Episode 2: The Basics of Battle

After a quick breakfast at the hotel buffet, the group caught a bus to the dojo in Neos City. "Wow..." Serena gasped as she looked up at the majestic Japanese-esque building that towered over the bus stop.

"Pewter Gym could fit in there and there would still be room!" Brock agreed as he watched the championship banners in the entryway flutter in the morning breeze.

Ash was unfazed by the building's size. "Come on! Nia said she'd be expecting us here!" With hat, he led the way inside, where Nia was waiting by the front desk.

"I've reserved us a classroom arena for you guys, so I can teach you and your friends the basics of Synergy Battles." Nia explained before accepting a teacher pass from the receptionist. "We'll be inside room 2B."

Misty noticed the walls that looked into the arenas. "Those arenas look way bigger than what we've seen before..." she mused as she looked down on the arenas seemingly far below.

"Well, the dojo entryway and the classrooms are on the second floor, and the competitor entryways are up here too." Nia explained as she led the way inside arena 2B.

The whoosh of the door opening snapped a black creature with a magenta hood on its head to attention. [Nia...you're back! I've prepared places for your students to sit.] it reported, gesturing a claw to four desks at the front with a small notebook and pens on each of them.

"Thanks, Raven." Nia replied as the group took their seats. "Everyone, this is Raven, my Weavile--she is my battle partner when we compete, and my assistant when I teach."

"Hi, Raven...I'm Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town." Ash smiled as he offered his hand for Raven to sniff.

[Pleased to meet your acquaintance, Ash] Raven smiled with a little bow. [Might I know the names of your companions, too?]

"Sure...meet Misty..." Misty waved hello. "Brock..." Brock waved hello. "...and Serena." Serena waved hello before settling into the seat in the middle of the row.

[All right...just choose one of the four seats in the row with supplies on them.] Raven instructed. Ash nodded, and chose the seat by Serena.

"Are we gonna have a test at the end, or something?" Misty shuddered as she took the seat next to Brock.

Raven giggled at Misty's shocked expression. [Oh no, this test is not a written exam, but a practical exam...if you pay attention to my master's lesson, you'll do just fine.]

"I see..the notebooks are for our reference should we choose to write stuff down." Brock mused before writing "SYNERGY BATTLES 101" on the top of the first page.

"Um, Nia? If we want to compete alongside Ash, where are we going to get some of those headset things?" Misty asked.

"Besides, as Brock always says, no great hero ever fought alone." Serena agreed, making Brock smile in agreement.

"So you want to compete as a team? Here you go!" Nia smiled as she offered the group some small headsets. "These are the heartbeat of Synergy Battles--the Synergizer." she explained to the others.

"What does it do?" Ash asked, intrigued by his own Synergizer.

"Basically, no more calling attacks to the Pokemon--the Pokemon's spirit merges with yours, meaning they will fight on their own based on your personality." Nia explained. "Thankfully, this does not mean that you will feel the same pain they do when fighting."

"That's a relief..." Misty grinned. "So, if the Pokemon fights on their own, then why do we wear these?"

"The Synergizer creates and maintains the link between hearts, so take it off and the synergy between hearts is gone." Nia cautioned. "You can still speak to your Pokemon on the field, but depending on what you say, they will talk back!"

"Meaning..." Serena pressed Nia for more information.

"If you say a taunt, your Pokemon will repeat that taunt in its own voice based on yours." Nia explained. "Words of encouragement will boost your Synergy gauge, creating some pretty powerful attacks."

She noticed the Mega Rings on the group's fingers. "You can also induce Mega Evolution by singing your Heart Song over the Synergizer, granting your Pokemon access to some very special attacks. However, some Pokemon that can't Mega Evolve can still gain access to these attacks if the bond between hearts is strong enough."

"Oh"s went up from the group. "If you're competing as a team in the Ferrum League, the team members need to all agree on a single Pokemon to represent the team. This Pokemon will be known as the Team Pokemon." Nia continued. "Of course, if you're going up against an opponent your Team Pokemon is weak against, you can use any other Pokemon you have--these Pokemon are called Standby Pokemon or Support Pokemon."

Ash addressed his companions. "Any objections to using Pikachu as our Team Pokemon?"

"No qualms here." Misty smiled.

"Go for it!" Brock agreed.

"Pikachu seems like the best choice." Serena replied. "Now what are we gonna call ourselves, and who's our team captain?"

Misty glanced at the Mega Rings she and her companions wore--the teardrop shaped ruby set in white gold Ash wore, the sapphire against a diamond flower she wore, the emerald sandwiched between ivy inlays Brock wore, and the Vivillion shaped topaz Serena wore. "Team Rainbow?"

"Nah...that's probably taken." Serena replied.

"Millions of teams from all over Ferrum and the world compete every year, so you'll want a team name that stands out." Nia suggested.

"Team Colors is boring..." Ash sighed

"Why not try adding a foreign ending to a common word to make it sound exotic?" Brock suggested. "So 'colors' becomes 'colori', 'colore' or 'coloria', for example.

"I like Team Colore!" Serena interjected. "Has a nice ring to it."

"Since Pikachu is primarily Ash's Pokemon, it makes sense he be the captain." Misty agreed.

Nia smiled. "All right, since you seem to have decided on a team name and a captain, come with me to the competitor's box." She motioned for the group and Raven to follow her into an open room overlooking the arena.

[I'll take Pikachu down to the arena.] Raven told Nia as she led Pikachu into a small elevator n the far left corner of the room.

"Okay...welcome to the competitor's box--this is where you'll be during matches." Nia explained. "Normally the person guiding the Pokemon will be another room without distractions, but for practice purposes, the Synergy Console--where the Synergist sits during the match--is out in the open."

Raven returned to the room. [Pikachu's ready to battle.] she reported before sprawling on a platform near Misty.

Brock quizzically studied his Synergizer. "So, how do we turn these on?"

"Simply say the Pokemon's name, 'Power, Synergize' to initiate the link and synergize with the Pokemon in the arena." Nia explained. "Once a person synergizes with the Pokemon, it can't be changed, so keep that in mind."

A Lucario training dummy rose up from the arena floor some time later. "Anyone want to give the Synergizer a try?"

"I do!" Ash volunteered as he sat before the Synergy Console and put on his Synergizer. "Pikachu Power, Synergize."

At this command, the Synergizer glowed yellow, allowing him to see Pikachu's information, and his link created by the Synergizer.

Nia balked in surprise when she saw the strength of Ash and Pikachu's link. "Wow--your link is maxed out!"

"Considering how close they are and all they've been through together, I'm not surprised..." Serena grinned as she watched Pikachu glow yellow--a sign his and Ash's hearts were linked.

"All right...usually your Pokemon will move, dash, and strafe on the field by its own accord, but if you want it to go somewhere specific, say the location." Nia explained, gesturing to Pikachu circling the training dummy in the arena below. "Likewise, words like 'dodge', 'be careful', 'watch out' and their derivatives will tell your Pokemon to dodge."

"Got it!" Ash nodded, making Pikachu flash a thumbs up at the same time.

"Okay...first we'll try some ranged attacks--you should see what Pikachu can use on the Synergy console." Nia went on. "Unlike traditional battles, you don't say 'Pikachu, use X'--all you have to say is the attack name, and he'll perform it."

"All right, let's try...Sparkling Thunder!" Ash commanded.

Serena watched in amazement as Pikachu fired some sparkling thunderbolts, which arced off the walls and into the training dummy. "Cool!"

"You learn quickly!" Nia smiled. "If you want Pikachu to keep using the same attack, say 'again' after the first attack lands to use the same attack again."

"Got it!" Ash replied.

"Okay...now tell Pikachu to use a homing attack." Nia instructed.

Ash brought up the list of homing attacks, then called "Electric Roar!"

"PIKAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" Pikachu screamed, creating a sparking Raikou head that slammed into the training dummy.

Nia applauded. "That's it! Next we'll talk about the two phases of a Synergy battle-Field Phase and Duel Phase. Field Phase is where you are now, as you're far from the opponent. Duel Phase is when the opponents are close, allowing them to engage in close combat. The phases will naturally shift as you engage both up close and far away."

"That makes sense." Brock mused as he copied Nia's tips and instructions into his notebook, periodically looking over at Raven, then turning his attention to the battle below.

"As Pikachu both lands hits and takes damage, you'll notice a gauge under Pikachu's portrait filling up--that is your Burst Gauge." Nia explained. "But more on that in a minute...for now, let's talk defense."

"Okay." Ash replied, making Pikachu nod in agreement.

"While this training dummy can't attack, you can still tell Pikachu to defend from it." Nia explained. "As I said before, words like 'dodge' 'be careful' and 'watch out' will tell Pikachu to dodge. But you can also tell him 'brace'--this will make him block an incoming attack."

"Okay....brace!" Ash commanded, prompting Pikachu to assume a defensive pose.

"Not all moves you can name are attacks--some will defend and support your Pokemon." Nia went on. "Now, about the Burst Gauge...once it is full, sing your Heart Song or name your Pokemon and say 'Color Burst'

Ash nodded, and sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... engulfing the arena in rainbow light as the power collected in the Burst Gauge surged through Pikachu.

He watched in awe as Pikachu's tail glowed cyan, leaving a rainbow trail before delivering a punch that created a rainbow explosion on the training dummy.

"Whoa..." Misty gasped.

"That was cool!" Serena replied.

"I call that 'Rainbow Shock Fist'." Nia smiled as Ash removed his Synergizer. "And there you go! That's the basics of a Synergy Battle--but if you guys have any questions, or want to review something, just tell me!"

TO BE CONTINUED...