That was a cheap shot!" Ash roared at Viola.

"How'dya claim that?" Viola took a wide stance. Only her face was visible through the cramped gaps between the columns. "Flash is a legitimate move. Is it not?"

Ash gritted his teeth, realizing how he waltzed right into her trap. He cast a glance at his fallen Pokémon. She lay shivering between two ice columns with raw gashes on her body. Blood tainted ice shards and feathers scattered around her.

Ash's grip on the railing tightened. He should have seen it coming. The decoy of the columns. Viola's confidence. Froslass's stealthy movements. All. All of them. Each one of… wait a minute. His brows knitted closer. There was no way Flash should've worked. Pidgeot had Keen Eye. So how? He raised his head. There was a smirk on Viola's face. He looked around. Froslass was working on the damaged columns, meticulously crafting them back to shape. Not an inch seemed different.

It's slowly starting to make sense to Ash. Those columns. They must've reflected Flash. Converged it into a single strong beam. The darkness. It must've made the light abrupt. Threw Pidgeot off. At that much intensity, no ability could've protected her. Yes. Viola calculated for everything beforehand. Even before the match began. Even before she knew Pidgeot's ability. She outsmarted him, again. He shook his head, impressed. "That was a good move, Viola."

"Oh? So you figured it out." Viola cocked her head. "Good for you."

"We'll beat it too." Ash swung his arms. He looked at Pidgeot. She had warmed herself up using Heat Wave. She stood, her talons clawing into the ice sheet. Blood streaked from the gashes on her body. She shook her head, eyes ignited in wrath. She too didn't like that low blow. Flapping her wings, his flying type screeched her declaration of vengeance, and shot into the air. "Pidgeot, keep up your speed. Don't let Froslass spot you."

Ash's Kanto bird swooshed around the arena; her body nearly invisible at her supersonic speed.

"No use," Viola said. "Flash, and Ice Beam."

Flash!

Pidgeot flinched again. Ice Beam shot at her. It connected, and she dropped down; but luckily, she pulled herself up before falling into another spike.

Ash released a breath in relief.

"Froslass has mastered this technique, Ash," Viola said. "Every spot in here is covered. There is no way around it, unless… your Pidgeot is faster than light itself."

Swishing around, Pidgeot fired her Air Slashes. Froslass evaded them with ease, and the columns remained intact. But she refused to give in and carried on with her assault.

Ash frowned at the columns. Air Slash was too weak to destroy them. Getting close was not an option. Flash would blind her. Blind her bad. That's it! Blind her, an idea struck his mind. He smirked. "Viola, if there is no way around your strategy then you'd have gotten your flag status long ago. How many times did they reject you again?"

"You snobby little fuck. How dare—"

"Ahem, ahem. Gym Leader, you get your first warning for profanity."

"Shut up, Britney." Viola stomped her foot. "This isn't an official battle." She scowled at Ash, grinding her teeth. "Come at me, you runt. I'll whoop your ass six ways from Sunday."

Ash grinned. Viola was right where he wanted. "Pidgeot, Extreme Speed into Froslass."

"Pff, Froslass is a ghost type." Viola scoffed, not bothering to call a counter. "Didn't your almighty gold license come with a basic handbook?"

"Nope, it came with a message: watch where your mouth goes or you'll have to bite your own words," Ash ridiculed as he watched Pidgeot get closer. "Now follow up with Steel Wing on those columns."

Viola's face turned pallid. "Quick, Flash!"

"Too late. Shut your eyes and stay close to the columns!"

Flash failed. Pidgeot rammed her wings into the columns with blind eyes. Crack! Crack! Crack! The columns began to fracture.

Viola gritted her teeth. "Ice Beam, now!"

"Spin on your beak and keep using Steel Wing."

Froslass shot her Ice Beams. With her acrobatic movements, blindly spinning like a drill, Pidgeot aimlessly bashed her silvery wings into the columns, cleaved through the beams, and bashed into the columns again.

Bam! Bam! Bam! One by one the columns collapsed. Bam! Bam! Bam! Each tumbled over the other like disturbed domino chips.

"Let's go, Pidgeot!" Ash punched the air.

Pidgeot opened her eyes, and charged straight at Froslass. Her face was bitter with rage.

Viola frowned. "Wait for it."

Pidgeot got closer. Viola snapped her fingers. "Fling."

"No!" Ash's breath burst in.

Froslass crouched her head, grabbed one of Pidgeot's talons, spun her in circles, and using that momentum, flung her into oblivion. Pidgeot crashed into a frozen tree. Icicles broke down from the leaves and fell on her.

With a devious grin, Froslass then followed up with a brutal Ice Beam, her strongest and most powerful yet. An enormous chunk of ice cemented Pidgeot to that tree.

"Pidgeot!"

"Finish her with Hyper Beam." Viola roared gutturally.

Ash paled. "Get out of there!"

Needles. Nimble-sharp, tapered down to the thickness of an atom. Needles. Hundreds of them, painstakingly lanced their girth into her body. Needles. Evil and haunting, brought along a raw quality of pain that knew no end nor limit.

She often prized herself in ignoring pain, like a lifeless rock, numb and stoic to any superficial force, proceeding forward with detached senses. That seemed impossible anymore. Conscious forced itself into the rock in her, giving birth to one and only one sense: pain—excruciating that too.

Her vision was black, like the very state of her own mind, stuck in a deep abyss, decorated by sickness and suffering. There seemed to be no hope, yet she clung on to a lull of it. Hope that she could endure this long enough. See it through.

There was a fleck of light in the distance, a tiny dot, a guide to her escape. Her hope strengthened. The light expanded, swelled like an inflating balloon, then moulded into something strange. Mysteriously shapeless like running water, only it was red, not colourless. Four limbs and one head jutted out. Two orbed eyes popped out. Cuneate fangs pierced out. Her mind instantly recognized it. It was Pain, the mortal form of it. It took a step closer, bent lower, grinned wider, and then jeered at her. Acid-dipped knives stabbed into her.

Jeering and jeering, Pain then materialized a cylindrical vial in hand. Dangled it. Blue liquid swashed in it. Serenity radiated from it. She could feel it, taste and smell it even, just couldn't touch it. She knew that was the cure. The acclaimed elixir. The end to all her torment. She wanted it. Wanted it badly. So badly that she could kill for it.

She crawled forward, not knowing how; dragged her body through the empty space, she did not understand what. Her body pained like there were blisters all over, and then some gravelly surface ruptured those blood-pus pockets. Her tongue was a desert, her lungs were scrunched sponges, and the only water bled down her beak in threads of spittle. Her throat choked. She could pass out at any moment, but she wouldn't. She would fight it. One step at a time. Just like her trainer taught her: 'never to give up at any time.'

Decades seemed to have passed. She held onto her last breath, and fell at Pain's shapeless feet. One step done. She then raised her head, achingly; her eyes dead set on the vial, eagerly. She pushed herself up on her spasming wings. The vial was almost in her beak. She could hear the bubbles fizz. One last push, she told herself, and then threw herself up carelessly. Her beak clinked against the vial's dull glass. There was happiness in her eyes. She opened her beak to take a bite. Done. Her last step. She'd be free of this torture. She could battle agai… the vial slipped from Pain's hand. The glass shattered. The elixir vaporized like gas, and so did her lull of hope. She looked at Pain with raging eyes. Its jeer widened. And only then she realized, it was all a sadistic rhetoric.

She dropped down with a thud.

Her breath conceded.

It was all over.

She lost.

"…Pidgeot…" a voice rang in her head, a direction to follow, a pledge towards paradise.

It was Ash. The battle held his pride at stake. Not just his, hers too—her growth. The blood, sweat, and tears she had invested at Assumption Island. The crusades she waged against the dragons there. If a mere Gym Leader could take her down, her struggles would mean nothing, and she didn't deserve a spot in Ash's team, just like how she didn't deserve that elixir. Darn it! It hurt to even think.

"…get out…of…there…" the voice rang again. "…you can do this! Get up…"

His never give up attitude, his will to persevere in the gravest of situations, and that grin he carried even in the gravest situations. He was such an ideal person. A defeated breath escaped her nostrils. I'm sorry, Ash. I'm so, so sorry. I can't. I just can't. Her brain leaked tears.

"You can," said a hoarse voice. "Remember why," it said again, and then faded.

Why? A question which answered every problem in life. Why should she get up? Why? It was simple: for Ash. Everything she did was for him. Ash. The gentle heart who cared for her like his own family. He gave her the respect she deserved and the love she was entitled to. He gave her a home, gave her friends, gave her everything she could ever want. Never a hiccup in his kindness. Never.

Vivid memories they shared together flashed before her. From their first meeting in the Viridian forest to their ardent training at Assumption Island. The time they spent together. The time they spent apart. Every memory came back to her like a reinvigorating time-lapse.

A tiny ruckle escaped from her beak, a shiny chuckle at those bitter-sweets.

This was for him. Only him.

A spurring fervour seeped into her soul, a prodigious power which blessed her with uncanny strength. It had an Ash-like warmth and a heavenly feel to it. Her blackened vision became white, pure and pristine. Pain's reddish form was now blue. Its jeer was now a hearty smile, and there was compassion in its eyes. It peeled its mask off. A brilliant light blazed. It wasn't Pain as she thought. It was Bond. The bond she shared with Ash. It smiled and gave her a nod, then disappeared.

Pidgeot glowed. Her scratches and bruises were gone. She could stand again. The aches in her body vanished, or perhaps she developed a slave's tolerance to it, like pain was just a birth defect, and she lived in its backyard her whole life.

And then, she was out of that abyss.

Her senses returned. Her shut eyelids sensed something bright and hot. Something dangerous, ready to destroy her.

Her muscles flexed. Heat surged within her. The ice encasing her began to melt at a lightning pace.

Her ears twitched. They registered a flap of Bonnie eyelashes. The sound was ploppy, like they were drenched in water.

"PIDGEOT!"

I will fight. Her ice shackles broke. I will fight. Her nerves electrified. I will fight. Till I collapse.

Her eyes shot open.

Boom!

The earth quaked. Agitated tree fragments and heaved ice chunks rushed into the vacuum the blast created. The shutters from the ceiling rattled. The trainer boxes rumbled. The seats in the dugout jumped like they had a mind of their own. Smoke and dust erupted and filled up the arena. Everyone coughed, ducked, held onto something secure. Several vents opened up in the walls. Exhaust fans whirred, sucking in the smoke.

"Missed me?" Pidgeot sent a message to Ash through the mysterious link forged by their bond. She only heard stories of this from Pikachu and Charizard, and now she's experiencing it, for the first time.

"Pidgeot!" Ash's excited voice echoed in her head. "I knew you'd escape."

Pidgeot twisted her beak, gliding high up, away from anybody's view. "Had second thoughts?"

"Nope, not once."

In darkness and the gradually clearing smoke and dust, Viola could be seen grinning, victoriously. She thought she won. Pidgeot smirked at her. She would show her what winning was. "Shall we get on to finishing this thing, then?"

"Yup, now's the chance," Ash said. "Steel Wing!"

Pidgeot vanished, like she teleported.

Swish!

Swish!

Swish!

Three feral strikes; three flashes of silvery lights.

The dust and smoke had nearly cleared out, only a little remained, predominantly over the battlefield. Ash's friends had worried expressions, and Viola's grin turned into a smirk. "Britney, make the call. The battle's over."

"H-hold on, Britney." Ash breathed heavily, smiling. "We can wait, can't we?"

Viola shot a suspicious glance at Ash. Then nodded at Britney.

Soon, the exhaust fans sucked in the last drafts of smoke. Destroyed trees and concrete clustered on either side of a cleared path. It led from the battlefield's centre to the end of the arena's wall. There was a massive char on it. On the battlefield, which was now muddy terrain with shallow water puddles and broken ice chunks, Froslass lay fallen, wincing and growling at the soaring Pidgeot.

"Impossible!" Viola cried.

"Yippee!" Bonnie jumped, back into her barbaric mode. "Pidgeot is awesome!"

Pidgeot's eyes gleamed at the compliment.

"What'dya know, the battle's still on," Ash huffed, gripping the railing for support.

Viola balled her fists. "You…"

"Froslass needs time to recover."

"Got it." Pidgeot clapped her wings, waves of scorching heat radiated from her.

"Froslass, move, to the trees!" Viola commanded.

The ice-ghost type tried to lift herself, but flinched from the Hyper Beam's after-effect, and fell back. She screamed in pain as the Heat Wave did a number on her. The leftover ice chunks thawed out, adding more water to the muddy pools.

"Don't waste time. Finish her with Sky Attack!"

Pidgeot dashed a lap in the air, accelerating; her speed was faster than ever.

She dashed another lap.

Then another.

And another.

A zipping sound sizzled as she passed by the tress. Their branches and leaves clipped with each circuit. An azure cocoon outlined her frame; charged air currents circulated in it.

"Now, Pidgeot!"

In a funnelling trajectory, Pidgeot drilled forward, spinning on her beak. Her body glowed blue. Her motion stirred the air into a frenzied tornado. Froslass was panting, still immobile. Pidgeot drilled, drilled, and drilled, and then, wrecked into Froslass with a loud blast.

"All right!" Ash punched the air. Celebratory cheers joined him from the side-lines.

Pidgeot, drained and exhausted, landed on the mud with a flap of her wings. She panted, sweat leaking from her crest. She cracked her head left and right, her eyes anchored on the billowing smoke from Froslass.

Viola clapped softly. "You're a good team, Ash. I'll give you that. But…" her nose took a scornful tilt. "Is that enough?"

"Nope." Ash exhaled tiredly, a winning grin on his face. "I'd never underestimate you again. I know she's not out."

"Correct." Viola thrust her chest out. "Froslass!"

An evil cry howled through the smoke. Pidgeot's face tightened. Froslass slowly rose from the crater under it. Cold gases vented out of her paranormal body. Her cloak fluttered violently. The smoke quickly cleared out, revealing her bowed head, scratches and bruises all over her mask. She snapped her head up, her eyes bloody.

Pidgeot crouched, exhaling breath clouds through her nostrils. She will take her down.

"Froslass, no more chances; to the trees."

Froslass dropped her scowl and disappeared into the mini forest on the other side of the destroyed path. Pidgeot's eyes followed her tracks.

"Viola, I've learned a lot from you today," Ash said, his voice weaker than usual. "But it's time you learn something from me," he breathed out. "Pidgeot, kill the lights."

Pidgeot slapped a wing, then the other. Two slashes of air, two destructive air blades. Shatter by shatter, the bulbs exploded in tides.

"Are you nuts?" Viola's voice exclaimed. "How will you attack?"

"You'll see," Ash said. "Hurricane!"

Her eyelids closed. Her ear feathers twitched. Flailing her robust wings, she set forth savage air currents. They cycled into a turbulent Hurricane, and this time, they were much harsher and much fiercer.

The ceiling's shutters rattled. The metal roof slat had long flown away, amassing into the Hurricane along with various debris. Clemont gripped Bonnie's arm, ducking behind the vibrating seats, praying they wouldn't fly off too. He could hear their bolts loosen, but he prayed anyway. His lemon hair dripped cold water on his palm. Muddy water drizzled all around. For a moment, he thought of opening his umbrella which could cover a family of ten, but he knew better than that. Serena, holding Pikachu, and Alexa, holding Helioptile, were beside him, all pressed into each other's bodies as close as possible, as safe as possible.

"Stay down, Bonnie!" He pulled his sister back, who had attempted to sneak a glance at the battlefield as if she could see something. It was pitch black, Pidgeot had killed the last remaining light. Dedenne then jumped out of Bonnie's clutches and slipped inside his jumpsuit. He seemed scared, perhaps more at Bonnie's actions than Pidgeot's Hurricane.

"Argh! The place is tearing down into pieces," he heard Serena shout; though she was next to him, it sounded like a whisper, overpowered by the destructive sounds around: rocks and pebbles bashed against the walls, trees creaked, winds howled like horror movie openers, and there were a multitude of other sounds Clemont couldn't even differentiate. All in all, it was loud and chaotic, as if the sky fell down and struck the earth with a mighty rage.

"We should be fine as long as we remain here," he screamed, wiping the water off his chin with the back of his hand; and though he couldn't see, he felt the coarse grit in it.

Suddenly, a loud bam came from above. Something struck the rattling shutters. Something big and hefty, perhaps a boulder? Clemont thought, then he heard the shutters rattle louder. A thin strip of light penetrated inside. The shutters then moved apart, rattling, and the light strip kept widening, slowly illuminating the area.

Clemont hesitantly raised his head. His glasses had mud stains all over. He quickly removed, cleaned them against his wet jumpsuit, put them back on, and peeped through the narrow gap between two chairs. Mangled twigs, branches, and even a few trees joined in the Hurricane's pitiless gyrations. It violated every part of the arena, preying on everything available. He squinted, trying to catch sight of Ash and Viola. They held their ground with identical yet different faces. Both had their teeth clenched, but Viola had a frown while Ash had a smirk. The difference in their confidence was quite evident. His eyes skimmed across, searching for Pidgeot. He didn't find her, but found a bluish halo-like band circling over the battlefield. That should be her, he guessed.

A deep groaning sound in the distance grabbed his attention. He turned towards it. It was Froslass. The Hurricane pinned her to the wall, the air currents battering into her body.

"Let's go, Pidgeot!" Ash hollered.

The blue halo intensified, and a fiery vein outlined it. A second later, a white light blinded Clemont. He ducked, shut his eyes, and protected Bonnie with his body. No matter what, her safety came first. A loud blast sounded, and the ground tremored again.

He heard the Hurricane weaken, then a giant pool of water plunked from above, drenching him and his companions in muddy water. But he didn't look up, his gaze was locked down, waiting for the whole turmoil to cease. Torn leaves and mud stuck to his face and lips; it had a pleasant earthy smell, but tasted bland like raw potatoes.

A little while passed and everything was dead silent like he was at a funeral. A sizzling sound hissed and a slight smell of burnt toast wafted in the air.

"Pika!"

Clemont flicked his head up, snooping through the same narrow gap between the chairs. Pidgeot hunched before Ash, tired and gasping, but her eyes were sharp, ready for another round. Where does she get that energy? he wondered, but to his surprise, even Ash was in a similar state.

The shutters above were half-open, and light rushed in through the ceiling wrecked in the first round. It was like the first rays of sun after a relentless storm. Clemont panned his gaze to the wall's end. Froslass lay swirly-eyed between parched bark and seared leaves.

"F-Fro-Froslass is u-unable to battle," said the grumpy voice of the referee, covered in mud and leaves. "Pidgeot and the challenger, Ash are the victors."

A yellow flash appeared beside him, and the next second, Pikachu was celebrating with Ash and Pidgeot, all with cheesy grins on their faces. Serena dashed towards Ash. Bonnie escaped his grip and scuttled ahead. Dedenne jumped out of his jumpsuit and waddled behind.

"There goes my interview," Alexa sighed and stood. "I thought my sister would win for sure."

"Y-yeah, Froslass was tough, all right," Clemont said, getting back on his feet, ridding the leaves and muddy blotches on his wet jumpsuit.

"It's a shame she lost," Alexa said as Helioptile slithered up her back and settled around her neck. She then excused herself and moved towards her sister who was recalling her defeated Pokémon.

Clemont shook his head. His heart still pounded from all that excitement of the battle. Tons of thoughts flowed through him, but he stowed them aside for now. He had to congratulate Ash and Pidgeot first for that monumental performance they put up. He grabbed his oversized backpack beside him and trudged towards the scar-faced trainer and the applauding fans gathered around him.

An hour had passed and the group stood before the gym's entrance, bidding farewell to the Gym Leader and her journalist sister.

"I'm sorry for all the destruction again." Ash scratched behind his head embarrassedly, apologizing for like the third time.

"That's cool, Ash. The battle was worth it," Viola said. "Anyways, have you decided which flag you're going after first?"

"Umm…" Ash glanced at Clemont, but the lemon-blond was too busy keeping Bonnie away from frolicking around. "I don't know. I haven't checked the leaders yet."

"Then might I suggest that you challenge Grant in Cyllage City? He's the newest Gym Leader to get flag status. He's strong and it'll be a good start before you go on to challenge the stronger ones."

Ash grinned. "Then Cyllage City it is!" He punched the air.

"Pi Pikachu!" the yellow mouse chimed from his shoulder.

"Hold on, Ash," Serena said. "Cyllage City is on the other side of the region and a long way from here. Besides…" she lowered her head uneasily.

Ash's eyes widened. "Your showcase! Of course! It's in a week, isn't it?"

"Yes." A thin smile formed on Serena's lips. "In Aquacorde Town."

"Then Aquacorde Town it is!" Ash punched the air again. "Now let's step on it, you guys, or we'll miss even the leftover food at the Centre," he said, and then took off in the Pokémon Centre's direction. "Bye, Alexa. Bye, Viola!" he yelled from a distance, waving a hand.

"Take care, Ash. All the best!" Viola yelled.

Serena and Bonnie looked at each other and grinned with a naughty glint in their eyes. They nodded.

"You heard him," Serena said, clocking backwards, her hands crossed behind her.

"Don't fall back." Bonnie joined the honey-blonde's back-walking.

Both shot a playful wink at Clemont and bounded ahead.

"Wait for me!" Clemont shouted, but the girls were too quick. "Thanks for everything, Viola and Alexa," he hurried, and took off with his heavy bag, huffing and puffing.

As the four human figures diminished in size, Viola hunched her shoulders with a sigh. "Hope Ash beats Grant. I won't hear the end of it if that asshole hears of my defeat."

"Is that why you suggested him?" Alexa asked.

"Why else?" Viola raised a brow. "He's the reason why I didn't get my flag status. He beat me both times in the qualifying tournament," she grunted. "Argh! I hate that son of a bitch."

Alexa chuckled, petting her Helioptile around her neck. "Yet you're engaged to him."

Viola rolled her eyes. "That's different."

"Whatever you say." Alexa crossed her arms. "But your battle with Ash was a good one. I haven't seen you so fired up in so long." She cocked her head. "And you used Froslass too."

"I know right. There was something in him which made me go all out. I just wanted to beat him so badly."

"But you still lost."

"Did you even see the battle? Have you seen what that kid pulled off?"

"Yep, his bond with his Pokémon couldn't have been stronger," Alexa said.

"Mm-hmm. I haven't seen that phenomenon in years, let alone from a teenager," Viola said. "Grant has some heavy rock climbing to do if he wants to beat Ash. That kid's special. You never know, he might even be the next prodigy."

"I'm with you on that."

Author's Note:

Tell me this wasn't one of the best battles you've read. Lol, perhaps not, but I tried to make it as different as I could. Hope you had fun reading as much as I had writing it.

This is my first time writing a battle, so I'd love to hear what you'll thought of it. Oh, yeah, that aura-bond thing, it won't happen every time. I just thought to give you'll a brief glimpse of how it'll be, so I added that. It also made the battle much more interesting in a way. So, two birds with one stone.

NOTE: Longer chapters aren't really working for me. They tend to make me anxious and I keep doing more drafts than necessary, and thereby delaying the process. I've decided that henceforth, the chapters will be short, about 4-6k words.

Btw, stay home, stay safe, and stop watching movies and anime, and read some fucking books!

Any review is much appreciated. Thank you and have a nice day ahead.

"Gotta Bond 'em all"