Pokemon Shine Diamond

[EmeraldSky]

@Scytherwolf; @Soups;


Episode 3: When Pokemon Worlds Collide

Ash froze as he saw the dull purple haired boy watching him from a bush. It's Kamon all over again... he silently worried as he led Dawn and Brock around the corner and away from the lab.

He sighed, and worked up the courage to ask Dawn "Did you see anyone hiding in the bushes near the lab's front walk?"

"I don't think so..." Dawn replied. "Why would someone be hiding in the bushes?"

"During one of my previous trips, I ran into a rival this way." Ash explained. "So who am I to think that a rival's following me now?"

"Rivals aren't necessarily a bad thing...remember Gary? And Brendan?" Brock asked as the group started down the road leading outside the town.

"That was different..." Ash replied. "Gary was blinded by pride for a while, but never forgot the friendship we had. Brendan was the kind of rival anyone would want--encouraging you to get better and stronger, but never humiliating you or putting you down. If he did criticize me at all, it was constructive criticism--gently telling me was I was not doing well on, and how I could do it better. This guy...I have a bad feeling about him."

He was about to say more when he noticed Tintri had disappeared. "Funny, where'd Tintri get to?"

Some Pikachu squeaks and squawking coming from a forested alcove spurred him to investigate. When he peeked down into the small forested grove, he found Tintri facing off with a Starly. "Hey!" he called as Tintri unleashed a Thunderbolt. "Leave that Starly alone!"

"This Starly doesn't appear to be owned..." Brock mused. "It may be wild, and free for the catching, if you'd like."

Ash's angry grimace turned to an excited smile as he consulted his Pokedex:

"Starly, the starling Pokemon. They tend to flock in great numbers. Though small, they flap their wings with great power."

Excited, Ash grabbed a Poke Ball. "If anyone owns this Starly, please say something now! Otherwise, I'm gonna catch it!"

[Perfect timing, Ash...] Tintri replied. [I just saw this little alcove, and decided to look for Berries. Then this Starly jumped me.]

Ash smiled. "You had me worried for a second, but I'm glad you're okay."

He turned business-like again. "Use Thunderbolt!"

"Great shot!" Brock smiled as the Thunderbolt hit the Starly. Despite being dazed from the powerful attack, it cleared the smoke and char away with a Whirlwind.

"Okay, now try Electro Ball!" Ash called.

Tintri started charging a yellow sparking ball of electricity in his paws. But the ball went flying off into the sky as the Starly rammed into him. [Ah! Ow! Oof!] he cried as the Starly battered him with its wings.

He finally managed to roll away from the Starly and dart back to Ash's side. After charging his second Electro Ball, he heaved it at the Starly, sending it fluttering to the ground in an electric explosion.

"Glad you finally got that off." Ash grinned before heaving his Poke Ball at the Starly. "Poke Ball, go!"

The group quietly watched as the Poke Ball shook. Please don't break... Ash pleaded as he watched the shaking Poke Ball. Please don't break...

"One...two...three..." Brock counted the wiggles before he saw the ball's center dim. "You got it, Ash."

Ash beamed as the Poke Ball's center dimmed. "Yeah! I got a Starly!"

Dawn applauded Ash's joyful pose. "What are you gonna name your Starly, Ash?"

"Estrella!" Ash replied.

"That's 'Eh-streh-yah'. Brock corrected Ash. "Not 'Eh-streh-la', like what you said--a double L in Spanish is pronounced like a Y."

"Like how a J is pronounced like an H?" Ash asked.

"Something like that." Brock replied before noticing the sun was setting. "Let's find somewhere to camp--it's getting late."

"Good idea!" Dawn agreed. "I want to see if your storytelling skill is as good as you say it is!"

---------

The next morning, the group departed from their camp in high spirits. "Here we go! Off on a new adventure!" Ash smiled.

"The closest city from here is Jubilife City." Dawn explained. "It's Shinou's communication and media hotspot. People come from all over the world to try and make it big in radio or TV. Mom also said there's a Contest Hall there, as well."

She was about to say more when she saw a familiar boy with dull purple hair blocking the road. "Is that the same guy you said was hiding in the bushes near the lab yesterday?"

Brock recognized the boy. "It is!"

"So you must be Prof. Rowan's new favorite..." the boy sneered as he approached Ash. "You're still just a kid!"

"I am NOT a kid!" Ash shot back. "I have traveled across three regions, and completed three Leagues! So I should know a thing or two about Pokemon..."

He realized he had not asked the boy's name. "Say, what's your name? Before I decide to call you something you may not like?"

"Name's Paul." the boy replied. "If you're as great as you claim, then let's battle--right here, right now!"

Ash did his hardest to suppress the anger welling up inside him. "Okay, we'll battle--name your terms."

"Three on three single match, with no swapping out." Paul began. "Best two out of three wins."

"That's fair." Ash replied as Brock hurried to draw a Poke Ball emblem in the dust to create a semblance of a battlefield.

"I'll referee, if you like." Brock offered before giving Ash one of his Poke Balls. "Ash--I'll lend you Hinata to support Estrella and Tintri, if you like."

"Thanks." Ash replied as he accepted the Poke Ball.

"Ash, huh?" Paul sneered. "Just what you're going to be after I set you ablaze with my skill in battle!"

---------

"Representing the Diamond side, Ash and Estrella!" Brock announced, making a grand gesture to Ash and his Starly.

Estrella cheered, happy that at least someone knew how to pronounce her name correctly. "...and representing the Pearl side, Paul and Aquila!"

[Bring it!] Paul's Starly taunted.

"Everyone ready?" Brock asked, to cheers from both sides. "And three, two, one..."

Both Starlies charged at each other as the whistle blew. "Estrella, use Quick Attack!" Ash called.

Paul just smirked as Aquila looped out of the way of Estrella's attack. "A hot shot trainer, and yet you can't say your Pokemon's name right..."

He turned business-like again. "Aquila, use Aerial Ace!"

"Estrella, try to counter with Wing Attack!" Ash called, aware of Paul's Starly streaking at his own Starly in a burst of white light. Thankfully, the Aerial Ace clipped Estrella for minimal damage.

[But which one's the real one?] Estrella asked. She watched in horror as what seemed like hundreds of copies of Aquilla looped back around the field.

He used Double Team to throw Estrella off! Ash grumbled as he watched Aquilla slam into Estrella, knocking her out. It's like he's cheating!

He sighed. "Estrella, return."

"Eh-streh-yah!" Brock corrected him.

Okay, okay, I'll work on getting her name right! Ash grumbled as he heaved the Poke Ball Brock had lent him skyward. "Hinata, let's go!" he called revealing a familiar six tailed fox Pokemon.

"Goku, here we go!" Paul heaved his own Poke Ball skyward. The flash of light revealed a familiar red monkey Pokemon with a flaming tail.

Piqued, Ash read up on his opponent:

"Chimchar, the chimp Pokemon. It agilely scales sheer cliffs to live atop craggy mountains. Its fire is put out when it sleeps."

This must be one of the starters of this region... Ash thought when he saw a "START" icon by the picture of the Chimchar on the Pokedex.

"Your move, Diamond." Brock's voice snapped him to reality.

"Hinata, use Ember!" Ash called as he pocketed his Pokedex.

"Goku, counter with your own Ember!" Paul commanded.

Both trainers braced themselves as the two attacks exploded in the center of the makeshift arena. [Now what?] Hinata looked to Ash for advice on how to beat the fire monkey Pokemon before her.

"Try Flamethrower!" Ash called.

He watched in horror as some flaming rings cut through the stream of fire, canceling out Hinata's attack! "Friendly reminder, Ash. Many attacks, including Flamethrower, fail if the Pokémon gets hit when the attack is charging up." Brock reminded Ash.

SAY... Ash thought. "Hinata, use Double Team!"

He gasped as an Ember incinerated all the Hinata copies, and the real Hinata screeched in pain as she was slashed by Goku's claws. "Hinata, Flamethrower if you can!"

[He thinks he's so high and mighty...] Hinata growled as she shakily stood up. [But I'll show him who burns the brightest!]

With that, she nimbly leaped over two more Flame Wheels. [HAAAAAAAH!!!] she screeched, unleashing a Flamethrower from the air, knocking the Chimchar out.

"Thanks, Hinata." Ash smiled as he recalled the Vulpix. "Tintri, you're up!"

"Surge, let's go!" Paul summoned a small yellow creature with a plug-like head and black stripes.

Oh, this is Elekid, the young form of Electabuzz! Ash thought, recognizing a familiar thunderbolt mark on the small Pokemon's stomach. "Tintri, use Thunderbolt!"

Paul was unfazed as his Elekid absorbed Tintri's attack. "Surge, use Thunder!"

Since we both have Electric types, let's try a different tactic... Ash thought as he watched Tintri absorb the massive Thunder blast without batting an eye.

Inspired, he called "Tintri, use Disarming Voice!"

"Surge, use Protect to stop the attack!" Paul countered.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Tintri sang, creating some sparking red soundwaves. Surge went flying back from the sonic wave, crashing into a tree.

"What was that strange melody Tintri sang to create that attack?" Dawn wondered.

"That song was Ash's Heart Song--a key component of Mega Evolution." Brock replied. "We'll explain more later."

"Tintri, try Iron Tail!" came Ash's next order.

"Surge, counter with Brick Break!" Paul commanded.

Dawn watched as Tintri leaped towards the Elekid, with both attacks connecting in a flash of light. They're evenly matched! she thought as the Pikachu and the Elekid traded blows. It's too close to call!

When the dust settled some minutes later, Brock saw that both Tintri and Surge had fainted together. After blowing his whistle to signal the end of the match, he announced "No contest! This match is a tie!"

[How'd...I...do?] Tintri wheezed.

"You did very well, bud." Ash smiled as he picked up his tired Pikachu and led the way back to the main road. "Even if it was a tie."

Just then, Lucas arrived. "Oh, did you guys finish a battle?"

"Yeah...it was a tie." Ash replied.

"Professor, that ruckus was only Ash battling someone." Lucas reported as Prof. Rowan arrived. "You didn't need to worry."

Everyone gasped as Paul heaved another Poké Ball skyward, revealing another Starly. "What was that for?" Ash protested. "We battled three on three like you requested, and it came out a tie."

"I know that." Paul replied. "But know that there will be other Starlies even stronger than this one."

He then bowed before Professor Rowan. "It was an honor to battle, sir."

Ash growled as Paul departed down the road. How dare he disrespect Pokémon like that? I wanna give him a piece of my mind!

To Be Continued...