I am back from vacation and ready to assume normal life until September. Anyway, I hope you all will enjoy this chapter that will officially end Ash and Paul’s battle and open up a new problem in this story. One last thing; since there were only a few days before Reiji’s dub name to my recent update and the obvious name choice, I changed all references to Paul’s brother from Raul to Reggie. I’ve even changed it in the past chapters since I still had the original documents. Think of it as a momentary recall… Sorry about the changing hassle. So now, enjoy…

“Ohh!” Ash, Paul, Brock, and everyone else gasped in anxiety from Charizard’s punishing Seismic Toss. The ominous dirt cloud that erupted as a result of the finishing strike still shrouded the two powerful competitors. Not even shadow silhouettes could be made out of the dusty cloud.

“Charizard!” Ash called out, fearful of the outcome that may have befallen upon one of his strongest and most trusted Pokémon.

“Ergh,” Paul grunted with tight fists and clenched teeth. The tension caused by the unknown outcome of whoever could survive Charizard’s Seismic Toss even affected his indifferent, apathetic demeanor.

“Anything can happen in this final bout,” Brock thought apprehensively. “Two powerful attacks… Torterra’s Hyper Beam and Charizard’s newly-learned Blast Burn used up a lot of power and concentration… Torterra was even sent up into the air…That was where Ash and Charizard took advantage and used Seismic Toss… But Torterra was not the only one who took severe damage…”

“What’s going on?” Max asked as he struggled to see into the cloud. “Has the winner been decided yet?”

“No, I don’t think anyone can see Charizard or Torterra yet,” Misty sighed worriedly. “What do you think, Anabel?”

“All I can say is that those two focused all of their power into one sole purpose, which was to defeat the other in the honor for their Trainers,” Anabel said softly. “Anything can happen to those two after that risky Seismic Toss. I can only hope that Charizard is still standing.”

“Me too,” May muttered and tightly held onto her younger brother, who also gripped around her waist. Gallade then looked around at the rest of the audience. They were all literally off the edge of their seats, dying to know what happened to Charizard and Torterra. The Blade Pokémon also noticed that the two Trainers and the referee were no different in terms of uneasiness.

“I can’t stand waiting like this forever,” Ash thought intensely with tight fists and eyes. “Charizard! Can you here me?!” Ash was then responded with a soft draconic roar from the slowly dissipating dirt cloud. “Charizard…” As it would have eventually done so, the dirt cloud was vanishing into the sky. It was dense enough to make out shadow outlines of Torterra and Charizard. The cloud finally disappeared and revealed the two combatants.

“Ohh!” Everyone gasped again in great shock. Charizard and Torterra were surprisingly standing tall on their legs as if they were not affected by the previous damage inflicted.

“H-how can this be?!” Ash questioned in astonishment. “They’re both standing after that Seismic Toss!”

“But for how long is the real question,” Paul muttered grimly. Both Trainers were now aware that both Charizard and Torterra were no longer in a battle of brute force, but were now in a battle of stares and wills.

“Arrrrrrrd,” Charizard growled softly as he continued to stare intensely into Torterra’s piercing eyes.

“Tor,” Torterra mumbled and continued the stare down with the Flame Pokémon.

“Charizard,” Ash whispered in concern and in determination. Pikachu, who was still resting in Anabel’s arms, continued to watch the final showdown between two powerful rivals.

“Pikapi,” Pikachu mumbled quietly, earning a soft caress from Anabel.

“Don’t worry, Pikachu,” Anabel whispered to the Mouse Pokémon. “While it all comes down to this, I have a feeling that both Trainers may have learned something even more than just battling their brains out.” She then gave off a light, soft smile while still maintaining a serious attitude in hopes for Ash’s ultimate victory. The entire surroundings became a hush after awhile. All was still.

“Rrrrrrd,” Charizard yelped and lost the feeling in his right leg. Ash gasped as though he might have had a heart attack. Charizard was down on one knee, about to finally lose balance from all of the intense battling that took place. Paul and everyone else stared intently on the next action on the battlefield.

“Tor-terra… Torrrrrrr,” Torterra groaned painfully and lost the remaining strength in all of his limbs. The Continent Pokémon made an earth shattering thud with his entire body, having already lost the will and the strength to continue. The Grass and Ground-type did not budge. He just lied upon the ground on his belly, unable to continue.

“This match is finally over!” Brock declared loudly and held both arms high in the air. “Torterra is unable to continue! Charizard wins this round! The winner and participant of the Elite Four Challenge is Ash of Pallet Town!!”

“W-we… won,” Ash croaked in speechless breath. “We… WON!!”

“HOORAY!!”

“WAY TO GO, ASH!!”

“IN YOUR FACE, PAUL!!”

“IF I CAN LOVE YOU EVEN MORE THAN I HAVE NOW, ASH, I’D—!”

Surrounded in so many cheers and adulation, Ash could not have been prouder of his accomplishments this day. In the morning, he was to finally become head of his own Battle Facility, the Battle Dimension. He was also able to reunite with some of the many great friends he made throughout his journey in six years. He was even able to understand the emotion of love through the very same violet-haired girl who truly loved him for who he was and who also had the ability to understand the emotions of the creatures he loved as much as a young kid: Pokémon. And now, Ash Ketchum has defeated one of his greatest and most brutal rivals where it truly counted, which was for the right to challenge the Elite Four.

“Torterra, return,” Paul recalled his defeated Torterra into his Poké Ball. He merely looked upon it with mixed emotions of anger, regret, confusion, and contemplation. “… What have I been doing all this time?” He then looked over to Ash’s side of the battlefield, where Charizard was triumphantly launching Flamethrowers into the air and Ash received a lot of adoration from his friends, fellow Frontier Brains, his mother, Professor Oak, Pikachu, and his own girlfriend. Ash then noticed Paul looking at him with a strangely soft gaze.

“Paul,” Ash said quietly and proceeded to walk towards him across the battlefield where they both fought hard upon. Concerned for his rival, he made certain that he was going to reach him. Everyone else just stood where they were and watched Ash calmly walked towards his defeated rival. “The greatest match I’ve ever had. That’s all I have to say.”

“Humph,” Paul grunted calmly and continued to look at his conqueror.

“Paul, please try to understand,” Ash said imploringly. “Your way on training Pokémon could only have gotten you so far. I know you didn’t have the most glamorous start as a Pokémon Trainer, but it’s already been many years now. It’s still not too late for you to become a better Trainer and a better person… What do you say?” Ash, regaining his cheerful composure after a hard battle, offered a hand to Paul to accept of his free will.

“… Ash, I’ve given you, your friends, and all Pokémon so much grief,” Paul said solemnly and looked down at the ground. “There’s just too much for me to handle right now. I’ve chosen to be who I am right now back then and this is where I’ve ended up.”

“Destiny is not written in stone, Paul,” a soft, gentle voice spoke up. Ash and Paul then saw Anabel and Pikachu walking towards them. She then held onto Ash’s arm while Pikachu jumped back onto his shoulder. “You’re not compelled to stay in the same place forever unless that is what you choose to do.”

“Paul, there’s good inside everyone,” Ash added in. “There are just some people, like Team Rocket, who choose not to be good. I know you’re not like them, but I know that you’re not all bad if Torterra has still remained loyal to you.”

“But I–,” Paul said, but Ash held up his hand in front of him in order to get him to shake hands.

“We don’t want to hear any more of you kicking yourself around, so just shake my hand already,” Ash said impatiently. Albeit hesitant at first, Paul began to extend his own arm out of his pockets to meet Ash’s hand. He uncurled his fingers from a tight fist into an open hand like a newborn baby. However, before Paul could finally meet with Ash’s hand…

“HEEEEELP!!”

“It’s a cry for help!” Brock pointed out. A Nurse Joy who was hired to work in the Battle Dimension then came running into the battlefield where everyone was. “NURSE J–!” Before Brock could even think of advancing, he sensed the terrible vibes of Misty, Max, and his own Croagunk behind him.

“Nurse Joy, what’s the matter?” Scott asked urgently.

“Something terrible… Outside,” Nurse Joy panted fearfully. “Come quickly!” Nurse Joy urged all to follow her out. With no clue to the situation Nurse Joy knew only, everyone ran after her for explanation. Ash, Anabel, Pikachu, and Paul were the last to leave the battlefield. They followed the fleeing crowd through the Battle Dimension’s massive hallways.

“Nurse Joy, what’s up?” Ash asked as soon as he caught up with her.

“There’s trouble outside the Battle Dimension,” Nurse Joy explained in rising panic. “You have to see for yourself!” Nurse Joy led the group to the front doors of the Battle Dimension. What they saw outside was beyond logic and reason…

“This can’t be,” Ash muttered in astonishment. A large swarm of Spearow, led by a lone Fearow, has taken control over the skies in Route 1 and everything in between Viridian City and Pallet Town. They’ve attacked all innocent bystanders and Pokémon in their way

“Spearow and Fearow,” Misty remarked direly. “Hey, Ash. Didn’t you have trouble with Spearow on the first day of your journey?” Ash merely nodded as he continued to watch the flock relentlessly attack other people and Pokémon on the ground.

“There’s something wrong with them,” Anabel said warily. Everyone then looked up to her as she was the expert on the feelings of Pokémon. “Their behavior… It’s like they’re soulless… Only meant to battle anything that they find that can move.”

“How can that be?!” Ash questioned incredulously. “No Pokémon can be soulless!”

“Not even Paul here would go beyond the lengths of nature just to turn a Pokémon into an empty fighting machine,” Drew remarked cynically, earning a brutal glare from Paul.

“Once more, look at the damage they have caused,” Brock said and urged everyone to look at their current surroundings. There was nothing but complete destruction surrounding the Battle Dimension. The wild Pokémon have been injured by the Spearow flock. Many humans have fled widely around Route 1 just to hide from the Spearow. Even the trees have suffered a barrage of Drill Pecks and Aerial Aces. “No way could they have caused so much damage in a few hours. How did they become so strong?!”

“Not just that,” Anabel said in a forewarning attitude. “Take a good look at the Fearow leader.” Ash and the rest of the company did what Anabel asked them to do and glimpsed at the Beak Pokémon.

“Hey, that’s the Fearow that evolved from the Spearow I… threw a rock at,” Ash announced awkwardly. Everyone then looked at him suspiciously.

“So then, you’re the reason that the Spearow are attacking everything?” Max asked outrageously.

“No,” Anabel said unexpectedly, surprising everyone that she quickly came to Ash’s defense. “I also encountered that very same Fearow. During my encounter with the Fearow…”

“The Fearow hated humans because of me, right?” Ash answered in her stead and as straightforward as possible. With someone like Ash giving an answer like that, many were quite surprised on how much he has matured and begun using logic.

“Um, yeah,” Anabel said and softly rubbed behind her head. “But now, this Fearow is attacking for no reason. And the worst part is that Fearow has some sort of strange aura.”

“Aura?” many questioned curiously.

“A black, sinister aura emanating from Fearow’s body,” Anabel said in a scared whisper. Ash then took a deeper glimpse upon the Fearow, noticing the same dark aura Anabel was talking about.

“I can see it,” Ash muttered while everyone was confused. Professor Oak, however, was in deep thought over this situation.

“What are you talking about?” Paul asked in an annoyed tone of voice. “That Fearow, although with a bad personality, has no black aura emanating.”

“Paul, I can see aura,” Ash stated without hesitation, taking his rival aback in confusion.

“That’s right,” May said in realization. “You’re one of the few people who are capable of using aura!”

“Like that time with Riolu, the Pokémon Ranger, and Hunter J,” Dawn added in.

“But how can Anabel also sense the dark aura coming out of Fearow if we all know Ash is the only one who can?” Zoey asked inquisitively.

“I’m guessing that aura can also be based upon the emotions of living creatures, both human and Pokémon,” Nando answered sagaciously. “And we all know of Miss Anabel’s empathetic abilities.”

“So now, let’s stop them now and figure out what’s wrong with them later,” Gary announce brashly.

“Gary, wait,” Gallade said quickly. “There’s too many Spearow to taken on right now. We’ll all be consumed by them if we rush in.” Everyone continued to watch as the Spearow flock and the Fearow with the dark aura continued to rule the skies.

“Something’s not right,” Ash suddenly said, to which Anabel nodded. “The dark aura of Fearow is somehow spreading to the rest of the Spearow flock.”

“What?!” everyone shouted disbelievingly.

“You mean the dark aura is contagious among Pokémon?!” Max cried out.

“Possibly,” Anabel said worriedly. The Salon Maiden then noticed Professor Oak musing over the entire situation intently. “Professor, something on your mind?”

“All this talk about dark aura and it being contagious sounds somewhat familiar to me,” Professor Oak said sternly. “Quickly, everyone to my lab for further information!” Everyone heard the Professor’s command. Unfortunately, so did the dark Fearow and Spearow followers.

“Feeeaaaar!” Fearow screeched loudly and dove towards the gang. The Fearow then quickly saw Ash, the source of all repressed anger and hatred.

“Everyone, hit the deck!” Ash commanded and all quickly got onto the ground and ducked from Fearow’s attack. The Spearow, however, started to follow their leader. Their target was the same as their dark leader’s: Ash Ketchum.

“That’s it!” Ash declared boldly. “I will not have you all harm all of my friends because of what I’ve done to you in the past! Come and get me!!”

“Pika!” Pikachu shouted, joining in with his Trainer to take the dark Spearow flock and the soulless Fearow.

“And I too!” Gallade announced with polished blades on both elbows.

“Feeeaaaar!” Fearow squawked ominously, commanding all Spearow to attack Ash, Pikachu, and Gallade.

“Spearow!” the Spearow shouted and prepared to attack. Through Ash’s eyes, the dark aura completely engulfed all Spearow, giving them the power to kill him. The Spearow and Fearow then darted down with completely visible trails of black light.

“Ash, no!” Anabel cried out with small tears in her eyes. Ash just stood with his arms spread apart, protecting his friends and fending off the deranged flock. Pikachu and Gallade also stood by their loyal Trainer, ready to help him protect the others.

“Pidgeot!” a shrill cry echoed in the sky, causing the Spearow flock to momentarily stop and for Ash and company to look up.

“Where did that come from, Master Ash?” Gallade asked without delay.

“N-no way,” Ash whispered to himself in great shock. “I-I just can’t believe it…” Ash continued to stare into the shadowed sky, cast by the Spearow flock. Suddenly…

“FEEEAAAR!” Fearow cried out in pain from being struck down by a shimmering blue light. The caster of the blue light took the form of a Flying-type Pokémon that Ash knew from such a long time ago.

“Pidgeot… You’re back,” Ash managed to say.

“Pidgeot?” Gallade repeated in confusion.

“Pikapi,” Pikachu called out to Ash.

“What is it, Pikachu?” Ash asked before being suddenly hugged from behind by Anabel.

“Ash, you’re still okay!” Anabel cried out and sniffled. The others were touched by the scene that Ash and his Pokémon were still standing. However, this romantic scene also drew out envious glares from three female Coordinators.

“Uh, sorry for making you worry like that, Anabel,” Ash said nervously.

“You’ve always made such reckless mistakes, young man,” Delia added in, who also had tears in her eyes.

“More to the point that Pidgeot over there is taking on Fearow and the Spearow,” Paul announced abruptly. Everyone then got back to the situation with the Shadow Spearow and Fearow at hand. Pidgeot was hurdling Gust attacks to blow away the flock, but the Spearow and Fearow became more resistant to the wind attacks after each hit.

“Fear,” Fearow shouted and used a powerful Drill Peck to brush Pidgeot aside like dust.

“Pidgeo–!” Pidgeot cried out in pain and was sent flying towards Ash.

“Pidgeot, I got you!” Ash called out reassuringly and ran toward the oncoming Bird Pokémon. He caught Pidgeot with both open arms and was sent backwards from the force of Fearow’s Drill Peck.

“Why is he even saving a Pokémon he just met?” Paul questioned critically. Misty overheard this and a nerve started to form on her right temple.

“First off, that Pokémon happened to be one of Ash’s first Pokémon,” Misty responded angrily to an unflinching Paul. “He sent Pidgeot back to the wild in order to protect a flock of Pidgey and Pidgeotto from being harassed from that Spearow flock over there anymore! Does that answer your question?!” Paul nodded slowly, to which Misty calmed down. “Sorry, but after seeing after everything you’ve done to us and to Pokémon, it’s kind of hard to trust you.” Paul then turned his back to her.

“I understand,” Paul said shortly while continuing to watch the Fearow and Spearow rampage with the others. He then watched Ash help Pidgeot stand back up.

“You okay, old friend?” Ash asked amiable, to which Pidgeot responded with a soft rub with his head.

“ASH, WATCH OUT!” Dawn yelled at the top of her lungs. Ash quickly looked at her before finally noticing Fearow diving towards him with an Aerial Ace. At the last minute, two Flamethrowers intervened and scorched Fearow with two direct hits. Ash quickly saw that the Flamethrowers came from his own Charizard and Liza’s Charla.

“Feeeaaar,” Fearow groaned and finally fell onto the ground. A Poké Ball was then tossed upon the Fearow. Fearow was converted into red energy before being sealed into the Poké Ball. The Ball warbled and shook around furiously for a few seconds before finally ceasing and the button on the center stopped blinking red.

“Who threw that Poké Ball?” Gary asked around and realized Paul was walking over to pick it up. Out of habit, Paul took out his dark blue Pokédex and scanned the captured Fearow.

“Oh, what do we have here?” Paul questioned skeptically as his Pokédex finished its scan. “The Pokédex says that this Fearow has been infected with the Pokérus.”

“Pokérus?!” Professor Oak questioned in horror.

“First, a dark aura in Fearow,” Brock mused in a focused manner. “And now, the Pokérus?”

“This is very serious business we’re dealing with right now,” Professor Oak said gravely. “Paul, I need to see that Fearow you caught!”

“Why not just use one of the Spearow Ash claimed to have also gained the dark aura from the Fearow?” Paul responded back and pointed to the Spearow that was also barbequed by the two Charizards’ Flamethrowers. “I think I’ll do some ‘experiments’ of my own on this Fearow. And besides…” He then looked towards Ash, Dawn, and Brock. “You three owed me a Fearow.” Paul then held the Poké Ball that contained Fearow into the air, in which it promptly vanished into thin air.

“Where did it go?” Ash asked heatedly.

“Because I already have six Pokémon, Fearow was sent to Reggie, see?” Paul explained and proceeded to walk away from the group again.

“Paul, where are you going now?” Ash asked in frustration to Paul’s unemotional attitude. “Haven’t you learned anything?!”

“I’ve learned that you need to start training for the Elite Four Challenge,” Paul yelled back nonchalantly before walking into the direction of Viridian City. Since Fearow was captured, the entire Spearow group started to disband. Luckily, Tracey managed to capture the Spearow Paul pointed out before leaving. Ash also took a Poké Ball, to which Pidgeot quickly noticed and tapped slightly upon it. Pidgeot was gone and was back with Ash.

“So, what do we do now?” Ash asked everyone.

“Well, you need to train hard for the Challenge of the Elite Four like Paul said,” Scott announced haughtily. “You won your match against him, remember?”

“And don’t you worry about the situation with the Spearow with the dark aura and Pokérus,” Tracey added in. “Professor Oak and I will research this phenomenon and will give all of you the news about this as soon as possible.”

“So until then, we all agreed to help you train for the Elite Four, Ashy boy,” Gary said lightheartedly and placed an arm over his fellow native from Pallet Town.

“You can count on it,” Anabel said softly and gazed deep within Ash’s auburn eyes. Gary foresaw what was going to talk place and immediately took his arm off Ash. Ash somehow also predicted this and was ready… to receive a heartwarming kiss from Anabel. Everyone looked on with such warmth and love while a certain few were jealous of the love…

“The plan was a success, Ardos,” Giovanni declared proudly. “The wild Shadow Fearow and Spearow were the perfect test subjects.”

“No, it is only the beginning, Giovanni,” Ardos said with a sinister gleam in his dark glasses. “The reign of the ShadowPokérus shall begin!” Evil laughter ensued between the two criminal masterminds, which echoed throughout the entire Rocket Headquarters.

Not exactly the most creative of names, but you’ve got to deal with what you have. Anyway, next chapter should explain what the ShadowPokérus/XDrus is and what the experiments of Team Rocket and Cipher took place with the wild Spearow. And of course, Ash will be training with his friends for the Elite Four. So please, review and do whatever you have to do. Ciao!