Tryst with Destiny: The Beginning of the End (Main Story)

29 : More to the Punch than Meets the Eye

(After Lunch is Over)

"Well today we were going to start of by a theoretical lesson. But since this will be your first lesson I thought it will be better to make this a practical lesson. Alright you two bring out all your Pokemon which can use any type of punch moves. It can be anything ice punch, power up punch, hammer arm, thunder punch, focus punch anything.

Ash and Serena nod as they toss their Poke-balls and release their Pokemon.

"Good. Now follow me." Dragon Emperor says while walking towards the Bamboo Forest next to their camp.

After a while he comes to a halt in front of two stone boulders. He turns to Ash and Serena and says "Alright. Let's see what your Pokemon can do. See these 2 boulders. Have one of your Pokemon come here and punch that rock with a punch type move. I want to see at what level your Pokemon are."

"Right. Pancham use arm thrust on the boulder on the left." Serena says.

"Snorlax ice punch on the other boulder." Ash says.

Both Pokemon attack the boulders with their respective moves. Two minor explosion takes place revealing 2 partially broken boulders.

"Not bad. Both the Speed and Power of your Pokemon are quite good." Dragon Emperor says.

Ash and Serena both light up upon hearing that.

"However all that is quite useless." Dragon Emperor replies causing the duo's expressions to drop.

"I now see the level at which to begin." Dragon Emperor says while bending down and picking up 2 bamboo leaves.

"Come here you two." He says to a confused Ash and Serena.

"Alright." Both of them reply in a confused way.

"Here take this." Dragon Emperor says while handing them both a leaf.

"What do you want us to do with it?" Serena says.

"I want you to shred it by punching it with your fist." Dragon Emperor replies.

Ash and Serena both look in a flabbergasted manner at Dragon Emperor at this odd request.

"Are you kidding me? This is the special training that will make us Pokemon masters? By now I could have got my badge at the Cyllage city gym. Instead I am here wasting my time to punch a leaf." Ash replies in a frustrated manner.

"Well if it so easy why don't you do it? Unless you are scared that is." Dragon Emperor replies with a taunt.

"You think I can't shred a stupid leaf. Well there you go." Ash says while letting go of his leaf and punching it with his free hand. However the leaf simply bounces of his fist and continues falling to the ground as if nothing happened at all.

At first he is stunned at what happened. He looks first at Serena who is equally shocked. Then he looks at the Dragon Emperor who is amused.

"If you fail once you should try again. Isn't that your motto. Never give up till the end." Dragon Emperor says while smirking.

Ash clenches his fist in frustration. He bends and picks up the leaf and tries again but the same thing happens again.

"You too." Dragon Emperor says to Serena who is too busy looking shocked at what is happening.

"Right." she replies before starting to do exactly what Ash is doing.

"This will be fun." The Dragon Emperor thinks to himself before sitting down on the ground as he watches them both fail miserably.