Pokemon World Disaster

A Spicy Reunion

When the group arrived in Unova, the first place Ash lead them to was a restaurant in Striaton City, much to Greninja's surprise. He had been under the impression that they were going to look for more of Ash's friends right away. Oh well, it wasn't like he was going to complain, though. After flying for three straight hours he could have eaten Lillie.
Once they entered the restaurant, Ash's reasons for coming became more apparent. After everyone had ordered their food, Ash called over a slightly older boy with green hair who had been talking to two other boys. The other boy looked over and seemed to recognize Ash.
"Hey, Cilan," Ash called over to the boy.
Ah, so this is one of Ash's friends, Greninja thought as he looked at Cilan. He should have known. Of course Ash would have kept his promise to find his friends as soon as they arrived in Unova.
"Hello, Ash. You're looking well," Cilan greeted Greninja's trainer as he approached their table. "And who might your new companions be?"
"This is Lillie, she's my friend from Alola," Ash replied, moving his hands to indicate the blond girl. "And Pidgeot, she was one of my Pokemon in Kanto. You've already met Charizard, and this is Greninja. He was one of my partners in Kalos."
"Hello," Greninja said, waving. Cilan looked at him, a curious expression in his eyes.
"Interesting. I've never seen a Greninja up close before," he mused. Greninja sincerely hoped he wasn't about to be poked and prodded like he had been when he stumbled upon three little girls while still trying to destroy the remnants of Team Flare's mass weapon of destruction. Fortunately, Cilan seemed to have more restraint than that. "If I remember correctly, this is the Greninja that can transform, right?"
"Right. So you watched the Kalos league that year too?" Ash asked, rubbing the back of his neck in that way Greninja had grown so accustomed to seeing.
"Yes, indeed. It was truly a remarkable battle, spicy and savory at the same time," Cilan replied, confusing Greninja.
"Uh...run that by me again?" he whispered to Ash.
"Never mind. I traveled with him for over a year and I still have trouble understanding what he's saying," Ash whispered back.
"Well well, it looks as though two of you are back together. So where's the dragon girl?" asked a hard and flinty voice from behind them. Judging by the expression on Ash's face at the sound of the voice, Greninja could tell this newcomer wasn't a friend. He turned around and saw a girl with short pink hair and a cap standing with her arms crossed.
"Who's that girl?" he asked his trainer quietly.
"Georgia," Ash hissed back. "She's an annoying girl from Unova."
"Is she really that bad?" Greninja asked.
"She's a sore loser; she blames all of her losses on the terrain and claims battles don't count if she doesn't lose against a dragon-type," Ash whispered. "She calls herself a dragon buster, which means she dedicates her entire life to defeating dragon-types."
"Sounds like someone I don't want to cross paths with ever again," Greninja muttered. Dragon buster...what a stupid idea. Why would anyone dedicate their entire life to defeating a specific type of Pokemon....unless of course she was just bitter about something that had happened in a battle with a dragon-type?
"Hey, Georgia," Ash said wearily. "I don't know where Iris is, I just got here. But she's probably back home in the Village of Dragons."
Georgia shrugged. "I don't really care. I only came here because I'm supposed to meet Burgundy for lunch," she replied. "She's running late again though, as usual."
"Burgundy?" Lillie repeated. "Is she a friend of yours, Ash?"
"Eh, not exactly," Ash replied. "Burgundy's a Pokemon connoisseur-or connoisseusse, as the girls are called."
"What's a Pokemon connoisseur?" Lillie asked curiously. Greninja was wondering the same thing.
"A Pokemon connoisseur is responsible for evaluating the compatibility between Pokemon and trainer," Cilan explained. "I'm a connoisseur myself."
That would probably explain the weird comment earlier, then, Greninja thought to himself. Something about the Kalos league being savory and spicy or whatever it was.
"So who are your new friends, Ash?" Georgia asked, glancing at Lillie and Greninja.
"I'm Lillie, nice to meet you," Lillie introduced herself. Georgia nodded at her.
"This is Pidgeot, she was one of my Kanto Pokemon. Charizard was one of my first catches as a Pokemon trainer, and Greninja here was one of my Pokemon in Kalos," Ash said, indicating each of his Pokemon in turn.
"Hey," Greninja said coolly.
"They look decent enough, but unless they're dragon-types they're not worth battling," Georgia said dismissively. Greninja felt a twinge of annoyance at her tone. Seriously, who did this girl think she was?
"First of all, no one said anything about a battle. Second of all, I'll bet you're just scared of us," Pikachu snapped heatedly, glaring at the dragon buster. Apparently Ash was also thinking along the same lines as his partner.
"What, scared they'd beat you, Georgia?" the raven-haired boy asked, a slight taunt in his voice that Greninja had never heard before. He smirked a little as Georgia scowled.
"No way. In fact, I challenge you to a battle," she snapped. "Let's have a double battle. My Pokemon against Charizard and Greninja."
"Fine, if it'll shut you up," Ash sighed. "But on one condition: if I win, you have to admit that the battle counted even though you didn't battle against a dragon-type."
Georgia narrowed her eyes, but nodded. "Fine. But if I win-and I will-you have to give me one of your Pokemon."
"What?" Pikachu shouted. "What kind of deal is that?"
"That's the dumbest idea I've ever heard," Charizard scoffed. Greninja had to agree.
"I'm not going anywhere with that, so make sure you win, Ash!" Pidgeot hissed.
"Stupid idea, but fine," Ash agreed. "Cilan, will you be the referee?"
"Of course, Ash. Follow me everyone," the Pokemon connoisseur said, leading the group to the back of the restaurant. Greninja was surprised to see a battlefield behind the kitchens.
"What's a battlefield doing inside a restaurant, Ash?" he asked.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. Cilan's also one of the Striaton City gym leaders," Ash explained. "His brothers, Chili and Cress, are the other two."
Greninja wondered if Ash had traveled with a gym leader in all of his journeys. He had been with Clemont in Kalos, Misty in Kanto, and Brock in Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh from what he understood, and apparently Cilan in Unova.
"The double battle between Ash and Georgia will now begin," Cilan announced. "The match will end when one side's Pokemon are unable to continue. Trainers, please select your Pokemon."
"All right, I'm going to go with my Beartic and Meowstic," Georgia declared, tossing two Pokeballs into the air. A large polar bear Pokemon and a catlike psychic-type Pokemon appeared on the battlefield.
"So, you've caught a Meowstic," Ash remarked, looking at the psychic-type.
"Yep. She's powerful too, so watch your back," Georgia replied.
"Charizard, Greninja, you guys ready?" Ash asked his partners.
"You bet, Ash!" Charizard roared.
"I'm ready, so let's finish this off quickly so we can get back to our mission," Greninja added.
"Ready....battle begin!" Cilan shouted.
"Meowstic, use Psybeam on Greninja!" Georgia commanded. Greninja's eyes widened at the order.
Wait...is she actually serious? he wondered. Then he saw the attack coming. Oh. She is.
"Just take it, Greninja," Ash said wearily. Greninja nodded, sharing an exasperated look with his trainer that Georgia didn't seem to notice. He didn't even feel anything as the Psybeam apparently made contact.
"All right, how do you like that?" Georgia taunted, then looked shocked when she saw that Greninja was perfectly fine. "What? But how?"
"Greninja's part dark-type. Psychic moves won't have any effect," Ash explained. Georgia's eye twitched slightly.
Greninja realized something. With his immunity to psychic-type attacks and Charizard's advantage over ice-type Pokemon, Georgia had set herself up very badly indeed. This battle was going to be a quick one, indeed.
"Let's finish this off in one go. Greninja, use Night Slash on Meowstic. Charizard, you use Flamethrower on Beartic," Ash ordered calmly.
"Get ready to get toasted!" Charizard roared as he shot his Flamethrower towards Beartic. The hefty Pokemon was unable to move out of the way in time and was struck by the full force of the attack.
"Well, this was fun. Too bad it has to end now," Greninja commented, slashing Meowstic with his Night Slash and sending the psychic cat crashing to the ground. When the dust cleared, it was revealed that both Meowstic and Beartic had fainted.
"And that's it! The winners are Greninja and Charizard," Cilan announced.
"All right, great job you two," Ash cheered.
"It was easy," Greninja replied with a shrug.
Ash walked over to Georgia, who had recalled her Beartic and Meowstic. "Well?" he asked expectantly.
Georgia clenched her teeth and glared at him for a moment before sighing. "All right, our battle today counted even though I didn't lose against a dragon-type," she admitted through her teeth.
"Thank you. See, was that so hard?" Ash asked, smiling pleasantly. Greninja got the feeling that he was mocking her and had to hold back a laugh. "Now if you don't mind, I actually came here to ask Cilan something."
"What's the matter, Ash?" Cilan asked, sounding concerned.
Ash exchanged a glance with Greninja and Lillie. "Well, first of all I assume you know about the attacks that have been happening?" he asked.
Cilan nodded. "Of course, they've been happening all over Unova for the past two and a half months," he answered. "But no one knows who could be doing it."
"Well we do, and we're forming a resistance against them. Anyone who wants to fight them should go to Lumiose City in Kalos," Ash said. "We came to ask if you'd be interested in joining."
"Of course, Ash. We'll see you in Lumiose City," Cilan agreed. "Good luck."
"Thanks, Cilan. We're just going to talk to Iris and then we'll be on our way there too," Ash said. They were about to leave when Georgia stopped them.
"Hold up," she interrupted. "I'll come along too."
Greninja felt his mouth drop open in shock. "You want to help too?" he asked.
"Really?" Ash asked, sounding just as surprised as Greninja felt.
"Of course. Whoever's attacking these Pokemon is a threat to everyone," Georgia replied. "You'll need all the help you can get. I'll get Burgundy to come too."
Ash gaped at her for another second before he smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Georgia. We'll see you and Cilan in Lumiose City, then."
Georgia nodded and they finally took their leave. As they exited the restaurant, Greninja heard Georgia call out a very faint, "Good luck, guys! And thanks for the battle!"
Maybe she's not so bad after all, he mused.
"Well, let's go find Iris, then. To the Village of Dragons we go," Ash declared.
"Heigh ho," Greninja couldn't resist adding. Ash laughed and rolled his eyes. "All right, let's go Ash."
They climbed aboard Charizard and Pidgeot again and took off into the sky, ready to go find the last of Ash's friends.