Ashlyn and Alain were still bummed about their loss with Brandon of the Battle Pyramid. It was a hard pill to swallow at the moment. At the moment, they were taking a break near a clearing. They were on their way to the Indigo Plateau. Ashlyn was sitting down on the grass with Tesla beside her. She felt disappointed with herself.
Ashlyn let out a sigh, "What should I do, Tesla? I know I should be preparing for the Grand Festival, but I can't help doubting myself." She admitted as she looked up at the clear sky.
"Rai." Tesla said, sadly.
"Hey Ashlyn." Alain called out as he walked over to her.
"Hey Alain, how are you?" Ashlyn asked.
"Still a little bit bummed." Alain replied as he sat down next to her.
"I don't blame you." Ashlyn stated.
"I never thought I would meet an opponent like Brandon." Alain admitted.
"Yeah, I thought that we had a plan figured out. But I was wrong." Ashlyn stated.
Ashlyn and Alain sighed in defeat.
Suddenly both their Charizard's came out of their Pokéballs.
"Natsu?/Charizard?" Ashlyn and Alain blinked.
Natsu and Charizard nuzzled their trainers which caused them to smile and pet them on the head.
"Growl growl." Natsu said.
"Growl growl." Charizard insisted.
"Natsu and Charizard want us to ride them." Ashlyn translated.
"Okay then. Let's ride." Alain said.
So Ashlyn and Tesla rode on Natsu's back while Alain rode on Charizard's. The two fire/flying types went up in the air.
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"Wow, we haven't done this in a while huh Alain?" Ashlyn asked, gazing at the landscape, flying next to Charizard.
"Yeah. I've always liked riding on Charizard's back on days like these. Sometimes Mairin would join me." Alain agreed.
Suddenly their Charizard's changed direction which caused them to tighten their hold on them.
"Natsu, where are you going?" Ashlyn called out.
But Natsu and Charizard didn't answer and went in their new direction.
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When they were coming in for a landing, Ashlyn noticed someone in a clearing with two Pokémon. Soon enough, the two Charizard's landed. After they landed, Ashlyn finally got a good look at the person and two Pokémon. The man was tall and muscular. He has long black hair, tied in a thick ponytail, which dangles down his back to his shoulder blades and longish thick sideburns. He has small dark eyes with prominent eyebrows, a small nose and a square jaw. He wears white trousers with a tattered waist and ankles that are held up by a black belt, shirtless and black wristbands on his wrists. Ashlyn recognized him as Bruno of the Kanto Elite Four. The two Pokémon were his Hitmonchan and Machamp.
"Oh, hello there." Bruno greeted.
"Hi, you don't mind us here?" Alain greeted back.
"Not at all." Bruno assured them.
"Hey, aren't you Bruno of the Kanto Elite Four?" Ashlyn asked.
"Why yes I am." Bruno confirmed, "So what brings you all here?"
"Well our Charizard's brought us here." Alain replied.
"Your Charizard's?" Bruno blinked and walked over to the two Fire/flying types. He gazed at them for a moment, "I can tell that you take good care of these two." He stated.
"Thank you." Ashlyn thanked him.
"So who are you two?" Bruno asked.
"I'm Ashlyn Ketchum. This is Tesla, my Raichu and this is Natsu, my shiny Charizard." Ashlyn introduced herself and two Pokémon friends.
"I'm Alain Sycamore and this is my Charizard." Alain introduced himself and his fire/flying type.
The three Pokémon trilled in greeting.
"Pleasure to meet you all. What can I do for ya'?" Bruno greeted back.
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Ashlyn and Alain told Bruno about their loss against Brandon the Pyramid King.
"I see. It must have been hard to accept it, huh?" Bruno said.
Alain nodded, "Yeah."
"So how can you get back up from a loss, Bruno?" Ashlyn asked.
"It's not easy to. But as long as you learn something from it, you'll be able to improve yourself, and win the next battle." Bruno advised.
"You think so?" Ashlyn asked.
Bruno nodded, "As long as your loved ones are there when you hit your lowest too." He added.
Ashlyn looked over at Alain who looked over at her. Ashlyn smiled at Alain who smiled back. She knew that Bruno was right. She had Alain, Brock, Max, and May at her side. But also her Pokémon who had battled with her during her journey. Alain was there whenever she was frustrated with herself. Brock was mostly the peacekeeper whenever there were fights between the group. May would try her best to cheer them up when they had a bad day by talking about a famous restaurant. Max would give out Pokémon information when they needed it.
For Alain, Ashlyn was always there for him as he was there for her during the times when they were kids. His father and Mairin were to help him when he was on his Kalos journey. He would call Ashlyn before a gym battle, and she wished him luck. It always put a smile on his face when she smiled at him. His heart would always skip a beat when she smiled. Even with their new friends, he felt glad that he met them all. Brock felt like an older brother to him while Max was like a younger brother and May was like another sister. He also enjoyed telling May and Max about Mega Evolution and some Kalos region Pokémon.
"You're right, Bruno. I realized that I was too confident during my battle with Brandon. I should have never underestimated him. My Pokémon have been there for me just as I've been there for them." Ashlyn stated.
"I agree as well. I mostly rely on Mega Evolution most of the time during really tough battles. During my battle with Brandon, I relied too much on it. It made me realize that my Pokémon and I don't always need to use Mega Evolution to win every battle." Alain agreed.
Bruno smiled, "That's the spirit. I know that you'll be able to win your rematch with Brandon." He assured them.
"Thanks for your help, Bruno." Ashlyn and Alain thanked him in unison.
Suddenly they heard a cry and saw Bruno's Pokémon caught in a net. The net was attached to a very familiar Meowth shaped balloon. It was Team Rocket who let out their annoying laugh.
"Who are they?" Bruno asked.
"Team Rocket." Ashlyn and Alain groaned.
"I see." Bruno understood.
"We finally got a Number four's Pokémon!" James beamed.
"Natsu, Air Slash!" Ashlyn called out.
Natsu's wings glow light blue. He then flaps his wings, firing multiple light-blue, glowing blades of energy from them. The blades cut the net from the basket.
"Charizard, catch the net!" Alain added.
Charizard quickly caught the net full of Pokémon before they could hit the ground. Ashlyn, Alain and Bruno quickly undid the net, freeing the Pokémon.
"Now it's time to send you three off! Tesla, Thunderbolt! Natsu, Flamethrower!" Ashlyn ordered.
"Charizard, Dragon Pulse!" Alain added.
All three attacks hit the balloon, causing it to explode and send the Team Rocket trio flying into the sky.
"WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" Team Rocket screamed before they disappeared across the sky.
DING!
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"I can't thank you two for saving my Pokémon." Bruno thanked the two.
"We were glad to." Alain said.
"Thanks for helping us as well, Bruno." Ashlyn thanked him.
"I know we'll do better against Brandon." Alain confirmed.
"I know you two will. Before I go, I'll tell you two a little secret on Pokémon training; trainers and their Pokémon should care for each other." Bruno revealed.
Ashlyn and Alain nodded with a smile.
"Well then, good luck." Bruno waved at them before he and his Pokémon left the clearing.
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Ashlyn and Alain returned to their group and told them about their meeting with Bruno and how Team Rocket tried to take his Pokémon. Not to mention how he encourage them as well.
"You two were lucky to have met Bruno." Max whined.
Alain shrugged, "Well that's how it is."
"Thanks to him, I know that Alain and I will be able to beat Brandon in our rematch." Ashlyn said.
"I know you both will." Brock confirmed, smiling.
May and Max smiled as well.
Ashlyn and Alain smiled softly back at them.
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With the wisdom given from Bruno, a Kanto Elite Four Member, Ashlyn and Alain are now confident that they'll be able to defeat Brandon in their rematch with him. Now the gang are on their way to the Indigo Plateau where the Kanto Grand Festival is taking place.
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Pokémon Caught: Shiny Arcanine (Sonia)(F), Magmar (Fuji)(M), Hisuian Zorua (Yuki)(F), Sprigatito (Fleur)(F)