Hey gang, here we go with some more of the battle. I wanted to use more of Raichu last chapter, but I wanted to use Ash's other Pokemon a little more. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not afraid to really fool around with Ash's team (I mean, I actually had Raichu in the story instead of Pikachu).

Ash always used Pikachu a little too much to me, and if anything Pikachu was the last second winner. I changed that up a little bit. Hopefully the battle will be more interesting this way. (Don't get me wrong, I love Pikachu, but I really want to write out crazy battle tactics and outcomes not thought of before).

Sorry for the absence, I've been working on an alphabet challenge, getting a root canal, and spending time with my rock band. But now I really want to get this battle closer to the conclusion.

Anywho, let's get on with the next part! Thanks to all the readers and reviewers! And a bit of a warning for this next entry; the battle gets a little brutal. So enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Pokemon at all.

Chapter 10: The Broken Jewel

"Bing!"

Raichu's picture on the Battle Screen turned to a grey shade as the light faded on it. Yamouchi's Starmie stood strong, almost unphased by the high speed battle against Ash's Raichu. Misty closed her eyes, not wanting to see the picture turn off because of Ash's heroic, human act.

Ash still couldn't believe that his most reliable Pokemon was out of the battle so fast, and even more astounded that it was against a weaker type. He knew he could've handled the situation differently, but his reflexes took the best of him.

But Ash had seen different hidden abilities from a Starmie before. He figured this one would have even more in store for him and his next choice.

"Heh, good job Yamouchi, but now you're gonna get it," Ash said while reaching for his Dive Ball. "Go, Feraligatr!"

Ash tossed the ball in the air as a silver light emerged from it. A huge, powerful, blue alligator-looking Pokemon emerged from the light, standing over six feet tall. The Feraligatr made one stomp forward and let out a sound-barrier-breaking roar. Misty, yet again, was the only of Ash's friends surprised by his Pokemon. This was another Pokemon that she didn't see on TV. She had known that Ash had trained a lot for this tournament, but she didn't know the extent. His little Totodile now resembled the rare, powerful Water Pokemon now standing in the arena. She wondered how this Water Pokemon battle would turn out.

"Ash's next Pokemon is Feraligatr! Will it be able to overcome this powerful Starmie?" the announcer yelled through the intercom.

"Begin!" the referee called out as he lowered both flags.

"Do you really think a slow Pokemon like that could defeat my extremely fast Starmie? Your Raichu couldn't even bring it down!" Ash's father commented. Ash showed no response or reaction to his father's remark, just like many of the remarks he had made that day. "Use another Agility Starmie! Surround Feraligatr!"

The powerful Starmie quickly formed another high speed ring around Feraligatr. Feraligatr just stood there, as if waiting for something interesting to happen. Ash did the same, unimpressed with what he thought was a slow Agility attack. Misty looked on, wondering why he was so calm.

"Convert Agility to Double Team!" his father commanded, as what appeared to be twelve Starmie surrounded Feraligatr. The moment Ash was waiting for had come.

"Now Feraligatr! Use Metal Claw and swing your attack in a circle to hit all twelve in a single swipe!" As Feraligatr let out another powerful roar, he swung his claws now fully charged with steel energy at the Starmie images. Eventually during the attack the real Starmie jumped in the air to avoid the attack. Another moment Ash was awaiting.

"Ice Fang Feraligatr!" Feraligatr chomped at the air-born Starmie, managing to get one of its spokes.

Starmie landed on the ground, recovering quickly, however still feeling damage from the attack.

"Starmie, spin yourself into a Thunderbolt Attack!" Ash's father commanded. The Starmie started to spin on one spoke faster and faster, charging electricity within its body in the process. Ash was all too familiar with this battle tactic, and was expecting it sooner or later once he saw the Starmie chosen. He was aware that the voltage of the attack would be very high, however, because of how experienced this Pokemon was.

Misty thought back to Ash's battle in the Orange Islands with Rudy's Starmie, and how even she had never seen a Thunderbolt attack before from a Starmie, let alone a Water type. Ash's Squirtle had learned Hydro Pump, and pulled the victory out of the hat. She knew that with this Starmie, he had to really think outside the box- if it had bested Ash's Raichu within two minutes, she knew that Ash had to be perfect in his strategy against it.

"Feraligatr, counter it with Ice Beam!" Feraligatr started charging the attack immediately. Both trainers waited for the optimum time to launch the attacks. Misty looked on with amazement, along with the rest of the crowd. 'This'll be big…' she thought to herself, waiting for the inevitable to happen.

"NOW!" both trainers yelled out to their Pokemon. Both attacks launched with an extreme ferocity. They met in the center of the arena, and after several seconds of contact, caused a huge explosion.

The arena was covered in an ice-like fog. "Scary-Face!" Misty heard Ash yell through the smoke. Bright-red, leering eyes focused on the Starmie across from Feraligatr, trapping the Starmie in battle, not letting it escape even if the trainer wanted it to. This move also helped Ash recognize where the Starmie was in the fog.

"Rapid Spin!" Yamouchi called out. The Starmie spun through the air, slicing through the fog and heading straight toward Feraligatr's head.

" Use Crunch Feraligatr! Use your reflexes to time your attack!" Ash commanded his partner. Feraligatr waited about two more seconds before executing a deadly accurate, lightning fast Crunch attack upon the helplessly air born Starmie, catching it in midair like a frisbee. Feraligatr's powerful teeth made direct contact with Starmie's jewel, shattering it instantly.

The sound of the shatter pierced through the crowd like a knife, and even though the Pokemon was Ash's opponent, Misty felt some sort of pain in her insides after witnessing the devastating blow to the hard-working Starmie. And, needless to say, the type advantage of the attack dealt its own greedy helping of damage.

"A DEVASTATING attack unleashed upon Starmie from Ash's Feraligatr has, in turn, actually shattered Starmie's jewel, which is as hard as diamond! How is that possible? And more importantly, will Starmie be able to recover after this battle?" the announcer blared through the intercom.

"Starmie is unable to battle! Feraligatr is the winner!" the referee called, raising Ash's flag. He also immediately raised a flag with a cross on it, signifying the need for medical assistance on the battlefield. Starmie's picture turned a grey shade as its light turned off, with a depressing "Bing!"

Yamouchi was devastated at the painful sight he saw. "STARMIE!" he yelled to his Pokemon. Sadly, he couldn't set foot onto the battle arena, or else it would mean a forfeit of the match. He was only able to look on as his horribly injured Pokemon waited for help.

Ash felt destroyed after what he was partly responsible for causing had happened. No matter the opponent, no Pokemon or Trainer was supposed to suffer through what had just happened, and he was the last person in the world who would purposely intend something like this. He felt terrible.

Professor Oak, observing the battle in the stands with the rest of Ash's friends, was shocked at what happened as well. "They need to have a first aid team on that Starmie immediately! Without prompt treatment that Starmie could very well die soon!"

Brock commented on what happened as well. "Yeah, they need to help it as soon as possible! Ash has been training non-stop, but he would never intend this on any Pokemon… It had to be an accident- just an attack that was placed a little too well, and timed a little too perfectly."

May and Max were also amazed, never seeing any sort of brutality in a Pokemon Battle before. They remained speechless, along with the rest of the crowd, waiting for help to arrive.

No more than thirty seconds after the attack, a first aid team quickly rushed onto the field and had the Starmie on a Pokemon Stretcher, into the nearby ambulance and on the way to the Pokemon Center E.R. for intensive treatment. A Starmie's lifespan after losing the jewel in the center of its body, or after the jewel breaking, is about the same as a bee's lifespan after being separated from it's stinger, unless treatment is initiated right away on the Starmie. So it's no mystery as to why the treatment of the injury was so prompt.

Yamouchi regretted his last attack. He should've launched another long-range attack instead of trying for short range, while allowing plenty of time for a counter attack from the incredibly strong opponent. He knew it wasn't Ash's fault; it was his own.

He looked on as his partner was carried away, brought down hard in the heat of battle. An encouraging cheering sound came from the crowd as everyone stood up in support of Starmie's full recovery.

"I'm really sorry about your Starmie!" Ash called to his father. "I never intended that to happen at all!" Ash's Feraligatr also made an apologetic sound towards Yamouchi.

"It was my fault for trying that attack Ash," his father responded. "I know it'll recover fast, it's the strongest partner I've ever had. Let's just continue the battle!"

The battle was getting more intense and unpredictable by the second, as each trainer now had five Pokemon each. Misty looked on at Ash, his hat that was given to her before the match now crumpled a bit in her hands.

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Wow, that was nuts! What else do I dare to do in this fic? You'll have to wait to find out!

I made this chapter much more detailed and longer too, and I feel pretty satisfied compared to my recent chapters.

Several Alphabet challenges, including my own, have been updated recently as well; I strongly urge your reading ventures in those fics as well!

Please review this fic- I need as much feedback as possible! I know I had absences several times, but 44 reviews since the first chapter in May? I need more feedback! I'm also out and about reading and reviewing myself. A lot of good stuff is emerging lately!

Thanks for the reading and reviews! I'll hopefully have the next chapter up by sometime next week!

Regards, and thanks again-

MoltresFeather