This is my third Pokemon fanfic. Despite the title (which is explained below), the characters will go by their dub names, not their Japanese names.
Disclaimer #1: The title of the story is a corruption of the translated Japanese title for DP131 and DP132, which have not been dubbed yet.
Disclaimer #2: Own Pokemon, I do not (Yoda-speak).
The early afternoon sun shone brightly as Ash and Paul prepared for a rematch of their vicious full battle at Lake Acuity. Ash was determined to finally defeat his hated rival, and Paul...well, Paul was impossible to figure out.
Reggie had called in an official Pokemon League referee for the match, just like the last time. In addition, a large portable scoreboard (once again operated by a disguised Team Rocket) had been installed in Team Rocket's hot-air balloon. The board showed Paul's face on one side, and Ash's on the other. Along the sides were Poke Ball icons, arranged in a curved pattern, where the images of selected Pokemon would appear.
On the sidelines, Reggie sat with Brock, Dawn and a few other people from the area who had come to watch the battle. Dawn's Piplup sat on her shoulder, and Brock had let his Happiny out of her Poke Ball to watch too. Some other Pokemon were sitting next to their trainers, waiting intently for the battle to start.
At last, the referee stepped into the middle of the battlefield, and began the standard pre-battle oration that every trainer had heard at least once.
"The battle between Ash of Pallet Town and Paul of Veilstone City is about to begin. The match will be conducted using six Pokemon aside, and will end when all six of one trainer's Pokemon is rendered unable to battle. There is no time limit, and substitutions may be made at any time. Now, we will have a coin toss to determine who gets the first move. Please call it, gentlemen." Ash picked heads, and Paul chose tails. The virtual coin flew through the air, bounced twice, and landed Magikarp-side up. "It is heads! Ash will make the first move!"
"Fine!" Ash said to himself. He turned to his Pikachu, which was standing beside him. "Ready to battle, Pikachu?" Pikachu nodded, glaring at Paul, who stared impassively back. Tension rose in the air as the two trainers stared each other down. The onlookers waited for Ash and Paul to call their first Pokemon to battle.
Ash pulled a Poke Ball off his belt, and threw it at the field. "Monferno, I choose you!" The red-orange fire monkey screeched in delight as it did two backflips in the air.
In a similar fashion, Paul tossed out his own Ball. "Weavile, stand by for battle!" The mean-looking weasel bared its teeth at Monferno as it flashed into view.
"Then let the battle begin!" yelled the referee, and the fight was on.
"Monferno, use Mach Punch!" Ash commanded. Monferno's left fist began to glow, and it leaped right at Weavile, which didn't make a move. Paul simply stared at the two combatants before finally giving a command.
"Weavile, use Blizzard now!" The Sharp Claw Pokemon let out a barrage of snowballs which flew right at Monferno, which rushed through it as if it had had no effect at all. Mach Punch hit its mark, and Weavile was thrown backward. Knowing that Weavile was a combination Dark and Ice-type Pokemon, a Fighting-type move like Mach Punch could do incredible damage. Red sparks flew from Weavile's body as it took the hit, and it doubled over as it landed. But Paul simply glared at it as it struggled to regain its composure.
"Use Flame Wheel!" Flames flew from Monferno's mouth, surrounding it in a circle of flame. Once again, it hit its mark, and Weavile was again sent flying through the air. Paul ordered it to use Blizzard again, but Ash had Monferno use Flamethrower, which cut through the snow and slammed into Weavile. The black weasel fell and didn't get up again.
"Weavile is unable to battle! Monferno wins!" was the cry from the official, as Paul recalled Weavile with a furious look on its face. Ash was confused. Paul couldn't blame Weavile for the defeat, could he? Paul was the one who had chosen to leave Weavile out against a Pokemon with a type advantage, so why did Paul look so angered? Before Ash could think of an answer, Paul sent out his second Pokemon...
TO BE CONTINUED...
So that's it for Chapter 1.
If and when you do review, please tell me what you think of the first battle. If it's good, tell me. If it's lousy, definitely tell me. Reviews give me the inspiration to carry on writing.