Chapter 3: The Victory Match (Part 2)
When Ash entered the locker room, he found Dawn and Brock waiting for him. "Hey Ash," said Dawn.
"Hey, guys," said Ash, but his gaze was fixed above Dawn's left shoulder.
"I can see that the match isn't turning out like you wanted," observed Brock.
"Yeah," said Ash. "I thought that with all our training, I'd be ahead right now. What's the matter with me?"
"Buizel was your only Pokemon that was really fighting well," said Dawn. "What was with the other two?"
"Yeah," agreed Ash, "I was wondering that myself. Why did Gabite's Draco Meteor go bad after practicing so much yesterday? And how could Infernape let itself get pinned down like that?"
"Hmm," said Brock thoughtfully, "how much did you train Buizel compared to the rest of your Pokemon?"
"I trained all of them enough," said Ash defensively. "I broke them up into pairs, and spent time with each of them."
"But did you train Buizel more than your other Pokemon?"
"I―okay, I guess I spent more time with Buizel than the others," admitted Ash. "But I was training Buizel to take down Paul's Torterra, why doesn't Buizel need that extra help?"
"Well," said Brock, "your other Pokemon need that help too. Remember, Gabite always had trouble with Draco Meteor, and more one-on-one training is crucial for that situation. And that's probably why Paul sacrificed Magmortar to take Buizel out of the match, because he could see that it was the best-prepared Pokemon on your team."
"I guess you're right, Brock," said Ash. "I just need a meeting with my team." Ash released his whole team from their Pokeballs, and they gathered around him. "Hey guys, I owe you an apology," he began. "I shouldn't have trained Buizel more than the rest of you. Don't get me wrong, Buizel, you were great," he added. "But I should've given all of you the same attention. I know I messed up the training before the match, but this battle isn't over yet. We can still win this match!" The team cheered its approval. While Ash returned the rest of the team to their Pokeballs, Pikachu exchanged a determined look with its trainer. Even after their mistakes, Ash and his best friend were still gunning for the win. "Okay, Pikachu," said Ash. "Let's do this." Together, they walked back onto the field.
Ash walked back onto the field to tumultuous applause from the crowd. Paul was already on the opposite side of the field. Evidently, he had taken only a short time to speak with Reggie before returning. From what little Ash could see from his side of the field, Paul was wearing his usual scowl.
The referee took notice of Ash's return. "Both trainers have returned to the field! The second half of the half will begin now! Ash will have the first attack!"
Ash threw a Pokeball. "Torterra, I choose you!"
Paul followed suit, throwing one of his own Pokeballs. "Electabuzz, stand by for battle!"
As the two powerful Pokemon materialized and faced each other, Paul's frown deepened. He had known that Ash's Monferno had evolved into an Infernape, but not that Grotle had evolved as well. This battle was going to be tougher than he'd anticipated.
Ash called the first attack. "Torterra, Earthquake!"
"Use Protect!" called Paul. The Protect blocked the Earthquake, but Paul was no happier for it. Electabuzz had to set a Light Screen in place, which it couldn't do if it constantly had to defend itself. He would have to risk Electabuzz fainting to do it. "Now Light Screen!" he ordered.
"Earthquake one more time!" called Ash. Torterra sent out another Earthquake, which sailed straight thorough Electabuzz's Light Screen. Ash was surprised to see Electabuzz still standing, albeit barely, after taking the hit.
Paul smiled. Now the battle would start going his way again. He returned Electabuzz to its Pokeball, and threw another. "Honchkrow, stand by for battle!" Honchkrow appeared again, flying in the air, leering at Torterra. "Use Shadow Ball!" Paul commanded. Honchkrow sent a crackling black ball of energy straight at Torterra.
"Torterra, Energy Ball!" ordered Ash. Torterra sent a glowing green ball of energy right back at Honchkrow. The two attacks collided, causing an explosion that covered the battlefield in opaque smoke.
"Now, Sky Attack!" shouted Paul. Honchkrow flew into the air, preparing to swoop down for a sudden attack on Torterra.
Ash saw immediately what Paul was trying to do. He was trying to use the thick smoke as a screen to prevent Torterra from hitting it with attack. That would not work. "Torterra, Rock Climb!" A rocky hill appeared out of the field, and Torterra ran up it using the sharp claws in its feet. The hill stretched so high that Torterra could see Honchkrow over the smoke. It gained on its opponent, then ran headlong into it, throwing Honchkrow backwards.
"Move it with that attack!" yelled Paul. Honchkrow sped back, hitting Torterra on the side of its face with its Sky Attack. Torterra blundered sideways. "Now, Night Slash!" ordered Paul. Honchkrow came back for a fresh attack, ready to bring its wing right into Torterra's back.
Ash watched the incoming Honchkrow closely. Just a little closer...now! "Torterra, Leaf Storm!" yelled Ash at the last second. The Leaf Storm scored a direct hit on Honchkrow at a close range. Its Light Screen shattered, Honchkrow was sent spinning out of control in the air. "Now, Torterra," said Ash, "finish this off with Rock Climb!" Torterra ran across new rock ledges, crashing into Honchkrow again. Honchkrow fell out of the sky, and did not move.
The referee raised a flag. "Honchkrow is unable to battle! Torterra is the winner!" he announced.
"Yes!" said Ash. "Nice job, Torterra! We can still win this!"
Paul, however, was not at all happy that his Pokemon was knocked out. He angrily returned Honchkrow to its Pokeball, and said to it, "That was terrible! I sent you out against two Pokemon with a type advantage, and you couldn't beat either one? Pathetic." He chose another Pokeball. "Weavile, stand by for battle!" he shouted as he threw it. Weavile appeared again, and landed on the ground, ready to spring forward on command.
Ash held up Torterra's Pokeball. He'd have to switch, or he'd really be pushing his luck. "Torterra, return!" he said as he recalled his Pokemon. But which Pokemon should he choose? Should it be Staraptor, who had already beaten Weavile but had a type disadvantage? No, Ash thought, Paul would have trained Weavile to win against Staraptor after that battle. Plus, there was the problem that Weavile was faster than Staraptor. But that left only one choice. Was Weavile also faster than Pikachu? "It's risky, but I have to try it," said Ash under his breath. He turned to Pikachu. "Alright, buddy, you're up." Pikachu ran onto the field to face Weavile. "Now, Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Pikachu rushed forward to start the fighting.
"Ice Shard!" ordered Paul. When Pikachu was inches away, Weavile launched a piece of ice straight at it, knocking it backwards.
Ash gasped. It looked like Weavile was faster after all. But he had just thought of something that just had to work. "Pikachu, Volt Tackle!" he directed. Pikachu ran at Weavile again, this time with its body crackling with electric power.
"Dodge it, then Blizzard!" yelled Paul. Weavile jumped out of the Volt Tackle's range.
But as Pikachu drew even with Weavile, Ash shouted "Iron Tail!" Pikachu jumped too, and flipped over, hitting Weavile hard with its tail. What was more, the energy from the Volt Tackle paralyzed Weavile. "Pikachu, Thunder!" called Ash. Pikachu turned around from its attack and sent a powerful burst of electricity at Weavile. But this new attack missed, hitting the ground three feet from Weavile.
"Ice Shard again!" shouted Paul. Weavile suddenly leapt up at the surprised Pikachu, hitting it with a second Ice Shard. "Now, Blizzard!" yelled Paul. Struggling against the paralysis, Weavile launched its powerful attack.
Ash watched in horror as the attack hit its mark, and Pikachu was trapped in ice! "Come on, Pikachu, use Thunder to break free!" he called desperately.
Paul smirked as he took out Weavile's Pokeball and recalled his Pokemon. He threw another one. "Ursaring, stand by for battle!" The menacing Ursaring emerged just as Pikachu was trying to break free. "Hammer Arm!" commanded Paul. Ursaring ran forward with its muscular arm raised.
"It's no good," said Ash, watching Pikachu zap the ice surrounding it. "Try an Iron Tail!" he ordered. Too late. Ursaring pounded Pikachu with it's Hammer Arm attack, sending it flying. It hit the wall of the stadium, and slid to the bottom, unmoving.
The referee raised his flag. "Pikachu is unable to battle!" he said. "Ursaring is the winner!"
Ash ran over to his Pokemon and picked it up off the ground. Pikachu stirred weakly. "Hey, buddy, you were great," said Ash.
Pikachu asked Ash a question in Pokemon speak.
"Don't worry Pikachu," Ash assured, "we're not giving up. It's gonna be a tough fight, but I'm not gonna just hand Paul the match. He's gonna have to work for the win. You just take a good long rest." Ash laid Pikachu on the bench behind him, and walked back to the field. But as he was walking back, something caught his eye. Electricity was sprakling all around Ursaring. "Great," he muttered to himself. "Ursaring must be paralyzed. I better knock it out quick before he can do much damage with its Guts ability." He threw a Pokeball. "Staraptor, I choose you!" Staraptor emerged, beating its wings in the air, wtaching Ursaring closely. "Okay, Staraptor, start this off with Aerial Ace!" Ash called. Staraptor attacked Ursaring from the side, almost knocking it over.
"Use Slash!" yelled Paul suddenly. Ursaring swung its huge claws at Staraptor, catching it off guard and kncoking it to the ground. "Now, Hammer Arm!" Paul shouted as Staraptor started getting into the air again. Ursaring hit Staraptor again, knocking it about thirty feet away. "Now, Hyper Beam!" ordered Paul. Ursaring sent out a powerful beam of light from its mouth, scoring a direct hit on Staraptor. Ash's Pokemon landed in the dirt. It tried to stand up, but fell over anyway.
The referee examined Staraptor. When it didn't move, he raised his flag again. "Staraptor is unable to battle!" he announced. "Ursaring is the winner!"
Ash recalled Staraptor. "Thanks, Staraptor, you gave it your all," said Ash. He threw his last Pokeball. "Torterra, I choose you!" Torterra reappeared, ready to do battle again.
Paul recalled Ursaring, and threw another Pokeball. "Electabuzz, stand by for battle!" Electabuzz came out, exhausted but still standing. The crowd was puzzled. Why use Electabuzz against Torterra when the type disadvantege is so obvious, and when it had already taken so much damage?
"Torterra, Earthquake!" yelled Ash. Torterra sent a powerful Earthquake through the ground.
"Use Protect!" commanded Paul. Electabuzz's defense blocked the attack. "Now, Brick Break!" Electabuzz raised its open hand, bringing it down in a chop on Torterra's head. Electricity from Electabuzz's body paralyzed Torterra.
Ash was sweating, knowing it was only a matter of time before Torterra went down. Still, he wasn't giving up. "Torterra, Leaf Storm!" he ordered.
"Protect!" said Paul again. Electabuzz blocked this latest attack.
"Torterra, Rock Climb!" said Ash. Rocks started to rise from the ground. Torterra ran up them, right at Electabuzz. But with Torterra slowed down by paralysis, it took longer than usual.
"Brick Break!" shouted Paul as Torterra came closer. Debris was thrown into the air by the resulting collision. When the dust had cleared, Torterra was revealed, bruised, tired, but still standing. Electabuzz, however, was down for the count.
The referee raised his flag. "Electabuzz is unable to battle!" he said. "Torterra is the winner!"
"Nice going, Torterra!" said Ash over the crowd's cheers, which were at their loudest yet. "Let's turn this match around!"
But Paul was only getting started on Torterra. After recalling Electabuzz, he had another Pokeball ready. "Ursaring, stand by for battle!" Ursaring, still strong, still paralyzed, and still dangerous, reappeared in front of Torterra. "Hammer Arm!" yelled Paul. Ursaring jumped forward as fast as its paralysis would allow, and hit Torterra so hard that its front legs gave way.
"Don't give up, Torterra!" yelled Ash. "Use Rock Climb!" With all its strength, Torterra threw Ursaring off its head and rushed at it with its Rock Climb. Ursaring was thrown backward onto its back. "Now, Torterra, Earthquake!" Torterra followed up with an Earthquake, but it had only raised its front legs before Ursaring was back on its feet.
"Focus Blast!" shouted Paul. Ursaring fired its attack just as Torterra brought its front legs down hard. Both attacks hit their marks. Torterra was thrown back ten feet, while Ursaring was brought down onto all fours.
"Now, Torterra, Energy Ball!" commanded Ash. Torterra released a glowing green ball of energy from its mouth, and fired it straight at Ursaring. The attack connected before Paul's Pokemon could get fully upright. "Finish this off with Leaf Storm!" yelled Ash. By the time Ursaring had managed to climb back to its knees, the powerful attack had hit its mark. When it was finished, Ursaring lay on its back, unconscious.
The referee raised a flag. "Ursaring is unable to battle!" he announced. "Torterra is the winner!"
"Great job, Torterra!" said Ash. "Only one more Pokemon to go!" However, he caught sight of Paul smirking across the field, and his mouth dropped open.
"Weavile, stand by for battle!" shouted Paul as he threw his final Pokeball.
"Let's end this match quickly, before Weavile can launch too many attacks!" said Ash. "Torterra, Earthquake!"
"Jump and use Ice Shard, and land on Torterra's back!" ordered Paul. As the underground vibrations reached Weavile, it jumped out of reach. The nimble Pokemon launched an Ice Shard from midair which caught Torterra in the face, and landed on its opponent's back—right next to the tree.
"Torterra, Leaf Storm!" Ash commanded. The tree on Torterra's back started to glow.
Paul smirked again. Ash had actually fallen for this trap. "Blizzard!" he yelled. As Torterra launched its attack, Weavile froze the Leaf Storm into a solid block of ice. "Now, Metal Claw!" ordered Paul. Weavile hit Torterra on the head just as the frozen Leaf Storm dropped onto its back and shattered. Torterra slumped on the ground, and made no move to get back up.
The referee raised a flag. "Torterra is unable to battle! Weavile is the winner! The winner of this match is Paul from Veilstone City!"
Paul recalled Weavile and left the stadium. After dealing with Ash, who was clearly still weak after all his training, he had no business staying.
Ash dropped to his knees and watched his opponent leave the stadium. Paul had been his rival ever since Ash had arrived in Sinnoh, and he had seen the ruthless and callous nature that contrasted so much with his own. Somehow, Ash had never seemed to be able to get the better of Paul. He kept replaying his losses to Paul in his head: their first match, when Ash's newly caught Starly went down against Paul's much stronger Starly; his Gligar, fighting its first ever battle, taking a Guillotine from Paul's Gliscor; his Grotle, newly evolved, suddenly losing its prized speed and getting clobbered by Paul's Honchkrow; and at the end of their last battle, Ash's Monferno, newly evolved, determined to win, but losing anyway to Paul's Electabuzz. He now had a new loss to Paul on his mind. At the end, he looked up at Torterra. He thought of how Torterra, paralyzed and tired, had gone down to Paul's Weavile with hardly a struggle. Summoning his courage, Ash finally got up and walked over to his fallen Pokemon. "Thanks, Torterra," he said, as teared welled up in his eyes. "You battled really well today. You just made me really proud. Now, just take a nice, long rest." He returned Torterra to its Pokeball, and ran out of the stadium.
Ash's depression did not go away the next day. He was in the same situation as the last time he'd battled Paul. He'd lost, all of his Pokemon needed to spend some time recuperating, and Ash himself was feeling guilty and doubtful. Ash had always learned trust and friendship between Pokemon and their trainers was essential to accessing the Pokemon's full strength. How, then, was Paul, who valued neither, able to train his Pokemon so well? This question burned through Ash's mind as he took a long walk outside Sinnoh Castle, or as he stayed shut up in his room for the rest of the day.
Ash could barely drag himself out of his room to go to the closing ceremony that evening. He forced a smile when Mr. Goodshow, the President of the Pokemon League, handed him his second-place trophy. Even though he'd done better than ever before in a league, it mattered little. He felt very uncomfortable standing next to Paul, who had his first place trophy, and stood on the champion's platform right next to Ash, raised above the other competetitors.
However, he was careful not to let this show while he was in the spotlight. He waited until he was alone with Brock and Dawn before voicing his feelings.
"Cheer up, Ash," said Dawn when Ash told them about his insecurities. "You're not always gonna win, especially against a trainer like Paul."
"Yeah, but why?" said Ash. "Why should Paul be the better trainer? What's he doing that I'm not?"
"Well," said Brock, "remember, you spent almost all of your training time with Buizel and Torterra. And Buizel and Torterra were the only Pokemon of yours who took out any of Paul's Pokemon. You can bet that Paul, especially with Reggie helping him, trained all his Pokemon carefully."
"I guess you're right," said Ash gloomily. Suddenly, his voice became determined. "Then I'll just have to train all my Pokemon extra hard for the Champions' league."
"Ash," said Brock, "I'm with you. When you start training, I'll help you."
"Thanks a lot, Brock," said Ash.
"I don't really think I can make it," said Dawn. "It's just, I have the party back in Twinleaf Town in a few days, so I can't come to Johto with you to see May. Then, I have some Pokemon of my own to train."
"Dawn," said Ash with his old smile, "it was great traveling with you. Keep in touch. Say hi to your mom for me."
"Hey Ash," replied Dawn, "let me know where the Champions' League is, okay? I'll start my next journey from there."
"Will do," said Ash. "Take care of yourself, Dawn." He turned to the blue Pokemon on her shoulder. "And you too, Piplup."
"See you later, Dawn," said Brock.
"Bye, guys," said Dawn. "You've both been great pals. Thanks for all your help." Dawn walked away, leaving Ash and Brock alone.
"We should pack," said Brock. "Our boat to Olivine City leaves in the morning. We can talk about a training plan on the way."
"Yeah," said Ash. "It'll be good to put this loss behind me. Now, let's go see May again, and then get ready to take on the Champions' League!" But Ash was not as confident as he sounded. He thought again of his latest loss to Paul. Then, for the first time, another thought crept into his mind. Many of the trainers at the Champions' League would be even better than Paul. How hard would he have to work to be able to beat them? Could he and his Pokemon handle it? All the time he was packing, Ash puzzled over these questions. I'll beat them all, he thought. I'll give it whatever it takes.