Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon School. Afternoon.
Sliding in to slow down Neighsay who was on the verge of shutting the Pokemon School down, Ash showed up in the nick of time. Thanks to the actions of Team Blastoff which consisted of the six young students plus the undercover Team Rocket, Neighsay found new reasons to shut this school down. Others showed up, gathering around Neighsay and Ash as lessons were over by this point.
"What do you have to offer? You would have to do something absolutely unheard of to convince me not to shut this school down." Chancellor Neighsay questioned. "On top of that, you do not work here at all. What part of that do you not understand?"
"Ash, please tell me you have something." Twilight put her hooves together, praying for Ash to really pull something amazing off as soon as possible. Neighsay's patience was being tested right now.
"I've got something." Ash proudly said. "It's nothing too out there, ya know. And it's something that's easy to do. Let's make a deal."
"A deal?!" Twilight teleported to Ash after hearing that. "Ash...I don't think deals are the way to go for this. The way the EEA functions doesn't leave room for deals, especially when it involves a serious scenario such as this."
"That's all I could think of, Twilight. Just trust me on this, okay?" Ash requested as he felt confident in what he proposed.
"I trust you more than anyone, Ash. But Neighsay's a tough character to deal with. He's not too fond of you being here since you're not employed at all. Just like how Princesses aren't immune to the EEA, you aren't either. Is a deal really the way to go?"
"Very well." To Twilight's surprise, Neighsay would hear him out instead of shutting it down. "What do you have to offer?"
"Wait, you'll hear him out?!" Twilight gasped. She expected a completely different response. Not this one. Not at all.
"Obviously, I will. Nothing in the guidelines that declines deals. Deals lead to negotiations which are always wonderful to discuss. See for yourself." Neighsay used his magic to show the book, opening to the page where it specifically mentioned deals. Lo and behold, Deals were not off the table when it came to the education system.
"Of course there isn't..." Twilight sighed as that was the one thing the EEA Guidelines did not bother to deal with at all. Of all the things that were approved, it had to come straight from Ash's mouth first to reveal it. If not, then deals might have been non-existent or hesitant to do here at the Pokemon School if someone was ever thinking about it.
"But!" Neighsay bellowed. "Whatever your deal is, it will have to be done by those working here. I will hear it out and see if anyone takes it at all. What do you propose?"
"Okay!" Ash grinned, leaning forward. "How about this? Let's have a battle!" Ash proposed a Pokemon Battle. Twilight's face scrunched after hearing that since a Pokemon Battle didn't sound too appropriate right about now.
"Ooh, do we get to see a Pokemon Battle!" Smolder made a prolonged gasp.
"You're proposing that? To me?" Neighsay raised an eyebrow to Ash's request, thinking about it for a moment. He would then take a look inside the EEA Book, seeing what the guidelines said about this. "Hm. Well, a good call from you, Ash Ketchum. Something like this is not against the EEA. Pokemon Battles aren't exactly something we've put in just yet. But here it does say that a duel is sometimes up for consideration."
"Wait, really? That's a thing? Why?" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"It's tradition. And nothing here objects to it aside from school brawls that are caused by conflict. I will allow it and accept it. Of course, I have to hear your terms first."
"Awesome! So hear me out. We'll have a battle and if we win, everything's all okay and approved for the Pokemon School. How's that?"
"That means we get to have the chance to keep the school and change it up?!" A young Hippogriff commented, realizing what this meant.
"More like bring it back to how it was! Yes!" A young colt yelled at the top of his lungs as the Pokemon School he and many other ponies came to love would soon return.
"Yeah! We're going to win for sure since Ash will be battling!" Sweetie Belle cheered. Resounding cheers hit the school as they saw their chances of getting the best possible school experience being raised to an all-time high. It was practically beyond 100%.
"An obvious request. And you obviously know what will happen if the opposite result appears. However! There is one drawback to this. It sounds to me like you wish to participate. But unfortunately, you can't. With this challenge, either side is allowed to disqualify one person. And in this instance, I choose you, Ash Ketchum. You are immediately disqualified from joining in on this battle."
"Huh?!" At that moment, that Beyond 100% chance quickly plummeted once it was revealed that Ash was still not allowed to do anything. Such as participating in a battle. It wasn't even the staff issue this time which made it even worse. Ash was truly exempt from it.
"Aw come on!" A frustrated Sweetie Belle roared as Neighsay managed to snatch away that piece of hope once more.
"That's not fair though!" Scootaloo yelled.
"It has to be someone who works here at this school. Obviously. Ash Ketchum. You will not be battling for the school since you are not a part of it." Neighsay ordered. "How is that?"
"Fine by me." Ash was unphased. He practically saw this coming since Neighsay hammered it into him constantly. However, Twilight would soon notice a smirk appear on his face. "Technically, you're not a worker here too, are you? So I'm guessing you won't be battling."
"I have no time for Pokemon Battling." Neighsay shook his head. "Never taken part in it. Instead, someone will battle on my behalf. And it will be someone from this school, of course. It will be decided by two individuals that go here. Either student or teacher."
"That's easy then. Let's choose the weakest student and the strongest teacher." Rarity saw this as an easy victory even without Ash involved.
"I think not. Allow me to share some of the rules that also exist with these duels. It has to be on an equal playing ground." Neighsay quickly shut that down. "That at least exists in the EEA Guidelines. And it has also been a tradition in the past so these rules have always been around. It has to be completely fair. Nothing one-sided. And of someone of Ash's level, he is the strongest trainer present here so anything with him would be over in seconds."
"Of course it does..." Rarity scowled at him. She wished it was one-sided so that it could be said and done.
"So all you have to do is have two trainers on equal grounds going against each other. On the bright side, you won't need to work here at the Pokemon School or even learn here to partake in the challenge." Neighsay continued.
"Well, I don't wanna do it on his behalf. No way." Naturally, many were greatly against siding with Neighsay. No one wished to side with him and some even had egos so large they refused to lose. Practically everyone else preferred to side with what would bring entertainment to the Pokemon School.
"The rules are as followed. Neither side can throw a duel. They have to duel at their fullest with the intention to win. No matter what." Neighsay laid out the rules, showing them in the EEA Book. "I assume some of you have some humility here. Who shall it be?"
"I'll do it. On behalf of you." Suddenly, someone approached Neighsay. The one to do so was none other than Applejack, shocking the others.
"Applejack?! Really?!" Pinkie Pie made a prolonged gasp as for a moment, it looked like Applejack was clamouring to the side of bringing the school down. But really, that was not the case.
"Sorry. We're gonna be here forever if this goes on. Might as well get it over with as soon as possible. Right, Ash?"
"Yeah..."
"Well, I have my champion. What about all of you? Don't hesitate to challenge your friend here."
"I'll take her on." Just then, words from Ash's mouth. Logically, he shouldn't be speaking at all since he didn't work here. But that was when Ash's backup plan came to fruition. Right as all attention was thrown his way, shadows would flare out of his body. Everyone gasped as Dark Magic enveloped Ash.
Dark Magic from Sombra.
His hair had been raised, turning pitch black and moving just like Sombra's hair. His eyes changed colours, taking on a sharp red while also being greatly intensified. Ash now had a menacing stare along with a devious grin. Once more, he made a comeback as Ash relinquished a majority of his spirit to King Sombra.
Ash-Sombra had shown up. Twilight caught on at last, seeing what Ash was going for. Just like that, he found an easy way to cheat the rules while still being in line with them. All the students watched in awe as Ash undertook a minimal change. It was mainly his face and hair that had changed. Everything about him was still the same.
"Nonsense! You're not allowed to battle!" Neighsay yelped, seeing this as an infringement after what was laid. "What part of that wasn't clear to you?"
"You see Chancellor Neighsay, Ash isn't allowed. But Sombra is. And right now, Sombra's the one fully in control of Ash." Twilight smirked as there was a massive technicality in all of this. "Plus, Sombra's a teacher here so this counts as a member of the school getting involved if that was a rule that ever came up."
"This is Sombra taking over his body and becoming Ash-Sombra. On top of that, he doesn't have the same skills as Ash. Those don't carry over so he should be on a fair level." Radiant Hope threw in another technicality."
"He was expecting the latter. He believed that he wouldn't have the chance to battle because he did not work here so he allowed the Ash-Sombra plan to go through," said Ash-Sombra. "But it seems like even if it is availabe to anyone, this plan will still work out.
"What a loophole! Great thinking, Ash!" Rainbow Dash yelled.
"It's very interesting around here." And watching all of this unfurl was Windflash, along with her siblings. Being away from Pegalysium and seeing what happens down here was a treat. Equestria and all the scenarios that happen here were a delight to see and hear, especially when they fully play out. And right now, the most exciting part of these scenarios was about to begin.
"Hmmrgh...Fine!" Neighsay couldn't find a clear argument against it. It was a rather clever plan. It was still a way to get Ash involved even if he probably didn't have the same skills on him. But it at least gave the students hope. "I'll allow it since it is still someone else."
"This will do just fine," Ash-Sombra spoke with the voices of Ash and Sombra in unison. Sombra was the dominant voice but Ash was still getting the chance to let his voice out. "I may lack his skills but I make up for it with pure tenacity. Are you ready, farmgirl?"
"Ready!" Applejack adjusted her hat, holding out a Poke Ball.
"That means we still have a chance to lose." Gallus bit his claws. "Is this a good idea? Can Ash just take over at the last second or something?"
"I wanna say have faith in my sister..." Apple Bloom paused for a moment. "But come on, Ash-Sombra! Win this and pummel my sister!"
"Gee, thanks, sis..." Applejack sighed, finding it odd to hear her sister cheer for someone else to defeat her.
"Bring out both of your Pokemon. I haven't got all day." Neighsay ordered, prompting them both to get started. Some students had to get home as soon as possible as their respective parents will be showing up soon.
"Very well! Appear! Lucario!"
"Out ya come! Lucario!"
Both trainers sent out their Lucarios. For Ash, it was the Sinnohan Lucario and for Applejack, it was the rare Delta Lucario. Both Lucarios appeared at the same time, making the same pose as well as they were in perfect sync. It would all come down to this. Just a one-on-one match with no other substitutions. Whichever Lucario goes down will decide the fate of this school.
"I shall go first! Lucario, use Force Palm!"
"Luca!" Ash-Sombra's Lucario made the first move, leaping into the air while channelling plenty of power into his paws.
"Lucario, use Force Palm too!"
"Caa!" This was followed by Delta Lucario doing the same. Both Lucario entered the air with all eyes following them. The students of the Pokemon School who were not ponies or even dragons and changelings would witness how a Pokemon Battle between stronger trainers would play out.
The two Force Palms were unleashed which resulted in a fierce and fast exchange of strikes. THe arms and paws of the two Lucarios moved quickly as the energy from the Force Palms would collide against each other, letting out bright orange sparks, flashes and shockwaves.
"Rrr!" Ash-Sombra's Lucario won the exchange, swinging his paws down on Delta Lucario's head. The Anubis Pokemon would recover as soon as possible, sticking the landing on the ground and causing a crack to form, almost making it a crater.
"Smash him with Bullet Punch!" Ash-Sombra brought his arm down as that was definitely the Sombra part talking.
"Luca!" Ash-Sombra could continue the assault, descending by boosting himself through the air. The orange energy around his paws would soon turn white as his attacks would become faster now.
"Counter with Bone Rush!"
"Rrr!" Delta Lucario quickly summoned two energy bones out of thin air, gripping them as hard as he could. He had no time to perform a counterattack but enough time to defend himself. He swung the bone upwards, smashing it against Lucario's steel-clad paws. The collision made a loud metal sound while also knocking away some rubble on the ground. At that moment, Delta Lucario swung his other bone, successfully landing a blow on the SInnohan Variant's face.
"C-Caaa!" Ash-Sombra's Lucario roared after being smacked, sliding on the ground right afterwards.
"Keep at it, Lucario!" Applejack shouted.
"Luca!" Delta Lucario would then continue using Bone Rush, swinging both of them forward this time. Lucario narrowed his eyes, backflipping away from the incoming swing which smashed into the school grounds yet again. Delta Lucario then quickly swung one of them as fast as he could, trying to hit his Sinnohan Variant. However, quick on his feet, after evading the first swing, Lucario then leapt to the side, avoiding the second one.
"Force Palm, once more!"
"Rrrr!" After evading the two swings, he would go in for another Force Palm. This time, disappearing for a moment before reappearing in front of the Holon Variant. Delta Lucario gasped once Ash-Sombra's Lucario reappeared so fast. He was then met with a fierce and super-effective blow to the face by Lucario's Force Palm, prompting him to stagger and stumble back.
"Nice hit!" Rainbow Dash shouted after Lucario landed such a clean and direct blow to Delta Lucario's face.
"Hit him back!"
"Rrr! Ca!" But even after being staggered, Delta Lucario would get the opportunity to retaliate. She swung the bones upwards, delivering a double uppercut to Ash- Sombra's Lucario. His teeth had been smashed against each other as he was sent flying through the air.
"See? On completely equal grounds," said Twilight as this was a clear display of both of them being equal in skill and strength. "Come on Ash...Sombra. Win this."
At the same time, finally showing up at the school to pick up their children were none other than the many parents from different species. And the showed up at an interesting time as everyone in the school had gathered around to watch this battle play out. It was a battle of fate. The fate of the Pokemon School,.
"Look at that. They're already having fun." Ember commented, completely unaware of the circumstances. "With a good ol' fashioned Pokemon Battle. I think we should come by here more often if it means we get to see battles constantly."
"From above! Launch your Aura Sphere!"
"Luca!" In the air, Ash-Sombra's Lucario would use Lucario. Both his arms were raised, gathering the great power of Aura itself in the form of an azure sphere. Even though Sombra was in control, he still had Ash's Aura with him, which correlated with the power of Lucario's Aura Sphere.
"Hit it back with Bone Rush!"
"Rrrr!" Delta Lucario had a response to that and it was by treating the sphere like a baseball. The second it was thrown down, the Holon Variant would stomp his foot on the ground, building up power in his arms. He put both bones together which prompted to merge, forming a larger and stronger bone that was fit to strike this singular Aura Sphere.
With all of his might, he swung his massive bone at the Aura Sphere, creating a bright blue flash. The impact was staggering without a doubt, forming a booming sound that many could hear. The nearby furniture and other objects of the school shattered from the sheer force of this collision.
This pleased the yaks greatly as they were merely seeing a greater reason to bring their children here. The freedom to break whatever in the heat of a Pokemon Battle was pleasing and the Griffins rather enjoyed the thought of anyone having the chance to battle, mainly for the chance to settle something.
As for the Aura Sphere, it was sent right back to Ash-Sombra's Lucario. Ash-Sombra's Lucario was hit as the sphere would carry him higher through the air before hitting the ceiling of the hallway, causing parts of it to come crashing down. An azure explosion happened on the ceiling with Ash-Sombra dropping.
"Hold on! I forgot we were still inside!" Neighsay yelled, failing to quickly realize that the battle was taking indoors instead of outside. The hallways were already being broken down from the sheer ferocity of this battle.
"Too late to change that now! Come on, Lucario! Super-effective blows only!" Rainbow Dash clamoured along with many other students.
"Are you sure you don't have Ash's skills?" Applejack smiled as Ash-Sombra's Lucario stuck the landing, shaking his head.
"Hmph. Just you wait and see. Very soon, this will be over." ASh-Sombra confidently said with that devious look on his face. "Double Team!"
"Rrr! Lucario!" Lucario would then multiply himself, creating multiple clones that appeared all across the hallway the rest of the vicinity of this area. The students gasped as Lucarios appeared right next to them in different poses and positions. They were amazed as now the battle was near them which greatly pleased them.
This far surpassed what they had done in class so far. This is what they wanted from the Pokemon School. Pure excitement that involved interactions with the Pokemon and they were already getting a good display of what that could entail, especially to those who loved and were interested in Pokemon Battles. One Lucario even appeared behind Neighsay, startling him for a moment.
The parents and leaders of each species watched how pleased the students were, completely unaware of the full context. They simply assumed they were having fun the entire time but it was only until now that they found some enjoyment. Delta Lucario looked everywhere, seeing that there were many Lucarios to watch out for.
"Swarm him with Bullet Punch!"
"Lucario!" Each of the SInnohan Lucarios would advance towards their Holon Variant. They ran across the walls, leapt off them and even ran past the students. Neighsay moved aside once one of the Lucarios took off as each of them had a Bullet Punch ready.
"Quick, Lucario! Block 'em all!"
"Rrr!" Delta Lucario could only block right now, unable to find a way to deal with all of these Lucarios at the moment. From all sides, multiple Bullet Punches came flying in, rapidly striking Delta Lucario while he was in a defensive stance. He was lucky that he resisted Steel but all these blows were doing gradual damage that will eventually wear him down. Blue blurs flew in from all sides with each Bullet Punch that was used.
"Push 'em away with Dark Matter!"
"Luca!" At that moment, Delta Lucario found his answer. And that was in the form of Dark Matter. His signature move. By
drawing power from unknown forces across the world, Delta Lucario's body was exuding a black aura each time he was hit. After gathering all that power, he would unleash it, spreading his arms out in the process. "Rio!"
A dark blast of matter was unleashed, striking every Lucario clone. All the Lucario clones gasped as they were wiped out by the Dark Matter which made an unknown sound that no one here had even thought could exist. It sounded like it came from another world with how enigmatic it was.
The students all either widened their eyes in amazement or closed them. Either way, they were having the time of their life as Ash-Sombra held onto his hat, watching each of his clones disappear. Neighsay grinned after seeing this mass obliteration, believing that Ash-Sombra's Lucario received a hit.
"L-Luca!" And it looked like he did as he was sent flying back, exiting the dark smoke. That Dark Matter hit way harder than he expected, as the darkness was trailing out of his body.
"Hm-hm!" Neighsay chuckled, seeing the Sinnoh Lucario groan in pain. That Dark Matter seemed to have dealt the most damage in this battle compared to what has been shown. The students collectively gasped after seeing the state Lucario was in compared to Delta Lucario. "Well, it seems you were right about him lacking Ash's skills. If this were Ash, this would have been over soon. This battle is over."
"Not yet!" Ash-Sombra roared as Ash's voice became very dominant. He was the one speaking through Sombra before Sombra took control back once more. This battle was not over yet and Applejack knew this as well.
There was one more Lucario clone and it was the one that was sent flying back. In reality, it was being kept around longer to elude everyone else. Once it vanished, the real Lucario jumped out of the dark smoke, ready to strike once more.
"You are completely wide open! Finish it with Aura Sphere!"
"Lu...Ca....!" A full-power Aura Sphere was incoming, building up in Lucario's paws. This one looked to be the strongest yet in this battle as it would pulsate violently, making Lucario's arms tremble.
"What are you doing?! Move out of the way!" Neighsay yelled as Lucario was taking his sweet time building up Aura Sphere. It looked like the perfect time to retaliate while Delta Lucario was at it but there was just one catch with an attack as powerful as Dark Matter.
"Sorry...Dark Matter lets the user recharge. Can't do much about that." Applejack shrugged, revealing the drawback. Neighsay's jaw dropped as the Full Power Aura Sphere was unleashed.
Once it was fired, it made a booming sound akin to that of a sonic boom while also sending shockwaves that rippled the atmosphere and air, visible to everyone's eyes. Delta Lucaro still hadn't finished recharging, being completely still. Thus, Aura Sphere could hit its mark.
A great azure gale appeared around in the middle of the hallway afterwards. That was most definitely a super-effective hit and then some. There was definitely some massive damage done to the hallways that needed repairs but at this point, no one cared. It was only the result of the battle that mattered Jaws dropped as Delta Lucario was flown out of the blue smoke.
That full-power attack from Sinnohan Lucario did the trick as the victor of this all-out and fair battle had been decided. Delta Lucario had fained. "Lucario..."
"That's that!" Pinkie Pie called it, blowing a whistle that Mew lent her. "Bluecario wins!" She nicknamed Ash's Lucario. "That means Ash-Sombra wins it all!"
"Hmph," Ash-Sombra smirked, crossing his arms and feeling truly victorious. Everyone felt victorious. All of the students broke out with a victorious energy coming out of them. They filled the atmosphere with glee as their side won. The ideal Pokemon School that they all had in mind could come to fruition at last.
"Thanks, partner. We tried out best. But honestly, I'm glad we lost. Very glad." Applejack went up to him while cheers kept flooding in.
"Rrr?" Delta Lucario failed to understand why Applejack was glad but she would reveal it to him later.
"Ah! That can't be! That is still the body of Ash! Surely he had to have influenced the battle somehow!" Neighsay objected, figuring that Ash was still playing a part in this. It seemed awfully convenient that he won after everything that was said.
"Nope. That was 100% Sombra. It's just the voice that's different." Twilight shook her head. "That did look like a fair battle, didn't it?"
Sombra relinquished control over Ash's body as the shadow hair and crimson eyes would vanish. Ash was back after letting Sombra take the wheel. And for his first official Pokemon Battle, he did well indeed. It was a rather fast-paced battle as both sides wanted to end this as soon as possible.
"Ridiculous..." Neighsay sighed, shaking his head. "I ran into that one myself, agreeing to that challenge. Something like this was bound to happen."
"That means we get to have it however we want! So much for these!" Smolder would then remove the outfits that Team Rocket lent them, shocking the three of them. Due to this victory, she didn't have to be a rebel to have fun. Now, all the fun would be natural and it would be ideal too which far surpassed what Team Rocket offered with their fake team name, Team Blastoff. Sandbar and the others took off the outfits, returning to their fellow students.
"Whatever!" Jessie scoffed after the six of them left, minimizing the fake team. "They'll be back"
"Will they?" James questioned.
"Oh, believe me, they will." Jessie was confident that they would see them again. This plan that Meowth made wasn't over yet. Not when the school year was still fresh and new and the horizons of the students were only just beginning.
Every student lingered at this moment. Great days were coming their way it seemed and they just couldn't wait. The parent still had no idea what was going on. Twilight was greatly relieved. She knew that she could count on Ash. Once more, he brought a staggering amount of hope and thanks to the friends around him, granted that hope upon them all.
"Very well. You won fair and square. At least I hope you did." Neighsay said with a mild groan, obviously displeased that his side lost. "However...There is one more thing to add before I leave.
"Yeah? What's that?" Ash asked.
"Obviously, this school breaks...so many rules of the EEA it's unbelievable. And this battle is already a sign of how the school's surroundings will be affected. By all accounts, I should bring this down. But no. Instead, I will leave it to you to sort out. Away from the EEA."
"Wait...By that are you saying...?" Fluttershy uttered, trying to figure out what Neighsay meant by it.
"Make up your own rules. Let this be the first school to do its own thing." Neighsay shrugged. I was lenient of the Pokemon School in the beginning since Cynthia managed to convince me that it was from another universe. I allowed it to play by its own rules. Now...it seems that you all will play by your own rules and you are just reckless enough to do it."
"Gee, thanks." Smolder took that as a compliment.
"But I'm warning you." Neighsay had one last thing to say before his departure. "You'd best be careful. Otherwise, this whole school will come crumbling down if you fail to truly teach the students. And if that happens, the EEA will be there. Mark my words." Finally, Neighsay had left, giving a rather ominous warning to them all. But a majority of them didn't think too much of it. They were just happy to get to enjoy school at last.
"W-What exactly happened here?" Chrysalis asked, greatly confused as to why so many were gathered to see one battle and why Neighsay was talking about the destruction of the school.
"We'll tell you later. Right now, all of these students should be getting home." Twilight giggled as she excitedly flapped her wings. The true nature of the Pokemon School was about to return. It was only one day of it being rather dull but by tomorrow, it would be as if nothing happened.
"Well, we're done here." Ash had nothing else to do here. He did what he had to do. Keeping his friends happy by giving them a chance to keep the Pokemon School around. Soon, everyone would head home, preparing for tomorrow, which will be the third day of the Pokemon School. And when it can truly begin.
It was a rather turbulent two days for the students. But little do they know, this was merely the tip of the iceberg of what could happen here. When around the many friends of Ash Ketchum and Twilight Sparkle, they should only expect the wildest of things. And with the Pokemon School being the ideal version of what they all wanted, that was about to start sooner than they would ever expect.
As the journey continues.
Chapter 223 End.