Rise of the legendary Ketchum

Controlling Pikachu's Power

Ash landed Charizard and got off in front of his friends. "How did it go?" Lillie said. " Just fine, how's Steenee doing?" Ash asked as Mallow revealed Steenee, looking tired. " She's taken quite a hit, but it was literally raining shadow balls when we got to the Pokemon center. Hopefully It's better now" Mallow said, still looking at Steenee with concern. " Lillie, I don't think It's safe here. It's best that we go to all the islands and finish the island challenge. " Ash said, as the group departed.  Ash and Lillie began to head toward the docks again, now heading toward the Ula'ula islands. As they headed toward the ferry, people and flying Pokemon were seen occasionally, down on the ground in awkward positions. Zekrom's ominous cloud had still remained, making the atmosphere even more depressing. Lillie saw a small gash near the belly of a Pokemon. " Ash, is this the result of the aerial battle that you had with those flying attackers?" Lillie asked, surprised at the aftermath of the battle. " Yeah, Pigeot and the others seemingly overdid it a bit too much. " Ash responded. They arrived at the docks, waiting for the ferry to arrive. They boarded the ferry as soon as it arrived, not speaking a word. The ferry set out, and Ash noticed a battle room. After they settled into their provided rooms, Ash spoke up. " Hey Lillie, I remember seeing a battle room nearby. I guess I'll check out the trainers over here" Ash said, trying to distract himself from the day's events. As he entered the battlefield, he was bombarded by battle requests, with people wanting to see the power of the person who protected the famed Pokemon school from Zekrom. Ash immediately accepted the battle request from a person who had a Gengar that looked quite strong. Ash brought out Pikachu, who, too, had gained fame, for his thunderbolt had even rivalled bolt strike. "Alright, Pikachu, gain some speed! Quick attack!" Ash started out, As Pikachu did the classic maneuver that everyone knew and loved. He became a bluish-yellow blur, due to his speed. " Gengar, psychic!" The other trainer said, as Pikachu was immediately stopped in his tracks, and was lifted into the air. Ash smirked. " Thunderbolt!" Ash said, as Pikachu unleashed a stream of yellow electricity. It hit Gengar, taking its toll on him. However, the Gengar was strong, and could, therefore, survive it. However, he was huffing and panting, and Ash was satisfied. However, the trainer was also smiling a bit. "Look, we both know that we are holding back, so how about we give it our all?" The other trainer asked, as Ash noticed the mega stone, safely tucked near one of Gengar's spikes. " Let's do this!" Ash said. He gave the trainer in front of him the courtesy to up the stats of his Pokemon first. " Gengar, show them, out deep bond. The ghostly, powerful power inside you! Show them that we are powerful and worthy! Mega evolve!" The trainer said, touching the keystone safely placed on a wristband. His Gengar mega-evolved, now having much smaller back legs and humongous front legs. Its forehead now bore the mark of a yellow ring, and its eyes showed clear emotions of rage. Ash admired the well-trained Gengar for a bit before starting his own transformation. "Pikachu, let's do this STRONGER AND STRONGER!!! HERE WE GOOOO!" Ash shouted out, as Pikachu was surrounded by a vortex of electricity, which then opened up to reveal Ash-Pikachu. Gengar, Nightshade!" The trainer commanded. Gengar was overjoyed and determined in his battle spirit due to it having both received good care from his trainer and also battling a powerful opponent. He released a powerful nightshade, and the dark beam shot toward Pikachu. "Pikachu, protect!" Ash said, as the nightshade produced a small clang and purple sparks as it clashed against the protect. The nightshade was absorbed harmlessly, as Gengar stopped the nightshade to catch a breath. " Pikachu, quick attack into electro tail, get close!" Ash said, knowing that in his bonded form, his speed would be no match for Gengar. Ash was right in his predictions, as Pikachu shot right toward Gengar, who was seemingly helpless due to exhaustion. "Let it rip!" Ash said, As Pikachu's tail glowed yellow, and clashed against, Gengar, making him grunt. However, as strong as he was, Gengar wasn't someone that would be going down in one hit. " Gengar, shadow ball!" The other trainer said, As Gengar used the momentum given to him by Pikachu's electro tail to gain range, and then unleashed a decently powerful Shadow ball. "Pikachu, Iron tail!" Ash said, as the shadow ball was sliced. However, as Pikachu was still in the air, The trainer called out his next attack. " Gengar, Psychic, get him higher in  the air quick!" Gengar lifted Pikachu higher into the air, but the movement was too quick for Pikachu to respond to.  As Pikachu began to fall down, the trainer reached the final bit of his plan. " Gengar! Nightshade again!" He said as Gengar unleashed a nightshade, which instantly hit Pikachu on the mark. Pikachu barreled toward the ground, and stopped there.  The smoke, however, revealed Pikachu to be still standing, and ready to battle. "Gengar, Psybeam!" The trainer said, as Gengar unleashed a Psybeam. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt, let's go!" Ash said, as Pikachu unleashed the most Powerful thunderbolt that he could. However powerful the attacks were, though, none could get the better of the other. Ash decided to use his final resort. "Pikachu, STRONGER!!!" Ash said, a yellow vortex of electricity surrounding him, beginning the second part of the transformation. Ash finally changed his form, and Pikachu got a Power boost. However, the attacks were still not able to overpower each other instantly, but Pikachu's thunderbolt was now edging its way through, bit by bit. "Gengar, more!" The other trainer said, even though he knew that with the transformation complete, he was bound to lose. The thunderbolt had now edged incredibly close to Gengar, but suddenly, Ash felt a jarring pain in his head. "Gaah!" He grunted, and then became dizzy. Finally, he fainted, so did Pikachu, and the psybeam hit him with full force as soon as the thunderbolt stopped. Everyone watching were surprised. So was the trainer with the Gengar. "How......" The trainer said, surprised. After a few minutes, Ash got up and dusted himself, and then Picked up Pikachu. "Two times... I have just simply fainted without explanation.. .... Once with my battle with Zekrom and now.... What is the meaning of this?" Ash said, in deep thought as he returned to his room. "Hey Ash, how'd your battle go?" Lillie said, not knowing anything about the events that went down at the battlefield. "Not good, Lillie, I lost. " Ash said, still in his thoughts. " Hey, it's ok, you can learn from what happened!" Lillie said, feeling sorry for Ash. " Nah, you're right. Losing is a part of battling after all..." Ash said, snapping out of his negative thoughts. "That's the spirit, Ash! now let's go challenge Ula'Ula!" Lillie said. 

*Timeskip to end of voyage, fist and second Pokemon of Kahuna Nanu are down, final battle ongoing.*

"Sableye, mega evolve!" The Kahuna said, as he mega evolved his Sableye. "Power gem, let's go!" The Kahuna said, as Sableye used the much larger gem that was in his hands, to gather power, and then shot out a beam. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt to counter!" Ash commanded Pikachu, as The two attacks struggled against each other. Finally, Ash decided that it was time to take things to the next level. "Pikachu, STRONGER!" Ash said as Pikachu moved into his final form. His thunderbolt edged forward, but it stopped all of a sudden, as Ash and Pikachu fainted, again....

*Timeskip to Pokemon center and Ash POV*

I put of a façade of being happy so as to not worry Lillie. To be honest, she's been worrying about me a lot right now. I like that she cares about me, but I do not want to worry her any further. I was thinking about what I had done wrong, while trying to keep up my facade. Thankfully, Lillie seemed to be buying it. I put Pikachu in the care of nurse joy and then got into the room that we had rented. As we got in, I finally sat down, to think about what had happened. Lillie then entered the room, and locked the door, and finally turned to face me. "Ash, what's wrong? Why are you so sad? This is what? your first loss or something. " Lillie said, as I bit my tongue, screaming on the inside. Finally, I couldn't take it. The anger bubbled up inside me, and I lashed out. "6 leagues! 6 f*cking leagues I have lost and become the laughing stock of the public. Every time I lost, I had to put up a facade, ignore the jeering, and continue. The Kalos league, I failed Greninja! No matter how hard I try, It just simply never f*cking works! And who are you to tell me that it's okay to lose? You'll never understand the pain!" I said, lashing out and releasing all my anger.  Lillie, however, wore a completely disgusted look on her face. "Why am I talking to a stranger here? The Ash I know is optimistic and never gives up! You'd better get some sense knocked into you or else I am just leaving!" Lillie said, as she opened the door, hurried out, and banged it shut. "No Lillie wait!" I said, realizing my mistake. However, Lillie just went on, ignoring my pleas for her to wait, and just left the Pokemon center. "dang it!" I cursed at myself, as realization hit me like a truck. Of course, I was so lost in the pain of losing, that I didn't even bother to think about how to improve! I sat down to think about it when it clicked. "That's it! Every time I used Pikachu's powered up form for way too long, I ended up losing! This is it!" I said, as I sat down to think. However, my train of thoughts were interrupted bby the Pokemon center bell, and Pikachu was returned to me. "Pikachu, I think I have a solution to our problem!" I said, as He nodded. I started up the evolution, and he came into his powerful form. I counted ten seconds, and then I began to feel dizzy, and I stopped. "That's it, Pikachu. Ten seconds. " I said, as I ran back into the Pokemon center, and saw Lillie walk in. Hey there, Lillie!" I greeted her, as she looked back at me with an angered expression. " Got your brains back, mister?" She mocked me. " Yeah, I got a bit too ahead of myself. Found out that his powerful form can be used for ten seconds to get me out of trouble. Thanks for knocking me back into thinking about how to continue improving. I owe you one..." I said, and I could swear I saw Lillie blush. We went into our room in the Pokemon center, and crashed down on our respective beds. Lillie slept after a bit, while I stayed up for a little longer. "She does care about me quite a lot... " I thought as I drifted into my sleep, thinking about Lillie with a small blush. 

*Freeze frame*

Ash has finally found out the secret behind the repeated failures of his usage of his power, thanks to Lillie. He has also seemed to have developed some.....Feelings for her. What lies in the future of our protagonists? read on to find out as the journey continues!