Ash's Room

[ashwantstobattle]

WHO: Ash, Pikachu and you!
WHERE: Ash's room - sorta
WHAT: Calibrations
WHEN: June-July 10th
WARNINGS: Oh you know, child death, violence, child endangerment...


The door to Ash's room leads into, well, Ash's room almost exactly as it is laid out back home. It looks mostly like a ten year old's room should except it's far too clean and it gives the feeling like the owner of this room is away from it for long periods at a time.

The Dresser is adorned with various trophies, certificates and awards. The diploma he received for completing Professor Rowan's Summer School course, two soothe bells( CW: animal/pokemon abuse ) he won at the Heart Home City Tag battle competition, There's a plaque bearing the words 'Indigo League top Sixteen' another that says 'Battle Frontier with gold little pins pressed into it, Half a Ribbon, several small cases containing pins of various colors and sizes, a gold trophy sporting a gold ball with wings attached to it, another trophy that looks like a golden tower, and what looks like a home made medal(CW: torture) with '2nd' written on it.

Each one connects and activates a very specific memory related to the item. There's a loft bed off to the side and the sheets are patterned with little red and white balls. There's an odd bear like plush somewhere across from the loft bed and small television sitting on top a tv stand, the remote( CW: Child Death) resting on top of it. Above the Loft bed is a shelf littered with various things, most notable though is a broken red and white ball that looks like it might be an alarm clock.

On the desk attached to the bed there are three clear glass orbs(Child death, Drowning). One will glow blue when picked, one will glow Orange and the last will glow yellow. Picking up any of the three will spark the same memory. There are a pair of gloves (CW: Death) draped over the chair tucked into the desk, and a model of something that looks a lot like the Eifel Tower( CW:Child endangerment, Near death experience ). Also sitting atop the desk is a small stone(CW: very angry birds, bike theft Near Death Experience) that looks a little out of place.

There a few bat like creatures dangling in a corner of the room and among them is an outlier- an odd dragon-like creature or more pterodactyl like creature(CW: Near Death experience, carnivorous animals/Pokemon) dangles in the center and a small orange and yellow, bat like creature( CW: child death, altitude sickness ) with a V crest on its head hangs off to the side.

towards the ceiling are very strange looking creatures that look like letters flittering and orbiting around each other. There are only about five but it's enough the real Ash is looking a little uncertainly at them. "Unown." He breathes, watching him closely as they swirl and dance about his ceiling. "What are they doing here?"

Pikachu is watching them as well but his ears twitch as he hears the door open and turns to face their visitor.

Comments

[ashwantstobattle]

"They can read people's minds and alter reality according to the thoughts and feelings of the-um..." He frowns in thought as he tries to remember. "I think Professor Oak called it a host?" Ash states as he pulls his Pokedex out of his pocket and holds it up to the Unown.

"Unown, the Symbol Pokémon. Unown use telepathy to communicate with each other. Many different shapes of Unown have been discovered." The mechanical voice explains.

"They're supposed to be really rare but Pikachu and I have run into the Unown a few times now, right buddy?" Ash asks Pikachu who nods, attention back on the Unown and squinting suspiciously.

[newmemorywhodis]

"They...change the world?" Link says, frowning. It's a strange concept to get his head around - that these odd little creatures could just change things, if they wanted.

He looks around the room. It doesn't feel like reality has been altered. But...maybe just looking wouldn't be enough to tell?

He reaches out for one of the objects nearest to him - a gold trophy. Does it feel real?

[ashwantstobattle]

"Yeah, but they don't seem to be doing anything right now. I just wish I knew what they were doing in my room." Ash frowns up at them in concern. Pikachu lets out a small sigh. He wouldn't like to know, actually, because he's not convinced it won't involve Ash putting himself in some kind of danger as usually happens when Mythical or Legendary Pokemon turn up.

Picking up the Orange League trophy cause the Unown to become agitated as they start to twirl and twist as reality begins to distort and the sound of thousands of cheering fans comes flooding in as the scene begins to change and something like a sports field takes over Ash’s room, stretching the floor and the walls falling away. The stadium is packed with cheering. There's a giant score board off to the side showing an image of Ash, his opponent, and ten darkened pictures of odd creature. A picture of Pikachu is lit up as is a picture of a bizarre dragon-like creature.

Out on the field is a yellow-orange dragon stands patiently, watching Ash and Pikachu from afar while man with dark hair wearing tight dark red pants stands behind the creature.

"I guess it's up to you and me now, Pikachu." He tells his partner.

"Pika." Pikachu nods, sparks coming from his cheeks before he runs out to the field.

"Oh, I hope Ash knows what he's doing..." A young girl voices from a bench nearby, the small egg shaped creature in her arms trilling happily like an infant might.

"The Challenger's final Pokemon is Pikachu!" A voice booms out, commentating the battle. "Has it recharged its batteries from that battle with Ditto or is it running too low on power to defeat Dragonite?"

"Let's win it, Pikachu!" Ash calls out.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu responds with enthusiasm.

"Dragonite, let's go!" Ash's opponent cries.

"Pikachu, use your agility!" Ash commands. Pikachu gives a noise to affirm and starts to move faster, dashing this way and that, moving much too fast for a normal person to keep up with.

"Dragonite! Stop that Pikachu!" The man calls out. Dragonite roars and whips it's tail up, colliding with Pikachu and sending him flying.

"Whoa! Just a flick of its tail and Dragonite send Pikachu Skyward!" the MC announces as Pikachu crashes into the dirt in front of Ash.

"Pikachu!" Ash says in concern. Pikachu sits up and shakes his head. "Pikachu, I know you can do it!" Ash encourages.

"Hyper beam!" The opponent calls out. Ash and Pikachu look up at Dragonite who looks like they're preparing to launch some kind of powerful attack at the wan red dots of light seem to be forming near Dragonite's mouth."

[newmemorywhodis]

This...is one of those pokemon battles Ash keeps talking about?

There's a few things that Link is immediately struck by. The fact that the battling animals keep inexplicably waiting for orders before doing anything. The fact that they wait for the other creature to finish what they're doing, before responding in kind.

The fact that this still, most definitely looks like violence. And it is apparently...entertainment? For all of these people watching?

As they emerge from the memory, Link takes a moment to just blink.

"...Your battles are weird."

[ashwantstobattle]

Dragonite continues to fire up its attack and yet somehow, Pikachu manages to dodge, using his tail as a springboard to get out of the way. He grips onto Dragonite's Thin horns and lets out a powerful thunder attack at Ash's prompting. The World goes white at the memory melts away, the Unown settling back down and the room returning to 'normal.'

"Huh?" Ash shakes his head to clear it. "weird?" He blinks in confusion. To him, it was just normal. He grew up around Pokemon Battles - a lot of things have changed in that time, new discoveries are being made all the time but battles have pretty much stayed the same.

"They're a lot of fun, and the Pokemon usually really love battling in some form." Ash explains.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu agrees.

"Although, I guess it's one thing to watch a Pokemon battle. I'd let you borrow one of mine but they're all back at Professor Oaks." Which wouldn't be much of an issue if they were actually in Pallet town.

[newmemorywhodis]

Link's eyes flicker up towards the Unown. Was that their distortion of reality?

Then he looks back to Ash. And Pikachu, the one who was actually fighting. "You kept waiting." Waiting for orders, waiting for his opponent to complete their attacks.

[ashwantstobattle]

Thankfully, for everyone involved, The Unown on Ash's ceiling are not the real things-they're just illusions in his dream. Probably. If they were the real thing Pikachu would be much more agitated. Probably.

"Pi?" Pikachu's ears twitch and he looks surprised at the statement before looking at Ash.

"Well of course. Those are the rules in a competition battle- it's not like we were actually in danger." The Pokemon Trainer explains. "Like I said before, Pokemon battles aren't the same as fighting."

[newmemorywhodis]

"You...have to wait?" Lin says. Because yes, the idea is still weird.

Even in a friendly spar - something meant for practice, not as a real life-and-death battle - you didn't just sit and wait your turn. There was a rhythm to battle. But it wasn't something that followed a steady, consistent beat.

[ashwantstobattle]

"I guess you don't have to-you don't get disqualified if you don't. It's just the courteous thing to do. At the same time, If you're given an opening you shouldn't waste. There are certain attacks that Pokemon can learn that they can't move immediately after using-such as Hyper Beam." Ash explains.

"Man, it feels like it's been forever since we won the Orange League." Ash comments. "By comparison that was almost the beginning of our journey."

[newmemorywhodis]

Huh. Funny, that Ash thought it had been so long since that memory. Link hadn't thought he looked much younger there at all. Pretty much almost the same age, in fact.

"How long?" He asks, as he starts to idly look around the room again. He's attention is still focused on the trophies and medals, but this time it's the home made medal that he reaches out to touch.

CW: Torture

[ashwantstobattle]

"It's really hard to say for sure-we've been to so many different places since then-it's hard to keep up." Ash explains, Pikachu nodding in agreement. "Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, and Kalos." He ticks them off on his fingers.

Once Link touches the medal the Unown seem to become agitated again, twisting and chanting the eerily as Ash's room distorts. This time a giant tower grows from the floor, the ground drops hundreds of feet below and the sky is red with destruction. There are giant red vines cropping up all over the city below wrecking havoc.

Ash, Pikachu and several other Pokémon are suspended at the very top of the tower, held in place by odd, metal orbs.

“What am I… doing like this?” Ash questions as he comes to and tries to pull his arm free but to no avail. He looks down and sees a Ninja-esque frog suspended below him. “Greninja!” He calls out worriedly.

“Pikaaa.” Pikachu tries to pull out of the restraints off to Ash’s right.

“Pikachu?” He asks and then hears grunts from all the others and glances to his left. “Are all of you okay?” He asks them. They all grunt in response. They seem unharmed.

“Hello, Ash.” A voice from below sounds and Ash looks down to see a young man maybe with dark hair that looks to be about sixteen or seventeen and a tall man with wild orange hair looking up at him.

“Lysandre!” Ash recognizes him. “Alain, what’s going on? Let us go!” He address the teenager who doesn't bother to look at Ash.

“Forgive me for your, regrettably, rough treatment.” Lysandre says calmly watching as Ash struggles against his restraints. “But I can’t release you.”

Ash glances back up and sees a glowing red creature just above them. “Zygarde!” He identifies it. “Alain.” He turns back to the teenager. “What’s this about!?” He demands.

“You see, Ash, you may be one of the Chosen Ones.” Lysandre states. The words get a reaction out of Ash, he looks slightly horrified, slightly sick to his stomach but before he can say anything.

A burst of bright green light comes from all around and converges by the ground somewhere as another Zygarde makes itself known- this one emerald green. Ash, Pikachu, the Pokémon, Lysandre and Alain all watch with fascination as the Green Zygarde makes its way up to the red one.

“Pika?” Pikachu voices.

“So Squishy is-is Zygarde?” Ash realizes. The red Zygarde jumps down to meet the green one and they both fall to the ground below before they begin launching attacks one after the other at each other.

“Yes, Squishy is the Legendary Pokémon that watches over the world and punishes those that dare to disrupt its order.” Lysandre explains. “You are witnessing the rage of Zygarde as well as Team Flare. This world will start over again.” He says proudly. “Soon enough the other Zygarde will come around to our way of thinking. Then it will turn red with rage.”

“No! You’re wrong.” Ash shakes his head harshly. “Squishy would never think like that!”

“Pika Pi-Ika!” Pikachu angrily agrees.

“Alain! What’s going on with all this?” Ash looks at the teenager again. “Say something!” He demands.

“Alain, this is all thanks to you.” Lysandre says, looking out at the destroyed city. “Mega Evolution energy gives us power. The power to control Zygarde.”

There's a short moment allowing both Ash and Alain to look propperly horrified at this news before Lysandre continues.

“The Mega Evolution energy you gathered is proving to be quite useful in destroying this imperfect world.” Lysandre talks about destroying the world almost casually. “Just look; there is no tomorrow for this world. When the sun rises next, it will be brand new-How beautiful the end of this world is. We are truly taking the next step towards peace.”

Alain trembles as he stares out into the destruction, finally his knees give way and he falls onto his hands, staring, horrified at the red tinted city below.

“Alain…” Ash says. Alain lets out a grunt and punches the ground in frustration.

“Maron… Chespie.. Is this the reason I had all those battles?” Alain asks himself. “All of them for THIS!?” He yells angrily, striking the ground again and again and again. “This!? This!?” He repeats the word with every punch to the ground.

“Oh!” Ash says in sudden realization. “That’s it. That’s why Alain did this.”

“For Chespie’s sake. For Maron’s sake too.” Lysandre confirms. “Your wish had pure intent. A truly noble wish indeed.” He glances over at the very Upset Alain who is still wailing on the floor.

“So Ash.” Lysandre turns to the ten year old he has suspended in midair. “I’m going to use your bond phenomenon in service to my new world.”

“Huh?” Ash breaths in, eyes widening with dread.

“You’re able to gain that powerful strength without a keystone-purely through your bond. When I saw that, I was thrilled. Ash, you have shown me there are limitless possibilities with Pokémon, still.” The deranged man explains as two metal drone-like things hover behind him. “And I want that power for myself.”

The drones fly up to where Ash is and fire a beam of the same red mega evolution energy currently controlling the red Zygarde directly at him and Greninja. Ash let out sharp scream of pain. The mega evolution energy encases him and Greninja in a painful red light as the two try desperately to it off.

“The energy from this light is powerful enough to control Zygarde. But now Ash? Now Greninja, I’m also going to control your bond phenomenon.” Lysandre says confidently.

“No way.” Ash denies, his voice laced with pain but still just as determined..

“From this point on, both of you will answer to me.” The man states matter of factly. The strength of the beam hitting Ash and Greninja increases and the two whine in pain.

“PiKa!” Pikachu cries out, unable to do anything to help Ash.

“Noi-!” Noivern says worriedly, followed by concerned noises from all of Ash’s other Pokemon that are being forced to watch their kind hearted trainer struggle in pain, to stubborn to submit to the mind control energy.

As stubborn as Ash is though, he's starting to lose his battle, the pain getting to be just too much for him as his face seems to go blank.

“Lysandre, please stop this!” Alain pleads only to be completely ignored.

“Pikapi!” Pikachu calls out to him. His voice is enough that Ash jerks to full alertness, shocking both Lysandre and Alain.

“There’s no way you’re ever gonna control the two of us.” Ash says definitely, anger clear in his voice.

“You still don’t understand, do you Ash?” Lysandre asks calmly. “When the current world becomes a thing of the past you two will become the Chosen Ones who will guide all of humanity.”

“We’re never gonna become any of that! We’re not ever gonna change!” Ash says angrily. “Alain. I don’t know what happened to you.” He turns back to the teenager. “But you’ve gotta stop all this now. I don’t care about what you’ve done. I-I believe in the Alain I know! I really care about this world. I care about the people and the pokemon in it that call this world home- and you won’t destroy it! No Way!”

At his words a cyclone of water surrounded in blue light bursts into existence, engulfing Ash and Greninja both. “Battle me, Lysandre!” He challenges before letting harsh yell as he pulls against his restraints. Ash’s power breaks through them and as does Greninja who looks a little different now with markings that sort of resemble Ash’s hair.

Ash lands back on solid ground and he and Greninja lands nearby, both stand up at the same exact time, in the same exact position. Ash lets out a sudden noise of pain and starts to fall forward only to have Alain reach out and catch him.

“Ash, no. Are you okay?” He asks.

“Alain?” Ash looks over at him.

“Truly brilliant..” Lysandre chuckles in amazement. “Mega Evolution Energy can’t stop your bond.” At his words though the tower vanishes, the Unown returning everything how it was previously.

This time, Ash doesn't look so excited about the memory and Pikachu is battle ready, cheeks sparking threateningly before he realizes Lysandre is not there.

[newmemorywhodis]

There's a lot, in this memory, that Link doesn't understand. Zygarde. Legendary pokemon. Mega evolution. None of it means anything to him.

But it doesn't really matter, because he doesn't need any of that to understand what had happened. Someone wanted something from Ash, some kind of mysterious power. And was willing to hurt him to try and get it.

Link just looks at Ash. Words aren't his strong suit. But there's clear sympathy on his face, and he reaches out to grasp Ash's shoulder in reassurance.

[ashwantstobattle]

"Pi? Pikaaa...." Pikachu starts, ready to shock Link if he does anything he doesn't like.

"Pikachu don't!" Ash gestures wildly trying to signal that everything's okay. Pikachu relaxes but he's still on all fours and watching Link suspiciously. "We've been through this, not every adult has bad intentions!"

"Pika." Pikachu doesn't sound too convinced but he won't do anything Ash tells him not to. Usually.

"Sorry about that-but no need to worry. Pikachu and I are fine now and Lysandre... well, Zygarde-" Killed him. "...Made sure he can't hurt anyone any more."

[newmemorywhodis]

Link looks at Pikachu. Gives Ash's shoulder a quick squeeze of reassurance, before letting go. He has no wish to distress the small mouse.

"Memories can be hard." Even when you've recovered. Even when there's a hundred years between you, and when it happened.

Sometimes even when those memories are lost to you, and yet the echoes linger on.

[ashwantstobattle]

Ash holds his arms out to Pikachu who readily hops up and lets his trainer hug him tight. If it's a little tighter then usual, Pikachu doesn't complain.

"Yeah." Ash agrees, his voice not quite as chipper. "But if I focus on the bad stuff then I'll miss out on all the really fun stuff so I try not to think about the past too much, ya know?"

"Pikapi..." Pikachu looks up at Ash in concern. Ash might try to pretend that he's fine, but Pikachu can here slight difference in his breathing pattern.

[newmemorywhodis]

Link is silent, for a long moment. Mulling over just what to say. He's not so sure that Ask's approach is really the best one to take. Ignoring painful memories...doesn't do anything to make them go away.

(And sometimes, that pain still lingers even if you do forget. And then you just don't know why it hurts.)

"Good things happen too," he says, in the end. Because a suggestion to maybe remember those bad memories maybe isn't something Ash would really appreciate right now. "Even after the bad."

[ashwantstobattle]

"I know that." Ash says, sounding much too tired for a ten year old boy. "But worrying about the bad stuff that happens isn't going to help anything so why waste the effort?" He questions. "The things is-I've been called that before-Chosen One." he admits, Pikachu watches him closely, still being held onto maybe just a little too tight.

"It was.. back when we were traveling the Orange Islands. There was a legend-Or I guess a prophecy and my name was in it. Ever since then-anytime something happens or the balance of nature get threatened it seems like it's always up to me to fix it."

"Pikapi... Pikachu says worriedly.

"So I like to stay positive and not think too hard about what's already happened."

[newmemorywhodis]

Another glance towards Ash. Chosen One. Not the people ever called Link…and yet, he knows exactly what it is like to be one.

Link doesn’t say anything then. But it’s clear from his expression that he’s sympathetic to Ash’s situation. That he’s listening.

It’s a space, that Ash can use to talk more about it. If he wants to.

[ashwantstobattle]

Ash isn't sure if he wants to talk about it anymore. He doesn't typically talk about the world ending disasters he's faced or the fact sometimes the universe just needs too much from him. He wants to say that he doesn't mind his fate because it lets him meet all sorts of Pokemon but sometimes, just some times, he still wishes his mom hadn't named him Ash.

"You know, when I first left home to start my journey I just wanted to be the world's greatest Pokémon Master. If I want to do that, I have to keep getting stronger and stronger so I can't back down from any challenge." He says with a flicker of his usual determination.

"Pika!" Pikachu agrees with a nod, and he is, of course, here with Ash every step of the way.

"But.. when I left Pallet.. I never thought those challenges would include saving the world." Ash states.

[newmemorywhodis]

If Ash wants to shift the subject, Link won't push. Whether Ash wants to talk is up to him, not Link.

"Pokemon master?" he asks. Mainly because he has no idea what in Hylia's name that is. It sounds like a weirdly aggressive title for someone like Ash to want.

[ashwantstobattle]

"It's what you do where we're from. You turn ten and you get your first Pokemon so you can go on a journey to get stronger and battle other trainers. You don't have to start right at ten, I guess, but that's what I did." Ash explains.

"The strongest trainer in the region is called the Champion and If I can beat them in an official Pokémon League Battle then I become the champion. But I don't want to be just the champion-I want meet and make friends with every kind of Pokemon there is. I want to help them get really strong and learn everything I can about them-Master everything."

[newmemorywhodis]

Link hums. So Ash wants to win a kind of tournament. Link doesn't really have any solid memories of such a thing, but...something about the idea is familiar. Like perhaps Link has seen such tournaments in the past - or participated in them.

"Make friends, get them to fight people?"

[ashwantstobattle]

Ash and Pikachu let out almost identical groans of frustration. "I told you, it's not a fight."

"Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu agrees heatedly.

"Sometimes, there's a lot more on the line than just a badge or a competition but those battles the norm." Ash explains because it's hard to describe the battle with Lysandre as anything but a fight.

[newmemorywhodis]

Looked like a fight to Link. If a weird one, with strange rules that everyone inexplicably followed despite the fact that none of them made sense.

He looks at the other little trophies and winnings. "You won these?" he says, reaching out to poke at the gold pins.

[ashwantstobattle]

Ash watches him a moment but since they aren't going to argue he lets it go and ventures over a little closer, his usual energy returning full force.

"Yeah!" He nods happily. "With the help of all my Pokemon of course, those symbols are from when we challenged the Battle Frontier." He explains. As Link touches one of the symbols the Unown start to react again, twisting and chanting in the same eerie fashion. Ash's room drops away only to be replaced with a large domed stadium.


Ash is standing at one end of the battle field in the raised trainer's box. There's an Orange Dragon Like Creature with a strong flame at the tip of its tail standing below him. His opponent, a Man named Noland, stands at the other end with a magnificent Icy-blue Bird. Something about it screams elegance and power, ice crystals sparking around it.

There's a small audience by Ash's side that are clearly here to watch the battle, all four of them very excited. Especially the little boy in glasses that looks even younger than Ash.

"Wow, Articuno versus Charizard! Kind of dream match up, isn't it?" Max asks excitedly.

"Yeah, This should be good." The young man that looks to be about fifteen- Brock nods in agreement. "I've never actually seen these two battle." He admits.

"Get'em Ash! You can do it!" The young girl, May, cheers him on.

"We will now begin this Frontier Battle between Battle Factory Brain, Noland and the challenger Ash from Pallet Town." The referee announces. There's a rumbling that shake the whole building and the ceiling begins to open up. Ash and Pikachu both look up in amazement.

"The roof is opening up..." Max comments.

"Oh, wow!" May exclaims.

"The roof was actually my idea." The adult man in the Hawaiian shirt- Scott states. "We wanted an area that would be the only one of its kind. By opening the ceiling for air battles we make sure that flying Pokémon have the room to use their full potential." As the ceiling continues to open up three figures fall in from the ceiling.

"Team Rocket!" May gets up, leaning against the railing to make sure she's right.

"Prepare for Trouble, we just dropped in." A red haired woman-Jessie, supplies as she gets right back on her feet.

"Make it double, Jess, take a spin." A man with lavender colored hair-James joins in.

"An evil as old as the galaxy." Jessie recites.

"Sent here to full fill our destiny." James follows up.

"Plus there's me!" an odd, cat like Pokémon -Meowth Joins the motto.

"To denounce the evils of truth and love."

"To extend our reach to the stars above."

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Don't forget me!" Meowth chimes in happily.

"Wherever there's peace in the universe.." Jessie continues.

"Team Rocket.." James supplies.

"Will be there." Meowth follows up.

"To make everything worse." The three rockteers say in unison.

"Wobbuffet!" A strange blue pokemon appears.

"Alright, change of plan. We'll have to use force to steal Articuno." Jessie tells the others.

"Right!" They agree.

"Get out of here Team Rocket!" Ash shouts at them.

"Pika Pika!" Pikachu agrees.

"Hand over that Articuno!" Team Rocket demands, rushing towards the majestic bird.

"No way!" Noland responds. "Articuno, Ice beam!" Articuno responds immediately, firing a icy beam of ice directly for the trio of thieves who let out cries of alarm as they are suddenly encased in ice.

"C-could someone turn up the heat?" They all ask.

"I will!" Ash volunteers. "Flamethrower!" He orders. Charizard fires a powerful flamethrower directly at the ice block called team rocket. He seems a little too happy to do it, too.

"That'll do!" Team Rocket cry out.

"Now, Pikachu, Thunderbolt." Ash isn't quite done. Pikachu smirks all too gleefully and leaps up, summoning a large amount of electricity and sending it right at Team Rocket. There's a small explosion and the trio is sent flying upwards into the air with a cry of 'Looks Team Rocket's Blasting off again!'

"Now, finally, we can start this match!" Noland declares.

"Ready when you are!" Ash agrees.

"Trainers, begin!" The referee waves his flags to signify the start of the battle.

"Go Charizard!" Ash takes the first move and Charizard flaps his powerful wings as he takes flight.

"Go, Articuno!" Noland calls out. Articuno lets out a battle cry and flies straight towards Charizard.

"Come on, Ash!" Max pleads.

"Haha, now I'll get to see Ash in Battle." Scott comments. "I sure hope he knows what he's up against."

"Charizard, Use flamethrower!" Ash calls out the first attack and Charizard aims a powerful flame directly at the icy blue bird.

"Counter it with Ice Beam!" Noland commands. Articuno does exactly as order, a strong beam of Ice heading directly for the fire type but Charizard's Flame thrower easily cuts through the ice beam and hits Articuno hard, knocking it down to the ground.

"Yes! Way to go Charizard!" Ash cheers from below air battle and the Pokemon responds with a proud roar.

"Awesome! Charizard pushed back Articuno's ice beam like it was nothing." Max says excitedly.

"A fire type should always have the advantage over an ice type so Ash should be okay." May comments.

"Just as I expected, Charizard's a match even for Articuno!" Ash says proudly.

"Careful, don't count your victory just yet." Noland advised. "Articuno, back into the air!" He calls out. Articuno flies up, seeming to have taken no damage at all from that flame thrower.

"Charizard! Hit it with flame thrower again!" Ash calls out. Yet another powerful burst of flame shoots out of Charizard's mouth but this time Articuno skillfully moves out of the way.

"It dodged." Ash breathes as the bird dares to fly right up to Charizard, narrowly avoiding a collision.

"I don't think that flamethrower did anything at all.." May comments.

"Yeah." Max agrees. "That's because it didn't even hit."

"Well, it's a fast and elegant Pokemon, possibly even more amazing in battle. And why should he expect less? It is legendary." Scott offers. "So, how will Ash deal with it?"

"Let's go! Spin into a deep dive now!" Noland calls out to Articuno who immediately starts to spin and dive down as commanded.

"Go! Charge right for it!" Ash directs and Charizard shoots off directly towards Articuno.

"Articuno! Mist attack!" Noland calls out. Any icy mist overtake the battle field making it impossible to see what's going on."