Chapter 1: An Unforseen Path
Chapter Text
"And we are down to just one! minute! left! of the Sinnoh Grand Festival Finals! The margins are looking narrow, but our two finalists both refuse to give up an inch!"
Two seasoned rivals stood strong down on the battlefield, under the dome of a densely packed stadium. On one end was May, wearing her floral blood orange top, matching tied up headband, and shorts. She took a wide stance, with fire in her sapphire eyes. Opposite of her was Drew; her green-locked rival and partner, sporting an open red jacket with yellow trimmings and matching shorts. He stood upright, shoulders locked and stature rigid as usual. His emerald eyes flicked about the field with uncontested vigilance. His brow dipped as he was the first to take the offensive, waving a hand. "Roserade, use Flash! Staraptor, use Brave Bird!"
Drew's Roserade vaulted high above the battlefield with her strong legs, polished from years of battling and performing. She eclipsed the dome's spotlights, crossing her bouquets over her masquerade. Sequentially, a Staraptor pulled up directly below, wings spread. A blood-soaked crescent flicked over his eyes. A show woman and a predator of the skies aligned.
Blinding light consumed the entirety of the dome, forcing May to guard her eyes and wince.
An airborne Blaziken cried out, blinded by the flash. Even those in the audience had to squint and look past the gaps in their fingers to see what came next. A godly light descended from the flashpoint like a comet. Blue blazes weaved around Staraptor, swirling with Flash's overpowering glow, and he crashed into Blaziken like a comet. Blue sparks danced wildly about.
Blaziken plummeted to the field, crashing into it in a cloud of dust and dirt.
Meanwhile, Staraptor retreated into Flash's glow as it started to dim. His recoiling was hidden.
"Ooooh! That was a marvelous combination on behalf of Staraptor and Roserade! And it looks like Blaziken is on the ropes from a super-effective hit! Is this it for May and her Pokémon!?"
As Lilian cried with sensationalism, May's points dipped down to a quarter full. The brunette patted her cheeks, maintaining her composure. "Blaziken! Can you still keep fighting?"
"Blaaa…!" Blaziken grunted, struggling to stand. Before he could make a show of his injuries, though, two vines tied around his waist. He was tossed and vaulted into a jump, making a clean landing before the audience. He turned to May's Venusaur, pumping his fist in thanks.
"Saur!" Venusaur cried, smiling brightly. She was his teammate, after all!
"A valiant effort," Drew praised from across the fray. Although, it was ultimately backhanded. "But if all you can do is survive, then you've got no style. Hardly the Grand Festival ending I imagined." With a signature flick of his hair, he called his siren song. "Let's set the stage. Roserade, Petal Dance! Staraptor, Feather Dance!"
With Flash finally dying out, Staraptor and Roserade could be seen, with the latter standing atop the former. Roserade disbanded, taking to the air with a leap, before turning into a flawless twirl. Blue and red petals whipped up in a frenzy, dancing around both cooperating Pokémon.
While Roserade moved with gentle grace, Staraptor danced violently and with passion, beating his wings about as if he were trying to intimidate his prey. Dark gray and blood red feathers whipped up in the updraft of Petal Dance, whipping about their user.
"How powerful! Drew says his signature closing line, while conducting his finishing move! Roserade and Staraptor are engaged in a striking ballad, showing off their respective grace and brutality! Feathers and petals tell us all we need to know about their prowess!"
Staraptor then beat his wings, and Roserade swept her bouquets in a downward cross. Petal Dance and Feather Dance whipped into a typhoon, plummeting towards May's Pokémon.
May's points dropped to a sliver.
May smirked, rather than let the taunts shake her. She knew Drew liked to goad. "You're not getting under our skin, this time! It's time for us to take the stage!" She punched the air with her declaration. "Venusaur! Fire back with Petal Blizzard!"
Venusaur aimed her full bloom towards the storm, and responded in turn. A storm of pink petals ascended and clashed with the combination move, throwing whipping winds and pleasant aromas about. She dug her claws in, pouring in her full efforts; Petal Blizzard intensified.
But, the clash was still two against one. Venusaur was losing ground.
"It's your turn, Blaziken! Join in with your Sky Uppercut!"
Blaziken leaned into a crouch, and then punched the air with a skyward jump. A billowing wind built up around his fist and shot into the Petal Blizzard, doubling the storm's size and velocity.
Petal Blizzard overwhelmed Roserade and Staraptor's storm, tossing the two Pokémon into howling winds and tossing them about. Their own combination was turned on them violently!
"What's this!? The tides have been turned, with Sky Uppercut! What a show!"
"Let's finish this, Blaziken!" May declared triumphantly. "Use Blaze Kick!"
Blaziken danced on the winds, igniting his leg with a fiery lasso. He crossed Roserade and Staraptor with flaming kicks, knocking them about the storm, and scorching them each time. Embers and blazes ignited one petal and feather after another, decorating the sky with pyre.
The winds increased his velocity evermore, catapulting him across his opponents, kick after kick. The audience was in loud awe of the blazing storm, until…
'Ding!'
"Time up!"
The winds conjured by dance started to die, with burning petals and ashes cascading over the battlefield. Blaziken landed on one knee, poised. Roserade and Staraptor hit the stage with a thud.
"Staraptor! Roserade!" Drew cried. His Pokémon struggled to stay upright, as all eyes turned up to the display board overhead, displaying May and Drew's visages, points and all. The margin was so very narrow . . .
. . . But, May's points were just slightly higher. Her portrait took over Drew's.
"And the winner of this Grand Festival is . . . May, of Petalburg City!"
The audience erupted in excitement, as both Coordinators approached each other to exchange words unheard, by the crowd beyond. At a distance, they could be seen smiling tenderly, and Drew took May's hands. With a giggle, May leaned in to claim her rival in a kiss. Drew faltered, but ultimately reciprocated, cradling her hips in a tender embrace.
"Wooh, now that's one for the front page! I'd be hard pressed to say there are any hard feelings between these two contestants, folks! In a stunning upset, May and her Pokémon upstaged Drew to claim their title of Top Coordinator! Was that a battle, or what!?"
"Yes! Way to go, May!" Ash pumped a fist, throwing his other arm around Dawn's shoulder.
"Oh, that was fantastic!" Dawn cooed. Her eyes shimmered with awe and pride in her friend alike, as she stared down at her brand new, latest model Pokétch worn on her wrist, which she'd bought with her Ribbon Cup prize money. Complete with a phone app and an internet connection, it'd just broadcast May's Grand Festival victory. "My heart's still hammering! Oh, I'm so happy for her~!" She threw her arms around Ash in her glee, and he spun her around.
"How awesome is that!?" Ash put down, pumping his fists. "All three of us won this year!"
"Pol!?" Empoleon's voice could be heard from a short distance. Off the railing of the travel ship they were currently aboard, Empoleon swam alongside the vessel, with Peeks riding on his back. He squawked and craned his neck, asking his trainer for a status update.
"She won!" Dawn waved over the railing. "Oh, you should've seen it, Empoleon! Blaziken was just incredible!"
The Emperor parroted something to Peeks, and the mouse held his breath, before he submerged into the salty deep. Moments later, Empoleon emerged and soared skyward, twirling gracefully to land atop the deck; his steely feathers shimmering under the sun, all the while.
Peeks hopped off of his friend, shaking the sea water out of his fur. "Prrrri…!"
Ash guarded himself from the spray, pouting. "Hey, watch it, Bud!"
"My bad," Peeks uttered sheepishly. His shame quickly melted, as he hurried up Ash's shoulder with a grin. "So, that was it? May's a Top Coordinator now, too!?"
"You bet she is!" Ash grinned. "Aw, we'll have to show you guys a rerun later. It was awesome!"
Meanwhile, Empoleon watched the crowning ceremony alongside Dawn on her Pokétch.
"I'd say this is a good omen," Peeks chirped, giddily nuzzling his cheek against Ash's. Static kicked up with the friction, making Ash's hair fray even more wildly than usual. "If she can win…"
"...Then that means we have to be next!" Ash finished. "It's our turn to do our best!"
With the Indigo Plateau Conference under Ash and Peeks's belt, and the Kanto Grand Festival under Dawn's, the next and final obstacle of their journey stood before them — the Indigo Champion's League. Ash would be challenging the KanJoh Elite Four, and if he could defeat them all in sequence, he would face the Champion, Lance. Just five more battles ahead.
. . . But first, there was a minor detour to undertake.
"And it'd be insulting to do it with less than your very best, right?" Dawn chimed in, just as the proceedings came to a close. She turned off her Pokétch's TV app, and made a mental note to call May, later. "So that means having access to all the powerful moves that you can find!"
"Yup!" Ash nodded, folding his arms behind his head. "Hydro Cannon, Frenzy Plant, and Blast Burn… If we can hit them with firepower like that, there's no reason not to try!"
"Jimmy said he met the Guru, right?" Dawn asked. "Did he say anything about them?"
"Not a lot, really." Ash shrugged. "You know that guy. His vocab doesn't go far beyond 'totally awesome,' 'hot babes,' and 'check out my new skateboard.'"
"So, like yours?"
Ash roughly, and playfully ruffled the fur atop Peeks's head for his snark. "There's only one hot babe in my life, thank you very much!" Dawn struck a glamorous pose in the background with a glowing smile; something Ash would appreciate if he weren't still focused on the straight and narrow. "All he said, really, is that they're really strict, and don't put up with anyone less than the best. So, if you're not ready to bust your ass, don't bring it. Or, something like that."
Dawn stopped her posing to clap her hands together. "Oh, a mentor who takes things really seriously… She must be so ambitious! Overflowing with poise and elegance!" With stars in her eyes, she imagined a nebulous, larger-than-life feminine figure, cloaked in glimmering materials of the highest quality, sparkling like the stars; hair flowing past their shoulders.
"I bet he's tough-as-nails, and ready to tackle anything!" Ash closed his fists, imagining a tough, rugged figure with a flowing cape, untamed hair, and a trusty partner Pokémon; rippled muscles, and wear and tear from years and battle. Even with their face obscured, they wore a toothy grin.
"Well I love to burst your bubble," a third voice chimed in; high-pitched and creaky. "But you'll be running in circles until you croak, looking for that. I'm right here."
"...Eh?" Ash and Dawn paused in unison.
Just a few feet away on the deck, a reclining chair was set up, where a shriveled old woman laid back, with sunglasses guarding her eyes, and her dark gray hair tied into several joint buns. Two of her teeth poked out of her mouth; one an underbite, and the other an overbite. She wore a Poké Ball patterned bathing suit, and held up a reflective mirror, soaking in the sun.
"Wait, what!?" Ash exclaimed, pointing at the woman. "You're the Guru?"
"Let me guess. Weren't expecting a bleached old bag of bones?" She lifted her shades.
"Well I wasn't going to say it," Ash replied. "...Ow!"
The elder had whacked Ash over the head with a cane that, really, looked more like a staff, with three mysterious rings on its end. "You aren't supposed to agree, young man."
"Ash! You're supposed to respect your elders!" Dawn scolded. "Although you could stand to use some sunscreen; being exposed to sunlight without protection causes wrinkles!"
Dawn was whacked over the head, next. "Ow! Hey!"
"And you should learn to mind your business," the old woman spat. "Besides! I'm far too old to give a hoot about cosmetics."
"Is there even such a thing?" Dawn asked, pouting and rubbing her head.
"Are you sure you're the real deal?" Ash asked, squinting.
"Well, I have to hand you one thing. An old geezer in a bikini doesn't exactly look the part." The old woman cupped her chin with a bony finger, humming thoughtfully. She then shook her staff, jostling a Poké Ball free from each of its rings. "You young'uns may want to stand back."
Each capsule was sent flying in a different direction, unlatching to summon a flash of light. They surrounded the elderly woman, as Ash and Dawn started to back off. The first let free a Meganium. The second, a Feraligatr. The third, a Typhlosion. Each one was massive in stature, sporting a few wrinkles, and battle scars, each. At a glance, they seemed heavily experienced.
Their trainer snapped her fingers. "Feraligatr, use Hydro Cannon."
Feraligatr planted his feet, rattling the deck with his mass. With a ferocious, ear-splitting cry, he opened his mighty jowls, and glimmering blue particles quickly gathered between them. In a blink-and-you-miss-it instant, Hydro Cannon swelled into a massive projectile, almost as large as the reptile himself. He fired it at Typhlosion, slamming his tail into the deck to mitigate recoil.
"Typhlosion, use Blast Burn."
Ash rushed to grab Dawn by the wrist, pulling her back to safety. He didn't even get the chance to offer a word of caution, as Typhlosion reared back a fist, and the fiery passion of the sun shone through his paws in scorching beams of light. He snarled, smashing his fist into Hydro Cannon. The entire deck rattled, and flooded with hot steam. The initial shockwave sent Ash and Dawn flying.
Dawn landed in a waiting Empoleon's arms, and Ash landed on top of her. Peeks was last.
"Is she nuts!?" Ash exclaimed, guarding himself from the blanket of white steam.
"Meganium, use Frenzy Plant."
A powerful rumbling made the deck quick, jostling all four traveling partner members, and cracking boards could be heard about. Spiky roots climbed out of the thick of the fog, before the steam started to thin. Frenzy Plant stood where the old woman had been, making them all gasp.
The vegetation, thick as tree trunks, folded into a crown. Spontaneously, it unfolded and bloomed like a gigantic flower, revealing a mysterious figure in the fog. The same elder stood just where she'd been, upright and wielding her staff, crouched, as if to be intimidating. She'd traded her swimsuit for a white kimono with red trimmings, and a headband with an artfully stroked Poké Ball of the same color scheme. She looked like a Medium, Ash and Dawn thought.
"Now, how's that!?"
"...Alright. I'm convinced. She's definitely the real deal." Ash whistled.
"That presentation was amazing!" Dawn gushed, as Empoleon set her and Ash on their feet. "Oh, you're just what I imagined! Maybe not in the aesthetics department, but the artistic sense!"
"You may have a brain on your shoulders, after all, doll." The woman cackled. "Now—"
"Oh, criminy! Again, with this!?' The boat's captain groaned, walking in on the scene. He gestured to the calamity that'd been born — the deck was ripped apart, with roots climbing abound. "You can't just go wrecking a good boat every time you find someone to show off for, Ultima! I couldn't even see the sea ahead of us, with all of that steam! I've got half a mind to kick you off for good, you know."
"Bah!" Ultima waved a hand dismissively. "No one would even come to Two Island if it wasn't for me. You wouldn't dare."
"That might be a bonus," the man hissed.
She rolled her eyes. "Alright, alright. When we get back to the mainland, I'll treat you. The best sushi you'll find, this end of KanJoh. Now, can you quit flappin' your gums?"
The captain grumbled, walking off muttering to himself. Either that was a good enough deal, or he'd run out of patience. The tiff had sweat drops running down the group's heads, either way.
"Hold the phone," Ash said. "Is your name seriously Ultima? The one your mama gave you?"
"Well, no," Ultima replied. "But it's what I go by. Take it or leave it."
"Oh, I love that!" Dawn exclaimed, starry-eyed. "Controlling your identity and framing it around your accomplishments… Now, that's a role model of a woman!"
"Is that what you took from it?" Ash cut Dawn an exasperated look.
"This is what you've signed up for, by the way," Peeks added, looking just as nonplussed.
"You're right, but flattery will get you nowhere." Ultima folded her arms behind her back, wielding her staff behind it. "You two were seeking me. What makes you think you're worth my time?"
"Well I just won the Indigo Plateau Conference," Ash explained, as he adjusted the brim of his cap with a steady gaze. "I'm getting ready to challenge the Elite Four, and I want to be ready."
"And I just won Kanto's Grand Festival," Dawn added, striking a pose and flashing a peace sign over her eye with a wink. "But I want to keep pushing my limits and learning new techniques. The worst thing an artist can do is become stagnant and rest on their laurels. That won't be me!"
"Hm, hm." Ultima nodded. "Both accolades sound impressive, as do your goals. I'm interested."
"Nice!" Ash raised a hand over his head, which Dawn reciprocated with a high five. "But, wait. How did you know we were going to be here on the boat to ask you, anyway?"
"Was it some kind of mystic power?" Dawn cooed. "Did you use clairvoyance to read our fate!?"
"What? No. I was just here for a tan," Ultima replied.
Ash, Dawn, and their starters all collapsed face first in exasperation.
"Even wise mentors have lives," Ultima continued. "The world doesn't revolve around the quests of a couple of young'uns. Or, did you expect me to be standing like a statue for the next trainer who might come my way?" A beat. "Don't answer that. Instead, show me the Pokémon that you wish me to teach."
"Well my Empoleon is right here." Dawn gestured to her starter. "I'd love for him to learn Hydro Cannon, to give him a power move option!"
"Excellent, excellent." Ultima hummed. "He looks like a fine specimen. Lustrous coat, bold eyes sharpened by experience. With a bit of elbow grease, he'll be blasting with the best of them!"
Empoleon puffed out his chest proudly. Dawn giggled.
"And as for me…!" Ash reached for his belt, and tossed three Poké Balls into the air.
Bulbasaur appeared, stretching out under the late morning sun. Wartortle spun out of his shell with a grin. Charizard whipped his tail about, scattering embers to the air. He snorted loudly.
Ultima's lips creased into a frown. "...Is this some kind of sick joke, sonny?"
"Pardon?" Ash frowned.
"These Pokémon! Your Charizard looks fine, but a Wartortle? You can't expect an unevolved Pokémon to handle my moves. Let alone a first-stage Bulbasaur!" Ultima spat. "Look at the Pokémon I called on, lad. They're at the peak of their power — the peak of evolution! They have the mass and the moxie to wield ultimate power." The woman gestured to her three starters.
"Yours might be able to water a garden, if they're lucky."
"Do you hear this lady, Ash? Are you hearing this shit?" Wartortle huffed through his nose, and dug into his shell, before pulling out his signature shades. He donned them, walking over to Ultima's Feraligatr and puffing out his chest. "Look at this guy. I could topple him in my sleep!"
Feraligatr grunted something in return, looking uninterested.
"Yeah, yeah. Talk big all you want," Wartortle huffed. "Just know, the bigger they are, the harder they fall!"
"Feral. Raligatr."
"What!? Whaddya mean, 'that's something only a runt would say!?'" Wartortle seethed, pretending to roll up his sleeve. "Listen here, pal. You might wanna watch that overbite of yours, before they have to change your Pokédex color classification to black and blue!"
"Enough!" Bulbasaur's fines snaked out, pushing Wartortle and Feraligatr apart. "Honestly. Why is it that I always have to pull you out of fights you start? We're not children. Show some civility."
"...Bah. You're lucky my homie's on my case." Wartortle sighed, relenting to his friend's wish.
"Ga-nium." Ultima's Meganium craned her neck, smirking at Bulbasaur. "Megaay."
"'Garden decoration!?'" Bulbasaur glared at the larger Grass-type. "The nerve."
"I think I like my Bayleef better," Ash whispered to his companions.
"Now, listen here." Charizard grunted, marching over to Meganium to look her in the eye. He jerked a thumb towards Bulbasaur. "You may be a big deal around these parts, but you don't know a damn thing about us. Those two would knock you on your ass, one minute flat."
The sauropod rolled his eyes, while his Typhlosion companion cackled. "Ty! Typhlosion!"
Charizard stomped into his personal space, next, snout to snout. "I don't need to pick a fight with the Grass-type. I just didn't think you were such wimps that you'd need a type advantage."
Charizard had goaded Typhlosion into snarling and expelling flames, butting heads with him.
It was a six-'mon staredown, where tensions flared and egos blustered. It looked like it was getting out of hand…!
"Pikaaaaaaaaaachyuuuuuuuuu!"
But, that was nothing a Thunderbolt couldn't fix. Golden lightning shot through all of them at once, making the Pokémon seize and yelp. Peeks landed among them with his arms crossed, as wisps of ash and smoke drifted from the dazed Pokémon. "Honestly," Peeks huffed. "I shouldn't have to do this."
"Peeks is right! That's enough," Ash shouted. He walked to the center of the formerly quarreling Pokémon with his hands held out. "I know I trained you guys better than to let some jabs get under your skin."
Charizard huffed out smoke. Wartortle rubbed his arm guiltily, and Bulbasaur hummed.
"You're confident in yourselves, aren't you? It makes us look bad if you let a few jerks turn you upside down. You're the best of the best!" Ash tapped his fist against his chest. "Act like it."
Ash's group grumbled, and ultimately nodded along.
"You're absolutely right."
"My bad, Boss."
"I hate to say it, but you've got a point."
"Well, what a relief. I was starting to lose faith in you, sonny!" Ultima said. "A trainer who can't keep their team in line over a few insults isn't even worth training."
"There's a reason they responded that way," Ash replied. "All of us are the best of friends. I've been through everything in my time as a trainer with them! They look out for each other, and there's no challenge we can't overcome." The youth turned his back to Ultima, shrugging with his palm turned up. "Unless you're not sure you're good enough to train them."
"Ash!" Dawn hissed, hand held over her mouth. Should he really be provoking her!?
Ash shot Dawn a quick look that said 'just trust me.' She relented, waiting for the elder's fury.
To Dawn's surprise, Ultima laughed. "Aha-ha! You're definitely born from Kanto soil," she jeered, grinning with the few teeth she had left. "And you're lucky for your own sake that I am too; I can't turn away from a good taunt! I'll try my hand at tutoring 'em."
With his back still turned to Ultima, he grinned at Dawn, as if to say 'What did I tell you?'
"My tests will decide whether they're really capable, after all," Ultima continued. "However! If I'm right, and they're not up to the task, then you can forget about coming back again!"
With that, the mysterious woman walked into the fog that remained on deck. When it dispersed, she, too, had vanished.
"...How did she do that?" Dawn asked, blinking.
"It doesn't matter," Ash shook his head. "What matters is that we just have one more person to prove wrong for underestimating us!"
"Pika!"
"War!"
"Bulba!"
"Groaahr!"
~Now, that's a rallying of heroes!~ A familiar, scratchy voice rang for all present. Rosemary sat atop the boat, legs crossed over the roof of the captain's quarters. She sipped idly on a soda through her straw, with her red scarf billowing with the breeze.
"Rosa!? When did you pop up?" Ash asked. He recalled letting everyone out of their Poké Balls; Garchomp was sunbathing, nearby, and hadn't contributed a word. But, the Lucario had made herself scarce, maybe an hour ago. "And how much did you see?"
~I've been here the whole time!~ She hopped off of the roof, landing on the deck with grace. ~The whole performance made for great TV.~
"Well, I'm glad our program was good enough for you, Your Highness," Ash snorted.
~That's Sir Rosemary to you, Sir Ash… Aaron? Ash.~ Rosa held a paw to her muzzle. The names and memories were still tripping her up. ~There wasn't much on the tube back in the middle ages, though, so take my praise with a grain of salt.~ Her ruby eyes drifted over her teammates present. Determination burned in their hearts, just as the glow of aspiration shimmed in their eyes. ~I remember when I first hatched. All of you were giants to me. Giants who could do anything. There's no reason that should be any different, now!~
"You hearing this, fellas?" Wartortle snorted. "She's talking like we're the young ones!"
~Well, technically,~ Rosemary countered, grinning toothily. ~I am older than all of you.~
"Oh, she's going to hang that over us forever, isn't she," Charizard said.
~But, seriously.~ Rosemary regained her stern air, walking around the Pokémon who, just months ago, had looked so unfathomably tall. ~I believe in all of ya. And I'm gonna support ya!~ She put her paw forward, at the center of the group. ~So, let's get those Ultimate Moves!~
Bulbasaur extended his vine, placing it atop Rosemary's paw. "I'm in."
Wartortle raised his hand up high, adding his to the pile. "You said it, sister!"
Charizard was next. "She won't know what hit 'er."
Empoleon slapped his wing down, next. "To camaraderie and victory!"
Ash and Dawn both stopped to exchange a look, and simply smiled. The pride they felt in their girl was overwhelming. They nodded, and put their hands atop the pile.
"Let's do it!"
"No need to worry!"
Peeks was last, walking down Ash's arm to place his hand atop Dawn's.
"Let's give it our all!"
The boat docked at Two Island, several hours after the group's meeting with Ultima. After going ashore, they followed her up a dirt path, scaling several stories in altitude. Despite her age and stature, Ultima showed no signs of slowing down, idly twirling her staff to keep herself busy.
"Excuse me, Ultima?" Ash asked. "Is there any reason we're taking this path? Is there something special up here?"
"We're headed towards my house," she explained. "If you can reach my house, I'll have my proof that you and your Pokémon are worthy of my teachings — big and pint-sized, alike."
"Wait, that's it?" Dawn asked, blinking. "That doesn't sound so hard—"
"It doesn't, eh?" Ultima cut Dawn off, waving her cane behind her. "Because you'll find my house at the end of this path."
Ash, Dawn, and company's eyes followed Ultimate's staff. Just before them at the end of the dirt path was a building. Or more appropriately, a corridor. A very long corridor, spanning most of the island. It was a bit difficult to see the end from their vantage point, actually.
"So, we go through a tunnel?" Ash asked, lifting the brim of his cap.
~At an incline,~ Rosemary added, after scanning the immediate area. ~And get pelted with fruit. Lots of fruit.~
"...Fruit?" Ash squinted.
Ultima swung her cane at Rosemary. "Don't go spoiling it!"
Rosemary swerved safely aside. ~Is reconnaissance not allowed? You might as well ask me not to see.~
"You mutts and your Aura," Ultima grumbled, not unlike an old crank who would whine about kids playing video games, rather than pushing a hoop with a stick. "If you've got six senses, make room for a seventh. You could use a sense of suspense. Now!" She gestured to the entrance. "This path is two miles long, broken into three tasks. You will now begin the first."
The collective group looked up at a sign hung over the double door entrance.
"THE PATH OF JUMPING."
The interior was, at a glance, just a straight path forward.
"You. Call out your Bulbasaur," Ultima ordered Ash. "And put away your Lucario and Pikachu. You don't need any extra feet tripping you up on this one, believe me."
Rosemary pulled her Poké Ball out of her scarf, and tossed it to Ash, who recalled her to it.
Ash clipped the ball to his belt. "Peeks doesn't go in his Poké Ball. He'll just stay on my shoulder." He tossed a different Poké Ball, calling out Bulbasaur. "Alright, what now?"
"You." Ultima addressed Empoleon. "Stand on the other end, and hold Bulbasaur's vine." She took Bulbasaur's vine, and handed it to a befuddled Empoleon, who separated as asked.
"Hop over the vine like a jump rope," she explained. "And keep jumping!"
"Wait, seriously? Our test is jumping rope?" Ash asked.
"For a good half a mile! That's how the courses break down, more or less. You know, twenty-two years ago, a trainer who took on this challenge spent eight hours in here. But he gave up three quarters of the way through. I hope you'll break that record, at least."
"...You know, this does sound hard, when you put it that way," Dawn said, holding a hand over her mouth in concern. "I don't know if I have the hops for this."
"You'd better! By the way, the corridor will start tilting backwards soon." Ultima walked out the front door. "You'd better hurry. I'll watch from outside."
"Don't listen to her! She's just trying to psyche us out." Ash jogged into place, standing between Bulbasaur and Empoleon. "All we have to do is move as a team! We've known each other long enough to move in sync, right?" He smiled warmly, offering his hand to Dawn.
She felt giddy at the gesture and took his hand, squeezing it as he pulled her into place beside him. "Right! We've been traveling for two years now. There's no way we don't have each other's rhythm down!"
"Right! So, let's move as a team. Got it, everyone? Keep moving forward, and keep the pace!"
The group cried in unison; a surefire hurrah to start their jog forward, while Bulbasaur kept his Vine Whip taut for Empoleon to turn in rounds. Empoleon spun, and Ash and Dawn jumped. The process repeated for a decent distance down the Path of Jumping.
"This isn't so bad!" Ash cheered as he jogged at a steady pace, hopping over Bulbasaur's vine intermittently.
"Yeah… We're managing a good pace!" Dawn agreed, speaking between breaths.
"Though, I feel like it's going to take a while at this rate," Ash thought aloud. "Empoleon, Bulbasaur, let's speed it up!"
"Though I think… we're going to run out of breath at this rate!" Dawn said. "Slow it down a little, you guys!"
"...Eh?"
Ash and Dawn turned to stare at each other. Empoleon and Bulbasaur tilted their heads.
Peeks sighed.
"What do you mean, slow it down?" Ash asked, exasperated. "If we do that, it's going to take even longer! We'll be here all day." Even as he complained, he jumped rope.
Empoleon and Bulbasaur hesitantly started to run faster. Without a rope to jump, themselves, they had little trouble keeping ahead of their trainers. However…!
"How fast we go won't mean anything if we… if we run out of steam!" Dawn argued. "Slow down the pace, you guys!"
"Pol!?" Empoleon started to sweat, hesitantly slowing down the turns.
"I know we can make it," Ash shot back. "You're tougher than you look! Keep it up, you guys!"
"Saur…!" Bulbasaur heaved a sigh. He could imagine where this was headed, but if he was out of step with his trainer, then this could get even worse. He started dashing again, prompting Empoleon to follow.
"You know, that doesn't sound like a— ah!" Dawn yelped, just barely stumbling over the Vine Whip. "— like a compliment to me. Not all of us are tough as nails, with a head to match!"
"Now, why doesn't that sound like a compliment!?" Ash barked back.
"I don't know! You tell me!" Dawn countered.
"Ugh. Just go faster!"
"Slower!"
"Faster!"
"Slower!"
Their argument precluded the inevitable. Bulbasaur's pace became confused, and Empoleon's spins, as a result, became sloppy. Ash and Dawn, frankly, were too busy arguing to keep their breathing regular. One more notch slower made Ash trip on the vine, falling face first.
"Ash!?" Dawn exclaimed. "Ah!" Her distraction caused her also to trip, snagging the vine with her leg. The slanted floor sent her tumbling… and Ash along with her… and their Pokémon, too.
'Thud!'
All five landed at the bottom of the slope with a groan, piled on top of each other.
"Ugh… so…" Ash rubbed the back of his head, sitting up. "Maybe arguing isn't the best idea."
"It's certainly not a good way to keep in sync," Dawn agreed, as she patted her hair back into place. "I guess it's just frustrating, keeping up with someone who never seems to get tired."
"And it did make me wanna pull my hair a little, slowing down when I could be going faster," Ash admitted. "Buttt, I guess that's no way to work as a team, is it?" He frowned, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry, Dawn."
"I'm sorry too, Ash. We should've worked out a plan before we got started…"
"That might be for the best," Bulbasaur agreed dryly.
"Thank goodness. I thought this was going to be one of those dragged out fights," Peeks huffed.
"You're not kidding! Mom and Pop shouldn't quarrel!" Empoleon huffed, folding his wings. "It just isn't just."
Ash laughed, as his cheeks filled with heat. "Well, you heard the big guy. 'Mom and Pop' should make up and get along."
Dawn laughed sheepishly, as she too burned scarlet. "H-hey, no need to worry! We're not little kids anymore. Ash and I are fine! In fact…! We'll be better than ever now, because I have an idea." As she said so, she began to tap away at her Pokétch.
Ash leaned over her shoulder to snoop. "You know that's when I worry the most."
"We just got done fighting, buster. Let's not do it again." Dawn smiled to herself as she tapped away at the small buttons to scroll through her apps. "...Aha! Check it out! The Rhythm App!"
"The 'Rhythm App?'" Ash echoed.
"I told you that the latest model was a good investment! All we have to do is set a time interval, and it'll alert us! So if we both time our jumps with the app, it'll be smooth sailing!"
"Nice one, Dawn! Sounds like a plan." Ash pumped a fist. "But, how long should we set it? One second?"
"That's too fast, Ash! Think about it; that's a whole rotation of the jump rope!" Dawn said. "Hm, maybe three seconds…? That'll be enough time to keep it steady!"
"More like more than enough time," Ash grumbled. They met eyes again, and their Pokémon winced.
"...Two is good."
"Two it is."
The Pokémon collectively sighed in relief.
Dawn set her Pokétch to the agreed upon time, and the gang regrouped to start their climb, once more.
"Ready… go!"
Dawn tapped her Pokétch, and the group began to jog in time with the app.
"One! Two! One! Two!"
There were no arguments to be had, this time. Every time they heard that digital voice, they jumped in unison. Bulbasaur and Empoleon timed their advance with the pace Ash and Dawn set. There was nothing to puzzle over; no disagreements!
"One! Two! One! Two!"
Bulbasaur kept a steady pace, and the tug of his Vine Whip was routine. As a practiced Contest Pokémon, Empoleon was perfectly able to maintain a steady rhythm, marching in tandem!
Things were going smoothly! There was no need to worry, and no pace to direct for any party. Everyone jogged and jumped in accordance with the Rhythm App, and there was nothing really left to ponder. Just a long skip-and-jog to the end of a half-mile tunnel.
In fact, there was nothing really to think about at all. No pace to set, no puzzle to solve… not even a bullseye to focus on. It was actually really boring. Enough to make a guy space out.
It was enough to have Ash drifting in and out as he ran, and skipped rope off of nothing but muscle memory. Unfortunately, as athletic as he was, that wasn't tenable. "Ah!" He yelped, snagging his foot on the Vine Whip to fall facefirst. His foot snagging the Vine Whip unfortunately toppled Bulbasaur, and Dawn with it.
They all rolled down to square one in a pile, leaving Empoleon standing where he'd been.
A bead of sweat rolled down the penguin's head. "Empol…"
"Ugh!" Dawn groaned, pulling herself out of the pile. "Sheesh, Ash! We were making progress!"
"Sorry, sorry!" Ash rubbed his neck, pulling a disoriented Peeks out of the pile. The poor mouse dangled like a caught fish in his hands. "I guess I just… spaced out," he admitted sheepishly.
"Spaced out!?"
"You can't be serious."
"You know, we're usually good at group activities, but this has been quite disastrous."
"It's boring!" Ash complained. "There's no obstacles to watch, or anything ahead of us to keep an eye on…It's just hallway, over and over and over again. I have a hard time staying focused!"
"Well I'm sorry," Dawn huffed, "that not everybody's enough of an athlete to get bored during a triathlon!" Her cheeks puffed out in frustration.
"Aw, don't look at it like that!" Ash could see another argument coming, and scrambled to pick his words wisely. "It's, just, uh… This kind of strength is all about guts! And you've got that in spades, Dawn!" He reached to hold onto her shoulders, flashing a toothy grin to turn on the charm. "All the guts in the world! You just need more time, y'know? Keep working hard, and your glutes will have you running with the best of them!"
"...Is he trying to swoon his way out of an argument?" Bulbasaur asked, incredulous.
To Ash's credit, Dawn's eyes sparkled like starry skies, and her smile stretched to her dimples. Cheeks dusted with pink, she threw her arms around Ash in a crushing hug. "Ugh, I can't stay mad at you! I'm almost mad about it, ahaha!"
"Never let it be said that flattery won't get you anywhere," Peeks said flatly.
"And with good reason," Empoleon added, as he skated leisurely back down to the course's start. "But a stable household isn't going to get us up that slope! We need a strategy."
"He's right," Ash choked out, between Dawn compressing his ribcage in her embrace. "We need a guide. Something to follow together, to keep us on target!" Miraculously, while being drowned in affection, Ash had an idea. "...That's it! Someone to follow… keep us on target. Dawn. You thinking what I'm thinking?"
Dawn gasped. "I think so! And that's just what we need!" She reached for her belt, grabbing a Poké Ball to toss it into the air. "Pachirisu, spotlight!"
Pachirisu tumbled out of her Poké Ball, kicking her stubby feet. "Chi-pi-chi-pah~!"
"Alright, Pachirisu. We need your help! We have to jump rope all the way up this path, and we're having a hard time keeping in sync," Ash explained.
"And Ash is having trouble paying attention," Dawn added. "So you're going to handle both problems, all-in-one! We're counting on you to run ahead of the group, and lead the charge!"
"So, it'sgonnabeliketheolddays, then?" Pachirisu asked, tilting her head.
"Exactly like the old days!" Ash affirmed. "It's your time to shine, girl."
"...Well. Alright! Ifyasayso!" Pachirisu gave a toothy smile, and hopped ahead of the group, before scurrying her way up the path. "Getreadyt'eatmy DUST, chumps!"
"H-hey! Pachirisu!" Dawn sputtered. "We weren't ready, yet!"
"Kiss my ass!"
"What did she say?" Dawn narrowed her eyes.
"...I don't think she needed us to tell 'er to use Follow Me," Ash surmised. "That does it. Come on, gang! We're not gonna let Pachirisu get the jump on us, are we!?" He flipped onto his feet, and offered Dawn a hand up, as Bulbasaur cast his Vine Whip to Empoleon.
Peeks joined Ash on his shoulder, and pointed forth. "After her!"
Ash and Dawn sprinted off towards Pachirisu, hopping the Vine Whip in unison. The first stretch was fairly simple, due to the slope only starting after a short distance. With their previous synchronicity due to the Pokétch, staying in rhythm was easy. If only catching Pachirisu was…!
The small Elesquirrel was almost entirely out of sight. "C'mon! Am I corralling Slugma, here!?"
"She's way ahead of us!" Dawn said, panting as she hopped over the vine, once more.
"And she's not letting us forget it," Ash grumbled. He could only just barely see the spikes on her fluffy tail over the bend, and it was frustrating! "You can't run from us forever, y'know!" With a grunt of effort, he hopped another bound. "C'mon, you guys. Forward, strong and steady!"
"I'll be at your funeral before you get me, at this rate!" Pachirisu chattered from ahead.
"Why you…!" Ash grit his teeth, hoping one bound after another. "You're lucky you've got a handicap! You don't have to jump rope!"
"YeahbutIgottalistent'your WHINING! Maybe 'f it slowed me down like you, this'd be more of a challenge!" Pachirisu looked back, and stuck her tongue out at Ash and company.
Follow Me was in full effect.
"Ugh! I don't need Aura to know what that means," Dawn fumed, puffing out her cheek. "Get… back here, you… brat…!" Her breaths were becoming shallow, and her legs were burning.
"We're making good time!" Ash called out. His breaths were measured and paced for the run, and his eyes were directly forward, on that rude, slippery Elesquirrel. "We're gonna get you!"
"Must be nice t' DREAM!" Pachirisu shrieked back.
"Ugh… You…!" Ash roared in effort, even as he maintained a steady pace of skipping and hopping.
Empoleon, however, was starting to stumble. Running up a fairly flat surface just wasn't ideal for a penguin built for swimming, let alone the third time in a row. His turns started becoming more and more haphazard, as his steps became more effortful. "Get… back here… you… scoundrel! or I'll… serve you up to Mamoswine… for a Sunday brunch!" He wheezed.
"You'd have better luck pissing up a rope!" Pachirisu taunted.
"Seriously, who taught her to speak like this?" Bulbasaur grumbled. "...Empoleon. Keep it steady!" He pulled his Vine Whip taut again, guiding their cycle, himself. He'd caught on quickly enough to maintain the pace, but unfortunately, Empoleon wasn't alone in his exhaustion.
Dawn's willpower gave out, and she tripped over the vine. "Ah!" She fell flat on her face, snagging the vine under Ash. For the third time in a row, the group tumbled down to square one.
Empoleon squawked, sitting up. "I am so tired of this trial! Exhausted. Despondent, even!"
"I don't know exactly what Empoleon's saying, but I agree," Dawn huffed, hanging her head. "Sorry, you guys… I can have all the guts in the world. My legs just aren't up to the task! I'm just… exhausted." Frustrated, she sighed, leaning back on her palms to stare at the ceiling. "I'm afraid there's a big need to worry, this time."
"Man… There's gotta be a way," Ash grumbled, crossing his arms. "There's just gotta!"
"We can't possibly give up yet," Bulbasaur said. "Not after we've come this far."
"It's not an option!" Peeks agreed. "We just need to regroup… if only we had just a bit more 'oomph.' Some fighting spirit to pull us through!"
After noticing that she was no longer being followed, Pachirisu dashed down the slope she'd scaled, returning to meet the others. There was no use in advancing on her own, particularly today. But when she returned, they all just looked…
"You all look pathetic." She frowned, putting her paws on her hips. "Where's all your moxie!?"
"We're tapped out," Ash replied, frowning. "Or at least some of us are."
"Well, it's not like I want to be!" Dawn whined. She closed her fists, clenching them with frustration. "This is supposed to be a group effort — a way to help Ash reach his dreams! And for us to get stronger, too! If we can't lend a helping hand, then what good are we!?"
"...Y'got a good point," Pachirisu said, bunching up her paws. "What kinda team are we, if we can't band together!?" She scurried over to Dawn, scaling her shoulder so that she could reach for one of her fists, and hold it in her paws.
"Pachirisu…!?" Dawn watched her Pokémon in confusion. "I appreciate the support, but… Ah!"
A golden aura enveloped both Dawn and Pachirisu, with sparks of light bursting like firecrackers. Dawn suddenly felt like a bundle of energy, hopping to her feet. "What the…!?" She stared at her hands. They were jittering with excitement. Her legs felt good as new, without a trace of soreness. "I feel… weird!? It's like I just downed twenty protein shakes!"
Ash pulled out his Pokédex, scanning the scene before him.
"New move learned: Helping Hand. The user assists an ally by boosting the power of that ally's attack."
"Pachirisu just learned Helping Hand!" Ash exclaimed.
"You did!" Dawn gasped, looking to her partner on her shoulder. "You must've channeled our feelings to help us… Can a Pokémon move even be used to help humans!?"
"What'reyaaskin'MEfor?" Pachirisu asked, waving her little arms. "Give it a shot!"
"I guess this is our answer… It has to be!" Dawn bunched up her fists; this time not out of frustration, but determination. "We can do this, gang. One final push! Are you with us!?"
"Yeah!"
"Pika!"
"Empol!"
"Bulbasaur."
The group reorganized, with Vine Whip wielded, and Ash, Dawn, Peeks, and Pachirisu at the ready. Dawn pointed towards the end of the hall. "Alright, Pachirisu! Use Helping Hand!"
A crackling aura surrounded Pachirisu first, and then Dawn, before expanding to envelop the entire group. Everyone felt a surge of determination and stamina all at once, synchronized!
"Let's do it!" Ash cheered, starting a straightforward sprint, skip after hop, on repeat.
This time, Dawn maintained his pace, without a shred of fatigue. It was like she was skipping and hopping on a cloud! And Empoleon and Bulbasaur kept pace with them, with perfect dexterity!
In their shared burst of determination, they scaled the Path of Jumping as a perfect team.
"There's the next sign!"
"We made it!"
The slope finally came to an end after a solid half mile of synchronized effort. Ash, Dawn, and their Pokémon stopped on all fours once they'd come to a flat surface, catching their breath.
As the game of jump rope came to an end, the crackling shimmers of determination offered by Pachirisu's Helping Hand dimmed and faded away. The Elesquirrel, for her part, looked unfazed.
"Well, well… Not bad." Ultima's voice echoed from nearby. The interim between paths was open-air on both ends, allowing her to coast up on a Dragonite, hovering beside the group. "Although I don't remember telling you to use your other Pokémon, or their abilities, as part of the rules…"
Ash winced. "Oh, come on! Don't tell me…!"
"...that what we just did doesn't count!?" Dawn ghosted a hand over her mouth, terror-struck.
Pachirisu squinted. "...Oh, this is some Boufallant sh—"
"Relax!" Ultima cackled. "I didn't say it doesn't count. In fact, I like your ingenuity! All of your efforts were creative shows of teamwork… aside from the first go, of course. Heck, your Pachirisu learning Follow Me on the spot is what my rigorous training is all about! Showing your potential in a trial by fire. You might be the first trainers to ever do such a thing!"
"Wait, seriously?" Ash asked. "That guy who gave up didn't even try to pull anything?"
Ultima smirked darkly, a glimmer in her eye. "Why do you think he failed, sonny?"
"...Good point."
"Phew! Well, there's no need to worry, then. Ash and I are experts at thinking outside the box!"
"I hope for your sake that you're right! Because it's time for the next corridor." Ultima pointed a bony finger towards the ever-reaching hallway. This one had a second sign hanging above.
"The Path of Catching," both trainers read aloud.
"You can either take these Dodrio," Ultima shook her staff at two of the three-headed birds, who were currently lounging nearby. "...Or you can ride on your own Pokémon. There are just two stipulations: One is that you have to keep moving forward, no matter what. Your riding Pokémon isn't allowed to backtrack!"
Ash and Dawn nodded.
"The other is that you have to catch every single fruit that falls from the ceiling!" With Ultima's gesturing, the trainers and their Pokémon got a proper look at the second path's ceiling. There were vines, plants, and berries hanging from the scaffolding, from one end to the other.
"You can't let one hit the floor, or you'll have to start over. Capiche?"
"Sounds tough, but it's nothing we can't handle!" Ash hopped to his feet. "But Bulbasaur, I think you're gonna take a break for a while. You've done your part!" He recalled the Seed Pokémon.
"You too, Empoleon!" Dawn called her starter back, and allowed Pachirisu to scale her shoulder. In exchange for Empoleon, she tossed another Poké Ball into the air. "Alright Mamoswine, spotlight!"
"Mamooo!" Mamoswine trumpeted loudly, standing beside Dawn.
"Mamoswine… That's genius, Dawn!" Ash cheered. "If you're going for the foodie, then I will, too! Alright, Garchomp, I'm counting on you!" He tossed his own Poké Ball into the air.
"Gaaah!" Garchomp flexed his fins, and landed beside Ash. "What's up, Boss?"
"The lot of us are counting on you," Ash explained, as he hoisted Dawn up by her boots, helping her scale Mamoswine's back. So we're gonna need a ride, while we catch every berry that falls from the ceiling, alright? We need your noses, and your charging power to make it through!"
Afterwards, Ash hiked himself up on Garchomp's back, while Peeks chose to stand on the Mach Pokémon's shoulders. He lightly tapped Garchomp's side with his heel, directing him to take flight.
"I see you're all in order, then!" Ultima said, soaring off on her Dragonite. "Good luck!" She shook her staff at Ash and Dawn, flinging a basket toward each to catch. "You're gonna need it."
Those were the last words the gang heard, before the Path of Catching trembled with a 'thud.'
"...Did she just attack the roof?" Dawn asked, brows furrowing.
"...Uh-oh. Dawn, we better move!" Ash pointed forth, taking off on Garchomp.
"Right!" Dawn tapped Mamoswine with her boot, and the charging giant took off.
Both Dodrio watched the trainers leave them behind, shrugged, and wandered back to the wild.
A cluster of Oran Berries started to drop from the vines they clung to, ahead of the group.
"Split up, and catch 'em all!" Ash shouted, veering to the right with Garchomp. He held out his basket, catching several Orans in his basket. Garchomp caught up to one ahead, snagging it in his teeth, before swallowing it with one chomp. "...I guess, technically, it didn't touch the floor."
"Right!" Dawn agreed, steering Mamoswine to the left. Or, she liked to believe she was, but really, the giant glutton was chasing the falling Watmel Berries all on his own. He sniffed down and chomped down several, while Dawn caught several more in her basket. "Woah!"
"I think that was the first round of them!" Ash shouted.
Once again, the roof trembled.
"There it is again! Let's go!" Dawn directed, pointing forward.
This time, a cluster of oblong berries fell in their path; electric blue bases held golden bulbs that looked like lightbulbs. Dawn rushed to catch as many as she could in her basket, with Pachirisu swatting the ones she couldn't back to her trainer.
Unfortunately, the fall was much denser this time than last. "Ah!" Dawn yelped, as several of the berries rolled down Mamoswine's furry hide. "Mamoswine! Eat an Ice Shard, now!"
Mamoswine did as told, chomping down on a shimmering mass of ice. Jagged icicles sprouted from his fur all at once, creating a basket that caught the rolling berries at their base.
"Phew…!" Dawn exhaled with relief.
"Good thinking, Dawn!" Ash praised. "C'mon, Garchomp!" He guided the Mach Pokémon to swerve back and forth, holding his basket this way and that to catch the colorful berries.
"Ga-ahr…!" Garchomp swerved awkwardly, missing the mark just a bit.
"Woah!" Ash exclaimed. A series of berries fell from the ceiling behind Garchomp.
"Ash!" Peeks exclaimed, hopping backwards off of Garchomp's back.
Ash caught onto his partner's plan, throwing the berry basket towards him. "Do it, Buddy!"
The Electric Mouse caught the basket handle in his teeth, as silver light enveloped him. Quick Attack sent him shooting forward, catching one of the berries in the basket. A quick exertion of effort propelled him a zig-zag path, catching each of them in succession, as they drew closer and closer to the hall's wooden floorboards. He could feel his sweat cascading from his fur into the open breeze, as Quick Attack propelled him left, right, and center.
He finally caught the last of the missed batch in the basket, and willed himself into a 180 degree turn, rocketing back towards the ever-further Garchomp with all of his might. "Pi-kaaah!"
Quick Attack did its job, and he quickly gained altitude, hovering over Garchomp.
"Right here, Buddy!" Ash turned back, opening his arms.
Peeks flung his head, slinging the basket into Ash's arms. He landed on Garchomp's back.
"Nice!" Ash praised, as he returned his focus to the path. "That Quick Attack training with Johanna really paid off, huh, Peeks?"
"I'll say!"
"That was great," Dawn praised, "but I think you're weighing Garchomp down, Ash! Come over here!" She waved a hand towards Mamoswine. "He'd do a lot better with less weight!"
"Yeah, you're right. Sorry, Garchomp!" Ash carefully stood up atop the Mach's back, before catapulting himself over Mamoswine's Ice Armor. He landed beside Dawn, planting his palm and knees atop the Pokémon's back. "We can handle this together. Pachirisu, go help Garchomp!"
As Ash and Dawn geared their baskets to continue collecting, Pachirisu dashed up one of Mamoswine's icicles, and somersaulted onto Garchomp's back. "C'mon, c'mon! Left!"
This was much better! Garchomp soared in tune with Pachirisu's guidance, and chomped down a small red and yellow berry; a Leppa Berry. "Now, right!" He swerved again, snatching another.
"...Crud!" Pachirisu gasped. One fell just forward out of the Mach's reach. "Holdontoyersocks!" She catapulted herself off of Garchomp's head, diving towards the falling Leppa Berry. With a screech, she spun around, swatting the berry with her fluffy tail. It landed in Garchomp's mouth.
"I gotcha!" Garchomp cried, swooping down. He cradled his fins around the falling Electric-type, catching her in his arms. Pachirisu looked up at her savior, and sighed dreamily, tapping her paw on his forearm. He looked so strong and valiant, from her point of view… Even as he crushed that Leppa between his jowls and ate it noisily. A class act.
"Y'come here often, handsome~?" She purred.
Garchomp titled his head, blinking slowly. "...No? We've never been here before."
Pachisiru sighed. "Y'can have brains, brawn, and beauty. You can't have all three." She scurried her way up Garchomp's fin, and took to his shoulders, again. "Let's finish the job!"
"Roger!"
"We did it!"
"Pi-Pikachu!"
"Pachiii!"
"Mamoo!"
"Gah!"
Ash, Dawn, and their Pokémon cheered in unison as they cleared the Path of Catching, sliding and skidding into the second intermediary hall. Garchomp swooped down, digging his talons into the floorboards to catch a grip. Pachirisu scaled down his neck to atop his arm, chatting with him happily. Ash kicked down an icicle from Ice Armor, and leapt down to ground level with Dawn in his arms, before setting her down. Peeks scaled down on his own, chatting with Mamoswine.
"Now, what did I tell you, Dawn? What works!?" Ash grinned, holding up a hand.
"Teamwork!" Dawn candidly clapped her hand against his. "That was awesome! Two down…"
"...And one to go!"
"Well done. Well done!" Ultima praised, soaring by on her Dragonite, once more. "You hit some snags there, but the fact that you recovered from them at all is strong work. I love the creativity you young'uns have, when it comes to your Pokémon. Now, from you," she pointed at Ash, "I still haven't seen the full capacity of what your unevolved runts are capable of… But, you know what they say: There's no time like the present! We're going to find out, right here, right now!"
As she said so, the elder pointed her staff towards the third sign.
"The Path of Battle," Ash and Dawn both read aloud.
"We're down to the final stretch — the second mile of my trials!" Ultima announced with a not-so-toothy smile. "I hope you're ready to give it all you've got, and then some."
"I'm always up for a battle," Dawn said giddily. "This is more in our comfort zone!"
"But, who're we battling?" Ash asked. He pointed towards Ultima. "Are you our opponent?"
"Your opponent stands before you," Ultima said simply.
"What does that mean?" Dawn asked. As the more clever and bookish of herself and Ash, though, she was quick to understand poetry and riddles. Her eyes widened. "You don't mean…!"
"Didn't I tell you?" Ultima's eyes narrowed. "I will only teach the ultimate moves to one of you!"
Chapter 2: The Path of Battling
Chapter Text
"I will only teach… the ultimate moves to one of you."
It was a revelation that Ash and Dawn weren't given time to dwell over, making eye contact for but a moment. Their joint efforts were about to be turned against one another — the whole reason they'd come to Two Island together! Could they really—
"Ow!"
"Hey!"
Ultima shoved both Ash and Dawn forward with her staff. "Now, get inside and fight!"
Ash and Dawn both stumbled onto the Path of Battling, which they found divided into two halves. There were two large conveyor belts running down the length of the corridor. "You'll be fighting a two-on-two battle," Ultima explained. "You'll each use six Pokémon and you may replace them at any time."
Ash and Dawn recalled Garchomp and Mamoswine respectively, making a brief bout of eye contact before returning their attention to the strange dual paths. It went without saying that they should pay attention to their surroundings, before they bother reckoning with being pitted against one another.
"The corridor at the Path of Jumping was built to send you backwards. The second corridor at the Path of Catching forced you to move faster and faster… And now in the Path of Battling… Both sides are moving independently!"
Gears and mechanics whirred to life under the trainers' feet, making the conveyor belts rumble.
"But, that's not all… The direction your path takes correlates with the attacks of your Pokémon," Ultima explained. "You see, the corridor of the trainer who is attacking will move forward, while the corridor of the trainer who is receiving damage will go backward."
"So, dealing damage…" Ash started.
"...is the answer to winning a race!?" Dawn finished.
"Right! The trainer who reaches the end of the corridor first wins!"
"So, this is it…" Ash's eyes narrowed. "Dawn! I don't care that we came here for my Champion's League challenge." He pumped a fist in the air, extending it towards his girlfriend. "I want you to come at me with everything you've got! Got it? If I win those moves, I want to earn them!"
Peeks dashed his way up Ash's back and stood tall on his shoulder. "No holding back at all!"
"As if I'd do anything else!" Dawn smiled confidently, flicking a hand through her long blue tresses. "I'd be dirtying my pride as a Pokémon Trainer if I took it easy on you, Ash. And I'd be dirtying yours." She pointed dramatically towards Ash and Peeks, as Pachirisu danced down her arm to stand atop her wrist. "I know you're two steps away from being the strongest trainer in all of two regions. So I'm going to draw the sword that sharpens yours, for your final trial!" Her gaze was sharp like the metaphorical blade she wielded, and heavy like the steel that forged it.
Pachirisu exerted blue sparks from her cheeks, highlighting the Coordinator with electric blue.
"...Oh, she's so cool." Ash bunched up his fists, folding to Dawn's charms with stars in his eyes. A racing heartbeat took him by storm before the Path of Battling could have a chance to.
"Quit gawking, and get to battling!" Ultima scolded. "Now! Start the battle!"
Ash regained his focused air, as did Dawn. "Right!" They said in unison; each grabbing a Poké Ball from their belts in perfect sync. They leaned on their heels, and pitched the balls with gusto.
"Typhlosion! Pachirisu…!"
"Peeks! Rosa…!"
"...Spotlight!"
"...I choose you!"
The electric rodents sprung off of their trainers' arms at once, landing on all fours. Meanwhile, Ash was joined by Rosemary, who took a fighting stance besides Peeks. Typhlosion appeared in front of Dawn, flexing and igniting the fire collar around her neck with a vicious roar.
"I'll take the lead," Dawn shouted. "Pachirisu, use Helping Hand! Typhlosion, use Eruption!"
"Chi-chi-chi-PACHIII!" Pachirisu raised her paws, as golden light crackled and popped around her, before consuming Typhlosion as well. The Volcano Pokémon gladly borrowed Pachirisu's strength, and reared her head forward. A scalding storm of lava threatened to consume Ash's end of the field entirely.
"What an opening combination!" Ash exclaimed. 'Eruption does the most damage at full stamina, and Helping Hand just makes it even stronger! She's trying to toast us from the get-go!'
All they could do was fight back. "Cover for Rosa, Peeks! Use Thunderbolt! Rosa, Copycat!"
Rosemary was already feeling uncomfortably hot from the ambient heat licking at her steel deposits. Luckily, Peeks put himself between her and the wall of flames. Golden light channeled through his tiny body, lashing out at Eruption like whips of lightning.
She internalized the process quickly through her ruby eyes. The Lucario channeled golden lightning through her wrist spikes, and aimed them towards the heat. Her Thunderbolt supplemented his; just in time for Peeks's to start folding in on itself.
"Eruption and Helping Hand! This one's a pistol! No mercy at all." Ultima admired, showing a toothy smile. "I wouldn't mind teaching that one Blast Burn, if she can scrape up a win!"
"It's now or never," Ash muttered to himself, as he made a break for it, sprinting past the crossfire.
But, Eruption overpowered Thunderbolt, blasting Peeks and Rosemary against the wall.
Just as Ash started running, he felt his balance waver. His conveyer belt jerked back, feeding him towards the flames. "Woah!"
The trainer sprang to safety, leaping just clear of Eruption's scalding parameters.
"Ash!?" Dawn exclaimed in fear. "What do you think you're doing? You almost got toasted! Remember; this is both a battle and a race. We have to be mindful of both!"
"Yeah, whoops…" Ash whistled, nervously adjusting his cap. That had been a bit close for comfort for him, too. At the very least, Peeks and Rosemary looked scorched, but not much worse for wear. Thunderbolt had mitigated the damage greatly. "No need to worry," he shouted as he sprinted ahead. "Come on, you two! We have a race to win!"
Peeks sprinted after Ash and quickly caught up. Rosemary dashed alongside them.
"Pachirisu's gonna be a problem, with that Helping Hand," Ash muttered. "Rosa! Aura Sphere!"
~Roger!~ Rosemary sprinted alongside her trainer, head dipped forward and arms hanging back for lesser wind resistance. But, a battle was a battle, and she sacrificed form to wind up an Aura Sphere on one paw. Without even looking back, she pitched the blast towards Pachirisu.
"We can't fall behind!" Dawn shouted, running in pursuit of Ash and his team. Typhlosion and Pachirisu followed; the latter now in the crosshairs of an incoming Aura Sphere. 'Aura Sphere tracks life energy… so if it loses its target…!' She held out a Poké Ball, recalling Pachirisu.
Aura Sphere suddenly slowed to a halt, hovering without direction behind Dawn as she ran past it. The Coordinator pitched a Poké Ball back towards it.
"Lopunny! Knock that back at Rosa!"
Lopunny appeared from her Poké Ball; jacket, cuffs, and all. She spawned directly in front of the confused Aura Sphere, grinning as she slammed her shin into the mass of energy. It bent and folded in on the pressure, before an extra exertion of strength sent it ricocheting down the hall.
After her kickoff, Lopunny quickly caught up with her trainer with a spring in her step; putting her monstrous leg strength to use. It wasn't hard for her to keep pace with Typhlosion, all at once.
"You're too fast, y'know that?" Typhlosion snorted.
"It's coming back!" Ash identified the Aura Sphere without looking back. His sixth sense had its perks; he could continue to command without looking back more than necessary. "Cover for her, Peeks! Iron Tail!"
"On it!" Peeks cried, as he sprang in front of Rosemary, coating his lightning bolt tail in steel. "Chua… Pi-ka!" He cried, smacking the blast away from themselves and towards Typhlosion.
"Lopunny, use High Jump Kick on Peeks!" Dawn cried.
Her beloved was airborne, and wide open. Lopunny sprang at Peeks with all of her might, aiming her knee at his pudgy midsection. "Sorry, hun!"
"Peeks, use Zippy Zap!" Ash cried in retaliation.
Colorful lightning of all hues surrounded Peeks, propelling him right into Lopunny's jaw. Before her knee could strike him, he ricocheted back towards his trainer, leaving Lopunny to fall, knee first, for a catastrophic landing.
Dawn nearly fell right off of her feet, as her belt jutted backwards. She scrambled to steady herself while recalling Typhlosion, just before Aura Sphere collided with her. "Togekiss!"
Togekiss was tossed into the fray, taking flight immediately afterwards.
"Catch Lopunny! Air Slash!"
Togekiss elegantly danced her way around Aura Sphere, all the while pitching a current of wind under Lopunny's crash zone. The resulting storm cushioned the rabbit, lifting her into the air.
"Here, Buddy!" Ash kept running, turning halfway towards the ongoing chaos. He held his arms open for Peeks, who Zippy Zapped his way into his arms. He hoisted his starter Pokémon over his head. "Now, Zippy Zap, again!" He chucked the Pikachu overhead towards Lopunny.
"Pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-KA!" Peeks used Ash's momentum, bursting into rainbow sparks, once more.
"Use Return, Lopunny!" Dawn cried, jogging to close Ash's lead on her.
Lopunny swung out at her love with, ironically, a fist full of love. Shockwaves of power and errant sparks danced across the entire Path of Battling, sending colorful hearts abound.
As it was a mutual clash, the pathways didn't move.
From Ash's vantage point, the Aura Sphere that'd been knocked around like a beach ball was back on course, following the life signature of Togekiss, who'd so gracefully moved around it. As it flanked her, Ash added to the ambush. "Rosa! Use Meteor Mash on Togekiss, now!"
~Roger!~ Rosa grit her teeth, drawing back her paw. Blue sparkles danced over her fist, propelling her forth with vicious crushing intent. While she attacked from the front, Aura Sphere came in from the back.
Dawn smiled to herself. She was every bit as aware of the Aura Sphere as Ash was. She covered her eyes as she ran. "Togekiss! Dazzling Gleam!"
"To-ge~!" Togekiss spanned her wings, and a blinding light consumed the Path of Battling.
Peeks broke his clash with Lopunny to guard his eyes. Rosemary, unfortunately, had already been diving right at Togekiss, and her senses were acute to begin with. She shut her eyes tight, completely disoriented. Even still, she could see spots—
"Riah!"
Togekiss had spun free, and Aura Sphere collided with the blinded Lucario.
"What the!?" Ash suddenly felt the ground under him lurch backwards.
"Good work, Togekiss!" Dawn cheered, as she sprinted ahead through the blinding light in the confusion. The path under her sped up her break from her victory. 'It'll be at least a moment before Ash and the others get their bearings…!' As she schemed, Lopunny and Togekiss joined her, hopping and soaring at her side, respectively.
"I see we're gonna need more than just our eyes for this. And you don't do well with bright lights," Ash muttered, as he recalled Rosemary to her Poké Ball. Ash started sprinting, even as colorful spots flashed in his eyes. He grabbed another Poké Ball, tossing it forward. "Wartortle!"
The fluffy-eared turtle appeared beside Ash. "Bring it on!"
"And I think we're gonna go with raw power, for now. Peeks, come back!" Ash ordered, and his partner promptly scaled his shoulder. He grabbed another capsule; this one warm to the touch.
"Charizard!"
Charizard roared loudly, and flapped his wings, taking off towards Dawn's team alongside Ash and Peeks. Wartortle sprinted beside them, if a little slower than the rest.
Dawn felt a chill run up her spine, hearing Charizard's cry. 'There's no denying what happened last time we battled. Charizard chewed us up and spat us out. We can't take any half measures!' Still running, she waved a hand. "Togekiss, Dazzling Gleam! Lopunny, Shock Wave!"
"Fairy-type moves aren't good against Fire-types," Ash thought aloud. Charizard, charge in! Close your eyes, and trust your senses!"
Dazzling Gleam only reached so far, with Dawn and her Pokémon currently leading.
Dawn was currently in the lead, so the multicolored heavenly glow of the Jubilee didn't quite make it to Ash's Pokémon to damage them. It did, however, obscure them.
"He's charging right in!?" Dawn asked, guarding her eyes from the Jubilee's rainbow flash.
Charizard took the pulse head-on, suffering a mild pushback from Dazzling Gleam and nothing else. It was a beautiful cover, however, for Lopunny's Shock Wave. He roared and seized, taking the super-effective damage.
The other half of Shock Wave tore a jagged path towards Wartortle. When Ash squinted, he could just barely make out the lightning approaching the Water-type. "Wartortle! I need you to bounce that off and bring it back where it came from! Use Rapid Spin!"
"War!" Wartortle retreated to his shell, spinning viciously into Shock Wave's path. The blue lightning bounced off his tough shell, orbiting it in an attempt to break through its defenses. The sight of a spinning shell swerving through the open air, orbited by a crown of lightning, would be a glory for a Coordinator to behold, should she have time to give it its dues. But, Dawn didn't.
"Listen for Togekiss's wings, and home in on her!" Ash added to the command.
Wartortle swerved up towards the source of the Dazzling Gleam, using his expertly-trained ears to follow the Jubilee. He felt the satisfying crash of his shell against a body, confirming his hit.
Togekiss recoiled and seized, assaulted by Wartortle and a super-effective Shock Wave at once.
"Now, add in your Hydro Pump!" Ash cried.
Unforgiving jets tore through the air, fired out of Wartortle's shell. Hydro Pump mixed in with Shock Wave, assaulting Togekiss with glistening waters and conducted electricity in one go.
Togekiss dropped to the field, belly-up, unconscious.
"Now, now! That's an attack worthy of a Pokémon under my tutelage!" Ultima praised, hovering just outside the corridor windows. "And you've got more than that on your plate, dearie."
"Togekiss!" Dawn gasped, watching her Pokémon drop to the floor in a crackling heap. Unfortunately, she was forced to confront exactly what Ultima warned of, as her conveyer belt jolted backwards a good couple of meters. She and Lopunny were dragged backwards into the dimming light . . . and directly into the shadow of a hovering, glowering Charizard.
The Coordinator grit her teeth. Even Lopunny looked to be intimidated. "Use Return, Lopunny!"
Lopunny gathered her courage in the face of the Flame Pokémon who had no-sold her best efforts, just several months ago. With a shrill cry of effort, she punched a fist into Charizard's gut. Pink hearts burst from the impact, and surprisingly, Charizard looked winded at the hit.
Dawn's belt suddenly moved forwards again; or from her perspective watching, backwards. It reminded her to continue running.
"That's right! You don't want to forget that this is a race, after all!" Ultima lectured with a laugh.
"Not bad, Lopunny! I think he actually felt that one," Ash praised. "Not good enough, though," he added, grinning before snapping his fingers. "Charizard, send 'er back! Use Dragon Tail!"
Charizard hovered back, finishing recoiling from the blow to his gut. He snarled out steam in frustration and whipped his entire body around, coating his tail and flame in a bright teal glow.
The end of his tree trunk tail whipped around, smacking brutally into Lopunny's torso.
The rabbit cried, thrown back towards Dawn. She was forcefully called back into her Poké Ball. Another on Dawn's belt opened, spawning a flash of light in front of her in Lopunny's stead.
"That's the same trick with Dragon Tail that Ash learned from Brock!" Dawn gasped. She recalled the exact same trick being used against her partner, back at the Pewter City Gym; right down to the snap to convey its secondary effect. 'Even from way back when, Ash is putting what he learned to use!' Even if it was putting her in a bind, Dawn felt a sense of pride swell for him.
"Now Charizard, Flamethrower!" Ash ordered promptly.
Charizard tossed his head, bathing Dawn's end of the field in flames.
'He's attacking the instant we switch in, no matter who we end up with!' Dawn acknowledged, gritting her teeth as sweat dripped down her forehead. 'Ash isn't holding back on us at all!'
Fortunately, the next light to emerge in Lopunny's place towered tall, halfway filling her corridor.
Dawn gasped, seeing an opportunity. "Mamoswine! Use Amnesia!"
Mamoswine spawned, and closed his eyes, surrounding himself in a gentle blue glow. Flames assaulted him and licked at his fur, but he cleared his mind of any pain or suffering. His special defense rose sharply. The only thing to jolt him, really, was the ground he stood upon lurching forwards. When he opened his eyes, Charizard was right in his face.
Charizard glowered with his aquamarine eyes, flapping his wings and hoisting his arms in a cautious, confrontational gait. " 's about time I fight another heavyweight," he snorted.
Mamoswine trumpeted, stomping his feet. "Do your worst."
Even as Dawn lost a bit of ground and Ash ran ahead, Ultima cooed. "Ah! Ash tried to ambush Dawn's next Pokémon upon switch-in; a pretty ruthless display to aim towards your girlfriend! I like it!" She cackled, flying on Dragonite to keep up with Ash. "But using Amnesia with Mamoswine, who from what I can see, has Thick Fat, dulled most of the damage. Very clever!"
"It saved us for the moment," Dawn said, as she'd just finished recalling her unconscious Togekiss before breaking into another run. "...but we need to do a lot better than that! Mamoswine! Use your Ice Armor, again!"
Mamoswine chomped down on an Ice Shard, growing a fearsome frozen crown.
"Now, Mamoswine! Use Take Down! And just to back you up…! Pachirisu! Spotlight!" Dawn cried, throwing another Poké Ball. "Use Sweet Kiss!"
"Chi-chi-chi!" Pachirisu spawned, holding her paws over her muzzle. She blew a kiss, summoning a whole swarm of pink hearts, hovering over Mamoswine and towards their foes.
The Sweet Kiss reflected off of Ice Armor's icicles, highlighting Mamoswine in a stunning hot pink hue.
"That'd make a nice combination," Ash observed, "but it's more than just looks. The mirror of Ice Armor is making it hard to spot where Sweet Kiss is and where it isn't! Both Wartortle and Charizard will end up confused," he muttered. "Wartortle, I need your aim! Use Water Gun, and shoot down every Sweet Kiss there is! Charizard, catch that Take Down with all of your might!"
Charizard caught Mamoswine's tusks in an iron grip, and was immediately pushed back by the giant's stampede. In retaliation, he dug his feet into the battlefield below, bringing Mamoswine's charge to a skidding halt. Charizard snarled through bared teeth, forcing back against the mammoth.
"Oho! A clash of the titans," Ultima marveled. "But there's more to this battle than raw strength."
Wartortle sprang into action, as if to make the elder's point. He spat thin, precise shots of water from his mouth, popping one heart of Sweet Kiss after another. Each Water Gun was like a pistol fired, taking down the storm of infatuating hearts one after another in quick succession.
He targeted the ones closing in on Charizard first, popping them so that he couldn't be disoriented in the middle of his back-and-forth power struggle. Pink mist drifted through the air rather quickly; as stalwart and skilled as Wartortle was, Pachirisu's assault was relentless.
And, it only got worse. Dawn smiled, "Pachirisu! Use Thunder!"
Pachirisu screeched with effort, as she launched several huge bolts of lightning; their initial aftermath was deafening, as they shot jagged through the air. Wild bolts caught onto the pink mist from one of the burst Sweet Kiss hearts, conducting through the mist hanging in the air.
It ricocheted from one misty heart to the next, lighting the air abuzz in quick succession.
Wartortle gasped. He quickly found himself surrounded. Thunder shot jagged patterns from one misty holdout to the next, trapping him in a cage of burst hearts. Pink lightning shot through the Water-type, rattling him with amp after painful amp.
"Wartortle!" Ash gasped. His eyes flicked across the field, stopping short to avoid being knocked off of his feet by the sudden reversal. "She used the water kicked up by Water Gun hitting Sweet Kiss to conduct Thunder's electricity. Dawn got completely around the accuracy downside!"
"And what a clever countermeasure that was, too!" Ultima praised. "It's quite a looker, as well… Ah! But your problems aren't over yet, sonny!"
Ash turned his attention to Mamoswine, and gasped. The harsh light of Thunder had enveloped Mamoswine, who was completely immune to its charge. Instead, he was highlighted entirely in blue lightning, consuming his Ice Chandelier; its refracting shine cast Mamoswine's scowl in shadow, making him look absolutely menacing.
Moreover, Thunder shot through Charizard by point of contact, making the Flame Pokémon howl and recoil. It was enough for Mamoswine to buck him off, and smash into him with a Thunderous Take Down. Mamoswine bulldozed Charizard in the direction of the path's starting point, all the while Thunder's wrath sizzled through him.
Ash's path lurched back once more. "That's incredible," he marveled. "But we didn't come this far, just to lose! Charizard, give 'im a Seismic Toss!" He pumped a fist, as he started running again.
Charizard snorted, reasserting himself against Mamoswine's weight. He gripped the base of the mammoth's tusks, beating his wings to stop their momentum. With a roar of effort, he threw his weight backwards, yanking Mamoswine's entire body along with him and over his head. "Roarh!" He cried, somersaulting through the air while taking his opponent along for the ride.
The entire Path of Battle quaked and trembled, as Mamoswine crashed into the floor.
"Mamoswine!" Dawn gasped, looking back.
"Now, Wartortle…!" Ash gasped. Wartortle was stumbling about dizzily, surrounded by hearts. "Damn it. He's confused. Return!" The turtle disappeared in a flash of light, and his trainer threw another Poké Ball to substitute him. "Garchomp! It's all up to you!"
Garchomp appeared in a flash of light, crying ferociously. He was ready for battle!
"So Garchomp's up," Dawn said, smiling to herself. "Mamoswine! Are you alright?"
Mamoswine groaned, pushing himself stubbornly onto his feet.
"Perfect. Then, use Blizzard!" She cried, pointing towards Charizard and Garchomp.
Mamoswine bellowed, and a chilling bitter storm of ice and wind consumed the corridor.
"Ah! She's going for a 4x weakness!" Ultima observed from outside the window. "And that 'Ice Armor' or whatever she calls it seems to have powered up Blizzard! I'm glad my old bones aren't in there, right now!"
Ash was closing in on Dawn's position, but suspiciously, he held back and stopped in place. Moreover, he wore a wide smirk. "Dawn, you fell for it."
Dawn grimaced. "What do you mean by that!?"
"Charizard!" Ash waved a hand aside. "Stop that Blizzard, with Flamethrower!"
Still airborne, Charizard roared mightily, and spat a mighty stream of flames in Blizzard's path.
Flames and bitter tempests collided, instantaneously flooding the field in thick vapor.
"Garchomp! Use Dragon Rush!" Ash cried from within the fog.
"Gaaahr!" A Bright blue draconic aura pierced the veil, and Garchomp descended upon Mamoswine like a bombshell. The Path of Battle trembled, as the Mach collided with him.
"Ah! Mamoswine! Dawn ghosted a hand over her mouth. When the fog started to clear, Mamoswine was bruised and battered; hardly standing. "He's in really dire straits, now…" She yelped, as her path lurched backwards, and Ash's catapulted him just within her reach.
"And we'll finish this, too!" Ash pointed toward the ceiling. "Garchomp! Use Draco Meteor!"
"Gaaahr…!" Garchomp backed up into the air, as a fiery energy built up in his core.
"He's trying to take out both Mamoswine and Pachirisu at once," Dawn thought aloud, narrowing her gaze. "Well, not on our watch! Pachirisu, use Follow Me!"
"Chi-chi-chi!" Pachirisu cried, scurrying out of the fog. She looked up at Garchomp and Charizard, and pulled down her eyelid. "Have your fun bullying Mamoswine, Dorks 'n Dragons?" She turned around, smacking her rear with her fluffy tail.
"Whydon'tchafightsomeoneyerOWNsize!? Like, y'know! A puny one foot nothin' Elesquirrel!?"
Even as he hoisted his head in the air, with his Dragon-type power coalescing in his throat, Garchomp's golden eyes turned towards Pachirisu.
Charizard snorted angrily, following suit. "That's big talk, comin' from such a runt."
Dawn smiled at Pachirisu and winked.
She winked back. "SaysalotaboutYOU, don't it!?" She blew a raspberry, and then sprinted off past Garchomp and Charizard alike, in the exact opposite direction of the goal. "Catch me if y'can, losers!"
Garchomp turned his head in her direction, and fired the Draco Meteor. Mid-flight, it split into many smaller meteor shots, homing in in pursuit of the fleeing Elesquirrel. Garchomp, himself, glided after his storm, following suit.
"Y'know, I know I'm being baited," Charizard grunted. "...But it worked!" He flew off in pursuit.
"H-hey! Garchomp, Charizard!" Ash called out in futility. He groaned in frustration, running after them with no other option to continue to observe the battle. "You don't have to follow her!"
"That is the name of the move, though," Dawn said as she stuck her tongue out. Ash couldn't hear her at a distance. It was time to change gears. "...Alright, Mamoswine. You've earned your rest. Return, for now!" She recalled the mammoth, and immediately rotated him for another.
Meanwhile, Pachirisu danced around Draco Meteor shots, ignoring the explosions detonating mere feet away from her. Run Away was quite the handy ability, in spots like this.
Heck, it even made her slippery enough to avoid Charizard's Flamethrowers! She sprinted to the side of two different streams of fire in succession . . . of course, even she was only so slippery.
"Pah!" She yelped, as a last vestige of Draco Meteor detonated right in front of her She tumbled onto her bottom, finding herself cornered. The shadows of Garchomp and Charizard hovered over her. "...Well, frick."
"Alright, Pachirisu," Ash laughed. "You're good at giving us the slip. But, it's over now!"
"Pachirisu!"
Dawn's voice echoed from a distance. Her Pokémon perked up.
"Use Helping Hand!"
Pachirisu grinned, kicking her little feet as golden firecrackers went off around her. The combusting sparks of cheer and support buzzed up the corridor, making contact with . . .
Dawn's Empoleon! The Emperor Pokémon stood strong by her side, doused in Pachirisu's glow.
It was only then that Ash clocked the vast distance between himself and Dawn. She was almost out of sight. "You weasel!" Ash scolded. Even he couldn't fight the grin that came with his annoyance. "You had us on a wild squirrel chase to take me out of the race!"
"Took you long enough to figure it out, honestly," Ultima remarked, hovering nearby.
"Flattery will get you anywhere!" Dawn winked. "...Except for today. Empoleon! Hydro Pump!"
Empoleon reared back his head, as glimmering water particles gathered in front of his beak. Helping Hand doubled its power, igniting the twisting and surging waters with shimmers of gold. The Emperor's talons dug into the floor, gaining purchase. With a cry, he fired the Hydro Pump.
Hydro Pump stormed down the length of the corridor, twice as voluminous and vicious as usual. There was little Ash and his team could do, but to suffer its torrent and be washed away in it.
Ash held his breath, as he was tossed about violently by Hydro Pump. Before he knew it, he was sliding across the conveyor belt, which slid him and his team back even further. "Urgh…"
The trainer groaned, sitting up after being washed up. "So, that was rude as hell."
"Prrrriiii!" Peeks shook out his fur, splashing Ash with more mist. "I feel waterlogged."
"That wasn't nice either," Ash said flatly.
"Sorry," Peeks said sheepishly. "But, we've got bigger problems. Dawn is way ahead."
"No kidding. If we don't do something quick, she's got this on lock!" Ash grimaced, flipping to his feet. "How're you guys hanging in there!?"
Charizard beat his wings, dispelling the moisture that had so unpleasantly drenched his scales. "Felt better, but far from out."
"Felt that one, I sure did." Garchomp grumbled, sitting upwards. To his own surprise, he found Pachirisu sheltered under his hide. She laughed sheepishly, batting her eyelashes. "Ehehehe, so… Thinkyacanforgivemeferthat, Hun?"
Garchomp blinked.
Pachirisu blinked.
"...Let's take a rain check."
Dawn paced herself, nursing only minor shortness of breath as she jogged her way towards the finish line. For the time being, she faced no opposition. Hell, Ash wasn't even in sight.
"Well that went well," she thought aloud.
Empoleon sprinted alongside her, with his wings hanging behind him to reduce drift. "Pol," he cawed, raising a brow at her. "Pol. Empoleon?"
"Well, of course it was dirty. But all's fair in love and war. You heard me back there! I said I wasn't going to hold anything back against Ash, and I didn't."
"Pol." Empoleon sounded less than impressed. "Pol!" Ash even got swept up in it all!
"It's Ash we're talking about," Dawn laughed. "He can handle anything! I bet the worst he gets from that is a little annoying waterlog. It's nothing a hairdryer can't fix!"
"I was right. You are ruthless!" Ultima's voice echoed, as she coasted alongside Dawn and Empoleon from the outside. "I like you, girlie. I like you a lot. Let it never be said that Pokémon Contests dull a sense for battle!"
"Well, of course not!" Dawn boasted, chin up. "Contests require plenty of precise timing, spontaneity, and counter-spontaneity! There's no room for mercy, even when you're on stage!"
"Duly noted! I never was one for that scene," Ultima mumbled. "And that Hydro Pump was a few squirts short of a Hydro Cannon! With all of that said… You may want to curb your enthusiasm."
"What's that mea— wah!" Dawn yelped, before the belt below her jerked, and she fell flat on her face. "Urgh…" She moaned, muffled by the floor. That meant she'd just taken damage, didn't it.
Which also meant…!
"Yahoo!" Ash whooped from a far distance. Just coming into view, then, were Ash and Peeks. The former held onto Garchomp's ankle, as the Mach Pokémon soared towards the goal.
Ash's feet hit the conveyor belt ever so often, allowing him to run and skip along the surface.
"Ah…?" Ultima smirked, raising a brow at Ash's swift approach. "Well, that's novel."
"All you said was we had to run," Ash laughed, as he sprinted at breakneck speed. "You didn't say we couldn't have any help with it!"
"Bulba-saur!" Bulbasaur swung from Garchomp's other leg with his Vine Whip, eager for battle.
"...Ash!?" Dawn scrambled to her feet. "How'd you…!?"
"Hey, Dawn!" Ash shouted. He held a limp white and blue fur ball under his arm. "Catch!" With a grunt of effort, he chucked an unconscious Pachirisu directly towards her trainer.
"Pachirisu!" Dawn gasped, scrambling to recall her partner to her Poké Ball. "Ugh… Two down. And he's not giving us any time to waste! Lopunny, spotlight!" She called on her next partner.
"Pun!" Lopunny appeared beside Empoleon, fists up and battle-ready.
"Let's stop them in their tracks," Dawn commanded, as she waved a hand aside. "Empoleon, use Whirlpool! Lopunny, add in a Shock Wave!"
With several artful rotations of his wings, Empoleon conjured a horizontal Whirlpool to stand between himself, his allies, and their opponents. Lopunny's Shock Wave quickly spun its way into the concoction, shimmering and sparkling with volatile lightning.
"So that's how it is, eh?" Ash grinned, holding his cap down atop his head so that it wouldn't blow off with his momentum. "Bulbasaur, y'see that window coming up?" He pointed off to the side. "Wait 'till you're in reach, and use Solar Beam!"
"On your word!" Bulbasaur acknowledged, using the momentum provided by Garchomp to swing forward, and quickly pull himself taut. With an effortful forward swing, he was basked in plentiful sunlight. It gathered in the top of his bulb all at once, as he let go of Garchomp's leg.
He aimed forward, and fired. "Saur!"
Dawn gasped, leaping to the side as the light of Solar Beam tore through the Whirlpool. Empoleon and Lopunny, likewise, leapt out of the beam's path; their bodies highlighted by its luster, but untouched.
"Sorry, Empoleon," Ash apologized to Dawn's starter — and in essence, his self-adopted son — in advance. "But this battle's ours! Garchomp, Draco Meteor!"
"Gaahhr…!" Garchomp raised his head, charging another orb of fiery destruction. It rose from his core up into his jowls; smaller than before, but still bright and mighty. A move that had plagued the Emperor many a time, during their previous energy rose towards the ceiling.
A fundamental law of the universe was upheld, as Draco Meteor burst.
A storm of meteors shot directly towards the Emperor at once!
'Sorry, big guy. But Dawn knows well as I do that there's no avoiding this one. The only way out is for you to switch out! And as soon as you do, we can take the lead.' Ash thought to himself, as he awaited the inevitable. Every Draco Meteor would assuredly find this one poor penguin.
Dawn smiled. "I'm disappointed in you, Ash!"
Ash's eyes widened. He waited for Dawn's deliberation.
"You didn't seriously think we'd run from that old thing, did you? Empoleon, use Bide!"
"Pol!" Empoleon cried defiantly, crossing his wings over his chest. A dim glow surrounded his body, as one meteor after another blasted away at him. Fiery cinders and smoke accumulated and flooded Dawn's field. Each hit yanked her a little closer towards Ash and his Pokemon.
This would ultimately work in their favor, as Empoleon spread his wings and retaliated.
Bright, meteoric shots of energy fired out of the debris like a machine gun blitz, twice as bright and intense as they'd come in. Garchomp and Bulbasaur were far too close for comfort, as Bide battered them without mercy.
"It's your turn, Lopunny!" Dawn cried, waving a hand forward. "Give them a spinning Ice Beam!"
Lopunny vaulted and twirled into the storm of Bide, spitting rotating freezing beams into the chaos. Retaliatory explosions and chilling energy battered Bulbasaur and Garchomp, who were caught unawares.
"You guys!" Ash guarded himself from the smoke and debris; frost nipping at his ankles. He tucked his chin so that his face and cap shielded Peeks from the vicious onslaught.
"Saur…" Bulbasaur groaned, forcing himself upright among the smoke and frost. He looked battered and cold, but stubbornly defiant. "That was quite deceptive. Well done." He craned his neck towards Ash, next. "Your hubris came back to get us."
"...Yeah. I guess it did," Ash admitted, as he found Garchomp out cold before him. He could piece together context clues quickly enough to judge what 'hubris' was. "My bad, Empoleon. I underestimated you!" He smirked, recalling Garchomp to his Poké Ball. He then tapped a closed fist against his chest, over his heart. "You've gone and made Papa proud."
"For all of that punishment… I should hope so!" Empoleon huffed, trudging out of the debris. A powerful royal blue coated him, flowing like water. With his last vestiges, he'd triggered Torrent.
"Maybe you'll know better, next time!" Dawn taunted, as she recalled Empoleon to his Poké Ball. "You were amazing, big guy. Take a breather, for now. We've still got… Typhlosion! Eruption!"
Typhlosion appeared from her Poké Ball, fresh from the action and with plenty of rest. She let out a snarling battle cry and lurched forward, firing a wide-spanning stream of molten lava.
"Rosa! Copycat!" Ash shouted, as he pitched his next Poké Ball into the fray.
The steadfast Lucario appeared from her Poké Ball, immediately analyzing the coming store. She tossed her head, as well, spitting a storm of magma into the one coming her way.
Eruption clashed with itself, center-stage, pushing back and forth stubbornly. But, Typhlosion's initial attack quickly started to overwhelm Rosemary's, pushing towards Ash's team.
"Your Copycat is going to lose," Ultima remarked from outside the window. "Your Lucario isn't a Fire-type, and she's taken damage, however meager, while Typhlosion hasn't. An imitation can't defeat the real article."
"Oh, trust me. We learned that a while ago." Ash replied, grinning as he held his cap down atop his head. Scalding winds made his jacket billow behind him, and Peeks tucked into his shoulder for shelter. "But our plan is more than fighting fire with fire. Bulbasaur! Use Sludge Bomb!"
Bulbasaur leapt into a backwards somersault, aiming his bulb towards the lava and firing a barrage of densely packed sludge. He braced for impact, as a chain of detonations went off.
Both Eruptions went up in an earth-shaking blaze, ignited by potent toxins.
Rosemary, in sync with Ash's machinations, jumped away from the blast zone.
"I had a feeling that was coming," Dawn shouted from across the firestorm. "And we'll take your strategy and make it ours! Typhlosion, use those explosions to set off your Flame Wheel!"
Typhlosion tucked into a wheel and revved up her natural fire, blazing across the minefield between herself and Ash's Pokémon. She steered herself so that an explosion detonated under and behind her, propelling her towards her opponents at a breakneck pace. Traces of sludge clung to her Flame Wheel, setting off a chain of sparks and ever-combusting flames.
She'd turned herself into a hazardous demolition wheel!
Bulbasaur and Rosemary each vaulted to the side of the blazing path of destruction; Rosemary using her strong legs, and Bulbasaur vaulting off with his vines. They only barely avoided Typhlosion; the uncomfortable heat snapped at their hides; luckily nothing more.
"Aura Sphere!" Ash cried. "Into the side!"
Rosemary was quick on the uptake, as Typhlosion grazed by her. She reared a paw back, loading it with fighting spirit manifest. Aura Sphere's teal shined, and she swung it directly into the center of Typhlosion's Flame Wheel. The blast detonated violently, at once.
The impact threw the Flame Wheel completely off balance, sending it spinning off and crashing into the corridor wall. Flames combusted violently before dying out, with Typhlosion's head hanging halfway out of a busted wall.
"Wah!?" Dawn's conveyor belt suddenly lurched back. She backed up to regain her meager lead, but couldn't find it in herself to pull far from the battle. 'This is getting mucky, and fast. I can't afford to stay away from the action for long, now!'
Ultima tutted, hanging on Dragonite just outside the range of damage. "Well, I'm going to have to patch that up. Who would've thought a couple of youngsters would be this destructive?"
"Follow it up, while she's down!" Ash waved a hand. "Use Bone Rush!"
Rosemary summoned a bone-shaped staff forged from Aura in her paws, and vaulted off it towards a dazed and recovering Typhlosion. Hanging just above, she twirled the Bone Rush artfully, as if it were Sir Aaron's staff. With a roar, she drove it directly into the Volcano's gut.
Typhlosion snarled in pain and doubled over. Just as she'd started to gain her bearings, she suffered super-effective damage!
"They countered us completely," Dawn said through grit teeth. "Typhlosion, she's close! Eruption!"
Typhlosion glared at the Lucario, and fired a ring of lava from around her neck.
"Deflect it!" Ash cried.
Rosemary's battle sense kicked in, even as the words left Ash's lips. She twirled Bone Rush in front of her, causing Eruption to fan off of the staff harmlessly. It was far weaker than before.
"That's not going to do a goshdarned thing, after she's taken that much damage," Ultima tutted.
Dawn grimaced. "Lopunny! Use Return on Bulbasaur!"
"Woaoaaowh!" Lopunny roared, lunging at Bulbasaur, who'd just brushed off the discomfort of Flame Wheel's errant embers. Using her strong legs, she closed the distance in an instant, swinging at him with an earth-shaking right hook.
Bulbasaur sidestepped the first, and a shockwave billowed off of her fist, sending several rings of pink hearts echoing through the open air. Lopunny geared up for a second punch, and he leapt out of range, using the sheer force of the punch to safely coast away from her on the wind.
"Slippery, are ya!?" Lopunny grit her teeth, and lunged at Bulbasaur again, swinging with both of her fists. Bulbasaur was obviously an expert battler; his ruby eyes followed the rabbit's every move, and he leaned to the side accordingly. Her fists weren't cutting it.
Instead, she whipped her entire head around, backhanding Bulbasaur with her ears. A storm of hearts erupted from the impact, and Bulbasaur tumbled backwards across the conveyor belt. He landed on Ash's end of things, forced away from the goal by the moving belt.
"Gotcha, now!" Lopunny sprung up high, tumbling gracefully through the air for a quick descent.
"Bulbasaur!" Ash averted his eyes from Rosemary to see his trusted partner on the backfoot. "He has no way of fighting her, hand-to-hand…" His eyes widened. "Rosa! Throw 'im your Bone Rush, STAT!"
~On it!~ Rosemary leapt back to distance herself from a dazed Typhlosion, and tossed her staff.
"Bulbasaur!"
Bulbasaur got the message. His vines wrapped sturdily around the weapon, just in time for Lopunny's descent. He swung the staff like a bat, crashing directly into her double axe handle.
The obstruction dulled and ended her momentum, forcing her into a stalemate. Lopunny snorted in effort, grinning before backflipping off of the clash, and springing back at him with fists of fury.
Bulbasaur swung offensively, blocked and parried with Bone Rush, putting his dexterity to use against Lopunny's crushing blows. And they did make him tremble with every collision. But, he was successful in fending the rabbit off, refusing to drop his guard.
"She can't seem to get through," Dawn thought aloud. "Lopunny! Ice Beam!"
Lopunny leapt back, and fired a freezing ray towards Bulbasaur.
'There it is!' Ash smiled to himself, a gleam in his eye. "Throw Bone Rush at it to intercept!"
Bulbasaur did as told, chucking the staff. Ice Beam froze it over, leaving it a crystalline shell of itself. He caught it immediately afterwards, even as it was cold to the touch.
'Almost there,' Ash thought. "Make some distance. Jump behind you!"
"Return!"
Bulbasaur vaulted back, and Lopunny lunged in pursuit. Just as she closed the distance, they came into the light of one of the corridor's windows; perfectly timed for Lopunny's Return to shatter the frozen staff into many shards and fragments of ice.
"Now! Solar Beam!" Ash declared triumphantly, sweeping a hand through the air.
Bulbasaur turned upside down, aiming his bulb directly at Lopunny. Light quickly gathered in the sun's kind glow, but that wasn't all; the quickly gathering energy refracted off the many shards.
Lopunny shrieked, covering her eyes. The reflection of harsh sunlight through ice was blinding!
She had no defense for the beam of pure energy that blasted her away.
Lopunny soared through the air and landed in an ashen heap, unconscious.
Dawn's corridor jolted back, and Ash's forward.
"Lopunny!" Dawn cried. "The way you used the ice and the sun…"
"...That was all you!" Ash boasted. "Or, at least it started with you. I got inspired by the way you used Togekiss's Dazzling Gleam. With how determined Lopunny is, I knew the best way through was to catch her totally off-guard!" He grinned, brushing his thumb over his nose. "Thanks for the idea!"
"I'll call it an honor!" Dawn smirked in turn. "...But, still. I need to turn this around, and fast."
Much to Dawn's good fortune, Typhlosion was now back on her feet. Furthermore, as she roared with pride and desperation at once, her Blaze ignited. "Tyyyyoaaah!"
Typhlosion's collar burned with ambition; a candle was always brightest before fizzling out.
"Typhlosion! Use Flame Wheel! Give it everything you've got," Dawn cried, recalling Lopunny.
Typhlosion roared and tucked into another wheel, blazing towards the Lucario.
"Return, Rosa!" Ash recalled the Aura Pokémon immediately afterwards. "You did your part. Now, let's leave it to… Charizard!" With all of his effort, Ash stepped forward, and chucked yet another Poké Ball between himself and Dawn. "...Catch her, with your Flaming Seismic Toss!"
Charizard stomped his feet down on the corridor floor, directly in Typhlosion's path. Snorting with effort, he hugged his arms forcefully around the Flame Wheel that burned away at him.
It was powerful; exceptionally so. But, flames were Charizard's domain. He took off into the air, somersaulting before chucking Typhlosion brutally towards the ground. "Groaarh!"
Flames burst in all directions, forcing Dawn to guard herself from the onslaught. Afterwards, they fizzled. Typhlosion laid on her back, completely out cold. She returned to her Poké Ball.
Ash, meanwhile, felt his own path yank him backwards. "...Oh. Right! The goal!" Ash hastily pulled out Bulbasaur's Poké Ball, recalling him in a red flash. "You can rest for now, pal…"
"...Because it's time to make for the home stretch!" Ash grinned as he adjusted his cap, and threw a hand forward. "Let's go, Peeks. I choose you!"
"Pi-kaaah!" Peeks eagerly ran down the length of Ash's arm, catapulting off of his wrist into a breakneck sprint. He led the charge, as Ash ran in pursuit of him. He heard the beating of Charizard's wings, and the Flame Pokémon now followed. "Let's make a break for it, team!"
As Ash charged forward, accompanied by two of his most steadfast partners, he stopped by Dawn, who found herself unarmed; she had no Pokémon out, currently; hers now recalled.
Ash took Dawn's shoulder, catching her off-guard. "H-huh!?"
Without warning, Ash planted a committed kiss on her lips, allowing her to meld into it . . . before promptly pulling away, and running past her. "Sorry, babe! See you at the finish line!" He winked, before turning towards a full sprint ahead.
"H-hey!" Dawn fumed, puffed out cheeks filled with scarlet. "You can't do that in a battle…!"
"Just did!" Ash laughed as he waved behind him, looking ever forward. "Eat our dust, Dawn!"
"Was that really necessary?" Peeks asked, looking back at his trainer.
"Nope. But I wanted to do it!"
"...Jeez." Dawn sighed. "I guess that's payback for what we did earlier. But we're not about to give up, just like that!" She reached for her belt, grabbing a Poké Ball in each hand. Holding them crossed over her torso, Dawn tossed both backhanded. "Empoleon, Mamoswine!"
Both the Emperor and the Twin Tusk appeared in unison; both battered and beaten, but determined to continue. Empoleon's Torrent coasted over his body, casting him in a glow.
"Let's go! Ash is ahead, but we're not out of the race, yet!" She bolted forth, accompanied by Empoleon's noble sprint, and Mamoswine's gargantuan charge. "Let's sock it to them!"
"Empol!"
"Mamooo!"
Ultima could only watch the scene unfold in quiet awe, before scoffing and laughing to herself. "For a minute there, they'd completely forgotten they were in a race. They were absorbed in battle."
Charizard looked back as he flew, and huffed. "They're gaining on us."
"Empoleon! Hydro Pump!" Dawn commanded as she ran.
Empoleon gathered all of his remaining strength. Torrent flowed together into the churning waters gathering in front of his beak. He threw his head forward, launching a storm towards Charizard.
"Looks like we have no choice but to fight!" Ash skidded to a halt on his heels, turning to face Dawn's onslaught. He waved a hand through the air. "Fire back with Flamethrower, Charizard!"
"Groooarh!" Charizard bellowed, spitting a white-hot Flamethrower into Hydro Pump's path.
Fire and water clashed, stubbornly pushing against one another for dominance.
"Now, Mamoswine! You handle Peeks," Dawn cried. "Use an Ice Shard storm!"
Mamoswine still boasted the crown of Ice Armor. It made gathering a cluster of dense, dangerous shards of ice a breeze. He cried, firing the frozen storm towards the Electric Mouse.
"Heck, I feel like they've forgotten about the prize, altogether." Ultima laughed to herself, as she watched the exchange of powerful and showy moves. "They only have their eyes on one another."
"Charge in!" Ash cried. "Use Zippy Zap to break through!"
"Pi-pi-pi-pi… Pi-ka!" A rainbow jolted to life around Peeks, launching him into the hailstorm. "Pi! Pi! Pi!" He zipped left, right, up, and down, bolting his way around the cold projectiles.
"Now, up high!" Ash roared, throwing a hand high into the air. "Rainbow Electro Ball!"
Peeks shot directly skywards, and the prism wrapping around him channeled into his tail. "Pika-pika-pika-pika-pika…!" Just as in the battle with Deidra, Rainbow Electro Ball quickly dwarfed his size. "Chu-pi!" He roared, flipping forward. Rainbow Electro Ball struck Mamoswine.
"Mamoswine…!?" Dawn guarded herself from the blinding light. "I don't get it…! Why would he use that on Mamoswine?" She gasped, as the answer became clear.
As lightning spanning the spectrum of the rainbow danced about, many broken icicles and shards of ice hung in the air, before being vaporized completely. A rainbow rivaling the sun in its radiance shone, before fading. Mamoswine was unharmed, but his Ice Armor was vanquished.
"He broke Ice Armor!" Dawn grimaced. In the heat of the moment, she saw Empoleon struggling to stand his ground against the onslaught of flames.
His Hydro Pump hissed, starting to evaporate.
"Empoleon! You can do this!" Dawn cried, bunching up her fists. "Think of how far you've come. Of how you couldn't even touch Charizard, back in Mulberry Town! You're so much stronger, now, though, so there's no need to worry!" She punched the air. "Show them who we really are!"
Dawn's speech was enough for a second wind, for Empoleon. He recalled those days, when he wallowed in self-doubt. When he'd stagnated behind his peers, and plateaued in strength. He recalled every one of his attacks failing to even faze Charizard. Now, they'd locked horns.
His eyes narrowed, and he let out a shrill battle cry. Hydro Pump gained a second wave.
It started pushing its way back towards Charizard, eating away at his flames.
"The entire world is their battle, right now, as far as they're concerned," Ultima mused to herself. Brutal attacks and flashy spectacles unfolded before her eyes, unlike anything she'd seen in years. "They could give a hoot about my teachings. Those two Pokémon Trainers care about little but pushing each other ever higher."
The smile in each of their eyes was evident, to an old coot's experienced gaze.
"That's how it should be."
"We have no options left… use Stomping Tantrum, Mamoswine!" Dawn cried.
Mamoswine's previous attack had failed, and his prized crown had been shattered. Mamoswine cried out in rage, smashing and stomping the field below him. Huge slabs of earth were kicked up in the aftermath, firing in a storm towards the airborne Peeks.
"Peeks! Use Iron Tail to charge in!" Ash cried.
"Chu… Pi-ka!" Peeks hit the first slab with the flat end of his tail, somersaulting onto its surface to sprint and leap. More earth came, and he swatted it aside, time after time to cross the distance between himself and Mamoswine.
Charizard, meanwhile, snarled as he felt his advantage start to slip. 'That runt is anything but a runt at this point, eh? To think he's actually making me try.' Through a fierce and relentless flame, the Pokémon laughed to himself. 'Good on you, kid.' With that sentiment, he turned up the heat, and Flamethrower began to eat and hiss through Hydro Pump without resistance.
Peeks, meanwhile, somersaulted over the last of the debris. "Chua…!"
Ash punched the air. "Do it, Buddy!"
"Pi-kaaa!" Iron Tail crashed into Mamoswine's forehead, making the ground collapse under him. Shockwaves of sheer force rippled through the hall, nudging Ash and Dawn's bangs alike.
At just the same time, Flamethrower overcame Hydro Pump, scorching Empoleon.
Dawn gasped. "Mamoswine! Empoleon!" Before she knew it, the moving floor threw her off her feet. In that moment, her smile was bittersweet. She didn't need to wait for the smoke to clear.
"So, that's it, huh?"
"Now's our chance, you guys!" Ash shouted to Charizard and Peeks, who quickly joined their trainer at his side. Flying and running in unison, they broke for the finish line.
Empoleon laid on his back, unconscious. Mamoswine, likewise, was out cold.
"It's decided, then." Ultima smiled to herself, closing her eyes. This battle was over.
Ash whooped, as he, Peeks, and Charizard simultaneously crossed the finish line.
"We've won!"
"Groarh!"
"Pi-Pikachu!"
Chapter 3: The Bond Phenomenon
Chapter Text
By its very nature, losing tended to hurt. Whether it was the negligible sting of a training session gone the other way, or a crushing defeat at the hands of a sworn rival, some piece of your competitive spirit was turned bitter by defeat's chilling touch. The warmth of a new day would thaw that decay, but for a moment, you clenched your jaw, tightened your first, and forced a smile. Because that was the sportsmanlike thing to do, as an honorable competitor.
This truth made it all the more peculiar that Dawn felt none of that. As she sat on the ashen and disheveled floor of the Path of Battling corridor, just a short sprint from the goal, she felt serene.
She sat awkwardly, knees ajar, and palms planted on the floor before her. Empoleon and Mamoswine laid by her, unconscious. It was the abject picture of total defeat.
But, Dawn couldn't stop smiling. Not as long as her gaze was fixed on the boy before her.
Ash was cheering and whooping, spinning Peeks around in his arms before falling back into Charizard's chest with warm laughter. His voice, even at a distance, was like honey, and his smile was the sun. From here, Ash looked so tall. He towered over his previous self from just a year ago, with the wealth of experience he'd built; much of it, right at her side.
How could she possibly be angry about it?
"Empoleon, Mamoswine, return." She recalled both of her precious partners to their Poké Balls, and walked towards Ash, who was occupied with Peeks and Charizard. When both of them took notice of her, Ash followed their gaze, eyes widening at her approach.
Dawn held out her hand. Ash reflexively held his high over his head, pausing only when he found that hers was, instead, held out to him.
"Uh…?" Ash trailed off, not uttering even a word, really. His confusion was self-explanatory.
"High fives are our thing and all," Dawn said. "But I wanted to thank you as an opponent, this time. That battle was really, really great." She smiled sincerely, light reflecting in her eyes. "So, thanks for a battle well-fought, Ash. You earned that win."
Ash's brain lagged behind for a moment, before he put the pieces together and met her smile with his own, seizing her hand in a firm, but kind shake. "I should be thanking you! For all the great battles I've had, I've never had one that… fast! There was so much happening; it was just… amazing. I felt like there were fireworks going off in my head. They usually say that sort of thing happens when you kiss someone," he chuckled, sheepishly scratching his cheek.
Dawn giggled, giving Ash's palm a squeeze. "Sometimes, a battle's just as good."
"Well, well. Go ahead and clap yourselves on the back. It'll be easier to stomach than you young'uns making eyes at each other." Ultima opened the door to the corridor from the outside, smirking, despite her complaints. "Well fought indeed, both of you! I don't want to make your heads swell like a Jigglypuff, but I've rarely ever seen tactics this inventive — or efficient!"
Ash grinned, throwing one arm around Charizard's neck, and the other around Dawn's shoulder, pulling them both closer to him; Peeks was squished between them. "That's the power of teamwork!"
"It's like we said," Dawn added, grinning. "A sharp blade is at its best, sharpening another!"
"Yes, yes. I think I've heard enough poetry to last me a lifetime. Honestly, you sound like the old git Professor, back in Pallet Town," Ultima grumbled. She walked back and forth through the end of the corridor, with her arms folded behind her back.
It kept her from noticing that Dawn had collapsed in Ash's arms after being compared to Oak.
"The new generation seems to be growing fast," she continued. "You've both passed!"
"Both passed!?" Ash and Dawn exclaimed in unison . . . prompting Ash to squint.
"Wait, didn't you just pass out?" He asked.
"This is important!" Dawn insisted, even as she still dangled limp with his support. "I don't understand. You said that only the winner gets to learn the Ultimate Moves!"
"Oh, that?" Ultima asked, stretching her neck out, nonchalant. "Well, you see . . . ! I lied."
The entire group fell flat on their faces.
"If there were no stakes to your fight, you might not give your best efforts to prove either of you are worthy! Although I see now that it was wasted breath . . . You might have lost the battle at a count of zero-to-five," she said, eyeing Dawn. "...But you held your own against a foe whose Pokémon were far out of your league in terms of strength. Your Empoleon is up to the task!"
"You'd best believe that I am!" Empoleon squawked, as he popped out of his Poké Ball. He was still bruised, ashen, and exhausted, but it did little to dampen his enthusiasm.
"I'd also like to teach Blast Burn to your Typhlosion," Ultima continued. "The raw power she displayed was breathtaking — she'd be the perfect candidate!"
"Oh! I didn't even think of that!" Dawn gasped, cupping her hand over her mouth.
Typhlosion popped out of her Poké Ball, leering at Dawn. "I was wondering about that!"
"I'm sorry!" Dawn clasped her hands together apologetically, blushing in embarrassment. "I just thought that Eruption was enough in terms of high power moves, you know?"
"Eruption is just as powerful as Blast Burn, but far more restrictive," Ultima explained. "Fighting at full stamina is something you can only do once, under most conditions, as you showed us, today. Meanwhile, Blast Burn can be wielded right up until the end of a battle — with its drawback of exhaustion and the signature ability of Blaze, it's arguably the best time!"
"See? Listen to her!" Typhlosion nodded adamantly, crossing her arms in a huff.
Empoleon cut a look at his tragically abandoned teammate, and cut a petty smirk at her.
Typhlosion squinted, and then slapped Empoleon in the face.
The Emperor could only stare at her, aghast.
"Before we proceed, though," Ultima continued, "there is one thing I would like to get to the bottom of, though." She directed her eyes to Ash, who was currently prying Empoleon and Typhlosion apart from one another. "...That move. 'Zippy Zap.' Explain it to me, sonny."
"Oh, Zippy Zap!" Ash finally separated the two rivaling peers, adopting a stern expression. "It's an attack of our very own. A few months ago, when we were using Volt Tackle, we just… started changing it. It was on a whim that we didn't even think about. We started using it differently on impulse. It didn't really go anywhere, at least for a while. But then, Peeks and I went through a real rut." He affectionately scratched his starter's cheek, who leaned into his hand, brushing Ash with an unspoken expression that they'd returned to harmony. "We didn't see each other for weeks, and weren't talking for even longer. But when we needed it most, and our lives were on the line… It just happened. We made our hearts one, and Volt Tackle evolved into this move!"
Ash shrugged. "I'd never seen anything like it, so I gave it that name. That's Zippy Zap."
"Ah…" Ultima hummed to herself, cupping her chin. "So, it's one of those."
"One of those?" Peeks echoed, frowning.
"I'm lost," Ash spoke for Peeks. "Zippy Zap isn't one of the Ultimate Moves, is it? It can't be. It came to life just recently! It's not like we picked it up from anyone."
"It is, in a sense," the elder replied, "but perhaps by a different name." With that, she turned her back to the group, exiting through the door leading to the outdoors. "You lot. Follow me."
Ash and Peeks exchanged a look, and shrugged.
Ash and Dawn followed Ultima up a winding dirt road, diverging from the short path to her home at the end of the Path of Battling. A slight, straightforward incline had turned into a hike towards Two Island's peak, with dense forests on either side of them. They walked behind their new mentor, and their Pokémon followed behind them, socializing amongst themselves.
The exception was Peeks, who sat on Ash's shoulder, as usual.
He, Ash, and Dawn were left wondering exactly when this lecture would start.
"So, Zippy Zap…" Ash started.
"There's something you should understand about the Ultimate Moves if you want to understand your 'Zippy Zap,'" Ultima replied, looking ever forward. "While their reputation may not tell you much, the Ultimate Moves aren't simply a powerful attack. Even with their equivalents in Hyper Beam and Giga Impact, their very nature is different. They're a fragment of something greater."
"Something greater?" Dawn echoed. "I don't understand. There has to be a reason that they're so much harder to learn than those two, right? You can find strong wild Pokémon just about anywhere that know Hyper Beam on their own. So I guess they have to be special, somehow."
"Blast Burn, Frenzy, Plant, and Hydro Cannon," Ultima continued, "are a fragment of what is known as the Bond Phenomenon."
"'Bond Phenomenon?'" Ash and Dawn exclaimed in unison.
"What, is there an echo in here!?" The woman barked. "Quit gawking like Pelipper and listen." Ultima cleared her throat. "The Bond Phenomenon is a category of strange happenings largely shrouded in myth. It's made of various powers that can only be born through trainer and Pokémon working as one, and linking their hearts. One of its key branches is attacks; or Bond Moves, rather. Attacks that can only be unlocked with perfected friendship, where the Trainer and Pokémon's goals and hearts are aligned. The Ultimate Moves are quick-and-right examples of this, and so far, have only been found in Pokémon given out as starters, as they all tend to bond particularly well with beginning trainers. Although, I have to say…"
Ultima looked back over her shoulder at Wartortle and Bulbasaur, who hung back with Charizard and Dawn's partners. "I've never in my life trained one who's unevolved at their bond's zenith. Those two may be exceptions; whether they are or aren't, we'll have to find out."
Ash nodded. He had total faith that both of them would surprise her.
"But those three aren't the only ones in the world. I believe that Zippy Zap is an example of a Bond Move… However! It's missing something. It lacks the 'oomph' a move that special can have."
"Is there something wrong with it?" Ash frowned, exchanging a look with Peeks.
"It saved us during the battle with Deidra," Peeks replied. "It's not a finishing move, but the speed it gives us is incredible. I guess that's not the same, but it's still great!"
"I've seen it in action," Ultima answered. "So far, you've used it as a move to run away from your destiny. It evokes hesitation and fear that have clouded your eyes."
"That does sound like us, in the months leading up to us creating it," Peeks thought aloud.
Ash hummed in agreement. Where that was supposed to lead them, though, he wasn't sure.
"I can tell just by looking at you two: The essence of your bond is choosing the greatest path forward. If you can understand that, then your Bond Move will unleash its full potential."
"The greatest path forward…" Ash cupped his chin, narrowing his gaze.
"I wonder what that could mean," Peeks hummed, crossing his arms.
"I suggest you take some time to work on it," Ultima continued. "...Right here!"
She waved her staff at a grove that was overlooked by the island's peak, before their eyes.
There was a small wood cabin on the edge of the clearing, plenty of trees surrounding it, a crystalline pond, and a view of the seas beyond it. There was just enough room to train, it seemed, while closed off enough to be comfortable. Frankly, it looked like a trainer's paradise.
"I'm going to start training both of your Pokémon. You can spend the day and night here while I do." Ultima held out her staff, which had the two baskets of berries Ash and Dawn had gathered on its end, towards them. "These are the berries you caught. You're going to need them. Leppa berries restore a Pokémon's power to use their moves, after tiring themselves out. The rest, well, you have that little gizmo on your wrist," she nodded towards Dawn. "You figure them out."
"Oh, yeah! I guess my Pokétch would tell me about these." Dawn accepted hers into her arms.
"I was wondering why you brought these along," Ash said, taking his own. "Thanks for the cabin! This'll be a great help, if we're going to figure things out!"
"It's the least I can do for a fair bit of entertainment. Two Island gets awfully dull in a drought of mentees, you know," Ultima grumbled. "But, before you go . . . Zippy Zap?" She squinted. "Why would you pick such a stupid name?"
"It's not stupid!" Ash defended. After a moment of adamant defiance rivaling a Primeape, he looked to Dawn with a pouty expression that came off more like a Snubbul's. "...is it?"
"Ash…" Dawn gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "It is."
"Well, why didn't you tell me at the time!?"
"Did you really need a critique after that whole mess?" Dawn asked matter-of-factly.
"...No," Ash resigned. "I might've cried."
"And that's why I didn't say it!" Dawn said, smiling sweetly. "But, there's no need to worry!" She winked, raising her index finger. "With my poetic prowess, we'll find a better name, in no time!"
Pachirisu chirped her excitement, as her fluffy tail bounced about in the breeze. Some ten stories or so above the secluded grove, Garchomp soared through the skies leisurely, offering Pachirisu the taste of flight and freedom that she'd always craved.
He got to stretch his fins, and she doled out praise regularly. It was a win-win, as far as the land shark was concerned. He enjoyed the warmth of the sun and gentle brush of Pachirisu's tail; tongue hanging out like he were a dog on a car ride unprivileged with the joys of being a Pokémon who could run or fly at hundreds of miles per hour.
Back down on Earth, Peeks and Lopunny kept themselves occupied by the pond. They were going through the tedious process of trying to ballroom dance when one partner was a third of the height of the other. The easiest solution, so far, had been to make Lopunny the designated lead. She giggled as she twirled Peeks about, before scooping him into her arms for a dip.
"Lopunny, please!" Peeks protested, even if feebly through shy laughter. His muzzle was as orange-red as his cheeks. "We're out in the open. Somebody's going to see us."
Lopunny bemusedly rolled her eyes. "Is anyone who knows going to be shocked by my fascination with ya? With us, they might as well be watching paint dry, Hun."
Peeks breathed an exasperated and defeated sigh. "That is a fair point."
She brushed noses with him, leaving a peck before twirling him back onto his feet. "Damn right."
The rest of the Pokémon socialized amongst themselves, while allowing the happy couples — official or not — to frolic. Of course, there was one last pair in the group, occupied with very serious business.
Their trainers lay under the shade of a tree, with Ash leaning against the bark, and Dawn resting her head in Ash's lap. They'd been puzzling over Ultima's riddle for a short time, now, after settling into their training site. Ash was kind enough to run his hands through Dawn's endlessly voluminous blue locks, keeping her relaxed and poised to bookworm her way through the conundrum.
"So, there are two parts to this riddle," Dawn revisited. "They're both essential pieces that'll ultimately make sense once they come together. Neither is all that useful on their own."
"I still don't understand what you mean by two," Ash grumbled. "Wasn't it three? She said that we're running from our destiny, our eyes are clouded, and it 'evokes hesitation,' and that the essence of our bond is 'choosing the greatest path forward.' That's more than two."
Dawn tutted, shaking her head. "I can tell you daydreamed your day through literature class."
"I don't even know if Pallet Elementary had a literature class," Ash replied.
"...Okay, one: that's concerning. Two: Your talent for wordplay was under nurtured and it says a lot for you that you're still so witty. Three: that's concerning."
"I wouldn't have paid attention, anyway!"
"You would've at least had a chance!" Dawn puffed her cheek out. "You're so stubborn… But luckily, I had perfect marks in mine."
"Perfect? Seriously? I never took you for a nerd."
"I love poetry!" Dawn protested, before meekly tacking on, "I also tended to pull something every now and then in P.E. so I had a lot of in-class recess to spend on studying."
"Oh, that bites."
"It was nice! Aside from the sprains," Dawn winced, looking back. "Anyway . . . The 'second' part to her riddle is a continuation of the first. The best path forward is describing our end goal. Your eyes being clouded and your move evoking hesitation are both criticisms that describe your failed process. Not every sentence or passage carries equal weight or independence, Ash."
"...Okay, I get the criticism and goal part, but on the rest of that, I'm lost." Ash pouted, brushing one of Dawn's long locks away from her eyes with a brush of his thumb. Gravity kept favoring it spilling back into her way, and the way she rapidly blinked was enough of a sign it irritated her.
"How to get you to understand this…" Dawn hummed in thought. "Think of it like this! Do you remember the moves that Tobias's Darkrai used?"
"There's a name I haven't heard in a bit," Ash whistled. "Uh, I think so. Dark Void, obviously. Dream Eater, Ice Beam… Dark Pulse? I think that was it."
"Right! Now, his Darkrai could use Ice Beam, or Dark Pulse, without any preparation. Those moves are independent of anything else. They deal damage to start with, and might have their own side effects, like flinching or freezing. You can take them as a statement of their own."
"Uh-huh," Ash hummed, not quite sure where this was headed.
"But that changes completely when you talk about Dream Eater. Going into a battle on its own, that move is pointless. It won't do anything."
"It depends entirely on Dark Void to work," Ash continued.
"Right!" Dawn beamed. "So Dream Eater is a subject of Dark Void. Those two are a complete statement together; they're the driving force of what makes Darkrai so dangerous."
"Okay, I get that!" Ash exclaimed. "So, the thing about running away from our destiny and fear clouding our eyes are supposed to be like, one whole combo? One part of the riddle!"
"Yes! You get it!" Dawn grinned, reaching up to smush Ash's cheeks. "Oh, I'm so proud of you. Who would've thought the way to get you to learn was to involve Pokémon Battles?"
A moment passed.
"Actually, I really should've clocked that, sooner."
"Don'th geth carrieth away," Ash said, cheeks still terribly smushed.
"At any rate, yes, those are one statement. Ultima was trying to tell us something about Zippy Zap. The question is what it means…"
"I think the fear thing was, like, a comment on what we told her about our fall-out," Ash said, shrugging. "That sounds like, poetic or something, but are they really connected?"
"Well if your mindset is what made the move happen, then it only makes sense for it to inform how you use it, too," Dawn posited. "...Oh! I get it! Using it to run away from your destiny… Ash, she's talking about how you use the move to evade attacks after you land a hit with Zippy Zap!"
"Of course!" Ash exclaimed. "She was saying a hit-and-run isn't like us. Which like, I guess so. I've never had an issue with using speed to dizzy our opponents. Is that really cowardly?"
"Maybe it's not cowardly in itself," Dawn suggested, "but if there's a greater use for the move that's more suitable for you, it might look like it in comparison. She said it was being misused."
"Whatever the answer is, she said our essence is 'the greatest path forward,' Ash added. His eyes widened. "Wait a minute… that's how the move came to be, in the first place!"
"It did?" Dawn asked, blinking at him. "What do you mean?"
"It was at the Tree of Beginning. The big moment we got back in sync… I was hanging from this place, really high up, and Peeks and Rosa found me. Peeks used Magnet Rise, and told me to trust him and let go. We all fell together, and we were aiming for one of those pieces of land that Magnet Rise kicked up. That was his plan, after all. Buttt… we missed."
He could feel Dawn tensing at the turn of events, and her thin lips sold her distress.
"So it looked like we were done for. But, that's when it happened! The two of us decided, 'There's no way we're losing, here!' And we just felt this… burst of power. I don't even know what was guiding us; it felt like we were one! My instincts were perfectly in line with Peeks's."
Ash looked up towards his partner, who was dancing with Lopunny, still. "We just moved completely on our guts. Everywhere there was an electric charge from Magnet Rise, we clipped perfectly, and it bounced us like a trampoline! Turn after turn after turn, we went even higher!"
His eyes snapped wide open. "That's it!"
"What? What's it!?" Dawn asked.
"Each time, our guts honed in on the best place to strike next. Our fighting instincts took us there!" He slammed his open palms down on the grass beside them. "The essence of me and Peeks is to reach the perfect target with our guts! Zippy Zap is supposed to land critical hits!"
"Critical… Oh my gosh, Ash, yes! That locks into place with the riddle perfectly!" In her excitement, Dawn sat up, holding her cheeks in her palms. "Oh, and the storytelling of its purpose rising from your return to grace... If that's not a Bond Phenomenon, then what is!?"
"Alright! Oh, I can't wait to tell Peeks… Dawn, you're a friggin' genius!" Ash enunciated, before taking hold of Dawn's face to plant a kiss on her lips, loaded with gratitude.
Dawn, unfortunately, fell limp, face red, with steam rising from her poor, lovesick head. Were those swirls in her eyes…? "Ehehe…! Um… uh."
"... Shoot. Did I lay it on too thick?" Ash frowned, crossing his arms. "Not like we'll get much training done if she's like this. I'm getting too charming for my own good, here."
"No need to worry!" Dawn snapped, up and at 'em, fists clenched. "I'm taking this seriously!"
Her sudden revival startled Ash; cue a sweat drop rolling down the back of his head. "Your recovery's starting to look as quick as Brock's…"
Ash and Peeks stood in the middle of the grassy field, each executing a variety of stretches in tandem to prepare them for the coming training session.
At a short distance, Mamoswine sat, and Dawn knelt beside him, curiously painting his side with wide brush strokes. "And one more over here…!" She muttered to herself, before finishing.
"Here we go!" Dawn hopped up, waving a large paint brush and flinging blots of red paint into the air. "Here's the deal, Ash, Peeks. You see all of these bull's-eyes painted on Mamoswine?"
Mamoswine sat opposite of Peeks, gorging himself on a pile of Poffins as a reward for his participation. On his sides and back, multiple bull's-eye targets were painted in broad strokes.
"These are where you'll be trying to land your Zippy Zaps! Your attacks won't hurt Mamoswine, since he's immune to electricity, so you can train without restraint!" She walked over, gently petting Mamoswine's cheek. "Of course, the impact might sting a little, but that's why you're getting all the Poffins you can eat! You still alright with that, big guy?"
"Fine with me!" Mamoswine responded, before diving face first into more Poffins.
"Makes sense to me! You ready for it, Peeks?" Ash asked, pumping his fists. "Instead of running off, let's channel all that momentum right at the bull's-eye! The best defense is a good offense!"
"That's right!" Peeks cheered, leaning onto all fours. "I'm ready when you are!"
"Alright!" Ash pointed towards Mamoswine. "Use Zippy Zap, on the left target!"
"Pi-pi-pi… Pika!" Multicolored lightning wrapped around Peeks, propelling him towards Mamoswine. Before he could impact with the Ground-type, or his treats, Peeks veered to the left, gaining just a bit of distance before firing back towards Mamoswine; this time targeting his side. The trail of colors he left looked like a lightning bolt in action, crashing into the target.
Peeks back flipped off of Mamoswine, with a bit of paint sticking to his fur. "Pika!"
"That was a good first try!" Dawn praised. "But you missed the bull's-eye by quite a bit."
"Guess that's expected," Peeks huffed. "Alright!"
"Again!" Ash declared, after his partner got back into place. "Now, the right target!"
"Pi-pi-pi… Pika!" Peeks did the same, this time veering to the right. He stopped short after passing Mamoswine, finding himself having a little trouble stopping short with the sudden boost of speed. "Cha!" He redirected his path, smashing into Mamoswine's side.
Dawn had run to the other side of Mamoswine to see the results for himself. "You shot a little wide there, Peeks. You hit the outside of the target! You're covered in red paint from it."
Peeks looked down at his body, which was, indeed, smeared with red. "That was sloppy."
"You had trouble with your stopping power there," Ash added. "You overcompensated, right?"
"It's tougher than it looks," he huffed in frustration. "Zippy Zap is so fast! It's a lot easier to just get the heck away from whatever's trying to hit me."
"Yeah, I can see your issue." Ash frowned, rubbing his neck. "Well, that's what practice is for!"
"Ash! Why don't you try the top target this time?" Dawn suggested. "Go for a vertical angle!"
"Good idea. Let's do this!" Ash threw his index finger skyward. "Zippy Zap, Buddy!"
The face of Mamoswine rapidly approached, as Peeks shot towards his target at full speed. Peeks prepared himself, and exerted a burst of lightning under his body to propel himself high over the mammoth's head; the action sending several Poffin scattering to the wind.
Mamoswine paid them no mind, and kept munching on the ones in front of him.
This was the third time Peeks veered sharply away from his original path. He was starting to get the hang of it, he thought, turning his entire body around in mid-air; flipping head and forepaws downward, rear and tail skyward, moments before exerting another burst of force.
The sweet spot came, and he clinched it, plummeting down towards Mamoswine like a bolt of lightning from the heavens. The bull's-eye was directly in front of his eyes. He braced for impact.
"Pi-ka!"
Colorful lightning crashed into Mamoswine's back, making the mammoth flinch and grunt in annoyance. Moments afterward, Peeks somersaulted with grace off of his sparring partner, landing on his hind legs in the grass. He whistled, brushing away rainbow static with his tail.
"That one was awesome!" Ash cheered.
"Your form was perfect!" Dawn praised. "You turned your body around before that extra burst, didn't you? You looked a lot surer of yourself!"
"You're right!" Peeks affirmed with a nod. While Dawn couldn't speak Pikachu, she got the point.
"Let's get a look at you." Ash walked over, crouching with his arms crossed. "...Your face is nothing but red! That means you hit the bull's-eye! Way to go, Buddy!" He offered a fist.
Peeks smacked his tail against it. "Now, we're cooking!"
"Let's take it from the top!"
They redoubled their efforts. Lightning of all hues rained, once more and again, afterwards.
Peeks skidded across the grass, panting with exhaustion. The electricity around him crackled like static, flicking at his hide. "Pika… Pika…!"
"Peeks looks exhausted," Dawn said, frowning. "I know the move didn't have that much use in it, but I didn't think it would happen so fast."
"It's like Volt Tackle," Ash replied. "We can usually only get five runs out of it."
"Pun!" Lopunny walked up to Dawn, holding her paws out.
"Well, I guess that's what these are for," Dawn said, as she placed a Leppa Berry in her paws. "You want to give your boyfriend his boost, Lopunny?"
"If I don't, who's gonna?" She said sweetly, hopping over to crouch by Peeks. "You've been workin' yourself ragged, haven't ya, Thunder Butt? Look at you!"
"It's embarrassing," Peeks huffed. "Only five uses. At least I'm getting the hang of it."
"You're damn right you are! Now, say aah~" She cooed, holding the berry up to him.
"Really? In front of everybody?" Peeks blanched. He looked left and right. Everybody seemed to be pointedly minding their business. He sighed. "Alright. Aah~" He opened his mouth.
Lopunny fed him the berry. It was rather embarrassing, but Peeks quickly felt his vitality return in full force. He flexed his stubby little arms. "Yes! I feel good as new!"
"Okay, let's take it from the top," Ash resumed, after he let the couple have their moment. "You were able to hit the targets when they were stationary, but what if Mamoswine starts fighting back? You think you're up for that, Peeks?"
"I'm sure as hell down to try!" Peeks said, throwing a paw in the air.
Eventually, Peeks ran out of Leppa Berries to use to fuel his training. The group considered scouring the area to gather more, but Mamoswine had had enough battering for the moment; understandably so! So, the unanimous decision was made to take a break for a couple of hours.
Naturally, after a day of intense exercise, embers, and smoke awry, Dawn's first priority was hopping into the shower in the seaside cabin. One refreshing cleanse later, she stepped out of the washroom, wearing her pajamas; a long-sleeved lavender pajama top, with a large Piplup decal in the center, and matching pants. Steam flooded the cabin's main room, following her.
"Whew! I feel so much better." Dawn cooed, flicking her long tresses over her shoulder. "I swear, I feel like I sweated a gallon, between the three trials. But now, I'm good as new!" She boasted, flexing her biceps. They weren't all that sturdy, but she flexed them, nonetheless.
Ash was sitting at the kitchen table next to Rosa, where he was currently rubbing anti-irritant cream into the grooves of her wrist spikes. He smiled at Dawn. "Bet you feel like a million Poké!"
"And then some!" Dawn grinned. Then, she noticed what Ash was up to, eyes widening. "Oh, you took my advice!"
"I told you I would!" Ash grinned. "You said something about how a little TLC will put us in good spirits or something like that, right? I thought I'd get the jump on it and give Rosa a hand!" He held up the bottle of lotion. "I know she hasn't triggered Justified in a while, but it can't hurt!"
~And I probably won't until we face the Champion's League.~ Rosa said, expression sour. ~Are we done, now? This is majorly embarrassing.~
"I told you, it's easier for me to reach," Ash replied with a bemused roll of his eyes. "I know you can hold things in your paws, but our hands are more… uh."
~Tactile?~
"That! Yeah."
"She's getting older!" Dawn chimed in. "She's still Daddy's little girl, but-"
~I'm not calling myself that,~ Rosa interjected.
"She's still your daughter," Dawn corrected herself, "but she's got a budding sense of independence!"
~I'm also older than all of you,~ Rosa replied.
"You can't pull that with me, smartass." Ash grinned, ruffling the top of her head. "I was back there with you, too. But, I guess you were my student and not my kid, back then."
~I don't know what I am anymore,~ Rosa huffed. ~Everything blends together. It's weird.~
"I know what you mean," Ash laughed. "Let's just say we're friends, no matter where, no matter when, huh?" He held out a fist towards the Lucario hopefully. Of course, she met it with her paw.
~Well, there's no question about that. Consider me a trial run if you ever have your own, huh?~ She grinned, giving Ash a playful punch in the arm. ~But uh, as long as I'm dealing with who or what I am, I still want to clean my own spikes. I wonder if I could at least learn Psychic, or something. That'd make my life so much easier.~ She tugged at Ash's sleeve. ~Your Pokédex?~
"Here. Take it." Ash handed the device off to her. "I should probably hit the showers, anyway…"
"Be sure to use the conditioner I got you!" Dawn sing-songed. "Oh, and your scar cream!"
"I've told you about the scar cream," Ash grumbled, as he gathered his spare set of clothes from his backpack.
"I know, I know! You look cooler with scars. That period's already passed, Ash." Dawn frowned. "You have them. Now you still need to use it if you want to have flexibility around your scar tissue! You don't want to be stuck stiff, do you? You won't be able to do all of your poses!"
"...Ugh. Yeah, you're right." Ash grumbled. "C'mon, Buddy! We can make this a two-for-one." He offered a hand out to Peeks, who was lounging on the couch between Lopunny and Empoleon.
"Coming! It's time to get clean and fresh!" Peeks sprinted over, boarding Ash's shoulder. With that, Ash closed the door behind them.
~...Huh! What do you know? I can learn Psychic. And it's even a Technical Machine!~
"Awesome! I bet Psychic's expensive, though," Dawn hummed. "...But, that's a problem for later! For now, It's time to air dry your fur." Dawn grinned, turning to Rosa with sparkles in her eyes.
~...Can I at least try it for myself?~
"Ehe, sure!" Dawn handed the Lucario her cordless blow dryer. "Give it a shot!"
Rosa held the handheld device up, inspecting it as if it were an alien instrument. She pointed the vent towards herself, and pressed the trigger button. A high whistle filled the air, as hot air blasted her right in the face. Her gums flapped, her eyes squinted, and her Aura bundles blew behind her like she'd been thrown into a wind tunnel. She let go of the trigger, blinking irritably.
Empoleon, who was seated on a couch nearby, started cackling, holding his belly.
Lopunny punched in the wing, putting an end to his fit. He whined and rubbed the spot she'd hit, while she chided him and reminded him that he was supposed to be acting as an older brother.
That promptly shut the penguin up.
~...Do not tell him I did that.~
Dawn grinned, holding her index finger up to her lips. "Your secret's safe with me!"
"...Ah. That's much better! Feeling good as new. Am I right, Bud?" Ash sighed contentedly as he stepped out into the cabin living room, stretching his arms outward. He'd traded his standard outfit for a pink t-shirt with Mew's face on it, and a pair of black shorts.
"Sure do! I swear, you forget how good being clean feels, when you're busy working hard!"
"Well, you boys look better!" Dawn said, grinning, as she polished Garchomp's claws. "And you're just in time! I've finished up with Pachirisu, and Garchomp's almost done. While I brush Typhlosion, do you think you could help me by preening Togekiss?"
"Oh, sure!" Ash walked over to Dawn's bag of supplies, while Togekiss daintily walked towards him. "Preening's when you pick old feathers, right? I know Brock's mentioned that with some of our bird Pokémon before, but…"
"...But you didn't really pay attention," Dawn finished.
"Yeah." Ash admitted, rubbing his neck guiltily. "Always felt like more of a Brock thing."
"It's important to know, Ash! Brock isn't always going to be around; he's busy, these days. And even beyond basic health, Pokémon do better when they're well-groomed! Looking good is part of feeling good!" She finished polishing Garchomp before patting his neck, and he waddled off to sit down. "In fact, that's not just true for Pokémon. It's good for all of us!" Dawn clicked her tongue. "There's a bowl of warm water and some soap on the table. Wash Togekiss's back and feathers down and then dry her with a towel."
"I guess I should keep track of stuff like that," Ash hummed, as he retrieved the cleaning implements. "I never really gave it much thought since you started, well, girlfriend-ing."
"You mean encouraging better hygiene, mental and otherwise?"
"That!" Ash agreed. "Since I didn't care, I didn't think my Pokémon would care. Sorry, guys." He turned to his own team, frowning. "Think you can forgive me?"
"In your defense, we didn't exactly complain about it either." Peeks patted his trainer's shoulder.
"Oh, hush. There's no good to be had in wallowing in self-pity and remorse!" Togekiss turned her back to Ash, spanning her fluffy wings. "An effective king looks only forthright and forward!"
Ash chuckled at Togekiss's formal vocabulary, and dipped his hands in the warm water before drizzling soap into his palms. Then, he started to massage the vast down adorning Togekiss.
The Jubilee let out a pleasant sigh. "There, we are! It's as simple as that."
"Say, how come Togekiss need a hand with this, anyway?" Ash asked, as he scrubbed, picking out loose down as he went. "Don't bird Pokémon preen themselves? Wouldn't they be in trouble if they didn't have a trainer?"
"Well, that's one of the benefits of having a trainer!" Dawn replied. "Pokémon get a chance at better care and quality of life, in exchange for sticking by us! That's why knowing these things is important. That's our end of the bargain! At least, that's what Brock told me."
"Dawn is right, but there's more to it than that," Togekiss interjected. "I am of a pedigree breed, reared and raised to represent Sinnoh royalty. My beauty and aerodynamic grace are paramount, when selecting for my parentage and diet! I can dance like the wind, but my build is… should you say, 'awkward?' I'm simply too upright and rotund to reach all of my plumage."
"Wait, so you're bred and raised to have a different body type?" Ash surmised. "I didn't think you could do that!"
"I think I remember Salvia saying something about that!" Dawn gasped. "It must be true!"
"Wild members of the Togekiss family tend to look more… well, like a traditional 'bird' Pokémon, as they say. We're raised with a different posture and diet. I'm sure you remember the strict manner with which Dawn had to behave and carry herself with, back at the castle," she chortled.
Ash whistled. "Hah, yeah. Dawn hated putting on that act."
"Ugh! It was the worst!" Dawn shuddered, as she brushed down Typhlosion's fur, with the Volcano Pokémon sitting on a towel. "Sit this exact way. Use this fork and this knife. Speak 'properly,' like you're 'of royal blood.' Give me a break! It's not like I'm from royalty."
Togekiss laughed again; her voice as gentle as a wind chime. "So, there you have it! I'm a bit encumbered with my strict posture from the time I was a measly Togepi poking out of an egg. It would be like asking a Hippowdon to swim. For all of my grace, I do need trainerly assistance."
Peeks had turned to helping Ash scrub down Togekiss, going for her wings. "There are worse fates, I guess! You could be chewing the copper wire out of walls until a Professor decides that you're capture and research material. I can't claim any elegance there."
"Professor Oak wasn't exactly calling you training material there either," Ash snorted, cutting a teasing grin at Peeks. "You pretty much came with a warning label."
"And I should still have one," Peeks retorted, before swatting the warm water bowl with his tail, splashing Ash with a spritz. "Caution: Will douse trainer in event of being a smart alec."
"Ack! Hey!" Ash laughed, splashing Peeks back. "That was a cheap shot!"
Togekiss giggled to herself. "I see I'm not the only one being washed down!"
After Togekiss was preened and free to go; choosing to roost on the log cabin's roof to enjoy the breeze; Typhlosion was let loose to wander the grove in search of an ideal sunbathing spot.
That meant Empoleon and Lopunny were next!
"So, Ash! Now that we've figured out how Zippy Zap works, we should probably work on the name." Dawn suggested, while she carefully trimmed the fluff around Lopunny's wrists.
"Huh. Yeah, I guess so," Ash agreed. He was in the middle of using a cloth to apply steel polish to Empoleon's wings and other metal plates, with Peeks currently working on his crown. "But, where do we even start? All I've learned is that it sounds stupid." He may have been pouting.
"I'm sorry, but it just sounds… juvenile! Like a kid named it. You're cooler than that, Ash!"
"...Alright, maybe when you put it like that." Ash had an easier time swallowing that angle.
"Of course it is!" Empoleon squawked, wildly waving his wing around that Ash wasn't in the process of polishing. "It's the apex of your bond! It deserves dramatic flair! The best Pokémon Trainer and the best Pikachu deserve the best title to introduce their signature technique! Presentation is paramount, even outside of Contests. I won't be letting my father walk around with a dollar store signature technique namesake! It dishonors us as it dishonors you!"
"Well, Empoleon sure had a mouthful to say about it," Dawn giggled.
"That's putting it mildly." Ash said flatly, as a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead. "But I appreciate the enthusiasm, big guy!"
"Well, first thing's first," Dawn continued. "Why did you name it Zippy Zap in the first place?"
"Well, Zippy is for how the move kicks off instantaneously without charge time," Ash explains. "Peeks doesn't need to run to start it. He just bolts! It's zippy! And Zap, well… it's the zap!"
"Okay, now I at least see the theme," Dawn hummed. "It's not a bad basis. It describes the move accurately. But it just doesn't evoke the right imagery. It needs better wordplay! Something more sophisticated!"
"That's not exactly my strong suit," Ash replied, frowning.
"I know. That's why I'm here!" Dawn hummed in thought, while brushing Lopunny's eyebrows into place. "Let's see… We need to convey speed and electricity… Something with a kick."
"What about crackling?" Lopunny suggested. "I can hear the sparks that kick off with it!"
"Lopunny just suggested something with 'crackling,'" Ash translated. Lopunny smiled gratefully.
"Crackling, crackling…" Dawn went over the word in her head, furrowing her brow in concentration. "...Ah! I've got it!" She hopped up to her feet, raising a finger and winking.
"Crackling Acceleration!"
"Crackling…"
"...Acceleration?"
Ash and Peeks echoed in unison, blinking.
"Sure! Think about it! If you want onomatopoeia, you've got it with 'crackling!' It's got all the sharp cut behind the sounds that your move should!" Dawn explained, matter-of-factly folding her arms. "And Acceleration doesn't quite rhyme, but it carries similar phonetics! The sharp 'a' sound repeats in the next word. It's got kick! And acceleration is just a more sophisticated word for getting faster! Think about it." She cleared her throat, and dramatically pointed forward.
"Peeks! Use Crackling Acceleration!"
"...That does sound cool," Ash concluded, holding his thumb up to his chin. "Crackling Accera… Crackling Acc… Owh! My tonghueth!" Ash winced. He'd accidentally bit his tongue.
"...It is a bit a mouthful." Dawn admitted, as a bead of sweat rolled down her head.
"Crackling Accel… Crack Accel… Crackling… Excel… Celery…?" Ash groaned. "How am I supposed to shout that during a battle?"
"And it's a move where speed is of prime importance, too." Peeks frowned, as he finished rubbing down Empoleon's crown. "You have to say it as fast as we need to use it."
"No need to worry!" Dawn raised her hands. "I'm sure you'll get the hang of it. Before you go getting all frustrated, though, I think it'd be good for you two to unwind a little!" She finished with Lopunny's fluff, before scooping it into a bag to dispose of. "Get ready! It's time for some TLC!"
Ash and Peeks sat on the couch in the living room, with a towel laid under them and behind their heads. It was apparently their turn to be pampered, whatever that entailed.
"Alright! Time to have you two looking and feeling great!" Dawn grinned, as she flipped through a magazine. "Do you boys want to try any new styles? Accessories? I have a catalogue, full of fresh ideas!"
"I'll pass." Peeks shook his head, frowning. "I'm not really interested in glamming up."
"Hmm. You're so stubborn." Dawn pouted, poking at Peeks's chest with her index finger. "Alright, then! The least we can do is give your fur some gloss! A bit of massage oil should do the trick and have you feeling like you're on cloud nine…"
"Oh! Oh! I gotcha!" Lopunny volunteered, hopping over to bounce on her feet giddily.
Dawn giggled. "You want to pamper your boyfriend, Lopunny? Alright!" She handed the rabbit a small bottle.
Lopunny slid onto the couch. "Alright, handsome. Scoot forward!"
"...A massage does sound nice, after all of that training." Peeks acquiesced, sliding forward to sit up, while Lopunny scooted behind him. Before he knew it, she was kneading warm oils into the fur atop his head. He sighed blissfully, practically melting into her paws. "Cha~!"
"Now, you!" Dawn addressed Ash, holding open the magazine she'd been flipping through. "Can I at least get you to accessorize?"
"I… dunno," Ash hummed, giving the flipping pages a passing glance. "Maybe? Dressing up has never been my thing."
"Ash. I've seen you in the maid outfit."
"That was to help the Maid Cafe!" Ash protested. "I guess that wasn't the worst, though. It was at least, like, comfortable. I don't like anything that looks too stuffy. I want to feel comfy and look cool! You know? Like the stuff that I usually wear."
"Hm… So gender presentation doesn't matter to you, but form and function does! Noted!" Dawn clicked her tongue. "It's not as if we have any outfits or many materials on us, though…"
"I kind of want to finish my Champion's League run as I am anyway," Ash replied. "I've kept the red jacket and hat all the way through! It'd be weird to change up my look, right at the end."
"...You're right. Consistency in appearance is important." Dawn tutted. "Oh! Even if it's just for tonight, then, maybe we could try a new hairstyle! You've already traded your jacket in for pajamas for the night, anyway. And you're not getting back in it before it gets washed."
Ash hummed in thought. "...Yeah. I guess so! Alright. Show me what you've got!"
While Dawn flipped through styles and options in her magazines, Peeks continued to be doted on, laid face down on the couch while Lopunny happily rubbed massage oils into his back, humming all the while. "This is the life… You sure you don't mind this, Lopunny? I feel bad."
"Mm? Feel bad for what, Hun?" Lopunny tilted her head, working out the knots in his shoulders.
"You doing all this for me! Shouldn't I be returning the favor?"
"Oh, I don't mind one bit! I like doting on ya." Lopunny smiled sweetly. "Tell ya what. Once you win the Champion's League, you owe me a date! A day out on the town! That sound fair?"
"When we win…" Sparkles danced around Peeks, as his imagination started to wander. Victory was right before his eyes! "Alright! You've got yourself a deal, Lopunny. Or, should I say, a date."
Lopunny's giggle reverberated into an excited wolf whistle.
"And, here… if I could just brush this bang over…" Dawn hummed in concentration, as she ran a brush through Ash's wild tresses. "I like the sideburns, Ash, but your hairline could use a little more uniformity… This is why I push the conditioner at you! You don't need any split ends."
"You know, if I cared, you'd be making me self-conscious," Ash said flatly.
"There's no reason to be! This is all fixable." Dawn hummed to herself, while going about her work. "And a hair tie here…" She fiddled with Ash's wild spikes, securing them with a pink band.
"...Aha!" Dawn pulled back, and offered Ash a hand mirror with a grin. "Check it out!"
"...Huh." Ash took the mirror, inspecting himself in it. His spiky bangs were slightly more uniform, but overall, his hairstyle hadn't changed much… Aside from the spikes framing the side of his head being pulled into a wild ponytail. "...Huh! I guess that's not bad. Kinda reminds me of Reggie."
"You're right! It does. But personally, I think you pull it off better." Dawn smiled, tapping Ash on the nose.
That inflated Ash's ego, leading to him proudly puffing out his chest. "Well, I…!"
Whatever he was about to say was interrupted by a very loud rumble.
"...I think I'm hungrier than anything, to be honest."
"Yeah. It is getting to be around dinner time," Dawn hummed. "Okay, then! Let's chow down, and then hop back into training when we're done!"
Dusk had fallen over Two Island, just in time for Ash, Dawn, and their Pokémon to finish eating dinner outside of the cabin. What better way to cap off their rest and relaxation, though, than around a campfire?
Dawn held a stick with marshmallows skewered on it in each hand; one for herself, and another for her Pokémon who didn't have the tactile ability to hold them, themselves. Each was held over a crackling campfire, caramelizing the soft confectionaries. "What letter do you picture coming after the 'L' in 'acceleration?'" She asked Ash, who was currently feeding Garchomp his share in a game of 'don't let him eat the stick whole' chicken.
Ash grumbled, pulling the stick away from Garchomp to offer the lone marshmallow left on the stick to Pachirisu, who sat atop the Mach's head. "... 'E,' right?"
"That's right!" Dawn chirped happily, before offering him the stick reserved for her toasted marshmallows. He ate one right off of it. "And what sound do you think that 'e' will make after the 'l'?"
Ash scrunched his face in concentration, even as he happily ate the treat. "...Eh?"
"Fantastic!" Dawn cooed. "Now keep that picture in your head as you piece it all together!"
"...Acc-ell-e-ration!" Ash parroted. "Acceleration!"
"Excellent!" Dawn offered Ash the two marshmallows left on her stick, which he happily gobbled down. "See? You can do phonetics! It's just like training. You get it down one step at a time!"
"...She's training him." Peeks said flatly, sitting next to Lopunny, whom he shared his own stick with. "Dawn is training him. I'm not sure if he even notices it."
"He's bound to, sooner or later." Lopunny hummed, opening her mouth, before Peeks fed her another marshmallow. "Try not to remind 'im until he gets it down. He'll get embarrassed!"
"Now that you can say it, it's time for execution! A cool move needs a cool pose!" Dawn stood up from the log she sat upon, and cleared her throat. "Alright, Peeks!" She spoke with a commanding boom, intentionally lowering her voice to imitate Ash. "Crackling…!" She spun on her heels, doing a full clockwise spin before throwing her right arm outward to point forth.
"...Acceleration!"
"Oh, nice!" Ash hopped out of his seat, grinning with glee. "I've gotta try that one out." He shuffled over to where Dawn was, standing beside her, marshmallow poker still in hand. "Alright, Peeks…!" He took a wide stance, and spun clockwise, tucking his arm in. "Crackling…!"
He threw his hand out, gesturing grandly with purpose. "...Acceleration!"
The motion slung his halfway melted marshmallows across the campfire…
…And directly onto Mamoswine's face.
A bead of sweat rolled down Ash's forehead. He smiled apologetically. "Uh, sorry, big guy."
Mamoswine simply lapped up the gooey marshmallows with his tongue. "No harm done!"
Dawn, and the rest of the Pokémon laughed along. "Maybe we'll practice after we finish eating."
"Mamoswine! Use Blizzard, on the field!"
Mamoswine cried with ferocity, unleashing a frozen storm upon the dirt and grass before him. It quickly solidified into a thick, solid sheet of ice, reflecting the night's starry skies on its surface.
They were the backdrop for this next round of training, as Dawn, still in her pajamas, waved a hand through the air to initiate her assault. "Now, follow it up with Take Down!"
Mamoswine bellowed and led a straight-forward, earth-rattling charge towards Peeks, sliding across the ice.
"Let's take it from the top, Peeks! You know the drill; we don't need the bull's-eyes anymore!" Ash spun around to point forward, just as he'd done at the campfire. "Crackling Acceleration!"
Peeks was poised on all fours before his trainer. On command, he ignited with colors blending into one another, and bolted towards Mamoswine at a breakneck speed. Moments before he'd collide with his comrade's headlong charge, he ricocheted to the left, passing Mamoswine.
He changed paths a second time, shooting towards Mamoswine's side. "Pi-ka!"
"Do it, Mamoswine!" Dawn ordered.
"Mamooo!" Mamoswine dug his tough hooves into the ice, quickly gaining traction on his right foreleg and hind leg. The shriek of solid keratin digging into ice accompanied a swift slide in the direction of the incoming bolt. Mamoswine turned his body in tandem with his momentum, smashing his valiant tusk into Peeks's Crackling Acceleration; intercepting the blow entirely.
Rainbow lightning danced and dispersed, as Peeks and Mamoswine shoved against one another; the former's skull against the latter in a bid for supremacy. Peeks looked up at his companion, and smirked. "Pi… Ka!" He used the slight give he was offered by Mamoswine sliding on the ice, and pushed downward with his skull to catapult him up and above.
He somersaulted over Mamoswine's body, utilizing the patented spin technique to completely blindside his larger opponent. "Pi-pi-pi… Pi-ka!" Once his mid-air flips neared solid ground, he exerted another burst of force, propelling himself into Mamoswine's hind right leg.
Mamoswine cried out, as he was sent sliding across the ice he'd formed. A terrain that'd served him specifically made him vulnerable to buckling to Peeks's might.
"Nice one, Bud!" Ash praised, punching the air with glee. "Let's do it again! From the top, now!"
"That was awesome!" Dawn praised, fists bundled in awe. "He used our momentum against us!"
Peeks pivoted on his feet to face Mamoswine, as red, orange, yellow, green, indigo, and violet all crackled around him.
"Crackling Acceleration!"
He launched back at Mamoswine's hindquarters, before quickly climbing to gain altitude, until he hovered directly over Mamoswine's back. Just as before, he swerved his body around…
"Cha!"
…And he dove, plummeting for a perfectly-aimed dive-bomb.
"We won't let you get your critical hits that easily!" Dawn taunted. "Mamoswine! Ice Armor!"
Mamoswine spawned a glimmering mass of ice, and chomped down. Suddenly, an icy crown erupted from the fur on his back; far too quickly for Peeks to do anything about it.
Peeks cried in pain. Sharp icicles and spires jabbed his body, all at once, throwing him skyward.
"Peeks!" Ash exclaimed. He tightened a fist in frustration. "I guess I should've considered something like that… it's not as if our opponents are just going to let us hit their weak spots."
"Bingo!" Dawn winked. "We'd be letting you down, if we didn't prepare you for that much. A good Trainer or Coordinator knows to cover their weak spots." She placed her hands on her hips, smiling coyly as she leaned forward, begging for an answer. "Watcha gonna do about it, huh~?"
"Oh, we'll show you what we'll do." Ash smirked, flicking his gaze up to his partner.
Peeks looked back down at Ash, and nodded, grinning.
"Huh?" Dawn blinked. This surely meant she was in for a surprise.
"We did it once, and we can do it again. C'mon, Peeks! Let's break that ice!"
"Roger!" Peeks agreed, turning right side up as he fell towards Ice Armor's crown.
His body shone the full spectrum of light, once more.
"Crackling Acceleration!"
It was as if a lightning bolt and rainbow had become one; dropping from the heavens to strike; and it wasn't just one point that felt their wrath. Beautiful, dazzling charges ricocheted from one icicle to the next; shattering and bolting off of each one as if Peeks were locked in a fast-paced game of air hockey. Piece by piece, Mamoswine's proud crown shattered; reduced to diamond dust in the wind, reflecting the spectrum of the rainbow in majestic ribbons.
Dawn could only marvel at the sight, as her work was reduced to stardust.
Peeks breathed a heavy sigh as he landed beside Ash on all fours. "How… do you like that!?"
"It may not be a crit, but we got our target practice, all the same!" Ash boasted, pumping a fist.
"Ehe, you sure did!" Dawn giggled. "That was incredible, Peeks! It all happened so fast, it was like an aurora appeared and disappeared in front of my eyes, like a singular lightning bolt!"
"And it shows his precision's getting better," Ash added. "But all of that at once looks like it's tired him out. Oi! Pachirisu!" He shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth. "Find any Leppa Berries, yet!?"
"Hold your Horsea, Rash-y-Ash! …Rash? Is this anything?" Pachirisu scurried out of one of the trees lining the groove, standing on a branch's end. She held a couple of Leppa Berries between her paws. With a grunt of effort, she swatted one with her tail towards Peeks. "Catch!"
"You should've warned me to go long!" Peeks shouted, as he leapt into the air; her pitch was far too high. He had no choice but to meet its altitude, and secure the broad end of his tail around the small berry. With a flick of his extremity, he popped it into his mouth and crunched down.
By the time he landed, he felt his stamina return. He flexed his stubby biceps. "Good as new!"
"Awesome! Thanks, Pachirisu!" Ash waved to the Elesquirrel, and huffed. "Well, at least he's got energy for more… But, it'd be great if we could fight someone who's more, y'know, limber."
"Hey! I'm doing my best here!" Mamoswine trumpeted with a harrumph.
"I know, I know! And you've done great. But, if we're going to make it all the way to Lance, we're gonna fight Pokémon who can move with elegance, and at breakneck speeds." Ash frowned, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "If only there was someone here to play the part…"
The answer to Ash's conundrum came, indeed. But, it wasn't in the form of a meager suggestion, or a measured change in tactics. No, it came in the sounds of churning waters, roaring flames, and breaking earth, only a short distance away.
A gigantic, roaring sphere of water plummeted from a bluff above the campsite, reflecting all of the luster of the stars and the full moon. It tore away at the ground below it, which broke down and erupted for spires of volcanic fire, surging to the skies around the torrent, and then below it.
Successive eruptions burst beneath the water, juggling it higher and higher; hissing all the while, as the grove was flooded with thick blankets of white hot steam. Each pillar forced it ever higher.
Finally, rising flames made the torrent burst. A sudden and potent downpour doused the grove.
"Now, I wouldn't worry so much about that." An old, creaky voice could be heard, cackling from within the fog.
Ash and Dawn gasped in awe, looking through the white veil to make out the perpetrators.
At the top of a modest cliff, two silhouettes stood in front of the full moon. One noble, sharp and angular, with metallic wings reflecting the moon's shine, and a proud trident crown. To his back, a large, mighty beast, with embers snapping at the collar around her neck.
Empoleon and Typhlosion stood back-to-back, with Ultima coming up soon afterward. Bulbasaur, Wartortle, Charizard followed.
"Empoleon!" Dawn exclaimed. "And Typhlosion…! Those moves, just now…!"
"Those were Hydro Cannon! And Blast Burn!" Ash exclaimed happily.
"Don't look too impressed about it." Typhlosion sassed, cutting a snide smile with crossed arms.
Empoleon extended a wing towards Ash and Peeks. "You! I hear that you need a challenge to sharpen your skills? An opponent of utmost elegance and grace?" His oceanic eyes shimmered.
"Well, have at thee!"
"Their training is complete," Ultima explained with a toothy smile, looking down from the bluff. "I have to hand it to you, Ash Ketchum. All three of your starter Pokémon were capable, and then some. Farbeit from me to call you a liar."
"See? What'd I tell you?" Ash boasted. Even accounting for all of his bravado, though, he couldn't help but spring his way towards the incline, and hop up the rocky terrain to meet his Pokémon face-to-face. "I knew you guys could do it! You've got all of them down, huh?"
"Yessir!" Wartortle boasted, sporting his shades with a grin.
"Every one," Bulbasaur relayed, looking as if he'd never held a doubt.
"Got it down and then some." Charizard huffed out smoke, tapping a fist against his chest.
"If the Bond Phenomenon is the root of my moves, then I guess that settles it," Ultima continued. "I can't say anyone's ever tried bringing an unevolved starter Pokémon to me. But, you've raised them well." She walked over to the cliff's edge, arms folded behind her back.
She watched Empoleon and Peeks prepare to square off. "By the looks of things, I can see that, ahem, 'Zippy Zap' has been perfected, as well? Did you piece my riddle together, perhaps?"
"I couldn't have done it without Dawn!" Ash boasted, grinning as he threw an arm around Dawn, who'd just now climbed her way up. "She's great with riddles. Got me through two oldies and their wordplay, now. See for yourself!"
Down below, Empoleon swung his Steel Wing at Peeks, who bolted towards him, before slipping under his guard in a colorful flash. Empoleon reeled, sliding back across the ice.
"Ah, there it is! You directed the attack towards the opponent's weak spot. Very good!" Ultima hummed in approval. "...Ah. You might want to give him those Wacan Berries that you gathered, though. They're good for chipping away from an Electric-type attack's extra kick."
"...Oh. Yeah, that might help," Ash hummed. "Hey, Rosa! You hear that!?"
~I gotcha!~ Rosemary waved from below, running off to fetch the basket of berries. She ran them back to her big brother dutifully, who was already boasting smoke and ash.
Ash and Dawn chuckled, as she lectured her 'older brother' on his hastiness.
"...Oh. By the way! Zippy Zap's got a new name now," Ash replied to Ultima.
"Crackling Acceleration!" Dawn tacked on, grinning.
"...Hum. That's a much better name!" Ultima beamed. "I take it your girlie helped you through that one. Hold onto 'er, if you can."
"Oh, don't you worry!" Ash pulled Dawn in more tightly, cheek-to-cheek. "I'm not letting go!"
"C'mon, Ash!" Dawn laughed, shoving back from him as she fought a scarlet blush.
"You best not," Ultima replied. She then yawned loudly, holding a bony hand over her mouth. "...Well. I've done my part, and I'm run ragged about it. I'll see you young'uns off, tomorrow." She turned to leave, arms still folded behind her. "Work well, study well, sleep well, eat well. Do all of that, you'll be fine, once you're out of my hair."
Those were the elder's last words as she departed, leaving Ash and Dawn on their own.
"...Well? What do you guys say?" Ash grinned at his trio of starters, and nodded towards Peeks and Empoleon, down below. "Think you wanna go give your ol' pal Peeks a hand? Unless you're too tired out from today."
"Too tired? Who the hell do you think I am!?" Wartortle huffed.
"If we rise, we rise together." Bulbasaur nodded in agreement with Wartortle.
"As if I would ever do half-measures." Charizard huffed. He flapped his wings, taking off to join Peeks and Empoleon, who were already being cheered on by their compatriots.
The two trainers were left on their own, standing in front of the full moon. The spectacle below was one to behold; Peeks and Empoleon dancing and clashing; metal and electricity clashing in blinding instances of might. The Emperor moved swiftly and surely on the ice; his native element. Peeks was sharp and keen; his ricochets near-instantaneous.
It challenged him, just a bit, when Charizard would join the fray with a Flamethrower.
He found a way to slip under the Flame Pokémon's guard, despite it, before being smacked down with a Dragon Tail in retaliation. He rolled off the ice, shaking the pain away with a smirk.
"You're really amazing, you know that?"
Dawn's words took Ash entirely by surprise. He felt his heart skip a beat. He found himself short of the words to ask her where that came from. He could only stare at her, eyes wide. Brows raised, begging an explanation.
"The way you and your Pokémon fight, and work together," Dawn clarified, smiling. "Every day I've known you, you find some way to get stronger. Every battle, there's some new trick you uncover to rise higher. It's just… remarkable!" She grinned, brushing her long locks covering her ear away with the back of her hand. "I've met a lot of impressive trainers over these two years."
Wartortle retreated to his shell in a blur; his Rapid Spin crashing against Crackling Accel repeatedly. The Water-type spun out, stumbling dizzily before a tutting Bulbasaur offered him a Wacan Berry. The Seed took over, then, firing a Leaf Storm to dizzy and encumber Peeks.
He retaliated with a Thunderbolt Counter Shield, repelling the hazard and offsetting his companions, before tapping each of them in a row with a successive Crackling Accel.
"...But I've never met a trainer who inspires his Pokémon like you."
Ash spontaneously pulled Dawn into a tight, near-crushing hug, burying his face in her neck.
"Ah!?" Dawn yelped, hands raised and face blazing. "H-hey!?" She sputtered, wrapped up in her flustered feelings that cozied around her much like a roaring Fire Spin. "What's the big idea!?"
"Thank you," Ash muttered into her shoulder, nestling in. His arms hugged tightly around her waist. "I just wanted to say 'thank you' for all your support… I don't just mean training, either."
Rosemary jumped into the fray below, imitating Peeks with Copycat. Rainbow lightning danced in all directions, meeting again, and again, and again. Smoke and o-zone scattered about.
"I mean like, the confidence you put in me," Ash continued. "The nice things you say, y'know? I haven't always had that. It just… feels good! Like a full belly after a warm meal, I guess." He pulled back, scratching his cheek shyly. "It sounds embarrassing when I put it that way, but…"
Dawn was quiet, smiling brightly. Waiting expectantly for his words. He felt his heart do acrobatics in his chest at the look in her eyes. "...Ugh! You're too pretty! I'm trying to focus!"
"Well, forget how pretty I am!" Dawn coached, suddenly looking serious, bunching up her fists. "I know that's, like, hard. But I need to hear what you have to say, Ash!"
"Alright, alright!" He laughed. "I guess… there've been times where I've had a lot of doubts. Back in Sinnoh, where I was getting beat left and right. This year, when I didn't have my head on straight. But you've been there for me, the whole time!" He gestured widely with his arms.
"Of course!" Dawn replied. "You deserve healthy self-esteem!" She reached for Ash's hands, taking them in hers. "You're an amazing trainer who's, frankly, inspired me since the day that we met. Even if I didn't quite appreciate it, right away… No matter how much trouble you faced, or who you lost to, you just stayed the course." Her smile softened into a bittersweet one.
"If you remember… There was a time where I'd almost given up, myself."
Those days, too, were etched into Ash's memories, like any other. He recalled the dull emptiness in her eyes. The oceanic blue shine that normally occupied them, with every new source of inspiration, or every new interesting sight, had hidden away. She's wandered for weeks upon weeks, without her spark. Her smiles were plastered on. A facade to the world.
Ash never wanted to see that again.
"Yeah? Well, I'll never let you," he shot back. His eyes were as stern as they'd ever been; his lips fixed in something of a pout. "You're reaching your dreams, and that's that!"
"That goes double for you, buster!" Dawn insisted, as she pulled Ash into another hug. She and he nuzzled cheeks against one another; their smiles touching at the corners of their lips.
They both breathed a content sigh.
"...Ready to hop back into training?"
"Let's!"
Their training carried on into the long hours of the night, and towards the inevitable twilight of the coming day. Ash, Dawn, Peeks, Empoleon, Rosemary. Charizard, Wartortle, Bulbasaur, Garchomp. Pachirisu, Lopunny, Mamoswine, Typhlosion, Togekiss. They'd all pitched in with their best efforts, not even paying mind to the sun that had started to peek over the horizon.
There was no concerted effort to herd off to bed. They'd simply given into exhaustion, huddled up outside, against a particularly large tree of their choice. Ash was the first to wake, as the sunlight slipped between the cracks of the foliage, shining rudely, right in his eyes.
The young man yawned loudly, blinking sleepily. Morning had come; what time it was, he couldn't say. He still felt rather drowsy, so it was definitely too early for him to be awake.
It didn't matter, though, anyway; he was buried under the weight of his many companions. Dawn's smiling face was smushed against his temple, and her blue locks were caught in his ponytail. Peeks and Lopunny lay across his lap, and he shouldered Empoleon's weight, who'd jealously leaned into his opposite side. Togekiss sheltered them from the breeze, snoozing soundly, while Garchomp laid on his back a short distance away. Pachirisu slept on his belly.
The proud Charizard, Wartortle, and Squirtle snoozed a short distance away, with the latter two leaning against the former's side. Typhlosion had joined them, having favored their company.
Ash looked up over his head. Rosemary was tucked into one of the tree branches, arms folded over her chest and one leg crossed over the other. It was like she was watching over them, ever vigilant, even in rest.
Ash blinked slowly, drinking in the scene. By all means, this was a family. His family.
His chocolate hues glimmered, reflected in the peeking sunlight. Warmth built up in his heart; pure and radiant as gold. Calm graced his soul, sure and valuable as silver, bringing him peace.
'I think I'm ready,' he thought to himself. 'With them, there's no way I couldn't be.'
He yawned loudly, before nestling back into his found family, and giving in to slumber again.
'The Champion's League is as good as ours.'
Chapter 4: Lorelei I - Encore
Chapter Text
Pallet Town, Kanto. A small town on the southeastern edge of the eastern region, known mostly for its occupation by the prodigal Pokémon Professor Oak, but not much else, really. It was a quiet rural community where crime was essentially unheard of, outside of the brief scare that had gripped the community in its sinister clutches, earlier this summer. It was a threat that ultimately didn't come to pass, and life continued on as usual.
The most significant thing to happen there in ages, actually, was a young man from the humble town breaking records by winning the annual Indigo Plateau Conference. Pardoning Ash Ketchum himself, Gary Oak had been the only resident in several generations to place at all! Some said that Pallet was even named after Gary and Samuel's predecessor, for even entering.
But, times were a'changing. Ash Ketchum had made regional headlines in late July for bringing home the gold! There had been loud celebrations, and veneration for the humble underdog at the Pallet House Inn. Hometown pride surged, and anticipation bubbled for the next big step:
Ash's challenge to the Champion's League.
Few knew exactly how that would take shape, but few expected it to begin with an unassuming, balding old man in a green sweater blipping into the middle of town out of absolutely nowhere!
…Well, that was an unfair description. The elderly man had an Abra with him, who had Teleported him. He hummed under his breath, scouting the small shops set up on the sides of the road.
A few passers by gasped and pointed at the man, before spotting the Abra and going about their day. Surely, there would be whispers of the strange old man, but gossip was only gossip.
"I think you were off your mark just a bit, there!" The man chuckled, addressing Abra. He pulled out a photo, showing Abra a two-story home with a red roof, and a garden out front. "This is it!"
"Ab…" Abra hummed, sheepishly scratching his cheek with his long claws. It must have been an off day. He floated higher off of the ground and away from his human companion, scouting the town for the home he'd been assigned. "Abra!" He swooped back down to join his colleague.
They suddenly disappeared, and reappeared a few blocks away, in front of the Ketchum home.
"Ohoho! You do an old man a great service, you know that? I hardly have to walk a step more than I need to." The man chortled, looking forth to the home of the esteemed challenged.
"Absent these few steps, of course." He walked up to the front porch, and rang the doorbell.
Abra floated over, accompanying him.
"I've got it!" A youthful voice could be heard from indoors, as could footsteps; louder and more acutely by the second, before the door swung open. The one to greet them was a messy-haired, olive-skinned teen in a baseball cap and red jacket, accompanied by his Pikachu, who clawed his way up his shoulder to greet their guests. Their matching smiles could light up a room.
"Are you guys here from the League?" The teenager asked. He grinned, lifting up his cap, adorned with a Unity Badge, by the brim. "Ash Ketchum, here. It's nice to meet you!"
"Pika-Peech!" The Pikachu accompanying raised his paw.
"And, this is my partner, Peeks."
"Oh, trust me. I've heard of you!" The elderly man chuckled. "Yes, we are members of the Pokémon League Association! I am Hocus, and this is Pocus," he gestured to the Abra.
"Hocus, and…" Ash trailed off.
"...Pocus," Peeks finished, blinking. "Is this a joke?"
Pocus shrugged, as if to say that it was just how the chips fell.
"Oh, Ash! You didn't tell me our chaperones were here!" A blue-headed young woman showed up at the door; just taller than Ash, himself. "You're taking us to the Seafoam Islands?"
"Pocus is, in fact!" Hocus gestured to the Abra, who nodded absently along. He didn't look terribly interested. "But first, I believe we should go over the basics: The terms of your challenge to the Champion's League, Ash!"
"Yessir." Ash stood up straight, taking on a stern expression. "I'm ready!"
"Right, then! Your first battle will take place on Friday at noon — just a few minutes from now — at the Elite's chosen location. First, you will face Lorelei in a full battle at hers, in the Seafoam Islands! Pocus will accompany you with his Teleport to each one." He gestured to Pocus.
Pocus raised a hand idly.
"If you can manage to defeat Lorelei, then you will face Koga, next, at his personal compound in southern Kanto, exactly one week following. The same follows for Bruno and Agatha, should you defeat their priors. If by some odds, you defeat the Elite Four, then you will face the Champion Lance in a title defense match after another week's interval! Of course, that's a big if."
"Oh, don't you worry." Ash smiled, tightening a hand into a closed fist. "Me and my Pokémon have prepared ourselves for this, ten times over! We're going to beat Lorelei, and we're going to beat Koga, Bruno, and Agatha, too!" With shimmering, focused eyes, he punched his fist towards the sky. "And we're going to give our all to beat Lance, too! The Championship is ours!"
"Pi-Pikachu!" Peeks mimicked his trainer's gesture, sharing his sentiments.
"Ab…" Pocus tutted, shaking his head in a show of obvious disinterest.
"Hm? What's the matter?" Ash frowned, putting his hands on his hips. "Y'don't think I can?"
Pocus lifted one hand, and poked at his wrist with his opposite hand's claw. "Ab-ra."
"Hoho! This is nothing new to him, sonny." Hocus smiled, shaking his head. "An optimistic young challenger is a dime a dozen, after Kanto and Johto's Conferences. This is just his 9-5!"
"...Oh. I guess that makes sense." Ash blinked, scratching his cheek. "Well, don't you worry. I'm not gonna be like anyone you've seen before! Get ready for a match worth remembering, Pocus!"
"Ab-ab." Pocus shrugged again.
"...Hm. Seems he also thinks you don't have the spoons for it!" Hocus interpreted.
"...Oh." Ash hung his head, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek. Peeks patted his shoulder.
"He's not exactly the cheerleading squad," Dawn added, wearing an exasperated smile. "But, no need to worry — that's what I'm here for! So, let's get this show on the road, Ash!"
"Right! You'll see what I mean soon enough, Pocus!" Ash regained his enthusiasm. "We're ready when you are. Full speed ahead to the Seafoam Islands!"
"Ab!" Pocus chanted, before disappearing with Teleport. Ash, Dawn, and Peeks followed.
"...Hmph! Kid's got a lot of grit." Hocus huffed to himself. Several moments passed, followed by a light breeze through Pallet Town's hills. "...Ah!" He exclaimed, holding his head in his hands. "
Dag nabbit. Not again!"
"Ash~! Is your chauffeur here?" A brunette woman in a pink blouse sing-songed, peeking through the doorway. "I just wanted to wish you… oh. I guess they already left. I knew I should've waited to do dishes until after he left. He's always in such a rush." She held her head, lamenting her tardiness before noticing the man standing at her doorway.
"...Oh, hello! Can I help you? If you're looking for Ash, I believe he just left!"
"I'm well aware," Hocus huffed. "My Abra already sent him on his way! But, I forgot to have him drop me off before they went ahead. It's a terrible habit of mine." Hocus rubbed the back of his neck. "It's going to be a long walk back, unless I can get a ride. May I use your phone?"
"Oh, of course!" Delia cooed, holding her cheek. "...Would you like to join me for tea, first? I'd hate to send you back on the road without a bite to eat!"
As quickly as the gang had disappeared from Pallet Town, they reappeared somewhere else entirely. They were no longer among quiet and green rural hills, but within the innards of a dark, cool cavern, with icicles sprouting from the walls and from the ceiling. The comfortable warmth of summer was strangled by a bitter chill. By the miracle of a light at the end of the tunnel, Ash, Dawn, Peeks, and Empoleon could see their own breath in the form of cloudy wisps of vapor.
"So, this is definitely Seafoam," Dawn thought aloud. "But there's no room for a battle here."
"It must be outside the tunnel. Nowhere to go but forward!" Ash adjusted the brim of his cap. He felt a strange nostalgia for the cold air nipping at his skin. His march was a steady and confident one forward, a smile blooming on his lips. "You feel that, Buddy? It's bitter. Just like Mt. Silver."
"Yeah. Takes me back." Peeks's ears wiggled, as a confident smirk took over his features. "Feels like we're up against the elements, again. I feel like running a mile, now. Or maybe ten!"
"Me too," Ash laughed. "But we should save our energy. I can practically taste our victory!"
Empoleon, by contrast, was drawing an Ice Beam Path for himself, gleefully skating on his belly.
"H-hey! Empoleon!" Dawn cried out, running after her starter. "Don't get too far ahead of us!"
Dawn did her best to keep pace with her starter, eventually catching up to the mouth of the cave. Blinding light made the duo squint, far outshining the dim caves, until their eyes adjusted. The shore laid not far outside the cave, the ground coated in permafrost. Icicles and other frozen structures laid about the cavern walls. The sea beside the battlefield was lined with slush.
"Here we are! I think this is on the side that leads to Fuchsia," Dawn thought aloud. "Because this definitely isn't the one that's on the path to Cinnabar… Hey, hold on! Where's Lorelei!?"
Ash and Peeks caught up soon afterwards, with Pocus floating alongside them, who already looked to be checked out. "What's the matter, Dawn?" Ash asked, noting her distress.
"Ash, I don't see Lorelei anywhere! There's no formal battlefield or anything," she gestured to the shore and slush, and turned towards Pocus. "Are you sure you didn't drop us in the wrong spot, Pocus? It's almost noon! Ash is going to be late."
"Ab…" One could imagine Pocus rolling his eyes, if they were ever open. "Ab-ra."
"The weather's nice today, isn't it?" A calm, alluring voice echoed from above.
Atop a boulder near the cave's entrance sat a mature older woman, cross-legged. She wore a black long-sleeved top with an open gray collar with royal blue stripes on the cuffs, and a white top with black accents underneath, with an open window for her chest. A black pencil skirt with a matching blue stripe reaching up to her waist matched her top, accompanied by leggings and black and blue high heels, with straps tying them together that made the royal blue resemble crystalline ice. Her violet hair was secured into a ponytail by a pin that resembled ice crystals. Large, round glasses framed relaxed emerald eyes, and her lips curved into a gentle smile; touched with royal blue lipstick. She reclined onto the rough surface, looking as if she was sunbathing, despite Seafoam's bitter temperatures.
"The sea looks positively gorgeous, under the sun's shine…"
"It does!" Dawn agreed enthusiastically. "But… isn't that a little off-topic?"
"Pol!" Empoleon cawed. He was expecting something more dramatic from an Ice-type Master - a big introduction - a speech - a tough Pokémon at her side!? There should be some flair here!
Lorelei hopped off of her elevation, walking casually past Dawn and Empoleon. "It's really an ideal day for a battle," she turned her eyes to Ash, "don't you think?"
"You know, just because you're an Elite, doesn't mean you should ignore people!" Dawn barked, her cheek puffing up. The nerve!
"I do!" Ash's lips pulled into a smirk. "And I get what you did, there. You were sitting out in the open as a test, weren't you? To see if I'd overlook ya!"
"Very good!" Lorelei's smile widened. "I like to test challengers and their general awareness; of themselves, the world at large, and their Pokémon. It gives me a good scope of the fight ahead."
"Abb-ra. Abra-Abra." Pocus complained, his little brow furrowed in annoyance.
"What's his problem?" Ash asked.
Lorelei laughed. "Pocus doesn't like this trial because it makes him and his precision look bad."
"Abrara," Pocus continued bitterly, hugging his arms around his small torso.
"He also dislikes the cold. I think he's been rooting for me to get bumped out of the Champion's League for a while now." The woman smiled, walking over to gently bop him on the nose with her index finger. "You should be a little nicer to your travel party. They might help you get your way."
"...Abra." Pocus paused to consider that possibility. He nodded his head towards Ash. "Ab-ra."
"He's telling you that you better not lose," Peeks translated.
Ash laughed at the suggestion. "Just you wait, Pocus. You won't be disappointed!"
"Well, in the meantime, we can't just let you freeze!" Dawn reached into her travel bag and pulled out an off-white scarf, and wrapped it all the way around Pocus. "There you go~!"
For the first time since he'd arrived, Pocus showed a hint of a smile.
"...But, that still doesn't excuse ignoring me." Dawn huffed, glaring at Lorelei.
"You'll have to cut Lorelei some slack, Dawn," Ash explained gently. "It's how she works! She lives flowing like the water, but in battle, she becomes harsh like ice."
"In other words, I'm able to adapt as necessary to live life at my own pace, and strike mercilessly when necessary," Lorelei explained. "Very good, Ash~! I'm glad you remembered. It stands to reason that you won the Indigo League Conference. I apologize for not being there."
"It's fine." Ash shook his head. "You'll get to see my skills for yourself, here and now!"
"Indeed. Why don't we get started?" Lorelei walked casually towards the shore, leaving Ash at the mouth of the cavern. On a dime, she turned towards Ash, taking a wide stance. Her gaze was no longer gentle; now a glare that could freeze a less experienced trainer on the spot.
Pocus floated well out of the way of Ash and Lorelei, and Dawn took the hint and followed, along with Empoleon. "This feels a bit unceremonious for an Elite Four battle," she remarked.
"I don't see a referee, either," Ash took notice.
"An Elite is considered judicious enough to make their own calls without bias," Lorelei explained. "We don't need any fanfare getting in our way. The rules are as follows: We will have a full, six-on-six Pokémon Battle. The challenger can switch Pokémon at any time. For both the challenged and the challenger, the formal four-move-limit is removed; either trainer can use as many moves as their Pokémon know. There will be no time limit; only loss by knockout or surrender."
"Sounds good to me!" Ash agreed, as he took a wide stance at the cavern's mouth. "We're ready!"
"I look forward to seeing how you face the wrath of my Ice-types, Ash." Lorelei clutched a Poké Ball between her fingertips, and threw it with gusto. "Go! Poké Ball!"
The capsule spun through the air, and burst open. A flash of light took form before Lorelei, taking the shape of her snow-white Dewgong. "Dewww-gong-gong!" She clapped her flippers.
"...Dewgong." Ash's brows furrowed. He felt a bit of an uneasiness in the pit of his stomach. "We need to get past her, as soon as possible." With his strategy decided, Ash picked a Poké Ball off his own belt and juggled it in his palm before pitching it into the air. "It's all up to you… Pidgeot!"
Digital light soared into the skies, taking the shape of a proud, majestic avian, spanning her cream wings, and showing off her colorful head and tail crests. "Pidgoooo!" She cried, hovering above the beach. She flapped her wings, cautiously eyeing the Sea Lion Pokémon.
"A Pidgeot? An interesting choice. I see you're not relying on theory," Lorelei remarked.
"You know as well as I do that there's more to battle than types," Ash replied. "You taught me about connecting your hearts to your Pokémon. I trust Pidgeot to break right through your ice!"
"Leave it to me," Pidgeot cried. "We'll take them down in one fell swoop."
Lorelei smiled. "Your eyes are sharp and dark as coal, like hers. I can see your bond." She placed Dewgong's Poké Ball away. "I do hope for your sake that it will be enough."
She gestured politely to Ash with an upturned palm. "The challenger has the first move."
"You asked for it!" Ash threw a hand outward. "Pidgeot, start it up with Steel Wing!"
Pidgeot dove towards Dewgong at breakneck speeds. In the very short interval following, her broad wings coated themselves in lustrous steel, shimmering under the noon sun.
Steel Wing smashed into Dewgong, sending the Water/Ice-type tumbling back.
"Follow it up with Heat Wave!" Ash cried, sweeping a hand aside.
Pidgeot circled around and flapped her wings, launching a blistering wind, tinted with fiery red.
"Dewgong," Lorelei countered, "use Ice Beam."
"Dew-gong-gong!" Dewgong quickly recovered. Aiming her horn towards the ground, she fired a freezing flash. A crystalline wall of ice rose in Dewgong's defense, obstructing Heat Wave.
The collision of hot and cold hissed loudly, giving birth to a tall, thick veil of steam.
Pidgeot hovered above the hot vapor, scanning for any sign of Dewgong. A blue flash alerted her, and she fell back, managing to avoid another Ice Beam.
"She's using the water vapor to hide her Ice Beams," Ash noted. "But she picked the wrong opponent to try that out on. Look sharp, Pidgeot!"
"Yessir!" Pidgeot cried, as her sharp, narrow eyes scanned the thick blanket of vaporized ice. Another bright flash alerted her, and she dove to the left, avoiding it. Another came, and she soared over, before ducking a fourth. "Pidg! Djotto! Pidgeo!"
"Ah? Your Pidgeot has phenomenal sight to scout Ice Beam through the vapor," Lorelei praised.
"That all goes to her Keen Eye ability," Ash boasted. "Pidgeot's led her own flock for years! There's no escaping her watchful eye. Now, fire back with Air Slash, Pidgeot!"
Pidgeot whipped up her wing, firing a barrage of cutting winds. The small tempest cut through the water vapor, crashing into Dewgong. The Ice-type recoiled, and fired an Ice Beam in turn.
Pidgeot veered clear out of his way, and returned fire with one Air Slash after another.
Two pummeled Dewgong in succession, before the Sea Lion tumbled over, flinching in pain.
"Yes! They can't move!" Ash cheered. "Now, follow it up with Hurricane!"
The sky queen ordained a merciless Hurricane with a mighty beat of her wings. Dewgong was helpless to stop the coming winds, yanked into the storm without resistance to be tossed about.
"Nice!" Dawn cheered, hopping in place. "Ash is off to a great start! That Keen Eye's kept Pidgeot from taking any damage! If he can just keep this up…!"
"Ab-ra." Pocus folded his arms, floating in place. He sounded far more skeptical.
"...I know. It's still a gamble." Dawn's lips thinned. "It's not as if an Elite would let their Pokémon get bullied like this without a backup plan. I think Ash knows that as well as we do."
"Pol…" Empoleon eyed Lorelei wearily. Her calm demeanor in the wake of this couldn't be trusted.
"I think that's quite enough," Lorelei said. "Dewgong, please use Ice Beam."
Freezing cyan rays started to break through the Hurricane, and it quickly started to deteriorate. In just a few seconds' time, it was little more than a passing breeze. Dewgong used the opportunity to be thrown into the sea and submerged underwater.
"What was that!?" Ash asked, wide-eyed. "Hurricane looked more like a Gust, just now…"
"If you're going to face the elements, you should understand them, and how malleable they are," Lorelei lectured. "Tell me. Do you know anything about hurricanes, Ash? The phenomenon, not the move."
"Can't say I know a lot," Ash said, frowning. Where was this headed?
"Well, they tend to become stronger in warm water environments, and become a lot more dangerous for it. In cold water environments, however, they quickly grow weaker."
"So cooling it down with Ice Beam made it peter out," Ash concluded. "I guess that's what I should expect from an Elite Four member."
Lorelei chuckled at the flattery. "Dewgong, please use Curse, dear."
"So, it's started." Ash grimaced.
"Ash," Peeks urged. "Don't let her dawdle."
"I know," Ash nodded. "Alright, Pidgeot! Use Sky Attack!"
Pidgeot spanned her wings in mid-air. A bright, fiery light started to envelop her.
"So, that's your plan," Lorelei acknowledged coolly. "Dewgong, use Rest."
Underwater, Dewgong overheard the command, letting her eyes fall shut for a peaceful slumber.
"Ugh, that's so frustrating!" Dawn bundled her fists. "All of that damage Ash just did will be for nothing!"
Pocus chittered a laugh, shaking his head as if to say 'I told you so.'
"Pol!" Empoleon cried, squinting at Abra. As if Ash was going to lose this easily!
"There's nothing we can do, but hit and hit hard," Ash reasoned. He pointed forward with gusto.
"Do it, Pidgeot!"
Pidgeot's heavenly light crashed into the water's surface, splitting the sea in half to descend to the sleeping Dewgong's depths. Slumbering away, she was defenseless in the face of Sky Attack. Blazing passion bolstered Pidgeot's power, smashing directly into Dewgong.
The impact of the collision knocked both Pokémon higher; embers and glimmers of light reflected off the dome of water that was starting to converge upon both Pokémon.
"Use Sleep Talk."
Dewgong's body was battered and scorched. Even as she slept, though, she aimed her horn, and fired an Ice Beam towards Pidgeot.
"Shoot!" Ash exclaimed. With the falling waters about her, she had no room to dodge!
"Steel Wing!"
Pidgeot understood Ash's orders the instant they passed his lips. She crossed her wings in front of her, coating them in steel to defend against the point blank freeze. As soon as she did, the aftermath of her Sky Attack doused her in a rolling wave.
She beat her wings, surfacing from the cold waters to hover above the shore. But strangely, she was losing altitude. Every time she flapped her wings, she… found she didn't feel them at all. She was oddly numb. With one glance at her wings, she squawked. Her damp and metallic feathers were being coated in a creeping slab of ice. Both of her wings were frozen!
She was forced to make an emergency landing upon the shore. "Pidgeo!"
"Crap," Ash muttered under his breath. "Her wings are frozen… But, that's nothing we can't handle!" Grinning, Ash waved a hand aside. "Melt it off with Heat Wave!"
"Dewgong," Lorelei interrupted, "use Encore."
Dewgong took her cue, swimming a swift path towards the shore before shooting into the air with elegance and glee. "Gong~!" She cried happily, striking a pose as the water's broken surface tension coalesced in a dazzling splash about her. She clapped her fins happily.
"Gong! Gong! Dewgong!" She cheered, laying on praise for Pidgeot's last show of defense.
Pidgeot found that she could no longer generate heat by beating her wings. All she could do was attempt to coat them with steel. As they were already frozen that way, that did nothing.
"Oh, great," Dawn said sourly. "That's not a move I wanted to see here. Now Pidgeot's stuck frozen!"
"It looks like you're grounded for now," Ash addressed Pidgeot. "You down to keep fighting?"
She scoffed. "Honestly, what kind of question is that?"
Ash smirked. "Thought so. Then we'll just have to continue on foot! Use Steel Wing, again!"
Pidgeot sprinted towards Dewgong with her numbed wings raised at the shoulder. With a shrill war cry, she backhanded Dewgong with one of her frozen wings. She followed with a right hook, and then a strike with her left wing. Ever stubborn, she pummeled Dewgong without mercy.
"That's the way, Pidgeot!" Dawn and Empoleon hopped in place, cheering her on. "Fight on, rain, sleet, and ice! Mess with Pidgeot and you'll pay the price!"
"What a stubborn effort," Lorelei cooed. Even as she laid on praise, though, she looked unconcerned. "Dewgong, use Curse, once more."
An eerie purple light surrounded Dewgong, mid-beating, bathing her in both red and blue lights.
Pidgeot didn't allow her a moment of peace, however. She raised both frozen wings over her head with a war cry, and smashed them down upon Dewgong in a double axe handle.
"Dew… Gong!" Dewgong pushed her skull against Pidgeot's frozen wings, alarmingly enough, shrugging them off. She looked battered and bruised, but only smiled at the damage.
Ash grimaced. "So, two Curses is enough to shrug us off…"
"Ah, so you know of Curse?" Lorelei asked, smiling. "You've done your research. Pity it won't be enough to win you this round. Dewgong, use Ice Beam. Target her wings again."
Dewgong aimed her horn directly at Pidgeot, firing two-pronged waves of icy energy. They struck each of Pidgeot's wings, encasing them in even sturdier blocks of ice.
Pidgeot cried out, finding herself pinned to the ground with their weight.
"Curse is an odd move, isn't it?" Lorelei leisurely made conversation, smiling as her opponent was disarmed before her eyes. "It has sinister effects when used by a Ghost-type. But when any other Pokémon uses it, it raises their attack and defense in exchange for lowering their speed."
She nodded towards Dewgong. "Use it, once more."
Ash grit his teeth, as Dewgong started to glow. 'They're just going to keep getting stronger. If they manage to get past Pidgeot, we're in serious trouble. And as long as her wings are…'
Ash smiled, then. "Her wings!"
"...Oh?" Lorelei blinked. "You look awfully ecstatic for the position you're in, Ash."
"If you knew a thing about why I am, Lorelei, you wouldn't be," Ash countered with a smirk. Beneath the crystalline ice locking Pidgeot in place, her feathers had returned to their normal color and texture. Steel Wing had expired, which meant that Encore had run out of time.
"Pidgeot, it's our time to shine!" He declared dramatically, as he pointed toward Dewgong.
"Use Sky Attack!"
"...Sky Attack?" Dawn blinked in confusion. "What's Ash talking about? Pidgeot can't even fly, let alone use that."
"Abb-ra." Pocus floated on air as if he were reclining in a chair, awaiting the payoff with some cross of incredulity and amusement.
"Empoleon!" Empoleon folded his wings, shooting Pocus a side-eye. Ash was surely up to something!
"I do wonder what your Pidgeot can manage in that state, Ash. Don't you remember what I told you about being aware of your Pokémon?" Lorelei lectured.
"Oh, I'm very aware." Ash smiled, as Pidgeot gathered her focus, and began to glow. "And that's why I'm confident in Pidgeot. You're not gonna want to miss a moment of it, so don't blink!"
Lorelei adjusted her glasses, and then squinted. The light enveloping Pidgeot was overwhelming. In fact, refracted through the uneven kaleidoscope of her frozen wings was absolutely blinding! Blazing splendor was magnified many times over by ice, and it forced Lorelei to wince and cover her eyes. "Ah…!"
Dewgong, as well, reached up with her flippers to guard her eyes from the frozen nova.
"...Ah! Look at it!" Dawn said, even as she guarded her eyes behind her fingertips, peeking through the cracks. "He's making the ice glow with Sky Attack; like our Ice Chandelier! And Lorelei and Dewgong can't see a thing because of it!"
Meanwhile, the passionate glow of Sky Attack melted away the ice imprisoning Pidgeot's wings. She felt warmth return to her limbs, and blood circulation returned anew. The queen of the skies cried with passion, as her power reached its apex. Shooting forth in the shroud of blinding light, she crashed into Dewgong and struck a critical hit, smashing into her underbelly.
Dewgong cried in pain, and quickly found herself on the end of Pidgeot's wing, soaring high up above the battlefield itself. Sky Attack's glow chipped away at her health evermore.
Pidgeot led a brave charge into the skies for a finishing blow!
"...Ah! No, I see what Ash was doing now!" Dawn gasped. "It's from our match at the Path of Battling! When he broke Lopunny's ice with Bulbasaur to blind her for his Solar Beam — which was inspired by what I had Togekiss do with Dazzling Gleam!"
She held a hand over her heart, clutching it closed. She smiled warmly. The scenes played over and over again in her mind's eye, and it made her heart feel warm. "That's our technique."
"Ah, so that was your gambit." Lorelei said, as the blinding light became more and more distant with altitude. "To blind us and go for a critical hit when our guards are down. Very astute, Ash."
"That's right! And it worked!" Ash said, grinning. "We're finishing this battle in one shot!"
"...I wonder about that." Lorelei hummed, crossing her arms while looking up towards the sky.
"Dewgong, please use Endeavor."
"...She wouldn't." Ash swallowed heavily, looking up at Pidgeot and her foe. "They can't still have the strength left for that!?"
The die was cast. Dewgong started to glow, and then Pidgeot was consumed in the same light.
Both Pokémon suddenly dropped from the sky, landing in a heap upon the shores. Both of them looked terribly winded; hardly capable of moving. Pidgeot, for all of her might, was struggling to support herself with her wings. "She… she got me. I'm afraid we failed, Ash. Apologies."
Ash tutted in frustration, snapping his fingers. "Look at you… and Dewgong. We were so close!"
"So close, and yet so far." Lorelei's smile was icy, and unforgiving. "Dewgong! Use Aqua Jet!"
Churning waters wrapped around Dewgong. Despite her bruises and weary constitution, she stubbornly launched herself towards Pidgeot for a finishing blow.
"Pidgeot! Mirror Move!" Ash cried with urgency.
Pidgeot was exhausted, but she stubbornly persisted, opening her beak wide. A vortex of light appeared in front of it, ripping away half of the waves surrounding Dewgong as she approached.
Pidgeot herself was jettisoned forth by Aqua Jet, crashing into Dewgong with a loud battle cry.
Mist scattered to the frigid air; some crystallizing on impact, showering the field in diamond dust.
Pidgeot laid face first in the sand, unconscious, but dignified.
Dewgong laid belly up, with swirls in her eyes.
"...Well. It seems they're both unable to battle. We can call that one a tie," Lorelei ruled.
"...Tch. Well, at least we pulled that off." Ash inhaled, then exhaled heavily, as he held out Pidgeot's Poké Ball to return her in a flash. "Thanks, big gal. You might've saved us some real grief, just now. Take a good long rest, while the rest of us take it from here."
"Ah. So you knew about my Endeavor strategy?" Lorelei asked, interest piqued, as she recalled Dewgong to her Poké Ball. "It's a bit of a coin toss on whether challengers make themselves aware of that or not. Even when they do, few come so close to stopping it in its tracks."
"I looked into your recent challenges," Ash explained. "You wear down opponents with Dewgong's stamina, and when they do get 'er up against the wall, Endeavor weakens them too, before Aqua Jet finishes them off. And with Curse, she'll have plenty of strength to do it."
"...And I can usually use Rest to start the process over again!" Lorelei finished. "Very good. You should be proud, really. It's not uncommon that I clear through a challenger's team, using that strategy. The event of a tie, in your case, is a victory."
Dawn exhaled heavily from the sidelines. "I feel like I've been holding my breath on that for an hour now. It's a shame Pidgeot didn't win, but she still stopped Lorelei's strategy in its tracks!"
"Pol. Pol-Pol!" Empoleon sobbed for his valiant ally and her brave sacrifice.
Pocus drummed his claws against his leg. He'd believe in Ash's hype when he saw it.
"I'm well aware," Ash answered Lorelei. "I found that when I was looking into your battle style. Unfortunately, that means there's not a lotta recent information on the rest of your team. So from here on out, I'm mostly going in blind."
Lorelei's eyes narrowed in a smile that looked almost sinister. "You shouldn't expect to predict your fight with the Champion's League to begin with."
"Yeah," Ash laughed. "I guess you're right! Finding out is part of the fun."
"Right you are. It's important to go with the flow! Be careful, though…" Lorelei warned, as she clutched her next Poké Ball. "If you don't watch where you're headed, you might crash up against the rocks." She threw the capsule with gusto with her warning. "Go! Poké Ball!"
Lorelei's next Pokémon to appear was Cloyster. A sturdy, spiky purple shell completely sheltered the Bivalve, who peered out of his home to reveal a spherical face with a manic grin and eerie, thin-slit eyes. The shore beneath him trembled when he hit the surface.
"A Cloyster…?" Dawn pulled out her Pokédex, and scanned him.
"Cloyster: The Bivalve Pokémon. It fights by keeping its shell tightly shut for protection and by shooting spikes to repel foes."
"So, Cloyster's her next Pokémon," Ash acknowledged.
"His defenses were second-to-none when I fought him," Peeks recalled. "Although that was a really long time ago. Who knows what Lorelei has up her sleeve, this time? There's no reason to assume we'll be facing the exact same thing."
"You're right," Ash nodded. He juggled a second Poké Ball in his palm. "It's time to feel this guy out. You're up next, Floatzel! I choose you!" He tossed the capsule, as Peeks climbed atop his head to give him freedom to move.
Floatzel appeared, upright and arms crossed. "Let's do this!"
"A Floatzel…" Lorelei hummed. "Interesting choice."
"Interesting is one way to put it," Ash countered. "Floatzel's got all the power he needs to win!"
Even as he defended his Pokémon, though, Ash schemed quietly. 'We should probably test those defenses. Who knows what we're dealing with?' With that thought, he gestured forward.
"Aqua Jet!"
Floatzel surrounded himself in water, rocketing forth.
"Use Reflect!" Lorelei ordered.
Just as Aqua Jet collided with Cloyster, a golden, translucent barrier appeared in front of the Bivalve. Floatzel struggled to push against the shield, finding himself gaining zero ground.
"So they still use Reflect." Ash grimaced. "Aqua Jet alone isn't going to cut it."
Lorelei gave no commentary, only waving a hand. "Use Spike Cannon, Cloyster."
"Hydro Pump," Ash ordered. "Make some distance!"
Floatzel leapt above Cloyster, and spat a powerful torrent at him that launched him higher.
Hydro Pump hit Cloyster dead-on. The armored Pokémon didn't budge, launching a storm of explosive spikes from his shell, before they quickly regenerated. They ambushed Floatel swiftly.
"Zel…!" Floatzel grunted, giving up on Hydro Pump to pull out of a projectile's way. More were inbound, forcing him to lean this way and that. One of the spikes clipped his side, making him wince. A large scratch split his fur where it'd hit. "Float…!"
"Use Spike Cannon, once more," Lorelei ordered.
"Cloy-ster!" Cloyster grinned menacingly, firing another barrage.
"Our speed isn't going to cut it at this rate," Ash said through grit teeth. "Floatzel! Rain Dance!"
Floatzel hated being cornered. He grinned at Ash's command, putting his paws together. "Now, you're talkin'!" With a grunt of effort, he lobbed a small orb of moisture high into the sunny skies.
Dark rain clouds covered the immediate battlefield, starting a downpour.
"Ugh! And we're so close to the field!" Dawn cried, reaching to cover her head from the rain. "I like the cold, but not wet cold!"
"Ab-ra." Pocus seemed to agree; he, Dawn, and Empoleon suddenly disappeared, and then reappeared atop the rocky Seafoam Caverns. At a slightly greater distance, now, they were untouched. "Abra."
"Phew…! That's better. Thanks a lot, Pocus!" Dawn cooed, as she began blotting at the doused Abra with her scarf she'd given him to dry him. "I guess this thing's no good for you, now…"
She laid the scarf out in the sun to dry, and watched her former Pokémon up above.
Floatzel was slipping by Spike Cannon shots one after another, twirling around them, ducking, and even inflating his flotation sac to hover over another. In the rain, his speed was paramount.
"Hang in there, Floatzel…!"
"Your Floatzel's quite the dodger, Ash." Lorelei praised, crossing her arms. She smiled. "But I don't know if he can stand up to my Cloyster's Spike Cannon. Fire another round, please."
"Cloy!" Cloyster grinned, as he fired another round of spikes from his shell into the barrage.
"They won't let up!" Ash hissed, gritting his teeth. "Cloyster is like a tank; impossible to break through with his defenses, and he corners his opponents with long-range moves to pin them down. We can't just sit there…" He waved a hand through the air. "Make some breathing room, with Aqua Jet!"
"Zel!" A massive wave swirled around Floatzel, propelling him away from the incoming Spike Cannon. He swerved left and right, avoiding Cloyster's creeping fire. Explosive needles detonated in mid-air, only catching the misty tail of his jettison while failing to make contact.
"Now, add in a Water Pulse!" Ash cried, tightening a hand in the air.
Floatzel soared high, and placed both of his paws over his head, summoning a churning, glowing orb of water at the point of his Aqua Jet. Currents twisted together to coalesce in the Water Pulse, creating a spinning tidal wave held between Floatzel's paws.
Under the heavy rainfall, it was twice as powerful.
Lorelei adjusted her glasses, eyes wide. "My, my…!"
"Go!" Ash roared, punching forward in tandem with Floatzel.
"Float… Zel!" The Sea Weasel cried, lobbing the cyclone towards the landlocked Cloyster.
Lorelei raised her arms to guard herself, bracing for the wave that pulverized Cloyster. "Nh…!" She squinted, watching water spiral around her Pokémon from behind her arm. "What power."
"We're not done yet!" Ash shouted, chopping the air. "Brick Break!"
"Cloy… ster…!" Cloyster groaned, finally emerging from his shell as the Aqua Pulse died. As soon as he was exposed, Floatzel dropped from above with a glowing fist raised.
"Zel!" Floatzel's Brick Break shattered Reflect, striking Cloyster in the process.
"Nice! A direct hit!" Dawn cheered from atop the cavern.
"...Very nice. A one-two attack like that would finish off most opponents. I've rarely seen anything like that Water Pulse," Lorelei praised. "Unfortunately, you've overlooked something."
Ash gasped, as he noticed and internalized exactly what Lorelei meant.
"Something rather important."
"Float…!?" Floatzel choked out, suffering an iron grip. His arm was trapped in Cloyster's closed shell. Tried as he may to yank away, the pain only worsened. "Float-zel!"
"That's Cloyster's Clamp. A Cloyster's shell is impossible to open once it's shut, even by a Pokémon with superior strength," Lorelei lectured.
"It was a trap," Ash muttered. "We walked right into it."
"She wasn't giving us many options, either," Peeks lamented.
"Of course, you'll only be there as long as we decide. Cloyster, use Toxic Spikes."
Cloyster's shell opened on command, and Floatzel was faced with a dastardly grin from within the darkness. Purple needles blasted away at him, sending the weasel flying.
Toxic Spikes littered the beach, sinking into the sand with a bubbling purple glow.
Floatzel also seized, suffering from poison damage.
Subsequently, the downpour from Rain Dance gave away, and the clouds cleared for sun.
"Damn it, he's poisoned!" Ash grimaced. 'This feels like a shadow of our battle at Lily of the Valley, a year ago. We can't let this battle take the same turn. We have to keep momentum!'
"Tongue-tied?" Lorelei smiled coolly. "That's too bad. Another round of Toxic Spikes, Cloyster."
"We may be stuck with one, but we don't have to take two!" Ash shouted, waving his hands outward. "Up and at 'em, Floatzel! Use an Aqua Jet Counter Shield, STAT!"
Ever the stubborn fighter, Floatzel was quickly back on his feet, he twisted his body, surrounding it in water before turning into a dizzying spin. A cyclone erupted around him, washing away the incoming hazards. Moreover, whips of water collided with Cloyster, battering him.
"My, how inventive. Very nice," Lorelei praised.
Ash's eyes narrowed. Every bit of praise she doled out came with a caveat.
"Cloyster, use Freeze-Dry."
A bitter gust of wind was unleashed from Cloyster's shell, sweeping across the Counter Shield mercilessly. In just an instant, the whole shield was frozen solid. Floatzel cried out from within.
"Floatzel!" Ash cried in concern.
"What was that!?" Peeks exclaimed.
Dawn scooted over towards the edge of the cavern to get a closer move. "I've never seen or heard of that move before… Freeze-Dry?"
"Freeze Dry is a unique Ice-type move," Lorelei explained. "It freezes the air while depriving it of moisture, making it super-effective against Water-types, despite the match-up."
Ash grimaced.
"What's more, is that it can also freeze the opponent, with a little luck," the Elite continued.
"But Floatzel's already poisoned," Ash replied. "Pokémon can't have more than one status condition at once, right?"
"That is true," Lorelei conceded, smiling. "Astute observation. But your Floatzel isn't frozen. Your 'Counter Shield' is. He's simply inside of it, enduring the effects of being poisoned."
"You mean that the Counter Shield was used against us," Ash said bitterly.
"I can't say it'd be the first time," Dawn said sourly from above. "But this is easily the worst case…" Her fists trembled in her lap. Dawn was filled with determination, shaking a fist in the air. "Come on, Ash! Come on, Floatzel! I know you can get out of this!"
"While you figure this out, I can walk through this battle at my leisure." Lorelei stretched her arms behind her back, linking her hands. She basked in the glow of the sun, just as she'd said. "Cloyster, use Toxic Spikes one more time, please."
"Cloyyyy…!" Cloyster rumbled menacingly, firing another barrage of Toxic Spikes. They sunk into the sand; their creeping influence spreading with a fuchsia hue.
"Floatzel's going to feel that as soon as he gets out," Peeks said, scowling.
"He might, but there's no use in him sitting in that ice until he faints," Ash replied. "It's time to break out, Floatzel! Show us your full power!" Ash roared, flexing his arms at his sides, as if to rally the Sea Wasel with his fighting spirit. "Use Bulk Up, and break through!"
"Zehll…!" Floatzel's muffled voice echoed from within the ice sculpture. His body emanated a fiery red glow, and his muscles flexed. The ice surrounding him started to crack.
Then, he immediately writhed, as poison took its toll again.
"Use Reflect."
Cloyster followed Lorelei's command, and an orange barrier flashed before him.
"It's do or die, now." Ash's gaze narrowed, as he threw a hand to the air. "Floatzel! Aqua Jet!"
The cracks in the frozen Counter Shield quickly spread, and water began to sprout from its fractures, like a dam springing a fatal leak. "Float!"
Floatzel cried, shattering the ice to shards and crystalline dust. Aqua Jet sent him high in a burst of effort, flying above the field in an arc towards the stationary Cloyster.
"We'll break your defenses with the kind of power even Cloyster can't stand up to!" Ash cried with gusto. "Floatzel! Let's show them a combination they've never seen! Aqua Break!"
Floatzel quickly descended upon Cloyster. In the midst of his descent, Aqua Jet broke away from his body, stripping away in ribbons to wrap around both of his arms. They flowed like rivers breaking off from a greater body of water, free of their initial form. They were at Floatzel's whim.
"Float…!" Floatzel raised both of his paws over his head, bringing the liquid with him at a whim. He struck down in a cross chop motion, striking from a modest distance. "...Zel!"
The water crashed into Cloyster like whips, making the Bivalve groan. A cracking sound echoed across the beach. He slid back across the sand, sporting two significant dents in his shell.
A blue aura washed over him. He looked worse for wear.
"...Ah? You used that move to lower our defenses without coming in close enough to get trapped with Clamp." Lorelei adjusted her glasses, smiling. "That was a clever innovation, Ash."
"We had to wear Cloyster down, somehow," Ash replied. He took a moment to pause, processing her remarks. "...Wait, 'that move?' You mean you've seen this combination before?"
"It's not as much a combination as it is an entirely different move," Lorelei explained. "It's a move known as Liquidation. A powerful physical Water-type move that harnesses water given narrow surface area for a harsh impact. It has the extra effect of lowering defense. It seems that you taught Floatzel this move completely by accident!"
"...I can't believe it." Ash swallowed the revelation, exchanging a smile with Floatzel. "What do you know? We're learning all the time, without even meaning to!"
Floatzel smirked, nodding in Ash's direction. "It's only natural."
"It's a nice development. It's too bad it's for naught." Lorelei didn't give Ash time to speculate about her declaration. "Cloyster… Use Sheer Cold."
A flash freeze burst from within Cloyster's shell.
"Sheer Cold…!? Floatzel, get out of there!" Ash warned.
Floatzel tried to pick up his feet and dodge. Unfortunately, a very untimely surge of poison shot through his body; twice as severely, after he'd touched the shore a second time. "Floatzel…!"
A sudden bright flash surged across the area, forcing Ash to guard his eyes. He held Peeks behind his hat, enduring the overwhelmingly bitter winds. "Floatzel…!"
Peeks buried his face in Ash's cap. Even from a distance, his tail stung a bit. "Pika…!"
A towering spire of ice swallowed Floatzel, and climbed far beyond him; towering far over the cavern itself, even. Empoleon stepped forth to guard Dawn with his wing, should it come close.
A mangled tower of ice stood, completely encasing Floatzel. Soon enough, the portion that encased him shattered, mercifully setting him free. He collapsed on his back, unconscious.
"...A one hit knockout." Ash swallowed thickly, processing the sudden shift in the battle. Across the field, he made eye contact with Lorelei, who was somewhat shrouded in an icy haze. Her ponytail was tossed about in the breeze, but she herself stood like solid ice. Her gaze was cold, and her smile unfeeling. "She had that one hit knockout move up her sleeve, the entire time."
Ash laughed to himself, even as he recalled Floatzel. "Guess I shouldn't be surprised."
"I warned you, didn't I, Ash?" Lorelei asked; the casual warmth that normally carried with her words completely absent. She was devoid of sympathy; her casual air was now frozen cold.
"My Pokémon and I move like the water, but in battle, we're as bitter and unforgiving as ice."
Chapter 5: Lorelei II - Blast Burn
Chapter Text
"Poor Floatzel… And put on such a stellar performance, too."
Dawn watched Ash recall the Water-type who was once on her very own team, gripping the rocky structure in front of her. She could see Ash at his back, muttering something to Peeks; either strategizing, or remarking on the upset he'd just suffered. He surely felt frustrated, too.
"Pol." The cold steel of Empoleon's wing rested on Dawn's back, jolting her out of her intense focus. The cool plating felt soothing, for her, and drew her attention. "Empoleon," he spoke with certainty. His opposite wing gestured to Cloyster, whose shell looked rather battered.
"You're right. Cloyster's taken damage, too. But they're not any less of a threat if they have a move that can decide a battle in one shot. Ash is going to have to navigate around that."
"Ab-ra." Pocus leaned forward on his belly and supported his chin with his little hands, still floating on air. He waved a hand flippantly. "Abra, Ab."
Empoleon sneered. The message was clear: he thought Ash was in over his head.
"The battle's gone towards Lorelei so far, but you haven't seen anything yet," Dawn replied. "I'm sure he's just feeling her out and finding his groove. Once he does, there's no need to worry."
The Coordinator smiled, bunching up her fists. "There's nothing that Ash can't do!"
Ash slowly inhaled, then exhaled. The cool air burned his throat and lungs a little bit, but that chill invigorated him again, after suffering a dampening frustration. "Alright." He patted his own cheeks, determined to get the blood for battle flowing. "You may have the lead for now, Lorelei. But, that's not going to last!"
"Oh?" Lorelei tilted her head. Her cool exterior showed no sign of cracking. "I'd love to see it."
"Get ready to eat those words." Ash grinned, as he juggled a Poké Ball in his palm. Peeks leapt from atop his head, giving Ash room to wind up and throw the capsule with effort. "Bulbasaur…!"
The Poké Ball spun, and popped open, taking the form of the Seed Pokémon. He landed in the sand before Ash, and the creeping purple poison surrounded him, before seeping into his body at no personal cost. Toxic Spikes fizzled out. Bulbasaur croaked, unfazed and battle-ready.
"I choose you!"
"So you've rid yourself of Toxic Spikes," Lorelei noted. "A bold move, bringing a Grass-type."
"There's nothing bold about it. We're here to win!" Ash pumped a fist. "Use Sunny Day, now!"
A bright orb fired out of Bulbasaur's bulb, launching high into the sky. It burst, casting harsh sunlight down upon the battlefield, and then some.
"Ab-ra~!" Pocus cooed, now floating belly-up to bask in the sunlight.
"I see you're playing with the weather, quite a bit. Not what I expected from you, but I do enjoy surprises." Lorelei threw a hand in the air, unperturbed. "Cloyster! Use Blizzard!"
Cloyster opened his shell, countering with freezing, unrelenting winds.
"Dodge that!" Ash cried.
Bulbasaur soared over Blizzard at breakneck speed, as his body was captured in a green glow.
"Your Bulbasaur seems faster," Lorelei observed. "Don't relent with your Blizzard, Cloyster."
Blizzard's winds swept into an upward draft, heading towards the airborne Bulbasaur. Crystal ice and snow were swept up in its tempest, aiming to freeze the isolated target solid.
"Solar Beam!" Ash grinned, swiping a hand through the air.
Bulbasaur gathered light in his bulb in an instant, and then flipped over, belly-up towards the sun. "Bulba!" He cried, firing a massive burst of sunlight into the oncoming Blizzard.
Solar Beam blasted through the cold, crashing into Cloyster below. The Bivalve cried in pain.
Meanwhile, Bulbasaur soared even higher, propelled by his own move's recoil.
"Nice!" Dawn cheered. "With Bulbasaur's speed and long-range attacks, it's going to be difficult for Cloyster to tag him. Even if he's weak to Ice-types, his moves aren't liable to be frozen over!"
"A bold strategy, but your Bulbasaur is isolated in mid-air," Lorelei observed.
Ash smirked at the critique. "Wanna bet?"
Lorelei didn't respond with banter. She folded her arms, standing tall. "Sheer Cold!"
Ash guarded his eyes, as a bright flash freeze consumed the field. Towering shards and fragments of ice crept up into the open air, rising towards Bulbasaur to catch him in their grasp.
"You caught us off-guard with it once; you won't be doing it again!" Ash shouted. "Bulbasaur, use your Power Whip to swing along Sheer Cold!"
"Bulba…!" The Seed Pokémon was falling back down towards earth, and directly towards a rising, indomitable freeze. His ruby gaze narrowed, as glowing vines shot out of his back. The quickest-approaching spire of ice was an apt target for him to wrap his vines around.
He swung his way around it, avoiding the next eruption of ice coming his way. He used the closest immediate ice as footing, and clocked another offshoot out of the corner of his eye; glistening at its sharpest end that jabbed towards him. His vines shot over his head, wrapping around another mangled sculpture to yank himself up to the next elevation.
Lorelei squinted at the display, raising a hand to guard her eyes from the sun. "Your Bulbasaur's experience is noteworthy. It takes a very high level to avoid my Cloyster's Sheer Cold."
Ash, for once, didn't respond to the commentary. There was precious time to use. He swept a hand through the air. "Bulbasaur! Fire back with Sludge Bomb!"
Bulbasaur fired in the midst of swinging from one gigantic icicle to the next. Explosive, densely-packed sludge bombarded Cloyster from above.
"Retaliate, with Pin Missile!" Lorelei ordered.
Cloyster fired another spiked barrage from his shell. The needles collided with Sludge Bomb's projectiles, blasting them and splattering the field with sludge all about. The Bivalve went unharmed.
"Another Pin Missile!"
"Power Whip to dodge, once more!"
More spikes fired from below, with Bulbasaur right within their crosshairs. "Bulba!" Bulbasaur's vines snaked out, wrapping around Sheer Cold's main, sturdiest pillar. Pulling his vines taut, he swung his way all the way around the one-hit move, creating shelter from Spike Cannon.
The needles pelted away at the crystalline ice, before Bulbasaur swung back around from the other end. But Cloyster persisted with his firepower, putting the Seed Pokémon in the face of another painful barrage.
"Sludge Bomb!"
Bulbasaur scouted his surroundings, and shot his vines below him, gripping a lower spire. He dragged himself in, letting the Spike Cannon harmlessly pelt Sheer Cold's heights. He returned fire afterward, blasting the last of Spike Cannon away with sludge that rained around Cloyster.
Ash's eyes darted over the field as Bulbasaur went about his work. Approaching Cloyster would be rather difficult, head-on. But just as he'd intended, the field immediately around him was splattered with the muck from Sludge Bomb. A glimmer shone in Ash's eye. "Bingo."
With his targets in his sights, Ash dramatically gestured toward the field. "Alright, Bulbasaur! It's all on you! Fire your Weather Ball—"
A bright light gathered in Bulbasaur's bulb, before igniting into a roaring flame.
"...At the field!"
There was no time for Lorelei to react to Ash's strange command, or consider its ramifications. Weather Ball rained down from above, and split into a storm of fiery embers that only grazed Cloyster, making the Bivalve wince and retreat into his shell, in the face of the heat.
Subsequently, the many embers ignited the corrosive sludge all about the field. First one explosion detonated, and then another, and another afterward, igniting in a chain of explosions that swallowed the entire field in smog and fiery ash. Deafening blasts drowned everything out.
The towering Sheer Cold off to Ash's right trembled in its entirety.
Ash grinned, guarding himself from the poisonous fumes and flames. "We got 'em!"
Peeks hid behind Ash's pant leg, burying his face in the fabric. "That had to do them in…!"
"Yes!" Dawn cheered, jumping up and down atop the cave. "That's our signature move! There's no way Lorelei saw them lighting the Sludge Bomb up coming! Woohoo!"
Abra casually repelled the incoming embers and poisonous gas with a use of Psychic, while staring at Dawn in utter bewilderment. Pyrotechnics were their patented strategy?
…These teenagers were mildly concerning.
Eventually, the smog and smoke cleared. Cloyster laid on his side, shell burnt, battered, and unmoving. It only parted to reveal his dark face, which had swirls in its eyes.
"...Well, well. That wasn't the sort of dangerous strategy I expected from you, Ash." Lorelei mused, as she recalled her darling Cloyster to his Poké Ball. She placed it on her hip, meeting the trainer with a neutral expression. "You goaded that Spike Cannon on to ambush us."
"Guilty as charged." Ash smiled brightly, brushing his index finger over his nose in a show of confidence. "You proved bringing a direct fight to Cloyster to be risky business. But your big guy's not much for mobility, so if we could just trip the field up, we didn't have to be direct!"
Bulbasaur swung his way down from his icy foothold, landing before Ash. He cried happily, proud of his handiwork. "Bulbasaur!"
Sadly, the harsh sunlight was starting to fade away after several exchanges had passed.
Sheer Cold, meanwhile, was sporting creeping cracks along its broad and towering surface.
"Very good." Lorelei clapped her hands together leisurely. "I am impressed, Ash. I think you're giving me good reason to take you and your Pokémon seriously as adversaries."
"Hah! Don't patronize us." Ash fired back, smirking at her banter. "I'll believe it when I see it!"
"...Very well. I suppose you will." Lorelei responded, cool as ice. She threw her next Poké Ball backhanded. It opened, spawning the large and sturdy shape of her Slowbro.
"Sloooow~!" The bipedal Shellfish Pokémon cooed, looking lax and content.
"So we're facing Slowbro, again." Ash's eyes narrowed.
"I think he used Disable on Charizard last time," Peeks recalled. "We have to watch out for that."
"You're right," Ash nodded. "Alright, Bulbasaur. Let's set the weather again! Sunny Day!"
Bulbasaur fired an orb from his bulb into the sky, reigniting the harsh sunlight.
Lorelei clicked her tongue. "Slowbro, use Flamethrower."
Slowbro opened his maw, and white-hot flames tore across the field, glassing the sand instantly.
Ash tutted. "So Sunny Day helps him, here. Escape, with Power Whip!"
"Roger!" Bulbasaur cracked his vines against the field below him, launching him into the sky before Flamethrower could scorch him in its great volume. Flamethrower fizzled out harmlessly in front of Ash and Peeks, in a great show of control.
Ash smiled. Bulbasaur was now even closer to the harsh sunlight. "Now, use Growth!"
The green glow of Chlorophyll intensified, and Bulbasaur was enveloped in an emerald shine. The bulb atop his back grew larger, glimmering with the sunlight's nutrients fueling it.
"Awesome!" Dawn cheered. "His offenses are higher now!"
"And it does double, under the sun!" Ash added, grinning. But, he felt a bit less sure when Lorelei simply adjusted her glasses, offering no commentary, or even a sign of concern.
She only raised a hand, and ordered another Flamethrower.
Slowbro spat a roaring inferno towards the airborne Bulbasaur.
"Use Power Whip to grab him!" Ash urged.
Purple glowing vines shot out under Bulbasaur, snaking around the heat to constrict tightly around Slowbro's waist.
"Now, pull yourself in and under!"
Bulbasaur pulled his vines taut, swinging himself under the incoming Flamethrower and towards his foe at breakneck speeds. He slid across the sand, kicking up much of it in his wake. He was directly in front of the Shellfish Pokémon before he could so much as correct his line of fire.
"Now, throw 'im on towards the ice!" Ash cheered, punching the air.
"Bull… ba!" Bulbasaur cried with effort, tightly seizing Slowbro, and swinging the other with all of his might in the direction of Sheer Cold's structure. Slowbro crashed into the dent where Floatzel had fallen out, making the gigantic, frozen foundation tremble, and slid to the ground.
"Awesome!" Dawn cheered, clapping her hands together. "With Chlorophyll, Bulbasaur can move faster than most. And Slowbro's sluggish to begin with — his aim can't keep up!"
"Solar Beam!" Ash cried, pointing towards Slowbro.
"Bulll… ba!" Bulbasaur fired a blinding cannon of light; twice as large as his last.
"Slowbro. Use Amnesia."
Slowbro pulled himself up to his feet, in the face of the lethal flash. He sighed dreamily and let his mind wander, just as the blast hit its mark and exploded. Smoke flooded the field, and light that shone directly through it. Shards and blocks of ice flew every which way in the aftermath.
"Did we get 'im in time…?" Ash asked, pensively awaiting the results.
Slowbro emerged from the wreckage, sporting some scratches, but not much else. "Slowww…!"
"Damn it. We weren't quick enough!"
"You can power up, as much as you'd like," Lorelei lectured, smiling. "But Slowbro and I have always been of one mind. We don't let the little things sweat us. We let it roll right off in our serenity, so that when our problems have sunsetted, we stand, happy and healthy."
'She's right,' Ash thought to himself, as he flicked a bead of sweat away with his thumb. 'Every time we use Growth, she can just double down, and we'll be back to square one! Of course, Amnesia boosts special defense, but not regular defense. So, it's still worth it!'
He looked up at the harsh sun. 'Besides. I only have so much time to squeeze outta Growth.'
"Use Growth again!"
Bulbasaur was surrounded in emerald, once more. His bulb looked even more vibrant.
"Use Amnesia, Slowbro~"
Slowbro muttered sleepily, as a red aura washed over him.
"Growth, one more time!"
"Amnesia, again."
"Come on." Dawn bundled up her fists in frustration from above. "I know why Ash is doing this, but watching him battle this way is frustrating. There has to be a reason Lorelei is letting him power up, too. She has to know that Growth boosts his physical attacks, too."
Empoleon listened to his trainer intently, and looked back to the field, frowning. He had a grim feeling about this.
He felt that even moreso, when Pocus laughed to himself at the ongoing game of Stat Chicken.
Lorelei squinted up at the sky, guarding her eyes with her hand. "...Ah. The harsh sun's starting to fade. There's our moment." Rather than wait for Ash to question her ominous words, she waved a hand. "Slowbro, it's time. Please use Psych Up."
"Bulb…" Bulbasaur took a cautious stance, awaiting the attack to come. To his own surprise, he found himself surrounded in an eerie golden light, swirling around his body before twisting around towards Slowbro. The Shellfish Pokémon basked in its aura, glowing brilliantly.
"Slow…!"
"What was that!?" Ash exclaimed, taken aback. "That move didn't do any damage to Bulbasaur."
"Damage? No, none at all." The Ice-type expert shook her head. "We simply… borrowed from you."
"Borrowed?" Ash felt a creeping uneasiness he couldn't ignore. He reached into his pocket, pulling out his Pokédex to point it towards Slowbro to obtain his answer.
"Psych Up: A Normal-type status move. The user hypnotizes itself into copying any stat change made by the target."
"...You're kidding." Ash grit his teeth, depositing his Pokédex. "Then all of those Growths…"
"They're ours now," Lorelei confirmed. "We appreciate you being kind enough to offer us the increase to your speed from Chlorophyll, before Sunny Day ran out. Between being twice as fast, and having maximized Attack, Special Attack, and Special Defense, you've handed us quite a winning hand." Her smile was icy; her tactics unforgiving. "I hope you don't mind."
"Tch… She tricked us." Ash snapped his fingers in frustration. "But you won't stay faster than us for long, at least — we can always try again!" He pointed towards the sky. Use Sunny Day!"
"Bulbasaur!" Bulbasaur affirmed, as a bright light leaked out of his bulb.
"Slowbro, use Disable."
Slowbro's eyes flashed an eerie blue. Bulbasaur was surrounded in the same glow.
Sunny Day fated away. "Bulba…!?" Bulbasaur looked baffled. His mind was clouded in fog!
"That move again." Ash grimaced. "We're stuck without the sun for a while."
"She's played us, up and down," Peeks lamented. He didn't like this, one bit.
"So, this is Lorelei's way of battling," Dawn thought aloud. "To control the flow of battle, with stubborn Pokémon who are hard to shake up, and direct the pace the way she likes."
The method fell right in line with what she could see from above; Ash, Peeks, and Bulbasaur looked frustrated and on-guard. Their strategies, so far, had been neutered. By contrast, Slowbro looked stronger than ever, and Lorelei was wholly confident in her position.
"It falls in line with her philosophy: To flow like water, and be as hard as ice."
"Very good." Lorelei praised Dawn, smiling up at the girl. "Although I have to give my due praises: Ash has been quite adept at fighting me on it every step of the way, so far." She turned her gaze to Ash, smiling sinisterly. "But I do wonder, how long will it last…?"
"See for yourself!" Ash barked back, and outstretched a hand. "Bulbasaur! Use Sludge Bomb!"
Bulbasaur aimed and fired. With his maximized special attack, the result was a blitz of explosive sludge. But, Slowbro was quick to leap over the incoming barrage, landing in a handstand. More corrosive filth came his way, but he leisurely did a cartwheel out of its path. Paradoxically, Slowbro was now quite limber; too much so for Bulbasaur's aim.
"Now, use Psychic."
A blue glow enveloped Bulbasaur. He was yanked into the air out of his own control, and then brutally slammed into the sand below him. "Bulba!" He cried, and was yanked into the air again. He smashed into the field a second time.
"They're ragdolling us," Ash said through grit teeth. "Fight back, with Power Whip!"
Bulbasaur's vines snaked out of his bulb, as he was hoisted into the air again. "Bulba-saur!"
Power Whip smacked Slowbro across the face, and cracked him over the head. Each strike left visible marks; as the beneficiary of Growth, Bulbasaur's attack power was through the roof.
But alas, Slowbro only yawned. He tossed his head down, smashing Bulbasaur into the sand.
"Attacking through Psychic is a good strategy, but against Slowbro, it's a futile effort," Lorelei lectured. "Slowpoke themselves are very slow to hurt, thanks to their brain's sloth to process just about anything. They're very patient creatures. Slowbro, however, is constantly fed the venom of the transformed Shellder latched to their tails. That venom causes them to feel no pain at all."
"You're kidding!" Ash exclaimed. "You learn something new about Pokémon every day, huh."
"In other words, you can inflict damage to Slowbro just as any Pokémon, but it's not at all a distraction to them. They'll fight until they're no longer able without knowing the difference." Lorelei yawned; it was as if her Pokémon reflected her own demeanor. "Quite a fitting Pokémon for my team, don't you think? There's a reason I chose him, despite not being an Ice-type."
She raised a hand leisurely, as if she had all the time in the world. "But, those vines are still a danger. Please suspend them along with Bulbasaur, won't you, Slowbro?"
"Slowww…!" Slowbro responded to his trainer. A pulse of psychic power froze Bulbasaur's vines in mid-air.
"Bul… ba…!" Bulbasaur strained, finding his entire body subject to another's whim.
"You can try to lock us in place, but it won't work on us!" Ash insisted, clenching his fists. "Slowbro's power may have been upgraded, but ours did, too! Push through that Psychic with your guts, Bulbasaur! You're stronger than them!"
"You're… you're right!" Bulbasaur grunted in effort, gritting his teeth. His suspended vines flooded with fuchsia light, and with a bit of straining, they snapped free. The psychic glow around them, at least, shattered, just in time for him to plummet towards the sand.
His vines snapped out, catching his fall.
"Now, use Leech Seed!"
Bulbasaur exerted his willpower, and tilted his bulb to fire a parasitic seed.
Leech Seed snaked its way around Slowbro, sprouting vines all over his body. The seed dug into his plush skin, starting to sap away energy in a red flash.
The energy returned to Bulbasaur, who felt slightly less weary as a result.
Lorelei clicked her tongue. "Psychic is no longer a viable strategy… Slowbro. Flamethrower."
Slowbro's glow faded, releasing Bulbasaur. He immediately opened his mouth, spewing a roaring fire that dwarfed him; scathing and scorching the battlefield as it went.
Bulbasaur was falling right into its range. "Sludge Bomb!" Ash quickly urged.
Bulbasaur flipped upside down, firing a toxic barrage into the coming flames.
Dawn yelped, forced to guard herself from the detonating blaze below. Empoleon quickly postured himself in front of his trainer, taking the ambient waves of heat rolling their way.
"Thanks, Empoleon…!" Dawn winced, hiding behind the cool comfort of her starter's hide. She could hardly make out much through the explosions down below. "Those are some serious explosions. They'd better watch out for…" Dawn gasped.
The towering mass that was Sheer Cold started to crumble. It burst into an avalanche of ice.
"Bulbasaur…!" Ash guarded himself from the explosions, hugging Peeks protectively in his arms. To his great relief, he watched Bulbasaur fly away from the impact, tumbling through the air to soar past him towards the icy cavern. "Hang in there, pal…!"
"Bul… Bulba…!" Bulbasaur tumbled across the ice, landing on his belly. His body was covered in bruises and scorch marks. He trembled, struggling to stand. For a moment, his vision started to blur. He was seeing double.
Luckily, Leech Seed fed him again. He regained a bit of wherewithal, forcing himself to his feet.
"That was a close one," Ash muttered. "You doing alright, Buddy?" He asked Peeks.
The mouse's ears twitched. He finally pulled himself out of hiding, when he noticed that he felt more cold than heat coming from the aftermath of the clash. The field was blanketed in mist; it seemed that Sheer Cold had come tumbling down in a huge avalanche beside the field.
Peeks sighed. He preferred it to the flames. "Yeah. I'm fine. Thanks. But what about Slowbro?"
"My, my. Such risky tactics. I hope they aren't coming back to bite you?" Lorelei tutted. "I see they've done a number on your Bulbasaur, as well. You should be mindful of your partners."
"Believe me, I am!" Ash countered. Even so, though, he eyed Bulbasaur, as a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead. 'Bulbasaur's still low on health. We'll need more time with Leech Seed to bring him back up to speed.' Deciding on his next move, Ash waved a hand aside. "Grab 'im with Power Whip, Bulbasaur!"
Meanwhile, Slowbro was using Psychic to put himself back on his feet. He was battered and burnt, looking far worse for wear than before. "Slowww…" While he knew no pain, his sloth would come back to bite him. Power Whip reached out and tightened around his torso.
"Now, throw 'im at the ice!" Ash shouted.
"Bulba… saur!" Bulbasaur yanked on Bulbasaur with all of his might, chucking him towards the icy aftermath of Sheer Cold. Slowbro crashed into the frozen fragments, sinking into them.
Ash pointed towards him with authority. "Solar Beam!"
Bulbasaur dug his hind and forelegs into the sand, and fired. "Bulba!"
Solarbeam rippled across the fray, blasting where Slowbro had landed. Blinding lights flash, and slabs and shards of ice were sent flying from the impact. Shortly afterwards, the light died away.
Bulbasaur felt another refreshing bout from Leech Seed. He exhaled. "Now, that's more like it."
"Awesome!" Dawn cheered, finally standing up to lean on Empoleon's shoulders. "Bulbasaur's making the most of what just happened to chip away at Slowbro! They have to be on the ropes now, even with all of those defensive buffs!"
"Oh? I wonder about that." Lorelei smiled coolly. "Slowbro, please use Slack Off."
"Slooooowwww…" Slowbro sat back on his rear, and his body was coated in a green glow. He basked in the sun lazily, and the scratches and burns on his body began to fade away entirely.
"Oh, not that move…!" Dawn complained, puffing out her cheek. "To see it in a Contest is one thing, but Ash has to win this battle! Now all of that hard work they did to damage him is undone!"
"So, she does have that move." Ash's eyes narrowed. "So we're going to have to finish this one shot, after all."
Slowbro flashed red once more, as Leech Life sapped a bit of his returned stamina to feed Bulbasaur.
"You think you can do that?" Lorelei hummed in amusement. "You have been healing your Bulbasaur with that Leech Life of yours, so I guess I ought to freeze your expectations, and pay you the same favor. Slowbro, would you please use Psychic on Sheer Cold's remains?"
"Sloow…!" Slowbro exerted a great telekinetic force. The shelf of ice slabs started to float, and corralled itself in an orbit over the Shellfish Pokémon's head. A great, frozen mass was wielded at his behest, dwarfing both himself and Bulbasaur.
"Go."
Slowbro lazily gestured forward, and a frozen storm assaulted Bulbasaur.
"Use Power Whip, Bulbasaur!"
Bulbasaur steadied himself in the face of raining ice. "Bul-ba!" Power Whip shot out of his bulb, smashing two incoming ice slabs into dust. Several more slabs converged on him in a pincer attack, however, and he smacked his vines against the sand, launching himself into their mist.
He landed atop a large piece of ice, but found himself surrounded by more. Power Whip extended out from his body, and swung around him in a whiplash to crush one after another.
"Bul…!?" Bulbasaur felt the ice beneath him shift. Psychic slammed its pointed edge into his stomach, knocking the Seed Pokémon into the air. He was left vulnerable to be struck by ice, again and again.
"Shit. He's vulnerable, up there!" Ash lamented, tightening a fist at his side.
"Bulbasaur doesn't have the agility I do," Peeks said. "He can't just dash around all day!"
"You're right. He needs a way to get some breathing room." Ash's mind worked quickly, as he watched his own Pokémon get knocked about in the flurry.
Luckily, Slowbro suffered another sap from Leech Seed, guaranteeing Bulbasaur just a bit more time. But even Ash knew that that window was getting more narrow by the second.
Ash watched Bulbasaur; his desperation building. But, as his eyes followed his Pokémon, he squinted at the harsh sunlight reflecting off the storm of ice. "It's so bright, I can hardly… that's it!" The trainer threw a hand in the air. "Bulbasaur! Now's the time to use Sunny Day!"
"Bulba…!" Bulbasaur's ruby eyes snapped open. It had been quite a bit since he'd been hit with Disable. He willed himself to use the technique he'd picked up before the Indigo League, and successfully fired an orb of light. through the storm and towards the clear skies.
Bulbasaur suddenly found himself invigorated, basked in a green glow. Chlorophyll was active!
"There it is!" Ash grinned, pumping a fist. "Now that you've got your speed, let's see that Power Whip! Demolish that ice storm with everything you've got!"
"Bullllbaaaa!" Bulbasaur cried with effort, as the air about him became a purple blur. Power Whip lashed out at blinding speeds, smashing the ice surrounding him all about like machine gun fire.
Lorelei gasped, ghosting a hand over her mouth. "Oh, my… That power and speed."
"There's nothing Bulbasaur can't do, under the sun!" Ash boasted, beaming with pride and excitement as he gestured a hand towards Slowbro. "Show Slowbro that power, up-close!"
"Bulba-saur!" Bulbasaur's battle cry echoed as he dropped from the sky towards the Shellfish Pokémon. Both of his vines were wielded like weapons, glowing with power.
"Aaaaaargh!" Ash cried with effort in unison with his Pokémon.
The result was a storm of blows. Bulbasaur beat Slowbro senseless with lightning-fast strikes; each connecting cracking like a whip. Bulbasaur didn't relent until he'd run out of breath.
"Bulba-saur!" He connected with one last blow, knocking Slowbro skyward with an uppercut.
"That'll do it," Ash huffed, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. "I hope."
Lorelei blinked, incredulous at the sight of her Pokémon flying towards her. "...Use Psychic."
Slowbro was falling upside-down, before he suspended himself in mid-air. "Slow…!"
Bulbasaur cried, as a pulse of psychic energy sent him flying; shooting past Ash, before crashing into the top of Seafoam Cavern's mouth. The wind was knocked out of him, as he was cratered in its surface.
Dawn yelped, stumbling back from the impact that came too close for comfort.
Empoleon caught her with his wing, cradling her back. "Pol," he reassured her.
"...Phew. Thanks, Empoleon." Dawn exhaled. "Poor Bulbasaur, though…"
Pocus floated a little further out of reach, quietly watching.
"Now, trap him," Lorelei instructed.
Several icicles were ripped out of the cavern mouth, and shot towards Bulbasaur. They buried themselves in the cavern wall.
A painful chill brushed Bulbasaur's arms and legs. He assessed his situation, his ruby-red eyes wide. Several large icicles were embedded around his arms and legs, spreading frost to each limb. He grit his teeth, and yanked his weight against them.
The ice held his limbs in place - each scrape with them spread numbness, making his efforts feeble. He felt his little heart pounding against his chest. He was trapped.
"Slowbro, use Slack Off."
Slowbro yawned loudly, and lounged in the sunlight, feeling awfully content. A gentle glow healed his scratches and bruises, erasing most of the damage he'd taken.
Lorelei folded her arms, clicking her tongue. In this frigid battle, she carried herself with cool composure and poise. "I hate to do this to you, Ash, but this is what it's like to face the frigid wrath of my Pokémon. So many challengers find themselves clawing at the unbreakable wall of our ice, until their teams run out of steam. Will your fate be the same?"
Her lips pursed together in a frown. "I'd honestly hate for our battle to stall so soon. I rather enjoy your unconventional battling. It'd be a shame to… ah?"
To the Elite's confusion, Ash didn't look the slightest bit perturbed. In fact, even as his cap hid his eyes in shadow, he was grinning. He lifted the brim, meeting Lorelei's gaze with confidence.
"You don't have to worry about that, Lorelei. Because we're about to break your ice!"
"Oh…?" Lorelei blinked, intrigued by his sudden show of bravado.
"Bulbasaur… Use Synthesis!"
"Bulba!" Bright sunlight was drawn to Bulbasaur's bulb, making his entire body glow.
"Ah…!?" Lorelei gasped, ghosting a hand over her mouth. She looked up at the sky, where Sunny Day still graced the field with its glow. "Under harsh sunlight…! Slowbro! Flamethrower!"
Slowbro launched a gigantic blaze, made stronger by Sunny Day. The flames spread out to engulf Bulbasaur, seeking to incinerate him before he could fully heal.
Alas, Bulbasaur stopped glowing before the flames reached him. And, the ambient heat was quickly making the icicles suspending him melt. He shook free, flipping upside down to plant all fours on the cavern wall, and sprung off the surface high into the sky.
"Ah…!?" Dawn hid herself behind Empoleon in the wake of the incoming flames. Suddenly, the heat approaching disappeared entirely. She peeked out from behind her starter, and found that Pocus had teleported them to a different spot atop the caverns entirely. "...Phew. Thanks, Pocus! You saved our butts, just now!"
"Ab-ra." Pocus gave his graces casually, floating beside them. He was wearing her scarf again.
"Still… How did Bulbasaur… ah! There he is!" Dawn cheered.
Bulbasaur soared through the sky, somersaulting to land right in front of Slowbro. "Bulba-saur!"
"So you had your own healing move in store," Lorelei resigned, brows furrowed. For the first time during this match, she looked off balance; even her posture was uneven. Her folded arms hugged into her chest, rather than hanging loosely. "And under Sunny Day, Synthesis…"
"...Has all the power it needs to heal Bulbasaur completely!" Ash grinned; the copper in his eyes shimmering under the harsh sunlight. "Let's finish this, Bulbasaur! Use Frenzy Plant!"
"Bullll… Ba!" Bulbasaur roared to the skies, smashing his claws into the sand. The shore rumbled beneath the battlefield, trembling and shifting, before gigantic thorned root ripped out of the sand, moving swiftly to constrict around Slowbro. Several more gargantuan roots joined the first wave, entirely constricting Slowbro in their grasp. With another cry from the Seed Pokémon, they shot into the sky, and then whipped down towards the battlefield, slamming into it mercilessly.
Lorelei was aghast; speechless as she watched her Slowbro be brutalized by one of the three Ultimate Moves. There was little she could do, as the Frenzy Plant retreated and crept back into the sand, disappearing entirely.
The source of them; Bulbasaur, panted heavily, recoiling from the full-power move.
Slowbro, on the other hand, laid face first in the sand, with swirls in his eyes.
"Yes!" Dawn cheered, jumping up and down. "Who's so vigilant, and wise, and grand? Bulbasaur, with Frenzy Plant! Woohoo!"
Lorelei took another moment to drink in the reality before her, and sighed, resignedly recalling Slowbro to his Poké Ball. "I believe I've underestimated you. To think a Bulbasaur was carrying one of the Ultimate Moves… I've never considered it a possibility."
"That's the power of the Bond Phenomenon!" Ash boasted, grinning as he extended a fist in the direction of his Pokémon. Bulbasaur tiredly extended a vine, meeting in a fist bump. "There's nothing Bulbasaur and I can't do together. But with that move's downside of exhaustion, I wanted to be absolutely sure I could take a sturdy Pokémon like Slowbro in one shot."
"And as you can see… we did just that," Bulbasaur added breathily, proud of his work.
"Catching you off-guard was always part of our plan. I wanted to avoid showin' any signs that we had our own way of healing in the tank," Ash explained. "If we could undercut your 'flow with the water' mentality, we could break your expectations, just like we'll shatter your ice!"
"Well, well…" Lorelei could only laugh, hidden behind the back of her hand. "What can I say? You got me! I understand, now, why you brought a Grass-type to an Ice-type battle."
"It's true that plants get buried in the ice," Ash continued. "But they're also hardy enough to last through anything! Each spring, they come back even stronger, under the sun!"
The trainer stopped after his monologue to scout his surroundings for Dawn, who he spotted atop the caverns. "Hey Dawn. Was that cool?" He asked hopefully. "Like, poetry and all that?"
"Oh, Ash, that was… Yes!" Dawn gushed, bundling her fists with stars in her eyes. Her cheeks were even touched pink! "That was super poetic! Oh, you were incredibly cool, just now!"
"Yes!" Ash cheered, pumping a fist in victory. 'My improv's getting better!'
"Pikapi…" Peeks sighed, exasperated and amused. 'I guess he deserves the little victories on top of the big ones.'
Lorelei giggled to herself. "Adorable, but I hope you're not losing focus."
"Of course not!" Ash laughed, turning back towards the Elite, and patted his cheeks. "I'm all warmed up, now! And I've knocked off your block of ice! So, let's keep it coming!"
"I do wonder about that…" Lorelei hummed to herself, as Sunny Day's light finally died down. She reached for her next Poké Ball, and tossed it with grace. "Go, Poké Ball!"
"Jynx!" Twirling onto the battlefield, the Human Shape pokemon danced on the shore, gilding it with another, thin layer of frost. She swayed hypnotically, her lustrous blonde hair waving about. "Jynx, Jynx!" She winked and blew a kiss at Bulbasaur.
Bulbasaur blinked, nonplussed "As I've said before, my interests are elsewhere."
"So, Jynx is our next opponent…" Ash hummed in thought, and then held out Bulbasaur's Poké Ball, returning him. "Return, Bulbasaur." He smiled upon the capsule, and placed it back on his belt. "You pulled a lot of weight for us. Enjoy your rest, for now."
"I'm surprised you recalled him," Lorelei said. "Bulbasaur had built up so much power."
"And believe me, it's tempting," Ash replied, smiling. "But in a battle like this, I have to keep my cool. An opponent like Jynx could probably turn that advantage on its head. So, I'm playing it safe, today!" He exchanged Bulbasaur for another, and threw his next with vigor.
"I choose you… Snorlax!"
"Snoooor….!" Snorlax's mighty voice rumbled. The sleepy titan stood tall, dwarfing Jynx. He lazily scratched his belly, gaining his bearings for the fight ahead. "Alright. I'm awake. Let's do this, so I can get back to bed."
"You can sleep as much as you want, big guy." Ash laughed. "As soon as we win this battle!"
"I have to commend your cool head," Lorelei praised. "But, we'll see how far it takes you."
"I guess we will!" Ash shouted, extending a hand. "Snorlax! Use Heavy Slam!"
Snorlax sprinted towards Jynx and catapulted into the air. A shimmering metallic aura covered his body, as he directed all of his weight towards Jynx. His massive weight would crush her without mercy, if his attack landed.
Lorelei's gaze narrowed. She, too, knew this could be a problem. "Use Trick Room."
"Jyyyynx…!" Jynx extended her hands outward, and her long, blonde locks floated eerily behind her. Her hands were outlined in a mysterious purple energy, which expanded across the battlefield. A translucent cube enveloped the space between Ash and Lorelei before vanishing.
Jynx then twirled swiftly out of Snorlax's path, moving unusually fast.
Snorlax crashed into the sand, kicking up debris every which way. Even in his landing, he was sluggish.
"Tch. And here I thought Snorlax's unusual speed would come in handy." Ash snapped his fingers in disappointment. "Instead, it's come back to bite us."
"A Snorlax fast on their feet is new to me," Lorelei replied. "But I certainly won't complain about the tides turning in my favor. Jynx, please use Screech."
The theatrical Pokémon opened her mouth to let out a horrible wail. Sonic waves beleaguered Snorlax, who recoiled in discomfort. The giant covered his ears, groaning in discontent.
"Snorlax's defense has been lowered sharply!" Dawn gasped.
"Now, use Psycho Cut."
Jynx took full advantage of the frost beneath her feet, twirling elegantly. In the midst of her dancing, she attacked with wide swipes of her hands, launching magenta crescents of energy in succession.
Three separate rounds of Psycho Cut slashed into Snorlax's hide, making the giant recoil.
"Jyyy-ynx~!" Jynx turned into a graceful pirouette, and launched two more Psycho Cuts in a backhanded swipe to cap off her movements.
"We're not just going to take those!" Ash threw his hands aside. "Snorlax! Use Darkest Lariat!"
Snorlax twisted his body around, and then started to spin. Under Trick Room's influence, his movements were sluggish, and looked overly deliberate. But all the same, his paws both ignited in a wicked black flame, creating a chain of Dark-type energy about him. He spun his way into Psycho Cut, and both projectiles were battered into nothingness.
Snorlax went on to crash into Jynx, backhanding her with one paw, and then the next. Jynx crashed into the frost-coated shore, suffering super-effective damage.
Lorelei clicked her tongue. "A powerful counterattack. Have one of our own. Avalanche!"
A vindictive and vengeful Jynx grimaced, raising her large hand before closing it in a tight grasp. Suddenly, a dense gray stormcloud materialized above Snorlax at her will. An avalanche rained down, pelting and battering Snorlax with large slabs of ice. She grinned, as Snorlax fell to it.
"What's that move?" Ash asked, as he pulled out his Pokédex.
"Avalanche: An Ice-type attack that inflicts double the damage if the user has been hurt by the target in the same turn."
"You shouldn't underestimate the bitter vengefulness of Ice-types," Lorelei lectured. "Particularly Jynx. You can attack her, but she'll remember every blow, and pay it back to you. She has a tendency to be dramatic, you know."
Jynx hoisted herself upright, laughing elegantly behind the back of her hand at Snorlax's fate. She had the countenance and appearance of an old aristocratic woman, plotting her vengeance.
"She can, can she? Well that's good to know," Ash said. "If you don't like us fighting back, then maybe we'll take a breather. Snorlax? Use Rest!"
"Snooor…" Snorlax emerged from the Avalanche, before falling back into a peaceful slumber.
"Ah, so you're borrowing our tactics of setting the pace, are you?" Lorelei's smile was cool and vindictive; not at all the warm gentleness she was known for outside of battle. Ash had discerned that much, by this point in the battle. "I'm afraid that won't work, though. Jynx, borrow that extra stamina with your Drain Punch."
Jynx skated her way over towards the sleeping Snorlax, winding up a fist that she coated in a fiery orange glow. She smashed it into Snorlax's side, making the Normal-type shift and grumble. The light on her fist seeped into Snorlax, before returning to Jynx, herself.
"That's a nasty counterattack," Dawn thought aloud from above. "No matter how much Snorlax heals, Jynx is going to be able to siphon it for herself; it makes Rest totally counter intuitive!"
"Or, so she thinks." Empoleon sneered, cupping his chin with one of his wings; the other wing cradling the first. Sparkles danced in his eyes, accentuating his conspiratorial confidence.
"...Ab." Pocus eyed Empoleon with incredulity, and turned back to the action.
"Use Sleep Talk!"
A glimmer shone in the sleeping Snorlax's eyes. Without stirring from his slumber, the Normal-type sluggishly rolled back onto his feet, and shifted his massive weight forward. He lunged at Jynx, igniting with a flowing glow of silver. Snorlax used Heavy Slam!
"Jynx! Dodge it!"
Jynx glided across the frosted field, narrowly avoiding Snorlax colliding into the spot she'd just occupied.
"Use Drain Punch!"
"Jynx~!" Jynx twirled towards Snorlax, ready to siphon his strength again . . . But, in the middle of her charge, Trick Room flickered at the field's bounds. Suddenly, she found herself moving far more sluggishly.
"Trick Room… Its time is up!" Ash's eyes widened. "Snorlax! Use Sleep Talk!"
Snorlax rolled back on his feet, making the shore quake under his weight. Jynx was in the middle of swinging at him; unprepared for what came next. He sleepily spun around, brutally backhanding the Ice-type with a fist laced with Dark-type energy.
Jynx landed face first in the sand.
Ash snapped his fingers, tutting in disappointment. "So, he went for Darkest Lariat, after all…"
Lorelei raised a brow at Ash's response. "If that was unlucky, what could he be hoping for…?" As she assessed Jynx, though, it seemed like a moot point; her Pokémon was struggling to pick herself up. "In any case, it seems this battle is nearing its end. You've done quite a lot of damage to Jynx in a short time, Ash. Your Snorlax is quite the powerhouse."
With a bit of good timing, Snorlax yawned, sitting upright. He'd recovered his health.
"With that said, I think it's time we put him away. Jynx, use Perish Song!"
Jynx channeled her wrath through a haunting melody; a swan song for her tenure on this battlefield. Eerie, malicious notes echoed across the field, assaulting Snorlax's ear drums.
"Shoot. Don't listen to it, Peeks!" Ash reached over his head, covering his partner's ears.
"Return, Empoleon!" At a distance, Dawn recalled her starter, and then placed her hands over Abra's ears, just as Ash did Peeks.
Pocus looked up at Dawn, looking somewhat surprised, despite his ever-closed eyes. "Ab…?"
Dawn grinned. "Well, I can't just let you get knocked out! You're our chauffeur!"
"...Ab-ra."
"Thanks, Ash." Peeks exhaled, when he found himself devoid of any heart-shuddering tunes weighing him down. Ash released him, and he nuzzled into his trainer's cap affectionately.
"...But, we have to act, and fast. The clock is ticking."
"You're right," Ash agreed. He reached for his belt, and extended a Poké Ball. "Snorlax…!"
"Use Mean Look!"
Jynx's long blonde locks fanned out around and above her in an intimidating fashion. She casted a foreboding glare and extended her open palms, releasing a black pulse of energy towards Snorlax to lock him into the fight.
"...Use Heavy Slam!"
Snorlax suffered the chilling lock of Mean Look, but one could hardly tell the difference, as he lunged at Jynx, surrounding his body in a metallic glow.
Lorelei gasped, as Jynx only narrowly dodged him crashing into the shore where she'd stood.
"Oooh, that was so close!" Dawn huffed in frustration. "That feint worked on Jimmy, once, too…"
Ash grimaced. "We almost had 'em."
"Playing mind games again, are we?" Lorelei clicked her tongue. "You've come far, Ash Ketchum. Let's make sure that you don't have the opportunity to do so, again. Jynx, use Lovely Kiss!"
Jynx winked and blew a kiss, sending a pink projectile that looked quite like a flashing pair of lips towards Snorlax. It collided with him, filling his face out with a scarlet blush. Snorlax stumbled around clumsily before falling on his back, fast asleep.
"And, while we're running out the clock… Jynx, please use Trick Room."
"It's do or die," Ash muttered through grit teeth. "Use Sleep Talk!"
A mysterious pink glow surrounded Jynx, and started to expand across the field.
The manipulation of the terrain didn't reach Snorlax quickly enough to hinder him, however; a fiery golden glow erupted from his body, burning twice as passionately as that of Heavy Slam. The Normal-type lunged to his feet in his sleep, and threw himself at Jynx.
The Humanshape Pokémon could only watch, wide-eyed, as Snorlax eclipsed the sun. The sleeping Pokémon wound up a fist, and struck with an earth breaking haymaker.
Just as Trick Room captured the field, Jynx shot across the field and past Lorelei, skipping off of the chilled waters before landing atop a gathering of slush near the shore; now unconscious.
An eerie mauve glow shattered around Snorlax; Mean Look was broken.
"Now!" Ash shouted, extending his Poké Ball. "Return!"
The sleeping giant disappeared into his Poké Ball. There were no signs of Perish Song's effects. The Poké Ball wobbled gently in his palm, and Ash breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
"Phew! We made it, just in time…"
"Yes!" Dawn cheered, initiating a double high five with Empoleon. "They made it!"
"And what a close call! Glory to the sleeping giant!" Empoleon cooed.
"A heart-stopping close call, but you squeezed by, all the same." Lorelei smiled, masking her disappointment. "I was wondering why Darkest Lariat disappointed you as luck of the draw, Ash. But now I see what you had up your sleeve."
"Facade's great, isn't it?" Ash smiled, brushing his index finger over the bridge of his nose. He had no right to be cocky right now, and he knew it, but it was hard not to feel a bit of a spring in his step, after he'd pulled through with so little wiggle room. "It's usually used on Pokémon who are poisoned or burned, but sleep still counts as a status condition! For Snorlax, it's fair game."
"It's luck-based, but having that on a sleeping Normal-type Pokémon is a savvy play… Not to mention, his other moves were quite devastating for Jynx. I see that you planned around my team well. Has my playtime that I've spent freezing your options finally run out?"
"Who knows?" Ash smirked, enjoying the little bit of banter they were having as a reprieve between rounds. He fiddled with the brim of his cap. "Depends on what you throw at us next. We're all warmed up, so if you want it back, you better have a deep freeze waiting for us."
Lorelei laughed behind her hand. "I like your attitude. You're a lot less easy to rattle than you were, when you were just a boy. Of course…" Her warm demeanor vanished as quickly as it'd appeared. Her voice dropped to a harsh whisper, and her eyes were piercing, like the winter she wielded in the palm of her hand. "It'll be our mercy, when this one freezes you solid."
A white flash was cast, heralding freezing winds. The long neck of a sea creature craned, glimmering blue eyes looking down upon her challenger. A dark silhouette stood out in a translucent blanket of frost.
Lorelei's Lapras towered over Ash, settled on Seafoam's shore.
"So, Lapras is your fifth…" Ash raised a hand, guarding himself from the bitter winds.
Peeks gripped the back of Ash's head, squinting at their next foe. His tiny heart pounded, responding to his sharp battle instincts. He felt a different atmosphere than the one from their previous foes, entirely. "This one feels like a step up from her others. Be careful, Ash."
"Yeah, I know. Thanks, Buddy." Ash rolled a fifth Poké Ball in the palm of his hand. "It's fine. We've got our own ace in the hole, and we'll melt your freeze in the blink of an eye."
Ash wound up with his left hand, as Peeks favored his right shoulder, holding on tight. He pitched his next with a grunt of effort, sending it spinning across the frosty shores.
Charizard popped out of the capsule, beating his wings. Blistering air met a cold front, dispersing the frost and mist in the blink of an eye, just as Ash promised. The Flame hovered in front of his large foe, meeting her with his own fierce aquamarine gaze. "Groarh!"
"Charizard's up!" Dawn clapped her hands together excitedly. "There's nothing this guy can't do!"
"Your Flamethrower burns as fiercely as the sun itself!" Empoleon cheered, slapping a wing against his chest. "Only such power could humble a noble of the north, such as I! There's no chance you'll falter to an inferior freeze!"
Pocus stared at Empoleon blankly. A bead of sweat rolled down his head in exasperation.
"I see that you've brought your Charizard, again." Lorelei blinked, maintaining her cool air. "I certainly hope that he's gained control of his temperament, since our last meeting. I'd hate to see all of that raw power go to waste."
"Like hell." Charizard huffed, tapping a claw against his head. "I've wisened up, over the years. If you think you're getting a repeat, you're in for a rude awakening."
"It's like Charizard said," Ash relayed. "We were a couple of dumb kids, when we first met you. But Charizard's grown up, and so have I! Our hearts are completely in sync, just like you said!"
Lorelei showed an icy hint of a smile. "I do hope so, but talk is cheap, Ash."
"Who needs words, when we've got actions?" Ash extended a hand. "Charizard! Flamethrower!"
Charizard tossed his head, firing spitting a Flamethrower towards Lapras.
"Use Rain Dance," Lorelei replied.
Lapras sang a foreboding, but beautiful melody towards the early autumn skies. She beckoned dark storm clouds to gather over the Seafoam shores, summoning a torrential downpour.
Flamethrower blasted Lapras head-on, pushing the Transport Pokémon back towards the shore. Even as the embers snapped at her hide, though, they lost potency under the rainfall.
Lapras shook her head out, braving the last of the flames, tilting her chin up at Charizard.
Charizard snorted angrily. He was not fond of him or his flames being disrespected.
Ash tutted in disappointment. "Under Trick Room, their attacks'll go first…"
"Agh! The rain!" Dawn reached up to cover her head from the downpour, before she found herself suddenly standing inside the mouth of the cavern she'd entered through. Ash had his back to her, absorbed in the heat of battle. After a moment of gaining her bearings, she understood that Pocus had Teleported them, once more.
"Phew… Thanks, Pocus!" Dawn addressed the Abra, who was currently drying himself off with her scarf.
"Ab-ra," he dismissed. It was only sensible to protect all three of them from the downpour.
Not that Empoleon had minded; his eyes were fixed to the action. "Poleon," he muttered.
"What's that, Empoleon?" Dawn asked, walking up beside him resting her hand on his shoulder to scout the battle. Lapras cried out mightily, goading Charizard to double down on his assault.
"I see the problem. Rain Dance is the last weather condition Charizard would want to be under."
"Lapras! Use Hydro Pump!'
Lapras retaliated with a merciless torrent that smashed into Charizard head-on, sending the Flame Pokémon flying back towards his trainer.
Charizard roared, beating his wings to disperse the current and gain altitude. His tough demeanor didn't hold, as he doubled over, hacking for breath. Hydro Pump had knocked the wind out of him. "Groarh…!"
"You should know that an Ice-type specialist like myself would prepare for Fire-types," Lorelei lectured. "Especially with the overlap with Water-types on my team; it's only natural."
Ash tutted in frustration. "Who said I'm surprised? It's just one more thing to overcome!"
"It doesn't have to be," Peeks replied. "Bulbasaur knows Sunny Day. You could send him out!"
"Nah, there's no point," Ash replied. "As soon as I do, she'll just use Rain Dance again. There's nowhere for us to go but forward!" To make his point, he gestured at Lapras. "Dragon Rush!"
Charizard's mighty wings spread, and coated themselves in a mighty, overpowering glow. The silhouette of a wyvern wrapped around him, flickering with a blinding coat of cyan. He channeled his ferocity into a straightforward charge, clotheslining Lapras.
The Transport Pokémon slid back across the frosty shore, coughing and recoiling in pain.
"So, not all of your moves will be hindered by Rain Dance. Diversifying them is a mature choice," Lorelei remarked. "Lapras! Hydro Pump!"
But, Lapras didn't respond. She was nursing a bruise on her throat acquired from Dragon Rush.
"She flinched!" Ash shouted. "Now's our chance! Use Shadow Claw, Charizard!"
Charizard coasted towards Lapras, moving unusually slow, thanks to Trick Room's influence. But with his opponent reeling from his last attack, he was offered the breadth to extend his claws, coating them in malicious, necrotic energy; spectral, razor-sharp claws acted as extensions of his organic ones.
He roared, dipping low to slash up the length of Lapras's belly leading up to her throat. A trail of ghoulish light was carved into the air. Lapras cried, launched above the shore by the follow-through.
Lorelei grimaced. "A critical hit."
"And there's more coming to you!" Ash punched the air. "Charizard! Seismic Toss!"
Charizard flew up to Lapras, grabbing her in a tight chokehold. With a roar of effort, he somersaulted, roughly tossing Lapras into the sea past the shore.
A massive splash sent chilling sea water and slush across the shore. Shortly afterwards, Lapras surfaced, panting heavily. She sported several bruises and slashes from the previous assault.
"Nice combination!" Dawn cheered, clapping her hands together. "Even under Trick Room, Ash is keeping that momentum!"
"Pol! Pol! Empol!" Empoleon widely gestured with his wing, cheering Charizard on.
"Lapras took a lot of damage… now if they can just keep that up…!"
"Your Charizard is quite powerful," Lorelei praised. "Lapras are known for their incredible stamina. To leave her winded is no small feat."
"That's Charizard for you!" Ash agreed, beaming with pride. "There's no one he can't overpower!"
"Indeed… We'll have to mind ourselves to keep our tanks full, then." Before Ash could decipher Lorelei's statement, she decided to show him firsthand. "Lapras, please use Life Dew."
Lapras responded quickly, and a large bead of crystalline water spawned over the Transport Pokémon's head, generating a teal, lively glow. It fell upon Lapras, and she basked in it. The glow encompassed her body, and her wounds started to heal. She shook off the damage, craning her neck.
Charizard snorted in frustration.
"Lapras looks a lot better," Ash noted, grimacing at the turn of events. "I've never heard of Life Dew, before."
"It's not a move you'll find many signs of in Kanto," Lorelei explained. "It's one we acquired while training abroad. Life Dew restores a bit of health for the user, and any of its allies, if there are any. But under Rain Dance…"
"...It's twice as powerful," Ash finished bitterly.
"...Ah? It seems I used it just in time, too." Lorelei looked up at the sky, where the clouds were starting to disperse. Rain Dance had run out.
Subsequently, Trick Room flickered again before shattering.
"It looks like Trick Room's out of the way, at least," Peeks noted from atop Ash's shoulder. "They won't be getting the speed advantage, again. We're in a better position to overpower them!"
"You're right," Ash nodded. "It's time for an all-out offensive!" He waved a hand. "Dragon Rush!"
Charizard ignited himself in draconic power again, charging towards Lapras.
"Such a brutish, straightforward attack," Lorelei hummed. "Lapras, please use Psychic."
Lapras's eyes flashed with psychokinetic power. A pulse expanded outwards, and froze Chraizard in mid-air, seizing him in its grasp. The draconic aura about him shattered.
"Into the sea."
Lapras tossed her head, and yanked Charizard beneath the water's slushy surface.
"Charizard!" Dawn gasped. "Ash, is he going to be okay, underwater? I know that Charizard depend on their flame for their health…"
"He's fine," Ash answered, nodding back to her with a smile. "It's true that putting out a Charizard's flame puts them in vital danger. But as long as they're good and healthy, no ordinary soak is putting that flame out. Definitely not with my Charizard."
Dawn's eased expression put Ash at ease, as well. He smiled at her and then turned his attention back to the action, pointing towards Lapras. "In fact, we're not the ones in hot water, here. Charizard, use Flamethrower from below!"
Beneath the sea's surface, Charizard beat his wings slowly, eyeing the Transport Pokémon from below. This was far from his favorite environment, but as long as he was here, he was going to make it miserable for both of them. He opened his maw, spitting hot flames.
Fired from underwater, the blaze itself was definitely diluted. Rather than suffering a blast head-on, Lapras winced and whined, as the water she was coasting on became unbearably hot.
"Making our very own waters hostile to us? You seem intent on disrupting our rhythm, Ash." Lorelei clicked her tongue. "Lapras, please use Surf."
Lapras cried mightily, and a powerful tide lifted her above the surface before crashing down. The current rolled into the water below, reverberating under the surface.
Charizard's Flamethrower was neutralized, and he was battered by a rolling current.
He shook his head, trying to ward off the breath nearly being knocked out of him.
"Now, freeze the surface," Lorelei commanded. "Ice Beam."
Lapras swept her head in a counterclockwise arc, spraying the sea's surface with ice.
Charizard felt an uncomfortable chill, and watched as a solid sheet provided a barrier to his exit.
"Charizard!" Dawn gasped, cupping her hands over her mouth. "I know he's strong, but he can't just stay down there."
"Don't worry," Ash assured. "He's not going to."
"Naturally," Lorelei added. "I would never risk putting a Pokémon's life in peril. Ash's Charizard is more than strong enough to melt our ice. But, that just means we have to flow like the water."
Ash's eyes narrowed. "I can see where this is headed." He cleared his mind, letting his muscles lax. With a moment's concentration, he could feel Charizard's Aura with ease. ~Charizard. I'm gonna need you to blast your way out of there. Use Dragon Pulse!~
~Consider it done!~ Charizard's gruff voice answered him.
"I believe I'd like to control the flow of this battle again. Lapras, use Rain Dance."
Lapras's howl summoned storm clouds again, and heavy rainfall reigned, once more.
Prismatic light broke through the sheet of ice, sending slabs of ice flying, pelting Lapras.
The Flame Pokémon burst through the ice, exerting the ambient heat of his tail's inferno. An orange glow encompassed his body, coating it in hissing steam, as rain and sea water evaporated off of his scales. He did not favor being submerged.
"Good work," Lorelei's eyes narrowed, her lips curving into a little, predatory smirk. "Lapras, use Thunder."
Ash's eyes widened. "Oh, no!"
Lapras let out an echoing cry towards the sky. Flashes of gold danced through dark storm clouds. Crackling, before a pillar of light struck.
Charizard roared in agony. Consumed in crippling electricity, he fell towards the slushy waters.
Lorelei extended a hand towards the falling pokemon. "Hydro Pump."
Ash punched forward. "Dragon Pulse!"
Violet energy crashed into an overwhelming blast of water, the two elemental bursts tearing into each other before exploding violently between the two pokemon.
"It made it!" Ash's eyes followed the dissipating, glimmering mist. "Without Trick Room, we're in a different position, now. But with that Thunder, we can't take any chances."
"We can't leave any openings for them. Charizard doesn't have anywhere to find shelter," Peeks said to Ash. "We have to stay on the offensive!"
"You're right," Ash nodded. "Charizard! Fire Spin!"
Charizard slung his tail around, whipping up a fire that wrapped around Lapres, bursting into a blazing twister.
"Trying to trap us?" Lorelei asked. "A valiant effort, but under heavy rainfall, it can only do so much to heat the freezing waters of Seafoam."
"Yeah, I figured. That's why we have other plans in mind!" Ash replied, making a grand gesture of tossing his hand in the air. "Add in a Dragon Pulse, Charizard!"
A violent, shimmering aura blasted the Fire Spin. The rotating flames ignited like an oily incendiary, exploding to double their previous size. The glimmering spiral of blue and violet tore at the icy waters, transforming the seaside field into a prism of its destructive force.
"Another combination move…" Lorelei was forced to remove her glasses, thanks to the attack's blinding glare reflecting off the lenses. Her brows furrowed. "Lapras, escape with Surf!"
The spinning, shimmering force of Dragon Spin broke, demolished by the rising tide of Surf. Lapras headed the wave, launching herself high above the crest.
"That Surf…!" Ash gasped, stepping back to gauge the scope of Lapras's tidal wave. Charizard was entirely within its shadow.
"No way!" Dawn clutched onto Empoleon. "I've never seen a Surf like that before!"
"Now, use Body Slam."
The titanic weight of the Transport Pokémon crashed down upon Charizard. He flapped his wings to no avail, gasping for breath after it'd been knocked from his lungs.
The violent crash of a heavyweight against the surface sounded. Charizard was submerged, tumbling toward the depths.
"You've got to be kidding!" Ash hissed through his teeth. "Even Dragon Spin… everything we throw at them, and they keep coming back for more!"
"Pikapi."
Ash stopped, and took a deep breath, hedging his partner's implicit efforts to calm him. "Right. The same is true for Charizard."
"Gahr!" Charizard coughed, sputtering sea water the moment his head broke the surface. An orange wing ripped into open air, escaping the chilly depths. The numbing chill of the water trickled through his entire body, slowing down the flap of his wings.
"Charizard looks to be in dire straits," Lorelei observed.
"He's just fine!" Ash countered.
"Lapras." Lorelei re-adjusted the frame of her glasses. "Ice Beam."
The Transport Pokémon tossed her head, firing a freezing blast from her mouth.
Charizard lashed his tail out of the water, protecting his vital flame. With only one foot submerged, he yanked it away.
Or, at least, he'd tried. It'd gone entirely numb, unmoving. In fact, his entire lower body had been frozen. Ice had captured the water around him, rising and consuming Charizard's body.
He roared, furious, and spat flames on the rising chill. The blocky ice culminated faster than it could melt, and it captured Charizard whole. In a glacier on the surface, Charizard had been frozen solid.
"Charizard!" Dawn gasped. "He's frozen solid!"
"Tch… Of all the luck we could have." Ash narrowed his eyes, adjusting the brim of his cap.
"Now would be the time to surrender his place in the battle," Lorelei offered. "It doesn't feel in good taste to attack a Pokémon who's already frozen solid. Of course, if you force my hand…"
"...Nah." Ash's eyes were hidden beneath the shadow cast by his cap. Betraying that, though, was a large toothy grin. "As a matter of fact, we're just getting started!"
Peeks's ears stood. A smirk played on his little lips, as a lively orange reflected in his eyes. "Pi."
Within Ice Beam's prism, a bright, lively flame spread. Strong lines of red and orange ran through the surface, melting its frozen foundations. Sharp, angular structures began to melt and crack. Within, Charizard's limbs trembled.
Ash grinned. His coat billowed in the blistering wind. "Here he comes."
"Groaaaaarh!" Staggering mounds of ice were blasted into many, many fragments, quickly melting and evaporating under intense heat. Charizard cast a glare at Lapras, flexing his limbs to their full capacity. The proud flame crowning his tail eclipsed him. A mighty inferno.
"That's Blaze!" Dawn exclaimed. "Charizard's being pushed towards his limits, but it's put his power into overdrive! Ash and Charizard have a window of opportunity, now, but it's narrow!"
"What a thrill," Lorelei mused. The gentle flow of her voice took on a thick intrigue. An intensity Ash'd not once heard from her. "I wasn't sure if you'd come this close, Ash. Dare you push my expectations further?"
"We'll do that and more," Ash replied. "We're winning this!"
"I wonder…" The Elite extended a hand. "Hydro Pump!"
"Dodge that, and close in!" Ash responded. "Stay close to the surface!"
Flapping his wings, Charizard charged headfirst into the path of the massive torrent. Spinning horizontally, he circled the assault on a path towards Lapras.
"Use Thunder."
Ash grinned. The gleam in his eyes spoke of a blink-or-miss-it chance that he'd just discovered. "Dragon Pulse, below Lapras!"
Lapras howled. Golden flashes ignited in the black clouds hanging above.
A burst of violet cut through the slushy tide. Carving a tunnel, it burst through the rising wave carrying Lapras. The Pokémon was disheveled, tossed skyward by the uneven waters.
Charizard laid low, and glided through the quickly collapsing underwater tunnel. For him, it was a haven. For, Lapras was the one in Thunder's path.
A golden flash ignited the Pokémon, sending wrathful electricity through her body.
"Yes!" Dawn clapped her hands together. "With Rain Dance active, Thunder's always going to hit a prominent target. But Charizard carved himself a shelter with Dragon Pulse! Ash must've thought of that, on the spot!"
"Maybe." Ash confirmed playfully, brushing his thumb over the bridge of his nose. He kept his back to Dawn to pridefully hide the giddy smile he wore.
"An ingenious move," Lorelei praised, tutting at her Pokémon's condition. Lapras was covered in scorch marks and bruises. Even her stamina wasn't holding.. "Lapras, use Body Slam!"
The huge sea creature postured herself, throwing her massive weight at Charizard from above.
"Seismic Toss!" Ash grinned, punching a fist in the air. "Carry her high!"
Charizard escaped the collapsing tunnel, throwing his momentum at the falling Lapras. A sudden, crushing mass smashed into him. He grappled with the weight, quickly losing altitude.
But, Charizard was stubborn. Strong-willed. Furious beats of his wings dispersed hissing waves across the shore. With great effort, he carried on, climbing towards the sky.
"Lapras…" Lorelei pursed her lips, turning her gaze on Ash. "Well, I'll be."
The trainer met her with a smile, brushing his thumb over his nose. "You can't use Thunder on Charizard while he's hanging onto Lapras. This is it, Lorelei! We're finishing this in one shot! No Life Dew is going to save you this time, rain or no rain!"
Lapras thrashed and squirmed, flailing to free herself from Charizard's hold. His sturdy arms held. She was forced to watch as they climbed into the thick dark vapor of the rain clouds.
She had to squint, filtering the sunlight breaking through the clouds.
"Now!" Ash shouted into the heavens, opening his raised fist. "Throw her up!"
"Rah!" Upending the bottom-heavy Pokémon, Charizard flipped backwards, tossing Lapras into the sun's filtering rays. The Transport Pokémon hung in the scenic skyscape, helpless.
"This is it!" Ash grinned from down below, gearing back a closed fist.
The Flame Pokémon corrected himself, withdrawing his own fist. Bright, overpowering blazes leaked from between his claws. He reared his body back.
"Charizard!"
Ash punched towards the ground, with one commanding scream.
"BLAST BURN!"
"ROAGH!"
A blazing fist smashed into Lapras' belly.
For all spectators below, the clouds ignited with a blinding, overpowering light. Blazes of red and gold consumed the skyscape, blasting the icy island below with blistering heat.
Any signs of Rain Dance were obliterated.
Dawn gasped, ghosting her hands over her mouth, as she inched out of the cave to get a proper look at the golden glistening skies. "Charizard just completely blew the storm away!"
It was a gorgeous sight, if one cared to appreciate it.
Lorelei guarded her vision with a hand, hiding from the all-consuming glare, until the heat died out. She watched a trail of black smoke plummet from the sky. She extended a Poké Ball, recalling the dropping Lapras.
There was no question about her condition.
Charizard, meanwhile, coasted lazily on tired wings. The mighty Blaze about his tail still burned, but he landed with a thud by Ash's side, exhausted. He panted heavily; his body demanding oxygen after the taxing Ultimate Move.
Ash smiled and raised a fist. Charizard understood, and bumped his own against it.
"To think you had Blast Burn waiting in reserve, as well…" Lorelei said, pocketing her ace's Poké Ball. "I guess, by now, I shouldn't be surprised. Taking down my ace is quite the feat."
"Lapras is your ace…?" Ash frowned, raising a brow. "I don't understand. That was your…" He counted on his hands. "...fifth Pokémon, right? There's still one more to go!"
"That's right, Ash. And normally, she would be my last in a battle. There was one other Pokémon who I befriended abroad who would have come first, in an ordinary situation… But, extraordinary challengers demand extraordinary measures."
Ash scrutinized the foreboding nature of Lorelei's words. Her eyes didn't betray them; they narrowed in a conspiratorial confidence; it almost looked like eagerness, even, which felt very out of place on Lorelei of all people. "'Extraordinary measures,' huh? And what's that mean?"
"You know, I lectured you about flowing like the water, and taking in your surroundings," Lorelei replied, "but even you and your Pokémon have failed to recognize that we're not alone."
The Ice-type Elite smiled coolly, and turned her gaze upward.
Ash followed it, turning to face the caverns behind him. He gasped.
Peeks clung tightly to his best friend's shoulder. "How did we…!?"
"Ash…?" Dawn asked, jogging over to jostle her boyfriend's shoulder. "Ash, what is it?!"
"...Articuno."
"What!?" Dawn turned too, and witnessed the same sight. Atop the rocky, icy heights of the Seafoam Caverns, a lone, elegant silhouette stood. Beautiful, deep blue crystalline feathers coated a gigantic winged creature. Tail feathers billowed like ribbons in the wind, scattering diamond dust. An icy crest laid atop their head, like a crown. Ruby eyes looked down upon their audience, shimmering ominously.
"GYAOO!"
Articuno spread their mighty wings, and took off from their perch, soaring down to glide across the cavern heights, speeding past Ash, Peeks, Dawn, and Charizard, kicking up a freezing wind.
Crystalline ice and dense water vapor washed over all present as Articuno passed them, circling around to land before Lorelei, fanning their beautiful wings. They made eye contact with Charizard with a seeming familiarity.
Charizard snorted, beating his wings in a defiant display. "So. It's you again, huh?"
"It's as I said: Extraordinary measures," Lorelei resumed. "Your final opponent, Ash, is Articuno."
Chapter 6: Lorelei III - Sheer Cold
Chapter Text
Ash had four Pokémon left, to Lorelei's one. Despite that overwhelming advantage, though, his full attention was drawn to the identity of her final ally: The legendary Pokémon, Articuno.
Bitter winds swept up with every leisurely beat of Articuno's wings. They only came short of Ash and company by the grace of Charizard's Blaze; a roaring, gigantic flame crackled at the end of his tail. Charizard whipped it about, scattering embers to the air to sizzle in a clash of hot and cold.
"So, it's you again, huh?" Charizard asked through gnashed teeth. His chest still rose and fell as he regained his stamina, staving off the damage he'd taken, and the exhaustion from Blast Burn. "Never thought I'd see the day."
"Them, again…?" Ash echoed, raising the brim of his cap to observe Charizard. His stalwart ally was staring down Articuno with a burning familiarity. "You're saying you recognize Articuno?"
Charizard huffed, looking back at Ash. "You should, too. We fought them together."
"Together…" Ash recycled the notion in his mind, and his eyes widened. "You mean this is the Articuno that Noland battled us with!?"
"Wait, you've battled this Articuno before, Ash?" Dawn asked. "You never told me about that!"
"It was before we met," Ash explained. "When we faced Kanto's Battle Frontier. Noland headed the Battle Factory, where he battles with all sorts of Pokémon. Articuno wasn't his, but they were good friends. So I asked for them to be our opponent." His lips pulled into a smirk. "I didn't think we'd be facing them again."
"It was Articuno's idea," Lorelei explained, smiling. "Word around the Orange Archipelago is that your battle with Moltres stirred a second wind in the rivalry between themselves, Zapdos, and Articuno…" She looked up to her partner with the back of her hand hiding a playful smile. "Or, if I know anything about your flock, should I say a hundredth wind?"
Articuno scoffed at the barb towards the infamy surrounding their scuffles with their peers. They trilled in return, directing their speech towards Ash, Peeks, and Charizard.
"So, what Moltres said to me was true," Peeks concluded, adopting a stern expression. "Our battle humbled him, and led to all three of them training. I didn't know you were friendly with Lorelei, though, too." His ears twitched. "Come to think of it, I didn't recognize that you were the same Articuno from our encounter in the Orange Islands, either."
"Gwaooooh," Articuno said in return.
Ash looked to Peeks for a translation.
"They're less restricted to their islands these days, after they settled their squabbles with that rich old creep. I forget what his name was," Peeks relayed. "Nearly destroying the world was a wake-up call. So, Articuno likes to drift. Learning to trust humans, thanks to you, was a bonus."
"That… was me?" Ash asked, gesturing to himself, dumbfounded. "I thought Noland did that."
"You softened Articuno's heart, for the likes of him and myself," Lorelei explained. "My home is in the Orange Islands, so we've come across one another a couple of times. Some time after your battle with Blaine, Articuno sought me out. It seems that even legendary Pokémon talk, and understand the rudimentary basics of the Pokémon League." She reached out to gently brush a hand along Articuno's feathers; cool to the touch. "Meaning that, for one, they had faith that you would enter the Champion's League, at your current trajectory. Two, that they wanted a rematch."
"Can you believe that, Ash…!?" Dawn stepped forward to place a hand on her boyfriend's shoulder. "You helped a legendary Pokémon open up to others, and they trained just to fight you! That's incredible!" Her eyes shone with wonder and awe of his deeds.
"...Yeah. The battle thing's amazing. I'm honored, Articuno," Ash acknowledged with a chuckle, playing with the brim of his cap. The reality of that prestige was just setting in. But, his mind wandered away from the prospects of battle. Something else was nagging at him.
"...Ash?" Dawn asked, gently nudging him. He had a far-off look in his eyes.
His experiences with Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres played over in his mind's eye. Their suffering and fury at the hands of that Collector's cruelty. Their reunion — little did they know — with Articuno at the Battle Frontier. His and Peeks's battle with Moltres, in Mt. Silver.
The harrowing disappointment with which Zapdos looked down upon him, before disappearing into the sky. "...So, that's how it was." He held a hand over his heart. "Zapdos saw me that day. At the Power Plant. After everything they'd heard, I wasn't deserving of a legendary Pokémon's trust."
"Ash…" Dawn whispered, brows dipping in worry.
"Pikapi…" Peeks looked upon his trainer with the same concern. Ash had only vaguely alluded to his meeting with Zapdos, when discussing that day. It was still a painful subject; just what had he missed, in his own absence?
Charizard looked back at Ash, grunting. Aquamarine eyes studied his trainer's expression and musings. He didn't particularly like when Ash got quietly introspective. It was usually a bad sign.
Ash shook his head to dispel his loved ones' concerns. "For you and Noland to befriend Articuno, though, and link your hearts as one…" He smiled, despite his recent grief. There was a new light in his eyes. "Everything you told me; it means you understand them totally, right?"
Lorelei smiled and nodded. "It's a Pokémon Master's intuition. When you acquaint yourself with their way of life, and the ebb and flow of their hearts, you find that you're not so different. Even legendary Pokémon are… well, 'human' would be the wrong word here, wouldn't it?"
"Gwaaaah," Articuno trilled, turning back to face Ash and company, extending their wings.
"They're not humans, but they're not mindless beasts, either. Pokémon are a third thing entirely, beyond the average trainer's understanding." Lorelei explained. "To bridge that gap and discard any preconceptions… That's the mark of a truly skilled trainer. Or, a Pokémon Master, if you will. I can speak with Articuno just as I would with anyone about the weather, or their careers."
"A Pokémon Master… I understand." Ash smiled, tightening a hand into a fist. "My goal is to be the world's greatest Pokémon Master. To understand any Pokémon! If I'm going to achieve that dream, then first, I have to overcome you, Lorelei! And you too, Articuno!" He pointed towards them both; his voice resolute. "I'll show you that my heart and my Pokémon's can become one, too!"
"Groooarh…!" Charizard breathed a high pillar of flames into the sky, smashing his tail against the sandy shore. He didn't speak any particular word, Ash realized; only a hearty battle cry.
Sometimes, actions spoke louder than words.
"And Charizard wants to have a go at you again," Ash relayed with a smile. "You know you're not gonna make it all the way through on this one, big guy. You're already pretty spent."
Charizard responded in the only way one could expect him to: A Flamethrower in Ash's face.
"Ash!" Dawn gasped, her hands cupping her face. "Maybe that wasn't what he wanted to hear!"
Lorelei blinked, lips pulling up in amusement. "My, oh my…!"
The flames subsided, and Ash was covered in, well, ash. He coughed, and brushed a thick layer of soot off his face. "Nope! There's no need to worry. Charizard knows the truth as well as I do." Ash grinned, taking a combative stance with one foot in front of the other, fist raised high.
"That was his way of saying 'Like hell if I'm not going to go down swinging, anyway!'"
Charizard flapped his wings and hovered a few steps ahead of Ash, before slamming back down onto the shore, stomping one foot in front of the other. He swept his tail around in front of him, surrounding himself in a whiplash of flames. He snarled combatively; steam leaking from his jowls. He curled his sharp claws in anticipation of combat, roaring at Articuno.
Articuno heeded Charizard's challenge, answering with a shrill, ear-ringing cry. A cold, blistering wind blasted Ash and Charizard; even going on to rattle Dawn and force her to guard herself from the cold front. Empoleon stepped in front of his trainer, enduring nature's wrath with stoicism.
"Thank you, Empoleon," Dawn whispered.
Pocus hid behind Empoleon as well, peering from behind him with a touch of curiosity.
"It looks like Articuno and Charizard are raring for their rematch…" Dawn thought aloud.
"Then, why deny them any longer?" Ash grinned. He gestured a hand outward. "Charge in!"
Charizard answered with a battle cry, and took several steps forward before lunging into straightforward flight.
Lorelei's eyes narrowed. "Sheer Cold."
Articuno answered with a cry that could shake the heavens. Sharp protrusions of ice stabbed out of the earth , directly in Charizard's path. Unforgiving ice erupted directly underneath him.
Ash grit his teeth; he didn't expect a killer move right out of the gate. "Blast Burn!"
Charizard drew back a fist; white-hot flames leaked out of the gaps between his fingers and claws, obscuring his entire form in blinding orange light; his winged form was cast in a striking silhouette that swung down towards the emerging ice.
The entire field trembled. Unforgiving ice crept across the entirety of the terrain, before plumes of white-hot fire erupted and vaporized them in an instant. A storm of cold and hot wind currents battered and whipped up the field, tossing pure white sand into the air before glassing it instantly.
Dawn yelped, clinging to Empoleon for safety. Pocus took action, Teleporting them atop the caverns, once more; this time at a safe distance from the raging conflict below them.
It took the girl a moment to process that she'd been removed from the danger. She stood up, balancing with her hand propped on Empoleon's shoulder. "Thanks again, Pocus. You're really reliable!" She grinned.
Pocus blushed, looking off and propping up Dawn's scarf to cover any signs of embarrassment.
"Still…" She stood upright, looking over the fray from a short distance. Hot embers snapped at the shores, and the ice that'd accrued from previous Sheer Colds had melted and spontaneously evaporated. She felt a chill, clocking how close she'd been to Charizard's wrath.
"The field looks so hot… To think that even Sheer Cold didn't stand a chance against it."
"The field," Lorelei hummed," operating on the same train of thought as Dawn. There were searing orange and red marks and gashes left in the sand, and across the cavern's outer ridges.
Articuno had taken to the air reflexively, hovering above the Elite, to avoid the scorch.
"I believe I underestimated your Charizard. With this residual heat, using another Sheer Cold immediately would be impossible."
Charizard huffed, standing in the blaze's epicenter. "You're not snuffing me out that easily."
"You left us no choice," Ash responded with a smirk. He wiped the sweat dripping from his brow. "I didn't expect you guys to try to one-hit us, right out the gate. Guess we're playing for keeps!"
"We should assume we are, going forward," Peeks cautioned. He hid behind Ash's head to stave off the uncomfortable heat. Embers had landed on Ash's jacket, making his shoulder uncomfortable. It was a testament to his trainer's focus that he hadn't noticed it.
"But of course," Lorelei hummed. "It's as I said. Extraordinary measures. Bearing that all in mind… Articuno, dear, let's even the playing field. Please use Haze."
"Haze…?" Ash narrowed his eyes. "But, Charizard hasn't used any stat-boosting moves!"
There was no time to reckon with the meaning behind Lorelei's change in tactics, nor was there anything Ash could do; Charizard was still recovering from Blast Burn. They accepted the reprieve in the action, as Articuno flooded the field in a thick, white Haze, shrouding Charizard.
Shortly afterwards, the vapor drifted away. Charizard stood tall, recharged after his use of Blast Burn. Something was amiss, however: the mighty flame on his tail was back to its usual size.
"What the…? Blaze is gone!" Ash exclaimed. The mighty ambient glow of Charizard's reserve strength had been extinguished; reducing him to his usual intensity. "Can Haze do that!?"
"I believe you know better than most," Ash," Lorelei lectured, "that there are many hidden and unorthodox applications for moves. Chaining oneself to the evidently possible is shackling your own potential. Why shouldn't Haze nullify an ability that raises a Pokémon's power, after all?"
Charizard irritably spat smoke. "No more Blaze, huh? Fine with me. Who needs it!"
"Charizard's right," Ash agreed. "We can fight, with or without it! Take to the skies, Charizard!"
"You as well, Articuno," Lorelei instructed.
Both winged Pokémon launched towards one another, coming within a mere breath's distance of one another before shooting into the sky. Charizard and Articuno orbited one another, occasionally instigating with the other by charging into the other's personal space.
Charizard snarled and bore his fangs at Articuno, diving close enough so that the legendary Pokémon would soar over him, avoiding the feint. He turned his eyes up to his opponent, who dove with a flying kick outstretched; not quite a move, but an attempt to bully him out of their dogfight.
Charizard didn't like that one bit. He spun around, smacking Articuno's torso with his tail.
Crystalline feathers were knocked loose and caught on the breeze, as Articuno squawked in irritation, backing off from the Flame Pokémon who'd shown the guts to call their bluff.
Indignant and dishonored, Articuno charged back in, opening both of their wings to their full span. They swung them across their chest at a hair's distance, forcing Charizard back with a cool gust that battered him. The Flame Pokémon squinted; his eyes irritated by the cold.
"Use Flamethrower!" Ash cried from below.
Charizard retaliated by spitting a flaming jet towards Articuno. His initial aim was spotty, due to the dust in his eyes, allowing Articuno to veer to the right of it. But he persisted, turning his head to continue bombarding Articuno with raging fire; a steady stream followed their escape.
"Ice Beam!" Lorelei ordered.
Articuno returned fire with a freezing, multi-pronged Ice Beam.
Charizard was forced to abandon Flamethrower, swerving to the left to avoid Ice Beam. He returned fire with another Flamethrower, forcing Articuno to a distance. The legendary Pokémon hovered overhead, firing a pincer attack of multiple beams aiming to ambush Charizard.
His aquamarine eyes flicked left and right; there was no running away. He opened his jowls, letting a furious, wide-spanning Flamethrower loose. It ate away at Ice Beam, meeting in the center between both titans. The dueling elements exploded, capturing the skies in a dueling flash of fiery reds and oranges, and pale cyan lights. A cloud of steam enraptured them both.
Lorelei smiled at the shroud, as Charizard gave up altitude to escape it. "Triple Axel!"
Articuno shot out of the steam, striking Charizard in the face with a chilling drop kick. Their talons clawed at his scaly visage, etching a bitter cold into them. Articuno then pivoted, spinning around to deliver a second kick; both of their legs were embraced in an icy aura.
"Counterattack, with Shadow Claw!" Ash roared, waving a hand aside.
Charizard snarled, shaking off the pain of the first kick. Each of his six sharp claws were embraced in a ghoulish, purple-black aura. He slashed with his right, parrying Articuno's kick. He then lashed out from the left, slashing across Articuno's belly, knocking pale white feathers loose.
Articuno let out a shrill cry, but immediately dove back in for a third kick.
Charizard blocked it with a cross guard, and broke away to disengage.
"Shadow Claw!"
"Triple Axel!"
"Look at them go, up there…!" Dawn marveled at the vicious, yet strangely graceful back-and-forth unfolding above her. "It's like a battle between deities… Which Articuno certainly is. But even when he's on his last legs, Charizard's holding up just as well!"
"Pol…!" Empoleon held his wings over his chest, watching the fight with sparkly-eyed awe. The two winged beasts orbited one another in a splendid battle dance, sporting the contrast of Articuno's graceful spins and kicks, and Charizard's straightforward vicious slashes.
Articuno maintained the pressure of attacking with their strong legs, keeping their body out of Charizard's immediate reach, with swift turns giving him less surface area to slash at. But, Charizard's raised guard and vicious slashes kept forcing the Ice-type away before they could gain much ground.
It was as mesmerizing to watch as it was heart-pounding.
"I remember reading in a book that Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres are known as the Titans of Ice, Lightning, and Fire," Dawn continued. "But watching this makes me feel like Charizard deserves the title of Titan of Fire."
"Em-pol!" Empoleon adamantly agreed. If anyone deserved it, truly, it was Charizard! "Empo-Poleon." The incarnation of fiery wrath who taught him the meaning of growth and strength was entirely deserving of the crown — moreso, even, than a legendary Pokémon!
"It feels like blasphemy to say these things…" Dawn thought aloud, smiling nervously at their own sentiments. "But this is Ash's Pokémon we're talking about. It feels like anywhere he goes, he can just reach out and touch the heavens!" Her smile widened into a more genuine one.
"Even if he doesn't believe it, himself, yet… I think the legends will keep smiling back at him."
"Em-pol!" Empoleon agreed adamantly.
Pocus listened without interrupting, intrigued, if not bewildered by the faith that Dawn placed in this challenger who he'd gone in today reading as routine and brash. Brash, he certainly still was, but…
"Ab-ra."
Charizard swung with a vicious right hook, cleaving the air with Shadow Claw's supernatural might. It narrowly missed a pivoting Articuno, only managing to cleave off a few feathers. He snorted smoke in frustration, finding himself above his foe this time; Articuno had dipped below him, this time, instead of above, turning around gracefully to smash a freezing kick into his gut.
He coughed and doubled over, beating his wings laboriously to stay afloat. His already depleting stamina was chipping away, leaving him gasping for breath in mid-air.
"Charizard's running out of steam…" Ash noted from below, grimacing. "We need an opening!"
Articuno took advantage of his exhaustion with a double-legged kick for a finishing blow.
Charizard roared in defiance, slashing across his chest with both sets of Shadow Claws. Articuno cried in shock as their strike was disarmed entirely. They hovered back, having lost their balance in flight.
"There it is!" Ash shouted; a gleam in his eyes. "Do it, Charizard! Dragon Rush!"
Stubborn determination kindled in Charizard's core, blooming into a furious cyan wyvern enveloping him. He cried mightily, diving and smashing into Articuno's exposed midsection.
The collision knocked the wind out of Articuno, contorting and bending their body to recoil from the point of impact. They fell from the skies, reeling from Charizard's wrath.
"Now, wrap them up!" Ash cried, crossing his arms over his chest. "Use Fire Spin!"
The light of Dragon Rush broke off of Charizard, who used his rapid descent for a barrel roll through the air. The whiplash of his tail's flame started a fiery spiral, wrapping like ribbons around the falling Articuno. A fiery tornado ignited, dealing super-effective damage.
"We've got them!" Peeks cheered.
Lorelei clicked her tongue. "My, what a bind. Use Hurricane!"
As quickly as it'd been weaved, Fire Spin was decimated in the wake of a roaring Hurricane. Strong winds closed in on Charizard and battered him, tossing him in a spiral before dropping him out of the sky.
"Charizard!" Ash cried. 'He took that head-on…!'
Charizard shook his head wearily, trying to get ahold of his bearings. He was already beginning to see double, and being tossed around by the Hurricane didn't help matters at all; he felt dizzy and disoriented. It was a miracle he landed on two feet, stumbling clumsily along the shore.
"Shit," Ash muttered. "I think he's confused. Hurricane's side effect got to him!"
"How unfortunate. This bout might be over," Lorelei said coolly. "Articuno…"
The Legendary Titan of Ice descended, landing gracefully on the shore alongside Lorelei.
"...Use Roost."
"Oh, no!"
There was little Ash could do, as Articuno settled, folding in their wings for a well-earned rest. Their body was mired by several burns, claw marks, and bruises from their bout with Charizard.
A gentle blue glow consumed Articuno, glimmering with sparkling particles of energy that resembled ice. Wounds started to heal, and their breathing became less haggard.
In real time, Articuno was shaving off the damage Charizard had dealt.
"Charizard, listen to me!" Ash pleaded. "You have to focus. There's not much time!"
Charizard stumbled dizzily and irritably, responding by blindly firing Flamethrowers into the air, left and right. Hurricane had left him in a drunken stupor that he hadn't yet fought off.
"You've gotten quite greedy, Ash." Lorelei chastised, wearing her criticism behind a disconnected, aloof smile. "You've narrowed me down to just one mighty Pokémon, while you still sport four of your own. I can't simply let you leave Articuno tired and wounded for the rest of your team to pick off." Her calm and detached visage was like passing water, indifferent to its surroundings. In this moment, though, it hardened again, like ice. "Your free ride ends now."
Charizard's eyes regained clarity, in that moment, as he turned decisively towards Articuno.
It may have been too late.
Crystalline light broke off of Articuno like a shell. Roost had finished healing them, and they responded to Charizard without mercy. "Gwaoooooh!" Huge slabs of ice broke out of the shore in a trail towards Charizard. They erupted beneath him in a freezing mass, threatening to swallow him whole.
"Charizard!" Ash cried in warning. The exhausted Flame Pokémon took flight to escape the freeze, but his trainer could only watch it quickly catch up to him. Sheer Cold wrapped around and shackled his legs, capturing him in ice. "Use Blast Burn!"
Charizard snarled, furious and ashamed that his legs had already been numbed. He drew back a fist, pouring all of his white-hot might into the blazes that leaked from his palm.
Blast Burn's fury flickered and fizzled in his grasp; something Ash noticed out of the corner of his eye. All the same, it smashed into the encroaching ice, bursting in a blinding explosion.
Ash hugged Peeks tightly in his arms, turning his back to the explosion to guard them both.
His jacket whipped about in the harsh winds, and he felt creeping cold and scaling heat along his back, all at once. His scarred shoulder blade was particularly sensitive to it, making him grit his teeth and bear it. "Stay close, Buddy…!"
He could see Empoleon standing before Dawn and Pocus to guard them, as well.
The tempest quickly died down. Ash turned to the point of impact, and swore under his breath.
A twisted, mangled tower of ice stood tall above the Seafoam Islands. Halfway up, Charizard was embedded in it; a portion of the tower was carved out from his Blast Burn, leaving him halfway exposed. Even as his tail's flame flickered inside the ice, he was down for the count.
"...Charizard." Ash closed a fist in frustration. "You did your best up there, big guy. But, still… There was something wrong with that Blast Burn, wasn't there? It looked half-baked. And I don't think it has anything to do with Blaze."
"That's a good guess, Ash," Lorelei replied. "It wasn't your lack of Blaze at all. Even without the increase in power, that Blast Burn ought to have been fully formed. It seems he just didn't have the energy."
"But, we'd only used it twice…" Ash hummed in thought, adjusting the brim of his cap. "We gave it a test run, back on Two Island. The Ultimate Moves should hold up for five uses!"
"...Unless." Peeks's ears hugged down to frame the back of his head. "...It was Pressure."
"Pressure?" Ash echoed. "What's that?"
"If Moltres is anything to go by, I think that's Articuno's ability," Peeks explained. "Every time I used a move, when I was training with them, I felt really uneasy. Like each one was costing me twice as much stamina as it usually would. It turns out that Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno do just that."
"...So using those two Blast Burn before was like using four," Ash concluded. "Then that last one…"
"...Was as you said," Lorelei continued, "'half-baked.' You shouldn't underestimate the pressure that comes from fighting a legendary Pokémon. Even if you've seen your share, that hubris could easily be your downfall, Ash."
"Lorelei might have a point, Ash," Dawn suggested. She'd come out from behind Empoleon to address him. "We know you have what it takes on any Pokémon. But unless you give the Gods your 110% effort, they're going to notice it, and you're going to get burned for it."
The girl's expression was remarkably stern, by her standard fare. But, even that gave way to an inspired smile. "You have what it takes. Just give it your all, and you can beat Articuno, again!"
"...Yeah." Ash laughed to himself. Dawn's speeches always had a way of reaching him. "I guess you're both right. It's fine; we knew this was just going to be Charizard's chance to get his licks in. From here on out, we're going all in, Articuno!" He pointed towards the Freeze Pokémon.
"110%!"
Articuno welcomed his challenge with a low, ominous trill, and an opening of their wings. They readily beckoned his best efforts — the only effort worth entertaining, by a deity.
~...Hey. Ash.~ A gruff voice hit Ash's eardrums, and resonated in his mind. ~If I'm out of this fight, then there's someone you should send in, in my place. The only other fire bright enough to scorch this bastard.~ Charizard wrestled his head from within the ice, leaning over his icy prison to turn his gaze to Ash. ~Before you call me back, bring him out. I wanna say a few words.~
Ash looked up to meet Charizard's eyes. His smile widened. "I hear you loud and clear, big guy." He reached for his belt, retrieving his sixth and final Poké Ball for this battle. He felt the ambient warmth radiating off of it, as it wiggled in the palm of his hand. He could feel his excitement.
Ash grinned as he wound up, and Peeks abandoned his shoulder. "I choose you… Infernape!"
A steadfast forward step precluded Ash slinging his last Poké Ball with gusto, sending it spinning at an angle onto the scorched and frozen battlefield. The capsule popped open in mid-air, and a flash of light materialized for all to see. The shapeless white light quickly assumed its own form, with two fists closing, a tail flicking about, and a crown of flames atop its head.
Infernape somersaulted through the air, before landing on all fours. Golden eyes fell upon his legendary opponent, and he grinned through grit teeth. "Infeeeeeern!" Infernape stood on his hind legs to hoist his fists skyward in a show of primal fury. The fiery crown atop his head raged.
"Infernape's here!" Dawn cried excitedly.
"Emmm-pol! Empoleon!" Empoleon cried with gusto.
"...Oh? Another Fire-type," Lorelei noted. "That's your approach, then?"
"There's a lot more to Infernape than just a type advantage," Ash explained. However much his confidence had been shaken during the bout with Charizard, he'd fully recovered, flashing a toothy grin. "A long time ago, you told me not to take my Pokémon's hard work for granted. I can't think of anyone better to be an example of that than Infernape."
Infernape looked over at his shoulder to Ash, and grinned in turn. "Listen to this guy. There's no one who'll appreciate your hard work better than him." He turned his attention back to Articuno, and smashed his fists against the frigid shore. "He's the number one reason I'm the Pokémon I am today!"
"...Oh? I sense there's a grand story behind your Infernape." Lorelei smiled warmly. The Fire-type looked startled that she understood him. "Perhaps I'll ask about that, later. But for now, I'd like to see the results of your bond in action. Do you think you can melt our deep freeze?"
"I think you're just going to have to see for yourselves!" Ash shot back. "Right, Infernape?"
"Right!" Infernape grinned, flashing a thumbs-up in return. "We'll melt the—"
"Infernape."
Charizard's gruff voice interrupted Infernape.
Infernape followed Charizard's voice. He was embedded in a hollowed out crater inside of a twisted frozen tower. He was bruised, battered, and blue in the face. His tail's flame was steady, but diminutive. Infernape had never seen him in such a state.
Charizard forced himself upright with some struggle to meet Infernape's gaze. "Give 'em hell."
With that, Charizard winced, and collapsed back into the ice. Unconscious.
"...Thank you, Charizard." Ash recalled the Flame Pokémon, and exhaled, turning his attention back to Lorelei and Articuno. "Alright, Infernape. You heard 'im." He reached for the brim of his cap, gripping it between his index and thumb. "Charizard's will is yours, now."
In one swift, confident motion, Ash flipped his hat backwards.
"So, let's use that will to defeat Articuno!"
Infernape nodded solemnly, and then broke out in a feral battle cry.
Lorelei flashed a small smile, before settling into an icy glare. "We'll see. Articuno, Ice Beam!"
Articuno fired a freezing beam towards Infernape that split into multiple flashes of light, dancing erratically through the air to ambush their target.
"Infernape! Use Calm Mind!" Ash cried in retaliation.
Infernape somersaulted into a sitting, cross-legged position, linking his fingers and thumbs in his lap. With a gentle exhale, he closed his eyes and cleared his mind. A bright blue glow wrapped around his body, as mental acuity allowed him to borrow hidden stores of strength.
His focus was so great, even, that he hardly felt the ice nipping at his fur. Ice Beam crashed into him, but Infernape hardly even budged. The ice under his feet spread and solidified, but he merely suffered a slight chill. His golden eyes snapped open, challenging Articuno.
The legendary Pokémon abandoned Ice Beam, mildly perturbed by his rejection of Ice Beam.
"Nice!" Dawn cheered, clapping her hands together. "Infernape looks like he barely felt that!"
"Impressive, but futile," Lorelei replied. "Articuno, use Haze—"
"Mach Punch!"
Infernape rolled and sprung to his feet, compressing into a deep crouch before vaulting towards Articuno with a fist drawn back. The legendary Pokémon didn't even have time to open their beak before Mach Punch collided with their jaw.
Gritting his teeth, Infernape followed through, spiking Articuno with the motion of an uppercut.
"Follow up with Flamethrower!" Ash cried, extending a hand.
Still in mid-air, Infernape howled and spat a fanning blaze that consumed Articuno.
Lorelei scowled. "Use Sheer Cold!"
Articuno cried out, beating their wings to dispel the last of Flamethrower's embers with strong winds and diamond dust. The heavenly sonnet heralded massive ice erupting beneath Infernape.
Infernape sprang into action, even as the words left Ash's lips to dodge. He secured a hand around the ice's very pinnacle, clinging to the glacial uprising as a greater freeze twisted and rose to consume him. Moving nimbly, he hopped from one slab of ice to another, leaping and swinging his way around each foothold to rise higher and higher into the sky.
"Your Infernape must be at a very high level to stay ahead of Articuno's Sheer Cold," Lorelei praised, as she watched the ape scale her most perilous move as if it were a jungle gym.
"He's a very hard worker," Ash affirmed, beaming with pride at his Pokémon's performance. "Back at the ranch, he picks a fight with every other Fire and Fighting-type he knows! And he won't stop until he's the strongest!"
"Then we have our work cut out for us." Lorelei nodded to Articuno, who heeded her, and took to the air to catch up with Infernape's scaling. "And we can't allow you to go unabated. Use Haze!"
Articuno quickly scaled the tower of their own making, catching up with Infernape in no time at all. They put the Fire-type in their shadow, cornering him. Articuno flooded him with Haze.
Infernape covered his mouth, doing his best not to inhale Haze. But, it was no use. He felt the increased clarity accumulated by Calm Mind slipping away. It dampened his focus immediately.
"Now, use Hurricane!" Lorelei cried.
Vicious beats of the Freeze Pokémon's wings conjured a storm, ripping Infernape away from his foothold to be tossed about and battered in the sky above. Hurricane yanked him around viciously.
"Damn it," Ash cursed through grit teeth. "He's lost Calm Mind, and it's super effective! We have to do something! Think, Ketchum, think…!" He scoured his mind for possibilities; any possibility.
His eyes widened.
"If you're going to face the elements, you should understand them, and how malleable they are. Tell me. Do you know anything about hurricanes, Ash? The phenomenon, not the move."
"Can't say I know a lot."
"Well, they tend to become stronger in warm water environments, and become a lot more dangerous for it. In cold water environments, however, they quickly grow weaker."
"That's it!" Ash exclaimed.
Lorelei adjusted her spectacles, scrutinizing Ash.
Dawn grinned, clapping her hands together. "I know what that means. Ash has an idea!"
"Infernape…" Ash stood steady in the face of Hurricane, which whipped his jacket about and tossed his tresses in the harsh winds. He took a step back, and punched a hand in the air.
"...Use a Flare Blitz Counter Shield!"
Infernape heard his trainer in the midst of the storm, and grinned. Even as he was tossed about, he whipped his head in a spiral, and tucked into a ball, surrounding himself in a potent blue blaze. He spun, and spun, and spun, sending whip cracks of blue blazes throughout Hurricane.
"Now, what is he…?" Lorelei gasped. Hurricane was becoming consumed in the blue glow of Flare Blitz. In fact, it was expanding and building in ferocity, yanking Articuno into its winds.
"...I see." Lorelei turned to Ash. "You heated up the Hurricane to increase its power and volume; an exact inverse of how I commanded your own, with Dewgong's Ice Beam."
Ash grinned, holding his hat down atop his head in the wake of the strong winds. "You guessed it! If I can't get rid of Hurricane, we might as well take it for ourselves!" Ash kept his hat secured with one hand, and punched the air with his other. "Now, go, Infernape! Flare Blitz!"
Flare Blitz revved up in intensity, and blitzed towards Articuno, who was caught in their own attack's orbit. He crashed into the legendary Pokémon, powering through Hurricane's winds and leaving its pull to push on towards Sheer Cold. They crashed into its heights in a blaze.
The bright blue shell of flames shattered, and Infernape and Articuno both fell from the aftermath, dropping down Sheer Cold's heights. Sparks danced along Infernape's body, as he suffered from the recoil. He hit the next icy outcrop, which struck him in the back, and sent him tumbling down.
Articuno hit several pillars on the way down.
Infernape grit his teeth through the pain, scouting for any stable ice for him to grab onto in his freefall. Directly to his right, there was a thin sliver of ice jutting out far enough to resemble an icy branch. He quickly gasped it, swinging around it several times before tumbling to perch atop it. "Ape…" He exhaled, nursing a number of bruises leftover from Hurricane and Flare Blitz.
As aggressive as he'd been, up until now, he'd taken a lot of damage.
"Hang in there, Infernape!" Ash shouted in encouragement, hands cupped around his mouth.
"You're doing great!" Peeks added.
"My, what a brutish, self-sacrificial strategy," Lorelei tutted, drawing the attention of all three. She had her arms folded under her chest, her fingertips drumming on her opposite forearm. "After what you've seen of Articuno, Ash, you should know better."
Ash's eyes narrowed. To her surprise, though, he smirked, despite knowing what was sure to come next. "Yeah? We'll see about that."
Yet again, Ash saw Lorelei's ice chip away again, under the pressure of the uncertainty he provided, time again. She studied his face for any hints of what would come next.
Unfortunately, there was also the conundrum of Articuno's condition. The legendary Pokémon had clawed their way to remaining on one of Sheer Cold's lower tiers of ice, panting and nursing bruises and burns, all over. For all of the power and prestige that they boasted, they'd suffered heavy damage at Infernape's hand, and their pride was similarly wounded for it.
They glared at the silhouette hanging high above them; a thin sliver of ice provided a foothold for the hot-blooded primate, with a proud crown of flames flickering with stubborn, lively resolve.
Articuno was squarely at a disadvantage. Lorelei knew that their pride couldn't stand for it.
"Articuno, use Roost."
The Legendary Pokémon tucked in their wings, retreating to their plumage. A blue, crystalline healing glow washed over their body, beginning to heal their wounds.
"Now's our chance!" A familiar glimmer of victory sparkled in Ash's eye. "Use Close Combat!"
Infernape leaned forward on his perch, gripping its edges before somersaulting down towards Articuno. Leaping and vaulting from one platform and sharp fragment of ice after another, he made a quick descent, planting his feet on the cold surface to catapult himself below.
He landed on the same elevation as Articuno, skidding across the ice before gaining traction.
"Gwaoh…!" Articuno trilled angrily. They still hadn't finished healing.
Infernape grinned, and lunged at Articuno, smashing a fist into Articuno's belly. The Freeze Pokémon doubled over, and then suffered a high kick to the jaw, which Infernape followed by turning his body around, planting his opposite foot into Articuno's chest. He caught his weight on one hand, and vaulted forward for a two legged bicycle kick into Articuno.
Even as Articuno healed, they were battered and beaten with a flurry of punches and kicks.
"Roost is a great move, but there's one thing about it that I'm sure you know about it as well as I do," Ash boasted. "When Articuno lands to heal, they lose their Flying-type. So all they have going for them is their Ice typing. That means that Close Combat is super-effective!"
"Yes!" Dawn cheered, clapping her hands. "Who's got courage? Who's so great? It's all on you, Infernape!"
"Pol! Empol!" Empoleon jabbed at the air with his wings, goading his companion on.
"A very good exploitation of a move's weakness," Lorelei praised. "But as aware as you are of my moves' vulnerabilities, you should remain mindful of your own."
Ash grimaced, quickly clocking what she meant.
"Triple Axel!"
Articuno had suffered yet another punch from Infernape, as the Fire-type geared up for a roundhouse kick at close quarters, raising his knee. Articuno had had quite enough of being battered and beaten, unabated. She answered with a wrathful cry, stomping directly into Infernape's chest. Infernape recoiled and coughed, as wind was knocked from his lungs.
As he heaved for breath, he inhaled the bitter, painful cold of Articuno's icy kick.
Articuno reasserted their status, swinging around to deliver a brutal swinging kick to Infernape's side, coated in ice. The momentum built up knocked Infernape into the air, spinning helplessly.
With outstanding, godly grace, Articuno pivoted and danced around their disheveled opponent, swapping positions so that they favored the far end of Sheer Cold's reach. With effortless dignity, they forcefully stomped Infernape in the back, sending them flying into the harsh, hard surface of Sheer cold. Infernape crashed into the ice, face first, disoriented and disheveled.
"Infernape!" Ash cried.
"As you well know, Close Combat leaves you exposed to retaliation," Lorelei lectured. "But judging by the look on your face, you've already realized your folly. Articuno, Ice Beam."
Articuno stood upright and poised, firing an Ice Beam at Infernape. The cool energy quickly encased him and bonded with the ice he'd collided with, freezing him to Sheer Cold's surface.
Infernape cried out in pain. Soreness turned to a chilling numb feeling; he was trapped.
He snarled with fury. He wasn't one to give up so easily. Not like this.
The crown atop his head roared in defiance, eclipsing his body several-fold. His signature blaze ability burst in a towering pillar of fire. The ice encasing his body melted away in an instant.
"Another Blaze," Lorelei identified. "And a remarkably mighty one at that." Her eyes flicked back to Ash, who looked somewhat hopeful in its presence. "Let's fix that. Articuno, use Haze."
Articuno bathed their challenger in a thick fog.
Haze dispersed soon after, revealing Infernape. He stood, hunched over and battered, but defiant, baring his fangs. Steam danced off of his body, but his fiery crown had been subdued.
Blaze was no more.
"Infernape!" Ash cried from below. "I know we have a habit of relying on your Blaze… But it's okay." Ash smiled, calm despite the circumstances. "Don't you remember what I said to Paul, back in Sinnoh?"
Infernape paused, then nodded thoughtfully. "You told him that you wouldn't rely on Blaze. You wouldn't battle like he did." The Flame Pokémon laughed to himself. "We did fall into quite the habit of doing exactly that, though, didn't we? Against Volkner, Paul, and Deidra…"
"...It had its way of working us through a pinch," Ash finished, smiling. "Now, are we gonna let Paul make us liars? Or are we going to fight through this with nothing but good old guts!?"
Infernape grinned, turning his attention back to Articuno. "Do you even have to ask? Of course… I think we're going to need a bit more than guts, this time."
'Infernape's right,' Ash thought to himself. 'There's definitely a chance we can overwhelm them if we just go in swinging. But there's just as good a chance we'll lose, and Lorelei pulls one over on us. Articuno's got over half their stamina going for them right now, and Infernape's in a pinch.'
Ash shook his head. 'No. Guts alone isn't going to cut it. We need to battle in the way we do best; by taking advantage of everything!' His eyes scanned over their surroundings. 'Sheer Cold has done a lot of good for us already, like when Bulbasaur battled Cloyster… But our Sludge Bomb proved that even Lorelei's ice won't hold together forever, if you attack it.'
Ash's eyes snapped open wide. He looked back to Dawn, who looked puzzled in turn.
'What's Ash thinking…? What do I have to do with the situation he's in?' Dawn thought to herself, blinking. "Unless… he has an idea from something I did." She felt a warmth building up in her heart, and her smile stretched to the dimples of her cheeks.
She met him with a steady, certain gaze, and nodded.
Ash understood without a single word exchanged. 'Watch me, Dawn.'
That was his last thought, before he waved a hand through the air with vigor. "Flamethrower!"
Infernape shook off his fatigue, drawing his head back before spitting a vicious pyre towards Articuno.
"Articuno!" Lorelei cautioned.
Articuno responded in kind, taking off from the perch they'd taken to soar out of range, and circle Sheer Cold. Flamethrower drew a straight path following them, blasting the ice itself.
"Follow them!" Ash urged.
Infernape released Flamethrower, only to leap on all fours towards the next geometric foothold of Sheer Cold he could find. He climbed from one foothold to the next, circling counterclockwise rather than clockwise, as Articuno had. He caught Articuno halfway around, who stopped short.
Infernape fired another Flamethrower, which Articuno ducked under. He continued in his assault, trying to corner the legendary Pokémon. Flamethrower traced along the many protrusions and divots of Sheer Cold, igniting its surface which reflected a vibrant red glow.
Cracks and fractures started to trace a pattern through the line of fire. Melting ice water started to seep through the fault lines.
Articuno slipped away behind the tower, once more. Infernape grunted and abandoned his attack, backflipping to land atop a nearby elevation. He crouched and sprung, gripping onto the same thin, narrow elevation where he'd used Flare Blitz. He swung several times with his momentum, and flung himself skyward. He now hovered high above the battlefield.
Articuno gracefully orbited and escaped the icy tower of their own making, thinking themselves free of Infernape. They came to a sudden halt, finding that he'd put himself right in their airspace, hovering above.
Ash punched the air. "Use Flamethrower!"
"Ferrnaaaaape!" Infernape fired another stream of flames from above, quickly encroaching upon Articuno.
Articuno cried out, swiftly dipping just under the sweltering heat. Its glow reflected off of their icy crown, and managed to singe a few of their feathers that shook loose.
Infernape panted, releasing the pressure on his attack. A supernatural pressure made his lungs tire more easily after each blast.
"That's Pressure," Ash noted from below. He'd only have so many of those Flamethrowers in him. Not that it mattered; they had Articuno right where he wanted them. "Use Mach Punch!"
Infernape tightened a fist, and launched at Articuno, leaving a silver trail behind him. A swift lurch forward socked them in the jaw, sending them crashing into Sheer Cold's central pillar.
"Good! Now, follow up with a second Mach Punch!" Ash cried.
Infernape shot in a second time, swinging at Articuno. This time, Articuno made a daring escape, slipping out of Infernape's way. His momentum carried him through, and he smashed his fist into the crater Articuno had left. His fist buried into the ice, and a web of cracks spread.
Ash watched the towering ice tremble from below, and grinned. "We've almost got 'em."
Lorelei's eyes lingered on Ash, with a building suspicion overcoming her that she hadn't yet found the root of. "You're up to something, aren't you?"
Ash's grin widened. "Maybe."
"...Hm." Lorelei hid any further emotion, if she held it, and waved a hand. "Articuno! Hurricane!"
Articuno summoned a storm with a mighty beat of their wings, rapidly approaching Infernape.
"Hold your ground, Infernape! Buckle down, and use Calm Mind!"
Infernape did as told, sitting down on the ice, bow-legged, fingers interlocked in his lap. He inhaled, and exhaled, compounding mental acuity. He felt Hurricane's winds batter against his body, and winced. He almost lost his footing, and flew off into the storm. Instead, he dug his feet into the ice and held an iron grip, refusing to budge an inch.
"He's just meditating through the Hurricane…!" Dawn gasped, ghosting a hand over her mouth.
"Empol! Poleon…" Empoleon mimicked his trainer's body language. His teeth chattered in stress. He'd already taken enough damage to activate Blaze! How was he supposed to withstand this onslaught!? What did Ash think he was doing?
"I know," Dawn nodded. "There has to be more to it than just powering up his Flamethrowers. Ash had that look in his eye — like he had something really outside of the box planned!"
She looked back to the raging storm, with her hand now clutched over her heart.
Dawn's eyes widened.
The frozen monument that was Sheer Cold was starting to tremble and waver. She could see cracks starting to spread along its foundation.
'That's it! Ash has been attacking Sheer Cold and goading Lorelei into doing the same!' Dawn deduced, keeping her words to herself to avoid tipping off Lorelei. 'He's goading her. That's why they both kept colliding with it. But the question is, what is he after…? It can't just be an avalanche.'
It was something Ash would do, but his idea had to be grander. She felt it in her gut.
Articuno's storms were mighty, just as their ice was lethal. But, Infernape was stubborn, and he was mighty. He endured the Hurricane, until it petered off into mere whispering winds.
He flipped onto his feet. "Is that all you've got!?" Infernape goaded, making a 'c'mere' motion with his hand to instigate with Articuno. He wasn't quite sure what his trainer's plan was, yet, but he'd caught the building pattern in their exchanges, as the battle progressed. He'd play ball.
Lorelei tutted at the change in Articuno's posture. The agitated click of their beak, and the unsteady beating of their wings. "It's their hubris, isn't it? You wish to remind them of their place?" She hummed, not needing a verbal answer. "I do believe you've gotten a bit ahead of yourselves, taking our attacks head-on. We'll teach you proper respect for a legendary Pokémon."
"Infernape!" Ash warned. "It's coming, again!"
"Use Haze."
A thick white blanket of vapor flooded the icy tower. This time, Infernape was prepared, lunging onto the center pillar to grip jutting ice, leaping and swinging from one foothold to the next to outrun Haze. Ash clearly didn't want him to lose his boosted power, for some reason he'd kept to himself.
Ash was keeping his grand strategy to himself; he'd let that much slip through their bond. He didn't want Infernape to be an obvious actor, so Infernape was willfully led blind. He trusted Ash.
"Flamethrower!"
Infernape gained the upper hand in altitude again, and spat a gigantic Flamethrower. He felt his reserves of heat dip further still, but his bolstered power more than did the trick.
White-hot fire splashed across Sheer Cold's uneven surfaces, making it sizzle and shift.
A flustered Articuno just barely pulled back out of its range.
Ash smiled. "Good! Now, up to the very top!"
Infernape flipped and sprung his way up to the icy pinnacle of Articuno's mightiest attack, standing with one foot perched and elevated higher than the other, holding its peak in his grasp.
"I'm not sure what you're trying to pull," Lorelei spoke from below, "but you've isolated yourself. The game ends here." She grandly gestured a hand outward. "Articuno. Use Hurricane!"
"Gwaaaaooooh!" Articuno ascended far beyond even Infernape, crying mightily before unleashing their mightiest Hurricane yet. Freezing winds didn't just attack Infernape, this time, but wrapped around the entirety of Sheer Cold. The structure was consumed and battered, and it started to shift and crack.
"Use Calm Mind, Infernape! One more time!" Ash urged.
Infernape used his grip to flip atop the peak, with just enough room to sit. He cleared his mind, and his body radiated a magnificent, bright blue aura that danced off of it like wisps of a flame.
In the eye of the storm, he was mostly protected from it. He was unmoving.
But, Sheer Cold itself had a different fortune. Splintered, sweltering, and cracked in many different places, the giant tower of ice started to rip apart in the Hurricane's midst.
Lorelei gasped. Only now, as she watched giant slabs of ice start to be tossed around in the Hurricane, did she realize what Ash had been goading her into. "I see. For the entirety of the battle with Infernape, you've been weakening Sheer Cold's integrity, and goading me into helping you." She looked over to Ash, whose self-satisfied smirk was all-telling.
"But, to what end…?"
Ash only smiled, and nodded towards the storm. "Why don'tcha see for yourself?"
Articuno startled and swerved, as their very own Hurricane had grown out of their control. Countless giant shards and slabs of ice had been picked up in their own attack's orbit, creating an aerial storm of icy projectiles and footholds. In their attempts to dodge it, they found themselves ambushed.
Infernape rose with them, on the tiny icy peak he'd boarded. It rose to meet them.
The primate met them with a toothy grin. He'd made the skies his domain.
"This is it!" Ash mirrored Infernape's battle-hungry glee. "Use Mach Punch!"
Infernape leaned forward, and lunged off of the ice, striking Articuno with a lightning-fast right hook.
"Use Triple Axel!" Lorelei cried. Articuno struck back at Infernape with an icy stomp.
But, Infernape slid across the ice he'd landed on, somersaulting onto another floating platform.
"Again!" Ash cried, punching the air.
Infernape pivoted, and smashed his fist into Articuno's stomach. As the legendary bird doubled over, he grabbed their head in both hands, and used the grip to somersault over them completely to find his footing again. As soon as he did, he returned with another Mach Punch.
"Articuno. Ice Beam!"
Articuno was already acting at Lorelei's behest, turning their head to fire icy wrath in turn.
Infernape stomped his foot down on the thin ice he'd taken as a foothold, flipping it vertically. Ice Beam froze it over, reinforcing it into a long, sturdy bludgeon of ice. He kicked off of it, grounding himself on another floating slab. The large piece of ice flipped through the air, and he caught it in his hands, twirling it around his back to wield with a battle-hungry grin.
"What's Infernape…?" Dawn squinted at the scene unfolding up in the skies, using her hand to guard her eyes from the early afternoon sun. The floating field of ice, the tiny, distant flame of Infernape's crown moving about nimbly, while Lorelei shouted distressed commands.
Dawn gasped. The puzzle pieces all came together in her head. "That's it…!"
Empoleon slapped his wings over his beak. "Empol!"
"You see it, too! The floating arrangement of ice sheets… Infernape using it to stay a step ahead of Articuno. It's just like our battle with Mom!" She recalled Empoleon and Glameow's ballad.
The terrain being used to Empoleon's advantage, to stay one step ahead of their opponent.
Dawn cupped her hands over her pounding heart. She smiled so hard that it hurt.
She cupped her hands around her mouth, and shouted at the top of her lungs.
"ASH! INFERNAPE! USE OUR COMBINATION, AND GIVE IT EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT!"
Ash looked back to Dawn, and laughed with glee. She understood.
He felt like he could go at full throttle. "You heard her, Infernape! Close Combat, full power!"
"You've got it, boss!" Infernape lunged at Articuno, grinning, as he wielded the icy staff they'd so kindly crafted for him. He slid past the legendary Pokémon, smashing the staff into their side.
Articuno cried, and Infernape passed by, bashing the ice staff into the next leverage he found, using it to swing himself all the way around and launch back at his foe with his staff ready.
Articuno struck back with icy fury, stomping Infernape with Triple Axel.
Infernape raised his staff to guard with both hands, struggling to hold off the first kick. The second came from below, swinging up towards Infernape's jaw. He yanked the ice staff back, using it to intercept Articuno's kick. The upward strike launched the staff and Infernape with it, sending them catapulting over Articuno's head. He cried out, somersaulting through the air.
Hovering above Articuno, he noticed that their surroundings were starting to lose altitude.
Hurricane was dying. This was his one last chance!
Articuno spun gracefully in the air, striking out with one last roundhouse kick.
Infernape twirled his staff, and twisted his body around the narrow range of Articuno's Triple Axel. He felt frost cling to his back, but fearlessly continued. "Aaaaape….!"
With a primal roar, he hoisted the staff over his head, and brought it smashing down into Articuno's crown. The icy staff shattered upon impact.
Articuno dropped, plummeting from the air. Disoriented and dizzy.
"Now, let's finish it!" Ash roared in unison with his Pokémon. "One more Flamethrower!"
"Iiiiin…!" Infernape inhaled, as blinding white flames leaked from between his fangs.
"Fernaaaapeee…!" He roared, and a pillar of raging fire plummeted from the skies above, crashing into the falling Articuno. Flamethrower continued on, evicting them from the heavens.
Infernape panted and struggled, finding his reserves of strengths weakening. He'd run out of breath due to pressure, and Flamethrower nearly went out.
His golden eyes widened with resolve, and he drew both of his hands back past his hips.
"Innnnnfeeerrr…." He thrust both hands downward joined at the palm. "...aaaaape!"
The sheer exertion of will gave Flamethrower a second wind, with Calm Mind bolstering his command of his inner strength. Flamethrower doubled in size, and blasted Articuno down into the shores in an explosive pyre.
The resulting explosion offered a warm, rising current, providing an exhausted Infernape just enough relief to fall slowly, and land on all fours, exhausted.
The inferno burying Articuno finally died and fanned away, leaving embers and scorched shores in its wake. Articuno laid in the sand, on their back and unconscious.
Infernape lifted his head with some effort, seeing that he'd won. He smiled tiredly.
"Hey, Infernape!"
The Flame Pokémon turned, responding to Ash's voice. His trainer stood over him, smiling with a hand outstretched. Peeks joined Ash back atop his shoulder, giving him a thumbs-up.
Infernape grinned and took Ash's hand, allowing his trainer to pull him up. Ash pulled him into a hug, which he candidly returned, clasping his arms around his trainer. "How's that for winning without Blaze!?"
Ash laughed, patting Infernape's back. "You said it! You were friggin' incredi— ah!"
Ash had yelped, caught off-guard by another pair of arms seizing around his own waist.
Dawn had jumped him, tackling him in a giggle fit. "Great going, you guys! You really… ah!"
Dawn's weight added to the pile, knocking Infernape, Ash, and Peeks over with her. The group landed in a cramped cuddle pile,
"Y'know, you could've warned us," Ash complained, shooting Dawn a look.
"Don't look at me!" Dawn dismissed her guilt. "Try not to fall over yourselves, next time!"
"Oh, I am not hearing that from you of all people." Ash squinted.
Dawn squinted back, and burst into laughter. Ash joins her, and Peeks and Infernape did, too. She pulled all three of them into a hug, grinning. "Seriously. You guys were a-ma-zing!"
"It's all thanks to you!" Ash replied. "You and your strategy, when you battled your mom, were what got us across the finish line!"
"Hey! What am I, chopped liver!?" Empoleon complained, folding his wings.
"You too, big guy." Ash bemusedly rolled his eyes.
"So, that was your grand strategy." Lorelei cut in, reminding the group that they weren't on their own. She stood over the pile, gently cupping a weary Articuno's chin with her palm. "When you claimed to break our ice, then, you were being quite literal about it."
"I sure was!" Ash nodded, throwing an arm around Dawn. "Dawn's taught me a lot about battling with fire and ice. And I needed a way to bring the fight to Articuno, instead of the other way around. That's where Infernape came in!" With his other arm, he pulled in Infernape.
"Indeed. You're a novel trainer, full of brilliant ideas, Ash. And more importantly, you've cultivated the humility to eagerly listen to others. On that note…" She tapped her index finger against her chin. "I have a secret of my own to share with you. But you two look awfully tired."
Ash exchanged a look with Infernape, who looked just about ready to collapse. They both grinned sheepishly. "Just a little," he admitted. "I felt like that battle was never going to end! Your ice wasn't exactly easy to break."
Lorelei smiled widely. "Then I can tell you all about it over dinner. My treat."
The sun had started to set over the Seafoam Islands, painting the skies in vibrant yellows and oranges. The early September breeze, tragically, was starting to settle in, giving Ash a light chill, now that he'd abandoned his red jacket for the comfort of just his t-shirt in jeans.
Although, comparatively, it was toasty in contrast to today's bitter battlefield.
Summer had come and gone, but Exploud Ernie's Earnest Eats was more-or-less the same; a homey beachside shack with a dining area off to the side, surrounded by a wooden fence that resembled the boardwalk itself, bottlenecking its way to the battlefield used for local tournaments; the same one that he and Dawn had won, a couple of months ago.
It spurred a bittersweet nostalgia in Ash. What'd only been a couple of months ago felt like a year. Relative to now, they'd been… well, almost innocent? Like they'd been mere kids.
Ash shook the thought off, and approached the tables set up for the Pokémon to dine, with large plates of Pokémon food, adorned with berries, other fruits, and seasoned vegetables. "Alright, guys! Time to chow down!"
There were benches and seats of multiple elevations, and some spots with no seats at all, to accommodate Pokémon of all sizes. Most of Ash's Pokémon gathered together, where Infernape and Floatzel chattered about the battle. Floatzel gave Infernape a light punch in the arm, riffing on him for stealing the spotlight. Infernape said something about his exposure of Sheer Cold priming the rest of the team, making his participation a vital part of their victory.
"You're a real humble son of a bitch, you know that?" Floatzel had rolled his eyes, only somewhat satisfied by the answer. His grin told Ash that he wasn't too banged up about it.
Ash smiled. Empoleon was singing his praises for Bulbasaur, nearby, regaling the events of the battle to most of the rest of Dawn's team; Mamoswine was off near Snorlax; both had fallen asleep after gorging themselves away from the rest of the group. They'd been sure to feed them first to keep them from bothering their peers.
Most of Lorelei's Pokémon were contributing to Empoleon's retelling; Dewgong looked actively invested, while Jynx huffed, sore that her strategies hadn't quite worked in her favor.
Even she seemed to settle, though, when Ash placed the gourmet selection in the middle of the table, though. "Eat up, you guys! You put a hell of an effort in today. And that means you, too," he turned to Lorelei's team. "You really made us work for that win!"
Lorelei's Pokémon chatted happily, and Jynx used Psychic to distribute the food evenly.
It left Ash with just one table to attend to; a round one without seating, occupied by Pidgeot, Charizard, and Articuno. "What do you know? It's the bird herd!" Ash joked, placing a large plate of food in the center, after Pidgeot shuffled aside for him. "Here you go, guys!"
Charizard and Articuno didn't answer; they were in the middle of posturing at one another over their previous matches. Articuno boasted of their Sheer Cold, while Charizard huffed something or another about 'that Seismic Toss.' They were so caught up in it that they didn't even notice Ash.
"Ignore them." Pidgeot trilled. "Pride is a'plenty in this circle. It's nothing personal." She leaned over to lightly nuzzle Ash with her beak, being the first and only one to catch his little pout at being ignored. "'Bird herd' was cute, by the way. I don't know if those two would like it, though."
Ash laughed. "Probably not! But, at least someone appreciates my sense of humor." He reciprocated her affection by rubbing the feather crest atop her head. "Awesome job today, by the way. Sorry you didn't get to come out on top."
Pidgeot shook her head. "Being the leader of a flock means being the first to put your foot forward and soften a target, even at your own expense. I kept you from dealing with Endeavor more than once; I'm content." She nudged Ash again, this time more forcefully. "Now, quit worrying about us and go fill that belly. You're still growing; you need your nourishment."
"Yes, Missus." Ash rolled his eyes bemusedly, and went on his way… Or, at least he kept walking until Pidgeot took her attention off of him. He lingered, keeping his eyes glued to Articuno, who had their back to him. Somehow, he couldn't will himself to move another step.
"Not every day you see a legendary Pokémon, huh, son!?" Ash was startled by Ernie's roaring voice, and a firm slap on the back. The loud and proud restaurateur had caught Ash entirely off-guard, wearing a wide, earnest smile, living up to his business's namesake. "You must be tied up like a Tangela, getting to see one in person! Let alone battle one."
"Huh?" Ash turned to face Ernie, rubbing his neck as he gathered his thoughts. "Uh… not exactly. I'm actually pretty used to it, at this point."
He wasn't sure if it was his flat delivery, or his blasé claim that he spent more time in the presence of myths than the average trainer would dream to in a lifetime, but even Ernie looked short of words after that claim. Ash shook his head. "Really, it's just… I wonder if I have what it takes to connect to any Pokémon out there. Including ones like Articuno."
The large, grizzly man's befuddled expression lifted into a glowing smile. "Now, that's the kind of attitude I like to hear from a growing young man! You see power and glory right in front of you, but you couldn't care less about it! You see the forest through the trees!"
"It's not about the power," Ash agreed, shaking his head to dismiss the very thought. He'd fought alongside and protected some of the most powerful Pokémon to ever walk the Earth… or even beyond it! But, that notion didn't spend much time occupying his thoughts. Not really.
"I just… like making friends with any Pokémon I can. And if they're rare and elusive, and don't really spend time hanging out with people like us, then it's an extra special chance to uncover something new!"
"That's the spirit!" Ernie laughed, giving Ash a pat on the back with a bit too much force, knocking the wind out of him. "You're a Pokémon Master in the making. Keep it up, lad!"
Ernie left him be after that, returning to the kitchen, assuredly. Ash smiled at his sentiments, and returned to the table where a spot was saved for him, next to Dawn and across from Lorelei. Pocus floated next to Dawn, munching on some cauliflower pizza that she'd recommended.
"There you are!" Dawn said. "Your food's going to get cold, Ash!" She pushed Ash's meal; a veggie burger and fried mushroom bites, towards him. "What took you so long?"
"Nothin' important. Don't worry about it." Ash smiled, shaking his head. "Uh, Lorelei! You said you had something to teach us?"
The Elite was in the middle of sipping on her soda. She took her time quenching herself, letting the question hang in the air, before releasing the straw with a 'pop.' "There's a tradition among Indigo's Elite Four," she explained. "The way each Champion's League conducts itself varies; Sinnoh's uses round robin tournaments to challenge the balance of power, for example. Indigo's is a gauntlet with a predetermined order, as you well know, organized in order of prestige."
If being the first of the lot and consequently the weakest bothered Lorelei, she didn't show it.
"So, the four of us Elites have made… a game, you could say, of our order of challenge. Should each of us be defeated, we offer to teach our challengers a signature move to topple our betters with; a way for us to compete without actually changing our order, you could say." She smiled coolly. "It's also not uncommon for a challenger to lose on the second rung, if not the first. So, should you fail, you'll at least leave imparted with something worthwhile."
Ash took a large bite out of his burger, pumping a fist before he could politely speak. "I won't lose," he emphasized. "You don't have to worry about that at all!"
Lorelei laughed to herself. "Nevertheless, your next opponent will be Koga. He's a master of the ninja arts, and prone to deceptive tactics and trickery. I could teach you a powerful Ice-type move, but I think you'd be better served with Haze. Articuno has already agreed to assist us, in the week-long interim."
Ash nearly choked on his food, thumping his chest.
"Ash! Be careful!" Dawn scolded. He looked to be alright, downing his soda to calm a coughing fit. She sighed, and shook her head, but left his eating habits to him. "Training from Articuno, themselves…! If I recall, Peeks already trained with Moltres, a while back! What an honor!"
"That is an honor," Ash agreed. "But I don't know if it'll do us any good. See, my Muk already knows Haze. I used it in our battle against his daughter, Janine."
"...Oh. That is a shame," Lorelei said, blinking slowly. "No harm done. You'll just have to lie to him and boast it was our doing, anyway!" She suggested, smiling and raising an index finger.
Ash nearly choked on his food again, hanging his head in exasperation. "Uh-huh. Sure. Got it."
"...Ab-ra." Pocus looked less than impressed, tutting at her suggestion.
"You could stand to flow like the water, yourself, Pocus." Lorelei chided playfully. "It's just a bit of healthy competition between co-workers. Now… With that being the case, I believe that, like water and ice, we can adapt and reshape our plans. I believe there's something else I can impart to you."
"There is?" Ash asked, leaning forward with curiosity.
"I hope you're ready for a week of rigorous training, Ash." Lorelei warned; her words as icy and foreboding as ever. "...But, not too much. You're going to need your rest to face the Elite Four's Koga."
Chapter 7: Koga I - Destiny Bond
Chapter Text
The mountainsides of southern Kanto towered over dense forests and bogs, reaching far out of the reach of human civilization. Unkind peaks and valleys deterred travel, beyond the most determined of trainers, seeking isolation, or perhaps the rare Pokémon that more famously populated the Safari Zone, without its pesky rules barring them from engaging in battle.
Its highest recesses poked just into the clouds, leaving its grassy and muddy heights shrouded in a faint fog at all times. Trees and shrubbery stood out as a faint backdrop to a field of tall grass. It was hardly ideal for any human, but perfect for smaller Pokémon to blend into.
Suddenly, a small party appeared in the tall grass; Two teenagers; one a boy, and one a girl, a Pikachu and Empoleon accompanying, and an Abra floating beside them.
"..What is this place?" Dawn asked, furrowing her brow at their surroundings. "There's no one here! I don't even see a battlefield." She turned to Pocus, stationing her hands on her hips. "Are you sure you got the location right?"
"Ab-ra. Abra, ra." Pocus gestured with wide motions of his clawed hands, defending himself.
"No… I think it's right." Ash said. He adjusted the brim of his cap, squinting into the mist. "Remember, Pocus dropped us off at a spot that seemed out of place, last time. Remember: our opponent is a ninja. And this feels like something out of an old movie script. When a target's lost in the fog, and they're definitely being followed by an expert assassin."
"Since when did you watch those sorts of movies?" Dawn asked, squinting.
"I've watched lots of movies like that!" Ash defended, slapping a hand against his chest. "I loved those cheesy action flicks. And anyone who's watched one knows that they'll be ambushed when they expect it the least. And if I know my dramatic timing…"
Ash was on high alert. His ears were attuned to his surroundings, and his eyes flicked about, searching for anything amiss. A low wind whistled through the mountainous heights, rustling the tall grass. It was a perfect cover for any sort of movement to go undetected.
"Ash." Peeks alerted his trainer, tapping his shoulder. "Your Aura."
"Oh! You're right! Good call, Buddy." Ash reached up to scratch Peeks's cheek as thanks, and then closed his eyes, tuning out the rest of the world. If he could just focus, then…"
He felt it. A flicker of life buzzed in his peripheral, zipping through the tall grass. As quickly as it'd come, it vanished. "He's here."
Ash felt the ground shift under his feet. "Watch out!" He exclaimed, reaching for Dawn's wrist. He leapt back and yanked her with him, as the ground under them collapsed.
"Ah! Ash!?" Dawn yelped, as she was yanked back with him.
Empoleon jumped back on his own. Pocus leisurely floated back, safe and sound in the air.
"Fwahahahaha!"
Dust, dirt, and grass shrouded the air, forcing the group to guard their faces from the debris.
"Very perceptive, challenger. You've come a long way in responding to the ninja arts."
A tall silhouette could be seen through the clearing dust clouds. Glimpses of a purple ninja were visible through the disruption, before the shroud dispersed. A middle-aged man with dark, spiky hair stood on the other end of a large pit, with a red scarf hiding his nose and mouth, tied around the back of his neck. Bushy brows decorated piercing eyes, which met Ash's gaze.
"...But if your efforts of recovery are this clumsy, then you haven't a chance of defeating the second member of the Elite Four. If your constitution trembles, then retreat, posthaste!"
A dirt, rectangular battlefield laid at the bottom of the pit that Ash and company had just narrowly avoided. Ash took a deep breath, centering himself after a narrow escape.
"So, this was an ambush." Ash smirked, even as a bead of sweat rolled down his cheek. "You haven't changed a bit, Koga."
"What kind of introduction was that!?" Dawn exclaimed, bundling her firsts with fury. "You drop us into the middle of nowhere, and right into a trap!?" She turned her anger on Pocus, leaning in to glower at the ESP Pokémon. "You knew about this!?"
Pocus floated on his back with his arms folded behind his head, whistling idly.
"A proper Pokémon Master must train a discerning eye, lest they walk right into an enemy's hands," Koga lectured, with his arms crossed over his chest. "One who hopes to move beyond my pillar of the Elite Four must be ready for anything and everything!"
"Yeah, well I'm the Pokémon-Master-to-be, so try not to sink my girlfriend and her Pokémon, huh?" Even as Ash backed up Dawn and Empoleon, he grinned, leaping into the pit to stand on the outer end of the trainer's box. Peeks leapt off of Ash's shoulder, standing at his feet.
"Yeah! What Ash said!" Dawn huffed bitterly. She cupped her hands around her mouth. "Ash! You better go out there and kick that guy's butt, you hear me!? 'Till it's black and blue!"
"That's right!" Empoleon cawed.
If Koga felt any which way about Dawn's threats, he didn't show it. He closed his eyes, leaping into the pit in a series of acrobatic flips and somersaults, landing on one knee, with his hand planted against the dirt. "I am Koga of the Elite Four. I live in shadows — a ninja! My intricate style will confound and destroy you!" He stood upright, clasping his hands together, fingers interlocked, with the exception of his index fingers upright and together.
"Uh, yeah. I know who you are. We've met." Ash said dryly, scratching his cheek.
Koga's eyes snapped open, glaring. "Have you no appetite for the ninja arts!?"
"Not… particularly." Ash blinked. A moment passed, before the lightbulb in his head went off. "Ooooh, I get it! You're showing off — like this is an old movie! Alright, I see." Nodding to himself affirmatively, Ash adopted a stern expression, attempting to emulate Koga's hand symbols.
"Proceed, assassin! Reveal to me… the title by which you preside!" He hesitated, scrunching his nose. "Wait a minute. He already told us his name." Ash cleared his throat. "Tell me, what is the meaning of this ambush? For whom do which you carry out your sinister deeds!?"
"Ash." Peeks exhaled tiredly. "He quite literally just told you that he works for the Elite Four."
"...Oh. Right." A bead of sweat rolled down Ash's forehead.
Empoleon buried his face in his wing. "An uncool parent hurts worse than a stab through the heart."
"Well… At least he's… trying…!" Dawn gave a passive defense of her boyfriend's theatrics. She cleared her throat, and bundled her fists. "Try a little harder, Ash! You'll get there!"
"Thanks," Ash said dryly. "I'm feeling the love."
A red flush overtook Koga's face to the point where it crept past his mouth guard. "I see that you were truthful when you expressed an ignorance of the ninja arts. Very well! Let us proceed to the art of Pokémon Battling. I believe you're far better acquainted with that."
"That's fine by me!" Ash agreed enthusiastically, pumping a fist. "It's hard to imagine myself being a ninja, anyway. I came here as a Pokémon Trainer! So, bring it on, Koga!"
"Very well," Koda agreed. "Confusion, paralysis, poison…" He counted off each status affliction. raising a finger to correspond with each one. "Prepare to be a victim of my sinister techniques!" He snatched a Net Ball seemingly out of nowhere, holding it between his index and middle fingers. "Pokémon battles are not merely about brute force — you shall see, soon enough!"
Koga leapt backwards, slinging the Poké Ball backhanded. The small capsule spun through the air before bursting open, and a flash of light appeared before the Elite: A small pufferfish, with a teal upper body and cream-colored underbelly, many poisonous spikes, and a tailfin.
"A Qwilfish!" Ash narrowed his eyes. 'That's an interesting first choice…'
"Not what I expected," Dawn acknowledged from the sidelines. "But, Koga did just say that there's more to battles than brute force. Ash better be careful."
'If Koga's a Poison-type expert, I think I know where this is going,' Ash thought to himself. Before he could conspire further, a familiar voice rang, directly into his mind.
~We proceed as planned, then?~ Rosemary's scratchy voice echoed.
~You betcha.~ A smirk picked up on Ash's lips, as he juggled his Poké Ball of choice in the palm of his hand. "There's more to battles than force, but having some can't hurt! Show 'em, Rosa!"
Rosemary appeared on the field, crouching on one knee with her paw planted against the dirt. She peered up at Qwilfish with piercing red eyes. Her scarf drifted with a passing breeze.
Qwilfish took the cute to suck in air and inflate, making themselves several times larger. Suddenly — 'shink!' — their quills jabbed out into the open air, startling the Lucario.
Rosemary felt her heart skip a beat, and a faint blue aura washed over her. Her attack dropped.
Ash pulled out his Pokédex and aimed it at Qwilfish.
"Qwilfish's ability: Intimidate. It lowers the foe's attack stat."
"It's as I said," Koga reiterated, "there are many deadly avenues to victory beyond brute force. Does your Lucario wish to retreat…? Or will they fight on in the face of psychological warfare?"
~I'm just fine.~ Rosemary asserted herself, standing upright with a paw at her side. ~Let's go!~
"Fine with me!" Ash agreed, clutching an open palm at his side. "Use Aura Sphere!"
Rosemary mirrored Ash's stance, and a flash of light spawned atop her paw. A bright blue flash resonated with life energy, which Rosemary chucked overhand towards Qwilfish. The ground tore apart under its path, sending dirt and tall grass clippings flying to either side of it.
Koga folded his arms, standing upright. "Use Stockpile."
In the face of the coming Aura Sphere, Qwilfish inhaled a gust of air. He doubled in size, and his body flashed fuschia. Aura Sphere collided with him, sending flying into the sky above.
"So he's raising his defense with Stockpile," Ash noted, frowning.
"May your allies pierce themselves upon our many knives," Koga shouted. "Use Spikes!"
Qwilfish spun through the air, finally righting himself. Glowing needles fired from his quills, bombarding the battlefield around Rosemary. Each of the spikes sank into the dirt around her.
"We're not gonna let you do that for free!" Ash shouted. "Rosa! Use Bone Rush!"
The Lucario jetted into the sky, quickly catching up with Qwilfish using her powerful legs. She spawned a staff constructed out of her Aura, wielding it past her body and over her head.
"Riah!" She cried, striking Qwilfish over the head with the super-effective move.
Qwilfish plummeted, crashing into the battlefield.
"Come down for another!" Ash cried, as Rosemary came into a swift descent. She twirled the Bone Rush between her paws and around her back, striking at the Water-type a second time.
"Stockpile!"
Just as Rosemary struck, Qwilfish inhaled a second time, becoming even more rotund. His body filling with oxygen made him buoyant, and he hovered out of range, leaving his foe to hammer away at the dirt field.
Rosemary grit her teeth in frustration. But keeping track of her opponent wasn't hard; her eyes flicked behind her, spotting him just over her head. With a grunt of effort, she swung back at him and struck his rotund body with her club, knocking him into the air, once more.
"May all of your allies fear the ambush you've foolishly walked into," Koga roared. "Spikes!"
Qwilfish repeated their previous counterattack, littering the field with explosive spikes.
'That's right. Keep it up!' Ash thought to himself. 'Lay all the traps you want. Once Qwilfish is out of the picture, we'll clean up. And you can't hang on against Rosa, forever!' He closed a fist, and punched into the air as he roared his next command. "Meet 'im on the way down! Meteor Mash!"
Rosemary crouched, tightening a fist at her side. Cyan stardust burst around her paw and radiated from her hooked steel spike, spontaneously crackling with life. Her entire body burst with celestial energy, and she felt her power return to normal. She launched into the sky towards the falling Qwilfish, and struck him with a vicious uppercut. "Riaoh!"
"Nice! We got 'er attack back up!" Ash grinned, pumping a fist.
"It's time to go for the kill!" Peeks cheered. "Keep it up, Rosemary!"
"She's got her power back!" Dawn cheered. Even as she watched her daughter absolutely juggle Qwilfish, though, Dawn felt uneasy. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and she couldn't ignore a creeping chill. "There has to be more to this, though. Is Qwilfish just going to get knocked around and leave Spikes? There's got to be more to it than that for an Elite Four member."
She waited patiently, ignoring the tightness in her gut to put her faith in Ash.
"Now, let's wrap it up!" Ash shouted, holding both of his hands in front of his torso; Rosemary did the same, as a bright blue light ignited in her core. With a roar of effort, they hoisted their hands, and paws, up high. "Aura Storm!"
Rosemary poured an excess of her Aura into a giant blast, and fired it into the sky.
Aura Storm got halfway to reaching Qwilfish, before splitting into an entourage of Aura Spheres.
"Fortify your defenses, and become impenetrable!" Koga shouted. "Use Stockpile!"
Qwilfish was highlighted in the blinding teal that converged upon him. Unintimidated and undeterred, he greedily inhaled a third time, becoming massive, with his spikes poking out further. It all happened just in time for a storm of explosions to ricochet him about. Each Aura Sphere exploded knocking him around from a different angle to juggle him mercilessly.
Bright lights and smoke obscured him from view. Qwilfish grunted in pain, but stayed alert. His sharp, narrow eyes spotted a silhouette rising into the debris.
Rosemary hovered over him, with Bone Rush wielded over her shoulder.
"Foolish," Koga scolded. "Your greed will be your untimely demise! Qwilfish! Scald!"
Just as Rosemary swung to batter her opponent, Qwilfish spat scalding water directly into her face. She cried in pain, dropping her staff. Boiling water had doused her, and forced her away.
"Rosa!" Ash cried.
Rosemary landed on all fours. ~I'm.. I'm fine. It's nothing I can't—~
A roaring flame consumed the Lucario before dissipating.
"She's burned!" Ash grit his teeth, frustrated. They'd been fooled. "Her attack's cut in half!"
"I warned you of the danger of status afflictions," Koga lectured. "But we shan't simply stop at one. Qwilfish, litter the field with venom! Toxic Spikes!"
Qwilfish fell from the sky, bruised and battered by Rosemary's assault. Nonetheless, he persisted, firing a purple arrow from his mouth. It split into many poisonous needles that landed about Rosemary, sinking into the field.
"At least the poison can't hurt her," Dawn said, "both because she's burned and because she's a Steel-type. But Koga's making it really tough for Rosa to knock him out. If she can just hang in there, at least…"
"Let's see if we can't get our attack back up," Ash said. "Meteor Mash!"
The Knight of Rota shook off her discomfort, and lunged at Qwilfish, spiking him down to the field with a fist decorated in starlight. Sadly, she didn't feel her power increase a second time.
"No dice, then." Peeks said, snapping his fingers in disappointment.
"May this desolate mountainside become a graveyard!" Koga shouted. "Toxic Spikes!"
Qwilfish fired another barrage of Toxic Spikes. They seeped into the dirt.
"So, that's it… All of those Spikes and Toxic Spikes. Is that how you're going to beat us, Koga?" Ash asked, as he adjusted the brim of his cap. "Still, I'm sure even your Qwilfish won't last much longer. The poor guy's been eating up a lot of our attacks."
"Qwilfish is well-suited to the role he plays," Koga countered. "Although, I wonder if you'll see an end to our sabotage, anytime soon. Qwilfish, reap the rewards of your prudence! Use Swallow!"
A purple glow surrounded Qwilfish, as he deflated to his original size. All of his bruises and scratches faded away; his health was fully restored.
"There it is. Qwilfish is back to normal," Ash noted. Rosemary looked over her shoulder, and met his gaze. He nodded back to her. ~You got all of the Spikes and Toxic Spikes mapped out?~
The Lucario surveilled the field quickly, closing her eyes to the world. Disruptive spike clusters and creeping venom permeated the field in a multitude of locations across her end of the field.
She smiled, end nodded.
"Great!" Ash held out her Poké Ball, recalling her in a flash. "Rosa, return!"
"Hm…?" Koga raised a bushy brow at Ash's sudden change of pace.
Ash exchanged Rosa's Poké Ball with another, throwing it into the air. "Let's do it, Donphan!" He cried out, as his trumpeting Donphan spawned in mid-air. Ash pointed to the field. "Rapid Spin!"
Donphan tucked into his body, taking the shape of a tire to start whirring up and gaining momentum. He shot towards the field, attacking a stray patch of dirt. Clusters of Spikes emerged, and were torn and smashed to bits before they could detonate.
He used that momentum to ricochet to a different patch entirely, where the fumes of Toxic Spikes dissipated harmlessly into the air. Without suffering poison, he went on to bounce around the field in a precise and choreographed demolition derby.
"Awesome!" Dawn clapped her hands together. "He dug up all of the hazards without a scratch!"
"Ab-ra…" Pocus hummed, watching the development with mild interest.
"Don-don-don-don…!" Donphan trumpeted, kicking up traction as he skidded along the field, shooting towards Qwilfish to knock them back towards Koga. "Donphan!"
"We had a feeling that you'd be using some kinda hazard," Ash boasted, in the aftermath of his plan. "And nobody can scout anything amiss better than Rosa can. And, now that we know your tricks…!" He dramatically gestured a hand forward. "Let's finish this! Donphan, use Earthquake!"
Donphan cried, furiously stomping the field. The ground began to ripple and schism; powerful seismic waves making their way towards a waiting Qwilfish.
"And, with all of your Stockpiles spent, Qwilfish has no defenses left for Donphan!" Ash declared triumphantly.
"...Perhaps not," Koga replied curtly. "Drag your foe with you to the depths! Destiny Bond!"
"Crap!" By the time Ash realized his error, it was far too late.
Earthquake rattled Qwilfish, knocking them about before they rolled over at Koga's feet. The swirls in their eyes glowed, and a projection of them traveled towards Donphan.
Donphan groaned, before immediately collapsing onto his side.
"Donphan…!" Dawn gasped. She bundled up her fists, her cheek puffing out in frustration. "Ohhh… and he'd just entered the battle, too! Koga must've been gunning for this!"
"Pol! Empol!" Empoleon cried, waving a wing about. What a cowardly tactic!
Pocus tutted, returning his attention to the battle.
"...Sorry, Donphan." Ash recalled his Pokémon, staring at the Poké Ball in his palm. "Thanks for handling Qwilfish. I'm afraid Koga tricked us, though." He turned his attention back to the Elite, grimacing. "And here, I thought we'd outplayed you. I was waiting for those field hazards."
"Fwahaha!" Koga laughed, throwing his head back. "Of course you were. And it would be remiss of me to not plan accordingly. Your penchant for disrupting field hazards precedes you, challenger. It was a given that you would come with a Pokémon meant just for that." His thin, charcoal eyes glimmered. "And now, I've taken the liberty to remove them from the match!"
"So, Qwilfish was always waiting for Donphan!?" Ash exclaimed. "Then all of those attacks… Qwilfish was only here to lay them, and bait out my answer to them, weren't they?"
Koga's unflinching composure confirmed Ash's suspicions.
"I've gotta say. That's pretty ruthless." Ash smirked, even as sweat trickled down his cheek.
"Such is the way of the ninja," Koga replied simply. "We approach Pokémon battles with the same cold utilitarian ways that we do any mission: to cripple a foe at any cost, through deceit!"
He laughed to himself, again. "Of course, you're no different. Your Lucario acted as a scout for my own ambush; taking risks and punishment, purely to prepare Donphan. Did she not?"
"...Yeah. Hah, I guess she did." Ash laughed to himself. "I was playing my own ninja game, all along. But you were two steps ahead of me. Guess I should expect that from the Elite Four!"
"Indeed, you should." Koga recalled Qwilfish, and stowed his Poké Ball away. "Besting a ninja at their craft is a futile effort, at my level. You'd best play to your strengths, if you hope to survive the Champion's League." One Poké Ball was exchanged for another. Koga tossed it backhanded. "Go! Venomoth!"
Koga's Venomoth appeared, fluttering above the field. Purple scales looked far more refined and complex in their patterns than Janine's. He was also significantly larger. Beady round eyes gleamed, even as Venomoth drifted through the fog. "Veno-Venomoth."
"So, our next opponent is Venomoth," Ash noted.
"If our battle with Janine is anything to go by…" Peeks thought aloud.
Ash nodded. "It's all up to this guy." He smirked, juggling a Poké Ball in his palm. With a grunt of effort, he tossed it into the air, and it popped open, summoning a large mass of sludge.
"I choose you, Muk!"
"Muuuuhk…!" Muk groaned, extending a large, mucky hand into the air.
"Go, Muk, go!" Dawn cheered from the sidelines, waving a fist in the air. "You've got this!"
Ash smiled back at Dawn and nodded, before giving the fight ahead his full attention.
"Fire Blast!"
Muk opened his mouth wide, and unleashed a blazing star in Venomoth's path.
"A deadly opening assault," Koga remarked. "But, it's futile! Venomoth! Double Team!"
A swarm of Venomoth spawned out of thin air, swarming the field. Fire Blast blew through several imitations, leaving many behind untouched.
"An insect's evolution is the key to their victory!" Koga declared. "Use Quiver Dance!"
All of the remaining Venomoth copies began to dance and flutter in a storm, flickering with an eerie green glow. Their special attack, special defense, and speed increased, wherever they were among the illusions.
"There it is!" Ash's eyes glimmered, as he pointed towards the swarm. "Time to show you the special technique we've learned from Lorelei! Use Haze, Muk!"
"Muuuuk…" Muk opened his chasm of a mouth, spraying down the insects with a dark haze.
"Hmph! A futile effort." Koga waved a hand. "Use Double Team!"
The Venomoth horde multiplied further, reaching into the skies, beyond Haze's reach. Many of the copies disappeared in the thick vapor, but Ash couldn't see beyond the veil he'd ordered.
"Did they dodge it…?" Ash grimaced, assessing what little of the field he could see. He gasped.
Venomoth had spontaneously appeared behind Muk.
"Psychic!"
Venomoth's eyes flashed an eerie blue. Muk, then, contorted and groaned, finding his whole body subject to a psychokinetic press. He was thrown across the field, groaning in pain.
"Muk!" Ash cried. "They're so fast…!"
"As I said: a futile effort," Koga repeated, arms crossed over his chest. "To think that I would be unprepared for a numbing agent to clip our wings. Do you truly believe that I wouldn't have done reconnaissance on a battle that took place on my own domain!?"
"Your own…?" Ash blinked twice, brows furrowed as he put two and two together. "The Fuchsia Gym Battle! Then, you've seen our battle with Janine!"
"It would be a fatal mistake not to," the Elite replied. His eyes narrowed. "That also means that I'm privy to my cohort's ruse. To take credit for a technique you, yourself, have already mastered…"
Ash fell halfway towards a pratfall. "So, you've figured it out. Uhm… A ninja's best weapon is their deceit?" He said hopefully, improvising to cover for the blatant lie he'd been roped into.
"Perhaps, if it were used for anything but empty boasting," Koga replied. "I do hope that you haven't come to my battle empty-handed. I expect better of you, Ash, than to be unprepared."
"Lorelei has taught me some things, but I'm afraid that none of them are for you." Ash smiled in good humor, and then pointed towards Koga. "We'll just have to take you down, our way! Haze!"
Muk opened his mouth, flooding the field with Haze a second time.
"You've already shown your hand! Venomoth, Double Team!"
At Koga's behest, Venomoth multiplied throughout the skies, once more.
"As have you!" Ash declared with a grin. "Alright, Muk! Use Rock Slide!"
With a mighty groan, Muk commanded an avalanche of boulders to fall from above into the swarm. Many of Venomoth's copies were herded into the rock's paths, and demolished.
"Awesome!" Dawn clapped her hands together. "Ash used Haze to force the Venomoth away, and then used Rock Slide to catch them in a pincer attack! That's just what I'd expect from him!"
"Pol! Empol!" Empoleon cheered. He was using a ninja's underhanded ways as an asset!
"Baiting us into two different hazards. Impressive," Koga commended, "but it won't be enough! Use Air Slash, Venomoth! Slice that Rock Slide to bits!"
The cornered Venomoth illusions turned towards Rock Slide above Haze, beating their wings. A flurry of condensed storms sliced through Rock Slide, leaving rubble to fall through the ink.
"Damn it… I can't see them up there!" Ash grit his teeth, flicking his eyes about. Haze was starting to clear from the Air Slash, but he'd had no chance to scout which of them was the real deal. "There's no way to know which Venomoth really fired it."
He didn't have long to dwell on his conundrum, though: the remaining horde of Venomoth swept down towards the field, buzzing angrily on a straightforward path towards Muk.
"Fire Blast!" Ash cried.
Muk fired a blazing star into the cluster of clones, blasting them away.
This time, Venomoth spawned above Muk.
"May your nerves constrict! Stun Spore!"
Golden, hazardous powder rained down upon Muk. The Poison-type began to cough.
"Crap! He's paralyzed!" Ash swore. "They're moving so fast… Even when we cornered them with Rock Slide, we couldn't goad 'em into getting hit with Haze."
"Perhaps you ought to do your own reconnaissance," Koga lectured. "Facing an enemy blind is a fatal mistake."
"I didn't come in blind!" Ash justified. "I looked into your team, and I know that Venomoth has Quiver Dance, just like Janine's. That's one of the reasons I brought Muk to the battle, in the first place!"
"Ahhh," Koga hummed, "but you're blind to his Hidden Ability!"
"Come to think of it, I didn't see any information on Venomoth's ability." Ash reached into his jacket, and pulled out his Pokédex, pointing it towards Venomoth, who'd retreated to Koga's side of the field.
"Venomoth's Hidden Ability: Wonder Skin. Makes status-changing moves more likely to miss."
"So, that's why Haze hasn't been working…!" Ash grimaced. "Thanks, Dexter. Between that and Double Team…"
"A Venomoth can boast several utilitarian qualities. They're not the most physically sturdy, but their abilities and movepool are ideal for a Poison-type trainer versed in the deceptive arts," Koga explained. "My Venomoth has skin that resists undesirable status effects. Even if Haze has touched their scales, they're likely to shed its influence before he loses his might!"
"That's awful!" Dawn frowned, linking her hands together. "Then, even Haze probably won't work; especially if they're already that much harder to hit with their speed, and Double Team…"
"...Then we're going to have to find a way around their strategy," Ash finished Dawn's thought, grimacing. 'They're going to expect a Haze, up-front. We're just going to have to experiment until we find something that works.' His eyes drifted to Muk. 'And Muk's a glutton for punishment. So, I can trust you to take the heat for now, big guy. If only he wasn't paralyzed.'
The trainer shook his head. There was no point in doom and gloom. "Fire Blast, Muk!"
"Muuuk…!" Muk groaned, opening his mouth, once more. Suddenly, he recoiled, unable to move. His entire body was numb.
"He's paralyzed," Ash muttered through grit teeth.
"An immobile target is already one foot into the grave," Koga said. "Use Quiver Dance!"
Venomoth performed another dance on air, flickering with light. His stats raised, once more.
There was little Ash could do, but push forward. He waved a hand aside. "Rock Slide!"
"Muuuk…!" Muk raised his arms, preparing to conjure his counterattack.
"Air Slash!"
Venomoth beat his wings, firing a windstorm directly into Muk. The condensed gust sent him flying backwards, landing in an amorphous puddle at Ash's feet.
"Muuuk…!" Muk groaned, struggling to reassert his mass.
"Hang in there, Muk!" Ash encouraged his Pokémon. "Rock Slide, one more time… Er, Muk?"
"Muuh…" Muk grumbled, struggling to put himself back together. He looked disoriented.
"Damn it. He's flinched!"
"Paralysis, confusion, flinching, and stealth!" Koga exclaimed, clasping his index fingers and thumbs together to form a hand sign. "There's no end to the sabotage deployed by ninjas! And while you suffer and struggle, we will further prepare ourselves for combat! Quiver Dance!"
Venomoth used his free time to flutter about, with even greater speed than before.
"Tch… They're even stronger, now!" Ash grimaced, bundling up a fist.
"And, we'll use our superior wit to make you submit! Venomoth! Psychic!" Koga ordered.
A flash of Venomoth's eyes exerted telekinetic pressure upon Muk, smashing the pile of sludge down deeper into the dirt. But, Ash noticed something curious about the assault; only Muk's head was being compressed by Psychic. His arms were left loose and uncompromised.
"Muk! Reach up and grab 'im!" Ash urged.
The two grimey arms left unattended shot into the air, drawing on much of the sludge that'd been compressed into the pile that was Muk. Each hand grabbed one of Venomoth's wings.
"What!?" Koga exclaimed, flabbergasted. "Venomoth! Free yourself!"
Venomoth struggled and flapped his wings, but found himself immobile. With his lower wings locked in place, there was little he could do. "Veno…! Venomoth!"
Ash grinned, pointing towards Venomoth. "Fire Blast!"
With Venomoth sufficiently distracted, Muk broke free of their telekinesis, and regained his shape. He opened his maw wide, firing a blazing star towards his trapped foe.
Fire Blast hit its mark, consuming Venomoth. Smoke and embers rained over the field.
"Yes! Way to go Muk!" Dawn clapped her hands together, jumping in place. "Oh, I knew that flexibility would come in handy — Grimer and Muk can do just about anything!" She reflected on the Grimer she'd fought alongside at Rowan's Summer Academy. She had a bit of a bias!
"Between his flexibility, and Ash's quick thinking, they've got this fight licked."
"Pol."
"Huh?" Dawn looked over to her partner. "What's wrong, Empoleon?"
In contrast to his trainer, Empoleon looked remarkably stern. He eyed the clearing smoke cloud with suspicion, and sure enough, his fears were confirmed. Venomoth continued to flutter, albeit sporting many burn marks across his scales. "Poleon."
"That didn't cut it…!" Dawn huffed in frustration. "Then, that must mean…"
"...That Quiver Dance gave Venomoth the defenses he needed to pull through," Ash finished through grit teeth. "I was hoping a straight-on Fire Blast would do the trick."
"Veno! Venomoth!" Venomoth zipped around the battlefield with ease, despite their damage.
"Fwahahaha! That was a clever strategy to bypass our defenses, challenger. But one mere Fire Blast won't be enough to defeat Venomoth. If that is your best, you may as well surrender."
"Surrender? Not in a million years!" Ash countered, raising a hand skyward. "Rock Slide!"
"Swarm the fray like a swarm of locusts! Double Team!"
As Venomoth multiplied his image exponentially, Muk attempted to call another avalanche, but then he suddenly fell flat, collapsing on himself. "Muk…!"
"He's paralyzed, again," Peeks said bitterly.
"We're in trouble," Ash muttered. "Venomoth's got us surrounded, coming from who knows where. To top it off, Muk can't even move… We need a way to catch 'em off guard."
"Even if we do," Peeks replied, "we need a way to reach them. Muk's a sitting duck."
Ash nodded in agreement. "We need a way…" Ash's eyes opened wide. "That's it!"
"That change in his tone…" Dawn smiled, bundling her fists. "Ash has some kind of plan!"
"Poleon," Empoleon squawked. If he does, he'd better launch it quickly!
Pocus hummed quietly, making note of Dawn's immense confidence in Ash. He was skeptical, but after the battle with Lorelei, there had to be something to it. He floated higher up for a better view, mindful to stay far away from the Venomoth storm. He didn't want to be in the crossfire.
"This battle's been pretty cozy for you so far, Venomoth," Ash said with a guileish smile. "Sitting up there in the air without much keeping you from approaching us. But I'm afraid we're going to have to turn up the heat!" He gestured a hand forward with confidence. "Fire Blast on the field!"
"Muuuuk…!" Muk roared with effort, shaking off his paralysis to fight on Ash's behalf. He conjured a five-pronged blaze, torching the field with it directly. Its five streams of fire ignited in all directions, sparking much of the dead grass into pyres of their own. In mere moments, a majority of the field, absent of where Muk, himself, sat, was consumed in walls of fire.
"Gah…!" Koga raised an arm to guard himself from the heat.
Meanwhile, many of the Double Team copies vanished into the flames, while the surviving ones scurried into the open air and out of harm's way. Only a handful of Venomoth remained.
"The field…! How did… I see!" Koga's eyes widened. "The battlefield was littered with grass and plant life, due to the trap I, myself, set to initiate my ambush!"
"That's right!" Ash shouted, over the snapping and flickering of raging flame. "You were nice enough to give us something to work with, just to show off. Now, the field is ours!"
"So, I've fallen to my hubris… A commendable maneuver, challenger!" Koga shouted over the flames. "But we won't fall to one mere error! Venomoth! Extinguish the flames with Air Slash!"
The Venomoth clones gathered and beat their wings, assaulting the flames with dense clusters of wind; several times larger and more vicious than the first they'd unleashed. Windstorms pulverized the field among the illusions, dousing the flames, one after another.
"There it is!" Ash grinned, brushing his index fingers over the bridge of his nose.
The Air Slash volley burst against the charred field, kicking up a massive current of hot air.
"Muk!" Muk was flung into the air. The rising winds had made him buoyant.
"What's this!?" Koga exclaimed.
"Ash is…" Dawn gasped. "He's using our move from the Grand Festival!"
"Pol! Poleon!" Empoleon cried. He recognized the tactic as well as Dawn did; when Togekiss had used Sky Attack to whip a powerful Air Slash up beneath his and Glenda's Persian. The wind tunnel formed by Air Slash had given him footing in mid-air.
Dawn couldn't hide her grin behind her hand. Her heart soared with pride in Ash and in herself.
"Nice going, Ash! You can do it, Muk!"
"See, Muk needed a lift to get closer to Venomoth, so I thought I'd get you to do the work for us!" Ash punched the air, as he watched the gelatinous Pokémon rise ever higher. "And what's better than air is hot air, if you want to move on up! How's that for deceit?"
Rather than wait for an answer to his boast, Ash waved a hand. "Now! Use Rock Slide!"
The remaining Venomoth were put in the shadows of gigantic falling rocks. With a swing of Muk's arms, Rock Slide descended upon them, erasing several more of the Venomoth.
"Venomoth! Evasive action!" Koga cried, as the remaining insects zipped in between the falling boulders. In the midst of the ambush, Koga's sharp eye spotted something peculiar: one of the boulders had purple slime latching onto it. "...Aha! You've sought refuge amongst the rubble! Venomoth! Use Air Slash on the boulder Muk has latched itself to!"
"Veno! Venomoth!" One of the Venomoth identified the mucky rock, and fired an Air Slash, smashing the boulder to smithereens. Toxic goo flew about, but Muk was nowhere to be found.
Koga gasped. "A decoit…?"
"A Substitute!" Ash corrected, grinning. "And now we know which Venomoth is the real Venomoth! Get 'im, Muk!" One of the last falling boulders came down from above, which Muk crept his way across, coating it in purple sludge. "Use Haze, now!"
Muk opened his mouth, spraying Venomoth with thick haze before they could retaliate.
"Curses!" Koga watched his strategy fall apart, before his eyes; the remaining Double Team clones vanished, and his Pokémon, very likely, had lost his boosted stats. "Even Venomoth wouldn't dispel Haze with his Wonder Skin, at such close range!"
"That's right!" Ash declared triumphantly. "Now, use Screech!"
Muk opened his mouth, bombarding Venomoth with a horrid Screech. The sound waves pressured the moth out of Haze's veil and towards the field, below, cutting his defenses. Tried as he may to flutter away, Venomoth found himself subdued by the disorienting sound.
"Now, Body Slam!"
What Muk had started, gravity finished. Muk fell from above; his huge, malleable but heavy body falling and crushing Venomoth beneath his weight. "Muk!" He cried, allowing physics to take over where his numb body was less able. Venomoth struggled beneath him, to no avail.
"Let's finish this!" Ash swept a hand through the air. "Use Fire Blast!"
Muk retreated from a weary Venomoth, whose flight was awkward and sluggish.
"Venomoth! Retreat!" Koga urged. To his chagrin, though, he had to assess Venomoth's awkward movements. "Curses. Body Slam has inflicted paralysis!"
There was nothing the moth could do, as Fire Blast hit its mark, scorching him.
Ash guarded himself from the heat, grinning behind his arm. When the bright light faded, Venomoth laid face first on the field, unconscious. "We did it!"
"Alright!" Dawn cheered, jumping in place. "Ash, Ash, he's our man! He beats any ninja clan! Let's go Muk, weigh 'em down — take them down, pound for pound!"
"Eeeeempoleon!" Empoleon trilled, finishing off Dawn's chant.
"Ab… Bra." Pocus floated back down, tapping Dawn's shoulder. "Ab-Abra," he gestured to her.
"Well, of course I was right!" She boasted, puffing her chest out proudly. "I told you that Ash can think his way out of anything! With that Substitute, he beat a seasoned ninja at his own game!"
"Well done… Most well done!" Koga praised, as he recalled Venomoth to his Poké Ball. "To think that you would fool us not once, not twice — more times over than I'd care to admit! I did not expect a Substitute from a straightforward battler, such as yourself."
"Bring 'er here, Muk!" Ash held out a fist, which Muk extended his own arm to bump with his own. After a brief celebration with his Pokémon, the trainer turned his attention back to Koga.
"I had a feeling that I'd need tactics like that to beat you. And with that weird, sludge-y body, Muk can make a substitute to fool opponents, no problem! It was a pretty complicated plan, but if you want to fight underhanded, we can fight underhanded!"
"That's… that's right!" Muk raised a hand, boastful of his hard-earned victory. His breaths were labored, and his mind weary. But he'd triumphed over the opponent he'd been brought to beat.
"You're learning to think like a ninja, Ash Ketchum. Continue this streak, and you may go far," Koga conceded. "With that said… Koga of the Elite Four will not concede without fighting, tooth and nail!" He reared back, throwing another Poké Ball onto the field. "Fluttering death and pestilence will be followed by brutal, unforgiving venom! Go, Toxicroak!"
Koga's next Pokémon was a Toxicroak. The Toxic Mouth Pokémon leered at Ash and Muk, wearing a snide and condescending grin. "Croaaak!" He cried, raising his sharp stingers.
"So, our next opponent's Toxicroak," Ash acknowledged, frowning. 'That's not a great match-up for Muk, and he's already exhausted, Plus, I may need to send him back out later.' With his next choice deliberated, Ash extended Muk's Poké Ball. "Alright, Mu—"
"Retreat is forbidden! Pursuit!"
By the time Ash could tap the center button on Muk's Poké Ball, Toxicroak had lunged across the field, in the form of a teal and red blur. "Croak!" He shrieked, smashing one of his stingers into Muk's body.
"Muuh…!" Muk choked out, as his body folded in around Toxicroak's fist.
Toxicroak sneered, and swung his fist in an uppercut, brutally launching Muk into the air.
Muk was unconscious before he hit the ground. He disappeared into his Poké Ball.
"...Tch." Ash swore under his breath, placing his Pokémon's capsule back on his belt. He raised the brim of his cap, grimacing. "So, you weren't going to let us have that, were ya?"
"You were wise to seek a tactical retreat," Koga praised. "But foolish to think you had our permission to. Surely, you didn't believe only you were privy to the advantages of having a Poison-type in reserve, in the wake of additional Toxic Spikes?" Ash grit his teeth at the accusation. Koga may well have smiled underneath his bandana. "As I thought."
"We really have to be careful," Peeks warned, joining Ash back on his shoulder for just a moment. He could feel the momentum and confidence they'd just built evaporating. His trainer needed his support. "We can't let our guard down, even for a second with him."
Ash inhaled, and exhaled. "You're right. When it comes to the Elite Four, it's a fight to the finish!"
Chapter 8: Koga II - Acid Armor
Chapter Text
"When it comes to the Elite Four, it's a fight to the finish!"
Ash's own words echoed in his mindscape, as he rolled a Poké Ball between his fingertips. He and Koga were each down two Pokémon. On its face, that wasn't a bad place to be, one or two legs into the battle. But, while Ash held the advantage in split-second tactics, as he often did, Koga was excelling in strategy; he'd meant for Qwilfish to draw out Donphan and take him out.
Rosa, while conscious and full of vitality, had suffered a burn. Later, she'd be fighting at a disadvantage. If Ash could be honest with himself, though, that wasn't a dealbreaker.
Worse than what was, was the anticipation of what could be. The uncertainty seeping into Ash wasn't quite like a deadly poison, robbing him of his strength to fight; he hadn't come this far just to lose resolve. If anything, it was an itch; an irritating distraction, nagging him every so often—
"Pikapi."
Peeks's voice riled Ash from his thoughts. His partner's weight was a steady presence on his shoulder; a bit of an odd habit, in the middle of a battle. He must've been in tune with his stress.
"Thanks, Buddy. I'm alright now." Ash smiled, scratching his partner's cheek. "I'm good to go!"
Peeks smiled, satisfied with the pep in Ash's voice, and hopped off of his shoulder.
"Fwahaha! Losing resolve so early, are we, challenger?" Koga taunted. "At this rate, you'll have no hope of defeating me and moving on to the next echelon of the Champion's League!"
"Hate to disappoint you, but that's not happening." Ash smirked, regaining his air of confidence. "I've just been thinking about how you use a lot of sneaky tactics and mind games to win."
"And you seek to cry foul about my approach?" Koga closed his eyes to the world. He looked tired upon reciting those worlds. Ash had a feeling they were many a challenger's last pleas, before their runs took an unfortunate turn. In him, Koga saw many a tragic defeat.
He'd have fun proving him wrong.
"Nah." Ash tapped the center button on his Poké Ball, and it expanded to fit his palm. "I'm just thinking about how there's no point in trying to outdo you in your way of battling. As great as all of that underhanded stuff is, I've got something I don't think you're prepared for!"
Without further ado, Ash chucked his next into the fray. "Tauros! I choose you!"
Tauros stomped the field, bellowing loudly. His three tails whipped behind him; anxious for combat. He made eye contact with Koga's Toxicroak.
Toxicroak sneered, loosening up his posture, as if not to take his opponent seriously.
Tauros snorted.
"Stone Edge!"
Tauros complied immediately, smashing his hooves into the dirt. Pillars of solid stone erupted in a column, steadily pursuing Toxicroak.
"Toxicroak," Koga urged.
The Poison Mouth Pokémon acted at once, leaping into the air, just as Stone Edge erupted underneath his feet. He found footing on one of the other rocky outcrops, planting one foot over the other. "Croak!" He cried, swiftly bounding from one to another, closing in on Tauros.
Tauros snorted, expelling heat through his nostrils. "Slimy, slippery bastard!"
"Ain't he?" Ash grinned, waving a hand aside. "Let's pay 'em back for it! Stomping Tantrum!"
Tauros pounded and stomped the field in frustration, breaking the dirt-laden field apart. The Stone Edge columns directly in front of him splintered and broke apart, launching dangerous fragments of stone towards the approaching Poison-type, who swiftly hid behind Stone Edge.
Stone Edge's projections were demolished one after another, several tiers forward, before Stomping Tantrum's momentum ran out. Dust and rubble clouded Ash's end of the field.
"Did we get 'em…?" Just as Ash asked, a silhouette appeared in the dust.
Toxicroak slipped behind Tauros, only to give the bull a kick in the rear; not quite enough to hurt him, but enough to make him bellow and snort, turning around to face his assailant.
"Unraveling constitutions spell the beginning of the end!" Koga declared. "Use Swagger!"
Tauros turned to bring his wrath upon the slimy toad who'd dared to kick him in the hind corners, and he expected said toad to go running scared, after he'd dodged his last two attacks.
On the contrary, though, Toxicroak hadn't gone anywhere. He was right in Tauros's face, leaning in with his hands on his hips. His contemptible, slimy, sneering grin mocked Tauros. His brows turned up in a condescending, obnoxious expression, and he hunched over like a delinquent.
"Tox. Croak. Toxicroak?" He jeered, provoking Tauros.
Ash couldn't tell exactly what Toxicroak had said, but the result was the same: a vein popped out of Tauros's forehead, He cried with fury, seeing absolutely red. In fact, his entire body was enveloped in a red glow; his attack boosted sharply in his anger.
Instead of attacking as directed, however, Tauros charged directly at Stone Edge, bashing his head into the solid rock. He did so repeatedly, smashing it to rubble.
"Your Pokémon is no longer under your control! Your defeat is imminent!" Koga cried. "Now, Toxicroak, use Cross Chop!"
"Croak!" Toxicroak smirked, lunging and somersaulting over the rampaging Tauros, raising both of his hands over his head; a violet glow surrounded them. He shrieked, striking down upon Tauros's skull for a direct hit. "Tox." He vaulted off of Tauros, landing with his back to him.
Tauros collapsed onto all fours.
"Confusion is more than just a missed opportunity to attack," Koga lectured. "Reduced faculties also mean a lowered guard. With Cross Chop, we can strike at your weakest points with ease!"
"Yeah?" Ash asked. "Might be nice, if it did anything."
Toxicroak felt a strange chill overcome him; an impending danger just within reach. He slowly turned around, where he faced Tauros, who was already back on his feet. The bull glowered at him, digging his hooves into the dirt.
"You'll need a lot more than that if you wanna take down Tauros," Ash boasted. "If you get the chance, that is. Alright, Tauros! Show them your Swagger!"
"Hey, you fat-throated git." Tauros snorted, craning and stretching his neck out. "You plannin' on hitting any harder than that? My neck's a feeling a lil' stiff. Maybe you could work it out for me."
Toxicroak fumed, bashing his poisonous fists together. "Croooak!" He cried a threat in retaliation, as a steaming red aura embellished him, too. He dove at Tauros, swinging a kick towards his shin.
A bright, orange blaze surrounded Tauros, as he swung his head forward, smashing his skull against Toxicroak's. The Poison-type was sent lurching back, tumbling across the dirt.
Tauros cried out, charging towards Toxicroak with his horns lowered and ready.
"Toxicroak! Evasive action!" Koga urged. Fortunately for him, Toxicroak obeyed, taking to the air.
Tauros missed Toxicroak completely, but continued charging in a frenzy. He smashed into another pillar of Stone Edge, burying himself in rubble.
Toxicroak lunged without warning and without command, hovering over the debris. He spat a green mass of sludge into the rubble, mostly coating the rocks themselves in corrosive goo.
Tauros emerged from the pile, snorting and stomping.
"To think that you were also keeping Swagger hidden up your sleeve." Koga remarked. His last move had been ineffective, but ultimately uncostly. "Did you not boast that you would be employing a different approach than I?"
As Koga lectured, Toxicroak shook his head out, freeing himself of his confusion.
The ground began to rupture and break under Tauros's hooves. In his fury, he expelled a giant, wide-reaching orange blaze from his nostrils, in the Poison Mouth Pokémon's direction.
Toxicroak, with Koga's urging, hid behind yet another Stone Edge pillar. Even with relative shelter, he was forced up against the stone to avoid as much of the open air as possible; the excessive heat was making him uncomfortable. As an amphibian, he couldn't sweat it off, either.
That'd been a close one.
"This is a different approach!" Ash boasted, smiling. "There's a difference between you and I, Koga. You're comfortable putting all those status effects on your opponents. But how used are you to fighting an opponent who's more comfortable being confused than your Pokémon is?"
A blue aura fell over Tauros, as his special attack dropped sharply.
"Tauros's whole thing is anger. He's just as dangerous in his confusion as he is out of it — you won't know just how he'll lash out at you! That's his secret. Have fun dealing with a living wrecking ball!"
"Humph! I see. You used your Pokémon's natural ferocity against me. A keen strategy," Koga conceded. "However! You musn't neglect the words of a ninja. Toxicroak! Cross Chop!"
"Croah!" Toxicroak sprinted towards the confused Tauros, jumping above him. With both of his arms raised, he came down to deliver a devastating Cross Chop. The bull stood, unmoving.
"Zen Headbutt!"
Tauros's skull glimmered with a bright blue light. Without warning, it bashed into Toxicroak.
Toxicroak fell on his back, holding his throat in pain. He'd been struck right below the chin.
"And you shan't neglect mine!" Ash countered, pointing forward with gusto. "Stone Edge!"
Suddenly, Tauros retained all the clarity in the world. The fog of fury and war had been dispelled from his mind, and he attacked without reserve or confusion. Powerful hooves struck the earth, summoning a series of Stone Edge twice as vicious as before. Toxicroak was within its crosshairs.
"Make haste, Toxicroak!"
The ground's vibrations rattled under Toxicroak. He sprung back into a handstand, backflipping to narrowly avoid the sharp rock jutting from the earth. As soon as a safe, wide foothold was available, he boarded it. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced back at his trainer.
Koga nodded.
"Dodge us again, will ya?" Ash punched the air. "Tauros! Use Stomping Tantrum!"
Tauros bellowed, rearing up on his hind legs. He brought his hooves down with force.
"Use Low Sweep!"
A blur of teal zipped through the rocky columns. Just before Tauros struck earth, he felt a sharp pain in his shin, and cried out.
Toxicroak had slid across the dirt, delivering a merciless kick to Tauros's leg. He grinned.
"Tauros!" Ash exclaimed. His Pokémon took several steps back, recoiling in pain. "Low Sweep lowers a Pokémon's speed… But we don't need speed for this! Stomping Tantrum, again!"
"Interrupt my stomping, will ya!?" Tauros grunted, as steam hissed out of his nostrils. He glared at Toxicroak, and stood up again. "I'll flatten you out!" Acting on his frustration, he brought down his hooves. They hit the ground with a whimper, and he stopped short.
"Tauros!?" Ash exclaimed. There was no stomping tantrum to speak of!
"May your vitality be pilfered by your enemies! Drain Punch!" Koga cried, as Toxicroak sneered, slipping beneath the ailing Tauros's guard. He punched directly into the Normal-type's torso.
Tauros cried, as a green glow washed over him, and seeped into Toxicroak, who quickly rolled back and hopped over to his side of the field..
"A super-effective hit," Ash muttered, grimacing. "But forget that - you put a complete stop to Stomping Tantrum, with that Low Sweep!" His eyes widened in the wake of a realization. "You injured his leg to make hitting the ground painful, and cancelled it out. Just like—"
"Just like you and your Infernape, yes." Koga finished for him. " I told you that I did reconnaissance for our battle. I never said that it was limited to just my Gym. Your challenge to the Indigo League provided a look at all of your Pokémon - an opportunity that I would be foolish to ignore. Attacking Metagross's legs as you did was to neuter their Earthquakes, was it not?"
"Hah! Nothing gets past you, does it?" Ash smirked as he adjusted his cap, even as sweat dripped down his forehead. Koga's sense of perception was frightening. "I didn't even admit that during the battle. I was wondering if Deidra'd caught on."
"Whether she had or hadn't, it was simply too late - you'd already won. Now, your very own fate is sealed by the same measure!" Koga pointed towards Ash. "A rampaging beast who can no longer rampage is like a Beedrill without its stinger. And, matters are even worse than you realize."
"Worse…?" Ash raised a brow. "Tauros, what's he talking about?"
"Well, he's got me feelin' ill," Tauros replied, turning to look at Ash, "if that's what ya mean."
The bull had a streak of sickly blue over his muzzle.
"Shit," Ash swore. "He's poisoned. But, you didn't even use a Poison-type move!"
"That is Toxicroak's ability: Poison Touch," Koga explained. "With every trace of physical contact we inflict, there's a chance that his venom will creep into your veins, through Toxicroak's stingers. In this case, Drain Punch didn't just restore Toxicroak's vitality; it put a clock on yours."
"Poison Touch and Drain Punch," Dawn echoed from the sidelines, folding her hands over her chest. "Koga's strategies are deadly. If they keep at it, Tauros is going to run out of steam before they ever can!"
"Pol!" Empoleon cried, cleaving one of his wings through the air.
"Right. He has to use all of his power to finish them at once!"
"That's a great strategy, Koga!" Ash praised, lifting the brim of his cap with a grin. "Hope it works for ya."
"Pardon?" Koga's eyes widened, rising to meet Ash's to decipher his words.
Tauros, despite his ailments, was treading the dirt with his better hoove, standing strong.
"I just wouldn't go making Tauros mad, if I were you. Because it's going to take a lot more than that to do him in! Am I right, big guy?"
Tauros rolled his head, whipping his three tails about. "Ayup. Nothin' more than a bad itch."
"Stone Edge! To their right!" Ash cried, waving a hand as Tauros complied, stomping down with his good leg. A column of sharp stones erupted in sequence just to Toxicroak's right. The frog quickly leapt away, creating some distance between himself and the stones.
"Overheat! To his left!"
With a ferocious cry, Tauros fired a bright orange blaze past Toxicroak. Scalding heat forced him to back off from his route of escape, making the Poison-type croak in discomfort.
"Now, use Facade!"
Toxicroak was left trapped between overpowering heat, and a raging bull, growing ever closer. Tauros's body was enveloped in a blazing orange aura. His creeping poison only made him more stubborn to press on, and more ferocious. He cried, smashing his body weight into Toxicroak. Toxicroak flew across the field, sliding through the dirt on his back.
"Facade… I see." Koga grumbled. Toxicroak was struggling to sit up, already on the verge of defeat. "So you've prepared thoroughly for our strategies, as well."
"I picked up Facade from a friend of ours," Ash explained. "Your Toxicroak's looking pretty rough! You sure you don't wanna confuse Tauros again? Toxicroak did a great job of it, last time." He taunted, flashing a guileish grin.
"You insult me with your provocations," Koga spat. "Do you not think we've studied your strategies? Toxicroak! Drain Punch!"
Toxicroak lunged at Tauros, striking him with a right hook. The blow sent Tauros stumbling back.
"What strategy? I don't know what you're talking about," Ash feigned. "Overheat!"
Tauros shook his head out, only to suffer another round of poison. He paused before expelling another white-hot flame. Its power and volume was halved from its last use.
"When Tauros was consumed with rage from Swagger, you ordered Zen Headbutt," Koga recalled. "That was no accident!"
The reduction in speed and power allowed Toxicroak to sail over Overheat with ease.
"Your Tauros fortified his mental strength, and dispelled confusion! You reaped the benefits of his fury, with none of the downsides, and did so strategically so as to leave us unawares!" Koga accused, as he chopped two knived hands across his torso. "Your fury is your fuel! But it shall fuel you no longer! Toxicroak! Cross Chop!"
"Crooak!" Toxicroak cried, dropping in from above. His spectacular leg strength allowed him great altitude with a simple leap. He'd cleared Overheat, and hung just over Tauros. He somersaulted, striking directly down upon Tauro's skull. Violet lights cleaved through the air.
"Tauros!" Dawn gasped, cupping her mouth with her hands. "That was a direct critical hit. After taking those other attacks head-on, I hope he can pull through!"
"Pol!" Empoleon scoffed, waving a hand to and fro. "Em-poleon." His tone was smug and assured.
Dawn had to assume that his sharper eye had caught something she hadn't. "He's still up for more, then?"
"Pol."
"That and then some?" Dawn turned her eyes back to the field, brows furrowed. A brilliant fiery red overtook Tauros's body, as he pulled himself upright with a mighty bellow.
"That really hurt, y'know!" Tauros roared, stomping his good hoof into the dirt. Cold, creeping fear was written across Toxicroak's face; the Poison Mouth took several steps backwards. Tauros stepped closer, glowering at him. His frightening face was highlighted in red. "You're dead meat."
"What was that you said about 'fueling us no longer?'" Ash asked, goading Koga with a smile. "I warned ya about Tauros's temper, but Swagger wasn't the only thing you had to watch out for!"
"I see…" Koga's eyes narrowed. "So, your Tauros's ability is Anger Point."
"You've got that right." Ash confirmed Koga's fears, as Tauros stepped closer to an unnerved Toxicroak. "Whether Tauros gets stronger one way or the other makes no difference to him, or to me. You're left dealing with him, either way!"
"I see… A demon of destruction, no matter the recourse. Quite reminiscent of his Indigo Plateau performance," Koga mulled. "But even a devil isn't infallible! Toxicroak, use Drain Punch!"
Toxicroak screeched, and lunged at Tauros with a fist prepared.
"Stone Edge!" Ash cried, punching the air.
Tauros stomped the ground with his good hoof. Stone spires erupted in sequence; far mightier and taller than the previous, thanks to his newfound power. One erupted under Toxicroak, forcing the savvy frog to lurch back and take hold of the rising pillar. That'd been close.
Koga's eyes narrowed. "Use Venoshock!"
Toxicroak spat corrosive goo from his perch; a green, sinister slime that would double the effects of Tauros's poison ailment.
"Overheat!" Ash cried, waving a hand through the air.
Tauros fired again; his scalding winds weaker, still. They couldn't overcome Venoshock. But, it did manage to detonate the hazard, flooding the battlefield with ashes and poisonous clouds. A dark streak passed through the smoke, which Tauros spotted out of the corner of his eye.
"He's comin', the cowardly bastard!" He bellowed back to Ash.
"Yeah, I figured." Ash's eyes narrowed in stern concentration. "Wait for my signal!"
"Drain Punch!"
"Tauros, now! Your tails!" Ash cried.
Tauros's three whip-like tails snapped out, and seized his assailant.
The debris started to clear, revealing the field to Ash and Koga alike.
Tauros snorted, hoisting his three tails in the air. They'd wrapped entirely around Toxicroak, who'd attacked him from the flank. His arms were pinned to his sides, where the light of Drain punch dimmed. The Poison Mouth Pokémon struggled in vain.
"You seized him," Koga grumbled, frustrated.
"What? You thought you could attack us from behind twice?" Ash smirked, lifting the brim of his cap. "Here's a lesson for ya, Koga: From the Ketchum Ninja School! A Pidgeotto stung once avoids the same Beedrill hive!" He waved a hand downwards. "Put 'im down, Tauros!"
Tauros smashed Toxicroak into the dirt below with a whiplash of his tails.
"And here's a second lesson — A Kingler may lose their big claw, but they still have one good claw to hit you with! Tauros! Stomping Tantrum!"
Tauros bellowed with fury, leaning his weight on his strong foreleg to hoist up his hind legs. With a brutal show of force, he stomped down upon Toxicroak. Dirt and rocky debris were uprooted in the aftermath.
Koga guarded himself, and waited for the inevitable. Toxicroak was, indeed, knocked out. The Elite exhaled. "...You waited to be flanked to use Stomping Tantrum with his hind legs." He recalled Toxicroak, stowing the Poké Ball away. "Your overpowering force twisted my arm so that I would be forced to attack covertly, and pay the price from absolutely any angle."
"You've got us down pat!" Ash grinned, brushing his index finger over his nose in a show of confidence. "That was the kind of victory that only Tauros could pull off. Great going, big guy!"
Tauros snorted again, in satisfaction, this time. His sickly complexion ailed him, but he'd held stubborn against his waning stamina. "Try and stop my stomping, will ya? That's what you get."
"Alright!" Dawn clapped her hands together, hopping in excitement. "That's another victory for Team Ketchum!" Grinning, she settled back into a cooler confidence. "I guess you were right about that 'and then some,' after all, huh, Empoleon?"
"Pol!" Empoleon tilted his beak up, as if to say there was never a need to doubt him.
"Ab…" Pocus floated beside Empoleon and Dawn, tapping his claw against his cheek idly. Ash, so far, was directing the pace of the battle. If this continued much longer, Koga would be in peril.
"Right… I think you could use a break, Tauros." Ash recalled his Pokémon, smiling down at his Poké Ball. "Save that strength for later; we might need you."
"We're looking strong!" Peeks cheered, patting his trainer's shoulder. He couldn't hide his grin. "Qwilfish, Venomoth, and Toxicroak. We're halfway through, and only halfway to go!"
"Right!" Ash agreed with his partner. He was practically buzzing with excitement. It was enough for him to pause and take a deep breath. "But, we'd better cool our jets. Getting overly excited is exactly how you lose, to someone like Koga. We've got to keep our wits about us."
He reached for his belt, grabbing a fourth Poké Ball. "Stay cool, and keep the battle hot! That's our plan!" He tossed the capsule with vigor. "Alright, Quilava! It's all on you!"
The Poké Ball spun through the air, popping open to release a flash of light; quickly taking the shape of a blue and cream colored blur, igniting into a spinning blaze in mid-air. Quilava's back crackled and roared, throwing embers into the wind as he landed, standing hunched over on his hind legs. "Laaaav!" His adorable eyes betrayed the sharpness of his gaze. He was battle-ready.
"Ah! It's Quilava!" Dawn grinned. "I know exactly who'll be eager to see this part of the battle. You won't want to miss this!" She picked a Poké Ball off of her belt, and tossed it into the air.
"Typhlosion! Spotlight!"
Typhlosion appeared, and quickly assessed her surroundings. She gasped when she spotted Quilava, holding her paws over her muzzle. "Phlo! Typhooo~!" She ignited her collar of flames, waving excitedly to the object of her affections.
"Lav?" Quilava blinked, looking back over his shoulder. The commotion'd caught his attention.
"Pho!" Dawn's Typhlosion grinned, punching her fist into an open paw. She was rooting for him!
Quilava offered a cool smile in return, and turned back to the action, quiet and aloof as ever.
Typhlosion held her cheeks, nursing a bright pink blush. Her flame collar let off several fiery hearts, flickering between orange and fuschia. He'd struck her like Cupid's arrow!
Dawn giggled. "Well, at the very least, Quilava's not short on support."
Ash nurtured a belly laugh at his Pokémon's love life. But, his attention was squarely back when it mattered when he heard the mechanical 'pop' of a Poké Ball introducing his next opponent.
"Crueeellll…!" Many wicked tendrils flexed and wavered with ominous intent, and eerie eyes lurked within darkness beneath a blue capped exterior, decorated with three ruby gems.
"A Tentacruel…!" Ash's eyes arrowed. "So, the type advantage is against us."
"Poison might be a ninja's greatest asset," Koga replied, "but the depths are dwelling with fatal surprises, to those not savvy. Will you retreat when the elements don't favor you?"
"That sounds like a challenge." Ash smirked, adjusting his cap. "So, no. We're attacking head-on!" Ash pointed forward, rallying Quilava. "All–out, right from the start! Eruption!"
Quilava lowered his head and raised his rear, aiming the heat fields atop his neck and back towards Tentacruel. He then slid back across the dirt, recoiling at the sheer, explosive force of magma bursting from his body.
Eruption blasted Tentacruel head-on, making the Water-type groan in discomfort. White-hot magma splashed off of her gelatinous body, spraying and scorching the dirt about her.
"A bold opening play," Koga acknowledged. "But, futile! Tentacruel! Toxic Spikes!"
Tentacruel persevered through the intensity snapping at her body. She aimed her tentacles towards the sky, firing a barrage of poisonous needles. By the time that Eruption subsided, they sank into the dirt, spreading across Ash's end of the fray.
Quilava seized, surrounded by purple sparks. He hunched over; his muzzle discolored.
"Damn it!" Ash swore. "So, that was why you baited out Donphan, and took out Muk. Once I was out of Pokémon who can get rid of Toxic Spikes…"
"...I was free to ail your Pokémon as I please."
'He's got us in a bind. We can't let him set off a second Toxic Spikes, or everyone'll be badly poisoned!' Ash thought to himself, as he anxiously adjusted his cap. 'We're going to have to fight with that in mind, going forward.'
"Well, there's no helping it, now. We'll just have to take you out, before you can do it again!" Ash shouted, as he punched the air. "Quilava! Use Thunder Punch!"
"Lav!" Quilava shook off his malaise, and dashed on all fours towards Tentacruel.
"Your pain will increase twofold!" Koga waved a hand. "Toxic Spikes!"
Tentacruel aimed her tendrils skyward, firing the Toxic Spikes.
"Tch. I thought as much." Ash grimaced. "Blow 'em away, with Eruption!"
Quilava skidded to a halt, and fired a magma stream from his back, sweeping through the air.
"Toxic Spikes, once more, Tentacruel!"
"Cruuuel!" Tentacruel followed through, raining toxic projectiles without mercy.
"I see how it is. Trying to keep us on the ropes," Ash said. "Well, you've got another thing coming, Koga! Knock 'em out of the air, Quilava, with Flame Wheel!"
"On it, boss!" Quilava shot into the air, curling up into a crackling Flame Wheel. He collided with the first of the Toxic Spikes, making it explode violently. This catapulted him towards the next; his flames roaring and doubling in size. His velocity increased, leading him to ricochet between each Toxic Spike, peppering the thick mountain air with a chain of explosions.
"That flame…" Koga's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing else.
"Now, hit 'em head-on!" Ash roared, thrusting a hand forward
Quilava dropped out of the poisonous ashes like a meteorite, crashing into Tentacruel. The Water-type grumbled in pain, sliding back across the dirt as Quilava continued to spin against her cap, spraying sparks about. Despite the type disadvantage, his assault was relentless!
"Now! Use Thunder Punch!"
Flame Wheel bounced off of Tentacruel and uncurled; flames and embers scattering to the wind. Quilava hung above, tightening a paw into a fist. "Quilaaavv…!" Lightning wrapped around it.
"Acid Armor."
Quilava smashed a crackling fist into Tentacruel's blue cap, sending lightning and static through Tentacruel's body. But, he found himself bewildered; his fist sank into Tentacruel's cap, which now bordered on an odd midway between solid and liquid; it was like he'd gotten stuck in slime!
"Lava…!" He grunted, trying to yank away from Tentacruel. He only sank in further.
"Quilava!?" Ash exclaimed. "What're they trying to pull!?"
"You fool! A Tentacruel's body is almost entirely comprised of water!" Koga boasted, as Quilava sank into the malleable blob they were starting to become. "Acid Armor allows them to deconstruct at the cellular level, and embrace their typing in a manner far beyond type theory!"
The ninja made a hand sign, and shouted. "Drown, in churning waters! Water Pulse!"
A roaring orb of water wrapped around Quilava, launching him with it into the air. Quilava struggled from within the bubble, battered by the circulating tides.
"Damn it," Ash swore. "They drew us in for a super-effective move, on purpose!"
"May your efforts wither from our venom!" Koga waved a hand. "Gastro Acid!"
Tentacruel spat acid from her beak, striking the Water Pulse. It exploded, dropping Quilava from his prison and onto his back. Quilava coughed, trying to regain his bearings.
"That was a nasty play," Ash said, grimacing. "I've gotta be careful about playing into their hands."
"Phlo! Sion! Typhlosion!" Typhlosion cried furiously, spitting flames in protest of the beating Quilava was suffering. He was stronger than this! He could kick Tentacruel up and down the field!
"Poleon…" Empoleon clicked his tongue, looking troubled.
"What is it, Empoleon?" Dawn asked. "I know that was a nasty counterattack, but you know that Quilava's not out of the game, yet. It's not time to start acting melancholy!"
"Pol!" Empoleon shook his head. That wasn't it. He pointed to the field. "Em-pol-e-on."
"The field…! Oh, you mean Toxic Spikes!" Dawn guessed.
Empoleon nodded, and gestured to Tentacruel. "Pole?"
"...Oh, I get it! You're asking why they haven't used another round of Toxic Spikes." Dawn turned back to the field. "That's the thing. Koga could launch them at any time. But I think that looming threat is more of a thorn in Ash's side than the poison itself. I'd bet you he's holding off on it on purpose, to make Ash battle sloppily."
Empoleon acknowledged this angle, taking a deep breath. "Poleon!" Ash had to hang strong!
"But, that won't work on Ash. He's too great a trainer for it, now!"
"Tentacruel! Use Water Pulse!"
"Crueeelll…!" Tentacruel groaned, conjuring another bubbling mass of water. This one crashed against the field, splashing off of it in the form of a tidal wave, fast approaching Quilava.
"Quilava! Up and over it!" Ash cried with urgency. "And, use Thunder Punch!"
Quilava rolled his pudgy body back, and flipped onto his feet. With a wave looming over him, he ran and leapt, clearing its crest. He somersaulted, bundling a fist that burst with lightning.
"Lav!?" Quilava gasped. Tentacruel was nowhere to be found!
"You fool!" Koga scolded. "I warned you that Tentacruel's body is almost all water…"
Quilava felt a chill run up his spine. Behind him, flashing red gems emerged from the rolling Water Pulse. Eerie eyes peered through the surface, and antsy tentacles prepared to strike.
"...Meaning that wherever it is, she can be as well! Tentacruel, use Hex!"
"Crueel…!" Tentacruel coated her tendrils in an eerie, ghoulish black ink. They snapped around Quilava, as she abandoned the waning Water Pulse, holding him in place. "Tentacruel!"
Hex detonated, punishing Quilava for his previous ailments. He cried out in pain.
"Quilava!" Ash cried, clenching his fists. 'Tentacruel moved through the water freely to sneak up on Quilava. Koga's a master even of her type that isn't his specialty. But, if she has the strengths of a Water-type… then, she can be brought down by their weaknesses, too!'
"Grab her tentacles, Quilava! Use Thunder Punch!"
A weary Quilava emerged from the inky smoke wrought by Hex. He was sickly and bruised, but he was as stubborn as his trainer. "Laaaaav…!" He cried out, sending electricity surging through Tentacruel's tendrils. The lightning ran up her limbs, lighting her entire body in a halo of gold.
Tentacruel cried, releasing Quilava to lick her wounds.
Quilava fell on his back, and seized due to the poison. "Ugh… I've definitely felt better." He forced himself upright,despite every nerve burning from Hex. "Not a real pleasant gal, are ya?"
Tentacruel didn't respond verbally, only grumbling as she collected herself. Her body was covered in small burns, and sparks danced along her cap and tentacles. She'd suffered, too.
"Quilava's nearing the end of his rope…" Ash acknowledged, grimacing.
"We have to close this decisively while we can," Peeks agreed. "We need an opening!"
Koga didn't give them more time to deliberate. "Use Sludge Wave!"
"Tenta-cruelll!" An ever-expanding wave of purple sludge rolled out from the Jellyfish. After the first came several more rounds of corrosive ooze.
"Up and at' em, Quilava!" Ash urged. "I know you're hurting, but now's our chance!"
"I'll trust ya, boss!" Quilava did so, rolling back onto all fours.
"Good! Now, use Flame Wheel, over the gaps in Sludge Wave!"
Quilava rolled and revved up, blazing a path towards Sludge Wave. He bounced over the first tier, clearing it and hitting the dirt. Sparks and embers sprayed as he leapt over the second.
"Now!" Ash cried. "Use that last one under you for a boost!"
"Quila!" Quilava obliged, coming down over the tail end of Sludge Wave.
"You fool!"
The underbelly of Flame Wheel collided with the sludge, and detonated instantly.
"Now, this round is ours!" Ash cried, pointing towards Tentacruel. "Show 'em, Quilava!"
But, Quilava wasn't propelled forth for a head-on charge. Instead, he was thrown into the air in a shroud of smoke and cinders; battered and near-unconscious. Their gambit had backfired.
"But, how…!?" Ash was perplexed. "Flash Fire should've…"
"Ah, yes… That 'Flash Fire' of yours was bound to be a bit of a nuisance to us," Koga interrupted. He met Ash's eyes, with his arms folded comfortably over his chest. "Hence our decision to make sure it was dealt with. Or, do you not remember our Gastro Acid?"
"Gastro Acid…?" Ash echoed. He recalled the move striking Quilava when he'd been trapped in Water Pulse. "That was just a Poison-type attack, wasn't it?" Unsure now, Ash pulled out Dexter.
"Gastro Acid: A Poison-type status move. The user hurls up its stomach acids on the target. The fluid eliminates the effect of the target's Ability."
"That's gross." Dawn blanched at the description. "And it put out Quilava's Flash Fire! Koga was waiting for Ash to try to make use of that ability! He must've caught on, with Toxic Spikes!"
Typhlosion stomped the ground furiously, cheering on her object of affections.
"Perceptive, your companion is," Koga acknowledged Dawn. "But it goes much further than that. In my reconnaissance, I also witnessed Quilava's battle at the Celadon Gym!"
"The battle with Erika," Ash acknowledged, eyes wide. "He saw us pull the same trick with Sludge Bomb! You've had that trick up your sleeve, the entire time!"
"Now, you understand. But it's far too late for it to aid you!" Koga waved a hand. "Your Quilava is on the precipice of defeat, and your field is unguarded! Tentacruel, use Toxic Spikes!"
Tentacruel fired a last round of Toxic Spikes into the air, heading on an arc towards the field.
"Yeah? That's what you think! Me and my Pokémon never give in! Use Eruption, Quilava!"
Quilava responded to Ash's pleas with clarity and purpose. His red eyes regained focus, snapping down towards the raining projectiles. He flipped his body upside-down and belly-up, igniting his Eruption. In his weakened state, the magma was feeble…
But, it was enough to ignite one spike after another, detonating them in sequence. The explosion propelled Quilava higher still, launching him high above the battlefield.
"We're going to have to finish this in one go!" Ash roared to the foggy heavens, tightening a fist at his side. "Take our fighting spirit head-on, Tentacruel! Give 'er your best Reversal, Quilava!"
"Laaav…!" Quilava fell back towards Earth, tightening a fist at his side. Where his body's flames had failed, a fiery aura of determination engulfed his fist and shone like a beacon in the fog.
"Tch…! A desperate last ditch effort!" Koga reprimanded. "Use Acid Armor, Tentacruel!"
"Qui-lava!" Quilava smashed his fist into Tentacruel like a meteor falling from the sky. Fiery red and orange energy enveloped them both, and Tentacruel's body started to give under the pressure.
In fact, their gelatinous cap even caved and tore in two, allowing Quilava to sail on past her.
"Tentacruel's liquid body is malleable, and your physical might is of no use!" Koga taunted, as his Pokémon wobbled; practically melting before everyone's eyes. "Acid Armor is impenetrable!"
"I had a feeling that'd be the case!" Ash boasted; the confusion and fear in Koga's eyes was palpable. He grinned. "Your Pokémon's all over the place, all in the middle of that sludge!"
Indeed, Tentacruel's halfway-liquid body had dipped into lingering goo from Sludge Wave.
"And that's our key to finishing this!" Quilava was moments from touching the ground, before Koga's trainer's box. Ash tightened a fist, and roared his last command. "Use Blast Burn!"
Quilava followed through with Reversal as he struck the dirt. A fiery passion exploded into gouging pillars of flame, detonating in a straightforward path behind the Volcano Pokémon.
Tentacruel cried out in concern, trying to back away from the coming explosion. But, the poisonous filth clinging to their body began to ignite in its path. A fiery hell consumed them.
"Argh…!" Koga groaned, guarding himself from the heat that enveloped the field entirely. Shortly afterward, he lowered his guard to observe: Tentacruel laid in a heap in the middle of the field.
Unconscious.
"Yes!" Ash cheered, bumping his fist against Peeks's tail.
"We did it!" Peeks chirped. "Four down, and only two to go!"
"Alright!" Dawn hopped up and down in place, as did Empoleon. "That was awesome, Quilava! Oooh, I just knew that teaching him Blast Burn would pay off. And, it's all thanks to you, girl!"
She clapped a hand on her Pokémon's shoulder. Typhlosion had volunteered to pass on Blast Burn, for her favorite badger. "You're a proper mentor!"
Typhlosion, however, was unable to even acknowledge Dawn. She marveled at the cool Quilava, with stars in his eyes. He'd struck down his opponent in a final, valiant charge, with a chain of explosions! He hadn't even looked at them when he did it! Only cool guys did that!
She gasped, when she was certain that he was looking her way.
A weary Quilava glanced over his shoulder, making eye contact with Typhlosion. He spared her a cool smile, and winked. Immediately afterwards, he collapsed, succumbing to the poison.
"Tyyy!" Typhlosion clutched her chest, sporting giant pink hearts for eyes. She'd been noticed; acknowledged, and even spared a wink! Oh, he was so cool, she could just die on the spot!
Maybe she wouldn't die. But, Typhlosion did faint spontaneously, overwhelmed.
Dawn watched the scene unfold, with a bead of sweat rolling down her forehead. "Well, I guess you could consider this round a triple knockout," she giggled.
"Empol…" Empoleon sighed, tutting at her antics.
Pocus stared on as well, bewildered.
Ash and Peeks laughed at the cute, if not silly, exchange, as the former recalled Quilava.
"Thanks, little man. I know you were pushing your limits, right at the end there." Ash smiled fondly at Quilava's Poké Ball, placing it back on his belt. "You can take a good, long rest."
"Impressive… Most impressive." Koga regained Ash's attention. He'd also recalled his Tentacruel. "You took stock of the advantages Acid Armor offered, deconstructing my Tentacruel to allow her to course through water with ease. But, that liquid state evidently had a weakness."
"That's right!" Ash smiled confidently, adjusting his cap. "I noticed that you were taking full advantage of both of Tentacruel's types. But whatever advantages you can get from a type, you can also find disadvantages! I had a feeling you wouldn't just let us land Reversal for free. And if Tentacruel melted down again, then she'd have enough ground covered to dip into her very own Sludge Wave!"
"Indeed. So, that was your strategy." Koga grumbled. "How humbling… And for a Blast Burn to be wielded by a mere Quilava."
"There's nothing 'mere' about my Quilava!" Ash boasted, proudly thumping a fist against his chest. "Truth is, he could've evolved a long time ago. But I think he's comfortable as he is! He's just going to keep getting stronger this way. There'll always be new limits for us to break!"
"Spoken like an aspiring Champion," Koga acknowledged. "Very well. You have defeated four of my six Pokémon, and you did so without the full burden of two Toxic Spikes. If you can go just a bit further, you will see the next hurdle of the Elite Four… However…!" His eyes snapped wide open; his pupils narrow slits, and sharp as the shuriken he threw.
"My two remaining Pokémon will strike you ill, and rend you asunder!"
Chapter 9: Koga III - Guts
Chapter Text
"My two remaining Pokémon will strike you ill, and rend you asunder!"
Koga pulled a Poké Ball out of what looked like thin air, leaping back with efficient precision and grace to toss the small capsule backhanded. It spun across the field, circling around to pop open over Koga's end of the fray. A flash of light manifested into a large earthbound mass.
Vibrant, multicolored slime poured over a large mass in a steady sequence, disturbed by scattered, strange white crystals. Striking blue eyes stood out, as did a wide open mouth, sporting more of the aforementioned crystals, resembling fangs. The Pokémon raised one slimy hand, bearing more of the crystals that, here, resembled claws. "Muuuuk…!" He groaned.
"A Muk!?" Ash exclaimed. "I've never seen one like this before!" Ash pulled out his Pokédex, pointing it at the unusual Pokémon. However, Dexter's information resembled a normal Muk's.
"This must be a Muk from another region," he concluded. "There's no data about it!"
"Indeed. This is a Muk from the far-off Alola region!" Koga explained. Unlike their Kanto counterparts, they cleanse their environments of pollutants and use them as sustenance, rather than spread them. As a result, the noxious scent of Muk is non-existent, making them ideal for stealth." The ninja folded his arms behind his back. "That, however, is all I will share with you."
"Oh, that Muk is gorgeous!" Dawn clasped her hands together in adoration, with stars glimmering in her eyes. "Look at all those colors…! The pinks, and blues, and yellows, and greens. They look like a tie-dye tee!" The Coordinator was bouncing on her heels, a little.
"Oh, and they don't even stink…! I'd love to catch a beautiful Pokémon like that!"
"Ab-ra…?" Pocus furrowed his brows, looking at Dawn, bewildered. "Ab-ra."
"Don't give me that tone!" Dawn huffed, wagging a finger at Pocus. "That slimy body is perfect for striking poses! And, all of the colors would be absolutely striking on the Contest stage!"
"Abra…"
"Fine! Doubt me if you want!"
Ash chuckled at Dawn's unbridled enthusiasm. "That Pokémon is right up her alley, isn't it?"
"Sounds like you two should take a vacation to Alola, one day," Peeks remarked. "Maybe a couple's retreat?" He smirked, waggling his eyebrows.
"Yeah, yeah. Yuck it up." Ash smirked, turning back to Koga to adjust his cap. His smile faded for a more stern expression. "We can think about catching new Pokémon, later. For now, we have an opponent who we don't know a lot about. And, Koga's not volunteering anymore to us."
"Right. All we know is that they look like a Muk, and if they're on Koga's team, they're definitely still a Poison-type. We're going to have to feel our way through this one," Peeks replied.
"Right! Luckily for us, we've got a sharp eye on our team!" Ash snatched a ball off his belt, and pitched it onto the field. "Alright, Rosa! You're back in!"
Rosemary appeared, crouched on one knee; her red scarf billowing with a gentle breeze. Despite her burn, she'd had plenty of time to rest. Her sharp, red eyes focused on Muk.
~We're not new to reconnaissance. We'll figure him out!~
"I know I told you prudence is key," Ash replied. That word felt odd coming off his lips. "But, the me of yesterday and the me of today are a little bit different. So, we're scouting our own way!" That was, of course, the far more active approach to scouting a foe. "Use Aura Sphere!"
Rosa raised her paw, and focused a glowing Aura Sphere, piercing the fog. With a bark of effort, she pitched it overhand towards Muk.
"Use Gunk Shot!" Koga countered.
Muk cried, and fired a storm of the crystallized poison towards Aura Sphere; each piece taking on a noxious green glow. The shards pelted Aura Sphere in succession, making the orb waver and cave before exploding. Smoke and noxious fumes flooded the foggy battlefield.
Ash grimaced. "Charge in, with Meteor Mash!"
Rosemary sprinted into the fumes, paying them absolutely no mind; with her typing, they weren't a threat to her. Even impeded sight meant little to a Pokémon who could sense her opponent. She charged through, tightly clenching a fist that was coated in blue stardust. "Riah!"
She punched directly into Muk, burying her paw in his malleable, slimy body.
Muk grumbled and recoiled, but ultimately smiled at her, unperturbed; mocking her for the ineffectual strike. "Muuuhk…! Muk!?" His laughter subsided; his voice straining, as a red glow wrapped around the Lucario's body. Meteor Mash had raised her attack power!
Unfortunately, a blaze consumed Rosa, immediately afterward. Her burn persisted.
"Sap them of their vitality! Use Drain Punch!"
Rosa was unprepared for Muk's fist smashing into her gut, doubling her over. Green, glowing energy gathered from her, and seeped into Muk. He leered, his body jiggling and redistributing its weight.
"Damn it," Ash cursed. "She's got some of her strength back, but Drain Punch undid the damage we just dealt, anyway!"
~Pa.~ His Lucario's voice echoed in his mind, as she collected herself from the last strike. ~His Aura; it feels sinister! I can sense deception in him!~
~Then, he's gotta be a Dark-type,~ Ash reasoned. "Alright! Knock 'im high, with Bone Rush!"
Rosemary spawned a staff in her paws, winding up before swinging at Muk. The follow through knocked the wind out of Muk; lagging in its follow through before launching him into the air.
"Now! Aura Sphere!"
Rosa aimed a paw at Muk, and fired.
"Unravel their wit, with a heart of darkness!" Koga cried. "Use Snarl!"
Although airborne, Muk corrected himself quickly, flipping his slimy mass upright. His maw opened frighteningly wide, and he shrieked. Horrid soundwaves intercepted Aura Sphere, tainting the air with shadow-tinted malice.
The Aura Sphere wobbled and wavered, shrinking in mass somewhat before persisting to crash into Muk. It knocked him to the ground, but Muk collected himself, cackling darkly.
Rosa guarded herself from the awful screech, but her Aura Sphere couldn't save her. She was sensitive to harsh sounds as it was, recoiling from Snarl, despite her resistance to its type. She felt her constitution waver, represented by a blue aura washing over her. Her special attack fell.
What a dastardly attack; suppressing her power. It made her righteous blood boil. Rosa roared with effort, as a golden glow enveloped her. The spikes on her wrists grew and sharpened. The one on her chest doubled in size. She felt properly motivated to fight back harder!
"That's Justified!" Dawn clapped her hands together. "Rosa's stronger, now! But, that's strange… Koga said he watched Ash's matches, didn't he?" She frowned, cupping her chin with her fist and thumb. "He should know Dark-type moves would power her up. What's his deal?"
"Alright. Your Aura Sphere might be worn down, now your attack power's back in action!" Ash rallied Rosa, raising a fist in determination. "It's time for our counterattack!"
Before the Lucario could answer, she was consumed in flames again, howling in pain.
"There's that burn, again…!" Ash grit his teeth in frustration. "Hang in there, girl!"
"His status moves are nasty," Peeks said sourly. "They're constantly tripping up our momentum."
"Use Snarl!"
Muk bombarded Rosemary with his terrible howl, making her recoil and grip her skull.
A calming blue washed over her, before brilliant gold made her spikes sharpen further. She stood hunched over, breathing heavily. ~You… you won't wear me down, that easily!~
~This is weird.~ Ash cleared his mind, and attuned with Rosemary. ~He's gone and raised your power twice in a row, even after he bothered to cut it down with a burn. There has to be an angle to it!~
~Yeah. I agree.~ Rosa's scratchy voice echoed in Ash's mind. ~But, what is it?~
~Well, at the rate we're going, your Aura Spheres won't be doing jack, and that attack power's gonna encourage us to attack head-on. I'm thinking that's what he wants. He wants us close.~
~It could be for that Drain Punch!~ Rosa concluded, eyes widening as she pushed herself properly upright. ~He wants to make attacking look appealing, to ambush us with Drain Punch!~
~I think you're right. Okay! Then, we'll just have to be less predictable!~ Ash decided on his next course of action. They would have to get creative! "Alright, Rosa! Let's do it!" He cupped his hands in front of his torso, leading her to do the same. "Use Aura Storm!"
A dark, dense mass charged between Rosa's paws; albeit far less impressive than it'd been in the Indigo League finals. With a roar of effort, she tossed it into the air. It stabilized at a modest altitude, before bursting into a flurry of Aura Spheres. "Riah!" She cried, charging at Muk.
The Aura Storm tailed and surrounded her, giving her cover to close in on Muk.
"Fwahaha! You think you can augment your assault with an ambush, do you?" Koga laughed, and cut a hand through the air. "Muk! Intercept them with Gunk Shot!"
Muk responded in kind, dragging more white poisonous crystals to their surface, firing them.
"Gotcha!" Ash grinned; a glint of guile in his eye, as he swept a palm to the sky. "Up high, Rosa!"
Rosemary continued her charge towards Muk, but a swerve of her paw sent the barrage of Aura Spheres into a sharp ascent and out of her way. She ran headfirst into Gunk Shot, unflinching as the poisonous shards shattered against her hide, doing no damage to her at all.
"Ah…?" Koga raised an eyebrow. "I see. A fake-out, using your immunity. Interesting, indeed!"
Ash ignored Koga's commentary, punching forward. "Now, Meteor Mash!"
The Aura Storm reversed course, plummeting down towards Muk like shooting stars. Rosemary lunged at the Poison-type, winding up a fist shimmering with its own cosmic essence.
"You fools!" Koga shouted. "Confuse Ray!"
"What!?"
A blinding, hypnotic light flashed before Rosemary's eyes. It was too late to change course or even shield herself. Everything became a blur, and Muk's immediate surroundings were drowned in light.
Ash guarded his eyes, and Peeks buried his face in Ash's collar. "Rosa…!"
The Aura Storm hovering above lost its coordination. They all plummeted, detonating one after another. A chain of teal lights blended into Muk's Confuse Ray, flooding the field with smoke that reflected blue and yellow highlights off of its veil.
"Damn it… The Aura Storm, too! She must've lost focus." Ash grit his teeth in frustration, waiting for the smoke to clear.
Rosa could be seen, hunched over and awkward. Muk pulled himself with a groan. They were both marked with burns and bruises from the Aura Storm; surely mitigated by the drop in Rosa's power. But, they looked battered, all the same.
"You played us." Ash turned his eyes to Koga. "We thought we planned ahead of you…"
"And your ruse wasn't half-bad. But, 'not half-bad' will not suffice against Koga of the Elite Four!"
The ninja replied, folding his arms over his chest. "Whether your Lucario withers away, feeble and unable to break our defenses, or she's spellbound to suffer her own might, makes little difference to me. Any victory is a victory, under the ninja code!"
Spellbound was an apt term to describe Rosemary, right now. She stumbled about drunkenly, with eerily blank eyes. Without any prompting, she conjured a Bone Rush, and struck herself in the head with it.
"Damn it," Ash hissed. He pulled out her Poké Ball, tapping its center. "Rosa, return!"
"There is no escape for you! Mean Look!"
Muk's eyes flashed an eerie gold, and the light was projected upon the confused Lucario. A black, eerie aura wrapped around her, shattering the Poké Ball's laser and refuting the call.
"Ugh, now Ash can't switch out! This is awful!" Dawn bundled up her fists. "Come on, Rosa!"
"Empol! Empoleon!" Empoleon waved his wings wildly, crying out to his dear sister.
With no means of returning, Rosemary continued to strike herself with Bone Rush.
'C'mon… There has to be a way out of this! Koga isn't even doing anything. He's just letting her wear herself out!' Ash grimaced. It was hard to believe she had much stamina in her, by his estimations. Watching her batter herself was painful; as a trainer, as a friend, and as a parent.
As Ash's mind drifted, something clicked. 'Wait a minute…! Our bond!'
Ash scratched his cheek. He shouldn't have been surprised that Sabrina knew about their powers… "Riley did say something about an Aura Guardian's partner linking them to others... But, wait! Isn't calling another Pokémon for help cheating!?"
"Is it any less legitimate than my own supernatural link with my Pokémon?" Sabrina asked.
"I… guess not," Ash resigned. She had a good point, but he couldn't shake off the discontent he felt in his gut. "But, that'd be interrupting the battle, again! Doing something like that, now… and the thing from yesterday, too! Hell, even our battles back then…"
"You know," Sabrina resumed, cutting off Ash's tangent, "a long time ago, I was ashamed of my own abilities. They were feared, and seen as unnatural. That fear and disdain I built for them, myself… shall I say, lead me to ugly places."
Swallowing, Ash nodded. The mental image of being doll-sized and nearly flattened by a rolling ball was one that he found difficult to shake. "So, what's your point?" He asked, quite confident that Sabrina didn't want to air her dirty laundry out to Dawn, so to speak.
"My point is, I learned to channel them towards defining myself as a trainer. There's no shame in using your inherent gifts to the end of bettering yourself. You cherish that bond you share with Rosa, don't you?"
"That's it! Our bond!" Ash exclaimed.
Peeks tilted his head at Ash. He'd clearly just had an idea.
"Ah? You believe you have an answer to our trap?" Koga goaded.
"I know I do," Ash said certainly, before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. The foggy mountainscape became a distant blur to him; a black void, where he searched for the glowing blue of his companion's heart — a heart he'd known, in truth, for centuries.
Her Aura was irregular, and disturbed. But, it was there. He reached out to her; like a hand grasping her shoulder, and reminding her of his presence. ~Now, c'mon. I know you can do better than this, old pal.~
Her voice was indistinct; a guttural growl, typical of Lucario; not the proud and plucky voice he'd come to know. It grasped at him. It felt like she'd dug her claws into his shoulders. A violent grip, with the hopes of pulling her out from under the turbulent tides of confusion; she wanted clarity.
~You gonna let a Confuse Ray do you in? You, a Knight of Rota?~ Ash smiled within his own mindscape. He gripped her paw, and pulled her in. ~You're stronger than that. You always have been!~
~...Yes, Maste— Yes, Friend.~ Ash heard Lucario's deeper voice; the one Aaron knew.
Her Aura stabilized. Her chromatic blue silhouette smiled.
Rosemary crushed the Bone Rush in her paws, standing upright.
"Yes! You're back!" Ash cheered, returning to the real world. "Way to snap out of it!"
~Only because you helped!~ Rosa smiled over her shoulder, before turning her sharp gaze back to Koga and Muk. ~Now, let's finish this!~
"Ah…?" Koga blinked. "So, you somehow succeeded. But, how!?"
"Don't worry about it!" Ash shouted, gesturing a hand forth. "Let's go, Rosa! Use Bone Rush!"
The Lucario sprinted at Muk, materializing another staff to twirl between her paws. She roared, winding up, and striking Muk with a broad swing across his toxic body. Muk groaned in pain, but had little recourse, as she followed up with a backhanded swing, and an upward strike.
His sturdy, sludge-comprised body was battered; he looked to be on the verse of defeat from her relentless strikes. "Muuuk…" He whimpered, at the mercy of the Lucario, who wielded the bone staff above her head for a final blow.
She roared and swung, before being consumed in a blaze.
"Rosa!" Ash cried.
Her burn struck, and her Bone Rush fell into the dirt before shattering. She stood hunched over, feeble and numb. Subsequently, a fist smashed into her stomach, doubling her over.
"Drain Punch!"
Ash gasped. Green light left Rosemary's body, and returned to Muk, who regenerated from a few of his injuries. She stumbled back clumsily, before collapsing on her back, unconscious.
"Rosa!" Peeks cried.
Ash tutted in disappointment.
"Aw, Rosa…!" Dawn whined, folding her arms in disappointment. "And, they just snapped her back from confusion, too. That can't be good for Ash's confidence, right now."
She watched her boyfriend recall their child to her own Poké Ball, and heard him whisper his thanks to her. His trembling fist at his side told her everything she needed to know about his feelings. He'd just reversed the tides with a rallying cry, only for his hopes to be dashed.
"Ash!" She cried out.
Ash looked back at her, his eyes wide with confusion. He hadn't expected to hear from her.
Dawn hadn't even expected to speak up, herself. It was an impulse. There was no grand speech planned. Nothing that wouldn't sound patronizing, probably. Just one sentiment:
"No need to worry."
That was enough. Ash's smile returned, and his eyes shone that vibrant copper that they did, whenever his feelings resonated in a strong way. Once again, she was his rock.
"Right! No need to worry." He turned back towards Koga, standing upright and tall.
Dawn felt pride swell in her chest that lifted her high, and her smile stretched to the corners of her cheeks. It felt good, to be there when your partner needed you. 'Win, Ash. Just a bit more!'
"Clarity and purpose have returned to your gaze," Koga remarked, directed towards Ash. "Relying on comrades isn't the ninja way, but it is indeed your way. It would be a shame if you lost the will to fight, before I had the chance to make you wallow in defeat, myself!"
"You're damn right! My strength is the people I care about." Ash smiled, tightening a gloved hand into a fist. "And that means my girlfriend, as much as it does my Pokémon!"
"Then, show me that strength, and let the battle resume!" Koga demanded.
"You asked for it!" With renewed confidence, Ash grabbed a Poké Ball, and twirled it on his index finger. "You want a fight? Let me show you a Pokémon with all of that, and then some!"
He pitched it into the sky overhand. "Swellow! I choose you!"
Navy blue wings unfolded. An avian coated in crimson entered with a shrill battle cry. "Swellow!"
"So, you've brought your Swellow." Koga laughed to himself, folding his arms.
"Yeah? You bet, I did!" Ash belted back. "What's funny about that?"
"You got something to say?" Swellow cawed, beating her wings. "Bring it over here, and say it to my face!"
"A Pokémon with no particular special talents, driven purely by fighting spirit," Koga mocked. "Allow us to sing a swan song for even that meager might! This is Muk's Memento!"
"Memento…?" Ash echoed, watching the Poison-type with suspicion.
Muk… suddenly stopped moving. They collapsed in a pile, unconscious. A wave of eerie, unsettling darkness washed over the field, kicking up dust and seeping into the fog.
Said darkness spread and swallowed Swellow, making her recoil. "Swell…!"
"Swellow…!?" Ash wrapped Peeks in his jacket, guarding them both from the sinister aura. "What the hell is Memento?"
Dexter beeped in Ash's pocket, and answered automatically. "Memento: A Dark-type status move. The user faints when using this move. In return, it harshly lowers the target's Attack and Special Attack."
Ash looked into the shroud, where Swellow suffered the same aura that'd encompassed her. Her wings beat with less intensity, and she looked fatigued, fresh out of her Poké Ball.
"Damn it., she's been weakened," Ash hissed. He then realized the danger she was in, and scrambled for her Poké Ball on his belt. He pointed it towards her and hit the button. "Return!"
"Escape is futile! Mean Look!"
Two leering golden eyes projected out of the fog, once more, clinging to Swellow. The Poké Ball's laser shattered against the supernatural barrier, preventing Ash from recalling her.
"I was too late!" Ash frowned, taking stock of their new — and final — opponent.
Four wings fluttered rapidly; two large, two small. A small, violet Pokémon sported eerie yellow eyes with red irises, and a nasty grimace. Koga's last Pokémon was a remarkably small Crobat.
"So, Crobat's our opponent." Ash adjusted the brim of his cap, as sweat trickled down his brow. "It looks like we're locked in for an air battle. Sorry about that Memento, Swellow."
"Bah!" Swellow scoffed at Ash's apology. "Half my power is enough power to win this battle. And they'll be lucky, if that's all they're dealing with."
Ninja didn't offer warnings. Their attacks were swift, deadly, and merciless.
While Ash and his Swellow exchanged words of caution and arrogant boasts, Crobat sailed on the foggy air, quickly approaching Swellow in an attempt to rattle her.
Koga offered no further commands after setting his bait.
The bait worked. A purple blur out of the corner of Ash's eye caught him unawares. How could he drop his guard so quickly!?
"Double Team!"
Swellow split into three, then five, then seven copies all in a row and identical.
Crobat flew directly into the Swellow directly in front of him, passing through it. The mirage faded, leaving six more. "Pull up!" Koga instructed, and the Poison-type followed. He pulled into a sharp, 90 degree turn as soon as possible, rapidly ascending.
"Now, use Screech!"
Crobat opened his mouth, and let out a horrid shriek. Sonic waves visibly cut through the fog, cleaving a path of high visibility in its wake. He swept from right to left towards the avian troupe. One after another, the clones vanished, until the three right of the center one he'd eliminated had vanished. There were only three Swellow left.
Ash tutted, and waved a hand through the air. "Take to the sky, Swellow!"
It would've only been a matter of moments before Screech found its real target, and every second spent waiting was one wasted. The remaining three copies of Swellow climbed the skies, narrowly avoiding Screech. The real Swellow felt a shiver hearing it even from a distance, but stoically persisted, flying up and past Crobat!
"Now! Air Slash!" Ash cried.
The three Swellow whipped their wings in a cycle, flinging a trio of cutting winds into the fog. The dense, moisture-heavy mountain air was sucked into the current, approaching Crobat.
Crobat abandoned Screech, as his targets had already fled and passed him. He gave chase, quickly gaining altitude while awaiting Koga's command.
"Your feeble attacks are futile! Cross Poison!"
Crobat cleaved a cross in the air with potent poison, and fired it towards the incoming Air Slash. Whether each projectile were real or illusory was of no consequence; Cross Poison carved through them just the same, approaching Swellow.
Cross Poison carved through one of the remaining Swellow, leaving only two.
"Succumb to lethal venom! Toxic!"
Crobat closed in on the duo, spitting vile toxins at them.
"Keep climbing! Spin and dodge that!" Ash cried, clenching a fist.
'Air Slash didn't put a dent in that thing. Our long-ranged attacks are useless!'
Swellow circled their double in an aerial ballad, narrowly avoiding a shot of Toxic, climbing ever higher. As potent as Toxic was, though, it would only climb so high.
Ash grimaced at this, before spotting another problem; Toxic would soon descend right into Swellow's path, and Crobat was fast approaching from below.
"Once more! Toxic!"
"Crooo!" Crobat shrieked, spitting another Toxic skyward.
"It's an ambush!" Ash realized. 'And if we go horizontal, Koga'll be able to follow us... There's only one shot at this!' He committed to a split-second strategy, and shouted:
"Fall out, Swellow! Fall down!"
Swellow overheard Ash, and suddenly stopped flying. Falling belly-up and then down, she gave into gravity, each Double Team copy a mirror of the other.
Toxic was narrowly avoided, colliding with its double to splatter sludge about. Crobat's speed and momentum sent them soaring past Swellow and into the sludge, dirtying him with Toxic and temporarily blinding him. Swellow had avoided the ambush.
"There we go!" Ash grinned, waving a hand. "Now, back up, with Quick Attack!"
The two falling Swellow, falling upside-down, began to flap their wings again to slow their descent. With a cry of effort, they rocketed up towards Crobat, with silver light tailing their path like a pair of comets. "Sweeelll...!"
The two copies converged to crash their weight into Crobat, knocking the croaking Pokémon ever higher.
Crobat was caught unawares; Swellow's wing smashing into his back and catapulting him further. But, there was one element Ash didn't account for.
"Averting my ambush with your own. Fwahaha! Quite clever," Koga praised. "But, your hubris will be your downfall!"
Ash's eyes narrowed at Koga's boast. "And, what do you mean by that?"
"Have you forgotten that your power was cleaved in half!?"
Crobat recovered very quickly, ignoring the mild sting of Swellow's strike. He flapped his wings, reorienting himself to place himself right in the Swellows' airspace.
"Shit," Ash cursed. "Straight down, Swellow! Fall out, again!"
The two identical copies did as told, falling belly-up and allowing their wings to relax. Gravity reclaimed them, once more.
But, Crobat was much faster than gravity. He dove towards Swellow and her copy; whichever may be which; gliding on air with his small body providing minimal wind resistance. He closed in with a terrifying hiss.
"Assail the Swellow with a sinister scourge!" Koga cried. "Toxic!"
Crobat spat poison at one of the Swellow, and his aim was precise. Toxic passed through one of the remaining copies. Their image faded and then disappeared entirely; it was the last copy.
"Speed up your descent!" Ash encouraged. "Quick Attack!"
"Swell!" Swellow cried, remaining focused on the field below, which spun beneath her as she fell freely. With a burst of effort, she neared the battlefield. Silver light trailed behind and above her, and she felt the wind beat against her feathers.
She folded her wings in, reducing wind resistance.
"Toxic!" Koga's cry hit her ears.
"Pull to the right!" Ash's came next.
She fully retracted her wings and spun into a barrel roll, rapidly approaching the dug out field.
Toxic passed by her, spotted as little more than a blur out of the corner of her eye.
"Left!"
She spun the opposite way.
"Ash!" Dawn gasped. "Swellow's going to crash! She's going too fast!"
Ash didn't falter. With a glint in his eye, he cried, "strike the ground with your wing!"
With literal moments to spare before a crash landing, Swellow obeyed. "Swell!"
Clouds of dust flooded Koga's battlefield. The Elite guarded himself, while Crobat soared into the dust clouds. He'd already picked up too much speed to simply stop, let alone assess Swellow's location. All he could do was pull up with all of his might, and sweep through the debris on an upward arc.
"Facade!"
A blinding orange blaze broke the dusty veil. Swellow's mighty, shrill cry echoed across the mountainous ambush, and the dull sound of wings striking a body followed.
Crobat was catapulted out of the dwindling dust, tumbling across the dirt.
"What happened...!? I can't see a thing!" Dawn brushed residual dust off of her jacket, while Empoleon cleaved through the air with his wing to dispel the debris.
Pocus waved a little paw, dispelling the dust clouds immediately surrounding them with Psychic. "Ab-ra."
"Thank you, Pocus!" Dawn praised. "...And you too, Empoleon!" The bird already looked jealous. "Now, let's see..." She assessed the field, and frowned. "So, it couldn't be avoided, after all, could it?"
Swellow hovered in front of Ash, leering at Crobat, who was struggling to collect himself and resume fluttering, just as she was. She sported no damage on her body, but her face was discolored; painted with a sickly blue. She'd been poisoned.
"Ah...? That poison." Koga cupped his chin thoughtfully with the back of his thumb. "Her gait. Swellow must have evaded Toxic. Then, the status she's acquired..."
"...was from the Toxic Spikes!" Ash finished. "It was either that or Toxic. Truth be told, Swellow wanted to get poisoned in this fight. She's kinda weird for that."
"Weird!?" Swellow squawked, turning her head back towards him. "I'll have you know that I live for the rush of adrenaline! The ticking clock of your stamina slipping away — the drive to land a finishing blow against all odds! It makes ya feel alive!"
"Like I said, weird." Ash replied flatly. All the same, he smiled. "...But, Swellow's always been that brand of weird. From the very day I caught 'er, she was up ready to fight to her last breath. And that may not be my style, but it's hers! It makes her unique."
Koga folded his arms, laughing behind his mouth guard. "A fitting match to her Guts ability. But, what is an ability, if not a Pokémon's most innate qualities? Her pain brings her strength, and helps her claw back from the depths of helplessness that we instilled unto her. And to embrace that willingly is a sign that you may yet have the potential to fight with the ruthless utilitarianism of the ninja."
"However!" Koga pointed towards Swellow. "Are you prepared to embrace all of its perils?"
Swellow seized, as poison began to sap her strength. Purple toxins bubbled around her.
"Your Pokémon is already losing strength by the second. The shroud of darkness will leave your Pokémon to wither, at the hands of the elusive ninja warrior!"
"That's fine with us! We'll beat you before the poison gets to us!" Ash declared, echoed by Swellow's battle cry. He gestured toward Crobat. "Quick Attack!"
Swellow bolted towards Crobat. A burst of silver propelled her forward.
"Retreat, Crobat! Use Fly to soar!"
Crobat heeded Koga's words, understanding his intentions before the words had left his lips. He ascended swiftly into the fog with a screech, eluding Swellow's initial strike.
"After them!"
Swellow beat her wings to half her flight towards Koga, and turned her beak skyward. The small purple figure of Crobat was retreating further and further into the fog; appearing smaller by the second.
By the time she slowed her momentum to climb the skies, she couldn't see Crobat at all. A silver burst of light propelled her higher nonetheless, climbing into thicker and thicker fog.
Not before long, Swellow was completely surrounded by the thick vapor, unable to see what was up, what was down, what was left, or what was right.
"What's going on up there...?" Ash squinted, lifting his cap to squint at the ambiguous barrier between the fog and the clouds themselves. "I can't see a thing."
"Humph." Koga hummed affirmatively, escaping Ash's notice. "Now, Crobat!"
If Ash had offered Swellow any commands, she certainly couldn't hear them. Her dark, narrow eyes flicked about the fog erratically. She was growing impatient.
Then, she seized at a sickly pain. Purple toxins bubbled off of her feathers.
There was no relief to follow; Crobat smashed directly into her spine, sending her plummeting.
"What in the world is going on, up there...?" Dawn hugged her arms in, growing anxious at the lack of understanding of how the battle was progressing. "I can't see Swellow, or Crobat. How is Ash even battling, out there?"
Then, she gasped. Swellow was falling right out of the fog, towards the earth. "Swellow!"
"Swellow!" Ash cried out for his partner as well. She corrected herself, beating her wings stubbornly to avoid colliding with the field. She hung in the air, shaking her head out. "Are you hanging in there, girl?"
"Bah! 'Hanging in there?' What do you take me for!" Swellow scoffed, playing it off as if she hadn't taken damage at all. *"I'm fine. But I can't see a damn thing, up there!"
"Yeah, and I can't see you, either. I guess Crobat's used to this kind of weather, if Koga's leading us up there, on purpose." Ash frowned. "And it's not as if we can see in the fog."
"Well, we do have a way," Peeks corrected Ash. "But you won't use it, will you."
"What, that? No way!" The trainer shook his head. "Aura's for protecting people and junk, not to cheat my way through official matches! This is the Champion's League!"
"Swell!" Swellow cried out again, as poison bubbled off of her body.
"Well, you have to do something, if you're going to be stubborn," Peeks suggested. "If you just sit here..."
"...Then we're just going to keep taking damage."
"Hey, birdbrains." Swellow addressed them, either not catching the irony of her insult or ignoring it. "I've got an idea for you. Trust me!"
"Trust you...?" Ash blinked. "I don't follow."
"You trained me! You can trust me to take over up in the fog and fight my own fight, can't'cha? I wasn't exactly a rookie before you caught me, either."
"...You raise a good point. I guess part of being a trainer is teaching a Pokémon to show their own judgement." Ash swallowed heavily, and nodded. "Alright, Swellow! It's all you!"
"You're a champ, Ash!" Swellow thanked Ash, before soaring up into the fog.
"Ah...?" Koga raised a brow. "Leaving the Pokémon battle in the hands of the Pokémon?"
"Well, it's not like you're giving me much of a choice." Ash adjusted the brim of his cap, meeting Koga's gaze. "But, my Pokémon know me, and they know how we fight! Swellow will do just fine!"
"Interesting..." Koga laughed behind his mouth guard, cupping his chin with his index. "We will see if your trust is misplaced!"
The fog became steadily thicker as Swellow ascended, to the point where she couldn't see two paces in front of her... or below her. Or to her left, or to her right.
It was hard to tell what was up, or what was down. How incredibly irritating.
"Come out, coward!" She shrieked, flapping her wings to maintain a steady altitude. "Did we come to have an air battle, or to play hide and seek!? Honestly. You call yourself an Elite Four Pokémon?" She scoffed, flicking her head feathers with the back of her wing. "If so, then KanJoh must be in a really sorry—"
She squawked in pain, as a venomous slash hacked into her back. Cross Poison.
She shook off the searing pain between and across her wings. It was child's play for her, of course. "Looks like I've got you pegged. Egged on by a few measly insults?" Her eyes darted about the veil, zeroing in on the area behind and above her. She saw a sliver of purple, and reoriented herself before blasting off with Quick Attack.
As quickly as that little sliver had appeared, it vanished into the fog again.
Gliding on two pairs of wings, Crobat slipped away from Swellow; by the time she shot through the fog, he was gone. His voice could be heard from nearby, however.
"Not at all. But a distracted target is an easy target."
Another Cross Poison fired out of the fog, flanking Swellow.
Crobat's taunting alerted Swellow. The sickly sound of Cross Poison cleaving through the fog was a second confirmation to his whereabouts. She used Double Team, splitting into seven copies within the fog. Cross Poison cleaved through one where she'd already been.
"Oh, don't get it twisted." Swellow bolted forward, and then lifted into a half of a loop, flying belly-up — at least she assumed she was belly-up — and flying back in the direction that Crobat had shot from. Each of her copies followed, and they all beat their wings. A cluster of Air Slashes camouflaged the actual current among the illusions.
"I'm a good multitasker!"
A foreboding silence dominated the battlefield below, where Ash waited patiently for an update from Swellow; a collision, a loud cry, one of them dropping from the fog.
Anything that would allow him to participate, and aid Swellow.
'I hate battling like this.' Ash thought to himself, grimacing. 'I trust Swellow, but I'm just standing here, doing nothing! But, if I do check, I'm cheating!'
If Koga suffered any such frustrations, he didn't show it. The Elite stood upright, arms folded, eyes turned up towards the fog. He clicked his tongue rhythmically, but said nothing.
Air Slash converged within the fog, dispelling the thick blanket of condensation in its midst. A sliver of deep purple could be spotted within, and a loud shriek followed.
Air Slash had hit its mark!
Swellow felt a tinge of satisfaction, but there was no time to celebrate. All of her copies converged into one form, which blasted into the tunnel through the fog with silver light propelling her. Quick Attack fired her directly into Crobat; knocking him through the air.
Swellow soared by, belly-up, smirking at her success.
Unfortunately, the victory was short-lived. Crobat spanned his four wings, stopping his trajectory at once. He grinned and descended upon Swellow, wrapping each of his wings around the avian's torso and legs to lock her in place.
Two vampiric fangs sank into her flesh. Crobat began draining her health with Leech Life.
Swellow cried. Sharp fangs jabbed into her torso, and she felt her vitality chipping away, one little sliver at a time. But the slight wooziness wouldn't do her in — not by a long shot! The same Swellow who endured a Thunder head-on and made it her ally wouldn't crumble to some measly poison and bug bites!
If the heavens couldn't take her down, why would a bad day in the woods?
"Swell!" She cried in defiance, beating her wings in an attempt to shake Crobat free.
Crobat sank his fangs even deeper into her torso in defiance.
Swellow winced, and started to spin and spiral through the fog, attempting to shake the damned parasite free. "Fangs off, you coward! Fight me like a man! I'll batter you into a purple pulp!"
Swellow was, of course, giving Crobat no such incentive. He continued to sap away at her strength. This time, she had no retort; her wings went limp, and she started to fall.
Poison bubbled through her blood, once more, making her see double.
"I can't see a thing, Empoleon... Can you?" Dawn asked, squinting at the blanket of gray above.
Empoleon shook his head. "Pol." The glacial waters that his evolutionary line had prepared him for had little in the way of fog for him to see through. He was of no help.
"Ab-ra." Pocus floated belly-up, arms folded behind his head. He coasted on air, growing bored with the battle. They weren't even spectators — they were dead weight!
"Abbb-ra."
This was why he hated Koga's battles. Tedious and boring.
"Wait a minute." Dawn spoke up, drawing her company's attention. "Something's off. Ash is just standing here, the same way we are. But, Koga hasn't stopped focusing for a second."
The Elite was still as a statue, staring into the fog. He clicked his tongue in a repetitious pattern, behind his scarf, but said nothing else.
Dawn squinted. "He keeps making those noises... Is it some sort of tic? But, we didn't hear it at all before this round. I don't know what that's about..."
"...but he has to be up to something." Ash squinted at his opponent.
Before he could deliberate further, an awful screech pierced the silence.
Powerful sonic waves reverberated in rings, distorting the air and fog in the middle of the battlefield. Swellow was forced towards the ground, recoiling under the effect of Crobat's Screech attack. She was mere moments away from impact!
"Swellow! Spin!"
Swellow responded to Ash, tucking her body into a barrel roll during her descent. She smacked her wing against the dirt, ricocheting herself out of Screech's path.
A Cross Poison crashed into the ground where she'd just been, carving an indent into the field. Crobat emerged from the veil afterward, clicking in disappointment.
"Crobat! Fly, once more!" Koga ordered. "Take refuge in the foggy heights!"
Crobat soared, once again.
Swellow didn't wait for Ash's command, chasing after with Quick Attack.
Swellow crashed into Crobat's back, knocking him higher.
Crobat cried in pain. But, the reliable ace of a ninja wouldn't succumb so easily. He took advantage of the upward momentum, and soared higher.
Swellow pursued with a second Quick Attack. A sudden surge of poison immobilized her, though, momentarily. Crobat slipped away into the fog.
Swellow cawed in annoyance, and followed.
Ash watched his Pokémon disappear, and returned his attention to Koga.
~That's weird. Don't you think, Bud?~
Peeks tilted his head, hearing Ash's voice flow through his conscience. ~What is? Koga's just trying to wait out the clock on Swellow's poison. Not a strategy I'd advise, but...~
~No, not that! It's Koga. He's been sitting there, doin' nothing but making noises. Now, as soon as our Pokémon are in front of us, he's as loud as we are!~ Ash's eyes narrowed. ~Something fishy's going on here... Whatever it is.~
Swellow emerged in the seemingly-endless blanket of fog, scanning her surroundings for any sort of hint of her foe. Crobat had escaped, to her annoyance.
A bone-chilling slicing sound came from Swellow's right. A Cross Poison was approaching fast, nearly striking her in the wing. She rolled to her left, just narrowly avoiding the venom.
Before she could collect herself, Crobat ascended directly into her belly, knocking the wind out of her. She fell back from the nasty uppercut as Crobat passed her by, looping around to disappear into the fog again. He returned to strike her in the side and pass her, repeating the pattern several times over. Vicious strikes came from every angle, unforgiving and unrelenting.
A horrible Screech assaulted Swellow, making her recoil, and her ears ring. It was hard to even tell where the sound was coming from, in the fog. Her head was pounding, her stomach felt sickly from the poison, and she couldn't tell up from down.
She was completely defenseless, when a Cross Poison crashed into her from above, sending Swellow plummeting. Her vision was blurry, and her body was sore all over.
Still, she refused to give up. Swellow never surrendered!
There was little for Ash to do in this battle but wait. So, he was keeping his eyes glued to Koga, studying him. The occasional, rhythmic clicking of his tongue...
'It couldn't be a tic... He hasn't made a peep like it, until he sent out Crobat! And it never sounds quite the same, either...' Ash's eyes narrowed, studying Koga. He hadn't once taken his eyes away from the fog, either, since the battle resumed out of sight.
Then, he noticed something he hadn't before. Koga's sharp, dark irises flicked left and right. Despite him otherwise standing completely still, he was watching the fog.
"You!" Ash exclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger at Koga. "You've been watching the battle, somehow, haven't you!?"
"Fwahahaha!" Koga laughed to himself, unfazed. "On what proof do you base these accusations?"
"What proof? My eyes and ears, plain and simple." Ash replied, pointing to each, respectively. "There's no point in me watching the sky; the fog's way too thick! But I can see your eyes following something. And, those clicks! They're some kind of code to Crobat, aren't they?"
Koga's eyes narrowed. He didn't answer.
"Your silence betrays you, Koga!" Ash smiled, emboldened. "That's why you commanded Crobat out loud when he and Swellow came down here, wasn't it!? To hide your advantage!"
"Fwahahaha! Clever. Very clever, Ash Ketchum. It seems my ruse is up." Koga folded his arms over his chest. "Indeed. I have been commanding Crobat, this entire time. Your Swellow, on the other hand, is suffering an inevitable crawl towards defeat." He laughed to himself, again. "Our many years practicing the ninja arts have sharpened our senses to the limits. I can follow the silhouettes of your Pokémon and mine. But, you've allowed my deception to drag on too long, and the sands of time fall in my favor!"
The Elite pointed towards Ash. "And now that you know our strategy, what do you plan to do with that information? You still hold a distinct disadvantage!"
"So, that's what Koga was up to!" Dawn exclaimed. "Oh, I guess that makes sense... A ninja's bound to be underhanded, and fight with every dirty trick in the book."
Empoleon clicked his tongue, wings on his hips. He could never favor such cowardly treachery.
"Ab-ab-ra." Pocus shrugged his shoulders, still floating on air. His voice was lazy and aloof; as if to say that even if Ash understood the strategy, it made little difference.
"You're wrong," Dawn said.
Abra took notice, sitting up to study her. A bold smile sat on her lips. Her eyes were sure and steady; steely with faith in Ash. "Ash has something up his sleeve that Koga would never be able to predict."
"That's where you're wrong, Koga!" Ash pointed towards the Elite, echoing Dawn's warning to Pocus. "You've been hiding your advantage, but I've also been hiding mine. One that I thought would be unfair to use, when my opponent couldn't do the same!"
The ninja master raised a brow at Ash's proclamation. "And just what would that be, trainer?"
Ash responded with a deep breath, clearing his mind and closing his eyes to the physical world. His eyes were now, functionally, a distraction. The world would now be viewed through a spiritual lens; an infinite blackness, broken by chromatic blue, wherever physical terrain laid, up and down the mountainside. Greater than that, was the shimmering beckoning of life. An outline of Crobat hung high in the sky, alone.
Another life force, stubborn and vibrant, fell towards the mountainside surface. Swellow was disoriented, and in need of help. Ash's help.
Ash reached for his cap, turning it backwards atop his head. "THE AURA IS WITH ME!"
The Pokémon Trainer — no, the heroes of ages' past pointed towards the sky. "I'm with you, Swellow! Fly back up, and keep on fighting, because we're gonna win this together!"
Swellow was broken from her trance by Ash's commanding voice. She could feel his confidence booming in his words, and hers responded in kind. Her eyes snapped wide open. With a ferocious cry, she stopped her descent with a flap of her wings, and a second launched her into the perilous fog. She climbed higher and higher.
"Crobat's just above you! Go for a Quick Attack!"
Silver light burst from Swellow's wings, and she kicked into high gear.
A startled Crobat just barely pulled out of her path, and Swellow continued to soar, unable to stop her momentum. Crobat clicked his teeth in irritation, but persisted, climbing after Swellow, and orbited her, coming just short of her enhanced speed.
"He's on your tail, clinging to you! Fall back for an Aerial Ace!"
It was difficult to hear Crobat's quiet wings, particularly in the middle of a Quick Attack. But, Swellow trusted Ash. She released the strain of her burst of speed, pulling belly up with her wings fanning out and limp. She fell backwards, forcing Crobat himself to reassess his flight pattern. He came to a halt, hovering above.
Swellow fell back, and seemingly vanished in a burst of speed. A backwards loop carried her out of Crobat's range, and then carried her back up to his altitude.
She came in, upside-down and belly-up, soaring towards where Crobat had been.
Crobat had moved out of range, though, seeing the maneuver coming. He soared higher, watching as Swellow swept under him in an attempted counterattack. He grinned.
"Air Slash! Above and in front of you, diagonally!"
Clusters of sharp winds battered Crobat, catching him off-guard entirely. Swellow's aim had been perfect! The Air Slash served to annoy Crobat more than hurt him, but the harsh winds assaulted his eyes, making him recoil and flinch. He, himself, couldn't see for a moment!
"Now, use Facade! Just where you aimed!"
Although a Crobat's wings were quiet, the harsh winds of Air Slash were not. Swellow could hear them make an impact, and the screech of discomfort that followed. She reoriented herself in the air, and flew on the offensive, rolling so that she was gliding on her side. Her wings ignited with a mighty blaze, channeling the pain of her poison into fury.
"Swell!" She struck at Crobat. Unfortunately, he, too, had excellent hearing. He spun around so that he was belly-up, avoiding the strike of her wings. He continued to fly below her, belly-up; gaze fixed on his opponent as he awaited further orders.
"...I see." Koga laughed to himself, even as he never let his mind wander from the battle. "To think you, a foolhardy and hot-blooded trainer, were a wielder of that mysterious force of ages past. For all of your talent, I wouldn't assume you'd have the temperament."
"There's a lot ya don't know about me, Koga." Ash didn't open his eyes to his foe. He kept his attention locked on Swellow and Crobat, who orbited each other above.
Koga clicked his tongue again, and Crobat swiped his wings across his body.
"Double Team!"
He watched Swellow's life signature suddenly veer to the side, while suffering no damage from what Ash was sure was a Cross Poison. "Use Aerial Ace! Follow where that last shot came from, and standby!"
While the battle ensued, he spoke again. "Part of being a Pokémon Trainer is grabbing experience from everywhere, and anywhere! You know that as well as I do!"
Koga clicked his tongue once more, as he watched Swellow approach his Crobat, and clicked his tongue again. Crobat used Screech at 10 o'clock, assaulting Swellow with an awful sound. With another command, Crobat launched another Cross Poison.
"And yet you abandon any element of surprise to reveal this gift, rather than holding it close and catching me off-guard. Has my battle with you taught you nothing, Aura Guardian?"
"Oh, I've learned a thing or two from your battle style, Koga. QUICK ATTACK! RIGHT INTO THE SCREECH!" Ash waved a hand in time with his command, returning his attention to Koga. "But, it's like I said: there's no way I'm beating you at your game. And we don't need the element of surprise to beat you! Now that you can't hide anymore, Swellow can finish this, herself!"
Koga watched Crobat pull just out of the way of Quick Attack. He smirked to himself. "So be it. Then you will pay for your hubris! Swellow hasn't the stamina to win, even now!" He clicked his tongue repeatedly again, just as Ash commanded a Facade.
Swellow braved the turbulence and discomfort of Crobat's Screech, forcing her way through. It'd slowed her down just enough for Crobat to lurch back, narrowly avoiding her beak. Flying backwards was never an even task, even for a Crobat.
It gave Swellow just the range she needed to raise her two wings over her head, hesitating just a bit. Poison nipped at her stamina. She felt like she was soon to collapse.
It only fueled her fury further. Facade came down on Crobat in the form of a double axe handle with her wings, hammering him back down towards Earth.
"Quick Attack! Catch up with him!"
Ash's voice boomed, and Swellow allowed a free fall to claim her, before speeding up further.
Koga watched Crobat drop from the atmosphere. His eyes narrowed. That one hit was enough to nearly disarm his reliable partner entirely. "Your Pokémon's power is commendable," he praised. "But what little vitality remains between yours and mine, I will claim for myself!" He clicked his tongue once again, giving one more command.
Crobat was coming close to reentering altitudes with thinner fog, and Swellow was fast approaching. Crobat acted accordingly, and pulled back, only to latch onto Swellow's belly. His fangs sank into her feathers, draining her with Leech Life.
By now, both Swellow and Crobat could be seen, descending together. Despite the precarious situation, though, Ash smirked. "Thanks, Koga! I was waiting for that." No longer needing his Aura, Ash opened his eyes, and jubilantly waved a hand through the air. "The poison drank from your own cup is the most potent!" With that improvised analogy, Ash commanded,
"ENDEAVOR!"
Swellow was clinging to the fight; just barely, now. But she wouldn't be alone. With a shrill cry, a white glow surrounded her, and expanded outward, claiming Crobat before he could even think of disengaging. By the time his fangs left Swellow, it was too late.
He hovered away and towards Koga, faltering in his flight. He felt tremendously weak.
"Endeavor...!" Koga's eyes widened. Ash could hear his laughter. "You lied. You did have deception hidden up your sleeve."
"You're damn right, I did! Now, let's finish this, Swellow! Quick Attack!"
"Swell!" Swellow cried, leaving a silver trail behind her.
"Crobat! Use Fly!"
Crobat took off, just narrowly ascending before Swellow could tag him. He screeched, assessing his immediate surroundings.
"Crobat! Behind you!"
The Poison-type responded in a panic, fluttering just out of range of another Quick Attack.
Swellow had slid to a halt and swerved around, trying to flank Crobat with a second Quick Attack. He'd dodged once more, leaving Swellow to soar onwards, coasting with one wing down, body tilted to the side so that she could watch her foe.
"Air Cutter!"
"Air Slash!"
Both Flying-types fired projectiles at one another; the dueling winds bursting into nill.
"This is it!" Ash cried, pointing forward with gusto. "Quick Attack, Swellow!"
"Swellow!" She cried, propelling herself towards Crobat with all of her might.
"Crobat!" Koga cried.
Crobat tried to meet her velocity. But, tried as he might, he faltered, screeching in pain. Endeavor had sapped him of all of his strength. Koga gasped.
Quick Attack struck true. Swellow smashed all of her weight into Crobat, sending him tumbling through the air to land in a heap outside of the dug out battlefield.
Crobat collapsed in a heap, with swirls in his eyes. He was unconscious.
Swellow smirked to herself, even as her eyelids fell heavy. "About time you went down, you son of a—" She fell limp, her consciousness fading away.
"Swellow!" Ash cried, running and leaping into the dug out field, sprinting one foot over the other to dive for his falling partner. He successfully caught her in his arms, skidding across the dirt on his side.
He smiled upon the unconscious avian, gently running a hand along her head feathers. "Way to clinch it. You were awesome* girl." He felt Peeks's weight on his shoulder, then.
"She stayed stubborn, right 'till the end," the Pikachu added. "She should probably rest now."
"Yeah. You're right." Ash lightly tapped Swellow with her Poké Ball, returning her.
"You've proven your worth." Koga was in front of Ash suddenly, startling him. He looked up to Peeks to check if the mouse had seen him coming. Peeks shook his head. He hadn't, either.
The Elite offered Ash a hand, and pulled the trainer to his feet. He pulled down his scarf, bearing a smile fitting of a proud elder. "I subjected you to everything I could muster. But my efforts failed. You have beaten me, both in combat and in the art of deception — a lot more than I'd expect from a modest and straightforward trainer with your character and background."
"Hey, you'd be surprised!" Ash laughed. "You learn to be a real sneaky bastard, when you're on the tough streets of Pallet Town."
Koga chuckled, himself. "Among other things, it clearly taught you a good sense of humor."
"Ash!" Dawn ran towards the dug out field, nearly stumbling over the ledge in the process.
"Dawn!" Ash cried out.
She yelped, cycling her arms for balance, before an exasperated Empoleon rushed over, pulling her back by her waist. "Phew… Thanks, Empoleon! I thought I was going to fall flat for a second, there!" Dawn smiled sheepishly.
Empoleon sighed, exhausted with her. "Em-pol…"
Koga huffed. "Your friend could probably stand to take some courses from my sister's school, in Pokémon Jiu Jitsu. A stronger constitution and center of balance might save her from great peril."
"Hah! Dawn, with a center of balance? You'd have more luck teaching a Diglett to fly!"
"H-hey!" Dawn huffed, her cheeks puffing out in embarrassment. "And I was just coming down to congratulate you too, you big butt." Despite her complaints, she shook off the spat with a smile, climbing down carefully to run down to Ash with a grin. "You did just great! That's two down, now!"
"And, two to go!" Ash grinned. "Well, I guess three, if you count Lance."
"A Magikarp who sets their sights too high will tumble down the waterfall, and never fly," Koga replied, folding his arms. "If you wish to face the Champion, then first you must focus on your next opponent. Bruno of the Elite Four will block your path with overpowering strength."
"Right! And that's what this next week'll be about!" Ash said, punching a fist into an open palm.
"Correct," Koga nodded. "My arts of deception will serve you well, against the unbreakable wall in your path. Creeping venom will seep through the cracks and disarm him, if you allow me to teach you the hazardous arts! It seems that you're off to quite the start." Koga's eyes glimmered. His lips creased in amusement. "What was it that you'd said about my peer's techniques?"
Ash laughed. "I already told you I'd be using deceit! I just didn't tell you what kind I'd be using. If you thought that Haze was all I was packing from Lorelei, then there was no way you'd see Endeavor coming!"
"Nor did I expect your Swellow to go to such difficult ends," Koga added.
"That's what she's best at!" Ash boasted, as he thumped a fist against his chest in pride towards the thrill-seeking Flying-type. "I knew that if she and Crobat were at the end of their ropes, then she'd tough it out, better than anybody. It's like they say — 'Know yourself, know your enemies, and you hold the key to victory!'"
"Jeez! When did you become such a philosopher, Ash?" Dawn grinned, bundling her hands together. "It's a really cool look for you!"
"I get around." Ash shrugged, playing off his very real enthusiasm for Dawn's praise behind a smile that he couldn't quite contain. In an effort to carry that cool facade, he shifted topics. "So! As far as 'knowing your enemy' goes, I know I need the kind of strategy that can beat Bruno! And if I know you, I think I know just the technique you're gonna teach me!"
Koga's smirk widened. "If your intuition is correct, you'll make a quick student, Ash Ketchum. But, for my regimen, we'll need a Pokémon sturdy enough to wield the Fuchsia Compound's deadliest weapon — one who can outlast an ailing foe! Perhaps one as stubborn as your Swellow."
"As stubborn as Swellow…" Ash cupped his chin with his index and thumb, thoughtfully considering his many, dependable partners. Finally, he smiled; a twinkle in his eye.
"Koga… I know just the gal for the job!"
"Wonderful!" Koga replied. "But, with hard work, must come rest. We will return to the Fuchsia Gym to refresh for the following week of training."
"Oh, yes!" Dawn cheered, grinning giddily. "Does that mean we get to use the hot springs!? I've been dying for another spa day, but we haven't had the time… or the money." She bashfully scratched her cheek.
"Fwahahaha! Indeed." Koga laughed. "Normally, those services would only be for a challenger. But, for all you have done for the Fuchsia Gym, you are in our debt." The Elite bowed his head.
"Now, Pocus! If you would deliver us back to the compound." He gestured to the Abra who floated closer with a roll of his eyes.
"Abbb-ra."
Ash, Dawn, their starters, and Koga all gathered around Pocus. Then, they vanished.
Chapter 10: Bruno I - Body Press
Chapter Text
Northwest of Pallet Town and into the wilderness, a verdant mountain range laid south of the perilous, forbidden heights of Mt. Silver. Beyond the forests and slopes, one greater elevation reached for the skies; earth and solid rock dwarfed its immediate surroundings, reaching towards the heavens. Even if it paled in comparison to Mt. Silver, its stature was still mighty.
Mt. Hideaway; home to abnormally large Rock and Ground-type Pokémon, due to rich nutrients in its soil. It made for an obscure training spot for seasoned and ambitious trainers, or a place to catch powerful Pokémon. Today, it would be the grounds for a grand, earth-rattling battle.
A rocky, bone-dry and barren valley towards the bottom of the mountain set the scene, when Pocus Teleported Ash, Peeks, Dawn, and Empoleon to the location of the coming challenge.
"So, this is Mt. Hideaway, huh…?" Dawn asked, surveying her surroundings with her hands planted on her hips. "Well, it seems larger than life. I can see why Bruno chose this place."
"Mhm!" Ash folded his arms, nodding sagely. "This is where we first met Bruno, even! Brock and I wanted to seek him out to learn the secrets of Pokémon Training."
"Oh, that had to be exciting!" Dawn clapped her hands together; her sapphire eyes glowing. "The Elite Four of any region must have a lot to offer. What did he end up showing you?"
"Well…" Ash exchanged an awkward, knowing glance with Peeks. "The thing is…!"
"It's your fault for hyping him up, just now," Peeks said flatly.
"Hm?" Dawn blinked, puzzled. "What is it?"
"...He mostly just had us do menial labor for him," Ash finished.
Dawn and Empoleon collapsed in a pratfall.
"Ugh! That doesn't sound like insightful training," Dawn complained, as she shook the dirt and debris off of her face. "...Is it? Is it some secret technique?"
"Humph! I see that my old deeds have come back to haunt me."
A booming voice echoed from Hideaway's rocky heights. Standing atop a nearby cliff was an imposing, gargantuan figure. A muscular behemoth of a man stood with his arms crossed, wearing tattered, baggy pants secured with a belt, and spiked bands on his wrists and ankles. His dark, spiky hair flowed over his shoulders in a ponytail, and he had prominent brows to match. He leapt down the cliffside in several impressive bounds, clearing dozens of feet in his last jump to land across the valley from Ash and company, landing without a hitch on one knee.
"Shaymin's grace!" Dawn exclaimed, holding a hand over her mouth with wide-eyes, mirrored by Empoleon's own shock, whose wings were flapping about in shock, and a little bit of fear. She leaned towards Ash to whisper, "maybe the hard labor was to help you learn to do that."
"I could totally do that on my own," Ash protested, folding his arms.
"At this point, it wouldn't surprise me," Peeks said flatly.
As Bruno approached, though, Ash's bravado faded away. He looked even more intimidating, up-close. He rubbed the back of his neck, smiling sheepishly. "About those things I said…!"
The martial artist raised a quieting hand. "Say nothing more. Ill deeds beget ill whispers. That is a simple fact of life. My philosophy is that 'simplicity is strength.'" He punched one titanic fist into his matching open palm. The impact sounded like waves crashing against the tides.
"And, our meeting is a simple matter, Ash Ketchum. You are here, because like me, you have trained to the extreme, and seek to become one of the world's strongest Pokémon Trainers!"
"That's right!" Ash shouted, speaking from his chest, once more, as his confidence returned. He thumped his fist over his heart. "And that's my next, big step to becoming a Pokémon Master!"
Bruno nodded sagely, arms folded. "Very good. I see no fear in you. You have the makings of your dream, within your iron grip. With that said…!" With a grunt, Bruno took a great leap backwards, landing on the opposite end of the valley on his feet. "No more words are necessary — you will prove your worth against me in a Pokémon Battle! If you don't muster greater will than us, we will grind you down with our superior power! Hoo-hah!" With a grunt of effort, he threw a Poké Ball into the air. The capsule popped open, releasing a towering, massive light.
The pillar of light quickly took shape; gigantic, angular segments formed a long body, with horns and spikes jabbing out of several of them; progressively narrow towards the earth, and more massive towards the sky. A massive, horseshoe-shaped head, coated in diamond-tough plating.
"GROAAAARRRH!" A mighty roar battered the eardrums of all present. An absolutely massive Steelix towered over the valley, craning his neck to glare down at Ash with steely blue eyes.
"W-w-what kind of Steelix is that!?" Dawn exclaimed, quickly hiding behind Empoleon. "They have to be the size of a tall building!"
"Pol," Empoleon replied, loyally guarding his trainer. Even so, he felt miniscule in their shadow.
"So. We're facing you right off the bat!" Ash smirked, adjusting the brim of his cap. "I heard that your giant Onix evolved. But, seeing him in person is a completely different story!"
"Indeed. Most of my Pokémon are all-out attackers — aggressively crushing foes with our earth-shattering blows! Steelix, on the other hand, is an unbreakable wall of defense! Many a challenger has failed to even witness the wrath of my Fighting-types, with him in their way!"
Bruno patted Steelix's diamond hide. "Of course, this one is my friend. So, I'm more than happy to show him off in battle! I don't expect you to crumble so easily, Ash, but I'd warn against underestimating him."
"As if anyone could," Ash said, whistling. "But, still! I'm glad to see you doing better, Steelix!"
"Graaorh!" Steelix grumbled. His smile could be seen in his eyes.
"Just a fair warning," Ash said, as he tapped the center button on his first Poké Ball. "I wouldn't go underestimating this guy, either!" He juggled it in his palm, and tossed it overhand.
"Wartortle! I choose you!"
Wartortle appeared with his arms crossed, bearing his signature shades. He looked up at his massive opponent, and clicked his tongue. "So, I'm thrown right into the dirty work, huh? Well, if there's anyone for the job…!" He placed his shades back inside his shell. "Bring it on, brother!"
"Let's start this battle on our terms! Rain Dance!" Ash commanded.
Wartortle aimed a misty orb of water towards the skies. Dark rainclouds spread across the valley, and began showering its span with a downpour. Heavy rainfall dominated the skies.
"Wartortle's the head of the Vermilion City Fire Department," Ash explained, "so I know that Officer Jenny's going to appreciate him having rainfall on him anytime, anywhere."
"So, that is your strategy." Bruno hummed. "But, it's no match for raw power! Rock Slide!"
Steelix roared. An avalanche of large boulders rained from the sky over Wartortle.
"Yeah, we'll see!" Ash waved a hand. "Water Gun, rapid fire!"
"On it!" Wartortle spat thin, precise shots of water towards each of the boulders in succession. One after another, he pierced the falling debris with expert aim, making them split and crumble.
"Hmph. Impressive aim," Bruno commended. "Steelix! Earthquake!"
The spinning steel segments of the Iron Snake rumbled and groaned, as his massive tail battered the earth. The ground started to split, causing ripples of broken earth and seismic waves to spread across the terrain, aimed at Wartortle.
"Use Hydro Pump to speed on through!"
Wartortle leapt and retreated to his shell, firing roaring waters from each groove. The currents propelled him like a spinning top, launching him into the eye of the seismic storm. Distorted earth and jagged rocks rose to batter and pierce him, but swift swerves in all directions made him a difficult moving target. He slipped by Earthquake, aiming his jets at Steelix's midsection.
"Steelix!" Bruno warned.
"Groah!" Steelix grinned, and his entire midsection swerved to the side. Wartortle shot by him.
"It missed!?" Ash exclaimed, wide-eyed. "I didn't think Steelix could move like that!"
"Your first, costly mistake!" Bruno barked. "Steelix! Double Edge!"
Steelix geared his limber body around, rearing back his head. He threw all of his weight behind his skull, and lunged towards Wartortle to crush him with his iron visage.
Wartortle popped out of his shell in mid-air. He felt his heart skip a few beats, with the giant descending upon him. He could be squashed flat by that!
"Dodge, with Water Gun!" Ash urged.
Wartortle obeyed, spitting a jet beneath him to launch into the air like a rocket.
Steelix missed Wartortle, but his momentum didn't let up. He crashed headfirst into the earth, burying his upper body in a large crater.
'The recoil should stall him for a moment,' Ash thought. "Hydro Cannon!"
Wartortle gathered his strength, and fired a massive water projectile with earth-breaking force.
"Dodge, Steelix!" Bruno warned.
To Ash's astonishment, and Wartortle's chagrin, Steelix immediately surfaced, and slithered out of the way of Hydro Cannon. The ultimate move pierced the earth, leaving a crater and filling it.
"He was still able to move after Double-Edge!?" Ash exclaimed.
"Now! Body Press!" Bruno roared.
Wartortle was left in mid-air, falling, defenseless. Hydro Cannon had left his breath shallow, and his body unresponsive for just a moment. It was enough of a window that he could only watch helplessly, as Steelix's gargantuan midsection smashed into his underbelly. The breath was knocked from the Water-type, as he shot across the valley, smashing into the cliffside wall.
His shell was embedded in the rocky surface. He coughed, battered and bruised.
"Cowa-bummer, man," Wartortle coughed. As a slight recompense, a light blue aura washed over him. The rain brought relief; cool water droplets soothed his skin and nurtured his wounds.
"Steelix's ability is Rock Head," Bruno explained. "He doesn't suffer recoil damage."
"So, just like Roark's Onix…!" Ash tutted in frustration. "I should've known."
"I see your Wartortle is benefiting from his ability, too," Bruno continued. "Rain Dish heals him, on top of the boost the rain grants to Water-type attacks. A well-rounded strategy, I must admit."
"We need that kind of staying power, if we're fighting your Steelix!" Ash shouted back.
"Right," Bruno agreed. "Your Wartortle already suffered our Body Press, which does more damage, the higher a Pokémon's defense. So, Steelix's tough hide is also a weapon!"
"No wonder he looks so battered," Ash muttered. He lost fortune's favor, as well, when the water droplets finally stopped pattering against his bare skin and his coat. Rain Dance had died out.
"It seems your weather has expired!" Bruno declared. "And, so has your Wartortle's tenure in this match! Steelix! Use Double-Edge!"
Steelix roared, and threw all of his weight at Wartortle, who was still embedded in rock.
"That's what you think!" Ash cried. "Wartortle! Put all of your weight into a Water Gun!"
"War!" Wartortle cried. He spat a powerful Water Gun, blasting Steelix directly in the face.
The Iron Snake cried, backing off and shaking his head.
Furthermore, the recoil launched Wartortle into the interior of the cliffside, burying him at the end of a long, narrow tunnel.
"You've staved off Double Edge," Bruno noted, "but you've also trapped your own Pokémon."
"Oh? You think so?" Ash smirked, despite their predicament. "We've got more tricks up our sleeve! Wartortle, use Hydro Pump!"
Wartortle started to spin in the very limited space he had, firing his cannons at full throttle. He spun, and spun, and the pressure built up to a fever pitch.
On the outside of the cliff, cracks started to spread through its surface. Bruno frowned.
Suddenly, Wartortle's shell shot out at blinding speeds. His Hydro Pump battered the recovering Steelix, landing a direct hit. Steelix cried out, as Wartortle soared on by him.
"Ah, I see…!" Bruno's eyes widened, and then narrowed. "You used the force built up inside that narrow cavern to propel Wartortle's Hydro Pump, like a bullet fired from a gun's chamber!"
"That's the idea!" Ash confirmed, "and there's more where that came from! Wartortle's still got plenty of momentum left! Keep it coming!"
Wartortle's shell continued to orbit Steelix, assaulting him with consecutive Hydro Pumps, every time his shell veered close enough to batter his iron segments.
"Steelix! Dodge it! Bruno cried.
The Iron Snake grumbled in anger, and started to weave, avoiding Wartortle's attacks entirely.
'Steelix is so fast, that it looks like that Hydro Pump isn't worth the effort,' Ash thought to himself, frowning. 'But he's already been doused more than once… I think I have an idea!'
"Steelix! Iron Tail!" Bruno barked.
Steelix pivoted his weight around so that the next arc of Hydro Pump carved through thin air, leaving a cloud of mist in its way, but nothing else. "Groah!" He grunted, winding up his tail.
"Iron Defense! Now!" Ash cried.
Hydro Pump ceased. A steel, reflective coating reinforced Wartortle's shell; just in time for Iron Tail to crash into its tough exterior. Wartortle was sent spinning through the air at rapid speeds.
"Now, hang in there and fire Ice Beam! Stay in your shell!"
"What!?" Bruno's eyes widened. There was little he could do, as jagged arcs of freezing energy sprayed from Wartortle's shell, which was knocked diagonally by Steelix's own attack. Freezing rays orbited him, chilling Steelix's body up and down. His long, lithe body was frozen in place, and the joints between his iron segments jammed with ice. "Steelix has been made immobile…!"
"Oh, that's awesome!" Dawn cheered from the sidelines, still looking out from behind Empoleon. "Freezing the joints to keep Steelix from moving… I never would've thought of that!"
"Empoleon!" Empoleon cheered, rooting for his fellow Water-type starter. "Pol-eon."
"Yeah, it's Ash's opportunity to set up! He's got them in a bind! If he makes the most of it…!"
"Bolstering your defenses, and then attacking before we could retaliate… I applaud you," Bruno praised. "Your cunning is worlds beyond when we last met, young Ash."
"Yeah, there's more where that came from," Ash replied, eyes narrowed. He couldn't afford to get distracted. This was their opportunity to turn the tides! "Use Rain Dance, Wartortle!"
Wartortle landed on his feet. His shell was battered from Iron Tail, but its new tougher exterior left him little more than rattled. He shot another mass of moisture into the air, summoning rain.
He felt the cold droplets on his skin once again, and a blue glow accompanied his healing.
"Now, let's finish this!" Ash cried, pointing towards Steelix. "Use Hydro Cannon!"
Wartortle gathered his strength, and summoned a giant mass of water, dwarfing his own body. He recoiled when it fired, sending it hurtling towards Steelix.
'If this lands, we win!' Ash thought to himself. His nails dug into his palm in a clenched fist.
"Hmph! Autotomize!" Bruno commanded.
Steelix's entire body started to rumble. Cracks started to spread through the ice coating his hide and jamming his joints. With a loud, harsh 'crash,' the ice across his body shattered; each of his segments spinning rapidly. With Hydro Cannon mere moments from landing, he swiftly swerved his upper body out of the way; his body a silver blur. The Ultimate Move soared past him.
"Damn it," Ash cursed. "Wartortle! Use Water Gun on Hydro Cannon!"
Winded, but standing, Wartortle spat a narrow projectile at the roaring, malleable bubble. The precise shot popped Hydro Cannon, battering an unsuspecting Steelix in the splash.
"Hmph…! Most impressive! You're aware of the in's and out's of the ultimate moves."
"You bet I am!" Ash pounded a fist against his chest. "With enough experience, a Pokémon can find their ways around it. A weaker move like Water Gun can get around the time they spend recharging."
Wartortle took shallow breaths, as a blue light washed over him, again. Rain Dish soothed his minor wounds, and he felt his stamina replenish, just a bit.
"That's correct," Bruno nodded, "but the time you stand still afterwards resets."
"That's fine," Ash replies. "Wartortle can handle it! He's got a tough shell."
"We shall see!" Bruno replied. "Steelix! Use Earthquake!"
Steelix slammed his mighty tail against the earth, and sent rippling waves through the earth. The crater left from Wartortle's first Hydro Cannon started to falter and split further on its periphery, but its main target faced the brunt. Wartortle cried out, and was thrown airborne.
"Roarh…!?" Steelix grunted in confusion, as he felt the ground under him shift. The earth was collapsing; eaten away by the small body of water near the base of his body. He was nearly submerged in it; quickly lunging away and towards the stunned Wartortle.
"Body Press!"
Steelix's tough hide smashed into Wartortle, knocking him back towards the earth.
"Wartortle!" Ash cried. He watched his loyal Pokémon's shell grind and bounce off of the uneven earth, before he landed on all fours near Ash's feet. "How're you hanging in there, big guy?"
"Gonna be honest with you, Ash! Had better days." The Water-type grunted, forcing himself to his feet. "Good thing for that Iron Defense. 's a miracle I'm not a blue paste, right now."
He started to glow, once more, from Rain Dish.
"Havin' a refresher every so often ain't hurting, either… looks like they're calling me on my tab, though." He looked up at the sky, where the rainfall came to an end. The dark storm clouds scattered. "The grizzly fella behind the counter said I had a few too many. Took my car keys."
"...What kind of movies have you been watching?" Ash squinted, then shook it off. "Forget about that. Let's set up another Rain Dance, while we still can!"
"Letting me back on the bottle? You're such an enabler." Wartortle got the sense Ash only halfway knew what he was talking about, and followed his command, calling another downpour.
"Your overreliance on weather will be your downfall! Hoo-hah!" Bruno roared. "Iron Tail!"
Steelix stabbed his pointed tail into the earth, and the ground beneath Wartortle began to rumble. The tortoise looked down below him, where his footing became shaky. "Uh-oh."
Iron Tail struck him from below, knocking him high into the sky.
"Now! Finish him!" The Elite shouted. "Double Edge!"
Steelix geared back his head, and then lunged at the airborne Water-type for a crushing blow.
Ash's eyes narrowed, as Steelix grew ever-closer. "We've got a clean shot… almost…!'
"Hydro Cannon!"
Steelix was at point-blank range. Wartortle inhaled, gathering his power.
Hydro Cannon fired.
"Steelix!" Bruno called. Astoundingly, Steelix swiftly swerved out of the way. Hydro Cannon sailed past. "That was a bold gamble, Ash Ketchum. But, Steelix is trained in the Python style of martial arts! He can strike swiftly, and retreat to a defensive stance! Counterattacks won't work!"
Despite it all, Ash smiled. "Yeah, I had a feeling that wouldn't work with your speed!"
Bruno's confident visage faltered. He scowled; dark brow furrowed. "And just what does that—"
"Groooarh!?" Steelix cried out in surprise. Hydro Cannon had battered the ground below, creating a large crater. It was close enough to the first that the foundation between them both crumbled, with rumbling waters pouring over the gap. The break in the ground spread, and Steelix collapsed into the makeshift body of water, flailing in confusion.
Wartortle, meanwhile, had used the recoil of his Bond Move to propel himself atop a cliff face. He breathed heavily, regaining his stamina. Rain Dish gave him another small reprieve.
"What's this…!?" Bruno was caught completely off-guard by the development, eyes wide. "Hmph! So, you had a contingency, if Hydro Cannon missed. And you also gave your Wartortle distance from us."
"That trick belongs to my Gliscor," Ash explained, beaming with pride. "A bit of distance after a move that knocks the wind out of you can go a long way. And now he's free to move again, while you can't!" He pointed forward. "Alright, Wartortle, let's finish this! Charge in!"
"Whatever you say, brother!" Wartortle leapt down the cliff, and sprinted towards Steelix.
"Steelix! Use Rock Slide!" Steelix responded to Bruno, hurtling a volley of boulders at Wartortle.
"Water Gun, again," Ash called, "and give 'em more volume! Launch them back at Steelix!"
"War!" Wartortle answered mid-sprint, and sprayed water at each of the incoming rocks. Some were fired off-course, while a majority were pushed back towards Steelix under the duress.
Steelix swerved his head and upper body, narrowly avoiding each of his own projectiles.
"Steelix is submerged in that natural body of water," Bruno grunted. "He can hardly move!"
"That's the idea — but we're just getting started!" Ash shouted. "Ice Beam!"
Wartortle ran and jumped, clearing roughly half of Steelix's height. He fired a freezing beam from his mouth, tracing from the pool he was submerged in up his body, freezing him solid.
"Now, finish it!" Ash roared, waving a hand aside. "Hydro Pump!"
"Warrr…!" Wartortle withdrew, and launched himself towards Steelix with a rotating torrent. It blasted Steelix with enough force to shatter the ice around his midsection and then some.
The Iron Snake roared out in pain; the ice shattering under his own weight. He fell back with an earth-rumbling thud, unconscious.
"...So, that's how it is." Bruno huffed, retaining his stoic composure. He recalled Steelix.
"Yes! That's one down." Ash cheered, punching the air. "Good going, Wartortle!"
The turtle skidded back across the ground, kicking up mist in his wake. "No… nothin' to it."
"Nice!" Dawn whooped, hopping in place. "Squirtle Squad, Squirtle Squad, Number One! Dousing Steelix, 'till they come undone! Woohoo!" In the absence of her pom-poms, she punched and kicked the air in rhythm.
"Em-pol." Empoleon crossed his arms, nodding approvingly to his fellow Water-type starter.
"Abb," Pocus hummed. Seeing Bruno's Steelix faint was a rare sight, indeed.
"Still… I feel tired from even watching that round," Dawn whistled. "There are still five to go."
"Very well-done, Ash! I commend you. And Wartortle as well," Bruno praised. "Of course, we're just getting started! Hah!" He leapt away from where he stood once more, moving away from the pond left in the earth from the previous battle, and threw a second Poké Ball. "Go, Golem!"
A Golem materialized in front of Bruno. But, something was… different about this one.
"That's a Golem…?" Ash's eyes narrowed. "It's not like one I've ever seen."
The basic structure of Golem looked similar, with a large, rocky shell covering most of his body. However, there were darker stones framing his brow ridges, resembling eyebrows, and another over his muzzle, resembling a mustache. The same dark mineral jutted out from under his chin, like a large beard. More striking than these, though, were the three stones jutting out of the top of his shell; they were shaped like a sort of cannon, with orange ore embedded in their interior.
"So this Golem's got a barber who should probably be fired," Wartortle spat. "I don't see the big deal."
"I really, seriously doubt that's all it is," Ash replied, eyes narrowing. Studying Golem, he couldn't figure out what their type was. But, the faint buzz of static startled him, then. Golden static was dancing off of Peeks's cheeks, and his ears were pinned back, alert. "The static in the air…"
It could only be one thing. "Your Golem's still a Rock-type, and an Electric type, isn't he?"
"That would be correct." Bruno nodded, arms folded. "This is an Alolan Golem!"
'So the type advantage is both with us and against us,' Ash mulled quietly. Furthermore, Rain Dance had expired, once again. 'And worse off, Wartortle looks exhausted.' The turtle postured as he usually did, but his breaths were heavy; Ash could see it in his gait. 'Time to switch out.'
"Wartortle! Return!"
"Golem! Use Block!"
Ash extended his hand clutching his partner's Poké Ball. Before he could tap its center button, the space around his hand began to glow. "Huh!?" Solid rock materialized around the Poké Ball, trapping it. Ash nearly stumbled over, catching the stone's weight with his other hand. "What gives!?"
"Block," Bruno explained. "A move that prevents your Pokémon from escaping! It can manifest in a variety of ways…"
"And your first choice was to bury my hand in rock!?" Ash snapped.
The Elite nodded, unperturbed. "I can tell by your physique that you could handle the weight. Moreover, I've seen how you battle. If we erected a stone barrier, you'd just find your way around it! So, as long as Wartortle is on the field, you're not using that Poké Ball!" He punched a hand into his open palm. "You won't be engaging in a tactical retreat! You'll fight 'till the end!"
"Alright, alright, wise guy!" Wartortle huffed, puffing his chest out. "Try me! I'll leave you waterlogged, too. If I can handle the iron python, what's a lil' pile of rocks gonna do to me!?"
"Your Pokémon is confident," Bruno remarked.
"Yeah, he usually is," Ash said plainly. "But, we have no choice now, so let's do it! Rain Dance!"
"You got it, brother!" Wartortle cried, and went on to summon yet another rainfall.
'Now, maybe he can get a little of his health back,' Ash thought to himself. 'He's still definitely tired, but we might as well keep this going for as long as we can!'
"If you're preparing for battle, then we will, as well!" Bruno roared. "Golem! Charge!"
Golem grumbled. Electric sparks kicked up between his two horns, and then his entire body was bathed in golden electricity. Static danced over his body, as a red aura washed over him.
"So, Charge is their move," Ash muttered. "Just like Gold's Pichu! Their special defense is higher now, and we'll have to watch out for electric attacks…"
"I don't give a damn if he finds a wall socket and plugs in! I'll still wash him up!" Wartortle said.
"Right — we might as well see how they hold up!" Ash supported his rock-melded hand with the other to point towards Golem. "Use Water Gun!"
Wartortle inhaled, and then spat a Water Gun towards Golem; bolstered in volume and force by the rain. Its sheer power kicked up mud, splattering Golem, just before the move made contact.
Golem slid back across the mud, grumbling in irritation at the move. "Golem!" He stood strong.
"So even in rain, that gives him staying power," Ash noted. He eyed their foe up and down, before something caught his eye; the mud pooled at Golem's feet, from the constant downpour.
'That gives me an idea!'
"Your attacks are futile!" Bruno shouted. "Ours will bring you to your knees! Discharge!"
"Go-lem!" Golem cried. Golden lightning bolts snapped in all directions, converging on Wartortle.
"Use Rapid Spin!" Ash ordered. "Skate along the mud, to kick some up!"
Wartortle retreated to his shell and spun, skating along the muddy earth. Dense mud splattered about, providing him a shield from the electricity, which fizzled out when it couldn't pass through.
The mud also hit Golem, making him groan in irritation. It splattered his eyes, blinding him!
"Now, add an Iron Defense to that Rapid Spin!" Ash commanded.
Wartortle's spinning shell shimmered silver, skipping off of the muddy field to crash into Golem.
"Counter, with Gyro Ball!"
Golem tucked in and started to spin, surrounding his body with a ring of silver light. His shell met Wartortle's, and they grinded ceaselessly against one another. Silver sparks flew in every direction; both armored Pokémon pushing for dominance. Ultimately, Wartortle suffered first.
The Water-type flew back, skidding through the mud. "War…!" He grunted, pushing himself back onto his feet. The rainfall gave him a bit of stamina, but his troubled expression didn't change.
"He's tired…!" Dawn bit down on her knuckle. "I think that's why Wartortle couldn't cut it, there."
"Pol, Poleon," Empoleon replied, pointing at Golem.
"Right. Gyro Ball is stronger, the faster your opponent is. And Ash uses Rapid Spin to speed up his Pokémon, which makes it even more powerful. Wartortle's in a pretty tight spot, here."
This only made the Coordinator more determined, though, to cheer. "You can do this, Wartortle!"
"Hmph!" Bruno's eyes narrowed. "Your Pokémon grows weak. Golem! Rock Slide!"
Golem popped out of his shell, and summoned an avalanche. "Golem!"
"He won't give up, no matter what!" Ash cried in response. "Bounce off them with Rapid Spin!"
"You said it, brother!" Wartortle jumped and retreated to his shell, launching towards the incoming boulders. He spun and bounced off of each, knocking one after another out of his path. After just a few ricochets, he closed in on Golem, passing through the debris.
"Now! Body Press!"
Golem flung his entire body at Wartortle, and smashed his weight into him.
Wartortle coughed and spat; knocked clean out of his shell. He slid back across the mud, nearly stumbling off of his feet and into the mud. "War… Wartortle…!"
"Now, use Charge," Bruno ordered. Sparkle crackled and snapped between Golem's horns.
"He's barely hanging on," Ash said through grit teeth. "It's all or nothing! Use Hydro Cannon!"
"Warrrr…!" Wartortle braced himself and drew in his breath. Just as he did, unfortunately, the rainfall stopped, and the clouds cleared to reveal clear skies. The bubbles gathering to form Hydro Cannon fizzled, and the Bond Move failed to take on its previous mass.
"Golem! Use Double Edge!" Bruno roared. Golem roared with might, and threw his entire weight towards Wartortle in a headlong charge. Lightning flickered between his two horns, before encompassing his entire body in a dazzling, crackling aura of electricity. It bathed him in gold.
Ash tutted at the rainfall's poor timing. But, they had bigger issues. "What's with that Double Edge!?"
Wartortle fired Hydro Cannon, and slid back across the mud. Golem crashed into the mass of water; his electric aura struggling against it. The all-out moves pushed against one another; lightning spraying wildly, and mist evaporating under the heat and duress.
Double-Edge broke through Hydro Cannon, and smashed into Wartortle.
The Water-type flew through the air towards Ash. His shell was charred, and his body was limp.
Ash took several steps back, hugging him in with his one free arm. "Wartortle," he whispered. The tortoise was unconscious, with no witty quips or boasts to offer. Stray static danced off of his body, and singed Ash's arms and jacket. Subsequently, the rocks around his hand crumbled.
"You did your best, big guy. Thank you." Ash tapped him gently with his Poké Ball, recalling him.
"That was Galvanize," Bruno explained. It's the signature ability of Alolan Golem. It changes all Normal-type moves into Electric-type moves, using the generator on his back. And it gives those moves an extra boost in power!"
Golem backed off and returned to his own side of the field. He stumbled from the recoil damage.
"Your complex strategies are to be lauded, Ash. But as I said, our simplicity is strength. Sometimes, raw power is the best answer to a problem! If you want to defeat us, then you must overcome the rock-hard toughness of Golem, who won't be beaten by fancy tricks!"
"He won't be, will he?" Ash inhaled, and exhaled. He patted his cheeks, psyching himself up for the confident smile that followed. "Well, I have one Pokémon who's tough enough to take what Golem dishes out, and then some!" He wound up, and tossed his next Poké Ball. "Bayleef!"
"Bay…!" The light took the shape of the cream yellow sauropod, who soared through the air, landing on all fours to slide across the muddy field. A subtle, but noticeable 'thud' echoed her mass, and she threw her head back, tilting her chin down at her foe with fire in her ruby eyes.
"Alright, Bayleef," Ash said. "I'm counting on you to hold the line for us, okay? This Golem is sturdy, but so are you!"
Bayleef looked over her shoulder, and saw the sternness in Ash's gaze. She mirrored it and nodded. "I'll be in this battle as long as you need me to be!"
Ash smiled, and nodded. "Then, let's do this!" He pointed towards Golem. "Use Toxic!"
"Bay…!" Bayleef slung the lead adorning her head in an arc, slinging purple, corrosive venom.
"So, Koga's contribution has shown itself," Bruno grunted. "Nevertheless, it's futile! Gyro Ball!"
Golem spun once again, and a silver ring orbited around his body. He charged at Bayleef, directly colliding with Toxic. The poison was deflected by Gyro Ball, flying aside harmlessly.
Gyro Ball collided with Bayleef, and she grunted in pain, sliding back across the mud. Thanks to her comparatively lower speed to Wartortle, she shrugged off the soreness with little trouble.
"It's as I said," Bruno continued, "simplicity is strength! Golem, use Rock Slide!"
Golem stood upright and roared, summoning a volley of rocks. They descended upon Bayleef.
"Cut them down, with Razor Leaf!" Ash cried, waving a hand aside.
"Bay-leef!" Bayleef obeyed, tossing her neck in a clockwise motion. A flurry of fatally sharp crescent leaves were launched from her head leaf, slicing through one boulder after another.
"Hmph! Impressive," Bruno praised. "Golem, use Charge!"
"While he's charging," Ash shouted, "Zen Headbutt!"
Sparks crackled between Golem's horns once again, coating his body in electricity.
Meanwhile, Bayleef stampeded forth, and reared back her head. Her skull, and her leaf attached to it gained a mysterious fuchsia glow, as she gathered her mental fortitude. She smashed her head into Golem's, just as he finished using Charge. He grunted in pain.
"Use Double-Edge!" Bruno roared.
Lightning wrapped around Golem again. He crashed directly into Bayleef.
"Shit," Ash cursed, "he didn't flinch!"
Bayleef winced with one eye open, forcing her legs deeper into the dirt to try to slow Golem's momentum. Many volts shot through her body, making her bayleaves singe, and her skin tingle. But, she bore her teeth and resisted it, and she was slowly pushed back, less and less.
"Good work holding your ground!" Ash praised. "Now, another Zen Headbutt!"
"Bay!" Bayleef smashed her skull into Golem's. This time, the Rock-type cried out in pain, and shook his head, disoriented. She leapt over him, as his disrupted gate led to him falling on his back, sliding across the muddy terrain.
"Now, Power Whip! Throw 'im all the way over!" Ash cried, waving a hand.
Bayleef, still in mid-air, complied, and two glowing vines snaked out from under her bayleaves, tying firmly around Golem's two horns. She used her existing trajectory and gravity to reel him in, straining to retract her vines. "Baaayyy…!"
Golem cried as he was yanked into the air, over the Grass-type's head.
"...Leaf!" Bayleef cried with effort, landing and anchoring herself on all fours. She withdrew her vines, and smashed Golem directly into the earth, breaking it under his weight.
"Wooohoo! Look at that muscle!" Dawn cheered, giddy and grinning. "Alright, Bayleef!"
"Empol!" Empoleon cheered in tandem.
"Good!" Ash praised. "Now keep 'im pinned, and use Leech Seed!"
Bayleef lunged and landed atop Golem, pinning him beneath her weight with all fours. She fired a parasitic seed from her spice-scented collar, and it took root, spreading vines across Golem.
The Rock-type grunted in annoyance, as a red light sapped him of his strength. Bayleef felt a bit of her stamina return to her, and pressed her foot down atop Golem's head.
"A very impressive maneuver," Bruno remarked, arms folded. "Using Zen Headbutt to make Golem flinch, in order to subdue him. I see that you've come prepared for my Fighting-types."
"Naturally!" Ash replied. "Bayleef's got a bit of a history dealing with Fighting-types. So, she's picked up just the counter to their raw determination, with her own focus!"
"I see," Bruno replied. "Very well, then! We will test her determination! Golem, Discharge!"
Golem started to rumble; growling with sheer fury at being subjugated. The horns surrounding Bayleef's belly crackled, and assaulted her with a vicious, point-blank surge of lightning.
"Bay…!" Bayleef cried in pain. She grit her teeth, though, enduring, as Leech Seed offered her just a touch of relief from the voltage.
"Hang in there, Bayleef!" Ash encouraged her. "You have 'em at point-blank! Use Razor Leaf!"
She complied, tossing her head in an arc. Sharp crescents battered and chipped Golem's shell.
"Your determination is commendable, but it will be your undoing!" Bruno roared. "Gyro Ball!"
Golem finally forced himself to stand, hoisting up Bayleef on his back after Discharge died off. With a roar of effort, he spun back into a Gyro Ball, swinging Bayleef around like a ragdoll.
Her vines were still secure around his horns, sending her swinging and flailing across the battlefield. "Bay…!" She cried. The centripetal force was dizzying, but she held on in wait of further commands. First, she collided directly with a large boulder, crashing through it.
She coughed in pain, suffering a bruise to her side.
"Hang in there," Ash coached, "and find your footing! Plant your feet as hard as you can!"
"Roger…!" The Leaf Pokémon steeled herself, assessing her blurred, spinning surroundings in mid-air. She was parallel with the ground, now, and leaned her weight so that she'd land feet first. Her single claw on each foot dug into solid rock, clawing away at it to halt her flailing.
"Now, reel 'im in!"
Rock and dirt were kicked up, as she finally anchored herself. With grit teeth, she pulled on her own vines, yanking a helpless Golem back towards her.
"Hurl 'im at the cliff!" Ash cried. "And, then use Toxic!"
Another healing dose of Leech Seed broke Golem's composure, shown by the red light seeping from his body. It restored Bayleef, giving her the gumption to chuck Golem toward the cliffside.
Golem collided with the rock wall facefirst, and was buried in it.
"Bay… leaf!" Bayleef slung another round of toxic goo at him. This time, it hit its mark.
Golem wedged himself out of the cliff face, collapsing on his back. His endurance, though, was immense; he rolled his way back onto his feet, turning to face Bayleef, upright.
Immediately afterwards, he seized again, as purple, poisonous bubbles floated about him.
"She did it!" Dawn cheered. "The combination is on! Now, no matter how tough Golem's hide is, they're just going to keep taking damage, while Bayleef gets healed!"
"Pol. Poleon!" Empoleon tapped a wing against his sturdy steel chest.
"Right," Dawn nodded with a smile. "Bayleef's tough hide will keep healing, too! She's perfect for this!"
"So, this was your strategy…" Bruno grunted. "You and your Pokémon are formidable foes, Ash Ketchum. We're now running against the clock."
"That's the idea!" Ash smirked, brushing his index finger over his nose. "It was exactly the kind of strategy we needed to take on Pokémon as strong as yours!"
"That's right! So if you want any chance against us, you'd better keep it coming!" Bayleef cried.
"Your abilities flatter you, but your arrogance will blind you!" Bruno roared. "Golem! Rock Slide!"
"Bayleef! Razor Leaf; you know the drill!" Ash replied.
Golem summoned another avalanche, and in turn, Bayleef slung razor-sharp leaves at the rocky onslaught. One after another, the boulders were cleaved in half, ready to fall by the wayside.
"Capture them with Discharge!"
Golem obeyed his trainer, and fired a wide-spanning lightning storm from his horns. Each prong of lightning captured one of the falling rocks; each of which started to hover in mid-air. They'd shedded gravity's pull, orbiting instead around Bayleef, under Golem's influence.
"He can control Rock Slide…!?" Ash exclaimed.
"Rocks come from the earth, which all contain minerals and metals of some kind," Bruno explained. He tilted his chin up, looking down at Ash with his arms folded. It looked as if he was in complete mastery of his element; golden light reflecting off of him from Discharge highlighting his chiseled features and rippling muscles. "Using Discharge allows us to use that magnetism for ourselves!"
"I ought to remember that, going forward," Peeks muttered under his breath.
"Yeah, but now we have bigger problems," Ash replied.
As if to make Ash's point, Golem swung his stocky arms inward. Every boulder in his grasp converged to pulverize Bayleef from every angle. Her ruby eyes narrowed, following the threat.
"Guard yourself, with Frenzy Plant!"
"Baaayyyy…!" Bayleef cried with effort, rearing up on her hind legs. She smashed them into the earth with all of her might. The terrain rippled, breaking immediately for many thorny roots that erupted from every direction. They climbed and then converged around her to form a cage of sturdy, dangerous vines. They endured Rock Slide's pressure, guarding her successfully.
"She blocked them all with Frenzy Plant!" Dawn exclaimed. Then, her eyes widened. Realization struck. "I see — Ash is using it the same way Ryan used Frenzy Plant at the Grand Festival!"
"Pol, Poleon!" Empoleon cawed. Seeing Ash borrow from Coordinators always brought him pride! But, more importantly, his sharp blue eyes narrowed upon the scene. He pointed at Golem; the Rock/Electric-type recoiled from bubbling poison, and then flickered red.
"There it is! Toxic and Leech Seed," Dawn acknowledged, nodding excitedly. "Golem can only lose more health from here, and Bayleef can take her time recovering. Ash has this in the bag!"
"I see that time is of the essence," Bruno grunted. "Golem! Break through, with Double-Edge!"
"Go-lem!" Golem cried, and threw all of his weight at Frenzy Plant in a storm of electricity.
He battered the sturdy roots, leaving a dent in the structure. The thorns broke and singed.
"He hasn't gotten through yet," Ash muttered. "Just enjoy your breather, Bayleef! Heal on up!"
"Fine… fine with me!" Bayleef replied from within the cage. Using the move left her winded, but gradually less so. Her bruises from earlier had almost completely faded away from her scales.
"Double-Edge!"
Another deafening bolt of lightning struck. Frenzy Plant started to cave and burn away. Golem backed off again to prepare himself for another strike. "Goh…!" He stumbled onto one knee. HIs stamina was rapidly seeping away. "Go-lem!" He roared in defiance, forcing himself to his feet.
"We will not yield to any obstacle! Frenzy Plant will crumble beneath our might!" Bruno roared.
Golem's massive body crashed into the cage a third time, wrapped in lightning. He broke through, making a straight beeline towards the waiting Bayleef. She widened her stance.
Ash smirked. A glimmer shone in his eye. "Now, use Power Whip! Strike him right on the horns!"
"What…!?" Bruno exclaimed.
"Bay!" Bayleef replied, and fired two of the vines from her collar towards the coming storm. Sturdy roots collapsed and burnt to ash all around her, but she stood fearless, and struck.
The sudden whiplash of force caught Golem off-guard, and the sudden force threw him completely off balance. His golden aura flickered wildly as he fell backwards, tearing through the earth in an out-of-control- slide forward.
"Now, use Zen Headbutt!" Ash cried, punching the air.
"Bayyyy…!" Bayleef smacked her vines against the ground, propelling herself skyward.
Golem landed on his rear just under her; a perfect angle for her to come down, bashing her glowing skull into his. "Bayyyyy… leef!"
Golem cried out, shaking his head in a daze. As red light sapped his strength and healed Bayleef's wounds, he was all but helpless under her weight. "Go-lem…!"
"Tch…! You've forced our hand," Bruno grunted. "Golem! Explosion!"
"Frenzy Plant!" Ash hastily ordered.
"Bay!" Bayleef backed off, and stomped the field with her forelegs, just as Golem started to glow. Lightning snapped wildly at the air, cracking solid rock and singing her scales. She closed her eyes tightly to the blinding light, and trusted her very own move.
Frenzy Plant ensnared Golem, and hoisted him into the air.
Golem detonated, and a blinding explosion of gold lightning and murky ash flooded the field.
"Woah…!" Ash stumbled, nearly losing his footing from the explosion that followed. Peeks clung to his coat, nearly falling off. He had to claw his way back up, shielding his eyes in Ash's collar.
"That was way too strong."
Ash held down his cap to guard his eyes, gritting his teeth. "Did she make it in time…!?"
After a few tense, heart-pounding moments, the dust started to settle. A mangled amalgamation of thorned roots cradled an unconscious Golem. They'd been halfway burnt to a crisp, and chunks of the plants were strewn about the battlefield. Nevertheless, he was in their grasp.
Bayleef emerged, sporting bruises and burns. Otherwise, she stood strong. "Well, obviously!"
"Well, they could've warned us before setting off an attack like that…!" Dawn complained, as she peeked up from behind Empoleon. "Thanks, big guy! You saved us." She studied his steel plating, and clicked her tongue. "We'll give your feathers and plating a proper polishing, later."
"Pol," Empoleon agreed, never one to deny being doted on. At the moments, though, he trilled at the results on the battlefield. "Em-Empoleon." That'd been a terribly close call.
"Yeah," Dawn agreed. "I guess Ash and Bayleef forced their hand." Her eyes widened. "Oh! Are you okay, Pocus…!?" She looked around frantically for the Abra. He was nowhere to be seen!
"Bra." Suddenly, he reappeared with Teleport, unscathed.
"Phew…" Dawn exhaled. "You scared the daylights out of me! That was some Explosion, huh?"
"Abra." Abra's last enunciation sounded particularly exhausted. He grew tired of these theatrics.
"Man, that was close…!" Ash laughed, dusting the soot off his jacket. "Galvanize made for a hell of an Explosion! It's a good thing you're a Grass-type, ain't it, Bayleef?"
"I won't… complain about it," Bayleef replied, similarly dusting herself off with her leaf. Her movements were slightly sluggish after Frenzy Plant, but she was happy for the pause in the action. "That had my heart pounding a few ticks faster for a moment, But, it looks like I'm fine!" She turned back with a smile, flexing her head adornment as if it were a rippling bicep.
"Feh! We were too slow," Bruno spat. He retained his composure despite his disappointment, as he recalled Golem to his Poké Ball and quietly thanked him, stowing it away.
"I'm very impressed with Bayleef's strength and durability; to conquer Golem with only minor damage."
"That's our Bayleef! Tough as nails." Ash boasted. She looked over her shoulder to smile at him, but suddenly looked away, shifting around awkwardly. He blinked twice, but if he found it odd, he wouldn't show it. "But, you certainly didn't make it easy. Golem was so strong, I don't know what we would've done if not for Toxic and Leech Seed, putting a thumb on the scales."
"Golem's role is to build up insurmountable defenses, and trample the opponent's team while covering his own weaknesses, like Water-types," Bruno explained. "Once his health is finally chipped away, he'll use Explosion against a new opponent. It's not uncommon for him to flatten half a team, at least! You," he eyed Bayleef, "did most of the work on your own."
"Well, I can't count Wartortle's efforts out," Ash replied with a smile. "He helped us figure out how Golem works. But still, if there's anyone I have who knows what it means to be tough, it's Bayleef! She's swung above her weight class since she was a little Chikorita!"
The Grass-type looked away. "Well, now you're just embarrassing me."
Ash laughed, and held out her Poké Ball. "Treat yourself to a break. I may need you later." A red light surrounded Bayleef and recalled her. He fixed her Poké Ball onto her belt. "Alright. That's two down!" He laughed and adjusted the brim of his cap. "It feels like it's taken forever!"
"My Pokémon, so far, have embodied strength in the form of unbreakable defense!" Bruno replied. Ash mentally noted that this reminded him of a particular miner from Canalave, for just a moment. "Breaking past that wall is an accomplishment. Now, you will be beaten down by lightning-fast offense!" He grabbed a third Poké Ball, and threw it. "Hoo-hah! Hitmonchan!"
Ash's third opponent in, in the flesh, was Bruno's Hitmonchan. The Punching Pokémon bounced nimbly between his light feet, with his twin gloves raised in an attentive guard. He jabbed at the air, kicking up powerful gusts of wind in the process. "Mon-chan!" His sharp eyes studied Ash.
"Hitmonchan, huh. Alright. I guess it's that time!" The trainer smiled, drawing a third Poké Ball. With a practiced pitch, he cast his third as well. "Here's my own punchy Pokémon! Kingler!"
"Kuuu-kiiii…!" Kingler appeared, rumbling with his signature cry. His smaller and larger pincer both snapped at the air, raised and attentive. He stood sideways, challenging Hitmonchan with his smaller claw. "Ku-kii!"
Chapter 11: Bruno II - Close Combat
Chapter Text
The dry, rocky valley at the foot of Mt. Hideaway had become a battered battlefield. Craters littered the ground and cliffsides. Masses of mud pooled wherever gravity took them, from multiple heavy, concentrated downpours. A large gash in the earth had been filled to form a modest body of water. Mangled, broken, and burnt thorny roots were strewn all about.
It was no surprise that the next two competitors took to a square of flat earth for their bout.
Hitmonchan was light on his feet, pacing and sidestepping his way around the unspoken ring's perimeter. His movements were swift and measured, and his eyes were striking and focused.
Kingler walked slow, sideways paces opposite of him, with spines atop his head forming a natural crown. He had both of his large red pincers raised, resembling boxing gloves. One claw was serviceable enough for fighting. The other was gargantuan. Wide, unassuming eyes didn't exactly mirror Hitmonchan's, but they were attentive, nonetheless. Tracking his every move.
"I knew I'd be facing your Hitmonchan," Ash said. "So I knew I had to approach this match like a boxer. And that's exactly why I brought Kingler! No one can raise their dukes like him!" The trainer, too, raised his fists, jabbing at the air with an eager smile. "This fight is mano-a-mano!"
"So, that's why he and Kingler were watching so many boxing matches," Dawn said from the sidelines. "He kept telling me it was part of some 'secret training.' They could've just told me."
She recalled several nights in the past week that'd closed with Ash and Kingler sitting in front of a television in Koga's compound, along with Peeks and Primeape; eyes glued to the screen with their bento dinners sitting in front of them.
"Po-leon." Empoleon tutted, wagging his wing at her. "Empo!"
"'It's a man's fighting spirit?'" Dawn squinted. "...Well, if you say so! If it helps them, then I'm all for it! One-two…!" The girl started kicking her legs in tandem, imitating a cheerleading routine.
"Butterfree and Beedrill, float and sting! Knock them right out of the ring! C'mon, c'mon, get 'em, Kingler! Put that Hitmonchan through the wringer!"
Kingler waved his larger, retracted claw at Dawn, presumably thanking her. "Kuu-ki."
"You believe that you can defeat Hitmonchan in the art of boxing?" Bruno tutted, dismissing the notion entirely. "A foolish venture. But, very well! Hitmonchan will pummel you to dust!"
"Hit-mon…! Hit-mon…!" Hitmonchan took several dashes closer to Kingler, who orbited the Fighting-type in closer and closer circles. He allowed Hitmonchan into his orbit.
Hitmonchan threw a swift jab with his right. Kingler raised his claw, blocking it. A second jab came; this time from the left. Kingler grunted and swatted away Hitmonchan's glove, forcing the Fighting-type back to avoid being clocked by his own retaliation. Realizing he'd made himself some room with Hitmonchan on the backfoot, he swung for a haymaker with his larger claw.
"Mon…!" Hitmonchan leapt back. His guard had been broken, and he knew better than to entertain a hit of that magnitude. The ground cracked beneath Kingler's claw, and he lunged.
'He's trying to close in,' Ash thought, 'but Kingler hasn't given him the room to. Neither of 'em has used a move yet. But, now he's closing in! I'm sure something is coming!'
"Power-up Punch!"
"There it is!" Ash cried. "Kingler! Your guard!"
Hitmonchan's fist blazed with fighting spirit. He jabbed under Kingler's larger claw, aiming for the crustacean's side. Unfortunately for him, Kingler's smaller, closer claw jabbed the underside of his fist, disarming the power-packed jab.
"Now! Crabhammer!"
Flowing water surrounded Kingler's larger claw, as he lifted its weight for a crushing uppercut.
A spark glimmered in Hitmonchan's eye, and Bruno's, as well. "Close Combat!"
Rather than back off and flee, Hitmonchan squared his shoulders and ducked in, slipping under the earth-crushing Crabhammer into Kingler's close quarters. "Hitmon… Chan!" With a roar of effort, Hitmonchan unleashed a storm of lightning-fast punches directly in Kingler's face.
The blows compounded like lightning, battering Kingler's underbite and striking him between the eyes. He was battered, unable to fight back against Hitmonchan mercilessly pursuing offense.
…Or, so Hitmonchan might've thought.
"There," Ash said, "grab him!"
Hitmonchan's right jab was suddenly stopped short. In fact, it was entirely stuck! The Punching Pokémon found, to his dismay, that it was trapped in Kingler's larger, powerful pincer! Tried as he might to pull away, he couldn't move!
"That's the downside of Close Combat!" Ash declared confidently. "Let's pay it back, with Flail!"
"Kiiii…!" Kingler roared with effort. His smaller pincer started to beat the trapped Hitmonchan mercilessly, as he was held in close-quarters by his arm. The claw smashed into Hitmonchan's stomach repeatedly, knocking the wind from him. The damage he dealt was repaid in full.
"You hugged us in — a clever strategy!" Bruno commended. "Hitmonchan! Ignite your fury, with Fire Punch!"
"Mooon….!" Hitmonchan recoiled in pain from the beating, but naturally, he was a professional. He bore the pain, and ignited his fist in a red-hot blaze. It was only a matter of time before…!
"Kiii…!?" Kingler blinked. He was starting to sweat, and there was smoke leaking from…
…his claw!? He hastily released it, retracting his scorched claw. Hitmonchan's fist was on fire!
"Good! Now, Mach Punch!"
Hitmonchan seized the opening to lunge in, smashing his fist into Kingler's face. His very speed left a red streak behind him, and it forced Kingler to slide back across the dirt, putting him at bay.
"So we have to watch out for that Fire Punch," Ash muttered. "Grabbing them will be risky."
"Now! Thunder Punch!" Bruno roared.
Hitmonchan paced inwards, with his guard raised. Both of his gloves crackled with lightning.
"And Thunder Punch, too! We can't afford to touch a super-effective punch… Agility!"
"A red blur untouched, Agility proves too much!" He recited a poem, seemingly off the fly, as his footwork became exponentially more limber. He leapt out of Thunder Punch's range, letting an arc of snapping static pass by harmlessly. Hitmonchan pursued with another punch, and he leaned away, narrowly dodging the crackling left hook.
"Now, let's put the gloves on!" Ash shouted. "Mud Shot!"
Kingler aimed both of his pincers at the pursuing Hitmonchan and fired masses of mud. Before the Fighting-type could assess or avoid it, the mud splattered over both of his gloves, coating them.
"What's this…!?" Bruno exclaimed. His wide eyes told Ash that he was genuinely caught off-guard.
"You can't shock us with those Thunder Punches through mud!" Ash boasted. "Crabhammer!"
Kingler leaned back on his many legs, and then launched himself at Hitmonchan. The Punching Pokémon was left absolutely bewildered, and helpless to stop the earth-crushing haymaker.
Hitmonchan was launched back, skidding through the dirt on his rear. He rubbed his cheek, looking disoriented from the blow. He was then disgusted by the mud smeared on his face.
"Yes!" Ash punched the air. "That's the first down!"
"Impressive! Most impressive," Bruno lauded. "Your creativity continues to flatter you, Ash Ketchum. You've put our technique on the backfoot, and backed it up with raw power."
"That's what Kingler's always been good at!" Ash agreed, glowing with pride in the crustacean.
"One claw over another, Kingler breaks the mold." Kingler spoke in prose in an effort to boast.
"Yeah, what he said."
"Hmph! If you can improvise, then we can, as well! Get ready!" Bruno announced.
Ash's eyes narrowed. He couldn't afford to take Bruno's counterattack lightly.
"Hitmonchan! Use Fire Punch!"
Hitmonchan pushed himself back on his feet, and regained his composure. "Hit!" He cried, and the mud around his fists suddenly were consumed in flames. Shortly afterward, the viscous dirt had hardened into solid stones around his gloves. "Mon-chan!"
"He baked the mud into stone!?" Ash exclaimed.
"Now we just have to beat you senseless until it brittles!" Bruno roared.
"Yeah? We'll just have to win before that can happen!" Ash countered. "Kingler! Charge in!"
Kingler rapidly sidestepped towards Hitmonchan in zig-zag patterns, closing the distance.
"Power-up Punch!"
Hitmonchan swung a blazing fist towards Kingler.
"Grab him, with Slam!" Ash cried. Kingler did as told, clamping down on Hitmoncham's arm. "Kuuu-kiiii…!" He roared in effort, hoisting the Punching Pokémon over his head. He swung his pincer down, aiming to smash the other brutally into the ground.
"Catch your footing! Grapple him!" Bruno ordered.
Despite being flailed about, Htimonchan was disciplined. He shifted his weight so that he landed squarely on his feet, and then hugged his occupied arm and weight around Kingler's claw.
"Kiii…!?" Kingler gurgled, startled.
"Now! Consecutive Power-up Punch!"
Kingler did as Bruno commanded, using his free, left fist to repeatedly punch Kingler in the face. The fiery glow of fighting passion surrounding it grew brighter and brighter. Each blow h urt m ore than the last.
"He's grappled Kingler!" Ash exclaimed. "Fight right back, with Flail!"
Rather than release Htimonchan, Kingler retaliated, using his smaller claw to repeatedly strike Htimonchan in the gut. The two Pokémon battered each other mercilessly; both too stubborn to stop.
"They're just beating each other senseless," Ash thought aloud. He also eyed Hitmonchan's fists. Rocky debris was starting to pile at their feet. "And the stone's breaking…! Back off!"
Kingler released Htimonchan, and took a leap back. He used the time to catch his breath. His tough exoskeleton was bruised and scuffed all across his face. He looked somewhat weary.
Hitmonchan rolled his arm around to work out its stiffness, also panting. He was scratched up, and had a black eye from the repeated exchanges. "Hit-mon-chan!" He grunted, retaining his stance, and his dignity.
"Let's finish this!" Ash cried, waving a hand. "Crabhammer!"
Kingler lunged, raising his mighty claw over his head.
"Hitmonchan!" Bruno shouted. "Drain Punch!"
Hitmonchan made several quick inroads towards the gigantic crab looming overhead. "Mooon….!" He wound up, and lunged with a mighty uppercut. The stone around his fist crumbled upon contact. "Monchan…!"
Time seemed to stop, upon impact. All eyes were glued to the collision. It was as if a glaring spotlight from a professional ring had beamed down upon the two worthy fighters.
The color in Kingler's eyes faded, and he fell still, hitting the ground on his back.
A green glow wrapped around Htimonchan's fist, and bathed him in healing light. Most of his bruises started to fade away, as he rejuvenated from the fierce pummeling.
One could imagine the referee loudly declaring Hitmonchan the victor.
"Aw, he won…!" Dawn pouted, stomping the dirt with her boot. "And they were so close, too!"
"Pol," Empoleon muttered, crossing his wings. "Poleon." It was all up to his successor, now!
"Thank you, Kingler. You put up an awesome fight, big guy." Ash recalled the crustacean, and clipped his Poké Ball to his belt. "Well, Hitmonchan! I've gotta hand it to you. You're something else."
"Mon," Hitmonchan replied, and bowed his head in return.
"He's offering Kingler his respects," Bruno translated. "It's rare that he's even almost overpowered in the ring! For Kingler's first rumble, he came very close to cornering us. With that said…" His eyes snapped open; sharp and steely with determination. "Hitmonchan's a new man! If you plan to defeat us, your next Pokémon will have to pick up the slack!"
"And, that's exactly what he'll do!" Ash shouted, as he juggled his fourth Poké Ball in his palm. "Kingler may have been green in the ring, but this guy isn't. In fact… He's a P1 Champion!" Ash placed one foot forward, digging into the dirt. With a grunt of effort, he slung his next Poké Ball.
"Ooo-shiiii!" Primeape's shrill cry echoed through the valley. The Pig Monkey was wearing his prized Championship belt; its golden bangle gleaming under the early afternoon sunlight.
He locked eyes with Hitmonchan, and they glared daggers at one another.
Ash smirked at the staredown. "I can feel the intensity all the way from here!"
"It'll be an honor to fight the P1 Grand Prix Champion," Bruno said. He punched a gargantuan fist into an open hand. "But, Hitmonchan takes no prisoners. You'll crumble beneath our might!"
"Yeah, we'll see about that!" Ash retorted. "Power-up Punch!"
"Oosh!" Primeape sprinted at Hitmonchan, both of his fists blazing. He jumped Hitmonchan, swinging at him with consecutive fists, aiming to further amplify his fighting spirit!
"Detect!"
There was a blue glimmer in Hitmonchan's eye. He swiftly weaved around Primeape's punches.
"Mach Punch!"
A blinding, faster-than-the-eye counterpunch struck Primeape in the nose. He shrieked, backing off just enough to give himself some distance. He snorted angrily, wiping his sore snout on the back of his paw. "His guard is solid, Ash!"
"So it is," Ash nodded. 'I knew that Hitmonchan had Detect at some point, from studying Bruno's battles. But there was no way to know if he still used it, and if this would be a waste of time. But if we want to catch up to Hitmonchan's strength after his Power-up Punches. So, that settles it!'
Ash then cleared his throat and stood upright, puffing his chest out. "I guess that's what it comes to, when your opponent's a coward."
Bruno raised a brow. Hitmonchan narrowed his stare.
"I mean, if you need a whole move to steer clear of our punches, that just tells you how much trouble they know they're in!" Ash gloated, with one palm turned upward. "Right, Primeape?"
Primeape nodded along. "You can't blame them, Ash. Not when they know how it'll end." To punctuate his boasts, Primeape raised his mit across his neck — or below his snout, rather — pointed his thumb downwards, and then carried it in a chopping motion. The intent was clear.
"I don't think I've ever seen Ash act like this," Dawn said, blinking. "Brock says that he used to gloat a lot more. I guess it prepared him for this!"
"Pol-eon?" Empoleon asked, raising a brow at her approval.
"Well, think about it! If Taunt stops a Pokémon from fighting defensively, then including a Taunt from the trainer too ought to be twice as effective! Right?"
"Empol…"
"Hmph! Such feeble attempts to get under our skin," Bruno scoffed. Nevertheless, he could see the anger latent in Hitmonchan's movements. He was antsy and fuming, now. "But, it can't be helped. You'll regret your insolence! Hitmonchan! Mach Punch!"
Ash grinned. "Power-up Punch!"
Hitmonchan glowered at Primeape. His pride had been bruised, and he would pay dearly. "Chan!" He cried, winding up his fist. The ground between them split, and dust scattered, as a red blur crossed the way. Mach Punch struck in a mere instant…
…But, Hitmonchan was the one on the opposite end of a punch. Fiery energy ground itself into the side of his face. He was momentarily stunned, by Primeape following through on his punch.
"Okii!" Primeape grunted, sending Hitmonchan stumbling back. "You can punch as fast as you want. If you telegraph your anger, I can see right through you." His sharp, angry eyes met Hitmonchan's, as an anger vein bulged out of his forehead. "And believe me, I would know."
A red aura washed over Primeape, as his attack power increased.
Bruno was undeterred, standing tall with his arms crossed. "Close Combat!"
"Mon-chan…?" Hitmonchan questioned and provoked Primeape, making several leaps in towards Primeape's quarters, with his guard tight and raised. "Mooon…! Chan-chan-chan!"
Primeape was assaulted with a furious blitz of punches up-close.
"Detect!" Ash ordered.
Primeape's eyes glimmered as well. With the expertise that came with years in the ring, he weaved and dodged Hitmonchan's punches effortlessly.
"What's this…?" Bruno scowled. "Did you not say that using such a move was cowardly?"
"Yeah, funny thing about that?" Ash smirked. "I lied."
"So, you understand that a Feint is a valuable asset in the ring," Bruno replied.
Hitmonchan's latest flurry of punches was handily dodged by Primeape. A last vicious right hook missed him entirely, and Htimonchan stumbled forward, supporting himself on both knees. He breathed heavily, winded from his latest failed assault.
Primeape turned to him; the glow of Detect faded after the unexpected stumble.
Hitmonchan's fist then suddenly collided with his gut.
"What!?" Ash exclaimed.
"I told you, Bruno repeated, "the value of a Feint. It's a move that bypasses Protect and Detect by exploiting an opponent's dropped guard. In other words… Your Detect is as useless as ours!"
"Tch…" Ash tutted, and adjusted his cap. "Then, we'll just have to keep attacking! Power-up Punch!"
Primeape dusted off his mid-section, and ignored the bruise Hitmonchan left. "Okiii!" He cried, swinging at his opponent with a fist full of vigor.
"Detect!"
"Mon!" Hitmonchan sidestepped the blow, telegraphing it with ease.
"Now, keep on using Power-up Punch!" Ash ordered. Primeape followed suit, and his retracted fist followed up with a second jab that Hitmonchan had to leap away from. He charged in pursuit.
"So, you anticipated that our Detect had returned," Bruno realized.
"Yup! Of course if you were going to pick up on our bluffs, then you were going to have your own. You were trying to bait us into thinking you still didn't have Detect!" Ash replied with a smirk. "One mark of a great fighter is to learn from their mistakes! And, it's your turn to make one!"
Primeape continued to push Hitmonchan on the backfoot, swinging at him repeatedly. The latter's weaves were becoming progressively slopier, while the Pig Monkey refused to let up.
"Detect only works for so long!"
"Humph! Well played," Bruno ceded. "But, not well enough! Drain Punch!"
Hitmonchan took another leap back. But, he was struggling to keep his footing. He'd worked up a sweat from dodging Primeape's attacks, and his steps were shaky under the pressure.
"Now! Stomping Tantrum!" Ash shouted, punching the air.
Primeape shrieked with fury, and leapt into the air. He came back down, breaking the earth with a flurry of furious punches. All of those failed attacks made him absolutely furious! And, it was enough to send ripples through the ground, destabilizing the ground under Hitmonchan.
"What's this!?" Bruno exclaimed.
"This is step three of my feint!" Ash announced with a smirk. "After all of those Detect, Htimonchan's under too much pressure to dodge this one! And when Primeape is pissed off, his Stomping Tantrum packs a punch that even your Hitmonchan can't!"
Heavy slabs of earth crashed into Hitmonchan, battering the Fighting-type and forcing him off-balance. "Mon-chan…!"
"Now! Power-up Punch!"
Primeape lunged and hit Hitmonchan with a jab across the face. Red light washed over him.
"Now, one more!"
"Detect!"
Primeape swung again. This time, Hitmonchan boxed his shoulders in, and slipped by.
"Close Combat!" Bruno roared. The following beatdown was brutal; Hitmonchan's flurry of punches battered Primeape's body and face relentlessly, linking together one long combo.
Primeape was knocked off of his feet, landing on his back.
"Primeape!" Ash cried. "Are you hanging in there, big fella…?"
"Ooshi…" Primeape grunted in pain, and forced himself to sit up. He wiped the back of his mouth on his mit. "Well, I'm conscious. That was a great strategy, but we overextended."
"Yeah, you're right," Ash agreed. "That's my bad. But, it looks like you're both feeling it."
As Primeape righted himself, Hitmonchan, too, was breathing heavily, and bruised.
"Both of our Pokémon are nearing their limits, Ash," Bruno lectured. "And I believe that we've learned all of your tricks. How do you plan to punch past us before we do the same to you!?"
"Heh, you're right, Bruno." Ash grinned, and brushed his index finger over his nose. "You know my tricks, and I know yours. Both Primeape and Hitmonchan have each other all figured out."
Bruno raised a brow in suspicion. "You sound happy about your predicament…"
"It's exactly why we brought this!" Ash's eyes narrowed, and he punched forward. "Outrage!"
Primeape started to stomp his feet, cracking the ground beneath him in a frenzy. His entire body started to glow red, and he exhaled steam from his nose. He'd fought with tactics and experience, up until now. He'd had no chance to let loose — to attack in an absolute fury!
"Oookiiii!" He shrieked, leaping above Hitmonchan, eclipsing the sun. The Punching Pokémon was left in his shadow.
"Hitmonchan! Detect!" Bruno ordered.
Hitmonchan steeled his fighting senses, and started to weave around Primeape's punches. But, that fancy footwork didn't last, when Primeape bashed his skull with a reckless headbutt. Primeape punched, scratched and kicked in a frenzy, battering Hitmonchan mercilessly!
"Hitmonchan may be an expert boxer," Ash narrated, "but none of that skill matters when Primeape's attacking in a blind range! You can't predict his movements if he doesn't know what he'll do!"
"So it's much like drunken boxing," Bruno concluded, scowling. "Then, we have no choice! Htimonchan! Endure the blows, and retaliate with Drain Punch!"
"Mon…!" Hitmonchan grunted, interrupted by a right hook rocking his jaw. His vision was getting blurry, but he retaliated, smashing a glowing fist into Primeape's gut. His stamina returned, only for a kick to the shin to break his balance. He swung again, sapping Primeape's strength.
"They're beating each other senseless," Dawn observed. Her brows furrowed. "Hitmonchan knows he can't dodge, so they're not even bothering to defend — he's just stealing as much health as he can from Primeape! But, Primeape's attacks are more vicious…"
She balled up her fists. She watched with an invested intensity. "It's a brutal fight to the finish!"
"Oookiiii!" Primeape smashed both of his fists over Hitmonchan's head in a double axe handle, making the Punching Pokémon stagger and stumble backwards in pain. He was on the verge of defeat!
But, Primeape's raged had consumed him. He grunted angrily, stumbling about in a daze. He punched his fists together to no real effect, muttering incoherent sentence fragments in a rage.
"Shoot," Ash cursed, "he's confused! We didn't finish them off in time!"
"A bold effort," Bruno said, "but you have failed! Hitmonchan! Drain Punch!"
"Mooon…!" Hitmonchan staggered, and forced himself upright. He was bruised and battered, but one could see the fire in his eyes, as he lunged to rattle Primeape with a ferocious uppercut.
Primeape soared through the air, belly-up. Green light drained from his form and into Hitmonchan, in the middle of the other's follow-through. Primeape landed on his back.
"Primeape!" Ash cried.
"Oosh…" Primeape snorted. With some effort, he pushed himself up to sit upright. He was panting heavily, his eye swollen half-shut and his fur frayed and matted with sweat. He was only barely conscious, but the focus in his dark eyes returned. "I'm… not out, yet!"
"We finish this now!" Bruno roared. "Mach Punch!"
Hitmonchan was somewhat more composed, still on his feet. He stared down Primeape, wound up his glove, and shot towards him.
"Reversal!" Ash cried, casting his final gambit, as the red, brown, and navy blur that was Hitmonchan closed the distance between himself and Primeape in the blink of an eye. Dust and rubble scattered, blown away in the wake of his sheer speed. But, Primeape heard his plea.
A blinding, orange-red fury coated the Pig Monkey's fist. He didn't cower; he leaned directly into the coming blow and smashed his fist into Hitmonchan's gut.
Both Pokémon stood still. Hitmonchan's fist pressed Primeape's face in, while the latter's fist dug into the former's gut. A pulse of orange, fiery energy burst from Hitmonchan's back.
Ash clenched his fists, watching on. Peeks's paws dug into his trainer's jacket.
Dawn clung to Empoleon, who watched with shimmering eyes. Pocus was silent.
Bruno nodded in understanding, as both Pokémon collapsed.
It was a draw.
"Primeape…" Ash smiled, as he recalled the Pig Monkey to his Poké Ball. He looked down at the capsule's metal sheen. It shimmered under the early afternoon sun. "This is just the sort of way you'd want to go out, huh? All that time spent thinking you were past your prime. And then you go in a big showdown against the region's best Fighting-type trainer. You should be proud."
"It feels like those days and nights training with him really paid off," Peeks added, smiling. "That's a real Champion."
"Indeed," Bruno agreed, as he recalled Hitmonchan. "It's all I'd expect of a Champion of the Ring! But, your battle doesn't end here, Ash Ketchum. You've faced our fists of fury…" He threw another Poké Ball between them. "Now, prepare to be crushed by our kicking power!"
Bruno's fourth Pokémon appeared. The mighty Hitmonlee, with long, powerful legs, and segmented arms folded over his strange, uniform body. "Hitmon—lee!"
"So, it's Hitmonlee's turn. That's fine! We're ready for him. We have a powerhouse of our own!" Ash threw his next Poké Ball as well, calling on his Glalie. "Glalie! I choose you!"
"Glaaa…!" Glalie rumbled, floating opposite of Hitmonlee. Icy blue eyes stared daggers at him.
"An Ice-type? A bold choice," Bruno remarked.
"There's a lot more to battles than type advantage, Bruno!" Ash shouted. "Glalie, use Icy Wind!"
"Gla!" Glalie fired a front of bitter, icy wind towards Hitmonlee.
"Hitmonlee! Wide Guard!"
"Hitmon… Lee!" Hitmonlee spun around, kicking in a wide arc across his body, and the immediate terrain surrounding him. An orange barrier appeared, blocking Icy Wind entirely.
"It's the same move we saw from those two Meowstic trainers," Ash thought aloud. "Icy Wind is no good!"
"Now! Blaze Kick!"
Hitmonlee's foot shot out without warning with a roaring blaze. He punted Glalie into the air.
"Now! Follow it up, with Double Kick!" Bruno roared.
Hitmonlee's legs coiled and stretched, propelling him skyward towards the soaring Glalie.
"Repel it, with Gyro Ball!" Ash waved a hand.
"Gla…!" Glalie recovered his faculties, and then started to spin. Silver rings orbited him, and Hitmonlee's kicks rolled off of his round body, which spun in the same direction as his strikes.
"Lee…!?" Hitmonlee was yanked with Glalie's centripetal force by his feet, thrown off-balance.
"Glaaa!" Glalie crashed into Hitmonlee, knocking him back towards earth. The Kicking Pokémon extended his long legs, grounding himself before his velocity increased further. He retracted and slinked in, crouching to cushion himself from Gyro Ball's damage.
"So, you used Gyro Ball's motions against us," Bruno hummed. "Hitmonlee! Focus Energy!"
"Lee!" Hitmonlee folded his arms, and focused. An orange glow radiated around his body.
'Now he'll be able to focus on hitting our weak spots,' Ash thought. "Glalie! Ice Shard!"
Glalie summoned a block of ice, and fired it towards Hitmonlee.
"Dodge!" Bruno called. Hitmonlee leapt over the priority move, narrowly avoiding it.
'Good! Now he's airborne,' Ash thought, smiling. "Use Water Pulse!"
"Glaaa…!" Glalie summoned a wobbling orb of roaring, unstable waters, and fired it.
"Lee!?" Hitmonlee was caught in mid-air, suffering the aquatic pressure.
"Now, Icy Wind!" Ash ordered in quick succession, and Glalie obeyed. Freezing winds assaulted Hitmonlee, whose eyes went wide, as harsh chills spread across his body. Frost clung to his arms, his head, and worst of all, his legs and feet. He felt rather numb. He tried to work out his feet, but found that they moved sluggishly.
"Got you!" Ash boasted with a smile. "Now Hitmonlee's a kick-sicle!"
"Keh! It looks like he's got cold feet!" Glalie chortled.
"Aw, I should've thought of that one," Ash complained.
"Using Water Pulse to intensify the chilling effects of Icy Wind. Not bad," Bruno praised. "But, it's no match for our white-hot fighting spirit! Hitmonlee, use Blaze kick!"
"Mooon…!" Hitmonlee rumbled, as a kindling blaze overtook both of his feet. The ice creeping up his legs quickly thawed. He sprung at Glalie, aiming to punt him in a trail of flames.
"Dodge that, Glalie, and use Ice Shard!" Ash ordered. Indeed, Glalie handily pulled out of Blaze Kick's range, and started to gather his counterattack. "Blaze Kick warmed you up, but it couldn't thaw him out that quickly. Hitmonlee is still slower!"
"You're right," Bruno acknowledged, "but this battle is still ours! Hitmonlee! Swagger!"
"Mon!" Hitmonlee hung in mid-air, directly in front of the charging Glalie. "Mon! Lee!" He made 'c'mere' gestures with both of his hands, deriding the Face Pokémon with provocative taunts.
Glalie began to fume, with red veins popping up in his forehead. "Glaaa…!" A red light washed over him as his attack power raised sharply. But, he didn't fire at Hitmonlee. Instead, he fired off Ice Shards at random! "Gla! Lie! Glaaalie!"
"Woah!" Ash ducked under an Ice Shard. "Shoot. He's confused, now! Snap out of it, Glalie!"
In return for his efforts, Ash was greeted with a second Ice Shard. Peeks leapt into action, somersaulting to split the block of ice straight down the middle with Iron Tail. "Chua… Pi-ka!"
Ash breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Buddy."
"Woah!" Dawn ducked behind Empoleon again, as the Emperor cleaved a stray Ice Shard in half. "This stinks! Glalie's been putting up a good fight, but now he's too angry to think straight!"
Pocus was disappearing and reappearing with Teleport to avoid the stray ice.
"Now!" Bruno roared. "Close Combat!"
Hitmonlee crouched, and sprung at the angry, disoriented Glalie. "Mooon…! Lee-lee-lee-lee!" He attacked with a blinding flurry of kicks, juggling the confused Ice-type and knocking him senseless. "Lee…!" A final kick spiked Glalie, sending him bouncing off of the ground.
"Glalie…!" Glalie groaned, finally catching himself in mid-air. He shook out his head, wincing at the super-effective damage.
"He's back with us!" Ash announced happily. "Alright, Glalie! Another Gyro Ball!"
"Gla!" Glalie grunted in agreement, and spun towards Hitmonlee for a counterattack.
"Use another Double Kick," Bruno ordered, "and kick with the spin, this time!"
Hitmonlee pursued Glalie with another bound forward, swinging his foot around to strike the spinning ball of ice. "Lee…!" He planted his opposite for balance, and kicked Glalie to accelerate his spin. He then planted his foot, and punted Glalie from underneath with the opposite knee.
"Glaa…!" Glalie groaned, as he was sent towards the nearby cliffside.
"Now! Blaze Kick!"
Hitmonlee sprang towards Glalie, using his long legs to bound between one foothold on the cliffside to the next, scaling the wall to catch up to his opponent. One more leap put him above Glalie. "Mooon…!" Hitmonlee spun around, delivering a blazing axe kick that spiked Glalie.
"Tch…! He's getting the most out of those precise kicks," Ash said through grit teeth. "Glalie! You know the drill — bounce off of the ground to build your momentum for a Headbutt!"
Glalie collided with the earth, making it shake and tremble beneath him. He leaned his weight into the ground as ordered, compressing all of his weight. He rumbled with effort, and then launched himself off of the rippling earth like a slingshot. "Glalie!" He roared, soaring higher.
He collided with an unsuspecting Hitmonlee in a nasty uppercut, sending him soaring. The Fighting-type rubbed his body where he'd been hit, and used his powerful legs to leap higher to gain distance from the Face Pokémon. Glalie chased after him in pursuit, approaching quickly.
"It would seem that our battle is taking on altitude," Bruno said. He sprinted towards the cliffside, and then began scaling it to chase after the dueling Pokémon.
Peeks watched the bodybuilder scale the rocks, and smiled to himself. "Should I hang on tight?"
"Pretend I'm Lopunny, and you'll be fine." Ash flipped his cap, and sprinted after Bruno.
"Entirely uncalled for," Peeks replied. "But good luck with the climb, anyway." He clung to Ash with a bemused roll of his eyes, digging his paws into the red jacket; perfectly timed, as his trainer started to scale the cliffside vertically to follow after Glalie and Hitmonlee.
"H-hey!" Dawn sputtered, and ran towards the cliff to look up at their retreating companions. "Are we serious, right now!? Last time I followed you up a cliff, Ash, I dropped like a rock!"
Ash stopped scaling for a moment to wave. "You'll figure out something! No need to worry!"
"I'd say this is a big need to worry!" Dawn shouted with her hands cupped around her mouth for volume. Her cheek puffed out in a pout. "I can see why they say you climb like a Mankey…"
"Pol!" Empoleon cried, drawing Dawn's attention, He had his back turned to her and angled forward, offering her a seat. "Em-poleon!" His eyes glimmered with valiant determination.
"You want to give me a ride, big guy…?" Dawn blinked and approached, hugging her arms around Empoleon's steel collar, and her legs around his side. "If you say so! Let's do it!"
"Poleon!" He cried, craning his head back and opening his mouth to gather breath. He fired a Hydro Cannon directly beneath him, launching himself and Dawn high above in the wake of the explosion. Crashing waters cascaded through the valley, and the trainer-starter duo soared.
"Wah…!?" Dawn yelped, eyes wide with fear. "Empoleon…! Are you sure we've got this!?" She meekly looked over her shoulder, and her eyes turned to cartoonish saucers.
"We're so high…!"
"Poleon," the bird said calmly, tucking in his wings and streamlining his body for flight.
He managed to soar over the cliffside, and landed on his feet. Although his chest rose and fell as he regained his strength, he coolly crouched down on one knee, helping Dawn off his back.
"Phew…!" Dawn breathed a heavy sigh of relief, even as she was still blue in the face. "I've gotta hand it to you, big guy. You really did it!" She grinned, thumping a fist lightly against her starter's steel plating. "Good job!"
"Empol!" Empoleon boasted, puffing his chest out with pride. One could see sparkles dancing off of him. He turned towards Dawn with a wing held smugly up to his beak. "Emp—"
Pocus suddenly appeared next to them, floating, with Teleport.
A bead of sweat rolled down each of their foreheads.
"Gyro Ball!"
"Close Combat!"
Glalie and Hitmonlee bounced off of one another; fierce kicks colliding with Glalie's spinning, steely body. Hitmonlee scaled higher between kicks, while Glalie simply bounced higher off of each collision. With the Face Pokémon fully cognizant, he was able to repel Hitmonlee's kicks.
"Almost caught up…!" Ash grit his teeth, and pulled himself over a small ledge. From below, he could see his Pokémon and Bruno's colliding. Then, his eyes zeroed in on something — Hitmonlee's extended, segmented legs. 'There it is…! They're exposed while he's attacking!'
Ash continued scaling and shouted, "Glalie! Grab his leg with Crunch!"
"Gla…!" Glalie backed off from Hitmonlee's next strike. The sudden distance made Hitmonlee kick further and overextend. It was just what he needed! He spun around the kick, and bit down.
Hitmonlee cried out in pain, but was helpless to act, as Glalie dragged him around with a spin, and chucked him towards the top of the cliff face. He crashed through solid stone, landing on his rear. Glalie hopped over in pursuit, grumbling in battle-hungry candor.
"Almost there… Ngh! Got it!" Ash pulled his arm over the side, and yanked himself over in a forward flip to land on his feet. He found himself, and the rest of the group, at a walkway overlooking the valley, near a waterfall that led to higher up the mountain. A small pond laid at the foot of the waterfall, spilling over down the arid land into smaller streams. This could work.
This could really work! "Glalie!" Ash gestured a hand forward. "Use Icy Wind on Hitmonlee!"
The Kicking Pokémon was backed up towards the waterfall and the water pooling below it — the perfect place to corner him! Glalie fired a chilling breeze towards Hitmonlee.
Bruno, too, had made it over the ledge before Ash. He stood off to the side with his arms folded. "Htimonlee! Use Wide Guard!"
"Lee…!" Hitmonlee performed a sweeping kick, summoning an orange barrier. Icy Wind was dispelled.
Ash grinned. "Now, again!"
"Glalie!" Glalie doubled down, firing a second frosty front.
Bruno grimaced. "You reduced Wide Guard's proficiency on purpose… Blaze Kick!"
Hitmonlee planted his foot and spun around a second time, countering with an arc of red-hot fire. Icy Wind was split down the middle, entirely missing Hitmonlee… but, only Hitmonlee.
"Gotcha." Ash smiled coyly. His ruse had gone as planned; the pond behind Hitmonlee was frozen over, as was the waterfall itself directly above the Kicking Pokémon. A layer of ice covered the waterfall itself, forcing the waters to cascade over the ice. The excess splashed Hitmonlee, distracting him.
"Now! Bounce off the ice, and use Headbutt!" Ash ordered and Glalie followed, throwing his weight into the frozen pond. He cracked the surface and propelled himself toward Hitmonlee.
"So, you forced us to only defend ourselves to expose the terrain!" Bruno crossed his arms. Ash was a clever opponent indeed, but there was no time for talk. "Hitmonlee! Blaze Kick!"
"Leeeee….!" Hitmonlee rotated in mid-air, raising one of his legs high above. He brought it down without mercy, meeting Glalie's Headbutt with a blazing axe kick. A shockwave echoed from the meeting point, sending strong winds and dying embers scattering. The frozen waters cracked.
"Glaaa…!" Glalie grunted in effort, forcing himself against Hitmonlee's Blaze Kick. Ultimately, the sweltering heat melted his resolve, and he was spiked towards the frozen pond. "Glalie!"
"You lose!" Bruno roared. "Hitmonlee! High Jump Kick!"
Hitmonlee let out a battle cry, plummeting toward Glalie with a divebomb kick.
'There it is. I was waiting for you to use that!' Ash smirked. His eyes glimmered. "Astonish!"
"What!?"
Hitmonlee dove towards Glalie with a life-risking kick. He was utterly startled to be confronted with a ghoulish apparition projecting from Glalie's face; a demonic face with glowing blue eyes battered him, giving him a heart-stopping fright. Glalie himself dodged, while he plummeted.
The ice coating the small pond collapsed, as Hitmonlee crashed through it.
"Oh, no!" Bruno exclaimed. "High Jump Kick's recoil…!"
"Yeah, the funny thing about Glalie, Bruno?" Ash said, grinning. "He's a lot like me. He's always been a little bit of a prankster. So, we kept Astonish waiting in the wings, for as soon as you guys pulled that one out!" He waved a hand through the air. "Now, let's finish it! Ice Shard!"
Glalie orbited and reoriented himself, chilling a jagged slab of ice and firing it into the pool.
Ice Shard caused a large splash. Hitmonlee was blasted out of the pond. "Lee…!"
"Now! Headbutt!" Ash cried, and Glalie dove, smashing his full weight into his opponent.
Hitmonlee landed on dry land, on his back. Swirls appeared in his eyes.
"Yes! Glalie won!" Dawn cheered, holding hands with Empoleon. She then kicked her feet and punched the air in rhythm. "Who gives you chills? Who is scary? Just one face, and that is Glalie's!"
Pocus watched her cheer with a bead of sweat rolling down his head.
"Aw, come on. Don't tell me you don't like it. It almost rhymed!"
"Glalie… You were awesome." Ash laughed as the Face approached, and gently bumped his knuckles against the grinning Pokémon's forehead. "I bet you could use a rest now, huh?"
"If ya wouldn't mind!" Glalie said, laughing. "It couldn't hurt to chill out for a while!"
Ash laughed and tapped his Poké Ball against him. "Well said, big guy. Now…!"
He turned on his heels towards Bruno, who'd already recalled Hitmonlee. Ash's eyes narrowed in concentration. "That's four down… and only two to go!"
"Your tactics are underhanded," Bruno replied, "but your Pokémon excel in strength and simplicity, to complement it. It's no wonder that you've pushed me this far. However…!"
Bruno's fifth Poké Ball popped open. A stout, muscular Pokémon materialized him. Dark blue skin contrasted with white gloves, and a black swirl pattern on their belly. Two narrowed, mean-looking eyes stared Ash down, as Poliwrath punched his fists together. "Poliiii…!"
"Your path forward ends here!"
Chapter 12: Bruno III - No Guard
Chapter Text
Gargantuan Iron Snakes that more resembled a kaiju out of a movie than a Pokémon. Rock amalgamations with electromagnetic cannons capable of charring all but the mightiest foe. Martial artists who can throw punches like lightning, and throw kicks which could shatter bones.
Bruno's team was an onslaught of unbreakable walls, and unstoppable brutality. With rivalling power and clever tactics, Ash had brought him down to his second-to-last. A solid wall of muscle stood in his way now, with fierce eyes, and slick, navy blue skin, suited for bodies of water.
"Poliiii!" Poliwrath bashed his fists together, impatient.
"Alright, Poliwrath. You want a brawl? I'll give you one!" Ash threw his next Poké Ball forward.
"Heracross! I choose you!"
The blue Stag Beetle appeared, clicking his mandibles in anticipation. "Hera-croh!"
"If it's an honorable fight you expect, then you will leave this mountain unfulfilled, and defeated!" Bruno declared, arms folded. "Poliwrath! Use Hypnosis!"
"Poli…" Poliwrath emanated a blue glow, and the swirl on his stomach began to spiral.
Heracross was captivated by the cycle, and his eyes slowly fell shut. He slumped over, asleep.
"Now, Poliwrath! Use Belly Drum!" Bruno cried.
"It's you who'll leave disappointed, Bruno!" Ash shouted. "Heracross! Sleep Talk!"
Poliwrath started to beat his chest mercilessly; each strike echoing with a loud 'thump.' A red aura bathed him, as his power increased drastically, at the expense of half of his stamina.
Heracross, meanwhile, leaned forward in his sleep. A deluge of green, explosive needles fired from his horn, navigating across the battlefield. Poliwrath was caught off-guard and battered mercilessly by one explosion after another. He groaned out in pain, lost in a cloud of smoke.
"What's this!?" Bruno exclaimed. "You prepared for Hypnosis…!"
"Hah, sort of!" Ash smirked, brushing his index finger over the bridge of his nose. "Heracross learned this move as a counter to Sing, about a year ago. But, it's been helpful against all matters of moves that make you doze off! And I knew this strategy from following your battles!"
Heracross started to blink, and shook his drowsiness off. "What'd I miss?"
"Just you pummeling Poliwrath in your sleep," Ash explained. "And with Heracross's Guts, he only gets stronger when he's in a pinch! So, using Hypnosis against us is a liability, Bruno!"
"Humph! Well-played, Ash Ketchum, Heracross." Bruno praised, as the dust cleared. Poliwrath looked battered and aggravated from the onslaught, grumbling and clenching his fists. "You have exacerbated the downside of Belly Drum, and left Poliwrath in dire straits. However…!"
Ash and Heracross focused on Bruno, suspenseful for what would come next.
"It no longer matters. I have sealed your inevitable defeat!" Bruno declared.
"...Hah. That's it? A boast? You had me scared there, for a sec." Ash smirked. "Poliwrath may be even stronger now, but we can keep up with our speed! Heracross! Use Aerial Ace!"
"Crooo…!" Heracross took flight. Buzzing wings propelled him on a swift path for Poliwrath.
"Use Rain Dance!"
Ash's eyes narrowed, upon hearing Bruno's command.
Poliwrath gathered a ball of mist in his palms, and threw it into the sky. Dark stormclouds quickly spread, and an unforgiving downpour followed, before Heracross even reached his opponent.
Heracross vanished, and reappeared behind his opponent, swooping in for the kill.
Poliwrath swiftly ducked underneath. To him, it was like the Stag Beetle moved in slow motion.
"Use Superpower!"
Poliwrath raised a hand, and brutally backhanded Heracross, fending him off with ease.
"His speed…!" Ash's jaw clenched. "They must have Swift Swim. They're faster than us, too." Before Ash could assess his predicament further, something caught his eye: a blue glow bathing Poliwrath, as the golden glow of Superpower died off. Ash pulled out his Pokédex to scan it.
"Superpower: Fighting-type. The user attacks the target with great power. However, it also lowers the user's Attack and Defense."
"So, it weakens them in exchange for a strong hit," Ash surmised, as Heracross regrouped in the air, rubbing his dented exoskeleton. "But, that's weird. I know I've seen that move used without them losing any power!"
"Powerful Pokémon can shed the negative drawbacks of attacks, such as decreasing stats, or time spent recharging. This can be achieved through training, or natural talent."
"So, that explains…" Ash looked back on several experiences, in just a moment. Giovanni's Nidoqueen. Tobias's Latios… "The strongest of opponents find ways to grow even stronger!"
"Indeed," Bruno acknowledged. "But, we ignore such weaknesses. Our simplicity encompasses the philosophy of high risk, high reward! Our strength batters our foes, like a raging waterfall!"
"Yeah, well, we'll see!" Ash waved a hand. "Heracross! Use Megahorn!"
Heracross dove for Poliwrath, with his horn taking on a mighty green glow, and stabbed at him.
"Use Body Slam!"
Poliwrath sprang high into the air, dodging Heracross by a wide breadth. He reached peak altitude and then fell, crushing Heracross in mid-air with all of his weight. "Poli…!"
"Reversal!" Ash cried.
Heracross grunted and struggled beneath the weight. His buzzing wings provided no relief at all, and he was moments from being squashed flat. "Cro…!" Heracross grunted with effort, and coated his horn in a fiery gold. "Hera… Cross!" He channeled his pain, and hurled Poliwrath.
Poliwrath soared, bruised from the Reversal. Ash pointed towards the Water-type. "Aerial Ace!"
Heracross beat his wings, and soared after Poliwrath in pursuit.
Poliwrath somersaulted, and planted his feet and gloves on the cliffside.
"Use Waterfall!" Bruno roared, and Poliwrath burst with a watery veil, propelling himself to crash into Heracross. The Stag Beetle was knocked into the air, and Poliwrath turned in mid-air, riding the wave to smash into him.
"Croh…!" Heracross reoriented himself, wincing in pain. He spotted Poliwrath out of the corner of his eye and dove at him. The Water-type propelled himself again, and Heracross was struck with the full wrath of the tide. He was being juggled, helpless to fight back.
"Damn it," Ash cursed, as he watched Poliwrath blitz Heracross. "Heracross didn't lose any health going into the fight, but at this rate, he won't have much left! We need an answer to that speed…" His eyes widened, then. "That's it! Heracross, stay focused! Watch for his next move!"
Heracross righted himself, buzzing near the cliffside. He was sore, and growing weary, but he was nothing if not stubborn. His golden eyes flicked left and right, until he saw it — Poliwrath was climbing the air with a Waterfall, surely to come back down to finish him off. "I see!"
"Good," Ash replied, waving a hand. "Now, use Smart Strike!"
Heracross narrowed his eyes, and aimed his horn true. A silver projection shot into the sky, jabbing Poliwrath directly in the gut. The Water-type groaned in pain, caught unawares.
"What's this…!?" Bruno exclaimed. "To think that you could keep up with our speed!"
"Smart Strike is a move we picked up from the Indigo League," Ash explained, smiling at the shift in momentum. "It uses top-notch aim to hit any opponent!" He pointed towards Poliwrath. "Now, keep our momentum going, with Pin Missile!"
Heracross aimed his horn, and fired an explosive volley of needles towards Poliwrath, who'd just recovered by clinging to a cliff face. More importantly, the rainfall had come to an end.
"Poli…!?" Poliwrath stumbled, as the cliff around him was battered. Pin Missile detonated, one needle after another, causing his foothold to collapse. He fell toward the Waterfall, as the barrage surrounded him. He was cornered!
"It can't be helped," Bruno grunted. "Make your escape with Waterfall, Poliwrath!"
"Poli!" Poliwrath nodded, and dove into the waterfall. He started to paddle vertically, propelling himself with an extra burst of strength. Needles battered the waterfall, flooding the air with mist.
"No sign of Poliwrath," Ash noted, tutting in disappointment. "That means he escaped. Alright, Heracross! It's our turn to follow!" He sprinted toward the cliffside, and gripped the nearest footing, starting to scale upwards.
"Up we go!" Heracross nodded, buzzing over to grip the rock wall. He started to buzz from one foothold to the next, moving quicker than Ash, but still quite a distance behind Poliwrath.
Without a word, Bruno leapt to another high point, and started climbing the cliff, himself.
"H-hey! Are you seriously doing this again!?" Dawn huffed, stomping her foot. "Ugh! Meatheads, all four of them…" She turned toward her starter with a pout, folding her arms. "You'd never abandon me to go climbing like that, would you, Empoleon?"
"Pol!" Empoleon emphatically shook his head. To make his point, he walked over to the ice still floating at the foot of the waterfall, standing atop it. He turned his back to Dawn, and chirped.
"You're going to take me up, again?" Dawn blinked, and then ran over, hopping atop his best. "Oh, you are the best, Empoleon! Nobody gets a girl around a mountain like you."
Empoleon practically sparkled, basking in the praise. "Em-pol," he waved his wing, as if to say there was nothing to it. He crouched, and then lunged at the waterfall and began swimming vertically. "Pol! Poleon!" He chirped, warning Dawn to hang on tight.
"Ack! I… I w-will!" Dawn gripped her starter for dear-life. The water occasionally splashing her in the face was irritating, but at least she didn't have to make the climb, herself. 'Almost there…!'
"Pol!" Empoleon cleared the waterfall's crest, and soared higher into the air, striking a graceful pose, beak held high. Mist splashed off of his body, accentuating his glistening steel coat.
He landed on solid ground, and helped Dawn down. "Empoleon!"
"Ehe, like I said, you're the best, big guy!" Dawn praised. "...Huh?"
Once again, Pocus floated there, waiting for them. He tutted, shaking his head, palms up.
"Pole." Empoleon folded his wings crossly. His method was superior.
"Cross…" Heracross grunted, digging his claws into yet another foothold. He was built to scale trees to search for their sap. A rock wall was significantly tougher to find purchase on, but his natural eye for texture made finding points to latch onto easier. He'd climbed higher and higher with his buzzing wings, nearly at the top of the cliff. Poliwrath had pulled ahead by swimming.
"You're almost there, Heracross!" Ash shouted from below. He was a few yards below his Pokémon, but miraculously, not far behind. "But, Poliwrath is already up there, so he has the high ground! When you climb up top, be real careful!"
"Roger!" Heracross replied, and narrowed his eyes in concentration. He took flight once more, buzzing his way over the edge of the cliff. His feet touched solid ground, finally!
Unfortunately, he was also in Poliwrath's shadow. The Tadpole stood over him, imposing, arms crossed.
"Now, Poliwrath!" Bruno roared from the other end of the waterfall, opposite of Ash. He was close to scaling over the edge, and shouted to his partner. "Bring him down with Body Slam!"
"Poli!" Poliwrath jumped into the air, but only so high. Gravity quickly brought him back down.
Heracross was cornered, at the edge of the cliff. He looked left and right, but found no escape. He was summarily crushed beneath Poliwrath's weight, crying out in pain. "Cross…!"
"Heracross!" Ash cried out. His fingers dug into the edge of the cliff, then, and he pulled himself over with some effort. "How're you… oh, no!" Heracross was crushed beneath Poliwrath.
Poliwrath leapt back. Heracross tried to stand up, but he recoiled, unable to move.
"Damn it," Ash cursed. "He's paralyzed."
The situation turned from bad to worse for Heracross, when the earth beneath him started to crack and crumble. "Croh…!?" Heracross looked left and right in a panic. A chunk of the cliff collapsed under him, sending him falling from the mountain's height. "Hera!"
"Finish it, Poliwrath!" Bruno roared. "Superpower!"
"Fend him off, with Pin Missile!" Ash cried.
A current started to wrap around Poliwrath, and he charged towards Heracross.
The Stag Beetle aimed his horn towards his foe, and an onslaught of explosive needles blindsided and battered Poliwrath. The Water-type cried out in pain, and was forced back onto the cliff at a distance. Heracross felt even the ground beneath him crumble from the pressure.
"Get back up there, Heracross!" Ash urged. "You just need to fly a little more!"
"Hera!" Heracross cried with determination, and furiously beat his wings. With a bit of struggle, he took off from the crumbling ground, and carried himself over the cliff's edge. This time, he was a bit further from the end, protecting him from another fall. He exhaled with relief.
Unfortunately, he was once again eclipsed by Poliwrath.
"A valiant effort," Bruno praised, "but this match is over! Poliwrath! Superpower!"
The burly amphibian wielded both of his gloved fists over his head, linking them together. An orange glow emanated from his body, channeling his physical might. "Poliwrath…!"
"Use Endure, Heracross!"
Poliwrath brought his fists down in a brutal double axe handle, striking Heracross's head.
The Stag Beetle braced himself, emitting a modest white glow. He croaked in pain under the blunt strike, brought down to his knees. He felt heavy… light-headed. He was sore all over.
But, he met his opponent with a fierce glare of determination! "Not good enough!"
"Poli…!?" Poliwrath's eyes widened. Blue light washed over him. His defense dropped.
"This match is over, for you!" Ash cried, punching the air. "Heracross! Reversal!"
"Crooooo…!" A blaze of passionate fighting spirit embraced Heracross. He pushed himself to his feet, and swung his horn in an uppercut into Poliwrath's stomach with all of his might.
Bruno gasped.
The Tadpole was sent flying backwards, far away from the cliffside. He tumbled across parched, uneven terrain, and landed on his back. His eyes swirls, resembling the pattern on his belly.
"Yes! They did it!" Dawn cheered, hopping jubilantly in place. "That battle was a really close call… But, Heracross really showed his guts!" She grinned, admiring the Stag Beetle.
Heracross looked rather exhausted, but he remained on his feet.
"He's still in it, too… Oh, I'm so inspired!" One could see sparkles revolving around her. "Climbing trees and sipping sap, Heracross made that a wrap!"
"Emmmm-POL!"
"Alright! That was great work, Heracross." Ash walked over, gently petting his Pokémon's exoskeleton. "Way to hang in there! Are you good to keep going?"
Heracross clicked his mandibles happily. "At this point, I might as well!"
"That's the spirit!" Ash smiled and nodded in approval. He scanned their immediate environment, then. They'd ascended to another mountainous plain, stretching a sizable distance along the mountain path. The next serious incline was a ways away, thankfully.
"Very well done, Ash, Heracross." Bruno spoke. "A battle of sheer tenacity rebuked our overwhelming power! But, now…" He drew his last Poké Ball. "Your final test!"
"And, we're ready for it!" Ash shouted back. "But, do you mind if we move away from the cliffside? If it's all the same to you, I think my Pokémon would like a real playing field."
He looked back at Dawn, Empoleon, and Pocus. "And, I think my girlfriend would probably appreciate it if we cut back on the rock climbing," he added, chuckling.
Bruno hummed affirmatively. "Very well! We will take this battle to level ground." He walked a short distance to a safe, fairly level location, expecting Ash to do the same. "Now! Machamp…!" The giant of a man threw his last Poké Ball with vigor. "Time to show them our strength!"
"Gokaaaah…!" The final pillar of strength appeared, flexing his four, gargantuan arms. Machamp roared in a loud display of his might, flexing his muscles, all solid as a rock. He punched his four fists together in a display of powerful bravado. "Ma-Machamp!"
"So, Machamp is your last." Ash's eyes narrowed in a stern gaze. He walked his way in a sidelong stride to stand opposite of Bruno, with Peeks and Heracross eyeing them warily.
"Then, we'll have to strike fast, and strike hard! You hear me, Heracross?"
"Croh!" Heracross nodded, and stood opposite. Although his shell was bruised and his breaths were shallow, his vigor for battle remained. He stared down the Superpower Pokémon.
Ash pointed towards Machamp. "Reversal!"
Heracross embraced a passionate fire, once again. He cried out with might, and buzzed towards Machamp in a straightforward charge. However sloppy his flight, due to paralysis, he stayed the course, and ducked his horn. "Hera… Cross!" He cried, striking Machamp.
Machamp… simply stood there, crouched and ready. He groaned in pain at the stab to his gut, stumbling back several steps. He then planted his feet and grinned, glowering at Heracross.
"Now! Use Fissure!"
Machamp reared all four of his fists, and bashed them into the earth. A violent tremor rattled the mountain, and cracks spread through the ground quickly. Heracross was hit before he could act.
He trembled unpleasantly at the seismic ripples, and quickly fell into the gash in the land.
"Return, Heracross!" Ash recalled the Stag Beetle before he could fall further. He held the Poké Ball up, smiling down at it. "You did your best, Heracross. Thanks for fighting so hard."
"You don't seem surprised," Bruno observed. "You attacked as if you saw Fissure coming."
"That's because I did," Ash acknowledged with a nod. "Like I said, I've seen your battles. My pal Brock and I were big fans, back in the day!" Despite his disadvantageous position, Ash smiled. His eyes shimmered with jubilation, for the showdown with a man he once considered an idol.
"Your Machamp reminds me a lot of another Pokémon Trainer I faced, towards the beginning of my training, last year. A Blackbelt with all sorts of powerful Fighting-types… He had a Machamp with No Guard, too! It taught me a lot about how to fight yours."
"Is that right…?" Bruno raised a brow, intrigued. "Someone who fights like us?"
"He fought with power and simplicity too," Ash explained. "Our tricks were no match for him at all." He smiled, shaking his head. He recalled the hermit, Lao, and how badly he'd trounced his team. How many lessons he instilled, in a short time period. "When you fight opponents who attack head-on, you have to meet them with that same spirit, and make sure you're not in over your head! I knew that Heracross was on the outs, so all we could do was attack with everything."
"To make Machamp a more manageable opponent," Bruno intuited. "But, do you think that will be enough to defeat us? Machamp can unearth any opponent with Fissure, with his willingness to take any attack head-on! Any failure to crush us will result in inevitable defeat, Ash Ketchum!"
"Ma-champ!" Machamp roared, flexing his rippled biceps. His leer could make any juvenile fighter's spirit crumble. At one point, perhaps, Ash and Peeks would have been intimidated.
Now, they only grinned, relishing the challenge. "Yout intimidation tactics won't work on us!" Ash rebuked. "I have one Pokémon on me who knows that Fighting-type philosophy better than anybody else! We're not afraid of Fissure, and neither is she!" With that, Ash sent out his last.
"I choose you, Bayleef!"
The Leaf Pokémon hit the ground on all fours with a 'thud,' planting her forelegs with fearless ferocity. "Baaay…!" Bayleef cried. She tossed her head, whipping up her leaf into a whistling spin. Her ferocity was unbecoming of her evolutionary line, but it was hers to wield. "Come on!"
"Your Bayleef looks rested," Bruno acknowledged. "But, she's still suffered damage." His sharp eyes scanned the Grass-type over. She still sported several bruises and burns, from her prior battle with his Golem. "In that case, she and Machamp are essentially even in prior damage."
"Even is more than good enough for us!" Ash challenged, raising a fist. "So, bring it on!"
"Your arrogance blinds you!" Bruno roared. "Machamp! Use Fissure!"
"Machaaah…!" Machamp lunged high into the air off of his strong legs, momentarily eclipsing the sun. He then came down directly towards Bayleef, stomping a foot into the ground right in front of her, into her personal space. With a mighty cry, he brought down his second foot.
Before it could split the earth, it stopped short. A green vine gripped tightly around his ankle.
"Mach…!?"
Bayleef narrowed her ruby eyes in concentration, yanking Machamp's foot away from the earth with significant effort. She glared up at the flustered Machamp without an ounce of fear.
Ash smirked. She'd done exactly as he'd wanted. "Leech Seed!"
"Bay!" Bayleef fired a parasitic seed from her leafy collar. It latched onto Machamp's chest, and vines spread across his body, tangling around his torso and his limbs.
"What's this…!?" Bruno stammered. "Machamp! Use your fists!"
"Mach…!" Machamp wielded his two lower arms over his head, clenched into fists. With a mighty roar, he aimed to smash the ground beneath his feet to rend Bayleef asunder.
"Two more, Bayleef!"
Bayleef fired two more vines from around her collar, seizing Machamp's wrists with each.
"Chaamp…!" Machamp growled, gritting his teeth in an effort to force himself past Bayleef's vines. The Leaf Pokémon bore her teeth, yanking his fists away with all of her might. Her vines strained, and her eyes narrowed, but she refused to yield. The two were caught in a stalemate!
"Great work, Bayleef!" Ash praised. "Now, use Toxic!"
Bayleef slung poisonous goo from her leaf, splattering Machamp. The Superpower cried in pain.
"Hmph!" Bruno grunted. "So, your Bayleef is too high a level to simply overwhelm with a one-hit knockout… And now, we suffer your status afflictions in our carelessness. Very well!" The Elite roared, arms crossed. "We'll defeat you with brute force before we yield! Machamp! Low Kick!"
Machamp wrestled with Bayleef's vines, yanking his restrained wrists in. While Bayleef was dragged through the dirt, resisting his pull, he reared back a foot, and kicked her in the gut.
Bayleef coughed in pain, and her vines loosened, untangling from Machamp.
"Tough it out, Bayleef!" Ash encouraged. "Zen Headbutt!"
Bayleef regained her concentration and glared, channeling a fuschia light upon her skull and head leaf. She reared back, and bashed her skull into Machamp's.
"Machamp…!" Machamp groaned, stumbling back to hold his head in pain. His footing was clumsy and he shook his head furiously, disoriented.
"Good, he flinched!" Ash said. "Another Zen Headbutt!"
"Baay…!" Bayleef lunged at Machamp, bashing her head into Machamp a second time.
Machamp groaned. Poison bubbled off of his body, and then he seized from Leech Seed draining his vitality. Bayleef felt just a bit of her strength return to her as a result.
"Good, but not nearly enough!" Bruno roared. "Machamp! Use Close Combat!"
"Maaah…!" Machamp regained his composure with a kiai, rearing all four of his fists. He lunged at Bayleef, and started to pummel her senseless with a lightning-fast barrage of punches.
"Bay..!" Bayleeg lunged backwards and sidestepped in an attempt to weave past his punches, but every time she retreated, Machamp stepped further into her space. There was nothing she could do to stop the bruising onslaught.
"That Close Combat is insane!" Ash exclaimed. "It leaves Machamp's defenses open, but with No Guard, that was bound to be the case, anyway…" His eyes snapped open. "That's it! Bayleef, let's show 'em your own close quarter combat! Use Power Whip!"
Bayleef suffered another blow to the jaw, reeling back. She was quickly growing sore, but Ash's voice broke through the pain like a beacon in the middle of a storm. She steeled herself, and struck Machamp across the face with a glowing vine. A second vine struck him in the stomach, and a third in the arm. She lashed the Superpower with repetitive blows while enduring her own.
A brutal brawl of fists and vines depressed the earth beneath both combatants. Cracks and dull strikes rang through the air, with neither Pokémon bothering to defend themselves. Machamp suffered a number of scratches and raw skin from Bayleef's lashes, while the latter sported an increasing number of bruises. Neither was willing to surrender, even as Machamp started to overwhelm Bayleef with his power and ferocity.
"A brutal contest of blows," Bruno narrated. "Bayleef is valiant, but with his four fists, Machamp is built for battles at close range. You've doomed your Pokémon to fail, Ash Ketchum!"
"Yeah? Just wait!" Ash fired back. "Bayleef's taking a beating, but she's built for long fights!"
The inevitable crawl of time served Ash's point. Machamp suddenly groaned in pain and recoiled. His discolored face became a deeper blue, as his sickness from Toxic intensified.
Furthermore, Bayleef felt a wellspring of relief, when the blows slowed, and Leech Seed stole Machamp's stamina. "Bayyy…!" She cried, relentlessly striking Machamp with four of her vines.
"There! Use this opportunity to get some distance, Bayleef!" Ash cried. "Up on that slope!"
Ash gestured to a rocky incline near the closest elevation leading up the mountain trail. Bayleef saw it out of the corner of her eye and nodded. "Bay!" She smacked the ground with all four vines, catapulting herself out of Machamp's personal space.
She turned and sprinted towards the rocky elevation, while Machamp collected himself, holding his head. Bruno's command wasn't necessary; he sprinted after Bayleef with reckless abandon.
"He's gaining on you!" Ash warned.
"I was hoping so," Bayleef said, with unaffected stoicism, as she charged up a rocky hill on all fours. She heard Machamp's footsteps and grunts of effort, and slid sideways across the terrain.
"Machamp! Cross Chop!"
Machamp was nearly upon her. "Maaah!" He roared, lunging at Bayleef.
"Break the terrain!" Ash cried. "Power Whip!"
"How did I know?" Bayleef replied, as a boast more than anything. Her intuition towards Ash's tactics was usually impeccable, and today was no exception. As Machamp charged up the hill, she extended one vine, wielding it backhanded. It coated itself in a purple glow, and smashed into the terrain.A straight sweep through demolished the ground under the Superpower's feet.
"Champ…!?" Machamp sputtered, crying out in shock. The ground beneath him collapsed.
"Now, finish it!" Ash cried, punching forward with gusto. "Frenzy Plant!"
"Baaay…!" Bayleef reared up on her hind legs, and smashed them into the earth. Massive, spiked roots erupted from underneath Machamp, tangling the Fighting-type in their grip.
"Leeef!" Bayleef cried. Frenzy Plant shot across rocky terrain, pressing Machamp into the earth.
"Oh, nice shot!" Dawn whooped, grinning with glee. "That Frenzy Plant hit him dead-on! The battle has to be over now, right…?"
Empoleon squinted at the aftermath from beside her. The roots retreated into the earth, leaving a pile of rubble. He wanted to believe it; he truly did! But, nothing could be left to chance.
Unfortunately, the rubble started to tremble. "Pol," he conceded, sadly shaking his head.
Dawn and Empoleon alike braced themselves as the earth quaked.
"Ma-champ!" Machamp roared, striking out with all four of his arms. Rocky debris was sent flying, in the wake of the Superpower pulling himself to his feet. Even as he stood, though, he groaned, nearly tripping over his own feet. His face was a deep blue and a red flash surrounded him. "Ma… Machamp…"
"Aw, so close!" Dawn huffed in annoyance.
"I was really hoping that would do it," Ash said through grit teeth. "But, this is Bruno's ace, after all. I think we at least got a little time out of it. If Bayleef can just recover before he reaches 'er."
Bayleef was panting heavily from atop the ledge. Every muscle of hers felt like lead, in the wake of her strongest move. A surge of vitality came to her great relief, and she shook off her exhaustion. "I'm good! I'm… I'm good." She stomped back down the incline, and stood in front of Ash, ruby eyes narrowed in determination. "That bought me enough time. Let's finish this!"
"I agree," Bruno replied. "We won't be crushed by merely one overpowering attack. But, time is of the essence, and we will not yield! This is a battle to the finish!" He punched the air with several swift jabs, and swung around for a roundhouse kick. "Hoo-hah! Close Combat!"
"Ma-champ!" Machamp roared, lunging at Bayleef with all four of his fists reared.
"Stop them short, Bayleef!" Ash shouted. "Power Whip!"
Machamp's fists came in a furious storm — before being restrained in four successive snaps.
Two of Bayleef's vines, shining with concentration, engaged in a strained tug-of-war with each of his hind fists. The two foremost punches were caught with her powerful forelegs; her claws tightening around his fists in a stubborn grip. The Grass-type bore her teeth, standing on her hind legs to hold back his punches with all of her might.
"Mahh…!" Machamp locked his jaw, pressing his weight forward and his fists with it.
Bayleef tucked her head, glaring up at the Superpower without fear.
"Zen Headbutt!"
Bayleef uppercutted Machamp in the jaw with a rattling buck of her head.
"Punish her, with Low Kick!"
Machamp planted his left foot forward and retracted his right behind him. "Champ!" He cried, kicking Bayleef's underbelly. The Grass-type squealed in pain.
Ash grimaced. 'She has to win… She will win! But with her vines tied up…' His eyes widened. Once again, a quality of his Pokémon provided a chance in a pinch. "Bayleef! Your other vines!"
"Bay…!" Of course. With her foremost vines struggling to restrain Machamp, she had several to call upon! The vines under her hind leaves emerged, repeatedly striking Machamp's stomach.
Machamp groaned in pain, helpless to restrain her strikes.
"A battle of brute force is one we will win!" Bruno barked. "Machamp! Use Vital Throw!"
"Champ…!" Machamp released the Herb's forelegs, and tightly seized four of Bayleef's active vines, one in each fist. He then leaned back and yanked her, seizing and throwing Bayleef over his head. He smashed her into the earth, suplexing her. Dust and rocky debris flew about in the aftermath.
Bayleef was covered in dust and scratches, forcing herself shakily onto her feet. "Leef…!"
"Draw him in, Bayleef!" Ash ordered.
She retracted her four seized vines, suddenly and mercilessly. Machamp was yanked her way.
"Now, Zen Headbutt!"
Bayleef reared back her head, and bashed it into Machamp's skull.
"Gokeh…!" Machamp coughed, staggering back to hold his head. Without warning, he seized up, as Toxic further ate away at his stamina, and Leech Seed sapped his strength. "Champ…!"
"Hmph! This brutal fight to the finish is favoring young Bayleef. You chose well, Ash Ketchum! But, we're ending this now!" Bruno roared. "Machamp! One final strike! Use Cross Chop!"
"Ma-chahhh…!" Machamp matched his trainer's vigor with an earth-shaking roar of pure might. He lunged into the air, sharpening each hand into a knife strike, and descended upon Bayleef.
"One last clash…?" Bayleef took a deep breath, basking in Leech Seed's glow. In the moment of truth, perhaps, she felt revitalized. She stood in the face of a violent Superpower without fear.
"One last clash," Ash agreed with a smile. "Do it, Bayleef!"
Bayleef leapt. Four of her vines were drawn around her.
"POWER WHIP!"
Time seemed to stand still, as both brawlers crossed one another. Vines lashed, and knife hands struck. Every onlooker watched on with bated breath, as they landed opposite.
Bayleef staggered on her feet, struggling to keep her balance.
"Bayleef!" Ash cried.
Her trainer's voice hit her ears, and her ruby eyes widened. She staggered to her feet.
Machamp's eyes rolled back. He stumbled forward, and collapsed facefirst.
Bruno inhaled, and his eyes fell shut. "That's the match. We surrender."
"We won!" Peeks exclaimed happily.
Ash's lips quivered, and he bundled his fists, unable to contain his excitement. "Yyyyesss!" He laughed, sprinting over to his victorious Pokémon. "You did it, Bayleef! You were amazing!"
Bayleef stood tall and proud. She looked over her shoulder at her trainer, and collapsed.
Ash caught her in his arms before she hit the ground. "Hah. Caught ya. You didn't think you'd be getting a dust bath after a performance like that, did ya?" He winked. "You won it for us!"
Bayleef slowly lifted her head, blinking at Ash. Her eyes were half-lidded from exhaustion. Ash waited for the inevitable nuzzling and tackling, but strangely, it… never came. She offered a lukewarm smile. "We won it. Now you can challenge the final Elite Four member, Ash."
Ash and Peeks exchanged a glance. The mouse shrugged. "Uh… yeah," Ash replied awkwardly. "That's the plan!"
Dawn's eyes narrowed. Bayleef's muted response to Ash… 'That was… weird.'
She shook her head and ran to greet her boyfriend. "Ash, that was amazing! That's three down!"
"Aha, right?" Ash grinned, returning Bayleef to her Poké Ball to rest. "That means one to go!"
"Indeed. Congratulations, Ash." Bruno approached the trainer, garnering his attention. "As a Pokémon Trainer, I'm not happy to have lost! On my pride, I must grow stronger!" He clenched a hand into a tight fist, looking up towards the heavens with determination.
He calmed, however, turning back to Ash. He bowed and clasped his hands in respect. "As an Elite Four member, however, I must offer my admiration, and a stepping stool to your next battle." The gargantuan man turned, and started walking towards the mountain's heights.
Ash, Peeks, Dawn, and Empoleon all exchanged looks and shrugged. "Uh, Bruno!" Ash called.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" The massive martial artists continued walking without pause. "If you want to conquer your next challenge, simplicity alone will not suffice. Come! I will verse you in the most powerful attacks to bring the elderly Agatha to heel!"
"You'd better listen to him, Ash!" Dawn grinned. "Let's get going! But, uh… Maybe we should take Pocus, this time. I think I've had my fill of hiking for the rest of the week."
"Ab-ab-ra," Pocus said haughtily, folding his arms behind his head. She'd come to her senses.
"Pol," Empoleon muttered bitterly under his breath.
"Ahah, good idea!" Ash laughed. "But first, I think we should catch up to him. We're not getting anywhere without Bruno with us!" He sprinted off to catch up with the Elite. "C'mon, Peeks!"
Peeks vaulted off his trainer's shoulder, sprinting ahead. "Let's go learn that special technique!"
Chapter 13: Agatha I - Curse
Chapter Text
"Ash… what is this place!?"
Dawn's fingers curled around the fabric of Ash's jacket over his shoulder that was free of his starter. There was an oppressive chill in the air that she couldn't explain — and it wasn't cold weather, either! By contrast, she'd feel right at home with that. But, it was something different.
"Pokémon Tower." Ash replied, instinctively hooking his arm around his girlfriend's waist, allowing her the comfort of closeness. It wasn't often she succumbed to timidity; Dawn was too proud to hide behind another very often. But, this particular location made Ash feel uneasy, too.
For Dawn, it was the unnaturally thick fog that gave one the feeling they'd soon be suffocated. The towering structure with a stone exterior, sporting cracks and moss from many years of wear and neglect. The demonic horns protruding from its peak, and the windows resembling a monster's face accompanying them. The strange feeling that they, somehow, weren't alone.
For Ash, it was the fact that he'd died and been pulled from his mortal coil to travel the night skies as a ghost, at an untimely eleven years old, before being returned to life.
"Since I was a kid, there've been rumors floating around Kanto, about it being a graveyard, where the restless spirits of Pokémon lie, and haunt any trainer who dares trespass."
Dawn felt another shudder. Her grip on Ash turned white-knuckled.
Empoleon stayed close to Dawn, raising a wing to protect her from the unknown.
"...Of course, those were all just rumors. It's just an abandoned mansion where Ghost-type Pokémon hang out and like to pester and prank travelers," Ash said, shrugging noncommittally.
Dawn and Empoleon collapsed facefirst.
"Well, you should've led with that!" Dawn complained with a pout, standing to dust herself off.
"Never change, Ash." Peeks shook his head, unable to hide his bemused smile.
"Sorry," Ash apologized. "I didn't expect Pocus to lead us here! It's not exactly a battlefield… But it suits a Ghost-type Elite, I guess." He looked over at Pocus, who only shook his head.
"Abbb-ra." He chanted, raising a clawed finger towards the large, intimidating double doors. With a loud 'thump' that alerted the group, they slowly creaked open.
At a glance, it was pitch-black, inside; the only light filtering through being from the outside. It wasn't much, but it illuminated a path of rotting and partially broken floorboards.
"It smells… damp." Dawn's nose wrinkled in disgust. Rooting wood was an awful smell. It was awful to be around as a dirt padding, and even worse to encounter indoors. She interlocked hef fingers with Ash's and stepped inside pensively, taking slow, cautious steps into the main hall.
Ash was just as disgusted, but he'd decided to tune it out, focusing entirely on finding Agatha.
"She's around here somewhere," Ash whispered. The echoing of footsteps; the humans' and Empoleons' alike, continued to inform him that they'd stuck together, so far. "Why do I feel like she's going to jump out and scare the crap out of us?"
"You know, there's your Aura," Peeks reminded him.
"Well, yeah. But that'd beat the purpose of walking into an abandoned mansion in the first place," he countered. "You might as well walk into a haunted house in the middle of the day."
"You're the only person I know who would find a hundred different excuses to not use his superpowers…" Peeks breathed an agitated sigh. Ash was lucky he found his ways charming. "Alright. If you won't make this easier on us, I will." His cheeks crackled with a modest gold glow.
The immediate group was cast in a halo of light, lighting their path forward. The main hall was vast, and Peeks only made it halfway visible; there were old mirrors, paintings, and furniture adorning the walls as far back as he could see them, while the rest blended into darkness.
"Thank you, Peeks." Dawn said pointedly. "Some of us don't want to wander around in the dark."
"Hey, this is fine! It's like walking around with a flashlight. It totally suits the experience. Now… where is my battle supposed to be? There's only one left before I face the Champion!"
The illumination cast by Peeks suddenly started to dim. Not because his cheeks had stopped glowing; the entire group was still framed in gold. But, the ground below them no longer did the same; it was a terrifying pitch-black. A low, raspy rumble could be heard nearby.
"Uh… Ash?" Dawn tapped her boyfriend's shoulder. "Is that normal?"
Ash looked down, and squinted. The pitch-black staring back at him suddenly sprouted eyes; huge, narrow, demonic red eyes; its pupils merely black slits. The eyes blinked, staring back at him.
Ash swallowed heavily. "That's not normal."
That black shadow was then accompanied by a wide, toothy grin. "Kehehehehehe!"
The mouth then opened directly under the group, and the floor gave out from under them.
The entire group yelped, hugging onto one another for dear life. They'd fallen into a void — for all they knew, they could be falling forever!
That was, the entire group except for Pocus. He casually floated alongside them with his little legs folded. He stayed elevated, when everybody crashed atop one another in a heap.
"Urgh… Thanks for the soft landing, Empoleon." Ash groaned. He found himself cushioned by the Emperor, pardoning the steel chest protrusion digging into his torso. "You're a lifesaver."
"Pol…" Empoleon raised a wing, as if to give a thumbs-up. Why was it always him…?
"Ah! Empoleon!" Dawn gasped. Lying on top of Ash's back, she reached around to feel for her Pokémon, finally finding the cold plating guarding his shoulders. "I'm so sorry, are you alright!?"
"I think everyone's fine… Wherever we are." Even Ash was growing sick of the pitch black as he and the group separated themselves and stood. Luckily, it would not last much longer.
"Wherever, you say…?"
A pair of golden eyes pierced the darkness, and the heroes' hearts. Wide and wicked, they were accompanied by a blood-curdling hiss. Crackling embers were heard in succession, as candles lining the walls flickered to life. The basement beneath the mansion was cast in a dim orange glow — or, at least roughly half of it was. A wooden cane clacked against the floorboards, and an elderly woman stepped out of the darkness wielding it. Greying blonde hair was styled in a bob, and her eyes sharp and intimidating; cast in the shadow of the encompassing darkness. For her aged features; pronounced cheekbones and all; she smiled with spry enthusiasm. She wore a puffy purple dress with long sleeves, and a green shroud cast over her shoulders.
"Why, you've found our battlefield, young man. A graveyard, teeming with the spirits of vengeful Pokémon, looking to pull any unassuming trainers into the bowels of Hell." She struck the floor with her cane authoritatively. "One… wrong… move… and you'll be dragged to the great beyond, never to return! Only the mightiest of trainers — in body and mind — can walk out of this trial alive! Battle those spirits at your peril, young Pokémon Trainer, if you dare."
"Miss Agatha, please. You don't have to talk to me like an amateur." Ash smirked, working out a shoulder in a show of bravado before stepping forth into the modest candlelight. "Everybody knows that those are just rumors. The ghosts here just drag your soul right out of your body and turn you into a ghost to join them in haunting the night!"
"...Bah. You're no fun." Agatha scowled. "Too worldly to mess with."
"I-I thought you said that nothing happened here!?" Dawn exclaimed, wide-eyed. Empoleon looked just as flabbergasted, gawking between Ash and Peeks, silently begging for answers. "What was that all about!?"
"I didn't say nothing happened here!" Ash countered, smiling over his shoulder. "I told you they play pranks here. I just didn't tell you what kind of pranks they were."
Dawn looked like she'd swallowed something sour, and just as much felt like it. "Between Rota and this, we're having a serious talk about keeping that spirit of yours right where it belongs, later." After saying her peace, she stepped away from the battlefield. She looked none less intent about her demands.
"Pol! Empol!" Empoleon sputtered, gesturing a wing madly at Ash in agreement with Dawn.
"Fine with me!" Ash waved a hand very casually in return..
"You have a sick sense of humor," Peeks remarked.
"Ah, he does, doesn't he?" Agatha laughed. "That old coot, Oak, never could appreciate my morbid sensibilities. You, on the other hand, have a taste for the bizarre."
"You get used to it, when you're a traveling trainer," Ash countered. His fingers flexed by his sides, eager to pick his first Pokémon. "You see enough weird things, and you learn to laugh."
"That's the spirit!" Agatha grinned. "I like your little girlfriend, though. The moxie to argue with death itself will get her far in life! Now… I can see you're itching to battle, just as I am." Her eyes landed on Ash's ready hand. "I've always believed that Pokémon are for battle. As one familiar with spirits, you learn that the spirits of Pokémon are restless; they hunger for the taste of combat. The same can be said for Pokémon Trainers. So, let's dispense with the chit-chat…"
Golden eyes flashed in the dark again. An Arbok slithered out of the darkness, towering over Agatha. She coiled around the elderly Elite, before moving forth and upright, opposite of Ash.
"So, Arbok is your first…" Ash's eyes narrowed, and he considered his options. "Alright, Agatha! Let's get right to it!" He snatched a Poké Ball off his belt, and tapped its center button. It expanded to fit his palm, and he tossed it overhand. "I choose you… Gengar!"
A shadow orbited the battlefield with a mischievous cackle, before stopping in the middle of the fray. "Geh…?" He floated upright, taking in his surroundings. "Hey, hey! Who said we were visiting home!?"
"I'm as surprised as you are, Gengar." Ash replied. "But, tell you what: after this battle, we can have a look around, for old time's sake! We just have to win first, alright?"
That seemed to be enough for Gengar, who floated back to Ash's side with a grin.
"Arbok! Use Glare!"
"Gengar! Taunt!"
Gengar took the initiative before Arbok could act. He zipped towards Arbok with speed that made him resemble a wispy shadow, and stopped in front of the serpent. "Kehehehe!" He grinned, and pulled at the corners of his mouth to stick his tongue out, waggling it at Arbok.
"Hey, Snake Eyes! You wanna look at me funny!?" Gengar tumbled upside down, and turned his rear towards Arbok, smacking it. "Feast your eyes on this!"
Arbok hissed in indignant anger. The command to use Glare was completely forgotten!
"Feh," Agatha scoffed. "Well played, kid."
"There's more where that came from!" Ash shouted back. "Psychic!"
Gengar backed up, and aimed his hands towards Arbok, ready to project his psychic power.
"Sucker Punch!"
"Chaarrh…!" Arbok suddenly seized, writhing and shrieking in pain. It was as if she was already paralyzed!
"Geh…!?" Gengar hesitated, and looked down at his hands. He hadn't even used the move, yet!
"Gengar!"
Ash's cry of warning came too late. Arbok's tail whipped around and flanked Gengar, smacking him ruthlessly in the back of the head. He plummeted, bouncing off the field before rolling back.
"Gengar…!" Gengar grunted in irritation, rubbing his neck. "I'm supposed to be the underhanded one, here!" But by the time he'd corrected himself, Arbok was no longer there. There was a hole dug out beneath the floorboards where she'd stood.
"Dig…?" Ash pursed his lips. His eyes scanned over the immediate area. 'Dig shouldn't be able to hit Gengar, thanks to Levitate… I wonder what she's planning. Agatha's an Elite, so she must have something unusual up her sleeve,' he concluded. "Keep your guard up, Gengar!"
"Gen…? Gen!" Gengar had been surveying the floor, before snapping to attention. He floated away from the floor to avoid a surprise attack from below.
"Chaaaah!" Arbok lunged out of the darkness behind Agatha, jowls open and fangs poised.
"Crunch!"
Arbok chomped down, only narrowly missing a startled Gengar.
"Will-o-Wisp!" Ash cried, waving a hand.
Gengar smacked his hands together, conjuring a haunting blue flame. He tossed it overhand.
"Dig, once again!"
Arbok pivoted to burrowing underground, again. Will-o-Wisp hit the broken, splintered floorboards, burning them to a crisp before fizzling out.
"I see. She's attacking from the dark and using Dig for a hit-and-run strategy." Ash's eyes narrowed. "Well, nobody ever said we'll stay off your tail! After them, Gengar!"
"Gen!" Gengar dove for the burrow headfirst, getting stuck halfway in. He kicked and flailed his feet before squirming his way into the borrow. "Kehehehehe…!"
"Ah…?" Agatha raised a brow. "Following suit instead of using their intangibility? Do I have to teach you a thing or two about Ghost-types, young man?"
"Oh, I know what Gengar can do." Ash replied coolly, smiling. "He could just sink under… or he could do the other thing that Ghost-types are so great at doing: scaring the pants off of people."
Agatha's eyes turned to the darkness, as did their spectators'. In just a moment…
"KEHEHEHEHEHEHE….!"
"Cha…!?"
A bone-chilling cackle echoed throughout the mansion's basement that could strike fear into the mightiest of men. The sound of floorboards breaking followed, as a screeching Arbok surfaced out of sight.
"I underestimated you!" Agatha commended; a gleam in her eye. "Arbok! You know better than to surrender to a little fright — use Crunch!"
Ash's eyes glimmered conspiratorially. He waved a hand. "Counter Shield, Gengar!"
"'Counter Shield?'" Agatha grimaced. "What in the blazes…?"
Within the shroud of Darkness, Gengar clapped his hands together, just as Arbok gathered her fearsome constitution, and lunged. A Will-o-Wisp appeared in front of him, splitting into several embers. His eyes then flashed blue, as the flames orbited him in a ring of indigo fire.
Arbok lunged facefirst into it, and then howled with pain, disengaging. She suddenly recoiled in pain, as a flame consumed her, leaving as quickly as it had come.
"It's the Counter Shield!" Dawn exclaimed, clapping her hands together. With the Counter Shield active, she and the others had a glimpse into the darkness, and the reckoning that followed.
"Em-pol. Em-poleon!" Empoleon chirped.
"Right! The same one that Fantina used with her Drifblim," Dawn nodded along. "Leave it to Ash to use a Ghost-type expert's trick against another Ghost-type expert! Now, Arbok is burned!"
"Arbok! Glare!" Agatha countered.
Arbok shook off the damage from her burn, and stood completely upright, flaring out her hood to confront Gengar with the terrifying pattern of a face that she bore. Simultaneously, her eyes flashed with a sinister gold.
"Don't look at it, Gengar!" Ash urged.
It was too late. Gengar had looked up instinctively to meet the frightening pattern, and met eyes with Arbok. "Geh…!" He choked, and felt his ghostly body go numb. The Counter Shield petered out without his persistent control, once more shrouding himself and Arbok in darkness.
"Shoot… So, Arbok is burned, and we're paralyzed." Ash tightened his hands into fists.
"That was a fascinating technique, Ash Ketchum," Agatha praised. "I've heard whispers of your newfangled tactics and combinations, from the grapevine. It stands to reason that you've beaten three of the Elite Four, so far. However… Those fancy tricks will only do so much against the paralysis of sheer terror that Ghost-types bring!" She tapped her cane, "Arbok! Use Coil!"
"Coil…?" Ash took out his Pokédex, and pointed it towards the basement's dark recesses.
"Coil: A Normal-type status move. The user coils up and concentrates. This raises its Attack and Defense stats as well as its accuracy."
"They're powering up while we sit around," Ash grumbled. "Gengar! Psychic!"
The fuschia pulse of telekinesis failed to light up the darkness.
"Keh!" Agatha laughed to herself. "He's paralyzed. Arbok, be a good dearie, and use Bite."
Arbok suddenly lunged into the perimeter of the candlelight, with a flailing Gengar between her jowls. She smiled with her prize in her hold, and then flipped over, brutally tossing Gengar to the ground.
"Gengar!" Ash cried. The hit was Super-effective. "But, why use Bite over Crunch…?"
After a moment of contemplation, it occurred to Ash. "Ah…! I get it!"
"She used Bite because it can make opponents flinch!" Dawn exclaimed from the sidelines. "That possibility can be worth more than Crunch's higher power; I've seen it done in Contests. And especially with paralysis slowing Gengar down, she can get off multiple attacks in a row!"
Indeed, Gengar kept himself parked on the floor, shuddering in terror. He'd flinched!
"Now, use Dig!"
Arbok broke the floorboards again, burrowing underground. Unlike the previous two uses, she surfaced immediately, breaking ground under Gengar to strike him in the back.
"Geeeeh…!" Gengar cried out, flying through the air. He hovered clumsily, righting himself.
"Another super-effective one…!" Ash exclaimed, and paused. "Wait a sec. How did Dig hit Gengar? Levitate should mean that he can't get hit by Ground-type moves!"
"Type affinity is a property of Pokémon battles; not a static rule," Agatha lectured. "You should know that better than anybody, young man. I hear you have a long record of giving Ground-types a real shock."
"I still don't know how that works half the time, to be honest," Ash conceded.
"When I get an answer," Peeks replied, "I'll let you know."
"That one is quite simple: Ground-types can easily channel the electricity they endure through the ground, insulating them from a shock. But one who isn't touching ground, such as Geodude, is a bit more susceptible. They're closer to resisting Electric-type moves, in that case," the Elite explained. "Or, if their grounding is tenuous at the moment, and the shock is powerful enough to char them quicker than they can get rid of it."
In hindsight, for Ash, that explained quite a few of their encounters in Rock-type Gyms.
"But, more to the point," Agatha continued," Levitate allows the Gengar line to avoid one of their weaknesses because they, well, levitate. If Gengar is grounded due to flinching, or paralysis… well, there's nothing to keep a good ol' Dig from shaking him up, is there?"
"Right. I should've realized!" Ash let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, and his shoulders eased. "...That's fine! We can hit you hard, right back! Use Hex, Gengar!"
Gengar waved his arms with a malicious grin, and a terrifying floating eye appeared in front of him, sporting a variety of dark tendrils. They snapped out to wrap around Arbok, and exploded.
"After that burn, Arbok should've taken a lot of damage," Ash noted aloud, smiling.
But, his confidence didn't last long. He gasped.
Arbok emerged from the dark ether, now standing entirely upright. She hissed through a nasty sneer, having little more to show for Hex than a few minor scorches on her scales. Otherwise, she looked healthy, and stronger than ever. "Chaaarbok…!"
"I don't get it… After Hex…!" Ash clenched his teeth. "Come to think of it, Arbok hasn't taken any burn damage since that first time we saw it."
"Ah, you finally caught on?" Agatha's nasty smirk mirrored Arbok's. "You might not have known, but Arbok's ability is Shed Skin. Every so often, they'll shed their scales that have suffered a status affliction, freeing them of it. That accumulative damage, the cut to Arbok's attack, and the extra damage from Hex… I'm afraid that none of those hindrances bother her, any longer."
Ash grimaced. "Alright then, we'll just attack head-on! Psychic!"
"Sucker Punch!"
Gengar channeled psychic power; his entire body glowing. Before he could focus properly, the end of Arbok's tail cracked like a whip, knocking him facefirst into the floorboards, once more.
"Now, use Coil, dear," Agatha continued.
Arbok wrapped herself into a tight coil in plain sight. A faint red aura washed over her.
"Now, use Crunch!"
Arbok sprang at Gengar, jowls wide open, and her sharp fangs glimmering in the candlelight.
"Counter Shield, once more!" Ash countered.
"Gengar…!" Gengar grunted with effort and reasserted himself, whipping up a spinning ring of Will-o-Wisp around his body that made Arbok flinch and second-guess her onslaught.
"Let's wrap up that 'Counter Shield' of yours, young man." Agatha said with a low, ominous touch to her voice. "Neutralize it, with Poison Tail!"
Arbok was already in close quarters with Gengar; their widespanning hood hovering over the Ghost-type. Just as he began to back away, Arbok's tail came around behind him, coiling to constrict around Gengar. A purple glow flooded her scales, and the venom ignited Will-o-Wisp.
Successive explosions rocked the room, forcing everyone to guard themselves.
"Gengar…!" Ash held down his hat, while cradling Peeks with the opposite hand.
"Ah…!' Dawn did her best to keep her balance, before Empoleon guarded her with his sturdy wing. She supported herself with his shoulder; her smile one of gratitude.
"Thanks, Empoleon."
"Pol," he said; nothing of it. But, his eyes quickly returned to the battlefield; sharp, sterling hues focused on the clearing smog.
"I know… That was like a move we would pull, igniting the poison. But, what a risky play! To do it when Arbok is so close, too… I guess Agatha knows that even now, Ghost-types are tricky to pin down."
Both Pokémon were now visible. Arbok was constricting a struggling Gengar, with her scales still glowing; Poison Tail persisted, even as both Pokémon sported burns, and Arbok, bruises.
"Yes, that must be it! This might've been her one and only chance to trap Gengar!"
"I've gotta admit…" Ash waved his cap in the air, trying to dispel errant smog. "That was a pretty risky play by you, Agatha! I'm surprised."
"You shouldn't be." Agatha smirked, and rested her weight on her cane. "Nobody gets this far in the Pokémon League without taking risks. And now, with Poison Tail, there's no hope for escape, for Gengar. You can try to use Psychic, if you'd like…"
Arbok squeezed tighter, making Gengar yelp. His hands were pinned.
"...But I doubt he has the focus to do so, now. I know Ghosts, and I know their weaknesses."
"You do!" Ash conceded. "I can't deny that. But, what you don't know… is that we like playing with the odds, too."
"What's that…?" Agatha scowled, studying Ash's face. "That smarmy, youthful grin of yours. You're up to something!"
"Who, us?" Ash grinned, gesturing toward himself. "All we want to do is go out with a bang."
Gengar stopped struggling, once he heard the cue. Rather, he grinned, and wiggled his way up just enough for his mouth to be free of Arbok's coil. He inhaled sharply, inflating his cheeks massively… and then stuck his long tongue out, carrying a bomb with a lit fuse.
"Chaarh…!?" Arbok hissed in shock. She did her best to untangle herself from Gengar.
The bomb detonated, swallowing the tower's depths with a deafening 'bang!'
Smoke flooded the basement, before rising towards the ground floor granting visibility, once more. Arbok and Gengar laid in a pile, both unconscious, ashen, and with swirls in their eyes.
"...Hmph." Agatha breathed a resigned sigh, and recalled Arbok. "A draw. That was a risky play, kid. To bring Explosion to a Ghost-type Elite, of all things. Where do you get the moxie!?"
"Explosion was Bruno's idea!" Ash boasted. "I knew you'd never see that move coming, with a Ghost-type team. Bruno never told me exactly what I'd be facing, but the fact that he bothered meant that we wouldn't only be facing ghosts. So, I put stock in Gengar having an out that'd knock your socks off!"
"Bah… that brute." Agatha's lip twitched in annoyance. All the same, she smiled. "All explosions and all brute strength. You on the other hand, though… that was quite the wise deduction from you. I can see how you defeated him." Her eyes drifted to Gengar, before he entered his Poké Ball. "And I see that your Gengar is of the prankster variety of spirits. How fitting, that he should come from here."
Ash wondered what Agatha meant by that last comment, but brushed it off. "He's always been about the gags and physical comedy. And who doesn't love some good slapstick!"
"Well, it's a shame Gengar didn't make it out…" Dawn said, as she dusted off her jacket. "But, at least he made it a tie! Now, Ash and Agatha are five to five!" She clapped her hands together. "Keep going, Ash! Now's the perfect time to establish some momentum!"
Ash smiled, and gave her a thumbs-up in turn. "That's the plan, Dawn!"
"Is it, now…?" Agatha wore a dark smile, earning Ash's attention, once more. "I like that confidence, but we'll see if it lasts. For now, I think a change of location is in order. Pocus?"
"Ab-ra." The PSI Pokémon let out a disgruntled sigh, before raising his clawed hands, and exerting a bright blue glow around himself, and then around Ash, Peeks, Dawn, Empoleon, and Agatha. In the blink of an eye, they were all teleported to a different room.
Rather than a dingy, dark basement, they were teleported to a large dining hall. All of the silverware was in its proper place, spanning a long table. Ornate wooden furniture was still seated, as if the family occupying had disappeared just yesterday, and not decades ago. The wallpaper was chipping in some places, and there was enough dust in the air to choke a koffing.
An artfully crafted chandelier hung overhead, providing a bounty of light.
"Well, at least we can see in this room," Dawn said, as she approached one of the candle mounts on the wall. Her finger swiped over its bronze surface, and she crinkled her nose in disgust; she'd picked up a thick layer of dust for her troubles. "I don't know what I expected."
"Oh hey, I remember this place!" Ash exclaimed. "Kind of a weird place to host a battle, though."
"At least we're not nearly getting skewered by tableware, this time," Peeks remarked.
"Keheh. Feeling a little out of your element, are you?" Agatha taunted. Her wicked smile persisted; the shadows under her eyes exaggerated by the harsh light from above. She looked like she'd just stepped one foot out of the grave, though Ash would never tell her that.
"Good. You should never feel completely comfortable if you've stepped into the Elite Four — least of all, the fourth and final pillar standing between you and the Champion!"
A black shadow suddenly materialized in front of Agatha, above the long dinner table. Two horns, a menacing grin, and leering eyes took form, and clawed, disembodied hands hovered.
"Haaaau…!" Haunter cackled, flexing her monstrous claws.
"A Haunter…!" Ash's eyes narrowed. 'The way they just appeared from that shadow…' A gut feeling informed by a small observation led Ash to his next choice. He threw his next Poké Ball.
"Torkoal! I choose you!"
Torkoal was summoned, falling to land atop the dinner table, which creaked and quaked under his weight. "Koal…!" Torkoal cried. Without further ado, the red grooves in his shell started to glow in succession. The centermost vent fired a beam of light into the air, which hovered towards the chandelier above. The light gleamed and flashed with intensity, assaulting the dining room with intense sunlight.
"Ah… Drought." Agatha grimaced. "Think you can hide from the shadows, do you?"
"I figured it's worth a shot." Ash replied, adjusting the brim of his cap to steel himself for battle.
"You'll soon see it's futile. Keheh!" Agatha cackled to herself. "Haunter, use Curse."
"Hau!" Haunter replied with a grin. She waved her hands, as if doing an incantation. A large, metal spike then appeared in front of her. Without warning, it stabbed into her body. "Hau…!"
"What was that!?" Ash recoiled in horror and disgust; his eyes pin pricks, and his jaw tightly clenched. "What did you just do to Haunter!?" He demanded.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Peeks added.
Torkoal recoiled as well, and started to sob in confusion and distress.
"Empol!?" Empoleon squawked in fright. He wrapped his arms protectively around Dawn, as if to guard her from the sight. He too, though, was barely holding his strong constitution together.
Dawn, although she felt her lunch arguing with her at the moment, remained steady in comparison. "I've heard of this move. It's the subject of some macabre poetry. The spirits of Pokémon enact a curse on their enemies, but there's a toll to be paid with blood."
Pocus let an utterance of distaste slip through his muzzle. He never liked this trick.
"Ah, youth… You all pale so easily at the truth between the terror behind Ghost-types." Agatha smiled and shook her head, still nonchalant. "The girlie is right, though — Curse is a move that inflicts terror upon your Pokémon, as you'll see in just a moment…"
"Tor…!?" Torkoal's tears stopped, as a ghastly purple shroud surrounded him. He writhed, as he felt some of his strength sap away from him. But, Haunter hadn't even come close to him!
"Torkoal!" Ash cried.
"Curse bleeds your Pokémon's will to fight, intermittently, until they have nothing left to give," Agatha continued to explain. "But they have to pay their own price to enact the ritual. To put it in laymen's terms, your Torkoal is now on a clock. If this fight drags on, they will be the one to fall."
"Not if I can help it!" Ash pointed Torkoal's Poké Ball towards him.
"Haunter," Agatha continued, "use Mean Look."
"Kehahahahahah…!" Haunter cackled madly, despite her own suffering. She hovered closer to Torkoal, leering over him. She stuck out her tongue, and her eyes flashed an eerie gold.
Torkoal backed away towards the end of the table, shivering under the Ghost-type's glowering eyes. The same glow projected upon his body, surrounding him before fading away.
"Damn it," Ash said. "He's trapped. We'll just have to knock Haunter out, first! Torkoal, Inferno!"
Torkoal steeled his resolve, and tossed his head, firing a terrible, scalding purple flame.
Haunter vanished before everyone's eyes, just as Inferno hit where he'd been.
"They vanished!" Ash exclaimed.
Inferno ignited the table, spreading purple flames across its surface; burning folded napkins to a crisp. In the shroud of smoke, Haunter's shadow appeared directly in front of Torkoal, cackling.
"Torkoal," Ash cried out, "in front of you!"
"Yes. Keep your eye on us, why don't you?" Agatha's smirk was wicked. "Confuse Ray."
"Ah! Guard your eyes!" Dawn cried, and blocked her own with both of her arms. Luckily, she found herself shielded by Empoleon's wing just in time.
Even so, she could see the spots in her eyes from the peripheral. "Thanks, Empoleon…" She rubbed at her eyes, and waited for the light to fade. "It's just like Ciara's battle with Larkspur; the extra light from Drought amplified Confuse Ray, just like Snover's Ice Spinner combination! She used Ash's own weather condition against him."
The light finally faded, and she blinked, regaining her bearings. Torkoal was stumbling about in a stupor. "It looks like it worked. Torkoal's totally disoriented!"
"Torkoal, hang in there! Snap out of it," Ash urged.
Tragically, Torkoal continued to teeter on the dining room table, knocking glasses and plates over with his sturdy shell and his swaying tail. "Torroaal…" He muttered incoherently.
Ash tutted in frustration. "With Curse over her heads, there's nothing we can do but roll the dice on his confusion. Maybe it'll go our way." He waved a hand aside. "Stomping Tantrum!"
Torkoal, surprisingly, did respond. He started stomping the field in an incoherent fury, demolishing the back half of the dining table under him. He collapsed into the wreckage, stomping shards of wood violently. "Tor… Koal! Torkoal!" His stomps made the floor rattle, and errant wood and tableware was launched every which way.
A shot towards Ash. Before he could react, Peeks leapt between them and cut it down with his Iron Tail. "Chu… Pika!"
Ash breathed a sigh of relief. Empoleon had predicted Dawn too, he noticed. "Thanks, Buddy."
"Don't mention it." Peeks smiled, and scaled Ash's shoulder, again. "And, stay focused."
"Well, that certainly was a Stomping Tantrum," Agatha said, "but your aim was lousy." Haunter hovered over her, having vanished out of harm's way, once again. He grinned, flexing his sharp claws in the air in an eager fashion. He was enjoying his haunting. "Ours won't be. Poltergeist!"
"Kehehehe…!" Haunter laughed and sped forth, diving towards the wreckage of a once-dignified arrangement. Her body distilled into a shadow, and each of her hands another, all three flying separate paths. Each of her hands dove into a chair each; both gaining a mauve glow. The third sank into a large broken slab of the table.
Ash's eyes narrowed. "What the hell is Haunter up to…?"
Each of the three objects hovered before Ash's very eyes. He felt a chill, before one of the chairs went flying towards Torkoal. It cracked and shattered against him, sending the dizzy Pokémon stumbling. The second followed, hitting him square in the head.
"Koal…!" Torkoal cried out in surprise, forced back onto his hind legs by the force of it.
The large wooden slab slammed into his underbelly, sending him flying into the wall.
"Torkoal…!" The Fire-type cried. His shell shattered the wall, leaving a gash in the wooden structure. He stumbled out of the wreckage, shaking his head. "Koal! Torkoal!" He fumed, expelling smoke from his nostrils in thick, noxious clouds. "That was a cheap shot!"
"Ah…! You're back, Torkoal!" Ash laughed. His relief was quickly sobered when Torkoal recoiled.
The shadow that'd wrapped around him from Curse returned, and Torkoal whined and squirmed. "Koal…" He whined.
"There's Curse again," Ash said with a grimace. "You good to go, Torkoal!?"
"Tor-koal!" He replied in earnest, expelling more smog.
"Then, we might as well go all-out. The clock's ticking, so we need more power! Shell Smash!"
Just as Haunter returned to the fray in her natural state, Torkoal concentrated. His entire body gained a red-hot glow, and white cracks ran along the surface of his shell. Small pieces of his tough hide chipped off, reducing its weight. He cried out with vigor, and felt his power increase.
"Ah…! An offensive gambit," Agatha acknowledged with a smile. "I like your style!"
"Yeah? Then, you'll love this!" Ash waved a hand forward. "Inferno!"
Torkoal tossed his head, and spat a gigantic indigo blaze towards Haunter; it was twice as voluminous as the first, and twice as hot.
"Hau!?" Haunter's eyes grew wide. She vanished in a fright, and Inferno only scorched air.
"Ah, that was a close one! Torkoal's reaction speed has improved," Agatha praised. "But, has it improved enough?"
"Haauu…!" Haunter reappeared above Torkoal. The tortoise heard her. She was taunting him!
"Again!"
Torkoal leapt backwards, able to move more swiftly with his burden lighter than before. Airborne and upright, he fired an Inferno up towards Haunter. "Koaaaal…!"
Inferno burned a hole through the ceiling in an instant. The fire didn't spread; it seared through with no opposition whatsoever. Eerie embers flickered between the ceiling and the next floor. Pipes passing through the two stories were seared and melted shut by Torkoal's flame.
"Kekekekekeh…!" Haunter, however, hadn't been touched. She hovered on the opposite end of the room, and stuck her tongue out at Torkoal, pulling an eyelid down. "Hau-hau-hau!"
"Torrr…!" Torkoal fumed, stomping his feet. He expelled black smoke from his nostrils in a fit of rage!
"Ugh… I wish Torkoal would land a hit, because I'm starting to feel toasty, in here!" Dawn complained. She stood as far away from the action as possible with Empoleon and Pocus. She ran a hand through her long hair, and held it up between her fingertips. "Between him and the bright lights, I'm starting to frizz. I may have to get back at Blaine for teaching him Drought…"
Her complaining was cut short when Dawn found that she… was in the shadow of something above? She looked above her, where she saw… "...an umbrella?" Dawn blinked slowly, and reached up and took the handle to pull it down over her head. "Well, that should help. But, where did it come from? Empoleon, did you bring this along?"
"Pol." Empoleon shook his head and shrugged.
"Pocus?"
The Abra also shook his head.
"...Hm. Weird. Don't look a gift Ponyta in the mouth, I guess." Dawn clutched the umbrella, and returned her attention to the action, where repeated Infernos continued to miss their mark.
"Tch…! Even with our new speed, we can't seem to hit 'em. Haunter just keeps vanishing." Despite his frustration, Ash smiled. "Alright. Time to fight with some range! Torkoal, Heat Wave!" Ash paused. "And uh, try to fire it so it doesn't get anywhere near Agatha."
"You've got it, boss!" Torkoal agreed. He followed Haunter's hovering about, waiting patiently until the specter was sufficiently out of the Elite's way. His shell began to glow red, and he unleashed a blistering, scalding orange wind, spanning over the width of the back half of the dining room.
Agatha looked up, and smirked. "Ah… An attack with range. Very clever~! Keheh."
"She doesn't seem too worried…" Ash studied Agatha for any hints of where Haunter had gone. Out of the corner of his eye, though, he saw it — just a sliver of a shadow could be seen escaping towards the floorboards. 'There she is! The light from Heat Wave exposed her shadow!'
There was a glimmer in Ash's eye. He had his plan. "Alright, Torkoal. One more Shell Smash!"
"Koal!" Torkoal agreed. He began to glow once again, and more of his shell shattered.
Immediately afterwards, he was shrouded in shadows, and whimpered in pain. He hung his head; exhausted. Curse had returned. "I don't know how much more of this I can take, boss…!"
"Don't worry, big guy — you won't have to! We're almost done," Ash assured.
"Ah…?" Agatha hummed, intrigued. Haunter, meanwhile, hovered above the table, once again.
"That's right! I want you to use Solar Beam, Torkoal! Sweep it all the way across the room!"
"Tor!" Torkoal cried. He tossed his head, and sprayed a blinding beam from his mouth. A chain reaction of detonations went off as Solar Beam tore through the walls, demolishing old adornments and windows. The light, even compared to Drought, was completely overpowering.
Ash's eyes flicked left and right. Off to the right side of the room, he saw it; Haunter's shadow, cowering away from the Solar Beam! It drowned out all light in just one spot! "There she is!"
He waved a hand. "Heat Wave, Torkoal! Above that shadow!"
"Tor!" Torkoal snapped to attention, and followed with another scalding warm front.
"Hau!" Haunter was forced to dive towards the floorboards in a panic.
"Now's our chance!" Ash shouted with conviction. "Now, use Stomping Tantrum!"
Torkoal was furious. He'd just about had it! All of this hiding — the underhanded tactics. He had no patience for it! It made him want to cry; more than that, it made him want to lash out! So, he did. He stomped and pulverized the floor under him, beating it into a crater.
Shards of solid ground and wood shards rippled in a path towards Haunter's shadow.
Agatha's eyes widened, as she put Ash's plan together. "Destiny Bond!"
Alas, she was just a moment too late. Chunks of earth battered Haunter mercilessly. Sharpened floorboards jabbed and pelted her, leaving her vulnerable for one final ripple of land.
Haunter collapsed into a puddle of a shadow, with swirls in her eyes.
"Now!" Ash whipped out Torkoal's Poké Ball, pointing it at him. "Return!"
The Coal Pokémon disappeared in a flash, rescued from Curse's parasitic grip. Ash held the Poké Ball in his palm, and let his shoulders sag with a deep sigh of relief. "We made it…!"
"I thought I was going to faint from the suspense," Peeks said.
The chandelier also dimmed, as Drought expired.
"Alright! Way to go, Torkoal!" Dawn cheered, hopping in place with glee. "That was a close one… and Drought is gone, too! I guess I won't be needing this anymore—"
She looked up at the umbrella, but there was nothing there. It'd just vanished!
"...Weird."
"Very good!" Agatha clapped her hands. "My dear Haunter is an expert with self-sacrificial tactics. Either your Pokémon lasts long enough to succumb to her Curse, or you defeat her, and you lose to Destiny Bond anyway. At the moment I sent her out, your fate was meant to be sealed." She grunted in annoyance, but her smile betrayed it. "But, not only did you manage to find Haunter, but you raised Torkoal's speed enough so I wouldn't be able to counter. Is that it?"
"That was the idea!" Ash brushed his index finger over his nose; a show of confidence in the face of frightening, teeth-chattering, blood-curdling odds. "I've seen a Destiny Bond or two in my day too, y'know. I didn't know you had it for sure, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared!"
"How right you are. So sharp, at such a young age. However…" Agatha's expression darkened. "...it won't save you, next time. Pocus?"
"Ab-ra," Pocus answered. Then, everyone disappeared.
The next floor hosted an abandoned home theater. Several rows of plush, burgundy seats were arranged in rows, far away from a tattered blank screen, which was closer to beige than paper white, after years of neglect and discoloration. Cobwebs bridged between some of the seats, where plain, ordinary spiders crawled up and down. They'd made this mansion their home.
A projector cast light onto the screen from a hole in the wall. It played nothing in particular. Little crackles of static occasionally flickered on the screen, rather than any actual footage.
The group was greeted to this, when they appeared via Hocus's Teleport.
"A home theater…?" Dawn asked aloud. "Can't say I saw that coming in a place like this. It feels so… ancient."
"Movies aren't that old, y'know." Agatha shot back with a scowl. "Besides. Much like ghosts, the art of theater is timeless. People and Pokémon have passed down entertainment and drama before an audience as long as we've had spoken word… in whichever tongue you may speak."
"Oh, you're so right!" Dawn clapped her hands together. Another appreciator of the arts! "They say that stageplays have-"
"Of course, I personally couldn't give a Raticate's ass about all of that," Agatha interrupted. "We're here for a Pokémon battle. But, one of my little friends indulges in the art of fright, so the third stage of battle will be conducted here." Ignoring Dawn's pout, Agatha threw a Poké Ball.
A teal-colored ghost emerged, orbiting the room like a dancing shadow, and stopped in front of the aged screen, floating directly in the spotlight. He sported several red gems, and flowing pink wisps that resembled hair. "Miiiis~!" Agatha's third Pokémon was a giddy Misdreavus.
"A Misdreavus, huh…?" Ash smiled to himself. He walked towards the large expanse between the seating and the wall-mounted screen, standing on the left end of the room. "And one who lives for theater? I guess fate's decided to be funny today." He juggled a Poké Ball in his palm.
"Because I've got just the opponent for you! Put your hands together for… Mismagius!"
Misdreavus was then eclipsed by a much larger shadow. A flowing shroud shaped the silhouette, topped by a large witch's hat.
"Where cobwebs gather… where no mortal dares to dwell…"
A dark violet shroud billowed and fanned, casting a grander shadow across the screen; the coattails resembling a devil's wings. Howling, whistling winds circulated through the room.
"An intruder's sanguine splatters… Before they're SENT STRAIGHT TO HELL!"
Ash's Mismagius screeched, bearing her jagged, crooked smile. She'd made her entrance.
"My, my! Now, that was a fright!" Agatha's Misdreavus cooed. "That might have made me wither and flee, were I not a duke of despair, in my own right." He smiled, nodding his body, which was essentially just a head. "I offer my highest praises."
Mismagius also bowed. "It's an honor to have your audience, my fair friend in frights!"
"Oh. There are two of them." Agatha snorted. Her aging face pulled up in something resembling a smile, despite her deadpan delivery. "How lovely. Then, we can expect this to be a battle of theatrics. Of course," she pointed her wooden cane at Ash, "I hope you don't get too comfortable. Your and your Pokémon's fates are sealed, with Misdreavus on the field."
"Oh! Astute wordplay, Miss Agatha!" Her Misdreavus cooed.
"It was an accident," she said flatly.
Dawn had shuffled into one of the cushy seats that didn't sport any webs, with Empoleon and Pocus sliding in beside her. "You can do it, Ash! Show that decrier of theater what you've got!" She waved a fist angrily. She was still bitter about Agatha's dismissal. A bead of sweat rolled down Empoleon's head.
Ash smiled, then turned to bow to his audience, with his hat in hand. "I won't disappoint my fair audience!"
"Don't go making promises to your audience that you can't keep, young man. A devoted fan is often the harshest critic," Agatha lectured. Without further ado, she began with, "Mean Look."
Now, it was Misdreavus who sported a shadow beyond shadows. Her fluttering hair magnified to dance on the screen like many unruly serpents. Like Medusa, he too, had a paralyzing gaze. Harsh, glowing red eyes assaulted Mismagius, and the Magical Pokémon shuddered.
"She's locked us in again," Ash muttered. His smile disappeared, and he fixed his hat back atop his head. "Mismagius—!"
"Now, use Perish Song."
"Damn it," Ash swore. With no time to waste, he put each of his hands over Peeks's ears. A haunting melody echoed through the theater that made even Ash shudder instinctively. While the swan song didn't affect him, physically, it left him with an inexplicable dread. "We're on a clock… That's a real shame." He released his partner, and adjusted his cap, again.
"Mismagius rarely gets to get on stage like this, you know? When I found her, she was just a lil' Misdreavus herself, living on Mt. Silver. A lil' theater bug like her didn't have many friends… or, any. I was the first person to humor her! No one appreciated her talents, and now you want to cut her screentime, short!? You might bring her to tears!" He announced, tossing a hand aside.
Mismagius and Misdreavus orbited one another, so that she now eclipsed the screen. And Mismagius, indeed, did start to sniffle and sob. Tears trickled down her ghostly face, staining her bedazzled shroud.
Misdreavus shifted around uncomfortably, sporting a frown of his own. A blue glow consumed him.
"Ah! They're using Fake Tears!" Dawn identified, leaning forward in her seat. "And to call for that move with a moving monologue… Oh, Ash has gotten really good at this!" The artisan grinned, leaning forward in her seat. "And, is that… a raincloud?"
The projector was no longer simply projecting light onto the screen! Stormclouds had gathered on the screen, raining in a downpour about and over Mismagius! The patter of heavy rain and the rumbling of thunder could be heard, in grainy low quality from the back of the theater.
"That's… weird." Dawn looked over her shoulder, up at the little hole in the wall that held the equipment. She was sure that she could hear pots and pans crashing together.
"Who turned that on?"
She shivered in her seat, and leaned into Empoleon.
"Ah? That's a shame, then." Agatha lamented. She didn't seem particularly moved. "Then, you'd better make that short tenure count."
"With pleasure!" Ash shouted, throwing a hand upward. "Use Thunderbolt!"
A golden halo surrounded Mismagius; crackling with life. She fired the bolt at Misdreavus.
"Use Phantom Force," Agatha countered.
A dark purple, gaseous portal appeared beneath Misdreavus. He hopped inside, vanishing before the Thunderbolt could make contact. It crackled and fizzled harmlessly with him gone.
Ash tutted in frustration. "On your guard, Mismagiu-"
"Mag—!" Mismagius cried. The other ghoul had emerged behind her, slamming into her back.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Phantom Force, once more."
"You're as slippery as a Seel!" Mismagius scoffed. She attacked with lightning, once more.
And once more, Misdreavus vanished. A few, tense moments passed, before another tear in space appeared.
"Below you!" Ash warned.
"Whoopsie!" Mismagius pulled back in time this time, avoiding a rising Misdreavus. "You're wearing on my nerves, you yellow-bellied cur!" She fired off a third Thunderbolt off.
Misdreavus turned around to blow a raspberry, and ascended right into another portal. Her attack missed. "Cries of fair play belong only to the loser!" He echoed, before vanishing.
"Tch… Damn it!" Ash cursed. One of his fists trembled at his side, and he felt his stomach sink. "Every second counts in this battle, and we can't even land one hit! What're we supposed to do?"
"I really hate the pressure of a ticking clock. A Coordinator knows that stress better than anybody," Dawn muttered. She came close to biting her knuckle over the shared stress. "But, the mark of a great Coordinator is knowing how to act under pressure… and Ash is great at that, too! He'll find a way."
In the midst of Thunderbolts and fleeing ghosts, she got another look at the screen. There was an old cartoon playing amidst it all, featuring a titular Purrloin and Patrat; a popular hit from the Unova region. Purrloin kept trying to hit the pesky Patrat with a mallet, but the latter kept diving into mouseholes, popping out again to taunt him. It was a futile pursuit, with comeuppance prowling ever closer, regardless of who its victim might be.
It was more likely the hunter than the hunted. But, just like with cartoons, you never really knew the answer until the end.
"Crumbling under the pressure, already?" Agatha taunted, taking note of Ash's trembling fists, and locked shoulders. She leaned forward on her cane, and made no attempt to hide her sneer. "Defeating me isn't a task for the faint of heart. If a little pressure is enough to unwind you…"
"It'll take a lot more than that!" Ash snapped back. "We just need a way to get to your Misdreavus, no matter where he goes!" Then, it hit him: the answer was within his own words! 'No matter where he goes… that's our answer!'
"Mm?" Agatha quirked a brow. "That look on your face… You're on to something, are you?"
Ash answered with actions, rather than words. "Mismagius! Next time she pops out, I want you to use Magical Leaf!"
"Your wish is my command!" Mismagius responded with candor. She wanted an answer to this pesky game of cat-and-mouse, and she would take Ash at his word — it'd never steered her wrong! An emerald tempest of magical leaves orbited her, and then fired towards Misdreavus.
They spiraled into the pocket dimension just before it disappeared, tailing her.
On the projector, which only Peeks noticed as Ash was justifiably focused, the Purrloin jammed a leafblower into one of the mouseholes, and channeled a gust of wind directly inside.
Just as well, Phantom Force opened another pocket, where a howling Misdreavus was launched out of their own refuge, surrounded in a storm of leaves battering her!
"Yes…!" Ash grinned victoriously. He punched the air. "Now, use Thunderbolt!"
"Mis-maaa—aaag…!" Mismagius gathered her strength, and fired. Thunderbolt made jagged cuts through the air, and illuminated the Magical Leaf in a prism of crackling electricity!
"Ah…!" Agatha marveled, cupping her chin with a bony finger and thumb. "Using the pursuit-driven qualities of Magical Leaf to flush out Misdreavus, and then to use each leaf as a conduit to trap Misdreavus from escaping. That's the kind of ingenuity I want to see from you youngin's!" She hummed again, eyes widening. "...And Misdreavus is paralyzed, as well."
Misdreavus hovered slowly towards the theater floor, with static crackling about her.
"Perfect! That's just what we wanted!" Ash grinned, and waved a hand. "Now, use Hex!"
A demonic eye appeared before Mismagius, and its many tendrils reached out to wrap around the paralyzed Misdreavus. They tightened and constricted the ghost, like a swarm of dark violet serpents aiming to squeeze the life out of their prey.
Just as well, the Purrloin now held the pesky Patrat firmly within his grasp.
A ghastly explosion rocked the theater. Black smoke and wicked black embers rained in the aftermath. Misdreavus fell from it, landing on the theater floor. He shook his head feebly, resting on the dingy, dusty red carpet. "Miiiiis…" She was covered. in ashes and bruises.
"Alright! It worked!" Ash cheered, pumping a fist. "That Fake Tears really did the trick — that combination did a ton of damage. Let's finish it while we still can — one more Hex, Mismagius!"
"As you wish!"
"Misdreavus," Agatha replied calmly, "you know what to do."
"Mis…!" Misdreavus answered in turn. Feebly, but stubbornly, he hovered his way up towards Mismagius. The Magical Pokémon was caught off-guard, and she lost her focus that she'd put towards conjuring Hex. "My fair fellow of fright and fanfare…" He coughed. Ghosts shouldn't cough. "I fear… this might be the end of our collaborative efforts. The end for us."
"W-what are you saying!?" Mismagius blustered. She gently held his flimsy form with her shroud, gently shaking him. "W-we've put on such a grand performance! One for the ages!"
In their shadow, the film playing had changed once more. Their silhouettes overlaid a sea at unrest. Churning waves, bitter winds, and a harsh downpour. Two humans clung to wreckage.
"Our age, I'm afraid… is one going the way of the past," Misdreavus monologued. Simultaneously, a red light seized himself, and Mismagius, all at once. An ominous light flickered, sapping the sophisticated spectre of her strength.
"Shoot!" Ash exclaimed. "That's Pain Split! If they recover now…! Mismagius! Fall back!"
Alas, the sands of time had abandoned them. Just as one of the humans drifted off on a broken door while the other descended into the sea, Misdreavus pulled himself away from Mismagius, and fell.
"Ah… So this is it. I tethered myself to your performance. A kindred spirit. I was the fool. But, if my act is to end so soon…" Mismagius smiled, as her ghostly form fell limp towards the floor. "...I cherish that my finale was an artful one. I have no regrets."
Both Misdreavus and Mismagius fell. They'd fainted.
The projector switched one final time. The screen was blank, pardoning three letters: "FIN."
"Oh, what a performance!" Dawn clapped her hands together. "The drama of it all…! Oh, it could've been a Contest battle. It's just a shame that that wasn't the goal." Her enthusiasm quickly dried up, and she leaned her cheek into her palm. "That Magical Leaf Combination from Ash was brilliant. Actually, come to think of it…" Her eyes drifted towards Ash. His fist was clenched tightly by his side. He looked frustrated. "Zoey's own Mismagius used Shock Wave for her own combinations, at the Grand Festival! Maybe that's where he got the idea."
She smiled with pride in Ash's adoption of her sport for his own pursuits. "It's just a shame he didn't win with it…"
"Pol! Empol!" Empoleon cried in response.
"I know, I know! Of course he'll still beat Agatha. But a failed combination still hurts, y'know?"
Ash inhaled, and exhaled heavily. "Y'know, I should be a little more disappointed. But at least you went down fighting the way you like to. That was how we met, wasn't it?" Ash smiled to himself, even as his eyes were shrouded by the shadow of his cap. He recalled Mismagius.
"An excellent performance," Agatha praised, as she recalled Misdreavus, as well. "Not exactly my style, but our Pokémon seemed to appreciate that altercation more than we did. Or, is our little race against the clock starting to get to you, young man?" She prodded, narrowing her eyes.
Of course, she needn't even ask. Ash's tense gait and the emptiness in his voice told an experienced battler everything they needed to know. "Don't be a sore loser, now. As I recall, you were the first to emply a sacrificial tactic, in the first round, were you not? Do you not like having a taste of your own medicine?"
"I can handle it, just fine!" Ash snapped back. In truth, she'd hit the nail on the head. 'Battling like this isn't my element… What's the fun in a battle if you know exactly when it's going to end?'
"Well, good! Because it's time for the next stage of battle." Agatha tapped her cane. "Pocus?"
"Ab-ra." Abra floated out of his seat, and then began to glow.
The group spontaneously vanished.
"It… looks like a walk-in closet," Dawn thought aloud first. "A really, really big closet."
"The excesses of the wealthy are often a precursor for the tragedy that follows," Agatha explained. There were racks of dresses, suits, and other adornments, and chests full of God knows what; probably jewelry or family heirlooms. "It's all such clutter, isn't it? It just gets in the way." She stepped out from behind a rack of belts, proving her point; she'd been hidden to the group, until then. There was enough open space, more or less, for a clear line of vision from one end to the other. Ash was on the opposite end, as was her wishes, Pocus knew.
A thick fog shrouded her side of the field, then. Two bulbous heads emerged from the veil.
"Weezing…!" Agatha's fourth Pokémon was Weezing.
"A Weezing…!" Ash assessed his new foe, and took a deep breath. "At least I'll get a break from Ghosts, for a little bit."
"Foolish!" Agatha scolded from beyond the veil. It soon cleared up, revealing her behind her Weezing. "You think the havoc stops, just because of a missing type? You have much to learn, child." The Elite grinned; a glimmer of madness in her eye. "The fun is only just beginning!"
Chapter 14: Agatha II - Illusion
Chapter Text
"...The fun is only just beginning!"
Ash was down two Pokémon, and Agatha was down three. The final Elite showed no signs of slowing down or cowering, however. She'd sent out her Weezing fourth, along with a promise of more terror to come. Weezing hovered by her side, expelling smog carelessly. He looked strong.
Ash wouldn't be deterred, either. He made a calculated guess at his next best option, and stepped back to throw another Poké Ball into the fray with effort. "Noctowl! I choose you!"
A shower of sparkles rained with the shiny Pokémon's entrance. Golden and vermilion wings spanned, and Noctowl announced his entrance with a shrill cry. "Noc—towwwwl!"
"Noctowl… Interesting choice." Agatha replied. She tapped her cane, again. "Weezing. Haze!"
"Wee-ziiing!" Weezing groaned. A thick, black vapor spilled from both of their mouths in thick blankets that went on to fill the room in a matter of seconds. The walk-in closet was a shroud of darkness.
"I can't see a thing!" Dawn guarded her nose and mouth from the Haze, squinting. "That's one way to add some creepy ambience… but, there's got to be more to it!"
"So you wanna hide, is that it?" Ash's eyes narrowed. "Well, good luck! Noctowl can see right through your schemes — literally!" Ash guarded his mouth, and waved a hand. "Use Foresight!"
Noctowl's eyes began to glow red. Haze would be an obstacle for him no longer, with his keen eyesight—
"Wee-zing!" Weezing suddenly emerged from the darkness, startling Noctowl. He loomed over the larger avian, leering down at him with arrogance and contempt.
"Wassa matter, birdie? Afraid of th' dark?"
"I think he's scared, boss! Give 'em two minutes in there wit' us. He'll've flown the coop!"
"I bet yer right." The larger of the two heads grinned at Noctowl, eclipsing him entirely. He hovered closer, attempting to intimidate him with his larger size. "C'mon. Fight like a bird!"
"Arrogant, foul, contemptible cur!" Noctowl squawked in anger, and fell back to fly higher, opposite of Weezing. "They're close enough to humble right here and now, Ash! Foresight is hardly necessary!"
"Damn it," Ash cursed, "Agatha must've used Taunt! We can only attack for a little while…!"
"Now, Blizzard!"
Weezing opened both of their mouths, and a terrible cold was expelled.
"Shoot," Ash hissed. They were so close — it was nearly a guaranteed hit! He needed a way to stop the winds in their tracks. In that instant, he had an idea. "Use Air Slash on the floor!"
Noctowl used the meager distance he had, and whipped up a storm with each wing. He lobbed them overhead toward the floorboards. Air Slash collided, and a storm of cutting winds spun free. It was just in time for Blizzard; much of the freezing wind was diverted towards the ceiling, freezing it solid.
Noctowl still recoiled and cried, however; bitter winds and snow still pelted his body.
"Noctowl!" Ash cried. "You doin' alright there, pal?"
Noctowl scraped the ice off his wings, and turned his head all the way around. "I'll be quite alright. But, we simply won't stand for such insults!"
"I agree," Ash replied. "But it looks like Weezing's already retreated." With Foresight off the table for a minute or two, they were unable to spot Weezing. They were essentially sitting ducks.
'Maybe we could just wait it out,' Ash thought to himself. 'Noctowl won't respond to anything defensive, but that doesn't mean I have to attack! Of course, it's not like Agatha will just let us—"
"Thunder!"
Harsh crackles and explosions assaulted Ash's ears. Following the thunder, was the lightning itself; golden flashes erupted from the Haze. Ash guarded himself, and Noctowl pulled back in a fright. A few golden feathers shook loose, as he narrowly avoided a super-effective blow.
"Keheheh!" Agatha cackled from behind the shroud. "Is that cowardice I detect from you, Ash Ketchum? It's pretty unbecoming. It also won't net you a victory against the final pillar of the Elite Four! Show me your fighting spirit, or crumble under ours!"
"If that's what you want, then that's what you'll get!" Ash shouted. "Noctowl, let's clear a path. Air Slash!"
Noctowl whipped up vicious winds, and chucked the spiral into the Haze. It conjured a tunnel through the dense vapor, and collided with a coat rack. Dresses, scarves, and garments were ensnared and shredded by Air Slash, but there was no sign of Weezing.
"Not there… Try again!" Ash called.
Noctowl adjusted his aim, and fired another windstorm into Haze. This one cleared its own path, only to collide with a vanity mirror. The harsh gale battered the glass until it cracked.
Ash's eyes widened. There was a smidgeon of purple in the broken mirror's reflection!
"Noctowl!"
"I saw!" Noctowl cried, and lifted a wing accordingly. A third Air Slash tore through Haze after it spread once more, creating a wind tunnel. This one hit Weezing head-on, making the Poison-type groan in pain.
"Got it! We can see 'em!" Ash punched the air. "Now, Extrasensory!"
Colorful beams fired from Noctowl's eyes, capturing Weezing. Even as the shroud of Haze hid him once more, the avian had them in his grip. He tossed his head upward. Weezing could be heard crashing against the ceiling. He looked down, and the floorboards rattled.
"Now, one more time!" Ash shouted, waving a hand.
Noctowl flung Weezing toward the ceiling again. The Poison-type could be heard groaning.
"Now! Air Slash!"
"Noc-tooowl!" Noctowl shrieked, whipping his wing and throwing his Air Slash overhand. It tore through the Haze, revealing a cowering, flinching Weezing. Air Slash hit its mark. "Wee-zing!"
"Another hit!" Ash cheered.
"Nice!" Dawn clapped her hands together. "Finding Weezing has been a pain, but that Air Slash and Extrasensory combo just keeps Weezing flinching! Ash is racking up lots of damage!"
"Pol! Empol! Empoleon!" Empoleon cheered enthusiastically. All they had to do was keep hammering away!
"Abbb…" Pocus seemed less candid. He hovered with a claw held up to his chin.
"Hm? What is it, Pocus?" Dawn turned to the Abra. She frowned. "You don't look so convinced."
"Ab-ra." Pocus shook his head. "Abbb-ra."
Dawn frowned, and returned her eyes to the action. 'He's seen Agatha battle. She must have something up her sleeve, if a combination like that isn't enough to convince Pocus.'
"Weezing, use Thunder."
Lightning crashed into stored treasures, furniture, and burned holes in ceilings. An arc of electricity shot towards Noctowl, forcing him to dive into the Haze and narrowly avoid it. He glided between clothing racks, chests, and breaks in the vapor to avoid Thunder's wrath.
"It doesn't sound like they're hitting Noctowl," Ash muttered to himself, "but what's Agatha even up to? If Weezing can't see Noctowl, then aren't they firing blind, as much as we are?"
His eyes snapped open then, as the pieces came together. "Unless their goal isn't to hit Noctowl, but to get him where they want him!"
The overpowering scent of o-zone burned Noctowl's nostrils. The sound of lightning crackling rang in his ears. But, he was nothing if not the picture of composure. He navigated breaks in the haze, responding reactively to branches of lightning, and golden flashes beyond the inky veil.
"Towl!?"
He suddenly recoiled. Weezing breached the Haze, floating right in front of him with a malicious, haughty sneer. They laughed, and Agatha responded immediately with a command. "Pain Split."
A red flash from within the Haze told Ash that Pain Split had hit its mark.
"Damn it. I knew they were up to something…! Did they just let us wear down Weezing, before?"
"I seriously doubt it," Peeks replied. "You've seen the moves that Weezing has used. They can do plenty of damage with their own attacks! But in the event of Weezing taking a lot of damage…"
"You really thought you were out of the woods from our ghoulish tricks, didn't you, young man?" Agatha taunted from beyond the veil. "Kehehe…! Weezing may not be a Ghost-type, but they move in silence like one, and they have access to the same dastardly tricks. It takes a lot to wear down a Weezing's health, but should you whittle one down as your Noctowl did…"
"...Then, Pain Split makes up the distance, anyway," Ash finished.
"Correct! And I'm sure your Noctowl is good and weary. Let's put them out of their misery…"
'She's about to attack,' Ash thought. 'I think it's been enough time… Please let this work!'
"Fire Blast."
"Light Screen!"
A violent star of flames ignited from within Haze. Coats and racks were torched, flames licked at the air, and an ambient heat consumed the middle of the walk-in wardrobe. Ash guarded himself from the flames. "Damn… it definitely hit!"
"Ash!" Dawn cried, hiding from behind Empoleon.. "I think I see…!"
"Yeah, me too!" Ash affirmed. That translucent gold cube that flickered from within. 'Light Screen worked, after all. Now, I just need to hope that Noctowl's hangin' in there.'
"Hey, Noctowl! Come back here!" He called.
"Nooc!" Noctowl soared out of the Haze and back towards Ash. He beat his wings, which featured scorches and touches of frost. He looked somewhat battle-weary, but stubborn still.
"Good. Looks like you're hangin' in there! Great job," Ash praised, offering a thumbs-up and a smile. "With that said… we have a few problems. But, I think one of 'em is clearing up for us."
Noctowl turned his head all the way around in flight to catch Ash's meaning. "Ah! I see… The Haze seems to be dissipating, somewhat." Black vapor still lingered in clouds through the abandoned wardrobe, but unlike earlier, they could peek through it. "What do you suppose is the cause?"
"I think it's all the heat," Ash suggested. "Between Fire Blast and Thunder… Well, Haze is an Ice-type move, ain't it? So there's got to be some water that makes it up, like fog!"
"So, our field of battle will be completely visible soon," Noctowl concluded.
"Right! But, before that happens…" A wry smile lifted Ash's lips. "Let's set the field up, our way."
"He hasn't recalled Noctowl," Agatha mused, loud enough for only Weezing to hear, who lurked within the thinning Haze. "So, Noctowl is still in the fight. Let's see if we can't flush him out. Attack to your heart's content, Weezing." The Poison-type sneered. "Use Blizzard."
Weezing spat freezing, howling winds from both of their mouths, icing over chests, mirrors, and garments. Snow and frost clung to the floorboards, but there was no sign of Noctowl, yet.
"Fire Blast!"
"Wee-zing!" They groaned, firing a Fire Blast in a different direction entirely. Smoke and ashes danced, and a burning stench filled the air. No shrill cry accompanied its landing. There was no sign of a lustrous golden feather, either, whether shaken loose, or accompanying a wing in erratic flight. It was as if their strategy of scaring Noctowl out of the Haze had become futile!
"How curious… Weezing. Do a better survey of your surroundings," Agatha ordered.
"Weez," they replied, hovering slowly, and cautiously through the black clouds. A sentiment nagged at the two puffs of smog; perturbed them, even. In an unpleasant twist, they now felt as if they were the hunted. Two pairs of eyes warily scanned the wardrobe. Something stood out.
"Weez!?" They startled. The smaller head saw a reflection of themselves, in the clearing Haze. The larger head swung them around, observing the same from a different angle. In fact…
"Ah…? These reflections." Agatha cupped her chin with a bony hand. "Light Screen… I didn't take you to also be one for parlor tricks, young man."
Colorful prisms of fluorescent barriers lined the huge, walk-in wardrobe, casting reflections every which way; the room looked more like a prism than anything! Haze had mostly disappointed, but Weezing couldn't make heads or… well, heads of their whereabouts.
Theirs or Noctowl's.
"I can do that, and then some!" Ash shouted back, pointing towards Agatha. The field was disorienting to look at, but that fact would play to his advantage. "And with Haze gone, we can play a few tricks of our own! Starting with this — Noctowl, use Nasty Plot!"
"Towl!" Noctowl was now hovering in front of Ash again, with the many Light Screens obscuring Weezing's perspective; purple smears captured their image from every angle. It gave the avian time to focus; vindictive thoughts and schemes fed off of his frustration he'd accrued with Weezing's earlier Taunt. He would gather the power to finish off the Poison Gas Pokémon, and then some!
A red aura washed over Noctowl, accompanying a sharp increase in his power.
"Now! Use Extrasensory!" Ash shouted.
A prism of colorful lights burst from Noctow's eyes towards Weezing.
"Weezing!" Agatha shouted. Weezing complied without another word, pulling just out of Extrasensory's path. The beam continued, before colliding with one of the many Light Screens; this one projected over a busted up armoire. Extrasensory bounced off of its surface, before colliding with another. It ricocheted around, above, and behind Weezing.
The Poison Gas Pokémon was befuddled; turning every which way to keep up with the beam.
"Ash, that's awesome!" Dawn cheered, giddily clapping her hands together. "You used Light Screen like a funhouse full of mirrors; to distort Weezing's vision, while Noctowl can use them to reflect the light from Extrasensory! Now, Weezing has no idea where to look!"
"Pol! Empol!" Empoleon cheered, goading his avian ally on.
"After Nasty Plot, maybe, just maybe, it'll knock Weezing out before they can counterattack."
Weezing continued to spin, but to no avail. Extrasensory finally struck the back of their heads. They cried out in pain and hovered towards the floorboards, disoriented and ashen. "Zing…"
"Keh… A clever strategy, young man!" Agatha praised; her grin broken up by a few missing teeth. "But I hope you know that two can play at that game. Weezing, use Thunder!"
"Wee…!" Weezing cried out with effort. Golden lightning illuminated the room, forcing all present to guard their eyes from the magnified reflections accrued by Light Screen. Golden arcs crashed into the floor, into coatracks, and off of reflective surfaces.
Noctowl swerved and pulled away, but fell prey to a bolt from above. He shrieked; merciless lightning rattling his entire body from head to tail. Light Screen's embrace flickered around him, guarding him from half of the damage. He landed on his feet, nursing burnt feathers and waning stamina.
"Tch… Of course; she can take advantage of those reflections, too," Ash noted, grimacing. 'Right now, unless I spring this, she has no reason to use Pain Split… But, it's a risk that we'll just have to take.' Ash's eyes glimmered. "Noctowl, it's time to use Roost!"
"Towl!" Noctowl cried, and folded in his wings. A blue glow washed over him, and his wounds started to heal. For just a moment, he was earthbound, and he felt his stamina returning.
"Ah… You were hiding that up your sleeve! To boast a seventh move, your Noctowl must be quite a proficient student," Agatha praised. "Either that, or incredibly experienced."
"Noctowl's sharp," Ash answered, proudly brushing his index finger over his nose. "He's always been quick to pick up what I teach him! You know what they say about Noctowl and their wisdom. That age-old… uh… adage!" He looked back over his shoulder. "Is that right, Dawn?"
"Yes! That's perfect!" Dawn grinned; sparkles glimmering in her eyes. "And, that's alliteration! Oh, you do listen to my poetry!"
"Well, y'know…" Ash coolly adjusted the brim of his cap, failing to hide his smile. Behind the bluster and the pitter-patter of his heart, he kept his focus on the battle. 'She's not attacking. My guess was right, then. Our timing for this has to be just perfect, or we'll be back to square one!'
"Indeed, that cliche holds true," Agatha muttered, ignoring Ash and Dawn's flirting entirely. "Your wisdom, however, has suffered! We'll be making use of your Noctowl's newly rejuvenated stamina."
"Are ya sure?" Ash countered. "'Cause I think yours is slipping, in your old age! Or, didja not notice that I've kept us busy while Noctowl's been chilling out?"
"Playground taunts won't distract a trainer of my caliber, young man," Agatha replied. Her lips creased in a smirk. She tapped her cane against the ground. "Weezing! Use Pain Split!"
"Wee-zing!" Weezing wrapped themselves in a flickering red glow.
"I don't think so! This battle is ours!" Ash pointed dramatically towards Weezing. "Noctowl! Let's get a good look at your Sky Attack!"
"Keh! A powerful move, but it needs a moment to charge," Agatha criticized. "By the time it's done, Pain Split will…"
"Pain Split ain't doing a thing!" Ash interrupted. "When I said we'd get a good look at Sky Attack, I meant it!"
Agatha didn't take the time to question Ash; the meaning behind his words were abundantly clear, when she was forced to turn away and guard her eyes. An overpowering white light was consuming the entire room. An eerie, dim stowaway was spontaneously lit up like the sun, itself!
Ash grinned, even as he hid his and his Pikachu's eyes away. "One thing about Sky Attack — that glow gets real bright. With all of those Light Screen set up, Weezing can't see a thing!'
"Wee… zing…!" Weezing groaned. The two heads tightly shut their eyes, turning every which way to try to shelter themselves from the glare. No one direction gave them refuge. Light Screen had surrounded them in Noctowl's brilliance.
"Now, let's do it!" Ash cried. "Noctowl! Sky Attack!"
Noctowl answered with a shrill battle cry, and dove in. His angelic halo fueled a straight arrow shooting through the fray, crashing into Weezing in a critical strike. Time seemed to slow down during the collision, before Noctowl continued, kicking up gusts of wind that disheveled the decrepit wardrobe.
Agatha was forced to guard herself; her dress billowing in the aftermath. "Agh…!" She grunted irritably. Finally, the colorful spots behind her eyelids started to fade, and she squinted at the aftermath. Weezing laid before her, knocked out. Her vision returned to her, as Noctowl returned to Ash. The avian disappeared in a flash of red light.
"Good work, Noctowl." Ash praised, holding the Poké Ball in his palm with a fond smile. "You pulled your weight, lil' guy."
"Way to go, Ash! Woohoo!" Dawn hollered, hopping in place, even as the floorboards creaked under her. "Using the Light Screen to reflect and blind your opponent… Oh, that's genius!"
"I have my moments," Ash boasted from the battlefield, hand stationed cooly on his hip.
"I'd say so! You've got four Pokémon, while she's down to two!" Dawn grinned. "Keep that momentum up!"
"You would like that, wouldn't you?" Agatha muttered darkly. Weezing disappeared into a Poké Ball as well. Her face was cast in darkness; a sharp contrast to the blinding light, from moments ago. "You've made quite the fool of me so far, Ash Ketchum. I commend you."
Ash allowed himself a deep breath. He felt a weight off of his shoulders, with Weezing out of the picture. "This is the part where you tell me that it's about to get worse, isn't it?" He smiled, despite his wager. "You've got two Pokémon left. I know you've got something worse, in the wing."
"There was no need to remind you, again. You're sharp enough to figure that out on your own, clearly," Agatha replied. "Also… repeating the same threat to meager results would make me look a little pathetic. So, I think I'll cut back on the banter, and just show you what you have left to fear." She tapped her cane against the wooden floor.
"Now, then… Pocus?"
"Ab-ra." Pocus replied, glowing once again. Everyone present vanished.
"Is this… a ballroom?" Dawn asked, after reappearing, again. Teleportation still wigged her out a little, but not as much as her surroundings. "A mansion is a strange place for this sort of thing. It must've belonged to some aristocrats, who practiced their pageantry without leaving home."
Dawn's words were a succinct description for the next floor: a wide open space, like the main hall on the first floor. Half-melted candles were mounted on walls, and a few tables with dusty, tattered linens were the only decorations to speak of, in this eerily scarce room.
"That's what it appears to be," Agatha replied. "But, who's to say? I'm not so old that I could tell you. You'd have to commune with the spirits of Pokémon Tower, to sate that curiosity."
An eerie teal glow highlighted Agatha's aged features, then. Flickering, otherworldly flames rose from the floor, as a shadowy presence emerged. It wore a horned skull for a mask, and wielded a long bone club, ignited on each end. "Maro…!" The shadow danced forth, twirling their bone to the tune of haunting chants. Teal embers danced across the floor, lighting and smoldering out.
"This one, though, seems to agree with you. He's decided he's quite fond of this decrepit room."
"A Marowak…?" Ash identified the Pokémon. He shared many of the same features with the species, although the color of his body and the flames were new. He pulled out his Pokédex.
"Marowak: The Bone Keeper Pokémon. From its birth, this savage Pokémon constantly holds bones. It is skilled in using them as weapons."
"It just shows a regular Marowak," Ash noted aloud. "Then Marowak must be one of those regional forms!" Sandslash, Muk, Golem, and now Marowak… "I get it. Just like the others, Marowak must be their Alolan form, right?"
"So, you can recognize a pattern," Agatha replied. "Yes, I too, discovered this one in the far-off Alola region. Although small, he's a powerful spirit that you'd do well not to underestimate."
"Well they're obviously a Ghost-type, and if that bone is anything to go by, they're also a Fire-type…" Ash nodded to himself. Although, he'd already made his decision. As Dawn and her company backed off, he tossed a Poké Ball back into the fray without a word. "Alright!"
Noctowl appeared again. Shimmering shards bathed him before disappearing.
"Ah, Noctowl again…?" Agatha's expression was unreadable. "You don't strike me as someone to be so indecisive. Is the pressure of this battle getting to you, child…?"
Ash didn't answer.
"Holding your cards close? Very well." Agatha tapped her cane. "Then, show me what you've got!"
"You asked for it!" Ash shouted, and raised a hand. "Nasty Plot!"
Noctowl's wise eyes twinkled, and a red aura washed over him.
"Hmph. Rock Slide!" Agatha ordered. Marowak twirled his bone, and a volley of huge boulders materialized overhead. They rained down upon Noctowl, threatening to pummel and bury him.
"Bash them together, and send them back!" Ash cried. "Extrasensory!"
A colorful prism fired from each of Noctowl's eyes, capturing the closest of the rocks in mid-air. A toss of his head bashed it into another; smashing both to pieces. With attentive precision, he repeated this pattern, smashing a majority of the Rock Slide into rubble. Soon, only one large boulder remained.
Extrasensory captured it, freezing it in place in mid-air. He tossed his head, firing it towards Marowak.
"Use Flare Blitz!" Agatha ordered. Marowak twirled his club, igniting a wheel of ghostly flames that wrapped around his body, turning him into a rolling blaze. He built up momentum, and skidded out of the way of the boulder. It pierced the floor and fell down to a lower level.
Flare Blitz, meanwhile, blazed a path for Noctowl.
"Dodge that!" Ash cried.
Noctowl took flight, and soared close to the floor, swiftly approaching Marowak. At the last moment, he tilted to the side, narrowly avoiding the flame. He turned in mid-air, hovering.
Marowak left a path of aquamarine flame in his wake, unraveling and hopping back onto his feet. His blazing bone spun in the air, ready to fall into his waiting paw.
"Grab that bone!" Ash ordered. "Extrasensory!"
The colorful beams converged, yanking Marowak's bone away from him. Marowak jumped from it, and a toss of Noctowl's head sent it spinning out of his range, much to his frustration.
"Now, let's let 'im have it!" Ash waved a hand aside with a grin. "Attack him with his club!"
Noctowl responded, a toss of his head, slinging Marowak's bone back at him. It clocked him in the back of his protective skull making him stumble forward. The club spun back around, striking him in the stomach, then again smashing into his side. The Bone Keeper Pokémon cried out in anger, stumbling about.
"A cheeky strategy," Agatha grumbled. "Marowak! Reclaim it and use Flare Blitz."
"Maro-wak!" The spiteful spirit grunted, and leapt into the air. With an acrobatic tumble, he snatched the bone club back into his clutches. Just as told, he immediately continued his somersault, lighting the bone and himself ablaze for a vengeful charge towards his foe.
'It seems like he's sticking to those moves, for now,' Ash noted mentally. 'If he has any Ghost-type moves, he won't use them against a Normal-type. If we can just keep this rhythm going, and find an opening in her attacks…!'
Ash could trust his reliable partner to dodge, and they did so. Noctowl soared towards Marowak, with his belly close to the floor; wings spanned, and sharp eyes trained on their ghostly opponent.
Agatha's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "I thought so… Marowak! Use Shadow Bone!"
"What!?" Ash exclaimed. 'Why would she…!? Unless she's figured it out!'
Just as Noctowl swerved to his right, Marowak did the same, and his flame unraveled. He landed squarely on his feet, one foot in front of the other. With his foe right beside him, he grabbed his bone and twirled it. With a haunting scream, he smashed his bone into Noctowl.
The Pokémon cried out in pain; the bone crashing directly into his — no, her side. A crimson and violet veil dissipated from around Ash's Pokémon, revealing a dark gray beast with a flowing crimson mane. Ash's Zoroark, Swyn, slid across the floorboards, digging her sharp claws into the wood to gain traction and halt. She snarled in agitation, shaking off the pain.
"Ah… so, I was right." Agatha smirked.
Ash gnashed his teeth in disappointment. "I guess the jig is up."
"Aw, she lost her illusion!" Dawn cried in disappointment. "I was hoping that she'd be able to hold the element of surprise a little while longer… Now, Agatha's going to see that coming."
The Coordinator's cheek puffed out. She was irritated. All the same, she reached for her belt, and tapped the central button on one of the Poké Balls. "I guess there's no point in hiding you, now."
The Poké Ball's bright light materialized atop Dawn's head, where Rura hitched a seat, with his haunches hiked up on her shoulders. ~Awright, it's Meema's turn!~ He cheered, grinning. His fluffy fox tail wagged in excitement. ~C'mon! Tear 'em up! Show them who rules and who drools!~
"I had a feeling that there was something strange about your Noctowl," Agatha said, "not to mention your mysterious choice to return him and then send him immediately back in. And, the way that you haven't spoken Noctowl's name once, since Marowak entered the fray…"
"I could've lied about her name," Ash replied, "but Swyn's gone too long going by a name that isn't hers. Even if we're gonna lie with her illusions, I won't lie about that!"
Swyn looked back at Ash, her icy eyes wide with surprise. ~I'm.. touched.~ She held a paw to her sable-furred cheek. ~Thank you, Leader. With or without illusions, I promise I will not lose.~
"Well, one of us is using the right title, anyway." Ash smiled, taking her habit in stride.
"How honorable." Agatha laughed to herself. "But, I believe it's time to put our sentiments aside. The battle continues!" She tapped her cane against the floor. "Marowak. Shadow Bone, once again."
"There's no point in holding back now!" Ash cried, and tightened his hand into a clawed fist. "Night Slash!"
Marowak sprinted at Swyn, and the latter charged the former on all fours with a snarl. She got up on her hind legs, wielding one claw above her head. Bloody red claws gained a violet shadow. Marowak spun his bone between both paws, and then swung at the Illusion Fox.
Razor-sharp claws clashed against bone. Swyn's lean, but dense muscle forced Marowak's club away from her and parried it, and he, in turn, swatted her claws away and they struck thin air.
Swyn planted her paw on the floorboards, stopping her forward momentum and crouching. Her opposite paw was reared behind her back, and she sliced again, cleaving through the air with a crimson trail. It clashed into Marowak's bone, this time having the momentum to force him back and off-balance. Swyn snarled, lunging at him to cleave down with all six of her claws at once.
Marowak planted his feet and twirled his bone into both paws, holding it over his head in a stubborn guard. The dense bone protected him from Night Slash, and forced him to a distance.
Marowak grunted in effort, and pivoted one foot behind him, starting to twirl his bone in preparation for a counterstrike.
Swyn was relentless, pounding at him. Her eyes left a trail of icy teal light, and her claws struck the bone club, sending it spinning out of Marowak's grip and across the floor.
"Nice!" Dawn grinned. "Swyn's attacks are so vicious that she disarmed him!"
~Thassit, Meema!~ Rura cheered, hopping up and down on Dawn's shoulders. ~Tear 'im up!~
"Ow! Rura! You're not that light, y'know!"
Ash, too, grinned. This was their window of opportunity. He pumped a fist. "Now! Night Daze!"
"Don't get greedy!" Agatha barked. "Marowak. Rock Slide!"
"Maro!" Marowak raised his paws toward the ceiling. His otherworldly wrath took shape; heavy, massive boulders rained from above, just as Swyn lifted her paws over her head; each laced with malicious power.
Rock Slide crashed into her; one boulder after another piling atop her.
"Swyn!" Ash cried. "Are ya alright?"
Marowak took the opportunity to sprint across the room, with one side turned towards the Zoroark at all times, wary of her location. He snatched his bone back up into his paws.
"Good. Now, finish them! Flare Blitz!"
Marowak tumbled forward, doing a handstand with his free paw, vaulting onto his feet, and then tumbling to ignite a wheel of flames about him. He raced towards the rubble without mercy.
"He's coming!" Ash cried. "Night Daze!"
Flare Blitz skidded and bounced off of the flooring, charring in its wake. With one final tumble forward, it shot towards the gathered rocks and rubble to mow down the troublesome Zoroark.
A dome of wicked energy burst from the debris, crashing into Flare Blitz at the last instant. Teal pressed back and forth against blood red and violet, with the remaining rubble being incinerated and turned to scattering ash in its wake. The dam burst, and both Pokémon fell back.
Swyn slid across the floor, and dug her claws in on all fours. ~He's very persistent.~
Marowak backflipped and landed on his feet, warily wielding his bone. "Maro-wak."
"That was close." Ash let out a sigh of relief. 'This battle is winnable - if we can land a serious hit, I know it is! Marowak's pretty crafty, though… and that Rock Slide'll continue to be a problem.' The trainer's eyes narrowed. 'I need to find a weakness in their fighting style…!'
Agatha's cane struck the floor twice. "Time out!"
"...Huh?" Ash's posture eased, and his stern gaze softened in confusion.
"Well, this is novel," Peeks remarked. He watched Agatha with curiosity.
"What, do you have cotton in your ears?" Agatha barked. "I called a time-out. This battle is on hold until I get to the bottom of something." Ash studied her expression. It was grim. Her lips were stretched into a thin line, meeting the creases in her bony cheeks. She didn't look like she'd lost control of the battle — she was far too competitive to seek mercy, anyway.
"I'm disappointed," she replied curtly.
"What do you mean?" Ash frowned. "This is a tough battle, but I expected it to be tough. We still have plenty more fight in us!"
"Not that! Your performance in itself is just fine," Agatha dismissed. "But, I know that you can do better." She pointed her cane at Swyn. "The way you used your Zoroark's Illusion; you were trying to only use moves that both she and Noctowl knew, weren't you? To maintain the facade."
"That was the idea," Ash agreed. "I was trying to keep the element of surprise, before I could set off a Night Daze, after her Nasty Plot. Against a Ghost-type, that would definitely—"
"Keheheh!" Agatha cackled, cutting Ash off. "Heh… a Pokémon who can craft illusions, relegated to simply playing the role of another Pokémon? Is that the best you can do, Swyn?"
The Zoroark's eyes narrowed. ~It is as I was commanded.~
"Illusion has league-mandated rules," Ash explained. "It can only be used to disguise as one of the other Pokémon on my team, until the illusion is broken. The Pokémon League association decided that their tricks are too powerful to be used in battle, otherwise."
"Keh!" Agatha scoffed. "I like you, Ketchum, but you've always come off like a bit of a goodie two-shoes. A polite young man who refuses to step off of the straight-and-narrow."
"What Ash is she talking about?" Dawn asked dryly, squinting.
"Em-pol," Empoleon agreed, bearing a bead of sweat rolling down his head.
"If you're facing Kanto and Johto's strongest user of Ghost-types, I'd say that those formalities are off the table. I want to see your Zoroark's illusions used to their full effect!" Her cane struck the floor, again. "I could hardly call myself an Elite if I faced you with a handicap."
~I like her,~ Swyn voiced. ~I still do not see the point of such restrictions.~
"They're for fair play," Agatha explained, "but this is a battle to determine the best in the region." Her icy glare met Ash's, piercing his very soul. "Show me your Pokémon's full might!"
"If that's what you want, Agatha?" Ash grinned, adjusting his cap. "That's what you'll get! Swyn!"
The Zoroark hunched over on all fours, dropping her almost-human posture into a feral gait. Her blood-red claws scraped the flooring, and her long crimson and gray mane began to float. Her eyes ignited with icy blue wisps, and steam began to leak from her maw.
Little clouds of vapor expanded, and the field was flooded with a thick, white fog.
"Ah…!" Dawn backed up towards the ballroom perimeter, and Empoleon guarded her behind his wings. "The fog's getting so thick in here. I can barely see my hand in front of my own face!"
Abra sat himself atop Empoleon's crown, hooking his arm around the trident. "Ab-ra…"
"If we can't see anything… how're they even supposed to battle?"
"Maro…" You gripped your bone tightly, as a thick, impenetrable fog washed over the field. There were dips and rises in the fog, allowing you to see a few feet forward, but only just. It billowed, rising and falling at random. It was as if you'd just walked into a bog.
"Marowak," Agatha's steady, commanding voice pierced the veil. "I can't see you worth a damn, and you can't see me. Neither of us can trust our eyes."
"Maro," you agreed.
"Coordinating your movements is useless. Trust your fighting instincts. I have to assume that they're in the same position. This will not be a battle of trainer versus trainer…"
You took cautious steps forward, scanning your surroundings, for the little that was worth.
"...but a battle of Pokémon versus Pokémon!"
It was hard to ignore the uneasiness in the pit of your stomach. It felt as if a creeping shadow was looming over; breathing onto the nape of your neck. You pivoted in an instant.
A large, shapeless specter of darkness loomed over. Your bone ignited with a deep purple, spectral flame. "Maroh!" With a cry of effort, you smashed your club into the darkness.
Shadow Bone carved through the shadow. An illusion! It was just a petty shadow.
A grumble of frustration. Being frightened so easily was insulting to a ghost's pride. Of course the first scare was a decoit. If you'd spent more time among Pokémon of your type, you would've figured that out intuitively. But, Wela Volcano wasn't exactly swarming with Ghost-types, and Agatha had only caught you somewhat recently for your strength. There were other Marowak, but all you'd learned from them was to imbue your bone with the souls of the—
Your bone. You looked down at your paws. Empty. But you'd just been holding—!?
Although Ghost-types were never warm enough to suffer the chill of their own kind, you couldn't ignore the tingle of unease creeping up your spine. Being without your prized bone wouldn't do.
There was no choice but to sprint into the fog to reclaim what was yours. The fog was becoming thicker, blinding you entirely. If you were lucky, maybe you'd at least trip over your bone.
If that Zoroark decided to attack again for real…!
A black giant lunged, towering over you. A shadowy tendril reached out to you, before splitting into three. The wisps gently caressed the contours of your treasured skull, as if appreciating a fine work of art. It might've been less uncomfortable if they'd just raked through you, instead.
But, what was that age old cliché? 'Be careful what you wish for?'
One of those tendrils formed a razor-sharp claw, cradling under your neck, tracing over the pale, scaly hide reaching from your belly up to your throat. Your entire body seized with fright.
This wouldn't stand. "Mar!" You cried, leaping away from the demon. Raising both of your arms, you called upon the sturdy will of the earth. Giant rocks manifested, and fell upon the shadow.
It was the opportune time to sprint in the other direction, back into the fog. It was a tactical retreat. Without his bone, you were simply defenseless. It was a cold, hard fact of combat. You're not frightened. You're not frail. You're a ghost. A battle-hardened Pokémon!
And, as a battle-hardened Pokémon, obviously, seizing your weapon of choice is elementary.
You grab at the ground occasionally, hoping to snag that bone, tough as diamonds. Although it's rather unlikely, it's at least worth— ah!
A sigh of relief you didn't know you were holding. Your paws curled around the tough staff, and you hugged it close to your chest, sliding across the wooden floor. You wouldn't release it again.
That was all. It would be a blunder to let it slip through your fingers a second time.
A huge paw broke through the white again, vindicating you. Gargantuan, muscular, and covered in shaggy hair, it flexed its long claws; each as large, sharp, and bloody as knives. The paw radiated an unnerving bloody aura, and it raised and flexed. Your survival instincts spoke to you.
Your eyes gleamed blue with the power of Detect. Fighting instinct from years of battle propelled you to leap backwards into a somersault. The entire room trembled. Halfway through your leap, you got a glimpse of it, upside-down; a dome of malicious energy tore through the fog, blending passionate crimson and violet. Before the first shockwave even died completely, a second paw broke through the darkness, and came down with crushing force. You'd land, and sprint away.
Dark energy rippled through the fog, tearing apart the floorboards one after another. The shock went on to tear the floor out from under you. You fell face first, and your head rattled from the skull you wore knocking it about. You groaned, clinging tightly to your bone.
That chill of foreboding returned, and you scooted over to sit upright.
The giant, furry, bloody beast sprinted on all fours out of the second blast, lunging to completely dwarf you. Its eyes shone a demonic red, and its maw hung open, with rows of razor sharp fangs that could tear you apart. A long, beastly tongue hung over its teeth, salivating; spilling out of its mouth and onto the floorboards. It was certainly ready to eat you alive.
Paralysis. The room was spinning around you, and every synapse in your brain willed you to stand and sprint. Fight. Anything. But, your body simply didn't respond.
Much like an actual nightmare, any attempts to move were sluggish, if you moved at all. It was laborious to push yourself back onto your feet, and back up, before tripping over them.
Fighting instincts finally thawed your frozen nerves and you lunged, striking the beast between the eyes with your Shadow Bone. The dull impact made it cry out and stumble back.
It opened its maw, swallowing and bathing you in furious flame. The fire was cyan, like its eyes
You were a Fire-type. The pain of the flames licking at you didn't bother you much; not really. The attack was more startling than anything. You waited for the flames to end. They soon did.
The beast had vanished, again.
Your body was still only mildly responsive to your whims. Irritating. But 'mildly' was better than 'not at all.' You stalked the fog for your hunter, refusing to be the prey it so wanted you to be.
The dips in the fog leaked hints of shadow again. This time, it wasn't just one apparition; rows of them lurked on the perimeter of the fog. They couldn't all be real. They couldn't all be a threat.
No. You were a proper Ghost-type. You howled with conviction, twirling your prized bone. Teal flames whipped around each of its ends into ribbons, which grew wild and crackled with fury. You spun it between your paws and then lunged forward, tucking into a wheel of fury.
Flare Blitz tore through the fog, and broke the first of the illusions. Your warpath continued without resistance, and veered into a second, and then a third. Fakes. These were all fakes.
"RAAAYAAOH…!"
The beast howled with pain. You, yourself, felt the jarring recoil of Flare Blitz rattle your bones. You uncurled and flipped onto your feet, nursing the fiery sparks nipping at your tough hide.
The beast was doubled over, suffering the green pyre of Flare Blitz. You'd landed a solid hit!
One massive paw clawed at the floor. The opposite slashed across your belly in an instant.
You howled in pain and stumbled back. Sharp fangs cut into your belly, scaly and sturdy as it was. You looked down at the searing sensation, and nearly got sick over the shock. Clawmarks raked across your skin, and fresh blood trickled from his wounds, pooling at his feet, surely, beneath the fog. She'd drawn blood. Lots of it.
Or, so it seemed. You pawed at the wound, which should have stung severely. It was just raw.
There was no sensation of wetness, nor did you really feel faint after retaining your bearings.
It wasn't real. It was still really unsettling.
If that wasn't enough, up was down, and down was up. Something seized you in its grip, yanking you into the air. It wasn't the beast itself, or its bare paws. There was a spiral of disorienting colors, yanking you high, and then back down—
CRASH.
You collided with the floor. You were sore all over, and somewhat dizzy.
This wasn't even a fight. It was toying with its food, and you knew it. You sincerely hoped that this fog was impenetrable. You would hate for your trainer to see you huddled up on the floor, hugging your knees in utter terror. The shame of that, perhaps, would be the worst of all.
A wicked cackle shook him out of his thoughts. It echoed through the room. Or, so it seemed.
~Now, what 'm I to do with y o u . . . ?~
The voice was . . . deeper. rougher. It wasn't the composed, formal dialogue this monster prepackaged for those humans. It was as if Zoroark had shown its true face.
~Ya've made for such fun prey, up until that. I oughta applaud you for it. 's no sport to it, if you don't at least fight back. I don't getta really play like this very often.~ Marowak heard the creaking of floorboards draw ever-closer. You sat up. Your heart pounded. It drew closer.
A gigantic, wild mane, frayed and unkempt, spilled over its shoulders. It stood up on its hind legs. Absolutely towering over you. Both paws reached toward the ceiling, leaking malice.
~It's been f u n . . . !~
This was your last chance. You were raw, and nauseous, and terrified. But, you weren't finished. You steeled yourself, and gathered the last of your strength. Your mighty, ghostly howl echoed.
A bright flash burst from your body, consuming the ill shadow. It howled in fright.
With your Endeavor, you were happy to deliver to it the same fate it'd dealt you.
Your light dimmed. The furry, mangy mess of shadow lie at your feet, weakened. Conquered.
But, the suffocating fog still clung to your legs and your tail. You wouldn't be able to see much of anything, if not for the shadow drowning out the light in front of you. It was still conscious.
You weren't out of the woods, yet. You tapped your bone against your protective skull, igniting a flame harkening the souls of the dead. Violet flames crackled off of its ends. You hoisted your staff high above your head, ready to deliver the final blow.
The shadow's eyes shimmered red, with a sickening sound. Huge, bloody claws cleaved across you in an instant. You felt your vision start to dim and narrow. Everything began to feel numb.
It was, in the end, a fruitless struggle.
The fog blanketing the field began to scatter, and then disappeared entirely, for all to see.
Swyn stood towards Agatha's end of the field, hunched over an unconscious Marowak.
A slow clap echoed through the room. "Bravo!" Agatha praised. "Now, that was a battle worthy of my specialty!"
Marowak disappeared into one of her Poké Balls, and was stowed away.
"The way you used fear, my good lady, was exquisite; at least from my vantage point!" Agatha laughed. "I was right to goad you to use your full strength. A battle without it would have been a battle wasted."
~I have thought the same before,~ Swyn replied, returning to her smooth, formal dialect. She bowed her head. ~Thank you, Agatha of the Elite Four. I admire your outlook.~
The Zoroark turned, stalking back towards Ash. She had a few bruises and burns, but otherwise looked fully cognizant. ~I hope you enjoyed the performance as well, Ash.~
"I, ah… erm." Ash stammered. He found his throat dry, and lacked any words to give. His eyes were wide as they'd been a minute ago, and his cold sweat hadn't ceased. "Uhm, wow."
"Okay, I know that was terrifying,~ Peeks said with a snort, ~but at least answer her, Ash.~
"Right!" Ash snapped back to reality, and rubbed his neck. "That was, uh. Terrifying. My heart's still kinda racing!" he laughed. His voice cracked a bit, under her nerves. "Good work, girl."
Swyn smiled and bowed her head. ~I aim to please.~
"You've done plenty," Ash emphasized. "So, why don't you return and rest, for now?"
Swyn disappeared into her Poké Ball with her head held high.
~...W-wo-woah.~ Rura burrowed his way into Dawn's arms, hiding to peek out with widened eyes. ~I've NEVER seen Meema that scary. Even I'm spooked! And, I don't get spooked.~
"I can't lie," Dawn stammered, "I was pretty freaked out, myself! Sheesh… I can't deny that it was good theater! Thanks for making me feel safe, Empoleon." She giggled. "...Empoleon?"
The Emperor stood poised in front of Dawn, still and sturdy as steel. He'd been a good guard.
He was also just scared stiff.
Pocus poked idly at his crown to garner his attention.
"I am truly glad," Agatha spoke, garnering the attention of the ballroom at large. "...That you allowed your Pokémon to battle, Ash, with terror as their weapon. Because that was the opening act for a battle of terror." She tucked both of her hands over one another, supporting herself with her cane. She lifted her head, wearing an ominous, half-toothed smile.
"Do prepare yourselves… We're about to move on to the main event!"
Chapter 15: Agatha III - Nightmare
Notes:
This is always recommended, but I HIGHLY suggest that you pay attention to the soundtrack links on this chapter.
The mood they help set is indispensible!
Chapter Text
"Pocus. If you'd please."
"Ab-ra."
A bright glow surrounded Pocus, and then wrapped around Ash, Peeks, Dawn, Rura, Empoleon, and Agatha. Each of them vanished in sequence, leaving the ballroom empty, leaving the site of their frightening, illusory battle with Swyn and Marowak behind them.
They Teleported to another room; one that felt far more cluttered than the last.
"Ah…!" Ash and Peeks took in their surroundings, looking about. "We're here?"
"What… is this place?" Dawn asked, incredulous. She wrinkled her nose at her surroundings.
"This," Agatha replied, "is our final destination. The peak of Pokémon Tower."
"It… looks more like a child's playroom," Dawn remarked. The walls were colorful, and the room was absolutely cluttered with toys; soccer balls, basketballs, beachballs, playing cards, instruments, stuffed animals, and a television. There was even a swing set and a carousel!?
~Aw, you don't know what you're talking about.~ Rura hopped off of Dawn's head, trotting over to pounce atop the basketball, balancing on it with his forepaws to roll across the floor. ~This is a nice crib!~ He kicked the ball from under him, and dashed over to hop atop the carousel.
He sat atop one of the colorful horses, straddling its seat. ~I look like one of those jockeys on Unovan TV!~ The fox snickered behind his paw, before letting out a loud yelp. His seat started to jostle, and then moved forward, rising and dipping in a steady rhythm, circling the carousel.
"Z-zoh!" He yipped. ~Hey! Who turned this thing on!?~
"Rura!?" Dawn exclaimed.
Ash snickered behind his hand, and shot a glance at Peeks. "I think I know who our culprit is."
Peeks rolled his eyes, and nodded. "Let's go introduce our friends."
Ash walked over toward the carousel, watching the large attraction turn, and turn. He felt a chill wash over him, and reached out to seize the thin air… but, it wasn't thin air!
"Ghe!" A Gengar was seized and yanked up by his arm, dangling by Ash's grip. He sulked, as if he'd been caught "Geeengarrrr…"
The carousel started to slow down, and a second apparition manifested. A Gastly had been pushing the ride along with Gengar, pulling one of the poles by his gaseous tendrils. "Gastly!" The Poison Gas Pokémon cackled to himself, and floated over to stick his tongue out at Rura.
~Wah!~ Rura exclaimed, nearly falling back off of his horse. He steadied himself and huffed, nose in the air. ~That wasn't scary! I'll show you scary.~ He buried his face in his paws…
~BLEH!~ Rura's entire head turned into a gaseous orb, and stuck its tongue out at Gastly.
"Gas…!?" Gastly was startled to see a face just like his. Then, he cackled. "Ga-a-stly~!"
"Um, Ash?" Dawn asked. "Who are these guys? And how did you know they were here?"
"Remember the pranksters I told you about?" Ash grinned, hoisting up Gengar like a caught Magikarp. Being as gaseous and malleable as he was, he didn't seem bothered by this.
"You mean the ones who removed you from the mortal plane?" Dawn asked hesitantly.
"Yeah, those guys!"
"Pika!"
Dawn's face paled, and twisted in a cross of exasperation and fear. "Oh. Great."
"Gahah!" Gastly hovered over to greet Dawn.
Gengar vanished out of Ash's hold, and floated over as well, tugging on Dawn's hand. "Gen!?"
Dawn looked over at Empoleon, who looked distraught. "Er, what did he say…?"
"He asked you if you would also like a crack at it," Agatha answered bluntly.
"N-no! Absolutely not!" Dawn shouted, pulling her hand away. "N-O. That spells NO."
Gastly and Gengar cowered and shrank under Dawn's yelling, and sank to the floor in a slump. They whined, and snow rained down upon them. Dawn had no idea where it was coming from.
A bead of sweat rolled down her forehead. "They don't respond well to hecklers…"
"They really don't!" Ash laughed. "...Oh, yeah! Since you guys are here, there's someone I'm sure you'd like to see!" He reached for his belt, and lightly tossed a Poké Ball. "C'mout, Gengar!"
Ash's Gengar manifested… as a blob of a shadow on the floor, with his tongue hanging out.
"...Rise and shine, Gengar."
"You knucklehead. You were the one who ordered him to use Explosion! He's knocked out," Agatha scolded. She reached into one of her shawl's pockets and pulled out a small, golden shard, and tossed it into Gengar's mouth.
The shadow swallowed the Revive and blinked. "Geh…?" Gengar sat up, and then started to rise towards the ceiling, sprouting angelic wings and a halo.
Gastly and the other Gengar panicked and bawled, struggling to pull their comrade back down. They yanked him hard enough for the wings to detach, and he fell back down to the floor, bouncing up and down to regain his regular shape. "Gehehe!" Gengar cackled at their expense.
Gastly and the host Gengar began to guffaw, too.
Ash shook his head and turned to Agatha. "Thanks for that, by the way."
"You really should start carrying those, yourself, sonny," Agatha scolded. "You might end up needing them."
"Right," Ash nodded. "Oh, and uh… Not that I'm not grateful for the reunion," he gestured to his ghoul among the group, "but why would we have our final fight here? It's uh, not exactly climactic."
"Ah, but that's exactly why we're here," Agatha said. She walked towards the back of the room, opposite of Ash, and tapped her cane against the rug. The top of her cane popped open, and a Poké Ball was embedded inside. It snapped open, and a black shadow spilled out and down the cane, pooling in a puddle before her. "This test may be the end, but it's rooted in the beginning. Your most primal and unguarded beginnings. The room you see around you is a refuge of childhood innocence. A place where your deepest vulnerabilities are exposed and raw."
The pool of darkness bubbled and took the form of a large, pitch-black, grinning Gengar. "Keh!"
"This is my final trial."
Ash and Peeks felt chills run up their spines, and shivered. The former looked over his shoulder at Dawn, who'd taken refuge out of their way. "You're good at metaphors. Should I be scared?"
Dawn was unsettled enough to not celebrate Ash recognizing a metaphor. She stiffly nodded. "I know I'm supposed to tell you there's no need to worry, but I think there's a need to worry."
"Great to know," Ash sighed, "thanks."
"Well? Is that it? Is the fiery, loudmouthed vigilante going to crumble at a little psychoanalysis?" Agatha prodded, raising a brow at him. "I was hoping for something more exciting than that."
"No way! No one's crumbling!" Ash snapped back. "My final Pokémon! Tyranitar, I choose you!"
Ash chucked just one final Poké Ball, which popped open to spawn a towering light. Tyranitar smacked his tail against the floor, making the whole floor tremble. "Baaaagh!" He cried. Sand began to flood from the gaps in his armor, gathering in a storm capturing himself and Gengar.
"Ugh! A Sandstorm in such a small room…!?" Dawn took a step back, hiding behind Empoleon.
"Yes, I agree. This is less than ideal," Agatha grumbled. "Gengar, dispel the storm. Psychic."
"Keh!" Gengar grunted, as he was pelted with abrasive sand. He raised his arms, and exerted a psychic pulse. The storm was squeezed into a funnel with his efforts, and then a wave of his paws outward flattened the Sandstorm. The entire floor was coated in a sheet of sand.
"Ah…!" Dawn jumped on top of Empoleon's back. If she got that in her boots…! "Well, I guess this feels like a place a kid would like, at least. The whole room's been turned into a sandbox."
"Pol…"
"Sandstorm won't be helping us, huh? That's fine!" Ash said. "I prefer a head-on fight, anyway."
"Aha-ha… Indeed." Agatha laughed darkly. "Now, the terror will begin. " She tapped her cane.
"Hypnosis."
"Ke-he-he-he-he…!" Gengar's wicked cackle echoed through the sanctum of childhood dreams. His eyes flashed a glaring red. The hypnotic lights projected across the field, and swallowed it.
Tyranitar's head hung over. The gargantuan beast slouched over, starting to slumber.
"Ah…! What a rotten opening to the battle!" Dawn huffed. "Now, Tyranitar can't do anything, right out the gate. But, at least he's immune to acts like Dream Eater." The Coordinator regained her composure, shaking her head. "Besides! I'm sure Ash will think of something in no time."
Dawn was startled to feel a claw tapping her shoulder, making her jolt. "Ah…! Pocus…?"
The Abra had reached out from his perch on Empoleon's crown. He pointed towards Ash.
"Are you pointing at Ash…?" Dawn stared at his back, squinting. "I don't get it."
~Uh, hey Dawn?~ Rura spoke. ~I don't think Ash is gonna be doing nothin', either.~
"Huh…? I'm lost. What're you two talking about?" Ash looked the same to her. He was standing right there! But, he… wasn't speaking. And he was oddly still, now that she looked twice. "...No."
"Pikapi…" Peeks tugged at his trainer's pant leg. "Pikapi!"
Ash stood perfectly still and upright, as he had, moments ago. But, his eyes were glazed over.
He was entirely asleep.
"Now, let us start." Agatha tapped her cane. "Use Nightmare."
Gengar grinned, and continued floating in place. An astral projection of himself separated from his body, and dove towards Ash and Tyranitar. Although he couldn't be seen by the mortal eye, a chill swept through the room, and his sadistic laughter echoed in its whistle.
Both Ash and Tyranitar staggered, as if they'd been struck.
"H-hey!" Dawn shouted at Agatha. "What's the big idea? Why did you hit Ash, too!?"
"Do you not recall what I said on the last floor?" The Elite replied. "A battle in the Champion's League surpasses the paltry limitations of league fare. I instructed Ash to have his Pokémon go all-out. His Zoroark used her Illusions as she saw fit. Naturally, I was going to do the same."
"That explanation isn't good enough!" Peeks snapped. He stepped in front of his trainer, glowering at Agatha and Gengar. "Even Swyn didn't attack you. What are you doing to him!?"
"I'm a Ghost-type expert," she replied, not the least bit intimidated by him. "While Psychic-types are masters of the mind, Ghost-types attack something far beneath the surface — your spirit."
She pointed her cane at the catatonic Ash. "If a trainer can't face their fears, they cannot master the Ghost-type. If they cannot do that, they don't deserve to pass me and face the Champion."
White-hot fury bubbled in Peeks's chest that manifested as scorching sparks dancing erratically up and down his cheek pouches. "Ash has been through quite enough lately. I don't care what you think your position warrants. If you put him through anymore undue suffering, I'll—"
"Peeks!" Dawn addressed him.
"Not now, Dawn," the mouse snapped. She could only make out the angry and dismissive "Pika-ka" he addressed her by, but she got the gist of it.
"Just listen to me," Dawn soothed, offering a hand out, "and come here."
He stared at her hand for a long moment, and exhaled. "Because it's you," he huffed, and dashed through the dense sand to vault up onto Dawn's shoulder. He leaned into her.
"Ash has Tyranitar," Dawn spoke, cradling his cheek pouch. It was still hot. "You'd know better than anybody, wouldn't you? With his Pokémon, he can face anything. Even his worst fears!"
Peeks sat on her words for a moment. His shoulders eased. "...You're right. You're right, Dawn."
"No need to worry. We just need to have faith in Ash and Tyranitar."
Ash stirred. A bitter cold nipped at his arms, bare up to the sleeve. It was enough to jolt him out of the groggy haze that held him captive. He slowly opened his eyes, and found himself overlooking a familiar precipice: the rocky elevation overlooking Route 28. Dips and rises in grassy lands, mostly obscured by dense forests, and the occasional pond. Behind him, rough terrain stretching a modest distance, and a small waterfall spilling over the next highest ledge, forming a pond that leaked into a smaller stream trickling over the plateau's edge. The gentle, steady trickle of flowing water rolled off of his eardrums; a sound he was so used to that he'd become accustomed to falling asleep to it, for some time. It sent him off like a lullaby.
This was his favored training camp, at the foot of Mt. Silver.
There was something strange about it, though. There were no chirping Pidgey. No chittering Bug-types. No faint echoes of Graveler around the bend. Pardoning the running water, there was silence. The ledge was completely barren of life, except for his own.
It sent a chill through him. He wandered into the closest mouth to the caverns from his camp, navigating the tunnel with his hand palming the walls. It was only habitual; he didn't even really need a sense of touch, or sight, for Mt. Silver's lower caverns, anymore. Even in a foggy dreamscape, he knew them by heart. Every turn, every break in the earth that he'd tripped over more than once, and scraped himself up on. He hopped over them off of sheer muscle memory.
One thing wasn't familiar: the sheer absence of Zubat or Golbat fluttering through; most of whom he'd befriended sheerly through familiarity. No Diglett poking through the dirt. No Geodude, or wandering Slowpoke who'd managed to get lost. He'd often turned them back the way they came, towards the mountain's water reservoirs. Even just one of those guys humming in their ignorant bliss would've been a comfort, right now. There were no Larvitar here, he reminded himself: they tended to sit higher in the mountains, near the mineral deposits.
"Pikachu…?" Ash called out, cupping his mouth with his hands. "Buddy? Are you there?"
His voice echoed. There was no answer.
"Charizard…? Pidgeot? Gible? Sceptile? Lapras?" He called their names at increasing intervals.
"Anybody!?"
"Anybody!?"
"Anybody!?"
His voice echoed down the tunnels. Each one made him feel more uneasy. He palmed at his belt, which was strangely uniform. There wasn't a single Poké Ball latched onto it.
"Well, this is weird." Ash palmed at his head; his fingers brushing over his cap. They brushed over the fabric, and it felt strangely cold. Scrunching his nose, he grazed over it once more.
There was a metal badge pinned to it. Puzzled, he pulled his cap off to get a look. It was a badge, for sure, but it was empty. There was no colorful logo or design; just a round pin.
Ash couldn't put a finger on why he felt a pang of emptiness in his heart. Whatever badge it must have been, had to have carried valuable memories. This was true of any badge, after all.
A faint, muffled cry grazed his ears, and made the hairs on his neck stand up.
"Hello!?" Ash shouted down the cavern. "Is somebody there…? If you are, just come out!"
Silence, again. Ash decided he was thoroughly creeped out, and sprinted for the exit.
Maybe Nurse Joy would have answers.
"Nurse Joy…!"
The mechanical sound of sliding glass doors could be heard, as Ash stepped into the Pokémon Center lobby. He stumbled in, resting his palms on his knees while he caught his breath. He felt grime on his hands, and looked down at his knees. His jeans were grimy, and tattered in places. He tugged at his jacket, and it was faring no better; marred with burns, and parts of it torn open at the seams. Loose threads hung, sure to unravel more if subjected to anymore duress.
He looked back to the counter. It was empty.
He snapped his fingers. "Sometimes she's in the back. I should go check on my spares, anyway." He'd left extra clothing at the Pokémon Center for whenever he returned from training. He remembered them being in the Center's laundry room, and navigated the hallway to find it.
The door was already slightly ajar, and light spilled out of it. Nurse Joy was placing one of Ash's dark teal t-shirts on a table, folding it neatly, muttering something under her breath.
"Nurse Joy!" Ash exclaimed; his entire face lighting up. "Boy, am I happy to see you! Today has been really weird, and I can't seem to find anybody! You're the first person I've come across…"
He paused. She continued folding. "Ash, I can't keep being your mother here."
"Erm, Nurse Joy." Ash started, "I wasn't going to… you can put that down for a minute, you know? I think I can do my own laundry by now. I'm fifteen years old!" he laughed. If she heard him sounding guilty, she'd worry even more! "Like, you spend all your time watching over this Pokémon Center! Have a bite to eat, put on the radio! I know how much you like DJ Mary."
No response.
"Uhm… Joy?" Ash hesitantly reached out. A nagging knot in his stomach told him she might just vanish into thin air, too, if he touched her. He rested a palm on her shoulder anyway. "Hello?"
"You're only fifteen years old," Joy snapped. Or… Was that Nurse Joy? She sounded like…
"...Mom!?" Ash blanched. He took several steps back from her. His nerves rattled with synapses, like a Thunderbolt passing through his feet all the way through his fingertips. Ash sprinted out of the Pokémon Center without another thought, out into Route 28's wilderness.
He eventually stopped, and exhaled. His heart was hammering in his chest. This wasn't right.
He looked back towards the mountain that'd become his sole objective. It climbed the sky and broke through the clouds. It was so… so large. Unfathomable, for somebody his age.
"THIS MOUNTAIN ISN'T THE PLACE FOR YOU."
The silence oppressing the tower's top floor was palpable.
Ash and Tyranitar were still catatonic; shoulders slack, and eyes blank. Agatha's Gengar continued to exert his influence, grinning, but eerily silent. Rura sat straddled on the toy horse, and the wild Gastly and Gengar hung nearby. The ghosts had concern etched on their faces.
Dawn's fingertips tapped against her arm in increasing frequency. She rocked on her heels, dealing with an increasingly unraveling constitution, for all of her bold talk. "Ugh, this is crazy!"
"Pikaka?" Peeks cocked his head at Dawn.
"We're just… standing here! Ash and Tyranitar are caught up in that and we can't do a thing."
"You were the one who said to put your faith in him," Agatha reminded her. "Was that all talk?"
"It's not that!" Dawn shook her head. "It's just… Ash has kept so many of his burdens to himself, up until now. It's part of why he's had such a rough time, lately, in the first place. We've finally talked him out of it, and now we're just standing here, willingly while he's in his own head!"
"This is a trial for the challenger," Agatha replied, scowling. "I never accounted for entertaining spectators. You chose to accompany Ash, and you chose to see it through. Nothing more."
Peeks bit his lip, chewing on his thoughts. The fury swelling in him aligned with Dawn's. "I'm his Pokémon," he hissed out. "I should be there with him."
"Perhaps you need this test as much as he does," Agatha grumbled. "Honestly, your generation is spoiled rotten. It's been roughly five minutes, and your idyllic speeches are proven empty."
"Well, I'm SORRY, MA'AM," Dawn hissed through her teeth, "that we came here expecting a Pokémon Battle, and not opening old wounds! Don't you think Ash has been through enough!?"
"If that's how you feel," Agatha replied, "then you can wake him and volunteer his surrender." An expert in Ghost-types was, suitably, cold and unfeeling on the battlefield. She folded her arms behind her back, unflinching. "But somehow, I don't think that's what he would want. No." She pointed her cane at the girl, and the Pikachu accompanying her. "This isn't for him. It's for you."
Dawn bit her lip, fighting tears of frustration welling in her eyes.
Pocus looked down at Dawn from his perch on Empoleon's crown, tilting his head.
Had this journey left her tender, too?
"And, what if it is!?" She snapped. Her voice cracked. "What if we want to be sure that the person we care about most in the world is alright? People worry about other people. It's normal!"
She still felt the stain of her own mother's tears on her pink jacket. She felt her own throat burning raw, as she screeched her defense of Ash's character, in the hospital.
Fear was normal. Feeling was normal.
Peeks looked up at Dawn, and licked one of the tears trickling down her cheek. He knew better than anybody how she felt. "It's frustrating," he muttered. "Being paralyzed by helplessness."
"Pol…" Empoleon muttered somberly, patting his adoptive mother's back with his wing. Somehow, a Bubblebeam didn't feel suiting, at the moment. He felt as frustrated as them.
"Ab…" Pocus hummed. He let go of the Emperor, and floated across the room.
"Pol…?" Empoleon looked up. Dawn followed his gaze, and then Pocus. "Pocus…?"
"Ah…?" Agatha cocked a brow. This was new.
Pocus stopped in front of Gastly and Gengar, and gestured around with his claws. "Ab-ra. Abb."
"Gaaas," Gasty nodded, wearing a sullen expression. "Ge-ge!" Gengar emphatically agreed.
"Abra," he gestured to Dawn, and then to Ash. "Bra-ab."
"Gengar!" "Gaaastly!" The two specters were in total agreement. But, how could they help…!?
Pocus tapped at his chin with his claw, and floated towards the old, almost decrepit CRTV perched up on a stand. He gestured to it, and then towards Gastly and Gengar.
Dawn sniffled, wiping at her eyes. "Wha… What is Pocus up to?" She blinked her tears away.
"I have to say," Agatha mused, "this is novel. Pocus seems to want to ease your fears, child."
The ESP Pokémon and the two Ghost-types continued to converse, and seemed to have come to an understanding. Pocus floated back towards the center of the battlefield, halfway between Gengar and Ash and Tyranitar. A bright, pink glow wrapped around his body, and it spread towards the two challengers in a gaseous wave. The glow captured them as well.
The same glow then expanded towards Gastly and Gengar, wrapping around them.
"Pocus is reaching out to the minds of your friends, and communicating them to Gastly and Gengar," Agatha explained. "So that whatever their minds experience, they receive as well."
"Gas," Gastly turned to Gengar. The larger Ghost-type nodded, and they dove towards the television, sinking into its screen. The television began to flicker, and its screen lit with static.
Peeks vaulted off of Dawn's shoulder, dashing over to sit before the screen. Dawn watched him and followed suit, sitting down in front of it. Empoleon followed, and Rura came last.
The screen flickered, before stabilizing with an image. A first-person view of a forest shifted, as if a camera was being held by someone sprinting through it. Loud 'stomps' could be heard, despite the static feedback of old, overused speakers. A large, green armored arm could be seen out of the corner of the screen, with sharp claws.
"Tyranitar!" Peeks exclaimed. He recognized that armor! "He's on Route 28!"
"I was right," Agatha mused. "Pocus has reached their mindscape, and connected it to Gastly and Gengar, who have possessed that old box to display their dreams in real time." The elderly woman snorted. "I must say, you're quite lucky to have friendly poltergeists on the premises."
Her eyes turned back toward Pocus. "And you're even more lucky to have won Pocus over. I believe this is the first time, in all my years as an Elite, that I've seen him show anyone on his route favor, let alone a spectator."
"...Pocus did it for me?" Dawn asked, eyes widening. She held a hand over her heart, and even if for a moment, her heart eased. Her conversations, and petty arguments, and their efforts to protect one another. Last-second Teleports, and her scarf she'd bundled him in to keep warm.
"Perhaps you, too, are on your way to becoming a Pokémon Master, child."
Dawn wasn't sure what to make of that sentiment. She would chew on it later. For now, she wanted to know what her best friend; her boyfriend, was dealing with. She watched the trees pass Tyranitar by. There was a figure cloaked in red, down at the end of the road. It was him.
"Ash! Ash!" You cried out for your trainer — the human who brought you into the world.
He'd called out for help - from anyone, back in the caverns of Mt. Silver. He couldn't hear your cry, and by the time you'd left the caverns, he was sprinting into the forests of Route 28.
Why was he running? Ash didn't run. He was the one who'd told him the world wasn't scary.
Apparently he needed to be reminded of his own words. So, you chased him on foot as quickly as you could. But, Tyranitar weren't fast. They were large, and lumbering. Running after a human felt like trudging knee-deep in mud. But, your trainer needed you, so you kept trying.
Ash had started to slow down, up ahead. He looked unsure, and uneasy. You sprinted to catch up, while he'd stood still. He looked lost. Ash!" You cried. He looked your way, but first—
"Ah!" The ground collapsed beneath you. You collapsed into, of all things, a pit trap. Your arms, legs, and tail were bent into uncomfortable positions, and it was hard to move. You could hear the echo of a familiar, sinister laugh.
"Aaa-ha-ha-ha~!"
Them. You desperately clawed to find purchase, and yanked your head, at least, out of the hole.
Ash was faced with three criminals clad in black, with crimson "R's" plastered on the chests of the man and woman. It was those three who always bothered Ash and Pikachu: Team Rocket.
Peculiarly, there was no routine motto that Tyranitar had grown used to hearing from them.
"What do you three want this time!?" Ash snapped. "I'm really not in the mood, and I don't have Pikachu on me!"
The terrible trio laughed at him. "Pikachu?" Jessie asked, smirking behind her hand. "I think you have it twisted, Twerp. We're not here for your precious Pika-pal. We already have Pikachu!"
"And, your little dog, too!" James cooed.
"As it toins out, we're actually here for you, Twoip!" Meowth grinned, as he palmed a strange Poké Ball — one seemingly wrapped in iron bars. Somehow, you intuitively recognized it as something sinister. Meowth grinned. "We figured you'd make a quality trophy for Da Boss!"
The feline wound up, and pitched the Poké Ball at Ash. "Here, Twoip! Catch!"
"Ash!" You cried, as you watched the ball bounce off of him. A black light escaped the sinister Poké Ball, and somehow, it pulled him inside. It fell to the ground and shook once, twice, thrice.
It clicked.
"AAAAASH!" You tearfully cried out. The world suddenly went dark.
You didn't feel like yourself. Everything felt… lighter, and yet, incredibly suffocating. You looked down at your hands. They were human hands, with lime fingerless gloves. Ash's hands.
You looked up. You could see the distorted, grinning faces of the three criminals through mesh bars that clasped around your prison.
"Please! Let me go!" You shouted, but his voice came out. "I don't want to be caught!"
Your mind felt fuzzy, and unpleasant. A terrible anxiety swallowed you, and put you to sleep.
"Where… am I?"
Ash felt groggy, and disoriented. He blinked slowly, and then squinted. Harsh white, fluorescent lights assaulted his retinas, and he recoiled. "Ugh…" He tried to sit upright, or at least guard his eyes. His wrists were locked in place, and so were his ankles. "What the…!?"
He was pinned to some sort of examination table, with his arms and legs in braces. There were needles and various instruments strewn about unceremoniously on a desk nearby. Computer monitors chirped rhythmically in the backdrop. Ash's pulse hastened and he tried to pull free.
"Ah-ah-ah. Leaving so soon~?"
A sickening voice sing-songed, just above a whisper. Ash felt a chill, and yanked against his restraints. A lanky man clad in black walked around the examination table, with his arms folded behind his back. Teal hair looped to frame his face like a demon's horns. Proton's nose was busted, making Ash's stomach turn. "You've caused us quite a bit of trouble, you know that?"
Clack, clack. His boots tapping against the tiled floor echoed, in the enclosed space.
"Making a mess of our operations. Making a mess of Team Rocket."
Proton's gloved hand curled around Ash's shoulder and gripped it. Hard. His lips parted in a sneer, showing that he was missing several teeth. "Making a mess of me."
Ash tried to struggle against his restraints, but he was too frightened to even move. Any words of protests, of anger, of regret. They were all choked out in his throat. His windpipe constricted them, out of sheer terror.
"But, that's alright. You know me, don'tcha?" The Rocket raised his opposite hand, and flicked the small object he wielded with his thumb. A switchblade snapped out with a 'shink!'
The cold steel glimmered under the fluorescent lighting.
"There's nothing I like more than a mess." His grin widened. "I'm dying to return the favor!"
Terror spiked in Ash's chest in the form of fight or flight. And, he certainly couldn't flee.
"Aaaagh…!" He roared with effort, yanking against his restraints with superhuman resolve. The metal bonds shattered, and Ash flipped onto his feet, into the shocked Rocket's personal space.
Proton stammered, but no words came out. He backed away from Ash.
Ash reared his fist. With a roar of effort, he punched Proton in the jaw with all of his might.
His fist broke through. The man shattered into fragments, and just… vanished.
His switchblade clattered against the tiled floor.
Ash held his chest, and fought labored breaths. Nausea. His head was spinning, and he clutched the examination table to support himself. He started at his opposite fist; the one that'd broken the man that, God willing, would just be a memory now. Blood was smeared over his knuckles. His fist trembled.
He was so absorbed in himself that he didn't register the way the room trembled, nor the shouting, panicking Rocket grunts outside. The outside hallway rattled, and loud impacts could be heard through the thick door. The wall began to break and cave; once, twice, and thrice.
An armored tail broke through the door like it was made of tinfoil, and broke the wall supporting it into pieces. The gigantic, green Pokémon standing near the broken doorway peered in; too large to fit inside even with the wreckage. They growled happily when they saw Ash on his feet.
Ash saw an escape, and sprinted out, and nearly tripped over his feet rounding the corner. In his haste, he didn't even notice his savor. Their cry for him echoed down the corridors.
But, Ash heard nothing. He saw nothing. Sterile halls twisted into impenetrable darkness. He didn't know where he was going. Where it would take him. All he knew was that he had to find them.
Shallow water splashed under his soles, and he felt cold, murky water splash against his socks and his pant legs. It was cold, and gross, and uncomfortable, and it slowed him down. Ash couldn't pay it any mind. He just kept sprinting. He did so, until he saw them.
A Pikachu and Riolu stood in the middle of the murky nothingness, with their backs to him.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Ash exclaimed happily. He felt his heart settle with relief, and let laughter pour from his lips. It made him feel warm at his core, where he'd felt far colder than he'd realized. "You guys are alright! I was really worried about you, you know?"
"What are you talking about?" Pikachu's voice echoed in his mind. That sweet, saccharine voice sounded unsettlingly cold. "You were the one who pushed us away in the first place."
"P-Pikachu…?" Ash stammered. "I didn't…"
"You left us to rot, to pursue your own heroics." Rosemary's voice cut him off. It was as scratchy as Ash remembered. Higher, even, with the innocence of a life renewed.
"You abandoned me, Master. You abandoned us. Our Kingdom." Her— his voice was now gruff, and deep. Strained with a deep pain that he felt reverberating in his chest. She stood tall now, in her evolved form. "You made that decision for us!"
"Lucario…" He fought a quivering lip. "We were supposed to get stronger. Stronger, together!"
"That was what we wanted!" Pikachu snapped. "You say 'stronger together.' But then you go and make it all about you!" The mouse began to walk away on all fours, with his back to Ash. "If you want to take on the world alone, then you don't have to worry. You can do it all alone, now."
Lucario strode in step with Pikachu.. "I was right, after all — he didn't want you as his Master."
"W-wait…! No, I didn't… I would never!" Ash choked on his protests. He sprinted after the retreating figures, one foot over the other. "Come back…!" He lunged, with a hand outstretched.
The two Pokémon faded into the darkness, and Ash fell face first in the murky waters.
It was cold, and clung to his palms and pant legs. Ash choked, and fought a quivering lip, gnashing his teeth. Hot, fresh tears cascaded down his cheeks, tracing the scar that framed his jawline. They pooled underneath him, where a strange, reflective light swallowed the darkness.
A crystalline timeflower was nourished by his tears, and bloomed. Its glassy surface enveloped him, trapping a screaming Ash within. Blinding light drowned out his senses altogether.
Minutes passed, and Ash started to come to. He groaned, and reached out for his surroundings. His palms met solid glass, "Uh…?" He sat upright and against the hard, translucent surface.
He was inside a large, crystalline geometric shape. A giant, metal arch climbed over the crystal, fastened to another clasped horizontally around Ash's enclosure. He recognized this shape…
The two metal teardrops, dangling from the fastens. This was his staff!
Ash was trapped inside a gigantic replica of his very own staff.
What was more, was the interiors of the teardrops. Rosemary was floating in one of them, hugging her knees, in stasis. Behind him, on the opposite end, Pikachu was just the same.
Ash pounded at the crystal's interior, trying to search for a way out. This led him to looking into the reflection of the horizontal metal fixture. He could see a mane of blue hair in it. It was Dawn!
Opposite of her, further away, was a lanky man with a tuft of purple hair. He sneered, accompanied by a Weezing. The Poison Gas Pokémon floated towards Dawn, expanding.
Ash tried to shout her name; to warn her. His voice was drowned out within the crystal.
He smashed his fist against the prison wall, to no avail. His knuckles hurt, but he struck it again, and again. He cried out in vain for Dawn to hear him, while he couldn't even hear his own voice.
Weezing crept closer, and closer. Bright lights leaked from their gas vents, and he grew larger, and more unstable. Ash cried, until his throat was sore. His cries of her name went unheard.
The entire staff rattled, shaken by a blinding explosion. Ash's screams went unanswered.
His eyes glazed over in shock. He collapsed on his backside, unmoving. Catatonic.
"Taaah…" Tyranitar had trudged through the cold, unpleasant waters at his trainer's back. The stream was nothing like the rich, delicious waters of Mt. Silver; teeming with nutrients. It was clouded, and dirty. It felt unpleasant on his rocky heels, but he endured it, marching onward.
"Larvitar!"
It wasn't a terribly long trek to where Ash had been. But, there was no sign of his trainer. Just endless darkness, broken up by a giant monument standing in his way. Mt. Silver climbed into nothingness, dwarfing Tyranitar. His old home seemed to go on forever. But, there was no such thing as forever. There was a peak, and it was crowned with something that gave him awe:
"So cold…!"
A giant, magical staff was buried in its snowy peak. For some reason, he felt drawn to it.
Tyranitar obeyed his instincts, and charged up the mountain, clawing through its rocky heights one stride over the other. He was determined to find Ash. His trainer had looked so broken. So helpless. So… petrified. It was a familiar, sinking feeling that he knew well, beneath his armor.
"Larvitar…! Larvitar!"
That familiarity gave him motivation, which became strength. He scaled the summit, and found himself standing at the very top. The bitter cold clinging to him didn't register. He could only look up, into a magnificent, cut crystal at the staff's core. There he was. His trainer lay at its center.
The Armor Pokémon's eyes watered. Familiar, warm words echoed in his heart.
"Larvitar! Don't you have heaps of memories of traveling with us in your heart!?"
It wasn't just warmth. His voice strained with a hot, fiery determination.
"And, we'll have even more in the future!"
"There are many good humans, too! Please get to know more humans!"
Ash's friends. Two faces that had been colorless gargoyles, to him, had come to life, and thawed the bitter chill that'd consumed his heart. Just as well, Mt. Silver's freeze melted away around him. Of course; Ash had his friends. He reminded Tyranitar of that fact, over and over.
He could still feel the echo of his frozen cocoon being battered and fractured by Ash's fist.
Perhaps his heart echoed in this void, as he felt the mountain itself quake and tremble.
The giant staff towering over the mountain trembled. Its ornaments rattled and rang.
Ash had reminded him of the world's warmth, and broken through his fear to let him out.
Tyranitar took a step back, and anchored himself with a heavy, earth-breaking stomp. "Bah…!" He bunched up his arms, and reached deep into his heart. He called on his Hidden Power.
Bright, mysterious orbs orbited around Tyranitar's body, channeling his determination.
It was his turn to do the same!
With a mighty roar and a wave of his arms, Tyranitar fired a deluge of compact energy shots, and they crashed into the staff's core, one after another. Bright explosions bashed the jewel, and spread cracks through its surface. Just as Ash's fist struck his own ice over and over, Tyranitar blasted away at Ash's very own, until it broke.
When the diamond core shattered, Mt. Silver cracked into shards, and broke with it. Tyranitar cried out, and fell into what felt like an endless void. He kept falling, and falling.
It was as if reality itself crumbled, with the staff's destruction.
A spotlight broke through nothingness. Tyranitar stumbled into it, looking for any sort of anchor. He was enthralled to find Ash under the bright light. He was less so to find him on all fours. He sprinted over to his trainer, opening his mouth to address him. Ash spoke before he could.
"I'm weak," Ash told him. His voice quiet, and dispirited. "I'm too weak."
"Ash…" Tyranitar crouched to graze his claws over his trainer's shoulder. Ash didn't respond. He was petrified; unmoving. It reminded him of when he used to use Harden, reflexively, out of fear.
"How can I be a Champion?" Ash continued. "How can I be a Pokémon Master? How can I be a hero, when I keep falling to the same old fears? I'm just a kid. A dumb, fourth-rate trainer who'll never amount to anything!" He punched the ground in frustration. "I don't have what it takes."
The Armor Pokémon held a claw up to his maw. Ash had his own deeply-buried fears and insecurities that he didn't share; his trainer had ones he'd never even known about. How close had Ash been holding them to his heart, without telling anybody? Without telling him?
"It's okay to fail. No one beats their fears their first time." Tyranitar smiled, shaking his head. "Don't you remember how many times I hardened my heart, even after you helped me hatch?"
Every day, the group would coax him to come further out of his tough shell. Every day, he failed.
"I honestly felt… silly. I knew that you all wanted better for me. But I just couldn't help it. And you told me that was okay — that you never succeed on the first try. You open your heart again and again, because there's a whole world outside, waiting for you to enjoy it!"
The fresh flower fields. The crystalline seas. The vast blue sky. All of the Pokémon in the world.
"It's all worth it."
"But, if I fail people…" Ash protested.
"Those are your friends," Tyranitar repeated, smiling brightly. "They're not scary!"
Ash looked up at Tyranitar with awe. It was as if his words repeated back to him had clicked. But before he could open his mouth to answer, the void trembled. Ash gasped, scrambling back.
A giant, black specter encroached upon the spotlight, shrinking its reach, until Ash and Tyranitar were cornered within its meager borders. A loud, echoing cackle spilled from the horrible, horned creature's maw. Leering red eyes resembled a gigantic Gengar, before contorting into a different, horrible shape. It split down the middle into two, gigantic, towering figures.
"A POKÉMON MASTER… WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU, CHILD?"
Ash choked out a sound at the deep, booming voice. One of the specters took the vague shape of a gigantic, imposing man, with a bright red R etched into his breast pocket. His sneering grin parted the shadows of his visage.
"FOOLISH, CHILDHOOD DREAMS WITH NO MEANING. NO VISION. NO MATTER HOW SKILLED YOU ARE… SOMEONE LIKE YOU WILL NEVER OVERCOME ONE WHO KNOWS THE MEANING OF TRUE POWER."
The other giant shadow sprouted horns framing its face and the top of its head. A more feminine form, no less imposing, held a hand up over its mouth, cackling; mocking the boy.
"WE'VE ALLOWED YOU TO SEE THE POWER THAT YOUR POKÉMON HAS INSIDE THAT YOU WOULD'VE NEVER UNLOCKED ON YOUR OWN." Nasty, bitter words chipped away at the youth's spirit. The shadow took delight in that. "AS LONG AS YOU CARRY THAT CHILDISH IDEOLOGY, YOU'LL NEVER BE A POKÉMON MASTER."
Ash tried to argue, but choked on his words. Tyranitar cradled his trainer close to his chest.
The second towering shadow reached out, and giant, tendrils of darkness shot out, webbing into five, grotesque fingers. They seized to consume and crush Ash and Tyranitar.
Just as they braced for the worst, a Thunderbolt crashed into the grotesque hand, piercing it. A Bubble Beam blasted away at it, twisting and mangling its shape. An Aura Sphere blasted it to smithereens, and the shadow shrieked, retracting its arm.
"What the…!?" Ash stood up, using Tyranitar as support. "...You guys!?"
They were joined by Peeks, Dawn, Empoleon, and Rosemary. The spotlight expanded beyond its suffocating scope, and revealed they weren't among a few familiar faces, but among many.
"Well, well. Who else could it be, but Ashy-boy, in need of my help?" Gary goaded, shrugging his palms with a playful sneer.
"Now, what did I tell you about facing problems all on your own, Pikapi?" Peeks grinned, flicking his tail. He bound up onto the shoulder of another figure, who stepped out into the light.
"Uh-uhn," Misty tutted. "No way in hell are you throwing a pity party on our watch, Ketchum!"
A sturdy hand found Ash's shoulder. "You can do it, Pokémon Master Ash." Brock smiled.
"A Pokémon Watcher has to stay observant," Tracey added, with a pencil tucked between his middle and index fingers. "And if you ask me, there's no trainer with more people at their back than you."
"We'll help you get through this one too, Ash! But May-be~ when we're done, you can at least treat me to an all-you-can-eat buffet~!" May cooed, sparing him a grin and a wink. Another figure stepped out from beside her, adjusting his glasses, which shone under the light.
"Even if you win a conference, if you give up at the finish line, that's still losing," Max said.
"If you lose here, you really have no style." Drew stepped out from behind May, flicking his hair.
~The Aura is always with you.~ Rosemary smirked at him, bearing her trademark red scarf.
"Like I always say, there's no need to worry!" Dawn stepped forward to poke at Ash's chest. "And don't you dare tell me that that's when you worry the most, MISTER."
"You can't lose here!" Empoleon squawked, pointing a lustrous wing at him. "You're my Pa, and my Pa NEVER surrenders!"
A final figure scoffed, stepping out with his hands tucked into his pockets. Paul tilted his head back, leering down at Ash with just the faintest hint of an upturned lip. "Don't tell me that you would fall to someone like this? Talk about pathetic."
"You guys…! Everyone…!" Ash choked out, fighting an uneven mess of a quivering lip. Tears cascaded down his cheeks again. He couldn't keep the stupid grin off of his face. "You're all here!"
"Of course we're here! You're the one who told me, right?" Tyranitar tapped at Ash's chest with his gigantic claws, over his heart. The beast gave him the purest of smiles. "No matter where you go, everyone you've met since you entered the world is a part of you. And, the world isn't scary! Not when your friends are there to carry you…"
"...Through hell or high water!" Ash finished, beaming. "Thank you, Tyranitar… Thank you, everyone!" His eyes regained their usual fire, glimmering with copper. He reached for the top of his head, and turned his cap around backwards. "We're going to take on the world, together!"
"That's right!" Tyranitar agreed, and pivoted towards the giant, looming specters. With a mighty, earth-rattling roar, he reared his foot, and stomped it forcefully into the earth. A path of giant Stone Edges shot out of the earth, climbing higher and higher towards their foes like a staircase.
"Come on!" Ash lunged onto the first of many steps, joined by Tyranitar, and then his friends. He charged higher and higher, with all of them at his back. The shadow resembling Ariana sprouted gigantic barbs from its arm, shooting down to stab at Ash. Dark rings blasted through the barb.
Gary's Umbreon had used Snarl.
Giovanni's arms shot out, expanding into a giant, black, gooey mass. Ash braced himself.
Misty's Psyduck stumbled on his way up the next step, tripping to tumble forward and crash into the stone platform headfirst. He whined in pain, and his eyes ignited with a blue glow.
He cried out, and the substance encroaching on the group was torn to shreds by Psychic.
Another spike shot towards Tyranitar. A purple streak sliced through the shadow. Brock's Croagunk broke through with Poison Jab, decimating it. The frog sat crouched with his elbows supported by his knees. He watched the group go ahead, with his characteristic neutral smile.
He tutted, choosing to stay behind and stare into the void.
"Watch out!" Ash cried, as Ariana's arm extended, and a storm of black projectiles shot towards the group. They were quickly obscured by many green, blurry facsimiles. Tracey's Scyther used Double Team, luring the shots to pierce them, and drop into nothingness.
Giovani's gigantic grasp swept in with both, gargantuan arms to crush the group entirely.
May leapt directly into the center of the group, twirling with glee, as Beautifly orbited her and perched atop her head. The butterfly flapped their beautiful wings, whipping up a cyclone of silver-tinted winds. Drew's Roserade leapt into the eye of the storm, and permeated it with Petal Dance. The sharp petals and winds tore Giovanni's grasp to shreds, protecting the group.
But, the manifestation of greed incarnate wouldn't be deterred so easily. What remained of his gooey grasp reformed and swung inward again. A storm of pink particles blasted them away.
Max's Gardevoir had used Stored Power, clearing the way for the group to charge onward.
Ariana whipped her long arm around, aiming to crack it down upon Ash and crush him.
A bone-breaking kick tore through the shadow with ease. Dawn's Lopunny soared overhead with High Jump Kick, striking a gallant pose in midair. She looked down at Ash and winked.
Electivire roared with might, as his crackling fist carved through another shadow with ease. The yeti then raised up his crackling open palm to catch a rainbow streak. Peeks catapulted himself into his grip, and directed Electivire with a determined grin. Electivire roared, chucking Peeks towards the giant specter resembling Ariana. His body ignited with a spectrum of rainbow lightning, growing faster and faster by the second. He pierced directly through Ariana.
The colorful lightning expanded in a web, swallowing the howling shadow whole.
That was payback. Now, only Giovanni remained.
"Hey…!" Ash exclaimed; his eyes widening and sparkling with awe. He looked over Giovanni's shoulder, and into the darkness that was, well, no longer darkness. The starry skies unfolded beyond the criminal's reach, and Tyranitar's stairway reached towards an island among the stars: A grand colosseum stood in the heavens: One ignited with Moltres's heavenly flame.
His very dream was within sight. He only had to break past his fears to see it.
Rosemary sprinted beside Ash, lunging up each step in pace with him. She smiled and extended a paw, which Ash met with his open palm. Aura poured from their very being into a startlingly bright Aura Sphere, growing several orders in the middle of their grasp.
They both roared with effort, hoisting the sphere above their heads, and tossed it below them.
A chain of bright, deafening explosions catapulted Ash and Tyranitar into the stars, towards the specter of Ash's greatest foe. Ash exchanged a glance with the Pokémon he'd shown the wonders of the world, all those years ago. He couldn't hide his smile, nor his gratitude.
They nodded at one another, and turned their gaze on the leering shadow. Ash and Tyranitar each drew back and tightened their fists. Their overlapping roar echoed through the cosmos.
Their combined punches smashed through Giovanni, obliterating the shadow in one sure strike.
Cracks ran through the shadow, and spread further and further. The entire world they inhabited started to fracture and break, before shattering into millions of pieces.
A ring of purple, malefic energy echoed from Tyranitar's fist. Gengar cried out, flying back against the wall. The Ghost-type floated down to land in a slump with swirls in his eyes. "Geh…"
"Wha… huh!?" Ash stared down at his outstretched fist, and blinked. His bearings returned to him slowly, and he found himself in Pokémon Tower again. The sand, the toys…
He looked over his shoulder, where he saw Dawn, Peeks, Empoleon, Rura, and Pocus gathered. "You guys!? I made it back!?"
"Ash!" Dawn exclaimed happily. Her voice was hoarse, and tears trailed down her cheeks.
"Pikapi!" Peeks exclaimed, dashing over to catapult himself into his trainer's arms. Ash caught him in a fit of laughter, spinning around to hug his best friend into his chest. He nuzzled Ash incessantly, kicking up static. "To think you were going through that… I was so worried!"
"I didn't know it, myself!" Ash laughed, hoisting his partner up high, and winked. "But, I'm ba—"
He let out a yelp, and Peeks went flying, caught by Empoleon's wings. Dawn pulled Ash into a crushing hug, burying her head in his shoulder. "I hope you don't forget, now, Mister," she sobbed, pulling back to wipe at her red, puffy eyes. "...that you're never, ever alone!"
Ash's smile widened. "I wouldn't dream of it!" He paused, and blinked. "Wait, how did you…?"
"Gaaah!"
"Gegege!"
"Call us the TV crew! Kehehe!" Ash's Gengar, as well as the two other ghosts popped out of the CRTV, which had lost its picture to static. The three ghosts grinned at him; the two that had paws flashed a 'victory' sign with their stubby fingers. "We gave everyone front-row seats!"
"You did!?" Ash exclaimed, looking between his company. He… didn't know what to make of that.
A slow, echoing clap drew Ash's attention. Agatha was applauding him. "Well done. Very, very well done." The elder smiled toothily. "I concede. You passed my test."
"Wait, so that was…" Ash's eyes widened progressively, as he put the logical pieces together. "You… you did that!? You and Gengar!?" Ash balked, as Dawn released him to give him space.
"How could you… Why'd you put us through that!?"
"Bah-gahhh!" Tyranitar cried in protest, equally offended.
"This is a challenge I've administered to every challenger I've had, in the Elite Four. Almost all have failed." She tapped her cane, recalling her Gengar. "They usually keep that humiliation to themselves, which is why you were so blindsided. Everyone is." She laughed to herself.
"I guess that definitely qualifies as a challenge," Ash conceded. "But, isn't that kind of cruel?"
"Listen." Agatha's expression darkened. "Anyone vying to defeat me is reaching for the Championship. A Champion needs to be able to face their demons. Or, can they truly be considered a Champion at all?"
"Considered a Champion…?" Ash echoed, with wide eyes. The implications caught him off-guard. He realized, then, that they really shouldn't have.
Agatha grimaced at Ash, squinting. "Bah. Shortsighted. Just like that coot, Oak."
Ash frowned. "Hey, hey. Just what do you mean by that!?"
"If you really must know, talk to him," Agatha replied. "If there's anybody who will have answers for you, then it's going to be him."
Ash cupped his chin, thoughtful. But, he didn't have any more time to muse, when he felt Dawn's weight crash against his back, and her arms hug around his chest. He felt Peeks's weight on his shoulder, and looked back. "Uh, guys…!?"
"Sorry," Dawn giggled. "We just… really want to let you know that we're there for you."
Ash's smile widened.
"And, hey! You just beat the entire Elite Four! That means that there's just one battle ahead!"
"My battle with Lance," Ash thought aloud. His eyes narrowed, and he looked down at a closed fist. It wasn't smeared with blood, or mud. It didn't tremble. It was sure and warm. "No matter what happens, I'll beat him. I'll take my next step to becoming a Pokémon Master!"
Whatever that step might be.
Chapter 16: Of Community and Duty
Chapter Text
"...And there's still much to learn about the Fairy-type! Some Pokémon native to regions outside Kalos sport the Fairy-typing, and some don't! Like Clefairy and Clefable, Azurill, Marill, and Azumarill, as well as Togepi, Togetic, and Togekiss!"
A chorus of "oo's" and "aah's" could be heard through the stereo equipped to Oak's laboratory computer, belonging to a host of young students. The beginner's class of Rustboro's Pokémon Trainer's School listened intently on the other end of the call, with some shouting questions.
"Now, now. We only have so much time with the Professor!" Roxanne chided gently, placating her classroom. "I believe his schedule is very busy, am I right, Professor Oak?"
"Oh no, that's quite alright!" Samuel raised a hand placatingly; a smile worked up his lips, creased with age. "I'm only waiting on the tea, and Kingler is keeping an eye on it! If you young lads or lasses have any questions, I'll be happy to take a few!"
"Professor! Professor!" A boy raised his hand. "What about their type advantages?"
"A good question!" Oak lauded. "As far as I know so far, Fairy-types are strong against Dragon, Fighting, and Dark-types! Conversely, they're weak against Poison and Steel-type attacks. Most exciting of all, though, is that they're entirely immune to Dragon-type moves!"
Excitement and awe overtook the students again. "And you, young lady?" Oak asked a young girl who was politely raising her hand.
"Um, Professor? Why is it that some Pokémon are Fairy-type and others aren't?"
"Ah, that's a matter that we're still trying to unravel!" Oak chuckled. "The leading theory, right now, is that it's passed on genetically, much like some Pokémon inherit Egg Moves or other traits from their parents!"
"'Egg moves…?'" The girl echoed.
"A topic we'll handle at the end of the semester," Roxanne interjected.
"Of course, Of course!" Oak chuckled again. The youth's thirst for knowledge was incredibly heartening. "At any rate, we haven't quite determined why the Fairy-type permeates—"
TAP, TAP, TAP.
A rapping knock on the lab's front door interrupted the Professor. "Kingler…? Do you mind?"
"KIIII." Kingler's grunts could be heard, only to be drowned out by a whistling kettle.
"Ah, he's busy with the tea… Muk!?"
No response.
Oak sighed. "I would love to entertain more questions, but I'm afraid I have a guest!"
"Well, that's it!" Roxanne segued, politely waving to Samuel through the camera. "Say goodbye to Professor Oak, kids! And be sure to thank him for his time!"
A chorus of 'thank you's' rang, as Oak smiled back, and signed off. He let out a content sigh. "Lovely crowd. Now, who could that be, so early…? It's not even noon."
"COMING!" he shouted, making his way through the laboratory and the den at what qualified as a brisk pace, at his age. He linked his fingers around the doorknob and turned.
"Yes…?"
Ash stood in the door, surprisingly, on his lonesome. "Good morning, Professor!" He said jovially. But, his face was screwed up in concentration, as if he'd been deep in thought.
Stiff and contemplative, a lack of Peeks… Those were two strikes for Ash, in what qualified as unusual behavior. Oak clicked his tongue, but smiled, nonetheless. "Good morning, Ash! I didn't expect you, so soon. Are you here to check on your Pokémon to build your team for Lance?"
Ash shook his head. "I already decided that. I actually wanted to talk to you about something." He rubbed the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable. "It's important, if you have a minute."
Oak's aged visage hardened, and his thick brow knit low. For Ash to float something as important as his Championship match as unimportant was peculiar. That was strike three.
The elderly man cleared his throat. "Now, you know I'll always have time for you, my boy. Why don't you come into the den? Kingler was just finishing up with our tea."
Ash followed him into the cozy den, and sat down on one of the burgundy couches. Oak waited for him to sink into the leather and throw his arms back over the back of the couch unceremoniously. Or, at least fidget with his hands, or bounce his knees, the way he often did when something had his undivided attention. But, he did none of the above.
Instead, Ash sat up and polite, with his hands linked in his lap. It was unnerving.
"Kuu-ki!" Kingler clicked, sidestepping into the den. He pinched a large tray between his larger and smaller claws, and placed it down gently on the table. "There were two cups of tea. He looked over at Ash and blinked. "Ki…? Ku-ki." Somehow, he managed to emulate a frown, despite not having a humanshape jaw structure, or anything close to it. It had to be in the eyes.
"Ah, sorry, Kingler. We have an unexpected guest. We'll have our routine tea and poetry in just a bit." Oak smiled apologetically.
Ash reached over and pet Kingler's tough carapace with a smile. "Morning, Kingler! Sorry to interrupt, heh. I don't wanna get in the way of your routine… or steal your tea."
Kingler clicked happily, and dismissed Ash's apology, as far as he could tell. "Kiii!" Oak couldn't understand Kingler, but the easing smile on Ash's face was clue enough that Ash could, at least.
Kingler walked off, politely leaving Ash and Oak to their own devices.
Samuel took his own cup of tea, and gestured for Ash to do the same. "So, your query…?"
"I mean, maybe," Ash said, blinking, "but I don't know what that has to do with anything."
Samuel cleared his throat. "Your question, Ash."
"Oh! Oh. Right." Ash cleared his throat, too. "So, I faced Agatha's 'final test,' yesterday…"
"Mmm." Oak hummed, in a knowing grumble of disapproval. "There's something you should know about Agatha, Ash. She means well, but his methods have always been harsh and unorthodox… albeit effective. I hope that it didn't leave you with any nightmares!"
"No, I'm fine," Ash shook his head. "It was kinda terrifying, but I'm fine. I beat it!" He smiled, with a glint of pride glimmering in his eye. But, that glint fled as quickly as it came. "The problem is, it raised more questions than answers. She said I was 'shortsighted, just like you were.'"
Oak took a pregnant pause and sighed heavily. "We have… a history, my boy."
He stopped for a moment to have a sip of tea, to wash down bittersweet memories. Ash took his cue and sipped from his own cup. "When I was but a child, the two of us were rivals. We would compete in just about anything - in catching, in battling… even in arriving at the next milestone faster than the other! If she caught a rare Pokémon, she was quick to let me know it, and vice versa," he chuckled. "When she came across a horde of Ghost-type Pokémon, had to one-up her by catching a Dratini!"
"So, that's where your Dragonite came from," Ash said, wide-eyed. "I wondered about that!"
"Mm." Oak hummed. "This competitive vigor of ours took us all the way to the Pokémon League! We had a wonderful battle in the finals; her trickery and expertise with her Ghost-types put me in a very tough spot. But in the end, I emerged victorious." He looked up at nothing in particular, as if the memories would play out before him, like a reel. Although many of his memories became fuzzy with age, this particular one remained clear as crystal, for better or worse.
"Hold on. You won a Pokémon League conference!?" Ash exclaimed, leaning forward in his chair. For just a moment, he seemed like himself. Oak felt familiarity, in the way his ears rang from the boy's signature lack of volume control when anything Pokémon caught his attention.
"I did," the elder answered. "And, after I won that conference… I just never went further." He stared at his reflection in his cup of tea, and then sipped. "Agatha was quite burned by it. I learned, that day, that we had a fundamental difference in how we viewed Pokémon Training."
He looked out the window's den, out to the lab's outdoors. Bayleef was helping Tracey quell a spat between Croconaw and Quilava, a ways out, forcing them apart with her vines. He smiled and shook his head. "She believed that Pokémon were for battle. And, while that's certainly an important aspect of them, I saw far more. I turned myself towards research, and became the Pokémon Professor that you know today."
"Woah… I guess that makes sense," Ash hummed. "Agatha did say something about that 'battling' thing. I thought that was weird when I heard it, but I didn't know all this."
"Few do," Oak replied. "Our battle was well-publicized, but the details of it mostly went unknown. It was a bit of an ugly split; neither of us wanted the gossip of the press dragging it out further."
"I can only imagine," Ash said sympathetically. He idly stirred his tea with a teaspoon; not exactly a nervous habit of his, Oak couldn't help but notice. "Wow. I… never really considered the idea of just winning, and not going further. Do people do that?"
"You know, you're a peculiar one," Oak remarked. He tried to hide his mirth and amusement behind a neutral expression, but it slipped into his voice, anyway. Ash stared at him, puzzled.
"Ahem. What I mean to say is, that you've come this far; defeating the entire Elite Four — a feat that even most conference winners fail to accomplish! — without considering what would happen, should you succeed."
"It's not that I haven't thought about it," Ash countered, defending himself. "I made a promise!"
"Ah… Yes, I remember that well," Samuel mused. "You promised to be a beacon of strength, and you did so before an entire region. That's quite a bit of pressure." He reached for his tea, and sipped from it, considering his words carefully. "Accepting responsibility is a key part of growing up, to be sure. But, one part of being an adult is discerning if a responsibility is too much for you to bear."
"Are you saying I'm not up to the task?" Ash asked. His voice cracked; he was clearly offended.
"I didn't say that," Samuel denied. "Only you would know whether it's the right choice to make."
Ash stared down at his cup and hummed in thought; it almost came out as a whine. "...I wonder if I even should've started the Champion's League in the first place, if that's the case."
"You know," Oak replied, "winning the Champion's League doesn't mean that you have to succeed Lance. All that it means is that you enter the Hall of Fame!" He smiled. "Embrace your challenge wholeheartedly, but think carefully about where you want that challenge to take you."
"Uh-huh," Ash hummed. "I will, Professor." Even if Ash knew this, intellectually, he still sounded quite dispirited. The responsibility Ash bore was far beyond his years. Oak shook his head at the thought, and sipped from his tea. The whole situationthought andble, really.
"You aren't the boy I knew last year," he continued. "That Ash Ketchum wouldn't have even considered the idea of going back on his word!"
Ash visibly recoiled. "I would be breaking a promise if I backed out, wouldn't I?"
"Promises are meant to be made when they're well-informed and well-advised," Oak replied. "My point is that you have grown tremendously as a young man, over the past year. Knowing who you are now, I trust you to make the decision that's best for you."
Oak's smile was genuine, and full of pride. Ash was charging through adolescence, and adulthood was just beyond the horizon. It seemed that he recognized that, too.
Ash had taken a long pause, before he finally spoke. "...Professor? Do you ever feel like you're in the wrong time?"
Oak flinched. It was a peculiar question with peculiar implications, and an even more peculiar answer, if he were to be honest. He carefully considered his words, folding his hands in his lap. His sharp, aged eyes watched Ash. He'd adopted his reserved, demure posture again.
The elderly man stood, and gestured with his hand. "I'd like you to take a walk with me, Ash."
Ash looked utterly puzzled, but he followed the Professor out the door, and down the walkway leading towards wider Pallet Town. He waited for Oak to speak, expecting one of his lectures.
"One could say that the world of Pokémon is full of mysteries that will lead you to uncharted territory… Whether it's places unknown, or being vaulted through time." He looked back at Ash.
The youth's eyes were, strangely, not youthful. With his vast experience, Samuel could see an age in them unsuiting of an adolescent. They looked clouded. Tired. Quietly contemplative.
"If you don't mind me posing my own question," Oak started, "what is it like to host another life?" A pause. "I've wondered, since the incident, truly. But I've never found the right time to approach such a delicate subject matter." It was like when he'd ventured to catch his dear Dragonite; then, an elusive noodle of a Dratini, wandering through the space that eventually became the Safari Zone. He'd seen Dratini's inquisitive nature, through observations in hiding. He just knew they would make a fine friend. But, jumping out too early, or too suddenly, would startle him; possibly even convince him that the then-trainer saw him as prey. His introduction was calculated. He'd sat down nearby, and started munching on one of his favorite types of berries he kept a stash of, at the time. Dratini took interest, and he simply offered him some, establishing himself as non-threatening. Soon after that, he established himself as a friend; someone who wanted to know Pokémon. Dratini took to this, boasting his own curious side. They were a good match.
Prudence was a mighty virtue, with man, and with Pokémon.
And, hosting a second soul somewhere in your psyche sounded like the definition of delicate.
"It's… weird," Ash decided to say. "I'm still Ash. I still feel like Ash! I feel like…" The youth grumbled under his breath, folding his arms behind his head as they walked. "...like everything from before is like a big, weird dream. It's foggy; I only remember a little bit. Meanwhile, Rosa seems to remember pretty much everything. She almost acts more like Lucario than Rosemary!"
Ash realized how confusing that sounded, and clarified: "Like, Sir Aaron's Lucario. My Lucario-"
"It's alright," Oak stopped him, before Ash confused both of them even more. "I understand. She's far more in tune with your past than you are. Remember, though: Rosemary is an Aura Pokémon. It's just a theory, but I would wager that her connection to that force is far more raw and intense than yours is! Have you been maintaining your training lately?"
Ash shook his head. "Since everything in Rota, I've felt like taking a break. Which is weird, when you think about it; when I'm closer to that part of myself than ever, you know?"
"I noticed that the 'Aaron' in you is particularly lively today," Oak mused. "Today, when you're contemplating matters of duty. That feeling, perhaps, might be your greatest tether to your past."
"I've felt that way in Pallet Town lately, honestly," Ash admitted, tacitly agreeing with the theory. "I think about those threats it got, from a few months ago. They were basically my fault."
The dirt path into Pallet was leading towards town, where residents both of them have known for years dwelled. It was familiar territory.
"Is that it," Oak asked, "or are you reaching into Aaron's vow-bound duty to protect your homeland?"
Ash didn't answer immediately. The 'Aaron' was very much showing, even as Ash greeted, and was greeted by, Pallet's townspeople. They waved and smiled at Ash and Samuel, alike, and they both greeted in turn. Something caught Samuel's attention, which he was sure Ash noticed:
In the weeks following the Indigo Plateau Conference, Ash had been the talk of the town. He was the first in the town's history to win a conference, even outshining Pallet's namesake, whose legacy he and Gary still carried. The enthusiasm showed: Ash was congratulated everywhere he went. The party thrown for him had been lively, and full of food and merriment. No one could keep the grins off their faces when talking to Ash; that was, except for the children in his and Gary's grade who seemed awfully sheepish over how much they'd mocked his dream.
By now, the novelty had mostly faded. Ash ran ahead a bit to greet a brunette young lady clad in teal and black. Leaf: one of Ash's classmates, and the trainer who had chosen Bulbasaur on the day Ash had left home. Samuel gave them their space, only watching and listening in.
"So! The Elite Four, huh?" Leaf asked, even as she held out an open hand and swung it in, colliding in Ash's with a clap, a smack with the back of their wrists, and then a fistbump. "Took you, what, a friggin' month to put the strongest in KanJoh under? You're a machine, dude!"
"What'd I tell you?" Ash boasted, thumping a fist against his chest. "I'll let my mom know we need a big ol' humble pie, so you can smash your face into it." He cast a sideways grin at her.
"Yeah, yeah. If you're gonna milk it, at least wait until you beat Lance. If you do." She smacked Ash on the back, shoving him back into his original path. "Try not to become dragon chow."
"Oh, piss off," Ash laughed. He looked terror-struck, when he met Samuel's eyes afterward.
He was too old to be scolded for language. The elder just shook his head, and counted his blessings. The 'Ash of Pallet Town' was still very much there, and able to wiggle its way past 'Sir Aaron of Rota.' It put his old heart at ease, if nothing else.
"It's weird," Ash continued. "Pallet Town being so… normal. But, that shouldn't feel weird, right? Nothing happens in Pallet Town!" He gestured a hand about. "More-or-less."
"This is only conjecture," Samuel replied, "but I believe that the part of you that's been pulled from the past is prepared for duty, and for conflict. But that's not where you are, now. Take a look around Pallet Town." He gestured widely to the rolling, grassy hills, and modest shops.
"Pallet Town is the same as it ever was…" He paused and reconsidered his words. "Let me correct myself: it's perhaps a bit warmer and kinder than when you were a young lad."
"Yeah, I remember that too," Ash hummed. "It was Jerk City, here. What was up with that?"
"You were too young to comprehend it all, back then," Samuel replied. "Pallet Town is rather peaceful, but it's not exactly booming with business, or tourism. A lot of salarymen who live here head into Viridian City for work and come home later. It led to a majority neglecting their families. In fact, the only attentive household might've been yours!"
"Having mom's business right down the road probably helped," Ash thought aloud.
"Mm," Oak hummed in agreement. "That distance and strain led to them taking their bitterness out on others, and their children often emulated that behavior. It's one of the darker streaks of Pallet that nobody really likes to talk about, even now."
"Hey, come to think of it," Ash squinted, "you were pretty shady, back then!" He poked a finger at Oak.
"I… can't deny that," Oak grumbled. He regrettably recalled all of his criticisms and doubts he levied at Ash back then. With their meeting decades ago, in mind, it was strange behavior in hindsight: behavior he regretted. "Just as everyone else, I let myself be consumed in the cynicism of the day. I tried to use tough love to motivate you, and keep you in sorts. In other words, it was my old ways speaking. Not that it's an excuse."
If Ash wanted to forgive him for that, he could do so on his own time. It didn't really matter, Oak decided; this conversation was about him, and sticking to that was his apology. "But, watching you become a fine young man opened my eyes again. And, just as you did for me…" He paused. "You know, I haven't finished my story yet."
"Sorry," Ash apologized. "I kinda threw it off-track."
The elder shook his head. "Those very same salarymen would often stop at the Pallet House Inn for dinner. Your mother, Delia, would serve them, and talk to them while they ate. She understood better than anybody how obligations could be taxing."
"Did she ever," Ash muttered. He recalled how much she cried, when he was very young. It was pretty much the only thing keeping him on his best behavior, most of the time, back then.
"But, she smiled through it; partially because of you," Oak said with a smile. "Delia was a strong believer in a strong community. I remember sitting in a quiet corner with my instant noodles, while she chewed those men out, and listened to them talk about their problems. In the end, she would encourage them to get back to their families. And, as they did, marital quarrels eased. Children became more well-behaved… and, as I recall, the grief you received ceased, too."
"Yeah, mostly," Ash agreed. "Gary and Leaf didn't let up, but like, most everyone did."
"And that brings me to my point," Samuel continued. "People like you and your mother can make your homes a better place without life-risking heroics." He cleared his throat. "Bulbasaur, Venusaur, Ivysaur. Their bloom makes spirits soar!"
Ash adjusted his cap, looking thoughtful. "...So you're saying we can make the world a better place just by being ourselves? I guess — hey!?" Ash's cap had been snatched off his head.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" A tall young man apologized frantically. He had dark skin, and a vibrant brown head of hair, and he was holding a small child with the same complexion; her own hair tied into little bows. She was clutching Ash's cap in an iron grip with her little stubby fingers.
"Cool hat! Cool hat!" The girl giggled, waving the cap around wildly. She couldn't have been any older than two. She seemed enamored by the metal Unity Badge stitched onto it. She tried to pull it off, still-developing motor skills be damned.
"I'm sorry," the father apologized again, smiling politely. "She's in her grabbing phase. Elaine, give the man back his hat!"
Elaine, as she was called, tried to roughly shove the hat back down on Ash's head. She missed a couple of times and battered him with the brim. Ash laughed, fitting it back on correctly with the palm of his hand. "Don't sweat it kiddo. It is a pretty cool hat, isn't it? It's my favorite!"
He grinned, reaching over to gently ruffle the girl's hair. She giggled happily, and grabbed at his hand.
The father apologized again, and they were on their way. Samuel looked over to Ash, who wore a wide, glowing smile. "Thanks, Professor. "I understand what you mean, now."
Chapter 17: Champion I - Over-Leaf-Storm
Chapter Text
"Ladies, gentlemen, spectators of all stripes! We thank you for coming together for this very special occasion — A Pokémon battle unlike anything most of us have ever seen!"
5:55 PM. The sun cast long shadows over Indigo Stadium. Harsh, golden sunlight was giving way to warmer oranges hanging over their horizon. The stadium was packed to the brim with adoring fans and battle enthusiasts, as well as camera crews candid to catch every second of the action that would soon unfold. Loud, mixed chatter could be heard from the audience.
"Roughly two and a half months ago, today, in this very stadium, we watched a face familiar to many across this region conquer the Indigo Plateau Conference! Long known as a lovable underdog, he started his career with a rather somber finish in the Indigo League's Top 16. But since then, he's gone on to acquire accolade after accolade, with the help of his Pokémon!"
Cheers and scattered whoops of excitement built in the stadium for their hometown favorite.
"The Orange League Championship. Top 8 in the Silver Conference, and in the Ever Grande Conference. Conquering the Kanto Battle Frontier. He's even gone as far as the Sinnoh League Semi-Finals, before now, where he had his infamous showdown against not one, but two legendary Pokémon in a row! And, he wasn't content to stop there!"
A figure emerged from the inner cloisters of the stadium, walking towards the green trainer's box, to the tune of raucous applause. Cloaked in red, and his Indigo League cap, Ash Ketchum strode towards the battlefield. His trusty Pikachu sat on his shoulder, his face equally serious.
"This year alone, he has famously taken on crime and chaos, all across his home region of Kanto! After his self-proclaimed braving of trials and terror, he has gone on to make the region a better place for man and Pokémon alike! And, after facing obstacles that nobody his age should, he threw down the gauntlet, defeating Deidra Agrona, and many other capable trainers, in some of the most thrilling battles the Plateau has ever seen!"
Up in the high bleachers of the stadium, one of the corridors leading into the stadium was cast in shadow. A lone, tall woman leaned against the concrete wall with her arms folded. Her royal purple cape was nudged by the breeze, and a striking golden eye watched Ash from above.
She allowed herself a belly laugh. A mere season ago, this lauding would sicken her to her core.
Deidra smiled. "Can you live up to your reputation, this time, I wonder?"
"...And perhaps most importantly of all, he's never seen without his trusty Pikachu!" The announcer added, to the tune of good-natured laughter from a sizable portion of the crowd.
"In just these past few weeks, he's conquered the mighty and prestigious Elite Four of Kanto and Johto, on a relentless charge towards the top! Today, he has his sights set on the very pinnacle of the Champion's League! You know him, you love him — please give a rousing welcome to the Pika Powerhouse — the Pride of Pallet — ASH KETCHUM!"
"Ice! Poison! Fighting! Ghost! He beat them; he's right to boast! Lance and his dragons may be faster — but they're no match for a Pokémon Master!"
Dawn pumped her pom-poms in tandem; this time, the bundles of frills and fluff were a grand and royal gold, matching her elegant, new, rose gold cheerleader outfit with white and gold trimmings. She stood and danced on top of her seat, quite rudely blocking the view of the audience behind her. She paid this no mind, pumping her pom-poms in the air. "Gooo, ASH!"
"EM-POL!" A similarly bedazzled Empoleon, dressed in striking red and gold, celebrated alongside his trainer. He fired a dazzling Bubblebeam above his head. The foam gathered together with coordinated intent, before bursting into a shower of mist and sparkles.
"Oi! Can you sit down, already? Some of us paid good money for these tickets!" A square-jawed man sitting behind Dawn cheered, echoed by disgruntled audience members surrounding him.
"Excuse me, your rudeness," Dawn swung around, hands square on her hips, "but I've paid a lot more than just a few Poké for this battle!" She leaned in towards the man, brow furrowed, and lips furrowed. "I've paid in blood, sweat, and tears, supporting our amazing challenger!"
"Good for you," the man dismissed, unimpressed. "Now, sit down, or take a hike!"
Dawn's cheeks puffed out, and her face burned red. "Why don't YOU take a hike, you— ah!"
The girl yelped, as she was yanked back into her seat by Misty. "Girl, what the hell is wrong with you? Are you trying to get us kicked out before the match even starts!?"
"He started it," Dawn pouted, slinking into her seat.
"Well, if you finish it, then you won't get to watch Ash's match." Brock said, with an exasperated sigh, sitting beside Misty. "So, why don't we simmer down, and cheer him on…?" When Dawn offered no rebuttal, he eased back into his seat, relieved. "He needs us now, more than ever."
"Woah… The crowd's pretty loud for us, today." Ash stopped at the mechanical lift to his trainer's box, and took a deep breath. He stepped onto the cold metal, and mechanical whirrs could be heard from beneath the a small, jarring bump, the lift started, and escalated to Ash's stage, for the rest of the battle. His eyes scanned the crowd, spotting the occasional sign with his face on it, or some slogan or another. His ears drank in the loud, mostly indecipherable cheers. "Can you believe that, Buddy? All of this attention, for us."
Peeks smiled. His ears twitched, sensitive to the sea of enthusiasm. He snickered, then. "I think your girlfriend's the loudest of them all." He inhaled, and exhaled, enjoying the cool autumn breeze. "It's nice though, isn't it? We've worked so, so hard for this day."
"Heh, yeah." Ash's smile widened. His dark eyes shimmered under the setting sun, as he adjusted the brim of his cap. "And since we came this far, we might as well win it all!"
"And, after the challenger, of course, comes the man atop the summit! A man like Ketchum in many days — a passionate, hot-blooded trainer. A known fighter for justice, who crushes any evil that is unlucky enough to fall under his sharp, sapphire gaze!"
Colorful explosions erupted at the opposite entrance to the battlefield. A cloaked silhouette stepped through the fanfare, with sharp, striking hair, and a gallant cape cloaking his frame.
"In many ways, his reputation is entirely his own — poised and deliberate with his words, which carry the weight of his fair regions! Refined, and of the noble blood of the Blackthorn Dragon Clan! With his mighty Dragon Pokémon, he is hailed as the strongest of not one, but two regions! A cool and passionate trainer — his reign undefeated!"
Lance approached the red trainer's box to deafening applause. His carmine hair and dark navy cape were accentuated by the setting sun, casting a truly grand stature. He rose to his battle box, without giving the crowd even one glance. His steely gaze was reserved for Ash alone.
He was elevated to stand opposite Ash, and met him with a cool, composed smile.
Ash felt the weight of Kanto and Johto bearing down on him in his stare. He met it with a smile.
"Please welcome our very own Champion — The Dragon Master, Lance!"
"My, my… To think that Ash would be challenging the Dragon Master, of all foes." Samuel Oak hummed, cupping his rectangular jaw thoughtfully with his thumb and forefinger. "A man of legacy, versus a boy who came from quite low expectations and humble beginnings…"
"He's come so far, hasn't he…?" Delia sniffled into a handkerchief, seated beside the Professor. She lifted her portable camera once again, taking snapshots of the battlefield-to-be. "People often doubted and laughed at my baby boy, when he said he'd find greatness. But, look at him, now! At the height of the Champion's League, without even a touch of fear in his eyes!"
She glanced at one of the large monitors about the stadium, displaying Ash's bold gaze.
"Indeed. I'll admit, even I had my doubts when he began," Samuel replied. "He never had much of a work ethic, or intellectual curiosity when he was young. But, what he did have was a genuine love for Pokémon. The gritty details and experience would come with time. But, a house built on a brittle foundation will only crumble under grand pillars and trimmings."
The stern academic nodded thoughtfully. "Ash's passion paved an unbreakable foundation."
"I've been waiting for you. Ash!" Lance addressed his opponent, arms folded, smile cool. "I knew that you, with your skills, would eventually reach me here. There's no need for words now. We will battle to determine who is the stronger of the two of us. As the most powerful Trainer and as the Pokémon League Champion… I, Lance the Dragon Master, accept your challenge!"
"No words is fine by me!" Ash replied with a grin. "Bring it on, Lance!"
Lance laughed into the back of his hand. "I will, as you say, 'bring it on,' Ash. Now!" The Dragon Master raised a clawed hand toward the heavens. As if they responded to his whims, the field started to tremble and shift. The large, spacious battlefield parted, revealing a chasm.
Large, mountainous spires of rock ascended from the earth, climbing for what felt like minutes. Wider, mountainous bases and rocky outcrops emerged afterwards, revealing a fairly flat earthy battlefield, with its share of rocky elevations. The earth was parted, however, by a large body of water, with a few footholds of earth scattered across it. This grand stage rose to Ash and Lance's elevation, contained by solid titanium borders. The need for the lifts was now apparent.
"A battle with a Champion requires a field worthy of a Champion! Lance's field of choice resembles the Blackthorn Dragon's Den — his training site, as a young protege!"
"I knew I recognized this place," Ash thought aloud with a smirk. He'd known about the battlefield going into this, of course. "I've gotta admit, seeing this in person is something else."
"It's as our venerated Master of Ceremonies said," Lance replied, smiling. He tossed out his cape with one arm in dramatic fashion. "A grand battle requires a grand arena!"
"Now, I believe it's time for our referee to explain the rules to our audience!"
A third lift arose on the battlefield's edge, halfway between Ash and Lance. A woman in a well-fitted suit and a pinned lavender bun stood, accompanied by a Mr. Mime, wearing a Light Clay around his neck. The Barrier Pokémon wasted no time offering his trainer dual screens.
"This will be a full, six-on-six Champion's League battle!" She announced, raising a hand. "Both the trainers may switch Pokémon at will. The battle will continue until all six of either trainer's Pokémon are unable to battle, or are otherwise forfeit. When three of the Champion's Pokémon are defeated, the battlefield will change, after a five minute intermission. There is no time limit!"
The near silence in the stadium was palpable. No one dared breathe in the battle's wake.
"Champion!" She shouted. "Send out your first Pokémon!"
"Very well!" Lance drew a Poké Ball from his cloak, and tossed it backhanded. "Rare, blood-soaked scales! Bring untold destruction to this fair battlefield! Gyarados…!"
A striking light emerged just above the water's surface, climbing towards the heavens. It seemed to be endless; a long, serpentine body coiling with many spiked fins. The light shattered, revealing crimson scales, and matching eyes. Lance's red Gyarados towered over Ash and craned his neck towards the trainer, unleashing an earth-rattling roar.
Ash grinned. He felt chills up his spine, and this was exactly how he wanted it.
"Challenger!" The referee shouted. "Choose your Pokémon!"
"Gyarados! It's good to see you again," Ash greeted. He hadn't seen the Red Gyarados since their scuffle with Teams Aqua and Magma, in Hoenn. "Hope there're no hard feelings when I beat you, today!" He grabbed a Poké Ball off his belt, and threw it with vigor. "Lapras! I choose you!"
The Transport Pokémon appeared in the water, challenging Gyarados with a melodious cry.
"Lance has opened with his trademark Red Gyarados, while Ash fights water with water, with his trusty Lapras! Elegance versus furious, destructive force will be decided today!"
Ash swallowed heavily, and threw a hand outward. "Thunderbolt!"
"Iron Tail!" Lance shouted.
Crackling lightning wrapped around Lapras's dull horn. With a cry, she fired the Thunderbolt towards Gyarados. The Atrocious Pokémon lifted his gargantuan tail from the depths, shielding his body from his weakness, twice-over. His many scales hardened into a coat of solid, shimmering steel, intercepting the electricity. Thunderbolt coursed up and down his segmented tail, channeled through the solid steel without touching his body. Gyarados roared ferociously.
"Gyarados blocks that dangerous Thunderbolt with Iron Tail! And, what's this!?"
Gyarados roared, and brought Iron Tail swinging down toward Lapras, casting her in its shadow.
"Use Surf to dodge it!" Ash urged.
Lapras summoned a current beneath her body, launching herself out of the water with a quickly cresting wave. Her heart pounded, as she only narrowly avoided Iron Tail striking the surface.
She was doused with the splash from the aftermath, and then howled in pain. She seized, as her body was captured in a halo of lightning bolts. "Aaaaugh…!"
"Lapras!" Ash cried. His eyes widened. "The charge from Thunderbolt; Gyarados redirected it!"
"Use Crunch!" Lance commanded, closing a fist.
Gyarados encroached upon his airborne, vulnerable enemy, and latched onto her without mercy. His fangs sunk into her soft flesh, and a tooth chipped on her sturdy shell. A negligible loss for Gyarados, who roughly threw her into the small lake with a toss of his head.
Another splash crashed against the shores, dousing Ash and Peeks with mist. "That looks like it hurt," Ash said through grit teeth, guarding himself from the splash. "Use Sheer Cold, Lapras!"
Lapras surfaced from the impact, ever durable, ever buoyant. A haunting, ear-splitting cry called on sub-zero temperatures. A jagged sculpture of ice climbed the waters towards Gyarados.
"Gyarados," Lance said calmly.
The Atrocious Pokémon was already acting on his own. He snaked his way around the jutting sheet of ice, soaring on the open air to coil around each spire jutting out to freeze him solid.
"Lapras suffers a brutal upset to start the match, and Ash attempts to change course in a big way, with the one-hit knockout Sheer Cold! But, Gyarados refuses to take the hit!"
"You should understand the fundamentals of moves so powerful, Ash," Lance lectured. "Part of wielding powerful Pokémon is understanding their most powerful moves. A foe as seasoned and experienced as my Gyarados would never fall prey to such a desperate move. If my dragons would…" Lance's lips lifted into a cool smile. "Lorelei would have dethroned me already, no?"
"Yeah, this is one of Lorelei's tricks, isn't it?" Ash smirked, brushing his index over the bridge of his nose. "But, she taught us something else, too! Use Freeze-Dry, Lapras!"
Lapras narrowed her eyes. Without warning, an extra, dry, bitter sheet of ice climbed up the architecture of Sheer Cold, expanding its reach further. An unforgiving wind assaulted Gyarados, making the sea serpent howl in agony. He writhed, unable to endure the dry ice.
"It seems that Sheer Cold was just a feint! He's certainly not out of the action, but Gyarados flew right into Ash's trap, and he's really feeling the chill of that Freeze-Dry!"
"What's this…!?" Lance grimaced.
"That's Freeze-Dry!" Ash reiterated. "It's an Ice-type move with a nasty side-effect. It saps all of the moisture outta the air, so that it's super-effective against Water-type Pokémon, too!"
"Then, a Water and Flying-type like Gyarados…" Lance furrowed his brow.
"You would've been better off taking the Thunderbolt," Ash taunted. But, he knew better than to rest on his laurels when he was in a good position. "Let's push our momentum! Surf up the ice!"
"Gawoaaah!" Lapras cried. She summoned a steady current beneath her body, launching her up the incline of Sheer Cold's uneven spires. The water below her evaporated as it coasted along the dry ice, but her momentum kept her sailing up the ramp paved by her own crafting.
She launched over the edge, hovering over the recoiling Gyarados.
"Now, Body Slam!"
Lapras crashed into Gyarados with all of her weight, dragging him into the water under her.
"A combination attack! Lapras is pressing her advantage, despite Gyarados's power!"
"A valiant effort, but far from enough!" Lance shouted with authority. "Gyarados! Iron Tail!"
Waves crashed and rippled across the pool and shores, still, as Lapras soared from the impact of her fall. She found herself once again dwarfed by the Atrocious Pokémon. His crimson eyes leered at her, at eye level. "Gyaaroh!" Gyarados cried, whipping his long tail about.
The air was knocked from Lapras's lungs, as solid steel collided with her ribs. She was sent flying out of the small lake, crashing into one of the large spires of earth; luckily with her shell to it. She cried out, eyes shrunk to pin-points, and fell down to the earthy terrain in a slump.
"Lapras!" Ash cried out in worry. "That one looked like it really hurt…!"
"Ouch! That was a NASTY shot! Lapras looks to be on the outs!"
"I'll… I'll manage," Lapras whined. Her eyes were shut and trembling. She pushed herself upright, and shook off the soreness pounding all the way up her side. "I'm not done yet!"
"You'll trouble us no longer!" Lance cried. "Gyarados! Thunder Wave!"
Golden, numbing static danced along Gyarados's crown, and fired towards Lapras in waves.
Despite their precarious position, Ash grinned, adjusting his cap. "Thanks for that, Lance!"
The Dragon Master frowned. What was he getting at…?
"We'll take that Thunder Wave for ourselves!" Ash extended a hand. "Lapras! Horn Drill!"
Lapras cried in affirmation and craned her neck towards the numbing charge. Her blunt horn started to spin atop her head, gaining a cyan projection that made it appear larger than usual.
"What's this!? Two one-hit knockout moves! But, why would Lapras use this now!?"
The halos of Thunder Wave started to distort once they approached Lapras, and then tore apart. Their charge was sucked into Horn Drill's spin, not unlike water cycling the drain. The lightning rippled around her horn in spirals. The gold reflected in Lapras's eyes. "Waoh!"
Thunder Wave's charge blasted wildly across the field, crackling across solid land, rolling waters, and towards Gyarados himself. The sea serpent cried out, seizing uncontrollably.
"Oh, I get it! So, that's what he's up to!" Misty exclaimed. "That's Quijote's technique!"
"Ah! That's right!" Brock watched in awe. "When his Seaking's Lightning Rod drew in the lightning from Ciara's Magmar's Thunder Punch! Then, he used Horn Drill to disperse it!" The student cupped his chin thoughtfully. "Although, Lapras's ability can't be Lightning Rod… The pull of Horn Drill must be acting as a substitute!"
Lance could be heard crying out for his Gyarados, who now slumped over in the small lake, suffering from numbing paralysis. Bright sparks danced up and down his segmented body.
"You betcha! Although, I think this technique looks much better on Ash," Dawn said, arms folded and bearing a smile as smug as could be. "Lapras learned Horn Drill while she was training for the Champion's League. When Ash caught on, he put two and two together, and kept it as a measure to deal with electric attacks!"
"That was a good strategy," Brock mulled. "Dragon-types are infamous for bearing all manner of powerful elemental attacks. It could have countered any move, but one that guarantees paralysis was the best result possible. Now, Gyarados's mobility has been halved!"
"In a shocking upset, Lapras has turned Gyarados's own Thunder Wave right back around, with Horn Drill! Once again, Ash Ketchum shows his affinity for unusual, outside-the-box uses of attacks!" The emcee shouted, to an excitable uproar in the crowd.
"That was a nasty play, trying to keep us grounded so Gyarados could mow right over Lapras," Ash said, his grin betraying his words as he adjusted his cap. "But, heck if we're gonna let an opportunity go to waste! Lapras! Sheer Cold!"
"Gladly!" Lapras cried. Sub-zero crystalline ice unfolded in a merciless path towards Gyarados.
"Very commendable, Ash. You've not allowed me even a moment of ease, no matter our power — exactly what a battle of Champions should be! But, you've forced my hand! Hyper Beam!"
Gyarados was struggling to move in his current condition. But, he was just mobile enough to snake his neck towards the coming sheet of ice, and open his mouth wide. Orange light particles gathered into a growing sphere in his maw, nearly eclipsing the sunset in its radiance.
A roaring, deafening blast of energy tore across the landscape. The lake parted, and dust and rubble was blown away in its wake. Sheer Cold's ice was battered and broken, one layer after the next. It ultimately ripped the freeze asunder, crashing into a stationary, wide-eyed Lapras.
The audience cried, as a booming explosion rattled the entire stage.
"Lapras…!" Ash widened his stance, guarding his face and Peeks' from the blast. "Damn… We put 'im in a corner, and we paid the price."
Peeks buried his face in Ash's collar, his ears whipping about. "Sheer Cold may be deadly, but it doesn't have the stopping power of a Hyper Beam! Hopefully it at least gave her a buffer…!"
"A brutal, overpowering Hyper Beam — Lance's known signature and favorite attack!" The emcee narrated, as the audience loudly marveled at its power. "Is this it for Lapras!?"
Smoke and dust clouds cascaded over the battlefield, like the unruly rolling of the tide. Lapra's silhouette could be seen as the veil thinned, still upright. The Transport breathed heavily, emerging from the wreckage. Ice fragments and crumbled rock half halfway buried her.
"Not… Not yet…!" She cried, as she dragged herself out of the debris, one flipper at a time.
"It seems I spoke too soon! Lapras endured a dead-on Hyper Beam! But, she's looking rough! And, the time it took her to recover has allowed Gyarados to, as well!"
Just as the emcee narrated, Gyarados was now upright again, too. His tail lashed against the shore, breaking it. "Gyaooh…!" Even as sparks danced along his body, he'd recovered.
"So, we didn't get anything from that recovery time," Ash said, grimacing. "But, that's fine! We're not afraid to bring the fight to them! Lapras, charge in! Use Surf!"
The rocky rubble and ice sheets beneath her were swept aside by a rising tide, carrying Lapras towards Gyarados. Surf's wave grew progressively mightier, carrying Lapras higher and higher.
"Gyarados! Iron Tail!" Lance cried.
The sea serpent drew his tail back, coating it in shimmering steel.
Ash grinned. "Now! Confuse Ray!"
Lapras's eyes narrowed, and then shot wide open, consumed in a disorienting light.
Gyarados roared in confusion, as a blinding flash seared his eyes.
"What's this!? Lapras's Surf was only a feint for a Confuse Ray!"
Lance guarded himself from the disorienting light with his cape. It dulled quickly enough, but the results of the move didn't; Gyarados was thrashing blindly, bashing his head into the shore and nearby rocky cliffs. "You've inflicted confusion and paralysis upon us… A ruthless strategy."
"I'm not holding back, Lance. We're playing for keeps!" Ash replied. "Lapras! Sheer Cold!"
With another howl, Lapras summoned a path of sub-zero ice into the small lake, where it took root below Gyarados.
Lance, despite it all, smiled. "You're good, Ash. But you know nothing of the will of dragons."
Ash frowned. What was that supposed to mean?
"Gyarados!" The Dragon Master cried, raising a hand high. "Unleash your true nature! Outrage!"
The flower of Sheer Cold bloomed from within the lake. Sharp, unforgiving petals of ice bloomed into a rising spire. Just one touch would freeze Gyarados solid, and render him unable to battle.
But, the unsettling, wild red aura about Gyarados told a different story. The Atrocious Pokémon started to angrily thrash about, taking to the sky with wild, destructive lashes of his body. Crashing waters cascaded over the battlefield, as Gyarados took flight.
"Even now, they're flying!?" Ash exclaimed. He watched Sheer Cold climb the skies, eclipsing even the highest spires of rock with its elaborate, jagged ice. But, even its spires reaching out for Gyarados came up fruitless, as the sea serpent thrashed about wildly, bashing his head and tail into the solid freeze. "I don't get it. He's confused; how can he be dodging!?"
"Outrage is functioning as it should precisely because he's confused," Lance replied. "You should know as I do the very nature of Outrage. A Pokémon's baser draconic instincts take command of their body, attacking and striking violently against all perception and logic. It drags their baser instincts to the surface, and commands their body without any restraint! Confuse Ray pales in comparison to a blind fury!"
"GYAAOH!" Gyarados's ear-splitting cry was only eclipsed by his violence. His tail cracked around like a whip, decapitating the crown of Sheer Cold. Giant, jagged blocks of ice rained down, battering an unprepared Lapras.
"Lapras!" Ash cried. The Transport submerged before dragging herself up, shaking her head dizzily. She looked weary, but conscious, as she settled above water. "Lapras, look out!"
Lapras looked up just a moment too late. A wretched, furious Gyarados brought his head down without restraint, bashing into her. She plummeted to the depths of the pool, and hit the rocky bottom. Her vision became blurry, and she became light-headed.
Lapras rose to the surface, lying unconscious.
The referee raised a flag in Lance's favor. "Lapras is unable to battle! Gyarados wins!"
"Ooooh, that is unfortunate for Lapras! Despite Ketchum pulling out all of the stops, Lance's Gyarados proved to be an indomitable force of nature! The first win goes to the Champion!"
"Aw, so close…!" Dawn huffed, punching her pom poms into one another. "They almost had 'im!"
"That's unfortunate," Brock grumbled, folding his arms. "Paralysis and confusion are a debilitating combination. But, it stands to reason that if Deidra can master the fury of Outrage to her own ends, then Lance would certainly have his own way of doing it. Gyarados was hardly a sitting duck like Ash expected him to be… or like any trainer would, for that matter."
"Aw, poor Lapras…!" Misty pouted. "She put up such a valiant fight… Oh, but Gyarados!" She pumped her fists; eyes sparkling with wonder. "Oh, his power was so elegant…! They truly embody the ruthless ferocity of the ocean! No amount of preparation could prepare man for nature!"
"Who's side are you even on?" Dawn asked. A bead of sweat rolled down hers, Empoleon's, and Brock's heads.
"Just ignore her," Brock whispered to them.
"Thank you, Lapras…" Ash recalled the Transport to her Poké Ball, smiling down at the capsule. Although he was a tad disappointed, he was grateful, all the same. "I'm sorry you lost, but you did great work. Now we know most of Gyarados's tricks, and he's paralyzed!"
"That may be, Ash." Lance interjected from across the field. "But even as Gyarados has suffered damage, I'm afraid, for your sake, that he's actually stronger than ever!"
Lance's own stalwart companion rose to prove his point. No longer suffering from confusion, Gyarados stood tall, roaring ferociously. "After suffering the effects of Outrage, Gyarados has freed himself of his blind fury! And better yet, his fighting spirit has brought him to new heights!"
An aura of red washed over Gyarados, confirming Lance's words. Ash pointed Dexter at him.
"Gyarados's hidden ability: Moxie."
"So just like Samurai's Heracross," Ash muttered, frowning. "Gyarados has gotten even stronger! But, his speed is still cut in half. So, if we can just take 'im down quick…!" The trainer grinned, drawing a second Poké Ball and extending it toward Gyarados. "I know just the guy!"
"Oh?" Lance asked. "You don't plan to use your Pikachu in this match-up…?"
"Peeks may have the right type for this battle," Ash replied, "but I'm gonna be saving him for later." He reached up to affectionately scratch the mouse's cheek, who leaned into his hand.
"You should never reveal your secret weapon too early," Peeks purred, shooting Lance a smirk.
"Ah, it's as I thought! You want your partner Pokémon around for the climax of this battle. A laudable sentiment," Lance replied with a smile. "However! I hope you aren't underestimating my dragons, presuming to reach our pinnacle to begin with! This isn't a battle where you can afford to hold back!"
"Who said anything about holding back?" Ash grinned, winding up to pitch his next Poké Ball. "You're gonna have your hands full with this guy…!" Ash threw the ball with an enthusiastic, underhanded follow-through. "I choose you…! Sceptile!"
Lustrous lime scales gleamed under the setting sun. A vibrant green deciduous fern made up the length of his tail, and golden bulbs ran up his back, matching his sharp, reptilian eyes. Sceptile bashed his tail against the earth, and retrieved a twig to place between his lips.
"Ash has chosen his next Pokémon — Sceptile! This reptilian fighter has had some of the most infamous showings among Ash's Pokémon; defeating Jimmy's white-hot Typhlosion in the Indigo Plateau Conference Semi-Finals, and even felling Tobias's unstoppable Darkrai in the Lily of the Valley Semi-Finals!" Roaring cheers rolled in from the audience with his introduction. "And, he's known for his habit of chewing his signature twig! Sceptile's cool composure has attracted him quite a fanbase, over the years!"
"You hear that, Sceptile?" Ash laughed. "I think you've got a fanclub."
True to his nature, Sceptile maintained his composure, leaning into a battle-ready stance. "That's not my concern. But, as long as I have them, I might as well give them a proper show."
"That's the spirit!" Ash cried, waving a hand. "So, get this show on the road, with Rock Slide!"
Sceptile crouched forward and curled his claws inward, flexing with a guttural screech. A volley of boulders manifested above and around him. With a wave of his arms, they fired at Gyarados.
"Gyarados!" Lance cried. "Use Waterfall!"
Gyarados gathered his strength and coiled up.A gigantic torrent coated his body, and he launched himself at Sceptile, propelled by an earth-shaking cascading wave. Waterfall bashed through one boulder after another; the tide propelling him bashed them into so much rubble.
Sceptile stepped onto his back foot warily. He was soon eclipsed by Gyarados's shadow.
"Your Lapras and her Water Absorb ability made this move counterintuitive," Lance explained. "Now, Gyarados can rampage as he pleases! Crush them!"
"Sceptile! Take to the air!" Ash waved a hand. The Forest Pokémon bounded back with his strong legs, planting his feet against the icy surface of one of the Sheer Cold statues. With a second, effortful jump, he soared past Gyarados, hovering overhead. He braced himself, as Gyarados charged him with a terrifying shriek. "Now, use Thunder Punch!"
Sceptile tightened one of his hands into a fist, which began to leak golden, sizzling lightning. "Tiiile…!" He roared, spinning his entire body around to rear back his fist. He brought it down to crash directly into Gyarados's crown. Residual lightning leaked from the impact point, rippling across Gyarados's Waterfall with shades of gold. Gyarados cried out in agony from the shock.
Sceptile grit his teeth, forcing his arm down with all of his might. Gyarados's might was overwhelming, and it made his every bone rattle. "Tiiiile…!" He roared, forcing his fist down.
Ultimately, Gyarados roared in pain and writhed away; the Waterfall bursting into so much mist.
"It seems that Sceptile's Thunder Punch was just too painful for Gyarados to handle…!"
Sceptile landed in front of Gyarados, shaking the electricity off of his fist.
"But, Gyarados's overwhelming strength put Sceptile on the backfoot as well!"
"Gyarados!" Lance shouted, waving a hand. "Thunder Wave!"
Gyarados shook his head out, and opened his mouth in Sceptile's rings cascaded in a volley towards the Forest Pokémon. He was backed up against the ice, now.
"Sceptile!" Ash cried. "Dodge it! Up the ice!"
"Roger!" Sceptile grunted, and sprung up the nearest Sheer Cold to avoid Thunder Wave.
"A valiant effort, but foolish!" Lance shouted. "We have you cornered! Gyarados, Ice Fang!"
"Gwaaah…!" Gyarados started to circle around the spires of Sheer Cold, and his fang took on a cyan glow, leaking frost with every rotation. He was quickly becoming a spiral of icy carnage, closing in on a vulnerable Sceptile. The Forest Pokémon backed up against the ice. Every time he attempted to find an escape, Gyarados's massive head passed him, and he had to press himself up against the ice to avoid the wrath of his sharp, freezing fangs.
"He's between a rock and a hard place," Ash muttered. "Or, more like a rock and a cold place."
"This is no time for jokes!" Peeks scolded.
"You're right. Sceptile! Use Detect!"
Sceptile watched the spiraling body segments of Gyarados carefully. His eyes glimmered blue, calling on the depths of his observational skills. Every move from Gyarados, every pattern…
"Tile!" He found just one moment where Gyarados's serpentine body had to take a wider turn around jutting ice, and leapt onto a higher icy platform. He watched Gyarados wrap around higher, and did so again, executing several jumps to elevate himself above his foe.
"Sceptile is doing his best to find an escape! But, once a foe is wrapped up in Gyarados's merciless Ice Fang, they never seem to find a way out! This may be it!"
"Sceptile! Up higher — the top!" Ash cried.
Sceptile watched the passing blur of crimson and tan scales wrapping towards the summit, and his eyes flickered blue again. He lunged into a backflip, landing at Sheer Cold's very peak.
"Scaaah!" Sceptile cried in pain. He looked back at his tail, where it was partially covered in frost. It stung, but he'd luckily avoided the worst of it. "Tile…" He wasn't out of the woods yet, and he had to ignore the pain. His golden eyes flicked around. Gyarados seemed to be slowing.
"Of course!" Ash gasped, as he watched the spiral of icy death around his trusted partner slow. Gyarados's cycle was becoming clumsy, and static danced along his segment.. "His paralysis…"
Gyarados's rotations around the summit were indeed becoming sluggish. On his next wrap around Sheer Cold, it was fairly easy for Sceptile to hop atop the very peak, and out of range.
"Sceptile!" Ash cried. "Use Screech!"
"SCEEEEAAAAH!" Sceptile opened his mouth for a horrible, earth-rattling Screech. Sonic waves bombarded Gyarados's entire body, making it slow to a halt. Gyarados thrashed his head about, suffering from the overbearing sounds. His crimson body suffered a gentle blue aura.
"Now's your chance!" Ash cried. "Spinning Leaf Blade!"
Sceptile pivoted one foot behind the other, and raised one arm far past his chest. The sharp leaves on his forearms gained an emerald glow, just as his body twisted to its limit. "Seah!" He cried, and spun into a lime, pink, and verdant blur. Glowing scythes cleaved into Gyarados's encroaching segments, slicing away at his vulnerable underbelly; made even softer by Screech.
Gyarados howled in pain, as he suffered critical blow after critical blow. The scraping became unbearable, and he unraveled, falling from the icy heights toward the rocky terrain.
"Gyarados's paralysis slowed him down, and just in time! Sceptile's 'Spinning Leaf Blade' might have just brought him down! What an upset!"
"Maybe," Ash said, "but it's not over 'till it's over!" With a hardened expression, he swept a hand through the air. "Let's finish it, Sceptile! One more Leaf Blade!"
"Tile!" Sceptile cried, and leapt off of the icy summit towards the falling sea serpent. He drew back a forearm and put one forward. Each leap sharpened into a glowing crescent.
"You won't subdue us without a fight!" Lance cried. "Gyarados! Thunder Wave!"
Gyarados roared, as his back hit the rocky ground. But, he was just cognizant enough to rear his head, and intercept the descending Grass-type. He fired several rings of numbing static from his mouth in a spiteful, last-ditch effort.
"Oh, no!" Ash exclaimed. 'He's already in a fall… He's gonna be paralyzed. What do we do!?' In the split second he had to react, Ash took in the scene. His dark eyes flicked around for any sort of weak point or answer. They landed on Sceptile's tail, which was halfway coated in frost.
'That's it! It's a long shot, but it might work!'
"Sceptile!" Ash shouted. "Catch Thunder Wave with your tail!"
Sceptile's golden eye flicked back to Ash. He didn't understand his trainer's plan, but he trusted him entirely. He swerved his body around so that his tail crowded in ferns intercepted the static.
"What's this!? Ash has ordered Sceptile to use his tail as a lightning rod for the electricity! Could this be one of his strange strategies!?"
Sceptile grit his teeth, as he felt his tail began to numb, from the end upward.
"Now!" Ash threw a hand up. "Leaf Storm!"
Now, Sceptile understood. "TEYAAAH!" He cried, as a roaring, emerald storm fired from his tail. Overpowering winds carried a deluge of powerful emerald leaves, battering away at Gyarados.
Furthermore, the static from Thunder Wave channeled through the leaves, dealing out extra punishment, as crackling gold whipped its way into the emerald cyclone.
"Ah! What an upset! Sceptile has turned Gyarados's electricity back on him, with a powerful, last-ditch Leaf Storm!" As the emcee narrated the battle, the ground began to cave beneath Gyarados, who was driven further into the earth by its power. "This might be it!"
With one last gust of wind, Sceptile propelled himself to land atop an icy outcrop, and exhaled.
The gusts and billowing dust took a moment to clear, as the audience watched with bated breath. The referee looked up at one of the large monitors, where Gyarados could be seen, halfway buried in the earth with his tail lying limp. There were spirals in the Pokémon's eyes.
"Gyarados is unable to battle!" She cried. "Sceptile wins!"
Utterances of awe and cheers of excitement swallowed the stadium alike. Lance resigned to the result with a quiet breath, and recalled the Atrocious Pokémon to his very own Poké Ball.
"An incredible turnaround play by Ash Ketchum and Sceptile! An ambush that should've put him in dire straits was turned around to take out his vicious opponent! Now, let's see how Sceptile is doing…!"
Sceptile looked his body over, seemingly able to move. Although, his posture was a bit awkward. Golden static danced up and down the ferns making up his tail, but only his tail.
"Sceptile! How're you doing, bud?" Ash asked. "Are you paralyzed? Can ya move?"
"Most of my body feels fine," Sceptile said, looking himself over. "Limber as can be. My tail, however, feels completely numb." He looked back at it, frowning. "Although I'm not feeling that chill anymore, either, so I suppose it could be worse."
Ash smiled. His shoulders sagged with relief. "I guess that's the best we can ask for."
"Sharp thinking, by the by." Sceptile praised, smiling at Ash. "You made the downside minimal."
"It seems that only Sceptile's tail is paralyzed! An odd phenomenon, indeed! Sceptile must have cut that Thunder Wave short, by firing a Leaf Storm into it, halfway through! Now, Ash and Lance are each down one Pokémon. The damage Sceptile suffered seems minimal, making the setbacks they've suffered basically even! What will Lance do!?"
"Well done, Ash! You have my praises." Lance clapped his hands. "You have a nasty habit of working a pinch to your advantage. Of course, I'd expect nothing less in a Champion's League challenge." The carmine-haired hero retrieved a second Poké Ball from underneath his cape.
"Of course, the fun is only just beginning! Go, my unforgiving flame! Wreak havoc on the battlefield with your brutish taste for violence!" He threw the Poké Ball backhanded. "Charizard!"
The metallic capsule spun on a curve, splitting open to release a magnificent winged beast. Charizard soared above the stadium, and spread his wings with a bellowing roar. Embers rained off of his teal webbed wings to the tune of excitable cheers from Lance's end of the audience.
"Lance's next Pokémon is Charizard!"
"Hah. What're the odds?" Ash smirked, cutting a wry look at Sceptile. "Lemme guess. You're staying."
Sceptile smirked, shifting the twig between his lips. "Unless you say otherwise, Boss? You'd better believe it." He sharpened his blades against one another. "Like hell, I'd miss this chance."
"Ah…?" Lance hummed, raising a brow. "You're not fleeing this disadvantageous match-up…?"
"I considered it," Ash replied, and shook his head. "But I'm going to pass. Sceptile doesn't exactly feel satisfied; he fought an opponent who was already whittled down. And more importantly, he's been raring to defeat a Charizard for a long time now." He took a wider stance, clenching a fist up high. "It may be foolish, but if Sceptile believes in his training, then I'm right there with him! We're willing to stake this battle on his hard-earned pride!"
A significant share of the audience roared in approval of Ash's impromptu speech.
Misty sighed, leaning her cheek into her palm, meanwhile. "I'm glad Ash's fanclub likes it. The speech made him look cool and all, but if it backfires on them, what good will that do?"
"Don't be so sure it will!" Dawn shook her head. "Sometimes, motivation goes a long way! And, Sceptile has been training to take on Ash's Charizard for a long while now. He's well-prepared!"
"Ash's habit of listening to his Pokémon's whims is a double-edged sword," Brock thought aloud. "It can lead to some cataclysmic results, in the event that he's in over his head. But, motivation can play a part in a victory, under the right circumstances. Ash synchronizing with his Pokémon's feelings is still his greatest strength. And, Sceptile's no stranger to a tough fight."
"So, that's your reasoning, then…" Lance folded his arms, and smiled. "I'm most pleased, Ash! You have my praises. I, myself, don't have a taste for switching out until an opponent is soundly defeated. Many consider it foolish, but this is simply the nature of a dragon's pride! Never back down. Never surrender!" He clutched a hand into a clawed fist. "Only when your foe is downed, and your bounty is claimed, can you return to the dragon's den truly satisfied!"
Just as with Ash and his speech, Lance's cut of the audience cheered and swooned.
"Hah, yeah? I like that!" Ash laughed. "Then, I'll do the same. No switching 'til a round's over!"
"You heard it here first, folks! An honor-bound promise, between the challenger and the Champion, against tactical retreats! These two are truly cut from the same Kanto cloth!"
"Groarh…!" A growl rumbled in Charizard's throat. He stared down Sceptile, spitting out embers.
"I'd like to see you try," Sceptile hissed, carefully pivoting into a fighting stance.
"Rock Slide!"
Sceptile roared and flexed from atop Sheer Cold, and solid rock materialized in the air around him. He'd honed his command of the earth with unshakable willpower, and bent it to his whims. He threw his arms down in a cross over his chest, launching the storm of boulders at his behest. They quickly ambushed Charizard, forcing the Flame Pokémon to fly backwards for some breadth.
"Cut them down!" Lance commanded. "Air Slash!"
"Groah!" Charizard beat his wings. The resulting shockwave fired a volley of sharp air currents into the barrage. Huge stones were carved down the middle, smaller ones obliterated. Several Air Slashes persisted, quickly approaching Sceptile.
The twig in Sceptile's mouth wavered and bent from the coming currents. "Tile," Sceptile grunted. He saw the writing on the wall. And so, he dove from Sheer Cold's peak, hopping between several footholds before sprinting down the ice's vertical surface without struggle. His padded, adhesive feet touched the dirt, and he sprinted towards Charizard, leaning his weight forward to be fully aerodynamic.
He kicked up clouds of dust with his speed, launching shockwaves across the field. He neared the more straightforward slope of Lapras's first Sheer Cold, flattened by Freeze-Dry, and dashed up its surface towards Charizard.
"Dragon Claw!"
Ash and Lance's shouts echoed, and their Pokémon followed. Charizard tucked in his wings and dove towards his ascending foe. Emerald, shimmering claws coated his organic nails, and he wound up his right.
Sceptile responded in kind, planting one foot in front of the other for stopping power. Momentum carried him further up the dry ice, while he swung in an uppercut with the foundation of both of his planted feet. "Tahl…!"
Artificial claws crashed against one another, with Sceptile's grounding giving him the slightest advantage. He bucked Charizard off of his guard with his rising diagonal strike.
Unfortunately, his icy footing betrayed him. The clash with Charizard pushed him backwards, throwing off his balance.
Charizard's sneer was palpable. He lunged forward to press the advantage with a raking sweep of his opposite paw.
Sceptile narrowed his gaze. He saw an opportunity and shifted his weight sideways, merely lifting his opposite Dragon Claw across his body in a display of defense. Sparks sprayed wildly from the two moves clashing. There was a brief struggle of Charizard pressing his weight downward. Sceptile allowed it, turning with Charizard to allow the Flame Pokémon to push directly past him.
Charizard snarled in confusion. He found himself stumbling clumsily forward, using far more energy to move than he'd meant to without opposition. He planted his foremost foot down, digging his claws into the ice.
Planting just one caused him to spin around just as Sceptile did. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Sceptile lunging at him, claws raised.
Charizard was far too late to block the vicious slash carving down his eye and across his chest. Sceptile had thrown himself into a downward slash, and he hit his mark.
Charizard roared. Before he even regained his composure, he countered with a vicious uppercut slash across Sceptile's abdomen, moving on to strike underneath his chin.
"WOW! Now, this is a proper clash of titans! With speed, power, and footwork, Sceptile and Charizard are going claw for claw! A storm of shimmering slashes that would carve down any ordinary opponent in the blink of an eye!"
Sceptile hissed, and was knocked back, stumbling to recapture his balance. By the time he could put his weight forward, Charizard loomed over him, with both sets of claws welded over his head.
"Detect!" Ash cried.
Sceptile's eyes glimmered blue. His fighting senses kicked in, and he leaned back to land on his rear to slide under the Dragon Claw axe handle. The sound of them cleaving the earth hit his ears, behind him.
"...But, these two Pokémon are anything but ordinary!"
Sceptile successfully slid under Charizard. Unfortunately, he was unable to adjust his tail to reduce his drag, or even steer his descent. It still felt completely numb! It made him leaning forward and finding his balance a clumsy endeavor.
"Retaliate, with Thunder Punch!" Ash shouted.
Sceptile finally swerved and scrambled to his feet; an embarrassing experience in front of a crowd that he tried to play off as smoothly as possible: and lunged at Charizard with a crackling fist. Unfortunately, the Flame turned in time, grinning. He leaned his neck back, avoiding the arc of electricity. Static danced through the air, reflecting a brilliant gold off of Charizard's scales, and his toothy grin.
Charizard raised his right paw over his head, wielding three, razor sharp projections. He set up to strike Sceptile down.
For the Forest Pokémon, the scene felt as if it were moving in slow motion. His golden eyes grew wide.
Luckily, Ash noticed his peril, too. "Screech!" He cried with haste.
Sceptile opened his reptilian maw to unleash a feral shriek. Charizard was blown off of his feet in the eye of the sonic storm, and the ice beneath his feet cracked and crumbled under the duress.
"Charizard!" Lance shouted with full-throated authority, hoping to pierce even screech. "Hyper Beam!"
Charizard was recoiling under the harsh sound. He could only make out the faintest phonemes of Lance's command, but a dulled "Hy– . . . —eam!" told him more than enough.
He was eager to escape this assault. Golden light gathered in his maw, and fired into Screech. The signature ominous, spine-chilling ring of Hyper Beam pierced the noise, and Sceptile had the wind knocked out of his lungs.
"Oooh! Charizard breaks through Screech with a full-throated Hyper Beam! It lands a direct hit!"
"Sceptile!" Ash cried.
Hyper Beam persisted, blasting Sceptile across the battlefield, passing several earthy spires before colliding with the first Sheer Cold. A deafening explosion followed, and smoke flooded the battlefield.
"Oh, dear! Poor Scept-y!" Delia gasped, clutching her camera between her fingers. "I hope that's not the end for him! That Hyper Beam looked so strong…!"
"I wouldn't worry just yet, Delia." Oak replied, smiling. "Take a closer look."
"Ah…?" Delia used her camera to zoom in on the battlefield. Inky smoke and dust dissipated, revealing the aftermath.
A crater was blasted into the icy tower, but Sceptile wasn't embedded in it. He stood at the base of the ice, dusting off his chest. He'd suffered several burn marks and bruises, but he looked more irritated than injured.
When the twig between his lips turned to ash, he looked particularly livid.
"Sceptile took that Hyper Beam head-on, but he seems to be alright! What a trooper!"
"Yay!" Delia cooed. "But, I don't understand. Hyper Beam is one of the most powerful attacks, isn't it? And, Lance's Charizard seems very strong."
"Ah, yes. He is strong! But the answer to this riddle is in where that strength lies." Samuel cleared his throat. "'A Slowbro's mind is mighty, but they are still slow, you know?' In other words, Lance's Charizard seems to be quite powerful with his physical attacks, but his special attacks seem lackluster. My best guess is that this is due to his nature. He craves brutal, hand-to-hand combat to firing flames and what-not. So, his abilities reflect his Adamant nature!"
"Ah…!" Delia hummed, nodding thoughtfully. "Then, Ash is more at risk fighting close-up."
"Yes, but Leaf Storm gets weaker with every use, and his Grass-type attacks are majorly disadvantageous here." His sharp, aged eyes turned to Ash, who seemed to be plotting under his breath. "And, I think Ash understands the challenge he faces. He's going to have to get inventive to win!"
"Good thing that's Ash's strong suit!"
"Alright. So, we know that Charizard's ranged attacks are for strategy, and not dealing out the most damage," Ash thought aloud. "Then, we'd better press the offensive!"
"We're wasting valuable time," Sceptile admonished. "Charizard can't attack!"
Ash shook his head. "Charizard dipped behind the ice slope when you were down. Lance uses Hyper Beam the same way Gliscor uses Giga Impact. He always makes sure he creates distance to avoid bein' a sitting duck!"
"It makes sense," Peeks replied. "Hyper Beam is Lance's favorite move. Of course he's mastered it."
"Right! But, we've got a strategy of our own," Ash said, smiling.
Sceptile cocked a brow. "You have a plan?"
"I have a way to win this battle outright. We just need to fight 'em off until it's ready! So, charge in!"
Sceptile put his faith in Ash and obeyed, sprinting across the rocky terrain, and towards the icy mountain in the center of the battlefield. Dust kicked up in his wake several seconds after he passed through; unable to keep up with his speed.
"Sceptile is back on the attack!"
"Tile…!" Sceptile roared and sprinted up the ice. He reached the pinnacle, and looked over the edge. Charizard was waiting for him further down the slope. "So, you're ready for more." His smirk bordered on a sneer, as he sprinted down the decline.
Charizard snorted. "I should be asking you that!"
"Charizard!" Lance cried. "Flare Blitz!"
Charizard roared, spanning his wings. A red and orange blaze tumbled across his body, igniting it in a dark inferno. He soared towards Sceptile.
'So, he knows Flare Blitz. That's perfect!' Ash smiled to himself. "Detect!"
Sceptile's eyes glimmered. He lunged to the side of Flare Blitz with his blinding speed, only moving slightly awkwardly because of his paralyzed tail. Without its guidance, he pivoted his feet instead to swerve, facing Charizard.
"Oooh! Flare Blitz missed! But, Charizard is looping back around…!"
Up in the sky, the dark hellfire of Flare Blitz blazed an arc through the sky, raining shimmering embers over the field. He completed a 180 degree turn, and divebombed Sceptile.
"We're not just gonna let you do that for free!" Ash cried. He raised a fist, and closed it. "Rock Slide!"
Sceptile called on another onslaught of boulders and fired them into Charizard's path. One rock after another crashed into the Flame, making him recoil and stagger.
But, the angry inferno of Flare Blitz triumphed. Every rock to collide with it melted and crumbled; its ashen aftermath falling by the wayside.
Ash's eyes narrowed. "It's not slowing him down… Block, with Dragon Claw!"
Sceptile narrowed his eyes and reinforced his stance, crossing his claws over his head. Sharp, emerald claws manifested, just in time for Flare Blitz to crash into them.
Sparks flew. Flames licked at the ice, and at Sceptile's scales. The Grass-type felt his arms tremble under the weight. Past the claws guarding him, he faced the terrifying sight of Charizard's vicious, teeth-baring glare, cloaked in the angry dark red of his flames.
"Tile…!" Sceptile grunted with effort. He began to lose ground. His feet dragged along the icy surface, carving cracks into it. Flare Blitz snapped at his body, wrapping him in sweltering heat. His body told him to disengage. His pride wouldn't allow it.
Meanwhile, the ice beneath their feet hissed, leaking thick white water vapor. A wet layer of melting ice matriculated under the two titans, pouring down the ice sheet.
"Sceptile has blocked the initial run of Flare Blitz! But, one can only imagine just how long the Grass-type can hold on, under such unforgiving heat…!"
"Your Sceptile's grit is laudable Ash," Lance spoke, "but it is also futile! He cannot possibly endure Charizard's Flare Blitz!"
"Yeah, we'll see!" Ash snapped back. He couldn't see the clash behind the ice from his lift, beyond Flare Blitz's residual aura. 'C'mon… I know this is tough, Sceptile, but I just need you to hold a moment longer. We're almost there!'
"Pikapi!"
Then, it happened. A dense cloud of water vapor shrouded the field.
Charizard pushed down upon Sceptile, who looked ready to wilt under his might. But, the crash of collapsing ice startled the Flame Pokémon. Beneath his feet, the frozen foundation broke. Flare Blitz died out, and Charizard cried, falling into the collapsing spot.
"There it is!" Ash grinned. He could hear the ice cave, and the crackling fire die out. "Sceptile! Use Thunder Punch!"
Sceptile found the pressure on his arms cease, and the overbearing heat dissipate. Looking past his claws, he sneered at the sight of a very startled and off-balance Charizard.
He was thrilled to take advantage of this. A tight fist clenched behind him, sizzling with errant, gold electricity. "Sceeep… Tile!"
He roared with a mighty, crackling uppercut, striking Charizard in the jaw. A trail of static hung in the strike's wake, and the Flame was knocked skyward.
"Leaf Blade!"
Sceptile leapt after Charizard. His opponent was off-balance; a perfect opportunity to wind up, and slash across his exposed belly with his crescent blade.
"I can't see what's happening, but it sounds like Sceptile somehow got the better of this exchange, within the mist!"
Charizard was hurt and off-balance, rising into the thick of the mist. With his jaw tilted toward the sky, he looked to be vulnerable. However, he could hear the humming of Sceptile's Leaf Blade.
He sneered, and beat his wings, flying a quick, tight loop around Sceptile.
"Tile…!?" Sceptile looked over his shoulder, and attempted to pivot. But, his tail was numb, and his balance was clumsy. Worse yet, his arms were yanked above his head in an iron grip.
He snarled in displeasure.
Charizard grinned, and beat his wings in one, strong motion. The vapor dispelled across the water and ground, revealing himself and Sceptile to the crowd. He had Sceptile in a tight lock, hooking his arms under the Forest Pokémon's. Though Sceptile struggled, he couldn't move.
"What's this!? Charizard has taken Sceptile hostage, in an unforgiving lock!"
Cries of awe rolled in from the crowd. Lance, for his part, only smiled. "I'm afraid this is the end, Sceptile. Getting close to Charizard is always a perilous gambit. Finish it! Use Seismic Toss!"
"Groah!" Charizard roared, and took off into the skies. Sceptile yanked away to no avail.
"In a total reversal for Ash, he sits on the opposite end of a Charizard's Seismic Toss!"
"Damn it," Ash muttered through his teeth. "We need a way out of this, and quick. If only Sceptile had use of his tail…!" The fern tail could be aimed at Charizard, tucked under his body, and a point-blank Leaf Storm would be decisive, even with the type disadvantage!
'Nah, it's pointless. If we use Leaf Storm now, my strategy goes up in smoke! There has to be another way for Sceptile to get free. He can't hit Charizard without moving his arms, so there's no point in Leaf Blade or Thunder Punch…' His eyes grew wide. "Thunder Punch… That's it!"
He cupped his hands around his mouth, and shouted. "Sceptile! Fry 'em, with Thunder Punch!"
"Tile…!" Sceptile hissed. He looked back at the Flame, and grinned, igniting his fists with wild bolts of electricity. They coursed up and down his arms, shocking Charizard with wild bolts.
"What…!?" Lance looked up, grimacing.
Worse yet, even as Charizard endured the pain, he felt his arms becoming numb, at such close proximity to Sceptile's fists. He released Sceptile with a cry of surprise. His lock was compromised!
"There it is!" Ash grinned, punching the air. "Now, give 'im a good toss! See how he likes it!"
"Right!" Sceptile reached over his head as he fell, grabbing Charizard's flailing tail. "Sceeeep….!" He roared, throwing Charizard down to plummet towards earth. "Tile!"
"Sceptile used his Thunder Punch to reverse Seismic Toss! It seems that Ash knows that move better than anybody!"
"Tch… Very well," Lance tutted. "Charizard! Recover, and use Air Slash… ah!?"
Charizard turned and recovered with several strong beats of his wings, hovering below Sceptile. But, something was awry; his arms were locked at an awkward angle, crackling with electricity.
Still, Charizard persisted, firing an onslaught of sharp air currents at Sceptile.
"Cut them down, with Leaf Blade!" Ash cried.
Sceptile sharpened his leaves into crescents, and slashed at the incoming Air Slashes consecutively. Split currents of wind petered off harmlessly, leaving Sceptile untouched.
"A solid defense," Lance praised, "but you're now at our mercy! Charizard! Flare Blitz!"
Charizard snarled, and furious crimson flames launched him towards the falling reptile.
Sceptile crossed his arms in front of his body in the split second he had. "Gahck…!"
It did him little good. Angry flames snapped at his body, and the air was knocked right out of his lungs. He collided with the icy slope in the middle of the field, forming a crater in its surface.
"Oooh! That was a nasty Flare Blitz! Is Sceptile going to be able to walk that off…!?"
"C'mon, Sceptile!" Ash muttered, clenching a fist. "Just a bit more… If you can walk this off, we'll win. I'm counting on you, big guy." His eyes narrowed, and his heart thumped against his chest.
An emerald aura rising from the glacier was Ash's cue to smile and laugh. "Bingo."
"Phew… It looks like Sceptile's still in the game." Misty exhaled, leaning forward in his seat. "There was nothing he could've done about that Flare Blitz. Ash is in real trouble, at this rate!"
"Don't be so sure," Dawn replied. "Ash is at his toughest when his back's against the wall!"
"I think the same can be said of Sceptile," Brock replied. "Look! It's Overgrow!"
"He's not out yet!" The emcee cried, as Sceptile dragged himself out of the crater, one claw at a time. He sat up for the audience to see; his lime body cloaked in a harsh, emerald glow that accentuated his sharp features with all manner of light and shadow. The leaves on his forearms shone and sharpened into long, crescent blades. He stood upright, flexing and cracking his neck.
"Unbelievable! Sceptile doesn't look like he's doing too hot… but, the same can be said for Charizard!" The emcee and audience turned their attention to the Flame, who landed with a stagger atop the rocky field. Red sparks danced over his body. "He's suffered the recoil of Flare Blitz… and, what's that!?" His arms were still frozen in the same awkward bend they'd held while holding Sceptile. "I believe Charizard's arms are paralyzed, from that Thunder Punch! Both Pokémon have extremities unable to move, but this case might be worse!"
"So, my suspicions were correct," Lance acknowledged. "You paralyzed Charizard's arms during that contact. This means that his Dragon Claw is effectively negated. A troubling development."
"That part was luck," Ash admitted with a smile. 'But, still. There's no sign of Charizard's Blaze, if he has it. My best bet is assuming he's still got more left in the tank. There's no denying it. I need to finish this with one shot!' He waved a hand. "But, this won't be! Sceptile! Rock Slide!"
"Gryaaah…!" Sceptile roared, flexing his arms. A barrage of boulders materialized.
"Both of you will be turned to cinders in the wake of our wrath!" Lance cried. "Flare Blitz!"
Charizard sprinted and took off in flight, soaring towards Sceptile as the boulders fired. He swerved past one, and another, then tucked in for a barrel roll to dodge the remainder.
Each of the giant stones fired high into the air, missing Charizard entirely.
Charizard wrapped himself in flames, and divebombed Sceptile.
Ash smirked. "Detect!"
Sceptile's eyes snapped open. He planted his claws against the edges of the crater he'd emerged from, and leaned his weight backwards. He vaulted upside down into a handstand, and sprang into a backwards somersault up the icy incline. Charizard followed, coming short.
He was unable to halt his momentum. Flare Blitz crashed into the glacier, plowing into the solid ice and breaking it into pieces. What didn't break, started to melt under the extreme heat.
Gasps could be heard from the audience. Charizard staggered, suffering from recoil.
Sceptile, meanwhile, hovered overhead.
Ash smiled, swiping a hand through the air. "Leaf Blade!"
"Sceeep…!" Sceptile reared both of his arms behind him. Their blades shimmered, like a grim reaper's scythe.
"Charizard!" Lance cried.
Charizard's aquamarine eyes flicked behind him. He soared into the air, dodging the attack.
"Using the ice to hinder us with recoil was a clever maneuver," Lance said, "but our speed is too great."
"Yeah, that's the neat thing about our attack," Ash smiled, adjusting the brim of his cap. "I wasn't aiming for Charizard."
The harsh sound of blades cleaving through solid ice assaulted Lance's eardrums before he could venture to guess what Ash's plans were. Sceptile's Leaf Blade cleaved a cross through the entirety of the large, mountainous glacier towards the center of the field. The statue that was Sheer Cold fractured, broke, and split into many large blocks of ice. Sceptile fell into the fracture, with his back facing the field. He looked up into the sky, where Charizard hovered.
The boulders from Rock Slide still hung over him.
Time seemed to move in slow motion, as Ash's voice echoed in Sceptile's mind.
~Remember what Lao said, Sceptile. You've got this!~
His golden eyes narrowed. The earthy glow of Overgrow intensified, before all of its power was siphoned into the six golden seeds on Sceptile's back. They pulsed with unimaginable power.
~The conviction to bring the earth to your will!~
"THIS IS IT!" Ash cried, thrusting an open hand over his head. "OVER-LEAF-STORM!"
The breath from every single spectator was stolen from their lungs. They were captured in a shared, silent awe, as emerald light consumed Indigo Stadium entirely. Terrible storm winds captured the battlefield in their grasp, capturing the field of play in a cyclone of natural light.
"What!?" Lance exclaimed, watching on with wide-eyed awe. He watched Charizard be battered and blasted higher into the sky, struggling to fight the storm of supernatural leaves, even with his type affinity. But, the carmine-haired Champion was perceptive enough to realize this wasn't the end — not even the purpose of this excessive display of power.
His eyes landed on the many, gigantic slabs of solid ice that were being lifted off the earth in a remarkable show of strength. Once they were captured in Sceptile's wind, they were blasted into the sky, towards a recovering Charizard. Even as Lance cried for caution, he knew Charizard couldn't hear him.
"Ahh…!" Misty yelped, leaning back in her seat to guard her from the tertiary winds, and flashing right. "What in the… world is Ash… doing!? What kind of Leaf Storm is this!?'
"I don't thi— . . . — eaf Storm itself i— . . . —biggest thing to worry about!" Brock shouted at the top of his lungs. Even so, he could hardly hear his own voice.
They could only watch, as large fragments of glacier battered Charizard mercilessly, spinning around him and knocking him higher. Even worse, the boulders falling from Rock Slide were yanked into the cyclone too, spinning about and battering Charizard, one after another.
Dawn didn't speak, instead, she just smiled, as the shimmering green reflected in her sapphire eyes. 'He's taking his own evolution of our technique, and evolving it again…!'
The fury of Over-Leaf-Storm started to subside, after a short time. The winds petered out, the leaves scattered, and the lights dimmed. Glaciers, torn to shreds, fell to the ground as shards and diamond dust. Fragments of boulders fell by the wayside, and hit the small lake's surface.
The middle of the battlefield was, once again, flattened. Charizard hit the earth with a loud crash, buried in a crater. He was on his back, wings spanned. His eyes had turned to swirls.
Sceptile landed opposite of him on solid land, crouched on one knee. His fist touched the earth, and he bowed his head. Overgrow's lively green still pulsed around his body, if a bit weaker.
The referee was the first to break the silence. "Charizard is unable to battle! Sceptile wins!"
"WOW! CHARIZARD IS DOWN! I apologize for the break in the play-by-play, folks, but I was just as lost for words as all of you! Ash's "Over-Leaf-Storm" was quite the spectacle, but I believe our camera crew was able to catch most of the action! If I could just have a quick look…" Some shuffling could be heard reverberating from the mic.
"Ah! Yes! Charizard's defeat can be ascribed to the massive chunks of ice and rock, thrown about in the chaos! It seems that was Ash's intent, in letting his own Sheer Cold suffer so much fire and brute force! Can you believe it!?"
Parts of the audience answered in an uproar of excitement. Ash inhaled, and exhaled. "I was kinda worried about whether that would work. All I could do was put my faith in my Pokémon!"
"I think I speak for us all, when I say that Ketchum's command of the field is nothing short of legendary! Sceptile seems to be on his last legs, but he is still standing!"
Lance could only laugh. "I feel foolish, Ash. Truly. You led me to believe that I commanded the momentum of our battle, with the type advantage and Charizard's physical might guiding our combat. But, every chip and lick of flame delivered to the ice… It was all your grand design."
"The idea came from my battle with Lorelei!" Ash answered, adjusting the brim of his cap with a peppy smile. "Against her, I had my Infernape melt and break her Sheer Cold to finish the fight."
"But in this battle, you had to borrow my Charizard's power," Lance concluded.
Ash nodded. "We knew that we weren't winning a head-on clash. So, we had to get creative!" He glanced at his belt, smiling. "Truth is, I owe part of our victories to Lapras, so far. She may not've had a knockout, but the fact is, beating Gyarados and Charizard hinged on her work!"
Her Poké Ball wobbled lightly in response.
Ash leaned forward, smirking. "But, I'm gonna guess that these kinds of stunts aren't gonna fool you, from here on out."
"That would be correct. You've played a clever and risky game up until now, Ash Ketchum. Your bonds with your Pokémon have allowed that much. However!" Lance grabbed the hems of his cape, extending his arms to fan the cloak with them. "I will prove to you in due time, that even bonds pale in comparison to the natural, overwhelming power of dragons!"
Ash recalled Sceptile, smiling upon his Poké Ball.. "Take a breather, big guy." He deposited it, and adjusted his cap, standing upright. He met Lance's eyes, raising a fist. "You can throw all the power at us you want, Lance! The stronger our opponents are, the stronger we become!"
Chapter 18: Champion II - Whirlpool
Chapter Text
"We've now reached a benchmark of the Champion Title Defense! Lance is down to two thirds of his team remaining, having lost two Pokémon! The mighty Gyarados and the brutal Charizard are out of the fight, after a difficult, uphill fight from Ketchum!"
Lance, the Champion of Kanto and Johto, showed no signs of discouragement or weakness. He rolled the metallic case of his next Poké Ball between his fingertips. Its solid gray reflected the intensifying pinks and purples of the setting sky. His smile was a steady upward turn. He waited patiently for the emcee to finish their exposition before calling on his next Pokémon. Although he professed to shun the art of theater and flare as a Dragon Master, claiming to believe in brute strength, he was one of its most candid practitioners in style and in affect.
"The Pride of Pallet has so far blazed a trail towards the Championship, but he, himself, faces a difficult battle, with one Pokémon down, and another severely weakened! Although he is nominally in the lead, you could argue that this battle is still a dead heat!"
Ash, for all of his gusto and machismo, took a deep breath and let his shoulders sag in the moment of triumph. He was performing about as well as any challenger to the pinnacle of two regions could hope to. Yet, he was also a mere sixteen years old, to a man who'd spent roughly twice that time on his Earth. His composure was imperfect. He was nervous beyond belief.
Yet, after he took a moment to recollect himself, Ash felt his soul once again burn for battle. His eyes steeled, and a gloved hand lingered near his belt in anticipation of his next counterpick.
"Champion!" The referee called. "Send out your next Pokémon!"
"Yes! Of course!" Lance held his Poké Ball across his chest. "Our battle resumes! May the dragon's eye strike you down with lethal precision!" He tossed it backhanded. "Seadra!"
The spinning Poké Ball opened, and a flash of light manifested over the body of water crawling up the perimeter of the field, pouring into a wider body of water in the middle. After Sheer Cold's destruction, the waters' entirety were once again available to both Pokémon.
Lance's own manifested on the calm waters' surface with a cry of his name. "Sea-dra!"
"Lance's next Pokémon is Seadra!" The emcee narrated, addressing the large, blue seahorse adorned with tough scales with cream accents, fins, a tubular mouth, and fierce eyes.
"Although not technically a Dragon-type, Lance's Seadra is a long-time staple of his roster! Interviews with Lance have divulged that Seadra has a storied rivalry with the Kingdra raised by Lance's cousin, Clair; the Blackthorn Gym Leader! In an expression of their personal pride, Seadra has opted not to evolve to maintain their individuality!"
"Whoo! Now, that's what I'm talking about!" Peeks hopped in place by Ash's side, and then smacked a paw against his chest with a smile of determination. "Your identity is yours to decide! You have a not-fully-evolved brother in arms over here, Seadra!"
"Hey, Buddy. Who's side are you even on?" Ash asked, cutting a betrayed look at his starter.
Lance laughed behind the back of his hand, which he was sure to do in a dignified manner. "You know, Ash. Your battle with my cousin, Deidra, led me to reevaluate my perspective, when it comes to dragon Pokémon. Her partners might not all share a type with their brethren, or even necessarily their appearance. But, each of them carried the heart and pride of a dragon — valiant, unforgiving forces of nature, who live and fall by their indomitable might and will!"
The wild-haired Champion clutched the wing of his cape in his palm, and gestured towards Peeks. "And, I must add that it seems your Pikachu carries within his heart, a dragon's pride!"
"Oh, my… Our little Peeks, a dragon?" Delia held a fingertip to her lip. She tried to conjure up an imaginary Dragon-type Pikachu, with wings, sharp fangs, and firebreath. It all came up ridiculous. "I find it hard to picture…"
"I believe our Champion is stretching the definition of a dragon," Oak said flatly, with an exasperated smile. "But I understand his sentiment, just the same! Different Pokémon types are predisposed to different temperaments on the average. Dragon-type Pokémon are known to be hard to find, very difficult to train, and individualistic. They don't bend to a trainer's will easily, only aligning themselves with them when they've earned their respect! In that sense… I suppose it would be fair to consider Ash's Pikachu an honorary dragon Pokémon!"
"Oh, it feels like it was just yesterday when he was chewing on wires in your laboratory walls, and shocking us on just a whim…!" Delia cooed, reminiscing on those tedious days.
"You hear that, Ash?" Peeks smirked at his trainer. "It's a dragon's pride. Nothing personal."
Lance's Seadra huffed, and replied with what Ash could only assume was his approval.
Ash laughed, shaking his head. "At any rate, I respect that, Seadra. And you'll be happy to know we won't be taking it easy on ya!" He juggled his remaining options in his mind. 'Seadra's probably going to stay in the water, so they'll be hard to tag. We need someone who can follow an opponent's movements.' On that criteria, Ash selected his next, and pitched them into battle.
"Rosa! I'm counting on you!"
The Knight of Roda appeared before Ash, aptly crouched on one knee, with her paw planted on the earthy field. Her red scarf flapped in the autumn breeze. Sharp, ruby eyes snapped open. Her intense gaze cleared the distance between herself and her opponent, challenging him with the overbearing stare of a warrior knowing many ages. They flickered with a hint of blue.
"Ash has selected his Lucario, Rosemary, for this coming bout!"
~Alright. We don't know much about Seadra yet, so we're gonna have to feel 'im out.~
Rosa smiled, receiving Ash's thoughts. ~Your caution from the old days is showing.~
~Only a little.~ Ash smirked, brushing his index over his nose. ~We're doin' reconnaissance the way I would these days: by charging in, head on!~ Ash waved a hand. "Charge in, Rosa!"
The Lucario's crouching position was broken in the blink of an eye, as she sprinted towards the small lake dividing the field. ~You know the word reconnaissance? Oh, your Aaron is showing.~
~Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up after the battle!~ Ash's voice rang in Rosa's mind. She allowed herself a belly laugh, just as she reached the water's edge. She crouched, and sprung towards Seadra.
"Punish their aggression!" Lance cried, gesturing forward. "Flamethrower!"
Seadra grunted, and subsequently spewed a torrent of flames from his tubular mouth. The firestream blasted across the still waters, leaving a faint haze of steam in its wake.
Ash and Rosemary's eyes widened simultaneously. "Rosa!" Ash cried.
Words weren't necessary, when years of training served. Between her paws, she summoned a long, solid staff. Bone Rush extended further than it usually did, and jammed its end into the earth behind her. She gripped the staff with both paws, using her momentum to swing around.
Flamethrower's approach toasted and singed the fur on her rear and tail. Her momentary panic was only dulled by her experience. She swung back around, using the Bone Rush as a pole vault to put herself at a distance.. Flamethrower fanned out against the shore in a wall of fire.
"Oooh, a close call! Rosemary's aggression is punished!"
"Don't presume to touch us so easily!" Lance shouted. "Seadra! Use Focus Energy!"
A glimmer shone in Seadra's sharp eyes. An orange glow surrounded his body.
"So, they have better aim now, huh?" Ash narrowed his gaze. "Well, we're not just gonna sit and wait to get hit, either! Hit 'im with Bone Rush!"
Rosa vaulted back onto her feet and crouched, spinning around to sling her staff into the flames. It breached the heat, and swung around on an arc towards Seadra.
"Seadra, let's test your aim, shall we?" Lance said, smiling. "Hydro Pump!"
Seadra instantaneously fired a powerful jet from his mouth. It struck the spinning Bone Rush, directly at its center. The staff shattered and dissipated, and Hydro Pump lost no momentum.
Hydro Pump blasted through the flames, splitting them and putting them out in an instant.
Rosa's eyes widened. She vaulted just over Hydro Pump, and puffed out her chest to narrowly avoid the pressure jet from striking her in the back. She was doused in mist. Her heart raced.
"That was close," Peeks whistled.
"That not enough to stop ya? Well, there's more where that came from! Aura Sphere!"
Rosemary backflipped through the air, extending each of her paws. An Aura Sphere was conjured in each, and she spun horizontally, slinging each Aura Sphere backhanded.
Both energy blasts fired on a curve, each spinning on a different course towards Seadra. The two quickly converged in a pincer attack before Rosemary even lost altitude.
"Hyper Beam!" Lance cried, sweeping a hand through the air.
"Already!?" Ash exclaimed. He didn't have time to react, or defend. An explosive blast fired from Seadra's mouth, sweeping across the entirety of the shore. He had to raise his arms, guarding himself from a series of chained explosions. "Agh… what power…!"
Each of the Aura Spheres was tagged and obliterated by the stream of destruction. Perhaps more impressive, though, was Hyper Beam tagging Rosemary right in the back.
The Aura Pokémon had the wind knocked out of her by a force she couldn't tag words to. Her mouth hung agape, and her eyes shrunk to pinpoints. An detonated on impact, and she rolled over towards her trainer out of the smoke.
"Rosa!" Ash cried. 'He tagged her, just like that…!?'
"Ooooh! That looked like a nasty Hyper Beam, right on target! Rosemary is hit!"
The crowd roared with awe at the sheer power and precision of Lance's Pokémon. While Seadra recovered, an ashen Rosa forced herself up onto all fours, and coughed.
"That looked like it really hurt," Ash said. "You alright?"
~I think it hit a soft spot,~ Rosa replied. She forced herself back onto her feet, doing her best to ignore the pain. It must have been a critical hit. Their Focus Energy worked.~
"Yeah, but still. You're still a Steel-type. You should at least resist it!" He grit his teeth. "We need a new way to approach. With all of our attacks, we can't even get close enough to do anything!"
"I told you, Ash!" Lance boasted from beyond the vanishing smoke. "The raw, indomitable power of dragons can't be overcome by mere trickery! At some point, you will have to meet our might!"
"Yeah? Well if tricks won't work, we'll try speed!" Ash waved a hand. "Rosa!"
The Lucario leaned forward into a straightforward spring, nearing the water's edge.
"We'll see how your speed fares!" Lance raised a hand. "Seadra! Hydro Pump!"
Seadra responded with another earth-breaking torrent in Rosemary's path.
"Oh, did we say speed?" Ash asked rhetorically, smirking. "I meant Extreme Speed."
Hydro Pump came to meet Rosemary; just a split second from blasting her away.
The Lucario was surrounded by a bright green glow. In an instant, she stretched into a blur.
"Hydro Pump misses its target!" The emcee cried, as the torrent flew harmlessly past Ash. "But, where has Rosemary— ah!" One of the rocky islands in the middle of the lake flickered with green, and Rosemary suddenly appeared, crouching atop its surface.
"Ah!?" Lance gasped. Her appearance was so sudden — so surprising — that he had no time to react. Seadra was even still firing her Hydro Pump, when the Aura Pokémon vanished again.
Seadra coughed and sputtered out, contorting under the duress of a foot smashing into her side. His Hydro Pump was reduced to a fine mist, as Rosemary pressed a kick into his side.
Time seemed to slow, at least for Rosemary. She narrowed her eyes, and gave her digitigrade leg another forceful push with a cry of effort. A loud, blunt impact caught up to her, as she pushed past Seadra, and slid across the lake to its opposite shore. Seadra was knocked into the air by the impact, spinning helplessly above the water — or so it seemed.
Rosemary pivoted on her feet and crouched, springing towards Seadra in a quick ricochet. She howled with effort, extending both of her knees. She smashed them both into Seadra's back.
"I can barely see what's happening out there, folks, but it does not look good for Seadra!" The emcee narrated, as Rosemary soared above and beyond the reeling seahorse. A scattering tail of emerald light followed her path, broken by a shockwave at the point of impact.
"Let's keep up our momentum!" Ash said with a toothy grin, winding up a palm behind him. Rosemary mirrored his movements, retracting her paw. A teal flash ignited above her digits.
Ash thrust his hand downward. "Aura Sphere!"
Rosemary allowed gravity to guide her, and thrust an open paw towards Seadra. She ignited an Aura Sphere at point-blank range. "Riaaaah…!"
"Seadra!" Lance shouted. "Hydro Pump!"
The Dragon Pokémon recovered from the consecutive blows, just in time to come face-to-face with his foe. His black-as-coal eyes reflected her Aura, yet they showed no fear. A brutal blast of water collided with Aura Sphere in the mere inches between the two Pokémon.
Rosa felt her arm quickly being forced back under tremendous pressure. She roared with effort, supporting her wrist with the opposite paw to force her Aura Sphere back against Hydro Pump.
"Oooh, it's a head-on collision, with some quick maneuvers from both Pokémon…!"
Aura Sphere was forced up against Seadra's snout, forcing a fountain of mist to spray to either side of the clash. He cried out with renewed might, and delivered even more pressure in turn.
Rosa gnashed her teeth, pushing with all of her might. But, Aura Sphere detonated, and Hydro Pump crashed into her abdomen, knocking the wind out of her, and sent her soaring.
Seadra grunted in pain from the explosion, and allowed the force to carry him back to the surface. He bounced on it for a moment, but regained his standing atop the water.
"Seadra wins the clash, with their powerful Hydro Pump! Rosemary felt that one!"
"Tch… Seadra's attack was stronger," Ash acknowledged with a grimace. He watched his knight in arms fall less than gracefully towards the water. Smoke danced off of her like ashen ribbons.
'It adds up. Rosa's specialty is hitting up-close, and hitting hard. Seadra's only used special attacks! We're not gonna be able to overpower them like that… so, how do we win?'
"Don't allow them to recover!" Lance commanded. "Flamethrower!"
Seadra aimed at the falling Lucario, and spewed flames mirroring the sunset's passionate reds.
"That Flamethrower looks like it'll hit dead-on! Ash's Lucario is in serious trouble!"
Ash's eyes narrowed. They couldn't overpower Hydro Pump, but just a bit of fire…?
"Charge an Aura Sphere on your palm!" Ash cried. "Below you!"
The Aura Pokémon was plummeting towards the waters, headfirst, with her back turned to her opponent. She regrouped when she heard her trainer's voice, and aimed a paw towards the surface. A large Aura Sphere spawned, and its creation offered her just a bit of recoil.
"Now, send it their way!" Ash cried, punching the air.
Rosemary leaned her weight forward on the sphere, somersaulting over it. With acrobatic finesse, she swung her hips around, and bashed her own Aura Sphere with a roundhouse kick. The blast shot directly into the flames, blasting them apart with its own concussive force.
The water's surface tore apart into a half tunnel, dousing the incoming fire with kicked up mist. Aura Sphere shot through Flamethrower without opposition, striking Seadra and detonating.
Rosemary dropped into the water, paddling to return herself to the surface.
"It seems I spoke too soon! With some quick thinking, Ash and Rosemary have turned the tide! Even with Seadra's infamous firepower, the Aura Pokémon won't fall so easily!"
"Dra…!" Seadra emerged from the smoke, shaking the ash off his hide. A few of his scales were cracked, but otherwise, he looked ready to continue. "Dra. Seadra!" His battle cry rang.
"Most impressive," Lance praised, "but our firepower has no end! And now your Lucario is submerged. You've allowed yourselves to be cornered! Seadra! One more Flamethrower!"
Seadra agreed with a gruff cry, and fired once more at the marooned Aura Pokémon.
Rosemary paddled on the surface, staring wide-eyed at the incoming blaze. She was an adept swimmer, but she was in no situation to dodge this! She would have to trust Ash's judgment.
His eyes flicked over the battlefield. "That's it!" He exclaimed, at the last possible second. "Rosa! The island next to you! Use Bone Rush to pull yourself in!"
She followed his eyes, and found her salvation; a rocky elevation emerging from the lake. She conjured a bone staff between her paws in the brief moment she had and roared, stabbing it into the earth. With a grunt of effort, she pulled herself in along with it, balancing on top of it.
Not a moment too soon, either; Flamethrower tore past where she'd been, blasting the shore.
'We have to close the distance,' Ash thought. His eyes narrowed. 'And this is just the time to do it!' With a wave of his hand, he cried, "now! Vault out on Bone Rush to close the distance!"
~Roger!~ Rosa leaned her weight into a handstand, supporting her entire body on Bone Rush's end. She bent her arms, and then fired a burst of Aura through her own staff, firing it, and herself, into the air. She somersaulted over the body of water and past Flamethrower.
"Ah…!?" Lance gasped at the sight coming in from above. Rosemary had leapt above Seadra, with her staff wielded over her head. She was a blink away from pulverizing his fair dragon.
"Seadra!"
Seadra was wide-eyed and alert. A flap of her fins sent her coasting back across the water in a burst of speed. She narrowly dodged Bone Rush striking the lake's surface. Even avoiding direct contact, though, didn't mean he was safe.
The shock of Bone Rush split the water in two, down to its rocky bottom. Rising tides parted and crashed across the still and peaceful surface, sending powerful winds and dense mist flying.
"Bone Rush narrowly missed, but look at its POWER!" The emcee roared, to the crowd's loud enthusiasm, as Seadra fell in what felt like slow-motion. "The water split right down the middle!"
"We've got you now!" Ash boasted with a hot-blooded grin. "Rosa…! METEOR MASH!"
The Lucario's staff faded out of existence, abandoned, as she wound up a fist behind her. Shimmering, cyan starlight coated her fist, and then coated her body. Her attack increased.
Seadra was stranded in mid-air. Rosemary launched at him, scarf waving, fist extended.
"Seadra! Take command of the tides!" Lance commanded, raising a hand. "Whirlpool!"
Seadra's draconic cry heralded a turbulent shift in the tides. Powerful currents wrapped their way around the Dragon Pokémon, filling in the gaps wrought by Rosemary's strike.
Rosemary was blindsided by a spiraling current, and yanked into its orbit. She orbited the whirlpool, and struggled to fight its momentum to little avail. "Riah…!"
"Rosa!" Ash cried.
"Oh, that was a close call, but Seadra's Whirlpool has turned the tides!"
Seadra sat comfortably in the center of Whirlpool, while his foe was tossed about.
"Now, Ash's Lucario is trapped within the Whirlpool! What will they do!?"
Ash grit his teeth in frustration. "Now what do we do…? Rosa! How're you hanging in there?"
~Been… better!~ She replied, as she paddled to stay above the surface. She was submerged from the neck down, able to breathe, but otherwise immobile. ~But, I'm still in it! The current is too strong; I just can't move!~
"Right… We need a way out! If we can just think of a way to—"
"Seadra!" Lance cried with authority, extending a hand. "Punish their hubris! Hyper Beam!"
Orange light with the hue and intensity of magma gathered in Seadra's mouth. Many particles gathered into one, pulsating, destructive orb. Seadra watched Rosemary's rotations with intense focus. She was tossed and churned about in the whirlpool, passing his vision every couple of seconds. He waited patiently, until the next rotation. Then, he fired, blasting himself back with the recoil. A roaring beam of destruction reflected in the wave's hues, approaching Rosemary.
Her ruby eyes widened. The blast hit her with deadly precision, striking her square in the chest. A deafening explosion sent waves and mist flying, and powerful winds cascaded over the water.
Ash guarded himself with both of his arms, enduring the powerful winds. "Rosa…!"
"Ash!" Peeks alerted him, pointing towards the sky. Ash looked to him, and followed him.
Rosemary soared high into the sky, trailing wisps of black smoke. Her body hung limp, and was scuffed with bruises and burn marks all over. One particularly ashy mark discolored her abdomen.
"That had to be a critical hit," Ash muttered under his breath. "That aim is insane…"
"Not only is Seadra's aim precise," Lance explained, interrupting Ash, "but it is also lethal. Your Rosemary is the victim of Seadra's Sniper ability. All of our critical hits deal extra damage!"
"So, that's their ability," Ash acknowledged, grimacing. His eyes turned to Seadra. He sat at the center of his whirlpool, still, breathing heavily. 'Seadra's recovering… But, the Whirlpool's still going!' The cyclone persisted, and if Ash's hunch was correct, would last a little while longer.
Rosemary was falling fast, and would inevitably fall right back in.
'Seadra recharging won't even matter, if we end up right back where we started! We have to do something! If only there was some way she could stay above…' Ash's eyes snapped open.
~Had another one of your ideas?~ The Lucario's scratchy voice rang in Ash's mind.
Good. She was still lucid.
~If you can get ahold of yourself before you hit that Whirlpool? Yeah, I do.~
Ash smiled, and cupped his hands around his mouth. "Alright! Let's see one of your Aura Spheres, Rosa!"
Rosemary looked above her head, and saw the Whirlpool under her rapidly approaching. She reached out with a paw, creating a sphere of teal energy.
"Now, land on it!"
Like many of Ash's strategies before this one, the genius of it only made sense at the moment of execution. It gave his Pokémon a habitual knack for leaning into whatever his next move was without much pause or surprise. Rosemary flipped over in mid-air, planting her feet atop the Aura Sphere — just in time for it to touch the currents, and be yanked along for the ride.
~W-woah!~ Rosemary yelped, extending and cycling her arms to try to secure her balance. She widened her stance as much as possible, lowering her center of gravity. It was enough for her to surf comfortably on the Whirlpool's current, orbiting the eye of the storm, and Seadra within it.
"Now, there's a novel strategy — another one for the Ketchum Playbook! Rosemary is surfing atop her own Aura Sphere, keeping her afloat and free of yet another rinse cycle!"
"Well. Another fascinating development!" Lance smirked from across the field. "You've kept yourself afloat, even on the backfoot, Ash Ketchum. But how long will your struggle last?"
With his challenge cast, Lance waved an arm aside. "Seadra, Hydro Pump! Aim and fire!"
Seadra continued to rotate at the center of the Whirlpool, eyeing the surfing Lucario carefully. After one, two, and three rotations… "SEA-DRA!" He cried, recoiling from his Hydro Pump.
It was headed directly towards where Rosemary would pass on the Whirlpool's outer rim.
"They're aiming where you're headed!" Ash warned. "Flash Cannon!"
Rosemary reared back a paw and thrust it forward, firing a silver flash in Hydro Pump's path.
The two blasts clashed, pushing back and forth against one another. Droplets and mist scattered to the air, reflecting the sublime silver of Flash Cannon.
The meeting of two elements quickly became one-sided. Hydro Pump forced back Flash Cannon, and Rosa felt her arm tremble in an effort to support her own blast.
But, she was in perfect sync with her trainer, which meant understanding his strategies. Holding Hydro Pump at bay gave her enough time to steady herself and avoid taking a hit head-on.
She surrendered to the incoming pressure and spun off of it, pivoting past Hydro Pump.
"In fact…" Ash grinned. He had an idea. "Another Aura Sphere!"
Aura Sphere skipped along the tide, bouncing and treading along its surface in the middle of its spin. Rosemary turned back around, firing from her opposite paw at Seadrea.
"Seadra!" Lance shouted. "Distance yourself!"
Seadra skipped back into the Whirlpool, allowing his curly tail to carry him atop the tide, which carried him well out of Aura Sphere's path. The orb didn't have the chance to follow Seadra, as it was sucked into the current as well.
"Now! Scale Shot!" Lance commanded.
Seadra orbited Whirlpool opposite of Rosa. "Dra!" He cried, as he fired a storm of his own hardened scales towards Rosemary.
"Deflect that, with Bone Rush!"
The Lucario twirled her aura-born staff, smacking away tough, sharp scales with its tough surface. She could feel the force of them reverberating through her weapon, but she persisted.
"Fire off a few more Aura Sphere!"
~On it!~ Rosar gripped her staff in one hand, and fired three more Aura Spheres in succession. They chased after Seadra, who leaned forward on the current, zipping well out of harm's way.
"Mmn…?" Lance raised a brow. There was something curious about those Aura Sphere…
All of them came short of actually tagging Seadra. In fact, they all landed at different distances.
"Aura Sphere continues to miss! For a move known for tracking down its target, this particular volley is suffering a poor record," the emcee narrated. "There are now five different Aura Spheres cycling the Whirlpool — and just how long does it have left!?"
"Indeed. There's not much time left!" Lance cried. "Seadra. Scale Shot!"
"Dra!" Seadra leapt back and coated on the Whirlpool's outermost ridge, and fired more scales.
Ash's grin widened. "Now's your chance! Now that we've got some footing…" His eyes flicked between the four Aura Sphere tumbling about, and the one Rosa stood on.
Lance gasped, putting the pieces together. The Whirlpool was coming to a crawling halt, while the four masses of light energy were scattered across the water's surface, buoyant.
"Extreme Speed!"
The Lucario leaned forward atop the Aura Sphere she occupied, and flickered green. The sphere wobbled and bent, spinning and skipping off the water's surface as she kicked off of it, zipping from one Aura Sphere to the next. She sped circles around Seadra, who frantically turned to follow his foe to no avail. He was blindsided by a clothesline knocking the wind out of him, sending the poor Dragon Pokémon flipping through the air. "Dra…!"
Rosemary slid onto the Aura Sphere directly in her path, spinning around atop the orb, while Seadra soared in her direction. She crouched, and shot into the sky, spiking him higher with an uppercut. The blue and black blur that veiled her from the audience stretched and condensed, and she appeared visible to the naked eye in mid-air. The emerald light around her faded.
"Wow! Now we know why Ketchum was ordering all those Aura Spheres — they were meant to be a foothold for Rosemary's Extreme Speed! Seadra looks like he's taken serious damage!"
"Seadra!" Lance shouted. "Collect yourself! Flamethrower!"
The Water-type grunted in pain, but responded to his trainer with the resolve of a dragon's pride. He aimed his tubular mouth at Rosemary and inhaled, inflating his belly with oxygen.
"Not happening, this time!" Ash shouted in return, waving a hand. "Bone Rush!"
Rosa spawned a staff in hand, and slung it towards Seadra in a spinning arc.
"Change of plans!" Lance shouted urgently. "Propel yourself, with Hydro Pump!"
Seadra redirected his aim, and fired a jet below him, propelling himself far out of Bone Rush's reach. Just as Ash had predicted and hoped, throwing Bone Rush at an angle foiled any efforts to dodge it and hit Rosa in retaliation at the same time, It guaranteed them a safe retreat.
"Well played, Ash! Most well played." Lance praised. His smile was sincere. "We're having a grand time with this battle — a contest between Pokémon Masters, as it ought to be!"
Ash swallowed heavily at the claim to the title he'd always sought. Did Lance think…?
"Ash!" Peeks urged. The look in his partner's eyes said plenty: he knew how such a question would get under his skin. "Think about that later. Battle, now."
"...Right." Ash nodded, and returned his eyes to the action.
"But, we shan't allow you to battle as you please! Seadra! Scale Shot on the Aura Spheres!"
Seadra's silhouette was masked by the deep purples and blues composing the skyline, high above the battlefield. He fired a blitz of sharp scales in different directions toward the lake.
One Aura Sphere after another burst in succession. The last scale shot towards Rosemary, who crossed her arms to guard herself from it with her wrist spikes. The 'clink' of tough scale on steel deposits rang, as she was knocked back towards the Aura Sphere she'd leapt off of.
She landed atop it, keeping her balance.
"So," Ash laughed, as Seadra landed in the lake, again. "You didn't like us running around however we liked, huh? We didn't get a whole lot outta that Extreme Speed, after all."
"I believe you got quite enough out of it," Lance replied. The upturn of his lips leaked into his words. "I'm afraid you're stranded against Seadra, who's a master of his domain. What now?"
"Yeah. Guess I have!" Ash smirked, and thrust a hand forward. "One Aura Sphere is enough!"
Rosemary's eyes flickered blue with Ash's declaration. With a thrust of her paw, the sphere under her feet shot across the water's surface, carrying her on a swift path towards Seadra.
"Aura Sphere works by lockin' onto a life force," Ash explained. "For us, that's your Seadra!"
"Aura Sphere is moving on its own! How many tricks does Ash have up his sleeve!?"
Lance only huffed in response. "Seadra! Make some distance!"
Seadra coasted backwards across the water, swimming at a breakneck pace away from his approaching foe. Large waves were kicked up on either side of him, due to his speed.
"Now! Flamethrower!"
Seadra inhaled, and spat a wall of flames at Rosemary.
"Use Flash Cannon on the water, in front of you!" Ash commanded, and Rosa extended her paw to fire a silver burst of light. The explosion of metal particles sent climbing waves rolling out from the point of impact, where the water depressed towards the bottom of the stage. Her Aura Sphere skipped over the edge, coasting down the decline.
Steam flooded the lake where Flamethrower had hit, flooding the immediate area in vapor.
Rosa surfed down the decline and closed her eyes, blocking out the veil with ease. It allowed her to surf back up the rising waters, and launched her high into the air, within the steam.
"Bone Rush!"
Rosa spawned a Bone Rush between her paws, and threw it through the steam.
"Seadra!" Lance cried. He couldn't see the staff, but he heard the command. "Hydro Pump!"
"Dra!" Seadra recoiled, firing a powerful jet into the vapor. It hit Bone Rush in its center, splitting it in two. The steam itself, even, split under the intense pressure.
Hydro Pump was moments from hitting a wide-eyed Rosemary!
"Jump!"
She sprang off of the Aura Sphere, narrowly dodging a jet that tore through, just under her.
"Adjust your aim! Scale Shot!" Lance cried. Seadra complied, firing more of his scales.
"Deflect it! Bone Rush!"
Rosa twirled another staff, deflecting each of the tough scales on her way down. She landed atop her Aura Sphere again, suffering his buoyancy after landing before it skipped and took off towards Seadra again. "Flash Cannon!" She held out both of her paws, firing one beam after another.
Seadra swerved cleanly out of the first blast's path by jerking to his right, and the second to his left, responding to another "Hydro Pump!" by firing another jet of water out of the mist.
"To your right!" Ash cried, and his Lucario fired another Flash Cannon to her side to push herself narrowly out of Hydro Pump's range. He breathed a sigh of relief. "That was close…!"
"This is bad!" Brock said. "Rosemary's put in a great effort, but she can't seem to tag Seadra!"
"It's the way they're swimming!" Dawn huffed in frustration. Both Pokémon were exchanging projectiles down on the field, but none of them were landing. "Seadra's just swimming frontwards, backwards, left, and right… anyway they want! I've never seen anything like it!"
It's Seadra's physiology," Misty explained. "Their dorsal fins and tailfin are structured in a way that allows them to swim backwards or sideways by coordinating with one another, just as naturally as any other Water-type would swim forwards. So, Lance's can move as much as he likes! It's something that not even a Kingdra can accomplish, with their different body type."
"In other words," Brock continued, "there was more to Seadra not evolving than just pride."
Dawn pouted and bunched her pompoms together, before punching them in the air. "Seadra's not the only one with prowess to back up their pride! You can do it, Rosa! Beat 'em to a pulp!"
"It's a battle of sharpshooting on these waters, but both Pokémon seem to be at a stalemate! Nobody is landing any hits!"
"They're right," Ash grumbled, gritting his teeth in frustration. "We're running nowhere, fast."
"Not to denigrate our fine Master of Ceremonies," Lance replied, "but 'stalemate' is quite generous. The simple fact of the matter is that you're outmatched in terms of speed. Seadra!"
"Dra!" The Pokémon cried, before zipping sideways across the water in a blur.
Rosemary yelped, as her Aura Sphere was dragged in that direction with him. But before she could even come close to him, she was pulled in the other direction entirely, stumbling for balance. ~Ack…! They're moving too fast!~
Seadra zipped across the small lake effortlessly, spraying mist in their wake with each pivot. And with each one, Rosemary was yanked around helplessly in pursuit.
"So chasing them's become a weakness. They're yanking us around like a ragdoll!" Ash acknowledged, grimacing. "But, I don't get it. How did Seadra get this fast!?"
"Ah, you finally noticed…?" Lance smirked. "That, my friend, is due to Scale Shot."
"Scale Shot?" Ash echoed. "It makes Seadra faster?"
"At a meager price," Lance replied. "Scale shot doesn't conjure scales from thin air, like many moves with magical properties do. It fires scales off of Seadra's own body! If you haven't noticed, his hide is looking a little scarce… or perhaps you would, if he'd stop moving."
Ash frowned. That condition was transparently a taunt.
"This weakens his defenses significantly, but it also makes his body lighter, increasing his speed. Throughout this battle, we've made our gambit — our defenses hardly matter, if you can't land a hit on us!"
"Oh, yeah?" Ash's eyes narrowed. "Well, change of plans. Rosa! Find some real ground!"
~R—ro—ger!~ The Lucario yelped, happy to spring off of her faulty mode of transportation into a somersault. She landed atop one of the small isles in the middle of the lake, exhaling in relief.
She was no longer being tossed around. Progress.
"That Aura Sphere maneuver was quite a novel one," Lance acknowledged, "but we've rendered it useless. With your Lucario stranded, how exactly do you plan to fight back?"
"Oh, that's easy!" Ash smiled. He adjusted his cap, showing off a glimmer in his eye. "We're just going to have to hit you with a move that can't miss!" He leaned forward into his center of gravity, and cupped his open palms together. "Rosa! Let's give 'em all we got!"
~Right!~ Rosemary mirrored Ash's posture. A bright blue light shone through her core, igniting the spike on her chest in a shimmering teal. Her deepest reserves of strength were forced in between her paws, growing larger, larger, and larger still. A huge, dense, dark blue maelstrom of Aura highlighted her sharp features, and ruby eyes. She hoisted it high above her head.
"AURA STORM!"
"Rosemary fires her signature move — Aura Storm! This powerful attack was enough to bring down the powerful Deidra's Garchomp! But, will it be enough against Lance!?"
Lance watched the Aura Storm ascend into the sky. His sterling eyes narrowed. "You know, I was waiting for this move, Ash. It was inevitable that you would wield it in your desperation."
"Yeah?" Ash challenged. "You think you can handle it?"
Aura Storm burst, raining an avalanche of explosive spheres from the heavens. Blinding, bright blue overpowered the darkening night sky, highlighting the entire stadium in their splendor.
"Seadra!" Lance called with urgency, waving a hand. "Divert their aim, at once!"
Seadra sat on the still waters, looking up at a blinding barrage. "Dra!" He cried, and sped forward, passing Rosemary intentionally. One of the Aura Spheres shot towards her.
She leapt over it in a backflip, and it struck the water behind Seadra, detonating.
One deafening explosion after another ignited along the lake's surface, as Seadra zipped horizontally, forwards, and backwards, dodging one crash after the other. Alas, he could hear the hum of approaching blasts, coming closer and closer. "Seadra!" He heard Lance's voice.
"Hydro Pump!"
Seadra uncurled his tail and pivoted, turning backwards. Two Aura Spheres approached. He fired one final jet from his mouth, blasting one Aura Sphere into another, making them detonate.
"An earth-rattling series of explosions, raining down from the stars! Unbelievable, folks!" The emcee rallied, to the crowd's quiet, wide-eyed awe. "What will become of Seadra…!?"
Gasps could be heard, and fingers pointed high. A small, spiky silhouette ascended from the smoke. Seadra was knocked sky-high, but seemed to be conscious and alert.
"There he is! The Aura Storm knocked him high, but that's all it— what's this!?"
A second silhouette rose from the vibrant light and sooty clouds. Spiked wrists, a fluffy tail, hiked knees, and a fierce visage, hovering over Seadra. Her ears and scarf billowed in the wind.
"Rosemary has eclipsed Seadra! This seems to be an ambush!"
Lance grit his teeth. He couldn't see their exact location, but he could only have guessed this outcome. "Seadra! Rend them asunder, once and for all! Use Hyper Beam!"
Seadra righted himself to look his foe in the eye. Golden particles of light gathered in his mouth.
"Not happening! Not this time!" Ash shouted with gusto, winding up a fist. "Rosa!"
The Lucario wielded back one of her fists. Shimmering stars coated it.
Seadra fired his Hyper Beam at point-blank range.
Ash and Rosemary punched forward in unison. "METEOR MASH!"
Steely stardust crashed into the destructive blast, struggling to push back its sheer might. Golden light leaked from the clash, piercing the clouds and the dimming echoes of Aura.
Rosa grit her teeth, and pushed back against raw, dominating force. With a roar of effort, she forced her fist forward. Hyper Beam was pushed back towards a wide-eyed Seadra's mouth.
A loud, thunderous explosion detonated, and black smoke flooded the sky.
"THIS SEEMS TO BE IT! WHO CAME OUT ON TOP!?"
Ash and Lance watched patiently, lips pulled thin. Fists tense at their sides.
Rosemary dropped from the smoke and Ash, with black wisps dancing from her body. She touched down on solid earth on one knee, paw planted on the earth. She was panting heavily.
Seadra hit the earth unceremoniously on his side, unconscious.
The referee raised a hand towards Ash. "Seadra is unable to battle! Lucario wins!"
"What! A! Nailbiter! This battle came down to the wire after so many twists and turns, with an all-out assault that was actually a feint for a final, all-or-nothing ambush! Seadra had bested Rosemary in firepower, but raw strength and determination won this round! With Seadra defeated, Lance has lost three Pokémon to the challenger, Ash Ketchum!"
Loud roars of excitement rolled in from the crowd; and a few of disappointment from Lance's dedicated fans. Lance exhaled quietly, recalling Seadra and delivering his heartfelt thanks.
"As we've established, the Champion losing half of his Pokémon means that we'll have a quick intermission, to change the terrain, and give our two trainers a light break!"
"Phew…" Ash exhaled, leaning his weight on the railing in front of him. He had to laugh. "Man. That one was cutting it close. I'm not gonna lie, I won't complain about a quick breather!"
~You think you need one?~ Rosemary walked over towards the edge of the field, with a paw on her hip. She was battered and bruised in several spots, but upright. Her chest rose occasionally, as she caught her breath. ~I think it's about time for a tactical retreat. Something you told me about prudence a good, one, two… some-hundred years ago.~ She tilted her head with a smile.
"Oh, you were listening to me!" Ash laughed in good humor. "I always thought that was going in one ear, and out the other."
~Hardy. Har. Har.~
Ash snorted, and pointed her Poké Ball towards Rosa. "Alright, 'Sir Rosemary.' Time for that tactical retreat." She disappeared in a flash of red, and he clipped her Poké Ball to his belt.
'You've sure as hell earned it.'
"So!" Peeks scaled Ash's shoulder with a smile. "We're halfway there. How's it feel?"
"Feels like I just ran ten miles," Ash replied, scratching his partner's cheeks. "Give me a few, and we'll gear up for ten more! You'd better be ready to tag in."
"C'mon, Ash." Peeks leaned over Ash's shoulder to smirk at him, raising a brow. "Do you even need to ask?"
"Oh, he's doing so great~!" Delia took a moment to set down her handheld camera, and lean back in her seat. "No use wasting film on an empty field, so I can set this down for a minute! Keeping up with this battle is almost as hard for me as it must be for him!"
A bead of sweat rolled down Oak's forehead. He almost wanted to ask why she bothered taking pictures when there were cameras abound capturing the match of the year, but his emotional intelligence told him better. He smiled, shaking his head.
"Ash was the first to reach three victories, despite Lance drawing first blood," he said, changing the topic. "He's worked up quite a bit of momentum! Ordinarily a break in the match might undermine that pace he'd like to set…"
"...But a few minutes off might do him some good, right?" Delia asked, straddling between optimism and knowing Samuel's cadences well enough to detect the 'but' following that thought.
Oak nodded. "Right. While Sceptile's battle with Charizard was a difficult one, Ash deceived Lance and set the pace comfortably as he liked. In comparison, Rosemary's showdown with Seadra was a fast-paced battle where Lance held the field advantage, and every exchange was a make-or-break for survival. Simply watching a battle isn't enough for one to appreciate how taxing making split-second decisions is, and Ash makes plenty of them! I honestly don't think I would have been able to operate at the speed or ingenuity that he did, just now. A few minutes off should do him some good."
"Oh, he's gotten so clever~!" Delia cooed. "You can do it, honey! You're halfway there!"
"Woohoo!" Dawn whooped, hopping up to stand atop her seat, kicking and waving her pom poms. "Watch out for that Aura Storm! She'll strike you down in perfect form! Gooo, Rosa!"
"Pol! Empol!" Empoleon fired a stream of celebratory bubbles into the air, framing Dawn's routine. That was just the kind of show he expected from the Lucario who looked up to him!
"I guess cornering them was the only answer to Seadra's speed," Misty remarked, more-or-less blocking out Dawn's routine. "It's a good thing that she picked that move up at the League…"
Brock nodded and hummed, arms folded. "It's a matter of turning every experience into an advantage. Aura Storm alone wasn't enough, but it left Seadra defenseless! At least once Ash decided to use her punching power against Seadra's special moves, rather than her own…"
"I thought Lucario were pretty balanced on offense?" Misty asked.
"They are, but Rosemary has an Adamant nature," Brock replied. "Her special attacks aren't shabby, especially after we fortified them with Calciums. But, at the end of the day, she simply punches hard."
"You're darned right!" Dawn sat back down, punching a fist into her open palm. "She knows that sometimes, there's no answer, but brawn! The power of a girl with a straightforward personality."
"Is that what we're calling it?" Misty asked dryly.
"I think you would know as well as they would," Brock cracked back with a belly laugh.
Misty shot him a glare. Before she opened her mouth, a loud 'clicking' sound echoed around the perimeter of the stadium. Harsh, white spotlights beamed down onto the battlefield. The skies were dark enough, for the change in lighting, evidently. It was reminiscent of the league finals.
The field, itself, on the other hand, went through a different change. Whirring gears and rumbling from beneath the stadium drew all eyes to it, where the mountainous terrain, and the spanning lake submerged beneath ground level. In its place, the usual flat battlefield rose to prominence.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and spectators of all stripes! The battlefield has changed from the mountainous lakeside to flat terrain, for the remainder of the battle! In just a minute, the Champion Title Defense Match will resume, so make sure to get back in your seats, if you ran off for snacks! You won't want to miss a second of this!"
"So, it's just the ordinary battlefield," Brock muttered, holding a thumb to his chin. "Interesting. So, that unusual terrain suited Lance's first few Pokémon, but we can assume that it won't be true for the remainder. He must have only brought two waterbound Pokémon."
"Wait, so the field was to Lance's advantage!?" Dawn asked. "I know that Contests sometimes offer a water stage to contestants who need them, but the Champion having that is new… Then again, I guess it isn't any different from the other battlefields the Elite Four had us use."
"It's their challenge, their rules," Misty shrugged. "But, I think it's more than just throwing out an advantage once he's done with it. Lance is a very straightforward man, theatrical as he is. I think there's a solid chance that he just wants a straightforward battle with no extra factors with Ash."
Brock hummed thoughtfully. "That does sound in character for him. Though, if I can air my unfiltered thoughts on this one, depriving Ash of terrain to play with might work to his advantage, if anything. From here on out, there are no places to hide; no elevations to exploit. And against a team of dragons like his, any extra altitude makes a difference."
"So, we've transitioned from a battle on the sea to a battle in the air," Dawn finished his thought. It was awfully fitting for a roster of dragons, when she thought about it. She smiled, shaking her head. "It doesn't matter, really. Ash has what it takes to beat him, anytime, anywhere!"
"...Aaaand, we're back! With the field changed, and five minutes behind us, it's time to resume the battle! One has to wonder, with how intense this battle has been… Just how can it escalate even more from here!?"
"One has to wonder, indeed…" Lance replied with a smirk, juggling a Poké Ball in his palm. There was no point in waiting for the referee to guide him. He was, after all, the Champion.
"Ancient whispers of a world long buried, give birth to ancient cries! Conquer the skies with fossilized fangs, renewed!" The Champion dramatically pitched the capsule into the air.
"...Aerodactyl!"
The Poké Ball opened, and a climbing spire of light took to the night skies. A narrow figure spanned large, webbed wings, and an arrowpoint tail. Bright lights solidified into a fearsome relic of the past. Dark gray skin, purple membrane wings. Sharp talons, and sawlike fangs.
"Croaaaaah!" Aerodactyl's earsplitting shriek echoed across the entire stadium, evoking fear in the hearts of man and Pokémon alike.
"Lance's fourth Pokémon is Aerodactyl — a very rare, ancient Pokémon!"
The audience reacted in frightened and curious murmurs, and cheers of excitement from the more battlehungry members of the audience. That fear and excitement coalesced in the hearts of the challenger and his loyal Pikachu, who had the most immediate view of their next foe.
"So… Aerodactyl's our next opponent, huh?" Ash swallowed heavily. "Heh, I'm gonna be honest. I don't think I ever outgrew my fear of those guys."
The memory of being scooped up and nearly eaten alive was unfortunately still fresh.
"It doesn't help that we've only seen two more since then, and they've both attacked you," Peeks added. He smiled, then, tugging on Ash's pant leg. "But hey. There's nothing to fear!"
"Yeah. Right." Ash took a deep breath, and composed himself. "Besides… Now that I think about it, I've got the perfect guy to take Aerodactyl on!" He smirked, reaching for his belt.
"Are you thinking…?"
"You bet I am." Ash clutched the cold metallic casing between his fingertips, and wound up with his grip behind him. "I hope you've enjoyed your break, Lance! 'Cause the battle is back on!"
He pitched the Poké Ball, which burst open in mid-air, just as Lance's had. "Go… Charizard!"
Another climbing light took the form of a winged dragon, with wide wings, a long, flame-tipped tail, and fierce horns framing the face of a Champion. Charizard's aquamarine eyes focused on his foe, and narrowed into a hardened gaze. He flexed his limbs and roared, spitting flames.
"Crah!" Aerodactyl screeched, bearing his razor-sharp teeth.
"Ash's next Pokémon is his prized Charizard! Not an ideal match-up in terms of type affinity, perhaps… But, Charizard has never been known for folding to type, before now!"
"Oh, I get it. That's what he's up to," Misty remarked.
"Mmm. It's very like Ash to prioritize a grudge over standard advantages," Brock agreed.
"What're you two talking about?" Dawn asked, frowning. "What grudge?"
"This is long before you knew Ash, Dawn," Brock explained. "The first years of our adventures, in fact! We came across a Pokémon fossil excavation site, and decided to investigate!"
"Team Rocket screwed everything up, well, because it's Team Rocket," Misty said dryly, "and caused a big explosion that woke up some really grumpy fossil Pokémon. One of them being an Aerodactyl who decided that Ash looked like a good breakfast to start the day with. Not what I would've chosen, personally, but I guess when you've slept for millenia, anything looks good."
"Sheesh." Dawn winced. "You're making it sound like Ash has the grudge, though!"
"Not quite. See, Charizard was a Charmeleon at the time, and the only thing he cared for was picking fights with worthy opponents. The problem there was that Aerodactyl didn't see Charmeleon as worthy. This snubbing offended Charmeleon's pride so badly that, well…"
Dawn's eyes widened. "Don't tell me."
"Yyyyup. Charmeleon evolved into Charizard just to scrap," Misty confirmed.
"They never quite got to finish their battle, thanks to Jigglypuff saving the day," Brock continued, "but I'm sure Charizard would jump at the chance to finally prove himself! And, Ash knew that."
"Well, now it makes sense," Dawn replied. "Hey, why not! It worked for Sceptile, didn't it!?"
"It's a bold strategy," Brock remarked. "Let's see how it works out for them."
"Heh. You know me well, don'tcha?" Charizard snorted in amusement, looking back to Ash.
"You know it." Ash winked and offered a thumbs-up. "You get your showdown, too!" His smile gave way to a frown, though. Something felt… off. The air was, somehow, tense.
"Hey, is it just me, or is something off?" He looked between his two present Pokémon. "I feel… uneasy. I don't know where it's comin' from. It's not like we're on the backfoot, here!"
"No. You're right." Peeks frowned. His ears pinned back in an unconscious show of caution. "The air feels tense. This Pressure… I recognize it."
"Yeah. Me too." Charizard grunted, flicking his fiery tail about. "It's the same as Articuno."
"Right," Peeks nodded, "and Moltres."
"Articuno, Moltres…" The pieces came together in Ash's mind. "Alright. So, that's how it is."
"You recognize Aerodactyl's Pressure ability?" Lance asked. He looked and sounded amused.
"We've faced it a few times before!" Ash shot back. "So, you won't be catching us off-guard!"
"With Pressure, perhaps, I won't…" Lance folded his arms. "But your declaration is, perhaps, a bit too bold. Aerodactyle! Stealth Rock!"
"Skraaa!" Aerodactyl opened his maw, and fired a silver, flickering shot over Charizard.
"Shoot!" Ash exclaimed, as he watched Stealth Rock sink into the field below.
Charizard snorted out smoke. "Those damned things…" He turned to glare at Aerodactyl. "For making me suffer that humiliation, once I beat you… you're gonna pay for that."
"Lance opens the round with Stealth Rock! Even with the Champion and the Challenger agreeing to an honor system, the latter's Pokémon will still suffer punishment, as soon as they enter the field! Lance has placed another layer of pressure on Ash atop the ability itself, highlighting his indomitable strength as a Champion! What will Ash do now!?"
"I can't say that was what I wanted to deal with," Ash said, "but there's nothing we can do but fight and power on through! Let's do it, Charizard!" He waved a hand forth. "Use Flamethrower!"
"Groaarh!" Charizard tossed his head and fired a mighty Flamethrower.
"Aerodactyl!" Lance cried, as his prehistoric Pokémon tilted his wings, veering to the side to skirt by the flames.
"Keep it coming, Charizard!" Ash cried. Charizard responded with a flap of his wings, flying towards Aerodactyl to the tune of several aggressive streams of flame, attacking relentlessly.
Aerodactyl screeched in irritation, gliding and swerving between the pillars of fire. "Skraw!"
"Aerodactyl!" Lance shouted, waving a hand. "Rock Slide!"
Solid, sharpened stones materialized around Aerodactyl in a large volley; each about half the size of the Fossil Pokémon himself. He spun around and flicked his membrane wings, launching the volley towards Charizard in rapid succession. The stones approached him at rapid speeds.
"Pull back!" Ash urged.
Charizard grunted in annoyance, but obeyed, retreating and taking to a higher altitude. Boulders shot his way to pelt him, but he soared over the first two, only to be met with three more. He tucked his wings in for a swift barrel roll, tumbling out of range. One final boulder made it through the volley, and he was forced to unravel, catching it between his claws.
Charizard roared with effort, tossing it back towards Aerodactyl.
"I expected no less from your Charizard," Lance praised, "but you cannot simply avoid us in perpetuity!" The carmine-haired Champion waved a hand. "Another Rock Slide, Aerodactyl!"
Aerodactyl screeched and took to greater altitude, dropping another avalanche with a whip of his wings.
"Heh, you're right. Running away isn't our style!" Ash grinned, and pointed forth. "Let's show 'em how you battle, Charizard! Charge right through and cut down that Rock Slide with Steel Wing!"
"Now, we're talkin'!" Charizard grunted in response, beating his mighty wings to soar into the barrage of boulders. Shimmering steel coated each of his wings, reflecting off of the arena's spotlights to be the only source of light in the night skies, absent the moon itself.
Two boulders fell his way and he roared, spanning his wings. With an effortful swing inward, he crushed the boulders into gravel with each, and left the rubble behind to soar higher.
"There's a whole lot more comin'!" Ash warned him. "Tuck into the spin Dawn taught ya, and carve right through!"
A dense volley of boulders plummeted, threatening to crush Charizard, with very little room to break through. The Flame tucked his body in, and turned into a rapid barrel to slip through the tight escape. Spinning, solid steel wings bashed and broke the boulders, and Charizard unfolded with another spin, soaring on higher towards Aerodactyl.
The Fossil had no time to react, choking as he was brutally closelined by Charizard's wing.
"Oooh! That had to hurt! Charizard broke through Rock Slide to deliver a Steel Wing!"
"And, there's more where that came from!" Ash shouted. "Give 'em your Seismic Toss!"
Charizard hooked his arms tightly around Aerodactyl's torso in a lock, and carried the thrashing Aerodactyl higher and higher, leaving the stadium behind as little more than a gathering of lights from the thrashing Aerodactyl's perspective; like a bundle of Vulbeat and Illumise, dancing along a still lake in the dead of night.
From the audience's perspective, four pairs of wings eclipsed the moon; a monstrous silhouette.
"Aerodactyl!" Lance cried. "Defy his path of flight with your killer instinct! Use Crunch!"
The pterodactyl struggled and hissed, but Charizard's sheer bulk was impossible for him to break with his lithe body. He was more than happy to carry out Lance's orders. His saw-like teeth gnashed into Charizard's shoulder, making the Flame cry out in pain.
But, Charizard was persistent. He dove into a spiral, orbiting the moon several times without fail. Aerodactyl's jowls clamping into his scales just meant that he was along for a bumpy ride.
"Charizard sets up for his signature Seismic Toss! Aerodactyl is baring his fangs to escape, but will it be enough to stop a deadly descent!"
Cries of excitement echoed from the audience, among the louder fans of Charizard and his extensive, explosive record. Charizard, himself, was absorbed wholly in the fight. After several rounds to build up his momentum, he dropped into a rapid descent, Aerodactyl tightly in his grip.
"Do it!" Ash cried.
Charizard let out a mighty roar, and hurled Aerodactyl overhead towards the approaching field.
"Aerodactyl!"
The prehistoric predator's sharp hearing caught his trainer's warning. In the middle of his freefall, Aerodactyl spanned his wings, and the dark purple membrane caught heaps of wind resistance. It slowed his descent, just enough for him to furiously beat his wings.
He slowed just enough to hover above ground, coming short of a devastating landing.
"Ooooh! Aerodactyl has stopped his descent!"
"Tch." Ash grunted in disappointment. "No helping it, now! Dragon Rush, Charizard!"
Unlike Aerodactyl, Charizard didn't slow his descent. A cyan veil wrapped around him in the image of a wyvern, spanning angular, skeleton wings, a long, flowing body, and a fierce maw. Charizard's draconic roar echoed with the hiss of raw energy, matching his ferocity.
"Aerodactyl! Evasive action!"
Aerodactyl heeded Lance's warning. Another turn of his lithe body and a flap of his wings carried him into an evasive barrel roll, slipping free of the divebomb threatening to flatten him.
"Charizard!" Ash shouted in warning. It was too late to stop his descent…!
Charizard was, if nothing, a seasoned fighter, and a seasoned flyer. There was no stopping his momentum. But, he was able to shift his body weight around, so that he would drop feetfirst.
The stadium trembled, and a deluge of dust clouds washed over the field. The crowd cried out in astonishment, as echoes of pale blue dragon energy crackled and scattered from the dust.
Ash breathed a sigh of relief. "It looked like he turned himself around in time, right?"
Peeks nodded. "He did. Not an ideal landing, but not the worst, either."
"Dragon Rush misses! But, what will become of Charizard!?"
Charizard sat within the clouds of dust, flicking his fiery tail, irritated. The shock of a harsh landing had rippled through his haunches and up his spine, but it was nothing he couldn't handle. Above all, he was miffed he'd missed. He flexed his wings, disbanding the shroud.
"Charizard seems to be okay, beyond standing in a crater of his own making!" The emcee declared as the dust scattered. A narrow, but deep crater was broken into the field with him in it.
"But, what's this…!?"
Suddenly, Charizard was eclipsed by a widespanning shadow, resembling that of a devil. Sharp horns, webbed wings, and an arrowhead tail bathed the Flame in darkness, sheltering him from the arena's harsh spotlights in the dead of night. Cruel, green eyes glimmered in the darkness.
"A skilled landing, but you have yourselves at our mercy!" Lance declared. "Scary Face!"
Aerodactyl's maw parted to an almost unnatural width, revealing rows and rows of teeth like sawblades, reflecting the slightest glimmer from the spotlights from above. The Fossil Pokémon salivated, as if he were ready to devour his prey whole. His emerald eyes widened and shone, and he assaulted Charizard with an ear-splitting shriek. forcing the Flame to cover his ears.
The display was, in no uncertain terms, terrifying.
Charizard chastised himself for the way his heart picked up in its pace. His body froze in a sudden, debilitating, unnatural fear.
"Yikes! Now, I can't quite see what Charizard sees, but I have to imagine that it's nothing short of terrifying! Lance and Aerodactyle's ambush has cornered Charizard!"
'Damn it!' Ash cursed silently. 'This move again… Now, we'll be a lot slower!'
"Your Charizard's defeat is inevitable, Ash." Lance lectured from across the battlefield, matter-of-factly. "Even a mighty dragon can have fear inflicted upon its heart, with the proper ferocity. Now, you are mere Pidgey, to flee and be struck down by Aerodactyl's primal might!"
"Oh, yeah!?" Ash snapped back. Defending Charizard was his first reflex. "You're gonna be real sorry if you go counting Charizard out, that quick! You just wait and see!"
Lance captured a laugh under his breath. "Indeed we shall. Crunch!"
Aerodactyl lunged at Charizard with snapping jowls. Charizard beat his wings, soaring out of his crater and ascended to safety, back under the harsh spotlights.
"Fire back, with Flamethrower!"
Charizard reared back his head and threw it forward, spitting a pillar of flames below. Aerodactyl made a sharp turn to safety, climbing and orbiting Charizard. He beat his wings, screeching in an attempt to intimidate Charizard and take over his airspace.
The Flame didn't take kindly to that, firing another Flamethrower at point-blank.
Aerodactyl panicked, lurching backwards. He narrowly avoided the white-hot fire.
"Dragon Tail!" Ash cried, punching the air.
The timing was perfect. Aerodactyl had been pushed on the defensive and caught off-balance; Charizard had all of the room to whip his large body around, swinging and cracking his glowing tail into the Fossil's side. Aerodactyl cried out in pain, recoiling from the heavy blow.
"Hm. I'm surprised, Ash," Lance hummed. "Aerodactyl stayed in play."
"It's like what you said," Ash replied. "We're fighting with the heart of a dragon! Charizard wants to finish this fight!"
"Very honorable," Lance replied, smiling coyly. "I wish I could say the same. Dragon Tail!"
"Skraawh!" Aerodactyl fanned his wings, stopping his descent. His thin, arrow point tail took on a teal, supernatural shine. He postured himself to strike, and lunged at Charizard, cracking him upside the jaw with a lash of his tail. The Flame flew back towards Ash, and reverted into light.
"Ah!?" Ash gasped, as Chraizard's form retreated into the Poké Ball stationed on his belt.
"Charizard has been knocked back into the lineup, with Dragon Tail! A merciless move, by the Champion Lance! Now, which Pokémon will be sent out in Charizard's place…!?"
Ash's eyes flicked between the three Poké Balls still active on his waist. All of them started to jiggle; one sure to burst and call out his next Pokémon soon. 'Damn it. They tricked us!'
Peeks stood at Ash's feet, with his attention fixed on the three Poké Balls, wobbling, beckoned by a dragon's cry. His beady eyes narrowed, and fixed on one particular Poké Ball.
That one expanded of its own will to call its inhabitant.
Peeks leapt and kicked off of the capsule's button, drawing a confused yelp from his trainer. He used Ash as a springboard, launching himself atop the railing of his lift. "Pi… Ka!" He cried, centering all of his feet and lunging onto the field in a somersault. "Pika!"
Before he could touch solid ground, however, a sharp stone dug its way out of the field, striking the center of his forehead. He was knocked backwards, and then pelted in his belly from above. Another sharp stone crashed into his haunches, and a fourth hit the back of his head, knocking him onto the field, facefirst. Stealth Rock did its due and retreated, sinking into the field below.
"What is this!? The Pokémon replacing Charizard seems to be Ash's Pikachu…!"
Murmurs of confusion and gossip echoed through the crowd, puzzled by the unorthodox entry.
The audience wasn't alone.
"Well…!" Lance mused, eyes wide. His index cupped his chin. "This is most unexpected."
"You're telling me…!" Ash looked down at his belt, where the three Poké Balls at risk had stopped wobbling. He turned his attention to his partner, who was grunting in pain, and forcing himself back on his feet. Ash didn't understand. When had he…? Why did he…!? "Buddy…!?"
Chapter 19: Champion III - Dragon Hammer
Chapter Text
"What is this!? The Pokémon replacing Charizard seems to be Ash's Pikachu…!"
The crowd was abuzz with intrigue and confusion alike. It didn't seem like the challenger had played any part in his Pikachu taking over after Dragon Tail; he looked just as surprised as anybody else! It raised questions of choice, and of the developments in the battle to come.
Ash, of course, was surprised most of all.
"Buddy…?" Ash echoed his partner's affectionate petname, blinking slowly. Peeks was brushing the dust accrued from Stealth Rock off of his body, sporting a few nicks in his fur, but little else.
"What was that all about? I didn't tell you to swap in."
"No, you didn't." Peeks flicked his tail, brushing the last of the dust away before it settled into his fur. "I made that decision on my own. Sorry it was so sudden, but it was necessary."
"Charizard has been knocked back into the lineup, with Dragon Tail! A merciless move, by the Champion Lance! Now, which Pokémon will be sent out in Charizard's place…!?"
Peeks watched the three Poké Balls on Ash's belt wobble. He recognized that stirring that, on the outside, looked innocuous, if a bit silly. But, he understood the nature of Dragon Tail.
He'd spoken to his teammates after their rematch with Brock, out of sheer curiosity; what compelled the others to pop out. How could smacking someone with your tail cause another Pokémon to hop into the fray, after all? It just didn't seem to make any sense! And, he was curious by nature. He wanted to know, in case it ever happened to them again.
A good bet, in hindsight!
The others described it to him; with their companions' exit, the draconic energy that'd launched them leaked into their own Poké Balls, incensing them with a dragon's pride. It made each Pokémon lying in wait crave the chance to put the offending foe in their place. So, whichever Pokémon emerged next of their own will would have that opportunity, over their comrades.
Now, this presented a problem: Sceptile and Rosemary were already low on health. Even if Rosemary resisted Stealth Rock, twice over, she'd fought just minutes ago, and was surely still exhausted. Lapras was out of the battle, Peeks was out of his Poké Ball, and that left only Garchomp as a safe switch in. That was a one in three chance that Dragon Tail wouldn't put Ash at an even worse disadvantage, to say nothing of the punishment Charizard would suffer later.
So, Peeks made that decision on his own, before it was too late. He kicked off Ash's belt to make a statement to his comrades, before any one could open. The next battle would be his.
"So, that's how it happened…" Ash hummed, with his index held to his chin. Peeks had summarized his decisionmaking, and the rest made itself clear through their mental bond.
"And, if I can be honest, I think it incensed me, too," Peeks added with a smirk. "I wanted a piece of this! But, more than anything… This is my fight as well as yours. I wanted to make sure that we win!"
"The challenger, Ash, seems to be having a conversation with his Pikachu, about his choice to enter the fray! Although I can't quite decipher the "Pika Pika's," perhaps Ash will shed light upon what we're missing out on…!?" The emcee begged an explanation.
"Sure, I can!" Ash exclaimed, loud and clear. "As it turns out, Dragon Tail goads every Pokémon on the team to hop into the fight, and that's why one of 'em comes out randomly." He gestured to his partner. "Peeks knew that, and he knew our odds of a good switch-in are slim. So, he took initiative and took one for the team!"
"Amazing!" The emcee cheered, as the crowd buzzed with excitement, now, over their confusion from moments before. "I'm not sure about the legality of this play by Ash's Pikachu, but it's certainly an interesting development!"
The stadium's focus shifted to the referee, who cleared her throat. "There are no explicit rules against the conduct of Ash's Pikachu. Any disobedience present in a battle is seen as a reflection of the trainer's ability, and thus, treated as a consequence of fair play. It stands to reason that the same logic would mean that a Pokémon's good judgment is also a legal play!"
"Well, there you have it, folks! A cunning and legal play from Peeks! Those who are familiar with the tiny titan of lightning describe him as cunning, and possessing signs of strong leadership! I suppose those same traits can outshine even his trainer!"
"That's my Pika-pal~!" Misty cooed, clapping her hands together, "Oh, he really is Ash's smarter half…!"
"There's no shame in taking a little initiative!" Dawn boasted, puffing out her chest with a smile of pride, shared in her boyfriend's starter — not to mention, her own close friend.
"You know, there's something noteworthy to be said of this," Brock hummed, cupping his chin. "During Ash's first Pokémon League, Charizard's poor attitude and ill training caused Ash to lose, when he abdicated their match. This time, it's only due to the sharp judgement Peeks has developed from his time with Ash that he potentially avoided a nasty turn in his Championship battle! A Pokémon's conduct is a reflection of their trainer, and Peeks only had this opportunity due to his tendency to stand by Ash's side, rather than be confined to a Poké Ball."
"Y'know, I never thought of it like that," Misty said, eyes wide. "As far as Pokémon Trainers go, Ash's situation with Peeks is pretty unique. They're not the only ones to operate that way, but it is exceedingly rare to see the Pokémon just standing in the trainer's box with them at all times."
"Right! And Ash's willingness to respect Peeks's boundaries presented him with this opportunity to act, rather than fall to the luck of the draw. In a way, Ash's bond with Peeks protected them from the siren song of Aerodactyl's Dragon Tail!"
"That's the power of Ash and Peeks!" Dawn said. "A bond with your starter is second-to-none!"
"Pol! Empol!" Empoleon boasted in candid agreement.
"Hah. Wow. You're really something else, Bud!" Ash wiped at his eyes with his index. "Snf… Agh, I can't afford to cry, right now, no matter how moved I am! We've got a battle to win!"
"You said it!" Peeks grinned, flashing a thumbs-up. Then, he tilted his head. "I'm a little surprised, though. You're not worried about me wearing myself out before the final act?"
"Y'know, I thought about that for a moment," Ash replied. "But if I've learned anything about you over this past year, it's that I should trust your judgement! You're as much a part of this partnership as I am!" Ash cleared his throat. "So, in that case…" He dramatically pointed forth.
"Peeks, I choose you!"
Peeks's beady eyes wavered and welled up with happy tears. The absolute trust placed in him made his heart want to burst! But, they had a battle to win. So, he put himself down on all fours, tail raised, and his muzzle curved into a smirk. "That's what I'm talking about!"
For all of his dramatics, Ash sheepishly rubbed his neck. "Oh, uh, Lance. Thanks for waiting for us to wrap this all up instead of just attacking in the meantime. I know that took a little while."
"Oh, no, no." Lance smiled, shaking his head. "I'm sure you remember my words at the closing ceremony for the Pokémon League, but I will repeat them for our fair audience: the most important quality of Pokémon battles is the bond between Trainer and Pokémon! Your relationship is a necessary and valuable part of our showdown. I want to see them in earnest!"
Lance threw his arms open, spanning his cape, to the tune of uproarious applause.
"Some wise words from our challenger, and our Champion alike!"
"That figures." Ash chuckled, brushing his index over the bridge of his nose. "Even when the spotlight's on us, Lance can work the crowd better than anybody. Now, as long as we're getting down to business, let's keep one thing in mind." He smiled, adjusting his cap. "With Aerodactyl's Pressure, we've gotta be careful. Every move is gonna wear you out twice as fast as usual."
"Right," Peeks replied, "so I think it's best we keep a lid on that move, for now."
"'That move?'" Lance quirked a brow. "Surely you're not referring to Zippy Zap? You'd do well to remember that all of Kanto and Johto saw its debut in the Indigo Plateau Conference."
"Yeah, I wonder about that." Ash smirked, brushing his index finger over his nose. "If you really want to know, then I guess you'll just have to make us use it!"
"You're saving him for the final bout," Lance surmised, laughing behind his hand. "Very well, then. I will have to punish you both for your hubris! You can't afford to hold back here!"
The Champion waved a hand outward, his cape billowing off his arm. "Aerodactyl! Earthquake!"
"Skraaaaw!" Aerodactyl screeched, beating his wings several times to slowly build altitude. He then dropped into a rapid descent, smashing his strong talons into the field, breaking it in two.
Broken earth rippled across the field under the duress of seismic waves, approaching Peeks.
"Magnet Rise!" Ash cried, pointing forward.
"Pi-kaaa!" Peeks smacked his red cheeks, and expelled a magnetic charge across the entire battlefield. Chunks of earth ripped out of the foundation, buoyant thanks to the minerals within.
He skipped across the floating earth, entirely avoiding Earthquake.
"Magnet Rise has rendered Ground-type moves null for a short while!"
"Now, fire back with Thunderbolt!" Ash cried. Peeks gathered lightning in his cheeks, and fired a jagged bolt that tore through the skies, leaving the scent of burnt o-zone in its wake.
Aerodactyl ducked under the Thunderbolt, and Peeks responded to another, which he tilted away from. Frustrated, the Mouse responded with another screech, accompanied by lightning.
"Chuuu!"
"Chuu!"
"Chuuu!"
"Peeks is firing off powerful Thunderbolts, but Aerodactyl's remarkable command of the skies is rendering these attacks futile! Neither Pokémon has managed to hit the other!"
Ash tutted in frustration. "It looks like we're gonna have to get closer to them."
"Aerodactyl! Crush them!" Lance cried, raising a hand and clutching it. "Rock Slide!"
An avalanche of large, clustered boulders rained from the heavens, threatening to crush Peeks.
One particularly large one eclipsed him, leaving him in its shadow.
"Carve it up, with Iron Tail!" Ash cried, waving a hand.
"Chuuu…!" Peeks sprung off his hind legs towards the boulder headfirst. It dwarfed him by magnitudes, but he showed no fear. His tail coated in steel, and he swung in an uppercut.
"Pi-ka!"
The large was carved in half, right up the middle.
"Now, use it as a stepping stone, and keep going!"
Peeks took in his trainer's words and landed atop the rock's split surface, springing towards the barrage. "Chu-Pi-KA!" His Iron Tail collided with another large rock with its broad end, breaking it into several pieces. He planted his front paws atop the closest piece's vertical surface and flung himself onto the nearest broad footing, launching himself towards the highest, vertical piece on all fours. "Pi-pi-PI!" Using his momentum, he ricocheted into the cluttered depths of Rock Slide.
"Peeks is cutting through Rock Slide, and gaining altitude! He's very quickly closing in on Aerodactyl, to compensate for being airborne!" The emcee cried, as the little yellow blur climbed Rock Slide. Gleams of silver split the rocks one after another, quickly climbing higher.
"Pi... Ka!" Peeks bounded off the last of the rocks, shooting towards Aerodactyl.
"Hmph." Lance huffed. "Your ambition is great, but your hubris is greater. Scary Face!"
"Shoot!" Ash cursed, eyes wide in concern. If Peeks lost speed, they were going to be in serious trouble against such an agile foe. "Peeks! Guard your eyes!"
Peeks tucked his head into his stomach, protecting himself. His ascent came to a quick halt.
Lance laughed to himself. "A successful feint. And now, your Pikachu has lost his momentum."
"You tricked us!?" Ash exclaimed.
"Aerodactyl!" The Champion cried. "Hyper Beam!"
Magmatic light gathered in Aerodactyl's open maw. With a toss of his head, he fired.
"Damn it," Ash muttered. "Block it, with Iron Tail!"
Coating his tail in sturdy steel came as naturally to Peeks, at this point, as a reflex. He swerved his body around with the reinforced extremity, just in time to guard himself. Overwhelming, destructive force hammered away at his tail, forcing him down towards the arena.
His entire spine tremored, and his body recoiled from the force he was defending himself against. "Piii…!" He bore his teeth, and shifted his weight suddenly. "Pi-ka!"
He forced himself off of Iron Tail, rolling to its side. The blast pummeled the field below, while he hung in a slow freefall.
"Peeks just barely deflects that Hyper Beam with Iron Tail! That was a close call!"
'Now, Aerodactyl can't move. This is our chance,' Ash thought to himself. "Peeks! Use Thunder!"
"Piiiiiika-CHYAAA!" Peeks smacked his cheeks, firing the might of the heavens out of his body. Golden, erratic, almost uncontrollable lightning fired into the sky with so much force that Peeks struggled to aim it properly. It tore through the sky in erratic patterns, closing in on the Fossil.
Aerodactyl's cries were nearly deafened by the thundercrash that followed. Black smoke poured out of the skies, leaking excess lightning and static. Bright gold danced along its murky surface.
"OOH! That was a powerful Thunder attack that Aerodactyl just couldn't dodge!"
"That's the way, Peeks! Give it to him!" Delia cheered, while snapping several photos. "That made for a wonderful shot!"
"It was a clever play," Samuel hummed. "Lance typically uses Hyper Beam to overpower opponents and create distance, but Peeks managing to roll off of the blast gave them a moment to strike where their opponent couldn't defend themselves. Not to mention, a super-effective hit!"
"They're just one step closer to winning! Oh, my boys are making me proud!"
"Pi-ka…!" Peeks somersaulted out of the sky, landing on one of his floating platforms, on all fours. He welcomed the brief reprieve from the action, keeping his eyes glued to the smoke.
The black cloud finally parted, and Aerodactyl fell from the smoky aftermath.
"There he is!" Ash shouted. "Thunderbolt!"
"Piikaaaaa-cyuuuu!" Peeks shrieked, firing a Thunderbolt.
Aerodactyl dove into a freefall, slipping under Thunderbolt's reach. The lightning's golden light reflected off of his gray scales before fading away, giving him free reign to swoop in towards Peeks. A mighty gust kicked up dust on Lance's end of the field. Aerodactyl became a gray blur.
"Seize him!" Lance shouted. "Crunch!"
Peeks broke out in a sweat. In just a fraction of a second, he was in Aerodactyll's shadow. The Fossil opened his maw, showing off his many rows of sharp teeth. He licked his lips, before clamping down.
"Quick Attack!" Ash cried. "Make some distance!"
A silver streak propelled Peeks backwards. He watched Aerodactyl's jowls crush the slab of earth he'd stood upon into rubble, and he swallowed heavily. But, he wasn't out of the woods, yet. The Fossil lunged at him again, snapping down.
"Pi…!" Peeks grit his teeth, and forced the Normal-type energy surrounding him to propel him to his right, narrowly avoiding the Crunch. He touched floating ground again for a split-second reprieve, and then shot backwards with another burst of speed.
His little heart hammered as Aerodactyl rapidly approached. Were they in the distant, historic past, he was pretty sure he'd be on the menu as Aerodactyl's next, hopeful meal.
'Thanks, Johanna. That Quick Attack's doing us some good,' Ash thought to himself. 'But it's still not gonna be enough at this rate. We need to fight back, and break their pace!'
"Peeks's Quick Attack is showing some extraordinary control! He's moving left, right, and center, without so much as a break in between! But, he still can't shake Aerodactyl!"
"Thunderbolt!"
Peeks abandoned the exertion of Quick Attack — slightly more effortful than usual, under Pressure, but still modest — and simply allowed his momentum to carry him further away. He tucked in his weight, gathering electricity in his cheeks, coursing down to his tail. "Pika-CHU!"
Thunderbolt fired at the approaching pterodactyl, who unfortunately, swerved to its side at the last second, and was upon Peeks in the blink of an eye. How was he so damned fast!?
"Scary Face!"
"Peeks!"
Aerodactyl's emerald eyes started to glow. The mouse instinctively tucked his head.
"Now! Dragon Tail!"
Aerodactyl abandoned his vicious visage a second time, instead letting his lithe, arrow head tail pulse with emerald light. He pulled his weight up, and whipped the tail's point in an uppercut.
'He's gonna make us switch!' Ash realized, his heart pounding. "Tuck in and roll, Buddy!"
Peeks trusted his trainer's guidance. Already compact, he leaned his weight forward for a rapid somersault, soaring closer into Aerodactyl's personal space. The Fossil was caught off-guard, pulling back on pure instinct. The broader end of his tail smacked into Peeks instead.
Peeks was knocked into the air, suffering a bit of raw soreness to his back, but little else. He unraveled in mid-air, riding on his trajectory to gain some airtime and distance. "Nice try!"
"Peeks has avoided the secondary effect of Dragon Tail! What a relief for Ketchum!"
"A savvy move," Lance praised with a smile. "But, it seems you have bigger problems."
Ash followed Lance's sharp eye, looking down at the field. The successive 'crash' of floating land falling back into place, or otherwise breaking on impact with the earth, told him one thing:
"It seems that Magnet Rise has expired!"
"Now, you have no refuge!" Lance closed a clawed hand into a fist. "Earthquake!"
"Skraaw!" Aerodactyl screeched, ascending momentarily, and plunging down to earth.
'There's no time to set up another,' Ash thought. "Quick Attack!"
There was no time to waste. A burst of speed slung Peeks across the battlefield, stretching into a yellow and silver blur. He had fractions of a second to spare, before Aerodactyl broke earth.
"Pi-Ka!" He cried out in effort, smashing his shoulder and skull into Aerodactyl's gut.
"Roaaah…!" Aerodactyl flinched and contorted, locked in place by the impact for just a moment. The full force of the region's mightiest Pikachu followed through, and he was sent flying back.
Ash waved a hand forward with gusto. "One more Quick Attack!"
Peeks exerted himself a second time, shooting right into Aerodactyl's chest. "Pi-ka!"
"Peeks prevents Earthquake with a daring, aggressive offensive! Look at that speed!"
"'Look at that speed,' indeed," Lance hummed. "Aerodactyl! Paralyze him with your gaze!"
Ash laughed at the suggestion. "Another bluff, Lance? You're really slipping!"
The Champion smirked. "You dare to try me?"
"Oh, I dare!"
"Very well!" Lance acknowledged the challenge, as Peeks and Aerodactyl soared towards his station with sheer inertia. Dust clouds parted around them, heralding their inevitable arrival.
"Scary Face!"
"Iron Tail!"
Aerodactyl glowered at the mere mouse before him, with horrible sharp fangs, barely holding back his salivating, spread membrane wings, and a horrible glare meant to freeze a foe in terror.
"Chuuuu…!" Peeks was prepared. He tumbled forward into a rolling somersault, coating his lightning bolt tail with steel that glimmered under the harsh spotlights. The reflection was so assaultive, in fact, that Aerodactyl cried out and guarded his eyes from the shine.
Lance gasped.
"Piiii… Kaaaa!" Peeks rolled all of his momentum into a spinning, vicious uppercut. Iron Tail struck Aerodactyl in the jaw, sending the prehistoric Pokémon soaring high into the sky.
"Ooooh! That was a NASTY Iron Tail! Ash and Peeks are holding their own, despite the immense pressure they're facing! This round is a battle of lightning-fast speedsters!"
"'Pressure' is putting it mildly," Brock grumbled, leaning back in his seat with his arms folded.
"It's funny, because it doesn't look like they're suffering much," Dawn remarked. She watched Peeks return to the center of the battlefield, where he was close enough to intercept another Earthquake, but also close enough for Ash to keep a closer eye on the battle. "They're keeping the pace well enough."
"They're doing good, but Lance is making them exert more effort than Aerodactyl is at every turn," Misty remarked. "I guess that's where Pressure comes from. Kind of hard to keep your wits about you with a giant prehistoric predator ready to rip you to shreds."
"It's hard to tell from this distance, but it must be tiring," Brock agreed. "It's a good thing that Peeks has worked hard on his stamina, leading up until now. His battle with Hydreigon was a lot more excruciating… but, then again, they don't want this to be his last bout in the battle, either."
"He just needs to put Aerodactyl down and get some rest then," Dawn said. As she swallowed heavily, though, she knew that wasn't quite as easy as it sounds. "C'mon, Ash and Peeks…!"
Empoleon fired a Bubblebeam skyward, in a flashy show of support. They had to push onward!
"So, we've kept them off our backs, for now." Peeks said. He'd successfully caught his breath after a moment of distance from Aerodactyl. "I think that last stunt taught them not to try another Earthquake."
"Yeah," Ash agreed. He eyed Lance warily. The Champion studied him, just the same. His deep blue gaze pierced Ash; he felt subjected to the same pressure his partner did. 'It's weird. I can tell that he's learned he can't approach the ground carelessly. We're makin' Lance think twice before battling on our terms. So that's one route of attack covered. But, it's not like we can just run up into the sky without getting shot down, either. Every time we try to get altitude, they'll make it hell for us!' The trainer's eyes widened. 'We've reached a complete stalemate!'
Ash had a strong gut feeling that Lance also knew that.
"There is a brief lull in the battle! If I had to guess, the challenger and the Champion are sizing each other up, after neither has succeeded in overwhelming the other! These two are locked in a dead heat!"
Mutters of intrigue and anxious excitement rumbled through the audience. This was unheard of!
"Seeing the Champion of Two Regions take pause is an overwhelmingly rare sight, in light of his aggressive battle style! I think Ash Ketchum can consider that an accomplishment in itself! But, accolades alone will not be enough to win this battle!"
'Even if it is a stalemate, though, spinning our wheels is only going to get worse for Peeks as the battle goes on, especially if he wants to stick around for Dragonite! If only there was a way to take the fight to them without giving them the high ground…!'
Ash's eyes widened. Once again, that little lightbulb flickered over his head. Every now and then, though, that flicker was a mighty halo that catapulted him to victory.
Maybe, hopefully, this was one of those times.
"Ah…?" The carmine-haired Champion cocked a brow. "You have a peculiar look in your eye."
Ash laughed, brushing his index finger over his nose. "Am I that obvious?"
"Well, I wouldn't encourage gambling," Lance replied in jest, "but I suggest you never try Poker."
"Please. I've already worried Mom enough," Ash shot back with a smile. "But, no need to worry. 'Cause this is no gamble! Peeks, I'm gonna need another Magnet Rise!"
"Oh, you're up to something." Peeks grinned at the tell-tale signs of a strategy to come. "You can count on me!" With a mighty cry, the Electric-type flooded with a strong, magnetic pulse.
Coils of lightning danced across the battlefield, forcing slabs of earth and mineral to hover a fair elevation above the ground, a second time. Peeks rose to greater heights along with them.
"Ash has employed Magnet Rise, once again! But, it's unclear how this is a new strategy!"
"Hah! Just you wait!" Ash pumped a fist in the air. "Peeks! Use Thunder on the battlefield!"
Peeks didn't know where this was headed, but rather than pry his mind, he decided to trust Ash. It was only a fair exchange, after all. "Pikaaaaaaaaa….!" He cried in an escalating pitch, and smacked his paws against his red cheeks. White-hot lightning coursed through them and down through his tail. He threw his paws in the air, unleashing his electrical wrath. "Chyuuuuu!"
Dense pillars of lightning climbed high… and curved to shoot right back down, striking the land with impunity. Golden electricity spilled across the battlefield like a deluge, making the rising plates rumble.
"What is this!? Ketchum once again turns his strategies on the field, but to what end!?"
The emcee's question would be answered promptly. Dancing webs of static burst and shot high, propelling the slabs of earth to far greater heights, under far greater magnetic pressure.
The audience gasped in awe and excitement, as the foothold swiftly reached new heights.
"What's this…!?" Lance exclaimed, wide-eyed.
"Magnet Rise uses magnetism to give Electric-types a little boost, and the ground along with 'em," Ash explained. "So, it only makes sense that if you give it an extra charge, it all goes up!"
Peeks smirked, standing on his hind legs as the centermost slab soared higher, higher, and even higher! Golden pillars elevated him closer and closer to Aerodactyl's altitude!
The Electric Mouse grinned manically, mirroring his trainer.
"This is our taking it to the next level!" Ash shouted. Super Magnet Rise!"
"Oh, my…!" Delia gasped, tilting her camera for a better shot. "I can't even see Peeks anymore!"
"Pouring more power into a move that functions on magnetism for greater elevation…" Professor Oak tapped his index against his cheek. "Land, sea, and sky. only the mighty may call. But, a Trainer from Pallet seems to beckon them all!"
He cleared his throat. "Even after Lance has deprived him of a field with extra properties, Ash still finds ways to manipulate terrain to his liking. I've never seen anything quite like it."
"And, there it is! 'Super Magnet Rise!'" The emcee narrated, as roaring cheers of excitement rolled in for Ash's next strange tactic. "Ash has evened the playing field — or should I say, Peeks has with his direction! Now, Aerodactyl, for now, has lost the benefit of the high ground! Can the prideful Pikachu turn the tables from here!?"
"Ahaha. Can he, indeed." Lance laughed to himself. He then threw out both of his arms, spanning his cape. "I applaud you, Ash and Peeks! Your innovations continue to make a battle most interesting. However! I would not be doing my duty as your opponent — nay, as your CHAMPION — if I did not crush your attempts with my best efforts! Aerodactyl! Hyper Beam!"
"Rwaaawgh!" Aerodactyl cried, as blinding light gathered in his mouth, contrasting with the dark night sky. An echoing ring foretold the destruction to come. Aerodactyl threw his head forward.
A sweeping pillar of energy swept across the floating isles, blasting each to pieces upon contact. Peeks was forced to leap to floating earth further away, coming within mere feet of his tail being caught in the blast. "Pi-Pi-Pi…!" Dashing from one to the next, he kept his distance.
"It's as I told you," Lance lectured. "No ruse will stand up to the unstoppable power of dragons!"
"In just one, unforgiving Hyper Beam, Lance is erasing the 'Super Magnet Rise!' What power!"
"Yeah, I figured this is where we'd end up," Ash replied, as he adjusted the brim of his cap to cool his nerves. "That's fine! We can do this, Buddy! Break on through with Quick Attack!"
Peeks acted with mere moments to spare, as he stared into the blinding light of Hyper Beam. It razed through the earth he stood upon, eating away at it with zero resistance. With a burst of effort, he launched himself in a trail of silver, launching parallel to Hyper Beam towards its user. He could feel its heat singing his fur, and forced himself just a few feet higher, only barely clearing its surface. "Pi-Pi… Pika!" When Hyper Beam passed, he slipped under its width, staying within the cover of its overpowering light, and out of Aerodactyl's field of vision.
Ricocheting left, higher, right, and lower in quick succession, Peeks took a deep breath, and catapulted himself directly into Aerodactyl's chest. Hyper Beam died in a fizzle, in the wake of a thunderous chain of explosions that shrouded the night sky in black fog, blocking the spotlights.
Ash couldn't see his partner. He could hear his voice and the impact of Quick Attack that he knew so well, though, and waved a hand. "Follow it up with Thunderbolt!"
Peeks kicked off of Aerodactyl's chest, giving himself just a bit more altitude while the other fell. He smacked his cheeks, surrounding himself in a halo of lighting. "Pikaaa-chuuu!" He fired.
A weary Aerodactyl watched out of the corner of his eye, and barrel rolled just out of reach.
Peeks cursed his ridiculous reaction time under his breath.
"Your greed won't go unpunished!" Lance declared with commanding vigor. "Dragon Tail!"
'Here it comes! This is our chance,' Ash thought to himself. His eyes narrowed.
He could see a gleam of emerald through the parting black smoke.
"Roll off it, with Iron Tail!"
Peeks found himself face-to-face with the prehistoric Pokémon. Aerodactyl was battered, furious, and out for vengeance. He spun his whole body around, aiming the whiplash at the mouse's head.
Peeks quickly pivoted, guarding his upper body with his metallic tail. He shuddered, when the full weight of Dragon Tail cracked against his tail's broad end. "Piii-kaaaa….!" He grit his teeth, forcing back against the strike. Aerodactyl wasn't as compact as he was, nor was his tail as muscular compared to the rest of his body. Peeks knew that he commanded the next turn.
He pivoted his body around, swatting Aerodactyl's tail off of him.
"Now, grab 'im!"
The black, murky fog was clearing from over the stadium for the entire audience to see. Peeks had spun off of an off-balance Aerodactyl. The other's tail lost its glow, in immediate reach.
"Pi…!" Peeks seized the narrow end of Aerodactyl's tail in both of his forepaws.
Ash grinned, waving a hand towards the ground. "Now, give him a good toss!"
"Pi-kaaaaah…!" Peeks roared with effort, wielding the Fossil over his head. It was true that he was only a measly 1'4", and a modest 13 lbs. He didn't have much in the way of mass. But one of his greatest, unspoken weapons, was his complete command of momentum and movement.
With a powerful cry, he swung Aerodactyl and flung him towards the ground.
"Wow! That tiny Pikachu has just launched Aerodactyl overhead!"
Ash waved a hand with gusto and shouted, "Thunder!"
A crackling, overpowering halo buzzed around Peeks. He fired the thunderstorm below him.
Each jagged bolt converged, and crashed into Aerodactyl. Sparks and ashes rained.
Aerodactyl fell, hitting the field with a loud 'thud.' He laid out, wings splayed, eyes swirls.
The referee raised a flag towards Ash. "Aerodactyl is unable to battle! Pikachu wins!"
"And, there you have it! A decisive knockout from Ash's Pikachu, showcasing speed, brains, and brawn in one fell swoop!" The emcee shouted, to the deafening applause of most of the audience. "You could drop this yellow fellow right into the days where fossil Pokémon ruled the earth, and it seems he'd work his way right up the food chain!"
"Way to go, Peeks!" Dawn cheered, raising both of her hands.
Misty clapped both of hers against Dawn's. "That's my Pika-pal! Power on through, lil' man!"
"We're watching a striking development down in Indigo Plateau Stadium, witnessed by the crowd here and the folks at home! Although the Champion picked up the first knockout of his Title Defense, Ash has come back with an absolute vengeance; taking out not one, not two, not three — FOUR of his Pokémon in a row! Things are looking dicey for the heroic Dragon Master! But, it's not as if he's not putting up a fight!"
"It really is remarkable," Brock mused aloud, in response to the emcee's play-by-play. "It's not as if Lance has made these battles easy for Ash. Each of his Pokémon have been extraordinarily powerful, presenting their own obstacles. But, Ash and his Pokémon have stood up to the challenge with an almost unbelievable amount of momentum! Of course, it feels familiar…"
"Pol," Empoleon chirped, before folding his wings in a reserved manner, "Empol."
"Erm…?" Brock stammered, feeling awkward that he couldn't understand his point.
"He's trying to imitate Deidra," Dawn interpreted. She patted her starter's shoulder, smiling politely. "Sorry, big guy. I know Peeks's imitations are big shoes to step into!"
"Pol…!" Empoleon hung his head, devastated. But, there were more important matters on the line! He collected himself and waved his wing. "Pol, Empoleon. Empo!"
"Right! It's shaping up to be like the end of Ash's battle with Deidra, at this rate."
"Meaning that one, final opponent will pose a big challenge to Ash's entire team," Misty replied, "while they're already worn down from battle with the others. A set-up sweep isn't an invalid tactic, if a trainer knows they can count on one particular Pokémon to clean house."
"I've rarely even seen Lance pushed to this point, so it's hard to say," Brock replied, "but I suspect the three of you might be right. This means that if Ash wants to protect himself from that blowback, it's important that his Pokémon endure as little damage as possible! Unfortunately, with that Stealth Rock, he's going to have a tough time of it…"
"No need to worry! There's just one more Pokémon between Ash and the last!" Dawn cheered.
"Well done, Aerodactyl. Return." Lance recalled his fourth Pokémon, and took a deep breath. With the cool composure he always carried, he stored it away. "I suppose it's my hubris that required a debt to be paid. I underestimated your maneuverability, Peeks," he addressed the mouse. "I promise that's a mistake that I won't repeat."
"It's nice to… see some respect around here!" Peeks boasted, even through hurried breaths.
"Indeed. Now…! Mighty palm of Alola! Stand tall, and tower over our foes!" Lance shouted with dramatic valor, as he sent another Poké Ball into the fray with a backhand toss. "Exeggutor!"
The Poké Ball bounced off the field, and its center latch opened. The light from within climbed… and climbed… and climbed towards the sky. Shouts of awe and confusion rolled in, as the Pokémon to take form was no ordinary Exeggutor.
"What is this!?"
Ash and Peeks both took several steps back, staring up into the night sky, stupefied.
"What is…?"
"Don't look at me, like I'll know."
An Exeggutor stood before Lance, with the flourishing palm leaves adorning their three coconut heads reaching high enough to be cast in the silhouette of the stadium spotlights, themselves. A very, very long neck climbed the heavens, with their ordinary, stocky bottom at ground level. The Pokémon had a tail, unlike the Exeggutor they knew. "Exeggutor!" The far-off heads cried in unison.
"Lance has called on an Exeggutor, but like none I've ever seen!" The emcee announced. "...Ah. It seems that this is an Exeggutor from the far-off Alola region! Said by some to be the 'true' form of Exeggutor, they reach towards the skies to indulge in the sun's rays, which seems to have unlocked a dormant Dragon-type power! Alolan Exeggutor is a Grass/Dragon-type Pokémon, perfectly suiting for the Dragon Master's entourage!"
"An Alolan Exeggutor…" Ash echoed, breathless. His neck was starting to hurt, from looking up high enough to take in their full silhouette. "That's… amazing! Aha, they're huge!"
"Our venture to the Alola region was most fruitful, as you can see," Lance explained, gesturing to his gargantuan ally. "Even I was surprised by them carrying the heart of a dragon! But, I can assure you that they are very much one of us. Don't forget that looks can be deceiving!"
"Man… There're so many cool Pokémon out in the world! I can't wait to see them all!" Ash bundled his fists in childlike gee. He couldn't wipe the goofy grin off his face!
Well, he managed eventually, and took a deep breath. "But, that'll have to wait. Sorry, Exeggutor, I'd love to get to know ya. But before that can happen, we have to beat ya!"
"Exeggggutoooor," the three heads echoed. They didn't sound entirely convinced.
'For now, I think Peeks could use a break,' Ash thought to himself. His partner's breathing had slowed to its usual pace, but Ash wasn't so gullible. 'Besides, a Grass and Dragon-type ain't anything he'd want to go up against. Not with a final battle waiting behind Exeggutor!'
Ash made his decision, and clapped his hands against his cheeks to psyche himself up. "Alright, Buddy! Break time. I'm gonna have to ask you to return, for now."
"You won't hear a complaint from me!" Peeks agreed, and sprinted back towards Ash. He cleared the height of the lift, dashing back up his trainer's shoulder to brush cheeks with him.
"Thanks again, for trusting me," he relayed quietly.
Ash looked at Pikachu, and winked. "Anytime, pal. Now!" With his focus renewed, he grabbed a sixth and final Poké Ball off of his belt. He wound up, and tossed it over the lift. "Garchomp!"
A streak of light shot out of the capsule, and soared around the battlefield, gliding on air.
"Gahhh…!" Garchomp cried, to the tune of excitement from the audience. Unfortunately, his flashy entrance was rudely interrupted. Stealthy stones shot out of the dirt, smashing into Garchomp's scaly underbelly. Several more explosions followed, battering his jaw, wing, and tail. He tumbled over, landing face first in the dirt, to the echo of disappointment from the audience.
"Well, that was mean," Garchomp grumbled. "I was making my entrance!"
"Sorry, pal." Ash rubbed the back of his neck, smiling apologetically. "But, hey! At least the audience seems to like ya."
If Garchomp had any remaining thoughts about that, he didn't show it. He'd already become preoccupied with Exeggutor, who he waddled over to on his hind legs, hunched over with curiosity. He spotted the tail behind them, and crept around their rotund body, sniffing at the tail.
There was a fourth head at the end of the tail, with two palm leaves that resembled hair, and silly, puckered lips. 'Silly' was an adjective that wouldn't last, though; the fourth head started to froth and shout angrily at Garchomp, flailing around to strike the Mach Pokémon in the nose.
Garchomp pulled back with a whimper, watching the tail from a short distance.
"Get over here, you goof!" Ash laughed, waving his Pokémon over to return to his side. He could hear part of the audience laughing in good humor at his Pokémon's antics. "You can't just go getting up in people's space, it's rude! How would you feel if someone sniffed your tail?"
"Not very good! My bad, Boss." Garchomp sheepishly scratched his head with his claw.
"They say curiosity killed the cat, but it may be the shark, in this case!" The emcee quipped, unable to hide the amusement in his voice. "Garchomp doesn't seem to be taking that Stealth Rock with any real discomfort, if he's out pestering his opponent! That Ground-type resistance has served him well!"
"Aha-ha!" Lance hid his mirth behind the back of his hand. "Alolan Exeggutor are known to get rather angry if their tail is provoked. It's a mistake that many a foreigner to Alola have made. Despite their tropical appearance, they carry a dragon's spirit… Which you'll see for yourself!" The Champion cast a hand forward with vigor. "Exeggutor! Dragon Hammer!"
Exeggutor stomped forward, first sluggishly and clumsily, with the ground trembling under their weight. They quickly picked up speed, charging towards Garchomp. "Ex-eggu-toooorrr…..!"
The three heads cried, rearing back their long neck. They then threw their weight forward, bringing down their heads and ferns like a mighty, gigantic hammer.
"Dodge that!" Ash cried.
"Gah!" Garchomp took to the air, soaring out of Exeggutor's path.
They struck and split the earth under their impact. Garchomp was assaulted by a powerful shockwave, forcing him to reorient himself in midair, turning to face the blow he'd dodged. Pink and gold whips of energy cascaded from the point of impact, where an explosion of draconic energy broke the earth. The Mach balanced his wings and tailfin to maintain his composure.
"Woah… That's some power." Ash marveled, adjusting the brim of his cap. "If that'd hit…"
"Once more!" Lance shouted. "Dragon Hammer!"
"Exegg…!" Exeggutor stumbled back and upwards, rearing their heads back.
"Well, it's not like we can just play defense. Not when we've got power to match!" Ash shouted, punching the air. "Counter it with Dragon Rush!"
Garchomp was already airborne, offering him the altitude he needed. He cried out in a show of primal power, wrapping his body in a jagged, rapidly blooming cyan glow. He took on the shape of a wyvern with a lithe body, unfolding wings, and a fierce head crowned with horns. "Gaah…!"
He divebombed Exeggutor, attacking with breakneck speed. His skull smashed into that of the center head of Exeggutor, stopping the Coconut Pokémon's descent outright. Bright blue, hot pink, and harsh yellow lights flickered and echoed from the impact, and powerful shockwaves washed over a startled audience. For them, it was only a troublesome gust of wind.
Garchomp and Exeggutor, however, bucked against one another in a stubborn battle of wills. Flickers of draconic light danced off of each, with Garchomp forcing himself forward, attempting to buck Exeggutor's weight. But the might of Dragon Hammer forced itself back down. Garchomp growled, and the Exeggutor grunted out the droning echoes of their own name.
"It's a clash of power versus power, with Garchomp and Exeggutor! Dragon Rush and Dragon Hammer seem to be evenly matched! …Oh, what's this? I've spoken too soon!"
"Gaahhrrrh…!" Garchomp growled with ferocity, pushing forward slowly, one inch at a time. Exeggutor planted their feet and pushed back, forcing a struggle. But, the Mach started to take them off-balance, bucking the coconut head with the star atop his snout. Cyan light danced off of his body like the fire propelling a rocket towards the stars. "Ga-ga-gah…!"
"It seems that Garchomp is overpowering Exeggutor!"
'You're not gonna get us that easily, Lance.' Ash thought to himself, wearing a smile that projected confidence. 'That Dragon Hammer is nutty, but it's all on momentum! If Exeggutor can go into full swing, that power's even a lot for Garchomp! But if we can catch them on the way down, then we've beat 'em to the punch! And there's hardly anybody faster than Garchomp.'
"Very astute, Ash." Lance praised, drawing Ash's attention. "You intuited the pros and cons of Dragon Hammer after just one use. However… That's only one of Exeggutor's great qualities."
Ash grimaced. He was sure he'd see the echoes of that threat, soon enough.
"Use Seed Bomb!"
Garchomp's skull was locked in a bucking contest against Exeggutor's center coconut head, in a head-on clash. The manically happy face opened his mouth wide, and a large, flickering shot of earthy green coalesced, blending into their own tropical hammer and Garchomp's blue.
Ash gasped. There was nothing he could do, as an explosion swallowed the point of impact. Black smoke expanded with traces of green light, and Garchomp fell from the inky veil.
"A Seed Bomb at point-blank range! That's got to hurt!"
"You see, now?" Lance boasted with a cool smirk. "Psyshock! Dragon Pulse!"
"Gu-tooorrrr…" The right head, or Ash's left, sparked pink and purple particles from their pupils, and fired a beam of psychic energy. The opposite head fired a cool-toned multicolored blast from their mouth, tearing through the air while sprouting a skeletal pair of wings.
The two attacks converged on Garchomp in a pincer formation. He shook his head out, and dove under the two projectiles, where they collided in an explosion spanning the color spectrum.
"Good job, Garchomp!" Ash praised. Stay sharp!"
"Seed Bomb! Dragon Pulse! Psyshock!" Lance commanded.
After a moment that allowed Garchomp to collect himself, each head fired an attack in succession: The explosive Seed Bomb, the searing Psyshock, and the furious Dragon Pulse.
"They can fire all three at once…!" Ash's jaw clenched. "Take to the skies, Garchomp! Try to shake 'em!" He watched the Mach soar, creating some distance for himself.
Seed Bomb continued on its trajectory, exploding harmlessly in mid-air. Dragon Pulse and Psycshock, however, stubbornly pursued Garchomp into the night sky.
"Use Dual Chop!"
Garchomp fielded both of his fins over his head, coating them in pale green constructs. "Gaaah…!" With a mighty roar, he slashed downward, stabbing his sharp nails into the two attacks. He struggled for a moment against their raw power, before carving down through.
Both attacks split in half, exploding in a shower of fireworks around him.
"Once again!" Lance ordered, with a commanding wave of his hand.
"Ex-egg-tor!" Exeggutor recoiled a bit with successive fire, launching all three moves rapidly.
"Garchomp's already pretty high… Gliding's not gonna give him much more altitude," Ash acknowledged with a bit of frustration. "Carve through 'em again! Dual Chop!"
Garchomp watched the three projectiles close in, and winded his body up, with one of his fins crossing over his chest and past his side. He took guidance from Sceptile's deliberate and precise strikes, waiting for the shots to be just close enough. "Gaaaahchaaah…!"
One swift, vicious backhanded slice carved through all three blasts, splitting them into splinters.
"Letting them keep their distance is giving them the advantage," Ash noted aloud. "Give yourself some cover, Garchomp! Fly in and use Flamethrower!"
"Yessir!" Garchomp dove down towards Exeggutor, opening his maw for a stream of flames.
"Triad fire, Exeggutor!" Lance cried. Exeggutor followed suit; Seed Bomb, Dragon Pulse, and Psyshock tore into the flames, splitting them down the middle. But, there was no explosion.
Lance's sharp eyes scanned the battlefield. Garchomp's dark navy body blended into the night sky, but their shadow was rapidly approaching Exeggutor, under his notice. "They're coming in low! Dragon Hammer!"
Garchomp was indeed soaring low, moving under his own cover to close the distance.
But, Exeggutor caught on, coming down with a ferocious Dragon Hammer.
The Mach came to a sudden halt, raising his fins to slow his own flight. Exeggutor's heads smashed into the earth mere feet out of his path. The resulting shockwave sent him tumbling.
"Garchomp tried to close the gap and avoid long-range attacks, but Exeggutor isn't having it!" The emcee shouted, as Exeggutor wound up again, stomping forward for a second strike. Garchomp only narrowly avoided it, and the impact sent him tumbling again. "A ruthless and relentless pursuit batters our very Indigo Stadium battlefield! Garchomp is not being given any breathing room!"
Exeggutor wound up for a third Dragon Hammer. Ash grimaced. 'They're using the impact from it to keep us off-balance! We can't just strike back if Garchomp can't command the air! What do we do…!?'
The mighty Dragon Hammer came down again towards a fumbling Garchomp. The Mach was left in its shadow, moments from being flattened.
'The impact… that's it!' Ash put the pieces together. "Garchomp! Open your fins, and let the wind carry ya!"
Garchomp spanned his body as told, and the lingering winds from the previous strike carried him just a bit further. Pink and yellow draconic power pushed him further and further, knocking him high into the sky.
"Garchomp narrowly avoids more punishment! But, what is Ketchum up to!?"
'Now, we just need to catch 'em before they're all the way upright, again!' Ash thought. "Garchomp! I need you to charge back in while Exeggutor is still getting back on their feet!"
Lance raised a brow at Ash's command. But, there was little he could do but watch. Exeggutor groaned in annoyance at yet another attack missing. They picked up their impossibly long neck, ready to stand upright once again. This time, Garchomp had the advantage of altitude.
"Now, grab onto their leaves, with Crunch!" Ash cried.
Garchomp was never reluctant to bite. He dove towards the rising ferns, opening his mighty jowls. Before the Coconut Pokémon knew it, he sunk his teeth into them.
"Ex-egg-u-tor!?" The Pokémon cried out in pain and annoyance, stumbling clumsily in an attempt to shake the Mach free. They were having no luck at all.
"Garchomp is using his infamous, powerful jaws to latch onto Exeggutor! Although it isn't doing any huge damage, that does look as painful as it is irritating!"
"I see," Lance hummed. "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, yes?"
Ash grinned, brushing his index over his nose. "Something like that!"
Lance smiled. "It's an interesting maneuver, but ultimately a folly! Triad Fire!"
Exeggutor was being jostled this way and that by Garchomp's iron grip, much to their displeasure. A Seed Bomb, Psyshock, and Dragon Pulse charged in each of their mouths.
"Now!" Ash shouted, waving his hand through the air, "give 'em a good throw, huh!?"
"Ghrh…!" Garchomp grunted through his teeth, tucking in his jaw. Then, with all of his might, he lurched forward, flinging Exeggutor backwards and off-balance. Their three blasts fired, climbing past Garchomp to orbit one another, and then detonate in a shower of sparks in the night sky.
Exeggutor stumbled haphazardly, struggling not to topple over backwards.
"Alllright!" Ash grinned, pointing forward with gusto. "Now's your chance! Dragon Rush!"
Vibrant blue wrapped around Garchomp, blooming into a long tail, regal horns, and wings. He catapulted himself, smashing his skull into the stumbling Exeggutor. His aura shattered, and the Coconut Pokémon fell back in a freefall. The field trembled upon impact.
"A mighty strike from Garchomp! Exeggutor is down!"
"Nice!" Dawn hopped out of her seat, waving her pom-poms. "Great shot, Garchomp!"
"That was clever," Brock remarked, cupping his chin. "Exeggutor's Dragon Hammer made approaching risky, and their other three moves fired from their heads offered little refuge at a distance. But, Garchomp's mouth has always been a way of throwing off opponents."
"It looks like you need proper balance for Dragon Hammer," Misty speculated, "so getting Exeggutor off-balance leaves them pretty much defenseless! And, it's not like they can aim with those teeth sinking in." She shuddered. "I would not want to be in their position."
"It looked like a decisive blow, too," Dawn said. "But, we won't know for sure, until it's over!"
Exeggutor had been knocked onto their back. Lance's cape billowed behind him, kicked up in a storm of wind and dust from the impact. "Impressive! Most impressive. You disheveled Exeggutor, and dealt a lot of damage in the process." His eyes snapped wide open. "However!"
Exeggutor leaned back on their rear, rolling onto the length of their tail. "Ex-egg!" With a lurch forward, they rolled back onto their feet, landing upright with a loud 'thud.' "Exeggutor!"
"Exeggutor took a heavy hit, but they are back in the action!"
"Heh. Figures that wouldn't be it." Ash smirked, even as sweat traced down his brow.
"For all of your wit and your might, you've gained absolutely no ground against us!" Rather than let his cryptic boast hang in the air, he raised a hand skyward. "Exeggutor! Use Sunny Day!"
Each of the heads' six eyes shone with a bright, overpowering light. Sunlight gathered from the many ferns atop their heads, converging in the very center as a ball. That ball shot higher into the sky, igniting into an awfully bright artificial sun. Ambient heat basked over the stadium.
"Exeggutor has cast a sun, in the dead of night!"
Ash watched the artificial sun rise into the sky with an arched brow, and steadily widening eyes. Why is he…?" He gasped. The pieces clicked into place. "Garchomp! Use Flamethrower, now!"
Garchomp drew back his head, gathering heat in the bit of his belly. "Gahh…!" With a toss of his head, he spat a roaring, crackling wall of flame at Exeggutor. It doubled the size of the previous.
"Now! Use Synthesis!"
The fanning torrent of flames washed over Exeggutor. Passionate oranges and furious reds gradually brightened, until the cascade was almost entirely a blinding white.
Flamethrower died out, leaving clouds of black smoke to drift away in the aftermath.
Exeggutor stood exactly where they'd been, as many spots and particles of sunlight washed over their body. The bruises from Dragon Rush and the burns from Flamethrower ceased to be.
"Damn it," Ash muttered under his breath, snapping his fingers. "We were too late!"
"Exeggutor is looking as fresh as ever!" The emcee shouted, as the crowd rumbled with contradictory groans of disappointment, and cheers for the mighty Champion's invincibility. "It seems that Sunny Day was cast to heal them of all damage, even at the cost of a stronger Flamethrower! What is a challenger to do, when faced with an opponent who will not go down!?"
"Oh, that's… So frustrating!" Delia huffed, bundling up her fists. "They were doing so well! But, they can just deal out the damage again, can't they?" She asked, turning to her former mentor.
"In theory, yes," Oak replied, "but this play is just as much psychological as it is strategic in a concrete sense. Undermining a trainer's confidence in their position is a high level tactic employed by those powerful enough to wield it wisely. Ash put a great deal of effort into landing that Dragon Rush, only for it to be undone in an instant! And, his success relied, in part, on trickery. He won't be able to wield sleight of hand the same, now that Lance has seen it. Garchomp hasn't taken damage since the Stealth Rock, but Ash is in arguably a worse position than when the battle started. Garchomp has spent at least some energy, and he's frustrated."
"That does make more sense than I wanted to," Delia admitted, scowling. "It's a lot like when Deidra kept healing her Pokémon, isn't it?"
"Quite a bit, yes," Samuel nodded. "Although that time, it was done rather early in the match, so Ash was primed to cycle between his arsenal of Pokémon to scout Deidra's tactics and poke at her weaknesses. I would wager that Lance has picked a better point to start a battle of attrition. Lapras is knocked out, Sceptile and Rosemary are low on stamina, Peeks is recovering from the bout with Aerodactyl, and Charizard is a last resort, especially; Stealth Rock will harm him much more than the others. To put it simply, Ash's safest bet is to somehow win with Garchomp."
Delia tightened her grip on her portable camera, to the point of her knuckles whitening. It was hard to watch her one and only squirm in such an unenviable position against the Champion.
He would find a way, though. She knew he would.
"Alright. So, that sun is gonna be a problem." Ash adjusted the brim of his cap in an anxious show, trying to center himself. "As long as Exeggutor can get to it, they'll heal any damage off."
His lips picked up into a wry smile. "Good thing we came with just the answer. Sandstorm!"
"Gaaaahhh….!" Garchomp howled with effort, and a harsh sandstorm whipped around his body, expanding larger, and larger, until it engulfed the entire battlefield in its sandy tempest.
"Exegg…!" Exeggutor recoiled, suffering the harsh sandstorm and its granular gusts.
"Garchomp has used Sandstorm, to counter the Sunny Day! Although it seems that the artificial sunlight is still in the sky, it's far out of reach for the towering tropical tree!"
"Depriving us of our sunlight… most impressive." Lance smiled to himself. "Most inconvenient. And, I have to wonder… Exeggutor! Triad fire!"
Exeggutor reoriented themselves, and charged a Seed Bomb, Psyshock, and Dragon Pulse with each of their heads respectively.
Ash grinned, waving a hand through the air. "Come in, with Dual Chop!"
Each head fired their blasts in succession into the storm. Glowing green seeds, ripples of dragon energy, and explosive particles of psychokinesis shot forth. There were glimpses of a shadow within the sand, and each was aimed at them, firing one after another at their target.
Each one vanished into the sand, and there was no audible explosion. They vanished.
Pale green crescents emerged from a sandy gust, camouflaged by the storm. Garchomp emerged, directly in front of the three coconut heads. He had his fins folded across his chest, and slashed outwards with a snarl, carving two symmetrical slashes across their faces.
Exeggutor groaned in pain, starting to stumble backwards, with their heads reeling back.
Flickers of green could be seen from within, outside the Sandstorm. Ash grinned, thrusting a hand forward. "Now, use Flamethrower!"
Garchomp broke off from Exeggutor, and soared higher into the Sandstorm. Another dense veil of sand passed by in a ribbon, and he dove in, streamlined and slender. He reared back his head, and hurled white-hot flames into the storm's abyss.
Even if the sunlight couldn't be reached directly, the Sandstorm was remarkably hot, under its shine. Flamethrower was bolstered in power, fanning out to douse Exeggutor in its heat.
The plant groaned, struggling to correct their balance. Under the duress of Flamethrower, it became harder to focus. But, through the licking embers, they could hear Lance cry, "Triad fire!"
Dragon Pulse pierced the flames, Psyshock obliterated the embers, and Seed Bomb followed.
Ash could see the hints of Lance's return fire. The calm he felt from Garchomp was enough to tell him that they weren't touching him. "Now's our chance! Sweep right under; Dragon Rush!"
The three, irritated heads of Exeggutor were struggling to get upright, after being toasted by Flamethrower. Their ferns were somewhat singed, and the raw sand was abrasive, even against their body's tough skin. While they were far from defeated, the barrage was becoming uncomfortable. They were left entirely unprepared, when a cyan gleam broke through the storm down towards the ground. They were alerted by the head on their tail warning them of it.
Garchomp's Dragon Rush crashed into Exeggutor's lower body, tackling and sweeping right underneath their legs. Exeggutor cried in a panic, as they fell in a long, long descent towards falling flat on their faces. There was some truth to the old cliche, 'the bigger they are, the harder they fall.'
"It's a bit hard to see the battle from here, so my guess is just as good as all of yours! But, it sounds like Ash just landed a decisive series of blows, within the Sandstorm!"
Lance was wry to the panicked cry of his Pokémon falling, and falling still. He grimaced. "Propel yourself, with Triad fire! Back on your feet!" He was relieved to hear the explosions rippling through the sand, and Exeggutor's voice becoming more sure, within the howling winds.
Their voice was somewhat diluted by Sandstorm, but Lance's ear was well-trained and well-tuned to his Pokémon. His sharp eyes narrowed, hardened from years of experience. 'Your plans don't escape me, Ash. Now, when will your hubris lure you right into my sights…?'
"It looks like we've got them off-balance," Peeks said to Ash. "Exeggutor's just getting back up!"
"Then, now's our chance!" Ash grinned, tightening a hand into a fist. "Take 'em down, Garchomp!" He thrust his open palm forward. "Dragon Rush!"
The Mach Pokémon had soared under and past Exeggutor, diving into the denser winds, cloaking him in sands. A clockwise glide around the Sandstorm's perimeter carried him with the winds; his body invulnerable to the sand, thanks to his tough scales built for just this environment. He climbed higher and higher, until he was closest to Ash's voice. The aura of a dragon surrounded him, sprouting winds, horns, and a frightening visage.
Garchomp peaked in altitude, and launched himself into a divebomb towards Exeggutor.
Lance saw flickers of Dragon-type energy within the storm. His eyes narrowed. "So, you've finally shown yourselves! That will be your downfall! Exeggutor! Worry Seed!"
The gargantuan palm tree was just now correcting his balance with calculated steps back and forth, hoisting his three heads upright. Even through the sand and debris, they could see flickers of light. They were only growing closer, on a straightforward path.
Even with the sand battering them, the three heads focused. The centermost one spat out a large, green seed.
The sapling struck Garchomp head-on, startling him. "Gah!?" he cried, his momentum dying, and his aura dissipating. He struggled and flailed, as vines tethered out to wrap around his neck and body, planting themselves along his scales. "Gah-chah!" He cried, as an odd sensation seeped into his skin. He started to flail, overcome by a strange sense of panic.
"What was that!?" Ash exclaimed. Lance would offer no answer, just yet.
He only waved a hand and his cape aside and called, "Triad fire!"
Exeggutor charged all three attacks in sequence, with their six eyes scanning the Sandstorm.
Garchomp's ruddy red scales and dark navy limbs could be seen, flailing clumsily.
Seed Bomb, Psyshock, and Dragon Pulse fired.
"Why's he…?" Ash reached into his jacket pocket, and pulled out his Pokédex.
"Worry Seed: A Grass-type status move. A seed that causes worry is planted on the target. It prevents sleep by making their Ability Insomnia."
"So it freaks the Pokémon out, and changes their ability…!?" Ash's eyes widened. "Garchomp! Dodge those, and chop 'em down with Dual Chop!"
Ash's voice anchored Garchomp in his panic; just in time for his golden eyes to catch onto the barrage coming his way. He quickly lunged back to avoid Seed Bomb striking him. Psyshock was next. He raised a fin, coating it in Dragon-type power, and slashed downward, carving into the psychokinetic force. The bubbles of mysterious power split and burst in a volley around him.
Dragon Pulse drove straight into his chest, knocking the wind out of him. The draconic head roared and forced him upward into the air, climbing closer and closer to the storm's end.
Lance smirked, and waved a hand decisively. "Dragon Hammer!"
"Ex…!" Exeggutor grinned, and leaned their head backward. With all of their might, they threw it forward. "Exeggutor…!"
The three heads smashed into Garchomp, catching him on Dragon Pulse's ascent. They dropped and pulverized him into the ground without mercy. Dragon Pulse wrapped into the shockwave and exploded, sending powerful, colorful winds tearing across the field.
"What was that!? I can feel the power from here, folks!"
The dwindling Sandstorm was blown away in the shockwave, scattering into nil.
"Ex-egg…" Exeggutor pulled himself upright, with his three heads leering at their handiwork with varying levels of enthusiasm. A large crater was broken into the field, with Garchomp lying at the center.
"Garchomp took a direct hit! Is he out for the count…!?"
The Mach Pokémon started to stir, forcing one of his claws into the rocky, split ground. He forced himself up with some effort, groaning in pain. He was battered, bruised, and dusty, but conscious. "I'm… I'm good, Boss…!" Even as he protested, he looked jittery and paranoid; far less lax than usual. He backed away from Exeggutor in a strange show of timidity. "Uh-oh…!"
"It looks like I spoke too soon! Garchomp is stubbornly hanging on, after that nasty combination of Dragon Pulse and Dragon Hammer! But, it also looks like he's taken on a nasty Worry Seed! His normally lax disposition doesn't seem to be showing today!"
"Unfortunately for you, as your dragon cowers, mine remains strong," Lance boasted, smiling. "Exeggutor! use Synthesis!"
Exeggutor began to gather light from the sky. Sunny Day had dimmed, resulting in a more modest gathering. The modest wounds he'd suffered partially faded away.
"And, Exeggutor heals off even more damage! It doesn't seem to be as much as last time, but it also seems like Garchomp has dealt less damage. Is there any hope left for Ash, as he stubbornly defies the odds!?"
"So, that Worry Seed…" Ash swallowed heavily. His odds were, as the emcee narrated, growing worse all the time. "You saw through our Sand Veil, huh? I was hoping it'd take ya longer to notice."
"Ash, you insult me." Lance suppressed a laugh behind his cool smile. "Do you earnestly believe that a dragon's qualities are beyond my scope? It was hard to tell whether your Garchomp has Rough Skin, during the initial clash, as they only butted heads once. But once our attacks started missing from within the Sandstorm, it all clicked into place. A clever strategy, I'll admit."
"Yeah, I guess it only makes sense that you know dragons better than anyone," Ash conceded. "We got the idea from Deidra and her Garchomp at the League. But, I don't get it. Garchomp's body is hard to spot in the sand, right? 'Cause that's what they're built for? How'd Worry Seed stop that?"
"Pokémon abilities are quite complex, are they not?" Lance replied. "It's one of the many mysteries and joys of living in their world! Abilities are recessive traits brought about by genetics, highlighting any one of a particular Pokémon's qualities. While some Garchomp have rougher scales, making contact abrasive, others are more suited to navigating sandstorms and otherwise sandy areas in a way that gives them camouflage. It wasn't your Garchomp's appearance that allowed you to evade us, but their innate knowledge of traversing debris to avoid the naked eye. With Garchomp panic-struck by Insomnia, he became rather easy to find."
Ash grimaced. "So, that's how it is…"
"And, there you have it! Lance explains the qualities of abilities, and the nature of the powerful Garchomp! Even with all of his innovative tactics, Ash Ketchum finds himself up against the impossible wall of a Dragon Master's knowledge and prowess!"
Deidra watched from the edge of the higher corridors, arms crossed, lips pulled into a scowl. "His arrogance can be grating," she conceded under her breath. "but you're a fool, Ash Ketchum, if you believe that you can surpass his knowledge of the Dragon-type."
Ash's face was projected on one of the stadium's many monitors. His screwed up expression was familiar to her; he was trying to think his way out of this mess. 'I know that look, young fighter. You showed it to me many a time, before you found a way to surpass your limits, and surpass me. Do you have any inspiration left to do the same to the Champion?'
'So, Sand Veil is out. I guess there's no point in that anymore,' Ash thought to himself; eyes narrowing in concentration. 'And if he's just gonna heal off the damage, it's not like Sandstorm is even worth the effort. He's not botherin' to use Sunny Day, anymore. He doesn't wanna give our Flamethrower more juice, for no reason. The only way to win this will be to take Exeggutor out in one shot!' His eyes scanned up and down the towering Pokémon, searching for a weakness.
'There has to be somethin' to exploit we haven't thought of. Something he won't even dream of!'
The young man's eyes widened. "Wait a minute…!"
If Garchomp had any remaining thoughts about that, he didn't show it. He'd already become preoccupied with Exeggutor, who he waddled over to on his hind legs, hunched over with curiosity. He spotted the tail behind them, and crept around their rotund body, sniffing at the tail.
There was a fourth head at the end of the tail, with two palm leaves that resembled hair, and silly, puckered lips. 'Silly' was an adjective that wouldn't last, though; the fourth head started to froth and shout angrily at Garchomp, flailing around to strike the Mach Pokémon in the nose.
Garchomp pulled back with a whimper, watching the tail from a short distance.
"Get over here, you goof!" Ash laughed, waving his Pokémon over to return to his side. He could hear part of the audience laughing in good humor at his Pokémon's antics. "You can't just go getting up in people's space, it's rude! How would you feel if someone sniffed your tail?"
"Not very good! My bad, Boss." Garchomp sheepishly scratched his head with his claw.
A smirk played all the way across Ash's lips. 'There's our answer!'
"There's Ketchum's trademark, coy smile! If that look in his eye is any indication, I would be willing to bet that he has another of his many tricks up his sleeve! How exciting!"
A chorus of cheers started to build in the audience, among Ash's fans.
"Ke-tchum!"
"Ke-tchum!"
"Ke-tchum!"
"Hah! Would you look at that?" Brock laughed to himself, glancing around. "Ash's innovations have become so infamous that people have started to notice."
"I guess that's his hook," Misty replied. "Lance has his cape and the raw power, and Ash has weird shit he pulls that throws you for a loop. If he becomes Champion, that'll be his trademark."
"I'm just glad they recognize him for how great he is!" Dawn bunched her pom-poms together. "...But, I'm not just going to let the crowd beat me at cheering on my own man! Right, Empoleon!?"
"Empol!" Empoleon shook his head emphatically, and stood up, waving his wings in rhythm with Dawn's pom-poms.
"Wits! Intrigue! Mystery! Valor! All of that together is Ash's power!"
"I'm afraid your audience has given you away, Ash." Lance prodded, flashing a cool smile at his opponent. "You've tried all sorts of tactics, so far. Is there truly anything left to surprise me with?"
"Ex-egg-u-tor!" The Coconut Pokémon cried in an echo, towering over Ash and Garchomp.
"My sentiments exactly," Lance nodded to his partner. "Will it be enough to match our might?"
"How about you see for yourself!" Ash threw a hand to the sky. "Up in the air, Garchomp!"
"Gah!" Garchomp nodded and took off gliding higher and higher, as directed.
Lance narrowed his eyes. "Once more, Exeggutor. Triad Fire!"
A Seed Bomb charged in the middle head's mouth, and Psyshock and Dragon Pulse followed.
"Now, sweep low, and charge in!" Ash cried, waving a hand. Garchomp shot down into a swift dive, as Seed Bomb flew over his head, and exploded into earthy shimmers. Psyshock battered the field closer to Ash, as the Mach tilted his body to the left, avoiding its sting. Dust clouds were kicked up in its wake. Dragon Pulse was last, carving across the field in hot pursuit.
"Now, come on around to their back!"
Garchomp used the cover of the rising dust, but even that became difficult to maintain, with his flourishing anxiety, as a strange venom coursed through his veins. He stumbled his way out of the dust cloud, sprinting forward on his hind legs with his head tilted forward like a Dodrio in hot pursuit of a foe.
"Now, Garchomp!" Ash shouted, smiling with mischief. "Remember Exeggutor's tail, from earlier?"
Lance frowned.
"I want you to ignore what I said!" Ash shouted. "And give it a good Crunch!"
Excitement flickered in Garchomp's golden eyes. All of the fear and unease that plagued him quickly took a backseat, for a single-minded pursuit. Saliva flew from his mighty jowls, as he approached that last, angry head. He ignored their complaints, and chomped down on the tail.
Exeggutor cried out in pain. The tail started to wag and jostle, with the fourth head shouting what amounted to angry obscenities at their accoster. His victim flailed, but Garchomp gnawed on their tail happily. Just like that, he was in his own little world.
"Well, that's one way to throw them off!" Brock crossed his arms, smiling. "Biting is Garchomp's favorite thing to do. But, I have to wonder, to what end is this strategy going?"
"Yeah, that has to hurt, but it's not going to finish them off," Dawn replied. Still, she smiled, and continued pumping her pom-poms. "But, all I can tell you is there's no doubt! Ash is sure to win it out~!"
"A novel strategy," Lance decided on saying, finding himself a bit short for words at the absurdity. "You've angered Exeggutor most fiercely, you two. So much for that scolding."
"It's rude to get up in somebody's space unprovoked," Ash replied with a smile, "but this is a battle! So, when it comes to advantages, you use it, or lose it!"
"Indeed," Lance agreed. "But, I do wonder if this is an advantage."
Exeggutor was stumbling about in pain, and the fourth head on their tail was shouting and flailing angrily. They just couldn't do much to stop Garchomp on their own!
Fortunately, that fourth head was not alone.
"Bring your wrath upon him!" Lance raised a hand dramatically to the air, and clutched his clawed fingers into a tight grasp. "Triad Fire, with all of your might!"
"Ex-egg….!" The three heads in the sky leered down at Garchomp with fury, and charged their attacks. Seed Bomb fired in a rapid volley, and Psyshock rained down in a storm of psychic power. Dragon Pulse bloomed even fiercer than before, raining in a hellfire below.
Ash's smirk parted into a grin. "Now! Let go, and sweep under, Garchomp! Dual Chop!"
"Gah!" Garchomp released Exeggutor's tail from his jowls, and coated his fins in light. While the gigantic Coconut Pokémon reeled and stumbled, he heard the echoes of raining attacks coming from above. He dove at Exeggutor's legs, striking them out from under with a swift outward strike.
Dual Chop cleaved through the air with a trail of light, and Exeggutor entirely lost their footing.
"Exegggutor!" Lance cried in worry. He watched his titanic Pokémon flail and fall, dropping directly towards the raining of projectiles. They were only moments from striking earth, and the Pokémon was soon to follow. "Oh no…!"
"Now, let's finish this!" Ash leapt back and chopped a hand through the air, throwing it up into the sky with a victorious grin. "Do it, Garchomp! Draco Meteor!"
Garchomp soared on from his dive and took flight, rising higher. Meteoric power rose from his core and up through his chest, shining so bright that it could be seen seeping through his scales. He raised his claws, forcing the power up through his throat, and out of his maw.
Draco Meteor was held between his fine claws. "Gahhh!" He flung it high into the sky.
Draco Meteor ignited the dark night sky, bathing the stadium in its orange halo. It burst, raining down an explosive meteor shower, just as Exeggutor fell into the midst of their own explosions.
Ripple after ripple battered the Pokémon with their own volley, leaving them flailing and vulnerable. There was no stopping the fiery meteors that pummeled them, one after another.
A chain of progressively louder explosions stormed the battlefield, flooding it with smoke and fiery light. The audience closest to the field was forced to cover their ears in its wake.
"Wow! Garchomp has tripped up Exeggutor, subjecting them to a full-on Draco Meteor assault! I don't know if there's anything that the Champion could have done to stop that!"
The audience watched on with bated breath. Ash clenched a fist at his side, despite his confident smile. Peeks climbed up his trainer's shoulder to avoid the smoke, watching intently.
Lance lowered his head, and resigned himself to the inevitable outcome as the dust cleared.
Exeggutor laid face-up, in a bed of scattered craters. All eight of his eyes were swirls.
"Exeggutor is unable to battle!" The referee called. "The winner is Garchomp!"
"Yaaay! That's my Chompy~!" Delia cooed, putting down her camera. She'd captured enough glorious shots of the Draco meteor to be content. "Oh, that was just magnificent!"
"Indeed," Professor Oak nodded, smiling. "Ash took advantage of his Pokémon's attributes, as well as Lance's to break their guard. He needed a one-hit knockout, and by god, he found one!"
"Yes!" Ash cheered, jumping and pumping a fist. "Way to go, Garchomp! I knew you could do it!"
Garchomp waddled over to Ash, looking somewhat winded, but content. "You betcha, I did!"
Ash offered a smile, and held out his Poké Ball. "You look a lil' winded from that Draco Meteor. What do you say you take a lil' rest, so you're fresh for later?" He clicked the button, wrapping Garchomp in red light, and recalling him. The Poké Ball wobbled in his hand affectionately.
"Down! Lance's Exeggutor is down! Which means the Champion is down to just one Pokémon! But, Lance doesn't look all that winded, despite the mounting circumstances!"
Indeed, Lance showed grace as he recalled Exeggutor, and thanked him. His sharp, sapphire eyes turned to Ash, "I know that I haven't been stingy with my praise, Ash. But I promise that this is not backhanded: You have a keen eye for Pokémon behavior. Using your Garchomp's penchant for biting to break him from his anxieties. Using Exeggutor's sensitivity about their tail to unravel us, and leave us compromised. This goes beyond standard battle theory, and into territory fitting of the Champion's League's stature. In other words…"
The carmine Champion tossed his cape aside with theatrical flair, and pointed his index finger towards his opponent. "I believe that you are a Pokémon Master in the making!"
The remark took Ash aback: enough to stagger him. He choked on his words momentarily, nudging his cap to mask his silence. "A Pokémon… Master…?"
Peeks smiled, nudging his trainer's cheek with his own red pouch, stoking his senses with a friendly dose of static. "Now, what did I tell you?" He teased, winking at Ash.
Ash inhaled, and exhaled. The weight of that label was a heavy one. He decided that he would chew on that later, shaking his head with a smile. "I'll believe that when I've earned it, Lance."
He, in turn, pointed towards the Champion. "But first, show me your last Pokémon!"
Lance laughed to himself behind his head. "Spoken like a true challenger. Very well!" He reached for his belt, and curled his fingers around one metallic capsule, capturing the audience.
The stadium held its collective breath, as Lance gripped it, hoisting it up his chest.
"You have pushed my dragons and myself quite far, Ash Ketchum. Where an army once walked, stands but one soldier. But, that soldier carries the might to crush entire armies beneath his feet!" His eyes glimmered with passion, as he wound up his throw, crossing his arm all the way across his chest, veiling him in his very own cape. "Your very own will tremble beneath us…!"
Lance pitched the final Poké Ball into the sky with a grunt of effort. The Poké Ball glimmered under the stadium's spotlights, surrounding it in a halo of excellence; too bright to look upon.
"Carve the heavens with your claws, and render the stars dim with your mighty Hyper Beam!" The Poké Ball snapped open, and its digital light within climbed towards the heavens, escaping the spotlights that shed light upon the field, sheltering it from the dark of night. A winged silhouette climbed and escaped into obscurity. Their orange scales only shed light from the stars glittering the cosmos, and the pale moonlight. Wings unfolded, and a slithering, scaly tail waved.
"KYAAARAAAAAAOUH!"
Dragonite's deafening cry seemed to make the entire stadium tremble. Or, perhaps that was the stadium's uproarious applause, rolling in waves throughout the many tiers of spectators.
The sound, for Ash and Peeks, was almost deafening.
"THERE HE IS! THE MIGHTIEST OF LANCE'S DRAGONS!"
Dragonite reached an apex in altitude, hanging there briefly, like an angel cloaked in shadow. He then dove towards the field, into the spotlights to show off his colorful splendor. His ordinarily docile eyes were narrowed in ferocious concentration, as he neared the ground at breakneck speeds. He suddenly changed course, blasting across the field with a beat of his small wings. Clouds of dust parted in his wake, bathing either end of the field. The referee had to guard herself from the aftermath. Dragonite continued, climbing on to orbit around the stadium.
He graced the audience with his presence, and fans waved signs and hollered their support.
"Dra-go-nite!"
"Dra-go-nite!"
"Dra-go-nite!"
"Well, look at that. Dragonite's pretty popular!" Ash laughed, as he adjusted the brim of his cap. He couldn't hide his smile; not with how his heart hammered in his chest with raw excitement.
"He's got a reputation," Peeks agreed. His lips pulled into a smirk. "Seems we're really in for it."
Dragonite concluded his orbit and coasted easily onto Lance's end of the battlefield, turning to face Ash, landing with a 'thud.' He snorted, beating his wings, as if to welcome the challenge.
The Pride of Pallet grinned, playing with his cap's brim. "I've been waiting for you, Dragonite!"
Chapter 20: Champion IV - Crackling Acceleration
Chapter Text
"I've been waiting for you, Dragonite!"
Ash's pulse heightened to a fever pitch, as the mightiest of Lance's army of dragons stood before him. His serene demeanor and cute appearance did no justice to his absolute power.
"The Champion, Lance, is down to his very last Pokémon!" The emcee narrated, filling in the stadium's tense silence. Indigo Stadium's collective pulse was rhythmic; loud enough to be heard, in the heavy apprehension. The spectators were as hungry for battle as the participants.
"In an absolutely stunning show of tenacity, Ash Ketchum has secured a five-to-one advantage, in terms of numbers! Although they've put in no small effort, his team has advanced, putting down one of the Champion's Pokémon after another! In fact, this might be the first time in Lance's Champion tenure that he's been pushed this far in a Title Defense! Win or lose, Ketchum has already cemented his place as history in the making!"
A few scattered cheers and whoops from the audience echoed praises for the underdog. Although, it was hard to say whether Ash could even be called an underdog, anymore.
"But, this battle hasn't been decided yet! One hero cloaked in red still has to answer to the other; Lance's Dragonite is legendary for his might, and deep pool of superpowers!"
Ash quietly wondered what that 'deep pool of superpowers' meant. He'd watched Dragonite in battle several times. There was no question about his might, but that descriptor still nagged him like an itch. 'We'd better keep our eyes peeled. There's no guarantee Dragonite hasn't gotten stronger since, then… or if he was even using his full power against Deidra in the first place!'
Ash had to imagine Deidra would be furious if that wasn't true, but he had no room to assume, if he didn't want to get caught off-guard. He stared down Dragonite, who occasionally beat his wings in a show of impatience. Ash smirked. 'I get it. You wanna get to fighting, huh, big guy?'
"The ball is in our court," Peeks addressed Ash quietly. "We have most of the team left to throw at him. Learn everything we can, so that I can use it against him, when it's my turn."
Ash laughed. "You're banking on being the last man standing, aren't cha?"
Peeks smacked his paws against his cheek, releasing a flood of static. "You'd better believe it!"
"Heh. Don't count our friends out, just yet! We're at least going to try to win!"
"I do hope that you're not getting ahead of yourselves, because of your advantage," Lance lectured, from across the battlefield. The Champion's eyes were stern, and weighed on both of them like a slab of lead. "No amount of power can save you from being crushed by your hubris."
"Nah. But it doesn't hurt to have a gameplan, does it?" Ash rolled a Poké Ball into the palm of his hand, and tapped his index finger against the center button. The metallic shell expanded to fit the folds of his palm. With a grunt of effort, Ash stepped forward, and chucked it into the air.
"This guy didn't get a real chance to fight. It's your turn now, Charizard!"
Wide-spanning wings bloomed from light. A powerful tail lashed out, sporting a roaring flame. A crown of two horns framed a fierce, draconic visage. Charizard roared mightily, spitting flames.
Slivers of light shot out of the battlefield, shooting into Charizard's stomach, wings, and right leg. He howled in pain, as sharp stones stabbed him through his scales. There was little the Flame could do, but fall towards the earth, and beat his wings for a clumsy recovery.
'Damn it,' Ash swore. 'I was hoping sending him out in the air would avoid that Stealth Rock. I guess there's really no hiding from it!'
"Groah…!" Charizard groaned, stumbling onto his feet with several steps to secure his balance. He recoiled in pain, nursing sore wings, and a scuffed body. His vitality had been cut in half.
"Ooooh! Charizard suffers a nasty Stealth Rock — the inevitable punishment built into Aerodactyl's strategy! Dealing punishment from beyond a knockout is a testament to just how lethal the Champion's Pokémon and tactics truly are! With a massive type disadvantage, Charizard will now be fighting at roughly half-steam — something he can't afford against Dragonite, of all opponents! What will he do now!?"
"Bullshit." Charizard grunted, whipping his tail around in a show of defiance. The flame on its end roared stubbornly. "Don't think you can count me out over a little damage," he addressed Dragonite, as he held his thumb up to his own neck, with his claw pointed towards it. He drew it across his neck in a threatening gesture. "It won't stop me from turning you to ash."
Dragonite's eyes narrowed, glimmering with intensity. "Good to hear. I welcome you to try."
"Heh. This battle's been cooking for a long time, hasn't it, Lance?" Ash asked, smiling. "Remember their staredown on Cinnabar? I think Charizard's been waiting on it."
"I can attest to that much, Ash! Dragonite has craved this battle, as well." Lance replied, throwing his cape aside in a dramatic gesture of showmanship. "We welcome your onslaught!"
'Before we can do any real damage, we have that Multiscale to deal with,' Ash thought to himself. His brow twitched in anticipation, and a little bit of apprehension crept up on him.
'We have to hit him with everything we've got!'
"If you won't make the first move," Lance spoke, "then we shall draw the curtain! Rain Dance!"
"Baaaaaooooowhh!" Dragonite howled to the starry heavens. Dark storm clouds gathered over the field, blanketing the skies and casting the stadium in a more murky darkness; broken only by the bright spotlight, creating a stark contrast of somber gray, and overpowering white, highlighting the trainers and their powerful Pokémon alike. Harsh rainfall blanketed the field.
"Dragonite opens with Rain Dance! Charizard's Fire-type moves will be less effective!"
Charizard huffed out black smoke, spitting at the change in conditions. "As if that'll save you."
'There's more to it than that,' Ash thought. 'Some other moves get a lot more dangerous, now. But, we won't get anywhere, playing it safe!' He gestured a hand forth. "Use Dragon Pulse!"
Charizard reared his head back and whipped it around, spitting a roaring dragon, blooming from prismatic energy. It shot towards Dragonite, sprouting skeletal wings and a razor-sharp maw.
"Dragonite!" Lance cried, waving a hand, "Hyper Beam!"
Dragonite smashed his heavy tail against the ground, anchoring him. His mouth opened wide, gathering a fluctuating orb of energy that shone like the sun itself. With a cry, he fired the terrible blast. He staved off the recoil, but the beam still carved through the ground beneath it like a hot knife through butter. Dust and rubble dispersed on either side. Hyper Beam met Dragon Pulse.
Flashes of excess energy danced from the explosive midpoint, sending cool and hot hues dancing into the air, reflecting off of the rain. Both attacks struggled for dominance, while Charizard stomped his feet down, and poured on more effort. Dragon Pulse had a second wind.
It started to push its way towards Dragonite.
"Charizard and Dragonite are locked in a head-on clash of raw strength! This is truly emblematic of a prideful clash between dragons; neither willing to give an inch!"
Dragonite roared. His antennae stood on end. A second pulse poured into Hyper Beam. It doubled in size, and flooded into Dragon Pulse, tearing through the blast with impunity.
"But, Hyper Beam is proving to be the stronger of the two blasts! Charizard is in trouble!"
Charizard's brow creased. Even from a distance, Ash could feel his frustration. He stomped his own foot down, aligning with his Pokémon's feelings. "Take it head-on!"
Charizard stomped his foot down in unison, as Dragon Pulse was torn apart. The blinding light of Hyper Beam eclipsed him, and he spanned his arms. Just as the blast hit his chest, he hugged them in, seizing the furious Hyper Beam in his claws. The fluctuating beam struggled against him, threatening to blast him away. But, Charizard dug in, slowly sliding back across the field. His talons dug into the earth, raking through it. He was pushed towards the trainer's lift.
"GROAAARRGHH!" Charizard cried to the heavens, and crushed Hyper Beam in a bearhug.
It detonated, and destructive fractures of energy splashed across the battlefield, peppering it with smaller, consecutive explosions. Smoke and steam danced off of Charizard's scales.
He flexed his wings out, and glowered at Dragonite. "Try harder, next time."
"UNBELIEVABLE! Charizard crushes Hyper Beam in his bare hands! What power!"
Cheers of excitement rolled in for the Flame Pokémon.
"He's crazy!" Misty exclaimed. "Who tries to catch a Hyper Beam head-on like that!?"
"There are two answers to that question," Brock replied, arms crossed. "Ash and Charizard. They're the only ones insane enough to take an attack like that on the chest, willingly. Charizard lives for shows of strength and dominance, and Ash knows that. He's gearing his Pokémon's stubborn personality to his advantage. Unfortunately, Dragonite also used that time to recover."
Across the battlefield, Dragonite finished catching his breath, beating his small wings.
"Ugh! And they would've had a chance at a free shot, too," Dawn huffed.
"Lance's masterful use of Hyper Beam keeps him from feeling the ill effects. Overcoming the Champion of two regions won't be that easy," Brock said. "I think Ash and Charizard know that."
"Charge in!" Ash cried. Charizard sprinted and soared towards Dragonite, wings spanned.
"Dragonite! Thunder!"
Dragonite's antennae pointed towards the sky. They fired a shot of lighting into the clouds.
The storm rumbled, and a golden pillar crashed down over Charizard.
'I figured he'd have that,' Ash thought. "Catch that Thunder, with Steel Wing!"
Charizard's wings were coated in a shimmering metal, attracting Thunder's crash. The sheer force from above forced Charizard back down to earth, where he forced himself to stay airborne with stubborn flaps of his wings, lest he channel the electricity right through him.
He bore his fangs, soaring with his belly mere feet from the battered, rain-slick earth. Electricity coursed up and down his wings, illuminating them with a royal gold hue.
"Unbelievable! Charizard has distributed Thunder across his ironclad wings!" The emcee shouted, to the gasping awe of the crowd. "He's bringing it right back to Dragonite!"
If Lance was dismayed by Charizard and Ash, he didn't show it. Instead, he smiled. "Your resilience makes this battle worthwhile!" He threw a hand to the air. "Show us your primal dance, Dragonite! Evoke your dragon's heart, and wrap it in the heart of a Hurricane!"
Dragonite soared out of Charizard's reach before the Flame could make contact. He howled, and turned into a wild, passionate dance, spinning faster and faster by the second. A Hurricane wrapped its way around the dragon, expanding and forcing Charizard to distance himself.
"Cowardly bastard." Charizard spit out smoke, shaking his wings free of Thunder's power. Maintaining the charge was becoming more trouble than it was worth; particularly while trying to avoid the terrible winds aiming to suck him in. Hurricane was expanding more, forcing him back.
"What is this!? Dragonite has repelled Charizard, forcing him on the defensive!"
Ash was forced to hold down his cap, forcing the bill down to guard his eyes from the harsh winds and the chilling rain. He cradled Peeks with his opposite hand, burying him in his collar.
"That's Hurricane, alright," Ash thought aloud. He could hardly hear his own voice. "Under the rain, it's like, impossible to deal with! There's no way that Charizard's getting in there!"
'But, what was it he said about a dance? His 'dragon's heart?' The trainer's eyes widened. The full picture clasped together, and cast a twinge of terror over Ash. 'This might be a problem.'
Hurricane started to die off, dispelling a mild gust through the storm to reveal Dragonite.
'There's only one way to find out if I'm right,' Ash thought. "Charizard, Dragon Pulse! Rapid fire!"
"Groah!" Charizard roared, and soared into the sky to meet his opponent. He fired a blast of Dragon-type energy from his mouth, and followed with two more. Prismatic light climbed the skies, approaching Dragonite, who ascended to dodge the first with relative ease.
Ash's eyes narrowed. Suspicion confirmed. "Follow it up, with Dragon Tail!"
Charizard soared after Dragonite, who twirled into a barrel roll to avoid the second Dragon Pulse. The third was directly in his flight path, forcing Dragonite to pull up again with haste.
Charizard roared, somersaulting in the open air. His mighty tail was coated in teal, all the way down to its flame. He swung it down with an earth-cracking strike, aiming to spike Dragonite.
"Dragon Claw! Block it!" Lance shouted.
Dragonite's kind eyes narrowed. Emerald projections of razor-sharp claws bloomed over his own paws, and he crossed them over his head, catching the weight of Dragon Tail.
Ethereal energy leaked from the point of impact, where both Pokémon struggled for dominance.
"Throw him down to earth!" The Champion followed, and Dragonite obeyed, gripping the narrow end of Charizard's tail. With a mighty bellow, he chucked Charizard down towards the terrain.
"Charizard was in hot pursuit, but Dragonite has overpowered him!"
"Now! Thunder!" Lance cried, raising his hand to the sky.
Dragonite's antennae shot lightning into the dark clouds. Another powerful Thunder rained.
"Steel Wing, Charizard!" Ash cried with haste.
Charizard tumbled through the air, rolling to gain control of his momentum. A sudden fanning of his wings stopped his descent, just before he hit solid ground. He then crossed his wings over his body, just in time for a blinding light to consume his vision. He seized, as errant lightning snapped at his scales. With a roar of effort, he flexed his wings, flinging Thunder aside.
Now, his vision was taken up by Dragonite, who eclipsed the night skies, which were visible through the parting clouds. He could make out the stars, if not for the ferocious beast above.
Dragonite glared at him, drawing back one paw over his head. Sharp claws flashed to life.
'They're so fast!' Ash worried, internally. 'Dragonite was over him in the blink of an eye!'
But, the clearing skies above gave him cause for relief.
"Dragon Claw!"
"Flamethrower!"
Dragonite roared, and swung. Charizard opened his maw, forcing back Dragon Claw with the flames.
Flamethrower forced Dragonite higher into the sky, giving Charizard breadth. Encouraged, Charizard flapped his wings, ascending while continuing to pour on the roaring fire. With another effortful breath, he increased the volume of the white-hot fire, forcing Dragonite higher.
"Charizard is retaliating with a powerful Flamethrower, and he's not letting up the pressure! It seems he was not fond of being put on the defensive, folks!"
Orange and red flames bathed the battlefield in the dead of night, reflecting its hot hues in the eyes of the competitors. Ash clenched a fist tight at his side, putting his hopes in Charizard.
He couldn't help but notice that Lance looked completely steady and sure, in the other lift.
"Graaah…!" Dragonite cried in frustration, forced back higher and higher into the sky. His claws held off the force of the sharp projections, but he wasn't one to give up so easily. He reared back, beat his wings, and dove straight down, carving through the sea of fire igniting the sky.
Ash gasped, as he watched Flamethrower be cleaved straight in half.
Charizard could only gawk, wide-eyed, as his attack was clawed into nothing. Dragonite hovered over him again, casting a pitch-black silhouette under the stadium's spotlights. A green glow highlighted Dragonite's fierce features, just as he carved an arc across Charizard's scales.
Charizard was spiked, crashing down to earth in an orange blur. Onlookers cried and gasped, as the entire field trembled. Slabs of rock went flying, and clouds of dust flooded the field.
"Woah…!" Ash raised both of his arms to guard himself and Peeks. His red jacket whipped around, and he was nearly thrown off of his feet by the shockwave. "Charizard….!"
Peeks tucked his face into Ash's collar. "That was a nasty one…!"
"A nasty hit, from Dragonite! Is Charizard still in the fight!?"
The answer to the emcee's query lay within the debris. Dust clouds began to glimmer with furious, deep reds and oranges. A towering flame blazed, dwarfing the collision's aftermath.
Charizard's powerful tail whipped through the smoke, dispersing it, and paving a trail of flames to whip around his body in his wake. Beaten and bruised, but very much in the fight, Charizard flexed his entire body, and made the stadium tremble with his mighty roar. Shockwaves of blistering heat rippled across the battlefield, decorated with ribbons of furious crimson flames.
"Charizard is up! And, more powerful than ever! He's triggered his Blaze ability!"
Charizard glowered at Dragonite; his orange scales bathed in a frightening dark crimson from his tail's inferno. He jabbed a clawed thumb towards himself. "You're not done with me, yet."
"Oh, Char-y looks so strong~!" Delia took several photos of Charizard's furious state. "It may not be Fern-y's Blaze, but he still looks as furious as ever! This is Ash's chance!"
"Charizard is, indeed, bringing out the last mighty vestiges of his strength," Professor Oak hummed in musing. "But, an experienced eye can see between the lines. Charizard relying on his adrenaline, which means that he's reached the last throes of his strength. He won't be fighting for much longer."
"That's what I'm talking about!" Ash grinned, holding the brim of his cap in place, as the sweltering winds tossed his red jacket about behind him. 'Charizard's doing great, but he's really feeling that pressure. Before he goes down, we have to break that Multiscale, in a big way!'
"Marvelous!" Lance clapped his hands, applauding Charizard's strength. "So, we're witnessing the last vestiges of Charizard's will. Then, we will respond in kind!" He tossed a hand in the air.
"Dragonite! Dragon Dance!"
"Kaaayoh!" Dragonite cried, and soared into the sky, twisting his body in a passionate spin.
"He's not using Hurricane, this time…!?" Ash held onto his cap, watching Dragonite raise his power and speed even further. 'He had to wonder if it was some sort of ploy… or, at least he thought so, until he observed Charizard. The Flame made no move to interfere with it.
He stood steady, waiting for his foe.
'I get it.' Ash smiled to himself. 'Charizard wants to fight him at his strongest. Lance knows Charizard well enough to bank on a dragon's pride. Well, fine. We'll let you get away with it, just this once!'
"You're allowing this?" Lance coaxed, wearing an amused smile. "How sporting."
"Hey, you let us get our act together, a few times!" Ash replied, grinning. "Let's call it even."
"Indeed," Lance agreed, as a red aura bathed Dragonite in new splendor. "We'll stake this battle on a dragon's pride!"
'A dragon's pride…' Ash's eyes narrowed. 'That gives me an idea!' The youth extended a hand with gusto. "Charizard! Let's see which one of you is really the strongest! Use Dragon Rush!"
"That's exactly my style!" Charizard bore a toothy, battlehungry grin, and started to spring towards Dragonite. With a flap of his wings, he soared up towards Dragonite, cloaking his entire body in the visage of a mighty wyvern. Cyan leaked from his tail flame, making the aura about him flow and flicker angrily.
"A fine idea!" Lance grinned, extending a clawed hand, and closing it. "Dragonite! Dragon Claw!"
Dragonite roared, and shot towards Charizard with even greater velocity than before. An orange blur leaked emerald light, and he wound up his claw, swinging at Dragon Rush without mercy.
The ground gasped, as a deafening shockwave rolled over the battlefield, casting aside clouds of dust in its wake. One's spine would practically tingle over the force leaking from the clash of titans.
Dragonite roared with effort, forcing his claws down upon Charizard's skull. But, Charizard bucked back with a grunt of effort, pushing himself harder. His entire body struggled, and Dragonite felt his entire arm tremble. With a whip of his tail, he forced Charizard's head down.
"It's a clash of strongest vs strongest! Neither Charizard nor Dragonite is giving an inch!"
'It's just as I thought. They're evenly matched!' Ash smiled, as pale blues and greens highlighted his olive skin and his scarlet jacket with their radiance. "Your Dragonite's really powerful, Lance! I couldn't'a asked for a better final opponent."
Lance raised a brow at Ash, begging the chaser to that praise.
"...But, there's one thing you didn't count on — just how strong Charizard really is!"
The ethereal maw attempting to gnash down on Dragonite howled, exerting greater ferocity.
Dragonite looked up at the aura consuming him. His heart skipped a pace, and he recoiled.
The secondary effect of Dragon Rush had come into play, striking fear into his scaly heart.
Ash grinned, stepping back to rear back a fist. "BLAST…!"
Charizard hovered over Dragonite, seemingly moving in slow motion, as the proud dragon cowered for the slightest of intervals. He, too, retracted his fist. It leaked a furious crimson.
Ash knelt to punch the lift's surface with all of his might. "...BURN!"
Charizard howled, and smashed his fist into Dragonite's scaly hide. The sound of a loud 'smack' echoed through the stadium, and he forced the punch further into his foe's midsection.
Furious, overwhelming flames leaked from between his claws in a mighty, scalding storm. Pillars of fire burst from the point of impact, whipping angrily through the night sky, and bursting into a typhoon of fire. The stars themselves paled in comparison to the heat swallowing the stadium.
"Sheesh!" Misty shrieked, guarding herself from the overpowering winds. Even from a distance, she was starting to sweat. "C'mon, Charizard! Are you trying to flash fry us!?"
Brock guarded his eyes from the hot winds and the overpowering glow. "What power…!"
Empoleon guarded Dawn with his wing, who happily hid behind her starter's shelter.
Despite the chaos, Dawn grinned. "That's the power of our training at Two Island, at work!"
"UNBELIEVABLE! THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE BLAST BURN, AND IT HIT AT POINT-BLANK RANGE!" The emcee cried, trying not to be drowned out by the blaze, or the audience's cries.
Black smoke flooded the battlefield, and slowly began to disperse.
Charizard stood in the middle of the field, hunched over, panting with exhaustion. The Blaze on his tail had petered out into its usual intensity, though it carried the same deep red spectrum.
A path of scorched earth spanned Lance's end of the battlefield, and ended with Dragonite. The mighty Dragon Pokémon was forcing himself back onto his feet. He was marred with scorch marks across his body; mostly centered on the scales along his belly. A cascade of scorched scales broke off of his body, and scattered into ash. He brushed off his sore hide, and snorted.
"Dragonite took the hit, head-on, and it looks like it hurt! But only so much — their feared Multiscale ability took the brunt of the damage! Did Ash know this, going in…!?"
"Impressive. Most impressive!" Lance praised, clapping once more. "You went to lengths to break our scales, and deal significant damage, doing so! You learned much from Cinnabar."
"That was the idea!" Ash shouted back, brushing his index over his nose.
"You heard it right from our competitors! Ash put all of his efforts into breaking Multiscale, with that Blast Burn! Talk about getting the most bang for your buck!"
"...But, Charizard is winded," Lance continued, his eyes narrowing in steely passion. "I will give you a farewell worthy of your might, Charizard!" He extended a hand. "Dragonite! Hyper Beam!"
Dragonite drew back his head, and magmatic light flooded into one mighty orb. He tossed his weight forward, and a stream of destruction tore across the field. It hit Charizard. and detonated.
Ash was thrown off of his feet by the force, gripping the lift's railing. "Charizard…!"
Another bout of inky smoke came and went. Charizard stood, hunched over, with trails of smoke and steam leaking off of his scales. With half-open eyes, he stumbled, and huffed out smoke.
"Well… fought," he uttered, before collapsing in the dirt, facefirst. Unmoving.
"Charizard is unable to battle!" The referee called, raising her hand. "Dragonite wins!"
"DOWN! Charizard is down! After a climactic clash, Lance has deemed Ash's stalwart Fire-type worthy of a dramatic finish at Dragonite's hands! What an exciting finish!"
Roaring applause rolled in for Charizard from the audience; mostly from dedicated fans and battle enthusiasts, alike. Ash could hear cries of "Cha-ri-zard!" echo from the stands. He smiled, extending Charizard's Poké Ball. "You oughta be proud. You went out the way y'wanted."
The proud Flame Pokémon was absorbed in a red light, and returned to Ash's palm. Even unconscious, inside his Poké Ball, Ash felt his warmth through the cold shell. He smiled fondly, and placed it on his belt. "There's no room for regrets. We've got our first big hit on Dragonite!"
He laughed, looking over to Dragonite, himself. "You sure didn't make it easy on us!"
Dragonite smiled, and beat his wings.
"Dragonite quite enjoyed that bout," Lance explained. "He was a little sour, back on Cinnabar, when they missed their chance to spar. But I'm afraid it'll take much more to defeat us!"
"Awww. Well, at least he went down in a big way! I'm sure Char-y's happy about that," Delia reasoned. She'd held her camera back for the time being, with nothing flashy to capture in the battle's short interim. "He wouldn't be happy going out with a whimper, would he?"
"I'd have to agree," Oak hummed. "Furthermore, that was quite a cunning strategy."
"Hm?" Delia turned to him. "What strategy?"
"Allowing Dragonite to use Dragon Dance unabated. While it was quite a risky move, and could haunt him later, I believe that Ash was betting on both Charizard and Dragonite settling their score in a show of pride, which he coaxed on with the clash of Dragon Rush and Dragon Claw. While both Pokémon were matched in strength, Dragon Rush has the extra effect of making Pokémon flinch, under its sheer splendor. I believe that Ash manufactured this situation purely to catch Dragonite unawares, leaving him open to a Blast Burn, with no room to avoid its wrath!"
"Is that what he did…?" Delia blinked, and looked down to her son, who was currently trading one Poké Ball for another. "Oh, he's getting more clever, all the time!"
"There's something to be said about letting your opponent power up, but Ash, at his core, loves to face a foe head-on. Even when employing deceit, he found a way to gear straightforward fighting to his immediate advantage! His greatest strength is his understanding of Pokémon."
"...Alright, Sceptile! I'm counting on you again!" Ash threw his next into the fray. "I choose you!"
The spinning Poké Ball popped open, and a flash of light manifested as Sceptile. He had no time to react, as several sharp stones pelted him; one striking his stomach and knocking the wind out of him, and several more battering his body. "Tile…!" He groaned in pain.
"Ooooh! Those Stealth Rocks show themselves again, for Sceptile! And, he was already pretty battered as is! This is a tough spot for Ash and his battle-weary Pokémon!"
"Yeah, there was no avoidin' that," Ash tutted. "Sorry, Sceptile. You ready to keep going!"
Sceptile pushed himself up on one knee, planting his opposite claws into the dirt. He reached into his fern for his twig to slip between his lips. His tail no longer seemed bound by static after a long rest, flicking behind him. "Now, really. What kind of question is that?"
A powerful emerald aura burst around his body, and his leaf blades burst into crescents.
"That's one upside of Sceptile's low health — Overgrow is, once again, in full bloom!"
"So, we meet again, Sceptile." Lance greeted with a smile. "I do regret cutting our reunion short. But, I'd never dishonor you with half-hearted efforts!" The Champion waved a hand. "Blizzard!"
Dragonite howled and beat his wings. A terrible storm kicked up from his efforts, sending freezing winds cascading across the battlefield, with snow and hail whipping up in its wake.
"Dodge that — jump over!" Ash cried. Sceptile obeyed, leaping high and clear of Blizzard. With his monstrous speed, he left only a glowing green blur to be torn asunder by Blizzard's chill.
"Leaf Blade!" Ash roared, waving a hand aside.
"Sceeep…!" Sceptile roared, plunging down towards Dragonite. Blizzard had only just come to an end, leaving him momentarily vulnerable. The Forest Pokémon spun around, carving his sickle in a lethal arc across Dragonite's scaly hide. He landed on one knee behind the Dragon.
"Sceptile strikes, with his signature Leaf Blade! And, it seems Dragonite is feeling it!" The emcee narrated, as Dragonite took several steps back, holding the scales where he'd been struck. A few more scales were carved out, leaving a raw streak across his body. He snorted.
"Follow up with Dragon Claw!"
Sceptile pivoted on his feet, and wound up his claws, coating them in colorful, mysterious energy. He roared, and lunged back at Dragonite.
"You use Dragon Claw, as well!" Lance commanded.
Dragonite pivoted with a mighty stomp, making the field quake. He roared, hoisting a razor-sharp Dragon Claw over his head, and swung it down to crash into Sceptile's claws.
Sceptile was forced back under the sheer weight, his own strike parried. He hissed, and swung for Dragonite's face with his opposite. Dragonite's right arm swung around, striking and cracking his ethereal claws. Frustrated, Sceptile attacked with a flurry of relentless slashes to overwhelm Dragonite with speed.
Dragonite responded in kind, carving a flurry of slashes in a blur. Lime, orange, and emerald flickered into a blinding combination between the two Pokémon in a duel of pure speed.
Sceptile cried out in a croak, as Dragon Claw uppercutted him into the air, slicing up his belly and under his chin. Dragonite's speed was as overwhelming as his power, sending him reeling.
"Dragonite gets the better of Sceptile! Those Dragon Dances are pulling their weight — he's proving himself superior in both power and speed! Even Sceptile can't keep up!"
"Your hopes for victory will be immolated by our might!" Lance cried. "Fire Blast!"
Dragonite opened his mouth, and a roaring, blazing star fired into the sky.
'Damn it. Sceptile's airborne! He can't dodge!' Ash grimaced. "Make a wall, with Rock Slide!"
"Grroouaaayerh!" Sceptile roared, spanning his claws wide. A cluster of boulders manifested around his body. He swung his arms inward, and they smashed together, forming a barrier directly in front of Fire Blast. Hot flames crashed against the rock wall, slowly forcing it back.
Sceptile recoiled from the heat splashing through the cracks. "Tile…!"
'He can't hold it back.' Sweat trickled down Ash's brow. "Blast it back! Over-Leaf-Storm!"
"TIIILE!" Sceptile spun his body around, aiming his tail at the rocks and flames. Each bulb on his back lit up in sequence, and the leaking light of Overgrow channeled into his tail. A dense, shining storm of leaves blasted the barrage, forcing it back down towards Dragonite.
The skies were bathed in a harsh emerald light, washing over the entire stadium. The ground began to break beneath Dragonite, and angry flames ignited the leaves, burying Dragonite beneath solid rock and scalding heat.
"There's Sceptile's Over-Leaf-Storm! Despite the odds, Ash attacks without mercy!"
"We can't afford to let up, now!" Ash shouted. "Let's go, Sceptile! Another Rock Slide!"
Sceptile landed on his feet, stumbling and panting heavily. "Scep… Scep-tile!"
'That's not good. He's exhausted,' Ash thought, frowning. 'There's not much left in the tank!'
Nevertheless, Sceptile persisted. He melded solid earth to his will, and summoned another avalanche. With a toss of his arms, he chucked them towards the pile of debris.
"Wrap yourself in passion once more, Dragonite!" Lance cried. "Dance to your heart's content!"
A powerful cyclone tore through the debris burying Dragonite, twisting into a howling Hurricane. Each new boulder was sucked into the storm, orbiting its perimeter and advancing no further.
Ash snapped his fingers in disappointment.
"We weren't fast enough!" Peeks lamented.
"Dragonite's deadly Hurricane and Dragon Dance combination strikes, once again!"
"Now!" Lance raised a clawed hand, "strike them down! Dragon Claw!"
The Hurricane twisted and burst, and an orange blur shot down from the heavens.
Ash's eyes widened. "Leaf Blade!"
Sceptile roared, and swung towards the unstoppable force of nature. His large, sharp crescent crashed into Dragon Claw, sending sparks scattering from the impact. He grit his teeth, and pushed harder against Dragonite. He felt his very bones trembling, and buckled to his knees.
A streak of dust clouds shot past the collision, and split against Ash's lift.
Dragonite retreated with a modest flight back to Lance. Sceptile was buried in the ground.
The referee peered over, and raised her hand. "Sceptile is unable to battle! Dragonite wins!"
"Awww, poor Sceptile!" Dawn huffed, bunching her pompoms together. "Even he was outmatched by Dragonite! And he's so fast!"
"That Dragon Dance is proving to be a real problem," Brock mulled, crossing his arms. "Dragonite are incredibly strong to begin with, but speed and power stacking consecutively will leave Ash in the dust. If he doesn't find a way to break that Hurricane, he's in real trouble."
"Using Hurricane like that…" Misty tapped her chin with her index, deep in thought. "It's genius."
"Sceptile put up a noble fight, but he proved to be no match for Dragonite's raw power and speed! That Dragon Dance is proving to be quite the problem for Ash and his team!"
Ash slowly inhaled and then exhaled, and patted his cheeks to center himself.
"Is there anything that can put a stop to the Champion's war path!?"
"We won't know until we try." Ash juggled a Poké Ball in the palm of his hand. When it touched his palm, he felt a familiar pulse of Aura wash over him: an expression of confidence and duty.
~This isn't my battle to win.~ Her voice echoed in his mind. ~With our prudence, we can take the enemy off-guard. Then, we'll have the opportunity to disarm them.~
Ash smiled. 'After all these years, you still remember that, eh?'
~Assessing a situation before committing yourself to it is quite the important skill for any Aura Guardian to learn.~ He could almost feel Rosemary smiling through her Poké Ball.
~That's what you taught me, isn't it?~
"You're a student unlike any other," Ash muttered under his breath. He felt that sentiment came from the Aaron in him, down to the flowery syntax. "Alright, then. Have it your way!" Ash wound up, and with a grunt of effort, pitched her Poké Ball into the air. "I choose you! Rosemary!"
The Lucario appeared in a flash of light, manifesting on the battered and charred field, knelt before her foe. ~That's Sir Rosemary.~ She corrected Ash with a hint of playfulness.
The dirt stirred, and Stealth Rock emerged, pelting Rosa repeatedly.
"Now!" Lance cried, throwing a hand skyward. "Split the very earth beneath you! Earthquake!"
Dragonite leapt and howled, coming down to smash the terrain beneath his feet.
~They're trying to catch you in the middle of the Stealth Rock!~ Ash realized, communicating to his Pokémon. ~That thing you did with the Aura Sphere before — hop on it, again!'
"Aura Sphere!"
The stones pelted Rosemary's tough exterior, doing little to break her concentration. She resisted it with both of her types, and the little pain she felt was tuned out for vigilance. She held up a paw, conjuring a shimmering, spinning Aura Sphere. With a grunt of effort, she made it larger, and launched it with a backhanded spin. She sprung forward, leaping on top of it.
Earthquake rattled and split the earth beneath her, and carried towards the field's end.
Ash felt his lift tremble, but Rosemary dodged the attack entirely. "Now, charge in!"
"It looks like Lance tried to take advantage of his field hazard to land a devastating Earthquake, but Ash and Rosemary were right on top of it — and I mean that literally!" The emcee narrated, as Rosemary swerved back and forth on her Aura Scooter, maintaining balance as she shot towards Dragonite; her nerve bundles waving in the air behind her.
"The Lucario's trick with her Aura Sphere returns, coasting over land, rather than sea!"
Lance's expression hardened. "Very good. But, you're bold to come so close to us."
~That's the idea.~ The Lucario's scratchy voice echoed in his mind. Her unaffected, almost playful tone was a clear provocation. Lance did a double-take at the intrusion to his mind.
Then, the Champion smiled. "Provoking us? Very well! Dragonite, Fire Blast!"
Dragontie opened his mouth, as Rosemary entered his personal space. A blazing star illuminated her, dwarfing her in its size and radiance. She became uncomfortably hot.
"Copycat!" Ash cried. "Fire it below you!"
The Lucario crouched, and sprung backwards off of her scooter. She drew her head back and inhaled, as her eyes flickered blue. She memorized Dragonite's brain waves, and intuited the move for herself. Raging fury filled her lungs to the point of discomfort. She expelled it all with a scream, spitting a Fire Blast below her. The heat expelled launched her even higher.
The two Fire Blasts crashed into one another, fanning flames in uncontrollable bursts.
Rosemary guarded herself, as black smog flooded the battlefield.
"Rosemary uses Copycat, to imitate Fire Blast! Will that be enough for her to escape!?"
"Who said anything about escaping?" Ash grinned. "Rosa! Extreme Speed!"
The Aura Pokémon landed on her feet within the murky blanket of smoke and ash. It was uncomfortably hot, and she couldn't see, but she'd trained hard for this moment.
Who needed sight, after all, when you could sense everything around you?
A loud 'SMACK' could be heard from around the stadium. The black clouds broke, and Dragonite was sent flying out of them, with Rosemary's foot buried in his stomach. Green light trailed the two of them like a comet, and the Dragon Pokémon was doubled over.
"Rosemary counterattacks with an Extreme Speed! That looks like it hurt!"
"One more time!" Ash cried, punching forward.
Rosemary wound up a paw in tandem, and kicked off of Dragonite. A burst of speed propelled her for a vicious right hook.
Dragonite snorted angrily. His vision steeled, and he pulled out of Rosemary's path.
Rosa hung in the air, eyes wide in shock. Her punch hit thin air, kicking up a gust of wind.
She found herself in Dragonite's shadow. She looked up, pupils shrinking. The mighty winged beast hovered over her, with ordinarily kind eyes sharpened with ferocious determination.
It was actually intimidating.
"Dragon Claw!" Lance commanded, and Dragonite followed. He wielded both of his paws high over his head, and projected green projections from them, sharp as blades.
"KIYAAAARGH!"
He smashed Rosemary over the head with both claws, spiking her.
She crashed into solid ground in an instant. Rock fragments and dust burst from the impact.
"Rosa!" Ash cried.
"Oh, that was a nasty Dragon Claw! Dragonite's dominance is overwhelming!"
The dust cleared. Rosemary was buried in a crater about her size, with rubble halfway burying her, and dirt clinging to her fur. She trembled in pain, and her eyes were halfway-shut.
The referee glanced up at the monitor displaying the Lucario's condition. "She's still conscious!"
"The battle continues! Rosemary is still in it, but she's certainly not looking good!"
Rosemary planted her paws in the broken earth, and struggled to force herself up. She stumbled onto her feet, only for them to tremble under her. She collapsed back onto her rear, panting heavily. ~No good. I'm already spent. Everything is sore… I can't even stand.~
'Damn it,' Ash thought, 'her battle with Seadra already did her in!'
"An unbecoming end, perhaps," Lance mused, "but it still must end. Dragonite! Earthquake!"
Dragonite howled, ascending again.
~Wait… Ash!~ Rosemary exclaimed through their mental link. ~Just now, in the air. He could've used Fire Blast at point-blank range!~
"Yeah?" Ash asked, begging an explanation. Time was of the essence!
~Most of Dragonite's attacks are incredibly powerful, but they consume stamina!~ Rosemary tried to prop herself up again, and failed. ~Lance is budgeting his power until the very end!~
Ash's eyes widened, as the pieces came together. Rosemary's theory made complete sense!
But, Dragonite was coming back down. They had no time to waste. "Let's use our full power, then! No holding back!" He cupped his hands in front of him, and Rosemary pooled a bright blue light in her core. Ash then raised his open hands above his head. "Use Aura Storm!"
The Lucario couldn't even prop up her arms. She allowed herself to lie back, and free them to let her Aura cascade through them. A giant, intense blue blast dwarfed her body. She could feel the trembling earth carrying her end. With a mighty roar, she cast Aura Storm into the night sky.
Earthquake cracked the crater she'd created further, and it collapsed into a deeper depression.
The referee got a proper look at the Lucario, who'd collapsed on her back, unconscious.
"Lucario is unable to battle!" She cried, even as the overpowering glow of Aura Storm washed over her, and then highlighted only her shoulders and the contours of her face. "Dragonite wins!"
"That's it, for Rosemary! But, ah…? There's still the problem of her Aura Storm!"
Ash smirked. The bright light of her Aura reflected in his eyes. "Y'know, Lance, that's the funny thing about Rosa. No matter what brings her down, she always finds a way to keep swinging!"
There was more meaning to that statement than Lance might ever know. But, the Champion could feel the weight behind Ash's words, as Aura Storm reached its apex; its glow outshining the stars and the moon decorating the skies. The light was overpowering, as was her spirit.
Aura Storm burst, raining a storm of life force blasts to descend upon Dragonite.
"Then, we will honor her resilience with a fitting requiem! Dragonite! Hyper Beam!"
Dragonite anchored himself, stomping a heavy foot into the terrain. He channeled an intense sphere of energy in his maw, and tossed his head with a scream. A pulsing Hyper Beam tore through the sky, striking one Aura Sphere after another. In mere moments, he mowed through them. A chain of teal explosions detonated in the skies, mixing in with overpowering gold.
The audience cried and held onto their seats, under the sheer force of it all.
Lance's cape danced in the wind, reflecting the spectrum of colors. "A fitting end to your Lucario's bout, is it not, Ash?" His eyes met Ash's. "We've all bore witness to her radiance."
Ash laughed to himself, despite his disappointment. "I agree! I'd ask nothing less, for a legendary Knight of Rota!" He grinned, holding his cap down in the wake of the explosions. His jacket was tossed about behind him, much like Lance's cape. Aura's teal flickered in his eyes.
Lance's eyes widened. He likely had questions that he would pursue later.
"Dragonite shoots down that last-ditch Aura Storm, with a Hyper Beam! That's a tough break for Ash and his Lucario! But, you can't say she didn't make him expend the effort!"
'Exactly.' Ash thought to himself, his smile widening. 'Figures those cheeky bastards would shoot down Aura Storm, too. But, hey. That's one less Hyper Beam we have to deal with later!'
His eyes drifted towards his partner. Peeks's paws dug into his shoulder, through the jacket. He was watching the action with the absolute attention it demanded. 'It may be for you, Buddy.'
"That's another down," Misty whistled. "Shame about that Aura Storm, too."
"Yes, but remember," Brock replied, "every move Lance has to expend puts pressure on Dragonite. I didn't get the sense that Ash thought he would win with Rosemary or Sceptile."
"So, he's wearing down Dragonite," Misty concluded. "You know, this reminds me a lot of Ash's battle at the Orange League! The Champion, Drake, had a Dragonite who went through most of Ash's Pokémon, too. By the time they got down to just Peeks, they were exhausted."
"And that was how Peeks won," Brock recounted, "I remember Ash telling that story many times."
"So, that means it's all going to come down to Peeks again!" Dawn concluded, bundling her fists. "Oh, and Rosa knew that! Look at Ash's face," she gestured to the large monitor overlooking the stadium. "He doesn't look frustrated about this at all!"
Ash's visage was displayed momentarily. His brows were knit tight, and his eyes hard with determination, even as sweat trickled down his brow. The display changed to the Pokémon count; Dragonite for Drake, and Garchomp and Peeks for Ash. Two-to-one.
"Of course, there is a bit of a wrench in that plan," Brock mused with a grumble. "Lance's Dragonite has Dragon Dance. Even as he tires, he has the chance to grow stronger and faster, the longer he battles. So this battle might actually get harder as it comes towards the wire."
"That Dragon Dance is incredible…" Dawn mused. "A beautiful display of power, and it wraps up Dragonite so he's free to power up! It's just like the Counter Shield!"
"Pol-Empol!" Empoleon squawked. "Poleon?"
"I don't think he got the idea from us," Dawn denied, shaking her head. "I don't think we've ever used two different moves as part of it before. But, it has to have a weakness. It just has to!"
"Will the challenger please send out their next Pokémon?" The referee prompted.
"Right! Of course!" Ash shook off his musing and strategizing, and returned to meet the moment. "This is a lot of fun, Dragonite! You're really incredible. But, don't think that means you're out of the woods, yet!" He tapped his final Poké Ball's button, expanding it. Then, he threw it overhand.
"Garchomp! I'm counting on you!"
Garchomp appeared in a flash of light, and raised his fins. Stealth Rock pelted against them, merely chipping away a few scales. The stones then sank back into the field.
Peeks hopped onto the lift's railing, watching the stones submerge. His beady eyes narrowed.
"Ash's Garchomp is back in action!" The emcee cried. "He's still taken plenty of damage, but he's had a chance to rest for a few short rounds in a row; surely enough to recover from using his infamous Draco Meteor!"
Garchomp was covered in scratches and bruises, but otherwise looked focused. He shedded his oblivious demeanor for the heat of battle, raising his fins as if they were blades. "Gaaah!"
"Alright, Garchomp. Hate to pile on the pressure, but you're the last one standing between Dragonite and Peeks! So, let's go all out, and show them what a dragon like you can do, huh!"
"You got it, Boss!" Garchomp cried back. "I'll smack them down!"
"I know ya will, big guy." Ash's lips curved into a smirk. "But, just to be sure…" He raised an open hand, and clenched it into a fist. "Let's lash out, at full power!"
Lance frowned, arching a brow at Ash's declaration.
"You've never seen this before, Lance. Nobody has! It's a technique we honed, just for this battle! We're going to take Garchomp's power to the max!"
"What is this!? Ketchum makes a declaration of a new, secret technique!"
"Garchomp," Ash continued, "let's see your Draco Meteor!"
Garchomp cried, and focused a supernova into his belly, bright enough to shine right through his tough skin. It rose from his core and up through his throat, and sat between his teeth; a shining meteor that bathed the immediate stadium in gold.
"Garchomp is about to use Draco Meteor…! But, what could be different this time—"
"Now, do what you do best," Ash continued, "and CHOW DOWN!"
The confusion and awe painted on faces all about the stadium would be answered, as Garchomp opened his mouth wide, showing off rows of razor-sharp fangs. "Gahhh…!"
He chomped down, and swallowed the meteor. "Chomp~!"
A still, tense silence hung over the stadium. Excitement deflated, but confusion remained.
Ash grinned, unperturbed by the Mach's antics. "Here it comes!"
The star on Garchomp's snout began to glow; turning from a uniform yellow to a warm glow of yellows, reds, and oranges. The red scales spanning from his throat all the way to his belly ignited just the same, as did the yellow "V" at his thighs. A bright light emitted from all three, as Garchomp threw his head back to unleash a throaty, high-pitched roar. "GAAAAHHH…!"
Each of the spikes along Garchomp's body was flooded with the magmatic light, and grew longer and sharper in the process, right down to the claws at the end of his fins.
"WHAT IS THIS!? Garchomp ate the Draco Meteor, and he… seems to be glowing the same color as that very attack! It's almost like he's become the meteor, itself!"
The Mach Pokémon stomped the field, snarling with ferocity. Golden eyes trained on Dragonite. He was hardly able to contain his battlelust; overflowing from his scales like a fire burning.
"This… is Draco Meteor Armor!" Ash announced with pride.
"What the!?" Misty exclaimed, taken aback.
"It's like Ice Armor…!" Brock exclaimed. "Or, the technique that Torterra used against Palmer! But, I never even considered using it with Draco Meteor, of all things!"
"Mhm!" Dawn hummed along, arms folded, and her smile smug. "That one was built up in secret, when we were on Two Island! Ash figured that he'd need some extra power against Lance, so he put his all into making that happen! It took quite a few attempts… Luckily, Empoleon isn't afraid of Draco Meteor, anymore."
"Poleon!" Empoleon huffed, folding his wings. Did she have to bring that up!?
Dawn smiled; the spotlights reflecting in her eyes. "...but now he's stronger than ever!"
"'Draco Meteor Armor…'" Lance hummed. "A most interesting technique. But I hope you've taken account of the downsides, Ash. The energy expended creating Draco Meteor still cuts the power of Garchomp's special moves in half. That hardly qualifies as a power-up."
"Yeah, it does," Ash replied, "but it boosts the power of all of his moves! This is our equalizer for Dragon Dance. I had a feeling that if Deidra used it as much as she did, you definitely would."
The trainer dramatically pointed towards Lance. "This is our ace in the hole!"
"Very well!" Lance replied. "Then we will meet it with our full force! Dragonite, Blizzard!"
Dragonite beat his wings, and a bone-chilling storm of snow and ice blasted over the field.
'That's the way,' Ash thought to himself, 'keep usin' your powerful moves on us, while you still can.' Disguising his ploy, he passionately thrust a hand forward. "Flamethrower!"
Garchomp tossed his head, and spat a hot stream of fire into the Blizzard. It took on a tint of Draco Meteor's shine, meeting the cold front with full-force. Frost and vapor flooded the field.
"Dual Chop!" Ash cried.
Garchomp soared above the extreme stretches of temperature, igniting each of his fins with emerald. He snarled, charging towards Dragonite with both of his fins reared back.
"Gaaaahr!" He cried, slicing across Dragonite. Dragonite disappeared in an orange blur, and the ground where he stood was cleaved to pieces instead. The Mach looked about, and then up.
Dragonite hovered high above him. Garchomp growled, and shot after him in pursuit.
"Strike back, with a dragon's might!" Lance shouted. "Dragon Claw!"
Dragonite raised both paws and brandished sharp claws, diving towards Garchomp.
The Mach crossed his fins in front of him, smashing them into the weight of Dragonite's strike. Colorful sparks danced from the clash; each forcing their brute strength against one another.
Dragonite's eyes narrowed in concentration and sheer effort. He cried in surprise as Garchomp slashed outward, breaking his guard. He readied Dragon Claw again, and slashed down.
Garchomp slipped by, soaring higher, and looped around. He came back with a downward slash. Dragonite turned his body around, and whipped his tail into Garchomp's back.
Garchomp coughed in pain, as he was knocked off-course. By the time that he collected himself, Dragonite was below him, shooting up in a rapid ascent. He went for an uppercut.
The Mach's eyes narrowed. He swung his fins inward, surprising Dragonite by smashing his claws directly between his two claws. Dragonite huffed angrily and tried to shake free.
Garchomp spun around in mid-air, and chucked Dragonite higher. He soared afterwards, drawing one of his fins back across his body. He quickly reached his foe, who was still reeling.
Dragonite didn't even see it coming, as Garchomp slashed up his jaw with a backhand.
Dragonite hissed and shook it off, wielding a Dragon Claw over his head to strike back.
Wings and claws crashed against each other repeatedly in a skybound dance.
"WOW! Look at this unbelievable clash of raw power! Garchomp and Dragonite are duking it out in the skies, but I'll be honest — it's hard to even keep track of them!"
"Incredible…!" Dawn gasped, bunching up her fists under her chin. "Look at them go! It looks like they're both evenly matched!"
"It looks that way," Brock replied, "but judging by the pace they've set, I think Garchomp actually has the upper hand in physical strength. Dragonite may be faster, but he's winning a majority of their head-on collisions; forcing him on the defensive. At least, it looks that way from here."
"So, Draco Meteor Armor was a good gamble, after all," Misty concluded.
Garchomp, for all of his might, was a glider, not a true flyer. He began to lose altitude after repeated exertions; his exhaustion from his earlier fight piling on.
He felt Dragonite's eyes upon him. Lance's ace Pokémon hovered above, flapping his wings; mocking him. He was free to move in the ways Garchomp could not; regardless of strength.
"Your boast wasn't just a boast, clearly," Lance surmised. "Garchomp's power is truly impressive. But it seems that he's winding down, after a long fight."
"Yeah? You think so?" Ash challenged. "Why don't ya come prove it!"
Lance opened his mouth, ready to take the bait. But he composed himself, and exhaled. "You seek to force us towards exhaustion ourselves, don't you, fair challenger?"
Ash choked on his words. He had no answer to give, but the sweat trailing down his brow.
"It's as I thought." The Champion crossed his arms. "This has become a battle of attrition."
"You heard it from the Champion, himself! Even as he breaks out all the stops, Ash's strategy seems to be wearing down Dragonite! Of course, after seeing their performance, who can even blame him!" The emcee narrated to the crowd's intrigue and increasing unease, matching Ash's, beat for beat. "But, will that be enough to claim the Championship!?"
'He knows,' Ash thought to himself, swallowing heavily. 'We can't set the pace anymore.'
"Then, allow me to set the pace!" Lande raised a commanding hand. "Rain Dance!"
Dragonite howled, and another blanket of dark clouds obscured the beautiful night sky.
Rain began to pour, rolling off of Dragonite and Garchomp's scales.
'He probably wants to weaken our Flamethrower again,' Ash thought. 'Unless he's…!'
"Now! Show us the dance of a storm! Dragon Dance, and Hurricane, Dragonite!"
Dragonite began to twist and dance, whipping up strong winds that expanded into a larger, and fiercer storm. The battlefield became a temperamental, howling typhoon.
"We can't just let them power up again," Ash muttered. "Garchomp! Dragon Rush!"
"Gaah…!" Garchomp cloaked him in the aura of a wyvern, with glimmers of Draco meteor's hues filtering into its passionate icy blue. He charged towards the Hurricane, colliding with it.
"Garchomp is attempting to power through Hurricane!" The emcee cried. Garchomp forced his skull against it with another burst of effort, and then penetrated the wind cycle. "He's in!"
It seemed like a sign of success, but another glance at the Hurricane told Ash another story. Garchomp's bright light wasn't stationary, or even moving forward; it was orbiting the Hurricane.
'He's trapped! Hurricane is throwing him around!' Ash snapped his fingers in disappointment.
"A bold move," Lance remarked; his voice could barely be heard over the storm, even with the microphone tucked into his outfit to project his voice to the audience. "But, perhaps too bold! Even your Garchomp can't ignore the wrath of nature! Life comes and goes, but the elements are ever-enduring, and unpredictable!" The Champion waved a hand. "Dragonite! Blizzard!"
The howling winds were overpowering, and suffocating. Garchomp couldn't tear himself from the air currents, tossing him in a spiral. All he could do was glide on the winds, using Dragon Rush to protect himself. He spun, and spun, and spun.
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Dragonite complete his dance. A red aura washed over his body. He responded to Lance, and fired a Blizzard from his mouth. The chilling flurry crept up on Garchomp, wrapping into the gale with its icy influence.
Garchomp's heart raced, and he forced more power into his Dragon Rush, riding the current to pull even further ahead. Fiery, meteoric light leaked into his aura in greater volume, accelerating him.
'Crap… If I don't think of something, Garchomp's just going to get caught in that Blizzard, and it'll be over! There has to be a way to deal with that Hurricane!' Ash clenched his fists.
Then, his eyes widened. 'Wait a minute…'
"If you're going to face the elements, you should understand them, and how malleable they are," Lorelei lectured. "Tell me. Do you know anything about hurricanes, Ash? The phenomenon, not the move."
"Can't say I know a lot," Ash said, frowning. Where was this headed?
"Well, they tend to become stronger in warm water environments, and become a lot more dangerous for it. In cold water environments, however, they quickly grow weaker."
"So cooling it down with Ice Beam made it peter out," Ash concluded. "I guess that's what I should expect from an Elite Four member."
'That's the answer!' Ash smiled to himself. His experience of facing the Ice-type Elite informed fight with the Champion. 'We don't need to break Hurricane. Lance is going to do it, himself!'
~Garchomp!~ Ash's voice echoed in Garchomp's mind. He couldn't stop to check for where it came from. He could only trust his trainer, and beckon him for more information.
~What is it, Boss? I'm real busy, here! It's cold!~
~I know! That Blizzard's a problem. But, it's about to become a problem for Lance, too! The more they cool down their Hurricane, the weaker it's going to get! So, all you need to do until then is stay ahead!~
~Easy for you to say!~ Garchomp complained. ~Tail's getting numb!~
~I know, I know. Just throw off their aim — glide up, higher and higher! You can do this!~
~Aye, Boss!~ Garchomp answered, and he heard Ash's voice no longer. He was on his own. "Gaaaahhh…!" With a roar of effort, he flooded the wyvern wrapped around his body in the same aura as Draco Meteor. Another burst of speed propelled him ahead of Blizzard's creeping approach, and he tilted his fins to climb higher and higher. The chill no longer touched him!
"It's hard to see exactly what's going on in there, folks…! But, you can see the cold manifesting down on the field — vapor and fog is clouding the storm! I can't imagine Garchomp is doing too— what's this!?"
A bright, striking orange circled the Hurricane like a comet, flying higher and higher.
Ash's lips parted into a wide, open smile. "He's made it…!"
Hurricane, itself, started to peter out. Its winds slowed, whipping about before dying off. A blanket of cold vapor washed over the battlefield itself, while the storm died away.
Garchomp soared out of what remained, climbing the skies in his draconic splendor.
"Garchomp escaped the Hurricane! And, he looks like a rocket headed into space!"
"Yeah, well that's not where we're headed!" Ash grinned, pointing towards Dragonite, who flapped his wings, watching pensively from where he'd commanded the storm. "Dragon Rush!"
Garchomp peaked; the aura of Dragon Rush flapped its skeletal wings. He then dove, divebombing towards the field below, like a meteor coming down to earth. He snarled, forcing all of his might to the surface. Dragonite was getting closer by the second; his surroundings a blur.
"Gah!" Garchomp cried, throwing his weight at Dragonite.
His aura broke with his composure, as he hit thin air. His sharp, golden eyes followed, looking over his shoulder. Dragonite had dodged with ease, hovering over him. His hazel eyes gleamed; the rest of his body cloaked in black, as he eclipsed the stadium's harsh spotlights.
Dragonite's wings reared back to unleash another Blizzard, seemingly in slow motion.
Ash's heart skipped a beat. There was a blink-and-you-miss-it chance.
"Garchomp!" He cried. "Draco Meteor!"
Garchomp pivoted his body around, and opened his maw. All of his remaining power channeled into his core, and rose through him and out of his mouth. He shot the meteor into Dragonite.
Dragonite, too, was caught off-guard. He rose towards the starry night sky, with the glow of Draco Meteor pushing into his belly. In a couple of moments, it was bound to explode.
"Dragonite!" Lance gasped out, for the first time, in worry. "Use your own Draco Meteor!"
Dragonite's shocked expression locked into one of determination. He opened his mouth, and forced his mythical power through his body, and up into his maw. A brighter meteoritic shot solidified, and he leaned his body back, allowing Garchomp's own meteor to rise, like a buoy shoved below the tide before forcing its way to the surface. It slipped off his scales, and rose.
"Kaaaiyah!" Dragonite fired his Draco Meteor into it, firing them both higher.
The two blasts rippled and melded together.
The explosion that followed shook the very heavens.
The audience cried out, many instinctively crouching to hide themselves. Others watched in wide-eyed awe; most guarding their eyes from the overpowering hellfire that rained down.
"WHAT IS THIS!? IT'S A DOUBLE DRACO METEOR!" The emcee shouted into his mic. His voice was hoarse from trying to avoid being drowned out by one blast detonating after another.
"Garchomp!" Ash cried. He watched the Mach glide and veer between the meteor storm, struggling to stay ahead. But, this shower was twice as dense as an ordinary Draco Meteor.
Dragonite, meanwhile, zipped through the storm like a phantom; stretching into a blur to zip between one gap in blasts to the next. Even if one tried to follow, he was obscured by the storm.
Garchomp, however, cried out, as a meteor crashed into one of his fins. He spiraled off path, with smoke trailing from his scales. A second meteor hit his back, and a third followed.
Ash was forced to turn and hug Peeks to his chest. The explosions that pelted the field knocked both of them off their feet, and hurling to the lift's end. They rolled across the ground, and were blanketed in smoke. "Hang tight, Buddy…!"
"Pikapi…!"
"What a TREMENDOUS display of power! But, what of the outcome!?" The emcee narrated. They reflected the crowd's deepest concerns and curiosities. "We'll just have to wait for the debris to clear to see for ourselves!"
A tense silence held Indigo Stadium in a chokehold. After what felt like an eternity, the smoke and dust cleared. Ash and Peeks sat up, brushing ashes off of their coats.
Dragonite stood on Lance's end of the field, breathing heavily. He sported no injuries.
Craters peppered the field in a density that would remind one of Meteor Falls.
Garchomp laid within one of them, facefirst in the dirt.
"Garchomp is unable to battle!" The referee shouted. "Dragonite is the winner!"
"Another! Pokémon! Down! Dragonite's rampage is nigh-unstoppable!"
The emcee's voice echoed in more play-by-play, but Ash mostly ignored it. His ears were still ringing from the explosions, anyway. Instead, he focused on returning Garchomp to his Poké Ball, smiling upon it fondly. "You gave it your all, big guy. You made 'em work for it. Thanks."
Peeks patted the ball with his paw, smiling. 'I'm tagging in from here, old friend. Rest easy!'
"Regrettable," Lance spoke, thinking aloud. "I'd hoped not to use Draco Meteor. Dragonite's power has been exhausted, just as Garchomp's was. And, I'm not foolish enough to attempt that 'Draco Meteor Armor' of yours, without any preparations. Besides…" The Champion smiled.
"We have our dragon's pride. We will defeat you with our own way of battling!"
Ash smirked, in turn."I wouldn't expect anything less!"
"With that said… That Draco Meteor very well could have been our end, if it'd landed a direct hit. It's hard to say." Lance shook his head. "But, there is no point in dwelling on hypotheticals."
"I agree!" Ash shouted back. "We're here, and we're gonna beat you. That's all there is to it!"
Lance laughed behind the back of his hand. "I do wonder about that." His eyes narrowed, locking in on the Pikachu stationed on Ash's shoulder. "You're our final opponent, Peeks. Do you feel up to the task of shouldering the hopes of your comrades?"
Peeks smirked; his tail flicking behind him. "I was ready, the moment I walked into this stadium."
"You've heard it here first, everyone! Ash's final Pokémon is going to be his Pikachu! And, anyone who's had an eye on his career wouldn't expect anything less!"
"Oooooh, I'm so nervous…!" Misty whined, balling up her fists. For all of her tough posturing, her heart was racing! "Come on, Peeks! We're all counting on you! Kick his scaly ass!"
"As bad as that reverse sweep might look on paper, I have to say, it didn't go poorly," Brock mused. "Ash scouted Dragonite thoroughly; exposing a total of ten moves. Going in with his final Pokémon blind to that repertoire would've been dangerous. Ash's team did its job."
The doctor-in-training folded his arms. "Weakening them by forcing Draco Meteor was a bonus." His well-trained eyes surveyed the fray; Dragonite in particular. The large Pokémon was breathing heavily. Slowly regaining his composure, but he looked winded. "And Dragonite is starting to look tired, as evidence of that. They may win this battle of endurance, after all."
"They did great," Dawn agreed. "And now it's Peeks's turn! Which means it's our turn to cheer our hearts out! Right, Empoleon!?" She pivoted to her starter.
Empoleon was still in his seat. Sweat trickled down his feathers in a cascade.
"Empoleon!?"
"Pol!" Empoleon squawked, snapping back to reality.
Dawn sighed. "That double Draco Meteor brought back bad memories, didn't it…?"
Empoleon muttered an answer, embarrassed to say so.
"Well, you'll have to set that aside! Ash and Peeks need us!" Dawn insisted.
"Poleon!" He snapped to attention, and stood tall and upright. "Em-pol-pol!"
"Split the heavens! Carve the earth! Show them what a Pikachu's worth!
He flips his hat, and none can match 'im! Victory, thy name is Ketchum!"
"Emmm-pol-pol-pol!" Empoleon cawed, spitting a dense foam of Bubblebeam into the air. They popped in succession, reflecting the vibrant shine of the spotlights. Colorful mist rained over Dawn as she kicked and cheered with all of her heart. This was the moment! The final battle!
Ash inhaled a slow, deep breath, and then exhaled. His copper-colored eyes gleamed under the stadium's harsh lights, and he gripped the brim of his cap between his index finger and thumb. "Alright. Let's do this, Peeks!" He flipped his cap backwards in one swift motion, spinning his favorite's cap brim to land backwards on his head. He extended an arm towards the field.
"Pika!" Peeks ran around from his opposite shoulder, dashing down the length of his arm. On the way down, he looked back to meet eyes with Ash. They exchanged a knowing grin.
Just as his forepaws pressed into Ash's wrist, Ash flicked it into the air, catapulting him high.
He somersaulted through the air to the tune of, "I choose you!"
Lance's steely eyes narrowed, as Stealth Rock broke the earth. "Dragonite! Earthquake!"
Peeks's ears stood on end. Sharp rocks shot up from under him, just as he'd expected.
"Chuuu…!" His tail shimmered silver. He flicked his waist around, spiking the first stone. A second came for his left flank, and he spun, splitting that in two. A third came for his jaw.
He flipped forward and spiked off it with his tail, vaulting himself into the air, dodging the fourth.
"Pi-pi-Pika!"
"What's this!? Peeks has deflected the Stealth Rock! Was this his and Ash's plan!?"
Ash smirked; a little conspiring wrapped in showmanship never hurt anybody. But, gloating could wait; Dragonite smashed the earth beneath his feet, launching a rippling Earthquake.
"Magnet Rise!"
Bolts of lightning leaked from Peeks's cheek pouches like a tether, yanking at the entire, battered and broken battlefield beneath him. A multitude of rocks and slabs of earth were yanked free beneath him, buoyant on his charge. He landed on top of one, on all fours.
"Magnet Rise puts Earthquake at bay! Lance isn't giving any quarter, but Ash and Peeks seem to be on top of it, for now!"
"Dragonite," Lance declared, "Blizzard!" Dragonite flapped his wings and took higher altitude. With another wingbeat, the Dragon fired a harsh cold flurry toward Peeks, raining snow and hail.
Peeks looked back at Ash. "Pika!" He cried, raising his tail upward.
Ash nodded. He wasn't sure what Peeks planned to do, but he seemed to have a plan. The move he wished to employ was obvious, so he trusted him. "Peeks! Electro Ball!"
"Pika-Pika-Pika-Pika…!" Static danced along the broad, jagged tail, forming a golden orb.
"Chu-Pi!" Peeks pivoted his hips, slinging Electro Ball free. It crashed into one of the earth fragment's corners, bouncing off it to strike another, starting a ricochet between the raised land.
Several large rocks were knocked into one another, forming a wall in front of Peeks. Blizzard blasted the shelter, freezing them over into a solid slab of ice. It collapsed, shattering to pieces.
"Ash and Peeks block that Blizzard, with a well-placed Electro Ball! Wow!"
Ash felt the rainpour from above slowing to a trickle. 'It's about to run out,' he thought. This was, perhaps, their last chance to exploit the weather for themselves. "Hey, Lance!" He shouted.
Lance arched a brow.
"The rain's not gonna last. Whaddya say we go head-to-head; Thunder-to-Thunder!" Ash grinned, pumping a fist. "Call it a battle of a dragon's pride!"
Peeks smirked, smacking his paws against his cheek. "...Unless you're not feeling up to it!"
Dragonite scowled.
Lance laughed into his hand. "Provoking us…? Very well. You truly do understand the heart of a dragon." The gallant Champion tossed a hand toward the clearing sky. "Dragonite! Thunder!"
"Peeks! Thunder!"
Erratic, unwieldy lightning channeled up through Dragonite's antennae, and it did the same up Peeks's lightning bolt tail. Both Pokémon cried, and fired a pillar of lightning into the sky.
The remaining storm clouds rumbled and flashed. Deafening thunder rolled over the stadium.
Lightning crashed down over Dragonite and Peeks alike. Thunder struck Dragonite, making him howl and flap his wings, dipping a bit in altitude before suspending himself, gritting his teeth.
Peeks winced, as white-hot lightning shot through his entire body. He grinned and bore it.
"Those four are all equally hard-headed!" Misty exclaimed.
"Yes, but Ash made the smarter move," Brock said. "They knew the weather was about to expire, and it'd be their only chance for a free Thunder. Electricity is Peeks's natural element, so he's naturally going to endure it better than Dragonite. They leveraged Lance's pride to their advantage!"
"Wow! A hard-headed, electrifying battle of pride!" The emcee exclaimed, as the dark clouds parted over the field, revealing the stars and the moon, once more. "Peeks and Dragonite strike each other down with mighty Thunder attacks! But, they both seem to be handling it, rather well!"
Dragonite grunted in pain, and then shook it off, dispelling the remaining lightning. "Karah!"
Peeks channeled the lightning up and down his body, highlighting his pale fur. He grinned.
"Alright, Peeks." Ash matched his partner's glee, and turned to spin on his heels, pivoting all the way around. "Crackling…!"
The lightning surrounding Peeks burst into a spectrum of colors.
Ash pointed triumphantly towards Dragonite. "...ACCELERATION!"
A deafening boom rolled over the stadium. Lightning of every shade of the rainbow shot into the sky, crashing into Dragonite's hide in the blink of an eye. Dragonite roared, doubling over.
Peeks smirked, and kicked off his scaly underbelly, propelling himself back to earth. "Pi-KA!"
"Ash has used Thunder to power up Zippy Zap — now seemingly under a new name!"
Ash grinned, waving a hand through the air. "Rainbow Electro Ball!"
All of the colorful lightning propelling Peeks channeled into a large orb on his tail, crackling and bursting with static; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Its vibrance highlighted his fur.
"Pika-Pika-Pika-Pika… CHU-PI!" With a significant effort, Peeks bucked the weight of his own attack, slinging it towards the recovering Dragonite without mercy.
"Now…!" Ash cried.
Lance gasped. He saw what was to come. "Dragonite! Hyper Beam!"
Dragonite shook himself out in mid-air, and drew his head back. A bright light built in his maw.
"...Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaaaaa….!" Peeks slid across a flat rock, exhaling with effort. "...Chu!"
Thunderbolt and Hyper Beam crashed into Rainbow Electro Ball at the same time. Bright lights of all colors flashed and pulsed. A terrific explosion followed, rattling the entire stadium.
Audience members cried out, shielding themselves from the light and winds.
"A COLLISION OF HYPER BEAM AND RAINBOW ELECTRO BALL! WOW! I CAN FEEL THE ATTACKS FROM UP HERE, FOLKS! THIS IS A BATTLE UNLIKE ANY OTHER!"
"Piii… ka…!" Peeks bore his fangs, struggling to hold his ground. His paws duck into the rock, and his eyes struggled to stay open against the winds. "Pikaaa!" He flew off of his foothold in the blast's aftermath.
Dragonite was blown back as well, high up above the stadium's seats and bleachers. He guarded himself with both paws from the blast, breathing heavily.
"This light is BLINDING! We'll need just a moment to see what's happened!"
Ash guarded his eyes with his arms, waiting for the outcome. "That Lance…!" He winced from the bright light and winds, alike. "This'll be more than enough time for Dragonite to recover!"
Shortly afterwards, the light did fade, and the smoke cleared.
Peeks and Dragonite both stood on solid ground, tense and alert. Every bit of land that'd been suspended by Magnet Rise had been obliterated in the explosion; its charge cancelled.
"It's a stalemate! Neither Pokémon suffered significant damage!"
"Aha. Well-played, Ash," Lance praised. "You maneuvered our pride against us."
"Hey, this is a battle of trainers, as much as Pokémon!" Ash shouted back. He was unable to hide his wry grin over his cheeky antics. "You know what they say — know your enemy!"
"Absolutely correct," Lance hummed in agreement. "It seems that I'll need our full power to defeat you and your Pikachu. Dragonite! Wrap the field in your dance, once more!"
Ash's eyes narrowed. 'Here it comes, again!'
"Surely by now, there's no need for riddles?" Lance smirked. "Hurricane, and Dragon Dance!"
Dragonite smacked his tail against the terrain, and soared, spinning to whip up a Hurricane.
'There's no Rain Dance powering up Hurricane this time,' Ash thought. 'Maybe we'll be able to break through this time! It's worth a try at least.' He shouted his own command; "Use Thunder!"
"Pikaaaaaaaaahhhh…!" Peeks cried, smacking his paws against his cheeks. Lightning coursed through his tail, and fired wildly towards the Hurricane. "Chyaaaaohh!"
Webs and tendrils of lightning crashed against the howling winds. The crackled across its surface, but didn't break through; the wild bolts were pulled and dispersed around the gale.
"The Thunder attack fails to break through! Dragon Dance is free to reign, again!"
"Come on…!" Peeks hissed in frustration.
While his partner lamented, Ash's eyes followed the path of electricity. 'Wait a minute…!'
"Dragonite!" Lance shouted, breaking Ash's train of thought. "Earthquake, once more!"
Dragonite's howl echoed through the stadium, and he dropped like a bomb, pulverizing the field under his mass. Breaking earth and bone-rattling tremors rippled across the battlefield.
'No time for Magnet Rise!' Ash thought, as the quake approached Peeks. "Quick Attack!"
"Pi-ka!" Peeks propelled himself with a burst of effort, shooting across the field in a silver streak.
Breaking earth erupted under him, forcing him to quickly veer to the right, and then the left, narrowly avoiding a spire of earth jabbing towards his underside. His little heart pounded, but he bravely advanced towards Dragonite.
"Dragonite! Dragon Claw!"
The earth cratered beneath Dragonite, who vanished from sight. An orange blur caught up, hovering over Peeks, leaving him in its shadow. Dragonite raised three shimmering, emerald claws, looming over him like a specter. Peeks forced himself backwards with a burst of speed.
Emerald streaks tore through the silver comet tail left in his wake. Dragonite snorted and flapped his wings, catching up with Peeks in the blink of an eye. Even as the mouse fled, he was upon him. Peeks shot back diagonally again, trying to give himself space.
Dragonite zipped toward him again, wielding his razor-sharp claws overhead.
Peeks felt suffocated. No matter what he did, he couldn't keep Dragonite out of his space!
"Iron Tail!"
Peeks grit his teeth. He had no real choice but to fight. Dragonite slashed at him from his light, and he hardened his tail. "Chuaaa…!" His tail hardened, and he spun to his right, bashing his tail against the hardened nails. Sparks flew, and his iron coat chipped. Dragonite pressed his weight, sending Peeks rolling off of him and flying back further.
"Pika…!" Peeks was sent flying, belly facing the ground beneath him, this time. His sharp ears picked up on the sharp claws wielded above him, and he spun around for an Iron Tail aimed at Dragonite's jaw. "Chuuu… Pi-ka!"
Dragonite had to abandon their next slash, using their left paw to smack Iron Tail away. The winged beast grunted, and raked his claws directly downward. Peeks pivoted, smashing his Iron Tail into one of the ethereal nails, chipping away at it. Emerald sparks flew, and Dragonite's arm was knocked away, numbed by the impact. "Pi-Pika!" He spun a second time for a counterclockwise strike to the jaw.
"Look at those two go! Dragonite and Peeks are fighting at blinding speeds; a clash of Dragon Claws and Iron Tails!" The emcee narrated. Every blow that felt like an eternity for them unfolded in a blink for the audience. They'd only crossed half of the field in the exchange!
"Kaiyaaah!" Dragonite slashed viciously, breaking Peeks's guard, and raking his claws across his chest. The mouse cried, flying back towards Ash.
"Pikaaa…!"
"Peeks!" Ash exclaimed.
"Press your advantage!" Lance commanded, hand outward. "Fire Blast!"
Still in flight, Dragonite opened his mouth, unleashing a five-pronged blaze.
Ash's gaze narrowed, as the gigantic heat grew closer. Even from a distance, it was sweltering. Peeks was directly in its path, spinning and reeling from Dragon Claw. 'Spinning…!'
Ash waved a hand. "Electro Ball, towards the ground!"
"Pika-Pika-Pika-Pika…!" Peeks charged golden static into the broad end of his tail, snapping with life from the momentum generated by his spin. He chucked it towards the field with a cry.
"CHU-PI!"
Electro Ball propelled Peeks higher with the recoil. He felt the flames of Fire Blast lick at his fur, but only just. His heart pounded in the heat of battle. Every move was a fight for survival.
Truthfully, it was exhausting.
"Crackling…. Acceleration!"
Yet, he heeded his trainer. Wrapped in rainbow lightning, he shot towards Dragonite.
"Dragonite! Blizzard!"
Dragonite beat his wings to suspend his flight forward, and retaliated with a cold flurry.
"Pull back!" Ash called urgently.
Peeks squinted in the face of bitter cold. He propelled himself back and towards the ground. The sparkling spectrum around him faded and he slid on all fours, fighting to catch his breath.
"A wondrous battle!" Lance shouted, the wings of his cape lifted by his outstretched arms. "But your opposition is crumbling, challengers. Let us close the book on this battle's final chapter! Dragonite; show our fair audience the extent of our strength! Dragon Dance, and Hurricane!"
"Ah…! If they pull another Dragon Dance off, this will be over!" Misty gasped.
"No, I don't think so," Brock shook his head. "Look at Dragonite."
Even as the Dragon ascended, he was struggling to catch his breath. His movements were just a tad sluggish, when his body started to turn, and winds started to whip around him like ribbons.
"They're exhausted. Lance's bravado is just that. He needs every advantage he can get."
"Pol-Pol! Poleon," Empoleon huffed in response.
"Right!" Dawn nodded. "That doesn't mean Ash should just let him have it!"
"He shouldn't," Brock agreed. "But I wonder if there's even anything he can do."
Peeks recovered his stamina down on the ground, after a brief reprieve. But, his anxiety didn't ease, as his black-tipped ears and tail started to flutter from Hurricane's winds. They were about to get even stronger. Even faster. 'Their speed is the worst part. I can handle firepower, but—'
"Buddy," Ash interrupted his train of thought, "I've got an idea."
Peeks didn't need to look back to hear the smirk in Ash's voice, nor did I have time to. "Well, there's no time to waste, so let's hear it!"
"Give me your best Swift!" Ash shouted back. "Right around the Hurricane!"
"You've got it!" Peeks sprung into the air, channeling all of his Normal-type power into his tail, coating it in a golden luster. "Piiiika… Cha!" He slung his tail around, firing a storm of golden stars towards the storm. They orbited in a path around it, just as ordered.
"Now!" Ash grinned, punching the air. "Light them up, with your Thunder!"
Peeks smirked as he, too, understood the plan. "Pikaaaaaaaaaa… CHU!" He smacked his cheeks, firing a furious bolt towards the stars. Thunder coursed through the first, shooting on to the second, and third; lightning tendrils rapidly spread through Swift like a series of chain link, lighting them all up in the blink of an eye.
"What's this!?"
Each star exploded in a succession of deafening explosions. Smoke and lightning flooded the battlefield; each detonation battering and drowning out the Hurricane. The powerful winds died, and loud explosions crashed into its core, one after another.
"Ah! "So, that was his plan!" Dawn exclaimed happily.
"Huh? What was?" Misty asked.
"Using Swift to channel Thunder, so it would explode from every angle — he took it from our match, at the Path of Battling!" Dawn bunched up her pompoms under her chin, unable to suppress her smile reaching her eyes. "When I faced Ash, I had Pachirisu fire off a mass Sweet Kiss attack meant to confuse his Pokémon; or, at least that was what I led him to believe."
In her mind's eye, she could still see Pachirisu's flurry of hearts, much like the stars of Swift.
"Wartortle shot a bunch of them down with his Water Gun, but that left a whole lot of mist hanging in the air, which I had Pachirisu channel through her Thunder! With all of that water to conduct our electricity, Thunder's unwieldy accuracy didn't matter! It was a chain reaction they just couldn't dodge!"
"Ah, I see…!" Brock hummed, cupping his chin. "So, Ash applied the same principle to Swift, to attack Hurricane with so much force that even Dragonite couldn't stave it off!"
Tears welled up in Dawn's eyes, as she nodded along. There was no greater expression of love than taking her art as inspiration for his own, explosive portrait!
"UNBELIEVABLE! Ash has combined Swift and Thunder to assault Dragonite and his Hurricane, from all angles! Now, that's a devastating attack!"
Dragonite couldn't so much as hear the narration; his own ears rang from the crashing explosions blasting away at his shelter, and forcing him to shrink into himself. Loose static struck at his scales and made him jolt, and he pulled away to the best of his ability.
"IRON TAIL!"
The steadily louder 'swish' of spinning steel finally permeated the ringing Dragonite suffered, urging him to look upward. It was far too late; the Pikachu cleaved through the smoke, spinning in a rapid somersault, wielding a spinning, gleaming Iron Tail, reflecting Thunder's vibrant gold.
"CHUUUUUAAAA….! PI-KAAA!" Peeks shrieked, smashing his Iron Tail directly into Dragonite's skull, between his eyes. The Dragon dropped like a rock, crashing into the field.
"Now! Thunderbolt!" Ash cried from beyond the smoke.
"Pikaaa… Chuuuu!" Peeks gathered his strength, and fired a golden bolt, cutting through the scattering smoke in a jagged pattern. It electrocuted Dragonite just as he hit the ground.
Dragonite howled, lit up by Thunderbolt's wrath.
"A devastating chain of attacks from Ash and his Pikachu! Dragonite is down!"
"Piiii…!" Peeks landed on all fours, at a short distance. He was once again catching his breath.
"Kaahh…" Dragonite groaned, forcing himself onto his feet. He suddenly recoiled, as static danced across his body. He felt partially numb, unable to move.
Lance grimaced.
"And, Dragonite seems to be paralyzed, to top it off! What an unlucky break for the Champion! But, both Pokémon are losing steam. Peeks is looking winded as well!"
"Talk about pressure," Ash laughed, as he adjusted his backwards cap. "You've really put us through the wringer, Lance! But, guess what? No more Hurricanes means no more Dragon Dances! Dragonite's wings are clipped, and his power's capped out!"
"That may be," Lance conceded, "but we still have enough strength remaining to triumph! Earthquake!"
Dragonite didn't fly. Instead, he roared mightily, stomping and splitting the earth.
"Magnet Rise!" Ash cried, as Peeks spread a web of magnetism over the terrain. A broken slab of rock floated under Peeks, lifting him to a safe elevation without him having to move.
Earthquake passed by harmlessly.
"Crackling Acceleration!" Ash thrust out a hand.
"Pi-Pi-Pi… Pi-ka!" Peeks shot towards Dragonite, leaking electricity all colors of the rainbow.
"Dragon Claw!" Lance commanded with vigor.
Dragonite took a backfoot, and wielded back his claws, coating them in an ethereal green. His hazel eyes tracked Peeks, waiting until he was within an arm's reach. He howled, and slashed.
Ash grinned. "...Marki II!"
Peeks's smile matched his trainers. "Pi-ka!" He ricocheted higher, and Dragonite's claws raked through residual static, completely missing his target.
Lance gasped, watching Peeks soar over his partner.
"Ka-CHA!" Peeks plummeted in a dropkick, bringing his weight down in the groove between Dragonite's wings. Dragonite howled, stumbling forward from the impact. Colorful electricity danced over his sore body, and he was left with his back to his opponent.
"Crackling Acceleration is now 'Mark II!' Peeks lands a dangerous critical hit!"
Ash waved a hand. "Use Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaa…!" Peeks inhaled again to keep his pace, and raised his paws. "Chuuu!"
"Dragonite! Evasive action!" Lance urged. Dragonite stumbled forward and started flapping his wings, coming within a hair's breadth of Thunderbolt clipping his foot. His amazing aerial maneuvering had been reduced to a clumsy and uneven flight away from the Pikachu.
"Now! Iron Tail!" Ash cried. Peeks sprung off all fours, tumbling through the air. "Chua…!"
Lance's jaw clenched. Ash had forced their hand. "Hyper Beam!"
Dragonite turned around, finding himself face-to-face with the coming Iron Tail. He opened his mouth, and fired an explosive beam of light directly into the lightning bolt tail's path. "BAAH!"
"PI-KAaaAAhhh…!" Peeks's tail crashed into Hyper Beam, struggling against its explosive force. He grit his teeth and forced his weight down, The blast pulsed, repelling him from advancing further. He leaned right and rolled off the beam, hitting the ground roughly, facefirst. "Piiii….!"
'It's a good thing they got off that Draco Meteor, earlier,' Ash thought. 'That Hyper Beam might've been a problem otherwise. But, now's our chance!' "Peeks!" He shouted.
"Now's our chance! Dragonite can't move!"
Dragonite was left doubled over, catching his breath, and numb with static.
"Dragonite is, indeed, defenseless! But, Peeks is doing nothing to capitalize on it!"
"Peeks…?" Ash's eyes widened. He focused in on his partner, who laid facefirst in the field.
The mouse forced his forepaws against the dirt. They trembled, trying to lift him back up. But, they buckled under his own weight, and they collapsed. "Piii…!"
"Ash's Pikachu can't seem to move…! Is the match finally over!? Has the challenger lost his bid for the Championship title!?"
"Buddy…" Ash's fist clenched at his side.
The referee studied the Pikachu's condition from a safe distance. Her lips pursed. "Pikachu is conscious," she relayed. "As long as he is still capable and aware, he is ruled able to battle!"
Ash exhaled a much-needed breath.
Peeks laid in the broken up dirt, with one cheek resting against it, and one eye halfway open. He took deep, labored breaths. Every muscle felt like jelly. His cheek pouches burned from being overused. He was close to feeling nauseous. Every time he tried to force himself up, his tiny arms gave out from under him. "Piii… Pika!" This was frustrating. So frustrating…!
Dragonite, meanwhile, was hunched over and stiff, hardly any better.
"You heard our fair referee — Peeks is still in the fight! Although he and Dragonite seem to be absolutely exhausted. And, who could blame them?"
A tense silence captured the entire stadium and its audience, like a net cast over a Magikarp caught unaware. Kanto and Johto's collective breath was held so tightly, that even anxious mutters in the crowd could be heard, before dying out. Kanto and Johto were held hostage in their suspense.
"This may very well be a battle of who can move first, with both Pokémon pushed to their limits! There's nothing we can do but watch, and wait for one of their wills to triumph!"
Up high in the stands, Dawn found her heart caught in her throat, most of all. Even from her distance, she could see the tension locked into Ash's shoulders. She couldn't make out the minutiae of Peeks's condition, but he looked battered and beaten. The pressure they felt…
It had to be immense.
"Po-leon!" Empoleon squawked.
Dawn didn't respond, caught in her concerns.
The penguin huffed in frustration, and shook his head. She was as entranced as everyone else was. There was only one thing to do in times like this. He turned toward his trainer. "Em-po-pol!"
Dawn shrieked, as she was pelted with explosive foam. Empoleon's Bubblebeam startled her.
"Jeez…! Empoleon," Dawn whined, turning to her partner. She stopped when she saw the look in his eyes. The sheer passion and determination radiating in her best friend's steely blue hues.
Words weren't needed between them. Dawn inhaled, and exhaled, smiling. "You're right."
Brock and Misty were stirred from their own stress, as Dawn stood up on top of her seat, wielding her pompoms close to her chest. The Coordinator cleared her throat.
"No need to worry, Ash Ketchum!" She chanted, pumping her frilly pompoms in sequence, and kicked her legs in tandem. "Fight on, Fight on, Pi-ka-chu!"
Surely he would forgive using his old name, for the rhythm?
Her voice was the only one in the stadium, then. Dawn didn't let it stop her.
"No need to worry, Ash Ketchum! Fight on, Fight on, Pi–ka-chu!"
Empoleon stood, waving his steely wings in rhythm. "Poleon-Poleon! Em-pol-pol!"
Misty snorted in amusement, and shook her head. She, too, stood, clapping her hands in pace. "No need to worry, Ash Ketchum! Fight on, Fight on, Pi-ka-chu!"
Brock smiled, and stood next. "No need to worry, Ash Ketchum! Fight on, Fight on, Pi-ka-chu!"
The stadium's cameras turned towards the audience; specifically, towards Dawn and company.
Dawn kept cheering, her voice escalating in passion. "No need to worry, Ash Ketchum! Fight on, Fight on, Pi-ka-chu!" Each word was echoed by her surrounding companions.
Then, a Poké Ball from her bag burst open. Lopunny stood atop the seat in front of Dawn, startling the man in front of her into leaning forward. She inhaled, and started to cheer, too.
"Lo-pun-ny, Lo-pun-ny, Pu-no-ny! Pun-pun, pun-pun, Ny-lo-pun!"
Ash was struck from his creeping worries by a familiar echo from far away. He looked around the field frantically, before spotting the monitor overlooking the stadium. He couldn't believe his eyes; Dawn was right in the center of the frame. Cheering with only increasing intensity.
No, she wasn't just cheering. She was leading all of their friends present in a chorus.
Her voice was amplified, as spectators nearby in the stands joined.
"No need to worry, Ash Ketchum! Fight on, Fight on, Pi-ka-chu!"
Peeks struggled to force his cheek up from the dirt, glancing sidelong at the monitor. He blinked slowly, staring in disbelief. He saw his closest friends rallying them. His mate, shouting for him.
The voices only multiplied. A sea of Pokémon Battle enthusiasts followed, nearly drowning out Dawn's voice. Empoleon's. Lopunny's. Misty's. Brock's. Even so, they broke through the noise.
"No need to worry, Ash Ketchum! Fight on, Fight on, Pi-ka-chu!"
"NO NEED TO WORRY, ASH KETCHUM! FIGHT ON, FIGHT ON, PI-KA-CHU!"
"What is this!? A cheerleader in the crowd is leading a chant in favor of Ash and his Pikachu," the emcee narrated. Their voice was almost drowned out by the rising chorus.
"I'm sorry — That's Dawn Tsumura: the winner of this year's Kanto Grand Festival! Dawn Tsumura is leading a cheer for the challenger! And it seems the stadium is joining in!"
"NO NEED TO WORRY, ASH KETCHUM! FIGHT ON, FIGHT ON, PI-KA-CHU!"
"NO NEED TO WORRY, ASH KETCHUM! FIGHT ON, FIGHT ON, PI-KA-CHU!"
Ash watched in utter disbelief, from the lift. His mouth hung open, and his eyes trained on the bright, sapphire eyes he'd fallen in love with, lit with determination. Even after her voice had been drowned out by the stadium at large; a wave of chants so loud that it was starting to test his eardrums; he watched her lips move, chanting the words he'd become so familiar with.
What else could he do, but wipe at his eyes, as tears cascaded freely down his cheeks? But, fight a quivering lip, in front of thousands — millions!? "Dawn…" He sniffled. "Everyone…!"
"NO NEED TO WORRY, ASH KETCHUM! FIGHT ON, FIGHT ON, PI-KA-CHU!"
"NO NEED TO WORRY, ASH KETCHUM! FIGHT ON, FIGHT ON, PI-KA-CHU!"
Peeks growled through his grit teeth, forcing his paws against the terrain with all of his might. "Piii… Pi-kaaa….!" Every muscle fought him, but he felt a renewed sense of strength. With a second wind, he forced himself upright onto all fours, beaming with gratitude. "Pi-ka-CHU!"
"He's up! Ash's Pikachu is up! The audience's rallying cry has given him new strength!" The emcee cried, as the cheer crescendoed. "It seems Ash Ketchum has all of Kanto and Johto at his back!"
Lance absorbed the atmosphere, and smiled. "Such sweet sentiments… I welcome them." He spanned his arms, and cape, once more. "The heart beats for the underdog; human or Pokémon. This is as it should be." He raised a hand. "However! I won't give up so easily!"
Ash exhaled, and then leaned forward with a grin, meeting Lance's gaze. "Peeks and I wouldn't have it any other way! We'll take anything you can dish out!"
"This has been a magnificent battle," Lance said, "one the history books will note and laud, for ages to come. But, this is the end!" His clawed hand reached toward the sky. "Draco Meteor!"
Dragonite gathered his strength with a huff, and stepped back, anchoring himself to the battlefield with a wide, sturdy stance. He raised his open mouth towards the sky, and howled with legendary might. A bundle of light resembling the sun flickered in his belly, pulsing passionate orange and red. He tensed and struggled, slowly pushing it up through his throat, and into his maw. "Kairaaaaayh…!" He stomped a foot down, making the field shake.
He fired the meteoric shot high into the starry sky, over the center of the battlefield.
Ash grinned, thrusting a hand into the sky with passion. "Not on our watch! Peeks! Thunder!"
"Piikaaaaaaaaaaaa….!" Peeks bore a toothy smile, forcing himself all the way upright, and smacked his paws against his cheeks, leaking static electricity. A halo of lightning wrapped around his body, and channeled down from his pouches and up his lightning bolt tail.
He thrust his paws in the air, firing a jagged, furious bolt into the pitch-black of night.
Thunder crashed into Draco Meteor, pulsing through its core and making the shot tremble.
A deafening crash igniting the sky, showing the stadium in a passionate gold. Everyone close to the field shielded themselves, as the heavens trembled. Meteors rained down, coated in lightning in a storm unlike any before. The field surrounding Peeks and Dragonite was ignited in hellfire.
"DRAGONITE…!" Lance cried.
"PEEKS…!" Ash shouted.
"DRAGON…"
"CRACKLING…"
"...CLAW!"
"...ACCELERATION!"
Dragonite soared into the storm of lightning rain and meteors, zipping between one falling strike after another; leaving explosions and static laced in fire behind him, carving a jagged path forward. He flexed both of his arms, coating his paws in bright lime, razor-sharp claws.
But, Lance's ace Pokémon could not have predicted what came next. The mouse had completely disappeared from his line of sight — Peeks had vanished! Disoriented and confused, he had to lurch out of the way of his own meteor. The deafening explosion almost drowned out-
"Pi-pi-pi-pi… PI-KA!" The high-pitched shriek echoed from above. Dragonite backed up, and turned his eyes to the starry heavens. One of the Draco Meteors raining from above burst; touched with colorful, crackling lightning and stardust. A gold bolt of lightning bounced off the shot, ricocheting towards a second meteor, where the blurry silhouette of Peeks could be seen.
"UNBELIEVABLE! A STORM OF LIGHTNING BOLTS AND METEORS SWALLOWS THE FIELD, AS DRAGONITE CHARGES IN — BUT, PEEKS IS DROPPING IN FROM THE HEAVENS FOR ONE FINAL STRIKE! THE ACTION IS BLINDING, FOLKS!"
Peeks bore his fangs, shooting from one explosive shot to the next. He kept his beady eyes locked on the real threat: Dragonite, who roared with mighty claws raised. He fired into his path.
Dragonite snarled with all of his might, carving directly into Peeks's trajectory.
"...MARK II!"
Dragonite slashed across his body, carving a glimmering, emerald gash through the air.
Peeks shot to his left, slipping past his guard.
The nigh-mythical Pokémon could only look on, wide-eyed, as the Pikachu stared into his eyes, wielding a tiny fist back with ferocious intent. Peeks reared his body back, coated with the rainbow.
The Mouse Pokémon could hear Ash's roar of effort at his back. He knew in his bones that Ash was swinging with him, too. "PI-KYAAAAAAA…!" He echoed his trainer with a high-pitched cry.
Peeks smashed his fist into Dragonite's jaw, knocking the behemoth back and off-balance.
He was sent flying, right into a pillar of lightning, which detonated, launching him further.
Meteors crashed down in a chain of explosions, blasting Dragonite one after another. Smoke, lighting, and fiery wrath blazed a path through the storm, passing directly over the Champion.
"WHAT WAS THAT!?" The emcee exclaimed. "I'd have to get another look at that footage, folks, because I couldn't tell you! But somebody definitely landed a hit!"
Ash braced himself with both arms from the flood of smoke. He could hardly hide his smile behind them.
Static buzzed through the air, and an ashy, demolished field littered with craters came into view. Down on the ground, Peeks stood, one foot in front of the other. His fist was still outstretched. It tingled, still recovering from the pressure. He panted heavily. He was coated in ash and bruises.
His heart was still drumming in his ears.
The black smoke finally unveiled Dragonite, who laid on his back, limbs sprawled out.
His eyes had turned to swirls.
The referee glanced over, and raised a hand. "Dragonite is unable to battle! Pikachu is the winner! This means the winner of the Championship Title Match is Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town!"
Deafening applause swallowed the entire stadium, louder than even the final exchange itself.
"AND THAT'S ALL SHE WROTE! DRAGONITE IS DOWN, IN ONE FINAL CLASH!"
Ash was left momentarily stunned. Reality sank in, and his smile grew wider, and wider.
Peeks looked up at the scoreboard, where Lance's final Pokémon was discolored.
His visage was the last remaining in color. His trainer's own took up the screen, with "WINNER!" spelled out beneath it, in a grand, decorated font. Peeks felt pride and joy flood his tiny body.
Ash laughed, as tears spilled from his eyes. "Buddy!" He exclaimed, gripping the lift's railing to vault over it, landing on his feet below. He sprinted over the uneven battlefield. Tears were flicked into the open air, glistening under the bright spotlights drawing all eyes to him.
Peeks pivoted around on his feet, and saw his trainer running towards him. "Pikapi!" He exclaimed happily, as tears dotted his beady, chocolate eyes. He sprinted towards Ash.
Both best friends leapt toward each other. Their eyes met, and their toothy grins matched.
Ash swung his hand, and Peeks, his tail. Both echoed in a loud 'clap.'
"WE WON!"
"PI-PIKACHU!"
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